The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-15
DOWN At THE BIG WORKS
improvements Being Made and
in Contemplation.
THE IMMENSE CONVERTER
New Method of Handling the Granula-
ted Stag at the Converter
and at the Lower
Works.

At the Anaconda works matters are
moving along with all of their CUSTOM
airy regularity and smoothness. There
has been much speculation as to the
probable effect of the amalgamation of
the various companies upon the opera
tons of these, the greatest of all cop
per reduction works.
Some have surmised that a much
larger quantity of ore would be treated
mere, resulting in a corresponding en-
largement of the plant, or more proper
ly, plants. 1t is quite safe, however, to
predict that there will be no material
Enlargement of the plant as a whole,
at least not for a considerable length
of time.
AS is well known these works are al
ready upon a colossal scale. Heretofore
they have been quite capable of hand
ling all the ore from the Anaconda
companys numerous mines and good
ly quantity of custom ores besides. The
proportions of the buildings are such
that it is an easy matter to greatly In
crease the capacity of the works with
out any apparent enlargement of the
various structures which make up the
plant in it's entirety.
This, in fact, Is now being done The
| number of jigs is being increased from
time to time which, of course, will re-
| quire corresponding increases in the
| other connected machinery. The work
is being done gradually, but the effect
| is none the less sure.
There has also been some conSdera-
| ton given to the idea of substituting
! crushers for the steam stamps now in
| use. 1t is thought by some mill men
| that, for concentrating purposes, the
| crushers are better than the stamps,
| making less shines. If the substitution
a., tall
| feet the capacity, and it may be safely
| assumed that it will not be in the line
| of decrease.
There is also some talk of building
| one and perhaps two more blast fur
| naces at the converter, but this 1t is
| believed has not as yet attained stage
! at which anything definite has been
| reached in the way of conclusion.
The converter is already an immense
| plant with a capacity far in excess of
| all requirements up to the present time.
| 1t has Is stands of COnVerterS, each
| stand comprising three converting FUR
naces. 1t has. besides. six blast fur
| naces, each with a capacity of $50 tons
| a day. These are all in operation, but
| the conVerterS are not So, unless 1t be
| by additional blast furnaces, there Will
probably be nothing done in the way
| of increasing the capacity OF this
! branch of the works.
y
ant change is being made in the method
| of handling the waste. The present
mode is to run the graduated Stag
| from the blast furnaces into sort OF
| tank or reservoir, whence it is elevated
| into the discharge flume by means Of
| 10 revolving belts. each Is inches in
width and provided with cups which,
| with each revolution, fill with the wat
| er and Stag and carry it up. This is
an expensive process, both in the mat
ter of power and the cost of the belts,
which are soon destroyed by the min
eral and acid in the water.
The new method will be to run the
material into large bins provided with
| chutes through which it can be loaded
! into car or skip. This skip runs upon
a track rising rapidly from the bin and
| carrying the waste several hundred
feet away and dumping it at very
| considerable elevation, which VIII
| greatly increase the dump room.
At the dumping point strong stream
| Of water driven by IAN electric pump
! will be turned onto the pile at inter-
walls, and the waste will thus be spread
! out over wide tract of ground. one
| bin capable of holding about las tons
! has been constructed and another of
| the same size will be built al once.
The track has been laid and the skip
| is there ready for service, but the en-
| CINE to work the skip is yet to be in
| stalled. 1t is calculated that py TINS
method of handling. the skip need only
to be run during the day, while the
| bins will hold the discharge through
| the night.
A somewhat similar improvement is
| being made at what are called the
| lower works" Along the line of the
railroad an immense bin has been con-
| structed to receive the waste and an
other is now being put up. These will
| discharge the material directly into
| railroad cars that will carry it to va
rious points along the road, where it
| will be used for ballasting the road
| bed. For this purpose it is said to be
| most excellent material. Thus two ends
| will be reached-the waste will be dis
| posed of and the railroad provided with
| ballast.
The great flue spoken Of last week
has been cleaned and is again belChing
| forth its sulphurous fumes.