Gilpin observer., 1899-12-28
COOPERATIVE MILLING.
How Small Mine Owners May Save
Money.

Throughout the mining regions of the
world are many districts where the
mines are small and the ore shoots mar
row. short and irregular, but of good
grade. In such mines these shoots Of
ten follow each other as Il succession
of accumulations of ore, and us II
whole the mine, though less satisfac
tory than one having continuous ore
shoot is capable of development and
successful operation If proper facilities
obtain.
Mines of this class are not confined
to any particular geological formation,
but are most commonly found in re
gions of mica schist and mica slate,
where dykes and tissure veins are alb
sent or mt least not abundant, and
where the ores occur ns lenses in the
schists following along Il line approx
imating the strike of the formation.
Not infrequently the mines of this
character in Il district are numerous,
and. as n whole, will supply sufficient
ore for one or two mills located at cen
tral points, to which all the ores of the
district may he taken for treatment: :
but unfortunately il is not mt all un-
common To find n dozen mills for ms
many mines, and not one of them run
ming continuously.
Miners commonly object to custom
mills on the ground that the charp%s
for milling exceed the cost overlooking
the fact that interest on invested cap
ital and the deterioration of the plant
render this additional charge neccs-
sary. and as custom mills are not run
ms philnnthropic institutions the mill
owners make an additional charge for
profit. and not infrequently the
charges are higher than they should
he. being determined by the richness
of the ore and the natural result of
competition If there be more than one
mill in the camp or district.
In districts of this kind the miners
would do well to associate themselves
into cooperative company for the
treatment of the ores from the mines
of shareholders, those who are not
shareholders being charged an addl-
tional price for the treatment of their
ores The mill should be equipped
with all modern devices for the eco
nomical handling and treatment of the
ore and should he in charge of care
full competent men who thoroughly
understand the treatment of the ores
of the district. In order that the great
est nusslblc saving may be effected at
the lowest cost. Ore from the mines
could he treated In such nm establish
mcnt ~ n stated cost per ton, the
amount TO hc determined by the actual
cost of treatment. to which should be
added n sum sufficient to cover the de
terlorntion Of pinnt and repairs. In
this way the owners OF stock In the
mill could have their ores treated mt as
low n cost ns though each mine owned
II mill, rnd probably with better results
by reason of superior direction ami
treatment. An arrangement along
these lines would result In keeping the
mines Interested constantly working
and the mill would find continuous en-
ploymont.
The mills now In these districts. or
formerly there. were built for custom
work or were erected by owners OF
mines which failed To supply the nee
cssary ore. ana were shut down. In
some. cases they also were run for n
time as custom mills. charging rate
higher than the value OF the ore could
stnnd.--Mlning and Scientific Press.