Gilpin observer., 1900-04-19
MORE MILLS NEEDED.
Remedy for the High Rate Problem Com
fronting the MIne Owners.

The controversy between the mine
owners of Cripple Greek ana the smell
ters and mills which have been treating
the ores. illustrate very forcibly the
needs Of greater facilities for ore treat
ment in Colorado. says Mining Report
er. When threatened by the mine man
ayers with Il stOppage of production
the smelter managers placidly remark
that they have already enough ore IN
stock to keep their plants in operation
for months to come. With the mills
which handle about eighty per cent. OF
the ore it is somewhat different. al
though the stock of ore which of nPces-
sity must be shipped. will 20 long
way toward keeping the mills in opera
ton.
The leaser and the small operator
must keep up production even though
he is forced to pay freight and treat
ment charge in excess of what h
thinks is proper.
The advance in rates which is com
planned of is shown by the following
table. In 1899 the price paid for gold
in the ore treated was $50 per ounce
the charges for treatment of ores car
rying various values were as follows.
Total freight
and treatment,
u ounce and under. er..........S IC
Y ounce to IA ounces s....... 81
II ounces to y ounces. ... 81
| y, ounces to ounces. ........ 1909
The present mills rates are:
Total freight
and treatment
u ounce and under. r....... s. SG)
"a ounce to l ounce. 9G0
] ounce to IA ounces. 1909
IL ounces to IL ounces. ....... l1.G3
~ ounces TO ounces. 12.0J
Present price allowed is $40 per
ounce for gold contents in ores carry
ing less than two ounces.
Whether the present rates are equit-
able is question that can only be an
swered by those who have. had actua
experience in the business.
The cost of treatment depends 10
some extent upon the percentage of
saving: the higher the percentage o"
saving, the greater the cost of treat
ment. There is n point beyond which
it is Improbable to 20 in the savings
of values. In laboratory work il is
possible. by chemical treatment. to
save all the values: in practice loss
of about five per cent is permitted un-
der the most favorable condition.. ~
''''i i'''' ~ 'l"''t. 10 W 'hht
the minimum of prudent waste ir,.
the price allowed for the gold contpnt-
of the ore purchased. or else. to add il
to the charge for treatment. The mine
owner insists that both addition and
satisfaction has taken place. If this
he true. he certainly has Il grievance
Under the present conditions his only
remedy would seem to he the increase
Of the supply of ore treatment facili-
ties. This remedy the Cripple Creek
mine owner is abundantly able to ap-
ply. The application of this remedy
will meet Il public want. Last year it
was cOnservatively estimated that ST.
OOO.0OO worth of Colorado gold ores
We're unable to obtain treatment. In
other words. Colorado's production of
gold ores in 1899 was $50. 600. 900. while
her production of gold bullion was ap-
proXimately S26,O0O.O0O The smelter
strike had something to do with this
condition, but the smelter strike also
curtailed production. Ore production
cannot well permanently exceed the IA
cillties for its treatment. The great
problem which now demands solution
is how to increase the reduction mills
in proportion to the natural increase in
ore production. This is an inviting field
for capital. because of the certainty of
fair return upon the investment.