Eureka weekly sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1887-1902, 1901-11-09
PRICE PAID FOR LEAD.
From the Denver Mining Reporter.

pany deny, in newspaper interviews,
that they are piling up their metal
stocks, but state that they are selling
the metal as fast as it Ear be mark
eted. In the West the directors OF the
trust dwell atgreat length, also in news
paper interviews. upon the enormous
amount OF lead they have on hand.
At first sight it would seem as ii these
two statements are irreconcilable; as
a matter OF fact, both are true. A
simple explanation is that in the East
it would be fatal to the price Of Ameri-
a Smelling & Refining stock to let it
be thought that the trust could not
dispose OF the metals they smelt. In
the West it is desirable, from the
smelter point Of view, to take a nom
possumus attitude. In the stock piles
at the smelter, in process of treatment
and in transit, a very large amount OF
material must be on hand. The oper-
atoms OF the trust are 30 gigantic that
such a condition is inevitable; but
this condition is not incompatible
with the trust selling the metal as fast
as it reaches the market.
We hear SO much regarding the
price of lead being $500 per hundred
pounds that the public has been
gulled into thinking that the miner
actually gets that price for lead sold to
the smelter. In fact he gets less than
one-half of that price, on the average
say 1.S5 per hundred. A schedule Of
prices was drawn up some two years
ago based on the price of lead at 81
If this price went up, more was to be
paid to the miner for his metal. II the
price went down, the miner was fined.
The price of lead was fixed at 80 cents
per unit to so cents; a unit is twenty
pounds, 80 that the price paid per
100 pounds varies from $1.75 to $3.50,
with an average price paid of less than
So. On ore carrying Jess than five per
cent lead he receives no pay for the lead
contents, and Of these ores a considera-
BILE quantity is received by the
smelter. Taking this latter considera.
ton into account it seems possible
that the trust pays no more than $3.50
per hundred for the lead it receives.
But, it may be urged, how about the
smelter losses and the cost of treat
ment? So far as the cost of treat
ment is concerned it may be stated
that in Colorado at all events, 81 per
ton would more than cover all charges.
This charge goes against four pro-
ducts-gold, silver, copper and lead.
II would be fair, therefore, to- charge
up one-quarter, approximately, against
the lead, or say 81 per ton. The aver
age furnace charge is about IL per
cent lead, hence the charge against
smelling of the lead is about 40 cents
per hundred. Then as to smelter
losses. 1t is a notorious fact that the
smelter buys its lead ores on a faulty
assay. The fire assay for lead not
only does not give less lead than is
actually in the ore, but actually less
than that yielded by the furnaces.
Again, should the fire assay, by
reason of impurities in the ore, give q
higher result than the chemical assay,
then the method giving the lower re-
sult-the chemical ASSAYS chosen.
AS an example: The Lillian mine at
Leadville carries q little bismuth, 30
does the Penn and Ballard. Lead ores
from these mines are bought on chem
icsl assay (volumetric) /; all the other
pres are bought on fire assay.
There is no doubt that the trust GER
gets the best of the miner on
the assay Of lead ores. Thus we have
seen that the American Smelting& Re-
iining Co. gives not to exceed s1.S5 per
hundred for its lead; that the smelling
charges against the lead are about 40
cents, making in all s2.25 per hundred
At the smelter; that it gets consider
able free lead, and that its method of
lead ores is all in favor of the
Thus we see finally that the
rust has q lee way of $1.75 per hun
ired to pay transportation and broker
lge charges and to pay a profit. As a
natter Of fact, the price paid for lead
the open market is $4.37 per hun
ired and not $500, thus enhancing
he profit considerably. The trust
;ould well keepto the present schedule
or lead ores even if the price Of lead
ell to SO per hundred.
Tho Wadawoyfh Disnatch "a va. Wei