The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-08-29
Reported Shut Down of Argen-
tine Shelter Denied.
Plans Submitted For Complete
RemOdelIing of Plant.
ORE IN THE CREVICES.
OverhauIing Done to Get the
Precious Metal.
Items OF Interest From All
Over SunflOwer State.

Argentine, Aug. 2g-The fears of some
of the people of Argentine that the
shutdown of the smelter is to be per
manent seem to be groundless. It is
said on excellent authority that Walter
7. Page, manager of the plant, has sub
mitted to the directors of the snelter
trust. in New York. plans for COM
plete remodeling of the works at Ar
gentine.
These plans were laid before the di-
rectors several weeks ago and although
they have not yet been acted upon
there is strong reason for the belief that
the result will be favorable. The very
fact that the manager OF the plant mas
made the proposition and had the plans
prepared is taken as a straw indicating
a. favorable wind.
Mr.. Page does not say that the sus-
pension of operations at Argentine is
to be permanent. On the other hand
the general trend of his conversation
is that the smelter will be running
again sooner or later, although he does
not specify how soon. He is at the
Coates house. He said that the general
cleaning up which is to be made was
ordered several weeks ago by the d.
rectors.
Mr. Page, although not inclined to
discuss the situation IN DETAIL corrob-
crates the information given exclusive
~ in The Times several days ago to the
oyerhauling of the smelter. AS has been
stated, the yitriol plant will be operated
again as soon as it has been renovated
The copper department viii prODaDly
be the next to open, there being a good
demand for that metal.
Although hundreds of thousands of
dollars have been spent in making inn
proyements at the plant during the last
year, there is yet much to be done be-
fore ii is in proper condition and in
some departments the repairs viii have
to amount almost to rebuilding. The
plans for this work are what Mr. Page
has submitted TO the directors.
Notwithstanding the needed repairs,
the smelter at Argentine is the best one
in the world, and those who are ac-
quainted with the situation, as much
as any one not an officer of the trust
can be acquainted, do not credit the re-
port that smoke will never pour from
the big chimneys again
That precious ore in unknown
amounts is hidden away in the cracks
and crevices of the smelter is admitted
by those in charge. That is what
causes them to make the oVerhauling.
Every corner viii be cleaned and, as
has been stated, the bricks of the fur
naces will be crushed in order that the
particles Of silver and gold may be ex-
tracted from them.
This is a favorable time for the clean
ing up that is to be made, the ship
ments of ore TO all of the smelters be-
ing smaller than usual. It is consid-
EI6u aDSOlul0lS- Certain lAlcl DIS SOOn a.
the shipments increase, Which they are
almost sure to do within the next few
months, the smelter at Argentine will
be running full blast again.
Mr.. Page is giving the renovating
work his personal attention and will
spend a good portion Of his time here
while it is being done. He has charge
of the Omaha smelter and oversees
other interests of the big trust through
out the west and southwest.
Employees are being notified every
day that their services will be needed
no longer. These notices of course cast
q gloom over Argentine, but they do not
seem to be good. cause for lasting sOr-
row. The prospects for reopening are
too good for that. Just when the| d.
rectOrs will act upon the proposition to
rebuild a portion Of the plant is not
known, but it is believed that the
smelter will not be idle longer than six
months, and that one or more of the
departments will be operated during
the greater part of that time.