The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-08-24
ENGINE TO BE USED
Tailings From the Comet Mill Will
Be Hauled to East
Helena.

A new method has been adopted by
the Helena & Livingston Smelling &
Refining company, whereby 100000 tons
OF tailings at the Comet mine In JEFF
ferson county can be profitably treated.
says the Helena Record. The Comet
was at one time one of the large pro-
ducers of that section of the country
and was exceedingly rich. An effort
was made some time ago by the Helena
4 Livingstone company to treat the
tailings. but owing to the expense in
volved in hauling them to the railroad
and then shipping them to the concen-
traitor. considerable money was lost.
A new method has been devised to
haul the concentrates to the railroad,
and do away with a great deal Of ex-
pense, that is the use of a traction en-
CINE which will haul several cars of
ore. Concessions by the railroad COM
pany and the concentrator at East Hell
ena. together with the reduction in the
cost of hauling, will make it profitable
to ship the tailngs; in fact, they will
net the company from 80 to IS cents a
ton When the attempt was made to
haul them by wagon. the loss was from
Is cents to 81 a ton.
NOW tNdl d way mas De0H devised
whereby tailings can be hauled with
profit to the owner. the company will
also haul low grade ore to the rail-
road and ship it, which was impos-
sible before except at a loss owing to
the cost of hauling.
F. w. ROssberg, manager of the
Peck concentration, short time ago
went to California for the purpose of
inspecting a traction engine which the
company intended purchasing there.
The engine was being used to haul tim
Der from a point in Placer county to
Towle station, distance of eight miles
from the railroad, and was a great sue
cess. 1t drew five cars loaded high with
timber each day and it was thought
that it could be utilized to haul ore as
we'll. Mr.. Rossberg made an examin-
alton with the result that the engine
will be shipped to Basin the nearest
point to the mine, which is between
Boulder and Easin, Sept. 1, and will
arrive soon after. 1t will be given fair
trial and if it will do the work, will be
used permanently.
The tailings from the mine will be
hauled four miles from the mine to
High Ore spur, a siding between Boul-
der and Basin, where they will be
loaded on cars and shipped to the Peck
A road is now under construction
from the mine to the railroad. When
completed it will be ten feet wide.
There is a six per cent grade, but the
engine has been we'll tested and will
easily mount a twenty per cent grade.
1t will be 50-horse power and Is said
to be the first of it's kind used for the
purpose of hauling ore in Montana.
Three men will be required to run it.
1T is the calculation" said Mr.. Ross
berg yesterday, ito have the engine in
operation by about Sept. 20. Though
the engine has hauled five cars, we only
expect it to draw three cars of ore and
make two trips a day between the mine
and the railroad. The capacity of the
train will be in the vicinity Of so tons
Of tailings a day."
Twill the engine operate in. wet
| weather." Mr.. Rossberg was asked.
| mo, / do not think it WILL he re-
piled, 1--WE do not calculate to operate
it either in wet or muddy weather or In
| the winter time. The road will be made
| to suit the engine. but it cannot run
| in the mud or snow"
1.-The cost of the engine, together with
| the expense of repairing the road and
| other expenses, will be between $4,000
and $12,00O,' said former governor $.
| T. Hauser last evening. However.
with the aid of the engine and with
| concessions made by the railroads and
concentration, we expect to be able to
shin the tailings with profit. We also
| hope to be able to haul low grade ores
| and ship them, which before was impos-
| sible owing to the heavy expense at
| tached to having them transported to
the shipping point"