Gilpin observer., 1906-06-07
Ore sampIing Restrictions.


to the so-called milling trust in Colo
RADIO, says the Mining Reporter. The
movement constitutes an audacious
blow to the mining industry of Colo
RADIO in general and of the Cripple
Creek district in particular, and has
been so characterized by mining men
generally. The fair sampling of ore is
at the very root of our system of pro-
duction and treatment, the foundation
on which ore buying and selling is car
ried on, and any attempt to place arbi-
trary and unwarranted restrictions on
it merits unqualified condemnation.
The text of the recent order OF the
United States Reduction and Refining
Company appears in another column.
Even a casual perusal of its provisions
will give an impression of one-sided-
ness, but cold analysis reveals much
more. In the second paragraph ap-
pears the first arbitrary measure, viz,
that 1/25 of any shipment shall be cut
out for the sample and all samples and
resamples made from it.. 1t has not
been uncommon heretofore to take
varying quantities of the lot for the
sample, according to the value of the
ore, and in many cases the entire lot
has been resampled when such pro-
cedure was necessary by reason OF
wide assays. Under the present ar
rangement the lot is disposed of as
soon as sampled and nothing remains
on which to base the value of the lot,
except the 1925, which may be pri-
marily incorrect. 1t is well-known that
Cripple Creek ores yield improved sam
pies on more extended mixing, the
variation in samples usually being due
= yo1, Exhi ic
ficult to distribute evenly through the
pulp. 1t is therefore quite possible
that in many cases resampling of the
entire lot would give more exact re-
suits and be perfectly fair to all con-
cerned. Under the new restrictions
this will be impossible and the ship
per will have to content himself with
resample of the 1925 originally cut
out.
Probably the most insidious provis-
ions of the entire order are those relat-
ing to ores sampled in transit. 1t is
customary in the Cripple Creek district
to ship through a sampling company.
All of the smaller and some of the
larger companies follow this custom
as means of getting an independent
sample, which is usually 1/625 of the
lot. The assays of this independent
sample have heretofore afforded val
liable check on the United States Re-
duction and Refining Company, and
have been the sole means of protection
against discrepancies in subsequent
sampling The new regulations pro-
vide for acceptance of the sampling
works certificate of assay by the
United States Reduction and Refining
Company, but only when it is delig-
cred to the latter before it's sample on
the same lot is turned over to the ship
per. In other words the information
which such control certificates con-
tain must become the property of the
Reduction company BEFORE it's own
samples are assayed, or not at all.
Such manifestly arbitrary and unfair
procedure needs no further comment
beading farther, we find that resam-
pies will be made only when there is
greater variation than ten per cent.
between the assay thus submitted and
the assay made by the Reduction COM
pany on it's own samples. Remember
ing now that the Reduction company
is already in possession of the assay
made on the sampling works pulp, the
question raises itself: how often will
the ten per cent. variation exist which
is necessary to call for resample?
And even granting the justice of this
procedure, what is to be said on fore
ing the shipper to either split or UNI
pire on a variation of ten per cent. or
less? On one-ounce gold ore this
would mean splitting or umpiring on a
50 difference, and this sum on lOO-
ton shipment is considerable.
But what of the future of the Grip
pie Creek district? The trend of events
of the past few months makes fair the
following assumption: the transporta-
tion and market for ores from this dis
trict is becoming, or has become, CEN
traliZed in the interests controlling the
American Smelling and Refining Com
pany. The recent purchase of railroad
interests by the milling trust and the
still more recent report that the Ameri-
can Smelling and Refining Company
had absorbed the latter, followed by
the PRONUNCIATION of the sampling reg
ulations under consideration, are re-
garded as steps in process OF con-
trolling the situation at Cripple Creek.
If these statements are true they open
the way for an arbitrary and unre-
strained exercise of power that will un-
doubtedly prove unfortunate for the
district. The leasing system, which Is
doing so much for the camp, and on
which the larger companies depend for
new discoveries, will be damaged ire
parably. The output must necessarily
be curtailed to minimum. Capital Will
be wary of investment and small COM
panies already operating there Will be
harassed beyond endurance. Endless
litigation will result from the attempt
of the milling trust to enforce the new
regulations on large companies which
no whave contracts running until 1911
and 1912, for these organizations will
fight any effort of this kind.
One of the incomprehensible things
in connection with the new sampling
regulations is the short-sightedness of
the policy. Mining men of sound judg-
ment are unable to see the end which