The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1907-11-21
GUT COSTS IN TWO
Hints to Mine Managers by
Engineer Lancaster
WHAT ONE MINE HAS DONE
Small Compressor Actuated by Water
Power Doubles Rate Of Progress.
Plant Soon Pays for Itself

That small compressor actuated
by water power will reduce the cost
OF development work by over so per
cent while doubling the amount of
work which can be done in speci-
fed length OF time, is the contention
OF Henry M. Lancaster, one of Wal
lace's leading mining engineers. His
views are Interestingly set forth and
exemplified In the following inter-
view
Should Utilize Water Powers.
Now that money Is scarcer the
main question with large number
Of the managers OF the smaller prop
critics ID how to keep the develop
ment work that has been planned go
Ing ahead. This question is especial
" vital where long crosscut tunnels
have been projected and the ore
bodies have not yet been reached. 1t
4 10 especially important that the per-
sons having the development OF these
properties In charge should endeavor
to flnd out II their present method of
development will accomplish the
greatest amount OF work with the
least amount of capital. believe
this Is being done In nine cases out
OF ten In the Occur d'Alene district,
vet / know Of several cases where
those In charge are not taking ad-
vantage Of the splendid resources
furnished them by nature.
II refer to the natural power fur
nished by nature, In some cases at
the very portals of these long tun-
nels, by the numerous small streams
OF the district. The average person
has not given the subject considera-
ti0n or has not stopped to investigate
the amount of power that could be
generated by the small amount of
water that each day goes to waste
while he continues to drive his tun-
mel by hand power.
Certain Terms Defined.
AFTER giving few definitions of
different terms will try to illustrate
what could be done with given
amount Of water II properly con-
trolled and working under a given
head.
Force Is that which tends to pro-
duce, alter, or destroy motion.
Energy is the capacity to do work.
"Work is the production of motion
against resistance.
Power is the rate of performance
of work.
THE unit OF work or energy is the
foot pound; that is, one pound lifted
through vertical distance of one
foot. Energy Is potential work or
work which can be done; for ex-
ample. volume Of water has the
ability to do a certain amount of
work bysvirtue of its weight and
position, and this would be called
energy, while the word work would
be used for that actually done by the
motor or compressor moved by the
water. Power Is the work done in
specified time, and the unit of meas
urement is the horse power, which is
$4,000 foot-pounds per minute.
How to Measure Power.
with these definitions 1t is a
very simple matter to compute the
number OF horsepower that can be
expected from given amount of
water acting under a given head. AS
an example we will take one cubic
foot OF water (weight 62.5 pounds)
per second under head of 100 feet. |
The gross power, disregarding all /
loss by friction, etc, would be:
62.5x60x100 or 375, 900 foot-pounds;
divided by $4,000 would be equal to
'11.36 horsepower; taking an eff
cheney of IS per cent gives us a net
1865 horsepower. Twice this amount
of water would double the horse
power. or twice the head would
double the power
Moon Creek Plant as Example.
II will now give as an example of
what may be done by number of
the smaller properties of this dis
trict the prospecting power plant of
the Moon Creek Mining company, 4
located on Moon creek, and give APP
the cost of the plant, and
what can be done with It, / have
selected this plant as an example for
two reasons; first, because have had
opportunity to watch the progress of
the work from the time the building
of the fume was commenced until
he time the machinery was first
started; and second, because from a
mechanical standpoint the work of
installing the machinery Is the best in
he district. The work of selecting,
Irranging and installing the whole Of
he plant was done by. and under
ri : q. =