The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1907-02-28

larg' tOnnage OF dry ore ~ even now
being shipped and many neglected
resources Of this class Of orc are now
being actively developed with the
result that there ia assurance Of 8
large and steady supply from now on
In the way Of fluxes there is an
enormous tonnage Of iron ore carry.
ing considerable values, enough te
make its handling remunerativt
alike to miner and smelterman.
Lime and fuel cannot be locally
supplied at present but it seems te
the Miner that it would effect a vast
saving in freight rates to bring them
into the district rather than to ship
all the ore out Of it.
The operation Of a local smeltcl
would also simplify the transporta-
ton problem with which the rail
roads are struggling. The same
number OF cars and locomotives
could handle a vastly larger tonnage
ii the haul were only to a smelter
somewhere in the district instead Of
to distant points in other states Of
the Union.
The operation Of local plant
would render profitable a large tom
mage Of low grade ore Of various
kinds, not now commercially valu-
able. This would provide more
work for miners and thus enhance
the prosperity Of the whole COM
munity. In fact well-conducted
local smelter, independent Of the
trust, would do more for the devel-
opment Of the country than several
times its capital invested in other
directions.
In his excellent annual report on
the district State Mine Inspector
Robert N. Bell has the following to
say on this important subject:
"Of all the great volume Of lead
ore produced by the Occur d.Alenes
not a single pound Of it is smelted
and reduced to bullion in the state.
That such a condition exists is due
to the fact that the bulk OF the out
put is controlled by the smelter
trust, which works a hardship on
the profit making reputation Of the
district and is rather a reflection on
its native talent. There are in the
occur d'Alenes some Of the ablest
mine managers in the United States
who can show operating cost sheets
that will compare favorably for
economy with the best in the coun-
try. These men have graduated to
their present position Of eminent
ability from the farm and stope as
well as from the best technical in
situations, and it will be surprising
if some Moses does not develop to
lead the industry out Of the control
Of one institution in respect to the
final treatment OF its ores.
Smelling is simply a fire con-
centration, and with such easy ores
as the Occur d'Alencs afford, re-
quires less technical ability for a
close saving Of mineral values than
does water concentration. With
10 per cent. discount for loss in
on fire assay basis and
the heavy treatment charge now
paid, together with the shipping
charge on 50 per cent. of dead loss
on each ton G mineral shipped, an
independent smclter in or near the
Occur d Alcncs would make 30 much
money that it would he ashamed to
AXE it from the miners, on present
discount margins, and could afford
o reduce the present charges for
reight and treatment so per cent; !
md the time is ripe for the intro
luction Of an independent plant
which would doubtless build up, if
financed and made trust
proof, a smelling industry to 60
With the mining industry that would
1--WE the district important added
prestige and profit, for there are
nough independent producers in
he district and new ore bodies be-
ny developed, to supply very re-
pectable plant already, with the
likelihood that its capacity would
iced enlarging annually.