Daily Arizona silver belt., 1908-02-08

nlRnly encouraging ana nave opened an
enormous ore tonnage. 1t is worthy of
note that the l4th level crosscut shows
in places a width of 80 feet of ore, the
average copper contents of which isl
10 per cent, also that where recently
penetrated at the 10th level, No. l
vein was found to contain good grade
of ore, in addition to creditable pro-
portion of sulphide for a width Of Is
feet. The sulphur contents tends to FIJI
a long felt want, as the sulphur in the
company's ores has not been of sufii-
eient proportions to permit the making
of a low grade matte for proper convert
ing.
Nos. 2 and veins have yet to be in
tercepted at the 10th level. The forth
coming developments on these ore bod
les are claiming considerable attention,
as their grade is materially higher than
that of No. l. The Kirkey vein, To-
Gated 800 feet north or no. | vein is
opened from the 10th to the l4th level
and is supplying creditsble quantity
of good ore. Owing to the persisteney
of its values over great lengths, it is
expected to prove an important factor
in the company's future production. The
vein above the 10th level has never
been developed.
In the West End ore body the Old
| Dominion possesses an asset, the value
of which il has never been able to
prove on account of water. 1t has been
partially developed on the Sth, 9th and
10th levels, where there is blocked out
and in sight 10000 tons of ore carrying
from s to 10 per cent copper, together
with an excess of iron, which makes
it valuable for fluxing purposes. In
the opinion of those who have made a
careful study of the situation, there is
no reason why this ore shoot should not
develop as much ore as is being opened
! in the east body. The showing on the
10th level is far superior TO that on the
| latter.
The company has recently been able
/ to draw off a large volume OF water
from the western portion of the proper
~, and VIII soon be in position to ex-
plot the values in this direction to
greater depth.
1t should be borne in mind that the
company is still confronted with no
small task in properly opening the mine
from the 18th to the 10th level on the
east side, and in shaping affairs for a
larger production from the ore bodies
to the west. Rapid progress is con
stantly being made in this direction,
however, and it is fair to assume that
the time is not far distant when the
Old Dominion will be capable of sup
plying 1900 tons of ore daily, contain
ing from 5 to 6 per cent copper, thus
indicating a prospective annual produc-
ton of more than 50,0O0,00O pounds of
copper, at a cost per pound not to ex-
ceed 10 cents. These estimates are full
ly warranted by the character and ex-
tent of the developments of recent peri
cd. due to which the shares Of this COM
pany look highly attractive at or around
their present selling price.
That the Old Dominion costs appear
high-from S. to So per toms due to
the fact that expenditures of every
description are charged to the expense
of operating.
We can state without fear of contra
diction that the Old Dominion has sew.
eral times more ore actually in sight
than at any previous period in its ca
reer. The lower openings are in what
may be termed virgin territory, while
the old oxide slopes on the upper lev
els will supply considerable tonnage
for several years.
In addition to this the company pos
sesses, considering the purposes for
which it was designed, the best reduc-
tion plant in the southwest Five fur
naces are available with the material
for the sixth on the ground.
The Old Dominion is at present fur
nishing about 450 tons of direct smelt-
ing ore daily, the average copper con
tents of which is about 9 per cent. To
maintain this tonnage of high grade ore,
of course, necessitates a selection, due
| to which several of the lower grade
slopes have been wholly inactive since
the era of curtailment was entered upon.
The company is also shipping 800 tons
daily to the eoncentrator, the recovery
from which amounts to about 40 tons of
concentrates containing IL per cent cop
per and 80 per cent sulphur.
In addition to the above the company
is melting from 500 to 600 tons of Stag
daily from the old smelter which was
run solely on oxidized ores and turned
out what is commonly known as black
copper.
Two furnaces are now being operated
exclusively in the treatment of this
Stag, from which the copper is recovered
at low cost, owing to the compare
lively limited coke requirements in
smelling.
The third and fourth furnaces are
each handling about $50 tons daily of
smelling mixture, consisting of ore and
necessary fuxes. In addition, there is
about 200 tons of fue dust and con-
vertor yard cleanings to be handled,
making total of about 1900 tons per
day smelted.
The average output of the old Do
minion for November and December of
100000 pounds was secured almost
IL a..