The Springfield herald., 1908-11-13

work is referred to the handling of a
! single raw product or number of
graded raw products very similar in
their specific character In the smelt-
! ing of precious metal ores, however,
most complex problems continually
present themselves. For the success
! full carrying out of the industry it is
necessary to deal with great variety
of products and the necessity arises
of SO regulating the business that the
mining output Of many sections AID
districts under extreme fluctuating
conditions can be currently taken care
of.
| In the consideration of the many In
tricate questions which are continually
confronting the custom smelter, that
/ is, one which does not mine but pur-
chases all of its ores from mines
owned by others, the company is obli-
gated to take notice of individual ore
outputs which it is necessary to Sc
cure for the perfection of the general
smelling mixture If it SO happens that
such outputs cannot be produced un-
I der normal treatment charges which
might be generally applicable, it be-
comes necessary to give special in
ducements to bring out the product,
and SO it happens that it is not pos
sible in the carrying on of the smelt-
ing business to make smelling charges
which are regulated by hard and fast
rules. On the contrary, it has been
and always will be necessary to make
such charges as will permit the great
est production of ores from all dis
tricts in order that the mining busi-
ness may be stimulated to its highest
! degree and the maximum output OBJ
| tanned.
' With the curtailment or cessation
of ore production which brings with it
concurrently an enforced reduction in
smelling operations, smelling ex-
penses quickly rise and the ability Of
the smelling company to make con-
cessions to any ore producer is quick
ly restricted.
In the carrying out of this policy
uninterruptedly, the basis of calcula-
tion has been the operation of all the
works of the company under full ca
! pacity. Furthermore, the company
has not hesitated in the reduction of
treatment charges to anticipate the
benefits which 1t was expected would
be realized by the Introduction of i'm
provements in which large sums have
been expended and to give the same
in largest measure to the ore producer.
The changing conditions of ore pro-
duction in the state have brought
about situation which could not sat
J isfactorily be met up to the present
The iron sulphides, of which there is
n superabundant quantity and which
h have always commanded the very low
est treatment charges on account of
| their fluXinS character, have steadily
! declined in value. The silicious ores
which are necessary to the smelling
of the iron sulphides, have steadily
grown less and less in their production
although treatment charges have con-
tinually been reduced in order to pro-
mote the output. Lead ores from
Colorado have become steadily di-
minishing factor, so that for the smelt-
ing of the tonnages which are now
available at least seventy per cent of
the necessary lead has to be brought
in from outside districts.
Without very close study and con-
sequent familiarity with these complex
conditions, 1t is not possible for any
one to pass a correct or just judgment
on the situation. The ridiculous cry
of persons who are unfamiliar with the
business, and others who have so lit
tie knowledge of it as to formulate
weird statistics, that the chief object
of the American Smelling and
Refining Company is to crush mines
out of existence. thereby closing down
call for comment. So also may the
asinine charges that the American
Smelling and Refining Company con-
ducts its business in a dishonest way
be dismissed from the consideration of
all decent people.
Best Machinery Used to Secure Very
Best Results.
In the pursuit and carrying out of
its business, the company has installed
the most perfect apparatus and para
phernalia known in the art of smelt
ing for the correct determination and
valuation of ore received by it. The
weighing and sampling are conducted
under the most rigid methods. which
make for accuracy, and at all times
are the works and methods of the COM
pany open to the most searching scru-
tiny of ore shippers or representatives
who may be delegated by them to look
after their interests.
The company is in no wise inter-
ested in any public or private sam
piers, and in giving the concerns the
greatest latitude in the sampling and
purchasing of ores for its account, 1t |
puts them on exactly the same basis |
of regulation as is the case with ship
pers who send ores direct to the |
smelters.
If the ore schedules which are Of |
fered to shippers seem to be somewhat ,
complex to the layman, it may be said |
that they are the result of the evolu-
ton from schedules which were intro
duced in Colorado over generation
ago. To the man, however, who is
continually selling ore. and who can
easily figure out the resultant value in
applying the schedules to his own ore,
the rates are not mysterious. The
question finally resolves itself into
one of net payment for the metals
contained in the ore, and the net value
of the ore to the producer after all
charges have been met. If the rate is
such as will enable him to produce at
profit, the ore will be mined. Other
wise it is sure to remain in the ground
The American Smelling and Refin-
ing Company has no monopoly in its
business. 1t has no secret processes
nor has it monopoly of the technical
and business talent, which is neces
sary to successfully conduct its enter
prises. 1t has no privileges in the
matter of secret railway rates, and