Weekly journal-miner. [volume] (Prescott, Ariz.) 1908-1929, 1908-10-14
COST OF MINING IS
LEssENED BY MACHINERY


The president of a large mining ma
,mncry making company ha, Just com
rlotcd , ,ahulaiiou made within twelve
months by the principal mining com.
panic, for the installation of modern
machinery and the modcrnil1tion of
existing plants. The record was made
only for metal producing mines of first
class chiefly in copper gold. lead and
silver interests i'm North America. The
iii Includes ~ per cent of the mines
that are honestly and efficiently con.
Quoted ~ the interest of shareholders.
II g., evident from these fluctuations
that the new machinery and toll IN.
staIations for the past twelve months
over former operating costs. II all
these mines were worked hv manual
power the number of men IN sound
health would be per cent in excess
~ the estimated manual power of the
adult population of a zone taking in
eighteen miles in diameter from the
New York City Hall, which population
i, 100000
\ special feature Of the new ma
chanical engineering work that be-
longs to the annals of the mining in.
,cfcst within year is the installation
of large number Of central plants
that have displaced q number Of anti.
quaied isolated plants of low economy.
\ notable instance il at the Copper
Queen properties at Bisbee, AM,
where six miles of main drifts used for
haulagc TO the central shaft have been
converged and are equipped with an
electric railway that hauls ten.ton ore
ears ~ tnc velocity Of eight miles an
hour The central shaft has been sunk
1900 feet. and ~ connected with drifts
20 all the workings at all levels. I'm
der the old system there were five
shafts used for the up,ake 81 ore and
several isolated plants were used. The
new central power station gives prim.
al impulsation to steam, compressed air
audi electrical machinery and tools.
one among number of new mine
machinery installations in Colorado
tina, are making large saving. over
working costs under the old power in.
installation is a, the mine that IL
1000 feet above the sea level. For.
merly steam plants were used. The
coal COS, els ton. For toe last twelve
months of coal consumption for power
purposes the. cost was $4,000. The de.
velopment of hydro electric power
plan; twelve miles from this mine gave
an opportunity for the mine owners TO
install electric power for nearly all
purposes. The saving in coal for one
year will pay within 30 per cent Of the
whole cost Of the new power apparatus. |
The manufacture of mining power
apparatus and tools in this country
now gives employment, TO $1,000 me.
chanic for account Of North American |
mine requirements. One local mining
machinery house. which twenty years
ago employed twenty.six aands, chiefly
for mine work in Pennsylvania, IL now
operating five plants in four states
with 10000 employees.
Eight mining machinery corpora.
tions in this market that employ o.. 700 !
hands on mining and railroad work
ha," increased their capacities six.
fold IN twenty years. Within twenty
years, the mineral industries of North
America have been increased six fold.
On III" present basis Of working. this
industry il producing almost $1,000.
ooo'ooo year under the management
OF citizens Of the United States.