Gilpin observer., 1909-12-09
GOLDEN SMELTER
WILL REOPEN FOR A CERTAIN
TY IN THE sPRINo-eEINo
ovERHAULED AND IMPRov-
ED.

There has been all kinds of talk
during the last few years of the Col
den smelter "going to start" going
to blow in," resume operations" it's
hard to remember just what the re-
ports said this plant was going to do
since the last shutdown, but the re-
port now being circulated to the eff
feet that ore will be treated after the
first Of the year seems to be authen-
tic. strong company, which has
mines in the Gilpin and Clear Creek
districts are now in possession of
the smelter and are expending large
sum Of money in additions and i'm
provements. The following from the
Golden Transcript shows the inten-
tions of the company back of the
project:
"The North American Mines &
Smelter company has started work
on improvements at the Golden smell
ter which will cost between 10000
and $4,000. A force of men was
started at work at the plant yester-
day, and the force will be increased
just as soon as material for the new
construction and alteration work ar
rives. According to Superintendent
James Meyers, who is now on the
job and in active charge, the plant
will not be ready to commence opera
1.%
as the company desires to get every
thing in first class condition before
the furnaces are blown in.
'In addition to the monster blast
furnaces at the plant, new rever.
beratory entering furnace is to be
installed. The old furnace is to be
improved, and a new iron base is to
replace the present one Of brick.
"At present in the engine room
there is a $50 horsepower corliss en-
gine. a 100 horsepower direct-connect-
ed electric generator and a 100 horse
power motor. This plant will be. in
creased by the addition of another
100 horsepower generator, as it Is
planned to drive a great part Of the
machinery by electric power. The cor
liss engine will be used to drive the
blowers principally. Steam has been
supplied by three fire tube boilers
Of 100 horsepower each, and the bat
terry will have one boiler of the same
size added.
Electric locomotives have been
ordered to pull the Stag pots. taking
the place Of the old system of men
and horses. This will greatly facih-
tate the work Of the furnace men
Ind increase the output Of matte.
"A new system of ore, coke and
lime hoppers is to be installed, with
a series of bucket elevators, SO that
after the first handling Of the mater
ials in unloading them from the cars,
every process until they reach the
charge floors will be automatic. Later
on 1t Is expected to arrange matters
so that automatic dumping freight
cars will be used.
"a new 60,000-gallon steel tank will
be constructed to replace the old
wooden one which was wrecked by
the wind after standing empty a num-
Der of months.
Numerous other extensive improve
ments are to be made, especially In
the sampling works, where consider
able new machinery Is to be install.
ed and numerous changes in the
handling Of ore made.
"As soon as all these changes are
made there will not be a smelling
plant in the country that can excel
the Golden works, except in size and
capacity. The capacity of the local
plant will be in the neighborhood of
500 tons OF ore per day.
THE company will not have the
difficulty that has confronted the
other operators Of the plant in being
unable to secure ore, as It owns
enough OF It's own mines in Clear
Creek and Gilpin counties. However,
custom ores will be taken. and II Ia
likely that the mine owners of the
counties above have learned a pretty
good lesson and will not be so prone
to jump over to the smelter trust as
soon as little higher price is offer.
ed them for their low grade ores in
order to put the Golden plant out oi
business.
James Meyers. who Is recognized
as one OF the best smelter men II
the West, will have charge Of the
! works."