The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1913-10-02
CAN SMELLING Be DONE
N THE C0EUR D'AlENES1
HIGH AUTHORITIES SAY IT IS
PRAcTicAL-MoNTANA MAN
MAY ENGAGE IN IT.


this event.
During congressional inquiry at
Washington on the lead tariff a year
and half ago most careful conls
pilation of figures was submitted
showing the amount Of money paid
for freight and railroad business from
the Occur d'Alenes. For the three
years preceding that time 1t had
amounted to OVER $l4,00O,O0O At the
present time 1t Is a conservative esti-
mate to put the amount above $1,000
ono annually OF this amount no
doubt four-fifths, or $4,000,000, IL for
Transportation of ore, all the way from
500 to several thousand miles, to the
smelling points. Shipments Of ore
and concentrates from this camp are
usually reckoned at about 90 per cent
lead or valuable mineral. Much low
err grade is shipped, but this might be
near an average. Evidently some
where near one-half of that upon
which freight is paid Is valueless Ac-
cording to these figures $2,ooo,oo0
year Is paid to transport waste across
the country. The fact Is that what
ever the exact amount may be- 1t is
an enormous sum and runs into the
millions every year.
1t is not intended to deal in any
technical .way with ores and smelling,
nor does the writer claim even very
good general knowledge along these
lines, but is simply directing atten-
ton to situation which has prevailed
for years and for which there may be
no very good reason.
Benefits in Smelling Here.
To smelt ore in the Occur d'Alenes,
where it is produced, would necessi-
tate the shipping in Of certain flux. An
ideal smelling ore is that which is
self fluxing The ore of the Occur
d'Alenes is not OF that character How
ever, some well informed mining men
in the camp contend that In the var
iety of ores found in the camp, there
would be little material necessary to
successful smelling TO haul in. On the
other hand to smelt the product on
the ground within easy reach. would
make it possible to handle probably
vast quantity of low grade ore con-
tanning iron which probably never Will
bear the expense of long haul. I'm
doubtedly 1t would materially in
crease the mineral output of the camp
Then as to the payroll, it would vast
~ increase it and maybe would double
1t. These are some of the benefits to-
secure If the obstacles can be over
come.
Half of Product Must Go East.
The Occur d'Alenes produce prac-
tically half of the lead consumed In
the United States. Granting that half
the weight of the product shipped from
the camp is lead when smelted and re-
fined, practically all of that must be
shipped east to find market and be
used in making paint, lead pipe ant
for many other purposes. The freight
on lead or lead bullion Is of course
higher than on ore, because of IT.
greater value.
Advantage Of Electric Power.
A year or more ago. when Profes
sor McCaffry of the mining depart
ment of the Idaho university address
cd the Northwest Mining association
assembled here he dwelt at some
length upon the possibility and prob
ability of the ores of the Occur
d'Alenes being smelted in the district.
He lay stress upon the fact that wa
ter power Is available within reason
able distance and electric power anf
heat would be obtained at more favor
able rates than coal and coke even at
more favored points.
Occur d'Alene Mans Opinion.
One of the best informed mining
men In the Occur d'Alenes was ask
ed the other day by a Miner repre-
sentative for an expression on this
subject. He did not go into extended
detail but he said emphatically; THE
proposition to smelt the ores of the
district is entirely practical He gave
evidence of having given the subjec'
much consideration and investigation.
Clark Said to 30 Investigating.
There are reports, and they seem to
come from an authentic source, that
Senator w. A. Clark who is opening
up the Sunset mine, has the smelling
proposition in view and that he has
already given considerable attention to
the selection of favorable site for
such a concern, and has also made
some examination of the different
characters of ores and other necessary
materials available in the district. This
IL easily believable. but would, of
course, be contingent upon the results
Of his mining. So far as known of
the latter however. it could hardly be
expected to be more favorable so far
as work has progressed.
Wide Experience in Smelling.
There are few II any men in the
United States who have had wider ex :
perience in smelling than Senator
Clark. He did the first smelling IN
Butte. and has dealt with all the com
pllcauons Of the business in that great
camp throughout It's history, and is o.
present active In It. In Arizona and
,ther parts Of the west he has dealt
= ..xtxa. olAls.