The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1914-12-31

no new records In the way OF mineral
production or dividends, yet 1t has not
oeen without notable achievements
which have significant bearing upon
he future mining operations in the
Occur dAlenes. Perhaps the most Inn
oortant OF these are the new methods
FOR mineral recovery which have been
placed in successful operation, and
which have not only resulted in saw
ing enormous values that have here
tofore been lost, but have also made
Il possible to obtain a profit fpom ores
which have hitherto been too low
grade or which involved difficulties of
! separation and recovery which could
not be overcome by the ordinary mill
ng methods. This refers particularly
90 the flotation processes which have
oeen adopted BY several companies
md which have proved successful In
he recovery of copper, zine and lead
rhe success which has attended the
Introduction of flotaton in this dis
rict has been one of the most re-
narkable achievements In the history
# mining in this wonderful district
md the best feature of tie situation
is that the splendid results already ac-
tcomplished have also demonstrated the
possibilities for Its wider use in the
treatment of Occur d'Alene ores.
May Eliminate the Smelter.
Following closely the introduction of
flotation, the year 1915 may witness
the successful operation of a new
method Of mineral recovery from ores
which will completely revolutionlze
the methods now In use and establish
a new industry here In the district
which will eliminate the long haul tt
the smelters. Exhaustive experiments
have been conducted by the Bunker
Hill & Sullivan during the year just
closing and are still being conducted
and the results have been so satisfact
ory that the conservative head of that
, company and the resident manager
under whose personal supervision the
experiments have been conducted
have felt justified in making the pub
lie prediction that the new process
would soon be in operation on a com
: mercial basis. No such statement
would come from that source unless
: rant 1t in every particular, and the
| year 1914 may therefore be credited
with the initial steps in the inaugur-
! alton Of a process which during the
\ coming year may bring about COM
/ plete revolution in the methods of ore
. treatment and add many thousands OF
| dollars annually to the profits Of the
mines and to the circulating medium
Of the district.
Important Developments of the Year
Low prices Of the metals, due to
causes not necessary to discuss here
resulted in a large curtailment of the
ore output during the last half of the
year. While this condition brought
about considerable depression In busi-
ing thrown out Of employment and
the fear that further reduction in the
, working force would follow, there were
other features of the situation that
served to show the unshaken confid-
ence In the future Of the district that
prevailed everywhere. Acting upon
the theory that the market f"r the
metals can not always be bad th
work Of development went on with al
most its usual activity, including the
great operating companies, develop
ment companies and individual min
ers. The result Is that the old year
as 1t passes into history witnesses I;
greater Coeur dAlene district thar
was ever witnessed before, judged BY
the amount of ore in sight and tn,
number Of mines in the productiv,
stage and almost in position to pro
duce. And as usual In this wonderful
are not limited to one particular sec
tion, thus enabling the people in al
; parts of the district to look forward
: with confidence 20 sharing directly II
the prosperity that iS in store.
New Strikes at Close Of the Year.
AS IL to make amends for the dis
appointments of the year, the close OF
I 1914 has been frightened by severa
! important strikes and by pronounced
, improvements in ore bodies which are
almost as gratifying as new discover
les. One Of the most gratifying strike
I that marked the close Of the old yeal
was that in the Hypotheek, revealing
a great and valuable ore shoot on thl
1 700 level and placing that property ir
$ the list of proven mines. On Pine
{ creek also the Nabob few weeks ag'
\ cut It's vein at great depth and tn
o limited amount Of drifting since has
: proved its value On Nine Mile tbs
Treasure Vault two weeks ago STRUCK
, a large body of milling ore at deptf
\ which leaves no doubt that this favor
: ed section Is to have another mine. =
few days before Christmas the Anna.