El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-02-06

ing cut off from the German market,
began to buy madly from the American
producers. with the result that the
price advanced to Ito cents on ex-
port sales within a period Of 10 days.
After the first rush, however, the zinc
market began to adjust itself prices
fell back to 4 $40 cents, until a small
stock held in Holland had been alb
sOrbed, when prices advanced to II
cents, then to around six cents and
has remained practically stationary ar
that figure ever since.
Australian Mines Shut Down.
One Of the results Of the war was the
shutting down OF the Broken Hill, an
Australian property, the greatest zinc
producer in the world. the output or
which has always been marketed in
Germany. With the closing of German
ports and the enmity which English
for the product could be found and the
mine was compelled to close. It is said
now that these properties viii be taken
over by English owners and the output
eventually smelted either in Wales or
in the United States, but. as this viii
take some time, zinc producers OF the
American southwest may be in position
to enjoy the present high level Of prices
for some time to come, at least until
after peace is restored in Europe.
FL PnsO's Great smeIter.
A general article on FL PasO as
mining country would be incomplete
without more extended mention of the
great FL Paso smelter Of the American
Smelling & Refining company, located
on the banks OF the Rio Grande, just
above the city limits
It is one Of the largest lead shelters
in the world, The official name of the
institution is the Consolidated Kansas
City Smelling & Refining compauy's
operation for 20 years. More than 1000
employees are carried on its pay rolls
and the latter viii average about 375,-
coo per month.
Output Is valuable.
Flfteen hundred carloads OF ore,
coke, lime and other fluxing material
pass through its furnaces every month
and there are taken therefrom an aver
age Of sl,OOO,O00 worth of refined or
semi refined metal every 80 days
The plant embraces a tract of 43
acres of land, has a railroad system of
its own and a power plant which would
supply the city of Fl Paso with Juice
enough to light its streets. operate its
street railway and leave a surplus SUI
ficient to operate many times the num-
Der Of power using factories now in
operation.
Copper Ia Treated.
While originally intended as a sill
ver-lead smelter, furnaces were put IN
number OF years ago for the reduc-
ton Of copper ore to matte form and
since that time has converted mill
Mons OF tons Of copper ore and conceE-
Jrates produced in the mines of Ari-
iona, New Mexico and Chihuahua.
The smelter is known as customs
smelter, buying its raw material out
right from the producers instead Of
smelling on a royalty basis.
Not Dependent on Mexico.
While originally it depended largely
on ores produced in Mexico. since the
shutting down Of Mexican mines Incl
dent to the revolution and the devel-
opment Of shelters in great mining
countries. as for instance at chihuahua
and Torreon, the development Of min
Ing in Arizona and New Mexico has
kept pace with its needs so that now
the El PasO smelter can run full time
on strictly American production.