The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1916-04-06
MINING IN THE CoEUR D'ALENEs
ENTERS A NEW ERA.

Unquestionably the decision Of tn
Bunker Hill & Sullivan company Il
build a smelter and refinery at Kel
logg Is the most important event II
the history of mining In the Coeul
dAlene district, and marks the begin
ming of an era that promises to be rev.
dictionary In its effects upon the min
Ing industry. 1t Is the realization of a
hope that has been cherished for a
quarter Of century, a hope that few
IL any until recent times expected to
be realized. The first tangible basis
for the belief that the lead silver ores
Of the district could be probably
smelted here was the result OF investi-
cations made a few years ago by the
Hecla Mining company. Not being
able to secure satisfactory contract
for its ore with outside smelters, the
Heela company made an investigation
with the view to determining whether
or not 1t was possible to treat its own
ores here. The conclusion reached
was that 1t could be done, and to the
Hecla company would probably have
come the distinction of erecting the
first smelter In the district had not the
fact of It's feasibility induced conces-
sions from an outside smelling COM
pany, giving the Hecla a satisfactory
contract for its ores and causing it to
abandon the smelling enterprise
II Is probable that the Bunker Hill
& Sullivan company was offered in
ducements in the way of concessions |
in its contract, for certainly the loss of
that companys product following the
rebuilding of the Northport plant Is a
severe blow to the American Smelling
& Refining company and forced 1t in
10 a more conciliatory mood. But Il
Is evident that the breach was too
vide to be closed by modified con-
ract, and the people of the entire dis
riot without displaying offensive par
isanship, rejoice that 1t was so. The
reetion Of a great smelling plant at
ielogg will give a tremendous i'm :.
etus to mining throughout the dis 4,
riot for 1t means that eventually all
ne lead silver ores, except the pro- ;,
uct Of mines owned by companies -,
aving smelters outside the district, =.
Ill be reduced here The elimination .,
the long haul involving heavy 80
eight charges will certainly prove a A.,
ctor Of sufficient Importance to hold -,
e ore here for reduction. and the I'D
ccessful operation Of the Bunker 4,
III plant will be followed by lncreas- go
& its capacity or the building of 9TH -,
plants, and probably both, to meet -,
e requirements. A.
II viii encourage the opening of new
mes and In many instances directly a.,
ntribute to that end by providing a.,
'rket for small lots Of ore, and thus go.
pplying the means for further de-
opment. II will make possible the go :,
ming Of lower grade ore by cutting
the heavy transportation charges. ma,
pm every standpoint the Bunker abu
] & Sullivan smelter is going to but
'e most beneficial and far reach ieat
effect upon the mining industry Of -
Occur d'Alenes. -
rom a business standpoint the con.
efits Of the smelter will be felt in dew
sections or the district. At KEEL I'M
( II win add hundreds of men to ''''U .
payrolls of that already prosper fro,
community, and the direct encour- niue
ment It will give to mining devel- hnir
ent will add to the working force otne
II other parts of the district. sae
ne building OF the Bunker Hill 25o
ter leaves no other conclusion tons
that after 20 years of steadv Frar
successful mining operations, we e,''i'
just commenced to mine in the this
r d'Alenes. for I