Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-09-16
LATE PROGRESS.
ABOUT Mineral
PRODUCTS TOLD
c. G. Bockus Gives Detailed
Information on Progress
of All Work

Definite and detailed information
upon a number of points as to which
stockholders Of the Mineral Products
Company-and there are nearly
| Thousand of them in Hawaii-have
been inquiring. was brought back by
| G. G. Bockus on his return from the
mainland He tells of railroad pro-
gress and probable time of compile
tion; cost of ballasting where ballast
| is needed; progress of mineral devel-
opments and Of the mill. He gives
| figures on costs and gives figures on
what the different products will bring
| in market
Questions heard from shareholders
of the Mineral Products Company were
propounded to RockuS on his return
from a visit to the property, the first
being How about the railroads; how
near is 1t 10 completfon% This
brought from him a statement OF what
he saw the day he left, September 6.
Bockus says that when he left grad
ing was completed for 22.7 miles
which left g of mile of grade work
to be done. It was then expected that
grading would be completed Septem.
Der 90. Rails had been laid for %
miles leaving 1.6 miles of rails to be
laid. This was expected to be finished
by the end of the present month. .
Hard to Keep Laborers
Delay in completing the road,
Beckus was told by the contractor,
arose chiefly from difficulty to keep
men on the work Since January last,
the contractor said, he has employed
more than 1000 men and at the time
he spoke he had about 80 on the work.
The weather there is very hot in sum-
mer and men preferred going where
more comfortable, or less uneomfort-
able jobs could be had. The constant
changing of forces prevented the sef
curing of extra data and definite an
nouncements of date for COM
pletion.
Ballast Needs Explained
Necessity of ballasting the road
and costs of so doing we're next taken
up There has been much misunder-
standing here as to this" said Bockus
and he proceeded to explain. The
lower part of the road will have to
be baIlasted distance of not more
than 10 miles "A man Iike Ginaca,
skilled and expert engineer with
his knowledge, would not think Of
building road across low country
which becomes soft when 1t rains,
without ballasting.: He has always in
tended to do so. The general manager
has also had this is mind at all
times. The rainy season there is ex-
pected in January and it will be done
we'll in advance of that time" AS to
costs this matter is not so material
as some have thought for Bockus
learned that the cost Of ballasting will
be only 5000 mile or $4,000 for the
whole distance. The upper part Of
the road he found was built on rock
and would need no ballasting. The
cost figures were given him by the
general manager.
New cars and engines have been
ordered but not yet delivered. There
should be no delay in this. however,
Bockus says, as it is not difficult to
secure narrow gage rolling stock.
Chrome Deposit Large -: -.
With Dr. Anderson, Bockus visited
the chrome deposit and says they
found that in quantity and quality it
had been underestimated About s.
900 tons were ready for shipment and
a very large amount in sight. This is
the material that is to bring SIS
ton and upwards according to grading.
The factory at Patterson for pro-
ducing magnesia dioxide, chalcide
magnesia and ground silica was ex-
pected to be ready for operation in
three weeks. Power motors, crush
ers, digesters, retorts and ball mill
were already installed.
Handsome Profits Here
Although other products are nearer
at hand preference is to be given
mangasite since it gives the biggest
profit, now being worth SIS to s185
per ton. The general manager esti-
mates the cost of production at not
exceeding $40 The present plant has
a capacity OF 25 tons daily and is so
constructed that second unit of the
same capacity can be added as re-
quired and at any time, thus doubling
capacity.
Magnesia in the form Of carbonates
is now at a good figure, about cents
a pound but the general manager does