Semi-weekly herald., 1917-11-15

denly. lie SAID whole volume in
a few words when he explained that
in former years the problem of the
smelter WAS to get enough ore to
keep the plant running. This year
he has been kept busy trying to
dodge the ore that is being shipped
into the plant in ever increasing
quantities. The company was not
equipped to handle so much ore, but
even at that, it has been shipping
out on an average of car of bull
lion and copper matt a day. The
company is now installing more
roasting equipment to take care of
the extra tonnage. In former years,
he explained, it was sort of a policy
TO build rather temporary construc-
lions, but now his people are con-
structing everything of concrete and
OF reinforced concrete and steel, in
other words, the smelter is to be
permanent institution in Durango.
MIR. Gilbert said that he believed this
section has more mineral resources
than any other section in the United
States. The new flotation process of
handling low grade ore is causing
an increase in the production of
ores. He stated that ae most inter
oBting thing in the mineral world is
the price of silver. This metal Is
a highly speculative one, but owing
TO the world shortage Of it, and the
increased demand for the purpose
ol coinage, nothing short of world
calamity viii be likely TO cause it
20 drop below 30 cents. This section
must have at least 75-cent silver to
be able TO mine it profitably. Mr..
Gilbert made it plain that it took
faith and confidence in market con-
ditions and in this mining district to
cause his company TO spend large
amounts Of money in making i'm
Provements on the smelter as they
are doing, and he is looking forward
10 n greater San Juan mineral pro-
dueing section, which is to include
the counties of Dolores and San
Miguel, ms well as our own La Plata
and San Juan county proper Silver,
cad, copper and gold are contained
in practically all of the ore mined
in this section, concluded Mr.. Gil
bert
Supervisor H. Z. French of the
Durango National Forest Reserve,
vas the next man called to time. He
was asked to give an approximate
figure Of the number of stock grazed
in the forests this year.
Mr.. French:
There are three national forest re-
sarves in this part of the country,
he explained-the San Juan reserve,
The Durango reserve, and the Monte
zuma reserve. On these three re-
serves there we're ranged this sea-
son Approximately 135,000 head of
sheep, and about $4,000 head of cat
lie and horses. There were quite
n number of cattle ranged outside of
The reserves, Mr.. French said, but
hey handled practically all of the
sheep.
Frank Eldredge:
This gentleman has been resi-
dent Of the basin for years, and has
always been Interested in its develop
ment, He says we have waited long
and patiently for aid to come, and
that he is still looking for better
roads for this section. His talk was
brief, but he emphasized the fact
that his faith in the country here
is just rs strong as it ever was.
At this point the Sherbino orches-
ira treated the gathering to very
good selection.
Cy Graden, a tireless worker and
an ardent believer in the oil posi-
1ilities of the San Juan, was called
up for his share of the evenings pro-
gram.
Mr.. Graden:
"The enterprises of a country de-
pend chiefly upon the development of
IL" were his opening words. He said
.hat at the depot at the very time
he was talking there was loaded
900 worth of oil machinery en-
route to Flora Vista, where a COM
1any is planning to test out the oil
possibilities. Oil, like railroads, has
)een a development beset with many
riala, Mr.. Graden said. He stated
hat last year an Oklahoma company