El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-07-24
VERDE SHELTER
ABOUT To OPEN
First Bullion From Great
New Plant Near Jerome
VIII Soon Be Cast.

! Jerome ArlZ-i July 14.-Iue 4llsl
bullion Of the new United Verde Ex-
/ tension smelter is to be cast within a
few days. The first unit. a 5Oo-ton
blast furnace. has been fired up sew
eraI times already. in experimental
testing Of ores and nuxes. that there
may be no doubt OF the proper charges
at the time OF the real start.
Already in the bins are 10000 tons
Of ore that averages around Is per
cent copper. Indicating a possible out
put from this single furnace Of 4.500.-
900 pounds a month. Three converter
stands are in place and ready. Under
construction Is a reverberatory fur
mace. also Of 500 tons capacity, and a
second reverheratorv is 10 be added
for emergencies Six Wedge hearth
roasters are to be in operation within
a few months. The bedding bins are
and the receiving bins Of steel. to hold
1900 tons
Experiment With Ignite Coal.
An experiment viii be the firing OF
the reverberatories and boilers with
powdered Ignite coal under air pres
sure. the coal TO be OF the ordinary
Gallup variety. Another innovation
is the flooring Of the converter shed
with about 400 tons Of Extension ore.
with the idea that the endless shovel
ing Of overflow matte shall have ad-
mixture Of something more valuable
than ordinary dirt Dominating the
lansscape is the 425 foot stack, 40 feet
in diameter at the bottom. constructed
Of 1000 tons Of moulded brick.
1000 Foot FIue For Gnsses.
Gases go TO it through a 20X25 foot
flue that IS 1000 feet long. Most OF
the building has been done with
brick, though there was disappoint-
meut in finding local clays unsuited
for brick making, resulting IN delay
and added expense. The water sup
ply now Is $50 gallons minute, with
saving accomplished by the cooling
and reuse Of the flow from the fur
mace water Jacket A modern power
plant has been provided, with cleo
tricity, generated at the works, used
wherever practicable
Nearly 500 Men Employed.
Work on the new plant has been in
progress since April Il, 1917, at which
time there had been a start on
three mile railroad spur from Clark
dale. Nearly 500 men now are en-
ployed. but only 800 viii be needed I
for operation OF the completed plant {
They now are housed fin a temporary [
camp near the works. but there is to
be a new town Of Verde, built OF brick Z
and concrete, half mile distant
Plans for the works were drawn by I
A G. McGregOr, who has had hand 7
in most OF the later reduction plants
Of the southwest In charge Of con- !
structiou has been Thos. A stiles, who I
came from work at the Spanish Rio I
Tinto mines and who goes next month 4
to similar employment at CerrO del
Pasco in Peru Barry Hogarty, late /
Of Leadviue. is superintendent. as
sisted nv Tnhu A. Rule ~ 10. Ham J.
mond. from the Copper Queen works I
at Douglas. IS in charge Of the labo- j
ratory.
Build I2,Ss4 Foot Tunnel.
For a number Of months 20 come, I
the ore supply must come IN round I
about fashion, by way Of the United /
Verde railway through Clarkdale. II !
viii be much cheaper and simpler 4
method when completion mas been I
made OF the 12,384-f0ot haulage tun-
mel that IS TO give outlet for the EN-
tension ores on the mines 100 foot
level OF this tunnel about 5000 feet I
remain TO be driven. The work has
been pushed with all possible speed /
by the Potter Construction company !
OF St Louis, but IS going very slowly
at present Bad ground has been
struck at a couple Of points on the I
four headings that have been driven
In addition the Texas shaft, at a mid
way point lately was drowned by
an unexpected rush OF water from
the Dundee country, stopping work on
two headings till the 1lOW can be con-
troIled The east Texas heading is I
only 1900 feet from the portal head
ing and connection. Of course, would
solve all drainage difficulties. but il
Is not likely that there VIII be wait
ing for this. On the mine side about
1900 feet remain TO be run.