Bisbee daily review. [volume] (Bisbee, Ariz.) 1901-1971, 1918-01-27
ST. JOSEPH LEAD IS
SECOND LARGEST IN
+ THE UNITED STATES

The st. Joseph Lead company in
1917 produced approximately 2O0.0OO.-
eco pounds Of lead as against IS2.O0o.-
600 pounds in 1916 and 100000
pounds in 1916.
This company is the largest indie
pendent producer of lead in the Uni
ted States. being Outranked only by
the American Smelling & Refining
company. The St Joseph Lead COM
pany was organized 81 years agO-at
that time acquiring 946 acres at Bonnie
Terre. Mo. This property was equip
ped with a 100-ton mill and the prod
uct was hauled to the railroad by
WAGONS distance of IL miles. In
1850 a 14mile narrow gauge railroad
was built, which eliminated the use
OF teams. and adjoiring properties
were acquired about that time. The
company now owns 100000 acres Of
mineral ground opened by 20 shafts.
The original 100-tOn mill has been re-
placed by three plants capable OF
treating 5000 tons daily and in Her.
culaneum. Mo. the company has one
of the largest and most modern lead
smelters in the world. The narrow
gauge railroad has been replaced by
100 miles Of well-built standard gauge
track and the towns OF Herculaneum.
Bcnne Terre and lockwood were con-
structed to house the company's en-
ployes.
Prior to 1911 gases from the four
blast furnaces were permitted to eS-
cape through short stacks. but in that
year a bag house was built. This
huilding-divided into four oompart-
ments-contains $500 bags. each Is
inches in diameter and so feet long.
The gas leaves the furnace al a tenn
perature Of approximately $50 degrees
Fahrenheit and is reduced to $50 de-
grees in passing through a 600foot
flue. The bags are shaken automatic
ally and from the dust the company re-
covers approximately s.000. 900 pounds
Of lead annually together with other
mineral and chemical products.
In 1917 ST. Joseph Lead erected a
new power plant at RivermineS equip
! ped with two 5000 K. ". steam tUr-
bine units. replacing three separate
plants which have now been diSmantl-
ed. The power plant furnishes $500
volts to the cOmpany's various opera
tons from to 10 miles distant
The result in 1917 operations is not
vet known but il is understood that
net profits were considerably in exces
Of the S4.6z4.OO0 shown in 1916. Two
years ago the company set up an am
IRRITATION reserve to be used either
for the purchase Of additional proper
ties or as a return to stockholders or
capital invested. Whenever the
monthly average selling price Of lead
exceeds SEQ per ton. a charge OF &c
per ton OF ore is milled for each dol
lar OF such excess is credited to the
reserve account
In 1916 the company paid four reg
ular quarterly dividends Of % cents.
together with $50 from the amOrti-
zation reserve. making $3.50 a share
returned to stockholders during that
year. In March and June. 1917. regu-
lar quarterly dividends of % cents a
share were paid. together with amOrti-
ration extras OF so cents. In Septem-
Der. the regular dividend was increas-
ed to IS cents. and an extra OF 50
cents paid; while IS cents was paid
in December-the extra being elimt
matchmaking $3.50 paid in 1917 as
against $3.50 in 1916.
The company is capitalized at Sso,-
O00. 900. shares $40 par. with 1.40S.4SS
shares outstanding.
The stock is listed on the New York
curb and sells around SIS.