The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1919-01-17

district have become the predominant
features of this hilly country. The
No. slime pond at Bonnie Terre, into
which all of the fine tailings and
shines are pumped, has effectively ov-
ercome the pollution of Big River, the
general drainage stream of the dis
trict. For the effluent that leaks
through the retaining dam, which
consists Of a heavy bank of coarse
tailings, is perfectly clear. Although
the No. settling pond covers over 20
acres, second much larger pond is
under construction and covers over
70 acres and will relieve the No. l
pond when the latter is filed.
The 2,000-ton mill at lockwood, six
miles southwest of Bonnie Terre, was
steadily operated last year in treating
the output Of the Leadwood mines,
which are the youngest of the st. Joe
shafts and were opened about Is
years ago. This plant is on the west
ern edge of st. Francois county and al
most overlaps into the adjoining
Washington county.
The 4,OO0-ton mill at Elvins, seven
miles south of Bonnie Terre, in the
Flat River district, now treats the out
put of all the mines of the former
Doe Run Company, which latter has
been finally and completely absorbed
by the st. Joe Company, although the
two companies were always closely re-
lated in ownership. While this is the
youngest of the st. Joe mills, being
some six years old, its great capacity
from the outset has resulted in the
building up of a young mountain of
tailings.
The Cotrell electrostatic process for
smoke and fume prevention is being
installed at the smelter at Hercula-
neum, where other extensive improve
mcnts have been made to reduce la
Dor costs.
The Federal Lead Company had a
very busy year in 1918 at its Flat
River plant and maintained its usual
very large output, which is only ex-
ceeded by that of the St. Joe Com
pany. 1t operated both mills-its No.
3, of 1000 tons capacity and its new
No. 4 mill, of 5000 tons capacity, the
latter being the latest and finest con-
contractor in the district. Five shafts
were operated, including the No. 8
shaft in the southern end of its ter
ritory, "back in the flint hills"
The Keystone shoveling machine
was introduced underground and prov
ed so satisfactory that three of them
are now in use, with a marked saving
in labor. As high as $50 tons per
shift has been handled with a machine
and 1t does not require excessive head
room.
A filter and drying plant for float
alton concentrates was completed in
the No. 3 mill in 1918.
The concentrates are shipped 30
miles to Alton, ILL.,, where the com
pany owns large smeter.
National Lead C0mpany-The Ma
tional Lead Company had very ac-
tive, successful year, and maintained
it's previous output in spite of labor
shortage. The 3,000-ton mill rot on
ly treated the output Of its own three
shafts, but also the output of the Bak-
err Lead Company shaft at Leadwood.
The concentrates are shipped Is miles
to its smelter at Collinsville, in the
Illinois coal belt.
Desloge Lead Company-The Des-
loge Lead Company has been busy
trying to make as large an output as
the unsatisfactory labor market, with
the scarcity of men and loss Of time
through the influenza, would permit.
The energy has been applied to pro-
duction rather than engagements or
alterations. A Lowden dryer was add
ed to the mill for the drying of the
floatation concentrates.
The Baker Lead Company of Bos-
ton operated its one shaft on Big Riv-
er, at Leadwood, throughout the year,
and made a satisfactory record. This
formerly known as the Jake
Day land, is not equipped with mill,
and ships it's ore over the M. R. & B.
I, railroad to the mill of the National
Lead Company to be concentrated.
The Boston Elvins Lead Company's
shaft at Elvins, on Flat River, sue
ceeded in .unwatering it's shaft with a.
vertical centrifugal pump
in 1918, but after operating for a
short time and producing a limited
of lead, it shut down, and the
mine is again flooded. This has been
a very wet shaft, that gave much
trouble in the sinking of it at a very
heavy outlay. 1t is the youngest of
the operating companies, and mining
has been carried on for two short Pc
RODS since the shaft was completed in
1915. 1t has had an incessant fight
with water, being one of the wettest
and deepest shafts in the district. The
is controlled in Boston and
only owns 40 acres that was formerly
Known as the Jones tract.
Mine La Motto
The historic old Mine La Motto mine
was closed down in 1918, and seems to
De in serious financial trouble. The at
;empt to strip so to $50 feet of solid
limestone overburdened from over the
ore body, using sienna shovels for
oading out the broken rock, has not
been a financial success. A huge
'ock breaker was installed to break
down to picking size, and
he lead-bearing rock was to be picked
'ut as the broken material was con-
eyed away on travelling belts.
Missouri Farmers to Meet
Missouri is superlative State. |
he does big things in a big way. |
To- ,,,,konoa Mseca,,r, i