The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1920-03-18
. zINCPRODUCERSAND
.ELECTROLYTICPLANT
Would be a Great
Help to Local
Industry
BUNKER HILL PROJECT
Such a Plant Would Boom
Pine Creek and Restore
Life to Success
BUNKER HILL PROJECT

"" ThillE THE present prices OF
W. lead and zinc are satisfact-
wv DRY from local standpoint.
zinc producers who are
without a contract for their output
find it practically impossible to find
buyers who will offer terms that will
permit a reasonable profit. This is
operating greatly to the disadvantage
of small and irregular shippers and
resulted in enforced idleness at some
{ properties which would otherwise be
active. In order to eliminate the eX-
cessive freight and treatment charges
and provide a market for the large
amount Of zinc already available. and
at the same time encourage the de-
velopment of zinc properties, investi-
cations have been going on for some
time regarding the feasibility of estab-
fishing an electrolytic zinc plant in
the district. 1t is found that the cost
OF such a plant as would be necessary
to meet the requirements would be
large, and its profitable operation
would depend in great measure upon
the rate that could be obtained for
electricity. 1t is believed that If all
other conditions were satisfactory, the
problem Of electricity could be solved
on a reasonable basis between the two
big power companies operating here.
About the time the Bunker Hill COM
pany built it's lead smelter at Kellogg,
Mr. Bradley announced that the COM
pany contemplated the erection of a
zinc plant also. Nothing has been
heard recently regarding the enter
prise. Such a plant would be of ire
mendous benefit to the Occur dAlene
district and it is hoped that the COM
pany still has the plant in view and
win soon be in position to carry the
plans into effect.
Would Boom Pine Creek.
The erection of a zinc smelter by the
Bunker Hill & Sullivan company as
proposed would at once settle all the
Pine creek troubles by providing a
market for the zinc ores Of that sec
ton. There would be no further hest
tation regarding the building of the
railroad, mines long idle would become
productive, and the scores of promis-
ing prospects and partially developed
mines would become the scene of ac-
tivity such as Pine creek had never
seen before. And it is not improbable
that this may become a reality at no
distant day. 1t is probable that the
unsettled industrial condition through
out the country which reduces the
Of zinc and renders the
future Of the metal uncertain explains
the temporary abandonment of the
zinc smelling project by the Bunker
Hill This unsettled condition can not
last always; in fact there are evil
iences now that after the fall cleo
tons rapid progress win be made to-
ward restoring normal conditions, and
hat the country viii enter upon long
period of industrial and business
When that time comes
here is no reason to doubt that the
Bunker Hill company viii take up the
zinc smelling enterprise and carry 1t
. completion, thus doing for the zinc
miners what it has already done for
he miners Of lead.
Success Would Become Active.
An eleetrolytic zinc plant would be
Welcomed by the Success Mining COM
oany, which has found it impossible
% find a market for 600 tons Of zinc
and that will justify it
n restoring operations in the mine
The last work in the mine is under
itoOd TO have exposed a new and i'm
'ortant shoot Of lead-zinc ore, which
With other showings would justify
assumption of operations. But the
management, after diligent effort has
'een unable to find a buyer that will
'ffer terms that win permit a reas-
'nable profit on the zinc product, and
he mine remains In enforced idleness.