The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1923-06-28
Encouragement for Silver Miners--Much
Interest in Proposed Silver Associ-
ation--Position of Smelters

TWO elements in the calculation
dtems 1 and 81 represent estimates 10y
the plant managers of the amount OF
silver at the beginning and end OF any
given period contained in stocks OF
ore, in intermediate products at vari-
GUS stages of the process, in the nues
in accumulations of matte, brick and
miscellaneous by-products. f. w
Hills, auditor of the A. :. < r. COM
pany explained at length the impos-
sibility of making an accurate estim-
ate. He said that frequently plant
managers were detected in Judging
/ (his own word) estimates between
different plants. The figures in the
( left hand column in the same table
indicate hypothetical quantities that
might be actual. though undetermin-
able, quantities that are estimated as
shown in the right hand column. The
purpose of the table is merely to
show how the whole thing is predict
ed on estimates that are impossible
of verifcation, except by immediate
shutting down and cleaning up of the
plant, an utterly impracticable pro-
ceeding.
The question arises. what DISPOSE
ton was made of the silver in ore as
saying under 1 ounce per ton, for
which the shelters do not ordinarily
pay? Mr.. Brownell declares that with
the A. S. & r. these quantities are
determined and treated as foreign sill
yer in the metallurgical balance sheet,
so that they do not serve to increase
the apparent recovery. Presumably
the same practice is followed by the
other companies.
Senator Pittman is fully aware of
the fact that metallurgical processes
are much more efficient than they
were; that lead smelling (from which
the A. S. & r. gets most of its silver)
generally RECEIVERS more silver than
copper or zinc smelling, and that the
A. S. & R. company buys a great deal
of dore bullion on which the recovery
is virtually 100 per cent.
However his argument in favor of
the 95 per cent settlement, if I I'M
derstand him rightly and making al
lowances for my translation of his
polished diction into my own words is:
ut is not incumbent on the govern
ment to prove that the silver you of
fer is not properly qualified. The
burden of proof lies with you to prove
to the satisfaction of the mint off,
o;oIs 4bat ~ io croIf6ad Won, hasa
your estimate of recovery on figures
that no one but heaven can prove or
disprove, and these results are sew
eral per cent higher than the figures
on which you always have settled and
still continue lin effect to settle with
the miner. You allocate your metal
lurgical loss between foreign and
domestic ores in proportion to the
amount of silver contained in each, so
that if the estimates of recovery are
high your silver is not properly pur
chaseable under the Pittman act. 1t
is up to you to prove conclusively
that they are not high, and this, ac
cording to your own statements. is
impossible. AS an alterna-
tive you have the figure on which
you settle with the miner, the figure
which all but one of you used during
the first eight months of the 81 pur-
chases. the figure which no one. either
official or miner, would question-95
per cent"
MIR. Kelley, OF Anaconda, says that
he has always urged this policy; he
says that he is ready to waive any
rights and settle on this basis now. OF
course his company is a producer as
we'll as a buyer of ore, and for that
reason his situation is slightly differ
ent. l am not prepared to express any
opinion as to what the other compan-
les ought to do; but if they should
agree to the IS per cent basis, ac-
ceptances of about 10000 900 ounces of
silver would be voided, and this
would remain to be replaced
by mine production.
With respect to the controversy
about the revocation of 100000
ounces for subsidiary coinage I am
not at liberty to divulge the most re-
cent developments. The senator's
auditors are busy at the Philadelphia
mint and if the proof that he thinks.
exists can be obtained, the complexion
of the whole matter will be changed.
The whole question will then be
thrashed out in hearings before the
subcommittee of one: the senator
himself.
AS soon as the end of this business
is in sight a definite date will be set
for the conference which all the silver
producers in the western hemisphere
will be asked to attend. This will
probably be held at Reno, New. AL
though no invitations have been issu-
ed, the plan has been given publicity
in the press and Senator Pittman has
already received informal assurance
from prominent men in the silver min
ing industry of Ontario and British
Columbia, in Canada, that they will
he on hand