rLA^;T OF SMELTEE H. C87 



set of Cornisli rolls, and the. pump. The works are also provided with a small nie- 

 chauics' shop. The slag-heap at this as well as at all the smelters ou Big Evans gulch 

 encroaches ou the bed of the creek. The smelting capacity of the works is about 

 sixty five tons of ore per twenty-four hours. 



Furnaces — At smelter H there are three furnaces of the Piltz pattern, constructed 

 by Messrs. Eraser & Chalmers, of Chicago. These furnaces, which have already been 

 described in the general description of the furnaces, and which arc also successfully 

 at work at smelter B, are represented in perspective \ lew. Fig. 1, Plate XXXVII. 

 This sketch was drawn for the purpose of giving a correct idea of the general appear- 

 ance of these furnaces, which cannot be obtained at a glance from the elevation and 

 section alone. In this sketch the crucible A, with its frame of cast iron plates, as well 

 as the frame of the lead siphon-tap L and of the fore-hearth X', is clearly seen. The 

 cast-iron pillars P, with their capitals and brackets and the two slag-gutters U, are 

 visible. Likewise the riveted wrought-iron boilei'-plate water-jackets J3, the firebrick 

 breast V, and the tyuip-stone and tap-hole Z. The main cast-iron support 0, with its 

 vertical flange 0', supported by the brackets r, the induction-pipe 7, and the wrought- 

 iron casing J' around the masonry, are also visible. 



The same furnaces are represented in vertical section in Fig. 2, Plate XXXVII, 

 showing the steep-lining of the hearth and fore hearth JT', the siphon L', the space b, 

 between the water jackets and the masonry, filled with fire-brick, and the fire-brick 

 lining C of the furnace. 



Fig. 2 shows also the arrangement adopted at smelter H for the tapping of slag. 

 The slag runs into a cast iron slag-pot, V, provided with a spout, V, and live charcoal 

 in large pieces is kept over the molten slag to prevent it from cooling. Any bullion 

 mechanically carried away falls at the bottom of the pot V, which is cleared of its con- 

 tents from time to time. The slag thus freed from bullioTi runs into the ordinary slag- 

 pot H', mounted on wheels. 



This arrangement is evidently excellent, but is only necessitated by some defect 

 in the lining of the dam, for in well-lined furnaces no bullion can escape, thus render- 

 ing the use of an intermediate slag-pot unnecessary; this is proved by the fact that 

 slags never contain any metallic grains, no matter from what part of the cake the 

 specimen is taken. 



Fig. 2 shows also the connection, by means of the sheet-iron flue F' of the chim- 

 ney E, of the furnace with the sheet-iron chamber D', resting on the feeding-floor P', 

 used to catch lead-dust. At d' is seen one of the doors of this chamber, through which 

 the dust is extracted. The small furnaces which have just been described are worked 

 with six tuyeres, 2i inches at the nozzle, and their smelting capacity is IG to 18 tons of 

 ore per twenty-four hours for each furnace. 



Besides the three Piltz furnaces, smelter H has a large Easchette furnace, which 

 was formerly run at smelter L. The smelt ing capacity of this furnace is 25 tons of ore 

 in twenty-four hours. The internal dimensions of the crucible are 5 by 3 feet. The 

 hearth is lined with steep and the furnace is supported on four cast-iron ]>illars, like the 

 square furnaces of similar construction already described. The water-jacket system is 

 rather complicated and is formed of one front and one back jacket, made of wrought-iron 

 riveted boiler-plates, with five cast-iron water-jackets on each side. This plan, as has 

 been observed bef')re, is not good, and at the time this report was made the water- 

 jacket system was under repair. The difference of dilation of the two metals is always 



