626 



GEOLOGY AND MINING INDUSTRY OF LEADVILLE. 



The following are the names of the diiferent smelting works, of the superintend- 

 ents, and the dates at which they commenced smelting: 



Cost of plant From data obtained by the census investigation of the precious 

 metals for 1880, carried on under the supervision of Mr. S. F. Emmons, it is found 

 that the smelters of Leadville were erected at an aggregate cost of about $800,<ii)(>. 



In the following table will be found the cost of plant of twelve of the principal 

 smelters in arbitrary numerical order : 



TABLE III. 



Cost of plant. 



Smelter 1 $43,000 



II 160,000 



III 80,000 



IV 25,000 



V 37,000 



VI 65,000 



VII. 95,000 



VIII 60,000 



IX 48,000 



X 37,000 



XI 30,000. 



XII 20,000 



General disposition of smelting works The slope of the banks of gulches is particu- 

 larly favorable to the construction of smelters, most of which are divided into several 

 levels, which allow of a rational division of labor and economize constructions, hoisting 

 machinery, and manual labor. 



On California gulch most smelters have the following levels: 



1. The fumace, slag-heap, and bullion level, connected by means of inclined 

 ways with the main lower road of the gulch running at the foot of the slag-heap. 



2. The feeding-floor level, which is also that for crushing, sampling, ore-beds, and 

 ore-bins. This level is always provided with a wagon road, branch of the upper road, 

 and communicates with the upper and lower levels by means of inclined ways. 



