1830 REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS. 



one in Colorado where all the various processes for the treatment of ores are used. An 

 idea of the capital necessary for so extensive operations may be formed from the fact 

 that the single item of labor alone was $1,000 per day ; some 400 tons of base bullion 

 were shipped to the East, it was said, during the season of 1877. This establishment 

 was, when seen, excelled by but one in Colorado, the Boston and Colorado, better 

 known, probably, as Hill's Works, at Black Hawk, where were handled during 1876, 

 $2,225,000, the estimate for the season of 1877 being $225,000 more. 



The Ocean Wave Smelting Works are located at the lower or northern end of town, 

 Mr. Bernard being the superintendent, with Professor West, formerly of Hill's Works, 

 a practical metallurgist, in charge of the machinery. The works are of the ordinary 

 roasting and smelting nature, with Blake crushers, Cornish rolls, &c. Water-power is 

 obtained from the river ; iron ore and calcspar, for fluxing, come respectively from 

 deposits along Hensen Creek and the Gunnison. They give employment in all to 40 

 men and have a capacity of 20 tons daily. This building had just been completed. At 

 the time of our visit the company had on hand some 450 tons of ore, and were receiv- 

 ing plenty of custom work. The works are first-class in every respect and buy and 

 treat ores of 20 ounces and upward. 



Van Gieson's Lixiviation Works, where ores are treated by the chlorination or leach- 

 ing process, are situated on Hensen Creek, which passes through the town on its way 

 to the Gunnison. 



A brief allusion to the interior of this establishment and its treatment of ores may 

 not be wholly devoid of interest, inasmuch as it was highly spoken of and may be re- 

 garded as a type of this class of reduction works, which are rapidly increasing in 

 favor. It is the most economical of all modes, securing 95 per cent of the rxreeious 

 metal, or 15 per cent more than is generally obtained by amalgamation, all kinds of 

 ore being subject to its treatment, save those of heavy galena or in excess of 20 per 

 cent. 



In its operation water-power from Hensen Creek is utilized, the engine being a 45- 

 horse power, Langford & Co., Black Hawk. Foundations, solid masonry; stack 60 

 feet high ; size of main building 110 by 40 feet containing as subdivisions: 



1. Ore receiving room, 40 by 20 feet. Ore purchased is piled in labeled lots; price 

 for ore from the same mine of course varies. 



2. Crushing room, 40 by 40 feet ; contains Hendrie's ball pulverizers, Dodge crushers, 

 elevator with endless chain and cups. This is also utilized as a drying room ; the 

 floor, being of iron, upon which the ore is spread, is heated by furnaces below. 



3. Sampling room, contains a Barclay sampler similar to those at Hill's works at 

 Black Hawk, at Georgetown, and elsewhere seen ; ground ore of various values is 

 thoroughly incorporated and sample produced of general character and value. From 

 this resultant assays are made, furnished to the seller and prices paid accordingly. 



4. Engine room, 40 by 24 feet, is adjoining on same floor, one of Langford &. Co.'s, 

 cost $5,200. Force pmnp also here, for fire protection, throwing a stream through a 

 3-inch hose. 



5. Cooling room, 40 by 18 feet and 14 feet below the above level, where the roasted 

 ores are cooled ; a force pump, Knowles' patent, used therefor. 



6. Furnace room, 40 by 20 feet, contains 4 reverberatory furnaces ; ores crushed above 

 conveyed in pipes, are submitted to the usual roasting process. 



7. Leaching room, situated below the above, containing four circular vats, diameter 

 9 feet, depth 5, in which the roasted ore crushed and solutions are mixed; hence 

 sluiceways carry tailings to the Gunnison. 



8. Chemical rooms, in the same general division but at a lower level; they are two 

 in number and 40 feet by 12 by 14. The first contains two precipitating vats, where 

 mixture is precipitated and clear solution is removed by a force pump to be utilized 

 again; the second contains four tanks for base metals, as copper, iron, lead, &c, of 

 which the copper only is saved. In the first room stirrers, similar, to a steamer's 

 screw, revolve horizontally, producing the sulphide of silver, which conveyed to an 

 adjoining room, is desulphurized in a powerful furnace. It is then taken to an adjoin- 

 ing building containing the assay department, and also crucibles, melting furnaces 

 &c, where it is molded into bricks, in which shape it is shipped to refining works in 

 New York City. 



Original cost of work, in 1876, $45,000 ; in addition thereto $15,000 to $20,000 expended 

 during season of 1877, in enlargement &c. , capacity having been nearly doubled on the 

 first run being successful ; at present reducing 7 to 8 tons daily, and weekly amounts 

 paid out aggregating $4,000 to $5,000. 



Mr. Houghton, the superintendent, has a reputation for fine management, the first 

 two months showing a product of $33,000 ; two Aveeks' work yielded 7 bricks, which, 925 

 fine, were worth $11,000, and the entire first lot of 200 tons reduced in five weeks re- 

 turned 16 bricks with a weight of 21,431 ounces whose fineness and value, at the pro- 

 portionate rate of the standard silver ounce, was $1.07 or about $22,800 in all. 



Ores holding 40 ounces and upward were purchased for cash, and the average value, 

 we were informed, of all ores milled at the works was a little over 130 ounces. It was 

 their intention to increase their works during 1878, to double the present capacity. 



