72 ALEXANDER AGASSIZ 



and I am sorry to say I am awfully disappointed. The 

 utmost capacity of mill is three tons per hour and what 

 is worse when running at that speed we make 20 per 

 cent raff and that raff we cannot finish (it runs about 

 40 per cent copper) ; the rollers are too unequal to crush 

 copper, inequalities in shells fully up to one fourth inch 

 occur so frequently, and power is required to flatten out 

 so much copper as is in raff so immense that rollers open 

 or choke, and either make raff or clog. The copper can- 

 not be got out before it gets to last roller, there is so 

 much small stuff just big enough to open rollers and 

 make raff, and when rollers do not open it falls through 

 the inequalities. 



So that the best that you can do at mill is 60 tons a 

 day, and I . doubt if that can be kept up day in and 

 day out, of say 5 per cent ingot, 3 tons a day, 25 days, 

 75 tons ingot. Now add to that whatever barrel work 

 will come out of Rock House, and what that will be no 

 man can tell now. I am afraid I am figuring mill high. 

 I think that Rock House will give us 50 tons barrel 

 work at 60 per cent — 30 tons more ingot, total, 100 

 tons ingot — $46, 000 at a cost of all included of 

 $36, 000, leaving not more than $10,000 a month. That 

 is the best I can figure it at. Now this is altogether too 

 small and will never do. Our mill is a hindrance to us. 



Immediately after this distressing news, Mr. Shaw 

 made a flying trip to Calumet, and the following plan 

 was decided on. Two Ball stamp heads were ordered 

 for the Calumet Mill. The work on the railroad was to 

 be pushed ahead as fast as possible, a mill for Hecla, 

 equipped with two Ball heads, and with a capacity for 

 two more when needed, was to be built at Torch Lake. 



