EXPENSES ATTENDING MINING OPERATIONS. 
185 
cumstanees. If it is a trial shaft merely, and the vein is of a 
doubtful character, it will not be prudent to incur the expense 
of a whimsey until after the vein has been proved to a certain 
extent. 
Other expenses are incurred in mining operations before the 
mineral is ready for smelting, besides those which attend the 
shafting, tunneling and stoping. Almost all ores require roast¬ 
ing in order to fit them for stamping. There are, therefore, 
three operations, at least, to which the ore must be subjected 
to fit it for smelting, viz: assorting, roasting and stamping or 
crushing. Passing by the expense of assorting, as this must 
be the most variable of the three, and can not be calculated 
before trial, I proceed to state the expense of roasting and 
crushing a given amount of iron ore. The roasting is per¬ 
formed in kilns of a simple construction. 
One kiln, containing 107 tons of ore, will cost: 
1. For mining, fifty cents per ton, $53*50 
2. Five cords of wood, two dollars per cord, 10*00 
3. Teaming one hundred rods, 11*50 
4. Labor for filling the kiln, 16*00 
$91*00 
In the case of iron, there is usually the expense of 
separating the rock from the ore, which is effected 
either by magnets or by washing. If the first method 
is adopted, the expense will amount to 
1. 
6 men, 2f days 
in crushing, one 
dollar per day, 16*50 
2. 
1 engineer, 2f 
days, at $2*00 per day, 
3. 
1 assistant, 1 
" 1*50 
a 
4. 
1 machinist, 
2*50 
sc 
5. 
1 man, 
“ 1*25 
(C 
6. 
3 men, 
1 boy, 
“ 1*00 
sc 
7. 
“ 50 
sc 
40*42 
8. 
10 cords of wood for engine, 
20*00 
Total cost,* 
$167*92 
* Sandford mine, Essex county, N, Y., Lot 21. 
24 
