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About The Sumpter miner. (Sumpter, Or.) 1899-1905 | View Entire Issue (March 13, 1901)
Wednesday, March 13, 1401 THE SUMPTER MINER ) ) NOVEL ORE TREATMENT. Process That Melts Asbestos and Reduces Ores. Eastern papers are much exercised over the alleged discovery of an ore reduction process which operates on all ordinary ores In less than an hour and requires simply the mixture of various chemicals with the broken ore. It is even claimed that the vatlous metals are neatly de posited in separate layers, making a me chanical separation easy. Experienced smelting men laugh at the proposition and even laymen will find it hard to give credence to such apparently ridiculous claims. The story Is an enter taining one, however, ami it would be rash to say that it could have no founda tion on fact, even though so extreme a claim is made that nsbeMos is melted by the chemical activity of the so called tlux used. It Is given In the Pittsburg Post as follews: A large number of smelting and oie re fining companies throughout the country have been interested in the discovery made by a physician and chemist which promises to revolutionize the present methods of reducing all high grade metal lic ors, and reducing the cost as well as time required for this work down from several days to a matter of minutes. The process lias been quietly tested in Pitts burg plants during the past few months, and In each case has proved fully up to all the claims made for it. In the interim a number of Pittsburgers, whose names are for the presrnt withheld, have been preparing to organize and secure a charter for the control of the new process. The process of smelting and refining ores for copper, lead, zinc, gold, silver, etc., has been almost entirely with the use of great ore crushers, then with the furnaces and various forms of refining familiar to those engaged in the business. The chemical discovery that has been finally made public wa developed by some years of study by a Dr. Miller, a man advanced In years, whose home Is said to be In the vicinity of Mt. Pleasant. His experiments with his composition, which is called a "flux," developed the fact that by mixing it with asbestos and placing it in a crucible with raw ores, the heat produced Is so intense that the as bestos becomes liquefied. The action of the tlux and asbestos upon the ore Is al most instantaneous. In forty minutes the removal of the dross from the top of the crucible shows the pure copper, lead, silver or gold beneath. Patents have been secured covering the tlux and the process has been submitted to a number of leading chemists in the principal steel mills of Pittsburgh ho have given strong opinions regarding the pos sibilities of the process, providing the cost makes its practical for coinmercl.il pur poses. Practical tests have been con ducted with a good deal of secrecy at the mills of the Pox Copper and Hronze com pany and the mill of Macintosh, Hemphill & Co. The results of these tests have shown that the reduction of the ores placed In the crucibles has been almost complete. In Its action the flux removes over 0,8 per cent of the metals from the crude ores, without any prior crushing. This has never been possible before In the history of mining. The splclmens of cop per and other metals that have been taken from the chemical baths are declared to be absolutely pure and In need of no further treatment. Another feature of the experiments that has developed Is the peculiarly free action of the metals where the ores that are used are of a compound character containing two or more metals. In such cases the new process has caused the various forms of metal to sink to the bottom of the crucible, the heaviest finding a place at the bottom ind the next heaviest resting above It. Three or four dltferent metals have thus been found in layers after the dross has been removed Irom the molten mass and the ctucible allowed to cool. The separation of the layers of different metals Is a matter said to be very simple and In no way does tin one Interfere with the purity of the other. The other peculiar feature of this tlux is the claim of Its discoveier that It Is practically indestructible. It is said that It can be used over and over again in the crucibles, as it passes off w Ith the removal of the dross and never mixes willi the metals In the slightest degree. The In ventor claims that the formula is a cheap one and the cost will not Interfere witli its commercial value In the least. MAP GIVEN AWAY. & M. M. FLYNN 1 --' Y MEN'S TAILOR- A Line of Woolens and Spring Suitings such as would be found In a large city. Look for yourself. Work guaranteed and pikes right. DON'T BE A JAY .111.I wi'.-u Mote ilotlu' (itjnlle Stfrrt, Nut to I Itjl ILink ol Sumptvr SlIMPTI-K, OKI: How to Get a Large One of ii United States, for the Wall. If you are going east, or thinking ut sending for your family, do not buy vmir tickets until you have secured rates from the Illinois Central Itailroad company Their service Is excelled by none, and they can reach all points in the east, south and sotheast from any point in Oregon, Washington or Idaho. Through touilst car from Pacific Coast to New York. If you will send fifteen cents in stamps to the address given below, we will for ward you by return mail a large wall map of the United States, Cuba and Porto Rice, 34x40 indies. Por particulars regarding passenger or freight rates, call on or address, I). II. TltUAtllULI., Commercial Agent, 142 Third street, Port land Oregon. Golden Eagle Hotel American and European Plan T. T. DANILSON, PROPRIETOR Sample Rooms for Commercial .Men. SU.WI'TI-U, OKUGON f-. ''. VV'--'-'-,1 A. P. CiOSS, President A. J. (IOSS, Cashier '- THE QT A P i HOTEL i i i i Bank of Sumpter Titmicts Ceiuril Dinklnt Builnci Interest Allowed on Time Deposits Drafts drawn on all parts of the world. Special attention to collections. Safety Deposit boM's (or rent. SUMPIHR, 0IU:(50N -'''.''''.'''. -'.1 ...The Elite Cigar Store... L. HARRIS, Proprietor Newly remodeled unci refitted. Smokers' resort". We are daily receiving fresh cigars of the leading brands. No stale goods in stock. Healy Block. Cor. Granite and Center Sts. J. G. CONNELL PROPRIETOR Free 'bus to mill from rill trains. Headquarters fiir mining men. ,Io-t cniufortiiljlu rooms in town. l'n.-.s-enters wuyhilletl tit hotel ollii-u for all interior points. Half block from jio.-tolliee. SUMITKR, OltKGON Eureka Feed & Livery Company II. K. HKOWN, Proprietor Horses Boarded by the day or Month. First class turn-outs and saddle horses. Our spec ialty is the quick and safe delivery of freight and passengers to any and all points. ) HAY AND GRAIN FOR SALE-& W. S. BOWERS ABSTRACTS Rcal Estate, Loans and Insurance. Mining Patents Obtained Yc.rs of experience In Maker County Records. No. 2io.j Court Strict, linker City; Oregon. SUMPTER BOTTLING WORKS Manufacturers of ullklnJsol (.arh.n HeJ Drink anj OJrr. 0itrati'J In connection with the Kentucky Liquor House WHOLESALE AND RETAIL. GAGEN A. SLOAN, PROPS., SUMPTER, ORE.