USA > Montana > Silver Bow County > Butte > A brief history of Butte, Montana, the world's greatest mining camp; including a story of the extraction and treatment of ores from its gigantic copper properties > Part 8
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SIX-HORSE ORE TEAMS.
to the approximate size of a walnut. The ore in turn then passes through succeeding sets of crushers, each reducing the size of the rock until it passes finally between two wheel crushers, the wheels revolving in opposite directions, which reduce the rock to about the size of sifted gravel. The ore is now run into jigs, at which stage the principle of specific gravity first is utilized. Water has been combined with the crushed rock
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BUTTE, MONTANA.
and all is hydraulically forced through the troughs of the jigs, the silica being sufficiently light to be carried off, while sieves underneath the troughs allow a portion of the minerals, by reason of their specific gravity, to pass through, the jigs being given a motion similar to that which their nanie indicates to aid this operation.
The mineral thus abstracted is called " con- centrates," and is conducted directly to the roast-
undergo exactly the same treatment as in the initial one, resulting in the abstraction of some mineral and the elimination of some silica. And thus on, from one series of jigs to another, one a little lower than the other, the middlings are carried from floor to floor, each series perform- ing its proportion of work. Finally is reached the Huntingdon crusher at the lowermost end of the jigs and into this the middlings are run
O
[HUNTINGDON CRUSHER.
INITIAL CRUSHER.
ing furnaces, all necessity for further concentra- tion palpably being obviated. While some min- eral has thuus been abstracted and some silica has been eliminated from the crushed rock, quan- tities of either still remain in the great bulk that has passed over the initial jig, and must be fur- ther concentrated. That which remains yet to be concentrated is called "middlings," and is carried on to the next series of jigs, there to
and ground into a fine powder, not much coarser than flour.
Emerging from the Huntingdon the ore seems to have disappeared and muddy water to have been substituted. This is now conveyed to the " tables," which, likewise, utilize the principle of separation by specific gravity. The "round table " is the first to which the muddy water is run. It is an immense circular affair, its surface
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THE RED METAL.
-
CONCENTRATING JIGS. Showing four floors devoted to these machines.
ROUND TABLES. Water clearing on the right.
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BUTTE, MONTANA.
sloping uniformly from the center to the outer edge, and is given a revolving motion which never ceases. Large pipes run separately from above the center of the table, carrying, respec- tively, the muddy water and clear water.
The muddy water is released from the center upon a given half of the table under a nicely adjusted pressure and the clear water likewise upon the other half. As the muddy water passes downward over the surface of the table, the min - eral, in its powdered condition, naturally flows less rapidly by reason of its greater weight and
point where the muddy water will be poured upon it, a series of small waterspouts arranged above the surface of the table from center to outer edge, shoot strong streams across the sur- face, clearing it of the mineral as the table passes under. Thus a clean surface is constantly pass- ing under the pipes carrying the muddy water and, automatically and without ceasing, the table is continually carrying its treasure of mineral around to the spouts to be swept off and treated as other concentrates.
Still another process is necessary, however,
WILFLEY TABLE. Showing separation of mineral and waste.
cleaves to the surface, while the water and less weighty ground substances flow with sufficient rapidity to pass completely from off the table and into receiving sluices provided therefor. Meanwhile the table, constantly turning, has carried the mineral remaining upon the surface around to the opposite side and over this the clear water is allowed to flow, eliminating still further portions of foreign matter not carried away by separation upon the initial half of the table.
As the table still further revolves, carrying the mineral with it, and just before it reaches the
before the middlings are deprived of sufficient values to warrant a termination of further treat- ment by concentration. The middlings that have passed over the round table are next conducted through sluices to a different type of table, known as the Wilfley, in which the principle of specific gravity, differently applied, is used. These tables are long and narrow, with the foot a trifle lower than the head, and with a slight slant from side to side. A quick, jerking move- ment from end to end, similar to the jigs, is given these tables.
Along the surface from end to end and about
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THE RED METAL.
END OF CALCINE OVEN. Showing plows emerging from inside.
Bittes.
HOPPERS.
Dumping roasted calcines into smelting furnace.
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BUTTE, MONTANA.
DRAWING OFF SLAG.
PREPARING TO FILL CONVERTER WITH CHARGE OF MATTE.
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THE RED METAL.
an inch apart are fastened most delicate strips of metal of barely perceptible thickness. As the middlings or muddy water is run from the round table it is brought to the Wilfley table and pre- cipitated from along the side, near the head.
Here again the specific gravity of the mineral permits it to cling to the surface of the table, aided by the strips, while the foreign matter passes on over the table and is carried away to the final tailings dumps. Eight-tenths to one and two-tenths per cent of mineral is carried in these tailings and no machinery would pay for its oper-
second-class ore, carrying from two and one- half to seven per cent, were taken directly to the smelter, as is the first-class ore, all of the foreign matter disposed of by concentration would have to be handled through the succeeding stages. Whereas, by eliminating it, the matter abstracted and taken to the smelter carries fully two to five times as large a percentage of copper. In other words, tons of ore turned into the crusher are taken away to the tailings dump and the neces- sity of smelting this great amount is obviated.
While much foreign matter has been separated
CONVERTERS BLOWING. Showing immense electric crane on tracks at top. Furnaces to left of picture.
ation in abstracting values from them. The min- eral meanwhile adhering to the surface of the table gradually works its way to the foot and is held in its place by the strips, while constantly running water still further eliminates the foreign matter not washed away by the first separation of the tailings. As it reaches the end of the table, it passes over and, like the previously secured concentrates, is taken to the furnaces.
The average percentage of copper in all the concentrates secured from the concentrating process by means of the jigs and tables is about twelve per cent. It will thus be seen how by this process the operations following concentration are relieved of a vast amount of work. If the
from the ore, however, there still remains a great deal.
The foreign matter in Butte ores consists of from forty-five to seventy per cent silica and the balance of iron and sulphur.
The concentrates still contain but nine to four- teen per cent of copper, the remainder running about twenty to twenty-five per cent silica, forty per cent sulphur and the balance in iron and other base metals.
The next step is the elimination of the greater portion of the sulphur by roasting, which step is the first one encountered in the smelter proper. The concentrates are run through hoppers upon the heds of huge enclosed ovens, under which
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fires are constantly kept burning, the concentrates lying about two inches deep. These ovens are of a great length and lie usually one above the other. As the concentrates drop from the hopper into the oven, a plow-like device, with teeth a few inches apart, guided by wheels running upon tracks at either side of the oven and propelled by endless metal belts, scatter them along the surface and push them a little farther into the oven. At given intervals, other plows appear, turning the concentrates, pushing them a little
eight or nine per cent. This being a sufficiently low per cent they are automatically pushed into waiting cars at the ends of the oven, and are car- ried to the " reverberatory furnaces."
The roasted ore is now known as " calcines." The reverberatory furnace is so called for the reason that the flames therein are made to rever- berate and whirl. The calcines are dumped into hoppers directly above the furnaces and, as a slide in the hopper is pulled, the " charge " is dropped directly into the flames. The object of
. .
THE FINAL STAGE. Drawing off 99 per cent copper into pigs.
further along and, passing on through the oven, follow the course of the belt to the oven below. performing a like service there.
Thus the plows continue their endless jour- ney from one oven to the other, the concentrates gradually being deprived of the greater portion of the sulphur therein contained by virtue of the inflammable properties of that ingredient and the absence of such properties in other minerals. By the time the concentrates have been pushed through one oven, have dropped into the lower one and covered the length of that, the sulphur contained in them has been reduced to about
this process is obviously to melt or smelt the charge, the time taken in so doing ranging from four to six hours, according to its size.
When the charge is thoroughly smelted the mineral, by reason of its specific gravity, seeks the bottom, while the waste matter, composed mostly now of silica and iron, rises to the top. This waste matter is called " slag," and is skim- med off into immense pots through holes in the front of the furnace. The slag pots, when filled, are lifted by immense electric cranes at the top of the building, deposited on electric cars and run to the waste dunip. The matter still remaining in
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THE RED METAL.
the furnace is called "matte." This matte is drawn off into cast-iron molds or tapped directly into the converters.
The converter is a huge iron pot, composed of two half shells. These shells, before using, are first lined with a deep bed of clay, some thirty inches in thickness, and are then fastened to- gether. The crane then carries the converter to a point adjacent to the reverberatory furnace and is lowered into a hole sufficiently deep to allow the molten matter to run into it from the fur- naces. The converter is now returned to its proper place beneath an exaggerated funnel- shaped pipe and compressed air is forced into the matte. This process is called " blowing."
As the blowing proceeds, the iron combines with the clay lining, forming a slag, which is poured off and the blowing continued; the sul- phur, combining with the air, causes oxidation, and, presto, all foreign matter has disappeared and ninety-nine per cent pure copper remains. This is run off into molds, the bars being called copper pigs. These pigs are now too fine in cop- per to permit of treatment in local works and are shipped East to the refineries.
As " first-class " ores proceed directly from the mine to the smelter, the process to which they are subjected begins with the reverberatory furnace and their subsequent treatment is identically the same as the calcines from the second-class ores.
PUBLISHER'S NOTICE.
In submitting this humble effort, kindly thanks are publicly due to many who have assisted so generously in its production.
To August Christian, chief engineer of the Anaconda properties ; John O'Neil, superintendent of the Anaconda, Neversweat and St. Lawrence mines; W. C. Thomas, superintendent of the Butte and Boston smelter, and Thomas Bryant, superintendent of the Original mine, special ac- knowledgments are due for having assisted in securing the most complete collection of mining and smelting views that, undoubtedly, has ever been assembled under one cover.
The engravings were made by the Illinois En- graving Company, of Chicago, whom we believe to be the peers in their line anywhere.
The paper was furnished by the Dwight Paper Company, of Chicago, and its high quality speaks for itself.
The composition, presswork and binding were
performed by The Henry O. Shepard Company, of Chicago, printers of The Inland Printer, who require no eulogy from us.
Mr. Samuel Hamilton, of the Elite Studio, in Butte, has reflected his unquestioned ability as an artist in the character of the photographs, all of which are his handiwork.
No effort has been spared to provide a publi- cation which every Montanian will be proud to see go beyond the State, and yet keep its selling price within so nominal a range as to make it a popular one and within the reach of all.
This publication may be secured from news- dealers and booksellers for $1.50 per copy, or will be sent by mail to any address in the United States or Canada, carefully wrapped, for $1.75.
HARRY C. FREEMAN.
Manager Montana Art View Company,
BUTTE, MONTANA, U. S. A.
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BUTTE, MONTANA.
HENNESSY MERCANTILE COMPANY.
Hennessy's, the "Biggest, Best and Busiest Store in Montana," is located on the southeast corner of Main and Granite streets, Butte. It is a brick building with steel framework and stone
The building, in its entirety, was put up in the most substantial manner possible, and is as near fireproof as human skill could construct, cost- ing over $600,000. It measures 84 by 192 feet, is
HENNESSY BLOCK.
facings. It is an imposing structure, six stories high. The three upper floors, with the exception of a few rooms occupied by Hennessy's as store- rooms and offices, are rented by many of Butte's leading lawyers, physicians and professional men. The halls of these floors are covered with inlaid marble tiling. Fireproof vaults, for the use of tenants, are built in the solid masonry and occupy the center of each floor.
thoroughly lighted by electricity, and furnished with all the modern improvements.
Ilennessy's store, about which so much has been said and written, occupies the three lower floors and the large, well-lighted basement ex- tending under the sidewalks of Main and Granite streets. This store was first opened to the public on November 21. 1898, but the formal opening was deferred until Wednesday, December 7, some
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BUTTE, MONTANA.
two weeks later, and was recognized as the most important mercantile event in the history of the State, marking the transition of Butte from a so-called mining camp to a metropolitan city.
It engendered confidence in the minds of Butte's citizens, who are now rapidly improving the city by the erection of handsome and substan- tial buildings, in both the business and residence portions.
Hennessy's store is the chief attraction in the city for shoppers from all parts of the State, who can save both time and money by the facilities furnished for sup- plying under one roof everything that everybody can need for their homes or personal use.
Heavy French plate-glass win- dows, framed in copper, extend the entire length and width of the building on both the first and sec- ond floors, fur- nishing admira- ble light to the interiors, and giving an oppor- tunity for dis - playing goods that no other store in the State possesses. These windows are a sight in them- selves. The main entrance to the store is on Main street. The gro- cery department at the rear is entered from Gran- ite street, and between this and the main portion of the store is a handsome hallway entrance for the offices above, reached by electric elevator and Tennessee marble staircase with solid bronze bal- ustrades, etc. The main floor of Hennessy's con- tains the silks and dress goods, domestics, notions, trimmings, hosiery and gloves, boots and shoes, men's clothing, men's hats, men's jewelry and furnishing departments, all of which are as com- plete in every detail as was possible to make them, and filled with stocks of goods that would make
a good showing in any first-class store in New York or other large city, and which surpass any that can be seen in the Northwest.
Step to the left and thousands of dollars' worth of silks, fresh from the looms of France, Switz- erland and domestic points, fill the shelves, cover the counters and lend their graceful drapings to make a display of rich fabrics that can not be matched in the West.
Are you wanting an evening gown? There is a dark-room handy into which you can step to test the effect of electric light upon tints lovely
SILKS AND DRESS GOODS DEPARTMENTS, ON MAIN FLOOR ..
by day and more or less so at night. Everything new in silks and velvets, imported trimmings and hand-made laces can be seen for the asking, and readily transformed in the dressmaking depart- ment to the richest reception gown that a reign- ing society belle could desire.
Pass on to the dress goods. Do you want a French novelty? It's here in a hundred styles.
Pneumatic tubes of polished brass connect the meat market, grocery and the several departments on the second and third floors and in the base- ment with the cashier's desk and wrapping depart- ments in the center of the main floor.
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BUTTE, MONTANA.
Two passen- ger elevators and five freight ele- vators run by electricity are taxed to their ut- most capacity, for, come when you may, you will find this store crowded and its three hundred and more em- ployes busy at- tending to the wants of the many customers.
WVe said the departments were complete in every detail. They are, and noticeably so. As you enter from Main street you can not help
GATHER & MANKING RATE
NOTIONS AND SHOES, ON MAIN FLOOR.
4 2 23
GATCHEL & MANNING AMILY.
admiring the rich and highly polished quarter- sawed oak coun- ters, fixtures and tables, and the show-cases of finest plate glass, showing off to the best advan- tage silks, laces, shoes, shirts or what not.
Do you ad- mire the fashion- able fabrics of finest wool or wool and silk for a tailormade suit? Here are the lat- est in Scotch, Irish and English tweeds, French venetians, broad- cloths, zibelines,
MEN'S CLOTHING AND FURNISHINGS DEPARTMENT, ON MAIN FLOOR.
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BUTTE, MONTANA.
homespuns, goli suitings, covert cloths, camels'- hair serges, English diago- nals, worsteds, and many other stylish materials for that com- fortable cos- tume. Many a swell tailormade garment has been correctly fashioned in Hennessy's dress - making department this season. Expert men - tailors from New York do the work and it's the finest.
GATCHEL & CANNING JAVA
LADIES' SUIT AND WRAP DEPARTMENT, ON SECOND FLOOR.
Are you a housekeeper? Then domestics will have some attraction, for pretty Irish linen table sets, Barnaby linen towelings, sheetings, bedspreads, muslins, English, French, Scotch,
California and other flannels are shown in the greatest variety. Notions, the little things, but immensely important. The "Reynier" kid gloves, prizewin- ners at Paris this season, the " P. & L." and oth- ers in kid, silk, wool and lisle ; hosiery, plain and fancy, laces, such a lot and so many styles. Isa- bel Cassidy's toilet prepara- tions, soaps, per- fumery, ribbons, belts and a mil- lion articles of everyday use are here.
GATCHEL- MAMMINE
FURNITURE DEPARTMENT, ON THIRD FLOOR.
Boots and shoes - Banis- ter's- the best shoes made for men, shown in
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BUTTE, MONTANA.
sixteen new styles, and Hen- nessy's celebra- ted EEEE (for ease). Shoes for women have made this de- partment in- tensely popular. There's a style about the fit and finish of Hennes- sy's shoes that's hard to dupli- cate, and it shows up in the heavy walking as well as the lightest shoes for dress. Here are boys', misses' and chil- dren's shoes, rub- ber goods, min- ing boots and shoes and the celebrated
THE MOORISH ROOM, ON THIRD FLOOR.
1
THE ART ROOM, IN BASEMENT BAZAAR.
"Workingman's Friend" and " Never Sweat" shoes, so well and favorably known through- out Montana.
The south side of the main floor is devoted to men's goods, the furnishings de- partment, with its long row of plate-glass show- cases, filled with shirts, neckwear, jewelry, etc., is particularly at - tractive. Exam- ine the men's clothing. Such an assortment of rich styles in suits and overcoats, such a stock of
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BUTTE, MONTANA.
serviceable garments for business and working- men you will not find elsewhere. The world's leading makes in underwear, hosiery, gloves, shirts and neckwear have a showing here that can not be duplicated, for here is done the biggest business in Butte. Knox hats and other well- known makes are shown in the latest shapes and tints.
The second floor contains everything for women and children and more too. Ready-to- wear costumes, tailor suits, dress skirts, tailor- made skirts, golf suits, silk petticoats, dress and shirt waists, cor- sets, underwear, boys' clothing and furnishings, jackets, capes, coats, furs, all are here, as also are the millinery, dressmaking. stationery and men's tailoring departments. Each is the best that money can buy or skill pro- duce.
Then the third floor, covering a space of over 16,000 square feet, devoted to furniture, carpets and draperies. On this floor are sample pieces of furniture, hun - dreds of chairs, tables and other things, and no two are alike.
Immense warehouses down town hold the stock of furniture of which these pieces are but the samples. Hennessy's is the largest, richest, handsomest and best stock of furniture in Mon- tana, and the biggest business in that line is done . at Hennessy's.
When you have looked through the lines of carpets you will have noticed the richest Axmin- sters, Wiltons, moquettes and body brussels, and the lower-priced tapestries, ingrains and mattings. Here are lovely rugs from the mills of Pennsylvania and New York, and gems of orien-
tal beauty from the hand looms of antiquity, shown in the Moorish room, with teak-wood stands, battle-axes, cushions and other requisites for cozy corners and home comforts generally. Hennessy's are house furnishers in the truest sense of the word. Compare the work on draper- ies, the fit of carpets or anything else with what has been done by others, and every time you will find Hennessy's the best.
Don't miss that art room in the basement ba- zaar! It's a gem, full of gems in cut-glass, fancy china, pretty bric-à-brac, graceful statuary, lovely
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CROCKERY DEPARTMENT IN BASEMENT BAZAAR.
lamps, pedestals, vases, tea and coffee sets, chafing- dishes, five o'clock teas and odd pieces of every- thing from everywhere. It seems to be the ideal spot in which to select a Christmas present, New Year's gift, something to beau- tify your own home or that of a bride about to establish one. Arranged on tables and shelves that meet the eye as you enter this section are china and crockery, glassware, stoves, heaters, toilet sets, dinner sets, hardware and the thousand and one big things and little things in house furnishings that every woman wants.
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BUTTE, MONTANA.
Then if something really good to eat and drink is wanted, there's no place like Hennessy's gro- cery for supplying that want. Most of Butte people appreciate this, if one can judge by the number of teams which deliver the goods to all parts of the city.
If you are a resident of Butte you can appre- ciate the advantages of dealing at Hennessy's, where goods are marked in plain figures, and
twenty stores with the largest and best stocks in their line, valued at over half a million dol- lars, are under one roof, and so displayed as to make selections an easy task.
If you live in another part of Montana send in your order by mail. It will be filled promptly and carefully, and you will be given the advantages of low prices, of new and dependable goods at the Biggest, Best and Busiest Store in Butte.
KENNEDY FURNITURE COMPANY.
The Kennedy Furniture Company is one of the large commercial establishments of the city. It occupies the entire four floors of its retail store on West Broadway, and in addition has an im- mense warehouse. Both of these buildings are crowded with the most complete line of furni- ture to be found, probably, in the Northwest.
Not only do the lines of goods carried contem- plate the more necessary articles of furniture ordinarily carried by smaller dealers, but extend into every branch of house-furnishing. So com- plete are these numberless departments that any person in any walk of life, from the wage-earner to the merchant, the bank-owner and the million- aire, can supply every want in the furnishing of his home, his office or store with the most minute article which could possibly suggest itself to his mind.
The Kennedy Furniture Company was organ- ized on the ruins of the old Northwestern Furni- ture Company, in 1894. To the fine line of goods carried by this firm, consisting of stoves, ranges, crockery, bedding, etc., was added everything that possibly could be desired, until in a short time it occupied the position which it now enjoys - that of the leading furniture house in the Northwest.
One of the leading features of the stock car- ried by the Kennedy Furniture Company is its enormous line of carpets, rugs and tapestries, which equals any display that can be found any- where, not excepting the large establishments of the East.
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