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Show MINING NEWS FOURTH UNIT TO BE TRIED OUT- Ely. June 1. At a ilant of sucn vast magnitude as that of the Steptoe smelter where economy nnrf rnnvoni- ence are necessary for continuance of profitable production, there is always some alterations being made to adopt seme new idea.cheme or contrivance which is expected fo increase the effectiveness ef-fectiveness of the plant This point is illustrated In the unit now being completed which will ge different In some particulars from the'orrier tnreo units as advantage will be taken of tne Improvements in machinery which have been made during the last two years an.l only the latest models will bo found in the newest pan of the immense concentrator. Installation or machinery ig about completed and a ttlal run will probably be made next week and the "unit will be turned over to the company about June 15. North of the concentrator excavation excava-tion is I nprogress for. two large settling set-tling reservoirs which win no mucn toward the solving of the water problem prob-lem and make possible the opening of rhe fourth unit of the concentrator n the present supply or wafer. The function of the reservoirs will he function of the reservoirs will he chiefly the water that has been used to such an extent as will permit it re-ing re-ing used over again. Tho process makes possible the using of the same water over an indefinite number or times. . When the fourth - unit commences operations the reverb and convener will be incapable of handling tne entire en-tire output of concentrates and pending pend-ing the completion of the new reverb and converter furnaces the surplus concentrates will be stored in dumpfe. It is customary at smelters to have surplus dumps as a precaution against accident. Were an accident to occur at the mines, on the railroad, or in the concentrator1 and interrupt tne output of concentrates the furnaces could be kept running and hot from the surplus sur-plus store. During the month of May the plant turned out more than l.OOO.nnn poun.is of copper and crushed about 135.000 tons of ore and 5,000 tons a day are now being handled. Tho number-'ot men on the payrolls is at least I,50n, according to Genera Manager Lake-nan, Lake-nan, and everything around the big works is progressing satisfactorily. The erection of a fifth unit is still under consideration and probably no definite decision regarding it- will be leached until the fourth i.-j in operation. |