The White Pine News

COPPER STACKED ON FLOOR AT SMELTER
Shipments Likely to Begin this Week

Fine Converter Floor. The Second Unit of Concentrator Soon Ready

Up to yesterday the converter of the Steptoe Valley Smelting plant at McGill during the week turned out in the neighborhood of 22,500 pounds of copper daily, or at the rate of about 8,000,000 pounds annually. Yesterday, however, they improved their work and on the first shift made output of about 14,250 pounds. If the second shift did as well, yesterday's output reached 28,500 pounds, or at the rate of about 10,000,000 pounds per year. For a new plant, operating steadily for only a week, and on only two shifts, that is a record for a single converter that gives occasion for much pride, and for enthusiasm with regard to the future.

GOING UP ALL ALONG THE LINE.

The gain made in production from the converter yesterday in comparison with production during previous days of the week is in conformity with the record for steady increase in efficiency which is being made all along the line in association with properties of Nevada Consolidated and Cumberland Ely as time passes and the tremendous work that has been in hand shapes itself nearer to the high standard which is being worked to. The gain of yesterday will be the regular thing of tomorrow and as time passes will give way to further gains which will set the past records back as trivial accomplishments of the "early days."

CONVERTER-CENTER OF INTEREST.

The converter is the center of all interest at the reduction works at this time, because it is the latest achievement to be brought into commission and because it is putting the real blister copper, better than 99 per cent fine, ready for shipment. It is the expectation that shipments will be called for this week, but it is understood that unless there is urgent demand a stock pile will be made at the smelter in advance of loading of cars, in which event it may be a couple of weeks before the floor is attacked and cars loaded. However, shipment could be made today if desired. The copper is ready. Each slab bears the impressed letters, put there in the casting, "S. V." and arrival of these on the market means a new brand added to the world's production, a brand, too, that in years to come is certain of becoming one of the most familiar and most frequently seen that copper handlers will have to do with.

OPERATION IS EXCELLENT.

Operation of the single converter to this time has been all that could be asked. Each day it has been better. The converter floor is considered the best in the country, and smelter employes who are there from copper camps in every part of the United States say that without exception it has all the rest beat as an agreeable place to work, if there is such a thing as an agreeable converter floor possible. Its merits in this respect will be a big help in the future in enabling faster work and in holding the best class of labor that is available for the work. Bad converter floors have made more difficulties for smelter managers, in the matter of retaining competent help, than any other single feature in association with the work of these plants. Dissatisfaction of this kind is expensive and a good converter floor is consequently a money saver of the biggest kind.

The single converter will not be long without company.

GETTING OTHER STANDS READY.

As fast as possible the other converter stands of the plant are being made ready to go in commission and it is not going to be long until the production of today will appear but a small item in comparison with the production of the plant. There is an enormous amount of work to be done here yet, as in all other divisions of the great reduction plants, but it is all going ahead just as fast as is possible in conformity with good work. When a task is completed it is completed, in the fullest sense of the word, which is as it should be and means bigger dividends for the stockholders than any amount of rush, haphazard work might bring. Copper now being produced for shipment is going direct from the converter stand and cooling tank to the storage platform under converter roof. At this platform is a door opening onto the railroad siding platform and it is the
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COPPER STACKED ON FLOOR AT THE SMELTER
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work of mighty little time to transfer the copper across the few feet of intervening platform to the car.

IN OTHER REDUCTION WORKS DIVISIONS.

At the concentrator the first section of the second unit is very rapidly approaching completion. It is probable that it will be started going this week and that within two weeks it will be ready for steady operation in efficient manner. A certain amount of time is necessary to wet and tighten the tables and to get everything adjusted properly. Whether this first section will go on Nevada Consolidated or whether it will take Cumberland Ely is a matter yet to be determined, though the former is the more probable, because of the fact that it has the ore in easier and better shape to shove out to meet the increased requirements. Within three weeks the second section will probably be ready to go on, which will mean another ore train. Reverberatory and roasters are going ahead like old time plants. They are no longer novelties in any sense and are steadily taking their work with higher efficiency. At the power house plant they are crowding along in a way that is highly satisfactory. This plant is now readily furnishing all power that is needed and will be ready to meet demands as they come up. Throughout the departments there is evidence of system, purposeful work and progress that, considered as a whole, is marvelous in its extent and contains fresh surprise on the occasion of every visit. Each day there is something new to see.