Important changes in lead-refining practice are bound to follow, in my opinion, the late demonstration on a large scale of the low working cost and high efficiency of Betts’ electrolytic process of refining lead bullion. It was my good fortune recently to see this highly interesting process in operation at Trail, British Columbia, through the kindness of the inventor, A. G. Betts, and Messrs. Labarthe and Aldridge, of the Trail works. A plant of about 10 tons daily capacity, which probably cost about $25,000, although it could be duplicated for perhaps $15,000 at the present time, was installed near the Trail smelting works. It has been in operation for about ten months, I am informed, with signal success, and the erection of a larger plant, of approximately 30 tons capacity and provided with improved handling facilities, is now completed. The depositing-room contains 20 tanks, built of wood, lined with tar, and approximately of the size of copper-refining tanks. Underneath the tank-room floor is a basement permitting inspection of the tank bottoms for possible leakage and removal of the solution and slime. A suction pump is employed in lifting the electrolyte from the receiving tank and circulating the solution. In nearly every respect the arrangement of the plant and its equipment is strikingly like that of a modern copper refinery. The great success of the process is primarily based upon Betts’ discovery of the easy solubility of lead in an acid solution of lead fluosilicate, which possesses both stability under electrolysis and high conductivity, and from which exceptionally pure lead may be deposited with impure anodes at a very low cost. With such a solution, there is no polarization from formation of lead peroxide on the anode, no evaporation of constituents except water, and no danger in its handling. It is cheaply obtained by diluting hydrofluoric acid of 35 per cent. HF, which is quoted in New York at 3c. per pound, with an equal volume of water and saturating it with pulverized quartz according to the equation: SiO₂ + 6HF = HSiF₆ + 2H₂O. According to Mr. Betts, an acid of 20 to 22 per cent. will come to about $1 per cu. ft., or to $1.25 when the solution has been standardized with 6 lb. of lead. One per cent. of lead will neutralize 0.7 per cent. H₂SiF₆. The electrolyte employed at the time of my inspection of the works contained, I believe, 8 per cent. lead and 11 per cent. excess of fluosilicic acid. The anodes consist of the lead bullion to be refined, cast into plates about 2 in. thick and approximately of the same size as ordinary two-lugged copper anodes. Before being placed in position in the tanks, they are straightened by hammering over a mold and their lugs squared. No anode sacks are employed as in the old Keith process.