To follow the argument to its conclusion, let us imagine for the moment that the East Helena plant were arranged on the terrace system, with the furnace tops on a level with the floor of the ore-bins. Certain precautions being observed, the spreader would give as good results with small units of charge delivered by buggies as it now does with the large units delivered by the charge-car, and the expense of delivery to the furnaces would be practically no more than it now is to the charge-car pit. The furnace top would, of course, have to be arranged so that the buggies, in discharging, could be drawn along the slot, so as to give the necessary longitudinal distribution parallel to the furnace walls, just as is now done in filling the charge-car. The ends of the spreader, if built like a hipped roof, would secure proper feeding of the front and back. Thus, by eliminating the charge-car, and with it the necessity for powerful hoisting machinery, with its expensive repairs and operating costs, we may greatly simplify the problem of mechanical feeding, and open the way for the adoption of successful automatic feeding in many existing plants where it is now considered impracticable. COST OF SMELTING AND REFINING BY MALVERN W. ILES (August 18, 1900) In the technical literature of lead smelting there is a lamentable lack of data on the subject of costs. The majority of writers consider that they have fulfilled their duties if they discuss in full detail the chemical and engineering sides of the subject, leaving the industrial consideration of cost to be wrought out by experience. When an engineer or metallurgist collects data on the costs involved in the various smelting operations, he generally hesitates to give this special information to the public, as he regards it as private, or reserves it as stock in trade to be held for his own use. The following tables of cost have been compiled from actual results of smelting and refining at the Globe works, Denver, Colo., and are offered in the hope that they will prove a valuable addition to the literature of lead smelting. These results are offered tentatively, and, while true for the periods stated, they require considerable adjustment to meet the smelting conditions of the present time. COST OF HAND-ROASTING PER TON (2000 LB.) OF ORE 1887 $3.975 1888 4.280 1889 4.120 1890 3.531 1891 3.530 1892 1893 1894 3.429 1895 2.806 1896 2.840 1897 2.740 1898 2.620