The Thomas A. Edison Papers Digital Edition

Transcription

[Letterhead] Department of the Interior, Census Office
Washington, November 30, 1892
[TAE Marginalia] I don't believe in this process Edison
Dear Sir:
In the issue of November 18, lost, of the "Black Range," a little paper published at Chloride, Sierra county, New Mexico, where I am interested in mining matters, appears an article, a copy of which you will find enclosed. After reading this I went to the Patent Office to ascertain, if possible, the address of either of the men mentioned as patentees of this process. I was informed by the chief of the division of Metallurgy that no such patent had ever been issued, and volunteered it as his opinion, that such a process for the extraction of ores was not practicable.
For some reason, I had been of the opinion of a number of years that something similar to the process named in the article will be evolved from the brain of some persevering inventor in this  line. I write you to ask for an opinion on this subject, provided you have time to answer this letter. The reason I do this is because I remember reading, some time since, an article wherein it was stated that you had perfected and were using, or was about to use, a process for the extraction of iron from a low grade iron ore found in New Jersey. As stated previously, I am very much interested in this matter, and expect in a few months when I begin active operations, to use the electric drill in the development of my mines. I realize that you are a very busy man, but hope you will be able to spare a few moments to look into this subject.
Yours very respectfully,
A.F. Childs "The Black Range," a newspaper published at Chloride, New Mexico, in the issue of Nov. 18, 1892, contains the following:"
"The Gervase-Brown electric process for treating ores is a method that will, if it does the work that is claimed for it, be universally adopted for the extraction of precious metals. It is claimed that $5000 will put up a mill of 100 tons per day capacity, complete plant. The process is being worked with great success at Salt Lake City, Utah, at an actual cost of $1.50 per ton. The construction of a plant as well as the process is simple. The principal machinery consists of crusher, dynamo, boiler, engine and six tanks. The secret chemicals. The ore, (all ores, except from pyrites are crushed to go through a 16 to the inch mesh; the ore is them put into tanks with the chemicals and then an electric current, supplied by a 2-horse power dynamo, keeps the mixture agitated, and at the end of six and one half hours as high as 96 per cent, of the gold, silver, copper and lead is extracted in the form of sulphides, which is easy of separation. This statement is taken from a private letter by a reputable gentleman who witnessed the working of the plant at Salt Lake the early part of this month. The Range is informed that the [patentses?] of the process are making very liberal offers in some localities for the erection of plants for the purpose of introducing the process. If the process will do the work as represented no location in the mining regions of the west offers any better opportunity for its successful operation, on a large or small scale, than Chloride."