Document LJaKyyKn4DgNeYGYeeyMDDZKb

( c C 11 35 ho. 46 V SYEiEX. 13th August, 1346* The Manager, Australian-Slue Asbestos Ltd*, WITTISOOa. Bear Sir, PBOTflCTIQH. A decision on the future develop ment of Australian iuo Asbestos Ltd., has ncvr been reached and in order that you any be fully indorsed as to trie steos which are proposed with a view to setting the blue asbestos industry on a sound basis, Mr. Tucker will forward to you for perusal and return, a copy of C.S.&* Co. Ltd. Private Letter Ho. 2 to their i'erth Manager, miich sots cut in full the proposed procedure. In addition, we arc nov; enclosing for your private file a copy of no4:es iatod 16th, 12th :.r.d 10th July, which formed the basis f- / die proposals in the C*5K* Cc. Ltd* private letter referred to above. Briefly, trtiat is proposed is that, . provided we get active support from the *7. A. Government, r.*e will proceed with a programme that will enable us to be in a position to mine 3,000 tons per arums; at the end of tr.o years. At the end of two years the position will be again reviewed and a decision will bo made r-hothar to proceed witn the purchase of additional equipment required to produce 3,000 tons per annum. However, a start cannot be made on the .3,000 tons per annum ;.rogruiac:e until v/e have ascertained viiother our proposals are satisfactory to the .7.A. Government* In the mean tine, however, we will keep VJittenoom going keeping approximately the number of men you have employed at present and continuing the main drives and also any other develop mental work which fits our bord and pillar layout, Vcp ending upon ho?; many faces you can keep going with the labour permitted. 4 Australian Blue Asbestos Ltd, - &- P* So. 46 c c L c C 1 t 36 With regard to your suggestions for advance longwall mining and also for retreat long wall mining after having driven 12' x 7' tunnels through the hill, we do not propose to consider these further until wo have obtained . the services of a skilled mining man at Wittsnoom. In the meantime any developmental work must conform to the borti and pillar system previously agreed upon. We now intend to advertise for a Mine Manager and an Underground Manager for Wittenoom and will place advertisements in the Sydney Morning Herald and in the Chemical Engineering and Mining Review. A copy oi* the advertisement will be forwarded to you for your information when it appears* Capital Expenditure.. The capital expenditure that was outlined by you during ny visit say bo completed. This consisted of the following:- Capital cost during -three months .endinigf! 33-00, /`: fcfgl '.'atl. Bulldozer 3,000 2,c00 2nd Crushor COO 100 Yiodgina Power Unit 730 50 Picking Conveyor at Mine 130 30 Trucks Excavating space for tramlines 2,030 too Z, *100 00 Bin, Boss feeder and Conveyor etc. 0,700 ,100 3rd Grade equipment etc. 700 340 Settlement COO 40 Engine Driver ISO Major outstanding stores:- Mining Steel 1,000 1,000 YTodgina Stores and engine spares 9 HO 9C0 .!i., *20 CH. s.n. c.: ) i^. ( fOO) Summaryt- Labour A.B.A. 2,320 3. A. Material 4, ocO 7,100 V/e feel, however, that the picking arrange ments are net ideal and consider that it will bo necessary later to instal a large ore bin - possible 2,000 ton capacity distant approximately SO feet on the mine side of the mill and beneath the railway track. From this a pi citing conveyor v< i c I c ^ustralien Blue Asbestos Ltd 3 ?. :io. 6 would lead to a new crusher (probably fed from a bin) end placed in line with the main crushing line but about 50 feet back from the existing Jaw crushers* A conveyor would then lead from the new crusher into the o:cisting lie* 1 crusher* Picking would then take place on the uncrushed ore between main bin and the new crusher and on crushed ore between the new crasher and tile existing No* 1 crusher. The road to the mine would then come from the general office end of the mill as proposed by you* In the meantime, it appears to us that v.iiat must be done is to instal the bin and picking belt to No* i crusher as proposed by you* This allows picking on uncrusaed ore to be carried out* From the plans v;e have it then appears possible to chutt- sideways from No* 1 crusher on to a conveypr leading away from the mill, this to be discharged on to a farther elevating belt running back towards the mill and diecharging into No* A Jaw crusher. This latter elevat ing belt would serve as a picking belt for crusaed ere md could later bo the conveyor leading from the new crusher mentioned above to tho existing No* 1 Jar/ crusher. The attached diagrammatic sketch illustrates the proposals above* You may have worked out a satisfactory scheme for picking crushed ore 3inco my visit and if so end you consider it better than that outlined above, please advise us. In -rniy case we wish to sec a plan of the whole of the proposed picking arrangement before you proceed with installation* General Layout of Plant* We also take the oppor tunity to advise you that in view o? the large capital that is now necessary for V/ittcnooa, we particularly wish to know in detail the arrangement of any proposed plsnt at *.?ittenooa to make sure we consider it suitable for later developments* Yours faithfully. .lanaeir.g Director. C 113?