Volume 08 (1864) (474 pages)

12 The Mining antl Scientific Press, Mining and Scientific Press. Wee Hops WSK occ ay eceun secre Wieeterer tess sso sans ese Srxior Epiton. ¢. W. M. SNITH. W. DB. EWER. A. T. DEWEY. DEWEY & CO. Publishers. Orrickin the Government Ilonse bullding, Northwest corner of Washington and Sansome streets, rooms No. 56 and 57, up stalrs. Terms in Advanee.—Havlng adopted the cash system, att pay ments for subscriptions must be made in advance. If old subscribers find thelr paper discontinued at any time, don't stop to grumble about it, but send In the eash for another year. ‘“ Equality Is Justice,” and we shall administer this doctrine:to all our patrons, as well as “the rest of mankind.” San Francisco: Saturday Morning, January 30, 1864. MEQCHANISM—ANCIENT AND MODERN. The most important achievements of modern mechanism consist inainly in improvements oa ancient ideas. The earliest application of mecbaaism was no doubt directed to the production of clothing. ‘When 1aau was placed in the garden of Edea, his hunger was readily supplied with the products of Nature. We read that the Creator placed in the gardeu every fruit-hearing tree, which was to he food for man. The first pair were happy and content in their primeval home, until the wily serpent induced our common mother to partake of the forhidden fruit, which led the way to artificial wauts. Both revelation and history are silent as to the period when woven fahrics were first invented. Preliminary to the art of weaving, however, must have heen the use of the spindle. Spinning was the first, or at least among the first-born of the arts. Eye must, in some manner, have spun her thread before she sewed together tbe leaves which formed the staple of her primitive garment. From that period to the present, and throughout all lands, spinning aad weaving have been the peculiar province of the sex whose curiosity led to its necessity, and whose quickness of perceptioa suggested tbe simplest and most convenient remedy for its error. The distaff was undoubtedly almost or quite cotemporaneous, ia its introduction, with the spindle. They both date far anterior to the historic period, and were common instraments in tbe ancient Icgends of the beroic and mythic epochs. Spinning lies nt the very threshold nf limman industry and human culture. Queens were, in early days, taught to excel in it, and goddesses even were not ashanied to teach the art. Clotho, we are told, held the distaff, while Lachesis twirled the spindle and Atropos determined the length of the thread. Agaia, we read that Hercules was once playfully rapped over the head by Omphale, for awkwardness, while she was trying to teach the old fellow how to use the distaff. But few nations, evea the most barbarous, have heen in igaorance of these simple instruments. Wherever they are aot found, mau has ever beea a traveling, homeless waadercr—a vagabond roamer in forest wilds. Home and its surroundings have ever beea measured in their amenities by the progress which has beea made in improvements ia these two simple iastrameuts of mechanism. The spindle of to-day, and the maaner of accamulating the thread upou it, is almost ideatical witb that described by Homer, Horace and Pliny. It was “twirled,” in ancicut times, by nimble fingers, sometimes much asa hoy would spin a top by the aid of bis thumb and fore-finger ; at others, by various simple devices, obtaincd by straigbt motioas alone. Tbe modern improvemeat is simply the application of a circular fora straight motioa, which may readily he made continuous. Rotary motion is mainly a modern device, aad to it we are indebted for nearly all the elegancies and conveniencics of civilized life. Revolving mechanism is the substratum of the present advanced stage of arts, scienee and civilization. Without it, steam would be a nullity ; the printing press would be hut the thing it was a hundred years ago, and the busy lum of machinery would lapse into the forward and back, up and dowu motion of the flail, the hammer, or the ancient sliding sicve. The general application of rotary, in place of other movements, is the modern starting point, from which we may measure nearly all mechameal progress which has been nade within the historic period. It is the epocb in the lapse of time which separates moderu from ancient mechanism. From thence it is that useful ideas have begun to unfold ard devclop themselves in rapid progress. The sewly-awakened genius of mmn, from that day to the present, has been moving on in a constantly increasing ratio, employing new combinatious, moulding matter into new forms, detectiag therein new properties, drawing therelrom novel and beneficial results, and extending and refining the realities, conveniences and clegancies of life, uatil we have now arrived at anage and hight of improvement, from whicbwe look hack upon past ages ia wonder and astonishment at the progress which has beea made, while we are absolutely hewildered when we cousider the yet gigautic advances still in contemplation in every department of human progress ! Ooal Oil—"'A Warranty that is Safe to Bet On.” Mr. Entror ;—Uader the above caption the following item appears in a contemporary of yours this weck .— “Some of the conl oil dealers around town are securing customers by sticking up placards in their stores, assuring the public that their oil is non-explosive, and warranted entirely free from adulteration with camphene or aleohol.” This matter does not deserve to be disposed of quite so summarily. It has been the snbject? of legislation in most of the Eastern States, aud aa act of Parliament, in England, has been passed, to prevent the storing of dnugerous petrolcum in large citics. Benzine, or the volatile portion of erude petroleum, is a natural cause of explosiou. Much ingenuity was ayplied in the States to obtain an iustrument tor determining readily when an oil had beeu sufliciently purified to be safe. ‘The hydrometer ig no security. I wns engaged by the successful inventor in New York, last winter, to examine and report upoa bis method. Jam informed that want of nttention to this poiat prevented the introductioa of California petroleum, some time since. Lamps suited for heavy, safe oils, burn with various defects with lighter oils. The increased cost of insurauce for the latter has tended much to limit imported oils to a safe standard. ‘The question is again becoming important witb the aew developmcut of this industry at Santa Cruz. I. H. Cuurenins. A Minino Aavertisen.—This afternooa we shall issue a “Miaing Advertiser,” by placing the advertisiag pages of the Press, with the stock reports aad other matter, into a smaller sheet, a very large edition of whicb will be circulated gratuitousl throughout this city and the iuterior of Califoruia and Nevada ‘Territory. We do this to give mining compasies the beaefit of aa extraordinary large circulation for their advertisements, aad present a ebaanel througb which all miaing notices may be cheaply consolidated into one sheet for tbe conveaient reference of all stockbolders. Secretarics of companies will please hand in their favors as early ia the week as possible—not later than Friday. Rates for adyertisiag mining noticés, $2 50 per square of tea lies, per month. Advertisements will appear both in the Press and Aa verrisEr. New Posrmasrer.—The telegrapli of Wednesday annouaces that R. F. Perkias was coufirmed as postmaster of this city, in place of Parker, removed, ia executive Sessioa of the Senate, on ‘l'uesday last. Mr. Jas. P. Newcoxn recently returned from Arizona, furaisbes us some interesting matters form that section. sud Portland (O.), briugiag $131,000 treasure. Tun Coitece or Cartroryta, located at Oakland, hastecently added a sew course of instruction, to be known ns “The Mining and Agricultnral College.” This department, will, for the present, be under the especial charge of William P. Blake, Esq., as director and professor of mineralogy, geology and mining; and by Shermaa Day, Esq., (Snperiatendent of the New Almadea Quicksilver minc) as professor of mine construction and surveyiug. Other branches, such as chemistry, astroaomy. engineering, zoology, etc., remain to be filled. This departinent is to be located ceatrally in San Froncisco, nad instruction in its branches is to be given in part by lectures as mucli as possible in the evening. We presume its details will be furuished by future advertisement to the public. Tue Laasonen ts wortuy or His Hire—We regret to. see that Mr. Scott, of Alnmeda, has introduced a bill iu the Legislature requiring legal advertisements to be given for oae year to the paper in each county making tbe lowest bid. The effect of this proposition, if adopted, would, without doubt, be to give the public printing to the sbabbiest sheet ta each county, to those having the smallcst circulation, and at such price as would render the contract a burden to a good printer able to properly funIfill his obligatious. We believe in fair prices for all mechanics, and so direct an appeal to the mercenary meaness of the lowe -t memhers of a craft. appears to us entirely out of place ia so honorahle 2 body as our present Legislature, where first class mechanics would naturally look for encouragement. East Lyxxe G. axa 8. M. Co.—'This company is located at Owens river, Inyo District, Tulare county, and was discovered by a party of explorers, who left this city some six monthsago. We have heen showu excecdingly rich speciniens of hoth gold and silverbearing quartz from this mine, and from what we have been able to ascertain, everything pppears very promising. It already stands high in the estia:atioa of the public. They intend, shortly, to work it iu a In Favor or Consoninatinc.—Fisher, of the Red Bluff Beacon, ia a frieadly notice of the Pacific Monthly, shows evident signs in favor of consolidation. Can't come it by proxy, Fisher! Step aboard the Gem somo day aad come down, and as you are pretty good looking, we will give you an iutroduction, and, perhaps, a certificate of character, if you behave yourself in future. Bring your fishing tnekle, old angler, when you come trouting. Tne New Sucar Rerinery on Battery strect at at the coruer of Unioa, is now completed, so fur as the building is conterned. The iastitution will be known as the “Bay Sugar Refining Company.” The capital stock is $250,000 divided iuto 1,000 shores of 250 each. TREASURE From TAE NortA.—The steamship Oregoa arrived oa Saturday last, from Victoria (V. 1), \ TREASURE GoInc East.—The trensure shipments per Mail steamer Golden City, which sailed saturday, were: to England, $1,038,266 33; to New York, $448,804 36; to Panama, $10,000; to Havana, $8,000, and to Acapulco, $1,964,67, making a total of $1,507,035 36. For anp Acainst.—Ia Virginia City and Flowery District, N. T., only 603 votes were cast for, to 3,645 against the Constitution—more thaa six to one. Gold Hill went five to one against it. A pretty decided demoastration. Tar State Senate, on Thursday passed to engrossment an act re pealiag tbe Specific Contract hill of the last session, by a vote of 18 to 16. Sicns or me Tites.—It is said that all signs ” failia dry weatber, but those recently painted for this office, hy Fred Mansell, are declared not oaly decidedly haadsome but exccytioas to the above / rule.

12 The Mining antl Scientific Press, Mining and Scientific Press. Wee Hops WSK occ ay eceun secre Wieeterer tess sso sans ese Srxior Epiton. ¢. W. M. SNITH. W. DB. EWER. A. T. DEWEY. DEWEY & CO. Publishers. Orrickin the Government Ilonse bullding, Northwest corner of Washington and Sansome streets, rooms No. 56 and 57, up stalrs. Terms in Advanee.—Havlng adopted the cash system, att pay ments for subscriptions must be made in advance. If old subscribers find thelr paper discontinued at any time, don't stop to grumble about it, but send In the eash for another year. ‘“ Equality Is Justice,” and we shall administer this doctrine:to all our patrons, as well as “the rest of mankind.” San Francisco: Saturday Morning, January 30, 1864. MEQCHANISM—ANCIENT AND MODERN. The most important achievements of modern mechanism consist inainly in improvements oa ancient ideas. The earliest application of mecbaaism was no doubt directed to the production of clothing. ‘When 1aau was placed in the garden of Edea, his hunger was readily supplied with the products of Nature. We read that the Creator placed in the gardeu every fruit-hearing tree, which was to he food for man. The first pair were happy and content in their primeval home, until the wily serpent induced our common mother to partake of the forhidden fruit, which led the way to artificial wauts. Both revelation and history are silent as to the period when woven fahrics were first invented. Preliminary to the art of weaving, however, must have heen the use of the spindle. Spinning was the first, or at least among the first-born of the arts. Eye must, in some manner, have spun her thread before she sewed together tbe leaves which formed the staple of her primitive garment. From that period to the present, and throughout all lands, spinning aad weaving have been the peculiar province of the sex whose curiosity led to its necessity, and whose quickness of perceptioa suggested tbe simplest and most convenient remedy for its error. The distaff was undoubtedly almost or quite cotemporaneous, ia its introduction, with the spindle. They both date far anterior to the historic period, and were common instraments in tbe ancient Icgends of the beroic and mythic epochs. Spinning lies nt the very threshold nf limman industry and human culture. Queens were, in early days, taught to excel in it, and goddesses even were not ashanied to teach the art. Clotho, we are told, held the distaff, while Lachesis twirled the spindle and Atropos determined the length of the thread. Agaia, we read that Hercules was once playfully rapped over the head by Omphale, for awkwardness, while she was trying to teach the old fellow how to use the distaff. But few nations, evea the most barbarous, have heen in igaorance of these simple instruments. Wherever they are aot found, mau has ever beea a traveling, homeless waadercr—a vagabond roamer in forest wilds. Home and its surroundings have ever beea measured in their amenities by the progress which has beea made in improvements ia these two simple iastrameuts of mechanism. The spindle of to-day, and the maaner of accamulating the thread upou it, is almost ideatical witb that described by Homer, Horace and Pliny. It was “twirled,” in ancicut times, by nimble fingers, sometimes much asa hoy would spin a top by the aid of bis thumb and fore-finger ; at others, by various simple devices, obtaincd by straigbt motioas alone. Tbe modern improvemeat is simply the application of a circular fora straight motioa, which may readily he made continuous. Rotary motion is mainly a modern device, aad to it we are indebted for nearly all the elegancies and conveniencics of civilized life. Revolving mechanism is the substratum of the present advanced stage of arts, scienee and civilization. Without it, steam would be a nullity ; the printing press would be hut the thing it was a hundred years ago, and the busy lum of machinery would lapse into the forward and back, up and dowu motion of the flail, the hammer, or the ancient sliding sicve. The general application of rotary, in place of other movements, is the modern starting point, from which we may measure nearly all mechameal progress which has been nade within the historic period. It is the epocb in the lapse of time which separates moderu from ancient mechanism. From thence it is that useful ideas have begun to unfold ard devclop themselves in rapid progress. The sewly-awakened genius of mmn, from that day to the present, has been moving on in a constantly increasing ratio, employing new combinatious, moulding matter into new forms, detectiag therein new properties, drawing therelrom novel and beneficial results, and extending and refining the realities, conveniences and clegancies of life, uatil we have now arrived at anage and hight of improvement, from whicbwe look hack upon past ages ia wonder and astonishment at the progress which has beea made, while we are absolutely hewildered when we cousider the yet gigautic advances still in contemplation in every department of human progress ! Ooal Oil—"'A Warranty that is Safe to Bet On.” Mr. Entror ;—Uader the above caption the following item appears in a contemporary of yours this weck .— “Some of the conl oil dealers around town are securing customers by sticking up placards in their stores, assuring the public that their oil is non-explosive, and warranted entirely free from adulteration with camphene or aleohol.” This matter does not deserve to be disposed of quite so summarily. It has been the snbject? of legislation in most of the Eastern States, aud aa act of Parliament, in England, has been passed, to prevent the storing of dnugerous petrolcum in large citics. Benzine, or the volatile portion of erude petroleum, is a natural cause of explosiou. Much ingenuity was ayplied in the States to obtain an iustrument tor determining readily when an oil had beeu sufliciently purified to be safe. ‘The hydrometer ig no security. I wns engaged by the successful inventor in New York, last winter, to examine and report upoa bis method. Jam informed that want of nttention to this poiat prevented the introductioa of

California petroleum, some time since. Lamps suited for heavy, safe oils, burn with various defects with lighter oils. The increased cost of insurauce for the latter has tended much to limit imported oils to a safe standard. ‘The question is again becoming important witb the aew developmcut of this industry at Santa Cruz. I. H. Cuurenins. A Minino Aavertisen.—This afternooa we shall issue a “Miaing Advertiser,” by placing the advertisiag pages of the Press, with the stock reports aad other matter, into a smaller sheet, a very large edition of whicb will be circulated gratuitousl throughout this city and the iuterior of Califoruia and Nevada ‘Territory. We do this to give mining compasies the beaefit of aa extraordinary large circulation for their advertisements, aad present a ebaanel througb which all miaing notices may be cheaply consolidated into one sheet for tbe conveaient reference of all stockbolders. Secretarics of companies will please hand in their favors as early ia the week as possible—not later than Friday. Rates for adyertisiag mining noticés, $2 50 per square of tea lies, per month. Advertisements will appear both in the Press and Aa verrisEr. New Posrmasrer.—The telegrapli of Wednesday annouaces that R. F. Perkias was coufirmed as postmaster of this city, in place of Parker, removed, ia executive Sessioa of the Senate, on ‘l'uesday last. Mr. Jas. P. Newcoxn recently returned from Arizona, furaisbes us some interesting matters form that section. sud Portland (O.), briugiag $131,000 treasure. Tun Coitece or Cartroryta, located at Oakland, hastecently added a sew course of instruction, to be known ns “The Mining and Agricultnral College.” This department, will, for the present, be under the especial charge of William P. Blake, Esq., as director and professor of mineralogy, geology and mining; and by Shermaa Day, Esq., (Snperiatendent of the New Almadea Quicksilver minc) as professor of mine construction and surveyiug. Other branches, such as chemistry, astroaomy. engineering, zoology, etc., remain to be filled. This departinent is to be located ceatrally in San Froncisco, nad instruction in its branches is to be given in part by lectures as mucli as possible in the evening. We presume its details will be furuished by future advertisement to the public. Tue Laasonen ts wortuy or His Hire—We regret to. see that Mr. Scott, of Alnmeda, has introduced a bill iu the Legislature requiring legal advertisements to be given for oae year to the paper in each county making tbe lowest bid. The effect of this proposition, if adopted, would, without doubt, be to give the public printing to the sbabbiest sheet ta each county, to those having the smallcst circulation, and at such price as would render the contract a burden to a good printer able to properly funIfill his obligatious. We believe in fair prices for all mechanics, and so direct an appeal to the mercenary meaness of the lowe -t memhers of a craft. appears to us entirely out of place ia so honorahle 2 body as our present Legislature, where first class mechanics would naturally look for encouragement. East Lyxxe G. axa 8. M. Co.—'This company is located at Owens river, Inyo District, Tulare county, and was discovered by a party of explorers, who left this city some six monthsago. We have heen showu excecdingly rich speciniens of hoth gold and silverbearing quartz from this mine, and from what we have been able to ascertain, everything pppears very promising. It already stands high in the estia:atioa of the public. They intend, shortly, to work it iu a In Favor or Consoninatinc.—Fisher, of the Red Bluff Beacon, ia a frieadly notice of the Pacific Monthly, shows evident signs in favor of consolidation. Can't come it by proxy, Fisher! Step aboard the Gem somo day aad come down, and as you are pretty good looking, we will give you an iutroduction, and, perhaps, a certificate of character, if you behave yourself in future. Bring your fishing tnekle, old angler, when you come trouting. Tne New Sucar Rerinery on Battery strect at at the coruer of Unioa, is now completed, so fur as the building is conterned. The iastitution will be known as the “Bay Sugar Refining Company.” The capital stock is $250,000 divided iuto 1,000 shores of 250 each. TREASURE From TAE NortA.—The steamship Oregoa arrived oa Saturday last, from Victoria (V. 1), \ TREASURE GoInc East.—The trensure shipments per Mail steamer Golden City, which sailed saturday, were: to England, $1,038,266 33; to New York, $448,804 36; to Panama, $10,000; to Havana, $8,000, and to Acapulco, $1,964,67, making a total of $1,507,035 36. For anp Acainst.—Ia Virginia City and Flowery District, N. T., only 603 votes were cast for, to 3,645 against the Constitution—more thaa six to one. Gold Hill went five to one against it. A pretty decided demoastration. Tar State Senate, on Thursday passed to engrossment an act re pealiag tbe Specific Contract hill of the last session, by a vote of 18 to 16. Sicns or me Tites.—It is said that all signs ” failia dry weatber, but those recently painted for this office, hy Fred Mansell, are declared not oaly decidedly haadsome but exccytioas to the above / rule.