Volume 11 (1865) (424 pages)

418 The Mining aul Seientific Press, Goummnientions. Is THis Onranrtuent we Invite the FREE Discussios of all proper SUE aac noua alone being respousible ror tho ideas and theories they udvance. [Written for the Mlning and Scientific Press.) The Problem of Gold and Silver Extyaction-A General Review---No. XIIL, BY PROF. L. LANSZWEERT. ' FLUXES. Assuming the process of roasting to have been necessary, and to have been applied, and that a metallic substance still remains to-be extraeted from the uon-volatile residue, a process of fusion must be resorted to. It is called smelling. A slight ehemicul consideration of the materials wherewith metals are ordinorily combined, will bring to mind the faet that some are really or practically infusible. But fusion, in eertain eirenmstances, the metallargist must have. The theoretical ehoice was before him of ehoosing hetween the moist and eolvative, and the dry or igneous process of effeeting liquidity. He was driven by practical eonsiderations to accept the latter. Therefore fusibility is a eonsideration so indispensable to success in his futura operations that he must have it. How, then, was he to solve the problem of elfeetiug the fusibility of things which are hy their nature infusible ? Chemistry renders the solution of this problem easy: there are many substances whieh, though iufusible when heated by themselves, fuse readily enough when heated in combination. Hence arises the theory of jluxes and fluwing ; these terms being respeetively applied to substanees which impart igneous fluidity when heated with other substances, and to the manner of using them. Silica or eilicie acid is an infusible hody when heated alone; nevertheless it fuses wheu sulficiently heated in contact with potash, soda, or their respective carbonates, and less readily when heated in contact with alkaline earths. Hence if the metallurgic problem were to present itself, of extracting a metal by fire, from a mixture of the same with siliea (chemically silieie acid); potash or soda, or their respective earhonates would be had recourse to, in preference to all others, if considerations of profit and loss did not intervene. The price of the alkalies and earbonates of alkalies does not admit of their common application to the purposes of a flux on the large metallurgic scale; wherefore the smelter, not being able to use the flux wbicb chemistry proclaims to be the best, contents himself with a substitute as near to the theoretie quality as may be practicable. Thus where alkalies or earbonates of alkalies would have been employed to facilitate igneous fusion in the laboratory and on the* small scale—probably lime or carbonate of lime would be employed in the larger representation of the proeess as performed by the metullurgist. Not only do the alkalies and their earhonates perform the functions of fluxes to silieie aein, but also to eeveral metullie oxyds, amongst which those of lead, copper and iron may be cited as familinr examples. Every person kuows tbat fliat glass, as it is ealled, eontains oxyd of lead; that black bottle lass contains oxyd of iron—eombinations which illustrate, perhaps, as well as any we could adduee, the quality of the alkalies whieh imparts to them the power of a flux. When it is considered that nearly all the eolors which can be imparted to glass, nay, whieh ae imparted to porcelain and enainel, are referable to eombinations of metallic oxyds with silicic acid, a still further notion will be eonveyed of the extensive range of combination whieh may be produced by silicie ncid under the influence of igneous fusion. Next, perhaps, to potash and soda, in respeet to its large range of ageney as an igneous flux, eomes borax. Seldom is it that the assayer in his laboratory operations on riineral ores, by fire, dispena with both alkalies and with borax ; but ere in this case, aguin, considerations of expense restriet the application of this matetial to the laboratory, ond the smelter is obliged to eontent himself with fluxes much lower in the scale of chemical power and efficiency. Perhaps, however, there may not be #0 many advantages lost from the uon-employment of laboratory fluxes, on a large scale as is sometimes imagined. ‘’o adopt soda, or potash, or borax, thongh compatible with the economical arrangement of the laboratory chemist, who will uot hesitate to ruin a erueible at each operation, might still accord very Tenders. having all the modern improvements, is well sehool for males and females, and enjoys au exili with the economy of furnace building. The alchemists tried to discover a fluid which should have.the property of dissolving all things wherewith it might come into contact. They neglected to retlect that a necessity would arise for a vessel to keep it in. It) might be thus with metallurgists, on the large scale, if laboratory fluxes were cheap enough and plentiful enough to be adopted on the large scale. Though the number of fluxes which the metallurgist has at his command, for large operatious of smelting, be inconsiderable in eomparison witb those employed iu laboratory operations, nevertheless the proeess of assaying issone so important to the metallurgist that every flux known to the chemist deserves his cousideration. Under the head of assaying, therefore, to be adverted to bereafter, the chemical agents will be fnlly discussed. The preliminary operation of dressing having been performed on a mineral, also the fnrther operation of roastiug; if necessary, the final operation of smelting naturally follows. Atter the general statement given of the nature and properties of fluxes, it will be seen that the operation of extracting a metal from a metallic ore, by smelting, consists in subjecting it to luruaee-heat in admixture with some flux, the object of the latter heiog twofold; primarily, to liqnify and dissolve away refuse matters by themselves in fusion, and seeondarily, in some eases, to aid the decomposition, by the result of which the metal is evolved from its combinatious. It remains now for the eompletion of our sketeh of the applianees of inetallurgy, that we indicate the peculiarities of the different processes, and the appendages, by means of which those processes for the rednetion of silver ores are affeeted. [To be Continued.) (Written for the Minlng and Scientife Press.) A Trip to San Jose and Santa Clara. Entrors Pruss:—A few notes of a run down into the countios of Santa Clara and Santa Cruz, inay not be uninteresting to yonr Taking the early traiu from San Francisco, yon soon shake off the dust of that tanous eity, and are out amongst tbe green fields, and before long, trees, those great rarities of your city, gladden your eyes; aud to one who is so accustomed to being surrounded by trees and shrubhery, they were very weleome sights. ‘wo hours of pleasant riding over one of the smoothest of railroads, with a gentlemanly conductor, brings you to the thriving place, at the termiuus of tbe road, Sau Jose. One thing in regard to this road strnek me very foreibly, for it redueed the plethora of my poeket considerably ; it was the rate of fare, as eompared with roads in the East. Two to tbree eents per mile is eharged on them, while we pay on this road five eents, which must yield very handsome dividends to the stockholders. San Jose isa growing town, numberiug about five thonsand inhabitauts. It is laid out very regularly, although being an old Spanish town, one would hardly expect to see the streets so regular. A few adohe houses still remain as landmarks of the past ; most of them being situated on what is called the Plaza, though it is not deserving of that name, for it is merely a common. A number of new buildings have been erected lately, among which is a fine hlock of stoue, the upper part of which is used by the Masons and Odd Fellows ; also a new hotel, the Auzerais Honse, kept, being a hotel where one truly feels at home. Kudueation is not neglected in San Jose, for it boasts of good schools. The Sau Jose Institute and Commercial College and the Academy of Notre Dume are the prineipal onee. ‘The Institute is a day and boarding cellent reputation at home and abroad. Mr, Gates, its founder and present director, is an old resident of San Jose, aud ranks high among the pioneer teachers of our State. Prof. Oweu is emineutly sueeessful and popular as a commereial instractor. The Aeademy of Notre Dame held its nonnual commencement on Monday, June 26th, whieh we bad the pleasure of witnessing. The exercises consisted of singing, performances on the piano, recitations and distribution of preiniams. The young ladies in the several performances gave evidence of a thorough trainiug. The Sisters are untiring iu their endeavors to educate the pupils entrusted to) their charge. In the eveuing we were present, by invitation, at the élosing exercises of the Santa Clara College, situated in the town of that name, which isa delightful drive of: half an hour from San Jose, throngh an aveuve of trees, which is so closed at the top by the branches that the sun hardly reaches you. Santa Clara is a small town, supporting quite a number of manufaetories, the! principal hotel of which is the Cameron House, kept by Mr. Cameron, who is a host io himsell; The Santa Clara College is a very large and thriving institntion, the buildings and grounds being arranged in © superior manuer. We were very much pleased with the exercises, which took placo in the gynmasinm of the institution, a room admirably adapted for sueh purposes. The course of study must be very thorough to . allow the students to acquit themselves in the creditable manner that they did. Great eare is taken to give their pipils a most thorough educatiou, aud one only wants to wituess the evidence as shown at the Commencement to be eonvinced that they receive it. TRIP TO THE NEW ALMADEN MINE, . Returning to Sun Jose, we rode over the most dusty road that was ever traveled, to New Almaden, the point at which the works of the Almaden Quieksilver Mining Company are loeated. None but those employed hy tbe company are allowed to live there, so tbat gamblors and others of that class are uot ‘to be found there. The mine is sitnated about two and a half miles from the town, aud is reached by a winding rond up tbe mountain side, the view from which is very fine, looking through the valley for miles. ‘’hrongh the kindness of the officers of the eompany, we were permitted to visit the interior of the mine. Passing down the shaft in the bucket, down, down into the dark regions of the earth, the feehle light of the candie only making the darkness more complete, two hundred and fifty feet, we reached what is called the Big Flat; from thenee we passed throngh the different portions of the mine, seeing some fine puddings of cinuabar, for it does not run in veins as silver ond other ores, but is found in masses, whieh are called puddings. While we were below a blast was inade, and as we were not informed, it was some time before we eould proceed, In returning to daylight we used the ladders,.aud before’ we were half way up, we wished ourselves iu the bucket, for we preferred steam to propel us instead of our legs and arms ; but it wag too late to turn baek. The walk through mother earth was very interesting, and a visit to this mine will pay any one, provided he ie alover of nature in any form. There is quite a settlement on the top of the mountain, eomposed of the miners, most of them being Spanish. Getting back to the town, we passed through the furnaces where the ore is reduced and the quicksilver obtained. Relreshed with a drink from the soda spring located ou the conrpany’s grounds, we wended our way to the mine of the MAROARITTA €OPPER MININO COMPANY, Situated about a mile from the hotel. Had a hard climb up the steep hill, heing very tired with our trainp through the Almaden Miye; but the goal was at last reached. One of the miners took us down a shalt twenty-seven feet, where we saw ore which yields eighteen per eent. ‘Ihe vein looked very rieh, and did they not ohtain hetter beneath, it would almost pay to work this. There hus been some seventy tons sold from this mine, which brought in San Franeiseo ninety odd dollarsaton. It was obtained at depths of twenty-seven and sixty feet. ‘That taken at sixty feet was very rich and considered very fine. There is water in the shaft, which has stopped miming, but as soon as a tunnel, which they are making, strikes the shaft, the mine will be drained and they will then commenee taking out ore agaiu. From the indications this mine, if properly worked, must prove very valuuble, and if copper exists here in such large quantities, it must be found elsewhere, and Santa Clara eounty may yet prove-rich in minerals, which, witli the agricnitnral and manufacturing interests, will make it very rieh. Baek to San Jose, we took the stage, at ten in the morning, for SANTA CRUZ. Reaching there about five, dusty and hungry, but feeling well paid, even under those cireumstanees, for we had seen some grand scenory. ‘We crossed the mountains,and in ascending and descending, the road winds around tbem, making frightful turns, in fact the road for miles is only composed of curves. It makes one’s hair almost stand on end to look ont of the coach windows,-deep gorges, sometimes on both sides of us. Strange to say, bat ten accidents have occurred on the road, and no one has beeu seriously injured. ‘To have a little variety, we walked up a very steep hill, thus making it easier for the horses; but next time ‘ we travel in such warm weather, we shall keep our seats. Santa Cruzis not a very interesting town, and were it not for the sea batbing would possess no interest for the pleasure seeker ; but there are niany here now in search of pleasure and health. It has from fifteen hundred to two thousand inhabitaute. Manulacturing is carried on quite exteusively: Leather, powder and paper are among the many urticles produced. We were niuch pleased with passing through the well conducted tannery of Birton & Joues. Vhe paper mill, which we also had the pleasure of’ visiting, is situated in a picturesque spot on the San Lorenzo river, from which the power is obtained. At some points on thie little stream, some very fine seenery is to be seen. Were it not for the dust, there would be some pleasure in ri) & around the country, for there are some deli-)\ful drives. Yet we say take the dnves and let the consequences rest with the old Pacific. The beach is excellent for bathing, and atter a . bath in salt water one feels like anew ber, ond as though he could devour ten of the good dinners furnished at the San Lorenzo Wxchange. A steamer makes weekly trips between here and San Francisco, and there is also a new line of sailing vessels plying between here and there. If there was a steamer . which made a quick trip to the city, we shyuld be tempted to take it on our return, but as it is, we shall have to brave the dust again. Santa Cruz, June 30th, 1864. Taz Desrest Gorn Minr.—In an account of the quartz mines of Amador county, the ‘Jacksou Ledger remarks of 4 notable gold mine, at Sutter creek, as fdllows: “The Eureka and Badger lode is owned by Messrs. Hayward and Chamberlain. These gentlemen were interested iu these claims as early as the winter of ‘53, and fall owners iu 757. It would be difficult to estimate the amount of quartz that has been taken from these mines or its value, but suffiee it to say that tho amounts of both have been eminently satisfactory, and that a million would not buy them. The muin shaft is 960 feet in depth, the deepest in the State, so far as we know. The vein is what ie supposed to he tle great “ mother lode,” and appears to be in the extended system of quartz veius on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada what the Sacramento river is to its numerons tribytaries. However that may be, its dimensions are ‘Titaniau, the size in the lowermost level ranging from twenty to forty feet. This is not only the deepest mining shaft in the State, but, ae a gold mine, the deepest in the world. Does it not disprove the theory of geologists that the\amount of gold decreases in exact rate ‘with the depth ? {f not, it certainly proves that therejare execptions to the rule. Conneeted with this mine are two mills; one of forty stamps—water and steam power eombined—and te other a water mill of twenty stamps. Aboyt seventyfive inen ure employed in mills and\mine, and eighty tons of rock worked per day.” Caretnes Warirers.—The report of Postmaster General Dennison showe an extraordinury amount of earelessness ou the part of the letter-writing community. During the laet year 3,508,025 dead letters have been received —over 3,000 a day. Many of these letters eontained money, deeds, bills of exchange, drafts, eleeks, jewelry and other valuables. Some of them mis-directed, others not directed at ull, others unstamped, and others partially directed. ‘Ihousands of dead letters were returned ‘to the writers, but the great majority of them had to be destroyed. This statemeut onght to teaeh the public to be more eatelnl in their correspondenee, for the suffering caused by these lost letters is inealeulable. Tus Rott or Evrors's Birtows.—Nearly five thousand immigrants from Kurope arrived at New York recently in one day. Six steamers brought four thousand and three ships caracoled over the Atlantie with the remainder. More than three thousand five hundred of these immigrants are women, and nine-tenths of the latter will be looking for eituatione as “the greatest plngne in life, ” in somebody’e kitelien before the week is out. Aboot eleven hundred caine from Continental Enrope, and make very good “ belps, ” with a little instruction. Pror. Bior's eooking class at New York has grown from 30 to 70. He gives three-hour lessons, cooks all kinds of things before his pupils, and lets them taste and examiue. Ants.—A correspondent of tbe Hortieudturist says it is only necessary to sprinkle some ground eoffee on the aut-hills or on some plaees where the inseets are frequently seen, and within fifteen minutee not one of them will be foundTbis is an old plan, but never fails. Sona fountnins have been introduced on the trains of the Little Miami Railroad. Something new. Joun G Janes, who died recently at Doylestown, Pennsylvania, hns teft all his property, valued at $50,000, to the Sunday School Union.

418 The Mining aul Seientific Press, Goummnientions. Is THis Onranrtuent we Invite the FREE Discussios of all proper SUE aac noua alone being respousible ror tho ideas and theories they udvance. [Written for the Mlning and Scientific Press.) The Problem of Gold and Silver Extyaction-A General Review---No. XIIL, BY PROF. L. LANSZWEERT. ' FLUXES. Assuming the process of roasting to have been necessary, and to have been applied, and that a metallic substance still remains to-be extraeted from the uon-volatile residue, a process of fusion must be resorted to. It is called smelling. A slight ehemicul consideration of the materials wherewith metals are ordinorily combined, will bring to mind the faet that some are really or practically infusible. But fusion, in eertain eirenmstances, the metallargist must have. The theoretical ehoice was before him of ehoosing hetween the moist and eolvative, and the dry or igneous process of effeeting liquidity. He was driven by practical eonsiderations to accept the latter. Therefore fusibility is a eonsideration so indispensable to success in his futura operations that he must have it. How, then, was he to solve the problem of elfeetiug the fusibility of things which are hy their nature infusible ? Chemistry renders the solution of this problem easy: there are many substances whieh, though iufusible when heated by themselves, fuse readily enough when heated in combination. Hence arises the theory of jluxes and fluwing ; these terms being respeetively applied to substanees which impart igneous fluidity when heated with other substances, and to the manner of using them. Silica or eilicie acid is an infusible hody when heated alone; nevertheless it fuses wheu sulficiently heated in contact with potash, soda, or their respective carbonates, and less readily when heated in contact with alkaline earths. Hence if the metallurgic problem were to present itself, of extracting a metal by fire, from a mixture of the same with siliea (chemically silieie acid); potash or soda, or their respective earhonates would be had recourse to, in preference to all others, if considerations of profit and loss did not intervene. The price of the alkalies and earbonates of alkalies does not admit of their common application to the purposes of a flux on the large metallurgic scale; wherefore the smelter, not being able to use the flux wbicb chemistry proclaims to be the best, contents himself with a substitute as near to the theoretie quality as may be practicable. Thus where alkalies or earbonates of alkalies would have been employed to facilitate igneous fusion in the laboratory and on the* small scale—probably lime or carbonate of lime would be employed in the larger representation of the proeess as performed by the metullurgist. Not only do the alkalies and their earhonates perform the functions of fluxes to silieie aein, but also to eeveral metullie oxyds, amongst which those of lead, copper and iron may be cited as familinr examples. Every person kuows tbat fliat glass, as it is ealled, eontains oxyd of lead; that black bottle lass contains oxyd of iron—eombinations which illustrate, perhaps, as well as any we could adduee, the quality of the alkalies whieh imparts to them the power of a flux. When it is considered that nearly all the eolors which can be imparted to glass, nay, whieh ae imparted to porcelain and enainel, are referable to eombinations of metallic oxyds with silicic acid, a still further notion will be eonveyed of the extensive range of combination whieh may be produced by silicie ncid under the influence of igneous fusion. Next, perhaps, to potash and soda, in respeet to its large range of ageney as an igneous flux, eomes borax. Seldom is it that the assayer in his laboratory operations on riineral ores, by fire, dispena with both alkalies and with borax ; but ere in this case, aguin, considerations of expense restriet the application of this matetial to the laboratory, ond the smelter is obliged to eontent himself with fluxes much lower in the scale of chemical power and efficiency. Perhaps, however, there may not be #0 many advantages lost from the uon-employment of laboratory fluxes, on a large scale as is sometimes imagined. ‘’o adopt soda, or potash, or borax, thongh compatible with the economical arrangement of the laboratory chemist, who will uot hesitate to ruin a erueible at each operation, might still accord very Tenders. having all the modern improvements, is well sehool for males and females, and enjoys au exili with the economy of furnace building. The alchemists tried to discover a fluid which should have.the property of dissolving all things wherewith it might come into contact. They neglected to retlect that a necessity would arise for a vessel to keep it in. It) might be thus with metallurgists, on the large scale, if laboratory fluxes were cheap enough and plentiful enough to be adopted on the large scale. Though the number of fluxes which the metallurgist has at his command, for large operatious of smelting, be inconsiderable in eomparison witb those employed iu laboratory operations, nevertheless the proeess of assaying issone so important to the metallurgist that every flux known to the chemist deserves his cousideration. Under the head of assaying, therefore, to be adverted to bereafter, the chemical agents will be fnlly discussed. The preliminary operation of dressing having been performed on a mineral, also the fnrther operation of roastiug; if necessary, the final operation of smelting naturally follows. Atter the general statement given of the nature and properties of fluxes, it will be seen that the operation of extracting a metal from a metallic ore, by smelting, consists in subjecting it to luruaee-heat in admixture with some flux, the object of the latter heiog twofold; primarily, to liqnify and dissolve away refuse matters by themselves in fusion, and seeondarily, in some eases, to aid the decomposition, by the result of which the metal is evolved from its combinatious. It remains now for the eompletion of our sketeh of the applianees of inetallurgy, that we indicate the peculiarities of the different processes, and the appendages, by means of which those processes for the rednetion of silver ores are affeeted. [To be Continued.) (Written for the Minlng and Scientife Press.) A Trip to San Jose and Santa Clara. Entrors Pruss:—A few notes of a run down into the countios of Santa Clara and Santa Cruz, inay not be uninteresting to yonr Taking the early traiu from San Francisco, yon soon shake off the dust of that tanous eity, and are out amongst tbe green fields, and before long, trees, those great rarities of your city, gladden your eyes; aud to one who is so accustomed to being surrounded by trees and shrubhery, they were very weleome sights. ‘wo hours of pleasant riding over one of the smoothest of railroads, with a gentlemanly conductor, brings you to the thriving place, at the termiuus of tbe road, Sau Jose. One thing in regard to this road strnek me very foreibly, for it redueed the plethora of my poeket considerably ; it was the rate of fare, as eompared with roads in the East. Two to tbree eents per mile is eharged on them, while we pay on this road five eents, which must yield very handsome dividends to the stockholders. San Jose isa growing town, numberiug about five thonsand inhabitauts. It is laid out very regularly, although being an old Spanish town, one would hardly expect to see the streets so regular. A few adohe houses still remain as landmarks of the past ; most of them being situated on what is called the Plaza, though it is not deserving of that name, for it is merely a common. A number of new buildings have been erected lately, among which is a fine hlock of stoue, the upper part of which is used by the Masons and Odd Fellows ; also a new hotel, the Auzerais Honse, kept, being a hotel where one truly feels at home. Kudueation is not neglected in San Jose, for it boasts of good schools. The Sau Jose Institute and Commercial College and the Academy of Notre Dume are the prineipal onee. ‘The Institute is a day and boarding cellent reputation at home and abroad. Mr, Gates, its founder and present director, is an old resident of San Jose, aud ranks high among the pioneer teachers of our State. Prof. Oweu is emineutly sueeessful and popular as a commereial instractor. The Aeademy of Notre Dame held its nonnual commencement on Monday, June 26th, whieh we bad the pleasure of witnessing. The exercises consisted of singing, performances on the piano, recitations and distribution of preiniams. The young ladies in the several performances gave evidence of a thorough trainiug. The Sisters are untiring iu their endeavors to educate the pupils entrusted to) their charge. In the eveuing we were present, by invitation, at the élosing exercises of the Santa Clara College, situated in the town of that name, which isa delightful drive of: half an hour from San Jose, throngh an aveuve of trees, which is so closed at the top by the branches that the sun hardly reaches you. Santa Clara is a small town, supporting quite a number of manufaetories, the! principal hotel of which is the Cameron House, kept by Mr. Cameron, who is a host io himsell; The Santa Clara College is a very large and thriving institntion, the buildings and grounds being arranged in © superior manuer. We were very much pleased with the exercises, which took placo in the gynmasinm of the institution, a room admirably adapted for sueh purposes. The course of study must be very thorough to .

allow the students to acquit themselves in the creditable manner that they did. Great eare is taken to give their pipils a most thorough educatiou, aud one only wants to wituess the evidence as shown at the Commencement to be eonvinced that they receive it. TRIP TO THE NEW ALMADEN MINE, . Returning to Sun Jose, we rode over the most dusty road that was ever traveled, to New Almaden, the point at which the works of the Almaden Quieksilver Mining Company are loeated. None but those employed hy tbe company are allowed to live there, so tbat gamblors and others of that class are uot ‘to be found there. The mine is sitnated about two and a half miles from the town, aud is reached by a winding rond up tbe mountain side, the view from which is very fine, looking through the valley for miles. ‘’hrongh the kindness of the officers of the eompany, we were permitted to visit the interior of the mine. Passing down the shaft in the bucket, down, down into the dark regions of the earth, the feehle light of the candie only making the darkness more complete, two hundred and fifty feet, we reached what is called the Big Flat; from thenee we passed throngh the different portions of the mine, seeing some fine puddings of cinuabar, for it does not run in veins as silver ond other ores, but is found in masses, whieh are called puddings. While we were below a blast was inade, and as we were not informed, it was some time before we eould proceed, In returning to daylight we used the ladders,.aud before’ we were half way up, we wished ourselves iu the bucket, for we preferred steam to propel us instead of our legs and arms ; but it wag too late to turn baek. The walk through mother earth was very interesting, and a visit to this mine will pay any one, provided he ie alover of nature in any form. There is quite a settlement on the top of the mountain, eomposed of the miners, most of them being Spanish. Getting back to the town, we passed through the furnaces where the ore is reduced and the quicksilver obtained. Relreshed with a drink from the soda spring located ou the conrpany’s grounds, we wended our way to the mine of the MAROARITTA €OPPER MININO COMPANY, Situated about a mile from the hotel. Had a hard climb up the steep hill, heing very tired with our trainp through the Almaden Miye; but the goal was at last reached. One of the miners took us down a shalt twenty-seven feet, where we saw ore which yields eighteen per eent. ‘Ihe vein looked very rieh, and did they not ohtain hetter beneath, it would almost pay to work this. There hus been some seventy tons sold from this mine, which brought in San Franeiseo ninety odd dollarsaton. It was obtained at depths of twenty-seven and sixty feet. ‘That taken at sixty feet was very rich and considered very fine. There is water in the shaft, which has stopped miming, but as soon as a tunnel, which they are making, strikes the shaft, the mine will be drained and they will then commenee taking out ore agaiu. From the indications this mine, if properly worked, must prove very valuuble, and if copper exists here in such large quantities, it must be found elsewhere, and Santa Clara eounty may yet prove-rich in minerals, which, witli the agricnitnral and manufacturing interests, will make it very rieh. Baek to San Jose, we took the stage, at ten in the morning, for SANTA CRUZ. Reaching there about five, dusty and hungry, but feeling well paid, even under those cireumstanees, for we had seen some grand scenory. ‘We crossed the mountains,and in ascending and descending, the road winds around tbem, making frightful turns, in fact the road for miles is only composed of curves. It makes one’s hair almost stand on end to look ont of the coach windows,-deep gorges, sometimes on both sides of us. Strange to say, bat ten accidents have occurred on the road, and no one has beeu seriously injured. ‘To have a little variety, we walked up a very steep hill, thus making it easier for the horses; but next time ‘ we travel in such warm weather, we shall keep our seats. Santa Cruzis not a very interesting town, and were it not for the sea batbing would possess no interest for the pleasure seeker ; but there are niany here now in search of pleasure and health. It has from fifteen hundred to two thousand inhabitaute. Manulacturing is carried on quite exteusively: Leather, powder and paper are among the many urticles produced. We were niuch pleased with passing through the well conducted tannery of Birton & Joues. Vhe paper mill, which we also had the pleasure of’ visiting, is situated in a picturesque spot on the San Lorenzo river, from which the power is obtained. At some points on thie little stream, some very fine seenery is to be seen. Were it not for the dust, there would be some pleasure in ri) & around the country, for there are some deli-)\ful drives. Yet we say take the dnves and let the consequences rest with the old Pacific. The beach is excellent for bathing, and atter a . bath in salt water one feels like anew ber, ond as though he could devour ten of the good dinners furnished at the San Lorenzo Wxchange. A steamer makes weekly trips between here and San Francisco, and there is also a new line of sailing vessels plying between here and there. If there was a steamer . which made a quick trip to the city, we shyuld be tempted to take it on our return, but as it is, we shall have to brave the dust again. Santa Cruz, June 30th, 1864. Taz Desrest Gorn Minr.—In an account of the quartz mines of Amador county, the ‘Jacksou Ledger remarks of 4 notable gold mine, at Sutter creek, as fdllows: “The Eureka and Badger lode is owned by Messrs. Hayward and Chamberlain. These gentlemen were interested iu these claims as early as the winter of ‘53, and fall owners iu 757. It would be difficult to estimate the amount of quartz that has been taken from these mines or its value, but suffiee it to say that tho amounts of both have been eminently satisfactory, and that a million would not buy them. The muin shaft is 960 feet in depth, the deepest in the State, so far as we know. The vein is what ie supposed to he tle great “ mother lode,” and appears to be in the extended system of quartz veius on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada what the Sacramento river is to its numerons tribytaries. However that may be, its dimensions are ‘Titaniau, the size in the lowermost level ranging from twenty to forty feet. This is not only the deepest mining shaft in the State, but, ae a gold mine, the deepest in the world. Does it not disprove the theory of geologists that the\amount of gold decreases in exact rate ‘with the depth ? {f not, it certainly proves that therejare execptions to the rule. Conneeted with this mine are two mills; one of forty stamps—water and steam power eombined—and te other a water mill of twenty stamps. Aboyt seventyfive inen ure employed in mills and\mine, and eighty tons of rock worked per day.” Caretnes Warirers.—The report of Postmaster General Dennison showe an extraordinury amount of earelessness ou the part of the letter-writing community. During the laet year 3,508,025 dead letters have been received —over 3,000 a day. Many of these letters eontained money, deeds, bills of exchange, drafts, eleeks, jewelry and other valuables. Some of them mis-directed, others not directed at ull, others unstamped, and others partially directed. ‘Ihousands of dead letters were returned ‘to the writers, but the great majority of them had to be destroyed. This statemeut onght to teaeh the public to be more eatelnl in their correspondenee, for the suffering caused by these lost letters is inealeulable. Tus Rott or Evrors's Birtows.—Nearly five thousand immigrants from Kurope arrived at New York recently in one day. Six steamers brought four thousand and three ships caracoled over the Atlantie with the remainder. More than three thousand five hundred of these immigrants are women, and nine-tenths of the latter will be looking for eituatione as “the greatest plngne in life, ” in somebody’e kitelien before the week is out. Aboot eleven hundred caine from Continental Enrope, and make very good “ belps, ” with a little instruction. Pror. Bior's eooking class at New York has grown from 30 to 70. He gives three-hour lessons, cooks all kinds of things before his pupils, and lets them taste and examiue. Ants.—A correspondent of tbe Hortieudturist says it is only necessary to sprinkle some ground eoffee on the aut-hills or on some plaees where the inseets are frequently seen, and within fifteen minutee not one of them will be foundTbis is an old plan, but never fails. Sona fountnins have been introduced on the trains of the Little Miami Railroad. Something new. Joun G Janes, who died recently at Doylestown, Pennsylvania, hns teft all his property, valued at $50,000, to the Sunday School Union.