Volume 11 (1865) (424 pages)

a! DEWEY & €CO., PUBLISHERS And Patent Solliettors, YY Mournal of Aseful Arts, Seience, and Wining and Mechanical Lrogress. VOLUME XE Number 0. Mining and Scientific Press, .SeNxtor Eprtor. ALT. DEWEY, Cc. W. uM. suITE. W. 2, EWER. DEWICY & CO., Publishers. Orvrice—No. 505 Clay street, cornor of Snusome, 2d floor. Terms of Subsertption: Onc copy, per annuin, In alvance,, One copy, slx months, In advance, &g For sale by Carriers aud ¥¢ is Impoasthte for cdilors to know ats the merits and demerits of their correxponilence, consequently the feader must not recelve the apinions of our contributors axourown. Inteltigent disenssion ts Invited upou nll sides and the evidence of any error which may appear will be recelved In friendship and treated with respect. a Amertenn and Fercten Pateuts.—Letters Patent for Inventors can be secured In the Enited States and forelan countries through the Mixixo axp Scrgstiric Press Patent Actuxcy. We offer apnileants reasonable terms, and they cab res] aysvred of a strict compliauce wlilt our ohlleations, and ao falih¢ul performauce of all coniracta For reference, we whl fannie the names of numerous parties for whom we have obtatned patenta during the past two years. ¥avorabte to Yaventors.—Persons holding new In¥entlons of machinery and important Improvements, can have the same illustrated and explained Inthe Mixing axp Screstirvi¢ Press, free ot charce, lf ln onr judgment the discovery Is one of ren! merit, and of sufieleut Interest to ollr readers to warrant publication. Payment to Advance.---This paper will not be sent tosubserlbors beyond Ibe lerm pald for. The publishers well know that a good Journal cannot be snstalued on the credit system. Oxzitvary.—We are paiaed to announco the death of Mr. Edward Daniels, Impost Clerk in the Custom House, by the upsetting of the vehicle in which he was riding, about half a mile this side of the toll-gate on the Ocean House road, last Moaday eveniag at abont 714 o'clock. Deccased was driving, accompanied by Mr. Weston, alsoaclerk in the Custom House, when they were precipitated down a baak nbout fifteen feet high, instantly causing his death by the breaking of his neck. Mr. Daniels waa a native of Massachusetts, and leaves a wife and iateresting little daughter in Northampton, with whom we sympathize, to mourn his loss. He has resided in this city about five years, H¢e was a man of good business habits, and highly esteemed by those who knew him, His remaias were followed to their resting-place from the house of Ira P. Rankin, Esq., of this city, by his friends and a large coacourse of Master Masons, to which order he helonged and dearly loved, and we sincorcly trust that he has goue to that place were all good Masons hope to at length arrivo. a A Natioy or Ate Drinxers.—Mr. Gladstone, the Chancellor of the Exchequer of England, in his late financial report, calculates that the regular weckly allowance of malt liquorto each aduit male in that country is six hundred quarts—nearly two quarts a day. Two hundreds millions of dollars a year are expended for what Mr. Gladstune ternis the “national driak ;” aud he adds with a sort of glowing satisfaction, that there are uo sigus of tho taste for it dying out. Ixorntovs Worxsansuir.—A child’s dress is exhibited ‘in the inclosure of the Florence Sewing Machine Compaay, at the Fair, which was inode by a lady of this city on one of the Florence machines, cutire. That is to say, lo other necdlc but that employed bythe machine, was used in making any of its stitches. It is a beautiful achievement of art aud industry, which cvery Indy shonld see, <=_ AnoTHer WEEK or THE Farr.—We believe that it is now generally understood that the Fair will close on Saturday next. THE BIG TREES OF OALAVERAS, Among the curiosities at tho Pavilion are several scctions of the burk and wood of the big trees of Calaveras. ‘The thickness of the hark in one of these sections is seveutcen inches. In connection with the eulry which contains theso specimens are also exhibited some cones which have fallen from the tree, which are very sowll, not larger than uw len's ege ; nlso, some of the sceds, a dried twig, and nv small tree, some fifteen inches high, which ins been produced from the secd. Jt is now some twelve years since the attention of the scientific world was called to the existence of these mammoth productioas of our California forests. This was the first cluster of Inrge trees which was discovered. Since its discovery, the existence of several other groves of the same extraordiaary growth have becn made known to the world, which ore said to rival in magnificence and grandeur even the Calaveras grove. re have at least fonr such groves, and it is thon¢ht that others may yet be discovered. It is said that a grove exists in Tuolumue county, at a locality very inconvenient of access, which is even finer than that of Calaveras ; and it is quite a pleasant reflection to know. that these wonders of the California monntains are not confined to any one spot, but that several grand companies . of these forest giants exist, to neither of which . the world has yet been able to furnish an equal. According to Professor Brewer, of the Geological Survey, great numbers of these trecs are found near the head of Kiag’s and Kern rivers, not in isolated groves, hut scattered around promiscuously, at altitudes varying from 5,000 to 7,000 feet ubove the sca level. Ile found one trec, near Thomas’ sawmill, forty feet in diameter—neurly twice that of the largest ia the Calaveras grove, accordiug to the measurement given below. For scveral years aftér their discovery there was considerable difference of opinion among scieatific men as to the true position which the treo occupies in the botanical system. Soon after its discovery, an Nnglish botanist, supposiag it to be a new specics, named it “ IWellinglonea Gigantea ;” which, however, a patriotic American proposed the more appropriate name, “ Washinglonea Gigantea." It was subsequently named “ Z'vxodium Gigantinm,” by Messrs. Kellogg & Behr, in a paper read before the Californian Academy of Natural Sciences, in May, 1855. In the succeeding August, Dr. Torrey, the distinguished American botanist, who recently paid a short visit to the Pacific coast, in a communication to Silliman's American Journal of Science, settled the matter to the satisfaction of the whole scientific world by placing it, where it undoubtedly belongs, in the same genus as the redwood—which was already known as the “ Sequoia”—aad this being a larger species than any previously known, was very properly called tho “ Sequora Gigantea.” The name having thus bcen delfinitcly settled, it has fallen to the lot of our present ecientific visitor, Dr. C, T. Jackson, of Boston, to furnish tho first accurate and reliable measurements of the chief individuals of this gigantic SAN FRANCISCO, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1865. collection of trees. ‘The Doctor, it will be recollected, recently visited that viciuity in compauy with Joseph B. Mender, Isq., of Stockton. We aow give, for the first timo, to the public, the following extracts from his note-book, which wero also rend before the Culifornia Acndemy of Natural Sciences, in this cily, on the 7th ultimo: Measurements of the hight and cireunyference of the most noted of the “ Big Trees" (Seote Gigantea), by Charles T. Jackson, dt. D., and Mr. Joseph B. Meader, August 2d and 3d, 1865. We were provided with a Sir IT, Douglass reflecting semi-circle, a reflecting level, aud a nieasuriug tape, nnd by nieans ol these instrumeuts bave made quito accurate measurenicnts. = The horizontal point, or level, was first ascertained on each treo by means of the reflectiug levol, and the angle was measured to that poiat, and the difference of levol was corrected for in each case. By means of the tape the hase lines were deterniined, and the cireumfereuce of each tree at least six feet ubove the ground, or where the tree took its proper form, was measured. Sir H. Douglass’ reflecting semi-cirele is made so as to protract the angles, and it carries nlso a scale for measurement of the sides of the triaagles protracted. In several instances we repeated the ineasurements, with different bases, especially in those where too high an angle introdneed the . error of refraction of the glags of the mirrors. Gircumf 6 Hight feet nboye Names of the Trees. in fect. the roots, NEE SUGUD ON 4 GY a apennceanneden ances 368 60 General Seutt. . » 32 45 General Jackson. .. 0.0.66 320 42 Two Sentinels (Irunt of hotel) 316 = Sulem Witch _ Trinity.. 48 Mother of the 63 Wm, C. Bryant.. 40 Henry W. Beecher. 45 Granite State. .. * 86 60 General Washington 284 62 Abraham Lincolu,. 44 Bay Slate.. 46 Ola Kentucky 45 Empire State. ., 60 Andrew Johnson 32 Daniel Webster, 49 Mother and Son, 6t Edward Everett 46 Pride of Ibe Forest. 60 Vermont, 000.05 259 41 John Torrey (uobis) 259 35 Arbor Vile Quecn,. 158 St Beauty of tbe Forest., 258 = AGT? SLE Giopeementenc nce ocean 241 44 Aca Gray (nobis), nearly as high us the John Torrey, We measured the following large pines near the hotel: Pgenelemanni, or yellow piue. Another. esse cesses cec ee P, Lambertiana, or stigar pinc., The big stump covered by the Stump House has a meau diameter of 23 feet 134 inches, aad its least possible age is 1,380 years, allowing only 10 annual riags per inch. The extremes are 10 and 60, and computing the mean 35 per inch, tho treo will be 4,830 ycars old. , 27 19 Orion oF THE Boxnut.—The first boanet worn in Eagland was brought from Italy in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, and its form was a compromise between the present Italian hat and French hood. The materials employed ia constructing these head ornaments were crimson satin, elaborately embroidered, cloth of gold, and similar rich materials. The Leghorn hat, with perpendicular crown and wide brim standiug out far around the face, was the first legitimate bonnet worn, and this appeared long after Queen Elizabeth’s time. It was trimuied with artificial flowers and immense bows of ribbons. Our present neat and ex quisitively delicate and tasteful head-covering is but a modification of this huge affair, which not very mauy years hack wasso universally worn and admired. SINGULAR PETRIPAOTION. We have received from the editor of the Colusa Sun, a very singniar petrifaction, re cently found by Mr. Reed, in Bear Creek, Colnsa county. The speciinen is about the size of a man’s clenched fist, and of very inuch such shape. At tho extremo front thereof aro the distinct remains of what were thought to have been iron nails, about six or eight penny in size. ‘The petrifactiou was once evi dently a hard, close-grained piece of wood, and the question naturally asked, was,“ Who drove those nails in that wood ?” Petrifnction itself is really but little under. stood. It is one of the secret, quiet operations of nature, that in the present state of Hinman knowledge, can only be faintly explained. Its process is curious beyond parnllel, aad is of a nature similar {o the physiological phenomena of tho assimilation or convergion of nutrimeat iato .the fluid or solid substance of the animal body. It is universally conceded that the process ol wood petrifuction is very slow ; requiriug ages fur its consummation; yet authenticated cnses of the total or partial petrifaction of the human body iu a very short space of time, are quite common. Several occur to us as we write— one that of an clderly woman baried in Philadelphia in 1857. The grave was opened in May last, when her hody was found completely petrified, and as perfect in form and appearaace as wheu placed there, with the exception of the nose which, alone, was slightly decayed.{t required the united strength of eight men to raise the body from the grave. When thegrave was dug, a spring of water strongly impregnated with lime was struck, and flowed so i freely that it was found necessary to bail it out before loweriag the coffin. Henee tlic pheuomena. ‘The time which had elapsed had Hot becn sufficieut to at all aflect the coflin. The body, however, from its more perishable nature, had yielded—as it is geacrally conceded that the tissue, whether wood or flesh, must decay to give place for the petresecut particles, We have no doubt but that the petrifaction from Colusa, for such it really is, is of quite as aucient au origin ag the numereus instauces, and great mnsses of petrified wood so ofteu found in nearly every portion of onr mines. What appears to be nails is nothing but a deposition of iron, in the form of clongated erystals of sulphurets of iron. A close examinatiou would appcar to seltie that matter beyond a doubt. We often hear of petrifactions being formed in a few wecks, or even days, in some springs of a peculiar mineral character containing large qnantities of lime in solution. These petrifactions, however, are merely incrustations. The stouey matter having been newly formed over and around the wood, inclosiag the same, as it were, ina closcd case; but not displacing the woody fibre, ag is done in a true petrifaction. Fleshy matter, under certain favorable circumnstancea, ~ as in the instance above cited, may be petrified in a very short period of time, from the fact of ita early decay, allowing a rapid displacement of its particles, and its entire conversion into calcareous matter, the only character which such rapid petrifactions assume. _ s

a! DEWEY & €CO., PUBLISHERS And Patent Solliettors, YY Mournal of Aseful Arts, Seience, and Wining and Mechanical Lrogress. VOLUME XE Number 0. Mining and Scientific Press, .SeNxtor Eprtor. ALT. DEWEY, Cc. W. uM. suITE. W. 2, EWER. DEWICY & CO., Publishers. Orvrice—No. 505 Clay street, cornor of Snusome, 2d floor. Terms of Subsertption: Onc copy, per annuin, In alvance,, One copy, slx months, In advance, &g For sale by Carriers aud ¥¢ is Impoasthte for cdilors to know ats the merits and demerits of their correxponilence, consequently the feader must not recelve the apinions of our contributors axourown. Inteltigent disenssion ts Invited upou nll sides and the evidence of any error which may appear will be recelved In friendship and treated with respect. a Amertenn and Fercten Pateuts.—Letters Patent for Inventors can be secured In the Enited States and forelan countries through the Mixixo axp Scrgstiric Press Patent Actuxcy. We offer apnileants reasonable terms, and they cab res] aysvred of a strict compliauce wlilt our ohlleations, and ao falih¢ul performauce of all coniracta For reference, we whl fannie the names of numerous parties for whom we have obtatned patenta during the past two years. ¥avorabte to Yaventors.—Persons holding new In¥entlons of machinery and important Improvements, can have the same illustrated and explained Inthe Mixing axp Screstirvi¢ Press, free ot charce, lf ln onr judgment the discovery Is one of ren! merit, and of sufieleut Interest to ollr readers to warrant publication. Payment to Advance.---This paper will not be sent tosubserlbors beyond Ibe lerm pald for. The publishers well know that a good Journal cannot be snstalued on the credit system. Oxzitvary.—We are paiaed to announco the death of Mr. Edward Daniels, Impost Clerk in the Custom House, by the upsetting of the vehicle in which he was riding, about half a mile this side of the toll-gate on the Ocean House road, last Moaday eveniag at abont 714 o'clock. Deccased was driving, accompanied by Mr. Weston, alsoaclerk in the Custom House, when they were precipitated down a baak nbout fifteen feet high, instantly causing his death by the breaking of his neck. Mr. Daniels waa a native of Massachusetts, and leaves a wife and iateresting little daughter in Northampton, with whom we sympathize, to mourn his loss. He has resided in this city about five years, H¢e was a man of good business habits, and highly esteemed by those who knew him, His remaias were followed to their resting-place from the house of Ira P. Rankin, Esq., of this city, by his friends and a large coacourse of Master Masons, to which order he helonged and dearly loved, and we sincorcly trust that he has goue to that place were all good Masons hope to at length arrivo. a A Natioy or Ate Drinxers.—Mr. Gladstone, the Chancellor of the Exchequer of England, in his late financial report, calculates that the regular weckly allowance of malt liquorto each aduit male in that country is six hundred quarts—nearly two quarts a day. Two hundreds millions of dollars a year are expended for what Mr. Gladstune ternis the “national driak ;” aud he adds with a sort of glowing satisfaction, that there are uo sigus of tho taste for it dying out. Ixorntovs Worxsansuir.—A child’s dress is exhibited ‘in the inclosure of the Florence Sewing Machine Compaay, at the Fair, which was inode by a lady of this city on one of the Florence machines, cutire. That is to say, lo other necdlc but that employed bythe machine, was used in making any of its stitches. It is a beautiful achievement of art aud industry, which cvery Indy shonld see, <=_ AnoTHer WEEK or THE Farr.—We believe that it is now generally understood that the Fair will close on Saturday next. THE BIG TREES OF OALAVERAS, Among the curiosities at tho Pavilion are several scctions of the burk and wood of the big trees of Calaveras. ‘The thickness of the hark in one of these sections is seveutcen inches. In connection with the eulry which contains theso specimens are also exhibited some cones which have fallen from the tree, which are very sowll, not larger than uw len's ege ; nlso, some of the sceds, a dried twig, and nv small tree, some fifteen inches high, which ins been produced from the secd. Jt is now some twelve years since the attention of the scientific world was called to the existence of these mammoth productioas of our California forests. This was the first cluster of Inrge trees which was discovered. Since its discovery, the existence of several other groves of the same extraordiaary growth have becn made known to the world, which ore said to rival in magnificence and grandeur even the Calaveras grove. re have at least fonr such groves, and it is thon¢ht that others may yet be discovered. It is said that a grove exists in Tuolumue county, at a locality very inconvenient of access, which is even finer than that of Calaveras ; and it is quite a pleasant reflection to know. that these wonders of the California monntains are not confined to any one spot, but that several grand companies . of these forest giants exist, to neither of which . the world has yet been able to furnish an equal. According to Professor Brewer, of the Geological Survey, great numbers of these trecs are found near the head of Kiag’s and Kern rivers, not in isolated groves, hut scattered around promiscuously, at altitudes varying from 5,000 to 7,000 feet ubove the sca level. Ile found one trec, near Thomas’ sawmill, forty feet in diameter—neurly twice that of the largest ia the Calaveras grove, accordiug to the measurement given below. For scveral years aftér their discovery there was considerable difference of opinion among scieatific men as to the true position which the treo occupies in the botanical system. Soon after its discovery, an Nnglish botanist, supposiag it to be a new specics, named it “ IWellinglonea Gigantea ;” which, however, a patriotic American proposed the more appropriate name, “ Washinglonea Gigantea." It was subsequently named “ Z'vxodium Gigantinm,” by Messrs. Kellogg & Behr, in a paper read before the Californian Academy of Natural Sciences, in May, 1855. In the succeeding August, Dr. Torrey, the distinguished American botanist, who recently paid a short visit to the Pacific coast, in a communication to Silliman's American Journal of Science, settled the matter to the satisfaction of the whole scientific world by placing it, where it undoubtedly belongs, in the same genus as the redwood—which was already known as the “ Sequoia”—aad this being a larger species than any previously known, was very properly called tho “ Sequora Gigantea.” The name having thus bcen delfinitcly settled, it has fallen to the lot of our present ecientific

visitor, Dr. C, T. Jackson, of Boston, to furnish tho first accurate and reliable measurements of the chief individuals of this gigantic SAN FRANCISCO, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1865. collection of trees. ‘The Doctor, it will be recollected, recently visited that viciuity in compauy with Joseph B. Mender, Isq., of Stockton. We aow give, for the first timo, to the public, the following extracts from his note-book, which wero also rend before the Culifornia Acndemy of Natural Sciences, in this cily, on the 7th ultimo: Measurements of the hight and cireunyference of the most noted of the “ Big Trees" (Seote Gigantea), by Charles T. Jackson, dt. D., and Mr. Joseph B. Meader, August 2d and 3d, 1865. We were provided with a Sir IT, Douglass reflecting semi-circle, a reflecting level, aud a nieasuriug tape, nnd by nieans ol these instrumeuts bave made quito accurate measurenicnts. = The horizontal point, or level, was first ascertained on each treo by means of the reflectiug levol, and the angle was measured to that poiat, and the difference of levol was corrected for in each case. By means of the tape the hase lines were deterniined, and the cireumfereuce of each tree at least six feet ubove the ground, or where the tree took its proper form, was measured. Sir H. Douglass’ reflecting semi-cirele is made so as to protract the angles, and it carries nlso a scale for measurement of the sides of the triaagles protracted. In several instances we repeated the ineasurements, with different bases, especially in those where too high an angle introdneed the . error of refraction of the glags of the mirrors. Gircumf 6 Hight feet nboye Names of the Trees. in fect. the roots, NEE SUGUD ON 4 GY a apennceanneden ances 368 60 General Seutt. .. » 32 45 General Jackson. ... 0.0.66 320 42 Two Sentinels (Irunt of hotel) 316 = Sulem Witch _ Trinity... 48 Mother of the 63 Wm, C. Bryant... 40 Henry W. Beecher.. 45 Granite State. ... * 86 60 General Washington 284 62 Abraham Lincolu,. 44 Bay Slate.... 46 Ola Kentucky 45 Empire State. .., 60 Andrew Johnson 32 Daniel Webster, 49 Mother and Son, 6t Edward Everett 46 Pride of Ibe Forest. 60 Vermont, 000.05 259 41 John Torrey (uobis) 259 35 Arbor Vile Quecn,. 158 St Beauty of tbe Forest., 258 = AGT? SLE Giopeementenc nce ocean 241 44 Aca Gray (nobis), nearly as high us the John Torrey, We measured the following large pines near the hotel: Pgenelemanni, or yellow piue. Another. esse cesses cec ee P, Lambertiana, or stigar pinc., The big stump covered by the Stump House has a meau diameter of 23 feet 134 inches, aad its least possible age is 1,380 years, allowing only 10 annual riags per inch. The extremes are 10 and 60, and computing the mean 35 per inch, tho treo will be 4,830 ycars old. , 27 19 Orion oF THE Boxnut.—The first boanet worn in Eagland was brought from Italy in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, and its form was a compromise between the present Italian hat and French hood. The materials employed ia constructing these head ornaments were crimson satin, elaborately embroidered, cloth of gold, and similar rich materials. The Leghorn hat, with perpendicular crown and wide brim standiug out far around the face, was the first legitimate bonnet worn, and this appeared long after Queen Elizabeth’s time. It was trimuied with artificial flowers and immense bows of ribbons. Our present neat and ex quisitively delicate and tasteful head-covering is but a modification of this huge affair, which not very mauy years hack wasso universally worn and admired. SINGULAR PETRIPAOTION. We have received from the editor of the Colusa Sun, a very singniar petrifaction, re cently found by Mr. Reed, in Bear Creek, Colnsa county. The speciinen is about the size of a man’s clenched fist, and of very inuch such shape. At tho extremo front thereof aro the distinct remains of what were thought to have been iron nails, about six or eight penny in size. ‘The petrifactiou was once evi dently a hard, close-grained piece of wood, and the question naturally asked, was,“ Who drove those nails in that wood ?” Petrifnction itself is really but little under. stood. It is one of the secret, quiet operations of nature, that in the present state of Hinman knowledge, can only be faintly explained. Its process is curious beyond parnllel, aad is of a nature similar {o the physiological phenomena of tho assimilation or convergion of nutrimeat iato .the fluid or solid substance of the animal body. It is universally conceded that the process ol wood petrifuction is very slow ; requiriug ages fur its consummation; yet authenticated cnses of the total or partial petrifaction of the human body iu a very short space of time, are quite common. Several occur to us as we write— one that of an clderly woman baried in Philadelphia in 1857. The grave was opened in May last, when her hody was found completely petrified, and as perfect in form and appearaace as wheu placed there, with the exception of the nose which, alone, was slightly decayed.{t required the united strength of eight men to raise the body from the grave. When thegrave was dug, a spring of water strongly impregnated with lime was struck, and flowed so i freely that it was found necessary to bail it out before loweriag the coffin. Henee tlic pheuomena. ‘The time which had elapsed had Hot becn sufficieut to at all aflect the coflin. The body, however, from its more perishable nature, had yielded—as it is geacrally conceded that the tissue, whether wood or flesh, must decay to give place for the petresecut particles, We have no doubt but that the petrifaction from Colusa, for such it really is, is of quite as aucient au origin ag the numereus instauces, and great mnsses of petrified wood so ofteu found in nearly every portion of onr mines. What appears to be nails is nothing but a deposition of iron, in the form of clongated erystals of sulphurets of iron. A close examinatiou would appcar to seltie that matter beyond a doubt. We often hear of petrifactions being formed in a few wecks, or even days, in some springs of a peculiar mineral character containing large qnantities of lime in solution. These petrifactions, however, are merely incrustations. The stouey matter having been newly formed over and around the wood, inclosiag the same, as it were, ina closcd case; but not displacing the woody fibre, ag is done in a true petrifaction. Fleshy matter, under certain favorable circumnstancea, ~ as in the instance above cited, may be petrified in a very short period of time, from the fact of ita early decay, allowing a rapid displacement of its particles, and its entire conversion into calcareous matter, the only character which such rapid petrifactions assume. _ s