Volume 11 (1865) (424 pages)

. -“ giving out,” truly. Che Mining and Scientific Press, 263 fifteen limndred pounds of rock through an arastra, $150 were tuken up—a good yield. The two stamp mill of the Messrs. Bowers, on the Accidental mine ix now ready for operation. Must af the owners in the original location have consnlidated their claims, and will work together. ‘The owners of the mill ure known tu be go-ahead men, ml will ecrtainly start it with all possible haste. ln the last clean up froin the urastras it yielded over one Hundred dnilars to the tou of ruck. Messrs. Tyson & Co., havo completed the erection of their mill nt Wickenburg. to work the Vulture mine, end it wus to lave commenced running on the 26th nf Sep'ember. A large quantity of rock has been taken to the mail, which, with the tailings from the arustras, will supply material for some time. Rich resulta are anticipated from this enterprisn. Messrs. Curtin, Chase & Co., ere making good progress in erecting their warks, ond expect to be erushing rock by the Ist of Novemb r. Cal. Woolsey expeets that his mill, which is run by water power, wiil be completed early in November. This mill is Incated in the ecntre of a net-work of lodes. Prebably so many ledges, presenting such rieh surface indications, were never before discovered in the same extent of conntry. Wherever shafts were sunk the lodes incrense in width and richness, while new discoverics are made almost dnily. The location of Vickroy & Co.’e mill is not yet determined. The din of its twenty stamps will goon however, be heard somewhere. Contracts hove been let to sink shafts and take out ore from the Voucher andthe Orion, two gold le'ges, and from the United States, which assays richly in eilver. Tbe Los Angeles News of a late date says that Mr. Goldwater of that city recently brought 270 ounces of guid dust from La Paz, which was tnken out of the mines of that vicinity. Itis but a short time since that Mr. Goldwater conveyed to San Francisco four hundred ounces ofthe precious dust, taken from the mines in the same locality. ‘Phe mines of Arizona are Some of this gold is worth $17 50 per ounce. NO SPECIAL OAUSE FOR ALARM. It may be interesting to those persons who are wishing to leave San Francisco on uccount of earthquakes, many of whom desire to go to the Western States, to be reminded that on the 17th of August last, nn earthquake ehock wne felt there which extended over all that portion of the Mississippi Valley, from the upper portien of Illinois to the lower portion of the State of Mississippi, embracing within its eweep purtions of at least eight States, a space of territory much grenter than thot covered by the shock experienced bere on the 8th instant. The centre of disturbance appeared to he near Memphis, T'eunessee, where it produced quite a panie among the people, who rushed out of their houses in the utmost state ofalarm. ‘There, as in San Francisco, chimneys were thrown down and small orticles upset ; and we presume if there hnd been nny sbnky brick huildings in that region, their walls would have cracked and toppled just ne the same class of buildings did here three weeks since. The water in the Mississippi, at Mempbis and New Madrid, was so disturbed thnt the river was reverted fora brief spacc of time. This, it will be recollected, is the precise locality where the terrible earthquake occurred in 1811, a vivid description of which we gave last week, condensed from a paper recently published hy the Sinithsonian Institute. We have no record of ony earthquake in California which equalled thut iu severity. There are but few places on the globe which are free from earthquake visitations. New England and the Middle States may be as free as any; but there ie much less to fear from either San Francisco or Missouri earthquakes thau there is from the lightning tempests of the Eastern States. ‘The latter calls annually for many human victiins; the casualties of the former have thue far been confined to property alone. There is danger everywhere, quite sufficient to warn us to he prepared at all times to meet the dread messenger, como when, how, or where he may. Wechaniatl, LUBRICATING RAILROAD CAR JOURNALS WITH WATER, One of the most important problems which have reesntly enuged the attention of railroud engineers, is that which plates to improve: ments in the construction of the jourual boxes . for cars aud engines, and the material cinploved for labriention. This inqairy is of greut practicn. interest to railroad computies themselves, from the tact that it invelves an impor: tant iteni of economy in wear and tear, aud cost of lubricuting material; and is equally iinportnnt to the traveling conununily.by reason of its involving one of the ehief items in the niatter of seeurity from necidents. The cost o¢ repnirs of axles and boxes, added to that ol the lubricnting moterinl employed, is quite a heavy sum in the rmnning expenses ofa railroad. The skill of our niechanics has brought the construction of car whel-boxes so near to the point of perfection, that but little hope is eutertained of auy further improvement in that direetion; henee, inquiry has of late been tnrned to devising improvements in the lubricnting material itself. Various unctnous compounds have been devised, but great deficiency is found to exist in the alterahility or disposition on the part of any material of an oily or greasy nature to run into chemical changes; whereby it becomes more or less unfit for lubrieating purposes. Under these circumstances, Messrs. Aerts & Bros., of England, have devised a box for the employinent of water, or a lubrieating medium, which hns been put into operation on the Enstern Counties Railway in England, and on a Belgian railway, which termainates at Moerdyk, in Holland. Yhe result of the English trial is, that after the distance of a 11,249 miles hnd been run with the improved water boxes, in connection with the most approved oil apparatus, it was found that the difference in the wear and tear of axles and boxes was 77 per cent. in favor of Aert’s water lubricated journal over tliose luhricated by grease. It is remarked that “ duaring the trial each common box eonsumed eight ponnds of grease, while Aert’s box consumed hardly any.” It should he remarked thnt the journal and interor of the box is thinly coated witl! grease. The experiment on the Belgian railway is also pronouneed a success; altbough the particular reference to that in the article hefore us is to prove the practicability of the employment of water even with the thermometor far helow the freezing point. It is found in praetice thnt ice around the journal presents less hindranee than a frozen mixture of metalic dirt and grease, or the pure congealed oil itself, for the renson that the adhesion of the icc is very slight, and when once broken, theice itself forms a most perfect lubricator, much superior to the congealed oil; it is, moreover, much sooner reduced toa fluid state by the Iriction caused by the motiou of the journnls than the congealed oily mixture. ‘lhe boxes are so constructed that there is only a very thin layer of water around the journal, which, when the cars stop in a temperature of extreme coldness, is soon converted into a glazing or varnish, which offers no perceptible hindrance to starting. We are not inlormed how the reservoir of water is kept from freezing, but are led to infer that it ieso kept from the general success of the experiment. The hox is somewhat more complicated than the ordinary oil boxes, and costs a trifie more, hut requires less attention, and eoon pays for the extra cost in the economy of the lubricating material. It is claimed hy the the inventors that an extensive practical experience has enabled tbem to offer to the public a car wheel-box that leaves little or nothing to desire in the way of improvement, while it fulfills all the essentin! conditions of a perfect lubricator. Water, uuder certain circumstances, has long been employed as a lubricator, and its merits fully acknowledged and appreciated. Its well known property of being neutral and unalterable, added to its cheapness and cleanliness,. then expect a monopoly from the public.” [render its useoa most desirable object. With ) uuch power is lost in the uae of other lubricators. When to all other udvantazes we add Presravatrox of Woon sy CuanrixG.— . it there is m thickening or summing. ly whieh . Tue snperficial carhonization or charriug of woud, ns a preservative means, has lore been practiced ona snl senle, the refionale of tho recess being the formation of an indestruct. the fact ulready set forth, that the wear and! ible skin of carbon, which is, moreover, imjtear of joarnuls and boxes is greatly reduced: Pregsated with the empyrenmntic oils and . . by its ciployiment, ws see a reason why it . may nat be geuerally bitroduced npon our rail. toads, We have seen no particular description af the mechanical coustraction of the boxes emploved ; lt the success of water lubricaappears to he futly endorsed by Iuglisl and German cngineers, whuse attention lns been called to its nse; aud if upon railroads, why uvt apo heavy stationary machinery as well? e+ THE ANNULAR DIAMOND DRILL. This novel invention, to which we have seyeral times alluded, is well spoken of by engineers at the Fast. It was lately on exhibition in Green street, New York, where it attracted much nttentiou. It is thought by many thot it will work no revolution in heavy drilling and boring operations. Although to the inexperienced cye, the annular drill, with its tiny diainond points, does not appear to be yery well suited to work its way into the hard, rocky material of the carth’s crust, still it is said, by those who have seen it work, that it is really far more effective than the bardest steel, driven hy the sturdicst blows of sledge or bammer. It should be recollected that it works on the principle of an annular saw, boring a nnrrow channel around a core, which is subsequently broken off, and raised by the aid of suitable tools. An exumination of these extmeted cores, thus cut out of the hardest granites or slates, is said to be quite sufficicnt to satisfy even the most incredulous of its potent and most thorough effectiveness. It is said to work with the utmost precision, as well ag with most extraordinary rapidity. One important advantage derived from its nse, in addition to its effectiveness, is the fact that by enabling the borer to bring up consecutive sections of the solid rock through which he passes,a mueh more accurate determination ean be made of the character of the same, including even its stratification.’ The proprietors of this invention me time in prospecting suitable frame work and other devices by which it may be successfully introduced, not ouly into well boring, but for horizoutal working also in tunnels, drifts, ete. in practice, the annular diamond drill will prove of such great utility as to insure its very general use for boring or drilling purposes. AN Ixvernon.—H. R. Leonnrd, says the Sacramento Bee, has just finished the pattern of railroad car wheels and axles, entbodying a priueiple whiclv he claims to be new and important. The patent right has been applied for. This new arrangement is expected, when applied to railroad trains, to do away with all friction in moking curves. All slipping would be avoided, and one wheel will accomodate itself to the speed of the others. The shnft or axle is cut in twoin the center of its length. There is then put on a sleeve or cylindrical tube, thre feet long, equally over the joint in theaxle. One end of the sleeve is “ shrunk ” on to the axle. Stationary nt the end of the sleeve and stationray on the otber part of the axle is a stationary collar, over which a coupling is serewed, holding the two half shafts or nxlee together, Railroad engineers tbink tbe invention a valuable one, and that it will answer the purpose intended. Ina short time tracks will be arranged for. the purpose of exhibiting whnt the invention can do. Inrortaxt to Ixvextors.—In the patent case of Marcy vs. Protter, an appealed case before the United States Supreme Court, the Judge, in Ins decision, says: “The policy of the patent laws favors diligeuce and condemns neglect. It is the duty of an inventor, without delay, to patent his perfected invention. He has no right to use it biniself, or permit others to use it, for any length of time, and tion for rolling stock on railroads certainly ” creosote, produced by the curbonizution of the outer ny of wood. About two yenrs ago M, Lupparent proposed to apply it: to the timber used inthe French uavy. See experiments which were nadertiken with the view to deternine ts practicubility have terminsted, according to the Reader, very satislactorily ; and the Minister of Marine lins ordered the prucess to he introduced into the Imperial dockyards. M. Lappareut mnkes use of n glass blow pipe, the flame from which is allowed to play upon every part of the piece of timber in succession. By this means the degree of torrefaction may be regulated at will. The method is applicable to wood-work of nll kinds, and the charring. it is said, does not destroy the sharpness of nny mouldings with which wood may be ornamacnted. Varuaste Discovrarrs.—Two French discoveries of merit have been reported lately. One, whieh is authentic. enables copper smelters to utilize their pestiferous smoke so perfeetly that Mr. Vivian, head of the greatest firin iu Swansea, says le shall be nvle to turn oat one thousand tons of sulphorie acid per week, restoring incidentally many thousnnd acres of land for cultivation, The other, which is less authentic, is n new mode of touning in turpentine, said to be so rapid that twelve hours will tan n skin at half the former cost. A New Lappen.—An interesting trial was made lately in the Huropean city of Milan, with what the inventor calls an“ air ladder.” It consists of several pieces, which, a sort of carriage as a basis, can be fixed one on the top of nnother. A height of 90 feet was thus reached in a very few minutes. The apparatus may be beat dowu to an angle of 45, and is capable of carrying heavy weights. he principle, it is stated, can be adnpted to portable bridges, whieh can be put together in an equnlly short time. Tue Cxotera.—Considerable apprehension . are said to be actively employed at the present . city,and the strong, . . Should all that is claimed for it be found truc. is felt at the East lestthe cholera, which is making fearful havoc in many localities in Europe, should cross the ocean in the spring, and bring death and destruction once more iuto the midst of our Atlantic cities. It has ulready mnde its appearance in England. Very little fenra of such a visitation, however, need be felt in any well regulated and cleanly kept pure sea hreezes which eo constantly sweep over San Francisco, with the most ordinary precautions of cleanliness, will prove an effectual check aguinst its appearance here. We may have an carthquake now and then ; hut need entertaiu no fear of the cholern. San Francisco enrthquakes hnve never been known to kill any one; while the cholera demands its victims by hundreds, if not thousands, when it gains a foothold in a great city. Warthquakes, then, are preferable to the cholera. Navioatioy or Ext River.—lt appears that measures are being taken to open regular communication between Tel River, Hymboldt couuty, and this city. The Eel River Navigation Company has been organized for ibis purpose; with a capital stock of $37,500. This stock has, doubless, heen taken with reference to the future importnnce of the oil interests of that region. oe Oxe locomotive belonging to the Sacramento Valley Railroad Company, is now ruuning one hundred and sixty-four miles every twenty-four hours, and another, over one hundred and twenty miles, over the Sacramento Valley and Placerville road, propelliug freight. Tur Fain Mrpats.—We are requested to state that the medals awarded by the Executive Committee of the late Fair of the Mecbanics’ Tostitute, are now ready for distribution. ApLply at the rooms of the Institute, between Montgomery and Kearny streets. Av the Waverly gold mines near Halifax, Nova Scotia, 1,200 ounces per month of the precious metal is tnken out, yieldiug tbe proprietors a profit of over $1,200. A corre:poudent of the Dundee Advertiser gays that a petroleum spring has been discov. ered at Blairgowrie (Scotland).

. -“ giving out,” truly. Che Mining and Scientific Press, 263 fifteen limndred pounds of rock through an arastra, $150 were tuken up—a good yield. The two stamp mill of the Messrs. Bowers, on the Accidental mine ix now ready for operation. Must af the owners in the original location have consnlidated their claims, and will work together. ‘The owners of the mill ure known tu be go-ahead men, ml will ecrtainly start it with all possible haste. ln the last clean up froin the urastras it yielded over one Hundred dnilars to the tou of ruck. Messrs. Tyson & Co., havo completed the erection of their mill nt Wickenburg. to work the Vulture mine, end it wus to lave commenced running on the 26th nf Sep'ember. A large quantity of rock has been taken to the mail, which, with the tailings from the arustras, will supply material for some time. Rich resulta are anticipated from this enterprisn. Messrs. Curtin, Chase & Co., ere making good progress in erecting their warks, ond expect to be erushing rock by the Ist of Novemb r. Cal. Woolsey expeets that his mill, which is run by water power, wiil be completed early in November. This mill is Incated in the ecntre of a net-work of lodes. Prebably so many ledges, presenting such rieh surface indications, were never before discovered in the same extent of conntry. Wherever shafts were sunk the lodes incrense in width and richness, while new discoverics are made almost dnily. The location of Vickroy & Co.’e mill is not yet determined. The din of its twenty stamps will goon however, be heard somewhere. Contracts hove been let to sink shafts and take out ore from the Voucher andthe Orion, two gold le'ges, and from the United States, which assays richly in eilver. Tbe Los Angeles News of a late date says that Mr. Goldwater of that city recently brought 270 ounces of guid dust from La Paz, which was tnken out of the mines of that vicinity. Itis but a short time since that Mr. Goldwater conveyed to San Francisco four hundred ounces ofthe precious dust, taken from the mines in the same locality. ‘Phe mines of Arizona are Some of this gold is worth $17 50 per ounce. NO SPECIAL OAUSE FOR ALARM. It may be interesting to those persons who are wishing to leave San Francisco on uccount of earthquakes, many of whom desire to go to the Western States, to be reminded that on the 17th of August last, nn earthquake ehock wne felt there which extended over all that portion of the Mississippi Valley, from the upper portien of Illinois to the lower portion of the State of Mississippi, embracing within its eweep purtions of at least eight States, a space of territory much grenter than thot covered by the shock experienced bere on the 8th instant. The centre of disturbance appeared to he near Memphis, T'eunessee, where it produced quite a panie among the people, who rushed out of their houses in the utmost state ofalarm. ‘There, as in San Francisco, chimneys were thrown down and small orticles upset ; and we presume if there hnd been nny sbnky brick huildings in that region, their walls would have cracked and toppled just ne the same class of buildings did here three weeks since. The water in the Mississippi, at Mempbis and New Madrid, was so disturbed thnt the river was reverted fora brief spacc of time. This, it will be recollected, is the precise locality where the terrible earthquake occurred in 1811, a vivid description of which we gave last week, condensed from a paper recently published hy the Sinithsonian Institute. We have no record of ony earthquake in California which equalled thut iu severity. There are but few places on the globe which are free from earthquake visitations. New England and the Middle States may be as free as any; but there ie much less to fear from either San Francisco or Missouri earthquakes thau there is from the lightning tempests of the Eastern States. ‘The latter calls annually for many human victiins; the casualties of the former have thue far been confined to property alone. There is danger everywhere, quite sufficient to warn us to he prepared at all times to meet the dread messenger, como when, how, or where he may. Wechaniatl, LUBRICATING RAILROAD CAR JOURNALS WITH WATER, One of the most important problems which have reesntly enuged the attention of railroud engineers, is that which plates to improve: ments in the construction of the jourual boxes . for cars aud engines, and the material cinploved for labriention. This inqairy is of greut practicn. interest to railroad computies themselves, from the tact that it invelves an impor: tant iteni of economy in wear and tear, aud cost of lubricuting material; and is equally iinportnnt to the traveling conununily.by reason of its involving one of the ehief items in the niatter of seeurity from necidents. The cost o¢ repnirs of axles and boxes, added to that ol the lubricnting moterinl employed, is quite a heavy sum in the rmnning expenses ofa railroad. The skill of our niechanics has brought the construction of car whel-boxes so near to the point of perfection, that but little hope is eutertained of auy further improvement in that direetion; henee, inquiry has of late been tnrned to devising improvements in the lubricnting material itself. Various unctnous compounds have been devised, but great deficiency is found to exist in the alterahility or disposition on the part of any material of an oily or greasy nature to run into chemical changes; whereby it becomes more or less unfit for lubrieating purposes. Under these circumstances, Messrs. Aerts & Bros., of England, have devised a box for the employinent of water, or a lubrieating medium, which hns been put into operation on the Enstern Counties Railway in England, and on a Belgian railway, which termainates at Moerdyk, in Holland. Yhe result of the English trial is, that after the distance of a 11,249 miles hnd been run with the improved water boxes, in connection with the most approved oil apparatus, it was found that the difference in the wear and tear of axles and boxes was 77 per cent. in favor of Aert’s water lubricated journal over tliose luhricated by grease. It is remarked that “ duaring the trial each common box eonsumed eight ponnds of grease, while Aert’s box consumed hardly any.” It should he remarked thnt the journal and interor of the box is thinly coated witl! grease. The experiment on the Belgian railway is also pronouneed a success; altbough the particular reference to that in the article hefore us is to prove the practicability of the employment of water even with the thermometor far helow the freezing point. It is found in praetice thnt ice around the journal presents less hindranee than a frozen mixture of metalic dirt and grease, or the pure congealed oil itself, for the renson that the adhesion of the icc is very slight, and when once broken, theice itself forms a most perfect lubricator, much superior to the congealed oil; it is, moreover, much sooner reduced toa fluid state by the Iriction caused by the motiou of the journnls than the congealed oily mixture. ‘lhe boxes are so constructed that there is only a very thin layer of water around the journal, which, when the cars stop in a temperature of extreme coldness, is soon converted into a glazing or varnish, which offers no perceptible hindrance to starting. We are not inlormed how the reservoir of water is kept from freezing, but are led to infer that it ieso kept from the general success of the experiment. The hox is somewhat more complicated than the ordinary oil boxes, and costs a trifie more, hut requires less attention, and eoon pays for the extra cost in the economy of the lubricating material. It is claimed hy the the inventors that an extensive practical experience has enabled tbem to offer to the public a car wheel-box that leaves little or nothing to desire in the way of improvement, while it fulfills all the essentin! conditions of a perfect lubricator. Water, uuder certain circumstances, has long been employed as a lubricator, and its merits fully acknowledged and appreciated. Its well known property of being neutral and unalterable, added to its cheapness and cleanliness,. then expect a monopoly from the public.” [render its useoa most desirable object. With ) uuch power is lost in the uae of other lubricators. When to all other udvantazes we add Presravatrox of Woon sy CuanrixG.—

. it there is m thickening or summing. ly whieh . Tue snperficial carhonization or charriug of woud, ns a preservative means, has lore been practiced ona snl senle, the refionale of tho recess being the formation of an indestruct. the fact ulready set forth, that the wear and! ible skin of carbon, which is, moreover, imjtear of joarnuls and boxes is greatly reduced: Pregsated with the empyrenmntic oils and . . by its ciployiment, ws see a reason why it . may nat be geuerally bitroduced npon our rail. toads, We have seen no particular description af the mechanical coustraction of the boxes emploved ; lt the success of water lubricaappears to he futly endorsed by Iuglisl and German cngineers, whuse attention lns been called to its nse; aud if upon railroads, why uvt apo heavy stationary machinery as well? e+ THE ANNULAR DIAMOND DRILL. This novel invention, to which we have seyeral times alluded, is well spoken of by engineers at the Fast. It was lately on exhibition in Green street, New York, where it attracted much nttentiou. It is thought by many thot it will work no revolution in heavy drilling and boring operations. Although to the inexperienced cye, the annular drill, with its tiny diainond points, does not appear to be yery well suited to work its way into the hard, rocky material of the carth’s crust, still it is said, by those who have seen it work, that it is really far more effective than the bardest steel, driven hy the sturdicst blows of sledge or bammer. It should be recollected that it works on the principle of an annular saw, boring a nnrrow channel around a core, which is subsequently broken off, and raised by the aid of suitable tools. An exumination of these extmeted cores, thus cut out of the hardest granites or slates, is said to be quite sufficicnt to satisfy even the most incredulous of its potent and most thorough effectiveness. It is said to work with the utmost precision, as well ag with most extraordinary rapidity. One important advantage derived from its nse, in addition to its effectiveness, is the fact that by enabling the borer to bring up consecutive sections of the solid rock through which he passes,a mueh more accurate determination ean be made of the character of the same, including even its stratification.’ The proprietors of this invention me time in prospecting suitable frame work and other devices by which it may be successfully introduced, not ouly into well boring, but for horizoutal working also in tunnels, drifts, ete. in practice, the annular diamond drill will prove of such great utility as to insure its very general use for boring or drilling purposes. AN Ixvernon.—H. R. Leonnrd, says the Sacramento Bee, has just finished the pattern of railroad car wheels and axles, entbodying a priueiple whiclv he claims to be new and important. The patent right has been applied for. This new arrangement is expected, when applied to railroad trains, to do away with all friction in moking curves. All slipping would be avoided, and one wheel will accomodate itself to the speed of the others. The shnft or axle is cut in twoin the center of its length. There is then put on a sleeve or cylindrical tube, thre feet long, equally over the joint in theaxle. One end of the sleeve is “ shrunk ” on to the axle. Stationary nt the end of the sleeve and stationray on the otber part of the axle is a stationary collar, over which a coupling is serewed, holding the two half shafts or nxlee together, Railroad engineers tbink tbe invention a valuable one, and that it will answer the purpose intended. Ina short time tracks will be arranged for. the purpose of exhibiting whnt the invention can do. Inrortaxt to Ixvextors.—In the patent case of Marcy vs. Protter, an appealed case before the United States Supreme Court, the Judge, in Ins decision, says: “The policy of the patent laws favors diligeuce and condemns neglect. It is the duty of an inventor, without delay, to patent his perfected invention. He has no right to use it biniself, or permit others to use it, for any length of time, and tion for rolling stock on railroads certainly ” creosote, produced by the curbonizution of the outer ny of wood. About two yenrs ago M, Lupparent proposed to apply it: to the timber used inthe French uavy. See experiments which were nadertiken with the view to deternine ts practicubility have terminsted, according to the Reader, very satislactorily ; and the Minister of Marine lins ordered the prucess to he introduced into the Imperial dockyards. M. Lappareut mnkes use of n glass blow pipe, the flame from which is allowed to play upon every part of the piece of timber in succession. By this means the degree of torrefaction may be regulated at will. The method is applicable to wood-work of nll kinds, and the charring. it is said, does not destroy the sharpness of nny mouldings with which wood may be ornamacnted. Varuaste Discovrarrs.—Two French discoveries of merit have been reported lately. One, whieh is authentic. enables copper smelters to utilize their pestiferous smoke so perfeetly that Mr. Vivian, head of the greatest firin iu Swansea, says le shall be nvle to turn oat one thousand tons of sulphorie acid per week, restoring incidentally many thousnnd acres of land for cultivation, The other, which is less authentic, is n new mode of touning in turpentine, said to be so rapid that twelve hours will tan n skin at half the former cost. A New Lappen.—An interesting trial was made lately in the Huropean city of Milan, with what the inventor calls an“ air ladder.” It consists of several pieces, which, a sort of carriage as a basis, can be fixed one on the top of nnother. A height of 90 feet was thus reached in a very few minutes. The apparatus may be beat dowu to an angle of 45, and is capable of carrying heavy weights. he principle, it is stated, can be adnpted to portable bridges, whieh can be put together in an equnlly short time. Tue Cxotera.—Considerable apprehension . are said to be actively employed at the present . city,and the strong, . . Should all that is claimed for it be found truc. is felt at the East lestthe cholera, which is making fearful havoc in many localities in Europe, should cross the ocean in the spring, and bring death and destruction once more iuto the midst of our Atlantic cities. It has ulready mnde its appearance in England. Very little fenra of such a visitation, however, need be felt in any well regulated and cleanly kept pure sea hreezes which eo constantly sweep over San Francisco, with the most ordinary precautions of cleanliness, will prove an effectual check aguinst its appearance here. We may have an carthquake now and then ; hut need entertaiu no fear of the cholern. San Francisco enrthquakes hnve never been known to kill any one; while the cholera demands its victims by hundreds, if not thousands, when it gains a foothold in a great city. Warthquakes, then, are preferable to the cholera. Navioatioy or Ext River.—lt appears that measures are being taken to open regular communication between Tel River, Hymboldt couuty, and this city. The Eel River Navigation Company has been organized for ibis purpose; with a capital stock of $37,500. This stock has, doubless, heen taken with reference to the future importnnce of the oil interests of that region. oe Oxe locomotive belonging to the Sacramento Valley Railroad Company, is now ruuning one hundred and sixty-four miles every twenty-four hours, and another, over one hundred and twenty miles, over the Sacramento Valley and Placerville road, propelliug freight. Tur Fain Mrpats.—We are requested to state that the medals awarded by the Executive Committee of the late Fair of the Mecbanics’ Tostitute, are now ready for distribution. ApLply at the rooms of the Institute, between Montgomery and Kearny streets. Av the Waverly gold mines near Halifax, Nova Scotia, 1,200 ounces per month of the precious metal is tnken out, yieldiug tbe proprietors a profit of over $1,200. A corre:poudent of the Dundee Advertiser gays that a petroleum spring has been discov. ered at Blairgowrie (Scotland).