Volume 11 (1865) (424 pages)

fe e — a tWritten for the Minieg aud Scientific Vreas.} A Trip to the Mountains, MOTES FNOM THE JOURNAL OF A. 8. XN, GAMPO She. In the vicinity of this place we visited three copper mines—the Cop) er Till. Campo and Laneha Pius. ‘Whe Copper ill nine is situated abuut two miles from the village, near the Mokelumue river, We suw at this place some fine shipping ore, although bat «a sinll quantity has beeu tuken ont of the mine. The ore is elevated by water power, the water for the machinery being sapplied from the Mukelunine river, and conducted by a ditelr for u distance of seven miles. ‘Te snperintendent being ubsent, we were aut furnished many items for our fournad. ‘The Ganipo Seco mine is situated abont onehalf wile south and east Irom the Copper Hill. This miae iz al-v worked by water power, the water being supplied by the ditch Irom tho Mokelumne, he superintendent, Mr. Morell, very kindly invited as to descend the shaft und examine for ourselves. ‘The shaft ia over 200 feet deep. There are three drilts ; the first at 2 depth of 90 feet; the seeond ot 150, and the third nt the depth of 200 feet. he width of tho vein, where erossed, is tiventytwo-and-a-half feet, although ths shalt is not yet deep enough to determine the width of the princijl vein ur the valno of the mioe, and it ts now poying all expenses of working. The company nre sntisficd with this, for the present, while they pre drifting to aseertain the value of their elim. The nverage ol the ores now takeu out is about ten per cent. copper. ‘The uverage of the ores which they ship ts twenly percent, The conlpany are now reducing their poorer ores, near their works, by the “‘ roasting process.’ Seco We were informed thnt a eompany had been . organized for the purpose of erecting a smielting furnace naar this mine. During the montb of April nod May ninety-tbree tons of ore were shipped, pnd during the month of June, forty-five tons. We next visited the Loncha Plana mine, situated nbout oue-half mile south of tbe Campo Seco. The company have n fine steam engine for their boisting works. ‘Ihe shaft is 230 fect deep. At the depth ol 160 feet the company pre drifting for the purpose of obtaining air. The drift already extends over 300 feet. Considerable ore hus been sbipped froin this mine, some of which is of a very fine quolity. The width of ths principal vein bus not yet heen nscertuined. These three mines nil promise well, but whether there can he three large veins of copper so neor each other is doubtful. The placer mines in this vicinity are worked ehiefly by Chiuamen, who make ‘their “ Jour bits a duy.” SAN ANDREAS. Here we visited several mines of different descriptions. First, was a’shaft sunk from the top of Douglas {ill into what is called a ehannel. This channel extends for several wiles, und is bled with drift, composed of gravel, clay, tale, ete. Jt wns evidently formed hefore the last upheaval iu that section, and was an ancient river-bed, or estuary of the sea. 'Vhe Streams from the mountains do not flow in these aacient chaunels, but often by the side of them, aud sometimes cross them ; while im-: mediately over these channels there are, frequently high hills. ‘The shaft on Douleas Hill has been sunk to a depth nf 110 lect. and the bottom of the channel is not yet reached. Where they have drifted Irom the skaft the bed-rock is found to he worn perfectly smooth by the action of the water at some former period. ‘lhe drift taken out of this channel is washed, which produces large quantities of old. ; We next visitsd a quartz claim and saw some fine specimens of gold-bearing quartz. The vein is said to be very valuabls, although hut little has heen done ip the mine. ‘I'he rock is elevated and the pumps worked by horse-power. Tha rock is also crushed in the old Spanish style, by the same horse-power, only one horse beiug used. My friend Willie noted it as a “t one-horse concern.” The claim is called tbe “Kverlasting.” The name was evidently suggested by their modus operandi. We have no doubt but that the cluim is 4 valuable one, and that when men of capital and enterprise take up the work, it will pay very handsome dividends. We next visited a tunnel on Gold Hill. svhich is heing worked into the same channel, above mentioned. The tunnel slopes along down the bed-rock, giving a fine opportunity to examine its character. The rock has the appearance sof any river-bed, being worn, undoubtedly, for a loog period. The drift in the crevices of the bed-rock produces large quentities of gold, while the whole of tha drilt in the channel pays the miner well for taking it out aud washing. . . [To be continucd.) o . (Written for the Mining and setentifie Preas.) . Letter from Virginia Oity—Ths Lats Strike . of tho Jewel Company. Roirors Press :—Sinee my Just, from Ata. dor evunty, I have passed eastward, acrogs the 1 Sierra. tu this place. For a strnnger to know jimich of the business and ntining interests of Virginia City and vicinity, requires n long time; everything here being managed on an extensive scale is compnred with any place . have visited in Calilornin, After hurriedly oxDeraintinee the mining operntiuns of this plaev, Gold Hilband Silver City, wud with my ears ‘yet ringing from the continaal ertsh ol imaehinery, driving of steam-enyzines and shricking of whistles, . passed down tlie cation to the celebrated * Devil's Gate district,” sitnated in Spring valley, and about six miles sonthenat from Virginia City. A new excitement has taken place in this district in consequence ol'a very rich strike haviug been made in the “Jewel” ledge; and other coupanies in that vicigity are rushing their work in hope of fiuding the same vein. the superintendent of the Jewel Gold nnd Silver Mining Company, who accompanied msg into their tunnel, and showed me their ledge. I learn tho following faets: The Jewel Gold and Silver Mining Company was incorpornted in San Francisco Novamber 22, 1862, and is principally owned there hy Mr. Parker and others; soins 143 feet. only, being owned here. ‘The length of the claint is 600 feet, length of tunnel 990 feet, depth of shalt on the ledge, from the lower level of the tunnel, 30 feet—from the surface, ahout 135 leet. On the lower level of the tunnel, where the ore was first struck, small veins cau be seen centering from differeut directions in a dark, decomposed mineral, which is mixed with barder quartz ; the black being very rich and said to yield over $800 to the ton. At this point the ledge is less than two feet wide ; at the depth ol’ the shaft, or 30 feet down from the lower level of the tunnel, the lode widens to uearly six feet, atid the rock hecomes hard, and, as will be seen, widening rapidly as you go down. ‘The whole labor on this elaim hos been done principnlly within the last eighteen months, hy working an average of Your men day and nigbt. ‘The first assay of the rock ‘at the lower level of the tuntel, where first struck, gave the following result: Silver, $142.15; gold, $24.11 ; total $167.21 per ton. Thirty feet lower—the present depth of the shatt—a second assay was tnade, with the following result: Silver, $172.42 ; gold, $62.78; total, $235.20 per ton. ‘hese assays were made and certified to hy Mr. Wm. H. Harris, assayer, and the rock was fairly averaged, as certified to by the same gentleman. It is confi. dently believed that in sinking some 100 feet lower, that the ledge will he front 25 to 30 feet, } wide, and the expense of sinking will be more than paid from the rock taken out, as the work progresses. Parties of mill men, and others, are daily visiting this “lucky ledge,” and ; nearly all prononnee it the continuance of the :celehrated * Comstock.” The mineral has all the appearance of the Ophir or Yellow Jacket. North of, aud near the Jewel, are the Sperry and Genesee companies, each running for the same ledge. The Sperry has a shaft 130 feet deep, and the Genesee, I learu, is at nearly the same depth. They are both hustily engaged erecting steam boisting power. Part of the machinery is already on the ground, and they inforin me it will be in operation in a few weeks. Tn this valley, and east of the Jewel, is the Howley Gold and Silver Mining Company, havhave heen running an incline shalt. They are down some 150 feet, having a fine steam hoisting engine. This company has not been doing anything for sometime; but I am told that it will he io operation again in a short time. On the Governor Nye, near the Hawley, they are busily engaged in sinking “a shalt. The Governor Nye is on the north extension of the Dana, near that claim, with every prospect of striking it soon. They are now down 112 feet, and drifting southevst, with very flattering indications. Since the strike in this district, hy the Jewel, parties from Carson and Virginia City, and surroynding country, have been locating claims rapidly, and every foot of ground for a great distance south, is being clnimed. I send you some of the rock taken from the Jewel, and partly dug from the ledge hy myself, from which you can form an idea of . its general appearance. I expect soon to visit otber localities near this, from whence I expect to give yon sowething furtber of this rich . mineral State of Nevada. : L. Virgioia City, July 23, 1865. Phrough the kindness of ing a wide, well-defined ledge, on which tbey’ The Mining and Scientific Press. Mechanical. ra Strength of Cast Iron—Important Discovery, Mr. W. M. Arnold has heen making some experinents tu improve the strength af iron, which promise to be of some considerable inportance. Mr. Arnuld, by using u small per centare of a metullie contposition, added ina proper manner to cnst iron, lus siuveveded in Increasing its tensile streugth frum 25 to 50 per eent. and it is not dumbted that hy further treatment still greater strength will be attained, so that the weight of inuay descriptions of castings may be redneed fally one-third and yet be stronger than if cast in the ordinury manner, ‘Vests pf the iron us treated by Mr. Arnold's process have Inen_ made at the Morgan Jrou Works and the Wiard Jron Works, and the results nre thus stated by the Superintendents of these Works ; st. It is eluser grained and more equal thronghout the whole ol its mnss than eastings of ordinary iron, which invariably shuw up unequally distributed, porous or coarser grain, and therefore 1 weaker and uureliuhle center. 2d. Tho composition iron is without achilled exterior seale, and suv much softer than ordinary cast iron; it ean easily be filed, drilled, cut with screw thread, and planed. 3d. It also tnkes a fine steel-like polish, and, compared with the ordinary cast iron, on account of its softness and imalleuhility, it saves to the workmen much labor ond expense iu grinding. hardening and sharpening tools. 4th. This iran being chanyed in its molecular composition is less liable to be corroded or otherwise neted upot: by acids or salts. Sth. It is not opt to chill, and il’ cnst in a chill mould, it does not, like ordiuary east iron, lose its softness and partial inulleability, yet is rendered as even and compact as flue steel. 6th. By re-melting, or by repeated treatment with the proportioned alloy, the strength of this iron may be increased to two, three aud four times the original tensile strength. Prof. Flenry, a practical chemist, who witnessed the trial of the new eomposition at tbe Morgan Iron Works, gives the lollowing interesting aceount ol the process and its results : he new process consists in liquifying a eertain alloy, and adding about 6 per eent. of the same to the melted cast iron. About 200 pounds of common foundry cast iron was poured from a Iprge reservoir into a ladle, and then subdivided into equal portions, nbout 100 to each, poured into two smaller ladles. The alloy had been previously melted in’a erucible in the brass foundry. and while yet liquid and highly heated, added to the irou iu oue o! these smaller ladles. To preveut the flying ol sparks, a conical shaped cap, with a stove-pipe extending ahout six feet upward, was placed upon the ladle, and the alloy, througb a lip, opening on the side of the cone, poured into the molten pig iron. A small quantity-of borax, asa flux, was alsv threwn on the surtace of the iron. A puff of white vapor, accompanied by a flame of yellowish red color, mixed with a few flauies of a white bluish hue, rose rapidly from the sur. face of the pig iron. which for a moment boiled up, but quickly subsided. The two ladles, of which one contained the alloy, while the other was left without it, were then emptied at the spme tine into the previously prepared sand moulds. ‘he treated iron exhibited a minch greater fluidity, and cooled more gradually tbau the iron that contained no alloy. After the pieces in the moulds had sufficiently cooled, the writer hnd a tew of them broken, and compared their texture. A remarkably close, compact and uniform texture throuzhout the entire moss, distinguishes this iron at once froin that containing no alloy, which latter was coarser grained in the center, while the grain in the former was uniform all throngh. The side of one of the treated square pieces, filed and polished, exhibited a heautiful steellike lustre, without any imperfection. The tensile strength of two pieces, one of which had been prepared by the new process, was afterward tested at the U. S. Cannon Foundry, at Cold Springs, N. Y., aod gave the following resuits : The treated pieces broke at...+ 21,200 Ibs, Tbe one not treated broke at... 12,000 lbs. giviug to Mr. Arnold’s iron a difference in bis fovor of 9,000 Ihs. Other testimoninls froin the Brooklyn Navy Yard, Wiard, Trenton, U.S. Cannon Foundry and others, show that Mr. Arnold has succeeded in raising the strength of cast iron from 17,000 lbs. to the square inch, to 33,000 Ibs., from whieh facts we may safely conclude a still greater strength perhaps extending to 40,000 or even 50,000 Ibs., might be obtained by repeated treatment. A comparative test on two pieces of the same kind of iron of which ove had been treated with various acids and salts, exhibited a remarkable difference in favor of Mr. Arnold’s iron, which was very little acted upon when compared to the rapid corrosion ofthe others. The strengthened pieces ware remarkably malleable and tongh, requiring repeated hard blows of the hommer before breakiug. They w: mn filed and drilled. a" ’ ‘The deductions drawn frem the facts are teresting, ond present a large fielt to useful plications. ais Ile tensile streneth of ¢ iron ean be nearly donbled hy Mr. Arno: . process, the weight of our present enstings all kinds of machinery tor ships, bridges : house buildiny. lor rnilroud enr wheels, shi ings, chains. anchors, ete. ca be reduced ( third, and still be stronger than at present. Tie vesistauce to neids aid sulte way m itadaptable for casting propeller blades + various olher shipwoiks, tor which a yery pensive and heavy metal is used, snel as ec carly three times the yoive tor whieh strengthened iron of Mr. Ainald can be uty Por castings of emmon this iron may, aceount of its toughness and finer textnro, } haps, answer hetter thay the more expens eust stcel. It seems even possible that t Streugthened iron, ufter having been anneal enn be worked into armor plates, railrc bars, and when hardened afterwards, ns ie osed by the inventor, cast inlo railroad tyr or cutlery, sewing iuehines, rifle and pist parts and agricultural implemeuts, this pro erly annealed cast iron may prove of gre vale. In conclusion, the wriler presents a fi speculations as to the theory which he supp ses to nnderlie a remarkable change of textn that is produced by the addition of the nlloIt is very probable thnt by the infusion of th metals of the olloy into the cast iron, the pores and iuterstiees which exist between the molecules ol iron are filled up, and ewuse a more regular and closer contraction while cooling. It might also be stated that the zine of the ulloy, finding some carbonic oxyd iv solution, decomposes the same and causes the boiling up of the iron. The yellowish red fiame issuing from the iron, while tbe alloy is added, is 1 most remarkable incident, and a thorouzh chemical analysis to ascertain the quantity of carbon contained in the strengthened iron, would throw touch light upon the subjeet.—Lailway Times. . Tue Exeectaxts.—Who shall tell the hopes and lears that are stitched into little frocks for ths form not yet seen! All the world over, tbe quiet, thoughtful hrow of expectant womanhood bands over them silently. Sometinies a glad smile lingers on ths lips; sometimes tbe busy bands lie idly folded over the soft eambrie folds, as memory carries them back to their own childhood; just so their mother sat, with just such thoughts busy at heart and hrain, belore they were nestled in a mother’s weleoming arms. Ah! never till now did they ever lully realize what a mother’s love may be. Never till now did they ‘retrace the steps of childhood, girlhood, and maturity, so carefully. to pote nll ths Christlike patience and tenderness to which those long years henr witness ‘Shen solemnly comes the thought. “Just as I looked np to my mother, this little one will look up to me. Me!” Warm tears fall fast on the little frock that lies on thelup. “Me! Ah! how dol know that I shall teach it aright?” aod with the happy love-thrill is mingied a responeihility so overwhelming that it cannot he horn alone. Nor, thank God, need it he, nor is it. Ah! whatsoever fathers may thiuk, mothers must needs look upward. The girl-mother, from that sweet, sacred moment, will rise, if sver, disenthralled from her past frivolity, and with the earnest. senl of a new baptism on her brow.— Fanny Fern. Tue Hore in tae Sxy.—More remarkable perhaps, on account of singularity, says Vigne, in his travels in Mexico and South America, is the “ Hole in the Sky,” (for it appsars to be nothing else), the dark space known, even to those who have not seen them, that one of the peculiarities of the soutbern heavens are dark, starless spnces, but the “coal-sack” may be termed black in comparison with the sky. It lies on the left of the cross as it faces an observer, and nearly touching the lower part of its major axis, which it equals in hight. The curious abruptness and freshness of the oval sbaped and broken outline of its entire circnmference suggests the idsa of its having been formed by violence. It looks as thongh tbe canopy of heaven bad been shot through. The edges of two or three folds of strata, so to speak, are seen on the left side; more particularly in receding perspective, and gradually leading to and blending in whnt appears to be black, lightless space beyoud. Plnced at the south pole, and so unlike anything elss in the sky, it has an aspect of special design. It cnn be imagined @ place of exit or egress for mighty rashing forces: the adit from the ligbt to a Tophet of outer darkness, or a “black Gebenna” with the cross shining in front of it. Canana bas profited by our war, but now is losing its population, and the newspapers of tbat country are distressed about it. In some quarters fully one-third of the people are leaying for the United States.

fe e — a tWritten for the Minieg aud Scientific Vreas.} A Trip to the Mountains, MOTES FNOM THE JOURNAL OF A. 8. XN, GAMPO She. In the vicinity of this place we visited three copper mines—the Cop) er Till. Campo and Laneha Pius. ‘Whe Copper ill nine is situated abuut two miles from the village, near the Mokelumue river, We suw at this place some fine shipping ore, although bat «a sinll quantity has beeu tuken ont of the mine. The ore is elevated by water power, the water for the machinery being sapplied from the Mukelunine river, and conducted by a ditelr for u distance of seven miles. ‘Te snperintendent being ubsent, we were aut furnished many items for our fournad. ‘The Ganipo Seco mine is situated abont onehalf wile south and east Irom the Copper Hill. This miae iz al-v worked by water power, the water being supplied by the ditch Irom tho Mokelumne, he superintendent, Mr. Morell, very kindly invited as to descend the shaft und examine for ourselves. ‘The shaft ia over 200 feet deep. There are three drilts ; the first at 2 depth of 90 feet; the seeond ot 150, and the third nt the depth of 200 feet. he width of tho vein, where erossed, is tiventytwo-and-a-half feet, although ths shalt is not yet deep enough to determine the width of the princijl vein ur the valno of the mioe, and it ts now poying all expenses of working. The company nre sntisficd with this, for the present, while they pre drifting to aseertain the value of their elim. The nverage ol the ores now takeu out is about ten per cent. copper. ‘The uverage of the ores which they ship ts twenly percent, The conlpany are now reducing their poorer ores, near their works, by the “‘ roasting process.’ Seco We were informed thnt a eompany had been . organized for the purpose of erecting a smielting furnace naar this mine. During the montb of April nod May ninety-tbree tons of ore were shipped, pnd during the month of June, forty-five tons. We next visited the Loncha Plana mine, situated nbout oue-half mile south of tbe Campo Seco. The company have n fine steam engine for their boisting works. ‘Ihe shaft is 230 fect deep. At the depth ol 160 feet the company pre drifting for the purpose of obtaining air. The drift already extends over 300 feet. Considerable ore hus been sbipped froin this mine, some of which is of a very fine quolity. The width of ths principal vein bus not yet heen nscertuined. These three mines nil promise well, but whether there can he three large veins of copper so neor each other is doubtful. The placer mines in this vicinity are worked ehiefly by Chiuamen, who make ‘their “ Jour bits a duy.” SAN ANDREAS. Here we visited several mines of different descriptions. First, was a’shaft sunk from the top of Douglas {ill into what is called a ehannel. This channel extends for several wiles, und is bled with drift, composed of gravel, clay, tale, ete. Jt wns evidently formed hefore the last upheaval iu that section, and was an ancient river-bed, or estuary of the sea. 'Vhe Streams from the mountains do not flow in these aacient chaunels, but often by the side of them, aud sometimes cross them ; while im-: mediately over these channels there are, frequently high hills. ‘The shaft on Douleas Hill has been sunk to a depth nf 110 lect. and the bottom of the channel is not yet reached. Where they have drifted Irom the skaft the bed-rock is found to he worn perfectly smooth by the action of the water at some former period. ‘lhe drift taken out of this channel is washed, which produces large quantities of old. ; We next visitsd a quartz claim and saw some fine specimens of gold-bearing quartz. The vein is said to be very valuabls, although hut little has heen done ip the mine. ‘I'he rock is elevated and the pumps worked by horse-power. Tha rock is also crushed in the old Spanish style, by the same horse-power, only one horse beiug used. My friend Willie noted it as a “t one-horse concern.” The claim is called tbe “Kverlasting.” The name was evidently suggested by their modus operandi. We have no doubt but that the cluim is 4 valuable one, and that when men of capital and enterprise take up the work, it will pay very handsome dividends. We next visited a tunnel on Gold Hill. svhich is heing worked into the same channel, above mentioned. The tunnel slopes along down the bed-rock, giving a fine opportunity to examine its character. The rock has the appearance sof any river-bed, being worn, undoubtedly, for a loog period. The drift in the crevices of the bed-rock produces large quentities of gold, while the whole of tha drilt in the channel pays the miner well for taking it out aud washing. . . [To be continucd.) o . (Written for the Mining and setentifie Preas.) . Letter from Virginia Oity—Ths Lats Strike . of tho Jewel Company. Roirors Press :—Sinee my Just, from Ata. dor evunty, I have passed eastward, acrogs the 1 Sierra. tu this place. For a strnnger to know jimich of the business and ntining interests of Virginia City and vicinity, requires n long time; everything here being managed on an extensive scale is compnred with any place . have visited in Calilornin, After hurriedly oxDeraintinee the mining operntiuns of this plaev, Gold Hilband Silver City, wud with my ears ‘yet ringing from the continaal ertsh ol imaehinery, driving of steam-enyzines and shricking of whistles, . passed down tlie cation to the celebrated * Devil's Gate district,” sitnated in Spring valley, and about six miles sonthenat from Virginia City. A new excitement has taken place in this district in consequence ol'a very rich strike haviug been made in the “Jewel” ledge; and other coupanies in that vicigity are rushing their work in hope of fiuding the same vein. the superintendent of the Jewel Gold nnd Silver Mining Company, who accompanied msg into their tunnel, and showed me their ledge. I learn tho following faets: The Jewel Gold and Silver Mining Company was incorpornted in San Francisco Novamber 22, 1862, and is principally owned there hy Mr. Parker and others; soins 143 feet. only, being owned here. ‘The length of the claint is 600 feet, length of tunnel 990 feet, depth of shalt on the ledge, from the lower level of the tunnel, 30 feet—from the surface, ahout 135 leet. On the lower level of the tunnel, where the ore was first struck, small veins cau be seen centering from differeut directions in a dark, decomposed mineral, which is mixed with barder quartz ; the black being very rich and said to yield over $800 to the ton. At this point the ledge is less than two feet wide ; at the depth ol’ the shaft, or 30 feet down from the lower level of the tunnel, the lode widens to uearly six feet, atid the rock hecomes hard, and, as will be seen, widening rapidly as you go down. ‘The whole labor on this elaim hos been done principnlly within the last eighteen months, hy working an average of Your men day and nigbt. ‘The first assay of the rock ‘at the lower level of the tuntel, where first struck, gave the following result: Silver, $142.15; gold, $24.11 ; total $167.21 per ton. Thirty feet lower—the present depth of the shatt—a second assay was tnade, with the following result: Silver, $172.42 ; gold, $62.78; total, $235.20 per ton. ‘hese assays were made and certified to hy Mr. Wm. H. Harris, assayer, and the rock was fairly averaged, as certified to by the same gentleman. It is confi. dently believed that in sinking some 100 feet lower, that the ledge will he front 25 to 30 feet, } wide, and the expense of sinking will be more than paid from the rock taken out, as the work progresses. Parties of mill men, and others, are daily visiting this “lucky ledge,” and ; nearly all prononnee it the continuance of the :celehrated * Comstock.” The mineral has all the appearance of the Ophir or Yellow Jacket. North of, aud near the Jewel, are the Sperry and Genesee companies, each running for the same ledge. The Sperry has a shaft 130 feet deep, and the Genesee, I learu, is at nearly the same depth. They are both hustily engaged erecting steam boisting power. Part of the machinery is already on the ground, and they inforin me it will be in operation in a few weeks. Tn this valley, and east of the Jewel, is the Howley Gold and Silver Mining Company, havhave heen running an incline shalt. They are down some 150 feet, having a fine steam hoisting engine. This company has not been doing anything for sometime; but I am told that it will he io operation again in a short time. On the Governor Nye, near the Hawley, they are busily engaged in sinking “a shalt. The Governor Nye is on the north extension of the Dana, near that claim, with every prospect of striking it soon. They are now down 112 feet, and drifting southevst, with very flattering indications. Since the strike in this district, hy the Jewel, parties from Carson and Virginia City, and surroynding country, have been locating claims rapidly, and every foot of ground for a great distance south, is being clnimed. I send you some of the rock taken from the Jewel, and partly dug from the ledge hy myself, from which you can form an idea of . its general appearance. I expect soon to visit otber localities near this, from whence I expect to give yon sowething furtber of this rich . mineral State of Nevada. : L. Virgioia City, July 23, 1865. Phrough the kindness of ing a wide, well-defined ledge, on which tbey’ The Mining and Scientific Press. Mechanical. ra Strength of Cast Iron—Important Discovery, Mr. W. M. Arnold has heen making some experinents tu improve the strength af iron,

which promise to be of some considerable inportance. Mr. Arnuld, by using u small per centare of a metullie contposition, added ina proper manner to cnst iron, lus siuveveded in Increasing its tensile streugth frum 25 to 50 per eent. and it is not dumbted that hy further treatment still greater strength will be attained, so that the weight of inuay descriptions of castings may be redneed fally one-third and yet be stronger than if cast in the ordinury manner, ‘Vests pf the iron us treated by Mr. Arnold's process have Inen_ made at the Morgan Jrou Works and the Wiard Jron Works, and the results nre thus stated by the Superintendents of these Works ; st. It is eluser grained and more equal thronghout the whole ol its mnss than eastings of ordinary iron, which invariably shuw up unequally distributed, porous or coarser grain, and therefore 1 weaker and uureliuhle center. 2d. Tho composition iron is without achilled exterior seale, and suv much softer than ordinary cast iron; it ean easily be filed, drilled, cut with screw thread, and planed. 3d. It also tnkes a fine steel-like polish, and, compared with the ordinary cast iron, on account of its softness and imalleuhility, it saves to the workmen much labor ond expense iu grinding. hardening and sharpening tools. 4th. This iran being chanyed in its molecular composition is less liable to be corroded or otherwise neted upot: by acids or salts. Sth. It is not opt to chill, and il’ cnst in a chill mould, it does not, like ordiuary east iron, lose its softness and partial inulleability, yet is rendered as even and compact as flue steel. 6th. By re-melting, or by repeated treatment with the proportioned alloy, the strength of this iron may be increased to two, three aud four times the original tensile strength. Prof. Flenry, a practical chemist, who witnessed the trial of the new eomposition at tbe Morgan Iron Works, gives the lollowing interesting aceount ol the process and its results : he new process consists in liquifying a eertain alloy, and adding about 6 per eent. of the same to the melted cast iron. About 200 pounds of common foundry cast iron was poured from a Iprge reservoir into a ladle, and then subdivided into equal portions, nbout 100 to each, poured into two smaller ladles. The alloy had been previously melted in’a erucible in the brass foundry. and while yet liquid and highly heated, added to the irou iu oue o! these smaller ladles. To preveut the flying ol sparks, a conical shaped cap, with a stove-pipe extending ahout six feet upward, was placed upon the ladle, and the alloy, througb a lip, opening on the side of the cone, poured into the molten pig iron. A small quantity-of borax, asa flux, was alsv threwn on the surtace of the iron. A puff of white vapor, accompanied by a flame of yellowish red color, mixed with a few flauies of a white bluish hue, rose rapidly from the sur. face of the pig iron. which for a moment boiled up, but quickly subsided. The two ladles, of which one contained the alloy, while the other was left without it, were then emptied at the spme tine into the previously prepared sand moulds. ‘he treated iron exhibited a minch greater fluidity, and cooled more gradually tbau the iron that contained no alloy. After the pieces in the moulds had sufficiently cooled, the writer hnd a tew of them broken, and compared their texture. A remarkably close, compact and uniform texture throuzhout the entire moss, distinguishes this iron at once froin that containing no alloy, which latter was coarser grained in the center, while the grain in the former was uniform all throngh. The side of one of the treated square pieces, filed and polished, exhibited a heautiful steellike lustre, without any imperfection. The tensile strength of two pieces, one of which had been prepared by the new process, was afterward tested at the U. S. Cannon Foundry, at Cold Springs, N. Y., aod gave the following resuits : The treated pieces broke at......+ 21,200 Ibs, Tbe one not treated broke at..... 12,000 lbs. giviug to Mr. Arnold’s iron a difference in bis fovor of 9,000 Ihs. Other testimoninls froin the Brooklyn Navy Yard, Wiard, Trenton, U.S. Cannon Foundry and others, show that Mr. Arnold has succeeded in raising the strength of cast iron from 17,000 lbs. to the square inch, to 33,000 Ibs., from whieh facts we may safely conclude a still greater strength perhaps extending to 40,000 or even 50,000 Ibs., might be obtained by repeated treatment. A comparative test on two pieces of the same kind of iron of which ove had been treated with various acids and salts, exhibited a remarkable difference in favor of Mr. Arnold’s iron, which was very little acted upon when compared to the rapid corrosion ofthe others. The strengthened pieces ware remarkably malleable and tongh, requiring repeated hard blows of the hommer before breakiug. They w: mn filed and drilled. a" ’ ‘The deductions drawn frem the facts are teresting, ond present a large fielt to useful plications. ais Ile tensile streneth of ¢ iron ean be nearly donbled hy Mr. Arno: . process, the weight of our present enstings all kinds of machinery tor ships, bridges : house buildiny. lor rnilroud enr wheels, shi ings, chains. anchors, ete. ca be reduced ( third, and still be stronger than at present. Tie vesistauce to neids aid sulte way m itadaptable for casting propeller blades + various olher shipwoiks, tor which a yery pensive and heavy metal is used, snel as ec carly three times the yoive tor whieh strengthened iron of Mr. Ainald can be uty Por castings of emmon this iron may, aceount of its toughness and finer textnro, } haps, answer hetter thay the more expens eust stcel. It seems even possible that t Streugthened iron, ufter having been anneal enn be worked into armor plates, railrc bars, and when hardened afterwards, ns ie osed by the inventor, cast inlo railroad tyr or cutlery, sewing iuehines, rifle and pist parts and agricultural implemeuts, this pro erly annealed cast iron may prove of gre vale. In conclusion, the wriler presents a fi speculations as to the theory which he supp ses to nnderlie a remarkable change of textn that is produced by the addition of the nlloIt is very probable thnt by the infusion of th metals of the olloy into the cast iron, the pores and iuterstiees which exist between the molecules ol iron are filled up, and ewuse a more regular and closer contraction while cooling. It might also be stated that the zine of the ulloy, finding some carbonic oxyd iv solution, decomposes the same and causes the boiling up of the iron. The yellowish red fiame issuing from the iron, while tbe alloy is added, is 1 most remarkable incident, and a thorouzh chemical analysis to ascertain the quantity of carbon contained in the strengthened iron, would throw touch light upon the subjeet.—Lailway Times. . Tue Exeectaxts.—Who shall tell the hopes and lears that are stitched into little frocks for ths form not yet seen! All the world over, tbe quiet, thoughtful hrow of expectant womanhood bands over them silently. Sometinies a glad smile lingers on ths lips; sometimes tbe busy bands lie idly folded over the soft eambrie folds, as memory carries them back to their own childhood; just so their mother sat, with just such thoughts busy at heart and hrain, belore they were nestled in a mother’s weleoming arms. Ah! never till now did they ever lully realize what a mother’s love may be. Never till now did they ‘retrace the steps of childhood, girlhood, and maturity, so carefully. to pote nll ths Christlike patience and tenderness to which those long years henr witness ‘Shen solemnly comes the thought. “Just as I looked np to my mother, this little one will look up to me. Me!” Warm tears fall fast on the little frock that lies on thelup. “Me! Ah! how dol know that I shall teach it aright?” aod with the happy love-thrill is mingied a responeihility so overwhelming that it cannot he horn alone. Nor, thank God, need it he, nor is it. Ah! whatsoever fathers may thiuk, mothers must needs look upward. The girl-mother, from that sweet, sacred moment, will rise, if sver, disenthralled from her past frivolity, and with the earnest. senl of a new baptism on her brow.— Fanny Fern. Tue Hore in tae Sxy.—More remarkable perhaps, on account of singularity, says Vigne, in his travels in Mexico and South America, is the “ Hole in the Sky,” (for it appsars to be nothing else), the dark space known, even to those who have not seen them, that one of the peculiarities of the soutbern heavens are dark, starless spnces, but the “coal-sack” may be termed black in comparison with the sky. It lies on the left of the cross as it faces an observer, and nearly touching the lower part of its major axis, which it equals in hight. The curious abruptness and freshness of the oval sbaped and broken outline of its entire circnmference suggests the idsa of its having been formed by violence. It looks as thongh tbe canopy of heaven bad been shot through. The edges of two or three folds of strata, so to speak, are seen on the left side; more particularly in receding perspective, and gradually leading to and blending in whnt appears to be black, lightless space beyoud. Plnced at the south pole, and so unlike anything elss in the sky, it has an aspect of special design. It cnn be imagined @ place of exit or egress for mighty rashing forces: the adit from the ligbt to a Tophet of outer darkness, or a “black Gebenna” with the cross shining in front of it. Canana bas profited by our war, but now is losing its population, and the newspapers of tbat country are distressed about it. In some quarters fully one-third of the people are leaying for the United States.