Volume 12 (1866) (428 pages)

The Biining and Scientific Press. Mining and Scientific Press. W, B. BAWER,.cisctessestseseee er cit SEM10R Epttor. Oo. W. M. SMITH. W. 3. EWER. A. T, DEWEY. DHEWHY & CO, Publishers. Orridx—No. 605 Clay street, corer of Sausome, 2d floor. ‘Terts of Subscription: One copy, fer annum, in advanee,. . One copy, six months, in advance,. AG fam For salo by Carriets and Netwsdedlers. <2 Ei 1s Impossible for editors to know att the merits atid domorlts of theit corfespondenee, consequetitly the roader must not reecivo the opinions of our contributors as ourown. Intelligent dlacussion ls Invited upon all sides and the evidence of any error which may appear wltl bere celvedin frlendship atid treated with respect. ae eee American and Foreign Patents,.—Letters Patent for Inventors ean be seenred in the United States and forelgn countries through the MtiNe anv Sorsntiric Press Patent Acexcy. , We offer applicants reasonable terms, aud they can rest assured of a stritt eompllanee with our obligatiohs, and afalthful performanee.of all eontraets. For referenee, we s'lil farilsh the nattes of numerous parties for whom we have obtalned patents during the past two years. e Vavorabic to FInventors.—Persons holding new Inventions of machlnery and important improvements, ean have the samo illustrated and explained i the MisiNG AND Selentiric Passs, free of charge, if in our judgment the diseovery is one of real merit, and of suttleient {nterest to our readers to warrant publleation. 4 Payment tn Advance.-This paper will not be sent tosubserlbers beyond the term pald for. The publishers well know that # good journal eannot be sustained on the credit system. Mr. Wm. R. Brnashaw, is our Speeial Correspondent and Traveling Agent. All favorsor assistanee rendered him in his progress throngh the country in behalf of our Journal, will be duly acknowledged. San Faanosseo, Jan Ist, 1866. Mr. A. C. Knox, fs our fully authorized Traveling Agent, and all subseriptions, or other favors extended to . him, will be duly neknowledged at thls office. “San Francisco, Jan 1th, 1866. Mr. Elwvin Davis, Is anthorized to sollelt subsertptions, advertising, ete., for the MrninG aNp Serentirio PoEss, in San Franeisco, and to receipt tor the same. —————————————————————e——E—E—Eeeee San Francisco: Saturday Morning, April 7, 1866. Look Ont for Illegal Advertising! All sssessments of corporations levied on, or subsequent to, Msrch 26¢h, ore governed by the new law approved on that day. We notice that some of our important mining companies are advertising their assessinents illegally in the daily and weekly press of this State. As the new law is more liberal in its provisions for advertising than the Act of 1864, these companies have yet time to retrace their steps and begin anew and right. We spenk of the matter for the benefit of all concerned. We have prepared aset of correct blank furms for advertising aszessinents, which we furnish free on application at onr office, together with rales for advertising and copies of the new law. , Mining Laws of 1866. It is our intention to issue, in chesp pamphilet form, previous to May 1st, a full and correct copy of all laws relating to mining adopted by the California and Nevada State Legislatures of 1866. Some of these Acts are of vital importance to every citizen interested in mining.—April Ist, 1866. Hourston, Hastines & Co.—These fashionable elnthiers are so well known in California. and in fact throughout the Pacific States, that it séems like nn old story to say that they have the finest establishinent in San Francisco, and are acknowledged leaders of fashion. Our story may be old, but theis goods are new, and those who wish a stylish or hecoming garment of auy description, can be accommodated with a good fit, without fail, at Henston, Hastings & Co., corner of Montgomery and Sutter streets. st Corrtsponpence.—During tho ahsence of our senior, we have fortunately beeu well assisted by our correspondents, as our paper to-day will show. We have another letter from “DY on hand, and expect another froin “ Prospector” next week. Mr Ewer will hove something to say of Nevada cuunty next week Tue Teachers and papils connected with the Lincoln School, contributed the very t andsomie sum of one hnndred and thirty dollors toward the Lincoln statue, which is to be uncovered to the public, with appropriate ceremonies, on he 15th-instant. -of which is a small blower, and at the other the Keith’s Desulphurizing ProcessMining in Colorado, From a communication published in the Alta of the 2d inst., written by a correspondent who signs himself‘ Argus,” and dated Gold Dirt, Colorado Territory, March 10th, 1866,” we take the following : LYON’S SMELTINO WoRKs, The first ever erected within the Rocky Monntains,and, I believe, the first within the Uuited States, for the treatment ol gold, are giving great satisfaction to the proprietors. ‘hey have been paying $69 per ton for galena ores thot will average 75 per cent. of lead. ‘This was for their own use, to get litharge to be used as a flux in smelting. The process of smelting is looked upon as the very hest method for treating argentiferous galena ores, and the estimated cost for suitahle works (for silver ores) does not exceed $25,000. "There have been extensive discoveries of silver lodes in this neighborhood, particularly nt Argentine and Snake river. The latter place is west of the mountains, hut so near the summit of the range that it is inaccessihle during five mouths of the year. The ores found there are argentiferous galena, mixed with chlorides and a little nntimony. If the yield should be ouly one-fourth as good as the assays that have heen returned, it is a very “ hig thing.” Mr. Lyon went Hast a shoit time ago, taking with hiu a button of bullion weighing 150 pounds. I am informed that he will endeavor to organize a strong company for the purpose of putting up smelting works for custom work in every district where there is a likelihood they could be profitably employed. If this enn be carried out it will be of great henefit to miners, as custom mills nre much needed. THE COLD DIRT LODE. The Hopecompany (Baltimore capital), who last year purchased part of a celebrated lode known as the “ Gold Dirt,” and erected a large mill, with machinery to work the Keith Desulphurizer, nt an expense of over $250,0U0, is cleaning up $2,000 per week, and expect tol double this yield when they get all their shsking tables at work. ‘The Keith process for . desnlphurizing refractory ores has cost ils projectors a large sum of money, and much tine and patience to perfect. It is now considered a success, and is greatly superior to nnything else in the field, always excepting the old smelting process. As it bids fair to become in general use in this Territory, and is probsbly unknown to most of the mining men in your State, I will give you, as well us I can,a short description of the process and machinery as used at THE HOPE MILL. The mill ia three stories high. On the upper floor,a “Blake” crusher breaks the ore to about the size ofa bean. ‘The ore thus broken pssses into a ball-grinderon the foor below. This grinder is forrued of 8 revolving iron barrel, with the staves about one-sixteenth of nn inch apart. Within the barrel there is ahout half a ton of two pound balls to pulverize the ore until it is fine enongh to pass between the staves. It is then carried by an elevator to the npper fluor, where it passes on to a drying table (the tup of the furnace), afterwards being scraped hy a rake into a long trough, where an archimedian screw works it into nn elevator, which carries it tothe upper floor again. Here, after passing through a screw, it rans into au iron pipe, fuur inches in diameter, at one end fire-pluce, cousisting of n circular sheet iron stove, three feet in diameter and three in hight, lined with fire brick. This fire-place opensinto a furnace. The blows befure mentioned force the pulverized ore throngh the flames in the fire place (causing the sulpbuor to ignite) into the furnace, where the ore coming in continuously with flaming sparks keeps the whole mass in the furnace on fire, until all the sulphur ling exhausted itself and the furnace is full. The vapors and fumes pass off through a hole at one end of the furnace, connecting with a high chininey. , The ore is then scraped out of tlie farnnce into a vault below, and is allowed to cool. It is then carried by elevators to the second floor and fed through a hopper into small ball grinders, ou the same principle described above, the halls only weighing two ounces each, of cast iron. These pulverize the ore as line as flour, and it is afterwards put through a wire bolter (eighty ineshes to te square incl) into a vat where there is a stream ot water. Vhe ore is auxed with the water by revolving combs, and the mixture then passes out of the vat by pipes on to the copper amalgamating tubles, which are the shape of a washboard, and are kept oscillating by machinery. These works can, it is stated, treat forty tons of ore daily, and only require eight handsanda 15horse pulwer engine to rau them. MINING PROJECTS. The success of the Lyons and Keith’s methods in saviuy the precious metals, las caused + Colorado stocks to be in a little better demand in the Kast, and there is every prospect we shall have fively times shortly. In a few weeks it isexpected that soine twenty mills will be rolling out the gold. he Naragansett, Gunnell, and Smith & Parmelee mills are doing well. ‘Fhe Black Hawk company, one of the strongest in the Territory, will soon have sixty stamps going on the old process, intending sfterwards to smelt the tailings in works they are going to build tor that purpose. ‘I'he loca] papers nlmost daily report .snles of mining property in the East, and sometimes in Europe. Many of these, I am afraid, are not founded on facts, or are grently exaggerated before they reach the sanctums of the purveyors for the press. Itis not likely that mony large sales will be effected before some good dividends make their appearance. Inventions for desulphurizing ores have he come surprisingly numerous of late. Unfortunately,however, most of them show a lamentable ignorance of chemical and metallurgical facts, and are as inadequate ond worthless, as their inventors are positive nnd sanguine. It requires some time, as well ns full exposure to the oxidizing influence of the air ata suitable temperature, to effect a proper decomposition of the metallic sulphurets, and if the period during which each portion of the ore is. exposed to such nn influence, be no longer than . the descriptions yet given would lead us to . infer must be the case in Keith’s process, the . amount of desulphurization effected will nat-. urally be very small. The arsenical, and particularly the nntimonial ores, which are not uncommon in Nevada, are still more dificult of decomposition than the simple sulpliurets. The introduction, too, of pulverized ore into a furnace hy meansof a blast, and the strong currents of air thus produced, must of necessity entail a large mechauical loss in the finer portions of the ore, which would be carried up the chimney; n loss tlint would be unavoidable without the use of expensive condensing npparatus, ond which, with rich concentrated sulphyrets, would be very great indeed. The invention, however, hus at least the merit of not bnsing its fundsmental cluims upon the direct desulphurizing powers of steam or carbon. We should be glad to lenrn details of the Keith method, ns wellas the various processes now heing introduced for smelting the richer silver ores of Nevada and Colorado. Any reliable information respecting these processes, and the chnracter of the ores treated by them, will be thankfully received by ns. more fnlly the : me Lecturr on Lire.—Mr. John Quincy Adams will lecture at the First Presbyterian Church, Stockton street, on Tuesday evening, April 10th,at eight o'clock. He has chosen as his subject : i lairg.—The lecturer first dwells upon the abstract idea of Life; and fiom the works of ereation, displayed io the Garden of Eden, leduces the consideration of the general and essential existence of the priveiple of life in Nuture. It shows that Art imitates this principle; Mytho ogy deifies it, and fn it we behold the evidence of the being of a Creator. Associated wilh those ideas, are these of change and Derth, considered in the abstract. The third principal division of the subject treat« of Human Life; which it reduces to its elementary divisiens and subdivisions, oatuely, the Physical, Mental and Spiritual Exi-tenee, with a review of thetr leading incidents. The ceneluding consi lerati n is that of the Perfect Life, of which the Siviour was tbe type, aud shows that in Him we lwe and have Eternal Life. e Mr. Adams is a member of the Society of Cnlifornia Pioneers, and the Young Men’s Christian Association, of this city. He came from New Youk io this State when a child, in 1846, arriving here after a six months’ voyage hy sea, in March,1847. He was one of the pupils of Mr. J. C. Pelton’s first public school, in 1849, and has growu up with the city. The object of the lecture is to assist the speaker in the completion of his collegiate course at the Benicia Law School. He has the hearty co-operation of several prominent clergymen, aud from our own acquaintance with the young gentleman, we cousider him both able and worthy, and trust he will meet a complete success. Tickets of admission for gentlemen and ladies, one dollar; single tickets, fifty cents. Nevaps Mint.—Work will soou be commenccd on the new United States Branch Mint, at Csrson City, Nevada. Seuator Nye telegraphs that the plaus, etc., have becn forwarded by niail. MINING PARTNERSHIPS, The new Inw concerning mining partnerships, published in to-day’s issue, wss intrnduced in the Assembly by Mr. Singleton, of Sierra. It elicited mach attention in the Legislature during its passage, and was severnl times amended, and its provisinns extended. Doubtless, by the perversions of selfish and dishonorahle men, the law will work hardships toyo wners in some instances, yet we ure not without faith that, upon the whole, it mny prove generally beneficial. It will certainly put an end to the practice that has long been prevalent, of one mean, coutrary member of a company holding back and debarring the majority from proceeding with their prospecting. It will also cause men to he more careful who they take into copartnership with them iu mining enterprises. Under the new partnership law, persons who enter into mining sssociation with various parties should select nssociates of tried honor and virtue, or they will in the end get badly burned, frozen, or smoked out. In our opinion the law is too unlimited. Every owner in unincorporated mines shonld become familiar with it. We are satisfied that mony miners will accept Mr. Singleton’s law with luvor. It will certainly accelerate mining, and soon put in operation hundreds of mines that are uow lying dormant. ‘rhe number of incorporntions will likewise be increased. Upon a closer examination we shall speak further of the provisions of this act. Tur Knox Amatcamator.—This pan, on illustration of which is advertised in to-day’s issue, has proved one of the most successful juventions in mining machinery. If we mistike not, it now stnnds the pioneer amaleamator at present in use in California and Nevada. Its cheapness in first cost, nnd its simplicity of operation areamong its strong points, while another of its hest recommendations lies in the fact that practical millmen repeat’ their orders for the Amnlgamator and Separator, frequently nsing them in connection with pans of later pattern and invention. Mr. Knox has but few eqnals in his experience nnd intelligence in quartz mining and ore reducing, in either California or Nevada, and hoth the inventors snd manufacturers of Knox's Patent Amalgamator and Separator, have well earned sn envious reputation among those best informed of their merits. From JIonz, Nevapa.—A_ friend writes: My interests or husiness here, at this time: do not esll me inuch out into the hills, but having a small but very rich sample of ruby silver presented to ine the other day, I wss led to the mine to see how eaay it is to take out from the “Great Hastern,” on London Hill, tons of good ore, since they have struck it big and rich. I could speak with good encouragement of several ledges doing well in furnishing good milling ore. We have two very importaut machines now before our miners here, viz., the Gardner crnsher and Guiod's Crocodile. The latter is a very voracious chap, devonring, and I should say thoroughly digesting, a ton of quartz in 45 minutes. Many say itis a perfect snecess. Bot of far more interest to us,ns miners, is the Austin invention of a machine roaster to desulphurize and chiloridize ore. [A description of the furnace, above named, will be found in another column.] Tur present yield of petroleum in the Enstern states, is estimated at 12,000 bnrrels per day, of which 11,415 harrels come from Pennsylvonia alone. \ AnnipoTE ror Porson.—If arsenic (ratsbane) is taken, swallow the white of an egg. If acid poison is taken, such as agqnafortis, sulphuric ncid, prussic acid etc., swallow soda and water or suleratns and water, or any nlkali. Salt and mustard taken in worm water will vomit immediately. Fourrrey tons of rock from the Allison Ranch lead was crnshed last week, which pnid the sum of seventeen taousand dollars, It seems tlic longer they work this mine the better it pays.

The Biining and Scientific Press. Mining and Scientific Press. W, B. BAWER,..cisctessestseseee er cit SEM10R Epttor. Oo. W. M. SMITH. W. 3. EWER. A. T, DEWEY. DHEWHY & CO, Publishers. Orridx—No. 605 Clay street, corer of Sausome, 2d floor. ‘Terts of Subscription: One copy, fer annum, in advanee,.. . One copy, six months, in advance,.. AG fam For salo by Carriets and Netwsdedlers. <2 Ei 1s Impossible for editors to know att the merits atid domorlts of theit corfespondenee, consequetitly the roader must not reecivo the opinions of our contributors as ourown. Intelligent dlacussion ls Invited upon all sides and the evidence of any error which may appear wltl bere celvedin frlendship atid treated with respect. ae eee American and Foreign Patents,.—Letters Patent for Inventors ean be seenred in the United States and forelgn countries through the MtiNe anv Sorsntiric Press Patent Acexcy. , We offer applicants reasonable terms, aud they can rest assured of a stritt eompllanee with our obligatiohs, and afalthful performanee.of all eontraets. For referenee, we s'lil farilsh the nattes of numerous parties for whom we have obtalned patents during the past two years. e Vavorabic to FInventors.—Persons holding new Inventions of machlnery and important improvements, ean have the samo illustrated and explained i the MisiNG AND Selentiric Passs, free of charge, if in our judgment the diseovery is one of real merit, and of suttleient {nterest to our readers to warrant publleation. 4 Payment tn Advance..-This paper will not be sent tosubserlbers beyond the term pald for. The publishers well know that # good journal eannot be sustained on the credit system. Mr. Wm. R. Brnashaw, is our Speeial Correspondent and Traveling Agent. All favorsor assistanee rendered him in his progress throngh the country in behalf of our Journal, will be duly acknowledged. San Faanosseo, Jan Ist, 1866. Mr. A. C. Knox, fs our fully authorized Traveling Agent, and all subseriptions, or other favors extended to . him, will be duly neknowledged at thls office. “San Francisco, Jan 1th, 1866. Mr. Elwvin Davis, Is anthorized to sollelt subsertptions, advertising, ete., for the MrninG aNp Serentirio PoEss, in San Franeisco, and to receipt tor the same. —————————————————————e——E—E—Eeeee San Francisco: Saturday Morning, April 7, 1866. Look Ont for Illegal Advertising! All sssessments of corporations levied on, or subsequent to, Msrch 26¢h, ore governed by the new law approved on that day. We notice that some of our important mining companies are advertising their assessinents illegally in the daily and weekly press of this State. As the new law is more liberal in its provisions for advertising than the Act of 1864, these companies have yet time to retrace their steps and begin anew and right. We spenk of the matter for the benefit of all concerned. We have prepared aset of correct blank furms for advertising aszessinents, which we furnish free on application at onr office, together with rales for advertising and copies of the new law. , Mining Laws of 1866. It is our intention to issue, in chesp pamphilet form, previous to May 1st, a full and correct copy of all laws relating to mining adopted by the California and Nevada State Legislatures of 1866. Some of these Acts are of vital importance to every citizen interested in mining.—April Ist, 1866. Hourston, Hastines & Co.—These fashionable elnthiers are so well known in California. and in fact throughout the Pacific States, that it séems like nn old story to say that they have the finest establishinent in San Francisco, and are acknowledged leaders of fashion. Our story may be old, but theis goods are new, and those who wish a stylish or hecoming garment of auy description, can be accommodated with a good fit, without fail, at Henston, Hastings & Co., corner of Montgomery and Sutter streets. st Corrtsponpence.—During tho ahsence of our senior, we have fortunately beeu well assisted by our correspondents, as our paper to-day will show. We have another letter from “DY on hand, and expect another froin “ Prospector” next week. Mr Ewer will hove something to say of Nevada cuunty next week Tue Teachers and papils connected with the Lincoln School, contributed the very t andsomie sum of one hnndred and thirty dollors toward the Lincoln statue, which is to be uncovered to the public, with appropriate ceremonies, on he 15th-instant. -of which is a small blower, and at the other the Keith’s Desulphurizing ProcessMining in Colorado, From a communication published in the Alta of the 2d inst., written by a correspondent who signs himself‘ Argus,” and dated Gold Dirt, Colorado Territory, March 10th, 1866,” we take the following : LYON’S SMELTINO WoRKs, The first ever erected within the Rocky Monntains,and, I believe, the first within the Uuited States, for the treatment ol gold, are giving great satisfaction to the proprietors. ‘hey have been paying $69 per ton for galena ores thot will average 75 per cent. of lead. ‘This was for their own use, to get litharge to be used as a flux in smelting. The process of smelting is looked upon as the very hest method for treating argentiferous galena ores, and the estimated cost for suitahle works (for silver ores) does not exceed $25,000. "There have been extensive discoveries of silver lodes in this neighborhood, particularly nt Argentine and Snake river. The latter place is west of the mountains, hut so near the summit of the range that it is inaccessihle during five mouths of the year. The ores found there are argentiferous galena, mixed with chlorides and a little nntimony. If the yield should be ouly one-fourth as good as the assays that have heen returned, it is a very “ hig thing.” Mr. Lyon went Hast a shoit time ago, taking with hiu a button of bullion weighing 150 pounds. I am informed that he will endeavor to organize a strong company for the purpose of putting up smelting works for custom work in every district where there is a likelihood they could be profitably employed. If this enn be carried out it will be of great henefit to miners, as custom mills nre much needed. THE COLD DIRT LODE. The Hopecompany (Baltimore capital), who last year purchased part of a celebrated lode known as the “ Gold Dirt,” and erected a large mill, with machinery to work the Keith Desulphurizer, nt an expense of over $250,0U0, is cleaning up $2,000 per week, and expect tol double this yield when they get all their shsking tables at work. ‘The Keith process for . desnlphurizing refractory ores has cost ils projectors a large sum of money, and much tine and patience to perfect. It is now considered a success, and is greatly superior to nnything else in the field, always excepting the old smelting process. As it bids fair to become in general use in this Territory, and is probsbly unknown to most of the mining men in your State, I will give you, as well us I can,a short description of the process and machinery as used at THE HOPE MILL. The mill ia three stories high. On the upper floor,a “Blake” crusher breaks the ore to about the size ofa bean. ‘The ore thus broken pssses into a ball-grinderon the foor below. This grinder is forrued of 8 revolving iron barrel, with the staves about one-sixteenth of nn inch apart. Within the barrel there is ahout half a ton of two pound balls to pulverize the ore until it is fine enongh to pass between the staves. It is then carried by an elevator to the npper fluor, where it passes on to a drying table (the tup of the furnace), afterwards being scraped hy a rake into a long trough, where an archimedian screw works it into nn elevator, which carries it tothe upper floor again. Here, after passing through a screw, it rans into au iron pipe, fuur inches in diameter, at one end fire-pluce, cousisting of n circular sheet iron stove, three feet in diameter and three in hight, lined with fire brick. This fire-place opensinto a furnace. The blows befure mentioned force the pulverized ore throngh the flames in the fire place (causing the sulpbuor to ignite) into the furnace, where the ore coming in continuously with flaming sparks keeps the whole mass in the furnace on fire, until all the sulphur ling exhausted itself and the furnace is full. The vapors and fumes pass off through a hole at one end of the furnace, connecting with a high chininey. , The ore is then scraped out of tlie farnnce into a vault below, and is allowed to cool. It is then carried by elevators to the second floor and fed through a hopper into small ball grinders, ou the same principle described above, the halls only weighing two ounces each, of cast iron. These pulverize the ore as line as flour, and it is afterwards put through a wire bolter (eighty ineshes to te square incl) into a vat where there is a stream ot water.

Vhe ore is auxed with the water by revolving combs, and the mixture then passes out of the vat by pipes on to the copper amalgamating tubles, which are the shape of a washboard, and are kept oscillating by machinery. These works can, it is stated, treat forty tons of ore daily, and only require eight handsanda 15horse pulwer engine to rau them. MINING PROJECTS. The success of the Lyons and Keith’s methods in saviuy the precious metals, las caused + Colorado stocks to be in a little better demand in the Kast, and there is every prospect we shall have fively times shortly. In a few weeks it isexpected that soine twenty mills will be rolling out the gold. he Naragansett, Gunnell, and Smith & Parmelee mills are doing well. ‘Fhe Black Hawk company, one of the strongest in the Territory, will soon have sixty stamps going on the old process, intending sfterwards to smelt the tailings in works they are going to build tor that purpose. ‘I'he loca] papers nlmost daily report .snles of mining property in the East, and sometimes in Europe. Many of these, I am afraid, are not founded on facts, or are grently exaggerated before they reach the sanctums of the purveyors for the press. Itis not likely that mony large sales will be effected before some good dividends make their appearance. Inventions for desulphurizing ores have he come surprisingly numerous of late. Unfortunately,however, most of them show a lamentable ignorance of chemical and metallurgical facts, and are as inadequate ond worthless, as their inventors are positive nnd sanguine. It requires some time, as well ns full exposure to the oxidizing influence of the air ata suitable temperature, to effect a proper decomposition of the metallic sulphurets, and if the period during which each portion of the ore is. exposed to such nn influence, be no longer than . the descriptions yet given would lead us to . infer must be the case in Keith’s process, the . amount of desulphurization effected will nat-. urally be very small. The arsenical, and particularly the nntimonial ores, which are not uncommon in Nevada, are still more dificult of decomposition than the simple sulpliurets. The introduction, too, of pulverized ore into a furnace hy meansof a blast, and the strong currents of air thus produced, must of necessity entail a large mechauical loss in the finer portions of the ore, which would be carried up the chimney; n loss tlint would be unavoidable without the use of expensive condensing npparatus, ond which, with rich concentrated sulphyrets, would be very great indeed. The invention, however, hus at least the merit of not bnsing its fundsmental cluims upon the direct desulphurizing powers of steam or carbon. We should be glad to lenrn details of the Keith method, ns wellas the various processes now heing introduced for smelting the richer silver ores of Nevada and Colorado. Any reliable information respecting these processes, and the chnracter of the ores treated by them, will be thankfully received by ns. more fnlly the : me Lecturr on Lire.—Mr. John Quincy Adams will lecture at the First Presbyterian Church, Stockton street, on Tuesday evening, April 10th,at eight o'clock. He has chosen as his subject : i lairg.—The lecturer first dwells upon the abstract idea of Life; and fiom the works of ereation, displayed io the Garden of Eden, leduces the consideration of the general and essential existence of the priveiple of life in Nuture. It shows that Art imitates this principle; Mytho ogy deifies it, and fn it we behold the evidence of the being of a Creator. Associated wilh those ideas, are these of change and Derth, considered in the abstract. The third principal division of the subject treat« of Human Life; which it reduces to its elementary divisiens and subdivisions, oatuely, the Physical, Mental and Spiritual Exi-tenee, with a review of thetr leading incidents. The ceneluding consi lerati n is that of the Perfect Life, of which the Siviour was tbe type, aud shows that in Him we lwe and have Eternal Life. e Mr. Adams is a member of the Society of Cnlifornia Pioneers, and the Young Men’s Christian Association, of this city. He came from New Youk io this State when a child, in 1846, arriving here after a six months’ voyage hy sea, in March,1847. He was one of the pupils of Mr. J. C. Pelton’s first public school, in 1849, and has growu up with the city. The object of the lecture is to assist the speaker in the completion of his collegiate course at the Benicia Law School. He has the hearty co-operation of several prominent clergymen, aud from our own acquaintance with the young gentleman, we cousider him both able and worthy, and trust he will meet a complete success. Tickets of admission for gentlemen and ladies, one dollar; single tickets, fifty cents. Nevaps Mint.—Work will soou be commenccd on the new United States Branch Mint, at Csrson City, Nevada. Seuator Nye telegraphs that the plaus, etc., have becn forwarded by niail. MINING PARTNERSHIPS, The new Inw concerning mining partnerships, published in to-day’s issue, wss intrnduced in the Assembly by Mr. Singleton, of Sierra. It elicited mach attention in the Legislature during its passage, and was severnl times amended, and its provisinns extended. Doubtless, by the perversions of selfish and dishonorahle men, the law will work hardships toyo wners in some instances, yet we ure not without faith that, upon the whole, it mny prove generally beneficial. It will certainly put an end to the practice that has long been prevalent, of one mean, coutrary member of a company holding back and debarring the majority from proceeding with their prospecting. It will also cause men to he more careful who they take into copartnership with them iu mining enterprises. Under the new partnership law, persons who enter into mining sssociation with various parties should select nssociates of tried honor and virtue, or they will in the end get badly burned, frozen, or smoked out. In our opinion the law is too unlimited. Every owner in unincorporated mines shonld become familiar with it. We are satisfied that mony miners will accept Mr. Singleton’s law with luvor. It will certainly accelerate mining, and soon put in operation hundreds of mines that are uow lying dormant. ‘rhe number of incorporntions will likewise be increased. Upon a closer examination we shall speak further of the provisions of this act. Tur Knox Amatcamator.—This pan, on illustration of which is advertised in to-day’s issue, has proved one of the most successful juventions in mining machinery. If we mistike not, it now stnnds the pioneer amaleamator at present in use in California and Nevada. Its cheapness in first cost, nnd its simplicity of operation areamong its strong points, while another of its hest recommendations lies in the fact that practical millmen repeat’ their orders for the Amnlgamator and Separator, frequently nsing them in connection with pans of later pattern and invention. Mr. Knox has but few eqnals in his experience nnd intelligence in quartz mining and ore reducing, in either California or Nevada, and hoth the inventors snd manufacturers of Knox's Patent Amalgamator and Separator, have well earned sn envious reputation among those best informed of their merits. From JIonz, Nevapa.—A_ friend writes: My interests or husiness here, at this time: do not esll me inuch out into the hills, but having a small but very rich sample of ruby silver presented to ine the other day, I wss led to the mine to see how eaay it is to take out from the “Great Hastern,” on London Hill, tons of good ore, since they have struck it big and rich. I could speak with good encouragement of several ledges doing well in furnishing good milling ore. We have two very importaut machines now before our miners here, viz., the Gardner crnsher and Guiod's Crocodile. The latter is a very voracious chap, devonring, and I should say thoroughly digesting, a ton of quartz in 45 minutes. Many say itis a perfect snecess. Bot of far more interest to us,ns miners, is the Austin invention of a machine roaster to desulphurize and chiloridize ore. [A description of the furnace, above named, will be found in another column.] Tur present yield of petroleum in the Enstern states, is estimated at 12,000 bnrrels per day, of which 11,415 harrels come from Pennsylvonia alone. \ AnnipoTE ror Porson.—If arsenic (ratsbane) is taken, swallow the white of an egg. If acid poison is taken, such as agqnafortis, sulphuric ncid, prussic acid etc., swallow soda and water or suleratns and water, or any nlkali. Salt and mustard taken in worm water will vomit immediately. Fourrrey tons of rock from the Allison Ranch lead was crnshed last week, which pnid the sum of seventeen taousand dollars, It seems tlic longer they work this mine the better it pays.