Volume 12 (1866) (428 pages)

242 Ghe BWlining and Srientific Dress, — Gonmunications. In this DEraRtTwENT we invite the rREx Discussion of all i d alone being r for Bropet —corr the ideas and theories they advance. [Written for the Mining and Scientific Press.) Sodium Amalgamation. WHY .DOES SODIUM ASSIST THE AMALOAMATION ™ OF METALS? Sometime since; and belore I had heard of the use of sodium as an assistant in amalgeinating metals, I prepared the result uf the following experiment for publicatien. Circnmstances delayed it, but I now give it to the interested for what it is worth. Having givea my views to sevsral practical mea in this city, tbey tell me tbat the theory explains many thiags which they have met in their experieace that were iucomprehensible to them, and they have urged me to make it public. THE EXPERIMENT. Take a clean tumbler and fill it about twothirds full of clear water; then drop a little finely pulverized metallic powder upon the water. Gold dust or bronze, (such as printers use, and nearly every printer has it,) or silver powder will aaswer, provided it be sufficiently fine. Thea stir it smartly with the handle of a spoon or the blade of a knife. It will be seen that the powder will not sink in the water; but, on the coatrary, the more it is stirred the more obstinately it keeps at the top. When you have sufficiently demonstrated to your own satisfactioa the almost impossibility of sinking the metal, which, being heavier thaa the water, by the laws of gravity sbonld sink, drop iato the tumbler a little caustic potash or soda, and stira little, the powder will then be seen to leave the top, and iaa short time settle at the bottom of the water. THE CAUSE OF THE METAL FLOATING. Atmospheric air adheree with great tenacity to any highly polished surface, and is-very difficult to displace. It preserves a kaife-blade by preventing the moisture from getting to it tn oxidize it. Dip a kaife-blade or a razor into water, and drawing it out you will find tbat it has not heen wet—a film of air interposed between it and the water. So with each particle of dust which you placed on the water in the tumber. Notwithstanding its being so exceediagly fine, it is surrounded with a layer of atmospberic air as thick as that on the surface of a knife-blade. The particle being round and smovth, no mechanical means which you ean use will displace the air so that the water can gettn it,aad the air being lighter thaa water, acts as a halloon to sustain the piecs of metal. If you agitate it in the water with a spoon, or force it dowa by any other meaas, the air will still stick to its piece of metal, and ae soon as you let it alone, it will rise to the surface. How it is that tbe alkali makes the air let go of its hold un the metal, I do not Know. ‘I'he experiment shows that it does do 80, and the metal siaks. APPLICATION OF THIS TREATMENT TO AMALGAMATINO THE IMPALPABLE GOLD DUST IN QUARTZ ROCK, AND ITS THEORY. Suppose every particle of gold dust in quartz rock to be as fiue astbe dust with which this exoeriment is made (and much of it is finer), very little of it would have its film of air displaced by the mechanical operation of crushing, altbough on acconnt of much of it clinging to the particles of quartz it would not float ; part ol it would sink to the bottom, part would reniain floating between the bottom and the surfuce of the water, the film of air and the quartz dust fighting forthe mastery, the air trying to take it to the top, and the quartz dust tryiug to pull it down. As long as the particle ot gold or silver remains covered with the air, the mercury cannot come in coatact with it any more than can the water. The mercury to take it ap ost come in contuct with the naked gold. and not with tbe gold protected by a mautle of atmospheric air. ‘Therefore, in order to the effectual umaigamating of gold or silver dust lrom quartz rock, some means must be nsed to disperse the air surrounding the particles of dust. Heat will do this partially, but Caustic potash or coda will do it effectually. It also acts as a deoxydizing ugeut—that is if the . oxyde of sume base metal should be in contact with the gold, it will remove’ it or cleaa tbe gold, wad it will keep the mercury clean. About one pouad of cauetic potash or soda will remove ths air from metal that is immersed in five galloas of water. Does not this explain thé cause of the advantaye derived from the use of sodium? If this is the true theory, wheace the uecessity of using tbe expensive metal itself? It cannot be denied that the sodium is oxydized and becomes soda, and is dissolved ia the water in the pan. When tbat takes place. and not until then, does tbe sodium produce the beaeficial results. Tam aware that alkalies have been used in amalgamatiug pans witb, partial saccess. But have they beea used intelligently? Common potash or soda of commerce in the best state ia which you caa buy it, is composed of forty or fifty per cent. of carbonate. . In transportiug it to the mines, and from exposnre to the air ‘when opened, a much larger percentage is ‘turned into carbonate, aud in that state is of little use to disperse the atmospheric uir. ‘T'o be effectual for this purpose, it must be as nearly caustic as possible. In regard to ths electrical effect resulting from the ase of alkalies ia the amalgamating pans, my experieuce proves that it cannot be otberwise thau highly beneficial. Zine, lead, and antimony would be taken up ia large quantities by a caustic alakline solution, whea contained in aa iron vessel. I have used, aad for sowe purposes prefer to all others, cspecially for precipitating the reguline copper, a battery composed of iroa and zinc in a solution of caustic potash. Wa. Hitmer. San Fraacisco, April, 1866. [Written for the Mining and Scientific Press.] Influx of Water into Mines. HY PROFESSOR ROWLANDSON, F. G.S. L. A reecat aumber (LOtb Febraary last) of the Loadon Afining Journal, contains a brief but most interesting letter from Mr. Charles Bawden, an able Cornish mining engioeer, relative to the above caption. In the course of tbe letter, Mr. Bawden shows by actual gauging, that the water discharged through the “ Gwennap Main Adit” only amounted to one-half of the quantity pumped from the lower levels to the adit, from which the iuference’ is positive that one-half the water drawn from below, in its passage along the aJit again percolates into the mine, thus causing a double charge for pumping. ‘This is one of many instances that could be adduced, where an iminense outlay is occasioned in mining from ucn-attention to what is oftentimes mistakenly considered a very trivial cause. Few persons, perhaps, would be particularly struck with tbe above fact, from causes not aow necessary to explain; the writer of this article was more than tweaty years ago induced to believe that the fact was pretty uearly as etated by Mr. Bawden, and about tbat time hs so informed the managers of the great laiaes in the Gwennap district, as also those Jiuterested in the great workiugs of the contiguous districts of Cambourne, Gwinaear, ete., and was laughed at hy every self-styled practieal mining captaiu—the cost so occasioned beiag classed by these practical mea as too contemptible to be aoticed. I believe it was at the last meeting of the British Association, that another gentlemaa demonstrated that fully one-third more water was raised from the coal mines in the district of the ten yard coal in Stattordsbire, than the entire rainfall, which would be equivaleat to the proportioa found to he raised in excess at Gwennap, as returning to the mines after being raised to the surface. ‘Yo remedy the evil, Mr. Bawden recommends that the water raised to the surface should be conveyed throngh secure tubes or channels until discha‘ ged from the mouth of the adit. I would, however, suggest that when practicable a step in addition sbould be adopted, namely, that where the nature of the grouud per.nits, such water-tight channels or tubes should be prolonged oa the hillside to a point below the level of the water ia the mine before the latter is permitted to ran free. On this coast where pumping is so costly, sucb precautions are doubly valuable. Tue gold beariag quartz in the vicinity of the Great Falls of the Potomac, ahout four . teen niles from Washington City, is beginning to attract considerable attention. No change has been made ia the form of the plow used in Sicily since tha times of the Romana. {Written Yor the Mining and Scientific Press.) — Mining About Greenwood, El Dorado County, Eprrors Press :—Having a few spare niinutes, I thought I would give you an idea of the mining prospects of the aeighborhcod, arouad Greenwood. I aever saw better looking lodes (for gold) ia any place in the couatry, than are to be seen here, and I am greatly surprised that so little effort has been made to develop them. Oue ledge especially, which I receatly visited, I found with a hole sunk upon it on the “ tootwall,” twenty feet deep and twenty-five feet long, being in fact an open cutting. Out of this cutting there has been $1,000 taken ; yet, owing to the ground being a little soft and timber required, this apparently very valuable mine is not worked. The croppings are from eight to ten feet thick, and caa be traced at intervals for miles, and much free gold can be seen throughont this whole extent. I obtained two bits to the pan from some of the fine quartz. Igave my opinion of its merits to the owaers of this mine, and explained how they might work it to advantage. Since my visit, have heen informed that in a few days tbey will commence to sink a new shaft, nine feet long by five feet wide, and I have no doubt that iu a very short time a valuable mine will be the result ; of which I will duly post you,so that this much-neglected place may have that attention paid to it which it deserves. It is true that Grass Vallcy is famous for its quartz miaes ; of that fact I am fully aware, as I have spent several years there; but 1 know, also, that there are equally good prospects here. All that is wanted bere is capital. whea as good mines as Culifornia can produce will be found. Now, gentlemen, you say in the city of San Francisco, “ All aboard for Grass Valley!” I would say to you, “get oa board for Greenwood,” and examine for yourself, when I am satisfied your judgment will at once coroburate my statements, and you will he enabled thereby to tell of the hidden tieasures oF this district. I will at times keep you posted with regard to the mining prospects of this place. In conclusion I would say, that the chief reason why more quartz ledges are not worked here, is owing to the fuct that ths miners are mostly engaged in placer miaing, and the lurther reason that they are comparatively poor and unacquainted with quartz, or any other niuving below the surface. R. Powyine. Greenwood, April 9, 1866. New Mixixo Enrerprise.—A new miaing enterprise ol uo meaa magnitude has been inaugurated in our ecunty, says the Monterey Gazetie. Milpitas raach, near the Mission San Antonio, in the southern extremes of this county, is to be worked by the Ning Yuag Company, who have bought it. It has long been knowa that there were extensive fields of gold-bearing placers in that seetioa, and during the wet season of every year parties bave successfully operated, although on the smallest scale, making three dollars per day, alter packing dirt for come distance and panning or rocking it out. Tue Menory or a Morner.— When temptation appears, and we are almost persuaded to do wrong, how often a mother’s word of warning will call to miud vows that are rarely broken. Yes, the memory of a mother has saved maay a poor wretch from going astray. Tall grass may be growing over the hallowed spot where all her earthly remaias repose; the dying leaves of autumn may be whirled over it, or the white mantle of wintsr may cover it from sight ; yet the spirit of ber, when he walks ia the right path, appears, and gently, softly. mournfully calls to him wheu wandering off iato the ways of error. p New Ortraxs now has a population larger by 60,000 than ever before; Galveston and other Texan cities are full to overflowing ; and the same is said of Memphis, Mobile, Montgomery, Atlaata, and all the towns of the Southwest. Tue eternity of the Union of the States consists, essentially, in the fact of their indestructibility. A star may dim, but aot one shall ever leave the constellatioa. Tux increase of children in Iowa, betweeu tbe ages of five and twenty-one years, duriag the year 1865, was 28,411. (Written for the Minlng and Scientific Press.] Reese River Correspondence, Enirors Press:—In your issue ol March 31st, I observe a letter from Mono county, California, entitled “ The Canse of Failure in Mining Enterprises,” ia which the incapability of mining superiatendents is toucbed upon in no very mild manner, and being of like opivion with your correspondent, with yonr permis. sion, would exteauate upon the present“ mode” of conducting miniag eaterprises, particalarly as they have come uader my observation in this Reese River sectiou, with the hope that they ‘may prove worthy of your” consideration. I should jndge your correspoadent to be oae of much practical experience ia miaing; at all events, lis observations of the manner of ths proceeding in mining by inexperienced men are, correct. He is also perfectly correct in saying — that the slow progress of development of our. . } mining interests is the resalt of inexperienced niecn being placed at their head. He also says that We of Reese River can, to our sorrow, vouch for the correc’ness of his remark. To mny regret, I must say we can. ; Reese River is at present in a worse condition, ia respect to development of mines, than ~ it was three years since. Originally tbe mines” were held aad ownsd by the discoverers—men who immigrated here in the early days of ths country, whose only hope of success was iu the development of their respectivs mines, which development was prosecuted with all the enerpy their limited meane would admit of. Through accident, as it were, some Eastern capitalists were induced to interest themselves in onr midst merely as a veature. And from that time to the present, with all the capital that has been expended, we have been pretty much at a stand still, all original owners only wishing to sell, leaving the unfinished work of development to the purchasers. But Eastern capital ists have interested themselves by degrees to sucb an extent that they are the virtual owners and possessors of the whole section; and to them alone in the fnture must we look for euccor and the development of our mineral wealth. The real blame for the slow progress of the development of oar mines is not wholly dus to the superintendeuts. ‘Tbey, as a general thing, being pretty good fellows, always ready to turn an ‘‘honest dollar,” by accepting from their patrons a position at a good salary, the requiremeats of which position they are entirely ignorant. They are satisfed in their positions and their salarics; and if their employers do not meet with satisfactory returns, it is the company tbat is at lault in the choice of managere, and uot the mistakes the superintendcuts make througb ignoranre or incxperience. The proper course to pursue would be for capitalists to eagage practical men, experienced ia mining, to conduct such compauies. Men who have become mincrs through the use of mining implements; who have delved and worked day after day ia scarch of the “ hidden treasure,” who ¢aa tell when the day is passed whether ths laborer is worthy of his hire, and who have personal knowledge whether the work of the day bas been properly executed. Eastern mining speculators havea mania for mills,and have gratified their taste here to such an extent, that there is at the present lime in this county of Lander, at the lowest figure, at actual cost of purchase aad erection, two million dollars of mill property lying idle; while those in constant and occasional milling do not consuine over thirty-five tone of ore per diem. ‘Yocap the climax, there is no prospect of a change for the better under the present managemeat. Some companies have expended all their working capital oa their mills, and, coasequently, have no meaas with which to prospect; others having moaey are prospectiag after tbeirown ideas of mining, and generally with but little if any judgment or success. Those interested in mill property are unwilling to invest even in fuel or timber to any extent, even at good bargaias; their excnse being they want ore first. ‘ It is « lamentable fact tbat weare ata “ stand-still,’ poised as it were upon a pivot. Our success or altimate destruction depends alone upon tbe action of the possessors and owners of our miaeral lands, upon the proper course of working, by placing at the head of the enterprisss men of experience and judg-

242 Ghe BWlining and Srientific Dress, — Gonmunications. In this DEraRtTwENT we invite the rREx Discussion of all i d alone being r for Bropet —corr the ideas and theories they advance. [Written for the Mining and Scientific Press.) Sodium Amalgamation. WHY .DOES SODIUM ASSIST THE AMALOAMATION ™ OF METALS? Sometime since; and belore I had heard of the use of sodium as an assistant in amalgeinating metals, I prepared the result uf the following experiment for publicatien. Circnmstances delayed it, but I now give it to the interested for what it is worth. Having givea my views to sevsral practical mea in this city, tbey tell me tbat the theory explains many thiags which they have met in their experieace that were iucomprehensible to them, and they have urged me to make it public. THE EXPERIMENT. Take a clean tumbler and fill it about twothirds full of clear water; then drop a little finely pulverized metallic powder upon the water. Gold dust or bronze, (such as printers use, and nearly every printer has it,) or silver powder will aaswer, provided it be sufficiently fine. Thea stir it smartly with the handle of a spoon or the blade of a knife. It will be seen that the powder will not sink in the water; but, on the coatrary, the more it is stirred the more obstinately it keeps at the top. When you have sufficiently demonstrated to your own satisfactioa the almost impossibility of sinking the metal, which, being heavier thaa the water, by the laws of gravity sbonld sink, drop iato the tumbler a little caustic potash or soda, and stira little, the powder will then be seen to leave the top, and iaa short time settle at the bottom of the water. THE CAUSE OF THE METAL FLOATING. Atmospheric air adheree with great tenacity to any highly polished surface, and is-very difficult to displace. It preserves a kaife-blade by preventing the moisture from getting to it tn oxidize it. Dip a kaife-blade or a razor into water, and drawing it out you will find tbat it has not heen wet—a film of air interposed between it and the water. So with each particle of dust which you placed on the water in the tumber. Notwithstanding its being so exceediagly fine, it is surrounded with a layer of atmospberic air as thick as that on the surface of a knife-blade. The particle being round and smovth, no mechanical means which you ean use will displace the air so that the water can gettn it,aad the air being lighter thaa water, acts as a halloon to sustain the piecs of metal. If you agitate it in the water with a spoon, or force it dowa by any other meaas, the air will still stick to its piece of metal, and ae soon as you let it alone, it will rise to the surface. How it is that tbe alkali makes the air let go of its hold un the metal, I do not Know. ‘I'he experiment shows that it does do 80, and the metal siaks. APPLICATION OF THIS TREATMENT TO AMALGAMATINO THE IMPALPABLE GOLD DUST IN QUARTZ ROCK, AND ITS THEORY. Suppose every particle of gold dust in quartz rock to be as fiue astbe dust with which this exoeriment is made (and much of it is finer), very little of it would have its film of air displaced by the mechanical operation of crushing, altbough on acconnt of much of it clinging to the particles of quartz it would not float ; part ol it would sink to the bottom, part would reniain floating between the bottom and the surfuce of the water, the film of air and the quartz dust fighting forthe mastery, the air trying to take it to the top, and the quartz dust tryiug to pull it down. As long as the particle ot gold or silver remains covered with the air, the mercury cannot come in coatact with it any more than can the water. The mercury to take it ap ost come in contuct with the naked gold. and not with tbe gold protected by a mautle of atmospheric air. ‘Therefore, in order to the effectual umaigamating of gold or silver dust lrom quartz rock, some means must be nsed to disperse the air surrounding the particles of dust. Heat will do this partially, but Caustic potash or coda will do it effectually. It also acts as a deoxydizing ugeut—that is if the . oxyde of sume base metal should be in contact with the gold, it will remove’ it or cleaa tbe gold, wad it will keep the mercury clean. About one pouad of cauetic potash or soda will remove ths air from metal that is immersed in five galloas of water. Does not this explain thé cause of the advantaye derived from the use of sodium? If this is the true theory, wheace the uecessity of using tbe expensive metal itself? It cannot be denied that the sodium is oxydized and becomes soda, and is dissolved ia the water in the pan. When tbat takes place. and not until then, does tbe sodium produce the beaeficial results. Tam aware that alkalies have been used in amalgamatiug pans witb, partial saccess. But have they beea used intelligently? Common potash or soda of commerce in the best state ia which you caa buy it, is composed of forty or fifty per cent. of carbonate. . In transportiug it to the mines, and from exposnre to the air ‘when opened, a much larger percentage is ‘turned into carbonate, aud in that state is of little use to disperse the atmospheric uir. ‘T'o be effectual for this purpose, it must be as nearly caustic as possible. In regard to ths electrical effect resulting from the ase of alkalies ia the amalgamating pans, my experieuce proves that it cannot be otberwise thau highly beneficial. Zine, lead, and antimony would be taken up ia large quantities by a caustic alakline solution, whea contained in aa iron vessel. I have used, aad for sowe purposes prefer to all others, cspecially for precipitating the reguline copper, a battery composed of iroa and zinc in a solution of caustic potash. Wa. Hitmer. San Fraacisco, April, 1866. [Written for the Mining and Scientific Press.] Influx of Water into Mines. HY PROFESSOR ROWLANDSON, F. G.S. L. A reecat aumber (LOtb Febraary last) of the Loadon Afining Journal, contains a brief but most interesting letter from Mr. Charles Bawden, an able Cornish mining engioeer, relative to the above caption. In the course of tbe letter, Mr. Bawden shows by actual gauging, that the water discharged through the “ Gwennap Main Adit” only amounted to one-half of the quantity pumped from the lower levels to the adit, from which the iuference’ is positive that one-half the water drawn from below, in its passage along the aJit again percolates into the mine, thus causing a double charge for pumping. ‘This is one of many instances that could be adduced, where an iminense outlay is occasioned in mining from ucn-attention to what is oftentimes mistakenly considered a very trivial cause. Few persons, perhaps, would be particularly struck with tbe above fact, from causes not aow necessary to explain; the writer of this article was more than tweaty years ago induced to believe that the fact was pretty uearly as etated by Mr. Bawden, and about tbat time hs so informed the managers of the great laiaes in the Gwennap district, as also those Jiuterested in the great workiugs of the contiguous districts of Cambourne, Gwinaear, ete., and was laughed at hy every self-styled practieal mining captaiu—the cost so occasioned beiag classed by these practical mea as too contemptible to be aoticed. I believe it was at the last meeting of the British Association, that another gentlemaa demonstrated that fully one-third more water was raised from the coal mines in the district of the ten yard coal in Stattordsbire, than the entire rainfall, which would be equivaleat to the proportioa found to he raised in excess at Gwennap, as returning to the mines after being raised to the surface. ‘Yo remedy the evil, Mr. Bawden recommends that the water raised to the surface should be conveyed throngh secure tubes or channels until discha‘ ged from the mouth of the adit. I would, however, suggest that when practicable a step in addition sbould be adopted, namely, that where the nature of the grouud per.nits, such water-tight channels or tubes should be prolonged oa the hillside to a point below the level of the water ia the mine before the latter is permitted to ran free. On this coast where pumping is so costly, sucb precautions are doubly valuable. Tue gold beariag quartz in the vicinity of the Great Falls of the Potomac, ahout four . teen niles from Washington City, is beginning to attract considerable attention. No change has been made ia the form of the plow used in Sicily since tha times of the Romana.

{Written Yor the Mining and Scientific Press.) — Mining About Greenwood, El Dorado County, Eprrors Press :—Having a few spare niinutes, I thought I would give you an idea of the mining prospects of the aeighborhcod, arouad Greenwood. I aever saw better looking lodes (for gold) ia any place in the couatry, than are to be seen here, and I am greatly surprised that so little effort has been made to develop them. Oue ledge especially, which I receatly visited, I found with a hole sunk upon it on the “ tootwall,” twenty feet deep and twenty-five feet long, being in fact an open cutting. Out of this cutting there has been $1,000 taken ; yet, owing to the ground being a little soft and timber required, this apparently very valuable mine is not worked. The croppings are from eight to ten feet thick, and caa be traced at intervals for miles, and much free gold can be seen throughont this whole extent. I obtained two bits to the pan from some of the fine quartz. Igave my opinion of its merits to the owaers of this mine, and explained how they might work it to advantage. Since my visit, have heen informed that in a few days tbey will commence to sink a new shaft, nine feet long by five feet wide, and I have no doubt that iu a very short time a valuable mine will be the result ; of which I will duly post you,so that this much-neglected place may have that attention paid to it which it deserves. It is true that Grass Vallcy is famous for its quartz miaes ; of that fact I am fully aware, as I have spent several years there; but 1 know, also, that there are equally good prospects here. All that is wanted bere is capital. whea as good mines as Culifornia can produce will be found. Now, gentlemen, you say in the city of San Francisco, “ All aboard for Grass Valley!” I would say to you, “get oa board for Greenwood,” and examine for yourself, when I am satisfied your judgment will at once coroburate my statements, and you will he enabled thereby to tell of the hidden tieasures oF this district. I will at times keep you posted with regard to the mining prospects of this place. In conclusion I would say, that the chief reason why more quartz ledges are not worked here, is owing to the fuct that ths miners are mostly engaged in placer miaing, and the lurther reason that they are comparatively poor and unacquainted with quartz, or any other niuving below the surface. R. Powyine. Greenwood, April 9, 1866. New Mixixo Enrerprise.—A new miaing enterprise ol uo meaa magnitude has been inaugurated in our ecunty, says the Monterey Gazetie. Milpitas raach, near the Mission San Antonio, in the southern extremes of this county, is to be worked by the Ning Yuag Company, who have bought it. It has long been knowa that there were extensive fields of gold-bearing placers in that seetioa, and during the wet season of every year parties bave successfully operated, although on the smallest scale, making three dollars per day, alter packing dirt for come distance and panning or rocking it out. Tue Menory or a Morner.— When temptation appears, and we are almost persuaded to do wrong, how often a mother’s word of warning will call to miud vows that are rarely broken. Yes, the memory of a mother has saved maay a poor wretch from going astray. Tall grass may be growing over the hallowed spot where all her earthly remaias repose; the dying leaves of autumn may be whirled over it, or the white mantle of wintsr may cover it from sight ; yet the spirit of ber, when he walks ia the right path, appears, and gently, softly. mournfully calls to him wheu wandering off iato the ways of error. p New Ortraxs now has a population larger by 60,000 than ever before; Galveston and other Texan cities are full to overflowing ; and the same is said of Memphis, Mobile, Montgomery, Atlaata, and all the towns of the Southwest. Tue eternity of the Union of the States consists, essentially, in the fact of their indestructibility. A star may dim, but aot one shall ever leave the constellatioa. Tux increase of children in Iowa, betweeu tbe ages of five and twenty-one years, duriag the year 1865, was 28,411. (Written for the Minlng and Scientific Press.] Reese River Correspondence, Enirors Press:—In your issue ol March 31st, I observe a letter from Mono county, California, entitled “ The Canse of Failure in Mining Enterprises,” ia which the incapability of mining superiatendents is toucbed upon in no very mild manner, and being of like opivion with your correspondent, with yonr permis. sion, would exteauate upon the present“ mode” of conducting miniag eaterprises, particalarly as they have come uader my observation in this Reese River sectiou, with the hope that they ‘may prove worthy of your” consideration. I should jndge your correspoadent to be oae of much practical experience ia miaing; at all events, lis observations of the manner of ths proceeding in mining by inexperienced men are, correct. He is also perfectly correct in saying — that the slow progress of development of our. . } mining interests is the resalt of inexperienced niecn being placed at their head. He also says that We of Reese River can, to our sorrow, vouch for the correc’ness of his remark. To mny regret, I must say we can. ; Reese River is at present in a worse condition, ia respect to development of mines, than ~ it was three years since. Originally tbe mines” were held aad ownsd by the discoverers—men who immigrated here in the early days of ths country, whose only hope of success was iu the development of their respectivs mines, which development was prosecuted with all the enerpy their limited meane would admit of. Through accident, as it were, some Eastern capitalists were induced to interest themselves in onr midst merely as a veature. And from that time to the present, with all the capital that has been expended, we have been pretty much at a stand still, all original owners only wishing to sell, leaving the unfinished work of development to the purchasers. But Eastern capital ists have interested themselves by degrees to sucb an extent that they are the virtual owners and possessors of the whole section; and to them alone in the fnture must we look for euccor and the development of our mineral wealth. The real blame for the slow progress of the development of oar mines is not wholly dus to the superintendeuts. ‘Tbey, as a general thing, being pretty good fellows, always ready to turn an ‘‘honest dollar,” by accepting from their patrons a position at a good salary, the requiremeats of which position they are entirely ignorant. They are satisfed in their positions and their salarics; and if their employers do not meet with satisfactory returns, it is the company tbat is at lault in the choice of managere, and uot the mistakes the superintendcuts make througb ignoranre or incxperience. The proper course to pursue would be for capitalists to eagage practical men, experienced ia mining, to conduct such compauies. Men who have become mincrs through the use of mining implements; who have delved and worked day after day ia scarch of the “ hidden treasure,” who ¢aa tell when the day is passed whether ths laborer is worthy of his hire, and who have personal knowledge whether the work of the day bas been properly executed. Eastern mining speculators havea mania for mills,and have gratified their taste here to such an extent, that there is at the present lime in this county of Lander, at the lowest figure, at actual cost of purchase aad erection, two million dollars of mill property lying idle; while those in constant and occasional milling do not consuine over thirty-five tone of ore per diem. ‘Yocap the climax, there is no prospect of a change for the better under the present managemeat. Some companies have expended all their working capital oa their mills, and, coasequently, have no meaas with which to prospect; others having moaey are prospectiag after tbeirown ideas of mining, and generally with but little if any judgment or success. Those interested in mill property are unwilling to invest even in fuel or timber to any extent, even at good bargaias; their excnse being they want ore first. ‘ It is « lamentable fact tbat weare ata “ stand-still,’ poised as it were upon a pivot. Our success or altimate destruction depends alone upon tbe action of the possessors and owners of our miaeral lands, upon the proper course of working, by placing at the head of the enterprisss men of experience and judg-