Volume 12 (1866) (428 pages)

344 Ghe Mining and Srientitic Brees, Mining and Scientific Press. W. B. EWER,.ccccscelecucseneeenereer tenes SEnroR Emrror. Oo. W. M, SMITH. W. B. EWER. 4. T. DEWEY. DEWEY & CO., Publishers. Orrice—No. 505 Clay street, corner of Sansome, 2d floor. ‘Terms of Subscription: E er annum, in advatice,. $6 00 One ye He months, in a vance. . 300 ‘Rar For sale by Carrlera and Netsdealers. Ga ee merican and Forelgn Patents,—Letters Patent fotinventors can be secured in the United States and forelen countries through the Minixa ann Acizntiric Parss Patent Agency. We offer applicants reasonable terms, and they can rest assured of a strict compliance with our UES and a faithful Per oumenee of allcontracts. For reference, we wlil furnish the names of numerous parties for whom we have obtalned patents during the past two years. ene, San Francisco: Saturday Morning, June 2, 1866. Progress or THE MineraL Lanp Sate Question 1n WasHinoTon.—Neither the House nor Senate Committees of Congress heve es yet mede enyteport apoa the hills now before ‘Congress for the sele of the minerel lands. It is thonght thet the Senete Committee may possibly report favorably oo Mr. Sherman’s bill, as ths hill is said to be receivsd in a favnrable light hy the Chairman of that Committee. The Honse Committee are a unit in their oppositioa to hoth Shermeo’s and Julien’s hills, and helieve thet any further legislation hy Congress in reference. to the mines is annecessary, further thea giving titles to those in pussession and who may hereafter acquire e possessory title. They know that the mines are aow productive to the Government, and are es setisfied thet eay legisletive enectments teading to hemper the mines wiil only kill the goose thet lays the goldea egg. Jt hes been suggested that when Congress edjourns, sole of those members who are so desirous of meddling in mining matters shall hs sent to the mining regions to try diggings for a while, to give them some edeqiate idee, if aot experience, of whut mineg and mining ere when viewed from a dif ferent stand-poixt then the Hell of the House of Repreeentetives at Weshiogton. A “ Biux.’—There is a paper published in San Francisen called the Minine ann Scientiric Press, which professes to give ell the mining news of the Pacific coest. We heve carefully senrched through thot eheet for the past month, and failed to see one item in regard to the miaes of Oregon or Ideho; while columne ere devoted to the “ played out” diggiags of California, Reese River, etc. Tbe toincrs to this sectioa should set that eheet down asa “hilk”.—JMountaineer, Dalles, Oregon. We deny the ‘soft impeechment.” The miners of that “section” will edopt no such recommendation, unless—contrery to the usnel charecteristics of their class—they should unfortuoetely be possessed of as insigaificant, coaceitcd and selfish minds as the one illustreted hy the above paregraph, which heils from an Oregon sanctum. By examining the past nuaihers of the Press, they will find hoth Oregoa and Idaho represented in our mining summary, together with “ Californin, Reese River, ete.,” and other sectioas (ontside of the Dalles) which the generality of miners have the good sehse and geaerosity to admit ere aot yet quite “played out.” The world has aot yet efforded a single weekly peper large enough to “give ail the mining news of the Pecific coest.” ANTIMONIAL OrE.—Mr. Screnton, of Gold Rua, Plecer county, hes -eent usa sample of eatimony, melted by himself from the ore. The ore occurs in a large mess, rather thon in a veia or lode, in Humholdt Valley, Neveda. It contains a large emonnt of sulphur, and when heated by a small quentity of wood holds its heet aad buras fora long time. A location wes made by Mr. Seronton, ia 1865; hut he wes subsequently driven off hy Iudiens. He will suon return and perfect his title. New Avorr Hanpue.—Mr. EB. 1. Berlow hee chown asa new auger hendle, arranged with a combiaatioa catch or spriug clasp, for holding the bit or auger in its place, end allowjag it to be readily edjusted. It appears to be a very coaveaieat article for those who have much use for these implemeats. MINING OPERATIONS NEAR MAZATLAN. : We are indebted to Mr. W. A. King for some very valuahle informetion with regard to miniag operatioas in the neighhorhood of Mazetlan, Mexico. Tbese mines are located ahout sixty milcs inland from the city, end nenr the hase of the Sierra Madre. They are in what is known as the Concordia mining district, emhracing a tract of ebout fifly miles square. We are furnished with the following particulars with regard to a few of the priocipal miaes : The Cassandra is an old Mexican mine, but was never worked much. It was forfeited hy its original locators end suhsequeotly denounced by the present owners, Messrs. Burtis of this city, aod Mr. Wolfskill of Los Aageles, aow superinteadent of the Alacrans M. Co. There is no machinery as yet upon the mine. The Alacrans is alsoan old miae, bat has aow beea opened io a néw place by its present owners. It has a very fine plaat of machivery, huilt at a cost of about $125,000 and had jast heen started up when our informaot left. The compaay is iacorporated in this city—Mr. L. L. Robinson, president. The Arco is oae of the most celehreted mines of the district. The Arco company, incorporated in Stockton, has threeseveral aiges, tho Arco, the Napoleoa ead the Concepcion. ‘The first has hesa worked by the Spaniards toadepth of ahout 300 feet. The present company erected a mill three years since, and have worked rock chiefly from the Napoleon aad Concepcioa. ‘lhey were compelled to suspend operations ahout a yeer since oa account of the war; but are aow ahout to resume work again. They will not do much, however, until the conditioa of the country hecomes more settled. The mine is uader the superintendence of Mr.~C. ©. Cnstle. The Napoleoa is virtually a new mine, and has heen opened hy a tnanel 200 feet long, opening the mine 300 feet deep. The lode is five feet wide, and easily worked without hlastiag. It is located one end a half miles from the mill. ‘The Concepcion has been worked some hy Mexicens, and is seid to have paid as high as $100 to the ton. The new compeny have not yct done much about opening the mine. : The New York Company have their ageats cow et work making ective prcperntioas to build a mill upon the Guadaloupe ond Seciamento mines. The Trinded Compauy have en old mine, which hes heeu worked very extensively, ond directly under the city of Copala; have machinery erected on the Parico mine five miles distant. The company suspended work some six months since, on account of the war; but will resume operations again sooa. All the mines mentioned are loceted within atrect of five miles square, aud they nore the first mines reached frum, Mazatlan. There is no other Americen mechinery ia the district, except whet we have meationed. There ere quite a number of other mines, however worked hy Meszicans, aud a few held hy Americans nad other foreigners. There:are also humerous miaes, some not yet loceted, farther up the flank of the Sierra Madre. ‘here is n good wegon road from Mazetlen, forty miles to Sebestien; from that place to the mines— twenty miles—nearly everything is packed on mules; although there was once a passable wagon-road, now aseless by neglect and the effect of the rains. Americaas have no trouble in passiag hack end forth from the sea coaet whea attending to their private husiness, Passes to all such are readily graated through hoth Mexicon ond French military lines. As s00a as the civil affairs of tle country hecome settled, it is thought that this mining district will hegin to nssuine coasiderahle iaxportence. <=_ Takino THE ScHoot Census.—Persons are uow engaged in taking the School census in this city, for the purpose of learning tho exact aamber of childrea ia the city entitled to Puhlic: School privileges. ‘ Gooa Yiera.—Brown’s cemeat mill at You Bot, receatly turaed out $5,642 from 264 hours’ run—withia a fraction of $22 per hour. “KEROSENE O1L EXPLOSIONS. Three deaths were recently occesioned ia Lowell, Massachusetts, hy the explosioa of kerosene lamps. Such accidents ere of more frequent occurrence than is geuerally supposed, end so frequent as to render it highly important that some meesures should he taken to guard the public from such denger. Good kerosene will not explode; the explosion of this oil is occasioned hy its heiag mixed with a certain quantity of henzine. Benzine may he either mixed with kerosene efter its manufacture, or it may be mixed in the process of distillation, or rather not perfectly separated from it as it should be. Bsnziae is e much cheaper fluid than kerosene ; hence its use in increasing the halk of the oil. This dangerous mixture grows out of the cupidity of the mannfacturer, who seeks to palm off upon the puhlio a cheeper commodity thao that which he professes to sell. Every manufectursr has the meens at hand to test the character of his oil, and if he sells kerosene intermixed with beaziae he knows it, and does so with the view of gain, at the injminent risk of the lives aad property of the public. Minerel oils uscd for illumiaating purposes, are usually tested hy either measuring their iaflammahility by actual tests, which may be readily made; or by determining the density, which may he still 1aore easily doae, by instruments which are or should be in the hands of every manufacturer aud dealer. Explosions occor in this wise: When the oil is heated heyond a certaia degree, which is often reached io lamps of ordinery construction, hy the flame ot the lamp heating the oil within the lamp itself, benzine is readily converled into e vepor, which, when mixed with atmospheric air, explodes with much violence, preciscly like the ordinary illuminating ges. Hence it follows that if any considernhle quaotity_of henzine is mixed with the oil, it will he converted iato vepor, and may find its way out through the veot-holes in the top of the lamp, and he ignited by tho hlaze. Explosions, however, most frequently occur from removing the top of a lamp which has hecome heated from long continued burning ; in which case, if poor oil has heen used, tho entire interior of the lamp is filled with the vapor of heozine, which coming in contact with a harning lamp thot is usually placed oeer by to ohtein the light aecessery for filling, etc., is enddeoly exploded, often with fatel effect, and always ntteaded with danger. There is no excuse whetever, bat cupidity, for palmiog off these dangerous compounds npon the public ; but io the ehsence of severe peoal enectiuents to guard against euch practices, it may he well to give a -eimple test, always withiu the reach of every ove, which, although it iney not he scieatifically and strictly . uccurate ia results, will aevertheless be sufficiently so to afford u feir degree of protection from the criminal everice of those who value a few dollars added to their store more than ‘. the lives and property of their neighhors. The following sefety test will answer all prnetical purposes : Fill a tumbler three-fourths full of moderately warm water, and then ponr one-half tablespoonful of oil upon it end stir it together ; if there is any coasiderable quantity of henzine ia the oil, the warmth of the water will vause it to rise in vapor; now hold a lighted metch over it, and if the vapor tekes fire hefore the flame coines in contact with the oil, sead the oil back, as it ought not to be used. Good oil will not thus ‘ignite, aud will not burn even when no lighted watch is thrown into it; but most of the edulturated oil will burn freely. Tas Govorre Co., near Red Dog, receatly eterted their new cement mill, which is run by a 24-foot water wheel, driven by water from a 137-inch nozzle, with 140 feet of fall. This wheel drives eight stamps of 860 pounds each, at arete of from sixty to sixty-five drops a miaute. Some very extensive hydraulic diggiags are connected with this claim. A large amouut of work has beea done upoa it, aad the claim is considered a very valunhlo one. The owuers are A. Tucker, EH. Caruey, P. Goodspecd, aud J. LH. Fuller. AwnotuerR Cement Mitu.—Mr. Thomas MeAuley is uow engaged in puttiag up a mill for . crushing cemeot upon the Green Monatain claim of Sargent & Jacohs, about five miles north of Red Dog. The mill will consist of ten stemps, with hoistiog aad pumping works, to be driven hy a hurdy-gurdy weter wheel. The whole will he completed aad ruoning by the 1st of Jaly. This claim is the most aortherly of the five or six miles in length of the series of Blue Lead claims passing through You Bet, Red Dog and Gougeye. The famous — claim of Neecs & West is at ths sonthern ex. . tremity of the series ; while that of Sargent & Jacohs’ is at the point where this lead hug heen traced farthest north. Beyond that point the gravel range is crossed by Deer creek ; hut © the hed-rock lies so deep that the precise locality of the Blue Leed cannot he readily es. certeined. South of Neece & West the leed — crosses Steep Hollow creek, to Little York, . end thence across Bear river to Dutch Flat, pessing still farther south across the Americen to Forest Hill, ete. The generel raage of gravel is two or three miles ia width; hut ths Glue Lead proper, which occupies the lowest depression in this gravel range, is oaly from 75 to 150 feet in width. The difficulty of findiog this nerrow lead is, of course, very great, except where the revines have cat down throngh the gravel, so as to enahle the prospector to very readily approximate to the lowest poiot thereof, where he is sure to fiad the — ohject of his, search. he gravel from the Blne Lead is generally crushed in stemp-mills, while the balance of the deposit is worked hy the hydraulic process. ee “Se ee eee ee ee ee Cazpaor Sticx.—The latest California noyelty was exhibited to us this week, hy Mr. A. K. Beaton, io the shape of a hendsoms ivoryhended cane, the staff of which wes mnaufactured from a.cahbage stelk of 18 months? growth. This welking stick eppeers to he as sonnd and hard ns hickory. It is fiaished simply with a coat of varnish, end would easily he taken forsome rare specimen of real wood. While the plant was growing aeer Mr. Benton's mining cahin, et Gold Ran,Placer county, he wrought the initinls of his name aad date hy cutting slits in the stalk, which oow appear like reised letters and figures. The mild California climete permite this plant to grow perpetually from year tu year, and we hear of ea everereen cehbage shrah in Los Angeles which is now over eight yeara ofage. A lawycr at Mokelamne Hill has a cahhage tree in hie gerden from which he gathers several heads naouelly. ee ae ee, ee eee ee ‘ . Quicxstrver Monopoty.—Ia addition to the : monopolies which heve long existed in this . State, we have now a “ quicksilver monopoly,” hy which that indispensable article for carrying . on our mining operations hes recently been advanced fully tweaty-five per cent. It nppears that e combinetion of capitalists io this city have managed to correl theentire quicksilver interest of the coast, including New Almaden, New Idria, the Cleer Lake and Guadaloupe mines. As soon as this nrrengemeat wes consummated they advanced the rates to seventyfive cents for home consuniption, end sixty-five for exportation, which extortionete prices the . miners will be compelled to pay so long es the monopoly cen be kept up, or until other productive mines cau he found. . Wet Surrriea—Dodge & Bro’s quartz mills, at Bear Valley, Maripose county, have just heen supplied with the ninth conceatrator, af the Hendy’e improved pattern. The Ophir Mining Co. have also placed an additionel con~ centrator in their mill, near Newcastle, Placer I connty. There ere now a Inrge number of these conceatrators in operation in various patts of the Stete, which, we are told, are giving universel satisfaction. Mr. Heudy re~ ecived a pntent for his improvement on the Lith of May lest. ' a ACKNOWLENGEMENT.— We are uuder personal obligations to Dr. R. Cochran, of Downieville, for favors extended this office. We ere assured he is aa iateltigeat enthusiest in scieuee.

344 Ghe Mining and Srientitic Brees, Mining and Scientific Press. W. B. EWER,..ccccscelecucseneeenereer tenes SEnroR Emrror. Oo. W. M, SMITH. W. B. EWER. 4. T. DEWEY. DEWEY & CO., Publishers. Orrice—No. 505 Clay street, corner of Sansome, 2d floor. ‘Terms of Subscription: E er annum, in advatice,. $6 00 One ye He months, in a vance.. . 300 ‘Rar For sale by Carrlera and Netsdealers. Ga ee merican and Forelgn Patents,—Letters Patent fotinventors can be secured in the United States and forelen countries through the Minixa ann Acizntiric Parss Patent Agency. We offer applicants reasonable terms, and they can rest assured of a strict compliance with our UES and a faithful Per oumenee of allcontracts. For reference, we wlil furnish the names of numerous parties for whom we have obtalned patents during the past two years. ene, San Francisco: Saturday Morning, June 2, 1866. Progress or THE MineraL Lanp Sate Question 1n WasHinoTon.—Neither the House nor Senate Committees of Congress heve es yet mede enyteport apoa the hills now before ‘Congress for the sele of the minerel lands. It is thonght thet the Senete Committee may possibly report favorably oo Mr. Sherman’s bill, as ths hill is said to be receivsd in a favnrable light hy the Chairman of that Committee. The Honse Committee are a unit in their oppositioa to hoth Shermeo’s and Julien’s hills, and helieve thet any further legislation hy Congress in reference. to the mines is annecessary, further thea giving titles to those in pussession and who may hereafter acquire e possessory title. They know that the mines are aow productive to the Government, and are es setisfied thet eay legisletive enectments teading to hemper the mines wiil only kill the goose thet lays the goldea egg. Jt hes been suggested that when Congress edjourns, sole of those members who are so desirous of meddling in mining matters shall hs sent to the mining regions to try diggings for a while, to give them some edeqiate idee, if aot experience, of whut mineg and mining ere when viewed from a dif ferent stand-poixt then the Hell of the House of Repreeentetives at Weshiogton. A “ Biux.’—There is a paper published in San Francisen called the Minine ann Scientiric Press, which professes to give ell the mining news of the Pacific coest. We heve carefully senrched through thot eheet for the past month, and failed to see one item in regard to the miaes of Oregon or Ideho; while columne ere devoted to the “ played out” diggiags of California, Reese River, etc. Tbe toincrs to this sectioa should set that eheet down asa “hilk”.—JMountaineer, Dalles, Oregon. We deny the ‘soft impeechment.” The miners of that “section” will edopt no such recommendation, unless—contrery to the usnel charecteristics of their class—they should unfortuoetely be possessed of as insigaificant, coaceitcd and selfish minds as the one illustreted hy the above paregraph, which heils from an Oregon sanctum. By examining the past nuaihers of the Press, they will find hoth Oregoa and Idaho represented in our mining summary, together with “ Californin, Reese River, ete.,” and other sectioas (ontside of the Dalles) which the generality of miners have the good sehse and geaerosity to admit ere aot yet quite “played out.” The world has aot yet efforded a single weekly peper large enough to “give ail the mining news of the Pecific coest.” ANTIMONIAL OrE.—Mr. Screnton, of Gold Rua, Plecer county, hes -eent usa sample of eatimony, melted by himself from the ore. The ore occurs in a large mess, rather thon in a veia or lode, in Humholdt Valley, Neveda. It contains a large emonnt of sulphur, and when heated by a small quentity of wood holds its heet aad buras fora long time. A location wes made by Mr. Seronton, ia 1865; hut he wes subsequently driven off hy Iudiens. He will suon return and perfect his title. New Avorr Hanpue.—Mr. EB. 1. Berlow hee chown asa new auger hendle, arranged with a combiaatioa catch or spriug clasp, for holding the bit or auger in its place, end allowjag it to be readily edjusted. It appears to be a very coaveaieat article for those who have much use for these implemeats. MINING OPERATIONS NEAR MAZATLAN. : We are indebted to Mr. W. A. King for some very valuahle informetion with regard to miniag operatioas in the neighhorhood of Mazetlan, Mexico. Tbese mines are located ahout sixty milcs inland from the city, end nenr the hase of the Sierra Madre. They are in what is known as the Concordia mining district, emhracing a tract of ebout fifly miles square. We are furnished with the following particulars with regard to a few of the priocipal miaes : The Cassandra is an old Mexican mine, but was never worked much. It was forfeited hy its original locators end suhsequeotly denounced by the present owners, Messrs. Burtis of this city, aod Mr. Wolfskill of Los Aageles, aow superinteadent of the Alacrans M. Co. There is no machinery as yet upon the mine. The Alacrans is alsoan old miae, bat has aow beea opened io a néw place by its present owners. It has a very fine plaat of machivery, huilt at a cost of about $125,000 and had jast heen started up when our informaot left. The compaay is iacorporated in this city—Mr. L. L. Robinson, president. The Arco is oae of the most celehreted mines of the district. The Arco company, incorporated in Stockton, has threeseveral aiges, tho Arco, the Napoleoa ead the Concepcion. ‘The first has hesa worked by the Spaniards toadepth of ahout 300 feet. The present company erected a mill three years since, and have worked rock chiefly from the Napoleon aad Concepcioa. ‘lhey were compelled to suspend operations ahout a yeer since oa account of the war; but are aow ahout to resume work again. They will not do much, however, until the conditioa of the country hecomes more settled. The mine is uader the superintendence of Mr.~C. ©. Cnstle. The Napoleoa is virtually a new mine, and has heen opened hy a tnanel 200 feet long, opening the mine 300 feet deep. The lode is five feet wide, and easily worked without hlastiag. It is located one end a half miles from the mill. ‘The Concepcion has been worked some hy Mexicens, and is seid to have paid as high as $100 to the ton. The new compeny have not yct done much about opening the mine. : The New York Company have their ageats cow et work making ective prcperntioas to build a mill upon the Guadaloupe ond Seciamento mines. The Trinded Compauy have en old mine, which hes heeu worked very extensively, ond directly under the city of Copala; have machinery erected on the Parico mine five miles distant. The company suspended work some six months since, on account of the war; but will resume operations again sooa. All the mines mentioned are loceted within atrect of five miles square, aud they nore the first mines reached frum, Mazatlan. There is no other Americen mechinery ia the district, except whet we have meationed. There ere quite a number of other mines, however worked hy Meszicans, aud a few held hy Americans nad other foreigners. There:are also humerous miaes, some not yet loceted, farther up the flank of the Sierra Madre. ‘here is n good wegon road from Mazetlen, forty miles to Sebestien; from that place to the mines— twenty miles—nearly everything is packed on mules; although there was once a passable wagon-road, now aseless by neglect and the effect of the rains. Americaas have no trouble in passiag hack end forth from the sea coaet whea attending to their private husiness, Passes to all such are readily graated through hoth Mexicon ond French military lines. As s00a as the civil affairs of tle country hecome settled, it is thought that this mining district will hegin to nssuine coasiderahle iaxportence. <=_ Takino THE ScHoot Census.—Persons are uow engaged in taking the School census in this city, for the purpose of learning tho exact aamber of childrea ia the city entitled to Puhlic: School privileges. ‘ Gooa Yiera.—Brown’s cemeat mill at You

Bot, receatly turaed out $5,642 from 264 hours’ run—withia a fraction of $22 per hour. “KEROSENE O1L EXPLOSIONS. Three deaths were recently occesioned ia Lowell, Massachusetts, hy the explosioa of kerosene lamps. Such accidents ere of more frequent occurrence than is geuerally supposed, end so frequent as to render it highly important that some meesures should he taken to guard the public from such denger. Good kerosene will not explode; the explosion of this oil is occasioned hy its heiag mixed with a certain quantity of henzine. Benzine may he either mixed with kerosene efter its manufacture, or it may be mixed in the process of distillation, or rather not perfectly separated from it as it should be. Bsnziae is e much cheaper fluid than kerosene ; hence its use in increasing the halk of the oil. This dangerous mixture grows out of the cupidity of the mannfacturer, who seeks to palm off upon the puhlio a cheeper commodity thao that which he professes to sell. Every manufectursr has the meens at hand to test the character of his oil, and if he sells kerosene intermixed with beaziae he knows it, and does so with the view of gain, at the injminent risk of the lives aad property of the public. Minerel oils uscd for illumiaating purposes, are usually tested hy either measuring their iaflammahility by actual tests, which may be readily made; or by determining the density, which may he still 1aore easily doae, by instruments which are or should be in the hands of every manufacturer aud dealer. Explosions occor in this wise: When the oil is heated heyond a certaia degree, which is often reached io lamps of ordinery construction, hy the flame ot the lamp heating the oil within the lamp itself, benzine is readily converled into e vepor, which, when mixed with atmospheric air, explodes with much violence, preciscly like the ordinary illuminating ges. Hence it follows that if any considernhle quaotity_of henzine is mixed with the oil, it will he converted iato vepor, and may find its way out through the veot-holes in the top of the lamp, and he ignited by tho hlaze. Explosions, however, most frequently occur from removing the top of a lamp which has hecome heated from long continued burning ; in which case, if poor oil has heen used, tho entire interior of the lamp is filled with the vapor of heozine, which coming in contact with a harning lamp thot is usually placed oeer by to ohtein the light aecessery for filling, etc., is enddeoly exploded, often with fatel effect, and always ntteaded with danger. There is no excuse whetever, bat cupidity, for palmiog off these dangerous compounds npon the public ; but io the ehsence of severe peoal enectiuents to guard against euch practices, it may he well to give a -eimple test, always withiu the reach of every ove, which, although it iney not he scieatifically and strictly . uccurate ia results, will aevertheless be sufficiently so to afford u feir degree of protection from the criminal everice of those who value a few dollars added to their store more than ‘. the lives and property of their neighhors. The following sefety test will answer all prnetical purposes : Fill a tumbler three-fourths full of moderately warm water, and then ponr one-half tablespoonful of oil upon it end stir it together ; if there is any coasiderable quantity of henzine ia the oil, the warmth of the water will vause it to rise in vapor; now hold a lighted metch over it, and if the vapor tekes fire hefore the flame coines in contact with the oil, sead the oil back, as it ought not to be used. Good oil will not thus ‘ignite, aud will not burn even when no lighted watch is thrown into it; but most of the edulturated oil will burn freely. Tas Govorre Co., near Red Dog, receatly eterted their new cement mill, which is run by a 24-foot water wheel, driven by water from a 137-inch nozzle, with 140 feet of fall. This wheel drives eight stamps of 860 pounds each, at arete of from sixty to sixty-five drops a miaute. Some very extensive hydraulic diggiags are connected with this claim. A large amouut of work has beea done upoa it, aad the claim is considered a very valunhlo one. The owuers are A. Tucker, EH. Caruey, P. Goodspecd, aud J. LH. Fuller. AwnotuerR Cement Mitu.—Mr. Thomas MeAuley is uow engaged in puttiag up a mill for . crushing cemeot upon the Green Monatain claim of Sargent & Jacohs, about five miles north of Red Dog. The mill will consist of ten stemps, with hoistiog aad pumping works, to be driven hy a hurdy-gurdy weter wheel. The whole will he completed aad ruoning by the 1st of Jaly. This claim is the most aortherly of the five or six miles in length of the series of Blue Lead claims passing through You Bet, Red Dog and Gougeye. The famous — claim of Neecs & West is at ths sonthern ex. . tremity of the series ; while that of Sargent & Jacohs’ is at the point where this lead hug heen traced farthest north. Beyond that point the gravel range is crossed by Deer creek ; hut © the hed-rock lies so deep that the precise locality of the Blue Leed cannot he readily es. certeined. South of Neece & West the leed — crosses Steep Hollow creek, to Little York, . end thence across Bear river to Dutch Flat, pessing still farther south across the Americen to Forest Hill, ete. The generel raage of gravel is two or three miles ia width; hut ths Glue Lead proper, which occupies the lowest depression in this gravel range, is oaly from 75 to 150 feet in width. The difficulty of findiog this nerrow lead is, of course, very great, except where the revines have cat down throngh the gravel, so as to enahle the prospector to very readily approximate to the lowest poiot thereof, where he is sure to fiad the — ohject of his, search. he gravel from the Blne Lead is generally crushed in stemp-mills, while the balance of the deposit is worked hy the hydraulic process. ee “Se ee eee ee ee ee Cazpaor Sticx.—The latest California noyelty was exhibited to us this week, hy Mr. A. K. Beaton, io the shape of a hendsoms ivoryhended cane, the staff of which wes mnaufactured from a.cahbage stelk of 18 months? growth. This welking stick eppeers to he as sonnd and hard ns hickory. It is fiaished simply with a coat of varnish, end would easily he taken forsome rare specimen of real wood. While the plant was growing aeer Mr. Benton's mining cahin, et Gold Ran,Placer county, he wrought the initinls of his name aad date hy cutting slits in the stalk, which oow appear like reised letters and figures. The mild California climete permite this plant to grow perpetually from year tu year, and we hear of ea everereen cehbage shrah in Los Angeles which is now over eight yeara ofage. A lawycr at Mokelamne Hill has a cahhage tree in hie gerden from which he gathers several heads naouelly. ee ae ee, ee eee ee ‘ . Quicxstrver Monopoty.—Ia addition to the : monopolies which heve long existed in this . State, we have now a “ quicksilver monopoly,” hy which that indispensable article for carrying . on our mining operations hes recently been advanced fully tweaty-five per cent. It nppears that e combinetion of capitalists io this city have managed to correl theentire quicksilver interest of the coast, including New Almaden, New Idria, the Cleer Lake and Guadaloupe mines. As soon as this nrrengemeat wes consummated they advanced the rates to seventyfive cents for home consuniption, end sixty-five for exportation, which extortionete prices the . miners will be compelled to pay so long es the monopoly cen be kept up, or until other productive mines cau he found. . Wet Surrriea—Dodge & Bro’s quartz mills, at Bear Valley, Maripose county, have just heen supplied with the ninth conceatrator, af the Hendy’e improved pattern. The Ophir Mining Co. have also placed an additionel con~ centrator in their mill, near Newcastle, Placer I connty. There ere now a Inrge number of these conceatrators in operation in various patts of the Stete, which, we are told, are giving universel satisfaction. Mr. Heudy re~ ecived a pntent for his improvement on the Lith of May lest. ' a ACKNOWLENGEMENT.— We are uuder personal obligations to Dr. R. Cochran, of Downieville, for favors extended this office. We ere assured he is aa iateltigeat enthusiest in scieuee.