Volume 12 (1866) (428 pages)

408 The Wining awh Scientific Dress, Mining and Scientific Press. Whee WIE ena nceneemerery sence tess a SenioR Epiror, G. W. M. SNITH. W. B. EWER. A. T, DEWEY. DEWEY & CO., Publishers. Drricz—No. 605 Clay street, corner of Sansome, 2d floor. Terman of Subscription: os $5 00 --. 300 ot t is Impossible for editors to know aut the merits and demerits of their correspondence, consequently the reader must not reeelve the bplnione of our contributors a3 ourown. Intelligent discussion !s invited upon all sides and the evidenee of any error whieh may appear wlll be re ceived in friendship and treated with respect, One copy, per annum, jn advance, One copy, six months, in advance, Kegm For sale by Carriers and News San Evancisco: Saturday Morning, June 30, 1866. Commence with the New Volume. Next week commences Volume Thirteen of the Minino anp Screntiric Press. We intend to make it hetter than any of its predecessors. Suhscrihe at once, and thus assist usin the undertaking. A Loss ro tae Screntirre, Wortn. — The Academy of Science, at Chicago, was hurned on the 19th instant, and about one-half its valuable collection destroyed. The loss hy this fire will he seriously felt by the scientific world. ‘This institution had heen some ten years making its collection in natural hietory, mineralogy, etc., and had hrought it to a point which placed it in rank only second to that of the Smithsonian Institute at Wushington. The museum contained specimens gathered from every part of the known world, some of which cannot readily be replaced. By reference to our Inst week’s issue, it will he ohserved that the California Academy of Natnral Sciences have adopted a series ef resolutions, sympathizing with the friends of science in our eister city in their late loss. Tae Mecuantcs’ InstiruTe.—Tbe contract for the new huilding of this association has been awarded to Jnmes J. Doyle, who is to have the same entirely finiehed and upholstered on the 2d day of December next, for the sum of $42,000. The epecification papers were drawn hy the architect, Wm. Patton. ‘We helieve the huilding is to be three stories in hight, 75 feet front on Post street, the west line running 107 feet deep towards Market street, and the east line 83 feet. . The old huildinge of the Institute, on California street, have been sold to the proprietors of the Alla California, for the sum of $25,500. hey will remove their library ina few days to No. 636 Market street, hetween Montgomery and Kearney streets, where the husiness of the Institute will he transacted until the new huilding is completed. Puantom Pxotooraras.—Messre. Bradley & Rulofson, photographers of this city, have eucceeded in perfectiog phantom photographs, a very pleasing invention lately introduced at the Hast for parlor amusement. This new philoeophic toy has hecome very popular, and will doubtless soon be genernlly introduced into this city. The familiar experiments of the lahoratory have, at the present time,a great tendency to hecome the magic amusements of the drawing room; nnd perhaps no prettier illusion than the phantom photograph has yet heen devised. Frvuin ror Loosening Borer Scare.—MeKee’s Boiler Fluid, for loosening the scnle from boilers, is now heing introduced for use in this State. This material operates botb as a preventive against the forming of “ scale,” and as a medium for removing it when it has formed. Great excellence and much euperiority ie claimed for it. It is alse claimed that where scale has already formed, it will become loosened, so as to be easily removed in the space of two or three weeks. ‘Testimonials with regard to its efficacy, and full iustructions for using it, may be obtained on application to Capt. C. H. Harrisou, 517 Front street, sole agent for California. Tse Inpex to volume XII appears to-day, necessarily to the exclusion of more unimportant and loss expensive readiug matter. KAOLIN, AND OTHER FIRE OLAYS. We last week noticed the fact of having received some samples of kaolin from Mr. A. D. Brown, of Virginia City. These samples were prepared from a deposit, recently discovered by Mr. Brown, ahout three miles distant from that city, and which is said to be seven feet in thickness. W. J’. Rickard, an assayer of Virginia City, says he finds, after a careful examination of the mineral, that with a proper admixture of eilica it produces a fire brick of a most refractory character, equal, so far as tried, to the hest Stowhridge article imported froin England, and now selling in Virginia City at sixty cents each. Mr. Rickard also states that when made into crucibles it resiste the action of fire, nnd fluxes ns well as the French crucibles, worth now in that city from 20 to 30 cents each. He furthermore expresses the opinion that with the cheapness with which it can be prepared for the market, it can be profitably made into pottery, aud used for other purposes in the arts. Mr. Brown informs us that he shall soon commence the manufacture of fire hrick. We have little doubt from the samples sent, and the result of Mr. Rickard’s investigations, that this discovery will prove of much value for the manufacture of fire hrick and common articles of pottery, in that vicinity, 00 account of the great coet of freight over the mountains; hut for any other purpose, the high price of labor and the limited demand for the products, will hardly allow of the manufacture being made profitable. We tegret tbat our correspondent did not send us 2 emal] sample of the article io its crude state, so that we could have compared it with the kaolin frgm Souoma Valley. We infer from Mr. Rickard’s certificate that he is obliged to add his silica to the crude knolio, in order to obtain his silicate. The deposit at Sonoma contains quite as large a percentage of silica as is required for the manufacture of either fire brick or crucibles, and, to ail appearances, (we nre not aware that it has ever been subjected to analysis), is equal to anything which cnn he found in any part of the world. We have a eample in our cabinet which, iu its natural state, judging from the eye alone, is superior to the prepared article sent us from Woshoe, and we understand it occurs in inexhaustible quantities, within a few miles of steam navigation with this city. It is @ matter of no little surprise that some enterprising capitalists have not ere this endeavored to turn it to some profitahle account. All clays, as they occur in nature, are essentially hydrated silicates of alumina. Their value as fire clays, in the manufacture of pottery, crucibles, fire hrick, ete., depends upon their elementary composition, which is always extremely variable. In tbe same location, often in the same pit and the same specimen, even, great variations are found. In the sample referred to from Sonoma, one portion is as soft ns chalk, while another is quite hard and unyielding; accordingly the formule which have heen employed to express the constitntion of fire clays are qnite discordant. We give several examples : The clay used for crucihles in which cast eteel is melted at St. Etienne, contnins 58.75 silica; 25.10 alumina; 2.51 magnesia; 2.50 sesquioxide of iron; 11.05 water ; with traces of lime. The Stowhridge clay, used for crucibles, 63.30 Si.; 23.30 Al.; 1.80 iron; 10.30 water, with traces of lime. The finest China clay or kaolin in Europe is found in Cornwall, an analysis of which is given as follows: 46.32 Si.; 39.84 Al.; .36 lime; .44 manganese ; .27 water of combination ; 12.08 hygroscopic water. The plasticity of clays depends upon their water of combination ; when they have once parted with that they can be no longer molded into vessels. All clays contain also hygroscopie water, which they part with at 100° centigrade, and the loss of which does not affect their plasticity. If we take a piece of clay and dry it in the sun or juan oven heated to 100° centigrade, until it has lost all its hygroscopic water (that which it is capable of ahsorbing from the atmosphere), and then pound it up, we can, by applying more water, again mold it; hut if we heat it to redness, we thereby drive off its water of comhination, and it cannot again be made plastic. It will ahsorh water, but not the least degree of plasticity will appear. Pounded brick, or pottery, for instance, can never be molded. In the manufacture of crucihles, a portion of the material used must he burned clay, or old crucibles, pounded up. This material, mixed with about two-thirds ite bulk of raw or unhuroed clay, is rendered snfliciently plastic for the purpose. The presence of n portion of unhurned clay is required to prevent them from cracking when expused to the high . heat of the furnace. The presence of iron pyrites is a fatal objection to the use of any clay for crucibles. ‘lhe pyrites are rendily decomposed by the gases in the furnace, leaving the crucibles porous, and of course useless. The quality of a fire clay in reference to its fitness for crucibles or fire brick, may he quite satisfactorily tested hy thoroughly kneading a small quantity and molding it into such a shape as will present sharp edges. pieces, when thoroughly dry, should be inclosed ju a covered crucible and submitted to a high heat in a hlast furnace. If the edges continue sharp and unchanged, the material may be considered good ; but if they are much rounded, that may he looked upou as an evidence of incipicnt fusion ; if they are melted, the clay is, of course, worthless. With a little practice, experiments in this manner may be mnde very sntisfactory and reliahle. Never build a furnace of untried material. The non-observance of this simple precaution has cost thousands of dollars in California. Scirnurers in Graver Dioomnes.—A paragraph is going the rounds of the press to the effect that 2 wonderful amount of gold is being ruo off iu the “sulphurets” from the cemeot diggings ahout You Bet, Little York, and other places. The paragraph assumes that enough gold can he ohtained from this source to pay for the working of the mines ond mills, thus . making what are now the gross proceeds of the mines a clear gain to the owners. It is furthermore said that offcrs of from $50 to $100 per day hnve been made for these eulphurets. We chanced to be a traveling companion of “the gentleman from San Francisco,” who “visited the mines and mills,” and who, after causing some experiments to be undertaken, ig supposed to bave made euch tiberal offers, We have very good reaeon for helieving that he never did any such foolish thing, and never dreamed from his experiments that the mills can he made to pay expenses from the sulphurets which can he saved. That some free gold ie lost hy imperfect eaving apparntus, and a considerahle carried away in the sulphurets, is undoubtedly true ; hut that there is anything like the loss ahove described is utter nonsense. If our cotemporaries will write $20 instead of $100, they will he much nearer the mark. Excetstor Srock anp ExcHanoz Boarp.— This Board, for the sale and purchase of mining stocks in Excelsior District, Meadow Lake, was organized May lst, 1866, with twenty-five . chnrter memhers. A. C. Wightman, Esq., was elected President, nnd F. F. Patterson, Vice President. On their list of stocks appear 215 companies, all located within the district. They have a large, fine hall, 36 by 52 feet, fitted up in haudsome style, with all necessary furniture. The doors are open to,the public, and on every night of meetiog the hall is crowded with spectators, noxious to witness the progress of sales." At present sales ure dull, but few of the etocks heing in demand. ‘The California Mill and Mine is tbe most steady, selling from $90 to $105 per ehare. If the developments of the summer are favorable, the Board will have lively times, as they represent most every mine in the district. Ww. Howew’s Steam Borwer.—In our illustrated description of tbis hoiler given in the issue of May 19,1866, we uniotentionally omitted to give the address of the inventor, which omission is here supplied ; “ D. C. Howell, Goshen, N. H.” These . CONTRIBUTED FOR OUR CABINET, Under this heading wo shall eontInue to mention and describe, according to merit, such speelmens of ores, minerals, fossils, curiosities, ete., as may be presented, or forwarded to us by mall or express, prepaid. Each artleta wpa ragmbered and pinged in ate eapice und reeorded name of the donor, an from whenee it eame. 4 ae ame ED Mz.W. R. Garracuer,' Superintendent of the Crockett mine, near Aurora, sends us a floe specimen of ore from that lode. ‘The ore shows considerable free gold; but of a very low grade on account of the presence ofa large percentage of silver. It is also rich in sulphurets, and of a dark gray color from their partial decomposition. Dr. Lanszweert, of this city, has algo sent us a fine specimen of Kaolin from Sonoma, in this State. The deposit trom which this waa taken is practically inexhaustible, and the quality of the article’ very superior. It is as white and clear as the finest plaster of Paris. This deposit, as well ns that at Virginia City, is elsewhere noticed at length, in our columns of to-day. Banix Inrormep.—Mr. Gladstone, in his late annual financial statement, made on the 3d of May last to the British Parliament, made the following reference to the coal product of the United States, as reported in the English pnpers : _ “ There is another country not ouly as rich in inineral wealth as ourselves, but with a coal surface thirty-seven times sreater than the coal surface of thie country. I allude to the United States of America, and though most of the coal there contains so large an amount of anthracite that it is not fit for eteam or for smelting purposes, yet to domestic purposes it is capahle of being adapted.” It is surprisingly singular that a man of Mr. Gladstone’s position in the world, should exhibit such an utter ignorance ona matter o such general notoriety and ioyportance as the coal product of the United States. It is surprising in the first place that he should be ignorant of the fact that the very hest coal in the world for makingsteam or produciug iron —the two chief uses for coal—is anthracite ; and in the secoud place it is still more surprising that he should exhibit such utter ignorance of the character of the vast coal deposit of the United States, as to suppose that our product was chiefly anthmeite; when the fact is that out of the 146,000 square miles ofour estimnted vonl area, we have only forty-seven square miles of anthracite heds. So far as “ aothracite” being an ohjection, it is that very quality which places American coal so far nhead of English, for making iron and steam. If Mr. Gladstone will consult any English ironmnster on the subject, he will never make such a mietako again. A New Rar Trap is on exhibition at the What Cheer Honse, in this city, the invention of Mr. A. A. Fradenhurg of Nevndn. It is called a “ Self-Setting Coercive Trap.” It is set hy winding upa spring. This spring half turns a door every time a rat nihhles at the hait, and “coerces” the victimized rodent into a box from which there is-no escape. The trap is theo again set and ready for the next victim. It is a very ingenious device, ex: tremely simple, and to all appearances, most effective in its operation. Catirornta Marea Factory.—Thie factory is located near the end of the Long Bridge, Potrero, and is driven hy steam. W.D. Reed is superintendent. It is now manufacturing matches similar to the celehrated German matches, which hurn quickly, give a good hright light, and have no smell. The general husiness, however, of this establishment is the manufacture of block matches. Trrav Trip or tus “S. M. Warerin.’—The opposition steamer S. M. Whipple was receiving her finishing touches yesterday, and takes her trial trip to-day. She steamed ont to the “ Point” last evening, her machinery working like a charm. ‘ Perroteum Lanns.—The telegraph informs us that upon representation of Mr. Bidwell the Secretary of the Juterior has revoked the order withdrawing from market the petrolenm lands of California.

408 The Wining awh Scientific Dress, Mining and Scientific Press. Whee WIE ena nceneemerery sence tess a SenioR Epiror, G. W. M. SNITH. W. B. EWER. A. T, DEWEY. DEWEY & CO., Publishers. Drricz—No. 605 Clay street, corner of Sansome, 2d floor. Terman of Subscription: os $5 00 --. 300 ot t is Impossible for editors to know aut the merits and demerits of their correspondence, consequently the reader must not reeelve the bplnione of our contributors a3 ourown. Intelligent discussion !s invited upon all sides and the evidenee of any error whieh may appear wlll be re ceived in friendship and treated with respect, One copy, per annum, jn advance, One copy, six months, in advance, Kegm For sale by Carriers and News San Evancisco: Saturday Morning, June 30, 1866. Commence with the New Volume. Next week commences Volume Thirteen of the Minino anp Screntiric Press. We intend to make it hetter than any of its predecessors. Suhscrihe at once, and thus assist usin the undertaking. A Loss ro tae Screntirre, Wortn. — The Academy of Science, at Chicago, was hurned on the 19th instant, and about one-half its valuable collection destroyed. The loss hy this fire will he seriously felt by the scientific world. ‘This institution had heen some ten years making its collection in natural hietory, mineralogy, etc., and had hrought it to a point which placed it in rank only second to that of the Smithsonian Institute at Wushington. The museum contained specimens gathered from every part of the known world, some of which cannot readily be replaced. By reference to our Inst week’s issue, it will he ohserved that the California Academy of Natnral Sciences have adopted a series ef resolutions, sympathizing with the friends of science in our eister city in their late loss. Tae Mecuantcs’ InstiruTe.—Tbe contract for the new huilding of this association has been awarded to Jnmes J. Doyle, who is to have the same entirely finiehed and upholstered on the 2d day of December next, for the sum of $42,000. The epecification papers were drawn hy the architect, Wm. Patton. ‘We helieve the huilding is to be three stories in hight, 75 feet front on Post street, the west line running 107 feet deep towards Market street, and the east line 83 feet. . The old huildinge of the Institute, on California street, have been sold to the proprietors of the Alla California, for the sum of $25,500. hey will remove their library ina few days to No. 636 Market street, hetween Montgomery and Kearney streets, where the husiness of the Institute will he transacted until the new huilding is completed. Puantom Pxotooraras.—Messre. Bradley & Rulofson, photographers of this city, have eucceeded in perfectiog phantom photographs, a very pleasing invention lately introduced at the Hast for parlor amusement. This new philoeophic toy has hecome very popular, and will doubtless soon be genernlly introduced into this city. The familiar experiments of the lahoratory have, at the present time,a great tendency to hecome the magic amusements of the drawing room; nnd perhaps no prettier illusion than the phantom photograph has yet heen devised. Frvuin ror Loosening Borer Scare.—MeKee’s Boiler Fluid, for loosening the scnle from boilers, is now heing introduced for use in this State. This material operates botb as a preventive against the forming of “ scale,” and as a medium for removing it when it has formed. Great excellence and much euperiority ie claimed for it. It is alse claimed that where scale has already formed, it will become loosened, so as to be easily removed in the space of two or three weeks. ‘Testimonials with regard to its efficacy, and full iustructions for using it, may be obtained on application to Capt. C. H. Harrisou, 517 Front street, sole agent for California. Tse Inpex to volume XII appears to-day, necessarily to the exclusion of more unimportant and loss expensive readiug matter. KAOLIN, AND OTHER FIRE OLAYS. We last week noticed the fact of having received some samples of kaolin from Mr. A. D. Brown, of Virginia City. These samples were prepared from a deposit, recently discovered by Mr. Brown, ahout three miles distant from that city, and which is said to be seven feet in thickness. W. J’. Rickard, an assayer of Virginia City, says he finds, after a careful examination of the mineral, that with a proper admixture of eilica it produces a fire brick of a most refractory character, equal, so far as tried, to the hest Stowhridge article imported froin England, and now selling in Virginia City at sixty cents each. Mr. Rickard also states that when made into crucibles it resiste the action of fire, nnd fluxes ns well as the French crucibles, worth now in that city from 20 to 30 cents each. He furthermore expresses the opinion that with the cheapness with which it can be prepared for the market, it can be profitably made into pottery, aud used for other purposes in the arts. Mr. Brown informs us that he shall soon commence the manufacture of fire hrick. We have little doubt from the samples sent, and the result of Mr. Rickard’s investigations, that this discovery will prove of much value for the manufacture of fire hrick and common articles of pottery, in that vicinity, 00 account of the great coet of freight over the mountains; hut for any other purpose, the high price of labor and the limited demand for the products, will hardly allow of the manufacture being made profitable. We tegret tbat our correspondent did not send us 2 emal] sample of the article io its crude state, so that we could have compared it with the kaolin frgm Souoma Valley. We infer from Mr. Rickard’s certificate that he is obliged to add his silica to the crude knolio, in order to obtain his silicate. The deposit at Sonoma contains quite as large a percentage of silica as is required for the manufacture of either fire brick or crucibles, and, to ail appearances, (we nre not aware that it has ever been subjected to analysis), is equal to anything which cnn he found in any part of the world. We have a eample in our cabinet which, iu its natural state, judging from the eye alone, is superior to the prepared article sent us from Woshoe, and we understand it occurs in inexhaustible quantities, within a few miles of steam navigation with this city. It is @ matter of no little surprise that some enterprising capitalists have not ere this endeavored to turn it to some profitahle account. All clays, as they occur in nature, are essentially hydrated silicates of alumina. Their value as fire clays, in the manufacture of pottery, crucibles, fire hrick, ete., depends upon their elementary composition, which is always extremely variable. In tbe same location, often in the same pit and the same specimen, even, great variations are found. In the sample referred to from Sonoma, one portion is as soft ns chalk, while another is quite hard and unyielding; accordingly the formule which have heen employed to express the constitntion of fire clays are qnite discordant. We give several examples : The clay used for crucihles in which cast eteel is melted at St. Etienne, contnins 58.75 silica; 25.10 alumina; 2.51 magnesia; 2.50 sesquioxide of iron; 11.05 water ; with traces of lime. The Stowhridge clay, used for crucibles, 63.30 Si.; 23.30 Al.; 1.80 iron; 10.30 water, with traces of lime. The finest China clay or kaolin in Europe is found in Cornwall, an analysis of which is given as follows: 46.32 Si.; 39.84 Al.; .36 lime; .44 manganese ; .27 water of combination ; 12.08 hygroscopic water. The plasticity of clays depends upon their water of combination ; when they have once parted with that they can be no longer molded into vessels. All clays contain also hygroscopie water, which they part with at 100° centigrade, and the loss of which does not affect their plasticity. If we take a piece of clay and dry it in the sun or juan

oven heated to 100° centigrade, until it has lost all its hygroscopic water (that which it is capable of ahsorbing from the atmosphere), and then pound it up, we can, by applying more water, again mold it; hut if we heat it to redness, we thereby drive off its water of comhination, and it cannot again be made plastic. It will ahsorh water, but not the least degree of plasticity will appear. Pounded brick, or pottery, for instance, can never be molded. In the manufacture of crucihles, a portion of the material used must he burned clay, or old crucibles, pounded up. This material, mixed with about two-thirds ite bulk of raw or unhuroed clay, is rendered snfliciently plastic for the purpose. The presence of n portion of unhurned clay is required to prevent them from cracking when expused to the high . heat of the furnace. The presence of iron pyrites is a fatal objection to the use of any clay for crucibles. ‘lhe pyrites are rendily decomposed by the gases in the furnace, leaving the crucibles porous, and of course useless. The quality of a fire clay in reference to its fitness for crucibles or fire brick, may he quite satisfactorily tested hy thoroughly kneading a small quantity and molding it into such a shape as will present sharp edges. pieces, when thoroughly dry, should be inclosed ju a covered crucible and submitted to a high heat in a hlast furnace. If the edges continue sharp and unchanged, the material may be considered good ; but if they are much rounded, that may he looked upou as an evidence of incipicnt fusion ; if they are melted, the clay is, of course, worthless. With a little practice, experiments in this manner may be mnde very sntisfactory and reliahle. Never build a furnace of untried material. The non-observance of this simple precaution has cost thousands of dollars in California. Scirnurers in Graver Dioomnes.—A paragraph is going the rounds of the press to the effect that 2 wonderful amount of gold is being ruo off iu the “sulphurets” from the cemeot diggings ahout You Bet, Little York, and other places. The paragraph assumes that enough gold can he ohtained from this source to pay for the working of the mines ond mills, thus . making what are now the gross proceeds of the mines a clear gain to the owners. It is furthermore said that offcrs of from $50 to $100 per day hnve been made for these eulphurets. We chanced to be a traveling companion of “the gentleman from San Francisco,” who “visited the mines and mills,” and who, after causing some experiments to be undertaken, ig supposed to bave made euch tiberal offers, We have very good reaeon for helieving that he never did any such foolish thing, and never dreamed from his experiments that the mills can he made to pay expenses from the sulphurets which can he saved. That some free gold ie lost hy imperfect eaving apparntus, and a considerahle carried away in the sulphurets, is undoubtedly true ; hut that there is anything like the loss ahove described is utter nonsense. If our cotemporaries will write $20 instead of $100, they will he much nearer the mark. Excetstor Srock anp ExcHanoz Boarp.— This Board, for the sale and purchase of mining stocks in Excelsior District, Meadow Lake, was organized May lst, 1866, with twenty-five . chnrter memhers. A. C. Wightman, Esq., was elected President, nnd F. F. Patterson, Vice President. On their list of stocks appear 215 companies, all located within the district. They have a large, fine hall, 36 by 52 feet, fitted up in haudsome style, with all necessary furniture. The doors are open to,the public, and on every night of meetiog the hall is crowded with spectators, noxious to witness the progress of sales." At present sales ure dull, but few of the etocks heing in demand. ‘The California Mill and Mine is tbe most steady, selling from $90 to $105 per ehare. If the developments of the summer are favorable, the Board will have lively times, as they represent most every mine in the district. Ww. Howew’s Steam Borwer.—In our illustrated description of tbis hoiler given in the issue of May 19,1866, we uniotentionally omitted to give the address of the inventor, which omission is here supplied ; “ D. C. Howell, Goshen, N. H.” These . CONTRIBUTED FOR OUR CABINET, Under this heading wo shall eontInue to mention and describe, according to merit, such speelmens of ores, minerals, fossils, curiosities, ete., as may be presented, or forwarded to us by mall or express, prepaid. Each artleta wpa ragmbered and pinged in ate eapice und reeorded name of the donor, an from whenee it eame. 4 ae ame ED Mz.W. R. Garracuer,' Superintendent of the Crockett mine, near Aurora, sends us a floe specimen of ore from that lode. ‘The ore shows considerable free gold; but of a very low grade on account of the presence ofa large percentage of silver. It is also rich in sulphurets, and of a dark gray color from their partial decomposition. Dr. Lanszweert, of this city, has algo sent us a fine specimen of Kaolin from Sonoma, in this State. The deposit trom which this waa taken is practically inexhaustible, and the quality of the article’ very superior. It is as white and clear as the finest plaster of Paris. This deposit, as well ns that at Virginia City, is elsewhere noticed at length, in our columns of to-day. Banix Inrormep.—Mr. Gladstone, in his late annual financial statement, made on the 3d of May last to the British Parliament, made the following reference to the coal product of the United States, as reported in the English pnpers : _ “ There is another country not ouly as rich in inineral wealth as ourselves, but with a coal surface thirty-seven times sreater than the coal surface of thie country. I allude to the United States of America, and though most of the coal there contains so large an amount of anthracite that it is not fit for eteam or for smelting purposes, yet to domestic purposes it is capahle of being adapted.” It is surprisingly singular that a man of Mr. Gladstone’s position in the world, should exhibit such an utter ignorance ona matter o such general notoriety and ioyportance as the coal product of the United States. It is surprising in the first place that he should be ignorant of the fact that the very hest coal in the world for makingsteam or produciug iron —the two chief uses for coal—is anthracite ; and in the secoud place it is still more surprising that he should exhibit such utter ignorance of the character of the vast coal deposit of the United States, as to suppose that our product was chiefly anthmeite; when the fact is that out of the 146,000 square miles ofour estimnted vonl area, we have only forty-seven square miles of anthracite heds. So far as “ aothracite” being an ohjection, it is that very quality which places American coal so far nhead of English, for making iron and steam. If Mr. Gladstone will consult any English ironmnster on the subject, he will never make such a mietako again. A New Rar Trap is on exhibition at the What Cheer Honse, in this city, the invention of Mr. A. A. Fradenhurg of Nevndn. It is called a “ Self-Setting Coercive Trap.” It is set hy winding upa spring. This spring half turns a door every time a rat nihhles at the hait, and “coerces” the victimized rodent into a box from which there is-no escape. The trap is theo again set and ready for the next victim. It is a very ingenious device, ex: tremely simple, and to all appearances, most effective in its operation. Catirornta Marea Factory.—Thie factory is located near the end of the Long Bridge, Potrero, and is driven hy steam. W.D. Reed is superintendent. It is now manufacturing matches similar to the celehrated German matches, which hurn quickly, give a good hright light, and have no smell. The general husiness, however, of this establishment is the manufacture of block matches. Trrav Trip or tus “S. M. Warerin.’—The opposition steamer S. M. Whipple was receiving her finishing touches yesterday, and takes her trial trip to-day. She steamed ont to the “ Point” last evening, her machinery working like a charm. ‘ Perroteum Lanns.—The telegraph informs us that upon representation of Mr. Bidwell the Secretary of the Juterior has revoked the order withdrawing from market the petrolenm lands of California.