Volume 12 (1866) (428 pages)

50 Ghe Hining patter wil Scientific Presa. GConmmaninations. In THis DerantNeNnT we invite the FREE Discussion of all roper subjecta—correspondents alone being responsible for he ideas and theories they advance. [Written for the Mining and Scientific Press.) BISULPHIDE OF OARBON. {BY DR. LANSZWEERT. Having lately been severely victimized by the use of this deleterious and very explosive compound, it may be proper for me to place the public on its guard against a careless use of tha sama; and having, moreover, noticed an advertisement in your journal that a gentleman of this city, offers to the public a new roasting furnace, by the use of which “all the sulphur [evolved in the process of roasting sulphurets] is saved; by being converted into hisalphide of carhov, which is a valuable product, and will pay nearly all expenses,” I have thought it might not ba out of place to give, through your columns, a few facts with regard to the manufacture, usa, and nature of this singular substanca. I think the geentleman above alluded to must be mistaken, both with regard to the real nature of tbe process of its manufacture, as well as in regard to its commercial value. He certainly canuot convert “ all the sulphur” contained in the sulphurets “ into biaulpbide of carbon;” neither is it possible for the bisulphide so produced to “ pay nearly all expenses,” at its present nominal value of about five ceuts per pound, at which price it is now offered to the trade. ‘The foilowing notes on tha mavufacture, apparatus used, rectification, properties and industrial application of this agent, may be ivteresting to your readers : Bisulphide of carbon was discovered in 1796 by Lampadiua, and is expressed by the formula CS?. For a long time this subject was known only as a laboratory product. Within the past fifteen years the process of its manufacture bas been very much improved, and many iudustrial applications have been devised for its use ; while to meet the increased demand, it is now prepared on a very large scale. In 1850, M. Macquart, of Bouu, prepared hisulphide of carbon in large quantities. In 1840, the kilogramme (over 2 pounds) was sold in Paris at from 50 to 60 franes (ten to twelve dollars) ; but in 1850, M. Deis aold it at 8 francs, and since 1856 he has manufactured 500 kilogrammes daily, aud now sells it at 50 centimes (9 cents) the kilosramme. Bisulphide of carbon can be produced by the direct combination of sulphur and carbon ata high temperature ; also by the decomposition of acertain number of organie compounds. In heating simply a mixture of sulphur and carhon, there isno combination, as the sulphur volatilizes before it has attained the temperature uccessary to tbe action; but when charcoal is heated to red heat, and the vapor of sulphur ia passed over this incandescent mass, the carbou burns iu this vapor, producing bisulphide of carbon. The earliest apparatus for the preparation of this compound consisted of a porcelain tube filled with fragmeuts of charcoal,and placed in an inclined position in the center of a laboratory furuace. The upper end of tbis tuba was closed by a stopper of clay and chalk, and the lower end was connected by a bended glass tube, with a beétle partly filled with watar. Whan the charcoal was made red hot, the stopper was taken out of the tube, and a piece. of sulphur inserted; the sulphur, so placed, melted and run into the tube, where it came in contact with the red coal, was volatilized and combined with it, producing bisulphide of carbon, which, in a state of vapor, is condensed upon the water, aud settles to the bottom by its specific gravity. This was the imperfect laboratory process employed for its early manufacture, which was ona small scale ouly. Aa already stated, this manufacture is now conducted on a very large scale, and the principle of tha apparatus used is always the same, viz., that sulphur in vapor is always passed through coke or charcoal brought to a bright red heat, then condeusing tbe vapors of bisulphide cf carbon as rapidly and completély as possibfe. The first improvement made for this preparation was the use of a large tubulated earthen retort to heat the coal. A tube of hard glass or porcelain was put through tha tubulatura of the retort, which was sn covstructed as to reach nearly to its bottom, for the introduction of aulphur. ‘The ueck of the retort was adapted to a condenser cooled with a stream of water, and communicating with a receiver, as already described. With this apparatus large quantitics were obtainable. ‘he various kiuds of apparatus now in use for the industrial manufacture of bisulphide of carboo ara actually coustructed according to the same principle, and differ only in the form of the retort, the way of introducing the sulphur, and the different combinations of the condenser. It is impossiblé, without drawings, to give av intelligible description of tbe details of these various kinda of apparatus; still I will endeavor to give one or two of their most characteristic details. M. Peroncel, who has introduced the manufacture of this substance on @ very large scale, heats the coke ina large cast-iron cylinder, 2 metres (about 3914 inches) high by 30 centimetres in diameter, placed vertically in the furnace. he tube for the introduction of sul-phur is near the bottom of this cylinder. The uppar part of the cylinder is connected with an earthen jar, in whicb most of the bisulphide is condensed, and trom which itruns into a closed vessel placed under the jar; the noncondensed vapors are conducted by a tube fitted to tha upper part of the eartben jar into a refrigerating coil, where they arc condensed. The coil is in connection with a close recciver. This apparatus can produce nearly 100 kilogrammes of bisulpbide daily. The cast-iron cylinder is very quickly attacked and destroyed by the sulphurous vapor—it will scldom last longer than a week. ‘Ihe use of fire-clay cylinders, tha same as those employed by the gas manufacturers, may be considered an importaut progress in the improvement of this mavufacture. M. Gerard, of Grenelle, usea cast-iron cylinders two metres high, of an elliptic section (diamater 1.40 metre). hey are filled witb coke, and the sulphur is introduced by means of an inclined tube passing through the side of the furnace, and reachiig uear the bottom of the cylinders. ‘I'he sulphur vapor is thus obliged to pass through the whole of the red heated coke. Tbe vapors of bisulphide thus obtaioed, ara first conducted to a receiver, where the largest quantity is condensed ; that which does not condense, passes to a refiigerator, conipoaed of three large metallic cylinders, placed one above the other, and connecting with each other by tubes. ‘The whole is surrounded by cold watcr. The vapors first pass into the lower cylinder, where immediately a large quautity condenses, the halance rising into the upper ones, run from there in the lower, from which by a tube they ara received in a close vessel. This apparatus furuishes, in tweuty-four hours, 200 litres (50 gallons) of impure bisulphide of carbon, weighing 248 kilogramnies, ata cost of 41 kilograinmes of coke, and 230 kilograinmes of sulphur. Loss about five per cent. of the crude materials employed. Galy, Cazalat, and Huillard have patented, in England, a large cylindric oven, divided horizontally into two parts by a fire-clay grate. This is denominated a calorifere, as being the principal source of heat. The upper part of the oven is vaulted, and supports a low, vertical chimvey, which can be closed partectly by adaniper. Around this chimney is a circular trough or reservoir, containiug the sulphur which is kept liquid by the waste heat of the chimney. From this, by way of a faucet, sulphur is run ag may be desired. At the bottom of the lower part of the oven an opening is inade sideways, to couuect the tube couducting the vapors to the condensers. ‘Tha coke is lighted iv the lower part, which is gradually’ teplaced when burnt out. The combustion is coutihucd until the whole interior of the oveu is at cherry-red. All the apertures are then closed, and according, as described above, the sulphur is run into the oven ; the melted sulphur dripping on the fire-clay grate is instantaneously reduced to vapors, and passed through the redheated coke; tbe vapors of bisulphide of carbon thus obtained pass to the condensers, where they liquify. {To be Continued.) Growrs or Cutcaco.—By an estimate made near the close of last year, it is calculated that during 1865 nine thousand buildings were put up in -Chicago. Six of them cost $100,000 each; forty others cost $30,000 each; and eight hundred were worth over $1,000 each, The total amount of capital employed during the year was six million dollars. ‘The uumber of new churches was seven ; schools, two, and public halls, four. Pirno.e has now thirty producing wells, sixtecn that have produced, but are now out of order. The daily yield, is 8,603 barrcls, or six barrela per minute. At $6 per barrel, the present price of oil, it amounts to $51,648. The sum of $12,000 pays all the expenses, being & profit of $49,618 every twenty-four ours. “Taree thousand of the finest poems iu the English language” aro being collected, aod will be published in ove volume, in London, for Christmas. Tue Viceroy of Egypt’s astronomer has discovered, by a course of astronomical calculations, that the great pyramids were built about 3,300 B. C. Bunsen thiuks it was 3,400. {Written for the MinIng and Scientific Press.j ‘The Mines of Grass Valley and Nevada. Tenet. Jan. 12,1866. been, to use a Western phrase, “circulating, aboot’ in the neighborhood of this place and Grass Valley, nutil the present .anow-storm, “and its” attendant “slush” and discomfort, drove me in-doors, and I am no longer “ current.” ; While thus unable to travel, it is probahlé that I cannot be better employed than in jotting down some notes of what'I have seen and: heard during the last two weeks, including, of course, notices of the leading mines and mills about Grass Valley and Nevada, some of which, thougb I shall be able to-day to give them but a passiug notice, are “ booked ” for a second visit. That I may be more fully understood, I will premise that I begin with the notes taken during a day spent among the mills and mines located to tbe south and southeast of Grass Valley, withiu a distanca of thrae miles. Tha -first of thesc that I encountered, and ove of the oldest establishments in the district, is the “GOLD HILL MILL,” ‘Located one mile south of Grass Valley, and superintended hy Mr. J. K. Edwards, a brother of Mr. Hannibal Edwards, superintendent of the Eurcka mines, Summersville, Tuolumne county, and’a fine specimen of an experienced and practical miner. ‘his is a 20-stamp mill, driven by steam, the eogine used being of the “double-acting, condensing, working-beam pattern,” so much in vogne years ago, and bearing the suggestive trade-mark of “ James Watt & Co., Soho, England.” As I stood by this fire-hreathing monster. my mind’ was carried hack to the days when, as a school-hoy, it was.my duty to explain the mysterious diagrams representing Watts’ noequaled invention, a working model of which I had never seen until that day, and as I watched the movement of its complicated arrangement of rods and levers, I could not wonder at tha superstitious dread which the first engine must have inspired among the unsettled miners of Northern and Western England in the time of the great inventor. The mill was employed at the time of my visit in crushing quartz from the Loue ledge, of wliich I shall speak more fully hereafter. <A fine lot of quartz from the Illinoia lode was also lying at hand, waiting its turn to be relieved of its precious charge. Half a mile farther in the same dircetion brought me to the “ SEBASTOPOL MILL,” Mr. Ben. McCauley, superintendent, which was not running at thetime. This isa 12stamp custom mill, driven by steam, and appears to be thoroughly and perfectly constructed in every part. Half a mile southeast of the Sebastopol, on Wolf Creek, is “LARIMER’S MILL,” Lately finished by Mr. Jno. W. Larimer, Sole proprietor and manager. This is an 8-stamp water mill, and is employed, like the two lastmentioned, in crushing custom-rock. Both this mill and the Gold Hill at present use the old syste of amalgamating in the batteries) and on copper plates placed in slnices below ; but Mr. L. contemplates a visit to the Bay io a short time, for the purpose of cboosiug improved amalgamating apparatus, to be introduced into his mill. ‘A short: distance further to the southward hrought me to the “ILLINOIS MINE,” The property of Messrs. Leech, Henderson, and some others whose names I have forgotteu. The coursa of the ledge is east and west, with adip to the southward of 40 degrees. Its thickness varies from aix inches to four feet, the average thickuess thronghout being about two feet. It is situated iu a granite formation, aud consists of a light-colored, bluish gray quartz, carrying large quautities of sulphurets, . and pleutifully specked witb free gold, I was ‘informed that tha rock from this mine, crushed Enirors Press:—Since my last, I have) at the Gold Hill mill, had, thus far, averaged fifty-two dollara per ton. ‘Tha workings have reacbed a depth of 140 feet, and the word is, the vein is “still improving.” _ A short distance eastward from the-Ilinois, ig q “ PHE LONE JACK,” Owned, in part, by Mr. C. T. Wheeler, of Sacramento. I did not obtain any statistics in regard to this mine, but was asaured by the superintendent that it was “ doing well, which was fully sustained by the appearanca of tha quartz that was coming out of the mine. About a mile from the Lone Jack, and three miles southeast trom Grass Valley, is the me STONE? Owned by Messrs. Hurst, Samvel F. Curtis, of the Savage mine, and Mr. Hunt, the present superintendent. ‘Ibis mine haa been lately opened on ground purchased of the Empire company, and appears likely to soon rival the most famous mines of this district in richness and extent. he general course of tha lode is north und south, with a dip to the eastward of twenty-five degrees. Tbe ledge is represented as having au average width ol threc fect, and I am assured by Mr. Hunt that the average yield has herctofore been $40 per ton. On meeting Mr. H. the following evening, he told me that they had that day taken out better quartz than ever belore. He was sanguine that it would pay $100 per ton. The proprietors are preparing to put up a 10-stamp mill, with a capacity for twenty stamps, for whicb they expect the engine now doing the hoisting and pumping of the inine to furnish sufficient power, iu addition to its present work. Returvivg, I stopped at the “ HARTERY,” Owned by Messrs. McLaughlin and Loutzenheiser, of Grass Valley, and Mr. J. 0. Keele, of San Jose. As the superintendent was ahsent at the time, I was unable to obtain all the information I desired. ‘The following facts I learned fron Mr. Henderson, who is engaged iu erecting the machinery for the hoisting works, pump, aod mill, which the proprictors have in process of erection. ‘The mine has been explored to a depth of 140 feet, and extensive drifts have been run, disclosing a ledge from one to two feet in thickness, and of such richness, that the proprietors leel warranted iu erecting an 8-stamp mill, which is now being built. On Monday [I left Grass Valley for this place, and during the evening formed the aequaintance of Mr. S. P. Leeds, superintendent of the Naw York and Grass Valley Mining compavy, with whom, and Mr. Fenton, of Summit City, I visited the company’s mine and mill at Gold Flat, three-fourths of a mile from the city, and kuown as the “ 8NEATI AND CLAY,” From the names of its former owners, from whom it was purchased by the New York and Grass Valley Mining company. The vein is situated in ‘@ primitive formation, the wall being of syenite, or, as it has here heen called, granite, and is ol varying width, averaging probably twenty inches. ‘The strike of the ledga is north, twelve degrees east, and it dips to the castward at av angle of twenty-three degrees. ‘The mine is opened to a depth of 350 feet, by an incline, and is worked ou three different levels, at depths of 212, 272 and 350 feet, on all of which extensive drifts have been run, and valuable ore taken out. ‘The quartz pays from $18 to $25 per ton, and can certainly be worked with probt in the iill, which stands convenient to the mine, so that the ora is run ov cars, from the top of the incline, direct to the battcries. The mill has a capacity of twelve stamps. Amalgamation of the gold in the batteries, by means of copper plates, is tbe principal mode of saving it, after which the heavier sands are caught ov blankets and ground in Chile mills, and, last of all, tbe sulphurets are concentrated hy meana of shaking tables, and saved, After passing through and examining the mine and mill, we proceéded to the “ UNION MINE,” Situated three and a half miles southeast of Nevada, ina granite formation, the walls of tha vein being of diorite, resembling in appearance the “Angcl Island Granite” of San Francisco. The vein varies from a few inches to four or five feet in thickness, averaging, probably, two and ahalf or three feet. ‘he course of the vein is nearly or quite north and south, with a pitch to tha eastward of fortythree degrecs. licar the mine isa 5-stamp mill, also the property of the company, in which some of the ore is now being worked, paying, Mr. Leeds informed me, an average ol about thirty dollars per ton, Tha mine was formerly worked throngh tunnels, driven in upon the vein from the ravine to the southward, but Mr. Leeds is opening it through a splendid incline, which he calls his * Excelsior Shaft,” and it is one he may well be proud of. Fiva feet by fifteeu in the clear, and supported by timbers sawn from the heart of the spruce, it furnisbes @ convenient, roomy, and durable means of access to all parts of the mina. ‘Thia ahaft has

50 Ghe Hining patter wil Scientific Presa. GConmmaninations. In THis DerantNeNnT we invite the FREE Discussion of all roper subjecta—correspondents alone being responsible for he ideas and theories they advance. [Written for the Mining and Scientific Press.) BISULPHIDE OF OARBON. {BY DR. LANSZWEERT. Having lately been severely victimized by the use of this deleterious and very explosive compound, it may be proper for me to place the public on its guard against a careless use of tha sama; and having, moreover, noticed an advertisement in your journal that a gentleman of this city, offers to the public a new roasting furnace, by the use of which “all the sulphur [evolved in the process of roasting sulphurets] is saved; by being converted into hisalphide of carhov, which is a valuable product, and will pay nearly all expenses,” I have thought it might not ba out of place to give, through your columns, a few facts with regard to the manufacture, usa, and nature of this singular substanca. I think the geentleman above alluded to must be mistaken, both with regard to the real nature of tbe process of its manufacture, as well as in regard to its commercial value. He certainly canuot convert “ all the sulphur” contained in the sulphurets “ into biaulpbide of carbon;” neither is it possible for the bisulphide so produced to “ pay nearly all expenses,” at its present nominal value of about five ceuts per pound, at which price it is now offered to the trade. ‘The foilowing notes on tha mavufacture, apparatus used, rectification, properties and industrial application of this agent, may be ivteresting to your readers : Bisulphide of carbon was discovered in 1796 by Lampadiua, and is expressed by the formula CS?. For a long time this subject was known only as a laboratory product. Within the past fifteen years the process of its manufacture bas been very much improved, and many iudustrial applications have been devised for its use ; while to meet the increased demand, it is now prepared on a very large scale. In 1850, M. Macquart, of Bouu, prepared hisulphide of carbon in large quantities. In 1840, the kilogramme (over 2 pounds) was sold in Paris at from 50 to 60 franes (ten to twelve dollars) ; but in 1850, M. Deis aold it at 8 francs, and since 1856 he has manufactured 500 kilogrammes daily, aud now sells it at 50 centimes (9 cents) the kilosramme. Bisulphide of carbon can be produced by the direct combination of sulphur and carbon ata high temperature ; also by the decomposition of acertain number of organie compounds. In heating simply a mixture of sulphur and carhon, there isno combination, as the sulphur volatilizes before it has attained the temperature uccessary to tbe action; but when charcoal is heated to red heat, and the vapor of sulphur ia passed over this incandescent mass, the carbou burns iu this vapor, producing bisulphide of carbon. The earliest apparatus for the preparation of this compound consisted of a porcelain tube filled with fragmeuts of charcoal,and placed in an inclined position in the center of a laboratory furuace. The upper end of tbis tuba was closed by a stopper of clay and chalk, and the lower end was connected by a bended glass tube, with a beétle partly filled with watar. Whan the charcoal was made red hot, the stopper was taken out of the tube, and a piece. of sulphur inserted; the sulphur, so placed, melted and run into the tube, where it came in contact with the red coal, was volatilized and combined with it, producing bisulphide of carbon, which, in a state of vapor, is condensed upon the water, aud settles to the bottom by its specific gravity. This was the imperfect laboratory process employed for its early manufacture, which was ona small scale ouly. Aa already stated, this manufacture is now conducted on a very large scale, and the principle of tha apparatus used is always the same, viz., that sulphur in vapor is always passed through coke or charcoal brought to a bright red heat, then condeusing tbe vapors of bisulphide cf carbon as rapidly and completély as possibfe. The first improvement made for this preparation was the use of a large tubulated earthen retort to heat the coal. A tube of hard glass or porcelain was put through tha tubulatura of the retort, which was sn covstructed as to reach nearly to its bottom, for the introduction of aulphur. ‘The ueck of the retort was adapted to a condenser cooled with a stream of water, and communicating with a receiver, as already described. With this apparatus large quantitics were obtainable. ‘he various kiuds of apparatus now in use for the industrial manufacture of bisulphide of carboo ara actually coustructed according to the same principle, and differ only in the form of the retort, the way of introducing the sulphur, and the different combinations of the condenser. It is impossiblé, without drawings, to give av intelligible description of tbe details of these various kinda of apparatus; still I will endeavor to give one or two of their most characteristic details. M. Peroncel, who has introduced the manufacture of this substance on @ very large scale, heats the coke ina large cast-iron cylinder, 2 metres (about 3914 inches) high by 30 centimetres in diameter, placed vertically in the furnace. he tube for the introduction of sul-phur is near the bottom of this cylinder. The uppar part of the cylinder is connected with an earthen jar, in whicb most of the bisulphide is condensed, and trom which itruns into a closed vessel placed under the jar; the noncondensed vapors are conducted by a tube fitted to tha upper part of the eartben jar into a refrigerating coil, where they arc condensed. The coil is in connection with a close recciver. This apparatus can produce nearly 100 kilogrammes of bisulpbide daily. The cast-iron cylinder is very quickly attacked and destroyed by the sulphurous vapor—it will scldom last longer than a week. ‘Ihe use of fire-clay cylinders, tha same as those employed by the gas manufacturers, may be considered an importaut progress in the improvement of this mavufacture. M. Gerard, of Grenelle, usea cast-iron cylinders two metres high, of an elliptic section (diamater 1.40 metre). hey are filled witb coke, and the sulphur is introduced by means of an inclined tube passing through the side of the furnace, and reachiig uear the bottom of the cylinders. ‘I'he sulphur vapor is thus obliged to pass through the whole of the red heated coke. Tbe vapors of bisulphide thus obtaioed, ara first conducted to a receiver, where the largest quantity is condensed ; that which does not condense, passes to a refiigerator, conipoaed of three large metallic cylinders, placed one above the other, and connecting with each other by tubes. ‘The whole is surrounded by cold watcr. The vapors first pass into the lower cylinder, where immediately a large quautity condenses, the halance rising into the upper ones, run from there in the lower, from which by a tube they ara received in a close vessel. This apparatus furuishes, in tweuty-four hours, 200 litres (50 gallons) of impure bisulphide of carbon, weighing 248 kilogramnies, ata cost of 41 kilograinmes of coke, and 230 kilograinmes of sulphur. Loss about five per cent. of the crude materials employed. Galy, Cazalat, and Huillard have patented, in England, a large cylindric oven, divided horizontally into two parts by a fire-clay grate. This is denominated a calorifere, as being the principal source of heat. The upper part of the oven is vaulted, and supports a low, vertical chimvey, which can be closed partectly by adaniper. Around this chimney is a circular trough or reservoir, containiug the sulphur which is kept liquid by the waste heat of the chimney. From this, by way of a faucet, sulphur is run ag may be desired. At the bottom of the lower part of the oven an opening is inade sideways, to couuect the tube couducting the vapors to the condensers. ‘Tha coke is lighted iv the lower part, which is gradually’ teplaced when burnt out. The combustion is coutihucd until the whole interior of the oveu is at cherry-red. All the apertures are then closed, and according, as described above, the sulphur is run into the oven ; the melted sulphur dripping on the fire-clay grate is instantaneously reduced to vapors, and passed through the redheated coke; tbe vapors of bisulphide of carbon thus obtained pass to the condensers, where they liquify. {To be Continued.) Growrs or Cutcaco.—By an estimate made near the close of last year, it is calculated that during 1865 nine thousand buildings were put up in -Chicago. Six of them cost $100,000 each; forty others cost $30,000 each; and eight hundred were worth over $1,000 each, The total amount of capital employed during the year was six million dollars. ‘The uumber of new churches was seven ; schools, two, and public halls, four. Pirno.e has now thirty producing wells, sixtecn that have produced, but are now out of order. The daily yield, is 8,603 barrcls, or six barrela per minute. At $6 per barrel, the present price of oil, it amounts to $51,648. The sum of $12,000 pays all the expenses, being & profit of $49,618 every twenty-four ours. “Taree thousand of the finest poems iu the English language” aro being collected, aod will be published in ove volume, in London, for Christmas. Tue Viceroy of Egypt’s astronomer has discovered, by a course of astronomical calculations, that the great pyramids were built about 3,300 B. C. Bunsen thiuks it was 3,400. {Written for the MinIng and Scientific Press.j ‘The Mines of Grass Valley and Nevada. Tenet. Jan. 12,1866.

been, to use a Western phrase, “circulating, aboot’ in the neighborhood of this place and Grass Valley, nutil the present .anow-storm, “and its” attendant “slush” and discomfort, drove me in-doors, and I am no longer “ current.” ; While thus unable to travel, it is probahlé that I cannot be better employed than in jotting down some notes of what'I have seen and: heard during the last two weeks, including, of course, notices of the leading mines and mills about Grass Valley and Nevada, some of which, thougb I shall be able to-day to give them but a passiug notice, are “ booked ” for a second visit. That I may be more fully understood, I will premise that I begin with the notes taken during a day spent among the mills and mines located to tbe south and southeast of Grass Valley, withiu a distanca of thrae miles. Tha -first of thesc that I encountered, and ove of the oldest establishments in the district, is the “GOLD HILL MILL,” ‘Located one mile south of Grass Valley, and superintended hy Mr. J. K. Edwards, a brother of Mr. Hannibal Edwards, superintendent of the Eurcka mines, Summersville, Tuolumne county, and’a fine specimen of an experienced and practical miner. ‘his is a 20-stamp mill, driven by steam, the eogine used being of the “double-acting, condensing, working-beam pattern,” so much in vogne years ago, and bearing the suggestive trade-mark of “ James Watt & Co., Soho, England.” As I stood by this fire-hreathing monster. my mind’ was carried hack to the days when, as a school-hoy, it was.my duty to explain the mysterious diagrams representing Watts’ noequaled invention, a working model of which I had never seen until that day, and as I watched the movement of its complicated arrangement of rods and levers, I could not wonder at tha superstitious dread which the first engine must have inspired among the unsettled miners of Northern and Western England in the time of the great inventor. The mill was employed at the time of my visit in crushing quartz from the Loue ledge, of wliich I shall speak more fully hereafter. <A fine lot of quartz from the Illinoia lode was also lying at hand, waiting its turn to be relieved of its precious charge. Half a mile farther in the same dircetion brought me to the “ SEBASTOPOL MILL,” Mr. Ben. McCauley, superintendent, which was not running at thetime. This isa 12stamp custom mill, driven by steam, and appears to be thoroughly and perfectly constructed in every part. Half a mile southeast of the Sebastopol, on Wolf Creek, is “LARIMER’S MILL,” Lately finished by Mr. Jno. W. Larimer, Sole proprietor and manager. This is an 8-stamp water mill, and is employed, like the two lastmentioned, in crushing custom-rock. Both this mill and the Gold Hill at present use the old syste of amalgamating in the batteries) and on copper plates placed in slnices below ; but Mr. L. contemplates a visit to the Bay io a short time, for the purpose of cboosiug improved amalgamating apparatus, to be introduced into his mill. ‘A short: distance further to the southward hrought me to the “ILLINOIS MINE,” The property of Messrs. Leech, Henderson, and some others whose names I have forgotteu. The coursa of the ledge is east and west, with adip to the southward of 40 degrees. Its thickness varies from aix inches to four feet, the average thickuess thronghout being about two feet. It is situated iu a granite formation, aud consists of a light-colored, bluish gray quartz, carrying large quautities of sulphurets, . and pleutifully specked witb free gold, I was ‘informed that tha rock from this mine, crushed Enirors Press:—Since my last, I have) at the Gold Hill mill, had, thus far, averaged fifty-two dollara per ton. ‘Tha workings have reacbed a depth of 140 feet, and the word is, the vein is “still improving.” _ A short distance eastward from the-Ilinois, ig q “ PHE LONE JACK,” Owned, in part, by Mr. C. T. Wheeler, of Sacramento. I did not obtain any statistics in regard to this mine, but was asaured by the superintendent that it was “ doing well, which was fully sustained by the appearanca of tha quartz that was coming out of the mine. About a mile from the Lone Jack, and three miles southeast trom Grass Valley, is the me STONE? Owned by Messrs. Hurst, Samvel F. Curtis, of the Savage mine, and Mr. Hunt, the present superintendent. ‘Ibis mine haa been lately opened on ground purchased of the Empire company, and appears likely to soon rival the most famous mines of this district in richness and extent. he general course of tha lode is north und south, with a dip to the eastward of twenty-five degrees. Tbe ledge is represented as having au average width ol threc fect, and I am assured by Mr. Hunt that the average yield has herctofore been $40 per ton. On meeting Mr. H. the following evening, he told me that they had that day taken out better quartz than ever belore. He was sanguine that it would pay $100 per ton. The proprietors are preparing to put up a 10-stamp mill, with a capacity for twenty stamps, for whicb they expect the engine now doing the hoisting and pumping of the inine to furnish sufficient power, iu addition to its present work. Returvivg, I stopped at the “ HARTERY,” Owned by Messrs. McLaughlin and Loutzenheiser, of Grass Valley, and Mr. J. 0. Keele, of San Jose. As the superintendent was ahsent at the time, I was unable to obtain all the information I desired. ‘The following facts I learned fron Mr. Henderson, who is engaged iu erecting the machinery for the hoisting works, pump, aod mill, which the proprictors have in process of erection. ‘The mine has been explored to a depth of 140 feet, and extensive drifts have been run, disclosing a ledge from one to two feet in thickness, and of such richness, that the proprietors leel warranted iu erecting an 8-stamp mill, which is now being built. On Monday [I left Grass Valley for this place, and during the evening formed the aequaintance of Mr. S. P. Leeds, superintendent of the Naw York and Grass Valley Mining compavy, with whom, and Mr. Fenton, of Summit City, I visited the company’s mine and mill at Gold Flat, three-fourths of a mile from the city, and kuown as the “ 8NEATI AND CLAY,” From the names of its former owners, from whom it was purchased by the New York and Grass Valley Mining company. The vein is situated in ‘@ primitive formation, the wall being of syenite, or, as it has here heen called, granite, and is ol varying width, averaging probably twenty inches. ‘The strike of the ledga is north, twelve degrees east, and it dips to the castward at av angle of twenty-three degrees. ‘The mine is opened to a depth of 350 feet, by an incline, and is worked ou three different levels, at depths of 212, 272 and 350 feet, on all of which extensive drifts have been run, and valuable ore taken out. ‘The quartz pays from $18 to $25 per ton, and can certainly be worked with probt in the iill, which stands convenient to the mine, so that the ora is run ov cars, from the top of the incline, direct to the battcries. The mill has a capacity of twelve stamps. Amalgamation of the gold in the batteries, by means of copper plates, is tbe principal mode of saving it, after which the heavier sands are caught ov blankets and ground in Chile mills, and, last of all, tbe sulphurets are concentrated hy meana of shaking tables, and saved, After passing through and examining the mine and mill, we proceéded to the “ UNION MINE,” Situated three and a half miles southeast of Nevada, ina granite formation, the walls of tha vein being of diorite, resembling in appearance the “Angcl Island Granite” of San Francisco. The vein varies from a few inches to four or five feet in thickness, averaging, probably, two and ahalf or three feet. ‘he course of the vein is nearly or quite north and south, with a pitch to tha eastward of fortythree degrecs. licar the mine isa 5-stamp mill, also the property of the company, in which some of the ore is now being worked, paying, Mr. Leeds informed me, an average ol about thirty dollars per ton, Tha mine was formerly worked throngh tunnels, driven in upon the vein from the ravine to the southward, but Mr. Leeds is opening it through a splendid incline, which he calls his * Excelsior Shaft,” and it is one he may well be proud of. Fiva feet by fifteeu in the clear, and supported by timbers sawn from the heart of the spruce, it furnisbes @ convenient, roomy, and durable means of access to all parts of the mina. ‘Thia ahaft has