Volume 13 (1866) (424 pages)

376 She Mining and Scientific Dress, Mining and Scientific Press. . Senior Epiroa. 0. W. M. SMITH. A. T DEWEY. DEWEY & CO., Publishers. ~ W. a, EWER. OrrioE—No. 505 Clay street, corner of Sansome, 2d floor. ‘Terma of Subscription; One copy, per annum, In advance,. One copy; six months, In advance, . -$5 00 Rap For sale by Carriers and N Canvassing Agents. Our Friexps can do much in aid of our paper and the canse of practical knowledge and science, by assisting our Agents in their labors of canvassing, by lending thelr influ. ence and enconraging favors. We shall send none but worthy men. 4 Mr, Thomas Starr isAgent for the Minino anv Scrznwirio ress in Nevada, and will canvass the principal elties, lowns and districts of that State. August 25, 1866. ) Mr. A. C, Knox, is our city sallclling and collecting Agent, and all subscriptions, or other favors extended to him, will be duly acknowledced at this office. San Francisco, Jan llth, 1866. Mir. Thos, J. Hall, is an authorized agent for this journal tor the northern counties of this State. Dec. 1, 1866. Mr. F. F. Frost, is an authorized agent for the Press for Amador and Calaveras countics. Dec. 1, 1865, Mr. L. WV. Felton, is an authorized agent for this paper at Portlaud, Oregon. Dec. 1, 1866. i San Erancisco: Saturday Morning, Dec. 15, 1866. NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS, S. B., Sonora.—In place of there being much donht ahout ths contemporaneous existence of man, and some of the larger extinct mammals, the evidsnces accamulated of late years go strongly to affirm ths correctness of such a theory. It is quite evident that the diluvial placers ‘around your city have been deposited at a period when the mammotb and its congeners roamed over the contiguous country, whilstthe occasional discovery of charcoal in the sams layer of soil, which contains tusks and other animal remains, goes far to render it prohahle that man existed at the same perind. During the last twenty years, the attention of Zuropean archeeolngists has bcen largely concentrated in col. Iscting materials, illustrative of the probable social condition of primitivo and pre-historic man. It is gratifying to know that these efforts have been attended with an amount of success truly surprising, when it is reflected hnw unpromising was the original prospect. The presumed, hut continually changing houndary line, existing hetween archzology and tbe period of the disappearance of certain extinct animnls, has also engaged the attention of many experienced parties, eminent in various hranches of geology, such as Owen, Prestwich, Lyell, etc., ete., all of whom consider that man, and several of the animals alluded to as now extinct, lived contemporaneously. ‘The opinion s0 countenanced has heen recently remarkably strengthened by the discnvery, at the rock-shelter or semi-cave of La Madelaine, in the South of ¥rance, of a fragment of fossil ivory, which had engraved upon it a well-defined fignre of the mammoth or elephas primigenius. .The artist has, in his delineation of the animal, as depicted in an engraving represcating tho same, which we have seen, no? only very clearly nnd cnrrectly formed tho chief outlines and characteristics of the elephantine genus, such as the head, cars, trunk, etc., hut also the peculiar eccentric curvatare of tbe tusks appertaining to this extinct genus, and has also marked, in the most unmistakable manner, the long hairy mane, which, it is known, from the frozen carcass found in Russia, that this animal possessed; a fact which indubitahly proves that the artist must have been contemporaneous with the mammoth. This, and similar delinentions of varinus otber animals, about the same age, possess a high value as showing the artistic germ in hnman beings, even prior tn a sufficiently marked development of constructive ability, as wonld he required to design and form an artificial hahitation. Pascal has observed that the “ entire succession of man tlirough the whole conrse of ages, must he regarded as one man always living and incessantly learning.” The first man who lifted himself ahove the heasts of the field, hy the discovery that a sharp stone or a snare would subserve the purpose of obtaining food better than his unarmed, unaided limbs, laid the foundation of arts and sciences. Communications Recetvev.—From Doctor Lonszeweert, on ‘The Use of Iron Sponge for the Reduction nf Metal Sulphides and Antimo-. nides ; from C. H. Aaron, on “ The Concentration of Sulphurets ;" and from Geo. H. Belden, giving some account of “The Oregon Iron Company’s Works at Oswego, Oregou ;”’ all of which will'appear next week. “A Miner” sends us a communication on tbe “ Working of Gravel Cement,’’ hut forgets to enclose his real name and address, without which no communication can receive attention. Progress or rus Russtan TeLecrapn.—The officers of the expcdition have returned to San Francisco for the winter. Some 2,000 miles of poles hnve heen thns for crected in Asia and America, and exploring parties are still in the field, preparing fora vigorous prosecution of the work in the spring. “THE WURTZ AMALGAMATION COMPANY"---EXTRAVAGANT IDEAS, The circular recently issued hy the “ Wurtz Amalgamation Company” has heen read hy ns with no little surprise. ‘The terms on whicb the compnny therein proposes to place the sodium amalgam before the public, seem to us to he) singularly ahsurd. Instead of simply selling the article, the company sells licenses to use it, ns well; and the exalted notion of its value which the managers have, is npparent from the following : “ One twentieth interest in their joint stock, or in the mining and milling property, will entitle partiss to the right Ao use the process ‘during the continuance of the patents.” It is, however, mnde optional witb the party to “ purchase the license for such sum, in cash, as mny be mutually agreed npon.” Some notion of the price which would probably be demanded, can be formed from the first quotation. The nmalgam will be sold to licensees only ; and will be, for No. 1, $3, und for No. 2, $4 per pound. Ji is scarcely necessary for us to say, thnt these terms will never he necepted. Pacific Coast miners “ don’t do husiness in that way.” Sbow them an article which will be of use to them, and they will try it, and if satisfactory, huy it; hut thsy are averse to taking out licenses, or paying royalties. “ A trade is a trade ;” a stipulated price is pnid for an article, and “there’s an end;” hut endless disputes and difficulties are the consequence of an indefinite hargain, such as one must alwnys be where the amount to he paid is dependent on & contingency. Neither would the idea of making over a portion of their interest be agreeahle to thé miners. The multiplying of partners and dividing of interests, is at best uot desirahle ; nnd to induce them to do this before it is distinctly proved-to them that they will be tbe gainers, will be impossible. Then, again, as to the «price asked. The coolness with which a one-twentieth interest is demanded iu the property of a company which may be willing to make trial of a new invention, the applicahility of which, to nll cases, is by no means estnblished, is really refreshing. Snppose the property should be worth @ million, or so, ae iu the case of the Hnyward minc? How mneb, “in cash,” would this company be willing to commute for? Probably not less than one-twentieth of that amount—sny, $50,000! Truly, a modest price! We do not wish to under-rate the valne of the sodium amnolgam. We nre satisfied that in mauy cases it is a most voluable aid in collecting the preoions metals. But there are unquestionahly some of our ores, in the working of which, ite use, sofar from being an aid, would he a positive detriment. Each claimnwner must determine for himself, hy actual experiments, varied nnd repeated ns he may choose, whether he can nse it to advantage. All the ex cathedra assertions of nll the scientific men in creation, will uot, alone, satisfy him. The miners on this coast are sufficiently acute to have lenrned hy this time tbat theory and practice do not always g0 hand in hand in mining mattere. In fnct, they hnve seen so much humbug “science,” that they are often unduly distrustful of an innovation, altbough perhnps when fairly tried it is really found to be an improvement. The action of this company is only another proof of the extraordinary ignornnce which the people of the Atlnntic States have always exbibited in regard to the monnerg and cuetome, and the “ways of thinking,” of the people on this side of the Continent. When, however, we recall to mind tbe assertion made recently hy a Californian in New York, that he could find hut a single copy of a San Francisco journal, after searching the reading-rooms of tour or five of the principal hotels, this ignorauce will not seem so remarkable. It may be said that the course proposed hy the company is the only one by which they could protect themselves; inasmuch ns their claim covers, not the amalgain of sodium with mercury—which is not patentable—but the use of that amalgam in the working of ores. “But why sbould not the sale of a pound of the amalgam include the right to use a pound, nnd nomore? Parties detected in using the article for mining purposes, who could not show that tbey purchased it of duly accredited agents of the company, could he notified of the infringement, nnd on its repetition, prosecuted. A properly drawn circular, distributed widely throughout the mining region, wonld leave no ground for a plea of ignoraucs of the company’s rights and claims. We see scarcely more difficulty in the manngement of this patent, tban in that ofnny other. However this may be, it is certain thnt the plan annnnnced in tbe company’s circular will not answer. . We speak for their good, as well as for that of the mining cummnnity ; and it is to he hoped thnt they will so modify their present absolutely suicidal policy, as to secure, as soon as may be, a firm first footing for what is undonhtedly a valuable discovery. A SINGULAR FORMATION, Mr. George Johnson, of Auhurn, Placer county, has furnished us with some facts, witb regard to a somewhat singular formntion which was discovered sometime in September last between Spanish Dry Diggings ond Spanish Bar, on the Middle Fork of the American river, El Dorado county. ‘The discovery was made hy @ party of miners who were engaged iu ground sluicing on the hillside some 1,500 feet above ‘the bed of the stream, and consists of a welldefined vein of light taleose slate, running through a country rock of black, silicions clay slate. There is no nppearnnce of quartz in the vein, which is from four to tsn miles in width, and very rich in gold, mostly coarse and rough, like quartz gold. It is said that these men have taken out as much ag 135 ounces of gold in two weeks, by reducing the vein rock in a hand mortar aud working the snme ina pan. The company.is known by the name of Roush & Co. Sulphurets are often found in slate rock, Tich in gold, where there are no indicntion whatever of a lode of any kind. It will also be seen, from the notice we have made of the nhove mentioned discovery in El Dorndo connty, that it is not always necessary to look for quartz as the matrix of gold. When drifting through rock, for any purpose, any especial ehange thercin should be carefully noticed ; ond when sulphurets are encountered, there is specinl reason for expecting to find them containing gold in paying nuantities. An assay should always he mnde to test their value. It is but a few days since a most valuable discovery was made near Placerville, in a lode deposit, over which travel had been continucd . ever since 1849. Tbe deposit was overlooked, simply because it ehbowed no qnartz; it proved, however, to he a decomposed deposit of iron and quartz, which at two or three feet from the sorface was exceedingly ricb in gold. Miners cannot be too watchful and ohservant in tbeir labors; they douhtless often miss a fortune from lack of snficiently close observation. Persons who may be conversant witb anything noticeable in this way will confer a public henefit by communicating such information through the pnhlie press. Capinet or Narurat Cvrtosities.—Few, perhaps, are awnre tbat there is such a place as a cabinet of Natural History worth visiting to he found in the city. Passing up Pine street, a few days ago, we accidentally dropped in ot Mr. Lorquin’s establishment, a few doors above Kearny, and were aetonished at the collection he bus on band, in the form of shells, birds, hutterflies, insects, and other curiosities too numerous to he given in detnil. In addition to matters of scientific interest, there are here found skell-flowers, shell-frames, and many groups of birds for parlor ornaments; also, feathers and hirds for Indies’ bats, together with a large and rare assortnient of ornaments, all tnstefully arranged under glass, and put np expressly for the approaching holidays. Snch a variety of natural curiositiee is seldom seen, and Mr. L. is never happier than in displaying ‘formed. YALE OOLLEGE. We have received a copy of the catalogne of the officers and studeuts of this institntion for 186%. Tbe Faculty and instrnctors comprise 35 Professors and 15 ‘Tutors,in nddition to the President, Librarian and Curator. The total uumher of students is 559, divided among the respective departments, as follows : Theologicale ay seecss es see COREA A RACH Law. nd Arts (Sheffield Schoo!),. Academical Department,,.. One of the most interesting and important departments connected with this institution is the “ Sheffield Scientific School,” founded some ten years ago, and since greatly enlarged, mainly by the enlightened heneficence of Mr. J. EK. Sheffield, whose name it henrs, and whose total donations amonnt to about $159,000. Tbe Legislature of Connecticnt has also appropriated to this institntion the Congressional land donation coming to that State. This is the only institution in the United Statss thnt fully meets the growing demnnd for scientific instruction, whieh the rapid development of the’material resonrees of tbe conntry is rendering one of our first educational necessities. Measures hnve recently been taken to or° gunize n Mining Section, in the scientific department, in-accordance with a plan sometime since Tis section will be condncted upon ‘the most approved European models, modified to meet the more practical peculiarities of American ideas, Both tbe science and practico of mining and metallurgy will be tanght in the most thorough manner, and the fullest opportunities will he afforded for lahoratory practice, including nssaying, chemical analysis, the determination of the character nnd vnlue of ores and furnace products, and the discrimination of minerals. ‘Phe lectures on mining and metallurgy will be as fulland complete as in any similar institution in Europe. This departinent is well supplied with models aud dingrams of mincs, machinery, furnaces, ete., aud reoutains a large nud ‘valuable collection of minerals systematically arranged; suitee of ores nnd fnrnace products, illustrative of minee and furnace work; an extensive collection of fossils, nrranged according to geological snecession, ete. Whe fnll course of mining will iuclude from four to six montbs’ prnctice in the field, in the study of actual mining operations and smelting works, to be followed hy special engineering or chemical studies, as applied to mining and metnllurgy. The lihrovies connected with the college, all of which are nvnilahle to students in either department, number 77,500 volnmes, emhracing every class of literature and every hranch of science. Tur Vauue of Town Szewaor.—The economical results obtained from the application of a portion of the Edinburg cewage to some meadow land near hy, is summed up in the fact that the proprietor realized the sum of $862,000 by an outlay of $22,500, in putting under irrigation ahout 250 acres of his laud with a portion of the sewage of that city. The question of the utilization of the sewage from towns and cities, is at the present time attracting a large share of attention among hoth practical and scientific men in Europe ; and numerous experiments are in progrese similar to tbe one cited ahove. We presume in that case the land was situated ata lower level than that portion of the city from whence the sewage was ohtained ; and that it was taken to the land hy artificial drniue, and not by cartage. When agricultural lande are thus situnted, relntive to city droinnge, there can he no question ns to the practicahility of ntilizing such droinage; but when the conditions are such that: drainnge must he moved by cartage, and perhaps artificially prepnred, the utilization thereof must he n matter of close calculntion. Thereynre those, however, who nre working henrtily at the prohlem, and express the fullest confidence in being able to show thnt the drainnge of almost any large town may he thus economized. The city of London is one to which mucb attention is now being given in this direction. The experiment cited nhove is certainly a most encouraging them to his visitors, who are amply repaid for) one, and leaves a large margin for nnfavornble the time passed in his cabinct. conditions. Pe eee

376 She Mining and Scientific Dress, Mining and Scientific Press. . Senior Epiroa. 0. W. M. SMITH. A. T DEWEY. DEWEY & CO., Publishers. ~ W. a, EWER. OrrioE—No. 505 Clay street, corner of Sansome, 2d floor. ‘Terma of Subscription; One copy, per annum, In advance,. One copy; six months, In advance, . -$5 00 Rap For sale by Carriers and N Canvassing Agents. Our Friexps can do much in aid of our paper and the canse of practical knowledge and science, by assisting our Agents in their labors of canvassing, by lending thelr influ. ence and enconraging favors. We shall send none but worthy men. 4 Mr, Thomas Starr isAgent for the Minino anv Scrznwirio ress in Nevada, and will canvass the principal elties, lowns and districts of that State. August 25, 1866. ) Mr. A. C, Knox, is our city sallclling and collecting Agent, and all subscriptions, or other favors extended to him, will be duly acknowledced at this office. San Francisco, Jan llth, 1866. Mir. Thos, J. Hall, is an authorized agent for this journal tor the northern counties of this State. Dec. 1, 1866. Mr. F. F. Frost, is an authorized agent for the Press for Amador and Calaveras countics. Dec. 1, 1865, Mr. L. WV. Felton, is an authorized agent for this paper at Portlaud, Oregon. Dec. 1, 1866. i San Erancisco: Saturday Morning, Dec. 15, 1866. NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS, S. B., Sonora.—In place of there being much donht ahout ths contemporaneous existence of man, and some of the larger extinct mammals, the evidsnces accamulated of late years go strongly to affirm ths correctness of such a theory. It is quite evident that the diluvial placers ‘around your city have been deposited at a period when the mammotb and its congeners roamed over the contiguous country, whilstthe occasional discovery of charcoal in the sams layer of soil, which contains tusks and other animal remains, goes far to render it prohahle that man existed at the same perind. During the last twenty years, the attention of Zuropean archeeolngists has bcen largely concentrated in col. Iscting materials, illustrative of the probable social condition of primitivo and pre-historic man. It is gratifying to know that these efforts have been attended with an amount of success truly surprising, when it is reflected hnw unpromising was the original prospect. The presumed, hut continually changing houndary line, existing hetween archzology and tbe period of the disappearance of certain extinct animnls, has also engaged the attention of many experienced parties, eminent in various hranches of geology, such as Owen, Prestwich, Lyell, etc., ete., all of whom consider that man, and several of the animals alluded to as now extinct, lived contemporaneously. ‘The opinion s0 countenanced has heen recently remarkably strengthened by the discnvery, at the rock-shelter or semi-cave of La Madelaine, in the South of ¥rance, of a fragment of fossil ivory, which had engraved upon it a well-defined fignre of the mammoth or elephas primigenius. .The artist has, in his delineation of the animal, as depicted in an engraving represcating tho same, which we have seen, no? only very clearly nnd cnrrectly formed tho chief outlines and characteristics of the elephantine genus, such as the head, cars, trunk, etc., hut also the peculiar eccentric curvatare of tbe tusks appertaining to this extinct genus, and has also marked, in the most unmistakable manner, the long hairy mane, which, it is known, from the frozen carcass found in Russia, that this animal possessed; a fact which indubitahly proves that the artist must have been contemporaneous with the mammoth. This, and similar delinentions of varinus otber animals, about the same age, possess a high value as showing the artistic germ in hnman beings, even prior tn a sufficiently marked development of constructive ability, as wonld he required to design and form an artificial hahitation. Pascal has observed that the “ entire succession of man tlirough the whole conrse of ages, must he regarded as one man always living and incessantly learning.” The first man who lifted himself ahove the heasts of the field, hy the discovery that a sharp stone or a snare would subserve the purpose of obtaining food better than his unarmed, unaided limbs, laid the foundation of arts and sciences. Communications Recetvev.—From Doctor Lonszeweert, on ‘The Use of Iron Sponge for the Reduction nf Metal Sulphides and Antimo-. nides ; from C. H. Aaron, on “ The Concentration of Sulphurets ;" and from Geo. H. Belden, giving some account of “The Oregon Iron Company’s Works at Oswego, Oregou ;”’ all of which will'appear next week. “A Miner” sends us a communication on tbe “ Working of Gravel Cement,’’ hut forgets to enclose his real name and address, without which no communication can receive attention. Progress or rus Russtan TeLecrapn.—The officers of the expcdition have returned to San Francisco for the winter. Some 2,000 miles of poles hnve heen thns for crected in Asia and America, and exploring parties are still in the field, preparing fora vigorous prosecution of the work in the spring. “THE WURTZ AMALGAMATION COMPANY"---EXTRAVAGANT IDEAS, The circular recently issued hy the “ Wurtz Amalgamation Company” has heen read hy ns with no little surprise. ‘The terms on whicb the compnny therein proposes to place the sodium amalgam before the public, seem to us to he) singularly ahsurd. Instead of simply selling the article, the company sells licenses to use it, ns well; and the exalted notion of its value which the managers have, is npparent from the following : “ One twentieth interest in their joint stock, or in the mining and milling property, will entitle partiss to the right Ao use the process ‘during the continuance of the patents.” It is, however, mnde optional witb the party to “ purchase the license for such sum, in cash, as mny be mutually agreed npon.” Some notion of the price which would probably be demanded, can be formed from the first quotation. The nmalgam will be sold to licensees only ; and will be, for No. 1, $3, und for No. 2, $4 per pound. Ji is scarcely necessary for us to say, thnt these terms will never he necepted. Pacific Coast miners “ don’t do husiness in that way.” Sbow them an article which will be of use to them, and they will try it, and if satisfactory, huy it; hut thsy are averse to taking out licenses, or paying royalties. “ A trade is a trade ;” a stipulated price is pnid for an article, and “there’s an end;” hut endless disputes and difficulties are the consequence of an indefinite hargain, such as one must alwnys be where the amount to he paid is dependent on & contingency. Neither would the idea of making over a portion of their interest be agreeahle to thé miners. The multiplying of partners and dividing of interests, is at best uot desirahle ; nnd to induce them to do this before it is distinctly proved-to them that they will be tbe gainers, will be impossible. Then, again, as to the «price asked. The coolness with which a one-twentieth interest is demanded iu the property of a company which may be willing to make trial of a new invention, the applicahility of which, to nll cases, is by no means estnblished, is really refreshing. Snppose the property should be worth @ million, or so, ae iu the case of the Hnyward minc? How mneb, “in cash,” would this company be willing to commute for? Probably not less than one-twentieth of that amount—sny, $50,000! Truly, a modest price! We do not wish to under-rate the valne of the sodium amnolgam. We nre satisfied that in mauy cases it is a most voluable aid in collecting the preoions metals. But there are unquestionahly some of our ores, in the working of which, ite use, sofar from being an aid, would he a positive detriment. Each claimnwner must determine for himself, hy actual experiments, varied nnd repeated ns he may choose, whether he can nse it to advantage. All the ex cathedra assertions of nll the scientific men in creation, will uot, alone, satisfy him. The miners on this coast are sufficiently acute to have lenrned hy this time tbat theory and practice do not always g0 hand in hand in mining mattere. In fnct, they hnve seen so much humbug “science,” that they are often unduly distrustful of an innovation, altbough perhnps when fairly tried it is really found to be an improvement. The action of this company is only another proof of the extraordinary ignornnce which the people of the Atlnntic States have always exbibited in regard to the monnerg and cuetome, and the “ways of thinking,” of the

people on this side of the Continent. When, however, we recall to mind tbe assertion made recently hy a Californian in New York, that he could find hut a single copy of a San Francisco journal, after searching the reading-rooms of tour or five of the principal hotels, this ignorauce will not seem so remarkable. It may be said that the course proposed hy the company is the only one by which they could protect themselves; inasmuch ns their claim covers, not the amalgain of sodium with mercury—which is not patentable—but the use of that amalgam in the working of ores. “But why sbould not the sale of a pound of the amalgam include the right to use a pound, nnd nomore? Parties detected in using the article for mining purposes, who could not show that tbey purchased it of duly accredited agents of the company, could he notified of the infringement, nnd on its repetition, prosecuted. A properly drawn circular, distributed widely throughout the mining region, wonld leave no ground for a plea of ignoraucs of the company’s rights and claims. We see scarcely more difficulty in the manngement of this patent, tban in that ofnny other. However this may be, it is certain thnt the plan annnnnced in tbe company’s circular will not answer. . We speak for their good, as well as for that of the mining cummnnity ; and it is to he hoped thnt they will so modify their present absolutely suicidal policy, as to secure, as soon as may be, a firm first footing for what is undonhtedly a valuable discovery. A SINGULAR FORMATION, Mr. George Johnson, of Auhurn, Placer county, has furnished us with some facts, witb regard to a somewhat singular formntion which was discovered sometime in September last between Spanish Dry Diggings ond Spanish Bar, on the Middle Fork of the American river, El Dorado county. ‘The discovery was made hy @ party of miners who were engaged iu ground sluicing on the hillside some 1,500 feet above ‘the bed of the stream, and consists of a welldefined vein of light taleose slate, running through a country rock of black, silicions clay slate. There is no nppearnnce of quartz in the vein, which is from four to tsn miles in width, and very rich in gold, mostly coarse and rough, like quartz gold. It is said that these men have taken out as much ag 135 ounces of gold in two weeks, by reducing the vein rock in a hand mortar aud working the snme ina pan. The company.is known by the name of Roush & Co. Sulphurets are often found in slate rock, Tich in gold, where there are no indicntion whatever of a lode of any kind. It will also be seen, from the notice we have made of the nhove mentioned discovery in El Dorndo connty, that it is not always necessary to look for quartz as the matrix of gold. When drifting through rock, for any purpose, any especial ehange thercin should be carefully noticed ; ond when sulphurets are encountered, there is specinl reason for expecting to find them containing gold in paying nuantities. An assay should always he mnde to test their value. It is but a few days since a most valuable discovery was made near Placerville, in a lode deposit, over which travel had been continucd . ever since 1849. Tbe deposit was overlooked, simply because it ehbowed no qnartz; it proved, however, to he a decomposed deposit of iron and quartz, which at two or three feet from the sorface was exceedingly ricb in gold. Miners cannot be too watchful and ohservant in tbeir labors; they douhtless often miss a fortune from lack of snficiently close observation. Persons who may be conversant witb anything noticeable in this way will confer a public henefit by communicating such information through the pnhlie press. Capinet or Narurat Cvrtosities.—Few, perhaps, are awnre tbat there is such a place as a cabinet of Natural History worth visiting to he found in the city. Passing up Pine street, a few days ago, we accidentally dropped in ot Mr. Lorquin’s establishment, a few doors above Kearny, and were aetonished at the collection he bus on band, in the form of shells, birds, hutterflies, insects, and other curiosities too numerous to he given in detnil. In addition to matters of scientific interest, there are here found skell-flowers, shell-frames, and many groups of birds for parlor ornaments; also, feathers and hirds for Indies’ bats, together with a large and rare assortnient of ornaments, all tnstefully arranged under glass, and put np expressly for the approaching holidays. Snch a variety of natural curiositiee is seldom seen, and Mr. L. is never happier than in displaying ‘formed. YALE OOLLEGE. We have received a copy of the catalogne of the officers and studeuts of this institntion for 186%. Tbe Faculty and instrnctors comprise 35 Professors and 15 ‘Tutors,in nddition to the President, Librarian and Curator. The total uumher of students is 559, divided among the respective departments, as follows : Theologicale ay seecss es see COREA A RACH Law.. nd Arts (Sheffield Schoo!),. Academical Department,,.... One of the most interesting and important departments connected with this institution is the “ Sheffield Scientific School,” founded some ten years ago, and since greatly enlarged, mainly by the enlightened heneficence of Mr. J. EK. Sheffield, whose name it henrs, and whose total donations amonnt to about $159,000. Tbe Legislature of Connecticnt has also appropriated to this institntion the Congressional land donation coming to that State. This is the only institution in the United Statss thnt fully meets the growing demnnd for scientific instruction, whieh the rapid development of the’material resonrees of tbe conntry is rendering one of our first educational necessities. Measures hnve recently been taken to or° gunize n Mining Section, in the scientific department, in-accordance with a plan sometime since Tis section will be condncted upon ‘the most approved European models, modified to meet the more practical peculiarities of American ideas, Both tbe science and practico of mining and metallurgy will be tanght in the most thorough manner, and the fullest opportunities will he afforded for lahoratory practice, including nssaying, chemical analysis, the determination of the character nnd vnlue of ores and furnace products, and the discrimination of minerals. ‘Phe lectures on mining and metallurgy will be as fulland complete as in any similar institution in Europe. This departinent is well supplied with models aud dingrams of mincs, machinery, furnaces, ete., aud reoutains a large nud ‘valuable collection of minerals systematically arranged; suitee of ores nnd fnrnace products, illustrative of minee and furnace work; an extensive collection of fossils, nrranged according to geological snecession, ete. Whe fnll course of mining will iuclude from four to six montbs’ prnctice in the field, in the study of actual mining operations and smelting works, to be followed hy special engineering or chemical studies, as applied to mining and metnllurgy. The lihrovies connected with the college, all of which are nvnilahle to students in either department, number 77,500 volnmes, emhracing every class of literature and every hranch of science. Tur Vauue of Town Szewaor.—The economical results obtained from the application of a portion of the Edinburg cewage to some meadow land near hy, is summed up in the fact that the proprietor realized the sum of $862,000 by an outlay of $22,500, in putting under irrigation ahout 250 acres of his laud with a portion of the sewage of that city. The question of the utilization of the sewage from towns and cities, is at the present time attracting a large share of attention among hoth practical and scientific men in Europe ; and numerous experiments are in progrese similar to tbe one cited ahove. We presume in that case the land was situated ata lower level than that portion of the city from whence the sewage was ohtained ; and that it was taken to the land hy artificial drniue, and not by cartage. When agricultural lande are thus situnted, relntive to city droinnge, there can he no question ns to the practicahility of ntilizing such droinage; but when the conditions are such that: drainnge must he moved by cartage, and perhaps artificially prepnred, the utilization thereof must he n matter of close calculntion. Thereynre those, however, who nre working henrtily at the prohlem, and express the fullest confidence in being able to show thnt the drainnge of almost any large town may he thus economized. The city of London is one to which mucb attention is now being given in this direction. The experiment cited nhove is certainly a most encouraging them to his visitors, who are amply repaid for) one, and leaves a large margin for nnfavornble the time passed in his cabinct. conditions. Pe eee