Volume 14 (1867) (436 pages)

136 The Mining and Srientitic Press. ining and Scientific Press, W. B. EWERy. cc cess seceeeeer cee ten sean eeeteee Senior EpitTor. ¢, W. M. SMITH. W. B. EWER. A, T, DEWEY. DEWEY & CoO., Publishers. 3vride—No.505 Clay street, coruer of Sansome, 2d floor. Terms of Subscription: Ons copy, pee Rp ie ehehise 0) six months, in advance,. oe Eee For sale by Carriers and Newsdealers. Canvassing Agents. Our Frizxps can do much in afd of our paper and the cause of practical knowledge and science, by assisting our Agents in tbeir labors of canvassing, by lending their infiuence and encouraging favors. We shall send none but worthy men. Mr, A. C. Knox, is our city soliciting and coliccttng Agent, and all subscriptions, or other favors extended to him, witli be duly acknowledged at this office. San Francisco, Jan lith, 1866. Dr, Thomas Storr is Agent forthe Minixn¢ anp Soiznwirio Puess in Nevada, and will canvass the principal cities, towus and districts of that State. August 25, 1966. Afr, L. W. Felton, is an authorized agent for this paper at Portiand, Oregon. Dec. 1, 1866. Mr. S. D. Whittaker, is our authorized Traveling Agent and Solicitor from thisdaie. Jan, 1, #67, Mr. E. L. Smith, isa duly authorized Agent for this paper. February 25, 1867. San Francisco: Saturday Morning, March 2, 1867. Notices to Correspondents. J. P. H.—Sacramento. Beach sancis worked, for gold, at a point about two and a balf miles south of Crescent City, Del Norte county. A full description of the manner of working this sand was given in our issue of August lith, 1866. One of the claims is said to pay about eight dollars per day to tbe man. One of the parties owning this claim, assures us tbat he made as high as$75 per day,in 1854, working the sands of Gold Beach, near the mouth of Rogue River. He thinks there may be other rich spots along the coast in that portion of the State. Considerable gold is found in the sand. on the river shore at Martinez, opposite Benicia. Catoriric is informed that the experiments of Mr. Joule, alluded to in a former number of this journal, appeared originally in the Phil. Tran. for 1850. They showed that the actual quantity of heat developed by friction is dependent simply upon the amount of force expended, without re. gard to the nature of the substances rubbed together. He fonnd, asa mean of forty closely concordant experiments, that when water was agitated by means of a horizontal brass paddle-wheel, made to revolve by the descent of a known weight, the temperature of one pound of water was raised 1° ¥. hy the expenditure of an amount of force sufficient to raise seven hundred and seventy-two pounds to tbe hight of one foot. When cast-iron was rubbed against iron, the force required to raise oue pound of water 1° F. was found, as a mean of twenty experiments, to be about seven hundred and seventyfive pounds, and by the agitation of mercury, by means of an iron paddle-wheel, it was found to amount to seven hundred and seventy-four pounds. Cyamo is right ; the ostrich feathers alluded to in our notice to correspondents on the 19th ult., as being directed to heimpressed on hoth sides of money permitted to be coined at Aberystwith, South ‘Wales, is the heraldic bearing of tbe Prince of Wales since the battle of Cressy, on which day it was adopted as part of the Spolia Optima by the then prince of Wales, better known historically hy the name of tho Black Prince, a cognomen applied in consequence of that memorable warrior and statesman. The King of Bohemia was one of the most steadfast and courageous allies of the Crown of France. At the battle named he was slain, his body being found amidst one of the thickest heaps of slaughteredfoes. His cap bore the hereditary insignia of three ostrich feathers, fixed in a gold wreatb, having inscribed thereon the words Ich Dien—I serve. 'Tradition also relates that the celebrated large ruby, which, however, is by some asserted to hea spinelle, which forms a conspicuous feature in the British Crown, also ornamented the cap of tbo Bohemian monarch. Be that as it may, since that date the Prince of Wales’ “Shield of Arms” has remained as above described. Cuemicus.—The solubility of suhstances by water is generally increased in proportion as the tempcraturo is elevated, hut this is not uniformly the case. Lime, and seyeral of its salts, offer remarkable exceptions. Water, just above the freezing point, dissolves nearly twice as much lime as it does when boiling, which is the cause why water, saturated with lime in very cold jweather, becomes milky when heated and recovers its transparency on cooling. tasting by Hlectricity. NUMBER TWO, {Continued from Paze 104.] As some of our readers maybe desirous of making the experiment of blasting by electricity, we will briefly describe how the thing may bedone. Nearly every one is conversant with the manner of sending ‘‘a current of electricity,” as it is called, though improperly so, from one pole through a length of wire, to the otber pole of a battery—in other words, producing an electric circuit. This circuit may be a few inches only, or it may be extended for hundreds of miles, provided the wire is properly insulated. If, in the course of the circuit, the wires should be passed through a cask of gunpowder, ever so sensitive to ignition, there would be'little danger of explosion, except with a battery strong enough to nearly destroy tbe wires. In order to fire the powder, there must be some slight interruption to the current. If the wires were to be cut where they passed through the powder, and the euds separated the eighth of an inch or soapart, the powder would be fired. When the current passes along 2 continuous wire, no spark is perceptible ; but if the wire should be cut or separated a little, as ahove described, a spark swould be seen to bridge the space between the two ends. It would he this spark which would fire the powder. Again, ifa short piece of platinum wire, say half an inch or an inch long, be joined by its opposite extremities to the two ends of the severed iron wire, so that the current. in making the circuit, would have to pass through the wire so inserted, the insulated platinum wire would instantly glow witb heat. A very slight current would heat it red hot—a heavier one would melt it. Steel wire, connecting the two ends of iron wire, willalso heat, hut not so rapidly or intensely as platinum. The heating of the platinum or steel wire, is due to the fact that those metals are bad conductors. The current is apparently retarded in its passage. Excessive friction is produced by the particles of platinum or steel, by which a small wire of either of these metals is heated red hot or even melted ; thus firing the powder. So when the current is made to cross a small open space, hetween the separated ends of the wire, friction is engendered in tbe atmosphere, so as to produce heat and a bright flame, which would also fire the powder, were it in contact thereWore a large wire to be extended from a positive to a negative cloud in the atmosphere, there would be no visible dischargo of electricity (no lightning), and of course no thunder. The phenomena of Hghtning are produced by tho friction and consequent heat generated by the rapid passage of electricity from one cloud to the otber, in the absence of any good conducting medium for its quiet passage. The reader will readily perceive, from the above, how powder is fired hy electricity, and how electricity may be sent by a continuous wire, of good conducting power, directly through a keg of powder without igniting it. The device of placing the two ends of the wire near together, but not so as to touch each other, would be found very difficult in practice ; hence, the two ends are joined by the short piece of platinum wire, which accomplishes the same purpose. The only difficulty in the way is to devise a means of doing this readily, and keep the wires from coming in contact above the point where it) is counected by tho platinum wire. We subjoin two diagrams—one, where the wires are properly arranged, and auother, where they are-hrought in contact: . Fig. 1 represents a hole, with the conextremities joined togetber with a short piece of fine platinum wire. Jig. 2 has the main wires pressed into contact with each other, as they sometimes are by inserting the charge. In the first tbe electric current will pass through the platinum wire, which it will heat to redness, and thus fire the charge; in the second, tbe current will pass from one main wire direct to tbe other, at tbeir point of contact, and not reach the platinum wire at all, because the conducting power is greater at the point of crossing than at the platinum junction. The conscquence will be that the electric current will pass through the powder, at the point where the main wires meet, witbout igniting it, and a blast so arranged will fail. The transit of the current would be the same were the main conducting wiresto meetat any other point. Sometimes, when a very powerful battery is nsed, the current will divide at the point where the two main wires meet—one portion of the current returning direct, while the other passes through the platinum wire. If the latteris sufficiently powerful, the charge will be exploded. Various devices have been contrived to prevent the wires from coming in contact during the filling and tamping of the hole, and also to secure ignition with a comparatively weak current. One very effective way may be described as follows: Take a fine cork, such as is ordinarily used for a quart bottle, cut off a section irom a quarter toa half an inch thick ; then take two pieces of wire, each of suitahle length to reach two or three inches above the hole made for the charge, and pass them hoth through the covk, about half an inch apart; this being done, connect the ends which baye thus been passed through the cork with a short piece of platinum wire, as shown in the diagram. Now, in order to keep the two wires apart, as they pass upward out of tbe holo made for the hlast, a small flat piece of pine wood may be placed endways, rcsting upon the cork, betwecn the two wires, and extending as high as the powder reaches. In order to keep the wood in place, it may be necessary to wind a string around hoth wires and wood. From that point, by careful mauipulatiou, one wire may be kept upon one side of tbe hole, and the other upon the opposite side, the tamping heing done between them. This will answer where there is no considerable amount of mineral in thetamping used, or where the rock which is being blasted is not such as would serve to conduct the current away from the wire. Tho above directions having been observed, the main wires should now be connected with the two ends of wire projecting from the hole. One of these wires should be conducted along to, and connected with one pole of the battery, and the otber with the opposite pole—care being taken,{all the while, to keep the two wires apart. Ina tunnel, one wire should he conducted along on oneside of tbetunnel, and the other upon the opposite side, to tbe battery, which should always be placed at a convenient and safe distance from the locality of the blast. It is better always that the main wire should he of ‘‘ insulated wire,” which can be obtained at the rate of about five cents per foot or less. When naked wire is used, great care must be taken to keep it off from the wet ground, and away from all conducting substances of any kind. Insulated wire can he placed anywhere—on tbe ground, above it, or even under water—uuntil it reaches the point of contact with the wire at tbe blast. The difficulty of making a charge in the manner described, and arranging the platinum connection at every discharge, may be greatly simplified, by constructing betorehand a number of ‘“‘fuses” or ‘“‘ charges ” with platinum connections, as aboye desevibed, in connection with a.small quantity of powder of a better quality than that used for tbe bulk of the charge, so that the smallest spark may be sufficient to fire the same. With ‘ fuses” so made, all the workman has to do after the hole is drilled, is to pour about half the bulk of his powder iuto the same ; theu putin the prepared fuse, pour in the baluuce of his charge, and proceed at once to tamp, taking care simply that the wires projecting from the fuse do not come in contact with each other. As soon as the charge is made, the wires of the fuse may be readily connected with the main wires, and they in tura with the battery, as will hereafter be shown. Such fuses may be made at atrifling cost—afew cents each. Fuses for this purpose are made and sold in England for less than one dollar per hundred. Tbey could probably be imported ducting wires properly inserted, and their. and sold heve for $1.50 per buudved. Different kinds of hatteries are uscd— electro-magnetic, frictional, and various kinds of voltaic batteries. Probably the best, under all circuinstances, is that; known as ‘* Grove’s battery,” which can he obtained for from three to four dollars per each cell, according to size. Three dollar cells are perhaps the most convenient for handling. For ordinary surface or tunnel blasting, from six to twelve cells are sufficient. For submarine, from twelve to eighteen may be advantageously employed. A simple framework and box for this battery can be made by any carpenter in a few hours. Tbe manner of working and taking care of this battery can be learned thorougbly iu a day. The cost of 400 feet of insulated wire—a great plenty for ordinary use—would he about $10. Common galvanized iron or copper wire, not insulated, may he used, wheu proper care is taken to insulate, as in extending telesrapb wires, and of course at a comparatively trifling cost. For six or eight blasts per day the cost of acids need not exceed three or four dollars per month. A battery will last for six montbs without any repletion other than the addition of the acids employed. At the expiration of about six months, the ziues will require renewal at a cost of about seventy-five cents per cell. The balance of the battery will last, with ordinary care, for an indefinite length of time. No person that is not well acquainted with the use of a galvanic battery ought to think of using one without some oral instruction, accompanied with practical demonstrations of the mode of its operation. Such instruction can be imparted in a day, so that any person of ordinary’ intelligence would have no difficulty with its use thereafter. The advantages of electric over ordinary blasting have already heen placcd before our readers. Much more might he added if we bad space. We shall be happy to furnish any additional information to such of our readers or correspondents as may desire it. Luorp & Srewarr’s New Ancnor.—In this anchor, the two oval flukes and the bow counecting them are in one solid piece. The bow passes through the shank, and has a play of from forty to sixty degrees, limited by a shoulder on each side. A dove-tailed key holds it in place, and it can in afew minutes be unshipped, if necessary, and a duplicate bow adjusted. The flukes, of course, move together, and both hold at once, A slight twist of each, in opposite directions from the plane of the bow, something like the twist of a fish-hook, causes ono of the two to take hold at once, when the hutt of the sbank is raised by traction upon the cable, whichever side up,tho anchor may be lying; and the moment one catches, the other must immediately follow. The advantages claimed for this anchor aro as follows: ist, the necessity for the awkward stock or cross-piece of the old style is completely done away with ; 2d, there is no possihility that the anchor can be “‘ tripped” by becoming ‘‘fouled” with its own chain, the flukes presenting no augular points which might catcb ; 3d, it need not be as heavy as the old anchor, inasmuch as both flukes hold at once ; and 4th, when hoisted to its place on the bow, it lies neatly against the sido of the vessel, with no protruding stock to interfere with anything either upon its own deck or that of another vessel alongside. Messrs. Lloyd & Stewart are San Franciscans. They have applied for a patent through the agency of the Mryrve anp Screnruvic Press. i Tse Terman Crntrau Pacrrre RainoaD Co., has recently been organized in this city, with a capital stock of four millions of dollars, for the purpose of constructing a vailroad between Goat Island and Vallejo. The names of Alpbeus Bull, Ti. B. Swain, R. E. Cole, J. Mora Moss, J. P. Flint, H. D. Bacon, W. H. L. Barnes, Rh. W. ‘Kirkham, John Bensley, Alfred L. Tubbs, and Edward P. Flint, appear in the articles of association. The survey is already commenced. ‘The plan is to cross tho straits of Carquinez by a bridge, nearly 8,000 feet in length. For a time, however, a ferry-boat will be used. Tbe distance from Goat Island to Sacramento is ninety miles. When this road is completed, tho trip will be made in about three hours.

136 The Mining and Srientitic Press. ining and Scientific Press, W. B. EWERy. cc cess seceeeeer cee ten sean eeeteee Senior EpitTor. ¢, W. M. SMITH. W. B. EWER. A, T, DEWEY. DEWEY & CoO., Publishers. 3vride—No.505 Clay street, coruer of Sansome, 2d floor. Terms of Subscription: Ons copy, pee Rp ie ehehise 0) six months, in advance,. oe Eee For sale by Carriers and Newsdealers. Canvassing Agents. Our Frizxps can do much in afd of our paper and the cause of practical knowledge and science, by assisting our Agents in tbeir labors of canvassing, by lending their infiuence and encouraging favors. We shall send none but worthy men. Mr, A. C. Knox, is our city soliciting and coliccttng Agent, and all subscriptions, or other favors extended to him, witli be duly acknowledged at this office. San Francisco, Jan lith, 1866. Dr, Thomas Storr is Agent forthe Minixn¢ anp Soiznwirio Puess in Nevada, and will canvass the principal cities, towus and districts of that State. August 25, 1966. Afr, L. W. Felton, is an authorized agent for this paper at Portiand, Oregon. Dec. 1, 1866. Mr. S. D. Whittaker, is our authorized Traveling Agent and Solicitor from thisdaie. Jan, 1, #67, Mr. E. L. Smith, isa duly authorized Agent for this paper. February 25, 1867. San Francisco: Saturday Morning, March 2, 1867. Notices to Correspondents. J. P. H.—Sacramento. Beach sancis worked, for gold, at a point about two and a balf miles south of Crescent City, Del Norte county. A full description of the manner of working this sand was given in our issue of August lith, 1866. One of the claims is said to pay about eight dollars per day to tbe man. One of the parties owning this claim, assures us tbat he made as high as$75 per day,in 1854, working the sands of Gold Beach, near the mouth of Rogue River. He thinks there may be other rich spots along the coast in that portion of the State. Considerable gold is found in the sand. on the river shore at Martinez, opposite Benicia. Catoriric is informed that the experiments of Mr. Joule, alluded to in a former number of this journal, appeared originally in the Phil. Tran. for 1850. They showed that the actual quantity of heat developed by friction is dependent simply upon the amount of force expended, without re. gard to the nature of the substances rubbed together. He fonnd, asa mean of forty closely concordant experiments, that when water was agitated by means of a horizontal brass paddle-wheel, made to revolve by the descent of a known weight, the temperature of one pound of water was raised 1° ¥. hy the expenditure of an amount of force sufficient to raise seven hundred and seventy-two pounds to tbe hight of one foot. When cast-iron was rubbed against iron, the force required to raise oue pound of water 1° F. was found, as a mean of twenty experiments, to be about seven hundred and seventyfive pounds, and by the agitation of mercury, by means of an iron paddle-wheel, it was found to amount to seven hundred and seventy-four pounds. Cyamo is right ; the ostrich feathers alluded to in our notice to correspondents on the 19th ult., as being directed to heimpressed on hoth sides of money permitted to be coined at Aberystwith, South ‘Wales, is the heraldic bearing of tbe Prince of Wales since the battle of Cressy, on which day it was adopted as part of the Spolia Optima by the then prince of Wales, better known historically hy the name of tho Black Prince, a cognomen applied in consequence of that memorable warrior and statesman. The King of Bohemia was one of the most steadfast and courageous allies of the Crown of France. At the battle named he was slain, his body being found amidst one of the thickest heaps of slaughteredfoes. His cap bore the hereditary insignia of three ostrich feathers, fixed in a gold wreatb, having inscribed thereon the words Ich Dien—I serve. 'Tradition also relates that the celebrated large ruby, which, however, is by some asserted to hea spinelle, which forms a conspicuous feature in the British Crown, also ornamented the cap of tbo Bohemian monarch. Be that as it may, since that date the Prince of Wales’ “Shield of Arms” has remained as above described. Cuemicus.—The solubility of suhstances by water is generally increased in proportion as the tempcraturo is elevated, hut this is not uniformly the case. Lime, and seyeral of its salts, offer remarkable exceptions. Water, just above the freezing point, dissolves nearly twice as much lime as it does when boiling, which is the cause why water, saturated with lime in very cold jweather, becomes milky when heated and recovers its transparency on cooling. tasting by Hlectricity. NUMBER TWO, {Continued from Paze 104.] As some of our readers maybe desirous of making the experiment of blasting by electricity, we will briefly describe how the thing may bedone. Nearly every one is conversant with the manner of sending ‘‘a current of electricity,” as it is called, though improperly so, from one pole through a length of wire, to the otber pole of a battery—in other words, producing an electric circuit. This circuit may be a few inches only, or it may be extended for hundreds of miles, provided the wire is properly insulated. If, in the course of the circuit, the wires should be passed through a cask of gunpowder, ever so sensitive to ignition, there would be'little danger of explosion, except with a battery strong enough to nearly destroy tbe wires. In order to fire the powder, there must be some slight interruption to the current. If the wires were to be cut where they passed through the powder, and the euds separated the eighth of an inch or soapart, the powder would be fired. When the current passes along 2 continuous wire, no spark is perceptible ; but if the wire should be cut or separated a little, as ahove described, a spark swould be seen to bridge the space between the two ends. It would he this spark which would fire the powder. Again, ifa short piece of platinum wire, say half an inch or an inch long, be joined by its opposite extremities to the two ends of the severed iron wire, so that the current. in making the circuit, would have to pass through the wire so inserted, the insulated platinum wire would instantly glow witb heat. A very slight current would heat it red hot—a heavier one would melt it. Steel wire, connecting the two ends of iron wire, willalso heat, hut not so rapidly or intensely as platinum. The heating of the platinum or steel wire, is due to the fact that those metals are bad conductors. The current is apparently retarded in its passage. Excessive friction is produced by the particles of platinum or steel, by which a small wire of either of these metals is heated red hot or even melted ; thus firing the powder. So when the current is made to cross a small open space, hetween the separated ends of the wire, friction is engendered in tbe atmosphere, so as to produce heat and a bright flame, which would also fire the powder, were it in contact thereWore a large wire to be extended from a positive to a negative cloud in the atmosphere, there would be no visible dischargo of electricity (no lightning), and of course no thunder. The phenomena of Hghtning are produced by tho friction and consequent heat generated by the rapid passage of electricity from one cloud to the otber, in the absence of any good conducting medium for its quiet passage. The reader will readily perceive, from the above, how powder is fired hy electricity, and how electricity may be sent by a continuous wire, of good conducting power, directly through a keg of powder without igniting it. The device of placing the two ends of the wire near together, but not so as to touch each other, would be found very difficult in practice ; hence, the two ends are joined by the short piece of platinum wire, which accomplishes the same purpose. The only difficulty in the way is to devise a means of doing this readily, and keep the wires from coming in contact above the point where it) is counected by tho platinum wire. We subjoin two diagrams—one, where the wires are properly arranged, and auother, where they are-hrought in contact: . Fig. 1 represents a hole, with the conextremities joined togetber with a short piece of fine platinum wire. Jig. 2 has the main wires pressed into contact with each other, as they sometimes are by inserting the

charge. In the first tbe electric current will pass through the platinum wire, which it will heat to redness, and thus fire the charge; in the second, tbe current will pass from one main wire direct to tbe other, at tbeir point of contact, and not reach the platinum wire at all, because the conducting power is greater at the point of crossing than at the platinum junction. The conscquence will be that the electric current will pass through the powder, at the point where the main wires meet, witbout igniting it, and a blast so arranged will fail. The transit of the current would be the same were the main conducting wiresto meetat any other point. Sometimes, when a very powerful battery is nsed, the current will divide at the point where the two main wires meet—one portion of the current returning direct, while the other passes through the platinum wire. If the latteris sufficiently powerful, the charge will be exploded. Various devices have been contrived to prevent the wires from coming in contact during the filling and tamping of the hole, and also to secure ignition with a comparatively weak current. One very effective way may be described as follows: Take a fine cork, such as is ordinarily used for a quart bottle, cut off a section irom a quarter toa half an inch thick ; then take two pieces of wire, each of suitahle length to reach two or three inches above the hole made for the charge, and pass them hoth through the covk, about half an inch apart; this being done, connect the ends which baye thus been passed through the cork with a short piece of platinum wire, as shown in the diagram. Now, in order to keep the two wires apart, as they pass upward out of tbe holo made for the hlast, a small flat piece of pine wood may be placed endways, rcsting upon the cork, betwecn the two wires, and extending as high as the powder reaches. In order to keep the wood in place, it may be necessary to wind a string around hoth wires and wood. From that point, by careful mauipulatiou, one wire may be kept upon one side of tbe hole, and the other upon the opposite side, the tamping heing done between them. This will answer where there is no considerable amount of mineral in thetamping used, or where the rock which is being blasted is not such as would serve to conduct the current away from the wire. Tho above directions having been observed, the main wires should now be connected with the two ends of wire projecting from the hole. One of these wires should be conducted along to, and connected with one pole of the battery, and the otber with the opposite pole—care being taken,{all the while, to keep the two wires apart. Ina tunnel, one wire should he conducted along on oneside of tbetunnel, and the other upon the opposite side, to tbe battery, which should always be placed at a convenient and safe distance from the locality of the blast. It is better always that the main wire should he of ‘‘ insulated wire,” which can be obtained at the rate of about five cents per foot or less. When naked wire is used, great care must be taken to keep it off from the wet ground, and away from all conducting substances of any kind. Insulated wire can he placed anywhere—on tbe ground, above it, or even under water—uuntil it reaches the point of contact with the wire at tbe blast. The difficulty of making a charge in the manner described, and arranging the platinum connection at every discharge, may be greatly simplified, by constructing betorehand a number of ‘“‘fuses” or ‘“‘ charges ” with platinum connections, as aboye desevibed, in connection with a.small quantity of powder of a better quality than that used for tbe bulk of the charge, so that the smallest spark may be sufficient to fire the same. With ‘ fuses” so made, all the workman has to do after the hole is drilled, is to pour about half the bulk of his powder iuto the same ; theu putin the prepared fuse, pour in the baluuce of his charge, and proceed at once to tamp, taking care simply that the wires projecting from the fuse do not come in contact with each other. As soon as the charge is made, the wires of the fuse may be readily connected with the main wires, and they in tura with the battery, as will hereafter be shown. Such fuses may be made at atrifling cost—afew cents each. Fuses for this purpose are made and sold in England for less than one dollar per hundred. Tbey could probably be imported ducting wires properly inserted, and their. and sold heve for $1.50 per buudved. Different kinds of hatteries are uscd— electro-magnetic, frictional, and various kinds of voltaic batteries. Probably the best, under all circuinstances, is that; known as ‘* Grove’s battery,” which can he obtained for from three to four dollars per each cell, according to size. Three dollar cells are perhaps the most convenient for handling. For ordinary surface or tunnel blasting, from six to twelve cells are sufficient. For submarine, from twelve to eighteen may be advantageously employed. A simple framework and box for this battery can be made by any carpenter in a few hours. Tbe manner of working and taking care of this battery can be learned thorougbly iu a day. The cost of 400 feet of insulated wire—a great plenty for ordinary use—would he about $10. Common galvanized iron or copper wire, not insulated, may he used, wheu proper care is taken to insulate, as in extending telesrapb wires, and of course at a comparatively trifling cost. For six or eight blasts per day the cost of acids need not exceed three or four dollars per month. A battery will last for six montbs without any repletion other than the addition of the acids employed. At the expiration of about six months, the ziues will require renewal at a cost of about seventy-five cents per cell. The balance of the battery will last, with ordinary care, for an indefinite length of time. No person that is not well acquainted with the use of a galvanic battery ought to think of using one without some oral instruction, accompanied with practical demonstrations of the mode of its operation. Such instruction can be imparted in a day, so that any person of ordinary’ intelligence would have no difficulty with its use thereafter. The advantages of electric over ordinary blasting have already heen placcd before our readers. Much more might he added if we bad space. We shall be happy to furnish any additional information to such of our readers or correspondents as may desire it. Luorp & Srewarr’s New Ancnor.—In this anchor, the two oval flukes and the bow counecting them are in one solid piece. The bow passes through the shank, and has a play of from forty to sixty degrees, limited by a shoulder on each side. A dove-tailed key holds it in place, and it can in afew minutes be unshipped, if necessary, and a duplicate bow adjusted. The flukes, of course, move together, and both hold at once, A slight twist of each, in opposite directions from the plane of the bow, something like the twist of a fish-hook, causes ono of the two to take hold at once, when the hutt of the sbank is raised by traction upon the cable, whichever side up,tho anchor may be lying; and the moment one catches, the other must immediately follow. The advantages claimed for this anchor aro as follows: ist, the necessity for the awkward stock or cross-piece of the old style is completely done away with ; 2d, there is no possihility that the anchor can be “‘ tripped” by becoming ‘‘fouled” with its own chain, the flukes presenting no augular points which might catcb ; 3d, it need not be as heavy as the old anchor, inasmuch as both flukes hold at once ; and 4th, when hoisted to its place on the bow, it lies neatly against the sido of the vessel, with no protruding stock to interfere with anything either upon its own deck or that of another vessel alongside. Messrs. Lloyd & Stewart are San Franciscans. They have applied for a patent through the agency of the Mryrve anp Screnruvic Press. i Tse Terman Crntrau Pacrrre RainoaD Co., has recently been organized in this city, with a capital stock of four millions of dollars, for the purpose of constructing a vailroad between Goat Island and Vallejo. The names of Alpbeus Bull, Ti. B. Swain, R. E. Cole, J. Mora Moss, J. P. Flint, H. D. Bacon, W. H. L. Barnes, Rh. W. ‘Kirkham, John Bensley, Alfred L. Tubbs, and Edward P. Flint, appear in the articles of association. The survey is already commenced. ‘The plan is to cross tho straits of Carquinez by a bridge, nearly 8,000 feet in length. For a time, however, a ferry-boat will be used. Tbe distance from Goat Island to Sacramento is ninety miles. When this road is completed, tho trip will be made in about three hours.