Volume 17 (1868) (428 pages)

The Mining and Scientific Press. 249 Evans’ Corrugated Riffte and Concen. The American Watch Manufactory, Bt veccous why #0 make afin by ma-. fast increased. At the great Wontar factrator. Mr. Geo. R. Evans, of Virginia City, has been exhibiting during the weel, on Clay street below Battery, a moditication of the ordinary amalgamated copper riffle plates, in nse in the qnartz mills, and sometimes in shallow placer claims, which possesses poculiar features worthy attention. Instead of being angular in profile, the unoven surface over which the pulp passes is corrngated, like the matcrial forming the walls of the iron honses which every Californian linsseen; or ‘‘ hollow and ronud,” as the inventor aptly designates it. The corrugation is exactly semi-cirenlar, and therein lies the chief peculiarity; the effect of the stine being that tlie particles of one are so tussed, rolled and ground against each other, as to he alternately under the sway of the current, and thrown off successively into aseries of cddies. An idea of the manner in which even light particles, like splinters of wood, are revolyed in these frothing eddies, can be obtained only by Witnessing the operation. After returning into the eddy five or six times, depending upon the quantity of waterlet on, the splinter finally reecives an impetus from the eurrent which carries it over into the next corrngation, where the tossing and grinding are repeated. Any other shaped riffle than that of semicirenlar corrugation, cneounters the diffieulty of caking, rendering useless the amalgamated copper surface, as well as mnchof the mechanical advantage of the riffles, by filling them up. Numberless experiments with riffles of differently shaped profile, made since last Jannary, finally bronght Mr, Evans to the “hollow and ronnd;” the satisfactory operation of which seoms to have won his unbounded approval, and confidence. Eyery seeond corrngation, or hollow, has along slit at the hottom through which the quicksilver and amalgam are enabled to escajeinto a scries of boxes or tanks underneath, where the principle of overflowing is made use of to cffcat a further concentration; while the intermediate hollow which has no slit in it is intended to hold and expose constantly to the ore a small quantity of quicksilver. The dimensions of a rifle suitable for a 20-stamp mill are two feet in width and twelve feet in length, and the corrngation semi-circles, are three inches in diameter. It is claimed that this appliance will entirely supersede the use of blankets. In placer and gravel mining the same thing is intended to be applied, but made of cast iron, amalgamated by a process known to the parties interested, so as to cost hnt little. Where heavy stones passing over wonld wear down the corrugations too severely, it is proposed that they shall be proteeted by grate bars, which will let through only the finer dirt. It wonld be necessary to remove the amalgam, either on the riffles or in the boxes underneath, but once in 24 hours. From one to three pounds of quicksilver are admitted to he lost to the ton of ore, it is: stated, on au average, in the treatment of Washoe rock. Mr. Evans thinks he will reduce this loss by more than half, and that the average product of $65 ont of the $100 of silver in the rock, can also be materially inereased. A patent has been applied for through the Mryine anp ScrenTivic Press Parent Acrncy. Perrons destring further information, ean obtain the same throngh 8. P. Taylor, No. 319 Clay street, who is the general agent. Frre-Proor Froorine.—A new fire-proof flooring has beeu adopted in all the corn stores of the General Omnibus Company in Paris. It is made by spreading upon the planks a layer of clay about an inch in thickness, and running upon this a layer of asphalt ahout half an inch thick. Numerous experiments, it is said, have proved the elicacy of this as a protestion agaiust the spread of fire. Waltham, Mass. As a matter of interest to every one, who has been placed on this mundane sphore in order to lenrn to ‘‘take a note of timo” before trying the intinities of the world beyond, we furnish our readers this weck with a few facts concerning that great development of pecnliarly American industry and talent—the Watch Mauufactory of Waltham, Mass.—whieh will not fail to be read with satisfaction. The data are derived from a letter published in the New York Tribune, written hy an excellent correspondent who visited the establishment, It is only necessary to add, for the information of Californians, that R. B. Gray & Co. of No. 616 Merchant street, are the agents of the American Watch Company for California, The principle of making clocks hy machinery, has long been applied, having driyen out foreigncompctition. Bnt the watch, so minnte and so delicate, seemed to offer insuperable obstacles. Fifteen years ago, two sangnine, plucky Bostonians, who made watches by hand, originated a project for making them by machinery. Infnsing their own zeal iuto neighbors, they formed a stock company, obtained $100,000 in subscriptions, and in 1854 the daring enterchinery, while no other nation ean, lies in the avcrage native ingenuity of the Ameriean mind. _ Lhe nico minnteness of these machines is ‘incredible, It is the crowning iniracle of modern mechanisin. he little scales in our national mints will weigh 1-5,000th part ofan onnce of gold; but these automatie watch-mukers are greater imurvels. Here are instruments cutting thrends, invisihle to the naked eye, in screws of which 300,000 weigh only a pound! Here are exquisite sapphire knives, cutting metallic shayings of which 5,000 are required to make one ineh in thickness! Here aro microscopn diamond drills, boring into jewels holes like « needle-point! Here are inyentions for measuring as well—machines which determine the 1-10,000th part of an inch, in pivot or jewel hole, as casily and unerring as the carpenter’s rule measures one foot on a stick of timber! The factory in Waltham is in a qnict inclosnre of seventy acres, far from noise and dnst. It is an immense structnre, more than 300 feet long, with wings and crosswings, inelosing great quadrangular courts, Its rooms are light and cheery, like parlors rather than the old close, foul quarters of operatives. Three quarters of a mile of work henches; seven miles of steam, gas and water pipes; 750 employés, under the ten-hour system — oue-third are women, jwho do the work reqniring lightness of ‘touch, quickness, patience. In these qual. ities they excel the men. In accuracy and ;precision they equal them; in ingenuity they fall below. When, outof routine, one prise practically began. It was up-hill is ‘‘ posed” by some new mechanical obsta-' tory onn may read its history. Here a win g, there another, beyond a third, added yenr by year, to meet the growing waut. Every season, except 1561, when we were all paralyzed, is commemorated by some such enlargement. The business, which was bankrnpt in 1857, has growu so rapidly that eight years later the company manufactured 80,000 watches annually. It turns outa complete watch during every two and a half minutes of the working day! The single single factory in Massachusetts, under one roof and one snpervision, produces more watehes annually than all the watchmakers of old England combined. This tells the story, The laws of demand and supply are unfailing registers. Other watch factories are beginning to spring up, East and West; but the American company of Waltham is the pioneer; and thus far, practically, it has oceupied the field alone. Its history marks the origin and growth of 4n interesting and impgrtant hranch of our uational mannfactnres. It not only proves that Americans alone can make watches hy machinery, watches which are cheaper, simpler, more dnrable, and keep better time than the same foreign grades. It is American skilled industry, working hy machinery and well paid, steadily displacing Enropcan skilled industry, working by hand and ill paid. Most American watches are consumed at home, though orders begin to come in from Cuba and Sonth America. But sooner or later, we shall furnish pocket time-keeps to the world, It is manifest destiny. In New York, recently, we had occasion to visit the office of Messrs, work; little capital; no experience; no protection; everything to learn; every stave of steel and iron to be created and fashioned before it could do their bidding. They toiled on till 1857, and then failed. Their establishment was sold under the hammer. But they had solved the problem; they were making watches hy machinery. Mr. Royal E. Robbins, on behalf of other parties, bonght the estahlishmeut, and afterward, to secure himself, had no alternative but to carry it on alone. There were many dark days. Existing machines were imperfect. New ones, too, mnst be invented, for much work was still done by hand. Many mutations occurred; but Mr. Robbins, with unaltering faith, invested his every dollar in the enterprise, and adhered to it through all changes. He converted it into a stock association, ealled the American Watch Company, and he is still its treasurer and business mauager. Foreign watches are made hy hand, no two exactly alike; each an individnal; each subject to the nerves, caprice, idiosyneraeies of the maker. Bunt our mannfactnrers began by making a watch—like a stcara engine—solely hy machinery, and with exact uniformity’of parts. They have advanced steadily, learning, improving, perfecting, year by year. Their idea was purely American; their machines have all heen invented, made and run hy Americans. All have originated with their own employés, just as the most ingenious improvements in California and Idaho quartz mills spring from the working mechanics and miners. . Indeed, the company are satisfied that the THE AMERICAN WATCH MANUFACTORY, AT WALTHAM, MASS. cele, her tendency is, not to overcome it hy herself, bnt to take the refractory bit of steel, or brass, or jewel, to the bench of her nearest masculine neighbor, and ask his help. The company make six different sizes. The largest, very heavy and solid, is humorously known as the ‘‘ Boston style;” your Bostonian likes a great deal of watch for his money. The smallest is an exqnisite, dainty little ornament for ladies. Ornament, becanse did anybody ever know a lady’s watch to be right? It is always too fast, or too slow; or the key was lost last week; or that bungling jeweler spoiled it in repairing. It has not pleased Heaven to endow lovely woman with genius for keeping a watch in order. The American watgh has some obvions advautages. It is American, from Alpha to Omega. It is cheaper at first cost than foreign competitors. It is simpler; it contains less than half as mauy pieces, and every new piece involves a new liahility to break. It is easier of repair. Besides, the higher grades are warrauted perpetually against all mishaps arising from any original defect or weakness. And it hids fair to bo more durable. But how does it keep time? That, after all, is the only question. Its success must be tho best answer. The character of a watch is self revealing. This, on its intrinsic merits, had to fight old prejudice, tradecombinations, ostablished reputations. In ten years it has practically driven out of our markets the English watch, which was our staple importatiou and in most common use among Ixboring men, and largely taken the place of other less costly foreign watches, After careful testing it has been adopted as the standard on the Peunsylvania Central, New York Central, and other leading railways, where correct time is an absolute necessity. The demand for it has Robhins & Appleton, No. 282 Broadway, general agents for the American Watch Company. We are impressed from our intercourse that they are gentlemen well worthy of the liberal and increasing patronage with which they aro meeting. 2 LipraRiaAN oF THE MrcHanics’ Insrrrure.—Mr. G. C. Hurlbut has just been appointed Librarian of the Mechanics’ Institnte, in placeof Mr. J. B. Pieree, who has served faithfully for a number of gars a3 Librarian and Assistant Librarian, and who has enjoyed the esteem and confidence of members and others. Mr. Pierce goes to farming in one of the lower counties, which will doubtless be more conducive to his health. The Board of Directors last Tuesday evening passed a resolution expressing much satisfaction with his connection with the Institute, and giving him a vote of thanks, making him at the same time a life member of the Institnte for his efficient services. Mr. Riddle has also resigned as Assistant Librarian, and Mr, W. §. Stoddart has been appointed Assistant Libraran. Sana Mens, Sano Corporn.—tif you are half sick and sad at heart, don’t go to Lone Mountain, as you may be inclined to do, but take the Market or Howard street cars and spend three hours at Woodward's Gardens. Yon will not commit suicide— not a bit of it. i The following is an extract from a private letter written by te Proprietors of the Plantation Bitters: “We had no conception of the wide-spread suffering which exists, or of the almost infallible cures produced by the Plantation Barrens, when we first commenced offering them for sale. We now find that every house has a weak child, an ailing parent, or debililated aged member, who need this Tonie. Our Laboratory has grown from asingle room to an immense building, and our sales from a few bottles to many hundred dozens per day, and we are glad to know that they have dono you so much good. * NOTICE. TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN.—Notice is hereby given, that 1am the first discoverer, first locator, and first Recorfer of the Morcy District, Nye County, Nevada, and I warn all persons from buying any interest in the said Morey mines until [prove my title to be perfect and lawful to said mines. THOS. J. BARNES. Austin, Nev , Oct. 9, 1868. 16cl7 lin

The Mining and Scientific Press. 249 Evans’ Corrugated Riffte and Concen. The American Watch Manufactory, Bt veccous why #0 make afin by ma-. fast increased. At the great Wontar factrator. Mr. Geo. R. Evans, of Virginia City, has been exhibiting during the weel, on Clay street below Battery, a moditication of the ordinary amalgamated copper riffle plates, in nse in the qnartz mills, and sometimes in shallow placer claims, which possesses poculiar features worthy attention. Instead of being angular in profile, the unoven surface over which the pulp passes is corrngated, like the matcrial forming the walls of the iron honses which every Californian linsseen; or ‘‘ hollow and ronud,” as the inventor aptly designates it. The corrugation is exactly semi-cirenlar, and therein lies the chief peculiarity; the effect of the stine being that tlie particles of one are so tussed, rolled and ground against each other, as to he alternately under the sway of the current, and thrown off successively into aseries of cddies. An idea of the manner in which even light particles, like splinters of wood, are revolyed in these frothing eddies, can be obtained only by Witnessing the operation. After returning into the eddy five or six times, depending upon the quantity of waterlet on, the splinter finally reecives an impetus from the eurrent which carries it over into the next corrngation, where the tossing and grinding are repeated. Any other shaped riffle than that of semicirenlar corrugation, cneounters the diffieulty of caking, rendering useless the amalgamated copper surface, as well as mnchof the mechanical advantage of the riffles, by filling them up. Numberless experiments with riffles of differently shaped profile, made since last Jannary, finally bronght Mr, Evans to the “hollow and ronnd;” the satisfactory operation of which seoms to have won his unbounded approval, and confidence. Eyery seeond corrngation, or hollow, has along slit at the hottom through which the quicksilver and amalgam are enabled to escajeinto a scries of boxes or tanks underneath, where the principle of overflowing is made use of to cffcat a further concentration; while the intermediate hollow which has no slit in it is intended to hold and expose constantly to the ore a small quantity of quicksilver. The dimensions of a rifle suitable for a 20-stamp mill are two feet in width and twelve feet in length, and the corrngation semi-circles, are three inches in diameter. It is claimed that this appliance will entirely supersede the use of blankets. In placer and gravel mining the same thing is intended to be applied, but made of cast iron, amalgamated by a process known to the parties interested, so as to cost hnt little. Where heavy stones passing over wonld wear down the corrugations too severely, it is proposed that they shall be proteeted by grate bars, which will let through only the finer dirt. It wonld be necessary to remove the amalgam, either on the riffles or in the boxes underneath, but once in 24 hours. From one to three pounds of quicksilver are admitted to he lost to the ton of ore, it is: stated, on au average, in the treatment of Washoe rock. Mr. Evans thinks he will reduce this loss by more than half, and that the average product of $65 ont of the $100 of silver in the rock, can also be materially inereased. A patent has been applied for through the Mryine anp ScrenTivic Press Parent Acrncy. Perrons destring further information, ean obtain the same throngh 8. P. Taylor, No. 319 Clay street, who is the general agent. Frre-Proor Froorine.—A new fire-proof flooring has beeu adopted in all the corn stores of the General Omnibus Company in Paris. It is made by spreading upon the planks a layer of clay about an inch in thickness, and running upon this a layer of asphalt ahout half an inch thick. Numerous experiments, it is said, have proved the elicacy of this as a protestion agaiust the spread of fire. Waltham, Mass. As a matter of interest to every one, who has been placed on this mundane sphore in order to lenrn to ‘‘take a note of timo” before trying the intinities of the world beyond, we furnish our readers this weck with a few facts concerning that great development of pecnliarly American industry and talent—the Watch Mauufactory of Waltham, Mass.—whieh will not fail to be read with satisfaction. The data are derived from a letter published in the New York Tribune, written hy an excellent correspondent who visited the establishment, It is only necessary to add, for the information of Californians, that R. B. Gray & Co. of No. 616 Merchant street, are the agents of the American Watch Company for California, The principle of making clocks hy machinery, has long been applied, having driyen out foreigncompctition. Bnt the watch, so minnte and so delicate, seemed to offer insuperable obstacles. Fifteen years ago, two sangnine, plucky Bostonians, who made watches by hand, originated a project for making them by machinery. Infnsing their own zeal iuto neighbors, they formed a stock company, obtained $100,000 in subscriptions, and in 1854 the daring enterchinery, while no other nation ean, lies in the avcrage native ingenuity of the Ameriean mind. _ Lhe nico minnteness of these machines is ‘incredible, It is the crowning iniracle of modern mechanisin. he little scales in our national mints will weigh 1-5,000th part ofan onnce of gold; but these automatie watch-mukers are greater imurvels. Here are instruments cutting thrends, invisihle to the naked eye, in screws of which 300,000 weigh only a pound! Here are exquisite sapphire knives, cutting metallic shayings of which 5,000 are required to make one ineh in thickness! Here aro microscopn diamond drills, boring into jewels holes like « needle-point! Here are inyentions for measuring as well—machines which determine the 1-10,000th part of an inch, in pivot or jewel hole, as casily and unerring as the carpenter’s rule measures one foot on a stick of timber! The factory in Waltham is in a qnict inclosnre of seventy acres, far from noise and dnst. It is an immense structnre, more than 300 feet long, with wings and crosswings, inelosing great quadrangular courts, Its rooms are light and cheery, like parlors rather than the old close, foul quarters of operatives. Three quarters of a mile of work henches; seven miles of steam, gas and water pipes; 750 employés, under the ten-hour system — oue-third are women, jwho do the work reqniring lightness of ‘touch, quickness, patience. In these qual. ities they excel the men. In accuracy and ;precision they equal them; in ingenuity they fall below. When, outof routine, one prise practically began. It was up-hill is ‘‘ posed” by some new mechanical obsta-' tory onn may read its history. Here a win g, there another, beyond a third, added yenr by year, to meet the growing waut. Every season, except 1561, when we were all paralyzed, is commemorated by some such enlargement. The business, which was bankrnpt in 1857, has growu so rapidly that eight years later the company manufactured 80,000 watches annually. It turns outa complete watch during every two and a half minutes of the working day! The single single factory in Massachusetts, under one roof and one snpervision, produces more watehes annually than all the watchmakers of old England combined. This tells the story, The laws of demand and supply are unfailing registers. Other watch factories are beginning to spring up, East and West; but the American company

of Waltham is the pioneer; and thus far, practically, it has oceupied the field alone. Its history marks the origin and growth of 4n interesting and impgrtant hranch of our uational mannfactnres. It not only proves that Americans alone can make watches hy machinery, watches which are cheaper, simpler, more dnrable, and keep better time than the same foreign grades. It is American skilled industry, working hy machinery and well paid, steadily displacing Enropcan skilled industry, working by hand and ill paid. Most American watches are consumed at home, though orders begin to come in from Cuba and Sonth America. But sooner or later, we shall furnish pocket time-keeps to the world, It is manifest destiny. In New York, recently, we had occasion to visit the office of Messrs, work; little capital; no experience; no protection; everything to learn; every stave of steel and iron to be created and fashioned before it could do their bidding. They toiled on till 1857, and then failed. Their establishment was sold under the hammer. But they had solved the problem; they were making watches hy machinery. Mr. Royal E. Robbins, on behalf of other parties, bonght the estahlishmeut, and afterward, to secure himself, had no alternative but to carry it on alone. There were many dark days. Existing machines were imperfect. New ones, too, mnst be invented, for much work was still done by hand. Many mutations occurred; but Mr. Robbins, with unaltering faith, invested his every dollar in the enterprise, and adhered to it through all changes. He converted it into a stock association, ealled the American Watch Company, and he is still its treasurer and business mauager. Foreign watches are made hy hand, no two exactly alike; each an individnal; each subject to the nerves, caprice, idiosyneraeies of the maker. Bunt our mannfactnrers began by making a watch—like a stcara engine—solely hy machinery, and with exact uniformity’of parts. They have advanced steadily, learning, improving, perfecting, year by year. Their idea was purely American; their machines have all heen invented, made and run hy Americans. All have originated with their own employés, just as the most ingenious improvements in California and Idaho quartz mills spring from the working mechanics and miners. . Indeed, the company are satisfied that the THE AMERICAN WATCH MANUFACTORY, AT WALTHAM, MASS. cele, her tendency is, not to overcome it hy herself, bnt to take the refractory bit of steel, or brass, or jewel, to the bench of her nearest masculine neighbor, and ask his help. The company make six different sizes. The largest, very heavy and solid, is humorously known as the ‘‘ Boston style;” your Bostonian likes a great deal of watch for his money. The smallest is an exqnisite, dainty little ornament for ladies. Ornament, becanse did anybody ever know a lady’s watch to be right? It is always too fast, or too slow; or the key was lost last week; or that bungling jeweler spoiled it in repairing. It has not pleased Heaven to endow lovely woman with genius for keeping a watch in order. The American watgh has some obvions advautages. It is American, from Alpha to Omega. It is cheaper at first cost than foreign competitors. It is simpler; it contains less than half as mauy pieces, and every new piece involves a new liahility to break. It is easier of repair. Besides, the higher grades are warrauted perpetually against all mishaps arising from any original defect or weakness. And it hids fair to bo more durable. But how does it keep time? That, after all, is the only question. Its success must be tho best answer. The character of a watch is self revealing. This, on its intrinsic merits, had to fight old prejudice, tradecombinations, ostablished reputations. In ten years it has practically driven out of our markets the English watch, which was our staple importatiou and in most common use among Ixboring men, and largely taken the place of other less costly foreign watches, After careful testing it has been adopted as the standard on the Peunsylvania Central, New York Central, and other leading railways, where correct time is an absolute necessity. The demand for it has Robhins & Appleton, No. 282 Broadway, general agents for the American Watch Company. We are impressed from our intercourse that they are gentlemen well worthy of the liberal and increasing patronage with which they aro meeting. 2 LipraRiaAN oF THE MrcHanics’ Insrrrure.—Mr. G. C. Hurlbut has just been appointed Librarian of the Mechanics’ Institnte, in placeof Mr. J. B. Pieree, who has served faithfully for a number of gars a3 Librarian and Assistant Librarian, and who has enjoyed the esteem and confidence of members and others. Mr. Pierce goes to farming in one of the lower counties, which will doubtless be more conducive to his health. The Board of Directors last Tuesday evening passed a resolution expressing much satisfaction with his connection with the Institute, and giving him a vote of thanks, making him at the same time a life member of the Institnte for his efficient services. Mr. Riddle has also resigned as Assistant Librarian, and Mr, W. §. Stoddart has been appointed Assistant Libraran. Sana Mens, Sano Corporn.—tif you are half sick and sad at heart, don’t go to Lone Mountain, as you may be inclined to do, but take the Market or Howard street cars and spend three hours at Woodward's Gardens. Yon will not commit suicide— not a bit of it. i The following is an extract from a private letter written by te Proprietors of the Plantation Bitters: “We had no conception of the wide-spread suffering which exists, or of the almost infallible cures produced by the Plantation Barrens, when we first commenced offering them for sale. We now find that every house has a weak child, an ailing parent, or debililated aged member, who need this Tonie. Our Laboratory has grown from asingle room to an immense building, and our sales from a few bottles to many hundred dozens per day, and we are glad to know that they have dono you so much good. * NOTICE. TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN.—Notice is hereby given, that 1am the first discoverer, first locator, and first Recorfer of the Morcy District, Nye County, Nevada, and I warn all persons from buying any interest in the said Morey mines until [prove my title to be perfect and lawful to said mines. THOS. J. BARNES. Austin, Nev , Oct. 9, 1868. 16cl7 lin