Volume 20 (1870) (454 pages)

234 SCIENTIFIC PRESS: Aprit 9,1870, Communications. Mills and Mines of Colorado.—No. X. BY ALMARIN B. PAUL. [Written for the Scientific Press.] Down towards the plains and fine mills from Empire and Georgetown is Mill City, a locality of few buildings, and having really a deserted appearance. As tothe mill part, it being at the time 7° below zero, I did not take time to investigate. There are, I understand, several in the vicinity, none, however, in 2 prosperous condition. Fall? River. Four miles further on, is Fall river, where comfortable quarters were obteined for the night. This is more of 2 mill locality than the ahove-mentioned place. A good hot fire being more comfortahle than the state of weather outside, I concluded that those of whom I made inquiry would certainly tell the truth. From what I gathered of this locality, there are a number of mills in the vicinity, some of which are running, and, although notas dividendpaying institutions, yet hopeful, considering the condition of Colorado ores and their present system of working; it takes a great deal of hope to run most of the mines. Her ores are much more expensive to treat than those of California or Nevada. Her gold orss are not worked to exceed 30 per cent., and in some mills, with certain kinds, not to thatsmount. All her silver ores must“be roasted to gain a high percentage, and thoroughly roasted at that. All ore is heavily loaded with either sulphur, lead, copper, antimony or iron, and too often all together. Prices. The only cheap item is lahor, which they have reduced to $3 per day in currency. As I found prices for general articles, they were from 25 to 50 per cent. above even California rates, and yet Colorado is go much nearer to Chicago. But Colorado is a mining country, and all mining countries are ahle to pay the higgest kind of prices —and drag along slowly in consequence. This heavy pressure of prices rnins everybody, even those who obtain them, as it holds back progress with a curb-bit power. Considering the advantages Colorsdo has in location, as far as regards proximity to unbounded capitsl, a few days’ ride from New York, and with St. Louis iron works brought within thirty-five miles by rail, ag it will he ina few months, of the mostactive and valuahle portion of her mining territory, I thought Colorado—before seeing it—a very inviting country; but, allthings considered, I was rather disappointed. Some Coloradians msy think I look atonly one side of the question, but I endeavor to divest myself of all prejudice and look facis square in the face, and talkthem out. There is, however, an atmosphere here that tends to prejudice—that feels uncomfortable for a stranger. One can hardly tell what itis, though he can feel it. Itis not that frank, free, outspoken manner that exists among men of the same pursuit on this coast. ‘‘No Admittance” may convey the idea. I met, however, several very pleasant exceptions to what I consider the general rule. Cold Weather. But Tam digressing. The next morning opened as cold as the day previous, and very windy. Meeting one of those enduring miners, who always takes ‘‘ short cuts,’” whether he scales mountains or not, and he being houndto Central, ‘‘’cross the range,” ajaunt of five miles to save five, I concluded to accompany him; so bundling up in apair of California blankets we started. It was very cold—several degrees below zero—and the wind, seemingly, about 40° lower yet. In time, we gained the snmmit, which is about 10,000 feet high. We here found it blowing a gale, with snow and cold to rather an alarming degree. It was the roughest time I ever experienced. The Rocky Mountains of Colorado are not miniature hills; thoy loom up in bold and solid heights, and, as in this instance, are at times the scenes of terrific storms. The whole mining region is ahove the ayerage height of California. To give a more exact idea, the mountains range from 8,000 to 15,000 feet above the level of the Bea. Nevada, Central City and Black Hawk, as we look down upon them, with their innumerable smoke-siacks and buildings, have the appearance of a chaotic mass—a pee-hive of industry. I must not, however, enlarge on them in this letter, which is already sufficiently long. The weather of which I have spoken must be taken ag an exceptional cold-snap, though about Empire and Georgetown it is cold enough during the winter to suit almost anyone, whethor from the State of Maine or from Texas, California Marbles, [Written for the Scientific Press.] Although California contains an abundance of marble of great beauty and variety, most of that used in San Francisco is imported from Italy or New York. This fact may be attributed to the want of good roads and of cheap transportation. There are many localities in this State where quarries of marble are known to exist, but, with few exceptions, they remain undeveloped. A large belt of limestone traverses the State from north to south, between the foothills and the Sierras. This belt abounds in white or grayish, and, in numerous plsces, in beautifully variegated marble. The following list presents some of the localities where this article is found : Suasta County.—On McCloud river isa qnite extensive quarry of gray and white marble of a good quality, and susceptible of a fine polish. Bourre County.—At Butte creek, about forty miles from Oroville, exist gray and white marbles of a good quality and in considerable quantity. Sonano Counry.—In the Pelevo Hills, a short distance north of the city of Suisun, is a hsndgome marble of various sbades of brown and yellow beautifully blended in bands and threads, and susceptible of a high polish, which would make vsry fine ornamental work. This is about tbe only locality where this variety of marble has been found in this State. Nevapa County.—About eight miles northeast of Nevada city, on South Yuba river, is an extensive quarry of marble of a dark variegated color. Puaczr County.—There is a quarry of nearly white marble on the Appleton ranch, about seven miles from Colfax, snd about two miles from the railroad. In the mountains bordering on the Bear river, ahout two miles to the east of the town of Colfax, isa fine quarry of marble, which differs from all others found on this coast, being a dark gray with jet black venation, which, whsn polished, is very beautiful. The mantles in the new Bank of California are made of this marble. Ex, Dorapo Counry.—At Indian Diggings there is a large quarry of marble coarsely marked with gray and black, and some of which is almost white. It is very beautiful, and is susceptible of a bigh polish, which it retains well for years. A large number of monuments have been made of this marble. Amapor County.—Iu the vicinity of Fiddletown exists a quarry of marble of a pale-gray color and excellent quality in quite extensive amounts. TuonuMNE County.—On the road hetween Murphy’s and Columbia, on the south fork of Stanislaus river, near Abhey’s Ferry, about seventy miles from Stockton, there is marhle nearly white, with palegray pencilings. The quality of the marble is fine, and has improved with the depth of the workings. Some of the handsomest monuments in the State are made of this marble; that erected to the memory of the late Senator Broderick, in the Lone Mountain Cemetery, at San Francisco, is a beautiful specimen. Blocks twenty feet square, without flaw or blemish, may be ohtained from this quarry. On the south side of the road, between Gold Springs and Columhia, there are bodies of marble of almost a jetty blackness, perhaps colored by manganese. On Maletot Gulch, shout one mile nortbeast of Columbia, there is a deposit of marble which, perhaps through the action of salts of iron, has heen mottled with red, brown, yellow, blue and green spots, which would he beautiful for ornamental work. At Mormon Gulch, about three miles to the west of this, are masses of marhle of very fine texture veined with pale green, perhaps hy the action of chlorine. All these marhles are of good quality and susceptible of a high polish, and will, in time, undouhtedly form a valuahle commodity. There are numerous other localities in this State where marble is found, but has not heen as yet developed, and which, perhaps, when examined, will be found to afford a still greater variety. . Victoria, we were told hy the highest auThe Gold Fields of Victoria—No. 3. {Written for the Scientific Press.] It may not be known generally that when gold was discovered in California the present flourishing colony of Victoria had not been christened; that the great city of Melbonrne was merely a village, with sheep grazing where to-day stand buildings which for magnificence would do credit to any city in any part of the world; that ths chief pursuits of the colonists were tending sheep and herding cattle; that some of the colonists left these ‘pursuits for the newly discovered gold fields of California—among these a Mr. Hargreaves, who, upon bis arrival at the mines here, was so much strnck by the similarity of formation and general appsarance of the country to his own, that he told his companions of his confidence in hig ability to find gold at home, and expressed a determination to return immediately. He returned and did discover gold, and although his claim to priority has been disputed, he is entitled to great credit for his sagacity. Gold was practically discovered in 1851. The mines were rich, and population flocked from all quarters, and the colony, which in 1850 had been christened ‘Victoria,” grew with a rapidity equalled only by California. Early Predictions and thefr Non-fulfillment. Mr. R. Brough Smyth, in his ‘‘ Gold} Fields and Mineral Districts of Victoria,” . published in 1869, says: ‘‘When the first important discovery of gold was made in thorities that the shallow alluvium would soon be exhausted, and when that time arrived we would he hurthened with a dissolute populstion, who would hring ruin upon ths country. When the quartz veins were opened and the richesthey contain were aseertained, we were told that vein mining is never profitable beyond a depth of sixty or seventy feet, and that we should invest no capital in adventures whicb, the history of gold-mining has told us are never profitable. When ths rich deep leads were trsced under the basalt at Ballarat we were warned against being over sanguine, ag the occurrence of such deposits was merely local. Fortunately for the colony these prophecies have not been fulfilled. We can point to several towns depending wholly on the mines for their support and inhahited by miners, where order and regulsr industry are conspicuous, where substantial and wsll conducted institutions for the relief of suffering and the spread of knowledge have been originated and are supported by the miners, and where municipal laws are more cheerfully obeyed than in any town in England. Ths shallow alluviumssrs not yet completely exhausted. Our qusrtz veins, notwithstsnding the expense incident to the procuring of the vein-stuff from depths exceeding 700 feet, maintain their character, and may, because of their value and their great, horizontal and vertical extent, hereafter exceed in importance even the deep leads. The deep leads are not confined to the district of Ballarat, hutextend over an area so extensive that it is impossible to say when the last of them will be opened.” Mining Statistics. From the same authority{we quote the following statistics: Up to Dee. 31, 1868, 5,811,669 tons of quartz had heen erushed, which yielded an average of 114 dwt. ($11.50) per ton of 2,240pounds. The number of gold mining companies (quartz and alluvial) registered in the several courts was 2,471; the number of shares, 7,481,205; the nominal capital, £24,431, 205 ($122, 156,025). The estimated value of all the claims in the Colony is, according to the information conveyed hy the share lists and estimations, £8,869, 504 ($44,347,520), more than one-third thenominal value. It is estimated that not more than ten per cent of the nominal capital has beeu paid up. Pithe length of water races constructed hy the miners is 2,434 miles. They cost $1,551,350, or atthe rate of ahout $6387+4 amile. The total amount of revenue derived directly from the gold fields, in the shape of fees for gold licenses, miners’ rights, business licenses, rents, ete., from 1851 to 1868 inclusive, is $26,057,329. 77. GoldProduction. © The gross amount of gold exported, from . €, D. ¥. the discovery in 1850 to Dec. 31, 1868, was. Behe G21 % oz.; at $20 per oz., $736,713,Taking the mean number of miners employed exelnsively in getting gold during the 18 years and dividing the gold as here estimated, we find the average per msn is £1,699 83 3d, or £98 10s 4d ($492%4) per annum. These figures are no true test of the success of individuals, but they show that gold mining is in the main a profitable pursuit, The report of the Minister of Mines to Parliament shows the quantity of gold got respectively from alluvium and quartz during the first nine months of 1869 to be as follows: From alluvium, 701,829 ozs. 17 dwt; from quartz, 448,043 ozs. 1 dwt.; total, 1,149,878 ozs. He refers to the decline in the returns as distinctly tracsahle to two severe droughts, which impeded the years’ operations. The tables of quartz crushing exhihit the usnsl diversity of yield, ranging from a few dwts. to upwards of 10 ozs. a ton. The total number of miners employed on the 30th of September was given as 68,684, against 69,890 employed on the 30th of June, showing 2 decrease of 1,206, while there was an increase of 541 quartz miners. At Ballarat, during the quarter ending Sept. 30th, there was a depression in mining matters, the returns of -gold ohtained and dividends paid show a falling off. The amount of gold was 538,189 ozs, the dividends $346,305—over 30 per cent. on the produce. Dividends. “The Mining Record and Public Companies’ Gazeue for June, 1869, showed that 67 quartz companies were dividend-paying against 69 which were non-dividend-paying, many of the latter being in a progressive state, while others had suspended diyidends. The stock of many, of both classes, were quoted much above par, some of them hundreds per cent. One, ths Clunes Clunes, at £475 for £1 paid. The energetic company, ‘‘ Bendigo,” paid some $140,000 in dividends in one year, besides erecting machinery during the same period, and they have msde only one sixpenny call! Latterly prospects dull. The nominal capital of this company is £120,000; shares,£5 each; amount paid up at 6d—£600—$3, 000. The Port Phillip and Colonial Co, Was one of the earliest companies formed for quartz mining. This company own or work under lease five ‘‘ reefs ””—four of them ranging from 3to 30 feet in width and one up to 150 feet. Their reduction works comprise 80 stamps of from 6 cwt. to 8 ewt., with a capacity to reduce and manipulate about 2U0 tons a day. They commenced operations in March, 1857, from which date to March, 1869, they reduced 470,889 tons of ore, which yielded an average of 10 dwts. 18 grs. per ton. The yield for 1857 averaged 1 oz. 12 dwt., from which it has steadily declined, and is now 6 dwts. or less per ton. This is one of the few companies formed in England for Australia, and it has, we believe, psid dividends all through, and the stock hss always commanded a premium until after the payment of the dividend for the last six months of 1869, which, if we rememher rightly, was only at the rate of 6 per cent., when the stock fell to 4% below par. The capital is nominally $500,000. How much of that has heen paid up is not stated. The company have recently erected a new mill with 24 stamps of 8 cwt., which will increase their capacity for reduction to nearly 300 tons a day. Late reports of the company show the cost of extracting the ore to be about $2.50 a ton and of extracting the gold therefrom $1 to $1.25—total, say $3.50a ton. This, we think, includes all charges, for wear and tear of machinery, dead work, ete. The affairs of this company being conducted with the view to great economy, and the veins being large in size, the cost of extracting the ore may afford a fair criterion of the cost of extracting ore from other veins of similar size, while the statement as to their ability to make a profitfrom quartz yielding less than $2.a ton may be questioned or need explanation. M. A Powrrrun Macutnz.—A combined shear, punch and upsetter, now manufactured in Connecticut, weighs only 350 pounds; but, operated hy one man, will cut through cold iron % by 2% inches, with perfect ease, leaving a smooth face. Worked as a punch, it pierces cold iron with a smooth, clean hole, of any desired shape, without splitting the iron. By its aid wagon tires can he upset with one motion of the lever. 3

234 SCIENTIFIC PRESS: Aprit 9,1870, Communications. Mills and Mines of Colorado.—No. X. BY ALMARIN B. PAUL. [Written for the Scientific Press.] Down towards the plains and fine mills from Empire and Georgetown is Mill City, a locality of few buildings, and having really a deserted appearance. As tothe mill part, it being at the time 7° below zero, I did not take time to investigate. There are, I understand, several in the vicinity, none, however, in 2 prosperous condition. Fall? River. Four miles further on, is Fall river, where comfortable quarters were obteined for the night. This is more of 2 mill locality than the ahove-mentioned place. A good hot fire being more comfortahle than the state of weather outside, I concluded that those of whom I made inquiry would certainly tell the truth. From what I gathered of this locality, there are a number of mills in the vicinity, some of which are running, and, although notas dividendpaying institutions, yet hopeful, considering the condition of Colorado ores and their present system of working; it takes a great deal of hope to run most of the mines. Her ores are much more expensive to treat than those of California or Nevada. Her gold orss are not worked to exceed 30 per cent., and in some mills, with certain kinds, not to thatsmount. All her silver ores must“be roasted to gain a high percentage, and thoroughly roasted at that. All ore is heavily loaded with either sulphur, lead, copper, antimony or iron, and too often all together. Prices. The only cheap item is lahor, which they have reduced to $3 per day in currency. As I found prices for general articles, they were from 25 to 50 per cent. above even California rates, and yet Colorado is go much nearer to Chicago. But Colorado is a mining country, and all mining countries are ahle to pay the higgest kind of prices —and drag along slowly in consequence. This heavy pressure of prices rnins everybody, even those who obtain them, as it holds back progress with a curb-bit power. Considering the advantages Colorsdo has in location, as far as regards proximity to unbounded capitsl, a few days’ ride from New York, and with St. Louis iron works brought within thirty-five miles by rail, ag it will he ina few months, of the mostactive and valuahle portion of her mining territory, I thought Colorado—before seeing it—a very inviting country; but, allthings considered, I was rather disappointed. Some Coloradians msy think I look atonly one side of the question, but I endeavor to divest myself of all prejudice and look facis square in the face, and talkthem out. There is, however, an atmosphere here that tends to prejudice—that feels uncomfortable for a stranger. One can hardly tell what itis, though he can feel it. Itis not that frank, free, outspoken manner that exists among men of the same pursuit on this coast. ‘‘No Admittance” may convey the idea. I met, however, several very pleasant exceptions to what I consider the general rule. Cold Weather. But Tam digressing. The next morning opened as cold as the day previous, and very windy. Meeting one of those enduring miners, who always takes ‘‘ short cuts,’” whether he scales mountains or not, and he being houndto Central, ‘‘’cross the range,” ajaunt of five miles to save five, I concluded to accompany him; so bundling up in apair of California blankets we started. It was very cold—several degrees below zero—and the wind, seemingly, about 40° lower yet. In time, we gained the snmmit, which is about 10,000 feet high. We here found it blowing a gale, with snow and cold to rather an alarming degree. It was the roughest time I ever experienced. The Rocky Mountains of Colorado are not miniature hills; thoy loom up in bold and solid heights, and, as in this instance, are at times the scenes of terrific storms. The whole mining region is ahove the ayerage height of California. To give a more exact idea, the mountains range from 8,000 to 15,000 feet above the level of the Bea. Nevada, Central City and Black Hawk, as we look down upon them, with their innumerable smoke-siacks and buildings, have the appearance of a chaotic mass—a pee-hive of industry. I must not, however, enlarge on them in this letter, which is already sufficiently long. The weather of which I have spoken must be taken ag an exceptional cold-snap, though about Empire and Georgetown it is cold enough during the winter to suit almost anyone, whethor from the State of Maine or from Texas, California Marbles, [Written for the Scientific Press.] Although California contains an abundance of marble of great beauty and variety, most of that used in San Francisco is imported from Italy or New York. This fact may be attributed to the want of good roads and of cheap transportation. There are many localities in this State where quarries of marble are known to exist, but, with few exceptions, they remain undeveloped. A large belt of limestone traverses the State from north to south, between the foothills and the Sierras. This belt abounds in white or grayish, and, in numerous plsces, in beautifully variegated marble. The following list presents some of the localities where this article is found : Suasta County.—On McCloud river isa qnite extensive quarry of gray and white marble of a good quality, and susceptible of a fine polish. Bourre County.—At Butte creek, about forty miles from Oroville, exist gray and white marbles of a good quality and in considerable quantity. Sonano Counry.—In the Pelevo Hills, a short distance north of the city of Suisun, is a hsndgome marble of various sbades of brown and yellow beautifully blended in bands and threads, and susceptible of a high polish, which would make vsry fine ornamental work. This is about tbe only locality where this variety of marble has been found in this State. Nevapa County.—About eight miles northeast of Nevada city, on South Yuba river, is an extensive quarry of marble of a dark variegated color. Puaczr County.—There is a quarry of nearly white marble on the Appleton ranch, about seven miles from Colfax, snd about two miles from the railroad. In the mountains bordering on the Bear river, ahout two miles to the east of the town of Colfax, isa fine quarry of marble, which differs from all others found on this coast, being a dark gray with jet black venation, which, whsn polished, is very beautiful. The mantles in the new Bank of California are made of this marble. Ex, Dorapo Counry.—At Indian Diggings there is a large quarry of marble coarsely marked with gray and black, and some of which is almost white. It is very beautiful, and is susceptible of a bigh polish, which it retains well for years. A large number of monuments have been made of this marble. Amapor County.—Iu the vicinity of Fiddletown exists a quarry of marble of a pale-gray color and excellent quality in quite extensive amounts. TuonuMNE County.—On the road hetween Murphy’s and Columbia, on the south fork of Stanislaus river, near Abhey’s Ferry, about seventy miles from Stockton, there is marhle nearly white, with palegray pencilings. The quality of the marble is fine, and has improved with the depth of the workings. Some of the handsomest monuments in the State are made of this marble; that erected to the memory of the late Senator Broderick, in the Lone Mountain Cemetery, at San Francisco, is a beautiful specimen. Blocks twenty feet square, without flaw or blemish, may be ohtained from this quarry. On the south side of the road, between Gold Springs and Columhia, there are bodies of marble of almost a jetty blackness, perhaps colored by manganese. On Maletot Gulch, shout one mile nortbeast of Columbia, there is a deposit of marble which, perhaps through the action of salts of iron, has heen mottled with red, brown, yellow, blue and green spots, which would he beautiful for ornamental work. At Mormon Gulch, about three miles to the west of this, are masses of marhle of very fine texture veined with pale green, perhaps hy the action of chlorine. All these marhles are of good quality and susceptible of a high polish, and will, in time, undouhtedly form a valuahle commodity. There are numerous other localities in this State where marble is found, but has not heen as yet developed, and which, perhaps, when examined, will be found to afford a still greater variety. . Victoria, we were told hy the highest auThe Gold Fields of Victoria—No. 3. {Written for the Scientific Press.]

It may not be known generally that when gold was discovered in California the present flourishing colony of Victoria had not been christened; that the great city of Melbonrne was merely a village, with sheep grazing where to-day stand buildings which for magnificence would do credit to any city in any part of the world; that ths chief pursuits of the colonists were tending sheep and herding cattle; that some of the colonists left these ‘pursuits for the newly discovered gold fields of California—among these a Mr. Hargreaves, who, upon bis arrival at the mines here, was so much strnck by the similarity of formation and general appsarance of the country to his own, that he told his companions of his confidence in hig ability to find gold at home, and expressed a determination to return immediately. He returned and did discover gold, and although his claim to priority has been disputed, he is entitled to great credit for his sagacity. Gold was practically discovered in 1851. The mines were rich, and population flocked from all quarters, and the colony, which in 1850 had been christened ‘Victoria,” grew with a rapidity equalled only by California. Early Predictions and thefr Non-fulfillment. Mr. R. Brough Smyth, in his ‘‘ Gold} Fields and Mineral Districts of Victoria,” . published in 1869, says: ‘‘When the first important discovery of gold was made in thorities that the shallow alluvium would soon be exhausted, and when that time arrived we would he hurthened with a dissolute populstion, who would hring ruin upon ths country. When the quartz veins were opened and the richesthey contain were aseertained, we were told that vein mining is never profitable beyond a depth of sixty or seventy feet, and that we should invest no capital in adventures whicb, the history of gold-mining has told us are never profitable. When ths rich deep leads were trsced under the basalt at Ballarat we were warned against being over sanguine, ag the occurrence of such deposits was merely local. Fortunately for the colony these prophecies have not been fulfilled. We can point to several towns depending wholly on the mines for their support and inhahited by miners, where order and regulsr industry are conspicuous, where substantial and wsll conducted institutions for the relief of suffering and the spread of knowledge have been originated and are supported by the miners, and where municipal laws are more cheerfully obeyed than in any town in England. Ths shallow alluviumssrs not yet completely exhausted. Our qusrtz veins, notwithstsnding the expense incident to the procuring of the vein-stuff from depths exceeding 700 feet, maintain their character, and may, because of their value and their great, horizontal and vertical extent, hereafter exceed in importance even the deep leads. The deep leads are not confined to the district of Ballarat, hutextend over an area so extensive that it is impossible to say when the last of them will be opened.” Mining Statistics. From the same authority{we quote the following statistics: Up to Dee. 31, 1868, 5,811,669 tons of quartz had heen erushed, which yielded an average of 114 dwt. ($11.50) per ton of 2,240pounds. The number of gold mining companies (quartz and alluvial) registered in the several courts was 2,471; the number of shares, 7,481,205; the nominal capital, £24,431, 205 ($122, 156,025). The estimated value of all the claims in the Colony is, according to the information conveyed hy the share lists and estimations, £8,869, 504 ($44,347,520), more than one-third thenominal value. It is estimated that not more than ten per cent of the nominal capital has beeu paid up. Pithe length of water races constructed hy the miners is 2,434 miles. They cost $1,551,350, or atthe rate of ahout $6387+4 amile. The total amount of revenue derived directly from the gold fields, in the shape of fees for gold licenses, miners’ rights, business licenses, rents, ete., from 1851 to 1868 inclusive, is $26,057,329. 77. GoldProduction. © The gross amount of gold exported, from . €, D. ¥. the discovery in 1850 to Dec. 31, 1868, was. Behe G21 % oz.; at $20 per oz., $736,713,Taking the mean number of miners employed exelnsively in getting gold during the 18 years and dividing the gold as here estimated, we find the average per msn is £1,699 83 3d, or £98 10s 4d ($492%4) per annum. These figures are no true test of the success of individuals, but they show that gold mining is in the main a profitable pursuit, The report of the Minister of Mines to Parliament shows the quantity of gold got respectively from alluvium and quartz during the first nine months of 1869 to be as follows: From alluvium, 701,829 ozs. 17 dwt; from quartz, 448,043 ozs. 1 dwt.; total, 1,149,878 ozs. He refers to the decline in the returns as distinctly tracsahle to two severe droughts, which impeded the years’ operations. The tables of quartz crushing exhihit the usnsl diversity of yield, ranging from a few dwts. to upwards of 10 ozs. a ton. The total number of miners employed on the 30th of September was given as 68,684, against 69,890 employed on the 30th of June, showing 2 decrease of 1,206, while there was an increase of 541 quartz miners. At Ballarat, during the quarter ending Sept. 30th, there was a depression in mining matters, the returns of -gold ohtained and dividends paid show a falling off. The amount of gold was 538,189 ozs, the dividends $346,305—over 30 per cent. on the produce. Dividends. “The Mining Record and Public Companies’ Gazeue for June, 1869, showed that 67 quartz companies were dividend-paying against 69 which were non-dividend-paying, many of the latter being in a progressive state, while others had suspended diyidends. The stock of many, of both classes, were quoted much above par, some of them hundreds per cent. One, ths Clunes Clunes, at £475 for £1 paid. The energetic company, ‘‘ Bendigo,” paid some $140,000 in dividends in one year, besides erecting machinery during the same period, and they have msde only one sixpenny call! Latterly prospects dull. The nominal capital of this company is £120,000; shares,£5 each; amount paid up at 6d—£600—$3, 000. The Port Phillip and Colonial Co, Was one of the earliest companies formed for quartz mining. This company own or work under lease five ‘‘ reefs ””—four of them ranging from 3to 30 feet in width and one up to 150 feet. Their reduction works comprise 80 stamps of from 6 cwt. to 8 ewt., with a capacity to reduce and manipulate about 2U0 tons a day. They commenced operations in March, 1857, from which date to March, 1869, they reduced 470,889 tons of ore, which yielded an average of 10 dwts. 18 grs. per ton. The yield for 1857 averaged 1 oz. 12 dwt., from which it has steadily declined, and is now 6 dwts. or less per ton. This is one of the few companies formed in England for Australia, and it has, we believe, psid dividends all through, and the stock hss always commanded a premium until after the payment of the dividend for the last six months of 1869, which, if we rememher rightly, was only at the rate of 6 per cent., when the stock fell to 4% below par. The capital is nominally $500,000. How much of that has heen paid up is not stated. The company have recently erected a new mill with 24 stamps of 8 cwt., which will increase their capacity for reduction to nearly 300 tons a day. Late reports of the company show the cost of extracting the ore to be about $2.50 a ton and of extracting the gold therefrom $1 to $1.25—total, say $3.50a ton. This, we think, includes all charges, for wear and tear of machinery, dead work, ete. The affairs of this company being conducted with the view to great economy, and the veins being large in size, the cost of extracting the ore may afford a fair criterion of the cost of extracting ore from other veins of similar size, while the statement as to their ability to make a profitfrom quartz yielding less than $2.a ton may be questioned or need explanation. M. A Powrrrun Macutnz.—A combined shear, punch and upsetter, now manufactured in Connecticut, weighs only 350 pounds; but, operated hy one man, will cut through cold iron % by 2% inches, with perfect ease, leaving a smooth face. Worked as a punch, it pierces cold iron with a smooth, clean hole, of any desired shape, without splitting the iron. By its aid wagon tires can he upset with one motion of the lever. 3