Volume 23 (1871) (426 pages)

October 28, 1871.] SCIENTIFIC PRESS. 259 iGorresPONDENCE. MINES ON LANDER HILL. NEVADA. Ens. Presa:—I left Battlo Mountain station on one of Fuller & Clugage’s daily coaches to visit the fainous ‘‘Reese River mines.” We arrived at Austin next morning at 5 o'clock. Tho place is in a flonrishing condition now, although it has been almost at a stand still for the past few ycars. Tho reason of this was that the nnmerons mining exvitoments in different places carricd off the prospectors; hut since Manhattan Co. have hegun operations and reduced milling rates to reasonable prices, the aspect of affairs has ohanged. I notice that a large brick court-house is heing hnilt; it will be 62x44, two steries high, and will cost upwards of $25,000. Not an idle man can he found in this place dnring tho day, a fact that speaks well for its prosperity. Many are husy working and sorting over old dumps—a husiness that pays well. Dnring my last visit I was unable to see tho Manhattan Co's. Mines for the reason that they were making extensive ropairs and altorations to the shafts, buildings, ete., accordingly I determincd todo so this time. Mr. John Frost is mining snperintendent, and throngh his courtesy I was enahled to inspect all the principal lodes on Lander Hill, which are so well known on this coast. Many of yonr readers will recollect the ‘‘excitement” of 1862, when this place was first discovered. Mr. Frost located the North Star, and Orogon, at that time, and since then has heen connected with the mining interests in this section. There are three engines helonging to this company, all large ones; one for pnmping water and air, one for hanling, and one for sawing timher. We went down the shaft in a safety-cage, and fonnd onrselves, when we stopped, 658 feet from the surface. The two shafts are four feet square in the clear, and do not vary an inch all the way down. We passed southenst 350 feet in the drift. The Norlh Star Ledge rnns northwest and sontheast, and dips to the eastward. The lode is incased in solid grey granite and will average from 8 to 20 inches in width. This is the deepest shaft on the lode, and the place where they have found the hest rock, proving conclusively that the lodes are permanent. From the snrface, for a distance of 170 feet, they fonnd chloride and after that the ore changed for the better. The ore I saw at this depth will yield, hy the Stetefelds furnace $2,000 per ton, and they have about 150 sacks that will mill abent $500. The bullion averages from $200 to $250 per ton in silver. The richness of the ore at the lower level speaks well for the prospects of the place. Ascending in the cage to the level 240 feet from the surface, we pass 300 feet east in * The Oregon Ledge, the average width of which is 16 inches. It is a parallel lode with the North Star, and the oreis of good quality, averaging $250 per ton in the mill. Passing west and crossing the main shaft I noticed that the ledge held its width well. The water taken ont of this mine, drains a nnmber of others, the pnmp raising aheut 23,000 gallons of water in 24 honrs, which fnrnishes thé mill below. The ore contains stephanite chloride of silver and some ruby silver. This company employs ahout 100 men—working hy contract only—giving them a@ certain percentage and furnishing everything. They get all the way from $4 to $15 per running foot for drifting. Where they are now they yun from three to five feet in 24 honrs, working two shifts, Pacific Mining Company. This company (of London, England,) owns 8 or 10 ledges west of the Manhattan company, in the center of all the principal mines on Lander Hill. They have run one incline on the ’ Buel North Star, which is 1,050 feet long, at theend of which, the ledge is one foot thick, the ore assaying $500 per ton. Capt. Prideaux has control of this company’s mincs. There are at present on hand 50 tons of oro ready for tho mills which will commence running shortly. They entertain no douht as to the value of their property and under the om eflicient management they will surely he successful. Capt. Prideanx has lately taken charge, the former supcrintendent having pronounced the mine as worthless, bnt now everything is rnuning smoothly and good ere coming out. About 50 men aro employed. This company own the Mattascon 10-stamp mill abont 4 miles from Austin and have ordered a Whito Rotary Furnace with all the improvements from the tna Iron Works in yourcity. Mr. John Iowell will superintend its coustrnetion. Mines Near the City. The “Saybreok” shaft is 160 feet deop. Rock taken ont last winter worked from $500 to $800 per ton. Six men are now at work getting ont ore. The miners get about $15 per foot for the work. The Diana shaft is 325 feet deep the lode averaging a footand a half. Mr. McIntyre and others have leased it and receive 10 por cent. of the proceeds—10 men heing at work. They take out 25 tons of ore per month, averaging $200 por ton. The South America is down 300 feet; four men at work. The Oregon has an incline 280 feet deep and one taking out good milling ore. Camphell & Co. are taking out a ton anda halfaday with 6 men. Esther. This mine was located in 1864. The mine was shut down some time ago ou acconnt of the high price of smelting hut now that it is so reasonahle they are again at work. Iam told that the ore from the surface down to 103 feet averaged from $50 to $75 per ton. The ore is ruby silver and sulphurets, and is improving with ha depth. The Magnolia, west of the Pacific Company’s property has an incline 400 feet long. The ore now heing taken out will go $80 and upwards. Ten men are at work under Mr. W. H. Clark’s superintendence. The mine itself has paid for all its improvements. The Manhattan mills work the ore. On the Mohawk Mine, the incline is down 300 feet. They are now taking out good $400 ore; 40 tons are on the dumps awaiting shipment to the mills. This isa well-defined ledge and is owned by Curtis & Co. North Star. This ledge has heen leased to Tucker, Alexander & Co. The incline is in 150 feet, and they are now taking out excellent ore. They had 15 tons that gave them returns of $4,000 perton. Thisisa valuahle piece of mining property. The Prary & Pullen Mine, on Central Hill, after heing idle for three years past, has again renewed operations. They are now sinking and opening up the mine and have an incline down 80 feet. On Whitlatch Hilt, on the south side of Austin, are some very promising mines. The Whitlatch mine has an incline down 300 feet; eight men at work, White’s Rotary Furnace. Some of the citizens of Austin have formed a company, erected a White’s Patent Rotary furnace, and remodelled a mill, a short distance helow the city. The mill has 10 stamps, 6 pans and 3 settlers. Mr. Jolin Howell superintended its construction and began operations in July, 1871. The patentee receives 50 per cent. of its proceeds of each ton as royalty, until the Co. pays $2,500, after which they have the patent right themselves. The cylinder is 24 feet long by 30 inches in diameter on an incline one foot in 12. It was cast in sections three feet long and firmly bolted together. There is a fire place at each end; 1,000 pounds an hour have been run through. The furnace is revolved on three two-foot wheels and halanced thereen hy four. ono-foot wheels heing turned by a chain helt connected tv a counter shaft. The cylinder is lined with fire brick form. ing grooves, cavities or prejections, to lift and drop the ore at one each half revolution of the cylinder. Two cords of wood are used an hour, and ahout 4-horse power is required to run it. Dry salt can he fed in at the hopper or previously mixed with the ore. The contents can be made to pass from one end to the other at 16 revolutions per minute, in 15 minntes, or if very base can be kept in double that timeat a slower speed. W. A.M. “Slate Books.” Eorrors Press:—The Silicate Book Slste is an invention—not very well defined by its namo—by which a hard surface fit to recelvo pencil marks of all kinds is put upon any desired snbstance. We have been using a memorandum hook with a silicato surface preparcd for the lead pencil. It is very nice to write upon, takes the marks perfectly and retains them as long as may he dcsired, and then in a moment by using moisture every mark may he removed. When the surface is black tho slate pencil can be used cqually well. We saw a large sheet of pasteboard at tho Fair coated with the silicate surface and dosigned for the use of a draughtsman ina machine shop. He intended to use it for making his first designs upon. Of course whenever it was necessary to change a line he could do it with the greatest. ease, yet the whole drawing would he permanent enough to last until copied. The Silicate Book Slate Company of this city, to judge from the display made at the New York fair, must manufacture a hundred different articles in which these silicate surfaces are used. Among them we noticed hlackhoards, account books, time tables, wages books, wash bills, memorandum hooks, school slates, tahlets, drawing books, ruled hooks for rough draughts of writings, and a great many other things. All of these are made for heth lead and slate pencils. W. EP. Manhattan Co.’s Mill and Furnace. Eps. Press:—The Manhattan mill which is located at Austin, Nevada, has heen remodelled during the past few years and all the late improvements added. It was started up after repairs in July, 1870. The mill has 20 stamps weighing 640 ths. each, which drop from 90 to 100 times per minnte. Itcrushes from 20 to 26 tons of ore in 24 hours, which is carried hy screw conyeyers from the batteries and elevated into the large hopper at the top of the Stetefeldt furnace, and fed through one of Standish’s pulp feeders, the percentage of salt heing added from another machine of the same kind, . The feeding of dry pulp froma hopper is so as to get a certain numher of pounds per minute, and no more or less, which is most successfully accomplished by this little machine, that has heen running for over a year without the necessity of repairs. The salt is not crushed with the ore, hut is kept separate and fed in proper quantities into the ore, heing thoroughly mixed with it hefore entering the furnace. The ore after heing roasted is taken in a car to the pan room, which is one of the finest and best arranged in the State. The building is 79 feet, by 37 feet 6 inches, and contains eight of Standish’s improved pans and settlers. The pans are driven with disc frietions, which are considered a decided improvement over belts. The pans are5 feet in diameter by 30 inches in depth, and carry one ton at a charge. They have valves instead of plugs, which are constructed with a ruhber face and are operated with a lever in a very convenient manner. Over each pan and settler is an iron track with a traveling hook for hitching a chain tackle for the purpose of handling any of the machinery and saving all heavy lifting. The amalgam after being drawn from the settlers through iron bowls attached to the hottom, is carried hy its own gravity to a very ingenious contrivance for washing and cleaning, after which it is elevated into a reservoir, and from there drawn into the canvas strainers as required. The quicksilver, after being strained,-is then taken to another resorvoir, and from there conducted in pipes to iron bewls, one of which is placed near the top of each pan. The amount of quicksilver in each pan at a charge is 600 pounds, making 4,800 ibs. for the eight pans; and as they are charged three times in 24 hours, 14,400 pounds are required for use. <A great deal of time is saved by employing machinery for handling it. The retort and smelting room is ahout 30x40, and contains three retorts and two furnaces for melting bullion. The machinery is driven by a fine engine of 18inch hore and 42-inch stroke, which uses from 6 to 7 cords of wood per day, oosting $10 per cord. Mr. E. V. Standish has arranged all the machinery in the most complete manner, and its successful workings are to his credit. The Stetefcldt fnrnace, under the charge of Mr. Francis Seip, and which was descrihed and illustrated in the ScienTiric Press some time since, is giving good satisfaction hoth to the company and to the miners. ‘The chargesof pulp are drawn every three-quarters of an hour and wet down while red hot. The stack is 30 feet high. This company have reduced the charges from $6U to $20 per ton. Five hushels of coal: and wood are bnrned every hour. They retirn on ores rnnning less than $300, 80 per cent.; from $300 to $500, 83 per cent.; 500 andupwards, 85 per cent. Forty spounds of ore can he roasted per minute, making a total of 2,400 an hour. The proportion of salt used is from 6 to 10 per cent. The mill and furnace are under the eflicient management of Mr. Allen A. Curtis. W. A.M. San Diego Mines. Eps. Press:—Our mining interests are improving daily, and we are all hopefnl of ahright future. The Golden Chariot still continues to take the lead in the way ef profit. The owners are now in your city negotiating fora mill. This vein is hetween the granite and the slate, and is traceahle for at least three miles. It is too small to work with profit at all other parts except whore they are now. All the other mines in this district are in talcose slate. On the Bailey Mino they are still at work taking out rock, and the ledge is widening daily. The ore will require roasting to pay well, The Redman is being worked in a systematic manner. The vein is nine feet wide at hottom of shaft. This ledge has produced more bullion than any other in the district, although the average per ton has heen less than many others. Thirty tons of rock from the Kentuck yielded, as near as I can ascertain, at McMechan’s mill, $50 per ton. The lode looks well, and the ore shows plenty of free gold. The Madden varies in width from two inches to two aud one-half feet, and the rock looks rich; in fact, this ledge has paid hetter than any other in the camp—the Golden Chariot excepted. A specimen from this ledge in the late Mechanics’ Fair was prominently noticed in the Screntrric Press. The Antelope appears to he worked in a very loose and careless manner; hut for all that it is one of our hest mines, and, if worked with skill and good management, would pay its ownerg well. There are 25 feet of vein matter hetween the walls more or lessrich, hut the hest rock only is worked. The Ophir, Chapparal, Warlock, and City of Richmond are all idle. Mr. Whitney, of the firm of McDouald & Whitney, of your city, is at present superintending the McMechan mill and Redman mine. Mr. F. R. Wilson, having secured a good mill site at Banner City, intends erecting one of his patent steam stamp mills shertly. s Quartz. Banner City, Oct. 14, 1871. Nort Carriep Our.—When in Washingten in May last, Commissioner Legget, informed us of the intention of the office to supply each inventor for the tetm of six months after his patent issued with full copies of all patents, issuing in the same class as his own. We predicted at the time of puhlishing our notice of snch intention, that we did not deem ‘the idea a practical one, and we now have to inform our readers that it has never heen carried out by the department. Exxotrotyrzs By Mam.—On the authority of the attorney of the N. Y. City P. O., given persenally to the N. Y. editor of the Press, we recently stated that woed cuts, ete., could he sent by mail at newspaper postage rates. Three weeks later, we found the attorney’s decision reversed, without any explanation, and letter rates of postage are demanded.

October 28, 1871.] SCIENTIFIC PRESS. 259 iGorresPONDENCE. MINES ON LANDER HILL. NEVADA. Ens. Presa:—I left Battlo Mountain station on one of Fuller & Clugage’s daily coaches to visit the fainous ‘‘Reese River mines.” We arrived at Austin next morning at 5 o'clock. Tho place is in a flonrishing condition now, although it has been almost at a stand still for the past few ycars. Tho reason of this was that the nnmerons mining exvitoments in different places carricd off the prospectors; hut since Manhattan Co. have hegun operations and reduced milling rates to reasonable prices, the aspect of affairs has ohanged. I notice that a large brick court-house is heing hnilt; it will be 62x44, two steries high, and will cost upwards of $25,000. Not an idle man can he found in this place dnring tho day, a fact that speaks well for its prosperity. Many are husy working and sorting over old dumps—a husiness that pays well. Dnring my last visit I was unable to see tho Manhattan Co's. Mines for the reason that they were making extensive ropairs and altorations to the shafts, buildings, ete., accordingly I determincd todo so this time. Mr. John Frost is mining snperintendent, and throngh his courtesy I was enahled to inspect all the principal lodes on Lander Hill, which are so well known on this coast. Many of yonr readers will recollect the ‘‘excitement” of 1862, when this place was first discovered. Mr. Frost located the North Star, and Orogon, at that time, and since then has heen connected with the mining interests in this section. There are three engines helonging to this company, all large ones; one for pnmping water and air, one for hanling, and one for sawing timher. We went down the shaft in a safety-cage, and fonnd onrselves, when we stopped, 658 feet from the surface. The two shafts are four feet square in the clear, and do not vary an inch all the way down. We passed southenst 350 feet in the drift. The Norlh Star Ledge rnns northwest and sontheast, and dips to the eastward. The lode is incased in solid grey granite and will average from 8 to 20 inches in width. This is the deepest shaft on the lode, and the place where they have found the hest rock, proving conclusively that the lodes are permanent. From the snrface, for a distance of 170 feet, they fonnd chloride and after that the ore changed for the better. The ore I saw at this depth will yield, hy the Stetefelds furnace $2,000 per ton, and they have about 150 sacks that will mill abent $500. The bullion averages from $200 to $250 per ton in silver. The richness of the ore at the lower level speaks well for the prospects of the place. Ascending in the cage to the level 240 feet from the surface, we pass 300 feet east in * The Oregon Ledge, the average width of which is 16 inches. It is a parallel lode with the North Star, and the oreis of good quality, averaging $250 per ton in the mill. Passing west and crossing the main shaft I noticed that the ledge held its width well. The water taken ont of this mine, drains a nnmber of others, the pnmp raising aheut 23,000 gallons of water in 24 honrs, which fnrnishes thé mill below. The ore contains stephanite chloride of silver and some ruby silver. This company employs ahout 100 men—working hy contract only—giving them a@ certain percentage and furnishing everything. They get all the way from $4 to $15 per running foot for drifting. Where they are now they yun from three to five feet in 24 honrs, working two shifts, Pacific Mining Company. This company (of London, England,) owns 8 or 10 ledges west of the Manhattan company, in the center of all the principal mines on Lander Hill. They have run one incline on the ’ Buel North Star, which is 1,050 feet long, at theend of which, the ledge is one foot thick, the ore assaying $500 per ton. Capt. Prideaux has control of this company’s mincs. There are at present on hand 50 tons of oro ready for tho mills which will commence running shortly. They entertain no douht as to the value of their property and under the om eflicient management they will surely he successful. Capt. Prideanx has lately taken charge, the former supcrintendent having pronounced the mine as worthless, bnt now everything is rnuning smoothly and good ere coming out. About 50 men aro employed. This company own the Mattascon 10-stamp mill abont 4 miles from Austin and have ordered a Whito Rotary Furnace with all the improvements from the tna Iron Works in yourcity. Mr. John Iowell will superintend its coustrnetion. Mines Near the City. The “Saybreok” shaft is 160 feet deop. Rock taken ont last winter worked from $500 to $800 per ton. Six men are now at work getting ont ore. The miners get about $15 per foot for the work. The Diana shaft is 325 feet deep the lode averaging a footand a half. Mr. McIntyre and others have leased it and receive 10 por cent. of the proceeds—10 men heing at work. They take out 25 tons of ore per month, averaging $200 por ton. The South America is down 300 feet; four men at work. The Oregon has an incline 280 feet deep and one taking out good milling ore. Camphell & Co. are taking out a ton anda halfaday with 6 men. Esther. This mine was located in 1864. The mine was shut down some time ago ou acconnt of the high price of smelting hut now that it is so reasonahle they are again at work. Iam told that the ore from the surface down to 103 feet averaged from $50 to $75 per ton. The ore is ruby silver and sulphurets, and is improving with ha depth. The Magnolia, west of the Pacific Company’s property has an incline 400 feet long. The ore now heing taken out will go $80 and upwards. Ten men are at work under Mr. W. H. Clark’s superintendence. The mine itself has paid for all its improvements. The Manhattan mills work the ore. On the Mohawk Mine, the incline is down 300 feet. They are now taking out good $400 ore; 40 tons are on the dumps awaiting shipment to the mills. This isa well-defined ledge and is owned by Curtis & Co. North Star. This ledge has heen leased to Tucker, Alexander & Co. The incline is in 150 feet, and they are now taking out excellent ore. They had 15 tons that gave them returns of $4,000 perton. Thisisa valuahle piece of mining property. The Prary & Pullen Mine, on Central Hill, after heing idle for three years past, has again renewed operations. They are now sinking and opening up the mine and have an incline down 80 feet. On Whitlatch Hilt, on the south side of Austin, are some very promising mines. The Whitlatch mine has an incline down 300 feet; eight men at work, White’s Rotary Furnace. Some of the citizens of Austin have formed a company, erected a White’s Patent Rotary furnace, and remodelled a mill, a short distance helow the city. The mill has 10 stamps, 6 pans and 3 settlers. Mr. Jolin Howell superintended its construction and began operations in July, 1871. The patentee receives 50 per cent. of its proceeds of each ton as royalty, until the Co. pays $2,500, after which they have the patent right themselves. The cylinder is 24 feet long by 30 inches in diameter on an incline one foot in 12. It was cast in sections three feet long and firmly bolted together. There is a fire place at each end; 1,000 pounds an hour have been run through. The furnace is revolved on three two-foot wheels and halanced thereen hy four. ono-foot wheels heing turned by a chain helt connected tv a counter shaft. The cylinder is lined with fire brick form. ing grooves, cavities or prejections, to lift and drop the ore at one each half revolution of the cylinder. Two cords of wood are used an hour, and ahout 4-horse power is required to run it. Dry salt can he fed in at the hopper or previously mixed with the ore. The contents can be made to pass from one end to the other at 16 revolutions

per minute, in 15 minntes, or if very base can be kept in double that timeat a slower speed. W. A.M. “Slate Books.” Eorrors Press:—The Silicate Book Slste is an invention—not very well defined by its namo—by which a hard surface fit to recelvo pencil marks of all kinds is put upon any desired snbstance. We have been using a memorandum hook with a silicato surface preparcd for the lead pencil. It is very nice to write upon, takes the marks perfectly and retains them as long as may he dcsired, and then in a moment by using moisture every mark may he removed. When the surface is black tho slate pencil can be used cqually well. We saw a large sheet of pasteboard at tho Fair coated with the silicate surface and dosigned for the use of a draughtsman ina machine shop. He intended to use it for making his first designs upon. Of course whenever it was necessary to change a line he could do it with the greatest. ease, yet the whole drawing would he permanent enough to last until copied. The Silicate Book Slate Company of this city, to judge from the display made at the New York fair, must manufacture a hundred different articles in which these silicate surfaces are used. Among them we noticed hlackhoards, account books, time tables, wages books, wash bills, memorandum hooks, school slates, tahlets, drawing books, ruled hooks for rough draughts of writings, and a great many other things. All of these are made for heth lead and slate pencils. W. EP. Manhattan Co.’s Mill and Furnace. Eps. Press:—The Manhattan mill which is located at Austin, Nevada, has heen remodelled during the past few years and all the late improvements added. It was started up after repairs in July, 1870. The mill has 20 stamps weighing 640 ths. each, which drop from 90 to 100 times per minnte. Itcrushes from 20 to 26 tons of ore in 24 hours, which is carried hy screw conyeyers from the batteries and elevated into the large hopper at the top of the Stetefeldt furnace, and fed through one of Standish’s pulp feeders, the percentage of salt heing added from another machine of the same kind, . The feeding of dry pulp froma hopper is so as to get a certain numher of pounds per minute, and no more or less, which is most successfully accomplished by this little machine, that has heen running for over a year without the necessity of repairs. The salt is not crushed with the ore, hut is kept separate and fed in proper quantities into the ore, heing thoroughly mixed with it hefore entering the furnace. The ore after heing roasted is taken in a car to the pan room, which is one of the finest and best arranged in the State. The building is 79 feet, by 37 feet 6 inches, and contains eight of Standish’s improved pans and settlers. The pans are driven with disc frietions, which are considered a decided improvement over belts. The pans are5 feet in diameter by 30 inches in depth, and carry one ton at a charge. They have valves instead of plugs, which are constructed with a ruhber face and are operated with a lever in a very convenient manner. Over each pan and settler is an iron track with a traveling hook for hitching a chain tackle for the purpose of handling any of the machinery and saving all heavy lifting. The amalgam after being drawn from the settlers through iron bowls attached to the hottom, is carried hy its own gravity to a very ingenious contrivance for washing and cleaning, after which it is elevated into a reservoir, and from there drawn into the canvas strainers as required. The quicksilver, after being strained,-is then taken to another resorvoir, and from there conducted in pipes to iron bewls, one of which is placed near the top of each pan. The amount of quicksilver in each pan at a charge is 600 pounds, making 4,800 ibs. for the eight pans; and as they are charged three times in 24 hours, 14,400 pounds are required for use. <A great deal of time is saved by employing machinery for handling it. The retort and smelting room is ahout 30x40, and contains three retorts and two furnaces for melting bullion. The machinery is driven by a fine engine of 18inch hore and 42-inch stroke, which uses from 6 to 7 cords of wood per day, oosting $10 per cord. Mr. E. V. Standish has arranged all the machinery in the most complete manner, and its successful workings are to his credit. The Stetefcldt fnrnace, under the charge of Mr. Francis Seip, and which was descrihed and illustrated in the ScienTiric Press some time since, is giving good satisfaction hoth to the company and to the miners. ‘The chargesof pulp are drawn every three-quarters of an hour and wet down while red hot. The stack is 30 feet high. This company have reduced the charges from $6U to $20 per ton. Five hushels of coal: and wood are bnrned every hour. They retirn on ores rnnning less than $300, 80 per cent.; from $300 to $500, 83 per cent.; 500 andupwards, 85 per cent. Forty spounds of ore can he roasted per minute, making a total of 2,400 an hour. The proportion of salt used is from 6 to 10 per cent. The mill and furnace are under the eflicient management of Mr. Allen A. Curtis. W. A.M. San Diego Mines. Eps. Press:—Our mining interests are improving daily, and we are all hopefnl of ahright future. The Golden Chariot still continues to take the lead in the way ef profit. The owners are now in your city negotiating fora mill. This vein is hetween the granite and the slate, and is traceahle for at least three miles. It is too small to work with profit at all other parts except whore they are now. All the other mines in this district are in talcose slate. On the Bailey Mino they are still at work taking out rock, and the ledge is widening daily. The ore will require roasting to pay well, The Redman is being worked in a systematic manner. The vein is nine feet wide at hottom of shaft. This ledge has produced more bullion than any other in the district, although the average per ton has heen less than many others. Thirty tons of rock from the Kentuck yielded, as near as I can ascertain, at McMechan’s mill, $50 per ton. The lode looks well, and the ore shows plenty of free gold. The Madden varies in width from two inches to two aud one-half feet, and the rock looks rich; in fact, this ledge has paid hetter than any other in the camp—the Golden Chariot excepted. A specimen from this ledge in the late Mechanics’ Fair was prominently noticed in the Screntrric Press. The Antelope appears to he worked in a very loose and careless manner; hut for all that it is one of our hest mines, and, if worked with skill and good management, would pay its ownerg well. There are 25 feet of vein matter hetween the walls more or lessrich, hut the hest rock only is worked. The Ophir, Chapparal, Warlock, and City of Richmond are all idle. Mr. Whitney, of the firm of McDouald & Whitney, of your city, is at present superintending the McMechan mill and Redman mine. Mr. F. R. Wilson, having secured a good mill site at Banner City, intends erecting one of his patent steam stamp mills shertly. s Quartz. Banner City, Oct. 14, 1871. Nort Carriep Our.—When in Washingten in May last, Commissioner Legget, informed us of the intention of the office to supply each inventor for the tetm of six months after his patent issued with full copies of all patents, issuing in the same class as his own. We predicted at the time of puhlishing our notice of snch intention, that we did not deem ‘the idea a practical one, and we now have to inform our readers that it has never heen carried out by the department. Exxotrotyrzs By Mam.—On the authority of the attorney of the N. Y. City P. O., given persenally to the N. Y. editor of the Press, we recently stated that woed cuts, ete., could he sent by mail at newspaper postage rates. Three weeks later, we found the attorney’s decision reversed, without any explanation, and letter rates of postage are demanded.