Volume 23 (1871) (426 pages)

July 8, 1871.) SCIENTIFIC PRESS. 3 (GoRRESPONDENCE. A Trip to Colorado—t. (Writlen for the Press.) I start from Omaha. I travel on the Union Pacifie throngh a fine country which is now being rapidly settled up, owing to the bnilding and the managemont of this great railroad. This corporation owns yast tracts of land which are apparoutly of tho most fortilo character, and whieh it has placed in the market. Through Nebraska. Nebraska, thanks to the Union Pacilic in great measnre, is growing most rapidly. Tho soil of the plains along the road, after waiting forcenturiesand gathering strength by its rest, is now producing tho richest returns where the husbandmau is giving his labor and is calling to his aid tho fertilizing power of wator. This yonng Stato, admitted into the Union in 1867, had a population in 1870 of over one hundred and twenty-three thousand. Favorably situated, with an excellent climate, fiue soil, and an immense aroa of pasture land, we seo easily how it proves so attractive to the farmer. And we ro-echo the song of Whittier: We cross the prairio, as of old The Pilgrime crossed the gea, Tomake the West, us they the East, The Homestead of the Free, The following extract may be worth republishing: ‘‘ Regarding the soil of Ne-. braska, all farmers assnre me that they can not be drowned out in wet seasons, nor yet dried up in years of drouth. This »henomenon is thus explained by a New ork agricultural editor. ‘The sub-soil is clay, slightly mixed with sand, having the singular qualjty of being porous without being spongy or clammy, absorbing the waters of excessive rains and holding them in reserve against a time of drouth, when the roets of vegetation, which easily penetrate to this depth, draw from it the needfnl moisture.’ In accordance with this yiew I have observed that Nebraska mud is never lasting. The soil on the uplands is from twelve to eighteen inches thick, and along the streams fourteen to twenty feet.” On the Denver Pacific. We pass through Wyoming, a territory already famous for its mineral wealth and of great promise agriculturally, as well.: In 25 hours after leaving Omaha, we reach Cheyenne, the capital of Wyoming, 516 miles west of our starting point; and here we transfer our persons to the care of the Denver Pacific R. R. This road, 106 miles long, extending from Cheyenne to Denver, was completed June 23,1870. Its annual report shows that it earned $304,715, at an expense of $168,420, during 1870. It is ably managed. John Evans is President, C. W. Fisher, Supt. and Gen. Ticket and Freight Agent, and Jas. S. Potter is Road Master. Along the line cf this road are some colonies of which I shall make mention. Evans is 27 miles from Denver and Greeley about 52 miles. At Hughes, a station 18 miles from Denver, the Denver & Boulder Valley R. R. branches off to Erie, aud is being continued thence to Boulder City, a place beautifully located in the foot hills and of which your paper has spoken frequently. The Union Colony at Greeley. Our train leaves Cheyenne at 2 Pp. m., and arrives at Denver at7o’clock. We have a pleasant ride, reaching, at 4:33, the flourishing town of Greeley. Here are the headquarters of the Union Colony. This is well known from its connection with the editor of the N. ¥Y. Yribune. The people here are apparently makiug rapid progress and doing excellently well. All branches of industry have their representatives, and editors are found of no mean stamp, as evinced by the columns of the Greeley Tribune. P On April 25th, 1870, the census of Greeley footed up 6 souls, and on July 4th, the 1,200 citizens entertained themselves with reading the Declaration of Independence, with an orationandaball. No better farming land is reported than that here, and for 50 miles farms join one another. Already rows of trees have been set out on all the streets, and a ditch, 12 miles long, conveys water to the city from Cache la Poudre River. Over 250 houses have been built. The projector of the enterprise and presi dent of the colony is Mr. N. C. Meeker, . for many years agricnltural editor of tho N.Y. Vribune, The payment of 250 entitles any ono to become a member und gives him 2 shares of stock and a resident lot valued at $50. The payment of $100 givos 4 shares and a $100-lot. The payment of $150 gives 7 shares and cither water for 80 acres and tho right to buy a ‘railrond 80 acres’ at coutract price; or a resident lot valued at $150. Chicago-Colorado Colony. Riding on still further we arrive at Burliugton. Coneerning the Chicago-Celorado Colony, here located, and the conntry aronnd, I seud you some extracts from the Rocky Mountain News, of May 27. From Denver to Burlington, by the way of Valmont aud Boulder City, through the valleys of Reck, Coal, South Boulder, Bonlder, Left Hand, and St. Vrain crecks, there is an almost uninterrupted succession of farms and ranchos. Indoed, through these valleys there is scarcoly a qnarter section not improved in some way. On the unimproved portions grass is from six to eight inches high, and droves of cattle, horses aud sleep are luxuriating in its length and abundance. Ivrigating ditchos are being improved and uew ones built with wouderful rapidity, and are carrying the water, month by month, higher up the hill sides and farther over ‘the prairies, increasing the area of agricultural lands in Boulder county, this year, by thonsands of acres. But newhere is more visible and tangible improvemeut seen than within tho limits of the Chicnago-Colorado colony. It should be noticed that wheat is looking remarkably well; oats, ditto., and kitchen gardens as promising as can be desired. The creeks are bank full, with prospect of ample supply during the season. At the colony, the crops that have been put in, even by the most inexperienced, are looking well; out of about 35,000 trees that have been transplanted to the colony nurseries, a few score have died; the remainder are taking to the soi] and climate as kindly as could be desired. Of eight-foot wide ditches, fourteen miles have been constructed; four-fcot ditto., nine miles; side and lateral ditches and channels from two feet down, twelve miles. The main ditch is now completed, and the water is running the entire length of Main street, and in several other streets, shorter distances. The excavation of the lake in the northwestern portion of the town, which is intended to cover from two to four acres, is progressing rapidly. Up to the present time the field crops and gardens have flourished finely, without artificial irrigation. In addition to the ditches already mentioned, six miles of main and lateral ditches are under contract. : There have been 315 memberships issued; there are 350 adults on the ground; many of these are single young men, others heads of families, come to get a home ready. As near as can be ascertained, 150 families are already here, either occupying their own or hired houses, or boarding until they can build. The price of membership is the same as at the outset, $155 each, for which the colonist receives a tract of land of forty, twenty, ten or five acres, according to locatien; or, if preferred, three town lots. In addition, the privilege is given to purchase one business lot 25x125, and one residence lot 85x125, at prices varying from $25 to $50, Platsvills Colony. Thirty-five miles from Denver is another colony at Platteville. Here they have purchased a few thousand acres of railroad land and have laid out a town. A canal for irrigating their land is to be built from the Platte River. Coal and buildiug stone are found near the place. Most of the land purchased is west of the Platte, lying between that stream and the St. Vrain, and running down near to the junction of the two. Itis level, smooth and fertile; irrigating ditches alrcady in use, from St. Vrain and Boulder creeks, by enlargement and extension, will cover it all. These ditches will be lengthened in time for next year’s planting. The intermediate government sections of land are being rapidly taken up by pre-emption and homestead, and the prospect is good for another large and productive settlement, convenient to market, aud with natural resources equal to any. W. H.M, Rubmkorff’s Coil. Eps. Press:—Many persons have very vague ideas of the nature of this machine —that it will destroy human life, etc., etc. Now this instrument has become such an important means of physieal resenreh that it is desirable thnt its nature and modus operandi should be more generally known. The instrument is not a new one, however, boing knowu as early as 1845, though it has now heen vastly improved by our modern instrnment-makers, and espeeially by one of our owu conntrymen, E. 5. Ritehie, of Boston. This ewiuently seientifie, and at the same time practical gentleman, has surpassed the European makers in seyeral respects. But we must proceed. The general principle of the machine is tho production, by the eleotrical phenomenon known as induction, of secondary currents of great quantity aud intensity from the primary current of a votaicbattery. There are two coils,one of coarse wire, through which after interruption at the break piece (which is made automatic in the European instruments), the primary current passes; around this coil, and carefully insulated from it, is placed a coil of very fine copper several miles in length, and the two termini of this wire form the electrodes of the instrument. The condenser due to Fizeau is an important accessory, and it seems to act on the principle of a Leyden jar. It consists essentially of alternate layers of oiled silk and tin-foil. The primary, not,the secondary current passes through it. Such is a very general outline; aud now let us see what are the effects which the machine produces. It will give a spark in free air, varying in length, and according to the size of theinstrumeut, from 2 inches to 21 or more. A spark, did we say? Rather a torrent of sparks of great quantity and intensity. When a Leyden jar is interposed in the-circuit, the sparks are greatly diminished in length but vastly increased in power and density; an intense white light is emitted, accompanied by a loud snapping noise, too loud to be long endured. , The grandest phenomena which are exhibited by this magnificent instrument are those of luminous electricity. The Geiss-. ler tubes of great variety of shape and form, filled with various liquids and gases, the air being exhausted, when illuminated, by the passage of a current from one of these coils, present ns with spectacles of the most varied and inimitable beauty. ELECTRICITY. [To be continued.] Battle Mountain, Nevada. Eps. Press:—I send you by express a sample of ore without aname. Mr. Guido Kistel says that it isa new kind of ore. I have forgotten what it contains, but Mr. Kistel will be glad to have a piece of this specimen for analysis. ['The sample is received, and we shall send Mr. Kiistel a specimen. As soon a possible, we shall give the nature of the miueral._Eps, Press. . Our camp is looking up. The Little Giant is turntug out ore which assays from $250 to $900. There has been a very rich strike made on the south side of Battle Mountain, which bids fair to be one of the best mines in the State. It is known as the Yuba, andis owned by Heintzelman, Wood and others. It showsa fine veiu, assaying from $350 to $700. The new mill of the Nevada Butte Co. started up this week. They have a large amount of good ore out, and will be able torun steadily on rock from their own mine. The White and Shiloh look well. The Buena Vista, Teidalph and others are being worked in earnest, and will no doubt prove good propertios. FH. Battle Mountain, June 25, 1871. Information Wanted. Eps. Press:—I should be much obliged if you, or any of your readers, would inform me if the ratio of loss of mercury is generally found to be in proportion to the quantity of silver ore worked by amalgamation, or in proportion to the silver extracted therefrom; that is, if the loss iucreases in the ratio of the richness of the ore, and, if so, what quantity is lost to oach pouud of silver extracted ? 0. H. A. Benton, Mono Co., Jnne 25, 1871. The Mining Ditches at Smartsville, The gravel mines of this section aro regarded as the riehest in the State, and, in fact, in the world, which idea is very naturnily obtained from the suecess attending their operations. But this idea is to a great degree crroneons. The extent of these mines is exccedingly limited, and the yield per cubic yard is net extraordinary. Indeed, there are probably theusands of acres of gravel beds iu California eqnally as rich, and no doubt many that would yiold more, But the great sccrot underlying the profitablencss ef these operations is in tho bountiful supply of water at their command. The Excelsior Canal Company, that supplies nearly all the demands, is 2 consolidation of five companies, whose works have been projected from time to time since 1851. The company now has three ditches running from the South Yuba and Deer Creek, which fnrnish all the water for which they are called upen, while the Nevada Reservoir Ditch Company, having its source at Wolf Creek, brings in large volumes in thé winter and spring months, most of which is used in the Blue Point and Smartsville Consolidated claims. The works now owned by the Excelsior Company cost, originally, close upon 2 milliou dollars. Of course they could be constructed cheaper new, perhaps for half the amount—yet this is the amount of capital that has been expended in the works of this company alone, and upen which a fair interest is sought. So you will perccive that the procurement of a claim, even if it be rich, isbut a small consideration in undertakings of this character. Years ago, when hydraulic mining was comparatively in its primitive state, fifty cents per inch was charged, while it is uow supplied in large quantities for ten. The latter price, uuder the circumstances, is by far the most profitable. The first cost of censtruction being paid, the expense of maintaining the ditches and flumes 1s comparatively trifling. The former seldom get out of repair, if properly attended to, while good flumes will last twelve years, with good care and occasional patching when necessary. Ditch operations have long bcen regarded as hazardous speculations, and to this view being entertained to a great degree by capitalists is due the poverty of many of the mining counties, which need only a bountiful supply of water to regain their former proud position of wealth and prosperity.—AMarysville Apgeal, May 26th. Laxe Superion Sruver.—There is now sutiicient evidence respecting the argentiferous deposits at Silver Island, Lake Superior, to warrant the assertion that the rich mines lately opened at that peint are but a smal] part of the vast quantities of the precious metals underlying the whole region. The Detroit papers announce the arrival at that port of a vessel heavily freighted with silver ore taken out from a newly developed vein, sixteen miles from the Silver Island mine, frem which it is inferred that the one now workedou the island ismerely an out-crop of the vein, and that it continues under the lake to the shere, where it again makes its appearance. The lede from which the last specimens were taken out, has been tested to the depth of sixty feet, and gives promise of great value when developed. It is thirty feet wide, and has been traced for more than three quarters of a mile. The ore contains a sulphuret of silver, nearly pure, and a black quartz so heavy with native silver as to be immensely valuable. It is the opinion of geologists and experts that the vein extends at a varying depth below the snrface for a long distance, and that its development will be largely profitable. It will reqnire a great deal of capital to work the veins, owing to the hardness of the quartz, but with proper machinery the reduction of the ores will not be difficult.—J. S. M. & Rk. BR. Reg. OVERLAND To THE Poxzn.—This is Capt. Hall’s and the Arcticists’ last plan,—the only sure one, when ice and currents intervene, as we know, always by sea. Like the Chinese heroes who volunteered to be hung for the satisfaction of the world, Hall will go to latitude 81°, and suffer Arctic terrors. There is this useful result always in view, that in connection with geographical determinations, new whaling and sealing grouuds are likely to be discovered, which can be reached annually by swift summer steamers, to considerable individual and general profit. The idea is not theoretical, but has been pursued for years with great success by some shippers of Christiansvarn in Norway, whose objective point has been the Spitzbergen country.

July 8, 1871.) SCIENTIFIC PRESS. 3 (GoRRESPONDENCE. A Trip to Colorado—t. (Writlen for the Press.) I start from Omaha. I travel on the Union Pacifie throngh a fine country which is now being rapidly settled up, owing to the bnilding and the managemont of this great railroad. This corporation owns yast tracts of land which are apparoutly of tho most fortilo character, and whieh it has placed in the market. Through Nebraska. Nebraska, thanks to the Union Pacilic in great measnre, is growing most rapidly. Tho soil of the plains along the road, after waiting forcenturiesand gathering strength by its rest, is now producing tho richest returns where the husbandmau is giving his labor and is calling to his aid tho fertilizing power of wator. This yonng Stato, admitted into the Union in 1867, had a population in 1870 of over one hundred and twenty-three thousand. Favorably situated, with an excellent climate, fiue soil, and an immense aroa of pasture land, we seo easily how it proves so attractive to the farmer. And we ro-echo the song of Whittier: We cross the prairio, as of old The Pilgrime crossed the gea, Tomake the West, us they the East, The Homestead of the Free, The following extract may be worth republishing: ‘‘ Regarding the soil of Ne-. braska, all farmers assnre me that they can not be drowned out in wet seasons, nor yet dried up in years of drouth. This »henomenon is thus explained by a New ork agricultural editor. ‘The sub-soil is clay, slightly mixed with sand, having the singular qualjty of being porous without being spongy or clammy, absorbing the waters of excessive rains and holding them in reserve against a time of drouth, when the roets of vegetation, which easily penetrate to this depth, draw from it the needfnl moisture.’ In accordance with this yiew I have observed that Nebraska mud is never lasting. The soil on the uplands is from twelve to eighteen inches thick, and along the streams fourteen to twenty feet.” On the Denver Pacific. We pass through Wyoming, a territory already famous for its mineral wealth and of great promise agriculturally, as well.: In 25 hours after leaving Omaha, we reach Cheyenne, the capital of Wyoming, 516 miles west of our starting point; and here we transfer our persons to the care of the Denver Pacific R. R. This road, 106 miles long, extending from Cheyenne to Denver, was completed June 23,1870. Its annual report shows that it earned $304,715, at an expense of $168,420, during 1870. It is ably managed. John Evans is President, C. W. Fisher, Supt. and Gen. Ticket and Freight Agent, and Jas. S. Potter is Road Master. Along the line cf this road are some colonies of which I shall make mention. Evans is 27 miles from Denver and Greeley about 52 miles. At Hughes, a station 18 miles from Denver, the Denver & Boulder Valley R. R. branches off to Erie, aud is being continued thence to Boulder City, a place beautifully located in the foot hills and of which your paper has spoken frequently. The Union Colony at Greeley. Our train leaves Cheyenne at 2 Pp. m., and arrives at Denver at7o’clock. We have a pleasant ride, reaching, at 4:33, the flourishing town of Greeley. Here are the headquarters of the Union Colony. This is well known from its connection with the editor of the N. ¥Y. Yribune. The people here are apparently makiug rapid progress and doing excellently well. All branches of industry have their representatives, and editors are found of no mean stamp, as evinced by the columns of the Greeley Tribune. P On April 25th, 1870, the census of Greeley footed up 6 souls, and on July 4th, the 1,200 citizens entertained themselves with reading the Declaration of Independence, with an orationandaball. No better farming land is reported than that here, and for 50 miles farms join one another. Already rows of trees have been set out on all the streets, and a ditch, 12 miles long, conveys water to the city from Cache la Poudre River. Over 250 houses have been built. The projector of the enterprise and presi dent of the colony is Mr. N. C. Meeker, . for many years agricnltural editor of tho N.Y. Vribune, The payment of 250 entitles any ono to become a member und gives him 2 shares of stock and a resident lot valued at $50. The payment of $100 givos 4 shares and a $100-lot. The payment of $150 gives 7 shares and cither water for 80 acres and tho right to buy a ‘railrond 80 acres’ at coutract price; or a resident lot valued at $150. Chicago-Colorado Colony. Riding on still further we arrive at Burliugton. Coneerning the Chicago-Celorado Colony, here located, and the conntry aronnd, I seud you some extracts from the Rocky Mountain News, of May 27. From Denver to Burlington, by the way of Valmont aud Boulder City, through the valleys of Reck, Coal, South Boulder, Bonlder, Left Hand, and St. Vrain crecks, there is an almost uninterrupted succession of farms and ranchos. Indoed, through these valleys there is scarcoly a qnarter section not improved in some way. On the unimproved portions grass is from six to eight inches high, and droves of cattle, horses aud sleep are luxuriating in its length and abundance. Ivrigating ditchos are being improved and uew ones built with wouderful rapidity, and are carrying the water, month by month, higher up the hill sides and farther over ‘the prairies, increasing the area of agricultural lands in Boulder county, this year, by thonsands of acres. But newhere is more visible and tangible improvemeut seen than within tho limits of the Chicnago-Colorado colony. It should be noticed that wheat is looking remarkably well; oats, ditto., and kitchen gardens as promising as can be desired. The creeks are bank full, with prospect of ample supply during the season. At the colony, the crops that have been put in, even by the most inexperienced, are looking well; out of about 35,000 trees that have been transplanted to the colony nurseries, a few score have died; the remainder are taking to the soi] and climate as kindly as could be desired. Of eight-foot wide ditches, fourteen miles have been constructed; four-fcot ditto., nine miles; side and lateral ditches and channels from two feet down, twelve miles. The main ditch is now completed, and the water is running the entire length of Main street, and in several other streets, shorter distances. The excavation of the lake in the northwestern portion of the town, which is intended to cover from two to four acres, is progressing rapidly. Up to the present time the field crops and gardens have flourished finely, without artificial irrigation. In addition to the ditches already mentioned, six miles of main and lateral ditches are under contract. : There have been 315 memberships issued; there are 350 adults on the ground; many of these are single young men, others heads of families, come to get a home ready. As near as can be ascertained, 150 families are already here, either occupying their own or hired houses, or boarding until they can build. The price of membership is the same as at the outset, $155 each, for which the colonist receives a tract of land of forty, twenty, ten or five acres, according to locatien; or, if preferred, three town lots. In addition, the privilege is given to purchase one business lot 25x125, and one residence lot 85x125, at prices varying from $25 to $50, Platsvills Colony. Thirty-five miles from Denver is another colony at Platteville. Here they have purchased a few thousand acres of railroad land and have laid out a town. A canal for irrigating their land is to be built from the Platte River. Coal and buildiug stone are found near the place. Most of the land purchased is west of the Platte, lying between that stream and the St. Vrain, and running down near to the junction of the two. Itis level, smooth and fertile; irrigating ditches alrcady in use, from St. Vrain and Boulder creeks, by enlargement and extension, will cover it all. These ditches will be lengthened in time for next year’s planting. The intermediate government sections of land are being rapidly taken up by pre-emption and homestead, and the prospect is good for another large and productive settlement, convenient to

market, aud with natural resources equal to any. W. H.M, Rubmkorff’s Coil. Eps. Press:—Many persons have very vague ideas of the nature of this machine —that it will destroy human life, etc., etc. Now this instrument has become such an important means of physieal resenreh that it is desirable thnt its nature and modus operandi should be more generally known. The instrument is not a new one, however, boing knowu as early as 1845, though it has now heen vastly improved by our modern instrnment-makers, and espeeially by one of our owu conntrymen, E. 5. Ritehie, of Boston. This ewiuently seientifie, and at the same time practical gentleman, has surpassed the European makers in seyeral respects. But we must proceed. The general principle of the machine is tho production, by the eleotrical phenomenon known as induction, of secondary currents of great quantity aud intensity from the primary current of a votaicbattery. There are two coils,one of coarse wire, through which after interruption at the break piece (which is made automatic in the European instruments), the primary current passes; around this coil, and carefully insulated from it, is placed a coil of very fine copper several miles in length, and the two termini of this wire form the electrodes of the instrument. The condenser due to Fizeau is an important accessory, and it seems to act on the principle of a Leyden jar. It consists essentially of alternate layers of oiled silk and tin-foil. The primary, not,the secondary current passes through it. Such is a very general outline; aud now let us see what are the effects which the machine produces. It will give a spark in free air, varying in length, and according to the size of theinstrumeut, from 2 inches to 21 or more. A spark, did we say? Rather a torrent of sparks of great quantity and intensity. When a Leyden jar is interposed in the-circuit, the sparks are greatly diminished in length but vastly increased in power and density; an intense white light is emitted, accompanied by a loud snapping noise, too loud to be long endured. , The grandest phenomena which are exhibited by this magnificent instrument are those of luminous electricity. The Geiss-. ler tubes of great variety of shape and form, filled with various liquids and gases, the air being exhausted, when illuminated, by the passage of a current from one of these coils, present ns with spectacles of the most varied and inimitable beauty. ELECTRICITY. [To be continued.] Battle Mountain, Nevada. Eps. Press:—I send you by express a sample of ore without aname. Mr. Guido Kistel says that it isa new kind of ore. I have forgotten what it contains, but Mr. Kistel will be glad to have a piece of this specimen for analysis. ['The sample is received, and we shall send Mr. Kiistel a specimen. As soon a possible, we shall give the nature of the miueral._Eps, Press. . Our camp is looking up. The Little Giant is turntug out ore which assays from $250 to $900. There has been a very rich strike made on the south side of Battle Mountain, which bids fair to be one of the best mines in the State. It is known as the Yuba, andis owned by Heintzelman, Wood and others. It showsa fine veiu, assaying from $350 to $700. The new mill of the Nevada Butte Co. started up this week. They have a large amount of good ore out, and will be able torun steadily on rock from their own mine. The White and Shiloh look well. The Buena Vista, Teidalph and others are being worked in earnest, and will no doubt prove good propertios. FH. Battle Mountain, June 25, 1871. Information Wanted. Eps. Press:—I should be much obliged if you, or any of your readers, would inform me if the ratio of loss of mercury is generally found to be in proportion to the quantity of silver ore worked by amalgamation, or in proportion to the silver extracted therefrom; that is, if the loss iucreases in the ratio of the richness of the ore, and, if so, what quantity is lost to oach pouud of silver extracted ? 0. H. A. Benton, Mono Co., Jnne 25, 1871. The Mining Ditches at Smartsville, The gravel mines of this section aro regarded as the riehest in the State, and, in fact, in the world, which idea is very naturnily obtained from the suecess attending their operations. But this idea is to a great degree crroneons. The extent of these mines is exccedingly limited, and the yield per cubic yard is net extraordinary. Indeed, there are probably theusands of acres of gravel beds iu California eqnally as rich, and no doubt many that would yiold more, But the great sccrot underlying the profitablencss ef these operations is in tho bountiful supply of water at their command. The Excelsior Canal Company, that supplies nearly all the demands, is 2 consolidation of five companies, whose works have been projected from time to time since 1851. The company now has three ditches running from the South Yuba and Deer Creek, which fnrnish all the water for which they are called upen, while the Nevada Reservoir Ditch Company, having its source at Wolf Creek, brings in large volumes in thé winter and spring months, most of which is used in the Blue Point and Smartsville Consolidated claims. The works now owned by the Excelsior Company cost, originally, close upon 2 milliou dollars. Of course they could be constructed cheaper new, perhaps for half the amount—yet this is the amount of capital that has been expended in the works of this company alone, and upen which a fair interest is sought. So you will perccive that the procurement of a claim, even if it be rich, isbut a small consideration in undertakings of this character. Years ago, when hydraulic mining was comparatively in its primitive state, fifty cents per inch was charged, while it is uow supplied in large quantities for ten. The latter price, uuder the circumstances, is by far the most profitable. The first cost of censtruction being paid, the expense of maintaining the ditches and flumes 1s comparatively trifling. The former seldom get out of repair, if properly attended to, while good flumes will last twelve years, with good care and occasional patching when necessary. Ditch operations have long bcen regarded as hazardous speculations, and to this view being entertained to a great degree by capitalists is due the poverty of many of the mining counties, which need only a bountiful supply of water to regain their former proud position of wealth and prosperity.—AMarysville Apgeal, May 26th. Laxe Superion Sruver.—There is now sutiicient evidence respecting the argentiferous deposits at Silver Island, Lake Superior, to warrant the assertion that the rich mines lately opened at that peint are but a smal] part of the vast quantities of the precious metals underlying the whole region. The Detroit papers announce the arrival at that port of a vessel heavily freighted with silver ore taken out from a newly developed vein, sixteen miles from the Silver Island mine, frem which it is inferred that the one now workedou the island ismerely an out-crop of the vein, and that it continues under the lake to the shere, where it again makes its appearance. The lede from which the last specimens were taken out, has been tested to the depth of sixty feet, and gives promise of great value when developed. It is thirty feet wide, and has been traced for more than three quarters of a mile. The ore contains a sulphuret of silver, nearly pure, and a black quartz so heavy with native silver as to be immensely valuable. It is the opinion of geologists and experts that the vein extends at a varying depth below the snrface for a long distance, and that its development will be largely profitable. It will reqnire a great deal of capital to work the veins, owing to the hardness of the quartz, but with proper machinery the reduction of the ores will not be difficult.—J. S. M. & Rk. BR. Reg. OVERLAND To THE Poxzn.—This is Capt. Hall’s and the Arcticists’ last plan,—the only sure one, when ice and currents intervene, as we know, always by sea. Like the Chinese heroes who volunteered to be hung for the satisfaction of the world, Hall will go to latitude 81°, and suffer Arctic terrors. There is this useful result always in view, that in connection with geographical determinations, new whaling and sealing grouuds are likely to be discovered, which can be reached annually by swift summer steamers, to considerable individual and general profit. The idea is not theoretical, but has been pursued for years with great success by some shippers of Christiansvarn in Norway, whose objective point has been the Spitzbergen country.