Volume 24 (1872) (424 pages)

SCIENTIFIC PRESS) [March 2, 1872. 130 Causes of Depression of Placer Mining. In the chapter ou the condition of mining industry in California, in Mr. Raymond’s last report, ‘‘ Mines, Mills and Furnaces of the Pacific Coast,” of which we have the advance sheets, Mr. W. A. Skidmore contributes some interesting facts concerning the placers of, this State. He sums up the causes for the inactivity in past years in placer mining as follows: Ist. The injudicious system of locations permitted under early mining laws and regulations, through the ignoranee of the miners of the character, extent, and depth of the ditrital deposits. These locations were generally made in claims of 100 feet frontage, running back to the center or backbone of the nearest ridge, regardless of the course of the deposit, such claims being too small to justity the expenditure by individual owners of the large sums necessary to construct tunnels for outlet and drainage of their ground. 2d. The filling and choking up with tailings, after a few seasons of washing, of the ravines, gulches, and rivers which served as outlet for the ground, thus preventing the maintenance of fiumes of sufiicient length and grade to disintegrate the hard cement found underlying the top dirt, and rendering imperative the construction of long tunnels to the nearest deep stream, requiring, in some cases, years of labor and the disbursment of large sums without immediate returms, 3, The ignorance of the people and of capitalists of the unbounded mineral resources of their own State; the sudden and unhealthy excitements following the discovery of gold in British Columhia, and silver in Nevada; and the efforts of a portion of the press in California, in the interest of land speculators, to ‘‘ write up” agriculture at the expense of mining. 4th. The uncertain tenure of mining ground under local mining regulations, which differed in every district, and affords no adequate protection to the purchaser of mining ground unless he remained in actual possession, Prospects for the Future. In speaking of the future of this branch of mining Mr. Skidmore says: Many causes have operated to confirm me in the opinion that the future is hright with promise. A more lively interest is felt by capitalist in the examination and development of these dormant resources, and the information disseminated through themedium of the ,State geological survey, and the various reports of the United States mining commissioners have not been without effect in turning the attention of the people to the vast stores of wealth at their very doors. One of the most encouraging features of future progress is the tendency of consolidation and cooperation on the part of owners of mining ground, who are availing themselvee of the recent act of Congress to acquire a atitle in fee simple to the land by means of a United States patent. As an instance of the beneficial operation of this law, we may mention the fact that one company, the North Bloomfield Gravel Company, of Nevady County, are now applying for a patent to 1,500 acres of mining ground, lying between the Middle and the South Yuhariver. Should this act be liberally coustrued hy the various land offices, and no expensive obstacles placed in the way of the miner seeking to acquire title (as wus the case in the operation of the act for acquiring title to quartz ledges), much good will result to the State from the passage of thie law. Important improvements have been made in the manner of using water in the hydraulic diggings. Instead of projectfive hundred to one thousand inchee of water through two or four pipes, the leading mines nowrun their water through one pipe by means of the recently invented hydraulic nozzles, and discharze it with immensely increased momentum and effect against the bank they desire to wash down, accomplishing greater results with less labor and expenee, and "enabling one miner toregulate the discharge of a thoueand inches, in streame of six inches in diameter, by means of a lever, moving a nozzle which turns in any direction, with more ease and accuracy than three men could do itby the old process. So powerful isthe force exerted by these large streams; uuder great pressure, that man cemented gravel banks which formerly required the use of powder blasts before washing, can now be cut down and removed by the action of water alone. He then specifies a number of drills, hydraulic pipes aud the mechanical appliances of mining and improvements in the manner of working, and says: As these improvents are adopted, the amount and profit of this branch of mining increases, and the steady operation of these causes, inelnding the facilities for the procurement of title to mining gronnd, will have a tendency to materially increase the gold product. Underground Temperature. Late observations, embodied in a report to the British Association, confirm the results of former investigations touching the rate of increase of temperatnre with increasing depth. The average appears to be about one degree of Fahrenheit to every fifty-four feet of depth; though in some localities the increase is much more, and in others much less rapid. In the Mont Ceuis tunnel, for example, ata point directly under the summit of the mountain, which is quite a mile overhead, the temperature was found to be 85.1 deg Fahr. The mean aunual temperature of the crest, as estimated from a comparison of observed temperatures at both higher and lower levels, is 27.3 deg. Fahr. Assuming this estimate to be correct, the increase of temperature downwards is at the rate of 1 deg. Fahy. in 93 feet, which, by applyIng a conjectural correction for the convexity of the surface, is reduced to about i deg. Fahr. in $1 feet, as the corresponding rate under a level surface; and this is about the rate at the Dunkinfield colliery in England, though much lower than the average elsewhere observed. A more rapid increase than the average given above has been observed at Yakutsk, in Siberia, where, according to Middendorf, the temperature runs up at the rate of 1° Fahr. in 49 feet of descent. Dana mentions that Magnus found in the same locality a gain of 15° Fahr. in descending 408 feet, which is equal to 1° for 27 feet. It is stated on the authority of Geueral Helmerson, of the Mining College at St. Petersburg, that in sinking a well to the depth of 540 feet at Yakutsk, the soil was found to be frozen the entire distauce, and the probabilities were that the frost had reached a depth of 700 feet. One degree of increase in 52 feet of descent was the rate in this well. It is found that the rise in temperature as the thermometer descends is not always regular, being more rapid at some depths than at others. Thus, in the examination of Shergin’s shaft, in Siberia, between the depths of 150 and 200 feet, the temperature rose at the rate of 1° in 20 feet, while between 250 aud 300 feet the increase was at the rateof 1°in96 feet. A similar, though less marked difference, has been observed in the Kentish Town well in England. Between the depths of 325 and 910 feet, the rate of advance in temperature is 1° in 56 feet, and from 910 to 1,100, 1° in 54 feet. The strata differ materially in the two spaces, in the upper space consisting mainly of chalk and marl, and in the lower space of sand and clay; whence it hae heen suggested that the irregularity of the rise in temperature was due to the varying character of the strata traversed. Goup Mryine on tax Contorapo.—The Deseret News has a correspondence at St. George, who writes, February 5th, as follows: Parties are just up from St. Thomas, on the Muddy, whe report considerable excitement in that section ou account of the discoveries of placer gold diggings on the Colorado, above the mouth of the Virgin. The precious metal is found in the fine or flour state and itis reported that half an ounce is made a day to the hand. Several parties numbering in all near fifty men, have made au outfit here and at the Muddy and gone over with three months’ outfit to work. The spot they have selectedis above the mouth of Grand Wash, near the mouth of Diamond river, probably from 75 to 100 miles either from St. Thomas, St. George or Kanab. Parties have visited and prospected various places along the river, as wellasthe spot described and say that there isfine gold in the sands all along the river. The parties seem satisfied that they havea good thing and that the Colorado will be lined with mining camps ere another winter sets in. Tue receipts of the Patent Office at Washington, last year, were $678,716, and the expenditures $562,104. The balance was paid into the Treasury, amounting to Y. $116,624, making the balance to the credit of the office January Ist, 1872, $759,970. The number of applications for patents was 19,472; of patents granted, 13,333; and of patents expired, 2,654. The whole number granted to citizens of the United States was 12,511. Winnemucca Silver Mines. It may not be generally known, says the Humboldt Register, but it is nevertheless a fact that the mines in Wiunemucca mountain, so far as they have been worked have tnrned out as good resnits, if not a better showing than any of the mines in Humbold county or in the Eastern part of the State. Within the last three years there haye been over a thousand tons of ore taken from the Wearmouth, French and Kunkle claims, the three principal locations in the district, and shipped to Rye Patch, Reno and San Francisco for reduction. The receipts of the millmen show that this ore gave an average yield of $150 per ton. Some thirty tons of first-class ore taken from the above claims, which are located on the “* Pride of the Mountain Ledge,” milled as high as $500 perton. Also, some 250 tons shipped to Swansea went $143 and some cents per ton. Are there any other mines in Humboldt county that have as yet made a better showing? The ledge proper, from which this ore was taken is about 4 feet hetween casings at the bottom of the incline, 200 feet from the surface, showing a stratum of 40 inches wide solid mineral. From the ore already worked, it isa well-established fact, that the entire ledge between casings is a true fissure vein, and will work over $100 per ton all through. In order to satisfy the curious, we give the numher of the assays made by two experienced aud practical assayers: The general average of 16 assays of different lots of ore as made by J. A. Allgauer was $271.79 per ton. That of 20 assays made by the Cahill Bros., of Austin, Nev., was $235.45; the highest being $2,389.03 and the lowest $28.85. Where is there a ledge in this part of the State, that does, or can make a better exhibit than the “Pride of the Mountain.” The Eureka ores are very base and low grade and some twohundred miles off the railroad; the South Mouutain (Idaho) ores are about the same as the ores in the Eureka district, and located over two hundred miles north of the C. P. Railroad in a country where snow is four feet deep six months in a year. Tt may look a little strange to those unacquainted with the cirenmstances, that with such a showing the jledges are not worked. The reason is obvious. The ledges are owned hy men who are unable to erect proper reduction works, and they have learned by experience that ores paying less than $150 per ton, will not pay the expense of shipment and reduction, and leave any margin for the mine owners, If the ore could be reduced at or near the mines, even $50 ore could be made to pay a handsome profit. OakKVILLE QUICKsILVER Minz.— We visited, a few days since, the Oakville Quicksilver Mine, situated some fourteen miles ahove Napa City, and within one mile and a half of the Calistoga Railroad. The company have excavated 3,000 feet of tunnel, and drifts have been run, which denote a rich ledge of 1,500 feet, lying between sandstone and slate. There are about 1,000 tons of ore on the dump, and at least 10,000 tons are developed in the mine. A lare amount of pure cinnabar is now being discovered in the lower tunnels, and, in the opinion of experts, the leads will eoon open into chambere of the same ore. The price of this ore varieein value from $40 to $800per ton. The Company lately started a ten-ton furnace, which works splendidly and is now turuing out some 400 pounds of quicksilver per day. It is the intention to erect a furnace of much greater capacity when the yield of quicksilver will be proportionately inereased.—News Letter. Starce.—There seems to be among the imports into our State none so needless as that of starch. With soil that produces so bounteons a yield of the raw material, California should be exporting instead of importing it. Other States with less advantages ship starch to foreign ports while we import over $150,000 worth per annum. Ajlate Indianapolis paper aunounces the shipment from that city of two thousand boxes of starch to Liverpool via New York. California could land it in Liverpool at an equal if not lower cost for freight than Indianapolis, and certainly our advantages for cheap manufacture will enable us to furnish it ready for shipment at a much cheaper rate. We wonder that some of our farmers have not ere this started a co-operative starch factory to dispose of their surplus produce. Mzouanics, write for your paper. Nevada’s Bullion Product in 1871. The Virginia City (Nev.), Enterprise, says: When we predicted, more than a year ago, that the bullion product of Nevada for 1871 would exceed twenty millions of dollars, most of the journals of California treated the assumption as a pleasant piece of bombast. The complete fig-ures are not before us, but from a carefully prepared statement by the General Agent of Wells’ Fargo & Co., we are satisfied that the bullion product of Nevada amounted to not less than twenty-five millions of dollars during the year 1871, This equals the gold product of California, and henceforth we shall claim for this State the first rank as the gold and silver producing commonwealth of the Republic. Assuming the product to be twenty-five millions of dollars, and a simple calculation shows that $536 in gold and silver was extracted from the earth and put in circulation by every man, woman and child in the State. The amounts shipped by Wells, Fargo & Co. from six of the principal districts of the State during the year 1871, are as follows: PLACE. AMOUNT, Virginia and Gold Hill,. e+ 11,053,328.28 Pioche «. 3,982,227.89 Eureka 2,173,105.50 Hamilton and Treasure Hill.. 1,339, 420.33 Austin ., 26).: oss codes ee 965,536.17 Mineral Hill..... 701,014.00 Total. weet. ee eee $20,214,632.17 Tt is well known that the product of the mines of Virginia and Gold Hillin 1871 was considerably in excess of $11,053,328. The yield, as shown by the books of the County Assessor, exceeded this amount by about two millions of dollars. The statement of the General Agent of Wells, Fargo & Co., was doubtless compiled from the shipments by that Company, and does not embrace a number of district from which very considerable amounts of bullion were taken in 1871. A large amount of base bullion has been shipped directly to the East for separation, from the eastern counties of the State. Much of this is not included in the statement referred to, ag it was not shipped through Wells, Fargo & Co. It is therefore reasonable to assume that the gold and silver product of Nevada for 1871 was all of $25,000,000, and that for 1872 it will exceed this amount by $5,000,000. ~ Manzanita.—This seruhby bush (for it seldom attains the dignity of a tree) is well known to all old Californians, who are Californians enongh to have visited the beautiful mountains of the State. The wood of the manzanita is hard and susceptible of a beautiful polish. In early days a man who did notcarry a walking-cane made of manzanita was not exactly inthe fashion. Such canes became too common however, to continue the rage in California; like ‘‘specimen jewelry,” they were valued only as presents to he sent East. No one in these days hears of a great man being presented with a manzanita cane which has a gold head quartz setting. The pioneers of the mountains at an early day discovered that the manzanita made a most excellent firewood. It makes the hottest fire of any wood to be found in the State, or perhaps any to be found in the world. There is a drawback, however, to the qualities of the manzanita as fuel. It makes too hot a fire for the stove of the period, It burns out a etove too rapidly for economy. In an oldfashioned fire place the piled manzanita logs with brilliant flame, lively sparkle and glowing coals make all the comfort a fire can make, of a night when thé thermometer is coquetting with zero. So the large manzanita bushes have been cut away from the hillsides near mining camps. . The Digger Indians have always used the berries of the manzanita as food. They contain a large percentage of grape sugar and are rich in gluten. Manzanita grows all over the mountain sides of California, on the Coast Range, and on the Sierras. It grows from low down,in the foothills to an elevation of 3,000 feet. The production of these berries is therefore practically unlimited, as nature has arranged it. What can be done by cultivation ?—Grass Valley Union. Inox Suips.—In one ship-building establishment in Philadelphia there are five first-class iron steamships in process of construction, with an aggregate tonnage of 13,000 tone, which will require for their construction 16,000,000 pounds of iron, and the ships when completed will cost $2,500,000.

SCIENTIFIC PRESS) [March 2, 1872. 130 Causes of Depression of Placer Mining. In the chapter ou the condition of mining industry in California, in Mr. Raymond’s last report, ‘‘ Mines, Mills and Furnaces of the Pacific Coast,” of which we have the advance sheets, Mr. W. A. Skidmore contributes some interesting facts concerning the placers of, this State. He sums up the causes for the inactivity in past years in placer mining as follows: Ist. The injudicious system of locations permitted under early mining laws and regulations, through the ignoranee of the miners of the character, extent, and depth of the ditrital deposits. These locations were generally made in claims of 100 feet frontage, running back to the center or backbone of the nearest ridge, regardless of the course of the deposit, such claims being too small to justity the expenditure by individual owners of the large sums necessary to construct tunnels for outlet and drainage of their ground. 2d. The filling and choking up with tailings, after a few seasons of washing, of the ravines, gulches, and rivers which served as outlet for the ground, thus preventing the maintenance of fiumes of sufiicient length and grade to disintegrate the hard cement found underlying the top dirt, and rendering imperative the construction of long tunnels to the nearest deep stream, requiring, in some cases, years of labor and the disbursment of large sums without immediate returms, 3, The ignorance of the people and of capitalists of the unbounded mineral resources of their own State; the sudden and unhealthy excitements following the discovery of gold in British Columhia, and silver in Nevada; and the efforts of a portion of the press in California, in the interest of land speculators, to ‘‘ write up” agriculture at the expense of mining. 4th. The uncertain tenure of mining ground under local mining regulations, which differed in every district, and affords no adequate protection to the purchaser of mining ground unless he remained in actual possession, Prospects for the Future. In speaking of the future of this branch of mining Mr. Skidmore says: Many causes have operated to confirm me in the opinion that the future is hright with promise. A more lively interest is felt by capitalist in the examination and development of these dormant resources, and the information disseminated through themedium of the ,State geological survey, and the various reports of the United States mining commissioners have not been without effect in turning the attention of the people to the vast stores of wealth at their very doors. One of the most encouraging features of future progress is the tendency of consolidation and cooperation on the part of owners of mining ground, who are availing themselvee of the recent act of Congress to acquire a atitle in fee simple to the land by means of a United States patent. As an instance of the beneficial operation of this law, we may mention the fact that one company, the North Bloomfield Gravel Company, of Nevady County, are now applying for a patent to 1,500 acres of mining ground, lying between the Middle and the South Yuhariver. Should this act be liberally coustrued hy the various land offices, and no expensive obstacles placed in the way of the miner seeking to acquire title (as wus the case in the operation of the act for acquiring title to quartz ledges), much good will result to the State from the passage of thie law. Important improvements have been made in the manner of using water in the hydraulic diggings. Instead of projectfive hundred to one thousand inchee of water through two or four pipes, the leading mines nowrun their water through one pipe by means of the recently invented hydraulic nozzles, and discharze it with immensely increased momentum and effect against the bank they desire to wash down, accomplishing greater results with less labor and expenee, and "enabling one miner toregulate the discharge of a thoueand inches, in streame of six inches in diameter, by means of a lever, moving a nozzle which turns in any direction, with more ease and accuracy than three men could do itby the old process. So powerful isthe force exerted by these large streams; uuder great pressure, that man cemented gravel banks which formerly required the use of powder blasts before washing, can now be cut down and removed by the action of water alone. He then specifies a number of drills, hydraulic pipes aud the mechanical appliances of mining and improvements in the manner of working, and says: As these improvents are adopted, the amount and profit of this branch of mining increases, and the steady operation of these causes, inelnding the facilities for the procurement of title to mining gronnd, will have a tendency to materially increase the gold product. Underground Temperature. Late observations, embodied in a report to the British Association, confirm the results of former investigations touching the rate of increase of temperatnre with increasing depth. The average appears to be about one degree of Fahrenheit to every fifty-four feet of depth; though in some localities the increase is much more, and in others much less rapid. In the Mont Ceuis tunnel, for example, ata point directly under the summit of the mountain, which is quite a mile overhead, the temperature was found to be 85.1 deg Fahr. The mean aunual temperature of the crest, as estimated from a comparison of observed temperatures at both higher and lower levels, is 27.3 deg. Fahr. Assuming this estimate to be correct, the increase of temperature downwards is at the rate of 1 deg. Fahy. in 93 feet, which, by applyIng a conjectural correction for the convexity of the surface, is reduced to about i deg. Fahr. in $1 feet, as the corresponding rate under a level surface; and this is about the rate at the Dunkinfield colliery in England, though much lower than the average elsewhere observed. A more rapid increase than the average given above has been observed at Yakutsk, in Siberia, where, according to Middendorf, the temperature runs up at the rate of 1° Fahr. in 49 feet of descent. Dana mentions that Magnus found in the same locality a gain of 15° Fahr. in descending 408 feet, which is equal to 1° for 27 feet. It is stated on the authority of Geueral Helmerson, of the Mining College at St. Petersburg, that in sinking a well to the depth of 540 feet at Yakutsk, the soil was found to be frozen the entire distauce, and the probabilities were that the frost had reached a depth of 700 feet. One degree of increase in 52 feet of descent was the rate in this well. It is found that the rise in temperature as the thermometer descends is not always regular, being more rapid at some depths than at others. Thus, in the examination of Shergin’s shaft, in Siberia, between the depths of 150 and 200 feet, the temperature rose at the rate of 1° in 20 feet, while between 250 aud 300 feet the increase was at the rateof 1°in96 feet. A similar, though less marked difference, has been observed in the Kentish Town well in England. Between the depths of 325 and 910 feet, the rate of advance in temperature is 1° in 56 feet, and from 910 to 1,100, 1° in 54 feet. The strata differ materially in the two spaces, in the upper space consisting mainly of chalk and marl, and in the lower space of sand and clay; whence it hae heen suggested that the irregularity of the rise in temperature was due to the varying character of the strata traversed. Goup Mryine on tax Contorapo.—The Deseret News has a correspondence at St. George, who writes, February 5th, as follows: Parties are just up from St. Thomas, on the Muddy, whe report considerable excitement in that section ou account of the discoveries of placer gold diggings on the Colorado, above the mouth of the Virgin. The precious metal is found in the fine or flour state and itis reported that half an ounce is made a day to the hand. Several parties numbering in all near fifty men, have made au outfit here and at the Muddy and gone over with three months’ outfit to work. The spot they have selectedis above the mouth of Grand Wash, near the mouth of Diamond river, probably from 75 to 100 miles either from St. Thomas, St. George or Kanab. Parties have visited and prospected various places along the river, as wellasthe spot described and say that there isfine gold in the sands all along the river. The parties seem satisfied that they havea good thing and that the Colorado will be lined with mining camps ere another winter sets in. Tue receipts of the Patent Office at Washington, last year, were $678,716, and the expenditures $562,104. The balance was paid into the Treasury, amounting to Y. $116,624, making the balance to the credit of the office January Ist, 1872, $759,970. The number of applications for patents was 19,472; of patents granted, 13,333; and of patents expired, 2,654. The whole number granted to citizens of the United States was 12,511. Winnemucca Silver Mines.

It may not be generally known, says the Humboldt Register, but it is nevertheless a fact that the mines in Wiunemucca mountain, so far as they have been worked have tnrned out as good resnits, if not a better showing than any of the mines in Humbold county or in the Eastern part of the State. Within the last three years there haye been over a thousand tons of ore taken from the Wearmouth, French and Kunkle claims, the three principal locations in the district, and shipped to Rye Patch, Reno and San Francisco for reduction. The receipts of the millmen show that this ore gave an average yield of $150 per ton. Some thirty tons of first-class ore taken from the above claims, which are located on the “* Pride of the Mountain Ledge,” milled as high as $500 perton. Also, some 250 tons shipped to Swansea went $143 and some cents per ton. Are there any other mines in Humboldt county that have as yet made a better showing? The ledge proper, from which this ore was taken is about 4 feet hetween casings at the bottom of the incline, 200 feet from the surface, showing a stratum of 40 inches wide solid mineral. From the ore already worked, it isa well-established fact, that the entire ledge between casings is a true fissure vein, and will work over $100 per ton all through. In order to satisfy the curious, we give the numher of the assays made by two experienced aud practical assayers: The general average of 16 assays of different lots of ore as made by J. A. Allgauer was $271.79 per ton. That of 20 assays made by the Cahill Bros., of Austin, Nev., was $235.45; the highest being $2,389.03 and the lowest $28.85. Where is there a ledge in this part of the State, that does, or can make a better exhibit than the “Pride of the Mountain.” The Eureka ores are very base and low grade and some twohundred miles off the railroad; the South Mouutain (Idaho) ores are about the same as the ores in the Eureka district, and located over two hundred miles north of the C. P. Railroad in a country where snow is four feet deep six months in a year. Tt may look a little strange to those unacquainted with the cirenmstances, that with such a showing the jledges are not worked. The reason is obvious. The ledges are owned hy men who are unable to erect proper reduction works, and they have learned by experience that ores paying less than $150 per ton, will not pay the expense of shipment and reduction, and leave any margin for the mine owners, If the ore could be reduced at or near the mines, even $50 ore could be made to pay a handsome profit. OakKVILLE QUICKsILVER Minz.— We visited, a few days since, the Oakville Quicksilver Mine, situated some fourteen miles ahove Napa City, and within one mile and a half of the Calistoga Railroad. The company have excavated 3,000 feet of tunnel, and drifts have been run, which denote a rich ledge of 1,500 feet, lying between sandstone and slate. There are about 1,000 tons of ore on the dump, and at least 10,000 tons are developed in the mine. A lare amount of pure cinnabar is now being discovered in the lower tunnels, and, in the opinion of experts, the leads will eoon open into chambere of the same ore. The price of this ore varieein value from $40 to $800per ton. The Company lately started a ten-ton furnace, which works splendidly and is now turuing out some 400 pounds of quicksilver per day. It is the intention to erect a furnace of much greater capacity when the yield of quicksilver will be proportionately inereased.—News Letter. Starce.—There seems to be among the imports into our State none so needless as that of starch. With soil that produces so bounteons a yield of the raw material, California should be exporting instead of importing it. Other States with less advantages ship starch to foreign ports while we import over $150,000 worth per annum. Ajlate Indianapolis paper aunounces the shipment from that city of two thousand boxes of starch to Liverpool via New York. California could land it in Liverpool at an equal if not lower cost for freight than Indianapolis, and certainly our advantages for cheap manufacture will enable us to furnish it ready for shipment at a much cheaper rate. We wonder that some of our farmers have not ere this started a co-operative starch factory to dispose of their surplus produce. Mzouanics, write for your paper. Nevada’s Bullion Product in 1871. The Virginia City (Nev.), Enterprise, says: When we predicted, more than a year ago, that the bullion product of Nevada for 1871 would exceed twenty millions of dollars, most of the journals of California treated the assumption as a pleasant piece of bombast. The complete fig-ures are not before us, but from a carefully prepared statement by the General Agent of Wells’ Fargo & Co., we are satisfied that the bullion product of Nevada amounted to not less than twenty-five millions of dollars during the year 1871, This equals the gold product of California, and henceforth we shall claim for this State the first rank as the gold and silver producing commonwealth of the Republic. Assuming the product to be twenty-five millions of dollars, and a simple calculation shows that $536 in gold and silver was extracted from the earth and put in circulation by every man, woman and child in the State. The amounts shipped by Wells, Fargo & Co. from six of the principal districts of the State during the year 1871, are as follows: PLACE. AMOUNT, Virginia and Gold Hill,.. e+ 11,053,328.28 Pioche «. 3,982,227.89 Eureka 2,173,105.50 Hamilton and Treasure Hill... 1,339, 420.33 Austin ., 26).: oss codes ee 965,536.17 Mineral Hill.......... 701,014.00 Total. weet. ee eee $20,214,632.17 Tt is well known that the product of the mines of Virginia and Gold Hillin 1871 was considerably in excess of $11,053,328. The yield, as shown by the books of the County Assessor, exceeded this amount by about two millions of dollars. The statement of the General Agent of Wells, Fargo & Co., was doubtless compiled from the shipments by that Company, and does not embrace a number of district from which very considerable amounts of bullion were taken in 1871. A large amount of base bullion has been shipped directly to the East for separation, from the eastern counties of the State. Much of this is not included in the statement referred to, ag it was not shipped through Wells, Fargo & Co. It is therefore reasonable to assume that the gold and silver product of Nevada for 1871 was all of $25,000,000, and that for 1872 it will exceed this amount by $5,000,000. ~ Manzanita.—This seruhby bush (for it seldom attains the dignity of a tree) is well known to all old Californians, who are Californians enongh to have visited the beautiful mountains of the State. The wood of the manzanita is hard and susceptible of a beautiful polish. In early days a man who did notcarry a walking-cane made of manzanita was not exactly inthe fashion. Such canes became too common however, to continue the rage in California; like ‘‘specimen jewelry,” they were valued only as presents to he sent East. No one in these days hears of a great man being presented with a manzanita cane which has a gold head quartz setting. The pioneers of the mountains at an early day discovered that the manzanita made a most excellent firewood. It makes the hottest fire of any wood to be found in the State, or perhaps any to be found in the world. There is a drawback, however, to the qualities of the manzanita as fuel. It makes too hot a fire for the stove of the period, It burns out a etove too rapidly for economy. In an oldfashioned fire place the piled manzanita logs with brilliant flame, lively sparkle and glowing coals make all the comfort a fire can make, of a night when thé thermometer is coquetting with zero. So the large manzanita bushes have been cut away from the hillsides near mining camps. . The Digger Indians have always used the berries of the manzanita as food. They contain a large percentage of grape sugar and are rich in gluten. Manzanita grows all over the mountain sides of California, on the Coast Range, and on the Sierras. It grows from low down,in the foothills to an elevation of 3,000 feet. The production of these berries is therefore practically unlimited, as nature has arranged it. What can be done by cultivation ?—Grass Valley Union. Inox Suips.—In one ship-building establishment in Philadelphia there are five first-class iron steamships in process of construction, with an aggregate tonnage of 13,000 tone, which will require for their construction 16,000,000 pounds of iron, and the ships when completed will cost $2,500,000.