Volume 24 (1872) (424 pages)

150 SCIENTIFIC PRESS) [March 9g, 1872. Meeting a Grizzly. In the early days of California the mountains of the State were infested with those fierce and powerful monarchs of the forest, the grizzly hear, and numberless are the stories current of wild and startling adventures in their search. Those pioneers of civilization, the miners, frequently met them in their prospecting trips, and when prudent, gave them a wide berth; still, some of the more reckless and daring of this adventurous class, sometimes attacked them, and unless well armed and in numbers, were in luck not to come off ‘‘second best.’”? As a general thing unless surprised or attacked, they will not act on the offensive; cases are, however, known to the contrary. The growl alone of these heasts, when surprised or wounded, is enough to make a prudent man keep at a respectful distance, and the writer knows from personal experience that at night, inthe dark gloom ofthe forest, with onein close prox* : imity, it will make a man feel queerer, and his hair straighter, and offer superior inducements to accelerate tree climbing than most anything else could. The miners of California generally weut pretty well armed early times, and iu their visits to their neighbors at night were careful to carry their trusty revolvers, and, if possible, a rifle. This was found necessary for protection against ferocious beasts and still more ferocious men. Our cut repre sents a ‘‘pioneer’’ returning home at night, and who has takena short cut home instead of going by the regular trail. His mule, from natural instinct, shows his knowledge of the proximity of the grizaly by laying batk his ears and looking as if he did not like it. The hear is seated in front of his den upon a point of rocks overlook ing the placid river, which glistens in the moonlight, and seems to be enjoying himself. in A WELL-appointed iron ship building yard and plant has just commenced operations at Wyandotte, a few miles below Detroit, on the river, adjoining tbe extensive rolling mills of E. B. Ward, who backs the enterprise, and which is under the management of Captain S$. R. Kirby. A double-decked freight propeller is in course of construction, being intended principally for the silver ore trade of Lake Superior. Lerrers patent have recently been granted for the invention of an improved railroad car for tbe transportation of grain. By this invention the grainis discharged in from three to tbirty minutes, a great saving in time over the present process. One man can attend to the unloading of ten care, and discharge their contents as quickly as four men can unload one of the cars now used for grain. Tur pig-iron product last year was 1,850,000 tons, of which all but 387,000 tons was anthracite -or Pennsylvania. The business employed 940,000 men at aggregate wages of $564,000,000, and the value of the product was $900,000,000. The Hunt & Douglas Process for the Extraction of Copper from its Ores. No. 3. The result of the above causes combined is that inetead of 89 parts of iron there are consumed, according to. circumstances, from 200 to 300 parts of metallic iron to produce 100 parts metallic copper in the, form of cemeut copper. Tbis too is rendered impure by an admixture of insolnble presalts of iron genreally amounting to from 20 to 40 per cent., and even more. The present process ayoids both of these faults, and enables ue to obtain a pure cement copper with a very small consumption of iron. The solution obtained with the bath of protochlorid of iron can contain no persalt of iron in solution, and if protoxyd of copper aloue has been employed will hold three ‘ing at the rate of 59 parts of metallic iron equivalents of copper combined with two equivalents of chlorine, so that they will be precipitated by two equivalents of iron,beTHE SHORT for 100 parts of metallic copper. If, from tbe presence of much dinoxyd, or from other reasons, the greater part of the copper he present as dicblorid, it will be remembered that this requires only one equivalent of iron to precipitate two equivalents of copper, being at tbe rate of 45 parts of irons for 100 parts of metallic copper. Tbe precipitation of copper from the solutions is at first rapid, especially if these are hot, and kept in agitation. Inasmuch as the waste liquors are not rejected in tbis, as in the ordinary process, the long digestion with iron required to remove the last portion of copper is dispensed with, and the liquid, after having given up the greater part of its metal, is withdrawn and used for the treatment of a fresh portion of ore. The prolonged action of the air on the bath is thus avoided, and we obtain a cement copper almost entirely free from insoluble iron salts, and with the consumption of a minimum quantity of iron. The Regenerated Bath.—If the action of the air be excluded it will be found that the bath, after complete precipitation of tbe copper by iron, will be nearly as rich . in protochlorid of iron as before the solujtion of the copper. Tbejloss, which is {due to tbe separation of a portion of oxychlorid of iron during the solution, is variable, and in come cases does not exceed six per cent. Tbe various ways of supplying this loss are three: (1) The direct addition to the bath of a portion of protosulphate or protocblorid of iron. (2) Tbe addition of a portion of sulphate of copper from the roasted ore, and (3) the use of enlphurous acid. Of these the first requires no explanation, and the escond and tbird will be explained under the two following headings. The proportion of iron in tbe bath should be determined from time to time by the following method: Asmall portion of tbe bath, freed from copper by digestion for some hours with metallic iron in a stoppered bottle, is diluted with 50 parts of water, and strongly acidulated with snlphnric acid. A standard solution of permanganate of potash of known strength is then added from a graduated tube so long asitis decolorized. By comparative experiments of this kind on the regenerated bath its stringth in protochlorid of iron is readily determiued. The Protosalis of Lron.—In preparing CUT HOME. the bath we have recommended either protosulphate or protochlorid of iron. The former ealt, being an article of commerce, ig to be obtained in many placos where the latter cannot readily be procured, and may he easily manufactured for the purpose in regions where neither of these can be readily obtained, provided snlphuretted copper ores are to be had. It is well known that in roasting these a considerable portion of the copper is converted into sulpbate, which may be readily dissolved by water from the roasted ore. If to each 63.4 ponnds of copper thus dissolved, we add 120 pounds of common salt, and digest the liquid with metallic iron ina close vessel, best with the aid of heat, till the copper is precipitated, the solution will contain such an amount of protochlorid of iron that it will only be necessary to add 200 pounds of common salt and a sufficient amount of water, to make 100 gallons of the bath of tbe strenght before prescribed. If a roasted ore, charged with sulpbate, be added directly to the bath of protochlorid of iron, it will be found, after precipitating the copper by metallic iron, that the regenerated bath will coutain not ouly the protesalt of iron corresponding to that originally present in the bath, but} also that resulting from tbe action of the metallic iron on the sulpbate of copper introduced, which has given rise to protoohlorid of iron and sulpbate of soda by douhle decomposition; thus rendering the batb impure botb from tbe presence of sulpbates and from an excess of protoohlorid of.iron. To obviate these results we add to such roasted ores, (as already described), so much lime as may be necessary to convert the whole or tbe greater part of the eulphate of copper present into insoluble sulphate of lime and protoyxd of copper, which latter is at once eoluble in the protochlorid batb. A small portion of sulpbate of copper, as above prescribed, may be left undecomposed by lime, and by its reaction with metallic iron will give the protosulphate of iron required to enpply the small loss already explained, and keep up the regenerated bath to its original standard, as sbown by the test with permanganate. The use of protosulphate of iron for making tbe batb, introduces a large proportion of sulpbate of soda, A great part of this, it is true, crystallizes out wben the bath is exposed to cold, and may thus be got rid of. The use of a portion of chlorid of calcium may also, as already explained, be resorted to with advantage where this eubstance can be cheaply procured. In districts where hydrochloric acid is a bye-product of little value it will be best to obtain the protochlorid of iron directly by saturating the erude acid witb scrap iron and employing the product as already explained, Use of Sulphurous Acid.— ‘When the mixture resulting from the action of oxyd of copper upon tbe bath of protochlorid of iron je beated, and exopsed to the action of an excess of sulphurous acid, tbe whole of the separated peroxyd of iron is converted into a protosalt, and the bath, after precipitation by metallic iron, is found to contain much moro protosalt than at first. Such a resnlt is generally to be avoided, but by passing into or over the bath a emall portion of sulphurous acid, it is easy to dissolve snch a portion of the precipitated oxycblorid or oxyd of iron as to prevent the logs of iron which otherwise occurs, and keep up the standard of the regenerated batb without the addition of a salt of iron or of snlphate of copper. The introduction of air with the sulphurous acid is to be prevented as mucb as possible, since it tende to convert the dichlorid of copper into protochlorid, and thus increase the consumption of metallic iron. *When, as in ordinary cases, the bath holds sulphates, the precipitated peroxyd contains a basic persulphate, with but little of the oxychlorid which is found ina bath where chlorids only are present. [Concluded uext week.] Micuican silver mines tbis year have yielded about $1,000,000 worth of ore. ° The estimate is that about $100,000 a month can be taken outat a cost of $8,000. Wyandotte smelting worke have sent $400,000 to the mint from one mine alono. AN UMBRELLA frame in process of manufacture has to pass through more than one hundred hands, and is tbe result of remarkably delicate and ingenious manipnlations.

150 SCIENTIFIC PRESS) [March 9g, 1872. Meeting a Grizzly. In the early days of California the mountains of the State were infested with those fierce and powerful monarchs of the forest, the grizzly hear, and numberless are the stories current of wild and startling adventures in their search. Those pioneers of civilization, the miners, frequently met them in their prospecting trips, and when prudent, gave them a wide berth; still, some of the more reckless and daring of this adventurous class, sometimes attacked them, and unless well armed and in numbers, were in luck not to come off ‘‘second best.’”? As a general thing unless surprised or attacked, they will not act on the offensive; cases are, however, known to the contrary. The growl alone of these heasts, when surprised or wounded, is enough to make a prudent man keep at a respectful distance, and the writer knows from personal experience that at night, inthe dark gloom ofthe forest, with onein close prox* : imity, it will make a man feel queerer, and his hair straighter, and offer superior inducements to accelerate tree climbing than most anything else could. The miners of California generally weut pretty well armed early times, and iu their visits to their neighbors at night were careful to carry their trusty revolvers, and, if possible, a rifle. This was found necessary for protection against ferocious beasts and still more ferocious men. Our cut repre sents a ‘‘pioneer’’ returning home at night, and who has takena short cut home instead of going by the regular trail. His mule, from natural instinct, shows his knowledge of the proximity of the grizaly by laying batk his ears and looking as if he did not like it. The hear is seated in front of his den upon a point of rocks overlook ing the placid river, which glistens in the moonlight, and seems to be enjoying himself. in A WELL-appointed iron ship building yard and plant has just commenced operations at Wyandotte, a few miles below Detroit, on the river, adjoining tbe extensive rolling mills of E. B. Ward, who backs the enterprise, and which is under the management of Captain S$. R. Kirby. A double-decked freight propeller is in course of construction, being intended principally for the silver ore trade of Lake Superior. Lerrers patent have recently been granted for the invention of an improved railroad car for tbe transportation of grain. By this invention the grainis discharged in from three to tbirty minutes, a great saving in time over the present process. One man can attend to the unloading of ten care, and discharge their contents as quickly as four men can unload one of the cars now used for grain. Tur pig-iron product last year was 1,850,000 tons, of which all but 387,000 tons was anthracite -or Pennsylvania. The business employed 940,000 men at aggregate wages of $564,000,000, and the value of the product was $900,000,000. The Hunt & Douglas Process for the Extraction of Copper from its Ores. No. 3. The result of the above causes combined is that inetead of 89 parts of iron there are consumed, according to. circumstances, from 200 to 300 parts of metallic iron to produce 100 parts metallic copper in the, form of cemeut copper. Tbis too is rendered impure by an admixture of insolnble presalts of iron genreally amounting to from 20 to 40 per cent., and even more. The present process ayoids both of these faults, and enables ue to obtain a pure cement copper with a very small consumption of iron. The solution obtained with the bath of protochlorid of iron can contain no persalt of iron in solution, and if protoxyd of copper aloue has been employed will hold three ‘ing at the rate of 59 parts of metallic iron equivalents of copper combined with two equivalents of chlorine, so that they will be precipitated by two equivalents of iron,beTHE SHORT for 100 parts of metallic copper. If, from tbe presence of much dinoxyd, or from other reasons, the greater part of the copper he present as dicblorid, it will be remembered that this requires only one equivalent of iron to precipitate two equivalents of copper, being at tbe rate of 45 parts of irons for 100 parts of metallic copper. Tbe precipitation of copper from the solutions is at first rapid, especially if these are hot, and kept in agitation. Inasmuch as the waste liquors are not rejected in tbis, as in the ordinary process, the long digestion with iron required to remove the last portion of copper is dispensed with, and the liquid, after having given up the greater part of its metal, is withdrawn and used for the treatment of a fresh portion of ore. The prolonged action of the air on the bath is thus avoided, and we obtain a cement copper almost entirely free from insoluble iron salts, and with the consumption of a minimum quantity of iron. The Regenerated Bath.—If the action of the air be excluded it will be found that the bath, after complete precipitation of tbe copper by iron, will be nearly as rich . in protochlorid of iron as before the solujtion of the copper. Tbejloss, which is {due to tbe separation of a portion of oxychlorid of iron during the solution, is variable, and in come cases does not exceed six per cent. Tbe various ways of supplying this loss are three: (1) The direct addition to the bath of a portion of protosulphate or protocblorid of iron. (2) Tbe addition of a portion of sulphate of copper from the roasted ore, and (3) the use of enlphurous acid. Of these the first requires no explanation, and the escond

and tbird will be explained under the two following headings. The proportion of iron in tbe bath should be determined from time to time by the following method: Asmall portion of tbe bath, freed from copper by digestion for some hours with metallic iron in a stoppered bottle, is diluted with 50 parts of water, and strongly acidulated with snlphnric acid. A standard solution of permanganate of potash of known strength is then added from a graduated tube so long asitis decolorized. By comparative experiments of this kind on the regenerated bath its stringth in protochlorid of iron is readily determiued. The Protosalis of Lron.—In preparing CUT HOME. the bath we have recommended either protosulphate or protochlorid of iron. The former ealt, being an article of commerce, ig to be obtained in many placos where the latter cannot readily be procured, and may he easily manufactured for the purpose in regions where neither of these can be readily obtained, provided snlphuretted copper ores are to be had. It is well known that in roasting these a considerable portion of the copper is converted into sulpbate, which may be readily dissolved by water from the roasted ore. If to each 63.4 ponnds of copper thus dissolved, we add 120 pounds of common salt, and digest the liquid with metallic iron ina close vessel, best with the aid of heat, till the copper is precipitated, the solution will contain such an amount of protochlorid of iron that it will only be necessary to add 200 pounds of common salt and a sufficient amount of water, to make 100 gallons of the bath of tbe strenght before prescribed. If a roasted ore, charged with sulpbate, be added directly to the bath of protochlorid of iron, it will be found, after precipitating the copper by metallic iron, that the regenerated bath will coutain not ouly the protesalt of iron corresponding to that originally present in the bath, but} also that resulting from tbe action of the metallic iron on the sulpbate of copper introduced, which has given rise to protoohlorid of iron and sulpbate of soda by douhle decomposition; thus rendering the batb impure botb from tbe presence of sulpbates and from an excess of protoohlorid of.iron. To obviate these results we add to such roasted ores, (as already described), so much lime as may be necessary to convert the whole or tbe greater part of the eulphate of copper present into insoluble sulphate of lime and protoyxd of copper, which latter is at once eoluble in the protochlorid batb. A small portion of sulpbate of copper, as above prescribed, may be left undecomposed by lime, and by its reaction with metallic iron will give the protosulphate of iron required to enpply the small loss already explained, and keep up the regenerated bath to its original standard, as sbown by the test with permanganate. The use of protosulphate of iron for making tbe batb, introduces a large proportion of sulpbate of soda, A great part of this, it is true, crystallizes out wben the bath is exposed to cold, and may thus be got rid of. The use of a portion of chlorid of calcium may also, as already explained, be resorted to with advantage where this eubstance can be cheaply procured. In districts where hydrochloric acid is a bye-product of little value it will be best to obtain the protochlorid of iron directly by saturating the erude acid witb scrap iron and employing the product as already explained, Use of Sulphurous Acid.— ‘When the mixture resulting from the action of oxyd of copper upon tbe bath of protochlorid of iron je beated, and exopsed to the action of an excess of sulphurous acid, tbe whole of the separated peroxyd of iron is converted into a protosalt, and the bath, after precipitation by metallic iron, is found to contain much moro protosalt than at first. Such a resnlt is generally to be avoided, but by passing into or over the bath a emall portion of sulphurous acid, it is easy to dissolve snch a portion of the precipitated oxycblorid or oxyd of iron as to prevent the logs of iron which otherwise occurs, and keep up the standard of the regenerated batb without the addition of a salt of iron or of snlphate of copper. The introduction of air with the sulphurous acid is to be prevented as mucb as possible, since it tende to convert the dichlorid of copper into protochlorid, and thus increase the consumption of metallic iron. *When, as in ordinary cases, the bath holds sulphates, the precipitated peroxyd contains a basic persulphate, with but little of the oxychlorid which is found ina bath where chlorids only are present. [Concluded uext week.] Micuican silver mines tbis year have yielded about $1,000,000 worth of ore. ° The estimate is that about $100,000 a month can be taken outat a cost of $8,000. Wyandotte smelting worke have sent $400,000 to the mint from one mine alono. AN UMBRELLA frame in process of manufacture has to pass through more than one hundred hands, and is tbe result of remarkably delicate and ingenious manipnlations.