Volume 24 (1872) (424 pages)

168 SCIENTIFIC PRESS. [March 16, 1872. Srientitic Dress, W. B. EWER. ccccesesceseeresscceroeccs SEnroR EDITOR. DEWEY & Co., Publishers. GEO, I. STRONG, JNO. L. BOONE. A, T. DEWEY, W. 3. RWEE, Office, No. 338 Montgomery. St., S. E. Corner of California St., diagonally across from Wells, Fargo & Co.’s. SUBSCRIPTION AND ADVERTISING RATES. ADVERTISING eee Tas Se 2 ee 1,00 20.00 $3,00 7.60 ote meh. 00 6.00 14.00 38.00 Large advertisements at favorable rates. Special or reading notices, legal adverti 6, notices ap pearing in extraordinary type or in particular parts of the paper, inserted at special rates. sf Sussonrerions payable in advance—For one year, $4; six months, $2.60; three months, $1.26. Cluhs of ten names or more, $3 each per annum. $5, in advance, will pay for 133 year, Remittances by registered letters or P. O. orders at our risk. English and Oolonial subscriptions, post paid, per year, PG ths, 12, dver ts, hee line, first insertion, 1s.; subsequent insertions, each, 5d. Large advertisements at special rates. San Prancisco: Saturday Morning, Mar. 16, 1872. —— nd Gold and Legal Tender Rates. Saw Francisoo, Wednesday, March 13, 1872.—Legal Tenders buying 9144; selling, 915;. Gold in New York to-day, 110%. Table of Contents. Eprrortata.—The Proposed New Land Policy; Mining Discoveries; Tuo Wet to Plow; Buy the Right Fruit, 161. Loss of Quicksilver; Mining Accidents; The Paul Process, 168. New Incorporations, 169. JLLUSTRATIONS.—Wright’s Improved Saw Gauge, 161. Bozeman City, Gallatin County, Montana, 169. MeroHantcaL Procress.—Contact of Belts with Pulleys; German Prizes for luprovements; Stcel-Headed vs. Steel Rails; Hooping Boiler Flues; Conveying Power Over Telegraph Poles, 163. “ ScrenTir1o ProcRess.—Do Plants Derive their Carbon From the Earth; Rupture of Iron Wire by a Blow; On the Melting and Regelation of Ice; Temperature of the Sun; Manufacture of Brandy from Sawdust; Sulphide of Bismuth, 163. ’ ‘ : Ninmo Suanrany.—Reports from Mines in various States, Countiesand Districts; Stock Reports; Markets. Ete., 164-5. . Userun ixrosmMsTION.—Wonderful Remains of Ancient lron Workers; The Telegraph ss an Errand Boy; dow to Shave, 167. ' Goop Hxatrs.—A Man With oa Watch Key in His Lungs; Skin Grafting; The Rightand Left Hand; A Case for the Doctors; Hygienic Application of the Spectroscope; Scarlet Fever Non-Contagious; Foreign Substances in Living Flesh: Protruding Teeth, 167. DomeEst1o Economy.—Wood Fire; Italian Obicken Salad; Look Most to Your Spending; Preserved Meats; Bean Soup; To Make Bread From Flour that Ruus; Good Advice; Chicken Jelly. MeogantcaL Hinrs — How to Use Grindstones; Brown Tint for Iron and Steel; To Draw 8 Curve, 171. MIscELLANEOUS.—Continuation of Veins in Depth; Mining Investments; Sewing Mavhiuo, 162. Lemons and Sheep; The Wing of the Locust; The Hunt & Douglas Process for the Extrnction of Copper from its Ores—No. 4; Stock Graziug on the Plsins, 166. Ore Samptep.—J. W. Thurman, 413 aud 415 Mission street, crushed and sampled the following lots of ore during the month of February: 143 and 59 sacks from the Arizona mine, Humboldt Dist.; 105 from the Sheba, same district; 2,100 and 160 sacks of copper ore from Battle Mountain, Nev.; 499 sacks of copper ore from Salt Lake; 826 sacks of antimony from Mill City, and 145 sacks of silver from Prescott Dist. The whole amonnt sampled was 4,037 sacks. Evreca Consonmatep.—The recent development in the Eureka Consolidated mine is said to be something wonderful. A dispatch dated the 9th inst. says that no adequate conception can be formed of the number of tons in sight, and that it looks as if the vein could be worked for years without having to stop either furnace or mill. AnorHer Rariry.—A genuine mnsk deer (moschus meschiferous), from the East Indies is the latest novelty added to Woodward's Gardens, Althongh it resembles the ordinary deer it is not larger than a hare. Itis from the male of these animals that the celebrated perfume, so much admired by some perverted tastes is derived. Rounmor.—The Plumas County National says it is rumored that Parrot & Co. have disposed of the Eureka Mining property to an English company for $1,750,000. Hon. A. A. Sarcent, anp Jas. S. GRinNELL, Chief Clerk of the Patent Office, have our thanks for documents received. Pror, Sinniaan ison his way to California, Loss of Quicksilver. In treating roasted silver ores in pans, a great loss of quicksilver is found to be the result of almalgamation. Three pounds to the ton of ore is generally admitted, but when it is abovo three nobody likes to let itbe known. There hssbeen a diseussion in the papers as to whether the.loss of mercury shonld be expressed relatively to the amount of silyer obtained, or to ton of ore. It seems to be immaterial to which of these two ways the preference is given, 88 none indicates the nature or the reason of the loss. Neither is the chemical loss more important thsn the mechanical. If, for instance it were stated one pound of mercury is lost to one pound-of silver, it would give net the slightest evidence whether this loss is due to defective roasting, to the abundance of base metals, or mismanagement in amalgamation; just as if one would say:—‘‘ One peund of mercury is lost to a ton of ore,” the latter expression, however, is more convenient and customary: Ataclese investigation of the amalgamating process in pans, the question arises whether or not a real chemical loss of quicksilver occurs; that is, whether the quicksilver, by chemical action, is transformed into such a combination, that when formed, it must be considered irrecoverable, a positive loss, as theoretically explained, with the formatien of calomel in the patio amalgamation. Iu examining pan tailings, also if eoucentrated, with the greatest care, no calomel can be discovered, and if a light gray powder is found, under a micrescope, it proves to consist of metallic quicksilver globules. This, however, does not exclude the probability of calomel being formed in pans during the amalgamation; but it is an important fact, that if formed, the calomel dissolves ina solution of salt and chlorides, especially in a hot pulp, as is always the case during the amalgamation. Whether it dissolves directly or iudirectly is not the question now; the fact is, it does dissolve, and from this solution metailic quicksilver is precipitated by iron, copper, etc. It seems, therefere, it is the mechanical loss of quicksilver principally, against which the millman has to guard and to strive to diminish it by proper mechanical arrangements. Certainly, ore containing a great deal of eopper, lead, antimony, ete., and roasted in the ordinary way, attacks the quicksilver vigorously by chemical action causing a considerable loss; it consists mostly of quicksilver in a metallic bnt different aggregate condition. Very minute globules are coated with iron, perhaps half amalgamated, and there seems to be an attraction between these globules, as many of them adhere together forming a light, blsck snbstance, a kind of poor amalgam, containing iron and other base metals. Its inconsiderable weight, and its dark color is the reason of its escaping notice. When a settler is discharged the amalgamstor examines the tailings now and then (or ought to do so,) by washing it in a cup or horn-spoon, and his attention is directed to the quicksilver globules or scum that may remain, but he is sure to wash off all of the light black amalgam without knowing it, and it seems that this stuff is the main source of the loss of mercury. The origin of this amalgam is due to different circumstances, abundance of base metals, the chlorides of which are not decomposed in roasting, but more or less of this amalgam will be formed according to thetreatmentin pans. It will beincreased by too much heat; 125 to 150 degs. is sufficient for a good amalgamation of all well roasted ore, but generally the temperature is kept a great deal higher—up to 200 degrees and above. It increases the loss of quicksilver, partly in a slight degree by evaporation, but principally by producing that black amalgam. There are cases where iron amalgam of white color is obtained in great quantities; tothis I do not refer now. The black amalgam in question will be formed more or less under almost any circumstances,also if a tolerable firm amalgam is obtained in the strainers, giving a bullion from .600 to .700 fine. In order to have all dissolved quicksilyer precipitated, and the base metal chlorides as much as possible decompesed (the latter in absence of iron being effected by direct aetion "of the quicksilver,) there must be sufficient iron (best is wrought iron) inthe pans. In many mills it is customary to amalgamate the roasted ore without grinding. In this case, especially if rich ore is treated, all the iron in the pan is coated with amalgam, the surface of shoes and dies included, so that there is very little chance left for the dissolved quicksilver to eome in direct contact with iron. For this reasen, not te consider other advantages, a grinding of one hour or one and a half, before quicksilver is introduced, is necessary; it offers to each new charge of ore a great surface of clean metallic iron. Only a small part of the black amalgam is saved by the settlers, the motion being too quick to allow a sinking of the light stuff through the pulp; the most of it is thereiore discharged with the tailings. In this amalgam the iron does not adhere to the quicksilver as if it were real amalgam, but can be separated by ,more friction. For this purpose, however, it must be obtained in a concentrated condition, and Hendy’s concentrator, with a slight alteration, does the work to satisfaction, The concextrator requires proper care and attention otherwiseitis useless. From the settlers the pulp is discharged through 34 inch holes into the concentrator, where quicksilver aud the black stuff is retained. The concentrated part is then charged iuto a Knox’s or other similar pan, and ground for several hours, with not too mueh water, and dilute after sufficiently fine. Another source of the loss of quicksilver will be found in retorting the amalgam. Eyen when a proper heat is given to the retert and proper time allowed, the crude bullion will contain in most cases 214 to 3 per cent. quicksilver, and if there is a great amount of lead in it, say 60 to 80 per cent.,the quicksilver may come up to 5 per ceut. and more, even if kept in a molten state for 8 hours in the retort. The larger the rotort and the smaller the charge, the more quicksilver remains in the bullion. An increase of heat to light redness is of no avail and only iujurious to the restort. When rod hot, a retort is filled with quicksilver vapors, by which the air was displaced; after 10 or 12 hours, when no more quicksilver is coming, tho space remains filled with vapor, as there is nothing to drive it out. On cooling, the mercury condenses and draws back into the bullien. A round retort of usual size contains about 3 pounds of quicksilver in vapor. The introduction of superheated air at the end of the operation, would probably carry out allthe,vapor of mercury and insure a wellretorted bullion. This would be an improvement, not only on acconnt of saving the quicksilver, but because the melting of such bullion is injurious to the melter. Having much bullion on hand, generally not more than one hour is given to cast a bar. If, after skimming, a piece of red hot iron is held in the crucible nbove the molteu silver, and in the next moment withdrawn, quicksilver will be seen swimming on the water. The most of the shipped bars contain quicksilver. AMowrawa Antist.—The sketch, from which our engraving of Bozeman City was engraved, was made hy John Erikson, Esq., of that place, a young artist of much promise. It is pronounced by Montanians now in this city, an excellent representation of the metropolis of Eastern Montana. Mining Accidents. An Austrian, name unknown, was killed in the Eureka mine, Sutter Creek, on the 1st inst. by the falling of a large stiek of timber. ~John McPhee was killed in the Silver Plume tunnel near Georgetown, Col., 2 few weeks since, by a large rock which fell upon him. . H. H. Chandler of Silver Park Nye Co., Nev., lately had his hand terribly mangled by being caughtin the machinery of his quartz mill, John Healy has had his foot quite badly injured by catching it between the edge of the cage and the sill timber in the Belcher mine. The Jacksonville Ledger says that two Mexicans working on a tunnel near the “Gate” were seriously hurt by a cave last week. Wn. Osborn, working in Gentry & Co.’s claims on Oustomah Hill, received severe contusions and cuts on his head while running out of a tunnel to get out of the way of an expected rush of water that had been blecked up. Patrick Maguire a miner at work for the Cherokee Co., iu Butte county, was caved upon in the claim lately and his leg crushed badly. Tue Pavy Precess.—In another colnmn will be fouud some certificates from parties who have had practical experience with Mr. A. B. Paul’s dry amalgamating process, and who speak very highly of the results attained by its use. We have had the pleasure of conversing with Mr. Smyth, Supt. of Sprague & Co.s’ mill, on the subject of this process, and he assures us that after the experiments made under his personal supervision, he has no doubt but that it will entirely supercede the eld system of par amalgamation. We have given before a detailed accouut of the precess and at that time were satisfied that the plan would be asuccess. Mr. Paul has labered assiduously in perfecting the mechanical detail connected with the machinery, and is now resping the reward of his perseverance. Heis now constructing a new mill to go to Calaveras couuty. Miners and mill men will do woll to read the certificates above alluded to, for the system has most certainly given new life to Dun Glen, where it has been in practical operation for some time. Any process that will work: ore as close to fire assay as this doos, must eventually come into general use aud assist materially in increasing the bullion yield of the conntry. =_ Tae New Ipnia Mine.— The indefatigable McGarraham is atit again. He is still pushing his claims before Congress and we understand has instituted suit inthe Third District Court at Monterey, against the New Idria Mining Co. for possession of the mine and its appurtenances and $5,000,000 for wrongful attention, rents, profits etc. He has been defeated so often in his attempts on this that any ordinary man would have got tired of it befere this, but he seems determined not;to give it mp. A VEGETABLE Cuntosrry.—It was the Chronicle, we think, that a day or two since said: “Two trees are pointed out to the curious visitor at San Diego which grow with their leaves in the ground and their roots in the air, a peculiar way which trees down there prohag have of asserting and maintaining their independence.” The author of that item didn’t know much, or he would have given ns the true botanical name of that species of tree. The variety growing in that locality, when telescopically examined through the bottom of a tumbler, is found to he the obfuscated ocularium, of Linnus, or Whiskied Intellecticus of modern botanists. Toe Conusa Manufacturing Company have brought suit against the Buckeye Quicksilver Mining Co. to recover $10,000 damages for alleged breach of contract.

168 SCIENTIFIC PRESS. [March 16, 1872. Srientitic Dress, W. B. EWER. ccccesesceseeresscceroeccs SEnroR EDITOR. DEWEY & Co., Publishers. GEO, I. STRONG, JNO. L. BOONE. A, T. DEWEY, W. 3. RWEE, Office, No. 338 Montgomery. St., S. E. Corner of California St., diagonally across from Wells, Fargo & Co.’s. SUBSCRIPTION AND ADVERTISING RATES. ADVERTISING eee Tas Se 2 ee 1,00 20.00 $3,00 7.60 ote meh. 00 6.00 14.00 38.00 Large advertisements at favorable rates. Special or reading notices, legal adverti 6, notices ap pearing in extraordinary type or in particular parts of the paper, inserted at special rates. sf Sussonrerions payable in advance—For one year, $4; six months, $2.60; three months, $1.26. Cluhs of ten names or more, $3 each per annum. $5, in advance, will pay for 133 year, Remittances by registered letters or P. O. orders at our risk. English and Oolonial subscriptions, post paid, per year, PG ths, 12, dver ts, hee line, first insertion, 1s.; subsequent insertions, each, 5d. Large advertisements at special rates. San Prancisco: Saturday Morning, Mar. 16, 1872. —— nd Gold and Legal Tender Rates. Saw Francisoo, Wednesday, March 13, 1872.—Legal Tenders buying 9144; selling, 915;. Gold in New York to-day, 110%. Table of Contents. Eprrortata.—The Proposed New Land Policy; Mining Discoveries; Tuo Wet to Plow; Buy the Right Fruit, 161. Loss of Quicksilver; Mining Accidents; The Paul Process, 168. New Incorporations, 169. JLLUSTRATIONS.—Wright’s Improved Saw Gauge, 161. Bozeman City, Gallatin County, Montana, 169. MeroHantcaL Procress.—Contact of Belts with Pulleys; German Prizes for luprovements; Stcel-Headed vs. Steel Rails; Hooping Boiler Flues; Conveying Power Over Telegraph Poles, 163. “ ScrenTir1o ProcRess.—Do Plants Derive their Carbon From the Earth; Rupture of Iron Wire by a Blow; On the Melting and Regelation of Ice; Temperature of the Sun; Manufacture of Brandy from Sawdust; Sulphide of Bismuth, 163. ’ ‘ : Ninmo Suanrany.—Reports from Mines in various States, Countiesand Districts; Stock Reports; Markets. Ete., 164-5. . Userun ixrosmMsTION.—Wonderful Remains of Ancient lron Workers; The Telegraph ss an Errand Boy; dow to Shave, 167. ' Goop Hxatrs.—A Man With oa Watch Key in His Lungs; Skin Grafting; The Rightand Left Hand; A Case for the Doctors; Hygienic Application of the Spectroscope; Scarlet Fever Non-Contagious; Foreign Substances in Living Flesh: Protruding Teeth, 167. DomeEst1o Economy.—Wood Fire; Italian Obicken Salad; Look Most to Your Spending; Preserved Meats; Bean Soup; To Make Bread From Flour that Ruus; Good Advice; Chicken Jelly. MeogantcaL Hinrs — How to Use Grindstones; Brown Tint for Iron and Steel; To Draw 8 Curve, 171. MIscELLANEOUS.—Continuation of Veins in Depth; Mining Investments; Sewing Mavhiuo, 162. Lemons and Sheep; The Wing of the Locust; The Hunt & Douglas Process for the Extrnction of Copper from its Ores—No. 4; Stock Graziug on the Plsins, 166. Ore Samptep.—J. W. Thurman, 413 aud 415 Mission street, crushed and sampled the following lots of ore during the month of February: 143 and 59 sacks from the Arizona mine, Humboldt Dist.; 105 from the Sheba, same district; 2,100 and 160 sacks of copper ore from Battle Mountain, Nev.; 499 sacks of copper ore from Salt Lake; 826 sacks of antimony from Mill City, and 145 sacks of silver from Prescott Dist. The whole amonnt sampled was 4,037 sacks. Evreca Consonmatep.—The recent development in the Eureka Consolidated mine is said to be something wonderful. A dispatch dated the 9th inst. says that no adequate conception can be formed of the number of tons in sight, and that it looks as if the vein could be worked for years without having to stop either furnace or mill. AnorHer Rariry.—A genuine mnsk deer (moschus meschiferous), from the East Indies is the latest novelty added to Woodward's Gardens, Althongh it resembles the ordinary deer it is not larger than a hare. Itis from the male of these animals that the celebrated perfume, so much admired by some perverted tastes is derived. Rounmor.—The Plumas County National says it is rumored that Parrot & Co. have disposed of the Eureka Mining property to an English company for $1,750,000. Hon. A. A. Sarcent, anp Jas. S. GRinNELL, Chief Clerk of the Patent Office, have our thanks for documents received. Pror, Sinniaan ison his way to California, Loss of Quicksilver. In treating roasted silver ores in pans, a great loss of quicksilver is found to be the result of almalgamation. Three pounds to the ton of ore is generally admitted, but when it is abovo three nobody likes to let itbe known. There hssbeen a diseussion in the papers as to whether the.loss of mercury shonld be expressed relatively to the amount of silyer obtained, or to ton of ore. It seems to be immaterial to which of these two ways the preference is given, 88 none indicates the nature or the reason of the loss. Neither is the chemical loss more important thsn the mechanical. If, for instance it were stated one pound of mercury is lost to one pound-of silver, it would give net the slightest evidence whether this loss is due to defective roasting, to the abundance of base metals, or mismanagement in amalgamation; just as if one would say:—‘‘ One peund of mercury is lost to a ton of ore,” the latter expression, however, is more convenient and customary: Ataclese investigation of the amalgamating process in pans, the question arises whether or not a real chemical loss of quicksilver occurs; that is, whether the quicksilver, by chemical action, is transformed into such a combination, that when formed, it must be considered irrecoverable, a positive loss, as theoretically explained, with the formatien of calomel in the patio amalgamation. Iu examining pan tailings, also if eoucentrated, with the greatest care, no calomel can be discovered, and if a light gray powder is found, under a micrescope, it proves to consist of metallic quicksilver globules. This, however, does not exclude the probability of calomel being formed in pans during the amalgamation; but it is an important fact, that if formed, the calomel dissolves ina solution of salt and chlorides, especially in a hot pulp, as is always the case during the amalgamation. Whether it dissolves directly or iudirectly is not the question now; the fact is, it does dissolve, and from this solution metailic quicksilver is precipitated by iron, copper, etc. It seems, therefere, it is the mechanical loss of quicksilver principally, against which the millman has to guard and to strive to diminish it by proper mechanical arrangements. Certainly, ore containing a great deal of eopper, lead, antimony, ete., and roasted in the ordinary way, attacks the quicksilver vigorously by chemical action causing a considerable loss; it consists mostly of quicksilver in a metallic bnt different aggregate condition. Very minute globules are coated with iron, perhaps half amalgamated, and there seems to be an attraction between these globules, as many of them adhere together forming a light, blsck snbstance, a kind of poor amalgam, containing iron and other base metals. Its inconsiderable weight, and its dark color is the reason of its escaping notice. When a settler is discharged the amalgamstor examines the tailings now and then (or ought to do so,) by washing it in a cup or horn-spoon, and his attention is directed to the quicksilver globules or scum that may remain, but he is sure to wash off all of the light black

amalgam without knowing it, and it seems that this stuff is the main source of the loss of mercury. The origin of this amalgam is due to different circumstances, abundance of base metals, the chlorides of which are not decomposed in roasting, but more or less of this amalgam will be formed according to thetreatmentin pans. It will beincreased by too much heat; 125 to 150 degs. is sufficient for a good amalgamation of all well roasted ore, but generally the temperature is kept a great deal higher—up to 200 degrees and above. It increases the loss of quicksilver, partly in a slight degree by evaporation, but principally by producing that black amalgam. There are cases where iron amalgam of white color is obtained in great quantities; tothis I do not refer now. The black amalgam in question will be formed more or less under almost any circumstances,also if a tolerable firm amalgam is obtained in the strainers, giving a bullion from .600 to .700 fine. In order to have all dissolved quicksilyer precipitated, and the base metal chlorides as much as possible decompesed (the latter in absence of iron being effected by direct aetion "of the quicksilver,) there must be sufficient iron (best is wrought iron) inthe pans. In many mills it is customary to amalgamate the roasted ore without grinding. In this case, especially if rich ore is treated, all the iron in the pan is coated with amalgam, the surface of shoes and dies included, so that there is very little chance left for the dissolved quicksilver to eome in direct contact with iron. For this reasen, not te consider other advantages, a grinding of one hour or one and a half, before quicksilver is introduced, is necessary; it offers to each new charge of ore a great surface of clean metallic iron. Only a small part of the black amalgam is saved by the settlers, the motion being too quick to allow a sinking of the light stuff through the pulp; the most of it is thereiore discharged with the tailings. In this amalgam the iron does not adhere to the quicksilver as if it were real amalgam, but can be separated by ,more friction. For this purpose, however, it must be obtained in a concentrated condition, and Hendy’s concentrator, with a slight alteration, does the work to satisfaction, The concextrator requires proper care and attention otherwiseitis useless. From the settlers the pulp is discharged through 34 inch holes into the concentrator, where quicksilver aud the black stuff is retained. The concentrated part is then charged iuto a Knox’s or other similar pan, and ground for several hours, with not too mueh water, and dilute after sufficiently fine. Another source of the loss of quicksilver will be found in retorting the amalgam. Eyen when a proper heat is given to the retert and proper time allowed, the crude bullion will contain in most cases 214 to 3 per cent. quicksilver, and if there is a great amount of lead in it, say 60 to 80 per cent.,the quicksilver may come up to 5 per ceut. and more, even if kept in a molten state for 8 hours in the retort. The larger the rotort and the smaller the charge, the more quicksilver remains in the bullion. An increase of heat to light redness is of no avail and only iujurious to the restort. When rod hot, a retort is filled with quicksilver vapors, by which the air was displaced; after 10 or 12 hours, when no more quicksilver is coming, tho space remains filled with vapor, as there is nothing to drive it out. On cooling, the mercury condenses and draws back into the bullien. A round retort of usual size contains about 3 pounds of quicksilver in vapor. The introduction of superheated air at the end of the operation, would probably carry out allthe,vapor of mercury and insure a wellretorted bullion. This would be an improvement, not only on acconnt of saving the quicksilver, but because the melting of such bullion is injurious to the melter. Having much bullion on hand, generally not more than one hour is given to cast a bar. If, after skimming, a piece of red hot iron is held in the crucible nbove the molteu silver, and in the next moment withdrawn, quicksilver will be seen swimming on the water. The most of the shipped bars contain quicksilver. AMowrawa Antist.—The sketch, from which our engraving of Bozeman City was engraved, was made hy John Erikson, Esq., of that place, a young artist of much promise. It is pronounced by Montanians now in this city, an excellent representation of the metropolis of Eastern Montana. Mining Accidents. An Austrian, name unknown, was killed in the Eureka mine, Sutter Creek, on the 1st inst. by the falling of a large stiek of timber. ~John McPhee was killed in the Silver Plume tunnel near Georgetown, Col., 2 few weeks since, by a large rock which fell upon him. . H. H. Chandler of Silver Park Nye Co., Nev., lately had his hand terribly mangled by being caughtin the machinery of his quartz mill, John Healy has had his foot quite badly injured by catching it between the edge of the cage and the sill timber in the Belcher mine. The Jacksonville Ledger says that two Mexicans working on a tunnel near the “Gate” were seriously hurt by a cave last week. Wn. Osborn, working in Gentry & Co.’s claims on Oustomah Hill, received severe contusions and cuts on his head while running out of a tunnel to get out of the way of an expected rush of water that had been blecked up. Patrick Maguire a miner at work for the Cherokee Co., iu Butte county, was caved upon in the claim lately and his leg crushed badly. Tue Pavy Precess.—In another colnmn will be fouud some certificates from parties who have had practical experience with Mr. A. B. Paul’s dry amalgamating process, and who speak very highly of the results attained by its use. We have had the pleasure of conversing with Mr. Smyth, Supt. of Sprague & Co.s’ mill, on the subject of this process, and he assures us that after the experiments made under his personal supervision, he has no doubt but that it will entirely supercede the eld system of par amalgamation. We have given before a detailed accouut of the precess and at that time were satisfied that the plan would be asuccess. Mr. Paul has labered assiduously in perfecting the mechanical detail connected with the machinery, and is now resping the reward of his perseverance. Heis now constructing a new mill to go to Calaveras couuty. Miners and mill men will do woll to read the certificates above alluded to, for the system has most certainly given new life to Dun Glen, where it has been in practical operation for some time. Any process that will work: ore as close to fire assay as this doos, must eventually come into general use aud assist materially in increasing the bullion yield of the conntry. =_ Tae New Ipnia Mine.— The indefatigable McGarraham is atit again. He is still pushing his claims before Congress and we understand has instituted suit inthe Third District Court at Monterey, against the New Idria Mining Co. for possession of the mine and its appurtenances and $5,000,000 for wrongful attention, rents, profits etc. He has been defeated so often in his attempts on this that any ordinary man would have got tired of it befere this, but he seems determined not;to give it mp. A VEGETABLE Cuntosrry.—It was the Chronicle, we think, that a day or two since said: “Two trees are pointed out to the curious visitor at San Diego which grow with their leaves in the ground and their roots in the air, a peculiar way which trees down there prohag have of asserting and maintaining their independence.” The author of that item didn’t know much, or he would have given ns the true botanical name of that species of tree. The variety growing in that locality, when telescopically examined through the bottom of a tumbler, is found to he the obfuscated ocularium, of Linnus, or Whiskied Intellecticus of modern botanists. Toe Conusa Manufacturing Company have brought suit against the Buckeye Quicksilver Mining Co. to recover $10,000 damages for alleged breach of contract.