Volume 24 (1872) (424 pages)

342 SCIENTIFIC PRESS) {June x, 1872. Norton’s Door and Gate Spring. ‘Please shut the door.” How often we see this request posted on doors, and yet how little attention is paid to it. Itceems as natural for an American to leave a door standing open behind him as it is for him to bolt down his food in a state of semi-mastication. Both of these hahits result from the same cause, viz: the Ameriean custom of doing every thing with a rush. It takes too much time to wait and close a door, and often having to wait to open a door in order to get out of a room seems a waste of time. Why can’t doore be made like the patent lazy farm gate,t open when it sees some one coming and close after the person bas passed through? Norton’s door and gate spring accomplishes the latter object, and thus one-half of the tronhle is ohviated. This door and gate spring is a neat and cheap arrangement that can easily he applied to any door or_gate for the purpose of keeping itelosed, and we advise our friends who have pusted on their doors the request at the head of this article, to pull it down and ap ‘ly one of these springs It accomplishes the ohject in a very satis factory manner. Davis & Bliven of thicity are the proprietors of the patent right on this coast,to whom all ordere should be sddressed. Niles Station Bridge. The Board of Supervisors of Alameda count; have contracted with the Pacific Bridge Com pany, to erect a hridge of three spans, of 1834, feet each, over the Alameda Creek, near Nile: Station. The superstructure is to he a Smith Truss. with roadway eighteen feet in the clear and huilt entirely of wood preserved by the Pacifio Wood Preserving Company. The piers are to he of cast iron, filled with concrete and sunk to hed rock, or a sohd fonndation. They are constructed on the plan introduced hy the Pacific Bridge Company last year, and seem especially adapted to the rapid current and drift they will have to resist at the mouth of the Alameda Cajion, where they are to be placed. The Pacific Bridge Company now dress all timber need in the framework of their hridges. They have just shipped a hridge to he erected over Hovias Creek, in San Mateo county, and will soon ship one of 150 feet in length, to span a creek in Sonoma county, hoth of the Smith Truss patent. The bridge over Alameda Creek is to he completed hy the 11th day of Angnst. The Howe Truss. Burr Truss and Pratt’s Truss were all ompeting plans hut the Smith Truss was preferred. Raprp anp Pracrican Mernon or SEPARATING Coprgek rrom Sriver.—In the preparation of nitrate of silver from silver coin which contains several per cent. of copper, R. Palm employs the following method, dependent on the insolubility of nitrate of silver in concentrated nitrie acid :— The coin is dissolved in nitrie acid, and the solution evaporated to the consisteney of oil. and then concentrated nitric’ acid, free from hydrochloric, is added; the silver salt ervstallizes ont while the copper remains in solution. The precipitated salt is then washed two or three times with concentrated nitric acid to remove any adhering copper salt, which gives it a hinish shade, On drying. any acid attached to itisevaporated. Itis essential that the solution he evaporated only to the consistency of oil, for if evaporated to dryness, the copper salt adhvres so firmly to the silver that it can with difficulty he removed. The more concentrated the acid. the more completely the silver will he precipitated. hut an acid with a spec. gr. of 1.25 may he used for completely separnting the two metals. Three or four parts of encentrated acid are required for one part of tho concentrated metallic solution. Discovery oF a New SpecrEs oF Waate.—In a letter toMr John W. Strauchon, Professor George W Davidson informs him that the petritied whale bone taken from tbe artesian well which is heing eunk hy Messrs. Calloway & Co. in this city, has been proved a portion of a whale of a new species hy the savans of Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences. The Professor is desirous of obtaiuing additional portions of the skeleton if possible to present the same to the above institution, of which he is a member.—San Diego Onion. Recent Geographical Work on the Pacific Coast. We eelect the following items from the American Journal of Science for May : Report of the Eng. Corps, U.S. Army. This report was presented to Cougress last Decemher. Nevapa anp Arizona.—The explora: tions nnder Lieut. Wheeler, hegun iu 1869, have heen in progress during the past year. AwAsKkA.—Captain C. W Raymond has made a reconnoisance of the River Yukon His report, with a map of the river, has been printed separately by Congress. FortietH# ParaLtteu.—King’s survey is still in progress. A clear account of all the work hegun from March, 1867, to Oct., 1871, is given in the report, from which we extract the following asto the methods of work, prohlems investigated aud chief results : ; “The foundation of our explorations bave heen a continuous system of triangulation, carried from mountuin-top to mountain-top, and the whole extent of our work, hy theodolite observations upon stone monuments. Within the primary triangles a large number of secondary triangles are located, and from these, working always inwardly, a thorongh system of minor triangles. In connection with this, the altitude of all prominent mountain-peaks and localities upon the plairs have been determined. **Tn the department of geology, careful ind uctual sections bave heen made over the whole area; the snperposition of the immense variety of irruptive rocks has heen, in almost all cases, accurately determined ; the dynamical questions, such as the build of mountains, the upheaval of chains, and the formation of mining districts and of mineral-bearing lodes have received careful attention. “In hotany a very large collection has been made, resulting in the discovery of »ver 100 new speciesof plants, in a comnlete knowledge of the distribution of ‘imber and of the leading families of the desert flora. “In zodlogy the collection has heen equally careful and theresults are of interast and value. “The work emhraces a complete scientific examination of a section of country which traverses, from east to west, nearly the entire Cordillera eystem. The rocks at our easternterminns are already those of the Atlantic formations and are heing extensively studied hy a numher of geolosists. “Tn mining been worked industry our lahors have up and the volume and ‘ecompanying atlas printed. Also, the topographical maps are plotted on ascale of 2 miles to the inch, and have been photographically reduced to a scale of 4 miles to the inch, resulting iu three maps, ahout 30 or 40 inches each. These are now being drawn in hachure, preparatory to lithoerapbing. “The volume of botany is completed [and puhlisbed]. That of geology is also completed and awaits the printer. To complete the serics I propose two more volumes: one of descriptive geology and one embodying general results. The former is now in active preparation and the maps accompanying it are in the hands oi the engraver. For the geueral volume Iam unahle at present to fix a definite time. When finished the series is designed to embody, “1. A ground-work topographical map upon which shall appear all the features of the country surveyed. “2. A-series of geological maps, illustrating the formations of rocks, soils, alkaline deposits, and the distrihution of arable land. “3. A general renort which, in a syntbetical manner, shalldescribe the history of the formations of that portion of the Cordillera, its original deposition in the primeval ocean, the evolution of continental features and mountains, the minute lithological structure of each family of rocks, and chapters upon the volcanic and glacial ages; and an attempt to explain the present physical conditions, and an account of the cousiderable climatic change now going on. “As appendices to this, the 2d, 34, 4th and 5th volumes will -treat of technieal geology, zodlogy and mining industry.’ River Surveys, more or less in detail. have heen made in various regions; including the Willamette, tbe Umpqua, and portions of the Sacramento. Yellowstone Geysers. The most valuable sources of iuformation which have come under our notice are as follows: 1. A picturesqne description of the Geyser region, hased upon the ohservations of the Washburn-Langford party, printed in Seribers Monthly in 1871. Anaccount hy Walter Trumhull of the Washhurn Yeliowstone expedition apvee in the Overland Monthly for May, 1871. 2. Reconnoissance by Capt. J. W. Barlow, U.S. Corps of Eng., made in 1871; published hy permission in several newspapers of Jan. and Feh., 1872 8. Railroad reconnoissance of the valley by Gen. W. M. Roherts, Chief Eng. N. P. R. R., made 1871; printed by the railroad company but not yet published. 8d. Thereports of Dr. Hayden’s visit in 1871, with two maps; also prepared for publication ou a large seale. Preliminary report of the U. 8. Geol. Survey of Montana, and portions of adjacent Territory, heing a fifth Annual Report of Progrese, by F. V. Hayden. U.S. Geologist. Conducted under the authority of the Secretary of the Interior, Washington, 1872. This gives un account of his explorations in the Geyeer regions, with notes on the geology on his route from Utah through Idaho and Montana; it contains, also, reports on the physical features A —_ A FREAK OF NATURE. and conditions, the geology and the natural history of a considerable part of the Rocky mouutain region. Route of the Northern Pacific Raitroad. This region was first made known hy the journey of Lewis and Clark, in 18045 and 6, was surveyed by Geu. I. I. Stevens in 1853-4 and 5 (report published as vol. XII, pt. 1, U. 8. Pacific Railroad Report) ; and was carefully examined hy Capt J. Mullan (who huilt the military road from Fort Walla Walla to Fort Benton in 1862), whose report was puhlished by the Government in 1863. 1. The N. P. R. R. last year published (?) Gen. Robert’s report of the resonnoissance in 1869, of the route. The same engineer was engaged in 1871 in examining the Rocky Mt. Divide between Lewis and Clark’s Pass on the north and Deer Lodge Pass on the south, a distance of nearly 100 miles, covering all the passes of the main channel available for the railroad. We snbsequently went dowu to the Yellowstone as mentioned before. 2. Atthe same time Gen. F. L. Rosser surveyed a route hetween the Missouri, at Fort Rice, and the Yellowstone. 8 Mr. F. Wilkeson also made last summer a geological examination of the region between Cadott’s Pass and Deer Lodge Pass, with reference to the occurrence of coal and iron. 4, Mr, C. A. White has heen across the Grand Plain of the Columhia and through the Grand Coulée. (These four reports have been presented hut not yet puhlished). Transportation Routes in Minnesota and Dakota— Colorado Expedition. A very interesting map of transportation routes in Minnesota and Dakota, including railroad, mail and express routes, has just heen prepared hy Gen. S. R. Hotahids, Chief Quartermaster of the Department of Dakota, and published in a scale of 10 miles to the inch. Major Powell's Colorado expedition in 1871 passed through the canons of Green River and of the Colorado to the month of the Paria, at the head of Middle Canhou. On tbe way the party explored the region west of the rivers named, tracing the large hranches to their sources, and examining the geology of the great mesas and cliffs. Early in the winter a base-line, 47,000 feet long, was measured in a meridian running south from Kanab, and the party is now triangulating among the peaks and cliffs of lateral canone of the Colorado. Many prehistoric mines, stone implements, etc., have heen found; also a tribe of Utes in the Kaibah Plateau who still make stone implements. Curious Freak of Nature. The accompanying drawing represents a Radish curiosity, (size of thesketch,) grown in the garden of T. Hart Hyatt, Oakland, the present season. The two radishes tied themselves together, as shown, without aid. Whether itisa matrimonial knot, or not matrimonial, we cannot say. fhe Mines of New Mexico, From recent accounts from Silver City and other mining regions, the fact, which we have often hefore enunciated is now becoming more and more ohvious. To render New Mexico one of the richest wining regions in the Union, it needs but capital, machinery and enterprise. True, skilled lahor, and protection for life and property are also needed, but all of theee latter will follow capital and machinery. We have no hesitation in eaying that for the surplus capital which now lies idle in the States awaiting an opportunity of profitahle investment there is no hetter field than the mines of New Mexico. Its wealth in minerals cannot be overestimated, nor is its wealth confined to minerals. With a climate unsurpassed on the American Continent and a eoil whose richnese is proverhial, the agriculturist, the stock-raieer, aud the vinter—for whose business its climate is especially adapted, are invited by an undeveloped country and a lavish profusion of nature’s richest hlessings to come here and establish homes for themselves and their posterity andin so doing reap the harvest of prosperity. ‘The people in our mines are thrifty, enterprising and hopeful for reinforcement; hut they need the capital to their friends elsewhere, conjointly with their willing lahor, to give the nation the benefit of the wealth within sight and to give an unnsual profit to all engaged in its developments. The passage of the Denver and Rio Grande aud also the Texas and Pacific railroad bills, will give assurance, that hut few years can pass hefore capital and immigration will pour iuto the country. Meantime, though the need of capital is sorely felt, and if those having a eurplnus of it at their command would give the merits and advautages of onr mining localitiesa fair trial, we are sure the examination would lead to investment and the investment to arich and certain profit. Of the future of our mineral sections we neither have, nor reasonahly could have any douhts. Still we are anxious that our claims should be known and that easterm capital now lying idle and nnproductive may have an opportunity to increase itself os well as aid the enterprising frontiersmen who are now struggling so bravely, and against such odds, to spread civilization, commerce and enterprise over this rich, but much neglected, portion of the Union.—Sanria Fe Post. Jaran.—The recent great fire in Yedo, Japan, destroyed all the houses within an area of four miles long by three wide, and contrary to the usual custom there, where large fires occur frequently, the city will he hnilt up again in a more substantial and civilized manner. A new survey is to he made, the streets widened and the huildings to be of hrick. There is little doubt but that the Japanese will see the evident superiority of our steam fire engines over their inefficient system and will order a number of them from this country. Their progress is very rapid and they manifest an earnest desire to become familiar with all the the implements of modern civilization, which they substantially prove by their large orders from the United States. .

342 SCIENTIFIC PRESS) {June x, 1872. Norton’s Door and Gate Spring. ‘Please shut the door.” How often we see this request posted on doors, and yet how little attention is paid to it. Itceems as natural for an American to leave a door standing open behind him as it is for him to bolt down his food in a state of semi-mastication. Both of these hahits result from the same cause, viz: the Ameriean custom of doing every thing with a rush. It takes too much time to wait and close a door, and often having to wait to open a door in order to get out of a room seems a waste of time. Why can’t doore be made like the patent lazy farm gate,t open when it sees some one coming and close after the person bas passed through? Norton’s door and gate spring accomplishes the latter object, and thus one-half of the tronhle is ohviated. This door and gate spring is a neat and cheap arrangement that can easily he applied to any door or_gate for the purpose of keeping itelosed, and we advise our friends who have pusted on their doors the request at the head of this article, to pull it down and ap ‘ly one of these springs It accomplishes the ohject in a very satis factory manner. Davis & Bliven of thicity are the proprietors of the patent right on this coast,to whom all ordere should be sddressed. Niles Station Bridge. The Board of Supervisors of Alameda count; have contracted with the Pacific Bridge Com pany, to erect a hridge of three spans, of 1834, feet each, over the Alameda Creek, near Nile: Station. The superstructure is to he a Smith Truss. with roadway eighteen feet in the clear and huilt entirely of wood preserved by the Pacifio Wood Preserving Company. The piers are to he of cast iron, filled with concrete and sunk to hed rock, or a sohd fonndation. They are constructed on the plan introduced hy the Pacific Bridge Company last year, and seem especially adapted to the rapid current and drift they will have to resist at the mouth of the Alameda Cajion, where they are to be placed. The Pacific Bridge Company now dress all timber need in the framework of their hridges. They have just shipped a hridge to he erected over Hovias Creek, in San Mateo county, and will soon ship one of 150 feet in length, to span a creek in Sonoma county, hoth of the Smith Truss patent. The bridge over Alameda Creek is to he completed hy the 11th day of Angnst. The Howe Truss. Burr Truss and Pratt’s Truss were all ompeting plans hut the Smith Truss was preferred. Raprp anp Pracrican Mernon or SEPARATING Coprgek rrom Sriver.—In the preparation of nitrate of silver from silver coin which contains several per cent. of copper, R. Palm employs the following method, dependent on the insolubility of nitrate of silver in concentrated nitrie acid :— The coin is dissolved in nitrie acid, and the solution evaporated to the consisteney of oil. and then concentrated nitric’ acid, free from hydrochloric, is added; the silver salt ervstallizes ont while the copper remains in solution. The precipitated salt is then washed two or three times with concentrated nitric acid to remove any adhering copper salt, which gives it a hinish shade, On drying. any acid attached to itisevaporated. Itis essential that the solution he evaporated only to the consistency of oil, for if evaporated to dryness, the copper salt adhvres so firmly to the silver that it can with difficulty he removed. The more concentrated the acid. the more completely the silver will he precipitated. hut an acid with a spec. gr. of 1.25 may he used for completely separnting the two metals. Three or four parts of encentrated acid are required for one part of tho concentrated metallic solution. Discovery oF a New SpecrEs oF Waate.—In a letter toMr John W. Strauchon, Professor George W Davidson informs him that the petritied whale bone taken from tbe artesian well which is heing eunk hy Messrs. Calloway & Co. in this city, has been proved a portion of a whale of a new species hy the savans of Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences. The Professor is desirous of obtaiuing additional portions of the skeleton if possible to present the same to the above institution, of which he is a member.—San Diego Onion. Recent Geographical Work on the Pacific Coast. We eelect the following items from the American Journal of Science for May : Report of the Eng. Corps, U.S. Army. This report was presented to Cougress last Decemher. Nevapa anp Arizona.—The explora: tions nnder Lieut. Wheeler, hegun iu 1869, have heen in progress during the past year. AwAsKkA.—Captain C. W Raymond has made a reconnoisance of the River Yukon His report, with a map of the river, has been printed separately by Congress. FortietH# ParaLtteu.—King’s survey is still in progress. A clear account of all the work hegun from March, 1867, to Oct., 1871, is given in the report, from which we extract the following asto the methods of work, prohlems investigated aud chief results : ; “The foundation of our explorations bave heen a continuous system of triangulation, carried from mountuin-top to mountain-top, and the whole extent of our work, hy theodolite observations upon stone monuments. Within the primary triangles a large number of secondary triangles are located, and from these, working always inwardly, a thorongh system of minor triangles. In connection with this, the altitude of all prominent mountain-peaks and localities upon the plairs have been determined. **Tn the department of geology, careful ind uctual sections bave heen made over the whole area; the snperposition of the immense variety of irruptive rocks has heen, in almost all cases, accurately determined ; the dynamical questions, such as the build of mountains, the upheaval of chains, and the formation of mining districts and of mineral-bearing lodes have received careful attention. “In hotany a very large collection has been made, resulting in the discovery of »ver 100 new speciesof plants, in a comnlete knowledge of the distribution of ‘imber and of the leading families of the desert flora. “In zodlogy the collection has heen equally careful and theresults are of interast and value. “The work emhraces a complete scientific examination of a section of country which traverses, from east to west, nearly the entire Cordillera eystem. The rocks at our easternterminns are already those of the Atlantic formations and are heing extensively studied hy a numher of geolosists. “Tn mining been worked industry our lahors have up and the volume and ‘ecompanying atlas printed. Also, the topographical maps are plotted on ascale of 2 miles to the inch, and have been photographically reduced to a scale of 4 miles to the inch, resulting iu three maps, ahout 30 or 40 inches each. These are now being drawn in hachure, preparatory to lithoerapbing. “The volume of botany is completed [and puhlisbed]. That of geology is also completed and awaits the printer. To complete the serics I propose two more volumes: one of descriptive geology and one embodying general results. The former is now in active preparation and the maps accompanying it are in the hands oi the engraver. For the geueral volume Iam unahle at present to fix a definite time. When finished the series is designed to embody, “1. A ground-work topographical map upon which shall appear all the features of the country surveyed. “2. A-series of geological maps, illustrating the formations of rocks, soils, alkaline deposits, and the distrihution of arable land. “3. A general renort which, in a syntbetical manner, shalldescribe the history of the formations of that portion of the Cordillera, its original deposition in the

primeval ocean, the evolution of continental features and mountains, the minute lithological structure of each family of rocks, and chapters upon the volcanic and glacial ages; and an attempt to explain the present physical conditions, and an account of the cousiderable climatic change now going on. “As appendices to this, the 2d, 34, 4th and 5th volumes will -treat of technieal geology, zodlogy and mining industry.’ River Surveys, more or less in detail. have heen made in various regions; including the Willamette, tbe Umpqua, and portions of the Sacramento. Yellowstone Geysers. The most valuable sources of iuformation which have come under our notice are as follows: 1. A picturesqne description of the Geyser region, hased upon the ohservations of the Washburn-Langford party, printed in Seribers Monthly in 1871. Anaccount hy Walter Trumhull of the Washhurn Yeliowstone expedition apvee in the Overland Monthly for May, 1871. 2. Reconnoissance by Capt. J. W. Barlow, U.S. Corps of Eng., made in 1871; published hy permission in several newspapers of Jan. and Feh., 1872 8. Railroad reconnoissance of the valley by Gen. W. M. Roherts, Chief Eng. N. P. R. R., made 1871; printed by the railroad company but not yet published. 8d. Thereports of Dr. Hayden’s visit in 1871, with two maps; also prepared for publication ou a large seale. Preliminary report of the U. 8. Geol. Survey of Montana, and portions of adjacent Territory, heing a fifth Annual Report of Progrese, by F. V. Hayden. U.S. Geologist. Conducted under the authority of the Secretary of the Interior, Washington, 1872. This gives un account of his explorations in the Geyeer regions, with notes on the geology on his route from Utah through Idaho and Montana; it contains, also, reports on the physical features A —_ A FREAK OF NATURE. and conditions, the geology and the natural history of a considerable part of the Rocky mouutain region. Route of the Northern Pacific Raitroad. This region was first made known hy the journey of Lewis and Clark, in 18045 and 6, was surveyed by Geu. I. I. Stevens in 1853-4 and 5 (report published as vol. XII, pt. 1, U. 8. Pacific Railroad Report) ; and was carefully examined hy Capt J. Mullan (who huilt the military road from Fort Walla Walla to Fort Benton in 1862), whose report was puhlished by the Government in 1863. 1. The N. P. R. R. last year published (?) Gen. Robert’s report of the resonnoissance in 1869, of the route. The same engineer was engaged in 1871 in examining the Rocky Mt. Divide between Lewis and Clark’s Pass on the north and Deer Lodge Pass on the south, a distance of nearly 100 miles, covering all the passes of the main channel available for the railroad. We snbsequently went dowu to the Yellowstone as mentioned before. 2. Atthe same time Gen. F. L. Rosser surveyed a route hetween the Missouri, at Fort Rice, and the Yellowstone. 8 Mr. F. Wilkeson also made last summer a geological examination of the region between Cadott’s Pass and Deer Lodge Pass, with reference to the occurrence of coal and iron. 4, Mr, C. A. White has heen across the Grand Plain of the Columhia and through the Grand Coulée. (These four reports have been presented hut not yet puhlished). Transportation Routes in Minnesota and Dakota— Colorado Expedition. A very interesting map of transportation routes in Minnesota and Dakota, including railroad, mail and express routes, has just heen prepared hy Gen. S. R. Hotahids, Chief Quartermaster of the Department of Dakota, and published in a scale of 10 miles to the inch. Major Powell's Colorado expedition in 1871 passed through the canons of Green River and of the Colorado to the month of the Paria, at the head of Middle Canhou. On tbe way the party explored the region west of the rivers named, tracing the large hranches to their sources, and examining the geology of the great mesas and cliffs. Early in the winter a base-line, 47,000 feet long, was measured in a meridian running south from Kanab, and the party is now triangulating among the peaks and cliffs of lateral canone of the Colorado. Many prehistoric mines, stone implements, etc., have heen found; also a tribe of Utes in the Kaibah Plateau who still make stone implements. Curious Freak of Nature. The accompanying drawing represents a Radish curiosity, (size of thesketch,) grown in the garden of T. Hart Hyatt, Oakland, the present season. The two radishes tied themselves together, as shown, without aid. Whether itisa matrimonial knot, or not matrimonial, we cannot say. fhe Mines of New Mexico, From recent accounts from Silver City and other mining regions, the fact, which we have often hefore enunciated is now becoming more and more ohvious. To render New Mexico one of the richest wining regions in the Union, it needs but capital, machinery and enterprise. True, skilled lahor, and protection for life and property are also needed, but all of theee latter will follow capital and machinery. We have no hesitation in eaying that for the surplus capital which now lies idle in the States awaiting an opportunity of profitahle investment there is no hetter field than the mines of New Mexico. Its wealth in minerals cannot be overestimated, nor is its wealth confined to minerals. With a climate unsurpassed on the American Continent and a eoil whose richnese is proverhial, the agriculturist, the stock-raieer, aud the vinter—for whose business its climate is especially adapted, are invited by an undeveloped country and a lavish profusion of nature’s richest hlessings to come here and establish homes for themselves and their posterity andin so doing reap the harvest of prosperity. ‘The people in our mines are thrifty, enterprising and hopeful for reinforcement; hut they need the capital to their friends elsewhere, conjointly with their willing lahor, to give the nation the benefit of the wealth within sight and to give an unnsual profit to all engaged in its developments. The passage of the Denver and Rio Grande aud also the Texas and Pacific railroad bills, will give assurance, that hut few years can pass hefore capital and immigration will pour iuto the country. Meantime, though the need of capital is sorely felt, and if those having a eurplnus of it at their command would give the merits and advautages of onr mining localitiesa fair trial, we are sure the examination would lead to investment and the investment to arich and certain profit. Of the future of our mineral sections we neither have, nor reasonahly could have any douhts. Still we are anxious that our claims should be known and that easterm capital now lying idle and nnproductive may have an opportunity to increase itself os well as aid the enterprising frontiersmen who are now struggling so bravely, and against such odds, to spread civilization, commerce and enterprise over this rich, but much neglected, portion of the Union.—Sanria Fe Post. Jaran.—The recent great fire in Yedo, Japan, destroyed all the houses within an area of four miles long by three wide, and contrary to the usual custom there, where large fires occur frequently, the city will he hnilt up again in a more substantial and civilized manner. A new survey is to he made, the streets widened and the huildings to be of hrick. There is little doubt but that the Japanese will see the evident superiority of our steam fire engines over their inefficient system and will order a number of them from this country. Their progress is very rapid and they manifest an earnest desire to become familiar with all the the implements of modern civilization, which they substantially prove by their large orders from the United States. .