Volume 26 (1873) (431 pages)

6 MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS. [January 4, 1873. The Railways and their Mineral Traffic. Were proof reqnired of the remarkable degree of activity which has characterized the staple trade of the United Kingdom during the past six months, the dividends paid aud payable to the shareholders of the principal lines of railway would be most conclusive. On some lines the inereased dividends have not been so substantial as the ehareholders anticipated, nor, perhaps, as they had the right to expect; but these lines were principally passenger lines, and the increased receipts were largely diminished by the extraordinary high price of coals and the general advance in the wages of those employed. The receipts upon the mineral mines have, however, been steadily increasing, and there can be no doubt that, properly developed and with the requisite facilities granted, the iron and coal trades prove the ‘‘back-bone of the railway system. Statistics demonstrate that a line of railway running through a good mineral district, and huving good ports of discharge, or leading to large ‘‘nests” of manufactories, must pay; and railway directors but ill advanoe their own interests and those of theshareholders when they ignore the claims which the iron and coal trades have upon them. The Taff Vale Railway, a short mineral line in Wales, will always be cited as one of the best paying lines in the whole kingdom, with its 100/. shares worth some 140/. or 150/., and paying its J0 per cent. dividend with a regularity quite enviable by other lines, besides laying up almost every half year a considerable sum as a reserve fund to provide for any unforseen contingency. This line is not only one of the best paying lines in the kingdom, itis one of the hest managed; its trains run with clock-like regularity,and the wantsand requirements of the oolliery proprietors, the ironmasters, and the traders generally are not only met, but studied and promoted. Gladly, too, we acknowledge that of late years, and under the able management of Sir Daniel Gvoch,the Great Western is directing far more attention to the necessities of the colliery proprietors and promoting the interests of the traders than in years gone by; and, verily, the increased dividends and the extraction of the affairs of the company from the financial complications which once surrounded them is the reward. The lino, as is well known, runs through the very vitals of the Principality, while its many arteries lead to sources of wealth, which, if still promoted and fostered, will yield results in the shape of dividends, of which the most sanguine scarcely now venture to imagine. Can anyone doubt the expediency and policy of the Great Western in the last venture they made on behalf of the colliery proprietors and traders of Wales? Does not the last report of the directors conclusively prove the soundness, even financially considered, of the expenditure in laying down the narrow-gange? The golden harvest is at hand, and the present dividend is the highest paid in very mauy years past. The London and North Western has also tasted the fruits of its connection with the colliery districts, and its traffic receipts show an enormous increase as compared with those of former years. The Midland is evidently so well satisfied with its allowance with the Hereford, Hay and Brecon system, that they naturally yearn for a closer connection, and seek powers which will give them access into the vary interior of Wales. The Swansea Vale is an essentially mineral line, and for many years never paid ashilling dividend; but euch is the wonderful expansion of the etaple trades of the district that the last half year at least 54 per cent. was legitimately earned. The Monmonth, the Neath and Brecon, the Lianelly, the Rhymney and other lines have all more or less shared in the prosperity of the iron and coal districts, and there is every proof, therefore, that the dividends of railways, if not altogether governed by, is at least greatly dependent upon the activity or otherwise of the staple trades of the country. The Welsh line has been principally cited in this article, hecause they affurd the most striking illustration of the point we are eudeivoring to proveand have ever maintuined —that the interests of railway directore and shareholders, and those of colliery proprietors and iron makers are very closely allied; they go hand in hand togcther; 1 all the directors of our main or trunk would promote their own interests ifthey would strain every nerve to develop the resources of new mineral districts and encourage the expansion of trade by every means in their power. As far as can be ascertained, the mineral traffic passing over the railways of Great Britain and Ireland in 1871 amounted to 102,222,464 tons. To this total England and Wales contributed 81,412,357 tons; Seotlaud, 20,337,781 tons; and freland, 472,326 tons. The receipts derived from this traffic were 10,029,253/., to which England and Wales contributed 8,610,713/.; Scotland, 1,360,5137.; and Ireland; 58,0271.— Hix. New Idria Quicksilver. But few people are acquainted with the history of the discovery of the New Idria quicksilver mines, and some facts having come nnder our notice, we give them for the benefit of our readers. In 1856 a party prospecting for silver in the southwestern part of this county— the present location of the New Idria works— discovered a deposit of chromate of iron, which they supposed to hea silver deposit, and for some time worked it as such, hefore finding out their mistake. Here the party separated, sone going one way aNd some another. Some of the party shortly after discovered cinnahar at the San Carlos mine, and at about the sasme time ore was found at the Idria mine, proper, in the company’s grounds. Among the company’s mines are the Idria, San Carlos, Aurora, Molino, Washingtou, Benada and Victorener. The largest amount of work has been done in the Idria mine, proper. San Carlos has produced well aud heen quite extensively worked. The San Carlos mine is several huudred feet higher than Mount Diahlo, snd is the highest point in the range except San Benito, (misnamed on the maps of California, being named Panoche Peak,) which is quite near. San Carlos is 4,977 feet high, and Mount Diahlo 3,876, and San Benito Peak still higher thau San Carlos. The workiugs consist of tnnuels, with communications hy shafts from level to level, to a depth of 600 feet, The company sre snow engaged in erecting machinery, probably ithe heaviest of its character in the State, for he purpose of sinking 500 or 600 feet lower. The new machiuery is heing put up at a point 1,000 feet under ground. In the Idria (proper) the underground work will prohably measure four miles. The mine has been producing constantly since 1857. The process for reducing the ore consists of thoroughly roasting the ore in furnaces holding from 50 to 60 tons, and the vapors (quicksilver at a temperature above 80° .of heat passing off in vapor,) condensed in large brick condensers, where it comes in contact with cold air. These condensers consist of a series of 12 to 16 large brick compartments, having a single opening in each wall, throngh which the smoke of the fuel and the vapors of the ore pass finding their way to the chimney, hefore reaching which the qnicksilver is supposed to he precipitated, and the wood smoke finds its way out. The chimney alone is an institution worthy of note. It is huilt on the slope of the hill on which it rests, and ia large enough to admit the passage of a man comforta‘hly from top to bottom. The quicksilver rarely if ever reaches the top of the chimney. In no other part of the world has cinnahar, the com‘mon ore of quicksilver, heen found so widely disseminated asin California. Outside of California, and until the California discoveries, the world had depended almost wholly upon the old Almaden, of Spain, and the Idria, of Austria, for this important requisite in the collection of its metallic wealth. The event of the California discoveries should be appreciated by every individual who uses a pound of quicksilver, for there are thousands of gold and silver mines that could never have been profitahly worked but for these discoveries. Prof. Von Cotta, in his book on ore deposits, says, ‘‘That even platinum is not so equally distributed as this metal, and it may be asked how it happens that this metal is collected in such masses at some localities.” ‘After platinum mercury is the rarest metal used in the arts and manufactures:” The old Almaden quicksilver mines of Spain, it is well established, was worked seven hundred years before the Christian era, and is uow still producing perhaps the largest amount of any in the world. Cases, of salivation are frequent among the men engaged about the furnaces, caused by inhaling the mercurial vapors. In aome portions of the reducIng works the laborers receive one dollar per hour for their services. These men handle the ore in a heated state, and tie heavy bandages over their mouths and noses to prevent the inhalation of mercurial fumes, and even with this precaution’they are frequently aalivated. A visit to these mines will repay one amply for their trouble —resno Expositor. Eneuish Manuracrurers Loorrne AMERIOANwarps.—Muauy Euglish manufacturers, in view of the rapidly advancing prices of coal and labor in England, are looking to this country as a favorable place for relocating their works —especially such aa manufacture largely for this market. Mr. Coats, the celebrated English thread maker, has already moved his estahlishment to Pawtucket, R.1., where he em‘ploys three huudred persons. The Tailor-bird, Our own engraver has executed the accompanying cut, which enables us to illustrate an interesting fact and trait in the natural history of the Tailor-bird, which we find in the Jilustrated Monthly. ‘The ingenuity and skill displayed by many of the lower animals in the construction of their homes is so marked and marvellous, that we do not wonder that the enthusiastic natural-. ist should be led to believe that they are possessed of reasoning faculties similar to man’s, The spider’s weh, the beaver’s dam, and, more remarkable than either of these, the endless varieties of bird’s nests, all tend to prove that what we call the instinct of animals is as mysterious a mental quality as the reason of man. The illustration here given represents the leafy nest of the Southern Tailor-bird; and, if it appears more wonderful in its coustruction thau the queer little mud cabins of the barnswallow or the swinging nest of the oriole, it is only that by its resemhlance to the work of the human hand we are the better able to compreLT’ Hpi THE TAILOR-BIRD’S NEST. hend the difficulties attending its construction. With only its heak and claws, this expert little artisan ohtains from some vine or fihrons hark the long thread with which the edges of the leaf are stitched together; and, as the nest is located at the end of a long swinging hranch, the sewing must he done by the beak alone, as the claws are ueeded to grasp the limb above; and yet this is only half the work, for, after the leafy shell is finished, it must he lined with a cloaely-woven and braided cushion, that the eggs and young may be safely honsed. It is not difficult for us to understand how a child, under the guidance and direetion of its parent, may at last succeed in producing a work as perfect in design and finish as that which served as @ pattern ; he sees where tbe first attempt was wrong, and improves upon it in the second. But not so with the young Tailor-bird. No aooner is it able to fly than it leaves the neat, of which it has seen only the interior, and with no lessen or advice, at once seeka a mate no wiser than itself; and together they two build a uew uest, so perfect in finish, and similar in design to the one they had left, that it is hard to believe that the old home was uot tranaported to a newbranch. The child had reason; the bird, instinet.”’ Curaver SEwrne Macuines.—There appears to be a prospect that the price of sewing machines will be rednced. The patent for the Wheeler & Wilson machine will shortly expire. During the Jast session of Congress there were several nnsuccesstful efforts made to have it exteuded, and the application for an extension ia still before the Senate Committee on Patenta, with little prospect of its being reported this Winter. Incase theapplication for au extension be defeated, it is thought the price of aewing machines will be brought down to $20 or $25. Inthe testimony filed before the Committee, given by skilled machinists, it is stated that the average cost of manufactnring aewing machinea is $7 to $12. This patent is owned by what is known as the sewing machine combination, but*the application for extension of the patentis in the name of A.B. Wilson. Many of the smaller machine companies oppose the extension. There are, hefore the Committee, petitions signed hy over twenty thonsand persons, many of whom have from one to twenty machines in operation in manufacturing estahlishments, asking thatthe extension be refused. The old companies have made millions npon millions upon their patents, and itis now time that their monopolies should be done away with, and the puhlie henefitted by throwing the business of making and selling machines open to competition. The question seems hardly to admit of argumeut.—Call. Tur Sicnau SeRvick AND THE FIsHERIES.— General Myer, the head of the United States Sigual Service, has intimated his desire to promute the interests of fishermen through the operations of his department, as we learn from the Gloucester Telegraph, hy establishing stations which shall not only notify the fishermen of changes in the weather, but also of the movements of fish, such as mackerel, herring, etec., alongshore. The idea seems to be an excellent . oue, ‘lity even with Silver and Silver Coinage. In the annnal report-of the Secretary of the Treasury, says the Territorial Enterprise, it is suggested that general silver coinage be suspended throughout the United States, owing to the depreciation in the value of silver compared with gold, and that silver dollars alone be coined hereafter—the piece to correspond in weight and fineness to the Mexican dollar, whith is largely used, and at a premium, in onr trade with China and Japan. During the past ten years the value of silver in relation to gold has decreased three per cent. To what extent this depreciation is dne to the silver product of Nevada, we are not advised; but it is remarkable that the decline commenced with the opening of the Comstock miues, and has steadily gone down with the increased yield of this great deposit. It is a curious fact that when the great gold discoveries of twenty years ago were made economists like Cobden and Chevalier thought that silver would replace gold as the standard money of the world. Holland acted upon the theory, and made silver the sole standard currency. Now, on the other hand, gold has beaten silver ont of the field, so that—with the exception of Holland—no country places silver on equalgold as mouey. Silver is uow quoted at lower rates inthe English markets, accordiug to the London Economist, than it has been for twenty years. ‘‘Ten yearsago,’’ says the writer, ‘‘the price was 621¢d. per ounce standard; a year ago it was 61d.; it nowis 5954d.” The Secretary of the Treasury attrihutes the decline of the past year to certain changes in the standard money of Germany. So, also, does the Economist. tt directs attention to the fact that, before the late changes, silver was in all the States of Germany the sole legal teuder; gold was only an article of merchandise; the greater part of the circulation is consequently silver. But, by the recent law of the new empire, goldis already a legal tender as well as silver. Before long, according to the announced policy of the Imperis] Government, it will supersede silver. Instead of there heing various silver standards, as until lately, in the several States throughout Germany, there will ho one imperial gold standard. In consequence no one likes to keep much silver; every individual, and still more every bank, triesto ‘‘pass on’ that metal; every one sees that silver will soon he demonetized; that every one who holds a large stock of it when it is demonetized will he aheavy loser. ‘All Germany,’ says the Economist, ‘‘ which has now principally a silver currency, is hefore long to have principally a gold currency. Now Germany is a country of great extent, great trade, and great wealth, and a country where hanking ia but little developed, and where the percentage, so tospeak, of coin to wealth is, if measured hy an English standard, enormous. To change the main actnal ‘‘ coin,” of such a country from one metal to another, will cause a permanent use, on a large scale, of the metal which is chosen, and a temporary setting free on a large scale also, of the metal which is abandoned.’ The late decline in the price of silver may he due, as assumed hy Secretary Boutwell, to the action of Germany; but the depreciation of the preceding nine years must be traced to another cause. What can thia cause have been but au increased yield of silver? Until 1860 but little silver was produced in the United States. Since that time, Nevada, Colorado, Idaho and Moutana have given to the world silver to the value of about $150,000,000, while the gold yields of California and Anatralia have decreased yearly. Aa the product of silver has increased during the past ten years while the gold product has decreased, it is bnt natnoral that the relative value of the two metals in the money markets of the world should have been correspondingly affected. But the mineownera of Nevada need not bealarmed. Silver will alwaya hea marketahle commodity, eveu ehould it be nsed aomewhat less iu coinage. Althongh Nevada will turn out nearly one thousand tons of silver bullion next year, it will produce an amount of gold but a fraotion lesa in value, and itis probable that the relative value of gold and ailver will not change imaterially for many years to come, I. L. D.—Under the ahove peculiar heading the Carson Appeal gives the followingitem: We were allowed by Mr. Whitehill, State Muineralogist, at our earnest solicitation, to publish the following item of his travels through Southern Nevada on his exploring tour in the Summer of last year. Near the eummit of the Clarke mountains, in the Kingaton range, on its eastern slope, thereia a limestome cliff with amooth surface, almost perpendicular, and 250 feet in hight. Ahout 100 feet from the base of thecliff, onitsfront, are engraved the above characters of immense size, 60 feet high and 2% deep which may be seen at a great distance. There is no tradition aeeheohae these charactera. The croas and the Roman letters seem, however, to argue the workmanship of Jesuit missionaries. A mission was estahlished at the mouth of the Gilariver in 1633, and also at various points iu New Mexico, by Eusehius Kino. There is also an old map extant representing forty towns and villages in Arizona. Probably the letters were made hy the followers of the good priests while makingsome settlementa in the vicinity, in their endeavors to Christianize the Indians; or while passsing by on a tonr to California, where permaueut missions had beeu established. ee,

6 MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS. [January 4, 1873. The Railways and their Mineral Traffic. Were proof reqnired of the remarkable degree of activity which has characterized the staple trade of the United Kingdom during the past six months, the dividends paid aud payable to the shareholders of the principal lines of railway would be most conclusive. On some lines the inereased dividends have not been so substantial as the ehareholders anticipated, nor, perhaps, as they had the right to expect; but these lines were principally passenger lines, and the increased receipts were largely diminished by the extraordinary high price of coals and the general advance in the wages of those employed. The receipts upon the mineral mines have, however, been steadily increasing, and there can be no doubt that, properly developed and with the requisite facilities granted, the iron and coal trades prove the ‘‘back-bone of the railway system. Statistics demonstrate that a line of railway running through a good mineral district, and huving good ports of discharge, or leading to large ‘‘nests” of manufactories, must pay; and railway directors but ill advanoe their own interests and those of theshareholders when they ignore the claims which the iron and coal trades have upon them. The Taff Vale Railway, a short mineral line in Wales, will always be cited as one of the best paying lines in the whole kingdom, with its 100/. shares worth some 140/. or 150/., and paying its J0 per cent. dividend with a regularity quite enviable by other lines, besides laying up almost every half year a considerable sum as a reserve fund to provide for any unforseen contingency. This line is not only one of the best paying lines in the kingdom, itis one of the hest managed; its trains run with clock-like regularity,and the wantsand requirements of the oolliery proprietors, the ironmasters, and the traders generally are not only met, but studied and promoted. Gladly, too, we acknowledge that of late years, and under the able management of Sir Daniel Gvoch,the Great Western is directing far more attention to the necessities of the colliery proprietors and promoting the interests of the traders than in years gone by; and, verily, the increased dividends and the extraction of the affairs of the company from the financial complications which once surrounded them is the reward. The lino, as is well known, runs through the very vitals of the Principality, while its many arteries lead to sources of wealth, which, if still promoted and fostered, will yield results in the shape of dividends, of which the most sanguine scarcely now venture to imagine. Can anyone doubt the expediency and policy of the Great Western in the last venture they made on behalf of the colliery proprietors and traders of Wales? Does not the last report of the directors conclusively prove the soundness, even financially considered, of the expenditure in laying down the narrow-gange? The golden harvest is at hand, and the present dividend is the highest paid in very mauy years past. The London and North Western has also tasted the fruits of its connection with the colliery districts, and its traffic receipts show an enormous increase as compared with those of former years. The Midland is evidently so well satisfied with its allowance with the Hereford, Hay and Brecon system, that they naturally yearn for a closer connection, and seek powers which will give them access into the vary interior of Wales. The Swansea Vale is an essentially mineral line, and for many years never paid ashilling dividend; but euch is the wonderful expansion of the etaple trades of the district that the last half year at least 54 per cent. was legitimately earned. The Monmonth, the Neath and Brecon, the Lianelly, the Rhymney and other lines have all more or less shared in the prosperity of the iron and coal districts, and there is every proof, therefore, that the dividends of railways, if not altogether governed by, is at least greatly dependent upon the activity or otherwise of the staple trades of the country. The Welsh line has been principally cited in this article, hecause they affurd the most striking illustration of the point we are eudeivoring to proveand have ever maintuined —that the interests of railway directore and shareholders, and those of colliery proprietors and iron makers are very closely allied; they go hand in hand togcther; 1 all the directors of our main or trunk would promote their own interests ifthey would strain every nerve to develop the resources of new mineral districts and encourage the expansion of trade by every means in their power. As far as can be ascertained, the mineral traffic passing over the railways of Great Britain and Ireland in 1871 amounted to 102,222,464 tons. To this total England and Wales contributed 81,412,357 tons; Seotlaud, 20,337,781 tons; and freland, 472,326 tons. The receipts derived from this traffic were 10,029,253/., to which England and Wales contributed 8,610,713/.; Scotland, 1,360,5137.; and Ireland; 58,0271.— Hix. New Idria Quicksilver. But few people are acquainted with the history of the discovery of the New Idria quicksilver mines, and some facts having come nnder our notice, we give them for the benefit of our readers. In 1856 a party prospecting for silver in the southwestern part of this county— the present location of the New Idria works— discovered a deposit of chromate of iron, which they supposed to hea silver deposit, and for some time worked it as such, hefore finding out their mistake. Here the party separated, sone going one way aNd some another. Some of the party shortly after discovered cinnahar at the San Carlos mine, and at about the sasme time ore was found at the Idria mine, proper, in the company’s grounds. Among the company’s mines are the Idria, San Carlos, Aurora, Molino, Washingtou, Benada and Victorener. The largest amount of work has been done in the Idria mine, proper. San Carlos has produced well aud heen quite extensively worked. The San Carlos mine is several huudred feet higher than Mount Diahlo, snd is the highest point in the range except San Benito, (misnamed on the maps of California, being named Panoche Peak,) which is quite near. San Carlos is 4,977 feet high, and Mount Diahlo 3,876, and San Benito Peak still higher thau San Carlos. The workiugs consist of tnnuels, with communications hy shafts from level to level, to a depth of 600 feet, The company sre snow engaged in erecting machinery, probably ithe heaviest of its character in the State, for he purpose of sinking 500 or 600 feet lower. The new machiuery is heing put up at a point 1,000 feet under ground. In the Idria (proper) the underground work will prohably measure four miles. The mine has been producing constantly since 1857. The process for reducing the ore consists of thoroughly roasting the ore in furnaces holding from 50 to 60 tons, and the vapors (quicksilver at a temperature above 80° .of heat passing off in vapor,) condensed in large brick condensers, where it comes in contact with cold air. These condensers consist of a series of 12 to 16 large brick compartments, having a single opening in each wall, throngh which the smoke of the fuel and the vapors of the ore pass finding their way to the chimney, hefore reaching which the qnicksilver is supposed to he precipitated, and the wood smoke finds its way out. The chimney alone is an institution worthy of note. It is huilt on the slope of the hill on which it rests, and ia large enough to admit the passage of a man comforta‘hly from top to bottom. The quicksilver rarely if ever reaches the top of the chimney. In no other part of the world has cinnahar, the com‘mon ore of quicksilver, heen found so widely disseminated asin California. Outside of California, and until the California discoveries, the world had depended almost wholly upon the old Almaden, of Spain, and the Idria, of Austria, for this important requisite in the collection of its metallic wealth. The event of the California discoveries should be appreciated by every individual who uses a pound of quicksilver, for there are thousands of gold and silver mines that could never have been profitahly worked but for these discoveries. Prof. Von Cotta, in his book on ore deposits, says, ‘‘That even platinum is not so equally distributed as this metal, and it may be asked how it happens that this metal is collected in such masses at some localities.” ‘After platinum mercury is the rarest metal used in the arts and manufactures:” The old Almaden quicksilver mines of Spain, it is well established, was worked seven hundred years before the Christian era, and is uow still producing perhaps the largest amount of any in the world. Cases, of salivation are frequent among the men engaged about the furnaces, caused by inhaling the mercurial vapors. In aome portions of the reducIng works the laborers receive one dollar per hour for their services. These men handle the ore in a heated state, and tie heavy bandages over their mouths and noses to prevent the inhalation of mercurial fumes, and even with this precaution’they are frequently aalivated. A visit to these mines will repay one amply for their trouble —resno Expositor. Eneuish Manuracrurers Loorrne AMERIOANwarps.—Muauy Euglish manufacturers, in view of the rapidly advancing prices of coal and labor in England, are looking to this country as a favorable place for relocating their works —especially such aa manufacture largely for this market. Mr. Coats, the celebrated English thread maker, has already moved his estahlishment to Pawtucket, R.1., where he em‘ploys three huudred persons. The Tailor-bird, Our own engraver has executed the accompanying cut, which enables us to illustrate an interesting fact and trait in the natural history of the Tailor-bird, which we find in the Jilustrated Monthly. ‘The ingenuity and skill displayed by many

of the lower animals in the construction of their homes is so marked and marvellous, that we do not wonder that the enthusiastic natural-. ist should be led to believe that they are possessed of reasoning faculties similar to man’s, The spider’s weh, the beaver’s dam, and, more remarkable than either of these, the endless varieties of bird’s nests, all tend to prove that what we call the instinct of animals is as mysterious a mental quality as the reason of man. The illustration here given represents the leafy nest of the Southern Tailor-bird; and, if it appears more wonderful in its coustruction thau the queer little mud cabins of the barnswallow or the swinging nest of the oriole, it is only that by its resemhlance to the work of the human hand we are the better able to compreLT’ Hpi THE TAILOR-BIRD’S NEST. hend the difficulties attending its construction. With only its heak and claws, this expert little artisan ohtains from some vine or fihrons hark the long thread with which the edges of the leaf are stitched together; and, as the nest is located at the end of a long swinging hranch, the sewing must he done by the beak alone, as the claws are ueeded to grasp the limb above; and yet this is only half the work, for, after the leafy shell is finished, it must he lined with a cloaely-woven and braided cushion, that the eggs and young may be safely honsed. It is not difficult for us to understand how a child, under the guidance and direetion of its parent, may at last succeed in producing a work as perfect in design and finish as that which served as @ pattern ; he sees where tbe first attempt was wrong, and improves upon it in the second. But not so with the young Tailor-bird. No aooner is it able to fly than it leaves the neat, of which it has seen only the interior, and with no lessen or advice, at once seeka a mate no wiser than itself; and together they two build a uew uest, so perfect in finish, and similar in design to the one they had left, that it is hard to believe that the old home was uot tranaported to a newbranch. The child had reason; the bird, instinet.”’ Curaver SEwrne Macuines.—There appears to be a prospect that the price of sewing machines will be rednced. The patent for the Wheeler & Wilson machine will shortly expire. During the Jast session of Congress there were several nnsuccesstful efforts made to have it exteuded, and the application for an extension ia still before the Senate Committee on Patenta, with little prospect of its being reported this Winter. Incase theapplication for au extension be defeated, it is thought the price of aewing machines will be brought down to $20 or $25. Inthe testimony filed before the Committee, given by skilled machinists, it is stated that the average cost of manufactnring aewing machinea is $7 to $12. This patent is owned by what is known as the sewing machine combination, but*the application for extension of the patentis in the name of A.B. Wilson. Many of the smaller machine companies oppose the extension. There are, hefore the Committee, petitions signed hy over twenty thonsand persons, many of whom have from one to twenty machines in operation in manufacturing estahlishments, asking thatthe extension be refused. The old companies have made millions npon millions upon their patents, and itis now time that their monopolies should be done away with, and the puhlie henefitted by throwing the business of making and selling machines open to competition. The question seems hardly to admit of argumeut.—Call. Tur Sicnau SeRvick AND THE FIsHERIES.— General Myer, the head of the United States Sigual Service, has intimated his desire to promute the interests of fishermen through the operations of his department, as we learn from the Gloucester Telegraph, hy establishing stations which shall not only notify the fishermen of changes in the weather, but also of the movements of fish, such as mackerel, herring, etec., alongshore. The idea seems to be an excellent . oue, ‘lity even with Silver and Silver Coinage. In the annnal report-of the Secretary of the Treasury, says the Territorial Enterprise, it is suggested that general silver coinage be suspended throughout the United States, owing to the depreciation in the value of silver compared with gold, and that silver dollars alone be coined hereafter—the piece to correspond in weight and fineness to the Mexican dollar, whith is largely used, and at a premium, in onr trade with China and Japan. During the past ten years the value of silver in relation to gold has decreased three per cent. To what extent this depreciation is dne to the silver product of Nevada, we are not advised; but it is remarkable that the decline commenced with the opening of the Comstock miues, and has steadily gone down with the increased yield of this great deposit. It is a curious fact that when the great gold discoveries of twenty years ago were made economists like Cobden and Chevalier thought that silver would replace gold as the standard money of the world. Holland acted upon the theory, and made silver the sole standard currency. Now, on the other hand, gold has beaten silver ont of the field, so that—with the exception of Holland—no country places silver on equalgold as mouey. Silver is uow quoted at lower rates inthe English markets, accordiug to the London Economist, than it has been for twenty years. ‘‘Ten yearsago,’’ says the writer, ‘‘the price was 621¢d. per ounce standard; a year ago it was 61d.; it nowis 5954d.” The Secretary of the Treasury attrihutes the decline of the past year to certain changes in the standard money of Germany. So, also, does the Economist. tt directs attention to the fact that, before the late changes, silver was in all the States of Germany the sole legal teuder; gold was only an article of merchandise; the greater part of the circulation is consequently silver. But, by the recent law of the new empire, goldis already a legal tender as well as silver. Before long, according to the announced policy of the Imperis] Government, it will supersede silver. Instead of there heing various silver standards, as until lately, in the several States throughout Germany, there will ho one imperial gold standard. In consequence no one likes to keep much silver; every individual, and still more every bank, triesto ‘‘pass on’ that metal; every one sees that silver will soon he demonetized; that every one who holds a large stock of it when it is demonetized will he aheavy loser. ‘All Germany,’ says the Economist, ‘‘ which has now principally a silver currency, is hefore long to have principally a gold currency. Now Germany is a country of great extent, great trade, and great wealth, and a country where hanking ia but little developed, and where the percentage, so tospeak, of coin to wealth is, if measured hy an English standard, enormous. To change the main actnal ‘‘ coin,” of such a country from one metal to another, will cause a permanent use, on a large scale, of the metal which is chosen, and a temporary setting free on a large scale also, of the metal which is abandoned.’ The late decline in the price of silver may he due, as assumed hy Secretary Boutwell, to the action of Germany; but the depreciation of the preceding nine years must be traced to another cause. What can thia cause have been but au increased yield of silver? Until 1860 but little silver was produced in the United States. Since that time, Nevada, Colorado, Idaho and Moutana have given to the world silver to the value of about $150,000,000, while the gold yields of California and Anatralia have decreased yearly. Aa the product of silver has increased during the past ten years while the gold product has decreased, it is bnt natnoral that the relative value of the two metals in the money markets of the world should have been correspondingly affected. But the mineownera of Nevada need not bealarmed. Silver will alwaya hea marketahle commodity, eveu ehould it be nsed aomewhat less iu coinage. Althongh Nevada will turn out nearly one thousand tons of silver bullion next year, it will produce an amount of gold but a fraotion lesa in value, and itis probable that the relative value of gold and ailver will not change imaterially for many years to come, I. L. D.—Under the ahove peculiar heading the Carson Appeal gives the followingitem: We were allowed by Mr. Whitehill, State Muineralogist, at our earnest solicitation, to publish the following item of his travels through Southern Nevada on his exploring tour in the Summer of last year. Near the eummit of the Clarke mountains, in the Kingaton range, on its eastern slope, thereia a limestome cliff with amooth surface, almost perpendicular, and 250 feet in hight. Ahout 100 feet from the base of thecliff, onitsfront, are engraved the above characters of immense size, 60 feet high and 2% deep which may be seen at a great distance. There is no tradition aeeheohae these charactera. The croas and the Roman letters seem, however, to argue the workmanship of Jesuit missionaries. A mission was estahlished at the mouth of the Gilariver in 1633, and also at various points iu New Mexico, by Eusehius Kino. There is also an old map extant representing forty towns and villages in Arizona. Probably the letters were made hy the followers of the good priests while makingsome settlementa in the vicinity, in their endeavors to Christianize the Indians; or while passsing by on a tonr to California, where permaueut missions had beeu established. ee,