Volume 29 (1874) (428 pages)

188 MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS. [August 29, 1874 Hydraulic Mines of the San Juan Range. A correspondent of the Bulletin writes ss follows from North San Jusn: As the hydraulic or deep grayel mines in this eection of the country are now attracting the attention of speculators, and are largely owned hy Ssn Francisco capitalists, a few lines concerning their extent, value, present condition and manner of workiag may not be nninteresting to the readers of your psper. The mines, or what is known as the San Juan range, extend from French Corral to Snow Point, a distance of about 30 miles, and are lonated on an immense ancient channel, or river-bed, that traverses the ridge of land embraced hetween the south and middle torks of the msin Yuba river, coming from the direction of the Sierra Nevada monntsins, and terminating at French Corral, which is the western extremity of the ridge. The Ancient River-Bed—The Blue Gravel. This ancient channel is, in elevation, from fonr to six hondred feet higher thau either of the rivers between which it lies, and its gravel deposit is, from 200 to 1,500 fect in width, and from.100 to 600 feet in depth; gold is disseminated throughout the entire deposit, hnt the ravel is always the richest. near the hottom or bed dee The color of the gravel is, in the upper portion of the deposit, red and white, and near the hedrock1s deep hiue. The hiue gravel is generally cemented, and requires hlasting before it can be washed. The channel is not ooutinuous, bnt hasheen cnt in places hy deep raviues and catons, and broken hy land-slides. The largest of these breaks o¢curs hetween Ssn Jnan and Badger Hill, .where all trace of the channel is lost for a distance of about five miles. Principal Mining Districts. The most important mining districts along the line of the ohannel are French Corral, Empire Flat, Kate Hayes’ Flat, Birchville, Buckeye Hill, Sweetlaad, Manzsnita Hill, San Jnan, Badger Hill, Cherokee, Chimney Hill, Columhia Hill, Kennehec Hill, Grizzly Hill, Lake City, Malakoff, Hnmhug, Relief Hill, Woolsey Flat, Moore’s Flat, and Snow Point. All of these districts were established in ‘‘early days,’’ and each has its own peculiar locsl Jaws, prescrihing the manner of locating olaims, and the amonnt of work necessary to he done in order to hold them after heing located. In many districts, however, the records have heen lost, or intentionally destroyed; conaeqnently where conflicting interests arise, and the courts are appealed to, the party that ean do the “tallest swearing’ generally wins, and I have noticed that men can swear iu mining suits with as little regard to a hereafter asin auy other class of cases that come before our courts. Leading Companies. There are now three water companies on the ridze to supply the mines with water, i. ¢., the Enreka Lake and Yuha company, consolidated; the North Bloomfield Gravel Mining company, the Milton Water and mining company. Eureka Lake and Yuba Canal company consolidated, M. Z. Mirabach, of San Francisco, inanaging ageut, is a New York corporation, the oldext of the companies named, and formerly enjoyed a monopoly of the water hnsiness ofthe entire ridge. The property of this company consists of a consolidation of the water rights and ditches of the Old Miners’ ditch, Poor Mau ditch, Lake ditch, Humbug ditches, Bloody run and Grizzly canon ditches, and the Sun Juan or Ynba canal compauies’ ditches. The company have now iu use three main ditches, with an aggregate capacity of about 3,900 iuches per day which, in a favorahle season, will run fer about ten monthe in the year. The North Bloomfield Gravel Mining company is a San Francisco corporation. 8. F. Butterworth, L. L. Robinson, D. O. Mille and W. C. Ralston are the principal stockholders. They have oue maiu ditch with a rnnniag capicity of 3,000 inches per day. The Milton Water and Mining company is another San Fravecisco corporation, in which Eghert Judson and A, Block, are largely intereeted. Quite a number of the busiuess men and miners living in this vicinity are also shareholders; among the numher are Simon Furth, V. G. Bell, Danie] Forth ard H.C. Miller. This company recently purchased the water-rights and storage reservoirs onthe middle Yuba river, formerly owned hy the Sierra Nevada Lake Water & Mining company, of London, and are now engaged in constructing a ditch from the Milton dam, with a ruuniug capacity of 2,500 inches per day. The ditch will be completed hy Noyember next, and will he one of the most suhstantial works of the kind in the State. Each of these companies own large tracts of mineral land, and the North Bloomfield Gravel Mining eompany andthe Milton Water and Mining eompany are both engaged iu the construction of extensive works for the development of their several possessions. Enhanced Value of Mining Property. The improvements that have recently been made in hydraulic mining, and the reduoed price of water, hrought about by competition, have greatly enhanced the value of mining property here, and added new life to mining enterprise. Ground thathas been lying idle for years, and that never could have heen profitahly werked, under the old system of hydraulicing, and the high price of water, is now valuahle and being put in working condition. The fact, too, that a patent or permanent title to the mineral lands can now he obtained from the government has added grestly to the value of mining property, for it removes at once the principsl objection that cspitalists have hsd to to taking mining risks; and now, when titles are perfected in that way, money for the development of mines is easily ohtained at fair rates of interest. Though hydraulic mining has heen carried on here for nearly twenty years, until recently hut little has heen doae toward the development of the great gravel deposit, all of the work having heen done at points readily accessible, and where the gravel could be reached with short tunnels; and though during that time a large amount of gravel has heen washed away, bnt a very small portion of the channel has heen disturbed; and, notwithstanding that there are districts where the mines cannot be profitahly worked, in consequence of the grest depth of pipe-clay and monntain dirt, overlying the py gravel, and others situated so far back. from ontlets that there is not snfficient fall for the construction of a drain-tunnel, through which to work the bottom gravel, yet the next fifty years’ washing will not.exhaust the auriferous gravel that can be mined with profit, and it is more than prohable that long before the expiration of that time there will he improvements made and changes take place that will so far lessen the expense of working as to make valuable mining ground that is uow looked upon as heing eatirely worthless. The value of a hydraulic mine depends in a great measure upon the advantages there sre for working it. e Causes of Failure. The great aim of mining speculators seems to he to get hold of a large tract of yrouud that will make a good showing on paper,.and from. which rich prospects can he obtained with a pan. q worked, is a minor consideration with them; for so long as they can put it on paper, and work it in such a manner ag to get capitalists aud outside parties interested, und make it profitable to 1hemselves, it is all they desire. This, together with the appointment of incompetent persons to superintend--mines,—is—the. principal cause of the many failures that have been made in large mining enterprises in this State. Mining is a business that it takes years of experience to learn; and no man, whatsoever his qualifications, is competeut to manage and snperintend the workiag of a hydraulic mine, nnless he has served anu apprenticeship, and in that way gained a thorough knowledye of the busineas. Where this rule is not followed, failure will be the result in nine cases out of ten. Mining Enterprise. For a number of years J. H. Bradley has owned a valuahte piece of mining aad ditch property at Henry’s diggings, near Grizzly Fiat, this county. The mine is a gravel claim, embracing ahout 240 acres, with a rich pay streak averaging ahont fonr feet in thickness next the hed-rock. The deposit in the center of the hill is estimated at shout 150 feet in depth. There is a fine outlet and practically unlimited advantagea for dumpage of tailings. The water right will afford a supply of fnlly 1,000 inches of free water for six months inthe year. Bradley had invested his all in securing the mine and the ditch property. He estimates the cost of constructing a new’ flume and opening the nine in good shape for hydraulic operations, at $6,000. For years he has heen striving to induce parties with that amvunt of capital to tske hold of the enterprise, leaving him a fair amount of unussessable stock. We are delighted to learn that he baa at last succeeded. A number of San Franciscans, with ample capital and of reeolate will, have become associated with Bradley and have incorporated nnder the n me of the ‘‘Carrie Hill’? Miniug Co. Bradley is to superintend the immediate construction of the new flume, for which 80,000 feet of lumher has been ordered, aud a large invoice of spikes and nails have gone forward. As a matter of necessity, fromthe impossihility of obtaining white lahor, a gang of Chinamen is being organized. Our energetic aud longsuffering old friend is also to superintend the opening and working of the mine, for which purpose we ure quite sure that no more oapahle mau oould possibly be found. And we have no hesitation nor fear in venturing the prediction that if the mine is opened according to his ideas and plans he and his associates will reap an ahundant reward. We have a strong conviction that the Carrie Hill is destined to prove a msgnificent mining property—i very fortuuate investment for those engaged in it; and it affords us nnaffected, unalloyed pleasure to anticipate the well earned success which is to reward Bradley’e indomitable perseverance. We always like to see one of these hall-dog, hsng-on miners win an ultimate triumph over’ a seemingly nnconquerable coucatenation of adverso cirenmstances and snrroundings. There isa suhlimity in their frequent exhihitions of fai‘h and patieuce which we admire more than we cun express.— Mountain Democrat. Buue Piomenr of THe Eoyprians.—Fifteen centuries hefore the Ohristian era, the Egyptians appear to have heen acquainted with the preparation of three distiuct kinds of hlue pigment, prepared from mixtures of sand, soda and lime, with oxide of copper. Oue of these fine colors has heen lately examined by M. Fontensy, and hy analyzing he has heen able to reproduce them in all their qnalities of hrilliancy, permaneney, etc. Tue “dry inkstand,’’ which needs ouly to he supplied with pure water, ia now tound to he an old device. Whether in reality it oan he profitably’ Mining at. Dutch Flat. The Nevada Transcript says: The mining district of Dutch Flat and Gold Rua, for the two towns are so close together, and their mining interests are so closely blended, that 1t has long been noted for its yield of the precious metal, end for the certainty with which the hardy miner could count on a retmro for his Ishor. The hydraulic process was first begun iu the spriug of 18605; the Bear river ditch supplying about 650 inches of water, having heeu hrought in. The yield that year was lieht; but in the succeeding years of 1866 and 67, work was proseouted more extensively, and abont $600,000 was taken out each year, In 1868 a party of miners owning these claims bought the Bear river ditch, and organized the Gold Run Ditch and Mining Company, and it is now the largest operator in that place. The capital stock is $905,000, and it is all owned by citizens of Gold Run and Dutch Flat. The stockholders are J. H. Kinder, Wm. Judd, J. F. Moody, J. L, Gonld, Allen Towle. Frauk Sachs, S. D.Moore, H. H. Brown and Victoria Walcott. Allen Towle is President, H. H. Brown is Secretary and Treasnrer, and J. L. Gonld is Genersl Snperintendent. They have over $200,000 invested in mining property, of which $80,000 is in ditches. Their wster eomes from Bear and South Ynha rivers throngh twenty-eight miles of ditches. This season they have had plenty of water and expect to run seven or eight months. They are working five claims, aee 2,000 inches of water, and employ 40 men. They own the following claims: Indiana Hill, North Star, two-fifths of the Drnid, one-half of the Gold Run, Church and Golden Gate, Kearsarge, Bsy State No. 2, Pinetop. Thus far the surface gravel to the depth of 100 to 175 feet only hae heen worked, the lower stratum of over 200 feet in thiokness not being workahle, for want of fall to carry off the tailings. The company are now engaged in the prosecution of an enterprise that cannot fail to have a very beneficial influence on the ‘mining interests of this eection. To procnre the necessary fall, and enahle them to work these rich beds, the Gold Run company are running a tnnnel over 3,000 feet in length through the mountain at a depth of 600 feet helow the crest of the ridge. The lower end of this tunnel opens into Caton creek, while the head will open directly under the great deposits of hlue gravel aud furnishing means of working them to the bed-rock. Hoskins & Bro. are working a claim of 70 acres. They employ 15 men and use 600 inches of water, The Fishhawk company have a claim of 40 acres, use 550 inches of water and employ six men. Harkness uses 500 inches of water, employs seven men and works on a claim of 40 seres. The Iudiana Hill Blue Gravel company is drifting on the channel, and crushing the gravel in an eight-stamp mill, driven hy water-power. It is working 30 hands and is doing well. J. F. Moody works the tailings of all these claims, and is making a hetter thing of it than any of theclsims, He owns about 3,00) feet of the cation, in which he hus fitted flames and nndercurrents, and now has uothing to do but catch the gold that escapes the workmen ahove, His clean-nps have been of the most sstisfactory charaoter, and this segson'’s work will prohably net him a larger amount than usual. In fact, all the claims have paid well, and an expression of satisfaction rests on the oountenances of all the miners. The Cedar Creek Gold Mines and Water Co. is the principal concern doing bneiness at Dutch Flat. It is an English corporation, haying a capital of £2u0,000. The principal office is in Loudon, where the President, George Batters, and the Secretary, W. J. Livingston, reside. Its husiness headquarters are at Dutch Flat, and the management of its extensive works sre intrusted to T, B. Ludlum. This company is prosecnting its “work with vigor, aud employs a large force of hands. The old Placer county canal, after passing into its hands, has been improved aud extended until the company now owns shout 60 miles of ditches. The capacity of the main ditch is 6,000 inches of water, the greater portion of which is used by the company in operating its claims. Of these the principal are the Pacific, the Central, Jehoshapbat, half of the Guld Run, the Home Ticket, tae Gem. Altogether, it owns 32 claims, comprising some 200 acres of mining gronnd, employs 150 men,.and usce 3,800 iuches of water, hesides 1,450 inches twenty-four hour water to outside parties, It is also engaged in running a hedrock tunnel for the purpose of tapping the Dutch Flat chanuel, work on which has heen progressing for some time with favorahle results. ‘The tunnel when completed will be 3,000 ft. iu length and 8 ft. hy 8 in size. Itis now in 660 ft. and has reached the first shaft, from which washing hegan abont the first of this month, In prospecting this important work eighteen men are empivyed. Three Burleigh drills are used, the air heing compressed by water-power. The drill and machinery in use hy the Cedar creek company cost $12,000, and while the work of driving a tuunel is not materially cheapened by their use, the saving of time ontweighs every other coneideration. A blast of 300 kegs of powder is now abont ready to he firedin the Yankee Jim claim, which is being prepared for working. It is expected to openup a large hed of gravel for working. Besides the Cedar creek company, the South Yuba canal company is supplying water to the miners, its canal having a ecapscity of 3,000 iuches. The water is taken from the south Yuba river, aud is carried through about twenty-five miles of ditches. The following claims are being worked: North Star No. 2, owned by Lskemp & Voight. They employten meu and use 500 inches of water. Their claim is paying well. The Red Bank compsny have sixty acres of gravel left, on which it is working five men and using 450 inches of water. The Summit claim rune eeven men and 500 mches of water. The Somerset claim, owned hy Staples & Bros., works eight men and uses 450 inches of water. Kidder employs five men and uses .350 inches of water, The general report is that more men are employed than ever hefore, and that the mines are payiag well, and the prospects for the future are exceptionally brilliant.—Argus. The Calistoga Quicksilver Mines. In onr last week's issne we gave a description of the quicksilver mines in our vicinity, commencing with the Kentnek and following the southwest arm of the belt, and ending at the Yellow Jacket, We shall in this issue commence at Pine Flat and follow the easterly arm of the belt. The first mine attraoting onr attention is the Georgia, owned by Thompson Brothers, of Pine Flat, and assooiates. Oonsiderahle developments have been made, and a large body of ore hrought to view. The metal is exceedingly rich, and closely resemhies that taken from the New Almaden. A tunnel has been ran into the ledge, and the quantity of metal in eight wonld well warrant the erection of reduction works, .The next mine, or rather mines, of value, are those known as the Bacon mines—a consolidation of locations which were honght recently hy an English compsny, represented by Mr. Bacon, who visited England some eight months since, for the'pnrpose of organizing the company and pnshing the mine, A large hody of men have been constantly at work on these mines since their purchase, and a fine hody of metal has been developed. Mr. Bscon returned to England last week, taking with him quite a qnantity of the ore. His visit is for the pnrpose of making arrangements for the erection of works for the reduction of the ore. F The next mine that attracts onr attention is the American. This mine was formerly owned and worked hy Mr. Perschbacker, and ocenpied a prominent position for a long’time; hnt the unfortunate erection of furmacés, which failed to work satisfactorily, caused a cessation of operations at the mine, which passed into the hands of Cross & Co., of San Francisco, and after heing held hy them for some time, was recently suld to Mr.Wright, the present owner, who is 6xpending a large amount of money on. the mine. He has erected a large amonnt of retorts, and is nsing a etamp mill for the pnrpose of redncing the ore to a proper size to work in these retorts. Thedevelopments msde at this mine, under Mr. Wright's direction, are very flatteriug, and the present indications at the mine warraut the assertion that the Ameriean hids fair to be a successful rival to its neighbor, the Great Western. Lying hetween the Americsn and Great Western we find the Pilot Knob, recently owned hy our fellow-townsman, 1, W. Norton, and associates. This nine hss every appearance of being a direct continnation of the Great Western ledge. Several samples of rich ore have been sent to Sau Francisco. We next visit the El Msdre. The stock in this mine is mostly held in San Francisco, and is readily changing hands at afair price. The reputation of the mineis excellent. We next visit the Alice Cross, owned by B. S. Prickett and Charles Ridgley, of Kuight’s Landing, and Stusrt and Elder, of Sen Francisco. A very long tunuel is being run nnder contract, to tap the ledge ata great depth. The croppiugs at this mine are very prominent, and it has beeu pronounced by experienced parties to be as good & prospect as any iu the district. We will now give a short description of the Redington mine, which lies some twenty miles northeasterly trom the Great Western: This mine is producing more quicksilver than any mine in the United Ststes, the yield last month aggregating nearly $100,000. The superintendentis Charles Livermore, who is at present working ahout 250 men. The owners are ahout erecting two more large furnaces of the Knox & Osborne pattern, having enough ore in sight to run the four furnaces uninterruptedly for a long time. There are 1,260 shares in themine, and a dividend was declared last month of $20 ashare. The stock is mostly owned hy Mr. Livermore, of San Francisoo, and Mr. Redington of the same plice, and Goodman &Co., baakers, of Napa. We find also near Knoxville the Manhattan mine, owned hy Messrs. King & Oshorne. They have a furnace of their own patent, and sre producing about 60 flasks a month, and have prospects of douhling the same hefore long.—Calistoga Press. Tae Deepest Wetu In THE Worup.—At about 20 miles trom Berlin is situated the village of Sperenberg, noted for the deepest well that has ever been sunk. Owing to the presence of gypsum in the locslity, which is ata moderate distance from the capital, it occurred to the governmeut authorities of the mines to ohtaiu a supply of rock salt. Wlth this end in view the sinking of a shaft or well 16 feet in diameter was commenced some five years ago, and ut a depth of 280 feet the salt was reached. The boriag was continued to the further depth of 960 feet, the diameter of the hore being reduced to ahout 13 inches. The operations were subsequently prosecuted by the aid of steam until a depth of 4,194 feet was attained. At this point the boring was diecontinued, the horer heing still in the salt deposits, which thns exhihit the enormons thickness of 2,907 feet, eee on ee

188 MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS. [August 29, 1874 Hydraulic Mines of the San Juan Range. A correspondent of the Bulletin writes ss follows from North San Jusn: As the hydraulic or deep grayel mines in this eection of the country are now attracting the attention of speculators, and are largely owned hy Ssn Francisco capitalists, a few lines concerning their extent, value, present condition and manner of workiag may not be nninteresting to the readers of your psper. The mines, or what is known as the San Juan range, extend from French Corral to Snow Point, a distance of about 30 miles, and are lonated on an immense ancient channel, or river-bed, that traverses the ridge of land embraced hetween the south and middle torks of the msin Yuba river, coming from the direction of the Sierra Nevada monntsins, and terminating at French Corral, which is the western extremity of the ridge. The Ancient River-Bed—The Blue Gravel. This ancient channel is, in elevation, from fonr to six hondred feet higher thau either of the rivers between which it lies, and its gravel deposit is, from 200 to 1,500 fect in width, and from.100 to 600 feet in depth; gold is disseminated throughout the entire deposit, hnt the ravel is always the richest. near the hottom or bed dee The color of the gravel is, in the upper portion of the deposit, red and white, and near the hedrock1s deep hiue. The hiue gravel is generally cemented, and requires hlasting before it can be washed. The channel is not ooutinuous, bnt hasheen cnt in places hy deep raviues and catons, and broken hy land-slides. The largest of these breaks o¢curs hetween Ssn Jnan and Badger Hill, .where all trace of the channel is lost for a distance of about five miles. Principal Mining Districts. The most important mining districts along the line of the ohannel are French Corral, Empire Flat, Kate Hayes’ Flat, Birchville, Buckeye Hill, Sweetlaad, Manzsnita Hill, San Jnan, Badger Hill, Cherokee, Chimney Hill, Columhia Hill, Kennehec Hill, Grizzly Hill, Lake City, Malakoff, Hnmhug, Relief Hill, Woolsey Flat, Moore’s Flat, and Snow Point. All of these districts were established in ‘‘early days,’’ and each has its own peculiar locsl Jaws, prescrihing the manner of locating olaims, and the amonnt of work necessary to he done in order to hold them after heing located. In many districts, however, the records have heen lost, or intentionally destroyed; conaeqnently where conflicting interests arise, and the courts are appealed to, the party that ean do the “tallest swearing’ generally wins, and I have noticed that men can swear iu mining suits with as little regard to a hereafter asin auy other class of cases that come before our courts. Leading Companies. There are now three water companies on the ridze to supply the mines with water, i. ¢., the Enreka Lake and Yuha company, consolidated; the North Bloomfield Gravel Mining company, the Milton Water and mining company. Eureka Lake and Yuba Canal company consolidated, M. Z. Mirabach, of San Francisco, inanaging ageut, is a New York corporation, the oldext of the companies named, and formerly enjoyed a monopoly of the water hnsiness ofthe entire ridge. The property of this company consists of a consolidation of the water rights and ditches of the Old Miners’ ditch, Poor Mau ditch, Lake ditch, Humbug ditches, Bloody run and Grizzly canon ditches, and the Sun Juan or Ynba canal compauies’ ditches. The company have now iu use three main ditches, with an aggregate capacity of about 3,900 iuches per day which, in a favorahle season, will run fer about ten monthe in the year. The North Bloomfield Gravel Mining company is a San Francisco corporation. 8. F. Butterworth, L. L. Robinson, D. O. Mille and W. C. Ralston are the principal stockholders. They have oue maiu ditch with a rnnniag capicity of 3,000 inches per day. The Milton Water and Mining company is another San Fravecisco corporation, in which Eghert Judson and A, Block, are largely intereeted. Quite a number of the busiuess men and miners living in this vicinity are also shareholders; among the numher are Simon Furth, V. G. Bell, Danie] Forth ard H.C. Miller. This company recently purchased the water-rights and storage reservoirs onthe middle Yuba river, formerly owned hy the Sierra Nevada Lake Water & Mining company, of London, and are now engaged in constructing a ditch from the Milton dam, with a ruuniug capacity of 2,500 inches per day. The ditch will be completed hy Noyember next, and will he one of the most suhstantial works of the kind in the State. Each of these companies own large tracts of mineral land, and the North Bloomfield Gravel Mining eompany andthe Milton Water and Mining eompany are both engaged iu the construction of extensive works for the development of their several possessions. Enhanced Value of Mining Property. The improvements that have recently been made in hydraulic mining, and the reduoed price of water, hrought about by competition, have greatly enhanced the value of mining property here, and added new life to mining enterprise. Ground thathas been lying idle for years, and that never could have heen profitahly werked, under the old system of hydraulicing, and the high price of water, is now valuahle and being put in working condition. The fact, too, that a patent or permanent title to the mineral lands can now he obtained from the government has added grestly to the value of mining property, for it removes at once the principsl objection that cspitalists have hsd to to taking mining risks; and now, when titles are perfected in that way, money for the development of mines is easily ohtained at fair rates of interest. Though hydraulic mining has heen carried on here for nearly twenty years, until recently hut little has heen doae toward the development of the great gravel deposit, all of the work having heen done at points readily accessible, and where the gravel could be reached with short tunnels; and though during that time a large amount of gravel has heen washed away, bnt a very small portion of the channel has heen disturbed; and, notwithstanding that there are districts where the mines cannot be profitahly worked, in consequence of the grest depth of pipe-clay and monntain dirt, overlying the py gravel, and others situated so far back. from ontlets that there is not snfficient fall for the construction of a drain-tunnel, through which to work the bottom gravel, yet the next fifty years’ washing will not.exhaust the auriferous gravel that can be mined with profit, and it is more than prohable that long before the expiration of that time there will he improvements made and changes take place that will so far lessen the expense of working as to make valuable mining ground that is uow looked upon as heing eatirely worthless. The value of a hydraulic mine depends in a great measure upon the advantages there sre for working it. e Causes of Failure. The great aim of mining speculators seems to he to get hold of a large tract of yrouud that will make a good showing on paper,.and from. which rich prospects can he obtained with a pan. q worked, is a minor consideration with them; for so long as they can put it on paper, and work it in such a manner ag to get capitalists aud outside parties interested, und make it profitable to 1hemselves, it is all they desire.. This, together with the appointment of incompetent persons to superintend--mines,—is—the. principal cause of the many failures that have been made in large mining enterprises in this State. Mining is a business that it takes years of experience to learn; and no man, whatsoever his qualifications, is competeut to manage and snperintend the workiag of a hydraulic mine, nnless he has served anu apprenticeship, and in that way gained a thorough knowledye of the busineas. Where this rule is not followed, failure will be the result in nine cases out of ten. Mining Enterprise. For a number of years J. H. Bradley has owned a valuahte piece of mining aad ditch property at Henry’s diggings, near Grizzly Fiat, this county. The mine is a gravel claim, embracing ahout 240 acres, with a rich pay streak averaging ahont fonr feet in thickness next the hed-rock. The deposit in the center of the hill is estimated at shout 150 feet in depth. There is a fine outlet and practically unlimited advantagea for dumpage of tailings. The water right will afford a supply of fnlly 1,000 inches of free water for six months inthe year. Bradley had invested his all in securing the mine and the ditch property. He estimates the cost of constructing a new’ flume and opening the nine in good shape for hydraulic operations, at $6,000. For years he has heen striving to induce parties with that amvunt of capital to tske hold of the enterprise, leaving him a fair amount of unussessable stock. We are delighted to learn that he baa at last succeeded. A number of San Franciscans, with ample capital and of reeolate will, have become associated with Bradley and have incorporated nnder the n me of the ‘‘Carrie Hill’? Miniug Co. Bradley is to superintend the immediate construction of the new flume, for which 80,000 feet of lumher has been ordered, aud a large invoice of spikes and nails have gone forward. As a matter of necessity, fromthe impossihility of obtaining white lahor, a gang of Chinamen is being organized. Our energetic aud longsuffering old friend is also to superintend the opening and working of the mine, for which purpose we ure quite sure that no more oapahle mau oould possibly be found. And we have no hesitation nor fear in venturing the prediction that if the mine is opened according to his ideas and plans he and his associates will reap an ahundant reward. We have a strong conviction that the Carrie Hill is destined to prove a msgnificent mining property—i very fortuuate investment for those engaged in it; and it affords us nnaffected, unalloyed pleasure to anticipate the well earned success which is to reward Bradley’e indomitable perseverance. We always like to see one of these hall-dog, hsng-on miners win an ultimate triumph over’ a seemingly nnconquerable coucatenation of adverso cirenmstances and snrroundings. There isa suhlimity in their frequent exhihitions of fai‘h and patieuce which we admire more than we cun express.— Mountain Democrat. Buue Piomenr of THe Eoyprians.—Fifteen centuries hefore the Ohristian era, the Egyptians appear to have heen acquainted with the preparation of three distiuct kinds of hlue pigment, prepared from mixtures of sand, soda and lime, with oxide of copper. Oue of these fine colors has heen lately examined by M. Fontensy, and hy analyzing he has heen able to reproduce them in all their qnalities of hrilliancy, permaneney, etc. Tue “dry inkstand,’’ which needs ouly to he supplied with pure water, ia now tound to he an old device. Whether in reality it oan he profitably’ Mining at. Dutch Flat. The Nevada Transcript says: The mining district of Dutch Flat and Gold Rua, for the two towns are so close together, and their mining interests are so closely blended, that 1t has long been noted for its yield of the precious metal, end for the certainty with which the

hardy miner could count on a retmro for his Ishor. The hydraulic process was first begun iu the spriug of 18605; the Bear river ditch supplying about 650 inches of water, having heeu hrought in. The yield that year was lieht; but in the succeeding years of 1866 and 67, work was proseouted more extensively, and abont $600,000 was taken out each year, In 1868 a party of miners owning these claims bought the Bear river ditch, and organized the Gold Run Ditch and Mining Company, and it is now the largest operator in that place. The capital stock is $905,000, and it is all owned by citizens of Gold Run and Dutch Flat. The stockholders are J. H. Kinder, Wm. Judd, J. F. Moody, J. L, Gonld, Allen Towle. Frauk Sachs, S. D..Moore, H. H. Brown and Victoria Walcott. Allen Towle is President, H. H. Brown is Secretary and Treasnrer, and J. L. Gonld is Genersl Snperintendent. They have over $200,000 invested in mining property, of which $80,000 is in ditches. Their wster eomes from Bear and South Ynha rivers throngh twenty-eight miles of ditches. This season they have had plenty of water and expect to run seven or eight months. They are working five claims, aee 2,000 inches of water, and employ 40 men. They own the following claims: Indiana Hill, North Star, two-fifths of the Drnid, one-half of the Gold Run, Church and Golden Gate, Kearsarge, Bsy State No. 2, Pinetop. Thus far the surface gravel to the depth of 100 to 175 feet only hae heen worked, the lower stratum of over 200 feet in thiokness not being workahle, for want of fall to carry off the tailings. The company are now engaged in the prosecution of an enterprise that cannot fail to have a very beneficial influence on the ‘mining interests of this eection. To procnre the necessary fall, and enahle them to work these rich beds, the Gold Run company are running a tnnnel over 3,000 feet in length through the mountain at a depth of 600 feet helow the crest of the ridge. The lower end of this tunnel opens into Caton creek, while the head will open directly under the great deposits of hlue gravel aud furnishing means of working them to the bed-rock. Hoskins & Bro. are working a claim of 70 acres. They employ 15 men and use 600 inches of water, The Fishhawk company have a claim of 40 acres, use 550 inches of water and employ six men. Harkness uses 500 inches of water, employs seven men and works on a claim of 40 seres. The Iudiana Hill Blue Gravel company is drifting on the channel, and crushing the gravel in an eight-stamp mill, driven hy water-power. It is working 30 hands and is doing well. J. F. Moody works the tailings of all these claims, and is making a hetter thing of it than any of theclsims, He owns about 3,00) feet of the cation, in which he hus fitted flames and nndercurrents, and now has uothing to do but catch the gold that escapes the workmen ahove, His clean-nps have been of the most sstisfactory charaoter, and this segson'’s work will prohably net him a larger amount than usual. In fact, all the claims have paid well, and an expression of satisfaction rests on the oountenances of all the miners. The Cedar Creek Gold Mines and Water Co. is the principal concern doing bneiness at Dutch Flat. It is an English corporation, haying a capital of £2u0,000. The principal office is in Loudon, where the President, George Batters, and the Secretary, W. J. Livingston, reside. Its husiness headquarters are at Dutch Flat, and the management of its extensive works sre intrusted to T, B. Ludlum. This company is prosecnting its “work with vigor, aud employs a large force of hands. The old Placer county canal, after passing into its hands, has been improved aud extended until the company now owns shout 60 miles of ditches. The capacity of the main ditch is 6,000 inches of water, the greater portion of which is used by the company in operating its claims. Of these the principal are the Pacific, the Central, Jehoshapbat, half of the Guld Run, the Home Ticket, tae Gem. Altogether, it owns 32 claims, comprising some 200 acres of mining gronnd, employs 150 men,.and usce 3,800 iuches of water, hesides 1,450 inches twenty-four hour water to outside parties, It is also engaged in running a hedrock tunnel for the purpose of tapping the Dutch Flat chanuel, work on which has heen progressing for some time with favorahle results. ‘The tunnel when completed will be 3,000 ft. iu length and 8 ft. hy 8 in size. Itis now in 660 ft. and has reached the first shaft, from which washing hegan abont the first of this month, In prospecting this important work eighteen men are empivyed. Three Burleigh drills are used, the air heing compressed by water-power. The drill and machinery in use hy the Cedar creek company cost $12,000, and while the work of driving a tuunel is not materially cheapened by their use, the saving of time ontweighs every other coneideration. A blast of 300 kegs of powder is now abont ready to he firedin the Yankee Jim claim, which is being prepared for working. It is expected to openup a large hed of gravel for working. Besides the Cedar creek company, the South Yuba canal company is supplying water to the miners, its canal having a ecapscity of 3,000 iuches. The water is taken from the south Yuba river, aud is carried through about twenty-five miles of ditches. The following claims are being worked: North Star No. 2, owned by Lskemp & Voight. They employten meu and use 500 inches of water. Their claim is paying well. The Red Bank compsny have sixty acres of gravel left, on which it is working five men and using 450 inches of water. The Summit claim rune eeven men and 500 mches of water. The Somerset claim, owned hy Staples & Bros., works eight men and uses 450 inches of water. Kidder employs five men and uses .350 inches of water, The general report is that more men are employed than ever hefore, and that the mines are payiag well, and the prospects for the future are exceptionally brilliant.—Argus. The Calistoga Quicksilver Mines. In onr last week's issne we gave a description of the quicksilver mines in our vicinity, commencing with the Kentnek and following the southwest arm of the belt, and ending at the Yellow Jacket, We shall in this issue commence at Pine Flat and follow the easterly arm of the belt. The first mine attraoting onr attention is the Georgia, owned by Thompson Brothers, of Pine Flat, and assooiates. Oonsiderahle developments have been made, and a large body of ore hrought to view. The metal is exceedingly rich, and closely resemhies that taken from the New Almaden. A tunnel has been ran into the ledge, and the quantity of metal in eight wonld well warrant the erection of reduction works, .The next mine, or rather mines, of value, are those known as the Bacon mines—a consolidation of locations which were honght recently hy an English compsny, represented by Mr. Bacon, who visited England some eight months since, for the'pnrpose of organizing the company and pnshing the mine, A large hody of men have been constantly at work on these mines since their purchase, and a fine hody of metal has been developed. Mr. Bscon returned to England last week, taking with him quite a qnantity of the ore. His visit is for the pnrpose of making arrangements for the erection of works for the reduction of the ore. F The next mine that attracts onr attention is the American. This mine was formerly owned and worked hy Mr. Perschbacker, and ocenpied a prominent position for a long’time; hnt the unfortunate erection of furmacés, which failed to work satisfactorily, caused a cessation of operations at the mine, which passed into the hands of Cross & Co., of San Francisco, and after heing held hy them for some time, was recently suld to Mr.Wright, the present owner, who is 6xpending a large amount of money on. the mine. He has erected a large amonnt of retorts, and is nsing a etamp mill for the pnrpose of redncing the ore to a proper size to work in these retorts. Thedevelopments msde at this mine, under Mr. Wright's direction, are very flatteriug, and the present indications at the mine warraut the assertion that the Ameriean hids fair to be a successful rival to its neighbor, the Great Western. Lying hetween the Americsn and Great Western we find the Pilot Knob, recently owned hy our fellow-townsman, 1, W. Norton, and associates. This nine hss every appearance of being a direct continnation of the Great Western ledge. Several samples of rich ore have been sent to Sau Francisco. We next visit the El Msdre. The stock in this mine is mostly held in San Francisco, and is readily changing hands at afair price. The reputation of the mineis excellent. We next visit the Alice Cross, owned by B. S. Prickett and Charles Ridgley, of Kuight’s Landing, and Stusrt and Elder, of Sen Francisco. A very long tunuel is being run nnder contract, to tap the ledge ata great depth. The croppiugs at this mine are very prominent, and it has beeu pronounced by experienced parties to be as good & prospect as any iu the district. We will now give a short description of the Redington mine, which lies some twenty miles northeasterly trom the Great Western: This mine is producing more quicksilver than any mine in the United Ststes, the yield last month aggregating nearly $100,000. The superintendentis Charles Livermore, who is at present working ahout 250 men. The owners are ahout erecting two more large furnaces of the Knox & Osborne pattern, having enough ore in sight to run the four furnaces uninterruptedly for a long time. There are 1,260 shares in themine, and a dividend was declared last month of $20 ashare. The stock is mostly owned hy Mr. Livermore, of San Francisoo, and Mr. Redington of the same plice, and Goodman &Co., baakers, of Napa. We find also near Knoxville the Manhattan mine, owned hy Messrs. King & Oshorne. They have a furnace of their own patent, and sre producing about 60 flasks a month, and have prospects of douhling the same hefore long.—Calistoga Press. Tae Deepest Wetu In THE Worup.—At about 20 miles trom Berlin is situated the village of Sperenberg, noted for the deepest well that has ever been sunk. Owing to the presence of gypsum in the locslity, which is ata moderate distance from the capital, it occurred to the governmeut authorities of the mines to ohtaiu a supply of rock salt. Wlth this end in view the sinking of a shaft or well 16 feet in diameter was commenced some five years ago, and ut a depth of 280 feet the salt was reached. The boriag was continued to the further depth of 960 feet, the diameter of the hore being reduced to ahout 13 inches. The operations were subsequently prosecuted by the aid of steam until a depth of 4,194 feet was attained. At this point the boring was diecontinued, the horer heing still in the salt deposits, which thns exhihit the enormons thickness of 2,907 feet, eee on ee