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Page: of 428
166 MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
[September r2, 1874
Machinery at the Fair.
Windmills.
Itissaid that windmills were invented or
first suggested by Hero of Alexandria—the
game person who is credited with having first
demonstrated that steam migbt be employed
ag @ motive power. However this fnay be, the
first practical use of wind mills, mentioued in
history, refers us to the year 1408, when they
began to be employed in Holland, About one
hundred years later, we find tbst they were
very extensively used in tbat country, where
they are still more generally employed than in
any other region. From the time they were
generally introduced there until the days of
steam, this prime mover occupied an important
position iu the industries of the world, for
grinding, sawing, pumping, tnrning, .oxpress~
ing oil, etc. Among all modern improvements
since the days of Sancho Panza, and before,
few have been of more practical value to the
human race than the windmill.
The crude structure of a century ago, with
its slow-moving huge srms, eeldom more than
four in number, and requiring a massive structure for its support, bears but a slight resemblance to the light, many-srmed; swift-moving
mills of to-day. Tbere are, no doubt, many
visitors to the Fair who will remember some of
the huge old structures of this class of years
ago, which were employed iu the older States
for grinding wheat, corn, ete. In Europe, aud
eepecially in Great Britain, many of these old
structures still remain, and nowaud then those
are met with which are still kept in active use,
There are vertical and horizontal windmills;
tbose with arms outstretcbed, and those witb
arms (or fans) so closely enclosed, that one
would searcely infar that the structure was a
windmill at all. Thelargest windmills in Holland are kaid to run from twenty to thirty horse
power. Perhaps one ot the most remarkable
nses to which this description of power is employed, at the present time, is that of driving
aten-stamp quartz mill on one of the West
India Islands, where mining for gold hss lately
beon introduced.
The windmill, while it performs all the offices
of steam, except where an exceedingly uniform
motion is required, consumes no fuel, requires
next to no attention, and is of but trifling cost.
Catching the breeze from every quarter, it
brings it in quiet subjection to man, and employs its power in various ways, butmost of all,
especially in this State, to disperse the aqueous
gift of Heaven to the thirsty soil or grateful beast.
Still, ss ‘‘the wind bloweth”’ only when ‘it
listeth,” and as in this prsctical age most human indnstrial operations must be conducted
in exact succession, and at fixéd times, steam
has slmost entirely superseded the use of wind.
Ouly one specimen of this useful device is
exhibited in the Pavilion; but that is a model,
not only in size, but in the matter of design
and constrnction as well. Itis shown near the
upper end of the machinery department, by W.
I. Tustin, corner of Market and Beale streets.
Itis styled ‘The Economy Windmill,” and
probably combines as many advantages and
improvements as can be found in any one other
in nse. Itis simple ss well as ornamental.
We understand that Soutbwick & Co., 428
Ssnsome street, will have one of their celebrated “California Dexter Windmills” on exhibition withiu a day or two. Many of these
mills sre now being put up in different parts of
the State, as at Menlo Park, Monntain View,
Osklsnd and other points. The Compsny is
now putting up a $1,000 mill at Bridgeport, in
Solano county, for grinding purposes. For this
purpose they are unexcelled, as they are perfectly self-regulatiug. One has been put up
for J. H. Latham, at Oakland, for $1,900. This
mill runs in a light wind, and from its mode of
constructiou it wonld seem to be but little liable to get out of order. i
Perhaps no other portion of the world has
done more than Cahfornia, to revive and improve this useful and cheap mode of obtaining
power. An important incentive to the lsrge
employment of this power on the Pscific Coast
isthe remarkably (for this latitude) constant
reliance which may be placed upon the wind
here. While in Holland there are but one hundred and forty-five days on the average iu the
year, on which wind power can be made available, there are nearly or quite double that
number of daye ou which it can be made avsilable iu most parts of Cslifornia.
Horse Power.
Another cheap and often very convenient
powor, especially for employment on the farm
is thst operated by the horse. By it, a horse
may be madeto pump, saw, grind, churn, and
do many other things on the farm which would
otherwise, perbaps, have to be done by hand.
Hence a cheap, durable and convenient horsepower machine is a very desirable and important mechanical contrivance. We notice several such on exhibition, on which much skill
and ingenuity has been expended.
Mr. Tustin exhibits three devices of this
Kind which he respectively denominstes The
Eclipse, The economy and The Eagle. All are
consirncted upon the same general principle,
hut each differs more or less trom the other in
some one or more parts of the detail—especially in the gearing.
The Excelsior Windmill and Horse-power
works, Messre. Atwood & Bodwell, exhibit
three or four machines from theirmanufactory,
located at 211 and 218 Mission street.
C. P Hatch also exhibits a horse-power manufactured by him at Petalums. These machines
work with seven levers, and up to fourteenhorse-power.
Prospect for California Tobacco.
The misfortunes of onr neighbors in the
tobseao crop of the present season are likely to
work to our special benefit. Even before the
opening of the season active influences were
in operation beneficial to our interests, For
the last two years production has been disconraged, somewhat, by published statements
of the sccumulstion of tobacco on the bands of
holders. The proportion ot inferior grades
was supposed to be especially large; this phase
of the market being parlicularly effective iu
bringing down prices. ‘
This was known at the opening of the present
season, aud somewhat disconraged planting;
but it was not supposed that the falling off was
so great as it is now ascertaiued tobe. By the
agricultural rep.rt for July, wade np from
statistics from all the States, we learn that less
than half the usual acreage was set last Spring.
In Kentucky only about 20 per ceut. of the
usual acreage was planted. Tbe tobacco acreage of Connecticut is estimated at about 50 per
cent. of that last yesr. It is said that the crops
on even this limited acresge do not look fuvorable.
It is algo ascertsined that the stock of old
tobacco on hand is not as large as was siipposed. These facts having been made known,
the prices of tobacco are tending upwsrd; snd
that portion of eastern and southern tobacco
growers who hsve been holding on to tbeir
stock, awaiting an adysnee in price, will probably do well. This favorable change iu the
tobacco market hsppens extremely opportuuely
for California; this season’s tobacco acreage
being larger than usual. Tho inherent merits
of our tobacco, and the advantages of our
curing process, will stand a better chance of
being recognized than in ordinary seasons; and
we hope to see as great a gain iu reputation as
in immediate pecuniary profit. Look out for
inflation in next yesr’s tobacco acreage.
Sorghum.
Accordiug to recent reports of the Agricultnrs] department, the smount of sorghnm growiug in the several States at the present time,
compared with former years, is as follows:
Alabsma bas increased her acreage 11 per
cent.; Minnesota, 9 per cent.; Texas, 6 per
cent.; Mississippi and Arkansas, 5 per cent.;
Kensas, 1 per cent.; Delaware reports the same
acresge ss last year. In other States there is
a decline, the minimum, 77 per cent., being in
Marylsnd. New England, New York, New
Jersey, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Florida,
Louisiaua, California aud Oregon make no
returns of the crop. ‘be condition is one per
cent, above average in Texas; full average in
Delsware, Michigan and Wisconsin; in tbe
other States it is deficient, Kentncky showing
the greatest decline, 43,per cent. below average. Several counties in different parts of the
country report a declining interest in sorghum
culture. It will be seen that California is
among the States thst make no returns,
There can be little inducement for introducing the crop here, It cannot compete with our
beet crop for sugarmaking. In those portious
of the country where beets canuot be grown to
advantage for sugar making, and expecially
where meaus are not available for making sugar ona large and expensive scale, sorghum
may be grown snd converted into syrup, tbus
forming a cheap substitute for sng1r; but the
résults from its growth in America duriug the
long period of its experimental growth, does
not warrant tbe belief that it will ever become
astaple product in any part of the country;
least of all in California. We believe, however, that sorghum could be grown to advantage
by the farmers here as summer fodder. The
mid-summer season in California correspouds
with the winter season in the Esstern.states, in
the difficulty of carrying cattle through in good
condition. Sorghum would answer admirahly
for this purpose.
TELLURETSs.—When the sdvancing army of
prospectors gets on to a mineral belt, especially
if it isatellurium trend, they are pretty sure
to find its heginning snd ending. Northeast
from Sunshine,the line .of croppings has been
followed to the Lee Hill, and there, we are informed, a California Co, are at work opening
up the tellurets. The reason why this rara ore
is s+ much coveted, is because if the prospector
gets it, itis almost sure that he can ‘‘just fry
the gold right ont of it.” :
At first it was thought incredible that it existed outside of the Red Cloud and Cold Spring.
The opening of the Forest on Four-mile showed
that it existed far to the south. Next it was
fonnd to the north, across the Left Hand, in
the Gray Esgle. Then again it was found not
stingily put iuto the splendid chain of lodes
that binds the southern brow of Gold Hill.
The next astonishment was in discovering the
etuff at Sunshine, cropping there at the grass
roots, while at other points these tellurets were
not expeeted until considerable depth had been
gained. And last of all it is reported west, at
West's, on Left Hsud.— Boulder News.
.
Revival of Smelting at White Pine.
Ts it not a little singnlar that the gold miner
of 1849 became the dilver miner of 1859, and
the miner for the base ores in 1869? The
order was natural and necessary, because the
progress wss from the most simple and profitable to the more complex, dependent for profit
upon skill and practical experiment, The result of the various experiences of the mining
population has been the preparation of a class
.of practical men, capable of ntilizing the vast
stores of metallic wealth which may be said to
cover not only the whole surface of Nevads,
but also that of the adjscent States and Territoriss. This business must constitute tbesolid
fonndation of the future wealth of Nevada.
especially, for though the Comstock and the
exceptional free gangues of other sections of
the State may continue to furnish an annus]
tribute equal to the average of the last ten
years, the resonrces of the hase mines are
capable of a yield far beyond those of the free,
and it may be asserted with a greater certainty
of profit,
‘ The first efforts at the reduction of base ores
commenced at White Pine in 1869. The men
who conducted the business were witbout experience. It did not prove profitable, mainly
because of the difficulties arising from the distance of transportation. The business was
dropped after a few months’ tris], and has laid
dormsnt until the present summer. Since the
riss of Kureka, great progress has been made
in the treating of these ores, and a school of
smelters have been educated there under the
very glare of its furnaces, who excel the most
skilled operstives of the Old World. Indeed,
with characteristic ingenuity these novices have
devised contrivances for the bettering of the
furuaces and facilitating the work of reduotion.
which have beeu carried back and accepted by
the veterans of Swausea and Freiburg. These
unlettered men are doing for the State a hundred times more than the scientific sons of the
academies, and with their nstive intelligence
snd horny hands, are working succe:ses where
the recipients of diplomss only wrought failure
and disaster to capital.
In addition to tbe Mattison smelting works,
sn account of which is given in another column,
we are informed thst local capital is about to
take hold ot the very favorable locality of
Swausea, which commands a number of the
finest base ledges of this district. Situated as
tbis place is, in the center of innumerable
mines, among which may be named the Imperial, Fay, Mobile, aud Miser’s Dream, and
having abundance of water and wood for the
making of charcoal, wa hope and confidently
expoct to see the prediction made by Mr. McGee
reslized, that Swansea will rival Eureks in the
production of base bullion.
The Howland Tunnel.
The Howland tunnel, located in Little Cottonwood mining district, says tho Tribune, is a
project which bas attracted the interest of mining circles both iu Utsh and Californis. During tbe last two years work on this great enterpriso moved slowly until Isat spring, when tbe
company was recognized with Mr. B. O. Cutter
as President, and this gentleman with Mr.
Howland, the projector of the tunnel, are its
sctive managers. Under their control renewed
activity, and operations on the grandest scale
wero inaugurated. The plans in complete
detail were matured, all looking to the early
completion of the enterprise. Preparatory to
the carrying out of the design -tbe company
had a map of the distriot made from the most
accurate surveys by Col. C. L. Stevenson, one
of the most eminent civil engineers in tbe
country. Tnis is literally a correct chart of all
the mines adjacent to and on the route of the
tunnel, with referénce to tbe claims of Big
and Little Cottonwood districts. We had the
pleasure of examining the map, and have no
he:itation in pronouncing it the
Most Exact Work of the Kind
Ever made in this Territory. It shows the
location of the mines, longitudinal sections of
that portion of the tunnel already cut and
timbered, also the cross sections at the mouth
of the tunnel, and the geological séctions
through the Davenport aud Emma hills The
excavation is now in between four and five
hundred feet, and has crossed four excellent
veius of ore, one of which is from four to ten
feet in thicknsss, and a good qnality for milling. Day and night shifts of workmen ore
constantly employed, and the energy of the
management is heiug rewarded with enconraging prospects. The mouth of the Howland
tunnel, on the Little Cottonwood side, is situated just below Alta city, running thence through
the hill diagonally, passing through the principal mines, and comes out directly east of Big
Cottonwood by way of Cutter gulch. When
completed this tunnel will be about four miles
Jong, and in addition to its use as a channel,
through which the wealth of the mountain is
to be conveyed, it will also be made the route
of a railway to connect with projected lines to
be constructed at no distant day toward the
Union Pacific, at some favorable point of junction. There is no question as to the feasihility
of this ultimate result of the work now going
on, but the immediate effect of tunneliug the
inexhaustible miners] belt of the Cotton woods
will be found in the enterprise itselt, as it penetrates the rich deposits. which assuredly lie in
its path. These are certain to compeusate the
projectors for their daring energy, though the
world, and especially our own ‘Territory, will
be erestest gainer for what they are doing.
The Rye Valley Mines.
We take the following article on the mines
of Rye valley from the Bedrock (Oregon)
Democrat :
On last Wednesday week we took psssage on
board the hurricane deck of tbe “Cayuse,” and
started for the mining camp of Rye valley, st
at the lower end of Pleasant valley. Rye vslley
is entirely surrounded by hills and mountains,
in which are found the rich placer mines and
quartz ledges which make this camp noted and
reliable. The town hss some 80 or 40 buildings
in it, built on both sides of tbe one street running up and down the valley. Across the
stream, whicb meanders through the valley,
are located the placer mining claims,
These claims are bettor and more scientifically opeued than auy others we have ever visited. To give our readers an idea of the amount
of work done in opening these claims, we will,
as wellas we can, describe the claim of J.C.
Powers & Co. The main bedrock tunnel running from the flat back to the claim is 500 feet
long and well timbered; it is 55 feet below the
rim rock, and the surface dirt over this is from
30 to 50 feet in thickness; there are three head
races 4nd tunnels runniug into the main bedrock tunnel that are from 150 te 250 feet in
length; besides these there are two tunnels from
80 to 100 feet running into the hill above the
head races. This claim is worked by hydraulics with 130-feet pressure, with 224-inch nozzlestream. W. W. Webber's, James Odell’s and
Lafay’s claims are all working on the same
principle. Lafay’s claim is worked with two
hydraulics, and the snrface dirt is some 70 to
80 feet deep above the rimrock. A great drawback to this camp is the scarcity of water, whicb
is all csrried in the ditch of the Rye valley
ditch company, of whicb Walter Fernsld and
James Odell are the principal owners, as well
as beiug ownersin the mining claims above
mentioned, At the mostflush times there is
not to exceed about 800 inches of waler svsilable for mining purposes. R. 8. Johnson’s
claims, below town, are worked on the ssme
principle as are those shove mentioned, and are
considered as good ground as isin the camp.
In the hills and mountsins back of these
placer claims are found the rich quartz ledges
that are bound ultimately to make this one of
the liveliest and richest camps on the coast.
Gilchrist & Co. now have a five-stamp mill in
complete operation, crushing rock from tbeir
ledge, the Lafayette, whioh is very rich in both
gold and silver. Charles Green is getting out
the timbers for a 20-stamp mill, which he expects to have in operation yet this fall pounding out the precious metals from Grsen’s discovery and the Monuments]. There are a great
many other ledges in this district. that have
already been discovered, but are not yet opened; therefore their extent or richness are not
known. We understacd itis the intention of
E. M. White & Co. to remove their mill from
its present location, near Gem City, and place
it on the Dsvis ledge, abont five miles this side
of Rye valley. All the indications lead us to
believe that Baker and Grant counties can furnish as good mines and as many of them as any
other sectiou of country on the Pacific coast.
Important to Inventors.
Tbe following letter, which wss recently received from an old client of Dewey & Co., now
residing in one of the Esstern Ststes, speaks
for itself, and will do more, perhaps, to convince inventors of onr capacity for business
than sny number of lécsl compliments. We
extract as follows:
GentitemMEN: It wss through your honse
that I secured my first patent, and although I
hsve since done business here in the Atlantic
States with the ablest patent solicitors—gentlemon who have done me justice—yet I have often regretted that you were too far off to advise
with mein my cases. It has taken a longer
time with every patent I have taken out since
Tleft California and came Esst, thsn in the
cases you prepared for me in San Francisco,
which is certainly very creditable to yon.
By the way, one of my patsnis has pasacd
the ordeal which is the essential test of a
pateut’s value. I mean that of a trialin the
eourts, and it stood the battling of one ot the
best lawyers in the country. Tbe specificatious and claims were completely mads out
and there was a perfect comprehension of its
priuciple during the trial. Since giving it this
test wo thought that we would mako it even
stronger, if possible, and snbmitted it to one
of the best patent.solicitors for advice. After
a careful examination of the case he advised ns
to let it slone as it stood, ssying thst whoever
made up those papers understood their business. I then informed him that they weredrawn up by Dewey & Co., of: San Fraucisco,
und he replied thst he knew yon well by reputation. * * * * Very truly yours,
L. L. Sawyer,
Meriden, Conu., May 16,,1874.
From Trzso.—The mines in Tybo district sre
now being worked with satisfactory resnlts.
The new furnsce has been iu constant operation
since startiug on Monday last, and is prodncing a good quality of hullion. Both towns,
Upper and Lower Tybo, are growing rapidly,
and if building continues willsoon consolidate,
Niue of the softer sex now grsce the place, aud
ou Tuesday next a grand ball will be given.
We acknowledge the receipt of an invitation,
but cannot spsre the time to attend.—Hureka
Sentinel,
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