Volume 35 (1877) (426 pages)

28 MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS [July 14, 1877. Continued from Page 21. being reduced at the Leonard mill. The workmen will be paid up, for the past month, next week. rn Fraxx Hunt and Sam Slate are jubilant at their prospects in the Rambler, new mine, located only a few yards from the Court house, in this county, The rock is liberally streaked with gold, and several hundred dollars’ worth of it has been extracted recently, There can be no doubt of the fact that the entire hill in the vicinity of the Rambler is one vast bed of mineral wealth, which will not be exhausted for generations to come. Montana. AVALANCHE GvLci.—Helena Independent, June 23: Twelve miles of this gulch are under patents. Hanck Bros, have opened the gulch at points eight and nine miles from the mouth. At the upper point they hrve breasted out 200 feet 27 feet wide, which paid froni $10 to $20 to the hand. Beluw them, Greggory, Hart & Co. haye a drain down below Grant. Jolin Goou, of Cave, is an equal owner in this body of ground. Shannon, Cox & Mayue, just below them, havea drain down to gravel. Wunderlin & Center have another drain down to pay, next below Hanck's. Above, Dusold & Basey have a drain on bedrock for 400 feet, but have not got across the succession of reefs. They are just getting into better pay. Poad & Co. also haveadrain down 20 feet. The average ‘depth of the ground is about 23 feet. Wesley Basey, D. A. Carlisle, Warren Tucker and Curt. L. Harrington own ground here and there along the gulch, they having let some of the ground now being opened out and worked on shares for opening. On the upper bar, Blackwell, Basey, Carlisle and Harrington's hydraulics are runuing. This bar is two miles ioug and will last for 20 years, but the diggings pay uniformly well. Av Springtown, Marshall & Hornbuckle, Hertop, Wright & Co. and J, V. Stafford are running flumes on American hill, M. H. Marshall & Sutton are running 2 hydraulic at Jimtown and employing a number of men. De Bourd & Co. ure working iu Price's gulch. Mahaney, Oxley, Quaile, Holland & Terrell, Cotter, Bryson & Hightower Rnd Williams are working in Oregon, New York and tributaries. AT Grennell’s bar, on the Missouri, Einhorn & Davis, Kelley & Co. and B. J. Robinson are at work, the latter runuiug a hydraulic and has not yet made a clean-up. Einhorn and Kelley have good diggings. Ingersull, Handley, Mayo, Lawrenson and Conrad & Co, rre running a drain in Cave, just above Springtown, and are 43 feet deep. This gulch was opened and prospected, but was filled by the flood last year. Olsen & Hausen are doing well in Upper Cave, Wuoor Ur.—These mines are on a bar two miles above Toombs’s ranch. Two hydraulics are running, one by Stagner, Rotwitt & Fergusen, the other by Warner & Co. These mines are easily worked, and, judging from the gold in sight, they must be good. OscaR A. Rossrtson and D. FP. Hedges have leased the Pittsburg ditch, at Preucb bar. They use some of the water, employing four men, let some on shares and sell about 100 inches. C. Drinkwater & Son are working ground ou shares and doing well. Gray & Lightbody, Henderson & Co., Zuerger & Co. and Webber & Radford are at work. Mr. Pie, a very intelligent Chinaman, is running an extensive claim, aud one other Chinese company are working, John Bird, of New York gulch, is on the bar. Oregon. Burny River.—Cor. Bedrock Democrat, July 4: There ig quite an excitement about placer mines about four tmailes east of A. J. Weatherby's rancli, near the summit of the mountain between Burut and Snake rivers, on tbe Burnt river side of the mountain. Huffman and Nickem rocked out this week $50. Tbe diggings are extensive. Antoiue Frior and H. B. Frans have sunk k shaft on their quartz ledge 50 feet deep and started to runR level, and have struck a rich chimney in the Tilden mine, and are taking out large quantities of $100 to the ton from a fonrfoot vein of free gold. The extensions on tbe same ledge are the Hendricks and Bulldozer, This ledge shows for 6,000 feet and is from four to six feet wide; it shows free gold, Prospecting is still going on on Gold mountain; the Banshee mine is showing a three-foot vein and plenty of gold can be seen in the quartz. Eastabrook & Woods are crushing rock with their arastra from this mine. The Gem, Baltic, New York and Burke mines are prospecting well and showing rich ore, Power Fuat.—-Graham & Co. are opening some claims on this flat, about one mile from Auburn. We visited the scene of operations and found a race, one-half mile in length, 20 feet wide on top, 6 feet on bottom and from 20 to 25 feet in deptb, cut through the solid bedrock in the ridge which separates Blue canyou from Poker flat. Tbis race reaches the flat at a sufficient depth to thoroughly drain it. Pruspecting was done here years ago, and gold found in paying quantities over quite on extensive area. These divgings have been enriched by the deposits of debris from Parker gulch, whicb being of a sticky nature, brougbt quantities of gold and amalgam with it, that has siuce disintegrated on exposure to the action of the atmosphere and frost, so as to be readily worked. Another advantage gained by the openiug of this race, is that the water used in Poker and California gulches, that formerly escaped into Powder river, is now diverted into Blue canyon, where it is utilized in ground sluicing for the bedrock flume. Fort Sumprer.—The present mining population consists of six white men and about 180 Chinese. The Chinese claims are situated principally on the bars and rims along Puwder river for about three miles below town, while a few companies are working claims in the river zbove and on the east side of tbe south branch of Powder river. It is supposed that these claims are paying well, but as the owners give no definite information, no amountsean be given. The Downie Bros. claims are sitnated in the hillon the west side of this branch. They are now thoroughly prospected, and the most sanguine expectations of the owncrs fully realized. The banks are all gravel, from 20 to 30 feet in depth and prospected evenly and well throughout. The natural facilities for working, such as pressure, fall and dump, are all that could be desired; ana witb the available amount of water cannot be worked out in 50 years, Messrs. Rimbol & Young have lately purchased the ditch and bar diggings opposite town for tbe sum of $300. They have found excellent prospects in what was heretofore considered the bedrock, but wbicb proves to be sli¢htly cemented gravel. They are preparing to commence operations on this ground. The mines uf Fort Sumpter are well supplied with water during the entire season. Mr. Rimbol owns nearly all phe water rights on the main Powder river, and sells water for one cent Ru inch. Utah. Auta.—Cor. Salt Lake Tribune, July 6: I think the Flagstaff the best timbered mine in the camp. {t is now shipping 1,200 sacks per day. My next visit was to the Prinee of Wales. Work on the lower levels of this mine has been discontinued. Tbe ore supply in the upper levels is immense. Work at the Reed and Benson is prosecuted with vigor. The tunnel is being pushed ahead night and day. {t will tap the mine at a depth of 1,200 feet. They work a force of 30 men, and are shipping some very fine ore. Tus Empire Tunnel company are building a boardinghouse for tbeir men, They intend to work a strong force. Tux boys at the Iris tunnel are hard at work, likewise at the Siskiyou, I cannot give you the number of men empluyed on the tbe Grizzly, but they seem to be pushing the work energetically. Tz Hudson River tunnel is looking well, and its owners believe they are working their way iuto the best mine on the hill. Work will soon commence on the Lumber Boy. A LARog body of first-class ore has been struck near the Flagstaff. I myself saw a thousand sacks of good ore on tbe dump; a very fair showing for theshort time the boys bave been at work. Transportation of Fruit, A very important matter in connection with the fruit growing interests of this State, which; though already large, are daily increasing, is tbat of proper and perfect means of transportation for the products. The home market is comparatively limited, while that of the Kast: ern States offers excellent advantages, hoth in prices realized aud almost unlimited demand. When Californians think of the great quantity of fruit which is here fed to the hogs, or left to rot for want of a market, even those not familjar with the business will recognize the necessity and advantage of appliances to carry the fruit, in a fresh condition, to distant markets. A number of refrigerator cars have heen invented for this special purpose, but the difficulty has been to keep the fruit dry enough in the presence of the ice to preserve it for any length of time. The absence of moisture is an essential feature, and has been found to be indispensable—a fact which has not received the atteution it deserved, We mentioned in our last issue the case of the recent loss of a valuable car-load of fruit which was sent on from here and spoiled hy the time it got to Chicago. We saw this week at the Central Pacific railroad depot, a refrigerator car helonging to the Western Refrigerator Company, of San Francisco, which was designed to overcome the difliculties attending the shipment of fruit, and is now being loaded with fruit for New York. The car has made two trips from here with fruit and was found to he successful in preserving the fruit. The expense atteudant on drawing these cars with the passenger trains is so great as to materially reduce the profits, and therefore this car is intended to he taken by the freight trains, although the trip consumes twice the time. This car is constructed with passenger trucks and Miller platform, and on top is fitted with doors to charge the proper receptacle with ice. The sides of the cars are provided with doors for the preserving chamber tor packing and loading purposes. When building the car the inventor sets apart a six inch space surrounding the top, hottom and sides, as also the top and side doors, which he packs with a light and effective nou-conductor (charcoal), impervious to the extreme heat of summer and the cold of winter, and the car is ined with No. 28 galvanized iron. Each of the top and side doors have triple closing edges like those of an iron safe, fitted with rubher weather strips, so that when the doors are closed and the patent screw cap on the outside is applied to the thread of the longitudinal latch-har on the inside, it draws the door and the jam so closely and firmly together that no particle of air can enter the preserving chamher of the car, unless it is permitted to enter through the ventilator, which is only opened at the will of the consignee of a load of perishable matter and under his instructions or orders. Inside of the car and attached to the top is properly secured an air-tight, V-shaped, galvanized iron receptacle or trough, which holds ahout one ton of ice. This receptacle, owing to its gutter form, prevents the water from the melting ice coming in contact with the sound ice, and as it melts, the water being facilitated by the gutter form of the lower part of the receptacle, passes out through an iron pipe extending through the bottom of the car, this cup heing trapped at the lower end to prevent the admission of air. The small gutter which runs helow the Vshaped receptacle carries off the moisture which may be contained in the provision chamher and condenses on the surface of the ice box, Whatever hot air there may be has no chance to come in contact with the ice and melt it, so that economy in the use of ice is ohtained, In other cars which we saw at the depot the ice was exposed to the contents of the cars in such a manner that it was liable to melt very rapidly and also added to the moisture in the car, instead of condensing it as inthis case, which has heen proved very injurious to fruit. Last fall a_car of this pattern was built at the Central Pacific works at Sacramento and left Sacramento for St. Louis on the 27th of October, loaded with California grapes, chiefly of the Muscat and Tokay varieties. The car also contained a few boxes of atrawherries, pears and several boxes of tomatoes, celery and other vegetahles for atest in this line. The St. Louis Republican of the 5th of December said: ‘‘On Oct. 27th this car, loaded with fine California grapes, etc., in hoxes, left Sacramento hy passenger train aud arrived here a week later. Since that time it has been kept iced up and tbe preserving chamber opened daily for the renioval of fruit for sale, and to-day the grapes are as sound as the day they were picked. The company owning this car have established an office over the Grangers’ Bank, No. 40 California street, and are now purchasing fruit for shipmeut to the East. It is their intention to continue this husiness and they now have seven cars employed. The success which has attended the experiment so far encourages them in the belicf that they have solved the difficult question of fruit transportation for long distances, and the fact that they have embarked in the husiness themselves shows their faith in the resulta, Distinguished Botanists Coming, Epirors Press:—You kindly request botanical notes from me this season. Here is one. A letter just received from Dr. Gray, at Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass., unnounces; I have just read your articles in the Press, “Honorary Names in Science" aud ‘‘ Webber Lake.” Many thanks. I can now tell you something that will please you. Dr. Hooker—now Sir Joseph Hooker, but none the better for that—is expected here about the Sth of July. We are going to Colorado and the Rocky Mountdins together for a summer vacation, and muy, late in August, get over to California. Ifso, we will come over from, Truckee and see you and put up at the Webber hotel;” etc. It may not be known to all your readers that Sir Joseph Hooker is the curator, of the botanical gardens at Kew, Eng., the most extensive known; that he is tbe Presideut of the Royal Society of England and the most renowned botanist in the world; also that Dr. Asa Gray is in eharge of the botanical gardens at Cambridge, Mass., the most extensive in America, and that he is the most renowned botanist in the new world. These distinguisbed personages will perhaps be joined at St, Louis by Dr. Geo, Engelmann, the American authority on forest trees arid several obscure genera; and at Davenport, Jowa, by the genial and shrrp-eyed little Dr. C. C. Parry, the same who last season explored anew Suuthern California and made a flying visit to Webber lake and the Sierra valley, in the high Sierra. J. G, Lesson. Sierraville, Cal., July 7th, 1877. Weare glad to hear that these ligbts of science are coming. We have no doubt that this coast will please them and that our people will give them a cordial welcome. ot only in the romantic recesscs of the high Sierra will they find fraternal spirits. Our city men of science are preparing to welcome the visitors and to hear the sound of their voices before our Academy of Sciences. In addition to the tidings which Prof. Lemmon sends us of the prospective arrival, we have fuller details in the associated press telegrams of the present week. A dispatch from Washington, dated July 8th, says: Dr. J. D. Hooker, President of the Royal Society of London, director of the Kew hotanical gardens, etc., and Lieut.-Gen, Strachey, of the Royal Bengal Engineers, and a member of the Council for India, have made arrangements through friends in Washington and elsewhere for a tour of scientific research this summer in Colorado, Utah and California, in company with Asa Gray, of Camhridge, the distinguished botanist, and Prof. Joseph Leidy, of Philadelphia, an eminent comparative anatomist, the result of which will be communicated in the form of reports to our Government. Dr, Hooker's position as President of the Royal Society has for a number of years made him the chief adviser of the crown in all scientific matters pertaining to the goverment, and on the Queen’s last hirthday he was knighted in consideration of his eminent scientific services. He is algo corresponding member of the Institute’ of France, Gen. Strachey has been for many years a prominent member of the Royal Geographical Society, and is now President of the geographical section of the British Association for the Advancement of Science. He is author of several hooks of travel and hasa world-wide reputation as a geographer. Mrs. Hooker and Mrs. Strachey will accompany their hushands. The former was the widow of Sir Wm. Jorden, an eminent naturalist, and Mrs. Stracbey is the daughter of Sir J. R. Grant, formerly Governor of Bengal, and at a later period Governor of Jamaica, The party were to leave Eugland ahout the 28th ult., with the expectation of proceeding directly to Boston. The results of this exteuded scientific tour, which has been thus arranged, will, it is believed, he of great interest and value, and these will he attained entirely at the private expense of the distinguished gentlemen who compose the expedition. Unemployed Miners, The situation on the Comstock for laboring men is now, and has been, a very unpleasant one, to say the least, So many mines have closed down or reduced their working force that large numhers of miners are out of employment, The miners with families have a specially hard time of it, of course, and there isa great deal of distress among them. The different superintendents naturally do what they can in the way of giving these men employment, hut there is not room for half of those desiring work. A laboring man addressed, through the Enterprise, an open letter to Col. J. G. Fair, and other superintendents, in which he says: ‘You know hetter than any one else the nuimher of men who daily beg for work of you—men, too, who are as good workers as those you have in your mines, As you cannot employ all the men in the country at the same time without injury to your interests, and as you care not who does your work, provided it is properly done, then suppose there should he a draft, say once per month, of 80 or 100 men, and give their places to those who are actually in want of the necessaries of life. This would give the needy a chauce to belp those depending on them, others to pay a few dues, and others still to leave the country. Those who are drafted are supposed to have money to leave the country, or live comfortahly afew months. I don’t think this is a selfish view of matters iu Virginia. Should this he done in all the mines where new hands could do the work as well as old ones, which cannot he done in all places, the relief committee would svon find very little to do; women, then, would not beg for work for their husbands, to support their little ones, There is plenty of work in and around Virginia, if properly divided, to ‘let live’ every man, woman and child in our midst, without beggary or want. I ask you candidly, could this not he done without prejudice or injury to your interest ?” In reply to this letter, Col. Fair told a Virginia Chronicle reporter that the ideas were not practicable for many ohvious reasons, To tum off 80 or 100 old hands at once, every month, and replace them with an equal number of new men, would be injurious to any company’s interests. He said, however, that the object of relieving the needy can be accomplished better under the present system. In the first place, they favor married men as much as is possible and proper, and favor those whom they have reason to believe stand in greatest need. Col. Fair does not approve of the turn-ahout system proposed in the letter given above. He said: ‘I do not think that it would effect any improvement, and it might cause positive hardship in some cases. At present the best of feeling prevails among the miners. The young men have been acting in a very manly and generous way all through the dull spell. And they are doing so yet, Nearly every day some of the young fellows come forward and volunteer to quit work for a week, or two weeks, or a month, so as to give unemployed men achance. This isdone to a far greater extent than you can imagine. Now, a relief system of that kind promotes good feeling among the miners. The man who gives up his place of his own accord prohably feels better about it tban the man who takes his place, whereas, if the thing wero compulsory, as that letter writer proposes, there would be bitter féelings on one side and no thanks on the other.” Col. Fair said, further-° more, that the number of unemployed men was not by any means so great now as a few weeks ago, and he hoped to see everyhody at work before long. Comment on the voluntary relief system spoken of hy Col. Fair is superfluous. When men are willing to sacrifice their own interests for those of others, in the cause of humanity, as is done in this case, they do the most honorable and praiseworthy act possible, Generosity of this kind seldom occurs except in isolated instances, and it is a compliment to the mining community higher than any other that could be paid them to have it said tbat they have acted in this generous inanner, Miners are proverhially generous and manly, and we feel proud to represent the interests of a class with such nohle characteristics, General News Items. MeExican marauders have heen chased over the Rio Grande by U. S. troops. Tue famine district in British India is daily doing better. Rain has fallen plentifully and sowing bas begun. The position in Madras is still grave, and over 1,000,000 persons are fed by the relief works. Apvices from Peru state that in consequence of the attack hy the British war vessels Shah and Amethyst on the Peruvian ram Huascur, the President has issued a proclamation, in which he declares that he will exact from Great Britain explanation and satisfaction, consequent on such wanton outrage on a friendly power. THE Secretary of the Treasury gives notice that $7,000,000 coupons of 5-20 bonds, under the Act of March 3d, 1865, and consols of 1865, will be paid at the United States Treasury on and after October 5th, when interest ceases; also $3,000,000 registered bonds of the same issue, THE silk manufacturers of Paterson are about to begin action against the strikers. They had written contracts, in which they bound themselves to finish all warps on which they had begun before engaging in thestrike. When the recent strike occurred, a large numher of strikers left work without finishing their warps, Tue President is so well satisfied that there is no further need for troops in the South, that he will shortly direct the issuing of orders to withdraw all troops from that section except such as may he necessary for garrison duty. The troops so withdrawn will either he transferred to service in the. West or be sent to the Rio Grande. The order already issued transferring the Second Infantry from Atlanta to the Pacific coast is in pursuance of this determination. THE sectional dry dock at the Navy Yard broke down last week while trying to take out the French man-of-war Limier. The docks are old and have been out of repair for the past three or four years. There was no damage done to the ship. It will require many thousand dollars to repair tbe dock. The Department at Washington has been repeatedly asked for money to repair the sections, and such an accident as has happened has been predicted by the yard authorities. Tue Sentinel has telegrams from points in Minnesota, Iowa and Dakota, which report grasshoppers in large numbers flying with the wind. In Minnesota the hoppers are flying north, only a few lighting. At the points heard from in Minnesota, the hoppers are doing no damage, Farmers are encouraged by the crop prospect, in some places expecting average crops. A dispatch from Sauk Center, Minn., says that if no more boppers arrive they will harvest about half a crop. In Dakota, ahout 10% of the wheat a is ruined. On the whole Ch the report is favora ‘

28 MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS [July 14, 1877. Continued from Page 21. being reduced at the Leonard mill. The workmen will be paid up, for the past month, next week. rn Fraxx Hunt and Sam Slate are jubilant at their prospects in the Rambler, new mine, located only a few yards from the Court house, in this county, The rock is liberally streaked with gold, and several hundred dollars’ worth of it has been extracted recently, There can be no doubt of the fact that the entire hill in the vicinity of the Rambler is one vast bed of mineral wealth, which will not be exhausted for generations to come. Montana. AVALANCHE GvLci.—Helena Independent, June 23: Twelve miles of this gulch are under patents. Hanck Bros, have opened the gulch at points eight and nine miles from the mouth. At the upper point they hrve breasted out 200 feet 27 feet wide, which paid froni $10 to $20 to the hand. Beluw them, Greggory, Hart & Co. haye a drain down below Grant. Jolin Goou, of Cave, is an equal owner in this body of ground. Shannon, Cox & Mayue, just below them, havea drain down to gravel. Wunderlin & Center have another drain down to pay, next below Hanck's. Above, Dusold & Basey have a drain on bedrock for 400 feet, but have not got across the succession of reefs. They are just getting into better pay. Poad & Co. also haveadrain down 20 feet. The average ‘depth of the ground is about 23 feet. Wesley Basey, D. A. Carlisle, Warren Tucker and Curt. L. Harrington own ground here and there along the gulch, they having let some of the ground now being opened out and worked on shares for opening. On the upper bar, Blackwell, Basey, Carlisle and Harrington's hydraulics are runuing. This bar is two miles ioug and will last for 20 years, but the diggings pay uniformly well. Av Springtown, Marshall & Hornbuckle, Hertop, Wright & Co. and J, V. Stafford are running flumes on American hill, M. H. Marshall & Sutton are running 2 hydraulic at Jimtown and employing a number of men. De Bourd & Co. ure working iu Price's gulch. Mahaney, Oxley, Quaile, Holland & Terrell, Cotter, Bryson & Hightower Rnd Williams are working in Oregon, New York and tributaries. AT Grennell’s bar, on the Missouri, Einhorn & Davis, Kelley & Co. and B. J. Robinson are at work, the latter runuiug a hydraulic and has not yet made a clean-up. Einhorn and Kelley have good diggings. Ingersull, Handley, Mayo, Lawrenson and Conrad & Co, rre running a drain in Cave, just above Springtown, and are 43 feet deep. This gulch was opened and prospected, but was filled by the flood last year. Olsen & Hausen are doing well in Upper Cave, Wuoor Ur.—These mines are on a bar two miles above Toombs’s ranch. Two hydraulics are running, one by Stagner, Rotwitt & Fergusen, the other by Warner & Co. These mines are easily worked, and, judging from the gold in sight, they must be good. OscaR A. Rossrtson and D. FP. Hedges have leased the Pittsburg ditch, at Preucb bar. They use some of the water, employing four men, let some on shares and sell about 100 inches. C. Drinkwater & Son are working ground ou shares and doing well. Gray & Lightbody, Henderson & Co., Zuerger & Co. and Webber & Radford are at work. Mr. Pie, a very intelligent Chinaman, is running an extensive claim, aud one other Chinese company are working, John Bird, of New York gulch, is on the bar. Oregon. Burny River.—Cor. Bedrock Democrat, July 4: There ig quite an excitement about placer mines about four tmailes east of A. J. Weatherby's rancli, near the summit of the mountain between Burut and Snake rivers, on tbe Burnt river side of the mountain. Huffman and Nickem rocked out this week $50. Tbe diggings are extensive. Antoiue Frior and H. B. Frans have sunk k shaft on their quartz ledge 50 feet deep and started to runR level, and have struck a rich chimney in the Tilden mine, and are taking out large quantities of $100 to the ton from a fonrfoot vein of free gold. The extensions on tbe same ledge are the Hendricks and Bulldozer, This ledge shows for 6,000 feet and is from four to six feet wide; it shows free gold, Prospecting is still going on on Gold mountain; the Banshee mine is showing a three-foot vein and plenty of gold can be seen in the quartz. Eastabrook & Woods are crushing rock with their arastra from this mine. The Gem, Baltic, New York and Burke mines are prospecting well and showing rich ore, Power Fuat.—-Graham & Co. are opening some claims on this flat, about one mile from Auburn. We visited the scene of operations and found a race, one-half mile in length, 20 feet wide on top, 6 feet on bottom and from 20 to 25 feet in deptb, cut through the solid bedrock in the ridge which separates Blue canyou from Poker flat. Tbis race reaches the flat at a sufficient depth to thoroughly drain it. Pruspecting was done here years ago, and gold found in paying quantities over quite on extensive area. These divgings have been enriched by the deposits of debris from Parker gulch, whicb being of a sticky nature, brougbt quantities of gold and amalgam with it, that has siuce disintegrated on exposure to the action of the atmosphere and frost, so as to be readily worked. Another advantage gained by the openiug of this race, is that the water used in Poker and California gulches, that formerly escaped into Powder river, is now diverted into Blue canyon, where it is utilized in ground sluicing for the bedrock flume. Fort Sumprer.—The present mining population consists of six white men and about 180 Chinese. The Chinese claims are situated principally on the bars and rims along Puwder river for about three miles below town, while a few companies are working claims in the river zbove and on the east side of tbe south branch of Powder river. It is supposed that these claims are paying well, but as the owners give no definite information, no amountsean be given. The Downie Bros. claims are sitnated in the hillon the west side of this branch. They are now thoroughly prospected, and the most sanguine expectations of the owncrs fully realized. The banks are all gravel, from 20 to 30 feet in depth and prospected evenly and well throughout. The natural facilities for working, such as pressure, fall and dump, are all that could be desired; ana witb the available amount of water cannot be worked out in 50 years, Messrs. Rimbol & Young have lately purchased the ditch and bar diggings opposite town for tbe sum of $300. They have found excellent prospects in what was heretofore considered the bedrock, but wbicb proves to be sli¢htly cemented gravel. They are preparing to commence operations on this ground. The mines uf Fort Sumpter are well supplied with water during the entire season. Mr. Rimbol owns nearly all phe water rights on the main Powder river, and sells water for one cent Ru inch. Utah. Auta.—Cor. Salt Lake Tribune, July 6: I think the Flagstaff the best timbered mine in the camp. {t is now shipping 1,200 sacks per day. My next visit was to the Prinee of Wales. Work on the lower levels of this mine has been discontinued. Tbe ore supply in the upper levels is immense. Work at the Reed and Benson is prosecuted with vigor. The tunnel is being pushed ahead night and day. {t will tap the mine at a depth of 1,200 feet. They work a force of 30 men, and are shipping some very fine ore. Tus Empire Tunnel company are building a boardinghouse for tbeir men, They intend to work a strong force. Tux boys at the Iris tunnel are hard at work, likewise at the Siskiyou, I cannot give you the number of men empluyed on the tbe Grizzly, but they seem to be pushing the work energetically. Tz Hudson River tunnel is looking well, and its owners believe they are working their way iuto the best mine on the hill. Work will soon commence on the Lumber Boy. A LARog body of first-class ore has been struck near the Flagstaff. I myself saw a thousand sacks of good ore on tbe dump; a very fair showing for theshort time the boys bave been at work. Transportation of Fruit, A very important matter in connection with the fruit growing interests of this State, which; though already large, are daily increasing, is tbat of proper and perfect means of transportation for the products. The home market is comparatively limited, while that of the Kast: ern States offers excellent advantages, hoth in prices realized aud almost unlimited demand. When Californians think of the great quantity of fruit which is here fed to the hogs, or left to rot for want of a market, even those not familjar with the business will recognize the necessity and advantage of appliances to carry the fruit, in a fresh condition, to distant markets. A number of refrigerator cars have heen invented for this special purpose, but the difficulty has been to keep the fruit dry enough in the presence of the ice to preserve it for any length of time. The absence of moisture is an essential feature, and has been found to be indispensable—a fact which has not received the atteution it deserved, We mentioned in our last issue the case of the recent loss of a valuable car-load of fruit which was sent on from here and spoiled hy the time it got to Chicago. We saw this week at the Central Pacific railroad depot, a refrigerator car helonging to the Western Refrigerator Company, of San Francisco, which was designed to overcome the difliculties attending the shipment of fruit, and is now being loaded with fruit for New York. The car has made two trips from here with fruit and was found to he successful in preserving the fruit. The expense atteudant on drawing these cars with the passenger trains is so great as to materially reduce the profits, and therefore this car is intended to he taken by the freight trains, although the trip consumes twice the time. This car is constructed with passenger trucks and Miller platform, and on top is fitted with doors to charge the proper receptacle with ice. The sides of the cars are provided with doors for the preserving chamber tor packing and loading purposes. When building the car the inventor sets apart a six inch space surrounding the top, hottom and sides, as also the top and side doors, which he packs with a light and effective nou-conductor (charcoal), impervious to the extreme heat of summer and the cold of winter, and the car is ined with No. 28 galvanized iron. Each of the top and side doors have triple closing edges like those of an iron safe, fitted with rubher weather strips, so that when the doors are closed and the patent screw cap on the outside is applied to the thread of the longitudinal latch-har on the inside, it draws the door and the jam so closely and firmly together that no particle of air can enter the preserving chamher of the car, unless it is permitted to enter through the ventilator, which is only opened at the will of the consignee of a load of perishable matter and under his instructions or orders. Inside of the car and attached to the top is properly secured an air-tight, V-shaped, galvanized iron receptacle or trough, which holds ahout one ton of ice. This receptacle, owing to its gutter form, prevents the water from the melting ice coming in contact with the sound ice, and as it melts, the water being facilitated by the gutter form of the lower part of the receptacle, passes out through an iron pipe extending through the bottom of the car, this cup heing trapped at the lower end to prevent the admission of air. The small gutter which runs helow the Vshaped receptacle carries off the moisture which may be contained in the provision chamher and condenses on the surface of the ice box, Whatever hot air there may be has no chance to come in contact with the ice and melt it, so that economy in the use of ice is ohtained, In other cars which we saw at the depot the ice was exposed to the contents of the cars in such a manner that it was liable to melt very rapidly and also added to the moisture in the car, instead of condensing it as inthis case, which has heen proved very injurious to fruit. Last fall a_car of this pattern was built at the Central Pacific works at Sacramento and left Sacramento for St. Louis on the 27th of October, loaded with California grapes, chiefly of the Muscat and Tokay varieties. The car also contained a few boxes of atrawherries, pears and several boxes of tomatoes, celery and other vegetahles for atest in this line. The St. Louis Republican of the 5th of December said: ‘‘On Oct. 27th this car, loaded with fine California grapes, etc., in hoxes, left Sacramento hy passenger train aud arrived here a week later. Since that time it has been kept iced up and tbe preserving chamber opened daily for the renioval of fruit for sale, and to-day the grapes are as sound as the day they were picked.

The company owning this car have established an office over the Grangers’ Bank, No. 40 California street, and are now purchasing fruit for shipmeut to the East. It is their intention to continue this husiness and they now have seven cars employed. The success which has attended the experiment so far encourages them in the belicf that they have solved the difficult question of fruit transportation for long distances, and the fact that they have embarked in the husiness themselves shows their faith in the resulta, Distinguished Botanists Coming, Epirors Press:—You kindly request botanical notes from me this season. Here is one. A letter just received from Dr. Gray, at Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass., unnounces; I have just read your articles in the Press, “Honorary Names in Science" aud ‘‘ Webber Lake.” Many thanks. I can now tell you something that will please you. Dr. Hooker—now Sir Joseph Hooker, but none the better for that—is expected here about the Sth of July. We are going to Colorado and the Rocky Mountdins together for a summer vacation, and muy, late in August, get over to California. Ifso, we will come over from, Truckee and see you and put up at the Webber hotel;” etc. It may not be known to all your readers that Sir Joseph Hooker is the curator, of the botanical gardens at Kew, Eng., the most extensive known; that he is tbe Presideut of the Royal Society of England and the most renowned botanist in the world; also that Dr. Asa Gray is in eharge of the botanical gardens at Cambridge, Mass., the most extensive in America, and that he is the most renowned botanist in the new world. These distinguisbed personages will perhaps be joined at St, Louis by Dr. Geo, Engelmann, the American authority on forest trees arid several obscure genera; and at Davenport, Jowa, by the genial and shrrp-eyed little Dr. C. C. Parry, the same who last season explored anew Suuthern California and made a flying visit to Webber lake and the Sierra valley, in the high Sierra. J. G, Lesson. Sierraville, Cal., July 7th, 1877. Weare glad to hear that these ligbts of science are coming. We have no doubt that this coast will please them and that our people will give them a cordial welcome. ot only in the romantic recesscs of the high Sierra will they find fraternal spirits. Our city men of science are preparing to welcome the visitors and to hear the sound of their voices before our Academy of Sciences. In addition to the tidings which Prof. Lemmon sends us of the prospective arrival, we have fuller details in the associated press telegrams of the present week. A dispatch from Washington, dated July 8th, says: Dr. J. D. Hooker, President of the Royal Society of London, director of the Kew hotanical gardens, etc., and Lieut.-Gen, Strachey, of the Royal Bengal Engineers, and a member of the Council for India, have made arrangements through friends in Washington and elsewhere for a tour of scientific research this summer in Colorado, Utah and California, in company with Asa Gray, of Camhridge, the distinguished botanist, and Prof. Joseph Leidy, of Philadelphia, an eminent comparative anatomist, the result of which will be communicated in the form of reports to our Government. Dr, Hooker's position as President of the Royal Society has for a number of years made him the chief adviser of the crown in all scientific matters pertaining to the goverment, and on the Queen’s last hirthday he was knighted in consideration of his eminent scientific services. He is algo corresponding member of the Institute’ of France, Gen. Strachey has been for many years a prominent member of the Royal Geographical Society, and is now President of the geographical section of the British Association for the Advancement of Science. He is author of several hooks of travel and hasa world-wide reputation as a geographer. Mrs. Hooker and Mrs. Strachey will accompany their hushands. The former was the widow of Sir Wm. Jorden, an eminent naturalist, and Mrs. Stracbey is the daughter of Sir J. R. Grant, formerly Governor of Bengal, and at a later period Governor of Jamaica, The party were to leave Eugland ahout the 28th ult., with the expectation of proceeding directly to Boston. The results of this exteuded scientific tour, which has been thus arranged, will, it is believed, he of great interest and value, and these will he attained entirely at the private expense of the distinguished gentlemen who compose the expedition. Unemployed Miners, The situation on the Comstock for laboring men is now, and has been, a very unpleasant one, to say the least, So many mines have closed down or reduced their working force that large numhers of miners are out of employment, The miners with families have a specially hard time of it, of course, and there isa great deal of distress among them. The different superintendents naturally do what they can in the way of giving these men employment, hut there is not room for half of those desiring work. A laboring man addressed, through the Enterprise, an open letter to Col. J. G. Fair, and other superintendents, in which he says: ‘You know hetter than any one else the nuimher of men who daily beg for work of you—men, too, who are as good workers as those you have in your mines, As you cannot employ all the men in the country at the same time without injury to your interests, and as you care not who does your work, provided it is properly done, then suppose there should he a draft, say once per month, of 80 or 100 men, and give their places to those who are actually in want of the necessaries of life. This would give the needy a chauce to belp those depending on them, others to pay a few dues, and others still to leave the country. Those who are drafted are supposed to have money to leave the country, or live comfortahly afew months. I don’t think this is a selfish view of matters iu Virginia. Should this he done in all the mines where new hands could do the work as well as old ones, which cannot he done in all places, the relief committee would svon find very little to do; women, then, would not beg for work for their husbands, to support their little ones, There is plenty of work in and around Virginia, if properly divided, to ‘let live’ every man, woman and child in our midst, without beggary or want. I ask you candidly, could this not he done without prejudice or injury to your interest ?” In reply to this letter, Col. Fair told a Virginia Chronicle reporter that the ideas were not practicable for many ohvious reasons, To tum off 80 or 100 old hands at once, every month, and replace them with an equal number of new men, would be injurious to any company’s interests. He said, however, that the object of relieving the needy can be accomplished better under the present system. In the first place, they favor married men as much as is possible and proper, and favor those whom they have reason to believe stand in greatest need. Col. Fair does not approve of the turn-ahout system proposed in the letter given above. He said: ‘I do not think that it would effect any improvement, and it might cause positive hardship in some cases. At present the best of feeling prevails among the miners. The young men have been acting in a very manly and generous way all through the dull spell. And they are doing so yet, Nearly every day some of the young fellows come forward and volunteer to quit work for a week, or two weeks, or a month, so as to give unemployed men achance. This isdone to a far greater extent than you can imagine. Now, a relief system of that kind promotes good feeling among the miners. The man who gives up his place of his own accord prohably feels better about it tban the man who takes his place, whereas, if the thing wero compulsory, as that letter writer proposes, there would be bitter féelings on one side and no thanks on the other.” Col. Fair said, further-° more, that the number of unemployed men was not by any means so great now as a few weeks ago, and he hoped to see everyhody at work before long. Comment on the voluntary relief system spoken of hy Col. Fair is superfluous. When men are willing to sacrifice their own interests for those of others, in the cause of humanity, as is done in this case, they do the most honorable and praiseworthy act possible, Generosity of this kind seldom occurs except in isolated instances, and it is a compliment to the mining community higher than any other that could be paid them to have it said tbat they have acted in this generous inanner, Miners are proverhially generous and manly, and we feel proud to represent the interests of a class with such nohle characteristics, General News Items. MeExican marauders have heen chased over the Rio Grande by U. S. troops. Tue famine district in British India is daily doing better. Rain has fallen plentifully and sowing bas begun. The position in Madras is still grave, and over 1,000,000 persons are fed by the relief works. Apvices from Peru state that in consequence of the attack hy the British war vessels Shah and Amethyst on the Peruvian ram Huascur, the President has issued a proclamation, in which he declares that he will exact from Great Britain explanation and satisfaction, consequent on such wanton outrage on a friendly power. THE Secretary of the Treasury gives notice that $7,000,000 coupons of 5-20 bonds, under the Act of March 3d, 1865, and consols of 1865, will be paid at the United States Treasury on and after October 5th, when interest ceases; also $3,000,000 registered bonds of the same issue, THE silk manufacturers of Paterson are about to begin action against the strikers. They had written contracts, in which they bound themselves to finish all warps on which they had begun before engaging in thestrike. When the recent strike occurred, a large numher of strikers left work without finishing their warps, Tue President is so well satisfied that there is no further need for troops in the South, that he will shortly direct the issuing of orders to withdraw all troops from that section except such as may he necessary for garrison duty. The troops so withdrawn will either he transferred to service in the. West or be sent to the Rio Grande. The order already issued transferring the Second Infantry from Atlanta to the Pacific coast is in pursuance of this determination. THE sectional dry dock at the Navy Yard broke down last week while trying to take out the French man-of-war Limier. The docks are old and have been out of repair for the past three or four years. There was no damage done to the ship. It will require many thousand dollars to repair tbe dock. The Department at Washington has been repeatedly asked for money to repair the sections, and such an accident as has happened has been predicted by the yard authorities. Tue Sentinel has telegrams from points in Minnesota, Iowa and Dakota, which report grasshoppers in large numbers flying with the wind. In Minnesota the hoppers are flying north, only a few lighting. At the points heard from in Minnesota, the hoppers are doing no damage, Farmers are encouraged by the crop prospect, in some places expecting average crops. A dispatch from Sauk Center, Minn., says that if no more boppers arrive they will harvest about half a crop. In Dakota, ahout 10% of the wheat a is ruined. On the whole Ch the report is favora ‘