Volume 38 (1879) (440 pages)

MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS. [January 4, 1879. 2 {GORRESPONDENCE. We admit, unendorsed, opinions of correspondents.—Ens. Scenes in the High Sierra Back of Yosemite—Continued. {Written for the Press by J, G. Lemony.) No. 2. Mount Lyell and its Glaciers. ‘© Who has not heard of the lofty Lyell group of peaks, and of their system of still living glaciers?’ The dignified Prof. Whitney bas ably described them in the cold exact terms of science, and the Bonny Scot, Johnny Muir, has set them forth in warm, glowing language, that is just as truthful, and ten times more readable for the average mind. ‘‘Who would not visit them from a distance, if ahle, especially, who would not make a desperate effort if he happened to be in sight of tbeglistening pinnacles, even though his back was nearly broken?” Thus I reasoned as J looked off from the dizzy crown of Tis-sa-ack, and studied the approaches to the wondrous group lying about 20 miles distant, as the bird flies, but with many milee of bald ridges and tortuous, wooded, dark valleys hetween. But resolntion and ability were not in accord this time. The next morning I was unable to saddle my horse, and the next after, found me too weak to venture the chances of a toilsome, dangerous excursion, especially as I was alone. But to acquire etrength I moved painfully about the woods near Anderson’s cabin, securing among other rare plants, the Bolandra Californica, Gray, the type ofa genus composed of a single species, and dedicated to Prof. Bolander, who, witb the founder of {the genus, are the only botanists that are reported to have met with the plant. The curious plants belougs to the saxifrages, very singularly combining in itself the charactere of four or five of tbe genera. Another striking plant growing here in a rassy bog, was discovered by Bolander, in the ariposa etation meadows, and named hy him Senecia Clarkianus, in honor of Galen Clark, the genial pioueer of this region, and the present guardian of Yosemite valley. The third morniug found me on the Mono trail leading my burdened horse up the pass to Cathedral valley. The trail was in places obliterated by roving bands of sheep, causing mneh delay in searching for it, for attempting to proceed by any other way was fruitless. It was late in the eve when, after treadiug the long valley ekirting tbe curious Cathedral, crossing spurs and winding around glacier lakes, I began to desceud into a deep and broad_ valley, upon the farther side of which a column of smoke beaconed the way to Soda spring and to Lambert’s cabin, a warm supper and a rude couch—tbe latter all too poorly supplied with blankets for my weak, dispirited condition. The Tuolumne meadows carpet the floor of the deep, even-sided nearly straight valley of the upper Tuolumne, for a space of eight or ten miles long by a half to a mile wide. This valley is the track, the wallowing trail of an immense glacier of the olden times, and every tough, rounded rock appearing on the floor or sides, showe the grinding action of the orawling monster, many of the silicious rocke ehining like glass. Avalanches. The sides of the valley are clothed with the luxnriant Pinus contorta (miscalled ‘Tamatack”), save where broad gaps of one-half to a mile, show where from the snow-gathering crests along the lofty rim avalanches of snow and rocks thundered down, carrying the forest with them out into the valley. Some of the avalanches oceurred at recent date, how recent might be easily approximated by cutting trees upspringing in their track and counting their rings of annual growth. Others cleared the timber off their pre-emption so long ago that the forest is nearly restored, but the precise widtb and comparative violence of the slide can bedctermined by noting tbe hummocks of rocks and earth lying in interrupted bands along’ the oenter of the valley—telling where decayed the uptorn trees, P, Above Soda spring a mile or two, the Tuolumne river, clear, cold and singularly destitute of fish, divides into two hranches, The east branch comes from circling around the bases of Mouuts Dana and Gibbs, 11 miles distant ; tbe south branch, called Lyell Fork, comes gliding along a valley similar to the meadows, but with still more interesting evidences of snow and rock-slides. At thesouth end the walls close in and the water comes from two eources, cascading down a precipice half a mile high. Leaving my faithful Stanley here securely tethered with a long rope where he could eat and drink at, will, I prepared to climb the precipice in the early morning of a fine August day. The vicissitudes of a long, perilous exploration had endeared us to each other, and it was with poignant sorrow that I shouted in reply to his ncighing entreaties sent lovingly after me as I clambered up the precipice. Climbing Mt. Lyell. As I neared the top of this precipice, I looked expectantly for the poaks of Lyell, only to find a broad, bush-covered hench, back of which a mile away, rose auother precipice a balf mile high. Climbing wearily up this, aided . by the spirea and gooseberry shrubs clinging to the crevices of the rocks, I was encouraged by a most enchanting viow of the away. of trees, covered as late as July with suow, now partially exposed, revealing dozens of small lacid emerald lakes imhedded in steep grassy Bante brilliant with rare flowers and butterflies, The Jakes with all their decorations were arranged in lines, between which rose long ridges of snow. Mounting one of these, I saw that they led back a mile to still another precipiceyon the brow of which loomed the rounded, front-face of a semi-circular moraine. The region of living glaciers was near, and joyfully I hurried over snow ridges and around lakes, only oceasionally snatching a flower and crowding it into my portfolio, or pinning a butterfly to my hat. I must not stop to study these wonderful phenomena now, for the noontide sun is shining hot, and the grand arcana is but entered. “Will precipices never end,” I exclaimed while pulling myself up the slippery, mossgrown rocks by laying hold of clumps of Bryanthus Breweri, prettiest of California heathers, so charming that I must be pardoned for stopping to observe. One bluff several hundred feet in extent, was all ablaze with crimson and orange, the blended colors of this heather and another exquisite relative, Cassiope Mertensland. At last I encountered the sharp, stecp-piled rocks of the moraine. Twice in my eagernese to get up, I displaced rocks and with them tumbled to the hottom. When at length I reached the crest, tired, bruised and torn, @ scene appeared that stirred my being to its very depths! A still, azure lake, its farther ehore heing filled in with a vast semi-circle of angular rocks, which was curled around the front of an immense precipice of solid blue ice 40 feet high, and reaching from wall to wall of the canyon, its steel-blue upper edge along ita entire rainbow curve burdened at intervale with toppling rocks, some of them as large as dwelling houses, while beyond and over all towered the snow-striped pinnacles of Lyell. I could not shont this time, for I was thinking of far-away friends. I could only murmur the namee of each and fervently wish them there at that supreme hour! But we must not linger here. Other startling phenomena are at hand, and we will try to study them in proper counection at the close. Now, our business is climbing. We are yet to surmount formidable and unexpected difficulties, Turning the flank of this barrier I was soon on the back of the glacier. The enow of several seasone lies on the top, blown by the wind into ridges and melted between by the sun. Here and there evenly scattered over the surface lie rocks of all sizes and shapee, torn, as we shall see, from the pinnacles above. Hurrying over the drifts and through the streams of water partially filling the furrows, I strnck out for the nearest peak. At its top a eweeping curve of eharp rock led to a higher one, and this to another. On and up I pressed, my injured back complaining sharply and almost compelling a return. The flora was singularly abundant on these extreme hights, hut I could only pause for a few rare species. By mietake I first ascended Mt. McClure nearly to the top, when, by chance, I augled a little to the left, and there, a mile away to the south, across a deeply furrowed ice-field, rose the loftier peak of Lyell. My watch told me it was 1:30 Pp. m., and [knew I was at least 10 miles from my bivouac. But my resolution was immediately taken. I slid down an incline of splintered rocks to the ice-field, climbed over rib after rib of the hard snow nearly to the base of the shining pinnacles, before J came upon the widest crevasses of this ice-field. [One I discovered too late for my comfort. In my haste I ran up the side of a rih and sprung over to slide swiftly but without injury to the bottom of a crevasse about 12 feet deep and four wide. Here was an adventure! However, I was glad that chance thus gave me an opportuuity to inspect the bottom of a glacier, after which with my ever-ready botanical pick I dug holes in the inclined lower side of the crevasse for fingers and toes, and was soon on the way again. As I gazed up the culminating peak, and saw barriers innumerable witb beetling crags surmounting almost vertical walls, I became well-nigh discouraged. But around to the south side appeared a heap of talus (broken rocks), and I judged a passage of some kind must be there; so I hastened around to see, There was a passage to be sure, but what a fearful one! A soft stratum of slate rock had crumbled away from between two vertical cleavage planes of granite about six feet apart. At intervals huge blocks of granite were lodged corner-wise in this open eut, while on the bottom piles of debris formed nearly horizontal landings, where temporarily arrested a few rods apart. I at once entered this chasm, for this Appian Way was my ouly hope to reach the summit, But the eituation was frightful, and my nerves which never hlanched before, not even when charging s battery of belching cannon, now caused a tingling seusatiou from head to foot. J think it resulted from the injury to my hack. I almost recoiled from passing under boulders that, it seemed, only a touch might dislodge, Oneo the landing of debris gave way beneath my feet, and I was precipitated wildly dowu to the next landing, which, luckily, was strong enough to resist the shock. Haviug reached the top of my narrow-gauge, I found myself still several hundred feet below the summit, I bad read in ‘‘Whitney’s Guide,” that wben Clarence t eaks five miles. King climbed this peak, he was stopped wh Between lay an alpine leas, destitute! within about 150 feet of the top by Sane knife-edge of 12 feet long. I hoped that my short-cut came out above this barrier, hut in a few minutes climb, I came upon the forbidding ‘‘kuife-edge,” with a sheer precipice of 1,000 feet on each side. : Resolutely clambering to it, I clasped my gloved left hand over the sharp edge, and with my pick in my right, dug niches in the side for the edge of my nailed boots, six such cuts enahling me to cross the frightful barrier. minutes after ward I swung my bat triumphantly in the hreeze from the highest pinnacle of Lyell, 13,217 feet ahove the sea ! The views on every side from this peculiarly central station are unexcelled on this coast, but as nearly the same are presented from Dana, which I am next to explore, description is omitted here to give room for promised studies of glaciers and their work, which will be the subject of my next article. A Snake River Debate. 2 Saving Fine Gold. Gold has, for years, been known to exist on the Snake river, but so fine is the gold that it is only very lately that a successful method has been applied there. ‘‘This method,” says a Park City correspoudent of the Salt Lake Tribune, ‘is not generally understood, even by old placer miners, who have mined for coarse gold, unless they have also worked in gold quartz mills, From the knowledge I have of Snake river, I am satisfied there is very little chance of hydraulicking. There is not fall enough, nor is the material of a nature to require that kind of force to tear the cement, clay and other tough material found in gravel diggings. So that Isball describe the process as though the water was to be pumped into the sluices : **1, You place a line of sluice boxes, long or short, according to the nature of the material that carries the gold; if it is sand without clay or sticky material, a few boxes will he sufficient. In the lower box, before any plates are used, there should be a sheet iron lined box or long-tom, from which all the rock must be forked out, so that nothing but muddy water and fine eand passes down over the plates to be placed below. “9, Place the boxcs which contain the plates as flat as you can, and have the water and sand pass over them without clogging; the slower it passes the more gold will stop. No coarse gravel should be allowed to pass over them or the amalgam will be seratebed off. If it is not, itis because it is too hard and not in proper condition to catch fine gold, or coarse either. ‘<Qld mill men will tell you the eofter the amalgam can be kept on the plates and not break aud pass off, the better its condition to save gold. It is obvious, then, that coarse material should not be allowed to pass over them, and that the line of sluice hoxes above should be long enough to wash clean and fork out all but the water and sand. 3, The boxee containing the plates shouldjbe stout, and placed one below the level of the other with 2 drop of six or nine inches, This keeps the sand stirred up, turns it over and presents new surfaces, “4, The length necessary to be plated can only be ascertained by actual practice. If the gold is easily amalgamated, a few feet would be sufficient. The only safe rule would be to keep adding plates below as long as any gold stops. *, Much has been written about silver plating. While I admit tbat they are the least tronble, they are notabsolntely necessary. Take sheet copper, say an eighth of an inch thick, and scour it bright and emooth. This may be done with rotten etone, ashes and soap, or other material that will not scrateb or indent the plate. Finish off with dilute acid, either sulphuric or mariatic, by three parts of water to one of acid. ‘This should be kept in a porcelain kettle, to apply to any spot where the amalgam rubs off and the copper ehowe through. Add to the above solution a little cyanide of potassium, “6. Now, to amalgamate your plates, get some good silver or gold amalgam, which does not contain much base metal. You can tell thie by the feel—if base, it will be greasy and stain the fingers, if pure,it will squeak when pinched, and will not soil the hands. Soften this with quicksilver, and ruh once over the plate at first quite softly. When the surface shows like a silver plate, add more dry amalgam and go over again until a coating adheres that can be rubbed off with a piece of belting, either leather or rubber; and, by the way, this is the only seraper that should be used until the plate is thoroughly and permanently amalgamated. ‘Tf the above directions are followed, a plate will be produced that no speck of gold on Snake river can tell from a silver plate, and will not pase over it to meet one, Sheet copper can be found almost auy place where quartz mills are Orr e and ean he prepared by minere themselves. The delay aud expense of sending for silver plated ones is beyond the means of most prospectors. A well amalgamated copper is as good and will save as much gold as a silver plate. The difference is, that the amalgam comes off of copper in spots where mnch splashing or friction exists, as in the inside of batteries, eté, but in sluice boxes, with a uniform body of water passing over them, and close watching to keep them amalgamated, I think they will be found good enough.” In the columns of the same paper, ‘‘Snake Bite” thus challenges “’49er.” The latter, he says, is correct in stating that silver-plated cope Ten) per plates are not absolutely necessary in slnice mining. He is ‘‘open to correction, however,in regard to the instruction he gives for making the necessary appliances, setting the boxes and preparing the copper plates. “1, It is not necessary in the new machine, to fork out the coarse rock, as he states, it would cost too much. ‘2, He is in error when he directs to ‘place the boxes as flat as you can’ to catch fine gold. The finer the gold tbe steeper the boxes should be set, as the sand will pack iu a box witb little inclination, and the fine gold will not work its way to the bottom. “3, While I agree with him that silver plating is less trouble, it is not absolutely necessary, but his directions for amalgamating will produce the very results that silver plating is designed to prevent, to wit: the oxidation of the copper and the consequent discoloration of the plates, No acid should be used; and the plates can be amalgamated without it if you know how (there is the rub), and be as efficient as if plated with silver. ‘Miners are beginning to realize that placer mining can be improved upon as well as mill processes, and the new mode of working, I have no doubt, will result in the output of millions of dollars in the region of country along and near Snake river, “Gold Sands, The following paper was read before the California State Geological Society: A short time ago a gentleman having a patent for the use of petroleum as fuel in making iron and for the smelting of lead and other ores, called at the rooms of this society for information as to the situation, extent and richness of the iron mines of this State. Our worthy Secretary, Mr. Heydenfeldt, after having put him in possession of the required information, gave him a letter of introduction tome. At the time he called to deliver it, ] wae reading Mr. J. H. Godfrey’e paper on the geology of Japan, published in our Quarterly Journal, August Ist, 1878, wherein he says: ‘“‘About two-thirds of the whole production of iron in Japan ie derived from the treatment of the sand of magnetic iron ore, The principal deposits of this iron eand are found along the eastern and southern shores of the main island (Nippon), and usually they appear to have been derived from the decomposition of the neighboring granitic rocks,” In another place he says: ‘‘Sand of magnetic iron ore undoubtedly derived from the adjoining voleanic and metamorphic rocks, is frequently met with along the seashore and largely used for manufacturing an_ excellent quality of iron, as for iustance at Nakayama, Province of Gueshin.”” Having the facts in my mind, I suggested to Mr. Eames to make a trial of the magnetites, in our gold sauds, which are to be found in such quantities on this coast, the condition of such ore being, as I conceived, so well adapted for the flame from petroleum, Mr. Eames, I am pleased to say, is now erecting a trialfurnace at old Saucelito, and I feel very sanguine as to the reeults. I make no doubt but what he will be ahle to manufacture . the shoes, dies, ete., required for our quartz mille direct from the ore: Ifthe ore is obtained from our gold sands two dollars per ton should pay for concentration, leaving the gold for profit, Manufactures of this kind, giving employment to so many, ought to receive every encouragement. The fuel and ore exist in abundance on this coast, and also the best market for the manufactured article, which in reality only requires labor to produce it. I have had a number of samples of sand sent tome from the beach near the Ocean house, The first I tried yielded at the rate of $5 per ton for gold, and contained about 257 of magnetite, with some chrome. The others gave about 50 cents per ton for gold, and from 15% to 65% of magnetite. The concentration, Iimagine, would be a very simple affair, but the ore should be made as clean as possible, and ought to contain at least 90%. of magnetite. Two of Bunton’e ore dressing frames would, I think, do -the work of conceutration very well. The prepared cauvas of the first frame should revolve more rapidly than when used in dressing lead ore, and havea slight percussion movement added to it, the etrength of the hlow from which ought to be so arranged that tbe person attending the frame could vary it to suit the work. The second frame should have the prepared canvas covered’ at intervals with silvered plates, and be worked slower than the other frame, and so placed that the partially dressed ore from the first could pass over it. Mr. A. exhihited drawings of two gold-washing machines which were used 200 years ago with direction of how they were worked ; also, a diagram and description of Brunton’s ore dressing frames, published in the London Mining Journal, in 1846, and ore by himself for treating lead and copper slimes, also published in the London Mining Journal, 1843, and one cut out of the Mininc Press of San Francisco last week. The use of petroleum as a fuel bids fair to revolutionize all our smelting operations, and it will not be loug before it will take the place of coal in the treatments of copper, silver, lead, and other ores, even in the calcination and distillation of zinc; but by far the most important will be in iron making, particularly in the puddling furnace. Where a constant and high temperature under perfect control is reqnired, it will take the place of everything else—iudeed, the only limit to its use, I think, will be its cost.

MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS. [January 4, 1879. 2 {GORRESPONDENCE. We admit, unendorsed, opinions of correspondents.—Ens. Scenes in the High Sierra Back of Yosemite—Continued. {Written for the Press by J, G. Lemony.) No. 2. Mount Lyell and its Glaciers. ‘© Who has not heard of the lofty Lyell group of peaks, and of their system of still living glaciers?’ The dignified Prof. Whitney bas ably described them in the cold exact terms of science, and the Bonny Scot, Johnny Muir, has set them forth in warm, glowing language, that is just as truthful, and ten times more readable for the average mind. ‘‘Who would not visit them from a distance, if ahle, especially, who would not make a desperate effort if he happened to be in sight of tbeglistening pinnacles, even though his back was nearly broken?” Thus I reasoned as J looked off from the dizzy crown of Tis-sa-ack, and studied the approaches to the wondrous group lying about 20 miles distant, as the bird flies, but with many milee of bald ridges and tortuous, wooded, dark valleys hetween. But resolntion and ability were not in accord this time. The next morning I was unable to saddle my horse, and the next after, found me too weak to venture the chances of a toilsome, dangerous excursion, especially as I was alone. But to acquire etrength I moved painfully about the woods near Anderson’s cabin, securing among other rare plants, the Bolandra Californica, Gray, the type ofa genus composed of a single species, and dedicated to Prof. Bolander, who, witb the founder of {the genus, are the only botanists that are reported to have met with the plant. The curious plants belougs to the saxifrages, very singularly combining in itself the charactere of four or five of tbe genera. Another striking plant growing here in a rassy bog, was discovered by Bolander, in the ariposa etation meadows, and named hy him Senecia Clarkianus, in honor of Galen Clark, the genial pioueer of this region, and the present guardian of Yosemite valley. The third morniug found me on the Mono trail leading my burdened horse up the pass to Cathedral valley. The trail was in places obliterated by roving bands of sheep, causing mneh delay in searching for it, for attempting to proceed by any other way was fruitless. It was late in the eve when, after treadiug the long valley ekirting tbe curious Cathedral, crossing spurs and winding around glacier lakes, I began to desceud into a deep and broad_ valley, upon the farther side of which a column of smoke beaconed the way to Soda spring and to Lambert’s cabin, a warm supper and a rude couch—tbe latter all too poorly supplied with blankets for my weak, dispirited condition. The Tuolumne meadows carpet the floor of the deep, even-sided nearly straight valley of the upper Tuolumne, for a space of eight or ten miles long by a half to a mile wide. This valley is the track, the wallowing trail of an immense glacier of the olden times, and every tough, rounded rock appearing on the floor or sides, showe the grinding action of the orawling monster, many of the silicious rocke ehining like glass. Avalanches. The sides of the valley are clothed with the luxnriant Pinus contorta (miscalled ‘Tamatack”), save where broad gaps of one-half to a mile, show where from the snow-gathering crests along the lofty rim avalanches of snow and rocks thundered down, carrying the forest with them out into the valley. Some of the avalanches oceurred at recent date, how recent might be easily approximated by cutting trees upspringing in their track and counting their rings of annual growth. Others cleared the timber off their pre-emption so long ago that the forest is nearly restored, but the precise widtb and comparative violence of the slide can bedctermined by noting tbe hummocks of rocks and earth lying in interrupted bands along’ the oenter of the valley—telling where decayed the uptorn trees, P, Above Soda spring a mile or two, the Tuolumne river, clear, cold and singularly destitute of fish, divides into two hranches, The east branch comes from circling around the bases of Mouuts Dana and Gibbs, 11 miles distant ; tbe south branch, called Lyell Fork, comes gliding along a valley similar to the meadows, but with still more interesting evidences of snow and rock-slides. At thesouth end the walls close in and the water comes from two eources, cascading down a precipice half a mile high. Leaving my faithful Stanley here securely tethered with a long rope where he could eat and drink at, will, I prepared to climb the precipice in the early morning of a fine August day. The vicissitudes of a long, perilous exploration had endeared us to each other, and it was with poignant sorrow that I shouted in reply to his ncighing entreaties sent lovingly after me as I clambered up the precipice. Climbing Mt. Lyell. As I neared the top of this precipice, I looked expectantly for the poaks of Lyell, only to find a broad, bush-covered hench, back of which a mile away, rose auother precipice a balf mile high. Climbing wearily up this, aided . by the spirea and gooseberry shrubs clinging to the crevices of the rocks, I was encouraged by a most enchanting viow of the away. of trees, covered as late as July with suow, now partially exposed, revealing dozens of small lacid emerald lakes imhedded in steep grassy Bante brilliant with rare flowers and butterflies, The Jakes with all their decorations were arranged in lines, between which rose long ridges of snow. Mounting one of these, I saw that they led back a mile to still another precipiceyon the brow of which loomed the rounded, front-face of a semi-circular moraine. The region of living glaciers was near, and joyfully I hurried over snow ridges and around lakes, only oceasionally snatching a flower and crowding it into my portfolio, or pinning a butterfly to my hat. I must not stop to study these wonderful phenomena now, for the noontide sun is shining hot, and the grand arcana is but entered. “Will precipices never end,” I exclaimed while pulling myself up the slippery, mossgrown rocks by laying hold of clumps of Bryanthus Breweri, prettiest of California heathers, so charming that I must be pardoned for stopping to observe. One bluff several hundred feet in extent, was all ablaze with crimson and orange, the blended colors of this heather and another exquisite relative, Cassiope Mertensland. At last I encountered the sharp, stecp-piled rocks of the moraine. Twice in my eagernese to get up, I displaced rocks and with them tumbled to the hottom. When at length I reached the crest, tired, bruised and torn, @ scene appeared that stirred my being to its very depths! A still, azure lake, its farther ehore heing filled in with a vast semi-circle of angular rocks, which was curled around the front of an immense precipice of solid blue ice 40 feet high, and reaching from wall to wall of the canyon, its steel-blue upper edge along ita entire rainbow curve burdened at intervale with toppling rocks, some of them as large as dwelling houses, while beyond and over all towered the snow-striped pinnacles of Lyell. I could not shont this time, for I was thinking of far-away friends. I could only murmur the namee of each and fervently wish them there at that supreme hour! But we must not linger here. Other startling phenomena are at hand, and we will try to study them in proper counection at the close. Now, our business is climbing. We are yet to surmount formidable and unexpected difficulties, Turning the flank of this barrier I was soon on the back of the glacier. The enow of several seasone lies on the top, blown by the wind into ridges and melted between by the sun. Here and there evenly scattered over the surface lie rocks of all sizes and shapee, torn, as we shall see, from the pinnacles above. Hurrying over the drifts and through the streams of water partially filling the furrows, I strnck out for the nearest peak. At its top a eweeping curve of eharp rock led to a higher one, and this to another. On and up I pressed, my injured back complaining sharply and almost compelling a return. The flora was singularly abundant on these extreme hights, hut I could only pause for a few rare species. By mietake I first ascended Mt. McClure nearly to the top, when, by chance, I augled a little to the left, and there, a mile away to the south, across a deeply furrowed ice-field, rose the loftier peak of Lyell. My watch told me it was 1:30 Pp. m., and [knew I was at least 10 miles from my bivouac. But my resolution was immediately taken. I slid down an incline of splintered rocks to the ice-field, climbed over rib after rib of the hard snow nearly to the base of the shining pinnacles, before J came upon the widest crevasses of this ice-field. [One I discovered too late for my comfort. In my haste I ran up the side of a rih and sprung over to slide swiftly but without injury to the bottom of a crevasse about 12 feet deep and four wide. Here was an adventure! However, I was glad that chance thus gave me an opportuuity to inspect the bottom of a glacier, after which with my ever-ready botanical pick I dug holes in the inclined lower side of the crevasse for fingers and toes, and was soon on the way again. As I gazed up the culminating peak, and saw barriers innumerable witb beetling crags surmounting almost vertical walls, I became well-nigh discouraged. But around to the south side appeared a heap of talus (broken rocks), and I judged a passage of some kind must be there; so I hastened around to see, There was a passage to be sure, but what a fearful one! A soft stratum of slate rock had crumbled away from between two vertical cleavage planes of granite about six feet apart. At intervals huge blocks of granite were lodged corner-wise in this open eut, while on the bottom piles of debris formed nearly horizontal landings, where temporarily arrested a few rods apart. I at once entered this chasm, for this Appian Way was my ouly hope to reach the summit, But the eituation was frightful, and my nerves which never hlanched before, not even when charging s battery of belching cannon, now caused a tingling seusatiou from head to foot. J think it resulted from the injury to my hack. I almost recoiled from passing under boulders that, it seemed, only a touch might dislodge, Oneo the landing of debris gave way beneath my feet, and I was precipitated wildly dowu to the next landing, which, luckily, was strong enough to resist the shock. Haviug reached the top of my narrow-gauge, I found myself still several hundred feet below the summit, I bad read in ‘‘Whitney’s Guide,” that wben Clarence t eaks five miles. King climbed this peak, he was stopped wh Between lay an alpine leas, destitute! within about 150 feet of the top by Sane knife-edge of 12 feet long. I hoped that my short-cut came out above this barrier, hut in a few minutes climb, I came upon the forbidding ‘‘kuife-edge,” with a sheer precipice of 1,000 feet on each side. :

Resolutely clambering to it, I clasped my gloved left hand over the sharp edge, and with my pick in my right, dug niches in the side for the edge of my nailed boots, six such cuts enahling me to cross the frightful barrier. minutes after ward I swung my bat triumphantly in the hreeze from the highest pinnacle of Lyell, 13,217 feet ahove the sea ! The views on every side from this peculiarly central station are unexcelled on this coast, but as nearly the same are presented from Dana, which I am next to explore, description is omitted here to give room for promised studies of glaciers and their work, which will be the subject of my next article. A Snake River Debate. 2 Saving Fine Gold. Gold has, for years, been known to exist on the Snake river, but so fine is the gold that it is only very lately that a successful method has been applied there. ‘‘This method,” says a Park City correspoudent of the Salt Lake Tribune, ‘is not generally understood, even by old placer miners, who have mined for coarse gold, unless they have also worked in gold quartz mills, From the knowledge I have of Snake river, I am satisfied there is very little chance of hydraulicking. There is not fall enough, nor is the material of a nature to require that kind of force to tear the cement, clay and other tough material found in gravel diggings. So that Isball describe the process as though the water was to be pumped into the sluices : **1, You place a line of sluice boxes, long or short, according to the nature of the material that carries the gold; if it is sand without clay or sticky material, a few boxes will he sufficient. In the lower box, before any plates are used, there should be a sheet iron lined box or long-tom, from which all the rock must be forked out, so that nothing but muddy water and fine eand passes down over the plates to be placed below. “9, Place the boxcs which contain the plates as flat as you can, and have the water and sand pass over them without clogging; the slower it passes the more gold will stop. No coarse gravel should be allowed to pass over them or the amalgam will be seratebed off. If it is not, itis because it is too hard and not in proper condition to catch fine gold, or coarse either. ‘<Qld mill men will tell you the eofter the amalgam can be kept on the plates and not break aud pass off, the better its condition to save gold. It is obvious, then, that coarse material should not be allowed to pass over them, and that the line of sluice hoxes above should be long enough to wash clean and fork out all but the water and sand. 3, The boxee containing the plates shouldjbe stout, and placed one below the level of the other with 2 drop of six or nine inches, This keeps the sand stirred up, turns it over and presents new surfaces, “4, The length necessary to be plated can only be ascertained by actual practice. If the gold is easily amalgamated, a few feet would be sufficient. The only safe rule would be to keep adding plates below as long as any gold stops. *, Much has been written about silver plating. While I admit tbat they are the least tronble, they are notabsolntely necessary. Take sheet copper, say an eighth of an inch thick, and scour it bright and emooth. This may be done with rotten etone, ashes and soap, or other material that will not scrateb or indent the plate. Finish off with dilute acid, either sulphuric or mariatic, by three parts of water to one of acid. ‘This should be kept in a porcelain kettle, to apply to any spot where the amalgam rubs off and the copper ehowe through. Add to the above solution a little cyanide of potassium, “6. Now, to amalgamate your plates, get some good silver or gold amalgam, which does not contain much base metal. You can tell thie by the feel—if base, it will be greasy and stain the fingers, if pure,it will squeak when pinched, and will not soil the hands. Soften this with quicksilver, and ruh once over the plate at first quite softly. When the surface shows like a silver plate, add more dry amalgam and go over again until a coating adheres that can be rubbed off with a piece of belting, either leather or rubber; and, by the way, this is the only seraper that should be used until the plate is thoroughly and permanently amalgamated. ‘Tf the above directions are followed, a plate will be produced that no speck of gold on Snake river can tell from a silver plate, and will not pase over it to meet one, Sheet copper can be found almost auy place where quartz mills are Orr e and ean he prepared by minere themselves. The delay aud expense of sending for silver plated ones is beyond the means of most prospectors. A well amalgamated copper is as good and will save as much gold as a silver plate. The difference is, that the amalgam comes off of copper in spots where mnch splashing or friction exists, as in the inside of batteries, eté, but in sluice boxes, with a uniform body of water passing over them, and close watching to keep them amalgamated, I think they will be found good enough.” In the columns of the same paper, ‘‘Snake Bite” thus challenges “’49er.” The latter, he says, is correct in stating that silver-plated cope Ten) per plates are not absolutely necessary in slnice mining. He is ‘‘open to correction, however,in regard to the instruction he gives for making the necessary appliances, setting the boxes and preparing the copper plates. “1, It is not necessary in the new machine, to fork out the coarse rock, as he states, it would cost too much. ‘2, He is in error when he directs to ‘place the boxes as flat as you can’ to catch fine gold. The finer the gold tbe steeper the boxes should be set, as the sand will pack iu a box witb little inclination, and the fine gold will not work its way to the bottom. “3, While I agree with him that silver plating is less trouble, it is not absolutely necessary, but his directions for amalgamating will produce the very results that silver plating is designed to prevent, to wit: the oxidation of the copper and the consequent discoloration of the plates, No acid should be used; and the plates can be amalgamated without it if you know how (there is the rub), and be as efficient as if plated with silver. ‘Miners are beginning to realize that placer mining can be improved upon as well as mill processes, and the new mode of working, I have no doubt, will result in the output of millions of dollars in the region of country along and near Snake river, “Gold Sands, The following paper was read before the California State Geological Society: A short time ago a gentleman having a patent for the use of petroleum as fuel in making iron and for the smelting of lead and other ores, called at the rooms of this society for information as to the situation, extent and richness of the iron mines of this State. Our worthy Secretary, Mr. Heydenfeldt, after having put him in possession of the required information, gave him a letter of introduction tome. At the time he called to deliver it, ] wae reading Mr. J. H. Godfrey’e paper on the geology of Japan, published in our Quarterly Journal, August Ist, 1878, wherein he says: ‘“‘About two-thirds of the whole production of iron in Japan ie derived from the treatment of the sand of magnetic iron ore, The principal deposits of this iron eand are found along the eastern and southern shores of the main island (Nippon), and usually they appear to have been derived from the decomposition of the neighboring granitic rocks,” In another place he says: ‘‘Sand of magnetic iron ore undoubtedly derived from the adjoining voleanic and metamorphic rocks, is frequently met with along the seashore and largely used for manufacturing an_ excellent quality of iron, as for iustance at Nakayama, Province of Gueshin.”” Having the facts in my mind, I suggested to Mr. Eames to make a trial of the magnetites, in our gold sauds, which are to be found in such quantities on this coast, the condition of such ore being, as I conceived, so well adapted for the flame from petroleum, Mr. Eames, I am pleased to say, is now erecting a trialfurnace at old Saucelito, and I feel very sanguine as to the reeults. I make no doubt but what he will be ahle to manufacture . the shoes, dies, ete., required for our quartz mille direct from the ore: Ifthe ore is obtained from our gold sands two dollars per ton should pay for concentration, leaving the gold for profit, Manufactures of this kind, giving employment to so many, ought to receive every encouragement. The fuel and ore exist in abundance on this coast, and also the best market for the manufactured article, which in reality only requires labor to produce it. I have had a number of samples of sand sent tome from the beach near the Ocean house, The first I tried yielded at the rate of $5 per ton for gold, and contained about 257 of magnetite, with some chrome. The others gave about 50 cents per ton for gold, and from 15% to 65% of magnetite. The concentration, Iimagine, would be a very simple affair, but the ore should be made as clean as possible, and ought to contain at least 90%. of magnetite. Two of Bunton’e ore dressing frames would, I think, do -the work of conceutration very well. The prepared cauvas of the first frame should revolve more rapidly than when used in dressing lead ore, and havea slight percussion movement added to it, the etrength of the hlow from which ought to be so arranged that tbe person attending the frame could vary it to suit the work. The second frame should have the prepared canvas covered’ at intervals with silvered plates, and be worked slower than the other frame, and so placed that the partially dressed ore from the first could pass over it. Mr. A. exhihited drawings of two gold-washing machines which were used 200 years ago with direction of how they were worked ; also, a diagram and description of Brunton’s ore dressing frames, published in the London Mining Journal, in 1846, and ore by himself for treating lead and copper slimes, also published in the London Mining Journal, 1843, and one cut out of the Mininc Press of San Francisco last week. The use of petroleum as a fuel bids fair to revolutionize all our smelting operations, and it will not be loug before it will take the place of coal in the treatments of copper, silver, lead, and other ores, even in the calcination and distillation of zinc; but by far the most important will be in iron making, particularly in the puddling furnace. Where a constant and high temperature under perfect control is reqnired, it will take the place of everything else—iudeed, the only limit to its use, I think, will be its cost.