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California State Library | *
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Accession JV*o..-iQ.'3;oOiD.
CALIFORNIA
~_l
0'^ ESTABLISHED i860
46th YEAR.
Whole No. 2345.— "ft"""01-
San Francisco, Cal., Saturday, July 1, 1905.
THREE DOLLARS PER ANNUM.
Single Copittl, Ten Conti.
COLORADO IRONWORKS COMPANY
SKK
ADV.
ORE SMELTING^mJ^F^RE MILLING
EQUIPMENTS NgjMr MACHINERY
WULLIVAN MINING AND
/Machinery quarrying machinery.
Company
SKK PAGE 14.
MINING MACHINERY
CARTERVILLE
F0UNDRY& MACHINE WORKS
StND FOK "ATALOG CARTEnVILLE, MO.
fe=» AJAX DRILL SHARPENER
J-"'" CAPACITY 600 DRILLS IO HOURS
T.H.PROSKE iiccTur AIAV
&E.ND FOR CATALOG/- 1734 15™ ST. DENVER. COL wOC I n C. HllMA.
OVER 90 PER CENT
OF MINES USING
DRILL SHARPENERS
THE BEST TheTff0;Bei! conveyor
RIDGWAY BELT CONVEYOR CO., 2g BROADWAY, NEW YORK.
The Edward Christman Co.,
BUILDERS OF HIGH GRADE
DRILLING MACHINERY,
MASSILLON, OHIO.
FOR TESTING PLACER GROUND. DRILLING TEST HOLES FOR MINERALS,
OIL GAS, AND WATER WELLS.
Robins Sorting
Belt Conveyors
require less power,
less attendance and
fewer repairs than
does any other form
of sorting belt.
Write for Bulletin.
ROBINS CONVEYING BELT CO.
15-21 Park Row, - New York.
WEBER
GASOLINE HOIST
Built In all sizes. Reversible Hoists built to
order.
We can furnish Complete Outfits, including
BUCKETS, ORE CARS, Etc.
Send us description of work to be done and we
will suggest size, etc., necessary.
Write for catalogues and information.
WEBER GAS & GASOLINE ENGINE CO.,
Box 284, KANSAS CITY, MO.
CROIA/N
BRAND
THE BENNETT FUSE
THE HIGHEST QUALITY QUTTA PERCHA FUSE. ABSOLUTELY RELIABLE.
Manufacturers ::::: WM. BENNETT SONS & CO., Camborne, Cornwall, Enq.
CARY & FIELDING,
1711 Tremont St. DENVER, COLO.
We Supply Everything Needed in a
MINE, MILL or SMELTER.
YOUR INQUIRIES SOLICITED.
\A/a Are Agents for
RAND DRILLS AND COMPRESSORS. POWER & MINING MACHINERY CO.
A. S. CAMERON STEAM PUMP CO.
DAVENPORT
Locomotlue lA/orks,
Davenport, Iowa.
ALL SIZES. ANY TYPE. ANY GAUGE.
Pacific Coast Office,
117 New Montgomery Street, San Francisco.
tavi nw<; SP1PAI pivPTEO PIPE
HIGH PRESSURE PIPE
For Water Development, etc.
S inches to 40 Inches diameter.
AMERICAN SPIRAL PIPE WORKS,
Chicago, 111.
Attractive prices, quick shipments
IF YOU WANT THE
Indicators
Recording Gage*
Pressure Gages
Hydraulic Gages
Revolution Counte
Gage Testing Apparatus \<g>
AS WELL AS EFFICIENCY
MOST FOR YOUR MONEY
*%\ Pop8afety Valveb
"tj\ Water Relief Valves
G Globe and Angle Valves
Pll Blow Off Valves
5/ Lubricators
(§>/ Chime Whistles, Etc.
Buy "Crosby" Productions
Dixon's Plumbago Crucibles
UNIFORMITY long wear
Joseph Dixon Crucible Co., Jersey Gty, N. J.
SAN FRANCISCO OFFICE, 304 MARKET ST.
CHICAGO.
RAILWAY EXCHANGE,
CHALMERS & WILLIAMS,
Manufacturers of
STANDARD MINING MACHINERY.
THE ROESSLER & HASSLACHER CHEMICAL COMPANY,
100 WILLIAM ST., NEW YORK, N. Y.
AND OTHER CHEMICALS FOR MINING
PURPOSES.
CYANIDE,
Automatic Cyaniding Machinery .; js™
BLAISDELL COMPANY, Los Angeles. Cal.
$1.00
! rvMCD MR COMPRESSORS,
L.EL I INUIV ROCK DRILLS-fseeAo,
Adv. Inside.)
ALPHABETICAL LIST ADVERTISERS PAGE 24.
BUYERS' DIRECTORY PAGE 28.
Mining :'A-Nb; 'SgISntific Press.
July 1, 1905.
THE ATLAS CAR & MFG. CO.
Cleveland, Ohio.
CARS
of all kinds.
Switches,
Frogs, and
Equipments.
i»" 278— Sleel Mine car.
rrr'il !■
PRENIER'S
SAND PUMP.
The Most Durable for
BATTERY SANDS,
Slimes, Tailings, Etc.
AGENTS:
Allis - Chalmers Co.,
Chicago, 111.
Stearns - Rogers Mfg.
Co., Denver, Colo.
Hacron, Rtckabd &
McCone,
San Francisco, Cal.
FRENIER & SON, Rutland, Vt.
wiMk*
'■ ' i- rr'~- '-\"n
l i^-^z-^iMYStfim&t v.Q t.-*j--: , ^,^ -, A ; :_
-*; '•".'! ■-.
30§3J*r'' ' '■" '"-J - ^Sl-^^ObsH
The THEW STEAM SHOVEL
For Handling Gravel, Clay, Broken Ores, Tailings or Stripping
into Wagons, Cars, or Sluice Boxes.
OPERATED BY ONE MAN. SWINGS THROUGH COMPLETE CIRCLE.
Write for Catalogue.
The Thcw Automatic Shovel Co., - - Lorain, Ohio.
THE KILBOURNE & JACOBS MFG. CO.,
COLUMBUS, OHIO, U. S. fK.
LARGEST MAKERS OF
ORE AND niNE CARS
IN THE UNITED STATES.
We have extraordinary
facilities for the manu-
facture of any and
all styles of
STEEL CARS
FOR ANY PURPOSE.
CARS BUILT
TO ORDER
of any gauge of steel to
any oapacity.
Write for our new cata-
logue No. 36, describing a
complete line of
STEEL MINE CARS.
INDUSTRIAL CARS. ETC.
Minneapolis, Minn.
Reverberatory Furnace Building, Peyton Chemical Co.
ENGINEERS AND MANUFACTURERS OF
Steel Mining Buildings, Steel Head Frames,
Bridges, Etc.
Plans and Estimates furnished on application to our Contracting Engineer,
R. C. BERKELEY, 191 Crocker Building, San Francisco, Cal.
THE FLODIN SELF-OILING WHEEL.
THEY ARE REPLACING STEEL WHEELS.
ADOPTED GENERALLY BY MINES IN MICHIGAN. THOUSANDS IN USE,
AND THE FIRST ONE STILL RUNNING. SEND A TRIAL ORDER.
LAKE SHORE ENGINE WORKS, marquette.mich.
MODERN GRINDING MACHINERY
KOMINUTERS
For CRANULATiNa
TUBEMILLS
For Pulverizing
F. L. SMIDTH & CO.
39-41 CORTLANDT STREET NEW YORK CITY
STEEL PLATE WORK
OF ANY
DESCRIPTION.
WATER JACKETS,
REFINERY STILLS.
LACY MFG. CO.
LOS ANGELES, CAL.
Manufacturer* of the KELLER FEED WATER HEATER AND PURIFIER
RIVETED F»IF»E.
July 1. 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
Powejr auid Mining.
Builders of
Stamp Mill Machinery
and Equipment
ALSO
The McCully Gyratory Rock
Crusher; Hachinery for nin=
ing, Smelting and Refining
Copper and SiIver=Lead Ores;
Copper Converters; Hachinery
and Equipment for Copper
Bessemerizing Plants; Cya=
nide, Concentration and
Chloridizing Plants; Holthoff
Revolving Hearth Roasting
Furnaces; American=Crossley
Suction Gas Plants; Loomis=
Pettibone Gas Generating
Plants; American = Crossley
Gas Engines.
MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENTS DESIGNED
AND BUILT FOR SPECIAL WORK.
Estimates furnished promptly and the most careful
attention given all orders, large or small.
The increased capacity of our now greatly enlarged
works enables us to offer prompt deliveries.
Works: Clldahy, Wis. (Suburb of nilwaukee.)
New York Office: 52 William St.
Boston, ... State Mutual Building.
BRANCHES:] Philadelphia, Real Estate Trust Building.
Salt Lake City, Commeicial Club Building.
Chicago, First National Bank Building.
Pittsburg, - Farmers' Bank Building.
Mexico, -...-- Mexico City.
Mining and Scientific Press.
July 1, 1905.
ii
TAYLOR MADE"
MANGANESE STEEL
ROCK BREAKER SHOES AND DIES AND LINERS do more work, last longer, wear
better and give less trouble than any other Crusher Wearing Parts on the market.
Computed by length of service they are most economical, although initial cost may be
higher than that of some of the cheaper grades of steel.
It's not what you pay, but what you get for what you pay, that counts in mining
machinery where resistance to abrasion is a prime essential.
What we say of
"TAYLOR MADE" MANGANESE STEEL CRUSHER PARTS
}s equally true of " Taylor Made " Manganese Steel Dredge Bucket Lips and Teeth, Screens,
Rolls, Roll Shells, Dipper Teeth, Sprockets, Gears, Tumblers, Rollers, Pins, Bushings, Mine
Car Wheels — of which we make every variety except the chilled cast iron wheel. In
many years actual experience on the field, in every possible condition of service, " Taylor
Made " Manganese Steel Castings have proved the best for Heavy Mining Work.
For some uses we make and recommend Nickel Steel, Carbon Steel, or "Taylor
Special" Castings.
TAYLOR IRON & STEEL CO.,
MAIN OFFICE AND WORKS: HIGH BRIDGE, NEW JERSEY, U. S. A.
JOLY 1, ltf05.
Mining and Scientific Press.
"The Largest Hining Hachinery House in the World."
THE MINE & SMELTER SUPPLY COMPANY,
Salt Lake City, Utah.
El Paso, Texas.
DENVER, COLO.
City of flexico, Hexico.
42 Broadway, New York City.
DON'T EXPERIMENT- JUST BUY THE
Wilf'ey Concenti"ator.
After ten years of success, during which time the Wilfley
Concentrating Table has been used in nearly every mining
district of the world where the ore will concentrate and has
established its reputation for reliability by actual perform-
ance, is it necessary to go back to the beginning and say
that the
WILFLEY CONCENTRATING TABLE
a
SAVES EVERYTHING THAT A GOLD PAN CAN SAVE ?
tt
It seems as though everybody must know it. But it is a fact, and we repeat it.
Do you think that one company would purchase over 500 of these tables if they did not consider them the best?
They tested them thoroughly against all other known machines before placing their orders.
No. 5 U/1LFLEY TABLE.
OUR No. S 6 BULLETIN CONTAINS VALUABLE INFORMATION. Sent on Request.
WE CAN SUPPLY YOU WITH
s
train Mi
Hi.
When you are in the market for anything in our line, write
or call on any of our branch houses and your inquiries will be promptly attended to.
We have in our employ competent engineers in every department who will gladly give
you estimates on anything you want in the mining machinery line.
Mining and Scientific Press.
July ], 1905.
Allis-Chalmers Co
Milwaukee, Wis., U. S. A.
Pacific Coast Office, Rialto Building, San Francisco, Cal.
Canadian representatives, AUis-Chalmers-BulIock, Ltd., Montreal
Bennett's Pouring Spoon
Effectively prevents splash in pouring
Swings out of way when pour is completed
Bowl drained by tipping at end of pour, and is then
ready for next pour
No clay linings required
Simple, Strong, Durable and
Effective
Used by
Tacoma Smelting Co.
British Columbia Copper Co.
Northwestern Smelting Co.
Mt. Lyell M. S. & R. Co.
and others
Bullock Electrical Apparatus for all Purposes
THE BEST WAY to Treat Slimes
is NOT TO MAKE THEM.
T)() VOT I TCNOAX7 that hundreds of thousands of tons of ore that defied
Ljy*-f * vu l^lNv/ W concentration with the stamp mill have been success-
fully concentrated after being crushed in the KINKEAD MILL ?
DO VOT 1 T£"WO\X7" that tens of tnousands of dollars have been taken out
J-'v-' 1WU iVl^Ivy W 0f the waste dumps of the Bonanza Mines of the
Comstock with this Mill: rock so low in value that it was used to grade the streets with ?
T")0 VOT I TCNO^X/ tliat thousands of tons of hard quartz from the lower
*-J^-J * V-'*-' r\.l>vy W levels of the Comstock have been and are being suc-
cessfully treated by the Kinkead Mill to-day ?
DOES IT INTEREST YOU TO KNOW£*£
erating six mills and six concentrators with iess than 20 Horse Power, and that as far
as ease of installation, economy in power and wear, and in even quality of pulp deliv-
ered, is concerned, the Kinkead Mill is as far ahead of other mills as the Pullman car is
ahead of the stage coach ?
LASTLY, DO YOU REALIZE ^l^^i^Z
that crushing by a pressure is the correct way ?
IF YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE a
Mill can do, write us.
bout what
h e Kinkead
Hcnshaw, Bulkley & Co.,
Sole Agents for North and South America, Mexico and Central America,
Cor. Fremont and Mission Streets,
SAN FRANCISCO, CAL.
ENGINES, BOILERS, PUMPS, HEATERS, INJECTORS, ROCK DRILLS, AIR COMPRESSORS,
BLOWERS. HOISTS. IRON AND WOOD-WORKING TOOLS, GENERAL MINING SUPPLIES.
July 1, iyu5.
Mining and Scientific Press.
STURTEVANT
Special Car=Box Bearings.
Crushing Shocks % that
of other rolls.
Car-box bearings allow ™
each shaft to get relief
under excessive
pressures.
Pedestals rigid.
Side and end adjust-
ments.
Send for Catalogue of
A modern, massive, high
grade roll suitable for
the hardest work.
Less vibration than any
others, therefore more
durable.
§turtevant Rolls are the
only ones in which the
shells may be kept true
without removal
for turning.
Crushing, Grinding and Screening Machinery.
StlirteVailt Mill CO., Boston, Mass.
Coast Agents, HARRON, RICKARD & McCONE, SAN FRANCISCO, CAL
Mining and Scientific Press.
July 1, 1905.
UTAH MINING MACHINERY & SUPPLY CO.
SOLE AGENTS FOR UTAH AND IDAHO
Ingersoll- Sergeant Drill Co.,
John A, Roebling Wire Rope,
Hendrie & Bolthoff Mining Hoists,
Leonard & Ellis Valvoline Oil,
Wellman-Seaver-Morgan Co,,
(Copper Smelters and First Motion Hoists),
Shay Patent and Direct Locomotives.
A * GENERAL MNING SUPPLIES, s. #
Sheet Metal Works.
coppe
sentin
« m^? 1S treatin£ 1800 gallons per minute of slime overflow from the Wilfley feed tanks, and also the dirty water from the back ends of sixty-
-foo y tables- This suPP'y carries 41 grams of solid matter per gallon, and the overflow gives 16 grams. The recovery of solids is 62i%, of
Der 78^ and of silver 75%. The thickened pulp is treated on thirty Wilfley tables and yields from 250 to 300 tons of concentrates per month, repre-
ing from 3% to 3£% of the total copper output of the plant.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH YOUR SLIMES?
150 TANKS NOW IN IISF The following are using the "CALLOW" tank with success; write to them: The Basin Reduction Co ,
i-» iw tiwn ill vj^jl-. Basin, Mont.; Boston & Montana Co., Great Palls, Mont.; Hecla Mining Co., Wallace, Idaho; Guana-
^ juato Mining Co., Guanajuato, Mex.; Uncle Sam Mining Co , Eureka, Utah.
PRICE F. O. B. SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, $75.00. WEIGHT 650 LBS.
UTAH MINING MACHINERY & SUPPLY CO., '■*■§£%**•
SALT LAKJE CITY, UTAH. Sole Agents and Manufacturers.
Write for Our Bulletin No. 100.
July 1, IHU.V
Mining and Scientific Press.
|TffiYfELLMAN-5EMR-M0RGAN C0.<
rNErN^SISENGIFEERS AND MANUFACTURERS^f &«*£*:
'LANE. DIVISION^
Electric
Hoists.
TV7E BUILD them in a variety of types,
" equipped with either drums or reels,
and for Alternating or Direct Current, as
specified. The one shown is a
Double Reel Self-Contained
Electric Hoist,
driven by Alternating Current Motor. Reels
are fitted with the celebrated Webster,
Camp & Lane Friction Clutch, also with
Band Brakes. We build these Hoists in
standard sizes and are also prepared to
„.-- build special sizes, as required.
Wlf* alert Knilrl Steam-Operated Hoists and Haulages; Cages, Cars and Skips; Head Frames and Tipples; Reduction Machinery;
VV C alSO DUlia ore and Coal Handling Machinery; Cranes; Gas Engines; Water P<w
VA/rite for Our Booklet,
Power Equipment, etc., etc.
'\AJHf\T IA/E DO.
B!'A tH <"""££ GENERAL OFFICES CLEVELAND, OHIO „_„, ,,,, ,e„,<w,,lyCt
SELLING AGENTS
., „. , 41, ,«, ,,„, ... , ,. i j . , i ... «,«■# ,„„., Denver: Hendrie&BoltJioff Mfp.&Supply Co.
PlttSburg-515 Fnck Bldg- MfcllUlnL vl • ivt»/ \yl_l— » kkniiv, v/iiiv. Safe Lake City: Utah Mining HacKy 4 Supply Co ,
Chicago -1325 first NatYBankBldg. WORKS! Cleveland and Akrorv ^5S° Seattle!ChasCMoo,-e^
NewYork:42 Broadway L Cit^cf Mexico. Victor M.5raschi*Br6.|
London Enq. 47 Victoria St.S.W. Johanr.esbur-g,S.Afrfca:SlieiffJlf,5w.nqle<y^fcLtd.l
"UNION" HOISTS.
30 H. P. Double Cylinder '.'.Union " Hoist. Safety latch holds the load at any level desired. Shaft ex-
tends over side of base to receive a pulley for driving pump or other machinery.
Being a double cylinder, it hoists like a steam engine. Fitted to run on Gasoline, Benzine or Distillate.
SOOO "Union" engines have been sold during
the past 20 years. Hundreds of "Union" hoists, in
sizes from 3 to 130 H. P., and "Union" stationary
engines, in sizes from 2 to 300 H. P., in actual use,
have made the word "Union" synonymous with
quality. The leading governments of the world
have adopted the "Union."
SEND FOR CATALOGUE, STATING REQUIREMENTS.
UNION GAS ENGINE CO.,
248 FIRST STREET,
SAN FRANCISCO, CAL.
SOMETHING ABOUT UNIFORM ORE REDUCTION.
The Elspass Mill for Ore
Reduction.
Will save your free
coarse gold in the
mill without the use
of mercury.
Perfect panning
motion, die revolv-
ing and rollers
remaining sta-
tionary.
No Slimes.
More lineal feet of
screen surface than
any other mill.
Less horse power to
operate than any
other mill of its size.
The Elspass Four-Roller
Quartz Mill.
WE WILL CONSTRUCT YOUR COMPLETE PLANT AND PUT IN THE
Entire Machinery Equipment.
SEND FOR CATALOGUE AND PRICES.
WE KNOW WE CAN SAVE YOU MONEY.
FAIRBANKS, HORSE & CO.
Chicago Detroit St. Louis Minneapolis
Cincinnati Louisville Kansas City Omaha
Cleveland New York St. Paul Indianapolis
Denver Portland, Ore.
Los Angeles Salt Lake City
San Francisco London, Eng.
10
Mining and Scientific Press.
July 1, 19U5.
MdNTOSH, SEYMOUR & CO.
AUBURN, N. Y.
ENGINES
AH Sizes and Types to Meet
Special Requirements.
INCOHPOFlATEn
MACHIMERY,;j°o>*
COMPUTE; PIAN7S
fcl^MMi? ii/dli
[NGINRR^
HTINC
IUMP1NC
a mini1
GENERAL PACIFIC COAST AGENTS.
"GIANT' AIR COMPRESSORS
Combining Strength, Efficiency, Economy.
This cut illustrates
a Standard Water-
Power Duplex Com-
pressor now in suc-
cessful operation at
the Draper Mine,
California.
If we know the actual head of water, amount available in cu. ft. or miner's inches, size and length of pipe line,
we can supply a direct driven compressor that will insure satisfactory operation.
The Compressed Air Machinery Co.
24-26 First St. and 25-27-29 Stevenson St., San Francisco, Cal.
July 1, lwuf>.
Mining and Scientific Press.
c/5
^3
1
UU
UU
UU
exa
E-H
THIS HOIST
is manufactured in
single and double
drum, and occupies
but one-half the space
originally occupied by
such machinery. Can
be furnished in any
desired size. Every-
thing is mounted on
one base, thereby
keeping all working
parts in perfect align-
ment, also reducing
the cost for founda-
tion and erection.
TAKE A LOOK AT IT
AND THEN SEND FOR OUR
42-PAGE CATALOG ON "HOISTS."
ARE YOU
SATISFIED
with the hoisting
plant you are using?
No? Then why not
communicate your
troubles to us? For
thirty-five years
hoisting machinery
has been our spe-
cialty.
BOLTHOFF'S SELF= CONTAINED HOIST
m
■
C/5
W. C. RALSTON,
President.
DANIEL E. HAYES,
Vice-President.
JAMES SPIERS,
Manager.
Fulton Iron Works
ESTABLISHED 1855.
San Francisco, Cal.
COPPER
CONVERTERS.
We build Complete Plants for Smelting
and Refining Copper and Silver - Lead
Ores.
Main Office,
1 7 First Street.
Main Works,
Harbor View.
12
Mining and Scientific Press.
July 1, 19U5.
CHROME
tpaoe/\mahk
c/fc\s
ADAMANTINE
CHROME STEEL WORKS
CHROME. N.J.,U..S.A.
(FORMERLY OF BROOKLYN , N.V.)
JSkSam CHROME STEEL
Shoes and Dies
(HYDRAULIC COMPRESSED)
SECTIONAL DIES FOR STAMP MILLS
Sectional dies are especially adapted for mills located in districts where
the costs of freights are excessive. Also where milling conditions are
such that ordinary dies have a tendency towards uneven wear.
An Economical Die — Percentage of Waste Metal Reduced to a Minimum!
SECTIONAL DIE.
Send for Illustrated Pamphlet, "Chrome Steel Stamp Mill Parts."
JiEFXESENTJED Mi^
GEORGE W.MYERS
917 HAYWARD BUILDING
SAN FRANCISCO, CAL.
A full assortment of Shoes and Dies
ready for immediate delivery
from San Francisco.
UNION IRON WORKS,
222 flARKET ST., SAN FRANCISCO, CAL.
£w«^rEnps
j^"*"- — : — rfr'
UNION -IRON -WORKS
SAN FRANCISCO, CA
WRITE US FOR PRICES AND SPECIFICATIONS OF
MINING AND METALLURGICAL MACHINERY OF LATEST APPROVED DESIGN.
We are introducing to the mining
fraternity of this country a type oi
Boasting Furnace having an enviable
reputation for all around efficiency
and economy in Australia and other
British Colonies where
it was perfected and
first put into opera-
tion.
It has points of
superiority over all
other types of
mechanical Boasting
Furnaces that we
would like to explain
to interested parties.
DEWEY, STRONG & CO., San Francisco, Cal., and Washington, D. C.
We are prepared to transact business with our clients direct trom either our San Francisco or our Washington office. Wo
nave representatives in every cmntry in the world havlog patent laws The information accumulated through long and care-
iui practice before the Patent Office and the frequent examinations of patents already granted, for the purpose of detei.nlning
tne patentability of Inventions submitted to us, enables us to advise inventors, often saving them the expense of applying
25 a P«teo' uP°n '■"'rations which are not new. All worthy inventions patented through us are described & the Mining and
Scientific Frees. Guide to inventors sent on application. Address
DEWEY, STRONG & CO.. 330 Market St.. San Francisco. Cal.. or 918 F St. Washington, D. C
lULV 1, 1SMJ0
Mining and Scientific Press.
is
(?^THE CONDUCT OF MINING OPERATIONS ON A BUSINESS BASIS (q|
jD) INVOLVES THE USE OF THE BEZST JVZ ^4. C /-f f JV HZ J=* ^V \bbj
SOMETHING ENTIRELY NEW IN ROCK DRILLS.
The Leyner Rock Terrier.
DRY PATTERN.
Weight 54 pounds. Only one moving part. Total number of parts, 19. Air consumption about 25 cu. ft.
Total length, 29tf inches. Mounted on 2-inch column or bar. The steel is rotated by turning feed crank.
MADE IN TWO PATTERNS— DRY AND WATER.
For Stoping, Upraising and Lighter Work of all kinds, there is nothing like it or to be compared with it. It is in a class by itself.
CIRCULARS SENT ON REQUEST.
It Pays to Investigate the Merits of All
Labor Saving Devices.
OUR
BIG WONDER AIR HAMMER
ROCK DRILL
Is worthy to be classed among the labor savers and deserves the attention of all economical
mine operators.
Our Little Wonder Air Hammer Rock Drill Is a Practical Machine; so is the
Big Wonder Mounted Drill.
The Following are Some of the Many Advantages of the Machine:
1 One-fourth of the air consumption of a 2'4-inch Piston Drill.
2. Practica ly no repairs.
3. Strictly one man drill.
4. One-third cost or installation of piston drill.
5. Nothing complicated to get out of order.
6. Will do more work for less money than any machine on the market.
MANUFACTURED BY^
THE HARDSOCG WONDER DRILL CO.
OTTUMWA, IOWA.
COLORADO AGENCY, 17-14 BROADWAY, DENVKK.
H. L. SINCLAIR, Manager.
H. P. FOGH, Agent, No. 1602 Railroad Ave.,
SEATTLE, WASH.
SHAW'S ECLIPSE
AIR-HAMMER ROCK DRILL.
Uses 17 cu. ft. air per minute.
Requires but one man to operate. Does the work often men.
Can be operated with or without tripod or column.
Is furnished with water attachment when desired.
Has no valves or springs to break or get out of order.
Cost of installation is much less than other drills.
WRITE US FOR PRICES AND INFORMATION.
The C. H. Shaw Pneumatic Tool Co.
35th and Wazee Sts., DENVER, COLO.
W. C. HENDRIE, 26 CORTLANDT ST., NEW YORK C[TY, N. Y.
COMPRESSED AIK MACHINERY CO , 21-26 FIRST ST., SAN FRANCISCO.CAL., PACIFIC COAST AQT.
July 1, 1905.
The Air End of a Sullivan Straight Line MiniDg Compressor
deserves your attention because of its numerous features making for
High Efficiency.
Air Supply comes from outdoors, not from engine-room, and enters
the cylinder clean, dry and cool through large, short ports, absorbing no
heat before compression.
CORLISS INLET valves, positively driven, fill both low and high
pressure cylinders quietly and with minimum losses from clearance, leak-
age and friction. They last as long as the cylinders.
Intercooler and discharge valves of improved construction.
Catalogue 53
Rock Drills Hoists Diamond Drills
SULLIVAN MACHINERY CO.
Chicago
Denver
Salt Lake
El Paso
Henshaw, Bulkley & Co.
San Francisco
DIAMOND
DRILLS
FOR PROSPECTING.
Machines for all capacities.
Catalogue on request.
AMERICAN DIAMOND ROCK DRILL CO.
95 LIBERTY STREET, NEW YORK.
u
TESTING A 3 #" EXCELSIOR DRILL
■*■ with ourcelebrated "AIROMKTER," showing
86.4 cubic feet free air used per minute at 80 pounds
pressure. This drill has been sold after competi-
tive tests at the Homestake and many other large
mines in the TJ. S. during year 1904.
\*/P firm? $1fin to anv standard drill
«c Urrcn 3>IUU that this drill cannot
beat 25%. Sena for particulars with official reports
or arill tests. 33fOur arills are sola under absolute
guarantee to cost less for repairs and to cut more
ground than any rock drill so far made. Do you
want more drilling than you are getting? Do you
want an accurate Air Meter? If so, write.
G. D. WARREN & CO.,
1520 ~ 18th St., Denver, Colo.
..DIAMOND DRILLS.
Our Drills are of the very latest design, and represent the highest
point of perfection yet reached. Capacity 350 to 6000 feet.
SEND FOR CATALOGUE.
Standard Diamond Drill Company-
chamber of Commerce Bldg., Chicago, U. S. A.
p£airvin Electric Drills £r«^™'ta"Mlt"uo.,
^^ • mT-^ service for six years
MARVIN ELECTRIC DRILL COMPANY, Bingham ton, N. Y
"Slugger" Drill
Length of stroke, 6\" to 71".
Length of feed, 18" to 30".
Rand, " Imperial," Type 10
Compressors, Steam Driven
The "Imperial." Type 10, steam-
driven compressor is our latest
model. It is of the duplex pattern,
employing a heavy box bed with the
steam and the air (or gas) cylinders
at opposite ends, and the balance
wheel located nearly in the center.
It is self-contained, self-oiling and
requires but little attention.
"Imperial" Type 10
Compressor
Noiseless Chain Drive, Electric
Driven.
"Little Giant" Drill
Length of stroke, 3§" to 8J".
Length of feed, 10" to 30".
Rand, Straight-Line, Class C
Compressors
Our Class C, Straight-Line, steam-
driven compressor is particularly de-
sirable where a machine must stand
very hard usage, be moved from place
to place, and receive but little atten-
tion. It is exceedingly compact, self-
contained, simple in construction and
easily transportable. For these rea-
sons, it is especially suitable for pros-
pecting work and for contractors' use.
" Imperial " Type II
Compressor
Geared to Electric Motor.
Rand, "Imperial," Type II
Compressors
The "Imperial," Type 11 com-
pressor is especially adapted for use
in machine shops, foundries and
other industrial establishments
where but little attention can be
given to a compressor.
Its principal features are compact-
ness, simplicity and strength. It
has two vertical, single-acting air
cylinders, and very long trunk pis-
tons that act as guides for the lower
ends of the connecting - rods. By
this design, stuffing-boxes and cross-
heads are eliminated, and a mini-
mum number of bearings required.
The cylinders are made both duplex
and compound, are thoroughly
water-jacketed and provided with
hooded heads. They are cast in
one piece with the frame, thus in-
suring the utmost rigidity. The
valves, both inlet and outlet, are of
the vertical, poppet type.
"AIR POWER"
Quarterly
A semi-technical journal devoted
exclusively to compressed air.
C-% t£* L-r*
128 Broadway, New York.
July 1, ia05.
Mining and Scientific Press.
15
Another Recognition of Ingersoll-Sergeant Machinery as
STANDARD in MINING SERVICE
THE ANACONDA COPPER MINING CO., Anaconda, Mont., Uses
sergeant AIR LOMPRhSSORS oa™dr
1 6 '= AIR COMPRESSORS
600 s= ROCK DRILLS
The air power equipment includes the TWO LARGEST High Pressure
AIR COMPRESSORS in the WORLD.
THE
INGERSOLL-SERGEANT
DRILL
CO.
Air Coin pf awrl'liuit of rlu- Uui itln Copper Mm;
Chicago. 111.
Cleveland, O.
26 Cortlandt Street
Pittsburg, Pa. M P\A/ V<~4Dlf Boston, Mass. St. Louis, Mo.
Philadelphia, Pa. IN C W T \J K l\ Mexico City, Mox. El Paso, Tex.
M-25
REDFIELD AlUSteel
Electrically Driven
Rock Drill
Can be operated successfully in shafts, stopes or up-
raises. It has 50 less pieces than any other electric
drill. Motor is all-steel; waterproof; ball-bearing
Can be detached from drill in a few seconds.
Weighs 100 lbs. Weight of drill 175 lbs.
FULL PARTICULARS CAN BE HAD FROM
J. H. REDFIELD, Mgr.
1735 Blake St.
DENVER, COLO., U. S. A.
We also sell Redfleld Hand Power Rock Drills
SEND FOR CATALOGUE.
THE AMERICAN WELL WORKS. 'LIGHTNING WLLMMMNEKt
Do your preliminary mine prospecting with our
Portable Adamantine Coring Machinery,
operated by Steam or Gasoline Power, for vertical borings. A core can be removed for
examination with nearly the same despatch as with Diamond machinery. First cost of
machinery Is about one-half the cost of the diamonds. SIMPLE IN OPERATION.
Oil and Water Well Sinking Machinery and Deep Artesian Pumping Machinery.
ri^A^T'^AURORA ILL. U.SA.WRITE^CATALOGUE
PATERSON, N. J.
Drills
built to be
"cleaned
up Willi
Sold ) „
"y }s"
Send for
1905
Catalogue
Fairbanks, Morie & Co , Denver.
ammond Mfg. Co., Portland
Salt Lake Hardware Co., Salt Lake City.
The Star
Drilling Machines
Mounted, with derrick and walk-
ing beam, for drilling from plat-
form. Admirably suited to pros-
pectors' purposes, mine develop-
n ent and deep or shallow wa-
ter, oil or gas well boring.
Have long been favorites in
old oil regions. Bore to
a depth of 25u0 feet.
Made in ten sizes.
Strength
aDdsiraplic-
i t y adapt
them to ser-
vice in min-
ing camps
and oil re-
gions. Full
Hue of Well
Drille rs1
Supplies.
Large illus-
trated cata-
logue free.
Star Drilling Machine Company,
Akron, Ohio.
IF YOU ARE THINKING OF BUYING OR SELLING
MINING STOCK. CALL AND SEE US.
If you want some good mining stock, call and let
us explain to you something about the Tonopah
Berkeley Mining Company.
J. W. JAQUITH & CO., Rooms 874-6-8 James Flood
Bldg. (Member of the San Francisco & Tonopah
Mining Exchange.)
HO WELLS AIR POWER DRILL
No.
-For Medium Rock, Slate and Coal.
Just the thing to replace the hand drill
wherever there is an air compressor. En-
tirely self - contained. Easily carried by
one man. Any miner can op> rate it. It is
simple, well built, and never gets out of
order. In addition to our compressed air
drills we make thirty-five types of hand
machines. Our new catalog is full of Infor-
mation, May we mail you a copy V
HOWELLS MINING DRILL CO.,
Established 1878.
Plymouth, Penna.
T^^^^^^^^
^M>Mu*&ymu/ca
tj;ii ?^i^i^:i^Ki3^° <;;N>-
Victor
Hand Power
Rock
Drill
Important Features —
All wearing parts run in oil.
No buffer head or side rods.
Roller bearing cam movement.
Has heavier working parts than
many 250-lb. air drills.
Manufactured by
Stow Flexible Shaft Co., Phiiadeiphia.Pa.
TELLS IT ALLe
MMisam
Our New Catalogue "R'
DESCRIBES OUR HYDRAULIC RAMS
TELLS WHAT THEY CAN DO
The 48-inch Phillips Hydraulic Ram of our manufacture has 25 times more capacity than
any o'.her Ram known.
They make mines out of undeveloped grave! beds heretofore thought inaccessible.
16
Mining and Scientific Press.
July 1, 1905.
JACKSON PATENT SERIES FOUR STEP HORIZONTAL CENTRIFUGAL, PUMP
FOR RAISING WATER 800 FEET.
o
,UE HIGH HEAD MINE SINKING- CENTRIFUGAL PUMPS
are especially adapted for unwatering mines and sinking shafts.
PUMPS
THIS CUT illustrates one of our high head centrifugal pumps direct connected
to a Westinghouse induction motor and designed to operate against a head
of 800 feet, discharging 650 gallons per minute. This pump under test gave an
efficiency of 76% and is now operating in one of the largest mines in the West.
We have been building centrifugal pumps for the last twenty-five years and
believe we have attained the highest state of the art. We guarantee to raise
water to an elevation of 2000 feet or more with practically the same efficiency as
a reciprocating pump. The first cost is much less and the expense of mainte-
nance reduced to a minimum.
Write for
Catalogue "0"
BYRON JACKSON MACHINE WORKS.
411 Market Street,
SAN FRANCISCO, CAL.
MANUFACTU
MINE CAR WHEELS
MINE CARS COMPLE"
MINE CAR IRONS
MINE CAR AXLE!
Ill
a o
mf ©
{3§«aa©<asaua
THE WATT MINING
CAR WHEBI/ CO.
BARNESVILLB
I OHIO, TJ3.A.,
WATT
PATENT SELF-OILING
MINE CAR WHEELS
TRENT ENGINEERING & MACHINERY CO., SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH REPRESENTATIVE. THE BODSE CO., 609 MISSION ST.. SAN FRANCISCO. CAL., PACIFIC COAST REPRESENTATIVE.
STEIGER TERRA COTTA AND POTTERY WORKS
FIREBRICK
Fire Tiles
Fire Proofing
fKcid Pipes
/\cid Condensers
Acid Brick
MAIN OFFICE: 545 Mills Building,
V/itrified Salt Glazed Sewer Ripe
Chimney Pipe
F^lue Lining
Drain Tile
Flush Tanks
Catch Basins
SAN FRANCISCO, CAL, U. S. A.
WE BUY
AND SELL
J
LDFIELDS.
Members San Francisco Stock Exchange.
Mines and Prospects for Development or Incor-
poration. ALL STOCKS BOUGHT AND
SOLD. Market Letters FREE.
FRANK LKREIDER & BRO., 527 Merchants Exchange. San Francisco.
lULY 1, iao/>.
Mining and Scientific Press.
17
The Slogan ol the CAMERON -"Character the Grandest Thing "
I'AMI-'WAN DIIMDQ Often Imituu-il. Never Equaled.
liflfflLHUIi rUfflri). imitation the Slocerest Flattery.
ANNOUNCEMENT!
To Users of CAMERON Pumps
and the Public Generally:
We have withdrawn our agency rrom the Mine & Smelter Sup-
ply Co., and they no longer represent us; nor are they author-
ized to sell, as our agents, any ol our pumps or repair parts.
We take pleasure In stating that we have transferred our agencies
to and are now represented by—
CART & FIELDING.
1711 Tremont St., Denver, Colorado
UTAH MINING MACHINERY & SUPPLY CO..
HG SoutbtWOBt Temple St.. Salt Lake, Utah
INOERSOLL-SERGEANT DRILL CO.,
El Paso. Texoa,
VICTOR M. BRASCHT. & CO..
CudenasSt. Nu J, Mt-xleo City, Mexico.
These Urms carry a full line of
"CAMERON" Pu ups and repair
parts In stock, from which lb.63
can till orders at shortest notice.
They have our entire confidence
and esteem, and we are confident
will deal fairly with you. and we
bespeak for them your favorable
consideration.
CAMERON
Designed and built especially
for use in
MINES
having acid water and heavy
lifts.
Water cylinders of hard,
close-grained iron, wood-
lined if desired or of bronze
if necessary.
THE SLOGAN OF THE CAMERON-'CHARACTER THE GRANDEST THING."
To touch again on character —
The character of a CAMERON PUMP has made the CAMERON reputation, and to build up this character and estab-
lish this reputation we have had to be exceedingly particular in building our pumps.
To maintain both character and reputation we look to it that every ounce of metal used in a CAMERON PUMP is
OF THE BEST. We see to it that every ounce of this "BEST" metal is placed where it will do the most good — to
offset wear and tear.
Then again, a CAMERON PUMP is built so as to work along the line of least resistance— few working parts;
because, the fewer the working parts and the less power to move them — the heavier we can make them — in order
to stand the strain of long continued hard service.
NOWHERE— and CAMERON PUMPS are used EVERYWHERE- has a CAMERON PUMP failed in its duty, or in its
ability to work up to full given capacity in situations or under conditions for which it was proportioned and guaranteed.
Truly we have found "Character the grandest thing."
Our new and complete Catalog "R" gives full Information about our pumps. Send for it.
A. S. CAMERON STEAM PUMP WORKS,
FOOT EAST 23d STREET,
NEW/ YORK.
I860
COLORADO IRONWORKS COMPANY
ORE SMELTING
EQUIPMENTS
ORE MILLING
MACHINERY
DENVER, COLO., U. S. /\.
1Q05
C.l.W. 36x108 IN. SILVER-LEAD FURNACE.
THE SMELTING OF ORES.
WE began building Smelting Furnaces and Equip-
ments in 1 879, and since that time we have
held the foremost position among manufac-
turers in this special field.
The main reason for the superiority of our smelt-
ing furnaces over those of other firms is that we
DESIGN and BUILD each of our furnaces especially
for each order as it is received. We have no "stock"
furnaces, and each furnace has an INDIVIDUALITY
and CHARACTER all its own that readily distin-
guishes it as a COLORADO IRON WORKS
CO.'S product.
j»
If contemplating smelting operations, write us; we
will be glad to help you in any way we can. Send
for descriptive literature.
COLORADO IRON WORKS COMPANY, Denver, Colorado,
SALT LAKE CITY REPRESENTATIVES: CLEMENT & STRANGE, 307 DOOLY BLOCK.
18
Mining and Scientific Press. jto* t, mt,.
\X7hat ^ra1f> r)rv?c Do you realize how much the accumulation of boiler scale costs you? It
forms on your boiler between the fire and the water and absorbs the heat.
One-sixteenth of an inch of scale will add 12% to your fuel bill in one year. A much hotter fire is needed
to generate the required amount of steam, and the unequal contraction and expansion of your boiler thus
caused materially weakens the joints, seams, and rivets. Expensive repairs result, and, very often, con-
siderable loss of time in making these repairs.
Chemistry of Scale Formation AU feed"waters contain scale f™g mineral matter in
' solution. This mineral, matter is precipitated or de-
posited in the boiler during the process of evaporation, the water passing off as steam and the solids re-
maining in the boiler and forming a hard, heat-absorbing crust. This is a chemical process, governed by
unchanging laws. The only practical way of changing this process is through the use of the right chemical
reagents to combine with these solids and either throw them into solution, or form of them friable sub-
stances. The nature of the scale-forming combinations in feed-water varies according to the soil and
rocks through which it passes. For instance, mine water holds in solution very different combinations
from artesian well water. Consequently, each different feed-water requires a special and individual
" diagnosis " and " prescription."
Free Chemical Analysis of Scale You take long chances when you use a boiler com"
' pound that is made on the "cure-all" principle. It
may be the very thing your boiler does not want. Instead of preventing, it may assist in the formation of
scale or it may cause foaming and priming. Even if it removed the scale, it might pit and weaken your
boiler. The only reliable and effective method is to have the right chemical reagents compounded specially
for you. Before this can be done your case would have to be looked into by our expert chemists, and
when their analyses and reports are completed, we would be in a position to prescribe the exact combina-
tion of chemicals required. These chemicals, so prepared, are shipped by us under the trade mark
Lord's Boiler Compounds
/
These preparations are all put up in the form of a dry powder. There is no water to pay for, / .
no excessive freight charges, no leakage, or no drums to return. /'ceo.w.
/ Lord Co.
Send us a sample of your boiler scale. Our expert chemists will analyze it, and we /N?9ths*L°
will send you some valuable information showing you how we can save you money ./ Philadelphia, Pa.
j,,.....' »* Gentlemen: I am sending you
and trouble. We make no charge for this and it obligates vou in no way. Fill out / va^pi"f=fak from our ««.
*~} o J J f» iou are to analyze it, and tendmc,
,i . . . . . . »* free of charge, a certificate of anal-
the coupon and send it with the sample of scale to-day. / »* '
** Number of boilers in use^.
♦* Capacity of each hnilrr
* Frequency of cleaning boilers—
Geo. W. Lord Co.,
♦* Frequency of opening the blow-off during
#** working hours River or other
2238-50 N . NINTH ST. T /Boilers are used about hours out of U
.** Boiler compound now used
PHILADELPHIA, PA. /*-..
,♦* Street and Number .
/ City .
-* Firm's Name
S Min. & ScL Piess. Bate-
Jui-v 1, laua
Mining and Scientific Press.
*f«.. : I
DRESSES
■ Wiiliam R. Pebbin&Compaky
CHICAGO.
New Century BLAKE CRUSHER.
Made in six sizes. The best B'ake on the
market. The lowest in price.
AMERICAN CONCENTRATOR CO.
JOPLIN, MO.. U. S. A.
Branch Office: WilkesBarre, Pennsylvania.
W. C. Troutman, Manager.
JKewg
', roves %y(0£ n?ent.
'/ Write vu i'j for 'particulars^/
QUAKER^CITY/RUBBER^CX)
V///AwH*/////A7\:V,\'.i_5iiW
QDARTZ SCREENS
A specialty. Round slot
or burred slot holes. Cast
I Steel or American plan-
ished Iron, Zinc, Copper,
Brass or Tin Screens for
all purposes. CALIFORNIA PERFORATING SCREEN CO.,
N . £. cor. Fremont and Howard Sts., San Francisco.
WE BUY AND SELL MINES
on reasonable commission. We furnish money to
develop prospects. We handle floatation of mining
stocks and guarantee success. WILKES, WILKES
& WILKES. 401 Stlmson Bldg., Los Angeles. Cal.
USE THE JACKSON
HAND POWER ROCK DRILL
USED IN
iooo PROPERTIES.
DRILLS
THE HARDEST GROUND.
MADE OF STEEL.
Guaranteed Against Breakage
For Two Years.
FOR IUNNELING-SINKING-SIOPING.
With this drill one man can do as much as three men with hammers.
Two men operating the drill can do as much as five men using hammers.
Drill is easier on men than hammer work.
Hot Springs, So. Dakota, Jan. 30th, '05.
H, D. CRIPPEN— Dear Sir: In reply to your letter of Dec. 30th,
will say that the Jackson Hand Power Drill is working constantly
from the time of its purchase to the present time, the cost of repairs
has been very light, and it will do double the work of hammer and
bit in hard and soft rock, having worked In both. I ordered the drill
about live years ago. I do not remember the exact date, but the
drill is in good order to-day and has been In constant use.
Yours truly, S. SOMERTJD.
Alamosa, Colo., l-6-'05.
H. D. CRIPPEN MFG. CO., 25 Broad St., N. Y.
Gentlemen: Yours of Dec. 8 ult. was late in reaching us, being
forwarded from Hopewell, N. M. I would say that I have used the
Jackson Drill for about four years and have been able to do much
more work in all kinds of rock than I could have done by hand. Two
good men can keep it humming and do the work of four men by hand.
Very truly yours, J. E. MOWATT.
WRITE FOR 24-PAGE CATALOGUE No. D-17.
Drill may be seen in operation in New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston, St. Paul, Denver, El Paso, Salt Lake
City, Butte, and San Francisco.
Write for name of our agent in your locality.
lidgerwood HOISTING ENGINES
Standard Lidgerwood
Mining Engine.
FOR MINES.
Built to Gauge on the Duplicate Part System. Quick Delivery Assured.
STEAM AND ELECTRIC HOISTS.
Over 23,000 in use.
Cableways, Hoisting and Conveying Devices. Send for Latest Catalogues.
LldgerWOOd Mfg. CO., 96 Liberty St, New York.
Boston, 77 Oliver St. Chicago, Old Colony Bldg. Philadelphia, 1 6 N. 7th St.
Portland, Ore., 40 First St. Atlanta, Empire Bldg. Pittsburg, 125 Water St.
St. Louis, Mo., Fuller-ton Bldg. Cleveland, 0., Williamson Bldg. New Orleans, 410 Canal St.
Seattle, Wash., 31 6 Second Ave. South.
Our Catalogue No. 1 describes WATER WELL
MACHINES of many sizes, both traction and non-
traction, for wells BO to 1000 feet deep, and gives
full illustrated instructions for operating.
Catalogue No. 2 describes MINERAL PROSPECT-
ING MACHINES for exploring for Iron, Lead, Zinc,
Coal and all minerals. Se eral sizes, both trac-
tion and non-traction. Also PLACER GOLD TEST-
ING MACHINES for assaying Alluvial Deposits,
Lake and River Beds to bedrock. Can be used on
boat. They make 6 and 8-lnch holes through any-
thing and bring to the surface everything found.
Full instructions for operating.
. Catalogue No. 3 describes OIL WELL MACHIN-
ERY for wells 1000 feet to 2500 feet deep. Several
sizes, with full equipment and instructions for operating.
Our Machines are the sum of all excellence, in use all over the world. Top quality, bottom prices.
Catalogues FREE.
GRAND PRIZE AWARDED AT ST. LOUIS EXPOSITION.
KEYSTONE DRILLER CO., 17th Street, BEAVER FALLS, PA., U. S. A.
THERE is no unsupported "theory" in our advertising columns.
What there appears has cost millions in experiments; has been
proved to be efficient and represents the most advanced state of the art.
FLORY HOISTING ENGINES
For Mines, Quarries, Contractors,
Pile Driving and Tail Rope
Haulage.
CABLEWAYS AND TRAMWAYS
SLATE MACHINERY.
All parts made to duplicate.
Ask for Large Catalogue.
S. FLORY MFG. CO., BANGOR, PA.
20
Mining and Scientific Press.
July 1, 1905.
KOERTING GAS ENGINES.
De La Vergne Machine Co., New York.
MAIN OFFICE FOOT OF E. 138th STREET.
A FRICTION CLUTCH
The value of which has proven by 20 years' suc-
cessful use on all kinds of machinery
IS A SAFE INVESTMENT.
FRISBIE FRICTION CLUTCHES
have just those attributes and we will be pleased
to tell you about them if you will inquire.
THE EASTERN MACHINERY CO.,
INE\A/ Hrt\ZEN, COINN.
,, MINE
. ■:' AND
DEEP WELL
FOfiiiANiY.PiOY/iR
Triplex Pumps in sizes 2x2 to 14x14
Agencies:
" Hendrle & Bolthofl 11. &. S. Co., Denver Henion & Hubbell. Chicago
Henshaw, Bulkley & Co. .San Francisco W. P. Dallett, Philadelphia
■ Harris Pump & Supply Co., Pittsburg Chas. J.Jaoer Co., Boston
The ; D'emmg C ompariy
Ralph B. Carter Co., New York
L. Booth & Sons, Los Angeles
English Iron Works Co., Kansas City
Salem , Ohio * U.S.A.
THE NEW/ SUCCEEDS THE OLD.
OIL AND GREASE OUT OF DATE.
GRAPHITE BUSHING
MAKES LUBRICANT OF ANY KIND UNNECESSARY.
Th Is means a great saving of money to machinery users above and below ground.
THE GRAPHITE LUBRICATING CO.,
BOUND BROOK, NEW JERSEY,
Gviarantee perfect satisfaction in the use of their graphite hushing instead of the old gummy
way.
Catalogues and detailed information promptly furnished.
CELEBRATED
TRUMP
TURBINES
for HIGH OR LOW HEADS.
Our Single Horizontal Turbines
HAVE NO EQUAL.
Write for Catalogue "B." Address
THE TRUMP MFG. CO., SPRI0N„G,Fn,ELD
JO CONTINUALLY WEIGH AND REGISTER ALL PRODUCTS USE
lilllililK
RICHARDSON SCALE CO. NEW YORK, CHICAGO.
Prospecting Drills
FOR COAL, OIL, GAS, WATER, AND
PLACER MINING.
Our catalogue should be in the hands of every
Prospector and Mine Owner.
Write for it to-day.
The Cyclone Drilling Machine Co.,
ORRVILLE, OHIO.
OUE TKADE MARK ON
DROP FORGED
WRENCHES
Means Highest Grade.
THE WHITMAN & BARNES MFG. CO. Factories— Chicago, III.; Akron, 0.; St. Catharines, Ont.
San Francisco Agent, S. J. CONGER, 510 Mission Street.
^
Do You Mine or Smelt
ores containing iron which is injuri-
ous to your product?
II so, write Tor our Catalog "D," and we
will tell you how to Increase your profits by
removing the objectionable iron with our
MAGNETIC
SEPARATOR.
As we are "from Missouri," we will also
"show you " by actual tests.
UNITED IRON WORKS COMPANY,
Springfield, Mo , U. S. A.
Quicksilver
BY THE FLASK OR CARLOAD.
WEIGHT AND QUALITY GUARANTEED.
THE EUREKA GO./YIR.AIN'V.
OF 8AN FRANCISCO.
120 Sansome STRUBT. SAN FRANCTSCP.
PERFECTION
Dust Collectors
BRING LARGE RETURNS IN SAVING VALU-
ABLE FINE DUST, BESIDES KEEPING THE
MILL CLEAN AND THE AIR PURE.
OFFICE OF )
THE GENEKAL METALS CO. >
Colorado Springs, Colo., Feb. 12, 1903. )
PRINZ & EAU MFG. CO.,
Milwaukee, Wis.
Gentlemen: — We take pleasure in recommending the Perfection
Dust Collector to any one who wants a machine for collecting dust
from gold-bearing ores. This machine keeps our mill clean and saves
large values in dust which otherwise would be lost. Yours very
truly, (Signed) THE GENERAL METALS CO.
C. D. Grove, Supt.
THE PRINZ & RAU MFG. CO.,
MILWAUKEE, WIS.
WESTERN REPRESENTATIVE:
STERLING, 3923 Baltimore Ave., Kansas City, Mo.
14 TONS TO
100 TONS.
5-8 Cubic Yard to 5 Cubic Yards Dipper
Write Us About Your Exoavating Work.
Most Modern, and Fully Improved.
The Vulcan Iron Works Company,
1 1 5 Vulcan Place, TOLEDO, OHIO, U. S. A.
BOILERS
WATER TUBE.
INTERNAL FURNACE,
HORIZONTAL TUBULAR.
In all sizes
For all pressures.
BAKER & HAMILTON,
San Francisco, Cal.
ENGINEERS' CHUMS.
Set of 6 Mound Scraping Tools, 82 50 Our Booklet
Set of 6 Mound Packing Tools. . 2.35 on
Set of 5 Mound Cold Chisels. . . . 2.00 Request.
Heodrie & Bolthofl Mfg. & Supply Co., Denver;
C.W. Marwedpl, San Francisco; Engineers' Supply
Co., Seattle, "Wash.; Vulcan Iron Works, Seattle,
Wash.; Gould & Kline, Portland, Oregon.
COAL, COKE, PIG IRON,
FIREBRICK AND CEMENT.
Foreign and Domestic.
MINES AND SMELTERS SUPPLIED.
Prompt Delivery and Lowest Possible
Western Fuel Co.
318 CALIFORNIA ST., BAN FRANCISCO, CAL.
OSCAR J. FROST,
ASSAYER,
1TS2 CHAMPA STREET, DENVER, COLORADO.
«-> * -— «- **■
Whole No. 2345.
_VOLUME XCI
Number I .
San Francisco, Cal., Saturday, July 1, 1905.
THREE DOLLARS PER ANNUM.
Single Copiei, Ten Cents.
Progress by Disaster.
At a dinner given recently by a technical so-
ciety an engineer made the statement that one of
the most potent factors in engineering progress had
been disaster. His remarks referred more particu-
larly to the progress in civil engineering, but the
statement applies with considerable force to mining
as well. The old-time methods of twenty-five years
and more ago have to a great extent been changed
and better methods devised and applied. There has
been published herein the past two weeks a brief de-
scription of the methods in mining and milling prac-
tice on the Homestake belt in South Dakota during
its early history, and showing how, by a process of
evolution — suggested and necessitated by frequent
disaster — the methods have been changed and
adapted to existing conditions until methods of min-
ing have been evolved which have no superior at
present in the world. The same difficulties remain
to be overcome at many other mines, where the old-
time ideas still prevail. In many instances these
methods are considered necessary, owing, perhaps,
to the low grade of the ore, but any mining method
which at first is easily applied and is for a time satis-
factory, but which eventually results in disaster, is
not the best method. Usually all that has been
saved by short-sighted economy is swept away and
lost by the disaster which cannot be averted, and
which is directly attributable to the method. Caves
in mines in many instances may be averted, if proper
methods of mining be applied.
If these methods be too expen-
sive the management may have
several working schemes from
which to choose. He may de-
cide that all the ore cannot be
recovered by a certain method
and that the loss of ore will be
less than the increased cost of
applying another method which
would permit the removal of
all the ore, but any method
which renders the mine safe
while extracting all the ore
possible at the least cost is
the best method, and is the
one which should be adopted.
While engineers profit by their
own failures and those of
others, there are those, unfor-
tunately, who do not appreci-
ate the lessons taught by disaster and who continue
to undertake to outwit nature in the same old way
and always with the same inevitable result.
Waikino Mills, Waihi Gold Mining Co., New Zealand. (See Page 12.)
THE proposition to reorganize the Horseshoe
Mining Co. of South Dakota, if carried out
along the lines suggested, as published locallv, will do
much toward placing that company on a more sub-
company have been more or less involved, one of the
drawbacks being excessive capitalization. That the
property has merit no one acquainted with its re-
sources doubts. To add to the other unfortunate
Tonopah, Nevada, Showing Mill of the Tonopah Mining Co. (See Page 10
stantial basis. The Horseshoe is the second largest
mining concern operating in the Black Hills of South
Dakota. Since its organization the affairs of the
combination of circumstances the mill at Terry,
which cost about half a million dollars, burned the
latter part of May.
Tonopah as Seen from Mizpah MiDe. (See Page 10.)
mining and Scientific Press.
July ], 1905.
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
ESTABLISHED i860.
Published Every Saturday at 330 Market Street, San Francisco, Cal.
Telephone, Davis 771.
ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION.
United States, Mexico and Canada *| 00
All Other Countries in the Postal Union 5 00
Entered at the San Francisco Postoffice as second-class mail matter.
Bbancb Offices:
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Chicago, 1164 Monadnock Block.
Denveh, 606 Mack Block.
J. F. HALLORAN Publisher
SAN FRANCISCO, JULY I, 1905.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
ILLUSTRATIONS: Page.
"Waikino Mills, Waihi Gold Mining Co., New Zealand 1
Tonopah, Nevada, Snowing Mill of the Tonopah M. Co 1
Tonopah as Seen From Mizpah Mine 1
Cross Section of Homestake Ore Bodies Through Old Ahe Shaft. . 4
Bartlett Simplex Crusher Table 6
Drainage of a Rapid Transit Railroad Under a River 7
The Tonopah Mining Company's Property, Tonopah, Nev 10
Croppings on the Desert King, in Alaskite District, Nevada 10
A Development Camp Between Goldfleld and Tonopah, Nev 11
Tonopah Mining Company's Property 11
Street Scene. Tonopah, Nev 11
Cross Section Vein 12011 Level Sheep Ranch Mine, Calaveras Co.. 12
The Sheep Ranch Mine, Calaveras Co., Cal 12
EDITORIAL:
Progress by Disaster - !
Proposition to Reorganize Horseshoe M. Co. of South Dakota — 1
Explosion of Dynamite at Cripple Creek, Colo 2
Federal Mining Co. vs. Bunker Hih & Sullivan Co 2
Mining in Mexico 3
Deep Drainage Tunnel at Cripple Creek, Colo 2
Collapse of Head Frames Rare 2
MINING SUMMARY 13-14-15-16-17
LATEST MARKET REPORTS 18
MISCELLANEOUS:
Concentrates 3
Discovery and Development of the Homestake Mines of South
Dakota 4
Tne Rational Design of Head Frames 4
The Treatment of Refractory Auriferous Sulphides at the Cas-
silis Mine, Victoria, Australia 5
The Bartlett Simplex Concentrator 6
The First Ingot of Mexican Tin 6
Vertical Shaft Sinking on the Rand 6
Drainage of a Rapid Transit Railroad Under a River 7
Mining and Metallurgical Patents 8
The commercial Development of Electro-Metallurgy 9
The Prospector 9
Tonopah, Nevada, and Its Development 10-11
Gold Mines in Schistose Rocks 12
Mining in Waihi District, New Zealand 12
Test of the Road Making Value of an oil 12
Personal 17
Obituary 17
Books Received 17
Commercial Paragraphs 18
Trade Treatises 18
New Patents 18
Notices of Recent Patents 18
rHE explosion of a large amount of dynamite in a
*■ thawing house at the Findley mine in Cripple
Creek district, Colo., a few days since, the cause of
which is a mystery, has once more started a discus-
sion on the vagaries of nitro powder. The building
used for the purpose was a light frame structure and
the only heat applied was said to be steam from the
boilers, 50 feet or more distant from the thawing
house. The building was said to have been locked at
the time, and contained 300 pounds of powder.
Steam has always been considered a fairly safe means
of thawing powder, though there is danger in the use
of steam of raising the temperature both too rapidly
and too high. What is generally acknowledged to be
the safest means of thawing nitro powder is warm
water. If the powder be placed in a closed recep
tacle, and gently heated by warm water, no explo-
sion has ever been known to occur, but the direct
application of steam to the warning device might in-
duce a rapid rise in temperature. Just the char-
acter of the device used in the instance above men-
tioned is not known, therefore it is impossible to give
more than a probable cause for the explosion. It is
simply another illustration of the great care neces-
sary in handling dynamite, and it will doubtless
result in the exercise of even greater care in the
employment of powder thawing devices in Cripple
Creek district.
THE suit of the Federal Mining Co. v. the Bunker
■*■ Hill & Sullivan Co., recently brought in the
Coeur d'Alene district of Idaho, would seem to place
F. W. Bradley, who was lately elected to take the
managemen t of the plaintiff company, in an embar-
rassing position, as Mr. Bradley is president and a
large stockholder in the Bunker Hill & Sullivan.
This is another of the already noted apex suits on the
famous lead-silver vein of the Coeur d'Alenes. The
Federal Co. sues for $1,000,000 claimed to be due it
from the defendant company for the extraction of ore
from a portion of the vein, claimed to belong to plain-
tiff company because it apexes in one of the latter's
claims. The Bunker Hill & Sullivan vein is a broad
lode, the foot wall of which is usually, if not always,
well defined, but the hanging wall is determined
wholly by commercial considerations, the ore occur-
ring in the form of an impregnation of the country
quartzite, and being mined as long as it is profitable
to extract and concentrate it. At one point in one
of the Federal Co 's claims it is understood that this
indefinite and uncertain hanging wall cuts across one
corner of the claim — therefore the suit. Mr. Brad-
ley, upon being informed of this new litigation,
promptly tendered his resignation as manager of the
Federal Company, and also as director in the Tacoma
and Selby smelters, as all of these enterprises are
identified with the American Smelters Securities Co.
It is presumable that he had no knowledge or intima-
tion of impending new suits when agreeing to accept
these responsible positions with the Federal and the
Smelting Companies.
Mining in Mexico.
During the past ten years Mexico has come rap-
idly to the front as a possible field for profitable min-
ing investment. For many years mining in that
republic was not looked upon with as favorable an
eye by American and British capital as at present.
In fact, investments generally of foreign capital in
Mexico were considered risky, to say the least. The
broad and liberal policy of the Diaz government has
changed this and opened the door of Mexico to for-
eign investment, and capital invested in Mexican
enterprises is not only as safe as elsewhere, but these
investments are often unusually attractive in some
respects. Throughout Mexico there are old mines
and undeveloped mineral resources. Many large as
well as small mines are in actual and profitable oper-
ation, affording a wide variety of conditions, and
great advances have been made in metallurgy in the
treatment of Mexican ores. There are many who
think that the most desirable mining property in
Mexico is an old mine — "la mina antigua " — a mine
worked so long ago that the oldest inhabitant knows
nothing of it other than its whereabouts and the tra-
ditional stories of its fabulous wealth. The average
modern miner feels himself so far superior to the
"ancient" Mexican that he generally thinks that if
he can only come into possession of one of these old
mines he can quickly — by reason of his superior
knowledge and experience — put it on a. paying basis
again. In many instances this is fallacious reason-
ing. The old mines were worked in the interest of
men of large influence in their day, and the laborers
were generally peons — slaves, in fact — to whom was
paid, if anything, the merest pittance. Thousands
of these poorly paid workers delved in the mines,
building fires at the rock faces, groping through the
suffocating smoke and. dashing water upon the heated
rock surfaces to disintegrate the hard ore, which,
when recovered, was laboriously packed on their
backs to the surface through long tunnels or up hun-
dreds of feet of notched logs, called by the Ameri-
cans "chicken ladders." The work of the metallur-
gist was laborious, crude and slow, but in most cases
satisfactory. The efficiency of the labor was cer-
tainly not high, but it is equally certain that it was
not expensive, even comparatively. For these rea-
sons old Mexican mines yielded large net returns to
their fortunate owners, and mines of very low grade
could be profitably worked under the conditions
existing at that time, particularly where the mine
owners also owned a large rancho in the valleys,
where all that was required for existence of man and
beast was raised or manufactured and where the
labor was also performed by peons.
With the ancient Mexican mining was a business
which he brought to a high state of perfection in his
day, and although not comparable with modern
methods — even Mexican modern methods — he was
enabled to perform a great work, as the wonderful
extent of the development of some of the old mines
testify.
Many of the old mines were phenomenally rich, such
as some of those at Zacatecas, Guanajuato, Quere-
tero and elsewhere throughout the republic.
Until the water line was reached the ancient Mexi-
can could cope with almost any problem in mining,
and in some cases long drainage tunnels were driven
to facilitate mining, but when he passed below a pos-
sible drainage level in a wet mine his work came to
an end, whether the mine were rich or comparatively
poor.
The great low grade mines of Mexico can be again
worked with profit, in many instances, by the intro-
duction of modern machinery and mining methods,
and the metallurgical practices of to-day will extract
a far larger percentage of value than was obtained
by the ancient miner except with the freest kind of
ores, but it should be remembered that even these
advantages scarcely offset the low costs under
the old peonage system of the ancients.
There are mines in Mexico worked to the water
line which were rich. Many of these can be and have
been reopened and successfully worked by reason of
the high efficiency of American pumping machinery
and the superior management of American engineers.
Other mines which were profitable above water
level are found low grade, base and difficult of treat-
ment in the sulphide zone. Unusual conditions and
difficulties exist in many localities in Mexico due to
climate and topography, and the truth should be
recognized that mining in Mexico is not greatly un-
like mining in the southwestern part of the United
States, and that each mine must stand upon its indi-
vidual merit and cannot borrow any real value from
its rich neighbors, nor from the traditional tales of
great wealth in the past. There are engineering and
metallurgical problems — some of them novel — to be
worked out, and these are being rapidly solved by
American engineers. The difficulties of transporta-
tion are being remedied by the construction of rail-
ways, and nothing aids more materially than the
liberal laws under which Mexican mines are at pres-
ent operated.
In Mexico the extralateral right is unknown. All
mining locations are in square units — the pertenencia,
100 meters square — and a mining property usually
comprises a greater or less number of these units.
There are many phases of Mexican mining law which
could be adopted by the United States with advan-
tage to the industry. No assessment work is required
on claims in Mexico, but a tax is fixed and must be
paid. There is no evasion of this tax — as in the case
of the annual assessment, which is too often evaded
in the United States for the good of the industry. As
a consequence, those mining in Mexico actively
develop the claims upon which they are paying taxes
or, if considered not worth development, the claim is
relinquished to the Government, and is again open to
the next comer. There is no doubt that the Mexican
mining laws are in many ways superior to those of
the United States. The laws are favorable to devel-
opment of the Republic's resources, but there are
other conditions which tend to retard the extension
of mining operations, as well as to make many enter-
prises commercial failures which should be profitable
concerns. These are the overcapitalization of prop-
erties and the top-heavy management — an official
staff at the mine large enough to operate a Govern-
ment, with " Home Offices " which absorb a large
share of what should be stockholders' profits, for it
is needless to say that unincorporated companies, or
close companies, and those owned and operated by
individuals are not afflicted with the expensive home
office attachment, nor is the official staff larger than
is really necessary for the proper conduct of the
business.
IT is now said that there is a reasonable probability
of the construction of the deep Cripple Creek
drainage tunnel, the estimated cost of which is placed
at $750,000, of which about $500,000, it is reported,
has been secured. The value of this tunnel to the
mining industry in Cripple Creek district is almost
incalculable. In fact, the past experience in this
district has shown that very few mines can hope to
operate at any considerable depth below the present
drainage level of the El Paso tunnel, and even if it
were possible to install pumping machinery sufficient
to handle the vast volume of water found iu this zone
of saturation it is good business to drain the ground
by means of the proposed tunnel for the reason that
it can be more completely and far more economically
done by the adit.
OF all the accidents occurring about mines, the
collapse of head frames is one seldom or never
heard of. In the building of these structures the
factor for safety is usually so absurdly large that one
has seldom or never been known to collapse.
J0LT 1, 1MU5.
Mining and Scientific Press.
9 ^
CONCENTRATES. '
b _ o
Slimy ores treated by the cyanide process, where
salt water is employed, usually give less trouble in set-
tling the slimes than where fresh water is used.
The Brandt drill is made in Europe. It is operated
by water under a high head which forces the bit against
the rock while it slowly turns, cutting away the rock.
V V V V
Mining companies incorporated under the laws of
one State, and operating their mines in another, are
amenable to laws of the State in which they are oper-
ating.
The price at present paid for Joplin, Mo., district zinc
ore ranges from a basis of $3!) to $41.50 for ore contain-
ing 60% zinc. Occasionally prices go as high as $43.50
to $45.
Vwww
When amalgamating in the battery it is generally
advisable to use as little water as possible — enough to
clear the pulp out and make an even and free flow over
the plates.
With a proper arrangement of hydraulic classifiers
and concentrating tables in gold mills, there is usually
little use for a canvas plant to concentrate slimes from
the tables.
V V V V
Manganese occurs in a great variety of rocks, usually
in small amount, but in some rocks, such as the cherts of
the Coast range of California, is abundant, and in some
instances forms veins of commercial value.
VVVV
IT should be the duty of the superintendent or fore-
man of the mine to investigate carefully the cause for
all missed holes. By ascertaining the cause, it may be
possible to obviate their frequent occurrence.
VVVv
A sulphide is a combination of a metal with sulphur
and a sulphate is a combination of a metal with both
sulphur and oxygen. Sulphuric acid is merely the com-
bination of sulphur one part and oxygen three parts with
water H,0, forming H2SCv
*v v V v
If it is necessary to unwater the old workings of the
copper mine, it would perhaps pay to run the water
through boxes containing iron and tin scraps. In this
way considerable copper may be recovered, if the water
in the mine contains much copper.
Chromium, commonly called chrome iron, occurs
almost exclusively in dark basic rocks, and notably in
serpentine, also in d unite and peridotite. The ore is
found in segregations of solid ore and in grains scattered
through the matrix. It may be concentrated readily by
water.
v v vv
Under a head of 410 feet, each miner's inch of water
(1.5 cubic foot per minute) will develop 0.99 H. P. Un-
der a head of 650 feet, 1 cubic foot of water per minute
will develop 1.04 H. P. Under a head of 410 feet, the
discharge from a 1-inch diameter nozzle will be 5.31
cubic feet per minute.
VVVV
If the mineral is thought to he heavy spar (baryta),
fuse a small quantity of the pulverized mineral with
sodium carbonate and place the mass on a piece of clean
silver and moisten with a drop of water. If the mineral
is sulphate of barium (baryta) it will color the silver
black — a black silver sulphide,
fbtfetfadf
IN pyritic smelting if the height of a column of ore be
too high the condensation of volatile sulphur in the
upper part of the column will ultimately give trouble.
If the fire works its way too far upward it has a ten-
dency to slag the materials of the charge and the result
usually is that the descent of the charge is retarded or
prevented altogether.
In roasting ores an oxidizing roast is one which leaves
the gold present in metallic form and the silver either
metallic or in the form of sulphate. A " dead " roast is
accomplished by raising the heat, by means of which the
oxidizing roast is continued until the sulphates of iron
and copper are decomposed. Lead sulphate is not de-
composed and usually the silver remains as sulphate.
Almost without exception the rich ore bodies of the
Comstock lode at Virginia City occur as segregations in
large masses of barren or comparatively barren quartz.
These quartz masses have formed in the much altered
andesites which lie on the footwall diorite of Mount
Davidson. There are also ore bodies in the diorite, but
these are mostly low grade and rather base, containing
iron and copper and lead sulphideB, etc., beside low
values in gold and silver.
THE distance at which a mountain may be seen de-
pends upon the point of observation and upon the clear-
ness of the atmosphere. In dry countries it is usually
possible to see great distances— 150 to 200 miles, and even
farther, when the air is particularly clear. Colo-
rado, Wyoming, New Mexico, Arizona, southern Cali-
fornia and the Great Basin region are noted for the
purity of the atmosphere and the great distances
through which objects may be distinguished.
V V V V
It is a mistaken idea that one may locate mining
claims wherever gold is found. A few days since gold
was reported found in the gravel brought up by the
sand pump in drilling a well at Carson, Nevada, and a
number of men at once began staking out claims. Mining
claims may only be taken on the unoccupied public
domain. Private property is not subjected to the laws
under which mining claims are taken.
Producer gas is used as motive power to drive gas
engines, and also for fuel for heating purposes and in
furnace work. In the last its use is increasing. Pro-
ducer gas is made in what are known as gas producers,
by passing a mixture of steam and air through an incan-
descent bed of fuel in a closed producer. The admixture
of steam and air must be in the hands of an experienced
man or the fire may be extinguished or a poor quality of
gas made.
There is no longer an arbitrary footage of ground ex-
cavated in the performance of assessment work. The
work may be estimated by day's labor actually per-
formed at the going wages in the camp where the claim
is situated, the amount of work done in a day being
equivalent to an ordinary shift's work. The cost of im-
provements in the way of buildings or other structures,
ditches, necessary roads, machinery and pipe lines may
also be counted as assessment work. Tools do not
count.
Although carbon, manganese, chromium oxide,
nickel and several other mineral substances give extreme
hardness to steel, the percentage of the mineral U6ed
must be just right to accomplish the desired result. Too
great an amount of any of these minerals in the alloy
will usually produce an entirely different result from
that resulting from the introduction of the proper pro-
portion. When the carbon in steel — drill steel, for in-
stance— is burned out by overheating, the steel becomes
worthless as a tool, and the burned portion must be
cut off.
In copper mines, where the water is very corrosive
and rapidly destroys the iron and steel with which it
comes in contact, it seems that the damage to air and
water pipes might be overcome by substituting copper
pipes for those of iron commonly in use. At some of the
mines of Butte, Mont., wooden pipes lined with lead
have been put in, owing to the rapid corrosion of iron
pipes by the acidulated water and the replacement of.
iron by the copper. Copper, which thus replaces the
iron, has little or no cohesive strength, and the pipe in
time will fall to pieces of its own weight.
Where ores containing arsenic and antimony are
roasted, preparatory to treatment by the cyanide pro-
cess, great care must be exercised in roasting, particu-
larly in the early stages of the roasting. The tempera-
ture must be kept down to a low red heat, as if at first
the heat be very high, certain stable compounds of
arsenic and antimony are formed, which may make it
impossible to extract the gold and silver values by cya-
nide solutions. On such ores, bromo-cyanide has usually
a better effect than with simple cyanide solutions. An
extraction of 6% to 7% greater is often possible where
the bromine is used.
The duty of a pound of nitro-powder depends entirely
upon the manner in which it is used and upon the char-
acter of rock to be broken. An experienced miner who
understands placing his holes will break more rock with
a given amount of powder than he whose holes are
pointed more for convenience in drilling than for the
purpose of breaking rock. An expert will rarely over-
load his hole, while the inexperienced man almost in-
variably does. A hole that is overloaded will often blow
off the collar and leave a large amount of the hole in
solid rock. The inexperienced miner argues that he did
not use enough powder and the next time uses more in-
stead of less powder.
VVVV
Magnetism is a property possessed by several min-
erals. The most important are iron, josephinite (a nat-
ural alloy of nickel and platinum), some platinum (slightly
magnetic), magnetite, pyrrhotite, and in far less degree
a number of other minerals. A German scientist —
Plcecker — determined the relative magnetic attraction of
a number of minerals, taking iron as 100,000. He found
that magnetite was 40,227; hematite, crystallized. 533;
massive, 134; limonite, 71; pyrite, 150. Many minerals
only slightly magnetic become noticeably so on being
subjected to high heat. On this property is based the
success attending the use of the electro-magnetic sepa-
rator in concentration of zinc and other ores.
Where rock is much decomposed — so much so that it
cannot be drilled without much trouble from caving of
loose ground into the hole — the ground may sometimes
be successfully drilled by means of a bit auger. The bit
is made like what is sometimes called a "swallow tail,"
one point being turned slightly to the right, the other to
the left. The bit can be placed in an improvised brace
similar to that used by carpenters, but more simple in
design, being merely a rod of steel bent at right angles
so as to form a crank. It is well to place a wooden
handle on the crank before making the bends, as this
will greatly facilitate the operation of the auger. When
rock is so soft it cannot be bored by a device of this
kind, it can be removed by picking and shoveling. Low
nitro powder or black powder is strong enough for
ground that requires to be bored with augers.
VVVV
Flux is material added to an ore charge to cause it to
smelt readily, freeing the metal present. Quartz alone
is practically infusible at a temperature which will melt
all of the minerals with which it is associated. The
quartz is acid, and a basic flux is required. In assay
charges the addition of the basic flux sodium carbonate
forms a suitable combination and the two substances
fuse, forming silicate of soda, and gold will separate and
unite with the particles of molten lead derived from the
reduction of the litharge, which has also been added to
the charge for this purpose.
VVVV
At copper smelters 20 pounds of copper in ore or matte
is called a unit or 1% of the ore or matte by weight. The
gross value of a unit is 20 pounds times the market price
1 pound of the metal. Thus, a 20% ore contains 20 units
or 400 pounds of copper in 1 ton of 2000 pounds. With
copper at 15 cents per pound, a unit is worth $3 and the
ore is worth $00 per ton. This is gross or assay value,
from which the smelters deduct the costs of shipment of
the metal to New York, and also refining charges. In
Arizona these charges generally amount to 3J to 4 cents
per pound in addition to smelting charges and deduc-
tions for moisture in the ore, and a small percentage
sometimes deducted for mechanical losses in the slag.
Air compressors should be so arranged that the air
taken into the compressing cylinders should have as low
a temperature as possible, and a liberal supply of cold
water should be run through the jackets. When air is
compressed its temperature rises. If it were not for that
fact the efficiency of compressors would be nearly 100%,
but the air becomes heated, expands and exerts a certain
amount of back pressure. As soon as the air leaves the
compressor, passing to the receiver and pipe line, the
temperature is lowered and a corresponding decrease in
pressure takes place. If the air can conveniently be re-
heated near the point of use it will be again expanded
with increase of pressure and corresponding increased
efficiency.
The "Stark process" is in successful operation in
South Africa, on the Rand. The process, if it can be
called such, consists in simply pumping water onto old
dumps of cyanided tailings. These dumps are theoreti-
cally considered to contain all the essential elements to
successful treatment. At first the amount of gold recov-
ered was small, but the amount increased in time until
now it constitutes a very substantial sum. The solutions
as they come from the dump are run onto old mine
cables and other scrap iron, when precipitation results.
The entire process is apparently suggested by the leach-
ing of dumps of copper ore. So successful have these
attempts in this direction been that a floor is now pre-
pared for the tailings by running a quantity of slimes
into the tailings pond, as an impervious floor is an essen-
tial feature of the successful operation of „he process.
A similar scheme waB adopted at a Mexican mine several
months ago.
IN West Australian milling practice it has been found
that the limit of economy in breaking rock for
stamping in the various types of breakers has been
reached when the pieces will pass a 2i-inch ring.
In the batteries a 15 -mesh screen is found to give
the maximum economic result. The subsequent grind-
ing in pans completes the communition of the ore,
and this is arranged so as to produce an almost uniform
product by regulating speed of the muller. At the upper
rim of the pan is an outlet overflow. When run at a
high speed — sixty revolutions per minute — the pan
will produce several grades or sizes, but at slow speed —
twelve or fifteen revolutions per minute — a stated size
only is produced, which being comparatively fine rises,
being forced to the surface by the sinking toward the
bottom of the coarser material, the fine overflowing, the
coarser in time being ground and rising to flow away.
By this arrangement few slimes are produced and the
desired size of particles can be obtained. The tube mill
is employed when slimes are desired.
The cost of putting down deep holes (15 to 20 feet)
with churn drill must depend somewhat on the charac-
ter of rock drilled, upon the drill itself and upon the in-
dustry of the men employed in the work. Three men
should drill a 15 to 18-foot hole in one shift of ten hours.
Their wages would be probably $2.50 to $3 each, or $7.50
to $9 for an 18-foot hole. In hard rock the progress
would not be so fast, and in very hard rock proportion-
ally less. If three holes can be drilled 18 feet deep on
a suitable bench or in the side of an open cut, the
holes 20 feet apart, and with a " burden " of 12 to 15
feet on the holes, after "springing" or chambering,
these holes should break 800 to 1000 tons of rock, and
under favorable conditions more. The cost for drilling
alone under average conditions would be from 3 to 5
cents per ton of rock broken. A good drill for this kind
of work is made by welding lfr-inch drill steel onto each
end of a H-inch pipe. The bit at one end should be a
little smaller than at the other in order that the drill
when reversed may "follow " readily in the hole already
drilled. Novices at the work cannot be expected to
operate a "jumper " or churn drill as well as those who
are experienced, but it is easily learned.
Mining and Scientific Press.
July 1, 1905.
Discovery and Development of the Home-
stake Mines of South Dakota.
NUMBER m.
Written for the Mining and Scientific Press.
The methods of carrying on the work of mining in
former days left many blocks of ore in the backs
of stopes, which became too dangerous to work far-
ther, and in some instances considerable amounts of
ore were involved in caves which occurred. The man-
agement has introduced new systems of mining
throughout in new ground, each method being par-
ticularly adapted to the physical conditions obtaining
at that place. Robbing these old workings and recov-
ering ore lost in caves has also become a feature of
mining operations, in these mines. Often under the
old system mining was discontinued in a stope where
the conditions became in any way disadvantageous.
In each of these several cases the ore is now being
recovered — not because there is a shortage of ore,
but because it is not considered good business to
leave ore in the mine which is accessible and which
may still be extracted at a profit.
Where it is determined to recover ore from a cave
or the back of an old stope which it was found unsafe
off through the crosscuts run from the main drift
to give the miners room to reach the back. As
the work progressed upward raises were carried up
to allow access to the stope. Stoping was carried
up as close to the next level above as was considered
safe, and the excavation already made was now prac-
tically filled with broken ore, only enough having
been drawn off as work proceeded to make room. As
13 cubic feet of ore in place fills 20 cubic feet when
broken, about 40% of the ore broken had been re-
moved, the remaining 60% being ready for removal
to the mills. By this method a large tonnage of
broken ore was always on hand in the event of a tem-
porary suspension of mining operations. The stopes
thus worked were from 30 to 50 feet in width. The
ore remaining between the back of the stope and the
level above was recovered later by caving.
The most interesting feature of modern mining
methods at the Homestake is the extraction of large
ore bodies, no matter at what angle they may lie,
with a minimum amount of timber and contempora-
neous filling. There are several methods in vogue,
which vary somewhat with the existing conditions.
In the early days of underground mining on this belt
the square set was introduced, but the mistake was
made of trusting the timber supports to keep up the
tremendous weight of the ground. Outside of some
massive limestones and tuffs in dry regions, there is,
I perhaps, no better standing ground for large masses
|g;vJPt
: :v ::. ■-■:>v;" ,JIlJltii
Cross Section of Homestake Ore Bodies Through Old Abe Shaft.
to further attempt to mine, the ore is approached
from a level below, a raise of two compartments
being put up, timbered by square sets. At the top
a substantial bulkhead is built to protect the work-
men. A grizzly is put in on the floor of the set next
below the top, consisting of several pieces of timber
12x12 inches and spaced 12 inches apart. These
timbers are faced with old boiler plate to render them
durable. The ore which it is desired to secure has
usually settled on a filling of waste. A run is started
by working into the broken mass with bars, or blast-
ing with moderate amounts of powder. Often the
run once started, as in the case of some of the open
cuts, the broken ore continues to come as fast as it
is drawn off into the cars from the chute at the foot
of the raise, until it has either all been drawn out or
the slope angle will not permit it to run farther.
Occasionally after a brief run a large excavation is
discovered, in the roof and walls of which the ore is
still solid. This ore is then stoped in the usual man-
ner, the precaution being first taken to fill the open
stope with waste. Sometimes a run of ore is followed
by a run of waste. This latter is sent below to fill a
stope on some lower level. Later waste may be
again followed by ore for a time where the ore, which
is in most cases readily distinguished by its appear-
ance from waste, is sent to the mill. Many thousands
of tons of ore have been recovered in the manner
above described.
In the Terra mine stoping without timbers was
carried on for a long time. The method is applicable
to veins of clean ore having hard walls and standing
at an angle above 40°. A crosscut was run from the
nearest shaft across the formation to the ore body
and entirely across it. The method of attack is
variable. In some instances a drift was run in the
foot wall parallel with the ore body and about .0 feet
from it, and the stope opened from the crosscut. At
intervals of about 30 feet the drift was connected
with the stope by short crosscuts All the rock
broken on the first floor, about 7 to 8 feet high,
was shoveled into cars and removed. Mining up-
ward continued and only sufficient ore was drawn
of rock than that at the Homestake; but even this
has its limits of self-support, and when stopes are
carried with such great dimensions as were at-
tempted there, collapse is eventually inevitable, and
such proved to be the case in these mines. Stopes
more than 100 feet in width, 150 to 200 feet long and
80 to 100 feet high, with no support to the roof and
hanging wall other than the timbers of the square
set, caved in several of the mines. In some, if not
all, of these cases the disaster might have been
averted by running down into the stopes the waste
rock of the porphyry cap which was in most instances
available. At the Deadwood mine, north of the
Terra, thousands of tons of this rock were removed
and trammed to one side, to strip the ore body be-
neath, in order that it might be mined by the open
cut method.
The accompanying sketch, taken from "Contribu-
tions to the Geology of the Northern Black Hills of
South Dakota," United States Geological Survey,
shows the immense size of some of the ore bodies in
the Homestake mine. On the 800 level the main ore
body is over 400 feet wide and below that level is
in places over 500 feet in width. Mining men
acquainted with large veins, where the square- set
method of timbering is followed, realize what an enor-
mous amount of timber is required to support these
great stopes. Where sets are placed with the posts
in the form of a square, with 6 feet from center to
center and 7} feet high, and 12x12 timbers are used,
the average amount of timber in each set, exclusive
of the sills, sprags and blocking (which are always
as necessary as the main members of the set), is
about 275 feet board measure, or about 14 feet for
each ton of ore extracted from the space which this
set fills. With timbers at $20 per thousand, this means
a first cost of 14 cents per ton of ore for the timber as
it arrives at the mine. To this must be added the ex-
pense of framing, handling, and setting up in the
mine, which increases the expense to 25 or 30 cents
per ton of ore. A stope 100 feet square and 100 feet
high would require, if timbered by square set
system, after the manner above suggested, about
1,000,000 feet of timber which, to place in the
mine, would cost, at 25 cents per ton of ore removed,
about $20,000. If timbers of larger dimensions are
used the cost increases rapidly.
It was this tremendous expense for timbers which
stimulated the Homestake management and engineers
to devise a method by means of which these large ore
bodies could be safely extracted without loss and
with a minimum expense for timbers. The result of
the efforts in this direction was the introduction of
an entirely new method of ore extraction and sup-
port to the stopes.
In one new system the main crosscut is driven
from the nearest shaft to and entirely across
the lode to the foot wall. A heading is then
run along the foot wall, about 25 feet in width, and
from this heading stopes are opened, 60 feet wide,
with blocks of ore 60 feet wide intervening. Sills are
laid in these stopes from foot toward the hanging
wall, being advanced as fast as the work proceeds.
On the sills the square sets are placed in the usual
manner, and when stoping and timbering have ad-
vanced far enough, waste is run into the stope from
some point above and the stope filled. As the work
of ore extraction and timbering proceeds toward the
hanging wall the filling is introduced into that por-
tion of the stope adjoining the foot wall, following the
stoping toward the hanging, the gangways being pro-
tected by heavy lagging. When a stope is completed
from foot to hanging the pillar left on either side may
be removed in like manner, the waste in the stope
previously extracted being prevented from running
into the new stope by lagging placed in the sides of
the old stope timbers.
This system, although a marked improvement on
former methods, and one which gave increased safety
in mining, and also permitted the recovery of all the
ore without undue risk, still required a vast amount of
timber in its operation, and the management decided
that further experimenting in the direction of econ-
omy was advisable. Accordingly various expedients
were suggested and tried, resulting in the adoption
of methods which are quite as safe as that above
described while requiring only a small amount of
timber as compared with the former methods. This
new method was named the Homestake system, and
is applicable to large stopes where the ground is
fairly good, everywhere.
Cto be continued.)
The Rational Design of Head Frames.
To the Editor : — Referring to Mr. Binekley's re-
ply to mv own communication published by you on
June 17th, I desire to add a few words to elucidate
two points raised in his letter.
Mr. Binckley states that, in the head frame de-
signed by me for the Wildman mine, the dimensions of
steel in the front column is apparently the same as in
the main brace, an impression presumably caused by
the small scale of the drawing. The main braces are
made of two 15 inch I beams, and the counter-braces
of two 12-inch channels, their object being solely to
steady the former, as explained further on, and to
act as anchors in case of overwinding.
It is true that the sheave bearings are bolted on to
one side of uprights resting on a cross piece directly
supported by the main braces, at their center, the
bolts being figured out to stand in shearing the re-
sulting strain of the cable tensions. The consequence
of this arrangement was the possibility of laying a
cap across the top of the main braces and above the
sheaves, which was considered desirable in order to
rig up an overhead traveler for handling them.
There is no question, moreover, but that, when the
center of the sheaves can be set as Mr. Binckley
recommends it, in the middle plane of the braces, they
are in a geometrically correct position for making up
the strain diagrams; but in the Wildman frame the
resultant of rope tensions is actually, if not singly,
taken up by the main braces, just as in a Cornish
pump, the thrust on the plungers is taken up by the
main rod, or like the weight of a line shaft, is trans-
mitted to a post by means of the supporting bracket;
there is only, besides the longitudinal thrust on the
main braces, a transverse strain which does not exist
in the geometrical arrangement, and which is taken
care of by the counter-braces.
I fully agree to the fact that Mr. Binekley's former
article of 1899, like the subsequent one, made the
principle involved so plain that any one could have
made up such a design without difficulty. It was in
the early summer of 1898 that John Ross, Jr., the
manager of the Wildman Co., took up with the writer
the question of the projected installations at their
Emerson shaft, including not only the head frame,
but also the annexed crushing plant and mill build-
ings. There was no intention of rushing the comple-
tion of definite plans, and the main lines subsequently
followed up for the head gear had been agreed upon
with a number of other points months before the final
drawings were made.
I would say, in concluding what is not a contro-
versy, that at no time did I have any desire of de-
priving Mr. Binckley of the deserved credit attached
to his able treatment of this subject; no question is
raised as to who first called the attention of your
readers to that type of head frame. Mr. Binckley
did it on two occasions at least, whereas I never con-
July 1, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
tributed a line to the matter, the cut of the Wildman
frame appearing in an article from the pen of John
Ross. 1 simply happened to submit a design involv-
ing a distribution of strains which I did not at that
time consider a personal conception, but which I
knew to be rational, and it is to be hoped for the sake
of sound engineering that the present tendency
towards deep mining, and consequently substantial
head gears, will lead to the general adoption of frames
designed upon the lines rightly advocated in Mr.
Binckley's articles. A. E. Cnon/.KO.
The Treatment of Refractory Auriferous
Sulphides at the Cassilis Mine,
Victoria, Australia. *
NUMBER II.— CONCLUDED.
Written by FBANCIS 11. Stephens.
With the adoption of classifiers no occasion was
found for use of Raff wheels, which were thrown
out. At the end of the tables an inner sliding box
was arranged in the usual concentrates box for the
purpose of catching the galena concentrates. These
concentrates contained a quantity of arsenical
pyrites, and were daily reconcentrated on a separate
table reserved for this purpose, and three products
were made.
Of these the heads, containing 40% of lead, went to
the grinding pans; the middlings, containing 15% to
20% of lead, 15% to 211% of arsenic, and eight ounces
of gold per ton, were shipped direct to the smelter;
and the thirds went back to the ordinary concentrates
for cblorination. Smelters, by the way, paid for
gold, silver, and lead, but deducted Is per unit for
arsenic. The galena headings were ground in a Ber-
dan pan with mercury and a little cyanide for a
period of twelve hours or less, and the ground pulp
when removed from the pans was stirred in a tub and
allowed to settle, when the top sludge was removed,
put into jute bags to drain, and shipped to smelters.
Settlings at the bottom of the tub, after removal of
the bulk of the mercury and amalgam, were returned
to the next charge, and in this way the mercury loss
was kept at a minimum, averaging for all operations
at the mill from .75 to 1.05 ounce per ton crushed.
The lead sludge from the grinding carried about 15
ounces gold, 40% lead and 10% arsenic when shipped,
the gold value before grinding being sometimes as
high as 60 ounces. The stamps were run at 96-100
drops per minute with a 6-7-inch drop.
Any more elaborate system of concentration would
not, under the peculiar circumstances,' have proved
commercially advantageous. When the plant was run
without hydraulic classifiers great losses of concen-
trates took place, to test which a trial of ore running
28 dwts. was made.
The stream of pulp was divided, one-half being con-
centrated without previous classification and the re-
mainder being run through classifiers first, with the
result that tailings in the former case went 7 dwts.
and in the latter case 3 dwts. The capacity of the
tables was increased fully 25% by the use of classi-
fiers.
The sands freed from concentrates by magnetic
concentration proved barren, so that this was an
ideal ore for a complete system of classification.
In due course the canvas slime tables were aban-
doned, as the values saved did not pay for the labor,
and the slimes were settled in a series of terraced
dams which assayed as follows:
Top dam 4 5 dwts. of gold per ton
Middle dam 4.5 '■ " "
Bottom dam 5.0 " " "
Overflow 12.0 " " "
The amount of solids overflowing amounted to only
1% of the amount crushed. No attempt was made to
treat the slimes separately, as the quantity accumu-
lated was not sufficient to warrant the addition to
plant.
Chlorination Treatment. — As it was usual to
make from 15% to 20% of concentrates running from
three to four ounces of gold and containing over 50%
of the total gold value of the ore crushed, the chlori
nation work had to be run as cheaply as possible.
The following is the analysis of a sample of concen-
trates, including galena, and representing the aver-
age over a week, although the variation was very
great for all the constituents :
Per Cent.
Lead 4.48
Zinc 5.26
Iron 31 .66
Arsenic 15.16
Sulphur 31 . 63
Unestimated 11.81
Total 100 . 00
The writer in taking charge found that the short
hand-rabbled reverberatories were quite unsuited for
the work, on account of the concentrates. fusing too
easily. As the galena could not all be separated,
some form of mechanical furnace was absolutely
necessary. Chlorine solutions generated from bleach-
ing powder and sulphuric acid were used in 10-ton
open wooden vats, and after comparative trials
against gas this method was retained as offering
many advantages, being actually cheaper for this
ore, while the extractions were the same for both.
Two Edwards' mechanical furnaces with 60-foot
hearths were installed with excellent results. One
♦ Trans. Tnst. Min. and Met.
man per shift of eight hours attended to all the work
of two furnaces with a weekly capacity of 30 to 35
tons each. The furnace man charged the hoppers
from the battery hoppers, stoked his two furnaces
and looked after the engine and dynamo for lighting
the works. The fumes were led into a brick flue 300
feet long and 5 feet by 4 feet inside, with a 40-foot
iron stack 2A feet in diameter.
The height of the top of the stack above the
hearths of the furnaces was 70 feet, and small dust
chambers were built between the ends of the fur-
naces and the flue. The iron stack did not suffer
at all, and it acted as an excellent arsenic condenser.
It was necessary to clean the whole length of the flue
every three months, about thirty tons of deposit be-
ing obtained.
The flue dust for the first 100 feet consisted of par-
tially roasted concentrates and arsenic soot assaying
about three ounces of gold per ton, or about the same
value as the concentrates roasted. The last i!00 feet
of flue contained arsenic soot comparatively free from
concentrates, and assayed at the rate of 7J dwts.
The arsenic at the base of the iron stack had to be
cleared out weekly, and it was a matter of serious
consideration what to do with this material in a
mountainous rocky district.
Finally it was buried with the residues of the chlo-
rination works. All attempts to rework the rich flue
dust with the raw concentrates for reroasting failed,
as the extractions fell off so greatly, so this material
was placed in heaps to weather and afterwards
roasted and treated by itself.
Just before the finish of the roast 1% to li% of
salt was added to the ordinary concentrates in order
to obtain a sweet roast. No evidence of loss of gold
by volatilization could be obtained, although on one
occasion, when roasting some concentrates containing
a heavy amount of orpiment, the teeth of the last
rabble were coated -,V inch deep with crystalline
gold. Similar occurrences have been noted at Kal-
goorlie, I believe, but I have heard of no explanation
why white-hot cast iron should have gold deposited
on it, nor can I suggest one.
The roasted ore was discharged into a push con-
veyor carrying the ore to a steel bucket elevator,
which took it to a cooling bin over the treatment
vats. Dry wood was used as fuel; any green sticks
getting in generally had the effect of throwing back
the charge to magnetic oxide. Badly roasted ore
set hard in the vats, while well roasted ore did not.
The ore in the hand-rabbled furnaces always roasted
black, while in the mechanical furnaces it roasted
cocoa color, but never bright red. The brighter the
color obtained on roasting the better the roast,
although a magnet failed to show any difference.
Practically no zinc was sent into the flue, the heat
not being high enough, being mostly in the roasted
ore as sulphate or basic sulphate.
During treatment the zinc was almost all leached
out of the vats by the sulphuric acid, but the amount
of zinc seemed to have no influence on the extractions
other than to prolong the extraction period, owing
to the sand in the vats packing as the zinc leached
out. Vats holding ten tons and made of 3-inch Kauri
pine staves were used.
An ordinary graded pebble and sand bottom was
used, and was replaced when it showed signs of clog-
ging. Strange as it may seem, the filter bottom and
the lead solution pipes used to get clogged with mag-
nesium sulphate, but a little hot water free from
sulphuric acid soon cleared this out. The chlorine
solutions run on had a strength of .0»% to 1.2% of
chlorine and from 0.5% to 1% of sulphuric acid over
and above the quantity required to combine with the
bleaching powder. In this way many deleterious
compounds were leached out or rendered harmless,
most of the copper present being leached out in the
first solution, leaving the ore in a good condition for
the next solution.
The first solution usually had all its chlorine used
up, but on well-roasted ore the solution ran off show-
ing chlorine freely. The solutions were not allowed
to remain long in contact with the ore, as otherwise
the chlorine became used up and the gold already dis-
solved was precipitated in the vat. Solutions were
run on for six days, or till the off-flowing solutions
failed to react well for gold. The solutions were
allowed to settle in an intermediate vat before pre-
cipitation.
This vat was fitted with plugs every 6 inches for
drawing off small portions for assay, and an extra
check on the amount of gold due at the cleanup was
obtained. Ferrous sulphate was used as a precipi-
tant, and was made from old battery screens. A
considerable amount of basic iron sulphate, etc., set-
tled in the precipitating vats and at cleanup time
was taken into solution with the sulphuric acid. Cop-
per gave very little trouble, but it seldom went over
1% or 2% in the concentrates. Owing to the use of
such weak solutions, not much chlorine passed into
the atmosphere. Less chlorine was consumed than
if dry gas had been used on this ore.
An extraction of about 85% was obtained on well-
roasted ore, the loss amounting to 1 to 2 dwts. per
ton crushed. Shipping to the smelters and treat-
ment charges amounted to £6 per ton, while our
costs, plus the value of gold left in, did not amount
to half that. The drawback to the use of 10-ton vats
was the fact that a little carelessness on the part of
a furnacemari spoilt the extraction of a whole vat.
The ore at the furnace discharge was tested every
five or ten minutes, and none but very reliable men
could be employed on this work.
Numerous experiments were carried out to try and
better the extractions, but with no success, although
they led to a steady decrease in the cost of chemicals.
Fine grinding after roasting gave no better results.
Dry gas gave the same extractions as chlorine solu-
tions, but the method was more expensive and decid-
edly more troublesome to work. The cream-colored
mud which settled in the intermediate solution vats
before precipitation was of a very complex nature,
consisting largely of basic sulphate of iron and up to
20% of manganese and arsenic.
On treating this mud with sulphuric acid it all
went into solution and left a small amount of black
residue behind. This residue turned out to be gold,
but was quite insoluble in chlorine water or cyanide,
even on long standing. Doubtless this was due to
the chemical condition of the gold precipitated in the
treatment vat if solutions were allowed to stand long
in contact with the roasted ores, as no lengthening
of the time of treatment on a vat of this description
would give a good extraction.
To test this a solution of gold chloride was poured
on a sample of well-roasted ore and allowed to stand
all night. In the morning all the gold was precipi-
tated, and could not be redissolved by chlorine water,
and yet this same ore gave good extractions if the
first solutions were run off quickly. At one time
solutions were only run on on two shifts, but after
the above facts were proved three shifts were started
with very beneficial results. What the chemical con-
dition of this precipitated gold was the writer is un-
able to state, as sufficient was never collected to
determine this.
Treatment of Tailings. — Cyanide works were
erected for the treatment of accumulated tailings;
but these leached very badly, owing to the large per-
centage of talc and mica scales and the nature of the
slimes. The slimes running high in concentrates set-
tled in large quantities with the coarse sands in spite
of the dams being kept narrow — most of the tailings
were made before the introduction of classifiers — and
these slimes percolated very badly and gave a poor
extraction even with agitation.
The sands could be separated in layers like leather
and had exactly the appearance of mica slates. A
trial was made of direct filling from the mill, using a
Butters' distributor, but with very unsatisfactory
results, owing to the amount of high-value slimes
that had to be run away to get a leachable product.
The following analysis of a vat settled in this manner
shows how unsuited these tailings were for a direct
leaching process:
Retained by 40-mesh, 14.4% at 4.00 dwts. per ton.
" 60-mesh, 20.7% at 2.75 dwts. per ton.
•' " 80-mesh, 9.1% at 2.00 dwts. per ton.
" " loo-mesh, 20.7% at 2.25 dwts. per ton.
Passed 100-mesh, 35. 1% at 6.25 dwts. per ton.
Consequently a great amount of preparatory work
in the way of drying and mixing had to be done in
the dams to get a product that would leach. An or-
dinary agricultural scorifier and an earth scoop were
used for this work, which could only be carried on in
dry weather.
The sands, after filling, were water-washed for
eight to twelve hours to remove magnesium sulphate,
which was present in large quantities. The wash
water coming off showed no free sulphuric acid and
not a trace of iron salts. Considering the large
quantity of iron and arsenical pyrites in the tailings,
this was at least remarkable, and that the pyrites
had oxidized was shown by the large amount of mag-
nesium sulphate. About seventy pounds of caustic
soda was used on a 90-ton vat and the cyanide solu-
tions were made up to .25% of KCy.
Caustic soda, unfortunately, dissolved arsenic com-
pounds readily, especially orpiment and hydrated
arseniate of iron, which were present in considerable
amount, and the solutions entering the zinc boxes
carried .5% of arsenic, causing a heavy consumption
of zinc.
To obviate this difficulty, solutions were not allowed
to remain in contact with the sands and matters im-
proved very much.
Solutions which ran off quite clear on standing be-
came quite milky with magnesia hydrate, and this
precipitate settled thickly on the zinc and spoiled its
efficiency. Extractions ranged between 60% and
65% and the consumption of cyanide kept at the
moderate amount of seventy-five pounds. A treat-
ment of seventy-two hours was given, but a longer
treatment gave no better extractions The use of
an oxidizing agent in experiments increased the ex-
tractions 10%. The water supply destroyed perman-
ganate readily ; organic matter in the water may
have accounted for this, as the water came from peat
bogs. If the ore were leached with distilled water, a
heavy consumption of permanganate followed on the
magnesium sulphate, which seems rather strange.
Assaying Ctanide Solutions. — The following
method of assaying cyanide solutions was worked
out by our assayer, A. M. Henderson, and used with
success: The solutions to be assayed are electro-
lyzed for a period of four hours, the gold being pre-
cipitated on a cathode of lead foil, the anode consist-
ing of a wrought iron rod. The formation of Prussian
blue on the anode is prevented by the addition of an
excess of ammonia, and the necessary circulation of
Mining and Scientific Press.
July 1, 1905.
the solution is caused by the liberated gas bubbles
and the peculiar shape of the cathode.
The precipitation of gold is very complete. On
solutions assaying 10 to. 15 dwts. of gold per ton and
containing .03% to .25% of cyanide the value is
reduced to below 3 grs. in four hours with the neces-
sary current density. As compared with evapora-
tion, the results are more consistent. In practice 10
assay tons — 212 c.c. — of solution are taken in a tall
beaker and 12 to 15 c.c. of strong ammonia added.
The lead cathode consists of a cylinder of lead foil
2J inches high and 1 inch in diameter, with three V-
shaped notches cut in the lower rim, a lead strip
being attached at the top with which to make con-
nection. The lead foil cylinder should be covered to
a depth of about J inch, and a 6-inch nail is used as
an anode. The disengaged gas bubbles cause an up-
ward current in the solution inside the cylinder and
down round the outside and through the V notches in
the bottom.
It is usual to make from fourteen to twenty assays
at one time, all joined in series between the terminals
of llu-volt lighting mains. With twenty assays in
series no extra resistance is necessary, but with a
lesser number than fourteen incandescent lamps are
inserted.
The current used is from .06 to 1.2 ampere, the
fouler the solution the higher the current density
that can be safely used. The gold comes down as a
bright yellow deposit, and when precipitation is com-
plete the cathode is washed in water, dried, rolled
up, scorified with the addition of some test lead, and
cupelled.
Costs. — The following table shows the mining, mill-
ing, chlorinating, cyaniding and smelting costs, on a
weekly output of 270 tons milled and mined, 54 tons
of concentrates chlorinated, 300 tons of tailings cya-
nided from the dams, and 4 tons of galena shipped
for smelting:
Mining — Average cost of mining, developing, and
transporting 1 ton of ore, 15s. 3d.
Milling— Tons crushed 270, wages 2s. 2. 2d., fuel
11. 2d., stores 6.6d., general charges Is. 1.8d., cost
per ton crushed 4s. 10.8d.
Roasting — Tons roasted 54, wages 3s. 11.3d., fuel
4s. 5.3d., repairs 2d., general charges Is. 10.3d — cost
per ton roasted 10s. 4.9d.
Chlorinating — Tons treated 54, wages 2s. 9.5d.,
chemicals 4s. 10.2d., general charges Is. 7.3d — cost
per ton treated 9s. 3d.
Cyaniding — Tons treated 300, wages Is. 9.8d.,
chemicals, etc. 10d., fuel 4. 2d. — cost per ton
treated 3s.
SUMMARY.
Per Ton Crushed.
£. s. d.
Mining, developing and transporting 0 15 3.0
Milling and concentrating 0 4 10.8
Chlorinating and roasting 0 3 11.2
Cyaniding 0 3 0.0
Shipment and smelting charges 0 1 9.0
Total costs £1 8 10.0
These costs do not include directors' fees and Mel-
bourne office expenses. Owing to heavy freight
charges the following costs are high:
Bleaching powder (27% to 30% available chlorine)
cost £18 per ton.
Chamber sulphuric acid cost £11 per ton.
Engine wood cost 14s. per cord of 125 cubic feet.
Furnace wood cost 16s. per cord of 125 cubic feet.
Explosives cost as follows:
Per Case on Mine.
, £. s. d.
Gelignite 3 3 6
Gelatine dynamite 3 12 6
Blasting gelatine 4 2 6
The cost of erecting this plant, including office
buildings, housings, etc., but exclusive of cost of air
compressor, was about £20,000, and was all paid for
out of the profits as the work proceeded, showing
that excellent profits could be made by ordinary mill-
ing methods, from what had been considered by
many to be only a smelting proposition.
Note. — The chlorination process, as practiced at the
Cassilis Company's works, and which is referred to
by the writer above, is as follows: "The chlorination
plant consists of seven circular treatment tanks, 12 feet
in diameter and 3 feet 6 inches deep, above the filter
floor; four precipitating tanks, each 8 feet diameter and
4 feet depth; two storage tanks, each 5x4 feet. The
chlorine is generated by the action of sulphuric acid on
bleaching powder. At these works 220 pounds of chlo-
ride of lime (bleaching powder) are dissolved in 8 tons of
water, and a solution of 1% sulphuric acid is prepared.
These two solutions are run upon the ore simultaneously
through a V-pipe, which is connected with the solution
tanks. The strength of the chlorine solution thus
formed is about 0.15%. The time of leaching is about
seven days, generally. The chlorine solution, after pass-
ing through the charge of ore, is run to two settling
tanks, from which the solution, after being allowed to
settle, is drawn off into precipitating tanks, in which
the gold is precipitated by means of an acid solution of
ferrous sulphate. This is made at the works by treating
iron in a boiler with sulphuric acid. The ferrous sul-
phate solution is poured into the precipitating vat by
the bucketful, until it is found to he in excess by testing
with gold chloride. After thoroughly stirring, the pre-
cipitate is allowed to settle for 48 hours, when the clear
liquor is drawn off by means of a rubber hose connected at
one end with a pipe, which passes into the tank 3 inches
above its bottom, and at the other end to a dish which
floats on the surface of the liquid. By this ingenious
means all of the liquor can be drawn off without disturb-
ing the precipitate on the bottom of the tank. When it
las run down to the level of the pipe, the vat Is tilted
slightly and the remaining liquor with the gold removed
by means of buckets into small tubs. Here it is again
allowed to settle and the clear liquid drawn off. The
precipitate is then digested in sulphuric acid, washed,
removed to a filter and allowed to drain, and is finally
washed into an iron pot. When dry, the precipitate is
heated to redness and niter added, after which it is
smelted with borax. The precipitate contains generally
from 70% to 80% gold, and the gold runs 980 to 990 fine.
It is said the extraction of the gold values from the con-
centrates is from 85% to 87% of their assay value. This
process is a modification of the Muncktell process.
The Bartlett Simplex Concentrator.
Herewith is illustrated the new Bartlett simplex
concentrating table now being manufactured by the
Colorado Iron Works Co. of Denver, Colo. The build-
ing of the old Bartlett table has been discontinued.
The simplex is less than one-half the weight, has one-
third more capacity and is one-third less in price,
Bartlett Simplex Concentrating Table.
and one-half less power is required than on the old-
style Bartlett table. It is set up and vibrates on four
broad hickory strips, to give the table resiliency and
quick action. Each deck is designed to be an inde-
pendent concentrator and each can be removed in
five minutes by taking out three hinge bolts. Its
construction is of the armored wood pattern, con-
taining no mortises or tenons. It is put together
with bolts and can be taken apart into pieces which
weigh 100 pounds or less.
Each deck is covered with a single piece of solid
rubber, riffled, the riffles being molded on when the
plate is made at the rubber factory. This special
molded rubber top is covered by United States pat-
ents, issued Jan. 27, 1903, and others now pending.
Each top or deck is provided with thirteen riffles,
1 inch apart, i inch high at the feed end, tapering to
the extreme discharge end. These riffles are banked
on the lower edge of the deck, having a smooth blank
space 9 inches wide where the ore discharges. This
blank space is intended to allow fine ore and slimes
opportunity to settle and stratify. The manufac-
turers point out that the ore travels faster on the
first deck than on the second, and slower on the third
than on the second, and claim that, as the concen-
trates are largely removed on the first deck, less
movement is required for the second and third, thus
giving the material more time to settle and stratify.
The wash water pipes are independent of the table.
They discharge into open launders, hence are not
easily clogged by dirt in the wash water.
The simplex weighs 900 pounds. Its builders state
that it requires only J actual H. P. to operate. They
also claim that three separate classes of concentrates
can be made on the table and that the capacity is
very large. It is claimed that this table saves slimes
so closely that no after treatment is required. Com-
plete information and literature may be had by ad-
dressing the manufacturers.
The First Ingot of Mexican Tin.
Some 200 or 300 years ago the Spaniards worked
deposits of float or placer tin at a point about 40
miles from Aguas Calientes, Mexico, says the Engi-
neering News. Last year W. A. Pratt, who has
been an assayer at Aguas Calientes for several
years, and his associates discovered a tin vein from
which the float tin had evidently come. On Feb. 23
of this year an ingot of tin weighing fifty pounds was
smelted from the ore of this vein. This ingot is be-
lieved to be the first ever cast in Mexico. The vein
is said to be about 5 feet wide, containing stringers
of tin, and can be traced for a mile. The vein is said
to run from 2J% to 4% tin, which compares well
with Cornwall ore, most of which runs less than 1%.
There is so small an amount of iron (1%) in this vein
that the ore can be economically concentrated and
smelted. Mr. Pratt has organized the Consolidated
Tin Mining & Smelting Co. of Mexico, and he writes
us that shaft sinking and tunneling on the vein are
now under way. The address of the company is
Aguas Calientes, Mexico.
Vertical Shaft Sinking on the Rand.*
In the discussion of the paper by H. F. Roche, on
"Vertical Shaft Sinking on the Witwatersrand," in
the Journal of the Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining
Society of South Africa, an abstract of which ap-
peared herein in the issue of May 6, E. M. Weston
said :
There are one or two matters in Mr. Roche's inter-
esting paper I should like to have made clearer. He
considers that any advantage buckets or kibbles may
have over skips for sinking are far outweighed by the
three advantages of greater safety, quicker hauling
and better baling facilities claimed for skips. In his
opinion they outweigh the time lost in cleaning down
50 or 60 feet of extra shaft timbering after each fir-
ing, and of fixing and adjusting the false sets and
guides necessary to carry the skips to the bottom of
shaft (an operation taking time and care), in lowering
and fixing and afterwards taking
out and hoisting before fixing
again. Nor does he consider that
the possibility of swinging the
bucket about the shaft to favor-
able positions for loading, nor the
greater immunity of the timbers
to damage, does anything like
balance the advantages he claims
for skips. Would Mr. Roche be
kind enough to supplement his
paper by giving figures showing
actual time of loading, hauling
and tipping skip from a given
depth and their capacity, as
against corresponding figures for
buckets at other shafts like the
Cinderella Deep and Western
shaft of Village Deep. Twenty
feet a month is such a serious dif-
ference between the two methods,
that the question as to whether
this would hold true in all shafts
and under all conditions cannot
be too thoroughly inquired into.
Clay may not always be the
most suitable material for surrounding the shaft
near the surface, as the nature of the ground may
call for the more solid support afforded by concrete,
masonry, brickwork, or iron tubing. Mr. Roche's
reason for preferring 3-inch or 3J-inch machines to
smaller machines in shaft sinking is not convincing.
In the first place he ignores the fact that the ground
to be sunk through may not be hard, and that the
long holes may not be suitable owing to the way the
ground breaks. I hold, however, that it is a fallacy
to believe that small machines, say 24-inch diameter,
will not bore as quickly in hard ground as big ones
will. They will always do so if they are not expected
to drive jumpers with bits not suitable to their size.
Much trouble has been caused, and small machines
often given a poor chance of competing with the
larger sizes, by either giving them jumpers too nearly
resembling hand steel and capable of boring only
short holes, or giving them identical steel to that of
big machines to bore a 7-foot hole. With jumpers
fitted with bits of a suitable size a 2J-inch machine
should drill 6 to 7 feet deep in the same time as a
large machine. Taking the difference of size of bits
at i inch, though it can often be made f inch, a set of
steel for a big machine to bore about a 7-foot hole
would have the following sizes : Short starter, say
about 18 inches long, bit 3i inch; starter 30 inches
long, 3-inch bit; second, 4 feet 6 inches long, 2J-inch
bit; long second, a short chisel, 6 feet 6 inches long,
2-inch diameter; chisel of li-inch diameter, octagon
steel, 8 feet long, bit IS inch to 1J inch. The big ma-
chine having a "run out" of feed screw of about 2
feet. If a 2J-inch machine were to be used for sink-
ing it should be provided with a set of jumpers of,
say, short starter about 18 inches long, bit 2i-inch
diameter; long starter 3 feet long, bit 2f-inch diam-
eter; second, 4 feet 6 inches long, 2-inch bit; short
chisel of li inch, octagon steel, 6 feet long, lf-inch
bit; long chisel, 7 feet 6 inches of 1-inch diameter,
octagon steel, with li-inch bit. These 2J-inch ma-
chines have only 18 inches run out of feed screw, and
so the bits are required to do less boring before being
taken out, and can be made of closer gauge than the
big machine jumpers which have to bore 24 inches.
It will be seen that the 2J-inch machine is all the
time boring with a bit a size smaller than that of a
big machine, and can thus bore as fast in even hard
rock. By finishing up with longer chisels of i-inch
steel, an even longer hole can be bored. I have used
them successfully in stoping. The advantage that
these machines would have over big machines in sink-
ing would be as follows : A 2i-inch Ingersoll weighs
180 pounds, as against 280 to 290 pounds of a big ma-
chine, and takes up about half as much room in skip
or bucket. They are thus very much more quickly
handled, lowered, raised, set up and taken down.
Nor do they cause so much stress on the bar, arm or
clamp. They are more easily and quickly moved for
holes and take up so much less room in shaft that, as
is often the case, twelve big machines would be ob-
jected to at the bottom of a shaft as taking up too
much room when lowered; twelve of these machines
*Trans. Jour. Chem, Met. & Mln. Soc, S. A.
Jdlv 1, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
would cause no trouble at all. They should certainly
be able to compete with the usual eight big machines.
Their jumpers are much lighter and the weight to be
lowered would be about the Mime in both cases, and
being so much more easily handled, should be set up
in the same time and bore out the shaft much quicker
to a depth of 0 or 7 feet.
This brings us to the question, What is the most
economical depth of hole for use in sinking ? This
must, of course, depend on the hardness of the
ground, the way it breaks, whether it sets and
cracks much after breaking, and the class of ma-
chines available. Other things being equal, long
holes are always economical to bore, because it is the
pitching and starting of the hole and the boring of
the first 2 feet that takes up the greatest proportion
nf time, so the greater the ratio, the part of the hole
that is bored with smaller bits bears to the first 2
feet, the quicker and the more economical the work.
1 am, however, surprised at the method Mr. Roche
says was successful at the Village Deep. To bore
10-foot cut holes, to charge them fully, and yet to be
able to break the first 4 feet must be extravagant in
explosives, but what, as having had some experience
in rock drilling, I cannot understand is that the plan
of cleaning out and liring the stumps of the holes was
at all successful. I have always found such holes
most difficult to clean out and in some ground abso-
lutely impossible. The tine rock will pack and set
solid in them and larger pieces wedge themselves in
the holes and their radiating cracks, so that it is im-
possible to blow them out or scrape them out. When
cleaned out, such holes are too big to fire with
economy, as there is no proper contact between the
explosive and the solid ground. In any case, I should
think the task of looking for twenty-four old holes
and cleaning them out was, apart from the danger,
one taking too much time and trouble to be success-
ful. If, however, such long holes can be effectively
lired, big machines should have the advantage over
smaller ones. I should have thought that the plan of
drilling a relieving cut with holes 5 feet long, and
then either liring everything together (when the cut
should come out clean), or half filling up the long
holes, when bored, with clay or sand, and tiring the
relieving cut and the top halves of the other holes first,
and the bottom cut holes and the rest of the other
holes after cleaning, would have been much more eco-
nomical in explosives, and much quicker and easier.
I should think, however, that the speediest plan of
sinking in any given shaft would be determined by
first finding the maximum number of large or small
machines that could be worked conveniently in it and
decide which to use, when by the experiment the
maximum depth of hole was found, that would, while
keeping the shaft to its proper dimensions, come,
bringing a clean cut with one charging and firing.
The trouble of cleaning and firing twice should render
a longer hole less effective, while a shorter one would
be uneconomical for the reasons already given.
(to be continued.)
Drainage of a Rapid Transit Railroad
Under a River.
One important engineering problem in the build-
ing of the New York rapid transit subway was the
construction of the two tunnels, or tubes, under the
Harlem river. These two tubes, through which the
subway trains are to run regularly, were constructed
on a new engineering principle, having been built of
concrete above the ground, and then sunk to the
bottom of the river, instead of having been forced
through the mud under the river bottom, as had been
done in such work heretofore. These twin tubes are
641 feet in length and are 16 feet in diameter, the top
of the tunnel being 20 feet below the low water
mark. Before the tubes were put in place, the en-
gineering department of the subway contractors
devised a system for the drainage of the seepage, or
the water percolating through the walls of the tubes,
and also in case of emergency arising from the sudden
inrush of water in the event of the breaking of a wa-
ter main. The drainage and pumping system
adopted, and the precautions taken to meet the pos-
sible conditions, are portrayed herewith.
Fig. 1 shows a sectional view of the tunnel looking
southwest, and showing the arrangement of the j
pumps which are in position in both of the tubes at |
the junction of the subway and the mouth of the tun-
nel at Harlem river, the pumps adopted for this
service were specially designed and built by the '
and connections. Four of these 12x12x18 pumps were
installed, each having separate air lines to the
compressor plant, J of a mile away and above ground.
The pumps are controlled automatically by separate
floats located in the tunnel. The automatic float for
one of the pumps is shown in the illustration along
the wall on the left hand side. The other pump, in
the distance, has its automatic float nearer the floor
Fig. 2.
Fi£. 3-
A. S. Cameron Steam Pump Works, whose general
offices and works are at the foot of East Twenty-
third street, New York. A longitudinal arrange-
ment of the piping and connections for the pumps is
shown on the right hand side of this illustration.
Pig. 2 shows two of the pumps in position on con-
crete foundations, with the arrangement of piping
Fig.
and attached to the pump. An air reservoir 16
inches in diameter by 36 inches long is arranged in
the air pipe line at the throttle of each pump. The
suction piping is also shown extending into the sump,
the top of which is protected by iron gratings.
Pig. 3 depicts the outside construction of the pumps.
The water valves are set in removable valve decks,
allowing them to be easily removed
with minimum time cost. The suction
valves are placed under the water
cylinder, and the discharge valves are
shown above the water cylinder.
Each of the pumps are separately
and independently connected and are
also designed with the suction and de-
livery flanges looking fore and aft,
permitting the arrangement of the
suction pipes as shown, with the pipes
running under the "air end," and the
foot under the air end made in two
parts, straddling the 6-inch suction
pipe, permitting the piping to be
readily removed.
Each of these pumps is capable of
delivering 600 gallons of water per
minute while running at a normal
speed, with an air pressure at the
throttle of about seventy pounds per
square inch, and a total lift of 70 feet.
These pumps have already been .
severely tested owing to the discovery
Mining and Scientific Press.
July 1, 190&.
of water in the tunnel some time ago, when tem-
porary piping and connections were hurriedly made
and the pumps w«re pressed into use at short notice,
being in operation day and night, and performing
good service, the inflow of water being entirely taken
care of and causing but a slight interruption in the
completion of the work.
#-;"A' ***** *******&************ *********
4
4
| lining and Metallurgical Patents* j
PATENTS ISSUED JUNE 20, 1905.
Specially Reported and Illustrated for the MINING AND
SCIENTIFIC PKBSS.
Placer Machine.— No. 792,111; D. T. Barry, Den-
ver, Colo.
In machine of class described, combination of suit-
able support having curved seat, receptacle engag-
ing seat, engaging portion being curved to conform
to curve of seat, sluice rigidly connected with recep-
tacle at suitable point above bottom, sluice being
suitably inclined and having series of valleys and re-
movable amalgamating plates mounted on bottom of
sluice and made to conform to shape of bottom, bot-
tom of each valley being comparatively narrow and
shaped to form eddy as pulp falls thereinto, each
plate being provided with ledge located between top
and bottom of valley, and suitable means for sup-
porting sluice whereby inclination may be regulated
at will.
Mine Cage.— No. 792,330; J. Herzler, H. Hennin-
ger and W. Fenner, Belleville, 111.
In mine cage, combination of bottom frame, shaft
journaled in frame, platform, rockers mounted on
shaft, inclined legs secured to rockers and tiltingly
supporting platform, chairs secured to platform and
to rear of rearmost platform legs and normally rest-
ing with lower end on bottom frame, and means for
tilting forward end of platform.
Excavating Apparatus. — No. 792,699; W. H.
Fulcher, Oakland. Cal.
Excavator comprising wheeled or table frame,
superposed frame or table mounted thereon, pair of
vertical spaced guides at each side one end portion of
superposed frame, vertical spuds mounted to slide in
guides, means for moving spuds vertically, pulleys
inurnaled near top and bottom of spuds, and endless
chain of excavators passing around pulleys in direc-
tion at right angles to line of travel of wheeled bear-
ing frame.
Crushing Roll.— No. 792,733; O. H. Schoenherr,
Carterville, Mo.
Crushing roll comprising polygonal hub, shell sur-
rounding hub and having its inner face concaved
longitudinally, segmental core sections interposed
between hub and shell and extending at opposite
sides of middle of hub, core sections having flat inner
faces fitting respective flat faces of hub and longitu-
dinal convexed outer faces corresponding to longitu-
dinal concaved inner face of shell, each core section
capable of radial movement independently of hub and
shell, adjacent faces of hub and core sections having
open-ended registering keyways, tapered keys driven
into keyways and having smaller ends threaded and
projected externally of hub, and nuts fitted to
threaded ends of keys.
Compressor.
Pa.
-No. 792,788; W. Prellwitz, Easton,
Cylinder head having annular passage there-
through, annular valve therefor comprising ring por-
tion and flange, and annular plate secured to head
and spaced therefrom, inner wall of plate engaging
outer wall of flange, forming guide for valve and lim-
iting outward movement.
Apparatus for Saving Precious Values in Soils.
—No. 792,617; B. W. Rice, Caldwell, Idaho.
Apparatus for saving metallic values from sand,
gravel, etc., comprising shaking screen, trough sup-
ported by arms secured to screen, screen box, bars
supported by screen and positioned underneath exit
end of trough, tank adapted to contain water and oil
and positioned underneath screen box, sprocket
wheels mounted within and upon upper edge of tank,
sprocket chain traveling about wheels, cross pieces
secured at intervals to links of chain and projecting
laterally from sides of chain and adapted to travel
adjacent to bottom of tank its entire length, and
gate positioned within tank and underneath which
cross pieces upon chain are adapted to travel.
Process op Hardening and Tempering Copper. —
No. 792, 070; C. R. Plumer, Seattle, Wash.
The herein described process of hardening copper
or alloys of copper, comprising subjecting copper or
alloys of copper to high temperature and while in
heated condition subjecting same to action of sulphate
of copper (blue vitriol) and pouring metal into molds
and forming same into desired shapes and allowing
metal to partially cool, and finally subjecting it to
the action of sulphur until it is coated with sulphur
oil and then allowing metal to harden.
Portable Furnace for Melting Steel or Other
Metals. — No. 792,619; L. Rousseau, Argenteuil,
France.
In portable furnace for melting steel and other
metals, combination with combustion chamber of
juxtaposed circular chamber, conduits or flues con-
necting two chambers, supports fixed in second
chamber, crucible resting on supports, conduit
divided into two branches leading respectively under
combustion chamber and into space around chamber,
vertical rod crossing two branches, valve in each
branch mounted upon vertical rod, two valves being
located at right angles to each other, removable
cover upon combustion chamber, tube projecting
through cover and means for tilting furnace.
Machine for Making and Sharpening Drills. —
No. 792,643; J. B. Word, Soulsbyville, Cal.
Machine of character described comprising base
movable anvil on base provided with plurality of
tools, means for operating any of tools, motor
for shifting anvil, lever for starting and stopping
motor, catch on base arranged to normally engage
anvil and hold same in stationary position, and con-
nections between lever and catch whereby when
lever is moved to start motor catch will be disen-
gaged from anvil, and when lever is moved to stop
motor catch will be caused to again engage anvil and
lock same in position.
July 1, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
The Commercial Development of Electro-
Metallurgy.
Written for tbt* Misin<. and scientific Phkks by
Giobci E, Walsh.
The production of metallic carbides in the electric
furnace has added greatly to the commercial devel-
opment of a number of industries. Owing to the
very high temperature required to fuse most of the
carbides, the electric furnace is practically monopo-
lizing the industry. A good many nf the compara-
tively rare metals are now being utilized in different
ways which make them of increasing importance,
although before the electric furnace was developed it
was impossible to produce such metals as tungsten,
ferro-tungsten, molybdenum and vanadium at a cost
that would make them commercially profitable. As
alloys in manufacturing high-grade self-hardening
and highspeed tool steel, tungsten, ferro-tungsten
and molybdenum are important factors, and as they
come out of the electric furnace in a compact fused
mass, they are most advantageously used in the
process of adding to the steel.
Calcium carbide can be produced at a temperature
of 15u0° C, and consequently it can be manufactured
in the ordinary regenerative furnace, which produces
a temperature ranging from 1500° to 1800° C. The
nxy-hydrogen regenerating furnace yields another
200° C, and the possible range of temperature in this
furnace is from 1700° to 2000° C. In the ordinary
blast furnace, charged with coke and lime, with oxy-
gen instead of air used, calcium carbide has also been
produced.
But all the other carbides require the higher tem-
perature of the electric furnace for their manufac-
ture. With its additional temperature of some 1500°
C, the electric furnace becomes a most important
factor in fusing the carbides. The commercial devel-
opment of carbides is thus due entirely to the prac-
tical adaptation of the electric furnace to industrial
purposes. Most of the rare metals, and nearly all of
the common ones, form carbides in the electric fur-
nace when sufficient temperature is given.
The most important carbides formed of industrial
metals are aluminum, tungsten, boron, molybdenum,
silicon, thorium, uranium, calcium, strontium, sodium,
barium and potassium. In nearly a dozen or two dif-
ferent industries these carbides have entered, and
their employment is gradually revolutionizing manu-
facturing conditions to a remarkable degree. The
carbide of silicon, which is now generally called car-
borundum, has completely changed our methods of
grinding, scouring and polishing in many lines. The
extreme hardness and abrasive qualities of this car-
bide makes its value world-wide, and its manufacture
to-day is on such a large scale at Niagara that every
industry can afford to use it. Even harder than car-
borundum is boron carbide, and if it were not for the
fact that it costs more to manufacture it than carbo-
rundum it might in time displace the latter in many
industries just as carborundum has displaced emery.
Calcium carbide, in its employment for the produc
tion of acetylene, is known the world over, but both
barium and strontium would do equally well as the
former for this work, but the more general occur-
rence of lime and its cheapness gives the calcium
carbide the preference. Acetylene has extended its
field rapidly, and to-day there are upward of 80u0
acetylene installations of all capacities in active
operation. More recently it has been utilized for
power purposes, especially for driving gas engines.
According to the tests made, 5.65 cubic feet of acety-
lene gas will develop one horse power, while 21.19
cubic feet of coal gas of ordinary quality are re-
quired for the same purpose. The small weight of
calcium carbide makes it more useful in places where
transportation is an item. In a good many mines a
portable acetylene generator is used for lighting
miners' lamps. Both for illumination and power pur-
poses, the use of acetylene is thus extending, and the
manufacture of calcium carbide is assuming propor-
tions that make it of world-wide interest.
In the manufacture of carborundum on a large
scale the use of ferro-silicon in the steel industry has
been to a considerable extent displaced. Ferro-sili-
con has been an important factor in the steel trade
as an alloy to prevent oxidation. In the casting of
iron and steel ferro-silicon acts as a deoxidizer and
thus relieves the process of the need of blowholes.
Owing to the high heat of combustion, the metal is
rendered more fluid for casting. The manufacture of
ferro-silicon has extended a good deal in recent
years, and several calcium carbide factories that did
not prove profitable, owing to the competition, have
turned to the production of ferro-silicon. The grade
of metal thus produced varies greatly, all the way
from 15% to 85%.
Copper silicon is also a good deoxidizer, and it has
been used a good deal in copper and brass castings.
It also increases the tensile strength of these metals.
This is obtained from the electric furnace at a cost
so low that it is likely to displace nearly all other
alloys in the copper and brass casting factories.
In the manufacture of aluminum in the eiectric fur-
nace a great impulse has been given to the electrical
trade. The substitution of aluminum for copper con-
ductors is one of the most important developments in
modern long-distance transmission of electricity.
Previous to 1898 aluminum was comparatively little
known in the industrial world, but when it was manu-
factured in solid drawn conductors its use rapidly ex-
tended. There are three plants in this country pro-
ducing aluminum, and six in Europe. The total
water power employed for making the aluminum is
nearly 40,000 H. P. As an electrical conductor
aluminum is in some instances considered cheaper
than copper, although not quite so efficient. The
first use of aluminum conductors was for railway
feeders, but its employment for telegraph and tele-
phone lines is doubtful. For iong-distance power
transmission it is supplanting copper in many parts
of the country. The long-distance lines nf the Tellu-
ride Power Transmission Co. in Utah, Colorado and
Montana use nearly 2000 miles of aluminum con-
ductors, involving transmission distances of over 130
miles. Aluminum is not readily oxidizable, and for
this reason its employment as conductors in mines
and acid factories is considered important. While
mineral acids affect copper conductors, they appear
to have no chemical effect upon the aluminum con-
ductors. In one particular there is an exception.
Chlorine is detrimental to it, and where conductors
are exposed to strong sea air or in the vicinity of
chlorine works the disintegration of the metal is very
marked.
The chief properties of the carbides which make
them of particular industrial importance are their
power to decompose water or to withstand oxidation.
These properties are proving of great value in manu-
facturing as new methods are discovered for utilizing
them. There are five of the carbides produced by
the electrical furnace which are nearly inert or nor-
mal so far as the oxidizing action of water or atmos-
phere on them is concerned. These are boron, sili-
con, titanium and zirconium. On the other hand,
barium, thorium, calcium, lanthanum, uranium and
cresium are strongly acted upon by water. Between
these two extremes all the other carbides experi-
mented with lie. In the decomposition of water simi-
lar differences are noticed. In the reactions, car-
bides of calcium, barium and strontium produce
acetylene, manganese carbides evolve a mixture of
methane and hydrogen; the cerium group produces
methane and acetylene, and thorium and uranium
yield in addition to the latter a certain amount of
hydrogen.
A few of the rarer metals have only very recently
been tested in the electric furnace, but their applica-
tion to a number of industries is indicated. Quite
recently ferro-titanium and ferro-vanadium have
been manufactured in the electric furnace, and they
proved of considerable value in the steel industry.
The demand for higher grade steel is one of the
phases of manufacture that is stimulating chemists
to greater effort in the industrial application of their
art. With the employment of electricity for driving
steel tools the need for harder and more resisting
steel is apparent, while the manufacture of armor
plate to resist modern projectiles requires chemical
composition of steels that will make it better than
heretofore. Nearly every metal known to the world
is being experimented with in the modern laboratory
to evolve some harder variety of steel.
According to some of these modern tests, it has
been found that the addition of titanium to pig iron
greatly increases its tensile and transverse strength,
while a similar but less marked effect is obtained
with steel. Other of the rarer metals have been
used in a similar way with varying success. In deal-
ing with all of these metals the electric furnace is
essential, for the high temperatures needed cannot
be obtained in any other way, and the blast or re-
generative furnace cannot be kept under such | er-
fect control as the electric furnace. Owing to the
development of the electric furnace, the waste of ma-
terial is greatly minimized in these experiments. At
Essen, Germany, where some of the most successful
.tests with rare metals have been made, the metallic
oxides are reduced by finely divided aluminum
In this connection a word regarding the smelting
of ores by the electric furnace should be added. Ru-
cent improvements have indicated some great devel-
opments in this direction. While the electric smelt-
ing of iron ores and the manufacture of steel by the
electric process have limitations, especially in the
relative cost of the operations, it is quite evident
that there is a field for successful work in smelting
certain titaniferous ores which are frequently very
low in phosphorus, sulphur and silica, but high in
titanic acid. Such ores cannot be treated in the
ordinary blast furnace process, and heretofore they
have been rejected. In the electric process such
ores can be treated successfully, and considerable
advance has been made in the manufacture of steel in
Newfoundland by using this method. Large deposits
of titaniferous ores are found on the island of New-
foundland, and they have not heretofore proved
profitable to treat. There is also an abundance of
available water power near the mines, while coal is
scarce. By utilizing the electric current generated
by water power, it is indicated that these huge
deposits 'of titaniferous ores can be made of great
commercial value.
In the treatment of copper-nickel matte obtained
from the Canadian ores, the electrolytic refining
plant at Sault Ste. Marie has been very successful.
Nickel-steel is becoming more useful in a variety of
ways every year. The railways have taken it up for
a number of purposes, and the increased consumD-
tion thereby demands a larger adoption of electro-
lytic processes for refining the crude nickel. By the
ordinary metallurgical processes raw nickel has been
refined to test 9H.2, and as a result of this improve-
ment it is not likely that the electrolytic process will
be adopted to remove the last traces of impurity ex-
cept for special purposes. Where pure nickel is
required the cost must be of secondary consideration,
and in this connection the electrolytic process is the
only one that can produce the desired results. If the
impurities left in the nickel were silver and gold, it
might pay for the extra expense of the electrolytic
process simply to recover these metals. But the
impurities are not of this character
The development of water power for electro-chemi-
cal and electro metallurgical purposes has increased
in the past few years remarkably, both in this coun-
try and Europe Heretofore the water power devel-
oped has had little reference to the location of the
metal mines. Niagara and Messina have attracted
the attention of the engineers and the great plants es-
tablished there are in many cases far removed from
the mines from which the different ores are extracted.
A change in this policy is now appareut. A better
study of the available water power among the moun-
tains has shown that it is possible to secure large
electric current close to the mines, and with the two
brought close together in one plant the process of
refining the metals is greatly cheapened. In the
mining regions of Montana, California, Colorado and
Utah large electrical currents have been developed
by private companies for operating mine hoists,
pumps and general machinery, and it is now only one
step farther to use the same current for electrolytic
refining plants. Electro-metallurgy will thus take
another step in advance and become of more practi-
cal value to the mine owner and operator than
ever before.
************ **************** *********
! THE PROSPECTOR. !
* *
The rock samples from Mercur, Utah, are as fol-
lows: No. 1, a much decomposed quartz porphyry,
in which the quartz grains are almost microscopic.
No. 2 is undoubtedly a portion of the same rock mass
as No. 1, but is impregnated with carbonaceous mat-
ter, which on ignition turns white, like the original
porphyry. No. 3 is the same, but has been rendered
shaly by pressure. It also is heavily impregnated
with carbon. This black material in appearance
resembles pyrolusite, but no reaction for manganese
was obtained. No. 4 is a decomposed porphyry,
apparently somewhat different from No. 1. Its finer
grain may be due to its occurring in thinner sheets.
No. 5 is a fossiliferous clay rock, and No. 6 the same,
but stained with iron oxide. It also is fossiliferous.
No. 7 is a coarse-grained hornblende granite, in
which occurs molybdenite and a little chalcopyrite.
The samples from Caribou Crossing, Y. T., are as
follows: No. 1, diorite-aphanite. No. 2, quartz,
with what is probably a decomposing gray copper,
probably rich in silver. No. 3, quartz, with decom-
posing arsenical sulphide. No. 4, quartz, containing
a decomposing iron-copper ore, stains of green cop-
per carbonate — malachite. No. 5, jasper, carrying
a little pyrite. No. 6, an altered intrusive rock,
probaby diorite. The hornblende has been entirely
removed, leaving only spots of iron oxide. No. 7,
felsite. No. 8, crystallized vein quartz, in which are
seen galena, zincblende, bornite (copper sulphide) and
pyrite. The silver-bearing metals in this ore which
can be identified are pyrargyrite (antimonial ruby
silver) and argentite (black silver sulphide). There
are probably other silver minerals present, but in
too small quantities to be identified. No. 9, quartz,
containing copper sulphide, altering to azurite.
No. 10, quartz, with ruby silver and argentite.
There is also, probably, some silver chloride present
on one side of the specimen, but it is too small to be
detected.
The rock samples from Sweetwater, Shasta county,
Cal., are: 1. Limestone. 2. Chlorite schist, altered
from a massive greenstone, probably diorite. No. 3 is
also chlorite schist and contains iron sulphide and
some chalcopyrite (copper-iron sulphide). No. i is
novaculite ; probably a silicified limestone. No. 5 is
garnet. 6. Amphibole (hornblende). 7. Silicified dike
rock containing cuprite (red oxide of copper). 8.
Bornite. 9. Magnetite. 10. Pyrrhotite, a magnetic
mono-sulphide of iron; the latter is too low in sulphur
to make acid making profitable in this country, al-
though it is used to some extent for that purpose in
Europe. 11. Zincblende; it probably contains con-
siderable iron.
The rock from Franklin Camp, B. C, is diabase.
It contains finely disseminated chalcopyrite and bor-
nite— sulphides of copper.
The rocks from Calico, Cal , are: 1. Hornblende
andesite. 2. Liparite, a variety of rhyolite. 3.
Sandstone, the material being from the disintegra-
tion of volcanic rocks, probably rhyolite. 4. Shale.
5. Jasper. 6. Rhyolite; the dark specks are silver
chloride.
10
Mining and Scientific Press.
July ], 1905.
Tonopah, Nevada, and Its Development.*
There are few instances in the brief history of Nev-
ada, which teems with the story of discovery, devel-
opment and herculean achievement, more interesting
than that of Tonopah. Prior to the discovery by
Jas. L. Butler of the rather unpromising ore on the
mountain side at the foot of the hill now known as
Mount Oddie, Nevada's mining industry had declined
almost to the point of stagnation. Outside of the
operations on the Comstock, at De Lamar, and in the
southeastern end of the State about Searchlight,
*See illustration front page.
desultory operations only were being carried on, in a
listless sort of way, at the numerous camps through-
out the State. The famous old camps of Pioehe,
Eureka, Austin, and some others were doing little or
nothing, while the great desert stretching across the
southern end of the State offered little of immediate
promise. It was known that mineral existed in some
of these southern hills and mountains, for in former
years energetic men had explored and developed
more or less extensively the districts of Reveille,
Logan, Hiko, Good Springs, and some other camps,
but these mines had either ceased to pay, or did not
possess the elements of success, and were therefore
unattractive to the average fortune hunter. Still
through this period of depression there were ven-
turesome prospectors who annually made pilgrim-
ages into this southern desert, lured by the possi-
bilities of the discovery of a "Gunsight," a "Brey-
fogle," or some other mythical bonanza.
James L. Butler was one of these. He made his
headquarters temporarily at Belmont, the most
southerly of the several outfitting points for the
desert to the southward. He was going to the
region south of the present town of Tonopah, where
some discoveries had been made in a camp called
Southern Klondike. He arrived late one afternoon
at the foot of Mount Oddie, where he made a dry
camp. Prom force of habit he looked about the
vicinity, and noticing some quartz croppings, like an
experienced prospector took several pieces of the
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July 1. 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
rock with him for test. He carried them southward
with him and handed them to an assayer at one of
the southern mines, who did not consider them prom-
ising enough in appearance to assay them. Butler
himself did not feel particularly elated over the find.
After a time he returned northward toward Belmont.
It is the habit of desert travelers when on these
trips to camp in the same places if the previous visits
had shown the place to be satisfactory, therefore it
was not strange that he found himself under the
shadows of Mount Oddie once more as evening came
on at the end of a cheerless day on the desert. Once
again following his natural impulse to pick up any-
thing that looked like ore. he gathered a quantity of
samples, took them with him to Belmont, showed
them to T. L. Oddie of that town, who agreed to
have them assayed for an interest in the claims. The
samples were sent to an assayer by Mr. Oddie, who
promised one-half of his interest in the claims if he
made the assays. The rock, unpromising as it ap-
peared, proved to be astonishingly rich.
This all occurred in KlilO. Mr. Butler, immediately
upon receipt of the assays, went to Mount Oddie and
located several claims. In doing the assessment
work two tons of sorted ore were sacked and shipped
to Selby's. This shipment netted $(>00, aud from that
time on the development of the new camp was rapid.
A number of leases were given miners on the Mizpah
and Valley View claims, and the desert slope quickly
became dotted with the tents of miners, prospectors,
merchants and adventurers of every description.
The accompanying engravings, for which we are in-
debted to John'D. HolT of San Francisco, Cal., show
clearly the results of the tremendous activity which
has been the most marked feature of the development
of Tonopah, the superlluous energy extending its in-
Huence out over the surrounding desert regions in all
directions and resulting directly in the discovery of
the several camps of the Goldlieid district, Bullfrog,
Lone Mountain, Gold Mountain, Kawich, as well as
a revival of mining in the old camps of Lida, Reveille
and half a dozen other localities where for many
years it has been known that mineral existed, but
which, owing to their isolation, could not be profit-
ably worked. Tonopah has changed all this.
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Mining and Scientific Press.
July 1, 1905.
Gold Mines in Schistose Rocks.
While -many gold miDes in schistose rocks are of a
somewhat erratic character — lenses of quartz with-
out continuity — but succeeding each other along a
general course, nearly coincident with the schistosity
of the rocks, there are other types of veins approach-
ing fissures in their structure in schistose rocks.
When the vein cuts across either strike or dip, or
both of the country rock, there can be no doubt of its
character, but sometimes the stress which has pro-
duced the vein has been such that the rocks are
crushed, flexed and even faulted to a greater or less
P'iV
1 V.ii'iV.ii,
Cross Section Vein 1200 Level Sheep Ranch Mine,
Calaveras County, Cal.
extent, thus forming a series of lenses of fracture,
with occasional actual displacement of the rock
masses adjacent to the line of disturbance and on
either side of it. When these movements take place
there are certain blocks which suffer displacement,
and other blocks which are only subjected to stress,
as indicated by the crumpling of the rocks. This re-
sults in one portion of the vein having the appear-
ance of a fissure with walls, while in another portion
the ore is "frozen" to the walls, or there is only a
crumpling and crushing of the fragments of schist
with little or no deposition of quartz. In some in-
stances the latter are undoubtedly the result of
movement which has taken place after the deposition
of quartz in the vein had ceased.
The Sheep Ranch mine in Calaveras county, Cal., is
of this type. There are five or more veins in the
property, but the main Sheep Ranch vein, which has
characteristic cross-section of the Sheep Ranch vein
and was sketched on the 1200 level. At times the
several stringers and independent accompanying
lenses disappear, there being but one vein, and again
only the lenses, or a series of stringers can be ob-
served. The mine paid from its earliest history and is
credited with having produced over $3,0U0,000 in gold.
The accompanying engraving shows the hoist and
mill built a few years ago. The mine is equipped
with both steam and electricity.
Mining in Waihi District, New Zealand.*
One of the most important gold mining districts of
New Zealand is that of Waihi. In this district the
property of the Waihi Gold Mining Co. is extensively
equipped and developed. Concerning it the report
of the Minister of Mines has the following:
This company's works are increasing to consider-
able dimensions, and up-to-date machinery is being
obtained to replace that which formerly was sufficient
for the requirements. A large winding plant is in
the course of erection at No. 1 shaft, which will be
capable of hauling up two trucks at a time instead of
one, thus enabling the company to increase the out-
put from the mine should it be required, or in the
event of any stoppage in the other winding shafts
through accidents or otherwise, a sufficient supply of
quartz could be hauled up this shaft to keep the bat-
teries running. A powerful pumping plant is in the
course of erection at No. 5 shaft. This, together
with the present engine now doing most of the pump-
ing on the same shaft, will, it is supposed, be capable
of unwatering the mine to a depth of 3000 feet.
The work of development in the mine is being vig-
orously proceeded with, and, as the lode system is
opened up from day to day. new discoveries are being
made and the value of the mine becomes more appa-
rent, proof of which is shown by the handsome returns
obtained from the ore as it is broken out.
At Waikino mill, (see illustration front page), great
improvements and additions are being made. The
most important in hand is the erection of a plant to
treat the concentrates, which have for some time
past been transmitted to New South Wales for treat-
ment. From tests already made, this new plant will
put through a large tonnage, and the extraction will
be as good as that at the works in New South Wales.
Waihi-Grand Junction Gold Mining Co., Ltd. —
This company has two claims. One is situated on
the western side of the Waihi Company's mine and
the other on the eastern side, and they comprise 90
and 190 acres, respectively. As the claims do not
adjoin each other, they have to be worked as two
separate mines. At the beginning of the year the
company was carrying on prospecting work in both
mines, but after a few months' work, not meeting
The Sheep Ranch Mine, Calaveras County, Cal.
been developed to a depth of 1300 feet, with thou-
sands of feet of levels, is the one here referred to.
The formation in which this vein occurs is coarse
mica schist of brownish to bluish-black color. Where
this rock has been subjected to pressure and sheav-
ing near the vein the schist has the appearance of
foliated black slate, which has led some who have
previously described it into the error of stating that
the walls were slate. The schist is cut by dikes of
diorite and pegmatite granite. This vein ]&, so far as
known, the hanging wall vein of the series. It is
from an inch or two to 3 feet in width, having an
average of 18 inches. Much of the quartz from this
vein was high grade, and gold could readily be seen
in much of it, particularly in a dark- bluish, almost
black, vitreous quartz, occurring in rolls and lenses
where the formation was much crumpled. Ordinarily
the vein quartz occurs as a continuous waving vein,
or, as previously mentioned, as a succession of discon-
nected lenses. The accompanying sketch shows a
with the success anticipated, it was decided to apply
for protection for the western claim, and direct the
whole of their attention to the mine on the eastern
section, where most encouraging prospects were
being obtained. While working on the western mine
a large amount of sinking, driving and raising was
done to effect communication between B and C shafts
for ventilation, and when this was accomplished, a
crosscut drive was put in a distance of 56 feet, where
the reef was intersected, and driven through and
found to be 14 feet wide. The quartz consisted chiefly
of large blocks of oxidized ore and, on tests being
made, it was found to be very low grade. In the
eastern section communication had been made
between Nos. 1 and 2 shafts, which has given excel-
lent ventilation to this portion of the mine, but to
complete this work, 243 feet of raising and driving
had to be done at a considerable cost. At No. 2
level the drive on the lode was extended for a dis-
* See illustration Xront page.
tance of :j6 feet, for the purpose of reaching the
Waihi Company's boundary. In the northeastern
drive on the lode at the same level, the drive has been
extended a distance of 304 feet and four winzes
opened out and sunk for a short distance below the
level. The lode here, I am informed, at each place
gave satisfactory results, and the company has every
confidence that this portion of their mine will prove
to be highly payable at greater depth. At the bot-
tom of No. 1 shaft the No. 3 level crosscut has been
driven a distance of 167 feet. In the month of May
the directors decided to test the lode at a depth of
1000 feet by means of boring, and let a contract to
the Goldfields Diamond Drilling Co., Ltd., to put
down a bore from the 500-foot level at an angle of
68*°. At a depth of 458 feet the first quartz was
met with, and the bore was to all appearance in lode
formation, until the supposed foot wall of the lode
was reached at a depth of 784 feet. The company
intends shortly to commence sinking the No. 1 (main)
shaft to a distance of 750 feet, where a crosscut
drive will be put in to intersect the lode. An aver-
age of twenty-nine men have been employed.
Waihi Extended Mine. — This company's opera-
tions have been directed to crosscutting north, south
and westward at the 500-foot level, with the object
of discovering the Waihi Company's lodes. In several
places quartz and silica veins running through the
country were met with, and what appeared to be
the hanging wall of a lode was followed for some dis-
tance, but as the Grand Junction or Waihi Company's
lodes have not been met with (although striking
direct into this company's ground) the manager is of
opinion that the lode will not be found until a greater
depth is reached, on account of the broken nature of
the country. A total of 830 feet of driving has been
done during the year. An average of ten men have
been employed.
Waihi Gladstone. — Operations in this mine (which
is worked by a syndicate) have not turned out as
successfully as was anticipated. The small 5-stamp
battery which the owners erected on the property
was completed about the middle of the year, when
crushing operations commenced for the purpose of
testing in bulk the value of the ore won from the dif-
ferent prospecting and development workings of the
mine. The reefs vary from 1 foot to 6 feet in width
at different points of the property. The method of
treatment adopted was wet crushing and plate
amalgamation. Up to the present, however, the
results obtained have not proved of a payable nature.
The total quantity put through the mill was 400
tons of quartz, from which 47 ounces 10 pennyweights
of gold was obtained; value, £115 3s. 9d. An aver-
age of six men were employed.
Waihi South. — All work in this mine is stopped
for the present, pending negotiations with the Gold-
fields Diamond Drilling Co., Ltd., for a series of bore
holes to be put down on the property to locate any
ore body that may be traversing the ground at a
depth, previous to incurring a large expenditure in
machinery, etc., to enable deep sinking to be under-
taken. In the early part of the year work was car-
ried on in the Waihi-Grand Junction West mine by
this company, but when the aforesaid company
stopped operations here, the Waihi South Company
could not carry on the work they had on hand at the
time on account of the large amount of water to con-
tend with.
Waihi Consols. — This company is directing atten-
tion to boring, with the object of discovering any
lodes that may run through their property at a
depth, and a contract was let in October last to the
Goldfields Diamond Drilling Co., Ltd., to put a hole
down 1200 feet. At the end of the year the hole had
reached a depth of 262 feet.
Waihi Consolidated. — There has been very little
work done on this ground during the year. A con-
tract was let for boring, and a start was made with
the old machine that was on the ground, but this not
being good enough for the work, operations were
temporarily suspended until one of the Goldfields
Diamond Drilling Company's machines arrived.
Ohinemuri River Syndicate Claim. — The syndi-
cate has gone to considerable expense in the erection
of houses and machinery, and although temporary
trials of the machinery have been made, and also
experiments to find out the best mode of treating the
tailings, the work is practically at a standstill until
a grinding machine is installed. It is confidently
assumed that the sands will then be treated efficiently
and economically, and thereby a payable concern
made of the venture. An average of ten men have
been employed.
Probably the best and simplest test of the road
making value of an oil is to evaporate a weighed
sample in an open metal dish, down to the hardness
of commercial ' D ' asphalt, and weigh the residue.
We thus get at once both the original asphalt and
that formed during evaporation, and while it is not
likely that the percentage of asphalt thus obtained is
the same as would be gotten by allowing the oil to
dry in the sun, yet it is highly probable that the com-
parison between different oils thus made is accurate.
This test requires no apparatus except an iron or
copper pan, a scale, and a plumber's fire pot, though
it must be admitted that the even grading of the
asphalt requires care and a little skill.
.fui.V 1, 19Uf>
Mining and Scientific Press.
*********+**********•*•*********>+*****
MINING SUMMARY.
+ *
Specially Compiled and Reported for the MINING AND
SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
During 1904 tbe production of mica in the United
States was confined to the following- States, given in the
order of the importance of production: North Carolina,
New Hampshire, Colorado, Now Mexico, California,
Georgia, South Dakota, Connecticut and Idaho. The
total quantity of sheet or plato mica produced in the
United States during 1904 us reported to the United
Slates Geological Survey was 668,358 pounds, valued at
8109,462, an Increase of 48,768 pounds in quantity, but a
decrease of $8H2K in value, as compared with a produc-
tion of 619,600 pounds, valued at $118,088, in 1003. The
reports of sheet or plate mica for 11100, 1001 and 1902
were 466,283, 360,060 and 373,266 pounds, respectively.
It appears that in 1003 and 1904 the production was
nearly 300,000 pounds greater than in 1901 and 1902.
This large increase in the production of sheet mica
during the last two years is due to the very large quan-
tity of the small sized disks and rectan ular sheets of
mica that have been prepared for electrical purposes.
The production of scrap mica during 1904 amounted to
1096 short tons, valued at $10,854, as against 695 short
tons, valued at $6400, in 1903. During 1903, however,
there were also reported 904 short tons, valued at $18.-
580, which were sold in the rough blocks as produced.
This probably made at least 800 tons of scrap mica, so
that tbe actual production of scrap mica in 1903 was
greater than that in 1904. Of the 1904 production 610,-
121 pounds of sheet mica, valuod at $100,724, and 200
short tons of scrap mica, valued at $2000, were produced
in North Carolina. This was over nine-tenths of the
total production of the United States in 1904.
ALASKA.
Gravel washing has been commenced at the Jualpa
mine, near Juneau, under the direction of W. H. Hile.
Superintendent G. Otterson, of the Mansfield Co.,
has leased the Nowell placers in Silver Bow basin, near
Juneau, and will open the camp on July 1.
ARIZONA.
Cuchlse Comity.
The Cochise Con. M. Co. is contemplating putting in
a 50-ton reduction plant at the Davis group, 5 miles
northeast of Paradise. The ore occurs in limestone and
carries values in lead, copper, zinc, gold and silver. H.
Alexander is manager. The Manhattan Develop-
ment Co., working near Paradise, is considering putting
in machinery for development. F. W. Hoar of Paradise
is superintendent. J. A. Lewandowski of Douglas,
president of the Savage Con. G. & C. Co., is building a
small matting furnace at the company's mines, near
Paradise. The Planet shaft of the Chiricahua Devel-
opment Co., near Paradise, is down 450 feet and is to
be continued to the 1000-foot level. F. W. Hoar is
superintendent. The main two-compartment shaft of
the Shattuck Arizona C. Co., near Bisbee, is down 675
feet. A station is to be cut and drifting started, as a
15-foot lens of ore was cut at 525 feet. B. M. Pattison
is superintendent.
Gila County.
(Special Correspondence). — The Arizona Commercial
Copper Co., W. S. Sultan, superintendent, have put in a
new hoist and other machinery in the mine, near Globe,
and are developing tbe mine. The Black Hawk shaft
is down 115 feet. The crosscut at the 100-foot has
opened an ore body which assays high in copper and sil-
ver. At the Old Dominion plant the automatic con-
veyors and crushers have been tested and found to work
satisfactorily and all the ore from the mine is hoisted
through the new shaft and handled by the conveyor
system. Rapid progress is being made in sinking the
shaft below the twelfth level, having reached a depth of
80 feet below that station. The smelter is maintaining
its average output of 100,000 pounds daily.
Globe, June 26.
The Inspiration M. Co., 10 miles west of Globe, J. D.
Coplen manager, has run three crosscut tunnels, the
Clipper, tbe Woodson, the Mercer, and the Martin. A
small concentrating plant is to be built.
Mohave County.
The German-American 10-stamp mill and cyanide
plant, near Acme, has been started. The mill has 950-
pound stamps, 7-inch drop, 100 per minute, and is run
by a gasoline engine. O. F. Kueneer is superintendent.
Tbe Fay shaft, south of Kingman, is being sunk
deeper and it is reported that machinery for deep sink-
ing is to he placed on the property,
jt'inia County.
It is reported that the Arizona mines, south of Tucson,
are being worked by the Mineral Hill Con. M. Co., who
will build reduction works this fall.
The double-compartment shaft of the Weeden mine at
Pittsburg will be sunk 600 feet. The smelter is turning
out ten tons of copper matte daily. D. Dryer is super-
intendent.
Final County,
The Saddle Mountain M. Co. has 100 men employed
on the San Carlos strip erecting a 180-ton smelter and in
the development of their copper property. Supplies for
this property are now being unloaded at Winkleman
and are freighted from that point to the mines, at Dud-
ley ville, a distance of 14 miles.
Work is to be resumed on the Aboriginal mines, at
Cochrane station, on the P. & E. Railroad, 10 miles from
Kelvin. The property is owned by J. S. Cochrane of
Cochrane, A. L. Jones of Phoenix and F. Harvey of
Kelvin.
Santa Cruz County.
(Special Correspondence). — The Mowry mines at Pata-
gonia, operated by the Mowry M. Co., have been devel-
oped to a depth of 600 feet. The several shafts have
been unwatered and development is again under way.
Larger hoisting and pumping plants are being put in
and better reduction works have been ordered. The
ores, which are sulphides of lead and copper associated
with gold and silver values, occur in lime gangue inclosed
in granite walls.
Patogania, June 25.
Yavapai County.
The working shaft of the Swis6 Girl mine of the Bau-
mann Copper Co., at Dewey, is down nearly 200 feet.
H. Bowdre of Turkey creek reports that new camps are
starting up in Pine Flat, Crook canyon and in the Pal-
ace station neighborhood. M. Ryan of the Wisconsin-
Arizona Co. is working on the company's properties.
The United Verde Copper Co. at Jerome is regrading
the old 300 roast grade and placing trolley wires thereon,
preparatory to again using it. At the Black Hills
Co. '8 property, south of Jerome, two shifts are at work
unwatering the mine.
L. C. Haynes of New York City has bonded the Har-
ryhousen claims near Jerome. He has started drilling
in the Verde Chief. D. L. Bartholdi is superintendent.
CALIFORNIA.
Calaveras County.
E. C. Wood, consulting engineer for tbe Essex Con-
solidated Mines Co. of Angels Camp, says that the prop-
erty has been opened up by three long tunnels and one
shaft 660 feet deep. A 40-stamp mill on the property
has been in continuous operation since April.
El Dorado County.
The Good Luck M. Co. has been formed to work the
Good Luck mine, near D amond Springs.
Fresno County.
A big flow of oil has been struck in the Coalinga dis-
trict by the California Monarch Oil Co. After a great
waste of the petroleum the flow was placed under con-
trol, and it Is now rising through a 6-inch pipe at the
rate of 3000 barrels daily. H. J. Greva of Coalinga
has made a location on the headwaters of the San Be-
nito, near Hollister, for a water right to take water into
the Coalinga oil district by means of a tunnel through
tbe mountains.
Kern County,
The experimental deep well of the Santa Fe in the
Kern River oil fields is down more than 2000 feet and the
drill has penetrated a stratum of light oil of 30° gravity.
This is the most important discovery in. the Kern fields
since the first find of oil, as the oil is so much lighter than
that now being pumped. The shallower wells now be-
ing developed give a much heavier oil, and during the
last few years the output has been gradually decreasing.
The work of deepening the old wells will he begun at
once. The Standard Borax Co. of Bakersfield is work-
ing near the boundary line between Kern and Ventura
counties. J. Werrington and J. A. Flood are interested.
J. B. Berges has charge of the work.
Mono County.
R. Mitchell of Bridgeport, superintendent of the Dun-
derberg M. Co., has bought one-half of the Castle
Grande mine, owned by J. C. Douglas and Osborne, for
$2500.
Nevada County.
Gold discoveries are reported at Deadman's Flat, west
of Grass Valley.
Placer County.
It is reported that H. Bernard has bonded the Even-
ing Star mine, on Rock creek, to O'Neal & Scribner of
Oakland, who will put in new machinery. The Dunlap
property, below Auburn, has been bonded by M. Repose.
San Bernardino County.
(Special Correspondence). — Beck & Body are develop-
ing the Sunrise group, 8 miles from Sandy, Lincoln
county, Nev. A winze is being sunk in high-grade ore,
with values in gold, silver and lead. C. H. Beck haB
charge.
Sandy, Nov., June 28.
Santa Barbara County.
The New Pennsylvania Oil Co. has reached the oil
sand in its first well in the Santa Maria field at a depth
of 1350 feet. Santa Maria wells have struck oil at a
depth of over 2000 feet. The well is 3 miles from Orcutt,
and one of the branch pipe lines of the Standard Oil Co.
will be extended to it. i
Shasta County.
The Dobrowsky mine, near Shasta, is .being worked
by W. H. Nofsinger and W. H. Johnson who have a lease
in which H. O. Cummins, manager of the Middle Creek
G. M. Co., has become interested. They have 21 men
employed grading the site for the new mill. The new
steam hoist has been started. Crude oil is used for fuel.
Sierra County.
O. Owens and E. Jones report the Columbia tunnel
near American hill, near Downieville, is in nearly 1700
feet, and after being run 100 feet farther an upraise will
be made to strike the channel. J. M. Harper is man-
ager. J. Hayes and F. Somervilleof Sierra City, who,
together with L. D. Flint and R. Parker, own the King
Quartz mine near Sierra City, intend building a 20-stamp
mill on their property.
Siskiyou County.
The management of the Headwaters group of mines
at Humbug, 18 miles from Montague, intend pumping
out and will run a tunnel into the mountain for drain-
age, tapping the ledge 150 feet below present workings.
G. W. Cooper of Yreka has signed a contract for the con-
struction of a $3000 mill building at the Headwaters
mine, which does not include the machinery for same.
The present stamp mill and machinery will be used, with
additions, including a cyanide plant. F. W. Mahler
of Cherry Creek has sold his Drummer Boy quartz
ledges to E. W. Emmons of New York City. McFer-
rin, Zimmer & Dingman of Fort Wayne, Ind., have
leased the Freshour property, on Klamath river, in Vir-
ginia Bar district, and are sinking a shaft to bedrock,
with the intention of running four drifts from the shaft
to find the pay channel. A. Thrash of Humbug is
superintendent.
John M. Tetherow, superintendent of the Highland
mine, near Etna, states he will put in a new mill at once.
Yuba County.
The Peerless Gold & Silver M. Co. has been formed by
J. Byrne and J. Peardon, Sr., of Smartsville and R. P.
McKay, C. Metteer and M. L. McKay of Marvsville to
purchase and develop the Peerless gold and silver claim,
west of Smartsville.
COLORADO.
Boulder County.
The first cyanide mill to prove a success in Boulder
county has been opened up in Magnolia, 10 miles from
Boulder. It is owned and operated by F. Leonard of
Magnolia and is treating ore from the Cash mine.
Straight cyanide and an oxidizing roast are the principal
factors of his method. He is still somewhat uncertain
about the cost of treatment, but estimates that it will
not exceed $2.50 per ton, at the highest.
Clear Creek County.
The Independent M. Co. is working the East Griffith,
near Georgetown, with J. Larsen of Idaho Springs as
resident superintendent.
Work has been resumed on the St. Paul & Colorado
M. Co. 's claims on Lincoln mountain, near Georgetown,
with W. M. Lewis as manager. It is stated that a
power plant will be built at which time power drills will
be used in driving the bore.
A test in the cyanide section of the Ward mill, near
Idaho Springs, on 104 tons of raw iron and lead concen-
trates containing gold and silver values of $16.80 per
ton, after nine days of leaching, during which the cya-
nide consumption was 2.4 pounds per ton, showed an ex-
traction of 74.3% of the contents. The tailings, which
have been running to waste into Chicago creek, are be-
ing placed in the cyanide tanks for treatment. The tail-
ings carry values of from 96 cents to $1.82 per ton, and
commercial tests have shown that nearly a complete sav-
ing can be made at a cost not exceeding 38 cents per ton.
S. Anderson of Idaho Springs and W. Lamb are sink-
ing the main shaft on the Griffith vein, near George-
town, owned by Maxwell & Hood.
At the Hazelton-Santiago mines at Argentine and
Brown mountain the proposed mill and tramway are to
be constructed, says W. Rogers, the president and gen-
eral manager. He plans to build a tramway 8000 feet in
length to connect the Santiago with Baltimore tunnel,
on the Hazelton group, near Silver Plume, and the
Colorado & Southern Railway, for convenience and
economy in conveying ore to the mill which is to be
erected there. Stamps, jigs and concentrating tables,
supplemented by cyaniding, will he employed.
Chaffee County.
The Black Hawk mine at St. Elmo, in the Chalk
Creek district, expects to put in an electric separator to
concentrate the zinc ores. The mill is to be put up at
the foot of Baalbec gulch, 2300 feet from the mine. An
aerial tramway, with a capacity of 100 tons a day, will
be built from the mill to the mine. The Black Hawk
has been operated for several years by the Mary H. M.
Co., of which T. B. Crawford is president.
Custer County.
M. Moore and Abbott have charge of work on the
California claim, on Game ridge, near Silver Cliff. They
intend to put in a hoist. Moore has also been cleaning
out the India tunnel for the owners. Work has been
started on the Bridgeman's Hope claims in Junkins
park. It is reported thatC. Haskell, manager of the
Hector mine, near Silver Cliff, is making arrangements
for working the mine and for putting in a cyanide mill.
Gilpin Coanty.
The following is the new schedule of smelting rates for
the Clear Creek valley mines, adopted by the smelter
trust, which went into effect on June 20, 'the prices
governing the settlement of all ores purchased by the
Chamberlain-Dillingham Ore Co., at Black Hawk: $19 per
ounce for gold when the ore contains r{ja to 2 ounces,
$19.50 per ounce when over 2 ounces, 95% of the value of
silver, when 2 ounces or over. On copper, $1.25 per unit,
up to 5%; $1.50 per unit up to 10%, and $1.75 per unit
over 10%.
ORES CARRYING OVER 05% SILICA.
Gross value and under—
Treatment.
$ 4 00
Gross value —
$14 to $20 5 00
$20 to $-25 5 50
$23 to $30 0 00
$30 to $35 6 50
$35 to $40 7 00
$10 to $45 7 SO
$45 to $50 8 Oil
$50 to $75 g 00
$75 to $100 10 00
$100 and over gross value... 11 00
ORES CARRYING LESS THAN 6b% SILICA.
Gross value and under— Treatment.
$20 $ 5 00
Gross value-
$20 to $25.
$25 to $30.
$30 to $35.
$35 to $10.
5 50
0 00
0 50
7 00
HO to MS.'".' lf„
$15 to $50 8 00
$50 and over gross value " ou
TAILINGS AND CONCENTRATES.
Minimum price, $6 per ton; excess of silica over 10%
deducted from $6.
Treatment
$35 per ton and under ^™
$35 to $80 Inclusive 4 ui
$80 and over * 5(J
To these different prices should be added the freight
and sampling charges.
G. C. Easton of Denver has started work on the Lake-
side tunnel, near Apex.
Mollow & Co. of Russell Gulch, operating the Gem
mine on Bellevue mountain, are preparing to put in a
hoisting plant. Sinking operations havo been finished
at the Chicago-Carr mine on Bobtail hill, near Central
City, this lift making the shaft a total depth of 600 feet.
Manager B. Meyers says that as soon as the drifts are in
a safe distance from the shaft sinking operations will
14
Mining and Scientific Press.
July 1, 1905.
again be resumed with the intention of going down an-
other lift of 80 feet. The Castleton mine, at the head
of Virginia canyon, and operating under the manage-
ment of W. Kirk, is shipping daily to the concentrating
mills at Idaho Springs.
Owing to a strike at the stamp mills on North Clear
creek at Black Hawk, the owners have adopted an eight-
hour day. At the Bobtail an eight-hour day has been
adopted at $2.50, where it was $3 for twelve hours, and
will be worked with special shifts, a temporary agree-
ment to that effect having been made. The Buell mill is
working on the eight-hour scale awaiting advices of
the manager in Denver, and at the concentrator it is be-
lieved that an eight-hour agreement will be reached.
The Gilpin, Polar Star and Randolph mills did not start
work to-day.
Gunnison County.
At Camp Sherrod the Sunlight G. M. Co., working
the Bacon tunnel, has found good ore after running 200
feet. The N. B. C. Co. has let a contract for 500 feet
of tunnel into Brittle Silver mountain, near Gunnison.
The Glen Park Placer M. Co., operating on the
north side of Cross mountain, 8 miles west of Tin Cup,
is preparing to resume work on its gravel beds. The
Glen Park people have constructed 900 feet of flumes
and have two dams and a reservoir. S. G. Bradford of
Denver is superintendent. The West Gold Hill M. &
M. Co., operating in Tin Cup district, has contracted for
an aerial tramway of one span, 2250 feet long, without a
tower, to convey ore from the mine to the company's
mill. A special IJ-inch cable is being made that will put
the entire line on the gravity system. It will carry
ten tons an hour. Geo. Williams, manager of the
Congress G. M. & M. Co., operating at White Pine,
reports that the tunnel has been driven 150 feet and that
an electric light and cyanide plant has been ordered.
G. Kellogg, operating the Chloride, at Pitkin, will un-
water the lower levels of the mine in July and resume
work at that point.
The A. R. C. M. & M. Co. at Sherrod, L. J. Ross
president, has decided to drive a crosscut tunnel 350 feet
deep, which will cut the main vein at depth of 267 feet.
The Raymond ore bodies at Pitkin have been gone
over by experts, reserves of ore measured, ores tested in
carload lots, and the management has decided to build a
30-stamp mill at once. K. Neitzel, late superintendent
of the Portland mill at Colorado City, will have charge
of the erection and afterwards of the mill. The ground
is being surveyed and plans drawn. The Raymond tun-
nel has four veins to draw from, outside of the Raymond
proper, which has not yet been cut. The tunnel to this
point will be started soon. The Leona claims, west of
Bowerman, at the head of Grant gulch, is owned by the
Bessemer M. Co., composed of Pueblo parties, with
A. H. Baxter in charge of the work. A shaft has been
sunk 72 feet. The drainage tunnel being run by I. L.
JohnBOn into Gold hill from Middle Willow creek, near
Pitkin, is in 200 feet. A pipe line has been laid from the
compressor, 3000 feet distant, and air drills are being
used. The tunnel is to be driven under the Gold Cup
workings at a depth of 400 feet by following the dip of
the vein.
Ten feet of high-grade zinc ore is said to be showing in
the Napoleon and Edna Draine properties on Gold hill,
east of Pitkin. The Napoleon and Edna Draine were
recently purchased by the Lanyon Zinc Co. The shaft
on the Napoleon is down 200 feet.
Hinsdale County.
The Hanna M. & M. Co. expect to have their new 100-
ton mill near Capitol City ready by Oct. 1. It is to be
equipped with rolls, trommels, jigs, Wilfley tables and
slimers, hydraulic classifiers and static electrical separa-
tors and is designed to turn out lead concentrates carry-
ing gold and silver, copper concentrates carrying gold
and silver values and a clean zinc product. The mine is
developed by tunnels, the ore from the lower 850-foot tun-
nel beiDg carried by a 5000-foot aerial tramway to the re-
ceiving house. From here it is to be carried to the
crushers by a belt conveyor, the ore being hand-sorted
to remove both high grade and waste. G. H. Martin is
directing the work. J. W. Moffet is mill superintendent.
It is reported that the Max M. Co. intends putting in
a mill near Capitol City. B. Geanneau is manager. It
is said that the Hinsdale T. & R. Co., which has suc-
ceeded the Henson Creek Lead M. Co., will resume work
at its property, 13 miles above Lake City, with H. F.
Wells of Boston, Mass., as manager. The Pittsburg
M. Co. have taken over the Wyoming, on Henson creek,
15 miles above Lake City, and, it is reported, will build a
mill. The property has been worked by J. Schaffer.
Lake Connty.
At Twin Lakes work has been commenced on the Bull
Hill properties belonging to the Fidelity Co. of Pennsyl-
vania. Work has been resumed by the Mt. Storm Co.
on the Summit claim, on Red mountain, near Twin
Lakes.
The bottom of the Penrose shaft atLeadville has been
reached and a large station will be cut to accommodate
two compound pumps that will have a combined capac-
ity of 3000 gallons per minute, and this will more than
suffice to keep the water under control. When the
pumps are in, drifting toward the Coronado will com-
mence, and when some distance has been gained the
pressure of water at the Coronado will be lessened. The
draining of this property means a great deal to the dis-
trict, as it is now possible to sink any shaft in the down-
town section without having to pump. The Nil Des-
perandum shaft on Rock hill is down 740 feet, and after
passing through the blue lime for 150 feet, the last shift
in the shaft of 14 feet was sunk through a disintegrated
mass of heavy mineralized matter.
Pueblo County.
It is reported that F. J. Hearne, president of the Colo-
rado Fuel & Iron Co., plans to bring G. P. Harault from
Paris, France, to show his process of smelting iron by
electricity. It is said that by Harault's method iron ore
containing any quantity of sulphur or phosphorus may
be used for making steel, and that magnetic iron can be
handled as easily as hematite.
San Miguel County.
Manager E. A. Taft of the Doctor Franklin syndicate
erating in the Mount Wilson district, near Telluride,
reports that he has eight men opening the road to the
Silver Pick mill, bo that the mill may be started after
being repaired. The mine is still buried under the snow.
Summit County.
The Pennsylvania-Ohio mines at Argentine have put
on a large force. The mill is running to its full capac-
ity. Manager E. McConnell of the Braganza mines
has started work in their Warden gulch property, near
Argentine. Work is to be resumed at the Roths-
childs tunnel, near Argentine. The bore is in over
3000 feet.
The Rose of Breckenridge is producing good zinc and
lead ores from the main tunnel workings. The leasers
will start shipments soon. Boyce Bros, and G. C.
Forsythe, operating the Waupeta property on Farn-
comb hill, near Breckenridge, have struck high-grade
lead and zinc ore. The mill at the Old Union Co. 's
property near Breckenridge has received the necessary
adjustment and alterations and has been started.
The Morning Star mine, on Baldy, near Breckenridge,
is being developed by W. P. Condon and E. W. Shrock.
Air drills have been put in at the King Solomon
tunnel, near Frisco. The tunnel is in 250 feet. Near
Summit gulch, near Breckenridge, the Evergreen group
is being worked under the direction of Theo. Knorr.
It is reported that after working for ten months on
the Fountain lode on Farncomb hill, near Breckenridge,
Boyce Bros. & Forsythe have found the vein.
E. Loring of the Hoosier Gulch G. M. Co. is directing
lode and placer work at the Hoosier property at the
Summit county base of Hoosier pass, near Breckenridge.
StoufEer, Huntington & Bernatchie, with a pumping and
hoisting plant, are sinking a shaft on a vein that runs
through the placer. H. T. Keltie of Joliet, 111., presi-
dent of the Washington-Joliet M. & M. Co., has been at
Breckenridge inspecting the progress and development
of the property. There is talk of building a new mill at
the mine. J. P. Howe, president of the Senator G. M.
Co. and the Wonderful & London Placer Co., has been
at Breckenridge from Boston, Mass., to examine the
mines under the management of M. M. Howe.
Teller County.
Lessee Gillpatrick has opened up high-grade ore in the
Accident mine of Gold Hill, Cripple Creek. Superin-
tendent L. Mac Cummings, of the New York group on
South Straub mountain, Cripple Creek, contemplates
putting in a 50-ton experimental cyanide plant prepara-
tory to a 200-ton plant, if it proves successful in treating
the new body of low-grade ore.- Airheart & Shepherd,
lessees, on the Rocky Mountain, near the El Paso Con.,
on Beacon hill, Cripple Creek, after sinking 250 feet,
have started a prospecting crosscut at the 85-foot point
in the shaft.
Sinking has been suspended in the C. K. & N. on Bea-
con hill on account of the flow of water. The pumps
have been closed and placed on the surface. Two weeks
of hard pumping showed that the water was stationary.
The C. K. & N. is the deepest shaft on Beacon hill from
a point of elevation above sea level. The vein carries
the water1 course and dips into the shaft 300 feet below
the present drainage tunnel level. The El Paso adjoin-
ing will take care not to cut the C. K. & N. vein in its
lower workings, and by remaining away from it will be
able to continue sinking.
It is reported that $500,000 of the $750,000 needed has
been subscribed toward driving the tunnel to drain the
Cripple Creek district gold camp, by the mine owners of
Colorado Springs and Cripple Creek district, including I.
Howbert, president of the Portland G. M. Co.; W. Bain-
bridge, superintendent of the El Paso: A. E. Carlton,
C. C. Hamlin, A. Holman of the Golden Cycle; J. W.
Graham and E. M. De La Vergne. It is expected that
work will be begun within ninety days. The new tunnel
will have a total length of 27,140' feet and will drain the
camp to a depth of 1500 feet. The tunnel will start at a
point in the bed of Cripple Creek, 3 miles below the El
Paso shaft. From the portal it will be driven to the El
Paso shaft, a distance of 14,000 feet, thence north of east
to the Vindicator property, a distance of 12,640 feet.
This bore will cut the El Paso workings at depth of
1325 feet, the Elkton at 1680 feet, the Portland at over
2000 feet, and the Vindicator at over 2125 feet. The bore
will be pushed from four working faces, including the
main southern portal. The El Paso shaft will be sunk
to the tunnel level and the bore started north from that
point. An intermediate shaft will be sunk to the tunnel
level midway between the El Paso and the main portal,
from which point the tunnel will be driven both north
and south. The plan now under consideration will carry
the big bore across all of the known underground water
courses, and it is believed will drain the entire section
north of the tunnel.
Operations have been resumed on the Fluorine prop-
erty on Copper mountain, Cripple Creek. The company
recently secured assets of the Sioux Falls M. & M. Co.
A cyanide mill has been Btarted and is treating from
fifty to seventy-five tons of ore a day. The construc-
tion work on the cyanide mill of the Little Giant Co. in
Pony gulch, near Cripple Creek, is nearly completed
and it is believed that everything will be in working
order by July 15.
Phillip Argall has been examining the Globe and Iron-
clad hill properties belonging to the Stratton-Cripple
Creek M. & D. Co., to make a report of the feasibility of
cyaniding the low-grade ore. H. R. Richmond and
associates, operating the Aileen property, on Guyot
hill, Cripple Creek, under lease, are retimbering the
main shaft from the surface down to a depth of 380 feet.
When this work is completed they will commence to
hoist ore. Lessee Fogelman, who is operating the
Reno Co. 's property on Womack hill. Cripple Creek,
has opened several ore shoots between the surface and
the 100-foot point. Experiments have been made on
ore from the San Juan, on Mineral hill. Cripple Creek,
regarding cyanide treatment. J. F. Hadley & Co.,
lessees on the Beacon Hill-Ajax property, Cripple
Creek, have started sinking.
At Cripple Creek work has been resumed at the South
Burns shaft of the Acacia Co. by the Exposition Mines &
Leasing Co., lessee. Interruption was caused by the
appearance of water. Now that the water has seeped
away sinking will be resumed, the Intention being to add
200 or 300 feet to the depth of the shaft. The present
depth is 265 {feet. It is reported that rich ore has
been opened up by lessees between the third and fourth
levels of the Doctor-Jack Pot mine at Cripple Creek. C.
Vetter and associates are the lessees. D. Bernard,
working the El Paso dump, Cripple Creek, has increased
the force to eighteen.
IDAHO.
Blaine County.
The force at the Minnie Moore mine, near Hailey, has
been reduced and the mill is being cleaned up prepara-
tory to shutting down in accordance with new plans for
the operation of the mine, which, from now on, is going
to be worked partly by leasers and partly by day's work.
The engineers, the sinking crew and the managing staff
are to be retained, but in the stopes and where ore is ex-
pected to be found leasers will be given an opportunity
to work.
Lemhi Connty.
The Gold Flint M. Co., whose properties adjoin the
Gold Dust mines of Leesburg, announces the beginning
of work for the installation of a 40-ton mill, which is to
be in commission by October 1.
Nez Perces Connty.
B. B. Hans of New Orleans, La.; W. Harris of Alex-
ander, La.; E. Enderle of New Orleans, La.; and C. F.
Knoll of Bunkie, La., the four stockholders of the Idaho
Placer & Quartz G. M. Co., have been in Lewiston
arranging to start mining their placer claims on the
Salmon river, near Forrest. Since October they have
been working from 18 to 20 men on the flume, which is
to be 4£ miles long. Hydraulic mining will be started
with one stream.
ShoBbone Connty.
It is reported that an independent smelter is to be built
near Mullan. The Sister M. Co. of Wallace proposes
to sink a shaft 150 feet east of the main tunnel. A hoist-
ing plant will be put in.
Hill Bros, of Carbon Center, near Delta, are putting
up a building preparatory to using a gasoline engine to
furnish power for their mine. Geo. Busen and partner
are cleaning bedrock, near Delta. A 400-foot tunnel is
to be run on the Wakeup Jim property, near Delta.
The Golden Chest tunnel at Murray is in 1800 feet.
J. L. Safford, superintendent and manager of the
Sampson M. & D. Co., has reports that the tunnel has
reached the ledge. The Sampson group is on Big creek,
near Wallace. A. L. Thurston is preparing to start
work on the Rough Rider group, near De Borgia.
T. L. Greenougb, of Larson & Greenough, owners of the
Morning mine, has bought control of the Snowstorm
mine, near Mullan, the only copper producing mine in
the Coeurd'Alenes. During the year it has been worked
under lease and produced $300,000 worth of copper. Ore
has been extracted from the upper workings, the only
portion of the mine which is leased. The lessees are
J. H. Howard & Co. of Missoula. The lower workings
have been under development by the owners and large
bodies of low grade copper ore have been disclosed in
both the upper and the lower workings. The Head-
light M. Co , which owns claims adjoining the Mam-
moth, near Wallace, will resume work.
KANSAS.
J. E. O'Neil, of Independence, vice-president and gen-
eral manager of the Prairie Oil & Gas Co., says that the
Standard Oil Co. has decided to resume work in the
Kansas field and will complete the storage tanks in Kan-
sas, construction of which was discontinued when the
last Legislature was in session. At that time producers
of oil under 30 gravity were notified that no more heavy
oil would be taken and pipe lines to such properties were
disconnected. O'Neil's order is to the effect that as soon
as tanking can be built and other arrangements can be
made, it is proposed by the Prairie Oil & Gas Co. to buy
oil between 22 and 30 gravity, and so long as present
conditions exist to pay 25 cents a barrel for it.
The Whiting pipe line has begun taking oil from the
southern field. The line is not yet completed, but as it
will require ten days to fill the pipe it is believed that it
will be completed before the end of that time. It will
take 150,000 barrels of oil to fill the pipe. In addition to
this there is completed tankage along the route for
70,000 barrels more. The working capacity of this line
is 18,000 barrels a day, but it will be some time before
the line will take this amount, as several pumping sta-
tions have yet to be built. The Whiting line, con-
structed and owned by the Standard Oil Co., runs from
the southern Kansas oil fields through Kansas City to
Whiting, Ind.
MICHIGAN.
Houghton County.
The Baltic will have its permanent equipment com-
pleted at No. 2 shaft late this fall. The permanent
hoisting engine is almost completed. Grading has just
started and foundation material is now being delivered
for the boiler plant at No. 2 location. Bids are being re-
ceived for the 60-drill compressor for No. 2, which will
have a capacity of 4000 cubic feet of air per minute. The
drifts are being extended southward from No. 3 shaft to
the No. 2 territory. The permanent hoisting engine
at shaft D of the Champion mine is completed. The
Champion's experimental plant in the mill extension, in
which a test is to be made in crushing the copper rock
entirely by rolls, will probably go into service about
Aug. 1. An increase in fuel economy and a reduction in
tailing losses are hoped for.
The Calumet & Hecla is to operate another shaft on
the Osceola amygdaloid lode. The unwatering of No. 16
shaft is progressing for this purpose, while on surface
important improvements and overhauling are going on
in the shaft rock house. The shaft, which is less than
500 feet deep, was filled with water to within 100 feet of
surface. There are also two levels, each drifted 600 feet.
The levels are 8x8 feet and the shaft is three compart-
ment. The water is being raised entirely by pumping.
One pump is placed in the skip and is thus lowered as
the water goes down. This pump lifts the water to an
established pump station at the first level, and a fixed
pump there raises it to the Burface. The work in No. 16
Bhaft, like that which has been progressing in No. 13
July 1, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
15
shaft on the Osceola lode (or about a year, is for explor-
ation and a thorough mill test.
MISSOURI.
Under the supervision of H. 1'. Bain of the U. S.
Geological Survey, G. H. Girty will study the strati-
graphy and paleontology of carboniferous formations in
southwestern Missouri, with reference to associated lead
and zinc. Topographic work in the Forsythe and Shel-
byville quadrangles will be in charge of H. Munroe,
assisted by C. G. Anderson and G. L. Hoopes.
Jasper County
The Joplin Commercial Club is agitating the need of
protection from British Columbia zinc ores, that have
been coming into the country the past ten months duty
free. It is trying to secure a tariff on zinc ore. The law
applying to the importation of ores is an old one and
imposes an ad valorem duty of fo of a cent a pound on
lead ores. At the time of its imposition its purpose was
to stop the importation of lead ores from Mexico. The
amount of zinc at that time was very small and did not
represent the industry it does to-day. The lease of
the Helen Lead & Zinc Co. at Chitwood has been sold
for $80,000 to the Pittsburg-Missouri Zinc & Lead Co.
by L. P. Cunningham. There are eight operating mills
upon this tract.
Regarding mines, near Joplin, the News Herald says
that Batten & Co. have a shaft down 80 feet on the Rex
M. Co.'s land. After being idle several months, the
old Sherwood mill has resumed operations. The Lilly
M. Co. 's new mill in the Sherwood district has begun
operations. W. Lellen and partners have made a
good strike of lead ore on the Riseling land. P. E.
Campbell & Co. have let a contract for KltiO feet more
drilling on the Amazon land. The Searcher Dev. Co.
is preparing to sink a shaft on a lead prospect on Turkey
creek. J. H. Cook, of Carthage, has opened up a
good prospect on the Reynoldsville land, south of Reeds.
Flock Bros, of Villa Heights are mining at a depth
of 20 feet on the Rex M. Co.'s land. The Dickerson
land, 11 mile north of Joplin, is being drained by power-
ful pumps. P. Hennessey has taken a lease on twenty
acres of the Rex M. Co. 's land and is sinking a shaft.
The Smith-Kernohan Co. of Cleveland, O., has secured
a lease on ten acres of the Cissna land. The mining
land at Lehigh, south of Carl Junction, is being put in
shape for resumption of mining operations. The
Providence M. Co. are sinking a shaft on the Lyon M.
& D. Co.'s land at Porto Rico. C. Rinehart of Car-
thage is manager of a company that is operating on the
Show Me mill and lease on the Bloomington M. Co.'s
land. S. B. Rauch and L. Casey, who are working a
two-lot lease on the Missouri Lead & Zinc Co. 's land,
southeast of Joplin, are cutting a prospect drift at a
depth of 100 feet.
Newton County.
The La Sallier concentrating plant on the Allen land
at Spring City is to be started July 1.
MONTANA.
Broadwater County.
Work on the Park and New Era, near Hassell, iB un-
der the direction of Manager Atwater. The shafts and
upper levels have been unwatered and connections made
with the lower tunnel. A cyanide plant i9 contemplated,
in addition to the 100-ton concentrator, which will be
started as soon as the lower and upper workings are
connected, so that ore can be taken to the mill at low
cost.
Fergus County.
A large body of ore is said to have been made on the
Bullard property, at Kendall, being worked by the
Queen G. M. & M. Co., P. S. Weidenborner, president
and manager. P. W. McAdow will start work on the
Alpine, near Maiden.
Jefferson County.
Work has been started at the Huot mine, near Basin,
by G. Freeburg and P. Dowling. G. W. Winter is
developing a silver claim near Clancy. The Morning
Star mine, 10 miles north of Basin, is being operated by
Waldie, Jackson and Bullock under lease and bond from
Hieber Bros. This property has been idle for several
years.- W. F. V. Young of England has succeeded
T. Clearage as manager of the dredge on Gold creek, 30
miles northwest of Basin. The boat is now in operation.
Lewis and Clarke County.
G. H. Babcock has secured options on practically the
whole of the Seven-Up-Pete district, on the main range
of the Rockies iu the gold belt that extends from Helena
through the Marysville, Gloster, Jay Gould and Stemple
districts. The properties acquired are the Rover,
Columbia, Donnely, Howe, Hokan Johnson. The Red
Bird Co. of Helena has sunk another 100 feet on the
incline of the Red Bird and is drifting to the vein. The
company is also developing three claims which join their
Reliance mine in High Ore gulch. There is a tunnel 140
feet and a shaft 50 feet deep on the properties.
S. T. Hauser reports that negotiations for building of
another power dam on the Missouri river have been
completed, and that the work will be commenced at
once. The new dam, which will add 10,000 H. P. to
the power already furnished by the Missouri River
Power Co., near Helena, will double the cheap
power available. The new organization is the
Helena Power Transmission Co. The new dam and
plant will be located at Stubbs Ferry, 16 miles from
Helena. Power will be furnished at from $35 to $50
per year per horse power. Among the contracts for
power is that of a Cleveland syndicate which has secured
3000 H. P., and will build at Helena an electric reduction
and refining plant.
Silver Bow County.
(Special Correspondence). — The mining companies of
Butte have completed their annual reports to the asses-
sor for the purpose of taxation on net earning-s. The
reports show a total in net earnings of $9,942,310.45, an
increase over last year of $2,596,701.11. Of the increase
$2,452,218.98 is credited to four amalgamated companies
and $87,726.16 to the United Copper companies. The
Heinze or United Copper companies reported the follow-
ing net earnings: Montana Ore Purchasing Co., 8336,-
573.27; Hypocka M. Co., 196,995.57; Guardian M. Co.,
$117,739.29; Corra-Rock Island Co., 856,644.43; total,
8606,952.56. Last year the total net earnings of the
Heinze companies were $519,226.40. The following items
are from the reports for comparison: Tons of ore ex-
tracted, Boston and Montana Co.. 1,138,307; Anaconda,
1,473.614: Butte & Boston. 260,433; Parrot, 167,963; Tren-
ton, 150,296; Washoe. 102,941; Montana Ore Purchasing,
170,169; Hvpocka, 77,1(13: Guardian, 43,591; Corra-Rock
Island, 122,697: Original, 343,850; Speculator, 112,940.
Gross yield per ton — Boston & Montana, $12.86: Ana-
conda, *9.36; Butte & Boston, $7.42; Parrot, $8.63; Tren-
ton, $5.64; Washoe. $10.66: Montana Ore Purchasing,
88.59; Hypocka, $8.35; Guardian, $9.30; Corra-Rock
Island, $7.36; Original, not jjiven; Speculator, 88.43.
Cost of reduction per ton — Boston & Montana, $2.21:
Anaconda, $3: Butte & Boston, $2.45; Parrot, $2.74:
Trenton, $2; Washoe, $3.79; Montana Ore Purchasing,
82.65$ Hypocka, $2.68; Guardian, $2.59; Corra-Rock
Island, $2.53; Original, 83.02. Cost of extraction per ton
—Boston & Montana, $2.91; Anaconda, $3.51; Butte &
Boston, $3.31; Parrot, $3.75; Trenton, $3.02; Washoe,
$4.29; Montana Ore Purchasing, $3.72; Hypocka, $4.17;
Guardian, $3.76; Corra-Rock Island, $4.11; Original,
$3.31; Speculator, $5.85. Gross proceeds — Boston &
Montana, $14,634,923.46; Anaconda, $13,787,345.07; Butte
& Boston, $1,932,837.12; Parrot, $1,449,851.37; Trenton,
$847,421.35; Washoe, $1,097,018.79; Montana Ore Pur-
chasing, $1,461,241.20; Hypocka, $643,887.15; Guardian,
$405,527.07; Corra-Rock Island, $902,264.91; Original,
$2,599,615; Speculator, $952,084.20. Net proceeds— Bos-
ton & Montana, $5,855,620.07; Anaconda, $2,259,693.73;
Butte & Boston. $178,712.81; Parrot, $328,106.69; Tren-
ton, $70,110.22; Washoe, nothing; United Copper, $606,-
952.56; Original, $349,387; Speculator, $291,385.20; miscel-
laneous mines, $2,342.17.
Butte, June 26.
Teton County.
The Midvale Lubricating Oil Co. has been incorpo-
rated to develop the oil fields around Lubec. The com-
pany has 1600 acres. M. L. Bevins of Spokane, Wash.,
is president, T. H. Thompson vice-president, G. P. Mul-
cahy secretary.
NEVADA.
A detailed economic investigation of the Goldfield
mining district and reconnaissance economic and geo-
logic surveys of other districts in southern Nevada will
be made by J. E. Spurr, assisted by G. H. Garrey and
F. Hewitt A geologic reconnaissance of quadrangles in
southern Nevada will be made by S. H. Ball, under the
supervision of Mr. Spurr.
Lincoln County.
(Special Correspondence). — Ore high in silver and cop-
per from the Tecopa and Resting Spring mines is being
hauled to Sandy preparatory for shipment to smelter. — -
The Keystone mine and mill are running steadily on high-
grade gold ore. Thirty-five men are at work under
management of M. R. W. Rathbone. H. Hardy of
Salt Lake City, Utah, operating the Chiquita, 5 miles
from Sandy, has made a rich strike on the property.
Sandy, June 28.
The Searchlight M. & M. Co. 's new 15 H. P. gasoline
hoist is being put in at Searchlight. The shaft has been
straightened and a station cut at the 250-foot level.
The G. M. Rose cyanide plant at the Southern Nevada
at Searchlight has been started. Eight of the tanks
have a capacity of fifty tons each, and by loading and
unloading two each day 100 tons will be handled daily.
It iB estimated that it will require six months to clean up
pile of tailings. Prospect shafts are being sunk on the
X-Ray group, near Searchlight, to determine the best
location for a deep working shaft. Work has begun
on the Empire crosscut tunnel, near Searchlight, which,
when completed, will have a length of 500 feet. Event-
ually the mine will be worked by this tunnel. The El
Dorado M. Co. has set up a whim and is sinking the
main working shaft, near Searchlight, to the second
level.
The Boston & Pioche, at Pioche, are pushing the
North Pole tunnel, being in 330 feet, and will start a
permanent deep Bhaft on the Boss soon.- The Nevada-
Utah is putting in a hoist at Meadow Valley No. 5, a
three-compartment shaft, and will sink to the 2000-foot
level. The Abe Lincoln, at Pioche, has thirty-five
men at work and intends to do considerable development
this winter in addition to running the mill.
The new schedule of rates on ore shipments from Los
Vegas to the smelters in Salt Lake valley is looked upon
with favor by miners and smeltermen and will tend to
aid development in the Bullfrog district. The rates
over the Salt Lake Route are as follows:
Ore Value. ' Rate Per Ton.
$25 : $ 5 25
35 '.., 5 75
50 8 50
100 ' 11 00
200 to 300 14 30
Add 2% for all ore above $300 in value.
Nye County.
The Western Ore Purchasing Co. has commenced
work on the sampling plant they are to construct at the
company wells, 12 miles from Tonopah, on the Tonopah
Railroad. Manager Chas. Snyder states that as soon as
the plant is completed fifty men will be put to work.
G. D. JohnBtone. in the Bullfrog Miner, gives the fol-
lowing information regarding the mines at Crystal
Springs, 7 miles north of Beatty: At the Gold Coin group
of six claims one man is employed. Will let contract to
two men for 100-foot tunnel. The Mackay-Graham syn-
dicate of Denver, Colo., has bought the property for
$10,000. Grape Vine group of five claims is prospecting
with two men. Bond & Gaut have three claims. They
have opened a pay chute, crosscuttlng the ledge on the
surface. The Mayflower ledge has been opened up by
Duvahl on Duvahl mountain. The Gold Reef claims are
working two men. The Tripolite claim has one man
at work.
NEW MEXICO.
A reconnaissance economic investigation of mining
districts will be made by W. Lindgren of the United
States Geological Survey, assisted by L. C. Graton. A
reconnaissance investigation of the Gallup coal field, in
the northern part of the Territory, will be made by
F. C. Schrader, under the supervision of M. R. Camp-
bell, assisted by M, K. Shaler. A geologic reconnais-
sance of the northwestern part of the Territory will be
made by Whitman Cross, assisted by W. H. Emmons,
L. H. Woolsey and G. F. Kay.
OREGON.
Baker County.
The Yankee Girl G. M. Co. has been formed, with prin-
cipal offices at Wheeling, West Virginia, to work the
Yankee Girl and May Girl claims, near Sumpter. A
hoist and pumps will be put on the property and the
shaft continued from the 40 to the 100-foot points. Guy
Pierson is superintendent and W. C. Fitzsimmons, con-
sulting engineer. Gilkey & Kershaw have given con-
trol of the Belmont mine on Vincent creek, near Tipton,
to A. Mohr and O. Herlocker of Sumpter. It ib re-
ported that Abel & Rose of Sumpter have located claims,
near the Belmont, from which they took $2040 in nine
days.
The Granite Mountain G. M. Co. is prospecting on
their property, near Weatherby. M. N. Thompson is
manager. It is reported that dredging is to be re-
sumed in Burnt river, near Weatherby. At the
Indiana mine, 28 miles from Baker City, J. W. Messner
intends to explore the promising copper deposit. A
strike is reported in the Esmeralda mine, 2 miles from
Bourne, 150 feet from the tunnel portal. W. B. Robin-
son, D. S. Kin8ey, J. W. Gray and J. C. Shea of Baker
City and W. P. Kinsey of Portland are owners.
Grant Couuty.
A hoist, boiler and engine have been put in at the Gem
mine, in the Susanville district. J. Dunstan is superin-
tendent and will put on a large force. The shaft will be
continued 300 feet from its present depth.
A hoisting plant is being put in at the Gem of the
Mountains, near Susanville, and a mill is to be put up to
treat the ore.
Josephine County.
Manager A. F. Hoofer of the Mt. Pitt mine on Jump-
off-Joe, near Grants Pass, plans to haul ore to the
smelter being built near Grants Pass, using a traction
engine and a stationary engine and cable for the grade
from Jump-off-Joe to Evans creek divide. H. B. Nye
of Medford has leased the Bertha quartz mine, on Foot9
creek, near Gold Hill, from Young & Meyer.
SOUTH DAKOTA.
Lawrunce County.
It is reported that the Golden Reward M. Co. is con-
sidering building a cyanide plant near Terry. The
Big Lead Company, operating near Roubaix, has struck
rich ore. One shaft has been sunk 200 feet and a second
is being sunk to explore the vein. The company intends
building a 100-ton amalgamating and cyanide mill.
W. L. McLaughlin, of the Horeshoe Co., has settled
with the insurance adjusters for the recent loss of the
Mogul mill, for $232,542.53.
Pennington County.
Gill, Weber & Leisy of Cleveland, Ohio, have pur-
chased wolfram mines from N. Ervin, W. L. Miner,
J. W. & N. J. Smith, through J. Truax of Hill City.
The property purchased includes sixty acres, 2 mileB
east of Hill City, on which a strong vein of wolfram-
bearing ore has been opened. The new owners intend
to at once begin work and prepare the mine for produc-
tion. Work at the Dakota-Calumet, near Hill City,
has been suspended, owing to the inflow of water which
could not be handled with the equipment. A boiler was
purchased of C. E. McEachron of Hill City, and a new
Cameron pump ordered from Denver. This machinery
will be put in and sinking resumed. Geo. Bain, super-
intendent of the Walton M. & M. Co., which has taken
over the Tea and Dolcode properties, near Hill City, haB
men at work putting in new machinery and a new hoist
building.
UTAH.
Beaver County
(Special Correspondence). — The Horn Silver mine at
Frisco is operating with forty to sixty men. The mill,
which ha3 been handling zinc ores from the mine, has
not been able to run for some time on account of the
water supply being short. It is understood arrange-
ments are being made for water. Several properties are
being worked in the vicinity.
Frisco, June 26.
Juab County
The shipments of ore from the mines of Tintic district
during the week ending June 24 consisted of 105 carloads
as follows : Eagle & Blue Bell, 11; YankeeCon., 6; Cen-
tennial-Eureka, 45; Bullion-Beck, 4; Gemini, 7; Ajax, 2;
Carisa, 2; Grand Central, 4; Lower Mammoth, 1; Mam-
moth, 8; Victoria, 4; Victor, 2; Swansea, 6; Tetro, 2;
Godiva, 1. Total, 105. Uncle Sam mill, 2 cars of con-
centrates.
The Raymond and Illinois mines at Tintic have been
united and will be worked by the Raymond-Illinois M.
Co. J. C. Sullivan is president and general manager;
J. D. Woods, vice-president, and J. C. Lynch, secretary
and treasurer. It was decided to proceed with the ex-
ploratory work at a depth of 1500 feet in the shaft in
Raymond territory, and to run north and south in the
ledge.
The management of the Grand Central mine at
Eureka has made connection with the main ore-bearing
channel, off the 1300-foot level. C. E. Loose is manager
at the mines.
Salt Lake County.
C. H. Doolittle, of the Bingham & New Haven of
Bingham, and the Utah & Eastern, operating the
Dixie mines and smelter of St. George, sayB that ship-
ments will be increased as soon as the aerial tramway,
which will span a distance of 4700 feet between the mineB
and receiving station on the line of the Copper Belt
railway, has been completed. Work will be started in
July to undermine that portion of the ground which
recently caved in at the Dixie mines, and to drive an 825-
foot tunnel. To make this connection, the furnaces of
the smelter will remain idle until it is accomplished. An
air compressor with machine drills will be put In. The
16
Mining and Scientific Press.
July 1, 1905.
United States M. Co. has decided to extend the Niagara
tunnel, from the 2500-foot station, to open up the Galena
mine at Bingham. W. J. Craig, manager of the Ken-
nebec mine at Alta, will drive an intermediate tunnel
which will tap the ore-hearing channels in the Reed &
Benson lode at a distance of 400 feet from its mouth.
Sevier County.
Secretary M. P. Murray, of the Franklin syndicate in
the Ohio mining district, near Richfield, reports that
the new compressor at the mouth of the Franklin tunnel
runs well. Operations will be confined to the Franklin
tuDnel, which is in 1000 feet. O. Larsen is superin-
tendent.
Tooele County.
(Special Correspondence). — Near the head of Soldier
Bridge canyon, at the property of the New Stockton
M. Co., the work is being done under contract. The
station at the 850-foot level has been completed and
drifts started from this level. They claim to have four
ore bodies on the east and three to the west of the shaft.
A new hoisting engine and air compressor will be put in.
A 75-ton concentrating mill near the shaft handles the
product from the mine. Ore is not being taken out at
present, hence the mill is not operating, but they expect
to start taking out ore and run the mill in a short time.
H. D. Trenam is superintendent. Work is being
pushed as rapidly as possible in the Honerine tunnel.
When completed this tunnel will he 200 feet below the
1100-foot level of the Honerine shaft. Ore is not being
broken in the mine at present and no ore is being taken
out of the mine except as they cut through same. Devel-
opment work is going ahead in drifts from the shaft.
The tunnel is being worked both from the tunnel en-
trance and from the shaft. The tunnel will be used for
draining the ground and for transporting the ore to the
mill located at the tunnel entrance. The tunnel will be
about 2 miles long when completed. There is 1100 feet
farther to be driven. New shaft buildings have been
erected at the mine since the fire several years ago.
On the east side of Tooele valley and 1 mile from Stock-
ton is the 500-ton Honerine mill, handling the dump
from the old mill of the HoDerine Co., as well as all the
ore from the Honerine mine. A spur from the San
Pedro, Los Angeles & Salt Lake Railway runs to the
mill. The power plant at the mill consists of Rand com-
pressor, four boilers, engine, pumps, dynamo, etc. The
tailings dump which is being treated in the mill is hauled
about } mile and dropped into the tunnel through an air
shaft, and from there trammed to the mill by mules.
The ore is taken from the ore hins in the mill onto a
conveying belt, thence to the crusher, then elevated to
a conical screen of J-inch mesh, the oversize going
through dry rolls. The whole product goes to the top
of the mill and is sampled by means of automatic sam-
plers. The mill is automatic throughout and contains
three Huntington mills, one Chilean mill, twenty-three
Wilfley tables and three Wilfley slimers, besides jigs and
trommel screens. The Sherman tank system is used.
This system is composed of seven tanks.
Stockton, June 26.
Utah County.
G. & F. C. Tyng, operators of the Wyoming mine, are
hauling ore from the mine to American Pork to be"
shipped to Salt Lake smelters. The 539-foot tunnel
which has been completed will facilitate the handling of
the ore.
"Weber County.
(Special Correspondence). — The Napoleon - Maghera
mine, in the Sierra Madre mountains, 12 miles north
from Ogden, is being developed by Don Maguire, man-
ager of the property. Excellent values have been ob-
tained. Two tunnels are being driven into the property,
which carries ; old, silver and copper. The Santa
Maria group is being developed by the same party in the
same neighborhood. The tunnel is in 500 feet and it is
expected the contact will be cut in the next 100 feet.
Work is being done under contract. Dirt assays $6 in
gold and 3% to 10% copper.
Ogden, June 26.
WASHINGTON.
Wbatconi County.
(Special Correspondence). — At Nooksack Falls, above
Excelsior, the Bellingham Bay Improvement Co. will
put in a power plant of 2000 H. P. The Post-Lambert
Co., near Excelsior, began operation with a 10-stamp mill
in July, 1903, and now has fifteen stamps. A tramway will
be built this summer to convey the Lulu ore to the mill.
The Great Excelsior, near Mt. Baker, is equipped with
twenty stamps, a roller mill, regrinders, fifteen concen-
trators and an electric light plant. Three stopes have
been opened up and forty-five tons of ore are milled
daily. When the new machinery is in working order
this will be increased to 100 tons, says President T. P.
Sanders. The Nooksack, on Sumas mountain, has put
in a 200-ton cyanide plant, which is expected to be in
operation in a short time. In the Baker district, the
Red Mountain people plan to put in a 10-stamp mill this
year. On the upper level 180 feet of drifting has been
done and a shaft sunk. On the lower level 250 feet of
crosscutting, 110 feet of drifting and 100 feet of raising
have been completed. The Gold Basin has two fissure
veins 400 feet apart and three smaller ones. Tunneling
and drifting will be pursued this year and, if possible, a
stamp mill will be put in by J. O. Carlisle. At the Goat
Mountain property (free milling) a 5-stamp mill will he
put in this year, says Manager Blondin. The First
Chance will put in machinery next year and power will
be secured from the Nooksack Falls electrical plant.
The leading mines in the Slate Creek district are the
Eureka, Mammoth, Chancellor and North American.
With the exception of the Chancellor, all of these have
stamp mills, although the ten stamps of the North
American have not yet been placed. The Chancellor G.
M. Co. is considering putting in ten stamps. The
Granite Creek G. M. Co. is the only incorporated placer
concern operating in the district. Hydraulic machinery
to cost $15,000 will be put in this summer.
Bellingham, June 27.
Snohomish County.
It is reported that machine drills and a concentrator
re to be put in at the Buckeye mine, near Index.
The Bunker Hill concentrator at Index will be run day
and night after July 4. Concentrates are shipped to the
Everett smelter. V. V. Clark is superintendent.
Stevens County.
The Velvet mine and concentrator, on Sophie moun-
tain, 12 miles from Northport, is to be started up.
The Blue Bell, on the same mountain, has 800 feet of
tunnel and will continue until the ore body is cut. L.
Bobo has started work on mines adjoining the Blue Bell.
The George Foster galena mine, on Deep creek, near
Northport, has been taken over by Eastern parties, who
have started work. The Copper King mine, at Che-
welah, is shipping regularly to the Northport smelter.
The Second Relief mine, near Erie, B. C, is a new ship-
per to the Northport smelter.
FOREIGN.
AUSTRALIA.
Victoria.
(Special Correspondence^. — The deep gravel channels of
the Ballarat region which have been worked more or
less extensively in the past, but on which mining opera-
tions practically ceased when the heavy flows of water
were struck, have been under investigation by Bewick,
Moreing & Co. of London for several years past, and
bore holes sunk to determine the course of these chan-
nels and their probable value in gold. It having been
found impossible to drain the channel by ordinary meth-
ods, a shaft was sunk in the bedrock outside the rim of
these ancient buried channels, which in many respects
resemble those of California, and drifts run underneath
the gravel. For many months an average of 20,000,000
gallons of water have been raised daily without in any
way decreasing the flow of water, but the pressure has
been reduced from nearly 200 pounds per square inch to
about 35 pounds, and this is reported constantly decreas-
ing, so that in time it is hoped the water will have been
drained from this underground reservoir, when it is
thought that the water problem will practically have
been solved, as the rainfall in the district is very light.
The gravels are known to be rich in gold, and when the
water is under control the mining industry in Ballarat
will no doubt receive an impetus which nothing else
could give it.
Ballarat, May 20.
CANADA.
BRITISH COLUMBIA.
Boundary District.
G. W. Cornish has bonded the Capital Prize, near
Greenwood, and will commence development work.
The unwatering of the Jewel has been finished and the
engineers of the Le Roi No. 2 have sampled the mine.
Until such time as a decision has been made as to pur-
chasing, the mine will be kept clear of water. On the
Golconda in Deadwood the long tunnel 1b in 550 feet.
Water is being kept out of the Brooklyn and Stem-
winder mines, pending examination.
Ore shipments from Boundary mines for week ending
June 24 were: Granby mines to Granby smelter, 12,518
tons; Mother Lode to British Columbia copper smelter,
3584; Mountain Rose to British Columbia copper smelter,
264; Emma to Nelson smelter, 331; Oro Denoro to
Granby smelter, 132; Bonnie Belle to Trail smelter, 20;
Skylark to Granby smelter, 30; total for week, 16,879
tons; total for year, 442,034 tons. Boundary smelters
this week treated: Granby smelter, 12,660 tons; British
Columbia copper smelter, 3935; total for week, 16,595
tons; total for year, 453,945 tons.
According to the report of M. M. Johnson, who has
recently examined the mines and smelting plant of the
Montreal & Boston Con. M. & S. Co., near Greenwood,
the property consists of one smelting plant at Boundary
Falls and mineral claims and fractions of other claims in
various parts of the Boundary district. This plant has
two furnaces, 40x176, with a daily capacity of 300 tons.
Three directly connected Connersville blowers, one 7x12
steam locomotive, slag cars, sampling mill with crushers
and rolls, assay office and laboratory complete the outfit.
Steam is the motive power. The mineral claims are as
follows: At Phoenix are the Brooklyn, Idaho, Stem-
winder, Standard, Montezuma and Rawhide; at Welling-
ton are the Athelstan and the Jack Pot fraction. The
Summit camp contains a three-fourths interest in the
Mountain Rose and one-half of the Lancashire Lass.
The Deadwood camp contains the Sunset, C. C. D.,
Crown Silver and Morrison. The cost of freighting the
ore from the Phoenix and Summit camps via the Cana-
dian Pacific Railroad is 30 cents a ton and from the
Deadwood camp 17 cents a ton. The Athelstan is not
connected with the railway. The Brooklyn lode has
been developed to a depth of 350 feet and has 3500 feet
of underground workings; the average sample taken
from this mine represents the group: Copper, 1.43%;
gold, $1.32; silver, 25 cents per ton. There are 260,000
tons of ore available for the smelter, which at current
prices has a gross value of $5.86 per ton. The diamond
drill indicates that there is an equal amount of ore below
the developed ground. The Stemwinder is developed to
a depth of 125 feet, but sufficient work has not been
done to indicate the tonnage. Samples show: Copper.
1.4%; gold, $1; silver, 25 cents. The Idaho shows sur-
face indications of the same body that is being worked
in the Granby. The Rawhide has 600 feet of under-
ground workings at a depth of 180 feet. Average assays
show: Copper, 1.4%; gold, 90 cents; silver, 25 cents;
available tonnage, 230,000 tons; prospective tonnage,
1,000,000 tons. The Mountain Rose vein has been ex-
plored for 125 feet; ore contains 40% to 50% iron, 20%
sulphur and about $1 in copper, gold and silver. It is
valuable only as a flux. The Lancashire Lass has a shaft
50 feet deep, is stripped for a distance of 500 feet and is
of the same quality as above and has from 2000 to 3000
tons on dump. The Athelstan is merely a prospect.
The Sunset has a shaft 200 feet deep; no drifting below
100 feet. The equipment at the mine is not of the proper
type or of sufficient power for economical work. In or-
der to put the mine on a production of 1500 tons a day
and keep the cost of production down to a point that
would make the operation profitable, there should be an
expenditure of $250,000 for an additional furnace, con-
verting plant, electric power equipment, compressor and
mine development.
ICast Kootenay District.
The No. 1 lead stack of the Marysville smelter has been
blown in with satisfactory results. Power for all pur-
poses is derived from four 48-inch Pelton wheels operat-
ing under a head of 325 feet, the water being delivered to
the nozzle from a 24-inch steel pipe. Steel cable trans-
mission from the Peltons delivers the power to all parts
of the works. The ore is dumped from ordinary cars
into the bins of the sulphide and sampling mills, and
from there runs across to the storage bins. From these
latter it goes on a belt conveyor, and by an ingenious
system of short levers any particular furnace" can be fed
from the same conveyor. The roasting plant consists of
four hand-stirred roasters and two of the new Haberlein
rotary pattern. The latter are circular in shape and are
peculiar in that the floor or hearth which carries the ore
revolves on a central axis, and the ore is worked from
the central feeding point to the circumference by means
of fixed rakes. The roasted ore, on reaching the outer
edge of the hearth, is discharged through three aper-
tures, one portion being red hot and another portion be-
ing comparatively cool. The cooler ore goes to the upper
floor of the conveyor building and the hot portion is run
direct in on the perforated bottom of the Haberlein con-
verters. The cold ore is run down over the hot and the
blast is turned on, burning out the sulphur and leaving
mass in a spongy, porous condition. When the blast is
turned off the converter is in -erted and the mass is shot
out onto the cooling floor. The i-oast is then run across
to the assembling house, where the furnace charges are
made up. The ordinary smelter cars carry the charges
to the feeding floor; but here, as elsewhere, hand labor
is eliminated as much as possible, as the cars ascend and
descend on a chain conveyor. W. G. Smith is manager of
mine and smelter.
Nelson District.
The Ivanhoe mine has closed down indefinitely. The
resignation of J. B. Kendall as manager has been ac-
cepted. A new vein has been discovered on the Ram-
bler-Cariboo ground, near Nelson, of which W. E.
Zwickey is manager.
Ontario.
W. G. Miller, provincial geologist of Ontario, reportB
that no white arsenic was produced in Ontario during
1904. The only producer in previous years was the
Deloro mine, Hastings county, and this mine has been
closed for more than a year on account of a strong flow
of water in the 500-foot level. Operations will probably
be begun again here soon. Some mispickel concentrates
were produced in the treatment of gold ores at the Atlas
arsenic plant, which adjoins the Deloro, but these con-
centrates were not roasted. The new arsenic districts of
the Province which are being developed are near Lake
Temagami and Cobalt Station on the line of the new
Government railway, the Temiskaming and Northern
Ontario. Lake Temagami lies 300 miles north of
Toronto by rail, and Cobalt Station is 25 miles farther
north. There are two deposits of mispickel being devel-
oped near Temagami. The deposits in which the min-
eral is found are rather irregular in form, the mineral
occurring in bunches or masses and more or less dissem-
inated through greenstone and related schists of the
Keewatin system. At Cobalt Station the arsenic-holding
ores consist essentially of arsenides of cobalt and nickel,
such as smaltite, niccolite, chloanthite, etc. Associated
with these ores is much native silver, together with sev-
eral silver minerals, such as pyrargyrite, argentite,
dyscrasite, etc. Native bismuth is found in all the
deposits, together with tetrahedrite and other ores, a
similar assemblage of minerals to that of (he well-known
Saxon deposits.. It is interesting to find that the iron
arsenides of Temagami are auriferous, gold occurring in
commercial quantities in these ores; the nickel-cobalt
arsenides of Cobalt Station are argentiferous and con-
tain no gold. The latter deposits occur in the form of
distinct veins, which cut the almost horizontally lying
fragmental rocks of the lower Huronian, which here
consists of conglomerates, breccias, slaty graywackes,
etc., in an almost vertical direction.
RoBsland District
It is reported that the Gooderham-Blackstock Syndi-
cate has sold out its control in the War Eagle, Center
Star and St. Eugene to a syndicate headed by Osier &
Matthews of Toronto, who have associated with them in
the deal other Montreal and New York capitalists. The
reason for the sale is the death of G. Gooderham and the
illness of T. G. Blackstock. Osier & Matthews are
directors of the Canadian Pacific Railway, and it is pre-
sumed from this that the C. P. R. R. and the Trail
smelter have an interest in the deal.
The shipments for the week ending June 24 were as
follows: Le Roi 1930 tons, Center Star 1770, War Eagle
1000, Le Roi No. 2 90, Jumbo 300, Spitzee 30, Gopher 60,
Homestake 30; total, 5210 tons; total for the year to
date, 162,404 tons.
Slocan District.
Regarding the Highland mine, near Ainsworth, Nor-
man Carmiehael manager, the report of the British
Columbia Minister of Mines says that the Highland ore
is quartz carrying galena, with low silver values and
small amounts of pyrite, pyrrhotite and zinc blende.
The galena carries i to J an ounce of silver to the per
cent of lead, the concentrates running 70% lead and 20
to 25 ounces silver. The concentration ratio is 1 to 7 or
1 to 10. The galena values are all that are saved. The
mine has been opened by tunnels to a vertical height of
500 feet. The ore from all the workings is delivered by
chutes to the lowest level, whence it is trammed to the
upper terminal of the aerial tramway which carries it
to the concentrator on Kootenay lake. The concentra-
tor is run by water power under a 450-foot head, a 48-inch
Pelton wheel being placed on the top floor and the
waste water used for concentrating. The crushing is
done by a Gates crusher and three sets of rolls. The
coarse rolls run at eighty-five revolutions, the medium
at ninety-five and the fine at 105 per minute. The con-
centrating is done by two coarse jigs, three 3-compart-
ment and two 4-compartment jigs and six Wilfley tables,
with hydraulic classifiers, settlers, etc. The extraction
is 80% to 85% assay value. For 39,148 tons treated, deb-
iting the value of the new wearing parts at the beginning
July 1, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
17
and crediting the estimated value of the wearing parts
partially worn, the cost of crushing and concentrating
was SO. 1425 per ton, divided as follows: Crusher $0.0195,
rolls 0.0405, trommels 0.0191, jigs 0.0091, launders 0.0066,
elevators O.OOtHi, belting 0.0074, dvnamo 0.0029 and gen-
eral 0.0188.
Manager H. M. Stevenson will resume work at the
Highlander mine, 2 miles south of Ainsworth. The
group includes the Little Diamond, Black Diamond,
Highlander, Eagle and Ivanhou claims, and extends
from the shore of Kootenay lake to the top of the hill.
To cut these leads at a depth of 1000 feet below the old
workings, the company in 1 S»»1> started a crosscut tunnel
from the Eagle claim, 300 feet above the lake level.
After running 2010 feet it has cut the Highlander and
Black Diamond veins. Work is to be resumed by
A. Smith on the Surprise mine at McGuigan. It is the
intention of tho owners to run a long tunnel from the
south side of the hill to tap the lead at a depth of 700
feet below the present workings, which are now down
300 feet.
BOLIVIA.
The British Consul at La Paz reports that only a part
of the Bolivian mines are worked at present, owing to
difficulties of transport and communication with the
coast. Bolivia is said to occupy the third place in the
world's production of tin — but if her output continues in
the same proportion as of late years she may occupy the
first. Silver mining, which in former years was the chief
industry, has greatly decreased of late, partly on account
of the fall in value in European markets and also owing
to the mines being more or less worked out. Copper is
almost exclusively produced from the Corocoro mines.
Gold is also found in Bolivia, but with the exception of
the works at San Juan del Oro and Chuquiaguillo, there
are no other establishments worthy of mention. The
latter place is 3 miles from La Paz. The amount of tin
exported from Bolivia during 1904 was 45,507,967
pounds, representing an official value of £1,275,944.
Sulphur is found in Tomina and Acero (department
of Chuquisaca), Carangas (department of Oruro),
Sililica, Chayanta, Atacama, Lipez and Tacora.
Pure sulphur in Carangas, Lipez, Atacama, Chayanta,
Porco and Tomina. Antimony in Sicasica, Ayopaya,
Tapacari, Arque, Pisacoma, Guanuni, Antequera, Ichu-
collo (these last four in Oruro), Poopo, in North and
South Chichas, Pacajes, Porco, Palca and La Paz.
Arsenic in Choquelimpia (Carangas), Chayanta, Lipez,
Atacama and Porco. Asphaltum in Concepcion and
Tomina (Tarija). Quicksilver in San Jose (Chiquitos-
Santa Cruz), near the city of Potosi, Chayanti, Huarina
(Omasuyos), Challatiri (Potosi), Moromoro (Chuquisaca),
San Javier (Chiquitos), Santa Rosa and San Jose, Cala-
marco (La Paz). Coal in the neighborhood of Sucre,
Tarabuco, Chorrete (Aziro), Tomina, Sicasica and
Pacajes, around Lake Titicaca, Mojos, River Tuiche
(Caupolican), Buena Vista (Santa Cruz). Copper in
Yungas and Yamparaez, Cinti, Tomina and Azero,
Tahuapalca (La Paz), Corocoro, Collocollo, Poopo, and
the district of Oruro, North and South Lipez, Atacama,
Tarija, Abilez, Oslloque, Suapi (Lipez), Jura (Porco),
Colcha, Huatacondo, Esmoraca, Tarabuco. Macha, Paria,
Chayanta, Turco, Curaguara (Pacajes), Ulloma, Cusillo-
mayo and Porco (province of Potosi), Turco (Oruro).
Tin in San Javier (Santa Cruz), Yamparaez, Oruro dis-
trict, Poopo, Pisacoma, Guanuni, Chayanta, Carabuco
(Omasuyos), Colquiri (Oruro), Ampaturi (La Paz>, Mil-
ium, Vilaque (La Paz river), Huayna-Potosi, Chorolque,
Maragua, Ocuri (the last three in Potosi), Chacal-
taya in La Paz, Caluyo, Pacallo, and the Totoral.
Gold in Cinti (San Juan river), ADCoraimes, Morochata,
Surpo, Capasina, Amaya-Pampa, Chayanta, Yura (a
river in Porco), Caiza, Linares, Pomabamba, Azero,
Chuquiaguillo (La Paz district — in this placer mine was
found a nugget of 224 kilos', Santa Rosa (Chiquitos), Con-
cepcion (Santa Cruz), Soroehi in Chayanta, Tipuani in
Larecaja, Cajones, Yani, Chungamayo river, Suches
(Caupolican), Araca (Loayza), Camaqueni, Ananea, Ayo-
paya, San Simon mountains, Guapore, Chiquiots, San
Javier, Santa Rosa (province of Velasco), Paria, Choque-
camata, Urulica (South Chichas), Chuquimia, Ipoco on
the Oruro district, Capasisca, Atacama, in Susques,
Tasonanco, Chuita, Choquehuata (Chayanta), Chichas,
Ubina, Rosario, Olasos, Coroico, River Perry, Esmoraca,
Sopaehui, Presto, Chuquichuqui (Sucre), River San Juan
(Chichas), San Jose del Abra, Huantajaguita, Siera
Gorda, Collpa, Camol, Chitihue, Santa Maria, San Cris-
toval, Rosario, Catua, Guanaco, Obisidiana, Tipia (all in
Atacama), High Guapore, Huarayos river, Vilaque in
La Paz, La Paz river, Cavari, in Inquisivi, Cocapata,
Cotacajes, Chumavi, Incasacani, and nearly all the
rivers, especially in the provinces of Munecas, Larecaja,
and Caupolican. Silver in Yamparaez, Tomina, Acero,
Charasani (Munecas), Guarina, Omasuyos, Cavari, Cara-
chapi, Mohoza, Ichoca, Carabuco, Inquisivi, Berenguela,
Pacajes, Sicasica, Ayopaya and Mancaestancia, Chuyavi,
Minascaca. Minasuta, Jalgular (department of Cocha-
bamba), Colcha (Arque), Sayari (Tapacarij, Quicoma,
Mizque and Cliza. The whole departments of Oruro
and Potosi, the same as in the department of Atacama.
Platinum in San Javier and San Ignaeio (Santa Cruz), in
Illampu mountain. Lead in Cinti, San Cristoval (Oruro),
Chichas, Andacava, Sombrio, around Potosi, Carabuco,
and Escoma (Omasuyosi, Araca, Tres Cruces, Inquisivi
and Yaco. Petroleum in Tumupasa, Caupolican, Ta-
curu (Santa Cruz), around the city of Santa Cruz, Buena
Vista, Serranias de Espejos, in the province of Cordil-
lera. Precious stones on the north of San Ignaeio
(Santa Cruz), in the mountains between Callapa and
Ulloma of the province of Pacajes, Caquingora, Lipez,
Atacama, Santa Corazon, Candelaria (department of
Oruro), and Salinas de Garci-Mendoza.
MADAGASCAR.
The French Government has prohibited prospecting
for gold in Madagascar. This affects many miners from
the Rand, South Africa, who have located claims and
got money to exploit the gold deposits. The Madagas-
car minerals known in commercially exploitable quanti-
ties are gold, iron, copper, coal and tin. The gold is
obtained mostly from placers.
MEXICO.
J. I. Limantour, Minister of Finance, has made plain
the new regulation covering the collection of taxes on
mining claims in the following circular to the director of
the stamp revenue: " With a view to the application of
the amendments made by Art. 10 of the decree of March
25 last, in the law governing the mining tax, the Presi-
dent of the republic has been pleased to direct that,
when the claims (pertenencias) of one and the same com-
pany are embraced under a single title deed, the tax
shall be collected from the outset at the rate of 6 pesos
for the first twenty-five claims and 3 pesos for each claim
in excess: and that, when the property of a company is
constituted by various mines, each covered by a separate
title deed, the tax shall be collected at the rate of 6 pesos
per claim for each group if the area of said group does
not exceed twenty-five claims, or, in the form above
mentioned, if it does exceed said number, but always
separately for each group; which, however, does not
prevent the interested parties from having recourse to
this department and demonstrating to it, with a view to
the assessment of the tax, that the claims (pertenencias)
covered by different title deeds are, nevertheless, con-
tiguous to one another, and in such cases the resolutions
that may be reached will in due course be communicated
to you."
Jalisco.
The Mascota M. Co., operating north of Mascota, has
completed a smelter of 100 tons. H. S. Church, man-
ager of the company, has been operating an experimental
plant for several months and has extracted 35% of zinc
from the company's ore.
Blnaloa,
C. Butterfield and associates of Los Angeles, Cal.,
have acquired the Oro Fino properties, in the Sierra
Madre, 30 miles beyond Rosario, and are putting in a
10-stamp mill.
Souora.
The report of W. S. Cranz, president of the Zambona
Dev. Co., which has taken over the Minas Nuevas, near
Alamos, says that, since taking over the Zambona,
Superintendent A. Yaeger has taken out the water and
commenced placing guides in the main shaft, which is
530 feet deep. A new head-frame was put up, a tram-
way built, arrangements for handling the ore completed
and the mine is now in condition for regular work. The
mill is expected to be ready Aug. 1. An electric plant,
capable of running a high-pressure main pump and elec-
tric hoist for underground work, ib being put in. A new
steam hoist for the main working shaft is expected to be
in operation by July 8. In the mill most of the old
machinery has been torn out, but it has been thought
advisable to put the twenty stamps in repair. Besides
the stamps, the mill will have sizing screens, a slime sepa-
rator and six concentrators. It will be equipped with a
water-saving system, as the water is from the surface
thus far and is variable. It is the intention to double
the capacity of the mill as soon as everything is in work-
ing condition, by crushing much coarser in the batteries
and finishing the fine crushing with grinders.
S>********* ************** *************
Personal.
* «•
R. C. Shaw has returned from Costa Rica to New
York City.
J. F. Brandes of Denver, Colo., is on a professional
trip to Utah.
H. Blake is superintendent Gold Bug mine, near
Sumpter, Or.
W. A. Kidney is manager Basin Reduction Co.,
Basin, Mont.
Oscar White is superintendent Slocan Star mine, at
Sandon, B. C.
S. P. Donner is manager Ben Hur G. M. Co., near
Republic, Wash.
W. R. Wapples has charge Pioneer mill at Sandy,
Salt Lake county, Utah.
W. W. Mills has been appointed State Geologist of
Michigan, to succeed A. C. Lane.
H. F. Best is manager Treasure Hill mine, Stockton
Hill district, near Kingman, Ariz.
B. Clapham, superintendent Fordice M. Co., has left
Custer, S. D., for Columbia, Iowa.
Al. Roberts has been appointed superintendent
January mine at Goldfield, Nev.
A. J. Hoskin has been appointed assistant professor
mining in Colorado School of Mines.
T. R. Garnier of Los Angeles, Cal., has been at the
St. Louis mine, near Kingman, Ariz.
E. W. Braden, manager East Helena, Mont., and
Monte Cristo smelters, is in San Francisco, Cal.
E. P. Farnham of Deadwood, S. D., has been elected
superintendent Chicago & Black Hills G. M. Co.
W. R. Ingalls assumes editorial charge of the En-
gineering and Mining Journal of New York to-day.
C. L. Tutt, president Takilma and Waldo mining
companies, has been visiting the smelter at Takilma, Or.
N. Haas of Spokane, Wash., has accepted the posi-
tion of mining engineer for the Snowshoe mine at Libby,
Mont.
A. W. McCune has returned to Salt Lake City, Utah,
from the mines of the Cerro de Pasco Copper Co. in
Peru.
M. P. Kirk of El Paso, Texas, has succeeded W. L.
Study as superintendent Big Bend M. Co. at Big Bend,
Texas.
Norman CARMICHAEL, manager Highland mine,
Ainsworth, B. C, has returned from a business trip to
England.
C. P. Ames, formerly of Ueadwood, S. D., has charge
of the cyanide department of the Mainstay mill at Key-
stone, S. D.
A. D. Wheeler, formerly superintendent Hunter V
mine, near Ymir, is operating the Krao mine, Ains-
worth, B. C.
G. S. Bincklev has returned to San Francisco, Cal.,
from a professional trip to Santa Barbara and Los
Angeles, Cal.
J. D. SPARuo, formerly superintendent Gold Road
mine, will take charge of the West Gold Road M. Co.,
near Acme, Ariz.
T. A. RlCKARD has resigned as editor of the Engi-
neering ind Mining Journal, the resignation going into
effect on June 30.
A. H. Elftman, who is now at Roosevelt, Idaho, will
investigate properties in Nevada and may be addressed
at Tonopah, Nev.
G. H. Grant has taken charge of development work
on the June group, Quatsino Sound, west coast Van-
couver Island, B. C.
F. L. Harrington of Bisbee, Ariz., vice-president
and general manager Saginaw D. Co., has charge of
work on the property.
W. Y. Williams, late superintendent Granby mines
at Phcenix, B. O, has returned from a visit to Europe
to the Similkameen district.
Hudson H. Nicholson, general manager Standard
Consol mine, is in Denver, Colo., on his way to San Juan,
Colo., on professional business.
N. McL. Chrran, manager North Star mine, Kim-
berley, East Kootenay, B. C, has returned to the mine
from a trip to Montreal, Quebec.
H. M. STEVENSON, manager Highlander mine at
Ainsworth, B. C, has returned from a six months' visit
to Mexico and the Eastern States.
H. A. Perkins has resigned as manager New Era
M. Co., Searchlight, Nev., and President W. R. Grose-
wich has been appointed his successor.
W. J. Morphy, manager American Gold Fields Co.,
is in San Francisco, Cal., buying machinery for the
Granite Hill mine, near Grants Pass, Or.
Thos. Bakewell, formerly with the Fearnot M. Co.,
Victorville, Cal., is now foreman Marfa & Mariposa M.
Co., producing quicksilver at Terlingua, Texas.
T. C. Lentz of Columbus, Ohio, president Ohio-
Beaver Creek M. & M. Co., has been visiting the prop-
erty in western Lawrence county, South Dakota.
H. C. Hoover of the London firm of Bewick, More-
ing & Co. left San Francisco, Cal., on the 29th ult. for
Australia, where they have large mining interests.
James W. Neill, mining and metallurgical engineer
who has served the United Copper Co. and F. A.
Heinze in Butte as chief engineer for the past eighteen
months, has severed his connection with these parties
and has resumed his consulting engineering practice
with headquarters at the Palace Hotel, San Francisco,
Cal, and Dooly block, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Dr. Robt. H. Richards of the Massachusetts Insti-
tute of Technology, and author of a comprehensive
work on "Ore Dressing," is in San Francisco, Cal.,
accompanied by F. W. Horton, E. M. They are on
their way to Portland, Or., where they will take charge
of the work of investigating the platinum-bearing black
sands of the United State9, under the direction of Dr.
David T. Day of the United States Geological Survey.
&************** ************* *********
I Books Received.
"Index to the Hydrographic Progress Reports of the
U. S. Geological Survey, 1888 to 1903," by J. C. Hoyt
and B. D. Wood.
Folio 123 of the United States Geological Survey,
"Elder's Ridge, Pennsylvania," gives topographic and
geological maps and description of the coal fields of
western Pennsylvania.
As extracts from " Mineral Resources of the United
States for 1904," the United States Geological Survey
publishes " The Production of Mica in 1904," and "The
Production of Arsenic in 1904."
Bulletin No. 2(i2, "Contributions to Mineralogy from
the U. S. Geological Survey," includes discussions on
carnotite and associated vandiferous minerals in western
Colorado; additions to the alunite-jarosite group; min-
erals from Clifton-Morenci district, Ariz.: emmonsite
and tedradymite (tellurium minerals) from Colorado;
lawsonite. yttrialite, pseudo-serpentine from Stevens
county, Wash.; californite and dumortierite.
*************************** **********
| Obituary. *
* *■
F. A. Hunt, a pioneer mining man of Denver, died in
Denver, Colo., June 22, aged 70 years.
Charles Christy, formerly superintendent of a
large mining syndicate near Port Arthur, Manchuria,
died June 20 at the Stockton, Cal., Insane Asylum.
Alfred Bennetts, lessee of the Landers mill at Sil-
ver City, Nev., and one of the prominent mine owners of
the Comstock, committed suicide June 28. He was 53
years of age.
18
Mining and Scientific Press.
Jolt 1, 1905.
^****^*** ************ ****************
| Commercial Paragraphs* *
The Crane Co., Chicago, 111., have moved their
general offices from 10 North Jefferson street to 519
South Canal street.
Geo. W. Myers has returned to San Francisco, Cal.,
from a trip to the northern Pacific coast States and
Alaska and reports large sales of chrome steel shoes,
dies, etc. He leaves San Francisco in a few weeks for an
extended trip to Australia and New Zealand.
The Cyclone Drilling Machine Co. of Orrville, Ohio,
report a phenomenal sale of prospecting drills, blast
hole drills and "Economy" blast hole loaders. Since
introducing the "Economy" blast hole loaders among
the railroad contractors the sale of them has increased
rapidly, many contractors having placed orders to sup-
ply their different camps.
The Bethlehem Steel Co. is at work on three crank
shafts which will weigh 86,600 pounds each when fin-
ished. They are turned out of solid steel ingots 25x4x4
feet, and are intended for three gas engines which are to
drive 4000 kilowatt Crocker-Wheeler alternators, said
to be the largest gas engine driven generators ever built,
and ordered by the California Gas & Electric Corpora-
tion.
The National Wood Pipe Co. of Los Angeles, Cal.,
and San Francisco, Cal., have made a shipment to the
Detroit Copper Mining Co. of Morenci, Ariz., of 14-inch
machine-banded redwood water pipe made for a head of
250 feet, or 108 pounds prrssure per square inch, to be
used by them for conveying water for their concentra-
tors. They claim that "this pipe is particularly adapted
for water and soils heavily charged with acids, minerals
or alkali. The staves for this pipe are made from ljx4-
inch clear, seasoned redwood stock. The Cananea Con-
solidated Copper Co. are using 8-inch, 10-inch, 12-inch
and 16-inch machine-banded redwood water pipe for
conveying water to the concentrators.
The Chicago Pneumatic Tool Co. has brought suit in
the D. S. Circuit Court for the southern district of New
York against the Aurora Automatic Machinery Co. and
the Scully Steel & Iron Co. for alleged infringement
of the Chicago company's Kimman patent No. 630,357 of
August 8, 1899. The bill of complaint prays for an in-
junction and an accounting for profits and damages
against both companies. The Aurora Automatic Ma-
chinery Co. is the manufacturer of the " Thor " pneu-
matic tools and is represented by the Scully Steel & Iron
Co. as selling agents in New York City. The suit is
brought to enjoin the Aurora Co. from continuing to
manufacture and sell the alleged infringing tools and the
Scully Steel & Iron Co. from continuing to sell and offer
for sale such tools. The application for an injunction to
enjoin both companies will be heard at an early date.
The Chicago company claims that the so-called " Thor "
pneumatic tools infringe not only the referred to Kim-
man patent, but some of its other patents, and that the
present suit will be followed in quick succession by other
suits of a like character.
# ******** **************** ************
* *
f Trade Treatises. |
* 4-
a************ ******** ****************
"Mine Cages, Skips and Ore Cars " forms the subject
of the latest trade treatise from the Wellman-Seaver-
Morgan Co., Cleveland, Ohio, beautifully illustrated and
finely descriptive of such mine appliances.
The S. H. Supply Co., Eighteenth and Lawrence
street, Denver, Colo., have issued a neat catalogue de-
scribing Wild's shaking screen for ore sizing. It is de-
signed to screen wet or dry, or fine or coarse.
Bulletin No. 58 from the Crocker-Wheeler Co., Am-
pere, N. J., is entitled "An Electrified Railway Shop
Described by Its Mechanical Engineer," and shows how
electric devices and appliances were successfully used
in economically supplanting the former system in a large
machine shop. The manifest economic value of the
treatise is supplemented by the practical manner in
which the various changes were effected.
" The Pelton Water Wheel " is the subject of an elab-
orate trade treatise issued in sumptuous style by the
Pelton Water Wheel Co., 125 Main street, San Fran-
cisco, Cal., and 143 Liberty street, New York City. It is
the tenth 1905 edition of a monograph that sets forth
the variations of construction and application of the Pel-
ton system of power, and in its arrangement and general
plan is worthy of the establishment whose power pro-
ducers are therein so finely illustrated and described.
The book is standard size and deserves a place in the
working library of a mining or hydraulic engineer.
New Patents.
Dewey, Strong & Co.'s Scientific Press Patent agency. 330
Market street, San Francisco, has official reports of the following
United States patents issued to Pacific Coast inventors :
FOR THE WEEK ENDING JUNE 20, 1905.
Leaf Bindek— Anderson, Weinss & Miller, Spokane, Wash
Block Signals— C. P. Bass, Portland, Or.
Signs— H Christensen. Seattle, Wash.
Shoe Polisher-s. M. Cohn, Portland; Or.
Door Fastener— Coleman & Gregory, Index, Wash
Rail Tie-T. a. & J. V. Enloe. Pinole, Cal.
■Excavator— w. H. Fulcher, Oakland. Cal.
Vehicle Shaft— F. C. Goetteri, Los Angeles, Cal.
-Air Compressor— g. J. Henry Jr. S F
•Bottle-f. Jost. S. F.
-Gramaphone— G. Konigstein, S. F.
-Garment CLASp-Mensor & Greenblatt, Seattle, Wash.
-Headlight-o. E. Mitchell, Los Angeles, Cal.
-Loose Leaf Binder-M c. Neuner. Los Angeles, Cal.
-Swage— Newell & Stalev. Buckeye, Wash.
—Metal Coating Tank- g. Porter S F
-Muney Box-w. N. Porter, Lents, Or.
-Electric Iron-E. H. Richardson. Ontario, Cal.
-CAN-A. H. & T. A. Schlueter, Oakland, Cal.
-Electric Switch-h. a. Sohultz, Berkeley, Cal.
-Pdnch-L. Van Dorin, San Bernardino. Cal'.
Propulsion— K. O, Woll, Tacoma, Wash.
Drill Sharpener— J. H. Word, Soulsbyville, Cal.
792,747.
793,875.
792,756.-
792,815.
792,966.
792,587.
792,699.
792.770.
792,987.
792,991.
792,779.
792,717.
792,718.
792.810.
793,020
792,610
792,923
792,793
792,621
792,734.
792,949.
792,687
7113,643
Latest Market Reports.
San Francisco, June 30, 1905.
Silver. — Per oz., Troy: London, 27d (standard
ounce, 925 fine); New York, bar silver, 58|c, refined (1000
fine); San Francisco, 58|c; Mexican dollars, 47c, San
Francisco; 45Jc, New York.
Copper. — New York: Standard, $15.00; Lake, 1 to 3
casks, $15.00@15.25; Electrolytic, 1 to 3 casks, $15.25;
Casting, 1 to 3 casks, $14.50@14.75. San Francisco: $16.00.
Mill copper plates, $17.00; bars, 18@24c. London:
£66 2s 6d spot per ton.
An Eastern authority says in the Boston Financial
News: "The statistical position of the metal is so strong
that I do not expect the level of prices to be lowered be-
neath the 15-cent mark for at least a year. The general
feeling is that an early peace between Russia and Japan
might have effects that have not been calculated. At
the present time the life of the market is the demand
from European sources, and this demand has been
largely stimulated by what is called Chinese buying.
Whether this nomenclature is correct or not is a matter
of question to those who know the circumstances. It
has been known that a great deal of copper from Japan-
ese sources has been consumed in China, and that this
supply has largely been cut off by the war. But the Jap-
anese themselves have consumed great masses of the
metal for manufacture into brass, which is largely used
in the manufacture of cartridges and other war parapher-
nalia. It does not escape notice that copper so used
might have been considered contraband of war, and as
the lines which have their terminals in Hongkong all
pass through at least two Japanese ports, it is a matter
entirely of conjecture as to how much of the copper
bought for the Chinese mint has really arrived there
and how much has found its way to Japanese sources.
This matter is important only in considering what effect
the end of the war will have on the continuance of the
demand. The logical conclusion to be reached is that
with the ending of hostilities the Japanese mines will
again begin production on the same scale that obtained
before the war started. The insistent demand for the
metal will abate and the demand can be filled leisurely.
If that should prove to be the case, there would un-
doubtedly be a lessening of the demand for copper that
might well affect the market adversely."
Lead.— New York, $4.60; Salt Lake City, $3.50; St.
Louis, $4.12J; San Francisco, $3.70, carload lots; 4|c 1000
to 4000 lbs.; pipe 6Jc, sheet 7, bar 5Jc; pig, $4.85. Lon-
don: £13 6s 3d $ long ton.
Spelter. — New York, $5.30: St. Louis, $5.70; Lon-
don, £24 $ ton; San Francisco, ton lots, 6|c; 100-ft
lots, 7c.
Tin.— New York, pig, $30.75; San Francisco, ton
lots, 31Jc; 500 lbs., 32c; 200 fts., 32Jc; less, 33ic; bar tin,
B ft., 35@37Jc. London, £140.
Platinum.— San Francisco, crude, $18.50 $ oz.; New
York, ingot, $19.50 $ Troy oz. Platinum ware, 75@82c
W: gram.
Quicksilver.— New York, $39.00@$40.00, large lots;
London, £7 7s 6d; San Francisco, local, $38.00@38.00 f,
flask of 75 fts.; Denver, $45.00.
Babbitt Metal.— San Francisco, No. 1, 10c; No.
2, 7c; No. 3, 6Jc; extra, 17Jc; genuine, 32£c; Eclipse, 35c.
Solder.— Half-and-half, 100-ft. lots, 20.75c; San Fran-
cisco, Plumbers', 100-ft. lots, 17.50c.
Zinc— Metallic, chemically pure, $ ft., 50c; dust, $ft.,
10c; sulphate, ^ lb, .04c.
Nickel.— New York, 55@60c$ft.; ton lots, 40@47c.
Aluminum.— New York, No. 1, 99% pure ingots, 35c;
No. 2, 90%, 31@34c.
Aluminum.— No. 1, 99%, small lots, 37c $ ft.; 100 fts..
35c; 1000 fts. 34c; ton lots and over, 33c, Pittsburg. No,
2, 90%, small lots, 34c; ton lots and over, 31c, Pittsburg.
STRUCTURAL MATERIALS.
Iron. — Pittsburg, Bessemer pig, $15.60; gray forge,
$16.00; San Francisco, bar, 3c f( ft., 3Jc in small quan-
tities.
Steel.— Bessemer billets, Pittsburg, $23.00@$23.00;
open hearth billets, $23.00@$23.00; San Francisco, bar,
7c to 12c fi ft.
White Lead. — Per ft., in kegs: 500 fts. and over at
one purchase, per ft., 7Jc; less than 500 lbs., per lb., 8c;
in 25-ft. tin pails, £c % ft. above keg price; in 1 and 5-Ib.
tin cans, 100 fts. per case, $c per ft. above keg price.
Dry Lead. — In bbls., 1 ton and over, 6Jc; do. in kegs, 7c.
Lime.— Santa Cruz, $1.25 country, $1.25 city $ bbl.
Cement.— Imported, $2.15@2.65 fi bbl.; California,
carload lots, 911.90 f. o. b. at works; small lots, $2.20 $
bbl. in sacks, 4 sacks to bbl., 5c for each sack returned.
Nails. — This week the basic prices are: Wire, $2.77;
Cut, $3.25. Meanwhile the nominal quotations per keg
(list prices) are: No. 20d to 60d, Wire, $3.35; Cut, $3.55;
lOd to 16d, Wire, $3.45; Cut, $3.35; 8d, Wire, $3.50; Cut,
$3.50; 6d and 7d, Wire, $3.60; Cut, $3.60; 4d and 5d,
Wire, $3.70; Cut, $3.70; 3d, Wire, $3.85; Cut, $3.85; 2d,
Wire, $4.10; Cut, $4.10. Special rates for carload lots.
Lumber.— (Retail): Pine, ordinary sizes, $24.00®
5.00; extra sizes higher; redwood, $28.0O@3O.OO; lath, 4
feet, $4.50@5.00; pickets, $21.00;shingles, $2.50 for No. 1,
and $2.25 for No. 2; shakes, $13.50 for split and $15.00 for
sawed; rustic, $28.00(5)35.00.
GENERAL SUPPLIES.
Antimony.— New York, Cookson's, 7*c; Hallett's,
7Je; San Francisco, 1000-rb. lots, 9c; 300@500-ftr. 9£c;
100-ft. lots, 10£c.
Coal. — San Francisco, coast, yard prices : Welling-
ton, $8.00; Seattle, $6.50; Coos Bay, $5.50; Southfield,
$8.00. Cargo lot, Eastern and foreign: Wallsend, $7.50;
Brymbo, $7.50; Pennsylvania, hd., $14.00; Scotch, $8.00;
Cumberland, $13.00; Cannel, $8.50; Welsh Anthracite,
$13.00; Rock Springs, $8.50, long ton; Colorado Anthra-
cite, $14.00. Coke, $10.50 per ton in bulk, $13.00 in
sacks; Sunnyside, $8.50, long ton.
Powder.— F. o. b. San Francisco : No. 1, 70% nitro-
glycerine, per ft., in carload lots, 15Je; less than one ton,
17Jc. No. 1*, 60%, carload lots, 13Jc; less than one ton,
15Jc. No. 1**, 50%, carload lots, life; less than one ton,
13jc. No. 2, 40%, carload lots, 10c; less than one ton,
12c. No. 2, 35%, carload lots, 9Jc; less than one ton,
lljc. No. 2**, 30%, carload lots, 9c; less than one ton,
lie. Black blasting powder in carload lots, minimum
car 728 kegs, $1.50 per keg: less car lots, $2.00 per keg.
Caps.— 3x, $5.50@6 per 1000; 4x, $6.50@7; 5x, $8@8.50;
Lion, $9@9.50, in lots not less than 1000.
Fuse.— Triple tape, $4.00 per 1000 feet; double tape,
$3.50; single tape, $3.10; Hemp, $2.75; Cement No. 2,
$3.00; Cement No. 1, $2.65, in lots of 3000 and up.
Candles.— Granite 6s, 16 oz., 40s., lie fi set; 14 oz.,
40s., 9Jc.
Chemicals.— Cyanide of potassium, 98%-99%, job-
bing, 23@24c f, lb. ; carloads, 23@23Jc; in tins, 30c; soda
ash, $2.00 $ 100 fts.; hyposulphite of soda, 3@3}cf>ft.;
caustic soda, in drums, 3@3|cBS>-; Cal. s. soda, bbls.,
$1.10@1.20B1001bs.; sks., 90c@$1.00; chlorate of pot-
ash, 12@13c; nitrate of potash, 6|@7c; caustic potash,
10c in 40-tb. tins; roll sulphur, 2J@2|c; powdered sul-
phur, 2}@2jc; flour sulphur, French, 2J@ — c; alum,
$2.00@2.25; California refined, l|@2c; sulphide of iron,
8c 3ft ft. ; copper sulphate, 5J@5Jc; chloride of lime, spot,
$2.50@2.75; sulphuric acid, in carboys, 66% B, l|@2c $
ft.; nitric acid, carboys, 8c $ ft.
Oils. — Linseed, boiled, bbl., 62c; cs., 67c; raw, bbl.,
60c; cs., 65c; Lucol oil, boiled, bbl., 54c: cs., 59c; raw-
bbl., 52c; cs., 57c. Kerosene — Pearl, per gal., 17Jc; As
tral, 17Jc; Star, 17Sc; Extra Star, 20£c; Eocene, 19Jc;
Elaine, 26c; Water White, in bulk, lie; Mineral Seal,
iron bbls., 18c; wooden bbls., 20Jc; cs., 24c; Mineral
Sperm, cs., 26Jc; Deodorized Stove Gasoline, bulk, 14Jc,
do., cs., 21c; "86° Gasoline, bulk, 25c; do., cs., 31c; 83°
Naphtha or Benzine, deodorized, in bulk, per gal., 12Jc;
do., in cs., 19c; Lard Oil, E. W. S., bbl., 75c; cs., 80c;
Neats-foot Oil, pure, bbl., 63c; cs., 78c; Sperm, crude,
63@68c; Natural White, 68c; Bleached, do., 57c; Whale
Oil, cs., 52@67c.
Borax.— Concentrated, 6@7c $ ft; powdered, 8@10c;
fused, 20@25c; crystal, 7c; calcined, 25c.
Bone Ash.— Extra No. 1, 5@6c $ ft; No. 1, 4@5c.
Litharge.— Pure, in 25-ft. bags, 8@9c $ ft.
Molybdenum.— Best, $2.75 fl ft.
Chromium.— 90% and over, ^ ft., 80c.
Uranium.— Oxide, fi ft., $3.50.
Mercury.— Bichloride, f, ft., 77c.
Tungsten.— Best, fi ft., $1.25.
Phosphorus.— American, $ ft., 70c.
Sodium.— Metal, $ ft., 50c.
Bismuth.— Subnitrate, f> ft., $2.10.
Silver.— Chloride, $ oz., 90c@$1.00; nitrate, 55c.
Red Lead. — 500 lbs. and over at one purchase, $ ft.
7|c; less than 500 lbs., 8c.
Manganese. — Black oxide, B B>-> 2J@4c.
Magnesium.— Pure, N. Y., $1.60.
Fire Brick. — Domestic, carloads $ 1000, f. o. b., fac-
tory square, $25.00; soap and split, $22.50; arch and
wedge, $27.50; skewback, $30.00; circle, $32.00.
Fire Clay.— Domestic, $> ton 2000 fts. in 125-ft. bags,
double, and dry ground, f. o. b., factory, $8.50.
Notices of Recent Patents.
Among the patents recently obtained through Dewey, Strong &
Co.'s Scientific Press United States and Foreign Patent Agency,
the following are worthy of special mention :
Multiple-View Camera.— No. 792.245. June 13, 1905. James W.
Anderson, Santa Cruz, Cal. This invention relates to improve-
ments in photographic apparatus, and pertains especially to a mul-
tiple or consecutive view camera or camera attachment employing
a sensitive glass plate, cut film, or any flat sensitized surface upon
which may be photographed in more or less rapid succession objects
in their various natural positions or movements. The main object
of the invention is to provide a camera or an attachment for a cam-
era particularly adapted for gallery use which will enable the op-
erator to take a series of pictures of moving or stationary objects in
most rapid succession on one plate or which will allow each photo
separately to be given a prolonged exposure, as by removing the cap
each time in the manner of ordinary multiple cameras, or which will
permit the whole plate to be exposed at one exposure, as for ordi-
nary portrait work. The invention comprises mechanism for im-
parting an intermittent horizontal reciprocating movement to a
plate across a light aperture and a movement of the plate trans-
verse to its lineiof reciprocations whereby the plate momentarily is
stopped during each exposure and whereby the whole sensitive sur-
face may be taken up with one or more rows of distinct individual
pictures.
Containing and Pouring Can. — No. 792,621. June 20, 1905.
Adolph H Schlueter and Theodore A. Schlueter, Oakland, Cal. The
object of this invention is to permit the withdrawal of liquids from
larger to smaller receptacles without overflow and waste and to pro-
vide an apparatus for this purpose which can be effectively used
without a faucet or separate filling nozzle. The device consists of an
improved containing can having an airtube contained wholly within
it. having one end fixed in the head of the can. said tube extending
at an angle toward the side of the can and terminating short of said
side, a filling nozzle connecting directly with the opposite or outer
end of said tube, and a siphon-shaped pouring spout fixed in the head
of the can at one side of the center thereof.
Excavating Apparatus. -No. 792,699. June 20, 1905. William H.
Fuicher, Oakland, Cal. This invention is designed for making exca-
vations of any sort, especially for digging ditches or canals, remov-
ing the earth and delivering it either to form embankments or to
discharge it at a distance from the d igging apparatus. It is also sus-
ceptible of use in removing earth which is piled above the surface,
leveling it or Chang ng its grade, and for various similar operations.
The device comprises a frame having tumable bearings and guiding
wheels, cables connecting with said wheeled frames winding drums
by which said cables are moved to turn the wheels of a motor carried
upon the main frame, reversible clutches, mechanism comprising
chain and chain pulleys whereby motion is transmitted to the wheel-
steering apparatus.
Automatic Electric Switch.— No 792.734. June 20, 1905. Her-
man A. Shultz, Ferkeley, Cal. This invention relates to an appa-
ratus by which pumps and other machinery may be automatically
set in motion or their operation discontinued through the medium of
an electric current The object of the invention is to provide a sim-
ple, practical form of electrical circuit-closing mechanism which is
applicable for use particularly in tbe pumping of water, such as in
cellars, basements, mines and other places where flooding or overflow
is liable to occur and where the rise and fall of the water will start
or stop a suitable pump or equivalent apparatus for reducing the
amount. Tbe device consists of the combination with an electric
switch, of a float, of a fulcrumed lever, connections between tbe float
and the lever, connections between the lever and a movable member
of the switch, and a wedge-shaped yieldable member against which
one end of the lever is traversable.
Gramophone Attachments.— No 792,779. June 20, 1905. Gabor
Konigstein, San Francisco, Cal. This invention relates to an attach-
ment which is designed for use in conjunction with the movable
arms of gramophones or talking machines; and it is especially de-
signed to protect the diaphragm and its attachments from injury.
The device comprises a readily attachable and removable cap-
shaped member adapted to fit the sound box of a gramophone, said
member serving to protect the stylus-support of the box and being
made perforated to permit the free passage of sound-waves.
July 1, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
21
Baldwin Locomotive Works.
BROAD k NARROW GAUGE
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Mine, Furnace and Industrial
LOCOMOTIVES.
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with Westlnphouse Motors
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owner or official. Address, mentioning this paper.
wood* skth! PITTSBURG, PA.
ASK THE MAN
that's using the Vulcan Dinkey
what he thinks about it. We'll
send a leaflet giving names of
well known contractors if desired
VULCAN IRON WORKS
W1LKES-BARRE, PA.
N. B. LIVERMORE & CO.,
RIALTO BUILDING, SAN FRANCISCO.
LOUIS STRAUS & COMPANY,
Dealers in Ores and Minerals.
Purchase and Sell Ores of All Kinds.
Advances Made on Consignments.
Rare Minerals a Specialty.
We Also Act as Selling Agents for Mining Companies.
Correspondence Solicited.
60 and 62 NEW STREET,
NEW YORK CITY.
h Law handbook on blasting
"FIRING
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Tells why you should use
electrical fuzes, all about how
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hints, etc., and about
TRADE
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If you have never used Fuzes,
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If you are using other fuzes, try
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For sale on the Pacific Coast by
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THE LIMA LOCOMOTIVE &■ MACHINE CO.
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M
S5=S MINE LOCOMOTIVES,
STEAM SHOVELS AND DREDGES,
Built by the AMERICAN LOCOMOTIVE COMPANY.
REPAIRED LOCOMOTIVES AND CARS— ALL TYPES AND SIZES.
RELAYING RAILS AND BRIDGES. IMMEDIATE SHIPMENT.
Ill Broadway, NEW YORK. ATLANTIC EQUIPMENT COMPANY, Railway Exchange, CHICAGO
FRANKLIN AIR COMPRESSORS
MADE IN OVER 100 STYLES AND SIZES.
BOYERand KELLER HAMMERS and DRILLS
ROCK DRILLS, STONE SURFACERS,
AND EVERYTHING IN PNEUMATIC TOOLS
AND APPLIANCES.
Denver
SanFrancisc
Sclllle
Cleveland
■HIM PEUMATIOWS
95LIBEHTYST. U NEW YORK,"
Philadelphia
( Pittsburg
Toronto
Fully One Half
the price paid for high-priced FANCY PACKING is
wasted. There is none better than "EUREKA"—
few, if any, so good — and it is but about ONE-HALF
the price. Every dealer will furnish it. Be sure
though to name GENUINE "EUREKA."
ROBERTSON - THOMPSON INDICATOR
tells at once if engine is doing its duty,
and how to correct the trouble. They
are moderate in price.
WILLIS PLANIMETER.
VICTOR REDUCING WHEEL.
HINE STEAM SEPARATOR.
JAS. L. ROBERTSON & SONS, 195 Fulton St., New York.
22
Mining and Scientific Press
July 1, 1905.
ASSESSMENT NOTICE.
ALTA SIERRA GOLD MINING COMPANY. -
Locatioo of principal place of business, Room
620, Kohl Building, 406 Montgomery street, San
Francisco, California; location of works, Sierra
County, California.
Notice is hereby given, that at a meeting of the
Board of Directors, held on the 22nd day of June,
1905 an assessment (No. 2) of thirty (30) cents per
share was levied on all the issued capital stock of
the corporation, payable immediately in United
States gold coin to the secretary, at the office of
the company, Room 620, Kohl Building, 406 Mont-
gomery street, San Francisco, California.
Any'stock upon which this assessment shall re-
main unpaid on Saturday, the Hith day of August,
1905, will be delinquent and advertised for sale at
public auction; and unless payment is made be-
fore, will be sold on MONDAY, the 18th day of
September, 1905, to pay the delinquent assessment,
together with the costs of advertising and expenses
Bv order of the Board of Directors.
SAM. W. CHEYNEY, Secretary.
Office— Room 620, Kohl Building, 406 Montgomery
street. San Francisco. California.
Stamp Milling
Do you realize that a gas engine using dis-
tillate is the cheapest source of power in
California?
Why not find out what such a plant would
cost YOU"?
Tell me where you are, how much power you
require and what it is used for. and I will send
you a written estimate without cost to you.
MARK R. LAMB,
Gold Metallurgist,
Berkeley and San Francisco.
BRODERICK St BASCOM ROPE CO.
JVIANUFACTURERS OF
WIRE ROPE AND AERIAL TRAHWAYS.
ST. LOUIS, MO.
Branch Houses: Seattle, Wash., and Portland, Oregon
THE WILD MILL.
For the Reduction of Ores.
A Mill that will give the greatest capacity with least wear and
least horse power expended of any machine of this type.
A Direct Drive.
Has but 5 Bearings.
Screens the Ore
Before Grinding.
Screen and Auto-
matic Feeder a
Part of Mill.
Does Not Make
Slimes.
Wet or Dry
Crushing.
Dust Proof When
Crushing Dry.
Squires No Expen-
sive Foundation
made in Three Sizes:
NO. 1 MILL, 30-lnch Ring Die, Capacity 4 to 8 Tons, Weight 2,000 Lbs.
" 2 " 42 " " " " 20 " 40 " " 6,400 "
" 3 " 60 " " " " 35 " 60 " " 14,000 "
THE GREATEST SALE OF ANY MILL
EVER PLACED ON THE MARKET.
We will furnish specifications and estimates for your entire plant.
WRITE US YOUR REQUIREMENTS.
Send for Catalogue No. 53.
THE S. H. SUPPLY CO.
1803 Lawrence St. Denver, Colo.
<&
J&
+v
x%
<&<&
RICHARD'S NEW
(HAND
ROTARY PUMP.
MODEL.)
RICHARD'S
Power, Rotary, Centrifugal,
Deep Well, Oil and Windmill
PUMPS.
IVo Leathers.
J. C. Howlett MachineWorks,
256 Fremont St., San Francisco.
1EWEY, STRONG & CO., Patent Agents, San Francisco, Cal., Washington, D. C.
eWlRE ROPE
\\( LIBERTY ^T.. NLW YOHK.. ^1
_. 25 frlmont St. San Francisco, xp
v <$> 173 Lakl Si. Chicago ill<jC/
*fo
THE TRENTON IRON CO.
TRENTON, N. J.
WIRE ROPE
Wire of all Kinds Wire I<ope Tramways, Etc.
KNUDTSON-MACDONALD CO., INC.
MACHINERY MAFFS AGENTS AND CONSULTING ENGINEERS.
Mining, Crushing and Cement Machinery a Specialty.
Prepared to furnish Plans, Specifications and Estimates
for Complete Plants.
AGENTS FOR MERRALLS PATENTED BATTERY STAMP MILL.
414—108 La Salle Street, CHICAGO.
WHY BUY BRANDS
CLAIMING
EQUALITY.
BUY THE REAL THING.
Chief Amerioan Office,
Bl John St.,NewYork,N.Y.
JESSOP'S STEEL
FOR TOOLS, MINING DRILLS. ETC.
Wm. Jessop & Sons, Ltd.,
Manufactory, Sheffield, England.
I. WILLARD BEAM. Ag»n»,
29 Mai» Street,
SAN FRANCISCO, CAL,.
July 1, 19U5.
Mining and Scientific Press.
MINERAL
DEPOSITS
ALONG THE LINES OF THE
ILLINOIS CENTRAL
R. R. CO.
For fall information address
J. C. CLAIR,
Industrial Commissioner I.C.R.R.C0.,
No. I Park Row,
Chicago, 111.
A. MERLE, president.
A. RTTDGEAR, Manager.
ESTABLISHED 1865. NOTICE TO GOLD MINERS. INCORPORATED 1890.
Silver - Plated Copper Amalgamated Plates
POT? ^ A \ZTTMP C OT D ™ §2A.R-T2'_9EA.YE.L PR-HPAfiS .MKing^
MADE OP BEST SOFT LAKE SUPERIOR COPPER.
/\T REDUCED PRICES.
Our Plates are guaranteed, and bv actual experience are proved, the best in weight of Silver and durability. 01(1 Mining Plates replated, bought, or
pcldseDarats?. THOUSANDS OP ORDERS PILLED.
J\. MERLE CO.,
SUCCESSORS TO
SAN FRANCISCO NOVELTY AND PLATING WORKS,
515-517-519 Mission Street, above First, San Francisco. Cal.
££f~ Send for Circulars VeieDooDR Main Q™
Sfc Important to Gold Miners
And Manufacturers of Mining Machinery.
Silver Plated Copper Mining Plates
For Saying Gold in Quartz, Placer and Beach Mining.
The Most Extensive and Successful Manufacturers on the Pacific Coast.
i5et our reduced rates. Send for circulars. Old plates replated, also bought
DENNISTON'S SAN FRANCISCO PLATING WORKS,
748 MISSION ST , SAN FRANCISCO. CAL. TELEPHONE MAIN 69S1.
E. G. DENNISTON, Prop.
Twenty-S'l (VTprimo AwarriHrl Thirty flv* ve«.rs '" business nere
MANNING'S ASSAY OFFICE AND LABORATORY
BOISE, IDAHO, U. 8. A. Assaying of every de-
scription of Minerals, Quartz, Ores and Bullion
Correct work guaranteed. Also retort, melt, refine,
assay and purohase gold and silver bullion and rich
ores, T. H. MANNING, Assayer.
24
Mining and Scientific Press.
July 1. 1905.
ALPHABETICAL INDEX TO ADVERTISERS.
( — ) INDICATES EVERY OTHER WEEK OR MONTHLY ADVERTISEMENTS.
Page.
Abadie Co., Emlle R 38
Adams, W. J 30
Additon, A. Sydney 30
.-Etna Powder Co 21
Ainsworth & Sons, Wm 32
Alta Sierra Gold Mining Co 22
Allis-Chalmers Co 6
American Concentrator Co 19
American Diamond Rock Drill Co H
American Injector Co 36
American Spiral Pipe Works 1
American Tool Works 34
American Well Works 15
Asbestos Mfg. & Supply Co 31
Assayers' and Chemists' Supplies 32, 33
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Pe R. R. System 31
Atlantic Equipment Co ~l
Atlas Car& Mfg. Co 2
Atlas Engine Works 26
B
Baker & Adamson Chemical Co 32
Baker & Hamilton J°
Baldwin Locomotive Works -1
Baird & Co., Henry Carey 37
Barnhart, A. D 3°
Barnhart, Geo. W 3£
Bartlett& Snow Co., C. 0 3
Baverstock & Staples 5°
B. C. Assay & Chemical Supply Co —
Beatty, H. C *J
Bennett & Sons & Co., Wm 1
Best Manufacturing Co 35
Birch, Frank C 30
Blaisdell Co l
Blauvelt, Harrington SO
Boyle & Davis 30
Braun& Co.,F.W S3
Brennan *W. L 29
Brewer, Wm. M 31
Britannia Smelting Co., Ltd 34
Broderick & Bascom Rope Co 22
Brown, Cony T 30
Brown, Horace F 30
Browne, R. Stuart 30
Brownell, James S —
Boyer Machine Works 3
Bryant & Co., C. M 31
Bucyrus Company 35
Bufl & Buft Mfg. Co 32
Burlingame & Co., E. E —
Burnham-Standeford Co 26
Burton, Howard E —
Cal. Hydraulic Eng. & Supply Co 32
California Ore Testing Works 31
California Perforating Screen Co 19
California Powder Works 33
California Safe Deposit & Trust Co 31
Calkins Co., The 33
Cameron Steam Pump Works 17
Carterville Foundry & Machine Works 1
Carver, Leonard Hammond 30
Cary & Fielding 1
Cary Spring Works 36
Chalmers & Williams 1
Chicago & Northwestern Railway 38
Chicago Pneumatic Tool Co 21
Christman Co., Edward 1
Chrome Steel Works 12
Clement & Strange 31
Colorado Iron Works Co 1, 17
Columbia Engineering Works 15
Compressed Air Machinery Co 10, 29
Confidence G. M. & M. Co 29
Cook, A. D 38
Corliss Gas Engine Co 26
Crane Co 36
Crawford & McCrimmon Co 23
Crippen Mfg. Co., H. D 19
Crocker-Wheeler Co 4]
Crosby Steam Gauge & Valve Co 1
Cuplin, P. P 23
Currie, J. W 31
Cyclone Drilling Machine Co 20
D
Davenport Locomotive Works 1
Davis, H. W 29
Dearborn Drug & Chemical Works 41
De La Vergne Machine Co 20
Deming Co 20
Denniston's San Francisco Plating Works 23
Denny, G. A 31
Denver Balance Co 32
Denver Engineering Works 42
Denver Fire Clay Co 33
Denver Laboratories 30
Denver Ore Testing & Sampling Co 31
I >enver Tank Co 39
Dewey, Strong & Co 12, 32, 35, 37
Direotory Mining Engineers, Assayers, etc. . . .30, 31
Dividend Notices 29
Dixon, Joseph, Cruoible Co 1
Dow Pumping Engine Co., Geo. E —
Draper, T. Wain-Morgan 30
E
Eames Tricycle Co 38
Bastern Machinery Co 20
Electric Blue Print Co 30
Elf tman & Cull 30
Erman, Joseph C 30
Eureka Co. 20
Fairbanks, Morse & Co 9
PAGE.
Falkenau Assaying Co., Ino 30
Flory, S., Mfg. Co I9
For Sale 29
Fremersdorf, W. F 30
Frenier & Son 2
Fresno Agricultural Works —
Frost, Oscar J , 20
Frue Vanner —
Fueller, CM 31
Fulton Engine Works 40
Fulton Iron Works H
G
General Electric Co 41
Globe Iron Works 28
Goodman Mfg. Co —
Goodyear Rubber Co 34
Gorham, H. M 30
Graphite Lubricating Co 20
Grea", Western Machinery Co 29
Gutta Percha Rubber & Mfg. Co 38
Hall, Leon M 30
Hampton, Wm. Huntley.. 30
Hanks, Abbot A 30
Harmon, S. H., Lumber Co —
Hardsocg Wonder Drill Co 13
Harrlgan, Jno 30
Harron, Rickard & McCone 42
Harvey, F. H 30
Heald's Business College 31
Help Wanted 24
Hendrie & Bolthoff Mfg. & Supply Co 1, 11
Hendy Machine Works, Joshua 27
Henshaw, Bulkley & Co 6
Hersey, Clarence 30
Hills & Willis 30
Hollbrook, J. F 39
Hoskins & Co., Wm 32
Howe Scale Co ~~
Howells Mining Drill Co 15
Howlett, J. C, Machine Works 22
Hunt, Robert W., & Co 30
Huntley, D. B. 30
I
Illinois Central R. R. Co 23
Ingersoll-Sergeant Drill Co 15
Irving & Co., James 30
J
Jackson Machine Works, Byron 16
Jaquith & Co., J. W. 15
Jeanesville Iron Works 23
Jeffrey Mfg. Co., The 36
Jessop & Sons, Ltd., Wm 22
Jones, Charles Colcock 31
K.
Kerr, Mark B 30
Keystone Driller Co 19
Keystone Lubricating Co 25
Kilbourne & Jacobs Mfg. Co 2
King Solomon Mining Syndicate 30
Kinkead Mill 6
Kirby, Edmund B 30
Knight & Co -
Knox, Newton Booth 31
Knudtson-Macdonald Co 22
Kohlbusch, Herman 32
Koppel, Arthur 26
Kreider & Bro., Frank L 16
Krogh Mfg. Co 38
L
Lacy Mfg. Co 2
Lake Shore Engine Works 2
Lallie Instrument Co —
Lamb, Mark R 22
Lamont, Eugene M 30
Lawrence, Thomas J 31
Leffel & Co., James 27
Leschen & Sons, A —
Leyner, J. Geo 1, 13
Lietz Co., A 32
Lidgerwood Mfg. Co 19
Lima Locomotive & Machine Co 21
Link-Belt Maohinery Co 35
Long, Frederic H 30
Lord Co., Geo. W 18
Luckhardt Co., C. A 30
Lufkin Rule Co 32
Lunkenheimer Co 36
Pfl
Macdonald, Bernard 31
MacDonald Smelting Furnace Co 40
Machinery for Sale 29
Main Belting Co 39
Manning, T. H 23
Marion Steam Shovel Co 35
Marvin Electric Drill Co 14
Masurite Explosive Co 33
McLaughlin Mfg. Co. 35
McMahan, Chas. H 31
McMaster, D. J 29
Meese & Gottfried Co 31
Merle Co., A 23
Merrell Mfg. Co 26
Michigan College of Mines 31
Mine & Mill Supply & Machinery Co 29
Mine & Smelter Supply Co 5
Miners' Assay Office 30
Mining Engineers 30, 31
Minneapolis Steel & Machinery Co 2
Montague & Co., W. W —
Montana State School of Mines 31
Moore & Scott Iron Works 36
Morgan, Beddoes & Co 30
Moore & Co., Chas. C 10
Motter & Son, W. H 38
Page.
Mound Tool & Scraper Co 20
Myers, George W 12
IN
Nason, R. N. & Co . .—
National Wood Pipe Co 39
Neill, James W 30
Nevada Metallurgical Works 30
New Western Reduction Co 34
Nicholson, Hudson H 30
Nourse, C. F 30
O
Ogden Assay Co 31
Ogelsby, Milton L 31
Olcott, Corning & Peele 30
Osmont, Vance C 30
O'Sullivan, J 31
Ottumwa Iron Works 28
OverstTom, Gustave A 31
F»
Pacific Tank Co 40
Parafllne Paint Co 25
Parker, Richard A 30
Pelton Water Wheel Co 27
Pennington, G. W., Sons, Inc 39
Perez, Richard A 30
Perrin&Co., Wm. R 19
Phosphor Bronze Smelting Co., Ltd 26
Pierce, L. S 31
Pioneer Roll Paper Co 37
Piatt Iron Works Co 29
Porter Co., H. K 21
Powell Co., Wm 36
Power & Mining Machinery Co 3
Prescott, Fred M., Steam Pump Co 39
Prescott Incorporating Co 31
Price Pump Co., G. W —
Prinz & Rau Mfg. Co 20
Proske, T. H 1
Putman, H.J —
Quaker City Rubber Co 19
R
Rand Drill Co 14
Rapid Economy Stamp Mill Co 37
Redfleld Drill & Supply Co 15
Redwood Manufacturers Co 39
Reid, George D 30
Replogle Governor Works 36
Richards, J. W 30
Richardson Scale Co 20
Ridgway Belt Conveyor Co 1
Risdon Iron Works 26
Rix Compressed Air & Drill Co 15
Robertson, Jas. L. &Sons 21
Robins Conveying Belt Co 1
Roebllng's Sons &Co., John A 22
Roessler & Hasslacher Chemical Co 1, 32
Ruggles-Coles Engineering Co 39
s
Salt Lake Hardware Co 32
San Francisco Chemical Co 34
San Pedro, Los Angeles & Salt Lake R.R 37
Schaw-Batcher Co 39
Scheidler, Ethan 37
School of Practical Mining 30
Selby Smelting & Lead Co 34
Shaw Pneumatic Tool Co., C. H 13
Shaw, Richard C 30
Shrewsbury & Smith 31
S. H. Supply Co 22, 29
Siebert Frederic John 30
Simonds& King 30
Situations Wanted f 24
Sizer, F. L 30
Smidth, F. L, & Co 2
Smith Co., S. Morgan 27
Smith, Emery & Co 30
Smith & Co., Francis —
Smooth-On Mfg. Co 34
Spalding, E. P 30
Sperry's Flour 23
Standard Diamond Drill Co 14
Star Drilling Machine Co ' 15
Steiger Terra Cotta & Pottery Works 16
Stephenson Mfg. Co 28
Stow Flexible Shaft Co 15
Straus & Co., Louis 21
Stromberg-Carlson Telephone Mfg. Co —
Stroud, E. H. & Co —
Sturtevant Mill Co 7
Sullivan Machinery Co 1, 14
T
Tacoma Smelting Co 34
Tarr, S. H 30
Taylor Iron & Steel Co 4
Thew Automatic Shovel Co 2
Thompson, F. W 32
Thurston, E. C 30
Tomlinson & Norton 30
Trenton Iron Co 22
Troemner, Henry 32
Trump Mfg. Co 20
Tyee Copper Co. 34
Tyler Co., W. S 28
U
Union Gas Engine Co 9
Union Iron Works 12
Union Photo-Engraving Co 33
United Iron Works 38
United Iron Works Co. 20
United States Smelting Co 36
Urie Snyder Dredge Co 39
Utah Mining Machinery & Supply Co 8
V
Van Der Naillen, A 30
PAGE.
Vulcan Crucible Steel Co 27
Vulcan Iron Works, S. F 38
Vulcan Iron Works, Wilkesbarre, Pa 21
Vulcan Iron Works Co., Toledo, 0 20
\A/
Wade & Wade 30
Wanted 29
Warren & Co., G. D 14
Watt Mining Car Wheel Co 16
Watts, W. L 30
Weber Gas & Gasoline Engine Co l
Weigele Pipe Works —
Weld, Stanleys 30
Wellman-Seaver-Morgan Co 9
Western Engineering & Construction Co 35
Western Forge Co 37
Western Fuel Co 20
Western Repair & Supply Co 34
Westinghouse Electric & Mfg. Co 41
Weston Electrical Instrument Co 33
Wetherill Separating Co 31
Wheeler Co., Harry K 30
Whitman & Barnes Manufacturing Co 20
Wilkes, Wilkes & Wilkes 19
Wood Drill Works 15
Wood, Ernest Clifford 31
Wood, Henry E 30
Wood Shoe Co 37
Woodbury, Geo. E 40
^
SITUATIONS WANTED.
9S" The cost of advertising in this column, is 10 cents
per tine of seven words per insertion. Answers for-
warded to any address without extra charge.
ASS AVER, TECHNICAL GRADUATE, WANTS
position in mining camp. Experienced chem-
ist. References given. Address J. A. W. Luck,
Jersey P. O., Contra Costa Co., Cal.
EXPERT MILL MAN WANTS POSITION AS
mill superintendent and assayer. Has done
cyaniding and can keep accounts. Address "Mill-
ing," this office.
EXPERIENCED HYDRAULIC MINE MAN-
ager, formerly in charge Cherokee, La Grange,
North Bloomfleld and other large California hy-
draulic mines, wants engagement. Exceptional
references as to standing, character and efficiency.
Address J. B. D., Mining and Scientific Press office.
position with mining company; 10 years expe-
rience; good draftsman and designer; thorough
knowledgeof mining work. "Mechanic," this office.
tion. Practical miner, mill man and cyanide
chemist. Address "Super," this office.
MINING ENGINEER AND SUPERINTEND-
ent, with twelve years' continual experience.
Superintendent for five years. Excellent refer-
ences. J. Lancaster, 622A Placer St., Butte, Mont.
POSITION BY THOROUGHLY PRACTICAL
mine and mill superintendent of over 60 years'
experience. Profitable handling of low-grade ores
a specialty. Climate no object. Can give refer-
ence from first-class mming companies. Address
"Utility," care of Mining and Scientific Press.
TECHNICAL GRADUATE WISHES POSITION.
Experienced in assaying mine, mill and cva-
nide plant samples and products, and in operating
cyanide plant. Not particu'ar as to location. Ref-
erences, last employer. Address M.C.D. this office.
THE ENGINEERING AGENCY, 128 MONAD-
nock Block, Chicago, furnishes free to reliable
employers information leading to employment of
Mining Engineers, Draftsmen, Mine or Mill Super-
intendents, Assayers, Chemists, Cyanide Men, Elec-
tricians, etc. In successful operation eleven years.
Let us know your need and competent, high-grade
men whose complete professional and personal
records have been thoroughly investigated will be
referred to you at once.
WANTED — SITUATION AS MANAGER OR
Superintendent of gold, silver or lead prop-
erty; 20 years' experience in managing properties,
building mills, and ore concentration. Good as-
sayer, surveyor, etc. Best of reference. Address
C. J. A., care of this office.
WANTED-POSITION AS SUPT., CHEMIST OR
Assayer— mine, cyanide, chlorination plant or
smelter Am technical, and plenty of experience.
Address H. B. S., 346 Bradbury Bldg., Los Angeles.
WANTED POSITION AS ASSAYER. UNDER-
stands milling and cyaniding. Address Box
28, care of this office.
HELP WANTED.
]
WANTED FOR MEXICO— AN EXPERIENCED
Mine Manager, also a competent Mill Super-
intendent used to cyanide treatment. Both must
speak Spanish, and have had an extensive experi-
ence. Apply, with copies of testimonials and stat-
ing terms and past experience, to Box No. G. 3036,
Haddon's Advertising Agency, Salisbury Square,
Fleet St., London, England.
THIS IS A CLEARING HOUSE FOR ENGI-
neering or technically trained college men and
positions. No charges to employers. Supplying
teachers a specially. Circulars on request. The
Science Agency, Durham, New Hampshire.
July 1, iyu5.
Mining and Scientific Press.
25
For use in and
about mines J
A weekly talk on the merits of the products of
The Paraffine Paint Company
THE USE OF MALTHOID ROOFING ON MINE BUILDINGS.
Malthoid Roofing is used on mine buildings because experience has taught
mining contractors and builders that it wears better than any other roofing and
costs less to keep in good repair.
There is a reason for this and a very simple one, too.
Malthoid Roofing is made of the highest grade of wool felt, thoroughly satu-
rated with a non-drying, gummy compound that will always remain soft and
pliable whether the weather be cold or very hot. This is coated with a non-
oxidizing, tough and elastic weather-proof coating.
The combination of these ingredients (most of which are produced in Califor-
nia) forms a water-proof fire-resisting roofing that is exceptionally strong, very
durable, and easy to lay.
A Malthoid Roofing will resist fire and burning sparks falling upon it will
not ignite it.
It does not curl, melt, run nor crack from hot weather. Neither does it con-
tract, buckle or creep from cold weather.
It is specially useful on mine buildings near smelters where gases and fumes
and exhaust from steam pipes forming an acid fall upon the roof. Such condi-
tions do not injuriously affect Malthoid in the least.
It can be used for all sorts of buildings, laid in a few hours — full instructions
for laying, together with cement, nails and caps, contained in each roll.
Where transportation and freight rates are difficult and high, Malthoid is a
splendid substitute for lumber.
Malthoid is a non-conductor of heat and cold, and as such renders houses
made of it cooler in summer and warmer in winter.
We have several folders and circulars issued about Malthoid which we will
be glad to send to any one interested. In fact, we are issuing folders and circu-
lars constantly showing new buildings recently covered with this popular roofing.
The Vancouver Cement Company, covered with 49,000 square feet of roofing.
THE VALUE OF P & B PAINT ABOUT MINES.
The Omaha & Grant Smelting and Refining Company of Omaha, Neb., say:
" We are using your P & B Paint in our Blue Stone Works, where it is subjected
to the action of sulphuric acid, and find it the best article we have ever used for
that purpose."
The Bridgeport Copper Company, of Bridgeport, Connecticut, say that they
have used considerable quantities of No. 1 P & B Paint and have found it better
than anything else for resisting a dilute solution of sulphuric acid.
P & B Paint is particularly useful about mines for painting boilers and
smokestacks, brick, cement and stone work, roofs, pipes, all sorts of iron work,
above and below ground. P & B Paint will stand great extremes of heat and
cold, and will neither crack, run nor scale. Its color is a bright black, and dries
quickly, absolutely odorless and tasteless. It comes in cans ready to apply, re-
quires no heating, mixing or stirring.
A gallon of P & B Paint covers from ISO to 250 square feet of surface, accord-
ing to the grade you use. We have some interesting literature on the subject of
preservative paints we will be pleased to send to any one interested enough to
send for it.
We also manufacture P & B Ready Roofing, P & B Building Paper, P & B
Insulating Tape, and Pabeo Damp-proof Compound, our latest product, used for
coating brick walls before plastering. It takes the place of fur and lath, and
prevents the moisture in the bricks entering the plaster.
Booklets and full instructions for using all of our products sent free on
request.
The Paraffine Paint Company,
Main Office, 24 Second St., San Francisco, Cal.
Factories, Paraffin, Cal.
Branches: Los Angeles, Denver, Portland, Seattle, Spokane, New Orleans;
Sydney, N. S. W.; Shanghai, China; and Yokohama, Japan.
A SCIENTIFIC TEST
The late Prof. Thurston says in his treatise,
which has been accepted as an authority on
Friction:
"Friction may be said to be in proportion to
the heat generated."
Tinius Olsen, the noted M.E. and builder of
Testing Machinery, upon testing samples of the
best known oils and greases on the market,
reports:
"The bearing tested, running under the same
conditions and the same length of time, grew
hotter with each other lubricant than with
KEYSTONE GREASE."
Is it necessary to draw a conclusion?
We will send a sample of KEYSTONE
GREASE and a brass grease cup to any Engi-
neer giving business address, and advising us
of the H. P. of his engine and size of tap in
which cup will be used.
GUARANTEE:
1 lb. of KEYSTONE GREASE=4 to 6 gals, of
OIL.
1 lb. of KEYSTONE GREASE=3 to 4 lbs. any
other grease.
KEYSTONE GREASE is made and sold only
by us; any dealer offering KEYSTONE GREASE
is offering a substitute and will be prosecuted for
the imposition.
Keystone Lubricating Co.
PHILADELPHIA, PA., U. S. A.
Mining and Scientific Press
July 1, 1905.
The mill shown in the illustration is one of eight new mills recently installed in the regrinding depart-
ment of the Cananea Consolidated Mining Company.
Send for catalogue number eight. Pnces quoted upon application.
RISDON IRON WORKS, san francisco, California.
■:-m.
The flerrell Pipe Threading
and Cutting Hachines
— FOR —
MINES, MILLS, POWER PLANTS,
AND FACTORIES.
MACHINES FOR HAND,
MACHINES FOR POWER,
Combined Machines for Hand and Power,
Motor and Engine Driven Machines, \
SEND FOR CATALOGUE.
HAND MACHINE.
THE MERRELL MFG. CO., Toledo, Ohio, U. S. A.
PACIFIC COAST REPRESENTATIVES:
THE PACIFIC HARDWARE & STEEL CO., Mission & Fremont Sts., San Francisco. Cal.
MINING HOIST.
LATEST IMPROVED.
Operated with Gasoline, Distillate or Crude OH direct,
without Generator, making it the cheapest and most efficient
hoisting outfit on the market. Built all sizes.
ALSO, PUMPING AND IRRIGATION PLANTS.
Write for information.
CORLISS GAS ENGINE CO. Inc.
(Successors to ORIENTAL, GAS ENGINE CO.)
223-22B FOLSOM STREET . . .. SAN FRANCISCO, CAL.
The Phosphor Bronze Smelting Co. Iimited,
2200 Washington ave.,philadelphia.
"ELEPHANT BRAND PHOSPHOR-BRONZE"
INGOTS,CASTINGS, WIRE, R0DS,SHEETS, etc.
— DELTA METAL
CASTINGS, STAMPINGS and FORGINGS
ORIGINAL and Sole Makers in the U.S.
S********.!'***********************************'*******
Arthur Koppel's
Forged Steel
1322
and
are of the right hardness and toughness; of the best quality in every way.
Wear longer and more evenly and crush a ton of ore
cheaper than any other.
Patterns of all standard sizes kept in stock to ensure quick delivery.
WE ALWAYS CARRY A LARGE STOCK OF
Steel Dump Cars; Ore, Mine and Skip Cars;
Steel Rails from 8 n». up. Turntables, Switches, Etc,
Write for Catalogue ,fF."
ARTHUR KOPPEL,
Manufacturer of Industrial, Narrow and Standard Gauge Railway Materials.
DEPT. 6, 66-68 BROAD STREET, NEW YORK.
* Branch Office,
* 409 Monadnock Blk
* Chicago.
HARRON. RICHARD & McCONE. Pacific Coast Agents. 21-23 Fremont St.,
San Francisco. Cal.
All our claims for superiority
ATLAS
Four-Valve Engine
are fully substantiated. Our newlv
issued Engine Catalogue No. 124
tells you WHY it is the most eco-
nomical, reliable, efficient, and
thoroughly satisfactory Pour- Valve
Engine on the market. Send for a
copy to-day— it's free for the ask-
ing.
ATLAS ENGINE WORKS,
Indianapolis.
We also build a full line of Fire
and Water Tube Boilers.
ATLAS FUDK-VALVE SlDri LKANK JSNuLWE.
Portable Buildings
NO. 47. STOCK SIZE— 12 ft. 9& in. by 22 ft. 1H in.
One outside and two inside doors. Three windows. Three rooms.
Shipping weight, 4800 pounds. Send for illustrated catalogue.
BURNHAM-STANDEFORD CO.
SECOND AND WASHINGTON STREETS. - OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.
July 1. 19U5.
Mining and Scientific Press.
Write
for the
Free
Cata-
logue
which
tells all
about
this
MILL
and the
other
good
Mining
Ma-
chinery
we
manu-
facture.
j^BBHBB
____
QUADRUPLE DISCHARGE
" IVIDUAL MORTAR
MADE BY
JOSHUA HENDY MACHINE WORKS
SAN FRANCISCO.CAL,U.S.A.
If You Want
Hydraulic
Machinery --
GIANTS,
(Plain and
Ball Bearing)
WATER
LIFTERS,
HOISTING
DERRICKS,
UNDER
CURRENTS,
RIYETED
STEEL PIPE,
RIFFLES,
GATES,
PDMPS,
MOTORS,
WATER
WHEELS,
Send for
Catalogue
No. 3.
SAMSON TURBINE
A PATENTED LOCK NUT is used on the bolts which hold the gates in
position on the SAMSON. It prevents the bolts from becoming un-
screwed and therefore eliminates wear and leakage.
NO. 305 LAOONDA STREET.
JAMES LEFFEL & CO., Springfield. Ohio, U. S. A.
HARRON. RICKARD & HcCONE. San Frandsco. Cal., Sales Agents lor California, Nevada and Arizona.
Pair
of
Mccormick turbines
4000 H. P. 72 ft. head, arranged to
drive generator and a single turbine
to drive exciter.
Five settings built for the Hudson
River Water Power Co.'s Spier Falls
Plant and fourteen pairs 61-inch for
their plant at Mechanicsville, New
York.
Write for catalogue If contemplat-
ing purchase of turbines.
S. Morgan Smith
Company,
YORK, PA.
176 FEDERAL ST.. BOSTON. MASS
Vulcan Crucible^ Steel Company,
) WORKS,
Aliquippa, Pa.
YOUR DEALER SELLS
Vulcan Extra
Drill Steel
It has no equal for general
mining purposes.
INDEPENDENT OF THE TRUST.
BRANCH WAREHOUSE,
Denver, Colo.
Vulcan Steel Is HAMMERED,
NOT ROLLED, and guaranteed
superior to any other Ameri-
can brand.
A HORSE POWER
lOOOO H. P.
Can be obtained by means of
the
PELTON WHEEL
And at the lowest cost con-
sistent with high efficiency
and mechanical workman-
ship.
THE PELTON WATER WHEEL
Is especiallyiadapted for use in
MINING AND ELECTRIC TRANSHISSION PLANTS.
Tenth Edition Catalog on Water Power sent to those interested in the subject.
THE PELTON WATER WHEEL CO.
124 Main Street, San Francisco.
147 Liberty Street, New York.
28
Mining and Scientific Press.
July 1, 1905.
BUYERS) DIRECTORY.
ALPHABETICAL INDEX TO ADVERTISERS PAGE 24.
PAGE.
Air Compressors 1, 10, 13, 14, 15,21
Amalgam Plates 23
Asbestos 31
Assayers 20> 23» 30, 31
Assayers' and Chemists' Supplies 1, 32,33
Assessment Notice 22
Attorneys, Patent 12,35
Axles. 2
Balances, Assayers' 32, 33
Belt Dressing 28
Belting 1, 34. 38
Boilers 1.20,32
Boiler Compounds 18, 41
Boiler Covering 31
Bearing Metal 20
Blue Prints and Supplies 30, 32
Bossheads 12
Books 37. 39
Boots and Shoes 34, 37
Brass Goods, Cocks, Valves, Etc 1, 36
Brokers, Mining Land and Stock 15, 16, 19, 21
Burners 32, 33
Bushings 2°
Cableways, Suspension 22
Callow Settling Tanks 8
Cams 12
Cars, Dump, Mine and Ore 2, 16, 28
Car Wheels 2, 16, 28
Castings 12, 31, 36, 37, 39
Cement 20
Cement Machinery 22
Check Valves 1
Chemicals 1,32,33,34
Chemists 1. 18,32,41
Chrome Steel 12
Coal and Coke Dealers 20
Colleges, Engineering 30, 31
Concentrators 5, 40
Concentrator Belts 38
Conveyors 1, 3, 31 , 36
Corporation Agency 31
Copper Converters 3, 11
Copper Producers and Dealers 36
Crucibles, Graphite, Etc 1, 32, 33
Crushers 2, 3, 6, 12, 19, 22, 26, 33, 36, 37, 38, 42
Cupels 32, 33
Cutting Machines 26
Cyanide 1, 32, 33
Cyanide Plants 5, 39, 40
Cyaniding Machinery 1, 39
Dividend Notices 29
Drafting Materials 32
Dredging Machinery 2, 20, 35, 39
Drill Steel 22, 27
Drill Makers and Sharpeners 1
Drills 1, 12, 13, 15, 19,20, 38
Drills, Air 13, 14, 15
Drills, Core 14,15
Drills, Electric 14, 15, 42
Drills, Hand 14, 15, 19
Drills, Placer Mining 13, 14, 15
Drills, Rock 1, 13, 14, 15, 19
Driers, Mechanical 38
Dry Placer Machines 23
Dust Collectors 20
Electrical Machinery Supplies 6, 41
Electric Hoists 9, 40
Electric Rock Drills 42
Electrical Machinery 6, 33, 41
Electrical Instruments 33
Elevating Machinery 31
Engineers 2, 9, 10, 11, 32
Engineers' Instruments 20, 26
Engines, Gas and Gasoline 1, 3, 9, 20, 22, 26, 33
Engines, Oil 20, 33, 39
Engines, Stationary Steam 1, 10, 20, 26
Excavators 38
Explosives 21, 33
Feed Water Purifiers 18, 41
Filter Presses 19, 29
Fire Brick and Clay 16, 20
Flour 23
For Sale 29
Forgings 34, 36, 37, 39
Friction Clutches 20
Furnaces, Assayers1 32, S3
Furnaces, Roasting 3, 12, 17, 38, 40
Furnaces, Smelting 3, 12, 17, 38, 40
Fuse, Caps, Etc 1, 21, 33
Gas Producers 1
Gold Separators 34
Governors 36
Grab Buckets 3A
Graphite 1, 20
Grease 05
Grinding Machinery 2, 3, 22, 26, 33, 38, 42
Help Wanted 24
Hoisting Engines I, 9, 11, 19. 23, 28
Hydraulic Engineers 1, 11, 32
Hydraulic Rams 15
Injectors 36
Iron Cement 34
Iron Workers 39
Klnkead Mill 6
Lead, Pig . . ._ 34
Link Belting jt 35
Locomotives - 1 21
Locomotives, Electric 1, s! 21
Lubricants 1.20,25
Machine Works
Machinery for Sale
.33
Page.
Magnetic Separators 20
Manganese Steel *
Masurite 33
Metal Dealers SI, 34, 36
Metric Weights 32
Muffle Furnaces 33
Mine Transit, Pocket 33
Mining and Milling Machinery 1,3,5,6,8,9,
10, 11, 12, 17, 22, 26, 27, 28, 36, 37, 40, 42
Mine and Mill Supplies 1,3, 5, 6, 8,9, 10, 11.
12, 17, 22, 26, 27, 28, 36, 37, 40, 42
Mining Engineers 30, 31
Mining Hoists 1, 8,9, 10,11,26,40
Mining. Schools 30, 31
Motors and Generators 41
Oils ■ • • • 8
Oil Well Supplies 31
Ore Purchasers 21, 34, 36
Ore Sample Grinders 32, 33
Ore Separating Processes 31
Ore Testing Works 31
Packing and Pipe Covering 19, 31, 34
Paints 25
Perforated Metals 19. 28
Phosphor Bronze 26
Photo-Engraving 33
Pipe l. 2, 27, 39
Pipe Covering 31
Pipe Threading and Cutting Machines 26
Placer Mining Machinery 1, 14, 15, 19, 20
Planimeters 21
Pneumatic Tools 13, 21
Portable Houses 26
Portable Sawmills 38
Pottery I6
Pouring Spoon 6
Power Transmitting Machinery 31
Prospecting Drills 1, 14, 15, 19, 20, 31
Pulleys 20, 31
Pulverizers 2,3,6, 22, 33, 36, 37,38,42
Pumps 2,16,17, 20, 22,23,27,29,39,41
Quarrying Machinery 1
Quartz Mills 3. 5, 9, 27, 36, 37
Quicksilver 20
Railways 23,31,37,38
Railway Supplies and Equipment 1
Reducing Wheels 21
Repairing Materials 34
Roll Shells 12
Rolls, Crushing 36
Roofing and Building Paper 2b, 37
Rubber Goods 19, 34, 38
Safe Deposit & Trust Co 31
Sand Pumps 2
Scales and Balances, Assayers' 32, 33
Screens, Mining 19, 23, 36
Second-Hand Machinery 29
Shafting 31
Shaking Screens 12
Shoes and Dies 12, 26, 34, 37, 39
Shovels, Steam 2, 20
Situations Wanted 24
Smelting and Refining Works 31, 36
Smelter Supplies.. .1. 3. 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 17, 26, 27, 29, 40
Springs, Steel 36
Stamp Mills 3. 27, 37
Steam Gages 1
Steam Separators 21
Steam Specialties 1
Steel Crusher Parts 4
Steel Frames for Buildings, Etc 2
Steel Tapes 32
Surveying Instruments 32
Tanks 2, 39, 40
Tappets 12
Terra Cotta 16
Traction Engines 35
Tramways, Wire Rope 22
Transits 32
Tricycles and Rolling Chairs 38
Turbines 9, 20, 27
Valves ._. 36
Ventilating Fans 23
Wanted 29
Water Power Equipment 9
Water Wheels 20,27
Well Drilling Machinery 1, 14,15, 19,20,38
Well Supplies I, 14, 15, 19,20,38
Wheels, Car 2, 28
Whims 40
Winches 40
Wire Cloth , 19,28
Wire, Wire Rope and Cables 8, 22
Wrenches 20
Zinc Dust and Shavings 32, 33
"Well I'll Be-
turned/ " said the
Pulley as the
Loom-fixer took a
stick of
Stephenson
Bar Belt
Dressing
out of his tool
box.
Send 4c for liberal sample, stating If for
Leather, Rubber or Canvas.
STEPHENSON MFG. CO.,
ALBANY, N. T.
■ ■ ■ ■ ■
■ ■■■_■
■lljill
JflJ(B .■(
■•<■ ■)■ Ji
■■■)■■»■.
■ >■■,■■
■ ■ ■ ■ ■
"The Tyler"
Double Crimped
Wire Cloth and Screen.
Made in all meshes and all metals.
Write for Catalogue "C".
1 ■ ■ m m
[If ■!■ ■ 1
!■'■■■■
I ■ ■ ■ B ■
!'■•■■■■
''■■■■■
!'■■>■■*■
!■■■■■
■ ■ ■ ■ ■
■ ■■'■■
Cleveland, Ohio.
IS USED.
Easy to load. Easy to run. Easy to dump.
Low in height. Low in price. High in quality.
All Cars fitted with Self-Oiling Dust Cap Wheels.
Constructed of Steel, Wrought Iron and Malleable Castings.
All sizes easily dumped by one man.
Ask for Ore Car Catalogue No. 10.
GLOBE IRON WORKS,
55 WEST MAIN ST., STOCKTON, CAL.
Cable Address "Globeworks."
OTTUMWA IRON WORKS,
Established 1867, OTTUMWA, IOWA. Incorporated 1903.
HOISTING
ENGINES.
MINING
MACHINERY.
California Agents: Harron, Rickard & McCone.
Washington Agents:
Bradley Engineering & Machinery Co., Spokane. w*>h.
Over 2100 Engines in Use.
AN advertisement in these'columns is weekly seen by thousands
who use our advertising columns as a directory for their needs,
and who know that.none but reliable advertisements appear therein.
July 1, lyU5.
Mining and Scientific Press.
2»
WANTED.
\4^
WANTED— PARTNKR WITH 1750.110 FOR CYA-
ntde proposition. Money fully secured. High-
est reference*. Address "Cyanide." HiKofflce.
WANTED CAPITAL to develop a 5000
H. P. Electric Water Plant. Monthly income
$5000.
JAMES AUTHUU, Baker city. Oregon.
DIVIDEND NOTICE
CALIFORNIA~SAFE DEPOSIT
AND TRUST COMPANY,
Corner California and Montgomery Streets.
For tlit* six months ending June 30, 1905, divi-
dends have been declared on the deposits In the
Savings department i »( this company, as follows: On
term deposits at the rate of 3 0-10 per cent per an-
num, and on ordinary deposits at the rate of S^ per
cent per annum, free of taxes, and payable on and
after Saturday, July 1. 1905.
J. dai..zell BROWN, Manager.
DIVIDEND NOTICE
San Francisco Savings Union
532 California St., Cor. Webb.
For the half year ending with the 30th of June,
1905, a dividend has been declared at the rate per
annum of three and six-tenths (3 6-10) per cent on
term deposits, and three and fifteen one-hundredths
in 15-10C) per cent on ordinary deposits, free of
taxes, payable on and after Saturday, July 1, 1905.
LOVRLL WHITE, Cashier.
DIVIDEND NOTICE
The German Savings and
Loan Society,
526 CALIFORNIA STREET.
For the half year ending June 30, 1905, a dividend
has been declared at the rate of three and one-half
(3V4) per cent per annum on all deposits, free of
taxes, payable on and after Saturday, July 1, 1905.
GEORGE TOURNY, Secretary.
Di\/icienci INotlce.
SECURITY SAVINGS BANK,
316 MONTGOMERY ST.
For the half year ending June 30, 1905, dividends
upon all deposits at the rate of three and one-quar-
ter (3'4) per cent per annum, free of taxes, will be
payable on and after July 1, 1905.
FREDW RAY. Secretary.
MACHINERY FOR SALE.
For Sale at a Specially Low Price: FOUR
AMALGAMATING! PANS and TWO SET-
TLERS, for the "Bom Process " Pans and
Settlers are new, but will sell at a close price.
Call or address: THE COMPRESSED AIR
MACHINERY CO., 24 First St., San Francisco.
FOR SALE.
A Sullivan »B" Diamond Core Drill, In first-
class condition. This drill Is equipped with 1000
ft. of "13" drill rods, new Blake pump, all necessary
tools, and Is In perfect working order. Also—
A Sullivan "BN" Drill, Mounted on Wheels,
equipped with 500 ft. "N" rods, all necessary tools,
boiler mounted on wheels, pump, etc., etc.
Address W. L. URENNAN,
P. O. Box -103, Punxsutawney, Pa.
FOR SALE.
Davis Hydraulic Gravel Elevator.
Patented by him after ten years" experience
with Hydraulic Elevators.
Water Lifter and Elevator combined; can be
used for either. Only wear is on liners. Casings
last a life time. Liners can be changed quicker
than in any other elevator.
Elevator can be seen at Root, Neilson & Co
Sacramento, Cal.
For any information on Hydraulic Elevator
propositions, address
H. W, DAVIS, East Auburn, Cal.
Dividend Notice.
Mutual Savings Bank of San Francisco,
710 MARKET STREET
For the half year ending June 30, 1905, a dividend
has been declared at the rate of three and one-
quarter (3W) per cent on all deposits, compounded
semi-annually and free of taxes, payable on and
after Saturday, July 1, 1905.
GEO. A. STORY, Cashier.
Dividend [Notice.
SAVINGS AND- LOAN SOCIETY,
101 MONTGOMERY ST. OOR OF SUTTER.
Has declared a dividend for the term ending June
30, 1905, at the rate of three and one-half (3>4) per
cent per annum on all deposits, free of taxes, pay-
able 00 and after Saturday, July 1, 1905.
EDWIN BONNELL, Asst. Cashier.
Dividend [Notice.
Office of the HIBERNIA SAVINGS & LOAN SOCIETY,
Corner Market, McAllister and Jones Streets-
San Francisco, June 28, 1905.— At a regular meet-
ing of the Board of Directors of this Society, held
this day, a dividend has been declared at the rate
of three and one-half (314) per cent per annum on
all deposits for the six months ending June 30, 1905,
free from all taxes, and payable on and after July
], 1905. ROBERT J. TOBIN, Secretary.
DiY/iderici Notice.
THE CENTRAL TRUST COMPANY OF CALIFORNIA,
42 Montgomery Street, Cor. of Sutter.
For the half year ending June 30, 1905, a dividend
has been declared on the deposits in the savings
department of this bank, asfollows: On term depos-
its at the rate of 3 6-10 per cent per annum, and on
ordinary deposits at the rate of 3& per cent per an-
num, free of taxes, payable on and after Saturday,
July 1, 1905. FRANK J. SYMMES, President.
""pHE trade journal which has the con-
■^ fidence of its readers is the one
that pays the advertiser the best.
CjnmA&BL
HAVE THAT STURDINESS OF CONSTRUCTION THAT
ENABLES THEM
TO WITHSTAND
THE HEAVIEST
DUTY WITH A
MINIMUM OF
CARE AND AT-
TENTION.
THERE ARE OTHER GOOD POINTS THAT WE ARE
ANXIOUS TO TELL YOU ABOUT.
BUILT ALSO IN SINGLE, DUPLEX AND TRIPLEX TYPES.
HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL.
THE PLATT IRON WORKS CO.
(Successor to ST1LWELL-BIERCE & SMITH-VAILE CO.)
Dayton, Ohio, U. S. /\.
SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. Western Sales Agents:
m-13 first st. HEKDRIE & BOLTHOFF, Denver, Colo.
::THE
WHY? Because
YOU CAN'T BEAT OUR PRICES.
YOU CAN'T BEAT OUR MACHINERY FOR
EXCELLENT CONDITION.
YOU CAN'T OVERLOOK THE PACT THAT
ODR MACHINERY IS GUARANTEED,
AND CONSEQUENTLY YOU CAN'T
AFFORD TO BUY MACHINERY WITH-
OUT FIRST WRITING US.
We carry the largest stock in the West and
have just what you want in
STAmp mii_Ls
ROLLS
CRUSHERS
HOISTING ENGINES
ENGINES
AIR COMPRESSORS
BOILERS
PUMPS
GENERrtTORS
HIOTORS
In fact we carry a complete stock of Second-
Hand -Machinery for the Mine and Mill.
THE GREAT WESTERN MACHINERY CO.
1624-38 Blake St., Denver, Colo.
WE GUARANTEE ALL OUR MINE
AND MILL MACHINERY.
1—14x22x14x22x22 Rand Compound Compressor.
1—18x24x18}^ Ingersoll-Sergeant Class A Compressor
1—16x9^x14x16 Norwalk Compound Compressor.
1—16x18 Leyner Compound Compressor.
1— 14x16 Leyner Compound Compressor.
1—10x12 Leyner Simple Compressor.
1—10x12 Dean Bros. Belted Compressor.
1—10x10 Ingersoll-Sergeant Belted Compressor.
1 — 8x8 Ingersoll-Sergeant Belted Compressor.
1—4x4 Leyner Duplex Belted Compressor.
Cyanide and Stamp Mills, Holsters, Pumps, Boilers,
Air Drills, Crushers, Rolls, Gasoline Hoisting and
Pumping Outfits, some new and others used some-
what. Bargain Prices and Satisfaction. Corre-
spondence.
THE MINE & MILL SUPPLY & MACHINERY CO.
(Successors to Kenyon & Grant Machinery Co.)
CRLPPLE CREEK, COLO.
I
Our stock is so complete that we can meet
any requirements. Write us your wants. We
can give you immediate shipment.
BLOWERS AND EXHAUSTERS.
No. 7 Root Blower, Direct Connected to Erie
Engine.
1— No. 7H Baker Positive Pressure Blower.
1— No. 15 Conncrsville Positive Pressure Blower.
I— No. 5 BaUer Positive Pressure Blower.
2— No. 44 Baker Positive Pressure Blowers.
2— No. 4 Root Positive Pressure Blowers.
3— No. 50Vi Buffalo Steel Plate Blowers.
2— No. 10 Sturtevant Monogram Blowers.
I— No. 9 Buffalo Monogram Blower.
2— No. 10 Sturtevant Monogram Exhausters.
SINKING PUMPS.
1— Ux7x12Sdow, Duplex.
1—10x5x12 Snow, Duplex.
I— 16x8x18 No. 11 Cameron.
1—12x7x13 No. 9 Cameron.
I— 12x6x16 Deane.
2—12x5x13 No. 7 Cameron.
1— 10x5!*x]2 Cameron, Special.
STATION PUMPS.
2— 18^x27x46x91/ax36 Snow, Triple Expansion,
Duplex, Condensing.
1— 22x40x1 2'/2x3fi Knowles, Compound Condens-
ing, Duplex.
1— 20x3(J>/,xioi/,x24 Knowles, Compound Condens-
ing, Duplex.
1 -16x30x10^x24 Knowles, Compound Condens-
ing, Duplex.
1—19x36x10x24 Jeanesville, Compound Condens-
ing, Duplex.
1—14x26x8^x18 Knowles.
1—18^x8x12 Knowles, Duplex.
1—16x7x12 Knowles, Duplex.
1—10x6x16 Titusville, Duplex.
1—16x7x16 Knowles, Single.
1—10x5x12 Blake, Duplex.
1—8x5x10 Knowles, Single.
1-8x39^x8 Jeanesville, Duplex.
1—8x3x8 Jeanesville, Duplex.
1—8x2^x8 Jeanesville, Duplex.
1—7x3x8 Snow, Duplex.
AIR COMPRESSORS.
1—13x19x12x20x16 Rand, Compound.
2—16x18x11x22 Leyner, Compound.
1— 14xl6x9y2xl6 Norwalk, Compound.
1—12x14x9^x12 Norwalk, Compound.
1 — 14x14x18 Laidlaw-Dunn-Gordon.
1—12x14x16 American.
1 — 10x12x12 American.
1—8x10x12 American.
CONCENTRATING TABLES.
10 Standard Wilfley Tables.
6 New Bartlett Tables, Iron Top.
12 New Bartlett Tables, Rubber Top.
1 Cammett Table.
5— 6 ft. Frue Vanners.
1 — 4 ft. Frue Vanner.
4 Gilpin County Concentrators.
Write for our MACHINERY LIST NO. 45.
THE S. H. SUPPLY CO.
1803 Lawrence St., DENYER, COLO.
FOR SALE CHEAP.
FILTER PRESS of Stilwell-Bierce & Smith-Yaile
Make, Having Been in Use Two Months.
This Press has 48 — 2" chambers. Together with
this is a 7"x4!4»ilO" DUPLEX PUMP. Can be
seen by calling at the office of the undersigned.
For further particulars, apply to CONFIDENCE
O. M. & M. CO., No. S20 Sansome St., Room 53, San
Francisco, Cal.
Complete
A
Smelter for Sale.
BARGAIN.
This plant is complete in every detail and contains the
following principal items of machinery:
A 36-INCH ROUND WATER-JACKETED COPPER
MATTING FURNACE WITH FOREHEARTH (exactly
as shown in illustration), NO, 4V4 POSITIVE PRESSURE
BLOWER, SLAG POTS, MATTE POTS, ENGINES,
BOILER, HEATER, CHARGING SCALES, AND ALL
PULLEYS, SHAFTING, BKLTING, ETC.
This furnace is brand new, having been purchased by a
company who changed their plan of treatment before the
furnace "was shipped. It has just come from the factory
and is a strictly modern machine in every particular. The
balance of the machinery has been in use a short time, but
Is in thoroughly first-class condition in every respect.
We will sell this as a whole or in any part. Write us
your requirements and we will furnish you complete speci-
fications and prices.
The o. H. Supply Gl
1803 Lawrence St., DENVER, COLO.
A FEW BARGAINS IN REBUILT MACHINERY.
1 Complete Ten-Stamp Mill. 2 Large Side Dump Ore Cars.
1—8x12 "Btake" Rnck Crusher. 3— 2H" Ingersoll Rock Drills.
1 — 4x6 "Huntington" Rock Crusher. 4— 3" Ingersoll Rock Drills.
1 Complete Sampling Mill. 10 Screw Bars, Complete.
I CARRY THE LARGEST STOCK OP REBULLT MACHINERY ON THE COAST. PRICES RIGHT-
D. J. McMASTER (Sue. to McMaster-Pieper Machine Co.), 512-51* Folsom St., San Francisco, Cal.
30
Mining and Scientific Press.
Jdly 1, 1905.
DIRECTORY MINING ENGINEERS, METALLURGISTS, ASSAYERS, Etc.
ALASKA.
HAMPTON, TO. HUNTLEY, e.m
Juneau, Alaska.
Mines Examinations and Reports. Hydraulic
Elevating,
conditions.
Extra large elevators designed to fit
ARIZONA.
BARNHART, A. D.
ASSAYER AND METALLURGIST.
Prescott. Arizona
BLAUVELT, HARRINGTON.
MINING ENGINEER AND METALLURGIST,
Prescott, Arizona.
Mines examined and reported upon.
JRMAN, JOS. C.
1 MINING AND CONSULTING ENGINEER.
Manager of the Keystone Copper Mines,
Globe Arizona.
J. B. Tomlinson. B. N. Norton.
TOMLTNSON & NORTON,
CONSULTING
MINING AND CIVIL ENGINEERS.
REPORTS A*D PLANS OF DEVELOPMENT,
STJ RVEYS AND ESTIMATES.
EXAMINATIONS FOR INVESTORS ONLY.
THOROUGHLY FAMILIAR WITH CONDI-
TIONS AND MINING LAWS IN MEXICO.
Codes: Bedford-McNeil; A. B. C. Com.
Offices: Prescott. Ariz.: C nanea, Sonora, Mex.
CALIFORNIA.
ADAMS, W. J. E.M.
MINING ENGINEER AND METALLURGIST,
Graduate of Columbia School of Mines.
Author of " Hints on Amalgamation," etc., etc.
Room 27, S08 California Street,
San Francisco. Cal.
ADDITON, A. SYDNEY.
CYANIDE CHEMIST & CONSULTING ENGINEER.
Planti Designed and Installed. Reports Made
301 Market St., San Francisco.
DAVERSTOCK & STAPLES,
" ASSAYERS AND METALLURGISTS,
Testing Works: 322 West First St., Los Angeles, Cal.
Specialty, Molybdenite. No students engaged
BEATTY,H. C. m.e.
ASSAYER.
Mines Examined, Sampled, Reports, and Maps
Phone, Black 6878. 761 Market St., San Francisco, Cal.
■JDROWNE, R. STUART,
*-* METALLURGICAL ENGINEER.
SPECIALTY: CYANIDE TREATMENT.
ORES TESTED FOR CYANIDE TREATMENT
PLANTS DESIGNED AND INSTALLED.
8 California St., San Francisco, Cal.
BROWN, HORACE F. Manager
PACIFIC ENGINEERING COMPANY
Consulting and Constructing Mining and Metallur-
gical Engineers.
Room 31. 325 Montgomery St., San Francisco. Cal.
BIRCH, FRANK C.
MECHANICAL AND CONSULTING ENGINEER
AND DRAUGHTSMAN,
619MlsslonSt .San Francisco, Cal. Phone Bush 802.
418 California St., Room 46, San Francisco, Cal.
CARVER, LEONARD HAMMOND.
Mem. Am. Inst, of Min. Eng'ers.
HYDRAULIC AND MINING ENGINEER.
Reports, Plans, Construction. Hydro-Electrical
Power Development. Codes: A. B. C, Lieber.
608 California St., San Francisco, Cal.
DRAPER, T. WALN-MORGAN,
CONSULTING MINING ENGINEER.
Pacific Coast Properties of Non-Resident Owners
Managed.
Main Office, 230 Montgomery St., San Francisco, Cal.
ELECTRIC BLUE PRINT CO.
BLUE PRINTS AND SUPPLIES. Rapid Blue-
Printing In any weather. Tracings made. Blue
Print Paper and all Draughtsman's Supplies.
1 57 New Montgomery St., San Francisco. Phone Red 521 .
pREMERSDORF, W. F.
•*■ MINING ENGINEER AND METALLURGIST.
San Diego, Cal.
pALKENAU ASSAYING CO, INC.
STATE ASSAY OFFICE,
638 Sacramento St., below Montgomery.
Analysis of Ores, Metals, Soils, Waters, Indus-
trial Products, Foods, Medicines, etc., etc. Court
Experting in ail branches of Chemical Technology.
Working Tests of Ores and Investigation of Metal-
lurgical and Manufacturing Processes. Consulta-
tions on all questions of applied chemistry. In-
structions given in assaying and all branohes of
chemistry.
/"■ORHAM, H. M.
w MINES, AND MINING INVESTMENTS.
Examinations and Advice.
Twenty-five years' experience In all the Pacific
Coast raining States and Territories.
offices:
Room 6--- 10th Floor, Mills Building, San Francisco.
323 Conservative Life Building, Los Angeles.
HANKS, ABBOT A.
CHEMIST AND ASSAYER.
Successor to Henry G. Hanks, est.
1866. The supervision
of sampling of ores
shipped to San Fran-
cisco a specialty.
629 California St.
San Francisco, Cal.
HALL, LEON M.
CONSULTING ENGINEER IN MECHANICS,
ELECTRICITY, MINING.
Room 814 Hayward Building, San Francisco, Cal.
Telephone Main 989.
TJARVEY, F. H.
-^1 MINING AND CONSULTING ENGINEER,
Gait, Cal.
H
UNTLEY, DWIGHT B.
MINING ENGINEER AND METALLURGIST,
1269 Webster St., Oakland, Cal.
[RVING & CO., JAMES.
L GOLD REFINERS AND ASSAYERS.
Cash for Bullion. Mines Examined.
128 N. Main St., Lot Angeles, Cal.
KERR, MARK B.
CONSULTING MINING ENGINEER,
Pacific Union Club, San Francisco, Cat.
Management and Reports upon Mining Properties.
TITpNERS' ASSAY OFFICE,
1V1 (JOHN HARRIGAN.)
26 Stevenson St., San Francisco, Cal.
Telephone Clay W72.
Assaying, Analyses, Sampling, Grinding and
Pulverizing of all kinds. Practical Working Tests
of Ore by all Processes. Mining Machinery Bought
and Sold. Check Assays. Instructions given in
Assaying. All Work Guaranteed.
Mines Examined, Sampled and Reported on by J. J.
CUMMINGS. M. E. and Cyanide Expert.
N
KILL, JAMES V.
METALLURGIST AND MINING ENGINEER,
Palsce Hotel, San Francisco, Ca'., and
Dooly Block, Salt Lake City, Utah.
N'
OURSE, C. F.
CIVIL AND MINING ENGINEER,
Room 193, Crocker Bldg , San Francisco, Cal.
OSMONT, VANCE C.
MINING ENGINEER.
SPECIALTY: MINE EXAMINATIONS.
530 California St , San Francisco. Cal.
(San Francisco Savings Union Bldg.)
)EREZ, RICHARD A. e.m.
ASSAYER AND ANALYTICAL CHEMIST,
120 N. Main St., Lot Angeles, Cal.
SCHOOL OF PRACTICAL MINING,
Civil, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering.
Surveying. Architecture, Drawing. Assaying,
Cyanide Process and Metallurgy.
1 1 3 Fulton St., 1 block west of City Hall, San Francisco.
Open all year. A. VAN DEH NAILLEN, Pres
Assaying of Ores, $25; Bullion and Chlorination
Assay, $25; Blowpipe Assay, $10. Pull course of
Assaying, $50. Established 1864. .as- Send for
Circular.
Telephone, MAIN 5104.
Cable Address, LTJCKWARD.
-ESTABLISHED 1869-
A. H. WAKD
C. A. LUCKHARDT CO.,
NEVADA METALLURGICAL WORKS,
71 & 73 STEVENSON STREET SAN FRANCISCO, CAL.
Assaying, Analyses, Sampling.
PRACTICAL WORKING TESTS OF ORE BY ALL PROCESSES.
STAMP MILL AND CONCENTRATOR IN OPERATION ON PREMISES.
SHAW, RICHARD C.
MINING ENGINEER AND METALLURGIST.
~ , Union League Club, San Francisco, Cal.; or,
- Wells Fargo Bank, 51 Broadway, N. Y.
— Cable Address: Shawric, New York.
IBedford McNeill and Moreing & Neal Codes.
CTEBERT, FREDERIC JOHN,
CONSULTING MINING ENGINEER,
Braly Building,
Los Angeles, Cal.
Ernest H. Slmonds.
METALLURGICAL ENGINEERS AND CHEMISTS.
MILL EXAMINATIONS.
METHODS OF TREATMENT DEVISED.
COMPLETE ORE TESTS.
GENERAL ASSAYING AND ANALYSES.
417 Montgomery St., San Francisco. Tel. Black 4455.
JMITH, EMERY & CO.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERS.
Physical Tests, Inspec-
tions. Factory Processes.
Analysis — Petroleum,
Metals, Soluble Salts,
Coal, Coke, Clay, Water.
83-85 New Montgomery St.
San Francisco, Cal.
TARR, S. H.
ACCOUNTANT.
Beginners, College Graduates or Bookkeepers
Coached in rjp-to-Date Accounting and Rapidity
at Figures. Books Opened, Closed or Adjusted.
217-218 Parrot! Bldg., San Francisco. Cal.
TmURSl
.TON. E. C.
MINING ENGINEER.
Room 604, No. 604 Montgomery St., San Francisco
Bedford-McNeil Code.
w
ADE & WADE,
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTS AND ASSAYERS,
318 East First St., Los Angeles, Cal.
w
ATTS, W. L. E. M.
Thirteen years assistant In the field to the Cali-
fornia State Mining Bureau.
MINING PROPERTY EXAMINED.
OIL LANDS A SPECIALTY.
Address 146 W. 28th St., Los Angeles, Cal., or
Apartado 1143, City of Mexico, Mexico.
w
HEELER, H. K., COMPANY.
MINING AND CONSULTING ENGINEERS,
CHEMISTS AND ASSAYERS.
Examinations, Reports, Surveys, Analyses.
Los Angeles, Cal.
Cable Address: "Robbie.'
COLORADO.
HILLS & WILLIS, Victor G. Hills.
MINING ENGINEERS, Frank G. Willis.
Cripple Creek, Colo.
Cable address, "Hillwill Cripplecreek." Codes:
Western Union, Moreing & Neal, Bedford, McNeill.
HERSEY, CLARENCE.
ASSAYER AND CHEMIST.
(Established 1879.) LEADVH-LE, COJ^O.
Gold, Silver and Lead, $1.00.
Any two of above, 75c; any one of above, 50c.
Copper analysis, 81.00; Platinum, Nickel or Tin,
each $5.00. Twenty-four years' successful expe-
rience in the mining metropolis of Colorado.
Write for mailing envelopes and price list.
K
TNG SOLOMON
MINING SYNDICATE.
Buys and sells dividend-paying mining stock.We
have made money for others— let us make some for
you. 408 Mining Exchange Building, Denver, Colo.
LAMONT, EUGENE M.
CONSULTING MINING ENGINEER.
Manager Raymond Consolidated Mines Company,
Ohio City, Colo.
Permanent Address: 6 Burraoe Blk., Canon City. Colo
JARKER, RICHARD A. C.E., e.m
CONSULTING MINING ENGINEER,
No. 217 Boston Building, Denver, Colo.
l\JICHOLSON, HUDSON H.
IN CONSULTING MINING ENGINEER.
Examination of and Advisory Reports on Mining
Properties. Specialty: The Chemical Treatment
of Ores. 33-Present address: Sumpter, Oregon.
Room 404 Continental Bldg., Denver. Colo.
RICHARDS, J. V.
ASSAYER AND CHEMIST,
1732 Champa Street, Oenver, Colo.
ORE SHIPPERS' AGENT. Write for Terms.
Howard C. Parmelee.
Rudolf Gahl, Ph. D. Charles H. Bryan.
THE DENVER LABORATORIES.
ASSAYERS, ANALYSTS, ELECTROCHEMISTS.
1765 Arapahoe St.. Danvnr, Colo. Associated with
James Underhill, M. E., Idaho Springs, Colo.
WOOD & CO., HENRY E.
ASSAYERS,
1734 Arapahoe Street, Denver, Colo.
Ores tested in carload lots. Amalgamation, con-
centration, cyanide, Wetherill magnetic separator,
Blake electric separator. Send for circular.
STANLEY B. WELD, Assayer and Chemist
- GUARANTEED ASSAYS
Specimen Assays, Gold, Silver, Lead. $1.00; any two, 75c;
Copper. 75c. Low prices for chemical work. Write for
prices, discounts and sample sacks. I am not running an
Assay Co. but personally conduct and guarantee all wotk.
Formerly doine Umpire work in Denver. Highest of refer-
ences in East and West. Control and Umpire work. Mail
orders receive prompt attention. W. U. Telegraph Code,
126 West First St. SALIDA. COLORADO Box Z j
IDAHO.
R
ELD, GEORGE D.
CHEMIST & METALLURGIST.
Supt. of Mines and Smelter for The Ladd Metals
Co., Mineral, Idaho. Code: Moreing & Neal.
SPALDING, E. P.
MINING ENGINEER.
Manager Monarch Mining Co., Ltd.
Examinations and Reports.
Bedford McNeill Code. Murray, Idaho.
ILLINOIS.
H
UNT & CO., ROBERT V.
BUREAU OF INSPECTION, TESTS AND
CONSULTATION.
66 Broadway, New York. 1 121 The Rookery, Chicago.
Monongahela Bank Bldg., Pittsburgh.
Inspection of Rails and Fastenings, Cars, Locomo-
tives, Pipe, etc; Bridges, Buildings and
Other Structures.
Chemical and Physical Laboratories.
Reports and Estimates on Properties and Processes.
ONG, FREDERIC H.
-* CONSULTING MINING AND METALLURGICA
ENGINEER,
Schiller Bldg., Chicago, III.
MINNESOTA.
A. E. Elltman.
J. B. Cull.
ELFTMAN & CULL,
MINING ENGINEERS,
706-7 Globe Bldg., Minneapolis, Minn.
Examination and Management of Mines, espe-
cially Colorado, California and Black Hills.
MISSOURI.
KIRBY, EDMUND B.
CONSULTING MINING ENGINEER AND
METALLURGIST.
701 Security Bu Iding, St Louis, Mo.
Specialty: The expert examination of mining
Investments and metallurgical enterprises.
MONTANA.
CIZER, F. L.
^ MINING ENGINEER,
Specialty: Mine Examination,. Butte, Montana.
NEVADA.
ABADIE COMPANY, EMILE R..
MINING ENGINEERS AND ASSAYERS.
E. R. Abadie. D. T. Baker. E. R. Abadie, Jr.
Development, Management. Mines Sampled.
Assays. Control and Umpire Work. Code: Bed-
ford McNeill, Liebers. Goldfield (Box 71J, Nev.
BOYLE & DAVIS,
MINING AND METALLURGICAL ENGINEERS.
Herman Davis, Pres. and Supt. Nevada Reduc-
tion Works.
Emmet D. Boyle, Managing Engineer, Como, Nev
Dayton, Nevada.
Examinations, Surveys, and Reports on Mines.
Milling and Cyanide Tests of any magnitude.
Codes: Bedford McNeill; Moreing & Neal.
NORTH CAROLINA.
Cecil C. Morgan, C. E. M. E. C. C. Beddoes, C. E.
Ernest Gayford, M. E. Frank P. Callow, C. E. M. E.
MORGAN, BEDDOES & CO.
MINING. CIVIL AND METALLURGICAL
Charlotte, North Carolina. ENGINEERS
Assay Office and Chemical Laboratory.
Mines Examined and Reported On.
Ores Tested for Treatment in Large or Sma
Quantities.
Cvanlde Process a Specialty. Mills Designed.
NEW MEXICO.
B
ROWN, CONY T.
MINING ENGINEER.
Sec. & Treas. New Mexico School of Mines.
Socorro, N. M.
NEW YORK.
OLCOTT, CORNING & PEELE,
CONSULTING MINING AND METAL-
Eben Erskine Olcott. LURGICAL ENGINEERS.
Christopher R. Corning.
Robert Peele.
36 Wall St.. New York
July 1, 19U5
Mining and Scientific Phes^.
31
DIRECTORY MINING ENGINEERS.
Metallurgists. Assayers, Etc.
TEXAS.
M
c MA HAN, CHAS. H.
MINING ENGINEER,
221 Guaranty Trust Bldg.. El Paso, Texas.
Properties examined, developed and managed In
the South west Utd .Mexico. Code: Bed ford McNeill.
UTAH.
/-"LENIENT & STRANGE,
CONTRACTING ENGINEERS.
MINING, MILLING, SMELTING AND POWER
PLANTS.
DESIGNS AND ESTIMATES.
307 Dooly Block. Salt Like City. Utah.
/-'URRLE, J. W
ASSAYED,
W. Third South St., Salt Lako Cltj, Utah.
J
ONES, CHARLES COLCOCK.
CONSULTING MINING ENGINEER AND
METALLURGIST,
Room 33 Commercial Block. Salt Lake City, Utah.
QGLESBY, MILTON L. M.So.
^ MECHANICAL AND MINING ENGINEER,
David Keith Building, Salt Lake City, Utah.
QVERSTROM, GUST AVE A. m.b.
^ CONSULTING ENGINEER.
SPECIALTY : CONCENTRATION OE ORES
MILL AND SMELTER CONSTRUCTION.
210 Dooly Block,
Salt Lake City, Utah.
WASHINGTON.
w
OOD, ERNEST CLIFFORD.
CONSULTING MINING ENGINEER,
Spokane, Wash.
At present at Angels*Camp, California, care
Essex Consolidated Mines Co.
iltffi Toctflii ln carl°au" lots or smaller quantities
Ulo luLHuu by any modern metallurgical process.
Best equipped plant in the world. Write for booklet.
THE DENVER ORE TESTING & SAMPLING CO.
Office: 527 Seventeenth St.
Works: Cor. Bryant and West 1 6th Ave.
DENVER, COLO.
N. C. BONNEVtE, C. A. HOYT,
lieneral Manager Chemist & Metallurgist.
RELIABLE ASSAYS.
Gold 8 .75 I Gold and Silver... 11.00
Lead 75 j Gold.silver.copper 1 .50
Sample, by Mail receive prompt attention.
Placer Gold, Retorts, and Rich Ores Bought.
Send for Free Mailing Envs. and Price List.
Ogden Assay Co.
1725 Arapahoe Street, Denver, Colo.
INCORPORATE UNDER ARIZONA
LAWS FOR ANY PURPOSE.
Least restriction; business transacted and meet-
ings held anywhere; no taxes; sma 1 1 sum covers all
costs; capitalization unlimited; private property
exempt; copy laws, information and blanks free.
Prescott Incorporating Company,
PRESCOTT. ARIZONA.
Montana State School
of Mines*
Located in the greatest mining center in
the United States. Unrivalled opportunities
for observing all practical operations in min-
ing and metallurgy. Four years course in
Mining engineering, Metallurgy, Mechanics,
Assaying, Geology and Petrography.
Send for Catalogue to N. R. LEONARD,
President, Butte, Montana.
Michigan College of Mines.
F. W. McNAIR, President.
A State institution making use of an active min-
ing district. For Year Book and Record of Gradu-
ates apply to President or Secretary.
Hougnton, Michigan.
BRITISH COLUMBIA.
B
REWER, VNL M.
CONSULTING MINING ENGINEER,
24 Rae Street. (P. 0. Box 671,) Victoria.
B. C.
BRYANT & CO., C M.
Cecil M. Bryant, A.R.S.M., etc.
PROVINCIAL ASSAYERS. METALLURGISTS AND
MINING ENGINEERS.
British Columbia and Pacific Coast Specialists.
Control and Umpire Assays. Complete Analyses.
Shipments of ore superintended at coast smelters.
3-ton crushing and sampling works.
Head Office: Vancouver, B. C. Established 1890.
OrOULLIVAN, J. F.C.S., &C. (London)
k-J PROVINCIAL ASSAYER, by examination.
Assayer for 26 years with Messrs. Vivian & Sons,
Swansea. Assay Office and Laboratory, Edison
Block, 432 Richards St., near Bank of Commerce,
P. 0. Box 116, Vancouver, B. C.
JAPAN.
KNOX, NEWTON BOOTH.
MINING ENGINEER.
163 Honmura-machl, Honmura, Azabuku, Tokyo-Japan.
Cable Address: "Newtknox, Tokyo."
MEXICO.
LAWRENCE, THOMAS J.
MINING ENGINEER,
Topla, Durango, Mexico.
Assays, Surveys, Analysis Made, Umpire Work.
Reports on Mines in Western Durango.
Cable Address, "Simigo." Lieber's Code used.
M
ACDONALD, BERNARD.
CONSULTING MINING ENGINEER,
Apartado 33, Guanajuato, Mexico.
SOUTH AFRICA.
DENNY, G. A.
MINING AND CONSULTING ENGINEER.
Consulting Engineer to General Mining & Finance
Corporation, Ltd.
P. 0. Box 4181. Johannesburg, South Africa.
WEALTH
IN
SIGHT.
The Territory tributary to the
Santa F^e>
System
In INDIAN TERRITORY, TEXAS, COLO-
RADO, NEW MEXICO, ARIZONA and
CALIFORNIA, offers to limited Investments
of capital, backed by energy and brains,
unusual opportunities for development of
GREAT MINERAL PROPERTIES.
Deposits of the following are known to
exist on and within a few miles of our
lines:
Antimony, Alum, Asbestos, Asphalt, Ba-
rytes, Bauxite, Borax, Cement Rock, Coal,
Cryolite. Clays of all kinds, Copper, Gold,
Graphite, Gypsum, Granite, Iron, Kaolin,
Lead, Lithograph Stone, Manganese, Mica,
Marble. Mineral Paints, Nitre, Nlckei,
Natural Gas, Onyx, Petroleum, Phosphate
Rock, Pumice Stone, Pyrites, Quicksilver,
Salt, Silica, Strontlanlte, Stone— Oolite,
Lime and Sand, Silver and zinc.
For further Information, address
WESLEY MERRITT,
Industrial Commissioner,
Atch., Top. and Santa Fe System,
CHICAGO, ILL.
ASBESTOS
Save FUEL by Covering Your
PIPES and BOILERS With It.
ASBESTOS MFG. & SUPPLY CO.
691 MISSION ST., SAN FRANCISCO, CAL.
HAVE YOUR ORE TESTED
By an independent plant — one not bound to any special machine.
I make Concentrating, Cyanide and Chlorination tests and ascer-
tain kind of machinery best suited for your ore. Send 200 lbs. or
more for a test. I have an Overstrom table, but test on all others.
I design and erect mills.
C 7V\. FUELLER,
1752 CALIFORNIA STREET, DENVER, COLORADO.
Interest paid on deposits, subject to check, at the rate of
two per cent per annum. Interest credited monthly.
Interest paid on savings deposits at the rate of three and
six-tenths per cent per annum, free of taxes.
Trusts executed. We are authorized to act as the guardian
of estates and the executor of wills.
Safe-deposit boxes rented at $5 per annum and upwards.
Capital and Surplus:::::::;: :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::;::$J,500,399.46
Total Assets:::::::;::;::::::::::::::::;::::::.:::::::::;:::::;;;;;;;;:;;:; 7,665,839.38
Offices
CORNER CALIFORNIA AND MONTGOMERY STREETS,
SAFE DEPOSIT BUILDING, SAN FRANCISCO.
Do
You
Us
P
Send for Catalogue and Discount Sheet.
i
I
PULLEYS, HANGERS, SHAFTING, ETC.
LINK BELTING, SPROCKETS, BUCKETS.
ELEVATING and CONVEYING MACHINERY.
Main Office and Factory:
1 67 Fremont St.
SAN FRANCISCO, CAL.
Branch:
219 Occidental Ave.
SEATTLE, WASH.
ARE YOU CONFRONTED WITH A DIFFICULT
ORE-SEPARATING PROBLEM ?
THE WETHERILL MAGNETIC SEPARATING PROCESS
MAY PROVE THE SOLUTION. Write for illustrated pamphlet and information to THE STEARNS-
ROGER MANUFACTURING CO., DENVER, COLORADO, Mfg. and Sales Agents lor the U. S.
HEALD5 SCHDDL DF /WINES
3,-» l=JC3«ll I
ESAF>I F-F«^r~JC=IS
Full courses In Mining. Electrical, and all kinds of Engineering.
Assaying. Cyanide and Mill Processes. Catalogue Free.
ARTESIAN WATER WELLS DRILLED.
Water \A/ells Tested.
Water Works Installed.
PROPERTIES TESTED EOR MINERALS.
Bridge Piers, Foundations, Etc.
PUMPINC AND DRILLING MACHINERY FOR RENT.
SHREWSBURY & SMITH (Incorporated). Engineers. Office and Works. SAN MATEO. CAL.
ABBOT A. HANKS.
FRANCIS L. BOSGUI.
CALIFORNIA ORE TESTING WORKS.
COMPLETE ORE MILLING AND TESTING WORKS
For Making Practical Working Tests of Ores to Determine Best Methods of Treatment.
CYANIDINC A SPECIALTY.
Office: 529 California St.
Work.: 364 Bay Bt.
SAN
Phone: Jamea 676.
Codes: Bedford McNeill and Western Union.
FRANCISCO, CAI-.
M
32
Mining and Scientific Press.
July 1. 1905.
Assayers' and Chemists' Supplies, Engineering Instruments and Drawing Materials.
Fine Weights
become
INACCURATE
when handled day after day with a pair of
forceps. You can avoid all your weight
troubles by using a
Thompson Balance
with
MULTIPLE RIDER CARRIER.
F. W. THOMPSON, Denver, Colo
tfola Memil Aiaini tit >"'. Loms.
1 840-The Standard of Excellence- 1 904
HENRY TROEMNER'S
NO. 2 (IMPROVED)
Assay Balance.
SENSIBILITY 1-50 MILLIGRAMME,
T'.-imh Beam.
The rider carriage has PULL,
CLEAR SWEEP; there are NO ob-
structions on the top of beam.
PALL AWAY BEAM AND PAN
ARRESTS.
THE BEST LOW-PRICED ASSAY
BALANCE MADE.
LIST PRICE, S80. 00.
Price List on application.
HENRY TR0EMNER.
Philadelphia. Pa., U. S. A.
JJSKELLER ASSAY BALANCE
WINNER OF THE GOLD MEDAL AT ST. LOUIS.
YOU TAKE NO CHANCES IN BUYING A KELLER.
Money Back if Not Found as Represented.
It combines Ingenuity, Compactness, Simplicity and Efficiency.
For Accuracy, Rapidity, Sensitiveness and Ease of Operation
IT IS UNEQUALED.
THE SALT LAKE HARDWARE CO.
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH.
CHEMICALLY PURE
Laboratory Reagents.
NO PRELIMINARY TESTING REQUIRED.
Manufactured by the
BAKER & ADAMSON CHEMICAL CO.
Price list on request.
EASTON, PENNA.
LUFK1N
Steel Tapes
MADE BY
SEE INDISPENSABLE FOR ACCURATE WORK.
The Lufkin Rule Co., - - Saginaw, Mich.
For Sale Everywhere. Send for Catalogue.
'CUPELS"
In any quantity we can make you an interesting
proposition. Send to-day for a sample of our
"Brownite'1 Cupel; guaranteed not to break in
transit and superior in absorbing qualities.
WM. H0SKIN8 & GO.
81 Clark St., Chicago.
Haters of Hosklns' Patent Hydro-Carbon
Blow Pipes and Assay Furnaces.
ESTABLISHED 185U.
Herman Kohlbusch, Sr.
194 Broadway. New York.
Manufacturer of
Fine Balances and Weights.
For every purpose where accu-
racy is required.
Send for Illustrated Calalogue,
DEWEY, STRONG & CO.,
PATENT AGENTS, S. F., Cal. * Washington, D. C.
THE BRUNTON
PAT. POCKET TRANSIT.
1 j actual size.
The above illustration shows the operator's
view of this instrument when taking
vertical angles.
NEARLY 2000 IN USE!
Send for Catalog B-9 to
WM. AINSW0RTH & SONS,
Sole Manufacturers, Denver. Colo., U. S. A.
^SB^DEWEr.STRONG&Cq>gS^
[i "PATENTS! X
VS^330 MARKET ST. S.F. %£S^
A. LIETZ CO.
SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENT MAKERS
lE^CYCLOTOMIC TRANSIT
Acknowledged by AuUigritici
422 Sacramento St.,
San Francisco, Cal
Established In IBS?
Send for CiUImiw
BU FF
TRANSITS and LEVELS are
absolutely consistent in de-
sign, workmanship, accuracy
and finish.
Send for Catalogue No. 31.
BUFF & BUFF MFG. CO.
Jamaica Plain Station, BOSTON.
A.E.Fuller.Soatlle.lgt.forN'west
THE ROESSLER 4 HASSLACUER CHEMICAL CO.
100 William St., New York.
Works:
PERTH AMB0Y. N. J.
CYANIDE
98 | 99%
CYANIDE
OF SODIUM
125 | 130%
And Other Chemicals for Mining Purposes.
DENVER
Balance Co.
Manufacturers of
Balances of
Style S-Portable. JT fCClSlOn.
3000 Larimer St., DENVER, COLO.
c
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD
TWeti-ic
§ Weights
We guarantee our weights to be accurate subdivisions or the INTERNATIONAL. STANDARD
KILOGRAM, as furnished us by the BUREAU OF STANDARDS at Washington, and are pre-
pared to supply sets of weights for button weighing (1 platinum gram to 1 mg.) with guaranteed
error limits of -\- or — .01 mg, and -L. or — .005 mg., something heretofore never attained.
These weights, when used with our Assay Ton Weights (based upon the same standard) for
pulp, guarantee greatly increased accuracy in assaying.
SEND FOB BULLETIN 9 TO
WM. AINSWORTH & SONS, DENVER, COLO., U.
MANUFACTURERS OF BALANCES AND WEIGHTS OF PRECISION.
S. A.
O 'T'C A J|/I | T ^CfJ C. Should Knd for CATALOGUE K 35,
*3 1 EwiVi'l LJa^ClV*^ showing why
KEWANEE BOILERS
STEAM
EASILY,
CLEAN
EASILY,
Carry High
Pressures
SAFELY.
SOLE AGENTS-
CALIFORNIA HYDRAULIC ENG'G & SUPPLY CO.,
STEAM POWER AND POWER TRANSMISSION,
17 & 19 FREMONT STREET, SAN FRANCISCO.
JULT 1, 1905
Mining and Scientific Press.
53
F\ W. BRAUN CO.
Assayers' and Chemical Laboratory
Apparatus and Supplies.
Manufacturers of LABOR-SAVING DEVICES, including
CRUSHERS, PULVERIZERS, SAMPLING MACHINES,
FURNACES, BURNERS for Gas, Gasoline, Crude Oil
and Distillate, SCIENTIFIC APPARATUS.
CHIPMUNK
8tu»l Fram»
Easily Cleaned
CRUSHER.
Largs Capacity
Two Siim
IMPORTERS.
18-20 SPEAR ST.
SAN FRANCISCO, CAL.
ODR COMPLETE CATALOGUE '
EXPORTERS.
501-505 N. MAIN ST.
LOS ANGELES, CAL.
SENT FREE TO INTERESTED PARTIES.
Dealers in
BALANCES
GLASSWARE
PORCELAIN WARE
FIRE CLAY GOODS
SCIENTIFIC BOOKS
CYANIDE
FLUXES
C. P. CHEMICALS
AND REAGENTS
"CHALLENGE" HYDRO-CARBON BURNER.
GREATEST HEATING CAPACITY of any burner on
the market. Designed for use where large volume and
intensity of heat are required. Diameter of combustion
tube l^lnch Total length u Inches. Diameter of lace
4 Inches. Weight 12 pounds.
"APPLIANCES FOR ASSAYERS."
THE CALKINS CO
608 N. MAIN 8TREET,
LOS ANGELES, CAL.
ZINC SHAVINGS.
BULLION FURNftCES,
SLIIYIF. DRYING FURNACES.
ASSAY FURNACES
San Francisco Sales Agents,
■• THE JUSTINIAN OAIRE CO.," 565 Market Street.
"CHALLENGE" HYDRO-CARBON UURNER.
Shell broken away to show Interior detail.
Indestructible, the entire body of the burner being
cast in one piece. "Write for descriptive matter.
MUFFLE *
FURNACES.
The capacity and efficiency of soft-coal
furnaces has brought them greatly into
favor in all parts of the mining world
where coal can be obtained at a reason-
able price. The accompanying cuts show
the transverse and longitudinal sections
of our Double Muffle' Furnace. It is made
in two sizes that take respectfully two
NN or two QQ muffles. More than 100
installed in the last twelve months.
MADE FOR BOTH
COAL and WOOD.
We also have the above DOUBLE
MUFFLE FURNACE made with a special
firebox for wood burning.
Also SINGLE MUFFLE FURNACES
for both wood and coal.
A THREE-MUFFLE COAL FUR-
NACE, BULLION FURNACES, and in
fact all kinds.
Send for descriptive circular.
Everything Used by
ASSAYERS and CHEMISTS.
the DENVER FIRE CLAY company,
Dept. B. DENVER, U. S. /\.
■WE MAKE A 5PECIALTV
;io{N6RAVIN6C»-^»Si:5
1 142-44-46 Union aauAREAvENUt--
San Francisco! Cal.
California Powder Works,
MANUFACTURERS OF
Bill
We also supply FUSE— CAPS— EXPLODERS.
49 Second Street, San Francisco, Cal.
BLASTGO ^°<y EXPLODERS
MASURITE
SAFE EXPLOSIVE
NO OBNOXIOUS GASES
DOES NOT FREEZE
MASURITE EXPLOSIVE CO.
BOX 144, SHARON, PA.
GEO. W. MYERS, Pacific Coast Agent,
Hayward Building, San Francisco, Cal. /a
WESTON
ELECTRICAL INSTRUMENT CO.
Main Office and Works, Waverly Park, NEWARK, N. J.
WESTON STANDARD PORTABLE DIRECT READING
VOLTMETERS, MILLIVOLTMETERS, VOLTAMMETERS, AM-
METERS, MILAMETERS, GROUND DETECTORS, AND CIRCUIT
TESTERS, OHMMETERS, PORTABLE GALVANOMETERS,
Our Portable Instruments are recognized as The Standard the
■world over. The Semi-Portable Laboratory Standards are still
better. Our station Voltmeters and Ammeters are unsurpassed
in point or extreme accuracy and lowest consumption of energy.
SAN FRANCISCO: Frank E. Smith & Co., 418 Eugenia Ave.
Berlin: European "Weston Electrical Instrument Co., Ritter-
strasse, 88.
London: Elliott Bros., Century Works, Lewlsham.
Paris, France: E. H. Cadiot. 12 Rue St. Georges.
New York Office: 74 Cortlandt St.
Weston Standard Voltmeter.
BOYER MACHINE WORKS,
Manufacturers of
Gas, Distillate or Crude Oil Engines
for HOISTING, STATIONARY or MARINE PURPOSES.
PRICES ON REQUEST. ESTIMATES GIVEN ON ALL KINDS OF WORK.
22-24 HOWARD STREET, - - - SAN FRANCISCO, CAL.
34
Mining and Scientific Press.
July 1, 1905.
SELBY SMELTING AND LEAD CO.
Refiners of Gold and Silver Bars, Gold Dust, Etc;
BUYERS OF GOLD, SILVER, LEAD AND COPPER ORES,
GOLD CONCENTRATES, LEAD BULLION, CYANIDE PRODUCT, ETC.
ORE AND BULLION ASSAYERS.
WORKS AT VALLEJO JUNCTION, CAL.
OFFICE, 416 MONTGOMERY ST., SAN FRANCISCO, CAL
SAN FRANCISCO CHEHICAL CO.
MANUFACTURERS AND DEALERS IN
Nitric, Sulphuric and Muriatic Acids.
604 Montgomery St., San Francisco, Cal.
Smelting Works at Ladysmith, Vancouver Island, B. C.
The Tyee Copper Co.
(LIMITED.)
ARE PREPARED TO PURCHASE
COPPER, GOLD AND SILVER ORES
CLERMONT LIVINGSTON,
DUNCANS STATION, V. I.
General Manager.
THOS. KIDDIE,
LADYSMITH,
Smelter Manager.
Britannia Smelting Company, Limited.
BUYERS, SMELTERS AND REFINERS OF
Gold, Silver and Copper Ores,
Matte, Bullion and Cyanide Products.
WORKS AT CROFTON, VANCOUVER ISLAND, R. C.
Shipments will be received on and after July 1, 1905.
SMOOTH-ON
Elastic Cement
will stop leaks like this with steam on.
Write us about it.
Our instruction book is worth reading— free.
SMOOTH-ON MFG. CO., Jersey City, N. J., U. S. A.
SAN FRANCISCO OFFICE, 6 I STEUART ST.
64
spCSBbb
CRACK fti PROOF"
PURE RUBBER BOOXS are the Cheapest because they are
the Most Durable. BEWARE OF IMITATIONS.
GOLD SEAL and BADGER Belting, Packing and Hose.
Rubber Factory in San Francisco. VALVES, GASKETS, ETC., made to order.
IOODYEAR RUBBER CO, V&FSSVSS^
ft. H. Pease Pres.: M. Shepard. Jr.. Treas.; C. F. Runjon. Sec'y.
PORTLAND. OREGON.
NEW WESTERN REDUCTION CO.
BUYERS OF
Gold, Silver, Lead and Copper Ores.
CUSTOM MILL OPERATED FOR FREE MILLING ORES.
SAMPLER AND MILL FOOT OF MAIN ST.
GOLDFIELD, - NEVADA.
Tacoma Smelting: Company,
BUYERS OF-
GOLD, SILVER, LEAD AND COPPER ORES,
COPPER MATTE AND FURNACE PRODUCTS.
Xacoma, Washington.
The Pierce Gold Separator
and Amalgamator
for
Mills, Cyanide Works, Dredges and Placers.
These Riffles will save more gold than
plates. Can be dressed and cleaned up
without stopping the mill. Will save slimes
that float on top of the water. Takes only
from 2 to 8 square feet of space in mill and
has nearly 12 feet amalgamating surf ace in
length. Capacity up to 50 tona each in 24
hours.
L. S. PIERCE, Patentee and Manufacturer,
1653 WELTON STREET, DENVER, COLO.
C a\\\t\a [ Mines & Smelter Supply Co., Denver, Colo. Allls-Chalmers Co,, Chicago, HI.
•jelling J Fairbanks, Morse & Co., Denver, Colo. Colorado Iron Works Co., Denver, Colo.
Attontc 1 Hendrie & Bolthoff Mfg. & Supply Co., Denver, Colo. Cary & Fielding, Denver, Colo.
JtigCLILd ( Harron, Rickard & McCone, San Francisco, Cal.
Write for Catalogue 10.
AMERICAN TOOL WORKS,
J. EASTWOOD, Prop.
HAMMERED STEEL
SHGES AND DIES.
Well Boring and Drilling Tools.
ALL KINDS OF
STEEL FORGING.
109-111 MISSION STREET,
Between Spear and Main,
SAN FRANCISCO.
Telephone Main 5578.
July 1, 1905
Mining and Scientific Press.
It's
THE
BEST
(and WE
make them.)
The above picture shows one of our Traction Engine outfits in use in Nicaragua, C. A.; was UBed during late war by that Government for transportation of troops and
supplies. Engine, 110 H. P.; car capacity, 16 tonB each. Can be used on from 5 to 30 per cent grades, depending upon conditions of roads. Over 150 in use on this coast
alone, and every one a money maker. Let us know the kind of freight you are hauling, per cent of the grades, usual conditions of roads, and we will tell you how to save J
to J of your present cost of hauling.
Write for onr new Catalogue No. 18, and we'll do the rest. THE BEST MANUFACTURING COMPANY, SAN LEANDRO, CAL.
E
Successor to ANIMAL POWER for.
Ore and Lumber Hauling, Logging,
General Freighting, Plowing, Etc.
IMPORTANT POINTS OF SUPERIORITY: Large Boiler Capacity; Powerful
Duplex Engines; Heavy Cast Steel Transmission Gearing; Self-Oiling
Journal Boxes; Simple and Frictionless Steering Device; Durable and
Economical Engine Reversing Mechanism; Substantial Steel Frame;
Indestructible Driving Wheels; Accessibility to All Parts; Proper Design
and Proper Distribution of Weight to Secure the Greatest Efficiency at
Drawbar from Which Point the Horse Power of Our Engines is Rated.
If You Have a Hauling Proposition, Write Us. EVERY ENGINE SOLD GUARANTEED.
THE MCLAUGHLIN MANUFACTURING CO., inc., 24-26 first street, san francisco, cal
THE MARION STEAM SHOVEL CO.,
No. 644 W. Center Street, MARION, OHIO, U. S. A.
Steam Shovels, Traction Dredges,
Dipper and Clam-Shell Dredges,
Endless Chain or Elevator Dredges,
Suitable for all kinds of Excavating Work, also
Digging Ditches, Leveeing, Canal Con-
struction, etc., making a specialty of
PLACER MINING MACHINES,
separate or self-contaired, either as a dry land
excavator or floating dredge.
We make our own Steel and Grey Iron Castings,
also our own Chain.
GEO. W. BARNHARJ, Western Manager,
No. 4 Sutter St.. SAN FRANCISCO. CAL
Improved Gold Dredge
DESIGNED AND MANUFACTUBED BY
THE BUCYRUS COMPANY, S0U™SM0^AUKEE'
The Western Engineering & Construction Company,
PACIFIC COAST REPRESENTATIVES 408-414 RIALTO BUILDING SAN FRANCISCO. CAt,
PATENTS.
We'attend to'all business connected with TJ. S. and Foreign Patents, Caveats, Designs.
Trade-Marks ' Copyrights and Labels; prepare Assignments, Licenses and Agreements
and furnish opinions as to Patentability. Infringement, etc. DEWEY. STRONG & CO.
(Established 1860), 330 Market St. 8. F., Cal., and B18 F St., Washington, D. O.
36
Mining and Scientific Press.
July 1, 1905.
United States Smelting Co.
Salt Lake City, Utah.
Gold, Silver, Lead
and Copper Ores.
The UNITED STATES SMELTING CO. is
now on the market for all kinds of Gold,
Silver, Lead and Copper Ores at prices
FAVORABLE TO SHIPPERS.
Address all communications to Salt Lake
City, Utah.
Consign all shipments as follows:
UNITED STATES SMELTING CO..
Bingham Junction, Utah.
When shipment is made, please notify us
promptly, and if public sampler is preferred,
designate which one; also designate one
assayer.
WHITE
STAR
EYE
Combines the
regrmding and
renewable disk
feature. Remem-
ber, the disk is
not only regrind-
ing but is revers-
ible, having two
faces, and when
both are worn
out, easily re-
placed with a
new disk. No
need to throw
out the Valve.
PACIFIC COAST
JOBBERS.
Dept. "H"
THE WM. POWELL CO.,
CINCINNATI. OHIO.
LUNKENHEIMER AUTOMATIC INJECTOR.
ARE POSITIVELY THE MOST RELIABLE, POSITIVE.
AND DURABLE ON THE MARKET.
FULLY GUARANTEED TO GIVE
SATISFACTORY RESULTS.
IF YOUR LOCAL DEALER CANNOT FURNISH THEM, NOTIFY US.
THE LUNKENHEIMER COMPANY,
LARGEST MANUFACTURERS OF ENGINEERING
SPECIALTIES IN THE WORLD.
GENERAL OFFICES AND WORKS: CINCINNATI, OHIO, U. S. A.
BRANCHES
NEW YORK, 36 CORTLANDT ST.
LONDON, S. K. 35 UREAT DOVER ST.
WE MANUFACTURE A COMPLETE LINE OF BRASS AND IRON GLOBE AND GATE VALVES. HYDROSTATIC ANO
MECHANICAL LUBRICATORS. BLOW-OFF AND POP SAFETY VALVES. GENERATOR AND RELIEF
VALVES. OILING DEVICES, OIL AND GREASE CUPS. FITTINGS. ETC. e m.s.p.
OUR SAY SO
doesn't make our U. S. Injectors the best. Ask any engineer
who has used them; he knows. Once a user of the
U. S. Injector
the engineer takes no chances, and he sticks to the Injector that he knows is
right. We have converted over 200,000 engineers in twenty years to the use of
our Injectors. Send for our little "Engineers' Red Book." It won't cost you
anything, and there is a world of useful information in It for the engineer.
AMERICAN INJECTOR CO.,
DETROIT, MICH.
CRANE
RENEWABLE SEAT
AND DISC
VALVES
SUITABLE FOR A WORKING PRESSURE OF 250 LBS.
The renewable parts are made of hard and
superior composition, far better than the usual
composition put into Valves, and we do not
hesitate to say they will last many times longer
than those in the ordinary Valve.
They are especially suitable for any hard
work where extreme pressure is used and where
the wear and tear on the Valve is most severe.
NEW YOHK
PHILADELPHIA
BALTIMORE
CINCINNATI
ST. LOUIS
KANSAS CITY
SIOUX CITY
ST. PAUL
DOLUTH
OMAHA
WRITE FOR COMPLETE POCKET CATALOGUE
CRANE CO.
CHICAGO
ESTABLISHED 1855
MINNEAPOLIS
SALT LAKE CITY
SAN FRANCISCO
LOS ANGELES
PORTLAND, ORE.
BIRMINGHAM
SEATTLE
SPOKANE
MEMPHIS
DALLAS
JEFFREY GRAB BUCKETS
TAKING MINE-RUN COAL FROM CARS
Designed for the AUTOMATIC UNLOADING of COAL
from CARS, BARGES and VESSELS
ABSOLUTELY SELF-FILLING
Secure Our BOOKLET 7 7 f\ on GRAB OUCK.ETS
MAILED FREE WITH CATALOGUES ON
ELEVATING, CONVEYING, POWER-TRANSMITTING MACHINERY
THE JEFFREY MFG. COMPANY
COLUMBUS, OHIO, U. S. A.
NEW YORK-P1TTSBURG-CHICAGO-DENVER-CHARLESTON, W. VA.
JOSHDA BENDY MACHINE WORKS, San Francisco Agents for Electric Mine Locomotives.
HENSHAW. BULKLEY & COMPA NY. San Francisco Agents Tor Elevating and Conveying Machinery .
ROBERT S. MOORE.
JNO. T. SCOTT.
MOORE & SCOTT IRON WORKS
(Successors to Marshutz & Cantrell— NATIONAL IRON WORKS),
MINING HACHINERY.
Sole Makers of KENDALL'S PATENT QUARTZ MILL.
DOLBEER'S PATENT LOGGING ENGINES, fitted with Patent Haul-Back
Drum, "Bull Donkeys" and Snatch Blocks.
STATIONARY, WINCH AND PORTABLE HOISTING ENGINES, QUARTZ
CRUSHERS, AMALGAMATORS AND HYDRAULIC MACHINERY.
BOILER, PIPE AND TANK WORK.
Castings and Forgings of all kinds.
ESTIMATES FURNISHED FOR COMPLETE MINING EQUIPMENTS.
N. W. CORNER MAIN AND HOWARD, SAN FRANCISCO, CAL.
wwhreei Governors
For Impulse Water Wheels of all descriptions; Electric
Light, Power, Railway Stations, and all Mine Work.
We Are Now Prepared to
GUARANTEE ABSOLUTE SATISFACTION.
Write for References in Your Locality.
The Replogle Governor Works,
455 High Street, AKRON, OHIO.
Cary Sprung Works,
240 & 242 WEST 29th STREET. NEW YORK, U. S. A.
Telephone, 3346— 38th St.
WIRE
SPRINGS
OF EVERY DESCRIPTION.
Manufacturers of
All kinds of ROUND and FLAT WIRE, I
TEMPERED and UNTEHFERED
SPRINGS
For Machinery, Rolling Shutters, Motors, Et?.
tflUSIC BOX AND PIINE SPRINGS OUR SPECIflLTV.
July 1, 19U5.
Mining and Scientific Press.
37
RAPID=ECONOr\Y STAMP HILL CO.,
THREE stamps of our mill do
the same work as FIVE stamps
of any other mill on the market.
THREE stamps of our mill re-
quire but 3 H. P. How much
power do you need for your five-
stamp CAM mill?
One stamp of OUR Mill crushes
6 to 8 tons through a 40-mesh
screen in 24 hours.
How much does your cam mill,
with same weight stamps and
same size shoes and dies, crush?
err sbowisto mechasival
PABTS OF RIUHASDS' RAPID-
EUONOMT STAMP MILL.
A — Lever or rocker a -m.
B — Crank shaft.
C — Fulcrum shaft.
D — Cross heads.
E — Heavy locomotive steel
springs (used as a cushion for
crank shaft, and, together
with tappets, hold crosshead
in position).
F — Tappets (only function is to
SURFACED
PROTECTED
UNSURFACED
UNPROTECTED
When you do, buy H&H Marble Faced Roofing. Never buy. an unsurfaced
roofing when you can get a surfaced roofing (H&H MARBLE v AGED) at
about the same price.
H&H MARBLE FACED ROOFING
won't wear out, crapk or melt. LIGHTEST— STRONGEST- BEST. Not
affected by vapors, steam or acid. Any workman can lay It. Requires no
painting or patching, samples and prices by mail.
LOS MNGELES, GAL.
H. R. WILLIAR, Sales Agent for San Francisco, 214 Pine Street.
A. J CAPRON, Portland, Or.
DEWEY, STRONG & CO., PATENT AGENTS,
jfij&jjfi SAN FRANCISCO, CAL., and WASHINGTON, D. C j» > > j» j»
HENRV CARET BAIRD A CO.,
Industrial Publishers, Booksellers and Importers,
810 Walnut 8t.. Philadelphia, Pa., C. 8. A.
t&- Our New and Revised Catalogue of Practical
and Scientific Hooks, 94 pages, 8vo.; Catalogue of
Chemical Ttchnology and Chtimstry, July J, 1905
(New and Up-to-J)ate); a Catalogue of Books
on Metallurgy, Mining, Prospecting, Mineralogy,
Geology, Assaying, Analysis, etc.: a Catalogue
of Books on Steam and the Steam Engine, Machin-
ery, etc.: a Catalogue of Books on Sanitary Science,
Gas Fitting, Plumbing, etc.; and our other Cata-
logues and Circulars, (he whole covering every branch
of Science applied to the Arts, sent free and free of
postage to any one in any part of the world who will
furnish his address.
Received
Highest Award.
Gold Medal
at World's Fair,
1904.
THE WILSON
Forged Steel
Shoes and Dies
and CRUSHER PLATES
for STAMP MILLS.
Western Forge Company,
St. Louis, Mo., U. S. A.
The Ideal Shoe for Prospectors, Superintendents, Miners,
Engineers, etc., Is the
U.S. Army Regulation SHOE
The best value, the
easiest and most
comfortable shoe
made, serviceable,
sure -fitting and
durable. Sold
direct from factory
exclusively by
Wood Shoe Co.
1100 Columbia Ave.,
PHILADELPHIA
Send size of shoe
usually worn.
Price $3.50.
Delivered Free.
Box Calf Lace,
Black or Russet.
2,000,OUD pairs of
these shoes fur-
nished to the
United States
Government b y
the manufactur-
ers of theso shoes.
Through Nevada's
Mineral Belt.
The New and Well Equipped
San Pedro, Los Angeles &
Salt Lake Railroad
Is the Best Route.
Las Vegas Gateway
See near, st agent or write to
J. L. MOORE, D. P. A.
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH.
T ER REO H M ETRY (Earth-Ohm-Measurlng)
TO LOCATE ORE.
An advance step in mining like the introduction
of the compass in navigation. An electrical process
for determining the presence and exact location of
metallic orps In any form in the earth. Easy to un-
derstand. Complete instruction giv^n in "Mnnual
of Terreohmelry." Endorsed by leading professors
and engineers. Postpaid $2, or cir.. ul ar on request.
Ethan Scheifller, South Pasadena, California.
38
Mining and Scientific Press.
July 1, 1905.
Portable Saw mils.
SINGLE
CIRCULAR.
4000-6000 feet
per day.
Mining
Companies
DOUBLE
CIRCULAR
20,000-25,000 ft
per day.
Manufactured by
VULCAN IRON WORKS, 0fficsexN5^ANMcisssc!oon c^reet'
For Working
Placer Ground.
LARGE CAPACITY.
EASILY INSTALLED.
Works under water as well as out.
Will do the work a dredge will do
Cost much less than any other
machine of like capacity.
Good for contractors.
Write for folder.
MANUFACTURED BY THE
UNITED IRON WORKS,
Offce and Salesroom, 32 Fremont Street, San Francisco, Cal.
Works: Second and Jefferson Streets, Oakland.
We also manufacture
TUTTHILL WATER WHEELS, CENTRIFUGAL PUMPS, GIANTS, GRAVEL ELEVATORS,
RIFFLE BARS AND ALL KINDS OF MACHINERY USED BY PLACER MINERS.
Head Frame and Excavator.
Three
Through Trains*
to Chicago
daily from points in California via the Southern Pacific,
Union Pacific and Chicago & North- Western Railways, over
THE DOUBLE-TRACK RAILWAY BETWEEN
THE MISSOURI RIVER AND CHICAGO.
i The Overland Limited, the most luxurious daily train in the world
— electric lighted throughout. Pullman standard drawing-room
sleeping cars, dining car, composite observation library car, Book-
lovers library. Less than three days San Francisco to Chicago.
Daily and personally conducted excursions in Pullman tourist sleep-
' ing cars through to Chicago without change. Double berth $7,00.
For tickers and full Information call on ticket
agents Southern Pacific Railway,
01 address
R. R. RITCHIE, General Agent Pacific Coast,
617 Market Street, San Franoisoo, Cal,
C. & N.-W. RY.
NW471
EAMES TRICYCLES AND ROLLING CHAIRS
Won the Gold Medal at the St. Louis Fair. If you or a friend need some
means of getting around, write for our catalogue of the best chairs;made.
2020 MARKET STREET, SAN FRANCISCO, CAL.
Los Angeles Representatives, SWEENEY SURGICAL MANF'G CO.,
212 S. Hill Street.
TRICYCLE CO..
Excels all Furnaces in three Important Points: It Roasts Ore at a cost of 25c
per ton. Saves all Volatile matters, dust and acid gases, and makes a Sulphurous
acid SO- as a by-product. For particulars, address
W. H. MOTTER & SON,
DENVER, COLO., U. S. A.
OWNE'-S AND MANUFACTURERS
OFFICE: I -i>4 SEVENTEENTH ST.
'PHONE, PINK 541 .
DON'T USE A STAMP MILL
FOR
CEMENT
GRAVEL
OUR
Gravel Mill
WILL DO THE
WORK OF 30
STAMPS
at one-sixth
the cost.
Write Us for Full
Information and
Catalogue.
Krogh Mfg. Co.
519 Market St.
San Francisco, Cal.
bshh
A. D. COOK,
Manufacturer of Improved
Water and Oil
Well Supplies.
Cook's Patent
TUBE WELL STRAINERS, STEAM PUMPS.
WORKING BARRELS, PUMP RODS
AND PUMP ROD JOINTS
A Specialty.
LAWRENCEBURG, INDIANA, U. S. A.
Sold by all Branches of Crane Co.
Send for Catalog P.
SPADONE'S CONCENTRATOR BELTS.
PATENTED.
This Illustration shows the edge flanging out-
wardly as It passes over the pulley. This re-
lieves the strain from the top and bottom of the
edge by directing the strain automatically to
the inside face surface of the edges. Hereto-
fore all belts have been so constructed that
when they pass over the pulleys or rolls, a di-
rect strain comes upon the top or at the base of
of the edges, causing the edges to break away
from the body of the belts in a very short time.
We avoid this Mechanical Defect by our Spadone
Curved Edge. Belts made to fit any machine—
4, 5 and 6 feet wide. Prices and samples on ap-
plication.
AMALOAM PLATE CLEANERS.
Our Amalgam Plate Cleaners are made of Pure
Rubber in moulds, thus insuring a plate cleaner which will not
scratch the plates and a perfect edge which will clean the
Amalgam plates evenly. They are made 6 inches long, 3 inches wide and % Inch thick, making a
convenient size to handle. Price by mail to any address, each 75 cents. Correspondence solioited.
Send ns your order for Water, Air Drill, Steam, Suction and Fire HOSE, RUBBER
BELTING, RUBBER PACKING and LEATHER BELTING.
THE GUTTA PERCHA RUBBER AND MFG. CO.,
26 PRBMONT STREBT,
Telephone Main 1813.
SAN FRANCISCO. CAL.
July 1, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
39
JUST OUT
REDWOOD MANUFACTURERS CO
© California St.
San Francisco Cal.
REDWOOD TANKS
and
CYANIDE PLANT
EQUIPMENT
Patent
Continuous
21 IN. INVERTED SYPHON.
Wheeler
Wooden Stave Pipe.
For any pnrpose for which
Cast Iron is used.
For Mining Construction it is cheaper than high
trestle flumes, and many times as durable. No ex-
pense for maintenance.
t to 10 feet diameter. Pressure to {30 pounds
per square inch.
Estimates Furnished. Catalogue on Request.
National Wood Pipe Company,
GENERAL OFFICES:
Sixth and Mateo Sts., LOS ANGELES, CAL.
SAM FRANCISCO OFFICE, 301 Market Street.
PU6ET SOUND OFFICE, 0LYMP1A, TOSH.
Direct Heat Rotary Dryers
More than 200 of our Dryers are now
used in the United States.
WE MAKE THE LARGEST VARIETY IN THE WORLD.
Gold Medal at St. Louis.
The C. O. Bartlett & Snow Co.
CLEVELAND, OHIO, U. S. A.
i'm -VT*wfe
THESE MACHINES
Are evaporating more than their weight
of water every ten hours.
», DRY ANYTHING S?8
RUGGLBS - COLES
ENGINEERING CO.
SMITH, EMERY & CO , Agents, SAN FRANCISCO.
New York, Chicago, Atlanta.
5Vi -- '^i^^^^^^^^Si]^]
t , ■ j
/V1R. THOS. f\. EDISON says:
"In our concentrating works we have used many thousand feet of 'Leviathan' Belting, and
found It more reliable und cheaper than any rubber belting on the market.
"The 'Leviathan* Belt which we used in our experimental Conveying plant last winter car-
ried to exceed two hundred and fifty (250) tons per hour."
"Leviathan" Belting.
MAIN BELTING COMPANY,
55 & 57 Harket St., CHICAGO.
Philadelphia, Boston, Buffalo.
CYANIDE TANK
MANUFACTURERS OF
TANKS
OF EVERY DESCRIPTION.
AIR PIPE,
CORRUGATED ROOFING,
FIREPROOF CEILINGS.
For Cyanide Purposes.
For cyanide purposes the corrugated tanks
are much superior to plain tanks, for two
reasons:
1. The corrugations a^t as baffles and throw
the solution into the sond, thereby assisting the
cyanide in percolating the ores instead of running
up and down the sides, as is the case with plain
tanks.
2, A corrugated tank has in it \0% more material
and being arched three ways makes it 63£ times
stronger than ordinary tanks.
J. F. HOLBROOK COMPANY,
310-14 and 311-15 East Market St. (formerly Requena St.) LOS ANGELES, CAL.
TANKS SHIPPED K. D. TO ALL PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.
ANKS
Wood tanks ot
every description,
Pine, Cypress,
Redwood.
In stock or made
to order, any size.
Stock, Water and
Cyanide Tanks.
SEND FOR PRICE LIST.
THE DENVER TANK CO.
MANUFACTURERS OF WOOD TANKS EXCLUSIVELY
1803 Lawrence St., DENVER.
OUR
Gil Driti
are up to date. We can save you money
on a dredge. Ten years' experience in
manufacturing them. Send for cata-
logue; it contains an article on how to
succeed in dredging for gold.
URIE SNYDER DREDGE CO.
34 SO. CLARK ST., CHICAGO, U. S. A.
Riveted Iron and Steel Pipe
FOE HYDRAULIC MINES, IRRIGATION AND POWER PLANTS. Manufactured from the best grades
of IRON or STEEL by MODERN MACHINERY.
THE SCHAW-BATCHER COMPANY PIPE WORKS,
503 MISSION STREET,
San Francisco.
211 to 219 J STREET,
Sacramento.
WHO BUILDS THE BEST MINE PUMP?
FRED M. PRESCOTT STEAM PUMP CO.
MILWAUKEE, WIS.
The Pennington Hammered Steel SHOES AND DIES
ARE THE BEST IN THE WORLD.
Manufactured only by ourselves.
OTHER SPECIALTIES:
CAM, CRANK AND STEAMBOAT SHAFTS.
ROOK-BREAKER PLATES, CONNECTING RODS.
BEST REFINED TOOL STEEL.
DRILL STEEL, WEDGES, ETC.
HAMMER, PICK, GERMAN & MACHINERY STEEL.
IRON AND STEEL FORGINGS of all descriptions.
Correspondence solicited and circulars mailed upon re-
Bennington
S7jir~ii~^-^---~7rC%S>'><3? quest""" """ Telephone Main*5i97r
r-^yjgANClSCg^^^ GEO. W. PENNINGTON & SONS (Incorporated)
Main Works— S. w. Cor. Montgomery and Chestnut Sta. Office and Branon Works— 313 FOLSOM ST., S. F.
40
Mining and Scientific Press.
July 1, 1905.
CYANIDE PLANTS
AND SUPPLIES
Tanks for Water, Oil
or Cyanide.
We supply all mechanical devices or any feature
necessary in complete cyanide plants or mills.
Send for Catalog No. 6. It's instructive and
useful.
Fulton Engine Works,
Cor. No. Main St. and Alhambra Ave.
DOUBLE DRUM ELECTRIC HOIST.
BUILDERS OF
Steam Hoists,
Electric Hoists,
Belted Hoists,
Horse Whims,
Hand Winches.
ALL STRICTLY MODERN DESIGNS.
AT LAST
^t^^^^^S^fflt&S^s^
The Problem of Smelting
Silicious Sulphide Ores is
Solved by this Smelter.
In Successful Operation at Various Points.
Patented in U. S , Mexico and Canada.
The MacDonald Smelter
SAVES THE PRECIOUS METAL VALUE AT LOW COST.
Especially Designed for Silicious Sulphide Ores Carrying Gold, Silver and
Copper Values. Very Successful.
This Smelter is no experiment, baving been In continuous and successful operation for nearly three
years in Mexico on complex and refractory sulphide ore of low value. First a 40-ton plant was erected at
El Oro, then two 60-ton Smelters, and in September, 1904, a 150-ton plant was put in operation and another
150-ton Smelter is being added. Metallurgists who have visited and inspected the Smelters In operation
in Mexico report that they are doing more than we claim for them. One of our 60-ton outfits is now erected
near Valardena, Mexico, by a Chicago company, A second Smelter of larger size is also contracted for,
DESCRIPTIVE MATTER. COVERING EVERY POINT ON APPLICATION.
MacDONALD SMELTING FURNACE COMPANY,
C \A/. OTUNSON, manager.
TOLEDO, OHIO.
GEO. E. WOODBURY,
223 FMrst Street,
San Francisco, Cal.
AGENT FOR
The Wilf ley Concentrating Table
Simple in Its Saves Pine Makes High Capacity from
Construction. Sulphurets. Product. 5 to 10 Stamps.
July 1, 19U5.
Mining and Scientific Press.
41
Do You Use Mechanical Cleaners for Your Boilers?
If so, your steam cost fluctuates like this:
Coat per 1000
lbs. i<f steam.
Excenive
Very High
High
Medium
Low
Nov.
Cleaned Boiler.
M /S /a /7 IS 19 Pc 77 32 SO 21 ?S 2C 77 ff5 Q9 30
Cleaned Boiler.
Here you will notice that although the cost of steam is comparatively low, right after the boiler scale has been
removed, yet It rapidly rises because the scale immediately commences to deposit and thus insulates the tubes.
The Dearborn Chemical Treatment Prevents Scale
Forming and the Cost of Steam is Always Low.
Cost per 1 000
lbs. of steam.
Excessive
Very High
High
Medium
Low
D«c.
/
I
.
r
■
9 t
IC II IK l
3 ft fJ /S 7 7 /* Iff ?0 ?' »*
73
7* S3
?S 37 ?8 S9
As the boiler is always perfectly clean the steam Is produced with the maximum of economy.
Write for Booklet.
inami]g«nai»l«liWi
ICAL WORKS.
MANUFACTURING AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTS./; CHEMICAL ENGINEERS.
NEW YORK,
299 Broadway.
CHICAGO,
227-234 Postal Telegraph Bldg.
DENVER,
Boston Block.
SAN FRANCISCO,
115 Davis St.
BRANCH OFFICES IN 14 OTHER CITIES OF U. S.
The
Sinking
Pump
As illustrated, is rigged
up in the shaft of a mine,
allowing the pump to be
raised or lowered as de-
sired. It is driven by a
Westinghouse Induction Motor.
Westinghouseflotors
Will drive your pumps, or other
mining apparatus, day in and day
out without breakdowns.
Westinghouse Electric
& Mfg. Co., Pittsburg, Pa.
Address nearest district office for information.
San Francisco, 425 Market St.; Seattle, 314 Occidental Ave.; I*os Angeles, 617 Trust Bldg
Salt Iialie City, 151 S. Main St.; Denver, 429 Seventeenth St ; and other large cities.
For British Columbia : Canadian Westinghouse Co., Limited, Vancouver, B. C.
Wenezal Wlectzlc W&mpanj/
Electrically Driven
TWINE PUTVVF^S
HAVE MANY ADVANTAGES OVER
STEAM OR COMPRESSED AIR.
Knowles Duplex Sinking
Pump driven bv General
Electric 2U H. P. Water-
proof Induction Motor.
WRITE FOR INFORMATION.
Principal Offices: Schenectady, N. Y.
SALES OFFICES IN ALL LARGE CITIES.
San Francisco Office: Crossley Building. Denver Office: Kittredge Building.
Salt Lake City Office: 25 East First South Street.
Los Angeles Office: Douglas Building. Portland Office: Worcester Building.
53-1
POWER FOR ELECTRIC DRILLS.
Oar Generators are supplying
current for electric drills in
numerous mining and pros-
pecting camps.
^^ These machines are strong,
compact, efficient, and built
to withstand severe service.
Form F Generator belted to gasoline engine.
Supplies current for Box electric drills.
OUTPUTS FROM 2} K. W. UP.
Crocteer»WSaeeleF
AMPERE, N. J.
San Francisco C ffice:
Fremont and Howard Sts.
Send for Bulletins Nos 46 & 51.
^
DEWEY, STRONG & CO., Patent Agents, San Francisco, Cal., Washington, D. C
42
Mining and Scientific Press.
July 1, 1905.
WE ARE SOLE AGENTS FOR THE
New Improved HUNTINGTON MILL
We prefer to sell the New
Improved Mill on account of its
numerous advantages over the
Old Style.
The New Improved li
IS-
Set on Heavy Timbers or
Concrete Foundation.
Made Heavier and Stronger
Than Formerly.
Of Easy Access from All
Sides.
We can supply the Old Style
Geared Under-Driven Mills if cus-
tomers insist on having them.
The New Improved Mill
H/\S-
All Gearing Done Away With
— Direct Driven.
Higher Speed —
Greater Capacity.
Ball Bearing Hangers.
If you contemplate the installation of Grinding or Crushing Machinery, write us for information.
HARRON, RICKARD & McCONE,
21-23 FREMONT STREET, SAN FRANCISCO, CAL.
BOX ELECTRIC DRILL.
NO FLEXIBLE SHAFT. NO SPRINGS.
The entire moving mechanism is so constructed as to require only
two bolts to hold it together. There are no keys or setscrews to get
loose. All moving parts run in oil-tight case except the motor, and
this does not require oil. No ball-bearings or other delicate details
of construction.
Examine these cuts carefully; then send for supplement to Bulletin No. 1021.
THE DENVER ENGINEERING WORKS CO.
DENVER, COLORADO.
SALES AGENTS FOR THE REPUBLIC OF MEXICO: VICTOR M. BRASCHI Y CIA., MEXICO CITY; VAN VOORHIS & SANFORD, MONTEREY.
Whole No. 2346.
_VOLUME XCI.
Number 2.
San Francisco, Cal., Saturday, July 8, 1905.
THREE DOLLARS PER ANNUM.
Single Copiei, Ten Centi.
The Honerine Mill, Utah.
One mile from Stockton, in Tooele county, Utah,
and on the east side of Tooele valley, is the Honerine
mill, which is treating the ore from the Honerine
mine and also the tailings from the dump of the old
Honerine mill. The accompanying illustration shows
the Honerine mill, with the track running into the
mill from the drainage and transportation tunnel,
also the railroad track underneath where the cars
are filled with concentrates from the side of the build-
ing by means of iron chutes. The photo shows the
machine shop and end of mill. The mill is fully
equipped with modern devices for the treatment of
the ore. The tailings from the old mill dump are
being hauled about 1300 feet and run down to a chute
in the tunnel through an air shaft and from there
hauled in trains by mules to the mill. The ore is
handled by conveyor, which delivers it from bins to
the mill, where it is crushed and elevated to a trom-
mel filled with J -inch mesh screen. The oversize goes
to rolls and is crushed dry. The fine ore is elevated
to the top of the mill where it passes through an
automatic sampler, the mill throughout operating
automatically, by gravity and elevating devices. In
the mill are three Huntington mills, one Chile mill,
jigs and sizing devices, beside the Sherman system of
hydraulic classification. From the Sherman classifi-
ers the pulp goes to Wilfiey tables and slimers, of
which there is a total of twenty-six machines.
Passing of a Lake Superior Copper Mine.
The Phrenix mine, comprising over 2000 acres
of land in the copper belt of the Keweenaw penin-
sula, Michigan, after an existence of sixteen years,
has been closed indefinitely. The original Phoenix
vein was vigorously explored from 1844 to 1886 and
was an important producer in those days. The larg-
est mass of copper ever discovered came from this
mine. There are several veins on the property
which are well equipped. A large mill was completed
in 1903, but this has never run continuously to its full
capacity. The ore carried about 1.5% copper. It is
apparent that the small veins in this property have
failed to yield sufficient ore to keep the mill in con-
tinuous operation. Some recent development is
stated as having been disappointing. This with-
draws one of the noted mines from the list of pro-
ducers on the Lake, for a time at least, if not per-
manently, but its failure will scarcely be noticed.
Mining operations were commenced in the Lake
Superior region about 1845, under permits issued by
the War Department. Out of 1000 permits issued,
960 locations were taken. One of the first mines
opened was the Cliff, in which was discovered the first
mass of copper. The Cliff mine yielded a large
amount of mass metal. Skilled men, known as cop-
The Honerine Mill, Wear Stockton, Utah.
MININQ AND BCICNTif
The Comstock Silver Mine, Near Park City, Utah.
Intake Side Pumping Plant, Bouldin Island, Cal. (See Page 28.)
per cutters, were employed to cut these great
masses into sizes that could be economically handled.
Contrary to the common belief, masses are less profit-
able than when metal occurs in disseminated grains.
Comstock Mine, Summit Co., Utah.
One of the important mines of Summit county,
Utah, is the Comstock, situated in Thayner's canyon,
in the Park City district, and is presumed to be on
Silver King fissure system. The main shaft has
three compartments, timbered with 12x12 inch,
Oregon pine, and the property is also extensively de-
veloped by means of tunnels. The accompanying
illustration shows the mine, dump and mill. The con-
centrating mill has a capacity of 120 tons per day.
The Comstock vein can be drained by a tunnel at a
depth of iOOO feet, connecting with the Alliance tun-
nel. The main offices of the company are in Salt
Lake City, Utah.
20
Mining and Scientific Press.
July 8, 1905.
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
ESTABLISHED i860.
Published Every Saturday at 330 Market Street, San Francisco, Cai.
Telephone, Davis 771.
ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION.
United States, Mexico and Canada 13 00
All Other Countries in the Postal Union 5 00
Entered at the San Francisco Postofflce as second-class mail matter.
Branch Offices:
New York City, 720 Park Row Bldg. Boston, 27 School St.
Chicago, 1164 Monadnock Block. Denver, 606 Mack Block.
J. F. HALLORAN Publisher
SAN FRANCISCO, JULY 8, 1905.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
IL LU ST R ATION S : Page.
The Honerlne Mill, Near Stockton, Utah 19
The Comstock Stiver Mine, Near Park City, Utah 19
Intake Side Pumping Plant, Bouldin Island, Cal 19
Diagrams Representing the Uncertainties of Vein Continuity... 23
Hauling Lumber Into Panamint, Cal 27
A Mining Camp in Pdnanrnt Range, Cal 27
Discharge Side of Bouldin Island, Cal., Pumping Plant, Showing
Fl- xible Steam Connection to Steamboat 28
Forty-eight Inch Cen rifugal Pump n 28
Mounting of Forty-four Inch Centrifugal Pump .* 28
Plan of Pumping Plant at Bouldin Island, Cal 29
"Union " Distillate Locomotive 30
"Union " Distillate Locomotive and Train Hauling Ore From
the Yellow Aster Mine, Randsburg, Cal 30
EDITORIAL:
The Honer*ne Mill Utah 19
Comstock Mine, Summit Co., Utah 19
Passing of a Lake Superior Copper Mine 19
Again the Brqad Lode Case 20
In the Rut. 20
The Copper Property of the Granby M. Co., British Columbia. . .20
Inaccuracies in Mill Sampling 20
MINING SUMMARY 32-33-34-35
LATEST MARKET REPORTS 36
MISCELLANEOUS:
Concentrates 21
Latent Mineral Possibilities of the Pacific Coast 22
Mining at Goldfleld, Nevada 22
An Interesting Ore Deposit 22
How Some of California's Early Mines Were Worked 23
Practical Mine Development 23
Ammonia in the Cyanide Process 23
Vertical Shaft Sinking on the Rand 24
Prospecting in the Desert 24
The Prospector 25
Ore Deposits of the Coeur d'Alene, Idaho 25
Discovery and Development of the Homestake Mines of South
Dakota 26
Timbering at the Mound Rex Tin Mine, Ben Lomond, Tasmania. 26
The Panamint Mining District of California 27
Reclaiming of Bouldin Island, Cal 28
Electric Mine Signals and Telephones 29
Handling Ore Cars 30
Comnact Oxygen 30
Dredging Not Injurious to Rivers 30
Mining and Metallurgical Patents 31
Personal , 35
Books Received 36
Commercial Paragraphs 36
Obituary 36
New Patents 36
Not'cesof Recent Patents 36
Again the Broad Lode Case.
The "broad lode" question is again likely to re-
ceive considerable attention in the courts, in the
suits recently instituted in the Coeur d'Alene dis-
trict of Idaho, where at least two apex. suits against
the Bunker Hill & Sullivan Company will be tried.
Whether the prior locator on a vein takes the entire
lode within the end lines of the claim having a part of
the lode only, the courts do not uniformly agree. In
a few instances lodes are found to be of such great
width as to extend outside of the side lines of the
claim. Particularly is this the case in those sections
where local laws have made narrow locations (less
than 60O feet) the rule. In one instance a territorial
court decided that the prior locator, having a por-
tion of the apex, took the whole lode, even if it did
extend beyond the side line. In another case where
a claim was located along the strike of a broad vein,
and a junior locator took up a claim on the portion of
the lode beyond the senior locator's side line, but
laid his end lines at an angle of about 45% to the side
line, the court decided each had extralateral rights,
but that the junior locator's rights did not begin until
the vertical projection of the end lines on the dip had
passed beyond conflict with the senior locator's
rights— one following the dip of the vein in a direction
normal to the strike of the vein, the other taking a
segment at an angle conforming to the direction of the
angling side lines. The complex conditions arising
from the situation now again attracting so much at-
tention in the Coeur d'Alenes teaches one lesson at
least, and it will no doubt have a tendency to induce
large companies in the future to secure all the
ground possible, not only in their immediate vicinity,
but far beyond, as a protection against lawsuits
should the mines prove rich and extensive. There
are few great mines in the Western United States
where there has not been more or less litigation over
adjoining properties before the legal rights of the
several mine owners were determined by the courts.
In a few instances a more wise policy has been pur-
sued, and the contiguous property owners have
agreed upon definite boundaries, and the rights of
each have been well established, as in some of the cop-
per camps of southeastern Arizona, but it is too late
to expect to find anything of this sort in the mines
about Wardner, Idaho, when large sums of money
are involved, and where there still remains an un-
certainty as to the legal rights of the contestants.
In the Rut.
In no branch of industrial life are men so prone to
fall into routine in their work as in gold mining. The
old-time methods, which have been used for years,
are too often considered good enough, and the con-
servative gold-mill man complacently views his work
and "falls into a rut." He becomes ultra-conserva-
tive, and in time looks with suspicion upon a new de-
vice with which he is unacquainted, and deprecates
innovation of any kind. It is not so much, perhaps,
the firm belief that no better work is possible than
that being accomplished by himself or under his
direction, as it is the thought of the disagreeable con-
sequences of having it shown that for years he has
been losing values that might have easily been saved
had he been a little more flexible in his methods and
a trifle less conservative in his ideas. If a reason for
such a condition is sought, it will be found possibly
that the production of gold is without competition.
An ounce of pure gold has a fixed value in every civ-
ilized country in the world, and the gold miner's only
competitor is the expense of production, and if, per-
chance, the mine is a dividend payer this only com-
petitor is often considered as of small consequence.
There have been as many innovations in the metal-
lurgy of gold as in that of other metals, due to this
competitor — expense. In copper, tin, lead, zinc and
iron mining there is brisk competition, both at home
and abroad, and he who seeks success in the produc-
tion of base metals must needs keep well informed as
to the best and latest improvements in the metal-
lurgy of the metal he is producing. In copper smelt-
ing particularly has there been t^ken the most rapid
strides, and here the most radical changes have
been made, and the boldness of some of them is some-
what startling. The new superintendent of a large
smelter sought to reduce the expense of matting.
He found two large furnaces built in line with a
considerable working space between. He drew the
fires, cut the back end out of each furnace and con-
structed a central section similar to the remainder
of the two furnaces, uniting them in one long furnace.
The result of this previously unheard of innovation in
furnace construction was the increasing of the ca-
pacity nearly 100%, in addition to which the gases
from the furnace are utilized, furnishing several hun-
dred horsepower.
The old-time mill man needs to bestir himself — the
industrial world is moving, and moving rapidly, and
he who fails to move with it will be left so far behind
that it will be far more difficult to catch up than it is
to keep up.
It is a good thing for the miner and metallurgist
to travel about occasionally and to take notice of
how things are done in other places by other men.
It is true many are so situated that they cannot
move about from place to place, and the only thing
left for these is to keep informed by carefully read-
ing the technical journals, which make a specialty of
their line of work. In the best of these is found the
latest of everything pertaining to mining and metal-
lurgy, and they are indispensable to the man
who seeks knowledge but cannot leave home to ob-
tain it — they lift him " out of the rut."
I 'HE Granby Mining Co. of British Columbia have
■!■ been operating their large copper property on
a liberal scale, and have demonstrated that a profit
is possible in mining, transporting and reducing an
ore containing 1.25% copper and less than $1 in gold
and silver per ton. Of course this is only possible
under very favorable circumstances, where the vein
or ore deposit is of great size, and the ore of a kind
requiring little or no foreign admixture of barren
fluxing material, and where the fuel is cheap. Since
such is the case it would seem that there may be
more promising copper deposits of great possibilities
than has been generally supposed.
Inaccuracies in Mill Sampling.
In many cases too much dependence is placed on
rudely taken mill samples, and this dependence on an
unreliable source of information is prolific of much
friction between the mill superintendent and the
home office. Those who have had experience in tak-
ing "grab" or " car samples," or samples from the
ore bin chutes of the feeder hoppers, realize better
than most others the inaccuracies incident to these
methods. It cannot be said that it is impossible to
take a fairly representative sample of ore as it passes
along its journey from the stopes to the battery in the
mill, for samples may be taken, which represent as
accurately as it is possible for machinery to accom-
plish it, the value of the ore. The usual make-shift
methods of grabbing a handful, a piece, or a shov-
elful at stated intervals, cannot be depended upon
for results which are even approximately accurate.
The ore as it comes from the mine consists of pieces
which vary in size from particles which will pass a
100-mesh screen to masses weighing 100 pounds or
more. In the average mill the run-of-mine rock is
dumped on the grizzlies, the fine passes through and
accumulates in one portion of the bin, while the
harder coarse pieces are fed to the breaker and usu-
ally drop from the breaker jaws into another part of
the bin beneath. The result of this practice is that
some of the stamps continually receive the greater
part of the fines, which may be either richer or
poorer than the balance of the ore, and the coarse
rock passes to other stamps. The cleanup shows the
difference, as a rule, between the batteries working
on hard rock and those crushing the fines. Hand
samples from the several feeders must give differing
results.
As the material varies somewhat in the relative
quantity of fines to the amount of coarse rock
produced, another element of uncertainty is intro-
duced. These ordinary methods of taking head sam-
ples in the mill cannot possibly represent the aver-
age of values, and the bullion account generally
proves this to be the fact.
Samples of headings can be taken with a very fair
degree of accuracy, but to accomplish this the ore
must all be crushed in breakers outside the mill,
and both coarse and fine run together in the ore bin.
The rock thus crushed may then be taken from one
point to another on a conveyor belt or bucket line,
and a sample taken at stated short intervals. The
amount taken during the day's run will be large —
several hundred pounds, or possibly several tons, but
accurate samples of large quantities of ore cannot be
taken by cutting out a few shovelfuls.
The accumulated sample of the day's run, or the
shift's run, can easily be quartered down in the sam-
pling machinery, which should be an attachment of
every well appointed mill, and an accurate sample
thus obtained.
Another cause for discrepancy in estimates and
results is the method of estimating tonnage by basing
the estimate on the number of cars trammed into the
mill. At some mills thousands of cars are trammed
to the mill and not a car ever weighed. The cars are
of standard dimensions and are supposed to hold a
stated amount — usually about 2200 pounds, sometimes
more — and occasionally the smaller mine cars are
trammed into the mill. If all the rock be first
broken to small size, say 2J inch and smaller, the
cars, if filled level full each time, would undoubtedly
weigh very closely to a constant figure, but where
coarse and fine are shoveled in indiscriminately, as is
generally the case, or the ore is drawn from the bin
at the mine, the weight per car will vary 200 to 300
pounds. A scale should be situated on the tram-
way at some convenient point and cars frequently
weighed, or, if not rushed for time, the trammer
should weigh each car.
With such a scheme for weighing and with proper
methods of sampling, the value of each day's gross
value in ore can be accurately determined. If it is
impracticable to adopt the suggestions here made, it
were better to discontinue sampling outside the mine
entirely and look to the value of the mill tailings as a
guide to operations, and the bullion output and the
value in the tailings will give the gross value of the
ore, but this information cannot be so quickly arrived
at as by the adoption of the methods above sug-
gested, which are not only reliable, but necessary
where accurate information is required.
July 8, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
21
C
CONCENTRATES.
:> — c
Metallic MANGANESE is unknown in nature. It is
manufactured from its oxide, pyroluslte, at considerable
expense for laboratory purposes.
VVVw
The tin-bearing veins near Mount Wills, near Oneo,
Glppsland, Victoria, Australia, were discovered by a Gov-
ernment prospecting party in 1888. They first found
stream tin in the gulches and later found the veins by
prospecting the adjoining mountain side.
The necessary preparations for drainage should al-
ways be made in driving a tunnel, whether the tunnel
be started in wet ground or not, for, if dry near the
mouth, water may be found farther in, and if the grade
is not sufficient the tunnel will be wet and sloppy, a con-
dition in which there is no economy.
In Canada a patent issued by that government is good
for eighteen years. The patented device or idea must
be applied and in actual use within three years from the
date of issue of the patent. If a good cause can be
shown for failure to use the patent, the time may be ex-
tended at the option of the patent office.
vvvv
The "salt cake process " of ore concentration as prac-
ticed at Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia, is a
patented process. Full particulars as to its application,
with details, can be obtained from D. G. Delprat, man-
ager Broken Hill Proprietary mine, Broken Hill, N. S.
W. This process is the invention of Mr. Delprat.
The tendency for grizzlies in quartz mills to become
clogged may be reduced by spacing the bars at the lower
end somewhat wider than at the upper end. This can
be done either by having bars wider at the upper end
than below or by using wider thimbleB on the spacing
bar at the lower end than those at the upper end.
ww w w
If a few drops of a solution of cobalt Bait, or a small
quantity of sesquioxide be added to a clear, concentrated
aqueous solution of calcium chloride, which is then
slowly heated, oxygen is evolved, the bleaching powder
being wholly resolved into oxygen and calcium chloride
according to the equation: 2CaCl20 — 02 + 2CaCl2.
A belt shifter should be placed near the driven
pulley and on the slack side of the belt. A shifter com-
posed of rollers, the length of which is twice the width
of the belt, is better than a straight bar of wood or iron.
The shifter should be set at an angle of 75° with the lay
of the belt, or the edge will be badly worn by the re-
peated use.
By a 10% grade is meant a rise or fall of 10 feet in
every 100 feet of horizontal distance. If the distance be
measured on the slope it will fall short of the horizontal
distance, more or less, according to the percentage of
the grade. In saying a grade of 500 feet to the mile, the
mile measured on the slope is usually meant, and not the
horizontal distance.
A millsite cannot be entered by a stranger for the
purpose of searching for mineral veins and ore deposits,
for the reason that the person so doing is a trespasser.
The law presupposes that a millsite is on non-mineral
ground. A millsite may be taken up by a person owning
no mine. Custom works are frequently located on gov-
ernment lands under the millsite law.
The expedient of double roasting silver ores with salt
— that is, roasting the ore with a small amount of salt,
and then again roasting it with an additional amount —
has been tried many years ago, and it was found by C.
H. Aaron, who made experiments in this, that the losses
sustained in the first roasting were repeated in the sec-
ond, and no advantage was found in the double roasting.
It is deemed by electrical engineers impossible to place
conductors carrying high voltage currents of electricity
underground. It is said were an attempt made to place
wires carrying 50,000 volts underground an element of
danger would be created. Greater safety is found in
substantial poles or towers, with a distance between
these supports, which has in it a sufficient factor for
safety.
By employing a sheet of gold as a positive electrode in
a sulphuric or nitric acid solution, the gold will become
tarnished brown, and if continued a reddish-brown
powder will be precipitated to the bottom of the electro-
lyzing vessel. This is hydrate of gold, resulting from
the oxidizing action of the electroly tically evolved oxygen.
If this gold be collected, dried over sulphuric acid and
heated, it will explode.
Some ores are amenable to cyanide after roasting in
the form of small lumps, the ore being rendered porous
by the roasting of the sulphides. Also, some raw ores
are susceptible of treatment by this proce-s in lumps (as
run through a breaker or rolls). An example of this is
found in the gold ores of Camp Floyd (Mercur) district,
Utah. Most ores have to be crushed fine, however, for
successful treatment by cyanide.
The use of the pneumatic hammer drill for mine sam-
pling has been suggested and it would, in many in-
stances, no doubt, prove an excellent method of obtain-
ing samples, particularly where it was desired to cut a
channel across a face of hard quartz. Work with ham-
mer and moil on this kind of vein material is slow and
wearisome at best, and here the pneumatic hammer
would find a useful field for its operation.
One of the first deep channels to be opened by a bed-
rock tunnel in California was one of those under Table
mountain, in Tuolumne county. This channel was very
rich, but also exceedingly wet. Ross Browne stated in
his report on the Mineral Resources of the United
States, that in one place "10 feet square, superficial
measurement, produced $100,000, and a pint of gravel
not infrequently yielded a pound of gold.
More mistakes have been made in running drainage
tunnels too high than too low. Particularly is this the
case where tunnels have been driven to cut and drain
old river beds. Whether a tunnel be run high or low
for the drainage of a quartz mine simply means more or
less ore, as the case may be; but a tunnel run to drain
an ancient river, or any wet gravel deposit that proves
to have been run too low, is practically useless for the
purpose for which it was intended.
There are some mineral deposits known in the Grand
canyon of the Colorado river. Silver-bearing lead ores
are known near the mouth of Cataract canyon, and cop-
per ores are found in various places in the schists of the
Archaean, in the inner or lowest gorge of the Grand can-
yon. Copper is also found on the surface of the carbon-
iferous limestone plateau through which the canyon has
cut its way. These latter ores are very superficial in
character and lie upon the surface for most part.
What is known as No. 1 nitro powder contains 70%
nitro glycerine, and No. 2 40%. In hard, tough rock
No. 1 powder is advised, as greater force is generated by
the explosion of this grade of powder, and the energy
can be developed near the bottom of the hole. If many
of the holes fail to break to the bottom, and if the
remaining portion of the hole is a foot or more in depth,
the holes are drilled to an unnecessary depth, as the
powder fails to break them. Try shorter holes.
W W WW
Gold is known to occur in association with a great
many minerals beside quartz. It is found in calcium
carbonate (marble), with scarcely a trace of silica; in
garnet, in hornblende and chlorite, in pegmatite dikes,
in feldspar, jasper and sandstone; in quartzite, granite,
diorite, rhyolite, and in an aggregate of mica scales;
also in epidote, and associated with many ores, such as
copper, lead, zinc, tin, antimony, quicksilver, iron, man-
ganese, arsenic, selenium, tellurium, and other rare
minerals. Aplite dikes are often payable in gold, and
also basic dikes, such as diabase.
V w w w
Extensive metamorphism may occur in sediment-
ary and eruptive rocks along a contact, but such meta-
morphism is not necessarily an indication of ore
deposition, although similar metamorphism may occur
in connection with extensive ore deposits. The idea that
a copper deposit is restricted in size and value because
garnets occur in the accompanying wall rocks and within
the ore deposit itself is a fallacy, for some of the largest
and most profitable copper mines have extensive depos-
its of garnets. This is more frequently the case where
one of the wall rocks is limestone.
A hyposulphite solution of silver chloride may be
precipitated by the addition of sodium or calcium sul-
phide. When there is zinc in the ore being treated, if
the zinc be in soluble form, due to imperfect roasting,
the solutions become deteriorated, and the hyposulphite
solution loses much of its solvent power, due to the ac-
cumulation of zinc hyposulphite in it, with a correspond-
ing loss of sodium hyposulphite, the zinc hyposulphite
being a non-solvent of silver 'chloride. If the zinc pres-
ent be precipitated as carbonate by the addition of
sodium carbonate, the sodium will unite with the sul-
phur, forming additional "hypo" to replace the zinc
hyposulphite.
No class of unpatented mineral locations is exempt
from assessment work in the United States. And the
assessment for next year can not be done in this. If it
was not done last year and the claim has not been re-
located by another, the work done now counts for this
year alone as no assessment work is now required for
last year. The title remains in the locator whether he
performs the annual assessment or not, until the claim
is entered by another and relocated because of the fail-
ure of the original locator to perform the necessary
work. Then, under these circumstances, the title is
transferred to the stranger and the former occupant
has no longer a legal interest in the claim.
The dip and strike of veins is rarely constant in any
direction, as both change more or less in passing over a
considerable distance — 300 to 500 feet. There are no
rules or laws governing the dip and strike of veins, and
the direction is due to various causes, such as stress and
torsion of rocks. Some, veins have the normal dip
changed by a falling over of the inclosing strata on the
side of a mountain. Thus a vein which at the surface
may have a dip to the westward, on an east hill slope,
in depth may be found to dip eastward— its normal dip—
the west dip near the surface being due to the formation
having been overturned or folded by the weight of the
mountain mass above.
w V w W
Producer gas in metallurgy is not new. The use of
producer gas was successfully introduced at the Marsac
mill, Park City, Utah, by C. A. Stetefeldt, in 1890. At
that time wood was used for fuel and the gas was used in
firing two dryers and a Stetereldt furnace. Coal was soon
substituted for wood and it was found that the producer
gas was not only more economical than other fuel, but
that its use resulted in securing a better roast of the
ore. Those contemplating the employment of producer
gas should carefully investigate the coal to be used. A
coal should be chosen the ash of which will only slightly
slag upon being subjected to high temperature. The
gas producer may then be run with little difficulty or
loss of time from annoying stoppages.
In iron moulding, fine, white, beach sand, free from
iron, is used in making small, smooth castings, but for
large castings a coarser and highly refractory sand is
required, that is, a sand which will not be readily
affected by the heat of the molten iron. In the use of
coarse sand there is an opportunity for the gas to escape
when the metal is being poured. No kind of sand
wholly free from clay is suitable for moulding, for the
sand will not be sufficiently coherent from merely moist-
ening and ramming. Where sands are free from clay it
is customary to add molasses, resin, flour, clay, glue or
some other substance which will cause the sand to
remain in the form in which it is moulded. Some sharp
sands from beds of tuffa, such as rhyolite tuff, make
good moulding sand.
When amalgam is squeezed through a buckskin, can-
vas or other fabric in the cleanup room, it is a fact —
well known to mill men — that some fine gold always
passes through with the mercury, particularly where
the gold in the ore is very fine. After standing for a
time this gold will mostly settle at the bottom of the
pot or bottle in which it may be placed. A simple
method of securing this gold with the minimum amount
of retorting is to take a 2-inch pipe about a foot long, to
one end of which is screwed a cap. A hole should be
bored through the pipe about 2 inches from the bottom,
and this hole fitted with a suitable wooden plug. Into
this the strained mercury should be poured and allowed
to settle for several hours. Then upon withdrawing
the plug the mercury above the top hole which contains
little gold will flow out, leaving the enriched " quick "
in the bottom of the pipe. This may be retorted and
both gold and mercury recovered.
The distance from the bottom of a shaft to which it is
permissible to carry shaft timbers depends upon condi-
tions. It is rather a q uestion of how far shaft sinking
may be carried ahead of the timbering. In some cases
the timbers must be placed immediately the ground is
cleared, and in running ground the lagging must be
driven ahead of the main members of the set (fore-
poling). Where the ground is so soft as to require
timbering to be carried very close to the bottom, it
usually requires little powder, if any, to break the
ground. On the Rand, in South Africa, the shaft sink-
ing operations are sometimes carried as much as 150 feet
ahead of timbering, the ore being raised in skips, guided
by cables secured from the guides to the bottom where
they are made fast to a bar fitted with a screw, like a
drill bar, and with an arrangement to tighten the ropes,
by turning a part of the bar. This gives security and
permits very heavy blasting without danger to the
timbers.
The croppings of copper veins and deposits, as well as
those of other minerals, are often deceptive as to the
actual conditions below. This is particularly the case
with copper, for the reason that copper sulphides are
readily susceptible to the decomposing influences of the
atmosphere, with the. formation of new copper com-
pounds, nearly all of which are considerably richer than
the normal chalcopyrite. The copper sulphide on de-
composing becomes sulphate, which is fedeposited in a
gradually enriched deposit. These secondary products
of the decomposition of copper pyrite are chiefly chal-
cocite (copper glance), bornite (a rich copper sulphide),
malachite and azurite (carbonates), and several varieties
of black oxide, beside the richest of copper ores cuprite,
the red oxide. The sulphate solutions may seep down-
ward through the adjoining wall rocks of the original
vein or deposit and form an enriched zone many feet in
width, but upon carrying mining operations downward
into the deposit, the enriched superficial deposit gradu-
ally grows poorer and eventually only the narrow
original vein is left, which is too low grade or too small
to longer afford profits from its exploitation. Another
reason why large outcrops sometimes are deceptive is
due to the disintegration of a mass of quartz, the coun-
try rock being softer and the scattering of the float and
detached boulders over the hillside often causing a vein
of moderate width to appear to be over 100 feet wide.
The cause here is wholly mechanical, and due to disinte-
gration of the vein and the scattering of its debris by
gravity, and is a condition in which the chemistry of ore
deposition and subsequent decomposition play no part.
The prospector of experience can usually readily distin-
guish between these two phenomena, and acts according
to his judgment in the matter.
22
Mining and Scientific Press.
July 8, 1905.
Latent Mineral Possibilities of the
Pacific Coast.
"Written for the MiNiNn and Scientific Pbess.
The existence of wonderful mineral resources
throughout the United States has been shown by
governmental and private enterprise, the develop-
ment of the useful metalliferous minerals is being
pushed by miners all over the country, but the com-
plete utilization of many of the most valuable min-
erals is, as yet, in an embryonic stage. Germany,
with its scientists, is pre-eminently the pioneer in this
field, and as a consequence reaps a rich harvest from
the sale of products refined from crude minerals ob-
tained in the United States. While at present
apparently of limited importance, yet this branch of
mineral development is destined to take a leading
■place among the economic industries of the country.
Recent examples are found in the use of certain
rare earths in the manufacture of incandescent
mantles, the adoption of tantalum as a filament for
the incandescent electric light, the demand for
uranium minerals in the manufacture of radium, and
the use of various metals and metallic oxides in the
manufacture of high-grade tool steel.
The western portion of North America is particu-
larly rich in the extent of its mineral resources, yet,
except for the mining of gold, silver, copper, lead,
zinc, fuel and iron and their by-products, and some
quarrying of structural material, this great natural
wealth is largely undeveloped.
In Colorado, molybdenite has been developed 1 mile
east of Climax, Summit county, by H. Leal. The
silver and iron ores of Lake county produce consid-
erable manganese which is used in the manufacture
of spiegeleisen, and also as a flux by the smelters
Colorado is also one of the chief sources of crude
tungsten ores in the United States. Largely through
the efforts of A. B. Frenzel of Denver the vanadium
and uranium deposits of the State are likewise re-
ceiving some attention.
Wyoming is credited with producing asbestos,
graphite, grindstones, metallic paint, platinum and
tin. South Dakota has done but little in the develop-
ment of these mineral resources beyond the work on
its tin mines, and the shipment of considerable spodu-
mene for its contained lithia minerals, and wolframite
(iron-manganese tungstate), of which there is con-
siderable in the tin regions.
Montana is attracting attention as an arsenic pro-
ducer, as the output continues from the white arsenic
plant at the Washoe copper smelter at Anaconda,
which collects and condenses the arsenical fumes
formed during roasting of copper ore. Near Dillon
and near Ophir molybdenum deposits have been de-
veloped to some extent and at times some manganese
ore has been produced. The grindstone industry is
also receiving some attention. Idaho occasionally
produces some cobalt ore.
Washington has been a leader in the production of
arsenic. The Crown Point M. Co., in Chelan county,
has marketed crystals of molybdenum, and a talc de-
posit has been worked 7 miles from Marblemount in
Skagit county, by T. M. and E. H. Alvord. Graphite
has been found near Bossburg. Besides some quick-
silver and platinum, Oregon's contribution to the
minerals under discussion has been borax, which is
found at Chetco, Curry county, aspriceite, occurring,
according to Chas. G. Yale, as pockets in serpentine,
and in Harney county, 130 miles north of Winne
mucca, Nev., as borate of soda in marsh lands.
Nevada, likewise, has produced some borax and also
some quicksilver. A tungsten property near Osceola,
White Pine county, has been slightly developed.
Nevada and Utah are listed among the States pro-
ducing sulphur. Utah is also credited with produc
ing manganese ore, uranium, vanadium and sodium
chloride.
In Arizona metallic arsenic has been found at
Washington camp, in Santa Cruz county, in masses
attached to the walls of small pockets in dolomitic
limestone. At Troy the Troy Manhattan Copper Co.
has done extensive work in developing and concen-
trating wulfenite as a source of molybdenum, as has
also Chas. Eudall of Tucson, in the Mammoth mine,
at Mammoth. Near Dragoon, Cochise county, the
Primos Chemical Co. has been mining and concentrat-
ing hubnerite and scheelite, used in the manufacture
of ferro-tungsten and metallic tungsten. Asbestos
is being developed in the Grand Canyon of the
Colorado.
The U. S. Geological Survey's report on the min-
eral resources of the United States, from which much
of the data for this article has been obtained, credits
California with a greater diversitv of mineral prod-
ucts than any other State. This includes lithium
minerals from San Diego county, asbestos from El
Dorado, borax from San Bernardino, Lake, Tehama,
Mono_ and Inyo counties; chromite from several
counties; graphite from Sonoma county; infusorial
earth, magnesite, from near Porterville, Tulare
county; Chiles and Pope valleys, Napa county;
Sanger, Fresno county; Placer county, Kern county.
Santa Clara county, and at Red Mountain, Stanislaus
county; manganese ores, metallic paint, platinum,
pyrite, quicksilver, salt, talc and tripoli.
Further possibilities in the development of these
resources is suggested by work of the students in
the Department of Pharmacy of the University of
California. Under the direction of Prof. Frank T.
Green of San Francisco, each student was required
to take some raw product from his home or district
and make from it a series of compounds of industrial
importance.
Tulare county is represented by magnesium salts,
prepared from heavy magnesium carbonate. These
included the sulphate, oxide, nitrate, borate, carbon-
ate, chloride and oxalate, and were prepared by
Todd Claubes. From the supposedly worthless
alkali soil of Tulare's valleys, A. M. Shaddle prepared
sodium sulphate and chloride.
From a stalactite from Amador county, J. Gari-
baldi prepared calcium benzoate, salicylate and car-
bonate. Inyo county's cuprite was the basis for
magnificent crystals of copper sulphate. Copper ore
from Monterey county furnished the iodide and
nitrate. The Copper King mine, of Fresno county,
gave F. M. Carter the material for making the oxa-
late, iodide, citrate and ammonium-sulphate. Cole-
manite from Death valley, Inyo county, furnished
sodium borate, boric acid, magnesium borate, potas-
sium borate and borate of chromium.
The iodide, the chloride and metallic mercury were
manufactured from San Luis Obispo county's cinna-
bar. Tuolumne county's pyrite yielded a series of
ferric salts, including the carbonate, phosphate,
citrate, ferric-ammonia citrate and ferric- quinine
citrate. Galena afforded the oxide, chloride, nitrate,
sulphate and metallic form of lead.
B. R. Nichols utilized San Luis Obispo's chromite
to prepare potassium dichromate and lead chromate.
San Francisco's pyrolusite produced manganese car-
bonate and sulphate. From soapstone was made
talcum powder by filtration and by sifting, and from
sea water sodium chloride and sulphate.
Potassium carbonate, acetate, citrate and bromide
were prepared from oak wood ashes; oxalic acid from
sawdust, and stove polish and chain lubricant from
graphite. Potassium bitartrate and potassium-
sodium tartrate were prepared from crude argol by
F. W. Pottle, who also prepared zinc sulphate, ace-
tate oxide and carbonate from franklinite.
In addition to the above, numerous other commer-
cial products were manufactured by the students
from the raw materials afforded by the States — Cali-
fornia, Oregon, Nevada, Arizona and Idaho. These
have been appropriately labeled and placed in 2-ounce
sciew containers of glass, and the whole placed as an
exhibit in the California building at the Lewis &
Clark Exposition at Portland, Or. This exhibit,
numbering over 200 samples, readily shows the possi-
bilities that Pacific coast minerals offer for the pro-
duction of an extended list of mineral substances
daily u^ed iu chemical laboratories.
Mining at Goldfield, Nevada.
To the Editor; — The number of men working in
the mines of Goldfield district is gradually increas-
ing. Another helpful factor is the starting up of
several mills, and their successful treatment of the
local ores. Four mills are now at work, and two or
three more are nearing completion. The Combina-
tion Mining Co.'s mill treats the ore by amalgama-
tion, concentration, and cyaniding. The question of
a water supply for the town is rather serious. The
Rye Patch source, from which Tonopah is supplied,
is the most promising, but the big expenses of plant
and pipe line render the undertaking rather doubt-
ful for the present. The railroad grading is practi-
cally completed to Goldfield, and as soon as the Tono-
pah road is broadened to standard gauge the rails on
the Goldfield line will be laid. This is promised by
the latter part of July. It is said that with the ad-
vent of the railroad freight rates will be fixed at
such reasonable figures that $25 ores can be shipped
and smelted, and still leave one-half the gross value
to the shipper.
It is reported that the electric power line running
from Bishop creek, in California, will be ready to
furnish power by September 1st of this year. Ad-
vertised rates range from $12 to $20 per horse power
per month. This would not be considered cheap
power in most countries, but it discounts wood at $18
per cord. It will hardly replace gasoline for hoist-
ing purposes, especially where plants are already in-
stalled; but the reduction plants will find it advan-
tageous, no doubt, and its advent will be a benefit to
the district.
The future of the camp is still a mooted question.
It depends upon the developments in the mines.
Wise mining men whose opinions are best worth hav-
ing are not indulging in loud prophesying as yet.
There are decidedly hopeful indications in some por-
tions of the camp; there are less encouraging
results of development in others. The geological
formation is a new one to the mining men here,
and each new development is watched with
keen interest. As a rule the mines of the district
are in good hands, and there is nodack of capital for
properties showing merit, or even for properties
whose only apparent merit lies in the fact that they
are located somewhere within the mineralized zone.
The camp is burdened with the usual number of
" wild cats," some of which may possibly eventually
prove to be mines, for anything in that line seems to
be possible in the Goldfield district. There is no
apparent method by which the public can be pro-
tected from this class of frauds, but the individual
may protect himself by either securing reliable infor-
mation or refusing to buy stock. Mining men in
whose hands the future of the district lie are not only
hopeful but confident. Their chief concern is not so
much whether the veins go down as whether the
values at lower depths will stand the increased ex-
penses of finding the ore bodies and exploiting them.
Only the actual work will determine that.
Goldfield, Nev., June 30. F. N. Fletcher.
An Interesting Ore Deposit.
To the Editor: — On one of my trips to the Black
Hills, S. D., while making an examination of a prop-
erty not far from Ragged Top mountain, but farther
to the southwest, I came upon what occurred to me
to be a peculiar state of geological conditions, and not
previously either having seen anything like it or hav-
ing heard of any like condition, it occurred to me
that it would be well enough to send you a little de-
scription of it.
The country where the observation was made is
generally pretty flat but somewhat cut by deeply
eroded canyons or ravines and waterways, leav-
ing the intermediate spaces between these canyons
much like flat-top mesas, which are more or less
broken on the surface by dikes of trachyte, which
generally run lengthwise with the mesas and seem to
parallel the general direction of the waterways. At
the edge of these canyons, which are generally pre-
cipitous, one can readily see the line of limestone cap-
ping which rests upon the slates and schists. I deem
by some prior dynamic disturbance the lime capping
was fractured and openings were made that later
became the waterways, as the slates and schists are
very soft and by the action of the elements have
worn away very rapidly. The material next above
the slate is limestone; its mean thickness is perhaps
from 50 to 75 feet and in many places crops to the
surface.
Now, the peculiar part that I wish to discuss is the
ore deposit which is on top of the limestone. To me
it seems it must have been deposited at the time of
the upheaval of the large trachyte dike, which has
folded the lime strata on each side of it, and the folds
run parallel to the dike — the dike having a width of
from 100 to 150 feet. It. seems to have pushed the
lime strata back and caused the folding, and at the
time of this folding it has the appearance of having
been covered by water and with no surface dikes. A
portion of it appears to have been deposited as a
mud, or rather a slaked lime solution which must
have resulted from the heat and water during time
of the molten eruption of the trachyte, and it settled
in the bottom of these folds as ordinary mud would
settle in low places from a high water overflow. I
am aware that this theory — for such it is — will be
combatted by some who will claim that the overflow
came with the eruption, but I see one reason to com-
bat this, and it is due to the fact that no debris, such
as broken fragments of the trachyte or unslaked lime,
is present in the sedimentary deposit. Now, as to
the nature of the deposit, it shows plainly the action
of heat, and especially is that true in the folds near
the dike, as it shows in a good many places much of
the lime rock, which is not a very high-grade lime,
which is burned to a bright red brick color. The
sedimentary deposit, however, is not so high colored,
as its color is from light gray to brown, or yellowish
brown, and a great part of it is chert of a light gray
color and very closely resembles that found in the lead
and zinc fields of Missouri and Kansas, and the lime
somewhat resembles the limestone of that country
also. Much of the sediment has taken the form of
chalcedony, and not nearly so firm as the chert, and
the strange thing is that these settling troughs have
caught some gold and have values ranging from $6 to
$12 per ton. On the top of this auriferous deposit is
a covering of surface debris, and of all sorts of rock,
and some very large quartz boulders among the
other rock and dirt. The quartz has no connection
in any way with the sedimentary deposit, as these
pieces of quartz are all over the surface and are a
very pretty fluorine stained quartz and also carry
from $10 to $15 in gold, and no place has as yet been
found where such quartz is discovered in place any-
where in the vicinity. The fact that there was no
covering on or above the sedimentary deposit would
show conclusively that it is not at all likely that the
water, or values either, came from below.
I may state in conclusion that I reported unfavor-
ably upon this property for my people, but since that
time two other men have reported favorably, stating
that the conclusions reached by myself regarding the
folding of the lime strata were in error, and a 100- ton
cyaniding mill has been erected to treat these ores,
which are well adapted to this treatment and will
stand J-inch crushing, and an extraction of 85% and
up is secured from this ore by the coarse crushing
and a sixty-hour treatment. Engineer.
Denver, Colo., June 25.
July 8, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
How Some of California's Early Mines
Were Worked.
Written for th»- Minin , \m» SUWHinG I'llESS.
la southern California many years ago were gold
mines which were profitably worked, the history of
which is now obscure, and the whereabouts of some
of the mines is uncertain. In Los Angeles and Ven-
tura counties particularly were there profitable
mines, both quartz and placer. These mines were
developed and operated for most part under the
direction of the priests who were stationed at the
missions in the neighborhood of the mines. The mis-
sions were established late in the eighteenth century,
and some of them early in 1800. It may be said that
they were in the height of their success from 1810 to
1840. It was during this period that the mines were
worked for gold, and if the stories told by some of
the old Spanish settlers can be relied upon, and there
is no reason to discredit them, the result of these
mining operations was satisfactory. Some of the In-
dians living at San Gabriel tell of rich gold and silver
mines in the San Gabriel range, north of San Ga-
briel. It is a well known fact that a few miles up the
San Gabriel canyon, from its mouth, is a system of
silver veins which have been worked more or less
within the past 20 years, and some of the ore was
very rich in silver sulphide and native silver. Gold
also is known in the San Gabriel canyon, both in quartz
and placers. In the Tejunga canyon, near the head,
about 40 miles northeast of Los Angeles, are gold-
bearing veins, and on Mount Gleason, southwest of
Acton Station, a quartz mill was in operation a few
years since.
At the time when the missions of southern Califor-
nia were enjoying their greatest prosperity, when
there were several hundred Indians attached to
each, these had to be cared for in body as well as
mind. In return for this support from the padres,
the Indians became the friends of the missionaries
and did what they could in the way cf manual labor.
Each spring the padres of San Buena Ventura and
San Fernando missions, who had learned of the gold
in the Castec and Piru canyons, sent Indians to work
in the gravel deposits to secure such gold as they
could by the primitive methods of those days. This
was long before the discovery of gold at Coloma, in
El Dorado county, the discovery which made more
history than any discovery of gold either before or
since. These Indians worked under the direction of
Jose Bermudas, of the mission at Ventura, and Fran-
cisco Lopez, of the Mission San Fernando. The In-
dians worked these placers as long as water was
available, and in some instances worked by dry blow-
ing, using baskets to toss the dirt into the air, the
lighter portion being blown away by the wind. By
this means only the coarser gold was recovered, the
fine usually being lost. Panning with the batea or
wooden bowl was the favorite method of getting the
gold. Each fall the several crews of Indians returned
to the missions with considerable gold.
After the missions had been closed and their prop-
erty confiscated by the Mexican authorities, and min-
ing by the Indians came to an end, Bermudas and
Lopez petitioned the Mexican government to set
aside the territory between Piru creek, in Ventura
county, and Soledad canyon, in Los Angeles county,
and extending northward to Mojave desert, as a min-
eral district, and asked that no grant of land be
made taking in any portion of this territory, and this
the government did.
It is said that in 1854 there was considerable ex-
citement in the district owing to a number of miners
making handsome clean-ups that season. It was re-
ported that a Mexican miner named Garcia took out
in San Feliciana canyon over 200 pounds in gold nug-
gets, and a number of others got from $5000 to $10,-
000. These placers were superficial and quickly
worked out. Four years later, in '58, other good
strikes created another stampede, and 1500 men were
mining there that season. Whether these old sto-
ries are true or not, there is scarcely a canyon or
gulch in all the area extending from Soledad canyon
northward to the desert and westward to Piru creek,
and in the region south of Newhall, that hillsides and
gulches do not show abundant evidence of extensive
mining operations. Bars have been worked out, the
gulches have been mined probably several times. Dry
ravines have been turned over and over, as the heaps
of cobbles piled alongside of the rocky beds attest.
Numerous and lengthy ditches abound. Many of
these are obscure, but they were undoubtedly ditches.
In the stampede of 1858 many quartz veins were
taken, and some of them were rich in gold, though
"spotted." One man is credited with obtaining
nearly $40,000, the quartz being beaten up with ham-
mers, and the pulverized rock being washed in the
batea, no amalgamation being practiced at that
time. In the Fraser Mountain district are numerous
gold veins, and in the region around Acton there are
a score of old mines and numerous prospects. All
the gulches heading into the mountains south of Sole-
dad canyon prospect in gold, and large amounts of
gold have been taken from Placerita canyon near
Newhall. In upper Soledad, near Lang's, Southside,
Bavenna and in that vicinity, there are great beds of
conglomerate, and some believe the gold found in the
gravels are derived from these conglomerates. This
may be true, but the gold, if from the conglomerates,
originally came from veins in older and underlying
rocks. The region has been practically neglected for
years, but it possesses much that is of geological and
scientific interest, and careful prospecting by expe-
rienced men may discover some good paying mines in
that district. Its principal drawback is lack of
water. In the rainy season it is fairly abundant, but
at other seasons of the year the canyons are dry and
the region is little better than the desert.
Practical Mine Development.
There are numerous maxims familiar to miners,
and these trite sayings are usually the result of expe-
rience— often of unfortunate experience. One of the
most frequently heard of these sayings is, " follow
your vein wherever it goes." Without doubt this ad-
vice has been suggested by the disastrous results
financially sustained by some miners who left their
vein to do systematic and methodical but ill-advised
work, and whose purse was not "long" enough to
accomplish the desired ultimate results. Without
finding an ore deposit or vein in depth which makes a
good showing on the surface. To these might be
added many others equally common and simple, and
some far more perplexing in their structure.
Fig. 1 illustrates a very common occurrence — a
vein displaced by a fault. The tunnel driven from
near the base of the hill passes through the fault at a
point where it is merely a seam in the rocks and
misses the vein entirely, although it is both above
and below it, Fig. 2 shows a vein deflected from its
true dip by a fold in the country rock, which has car-
ried the vein with it. The long tunnel has been
driven far beyond the point where it was expected
the vein would be found, and the funds of the owners
being exhausted the work comes to a standstill— for
a time at least. In Fig. 3 the vein is continuous, but
where cut by the tunnel has dwindled to a seam of
clay of knife-blade thinness and is passed through un-
noticed, as there are other similar seams in the coun-
try rock. Fig. 4 shows a strong outcrop of lead-
silver ore in limestone. The deposit dips regularly
into the mountain, but on coming to a reef of slate
the vein scatters, and the tunnel driven under the
croppings fails to find anything. Fig. 5 shows a
condition not uncommon in regions of sedimentary
deposits, such as at Leadville, Colo. Here a series
of faults have repeatedly dislocated the vein, and the
tunnel finds nothing but barren rock. At Leadville
Fi» S-.
Diagrams Representing the Uncertainties of Vein Continuity,
doubt it is good mining for the prospector whose
means is limited to follow his vein by shaft or tunnel
if he can. Many men in the first years of their min-
ing experience, having found a promising prospect
well up on the mountain side, think they can see an
advantage in driving a crosscut tunnel several hun-
dred feet below the outcrop of the vein, in order to
get "backs," and save the expense of hoisting and
pumping or bailing water. Very often this tunnel,
the estimated length of which is usually several hun-
dred feet, is started before much else has been done —
perhaps not more than a fifty-foot hole has been sunk
on the vein In a great many instances this is not
good mining, as has been demonstrated by results
There are too many uncertainties in vein formation,
and in the distribution and value of ore deposits to
justify uncertain and expensive development to reach
veins or ore deposits which may not exist. When the de-
velopment on the vein has been performed to an ex-
tent which will pay for the driving of a long tunnel,
so that the miner is not out of pocket should he fail
to find what he is seeking, it may be good business to
undertake the long drainage tunnel through barren
rock, but not before. In a far worse predicament is
he who not only' runs a long and expensive tunnel
only to find his vein has not' come down to that level,
but also builds a mill or smelter in addition to the
former folly.
The accompanying sketches illustrate some of the
geological conditions which may result in a tunnel not
the faulting is on such a grand scale that this diffi-
culty has not been met with in many cases, but the
principle is well illustrated. Fig. ti is a case where a
long tunnel has been driven on the vein, but the ore
shoot pitching away from the tunnel, the owners be-
come discouraged, or "broke," before the pay is
reached. In Fig. 7 an anticlinal fold deceives the
miners who found the outcrop at A. Debris covered
the outcrop on the opposite side of the hill, and it
was naturally supposed that the vein continued down-
ward, as it had started at A. In Fig. 8 is shown a
vein intersected and thrown by a dike. The tunnel
driven in ignorance of this condition fails to find the
vein, but enters and crosses the dike, discovering
nothing on the opposite side. Each of these instances
have practical illustrations many times over, and
many others might be added to show the inadvisabil-
ity of driving long tunnels to develop an ore body or
vein of which but little is known at the surface, and
particularly where the miner's means are limited.
Ammonia in the Cyanide Process.
Some experiments made by A. Jarman and E. L.
Brereton, the results of which were published in the
Transactions of the Institute of Mining and Metal-
lurgy, showed that for quartzosegold ores containing
cyanicides, particularly copper carbonate, ammo-
nium cyanide is a more efficient solvent of the gold
24
Mining and Scientific Press.
July 8, 1905.
than potassium cyanide alone, but not so good as the
latter in presence of a small amount of ammonia.
The amount of ammonia required to protect potas-
sium cyaDide solutions from dissolving large quanti-
ties of copper increases with the strength of the cy-
aDide solution, but is not affected by the amouut of
copper up to 3%. With more than A% of copper, a
larger amount of ammonia is necessary to obtain a
good extraction of the gold. With ores containing
from 1.5% to 3%nf copper, and with a 0.25% solution
of potassium cyanide, the best extraction is effected
in presence of U. I % of ammonia. A mixture of am-
monia and potassium cyanide can be prepared which
dissolves less copper carbonate than either of the
components alone; and the composition of this mix-
ture is very near that of the solution which gives the
best gold extraction (i. e., when using small percent-
ages of ammonia). During the treatment the amount
of dissolved copper first rapidly rises to a maximum,
but afterwards diminishes steadily, while at the same
time the quantity of gold dissolved increases.
Vertical Shaft Sinking on the Rand.*
NUMBER II.— CONCLUDED.
Mr. Bradford said: The figures which have been
given us in relation to some of the deep shafts of the
Rand, and those which are promised us by Mr. Simp-
son, are of very great interest. There is one thing,
however, in connection with these figures which I
would like to have seen stated. In the sinking of
any developing shaft speed is worth more than it is
in a mine which is already in operation, and conse-
quently the cost per foot is not of such relative
importance. All economies are of moment, but a
mine can afford to pay a very high price per foot,
sometimes, in order to reach its reef quickly. Now,
in the figures which have been given us there is no
statement as to the method of paying the men. You
cannot get speed from any class of man — extra speed
— on a mine without he is paid in proportion to it.
And I should like to have the figures in reference to
the bonus paid in these deep level shafts. I under-
stand that the system of sinking in the case of the
Jupiter (whether it is so on the Village Deep or Cin-
derella Deep I do not know) was to pay a very heavy
bonus, and it would be of interest in connection with
this paper to know just what these payments were.
If you pay a man sufficiently you can get two days'
work put into one. Mr. Eoche, speaking of head-
gears, says rightly that they should be erected on
first-rate foundations. I would add that they should
have ample ore bin capacity and strength Many
headgears on these fields have been built altogether
too light and too small, and we are finding this out
as the mines come to rapid pulling. These faults are
being remedied in the headgears now going up, but if
there is any error in the size of the bins, let them be
too large rather than too small. Mr Eoche goes on
to speak of bearers in a shaft, but does not refer at
all to the blocking, which is of vital importance. As
I understand bearers, they are simply a safety catch
for the timbering of a shaft. In other words, the
blocking of a shaft should be so put in that it carries
the weight of the timbers, leaving practically as
little weight as possible to the bearers themselves. I
presume it has been the experience of many mining
men here who have gone over shafts to find the
blocking sometimes looking down a shaft and some-
times perfectly straight; and I have seen some places
where the blocking was against the studdles, or
against the wall plate, midway between the dividers.
This is all wrong. In a properly timbered shaft the
blocking should be against the wall plate directly
opposite the dividers and looking up the shaft, form-
ing a series of trusses which should practically carry
the weight of the timbering. I do not mean to say
that you should not have bearers at regular and fre-
quent intervals, but they shouid be for safety in the
event of the pit work settling, and not primarily to
carry its weight. With the blocking comes the ques-
tion of hand sinking and machine sinking. In most
machine sunk shafts here the walls are excessively
rough. It is impossible to sink a clean wail with
machines, and easy to do so in hand sinking; and a
clean wall makes a great deal of difference with the
blocking. In regard to kibbles and skips, I fully
agree with Mr. Eoche that skips are preferable.
Very many of the fatal accidents which have occurred
in deep level shafts sunk on these fields have been
directly traceable to the use of kibbles. Where skips
are used the danger to the lives of the men engaged
in the work is greatly reduced. In the matter of the
size of the machines, which has been touched on at
some length in the discussion just read, I also heart-
ily agree with Mr. Eoche. I believe the more work
you can get out of a machine that you have once got
rigged the better. At the Wolhuter mine in 1902,
where a record was made by T. J. Britten for in-
clined shaft sinking on these fields — and I think a
world's record — the machines used were 3J-inch
Sluggers. The method of sinking was to break every-
thing to the center cut, drilling the face over to a
depth of about 9 feet, with all but the side holes
*Trans. Jour. Chem., Met. & Min. Soc, S. A.
working toward the center. Mr. Britten once told
me that he found it advantageous to miter out a short
cut first, and when this had broken to fire the remain-
ing holes; but I understand that later he found this
unnecessary. In the Star of December 9, 1h02, there
is an account of this shaft, and I quote from it the
following table, which shows what big drills can do,
and is a record of excellent work:
SIZE OF SHAFT, 20 FEET BY 7 FEET 6 INCHES, 932 FEET
BRING SUNK VERTICAL AND THEN TURNED ON THE
UNDERLAY.
Depth of shaft on first month (1902).
Sunk during month
Number of days worked
Number of blasts per day
Average sunk per day
Average number of holes per blast. .
Depth of holes from 7 ft. to 9 ft. 6 in
average
Tons of rock broken and hauled per
month
Tons of rock per daily bias*
Tons of rock broken per drill perday.
Average number of drills employed. .
Amount of gelatine used, cases
Gelatine used per blast
Average number of Ui-in. cartridges
per hole
Total pounds gelatine used
Pound- of gelatine per ton of rock
broken
Average time of drilling perday.
Average time for clearing rock
broken, hours
Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov.
1,115
179
31
31
8.17
2,237.5
72.17
18.04
4
84
2.71
7
4,200
l.S
12
30
30
6.07
28
8.5
S.275
75.83
18.96
4
100
3.33
8
i,000
2.20
12
1.476
204
31
32
8.5
!,550
79.69
19.92
4
106
3 31
2.08
12
209
30
33
6.97
2,612.5
79.1
19.77
4
120
3.63
6,000
25
12
Price paid coniractors, £6 per foot. Contractors employed and
paid unskilled white machine helpers. Company cleared away all
rock broken with white lashers, who were held ready to go down at
any hour on signal.
Now, it seems to me that the same argument which
applies to the use of big drills in incline shafts applies
equally to vertical shaft sinking. If you are going to
sink deep holes you must have long, heavy bits, and
a big machine is essential to get the necessary pull
back. You cannot sink deep holes with light steel,
nor can you pull back heavy drills with a light ma-
chine.
As to the number of machines, I believe in working
just as many as you have room for, because the great
thing is to drill the shaft over as quickly as possible.
Time is the essence of option. If time is lost in put-
ting the drill holes down, it is lost straight through
the month, and you cannot make it up. I do not
agree with the writer as to the advisability of Cor-
nish pumps for deep level shafts. High lift air or
electrically driven pumps seem to me better adapted
to the work, but in the matter of bratticing, instead
of putting in ventilating pipes, I think he is quite
right. In reference to the comparison of costs, he is
also unquestionably right, because there are prob-
ably no two mines on these fields outside the same
groups where costs are kept in exactly the same
way. I remember an amusing story, told me once
by the late Major Seymour about a certain headgear
on these fields. The costs were particularly high,
and when they came to investigate, among other
things they found that a span of four mules and har-
ness had been charged to the headgear.
In equipping a vertical shaft with hauling roads
where the skip is to run around the turn at the foot
of the vertical ou to the incline, the general practice
on these fields is to put in heavy T rail, carried on
the wall plates, and either corresponding T rail or
angle iron on the dividers. It is better to use all T
rail than rail and angle iron, but it would be still bet-
ter to do away with such roads altogether, and run
the skip in the vertical either on steel or wood
guides. The wear and tear would, in my opinion, be
much less than with the present system. Certain
experiments are now being made in this direction, and
if they succeed we shall be able to run our incline skips
through the vertical part of the shaft, exactly as the
cage runs now, it being so arranged that the skip
may leave its guides and take the angle irons at the
turn. If this system can be perfected it will be eco-
nomical, and will conduce to smoother running in the
shafts. In the matter of fastening these guides,
there is only one mine on these fields I know of which
uses a center studdle at the back of the guides.
When the Eobinson Deep shaft was gone over and
retimbered center studdles were put in. As a usual
thing, wooden guides are bolted with through bolts
to the dividers, so that at the ends of each length of
guide the divider carries say four bolts when a guide
is 8 inches by 4 inches, or two bolts if it is a 4 inch
by 4 inch guide, whereas if a center studdle is used
the guides, instead of being always joined at the
dividers, are joined between them and bolted to the
center studdle, as well as to the dividers, making a
solid job from the top of the shaft to the bottom.
T. L. Carter remarked: I have not come pre-
pared to say very much upon this paper, but I should
like to raise three points, and one of them is well worth
noting, for it will be an important matter in the
future. It is the question of good workmanship ver-
sus speed in shaft sinking. It is desirable to get the
shafts down in record time, but I think there are
cases where it is better to make less speed and be
surer of the work. Of course, I do not say you can-
not have both speed and good workmanship, but if
there is any doubt about the thoroughness of the
work, I should let off a bit in sinking, timbering, etc.
I have seen instances where mines have been ham-
pered for years by shafts being a few inches out of
vertical, due to timbers not being attended to prop-
erly. In 1896 a bad accident happened on the Band,
in which three white men were killed in a vertical
shaft. It was found that the accident was due to
slipshod workmanship in putting in the bearers when
sinking the shaft. The shafts on a property corre-
spond with the main arteries of the human body, and
they are of vast importance in the future working of
a mine. If they go wrong, of course, everything is
absolutely hung up, and for this reason I think it is a
matter worth thinking about to have everything
about the shaft as permanent as possible. The pres-
ervation of timber, for instance, has reached a high
stage, and it is a matter worth going into whether
you should not "treat" the timbers before putting
them into a shaft. The initial expense will be a little
higher, but the final result will be better. The same
argument holds good with headgears. The Rand is
so well established that most of the mines in future
will be mines whose lives will be twenty-five to thirty
years. It seems to me a mistake to start off with a
little tin pot headgear. It is a permanent affair and
should last the life of the mine. For this reason I do
not think we should ever use wooden ones at all in a
mine of twenty-five or thirty years. We should have
best steel headgears, and for the future we should
think of no other. In the course of five or ten years
a wooden headgear is almost rebuilt with patches
here and there, while a steel headgear, although the
initial cost is high, is a permanent structure and will
last the full life of the miDe. Too small bin space is
allowed in many of the mines of the Band, liberality
in which is the best policy.
Prospecting in the Desert.
With the coming of midsummer reports begin to
reach the outside world of the hardships and loss of
life on the great desert of southern California and
Nevada. There are few people who have never been
in that arid region who fully realize the discomforts,
the hardships and the dangers attendant upon a trip
through this desert in midsummer. The rains have
ceased, the heat of day is indescribable, and it lasts
far into the night. If it were not for the cool hours
from about lip. m. to sunrise, which permits the
denizens of that region to, in a measure, recuperate
their energies, life would be unendurable there.
Although after midnight it is almost invariably cool,
eighteen hours out of twenty-four of each summer
day are so hot that it is all that the average human
being can do to exist through it, and yet there are
thousands of men and women, and children, too, who
have gone into that section within the past few
months in the effort to snatch from opportunity a
fortune as it whirls by in a cloud of heated desert
sand and alkali.
Soon after sunrise the power of the sun makes
itself felt. Metal expands and crackles like in a
quickly heated stove as the sun's rays grow steadily
hotter and hotter. By 7 o'clock in the morning the
temperature has usually reached or passed the 100°
mark, and shortly after midday it is not uncommon to
see the thermometers register anywhere from llu° to
125° in the shade. The heat is dry, intensely dry,
and this is the only salvation of the unfortunate be-
ings who have, in most cases, voluntarily exposed
themselves to this summer climate of the Great
Basin region Were there much of humidity in the
atmosphere at such a temperature human existence
would be impossible. The bright metallic glare of
the midday sun is terrible, even to those who have
for years been accustomed to it, but for those who
cannot stand high temperatures, life on the desert in
summer is a veritable hell on earth. If the lot of
those who remain in the towns is thus made almost
unbearable, what of the less fortunate prospectors
who venture out into the hills or attempt to cross
some scorching stretch of sand to reach the moun-
tains on the opposite side — seemingly so near, but
really a long day's journey and perhaps two, dis-
tant— for distant objects seem near on this southern
desert? One may stand on a hilltop and gaze out
across a desert valley in the center of which is a
patch of clay colored earth, level as a floor — a dry
lake, or perhaps it may be as white as the new
fallen snow, due to the deposit of mineral salts on its
surface. No object attracts the eye in this lonesome
death-like valley. Take a powerful field glass and
scan the desert closely, and perchance you will see
two or three mere dots on the dry lake. Watch
them and you see they are moving. Lower the glass
and you discern nothing. The distance is too great —
5 miles or more — and yet it seems less than a mile
away. These moving dots are probably prospectors
with their hardy little burros making haste to cross
the valley to the hills beyond for the purpose of
searching for a mine. Blistered by the scorching
rays of the sun, tormented by the whirling clouds of
dust and the eddying columns of alkali, these men
plod slowly on to fortune, sometimes, more often to a
hopeless ending of their dreams, and not infrequently
to their death. Some imagine that with a canteen
of water there is no danger on the desert, but such
is not the case. Men die on the desert from other
causes than lack of water. The intense heat drives
July 8, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
them to insanity and they wander from the trail and
are lost. Canned goods are commonly used on the
desert, but all who use this class of provisions should
know and remember that having once opened a can
of fruit, vegetables or meat, it should be removed at
once into a crockery, glass or enameled vessel of
some kind, for in the heat of that country ptomaine
poison quickly develops in opened canned goods —
particularly in those which contain acids, such as
tomatoes, apricots, etc. Canned milk is also dan-
gerous to leave in the cans when opened. The exces-
sive use of salted meat should be avoided, although
unfortunately this is about the only kind that can be
carried about with the camp outfit. Bacon, ham,
dried beef, canned corned beef, etc., are staples and
are almost indispensable, but they should be used in
moderation, for the liberal use of these meats only
intensilies the thirst natural in this heated dry at-
mosphere. When stationed in a camp the water
should be kept in a barrel or a canvas sack. The
latter if hung up will keep the water several degrees
cooler than the atmosphere. If the water is in can-
teens keep the outside covering of the canteens wet
continually and put them in the sun, which will have
a tendency to quickly dry out the moisture. The
rapid evaporation lowers the temperature and cools
the water. It is only due to this rapid evaporation of
moisture that human beings, horses and other ani-
mals can exist under such conditions. No matter
how freely one perspires the moisture is rapidly
evaporated, and thus the heat is bearable. In the
middle of the day it were better to rest and not at-
tempt to travel. Experienced desert men make
early and late journeys, resting for several hours
during the middle of the day — from 11 a. m. to 4
^ p. M.— and where possible travel mostly at night.
Some think that the only really dangerous portion
of the desert is in Death Valley, but the difference
between the climatic conditions in that noted depres-
sion and in the region surrounding it is scarcely
worth mentioning. The entire region is hot, dry and
extremely dangerous to those unaccustomed to its
terrors. The months of July and August are the
hottest usually, and it would be well for strangers
to the desert and its conditions to put off a contem-
plated journey to that region until October or No-
vember at least.
************ **************** *S>*******!B
THE PROSPECTOR. I
•9 *
*****+*****♦***•* ^if.****** if.if.q.if.st.sf.tt.fytf.sf.tf.q.jt
The whij,e rock sample from Camborne, B. C, is
marble of line texture, and if found in large blocks,
free from cracks and stains of iron, or other oxides,
might prove on development to be a valuable struc-
tural and ornamental stone.
The samples from Isabella, Cal., are: No. ], fine
grained mica schist, somewhat silicifled, and contain-
ing pyrite with possibly gold. No. 2 is a granular
quartz rock in which is a considerable amount of iron
oxide, both hematite and limonite. Rock of this de-
scription is sometimes gold bearing, but is usually ex-
tremely irregular in the distribution of values.
The rock samples from Grub Gulch, Cal., are: No.
1, grano-diorite; 2, mica-bearing diabase; 3, crystal-
lized limestone; 4, felsite; 6, ankerite with scales of
green mariposite; 7, black clay slate; 8, mica slate;
9, steatite (talc); 10, quartz, apparently a silicified
hornblende slate. It is stained green by chlorite and
contains pyrite, probably gold-bearing; 11, mispickel
(arsenical iron sulphide) in quartz. It shows some
gold; 12, pegmatite (granite); 13, diabase; 14, mag-
nesite (magnesium carbonate).
The black rock samples from Althouse, Or., are
white quartz containing '1% or 3% pyrite and a large
percentage of magnetite (magnetic iron oxide). The
rock is unusual in carrying magnetite and pyrite.
The magnetite looks much like black manganese
oxide, but the magnet will readily take up every
particle of it.
The red mineral from Terlingua, Texas, is cinna-
bar; the white specimens are gypsum (calcium sul-
phate).
The mineral specimen from Bisbee, Ariz., is pumice
and of good quality. Pumice is used as an abrasive
material and is salable occasionally. A large amount
of pumice is brought to the United States from the
Hawaiian islands.
The rock samples from Prescott, Ariz., are: No.
1, andesite; 2, basalt; 3, quartz containing fine nee-
dle-like crystals of tourmaline; 4, cinnabar in iron ore;
5, quartz carrying scales of micaceous iron; 6, gran-
ite.
The rock sample from Daggett, Cal., is basalt.
This rock is of volcanic origin and of comparatively
recent age. The bottle green crystals in the black
mass of the rock are crysolite (olivine). This mineral
is abundant in some basalts and in other basic igne-
ous rocks.
The rocks from Tybo, Nevada, are: No. 1, lime-
stone; No. 2, chert; No. 3, rhyolite; No. 4, por-
phyry, possibly an altered rhyolite, too much de-
composed for determination.
Ore Deposits of the Coeur d'Alene,
Idaho.
Written by F. L. RanboHe.
One of the most important lead-silver producing
districts of the world at present is that about Ward-
ner, in the Coeur d'Alene district, Shoshone county,
Idaho. The following abstracted from Bulletin 260
of the United States Geological Survey written by
P. L. Ransome is the most important contribution to
the geology of that important region, and is of inter-
est to all miners who are learning to appreciate the
value of a knowledge of geology as related to their
ore deposits:
Although the Coeur d'Alene region of northern
Idaho produces more argentiferous lead ore than any
other district in the United States, its geological
features are comparatively little known. Lindgren
has published brief accounts of some of the mines and
has described the principal mineralogical features of
a few of the ores. Pinlay has given a good general
description of the lodes and mines, mainly from the
technical standpoint, and has devoted about a page
to the geology of the region. These are the only im-
portant publications relating to the geology of this
part of Idaho that have appeared.
Geography. — The area which may be conveniently
called the Coeur d'Alene district (although for pur-
poses of record and administration it has been divided
into a number of local mining districts) is, so far as its
productive portion is concerned, in Shoshone county,
Idaho. It lies almost entirely upon the western slope
of the Coeur d'Alene mountains, a broad and rather
complex member of the main Rocky mountain chain.
The Cceur d'Alene mountains extend from Pend
Oreille lake on the north to.the headwaters of the
North Fork of the Clearwater, or nearly to Lolo
Pass, on the south. The eastern slope of the range
descends in from 10 to 25 miles to the valleys of Clark
Pork and the Missoula river. The western versant
slopes as a broad, dissected plateau down to the
basaltic plains of Spokane and eastern Washington.
The breadth of this western slope is 50 or 60 miles.
Wallace, the principal town of the region and the
seat of Shoshone county, has a population of about
3500. It is situated in the south central part of the
district, at the confluence of Ninemile and Canyon
creeks with the South Pork of Coeur d'Alene river.
It is essentially a supply point for the mines, the
mining population being housed for the most part in
the smaller towns of Wardner, Mullan, Burke, Mace,
Gem and Murray.
General Character and Distribution or the
Rocks. — The prevailing rocks of the Cceur d'Alene
mountains are arenaceous and argillaceous sediments
of great thickness. They constitute an apparently
conformable series, of which neither the stratigraphic
base nor top appears in the district nor, so far as
known, in the surrounding region. No fossils have
been found in them, and they are probably of
Algonkian age.
On the west the sediments extend to Cceur d'Alene
lake, where they are probably faulted down against
the granitic and gneissic rocks forming the western
shore of that picturesque body of water. On the
north practically nothing is known of the extent of
these Algonkian rocks. It is not unlikely that they
continue northward past Pend Oreille lake and are
connected with the great series of Algonkian beds
known to occur in the northwestern corner of Mon-
tana. On the east, beds of the same character as
those occurring in the Cceur d'Alene district extend
to the Missoula river at the mouth of the St. Regis
de Borgia. Here there is apparently some change in
lithological character, but quartzites and red and
green siliceous argillites, probably of Algonkian age,
extend at least to the town of Missoula, in Montana,
and probably for a distance farther east. The area
of Algonkian sediments has a width of about 80
miles between Cceur d'Alene lake and the Missoula
river, and it is probable that extensive exposures of
Algonkian beds continue 100 or more miles to the
eastward, connecting the Coeur d'Alene area with
the known Algonkian areas of central and northern
Montana.
On the south, Lindgren has shown that the sedi-
mentary rocks near Lolo Pass, which are probably
part of the same series that prevails in the Coeur
d'Alene mountains, are cut off by the great granitic
batholith of central Idaho.
In the Cceur d'Alene district alone, the Algonkian
rocks have a thickness of at least 10,000 feet, and it
is certain that by no means the entire series of rocks
of this age developed in northwestern Montana is
represented.
As a whole, the Algonkian sediments of the Coeur
d'Alene region exhibit little lithological contrast.
They are chiefly shallow water deposits, as shown by
the prevalence of ripple marks and sun cracks They
comprise dark argillites (mud rocks), graywackes
(mud- sand rocks), quartzites of various degrees of
coarseness, and usually sericitic, quartzitic sand-
stones, and impure limestones or calcareous argillites.
Secondary cleavage is frequently present in all but
the coarser arenaceous beds, but this slaty structure
varies greatly in development in different parts of
the field.
No sediments younger than the Algonkian occur in
the Coeur d'Alene district, with the exception of
fluviatile deposits, some of which may be of Tertiary
age.
The Algonkian rocks are cut by a number of masses
of syenite most of which have the form of small in-
trusive stocks, and by a few dikes of diabasic, dioritic,
and minette-like habit, which have not yet been
studied. The principal syenitic intrusions occur
northeast of Wallace along a northeast-southwest
line. There is no means of determining the age of
these intrusions. If the syenitic stocks were
intruded at the same time as the great granitic
batholith of central Idaho, they are of post-Triassic
and pre-Miocene age.
Divisions and Lithology or the Sedimentary
Rocks. — Owing to the rather monotonous sequence of
the Algonkian sediments, and the absence of fossils
or unconformities, division of the group into distinct
formations is difficult. Sands and silts accumulated
on the subsiding bottom of a shallow sea to a thick-
ness of over 10,000 feet. So shallow was this sea
that most of the sediments retain the marks of pre-
Cambrian ripples and were occasionally laid bare and
cracked by the sun. Throughout the entire period
of deposition there was no abrupt change in the
general character of the sediments. Muddy silts
graded into sands and these again into silts.
The Prichard slate is the thickest and the most
homogeneous of the formations in the Coeur d'Alene
district and occupies the greatest area. It is also
one of the most distinctive, the regularly banded
bluish-gray slates being readily recognized. It can
be distinguished from certain somewhat similar beds
in the Wallace formation by its noncalcareous
character and by the fact that it weathers in red-
dish-brown tints, while the weathered exposures of
the Wallace formation are yellowish gray. Slaty
cleavage is usually fairly well developed and of a more
regular character than in the younger formations of
the district. It rarely obscures the bedding, to
which it is usually inclined at considerable angles. In
some places cleavage and bedding coincide, as in the
excellent exposures by the roadside just east of
Kellogg.
This formation is the prevalent rock along the
South Fork from Kellogg to Osburn and occupies al-
most the entire drainage basin of Prichard creek.
It is essentially the gold-bearing formation of the
district, though it contains also some promising lead-
silver veins, mainly in the transitional beds of its
upper part.
The Burke formation consists principally of thin
bedded, often shaly, fine grained, sericitic quartzites
of prevailingly light tint. With these, however, are
included some more massive quartzites, such as form
the summit of Tiger Peak, and thin beds of grayish-
purple argillaceous quartzite or graywacke. The lat-
ter are a more prominent feature of the Burke
formation in the eastern part of the area than in
the western part. Near the eastern border of the
district these purplish-gray beds form the greater
part of the upper portion of the Burke.
The Burke is not a very well-defined formation, as
the thin-bedded sericitic quartzites and quartzitic
shales that characterize it pass gradually downward
into Prichard slate and gradually upward info the
massive white quartzites of the Revett formation. It
is, however, exceeding important from an economic
standpoint as it contains the principal lead-silver de-
posits.
The formation is typically developed along Canyon
creek from Burke to Gem, in the vicinity of Wardner,
and in many other parts of the district, particularly
along the eastern border.
The Revett quartzite is fairly homogeneous and is
composed almost entirely of moderately thick beds of
white or pale greenish-gray quartzite. The greenish
tint is due to the presence of sericite, which forms
a considerable part of some of the beds, while others
consist of nearly white, pure quartzite. The softer
sericitic beds are characteristic of the upper and
lower parts of the formation and are in reality transi-
tion beds with reference to underlying and overlying
formations. The thick white medial beds of the
Revett quartzite are exposed chiefly in the eastern
part of the district near the Idaho-Montana divide.
They contain the copper deposit of the Snowstorm
mine, and surround Lake Revett, whence the forma-
tion derives its name.
The St. Regis formation consists of siliceous shales
or argillites, shaly sandstones, and impure, fine-
grained quartzites, characterized throughout by
features indicative of shallow water deposition, and
by rather bright-green and purplish-gray tints. An
irregular slaty cleavage is fairly common. The
formation is far from uniform in aspect, however, and
shows considerable lithological variation in different
parts of the field. It contains beds not ordinarily
distinguishable from certain beds in the Burke and
Wallace formations, so that it is sometimes difficult
to identify the formation when but small areas are
exposed. The formation is thickest and best exposed
in the southeastern part of the district, particularly
about 3 miles northeast of Mullan and in the vicinity
of St. Regis Pass.
The Wallace formation in thickness and areal ex-
tent is second only to the Prichard slate. It is the
26
Mining and Scientific Press.
July B, 1905.
most heterogeneous of all the formations distin-
guished. The dominant rocks are thin-bedded, light-
green shales consisting chiefly of quartz and sericite,
associated with impure limestones, bluish-gray
argillites, and calcareous quartzites, and charac-
terized from top to bottom by ripple marks and
other evidences of shallow-water deposition. In ad-
dition to the dominant constituents, nearly all of the
beds contain more or less calcite, dolomite, and
siderite (or other ferruginous carbonates), which on
weathering give a yellow tint to the exposures of the
formation. A slaty structure is common, the rocks
often being highly fissile, though the cleavage never
approaches in regularity that of ordinary clay slate.
Fresh surfaces of these green-banded slates have
usually a peculiar waxy luster that is very charac-
teristic of the Wallace formation, as is also the
presence of carbonates.
The formation is well exposed at the town of
Wallace, particularly at the Northern Pacific Rail-
way station. It occupies large areas all along the
southern border of the district, and is the principal
rock along Beaver creek. The mines and prospects
in the so-called "dry belt," between Wallace and
Wardner, are mostly in the Wallace formation.
The Striped Peak formation is the least extensive
in the district. The largest areas occur near the peak
whence the formation derives its name. Lithologically
it is almost a repetition of the St. Regis formation,
with unusually abundant ripple marks.
Igneous Rooks. — The most important igneous
masses in the district are the irregular stock-
like intrusions of syenite. The typical rock of the
larger areas, as determined by Mr. Calkins, is a
coarse-grained syenite with a tendency toward
porphyritic development of the dominant alkali-
feldspar. The other essential constituents are
plagioclase, amphibole, and pyroxene. Biotite is
rare, and neither quartz nor nepheline has been de-
tected. Prom this central type is considerable varia-
tion, particularly near the contacts and in the smaller
masses, which consist usually of syenite porphyry. In
the largest mass, near Gem, are found monzonitic
facies and a number of interesting peripheral modi-
fications rich in amphibole and pyroxene.
The larger syenitic intrusions are surrounded by
well-marked zones or aureoles of contact metamor-
phism. The quartzites are altered to hornfels. The
impure quartzites and argillites are recrystallized as
aggregates of andalusite, garnet, sillimanite, biotite,
muscovite quartz, and feldspar, and in the calcareous
Wallace beds amphibole and pyroxene are de-
veloped.
The dike rocks of the region, which seem to have
no direct connection with the syenitic intrusions, are
not of great structural or economic importance.
They have not yet been carefully studied, but will be
described by Mr. Calkins in the final report on the
district.
Structural Features of the District. — The sedi-
mentary rocks of the Coeur d'Alene district have
been complexly folded, the folds in several instances
being overturned, so that the older formations over-
lie the younger. They have also been extensively
faulted and so strongly compressed as to develop
slaty cleavage in all but the massive quartzites.
While the prevalent strike of the beds is northwest-
erly, it is plain that no simple compression along
northea,st-southwest lines can satisfactorily account
for the often highly complex character of the folds
and the numerous and important deviations from the
dominant northwesterly strike. In the greater part
of that portion of the district lying south of the South
Fork the strike is about west-northwest, and the
axes of the major folds are traceable for considerable
distances. In the vicinity of Kellogg peak and Ward-
ner, however, the strike becomes more northerly and
the folds more irregular. In the region lying north
of the South Fork and west of Beaver and Nine Mile
creeks the essential structure is that of an anticline,
with a steep pitch to the north. The oldest forma-
tion exposed in this anticline is the Prichard slate,
which occurs along the South Fork from Osburn
westward, and in consequence of this structure forms
a semicircular area north of the river.
From Mullan northward past Murray is a broad
belt of close and complex folding in which north-south
strikes prevail. This structure passes into a zone of
more open folds to the east.
The region contains a number of important faults,
of which the majority strike nearly west-northwest.
Both normal and reversed faults occur, the dip of the
reversed faults being usually steep. The west-north-
west faults are particularly abundant in the southern
part of the district, where seven important disloca-
tions of this group have been mapped and studied by
Mr. Calkins. These have throws of from 1000 to at
least 4000 feet and observed lengths up to 18 miles.
The most prominent fault of this group extends from
a point east of Mullan, past Wallace, through
Osburn, and for an unknown distance west of Ward-
ner. The fault is normal, with downthrow to the
south, and the dislocation brings the Wallace forma-
tion against the Prichard slate, near Osburn — a re-
lation that implies a throw of at least 4000 feet.
The west-northwest faults have approximately the
same general strike as the lead-silver lodes and were
produced by the same or similar stresses. That some
of the faults were formed prior to the deposition of
the ore is fairly certain.
In addition to the west-northwest faults there are
several dislocations of nearly north-south trend,
which attain their greatest structural importance in
the central part of the district. The most promi-
nent member of this group is the Dobson Pass fault,
which has been traced from a point about 3 miles
north of Wallace to within 2 miles of Eagle. The
fault dips to the west at an angle of 35° or less, and
is normal. At Dobson Pass, 5 miles north of Murray,
the fault has dropped the Striped Peak formation
against the Prichard slate, indicating a throw of at
least 6000 feet.
Another great dislocation of this group is the Car-
penter Gulch fault, which has been followed from the
northern boundary of the district southward, past
the mouths of Prichard and Beaver creeks, for 12
miles to a point about 3 miles northwest of Wallace.
Its course is irregular and it dips west and south-
west at a moderate angle. This fault is an over-
thrust of approximately 1000 feet.
Slaty cleavage, usually of a rather irregular char-
acter, is a well-marked structural feature of the
finer grained rocks of the Coeur d'Alene region, and
a distinct fissility has in some places been produced
in moderately coarse quartzites. It is best devel-
oped in the Prichard slate and in the lower part of
the Wallace formation. This cleavage is usually
independent of bedding, and shows a marked tend-
ency to conform in strike to the general trend of the
longer folds and in both strike and dip to the major
faults. Local zones of slaty cleavage are the
usual accompaniments of the lead-silver lodes of
Mullan and Canyon creek. In no case does this
structure attain the perfection found in roofing slate.
The cleavage surfaces intersect at small angles, and
the rocks split somewhat irregularly into lenticular
flakes. The dip of the cleavage nearly everywhere
ranges from southwestward to southward or west-
ward.
(to be continued.)
Discovery and Development of the Home-
stake Mines of South Dakota.
NUMBER IV— CONCLUDED.
Written for the Mining and SciENTrFic Press.
The adoption of the room and pillar method of
removing ore was eminently satisfactory from every
point of view, except that it did not remedy the heavy
expense of timbering. It had been the custom in
these mines for years to drive great headings in ad-
vance of the stopes, and in which no timbers at all
were placed. So solid were the walls that it was not
unusual to see these cuttings 100 feet long, 40 to 50
feet wide and 30 feet high. On the floor tracks were
laid and cars were trammed to the working faces,
and the ore broken down was shoveled into the cars
and trammed to the nearest shaft. The excellent
standing qualities of the ground no doubt suggested
the idea of mining without timbers. The miners were
well aware, from experience, that there was a limit
to the extent to which this idea of great timberless
headings could be carried, and therefore had to
devise a method of stoping which would permit the
removal of ore in safety, and not result eventually in
a cave.
A method was finally adopted known as the Home-
stake system. As in the method last described, the
stopes are opened in series, stopes and pillars alter-
nating, and sills are laid on the floors of the rooms in
the same manner as in timbered stopes. Concerning
this new method of stoping, B. C. Yates says in a
paper devoted to the subject:
When the sills are in, three lines of track are laid
running lengthwise of the stope, but crossing the
ledge, with as many cross tracks connecting them as
are necessary. The sill floor posts are put up and
lagging placed over the top. The tracks are pro-
tected by double lagging on top and the rock is pre-
vented from running in at the sides onto the tracks
by lagging or slabs spiked to the posts.
As soon as the timber is in position the mining
operation begins. The ore is broken down and
allowed to fall through the lagging, entirely filling
the sill floor sets, with the exception of the carways
The lagging, which serves merely as a staging, i:-
removed as fast as the sets are filled with broken
ore. No rock is removed from the stope until thi*
rilling is finished. When the next cut or breast is
carried across the stope some ore must be removed
to make room for the miner. The timbers are car-
ried only one set high.
In the large stopes two D-24 Ingersoll machines
are employed, with from one to two "baby" ma
chines, which are used to drill block holes in the
large boulders.
Somewhat of an innovation in machine drills for
block holing has been introduced. A small pneu
matic hammer, such as is used in shops for chipping
and caulking, fitted with a rotating movement, oper-
ates a small drill bit about 1 inch in diameter. This
machine will drill holes from 6 inches to 12 inches deep
and has so far proven very successful in block-holing
large boulders in the open stopes.
As there are no timbers to break, no limit is placed
on the miner as to the amount of rock he may bring
down at one blast. The stope should be finished as
quickly as possible so that the broken rock may all
be removed if needed. Consequently large slabs of
ore are blasted down, and these must be broken up
to regular car size, either on top of the pile or on the
sill floor as it is drawn down by the shovelers.
On account of the uneven size of the rock, chutes
are not generally used in these stopes, but the car
men shovel the ore into cars from the level of the
track, there being as many places to shovel from as
there are spaces between posts along the track.
However, where the rock is soft and where it breaks
fine, chutes are used to advantage.
Should a large rock come down which the shoveler
cannot break with a rock hammer, he moves his car
to another opening until the " block holer " comes
around.
Two or three regular sets on each side of the stope
are carried up as fast as the stope is worked, in
which are placed the ladders and air pipes. These
open sets also assist in ventilating the stope.
When the stope is worked up 80 or 85 feet, raises
are made to the level above, through which the fill-
ing is to be dumped, and the ore is then drawn out.
While the ore is being drawn out the walls and roof
are carefully watched and all loose material is dressed
down. No accident of a serious nature has occurred
in one of these stopes during the two years in which
this method has been employed that could in any way
be attributed to the method.
When one end has been emptied of ore a section of
the sill floor is lagged and the filling is dumped in
until it begins to run over the lagging. In this way
the filling follows the shovelers and the walls of the
stope are supported at one end by the ore and at the
other by the waste.
When small ore bodies are worked by this method
no pillars are left in, but when one section is worked
up a sufficient height another section is started at
one end, and the ore is left until the entire body is
worked.
Stoping without timber is not confined to the
Homestake mine, but there are certain features of
the method as employed here peculiar to the Home-
stake, and which are considered necessary to suit the
conditions. In the Treadwell mine, Alaska, the sill
floor is not opened on the station level, but drifts are
run in the ledge and raises put up from these drifts
to a level some 15 feet above.
No timber is required except for chutes, but a
back of ore is left in, which takes the place of the sill
floor timbers used in the Homestake. The cost of
the timber would, in a great measure, be offset by
the cost of making raises and putting in chutes. The
accessibility of the ore is another advantage in favor
of the Homestake method and becomes a necessity in
a mine which furnishes nearly 4000 tons of ore every
twenty-four hours.
As only a small per cent of the ore can be removed
before the stope is finished, there is of necessity a
large reserve always on hand, which allows the mine
to lay off whenever desirable. The present broken
ore reserve of the mine is nearly one million tons.
Timbering at the Mount Rex Tin Mine,
Ben Lomond, Tasmania.*
Written by Mark Ireland.
The ore body being worked is about 100 feet in
length by 70 feet in width. A face of about 15 feet is
stoped over the whole level at one operation, this
height standing without any timber.
Double lines of logs, 20 feet in length and from 10
inches to 1 foot in thickness at the small end, are then
laid longitudinally, butt to butt, and breaking joint
from end to end of the ore body; they are at 10 feet
centers from wall to wall. The starting logs are sin-
gle for the first 10 feet and their ends are hitched
into the solid rock. These are called "runners " and
are the logs which are picked up as the level under-
neath is worked up. The double layer gives a better
chance of picking up. Logs are now laid from the
center of the ore body at right angles to the runners,
the ends being hitched into the walls. A space, 7
feet wide, is left open right through the center of the
ore body, and a similar space through from the cross-
cut leading to the shaft. The cross logs are spiked
down 4 feet apart to the runners. Decking of small
spars from 3 to 6 inches thick is then laid down.
Timber cribs, or pig-styes, are now built up, 4 feet
wide, on each side of the open spaces previously re-
ferred to, forming a skeleton drive. The pig-styes
are constructed as follows: Two logs are laid parallel,
4 feet apart, and upon them in notches at the ends
and the middle, three cross-sills are laid, two more
logs are laid upon them in turn, and so on until 7 feet
high in the clear is obtained. In the spaces between
the logs waste rock is filled in as fast as built.
Strong caps, 12 to 14-inch timber, are then laid 4 feet
apart across from pig-stye to pig-stye. Decking is
laid over these caps as on the level. Shoots and
traveling ways are then built, and the level is then
ready for filling in with waste sent down from the
surface. This method is strong and very cheap as
compared with the square sets. But little dressing
is required, an axe, saw and auger only being re-
quired, and any rough but fairly straight timber will
do. An additional advantage is that no blasting,
however heavy, can injure it.
* Trans. Aus. Ins. Min. Engra,
Jolt 8, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
27
The Panamint Mining District of
California.
In the news section of this issue is a communication
from Panamint district, California, which at this time
is again beginning to attract attention. This is one
of the high desert ranges in southern Inyo county,
and is in many respects more favored in climatic con-
ditions than some of the other desert ranges of lower
altitude. The large number of prospectors going into
this only partially prospected district is likely to re-
by masses of intrusive granite. The drift shows
them to be in part finely crystalline blue limestone,
and in part quartzite, white, grey, or green, often
considerably altered and often coarse grained. The
amount of quartzite in the drift implies a considerable
thickness of this rock and suggests that the strata
are of Cambrian age, as this is the only division of the
Paleozoic in this region which contains great amounts
of quartzite.
Prom this neighborhood northward the Panamint
range is composed chiefly of old Paleozoic stratified
rocks till near its northern end, as can be plainly seen
from Death valley. H. VV. Fairbanks found on the
massive granite, which varies to granite-porphyry;
the granite, which cuts the ancient limestones and
quartzites in the mining regions on the east side of
the Panamint, is a hornblende-granite with much
quartz.
As already stated, volcanic rocks make up a con-
siderable portion of the Tertiary formations. Three
specimens of these rocks examined all proved to be
andesite, but probably other rocks occurred in these
series. Overlying these older lavas unconformably is
a later flow of more basic rocks, which cover a con-
siderable area in the neighborhood south of Windy
Gap. Mr. Fairbanks states that on the northern
Hauling Lumber Into Panamint, Cal.
suit •in the 'discovery of valuable mineral deposits.
The men now scouring the Panamint range are really
the overflow from the crowded new camps of south-
ern Nevada, and many of them who dread the intense
heat and the dangers of the lower hills are contented
to search in this higher mountain range where the
heat, though intense, is still bearable. In Bulletin
western side of the range, north of Windy Gap, as
far as the Pinto range (which is a spur of the Pana-
mint range running northwesterly from the Wild
Rose mining district), that a portion of the rocks are
mica schists, quartzites and marbles, which have
been cut by intrusive granite. The strike of the
folds is parallel with the trend of the range, so that
unless disturbed by cross faulting the same general
slopes of the Panamint range, overlooking Mesquite
valley, there are scattered sheets of andesite and
basalt. Yet another series of volcanics is exposed in
this region. It is that forming the greater part of
the Slate range, which lies immediately west of the
southern end of the Panamint range. The highest
portion of the Panamint range for a number of
miles east of Panamint, a body of ancient rhyo-
A Mining Camp in Panamint Range, Cal
208 of the United States Geological Survey, J. E.
Spurr thus describes, in part, the geology of the
Panamint range :
The Panamint range is one of the most important
of the ranges auxiliary to the Sierra Nevada, which
lie in the belt east of it, and runs northeast and south-
west parallel to its front. The range is about 130 miles
in length. At its northern end it merges into lava
flows, which unite with the northern end of the
Grapevine range, while at its southern end it passes
into low hills of Tertiary (later) strata and associated
lavas capped by later basic volcanics. It forms the
southwestern barrier of Death valley, which it fronts
with a steep slope. This range has been very little
explored and not much is known concerning its
geology.
On the east front of the range, above the road
from Furnace creek, in Death valley, to the crossing
of the range at Wing Gap, a large portion of the
range consists of the older stratified rocks, which
seem to lie beneath unturned Tertiary (later sedi-
ments and associated volcanics), and are cut through
j formation will be found for many miles. Therefore
I the Cambrian and Silurian have been represented as
I extending northward until covered by volcanic flows
at the northern end of the range. The eastern flanks
of the range fronting Death valley, as seen on the
road between Furnace creek and Windy Gap, are
composed of upturned, yellow-green strata and asso-
ciated volcanics lying upon the older rocks with no
evident unconformity and partaking of their folds.
This belt of interbedded volcanics and sediments
grows wider toward the south. The same series
occurs along a great part of the road which crosses
the range to Windy Gap. The lava in these belts
I proved, in three different samples, to be andesite. '
This series of conglomerates, breccias, tufts, chem-
ical precipitates and lavas is the same as that ex-
posed on the opposite side of Death valley, where it
forms practically the whole mass of the Funeral
mountains. In the Funeral mountains these rocks
have been provisionally correlated with the Esme-
ralda formation in the Silver Peak range.
In the southern portion of the range the core of the
mountains for some distance is made up of a body of
lite, is regarded as one of the most ancient lavas
observed in the region. The northern end of the
Panamint range, the Paleozoic rocks, are here cov-
ered by extensive flows of lava, which appears to be
nearly continuous with the lava area at the extreme
southwestern portion of the Silver Peak range.
Structure. — That portion of the Panamint range
between a point opposite Furnace creek and Windy
Gap appears in general anticlinal. There is here a
series of alternating anticlines and synclines, having
trends due north and south. Each of these folds may
be traced continuously for a number of miles. The
explanation of this phenomenon may be a series of
east-west faults, which fault the folds systematically
to the east on the south side. In the Panamint
range much of the deformation must be of compara-
tively recent date. We know much of it occurred
since the deposition of the Tertiary beds and asso-
ciated lavas.
Near Postofflce Springs, H. W. Fairbanks describes
gold deposits occurring in folded limestone strata,
with slates below and on both sides. The ore is high
grade. Near the old town of Panamint is found sil-
28
Mining and Scientific Press
July 8, 1905.
ver-bearing sulphide copper ores, with arsenic and
antimony. The veins are found in all the sedimentary
rocks of the district. In the Wild Rose district sim-
ilar ores are found.
Panamint is one of the oldest mining districts in
Inyo county. It is 70 miles southwest of Bullfrog and
about 130 miles due south of Goldfield, Nev. The
town of Ballaratis located in the Panamint valley, 63
miles from Randsburg, which is on the Santa Fe
Railroad. The district is easily accessible from the
different railroad terminals of Keeler, on the Carson
& Colorado, and Randsburg, on the Santa Pe.
There are streams of running water in the canyons,
always enough for milling purposes and in many cases
for power, and forests of pinion pine are to be found
near the summit of the range.
The town of Panamint is on the west side of the
range, near the head of several large canyons, at
an altitude of 6000 feet, and at this place, in the
early 70's, a large silver mill was built with a Stete-
feldt furnace attachment for roasting the base ores.
The mill was destroyed by fire, since which time, un-
til the present, little attention has been given it.
Reclaiming of Bouldin Island, Cal.*
Written for the Mining and Scientific Press by
John A. Yeatman, M. E.
An engineer glories in overcoming adverse condi-
tions presented by nature. A detailed account of
such work suggests by analogy how other difficulties
that perplex the engineer may be met. Mining en-
gineers may learn much for their own use by reading
of the engineering achievements of their fellows.
Much reclamation work is being done on the Pacific
coast, but the following is believed to be unique. — Ed.
The annual spring flood waters of the Sacramento
and San Joaquin rivers of California are well known.
The soil of the lower Sacramento valley is light and
unsuited when formed into embankment to resist the
force of these streams Jduring flood season. During
the past twenty years there has hardly been a^'year
that one or more of these delta islands have not been
completely submerged. The flood waters of 19U4
reached their highest level in the latter part of March,
with the result that Bouldin island, Tyler island.
Stattin island and Edwards island, containing;_31,000
acres, were submerged, besides twice this acreage on
the lower San Joaquin, which was not in such a^high
state of cultivation. The loss, measured in re-
constructive_cost.andjpumping,onIthese three islands,
dredgers were engaged, two of them being suction
dredgers, an aggregation of 750 H. P. ; the other four
dredgers were clam-shell type, having 22k cubic yard
buckets. Night and day for thirty days these
dredgers poured their material into the break, the
result being that the 400 feet of levee on each side of
the break proper was restored; the depth to bottom
of break was now 85 feet and no increased effort could
decrease this. As the current washed through and
carried the material inward and as the tide went out
and sunk on the island side of the break. The feat
was accomplished with dispatch and success. Prom
an engineering point of view, it is a question whether
the results justified the use.
Depositing rock continued until within 40 feet of
the surface, when, to expedite the work that a sec-
ond year's crop might be secured, it was decided to
drive two rows of piling 10 feet apart and fill in the
intervening space with rock, thereby reducing the
amount to 'one-third of what it was estimated was yet
Discharge Side of Bouldin Island, Cal., Pumping Plant, Showing Flexible Steam Connection to Steamboat.
the waters retreated, to have the operation repeated
the next day. Further effort along these lines being
futile, it was decided to change the method of oper-
ation. Accordingly, two floating pile drivers and
two hundred 100 foot piles were secured, including
three barge loads of brush mats. Two clam-shell
dredgers were retained, ln'this second effort it was
proposed to drive pipes in bents of six piles each
every 10 feet apart across the break to sink brush
mats, which would be held in place, in part, by the
piles, thereby breaking the flow of the sub-surface
currents, that material might be deposited and re-
main. Night and day gangs worked at this breach
of 300 feet until the season was so far advanced that
it became evident that the annual crop could not be
recovered. Work progressed from each end with
fair[success'until the last Mo'0;feet?iwaslreached, when
I required. Work of piling was begun on each side
and the filling followed after, when the piling was
brought within 25 feet of each other. No further
piles were driven until the rock work was well carried
forward and brought up to 7 to 10 feet below the sur-
face, when it was discovered that the current was so
strong as to be actually able to carry the rock away.
This was overcome by depositing the rock in a diag-
onal manner, so that the water could not enter
except by reverse current, and in this manner the
work proceeded until in November, 1904, eight months
after the break, the same was closed and the river
excluded. Suction dredgers were again set at work
and reinforced the rim of rock embankment. Pile
work now proceeded to reinforce the material that
had been put in place and to provide foundations for
the largest reclamation pumping plant ever placed on
Forty-eight Inch Centrifugal Pump.
amounted to about $800,000, together with the loss of
one year's crop and the unmeasured sum of restoring
the land to its former state of cultivation. On
March 23, 1904, after contending with flood water for
four days, the embankment near Central Landing, on
Bouldin island, in a bend of the Mokelunne river, near
where it joins the San Joaquin river, gave way, undu-
lating the entire island of 7u00 acres to a depth rang-
ing from 7 to 12 feet.
This break is one of more than ordinary interest,
owing to the fact that a part of the embankment was
routed out to a depth of 97 feet below the river level.
After the water started over the embankment, the
opening continued to widen until it had reached. a
width of 700 feet, 400 feet of which consisted only of
the surface levee, being washed away; the remaining
300 feet covered the real rupture to the depth of
97 feet, the bottom being defined by a stratum of
clay.
Within a week the water had subsided sufficiently
to begin the work of reconstructing the levee (repair-
ing the break). The first attempt was made after
the regular manner of repairing levee breaks on the
river. This being a larger break than usual, seven
*See illustration front page.
Mounting of Forty-four Inch Centrifugal Pump.
it was found that the current was so swift — due to
the contracted passage — the depth so great and the
supporting surface for the piles so meager that all
hope of closing the same by this method had to be
abandoned. Piles 14 inches in diameter, 100 feet long,
driven into 10 feet of sand and into a Stiff clay strata
and anchored at the top, were readily torn away by
returning current after a tide. This second effort
occupied about three months, and, while not suc-
cessful, was contributing to the final closing of the
break.
In the third effort it was decided that nothing but
rock would ever baffle this current. Accordingly
plans were made to lay a base of 80 feet, and as the
deposit increased in height to make it narrower.
Contracts were made for rock and hauling and the
work began. As the nearest available quarry was
some 30 miles away, and a large barge load was such
a small portion of the embankment to be made, the
reader can form some idea of the cost and magnitude
of the undertaking. About the time the first 20 feet
of the base was in place it was decided to secure an
unworthy sea-going ship of 25 feet beam and 250 feet
in length to sink across the break, to intercept the
current and assist in filling. The ship was secured
the river.
The break being repaired and the 20 miles of levee
around the island being in condition to resist the ex-
ternal waters, the work of removing the water from
the island was undertaken. It was estimated that
the water to be handled was between fifteen and six-
teen billion gallons. The height to which it was to be
raised was from zero at initial pumping to 12 feet
maximum, with a possible 16 feet at high tide. The
average pumping head for the entire mass of this
water would be about 5 feet.
The time apportioned to accomplish this work was
limited to sixty days. There were several reasons
why the time was so limited. Chief among these
were that it was necessary to remove the water by
March 1, 1905, that the 1905 crop would be available;
further, it was desirable that the final pumping be
done quickly, that the sun would not heat up the
water and sicken the asparagus plants. Accordingly
purchase was made of four large centrifugal pumps,
to be direct connected to short-stroke, cross-com-
pound, high-speed engiues, and contract was made
with the United Iron Works of San Francisco, Cal.,
for the installation of the same. Owing to the un-
stable condition of the embankment, where it was
July 8, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
29
necessary to place the pumping plant to most
effectively drain the island, it was a matter of first
importance to drive additional piles for foundation
In addition to the many piles already driven, it was
necessary to pile an additional area of 60x120 feet,
and. upon examination, it was decided that, by using
mechanically balanced engines, piles spaced 10 feet
each way, securely capped and cross-capped, would
afford ample stability to carry the load and resist the
vibration. Such a foundation was prepared and
proved to be all that was required.
Heretofore all the large pumping plants have been
placed on the island side of the levee and have been
placed so low as to permit the discharge pipes to
pass through the embankment. This was impossible
in this instance, as the water on the island was on a
level with the water without. To cofferdam and pro-
vide a place was impossible, and the only thing to do
was to install syphon plant-, as illustrated herewith.
This was the motive that characterized the hydraulic
arrangement, and the same proved to be a mouey
saver and an ideal a r rang cut, insuring safety and
facilitating the installation <>' the machinery.
The plant consisted of the following units: The
largest pump was furnished by the United Iron
Works, having 44-inch suction and discharge open-
-Oii H. P. Brownell automatic high speed engine.
The space occupied was 14 feet by 12 feet in width.
Steam was supplied by a stationary plant of 550
H. P. and a river steamer (City of Stockton) having
a rated capacity of 450 H. P. The stationary plant
consisted of one 400 H. P. Scotch marine boiler 12
feet diameter, 13 feet long, having three (ire tubes,
each fitted with the latest improved oil burners, and
one 150 H. P. vertical, 7-foot by 12-foot, boiler. The
river steamer was moored to the wharf and steam
carried ashore through 125 feet of 8-inch pipe. As
the tide varied the water level 3 to 4 feet twice a
day, it was necessary to have a flexible connection
between steamer and shore line. This was accom-
plished by means of ball joints, as shown in cut. All
boilers were fitted with oil burners. Oil was sup-
plied by oil barge and temporary storage was made
in one 10,000-gallon wooden tank ami two auxiliary
5000 gallon galvanized iron tanks. Every known pre-
caution was taken to insure safety in handling the oil
and maintaining the fires.
Each pump was primed by steam and no difficulty
was encountered, even when water receded to a
point 26 feet below the top of the pump The time
required at first priming was about, twelve minutes,
which increased until it took over thirty five minutes
responsibility of the problems encountered, and to
them belongs the credit of successfully performing a
piece of work of larger magnitude and more serious
import than the above words imply.
Electric Mine Signals and Telephones.
Written for the Misinc; anii Scientific Press by
QBOBGB E Walsh.
The introduction of electricity in a mine for power
or lighting purposes is usually followed in the course
of time by equipments for telegraphing, telephoning or
general mine signaling. The mines of Germany and
the continent of Europe have developed more efficient
systems of electrical communication than in this
country, but indications are not lacking that engineers
are steadily availing themselves of telegraphic signal-
ing in the Far West where electricity is used in the
mines. The harnessing of mountain streams for gen-
erating electric mine power is rapidly changing con-
ditions in many of the Western mines and, with current
supplied in abundance at a low cost, the work of
extending the electrical equipment to all kinds of
mechanical operation progresses rapidly. While few,
if any, mines are operated throughout solelv by elec-
tricity, there are many which are electrically
Q
Plan of Pumping Plant
/=>/.* N \ £L£V- fof Bff£AK
MOKELUMNE RIVER
- ELEVATION OF
W/'// '"
<tt«y/^A **t&
BOULQIN ISLAND
C/rajj <£rrr/o/y os /ikz
ings, connected to 48 inch suction and discharge
pipes, having a capacity of 60,000 gallons per minute
when running at 230 revolutions per minute. This
pump was direct connected to a 350 H. P. Ball cross
compound engine on substantial steel sub-base, by
means of a flexible link coupling; occupied a space of
28 feet long by 12 feet wide. The top of the pump
was 13 feet above the floor and the floor line for all
was 2 feet above the water line. The second pump
was a 36-inch United Iron Works pump connected to
40-inch suction and discharge pipes, having a capacity
of 35,000 gallons per minute when running 250 revo-
lutions per minute. The same was direct connected
to a 200 H. P. Ball cross compound engine on I-beam
sub-base by means of a special solid coupling. This
unit occupied a space of 20 feet by 10 feet; both of
these pumps occupied more space than they other-
wise would, because they had been prepared to be
operated either belt driven, or direct connected, as
desired. The third unit was a Byron Jackson Ma-
chine Works 44-inch pump connected to 48-inch suc-
tion and discharge pipes, having a rated capacity of
50,000 gallons per minute when running at 200 revo-
lutions per minute; was direct connected on I-beam
sub-base by solid coupling to a Jackson single valve
cross compound condensing engine with jet condenser.
The same occupied a space of 14 feet by 14 feet. The
fourth unit was a Price 36-inch pump, having a rated
capacity of 35,000 gallons per minute when running
210 revolutions per minute. This pump was direct
connected upon timber sub-base by solid coupling to
when the last of the water was being handled. No
pump unit was run at full speed when all the pumps
were in operation, for the pump and engine portion
of the plant were in excess of the steam generated.
The operation and performance were ideal, and all
that could be expected of such a large plant, installed
so quickly in face of the difficult conditions surround-
ing the same.
With all pumps in operation the capacity was about
165,000 gallons per minute — equivalent to 10,000,000
gallons per hour. During the time of pumping no
less than 6 inches of rain fell on the island, which
increased the duty to be performed about 1,200,000,-
000 gallons. Fortunately, this rainfall occurred dur-
ing the earlier period of pumping, thereby saving
much in head effect. The oil consumption ranged
from 60 to 110 barrels per day of twenty-four hours,
and 2500 barrels of oil was used in draining the
island.
Pumping was begun December 8, 1904, before the
plant was entirely completed. All pumps were in
operation by January 10, 1905, and operated continu-
ously for thirty days, after which time stops were
made on first one pump and then another to lower
the suction pipe. By February 15, 1905, the island
was practically drained, although intermittent pump-
ing was continued to July 1, 19u5. Credit is due to
Henry Voorman for foundations, to Walter M. Willet
on problems of plant design and materials and to
F. W. Langley, of the United Iron Works, on plant
installation and operation. Upon these men fell the
equipped, and in some of them nearly every phase of
mine work is performed.
In the continental mines lighting, signaling, hoist-
ing, drifting, ventilation, hauling and tramming, and
firing of shots are operated by electricity — and as a
valuable and economical auxiliary the electric plant
has few equals. In the matter of lighting and signal-
ing, electricity has received more attention on the
continent of Europe than for power purposes. In a
good many mines where steam and compressed air
still hold their own for operating machinery, elec-
tricity is employed for lighting and telegraphing.
Where a small plant is employed for lighting purposes,
the installation of a complete signaling system is not
difficult or costly to operate. The tendency is thus
to use both the telegraphic and telephonic methods of
mine signaling.
The telegraphic systems which have been devel-
oped for mine uses vary somewhat, but in their final
results they attain the same trustworthy end. Usu-
ally a transmitter and receiver are installed in each
station. In many cases the telephone is used in con-
nection with the telegraph. The voltmeter is
arranged with a dial, around which a number of sig-
nals or orders are arranged. This receiver is plainly
marked, and the signals easily read. The transmitter
consists of a magneto machine, provided with a dial
and corresponding signals or orders. When the
operator transmits a message, he turns a crank on
the machine until the handle reaches the signal on
the dial. Immediately the voltmeter indicates the
30
Mining and Scientific Press.
July 8, 1905.
transmission of the message and records the result.
In a few mines a further precaution is obtained by a
small electric bell, which is immediately thrown in
circuit, and the strokes of this bell correspond to the
number of the signals; The danger of mistakes
appears almost entirely eliminated by this method,
but where extreme precautious are demanded the
operator must have his message repeated, so that he
is" sure that the receiver on the other end understands
the communication.
At first thought it would appear as if this method
might be slow and clumsy, but experience has demon-
strated the contrary. The dial is very small and the
needle a very Hue one, so that the operator can act-
ually send more messages in this way than any other.
Repeating the messages furthermore places any mis-
take in transmitting orders upon the shoulders of the
right person, who, realizing his responsibility, is
more apt to exercise greater care. The ordinary
telegraphic code is employed in parts of the mine
where communication is important and frequent, but
often only ordinary "sounders" are used for the
signaling.
Where simple sounders are used bare wires are
strung down the mine and through the different gal-
leries. Nothing is simpler and easier than to equip
every part of a mine with such a telegraphic system.
With two bare wires running from the signal bell at
the hauling engine through the galleries to the trams,
the service permits ready adjustments to any condi-
tions. An ordinary piece of metal of any kind com-
pletes the circuit for the transmission of signals at
any point. The elasticity and portability of such a
method of mine signaling particularly recommends
itself to mines where the work of the day is shifting
constantly from one point to another. Wherever the
miners are working they are kept in close touch with
the central operator and the managing office itself.
The introduction of the telephone in the mines is of
more recent occurrence, but its service is rapidly
becoming invaluable. The portable telephone outfit
permits operators of any gallery to keep in direct
communication with headquarters at every step. The
safety and rapidity of signaling by this method
proves of great economy in large mines where a large
number of men are working. In the German mines,
where telephonic communication has been established
between the manager's office and the different gangs
of workmen, the saving of time in transmitting orders
has proved of vital importance in a number of
instances.;' Dangers have been averted in this way,
and the miners in more than one instance owe their
lives to the underground telephones.
Special telephones have been manufactured for]
Handling Ore Cars.
Herewith is shown a 15 H. P. distillate locomo-
tive, built by the Union Gas Engine Co., San Fran-
cisco, Cal.. for the Yellow Aster Mining & Milling
Co., Randsburg, Cal. The engine is a 15 H. P. double
cylinder ".Union" of the 1905 type; all parts are so
arranged as to be easily accessible. It is fitted with
ber of new fields in hygiene and industry will be
opened to that simple and reliable source of oxygen
gas.
The way in which oxygen up to this date came on
the market was in form of gas compressed in iron
tubes or drums. The inconveniences in connection
with this means are well known. The expenses of
shipping, the clumsy way of handling these heavy
Mmm
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II J1UR 1
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C^ljJM
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5E^JH
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" Union " Distillate Locomotive.
a sensitive governor designed to allow fuel to be used
only in proportion to the work performed. It has a
speed controller by which the speed can be set at any
desired rate and maintained without any further at-
tention. The oil and water tanks are mounted on
thejrear. The pulling power of this locomotive is
stated I to be thirty tons gross load 6 miles per hour,
n a level straight track, and with a variable speed
containers, the trouble of reshipping for the sake of
refilling same, the leakage due to high pressure, the
danger in connection with it, and — last not least —
the gas being never more than 90% pure; all these
facts point to the necessity of adopting a better
means to provide us with this most valuable gas of
the predominating of all elements — oxygen. The
claim is made that oxone produces oxygen gas iu-
TJnion " Distillate Locomotive and Train Hauling Ore From the Yellow Aster Mine, Randsburg, Cal.
such underground use in Europe. Owing to the I
noise made in the mine by the cutting or drilling !
machinery, it is difficult sometimes to hear through I
the ordinary telephone. To obviate such difficulty I
loud-speaking telephone instruments are employed.
They are also provided with movable receiver tubes,
which can be adjusted to the ears to make certain
of any messages transmitted. Both the receivers
and transmitters are provided with rubber stops,
which close them when not iu use.
The installation of a telephone system with the dif-
ferent parts of a mine is of a simple nature, and owing
to the fact that the wires can be easily strung along
the sides or carried on a tram car, by means of an
automatically working reel, the expense is not great.
The telephone is kept in circuit with the various lines
by means of a series of push buttons. The operator
at headquarters can thus connect with any gallery
when needed, and the foreman of any working gang
can as easily call up central for orders. The use of i
the portable telephone outfit for mines gives an elas- j
ticity to this method of communication that cannot
be surpassed.
Accidents in mines frequently happen through I
mistakes in signals. In most cases this is the result
of temporarily forgetting the different signals, either
in receiving or transmitting, but such mistakes could
hardly happen where the orders are given by word
of mouth through telephones. As the size and
importance of a mine increases, the need of safer and
more efficient signaling systems is felt — and in the
end the best pays.
that permits of slowing down on heavy grades or
around curves. The total weight of the locomotive,
with water, is 6200 pounds. The net weight of the
engine only is 2085 pounds. The Yellow Aster Min-
ing & Milling Co. have been using five "Union"
hoists, one of which is of 130 H. P., for the past five
years.
Compact Oxygen.
A new chemical for metallurgical and other indus-
trial and sanitary purposes has been introduced by
the Roessler & Hasslacher Chemical Co. of New York,
which affords possibilities for supplying oxygen to
charges of ore in the cyanide process. This new sub-
stance is called oxone, and comes in solid form. It is
described by the manufacturers as follows:
A stone about 1 cubic inch in size, weighing two to
three ounces, generating upon contact with water
130 times its volume on pure oxygen gas, is certainly
of great value. This is oxone. Oxone is a compact
oxygen compound made for the purpose of providing
anybody with the means to produce instantaneously,
free, chemically pure oxygen gas in a simple manner.
As the generation of oxygen is at once obtained upon
throwing a piece of oxone into water, and as the
amount of gas produced can easily be regulated by
varying the quantities of oxone, or controlling the
water flow, it is obvious that by this means the im-
portant question of an abundant oxygen supply for
general use has progressed considerably. Not only
will all the users of the gas be benefited, but a num-
stantaneously. A light weight and small volume for
shipment yields a large amount of gas. It can be
stored and used at any time, it is easy to handle, and
is not explosive nor combustible. The only precau-
tion to be taken is to protect it against moisture to
prevent untimely decomposition. One pound of oxone
furnishes fully 2 cubic feet or 57 to 60 liter of oxygen,
or 100 grams generate 13,000 c.c.
As the result of a personal inquiry into the vexed
question of the damage done to water courses and
water supplies by dredging, the Victorian Minister
for Mines is convinced, says the Town and Country
Journal, that, with proper conditions as to the leases
and the construction of modern types of dredgers,
the beds of rivers can be dredged, not only without
injury to the streams themselves, but with positive
advantage to the rivers. In Victoria, during the
last five years, gold to the value of £1,100,000 has
been won by dredging and sluicing, in addition to
which stream tin to the value of about £15,000 was
obtained. The plants employed are valued at
£250,000, and there has been about £400,000 of capi-
tal called up. In 1903 the industry kept 1310 miners
in employment. The companies worked 240i acres in
that year, including the beds of streams that were
turned over, and the yield averaged 2.35 grains per
cubic yard, giving an average of £o36 per acre. Last
year £97,000 was paid in dividends by various com-
panies, exclusive of the amounts paid to shareholders
in small companies, of which the Mines Department
has no record.
July 8, 19(15.
Mining and Scientific Press.
31
X+++**+**+***+* ************* + + •*** + + * X
+ *
»
x .>-.M- + -;- ■(• + + + •!- -I- + + +I-I + t- + -f- + -f' •!•+ + + •!• + + + + ■!• + + + .<<;
I Mining and Metallurgical Patents*!
PATENTS ISSUED JUNE 27, 1905.
Specially Reported and Illustrated for the MINING AND
SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
Magnetic Separator. — No. 792,776; E. C. Kav-
anaugh, Holyoke, Mass.
In magnetic separator, inclosed magnetic cylinder
rotatably mounted in pulp receptacle, or conduit,
having pole pieces and magnetic coils therein, and
having hollow endwise-extending journal having at
extremity stuffing box, combined with suitably ele-
vated oil receptacle having depending conduit pro-
vided with horizontal limb entered within extremity
of hollow journal through stuffing box thereat, and
communicating with spaces within cylinder.
Guide for Skip Cars or the Like. — No. 793,102;
R. Schneider, Sharon, Pa.
In combination with hopper of blast furnace or
like, skip car having front and rear wheels and hoist-
ing means for car, inclined track leadiDg to top of
hopper upon which wheels run, track portions curv-
ing inwardly at inner ends upon which forward wheels
only run, when car reaches top of furnace, and having
upwardly and rearwardly turned ends and other
track portions on which rear wheels only run, and
contact members on car for engaging upwardly
turned ends when car is overhoisted.
Electro-Magnetic Ore Separator.
E. Langguth, Euskirchen, Germany.
-No. 793,137;
In magnetic separator, combination with primary
pole piece, of rotary member provided with plurality
of secondary pole pieces and arranged to rotate ad-
jacent to and parallel with primary pole piece, part
of path of rotary member being out of field of influ-
ence of primary pole piece, and casing of non-mag-
netic material between primary pole piece and ro-
tary member.
Electrij Hoist.— No. 793,626; P. J. Darlington,
Glenridge, N. J.
Combination with winding drum and pulley block
to be operated thereby, of electric motor for operat-
ing drum, electric circuit including motor, controlling
switch in circuit, operating member, means for lock-
ing member to movable contact carrying member of
switch, means for returning contact carrying mem-
ber to its "off" position when members are unlocked,
and means controlled by pulley block for unlocking
members and allowing switch to return to "off"
position.
Automatic Mine Door.
holm, Des Moines, Iowa.
A
-No. 793,452; O. W. Lund-
Combination of two door sections, in closed positions
standing approximately at right angles to each
other and means for pivotally supporting each of
door sections at upper and lower ends at points
between center and outer end, and stationary parti-
tions arranged to engage outer ends of door sections
when sections are in open positions.
Dumping Car.— No. 793,385; A. Mieden, Seattle,
Wash.
In device of class described, combination with
dumping body having door, of plate or member
mounted on door and beveled to form inclined and
angularly disposed face, and shaft provided with V-
shaped arm having inner portion disposed at obtuse
angle to shaft, and outer portion arranged at inclina-
tion and presenting inclined face to door when in en-
gagement with same, inclined face of catch co-operat-
ing with inclined and angularly disposed face of the
plate or member.
Pebble Mill.— No. 792,778; W. A. Koneman, Chi-
cago, 111.
In pebble mill, combination of rotatably supported
cylinder having feed opening in eccentric position in
one end, central feed chamber on end with means for
feeding thereto material to be ground in cylinder,
spiral conduit on cylinder end extending from cham-
ber to feed opening to discharge into latter, and cen-
tripetally acting discharging means for material on
opposite end of cylinder.
Hand Rock Drill.— No. 793,319; C. F. Paul, Jr.
Peekskill, N. Y.
In hand rock drill described drill spindle secured to
operating yoke comprising main spindle with reduced
ends to receive sleeve-drill holding spindle and spiral
spring, sleeve-drill holding spindle with spring end of
main spindle forming recess for spring, spring in re-
cess, flange on sleeve end of drill-holding spindle in-
closed within recess formed by reduced part of main
spindle and recess in clamping sleeve.
Apparatus for Purifying Blast Furnace
Gases.— No. 793,544; W. Schwarz, Dortmund, Ger-
many.
In apparatus for purifying blast furnace gases,
combination with stationary casing, of rapidly rotat-
ing conical drum and dispersing member, both
rotating within casing about common axis.
Process of Treating the Metal Mixtures Pro-
duced as a By-Produot in Electrolytic Metal
Refining.— No. 793,039; A. G. Betts, Troy, N. Y.
Process of treating anode slimes which consists in
treatment with solution of ferric sulphate, and sepa-
rating solution from insoluble material; dissolving
copper in solution; electrolyzing solution with insolu-
ble anodes for simultaneous production of ferric sul-
phate solution and deposition of copper; and in opera-
tion of extracting antimony from material undissolved
by ferric sulphate solution, by treatment with solu-
tion containing hydrofluoric acid, and removing anti-
mony therefrom by electrolysis with insoluble anode.
M
Mining and Scientific Press.
July 8, 1905.
*
I
MINING SUMMARY.
Specially Compiled and Keported for the MINING AND
SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
F. H. Oliphant of the United States Geological
Survey gives the following statement regarding the total
quantity and value of crude petroleum produced in 1904:
Quantity. Value per
State Barrels Value Barrel.
California 29,649,434 « 8,265.434 SO. 279
Colorado..'.....; 501,763 578,035 1.152
Indiana 11,339,124 12,235.674 1.079
Indian Territory 1 1,366,7481
Oklahoma Territory J I 5,447,622 0.969
Kansas 4,250,779j
Kentucky 1 998 284 984,938 0 9866
Tennessee J
Louisiana (a) 2,941,419 1,068.605 0.3633
Michigan 1 3673 4 769 j 854
Missouri i
New York 938,234 1.526,976 1.6275
Ohio 18,876.031 23.730,515 1.257
Pennsylvania 11,300,792 18,507,103 16377
Texas 23,241,413 8,156,220 0.367
West Virginia ■ 12,644,686 20,583,781 1.628
Wyoming....' 11,542 8L794 0-.70
Totals 117.598,421 J101.170.466 .864
(a) In addition to this quantity 3,670,000 barrels were produced
and unsold at close of 1904.
California, Otah and Virginia were the only States
that produced manganese ore in 1904. The total pro-
duction amounted to 3146 long tons, valued at $29,466,
or $9.37 a ton. Of the tottl production, 3054 tons, or
97%, came from Virginia, 60 tons, or 2%, from California,
and 32 tons, or 1%, from Utah. In addition to the true
manganese ores, considerable quantities of manganifer-
ous iron ore are obtained in Colorado, Arkansas and in
the Lake Superior region. This amounted in 1904 to
353,246 long tons, which had a reported value at the
mines of $691,677. Ore of this class carrying 28% of
■manganese and 10% to 14% iron was mined and used in
the manufacture of pig iron, with 1% or over of man-
ganese. The Colorado manganiferous iron ores are util-
ized primarily as flux by the precious metal smelters,
. the remainder being employed in the manufacture of
spiegeleisen. In the Lake Superior region quantities of
iron ore are mined which analyze from a fraction of 1%
up to 20% of manganese. In mining silver ores in Col-
orado a considerable quantity of mineral is obtained
which contains insufficient percentages of the precious
metal to make it valuable on that account, but which is
used as a flux by the smelters. In 1904 the production
of manganiferous silver-iron ores in the United States
amounted to 105,278 long tons, valued at $348,132. This
is considerably less than the production of 1903, which
amounted to 179,205 tons, worth $649,727. A by-product
in the manufacture of zinc from ores mined in northern
New Jersey, containing iron and manganese, is utilized
in the production of spiegeleisen. In 1904, 68,189 long
tons of this class of ore were obtained. The total quan-
tity of manganese ore, manganiferous iron ore, argentif-
erous manganiferous ore and zinc residuum produced in
the United States in 1904 amounted to 559,859 long tons,
valued at $1,137,264.
ARIZONA.
Cochise County.
(Special Correspondence). — The Black Diamond Cop-
per Co., whose mines and smelter are located near
Pearce, in the Cochise mountains, has proved that its
smelter has a capacity of 200 tons a day and that its ores
are self-fluxing. A water plant has been put in. Its
1-mile aerial tramway from the mouth of the tunnel to
the smelter has proved efficient.
Pearce, July 2.
i (Special Correspondence). — The Tombstone Con. Mines
Qo. are shipping regularly and expect to open up more
of their mines. The new pump ordered will have a
capacity of 2,500,000 gallons, which will increase the ca-
pacity of the pumping plant to 6,000,000 gallons a day.
Work has been started remodeling the old 20-stamp
Girard mill, which will be increased to a capacity of forty
stamps. A concentrator will also be put up on the
grounds, so that the ore can be concentrated and the
waste removed and save considerable expense to the com-
pany in shipping ore.
Tombstone, July 1.
(Special Correspondence). — The Consolidated M. Co.
has made a new strike on the Davis group in the Chiri-
chuahua mountains, near Douglas. The ore is refrac-
tory,, but the extraction problem has been solved in the
arrangements to put in a concentrator of large capacity
for testing the new ore.
Douglas, July 3.
It is reported that the Pittsburg & Hecla property at
Bisbee has reverted to the original owners. Lands are
the Gold Hill group in Solomon Springs district, 3J
miles southeast of Bisbee. Work for the present has
been suspended. The cyanide plant of the Fortuna
mine, in the mountains south of Gila Bend, is being
moved to Fairbanks. S. Anderson is superintending the
moving of the plant.
Gila County.
The Arizona Commercial Copper Co. of Globe has
made arrangements with the Old Dominion Co. whereby
the fluxing ores of the former will be treated by the lat-
ter. A track will be laid from the Arizona Commercial
to the Old Dominion. The excess supply of ore not sold
to the Old Dominion will be sent to Douglas. The
directors state that a reduction works, including a
Bmelter for the handling of the ores, will be erected
within a year. The ore now being sent to the Old Do-
minion smelter is of a quality that has previously been
shipped into Globe from a distance. It is working excel-
lently in the furnaces of the Old Dominion and will sim-
plify another one of the problems of the company. Be-
sides its workings on the Black Hawk property, the
company has a 600-foot shaft on the Copper Hill prop-
erty.
Graham County.
(Special Correspondence). — The superintendent of the
Standard mines, near Metcalf, reports that the mine is
doing well. A 20-inch streak of glance is beiDg devel-
oped in the San Jose and shipments will be made this
month, the first shipments from the San Jose since it
was acquired by the Consolidated Co. At the Copper
Center claims the main shaft is down 160 feet and three
levels are being run.
Clifton, July 3.
It is reported that the Ash Peak mines, near Duncan,
will begin operations under the direction of T. Larkin.
Maricopa County,
(Special Correspondence). — J. H. Strite has charge of
building the mill near Wickenburg for the White G. M.
Co. Twenty stamps are being put in, with provision for
twenty more; the cyanide plant can handle tailings from
a 40-stamp mill.
Wickenburg, July 3.
(Special Correspondence). — C. D. Pickering, superin-
tendent of the yucca Cyanide M. & M. Co. at Cedar,
reports that work has been stopped on the shaft of the
San Francisco mines on account of a larger flow of water
than the pump could handle, but that as soon as the
new pump is received work would be resumed. The
shaft is down 570 feet and is in good ore. The mill is
crushing twenty-five tons of ore daily and making a
product of lead, silver and gold.
Kingman, July 3.
Superintendent G. Hamlin of the Relief G. M. Co.'s
properties at Relief, 23 miles northwest of Phoenix,
states that he is operating 500 feet west of the main
shaft and is down 40 feet in a winze that he is running to
the water level. Water has been secured by sinking a
500-foot shaft on the vein.
The Oro Grande mill at Wickenburg is operating ten
stamps on ore taken out in development work. It is
reported that work has been resumed on the Goddard
mine, near Wickenburg.
Mohave Connty.
' The Monarch G. M. Co.'s property is being worked,
with E. Hilty of Kingman as general manager. The
German-American mill, near Vivian, is working to its
full capacity, and is said to be making a good saving of
values. The mill is of ten stamps and will handle thirty-
five tons of ore daily. O. F. Kuencer is in charge.
The 10-stamp mill of the Blue Ridge M. Co. is running
full capacity. A cyanide plant for the handling of the
tailings is contemplated. T. Ewing is working four
properties in the San Francisco district, within a radius
of 6 miles of Vivian — the Vivian, Virgin & Victor,
Hardy and Homestake. W. A. Mensch of Kingman is
putting hoisting machinery on the Enterprise mine.
T. R. Garnier, regarding the St. Louis mine at Cerbat,
reports that the tunnel is in 375 feet on the vein. The
Treasure Hill mines are being unwatered to the 200-foot
level, when crosseutting to the veins will be commenced.
J. D. Jordan has charge. E. M. Carson of San Fran-
cisco, Cal., proposes to build a 100-ton smelter at McCon-
nico.
The Chloride G. M. Co. is planning putting in a second
compressor and sinking the working shaft to a depth of
800 feet. Development of the Samoa group, near Chlo-
ride, has blocked out a large quantity of shipping ore.
The Pilgrim group, 12 miles west of Chloride, is be-
ing worked under bond by the Commonwealth M. Co.
The Azalia group, near the Pilgrim, has been
bonded by the Commonwealth Co., and is being devel-
oped.
Pima County.
(Special Correspondence). — The double-compartment
shaft at the Weeden mine at Pittsbnrg will be sunk 600
feet. The smelter is turning out ten tons of 75% copper
matte daily. Each shaft is 5 feet in the clear and the
work is proceeding at the rate of 3 feet per day.
Mellen, July 3.
Final County.
(Special Correspondence). — It is reported that Super-
intendent C. Brown of the Arizona-Hancock Co. has
uncovered rich ore in the property, 1£ mile south of
Superior.
Superior, July 3.
Yavapai Connty.
General Manager Campbell of the Richenbar M. Co. at
Richenbar intends putting in a cyanide plant, enlarging
the capacity of the mill, and putting in a new hoisting
plant. L. Walloth and D. Sinclair of Yarnell have
shipped a carload of mica from the Monte Cristo mine,
in the Peoples valley. E. Block of Prescott has sent
out a whim to his copper claims, 7 miles west of Jerome
Junction, and has given J. F. Wright and P. Jasperson
a contract to sink the main shaft, now 75 feet deep, 100
feet deeper.
C. K. Tibbets has bonded R. Lyon's claims, near
Cherry, and is putting up a hoist and steam stamp mill
capable of treating ten tons of ore a day.
CALIFORNIA.
During 1904 California produced, according to the
U. S. Geological Survey reports, 29,649.434 barrels of
ci*ude petroleum, valued at $8,265,434, an average of
$0,279 per barrel. In 1902 the production was 13,984,268
barrels, valued at $4,873,617, or $0,348 per barrel, and in
1903 the production was 24,382,472 barrels, valued at
$7,399,349, or $0,303 per barrel. California now produces
the greatest number of barrels of oil in the United States,
Texas coming second, with 22,241,413 barrels, and Ohio
third, with 18,876,631 barrels. The average value per
barrel, $0,279, is lower than that obtained in any other
State, Louisiana coming next, with $0.3633.
Amador County.
At the Climax mine, near Pine Grove, it is reported
that they intend to put up a 20-stamp mill before winter.
Parties who have a bond on Dry creek, near lone,
have had a Keystone driller at work trying to determine
its value for dredging purposes. They have found a
deep soil ranging from 5 to 15 feet, and gravel from 5 to
25 feet thick.
Butte Connty.
H. Zilmer, manager of the Wyandotte M. Co., reports
a rich strike in the mine near Wyandotte.
Calaveras County.
Prospecting the lands of the Calaveras river bottom
at Petersburg, near Valley Spring, is being done, with a
view to working the gravel by dredger.
Coutra Costa County.
It is reported that the coal mines at Summerville will
soon be in operation, after many months idleness. The
Summerville mines closed down on account of the poor
demand for coal, the river steamers and many manufac-
turing plants having changed their furnaces to oil burn-
ers. A new superintendent for the mine has been
engaged and the work of retimbering has begun.
Dei Norte County.
Superintendent Frank Rood, of the Big Bar mine, at
the mouth of Slate creek, on the Klamath river, reports
the mining season along the river at an end. It has
been a very short season for the placer miners, on account
of the light snowfall on the high mountains, but it
proved to be a good one.
Inyo County.
It is reported that John Hays Hammond, acting with
the Guggenheims, has purchased the Piper ranch, 23
miles from Tule canyon, and it is proposed to introduce
gold dredging in Cottonwood creek.
Mariposa County.
The North Star silver mine at Bootjack, owned by D.
McNally, is under bond to H. Dibble of San Francisco
and F. D. Cochrane of Boston, and will be pumped out
and sampled, and if found to be as represented, active
development will be begun. .A. C. Morrison of San
Francisco is in charge.
Merced County.
The land north of the Merced river, between Snelling
and the falls, has been bonded, and drilling machines
will start prospecting the land as to its availability for
dredging.
Nevada County.
The Pennsylvania mill, near Grass Valley, is being
overhauled. A. Richards of Washington, foreman of
the Sixteen-to-One mine, reports that the 20-stamp mill
is kept constantly running. The mine is worked
through a tunnel 600 feet in length, and seventeen
miners and eight surface hands are employed. It is
stated that A. H. Godbe of Salt Lake City will build a
cyanide plant at the Excelsior mine, in Meadow Lake
district.
As a result of a burst in the Mountaineer mine's power
pipe line, near Nevada City, the mine was temporarily
closed down. The Gluyas shaft at the Home mine,
near Grass Valley, is to be pumped out and work re-
sumed. The Home at present is running thirty stamps.
Placer County.
The machinery installed at the Bellevue mine, near
Auburn, is in place and work has been started. At
the Smith Point mine a drift is being run on the 200-foot
level. The Tadpole mine, 5 miles above Westville, is
reported to be working four men, and ore will be crushed
at the Alameda mill at Black Canyon until the mine is
thoroughly tested and prospected.
Riverside County.
G. L. Leonard has charge of the work of the United
States Tin Co. in reconcentrating tailings from the Tem-
escal tin mines. At the same time the tin-bearing and
copper-bearing deposits on the property will be devel-
oped.
Santa Barbara County.
The Standard Oil Co. announces a schedule on oil
from Santa Barbara fields as follows: Oil of 24 to but
exclusive of 25 gravity, 22£ cents; 25 to but exclusive of
26 gravity, 27J cents; 26 to but exclusive of 27 gravity,
30 cents; 27 gravity or better, 35 cents. The prices
quoted above are about 5 cents less for each grade than
those proclaimed on January 1, which were in turn a
cut of a larger figure from those prevailing prior to that
date. Within the last year the quotation for Santa
Maria oil has fallen nearly 100%, although development
has only began, and little or no oil has been sold. The
Union is, of course, independent of the Standard, and
has its own pipe line, the Western Union and the Pinal
having long-time contracts with the Standard.
Shasta County.
The Holt & Gregg Co. will build a rail tramway from
its limerock quarries between Big and Little Backbone
creeks, 2 miles west of Kennett, to carry rock from the
quarry to the company's lime kilns at Kennett and to
the main line of the Southern Pacific Co. at that point.
It is reported that the Balaklala copper mines, near
Kennett, have been sold to the Western Exploration Co.
for $2,000,000. J. James and four other miners claim
to have sunk 100 feet, from the No. 5 level to the No. 6
level in the Rising Star mine, near De Lamar, in thirty-
seven days.
Sierra County.
Work is to be resumed at the Mabel Mertz mine at
Forest City by the Forest City M. Co.
Sonoma County.
Rich cinnabar ore is being taken from the Culver-
Baer quicksilver mine near Healdsburg. The recent
strike in the Sonoma mine has encouraged the owners
of properties all along the quicksilver belt to action.
The Socrates Co. are working on the construction of
their new furnace.
Tulare County.
Superintendent F. Marshal of the Ada Jewel mine at
Fountain Springs, near White River, has started the
new cyanide plant on ore on the dump. In the upper
Deer Creek district J. L. Showers is opening up the
Royal Flush, 8 miles from Hot Springs.
Tuolumne Connty.
The Clio mine, near Jacksonville, is running steadily.
The shaft is down 150 feet and is being sunk deeper. A
slate vein on the hanging wall showed such values that
the mill was started. The Harvard mine at Whiskey
Hill, near Sonora, is soon to resume operation.
Work has been started at the Mount Lily, near Colum-
bia, with C. Grimm as superintendent. Prospecting
work has begun at the Water Lily gravel claim on the
Stanislaus, near Sonora. It is owned by C. Durgan,
Lyon Bros, et al.
Jolt 8, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
33
COLORADO.
Boulder County.
The Inter-Ocean M. Co. will put in a complete roast-
ing and cyanide plant near the Inter-Ocean mine at
Sunshine.
• Custer County.
The Bassick G. M. Co., which operates the Bassick
mine at Querida, contemplate building another mill to
treat the ores from the mine.
Clear Creek County
P. A. Maxwell of Georgetown has a three years lease
and bond on the Colorado Central and Aliundi proper-
ties on Leavenworth mountain and will develop them.
Development has been retarded on the Waldorf
properties, near Georgetown, because of putting in two
new compressors. The erection of a mill to treat the
low grade ores will be the next improvement. An air
compressor and an 80 H. P. boiler has been put in at
the mouth of the Hoosac tunnel near Fall River.
Manager J. Broad of the La Plata group, on Democrat
mountain, near Georgetown, has started a lower cross-
cut to catch the ore shoot of the La Plata vein. The
main tunnel is in 1200 feet. The Silver Glance, near
Georgetown, is being developed by Clark & Co. Work
has been commenced on the Centennial property, on
Leavenworth mountain, at Georgetown, under the man-
agement of D. Kennedy. Work on the Pacific tunnel
holdings is being done by the Pay Rock Extension M.,
M., T. & D. Co., of which J. H. Robeson is manager.
The tunnel is in nearly 800 feet. The mill machinery is
being overhauled. Upon the return of J. J. White, a
new contract is to be awarded for driving the Pruden-
tial tunnel, which is destined to open a lateral from
Georgetown to Silver Plume, thus furnishing an outlet
for the oreB of Republican mountain. The bore has
been driven 700 feet, and it is expected that within an
additional 100 feet the Magenta-Turner vein will be cut.
A power plant and heavy machinery are to be put in at
the mouth of the tunnel. A vein has been cut in the
Blue Bird tunnel, owned and operated by W. Hunt of
Georgetown and N. Prohm of Denver. This group con-
sists of the Blue Bird, Jay Bird, Black Bird and Snow
Bird and is in the gulch between Republican and Demo-
crat mountains. The tunnel is in 800 feet.
Manager A. B. Montgomery has made arrangements
for increased development work in the property of the
Red Oak Co., on Democrat mountain, near Georgetown.
The Democrat Mountain M. Co., operating the Ed-
gar, Junction, Fred Rogers and Government lodes,
under the management of J. Smith, has started work on
the 300-foot raise from the Bonanza tunnel level. With
this work completed, twenty-eight drifts will be started,
and the pocket of ore recently opened through the shaft
workings of the Edgar can then be taken out cheaply.
On the West Griffith, recently purchased by the In-
dependent M. Co., ten men are sinking the winze at the
1100-foot station of the Griffith tunnel. This work will
make a connection with the East Griffith property,
owned by W. D. Hoover of Denver. Manager J. Larson
states that a wire tram will be built from the portals of
both the Sonora and Griffith tunnels to the railroad
tracks. At the Mineral Chief of the Linn Con. M. Co.
of Georgetown operations are being carried on through
the Moline tunnel. Manager W. C. Hood expects to
start regular shipments soon. In the working of the
East Argentine M., M., D. & T. Co., Manager M. Sidney
is employing twenty men and working three shifts.
The claims are on Pendleton mountain and seven tunnels
are being driven. The Sidney tunnel is being driven to
cut the Stevens mine at a depth of 1600 feet below the
14th level. It will also cut all properties along the line
of the Wilcox tunnel, as well as the Santiago. It is the
deepest tunnel proposition in upper Clear Creek.
Chaffee County.
The Boston-Colorado Copper Co. are developing the
Evening Star copper claims, 9 miles southwest of Salida.
It is the intention of the management to put in a con-
centrator of suitable capacity to suit the low-grade body.
Gilpin County.
A whim has been put on the Silver mine near Moon
gulch, which has been leased by W. H. Knowles of Den-
ver and W. G. Smith. The shaft is down 150 feet, and
is being pumped out under charge of E. J. Stephenson.
It is reported that machinery is to be put on the Jo
He tunnel property of the Alice E. M. Co., on Buckeye
mountain, in the Phoenix district. The Star of Gilpin
M. & P. Co. has leased and bonded the Victoria claims in
Lump gulch of the Central district, and active opera-
tions are under way. The Victoria shaft is down 150
feet, and is being unwatered for the purpose of sinking
it another lift of 75 feet. This mill 1b equipped with 15
stamps. The company has also started a new shaft, 400
feet south of the main shaft, for prospecting purpose?,
and the company will also continue the 40-foot shaft on
the Tiger, a parallel vein. Sinking operations at the
Happy Hollow claims, between Rollinsville and Gambell
gulch, are under the superintendency of G. E. Churchill.
Machinery for deeper workings is to be put in later. •
It is reported that work is to be resumed on the John L.
mines, at the head of Virginia canyon, in tbe RusboII
Gulch district. The property is owned by E. W. Wil-
liams of Denver. Sinking at the After Supper mine of
the Banzai M. Co. at Black Hawk is down 340 feet. The
shaft will be carried on down to the 365-foot point, from
where they will extend levels both ways.
Grand County.
J. A. Burns has struck good ore in the Bowen & Camp-
bell mining district, 12 miles northwest of Grand lake, in
the Rabbit Ear range.
Gunnison County.
Near White Pine, on upper Tomichi creek, the Tom-
ichi valley smelter is running full blast, putting through
sixty tonB per day of slag from the dump, which carries
7% lead, besides silver and gold values. Galena-lead
carbonate ores are purchased from the North Star and
May Mazeppa mines. Leescamp & Ferguson have
charge of the work. — On the May Mazeppa and North
Star, A. Woodworth and T. Allen are shipping ore from
development work and J. B. Turner says he has 20 feet
of galena-lead carbonate in his Dividend shaft workings
of the North Star. The properties of the Comstock
G. & S. M. Co., near White Pine, are equipped with a
compressor plant and surface improvements. A new
concentrating and electrical ore separating plant will be
put in.
The Grand Prize mine, near Pitkin, is being unwat-
ered and work will be resumed taking out ore. J.
Nelson has secured a lease on the Teller and Chief, near
Pitkin, and has begun work. A good strike has been
made on the Granite Mountain group, in Jones gulch,
near Pitkin. — — C. Olivor and others have leased the
Falrview and Cleopatra, north of Pitkin. Work will be
driven from the Cleopatra tunnel, which is in 1600 feet.
H. C. Clark of tbe Gregor K. mines, in Paradise basin,
near Crested Butte, will start work. G. Russ has
started work upon the Washington mine near Irwin,
and after clearing the shaft of water expects to sink
deeper. Operations have been resumed at the
Augusta mine near Crested Butte.
The Lanyon Zinc Co is meeting with success in op-
erating the Napoleon and Edna Dranie properties on
Gold hill, in eastern Gunnison county. The wagon road
to Quartz, on the Colorado & Southern, has been put in
good condition, and several ore teams will soon be busy
hauling to this point for shipment to the company's
works. A large force is employed at the mine, and the
Lanyon Zinc Co. expects to soon commence shipping 30
tons per day. The Tontine lode, in the Elk Mountain
district, owned by J. Fleischer of Denver, is to be devel-
oped.
Hinsdale County.
Development work has been started on the properties
of the Handles Peak G. M. Co., near Lake City, by
Manager Corwin. — -W. G. Pitts, secretary and super-
intendent of the Pittsburg Metals M. & M. Co., operat-
ing the Wyoming mine on Engineer mountain, near
Lake City, has commenced new work, as the tunnel has
been cleaned and retimbered.
Lake County.
(Special Correspondence). — The output for Leadville
during June amounted to 72,000 tons. Up to date this
camp, in its 27 years of life, has produced $316,000,000
worth of mineral.
Leadville, July 3.
The new work that was mapped out for the Big Evans
section is now being carried out, and very few properties
in that section are idle near Leadville. The most ex-
tensive work is being carried on at the New Monarch
group, including the New Monarch, Winnie and Cleve-
land. The Winnie is shipping 150 tons daily. The
Cleveland is shipping 400 tons monthly of oxides and
sulphides, and the New Monarch is sending out 50 tons
daily. Shipments are regulated by the demand from
the smelter at Salida. The east shaft of the New Mon-
arch, which is down 950 feet, is being cleaned out and
will be sunk deeper to get under the main ore shoot, and
when this is completed shipments from the property will
be increased. A tunnel has been driven into the Cleve-
land, and all ore from the property now finds its way
to the cars by this outlet. It has materially reduced the
cost of mining, as hoisting is done away with. Sink-
ing is going on at the Silent Friend, and at the Little
Ella ore is being shipped regularly. The Resurrection
is pumping water from No. 2 shaft to relieve the pres-
sure at No. 1. That property is shipping about 100 tons
daily. The Gold Basin, near Leadville, has resumed
work and the lessees are hunting for the main ore shoot.
The Brattleboro is shipping steadily from ore that
comes from the lower drifts. By the middle of July
the Yak mill will be turning out 250 tons of concentrates
daily.
A good body of carbonate ore is being developed on
the Bessie Wilgus, on Rock hill, Leadville, under the
direction of R. B. Estey. H. Collins and associates
are sinking a shaft on the Oscar placer, part of the Reve-
nue ground, Leadville. The Center M. Co. is sinking
a shaft on Rock hill, Leadville, under the management
of C. E. Majors. The Ben Burb shaft on Rock hill,
Leadville, is being sunk by J. Weir.
The copper vein recently opened in the St. Julia claim,
Lake Park creek, holds out as development work pro-
ceeds. Work has been resumed on the Golden Jim
and Hiawatha claims in Big Frying Pan district. The
claims are worked through tunnels, both being in 70 feet.
On Dyer mountain, at the head of Iowa gulch, near
Leadville, low-grade ore has been located on the Greater
New York, and a tunnel is being driven by Holden &
Green wait to tap it. Experimental work is being done
at the Yak mill and a few changes will be made before
the mill starts on its steady run.
San Juan County.
On the Animas river, above Eureka, the Astor M. Co.
have cut their vein at a depth of 1200 feet with a 1523-
foot crosscut tunnel upon which they are drifting with
machine drills. An electric plant is being put in near
the tunnel mouth. It is to be run with water from the
Animas river. A mill building intended to cover a 100-
ton concentrating plant is being put up, but the concen-
trators will not be put in until further development
work has been done. E. C. Condit has charge of work.
The Silver Wing, near Eureka, is being opened up by
the Eureka Exploration Co., under the direction of P.
Molan.
A rich strike has been reported from the Mayflower
mine in Arrastra basin, near Silverton.
Summit County.
Widmar & Dean, lessees of the Silver King property
on Nigger hill, near Breckenridge, have started a drift
from near the bottom of the Sprague shaft to cut their
new ore 6hoot. The surface water still interferes with
the active operation of a number of mines on Nigger
hill, but is gradually subsiding. The Buckeye M. &
M. Co., operating the Lucky mine and the Reviere M.
& M. Co. property on Mineral hill, has cleared the long
tunnel and has it in good condition to work through.
Superintendent G. E. Moon is opening up new bodies of
lead-silver ore from the levels of the shaft. In autumn,
when sufficient ore is blocked out, the company's mili
will be started up. The Old Union property, near
Breckenridge, is doing development work. Some heavy
ground has been encountered in driving the big tunnel,
and lOxlO-inch timbers are being used as posts and
caps. Superintendent G. C. Smith is satisfied that a
portion of the sulphide contact of the Breckenridge gold
belt underlies Mineral hill.
The Harrison mine, near Montezuma, has started up.
- — C. S. Young is operating the SarBfield mine, on Col-
lier mountain, near Montezuma. W. Young, operat-
ing the Santa Fe with four men, is making air connec-
tions. Superintendent H. C. Crover of the Bear
Mountain M. & M. Co. is building an ore house at the
New York tunnel, on Collier mountain, near Montezuma.
The Breckenridge Bulletin reports that the Mary
Verna and North American company's properties are
having development work pushed ahead under Man-
ager McAlister. Work on the new Laurium mill is
progressing satisfactorily. The compressor plant at
the King Solomon is complete and the rock drills are
doing good work. Mr. Keables has men working on
the Masontown M. & M. Co. 's property, paying par-
ticular attention to the mill which is being finished so
that milling and cyaniding operations can be instituted
soon. W. P. Condon and E. W. Shrock, who have a
lease on the Morning Star mine on Mount Baldy and are
operating same with a small force of men, are taking
out an excellent quality of silver-lead ore carrying gold
values and expect to make a carload shipment to the
local sampler some time next week. The Abundance
M. & M. Co. is employing twelve men on its mine. The
shaft is down 150 feet, at which level two crosscuts are
being run. The S. crosscut is in 40 feet and shows up a
large body of mineralized rock. A drift is being run
west from this on a vein of zinc-lead ore carrying gold
and silver values. The northeast crosscut is in 80 feet.
J. G. Goodier has ordered a new hoisting engine.
Teller County.
The Cripple Creek output for June amounted to $1,-
725,200, with a total tonnage of 58,500. The output re-
mains practically stable, although June, with one less
working day, is nearly $131,000 short of the production
in May:
Mills— Tons. Average. Gross.
U. S. S. &R.Co SO.liOO 88 00 tOlO.000
Smelters 9,000 65 00 595,000
Portland 7.500 28 00 210,000
Economic 7,500 28 00 154,000
Wild Horse 2,160 6 00 12.960
Anaconda 2,100 5 00 15,500
Dorcas 3,300 32 50 107 2 0
Santa Rita 480 6 00 2.880
Michorado : 460 3 50 1,610
Otters 6.000 2 50 15,000
Totals 58,500 J1.730200
Exploration on Grouse mountain at the Sprague
group has been resumed by H. M. Sprague. The 600-
foot shaft of the Christmas mine, on Bull hill, Cripple
Creek, is to be deepened an additional 300 feet. The
lessees are breaking ore in the third, fifth and sixth
levels. P. S. Penn, leasing the Red Spruce Co.'s
property on Gold hill, Cripple Creek, is pushing opera-
tions in the bottom level at a depth of 360 feet. J. J.
Winter and associate have struck good ore at a depth of
90 feet on block 24 of the Anaconda, on Bull hill, Cripple
Creek. The King & Craig cyanide mill has started
after a month's shut-down for repairs. C. Harrison
intends to put in a steam hoist at a shaft on the two
upper blocks of the Pride of Cripple Creek.
The C. O. D. mine, in Poverty gulch, Cripple Creek,
is furnishing ore from the tenth level at a depth of 800
feet upward. The Milwaukee Mutual Co., leasing
through the main shaft of the Gold Dollar Con. prop-
erty, on Beacon hill, Cripple Creek, expects to put in a
larger plant of machinery to increase their output.
Good ore has been struck in the T. Merrit claim of the
Arno Co., situated on Womack hill, Cripple C-eek. This
is the fourth discovery that has been made by O. D.
Fogleman, lessee, within two months. A lease on the
Annie C. claim of Copper mountain, Cripple Creek, has
been obtained by A. Watson and brother, who will begin
work in a 200-foot shaft which they propose to retimber.
The shaft on Cleverdon's lease on the Vindicator, at
Cripple Creek, has been sunk 50 feet deeper to the 250-
foot level and erosscutting commenced. J. Freshman,
operating the Pharmacist property, Cripple Creek, and
working through the Finch shaft of the Acacia Co., has
put in a motor-driven compressor capable of running
several drills. On the Empire State a new hoist has
been put in by Crowder and associates and a large com-
pressor has been ordered. The Gold Sovereign Co.,
at Cripple Creek, has completed the installation of a
hoist in the bottom level. Troutfetter and associates,
on the Shurtloff No. 2 property, have put in machinery
for sinking 100 feet and then driving over to the ore
body. H. E. Chamberlain, who is operating under
lease a block of the Midget mine, Cripple Creek, is put-
ting in a washing machine. Shipments are leaving
the La Bella mine, of Bull hill, Cripple Creek, which is
being operated under the direction of Superintendent
W. Wilson. The La Bella is part of the Golden Cycle
property.
IDAHO.
Idaho County.
The Crooked River M. & M. Co.'s mill at Orograndeis
milling 300 tons daily, and expect to increase their mill-
ing capacity. It is reported that they are mining and
milling their ore for less than $1 per ton, and the ore is
being mined and delivered to the mill for 15 cents per
ton. W. C. Brower has charge of work on the Uma-
tilla, at Orogrande.
Nez Perces County.
H. Fair reports of the Pittsburg - Idaho M. Co., on
the Clearwater river between Greer and Kamiah, that
Laverty Bros, have financed their company and will
work this summer, planning to put in air drills and
other necessary machinery.
Shoshone County.
The Cedar Creek M. & D. Co. has been formed at Wal-
lace by T. N. Barnard, E. J. Hunter, John Weir, J. H.
Jackson and J. L. Dunn, to take over the St. John, Cedar
Creek, Palace, Thomas, Sunnyside, Laura and Grace
claims in the Summit mining district.
It is reported that a dredger is to be put on Snake
creek, 15 miles from Pierce. The ground on Orofino
creek, near Pierce, upon whi h M. H. Hare of Wallace
has a bond, is being prospected to determine its value.
The Pawhattan M. Co. will resume development
work on the mine on Big creek.
34
Mining and Scientific Press
July 8, 1905.
MICHIGAN.
Houghton County.
The Quincy expects that connections will be made be-
tween the Mesnard or No. 8 shaft, north of the Franklin
mine, and the northerly drifts from the main Quincy
property in July. The shaft is down 3354 feet at the
24th level. The distance between the levels in the Mes-
nard shaft does not correspond with that in the main
Quincy mine, the former being 125 feet apart, while the
latter in the upper levels are 60 feet. Therefore, the
workings with which the Mesnard shaft will connect a
short distance below the 24th level of that shaft have
been raised for 100 feet above the 45th level of the old
mine, which is the first level passing beneath the Frank-
lin corner. Probably within three months after the
connection is made between the Mesnard shaft and the
lower Quincy workings the permanent hoisting engine
for the Mesnard will be in service. It is to be of the
standard double conical-drum duplex-cylinder type. The
cylinder will be 32 inches in diameter and the stroke will
be 72 inches. The minimum diameter of the drum at
each end will be 12| feet, and the maximum diameter in
the centre will be 18J feet. It will have a capacity of hoist-
ing from a depth of 5000 feet. The Quincy is shipping
from its Mesnard or No. 8 shaft 10,000 tons of rock per
month.
MONTANA.
Fergus County.
Superintendent H. H. Lang of the Kendall mine, at
Kendall, says that the company is employing 125 men,
and satisfactory progress is being made in sinking the
new compartment shaft in the new ground, where ore
bodies were located last year by means of the diamond
drills. The shaft is being sunk below the 400-foot level,
and will be pushed to the 1200 foot. The development
of the old workings is continuing as usual. The 150
H. P. electric hoist is in place. A 7-drill compressor
has been put in. A pumping station has been cut in the
400-foot level, for the pumps. The shaft is in ore, and
drifting will commence shortly, but not much ore will be
raised from this ground until the shaft is completed
down to the 1200 level. Superintendent H. H. Lang
of the Kendall mine; C. D. Allen, foreman, and W. C.
Waldorff of Helena, have sold a half interest in the 1900
mine to A. S. "Wright, and a company will be formed to
develop the property. The Moccasin Mountain Co.,
of Kendall, has purchased from C. M. Goodell a claim
adjoining the company's property.
Granite County.
Manager L. U. Loomis, of the Gold Reef M. Co., has
resumed work on the 10-stamp mill to treat the ores
produced from the company's mines, at Gold Reef, on
South Boulder creek, near Philipsburg.
Jefferson County.
G. Benjamin has leased the Black Diamond copper
mine, north of Elkhorn, to A. A. Rend, M. Little and
J. Crowthers of Butte, and the men have commenced
work.
Silver Bow County.
(Special Correspondence). — B. B. Thayer, assistant to
President H. H. Rogers of the Amalgamated Copper
Co., has completed an exhaustive inspection of the com-
pany's mines and says the ore on the lower levels shows
no signs of diminution. The shaft of the Anaconda has
reached a depth of 2400 feet. The North Butte Cop-
per Co. has made a contract with the Washoe Copper
Co. for the treatment of its ores by the latter for a long
term. The output of the North Butte for June was
1,450,000 pounds of copper, being equal to the output of
the United Copper mines. The output of the Washoe
smelter for June was 12,540,000 pounds of copper, and
that of the Boston & Montana smelter at Great Falls
4,750,000.
Butte, July 3.
The County Assessor has increased the assessment on
the machinery and supplies of the Amalgamated Copper
Co. in Silver Bow county $1,013,560. The returns of
valuation as made by the various companies were in-
creased that amount, it being claimed by the assessor
that the returns made were too low. The total returns
upon mining machinery and supplies amounted to $403,-
790, and the valuations placed by the assessor amounted
to $1,617,350, making an increase of $1,013,560.
Preparations for development work by the Reins
C. Co. is progressing at the Combination mine in Mead-
erville. The large station at the 800-foot level has been
completed and made ready for putting in a second big
pump, which will be a duplicate of the one now in opera-
tion on that level. Excavation for a cement tank for
water storage purposes has been begun, and as soon as
the new pump arrives and is installed the company will
be able to handle 1200 gallons of water per minute.
When the new engine arrives and is put in place, sink-
ing from the 800-foot level will begin. A foundation is
being prepared for one of the old engines, so that opera-
tions in the shaft will not have to cease while the new
engine is being installed.
NEVADA.
Humboldt County.
(Special Correspondence). — At Jackson creek, 50 miles
north from Humboldt House and 60 miles west from
Winnemucca, Darling & Malley are working the Nelson
group. Murray Bros, are working a group near Jack-
son creek. T. Fox, working on the North Star group
at Jackson creek, has struck a ledge 5 feet wide. H.
Bender iB working claims on Deer creek.
Humboldt House, July 3.
The opal claims of the late G. W. Ladd, near Love-
lock, are to be opened on a large scale. Many opals of
rare flash and brilliancy have been taken from them
since the find was made. The estate is in the hands of
W. H. A. Pike, who will sink a 50-foot shaft and work
the claim.
Lander County.
The Austin M. Co. has sold its holdings in Austin to
the Austin Hanapah M. Co., who will commence work.
C. B. McCornick of Salt Lake City, B. F. Moffit and
J. M. Ford of Chicago are interested. A working cap-
ital of $500,000 has been placed in the treasury. Man-
ager Edwards says work will be commenced on the Clif-
ton tunnel, Union mine and the McHardy mine in
Marshall canyon and at Yankee Blade.
Lincoln County.
The Nevada-Utah M. Co. at Pioche, E.-Freudenthal
superintendent, is to be developed through the old
Meadow Valley No. 5 shaft. The old engine is being re-
placed by a smaller one, which will be used for all the
preliminary work of retimbering and sinking to the
2000-foot level. At the Abe Lincoln the mill is putting
through twenty-five tons per day of $25 ore and making
a high-grade concentrate for shipment, while the Hold-
erman plant is successfully extracting the gold values
from the tailings. On the North Pole property at
Pioche men are running a 350-foot tunnel and the shaft
is to be sunk to the 1000-foot level. This is the prop-
erty of the new Boston-Pioche M. Co. that has been
organized by Scott & Miller. The Mendha is being
developed through a winze from the tunnel level.
Bullionville is to be revived through the operations of the
Godbes and J. L. Hackett of Louisville, Ky., who has
purchased an interest in the tailings there. They will
run through the big pile, which averages $16 per ton,
by a new process, and expect to make a saving of $5 per
ton on the 170,000 tons they have there. They will also
work over the pile of tailings that still remain at the old
millsite in Dry valley, east of Pioche.
NEW MEXICO.
Luna Countv.
The Phoenix Prospecting Co. has let a contract for a
250-foot tunnel on the Dewey and Olympia, at Cooks.
The tunnel will tap the ore body at a depth bf 680 feet.
Otero County.
The Standard Lithographic Stone Co. has developed
its quarries sufficiently at Highrolls to be in position to
quarry solid stone in sufficiently large pieces to be of
commercial value.
San Miguel County.
W. S. Standish is erecting a mill at Ribera, on the
Santa Fe Railway, for the treatment of silver, gold, sil-
ver and copper ore from the Glorieta range.
Sierra County.
The Black Peak M. Co. has resumed work and will
put in a 10-stamp mill, a 25 H. P. gasoline engine and a
gasoline hoist, purchased by W. W. Williams, the man-
ager. The Union Esperanza mine, at Shandon, has
received the piping for its hydraulic plant, and also some
of the machinery.
OREGON.
Baker County.
The Oregon Dev. Co. has leased ten stamps of the
Cracker Oregon mill at Bourne for treatment of ores
from the Taber Fraction mine. It is the intention to
haul the ores by wagon, and in the meantime surveys
will be completed for an aerial tram from the mine to
the mill.
At Cornucopia, in addition to the work of the Cornu-
copia Mines of Oregon Co., under Manager Humbert, the
Queen of the West, under the management of C. F.
Soderling, and the Mayflower, under the direction of
G. W. Boggs, have ordered 10-stamp mills.
Grant County.
Jos. Waddell, manager Prairie Diggings mine, owned
by the Jupiter G. M. & M. Co., states that since resum-
ing work this season 200 feet of drifting has been done
on the 175-foot level. Deep sinking has been resumed to
extend the shaft to the 350-foot level.
The Blue Channel Placer Co. are working on Big
creek, near Susanville, with J. K. Zimmerman as man-
ager. A shaft has been sunk 125 feet and 600 feet of
drifting done on the old channel. The gravel is washed
in 150 feet of sluice boxes with Hungarian riffles.
Josephine County.
Early work at the Takilma smelter has been to the
satisfaction of Manager Walters. At Wolf creek the
Martha mine, owned by the Greenback Co., work for
which is being done on the Coyote side of the Coyote-
Grave creek divide, has been equipped with a com-
pressor, by means of which Manager R. N. Bishop is
driving adit levels on the vein. The lower drift is in
1300 feet.
W. E. Williams, manager Buckeye M. Co., reports ore
carrying gold, copper and nickel in the Buckeye mine,
near Grants Pass.
O. A. Halladay is visiting the stamp mills of Grants
Pass with a view of selecting the kind of a mill they will
put at the Michigan mine. They intend to put in a 10-
stamp mill.
Considerable dredger prospecting is being done near
Grant's Pass. Several years ago a dredger was built on
the China diggings, near Waldo, and run for a short
time, but became involved in litigation and has since
been idle. While in operation it was said to be a success.
A Seattle company has been on Sucker creek, in the
south end of Josephine county, for over a year prospect-
ing a tract, and has gone over the ground for 4 miles.
The work has been done by a series of open cuts or
holes; a pump was used to keep water out while the men
are at work. This company insists that drills do not
give so fair a test of the ground as hand work. Recently
a larger engine and pump were installed to continue
prospecting. T. W. M. Draper has had a drill at work
for some time near Waldo, and is testing the gravel at the
Reames & Wimer mine also. J. T. Layton has bonded
his placer mine on Farrin gulch to an Oroville, Cal.,
dredging company for $60,000. There are 400 acres of
red gravel running up the creek, which is from 10 to 30
feet deep. The mine is operated with water from Will-
iams creek, by means of two ditches, 13 and 22 miles,
respectively, in length. It is also equipped with a large
reservoir. This mine has been operated for the past
thirty years and has been a heavy producer. The gold
runs from $16 to $17 an ounce. The company has also
secured a bond on the land of E. N. Prbvolt for $10,000,
and the farm of L. C. Hyde has been bonded for $4000.
On Evans ereek, near Wimer, an Eastern company
has secured a bond on several hundred acres of land and
proposes to install a dredger. J. W. Boileau of Pitts-
burg and I. F. Peirsel of Brownsville, Penn., have in-
spected the property.
SOUTH DAKOTA.
Pennington County.
Geo. Bain has started unwatering the Dolcode shaft,
near Hill City. F. C. Crocker is putting in an air
compressor, pump, etc., to develop his mine. The
Dakota-Calumet Co., near Sheridan, are putting in a
new boiler and pump and will resume sinking.
Custer County.
The Interstate M. Co. has resumed work, 10 miles
northwest of Custer, and will sink the main shaft to the
100-foot level.
Lawrence County.
The Homestake Extension Co. has put in a new air
compressor at the property, near Deadwood. The com-
pany plans to run a crosscut tunnel 550 feet to cut a vein
outcropping on the surface. It is understood that
Manager A. J. Simmons is to put in new machinery at
the Echo mine, near Maitland. The Golden Reward
M. Co. have temporarily closed the mill at Deadwood, to
put in a new ore dryer at the mill.
UTAH.
Garfield County.
Three miles from Saliua two salt mines are in opera-
tion. At the Jennings mine a shaft, 6x9, has been sunk
through a depth of 75 feet. A ditch has been con-
structed into which the water can be pumped and car-
ried away, but this has been a laborious and unsatis-
factory plan, and the intentions are to drain the quarry
by running an incline drift from a sufficient depth into
the adjacent shaft, where the water may find an outlet
by seepage or be pumped to the surface. From 24,000
to 50,000 pounds of rock is shipped every day.
Grand County.
Near Basin, in the La Sal mountains, Wilson mesa is
being prospected by companies headed by J. R. Emmett
and M. Mason. Each company proposes to put in a cya-
nide plant to treat float ore.
Juab County
The shipments from the Tintic district for week end-
ing June 30 amounted to 121 cars, distributed among the
following shippers : Swansea, 8; Eagle & Blue Bell, 10;
Yankee Con., 6; Victor, 10; Grand Central, 3; Carisa, 5;
Mammoth, 11; Ajax, 2; Bullion-Beck, 6; Gemini, 14;
Centennial-Eureka, 46. Total, 121.
Piute County.
(Special Correspondence). — The Sevier Con. G. M. &
P. Co., li mile from Kimberly, are preparing to erect a
new 125-ton concentrating and cyanide mill. The old 10-
stamp mill has been out of commission for some time.
The present company has been operating the property
for years through tunnels and open cut. No. 3 tunnel
cuts the vein 960 feet below the surface. The directors
of the company will hold a meeting July 5, and deter-
mine at that time the kind and size mill to be erected.
R. W. Foster is manager and W. Christensen superin-
tendent. The No. 5 tunnel of the Annie Laurie M. Co.
is in 3500 feet and connections made with the No. 4 tun-
nel 430 feet above. The mill of the company has a
capacity of 250 tons per day. On account of the spring
inflow of water in the chutes, it causes the ore to become
wet and the capacity of the mill to be retarded. Within
a short time they expect to have the mill handling the
usual amount of ore. The company is putting in a steam
plant at Sierra station, on the railroad, and stringing
wires to the mine, and will operate with electric power.
S. M. Levy ia general manager, O. Wiser mill superin-
tendent, D. C. Williams mine superintendent and A. W.
Russell superintendent cyanide department. On account
of this camp being so remote from other mining dis-
tricts, it is hard to get good men in the mine.
Kimberly, Utah, July 3.
G. H. Pidd, who has the contract for driving the tun-
nel on the Golden Treasure M. & M. Co. 's property at
Gold mountain, south of Kimberly, reports that the tun-
nel is in 300 feet and at a vertical depth of 150 feet. The
company has over 5000 feet to run on the lead before
reaching the claims included in the Golden Treasure.
Salt Lake County.
Manager Cates of the Boston Con., at Bingham, has
started work on two new tunnels, designed to develop
the porphyry ground. One of these is on the Metropol-
itan claim. On the Ben Hur another tunnel has been
started. These tunnels, with the Teck tunnel and other
workings, will prospect the porphyry at depth. The
Teck tunnel is in 850 feet and is going forward at the
rate of 180 feet a month. At the Little Eddie Man-
ager McCarrick has completed a raise to the hanging
wall, a distance of 22 feet.
Utah County.
The activity in prospecting and opening up mineral
claims in the mountains east of Provo continues. Wood-
ward Bros., who have contracts on the Buckley mine, in
Rock canyon, and the Tidal Wave, between Provo and
Springville, are working both properties. In the Buck-
ley mine the upper tunnel has passed through a 10-foot
horse of lime and opened up chlorides and crystallized
lead. The winze to connect the upper and lower tunnels
is down 105 feet. When connection is made shipments
will be resumed, the ore being dropped from the upper
to the lower tunnel, in which manner it can be handled
to much greater advantage than by taking it out through
the upper tunnel. The tunnel on the Tidal Wave
claim is in 180 feet. The Moore Bros, of Provo are
opening up a vein of gray copper on the north of the
Tidal Wave, and the Red Rose, on the south, has a show-
ing of red oxide of copper. B. F. Smith of Thistle re-
ports work being done on atvein of low-grade ore on land
belonging to him.
July 8, 19U5.
Mining and Scientific Press.
35
WASHINGTON.
-ii.iiM.i.H-i County.
Operations have been resumed at the Forty-five mine,
near Silverton, after an idleness of four years because of
litigation. It is stated that the Pinkhams of Boston
have bonded the property to Eastern capitalists; that
$50,000 is to be spent in improved equipment, including a
compressor, and in development work, and that an elec-
tric line 24 miles in length, from Sultan on the Great
Northern Railroad, and a large concentrator are to be
built if conditions justify. Lee & Stoess of Seattle have
charge. The Packard M. Co. is putting a 2-drill com-
pressor on its Kantoul proporty at Monte Cristo. The
first shipment of 40 tons from the Sidney mine, Mum.
Cristo, has arrived at the Everett smelter. P. W. Pea-
body has charge.
WYOMING.
Carbon County.
The smelter of the Penn-Wyoming Copper Co. at En-
campment has been started aftor several months spent
in overhauling the reduction works. There are forty-
five men on the tramway, which has also been put in
readiness for the delivery of 500 tons of ore per day.
The capacity of the crushing department has been
doubled by the addition of a new crusher, together with
a new system of screens and classifiers. It is capable of
crushing to a J inch mesh 500 tons of coarse ore per day.
By means of elevators, the crushed ore is put through
screens, oversize being taken up and returned to be
recrushed. From the screens the ore is again elevated
to the rolls floor, where it is put through four large sets
of rolls and pulverized finer. This product is then el-
evated and passed into the new Hancock jig. This year
the company intends to keep both furnaces in blast and
the converters running at the same time, treating 500
tons of ore and making about 30,000 pounds of copper
per day. In circulars the Penn-Wyoming Co. is send-
ing out, the company outlines a plan for the erection of
a concentrating plant capable of handling 1000 tons of
ore daily at a point between Dillon and the Ferris-Hag-
garty.
FOREIGN.
AUSTRALIA.
In the Castlemaine district there are said to be
twenty-four dredgers, employing between 500 and 600
men. At one place the orchardists are obtaining per-
mission from a local company to run the slime from the
settling pits over the gardens, it being found a very use-
ful fertilizer. In the plant put up by the Yarronru Co.
it is proposed to carry the dirt into a large box well by
the ordinary sluicing process, after which it will be
■ taken by buckets to a raised concentrating table. Be-
fore reaching the table the material is refined by a griz-
zly, together with a system of revolving screen and fine
gratings. It is claimed that the system is rendered
necessary by the amount of pyrites and concentrates in
the material to be handled.
CANADA.
BRITISH COLUMBIA.
lfiast Kootenay District.
The new 30-drill air compressor for the St. Eugene, at
Moyie, has been put in. The Aurora mine, near
Moyie, has been bonded to W. Mackay and R. Wilson of
Portland. John Sullivan of Portland will be the man-
ager.
Boundary District.
For the week ending July 1 the Boundary ore ship-
ments were: Granby mines to Granby smelter, 12,680
tons; Mother Lode to British Columbia copper smelter,
2200 tons: Mountain Rose to British Columbia copper
smelter, 358 tons; Emma to Nelson smelter, 187 tons;
Oro Denoro to Granby smelter, 132 tons; Skylark to
Granby smelter, 30 tons; total for week, 16,578 tons; for
year, 459,421 tons. Boundary smelters treated the fol-
lowing tonnage this week: Granby smelter, 12,940 tons;
British Columbia copper smelter, 3965 tons; total for
week, 16,905 tons; for the year, 470,850 tons.
Granby 's two new furnaces at Greenwood are expected
to be ready for service soon. When they are blown in!
they will enlarge the capacity of the plant 40%, and the
management believes that they will make possible an in-
crease of 50% in the company's copper production and
net earnings. At present Grauby is making an average
of 1,300,000 pounds of copper and earning $80,000 net
monthly. Its copper is costing, all expenses of refining,
selling, management, taxes, etc., included, between 8 and
9 cents per pound. One month recently the cost figured
8.03 cents per pound. It is the intention of the manage-
ment to ultimately increase Granby !s production to 5000
tons of ore daily. The Granby vein is 700 feet wide, and
is a self-fluxing smelting ore. The ability to handle this
ore — including mining, transportation, smelting, con-
verting, refining, selling and management — for $3.50 to
$3.75 per ton has already been demonstrated. As the ore
yields about twenty-six pounds of fine copper and $1.75 in
gold and silver to the ton, it has a present average value
of about $5.50 per ton.
Slocan District.
In the Ainsworth district, at the Krao, Manager
Wheeler has increased the force at the mine and is put-
ting up buildings. The United mine, near Ainsworth,
has been pumped out by zinc-ore men, and sampling and
analysis is now in progress. The returns from a re-
cent shipment of 21 h tons of silver-lead ore from the
Whitewater, at Whitewater, averaged 110 ounces silver
and 45% lead. The Slocan Star mill, near Sandon, is
crushing 25 tons of zinc ore daily. Good progress is
being made at the mine, and the mill is working smoothly.
Water is plentiful, and the large tonnage of concentrating
ores on hand will keep the mill working to its full ca-
pacity. The Slocan Star is owned and operated by the
Byron N. White1 Co. of Milwaukee, Wis., with O. V.
White manager at Sandon. The mine has been opened
up by five levels, all entered by crosscut tunnels. Chas.
Culver has charge of the mill.
Vancouver Island.
It is reported that all the mines of the Western Fuel
Co. on Vancouver island will be closed down. The issue
between the miners and company has been shifted and
from now on it will be a fight for recognition of the
union. Owing to the refusal of Superintendent Stockett
to receive a committee from the union, the workers in
the company's mine at Brechin laid down their tools and
walked out June 30.
CENTRAL AMERICA.
Consul-General Lee, at Panama, has notified the State
Department of the passage of a resolution by the council
of Republic of Panama, holding that all mines, whether
found under the surface of private property or not, be-
longed to the government of the Republic.
MEXICO.
Zinc ores are but little known in Mexico; at least, in
the shape of calamine, though blende abounds in all the
minirg region; but the heavy expense necessary for its
exploitation has thus far prevented the extraction of the
metal on any considerable scale. In the mining dis-
tricts of Xochiapulco and Xochitlan, in the State of Pu-
ebla, blende is often found. Taxco, in Guerrero, con-
tains blende in large quantities, mixed with argentifer-
ous ores, which compound also occurs in Mazapil, Som-
brerete, and Plateros, in Zacatecas, whose rich deposits
justify the working for zinc, apart from the silver con-
tained in them. In the Remedios, Jalisco, there are
beds that might be profitably worked, and in Comanja,
of the same State, blende forms the main component of
argentiferous lodes.
Chihuahua.
(Special Correspondence). — The Sierra de Almoloya,
half way between Jimenez and Parral, are a Cretaceous
limestone, with a northeast and southweBt trend. The
faulting and fracturing of the range have produced large
caves, in which the ores are found, the values appa-
rently having been leached out higher up in the moun-
tain by the continual seepage of water through the lime,
and redeposited in their concentrated form below. On
the largest fault plane wThich passes through the moun-
tain are' the San Enrique, Cigarrero and Iguana mines.
The ores are similar to those of Santa Eulalia, but carry
a larger quantity of iron and are much richer in silver
and gold.
While the output of the Sierra de Almoloya is com-
paratively recent, yet in the early seventies the old
Spanish adobe smelters, in treating the lead-silver ores
of Parral and Santa Barbara, found ' in this range low-
grade surface ores containing a high percentage of iron
and manganese, which they used for fluxing, transport-
ing the ore over 40 miles on burros. With the passing
of these primitive smelters the range was neglected until
recently a 300-foot shaft has been sunk on the Cigarrero
and crosscut run, which has opened up lead carbonate
carrying silver and gold. East of the Cigarrero. and on
the same fault plane, the San Enrique mine contains
outcrop of copper, iron and galena. There are two
shafts and four tunnels. West of the Cigarrero, and
under the same management as the San Enrique, is the
Perro Colorado, upon which six shafts have been sunk
and one tunnel run. East of the Perro Colorado the
Iguana is shipping two carloads of high-grade ore daily.
Three shafts are being sunk on the Baja California
mine, at the western end of the range, and at a depth of
15 meters oto has been struck carrying silver, gold and
30% lead. Ore has been shipped from the Hercules,
Huerfano, Zacatecas, Mina de Agua and Chihuahua
mines, while the development of the San Juan and Nico-
las Bravo properties, at the western end of the range,
shows that with depth the value and quantity of ore
increase. On the southern side of the mountain the
Julietta mine is shipping ore containing neither lead nor
silver, but which averages three ounces gold to the ton.
The La Fragua has shipped high grade ore. The cop-
per in the deeper workings indicate that with depth the
Sierra de Almoloya will develop into a great copper pro-
ducer.
Baca, July 1.
B. W. Bourne of Los Otates has sold the La Cruz and
Santa Nino gold-silver mines at Los Otates to Boston
people, represented by J. Swayne.
Durango.
The most important Mexican tin mines are in the
Coneto region, 36 miles south of Inde, near the Sierra
of San Francisco. The predominating formation is cal-
careous trachyte, and the beds, which are of vast extent,
if properly worked, could not fail to give large returns,
the ores yielding 35% to 75% of metal, most of them in
the form of oxides. In the Sierra Bacaria is found, also
in trachytic rock, tin ore associated with arsenic, bis-
muth, iron and tungsten, candying from 18% to 23% of
metal.
Guanajuato.
Tin is found in the Guanajuato district, at Mesa de
Moreno, Cacachilas, Cerro Macho, Estanera, Rancho,
Estrada, Mesa Encina, and Presa Arroyo in Allende,
and in Jaralillo and Estancia in the district of San
Felipe. Most of the metal found in Guanajuato is rarely
appearing in veins.
Jalisco.
The tunnel to cut the veins of the mines of the San
Pedro Analco M. Co., 20 miles from Hostotipaquillo, has
been commenced. It will be 11,375 feet in length, and
will be 10 feet high and 6J feet wide. The veins will be
cut at a depth of 2000 feet, and the tunnel will provide
drainage as well as transportation facilities.
Sonora.
The San Rafael C. M. Co. has been formed to work
the San Rafael mines, 16 miles northeast of Hermosillo.
T. E. Monteverde Jr. of Hermosillo is president; H. J.
Smith, cashier of the Banco de Sonora, is secretary and
treasurer. A. H. McKay of Santa Barbara, Cal., is
interested. It is stated that the concern will build two
reverberatory furnaces at the mines.
The chief coal region of Sonora is 100 miles from the
River Yaqui, and forms an oblong basin surrounded by
mountains, in which devonian and Silurian formations
predominate. This basin has neither valley nor plains
within it, but the ground presents elevations, within
which the coal layers overlay a stretch of country nearly
7000 square miles in extent. The first of these layers ap-
pears on the Soyapa river stretching toward the south,
to the left margin of the Yaqua river, which cuts it in
its course; it then traverses Tomichi, Oantos and Moba,
running to the southwest as far as Buenavista. Coal
beds succeeding each other are visible in all the glens
near La Barranca, overlaying the fells as far as the town
of Cuaqui. The eastern brows of the Pilares ridge show
coal measures of different dimensions, more or less de-
composed in the exterior. Within the carboniferous
belt there are deposits of gold, silver, copper, iron and
other metals. The metalliferous formations reach to a
depth of from 200 to 600 feet, where the primitive car-
boniferous layers appear, which, as a formation anterior
to the rocks carrying the ores, cause all traces of the
latter to be entirely lost. The coal in this part of Sonora
is known as anthracite, but noted for the absence of
sulphides and such other minerals as detract from the
quality of the Pennsylvania coal fields, iron and lime
being the only foreign substances which it contains.
Coal has been known to exist in these regions for thirty
years.
At the Chicago mine, between San Javier and San
Antonio de la Auerta, the Chicago & Sonora M. Co. are
working forty men and operating their 4-stamp mill
upon high-grade gold ore.
Teplc.
J. B. Mulhall and R. C. Hawley are developing mines
near Amatlan de Canas, and are shipping ore to the
smelters. A tramway is to be built from the mines to
the Mexican Central Railway in San Marcos, Jalisco.
Vera Cruz.
Platinum is said to be found in Zorra, Ixtatetla and
Huastequillo.
■8 *
*
'erson
al.
*
*
3******** ***************** ********** <i
B. S. Revett has returned to Denver, Colo.
J. P. Channing is examining mines at Ely, Nev.
J. Nagle is superintendent Vega M. Co., nearGabilan,
Sonora, Mexico.
J. A. Clarke of Keystone, S. D., has been on a busi-
ness trip to Michigan.
W. V. Rice has returned to Salt Lake City, Utah,
from a visit to Montreal, Canada.
E. A. Weinberg is examining tin mines at Herber-
ton and Irvinebank, North Queensland.
A. F. Wuensch has resumed his practice as mining
engineer at 414 Exchange Bldg., Denver, Colo.
F. J. Toussaint has returned to La Chumata mine,
Arizpe district, Sonora, Mexico, from Milwaukee.
O. B. Amsden, superintendent Clover Leaf mine, has
returned to Roubaix, S. D., from an Eastern trip.
W. M. Lewis has been appointed resident manager
St. Paul & Colorado M. Co., near Georgetown, Colo.
Rhoades Fisher, Jr., has been appointed a member
of the engineering staff of the Juragua M. Co., Fersneza,
Cuba.
Chas. Lawton has resigned as superintendent Bing-
ham Con. mines, at Bingham, Utah, to return to
Michigan.
M. G. Estabeook of Boston, Mass., has been at Jop-
lin, Mo., looking after the interests of the Amalgamated
Zinc & Lead Co.
W. F. Snyder has returned to Salt Lake City, Utah,
after examining the Western Exploration Co. 's mines in
Shasta county, Cal.
Wm. Davey, formerly superintendent Yampa mines,
near Bingham, Utah, is practicing as mining engineer at
Salt Lake City, Utah.
Herbert Haas has resigned as. superintendent Great
Western Gold Co., Shasta county, Cal., and will open
offices in San Francisco.
J. K. Brunner, vice-president and general manager
Golfo de Oro G. M. Co., has returned from Colorado
Springs to La Dura, Sonora, Mexico.
W. F. V. Young of England has succeeded Thomas
Clearage as manager of the dredger on Gold creek,
Mont., 30 miles northwest of Basin.
H. H. Nicholson has resigned as professor of chem-
istry and director of the School of Mines and Metallurgy,
University of Nebraska, and will, henceforth, devote his
entire time to his mining business.
Victor G. Hills has been appointed consulting engi-
neer and general manager of the Colorado Tungsten Cor-
poration, a Pittsburg, Pa., company, operating wolfram-
ite veins in Boulder county, Colo., mines at Nederland,
Colo., and mill at Boulder, Colo. Charles P. Oliver,
former superintendent of Dead Pine mine at Cripple
Creek, goes as superintendent of the mine at Nederland.
D. J. Badger, formerly in charge of the concentration
tables department of the Standard mill at Colorado City,
Colo., becomes superintendent of the mill at Boulder.
W. A. Stadelman, Eastern agent Wellman-Seaver-
Morgan Co., and who has been in charge of the East-
ern office at 42 Broadway, New York City, has been
appointed general sales agent of the same company, with
headquarters at Cleveland, O., taking effect July 1.
Fred Stadelman has been appointed assistant manager of
the New York office Wellman-Seaver-Morgan Co. Harry
V. Croll, M. E., formerly with E. P. Allis Co. and their
successors, Allis-Chalmers Co., of Chicago, has resigned
and accepted a position with Wellman-Seaver-Morgan
Co. of Cleveland, O.
36
Mining and Scientific Press.
Jolt 8, 1905.
e***'**,fc*>fc<l>***** ************* *********
Books Received. f
I *
" Forest Conditions in the Gila River Forest Reserve,
New Mexico," by T. F. Rixon, are described in Profes-
sional Paper No. 39.
Professional Paper No. 35 of the Dnited States Geo-
logical Survey gives the "Geology of the Perry Basin in
Southeastern Maine," by G. O. Smith and D. White.
As extracts from "Mineral Resources of the United
States for 1904," the United States Geological Survey
has issued, "The Production of Bismuth in 1904" and
"The Production of Fluorspar and Cryolite in 1904."
"The Copper Mines of Lake Superior," 160 pages,
Jvo., is an intelligent and interesting discussion and
description of mining methods in northern Michigan
copper mines. Its author is T. A. Rickard, late
editor of the Engineering and Mining Journal,
a, writer who apparently never touched a subject
that he did not adorn, and whose printed words
are no less noticeable for their technical accuracy than
for the charming literary style that is the delight of his
readers. This fine book will add to his reputation in
both regards. It is to be considered the latest word on
the several subjects of which it treats, and as such de-
serves cordial commendation.
" Transactions of the Australian Institute of Mining
Engineers," Vol. X, edited by A. S. Kenyon, secretary,
Melbourne, Australia. J. W. Gregory has contributed
a masterly paper on "The Mount Lyell Mining Field,
Tasmania, with Some Account of the Geology of Other
Pyritic Ore Bodies." Other papers are: "Prospectuses,"
by President F. D. Powers; "Concentration of Lead
Silver Ores," by V. F. S. Low; " Phosphate Deposits of
Ocean and Pleasant Islands, " by F. D. Powers; "Coal
and Coal Mining in New South Wales," by Thomas Par-
ton; "Method of Timbering at the Mount Rex Tin Mine,
Ben Lomond. Tasmania," by Mark Ireland; "Peck's
Centrifugal Elevator," by W. Peck; "A Portable Assay
Furnace," by J. J. Gillio; "Notes on Sampling," by A.
C. Thomas; "The Career of the Gold Dredge in New
South Wales, " by D. K. Blair; "The Transmission of
Power by Compressed Air in Mines," by R. W. Chap-
man; "The Misplacement of Mining Shafts and Adits in
Victoria," "The Indicators of the Daylesford Gold
Mines, Victoria," "Mining Accounts," by R. N. Kirk-.
********* ************ ***************35
Commercial Paragraphs*
*
*
The S. H. Supply Co., Denver, Colo., report sales of
American air compressors, for which they are the West-
ern agents, to the Bleak House M. & Dev. Co., Eagle
county, Colo., a company in Clear Creek county, Colo.,
and another to Idaho. With each of the above ma-
chines was furnished all additional necessary machinery.
The Santa Fe, Prescott & Phoenix Railroad will be-
come part of a trunk line of the Santa Fe systsm. A
line is being constructed from Wickenburg, Ariz., to the
Colorado river and will be extended to the present main
line of the Santa Fe at Daggett, Cal. The Phosnix &
Eastern Railroad is being extended eastwardly across
Arizona to unite with the Santa Fe line at Silver City,
N. M. Another line will be built at Rincon, N. M., to
San Angelo, Tex., connecting with the Santa Fe line at
Pecos, Tex.
i Smooth-On elastic cement is the latest prepara-
tion of the Smooth-On Mfg. Co. This is an iron elastic
cement prepared in paste form, ready for use. Its ad-
vantages are, that it is metallic and can also be applied
to hot iron, the heat causing it to metallize instantly,
making it invaluable for stopping leaks. Their new
Smooth-On elastic cement instruction book will be sent
free of charge by addressing Smooth-On Mfg. Co., Jer-
sey City, N. J.
Several changes have been recently made in the en-
gineering staff of the Colorado Iron Works Co. of Den-
ver, Colo., a notable one being the transfer of John E.
Rothwell from the main office at 33rd and Wynkoop
streets to the city sales office at 515 17th street, at
which latter place he will have charge. Mr. Rothwell is
well known to the profession through his writings in the
technical press and his work as a mechanical engineer
and metallurgist, chiefly in connection with the barrel
chlorination process. With an experience of over
twenty years in milling and metallurgical operations,
during which time he has designed and built a number
of successful plants in various parts of the country, he
is qualified for the position to which he has been ap-
pointed. The company states that Mr. Rothwell will be
at the service of all who may desire advice or sugges-
tions on milling and metallurgical subjects.
************* ************** **********
*
*
*
Obituary.
«■
J. Waters, a prominent Morenci miner, died June
27th at Morenci, Ariz., from miners' consumption.
F. H. Davis, superintendent Midvale Steel Co. of
Germantown, Pa., died suddenly June 22nd, at Great
Barrington, Mass.
J. E. Doolittle of San Francisco, Cal., died on July
4th, at the Union League Club, in San Francisco, of
heart failure. He was an extensive mine owner and
operator in California, and was a trustee of the Cal-
ifornia State Mining Bureau.
Fred Zeitler, a prominent mining man of Nevada
county, Cal., has been missing for ten days under cir-
cumstances that make it manifest that he is dead.
Searching parties have traversed the entire county with
no result and it is now almost certain that he has per-
ished. Mr. Zeitler was formerly manager Champion
mine, Nevada City, Cal., first vice-president California
Miners' association and superintendent Ziebright mine.
************************* ***********sg
Trade Treatises.
Form 73 A, "Air Lift Pumping," from the Ingersoll-
Sergeant Co., 26 Cortlandt St., New York, has some
happy hints on that subject.
Latest Market Reports.
San Francisco, July 7, 1905.
METALS
Silver. — Per oz., Troy: London, 27d (standard
ounce, 925 fine); New York, bar silver, 58|c, refined (1000
fine); San Francisco, 58|c; Mexican dollars, 47c, San
Francisco; 45Jc, New York.
Copper. — New York: Standard, $15.00; Lake, 1 to 3
casks, $15.00@15.25; Electrolytic, 1 to 3 casks, $15.25;
Casting, 1 to3casks, $14.50@14.75. San Francisco: $16.00.
Mill copper plates, $17.00; bars, 18@24c. London:
£66 spot per ton.
The demand for copper from Asiatic points is reported
dull, but large future purchases are anticipated. The
market remains firm, with no notable change in quota-
tions. The war in the Orient has been a factor in the
copper market, but it is not nearly so important as the
demand for the metal due to the expansion of industrial
activity due to peace and prosperity in other countries.
Lead.— New York, $4.60; Salt Lake City, $3.50; St.
Louis, $4.12£; San Francisco, $3.70, carload lots; 4|c 1000
to 4000 lbs.; pipe 6Jc, sheet 7, bar 5|c; pig, $4.85. Lon-
don: £13 8s 9d f| long ton.
Spelter.— New York, $5.30: St. Louis, $5.70; Lon-
don, £23 17s 6d $ ton; San Francisco, ton lots, 6|c; 100-1>
lots, 7c.
Tin. — New York, pig, $30.65@31.00; San Francisco, ton
lots, 31jc; 500 lbs., 32c; 200 lbs., 32Jc; less, 33£c; bar tin,
fi ft., 35@37Jc. London, £140 2s 6d.
Platinum. — San Francisco, crude, $18.50 Boz.; New
York, ingot, $19.50 $ Troy oz. Platinum ware, 75@82c
ift gram.
Quicksilver.— New York, $39.00@$40.00, large lots;
London, £7 7s 6d; San Francisco, local, $38.00@38.00 $
flask of 75 fts.; Denver, $45.00.
Babbitt Metal. — San Francisco, No. 1, 10c; No.
2, 7c; No. 3, 6Jc; extra, 17Jc; genuine, 32Jc; Eclipse, 35c.
Solder.— Half-and-half, 100-ft. lots, 20.75c; San Fran-
cisco, Plumbers', 100-ft. lots, 17.50c.
Zinc. — Metallic, chemically pure, $ ft., 50c; dust, $ft.,
10c; sulphate, f, ft, .04c.
Nickel.— New York, 55@60c$ft.; ton lots, 40@47c.
Aluminum.— New York, No. 1, 99% pure ingots, 35c;
No. 2, 90%, 31@34c.
Aluminum.— No. 1, 99%, small lots, 37c fl lb.; 100 fts..
35c; 1000 fts. 34c; ton lots and over, 33c, Pittsburg. No,
2, 90%, small lots, 34c; ton lots and over, 31c, Pittsburg.
STRUCTURAL MATERIALS.
Iron. — Pittsburg, Bessemer pig, $15.60; gray forge,
$16.00; San Francisco, bar, 3c ^ ft., 3Jc in small quan-
tities.
STEEL.— Bessemer billets, Pittsburg, $23.00@$23.00;
open hearth billets, $23.00@$23.00; San Francisco, bar,
7c to 12c f, lb.
White Lead. — Per ft., in kegs: 500 fts. and over at
one purchase, per ft., 7fc; less than 500 fts., per ft., 8c;
in 25-ft. tin pails, Jc $ ft. above keg price; in 1 and 5-ft.
tin cans, 100 fts. per case, Jc per ft. above keg price.
Dry Lead. — In bbls., 1 ton and over, 6Je; do. in kegs, 7c.
Lime.— Santa Cruz, $1.25 country, $1.25 city $ bbl.
Cement.— Imported, $2.15@2.65 B bbl.; California,
carload lots, $1.90 f. o. b. at works; small lots, $2.20 fl
bbl. in sacks, 4 sacks to bbl., 5c for each sack returned.
Nails. — This week the basic prices are: Wire, $2.77;
Cut, $3.25. Meanwhile the nominal quotations per keg
(list prices) are: No. 20d to 60d, Wire, $3.35; Cut, $3.55;
lOd to 16d, Wire, $3.45; Cut, $3.35; 8d, Wire, $3.50; Cut,
$3.50; 6d and 7d, Wire, $3.60; Cut, $3.60; 4d and 5d,
Wire, $3.70; Cut, $3.70; 3d, Wire, $3.85; Cut, $3.85; 2d,
Wire, $4.10; Cut, $4.10. Special rates for carload lots.
Lumber.— (Retail): Pine, ordinary sizes, $24.00®
5.00; extra sizes higher; redwood, $28.00@30.00; lath, 4
feet, $4.50@5.00; pickets, $21.00;shingles, $2.50 for No. 1,
and $2.25 for No. 2; shakes, $13.50 for split and $15.00 for
sawed; rustic, $28.00@35.00.
GENERAL SUPPLIES.
Antimony. — New York, Cookson's, 7Jc; Hallett's,
7£c; San Francisco, 1000-ft. lots, 9c; 300@500-ftr. 9Jc;
100-ft. lots, lOJc.
Coal. — San Francisco, coast, yard prices : Welling-
ton, $8.00; Seattle, $6.50; Coos Bay, $5.50; Southfield,
$8.00. Cargo lot, Eastern and foreign: Wallsend, $7.50;
Brymbo, $7.50; Pennsylvania, hd., $14.00; Scotch, $8.00;
Cumberland, $13.00; Cannel, $8.50; Welsh Anthracite,
$13.00; Rock Springs, $8.50, long ton; Colorado Anthra-
cite, $14.00. Coke, $10.50 per ton in bulk, $13.00 in
sacks; Sunnyside, $8.50, long ton.
Powder. — F. o. b. San Francisco : No. 1, 70% nitro-
glycerine, per ft., in carload lots, 15Jc; less than one ton,
17|c. No. 1*, 60%, carload lots, 13Jc; less than one ton,
15Jc. No. 1**, 50%, carload lots, ll|c; less than one ton,
13fe. No. 2, 40%, carload lots, 10c; less than one ton,
12c. No. 2, 35%, carload lots, 9Jc; less than one ton,
lljc. No. 2**, 30%, carload lots, 9c; less than one ton,
lie. Black blasting powder in carload lots, minimum
car 728 kegs, $1.50 per keg; less car lots, $2.00 per keg..
Caps.— 3x, $5.50@6 per 1000; 4x, $6.50@7; 5x, $8@8.50;
Lion, $9@9.50, in lots not less than 1000.
FUSE.— Triple tape, $4.00 per 1000 feet; double tape,
$3.50; single tape, $3.10; Hemp, $2.75; Cement No. 2,
$3.00; Cement No. 1, $2.65, in lots of 3000 and up.
Candles.— Granite 6s, 16 oz., 40s., lie $> set; 14 oz.,
40s., 9ic.
Chemicals.— Cyanide of potassium, 98%-99%, job-
bing, 23@24c f> ft. ; carloads, 23@23£c; in tins, 30c; soda
ash, $2.00 f, 100 fts.; hyposulphite of soda, 3@3}c$ft.;
caustic soda, in drums, 3@3|c <B ft. ; Cal. s. soda, bbls.,
$1.10@1.20fU001bs.; sks., 90c@$1.00; chlorate of pot-
ash, 12@13c; nitrate of potash, 6|@7c; caustic potash,
10c in 40-ft. tins; roll sulphur, 2£@2$c; powdered sul-
phur, 2J@2Jc; flour sulphur, French, 2J@— c; alum,
$2.00@2.25; California refined, lj@2c; sulphide of iron,
8c f, ft. ; copper sulphate, 5i@5fc; chloride of lime, spot,
$2.50@2.75; sulphuric acid, in carboys, 66% B, l|@2c fj
ft. ; nitric acid, carboys, 8c f, ft.
Oils. — Linseed, boiled, bbl., 62c; cs., 67c; raw, bbl.,
60c; cs., 65c; Lucol oil, boiled, bbl., 54c: cs., 59c; raw-
bbl., 52c; cs., 57c. Kerosene — Pearl, per gal., 17£c; As-
tral, 17Jc; Star, 17Jc; Extra Star, 20Jc; Eocene, 19£c;
Elaine, 26c; Water White, in bulk, lie; Mineral Seal,
iron bbls., 18c; wooden bbls., 20Jc; cs., 24c; Mineral
Sperm, cs., 26Jc; Deodorized Stove Gasoline, bulk, 14Jc,
do., cs., 21c; "86° Gasoline, bulk, 25c; do., cs., 31c; 83°
Naphtha or Benzine, deodorized, in bulk, per gal., 12Jc;
do., in cs., 19c; Lard Oil, E. W. S., bbl., 75c; cb., 80c;
Neats-foot Oil, pure, bbl., 63c; cs., 78c; Sperm, crude,
63@68c; Natural White, 68c; Bleached, do., 57c; Whale
Oil, cs., 52@67c.
Borax. — Concentrated, 6@7c $> ft; powdered, 8@10c;
fused, 20@25c; crystal, 7c; calcined, 25c.
Bone Ash.— Extra No. 1, 5@6c $> ft; No. 1, 4@5c.
Litharge.— Pure, in 25-ft. bags, 8@9c f> ft.
Molybdenum.— Best, $2.75 f, ft.
Chromium.— 90% and over, B *>•, 80c.
Uranium.— Oxide, $ ft., $3.50.
Mercury. — Bichloride, fl ft., 77c.
Tungsten.— Best, f, ft., $1.25.
Phosphorus.— American, f, ft., 70c.
Sodium.— Metal, fj ft., 50c.
Bismuth.— Subnitrate, f, ft., $2.10.
Silver.— Chloride, f, oz., 90c@$1.00; nitrate, 55c.
Red Lead. — 500 fts. and over at one purchase, fj ft.
7Jc; less than 500 fts., 8c.
Manganese. — Black oxide, f, ft., 2|@4c.
Magnesium. — Pure, N. Y., $1.60.
Fire Brick. — Domestic, carloads f, 1000, f. o. b., fac-
tory square, $25.00; soap and split, $22.50; arch and
wedge, $27.50; skewback, $30.00; circle, $32.00.
Fire Clay.— Domestic, f> ton 2000 fts. in 125-fb. bags,
double, and dry ground, f. o. b., factory, $8.50.
New Patents.
Dewey, Strong & Co.'s Scientific Press Patent agency, 330
Market street, San Francisco, has official reports of the tollowing
United States patents issued to Pacific Coast inventors :
FOR THE WEEK ENDING JUNE 27, 1905.
793,171.-
793,641.
793 5<12.-
793,342.
793,275.-
793,419.-
793,421.-
793.284.
793,126.-
793,280 •
793.522.-
793,372.
793,587.-
793,528.-
793,381.-
793,451.-
793.141.-
793,207.-
793,209.-
793,385.-
793,312.-
793.225.-
793,4110.-
793,161.-
793,236.-
793,103.-
793 240-
793,473.-
793,248.-
793,118.-
-Chair— A. A. Bartlett, San Francisco.
-Pumping Apparatus— W. W. Belknap, Stockton, Cal.
-Spring Motor— W. J. Bell, Los Angeles, Cal.
-Trousers Creaser— O. Bernard, San Francisco.
-Solar Germicide— I. A Cain, Lompoc, Cal.
-Valve Holder— C O Cole, Bellingham, Wash.
-Door Opener— E. E Combs, San Francisco.
-Roll Paper Printer— J. D. Donovan, San Francisco.
-Stamp Affixes— S. Farmer, Portland, Or.
-Under Reamer— R. S Futhey, Los Angeles, Cal.
-Wrench— L. G. Heal, John Day. Or.
-Vehicle Axle— C. Heilrath, Sacramento, Cal.
-Polishing Machine— A. C. Johnson, Baker City, Or.
-Indicator - H. Kirch, Santa Ros*. Cal.
-Snap Hook— J. C Kortick, San Francisco.
-Display Rack— Lindsav & Burch, Seattle, Wash
-Shoe Polisher— F. E. Marshall, Porterville. Cal.
-Rotary Engine— L. a. Miley, Seattle, Wash.
-Hose Coupling— W. C. C. Miller, Vacaville, Cal.
-Dump Car— A. Mieden, Seattle, Wash.
-Trolley Pole— A. W. Morgan, Long Beach, Cal.
-Vehicle— A. Perisch, Stockton, Cal.
-Rifle Cleaner— G. a. Sachs, Eugene. Or.
-Sewing Machine— A. Sandmeyer, Yakima, Wash.
-Amusement Device— M. L. Schlueter. Oakland, Cal.
-Pipe Coupling— J. Scholtz, San Francisco.
-Disk Plow— G Spaulding, San Francisco.
-Check Register- D. W. Thornton, Sumpter, Or.
-Nut LOCK-Thrift & Louttit. Stockton, Cal.
-Water Heater— Wright & Sager, Seattle, Wash
Notices of Recent Patents.
Among the patents recently obtained through Dewey, Strong &
Co.'s Scientific Press United States and Foreign Patent Agency,
the following are worthy of special mention :
Pumping Apparatus.— No. 793,341. June 27, 1905. William W. Bel-
knap, Stockton, California. This invention relates to a pump-
ing apparatus which is especially designed for raising quantities of
water to a comparatively low elevation and a means for connecting
a horse power with such an apparatus, so that the power may be ap-
plied in a substantially equalized manner to produce a continuous
flow of water. The apparatus consists of the combination of hori-
zontally disposed pump cylinders, a compartment valve chamber
for each cylinder located at one side thereof, and pipes connecting
the separate compartments of the chamber with opposite ends of the
cylinder, a supporting frame, a vertical crank-shaft located on the
frame essentially midway between the cylinders, pistons operab e in
the cylinders and provided with rods, pitmen connecting said rods
with the cranks of the shaft, a socket at the upper end of the shaft,
said socket having an extension or hub portion adapted to receive
the upper end of the shaft and having its opposite portion adapted
to receive the sweep.
Snap Hook.— No. 793,3?l. June 27,1905. John C. Kortick, San
Francisco. This invention relates to an improvement in hooks of
thiit class known as "snap-hooks," and it consists in a novel con-
struction and operation of a tongue or keeper In connection with the
hook. Its object is to provide a hook through which detachable con-
nections are made with harness or other parts, and which it is de-
sired to engage or disengage. It comprises a shank having a rec-
tangular opening, a spring fitting said opening, a keeper having
downturned sides inclosing said opening in the shank, a fulcrum
pin connecting the keeper with the inner side of the shank, said
shank having a portion of its edge curved in an arc concentric with
the pin, and said keeper having its back adapted to move in contact
with said arc when the keeper is opened or closed, and a second pin
carried by the keeper and passing transversely through the shank
and said opening for engaging the spring.
Whole No. 2347.-voNLlTb.ErX3C'
San Francisco, Cal., Saturday, July 15, 1905.
THREE DOLLARS PER ANNUM.
Single Copies, Ten Cenli.
Deep Mines vs. Superficial Deposits.
The term "true fissure vein" has come to be regarded by many as
the synonym of permanency and richness when speaking of a mine. Not-
withstanding the fact that fissure veins do not always continue uninter-
ruptedly to depths which are readily reached by mining operations, and
that they are not always large and rich, still the average miner delights
to believe his vein is a " true fissure," and usually persuades himself that
it is really such. Many fissures are of great continuity, width and rich-
ness. Some of the veins of the California Mother Lode are excellent
types of fissures — rich, large and of great depth. A notable example is
the Eureka vein, at Sutter Creek, worked to a depth of about 2200 feet
and having produced $18,O00,0U0 in gold. Another is the Idaho-Maryland
vein, at Grass Valley, worked to a depth of nearly 2000 feet vertical and
which produced over $25,000,000. The Smuggler - Union of Telluride,
Colo., is another example, and these may be multiplied many times by
others equally characteristic. The Comstock, Nevada, is a series of com-
plex fissures. The Homestake and Treadwell are not fissures, but zones
of fracture and impregnation; and of this type there are examples innu-
merable, showing that the fissure vein alone is not the only type of vein
that Days. The banket on the Rand, in South Africa, is neither a fissure
nor a zone of fracture, but rather a bed of more or less porous rock frag-
ments, water-worn and angular, in which mineral solutions have depos-
ited their gold values.
Without doubt the preference for the fissure vein arises from the idea
of great permanency in longitudinal extent and depth, but more particu-
larly the latter, and the noted examples are pointed out as indicating the
possibilities of all fissure veins.
The question arises: "Are fissure veins the most profitable? " The
answer is each mine must be considered separately, independent of all
others, no two being just alike.
There is no reasoning by analogy when contemplating a vein. A fis-
sure vein may possess every geological characteristic considered essential
to the ideal vein of this type and still lack that most necessary feature —
value. On the other the hand, ordinarily despised "deposit" maybe
limited in extent, wholly superficial and yet immensely profitable while it
lasts. Surely, a flat sheet of ore of definite length, width and depth, the
tonnage of which may be estimated to within a few carloads, and which
pays a handsome profit on each ton, is vastly to be preferred to the " true
fissure vein," with banded structure, clay selvages and smooth striated
walls, but without sufficient value to be profitably worked.
The fissure type of vein must have either a tunnel for drainage and ore
passage or a shaft which renders the ore bodies readily accessible. Capi-
tal must be put into a hoisting plant and into the shaft itself, which alone
involves the expenditure of a greater or less amount of money.
The superficial deposit escapes all this expense. It may be necessary
to strip a quantity of waste which covers the ore ; but generally this
undertaking is not expensive. Mining is carried on in the open air and
little capital is invested in the enterprise, unless operations are carried
on on a very large scale and steam shovels are used. When the latter is
Open Cut Mining in Flat Veins, Black Hills, S. D.
MiNiNfaAND Scientific Press
The Machine Drill in Mining. (See page 38.)
the case, the magnitude of the operations usually
justifies the expense and mining is consequently
cheapened. The accompanying illustration is that of
a fiat sheet of ore being mined in the Black Hills of
South Dakota. The ore occurs in bedded deposits
lying upon or in quartzite, and there are many such
ore deposits there. The formation in which these
deposits are found — the Cambrian chiefly — has been
extensively eroded, and canyons have been cut down
through the flat, once continuous sedimentary beds,
leaving remnants of beds containing the ore, as flat
deposits on the hill tops, between the gulches. In
some cases the ore is covered by superficial debris,
due to disintegration of neighboring higher rocks; in
others there lies on the ore a few feet of sedimentary
beds, or a sheet of intrusive rock. In still other
cases the ore deposits extend down under mountain
masses of rock which have escaped erosion. In
these underground mining is carried on in the usual
manner.
The superficial deposits, however, are mostly read-
ily accessible and are mined as shown in the accom-
panying illustration, or operations are conducted on
a larger scale by the benching system — thousands of
tons of ore being blasted down by one series of holes,
and the broken ore lifted into cars by means of steam
shovels. By this latter method the cost of mining
and handling is reduced to a minimum, and a profit
is made on ores containing less than $5 per ton.
36
Mining and Scientific Press.
July 15, 1905.
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
ESTABLISHED i860.
Published Every Saturday at 330 Market Street, San Francisco, Cal.
Telephone, Davis 771.
ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION.
United States, Mexico and Canada K 00
All Other Countries in the Postal Union 5 00
Entered at the San Francisco Postoffice as second-class mail matter.
Branch Offices:
New York City, 720 Park Row Bldg. Boston, 27 School St.
Chicago, 1164 Monadnoek Block. Denver, 606 Mack Block.
J. F. HAILORAN Publisher
SAN FRANCISCO, JULY 15, 1905.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
ILLUSTRATIONS: Page.
The Machine Drill in Mining 35
Open Cut Mining in Flat Veins, Black Hills, S. D 35
The Hercules Mine, Near Burke, Idaho 39
Automatic Bucket Dumping Device 40
Plan of Mount Lyell Mine, N. S. W., Showing Shape of Pyritic
Ore Bodies 41
Front Elevation of Concentrating Mill 43
Side Elevation of 3600-Ton Concentrating Mill .44-45
Plan of Concentrating Mill 46
EDITORIAL:
Deep Mines vs. Superficial Deposits 35
Drilling Contests Held 36
Hobbies of the Miner 36
The Copper Mines of Mount Lyell, Tasmania 36
Discovery of Ore Deposit Through Medium of Baseball 36
An Unsolved Metallurgical Problem in the Black Hills, S. D 36
Fire at Goldfleld, Nev 36
MINING SUMMARY 48-48-50-51
LATEST MARKET REPORTS 18K
MISCELLANEOUS:
Concentrates 37
The Machine Drill in Mining 38
The Mint and the Miner 39
Ore Deposits of the Cceur d'Alene, Idaho 39
Automatic Bucket Dumping Devices 40
The Prospector 40
The Ore Deposits of Mount Lyell 40-41
Mining and Metallurgical Patents 42
Concentration of Silver-Lead Ores 44-45
Personal 47
Books Received 47
Trade Treatises 47
Commercial Paragraphs 18W
Obituary 18i4
New Patents 18!4
Notices of Recent Patents 18H
THRILLING contests have been held recently —
*-^ mostly at Fourth of July celebrations — through-
out the mining regions of the West, and some very
good work done by the expert steel polishers. A
review of these performances shows in some instances
a surprising discrepancy in the inches drilled in the
time — fifteen minutes. This certainly must represent
something more than the difference in skill between
the men. Ordinarily the drilling is done on a raised
platform, the material being some firm and homo-
geneous rock from the immediate vicinity, granite, if
available, being generally chosen as being the least
likely to present irregularities in structure and hard-
ness; but there is a considerable difference in granite
from various places. Some granite contains a larger
proportion of quartz than others, and generally the
more quartz the greater the hardness. Even solid
quartz is often spoken of as "soft quartz," "hard
quartz," etc., showing that the miner recognizes the
varying degree of facility with which the rock may
be drilled. It is not that the quartz of one mass is
really softer than that of another, but that the
variable structure of the rock is such that some kinds
may be much more readily cut than others, and
so with almost every kind of rock.
A TTENTION was called last week in these col-
•* *■ umns to the very low grade of ore being suc-
cessfully mined and smelted by the Granby Company
at their property in British Columbia, where labor is
paid at about the same rate as in the United States.
Elsewhere herein will be found some interesting data
on the operations of copper mines at Mount Lyell,
Tasmania, where the conditions are somewhat less
favorable than in the western United States. The
low grade of some of the ore treated there is inter-
esting as showing what may be accomplished in
America with low-grade ores. Some of the ore was
so low in grade that hydraulic concentration was im-
practicable and financially a failure, yet this ore was
available in the smelter because it carried the very
necessary silica, which the main masses of ore of the
Mount Lyell mine lack. The description of the ores
and methods of treatment are interesting to all in-
terested in copper problems, and doubtless many
others otherwise engaged can find much of interest
in a perusal of what is being accomplished in distant
regions where there are many disadvantages to
overcome.
Hobbies of the Miner.
There are many prospectors and miners who place
undue importance upon the value of the presence of
some particular rock or mineral. Rich ores of gold,
silver, copper and other metals occur under such a
variety of geological conditions and in or associated
with so many different kinds of rocks and minerals
that it is misleading to place too great dependence
on any particular sort of geological condition or on
the occurrence of any definite mineral. Just at pres-
ent fluorite is eagerly sought, as it is believed by
many to be almost as good as the gold itself. In
Cripple Creek district, Colo., associated with the rich
telluride ores, fluorite is more or less abundant. So
it is in some of the telluride ores of the Black Hills of
South Dakota, and more recently it was found to be
associated with the gold ores of Bullfrog and Gold-
field districts of southern Nevada. The lead fields of
southern Illinois and of Missouri, as well as those of
England and many other places, abound in fluorite.
Fluor is not an uncommon mineral, by any means, and
yet it is to-day receiving more attention than ever
before, not because of its intrinsic value, but because
of its supposed association with gold. A few months
ago "luminescent zincblende " had the call, as it was
supposed to contain large quantities of radium — a
new element of which very little is known as yet,
but which is greatly to be desired, as it is at present
said to be worth several millions of dollars per pound.
Ten years ago the prospector who could find phono-
lite considered his fortune assured, simply because
phonolite was found to occur in Cripple Creek and in
the Black Hills associated with gold ores. There are
mountains of phonolite in Wyoming and in various
other places, and with no trace of gold; but the pros-
pector did not know this, so he earnestly looked for a
dark-colored, hard, fine-grained rock, which would
"give out a ringing sound when struck." Asa re-
sult, fifty different kinds of rock were found to pos-
sess this peculiarly valuable property, and claims
were promptly staked on these numerous " phonolite
belts." In most instances the rocks were siliceous
slates or other dense metamorphic rocks, any of
which would "ring" according to description, but
the gold necessary to complete the prescribed condi-
tions failed to appear.
The miner, it seems, must needs have a hobby, or
some definite object, to stimulate him to activity, and
it might as well be fluorite or radium as anything
else. His eager quest usually results in his rinding
something — gold, silver, copper, borax, or some
other valuable mineral — which he can turn to good
account. He should investigate every rock, every
formation and every possibility. It is a great mis-
take to search for something "just like was found in
some other place," for its duplicate may not exist.
There is such great variation in ore deposits, their
appearance and surrounding conditions, that the
prospector who seeks for a repetition of conditions in
any certain place that he may become familiar with
in another is almost certain to be doomed to disap-
pointment. Some have a strong predilection for
some particular rock or formation, and others have
equally strong prejudices against the occurrence of
certain minerals or geological conditions. The preju-
dice against glassy quartz is almost world wide, and
yet some very rich gold mines have been developed
on veins of quartz almost limpid in its clearness.
Much of the gold-bearing quartz from La Fortuna
mine, in Yuma county, Arizona, was of glassy, trans-
parent character. On Kinkead Flat, near Sonora,
Cal., a vein of almost transparent quartz was rich in
free gold. In mica schist the granular, glassy
quartz, characteristic of the lenses in that kind of
formation, are often rich in gold. Some miners look
with suspicion upon a copper mine where garnet
occurs with the ore. As against this, some of the most
noted and profitable copper mines in the world have
abundance of garnet. Others have " no use " for a
mine or ore deposit capped by basalt or other late
lava. The ore deposit in most cases was formed
ages before the flow of lava covered it, and which
may have come from a vent many miles distant, and
has no connection with the ore deposit whatever.
Great outcrops of milky white quartz are seldom
valuable for their mineral contents, though miles of
such croppings have been located and industriously
developed, but usually without success, and yet there
are exceptions worthy of note. In California there
have been a number of white quartz veins which were
rich in free gold on the surface. The Hite mine, in
Mariposa county, was one of these. There a shoot
of white quartz, 600 feet long and about 4 feet wide,
contained a great deal of visible gold.
To accomplish the best results the prospecting
miner must disabuse his mind of all prejudice, and
search like an inexperienced " tenderfoot " for mineral
deposits. Perhaps this indiscrimination is the reason
why so many valuable mines have been found by inex-
perienced persons. One of the greatest gold mines
of the Southwest was discovered a few years ago by
prospectors who were operating a dry washer. At
noon times they went to the quartz ledge a short
distance above where they were engaged to eat their
lunch. For two weeks or more they daily sat on the
great fortune that awaited them before they realized
what it was. The prospecting miner must be a care-
ful observer. Every reef of rocks, hard or soft;
every mineral stain; every condition, either strange
or ordinary, should be investigated and carefully
tested before deciding that it is worthless. All mines
do not crop up out of the ground like a great wall;
many deposits are in depressions, or in a saddle in
the range of hills. Mineral veins usually carry more
or less sulphides, and these on decomposing usually
cause the country rock to become altered and soft-
ened, and as a result both the vein and the walls being
softer are more easily eroded than the rock at a dis-
tance from the vein, hence the depression. It may
be well to have a hobby, but, while pursuing this
fancy, do not neglect to observe everything that
comes within the range of possible investigation.
A CONTEMPORARY announces the discovery of
a valuable ore deposit through the medium of
the national game, baseball, in an instance where
a player stooped to pick up a ball and discovered a
piece of rich ore. On this discovery he later located
a claim. This is not the first instance where baseball
figured in the discovery of rich ore. On the Iron
Hill mine, at Carbonate, South Dakota, some years
ago, in preparing the ground for baseball, in setting
the home plate, rich chloride ore was found. A
shaft was sunk and a rich though small chimney of
ore was developed. Strangely, although this shoot
of ore went down 300 feet or more, it scarcely
extended beyond the limits of the shaft, being
an excellent example of the pipe or chimney
form of ore deposit. The discovery of the noted
Hidden Fortune mine, near Lead, South Dakota,
was made on a ball field. The spectators of the min-
ers' games used for years to gather on Otto Grantz'
$200,000 worth of gold slugs and watch the progress
of the play, though it is needless to say no one had a
suspicion of the wealth lying a foot or two beneath
them.
THERE still exists in the Black Hills of South
Dakota an unsolved metallurgical problem,
which, as yet, the skill, experience and technical
knowledge of the numerous operators there have been
unable to solve — the treatment of the unoxidized or
so-called blue ores of the Cambrian beds. Years ago
these ores in the oxidized zone presented a most per-
plexing metallurgical proposition. This was success-
fully met by the introduction of the chlorination and
cyanide processes, but the "blue ore" still resists
attempts to gain satisfactory results on the raw
ore. Smelting, of course, treats the ore readily
enough, but as the ore is highly siliceous it is neces-
sary to associate with it large amounts of pyritic
iron or copper ores. The owners of these ore bodies
are still working and experimenting with a view to
finding a cheap method of recovering the values from
these unoxidized ores, and it is not unreasonable to
expect that they may yet be successful in their efforts.
GOLDFIELD, the new mining camp which has
grown up in southern Nevada within the past
year, has not escaped the fate which appears to be
the lot of almost every camp of consequence sooner
or later. Some of the business center of the town
was destroyed by fire a few days since. Houses,
tents, merchandise and everything else combustible
within reach of the flames quickly disappeared. The
usual result follows, and the burned district will be
rebuilt with a more substantial class of structures.
In a region where water is so scarce, fire-proof build,
ings are about the best protection against the fires
for which Western mining camps are famous.
July 15, iyu5.
Mining and Scientific Press.
37
Q
CONCENTRATES.
b : I o
BORIC acid has the composition B (OH)3. This salt
forms with sodium hydroxide the borax of commerce.
It is obtained from colemanite and other borax-bearing-
minerals.
w W V v
When acidulated water or other corrosive liquid
must be raised, but which is destructive to metal
pumps, an air lift can be installed which will raise the
liquid, in the same manner as water.
Platina is chemically the same as platinum, although
the name platina was also applied years ago to what is
now known as Britannia ware, an alloy of tin with vary-
ing proportions of antimony and copper.
By resistance, electrically speaking, is meant some-
thing placed in a circuit for the purpose of opposing or
resisting the passage or flow of the current in the circuit
or branches of the circuit in which it is placed.
W w V W
Undoubtedly an air compressor can be operated in
a mine on the level where the drills are used, running
the compressor by an electric motor. The idea is not
altogether new, but it is not in general use as yet.
Where tail ropes are used in hoisting, as in the
Whiting system, the tail rope is of the same size and
weight for given length as the hoisting rope. It per-
mits a constant weight of load at the winding drum.
w w w W
Where lead is present with gold in the solution in a
chlorination vat, the lead may be first precipitated by
means of sulphuric acid, the lead going down as a
sulphate. The solution is then drawn off and the gold
precipitated separately.
wwww
Only coal and iron are not reserved from railroad
grants. If land within the zone of the railroad grant
can be proven to be mineral before the railroad com-
pany secures patent to the land, it may be set aside for
settlement by citizens of the United States.
The new reef of rich gold ore recently discovered at a
depth of 2200 feet in the Catherine mine, at Bendigo,
Australia, is in old grounds where mines had been
worked since 1861 and which were very rich on the sur-
face. The new strike mills over an ounce to the ton.
W w W w
Copper ores occur in Triassic and Permian rockB in
the form of nodular masses. In most instances, these
ore deposits are not connected in any way with dikes, or
with notable geological disturbances. Copper ores of this
character are found in Utah and Arizona on both sides
of the Grand canyon of the Colorado river.
WW W w
Both turntables and turnplates are used under-
ground. The former is more likely to become clogged
with debris and cause trouble. A good plate is usually
satisfactory, and, if properly laid and provided with
guide corners, will answer every purpose. In dry mines
a good turntable will work better probably than in a
wet level.
It is not always necessary to have a constant maxi-
mum supply of fresh water for milling operations, as
where a limited supply is available the water may be
settled and reused in the mill. The loss from evapora-
tion, absorption, and that carried away in pulp or con-
centrates, is usually between 25% and 50%, the loss being
proportionally greater where the operations are on a
small scale.
An element of danger in working ore deposits by the
room and pillar method is in leaving the same size of pil-
lars in a large deposit as were found to be satisfactory
and safe in a small deposit. A vein 15 feet thick may be
safely worked by leaving pillars of a stated size, but pil-
lars of this size would not, perhaps, sustain the roof of a
deposit 30 feet or more in thickness. The pillar must be
increased in size.
In the application of the cyanide process it is often
economy to provide a large tankage facility and to
increase the time of contact in percolation treatment,
thus getting a higher percentage of extraction at expense
of capital in plant and time of operation. The latter is
rendered inconsiderable by increase of plant, which
makes greater capacity possible. This reduces the cost
of labor, which is not idle.
Herbert Lang says the use of too light and fragile
a fuel, in copper smelting, which is consumed high up in
the furnace, will in every case give rise to a cooling of
the hearth and the formation of incrustations," which
defeat the intentions of the smelter. Then is required
the application of greater heat to rectify the disturb-
ance. This may be done by increasing the percentage
of fuel, more particularly of coke.
Crushing rolls of given size are supposed to have a
definite capacity for crushing ores to a stated size; but
to secure this capacity the rolls must be in charge of an
experienced operator. The most important factor is
the speed of revolution. There is much theoretical data
on the speed of rolls and their work on the same mate-
rial at different speeds; but experience shows some of the
conclusions to be at fault. The capacity of wet crushing
rolls is greater than dry crushing. The proper speed for
rolls of ordinary Bize (24-inch diameter) is ninety revolu-
tions per minute to crush coarse — to J-inch mesh — and
100 to 160 for finer crushing. Rolls of larger diameter
should be run somewhat slower, so as to give the rolls
about the same peripheral speed, which should be for
coarse orushing about 565 feet per minute and for fine
crushing from 650 to 1000 feet per minute..
SVVv
It is needless to throw away old boiler tubes, for in
most cases they are sufficiently good, if the ends be cut
off, to rethread and use for air or water pipe where the
pressure is not too high — say, 100 pounds per square
inch. Much of the scrap iron and waste usually seen
about mines can be utilized in some way if proper care
be given to it. The "graveyard," as such a dump is
called, often has within it hundreds, if not thousands, of
dollars worth of good material, such as axles, iron and
steel plates, old cars and a great variety of odds and
ends cast temporarily aside and often forgotten.
Aneroid barometers may be used in measuring the
depth of mine workings, if a number of trips are made
and the readings taken both going down and coming up.
The average of the readings on several trips will give
approximately the depth of the workings, or the dis-
tance between levels. When using the barometer in
this manner the trips should be made without stoppages
between the points where the distance ib desired.-
Where the mine workings extend below the level of the
sea a special instrument should be used to measure these
minus elevations. Barometers are manufactured which
will measure to 3000 feet below the level of the sea and
read to 1 foot.
(0 Www
The California Code of Civil Procedure, Sec. 1192,
says: "Every building or other improvement * * * *
constructed upon any lands with the knowledge of the
owner, or the person having or claiming any interest
therein, shall be held to have been constructed at the in-
stance of such owner, or person having or claiming any
interest therein, and the interest claimed or owned shall
be subject to any lien filed in accordance with the pro-
visions of this character, unless such owner or person
having or claiming an interest therein, shall, within
three days after he shall have obtained knowledge of the
construction, alteration or repair, or the intended con-
struction, alteration or repair, give notice that he will
not be responsible for the same by posting a notice in
writing to that effect, in some conspicuous place upon
said land, or upon the building, or other improvement
situated thereon."
Some engineers think the size of hoisting ropes gener-
ally used in mines is unnecessarily large, and that
smaller ropes would answer as well. For instance it is
claimed that a rope of f inch diameter has a breaking
strain of 50,000 pounds, while a rope of 1 inch diameter,
costing 70% more, has a breaking strain of 88,000
pounds, and that under ordinary conditions the weight
raised in mine skips, etc., not over 1500 feet in depth, does
not usually exceed five tons, including rope, skip and
load, which is a factor of 5 for safety. The smaller
rope, moreover, admits the employment of smaller
sheaves and drums, being 3£ feet diameter for the -ij inch
rope and 4J feet for the inch rope. The argument is not
unreasonable, but the factor for safety should never be
lower than 5, and a higher factor is preferable. It is
not the usual practice, however, to raise 5-ton loads
with J-inch ropes. Ordinarily the skips do not weigh
above one ton with a load of two tons, and in such cases
the f-inch rope is heavy enough for the work.
The amount of air consumed by a machine drill varies
greatly. Large machines use much more than small
ones, and the speed with which they are operated is also
an important factor. There is usually more or less un-
avoidable leakage on the air line, and also at the cocks,
all of which must be compensated for by the compressor.
It has been theoretically calculated that a drill uses
about 100 cubic feet of free air per minute, but some use
more and others less than this amount. In figuring the
consumption of air by the drills, the compressor must be
taken into consideration, for some compressors have a
much higher efficiency than others. Small air com-
pressors are not nearly so efficient and economical com-
paratively as larger compressors. A small compressor
taking 300 cubic feet of air per minute will not run more
than two drills, while one having a capacity of 3000 cubic
feet of air per minute will keep thirty or more drills sup-
plied with air. This is due to relatively greater losses
from leakage and friction in the smaller plant.
Gold may be precipitated from the terchloride solu-
tion by means of copper sulphide, the gold going down
in metallic form. For ordinary conditions iron sulphate
solution is as good a precipitant as can be found. It is
easily made, inexpensive, and its application is simple.
Hydrogen sulphide (H3S) is also an excellent precipitant,
but precipitates the gold as sulphide (it also precipitates
copper, which is often present in the solution), while the
FeSO , precipitates metallic gold. The sulphide precipi-
tate Bettles more quickly than the metallic gold. Hydro-
gen sulphide requires, considerable apparatus for its
manufacture and application, and the ferrous sulphate
solution requires neither. It may be kept in a wooden
tank having no metal parts or nails. The tank is made
of carefully planed lumber, and Is bound together by ties
of wood, tenons and mortises fitting nicely, the whole
being tightened and kept tight by means of wedges.
Generally there is no machinery whatever in a vat chlo-
rination works where the Plattner process is in use.
Where the material to be treated can be quickly gassed,
and leached, this old-time process is superior to any other.
WW WW
Pitchblende is an ore of uranium and pitchstone is
a volcanic glass. The two terms are not infrequently
confused. Other instances of this confusing similarity
of names is found in chlorite (a magnesium silicate) and
chloride (a union of chlorine, with a base); cyanide (a
combination of cyanogen with an alkali), kyanite (an
aluminous silicate) and syenite (a rock, composed of
orthoclase and hornblende); lazulite (an aluminous phos-
phate) and lazurite (a sodium-aluminum silicate); alas-
kite (a siliceous aplite) and alaskaite (an argentiferous
lead-bismuth sulphide); argentite is silver sulphide (sil-
ver glance) and argentine is lamellar calcite, having a
pearly luster; chrysotile is a fibrous, silky serpentine,
and chrysolite is olivine; chalcodite is a micaceous iron
silicate, incrusting some iron ores, and chalcocite is cop-
per sulphide (copper glance); dioptase is a copper ore
and diopside is calcium-magnesium pyroxene. Many
more examples might be added, but they are not neces-
sary to show how confusing these names of minerals
often are.
WW w V
The discoloration of the mill plates may not be due to
the ore at all, if it contains only iron sulphide and gold
in a quartz gangue. Sometimes the spots on mill plates
are due to the water used in the batteries and not to the
ore. An ore may give no particular trouble in amal-
gamation, the percentage of saving being so high as to
entitle it to be considered a free-milling ore, but the
water from the mine may contain sufficient arsenic or
some other mineral in solution to give a great deal of
trouble to the mill man. An ore occurring on Osborne
hill, Nevada county, Cal., was found very difficult to
treat by the ordinary mill process, at the company's
mill near the mine, and several tons were Bent to a mill
in another part of the district, and a high saving was
made by the ordinary methods of amalgamation and
concentration. This led to an investigation, and it was
learned that the water from the mine had been used in
the test of the company's mill, but that ditch water
from the mountain snows and springs were used at the
other mill. This experience proved that ore may be
free milling while the mine water is detrimental to
amalgamation.
Www V
The grade usually adopted for their sluices by placer
miners is about 6 to 6J inches to the 12-foot box, regard-
less of the width of the sluice. Where there is much
clay the grade is often increased to 8 or 9 inches. The
miner should experiment with the grade of his boxes,
which should be suited to the material. If the grade be
too heavy, not only will the greater amount of debris be
carried out, but also often some gold. Light gravel can
be more readily moved than that in which occurs
abundance of iron and heavy basic rocks. It is best not
to use too much water, as it has a tendency to pack the
sand tightly in the riffles, allowing the gold to pass
over and escape. Where there is a large amount of
cobbles, the quantity of water should be sufficient to
cover the largest of these that a?e shoveled into the
sluice box. If only light grade is obtainable for the
boxes, a greater amount of water is admissible, and vice
versa, a heavy grade may be used where the water sup-
ply is scant. Twenty miners' inches (30 cubic feet per
minute) is generally considered a sluice head under or-
dinary conditions, but, as indicated above, this amount
varies with the change in conditions of grade and char-
acter of gravel.
A laccolith is a mass of igneous rock thrust upward
into sedimentary beds, the force of the intrusion raising
the beds in the form of a flattened dome. Usually the
beds are split at several of their planes of sedimentation
and the molten magma is thrust into these opened
spaces, forming sills or sheets of injected rock. The first
laccoliths to be described extensively were those of the
Henry mountains, in southern Utah, by G. K. Gilbert.
Laccoliths are not of uncommon occurrence; but much
geological importance can be attached to them gen-
erally, as they are very often associated with valuable
ore deposits. The ore deposits of Leadville, Colo., are
directly associated with laccolithic intrusions; so also
are those of Aspen and several other Colorado mining
districts. Eureka, Nov., affords another example, and
all of the ore deposits in the Cambrian and Carboniferous
beds in the northern Black Hills of South Dakota occur
in association with laccoliths. Other intrusive masses
are variously known as stocks, dikes, plugs, etc. A dike
is an elongated mass of igneous rock thrust into any
kind of rock which has a dip nearer the vertical than
horizontal. The dike may conform to the dip of the
strata or may cut across them. It may vary from
less than 1 inch to over 1000 feet or more in width ; but
its length must greatly exceed its width, or it will be
known as a plug or stock. Where an igneous mass is
intruded into sedimentary rocks and lies conformable to
them, but is subsequently lifted by some force, the in-
truded mass is still a sill, as It would be called had it
remained horizontal. A stock is a mass of irregular form,
but approximately circular, as distinguished from the
elongated intrusion or dike.
38
Mining and Scientific Press
July 15, 1905.
The Machine Drill in Mining.*
Written for the Mining and Scientific Pbess.
No one thing has contributed more largely to the
reduction of mining costs than the machine drill.
After centuries of mining by primitive methods, when
the only tools were of wood and stone, iron, and fin-
ally steel, was introduced into mining practice, and
each in its time at once raised the standard of meas-
ure of the miners' capacity to bore into the mountain
side, or to sink far below the surface. The barbar-
ous method of firing a rock face, and then dashing
cold water upon it, to cause disintegration of the
rock, and the final beating of the shattered rock with
stone hammers has long since been a thing of the
past, and the hammer, drill and pick have succeeded
the ancient methods, but the advent of the machine
drill marked the beginning of a new era, almost as
important as the introduction of steel in mining.
Machine drills were first made and used in the
United States, the first machine being introduced in
1838. In that year J. M. and John N. Singer made
some experiments with a machine drill in the Illinois
and Michigan canal, near Chicago. The drill was
patented the following year, and a number of
machines, made under this patent, were used on that
work for about 3 years, so that the first machine
drill to be made and actually operated in the world
was the Singer. Other machines of this make were
used on various large rock excavations in the East-
ern and Middle United States.
From this date forward numerous types of machine
drills made their appearance. One of the first and
most notable departures from the form of the Singer
drill was in the machine made by Couch & Fowle,
who produced a steam-operated drill in which the
drill bar passed through the piston, and which was
alternately drawn backward and thrown forward
against the rock. This machine was not a success,
but it was one of the important steps toward the suc-
cessful machine drill of the day. Messrs. Couch &
Fowle did not agree upon what each considered the
proper construction of a machine drill, and from the
date of the failure of their machine each worked along
the line of his own ideas. One thought the hollow
piston drill the proper form of machine, the other
clung to the idea of a drill solidly fixed to the recipro-
cating piston of the machine. Fowle made a number
of machines, but none of them was a success, as com-
pared with modern machines.
In the work of driving the Mont Cenis tunnel under
the Alps and connecting France and Italy, com-
pressed air was first introduced in the operation of
a machine drill, which was constructed after the
ideas of Fowle, but on somewhat different lines.
When the Hoosac tunnel in Massachusetts was
under construction strenuous efforts were made to
produce a machine drill which would hasten and
cheapen the work. The drill employed in the work
at Mont Cenis was considered, but finally rejected as
being unsuited to the work on the Hoosac. The
patents of Couch were bought and endeavors made to
produce a satisfactory machine having a hollow pis-
ton. The result was known as the Hanson drill.
This drill is described as having a hollow piston
through which the drill bar passed, and which moved
backward and forward with the piston. It was fitted
with a valve motion similar to that of a steam engine.
The rotation of the drill was accomplished by means
of a ratchet and pawl, worked by a spiral device in
the shell of the machine. The machine was very com-
plex and contained 120 pieces. Fully assembled it
weighed nearly 600 pounds. This machine worked
" after a fashion," but was far from satisfactory.
The next important improvement came in the cre-
ation known as the Brooks, Burleigh & Gates ma-
chine. This machine also had a hollow piston, the
drill bar being held in place by a threaded arrange-
ment. The drill had the reciprocal motion of the
piston. The feed was controlled by means of a nut
on the end of the piston rod secured by a union or
coupling device, which was screwed on the piston
rod. One remarkable feature of this drill was that
the area back of the piston was greater than that in
front of it, so that the forward stroke was much
more forcible than the back stroke. In this machine
the piston head had a diameter of 4f inches, and the
diameter of the piston rod was 4 inches at the large
end and 2} inches at the small end, the areas being
12.87 and 4.23 square inches respectively, with a dif-
ference in area of 8.64 square inches. The pressure
at the forward end was not removed, as the pressure
was applied at the rearward end, and the force of
the blow was represented by the difference in area
pressure. The machine worked automatically, and
it ran usually until something broke or became disar-
ranged, when it had to be taken apart. As the
material from which the machines were made was not
of the best, repairs were needed frequently.
The device ready to run weighed 240 pounds and
cost $400. It operated at 200 strokes per minute.
One of these machines performed the unusual feat (at
that time) of running five days without breaking
down. A two days' run without mishap was consid-
ered extraordinary. About forty of these machines
were used on the Hoosac tunnel work at one time,
but it required a procession of workmen to carry
*See illustration front page.
away broken drills and parts of the machine and to
replace them with others. The average life of this
machine is stated to have been about eighty hours.
The machine was finally abandoned as too expensive
and altogether unsatisfactory.
The next machine to claim attention was the Bur-
leigh. This machine, designed by Chas. Burleigh,
was after the Fowle idea, the maker buying the
Fowle patents. In it the idea of the hollow piston
was rejected and the Fowle scheme of a drill attached
directly to the piston head was substituted. The
machine was greatly simplified, the number of parts
reduced, and the best material obtainable was put
into it. So satisfactory did this machine prove upon
trial that for years — from about 1867 — the Burleigh
was the principal rock drill in America, and so famil-
iar did the name "Burleigh" become that it clings
to the machine drill of to-day, and it is no uncommon
thing to hear any kind of a machine percussion drill
referred to as a " Burleigh." The old Burleigh ma-
chine still embodied some of the original ideas, which
have long since been abandoned in machine drill con-
struction.
The machine drill has been further improved from
time to time, and there are now numerous makes of
machine on the market, all of which are good, and it
may be said of this class of mining machinery, as of
some others, that it is difficult to say which is the
best. If the miner — the man behind the machine — is
appealed to for an opinion, he will invariably speak in
favor of the machine with which he is most familiar,
and which he has found, by practice, to give him sat-
isfaction. The next man, while perhaps not decrying
the merits of the machine favored by the first, will
speak of his pet machine in terms as strong as the
other. The fact is that all machine drills now on the
market are good machines, for the simple reason
that a poor machine cannot find ready sale, or use,
by practical men who know what a good machine
should be. There is possibly more difference in the
ideas of miners as to the proper size of machine to
use than in the make of machine itself; but here,
again, comes the personal equation. Undoubtedly
there is a place for the machines of small piston
area, as well as for those of large area. And if this
be true, then there must also be proper places for
machines of intermediate area.
There are those who believe that hand work is
superior to machine drill work. In driving tunnels,
in stoping large ore bodies and in sinking in very hard
ground the machine drill is superior to hand work,
and machine work per foot or ton is generally far less
expensive than hand work. Of course, there is not
much advantage to be gained in using machine drills
in soft ground, or even in that that is fairly easy, for
under such circumstances there is likely to be much
time lost.
Where ground is not very hard, the smaller
machines will generally give better satisfaction, for
they are cheaper in first cost, require less air to
operate, and, as the drill bits are generally smaller,
should, if properly handled, cut as fast as the large
machines. Moreover, drill holes of large diameter
are not required in "easy" ground, as sufficient
powder can be tamped into a hole of small bore to
break the rock.
In stoping small veins, where the walls are not firm
and much waste is consequently made, the matter
requires good judgment. If the ore and walls are
both soft and break down together under machine
drill work, it would probably be advisable tostope by
hand; but this need not influence the use of the drill
in development work, in crosscutting, etc. If the ore
is firm and the walls soft, it may be the better plan
to stope with small machines, and, if the ores does not
make too much fines, the fine waste can be screened
out by passing the broken rock over a grizzly or
through a trommel. If both walls and ore are hard,
the machine drill should prove more economical than
hand work. In large mines there are levels which
justify the use of hand drilling, and other usually
lower levels where the machines can be used to bet-
ter advantage.
There are many engineers who do not agree upon
the general use of machines in shaft sinking, the ad-
vocates of the machine claiming that the speed of
sinking can be increased by using machines and,
therefore, are advisable. Those of contrary opinion
usually admit that the rate of sinking can be in-
creased by employing machines, but that it is at the
same time more expensive than hand sinking. Here
again it is almost entirely a matter for the exercise
of good judgment. In most cases the use of machines
in shaft sinking will be found to possess advantages
over hand sinking.
The relative advisability or advantage of hand and
machine sinking can not always be determined from
a consideration of the actual cost of labor performed
and supplies used per foot of shaft sunk. It is ac-
knowledged that in good hands machines make
greater speed than when the work is done by hand.
It is often the case that large capital is invested in
surface plant and in the purchase of the property it-
self, while production can not be commenced until the
shaft is sunk to the ore body and several levels
opened up in order that extraction may be carried on
upon a scale commensurate with the extent of the
property and capital invested. If this outlay of capi-
tal be no more than half a million dollars, and not
infrequently it is more, the interest on this sum would
be figured at $25,000, at least, per annum, which,
when shaft sinking was progressing at the rate of 100
feet per month by hand work, would mean an interest
charge of $20 per foot. In such a case it would without
doubt be less expensive to use machines to put the
shaft down in as short a time as possible.
Under ordinary conditions the cost per foot for
drilling by hand will range from 30 to 75 cents, while
with machines it is from 5 to 25 cents, averaging
probably 15 cents (including every expense incident
to the work).
In the operation qf a machine drill one of the most
important items of expense is that of repairs, and the
extent to which this feature of the expense account
is swelled depends in a large degree upon the drill
runner — on his ability, carefulness and experience
and in no small degree on his temper If he is pains-
taking and understands that his machine is an engine
and not a mere mass of metal, he will run up a
smaller bill for repairs than the careless, irascible
fellow who thinks the proper thing to do. when the
machine fails to operate to suit him, is to strike it
viciously with a sledge or heavy wrench, or to permit
his assistant to do so. In the first place fitchered
holes are largely the result of careless starting of the
hole, or the machine is not clamped sufficiently tight
upon the bar. Often a fitchered drill will work all
right if the machine runner loosens the clamp bolts
a little, so as to shift the machine slightly, and loosen
the drill. All of these things are learned by expe-
rience.
When about to start to drill a round of holes, the
machine runner should choose a position for his bar
which will admit of drilling as many holes in the
proper places as possible with the one "set up," for
this requires time. The footing and overhead rock,
(or the rock sides) should be as firm as possible, for if
they are not, there will be danger of the machine
loosening the ground by its heavy vibrations. If the
space from head to foot is very much greater than
the length of the bar, a broad, substantial crib of
timbers should be constructed for the foot and a
heavy block put in over head, and the bar tightly
screwed up, when additional security is gained by
driving wedges between the head block and the roof
— or the side walls, as the case may be. For the
safety of the miners, and for the accomplishment of
good work, the bar must be so firmly fixed that there
is no danger whatever of its shifting after drilling has
commenced.
The next thing is to mount the drill on the bar,
(either horizontal or upright). Many miners clamp
the machine directly on the bar. This holds the
machine rigidly in place, but a little more latitude to
operations is afforded by the use of the projecting
arm supplied by the drill manufacturers, and which
is securely clamped to the bar. The arm is mostly
used when the bar is set upright. Bars are fitted
with single or double screws at the foot, for the pur-
pose of tightening the bar. The double screw is pre-
ferable where the bar is long. Bars are made of
various lengths, to be suited to the mine workings.
They range from 5 feet or less to a length of 9 feet.
A bar of more than 9 feet is subjected to too much
vibration for satisfactory work, and if the distance
between rock faces exceeds this greatly, a crib
should be built and a shorter bar used.
In shaft sinking horizontal bars are used — usually
the single screw. In drifting a similar bar is em-
ployed, but most miners prefer the double screw in
large tunnel work, though in railroad tunnels, quar-
ries and similar large rock excavations, where much
benching is done, the tripod is commonly substituted
for the bar. The machine may be operated in any
position, above or under the bar — the position is not
so material as absolute rigidity, and this is impera-
tive, for if the machine shifts after getting well
started the hole may be lost.
In drifting it is not uncommon to place the bar in a
horizontal position near the roof above the dirt
broken down from the last round of holes. This per-
mits the shovelers to remove a large portion of the
broken rock while the upper holes of the next round
are being put in. When the broken rock is all out,
the bar may be shifted to the bottom and the lower
holes drilled. This is only advisable where work on
the drift is being rushed. It is more satisfactory to
have two places on a level where the machine may
be used, so that while the muckers are engaged in
one face the drillers may work in the other. To get
value out of the machine it should be kept employed,
as well as the men who manipulate it. Machine
miners should not be required to muck dirt. It is
cheaper to hire unskilled laborers for this work, as
the machine man usually receives from 25% to 50%
more pay than the mucker.
The rate of progress is something that is carefully
watched by the management, and, as this is the most
essential thing, the conditions under which the machine
is run should be made as favorable as the situation will
admit. If the working place is wet, the miners and
the machine should be protected from falling water
as much as possible. Good air should be supplied in
addition to that coming from the exhaust of the ma-
chine, for the exhaust air is not always pure, by
any means, and is occasionally poisonous, being
charged with carbon dioxide, due to combustion of
oil and dust in the cylinders of the compressor. Con-
veniences for mucking should be provided, such as
laying a shoveling floor before blasting, and every-
July )5, 19U5.
Mining and Scientific Press.
39
thing reasonable done to advance the progress of the
work by making the labor as easy for the workmen
as the circumstances will allow.
Another important factor in the economy of opera-
tions is in the drill bits. Nothing but good steel
should be provided and the bits should be carefully
and thoroughly made, and gauged so that there will
be no difficulty about the several sizes following each
other. In very long holes — over 7 feet — it is not bad
practice to substitute chisel bits for the ordinary
cross ((■) bit generally used in machines. Where the
ground is not too badly fissured they will be found an
advantage in finishing a long hole. The temper of
the drills is of equal importance, and this is a matter
for the drill sharpener to decide. All rock does not
work equally well with the same temper. A drill
tempered bright straw color may be too hard for
very hard rock, the edges of the bits, and sometimes
good-sized pieces of steel chipping off, giving much
trouble in proceeding with the hole. A slightly
darker color may be found to work to better advan-
tage, even if the drills are more quickly dulled. There
will be less loss of steel and less loss of time. The tem-
pering of machine drills is a matter which requires
experience and good judgment. The drills should be
made as hard as the material in which they are work-
ing will admit without chipping. If the steel in heat-
ing is burned, it is economy to cut off the burned end
at once, as it will only give trouble in the mine. The
drill bits should be so forged that immediately back
of the cutting edge they have a slope backward
toward the shank of the drill — this to avoid the drill
sticking in the hole. There is a great difference in
the rate of progress between drills that are properly
forged and tempered and those that are not. An-
other thing, the drill sharpener should see to it that
every drill that leaves his hands is perfectly straight
(a condition in which they are not always returned
from the mine). If a shank be slightly bent it causes
the bit to rotate in a small circle, cutting a larger
hole than necessary, and consequently making slower
progress than it should, and, moreover, there is
greater danger of getting the drill stuck in the hole
when it is well advanced. Sometimes the bit is bent
by the heavy blows of the chuck tender, when the
same thing is likely to occur If a hole that has been
drilled over 4 feet gives much trouble, and a smaller
chisel bit cannot advance it, it had better be discon-
tinued and loaded with the remainder of the series,
and if the drill cannot be withdrawn with a reason-
able amount of pounding and other effort, the drill
had better be left in the hole, to be recovered after
the roupd is fired, for it is an easy matter to lose
from thirty minutes to an hour in the endeavor to
recover a tightly fitchered drill. This means the
time of two men, usually, and costs more to bother
with than the cutting of a new hole.
The machine drill sharpener is a new and very im-
portant factor in the use of the machine drill in mines
and has done much toward cheapening the cost of
work with machines. A large amount of work can
be accomplished with them and there is more unU
formity in the shape of bits, as well as in the gauges,
so that there is no trouble in the bits following.
The Mint and the Miner.
As the information published in the issue of June
24th last under this caption resulted in some corre-
spondence, and as there are those apparently who do
not fully understand the rules of the mint at San
Francisco concerning the purchase of bullion, the fol-
lowing from Superintendent Frank A. Leach of that
mint in response to an inquiry will be of further in-
terest in the matter:
To the Editor: — Your letter of the 3d inst. relative
to the character of bullion subject to refusal for deposit
in the United States Mint received. I think your corre-
spondent is laboring under a misapprehension of facts.
Possibly the paragraph quoted is susceptible to the in-
ference made by him, and if so it is inconsistent with
paragraph 2 of section 1, article 1 of the " General In-
structions and Regulations of the United States Mints
and Assay Offices," which says:
"If the bullion appears to be of less value than $100,
or so base as to be unsuitable for the operations of the
mint, it may be legally refused."
From which you will observe that the matter of re-
jecting bullion is discretionary. We do accept very low-
grade bullion when all the base is copper, and we reject
bullion of much higher fineness when the base is com-
posed of antimony, zinc, bismuth, arsenic or iron. Then
again we are more particular as to the amount of
troublesome base in a large deposit than in a very small
one. Then again we are not so particular in discrimi-
nating against base deposits if we only have a small
amount of that character of bullion on hand, but if, on
the other hand, there should be quite a large run of
baBe bullion, we would be inclined to look after the
character with more care. We endeavor to accept all
offerings of bullion brought to the mint, so as to put the
depositors to as little trouble as possible, but there are
times when it is against the interest of the mint to ac-
cept further amounts of exceedingly base deposit. You
can readily understand why this is so when we recall to
you that in our parting work the process will tolerate a
certain percentage of base. Now the greater amount of
high-grade bullion we have to refine, the greater amount
of base bullion we can receive to go along with the high
grade.
However, the rejection I think your correspondent
refers to was for a different reason. You are probably
aware that we are not allowed to purchase silver bul-
lion— only such silver as may be associated with the gold
in gold bullion. Gold bullion is designated as such only
when there is a greater amount of gold than silver, and
silver bullion is designated as such when the silver pre-
dominates. Thus, a bar might be a little under 500 fine
gold, and would still be classed as silver bullion if the re-
maining parts were all silver, though the gold values
were many times more than the silver.
Frank A. LEACH, Superintendent.
San Francisco, July 5.
Ore Deposits of the Coeur d'Alene,
Idaho.
NUMBER II.
Wrltteu by P. L. Ransomk.
History of Mining Development. — The story of
the opening of the Coeur d'Alene region to mining
enterprise goes back to the year 1842, when a mission
was established by the Jesuits in the beautiful valley
of the St. Joseph river, a navigable stream which
empties into the head of Co?ur d'Alene lake about 5
miles south of the embouchure of the Coeur d'Alene
river. In 1846, however, the mission was moved to
its present site on the latter stream, about 25 miles
from the lake, and for many years Father J. Joset
and missionaries associated with him were the only
white inhabitants in this whole region. The Cosur
d'Alene Indians, about 300 in number, lived chiefly in
the vicinity of the mission.
In 1854 Lieutenant John Mullan, acting under in-
structions from the War Department, began explora-
tions for a wagon road over the Coeur d'Alene
mountains to connect Fort Benton with Fort Walla
Walla. These preparations aroused the hostility of
the Indians, who, after defeating a small force of
the center of population soon shifted to the new town
of Murray.
Although the chief excitement at this time centered
in the rich gold placers near Murray, the lead-silver
veins of the South Fork were beginning to attract
atteution. In 1884 Col. N. R. Wallace had a cabin
and store in the dense grove of cedars that covered
the future site of the town now bearing his
name. His settlement was then known as
Placer Center. At the same time W. B. Heyburn
began work on the Polaris mine, in Polaris gulch.
The Tiger claim, on Canyon creek, was also located
in 1884 by John Carton and Almeda Seymour, who
bonded it to John M. Burke. In 1885 the Tiger mine,
in spite of its comparatively inaccessible position, had
been opened by three tunnels and had about 3000 tons
of lead-silver ore on the dump. Other mines located
in 1884 were the Gold Hunter, Morning and You Like,
near Mullan, and the Black Bear, San Francisco and
Gem of the Mountains (now comprised in the Helena-
Frisco mine), near Gem.
The discovery of the Bunker Hill mine by Philip
O'Rourke and N. S. Kellogg in 1885, and of the Sulli-
van mine by C. Sullivan and J. Goetz, and the evident
existence of large bodies of rich ore in the Tiger,
Poorman, Granite, San Francisco, Morning and other
mines, removed all doubts of the future importance
of the South Fork mines. The opening of the year
1886 was marked by a decided rush from the outside
and from the waning placers of Murray into this new
field, particularly to the settlements of Milo and
Kentucky, now parts of Wardner and Kellogg. Tri-
weekly stages ran from Mission to Wardner^
In 1886 ore from the Bunker Hill and Sullivan
mines was hauled by wagons to Mission, carried by
boat to the outlet of the lake and thence shipped to
Helena, Mont. The ore from Last Chance, Tyler and
Sierra Nevada mines was treated in a new smelter at
The Hercules Mine, Near Burke, Idaho.
regular troops, were subjugated in 1858. In the fol-
lowing year work on the proposed road was begun
under a congressional appropriation, and the task
seems to have been finished in 1861. The new road
crossed from the mouth of the St. Joseph river to the
mission on the Coeur d'Alene river. Thence it fol-
lowed the main stream and south fork to a point
about 3 miles east of the present town of Mullan.
Here it turned south, crossed the divide through the
Sohon or St. Regis Pass, and continued down the St.
Regis de Borgia river, following the route later taken
by the railroad to Missoula.
Roughly constructed as it was, this road, now
familiarly known as the "Old Mullan road,", was for
many years the only line of travel into the region to
whose early development it substantially contributed.
It traversed what afterwards proved to be the most
productive part of the district, but the discovery of
the lead-silver deposits was reserved for a later date.
The first prospecting in the region appears to
have been by Thomas Irwin, who in 18 1 8
located a quartz claim near the Mullan road,
apparently on Elk creek. In the summer of 1879 a
party, including A. J. Prichard, moving northward
from the Mullan road over the Evolution trail, dis-
covered Prichard creek. In 1882 Gellett, another
member of the party, found placer gold and located
a claim on Prichard creek. The first quartz claim
on Prichard creek was the Paymaster, near Little-
field, located by Patrick Flynn on September 2 1 , 1883.
The discoveries of Prichard and Gillett were fol-
lowed by a rush of prospectors to the North Fork
early in 1884, and in May, Eagle City, at the
junction of Eagle and Prichard creeks, had become a
bustling town connected by trail and telegraph with
Belknap, 32 miles away, on the Northern Pacific
Railway. It was soon found, however, that the rich-
est placers lay higher up Prichard creek, partic-
ularly in Dream, Buckskin and Alder gulches, and
Milo. This early attempt at local smelting was soon
abandoned.
In the following year a narrow gauge railroad was
completed by the Coeur d'Alene Railway & Naviga-
tion Co. from Mission to Wardner Junction, at the
mouth of Milo creek. Wardner had now become a
town of 1500 people, while the population of Murray
had fallen to about 1000. There were about 500 in-
habitants at Wallace, and Burke and Mullan were
growing settlements. Probably 100,000 tons of ore
were piled on the dumps of the Canyon creek mines
awaiting means of transportation. The Oregon Rail-
way & Navigation Co. and the Northern Pacific Rail-
way were both striving at this time to secure
entrance to the district.
In April, 1887. the Bunker Hill and Sullivan mines
were sold to S. G. Reed, and in August the Bunker
Hill & Sullivan Mining & Concentrating Co. was or-
ganized. The Poorman, Granite and Morning mines
were also sold at about this time. The completion of
the narrow gauge railroad to Burke in this year
enabled the Canyon creek mines to ship their ore.
Probably over 50,000 tons of lead-silver ore was
mined in 1887, the principal producers being the
Tiger, Bunker Hill & Sullivan, Tyler and Stem-
winder, Last Chance, Sierra Nevada, Poorman and
Granite. The Mammoth and Standard veins were as
yet merely good prospects.
The principal events in 1890 were the completion
into the district of the tracks of the Northern Pacific
Railway and Oregon Railway & Navigation Co., the
partial destruction by fire of Wallace and Wardner,
and the first shipment of rich ore from the Mammoth
mine. The old narrow gauge line was absorbed by the
Oregon Railway & Navigation Co. and its tracks
were replaced by those of standard gauge. Most^of
the larger mines were by this time equipped with
concentrating mills.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
40
Mining and Scientific Press.
July 15, 1905.
Automatic Bucket Dumping Devices.
The employment of automatic dumping skips has
led to various more or less successful attempts to in-
troduce automatic water and ore-dumping devices
where buckets are used. These devices are used
in both vertical and inclined shafts, and are
various in form, some being simple in con-
struction and operation and others more or
less complicated. In a contrivance of this character
simplicity of construction and ease in operation
should not be sacrificed to elaborate design. Two of
the automatic devices are here shown in a series of
sketches. One is for application in inclined shafts,
the other is for use at a vertical shaft.
Of the first a description is scarcely necessary, the
several figures showing the method of operating.
Figs. 1 and 2 show the form of bucket or kibble used
in this instance, though a straight bucket would
probably work as well. Buckets which are smaller
top and bottom than at the middle, like the Cornish
kibble here illustrated, or those which are crimped to
mailer diameter at the top, in place of a baDd riveted
s
wheel to the engine house, where it is within easy
reach of the engineer. A counterweight is attached
to the rope, so that it may be readily handled. A
vigorous pull on the rope causes the door to assume
an upright position, when the bucket may be lowered
into the shaft. When the bucket is hoisted above the
top of the door, a jerk on the rope will cause the door
to spring outward over the shaft and to drop upon
the support on the opposite side. The bucket is then
lowered. When sliding downward, the chime at the
bottom catches upon an iron projection placed on
the door and the bucket is overturned into a chute
or bin.
Another arrangement, quite as good as this, if not
better, is in a door which operates in the same man-
ner as that described, but in which the door is pro-
vided with a slot about 3 inches wide. Beneath the
bucket is a short rope or chain attached to the ring
and having a block of wood, about 6x4x8 inches,
secured to the end of the rope or chain. When the
bucket has been raised above the door, a jerk on the
rope in the engine house causes the door to drop
across the shaft, the slot in the door straddling the
short rope. When the cable is slacked the bucket
slides down the door until the block is caught by
the door, being unable to come through the slot.
on to give strength to the bucket, frequently give
trouble in dumping by the rock jamming in the mouth
of the bucket. It will be noticed that heavy lugs are
provided on this bucket and placed near the bottom.
This lug does not touch the skids during the passage
up the shaft.
Fig. 3 shows in the shaded portion where the inner
side of the skids are cut away to allow the bucket to
settle lower on the track. When being hoisted higher
the lug droos into the notch provided for it, which
should be of iron, and then, upon the rope being
slacked, the bucket dumps automatically by gravity.
The engineer hoists, the lug rises out of the notch,
pushes the latch aside, and when the rope is slacked
the bucket descends, the lug being carried over the
notch by the latch, as shown in the sketch Fig. 6.
In Fig. 7 is seen the arrangement of inside skids,
the latches and lugs. This device is simple of con-
struction and if properly made operates as satisfac-
torily as any device used for this purpose in inclined
shafts. This arrangement would not be satisfactory
at a vertical shaft.
Fig. 8 shows an automatic dumping device at a
vertical shaft. In this instance a bucket having
straight sides with heavy chimes top and bottom is
used. The lower chime extends 1 inch below the bot-
tom of the bucket, which is concaved somewhat up-
ward to give it additional strength. The bucket has
no lugs and requires none. A door is constructed,
hinged at one side of the shaft, which when closed
will drop across the shaft at an angle of about 45°.
This door is controlled by a rope which passes over a
The bucket overturns and dumps its contents into
the bin or chute. This latter has the advantage
of dumping any shape of bucket and the additional
advantage of permitting the door to be dropped
across the shaft, if desired, when the bucket is below,
the rope passing through the slot in the door.
I THE PROSPECTOR. !
■s *
The "gem" from Baker City, Or., is opal. It is
very ordinary and without value. Opal to command
a good price must be full of fire, of the green, blue,
orange and red tints.
The black specimen from Baker City, Or., is clay
containing a large amount of carbon which burns out
on the application of high heat, leaving a whitish
gray earthy mass which fuses slightly on the edges.
The rocks from Lamar, Colo., are: No. 1 (white
with black spots), a friable sandstone in which the
grains are all of quartz, some of which are angular
with crystal faces, others rounded and water worn,
and still others are sub-angular. The rock presents
the appearance of having been originally cemented
by some easily soluble material, probably calcium
carbonate, but which has since been leached out.
The black spots are apparently manganese and iron
oxide. No. 2 is a fossiliferous limestone. The fossils
are indistinct and can not be determined.
The Ore Deposits of Mount Lyell.*
Written by J. w. Gregory.
The Fahlbands. — The ore deposits of Mount Lyell
consist of two types — (1) mineralized bands of
schist, and (i) great lens-shaped masses of very pure
sulphide ores. Bands of pyritiferous quartzite also
occur in the conglomerate series, and may be re-
garded as of similar origin to the bands of mineralized
schist; but only the latter contain sufficient ore to be
of any economic importance.
The minerals which occur in the bands of mineral-
ized schist are chiefly iron pyrites and fahlore, asso-
ciated with copper pyrites and bornite. These min-
erals are in places loosely disseminated through the
ordinary schist; elsewhere they occur in the siliceous
schists, forming acid copper ores, and some bands of
low-grade material that has hitherto only proved of
value as a flux in smelting the pure pyritic ores of
the great ore bodies.
The mineralized bands are widely spread through
the schists of the Mount Lyell field. Their interest
was recognized by Haber, who identified them as
fahlbands, the most appropriate name for them.
That the term is well applied to them may be seen by
reference to any recent definition. Thus J. F. Kemp
of Columbia University defines fahlbands as " belts of
schists which are impregnated with sulphides, but
not in sufficient amount in the locality where the
name was first applied (Kongsberg, Norway) to be
available for ores." The fahlbands of Mount Lyell
are widely distributed through the schists, but occur
especially along the course of the chief transverse
Fig. 8. Automatic Euckit Damping Device.
faults. As examples may be quoted some ban-Is of
mineralized schist along the North Lyell road to the
west of the North Lyell gap; there is a good repre-
sentative in the ground held by the copper mines of
Mount Lyell West, and near by, on the boundary be-
tween the lease of the same company and the West
Lyell Extended, the strike of the rocks is extremely
confused, probably owing to movements along the
continuation of the fault, which runs along the south-
ern scarp of the North Lyell spur. Another illustra-
tion of the fahlbands occurs south of the haulage, on
the ridge overhanging the Gormanston road, where
some works have been opened in mineralized schists,
in the western end of the lease. The strike of the
rocks immediately to the north of this band is ex-
tremely confused, probably owing to the westward
continuation of the fault, which runs along the north-
ern face of Mount Owen and on the southern bank of
the Linda valley.
The foliation of the schists strikes N. 40° W. The ore
is in bunches, which vary in thickness from 4 feet down
to 1 foot. The bunches are about 6 feet in length,
and they are separated from one another by several
feet of barren country, composed of crushed and
brecciated schist. The ore bunches were traced,
during some prospecting work, 80 feet downward and
30 feet upward; they appear to have been a series of
chimney-like shoots along a fault plane running par-
allel to the country rock. At the upper tunnel the
rocks are the ordinary Lyell schist, separated by
♦Abstract Trans. Aus. Ins. Min. Engrs.
July 15, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
41
bands of quartzitic schist, with a strike of N. 35° W.
At the mouth of the tunnel is a mass of iron pyrites,
separated from the schist by a fault which dips to the
west.
The ore from these workings consists mainly of
pyrites and fahlore; and the average of all the daily
assays taken in the rise along the ore shoot was :
per cent 6.96
on i' U
per ion ii uus
In the ore of further workings the copper averaged
6.02% and 7.34%. The ore is, therefore, for this dis-
trict, high grade, but its Mnall amount and erratic
distribution deprive it of any economic value.
In the next lease to the south, on the hill slope
above the Gormauston road, is a seam of barite in
quartzose schist, the foliation of which trends N. 4o E.
and dips to the northwest. The schists are traversed
by thin lines of pyrites, resembling the pyritic " indi-
cators " of Baliarat. In the same lease there is a
large deposit of mineralized schist well exposed in a
tunnel, going at 55° into the hill at right angles to
the foliation of the schist. The schists here are very
siliceous and contain abundant seams of quartz and
lines of pyrites. At this point there were no bunches
of ore or shoots as at the Reserve tunnel; but
the schists are traversed by many seams and bands
of pyrites. The tunnel was driven 100 feet in length,
and according to Mr. Aaron White, the foreman in
charge of the work, it did not pass half way through
the pyritized rock, which can be traced on the sur-
face for a greater thickness.
The tunnel of the Mount Lyell Reserve Co. on the
left bank of Conglomerate creek, close to the stream,
cess, for the brittle copper pyrites was crushed to a
slime and much of it was lost, while too much of the
iron pyrites remained in the concentrates. The
property of the company was acquired in 1900 by the
Mount Lyell Mining iV Railway Co., which could prof
itably smelt the material as a siliceous flux in con-
junction with its own basic ores.
The metalliferous material is developed as a fahl-
band, and is well shown in the open cut. Its
well-defined western wall trends north 25° west, and
is parallel to the strike of the adjacent schists. The
fahlband is continued below by a band which dips
to the west at an angle of 1 in 2, and was pierced by
a bore put down from a point in the hill slope at the
level of 1482 feet above the sea. The geological rela-
tions of this body have been proved by a tunnel below
the open cut, which has been driven eastward till it
ended against the vertical fault face of the conglom-
erate, which is almost vertical, but has a slight dip
to the west.
An underground extension of the Royal Tharsis ore
body in the lease of the South Tharsis mine has been
proved by a series of drives. The southeastern
"hanging wall drive" followed the hanging wall of
the fahlband for 140 feet, and proved the occurrence
of the metal-bearing flux all along it; and the No. 4
crosscut from this drive passed through 65 feet of
the metal-bearing schist, which is of a satisfactory
grade for that thickness.
The southeastern hanging wall drive, No. 2, from
the Royal Tharsis mine, explored a separate belt of
mineralized schist, which is to the east of the main
belt. This drive crosses the northern boundary of the
South Tharsis lease, and crosses the strike of the
2.21%; silver, .27 ounce, and gold, .027 ounce. The
average composition of the metal-bearing flux of the
Royal Tharsis includes :
Percent.
Slhcn 61.17
Iron 9,94
Alumina in. 44
The Lvki.i. TnARSis Mine.— The Lyell Tharsis
mine lies in the lease adjacent to the North Lyell
mine. The ore body extends into the North Lyell
area, and is now being worked by the amalgamated
company. The mine contains a body of siliceous ore,
which is lenticular in shape, and was about 20 feet
wide in the best part.
The Ore Masses in the Mount Lyell Mine. —
The great masses of sulphide ores are the
source of the wealth of the Mount Lyell field.
There are two main ore bodies. The largest is
that of the Mount Lyell Mining & Railway Co.,
known as the Big mine and as the Iron Blow.
The mine is situated at the height of 1415 feet
above sea level, on the eastern flank of the ridge
of schists which connects the western end of Mount
Lyell to Mount Owen, across the head of the Linda
valley. It is situated to the south of the eastern end
of the haulage, and to the north of the town of Gor-
manston. When first discovered most of the surface
of the ore body was covered by a deposit of gravel
and soil from 12 to 20 feet thick, and supporting a
growth of button grass. In places, especially toward
the northern end, the soil was very shallow and the
water courses had cut down to the ore body, expos-
ing the fresh, unoxidized pyrites. At the southern
end of the ore body, between it and the country
rocks, was a thick ironstone gossan and the hematite
Plan of Mount Lyell Mine, N. S. W., Showing Shape of Pyritic Ore Bodies.
was begun at the outcrop of another fahlband. The
tunnel was driven for more than 60 feet, through
dark-green schists with a strike of N. 30° W. A thin
band of ore was passed through at the mouth of the
tunnel; but no more ore was found within it; and no
effort was made to follow the deposit along the
strike, probably from absence of any sign of its ex-
tension in that direction. The ore is said to have
yielded 4% of copper.
The fahlbands, which are mere pyritized bands of
schist, have so far proved of more scientific and his-
toric interest than of economic importance. Their
discovery in so many localities encouraged the hope
that many great pyrites bodies existed in the dis-
trict. They thus led to the belief that copper ores
are deposited in a series of lodes running contin-
uously north and south across the field. Hitherto
the attempts to work these pyritized seams have
been unprofitable; but there is a more important
series of fahlbands, which have been successfully
worked by the Mount Lyell Mining & Railway Co. as
metal-bearing fluxes. The basic pyritic ores of the
Mount Lyell mine require a siliceous flux, and the
acid ores of the larger fahlbands serve this purpose
and contribute their own copper contents at the
same time.
The South Tharsis Mine..— The South Tharsis
mine is situated three-quarters of a mile to the north
of the Mount Lyell mine, and one-quarter of a mile to
the southwest of the North Lyell. It contains a
band of pyritized schist, which was worked by an
open cut, developed on three benches; and its sub-
terranean extension has been explored by a diamond
drill bore put down to Vhe west of the outcrop. The
mine was worked by a tompany in 1899, which began
the open cut and erectei concentrating works on the
slope below the mine, on one of the tributaries of
Glover creek. The process, however, was not a suc-
metal-bearing schist obliquely for 197 feet.
The South Tharsis, to the end of September, 1902,
yielded 49,287 tons, with an average assay value of
copper, 1.64%; silver, 0.22 ounce, and gold, 0.022
ounce. The variations in the yield may be illus-
trated by the figures for the material worked for the
half-years ending March 31, 1901, March 31, 1902,
and Sept. 30, , 1902, in which the amounts yielded
were, respectively, 8353 tons, 12,779 tons and 17,666
tons, giving an assay value of :
Copper, per cent 1.54 1.67 1.68
Silver, ounce 0.19 0.34 0.34
Gold, ounce 0.019 0.019 0.026
The average composition of the South Tharsis flux
includes :
Per Cent.
Silica 62 67
Iron 8 05
Alumina 12. 17
The Royal Tharsis Mine. — The lease of the Royal
Tharsis mine is immediately to the north of that of
the South Tharsis, and contains an extension of the
same belt of mineralized schist. As, however, the
material has to be obtained by underground work-
ings, it is more expensive to work than that of the
South Tharsis mine. Therefore, though its grade is
somewhat higher, it has been less worked. The
property was acquired by the Mount Lyell Mining &
Railway Co. early in ltiOl, and is developed by three
underground levels.
The Royal Tharsis mine yields a siliceous flux of
schist containing pyrites and chalcopyrite. The mine
yielded up to September, 1902, a total of 2274 tons of
ore, of an assay value of copper, 2 11%; silver, .24
ounce, and gold, 0 23 ounce. For the following half
year before March 31, 190i, it yielded 1403 tons, with
an assay value of copper, 2.04%; silver, .22 ounce,
and gold, .021 ounce. For the following half year it
yielded 871 tons, with an assay value of copper,
of the iron blow. The gossan was composed mainly
of silica, barite and iron oxide, which contained also 15
ounces of silver and 15 dwts. of gold. The pyrites
had been decomposed, and all the copper and most of
the iron removed by leaching. This deposit was long
since removed, and all sign of the surface outcrop is
now destoyed. The ore body trends northwest by
west, and its length on the surface was 800 feet and its
width 200 feet. It is worked by an open cut, by a
series of nine terraces or benches. The present floor
of the excavation, No. 4 bench, is 272 feet below the
original top of the deposit. The ore has now all been
removed above the four uppermost benches. The
excavation at the end of 1901 was oval shaped, 800
feet long, 630 feet wide and 272 feet deep. Beneath
the open cut is a series of underground works, includ-
ing levels Nos. 5-8, by which some masses of rich ore
have been mined, and the size of the ore mass deter-
mined at the successive levels; the further extension
has been tested by diamond drill boring.
The chief facts as to the size and shape of the
Mount Lyell ore mass have been definitely deter-
mined. It is irregularly boat shaped in form, con-
sisting of an elliptical mass, which tapers gradually
downward, and is then cut off below with a rounded
base. Horizontal sections across the ore mass (see
accompanying sketch) are irregularly elliptical, and
the major axis of this ellipse at the various levels is
not always in the same direction. The ore body, in
fact, has undergone an apparent torsion, which is
shown by the table showing the trend of the major
axis at the successive levels :
Length, Width, Trend ot
No Feet. Feet. Major Axis.
3 N. 50 W.
i 660 270 N.43W.
s 510 210 N.45W.
6 510 27C; N. 64 W.
%.'.':'..'.'.','.'.'.... 280 ... N.88W.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
42
Mining and Scientific Press.
July 15, 19U5.
#■&,&&.:!:> djdj<i>*i$j*!l>*** ********************* 35
1 Mining and Metallurgical Patents j
* *
PATENTS ISSUED JULY 4, 1905.
Specially Reported and Hlustrated for the MINING AND
SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
Process op Extracting Copper From Its Ores. —
No. 793,186; G. Gin, Paris, Prance.
Herein described process of treating copper ore
containing iron, consisting in roasting ore, lixiviating
roasted ore with solution of sulphurous acid, heating
resulting solution to temperature sufficiently high to
precipitate iron sulphite and sulphate and decom-
pose cuprosocupric sulphite contained in solution,
then filtering solution, washing precipitate with
water, permitting oxidation of residual sulphate to
form sulphate of iron, and rewashing residue to re-
move such iron sulphate.
Ore Treating Furnace.-
Beam, Denver, Colo.
-No. 793,816; A. M.
In ore treating furnace rotary flue cylinder, con-
nected with stack at one end, other extremity
extending into combustion chamber, circular, station-
ary conduit, extending through combustion chamber
in concentric relation to flue cylinder, one end of con-
duit extending into discharge opening in side of com-
bustion chamber, suitable means for supporting
conduit, ore cylinder, concentrically located inside
and attached to flue cylinder and projecting into
stationary conduit, means for conveying ore through
ore cylinder and into conduit, second flue cylinder
concentrically located inside and attached to ore
cylinder and extending through conduit, its ends pro-
jecting into second combustion chamber and into
smoke chamber, and series of helicoidally arranged
wings secured to portion of central cylinder extend-
ing through conduit.
Roasting Furnace.— No. 794,118; C. H. Repath,
Anaconda, Mont.
In furnace having one or more hearths, central
hollow shaft passing through hearths, structural
members radiating from and passing through walls
of shaft into several hearths, and hollow rabble arms
passed over structural members and supported
thereby.
Roasting Furnace.— No. 793,939; F. Klepetko,
New York, N. Y.
Rabble arm adapted to rotate about fixed axis,
having series of rakes whose depth increases as they
approach axis.
Furnace.— No. 793,938; J. Kirby, Pittsburg, Pa.
Furnace comprising firebox, ore smelting hearth
located adjacent to firebox, collecting basin con-
structed below hearth and having top, means
for removing products from basin, means for
conveying waste products of combustion from furnace
over top down rear end and under bottom of basin
and in direct contact with top, rear wall and bottom
of basin.
Apparatus for Separating Slimes, Etc, From
Metal - Bearing Solutions. — No. 793,720; E. L.
Godbe, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Apparatus of class described comprising tank, re-
voluble drum working therein, filtering medium fixed
to periphery of drum, suction mechanism coacting
with interior of drum, scraping device coacting with
its exterior, and apron depending from scraper ad-
jacent to face of filtering medium and entering tank
to maintain vacuum within drum.
Utilization op Flue Dust. — No. 794,153; C. S.
Price, Westmont, Pa.
Process of utilizing finely divided ore or flue dust
which consists in mixing approximately four parts of
same with one part of clay, sufficient water to make
stiff mass, forming same into plastic and coherent
masses or plastic lumps, and charging lumps into
blast furnace.
Gold Separator and Concentrator. — No. 793,945;
R. T. Marshall, Merion Station, Pa.
Machine of class described comprising plurality of
pans, each of which is provided with inclined bottom,
with semicircular hopper discharging onto bottom,
and with spout projecting into hopper of next adja-
cent pan, lip projecting inward from hopper, and
spout, and amalgam plates carried by hopper lip and
first pan of series.
Mine Door Operating Device
Bailey, Mount Hope, W. Va.
-No. 793,813; S. T.
Mechanism of class described, combination with
door, of train-operated members arranged on oppo-
site sides of door, means for transmitting movement
from both members to door, and means for holding
door in open position and rendering both transmit-
ting means inoperative after door opening movement
of either member until entire car or train has passed
beyond operating means.
Car Door Lock.— No. 793,663; C. O. Johnson,
Lanse, Pa.
In device of class described, combination of mov-
able car body, door therefor, lock means for door
comprising catch pivoted thereto, extension pro-
jected from catch, pivoted hook engaging extension,
tail extending from hook, p voted gravity bar pro-
vided with loop receiving taU aforesaid, weight at
one end of bar, and connectic n secured at one end to
car body and passed throi.gh door and connected
with catch.
July 15, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
43
BACK ELEVATtON OF ore BIN
fRONT ELEVATION Or QBE BIN
- ^■■'~j^"-~'&
^g^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^J^^^^^E^^p^^S^
V&G&£&EPZFC&$P$k,
HALF SECTION ano.viN6 FINE JIGS . WtLFLEYS . ELEVATORS E™
HALF SECTION i»w,« COARSE JIGS. ROLLS t_T POMMELS
T-?^r
VIEW SHOWING SPITZKASTENS . MOTOR PLATFORM &■:
Front Elevation of Concentrating Mill. (See Next Page.)
44
Mining and Scientific Press.
Jdlt 15, 1905.
Concentration of Silver-Lead Ores.*
Written by V. F. S. Low.
The following paper is intended to apply to the con-
centration of the silver-lead ores at Broken Hill, New
South Wales, generally, but more particularly to the
process as applied to the ores in the Block 10 mine.
It is the writer's object to give a few figures which
he found difficult to obtain when first engaging in
practical work. At that time no text-books were at
hand from which it was possible to get sufficient de-
tails for practical working purposes.
It is first supposed that the mine has been
the daily consumption of water for steam and ore
dressing purposes may be taken at 100 to 120 gallons
per ton ore treated. Much of the water is used over
again several times, but there is considerable loss
owing to the amount of water that goes away in the
tailings, slimes, concentrates, etc.
Having satisfactorily arranged the magnitude of
operations to be carried on, the next move is to select
the millsite. The first point to be borne in mind is
that the mill must not be situated on top of the lode,
or in such a position that it will be affected by the ex-
traction of the ore from below. This is a point of
vital interest, as more than one case may now be in-
stanced on the Broken Hill field where the placing of
plant on the surface above or near the lode has led to
return water, of course, must be pumped up again.
Having chosen the millsite, it will next be neces-
sary to determine the position of the storage bins for
crude ore. On the Broken Hill field the crude ore is
generally broken underground to such a size — about
10x8 inches — as can be fed into a No. 5 Gates breaker.
The breaker is sometimes placed at or near the
brace, and here the first reduction takes place, but
the breakers are often contained in the mill building
itself. Where the mill is situated at any distance
from the shaft, the first reduction should take place
at the brace, and care should be taken to have mat-
ters so arranged that the breaker is placed below
the first storage bin instead of above it, as is oc-
casionally the case.
Side Elevation of 36
thoroughly explored and has been found to contain a
lode sufficient in size and quality to warrant the erec-
tion of a concentrating plant. The points then to
determine are:
1. The quantity and cost of water available for
steam making and ore dressing purposes.
2. The most convenient site for the mill.
The capacity of the mill, supposing that the
necessary capital is available, will be governed
mainly by —
(a) The amount of water obtainable at a reason-
able cost.
(b) The size of the ore body.
(c) The rate at which the ore may be mined.
In the generality of cases the water pumped from
the underground workings may be used for ore dress-
ing purposes, but it may be necessary to augment the
juantity from other sources. Generally speaking,
♦ Abstract Trans. Aus. Inst. Min. Engrs.
most disastrous consequences. Even though there j
should be a site on the outcrop ideal in all other
respects, it should be rejected solely on account of its
insecurity.
Having fully determined that the mill must be
situated away from the lode and be out of all danger
of depressions of the surface; surface cracks, or
creeps, the most suitable hill should be selected. In
some cases this may be situated some distance from
the hauling shaft, but it is not advisable to go to a
very great distance. A hill is chosen for the location of
the contemplated mill in order that there shall be no
further lifting of material after the crude ore has I
once been placed in the mill bins. If a good site be
obtainable, matters can be so arranged that the
work of transporting all material from one stage in
the dressing to the next, until it finally leaves the j
mill in the form of concentrates, slimes, or tailings, |
can be done by gravitation. The only materials then
to be elevated are the re-treatment returns. The I
By tipping directly from the landing brace into the
first bin, the Gates breaker is to a great extent in-
dependent of any temporary stoppages in the haul-
ing arrangements, and the hauling need not neces-
sarily stop on account of any slight derangement of
the Gates breaker. At the foot of these bins, which
should hold at least eight hours' ore supply, there
should be at least one spare breaker beyond actual
requirements, for, if the mill is to be run continuously
day and night, repairs must be made from time to
time to the reducing machinery during working
hours. By having one spare breaker this could be
done without hindrance to the mill supplies.
After the ore has been reduced, by passing through
the Gates breakers, to a size sufficiently small to go
to the rolls, it should pass into small bins of a few
tons capacity from which to be taken and placed in
the mill storage bins at the top of the mill building.
The mill bins should be capable of storing sixteen
hours of ore supplies at the least.
Jdly 15, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
45
Many different classes of rotary breakers are now
in the market, some of which are of good and others
of inferior design. It is unnecessary to go into any
details of these machines, as full information can be
obtained from trade catalogues. The main features
to be observed when ordering a breaker are:
(1.) That the bearings are well protected from
dust.
(2.) That where hard material, such as rhodonite,
has to be crushed, it is best to use a solid brass ec-
centric. The eccentric usually supplied is made of
steel or cast iron with babbitted wearing faces and is
unsuitable for crushing the hardest materials.
With regard to the crushing of ore, the mill
engineer should lay down for himself the following
sections that each section is totally independent of
the others. By this means it is possible for the
whole process of concentration to go on in one part
of the mill while the rest of the mill is idle. In the
older form of mill, in which this used not to be the
case, much loss was sustained, as an interruption to
one part of the mill often meant the stopping of all
machinery for a considerable period.
Where the mill is arranged in sections, each sec-
tion will probably consist of rolls, trommels, coarse
jigs, fine jigs, ball mill, slime tables, vanners, spitz-
kasten, and the necessary elevators, pumps, etc.
On leaving the bins the ore for each section passes
through a conical trommel about 6 feet long and 3
feet in diameter at the large end and 2 feet in diame-
force of 25 H. P. Such material as has passed
through each set of rolls goes to two parallel trom-
mels, t> feet in length and 22 inches in diameter.
These trommels make twenty revolutions per minute,
are set in an inclination of 1 inch to 1 foot and have
screens composed of 14-gauge iron punched with
round holes 2J millimeters in diameter. Such mate-
rial as is too large to pass through the mesh of the
screen is returned again to the same set of rolls,
while the trommeled material, meeting with the
trommelings from the conical machine, passes to the
hydraulic classifier at the head of the coarse jig.
The hydraulic classifier is a cone-shaped hollow
casting of iron (-inch thick, is 2 feet in diameter at
the base and 2 feet 6 inches deep. The apex of the
Concentrating mil.
rule: "Never feed into a crushing machine material
which is already small enough to pass through it
without further reduction." If this matter is not
attended to extra work is given to the rolls and
crushers, thereby causing unnecessary wear, tear,
delays and excessive sliming. In order to separate
the coarse from the fines, the ore is first of all tipped
over a " grizzly " or grid of inclined steel bars placed
over the first bin. The ore delivered from the brace
having been tipped on to the grizzly, the material
already fine enough to go to the rolls passes between
the bars, and the large material passes to the bins
in readiness for the breakers. The fine material
which has passed through the grizzly goes either
into a separate bin ready for removal to the mill, or
else runs into the same bin as the crushed product
issuing from the breakers.
The ore, having been placed in the mill bins, is now
ready for further reduction and subsequent concen-
tration. An up-to-date mill will be so arranged in
I ter at the small, having a cover made of 14-gauge
iron punched with round holes J-inch diameter. The
trommel, supported on external rollers, makes twelve
revolutions per minute, and about $ H. P. is required
to drive it. The oversize from the trommel is fed to
the rolls, the trommelled material going towards the
jigs.
Many kinds of rolls are in use at the different mills,
but those constructed for the present plant are of the
Cornish type, driven by gear wheels, the gear being
7 to 1. The shells for these rolls are 2 feet 6 inches
in external diameter and have coned centers, bolted
together in such a Way that the shells when worn
may be expeditiously removed. Each pair consists
of a plain roll and a flanged roll into which the plain
one fits. Either manganese or toughened steel is
used for making these shells, which work at the rate
of fifteen revolutions per minute, are capable of
crushing 1000 tons per week from li-inch to J-inch
mesh for average material, and require a driving
cone is placed downwards, and is perforated by two
holes, |-inch diameter, for water inlet, and by one
discharge hole, the stream entering by the inlets
being so regulated that there is always a slight over-
flow at the upper edge of the cone. The feed then
coming in at the top of the classifier meets the rising
flow of water from the inlets; the slimes are then
carried away with the overflow water, the heavier
particles falling into the bottom and finding their
way through the discharge opening on to the head of
the coarse jig.
The jigs are divided into two classes — coarse and
fine. Each coarse jig consists of eight working and
two tailings compartments or divisions — five on each
side — and each working compartment consists of a
hopper with a hutch and separate plunger at the
top. Each hutch is 3 feet 6 inches by 2 feet 6
inches and has a bottom composed of 6-mesh woven
brass wire screening, which rests on cross bars of
iron, and is kept in position by iron grids placed on
46
Mining and Scientific Press.
July 15, 1905.
Plan of Concentrating Mill.
July 15, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
47
top and bolted through to the crossbars. Each
plunger is 3 feet 6 inches long and 14 inches wide, and
has a clack opening in it 2 feet b' inches by 6 inches.
The plunger and hutch being in the same hopper,
which is kept tilled with water, and being separated
at the top only by a wooden partition, any motion
given to the water by the plunger is communicated
to the material resting on the sieve. The object in
having a clack and clackway in the plunger, instead
of having the plunger solid, is that there shall be as
little downward suction in the hutches as possible,
and that the water shall have, as far as possible, a
quick upward motion and a slow return. In this way
ore particles are allowed to settle, more or less,
according to their specific gravities, the denser par-
ticles passing through the ragging and sieve into the
hopper below, the less dense being carried forward
on to the next hutch. In this way the gangue even-
tually finds its way over the end of the fourth hutch
and is removed to the tailings dump. The plunger
clack is a pine board loosely bolted to the bottom of
the plunger, from which it has a clearance of 8 inch
on the upward stroke. The use of a clack on the
plunger does away with much of the classification
which would otherwise be necessary before jigging.
Each plunger of the coarse jigs makes 180 pulsations
per minute, and each jig, requiring 2 H. P. driving
force, is capable of treating 6 or 7 tons of ore per
hour. The discharge of products from the hoppers
goes on continuously, material Nos. 1 and 2 being
carried away to bins for final shipping to the smelt-
ers, that from Nos. 3 and 4 to undergo further crush-
ing and re-treatment in the fine jigs. No. 5 is taken
to the tailings dump.
The re-crushing of material from the last two
hutches of the coarse jigs to 20 to 25 mesh is done in
Krupp ball mills which make 30 revolutions per minute
and require 8 to 10 H. P. for motive force. The ma-
terial leaving the ball mill passes through a system of
classification at the head of the fine jigs similar
to that which took place at the head of the coarse
jigs.
The fine jigs are the same in principle as the coarse,
but are run at a speed of 200 vibrations or strokes
per minute. The hutches and plungers are smaller —
3 feet 4 inches by 24 inches and 3 feet 4 inches by 12
inches respectively — but their number is the same,
viz., 5 of each on each side of the jig. About \i
H. P. is required to drive each jig having a capacity
of about 4.5 tons per hour. Each fine jig has to deal
with about 60% of the crude material which had, in
the first place, been sent to the coarse jigs. The ma-
terial discharged from the first two hoppers of the fine
jigs, i. e.," from hutches 1 and 2 on each side, is sent to
the shipping product bins, while that from hoppers 3
and 4 is returned to the jig after having again passed
through the ball mills. The material from the fifth
compartment is sent to the zinc middlings dump.
The fines and slimes from the classifiers at the
heads of the coarse and fine jigs are settled in spitz-
kasten, the coarser material being treated on Wil-
fley tables, the finer flowing away, and, after further
classification, being treated on belt vanners.
In the mill under consideration no middle product
is returned to any table over which it has already
passed, and, therefore, the return launder and eleva-
tor on the Wilfiey table have been dispensed with.
The Wilfley table is run at a speed of 220 to
240 vibrations per minute and has a capacity of
about 1 ton per hour for material up to 30-mesh. If,
however, the material is from 30 mesh down to
slimes, the capacity is lessened to about l ton per
hour. About J H. P. is required for driving a fully
loaded Wilfley. Krupp tables, very similar in action
to the Wilfleys, are also to be used, but all the finer
slime work is to be done on belt vanners.
The spitzkasten used for classifying the slimes are
generally made of timber planks about 2 inches
thick, and have dimensions after the following pro-
portions:
Length, top 15 feet, bottom 10 feet.
Depth, 2 feet 1 inch at head, sloping to 4 feet 8
inches.
Breadth, 2 feet 8 inches at top, widening to 7 feet
1 inch at the end.
Two different kinds of elevators are used for ele-
vating returned material, viz., raff wheels and eleva-
tors. The raff wheels are 14 feet in diameter and
make fifteen revolutions per minute. A good form of
elevator is one having buckets 7x5x5 inches bolted to
a belt 8 inches wide at a distance 15 inches from each
other. The driving is done from above by cog wheels
geared at 3 to 1, the bucket belt passing around drums
2 feet in diameter, top and bottom, and having a
speed of 250 feet per minute. A good slope for ele-
vators is about 80°.
As regards the quantity of water in circulation, it
is estimated that for every ton undergoing treatment
1500 gallons of water are in use in the mill at the
same time. The loss of water, as has already been
stated, is estimated at 100 to 120 gallons per ton of
ore treated. The mill circulating tanks, which are
placed at sufficient height for all mill purposes, are
generally made cylindrical in form, and composed of
iron, the thickness of which, of course, is in propor-
tion to the depth of the tank. Other separate sets
of tanks are used for settling the slime from the
water before the latter is pumped back to the mill
circulating tanks. The slime settlers are generally
rectangular in plan and have a sloping bottom. They
may be made of iron, timber or masonry. The tanks
are fitted on the lower side with suitable discharging
doors and launders for periodically carrying away
the slimes.
For a mill capable of treating 4000 tons per week,
and laid out in four independent sections, the follow-
ing horse power would be required:
2 Oaten breakers 4u H. P. each— total so H. P.
1 feed rolls 1
l Cornish rolls I
4 trommels \ d0 "• r- 1J0 H. 1 .
B parallel trommels I
i ooarse jigs 2 H. P. each— total BH.P.
1 tine jigs m H. 1> each— total 15 H. P.
4 Wllrlcy tallies X H. P. each— total 3 H. P.
4 ball mills 10 H. P. each— total 10 H. P.
2 Krupp tallies and 21 vanners 15 H. P.
4 elevators s H. P. each -total 20 H. P.
5 slime pumps 2 H. P. each— total 10 H. P
I water circulating pump 26 H. P.
1 water circulating pump Ill H. 1*.
1 water circulating pump 1 H. P.
The above list corresponds closely in most respects
with that of the machinery to be installed in the new
Block 10 ore dressing mill, the motive power of which
will be electricity throughout, thus making a new
departure as far as the Broken Hill field is con-
cerned.
A mill arranged as above will probably give from
each ton of crude ore 20% of concentrates, 20% of
jig tailings, 7% of fine slimes, 7% of vanner tailings
and 45% of zinc middlings.
A most important and yet very difficult matter in
connection with milling operations is the sampling of
the crude ore and mill products and by-products.
The practice of " working back " for assay values is
one which should be discountenanced in all milling
operations. By "working back" is meant the cal-
culation of the assay value of the crude ore from the
values of the mill products which have been obtained
by sampling and subsequent assay. For instance,
the weight of the crude ore is known, as are also the
weight and assay of the concentrates, middlings and
tailings. The assay value of the slimes is known and
the weight calculated. Prom these figures an assay
value is calculated for the crude ore, and from this
assumed assay value the recovery of metal contents
is calculated, much, as a rule, to the apparent advan-
tage of the concentrator. The only true and correct
way to calculate the recovery is to take a proper
sample of the crude ore after the first crushing, and
before the ore has in any way come in contact with
the mill water; then, having its correct weight and
the correct weight and assay of all other material, a
very close approximation of the true state of affairs
can be arrived at. It is true that the recovery as
calculated from week to week varies from the theo-
retical amount, being sometimes above and sometimes
below, but this can only be expected, where large
and varying quantities of material are continuously
in transit. When averaged over a considerable
period — say three months — the quantities come out
very closely if due care has been observed in the
sampling.
(to be continued.)
?? "> "li 'li * -.!' * -!- iV * * -!- 'b rb '.!.' -1? <& 't* ~i? * * & ■& * •& •& * * •$> * * * * & & *b is
* *
I Personal, |
* *
R. W. Purdum, manager Sunnyside mine, is at Roose-
velt, Idaho.
A. C. Carson has charge North Butte Copper Co. at
Butte, Mont.
T. R. Henahen is superintendent Silverton M. Co.,
Silverton, Colo.
R. C. Gemmell is sampling the Utah copper mine at
Bingham, Utah.
Andrew Nooe has resigned as foreman Oneida mine,
near Jackson, Cal.
R. C. Corbus has taken charge Oregon mine, near
Orogrande, Idaho.
J. H. Scont has been appointed manager Bassick
mine at Querida, Colo.
C. Li. Tewksbury is superintendent Wyoming M.
Co., near Kirwin, Wyo.
Adolph Riegels is superintendent American Nettie
mine, near Ouray, Colo.
John H. Mackenzie and M. L. Reqtja are at
their mines at Ely, Nev.
C. C. Barke is manager Rattler mine, near Center-
ville, Shasta county, Cal.
Fred. G. Farish has gone to Parral, Chihuahua,
Mexico, on professional business.
C. V. Turner of Nevada City, Cal., is examining
mines at Bishop, Inyo county, Cal.
G. McM. Ross is in San Francisco from the Union
copper mines at Copperopolis, Cal.
Rich. Trevarthen has been appointed manager
Old Gold mine, Cripple Creek, Colo.
H. C. Bellinger, manager Yampa smelter at Bing-
ham, Utah, has been visiting Butte, Mont.
H. V. Wallace has been appointed manager Som-
breretillo M. Co., near Saric, Sonora, Mex.
W. S. Keith has returned to the Takilma smelter at
Waldo, Oregon, as assistant superintendent.
M. L. Hewitt, manager Cataract Copper M. Co., has
returned to Basin, Mont., from a trip abroad.
M. B. Kerr, E. M. of San Francisco, Cal., has gone to
Inyo county, Cal., to make mine examinations.
Saml. James is superintendent Arcos smelter re-
cently started at Sultepec, State of Mexico, Mex.
Arthur Day of Butte, Mont., has been appointed
superintendent Yampa smelter at Bingham, Utah.
C. P. Oliver has been appointed superintendent
Colorado Tungsten Corporation at Nederland, Colo.
A. H. Elptman of Minneapolis, Minn., has been visit-
ing Thunder Mt., Idaho, and is now at Goldfield, Nev.
T. R. Brooks succeeds F. M. Leland as manager min-
ing department Risdon Iron Works, San Francisco Cal.
D. J. Badiier has been appointed superintendent
Colorado Tungsten Corporation '8 mill at Boulder, Colo.
A. H. Carpenter of Denver, Colo., has been
appointed manager Takilma smelter at Waldo, Oregon.
J. E. Bamberger, president Daly- West M. Co., has
returned to Salt Lake City, Utah, from an Eastern trip.
Nathan Burlingham of Glendale, Cal., has been
examining mines at Mineral Park, near Chloride, Ariz.
B. W. Paxton of Santa Rosa, Cal., is examining the
Texada island iron properties in the Nanalmo district,
B. C.
F. M. Smith has been appointed manager East
Helena smelter, American S. & D. Co., at East Helena,
Mont.
A. J. Muller is again manager Ayeinm mine,
Ashanti Goldfields Co., in the Gold Coast colony, West
Africa.
Louis Dahl of Lewiston, Idaho, has left to take
charge Bangor-Alaska placer mine, Alaska, for the
summer.
Wm. Ball, superintendent Lower Mammoth mine at
Eureka, Utah, has returned to the mine from a trip
through Idaho.
J. R. Yeardsley has been appointed superintendent
milling department Pfau Gold M. & R. Co.'s plant at
Cherry, Ariz.
V. G. Hills has been appointed consulting engineer
Colorado Tungsten Corp., operating wolframite mines at
Nederland, Colo.
H. P. Little of Sandon, B. C, has charge construc-
tion of a concentrator for the East Pacific M. & M. Co.
at Helena, Mont.
J. L. Snyder, who is developing a copper property at
Oro Grande, in the Altar district, Sonora, Mex., is vis-
iting in Los Angeles, Cal.
W. J. Deegan, formerly of Red Lodge, Mont., is su-
perintendent Galena Ridge M. Co. and Shoshone Moun-
tain M. Co. at Kirwin, Wyo.
Robt. M. Raymond, manager El Oro M. & R. Co.,
has returned to El Oro, State of Mexico, Mex., from a
trip to Boston and New York.
J. H. McClarren of Pittsburg, Pa., controlling the
Pittsburg Lead M. Co., is at Wallace, Idaho, superin-
tending mining operations on Nine Mile.
W. C. Miller has been appointed general manager
of all the mines operated by the Federal M. Co. at Ward-
ner, Mace and Burke, Idaho, succeeding E. J. Roberts.
H. C. Whipple has completed the cyanide plant for
the El Oro M. & M. Co., and is now constructing the
120-stamp mill and cyanide plant for the Black Mount M.
Co., Magdalena, Mexico.
H. S. Nulliken has resigned as superintendent
Monterey plant of the American S. & R. Co. to become
metallurgical engineer for the Cia Minora de Penoles, at
Mapimi, Durango, Mex.
E. B. Braden, manager East Helena smelter of the
American S. & R. Co., has been appointed a member of
the executive board of the American Smelters Security
Co. and will be in charge of the Tacoma and the Everett
smelters, and the Selby smelter at San Francisco.
e i& * * "> -4- * ->*->.:• -i: -;? 'J- -!« -!- * * ~h * * * **>-!? * d' 4' -> * * 'i"4"** * * *
» *
I Books Received* |
* *
St (■.*.*, if. if. if. ifnfiif.if.tt ifnf.if.ir. <f *ip.pif.if iti^if sf if ifif .tf.ir.ifif *if ifjt
"Official Proceedings of the Twelfth National Irriga-
tion Congress" held at El Paso, Tex., November, 1904,
compiled by G. E. Mitchell.
Part IV of "Report of Progress of Stream Measure-
ments for 1904, " by M. R. Hall and J. C. Hoy t, gives
data on the Santee, Savannah, Ogeechee and Altamaha
rivers and eastern Gulf of Mexico drainages.
As extracts from "Mineral Resources of the United
States for 1904" the United States Geological Survey
has issued "The Production of Graphite in 1904" and
"The Production of Monazite, Zircon, Gadolinite, and
Columbite or Tantalum Minerals in 1904."
* *
1 Trade Treatises* !
St if .tf, if. if if if if if if iff"*, tf.******* if if if .f if if if if if .fif if if if if*
Bulletin No. 53 from the Crocker-Wheeler Co.,
Ampere, N. J., describes direct current lighting and
power generators.
The Wild crushing mill is elaborately illustrated and
described in a fine pamphlet issued by the S. H. Supply
Co., Denver, Colo.
Catalogue 124 from the Allis-Chalmers Co., Mil-
waukee, Wis., describes the Overstrom concentrator. A
colored plate on page 21 graphically portrays the opera-
tion of the table.
48
Mining and Scientific Press.
July 15, 191)5.
.•1'*^*******************;*******
S mining summary. |
fc***.:.**.;..,--,**** ******** ***************
Specially Compiled and Reported for the MINING AND
SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
ALASKA.
Tin has been found at a number of places in Alaska,
but as yet there has been little production. It has been
found in place in Seward peninsula, at Lost river and
Cape mountain, and is reported from Brooks mountain,
Ears mountain and the Darby mountains. Alluvial de-
posits have been found on Buck creek and Old Glory
creek, and are reported on the Arctic slope north of
Buck creek, on Gold Bottom creek, near Nome, and at
one or two other places. Pebbles of stream tin have
been found in the gold placers of Cleary creek, near
Fairbanks, and miners report it in the gold placers of the
Koyukuk. At Lost river the country rock is a Silurian
limestone, through which is thrust a granite boss about
.! mile in diameter. Quartz-porphyry dikes also cut the
limestones in various places. These dikes are frequently
much kaolinized, and in other places replaced by fluorite,
which sometimes colors the dike violet or purple. The
cassiterite occurs disseminated through the dikes, par-
ticularly in the kaolinized portions, and in veins in the
limestone. Small amounts of tin are also found with
pyrite in the granite. The accompanying minerals are
tourmaline, topaz, fluorite, zinnwaldite, wolframite,
quartz, epidote, garnet, chalcopyrite, iron pyrites and
galena. About ten tons of ore, estimated to carry 10%
to 20% of tin, have been produced. At Cape mountain
cassiterite has been found near the contact of the Car-
boniferous limestone and slates with granite, occurring
in both sedimentaries and granite. The Buck creek
placers occur in a slate country rock, which is probably
underlain at no great depth by granite. The gravel is
nearly all of slate and quartz. Pyrites, hematite and a
small amount of gold are the accompanying minerals.
The cassiterite apparently comes from small stringers
in the slate. During the last two years probably 100
tons of stream tin, carrying 60% tin, have been produced.
ARIZONA.
Cochise Connty.
(Special Correspondence). — An important strike has
been made in the Warren district, in the Shattuck &
Arizona property, in a drift at the 700-foot level. The
Calumet & Arizona at Bisbee has completed putting in
hose carts and hose at the several shafts of the Bonanza
Circle which will afford fire protection.
Bisbee, July 11.
Gila County.
L. P. Rotsler reports of his mine at Dripping Springs,
40 miles from Globe, that rich gold ore has been struck
in a drift from the bottom of the 100-foot shaft. The
owners have decided not to ship any ore, but to resume
sinking. J. M. Frederick and H. S. Buckner have
bonded the Proctor mine on the divide between Mineral
and Pinto creeks, near Globe. The claim is developed
by a tunnel 300 feet long.
Maricopa County
It is reported that a hoist capable of sinking to 1500
feet is to be put in at the new shaft of the Vulture mine,
near Wickenburg. G. E. Sanders and W. B. Troy have
charge.
Mohave Connty.
It is reported that a 60-ton smelter is to be put up at
the Desert Queen mine, near Quartzsite. J. J. Wyatt of
Los Angeles, Cal., is manager and superintendent.
Final Connty.
The Troy-Manhattan C. Co. at Troy have sunk the
Buckeye shaft 375 feet. The company is preparing to
make a smelter run next month, coke being now re-
ceived.
Yavapai Connty.
The Crown King M. Co. at Crown King is concentrat-
ing seventy tons of tailings daily at Crown King.
At Val Verde, the site of the new smelter has been
surveyed and ground is being broken for the foundation
of the smelter. It is expected to have the sampling
works completed by August 15th. The new sampling
works will be operated in connection with the smelter.
There will be two smelters, one for copper and one for
lead ores, with a combined capacity of 800 tons a day.
M. Bradley, superintendent for the Buffalo M. Co. on
Cherry creek, has purchased a gasoline engine, a blower
and 1000 feet of air pipe. The tunnel is in 1000 feet and
will be driven 500 feet more. The values are copper,
gold and silver. S. H. Anderson reports that the
Great Republic shaft, near Cordes, is 578 feet deep.
In the double-handed drilling contest at Prescott, G.
Dahlin and A. Nyberg drilled 30.7 inches in fifteen min-
utes. Dahlin drilled 151 inches in the single-handed
contest.
CALIFORNIA.
The Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce has taken
action toward amelioration of the conditions on the des-
erts of southern California and Nevada which are again
causing the deaths of many prospectors and travelers
from thirst. The Chamber has twice before memorial-
ized the various county governments in which these
deserts are located, in an effort to save the lives of trav-
elers, but so far there has been no action taken. As the
heated season approaches, deaths on the desert' are
again becoming frequent, and within the last two weeks
it is stated that twelve people have perished from thirst.
The secretary was directed to prepare a letter to the
supervisors of Los Angeles, San Diego, San Bernardino,
Riverside, Inyo and Kern counties, in California, and
Lincoln, Nye and Esmeralda counties, in Nevada, calling
attention to the conditions on the desert and the pre-
vious efforts of the Chamber to have remedies provided.
It was also decided to prepare an accurate and complete
map of the desert country for free circulation.
El Dorado Connty.
The Last Chance mine at Coloma is in operation with
seventeen men under the supervision of John Gray of
Jerome, Ariz. It is reported that work has been com-
menced at the Rosencranz mine, near Garden Valley,
under the supervision of W. F. Holland. A new shaft
is to be sunk on the mine and levels run 100 feet apart.
Mariposa County.
J. C. Rhoads of the Grimshaw mine, near Mariposa,
states that sinking and drifting are being done with nine-
teen men. The ore is being milled at the Organita mill.
Nevada County.
Operations have commenced on a claim on Indian
Flat, near Grass Valley, by the Prospecting Co. in
which A. D. Foote, C. E. Clinch, R. Walker, T. Mar-
shall, A. L. Gill, A. Hall and L. P. Larue, all of Grass
Valley, are interested. The 50-foot shaft is being cleaned
out and will be retimbered to the bottom. A. Hall has
charge.
Work has been started at the Banner mine, near Ne-
vada City. The old works will be removed and the new
plant put in. The pumps will commence to lower the
water and it is expected that the 700-foot shaft will be
cleared in a short time.
Placer County.
Superintendent D. M. Ray of the Placer Gravel G. M.
Co. at Last Chance is putting in a gasoline engine to
ventilate the mine.
Shasta County.
Work has been started at the Graham group, near
De Lamar, by A. Rossi. W. F. Arnold is working his
claims at De Lamar.
Sierra County.
Work is to be started at the Rainbow mine, near
Alleghany. The Tightner shaft at Alleghany is down
80 feet. The rich ore is holding out.
Siskiyou County.
The Yreka Creek Dredger Co. has put in a centrifugal
pump below the pit in which the boat was built, 1 mile
north of Yreka, for the purpose of pumping back the
water running out, in order to keep the boat floating
until machinery of same is ready to sink down to bed-
rock. The pump is run by electricity. The machinery
is being placed as rapidly as possible, and it is expected
will be ready for starting August 1st.- The water
supply in the different mining camps is getting short,
owing to the snow disappearing on the highest moun-
tain summits, together with drying up of springs on ac-
count of warm dry weather. The result will be a shut
down in hydraulic and placer mining until cool weather
comes again. Many of the mines have already shut
down.
Sonoma County.
A 5-stamp mill and other machinery is to be put in to
develop a mine in Dry Creek valley, near Santa Rosa,
by A. Lencioni, who claims to have uncovered a ledge
carrying nickel, gold and copper. N. Silva has charge
of the work.
Stanislaus County.
The California & Nevada Ore Co. have contracted to
build an ore testing plant at Oakdale.
Trinity County.
The half-interest owned by Mrs. Phillips of San Fran-
cisco, in the Brown Bear mine, at Deadwood, has been
sold to McDonald Bros., the former owners. The price
paid is said to be $100,000.
Tuolumne Connty.
The hoist, blacksmith shop and mill at the Starr King
mine, 3 miles above Carters, were entirely destroyed by
fire on July 3. The loss is estimated to be $12,000, with
some insurance. At the Confidence mine at Confidence
sixty men are employed. The 20-stamp mill is pounding
continually on ore. Sinking the shaft was resumed on
July 1 at a depth of 810 feet. At the Longfellow mine,
near Big Oak Flat, a raise is being made on the 400-foot
level west from the main drift. Drifting is being done
on the 300 level to the west, and on the 450 and 600 levels
east, all in good ore. The shaft has been enlarged and
retimbered to the bottom of the main shaft — 600 feet.
The ten stamps are dropping. The well at the pumping
station on the creek will be sunk 10 feet and a drift run
to make a larger reservoir for water, and when com-
pleted will furnish plenty of water for use at the mine
and mill.
Stamps are dropping at the Clio mine at Jacksonville
on good ore. The shaft is approaching the 200-foot
level. B. Addis has charge of the Lucky Find, 9 miles
above Confidence. There is a 5-stamp mill on the mine
and a concentrator will be put in.
COLORADO.
Boulder County.
In the double-handed drill contest at Boulder, Collins
and Dopp of Jamestown drilled 33| Inches in fifteen min-
utes, winning $400. In the single-hand contest P. Yockey
drilled 24 inches.
It is reported from Eldora that the Mogul Tunnel will
again start up. A disagreement between the operators
and the tunnel management, as to their respective share
of operating expenses, has been the cause of the shut-
down.
Chaffee County.
In the Turret mining district a graphite deposit is be-
ing developed by the Ethel G. M. Co. of Detroit, Mich.
Samples show the deposit to be amorphous graphite of
good quality. The company is said to be putting up a
mill for concentrating and refining the deposit.
Clear Creek County
The Manda claims, on Douglas mountain, near George-
town, have been sold to Pennsylvania capitalists. The
claims are being developed by a crosscut tunnel, in 150
feet. The new company proposes putting up a 25-ton
mill, in addition to mining machinery. Operations
have been resumed on the Fort Dodge group, on Leav-
enworth mountain, near Georgetown.
Manager J. J. May of the Newhouse tunnel, at Idaho
Springs, says that work will be resumed on the breast of
the big bore during July. It is reported that the tunnel
will be continued ahead several hundred feet, when a
lateral will be driven west which will ultimately connect
with workings of the Old Town mine. For some little time
the management of the Old Town has been making
efforts to secure a right of way for a lateral from the
Newhouse tunnel to the Old Town shaft. The distance
to be driven is nearly 4000 feet, and the lateral will un-
water a number of the best properties in Russell gulch,
as well as permit of their operation at depth. The Old
Town shaft is over 1500 feet in depth on the pitch of the
vein, and the lateral from the Newhouse will cut under-
neath the shaft several hundred feet. It will require
about two years' time to complete the connection, but in
the meanwhile a considerable number of properties in
Russell gulch will be enabled to resume operations which
are now lying idle on account of the water in the mine
workings. The Newhouse tunnel was located Feb. 13,
1891, and actual work was commenced in the fall of 1893.
On Jan. 1, 1894, the machine drills were started. On
Jan. 1, 1905, the breast of the tunnel was 14,570 feet
from the portal, and the estimated cost of the work up to
that time is placed in excess of $390,000, including equip-
ment. The tunnel is 10x10 feet wide, with a double
track, 18-inch gauge, with a space of 30 inches between
the tracks for a distance of about 1400 feet. In the space
between the tracks is a drain box, 14 inches deep by 2
feet in width, that carries the water from the tunnel.
For the first 80 feet from the portal and at points where
veins are cut, timbers have been used, but along the
balance of the tunnel no timbering is required, as the
cut has been made through solid rock. The grade is
uniform — a raise of 5 inches in each 100 feet. From the
1400-foot point the double track size was reduced to 5x7
feet, or single-track tunnel, as this was thought the
most desirable and practical, and this will be maintained
to the proposed terminal in Quartz hill. The average
progress made in the driving has been 200 feet per
month. The power plant consists of three 80 H. P. boil-
ers, two of which aroused at a time, the one as a reserve;
two 16x16 two-stage Norwalk compressors; one 22x24
two-stage Norwalk compressor; one No. 7 Root blower,
driven by a 50 H. P. Atlas engine; one 30 H. P. high-
speed engine connected with a 20 K. W. Westinghouse
500-volt generator; a 16 H. P. Baldwin-Westinghouse
locomotive furnishes the motive power for the transpor-
tation of ore cars from the different properties operated
from the tunnel, handling as many as twenty-five loads'
at a trip. The driving of the tunnel has been under the
supervision of L. Hanchett as manager, with S. A.
KDOwles in personal charge up to a few months ago,
when he left the employ of the company to superintend
the driving of the Government's irrigating tunnel at
Montrose, and J. J. May was placed in charge in his
stead.
The St. Paul M. Co. has resumed development on its
properties near Georgetown. It is expected that a
power plant will be built at the base of Green Lake
mountain and power drills used in driving the crosscut
tunnel. W. L. Smith of Osage City, Kans., has been at
the mine starting work. T. Guanella is superintendent.
Operations have been resumed on the Kingbird
claims on Kelso mountain, near Georgetown, with L.
Anderson in charge. The tunnel is in nearly 300 feet.
The Colorado Central mine has been bonded to F. A.
Mazwell of Georgetown. The Pelican mill of the Dives
Pelican & Seven-Thirty M. Co., near Georgetown, has
started regular work. According to the Georgetown
Courier, the ore from the mine is fed into the crusher
chute, which holds ten tons, and from this it is delivored
to two 10x20 Blake crushers. The ore is crushed to 1J
inches, falling from crushers into a Jeffries pan conveyor
which elevates the ore to top of mill, a distance of 122
feet on its pitch and 90 feet vertical. From pan con-
veyor ore is delivered to a horizontal belt conveyor,
which distributes into the reserve ore bin at top and
back of building. This bin is 52 feet long, 22 feet wide
and 18 feet deep, holding 1000 to 1500 tons, depending
upon the character of the ore. The ore is then fed from
the bottom of this reserve bin through chutes, thence
on to a second horizontal belt conveyor, delivering it
through a Gates feeder, then on to the 16x36 coarse
rolls, which are set to crush to | inch. At this stage
water is added and washes the ore to the bucket mill
elevator, where it is lifted to the first sizing Bcreen of
six mesh, the return from which going to the second set,
or finishing rolls of same size as the coarse rolls. Thence
it passes back to the same bucket elevator and back to
screen. There are four revolving screens, which de-
liver three sizes, 6 to 8 mesh, 8 to 10 mesh and 10 to 18
mesh. Ore passing through 18 mesh is water-sized, thus
giving four sizes, which are treated by eight side-dis-
charge four-compartment jigs; the tailings from which
are delivered to three 5-foot Huntington mills with 20-
mesh screens. The pulp from Huntington mills flows
into two sand pumps, which elevate it to a main dis-
tributing tank, from which it flows into two sets of siz-
ing boxes, four to the set, making four water sizes,
which are treated by seven Wilfley and three Cammet
tables. The mill is driven by seven motors — one a 50
H. P. for crusher, a 50 H. P. for rolls, a 20 H. P. for
jigs, a 20 H. P. for Huntington mills, a 7 H. P. for tables,
a 15 H. P. for pan conveyor, a 5 H. P. for main belt
conveyor, and a 2 H. P. for roll belt conveyor. J. H.
Eaton is general manager. F. Graham is mill man.
Denver County.
A. B. Frenzel has arranged for building a large mill in
Denver to concentrate uranium, vanadium, platinum,
tungsten, molybdenite and other valuable minerals.
Attention will be given to the separation of fine gold,
platinum, osmium and iridium from black sand.
Dolores County.
The continued high price of zinc is encouraging the
United Rico M. Co. to develop all its zinc-bearing prop-
erties, and in addition to the Atlantic Cable the com-
pany will soon commence operations on its Black Hawk,
Yellow Jacket and Futurity groups. The Rico Dolores
M. Co. is arranging to operate its mines at Burns on a
more extensive scale. The Emma G. M. & M. Co. is
shipping concentrates from its mill to Coke Ovens, and
shipments to the Durango branch of the American S. &
R. Co. will be resumed as soon as the road is recon-
structed to Dolores.
Gilpin County.
It is reported that more machinery is to be put on the
Modoc mine on Quartz hill, near Central City, operated
under a lease and bond by the United M. & Ex. Co.
R. Hastie, Jr., of Denver has taken a three years' lease
July 15, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
49
and bond on the Japan mine In Russell district and has
done some sinking. The Penn mill on North Clear
creek, near Central City, has been started up on custom
ores under the management of L. S. Newell, Jr., with
• I. .luhnson as mill foreman. E. C. Holland is experi-
menting with the slimes in the creek from the Penn mill.
Daily shipments amounting to sixty tons are being
made from the Pewabic shaft in Russell district via the
Gilpin tramway to the New York mill at Black Hawk,
which is under lease to the Pewabic Con. M. Co., of
which J. C. Fleschhutz is managor. The Pewabic shaft
Is down over 400 feet, and it is proposed by the company
to sink it down to a depth of 1000 feet, commencing sink-
ing operations soon. They intend to put up a new shaft
building 24x60 feet on the Iron shaft and will build a 36-
foot gallows frame and put In an 80 H. P. gear hoist and
six-drill air compressor. The Iron shaft is about 000
feet deep, and as soon as it is unwatered sinking will be
commenced. The Mont D'Oro M. & M. Co. is operat-
ing in the Quartz Valley district, north of Central City.
E. C. Sherman as manager. The company owns the
New Century, Smuggler and Felix claims and have a
lease and bond on the Delight and Colorado Girl. Oper-
ations are being carried on with tunnel workings. The
main tunnel has been driven on the Delight vein.
At Central City the new Lombard shaft house of the
Yankee Cod. M., M. & T. Co. is ready for operations.
H. I. Seemann of Denver is superintending work.
tiuuulaun County.
The Goldon Islet M. & M. Co., operating the Cortland
mine, in Mclntyre gulch, near Ohio City, is taking out
good ore. The shaft is down 300 feet. The company
has leased the Jersey Blue mill, above Ohio City, and
has been treating the low-grade product for several
weeks. The dump ore runs .28 of an ounce in gold, 14
ounces in silver and 7% lead. Twelve tons are being put
into one and the concentrates have a value of 3.92 ounces
in gold, 101.32 ounces in silver, besides the lead values,
showing a loss of but $1.99 per ton in the tailings.
The Lost Delusion, in Dutch gulch, near Bowerman,
owned by J. Wey, is ready to ship high-grade ore.
E. C. Staller has good ore in the Fraction lode, near
Bowerman. At Bowerman the Eureka, owned and
operated by G. Morris, is showing free gold ore.
Lake County.
Work has been resumed this week on the Applegate
group in Willis gulch, near Twin Lakes, with E. More-
head as manager. The main prospecting tunnel will be
driven to tap the veins located on the surface. B. F.
Magness has started work on the Silver Serpent prop-
erty on Twin Peaks mountains, near Twin LakeB.
At the Bertha mine on Breece hill, Cripple Creek,
preparations are being made to unwater the shaft so
that the lower or sulphide zone can be worked. The
shaft is 530 feet deep with 200 feet of water in it. When
the shaft is unwatered drifting will be started. In the
upper workings the property is shipping twenty-five tons
daily of a good grade of siliceous ore.- The work dur-
ing the winter on the Highland Chief on Breece hill has
been done through a tunnel and shipments have been
steady. Vernier & Shipley have decided to clean out
the old shaft, which iB 225 feet deep, and sink another
lift. On the Curran and Grand Prize, adjoining the
Highland Chief, a tunnel has been driven 500 feet, but
the ore channel has not been found. The lessees have
decided that they are above the ore and will sink a winze,
starting 160 feet from the portal of the tunnel. T. D.
Kyle, leasing on the Fannie Rawlins, iB shipping 100 tons
per month of an excellent grade of siliceous ore.
The Sedalia, in Big Evans gulch, near Leadville, is
sinking the shaft with three shifts to a depth of 950 feet.
The Great Hopes, in Big Evans gulch, will resume
sinking the shaft.
Larimer County. .
At Pearl the Swede mine is being worked under the
management of H. A. Brown. The Zirkel mine at
Pearl is to be started after two years' idleness. The
Big Horn shaft, near Pearl, is being unwatered prepara-
tory to examination and sampling.
Ouray County.
It is reported that the Saratoga mill, near Ironton, is
to be torn down so that a smelter can be put on the site.
W. J. Sawyer has charge of the mill. The Thistle-
down M. & M. Co. intends to put in an electric power
plant and compressor and drills to drive the develop-
ment tunnel on Mount Hayden. M. L. Thistle of
Ouray is manager. The Treasury Tunnel M. & M.
Co. will add twenty stamps to its mill at Red Mountain.
W. J. Hammond is manager.
Saguache County.
Mrs. G. H. Adams has appointed H. A. Lee consulting
engineer of the Baca grant, near Creston, and has de-
cided to open the entire mineral section to lessees. The
Independence mine has a 100-stamp mill which will be
opened to custom work.
San Juan County.
The Gold Tunnel & Railway Co., Wm. Cole superin-
tendent, is working the Highland Mary mine, in Cun-
ningham gulch, near Silverton.
The Bon Homme mine, in Burrows park, near Animas
Porks, is to be worked, since all litigation has been set-
tled. It is reported that men will be put to work during
July and that heavier machinery will replace the pres-
ent equipment.
San Miguel County.
The Smuggler-Union mill at Telluride has seventy
stamps dropping on ore from leasers. The cyanide
plant is treating 175 tons daily. The Black Bear M.
Co. plans to put up a 20-stamp concentration plant on
land near Telluride leased from the Smuggler-Union
Co. A 2J-mile tram from mine to mill will be built.
G. C. Wagner of Telluride is general manager.
Teller County.
(Special Correspondence). — A few years ago the oper-
ators in Cripple Creek district united in building a rail-
road for the transportation of the ores from that dis-
trict to avoid the excessive rates being charged at the
time by the railroad doing business in the camp. Since
then they have, to a certain extent, disposed of their
holdings in the new road. It is now rumored that a
merger has been made with all the roads entering the
district and it is feared that the former excessive rates
will be restored. To overcome thi-i it is understood a
suit is to be instituted against the railroads to prevent
the merger and thereby prevent a raise in the rates.
With the big drainage tunnel to be built and the rail-
road merger a probability, it is not a pleasant situation
for the operators in Cripple Creek to contemplate. But
from the manner in which they have handled their af-
fairs in the past it is believed they will be equal to the
task of settling things satisfactory to themselves.
Cripple Creek, July 11.
Superintendent C. C. Jackson has struck a vein in a
lateral from the bottom of the shaft of the Mary Nevin,
between Beacon and Rosebud hills, Cripple Creek.
Murphy & Co. have discontinued sinking at a depth of
350 feet in the Monte Cristo mine on Beacon hill, Crip-
ple Creek. An air compressor is to be put in at the
Maloney workings of the Empire State by Crowder,
Thompson & Co. of Cripple Creek.
The Fortuna shaft at Victor is to be 6unk 300 feet
deeper. The Fort Pitt Co., working the Sunshine
property on Galena hill, Cripple Creek, will sink the
shaft from the 400 to the 700-foot level. The lessees in
the Battle Mountain of the Rose Nicol Co. of Cripple
Creek are drifting on the 450-foot level.
Lessee W. O. Burnside and associates, who are operat-
ing under lease the Lonaconiog property belonging to
the El Paso Co. on Beacon hill, have opened up a large
body of ore on tho 300-foot level. The Mollie Kath-
leen property on Tenderfoot hill, Cripple Creek, is to be
prospected by H. D. Gortner.
The output for the first six months of 1905 foots up to
$10,858,695. The output by months is as follows:
Tons. Valuation.
January 03,800 91,891,800
February 48,800 1,087,000
March 57,700 1 ,827,080
April 57,000 1,863,300
May 50,115 1,864,215
June 58,500 1,725,200
Totals 345,815 810,858,605
The dividends of the public companies for the first six
months of the year amount to $1,619,540.
The report of Stratton's Independence, Ltd., at Crip-
ple Creek shows how the company has benefited by the
leasing system. The report covers a period from July,
1904, to April, 1905, inclusive, leasing being started last
July. Since that period three dividends have been de-
clared, amounting to £75,000. During the ten months
of operation a total of 42,555 tons were shipped out,
which gave a net profit to the company of £89,967. Be-
sides paying the three dividends, the company has a
balance of cash of £49,600 in the treasury. In the report
it is stated that compared with the results and reports
published for the last financial year the change brought
about under the leasing system inaugurated a year ago
is remarkable. The ore during the ten months has run
a little over two ounces to the ton. The richest ore
came from the upper levels of the mine. Every level
from No. 1 to No. 9, inclusive, produced ore of much
higher grade than heretofore, and this output of ore
has not only been a result of extensions in the old work-
ings, but also from the exploration in fresh ground.
Development work under the supervision of C. M.
Becker from August, 1904, to March, 1905, amounted to
6261 lineal feet. It further states that the sulphide
vein struck in the western portion of their ground on
the sixth, seventh and eighth levels is an entirely new
discovery to the mine, and it is said tote a most prom-
ising one. The vein averages 4 feet in width and it
costs about 80 cents per ton to mine. Pumping was sus-
pended in June of last year, when the water rose from
the 1400-foot level to within a few feet of the 900-foot
level. Lately, however, the water is lowering in conse-
quence of drainage operations, and lessees are now driv-
ing a drift at a depth of 560 feet, taking out consider-
able good grade ore near their northern boundary line.
IDAHO.
Blaine County,
The equipment of the Minnie Moore mine and mill at
Hailey has been turned over to Lyttleton Price, Jr., the
superintendent, who has taken a contract to do 2000 feet
of exploration work upon the 1000-foot level. The stopes
have been leased to J. J. Donovan, who is to pay all ex-
penses and to pay a royalty of 20% of the smelter re-
turns.
Idaho County.
The 200-foot crosscut tunnel on the Columbia of the
Gold Bug-Columbia, near Elk City, is to be run 500 feet
farther.
The Thunder Mountain Gold Reef Co. has decided to
put in a 30-tfln mill and cyanide plant at its property
near Warren.
The Atlas M. Co. are timbering their mine in the wet
places, but the mill will not be run until definite plans
can be made. Geo. T. Crane of Spokane, Wash., says
that the siving on the plates is so low that it will be
necessary to add a cyanide plant.
Owyhee County.
C. W. Hill has secured the option on the Stormy Hill,
War Eagle, and purchased the El Madhi and Ninety-
Two, and has located the Carton, all near Silver City. —
It is reported that the management of the DeLamar
mines at DeLamar is having plans made to have the
mill remodeled. It was first constructed as an amalga-
mating mill, and then, after many changes had been
made, converted into a cyanide mill. The Sinker
Tunnel people are running a crosscut, west, from the
600-foot level of the upraise, 400 feet to prospect for
veins west of the Elmore Chariot. J. E. Masters of
Silver City has started work on the Tybo-Blue Bird
mines in Pixley basin.
Shoshone County.
In a recent account of the Cceur d'Alene district, P. L.
RanBome says that the chief lead-silver ore producers
are the Federal M. & S. Co., operating the Tiger-Po.or-
man mine at Burke; the Mammoth mine at Mace and
the Last Chance mine at Wardner; the Bunker Hill &
Sullivan M. & C. Co. at Wardner; Larson & Green-
ough, owning the Morning mine, near Mullan; the
Hercules M. Co., owning the Hercules mine, and the
Hecla M. Co., owning the Hecla mine, both near
Burke. Other mines which have contributed largely to
the general production in the past, although they are
not at present being worked on the same profitable scale
as those just mentioned, are the Helena-Frisco mine,
near Gemj the Granite and Custer mines on the west
slopo of Tiger peak; the Gold Hunter mine, near Mullan;
the Sierra Nevada mine, 1 mile west of Wardner, and
the Crown Point, owned by the Cocur d'Alene Dev. Co.,
west of Wardner. The Bunker Hill & Sullivan and the
Last Chance mines are both on the same general zone of
Assuring and their workings connect at several points.
The deepest level, near Wardner, is the Kellogg tunnel
of the Bunker Hill & Sullivan mine. This tunnel, which
is a crosscut, runs southward from the mill, situated on
the South Fork, about a mile west of Kellogg, for a dis-
tance of 12,000 feet to the lode. It cuts the latter about
2000 feet below the croppings. The Morning mine has a
crosscut adit 2 miles north of Mullan, the ore being
brought down to the mill on the South Fork over a nar-
row gauge railway. A new adit, now being run from the
mill, will cut the lodes about 800 feet below the bottom
of the present workings. The Gold Hunter mine is also
opened by a crosscut adit, from which two lower levels
are being worked through a winze. The Tiger-Poor-
man and the Hecla mines are operated through shafts in
the town of Burke. These workings are respectively
1800 and 600 feet deep. The Standard-Mammoth mine
has two long crosscut adits, the Campbell tunnel, run-
ning nearly north from a point on Canyon creek, below
Mace, and the No. 6 tunnel, running nearly northeast
from a point on the creek, 3000 feet west and about 150
feet below the Campbell adit. From the end of the
Campbell tunnel, an underground shaft or winze gives
access to five levels, the lowest being 1050 feet below the
adit level, or about 2000 feet below the apex of the vein.
The main adit of the Helena-Frisco mine is a south
crosscut from Canyon creek, near Gem, at the end of
which is a shaft 1400 feet deep, connecting with seven
levels. The main adit of the Hercules mine is on Tiger
peak, about 1} mile north of Burke and about 1500 feet
above the bed of Canyon creek. The mine as yet pro-
duces no concentrates, the crude ore being hauled by
wagons to the railroads at Burke.
The Humming Bird Co. will resume work on its mines
at Burke, with ten men. Arrangements have been
made with the Federal Company for air with which to
run its machine drills. D. Hudson, formerly superin-
tendent of the Mammoth mine, will be in charge. The
company shut down work a year ago, pending the
obtaining of patents to all its holdings. For the present
work will be confined to extending the No. 5 crosscut
tunnel, which is now in 1900 feet, and to drifting on the
two ore chutes already opened in this tunnel.
KANSAS.
The law passed by the Legislature last winter appro-
priating $410,000 to build an independent oil refinery at
Peru has been declared unconstitutional by the State
Supreme Court in an opinion rendered by Associate Jus-
tice Thompson. The oil refinery law provided for the
erection at Peru also of a branch of the State peniten-
tiary to house prisoners, who, it was intended, were to
work the oil plant. State Treasurer Kelly and Warden
E. B. Jewett, whose duty it was to issue the bonds, de-
clined to sign them in order to first secure a decision on
the constitutionality of the act. Attorney General C. C.
Colman filed mandamus proceedings in the State Su-
preme Court on behalf of the State to compel the officers
to sign the bonds. The opinion declaring the act to be
illegal and unconstitutional was concurred in by all of
the members of the Supreme Court.
MICHIGAN.
The fourteen leading producing mines at Lake fa«
perior produced 10,720,000 pounds more of copper in tht
first half of 1905 than in the first half of 1904 and 13,-
430,000 pounds more than the first half of 1903. Nine
show an increase over both years, four a decrease from
both years and one a decrease from last year and in-
crease over 1903. The comparison is as follows:
1905. 1904. 1803.
Calumet & Hecla 40.550.000 38 900,(00 40,100.000
Quinoy 10,400,000 8,300,000 8,400,000
Osceola 9,250,000 9.050,000 6.470,000
Tamarack 9 150,000 7,170,000 7,000,000
Champ Ion 8,250,0110 5,700,000 5,375,000
Baltic 7,275,000 5,700,000 5.300.0U0
Trimountain 0,125,000 5,350,000 5.500,000
Mohawlt 5,360,000 3,975,000 3.375.0C0
Wolverine 4,675,000 4,750,000 4,8"0,000
Franklin 2,300.000 2.525,000 2,7511.000
Atlantic 1,700,000 2,700,000 2,800,000
IsleRoyale 1,425,000 1,100,000 1,250,000
Mass 1,000,000 1,200,000 1.250,000
Adventure 1,000,000 710,000 650,000
Totals 108,450,000 97,730,000 95,020,000
The largest increase is that of Champion, 45%, the en-
tire Copper Range output for the six months, excluding
the half of Champion not owned, was 17,525,000 pounds,
or at the rate of 35,000,000 pounds per annum, compared
with 13,900,000 for the half of last year, an increase of
26%. Osceola, owing to the explosion and labor troubles,
has fallen slightly behind last year, but will this month
more than make up the loss. Mohawk has increased
34%, Tamarack 28% and Quincy 25%.
Houghton County.
At No. 1," or the northerly shaft, of the Franklin
Junior, near Houghton, sinking has been in progress for
some time from the nineteenth level. Drifting from No.
1 shaft is in progress at the seventeenth level north-
ward, at the eighteenth north and south, and at the
nineteenth north and south. Stoping is in progress at
many points in the drifts tributary to No. 1 shaft, prac-
tically all levels below the eleventh, both north and
south, having stopes working. No. 2, or the southerly
shaft, has completed cutting the plat at the eleventh
level and sinking is being resumed at that point. The
conglomerate lode continues of the same favorable char-
acter with depth that has been manifested since about
the fourth level. Drifting is in progress northward at the
fifth, sixth and eighth levels and southward at seventh
and ninth levels. Drifts have been started both north
and Bouth at the tenth and eleventh levels. No. 2 shaft
is connected by means of the northerly drifts with No. 1
50
Mining and Scientific Press.
July 15, 19U5.
shaft at the fourth, seventh and ninth levels. The shaft
is operating with only its temporary hoisting equip-
ment, whose capacity is limited to a single skip. The
Franklin is operating thirty-five drills at the Junior and
fifteen drills at the old mine.
MISSOURI.
Jasper County.
The Joplin News-Herald reports that the Cataract M.
Co., operating near the Mandarin mine, is a new Joplin
producer. The drill hole heing put down south of
Columbus is now 1530 feet deep and the drill is in lime-
stone. Two good drill strikes have "been made on the
Granby land at Smelter hill by the Granby M. & S. Co.
It has been costing the Middle West M. Co. $1 an
inch to sink a shaft near Joplin. M. M. Smith and
others of Joplin have taken a lease on ten acres of the
Holton land, north of Joplin, and will prospect it for
ore. The Hancock M. Co. 's new mill on the Murphy
land, south of Pairview cemetery, has been started up.
J. H. Spencer and B. W. Lyon have taken a lease
on forty acres, west of the old Spring City mines, and
intends to prospect it. W. T. Miller of Joplin has the
contract to build a 100-ton mill on the Quaker Maid
mine at Spurgeon.
The Montecillo mine and mill, near Prosperity, have
been sold to R. M. Padgett and J. H. Schund of Chi-
cago. The mine has been owned and operated by T. B.
Amsden, T. Sawyer, J. Madeira and Al. Maness. It is
reported that the Sciota mill, on the Missouri Zinc Fields
land, near Webb City, is to be remodeled and equipped
with a hopper feed. Larger and heavier rolls are to be
put in. The property is under the management of C. T.
Orr. The Express M. Co.'s new 100-ton mill at Neck
City is nearly finished. The old mill and mine are being
operated steadily.
Stone County.
Ten mills will be built in the Baxter Springs district
this year, as follows: The Omaha, Perkins, M. K. & T.,
Ward & Co., Joanna, Dark Horse, Hobo, Boaz & Co.,
L. L. Wright & Co. and Strong Bow. Boaz & Co. have
purchased the Monte Cristo mill at Galena and will
remove it to their lease on the Crawfish land. The
Hobo is having figures and plans made for a new plant.
The Dark Horse mill is already under construction. The
Joanna has shut down to build a mill. In addition to
the ones mentioned the Mission M. Co. is contemplating
a mill similar to the Yellow Dog mill at Webb City.
Omaha parties have purchased the J. E. Wilson shaft
on the Charters land, near Baxter. The shaft is down
47 feet. Machinery is being put in and sinking will con-
tinue as rapidly as possible. The E. L. Wright M.
Co. has made a contract which calls for the sinking of
five shafts on their lease of the Crawfish land, near Bax-
ter, and the erection of three modern concentrating
mills. The Spring River M. Co., south of the Joanna,
is putting in a steam hoist.
MONTANA.
Lewis and Clarke County.
The Montana Electrolytic Reduction Co. has pur-
chased the water plant of the Helena & Livingston Reduc-
tion Co., near Corbin, and the reduction works at the
same place, where test work will be commenced, while
the main plant, to cost $250,000, is being built. It is be-
lieved this plant will be located on the site of the Peck
concentrator, near Helena. M. Cavanagh of Helena,
who has bonded the Sunrise group, 4 miles south of
Helena, has placed men on the property. The Whit-
lach M. Co. has sunk to the 500-foot level on the Whit-
lach-Union property, 4 miles south of Helena, and is
cutting a station, f«om which crosscuts will be run.
The Brooklyn Bridge Co., represented by Mr. Krueger,
which has been developing properties 5 miles south of
Helena, has commenced shipments. M. Manuel of
Helena is developing the Minnesota group, near Corbin.
George Winter, who has a bond and iease on the
Mammoth, at Clancy, has begun operations. Kent &
Cummings of Helena have bonded the Union mine, in
the Blkhorn district.
Madison County.
Foster & Curran are working the Bull Dog mine, near
Silver Star.
Missoula County.
The Monitor mine, near Saltese, is being pumped out
preparatory to putting on a large force. Repairs to the
road to the mine have been completed and the hauling
of ore has commenced.
NEVADA.
Esmeralda County.
The smelter to be built at Sodaville by the Nevada
Ore Purchasing, Refining & Smelting Co. is expected to
be in operation within ninety days. The machinery,
furnace brick, etc., have been shipped from San Fran-
cisco and Salt Lake and will soon be on the ground. The
estimated cost of the mill is $182,000. It will have a
capacity of 250 tons of ore a day and contracts, covering
a period of two years, sufficient to keep the smelter run-
ning steadily, have been entered into with mine oper-
ators of Lida and Sodaville. Satisfied with the tests
that have been made during the last two months at
Goldfield, it is reported that the H. L. Frank Co. is hav-
ing plans and specifications drawn which will result in
the construction of eight 5-stamp batteries with concen-
trators and cyaniding tanks. Power will be taken from
the generating plant at Bishop Creek, Cal., but a gaso-
line auxiliary plant will be built at Goldfield to be used
in case of accidents.
Lincoln County.
(Special Correspondence). — A small experiment plant,
using the cyanide process, is testing the ores from the
Red Cloud mine, 5 miles from Goodsprings. The aver-
age extractions have been successful, being 88% of the
gold values. G. Fitzgerald and party, developing
gold-copper claims in the Kingston mountains, report
high assays. F. Williams is developing the Hoodoo
lead-silver mine, near Sandy.
Sandy, July 11.
From Goodsprings Superintendent H. Hamy of the
Chiquita group reports that good ore has been struck.
The Homestake mill at Deerlodge has been started
after a complete overhauling and the addition of several
new slime tanks. A. Myers has charge. Work will
be commenced at the Wild Irish - Amethyst in Pike's
Diggings by D. F. Kilbourne. S. P. Moore of Provo will
be superintendent and G. A. Paxman of Silver City,
Utah, will be assayer and metallurgist.
Lyon County.
J. Somers has resumed work at the Ludwig copper
mine at Yerington, and will sink the shaft from the 500
to the 600-foot level.
Nye County.
In the double-hand drilling contest at Tonopah, Nev.,
on July 4, W. Bradshaw and W. R. Ross drilled 40|
inches in fifteen minutes. Bradshaw won the single-
hand contest with 25J inches.
NEW MEXICO.
Grant County.
The Burro Mountain district centers at Leopold, near
Silver City. Here the Burro Mountain Copper Co., un-
der the management of T. W. Carter, is developing
copper mines. They have a concentrator of 140 tons
daily capacity.' The Whitewater Copper M. Co. is
working claims in the Burro mountains under the di-
rection of C. P. Laughlin, president and general man-
ager. G. M. Sublett and E. G. Mahoney are arrang-
ing to start work on the Burro mountain properties,
near Silver City. The Alessendro Copper Co. of Sil-
ver City will start up its mines in the Burro mountains.
The Comanche Co. is preparing to open its mines in
the Burro mountains. In the Bear Mountain district,
9 miles from Silver City, R. F. Clark is developing the
Red Cloud mine. H. S. Spense has returned to Grant
county from England, where he interested capital in
mines at Steeple Rock upon which development work is
to be commenced.
Dona Ana County.
The new double compartment shaft on the Bennett-
Stephenson mine at Organ is down 50 feet. It is to be
sunk to a depth of 400 feet.
Sierra County.
The Moffitt M. & M. Co. intends to commence work
upon mines in Kingston. The company has purchased
machinery for a 50-ton plant. Hillsboro people have
organized a company, with J. F. Plemmons as general
manager, to work the Palomas Chief mine at Hermosa.
Ore hoisting has commenced on the 200-foot level of
the Empire mine. The ore is being treated at the
Bonanza mill.
OREGON.
Baker Countr.
In the double-handed drilling contest at Sumpter,
July 4th, Engle and Henderson from the Platts mine
drilled 33j\j inches in fifteen minutes.
The Psyche mill, near Greenhorn, is running fulj
capacity, ten stamps being run on Psyche ore and ten
stamps on ore from the Diadem, an adjoining property.
The Psyche has a large amount of ore blocked out, a
part of which is of shipping quality and is sent to the
Sumpter smelter. The Diadem is being put in shape for
work. The Snow Creek mine, near Diadem, has good
ore on the 225-foot level, and the 10-stamp mill is run-
ning full time. The buildings that were destroyed by
fire last March are being replaced. The Greenhorn
G. M. Co., operating at Worley, had twenty-three tons
of its ore worke#at the Psyche mill as a test, which
gave returns of $18 a ton. A sinking plant has been
ordered, which will be put in as quickly as possible.
Meanwhile work will be continued on the tunnel level.
The owners on the Salmon group, near Greenhorn,
have decided to run a long crosscut tunnel to tap the
ledge opened this winter by a prospect tunnel near the
top of the hill. A compressor plant has been ordered.
The Pyx mine, near Greenhorn, has begun oper-
ations under the supervision of C. Parker. The Gold
Coin, near Greenhorn, is being put in shape and will
start July 15. R. Godfrey and F. Conway have leased
the. Man of War claim, near-Greenhorn.
Manager E. W. Messner of the Indiana mine, 28 miles
from Baker City, has instructions to put in a heavier
mining plant.
Crook County.
Construction of a mercury furnace for the Lookout
mountain cinnabar property of the American New Al-
maden Co. has begun near Prineville.
Uoaglas County.
The Continental G. M. Co. of Portland have made
arrangements to put in a mill at the Continental mine
on South Myrtle creek. The lower tunnel is in 800 feet
on the vein. Manager W. B. Stewart has charge.
On the Yellow Jewell, near Nugget, Superintendent
Armitage has been sinking from the tunnel level.
t*rant County.
Manager W. W. Gibbs, of the Copperopolis, near
Prairie City, has the new concentrating plant ready for
work. The plant consists of a rock breaker, Wild
crusher, two concentrating tables and jigs, with 25 H. P.
gasoline engine. The Dixie Meadows, at Quartzburg,
is making regular shipment of concentrates.
Operations in the Bull of the Woods, under direction
of Superintendent E. P. Kennedy of the Badger Com-
pany at Susanville, have been opened this spring. Ten
stamps were put in the Badger plant last winter for the
Bull of the Woods.
Jackson County.
The Bli9s mine, 3 miles south of Gold Hill, is being
developed by the Bill Nye M. Co., who are driving a
tunnel to tap the vein and also sinking a double-com-
partment shaft. Manager Andrus and Treasurer F. C.
Bellamy are at the mine.
Josephine County.
The Overland M. Co. at Cable Cove is working a full
force in good ore on the 250-foot level. The company
has decided to place reduction machinery at the mine
this summer. Secretary J. Fortin of Minneapolis is at
the mine.
The Argo M. Co. has just finished a 5-stamp mill at its
mine on the Galice creek, near Grants Pass. For the
present it is only run on a day shift, but in a short time
a night shift will be put on. The mill is operated by
water power from Snake creek. The Van Dorn cop-
per property, at the mouth of Big Pickett creek, on
Rogue river, near Grants Pass, has been bonded by the.
Golden M. Co.
SOUTH DAKOTA.
Custer County.
At the Clara Bell mine, 10 miles from Custer, work
will be begun on a 10-stamp mill and cyanide plant.
Lawrence County.
The Hidden Fortune Co. at Lead temporarily stopped
milling at its plant on the last day of June, aB the ore on
the south end of the property, mined near the surface,
contained too much mud and mine work was too expen-
sive on account of the wet weather. The mud could not
be separated from the ore; it was necessary to pay
freight on this worthless material, and when it was at
the mill an excess of slimes gave trouble and annoyance.
The company is considering leasing its mill.
Fenulngton County.
A crusher has been put in at the Golden West mill,
near Rochford, by Manager E. J. Kennedy.
UTAH.
(Special Correspondence). — Mining operations in Utah
are improving each month. With the big drainage tun-
nel once more in operation in Park City it will mean
considerable to that district, as many of the mines de-
pend to a large extent on this tunnel draining their
ground, enabling them to work to a greater depth with-
out pumping. It is understood the Keith-Kearns Co.
will build a large mill near their mines to handle the
ore from their property. In the Tintic district the
shipments have been greater than for several years past.
The rates now being made by the smelters enable sev-
eral of the low-grade mines to work at a profit. At
Eureka especially a great deal of new work is being done
and old abandoned mine9 being reopened. Robinson and
Mammoth also show increased activity. In the southern
part of the Tintic district, at Silver City, but very little
is being done at present, but it is understood several of
the properties will soon be operating. In this end of the
district they encounter considerable water, which is
rather expensive to handle. The operators in the
Mercur district are beginning to realize that the mines
are not worked out, as heretofore reported, but that
they are opening new ore bodies as development work
progresses. In this district is found a large body of
quicksilver ore, which is being made to pay the owners.
It is also found that the old tailings dumps from some of
the mills can be made to pay, and as a result the dumps
are being put through the mill. But little work is
being done at present in the Sunshine district, although
no good reason can be assigned for the district not being
as prosperous as some of its neighboring camps. It is
rumored that some of the properties will soon be in op-
eration. Much work is being done at Kimberly,
200 miles south of Salt Lake City. The Annie Laurie
Co., which is the principal mine of the district, has
opened up another tunnel which promises to keep them
in ore for several years, and it is understood the old mill
will either be enlarged or a new one built to handle the
ore from the mine. The Sevier Con. G. M. & P. Co. is
also doing development work and preparing to erect a
new mill. In the Stockton, Binhgam and Newhouse
districts everything is progressing as rapidly as possible.
Generally speaking, the mining camps of Utah are in
first-class condition, with the prospect of being much
better in the future. With another large smelter about
to be erected it will give the mines of Utah a good out-
let for their ore.
Salt Lake City, July 11.
Juab County
The Raymond-Illinois mine is being put into condi-
tion to start work. Manager J. C. Sullivan will start
operations on the 1500-foot level of the workings of the
Raymond in both the north and south drifts. — J. Eustice
recently shipped ore from the Emma Jane claims, 3 miles
west of Eureka. T. F. Singiset of Salt Lake, who has
a bond and lease on the West Mammoth and Golden Ray
property, will have a wagon road built to the mine from
Eureka. Work has been commenced under the super-
intendency of W. Mathews, and the hoi9t and machinery
now in use at the American Flag mine at Park City will
be put on the property to sink the shaft. The Mc-
Kinley M. Co. 's tunnel is in 644 feet.
In the double-handed rock drilling contest at Eureka
on July 4th, E. Lewis and J. Mingerotti drilled 37$
inches. J. Mingerotti won the single-hand contest by
drilling 20J inches.
Piute County.
The stockholders of the Sevier Con. M. Co., with
properties in the Gold Mountain district, besides elect-
ing a board of directors, gave authority to this board
to enlarge the company's present milling facilities.
While the mill that has been in use at the mine has
been doing satisfactory work, it is not large enough, as
it was built for experimental purposes. Practically a
complete new plant is to be built which will enable the
treatment of 100 tons of ore per day. The officers for
the next year are: S. W. Tulloeh, Washington,
D. C, president; W. E. Maison, Ogden, Utah, vice-
president; E. H. Thorton, Ogden, treasurer. P. H.
Maison was chosen as secretary and R. W. Foster,
manager.
M. Krotki and J. F. Lyon have started a new tunnel
on their iron property, north of Marysvale.
Salt Lake County.
In the double-handed drilling contest at Bingham on
July 4th, T. Brady from the Yampa mine and W.
Tasker from the Highland Boy drilled 31| inches. In
single-handed drilling, E. Thomas drilled 13§ inches.
The Beck tunnel of the Boston Con. is in 860 feet. The
Ben Hur No. 1, the Ben Hur No. 2 and the Metropolitan
tunnels have been started.
The Butler-Liberal M. Co. of Bingham state that
their drain tunnel is 1542 feet long, 6 feet wide and 8 feet
in height. In order to secure sufficient dump room they
have run a single-compartment raise, with a manway
and ore chute from the tunnel level to the surface, a dis-
tance of 237 feet. The Hart tunnel is in 364 feet.
J. M. Boutwell, in a recent Government report, says
July 15, 1W)5.
Mining and Scientific Press.
51
that Bingham is the leading copper producing camp in
Utah. The copper shipments are made up almost en-
tirely of sulphide ores, in which low-grade primary sul-
phides, massive chalcopyrite and pyrite predominate.
The grade is raised, however, by secondary black copper
sulphides, including chalcoclte, tetrahedrite and ten-
orite. Some argentiferous lead ores, mainly galena, are
also shipped regularly. The copper ores yield accessory
gold, silver and iron: the argentiferous lead ores, acces-
sory copper. The coppor content in the average sul-
phide ores is low, ranging from 2\% to i\%: but the
accessory gold, averaging from 10c to $1. and silver
averaging from two to live ounces, raise the value of the
ore. Zinc blende occurs in the argentiferous lead ores,
but is not saved. The copper ores occur in large masses
in metamorphosed limestone, and also in grains dissem-
inated through monzonitic intrusives. The large bodies
lie within massive marbleized limestones adjacent to In-
trusives and fissures. Associated with this ore in the
coarsely crystalline marbleized limestone are the follow-
ing minerals: Garnet, epidote, tremolite, sphalerite,
specularito, pyrrhotite, etc. The ore bodies are in the
form of lenticular beds lying roughly parallel with the
bedding of the country rock, and exhibit a massive
banded structuro which is continuous with the bedding
of the inclosing country rock. These beds are localized
into elongated lenticular shoot9 which dip roughly with
the bedding and pitch moderately. These shoots some-
times assume great size, being several hundred feet in
length along their strike, nearly 200 feet thick, and have
been followed downward continuously for several hun-
dred feet. The disseminated auriferous copper ore oc-
curs throughout extensive stocks of monzonite, but par-
ticularly in areas where it Is fractured, fissured and
altered. Irregular grains of chalcopyrite and cuprifer-
ous pyrite are there found in small veinlets, intergrown
with secondary silica, sericite, etc., chiefly along joint or
fracture planes, and subordinately in altered areas im-
mediately adjacent to such planes. Definite shoots have
not oeen proved. The argentiferous lead ores occur in
veins filling fissures which trend northeast - southwest
and traverse all kinds of rocks known in the district.
The veins are widest in limestone and in shales which
contain calcareous and carbonaceous matter. Their
general structure is a rough banding parallel to the
walls of the fissures, but these bands are not sharply de-
fined, the minerals of one band being irregularly inter-
grown with those of adjoining bands. The relative dis-
tribution of minerals in these bands indicates that the
general order of deposition from older to younger was
sphalerite and tetrahedrite, pyrite, and galena, calcite,
quartz, rhodochrosite, and barite.
Sevier County.
Work is to be resumed at the Perjue-Surprise claim
at Richfield.
Summit County.
The Daly-Judge mill at Park City is likely to start up
Aug. 1 and 200 men will be put to work in the mine.
At the New York Bonanza mine, at Park City, work is
being prosecuted on the 500, 600 and 700 levels.
WASHINGTON.
Clallam County.
According to R. Arnold, placer gold mining has been
carried on since 1894 in the beach sands at different
points along the west Washington coast, from about 10
to 23 miles south of Cape Flattery. During this period
at least $15,000 has been taken from the district. The
gold is derived from the Pleistocene sands and gravels,
which cap the bluffs along this portion of the coast,
being concentrated on or near the bedrock at the base
of the bluffs by the action of the waveB. The gold is
accompanied by small amountB of platinum and iridos-
mine, the three being associated with magnetite and
"ruby " (garnet) sand and small quantities of pyrite.
Mining is carried on principally by the sluice box
method, although where the water supply is limited, as
at the locality 2 miles north of the mouth of the Ozette,
rockers are used.
Stevens County.
During the last five months the Young America mine,
near Bossburg, has shipped silver and lead ore to the
value of $2000, says M. E. Jesseph of Spokane. The mine
is worked by tunnel, the main tunnel being in 300 feet.
The shaft is down 35 feet and will be continued to the
100-foot level.
FOREIGN.
AUSTRALIA.
JSendlgo.
At the Catherine Reef United, Bendigo, a rich reef
has been discovered at 2200 feet.
New South Wales.
Delprat's shaft of the Broken Hill Proprietary mine
has been sunk to the 1020 level, and has been connected
to the 800 and 1000 levels, and all the ore from these
levels is now hauled through this shaft. All the stopes
in the mine are well filled, most of the mullock being
obtained as before— from the open cuts— but the tailings
from the zinc plant are now U8ed largely. The "cross-
cut " system of stoping in the heavy block ground at the
650 level, Block 12, has answered admirably, and no
trouble has been experienced since this method has been
adopted. The ore body discovered at the 800 level in
Block 11 in 1903 by a diamond drill has continued to open
up well, and is yielding good supplies of ore. No traces
of the fire of 1902 were noticed, but to ensure thorough
ventilation a large Capell fan, capable of handling 80,000
cubic feet per minute, has been put in underground with
beneficial results. The permanent condensing plant ha6
been running throughout the year with great success,
and the old plant erected during the water famine is still
working satisfactorily on the extraction engines. Three
ball mills have been added to the ore dressing plant, and
the electric motor continues to work well, handling the
tailings on the dump. Superheaters have been added to
the boilers, and automatic chain grate stokers are being
put in. The salt cake plant originally built for handling
1000 tons of zinc tailings per week has been completed
and enlarged, and is now in regular operation. In actual
work, after certain modifications were effected, it proved
equal to, and is at present treating, about 3500 tons of
material weekly. The tailings of this plant, containing
practically no metal, are sent underground for filling,
and prove not only more economical, but also provide a
superior material for packing the worked out ground,
the filling being much closer than with ordinary mul-
lock. The manufacture of sulphuric acid by the Carmi-
ehael-Bradford process has been elaborated since its
establishment, and a second chamber of 100x20x20 feet
added, and a third is in course of erection, together with
Guy-Lus6ac and Glover towers. To the end of the year
the company produced 470 tons of chamber acid, which
is used for the manufacture of salt cake.
OueeuHland.
At a meeting of the directors of the Light of Day
Prospecting Co., at Mount Morgan, it was decided to
accept the oiler of the Goldfields' Diamond Drilling Co.
to bore 1000 feet at LI 19. per foot. Mr. Sandstedt, who
conducted all the drilling for the Mount Morgan G. M.
Co., will have charge of the boring. The drilling oper-
ations at the Light of Day property, being next to the
freehold of the Mount Morgan Co., will be watched with
interest.
An official report says that the Hodgkinson gold field
is almost deserted, many of the miners having gone to
prospect for wolfram and molybdenite. The mines now
working are the Hodgkinson, General Grant, Vulcan &
Britannia, New Monarch, Homeward Bound, Southern
Cross, Tyrconnel and Resolute and Home Rule mine at
Woodville. The Cecil Syndicate recently put up a cya-
nide plant, which is now working. They are making
preparations to put in a 20-head battery on their own
mine. When the mill is finished the Cecil Syndicate will
employ 100 men. The New Monarch is being worked by
tributers, and since taking up the mine they have made
£6 to £8 per man per week.
CANADA.
BRITISH COLUMBIA.
Boundary District.
Boundary mines shipped in week ending July 8 as fol-
lows : Granby mines to Granby smelter, 13,018 tons;
Mother Lode to British Columbia C. Co. 's smelter, 3776;
Mountain Rose to British Columbia C. Co. 's smelter,
132; Oro Denoro to Granby smelter, 66; Providence to
Trail smelter, 60. Total for week, 17,052 tons. Total
for year, 476,473 tons. Following is the smelter treat-
ment for the last week : Granby smelter, 13,250 tons;
British Columbia C. Co. 's smelter, 3865. Total for week,
17,115 tons. Total for year to date, 487,965 tons.
Fs'analmo District
The Puget Sound Iron Co. has given a lease to Pitts-
burg men to work a part of the iron deposits on Texada
island.
Nelson District.
• G. O. Buchanan, lead bounty commissioner, reports
for the fiscal year ended June 30 that the total lead pro-
duction of Kootenay has been 55,752,019 pounds; 11,000
tons have been exported; the remainder, nearly 17,000
tons, has been smelted in British Columbia. The rate
of bounty paid varies with the London price of lead, and
i9 less for exported lead than for lead treated locally; $10
a ton in the first case, $15 in the second.' He estimates
that the total bounty to be paid will be about $340,000
out of the $500,000 set aside by the Government for this
purpose.
Rossland District
The Le Roi experimental concentrating plant has sent
its first shipment of concentrates to the smelter. The
test plant is to be kept in steady operation and the man-
agement reports that the process is operating in a satis-
factory manner. The winze driven on the main ledge
of the Center Star has reached a depth of 190 feet below
the ninth level and sinking has ceased. The next step
will be the deepening of the shaft from the ninth level,
which is to be commenced immediately. The ore
shoot found on the 1350-foot level and which extends
down to the 1550-foot level of the Le Roi continues to be
developed. A station is being cut at the 1550-foot level
for the purpose of drifting along the shoot at that
depth. The development of this shoot is most impor-
tant. Following are the shipments for the week ended
July 8 : Le Roi, 2000 tons; Le Roi, crushed, 150; Center
Star, 2370; War Eagle, 1200; Le Roi No. 2, 260; crushed,
1400; Jumbo, 300; Spitzee, 150. Total for the week,
7630 tons; and for the year to date, 175,528.
Slocan District.
The Argenta wagon road has been completed. It iB
understood the Argenta Mines, Ltd., will put in a com-
pressor and mill. There is some likelihood of the Lavina
group, near Argenta, being worked. The Silver Star
M. Co., P. Maris of Kaslo, manager, is working twenty
men at the Cork mill, which is running on ore from the
Cork mine.
Vancouver Island.
On Howe Sound, 28 miles from Vancouver, the Bri-
tannia Copper Syndicate have completed the power
plant and aerial tramway. The mines are 3 miles from
the beach and consist of large bodies of auriferous and
argentiferous copper ore developed by tunnels. A
21,000-foot Riblet aerial tramway, designed to handle
2400 tons of ore per day, connect the mine with the con-
centrating and shipping plant on the beach. The buck-
ets have a capacity of 1000 pounds each. A direct
current electric surface railway hauls the concentrates
from the concentration buildlngsto the shipping bins at
the wharf, and delivers timbers and supplies to the
aerial tramway, a 35-ton capacity Westinghouse electric
locomotive being used. The generating plant in the power
house at the beach consists of two 250-kilowatt alternat-
ing current 3-phase Westinghouse generators, coupled
to Pelton water wheels. A 250- volt direct current gen-
erator furnishes power for the direct current surface
electric tramway. The alternating current will be used
to run the aerial tramway motors, concentrator and
crushing mill motors and for lighting. Water for power
is brought 2g miles from Britannia creek under a high
head of 1600 feet. Each lengt of the steel pipe has been
tested to withstand a. hydraulic pressure of 1800 pounds
to the square inch. W. Meredith is superintendent of
the engineering and electrical equipment, and Mr. Car-
michael general superintendent of construction for the
Britannia Copper Syndicate.
CHNA.
The Far Eastern Review Bays that with the comple-
tion of the railway to Taokou, the coal deposits of
Shansi and Honan will find an outlet to the coast. Since
the work of Von Rlchthofen thirty years ago, it has
been known that both anthracite and bituminous coal
occurred in these provinces. Recently the Peking Syn-
dicate has been engaged in their development. The new
railway line, in connection with the Wei river and the
Grand Canal, will make it possible to deliver the coal to
Tien-Tsln at prices much below present charges for im-
ported fuel. It is expected that the freight on railway
and canal will amount to $2.45 per ton, while the cost of
mining is estimated at from 25 to 60 cents. The present
price for good European coal on the coast ranges from
$7.25 to $9.75 per ton. The Peking-Hangkow Railway,
now being constructed through the coal fields, will
shortly afford a second outlet by means of the Yangtse
river. When the necessary connections are completed,
coal can be delivered to Nanking for about $2 45 per ton,
and to Shanghai, which imports about 1,000,000 tons
annually, for little more. i'he known coal .fields of
China are estimated to extend over 400,000 square miles.
So far development has been altogether for local trade.
The Kaiping, which extendB for 20 miles along the Tien-
Tsin-Newchwang Railway, is, on the whole, the best de-
veloped. It is said that in this field there are 60,000,000
tons in sight. In China the winters are severe, and, if
cheap coal is available, people will buy it. At present
only the wealthy can afford coal. At Po-tou, 468 miles
from Wei Hai, anthracite coal from the Chinghwa
mines is sold for $24.50 per ton, whereas with improved
transport it should be sold for one-fifth of that price, at
a profit of about $2.45 per ton. The numerous navigable
waterways connecting with the Wei river and the Grand
Canal will afford cheap transportation to a large, densely
populated area. Sbansi is said to be rich in iron ore,
which occurs in the Coal Measures, and the local iron
industry has also been developed. It seems likely that
with the development of the fields and facilities of trans-
portation, manufacturing industries of various kinds will
be developed.
MEXICO.
Durango.
It is reported that the smelter of the American-Mexico
M. & D. Co. at San Lorenzo will soon be increased in
capacity, as an order has been placed for a 200-ton cop-
per furnace. At present the smelter is running full
capacity with its 100-ton copper furnace. A tramway is
to be built from the mines to the smelter.
Chihuahua.
The Calera M. Co. is shipping zinc ore to Pueblo, Colo.,
from its Calera mine, 12 miles from Minaca. The com-
pany recently completed a narrow gauge railroad from
the Chihuahua & Pacific's Guerrero Valley Extension to
the mine. It is developed for zinc alone.
.Jalisco
The San Rafael mines in the Parnaso district has been
sold to H. H. Sawyer and associates of Philadelphia, Pa.
The Paloma M. Co. has been organized in Spring-
field, 111., to develop copper-silver mines near San An-
tonio de I08 Moran in Ayutla district. The company
was promoted by J. Breckenridge, who will have the
management. The company expects to put in reduction
machinery.
Guerrero
The 200-ton experimental smelter of La Dicha M. Co.
at Acapulco is almost finished. The survey and grad-
ing of the railroad from the mines to San Marquez has
been completed. The Guardena M. Co. is putting up
a 16-8tamp mill near Cayuca de Catalan. J. G. Moy-
lan contemplates putting in a power plant on the San
Cristobal river for the Poder de Dios mine near San
Cristobal. The San Mateo mine near Taxco is being
unwatered by E. du B. Lukis. A concentrator is
planned for the La Delfina mine at Chichihualcos.
Mexico.
The San Rafael Amparo and the Prestacion mines at
Sultepec, which were abandoned by the Arcos Co.
because of water, are to be unwatered and worked by
a company being organized by J. B. Phipps. Work
has been resumed at La Quimaca mine at Sultepec by
Compania Minora German Roth y Cia and at the Munoz
by TeleBforo Garcia. At the Maria de Oro mine, near
Morelos, a cyanide plant has been put in by J. R. Am-
brosius.
Sonora.
The Monte Vista G. & S. M. Co. is preparing to start
work 15 miles east of Cos station and 65 miles southeast
of Douglas, Ariz., under the auperintendency of C. E.
Hanson, formerly of Wicox, Ariz.
RUSSIA.
According to Naphtha, the entire Russian production
of crude oil in meter centners in 1904 and 1903 was :
1903. 1904.
Balachany 14.520,893 13,437.728
Sabuntschy 37,746,063 35,515,554
Komanv ■ 19,646.706 21.917.995
Bibt Ej'ba't 25,764.023 29,070.958
Binagady ■ 42,309 49,875
Totals 97,719,993 100.592,110
Production of naphtha from flowing wells in meter
centners :
1903. 1904.
Balachany
Sabuntschy 493,710 879.606
Romany...; 2,151,218 1,392,281
BIMEj'bat 6,120,829 3,061,782
Binagady. ■
Totals 8,765,757 5,033,671
Production of naphtha in pumping wells in meter
centners :
1903. 1904.
Balachany 14,520,893 13,437,728
Sabuntschy 37,252,346 34,635.948
Romany 17.495,478 20,525,713
BIbi EibatV. 19,643,224 26.(110,776
Binagady 42.310 49,874
Totals .'■ • ■ .88,954,111 93,658.439
18*
Mining and Scientific Press.
\
July 15, 1905.
x * * * * * <& * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * & * * * * *
* *
| Commercial Paragraphs, §
The Abner Doble Co. of San Francisco, Cal., have the
contract for the machinery for an addition to the hydro-
electric plant of the Cramer Electric Co.
Bulletin No. 2003 from the Ingersoll-Sergeant Drill
Co., 26 Cortlandt street, New York, gives further infor-
mation regarding the "Little Jap " hammer drill.
The Her Rock Drill Manufacturing Co. has been or-
ganized, capital $100,000, to manufacture the Her drill.
Officers: F. M. Her, president; A. U. Magnan, secre-
tary; F. C. Mulvaney, vice-president. Place of business,
1325 Blake street, Denver, Colo.
*
*
Obituary.
*
Gilbert Johnson, mining engineer with the Trinity
Copper Co. at Kennett, Shasta county, Cal., was killed
July 6, by a Mexican while surveying for the company
in Mexico.
D. W. Balch, for many years engaged in mining and
mill work on the Comstock Lode of Nevada and the
Mother Lode of California, died July 3d at Honolulu,
H. I.
George Stratjghan, once manager of the Winter-
peck mine in West Virginia, and interested in mines in
Nevada and California, died recently in San Francisco,
Cal., age 73 years.
Latest Market Reports.
San Francisco, July 14, 1905.
METALS
Silver. — Per oz., Troy: London, 27;\d (standard
ounce, 925 fine); New York, bar silver, 59Jc, refined (1000
fine); San Francisco, 59Jc; Mexican dollars, 47c, San
Francisco; 45Jc, New York.
Copper.— New York: Standard, $15.00; Lake, 1 to 3
casks, $15.00@15.25; Electrolytic, 1 to 3 casks, $15.00;
Casting, 1 to 3 casks, $14.50@14.75. San Francisco: $16.00.
Mill copper plates, $17.00; bars, 18@24c. London:
£66 spot per ton.
The copper market remains unchanged, with a good
healthy condition all around. Production is not in-
fluenced by any unusual conditions and the demand is
normal. There is a slight gain in the visible supply, a
noticeable feature during each summer, when isolated
mines which are restricted more or less in their opera-
tions during winter months can work uninterruptedly.
It is said that the domestic consumption is rather lighter
than might be expected, but that shipments to China
are very heavy, and no cause for these heavy importa-
tions of the metal by the Chinese has been assigned.
Some believe that this heavy buying is for delivery to
others through China, presumably Japan, but there is
no confirmation of this idea.
Following are the figures of the German consumption
of foreign copper for the months of January to May, 1905,
compared with the same period of time for 1904 and 1903:
1905. 1904. 1903.
Imports, tons 42,744 47,331 36,223
Exports, tons 5,324 3,239 4,739
Consumption, tons 37,420 43,992 31,484
Out of the above, 35,882 tons were imported from the
United States.
Lead.— New York, $4.60; Salt Lake City, $3.50; St.
Louis, $4.12J; San Francisco, $3.70, carload lots; 4|c 1000
to 4000 Sis.; pipe 6ic, sheet 7, bar 5|c; pig, $4.85. Lon-
don: £13 lis 3d $ long ton.
Spelter.— New York, $5.40: St. Louis, $5.80; Lon-
don, £24 2s 6d $ ton; San Francisco, ton lots, 6Jc; 100-Jb
lots, 7c.
Tin.— New York, pig, $31.25(5)31.50; San Francisco, ton
lots, 31Jc; 500 lbs., 32c; 200 fts., 32Jc; less, 33Jc; bar tin,
B »., 35@37Jc. London, £143.
Platinum.— San Francisco, crude, $18.50 $oz.; New
York, ingot, $19.50 $. Troy oz. Platinum ware, 75@82c
$ gram.
Quicksilver.— New York, $39.00@$40.00, large lots;
London, £7 7s 6d; San Francisco, local, $38.00@38.00 $
flask of 75 lbs.; Denver, $45.00.
Babbitt Metal. — San Francisco, No. 1, 10c; No.
2, 7c; No. 3, 6jc; extra, 17Jc; genuine, 32Jc; Eclipse, 35c.
Solder. — Half-and-half, 100-ft. lots, 20.75c; San Fran-
cisco, Plumbers', 100-ft. lots, 17.50c.
Zinc. — Metallic, chemically pure, $ ft., 50c; dust, $!>.,
10c; sulphate, ^ ft, .04c.
Nickel.— New York, 55@60c$(ft.; ton lots, 40@47c.
Aluminum.— New York, No. 1, 99% pure ingots, 35c;
No. 2, 90%, 31@34c.
Aluminum.— No. 1, 99%, small lots, 37c $ ft.; 100 fts..
35c; 1000 fts. 34c; ton lots and over, 33c, Pittsburg. No,
2, 90%, small lots, 34c; ton lots and over, 31c, Pittsburg.
STRUCTURAL MATERIALS.
Iron. — Pittsburg, Bessemer pig, $15.60; gray forge,
$16.00; San Francisco, bar, 3c f> lb., 3Jc in small quan-
tities.
Steel. — Bessemer billets, Pittsburg, $23.00@$23.00;
open hearth billets, $23.00@$23.00; San Francisco, bar,
7c to 12c B ft.
White Lead. — Per ft., in kegs: 500 fts. and over at
one purchase, per ft., 7Jc; less than 500 fts., per ft., 8c;
in 25-lb. tin pails, Jc $ ft. above keg price; in 1 and 5-B>.
tin cans, 100 fts. per case, Jc per lb. above keg price.
Dry Lead. — In bbls., 1 ton and over, 6Jc; do. in kegs, 7c.
LIME.— Santa Cruz, $1.25 country, $1.25 city $ bbl.
Cement.— Imported, $2.15@2.65 fl bbl.; California,
carload lots, $1.90 f. o. b. at works; small lots, $2.20 $
bbl. in sacks, 4 sacks to bbl., 5c for each sack returned.
Nails. — This week the basic prices are: Wire, $2.77;
Cut, $3.25. Meanwhile the nominal quotations per keg
(list prices) are: No. 20d to 60d, Wire, $3.35; Cut, $3.55;
lOd to 16d, Wire, $3.45; Cut, $3.35; 8d, Wire, $3.50; Cut,
$3.50; 6d and 7d, Wire, $3.60; Cut, $3.60; 4d and 5d,
Wire, $3.70; Cut, $3.70; 3d, Wire, $3.85; Cut, $3.85; 2d,
Wire, $4.10; Cut, $4.10. Special rates for carload lots.
Lumber. — (Retail): Pine, ordinary sizes, $24.00®
5.00; extra sizes higher; redwood, $28.00@30.00; lath, 4
feet, $4.50@5.00; pickets, $21.00;shingles, $2.50 for No. 1,
and $2.25 for No. 2; shakes, $13.50 for split and $15.00 for
sawed; rustic, $28.00(5)35.00.
GENERAL SUPPLIES.
Antimony. — New York, Cookson's, 7Jc; Hallett's,
7ic; San Francisco, 1000-Jb. lots, 9c; 300@500-ftir. 9£c;
100-ft. lots, lOJc.
Coal. — San Francisco, coast, yard prices : Welling-
ton, $8.00; Seattle, $6.50; Coos Bay, $5.50; Southfield,
$8.00. Cargo lot, Eastern and foreign: Wallsend, $7.50;
Brymbo, $7.50; Pennsylvania, hd., $14.00; Scotch, $8.00;
Cumberland, $13.00; Cannel, $8.50; Welsh Anthracite,
$13.00; Rock Springs, $8.50, long ton; Colorado Anthra-
cite, $14.00. Coke, $10.50 per ton in bulk, $13.00 in
sacks; Sunnyside, $8.50, long ton.
Powder.— F. o. b. San Francisco : No. 1, 70% nitro-
glycerine, per lb., in carload lots, 15ic; less than one ton,
17}c. No. 1*, 60%, carload lots, 13Jc; less than one ton,
15Jc. No. 1**, 50%, carload lots, lljc; less than one ton,
13§c. No. 2, 40%, carload lots, 10c; less than one ton,
12c. No. 2, 35%, carload lots, 9Jc; less than one ton,
lljc. No. 2**, 30%, carload lots, 9c; less than one ton,
lie. Black blasting powder in carload lots, minimum
car 728 kegs, $1.50 per keg; less car lots, $2.00 per keg.
Caps.— 3x, $5.50@6 per 1000; 4x, $6.50@7; 5x, $8@8.50;
Lion, $9@9.50, in lots not less than 1000.
FUSE. — Triple tape, $4.00 per 1000 feet; double tape,
$3.50; single tape, $3.10; Hemp, $2.75; Cement No. 2,
$3.00; Cement No. 1, $2.65, in lots of 3000 and up.
Candles.— Granite 6s, 16 oz., 40s., lie f, set; 14 oz.,
40s., 9|c.
Chemicals.— Cyanide of potassium, 98%-99%, job-
bing, 23@24c $ ft. ; carloads, 23@23Jc; in tins, 30c; soda
ash, $2.00^100 fts.; hyposulphite of soda, 3@3Jc$ft.;
caustic soda, in drums, 3@3|c fi ft. ; Cal. s. soda, bbls.,
$1.10@1.20#U00 1bs.; sks., 90c@$1.00; chlorate of pot-
ash, 12@13c; nitrate of potash, 6|@7c; caustic potash,
10c in 40-B). tins; roll sulphur, 2J@2jc; powdered sul-
phur, 2J@2Jc; flour sulphur, French, 2J@ — c; alum,
$2.00@2.25; California refined, li}@2c; sulphide of iron,
8c ^ftft.; copper sulphate, 5i@5|c; chloride of lime, spot,
$2.50@2.75; sulphuric acid, in carboys, 66% B, l|@2c $
ft. ; nitric acid, carboys, 8c B ft.
Oils. — Linseed, boiled, bbl., 62c; cs., 67c; raw, bbl.,
60c; cs., 65c; Lucol oil, boiled, bbl., 54c; cs., 59c; raw-
bbl., 52c; cs., 57c. Kerosene — Pearl, per gal., 17Jc; As-
tral, 17Jc; Star, 17Jc; Extra Star, 20Jc; Eocene, 19Jc;
Elaine, 26c; Water White, in bulk, lie; Mineral Seal,
iron bbls., 18c; wooden bbls., 20Jc; cs., 24c; Mineral
Sperm, cs., 26Jc; Deodorized Stove Gasoline, bulk, 14Jc,
do., cs., 21c; "86° Gasoline, bulk, 25c; do., cs., 31c; 83°
Naphtha or Benzine, deodorized, in bulk, per gal., 12Jc;
do., in cs., 19c; Lard Oil, E. W. S., bbl., 75c; cs., 80c;
Neats-foot Oil, pure, bbl., 63c; cs., 78c; Sperm, crude,
63@68c; Natural White, 68c; Bleached, do., 57c; Whale
Oil, cs., 52@67c.
Borax. — Concentrated, 6@7c $ lb; powdered, 8@10c;
fused, 20@25c; crystal, 7c; calcined, 25c.
Bone Ash.— Extra No. 1, 5.@6c fl ft; No. 1, 4@5c.
Litharge.— Pure, in 25-ft. bags, 8@9c $ ft.
Molybdenum.— Best, $2.75 fi ft.
Chromium.— 90% and over, $ ft., 80c.
Uranium.— Oxide, $ ft., $3.50.
Mercury.— Bichloride, $ ft., 77c.
Tungsten.— Best, f, ft., $1.25.
Phosphorus.— American, $ ft., 70c.
Sodium.— Metal, $ ft., 50c.
Bismuth.— Subnitrate, fl ft., $2.10.
Silver.— Chloride, $ oz., 90c@$1.00; nitrate, 55c.
Red Lead. — 500 lbs. and over at one purchase, B ft.
7|c; less than 500 fts., 8c.
Manganese.— Black oxide, $ ft., 2|@4c.
Magnesium.— Pure, N. Y., $1.60.
Fire Brick.— Domestic, carloads $ 1000, f. o. b., fac-
tory square, $25.00; soap and split, $22.50; arch and
wedge, $27.50; skewback, $30.00; circle, $32.00.
Fire Clay.— Domestic, $ ton 2000 fts. in 125-ft. bags,
double, and dry ground, f. o. b., factory, $8.50.
Notices of Recent Patents.
Among the patents recently obtained through Dewey, Strong &
Co.'s Scientific Press United States and Foreign Patent Agency,
the following are worthy of special mention :
Hose Coupling.— No. 793,869. July 4. 1905. Andrew H. Anderson .
Kellogg, Idaho. This invention relates to a device which is designed
for the detachable coupling of hose or like conductors. It consists
of a house-coupling having two abutting sections of substantially
equal diameter, a head upon one section ohambered to receive the
opposing end and having inwardly projecting pins, slots in the
other sections, into which the pins are slidable, collars fixed upon
said slotted sections, a sleeve slidable between the collars and hav-
ing inwardly projecting pins, slots upon the head of the othersection
into which said pins are slidable, said slots having circumferential
extensions into which the pins of the sleeve are turnable to lock the
coupling.
Fly-Papek Holdek.— No. 793,871. July 4, 1905. Julius H. Bien,
San Francisco, Cal. This Invention relates to a holder for sticky
fly-paper. Its object is to provide a holder for sticky fly-paper which
will prevent the adhesive from running off the paper, protect the
hands in handling the paper, allow the paper to be stood on edge or
held at an angle when in use, enable the paper to be folded and
pressed tight together into a small compass for packing and snipping
purposes, and which will operate to exclude moisture from the paper
when stored in stock. It consists in the combination with a sheet
of sticky fly-paper of a flexible backing therefor having s.de and end
flaps adapted to be fo'ded over and united directly to the sticky
edges of the sheet of fly-paper and forming anon-adhesive border
around the same, the side flaps of said border having central inci-
sions as to permit the sheet and baoking to be folded in book form.
Friction Clutch. — No. 793,927. July 4, 1905. William H.
Fulcher, Oakland, Cal. This invention relates to a clutch mechan-
ism designed to readily unite or disengage revoluble parts. It con-
sists of a plurality of circular segments forming one member of the
clutch, an exterior shell forming the other member, and mechanism
by which the said segments are simultaneously expanded within
the shell to produce the grip and unite the two members or cor-
respondingly contracted to release the grip and allow either mem-
ber to be moved separately. Its object is to provide a clutch which
is especially designed for the driving of machinery of any descrip-
tion and particularly such machinery as is operated under heavy
stresses.
New Patents.
Dewey, Strong & Co.'s Scientific Press Patent Agency, 330
Market street, San Francisco, has official reports of the following
United States patents issued to Pacific Coast inventors :
FOR THE WEEK ENDING JULY 4, 1905.
793,869.— Hose Coupling— a. H. Anderson, Kellogg. Idaho.
794,071.— Surveying Instrument— J. Barbon, Portland, Or.
793,633.— Boat— J. W. Beall, Laton. Cal.
793,817.— Traction Engine— J. H Beckner, Seattle, Wash.
7M,*7l.— Fly-Paper Holder— J. H. Bien, San Francisco.
794,141— Folding Step-J. S. Coxey, Aberdeen, Wash.
793,830.— Telephone— N. E. Damico, Rediands, Cal.
793,827.— Railway Signal— H. M. Davenport, Long Beach, Cal.
793.828.— Shelf— W L. Dunn, Buckhorn, Cal.
793,829 —Wall Structure— A. W. Eager, Los Angeles, Cal.
793 830.— Gas Generator— Eichler & Becker, San Francisco.
793,927 .—Friction Clutch— W. H. Fulcher, Oakland, Cal,
7<i3,7l;2.— Current Motor— P. Henrichs, Clarkston, Wash.
794,1 0.— Fruit Gatherer— C. Hertz, San Francisco.
793 ^39. —Raisin Stemmer— J. T. Latta, Selma, Cal.
793, S-ln.— Telephone— F. B. Long, Los Angeles, Cal.
794.151— Adhesive Device— R. C. Lowry, Seattle, Wash.
793,728.— Binding Strips— B. F. Mackall. San Francisco.
7iaii73. —Folding Chair— F. T. B. Mann, San Diego, Cal.
793.795.— Briquets— H. E, Marsh, Los Angeles, Cal.
793,889.— Valve— J. C. Martin, Jr., San Francisco
793.797.— Forming Glass— D. Murray, Seattle, Wash.
794.119.— Hoe— A. Richardson, Milton, Or.
793,690.— Coupling— K. P. Snyder, Pasadena, Cal.
793,862.— Sash Closer— A*. C. Van Doren, Seattle, Wash.
Dividend Notice.
Mutual Savinas Bank of San Francisco,
710 MARKET STREET
For the half year ending June 30, 1905, a dividend
has been declared at the rate of three and one-
quarter (3J4) per cent on all deposits, compounded
semi-annually and free of taxes, payable on and
after Saturday, July 1, 1905.
GEO. A. STORY, Cashier.
Dividend INotice.
SAVINGS AND~T0AN SOCIETY,
101 MONTGOMERY ST. COR OF SUTTER.
Has declared a dividend for the term ending June
30, 1905, at the rate of three and one-half (3H) per
cent per annum on all deposits, free of taxes, pay-
able on and after Saturday-. July l, 1905.
EDWIN BONNELL, Asst. Cashier.
Dividend INotice.
SECURITY SAVINGS BANK,
316 MONTGOMERY ST.
For the half year ending June 30, 1905, dividends
upon all deposits at the rate of three and one-quar-
ter (3^) per cent per annum, free of taxes, will be
payable on and after Julv l, 1905.
FRED W. RAY, Secretary.
Dividend INotice.
THE CENTRAL TRUST COMPANY OF CALIFORNIA,
42 Montgomery Street, Cor. of Sutter.
For the half year ending June 30, 1905, a dividend
has been declared on the deposits in the savings
department of this bank, as follows: On term depos-
its at the rate of 3 6-10 per cent per annum, and on
ordinary deposits at the rate of %H per cent per an-
num, free of taxes, payable on and after Saturdav,
July 1, 1905. FRANK J. SYMMES, President.'
Dividend INotice.
JlEBENTURE SURETY COMPANY, RTALTO
** Bldg. , Cor. Mission and New Montgomery Sts.,
San Francisco, Cal., has declared a monthly divi-
dend for June (No. 26) of five (5) cents per share on
its issued capital stock, which will be paid at the
office of the company July 10, 1905.
Dividend INotice.
A dividend at the rate of ten (10) per cent per
annum has this day been declared upon the capital
Stock Of THE FIRST NATIONAL BAN K OF SAN
FRANCISCO, CAL , for the six months ending June
30, 1905, payable on the loth instant. Transfer jour-
nal will be closed on the 7th and 8th instants.
JAMES K. LYNCH, Cashier.
San Francisco, July 5, 1905.
Fully One Half
the price paid for high-priced FANCY PACKING is
wasted. There is none better than "EUREKA"—
few, if any, so good — and it is but about ONE-HALF
the price. Every dealer will furnish it. Be sure
though to name GENUINE "EUREKA."
ROBERTSON - THOMPSON INDICATOR
tells at once if engine is doing its duty,
and how to correct the trouble. They
are moderate in price.
WILLIS PLANIMETER.
VICTOR REDUCING WHEEL.
HIIME STEAM SEPARATOR.
JAS. L. ROBERTSON & SONS, 195 Fulton St., New York.
Whole No. 2348.
.VOLUME XCI
Number 4.
San Francisco. Cal., Saturday, July 21, 1905.
THREE DOLLARS PER ANNUM.
Single Copies, Ten Cenli.
Value of Geological Knowledge.
A knowledge of geology is as essential as a knowl-
edge of mining methods themselves There are many
expert miners who are capable of handling difficult
undertakings in mining work and who can carry that
work to a successful termination; but all good miners
arc not geologists, and a lack of a knowledge of even
the rudiments of structural geology on the part of a
mine manager or superintendent has not infrequently
cost mining companies large sums of money. One
curious fact in connection with such cases is found in
the sublime confidence the miner places in his own
judgment when lacking this essential training. He
does not know much, if anything, of geology, but he is
not aware how much he lacks in this, and, when such
shaft a rich, flat (ire body was encountered at 200
feet from the surface. The first-mentioned shaft was
sunk 300 feet and nothing of value found. The reason
was at once apparent to anyone having even rudi-
mentary knowledge of geology — the collar of the
shaft, though higher than its neighbor, topographic-
ally, was about KiO feet lower on the geological
horizon, owing to a fault which passed between the
two shafts. These are only a few of the mistakes
made by first-class miners owing to their having lit-
tle or no knowledge of geology. More serious errors
than any of those here mentioned have been made,
and those of lesser importance are of daily occur-
rence.
It is not enough to study ore deposits within
themselves, but to also acquire a general knowledge
The Detection of Salting.
A great deal of space is devoted by mining journals
and the transactions of technical societies to methods
of mine sampling. The engineers who are called
upon to sample mining properties have various ideas
on this important subject, but any of those laid down
on common sense lines will give satisfactory results,
if the necessary care be taken. It would be quite as
interesting if the engineers would give some of the
details of methods employed to prevent salting, or to
detect the fraud if it is attempted. In some cases
the mines are salted, and so deftly is this done that
the sampler would not suspect it. There is always the
likelihood that the experienced engineer will first
make a new rock exposure and cut a channel for his
The Dam and Gates on the Truckee River, Nevada. (See Page 61.
is the case, he probably never will know it. There
are abundant illustrations of the necessity for geologi-
cal knowledge, as well as a practical knowledge of
mining. The mine superintendent who ran a long
tunnel and then sunk a shaft in black clay slate,
thinking it was coal, is an exaggerated example of
this sort of miner; but he is little worse than he who
ran a tunnel to reach a flat shoot of ore which
cropped out on the surface in a later and unconform-
able formation. When he failed to find the ore, he
sunk a winze and did a great deal of crosscutting in
search of the vein, which, of course, he never. found.
A third -mine superintendent started a shaft in the
debris of the hillside in which occurred a quantity of
float. The shaft was started lower than the apex of
the vein, and, as the vein pitched into the hill, he
never found the ore body. In another instance the
mine superintendent started a shaft on the top of a
rounded hill, fully 100 feet higher than the collar of
the shaft of a mine half a mile distant. In the latter
of stratigraphical geology and the relation of ore
deposits to the formation in which they occur, and
also the dynamic, and structural conditions affecting
the deposit since its formation, each of which is im-
portant, and a knowledge of these conditions is as
essential to success as experience in breaking rock
and handling men.
THE discovery of a new diamond-bearing pipe or
crater in South Africa is announced. Diamond
mining has now been successfully carried on there
for thirty-five years, and at one time, several years
ago, it had become the generally accepted belief
that no new deposits or pipes of diamonds would be
found. Within the past ten years there have been a
number of important new discoveries, and still others
are being made. This latest discovery was made in
prospecting for coal and is but one of several recent
diamond discoveries . made in the same manner by
means of bore holes.
sample that has not been reached by the Salter. In
most instances successful salting has been accom-
plished after the samples have been broken down and
sacked. Where a large number of samples are
taken, it is a physical impossibility for the engineer
to keep these samples with him. He must find a se-
cure place in which to put them, pending the final
grinding down, quartering and assaying. It is in
this supposedly secure place that the salting is some-
times accomplished, and it is to guard against this,
or, in fact, any tampering with the samples at any
period of the operation, that an absolutely dependable
method is desired by the engineering fraternity.
Different engineers have their own methods for de-
tecting salting, and of providing checks against salt-
ing; some of these are ingenious, and some of them
afford a false security. The plan mostly depended
upon is that of personal surveillance of the sampling
and of the samples from the time they are broken
down upon the canvas.
53
Mining and Scientific Press.
July 22, 1905.
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
ESTABLISHED i860.
Published Every Saturday at 330 Market Street, San Francisco, Cal.
Telephone, Davis 771.
ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION,
United States, Mexico and Canada IS 00
All Other Countries In the Postal Union 5 00
Entered at the San Francisco Postoffice as second-class mail matter.
Branch Offices:
New York City, 720 Park Row Bldg. Boston, 37 School St.
Chicago, 1164 Monadnock Block.
Denver, 606 Mack Block.
J. F. HALLORAN Publisher
SAN FRANCISCO, JULY 22, 1905.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
Page.
ILLUSTRATIONS:
The Dam and Gates on the Truckee River, Nev 52
Vein Outcrops 5°
Boiler Explosion at Goldileld, Nev., July 7, 1905 56
Fire at Qoldfleld, Nev., July 8, 1905 56
Type CCL, Polyphase Induction Motor 58
Open Cut Timbered by Stulls, Trinity County, Cal 60
A Vein Worked by Stulllng the Walls, Crow n Mica Mine, S . D. . . 60
The Truckee River Near Derby, Nev 61
The Construction Camp on the Reclamation Ditch at Derby, Nev.61
Site of the Lower Carson Reservoir, Near Leetville, Nev 62
Cross Section Bunker Hill & Sullivan, Showing Relation of Ore
Bodies to Foot Wall 64
Plan of the Veins in the Helena-Frisco Mine 64
EDITORIAL:
Value of Geological Knowledge. 52
Discovery of a Diamond Bearing Pipe in South Africa 52
The Detection of Salting 52
Ore Thieves in the Cripple Creek Region 53
Wholesale Location in Alaska 53
The Cost of Mining 53
Cost of Transportation 53
MINING SUMMARY 65-66-67-68
LATEST MARKET REPORTS 69
MISCELLANEOUS:
Concentrates 54
Vein Outcrops 55
Goldfleld, Nev., Fire and Explosion 56
Ore Sampling — 57
Concentration of Silver-Lead Ores 57
The Machine Drill in Mining 57
Steam Turbine Tests 57
; The Prospector 57
The Ore Deposits of Mount Lyell 58
Polyphase Induction Motors 58
Mining and Metallurgical Patents 59
The Use of Stulls 60
Production of Monazite, Zircon, Gadolinite and Tantalum in 1904.60
Reclamation of Arid Lands in Nevada 61-62
Ore Deposits of the Cceur d'Alene,, Idaho 63-64
Trade Treatises 64
Personal 64
Obituary 64
Books Received 69
Commercial Paragraphs 69
New Patents 69
Notices of Recent Patents 69
THE mine owners of the Cripple Creek region of
Colorado are again experiencing a great deal
of trouble with ore thieves, and the complaint is made
that there are unprincipled assayers in the district
who buy the stolen ores. The chief difficulty in the
prosecution of these cases has always been, not only
in Cripple Creek, but in high-grade districts else-
where, that the plaintiffs were unable usually to
prove the identity of the ore. It will be remembered
that ten years or more ago a similar condition pre-
vailed in the Cripple Creek district, at which time a
number of assay offices, supposed to be recipients of
stolen ores, were dynamited.
Wholesale Location in Alaska.
For several years past complaints have come from
Alaska concerning the wholesale location of mining
claims by agents in that Territory without any
assessment work being performed. Alaska, being
without a legislative body, the mineral lands are
taken up and held under the Federal statutes. The
miners, presumably, may make local laws governing
the location of mining claims, not in conflict with
United States laws, and fix a minimum amount of
work to be performed within a stipulated time as a
part of the act of location. The several States have
this privilege, and some of them have wisely enacted
laws of this character. The several State courts, and
United States Supreme Court as well, have recog-
nized the force of laws and rules made by the
miners of local organized mining districts as well
as the State laws, and there seems a remedy
for the existing condition in Alaska, where a few
men locate large tracts of land for non-residents, but
perform no work upon these locations. Judge
Wickersham, of the Fairbanks district, has made a
ruling requiring a bona fide discovery as a precedent
to location, but this ruling, while seemingly sufficient
to meet the exigencies of the case, really goes no
further than the requirements of the Federal stat-
utes, and the remedy appears to lie in local rules
made by the organized miners of the several districts.
The Cost of Mining.
In statements made by mine superintendents in
official reports and elsewhere, unless the conditions
under which these costs obtain are stated in such a
manner as to be fully understood by one unfamiliar
with the situation, the figures are of little use for
the purpose of comparison with costs in other places.
Each mine superintendent or manager aims to make
his mining costs as low as possible. Some give the
fullest possible information, but the reports of others
are more vague and ambiguous. If taken as stated,
without careful analysis, the figures often impress
the reader with the economy which has evidently
been practiced at the mine in question. For instance,
the cost of shaft sinking in an itemized statement is
apparently $40 per foot, when some important details,
such as the cost of supplying air to drills, cost of
repairing drills and expense of power in hoisting, have
been omitted. These items added may bring the
cost up several dollars per foot. In driving a drift,
the same thing is sometimes noticed. Machine drills
are used, good progress is made and the expense is
surprisingly low, but, on analyzing the expense
account, no charge for power for air compressor is
made, which will raise the cost substantially. To
appreciate the cost of mining per foot, or per ton,
requires a definite knowledge of every factor which
has an influence on the cost of the work. Among
these are the cost of power, of whatsoever kind, and
its efficiency, cost of labor and supplies, character of
the ground, ventilation of the mine and its cost, and
so on through every item of expense, including gen-
eral expense, which is often omitted, for the reason
that this is charged up under some particular depart-
ment, which is not connected with the operation in
question.
It is always interesting to know the cost of min-
ing and milling at any particular place, but this
knowledge has no real significance as applied to
some other place, unless it be known that the two
places being compared are very similar when viewed
from a general standpoint.
In a certain district a superintendent of an oper-
ating mine was asked the cost of sinking a three-
compartment inclined shaft at his mine. He said he
could sink such a shaft for $45 per foot, and had
actually done so. This placed another superinten-
dent in his neighborhood in rather a bad light, for the
second man had stated that he considered $65 a rea-
sonable figure for sinking a three-compartment shaft
on a mine within a mile of that managed by the
other. This discrepancy was wholly due to the fact
that no explanation of the sort of shaft contemplated
was offered.
The fact was that the first had sunk an inclined
shaft on a soft fissure at something less than $45 per
foot, and the second based his estimate on sinking
the shaft in the hard country rock. In either case
the respective figures given were approximately cor-
rect, but without detailed knowledge of the situation
it is as impossible to judge of the relative merit of an
expense account of mining operations as it would be
to estimate the cost of any undertaking of the kind in
ground entirely unknown.
Nothing exemplifies this statement better than the
fact that conservative mining companies, whose
affairs are in the hands of excellent and experienced
managers, sometimes set aside stated sums to per-
form some particular operation, such as driving a
tunnel or sinking a shaft, and find that their calcula-
tions were entirely at fault, and that owing to unseen
and unanticipated conditions, the expense is far
greater than was provided for.
When a piece of mining work is done the expense
sheet should show every detail under which the work
was accomplished. Included in this should be stated
the number of men employed in the various tasks;
whether machines were used or not, and how many;
the size and kind of machine; air pressure at the
drill; number and depth of holes drilled; time drill-
ing, and amount of powder used. The progress made
daily under these conditions gives a fair idea to an
experienced man of the character of the rock passed
through, though he may never have seen the place.
The method of cleaning up after blasting and the
number of men employed in the work also will give
an idea of how efficient this class of labor is. Tram-
ming, or transportation by other means, requires
attention, and the framing and placing of timbers is
an item often of importance, for rock hard enough to
justify the use of machine drills does not always stand
well after breaking. Superintendence, incidental and
general expenses must be included.
These are some of the items of cost in mining, which,
when followed out on this line and are faithfully and
wholly given, form a valuable means of information as
to the cost of mining work, and they may be used to
advantage in the conduct of similar operations else-
where. Statements of mining cost which do not in-
clude such itemized details are merely interesting in
a general way without being of particular value.
Shaft sinking on the Rand in South Africa has been
reduced to a science and some phenomenal work has
been accomplished there ; but no one will claim that
there are not as good and capable mining engineers
in America as there are on the Rand — indeed, some
of the best and fastest work accomplished on the
Rand has been under the direction of Americans; but
no one has ever heard of a large shaft being sunk and
timbered in America at the rate of 230 feet per
month. This has been accomplished in the Rand, and
every miner knows that there must be some great
advantage in the physical conditions on the Rand to
make this high rate of speed possible. And yet,
strange as it may appear, with the rapid rate of
progress, with the cheap Kafir and coolie labor on
the Rand, the cost of sinking these deep shafts is
much higher per foot than work on shafts of similar
size and depth in the United States. What these
South African shafts lose in direct cost is, however,
more than offset by the speed and time saved, which
reduces the interest charge on capital invested.
Cost of Transportation.
Many of the mines of the northern Black Hills,
South Dakota, are so situated that it has been found
necessary to place their mills at . a distance, often of
several miles, from the mines, the ore being hauled
by the railroad companies to the mills of the several
companies or to custom mills. An official report
recently issued by the Dakota Mining & Milling Com-
pany shows that, although the property was vigor-
ously worked and the mill kept employed, the heavy
cost of mining, transportation and milling absorbed
all the revenue derived from these operations, the
transportation costs being an important item of this
expense.
The company's mines are at Bald Mountain and
the 30-stamp, wet-crushing cyanide mill at Dead-
wood, about 8 miles from the mines. The ores are
worth nominally about $5 per ton, and, considering
the good showing of profit made by some other sim-
ilar mines where the ore is no better, but where the
transportation problem is not a factor, the company
owning the mills at the mines, it is evident in the
case of the Dakota Company that the railroads are
the only ones who derive a substantial benefit from
the operation of this mine. There are several mills
in Deadwood which treat ore from the mines at Bald
mountain and Terry's peak, and, unless lower rates
of transportation are made, it is said all of these
mills must close. Water is scarce in the Bald moun-
tain and Terry's peak region, these mountains being
at the highest part of the drainage area, and it is
therefore inexpedient to place the mills at the mines.
There are instances of record where mining com-
panies similarly situated constructed a local railroad
and have hauled their ore a distance of 6 miles —
nearly as far as in the case above cited — for 12 cents
per ton. In the Dakota case it should not exceed 20
cents on a road owned by the company — that is, for
the actual expense of ore transportation. Interest
on the cost of the railroad and the expense of keeping
up the road would increase the cost somewhat; but
even so it would be far less expensive than it is at
present. The Homestake Company fully demon-
strated the value of owning its own narrow-gauge
railroad more than twenty years ago. When a
proposition of this character is too large for a single
company to undertake, the combination of several
neighboring companies for the purpose is not by any
means a new idea. There is usually a way to circum-
vent extortionate charges for any service, and com-
bination is usually the best means of accomplishing
the desired end. A somewhat similar state of affairs
is threatened in Cripple Creek, Colo., where it is now
reported the several transportation companies are
about to combine their interests.
July 22, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
O C
CONCENTRATES.
b _ o
When copper Is strongly heated before the blowpipe,
the flame assumes a green color, which serves to distin-
guish the presence of that metal from others.
About 700 tons of tin-bearing ore concentrated at
Tlnton, South Dakota, produced eight tons of cassiter-
ite. This is equivalent to about $4.75 per ton of ore
treated.
V v V v
Crystals of baryta are comparatively rare, although
crystallized baryta is common enough. All quartz is
crystalline, but all quartz does not occur in the form of
crystals.
BwwV
Ordinarily ores which have been roasted concen-
trate more readily than raw ores, as all the minerals
present lose in weight by the roasting, excepting gold
and silver.
v V V v
A copper SULPHIDE ORE which also contains zinc
blende can usually be successfully treated so that the
zinc may be separated from the copper and iron by
electro-magnetic separators.
■Mw
Sulphur is contraband in time of war, and a neutral
power cannot furnish sulphur to either belligerent na-
tion. The uses for sulphur are increasing. In the
United States sulphur is made from pyrite, about 50% of
sulphur used in the United States being from this source.
It would not be advisable to build the cyanide plant on a
mine dump, or other fill, as It is almost certain to settle
and cause much trouble, particularly should the tanks
overflow, or the ground become wet from any cause.
Tanks must always be provided with a secure founda-
tion, and this can not be found on a nil.
vvvv
Ordinarily no use is made of the power developed
on a brake incline or gravity tramway, the energy thus
developed being offset by the brakes. A certain amount
of power may be derived from the excess energy devel-
oped by the downward loaded car, which may be taken
from the shaft of the drum at the head of the tramway.
An attempt to smelt raw concentrates with hot blast
was made at Anaconda, Mont., some time since, but the
idea was abandoned. A 35% matte was produced, but
this was tdo low-grade for converting at Anaconda. By
resmelting, the grade of matte was raised to 45%, but
elimination of the iron was not further affected by means
of the hot blast.
VVwV
A SERIES of drops in the apron plates of a stamp bat-
tery is generally acknowledged a good thing. The drops
or steps should not exceed J inch in height, or the fail-
ing sands will have a tendency to scour the plates.
Shaking amalgamating plates are also often of service
in saving particles of amalgam on gold which become de-
tached and are likely to be carried away by the flow
of pulp.
wwww
Where the vein outcrops 500 feet higher than the pro-
posed tunnel site, and the slope angle of the hill is 30°
and the distance on the slope 1000 feet, it will require a
tunnel 866 feet long to reach a point under the crop-
pings, and if the vein dips into the hill at a uniform
angle of 60°, it will be cut by driving the tunnel 288.65
feet farther, or a total of 1154.65 feet. This will reach
the vein 577.3 feet deep on the dip.
Where the vein is wide and is stoped from wall to
wall and will stand in large stopes without timbering,
filling should be run in before the size of the excavation
proceeds too far, as there is danger of collapse if the
stope becomes too large, there being a limit to the ex-
tent that ore may be removed. The work of mining
should be so planned as to make the filling of such
stopes easy of accomplishment and at little expense.
The metallurgy of zinc is of comparatively recent
origin. For several centuries prior to 1700 the metal
was known, but it appears to have been rather the result
of accidental reduction from some of its ores, rather
than the outcome of method. Zinc was first reduced
commercially at Bristol, England, about the middle of
the 18th century, where it was distilled from its ore
smithsonite. The normal ore is sphalerite, commonly
called zincblende, blende and blackjack.
LOOSE earth when piled in an embankment invariably
shrinks, the shrinkage being from 3% to 15% dependent
upon the character of the material in the embankment.
The liability to shrinkage is reduced somewhat if the
embankment be built in thin layers, placed oneabove
the other. Rock dumps shrink in the same manner, but
in a somewhat less degree than loose earth. All em-
bankments built in dry weather shrink more than those
built during wet weather, or of wet material.
Whether a proposed shaft shall be an incline or ver-
tical is a matter which the existing conditions should
determine. If the vein dips at 50° or less, it is usually
better to sink an incline either on the vein or in the foot
wall country rock. For permanency and the minimum
trouble in the future the foot wall shaft is most desir-
able, and is advisable under almost any conditions, while
in some instances it is foolhardy to sink it elsewhere.
For veins of high inclination a vertical shaft in the
hanging wall is proper.
VVVw
A CUBIC FOOT of quartz weighs about 165 pounds, and
a cubic foot of quartz sand weighs about 100 pounds. A
sand which has not been sized— that is, sand of approxi-
mately uniform size of grains — weighs less than a natural
sand in which the grains are of many sizes, as in the lat-
ter the smaller grains help to fill the interstitial spaces.
A cubic foot of moist sand will weigh somewhat less than
a cubic foot of the same sand when dry, but a sand that
is perfectly wet and the voids full of water weighs more
than the sand when dry.
Quartz does not act as a cementing material for
granite. Silica often is deposited in fragmental and
other rocks, and then acts as a cementing material, of
which the recrystallization of quartz grains in quartzite
is the best example. By this process a quartzose sand-
stone becomes a dense quartz rock, to which the name
quartzite has been given. Slates and schists are fre-
quently rendered highly siliceous by the infiltration of
silica. In some instances the silica replaces some orig-
inal constituent, such as feldspar or calcite.
MM
So far as known to "Concentrates," there is no "di-
vining rod " or other reliable device for the discovery of
veins of gold, copper and silver, and any one making a
claim that he has an instrument by the use of which he
can find veins and distinguisli between veins of the
various kinds of metal, is presuming on the credulity of
those giving attention to such representations. An in-
strument known as the dipping needle has been used for
years in locating hidden deposits of iron ore. Magnetite
strongly influences the dipping needle, which is similar
to the ordinary magnetic needle of the compass, except-
ing that it is suspended so as to move vertically instead
of horizontally.
The choice of method of concentration of copper ores
by wet or dry methods is partly dependent on physical
conditions and partly on cost and the result of the oper-
ation. It is comparatively easy to concentrate by
hydraulic methods, copper sulphides from a quartzose
gangue, or from a kaolinized feldspathic gangue, but to
successfully concentrate by this method a low-grade (1%
to 2% copper) ore, in which the principal constituents
are pyrite, pyrrhotite, zinc and altered magnesian mate-
rial, is quite another matter. This latter class of ore
might be worked in with other and higher grades of ore
in the blast furnace, but no success need be anticipated,
financially, by treating it otherwise.
BY magmatic separation or differentiation is meant the
separation or segregation of certain portions of a molten
magma from the mass, upon cooling, thus forming a
distinct deposit. Chromic iron in serpentine is an ex-
ample of this type of ore deposit. So also is the occur-
rence of masses of magnetite in certain basic rocks, such
as peridotites. Metasomatic replacement is an entirely
different phenomenon, and may occur ages after the
rock, in which the process takeB place, was formed. The
ore deposits in Leadville, Colo., are a typical example of
the replacement of limestone by the sulphides of iron,
lead, zinc, copper, etc. The rich ore bodies found in
that district are the result of secondary enrichment.
Ordinarily where replacement has taken place the nor-
mal grade of ore is low.
In the roasting of a base and complex ore, containing
iron sulphide, zinc blende, copper sulphide, arsenic, anti-
mony, etc., numerous chemical changes take place, and
these sulphides are mostly converted into sulphates and
oxides. Copper sulphide, upon roasting, becomes copper
sulphate, when oxygen is present. Thus: CuS + 40 =
CuSO,. In roasting ores the copper is partly changed
to sulphate and partly to oxide. The iron sulphide acts
in the same manner. Zinc will be formed from the sul-
phide and part of it will be volatilized. Galena is changed
into a subsulphide of lead and lead sulphate, and arsenic
will be volatilized and a portion will be oxidized and in
this latter form combine with metallic bases to form
arsenates, and antimony acts in the same manner, In
roasting such ores the heat must be low at first, and
never very high, for success in further treatment.
w V W w
The cause of there being so much iron in the gold
bullion cannot be readily explained from the data fur-
nished. It may be due to the use of too much copper
sulphate (bluestone) in the pans, though the information
given does not state whether bluestone is used at all in
the pan. Another possible reason for the presence of
this iron may be due to improper cleaning of the amal-
gam, which would naturally mechanically combine a
large amount of fine iron particles ground from the pan
bottom and the muller. The amalgam after squeezing
through canvas should be placed in a wedgewood mor-
tar and ground with a wedgewood pestle, with the addi-
tion of several times the weight of amalgam of clean
quicksilver, and a little water to cover the surface. By
this means the iron is freed and rises to the surface of
the quicksilver, and may be collected by means of a
magnet. If these propositions do not explain the pres-
ence of the iron in the retorted gold, send full informa-
tion as to the process of treatment in the pans, stating
what chemicals are added, and all the conditions under
which the amalgamation is accomplished.
Annual assessment work on unpatented mining claims
is not required to be performed in any particular manner,
but must be of such a character as to show a substantial
evidenco of good faith on the part of the claim holder, and
not be of such a sort as will give rise to any doubt as to
its purpose. The placing of machinery, construction of
buildings, tramways, ore bins and chutes and other per-
manent improvements are all admissible as assessment
work, as much as work of excavating in the vein, sink-
ing a shaft, or driving a crosscut tunnel to reach the
vein. It is not necessary that the work be done within
the lines of the claim, for a tunnel, for instance, may be
driven to reach the vein in depth, which has its mouth
outside the claim. This work may be done on an adjoin-
ing unpatented or a patented mining claim, or on adjoin-
ing agricultural land. Work may also be done in one
place for the development of several contiguous claims,
if it is clearly for the benefit of all the claims.
BwwV
Where manila rope is used in transmitting power the
grooves must be carefully turned so as to fit the rope.
When the groove has too small an angle for the size of
rope employed, the rope is forced down into the groove,
creating unnecessary friction. In practice it has been
found that a groove having a 45° angle is satisfactory.
The rope should not touch the bottom of the groove,
and the size of the groove should be such that the cen-
ter of the rope is somewhat above the lines of contact of
the rope with the sides. The angle of the groove re-
mains constant, no matter what the diameter of the
rope, though the fiat space at the bottom of the groove
will vary in width with the diameter of the rope used.
The grooves vary in depth as they do in width. A
groove suitable to run a 1-inch rope is J inch wide just
above the bottom, and one suited to a 2-inch rope is 1
inch wide just above the bottom space. Grooves should
not only be turned smooth, but should be polished as
well to lessen the friction, and also to obviate any ten-
dency on the part of the rough sides of the groove to
cut the rope. The inequalities left by the turning tool,
though small, are nevertheless sharp, and quickly cut a
manila rope, fiber by fiber, until the rope is destroyed.
Any imperfection in the wheel casting, such as sand or
blow holes, will injure a rope seriously in a short time
and should be looked after, and filled with iron cement,
if present.
When contemplating the building of an inexpensive
dam in a creek, or river, as mountain streams are fre-
quently called, the material of which the bottom of the
stream and its banks are composed is a matter of im-
portance. If the bottom be soft and loamy, a dam may
be built of logs laid in tiers lengthwise of the stream.
The first layer is placed and weighted down with earth
or boulders, and the second layer placed on top of the
first, but somewhat further up stream, so that from 3 to
6 feet of the first tier projects beyond the second. The
third tier is laid still further back, and so continuing
until the logs have reached the proper height, when the
inner or upper side of the dam is filled in with abundant
rocks and earth. At the sides a crib is built into the
bank, filled with stones. Another form of dan? is that
of the crib, filled with stones and earth. The inner
slope of dams built of logs, brush, rock and earth should
not be greater than 30° — 2 in 1 — and the outer slope not
greater than 75°, but the dam must be so built that it
will not undercut from the washing away by the water
overflowing the crest of the dam. Dams are often built
in a curved form or that of a V, with the point up
stream. In small streams a log may sometimes be
thrown across the stream and boards driven downward
like sheet piling pointed up stream, the earth being piled
upon the boards. A dam of this kind can hardly be ex-
pected to resist floods, as the planks cannot usually be
driven down securely enough to make the construction
durable.
tvdJww
The theory of the lixiviation process for silver ores is
based on the fact that silver chloride, antimonate and
arsenate are soluble in a solution of hyposulphite of
sodium or calcium, and that silver may be precipitated
from such solutions by means of calcium or sodium sul-
phide. Where the ore contains lead in the form of sul-
phate, this is also soluble and will be precipitated by the
same reagents as the silver, but the lead may first be
precipitated by means of sodium carbonate as carbonate
of lead, and the solution then drawn off and the silver
precipitated. An ore of silver, where the values are
chiefly chloride or chloro-bromide, which largely breaks
up into fines upon being shot down in the mine, may
possibly yield a large percentage of its silver values by
the lixiviation process without further crushing. Some
experiments along these lines should be made, with a
view to making a practical test. If the ore will not yield
a satisfactorily high percentage in this manner, it should
be crushed sufficiently fine, with rolls, without much ex-
pense, being already in a comparatively fine state. The
percentage of extraction of gold present in the silver ore
varies, being higher on low-grade material (less than
one ounce gold per ton) than that which is high grade.
Where it is necessary to roast ores in a gangue largely
calcite, it is better to treat the ores by amalgamation
than by hyposulphite solutions, as the caustic lime
formed in chloridizing the silver has the effect of reduc-
ing a part of the silver to metallic form. Where the ore
is naturally chloride, having been reduced to this state
by nature, and it occurs in lime, there should be no diffi-
culty, as the lime is in the form of carbonate, and not
oxide.
55
Mining and Scientific Press.
July 22, 1905
Vein Outcrops.
Written for the Mining and Scientific Pkess.
There is nothing in the development of a mine more
interesting, and, at the beginning of a mine's history,
of greater importance to the prospector than the
outcrop of the mineral deposit or vein. All veins do
not reach the surface, and it may therefore be safely
assumed that there are many valuable deposits and
veins of payable mineral which have not been discov-
ered, and some which never will be discovered, being
buried beneath hundreds and, in some cases, thou-
sands of feet of volcanic or other debris. In a re-
gion like that cut by the Grand canyon of the
Colorado in Arizona, for instance, the mineral veins
in the Archtean rocks are covered by from 4000 to
5000 feet of sediments — sandstones, shales and lime-
stones— and excepting those exposed in the canyon
and its tributaries, these veins will in all probability
remain covered and untouched to the end of time.
In northern California, the great gold and copper
belts which have been developed for a distance of
over 200 miles pass northward beneath the immense
lava fields of the Lassen peak and Shasta region.
There are many other instances of this character,
but these are mostly beyond the reach of human pos-
sibility. It is more particularly to the occurrence of
outcrops of veins which actually exist at the surface
that attention is here directed.
Many vein outcrops are deceptive, even to the
trained student of mining geology, and reauire care-
ful study and investigation. The accompanying
sketches show a number of characteristic outcrops,
with a diversity of geological conditions :
Fig. 1 illustrates the occurrence of an outcrop of
copper ore in the Black Hills of South Dakota. The
ore lies along the footwall of a large reef of quartzite
— 100 feet in width. The leaching of this low-grade
sulphide ore through centuries of time has resulted in
the saturation of a superficial zone of the slates on
the footwall. This enrichment of the soft porous
slates proceeded downward until a flat sheet of
quartz was encountered, which, acting like a dam, the
solutions penetrated but slightly below it. The sur-
face had the appearance of an immense outcrop of
rich copper ore, whereas the ore shoot proper was
only a few feet in width in the quartzite.
Fig. 2 is the outcrop of a vein of hard quartzose-
silver ore in Montana. The disintegration of the
boulder-like outcrop has resulted in the slopes on
either side of the vein being covered beneath the
fragmental masses of ore, large and small, and gave
to the vein the appearance of a huge outcrop, over
100 feet wide, when the vein itself is less than 20 feet
in width.
Fig. 3 is a characteristic outcrop on the Home-
stake vein as it appeared before the great open cut
was made at that point. The vein did not outcrop
prominently, but occupied rather a slight depression
on the hillside at that place, though the erosion was
doubtless influenced largely by the harder masses of
porphyry in the neighborhood.
Fig. 4 shows a flat sheet of ore, the edge of which
is buried beneath a porphyry talus. One unfamiliar
with the geology of the region would not suspect the
existence of a valuable ore body a few feet beneath
the surface. This occurrence is in the Terry peak
region, Lawrence county, South Dakota.
Fig. 5 shows the great outcrop of a vein standing
80 feet above the inclosing walls, in San Bernardino
county, California. This vein can be seen for miles,
and at a distance was mistaken for a great dike.
. Fig. 6 is the outcrop of a quartz vein on the desert.
The low-lying rolling hills is not a region where the
average prospector would expect to find valuable
mineral veins, preferring usually the mountain re-
gion, but veins occurring under the conditions here
illustrated are not uncommon in the desert regions of
Western Australia and of the southwestern United
States. The boulders of quartz are scattered on
either side of the reef, but are mostly buried beneath
the earthy debris, making the outcrop obscure and
unnoticeable from even a short distance.
Fig. 7 illustrates the outcrop of a vein in the bot-
tom of a canyon. The vein walls being softer than
the surrounding rocks, erosion has cut the canyon
down along the course of the vein. This is a very
common occurrence in many regions.
Fig. 8 shows a bedded vein duplicated by a fold.
This has been taken for two distinct veins; but while
it is such as viewed from a legal standpoint, they are
of the same origin and formed contemporaneously,
but lifted and folded later.
Fig. 9 illustrates the general features of the outcrop
of the Comstock lode at Virginia City, Nevada. The
footwall dips eastward at about 45°. The hanging
wall was shattered by the movement of the rocks and
numerous subsidiary fissures were formed in the
hanging wall, some of which dip westerly. This, in
the early history of the lode, gave some the impres-
sion that the vein would dip to the west in depth. A
Assuring of the hanging wall of a vein, as in the
manner here illustrated, is not of uncommon occur-
rence.
Fig. 10 shows a valuable ore body which reaches
the surface as a mere seam. The only indication
here at the outcrop is the softened condition of the
country rocks and the occurrence of the oxide of iron.
Sometimes a line of springs indicates the proximity
of the outcrop of a vein or lode when the outcrop
itself is obscured beneath surface debris.
Fig. 11 shows a large and valuable vein of ore
Jui.y 22, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
reaching the surface as a system of stringers. No
ore is visible, but the place is damp and the country
rock — granite — is much decayed. This was the con-
dition at the outcrop of the Bi-Metallic mine, near
Phillipsburg, Montana. This condition is duplicated
in many places elsewhere.
Fig. 12 shows a curious phenomenon. It was mis-
taken for the outcrop of a vein of immense width —
several hundred feet — and an elaborate report on the
extent and possibilities of this huge vein was sent
abroad. Nearly half a million dollars in improve-
ments were made as a result. The sketch shows a
flat sheet of quartz, 3 to 10 feet thick, faulted several
times, with boulders of quartz lying on the segments
of granite. To the careless observer it might be mis
taken for one immense vein. One person who exam-
ined the deposit recognized the fact that it was not a
continuous sheet of quartz, but assumed the several
repetitions of the same sheet, by faulting, to be the
individual outcrops of different veins, and reported
twenty-three veins in the property. This phenome-
non occurs in Madera county, California.
Fig. 13 illustrates another mistake made where a
small vein — 2 feet and less in width— was thought to
be an outcrop 125 feet wide. The point of real
outcrop is seen in the sketch. The detached bould-
ers lying on the surface were thought to represent
the width of a large outcrop. After extreme devel-
opment the true condition was learned.
Fig. 14 illustrates a large mass of low-grade ore
which outcrops boldly, while the small accompanying
fissure vein of high-grade ore was scarcely noticeable
beneath the debris, but was discovered io running a
crosscut. This occurrence is in San Bernardino
county, California.
Boiler Explosion at Goldfield, Nevada, July 7, 1905.
ISM^vh
Fire at Goldfield, Nevada, July 8, 1905.
fortunate if it escapes a more serious conflagration.
Already rebuilding has begun and in a few months
the fire will be but a memory.
A more serious disaster, so far as loss of life was
concerned, took place at Goldfield the day before the
fire, when the explosion of a boiler at the Spiking
mill resulted in the death of Jas. Spiking and Taylor
Bates. The accompanying engraving is from a pho-
tograph taken immediately thereafter and graphically
depicts the sudden ruin wrought.
Ore Sampling.
Henry Louis, in the Transactions of the Institution
of Mining and Metallurgy, has the following:
It may be of use to draw attention to a convenient
method of sampling either in the field or in the labor-
atory, which appears to be very little known in this
country; I first saw it in use in Sweden and have
used it myself a good deal with perfectly satisfactory
results The appliances consist of three troughs, V-
shaped in cross section and open at both ends, the
angle at the apex being 90°. Dimensions depend
upon the material being treated; for field work and
large parcels broken say to 1J inch ring, troughs
made of pieces of 10-inch board, 4 feet long, held to-
gether by a few nails, answer admirably. For labor-
atory work I use pieces of stout sheet zinc or tinplate,
12 inches long and b' inches wide, bent up lengthways,
so that each side is 3 inches broad. To use this ap-
pliance, one of the V-shaped troughs is placed hori-
zontally, apex upwards on two sheets of canvas, or
over two boxes; another trough is placed, apex
In addition to these several instances there are
many others that cduld be added. One, for instance,
where a vein was cut by a fault striking nearly with
both dip and strike of the vein and causing the latter
by displacement to appear to be twice the width it
really is at the surface.
There is one condition, however, upon which the
prospector may almost universally depend, and that
is that there are few veins either great or small, and
producing great amounts of gold or silver, that do
not show signs of extensive miueralization at the sur-
face, and the same may be said of most copper, lead
and quicksilver mines. This mineralization may be
merely the kaolinization of the feldspars of the rock
walls and a consequent softening of the rock, but in
nine instances out of ten the surface along the line of
a rich and largely productive vein shows iron oxides,
a softening of the country rock and the occurrence of
small veinlets of quartz, calcite and iron ore and
often a seepage of water, whether the quartz outcrop
be prominent or not. Sometimes the quartz outcrop
is prominent, but practically valueless, the pay rock
being found elsewhere in the vein. In some cases
this surface mineralization extends for 1000 feet or
more, often very much more, and is from 20 to sev-
eral hundred feet wide. A great outcrop of quartz
is not the most positive sign of a great and valuable
mineral depositor vein, though it is not an infrequent
accompaniment.
Goldfield, Nevada, Fire and Explosion.
Goldfield's first serious fire occurred on the 8th
inst. , as narrated in last week's issue. Herewith
are two portrayals of the fire at its height, engraved
from photographs received through the courtesy of
Mr. Wm. B. Kehoe. Like all great mining camps,
such visitation seemed inevitable, and, as it will un-
Fire at Goldfield, Nevada, July 8, 1905.
doubtedly result in better fire protection, the fire
will prove of ultimate benefit to the town. Every
mining town has had its big fire, and Goldfield is
downwards over the first one, inclining towards it at
an angle of 30° or 40°, the lower end resting on the
center of the apex of the lower one; the third trough
57
Mining and Scientific Press.
July 22, 1905.
is placed above the second in zigzag fashion, and sim-
ilarly inclined, its lower end delivering material at
the top end of the second trough. Thus, any mate-
rial poured down the top trough runs fairly
into the second, and then falling on to the apex
or edge of the first, is divided into two equal parcels.
The operation is very rapid, and may be repeated as
often as is required, until the sample is reduced to
the requisite size. The appliances are simple in the
extreme, may be improvised almost anywhere, and,
if the troughs are made of two-hinged pieces, are
portable. The few tests that I have made have
shown that this simple method seems to be as ac-
curate as any other.
Concentration of Silver-Lead Ores.*
NUMBER n. -CONCLUDED.
Written by V. F. S. Low.
Various methods of sampling the material leaving
the mill are in vogue at the present time, but it is
often found that samples taken from the trucks with
a "spear " are very unreliable. A good system is to
sample each truck as it is being tipped and is only
part full, and, further, to sample each dump every
twenty-four hours. The former assays should be used
only for comparison of the work done on the various
shifts, but for all official purposes the latter method
of sampling should be adopted, as there is much less
likelihood of error.
In conclusion, while admitting that there are many
points in connection with the subject of concentra-
tion which are open for discussion, the writer would
state that the practices as set forth in the above
brief paper are the outcome of the efforts and expe-
rience of the many engineers who have given much
of their time and attention to the treatment of the
silver-lead ores of the Broken Hill field.
In discussing the paper of V. F. S. Low, F. D.
Power said: One would think that any man erect-
ing valuable machinery would take the trouble to see
to his foundations, and yet he had seen, in Queensland,
the upper stopes of a lode filled in and preparations
made on the surface for erecting a winding engine on
the top of it. In another case, in Victoria, a battery
site was selected on the side of a hill and twelve van-
ners erected on the ground made from the excava-
tions. As this ground had not settled it was
impossible to adjust the vanners, for as soon as they
were got right they were thrown out of adjustment
by further sinking, and, to make matters worse, the
motive power used "was a large water wheel, which
was also connected with the stamps, so that the rate
of work was most irregular. The question of whether
it was better to select a site for dressing floors on an
incline or on a flat was a moot point. There was
much to be said in favor of both, but the matter was
generally settled by local conditions. When crushers
are placed at the head frames they should be on a
separate foundation; if in the head frame itself, as
was sometimes seen, they shook the whole structure
too much. Sufficient storage capacity for ore on the
surface is very important, so as to enable a manager
to weather a temporary shortage, due to some acci-
dent. When the plant is divided into units not only
is there the advantage that only a portion of the
plant need close down in case of a breakage or for
want of sufficient ore or water for the whole, but, if
necessary, ore from different parts of the mine can
be treated separately, and experiments might even
be carried out with one unit, with the view of ascer-
taining a better adjustment of the machinery, pro-
portion of water, etc. Seconds should, strictly
speaking, consist of particles of ore and gangue com-
bined, which required further reduction in order to
separate the ore before it could be concentrated.
The remarks about " working back " should be laid
to heart by directors and others. It might look very
nice on paper to see things balance, but if they were
made to balance by working back, the figures were
absolutely worthless, and those who relied on them
were living in a fool's paradise.
W. Maddern said he had spent some years in the
designing and laying out of the largest concentration
plant at the Broken Hill Proprietary; and had also
recently paid a visit to the Hill when he noted the
developments made during his absence. He was also
privileged to see the construction of the plant
described in the paper. Machines of all kinds had
been given their opportunity in the many mills which
had followed each other in succession on the Proprie-
tary and other mines, and now they had in the paper
under discussion a description of a mill which they
could take as a final result to date of all past experi-
ence. All the Broken Hill plants differ considerably
from what mostly obtain on the Continent and in
America. There, classification and grading into sev-
eral sizes, with separate treatment for each, was
more or less resorted to, sometimes making an elab-
orate system, in order to get the maximum of con-
centration; but in Broken Hill the commercial aspect
was of prime importance in dealing with the large
quantities of stuff. It was not so much "What metal
can I get out? " as " What will it pay best to get out
of the ore? " Consequently, close initial grading had
been rejected as so much humbug, and the stuff was
rushed through in bulk, leaving the tailings to be
♦ Trans. Aua. Ins. Min, Engrs.
subsequently dealt with for zinc recovery. Putting
the breaker at the shaft was a very good practice,
and one which seemed to be rapidly becoming uni-
versal. He noted that instead of the usual perforated
percussion feeder from the bin to the rolls, large
trommels were being used, the object being, no doubt,
to get rid of all the fines possible, to avoid wear on
the rolls. He thought that every dry or wet crush-
ing mill, concentrating or otherwise, should be sec-
tioned off. It was very often not possible to apply
this to the crushing department, but suitable storage
bins effected the same end. In regard to the ques-
tion of middlings from the tables, there was no doubt
that some of the middlings returned more than once
in the same way, but he was inclined to agree with
the principle of returning the middlings and thus
giving them a second chance to get with the concen-
trates. He thought it paid to do so in the majority
of cases. He came across a curious feature about
concentrating tables some two years ago in Western
Australia. A couple of machines were laid on a tim-
ber framing, while others were built on stone founda-
tions. Those on timber gave very poor results, and
the cause was attributed to synchronous vibrations.
It was decided that stone or brick was the proper
thing. However, as machines all over the country
were put on timber, it was evident that the case he
alluded to was not of frequent occurrence.
The Machine Drill in Mining.
NUMBER II.
Written for the Mining and Scientific Press.
As previously stated, one of the most important
matters in connection with the successful operation
of a machine drill underground is its care. With a
good machinist, who not only understands the trade
of machinist, but who also knows from experience
what a machine drill can actually do, and what some
men expect it to do — with such a man in the machine
shop, and a careful man to run the drill in the mine,
repairs should be comparatively light, and a drill
should last a long time.
Each machine should be numbered by file cuts, or
otherwise, and the superintendent or foreman should
know where each machine is operating during every
shift that it is employed, and also who is in charge of it.
This idea may not be popular, but it will go a long
way toward insuring good treatment for the machine.
If a man can abuse and break a machine, take it
down, send it to the surface, and substitute another
machine, and no one but the drill runner himself and
his partner the wiser for it, machines will often be
found out of commission — front heads out, back heads
broken, flanges knocked off of the shell, and with
other aggravating and expensive injuries, evidently
the result of carelessness, and no one upon whom the
blame may be fixed. With the number system this
difficulty is largely obviated. Not only this, but by
its use a record of the work actually done by each
machine in the mine (as well as by the men), and its
cost as compared with the other machines, may be
ascertained.
It is bad practice to take a machine apart in a
mine. There are a few men running drills who have
had sufficient experience in the shop to be able to
make any small repairs required, but, even so, in the
dark workings of a mine, with the many chances of
getting grit into the machine, for losing small parts,
etc., it is an unsatisfactory and improper place for
taking a machine apart. When a machine is in evi-
dent need of the machinist's skill it should be sent to
the surface and another machine substituted. It can
be more quickly done than the time wasted in trying
to fix the machine at the working face. It is per-
fectly proper to have a suitable place on each level of
the mine where such repairs as are necess.ary may
be made by a competent man, but it is more particu-
larly the practice of overhauling machine drills in the
drift, shaft or stope that reference is here made.
Each machine or drill crew should be supplied with
the necessary wrenches, bars, oil cans and other tools
required, and these should be kept in a suitable box
near at hand. They will require no crimps, springs,
ratchets, pawls or other small parts — these being an
inducement to attempt repairs underground. Make
the crew responsible for the tools delivered to them,
and there will be money as well as unpleasantness
saved, for machine men are notorious borrowers of
each other's machine tools, and a hunt for a misap-
propriated wrench or oil can usually costs the com-
pany half an hour's time, and often more, every time
this incident occurs, which is frequently, if no steps
are taken to prevent it.
The machine drill should be well oiled, but it is
neither economy nor good sense to pour half a pint or
more of oil into a machine at one time. Some men
think that all a machine requires is a good liberal
dose of oil, and thereafter it will care for itself. If
an excess of oil is poured in, the greater part of it
will be blown out at the exhaust within five minutes
after starting up.
The machine drill is just like any other engine and
requires a stated amount of oil, and no more is bene-
ficial, while very much less is detrimental. Some
machines are provided with automatic oilers. The
machine should be kept carefully packed around the
front head so as to reduce air leakage to a minimum.
It is not uncommon to find machines leaking badly,
and this detracts from the efficiency of the drill more
than is supposed. ''" „;,,,"""
The pressure of air at the compressor should be
high to secure the greatest economy in drilling.
There are automatic regulating devices which keep
the air pressure at the compressor well within defi-
nite limits — 90 to 100 pounds per square inch — and
sometimes they are regulated to operate within a
variation of 5 pounds (95 to 100 pounds). High pres-
sure at the compressor means reduced pressure at
the machine, unless the air be reheated interme-
diately. A rock drill will undoubtedly last a long
time if the drill is operated by a careful man and only
moderate air pressure is furnished — say 60 to 75
pounds — but the machine will do far less work, for
this reduced pressure at the compressor means a
still lower pressure at the machine. The drill runs
beautifully under comparatively less pressure, but
the blows lack force, and headway is consequently
slow. It were far better to put on high pressure,
and then, employing experienced men, drive ahead as
hard as conditions will admit. The bill for expenses
and repairs will be higher, but the cost per foot
drilled will be noticeably less, and this is the real test
of efficiency.
When changing position the drill runner should see
to it that the air is shut off, or a serious accident
may occur at any moment should the air be acci-
dentally admitted to the drill cylinder. This danger
can be obviated by placing a "tee " in the pipe just
before the connection with the machine — between the
machine and air cock. This tee is fitted with a plug
which is easily removed. When the position of
the drill is to be changed without disconnecting the
hose this plug should be unscrewed. Then, if by any
mischance the air cock is opened the air will exhaust
through the tee, and no harm is done. Without this
simple arrangement, should the air be turned into
the cylinder, the piston will be driven violently back
and forth, and would seriously injure any one who un-
fortunately chances to be in the way. Moreover,
there is great danger of knocking out the front head,
as there is in such cases usually nothing to resist the
blows from the piston. In drilling this danger is
obviated by keeping the drill bit fed against the rock.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
Steam Turbine Tests.
Following is a record of tests of operation of the
Curtis steam turbine as furnished to E. W. Rice Jr.,
third vice-president General Electric Co., by the
engineers making the test, F. Sargent and L. A.
Ferguson:
"We submit herewith the report of tests made on
a 2000 K.W. Curtis turbine, made at Schenectady,
under our supervision, May 3, 1905, as follows:
"We sent our assistants, Messrs. Clark & East-
man, to Schenectady to prepare the apparatus for
making these tests, and they made several prelimi-
nary trials before our arrival, and the results of each
of the trials very closely approximated the results of
the official tests herein mentioned. We had all the
instruments carefully tested and standardized during
the trials, the electrical instruments being tested by
the New York Testing Laboratory in the presence of
Mr. Eastman. The surface condenser showed prac-
tically no leakage. We took every precaution to
satisfy ourselves that the tests were reliable and
accurate, and we beg to certify that the results
were as follows:
"Full Load Test: Duration of test, 1.25 hour; steam
pressure (gauge), 166.3 pounds; back pressure (abso-
lute), 1.49 inch of mercury; superheat, 207° F. ; load
in kilowatts, 2023.7; steam consumption per kilowatt
hour, 15.02 pounds.
"Half Load Test: Duration of test, 0.916 hour;
steam pressure (gauge), 170.2 pounds; back pressure
(absolute), 1.40 inch of mercury; superheat, 120° F. ;
load in kilowatts, 1066.7; steam consumption per
kilowatt hour, 16.31 pounds.
"Quarter Load Test: Duration of test, 1 hour
steam pressure (gauge), 155.5 pounds; back pressure
(absolute), 1.45 inch of mercury; superheat, 204° F.
load in kilowatts, 555; steam consumption per kilo
watt hour, 18.09.
"Zero Load Test: Duration of test, 1.33 hour
steam pressure (gauge), 154.5 pounds; back pressure
(absolute), 1.85 inch of mercury; superheat, 156° F.
steam consumption per hour, 1510.5 pounds."
THE PROSPECTOR.
W*********** **************** *********
*
*
The rock from Homestead, Or., marked "No. 4,"
is a much altered greenstone of the type called by
the United States Geological Survey "meta-diabase."
It contains some pyrrhotite (magnetic iron sulphide).
The rock sample from Marial, Or. , is a silicified erup-
tive rock, diorite or grano-diorite, and contains on one
edge a little fine iron sulphide and a less amount of
copper sulphide. The metallic appearance of one
face of this specimen is due to pyrite deposited in a
seam, and which was subsequently polished slightly
by movement of the rocks. The dark green material
at the opposite end of the specimen is chlorite.
Jolt 22, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
58
The Ore Deposits of Mount Lyell.
NUMBER II.
Written bv J. v\*. QBKOBY.
There is little doubt that the great pyritic mass of
Mount Lyell is limited in depth. It has been cut off
below by a great thrust plane, which brings the con-
glomerates under the ores and schists, 97 feet below
the center of the No. 8 level, which is 755 feet above
sea level.
The ores in this ore body are of remarkable purity
and uniformity. Peters remarked that in a width of
300 feet across the mass "in the entire distance
there is not a piece of gangue rock as large as a wal-
nut." The ores consist almost entirely of iron pyrites
containing copper, gold and silver. There is little
galena and less sphalerite (zincblende). The only
two important minerals forming gangue are quartz
and barite.
The most remarkable feature in the Mount Lyell
pyrites is the comparative richness of the precious
metals. The copper, gold and silver are not uni-
formly distributed through the pyrites, being less
abundant in the ore near the hanging wall, which is
in places so poor that it only pays to work as fuel in
the pyritic smelting of the richer ores. The ores
near the footwall are much richer; thus Peters' as-
says of a series of samples taken by 2-feet drill holes
along the footwall of the southern drive of the No. 3
tunnel varied from 11% to 30% of copper.
The average yield of the mine is about 1000 tons a
day. It was at first proposed to limit the open cut
to the No. 4 level, above which it was calculated that
693,045 cubic yards or 2,339,000 tons of ore could be
obtained by the removal of 1,500,000 cubic yards of
the overhanging schists as overburden.
The average composition of the ore which pays to
extract Is :
Iron 40 30
Silica 4.42
Barium sulphate 2 60
Copper 2.35
Alumina 2.04
Sulphur 40.50
Hence, in spite of the extreme care with which Dr.
Peters took the samples, the general richness of the
ore is below his estimate; for he excluded the poorer
hanging wall portion of the deposit, and based his
estimate on samples obtained from the footwall por-
tion, which only was exposed by underground work-
ings at the time of his visit. The richer ore has not
proved to be representative of so large a part of the
mine as the evidence then suggested.
. The mine is by no means equally rich throughout,
for the ore on the hanging wall side contains less cop-
per and precious metals than on the eastern or foot-
wall side, and the ore is also, as a rule, richer near
the surface than at the deeper levels. Accordingly,
for the purpose of estimating the available ore re-
serves, the mine is divided into five sections, which
are numbered from 1-5, from the footwall to the
hanging wall side. The three sections (1-3) on the
southeastern side of the mine contain the best ore;
this has been described as the payable ore, but the
limit between the grades of ore which pay to work
and those which are useless is of course variable; and
now that the ore of the North Lyell mine and the
Mount Lyell pyrites can be smelted together, some
of the material in the fourth and fifth sections can be
used.
Mr. Sticht estimated on March 31, 1901, that above
the No. 4 level there was a total tonnage available of
978,337 tons, giving an average value of 2.35% copper,
2 ounces of silver and .0725 ounce of gold to the ton.
The two northeastern sections (4 and 5) contained
above the No. 4 level 648,328 tons of ore, of which the
average assay value is .64% of copper, 1.6 ounce of
silver and .06 ounce of gold. The prices of metals at
that date were : Copper, £70 per ton; silver, 2s 3d
per ounce, and gold, £4 5s per ounce. Value of
southeastern ore was estimated at 43s 7d per ton,
whereas ore of the second division was only worth
17s 8d per ton.
Between levels Nos. 4 and 5 there was, according
to Mr. Sticht's estimates of March, 1901, 1,723,218
tons of ore, and the average assay value of the whole
of it was, copper, .64%; silver, 2.15 ounces, and gold,
.048 ounce, which at the current prices of the metals
was worth 17s lOd per ton. Within these levels
there had originally been some masses of much richer
ore, which had been entirely worked out before that
date. Below levels Nos. 5 and 6 the ore available
was at least 561,386 tons, the existence of which had
been proved by the workings up to that date. Sub-
sequent work has shown that this amount will be ex-
ceeded. In this zone of the mine the average con-
tents of the ore are, copper, .57%; silver, 1.74 ounce
per ton, and gold, .04 ounce per ton, and its value,
according to prices in March, 1901, is 15s 4d per ton.
Accordingly Mr. Sticht concluded that the original
ore contents of the Mount Lyell ore mass had been
4,187,499 tons, of which there was still available on
March 31, 1901, 3,349,883 tons, as well as the whole
of the material below No. 5 level, the amount of
which could not then be calculated.
The remarkable purity of the Mount Lyell pyrites
mass is one of its most striking features. It is gen-
erally uniform in grade, though the ore on the foot-
*Abstraet Trans. Aus. Ins. Min. Engrs.
wall side is much the richer; as a rule, the ore is
completely free from any extraneous matter, but at
the northern end there are some fin-like projections of
schist into the pyrites.
Some masses of rich ores occur in the ore mass;
most of them have already been removed by under-
ground excavation, and they are therefore generally
reported as the "stoped ores." These ores are
siliceous, and the copper-bearing minerals they con-
tain are bornite and chalcopyrite. The average
analysis of these ores is as follows:
Per Cent
Iron J4.75
Silica 30.00
Barium sulphate 1.48
Copper 5.33
Alumina 6.30
Sulphur 30.0
The bornite enrichments form shoots, extending
from the surface of the ore body to below No. 7 level;
they occurred at both corners of the southern end of
the ore body. The material was uniform in char-
acter, and consisted of a siliceous mixture of pyrites
and bornite, while in the lower depths of the mine
siliceous copper pyrites was also present.
In addition to the bornite shoots there are some
much smaller enrichments of fahlore. One of the
ounces and gold .119 ounce was found in the north-
ern drive from the No. 5 level; but this shoot was
not connected with the old bonanza of the higher
levels. The stopes between the sixth and seventh
levels yielded ore containing copper 10.94%, silver
6.23 ounces and gold .022 ounce.
The quantity of these richer underground ores is,
however, comparatively small. For the half year
ending March 31, 1902, they amounted to 6479 tons,
with an average assay value of copper 5.23%, silver
3.45 ounces and gold .059 ounce, and in the following
half year 4595 tons, giving an assay value of copper
4.93%, silver 3.90 ounces and gold .064 ounce.
These enrichments are of considerable interest, as
they throw light on the genesis of the Lyell ores.
The main bonanza occurs immediately below and op-
posite the great body of barytic hematite of the Iron
Blow.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
Polyphase Induction Motors.
A new type of polyphase induction motor has been
placed on the market by the Westinghouse Electric
& Manufacturing Co., which is designated as type
Type CCL Polyphase Induction Motor.
most interesting was discovered in the north hang-
ing wall drive off the main tunnel at No. 5 level.
The enriched ores were there 6 feet thick on the
hanging wall side of the ore mass, and contained
patches of solid fahlore in pyrites. The average as-
say value of this material was copper 3.65%, silver
2.07 ozs. and gold .02 oz.
Similar, but apparently disconnected, shoots of the
richer ore have been traced down to No. 8 level, and
some of this ore was worked by a winze from the No.
7 level.
More important shoots of the richer ores have been
found on the footwall side of the mine. The largest,
known as the Mount Lyell Bonanza, was discovered
and worked out in 1894; it yielded 850 tons of ore,
which was sent to London and sold for £105,000.
The bonanza was found between the pyrites mass
and the lower continuation of the hematite of the
Iron Blow. It consisted of a vein of copper glance
(redruthite, Cu2S) and bornite, with fahlore and ar-
gentite (silver glance, Ag2S). It was found in a
drive from the No. 4 tunnel. The entire shipment
averaged 1011 ounces of silver to the ton, and one
specimen which was assayed by the Tasmanian Gov-
ernment assayer yielded 8765 ounces of silver and
45 ounces of gold to the ton, and 19% of copper.
Some specimens assayed nearly 50% silver. As the
vein was followed downward it increased in thick-
ness, being in places 2 feet in width. The discovery
of this body of rich ore was of great importance in
the history of the field, as it had a considerable in-
fluence in securing the capital necessary for the de-
velopment of the mine.
On the footwall side, between the fifth and eighth
levels, there have since been found several other fah-
lore enrichments ; but none of them have been as im-
portant as that beneath the hematite blow.
A shoot of ore containing copper 4.55%, silver 3.58
CCL. These motors are manufactured in sizes from
$ to 75 H. P. , and are wound for operation on two or
three-phase circuits at voltages of 200 and 400 for all
sizes except the J H. P. The sizes from i to 5 H. P.,
inclusive, are also wound for 100 volts. The frame of
the motor consists of a solid, cylindrical cast iron
yoke, to the ends of which are bolted brackets which
carry the bearings. These brackets are open to
provide ventilation, and may be fastened to the frame
in any of four different positions, making the motor
suitable for floor, wall or ceiling mounting. Motors
up to and including the 5 H. P. have solid brackets
and bearings, with slotted holes in the feet for adjust-
ing the tension of the belt. Larger machines have
the brackets and the bearings split horizontally,
facilitating the removal of the bearings. Belt ad-
justment on these motors is made by tension screws
which shift the motor on a cast iron bed plate.
There are no wearing parts on the machine except
the bearings; these are of ample dimensions, with a
light rotor and flooded lubrication maintained by oil
rings.
The stationary part of the motor is the primary, or
element which is connected to the source of current.
The magnetic circuit consists of circular laminations
of sheet steel, securely keyed into the cast iron frame.
Terminal leads are brought out at the base of the
frame, held in a cast iron cleat. Hand connectors or
knuckle joints, such as are supplied with railway
motors, are used to connect the motor to the supply
circuit.
The secondaries of these motors are of the squirrel
cage type. The winding consists of square copper
bars lying in partially closed slots and bolted at the
ends to metallic rings of ample cross-section to dissi-
pate the heat generated in them. For the i H. P.
motor round bars are used and are riveted to brass
or copper rings at each end.
59
Mining and Scientific Press.
July 22, 19U5.
*************** ************* *********
l Mining and Metallurgical Patents,*
PATENTS ISSUED JULY 11, 1905.
Specially Reported and Illustrated for the MINING AND
SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
Oee Concentration.— No. 793,808; H. L Sulman
and H. F. Kirkpatrick-Picard, London, England.
Process of concentrating ores by bringing pulp
into contact with "oil" in form of spray and with
gas and thereafter separating metalliferous constitu-
ents from gangue in water.
Crushing Apparatus.
Newark, N. J.
-No. 794,703; M. Dickerson,
Combination, with main operating rolls arranged
upon separate shafts revolving in same plane, one of
rolls and shaft having pure rotary motion, and other
roll and shaft being slidably mounted so as to be
capable of lateral motion in plane passing through
central axes of shafts, and electro-magnet encircling
each shaft, electro-magnets having central axes in
same plane passing through central axes of shafts,
and electro-magnet on one shaft being located oppo-
site electro-magnet upon other shaft.
Metallurgical Furnace.-
Benjamin, New York, N. Y.
-No. 794,212; G. H.
Metallurgical furnace comprising in construction
calcining chamber, reducing chamber, electrically
heated chamber, and oxidizing chamber arranged at
progressively lower levels, together with means for
creating required temperatures within chambers.
Mine Ventilation.— No. 794,384; F. C. Weber,
Pittsburg, Pa.
Combination with mine having shaft, main passage,
and series of rooms communicating with main pass-
age, of system of air supply pipes and exhaust pipes
laid on top of ground outside mine and shaft, and
having separate branches immediately tapping each
of rooms independently of shaft and main passage.
Method of Producing Copper Mattes, White
Metal and Blister Copper in a Single Furnace. —
No. 794,272; R. Baggaley, Pittsburg, Pa.
straps extending from belt to eccentrics, spring sup-
port for belt to permit vibration thereof, means for
adjusting belt vertically relative to devices above
same, longitudinal support extending between layers
of belt, rollers carried by upper surface of support,
speed regulating device carried by driving shaft,
geared connections to speed device to drive belt, and
driving connection therefrom for actuating material
raising means above belt relative to speed of belt.
Ore Concentrator. — No. 794,555; H. Scovell,
H. B. Scovell, L. E. Scovell and W. E. Scovell,
Galena, Kans.
Method described of producing matte, white metal
or blister copper in single vessel or chamber, which
consists in producing bath by melting matte-making
material in such vessel or chamber with flame applied
from above, producing thereby low-grade matte,
adding to molten bath from time to time ore in small
quantities at a time, namely, in less quantities than
molten bath, blowing air through bath, and by heat
thereby developed fusing and fluxing such additions
of ore.
Electrostatic Magnetic Separator. — No>
794,647; H. M. Sutton, W. L. Steele and E. G*
Steele, Dallas, Tex.
In device of class described, traveling conveyor
belt, means disposed above same adapted to raise
and convey material therefrom, driving shaft extend-
ing longitudinally of belt and carrying eccentrics,
In device of character described, combination with
fluid-holding tank, shafts mounted in suitable bear-
ings on tank, and set of cams secured on each of
shafts, one cam near each end of each shaft, of screen
suspended in tank, forward end of screen having
sharp upward curve, and tail portion thereof being
slightly upwardly inclined to permit easy discharge
of waste matter from screen, suitable hanger secured
to each side of screen and supported on cams on
shafts, cam secured on one of shafts, and pitman, one
end pivoted to hangers and other end provided with
strap adapted to embrace cam, whereby, when
motion is imparted to shaft, screen will be given com-
pound vertical and horizontal movement.
Pumping Jack
pelier, Ind.
-No. 794,546; G. Pitcher, Mont-
Improved pumping jack comprising sill, samson
post, walking beam having one end fulcrumed upon
samson post, polish rod connected to free end of
walking beam, jack comprising central post, cross
bar on upper end of post and extending to opposite
sides of same, base block at lower end of post ful-
crumed on sill, and braces between cross bar and
base block, straps pivotally secured to one end of
cross bar, pitman secured between straps and con-
necting jack with walking beam, and pull rod pivoted
to opposite end of cross bar.
Process or Removing or Recovering Zinc From
Ores.— No. 794,198; W. Stewart, Mount Florida,
Glasgow, Scotland.
Process for removing or recovering zinc from ores
containing it, consisting of pulverizing ores, mixing
therewith bisulphate of alkali metal, and common
salt, furnacing at red heat and thereafter lixiviatiug
or leaching and precipitating zinc salts.
Electric Furnace. -
Cleveland, Ohio.
-No. 794,255; C. L. Saunders,
In electrical furnace, combination with horizontal
continuous annular trough forming hearth, of means
for continuously rotating same, positive and negative
electrodes supported on hearth and adapted to con-
vey current to and from material thereon, stationary
contact pieces with which electrodes make tempo-
rary contact, and connections from contact pieces to
source of electricity.
July
19U5.
Mining and Scientific Press.
60
The Use of Stulls.
The most commOD method of supporting mine walls
is by the placing of "stulls." By stulls is meant sin
pie pieces of timber which reach from wall to wall of
the deposit or vein. A stull may be only 3 or 4 feet
in length, or it may be a great log over 20 feet long
and from 12 to 24 inches in thickness. Ordinarily
stulls vary in length greatly in the mine workings,
each one being cut to lit the particular place for
which it is intended. The difference in the slope
angle of opposite walls of a vein, and the frequent
change in the slope of the same wall — often within a
short distance — makes this necessary. While the
proper position of the stull, when in place in the
mine, is at such an angle that it will be somewhat
higher than a line normal with the average dip of the
hanging wall, the ends may, and usually do, have a
great variety of angle with stull itself, due to ine
qualities of the wall. Of course these angles usually
approach 90°, but at times they depart considerably
from the right angle. It is not uncommon to cut a
hitch in either the foot or hanging wall, when the
conditions are such that the timber cannot have a
secure resting place without it. In soft rock a foot
and head board must be placed in order that the
ground may find sufficient support. These head and
foot boards usually consist of pieces of 2 or 3 inch
plank, which vary in length with the character of
the ground, the soft or sloppy ground which caves
readily requiring more support than where the walls
are more tirm. Some mines have been successfully
worked by means of stulls, and the walls remained so
tirm over large areas that many of the stulls were
knocked out and reused in other parts of the mine.
Production of Monazite, Zircon, Gadolin-
ite and Tantalum in 1904.
So much has been written during the last year con-
cerning the "tantalum lamp" and the occurrence of
tantalum minerals that considerable interest is likely
to attach to a report which J. H. Pratt of the United
States Geological Survey has recently prepared on
the production of monazite, zircon, gadolinite and
columbite or tantalum minerals. These minerals are
all mined for a similar purpose, that is, for use in the
manufacture of electric and incandescent lamps.
Of these minerals the production of monazite is at
the present time of the greatest importance, as the
others have all been produced in much smaller quan-
tities. With the exception of portions of the mona-
zite and columbite, which were exported to Germany,
all of the output of these minerals was used in the
United States. The demand for monazite is con-
stantly increasing, while there is but little increase
in the use of zircon and gadolinite. The demand for
columbite and other tantalum minerals has arisen
only during the last year, and it is impossible to pre-
dict the extent to which these may be used.
States are still the deposits in North Carolina and
South Carolina, and the entire production for 1H04
was obtained from these States.
Zircon and Gadolinite. — The output of zircon and
gadolinite is employed almost exclusively in the man-
ufacture of chemical compounds that are utilized in
the construction of the glower of the Nernst lamp.
The zircon is mined for its zirconia content, and from
the gadolinite is obtained yttria, these two oxides
representing the principal ores used in the glower.
The zircon is obtained entirely from the deposits in
Henderson county, N. C, and the gadolinite is
obtained from Llano county, Tex.
Tantalum Minerals.— The use of tantalum in the
commercial world is due to the discovery that this
metal is capable of withstanding the highest tem-
perature obtained in an incandescent light, and that
it is sufficiently ductile to permit its being drawn
into a very line wire, which shows little tendency to
break when heated by the electric current. The
experiments made in the chemical laboratory of Sie-
mens & Halske, manufacturers of incandescent
lamps, which led to the discovery of these qualities
in tantalum and the invention of the tantalum lamp,
are clearly recounted by Dr. Pratt.
The localities in North Carolina, Connecticut and
South Dakota where tantalum minerals have been or
r^
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'A
HSBEBM
_J
Open Cut Timbered by Stulls, Trinity County, Cal.
A Vien Worked by Stulling the Walls, Crown Mica Mine, South Dakota.
In some instances where timbers were not obtainable
of sufficient length stulls have been spliced, but this
is a dangerous practice and ought never to be at-
tempted where the work is permanent. Instances
are known where timbers 12 inches square and 20
feet in length were spliced to reach across an exca-
vation 30 feet or more wide, but these timbers were
aided by the placing of sprags at right angles to the
main stulls, but the whole structure caved in in a few
weeks, showing it to be insecure and unsuited to the
conditions. When the stope or open cut is too wide
to safely support the walls with stulls some other
method of support should be adopted, the square set
system being always available and satisfactory where
the expense is not too great. The accompanying
illustrations show two open cuts timbered by stulls —
one in a mica mine, the other in a gold mine. Although
these workings in both cases are superficial, the
method of placing is characteristic, and is the same
as that adopted in the deepest mine workings -where
stulls are employed. Often it is necessary to build
temporary platforms to place stulls, and sometimes
they are placed after a round of ore has been shot
down and before it is withdrawn from the stope. In
either case, and, in fact, in every case, the timber-
men should see to it that the timber is securely
placed and firmly wedged, and that the system of
stulls is so arranged that any subsidence of the hang-
ing wall will only serve to make the stulls the tighter,
rather than to loosen them.
The commercial value of monazite is due to the
presence of thoria, which is used in the manufacture
of the mantles for the Welsbach and other incandes-
cent gaslights. The Welsbach light consists of a cyl-
indrical hood or mantle composed of a fibrous net-
work of the rare earths, the top of which is drawn
together and held by a loop of platinum wire. The
exact composition of the hoods is not generally
known, as it is a trade secret, but they are composed
largely of thoria with smaller quantities of the lan-
thanum and didymium oxides.
A portion of the cerium obtained in the reduction
of the monazite is prepared for market in the form
of the oxalate and is used in the drug trade.
In the chemical laboratory of the Welsbach Light-
ing Co. of Gloucester City, N. J., a great many
chemical compounds have been made of the rare
earths found in monazite, and considerable experi-
mental work has been done to discover what economic
use could be made of these compounds.
In a recent publication on the "Origin of Radium,"
B. B. Boltwood has shown that the proportion
between the uranium and the radium in minerals is
constant. One of the interesting facts brought out
by Mr. Boltwood's investigations, especially as they
refer to monazite, is that the thorium apparently
does not participate in the production of radium and
that the radio-activity of monazite is due to its ura-
nium contents.
The sources of supply of uranium in the United
may be found are enumerated, and a list is given of
minerals that contain tantalum, together with their
chemical composition and the localities where they
have been discovered. The quantity of tantalum re-
quired in the manufacture of the lamps is exceed-
ingly small, however, so that a few tons of these
minerals will go a long way in supplying the demand
for the metal.
Production. — During 1904 the production of mona-
zite, columbite, gadolinite and zircon amounted, col-
lectively, to 745,999 pounds, valued at $85,038. Of
this amount, by far the largest quantity was of mon-
azite. There was a decrease of 119,001 pounds in
1904 in the quantity of these minerals produced, but
an increase in value of $19,838. This increase in
value, which accounts for the decrease in quantity,
is due largely to the purer quality of the monazite
which was put on the market. The larger part of
the monazite was obtained from North Carolina, only
small quantities coming from South Carolina. All of
the zircon was obtained from North Carolina, all of
the gadolinite was produced in Texas, and the colum-
bite in South Dakota.
None of these minerals was imported into the
United States during 1904, but there was a large
importation of thorium nitrate, which amounted to
58,655 pounds, valued at $24n,904.
About one-fourth of all the monazite mined in the
United States during 1904 was exported to Ger-
many.
61
Mining and Scientific Press.
July 22, 1905.
Reclamation of Arid Lands in Nevada.
It was long since recognized that in most instances
the arid valley lands of the great basin, and those of
the Pacific coast States, which were dry and appar-
ently sterile, only required artificial irrigation to
render them productive, and that they really were
wonderfully fertile lands, if this artificial irrigation
could only be applied. In many instances the matter
has been taken up by the citizens of certain counties
and the so-called irrigation districts formed. The
lands within these districts were bonded, or the nec-
essary financial aid was provided in some other man-
ner, and irrigation systems, some of them of consider-
able magnitude, were built. Dams costing hundreds
of thousands of dollars were constructed, behind
which artificial reservoirs were formed, the waters
of winter and spring being impounded, thus creating
a supply for irrigation during the long dry summer
months. Some of these great dams have been
doubly useful, the water being first utilized to gener-
ate power, which has been distributed electrically to
mines and to other industries, and the water later
used on the ranches, orchards and vineyards of the
valleys.
Although some of these irrigation schemes were of
considerable magnitude, there were other similar
propositions of undoubted merit, but which could not
be handled in the manner above referred to, for the
reason that no settlers occupied the land and few
would be willing to make their homes there and
pledge themselves to pay for the improvements nec-
essary to impound large amounts of water and to
convey it many miles in pipes, flumes and ditches to
the arid land. The proposition was too large for a
district, a county or even a State. Consequently the
Government has taken up a number of these larger
projects in Arizona, California, Nevada, Colorado,
and also east of the Rocky mountains. One of the
most important of these is the reclamation of a large
making exploration for, and studying the feasibility
of, an irrigation system, which should utilize the
great volume of water flowing to waste through the
rivers of the western part of the State, for reclaim-
ing the adjacent deserts.
The first investigations of the engineers were
directed to the upper portion of the Truckee river,
and the valleys to the north and northeast of the city
1903. Before the opening of spring, it had been de-
termined that a large acreage — over 200,000 acres —
could be watered in that region at a comparatively
small expense, and it was decided to begin construc-
tion at the earliest practicable date.
The definite location of what is now known as the
main Truckee canal, designed to convey Truckee
river water from a point 24 miles east of Reno, a dis-
The Truckee River Near Derby, Ntvada.
The Construction Camp on the Reclamation Ditch at Derby, Nevada.
area in western Nevada. L. H. Taylor, engineer in
charge of this great enterprise, has contributed an
interesting account of the work to "The Progressive
West" of Reno, Nev. — a new publication devoted to
Nevada's interests — from which the following as well
as the illustrations are taken :
The passage by Congress of the Act of June 17,
1902, provided Nevada's opportunity. In the early
part of September, less than three months after the
approval by the President of the United States of
the National irrigation law, the engineers of the
TJ. S. Geological Survey were in the field in Nevada
of Reno, embracing some 73,000 acres of rich land.
Exhaustive surveys were made in this district dur-
ing the fall and winter, and close estimates of the
cost of the requisite canals were made. It was
found, however, that the cost of construction, while
not prohibitive, would be relatively high, and it was
deemed inadvisable to initiate work at a point where
the unit cost, or cost per acre, of reclamation ap-
proached too closely the value of the reclaimed land.
A preliminary investigation of the possibilities for
irrigation in the vicinity of Wadsworth and in Car-
son Sink valley was, therefore, begun in January,
tance of 31 miles, to Carson river, was begun in
April, 1903.
Bids for its construction were asked for in May of
that year, opened on July 15th, and on August 28th
and September 3d contracts were executed with
E. B. & A. L. Stone Co. and C. A. Warren & Co.,
respectively, both of San Francisco, Cal., for its con-
struction. These were the first construction con-
tracts awarded under the Reclamation law in the
United States.
This main canal has a capacity for the first 6 miles
of its course for 1400 cubic feet per second — 70,000
Julv 22, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
62
miner's inches under 4 inch pressure — and, for the
remainder of its course, of 1200 cubic feet per sec-
ond. The depth of water will be uuiformly 13 feet,
and the top of banks is 2 feet above the high-water
line. The width at the top varies from 24 to 63 feet,
the narrow part being lined with Portland cement
concrete, and having a heavy grade. Nearly 2 miles
of the canal, exclusive of tunnels, are lined with con-
crete.
There are three tunnels of 308, 900 and 1515 feet
length, respectively. All are lined with concrete, 12
feet wide, and about Hi feet high, to crown of arch
inside.
The main Truckee canal will discharge its water
into Carson river at the site of the lower Carson
reservoir, about 9 miles west of Leetville, in Churchill
county. Thence, the water flows in a channel of that
stream about 4J miles to the diversion dam at the
head of the distributing system.
This dam is a concrete structure, built to last for
all time, which directs the water into two main dis-
tributing canals on either side of the river. That on
the south has a bed width of 22 feet, a top width of
78 feet, and carries 12 feet of water, the capacity be-
ing 1500 cubic feet per spcond.
The canal on the north side is 13 feet wide at bot-
t-im, 45 feet wide at top, carries b'» feet depth of
being estimated at approximately $9,000,000.
Tint Lands to Ue Irrigated and Distributed to
Hombbbskebs.— The number of acres of land ulti-
mately designed to be irrigated is from 300,000 to
400,000 acres, of which 200,000 will be supplied within
the next three years. Of this acreage, it is esti-
mated that about 40,000 acres will be irrigated dur-
ing the present year.
The land is located in a number of valleys along the
Truckee and Carson rivers, extending on each side
from the Central Pacific railroad, the distance being
in some places 25 miles from the road.
The main body of 200,000 acres to be irrigated first
is in the Carson Sink valley, south of the railroad.
Some of the land is immediately adjacent, while the
farthest extends about 25 miles from the railway.
The soil is adapted to alfalfa, all fcrage crops,
potatoes, onions, beets and other vegetables, apples,
pears, berries and other hardier deciduous fruits.
The soil and climate are similar to those in the
vicinity of Salt Lake and Ogden.
The public lands are subject to entry under the
Homestead Act, no price being charged for the land,
but the cost of irrigation will be assessed against the
land as a charge for the water right, to be repaid in
ten annual installments without interest, at the rate
of $2.60 per annum per acre. This covers the cost of
The public lands are now open to entry under the
Homestead Act, but intending settlers are strongly
advised not to file upon any of the lands outside of
the district to be irrigated during the current year,
and not until it is known when the water will
be ready for delivery to such outside lands, for,
without water, they can produce nothing which will
yield them a living.
Following is specific information for the benefit
of intending settlers :
The provisions of the Reclamation Law authorize
the Secretary of the Interior to limit the homestead
entry to any area between 40 and 160 acres, to fix
the price per acre that shall be charged for water,
which price shall return to the Government the cost
of the irrigation works; to fix the number of annual
payments, not exceeding ten, and the date when the
payments shall begin; and to perform any acts and
make all rules and regulations necessary to carry
out the provisions of the law.
The lands under the Truckee-Carson project can
be entered under the Homestead Act only. The
U. S. Land Office, where entries are made, is at
Carson City, Nev. There is no charge for the land
other than the usual land office fees. All entries will
be limited to from 40 to 160 acres of land, depending
upon location, character of soil, roughness of surface
. fc
I
,.!i
Site of the Lower Carson Reservoir, Near Leetville, Nevada.
water, and has a capacity of 450 cubic feet per second.
At present, these two canals are completed for a
total length of 38 miles. With their main branches,
they will ultimately have a total length of over 90
miles, while the laterals and drain ditches to be con-
structed in Carson Sink valley alone will aggregate
1200 miles. Already, nearly 200 miles of these have
been finished, and before the end of July, 1905, nearly
300 miles now under construction will be ready for
use, and will distribute water to 50,000 acres of land.
This part of the irrigation system comprises the
most difficult and expensive portion of the initial
item of the Truckee-Carson project, and when fin-
ished, will have cost about $1,750,000. The exten-
sions of this, in Carson Sink valley, completing the
initial item, and bringing under irrigation not less
than 200,000 acres of land, will increase the total ex-
pense to about $2,600,000, and consume about two
years' time.
Further extensions of the Truckee-Carson project
to a total area of, approximately, 375,000 acres of
land, involve the construction of expensive storage
reservoirs, and costly high-line canals. This work
has been planned, however, and as the lands to be
immediately watered are being rapidly taken by
homeseekers, funds for the completion of the work
will be provided by the payments to be made on the
water rights therefor.
It is estimated that the entire undertaking can
thus be completed within nine years, the total cost
maintenance and operation during the ten - year
period, and provides for the delivery of water to
each farm, and also for a comprehensive drainage
system.
After the ten-year period stated, the land and
water rights belong to the holders of the lands for-
ever, with no further charge by the Government.
The care and maintenance of the system then
passes into the hands of the land owners, under laws,
however, made for the purpose which will insure pro-
tection against corporate or individual greed and
fraud.
The drainage is a more important factor than
would be commonly supposed, as it has been esti-
mated by the U. S. Agricultural Department that
one-tenth of the land that has been irrigated by
private or corporation enterprises has been greatly
injured, if not permanently ruined, by too much
water and too little drainage. Drainage is impera-
tive on account of the heavy alkali deposit, which
must be carried off to insure the good quality of the
soil. This drainage system has increased the cost of
the project from $5 to $10 an acre, but the pros-
perity of the settler depends upon the one about as
much as upon the other.
Title to the public lands is not given until all pay-
ments for water have been made. Lands held in
private ownership are supplied with water as de-
sired, at the same price, and upon the same terms
as public lands.
and irrigability.
All of the public land will be divided into homestead
or farm tracts, each of which will embrace enough
irrigable land to support a family comfortably, if well
and carefully tilled under irrigation.
Any unmarried person over twenty-one years of
age, or any head of a family, who is or has declared
his intention to become a citizen of the United States,
who has not used his or her homestead right, or who
is not then owner of more than 160 acres of land in
any State, can file on any one of these tracts. Title
to land cannot be acquired until all payments for
water have been made. The law requires a home-
steader to see and select his land personally.
Residence must be established on land within six
months after filing thereon, and must be continuous
thereafter, and the land cultivated for the term of
five years.
The cost of water to settlers has been fixed at $26
per acre irrigable, payable in ten equal annual in-
stallments, without interest.
The homestead fees and commissions for filing, pay-
able when application is made, are as follows:
For land at *2
For land at $2
For land at §z
For land at $1
For land at $1
For land at $1
50 per acre for..
50 per acre for.
50 per acre for 40
25 per acre for 160
25 per acre for 80
25 per acre for 40
22 00
11 00
8 00
16 00
8 00
6 50
Originally the Homestead Law required the appli-
63
Mining and Scientific Press.
July 22, 1905.
cant to appear personally at the District U. S. Land
Office to present his application. This requirement
was modified by allowing parties who are prevented
by reason of distance, bodily infirmity or other good
cause from personal attendance upon the U. S. Land
Office to make the preliminary affidavits for home-
stead entries before a commissioner of the U. S. Cir-
cuit Court having jurisdiction over the county in
which the land is situated, or before the judge or
clerk of any court of record of such county, and to
transmit the same, with their applications and the
proper fees and commissions, to the register and
receiver of the TJ. S. Land Office of the district.
The land is from 3900 to 4200 feet above sea
level. The climate is dry, the mean annual pre-
cipitation being 4 to 6 inches. Snow rarely falls to a
depth of 3 or 4 inches, and never lies more than a few
days.
Temperatures are about the same as at Salt Lake
City, and the same crops raised there flourish here.
The soils are sandy loam, and ashy in the main, but
in the lower part of the Carson Sink valley they are
heavier, containing an admixture of clay. It is all
valley land, covered with sagebrush and greasewood.
Well water, usually of good quality, can be obtained
on the lower land at from 10 to 30 feet from the sur-
face, and on the higher land at from 100 to 160 feet
depth.
The Central Pacific Railroad traverses a part of
the land, but the main body of Carson Sink valley lies
from 5 to 30 miles from it.
There are now 12,000 or 15,000 acres of land
under cultivation in Carson Sink valley, and the pres-
ent population is less than 1000.
It will take two more years to complete the
construction of the system of irrigation of the above
lands; water for about 40,000 acres is now avail-
able.
Ore Deposits ot the Cceur d'Alene,
Idaho.
NUMBER III.
Written bv F. L. Ransomb.
At the beginning of 189^ most of the South Fork
mines stopped work, ostensibly to secure better
freight rates. Wages at this time were $3 50 a day.
In the following April a reduction was made in wages,
followed by a strike of the union men. The Frisco,
Gem and Bunker Hill & Sullivan mines attempted
to resume work with non-union men and in July were
attacked by armed strikers. Troops were called into
the district and for a time order was partly restored.
In July, 1894, a second attack was made upon the
Gem mine, and in December the Bunker Hill & Sul-
livan mine closed rather than accede to union de-
mands. In June, 1895, it resumed partial operations,
paying $3 a day to miners. The Tiger and Poorman
mines consolidated in this year.
In May, 1898, the Empire State Mining & Develop-
ment Co. was organized to control the Last Chance
mine and to acquire additional territory west of Milo
gulch. This was the beginning of the process of con-
solidation that afterwards resulted in the formation
of the Federal Mining & Smelting Co The county
seat was this year moved from Murray to Wallace,
now the largest town in the district.
The opening of the year 1899 found the miners'
unions still determined to enforce their demands upon
the mine owners, and in a particularly bitter mood
against the Bunker Hill & Sullivan Co., which main-
tained its riaht to employ non-union labor. On
April 29 a force of several hundred men attacked the
buildings of the company at Kellogg. The office of
the mine was rifled and both office and mill were
totally destroyed by dynamite.
After this episode 500 regular troops were sent
into the district and martial law was proclaimed.
The mines were closed until June, when the Standard
mine reopened with men brought from Missouri. The
other mines resumed work one by one as they secured
non-union miners. From that time to the present no
man has been able to secure employment in the
larger mines (with one exception) save through the
employment bureau maintained by the principal mine
owners.
In 1901 the Tiger-Poorman mine, previously ac-
quired by the Buffalo Hump Mining Co , was consoli-
dated with the holdings of the Empire State Co., and
in September, 1903, the Empire State, Standard and
Mammoth properties were all consolidated under the
Federal Mining & Smelting Co. Other notable events
of the past few years were the discovery in 1901 of
the rich ore body of the Hercules mine, which has
produced ore of a gross value of about $2,000,000 in
less than three years, and the development of .the
Snowstorm mine in 1903. This is the only mine in the
district that ships copper ore.
General Character and Distribution or the Ore
Deposits.— The ore deposits of the Cceur d'Alene dis-
trict may be divided with reference to metallic con-
tents into three classes:
1. Lead-silver deposits.
2. Gold deposits.
3. Copper deposits.
The lead-silver deposits are in general metasomatic
of siliceous sedimentary rocks along zones of Assur-
ing. They consist essentially of galena and siderite.
The gold deposits comprise bed veins, fissure veins
and placers formed in at least two periods. The
gold-bearing veins consist essentially of quartz carry-
ing free gold and auriferous sulphides. The copper
deposits include impregnations along certain quartz-
ite beds and metasomatic fissure veins. The impreg-
nated quartzite only has produced copper on a
commercial scale.
These three classes of deposits are fairly distinct
in their geographical distribution. The principal
lead-silver deposits occur in the portion of the dis-
trict drained by the South Fork of the Coeur d'Alene
river and its tributaries. They fall into three main
groups — one near Wardner, one near Mullan and one
near Burke. The principal gold deposits are found
in the country drained by the North Fork, particu-
larly by Prichard and Beaver creeks. The copper
deposits are apparently confined to the corner of the
district lying southeast of a northeast-southwest
line drawn through the town of Mullan.
The geological distribution of the ore deposits is of
a more definite character than might have been ex-
pected from the lack of lithological contrast in the
thick series of the Coeur d'Alene sediments. The gold
veins, so far as known, only occur in the Prichard
slate, the oldest formation in the region. These
slates constitute the prevailing rock along Prichard
creek from Eagle to Thompson Pass on the main
divide. The principal gold quartz veins occur in this
area, the most productive being between Murray and
Littlefield. Another area of Prichard slate extends
along the South Fork from Osburn past Kellogg and
contains the gold quartz veins worked in early days
on Elk creek.
The principal lead-silver deposits are in the Burke
formation which overlies the Prichard and which, as
already described, is prevailingly a sericitic quartz-
ite. Probably over 75% of the lead-silver ore mined
comes from this formation. The remainder is derived
from the lower beds of the Revett quartzite, from
the more slaty and calcareous Wallace formation,
perhaps in part from the St. Regis formation, and
from the upper part of the Prichard formation, which
is separable merely by a rather arbitrary plane
from the Burke formation, into which it really
grades.
The only productive copper deposit in the district
occurs in the Revett quartzite, although a number of
copper prospects have been opened in the Wallace
and St. Regis formations.
Lead-Silver Deposits. — The principal companies
operating in the Cceur d'Alene district on lead-silver
ores are the Federal Mining & Smelting Co., owning
the Tiger-Poorman mine at Burke, the Standard-
Mammoth mine at Mace and the Last Chance mine
at Wardner; the Bunker Hill & Sullivan Mining &
Concentrating Co., owning the Bunker Hill & Sullivan
mine at Wardner; Larson & Greenough, owning the
Morning mine near Mullan; the Hercules Mining Co.,
owning the Hercules mine, and the Hecla Mining Co.,
owning the Hecla mine, both near Burke. Other
mines which have contributed largely to the general
production in the past, although they are not at pres-
ent being worked on the same profitable scale as those
just mentioned, are the Helena-Frisco mine near
Gem, the Granite and Custer mines on the west slope
of Tiger Peak, ihe Gold Hunter mine near Mullan,
the Sierra Nevada miue about a mile west of Ward-
ner, and the Crown Point, owned by the Coeur d'Alene
Development Co., also west of Wardner but just out-
side of the area mapped.
Some idea of the present relative importance of the
different mines may be had from the following figures
derived from a table compiled by S. A. Easton, man-
ager of the Bunker Hill & Sullivan mine, for the
Mineral Industry for 1903:
gross value of product prom the lead-silver
mines op the cceur d'alene district in 1903.
Standard -Mammoth $2,5*4,818
Morning 1 ,635,612
Bunker Hill & Sullivan 1,601.538
Last Chance,
Hercules
Hecla
Tiger-Poorman. .
Helena-Frisco...
Gold Hunter
Other mines . . .
l,409,67i
8S0.258
655 72'
580,477
465 287
166,000
151,735
Total 810,064,218
The Bunker Hill & Sullivan and the Last Chance
mines are both on the same general zone of Assuring
and their workings connect at several points. The
deepest level near Wardner is the Kellogg tunnel of
the Bunker Hill & Sullivan mine. This tunnel,
which is a crosscut, runs southward from the mill,
situated on the South Fork, about a mile west of Kel-
logg, for a distance of about 12,000 feet to the lode.
It cuts the latter about 2000 feet below the croppings.
The Morning mine has a crosscut adit 2 miles north
of Mullan, the ore being brought down to the mill on
the South Fork over a narrow gauge railway. A
new adit, now being run from the mill, will cut the
lodes about 800 feet below the bottom of the present
workings. The Gold Hunter mine is also opened by
a crosscut adit, from which two lower levels are
worked through a winze. The Tiger-Poorman and
Hecla mines are operated through shafts in the town
of Burke. These workings are respectively 1800 and
600 feet deep. The Standard-Mammoth mine has
fissure veins, formed in greater part by replacement I two long crosscut adits— the Campbell tunnel
ning nearly north from a point on Canyon creek, just
below Mace, and the No. 6 tunnel, running nearly
northeast from a point on the creek, 3000 feet west
and about 150 feet below the Campbell adit. From
the end of the Campbell tunnel an underground shaft
or winze gives access to five levels, the lowest being
1050 feet below the adit level, or about 2000 feet be-
low the apex of the vein. The main adit of the Helena-
Frisco mine is a south crosscut from Canyon creek
near Gem, at the end of which is a shaft 1400 feet
deep, connecting with seven levels. The main adit
of the Hercules mine is on Tiger Peak, about 1J mile
north of Burke and about 1500 feet above the bed of
Canyon creek. This mine as yet produces no concen-
trates, the crude ore being hauled by wagons to the
railroads at Burke.
It appears from the foregoing that the mines
working below the main canyon bottoms of the dis-
trict are the Tiger-Poorman, Hecla, Standard-Mam-
moth and Helena-Frisco. Of these the Tiger-
Poorman (1800 feet) is the deepest.
The lead-silver mines, as a rule, are equipped with
excellent machinery and are operated in a first-class
and substantial manner.
Most of the lead-silver deposits in the Cceur d'Alene
district are metasomatic fissure veins. They are
generally tabular deposits, formed partly by the fill-
ing of open spaces, but largely by replacement along
zones of Assuring or of combined Assuring and shear-
ing. The type is best exemplified by the Canyon
Creek and Mullan groups of mines. The deposits
worked in the mines at Wardner have different forms
from those of Canyon Creek and Mullan, but, broadly
regarded, fall into the same class. The ore bodies of
the Granite mine also present some exceptional
features, which will be adverted to later.
The general strike of the lodes is northwestward.
In the Canyon Creek and Mullan groups the prevail-
ing strike is about N. 70° W. , with local variations from
N. 55° W. to west. At Wardner the Bunker Hill &
Sullivan-Last Chance lode strikes N. 42° to 45° W.
With the exception of this lode, which dips toward
the southwest at an angle of 38°, and the Sierra Ne-
vada lode, which in places is almost horizontal, the
lodes are nearly vertical. The Standard-Mammoth
and Hecla dip north- northeast at an angle of about
85°. The Tiger-Poorman, Hercules and Helena-
Frisco have generally south-southwest dips ranging
from 75° to nearly vertical, while the Morning and
Gold Hunter lodes are practically vertical.
While the Assures appear to have been opened
originally by faulting, the displacement could in no ■
case be measured, and there is usually no observable
difference in the rock on each side of the Assure.
The region, as has been shown, contains many large
faults that have left their marks upon the geological
structure. But these structurally important faults
are not ore bearing.
The productive Assures are occasionally simple
fractures. Usually, however, they exhibit complexity
of various kinds.
In the Morning mine are two nearly parallel zones
of fissuring about 1000 feet apart. The northern one,
known as the Morning vein, conforms approximately
to the cleavage of the sericitic Burke and Revett
quartzites in which it occurs, Assuring and cleavage
being so closely related that the structure may be
termed a shear zone. The average width of this zone
is about 9 feet The southern zone, known as the
You Like vein, is similar in character but narrower,
being only about 6 feet wide. In both lodes the ore
occurs to some extent in small branching, irregular,
or lenticular veinlets, but the ore is mainly a replace-
ment of the country rock and as a whole has no deAnite
walls.
In the Gold Hunter mine are three parallel lodes,
which, with minor intermediate ones, constitute
a shear zone about 70 feet wide, of which a small part
only is productive. Structurally this zone resembles
the Morning and You Like veins, but is less persist-
ent, and the productive parts of the lode, as they are
followed along their strike, lose their identity in the
slaty cleavage of the Wallace and probably St. Regis
formations, which form the country rock of this de-
posit. The Gold Hunter lode is supposed to be a con-
tinuation of the You Like vein. While this is prob-
able, the continuity has not been established. The
Gold Hunter and Morning zone of shearing and Assur-
ing probably continues west-northwest to Canyon
Creek, where it seems to be represented by the fis-
sures of the Helena-Frisco mine, which is in the
Burke formation. The lodes worked in the Helena-
Frisco are three in number, known as the Black
Bear, Frisco and Gem veins. They are apparently
parts of a single faulted lode, as shown in Fig. 1, but
as the mine was only in small part accessible at the
time of visit, this hypothesis, which is strongly sup-
ported by the maps of the underground workings,
could not be fully verified. The three veins, more-
over, are not identical in structure or in character of
ore, and it is possible that the transverse faults are
older than the ore. The Black Bear vein is rarely
over 3 feet wide and is a simple Ailed Assure with very
little metasomatic replacement. The Frisco vein is
also in the main a simple Assure, but a considerable
part of the ore occurs as a replacement of the country
rock. The Gem vein is much like the Frisco. It
splits up and can not be followed after entering the
intrusive mass of syenite on the west.
The Standard-Mammoth and Hecla mines are prob-
July 22, 19U5.
Mining and Scientific Press
64
ably on a single fissure zone, but the actual continuity
is broken by a northwest southeast fault, dipping
northeast, against which the vein abuts at the east-
ern end of the Standard-Mammoth mine. Between
this fault and the Hecla shaft the vein is unknown.
In the Standard-Mammoth and Hecla mines the gen-
eral country rock, as in all of the large Canyon Creek
mines, is the Burke formation. The ore occurs in a
mines occur only where the ore rests upon the gouge
seams marking the main foot wall or the foot wall of
the Jersey fissure zone, or where the ore has been
locally faulted. As a rule, the ore passes gradually
into the unmineralized quartzite.
In the Granite mine the ore occurs in extremely
irregular masses in a tongue of metamorphosed and
fissured quartzite which projects into the intrusive
mass of syenite north of Gem.
Character of the Ores. — The most
characteristic minerals of the lead silver
ores are galena and siderite. Both of
these minerals occur as the filling of fis-
sures and as metasomatic replacements.
In many cases the galena directly re-
places sericitic quartzite. But in some
large ore bodies, particularly those at
Warduer, the quartzite was lirst replaced
by siderite, which was in turn replaced
by galena. All stages may be seen, from
siderite that is traversed by little reticu-
lating veinlets of galena to complete re-
placement by the lead sulphide. That
galena was formed at more than one
period is shown by the fact that masses
of coarsely crystalline galena are some-
times traversed by veinlets of a more
compact variety of the same mineral.
Pyrite and sphalerite are found in all
the deposits. The latter is particularly
abundant in the Granite mine. Elsewhere
it is a minor constituent iof the ore and
Fig. i— Cross Section Bunker Hill & Sullivan, Showing Relation of Ore many of the deposits are remarkably free
Bodies to Foot Wall.
zone of combined fissuring and shearing, partly as the
filling of fissures and partly as a replacement of the
sericitic quartzite. The lode has no definite walls
and usually ranges from 4 to 10 feet in width. In the
Hecla mine the ore usually occurs on one side of a
dark narrow dike, of which no microscopical exam-
ination has yet been made, but which resembles a
fine-grained diorite. Very rarely a little ore occurs
as a replacement in the dike. A little of the same
rock, al though discontinuous and much more decom-
posed, occurs with the Standard-Mammoth vein.
The Tiger-Poorman lode is generally similar to the
Standard-Mammoth, the ore being usually from 3 to
15 feet in width. In the eastern part of the mine the
lode exhibits a well-marked linked vein or imbricated
structure.
In the Wardner deposits, as exemplified in the
Bunker Hill & Sullivan and Last Chance mines, there
is otue dominant fissure, locally known as the "foot
wall," which strikes northwest and dips southwest-
ward at an angle of 38°. The rocks on both sides of
this fissure are sericitic quartzites of the Burke
formation. Those in the hanging wall are much more
fissured than those in the foot wall, and it is in the
fissured hanging wall quartzite that the ore bodies
occur. No ore of importance has yet been found in
the quartzite of the foot wall in these mines. Al-
though the main fissure was undoubtedly formed
prior to the deposition of the ore, it has also been a
plane of later movement, as shown by the slicken-
sided surfaces on the ore, and it is always accom-
panied by soft gouge.
The zone of fissured quartzite in which the ore
bodies occur has a maximum width, measured per-
pendicularly to the foot wall fissure, of about300 feet.
Within this zone, sometimes in contact with the foot
wall, sometimes separated from it by barren quartz-
ite, occur numerous ore bodies of very irregular shape
1
G£™
0
Scale of feet
zoo 400 too aoo
^<Civ
Jtn-
Cer,
~2S2^I Helena />.s«~
Fig. z — Plan of the Veins in the Helena-Frisco Mine
(see Fig. 2). The whole fissured zone, 300 feet in
width, may be regarded as a single great lode, within
which the partly overlapping and partly connected
ore bodies are not uniformly distributed in the plane
of the zone, but are grouped in at least four fairly
distinct shoots, three of which have a general north-
westerly pitch (in the plane of the lode) of 45°. The
fourth, which is the most northwestern of the large
pay shoots, occurs at the junction of the main foot
wall fissure, with a zone of pressure running off into
the hanging wall in a southwesterly direction and
dipping southeast. This is the so-called Jersey or
Skookum fissure. Along this fissure zone for a hori-
zontal distance of nearly 500 feet, and in the pitching
trough formed by the intersection with the main foot
wall fissure, occurs some of the richest ore in the
Wardner mines. The other pay shoots are also con-
nected with distinct fissuring of the hanging wall
quartzite, but this fissuring is elsewhere of a more
irregular character than in the Jersey fissure zone.
The ore of the Sierra Nevada mine also occurred in a
hanging wall fissure zone connecting with the main
foot wall of the Bunker Hill & Sullivan lode.
Definite walls to the ore bodies of the Wardner
from it. The average quantity of zinc in
the concentrates from the Federal Co.'s
mines is about 4.5%. While most of the mines
working above the main drainage lines of the dis-
trict show no impoverishment of the ore through
an increase of pyrite and sphalerite, the con-
ditions in the lower levels of the Helena-Frisco,
Tiger-Poorman and Standard-Mammoth indicate that
such a change, probably a gradual one, may be ex-
pected at considerable depths.
Tetrahedrite occurs in bunches in the galena of the
Wardner and Mullan mines and in the Standard-
Mammoth. It is never very abundant and always
indicates ore rich in silver. It appears to be rather
more abundant near the surface than at great depth.
Chalcopyrite is very rare in the mines at Wardner.
In the Standard-Mammoth mine, however, it is fairly
common, though never found in large masses, and it
occurs also in the Tiger Poorman, Helena-Frisco and
Granite mines. It is frequently closely associated
with pyrrhotite, particularly on the bottom level of
the Tiger-Poorman. Pyrrhotite was detected also
in the concentrates from the Morning mine. Small
quantities of stibnite occur in the Gold Hunter lode.
In addition to the prevailing siderite, quartz forms
a subordinate part of the gangue in all the large
mines. Barite was noted in the Standard-Mammoth,
Gold Hunter and Morning mines and a little calcite
in the Hecla mine. As a general rule, the quartz is
more abundant in the low-grade portions of the ore
bodies.
The minerals found in the oxidized zone are cerus-
site, cerargyrite, native silver, pyromorphite and
occasionally a little malachite or azurite. Limonite,
of course, is always present, and results from the
oxidation of the pyrite and trie siderite. Plattnerite
occurred in the upper tunnels of the You Like vein.
The average content of the ores in silver is a little
over half an ounce to each per cent of lead per ton.
During the fiscal year 1903-4 the ore of the Bunker
Hill & Sullivan mine averaged 8 8%
of lead and 3.9 ounces of silver. The
first - class concentrates from the
same mine averaged 55% lead and
19.5 ounces of silver to the ton.
The ore of the Morning mine in
1903 had an average tenor of 7.4%
of lead and 2.9 ounces of silver per
ton. The average contents per ton
in the ore of the Helena-Frisco mine
in 19o3 were 4.5% of lead and 2.7
ounces of silver. Such ore, how-
ever, is unprofitable. In 18a7 the
average of the same mine was 5.5% of lead and 4.2
ounces of silver. Probably the richest ore now pro-
duced .on a large scale is that of the Hercules, with
approximately 50% of lead and 45 ounces of silver to
the ton. This, however, is picked material, as this
mine does not at present concentrate any of its ore.
(to be continued.)
*************************************
* *
Trade Treatises. |
* *
K!mi|><f,<ti<|i*iti***** ******** ****************
"California — Her Resources and Possibilities" are
described in the 15th annual report of the California
State Board of Trade.
The Reynold Roller Chain, for chain drives, is tersely
described in illustrated booklet No. 54 of the Link Belt
Engineering Co. of Philadelphia, Pa.
Crandall Packings for steam, ammonia an9 hydraulic
purposes are catalogued and priced in a booklet from
the Crandall Packing Co. 'of Palmyra, N. Y.
The Allis Chalmers Co., Milwaukee, Wis., have repub-
lished Prof. H. O. Hofman's "Gold Mining in the Black
Hills" in attractive form. This paper has been in
demand simv its Bret publication by the American Insti-
tute of Mining Engineers.
X + * **+ * -! •■ 4.4.4,4,4.4,4,4,4.4,4,4,4, 4.4.4,4,4. J.********
* *
I Personal. *
J********.;. ************** **************
P. A. Heinzf. of Butte, Mont., is in London, Eng.
F. J. Frost is in Denver, Colo., from Buena Vista,
Colo.
E. L. NEWHOUSE of New York City is in San Fran-
cisco, Cal.
W. R. Rust of Tacoma smelter has returned from San
Francisco, Cal.
O. A. NICHOLS has taken the management Nichols
M. Co. at Sherwood, Mo.
G. R. Yearsley has been appointed mill superintend-
ent Pfau G. M. Co., at Cherry, Ariz.
W. L. Cobii has returned to San Francisco, Cal., from
mine examination at Plymouth, Cal.
J. T. Wells has resigned as superintendent Luna
Lead Co.'s smelter at Deming, N. M.
Jas. Hampton has been appointed foreman Oneida
mine at Jackson, Amador county, Cal.
Thos. H. Leggett, mining engineer of San Francisco,
Cal., has returned from London, England.
L. M. Adsit has been appointed assistant superintend-
ent Highland Bov mine at Bingham, Utah.
A. W. Robbins has been appointed superintendent
Gold Sovereign mine at Cripple Creek, Colo.
A. B. Royal has returned to Pasadena, Cal., after ex-
amining mines at Cerbat, Mohave county, Ariz.
S. E. Bretherton of Joplin, Mo., has charge of the
Afterthought smelter at Ingot, Shasta county, Cal.
G. D. Reid has resigned as superintendent Ladds
Metal Co. of Portland, Or., and will examine mines in
Mexico.
C. R. Norris, superintendent Great Sulphide mine
near Tucson, Ariz., is consulting with stockholders at
Oxnard, Cal.
E. P. POPE, treasurer La Libertad M. Co. of Altar,
Sonora, Mexico, has returned to Parkersburg, W. Va.,
from the mine.
W. P. De Camp, formerly superintendent, has been
appointed manager El Tigre mine, with headquarters at
Douglas, Ariz.
G. H. Hooper and E. G. Eckis of Los Angeles, Cal.,
have been examining the Midnight and Pinkham mines
at Chloride, Ariz.
R. L. Hendriok has been appointed superintendent
Black Hawk mine at Soulsbyville, Cal., succeeding R. H.
Barnes, resigned.
J. A. Creighton has been appointed superintendent
Dalton & Lark mines at Bingham, Utah, succeeding
Chas Lawton, resigned.
Wm. Clark of Grass Valley, Cal., has been appointed
superintendent Eagle & Blue Bell mines at Eureka,
Utah, succeeding J. A. Creighton.
G. W. Myers, representative Chrome Steel Works,
has left San Francisco, Cal., on the Sierra for Australia,
whence he will visit Japan and China.
W. C. Bogue, Suit Lake City, Utah, has resigned as
local manager Mine & Smelter Supply Co. and will be
manager Western Iron Mills Co. at Denver, Colo.
T. H. Oxnam, formerly manager, has been retainel
as consulting engineer for the Palmarejo & Mexican
Goldflelds, Ltd., at Chinipas, Chihuahua, Mexico.
W. D. Waltman, formerly of Cripple Creek, Colo., is
supervisor of mining for the Mining Bureau of the Pan-
ama Canal Commission at Empire, Canal Zone, Panama.
R. H. Barnes has resigned as superintendent Black
Hawk mine at Soulsbyville, Cal., and will go to Sinaloa,
Mexico, on professional business for the Black Hawk
M. Co.
W. B. Rountree, chief uisayer and chemist for the
Mountain Copper Co. at Keswick, Cal., has been trans-
ferred to the company's new reduction plant at Mar-
tinez, Cal.
Wm. A. Pomeroy, recent manager Great Pingall
mine, West Australia, has been appointed manager Pal-
marejo & Mexican Goldflelds, Ltd., at Chinipas, Chihua-
hua, Mexico.
Daniel Guggenheim, Robt. Guggenheim, S. W.
Eccles and H. B. Tooker, all of American Securities
Co., are in San Francisco, Cal., to plan improvements
for the Selby and Tacoma smelters.
A. H. Whiteside of the Allis-Chalmers Co.'s office
at Atlanta, Ga., is transferred to the Philadelphia dis-
trict office, where he succeeds as manager W. A. Wood,
resigned. M. W. Thomas has been appointed Atlanta
manager. W. J. Buckley has been appointed St. Louis
manager. H. P. Hill, whom he succeeds, goes to the
Salt Lake City office.
**************************************
* *
I Obituary. $
» <!!$,<»..******************** *************
W. F. Newell, ore buyer for the Selby Smelting
Works, died July 19 in Oakland, Cal., age 47 years. He
was one of the best known mineralogists on the Pacific
coast.
W. F. Patrick, for years one of the leading mine
operators of Colorado, died July 14 at Rhyolite, Nev.
He, with his brother, L. L. Patrick, was one of the lead-
in" owners of the Combination mine at Rhyolite.
65
Mining and Scientific Press.
July 22, 1905.
{ MINING SUMMARY. |
* *
*<ft|><P¥<|><p<t"|»<|><M"M» ******** *'*'*;":r'**"*"**4="¥>«tf"t;"*'*
Specially Compiled and Reported for the MINING AND
SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
ALASKA.
The 14 miles of railroad from Chena to Fairbanks was
completed July 18. A branch road to the creeks is
graded and expected to be in operation by September.
An important decision affecting- the mining interests of
Alaska has been rendered by Judge Wickersham at
Fairbanks. Miners there believe it will do more toward
the development of the resources of that country than
anything else which has occurred within recent years.
The judgment will result in developing the country by
compelling men who lay claim to mineral ground to dig
into it in order to make good their rights. The posting
of a notice of location is no longer sufficient. Judge
Wickersham defines the rights of the miner and locator
in unmistakable terms, as follows: "Discovery of min-
eral is necessary to the validity of a placer mining claim.
If staking and recording shall follow after the date of
the discovery they relate hack to the discovery, and, in
case no intervening rights have attached, perfect the
claim as of that date. But it is not so with the dis-
covery. If acts of staking and recording are performed
first, as in this case, and discovery last, the validity and
life of the claim begin only with the discovery. The
greatest evil in the administration of mining law in
Alaska is the habit of the shiftless, in staking and record-
ing claims, generally by power of attorney, whereby one
person out of ten acquires a claim to a large area of sup-
posed mineral lands and excludes the willing miner from
working it and developing the resources of the Terri-
tory. Since the threat of lawsuit lurks behind each
of these pretended locations, the prospector generally
passes it by, and thus the speculative locator controls
the property.
ARIZONA.
Cochise Comity.
(Special Correspondence). — R. Mitchell of Los Angeles,
Cal., and associates have completed details for a smelter
at Naco. The capacity of the plant is 250 tons a day,
and the works will be devoted almost entirely to cop-
per ores.
NacO, July 16.
(Special Correspondence). — T. King and J. Warren of
Johnson are mining and shipping ore from that camp to
El Paso. There is considerable mining going on in the
district. The Arizona Con. is shipping a good grade of
sulphide copper from the Republic and Mammoth mines.
Johnson, July 15.
P. S. Simmons, president of the Flourine M. Co., at
Pearce, reports that the shaft is down 75 feet and a vein
of silver has been cut. It is reported that the Tomb-
stone Consolidated Mines Co. is to begin the treatment
of a portion of its ores by the cyanide process.
On the 700-foot level on the Shattuck & Arizona a fine
body of ore has been found. The main shaft is down
750 feet. The pumps are in operation. Superintendent
Pattison will resume work in the bottom of the shaft as
soon as the water is taken out. Of the Copper Glance
property, near Bisbee, the stockholders are left with the
patented ground, as the machinery has been taken off.
61la County.
The Arizona Commercial Copper Co. have completed
track connecting the Copper Hill mine with the United
Globe surface tramway and are shipping ore to the Old
Dominion smelter. Initial shipments will not exceed 100
tons per day, but will be gradually increased.
Graham County.
(Special Correspondence). — The output of copper in
the Clifton-Morenci district for June was nearly 3000
tons with the increased facilities for reduction now
being installed ; an increase of 500 tons per month is
expected by Jan. 1, 1906. The Arizona Copper Co. is
driving a tunnel through the mountain at Morenci to
connect the Humboldt mine with the new concentrator
they are building. This company is also sinking their
main working shaft on the Big Coronado lead an addi-
tional 200 feet from the 500 to the 700-foot level. The
Coronado Copper M. Co. is putting in a gasoline hoist at
the Garnet shaft. The Crawford Gold M. Co. has
opened up a high grade gold ore. The Shannon Cop-
per Co. is shipping on an average 900 tons of ore daily.
This company is putting in converters at their smelter
and hereafter will treat their own matte instead of get-
ting it done by the Arizona Copper Co.
Metcalf, July 16.
Announcement is made that the Shannon Co., at Clif-
ton, will have a converter plant in operation before the
close of the year. Heretofore the Shannon matte has
been run through the converters of the Arizona Copper
Co. in Clifton, at much expense through transportation
and cooling. A briqueting plant is being added to
the equipment of the Arizona Copper Co. of Clifton,
with capacity for compressing twenty-five tons a day of
slack coal, coke or flue dust.
Two shifts are at work on the Weaver mines in Green-
lee district, north of Clifton.
Mohave County.
W. C. Howard, general manager of the Katherine and
other mines in the Pyramid section, 20 miles from King-
man, is putting in a large pumping plant for the mill
and a new hoisting plant. The main shaft is down 200
feet on the Katherine mine.
Pima County.
C. R. Norris, superintendent of the Great Sulphide
mines near Tucson, reports that the main shaft is down
200 feet. The new railway from Tucson to the Copper
Belt mines passes within 6 miles of the Great Sulphide
workings. Work has been temporarily suspended.
Pinal County.
The leaching experiment on the Ray mine, near Kel-
vin, is apparently giving satisfaction. Electricity is
used as a precipitating agent. The company thinks
that it will be ready to commence active operations in
both mine and smelter within a month. A stamp mill
is to be put in at the Lucien Walker mine in the Casa
Grande district.
Yavapai County.
Work has begun on the excavations for the smelting
plant and necessary buildings at the Val Verde mine.
The main shaft of the Pine Mountain mine, at
Walker, is to be sunk 400 feet deeper from the present
200-foot level, where crosscutting will be done to follow
up the ore bodies. The Gold-Copper Co. is working
mines south of Prescott under the direction of T. Mar-
mont. Work is to begin on the Rosalie copper mines
near Mayer with ten men. D. J. Thompson of Prescott
is one of the owners.
The Sayer G. M. Co. intends to sink their main shaft
east of Martinez 100 feet deeper and will then drift on
the vein to show the extent of the ore body. It is re-
ported that work is to be resumed at the Octave mine at
Octave upon the return of Superintendent A. E. Hurley
from the East. A hoist and pump are to be put on
the Octave Extension gold mines, which are being
worked by the Southwestern Development Co. C. E.
Butler and associates will place a hoist and pump on the
Commodore mine preparatory to sinking the shaft.
The Alaska group, near Congress, with D. J. Sullivan as
manager, will soon put up a hoist. The Planet Saturn
group, east of Martinez, has recently been bonded to a
company who will unwater the main shaft and com-
mence active development work. The main shaft is
down over 1000 feet. East of Martinez the Rincon
Mines Co. are building a new mill. Recently fire de-
stroyed the blacksmith shop and pump house at the
Pfau mine in the Cherry Creek district, but has not in-
terfered with the working of the mine, and everything
is to be replaced.
Yuma County.
(Special Correspondence).— The California & Arizona
M. Co. are employing a good force on their claims at
Melton. The work consists principally of tunnels run off
on the veins and in making upraises for the purpose of
obtaining better ventilation. Two shipments of ore
have been made.
Melton, July 15.
CALIFORNIA.
Butte County.
Articles of incorporation of the Cascade Placer Cor-
poration have been filed at Oroville. The purpose is to
develop the Cascade mine, 12 miles above Lumpkin.
It is reported that the deal pending between the Lon-
don Venture Corporation and the owners of several
dredger properties on the Feather river for the sale of
the latter has finally been effected in London. The
properties involved are the Boston & California and the
Boston & Oroville companies, the Oroville Gold Dredg-
ing & Exploration Co. and the Bear River Co. The lat-
ter is on the Bear river. The price agreed upon is said
to be $3,000,000. Among the owners of these properties
are Evans & Clark of Boston and W. P. Hammon and
A. F. Jones of Oroville, the eBtate of the late J. E. Doo-
little, F. W. Bradley, W. H. Crocker, the Guggenheims,
J. H. Hammond and several others. There are eight
dredgers already at work on these properties and orders
for six more have been placed.
Calaveras County.
Work has been commenced on the San Andreas quartz
mine at San Andreas, under the direction of John
Henry. The air connection has been finished at Reed's
mine on Central hill, near San AndreaB. The Bertola
and Zugar gravel mines, between El Dorado and Sheep-
ranch, have been bonded through E. C. Rigney of El
Dorado to Los Angeles capitalists, and development
work on the properties, with Mr. Rigney as general
manager, will commence on July 15. The owners of
the Gum Boot mine, near Esmeralda, have bonded their
property to a company, with John Campbell of Murphys
as general manager. The new mill for the Clary G.
M. Co. is being built on the South Bank mine at Indian
creek, near Sheepranch. Work at the Ohio mine on
Indian creek, near Esmeralda, is under the superinten-
dency of W. L. Driver of Murphys. At present there is
a force of eight men at work, and this will be increased
as the work advances sufficiently to advantageously
work a larger number of men.
Contra Costa County.
The smelter trust, of which D. Guggenheim of New
York, now in San Francisco, is the head, is considering
plans for establishing a smelting plant at a point, yet to
be selected, on the bay shore between San Francisco and
Port Costa. It is proposed to have the works convenient
to the Southern Pacific and Santa Fe railroads. It has
been realized that the Selby smelter is inadequate for
the business which the trust intends to develop on this
coast. It was announced recently by D. Guggenheim
that his company would enlarge the works at Port
Costa, but since then the officials of the trust have been
made to realize that the site of the works is not of suf-
ficient size to permit the improvements contemplated.
In consequence it has been decided to erect another and
larger works, similar to those at Tacoma, at a point
farther south, where connections can be made with both
the Southern Pacific and the Santa Fe lines. It is very
likely that before purchasing a site the trust officials
will secure title to many pieces of land adjacent to the
bay shore in order to obviate the possibility of farmers
protesting against the establishment of the new works.
El Dorado County.
Half of Grizzly Flat was destroyed by fire July 18.
Kern County.
For the first time since 1897, when, by an act of the
Legislature, mining districts were abolished, Kern county
is to have an organized mining district, that of Amalie.
This district was first organized in 1895, and did not take
advantage of the new laws when the Legislature of 1899
repealed the act of 1897. Since that time all locations of
Amalie, as of other districts in the county, have been
filed with the county recorder.
Mariposa County.
G. Dwart, treasurer of the Alice G. M. Co., and C.
Ollinger, president and general manager, purchased the
Alice mine from Carroll & McCrossen last December.
The mine is in Hunter's valley near Merced river, near
Mariposa. The old shaft is being repaired and enlarged.
It is 85 feet deep and will be sunk 90 feet farther, when
drifts will be run. After the mine has been developed
it is the intention to build a mill. The California-
Tennessee G. M. Co. are building a hoist and 10-stamp
mill at Indian gulch. The hoist will be run by gasoline,
the mill by steam. The mill is expected to begin crush-
ing on July 26th. The shaft at the mine is down 200
feet.
Nevada County.
New concentrators and a canvas plant are' to be put in
at the 16 to 1 mine near Washington. F. M. Egan of
Sacramento, president of the company, is at the mine.
There is talk of putting in a chlorination plant at the
mine, also to put in a new hoist, preparatory to sinking.
J. H. English is superintendent.
The Majestic mine, in Rough and Ready district, has
been started under the management of W. G. Dround.
The shaft is being unwatered preparatory to sinking
from the 250-foot level. At Cherokee Flat, the Morn-
ing Star is grading for its projected mill. Its new shaft
is down 100 feet, and, in addition, the owners intend to
sink the old shaft several hundred feet deeper.
It is reported that tributers, headed by H. J. Stewart,
have started work at the Union Hill mine, near Grass
Valley. The pumps are unwatering the mine. The
company will furnish material and keep the pumps run-
ning, working on a percentage baBis with the men. The
crew expects to go down the creek 1200 feet and sink a
new shaft. The Neversweat mine, at Willow Valley,
is to be developed by C. Fischer and J. F. Dietrich of Gold
Hill, Nev. They are extending two of the three tunnels
on the mine. The lower, or drain tunnel, will be driven
in along the ledge. The hoist on the old Spanish
mine, in Woods ravine, has been sold to the Esperance
M. Co. of French Corral, who will move it to their mine.
Never before in history has Cherokee and Badger Hill
had brighter prospects ahead than at present. The
Morning Star mine has some forty men at work in the
mine, grading for the mill and doing other work, and
the Badger Hill Gravel Co. is figuring on sinking a shaft
to tap the gravel channel. It is believed that the prop-
erty will pay to work by the drifting process. Many
years ago the Badger Hill was operated through the
hydraulicking process and it paid handsome dividends.
There is still a great bank of gravel left, and the owners,
the Bloomfield Co., are now preparing to start a shaft
and run drifts. The shaft at the Morning Star is now
down about 100 feet and the ledge still holds good. It is
their intention soon to open the old shaft, to the west
from the new one, which is about 170 feet deep. There
is a hoisting and pumping rig on the old shaft.
Placer County.
The Tadpole mine, 5 miles above Westville, is reported
to be working four men, and ore will be crushed at the
Alameda mill, at Black canyon, until the mine is thor-
oughly tested and prospected. L. C. Trent, president
of the Dairy Farm mine, 7 miles north of Lincoln, intends
to build a railroad from the Dairy Farm mine to the
main line of the Southern Pacific Co. The Blue Jay
mine, in the Dairy Farm district, owned by Price, is said
to be showing up well. The machinery at the Belle-
vue mine, near Ophir, has been started by Buchanan &
Lozano.
Shasta County.
It is reported that the Afterthought smelter at Ingot
is in successful operation under the direction of S. E.
Bretherton.
A company organized with T. Shonts, head of the
Panama Canal Commission, as a stockholder and director,
has purchased the Boulder mine, near Castella.
The Delta Con. has bought the Delta and the Bacchus
mines, 6 miles from Delta. The Delta mine was pur-
chased from F. M. Johnson of San Francisco and the
Bacchus from E. F. Fitzpatrick of Redwood City. The
acquisition of these mines by the Delta Con. will mean
the reopening of the Dog Creek gold regions and a rail-
road and smelter may be built within a year.
Sierra County.
The Downieville Messenger reports that work is stead-
ily progressing at the White Bear mine, near Downie-
ville, with twenty-five men, under the superintendency
of W. J. Belcher. Power drills have recently been put
in to facilitate the running of the hard rock tunnel to
open up the channel to the north.— For the last twelve
months the crew at the Exchange mine, near Monte
Cristo, owned by J. Peckwith, T. Peckwith and H.
Spaulding, Jr., have been enlarging the tunnel and con-
structing an airway alongside the tunnel, and reopening
an old air shaft. This work is now about completed and
they are ready to begin the extraction of gravel, of
which they have a large body already developed. The
channel is said to be the continuation of the White
Bear channel. At the Papoose mine in Jim Crow
canyon, near Downieville, W. H. Corbiere, who has a
bond on the property, has struck the ledge in a new tun-
nel, below the upper workings. At Happy Hollow,
near Port Wine, twenty-five men are employed, under
the management of A. F. Eaton of San Jose, who has
been reappointed manager of the Tabor mine at Gibson-
ville. Rich sulphurets have been struck at the Last
Resort mine at Downieville. F. E. Wilber, vice-pres-
ident, is expected from Guthrie, Okla., August 1 to
make an examination of the property.
At the annual meeting of the Poker Flat G. M. & M.
Co. of Poker Flat, near Table Rock, the following offi-
cers and directors were elected: President, O. P.
Cooper, Guthrie, Okla.; vice-president, C. H. Molter,
Berkeley; secretary, F. P. Roddy; treasurer and man-
ager, E. L. Blincoe; directors, J. Duke, Guthrie, Okla.;
J. B. Lassiat, Downieville; C. Berg, San Francisco. The
company is reducing their oapital stock from 1,000,000
shares to 100,000. The further work of the mine will be
conducted by Mr. Blincoe.
Work is to be started at the Herkimer gravel mine,
near Poker Flat, Table Rock P. O., owned by H. L.
Huntington and W. P. Sawyer, both of Nevada City.
H. Fowler is to run a tunnel to tap the channel 800
feet in.
Slslclyou County.
The mill at the Mabel mine on Mill creek, near Scott
July 22, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
66
Bar, 15 miles from Montague, is crushing good ore.
W. H. Parker has a cyanide plant at the mill with which
he is working the tailings pile. At Humbugcreek the
Mono Co. is building a 25-ton mill and cyanide plant.
Superintendent Tibbetts of the Headwaters mine, near
Humbug, is running a 400-foot crosscut tunnel to strike
the ledge at lower depth.
Batter County.
It is reported that a prospecting drill is to be placed
on T. L. Smith's land near Yuba City as a result of pre-
liminary tests on the gold-bearing gravels.
Trlulty Couuty.
W. Stover, who has bonded the Beaudry mine, at
Minereville, near Weaver, intends to work the low
ground with a hydraulic elevator. Lorenz Bros.
have bought the Wallace mine, on Steiner's Flat, 3 miles
from Douglas City, from J. C. and L. J. Wallace.
Tuolumne County.
(Special Correspondence).— The double-compartment
shaft of the Black Hawk mine, at Soulsbyville, is down
100 feet and a crosscut is being driven to out the ledge.
Superintendent R. H. Hendricks has eight men at work.
Soulsbyville, July 19.
Work is to be resumed at the Del Monte mine, near
Groveland. A new steel hoist is being put up at the
Arrow mine, west of Soulsbyville. The stamps added
to the mill at the Longfellow have commenced pounding
on good ore. The shaft has been enlarged and retim-
bered and drifting is being done on the 300, 450 and 600
levels.
J. M. Merrill will start work at the Cosmopolite mine,
near Groveland. A small stamp mill will be put in at
once. W. Waldron Is superintendent.
COLORADO.
(Spec'al Correspondence).— The American Mining
Congress, with headquarters in Denver, will hold a
meeting to decide on future work for the association.
One of the questions to come before the meeting will be
the raising of sufficient money to build suitable head-
quarters for the congress. It is understood the method
for raising the necessary capital will be by subscription
and sale of stock in the association. It is stated, by
parties who are in a position to know, that several lead-
ing mining men of the State and country at large have
come forward with good subscriptions and that the
building will be an assured fact. The congress expects
to expend $500,000 on the building. It is also the inten-
tion of the association to secure a large display of min-
erals from different sections.
The report comes from the Cripple Creek district that
a number of assayers in the district have been placed
under arrest for receiving stolen ore from the "high
graders." With some assayers this seems to be the
height of their ambition to act as a fence for the ore
thieves. Were it not for the fact that some of the as-
sayers make it a part of their "professional duty" to
handle that class of work, the operators would not find
it so difficult to weed out the high graders in the mines.
It is said that assayers who follow the vocation of buy-
ing high-grade ores that have been stolen make a small
fortune out of the work each year.
The State will have a bill of about $2500 to settle with
the citizens of TeUuride on account of "lost arms"
which the militia took from the citizens during the re-
cent strike in that vicinity and which have not been re-
turned to the owners.
The anti-boycott measure passed at the last meeting
of the Legislature is to take effect some time during this
mon th and is intended to stop boycotting, picketing and
blacklisting. The law is intended to work in favor of
both employer and employe. Under the new law the
employer will not be permitted to blacklist employes
and employes will not be permitted to boycott the em-
ployer.
It is understood the Government will not take action
against the Moffat road for right-of-way through Gore
canyon and that the suit recently started against the
road will be dropped. From indications the Moffat road
will not be enjoined from building their line through the
canyon.
It is the opinion of a prominent mining engineer that
should the merger of the railroads take place in the
Cripple Creek district and the transportation charges
raised it will be a good thing for Cripple Creek and
vicinity, as the operators will then begin to develop
different processes for handling the low-grade material
and thereby avoid heavy shipping charges.
Denver, July 17.
Clear Creek Conntv.
At Idaho Springs the Columbia mine, on Chicago
mountain, the western extension of which forms the
junction with the Great Republican vein, has resumed
after lying idle for nearly five years. It is being worked
by a pool of Idaho Springs men, including J. G. Roberts,
W. G. ArkillB (manager of the Star tunnel), E. R. Lum-
ley, M. C. Potter, R. R. Graham, J. Nelson and J. W.
Anderson.
It is reported that W. Rogers, general manager of the
Santiago mine, in the Argentine district, has bought the
old Clear Creek mill, in the south end of Georgetown.
The entire plant will be overhauled and new and modern
machinery will be put in.
Manager Wilcox of the Waldorf Co., operating in Ar-
gentine district, near Georgetown, has made a good
strike at the junction of the Paymaster and Common-
wealth veins through a 75-foot lateral drift from the
main tunnel. The junction is 690 feet below the lowest
of the upper workings, which will enable the manager to
drive seven levels, 100 feet apart, and open rich ground.
The Wilcox tunnel will be continued on its projected
line to cut the Mendham, Wheeling Johnson, Inde-
pendence and other veins at a depth of 1700 feet below
the old shaft workings. The first of the veins will be
cut 1000 feet beyond the present heading, and the others
a short distance ahead of the Mendham. The building
is finished and the machinery on the ground ready for
installation and will be ready to run within two months.
It will be a duplicate of the Stevens mill. From the
dumps and stopes of the Stevens mine they are taking
formerly rejected stuff, milling at a cost of 93 cents a ton
average and getting out of it $8000 to $10,000 a month.
They are putting in twelve machinedrills into the Tobin
mine and in the ore bodies of the big tunnel. Much of
this is high grade which will be sent to the smelters
direct, the lower being reserved for milling.
The Ramsdale claims on Lincoln mountain have been
sold to G. W. Teagarden and A. B. Montgomery of
Georgetown, representing Eastern capitalists, for
$35,000. This property was owned by H. G. Haeseler
and H. J. Crist of Georgetown and W. Schauer of Long-
mont. The Ramsdale group is in the new gold belt of
upper Clear Creek. The crosscut has been driven 450
feet, with 150 feet of drifting on the Ramsdale lode. In
addition to this a number of shafts have been sunk on
the various lodes belonging to the group. It is the pur-
pose of the new purchasers to put in heavy machinery
within the next month and a concentrator is also dis-
cussed. Other property owners of Lincoln mountain
are making arrangements for the resumption of work.
The new conveyor has arrived at the Mendota mill at
Silver Plume arid operations at the mill have been
resumed on material from the dump, as it is desired to
treat as much of the dump stuff as possible during the
summer months. In the winter bad weather will not
interfere with getting the ore out of the mine for con-
centration, and some work is being carried on in the
mine for the purpose of getting the old workings in
shape for running the stopes and taking down the
streaks of low-grade ore that were left when the lead
streaks were worked out, as there was no money in zinc ore
then, while it now proves to be very profitable where
the ore can be concentrated.
The Silver Standard says that what seems to be needed
for the development of the mineral resources of McClel-
lan mountain is the driving of a tunnel from the Silver
Plume side of it similar to the enterprises that are being
carried on in the East Argentine district for the devel-
opment and economical working of the veins there. The
most advantageous location for such a tunnel would seem
to be in the territory embraced in the holdings of the
Silver Plume Mines & Tunnel Co., the group of claims
owned by Aldrich, the Daisy group and J. W. Bough-
ton's claims.
El Paso County.
F. F. Castello has been elected president of the Col-
orado Springs Mining Stock Exchange; J. A. Hayes, first
vice-president; J. R. McKinnie, second vice-president;
J. A. Connell, third vice-president, and W. P. Kinney,
secretary and treasurer.
Fremont County.
Engineers have finished the preliminary survey of the
Great Western railway, connecting the Great Western
coal mines with Canon City, a distance of 5 miles. This
is believed to be the preliminary step toward building
south to Trinidad and from that point south to El Paso,
Tex.
Ctllpln County, '
It is reported that work will be started at Golden Rod
M. & M. Co. 's mines, up Silver creek, near Central City,
August 1, by which time the water will have subsided.
At the Mascot shaft of the Boston-Occidental M. Co.
at American City the shaft has passed the 300-foot point
and good headway is being made in deepening it. The
shaft is being sunk vertical, is 8x10 feet in the clear and
is of two compartments, and will cut the vein" at a depth
of 370 feet, as the vein is dipping north. The 280-foot
crosscut is in 30 feet and is being extended to the vein.
At the 200-foot level the vein is 16 feet wide. The work
is in charge of Foreman S. Reid. F. Ingram and L. J.
Mountz, owners of the Jim tunnel property on Elk
creek, near Central City, have run the tunnel in 200 feet.
The foundation work on the drying room for the
Boston-Occidental M. Co., on Colorado hill, has been
completed and the contract for the new building has
been given to G. Converse, who has commenced work.
Manager L. J. Mountz of the Cyrene Gold Mines
Co., operating in the Twelve Mile section, is asking for
bids for sinking the main shaft down another lift of 100
feet and for drifting 100 feet. The main shaft is down
130 feet and in the lower levels a good body of ore of a
concentrating and smelting character has been disclosed.
The United Mining & Exploration Co., operating the
Modoc mine, on Quartz hill, haB put in a boiler and small
air compressor. Free-milling ore has been opened in the
200-foot workings, and it is the intention of the company
to upraise from' the workings, to make a cage shaft to
handle the increasing production. The Pioneer tun-
nel of the Decatur Gold M., M. & T. Co., in Moon gulch,
under the management of W. M. Ashmore, is in 630 feet.
GunnlBon Connty.
E. V. Neelands, superintendent of the Black Queen
mine, is pushing the work at the new Belle mill at Crys-
tal. A. Burnett and G. Tays are getting ready for
work at the Copper King mine, near Marble. In the
Tin Cup mining district the Gold Cup mine, operated by
I. L. Johnson, has started the new drainage and trans-
portation tunnel projected to run a mile, under the 500
acres controlled by the Gold Cup Co. and other proper-
ties. On the Blistered Horn tunnel, near Tin Cup,
operated by Andrew Lejune to develop depths of the
Jimmy Mack mine, the tunnel is in 1400 feet. L.
Cavnah, as manager of the West Gold Hill property of
Tin Cup, has been operating a cyanide mill of 100-ton
capacity, treating fifty tons a day during the spring,
and apparently making it a success. Recently an acci-
dent to the 2400-foot tramway has shut down the mill
for a time, but it will probably start again this month.
The Cumberland mine, one of the Raymond group of
Pitkin, is shipping. W. Scott is unwatering the Wil-
liams shaft, near Pitkin, preparatory to opening the
lower levels. G. Kellogg of the Chloride mine, near
Pitkin, is having the mine unwatered. Negotiations are
pending for the lease of the Mono mill, which will be
used to treat the ore from the Chloride by cyanide.
The Gold Cross M. & M. Co. has bought seventy-seven
acres of the patented timber tract of S. Dickinson, which
lies near their workings west of Bowerman.
Lake Connty.
In Sayers' gulch, near Twin Lakes, J. A. Storm is
developing the Bedford group of ten claims. A. Kin-
del and associates are operating the First Discovery
and have a very promising prospect. M. Sargent ex-
pects to resume development on the Ida May group.
Preparations will be made to commence sinking a new
shaft on the Diamond Joe group, of which W. E. N.
Wright is the superintendent. This property Is on the
eastern slopo of Mount Ewing.
The Parson shaft, lower Rock hill, Leadville, is down
200 feet and is entering the lake bedding. Trouble is
being experienced with water, the shaft making 200 gal-
lons per minute. The trouble is not so much from the
flow of water as from the sand that gets into the valves
of the pumps, making sinking slow.
Trouble has been had at No. 1 shaf ; of the Resurrec-
tion mine, of Leadville, on account of an extra flow of
water, but the pumps at No. 3 shaft were started and
the water has been lowered sufficiently to permit of work
being carried on. The Silent Friend shaft is down 400
feet and another lift is being sunk to catch the ore shoot,
which is dipping rapidly.- Prospect work has been re-
sumed on the Gold Basin, near Leadville.
Mineral County.
The Creede United Mines Co. has bought the Big
Kanawha Leasing Co. and the Humphreys T. & M. Co.,
including the mill, all three concerns being consolidated
under the Creede United Mines Co. According to
G. Davis, the manager, they expect to mine and mill 6000
tons of ore monthly and will make improvements in the
mill. About 175 men are employed in the mine and mill.
The mill is turning out 600 to 800 tons of concentrates
monthly and is making fine recoveries of zinc and other
associated values.
San Juan County.
D. E. Carmichael and J. H. Kramer have started work
at the Silver Ledge mine and mill near Silverton.
The tunnel being run to cut the Bullion King vein, near
Silverton, has been driven 600 feet by Manager A. J.
Aurand.
Work is progressing on the new branch railroad from
Howardsville to the Green Mountain M. Co. property.
The railroad will be 2 miles long, its construction cost-
ing $50,000 per mile.
San Miguel County.
R. J. McCarthy has started work near Ophir. G.
Southard, M. K. Monroe and J. C. Ferguson have taken
a lease on the Osceola mine, near Ophir.
Summit County.
Kaiser & Madron, operating the Germania on Little
mountain, near Breckenridge, have a carload of silver-
lead ore to ship. At the Abundance G. M. & M. Co.
on Mineral hill, near Breckenridge, drifting is being
done with satisfactory results on the 18-inch streak of
carbonate ore which was recently cut in the south cross-
cut at 70 feet from the 150-foot station of the shaft.
The winze sunk in the 11-foot vein of the Colorado &
Wyoming Development Co. from the main tunnel lead
has had considerable difficulty in sinking on account of
seepage water. Condon & Shrock, who are operating
the Morning Star on Mount Baldy, above Breckenridge,
by a tunnel, have opened a nice shoot of lead-silver ore.
The big new $50,000 gold dredging boat of the Re-
liance Gold Dredging Co., below Breckenridge, is ready
to start. Drilling tests, made with a churn drill, have
shown the ground which the dredge will work to be rich
in coarse and fine geld.
The main tunnel of the North American Mines Co.,
near Frisco, is in 160 feet and is expected to cut the Red
Lion vein soon. The company has twelve men at work.
At the Old Union M. & M. Co.'s property, the main
tunnel is being put into shape for stoping ore for the
mill, which will be started up on a continuous run next
month. The French Creek M. Co., under the man-
agement of M. G. Evans, is driving a prospect and devel-
opment tunnel in the north slope of Mount Baldy, near
Breckenridge. The bedrock flume of the Mekka Co.
in French gulch is approaching the elevator pit, which
it will drain and convert into a convenient working
space. Riffle blocks are being placed in the flume.
The Reliance Gold Co. 's dredge has started digging
gravel in French gulch, near Breckenridge. The Mid-
night placer, in Brown's gulch, near the Cashier, is run-
ning under the superintendency of John Sweeney. A
new 1000-foot flume has been completed. At Frisco,
the Mary Verna Co. is employing fourteen men. The
main work is the driving of No. 3 tunnel, from above
the railroad track. This is in 175 feet, and the rock is
very hard. An air compressor and machine drill will be
put in soon.
Teller County.
It is reported that the final details for the commence-
ment of driving the new Cripple Creek drainage tunnel
have been perfected and actual operations will be started
within the next two months. A. C. Jacquith, engineer
in charge, has located the territory where the portal of
the tunnel will be. There is no question of ample dump-
ing room. It will lower the water 741 feet below the
present drainage tunnel level. Two years will be re-
quired to drive it through. The total cost, when com-
pleted, will be $750,000. The El Paso shaft is to be sunk,
as well as an intermediate shaft, which will permit of
four headings being worked. A big ore strike is re-
ported on the Lady Stith on Globe hill, Cripple Creek,
under lease to G. L. Keener. Superintendent Nichols
of the Midget mine on Gold hill, Cripple Creek, is work-
ing the narrow seams profitably. The Dorothy vein,
between the eighth and ninth levels of the Gold Coin
mine of Battle mountain, Cripple Creek, is being worked
by McBird & Higgins, who have struck a good ore body
which they are stoping. On Copper mountain, 2 miles
north of Cripple Creek, R. Blanchard is working a mine
in the Bill Nye claim of the Copper Mountain Co. at a
depth of 180 feet.
A mining deed has been filed whereby the Katinka M.
Co. transferred a part of its property to the Morning
Glory G. M. Co. The deed conveying this property is
without doubt the outcome of the suit brought a few
months ago by the Morning Glory Co. asking $50,000
damages for ore that was alleged to have been wrong-
fully extracted by the Katinka Co. This suit followed
closely the suit of the Morning Glory against the Mary
McKinney, which suit was settled by arbitration. The
ground transferred covers the Aileen-Katinka vein
within the surface boundaries of the Aileen, August
Flower and Chicken Hawk claims. The lessees oper-
67
Mining and Scientific Press.
July 22, 1905.
ating on the Unexpected claim belonging to the Central
Con., near Windy Point, are working in ore and sending
out occasional shipments. Jenkins and associates,
operating Block 251 of the Stratton estate's property,
on Bull hill, are breaking 4 feet of ore at a depth of 100
feet. W. R. Rock has sold his holdings in the Gold
Sovereign Co. of Cripple Creek to A. Rapp and asso-
ciates.
Sinking is to bo resumed at the Nugget shaft of the
Legal M. Co. by R. M. Lesher of the Kimball Invest-
ment Co. Work was discontinued two months ago at a
depth of 300 feet on account of water. The recent dis-
coveries in the Mary Nevin, north of the Nugget, have
revived interest. Preparations have been made to handle
the water. The Irene Leasing Co. proposes to cross-
cut east from the shaft of the Prince Albert, on Beacon
hill, Cripple Creek.
The effort on the part of the mine owners of Cripple
Creek district to weed out ore thieves and questionable
assay shops took a new turn when several operators,
whose names are being temporarily withheld, caused war-
rants to be sworn out against ten assayei's — five in Crip-
ple Creek and five in Victor. Each is charged with
aiding and abetting the theft of valuable gold ore from
the various mines in the camp. The mine owners be-
lieve that there Is a well organized gang of ore thieves
operating in the district and that the assaytrs who are
accused have been acting as "fences." The operators
say that at least $1,000,000 worth of ore is stolen from
the mines every year.
IDAHO.
Blai ae County.
J. Peterson, managing owner of the Idaho-Muldoon
mines at Muldoon, has bought machinery for a concen-
trating mill of fifty tons daily capacity. He expects to
start the mill by October 15. The mill is to be composed
of a rock breaker, rolls, screens, sizers and tables. No
jigs are to be used, and it is to be operated wholly by
water power.
Boise Connty.
Manager G. Z. Edwards expects that the new cyanide
plant at the Lincoln mine, near Pearl, will be finished by
September 1. It is reported that the Iowa G. M.
& M. Co. has purchased the Gold Hill mine at Quartz-
burg. A roller mill and cyanide plant are to be built
on the old Gold Hill dump.
Coster Coooty.
The Lost Packer M. Co. at Loon Creek, west of Cus-
ter, expect that the new 100-ton smelter will be com-
pleted by September 1. The company has constructed
over 20 miles of wagon road during the past year. J. A.
Czizek is manager. The Mount Estes M. Co., of which
J. A. Czizek is also manager, is working the Montana
on Estes mountain, 7 miles northeast of Custer. They
are running a tunnel to tap the vein and expect to tap it
in about 460 feet. The tunnel is in 450 feet. The
machinery has been received and is being set in place.
Most of the mines in this part of the country have been
worked only to the water level.
Kim ore County.
The Tahoma mill at Atlanta is being overhauled. It
is expected that ten stamps will be operating by August
15, and twenty more are to be put in. J. C. Biedelman
of New York is testing the ores from the Tahoma and
General Petitt as to their adaptability to the cyanide
process.
Idaho County.
President Nevin, of the Iron Springs M. Co., corrobo-
rates the report of the rich strike on the White Rose,
on Rapid river, in the Thunder Mountain district. An
engine and hoist have been placed on the shaft and sink-
ing is in progress.
A. M. Ringeling, in charge of the Silver King mill at
Warren, reports that the Silver King has ordered pan
.amalgamators and will put them in. This has been
necessary to save the values. The losses which were be-
ing sustained has caused the stamps to be idle all this
season, but twenty men have been kept busy by Man-
ager L. C. Massie, putting in ore chute6, raises and
overhauling the mine. At the Keystone, where Mr.
Ringeling also had charge of the milling, the 2-stamp
mill has been running steadily. R. and C. Lockwood
are opening new placer ground at the head of Willey
gulch, near Warren.
Shoshone County.
The dredger which began operations on the ground
at the mouth of Trail creek, Delta, has reached the up-
per end of the company's ground, having carried up a
breast of ground between 200 and 300 feet wide. It is
now making the turn to come back. The Charles
Dickens lead mine on Moon gulch, below Osburn, is be-
ing worked, with A. B. Gritman in charge. The Suc-
cess M. Co. of Wallace have finished a connection in the
old Granite mine between Nos. 2 and 3 tunnels. A winze
had been sunk in ore from the No. 2, which is 250 feet
from the surface, while the No. 3 is 413 feet below the
No. 2. For the purpose of providing a proper circula-
tion of air and of permitting the working of the mine
through the No. 3 tunnel, a connection was necessary.
An upraise was started from the No. 3 to connect with
the winze, which was full of water. This has been com-
pleted in safety. C. F. O. Merriam was the engineer and
O. Linn the foreman.
The California Con. mines on Gorge gulch, Nine Mile
creek, 2 miles from Wallace, are being operated under
, bond by the Pittsburg Lead M. Co., with A. D. Marshal
as superintendent and manager. At present the No. 3
level is being opened up to furnish ore for the 200-ton
mill, which is connected with No. 3 level by an aerial
tram. When No. 3 has been opened up work will be
resumed in the No. 4 level, which is now in 1700 feet and
intended to be the main working tunnel. The mill and
tramway are being overhauled and improved. A
large body of lead-silver ore has been struck at a depth
of 400 feet in the shaft being sunk to connect No. 5 and
No. 6 tunnels of the Morning mine at Mullan.
Washington County.
C. H. Denison, superintendent and manager of the
Iron Springs mine at Iron springs, reports that work is
being done on four claims with fifty men. Work is to
be started on the new cyanide plant soon. It is re-
ported that the Iron Springs Company has secured the
Rankin mill, of which J. D. Thorn has charge.
ILLINOIS.
The Illinois State Bureau of Labor Statistics has com-
pleted the redistricting of the State into nine districts.
Under the old law there have been seven mining dis-
tricts in Illinois. The last Legislature passed a law mak-
ing the districts ten in number and the bureau has com-
pleted the redistricting. Only the coal producing coun-
ties are given and the new arrangement is as follows:
First district— Grundy, Kankakee, La Salle, Will. Sec-
ond district — Bureau, Henry, Knox, Mercer, Rock Isl-
and, Warren. Third district — Livingston, Marshall,
Peoria, Putnam, Stark, Woodford. Fourth district —
Fulton, Hancock, McDonough, McLean, Tazewell. Fifth
district — Edgar, Macon, Vermilion. Sixth district —
Brown, Cass, Logan, Menard, Sangamon, Schuyler.
Seventh district — Calhoun, Christian, Green, Jersey,
Macoupin, Montgomery, Morgan, Scott, Shelby. Eighth
district — Bond, Madison, St. Clair. Ninth district —
Clinton, Franklin, Hamilton, Jefferson, Marion, Perry,
Randolph, Washington. Tenth district — Gallatin, Jack-
son, Johnson, Saline, Williamson.
MICHIGAN.
The production of the Copper Range Con. Co. for
June decreased 10.000 pounds of copper, as compared
with the June, 1904, production. In June, 1905, the
three mines of the company produced 4,534,000 pounds
of the metal, as against 4,544,000 pounds the year preced-
ing. The Champion production was 1,838,000 pounds.
MINNESOTA
Aitkin County.
Immense iron ore deposits are being prospected in the
Cuyuna range, near Deerwood. Shafts are being sunk
as the result of bore hole indications. Work is being
done by the Oreland M. Co., under the direction of Cuy-
ler Adams, the discoverer of the range. Pickard,
Mather & Co. of Cleveland, Ohio, have started a shaft
on land leased from the Oreland Co. The course of the
belt, as indicated by the magnetic needle, is covered
with an alluvial deposit 40 to 180 feet deep. The ores
thus far discovered are non-bessamer, high in phos-
phorus, free from sulphur and titanium and not excess-
ive in silica. Some manganese is found.
MONTANA
tiranlte County
In Garnet district P. Mussigbrod of Warm Springs is
giving forty lessees work on his property. S. I.
Ritchey, owner of the Nancy Hanks and Tiger mines,
near Garnet, shipped from the Tiger side of the Nancy
Hanks last month, a carload of ore that yielded $20,000.
J. H. Miller of Phillipsburg has taken over the Lon-
donderry mine, in the Smart Creek district, on a lease
and bond for California capitalists whom he represents.
Tbo mine has been owned by W. E. Albright. Develop-
ment work is to be started at once. Development
work has been started upon the Copper State and Red
Me'al mines, in the Smart Creek district, by the Butte
interests, which recently assumed control of these prop-
erties upon a $50,000 hond. The sinking of a shaft has
started, with three 8-bour shifts.
JelTerson County.
Edwards Bros, have taken a lease and bond on the
Atlanta, on the range between Cataract and Wickes.
They are unwatering one of the shafts and will then
crosscut to the lead from the 130-foot point.
!.• u is aud Clarke County.
The report of the Montana M. Co. of Marysville shows
that crushing at the Drumlummon mine during the past
year amounted to 0090 tons, as compared with the nor-
mal crushing of 80,000 tons of five years ago. The clean-
ing up of this worked-out mine is going on as before. The
tailings plant yield has been steadily falling in value for
several years, and while five years ago the tailings used
to produce a value of nearly $3 per ton, they now yield
but $1.99, and produce a net profit of 80 cents per ton,
as against nearly $1.35 per ton.
UadlMtn County.
A company has been formed to develop the Mountain
Cliff mine on Mineral hill, near Pony. A tunnel is to be
run from the Fitzgerald Fraction to open up the Moun-
tain Cliff vein. H. Walter, owner of the Yellow Moun-
tain claims in Potosi canyon, near Pony, has bonded
them to a Butte company, who iotend to put in a con-
centrator at the mine and treat the ore at the property.
The Lennstrende- Buck Co. have the machinery,
stamps, battery, etc., on the ground at their mine be-
yond the Garnet. The timbers for the frame work are
being hauled for the 5-stamp mill. The Big Four M.
Co. are to resume operations near Pony. This property
is owned by A. J. Walrath of Bozeman and C. Vander-
hook. A. J. McCormick has charge. An 800-foot tun-
nel is to be driven to crosscut the veins at a depth of 600
feet. The Clipper-Boss Tweed property at Pony,
under lease to Elling & Morris, is shipping ore averaging
$40 per ton to the smelter at East Helena. The great
body of the ore is milling and is sent to the Strawberry
10-stamp mill above Pony.
Sliver Bow County.
(Special Correspondence).— The Butte district in June
produced a total of 31,290,000 pounds of copper, an ex-
cess over the May production of 3,690,000 pounds, or on
an average of 123,000 pounds a day more than the daily
average for May. It was a new record for Butte mines,
every one of which was run to full capacity. The grade
of ore shipped was of a generally higher value, and the
new North Butte Company more tban doubled its out-
put. The following are the figures of the daily output
of ore and the amount of copper produced therefrom:
Tons of Ore. Pounds of Copper.
Boston & Montana 3,000 225.000
Anaconda, Washoe. Parrot, Trenton 7,000 490.000
United Copper 2,000 140,000
Clarkmines 1,500 108,000
North Butte 800 80,000
Totals 14.300 1,043,000
Butte, July 17.
The Pittsmont smelter at Butte has been started with
9000 tons of ore in the bins. Manager R. L. Baggaley
has been stoping in the Donner vein since June 27. The
flow of water in the lower workings has been controlled
by the two new electric pumps. Work has been re-
sumed at the Jennie Dell mine at Butte.
NEVADA.
Esmeralda County.
A fire at Columbia, July 15th, destroyed business
property worth $100,000. The origin of the fire is un-
known.
The Diamondfield M. Co. and the Black Butte Co.
of Goldfield have consolidated to avoid a lawsuit, as the
ledges of the two companies dip towards each other.
Lincoln County.
The Good Springs Smelting & Developing Co. has
been formed under the laws of Massachusetts with A. H.
Gates, Chicago, president; G. F. Nealley, Haverhill,
Mass., treasurer; these with P. A. Dyar, G. W. Hinkley
and J. W. Wharton, all of Boston, and C. H. Raymond
and C. E. McCarthy of Haverhill constitute the board
of directors and the incorporators.
Washoe County.
A rich strike is reported in the Emma L mine, north
of Olinghouse. The Emma L strike was made at the
195-foot level. D. Wetmore and W. Golding are owners.
OREGON.
Baker County.
J. A. Panting, owner of the Gold Hill mine at Durkee,
is making arrangements for starting work.
Instead of building a new 10-stamp mill below the old
millsite of the Connor Creek property, it is stated that
P. Basche of Baker City, who has a bond on the mine,
is remodeling the old plant, having added ten additional
stamps, taken out twenty-five of the old light stamps
and put the remaining ten in shape for effective work.
As the present mill is above the portal of the lower
crosscut, from which ore will be delivered, an ele .ating
device will be necessary to deliver the ore into the mill
bins. The Oregon Lime & Plaster Co., 5 miles from
Huntington, is employing thirty men and is handling a
heavy tonnage of lime and gypsum. Ed. Rea and
E. P. Torrey have taken the contract for building a
cyanide and concentrating plant to handle the Bonanza
mill dump, contemplating both concentrating and cyani-
dation. The tailings from the Bonanza have been
impounded for two years and will make a reserve for
work. Manager Albert Geiser of Sumpter has twenty-
five stamps dropping.
Crook County.
Building has commenced in the construction of the
Almaden mercury plant, 28 miles from Prineville. The
Almaden Furnace Co. has been organized to do this
work, which is under the direction of C. Fitzgerald.
The plant will have ten tons capacity. The New Alma-
den G. & Q. M. Co., which owns the mercury property,
will resume development when the furnace is in working
order.
Donglas County. ««.
At a meeting of the Bohemia Mine Owners' Associa-
tion steps were taken to interest smelter men in Bohe-
mia camp. One mining man stated that in case inter-
ested parties put up a smelter he would sign a contract
to deliver fifty tons of ore per day. With this amount
of ore from one man, it is considered an assured fact
that a smelter would pay if once put in operation. Men
who are now doing nothing with their properties would
proceed to active development. A new wagon road is
surveyed into Bohemia and work will be commenced
soon. The road extends from Glenwood, on the county
road, to Shane's Saddle, and will open up a very pro-
ductive part of Bohemia. The road is not over 8%
grade in any place, and is 2J miles long. It is reported
that the Combination mine, on Martain creek, owned by
Sheridan & Co., will be reopened soon. This property
consists of seven claims in the southern part of the dis-
trict, and some very rich ore has been taken out. The
ore is base and a smelting proposition. The Great
Eastern property, on China, Bear and Sailor's Gulch
creeks, consists of nineteen claims and shows bodies of
high-grade smelting ore. This mine, from its No. 1
group on China creek, could ship twenty tons of ore to
the smelter per day. A wagon road up Martain creek,
a distance of 3 miles, would put this property on a ship-
ping basis, as there are large ore reserves. The Star
Con. property is 4 miles up Martain creek. A 5-stamp
mill is on the property, but is not running. The ore
goes into a sulphide as depth is gained, and it is said to
be a good cyaniding proposition. The Twin Rocks
property of eleven claims, 3 miles south of Bohemia, is
owned by Illinois and Oregon men. Lewis Hartley is in
charge. Manager F. J. Hard has started the 10-stamp
mill of the Vesuvius mine at Bohemia. The plant was
thoroughly overhauled before the stamps began to drop,
and the aerial tram was retensioned after the winter's
idleness, so that the mechanical plant is in shape for best
results.
Jackson County.
The granite quarry on Griffin creek, 4 miles east of
Jacksonville, owned by E. P. Geary of Portland, has
been leased by S. and W. B. Penniston of Ashland, who
will open it and begin quarrying rock. The granite is
light, mottled with gray, and takes a high polish.
J. M. McPhee, one of the new owners of the Alice prop-
erty, near Gold Hill, is arranging for heavier work. The
Alice is on Galica creek, near the Foots Creek district.
Malheur County.
In the Mormon Basin district the Summit M. Co.
started its new stamp mill on July 5, only five stamps
out of ten being run. The mill is crushing ore taken
from the ledge opened up last fall. The Tarbell group,
which took out ore during the winter and spring, is
treating it at the Commercial M. Co. 's mill near by.
W. S. Newberry, manager of the Morning Star group,
in Mormon basin, intends to resume operations soon.
At the Gold Coin in Mormon basin, on the summit of
the divide between Rye valley and Burnt river, Ayers &
White of Pendleton and Durkee of the town of Durkee
are building a 10-stamp mill.
Ji'i.v 22, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
68
SOUTH DAKOTA.
Pennington County.
The Canton M. Co., northwest of Hill City, has closed
down its mine for the present. The main shaft is now
down 150 feet. Logs are being cut for further mine
timbering and for tbo lumber for the mill, the founda-
tion of which is almost completed. A. Anderson, man-
ager, has placed an order for a 35-ton mill. Work will
be resumed when it is put in.
UTAH.
i.i-iiiiil County.
J. R. Emmitt of Moab and Mr. Butterwood of Salt
Lake City have been arranging with the stockholders of
the Moab Irrigation Co. for the use of the water of the
North Fork of Mill creek. They propose to take the
water out on Wilson mesa, 20 miles above Moab, there
use it for placer mining and then return the water to
the regular channel, so it can be used for irrigation pur-
poses. They agree to return as much water as they take
out, and also to build a reservoir at some convenient
place above Moab, where the water can be settled. The
reservoir, besides being a place for settling the water,
will enable the irrigation company to store the early
water and use it lato in the season, whon water is scarce.
Juab County
W. Ball, D. A. Depue and J. T. Hayes have taken a
lease on the dump at the Eureka Hill mine at Eureka.
They will begin work with teams and scrapers, and will
remove a few feet of waste in order to reach the low-
grado ore which was put on the waste dump many years
ago. They believe they can ship ore from this dump at
a profit. There are a number of leasers in the upper
workings of the Eureka Hill. Tho Eureka Hill M. Co.
is not doing anything with the lower levels of the mine
at this time, but may decide to lease the entire workings.
Salt Lake County.
W. J. Craig, manager of the Kennebec mine at Alta,
has started work on the intermediate tunnel which
is intended to tap the ore bodies under the old workings
of the mine. Work will be continued in the lower
tunnel.
The Bingham Con. M. Co. has determined to con-
struct a reverberatory furnace and roasting plant to
handle the fine ore and flue dust, which has previously
been a waste product at the company's location. The
plant, the plans of which have been matured by the com-
pany's enginoens after a long study of the various sim-
ilar plants in other copper producing districts, is also
expected to do away with the Hue fumes nuisance, with
which all the companies have more or less trouble,
because of the damage done neighboring ranches. The
plant will cost $60,000 and construction will be started
immediately. The company has had the construction
of this plant under consideration for a long time. The
officers of the Bingham have made a thorough inspec-
tion of the similar plants of the Amalgamated Co. in
Butte and will have the advantage of the advice of the
engineers of that company in the erection of the concen-
trator. When the matter was first brought under con-
sideration it was determined to have the roasting plant
at the mouth of the Mascot tunnel, but this was changed
later and it is now the plan to have the roaster at the
smelter site. At the Dalton and Lark all the ore is
being moved through the tunnel, which is connected
with the present openings by short drifts. This has
made a difference of almost $1 a ton in the cost of han-
dling the ore. Ore bodies have been opened up in the
lower workings that give promise of permanency and
good values. The Eagle & Blue Bell has shown im-
provement.
The Phcenix mine at Bingham is shipping thirty tons
of first-class ore daily. Prom sixty-five to seventy-five
tons of milling ore is being taken out daily and is being
stored at the mine awaiting treatment at the Kempton
mill. The winze from the tunnel level has been sunk 65
feet. Superintendent Gebhardt is working three shifts,
employing sixty men. Superintendent L. G. Morser
of the Mystic Shrine at Bingham reports improvement
in the ore body in the Shrine, as it grows larger with
development. The character of the ore is also changing,
carrying less lead and more copper. The Utah C. Co.
have built a dam in the Jordan river to impound their
tailings and prevent damage to land below the mill.
Summit County.
Manager Turner of the West Quincy property at Park
City reports that the drift now being run from the Little
Bell shaft is in 2300 fept and has been in West Quincy
ground for some time. It is expected to tap the shaft in
two months. So far no trouble has been experienced
from water, and when completed the drift will drain
the mine so that there will be no further expense of
pumping.
Ed. Kopp of Park City has taken a lease on the Onta-
rio tailings dump below the mill, and intends running it
all through the mill to secure the values which it con-
tains. When work was first commenced the tailings
were hauled to the mill by horse power, but Kopp has
put a 5 H. P. electric motor near the mouth of the mill
tunnel, together with a small engine, by means of which
the tailings will be hauled to the tunnel entrance. At
the Nelson property in Elkhorn district, near Park-City,
the new shaft is down 50 feet. J. Nelson has charge.
Tooele County.
The Sundown, the Bethel and other mining properties
in Camp Floyd district have been sold to Denman
Blanchard of Boston for $37,500. The sale was made
under an order of sale in the suit of Mercantile Trust
Co. vs. Overland M. Co. et al. The property is equipped
with a fine milling plant and is near Sunshine.— — The
Stockton G. M. Co. has secured rights in the canyon be-
low their mill, so that the tailings controversy has been
settled. Manager Trenam is also building settling
ponds to prevent the tailings running down the canyon.
When these are finished the mill will be started.
WASHINGTON.
Cowlitz County.
R. C. Lange, secretary of the Spirit Lake Power &
Mining Co. of Chebalis, has returned from a trip to
Europe, where he placed 200,000 shares of stock in his
company. He intends to begin development on the
shores of Spirit Lake, near St. Holons. It is intended
to put in a water power plant on Union creek and put in
an air compressor and drills and drive 3000 feet of tunnel.
Steven* County.
The engine and five cars for the Chowelah Copper
King M. Co. are transporting ore from the mine to the
railroad.
WYOMING.
Carbon County.
B. W. Law, manager of the Four Mile Dredging Co.,
near Saratoga, has stopped work because the ground
containing the gold has become exhausted and the
values too low to keep the big dredge working.
FOREICN.
CANADA.
BRITISH COLUMBIA.
Boundary District
Boundary ore shipments for the week ending July 15
were: Granby mines to »anby smelter, 12,522 tons;
Mother Lode to British Columbia copper smelter, 2720
tons; Mountain Rose to British Columbia copper
smelter, 198 tons; Emma to Nelson smelter, 231 tons;
Oro Denoro to Granby smelter, 99 tons. Total for the
week, 15,770 tons; total for the year to date, 492,243
tons. Boundary smelters treated this week as follows:
Granby smelter, 12,850 tons; British Columbia cooper
smelter, 3435 tons; total for week, 16,285 tons; total for
the year to date, 504,250 tons.
A Greenwood report of July 15 says: At tho British
Columbia Copper Co. 's smelter, shortly after a new head
feeder had takon his position supplying that vacated by
the regular man off on holiday, several men of tho day
shift succeeded in inducing some of the furnace feeders
of one of the furnaces to quit work on the ground that
the new man was taking another man's job. As one
furnace cannot provide enough matte for a converter,
the better sense of the men from the tamping floor pre-
vailed and they, with several of the regular furnace
force, assisted by Mr. McAllister and Mr. Williams, the
assistant superintendent, drew off the furnace and
cleaned up. To-day the smelter closed down, although
a good ma y men are at work. The mine work at
Mother Lode is going on as usual and furnaces will be
blown in again as soon as new men can be obtained.
It is reported that good ore has been reached in the
400-foot tunnel of tho Seattle mine, near Greenwood, be-
ing operated under bond by W. T. Hunter. This 3-foot
vein was struck about 340 feet from the portal. On or
about the 1st of August, it is the intention to blow out
all six of the furnaces at the Granby smelter at Green-
wood for two or three days, for the purpose of connect-
ing up the two new and larger furnaces now being in-
stalled, as well as the new flue dust chamber and new
smokestack.
The.deal by which the Dominion Copper Co. financed
the Montreal & Boston Consolidated is as follows: The
Montreal & Boston found that it owed $186,789 to the
Dominion Copper Co.; $90,000 to two trustees for money
advanced, and other liabilities of $43,000, making a total
of $320,000. This sum could not be raised by sale of
stock, so an arrangement was made by which the Mon-
treal & Boston sold to the Dominion Copper Co., ex-
changing shares on the basis of one of the Montreal &
Boston Co. for one of the Dominion Copper Co. In this
way the Dominion Copper Co. will take 1,242,724 shares
of the Montreal &.Boston, share for share, through the
trust company. The Dominion Co. agrees to assume
and pay debts of the Montreal & Boston, and to do this
and provide a working capital will issue $1,000,000 in
bonds bearing 6% and running ten years. Shareholders
who subscribe will get them at 90% of the par value; in
addition will be given two shares of the Dominion Co. as
a bonus. Thus the buyers of $700,000 bonds, all of the
bonds to be placed on the market, will receive 1,400,000
shares of Dominion Co.
Cassiar District.
An unverified press dispatch says that silver ore, run-
ning $1100 to the ton, has been struck on property being
opened on Windy Arm, 6 miles from Carcross, in the
Atlin district. The management has sent to Tacoma
for an aerial tramway to cost $125,000, which will be
used in conveying the ore from the ledge to the steam-
ers on the lake. The steamers will carry the ore to the
White Pass trains at Carcross, whence it will be shipped
by rail to Skagway, thence by ocean steamer to the
Selby and Tacoma smelters. The Atlin mining division
is all that part of British Columbia north and west of
the divide between the watersheds of the Taku river on
the south and east and that of Atlin lake on the north
and west.
East Kootenay District.
In addition to mining in the stopes of the Sullivan
mine at Kimberley, from which 140 tons per day is
taken, J. Finley is prospecting and is keeping his devel-
opment work ahead. For the month ended June 30
the output of the St. Engene mine at Moyie was 2750
tons of concentrates. There are 300 men on the pay-
roll. The machinery for the new 30-drill air compressor
is being put in and an effort will be made to have it run-
ning by August 1. The company is behind with devel-
opment work, and as soon as this machinery is ready to
run an additional 100 men will be put to work. This
will bring the wages paid monthly up to nearly $40,000.
Rossland District.
Figures showing the payroll of Rossland for July
prove that the disbursement for labor was $144,400 dur-
ing that time, of which $83,200 was for the mines.
There is great activity in Rossland at present, and the.
promise for the remainder of the year is brighter, as
much new work is in progress.
J. Labartb, superintendent of the Trail smelter, has
started one of the lead stacks. Ore from the St. Eugene
and other mines are expected to keep the lead stack in
steady operation. Labarth states that the lead refinery
will soon be enlarged to turn out fifty tons of pig lead a
day. There is a growing market for the lead. The cor-
roding works in Montreal consume considerable, while
the larger portion is marketed in Japan and China.
Slooan District.
Slocan ore shipments for the week ended July 15 were:
Silver-lead — Payne, 22 tons; American Boy, 21: Last
; ■ 20. /mc 240 tons. C. Hanson has been
working on the Bessie property on Lemon creek, near
Slocan City. Mining conditions have taken an en-
couraging look throughout the Silverton district. Leas-
ing is coming more into vogue. Test trials are being
made on the Emily Edith ore at the Wakefield mill, and
if successful will bo the basis for more extended work on
tho properties under control of Mr. Davys. On the
Baby Ruth, I '. Grant and R. Spencer are sacking ore.
For the short time these lessees have been working, the
property is certainly paying rich.
Vancouver Island.
(Special Correspondence).— Tyee Copper Co.'s smelter
ran 13 days and treated 1988 tons of Tyee ore during
June, giving a return, after doduction of freight and re-
fining charges, of $30,950.
Duncans Station, July 15.
MEXICO.
The recent action of Mexico in abolishing the free zone
along the boundary lino is having an injurious effect on
the merchants, both of Mexico and the United States.
Mining interests are much affected, for where machin-
ery was formerly admitted free of duty, now full price
has to be paid. This has resulted in such a heavy in-
crease in operating expenses that it is said that several
of the large mines in Mexico near the line have been
forced to shut down.
Regarding asphaltum and petroleum in Mexico, the
Mining Journal says that they are found on the Gulf
slope, in the States of Tamaulipas, Vera Cruz and Ta-
basco, while on the high plateau they are found in Mex-
ico, Puebla, Guanajuato and Queretaro, and on the
Pacific slope in Oaxaca, Morelos, Michoacan and Jalisco.
On the shores of Laguna Mad re, and on those of the
Morelos, San Andres and Champoyan lakes, petroleum
flows plentifully from many springs, and mineral tar and
asphaltum frequently run in a molten state over the
ground uuder the action of the sun's rays, the same phe-
nomenon occurring at many points along the margin of
the Tamesin river. Vera Cruz contains these min-
eral compounds in perhaps greater abundance than
Tamaulipa*, the principal beds lying near Jalapa, in the
municipality of Panuco, Minatitlan of the Jalacingo can-
ton, near the bridge called Quilate, municipality of Atza-
tlan, and in that of the Tlapacoyam, on the Vega lands.
The asphaltum deposits in the canton of Jalapa are at a
short distance from the Chicuasi Rancheria, in the
municipality of Artopam. They are of the basaltic for-
mation, which predominates throughout the canton of
Jalapa, and in some spots the clefts in the basalt — verti-
cal and hoiizontal alike— serve as outlets for the tar,
which in great quantities covers the rocks. Petroleum
is also visible in some cavities of the rocks, where it is
mixed with water. At the town of Moloacan there is
asphaltum on the margin of an arroyo tributary to the
Coatzacoalcos. In Aginche and Copacao, of the juris-
diction of Panuco, in the same State, are large beds of
asphaltum, and others in Tanelum. There are petro-
leum springs in Chinameca, near Gila lake; in the
hacienda of Chapapote, on the banks of the Tuxpan
river, and at many other points. Asphalt and petro-
leum are abundant in Taba*sco, one of the principal
deposits being at Estancia Vieja, 12 miles from San Juan
Bautista, where the asphalt and petroleum are mingled,
mineral tar predominating. Petroleum of a grayish
color is plentiful in the district of Macuspana. Tests of
petroleum taken almost from the surface have yielded
50% of lubricating oil. These springs are on the shore
of a small lake which empties into the Macuspana river,
and the latter into the Grijalva, so that the oil could be
easily transported, both lake and rivers being navigable
for vessels of small draught.- Near MacuBpana, at Las
Templaderas, asphaltum is also plentiful, and by press-
ing the ground with the foot it oozes to the surface
through numerous cracks. Northeast of Macuspana, at
Tortuguero, under a thin layer of sulphate of strontium,
fluid petroleum is found so clear in quality that it might
be taken for naphtha. This liquid is very inflammable,
for when making some experiments it took fire the
moment a llame was brought near it. The region of
mineral oil in Tabasco extends over 62 square miles.
Chiapas also possesses asphaltum beds, the best known
being those of San Diego de la Reforma, San Pedro Che-
nalho, San Miguel Mitontic and Villa de Teopisca. The
most abundant, as well as the purest, is that at Che-
nalho. Among the petroleum springs of the central
tableland, mention may first be made of those in tbo
villa of Guadalupe Hidalgo, distant about half an hour's
journey from the national capital. These springs have
never been utilized, for the reason that they are situated
in the very streets of the town, and that the indemnity
paid for working them would probably be more than
would be justified by the returns. Puebla has petro-
leum spring? and beds of merchantable asphalt, of which
the most valuable are in the district of Tetela, munici-
pality of Tenampulco, on the Coroneles plateau, in the
district of Huanchinango, in the municipalities of Jalpan
and Tehuantepec, and on the hacienda of San Diego.
Petroleum is found at La Estrella, north of Puebla, on
the San Diego hill. Guanajuato has good mines of
asphaltum, and it is said that others exist in the district
of Caderyta, in Queretaro. There are productive springs
of petroleum in Oaxaca, the oil being in places very clear
and transparent, especially in the district of Pochutla.
The petroleum deposits of Pnchutla cover a surface of
nearly 50 square miles, and some places the oil runs
freely over the ground. In the district of Jonactepec,
State of Morelos, petroleum shows itself at various
points. Both asphalt and petroleum exist at a number
of places in Michoacan, the chief one being Cucumatlan,
in the jurisdiction of Sahuayo. The picturesque lake of
Chapala, in Jalisco, contains petroleum springs, and on
its waters float layers of asphaltum. In Colima, about
42 miles from the capital, have been found beds of a sub-
stance which seems to be asphaltum in some places, and
in others bituminous coal, burning with an intensely
blue flame and exhaling the peculiar odor of asphaltum.
In the barranca of Zacualpan is also a mine of the same
substance.
69
Mining and Scientific Press.
July 22, 1905.
Jalisco.
At the annual meeting of the Boston & Mexico Gold &
Copper M. Co., whose properties, consisting of thirty-two
claims, are near Ameca, C. P. Winslow, Boston, was
elected president; J. G. Peters, Boston, vice-president;
W. H. Loughrey, Boston, secretary, and E. Gilmore,
North Easton, Mass., treasurer. It was stated that
there was sufficient money in the treasury to warrant
sending the superintendent, E. N. Everett, to resume
work upon the property. Copper-silver mines near
San Antonio de las Moran, in the Ayutla district, are to
be worked by the Paloma M. Co. The principal mines
of the group are the La Puerta, La Falda, Chapuza and
Providencia. The mines were formerly the property of
E. Fitzpatriek and W. W. Dodd, who are now stock-
holders in the new company. Considerable ore has been
shipped from the properties and a concentrating plant
with a capacity of twenty-five tons was built some time
ago. The company expects to put in reduction
machinery.
Sonora.
(Special Correspondence).— The San Bernardo M.
Co., which is the owner of the Santo Domingo mine in
Aduana, near Alamos, J. R. Hendra, superintendent,
have the new boiler, an engine and gallows frame in
place and in working order. The shaft has been drained
to the 200-foot level and timbered where it was required.
A new ladderway has been put from top to bottom and
the sinking of the shaft commenced. The shaft will be
sunk 100 feet and then crosscut the lode, and then com-
mence driving north to get under the old workings,
which will require 400 feet of drifting. The adjoining
property on the north is the Zambona, owned by the
Zambona Dev. Co., A. Yaeger superintendent. The
work is being pushed changing the machinery in the
mill and mine. The mill is expected to be in operation
by August 1. On the south of the Santo Domingo is
La Quintera, owned by a French company. The dis-
trict of Alamos needs a railroad.
Alamos, July 15.
The La Cobriza mine, in Altar district, near Puerto,
owned by W. T. Stewart and A. H. Parker of El Paso,
has been sold to F. C. Emery of same city for $12,000.
f ************** ************* *********
Books Received. |
2 ****** ************* w***************
As extracts from " Mineral Resources of the United
States for 1904, " the United States Geological Survey
has issued " The Production of Iron Ores in 1904," by
John Birkinbine, and " The Production of Tin in 1904,"
by J. H. Pratt.
As a part of the ' ' Geologic Atlas of the United States, ' '
the United States Geological Survey has issued Polio
125, "Rural Valley Folio, Pennsylvania." This describes
the coal, iron and gas resources and geology of a part of
the Appalachian field.
As extracts from the "Mineral Resources of the
United States for 1904," the United States Geological
Survey publishes " Peat in the United States in 1904"
by H. H. Hindshaw, "Production of Sulphur and Py-
rite" by J. H. Pratt, " Production of Manganese Ores "
by John Birkinbine, and "Production of Abrasive Ma-
terials " by J. H. Pratt.
Those having to do with peat and waste fuels may be
interested in an exposition of their utilization as given
in "Briquets and Patent Fuels," by P. R. Bjorling.
The book contains many suggestions as to manufacture
and materials of briquet fuels, an industry that has
received some development in this country since this
book was written. While the chapter on bond or bind-
ing materials may be a good guide to inventors, much of
the material in the rest of the book has been superseded
by recent practice and is interesting chiefly as a matter
of history. It is published by the Rebman Co., 1123
Broadway, New York City.
The widespread importance of coke as a fuel has
received fitting notice in a second edition of "Coke," by
John Fulton. This masterly treatise presents the sub-
ject clearly and logically, omits the unessentials and
appears to present all that is necessary for an under-
standing of the details of manufacture. The chapter
on the preparation of coal for the manufacture of coke
takes up the necessity for preparing coal in order to
remove impurities before making blast furnace coke, and
then describes the crushing appliances, with costs of the
crushing plant. Both the bee hive oven and the retort
and by-product saving coke ovens are fully described in
construction and manipulation. This section is particu-
larly interesting because of authentic cost statements
and because it details operating plants. The present
condition of the fuel briqueting industry is admirably
summarized in the concluding chapter. The book is
published by the International Text Book Co. of
Scranton, Pa., and will be sent postpaid by the Mining
and Scientific Press upon receipt of $5.
The California State Mining Bureau has issued a bulle-
tin on "Gold Dredging in California." A history of
gold dredging in California, by J. E. Doolittle, opens the
text of the volume. The subjects treated are the area
of dredger gravel, geology of that area and its agricul-
ture; the yield of gold dredging for 1903; the forms,
power and styles of dredgers; kinds and styles of screens,
sluices, etc.; composition of the crew of a dredger;
working costs; prospecting and examination of condi-
tions and prospecting machinery; the Oroville, Yuba,
Bear River, Folsom, Calaveras, Plumas, Shasta, Trinity
and Siskiyou dredging districts, etc. In addition there
is considerable matter with some full-page illustrations
of the California State Mining Bureau. An interesting
chapter in the book treats of the restoration of gold-
dredged lands to agricultural uses, and claims that this
is not only feasible, but profitable, and that these re-
claimed lands after the dredger is through with them
can be made of higher average value than before. At
the beginning of this year the dredgers at work in this
State were: Oroville district, 28; Calaveras, 1; Folsom,
8; Shasta, 2; Trinity, 1; Siskiyou, 2; Yuba, 2; or 44, as
against 31 in 1903.
s******** ************ ****************
| Commercial Paragraphs. *
* *
Sfc********* ************** *************
The Ernest Wiener Co., making a specialty of mine
equipment and railroad material, has opened offices at 68
Broadway, New York City.
The Bucyrus Co. of South Milwaukee, Wis., is build-
ing forty-one steam shovels, three railroad wrecking
cranes and one railroad pile driver for work at Panama.
Harron, Richard & McCone have established a new
machinery house in Los Angeles, Cal., at 164-168 North
Los Angeles street, which irill be run in connection with
their old established San Francisco business, 21-23 Fre-
mont street.
The Davenport Locomotive Works, Davenport, Iowa,
are publishing a series of pamphlets describing their
industrial locomotives which graphically portray their
salient points. Any of this illustrated descriptive
series will be sent anywhere on request.
The officers of the Crocker-Wheeler Co., manufac-
turers of electric motors and generators, whose main
office and works are at Ampere, N. J., have been re-
elected for the ensuing year. The regular quarterly
dividend of H% has been declared and the affairs of the
company are reported to be in a flourishing condition.
The DeRemer Water Wheel Co., Denver, Colorado,
have shipped to the Salida Light, Water & Power Co.,
Salida, Colo., three 32-inch DeRemer water wheels,
strung on one shaft and direct connected to gener-
ator, provided with the DeRemer bronze cut - off
hoods, and governor for regulation, designed to operate
under an effective head of 400 feet and to develop 350
H. P. each unit; also a 3-foot DeRemer water wheel to
the Success M. Co., Wallace, Idaho. This latter is in-
tended to develop 75 H. P. under a 430-foot head and 100
cubic feet of water.
Latest Market Reports.
San Francisco, July 21, 1905.
Silver. — Per oz., Troy : London, 27id (standard
ounce, 925 fine); New York, bar silver, 59Jc, refined (1000
fine); San Francisco, 59Jc; Mexican dollars, 47c, San
Francisco; 45$c, New York.
Copper. — New York: Standard, $15.00; Lake, 1 to 3
casks, $15.00@15.12J; Electrolytic, 1 to 3 casks, $15.00;
Casting, 1 to 3 casks, $14.50@14.75. San Francisco: $16.00.
Mill copper plates, $17.00; bars, 18@24c. London:
£67 6s 3d spot per ton.
Lead.— New York, $4.60; Salt Lake City, $3.50; St.
Louis, $4.42$; San Francisco, $3.70, carload lots; 4Jc 1000
to 4000 lbs.; pipe 6£e, sheet 7, bar 5fc; pig, $4.85. Lon-
don: £13 los B long ton.
Spelter.— New York, $5.30; St. Louis, $5.18; Lon-
don, £24 1$ ton; San Francisco, ton lots, 6?c; 100-ft
lots, 7c.
TIN.— New York, pig, 831.40@31.60; San Francisco, ton
lots, 31£e; 500 fts., 32c; 200 B>s., 32£e; less, 33Jc; bar tin,
B ft., 35@37Jc. London, £145.
Platinum.— San Francisco, crude, $18.50 B oz.; New
York, ingot, $20.50 B Troy oz. Platinum ware, 75@82c
B gram.
Quicksilver.— New York, $41.00@$41.50, large lots;
London, £7 7s 6d; San Francisco, local, $38.50@39.00 B
flask of 75 fts.; Denver, $42.00.
Babbitt Metal. — San Francisco, No. 1, 10c; No.
2, 7c; No. 3, 6Jc; extra, 17£c; genuine, 32Jc; Eclipse, 35c.
Solder. — Half-and-half, 100-ft. lots, 20.75c; San Fran-
cisco, Plumbers', 100-ft. lots, 17.50c.
Zinc. — Metallic, chemically pure, B ft., 50c; dust, $ft.,
10c; sulphate, B ft, .04c.
Nickel.— New York, 55@60ciRft.; ton lots, 40@47e.
Aluminum.— New York, No. 1, 99% pure ingots, 35c;
No. 2, 90%, 31@34c
Aluminum.— No. 1, 99%, small lots, 37c B ft.; 100 fts..
35c; 1000 fts. 34c; ton lots and over, 33c, Pittsburg. No,
2, 90%, small lots, 34c; ton lots and over, 31c, Pittsburg.
STRUCTURAL MATERIALS
Iron. — Pittsburg, Bessemer pig, $15.60; gray forge,
$16.00; San Francisco, bar, 3c B ft., 3Jc in small quan-
tities.
Steel. — Bessemer billets, Pittsburg, $23.00@$23.00;
open hearth billets, $23.00@$23.00; San Francisco, bar,
7c to 12c B ft.
White Lead. — Per ft., in kegs: 500 fts. and over at
one purchase, per ft., 7|c; less than 500 fts., per ft., 8c;
in 25-ft. tin pails, £c B *• above keg price; in 1 and 5-ft.
tin cans, 100 fts. per case, \c per ft. above keg price.
Dry Lead. — In bbls., 1 ton and over, 6Jc; do. in kegs, 7c.
LIME. — Santa Cruz, $1.25 country, $1.25 city B bbl.
Cement.— Imported, $2.15@2.65 B bbl.; California,
carload lots, SI. 90 f. o. b. at works; small lots, $2.20 B
bbl. in sacks, 4 sacks to bbl., 5c for each sack returned.
Nails. — This week the basic prices are: Wire, $2.77;
Cut, $3.25. Meanwhile the nominal quotations per keg
(list prices) are: No. 20d to 60d, Wire, $3.35; Cut, $3.55;
lOd to 16d, Wire, $3.45; Cut, $3.35; 8d, Wire, $3.50; Cut,
$3.50; 6d and 7d, Wire, $3.60; Cut, $3.60; 4d and 5d,
Wire, $3.70; Cut, $3.70; 3d, Wire, $3.85; Cut, $3.85; 2d,
Wire, $4.10; Cut, $4.10. Special rates for carload lots.
Lumber.— (Retail): Pine, ordinary sizes, $24.00®
5.00; extra sizes higher; redwood, $28.00@30.00; lath, 4
feet, $4.50@5.00; pickets, $21.00;shingles, $2.50 for No. 1,
and $2.25 for No. 2; shakes, $13.50 for split and $15.00 for
sawed; rustic, $28.00(5)35.00.
GENERAL SUPPLIES.
Antimony. — New York, Cookson's, 12c; Hallett's,
13c; San Francisco, 1000-ib. lots, lie; 300@500-ftc. 12c;
100-ft. lots, 13c.
Coal. — San Francisco, coast, yard prices : Welling-
ton, $8.00; Seattle, $6.50; Coos Bay, $5.50; Southfield,
$8.00. Cargo lot, Eastern and foreign: Wallsend, $7.50;
Brymbo, $7.50; Pennsylvania, hd., $14.00; Scotch, $8.00;
Cumberland, $13.00; Cannel, $8.50; Welsh Anthracite,
$13.00; Rock Springs, $8.50, long ton; Colorado Anthra-
cite, $14.00. Coke, $10.50 per ton in bulk, $13.00 in
sacks; Sunnyside, $8.50, long ton.
Powder. — F. o. b. San Francisco : No. 1, 70% nitro-
glycerine, per ft., in carload lots, 15ic; less than one ton,
17ic. No. 1*, 60%, carload lots, 13Jc; less than one ton,
15Jc. No. 1**, 50%, carload lots, life; less than one ton,
13§c. No. 2, 40%, carload lots, 10c; less than one ton,
12c. No. 2, 35%, carload lots, 9Jc; less than one ton,
lljc. No. 2**, 30%, carload lots, 9c; less than one. ton,
lie. Black blasting powder in carload lots, minimum
car 728 kegs, $1.50 per keg; less car lots, $2.00 per keg.
Caps.— 3x, $5.50@6 per 1000; 4x, $6.50@7; 5x, $8@8.50;
Lion, $9@9.50, in lots not less than 1000.
FUSE. — Triple tape, $4.00 per 1000 feet; double tape,
$3.50; single tape, $3.10; Hemp, $2.75; Cement No. 2,
$3.00; Cement No. 1, $2.65, in lots of 3000 and up.
Candles.— Granite 6s, 16 oz., 40s., lie B set; 14 oz.,
40s., 9|c.
Chemicals. — Cyanide of potassium, 98%-99%, job-
bing, 23@24c B *•; carloads, 23@23}c; in tins, 30c; soda
ash, $2.00 B 100 fts.; hyposulphite of soda, 3@3|c$B>-;
caustic soda, in drums, 3@3JcBB>-; Cal. s. soda, bbls.,
$1.10@1.20$1001bs.; sks., 90c@$1.00; chlorate of pot-
ash, 12@13c; nitrate of potash, 6|@7e; caustic potash,
10c in 40-ft. tins; roll sulphur, 2J@2|c; powdered sul-
phur, 2}@2Jc; flour sulphur, French, 2|@ — c; alum,
$2.00@2.25; California refined, lj@2c; sulphide of iron,
8c B lb.; copper sulphate, 5J@5|c; chloride of lime, spot,
$2.50@2.75; sulphuric acid, in carboys, 66% B, l|@2c B
ft. ; nitric acid, carboys, 8c B ">•
Oils. — Linseed, boiled, bbl., 64c; cs., 69c; raw, bbl.,
62c; cs., 67c; Lucol oil, boiled, bbl., 54c; cs., 59c; raw-
bbl., 52c; cs., 57c. Kerosene — Pearl, per gal., 17Jc; As-
tral, 17Jc; Star, 17Jc; Extra Star, 20Jc; Eocene, 19Jc;
Elaine, 26c; Water White, in bulk, lie; Mineral Seal,
iron bbls., 18c; wooden bbls., 20Jc; cs., 24c; Mineral
Sperm, cs., 26Jc; Deodorized Stove Gasoline, bulk, 14Jc,
do., cs., 21c; 86° Gasoline, bulk, 25c; do., cs., 31c; 83°
Naphtha or Benzine, deodorized, in bulk, per gal., 12jc;
do., in cs., 19c; Lard Oil, E. W. S., bbl., 75c; cs., 80c;
Neats-foot Oil, pure, bbl., 63c; cs., 78e; Sperm, crude,
63@68c; Natural White, 68c; Bleached, do., 57c; Whale
Oil, cs., 52@67c.
Borax. — Concentrated, 6@7c B J>i powdered, 8@10c;
fused, 20@25c; crystal, 7c; calcined, 25c.
Bone Ash.— Extra No. 1, 5@6c B B>". No. 1, 4@5c.
Litharge.— Pure, in 25-ft. bags, 8@9c B ">•
Molybdenum.— Best, $2.75 B *■
Chromium.— 90% and over, B ">•■ 80c.
Uranium.— Oxide, B J>-i $3.50.
Mercury. — Bichloride, B *■> '7c.
Tungsten.— Best, B *•, $1-25.
Phosphorus.— American, B *>-i 70c.
SODIUM.— Metal, B *>•! 50c.
Bismuth.— Subnitrate, B &>•> $2,10.
Silver.— Chloride, B oz-> 90c@$1.00; nitrate, 55c.
Red Lead.— 500 fts. and over at one purchase, B ">■
7Jc; less than 500 fts., 8c.
Manganese. — Black oxide, B ft1-. 2|@4c.
Magnesium. — Pure, N. Y., $1.60.
Fire Brick. — Domestic, carloads B 10°°> £ o. b., fac-
tory square, $25.00; soap and split, $22.50; arch and
wedge, $27.50; skewback, $30.00; circle, $32.00.
Fire Clay.— Domestic, B ton 2000 fts. in 125-ft. bags,
double, and dry ground, f. o. b., factory, $8.50.
New Patents.
Dewey, Strong & Co.'s Scientific Press Patent agency, 330
Market street, San Francisco, has official reports of the following
United States patents issued to Pacific Coast inventors :
FOR THE WEEK ENDING JULY 11, 1905.
-Strainer— J. G. Anson, S. F.
-Fuel— D. M. Balch, Coronado. Cal.
-Driving Mechanism— W. J. Bell, Los Angeles, Cal.
-Starting Engines— W. J. Bell, Los Angeles, Cal.
-Door Securer — M. Farrell, S. F.
-Restraining Device— J. Gaiter, Livermore, Cal,
-Coin Distributer— C. H. Hall, Fresno, Cal.
-Blank Trimmer— J. H. Haskins, San Diego, Cal.
-Ledger Sheet Holder — A. D. Inglis, Sacramento, Cal.
-Elastic Tire— E. Keup, S. F.
-Garment Fastener— Mary E. Kintz, Tacoma, Wash.
-Bougie— S. L. Kistler, Los Angeles, Cal.
-Weed Cotter— E. M. Lambson, Walla Walla, Wash.
-Chair— P. Mackey, Jamestown, Cal.
-Casing Gear— E. B. Noble, Los Angeles, Cal.
-Horse Collar— C. P. Randolph, Los Angeles, Cal.
-Can Soldering Machine— G. J. Stewart, Los Angeles, Cal.
-Can Soldering Machine— G. J. Stewart, Los Angeles, Cal.
-Punching Machine— J. Wilderman, S. F.
-Design— E. S. Cheney, Oakland, Cal.
-Design— E. C. Hurlbert, St. Johns, Or.
784,271.
794,481.-
794,211 ■
794,275.-
794,400.
794,457.
794,626.
794,221.
794.303.-
794,230.
794,183.-
794,236.
794,361.-
794,461.-
794,308-
794,341.-
794 691.
794,692 -
794,476.-
37,48'. •
37,482.-
Notices of Recent Patents.
Among the patents recently obtained through Dewey, Strong &
Co.'s Scientific Press United States and Foreign Patent Agenoy,
the following are worthy of special mention :
Restraining Device.— No. 794,457. July 11, 1905 John Gaiter,
Livermore, Cal. This invention relates to a device for restraining
insane or unruly persons without the use of the severe straight
jacket apparatus. Its object is to provide a device which will per-
fectly restrain the persons and at the same t:me allow them the
greatest possible amount of liberty, while preventing them from
injuring themselves or ot* ers. It consists of a main body band with
securing straps and buckles, wrist cuffs, straps by which said cuffs
are adjustably connected with the first-named straps, ring attach-
ments to the lower sides of the wrist cuffs, and straps by which the
arms may be pinioned in a substantially extended position.
Chair.— No. 794,461. July 11, 19C5. Peter Mackey, Jamestown,
Cal. This invention relates to an improvement in chairs especially
designed for children's use. Its object is to provide a chair for the
use of children, which is capable of being converted for a variety of
different purposes. It consists of a base having an upwardly extend-
ing back, an upper seat portion having a slot or channel adapted to
fit over said back and cleats extending down upon each side of the
top of the lower portion, said oleats having the lower edges curved
to form rockers.
Whole No. 2349.
.VOLUME XCI.
Number S.
San Francisco, Cal., Saturday, July 29, 1905.
THREE DOLLAR8 PER ANNUM.
Single Copiflf. Ten Cents.
Open Cut Mining.
A frequent inquiry is how cheap can mining be
done, or how low a grade of ore will pay. A mo-
ment's thought will make it apparent that it alto-
gether depends upon circumstances what grade of
ore may be mined and treated at a profit. A small
vein of ore must necessarily be high grade to
pay the cost of mining alone, though the cost of mill-
ing or smelting may not be so greatly in advance of
the cost of treatment of the low-grade ore from a
large vein. In fact, the cost of treating a free-
milling gold ore from a small vein would in most in-
stances be lower than the cost of treatment of a
complex ore from a large vein. It is evident, there-
fore, that the great difference in cost is usually in
mining the ore and not in its treatment after it has
been mined and delivered at the metallurgical works.
When contemplating the probable cost of mining,
there are so many factors to be considered that it is
not always possible to tell within narrow limits what
the cost will be. Usually the cost is diminished
somewhat after mining has been thoroughly estab-
lished and various methods tried. The system of
mining at first adopted may be a proper one, but in
most cases the careful superintendent can see where
an improvement may be made or a cost lessened.
The tonnage daily required by the mill is carefully
gauged and the proper number of men are employed
to furnish this requisite supply. More men than are
necessary increase the cost of mining; and fewer men
than this number are no advantage, and likewise
cause an increase in expense per ton. The human
capability of a man is limited; he may be urged
to perform unusual tasks for a time through sub-
stantial encouragement in the way of a bonus
or other reward, or he may exert himself for
a time to a greater degree than he is able
to maintain for other reasons. Occasionally men on
opposite shifts, through friendly rivalry, make an
effort to outdo each other in the amount of ore
broken and sent to mill. These friendly contests are
commonly encouraged by the management. The
cheapest mining can undoubtedly be done by the
open-cut method. Those unfamiliar with open-cut
methods usually conceive that it can only be carried
on in a vein or deposit of enormous extent, but the
open-cut system can be advantageously employed in
veins of comparatively narrow dimensions — 30 feet,
or thereabouts — by providing underground stopes
into which the overburden of the hanging wall may
be sent for filling, thus making cheaply available a
larger amount of vein rock at low cost. The open-
cut system is also applicable to flat sheets of ore, as
shown in the accompanying engraving. Here a
Mining by the Open Cut Method in South Dakota.
sheet or shoot of gold ore, lying almost horizontal, is
being blasted down in amounts from 500 to 3000 tons
at a round and the ore loaded into cars which are
made up into a train and hauled to the mill by a loco-
motive. If the deposit were of greater thickness it
would perhaps pay to run a tunnel at a lower level
and connect it with the cut by a series of raises, so
that the broken ore could be handled by gravity, but
the comparatively limited vertical extent of this ore
body does not justify such method. It is not unlikely
that the cost of handling the broken ore might be re-
duced somewhat by the employment of a steam
shovel. Here again must be considered the cost of
installation and also of operation, and these questions
must be determined by the magnitude of the deposit
or vein. If there is a very large amount to be han-
dled it would doubtless pay to put in a steam shovel;
if the quantity be small it would probably not justify
the expense of the steam shovel for the first cost of
the plant and the operating expense may absorb all
that might otherwise have been profit.
Pumping Water for Placer Mining.
There are instances where water may be pumped
from a large body of water or a well for placer min-
ing and the operation still prove profitable. Where
the height and distance to which the water is to be
delivered are not too great, this method of securing
a head is perfectly feasible. The accompanying illus-
tration is that of a dismantled pumping plant
situated on the bank of the Colorado river, in Pica-
cho basin, California, about 30 miles north of Yuma.
Here nearly half a million dollars was expended in
pumping machinery, shaft sinking on the bank of the
river and the construction of a pipe line. At the
head of this line, 5 miles back from the river and 500
feet above it, a wooden stave tank was built, having
a capacity of about 4000 gallons. Into this the
water was pumped in a feeble, small stream, the
pumps being unable to meet the requirements. As a
consequence, the entire scheme was abandoned —
another failure due to inefficient engineering advice.
i,'ir.lii?rnTT;ii».-f>m»iaiCrti-Jirt«
Pumping Water for Placer Mining.
Pipe Line Construction in a Forest, Sea Line, Alaska. (See Page 79.)
71
Mining and Scientific Press.
July 29, 1905.
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
ESTABLISHED i860.
Published Every Saturday at 330 Market Street, San Francisco, Cal.
Telephone, Davis 771.
ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION.
United States, Mexico and Canada. K 00
All Other Countries in the Postal Union a uu
Entered at the San Francisco PostofSce as second-class mail matter.
Branch Offices:
New York City, 921-24 Park Row Bldg. Boston, 27 School St.
Chicago, 1164 Monadnock Block.
Denver, 606 Mack Block.
J. F. HALLORAN.
SAN FRANCISCO, JULY 29, 1905.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
Page.
ILLUSTRATIONS:
Mining by the Open Cut Method in South Dakota 70
Pumping'water for Placer Mining 70
Pipe Line Construction in a Forest, Sea Line, Alaska 70
Looking for Nuggets in Sluice of a Placer Mine, Sierra Co., Cal. 73
Cleaning Up the Sluices of the Bunker Hill Mine, Sierra Co , Cal. 73
Splicing Transmission Rope 74
Unconformability at Mount Lyell Mine 76
Drainage Tunnel, East Argentine District, Colo 78
EDITORIAL:
Open Cut Mining ^
Pumping Water for Placer Mining '0
The " Shot Firers " Bill 71
Receiving Considerable Attention 71
Ascertaining the Facts 71
The Business Man as a Mining Engineer 71
A New Interior Sea 71
Annual Report of the Calumet & Hecla C. M. Co 71
Cyaniding Silver-Gold Ores at Palma-ejo, Mexico 71
Inauguration of the Simplon Railroad 71
MINING SUMMARY 81-82-63-84
LATEST MARKET REPORTS £5
MISCELLANEOUS:
Concentrates.... ■ '3
The Ancient Channel at Gibsonville, Cal 73
Tantalite for Incandescent Lamps 73
Splicing Transmission Rope 74
The Ore Deposits of Mount Lyell 75
Methods and Costs of Placer Mining in Alaska 76
The Machine Drill in Mining 76
Cyaniding Silver-Gold Ores of the Palmarejo Mine, Chihuahua,
Mexico 77
The Production of Pyrite 77
Tunnel Construction 78
Ore Deposits of the Cceur d' Alene, Idaho 78
Engineering in the Wilderness 79
Government Experiments With Black Sand 79
The Prospector 79
Mining and Metallurgical Patents 80
Commercial Paragraphs 84
Personal 8*
Books Received 85
Obituary 85
Trade Treatises 85
New Patents 85
Notices of Recent Patents 85
THE long continued dispute between the mine
operators and the miners in Illinois coal mines
over the "Shot-firers bill" was finally submitted to
Judge Gray as arbitrator on the disputed points, and
he wisely decided that the operators and miners
should share the expense. Under this decision the
operators must pay the cost of inspection and the
miners must pay the cost of firing the shots. As a
result, the mines are again resuming operations.
THE relative value of pare potassium cyanide,
sodium cyanide and the double salt of sodium
and potassium cyanide, in the cyanide process, is
now receiving considerable attention. Sodium cya-
nide contains cyanogen to the extent of 125% to 130%
of that measured in terms of potassium cyanide, but
some cyanide operators who have used sodium cya-
nide now say that the extraction and general results
are less satisfactory with this chemical than when
potassium cyanide or the double salt of potassium
and cyanide is used. There are others, however,
who speak strongly in favor of sodium cyanide. It is
not unlikely that the different classes of ore that
these operators have had to deal with are in a meas-
ure responsible for the variable results with the dif-
ferent chemicals employed.
Ty/HILE a mining engineer who has a commission
" to make a mine examination for a client may
expect that those employed about the property will
undertake to place the situation in the best possible
light, it is not incumbent upon the engineer to accept
as truth all that is told him, nor to discredit all he
hears, but to ascertain for himself the facts. It is
not a bad idea on the part of the examining engineer
to cultivate the foreman or some other person in
authority at the mine and to learn where the rich
places are, if any exist, and to then investigate the
poor ones on his own account. Experience in mine
examination has taught that it is unsafe to accept
any statement that may be made by any person
concerning the property, for one cannot tell what in-
fluences may be back of any statement, either for or
against the mine.
The Business Man as a Mining Engineer.
Success in business is sometimes responsible for
men overestimating their capacity to manage the
affairs of a business with which they are not familiar.
This is not infrequently the case in mining. It is not
an uncommon thing to see a number of business men
associate themselves for the purpose of purchasing
and operating a mining property, and this associa-
tion often takes corporate form. A mine is bought,
a superintendent and manager appointed — usually
one of their number or some one whom they all know
to possess business experience, and who has made a
success of merchandising or, perhaps, in politics, but
whose mining knowledge is confined to such para-
graphs as have come to his notice in the daily papers.
The newly created mine manager provides himself
with a copy of the miner's " vade mecum," or a text
book or two, and starts for the mine, where he is
enabled to size up the situation with rare judgment,
born of business experience, aided by an industrious
perusal of the books he has bought, while en route to
the mine. As few mines are of consequence without
a mill or a smelter, he solicits bids from several man-
ufacturers for the construction of a "first-class,
up-to-date " mill. Having accepted one of the bids,
the lowest, and placed the order with the mill found-
ers, he turns his attention to the mine. A tunnel,
perhaps, exposes a vein apparently 100 feet wide.
This, he is satisfied, should be able to supply a large
mill with an enormous amount of ore for years. Some
more development work is done and it is then discov-
ered that there is another outcrop on a distant part
of the property, on which no work has been done.
Men are placed at work on this and a shaft sunk 40
feet or more in the ore. By this time the mill
machinery begins to arrive at the mine. The ques-
tion of site has not been seriously considered, but a
flat bench at the side of the gulch is selected, this
being the only level bit of ground in the vicinity.
True, it is up the gulch some distance above the
mouth of the tunnel, but this is not material, as " the
ore can be hoisted up an inclined tram into the mill
cheaper than the cost of grading the hillside below
the tunnel." All energies are now directed to mill
construction, and at the end of ninety days the mill
is completed under contract, and milling operations
commenced. It is then discovered that the water
supply is insufficient, but this can be developed fur-
ther. In the meantime exploration in the tunnel has
developed the fact that the vein has been crosscut
diagonally and the vein is but 30 feet wide, instead of
100 — bad, but it might be worse. In a few months
the tailings outside the mill on the flat begin to give
trouble. A bulkhead has to be built to prevent
their running back into the mill. Soon the ore
shoot begins to show signs of playing out at the
ends. The foreman, working under directions, has a
hard time to keep the mill supplied with ore. The
new development in the shaft has not come up to
expectations, and only one level is open on the main
vein. After a struggling existence for a few weeks
longer, the mill running on part time, the mine can
no longer keep the mill going, and, hanging up one
battery after another, the mill is finally shut down
for several months, to await the development of the
mine. During this period the general expenses are
heavy and the outlook is unpromising. In time, the
mill is again started up, and after several years of.
this sort of "seesaw" operation the property is
either placed on a substantial basis, through the
manager learning by experience at the expense of
the stockholders, or it is closed altogether. How
different all might have been had a competent engi-
neer been engaged in the first place. Thousands of
dollars would have been saved in equipment and
thousands more in operation, but neither the stock-
holders nor the manager knew this. It may seem
that the above is an exaggerated instance, but such
is, in fact, not the case. It is, indeed, a very much
better outcome of a bad situation than usually results
under similar conditions, and is due largely to the
fact that the mine is really better than the average
and will stand considerable bad management and
still pay a profit.
It is true that the technical mining engineer is not
always a good business man, and failures are some-
times due to this lack of business experience, where
success might have resulted, but in most instances
the mining engineer has sufficient acumen to surround
himself with a staff of specialists, as assistants, and
among these will be found at least one who is compe-
tent to look after the commercial features of the con-
cern. On the whole, as between the business man as
a mining engineer, and the mining engineer as a busi-
ness man, the proposition is largely in favor of the
latter.
A New Interior Sea.
In the center of the Colorado desert, in southern
California, an unusual spectacle may now be seen.
For several months past the Colorado river has been
running through a crevasse in its banks a few miles
below Fort Yuma, the breach being caused by the
digging of an irrigation canal from the adjacent
country through the river bank, without providing it
with the necessary head gates. This was done last
spring during a comparatively low stage of the river,
and at that time a considerable volume of water
flowed from the river into the artificial irrigation
ditch, known as the Imperial canal. With ' the
coming of the summer floods due to the melting
snows in the Rocky mountains, the breach widened
and grew deeper until, it is stated, a large part of
the Colorado river is pouring through the gap and
that thus far all engineering efforts to check it and
close the cut have proved unavailing. The water has
flowed into an old channel known variously as New
river and Hardey's, Colo., and has already covered
the salt marshes and works at Salton, and has now
commenced to submerge the tracks of the Southern
Pacific Railroad. There are in this region nearly
4000 square miles of country below the level of the
break in the bank of the river, and much of this is
below the level of the sea. There seems a reasonable
probability of this old lake, possibly at one time an
arm of the Gulf of California, becoming a sheet of
fresh water of considerable extent. It already covers
many square miles of territory, and it is interesting
to contemplate what may be the final outcome of this
accidental formation of a new interior sea. It may
have a noticeable effect upon the climatic conditions
in that section, but it is scarcely likely that its influ-
ence will be felt beyond the mountains on the north
and west of the basin.
THE annual report of the Calumet & Hecla Cop-
per Mining Co., at Houghton, Mich., has
recently been published for the year ending April 30,
1905. The statement of the company's assets and
liabilities are undoubtedly satisfactory to stock-
holders, but the report deals with its operations and
their cost in such a broad way that little knowledge
of conditions other than those of a general character
can be gained from reading the report. It shows an
increase in production over the previous year, and
the outlook for the future is stated to be promising.
During the year four dividends were disbursed —
three of $10 each and one of $15. It is also stated
that by making changes in the old mills — modernizing
them — that their capacity has been increased ; but
no details of stamping or mining operations and cost
are given, This is in line with the policy pursued by
this and some other great companies for many years,
and it is to be regretted that such is the case, for
much might be learned through comparison by mine
managers everywhere if these important figures
were available.
THE paper of T. H. Oxnam, appearing in the
last Bulletin of the Transactions of the Ameri-
can Institute of Mining Engineers, on cyaniding of
silver-gold ores at Palmarejo, Mexico, (the first
installment of which appears elsewhere herein) can-
not fail to be of interest to cyanide operators
throughout the world. It has been known that silver
was soluble in cyanide solutions, but practical appli-
cation of this knowledge has been limited. In a few
of the instances where the process has been tried,
the difficulties have been so great that only moder-
ately successful results have been obtained. In the
instance above referred to, however, the author
appears to have solved most of the problems and
demonstrated the complete adaptation of the process
to certain conditions.
IT has been officially announced that the inaugura-
tion of the Simplon railroad, which will unite
Switzerland and Italy through the Simplon tunnel,
the first of the two sections of which was recently
completed, will take place October 10, 1905.
July 29, 19U5.
mining and Scientific Press
72
Q
CONCENTRATES.
b - 6
The greenish appearance of some vitreous quartz from
a gold vein is due to the inclusion of minute particles of
chlorite.
Nr.MEKui s 4S8AYEKS agree that there is a greater
loss by cupellation in assaying tellurido gold ores than
with almost any other kind of ore.
vsvv
It is stated that the rate of increase in temperature in
some of the deep Victorian mines of Australia, down to
3000 feet depth, is 1° P. for every 75 feet.
4f v v "w
Two nozzles are used on a water wheel of small diam-
eter where high speed is required. The power of the
wheel is thus doubled, though twice the amount of
water is required.
TVVV
The demand for pyritous ores for the manufacture of
sulphur and sulphuric acid is increasing in the United
States. In 1!M)4 the sulphur and sulphur content of
pyrite produced in the United States was 220,104 long
tons.
VVVw
The United States Geological Survoy reports ( " Min-
eral Resources, 1903," issued in 1004) that the commer-
cial production of tungsten ores during 1003 amounted
to 292 tons of 2000 pounds, valued at *43,639, or about
$150 per ton.
It would be sufficient to simply drain the coarse con-
centrates before shipping, but it would be more econom-
ical to dry the finer concentrates in revolving cylinders
or on drying lloors. When fine ore is to be shipped, it
is advisable to leave 2% or 3% of moisture, to prevent
loss of dust.
***■*
ZINC DUST is worth wholesale in New York City
$0.05J("0.051 per pound. Zinc dust or fume is collected
from dust chambers and stacks connected with zinc re-
duction furnaces, and consists chiefly of metallic zinc in
the form of fine globules. It usually contains a small
percentage of impurities.
The owner of an unpatented placer or quartz claim
which is being properly held by compliance with the
mining laws— Federal, State and local — is entitled to
everything on the surface, in the way of timber, and
vegetation of every description, as much so as though
the claim were patented.
The business of quarrying marble has become closely
associated with the installation of electrical plants
throughout the United States. Marble is largely used
as a mounting or backing for electrical switchboards,
and marble quarries are required to supply a large
amount of this kind of material.
Iron is made from the various kinds and grades of
iron ore by smelting in the blast furnace, by which it is
converted into pig iron. Some of the processes are
direct in their operation, and others require remelting
and various other manipulations in the transformation
from iron ore to wrought iron or steel.
V v V V
Impact wheels are not recommended for low heads —
under 40 feet — except where a small amount of power is
required. Sometimes more than one wheel is mounted
on the same shaft. For heads exceeding 100 feet the im-
pulse wheel is superior to any other. Turbines give the
best results with large volume of water under low head.
It is said the copper deposits at Rio Tinto, Spain,
were worked by the Romans over 2000 years ago, and
by the Phoenicians centuries before them. The superfi-
cial ores were doubtless far richer than the sulphide ores
worked to-day. These mines are on what are believed
to be the most extensive copper deposits in the world.
In the manufacture of high grade self-hardening
steels the elements employed to produce an extraordin-
ary hardness is about as follows: Carbon, 0.40% to
2.19%; chromium, 0.00% to 6%; tungsten, 3.44% to 24%;
silica, 0.21% to 3%. Molybdenum may be substituted
for tungsten, when 1°0' of molybdenum replaces 2% of
the tungsten.
The installation of a larger fan acting as an exhaust
may improve the air circulation of a mine. Blowing
fans are often inefficient, the development of the mine
having outgrown the ventilating plant. A fan which
will satisfactorily ventilate 5000 feet of mine workings
may prove totally inefficient to supply air to twice this
amount of development.
There is not a very great difference between the Hun-
tington-Heberlein process and the Carmichael-Bradford
process. The former uses quicklime with the sulphide
lead charge and the latter substitutes calcined gypsum.
The process has been tried in an experimental way with
raw copper sulphide concentrates at Anaconda, Mont.,
and is said to be a success.
What is known as the Frasch process of mining sul-
phur is in operation at the sulphur deposits in Louisi-
ana, and consists in melting the sulp.hur in place in the
deposit by means of hot water and then pumping the
sulphur from a sump or well to the surface. This
method of mining sulphur was invented by H. Frasch,
president of the Union Sulphur Company of Louisiana.
ROCK DRILLS may be boated by means of petroleum
oil blast in a furnace of proper construction. Such a
furnace offers many ad vantages over the coal or charcoal
method. It is cleaner, usually less expensive, the tem-
perature can be regulated to a nicety, and there is less
steel burned in the oil furnace than in the ordinary
forge. There Is no loss of time in getting up heat and
no ashes to be removed.
Compressed air as a means for driving mining
pumps has many advantages over steam for the reason
that it does away with the heat radiated from the pipe
line, and from the pump itself, and the exhaust from the
pump aids ventilation to a considerable extent, and
under most conditions the loss of efficiency in the steam
line, due to condensation, is greater than the loss of air
pressure, due to cooling of the air current in the pipe
line.
WwwV
More firebricks are usually used in the construction
of a reverberatory furnace than are actually necessary.
Some fuels make a much hotter fire than others. Petro-
leum with steam blast makes an extremely hot fire, and
must be kept under control. It is not uncommon to see
the bricks inside a furnace glazed from fusion due to the
high heat. Such high temperatures are sometimes
detrimental to the best results in roasting ore, convert-
ing iron, lead, copper, etc., into small metallic globules,
which inclose minute particles of gold and silver, and
unfit the ore for subsequent treatment.
Doubtless a signal code for the use of miners im-
prisoned underground could be devised. It is a well-
known fact that sound travels a long distance through
rock, and particularly through hard rock. The ham-
mering on a rock wall can often be heard 200 feet or
more. The strokes of a machine drill can frequently be
heard 400 feet or more, and a sharp "click," which is
characteristic of a distant blast, under favorable condi-
tions can be heard more than 1200 feet. Miners fre-
quently signal each other underground by hammering
on the rocks, but, so far as known to "Concentrates,"
no code of such signals is in existence.
Up to April 30, 1904, the United States Geological Sur-
vey bad completed the topqgraphic survey in California
of 67,148 square miles out of a total of 158,360. In Colo-
rado, at the same date, 35,101 square miles had been
completed out of a total of 103,925. In Montana, 42,fi28
square miles had been completed out of a total of 146,-
080. In Idaho, 14,933 square miles had been completed
out of a total of 84,800. In Nevada, 28,953 square miles
had been completed out of 110,700. In Arizona, 60,813
were completed out of 113,020. The relative amount of
area surveyed in the mining States ranged from one-
third to one-half the total area of each State, Utah hav-
ing nearly three-fourths, there being completed 62,628
out of 84,970 square miles.
Acetylene gas is a gas resulting from the addition
of water to the chemical known as calcium carbide. The
gas is a hydro-carbon (C2H2). It is used in lighting, to
some extent in heating for culinary purposes, and more
recently has been employed in gas engines. One pound
of calcium carbide (worth in large lots about 7 cents per
pound on the Pacific coast) with one-half pound of water,
will evolve 5| cubic feet of acetylene gas. It is stated to
have a heat capacity of over 18,000 B. T. U. per pound,
or 1259 per cubic foot, at 14J cubic feet per pound. About
12£ volumes of air are required to burn it. Acetylene
lamps are very useful in mines, and the powerful light
given by such lamps makes it possible to see the backs
of high stopes, or to look some distance down shafts.
It is superior for shaft inspection.
There is much that is somewhat mysterious about
the explosion of nitro-powders, gun cotton and other
high-grade explosives, but it is agreed by all careful ob-
servers that when nitro-powder is surrounded by a
medium such as air, water or rock, the explosive force is
exerted equally in all directions, but manifests itself
chiefly in the direction of the least resistance. That is,
if a blast is fired in a drill hole the gases formed by the
explosion, in their efforts to escape, will tear away a
portion of the rock surrounding the drill hole. When
dynamite is placed on top of a rock it will shatter the
rock if it be not too large. If the same amount of pow-
der is placed under the rock, and in contact with it, it
will also shatter the rock, showing that the explosive
force is exerted in an upward as well as in a downward
direction. The impression that many have that the ex-
plosive force of nitro-glycerine and dynamite is down-
ward only is erroneous.
Silver-lead ores occur in many formations, but
the most noted mining districts of the world where ores
of this class occur are mostly in limestone formation, as-
sociated with porphyry intrusions, in the form of dikes
and sheets. Some noted examples are Leadville and
Aspen districts of Colorado, Eureka district of Nevada,
Tombstone of Arizona, Little Cottonwood canyon of
Utah, Santa Eulalia, Sierra Mojada, and a number of
other districts of Mexico. Besides these, there are
scores of other places of less note where silver-lead ores
occur abundantly in limestone. A notable exception is
the mines of the Cceur d'Alene district, Idaho, where
the ores occur in quartzlte. Silver-lead ores occur in
schist, sandstone, granite, andesite and many other
kinds of rock — sedimentary, metamorphicand eruptive —
but its most frequent occurrence is in limestone. The
lead-zinc mines of Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, Iowa,
Illinois and Wisconsin are wholly in limestone.
TTTT
Some months ago the experiment of treating cinna-
bar ores in White-Howell furnaces was tried at the
Socrates quicksilver mine, Sonoma county, Cal. Two
of these furnaces were installed. The larger of the two
was 27 feet in length and 5 feet 8 inches in diameter,
lined with fire brick. After several months trial it was
decided that the furnace was not as well adapted to the
work as the ordinary type of quicksilver reduction fur-
nace. It was found that the ore was not exposed to the
heat for a sufficiently long period to reduce all of the
contained mercury. At the Socrates mine there is con-
siderable metallic quicksilver in the ore, and this was
readily vaporized and recovered in the usual manner,
but the reduction of the cinnabar was found far from
complete owing to the comparatively short exposure to
the heat. When the furnace was set so as to give the
necessary heat and time to effect complete reduction, the
capacity of the furnace fell so low as to make the ex-
pense of the process prohibitive. The company is now
building a large furnace of the Scott type, the rotary
furnaces having been abandoned.
Wwww
There are a number of minerals which deposita white
coating on charcoal before the blowpipe. If the coating
is deposited at some distance from the assay and is read-
ily dissipated by directing the flame toward it, it is prob-
ably arsenic. If the white coating forms nearer the
assay, it is more likely to be antimony. With antimony
there is usually the formation of globules of metal which
emit fumes for some time after the flame is removed,
and, on further cooling, the metallic beads are sur-
rounded by crystals of antimony oxide. If the coating
on the coal is yellow while hot but white on cooling, the
mineral is zinc. Tin also produces a yellow coating, but
it is of a much lighter tint than that produced by zinc.
The coating about tin is close to the assay, and it is not
volatilized by the flame when once deposited. Lead
gives a lemon-yellow color hot and a sulphur-yellow color
cold, the coating quickly disappearing on application of
the flame, which it colors blue. Bismuth gives a bril-
liant dark orange-yellow colored coating hot, fading to
lemon-yellow on cooling. Cadmium gives an orange-
brown color hot, changing to orange-yellow when cold.
All charcoal used in blowpipe analysis should be tested
without any mineral, to see that no color is produced by
the blowpipe flame. Some kinds of coal are covered
with a white coating and others by a brown color when
cooled after ignition.
Where there are no mechanical means for sampling
ore in a mill, as suggested herein in a recent issue, the
most reliable samples can be taken in a mine. If it
is desired to supplement this with mill samples of head-
ings, these samples should be taken from the chute lead-
ing from the bins to the feeder hoppers, this place offer-
ing the best opportunities for fair samples. They should
be taken with a square shovel, and the shovel should
reach the bottom of the stream of ore. The amount taken
each time should not be less than 10 pounds (and more is
better), and these should be taken at least hourly. This
would mean twenty-four samples of 10 pounds each dur-
ing each day — or 240 pounds of rock. This can be mixed
and cut down on the cam floor and the surplus shoveled
into the chute again. A 5-stamp battery ordinarily
crushes from 12 to 25 tons per day of twenty-four hours,
so that the entire sample only weighs from 1% to 0.5%
of the amount passing through the battery. The " cut-
ting down " can be quickly done with a shovel after
mixing on canvas, by the quartering method. A small
rock breaker and sample grinder combined are of great
utility in carrying out this idea. The most important
samples are those of the tailings. When the tailings are
low, the bullion and concentrates should indicate the
value of the ore if the millman is honest.
Where a man owns a fraction — that is, a mining loca-
tion less than the full length — and the neighboring land
is unlocated, he may file an additional location certificate
taking in enough additional land to make his location
a full 1500-foot claim. Such additional certificates are
usually provided for by statute, but the courts have
held that this may be done even in States such as Cal-
ifornia, which have no statute on the point. It can not
be done to the prejudice of existing rights of others.
On the same principle is the case where the owner of the
fraction owns another and contiguous fraction, each
fraction alone being only 750 feet in length. As he might
abandon one fraction, and then enlarge the other within
the above rule, the law will permit him to accomplish
this in a single step, on the principle that the law will
not force a man to circuity of proceeding. Re should
select one of the fractional locations (preferably the
older one) and file a certificate enlarging it bo as to take
in the other. This would operate as a relocation rather
than as an amendment and can be done only if existing
rights of others are not prejudiced. No change upon
the ground is necessary if the name of the claim se-
lected for enlargement is not changed, and the claim
was originally perfectly regular; the old monuments al-
ready on the ground may be used. Thereafter annual
labor would be required as for one claim only.
73
Mining and Scientific Press.
Jdlt 29, 1905.
The Ancient Channel at Gibsonville, Cal.
Written for the Mining and Scientific Press by
Samuel C. Wiel.
White cuts along hillsides are familiar in many of
the mining counties of California, indicating generally
ancient gravel deposits — usually deposits that have
been hydraulicked. Famous among these is the deposit
about Gibsonville and La Porte, in Sierra county.
Work was begun there in the fifties. Such names as
Poorman's Gulch, Poverty Flat and Whiskey Diggings
are left to indicate the early scramble for locations.
Each man worked for himself or with a few partners.
Company work on a systematic scale came much
later, but to-day work has been entirely turned over
to corporations. A few Chinamen still work the dig-
gings for gold that nets them a day's wages. Sur-
vivors of the early days will tell you they are barely
making a living, though they can remember when
they took out $40 to $50 a day. The work on the
gravel is being done now by corporations such as the
Belleview, the New Bunker Hill, and others.
These gravels, around Gibsonville, are the re-
mains of an old river, of Neocene time, now covered
by lava. They crop out on the surface in all sorts
of places, wherever erosion has removed the over-
lying rock (the lava cap) with which the ancient
channels are usually covered. The miners call these
exposures "blowouts," and "spills," as though some
subterranean force bad there squeezed the gravel to
the surface. One old miner founded a theory of the
entire phenomena of ancient gravels on this idea.
He told the writer that these buried gravels never
were the beds of streams, but were ordinary rocks
broken up at great depths and squeezed through to
the surface, the rounding of the gravel being due to
a wearing away in the process. The exposures in a
general way are not found on the hilltops, but in the
canyons or gulches, or on the sides of gulches,
where erosion has been greatest and has removed
more of the lava than elsewhere.
Having found a "blowout," in the early days, it
was hydraulicked. The gravels paid well that way;
but legislation has since made this method of mining
almost prohibitive. At Gibsonville one hydraulic
mine is at work still, but at the expense of three im-
pounding dams. These log dams, expensive at the
start, are now almost filled up, necessitating the ex-
pense of raising them. There is considerable low-
grade gravel left in the ancient Gibsonville channel,
especially on the rims, where tributaries probably
entered; but the possibility of working these profit-
ably has been legislated away.
The channel between La Porte and Gibsonville is
covered with andesitic breccia of the later Tertiary.
The river deposit under this lava has been pen-
etrated at the Thistle shaft, about 4 miles southeast
of La Porte. Work on this shaft was difficult be-
cause of a considerable inflow of water. To avoid
this difficulty in the shaft, a long bedrock tunnel
known as the Belleview has recently been completed
by the same company. It is said that their perse-
verance has been rewarded by striking a wide pay
channel running $3 a car. The Yankee Hill gravel,
near Slate creek, on the road from La Porte to St.
Louis is perhaps apart of the La Porte channel, but
there remains some doubt about it. From Gibson-
ville the gravel may be followed continuously through
Whiskey Diggings to Hepisdam, formerly prosperous
camps, but now in decay, where the channel disap-
pears under the lava. From La Porte to Gibson-
ville the average present grade of the bed of the
Neocene river is about 80 feet to the mile; from Gib-
sonville to Whiskey Diggings, about 250 feet to the
mile; and from the latter place to Hepisdam, a dis-
tance of over a mile, about 400 feet to the mile.
These measurements, while not accurate, have a
comparative value. "As the character of the gravel
and of the old channel does not appear to have
changed in this distance, the rapid increase in grade
is in all probability to be ascribed to subsequent dif-
ferential elevation toward the east," says Turner.
By hydraulicking and washing along a stretch
2 miles long in a southwesterly and northeasterly
line, the continuity of the gravels has been proved.
For that length a strip, sometimes a thousand feet
wide, has been exposed, washed clear of the lava
covering, and down to bedrock. At the northeast-
erly end of this line the lava cap was early found too
thick for hydraulicking and about a mile from Gibson-
ville the Hepisdam drift mine was started, tunneling
under the lava. This mine, now known as the North
America, is said to have taken out between $800,000
and $1,000,000. The gravel maintained the same
character as that in the works below. They had- the
misfortune of running out of bedrock with their tun-
nel, into the gravel and above it, rendering their
tunnel finally too high to handle the gravel, a fre-
quent cause of misfortune in drift mining. It was the
custom of this mine to raise from their bedrock tun-
nel into the gravel and take out all the gravel indis-
criminately, to a height of about 4 feet above bed-
rock, and yet the gravel taken thus would run be-
tween $1.50 and $2 a car.
The line of the ancient channel appears now con-
tinuously for about 2 miles on the surface. The cov-
ering being washed away, it looks from the hills like
a fairly straight white line of quartz gravel and
boulders, disappearing under the lava at the North
America dump. From here on it can be traced in
the same (northeasterly) direction by the air shafts
of that mine, beyond the summit of the ridge of lava
that covers it. On the other (eastern) side of this
ridge lies the New Bunker Hill drift mine, where the
gravel is similar in character. From there on, be-
yond the Bunker Hill, the continuity of the channel
is doubtful. Deep canyons come in, whose erosion
probably cut out the ancient channel. There are,
however, two masses of white quartz gravel at the
north and west base of Blue Nose at the edge of the
lava, about 500 feet below the Bunker Hill tunnel,
which may be downthrown portions of the Hepisdam
river deposit. That extensive faulting has occurred
Looking for Nuggets in the Sluice of a Placer %L\nef
Sierra County, Cal.
Cleaning Up the Sluices of the Bunker Hill Mine,
Sierra County, Cal.
about Blue Nose is evident. That the region about
Blue Nose was formerly one of volcanic activity,
where the lavas issued, is also apparent according
to Turner, though there is no evidence of faulting in
the Bunker Hill tunnels.
Much of the lava about Blue Nose is massive ande-
site, in part dikes, occupying fissures in the bedrock.
A little over a mile northeast of Mount Fillmore is
some gravel under the andesite, and both andesite
and gravel are cut by basalt dikes.
The New Bunker Hill, while undoubtedly on the same
ancient channel system as the North America, is
probably on a tributary and not on the main channel.
They have met a series of benches running, not in the
direction of the Gibsonville channel, but across it;
and it is hoped, by following in the direction of these
benches, to demonstrate conclusively that the Gib-
sonville channel crosses their ground. The New
Bunker Hill, like the rest of the drift mines in this
neighborhood, was started byfollowing a "blowout"
which was found at the head of Hopkins creek.
Work here is being done more carefully now than in
the old days. Instead of breasting out broadly over
the bedrock, a prospect dump is used. Carloads of
gravel are separately washed and only the pay
streak is followed.
All the ancient gravels contain free gold. Pieces
worth over $50 are not frequent; but pieces worth
$20, or so, are frequently found and are called
"slugs." In washing, the slugs are usually found in
the upper 20 feet of the flume. At the Bunker Hill,
the flume extends far down the creek, mercury being
used in the lowest flume to catch the smaller par-
ticles, but not in the upper flumes. The tailings con-
tain practically nothing, and even the Chinamen do
not undertake to wash the tailings.
The character of the gravel in this ancient channel
is interesting. The gravel deposit is very wide, in
some places reaching 1000 feet — very different from
the mountain streams found there to-day; it would
seem more comparable to lower streams like the
Sacramento river. At one time it was a popular
theory that the ancient gravels throughout the
Sierra region were a part of a single great river,
but a closer geological study has caused this idea to
be discarded, and it has been shown that there were
numerous ancient rivers, independent of each other.
There are so many of these large ancient channels in
California, moreover, that it is unlikely that they
bear any relation whatever to any single stream of
the present day. So large were these streams that
one would expect the deposit to be fine grained and
the gravel regular and small; but, on the coutrary,
the gravel is as irregular as in narrow mountain tor-
rents of the present day. The deposit varies from
clay and fine sand to boulders the size of a house. At
the Bunker Hill these huge boulders on bedrock
often give trouble in mining. The gold will some-
times lie on one side of them, as though they had
some favorable influence in causing its deposit; but
they give difficulty in handling material.
From these huge boulders the gravel grades down
in size. It is very irregular in shape, and decidedly
angular. It is not as rounded as one would expect
of material coming from a distance, and this indi-
cates that the formation of this channel must have
been comparatively rapid, or that the part at pres-
ent exposed is not far from its source. The larger
boulders are almost invariably white quartz; yet no
quartz veins have been found from which such huge
pieces could have come; probably they have long
since been eroded away. The conditions suggest the
possibility of ice having been a factor in the creation
of this channel.
No evidence of faulting or disturbance has been
found in the Bunker Hill, though on other channels
the gravel has been lost through faulting, or has
been cut off by dikes and igneous intrusions of vari-
ous kinds. In the North America, on this channel,
a fault is said to have been met with, which caused
the channel to drop below the level of the bedrock
tunnel of that mine, and rendered its tunnel useless.
The Bunker Hill tunnel was driven at a lower level,
to allow for this fault, as the Bunker Hill is directly
up stream from the North America. The quartz
boulders frequently break up and splinter when
blasted, which may be due to the pressure of con-
solidation under the weight of overlying material.
For ventilation, air shafts are raised to the sur-
face at intervals along the tunnel. These shafts cut
layers of gravel, sand and pipe clay; the upper lay-
ers of gravel containing much less gold than the
lower or bedrock gravel; and only the bedrock gravel
is worked. Water is conveyed by ditch to these air
shafts, and, in falling through them, produces a
strong current of air for ventilation The bedrock
is usually the Mariposa slate of the Jurassic period —
a bluish black, soft material, that sometimes swells
on exposure to air, and occasionally makes heavy
timbering necessary.
Tantalite for Incandescent Lamps.
Recently Dr. Feuerbach delivered a lecture before
the joint session of the technical and electrotechnical
associations of Frankfort, Germany, in which he said,
in part, that endeavors have constantly been made
to construct lamps of greater light-giving efficiency,
for the present efficiency is only 1%, 99% of the
energy used being converted into heat. As it was
known that the light-giving efficiency increases with
the increase of the temperature, it was the general
desire to use for threads in the lamps metals which
have a very high melting point, instead of carbon
threads. The tantalite incandescent lamp is the re-
sult of years of experiment. Tantalite occurs in
nature in various minerals. There are two groups of
tantalite ores — tantalite and columbite. The tanta-
lite ores, which are found in Australia and Scandi-
navia, contain tantalate of iron and tantalateof man-
ganese. The columbite ores contain, in addition to'
tantalite, niobate of iron and of manganese, and were
first found in New England. From these ores tanta-
lite is first separated as tantalitic acid, which is con-
verted into a double fluoride of tantalite and potas-
sium, from which tantalite is finally derived as a pure
element.
Tantalite as a metal was first found by the English-
man Hatchet in 1801. As the real discoverer of this
element, however, must be named Eckeberg, who
made investigations in 1802. Berzelius was enabled,
in 1824, to free tantalite of its associated element,
July 29, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
m
but even he did not succeed in obtaining pure tan-
talite.
Dr. von Bolton first succeeded in obtaining pure
tantalite. Tantalite is a heavy mineral with a gray
metallic luster, extremely resistant to acids and
alkalies. Only fluoric acid affects it. Its specific
weight is ltj.8. Pure tantalite has the hardness of
soft steel, but possesses a much greater tensile
strength. It can be worked into thin sheets and ex-
tremely fine wires. Its melting point lies between
2250° to 2300° Celsius. Through repeated annealing
it acquires such hardness that tantalite sheets with-
stand even a diamond borer.
The technical use of large quantities of tantalite is
at present impracticable, as one pound of this ele-
ment still costs nearly $5000. Of what importance
the chemical and physical properties of tantalite are
for the industries is shown by the fact that Siemens
& Halske, for the various processes of manufacture
and use of tantalite, have taken out more than 200
patents in Germany and other countries. The incan-
descent lamp with a tantalite instead of a carbon
thread has various advantages over other means of
lighting. The tantalite lamp requires only one-half
the current of ordinary incandescent lamps of equal
light power. With the same strength of current the
tantalite lamps give double the light of the carbon
incandescent lamp, and the light is much whiter.
The lamp is pear-shaped, like the ordinary incandes-
cent lamp, and the thread has a length of 650 millime-
ters (25.59 inches) and is 0.5 millimeter (0. 197 inch) in
diameter. The lamp can be placed in any position.
The medium life of a tantalite lamp is from four to a
hundred light hours.
Splicing Transmission Rope.
Rope transmission is an important factor in the
operation of many mines. Ropes are employed in
the transmission of power in mills and about mines,
and a more extended use of this economical means of
handling power and distributing it to desired points
is certain to follow a more thorough understanding
of the methods of application and its advantages.
One of the important features in rope transmission is
course, by frequent repetitions of the operation the
workman becomes more expert and the result of the
improvement, which is the outcome of experience, is
observable in the more enduring quality of the
scription and illustrations are published through
courtesy of the C. W. Hunt Co. :
Splicinq. — To properly splice a rope or tie a knot
that will not slip is a simple operation, and it would
Fig- 3-
Fig. 4.
splices. The C. W. Hunt Co., of 45 Broadway, New
York City, have recently issued a catalogue, No. 054,
entitled "Manila Rope," which contains much valu-
Cop^nftaed, C.W.Hunt Co.NewYorK
054B
Fig.
Fig.
the splicing of the ropes. This must be properly
done or the operation of the plant cannot be satisfac-
tory. The splicing of a transmission rope is not a
difficult matter when understood. As a matter of
able information on rope transmission and on ropes
and their use generally. Incorporated in this hand-
some little volume are a number of cuts, which show
clearly the methods of splicing. The following de-
be supposed that almost any workman would be able
to do either, but the difficulty of getting the splices
put in a rope in manufacturing establishments has
been a serious drawback in introducing the use of
rope for the transmission of power. There is but lit-
tle information on splicing a transmission rope in
technical literature, and as ordinary rope splices are
not suitable for this purpose, the following descrip-
tion and cuts will serve a useful purpose.
The splice in a transmission rope is not only the
weakest part, but is the first to fail when the rope is
worn out. If the splice is not long enough the rope
will fail by breakage or pulling out of the splice. If
the splice is improperly made it will be larger than
the rope and the projecting parts will wear on the
pulleys and the rope fail from the cutting off of the
outer threads of the strands.
If it is desired to profit by the experience of
others, do not put in a "short splice" or an ordinary
"long splice," or get an "old sailor" to do the work,
but have a handy man follow implicitly the directions
given below for a splice in a four-strand transmission
rope.
We have had accurate engravings made of each
successive operation in splicing a -1J - inch manila
rope, and also of the most common knots. Each en-
graving was made from a full-size specimen, and
accurately shows the position of the parts.
Tie a piece of twine, 9 and 10, around the rope to
be spliced about 6 feet from each end. Then unlay
the strands of each end back to the twine.
Butt the ropes together and twist each corre-
sponding pair of strands loosely, to keep them from
being tangled, as shown in engraving, Fig. 1.
The twine 10 is now cut, and the strand 8 unlaid,
and strand 7 carefully laid in its place for a distance
of 4i feet from the junction.
The strand 6 is next unlaid about li feet, and
strand 5 laid in its place.
The ends of the cores are now cut off so they just
meet.
Unlay strand 1, 4i feet, laying strand 2 in its
place.
Unlay strand 3, 1£ feet, laying in strand 4.
Cut all the strands off to a length of about 20
inches, for convenience in manipulation.
The rope now assumes the form shown in Fig. 2,
with the meeting points of the strands 3 feet apart.
Each pair of strands is successively subjected to
the following operation:
From the point of meeting of the strands 8 and 7,
unlay each one three turns; split both the strand 8
and the strand 7 in halves as far back as they are
now unlaid, and the end of each half strand
" whipped " with a small piece of twine.
The half of the strand 7 is now laid in three turns,
and the half of 8 also laid in three turns. The half
strands now meet and are tied in a simple knot, 11
(Fig. 3), making the rope at this point its original
size.
The rope is opened with a marlin spike, and the
half strand of 7 worked around the half strand of 8
by passing the end of the half strand 7 through the
rope, as shown in the engraving, drawn taut, and
again worked around this half strand until it reaches
75
Mining and Scientific Press.
July 29, 19U5.
the half strand 13 that was not laid in. The half
strand 13 is now split, and the half strand 7 drawn
through the opening thus made, and then tucked
under the two adjacent strands, as shown in Fig. 4.
The other half of the strand 8 is now wound around
the other half strand 7 in the same manner. After
each pair of strands have been treated in this man-
ner, the ends are cut off at 12, leaving them about 4
inches long. After a few days' wear they will draw
into the body of the rope or wear off, so that the
locality of the splice can scarcely be detected.
The Ore Deposits of Mount Lyell.*
NUMBER III.
Written by J. W. Gregory.
It is, of course, obvious that the Iron Blow was
not formed by the simple alteration of the pyrites by
surface waters and air; for in that case the iron
would have been present as a hydrous oxide of iron,
such as limonite, instead of as hematite. Apparently
limonite only occurred where the hematite had been
acted upon by surface waters. It is accordingly most
natural to regard the Iron Blow as some type of lode,
formed under conditions which have led to the depo-
sition of red hematite from iron solutions. The iron
was probably leached from pyrites in the underlying
rocks, and was precipitated along the fault lines,
where the ascending waters, containing iron salts,
met other solutions which had worked their way
downward through the conglomerates. The position
of the Iron Blow beside the pyritic mass is only nat-
ural, for the conditions which favored the ascent of
the solutions which deposited the pyrites, also en-
abled the ascent of the other. The anhydrous hem-
atite was naturally also deposited where the con-
glomerates have been faulted down against the
schists; for the surface waters could pass through
the porous conglomerates, and thus mix at some
depth with the ferruginous waters and precipitate
their contents.
F. D. Power has suggested that the Iron Blow is a
segregation lode, thereby showing that he fully
recognized that it was not formed by the mere de-
composition of the pyrites. The striking difference
between the ores of the Iron Blow and the pyritic
masses is the poverty of the ironstone in copper and
silver. These metals may have been once present in
it; but they, being more easily removed as soluble
sulphates, have been entirely leached out and carried
down. The rich shoots of silver-copper ore found at
the southern end of the pyritic mass of Mount Lyell
probably derived their contents from the leaching of
the Iron Blow. These bonanzas or enrichments are
secondary enrichments, formed by water working its
way downward through the ores and leaching out
the more soluble salts; the metals in these salts were
deposited again lower down, along the drainage lines
in shoots, which thinned out below, as they got fur-
ther from the source of supply.
The iron gossan of the Iron Blow was, therefore,
probably formed from pyrites by the conversion of
the iron sulphide into ferrous sulphate and of the en-
closed copper and silver into cupric and silver sul-
phates. As a solution of ferrous sulphate is a solv-
ent for gold, that metal also was removed at the
same time. The solution then percolated into the
schist of the hanging wall side, where further chem-
ical changes took place. The ferrous sulphate was
decomposed and the iron precipitated as ferric oxide
(Fe2Oa); the gold was immediately precipitated. The
sulphate of barium, which had also been introduced
at the same time, was precipitated along with the
iron and gold, forming the barytic hematite of the
Iron Blow. The copper and silver were perhaps
precipitated in the hematite, and, being more soluble,
have been subsequently removed by leaching pro-
cesses, and then concentrated on the margin of the
hematite. It appears, however, to be more probable
that the copper-silver ores were deposited at the
same time as the hematite, but at a slightly lower
level, owing to their greater solubility. This con-
clusion is supported by the fact that the hematite
shows little evidence of subsequent percolation. Had
water passed through it, the oxide would, in all
probability, have been altered into limonite.
Peters estimated, after the most exhaustive and
careful process of sampling, that the Mount Lyell
ore would yield an assay value of copper 4i%, silver
3 ounces and gold 2-V dwts. He estimated the width
as 300 feet; the length actually traced at that time
was 950 feet. Limiting the payable ore to a width
of 2u0 feet, thus excluding the low-grade ores on the
hanging wall, and taking the weight of the ores as
280 pounds per cubic foot, he calculated that there
would be 9,200,000 tons; deducting half that amount
for contingencies, he estimated there were 4,600j000
tons of ore above the workings existing at that date,
and above the level of the tunnel which it was then
proposed to carry through the ridge to the smelting
works at Queenstown. Actual work has, however,
proved that the average of the ore used up to the
end of September, 1902, was considerably poorer;
1,320,134 tons had then been smelted, which yielded
an average assay value of copper 2.92%, silver 2.74
ounces and gold .097 ounce (that is 1.94 dwts.)
The South Lyell Mine.— The South Lyell mine is
♦Abstract Trans. Aus. Ins. Min. Engrs.
in a lease situated due south of the Mount Lyell mine,
and in this lease a considerable body of low-grade
pyritic ore has been found. A shaft was sunk at a
point in line with the Iron Blow of the Mount Lyell
mine, in expectation of reaching the continuation of
the Mount Lyell "lode." The mouth of the shaft is
at the level of 1368 feet above the sea; it reached
pyrites at 844 feet above sea level, and continued
through it to 720 feet above sea level, or 648 feet be-
low the mouth of the shaft. This mass of pyrites,
with an apparent thickness in the shaft of 124 feet,
has been proved by subsequent work to be a large
pyritic body, 140 feet long and 70 feet wide, running
from north 50° west to south 50° east. It must be
cut off abruptly above, as, if it had continued upward
at the same dip as in the shaft, it should have been
passed through by a diamond drill bore made from
the No. 5 to the No. 6 level of the Mount Lyell Co.
The absence of any extension from the South Lyell ore
body in that bore shows that it ends abruptly above,
just as the pyritic body of Mount Lyell ends ab-
ruptly below. The ore of the two mines is remark-
ably similar in character. Their distance from one
another is approximately that of the throw of the
great thrust plane which has brought the conglom-
erates between the schists in the Mount Lyell mine.
Hence the evidence renders it probable that we have
to seek for the subterranean source of the Mount
Lyell ores through the South Lyell ore mass. The
ores of the South Lyell mine on the footwall, just
above the schist, are enriched with fahlore, due
probably to the leaching from the ores along the
hanging wall, and the deposition of the material on
the lower side of the deposit. The South Lyell ore
mass contains one large intrusion of schist. The av-
erage ore contains .5% to .6% of copper, and has
been mined for use as fuel in the smelting of the acid
ores from the North Lyell mine.
The mass of ore could be most economically worked
by driving from the Mount Lyell mine. The ore is
cut through by a fault, which left the pyrites pol-
ished like a mirror; a specimen of the slickensided
pyrites from this fault is preserved in the Hobart
museum.
The North Lyell Mine. — I was unfortunately un-
able on either of my visits to Mount Lyell to examine
the underground workings of either the North Lyell
or Lyell Blocks mines. An inspection, however, of
the surface workings and subsequent information,
kindly given to me by W. T. Batchelor, shows that
both mines are associated with extensive faults.
The North Lyell mine is situated at the extreme
head of the Linda valley, beside some bold crags of
conglomerate, which rise on the ridge which forms
the divide between the Linda and Queen valleys.
The mine occurs close by the contact between the
schists and conglomerates, the junction of which is
complicated by an elaborate series of faults. The
ore has been worked by a deep open cut, the bottom
of which is 1647 feet above sea level. The contact of
the schist and conglomerate is part of the Great
Lyell fault, which has a general trend from north to
south; but opposite the main ore body a cross fault
breaks across the Great fault, throwing the southern
part to the northwest. This face of the cross fault
is well shown in the open cut, where the ore has been
removed from the north of it, leaving exposed a
bumpy, wavy surface of conglomerate.
The ground included in the lease of the North Lyell
Co. is probably more faulted and disturbed than any
other equal area in the Lyell field. The mine in-
cludes at least five distinct ore beds, four of which
are enclosed in schist and occur in the bays or angles
between the Great Lyell fault and the transverse
faults. The so-called eastern ore body, on the other
hand, occurs to the east of the Great fault, and its
ore is different in character and position from that
in the ore bodies along the main fault. The eastern
ore is a siliceous pyritic material carrying copper;
it contains much organic matter, and has conglom-
erates on its northern side. The main ore body and
those associated with it occur enclosed in schists.
They are disconnected shoots of ore, formed of born-
ite, in siliceous schists. The largest body is known
as the main ore body, and was once thought to have
been part of the second largest body, which has been
almost worked out by an open cut.
The Genesis of the Ores. — The determination of
the genesis of the Mount Lyell ores is necessary both
in estimation of the future history of the field and in
the determination of the most economic method of
working it. Upon the first discovery of the Iron
Blow and its adjacent pyrites they were regarded as
ordinary mineral lodes. The strike of the main
deposit having been determined, it was, therefore,
natural to expect that other deposits of copper ore
should occur along the continuation of the Mount
Lyell line. Great encouragement was given to this
view by the discovery of the fahlbands, which cer-
tainly extend in long bands through the schists, and
also by the wide distribution of alluvial gold in the
field, which, it was rightly inferred, was mainly
derived from the decomposition of auriferous copper-
bearing pyrites. Though the only payable gold
deposits were those found on the slopes below the
Mount Lyell mine, enough was found elsewhere to
support the hope of the wide distribution of the cop-
per ores. The land, both north and south of the
mine, was, therefore, taken up by companies and
searched for the continuation of the Mount Lyell
lode.
Thus the South Lyell Co. acquired a lease imme-
diately to the south of the Mount Lyell mine, and
sank a shaft at a point selected solely because it was
on the extension of the longer axis of the Mount Lyell
ore body.
Most of the early literature of the field and of the
prospectuses that were issued by the various mining
companies expressed the belief that the field was tra-
versed by parallel series of copper-bearing lodes.
Thus the prospectuses of the South Mount Lyell Co.
stated that a large proportion of the Mount Lyell
lode was already proved within its boundary, and it
was also proved that the whole ore body is directly
entering it. The Mount Lyell Blocks Co. claimed
that its lode is in all probability the same as that
which traverses the North Mount Lyell. The Great
Southern Mount Lyell Mining Syndicate claimed for
its 300 acres " that three distinct lodes, as well as in
all probability the Great Mount Lyell lode, occur
across its northeastern corner." The prospectus of
the Copper Mines of Mount Lyell West Co. claimed
that its Kelly shaft and Razorback lode would be
found to be the continuation of the North Consoli-
dated and Extended main lode.
It was accordingly a great blow to the founders of
the so-called "parasite companies" when Peters
announced his famous swamp formation theory.
Peters held that the pyrites had been formed by the
reduction of copper sulphate solutions by the action
of the organic agents in a swamp. The theory was
probably suggested by the well-known deposit of iron
ore at the Mesa de los Pinos, near Bio Tinto, which
has unquestionably been formed by the reduction of
ferrous sulphate solutions derived from the pyrites of
the Rio Tinto mine. This method of origin is cer-
tainly theoretically possible. Peters' theory of the
formation of the Mount Lyell ores is as follows:
"These deposits are believed by those who have
studied them most carefully to have been formed
before the period of mountain building began in this
country, and when the layers of schist that are now
nearly vertical were in the same horizontal position
in which they were originally laid down, these schists,
or neighboring rocks, containing particles of iron
pyrites carrying the valuable metals, as is exceed-
ingly common with all varieties of sedimentary rocks.
The waters flowing through the gradually decayed
and dissolved pyrites, as one can see it to-day in most
any district, and the streams flowing into some
lagoon or bog hole, came in contact with the peaty,
organic acids that are always found in the waters of
swamps, and that have the peculiarity of throwing
down the metals out of their solutions. These metals
were thus precipitated in the same state that they
were originally in the rock, but in a massive, concen-
trated form, instead of being disseminated in minute
particles throughout the rocks. In time the slowly
growing mass of pyrites filled the swamp hole, or,
more probably, a chain of holes, of great horizontal
extent in comparison with their depth. The country
was slowly covered with the pebbles that now form
the conglomerates, or the mud that we now see in
the shape of slates or schists, and the pyrite beds
were buried hundreds of feet under these newer
rocks. When the mountains were elevated these
layers of rocks were tilted into their present highly
sloping position, and if the upturned edges happened
to break across one of these hidden deposits of
pyrites, it was brought to the light of day."
From this hypothesis it follows that such swamp
deposits might occur at irregular intervals through
the sedimentary series, and need not be confined
along great fissure lines due to subsequent earth
movements. Other similar masses of pyrites might
occur wherever the swamp conditions had been
repeated during the formation of the sedimentary
rock series of the district. Peters, by a hypotheti-
cal section across the country, illustrated his conclu-
sions that the swamp deposits would be irregularly
distributed, and the only chance of finding them
would be where they actually outcropped at the sur-
face. If his hypothesis had been established it might
have been possible to define the limits within which
these pyritic lenses would be found. For they would
occur only in the bands of rock which enclose the
swamp deposits. Therefore, by tracking the outcrop
of the bands of fresh water strata the possible limits
of the copper ores would be directly determined.
Peters' theory, though it was adopted by many
writers on the Lyell field — for example, Montgomery
and McNamara Russell — has not been confirmed by
subsequent work. Further ore deposits have been
found, but all those of any importance occur in asso-
ciation with a series of powerful faults and near the
junction of the conglomerates and the schists. Hence
arose the contact theory, which during recent years
has been generally held upon the field.
Contact ore deposits are generally regarded as
those which have been formed by the contact of
igneous rocks against some different rock, such as,
for example, the lead ore deposits of Leadville, Colo.,
due to the contact of beds of porphyry against beds
of limestone. Thus Kemp, in his " Ore Deposits of
the United States and Canada" (1900, p. 58), in his
classification of ore deposits gives as the essential
feature of contact deposits that "igneous rocks
always form one wall," and on page 69 says that
"this form of deposit becomes then an attendant
July 2'.i, 1W05.
Mining and Scientific Press.
7t>
phenomenon, or even a variety of contact metamor-
phism."
In this strict sense the .Mount Lyell ores cannot be
regarded as intact deposits, as they are not due to
contact with intrusive igneous rocks. But if the
term contact be used in a much wider sense, then it
is not without some justification, for the great pyritic
masses appear to be indirectly due to the fracturing
of the schists, where they have been crushed against
the harder ma - imerate.
The first point that must be determined is the
source of the ores; and here it is natural first to turn
to the fahlbands, so widen, scattered through the
i Beries. They were regarded, both by Peters
and Haber, as of primary origin, whereas Haber
regarded the pyritic masses on the other hand as
secondary. This view was a natural corollary to the
prevalent theory of the formation of ore deposits by
lateral secretion; for, according to Peters, the ores
in the «reat pyritic masses were obtained by the leach-
ing of the disseminated pyrites from the decompos-
ing rocks beside his swamps. Haber expressly states
that "the fahlbands are to be regarded in any case
as primary ore formations. On the other hand, the
nature of the pyritic ore bodies indicates for them a
secondary origin." .Microscopic evidence, however,
clearly shows that the pyritic minerals in the schists
are as truly secondary as they are in the pyritic
mass.
In the second place, the minerals present in the
ore masses have very sharply defined crystallo-
graphy outlines, and are often built up as loose skel-
eton crystals, showing that they have crystallized in
situ after the foliation of the schists. It may be sug-
gested that the ores were formed by organic deposi-
tion and then were recrystallized, and that this
recrystallization has destroyed the evidence of their
original nature. Even then we should expect a much
greater variation in the composition of the ore near
the margin of the pyritic mass. Montgomery logic-
ally inferred from the swamp theory that the ore
mass would increase in size below, as the uniformity
of the material showed that the ore then exposed
was not near the margin of the pyritic mass. He
reasonably expected that there would be alterna-
tions of pyrites and mechanical sediments on the mar-
gin, due to the gradual increase in the deposition of
the pyrites, and later on to its decrease.
A third and more conclusive argument against the
primary nature of the pyrites is the clear evidence in
parts of the mine that the pyrites have been formed
metasomatically by the replacement, molecule by
molecule, of the original rock by pyrites.
The swamp theory is untenable when it is admitted
that the rocks in which the pyrites occur are not a
continuous sequence, and that the schists and rocks
beside the great ore masses have been faulted
together. The pyritic masses have been deposited
not only later than the deposition of the rocks, but
also later than the formation of the chief faults.
That the ores in the fahlbands and pyritic masses
are of approximately the same origin was suggested
by Peters owing to their similar composition. It is
well, therefore, to compare the composition of these
two types of ores. The assay value of the ore at the
Mount Lyell mine may be divided into three distinct
types, the low-grade pyrites that pays to work only
as a fuel, the payable pyrites, and the stoping ores.
Their metallic contents are as follows:
LOW-GRADE OKES.
Between Levels Below
4 and 5. Level 5.
Copper, %., 64 .57
Silver, ozs. per ton 2.15 1.74
Gold, oz. per ton 018 .04
PAYABLE
ORES.
.007
STOPING ORES.
Copper. X 10 . 94 4. 55
Silver, ozs. per ton 6.23 3.58
Gold, oz. per ton 022 .119
The composition of the fahlband ores may be illus-
trated by the analysis of unusually rich ore from the
Lower Reserve tunnel, and of the metal-bearing flux
of the Royal Tharsis:
ROYAL THARSIS FLUX.
LOWER RESERVE ORE.
Copper, % 6.96
Silver, oz. per ton 36
Gold. oz. per ton 008
Copper, % 1.68
Silver, oz. per ton 24
Gold, oz. per ton 026
The relative ratios of copper, gold and silver in the
metal-bearing fluxes and in the pyritic ores of the
Mount Lyell mine have been recalculated in the com-
pany's laboratory, and Mr. Sticht tells me that
Mount Lyell ores are much richer in gold and silver
than the mineral in the fahlbands. This appears to
me natural, if the pyritic masses have been formed
by secondary concentration.
Whether the ores were formed after the rocks in
which they occur (that is, are epactic, to use the
term of Louis), or were formed later (the symphytic
of the same author, or the hysteromorphs of Posepny),
may be conclusively determined by considering their
relations to the faults. It is perfectly certain that
the faults of the district are later than the formation
either of the schists or conglomerates. If, therefore,
the ores were formed later than the faults, then they
cannot have been contemporaneous with the sur-
rounding rocks. The ore deposits at the South Thar-
sis mine, the North Lyell mine, and the Mount Lyell
mine are all certainly in part later than the faults.
The most striking geological feature of the Mount
Lyell mineral field is its great fault system, and an
examination of the distribution of the ores shows that
they are in every case closely connected with the
faults. These faults were not all made by the same
earth movement; they were no doul>t formed at dif-
ferent dates, extending over a considerable period of
time. The deposition of the ores was probably going
on simultaneously with the development of this com-
plex fault system. Hence in one place the ores have
been earlier than the faults and elsewhere they are
later.
Many minor faults traverse the Mount Lyell ore
body, and some of them disturb the general uniform-
ity of its composition. Two faults were conspicuous
on the floor of the open cut in January, 1903. One
of them and another on the hanging wall side of the
ore body were filled with black carbonaceous clay,
formed as a fault rock. Some of this type of mate-
rial contains some native copper and is rich in silver.
An interesting chimney of enriched ore near the
southeastern corner of the open cut also owed its
origin to fault action, for faults ran close beside it, in
places separating the 'J% ore of the enrichment from
the 1% ore outside. The rich ore passed a little
beyond the faults, as if the enrichment had taken
place along the faults and worked from them in both
directions.
These faults traverse only the pyrites. Those on
the floor of the open cut were unquestionably later
than the formation of the ore. The faults beside the
enrichment, on the other hand, were probably earlier
than at least the completion of the ore body. In the
lowest level of the mine there are some interesting
sections, which show that the superposition of the
schists on the conglomerate occurs along lines of
faulting, and that the foliation of the schists is cut
across transversely by the conglomerates, as shown
PVRITE
Unconformability at Mount Lyell Mine.
in the accompanying sketch. They are, therefore,
younger, not only than the formation of the schists,
but are also younger than the date at which the
schists were foliated.
(to be continued.)
Methods and Costs of Placer Mining in
Alaska.
Placer mining in Alaska is affected by conditions
which are not combined in any other field familiar to
American miners. Many an old placer miner of Cali-
fornia has come to grief in the Northern clime
because he was unacquainted with the peculiar con-
ditions that exist there. During the last three years
the United States Geological Survey has received
numerous requests for information regarding the
cost of operating gold-bearing alluvial deposits in
Alaska and the best means of working the claims in
the various districts. To collect data for a report
which should embody such information, the Geological
Survey sent C. W. Purington, a mining engineer of
Denver, Colo., to Alaska during the field season of
1004. Accompanied by Sidney Paige, Mr. Purington
visited the Juneau, Atlin, Klondike, Birch Creek,
Fairbanks and Seward Peninsula districts, stopping
on the return trip at the gold-dredging field of Oro-
ville, Cal. The results of Mr. Purington's investiga-
tions are now available in the form of a Survey
bulletin (No. 263) which is entitled, "Methods and
Costs of Gravel and Placer Mining in Alaska." This
work includes data concerning districts not visited
by Mr. Purington or his assistant, notably the Porcu-
pine, Christochina, Cook Inlet, Forty-mile and Ram-
part districts, and remote parts of the Seward
Peninsula ; but all such information has been col-
lected from reliable sources, especially from members
of the Geological Survey who have made investiga-
tions in those portions of Alaska.
In each district a study was made of the water re-
sources— the most important factor in placer and
hydraulic mining — and of the cost of building and
maintaining ditches, flumes and storage reservoirs
for the purpose of usiDg water under pressure. The
important development of ditch building in the
Seward Peninsula receives particular attention in
the report.
The quantity and quality of timber in the mining
districts is discussed by Mr. Purington with reference
to its use for fuel, for the construction of flumes and
sluice boxes and for timbering drift mines. It is an
unwelcome fact that the important placer districts
of the Northwest do not contain a great amount of
timber.
The questions of wages and cost of living have been
considered from both the viewpoint of the laborer and
his employer. While the rate of pay for miners ap-
pears attractively high, the cost of living and the
expenses of transportation to and from the country
have to be considered, as well as the shortness of the
active season and the low rate of winter wages.
The main objects of this report have been to de-
termine the most expeditious way of getting out the
auriferous material — gravel, sand or bedrock — and
the cost of so doing; the best methods of hydraulic
mining; the cost of removing overburden under each
set of conditions and of handling the tailings; the
capacity and cost of installing mechanical methods;
the cost, capacity and adaptability of the methods
employed to thaw frozen gravel, and the most feasi-
ble method of mining in little-developed districts.
While many of the figures presented in this bulletin
are subject to fluctuation, yet, as a comparative
study of mining methods, Mr. Purington's report will
be a valuable and permanent contribution to mining
literature. It is published for general distribution
and may be obtained free of charge on application to
the Director of the United States Geological Survey,
Washington, D. C.
The Machine Drill in Mining.
NUMBER III.— CONCLUDED.
Written for the Mining and scientific Press.
Within the past two years a new and important
factor has been introduced into the mining field in
the form of a small machine drill, which at first sight
seems like a toy, as compared with even the smaller
of the ordinary type of machine drills, with which we
are familiar. Some years ago a so-called pneumatic
hammer was introduced into the machine shops of
the country. This tool was used as a chipping, and
then as a calking hammer, and later came to be ex-
tensively employed as a riveting tool. It was then
modified to be employed as ah instrument for cutting
and dressing stone. From these uses it was but a
step to converting the pneumatic hammer into a
rock drill. Its particular field of usefulness was in
block-holing and in cutting hitches on rock walls, or
in drilling shallow holes for squaring up rock work.
From these useful functions the drill has been applied
on still broader lines and it is now being employed as
a rock drill on regular work, in shafts, tunnel work,
stopes and everywhere that rock drills are used.
Just what will be the eventual outcome of this new
type of drill it is almost too early to undertake to
predict, but the indications are that it has come to
stay. There are several of these small drills on the
market already, and others may be anticipated. At
first the drill was small and was intended to be used
in the same manner as the riveting hammer, be-
ing held in the hand of the operator, but that
its usefulness for general work would be limited in
this form soon became evident, and the drill was en-
larged somewhat, mounted on a bar, either hori-
zontal or vertical, and in this form is adaptable to
any class of mining work. A new attachment of one
of these drills is that of a device which keeps the bit
up to the rock by direct air pressure. The steel
used is generally hollow and the exhaust passes down
the hollow drill steel and blows the drillings away as
fast as made by the cutting bit. In some types
water is forced through the hollow steel, which
washes away the drillings while preventing all dust.
In others a spray is arranged to dampen the drill-
ings as they come from the mouth of the drill hole,
thus settling the dust. These small drills weigh but
sixteen to eighteen pounds, and the air consumption
per minute is said to be small — less than 20 cubic feet
of free air per minute, at a pressure of 80 to 100
pounds per square inch. It strikes over 2000 blows
per minute, and under favorable conditions will drill
from 100 to 150 feet per shift of holes, of a maximum
length of 3 feet, cutting a hole about 1 inch in
diameter. It is said that holes can be drilled with
ease much deeper than 3 feet, but this is approxi-
mately the limit of rapid operation, in the present
stage of development of this interesting type of ma-
chine.
Although this small pneumatic-hammer drill has
attracted much attention of late, and has been intro-
duced in mines and is now being tried under all sorts
of conditions, it is not likely that it will for a long
time, if ever, displace the larger type of machine
drills which have for years been so successfully oper-
ated in all parts of the world. The efficiency and
adaptability of the old type of machine drill is well
understood, and miners, as a class, do not look with
favor upon radical innovations, though they are sus-
ceptible to the process of evolution, and can be
readily led by stages to favorably consider and adopt
a type of machine with which they are at first wholly
unacquainted. The advantages of the pneumatic-
hammer drill lie chiefly in its easy portability and
light weight, and this will no doubt quickly make it
popular for certain classes of mining and quarry
work, where the handling of large machines is more
or less difficult. It has few working parts; is easily
kept in order, and has many good points in its favor,
but it will, notwithstanding this, have to earn its
way and overcome the prejudice of miners against
making radical changes of any kind in their methods
of work.
77
Mining and Scientific Press.
July 29, W05.
Cyaniding Silver-Gold Ores of the Pal-
marejo Mine, Chihuahua, Mexico.*
Written by T. H. Oxnam.
Introduction.— The predominating value of
the
ores now being treated by the Palmarejo & Mexican
Gold Fields, Ltd., is silver, although some gold is also
carried.
The present method of treatment consists of wet
crushing and concentrating, followed by the cyanida-
tion of the unroasted sands and slimes. The sands
are treated by leaching and the so-called accu-
mulated slimes by a system of agitation and decan-
tation.
It is only within very recent years that the cya-
nidation of unroasted silver ores has been commer-
cially successful. In fact, at the time operations
were begun at the cyanide plant at Chinipas, Febru-
ary, 1902, I knew of no other leaching plant treating
similar ores successfully. The cyanide treatment of
the Palmarejo ores differs but little from the ordi-
nary practice in cyaniding gold ores, and perhaps but
little, if any, new information concerning the metal-
lurgy of silver is to be gleaned from it.
Palmarejo Mine. — The Palmarejo mines are
located in the southwestern part of the State of Chi-
huahua, Mexico, on the foothills of the Sierra Mad re
mountains, at an elevation of 3200 feet. The mills,
12 miles distant, are situated on the Chinipas river,
near the town of Chinipas, which is about 150 miles
northeast of Agiabampo, on the Gulf of California.
SuDplies are shipped via this port, as this route is
the best and most direct to the property.
The ore bodies in the Palmarejo mines have been
deposited along a series of rock fractures, caused by
an intrusion of eruptive rock. The most important
of these fractures or fissures, both in width and value,
are the Prieta and Blanca veins, which intersect
each other on the surface at a point called the Descu-
bridora, or discovery, and underground in the main
working tunnel (Socorro) about 800 feet from its en-
trance. (See Fig. 1.)
Fig. i.
From the junction of the two veins the Prieta
strikes almost due east and the Blanca south, 51° 30'
east, dipping at an angle of 50° to the west.
The Prieta vein in places is fully 75 feet wide be-
tween walls. The ore, however, is frequently in two
sections, known as the foot wall and hanging wall
sections of the vein, with a horse of country rock from
10 to 30 feet thick between them.
Stoping has been done on both the foot wall and
the hanging wall sections on the course or strike of
the vein for 2000 feet in length, and, while the values
are continuous, the better grade of ore makes in
chimneys or shoots varying from 75 feet to 300 feet
in length.
The Blanca vein, which varies from 4 feet to 12 feet
in width, has been mined for a distance of 850 feet.
At the junction of the veins the bonanza of the mine
was found, which has been worked for more than 80U
feet in depth and has yielded an enormous amount of
money.
The records in the office of the company show that
these mines have been worked for more than a
century.
The ore delivered to the mill consists essentially of
a siliceous matrix, throughout which is disseminated
a small percentage of pyrite. Black manganese oxide
and calcite are present in varying proportions, and
very small quantities of antimony and arsenic, to-
gether with traces of bismuth, also occur. Occasion-
ally traces of copper and zinc are found.
The major portion of the silver occurs in the form
of argentite, though a certain amount of stephanite
is present and occasionally small patches of chloro-
bromide and native silver.
The main storage bin of the Palmarejo group of
mines is connected with the mill by means of a narrow
gauge railroad 12.5 miles long. The mill is about 1300
* Trans. Amer. Inst. Min. Engrs.
feet lower than this ore bin, consequently the entire
road is on a moderately heavy grade — the heaviest
slightly exceeding 4.5%. The gauge of the road is
30 inches; two weights of rails are employed, one
being 35-pound and the other 25-pound per yard.
Two English locomotives are in service; one a 22-ton
engine hauling fourteen cars and the other an 18-ton
engine hauling nine cars. Each ore car has a
carrying capacity of 4.5 tons. Under normal condi-
tions, from 4 to 4.5 hours are required for making a
round trip.
Mill and Ctanide Plant. — The 50-stamp mill and
cyanide plant is situated on the edge of the Chinipas
river, about 1.5 mile eastward of Chinipas, at a place
known locally as El Zapote. Water power furnished
by the Chinipas river is used to run the mill, slime
plant and machine shop. A masonry conduit about
11 miles long conducts the water to a penstock a
short distance above the mill, thence through a steel
pipe about 1100 feet long, tapering from 48 inches in
diameter at the penstock to 21 inches in diameter in
the wheel pits, to four 6-foot Pelton wheels under a
97.5-foot head.
Old System or Milling. — The mill was originally
erected as a dry crushing, roasting and pan amal-
gamation plant and was operated as such until the
middle of October, 1901. On my first visit to this
property, December, 1900, the mill operations and
methods of ore treatment were substantially as fol-
lows :
The ore was drawn from the main storage bin at
the top of the mill over iron grizzlies to the five
7xl0-inch Blake crushers, running 250 revolutions
per minute. From the large storage bin beneath the
crushers the ore, after the addition of 5% by weight
each of salt and sulphurets, was conveyed to three
White-Howell cylindrical driers, each 18 feet long
and ordinarily rotated at six revolutions per minute,
the speed given them, however, naturally depending
upon the percentage of moisture contained in the ore
passing through them at the time. Two driers easily
handled the quantity of ore crushed by the stamps,
even in the rainy season.
Each drier discharged into a small storage bin,
from which the ore was conveyed in half-ton cars to
the hoppers of ten Challenge ore feeders. The stamps
when equipped with new shoes weighed 850 pounds
and dropped from 4 to 7 inches, according to the con-
dition of the shoes and dies, at a speed of from 85 to
90 drops per minute. Both the shoes and dies were
cast on the premises, in the foundry of the company.
Mortars were of the wide, double discharge pattern,
and 20-mesh brass-wire screens were used. The
stamp duty was from 1.25 to 1.5 ton per twenty-four
hours.
The dry pulp, discharged through the battery
screens, was carried by means of a series of belt con-
veyors and elevators to three revolving cylindrical
roasters of the White-Howell type, lined with fire-
brick made in the vicinity. These roasters were 27
feet long, 2 feet 9 inches inside diameter at the feed
and 3 feet 6 inches inside diameter at the discharge,
and were rotated at an average speed of three revo-
lutions per minute. The roasted ore was wheeled in
cars to a large brick storage pit, where it was al-
lowed to remain for from eighteen to thirty-six hours,
after which it was drawn out on the cooling floor and
sprinkled down with a hose.
Daily tests made on average samples of the roasted
product, taken as it left the roasters, showed that
about 80% of the silver was rendered soluble in
sodium hyposulphite. When cooled sufficiently to
handle, the roasted material was shoveled or raked
into cars and trammed into twenty amalgamating
pans of the McCone pattern, each 5 feet in diameter.
The usual charge consisted of 2800 pounds of ore, 150
pounds of quicksilver, 15 pounds of salt and 1.7 pound
of bluestone. The quicksilver, salt and bluestone
were added as soon as a pan was charged. The pans
were run at an average speed of sixty-eight revolu-
tions per minute and were kept at a temperature of
from 100° to 110° F. by means of steam added through
a small pipe directly to the material being treated.
After from six to eight hours' treatment, the pans
were discharged into 8-foot settlers, each two pans
being provided with one settler. From the settlers
the tailings were discharged into 10-foot agitators,
one agitator receiving the discharge from two set-
tlers. These agitators, however, for some time pre-
viously had not been used as agitators proper and
were serving merely as mercury traps. The tailings
escaping from the agitators were carried by the
water race to the Chinipas river.
While the process of treatment outlined above has
given very satisfactory results with many ores of
similar nature to the Palmarejo ores, though perhaps
in districts more favorably situated for freighting
facilities, it had never proved to be a commercial suc-
cess on the ores of this company, due chiefly to the
unusually high working expenses. Owing to the
isolated position of this property, freighting expenses
were a very heavy item, as, in addition to steamer or
railroad transportation to the nearest seaport, prac-
tically all of the freight had to be transported by
wagon for a distance of 110 miles, of which the last 60
miles into the property is byway of rugged mountain
trails, permitting only mule-back transportation. It
can thus be readily seen that the freighting cost
alone proved a very considerable item. Due largely
to this reason, combined with the fact that the
quantity treated was comparatively low, the ex-
penses of maintenance and repairs per ton treated
were very high.
A considerable percentage of the ore passing
through the roasters was carried into the dust cham-
bers and flues, a portion of which escaped and was
entirely lost. The material caught in the flues and
dust chambers was periodically removed and treated
in the pans without further roasting. This semi-
roasted flue dust was given a longer and special
treatment, but the extraction obtained from it was
always considerably lower than that obtained on the
well-roasted material.
Another very serious source of loss was in the vol-
atilization of a considerable portion of the silver
content during the roasting. During the year ending
June 30, 1M01, more than 22,000 tons of ore were
crushed in the mill, comprising 20,000 tons of ore and
1000 tons each of salt and sulphurets. Five per cent
of the weight of the ore was lost as moisture in pass-
ing through the driers and an additional 6% by weight
was lost between the batteries and the pans, such
percentage being due almost entirely to losses by
volatilization and dusting while passing through the
roasters. The assay results for this year showed
that approximately 12% of the total silver content
contained in the ore was lost by volatilization during
roasting. The total working cost for this period
was $24.20 per ton, divided approximately as follows:
Mining, $8.12; milling, $14.32; ditch, 60 cents; rail-
way, $1.16; total, $24.20. The average assay for
the year of the ore as delivered to the mill was 30
ounces of silver. The average of the ore as charged
into the pans was 25.4 ounces of silver. It was al-
ways considered practically useless to send to the
mill ore which carried less than 30 ounces of silver
per ton. The average extraction of silver for the
year as indicated by bullion returns was approxi-
mately 77% of the value of the material panned, this
being equivalent to 66% of the total silver value of
the ore crushed Ordinarily the ore was not assayed
for gold and no special attention was given to effect
its recovery. While a part of the gold was caught
and saved in the pans, it is more than probable that
the major portion contained in the ore was entirely
lost.
(to be continued.)
The Production of Pyrite.
" The demand for pyrite has increased very largely
throughout the United States and many European
countries during the last few years," says Dr. Joseph
Hyde Pratt of the United States Geological Survey
in a recent report on the production of sulphur and
pyrite in 1904. It is used in the wood pulp industry
as well as in the manufacture of fertilizers. Owing
to the steady increase in the demand, it is not im-
probable that prices will gradually advance for the
best qualities of ore.
The chief domestic sources of supply of pyrite are
deposits in Virginia, California and Massachusetts.
Smaller amounts are obtained from Alabama, Georgia,
Indiana, New Jersey and Ohio. The deposits in
these States do not supply the demand for pyrite,
and a considerably greater quantity is usually im-
ported each year than is produced in this country.
The chief sources of supply of the imported pyrite
are the celebrated Rio Tinto and Tharsis mines of the
Huelva district in Spain, the San Domingo mine at
Pomaron, Portugal, and the Tilt Cove mines of Pil-
ley's Island, Newfoundland.
The pyrite industry in Spain has now reached a
point where the shipping facilities are inadequate to
handle the product. In order to increase the ship-
ping facilities at the port of Huelva and to expedite
the loading of steamers, the Spanish Government is
erecting a new dock at that port. Although these
Spanish deposits are enormous and new bodies of ore
have been uncovered during the last year or two,
there is still such a large and steady drain upon them
that some of the European countries are beginning
to look elsewhere for supplies of pyrite. On account
of the rapid increase in the manufacture of fertilizer
in Spain, Italy and France, these countries are mak-
ing large demands upon the Spanish pyrite for use in
the preparation of sulphuric acid.
New deposits of pyrite in Alabama have recently
become available through the completion of the East-
ern Railroad of Alabama from Talladega to Pyriton.
For this material there should be a large demand at
Nashville, Tenn., as a source of raw material for its
fertilizer factories. Tbese Nashville factories are
already advantageously located with reference to the
Tennessee phosphate fields, so that, with easy access
to the Alabama pyrite deposits secured, they should
be able to compete readily with any other fertilizer
plant.
The anxiety felt in European countries regarding a
source of supply of pyrite should stimulate prospect-
ing for pyrite deposits in this country. It would be
well to know accurately what are the future sources
of supply of this mineral in the United States, in case
the foreign sources of supply should begin to give
out or there should be too heavy a demand made
upon them by European consumers.
There was a slight decrease in the production of
pyrite for the manufacture of sulphuric acid in the
July 29, 1905.
Mining and scientific Press
78
United States during 1904, but a very large increase
in the production of natural sulphur, the combined
production amounting to 333,542 long tons, valued at
$3,460,863, as compared with 233,127 long tons,
valued at $1,109,818, the production of 1903, an in-
crease of 100,415 tons in quantity and of $2,351,045 in
value. This exceptionally large increase in value as
compared with the increase in tonnage is due to the
very large increase in the production of sulphur. A
considerable quantity of pyrite is also mined for
pyritic and allied smelting and for use as a flux,
which would increase the output by 75,000 to 100,000
tons. Over one-half of the total production of pyrite
was obtained from Virginia. The average price re-
ceived for the 1901 production was $3.86 a ton, an in-
crease of 24 cents as compared with $3 62, the aver-
age price received for the 1903 production.
Tunnel Construction.
In tunnel construction there is a great diversity of
methods, both in breaking the rock and in timbering
the ground after the excavation has been made. In
some tunnels the character of the rock passed through
requires close and heavy timbering, with lagging top
and sides. In other cases the timbers may safely be
spaced 5 feet from center to center and lagging
employed only overhead, as in the case here illus-
a matter of fact it was really more expensive, and
required a greater length of time to reach this point
than if the tunnel had been driven perfectly straight.
Ore Deposits of the Coeur d'Alene,
Idaho.
NUMUEU IV — CONCLUDED.
Written bv F. L. Ransome.
Treatment of the Ores. — The Hercules mine ships
only crude ore. The Bunker Hill & Sullivan, Last
Chance and Hecla mines ship a little crude or picked
ore, which in no case exceeds 2% of the total tonnage
mined, or 7% of the total shipping product. The
greater part of all the ore mined is concentrated in
the district to a product containing from.50%to 60%
of lead. The number of tons of ore reduced to one
ton of concentrates varies. Of the low-grade Gold
Hunter ore about twelve tons are required to make a
ton of concentrates containing 50% of lead and 55 to
60 ounces of silver. In the Bunker Hill & Sullivan
mill 7 J tons of ore, containing from 8% to 16% of lead
and from 3.6 to 6.8 ounces of silver to the ton,
are concentrated to one ton containing about 55% of
lead and 19.5 ounces of silver. Prom 900 to 1000 tons
of ore are treated daily in this mill and about the
same quantity in the Morning mill. The combined
Drainage Tunnel, East Argentine District, Colo.
trated. Often the roof only requires support, the
walls standing without lagging. Where the excava-
tion has been made in a flat, sedimentary formation,
caps have sometimes been inserted after the manner
of stulls and tightly wedged, the lagging being driven
overhead to support any loose ground that may
occur. The method is not in common use, however,
and in only a few places can it be rendered secure.
In soft and swelling ground, the practice is to
spread the legs of each set abnormally so that they
stand at an angle of 40° to 45° with the horizon. This
has a tendency to • keep them in position and aids
somewhat in resisting the crushing force of the
slowly moving ground, but usually this expedient only
affords temporary relief and the timbers have fre-
quently to be renewed, or the ground cut away to
ease the pressure on the timbers. In many tunnels,
after getting beyond the zone of weathered rock, no
timbers are required, the rock being sufficiently hard
to stand without timbers. In other instances rock
which at first stands well, after a time, begins to dis-
integrate and numerous falls of the back occur.
When these are of frequent occurrence, it is usually
cheaper to timber all of that portion of the tunnel in
which these falls occur, for, having commenced, they
are more than likely to recur with increasing fre-
quency, and become a constant menace to life, as
well as an annoyance and source of expense. The
tunnel here illustrated was originally intended for a
double track, though but one line has been placed in
position.
Tunneling requires often nearly as much engineer-
ing skill and the exercise of as good judgment as
shaft sinking. If care is used there is no reason for
a tunnel getting out of alignment, though it is a very
common thing to see careless work done, the heading
swinging from side to side and eventually running at
random, first following one rock seam and then an-
other, in the effort to follow easy ground. In one in-
stance it was figured that at least 10% of the cost
of mining was saved by following seams " to break
to," but the tunnel was driven not less than one-fifth
farther than necessary to reach a given point, so as
Standard and Mammoth mills treat from 1000 to 1200
tons daily. The saving effected in the best mills is
about 80% of the total market value of the lead and
silver.
The ore and concentrates from the Bunker Hill &
Sullivan mine go to the Tacoma smelter, owned by
the company, where they are smelted with concen-
trates from the Treadwell mine, on Douglas island.
The Hercules ore also goes westward, to the Selby
Smelting & Refining Co. in California. The concen-
trates from the Hecla are shipped to the Ohio &
Colorado Smelting & Refining Co. at Salida, Colo.
Most of the ore from the other mines goes to the
various plants of the American Smelting & Refining
Co.. particularly to the smelter at East Helena,
Mont., although considerable quantities are sent to
Denver, Pueblo, Omaha and El Paso.
Cost of Mining and Treatment. — The cost of min-
ing and concentrating per ton of ore stoped ranges
from about $2 in the Wardner mines to about $3 in
the Canyon Creek mines, where the ore bodies are
narrower and where pumping and hoisting are neces-
sary. In the Bunker Hill & Sullivan mine the costs
per ton of ore stoped in 1903-4 were as follows:
COSTS IN BUNKER HILL & SULLIVAN MINES.
Mining and concentrating $1 97
Freight and smelter charges 2 17
Discounts for loss of lead and silver in smelting 60
Total M 74
The average assay value of this ore was $6.80 per
ton. The freight on ores and concentrates varies
from $8 to $12 a ton, according to tenor, and a uni-
form charge of $8 a ton is made for smelting. Ore of
which more than twelve tons is required to make one
ton of concentrates containing 50% of lead can rarely
be made profitable.
The Gold Deposits. — The only gold-bearing veins
that are now productive occur near Murray. The
quartz veins on Elk creek apparently produced some
gold several years ago, but the workings upon them
have long been abandoned and are not accessible.
The best known veins near Murray are the Golden
Chest, just north of Littlefleld, and the Mother Lode
group of veins on Ophir mountain, situated on the
south side of Prichard creek, between Littlefleld and
Murray.
With few exceptions the veins of the Murray area
belong to the class known as bed veins (Lagergange).
They usually follow the stratification planes of the
Prichard formation. Occasionally they jump from
one plane to another, the two parts of the vein being
connected by small stringers across the intervening
bed. In the Golden Chest mine there are at least
six of these bed veins in a zone 150 feet in width.
Their general strike is about north 17° east, and they
dip westward at angles ranging from 40° to 45°.
These veins are usually a foot or two in width, but in
some places a width of 10 feet is attained. They are
tilled with quartz, often strikingly banded, containing
free gold, auriferous pyrite, galena, sphalerite and
chalcopyrite, with occasional bunches of scheelite.
The best ore is said to have been worth $70 to $90 a
ton and was shipped crude. The ore now worked in
the 20-stamp mill is of much lower grade, probably
not over $7 per ton.
On the north face of Ophir mountain are two bed
veins, one 250 to 300 feet vertically above the other.
These veins have a general northeast strike, and dip
northwest at angles of 18° to 20°. The veins are of
the same general character as those of the Golden
Chest mine, but contain rather less abundant sul-
phides. These were formerly worked by the Mother
Lode, Occident and Treasure Box mines by flat
stopes extending from the surface into the hill. Some
pockets of rich ore, containing much free gold, have
been found in these mines and were treated in arras-
tras. The veins as a whole, however, are of rather
low grade and have not been stoped for more than a
few hundred feet from the surface. Their average
width is probably not over 8 inches. Just west of
these veins is the Mead vein which strikes about
north 15° east and dips easterly at about 75°. This
is a fissure vein, cutting the beds of the Prichard
formation. Its relation to the bed veins east of it is
unknown, as it apparently has not been considered
worth while to explore the intersections or junctions
of these veins. The Mead vein is said to contain a
pay shoot of $25 ore. The vein consists of white
quartz with sometimes a little siderite (or other fer-
ruginous carbonate) near the walls and with aurifer-
ous pyrite, chalcopyrite and galena in the medial
portion. A number of small bed veins have been
worked west of Murray, the most noted being the
nearly horizontal Buckeye Boy in Dream gulch, which
produced about $25,000 in gold from a single small
pocket.
Placers. — The older placer deposits of Murray
constitute what is locally called the Old Wash and
are remnants of an earlier channel of Prichard creek
from 250 to 300 feet above the present stream.
These gravels, which are in part derived from older
gravels deposited still higher above the present val-
leys, have been hydraulicked near Murray, but have
not proved very rich.
Most of the placer gold of the Murray region has
come from the bottoms of the existing gulches and
has been obtained by simple sluicing, booming, drift-
ing and dredging. The bed of Prichard creek has
been worked about a mile west of Murray by a hy-
draulic elevator, but the depth of the gravel, which
averages about 30 feet, has proved in most cases an
insurmountable obstacle to successful exploitation.
In 1903 three dredgers were at work near Delta, of
which one only, at the mouth of Trail creek, was
operated at a profit, on gravel running about 10
cents to the yard.
The gravel of Trail creek, near Delta, is from 18 to
20 feet deep, and was formerly worked by sinking
shafts to bedrock and then drifting. In this method
the water is impounded in a reservoir fitted with an
automatic discharge gate. When the reservoir is
full the gate opens, and the whole body of water is
directed against the gravel in such a manner as to
wash it away. A small stream is thus rendered far
more effective than if it were continuously employed.
When the gravel has been removed to within 2 feet
of the bedrock the remainder is shoveled into sluices.
The gold is coarse, nuggets up to 40 ounces having
been reported. They are usually somewhat hackly,
and often contain particles of quartz. Prom $15 to
$18 an ounce is usually obtained for the placer gold.
The Copper Deposits. — The only productive copper
deposit in the region is that of the Snowstorm mine,
east of Mullan. The deposit occurs in the Revett
quartzite, and consists of an impregnated cuprifer-
ous zone, which conforms with the bedding planes.
The deposit strikes north 60° west, and dips 65° to
the southwest. It has a maximum width of 40 feet.
The ore consists of chalcopyrite, bornite, chalcocite,
and perhaps other cupriferous sulphides disseminated
in small particles through the quartzite and in part
oxidized to cuprite and malachite.
The mineralization along the zone is not easily ac-
counted for, as the quartzite is not particularly fis-
sured and is apparently not different in character
from the quartzite of the foot wall and hanging wall.
The greater part of the mineralized quartzite con-
tains about 4% of copper, 6 ounces of silver, and 0.1
of an ounce of gold to the ton. The ore shipped is
worth from $9 to $10 a ton, and goes to Butte and
Tacoma. Smelting and freight charges are $5 a ton,
79
Mining and Scientific Press.
July 29, 1H05.
but the smelters require that the silica shall not fall
below 90%. In 190S a leaching mill was being erected
on the South Pork to treat the ore.
General Conditions of Mining. — The turbulent
condition that existed in the Coeur d'Alene district
from 1892 to 1899, and the notoriety given the locality
by the deeds of violence then perpetrated, justify a
brief account of the present relations of the mine
owners to their employes.
Up to 1892 all men working in the mines received
$3.50 a day. In the spring of that year the depres-
sion in the prices of lead and silver called for re-
trenchment in operating expenses, and wages were
reduced to $3, except for miners, who retained the
old rate. The results of this action have already
been related. The men struck, but finally returned
to work on the mine owners' terms. Shortly after,
on the ground that further economy was necessary,
wages were reduced to $2.50 a day. The men again
struck, and the mines, after a period of idleness, re-
sumed operations with wages at the original rate of
$3.50 a day. For the next few years the miners'
unions were dominant, and the mines were operated
under their rule. The attempt of the Bunker Hill
& Sullivan mine to free itself from these restric-
tions brought about the crisis of 1899, which put an
end to the rule of the unions.
At the present time all the prominent companies,
with one exception, engage their men through a cen-
tral employment bureau. The wages paid in the
principal mines are as follows:
WAGES PAID IN PRINCIPAL MINES IN CCEUK D'ALENE
DISTRICT, IDAHO.
Foreman S6 00 to 87 00
Locomotive engineers (Morning mine) 6 00
Shift bosses J 00 to 6 00
Head blacksmiths 4 50
Hoisting engineers 4 00
Blacksmiths 4 °°
Timbermen S 75 to 4 00
Miners, machine men, muckers, millmen and black-
smiths' helpers 3 50
Yard men 3 00
These wages, all things considered, are undeniably
good, for the district is readily accessible, has a mod-
erate altitude, and an almost ideal climate. The
mines, moreover, have, convenient adits and are well
equipped and well ventilated. The cost of liviDg,
compared with other mining districts in the Rocky
mountains, is moderate.
The present conditions in the district appear to be
satisfactory to employers and employes. Wages are
as high as they were before trouble began, but law-
lessness no longer exists, property is secure, and
mines can be operated without improper interference.
As a result the district enjoys a prosperity which
was impossible under former conditions and which is
shared by all who are developing its resources.
Power. — The district is well supplied with water,
very little of which is allowed to run to waste. The
Bunker Hill & Sullivan, Morning, Hunter, Hecla
Mammoth and Standard mills are all run by water
power for at least part of the year, usually by Pel-
ton wheels under heads up to 900 feet. Water power
is also utilized to a considerable extent for compress-
ing air, the Morning mine having a 100-drill Bix com-
pressor driven by Pelton wheels under heads of 1200
to 15U0 feet. The Hecla mill and the pumps in the
Tiger-Poorman mine are usually run by electricity,
locally generated by water power.
Recently electric power, generated at the falls of
Spokane, has been brought into the district and is
used in running the Tiger-Poorman and Last Chance
mills, a 40-drill compressor at the Morning mine, and
other machinery. The length of the line from Burke
or Mullan to Spokane is about 100 miles. In 1903
this line was carrying 45,000 volts and furnishing
1600 H. P. The cost of this power at the mines is
$50 per annum for each horse power. This is cheaper
than steam, though the latter power is used at the
Tiger-Poorman and Standard-Mammoth mines.
Timber. — All of the large mines require much tim-
bering, and probably few mining regions are better
supplied than the Cceur d'Alene district with abund-
ant and cheap material suitable for this purpose. A
large part of the timber used is derived from the
vicinity of Cceur d'Alene lake. Some is cut in the
southeastern corner of the district, and the Hercules
mine has its own timber land and sawmill on the
north side of Tiger peak.
Engineering in the Wilderness.*
The development of mines in new regions, remote
from civilization and from convenient means of trans-
portation, often calls for no little engineering skill on
the part of the superintendent and his staff. Roads
have to be built through swamps and over mountains;
ditches, flumes and pipe lines must be constructed
over a rugged country, and it is not always advisable
to take the longest way around, as this means usu-
ally excessive cost. It is here that engineering
knowledge becomes useful. Possessing it, the super-
intendent is able to judge as to the relative cost of
each — the long way around or the short cut, which
latter calls for unusual methods of construction and
a class of expense not met on the longer route. The
accompanying engraving illustrates the point. Here
it was necessary to build a pipe line to carry water
from one point to another. It was partly through a
*See illustration front page.
dense forest of pines. Ditch construction was feas-
ible, but expensive, owing to the character of the
country and the necessity of blasting out stumps and
roots, a work both slow and expensive. An estimate
of the cost of a pipe line was made, and it compared
favorably with the ditch proposition, consequently
the pipe line was decided upon. The trees felled
along the line supplied more than enough material
for the construction of a suitable trestle, and on this
the pipe line was laid. Less in first cost than a ditch
which would deliver the water to the desired point,
it requires less expense to maintain, and is a good
example of engineering under natural difficulties in
Alaska. This construction was built to supply the
Sea Level mine with water and power. The pipe
line is 4400 feet in length, the pipe being from 22 to
24 inches in diameter.
Government Experiments With Black
Sand.
Written for the Mining and Scientific Press by
Waldon Fawcett.
The tests and experiments now being made by of-
ficials of the United States Geological Survey in an
effort to devise means to save all the mineral wealth
in the black sands of the Pacific coast come as the
culmination of considerable research and investiga-
tion, giving attention for the first time to the com-
mercial status of the situation. They are naturally,
therefore, of exceptional interest to all mining men.
The tests are being conducted at a special concen-
trating pavilion of the Lewis and Clark Exposition at
Portland, Or., which was chosen as a central point
and one which, by reason of the fair, will be visited
this year by many mining men who are interested in
the outcome of these experiments and in the methods
employed.
As the result of invitations sent out to mining men,
the Government officials have received numerous
shipments of sand from Washington, Oregon, Cali-
fornia, Idaho, Utah and other States. Samples are
also expected from Alaska, where this same class of
material is found. All experiments are being made
under the direct supervision of Dr. David T. Day of
the United States Geological Survey. He states
that it is as yet too early to predict regarding re-
sults, but that it has already been demonstrated that
the methods employed are the correct ones.
At the concentrating pavilion the sand first enters
a feeder, from which it is elevated by a belt elevator
and delivered to a screen. Thence it passes to a
vertical revolving mixing distributer from which it
is piped to the four different concentrators, this
method insuring an even character of pulp to all
machines. A drying furnace constructed in accord-
ance with ordinary modern practice is provided for
drying the concentrates as they come from the
various concentrators. After the pulp has been
dried it is passed through a magnetic separator
where the magnetic elements are extracted. After
passage through the magnetic separator the ma-
terial is examined for the platinum and other rare
minerals, the securance of which is the especial object
of the governmental activities.
Pour concentrating tables are in use. All are
electrically operated. The Wilfley concentrator is
operated by a 2 H. P. Westinghouse motor. Wood-
bury's concentrating table derives its motive power
from a motor of the Crocker-Wheeler type, 15 H. P.
and 500 volts. The Pinder concentrator is operated
by a Wagner-Bullock 14 H. P. motor. The Chris-
tonsen concentrator is the fourth. A 3 H. P. motor
is provided for the operation of the feeder, elevator,
distributer and screen.
The special ores which require grinding are han-
dled by a muller quartz mill working in conjunction
with a rock breaker and a sand pump which elevates
the pulp to the different concentrators.
The present experiments with the black sand are
expected to point the way for a profitable operation
of dredgers in many localities where such apparatus
were employed in the past, but where the operations
did not yield a sufficient return when gold alone was
sought. Should the Geological Survey devise means
whereby not only the gold, but iron, platinum and all
other minerals may be saved, these by-products will
supply a satisfactory margin of profit in operations
which, under the old conditions, could be conducted
only at a loss. Moreover, it has already been demon-
strated at the concentrating pavilion that the meth-
ods being followed by the Government officials would
yield, in addition to the other minerals, an increased
amount of gold. The experimental station at Port-
land has tested considerable quantities of tailings
from various dredger districts, and in every instance
the increased yield of gold has been, as Dr. Day says,
" Too much for the dredger owners to lose."
One of the main purposes of the Geological Survey
experiments and the one most prominently mentioned
in the preliminary circular sent out from Washington
to mine owners is the development of a home source
of supply for the platinum market. It has, of course,
long been known that platinum existed in commercial
quantities in the Pacific coast black sands, but there
has been lack of knowledge as to an efficient method
of concentration and treatment. At present the
United States imports more than 95% of all the pla-
tinum used, the annual valuation of the imports being
in the neighborhood of $2,000,000, and, inasmuch as
the chief source of supply in Russia has been practi-
cally closed by the Russo-Japanese war, it is espe-
cially desirable that the industry be developed here
if possible.
Ranking with, if not exceeding, the platinum pro-
ject in importance, however, is the partial promise
that the present experiments with the black sand
will disclose a source of iron ore supply which will
foster the development of the iron and steel manu-
facturing industry on the Pacific coast to consider-
able proportions. The experimental plant at Port-
land will, in the course of its operations, secure large
quantities of iron ore, and an effort is to be made to
induce one or more blast furnaces on the Pacific
coast to take the iron ore product from the concen-
trators at Portland and treat it so that an early
conclusion can be arrived at as to the exact value of
this raw material to the manufacturing industry.
! THE PROSPECTOR. I
Any samples of rock or minerals sent to the Pros-
pector Department will be returned at the request
of the sender if stamps are enclosed for this purpose.
Some of the supposedly valuable minerals sent for
identification are without value, but if desired any-
thing sent will be returned.
The three mineral specimens in one paper box from
Homestead, Or., marked 1, 2 and 3, are: No. 1, a
greatly altered, granular, eruptive rock, presum-
ably diorite or grano-diorite. The feldspars are com-
pletely altered into kaolin and calcium carbonate,
and the rock has been subjected to considerable pres-
sure, resulting in deformation and an incipient rude
cleavage which, by progressing further, would ren-
der the rock schistose. The bright, shimmering
appearance noticed on some parts of the rock is due
to small scales of white talc. The rock has also been
silicified somewhat. It shows no mineral — that is,
sulphides of the base metals. No. 2 is a siliceous
aplite (alaskite) and contains a little pyrite. It may
also carry gold. No. 3 is similar to No. 1, but is still
further altered, more siliceous, and contains consid-
erable iron sulphide and probably gold also. The
green spots are magnesian silicate, similar to mari-
posite, and contains no copper. This rock, to all in-
tents and purposes, is ore — though apparently low
grade.
The minerals from Yuma, Ariz., are: Nos. 1, 2, 3
and 4, fluorite. The color is not material. The most
common color is amethystine, but, as in this case,
fluor is also white, bluish green and pink. The yel-
low crystals (No. 5) are wulfenite, molybdate of lead.
No. 6 is anglesite lead sulphate.
The mineral from Dillon, Wyo., consisting of sand
and bright, shining metallic flakes and grains, is
hematite (iron oxide).
The rock sample with sand from Isabella, Cal., is a
coarse sandstone carrying much iron oxide. The
grains are quartz and the white sand which had ac-
companied the rock was nearly all lost in transit,
due to careless wrapping. Such things as sand and
pulverized minerals should be sent in a secure con-
tainer.
The samples from Sonora, Cal., are' determined as
follows: No. 1, a talc schist, with a deposition of the
yellowish basic ferric sulphate, with earthy material.
No. 2 is mostly kaolin. A portion of this sample con-
tains abundant finely disseminated pyrite.
The rock samples from Randsburg, Cal., are all
yellowish quartz, with colorless and reddish colored
garnets. The black mineral is iron and manganese
oxide. The rocks have the appearance of having
been picked up on the surface and look as though
they may have come from a coarse-grained granite
(pegmatite).
The rock specimens from Unuk river, Alaska, are:
No. 1, graphitic schist. The original character of
the rock is wholly destroyed by metamorphism. No.
2 is typical diorite-porphyrite. The minerals plainly
seen are hornblende and black mica (biotite) in a fine
ground mass. These characteristics, without the
numerous white crystals of soda-lime feldspar, would
characterize the rock as mica diorite, but the addi-
tion of the porphyritic feldspar crystals classes the
rock as a porphyrite.
The samples from Havilah, Cal., are: No. 1 is mis-
pickel, the sulpharsenide of iron, with bands of
quartz. It may be gold bearing. There is also a
small amount of pyrite in the specimen. No. 2 is an
altered dike rock, probably originally felsite, now
changed to quartz. No. 3 is similar to No. 2, but
has not been weathered so much, being evidently
from deeper workings. It contains iron sulphide and
a small amount of copper sulphide, and considerable
arsenical iron sulphide. No. 4 is similar to Nos. 1
and 3, being a siliceous rock altered from a fine-
grained eruptive, probably felsite. It contains con-
siderable mispickel.
July 29, 19iid
Mining and Scientific Press.
80
*
:-
, 0 0 4
I Mining and Metallurgical Patents .|
PATENTS ISSUED JULY 18, 1908.
Specially Reported ami Illustrated for the MININ'.; AND
SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
Roastino Furnace.— No. 794,837; J. A. Anker,
J. H. Watson and P. Evans, Los Angeles, Cat.
In roasting furnace, vertical sinuous chamber, plu-
rality of retaining shoes projecting into chamber,
each retaining shoe having symmetrical portions;
tubular shaft extending longitudinally through shoe,
wheels on ends of shaft; walls of furnace having re-
cess, inclined rails at bottom of recess, wheels rest-
ing on rails, and means for rocking shoes.
Ore or Rock Crusher.-
ton, Central City, Colo.
-No. 794,876; E. S. Moul-
in device of character described, combination with
casing, of buffer block secured thereto, crushing
plates secured to buffer block, eccentric shaft jour-
naled upon casing, oscillating jaw carried by eccen-
tric shaft, comprising lever member, plurality of
crushing plates secured thereto upon one side there-
of, removable plate secured to lever member upon
opposite side to which plates are secured, flexible
member secured to casing and connected with lever
member, revoluble member engaging plate carried by
lever member and means for moving revoluble mem-
ber and retaining same in adjusted position.
Art of Treating Ore and Gathering Gold or
Precious Metal Diffused in the Employed Mer-
cury.— No. 794,552; G. M. Rice, Worcester, Mass.
Improvement in art of recovering gold or precious
metals from mass of ore under treatment by amalga-
mation with mercury, which consists in adding to
mass of ore previously supplied with water and mer-
cury only quantity equaling about 2% to 5% of
weight of mercury of metal capable of being amalga-
mated by mercury.
Method op Tunnelino.— No. T : »."i . 1 48 ; J. C. Meem,
Brooklyn, N. Y.
In method of tunnel construction, step consisting
in introducing beneath tunnel roof supporting struc-
ture having two superposed sets of spacing members,
inserting lagging boards through spaces between
upper set of spacing members, excavating in front of
supporting structure and advancing lagging boards
simultaneously with excavation, introducing second
supporting structure beneath forward ends of lag-
ging boards when advanced to proper distance, in-
troducing second set of lagging boards through open-
ings between lower spacing members of first support-
ing structure and between upper spacing members
of last supporting structure.
Zinc Smelting Furnace.— No. 794,799; E. C. Heg-
eler, Lasalle, 111.
t^Tl
m
qoopoom
jOOTOol:
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pop op"
OCfQOO^O
OOOOOO
ooooop^
oooooo;
w«s::3.-.--ta^
lOOOOO
lOOOOO,
IOOOOO
" lOOf
In zinc smelting furnace of class specified, long,
horizontal retort chamber through which gases pass
unobstructed, except by retorts, in direction of
greatest extension and having roof provided with
series of recesses, and bottom provided with series of
recesses, in combination with retorts arranged be-
tween roof and bottom, in space outside recesses.
4&
Disintegrator. — No. 794,785; W. Cox, Hamilton,
Canada.
•sax.
In disintegrator, combination w'uh casing, of an in-
ternally corrugated ring in casing having a dis-
charge opening in its lower portion only, guides, slid-
ing gate moving in said guides and having perforated
lugs or ears, screw-threaded operating rod journaled
in°the casing and turning in said perforated lugs, nut
between the lugs in which the screw threads of the
rod turn, rotary member in the casing, and heaters
on said rotary member which are located inside the
said ring.
Drill Striking Meohanism for Rock Drilling
Engines.— No. 794,930; L,. Durkee, Denver, Colo.
In drill-striking mechanism for rock drills, disk
having recesses therein, hammers pivoted in disk
beyond axial center, and arranged and adapted to
swing out into drill-striking position by centrifugal
force and to recede into recesses out of drill-striking
relation after drill-striking stroke.
Slag Furnace.— No. 795,032; O. S. Garretson,
Buffalo, N. Y.
Combination of slag chamber adapted to hold pile
of loose congealed slag and having air passages com-
municating with upper and lower portions, slag-con-
gealing rolls arranged at upper portion of chamber
for receiving molten slag, congealing same and deliv-
ering congealed slag to chamber, and means for
causing air to flow through passages and pile of
congealed slag in chamber.
Grinder.— No. 794,714; F. J. Hoyt, Redlands, Cal.
Combination with flanged and rotatable discs pro-
vided with sectors of radially adjustable spring
cushioned grinding faces, of opposed nou-rotatable
spring cushioned radially adjustable grinding faces.
81
Mining and Scientific Press.
July 29, 1905.
I MINING SUMMARY. |
a************************************
Specially Compiled and Reported for the MINING AND
SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
ALASKA.
A disDatch from Dawson announces a stampede to
California, Leonard and Rainy creeks in Glacier dis-
trict, 50 miles west of Dawson, and reached via Forty-
mile Roadhouse. Pay dirt on the creeks was struck on
the rim. On California and Leonard creeks 15 cents a
pan was obtained. On Rainy 4 cents a pan was found.
Discoverers were J. Leonard and J. Marcotte. Califor-
nia was stampeded six years ago, but produced nothing
at that time.
Regarding the cost of prospecting in different locali-
ties, a recent report of the United States Geological Sur-
vey says that in the Juneau district prospect shafts must
be square set, and cost on an average $6 per foot, and in
heavy landslide $20 a foot. In the Porcupine district
the cost of a cut 25 by 12 feet and 40 feet deep is $50 per
foot, and that of an 8 by 8 foot shaft is $20 per foot. In
the Sunrise and Chisna districts ground is prospected by
open cuts. A cut 50 feet in length is reported to cost
$2000. At Atlin ground is prospected mostly by drift-
ing. On McKee creek tunnels, timbered and lagged,
cost $3.50 per foot. On Spruce creek the cost of posts
and caps, 10 inches thick and 6 feet long, is 50 cents each;
lagging, 10 cents each. On Gold Run thirty 6-inch holes
are said to have been drilled to a depth of 32 feet by a
churn drill (cost, $3500, laid down), at the rate of $1 a
foot. In the Klondike drifts to prospect the bench
gravels cost $7 to $8 a foot, timbered, and shafts from $5
to $10 a foot. In timbering, three sets of posts, sill, cap
and lagging are put in for $6, and as one-half cord of
wood is used to a set the whole cost is $7 per set. In
frozen creek ground two men, working three shifts, sunk
a pit 5 feet square, 28 feet deep, using about 2 H. P.
steam during thirty hours. On Forty-Mile creek, thaw-
ing ten hours, two men take out on an average 4 feet a
day, the shaft being 5 feet by 3£ feet in dimensions. On
American creek prospecting is very difficult, as running
water is always found at bedrock, even in the coldest
weather. In the Forty-Mile district shafts averaging 3J
by 6 feet, untimbered, cost from $3 to $5 per foot. Seven
shafts 4 by 8 feet and 23 feet deep cost $2000. A shaft 7
by 34 feet and 20 feet deep costs $5 per foot, the thawing
being effected by means of wood fires and steam. In the
Birch Creek district shafts thawed down by wood fires
to a depth not exceeding 20 feet cost $5 per foot. On
Mastodon creek, in this district, eleven pits 3 by 6 feet
and 20 feet deep, cost $650. Twenty pits 3 by 6 by 13
feet cost $7 per foot. The differences in cost here are
due to the varying amount of permanent frost in the
ground, prospecting always being cheapest in solidly
frozen ground. On Mammoth creek 100 pit9 10 feet deep
cost $5 per foot. Wood fires were used, 2 feet being sunk
each day. No timbering was required, and labor was
paid $10 a day. In the Fairbanks district the prospect
shafts cost $7 to $10 per foot. Timbering is generally
necessary, but very light poles are used either as lagging
or cribbing. The best system is to put in 6-foot sets of
3-inch poles, and outside of these to lag with 2-inch poles
vertically, filling in solidly between the poles and the
muck or gravel with moss. Shafts cribbed with poles
horizontally are more likely to get out of plumb. Four
shafts sunk on lower Fairbanks creek cost $5 per foot,
and were 32, 44, 53 and 54 feet deep. On Cleary creek a
shaft 4 by 6i feet and 75 feet deep (hillside claim), cribbed
with 3-inch poles, cost $560. Wood fires were used in
thawing. On Pedro creek nineteen pits 3J by 7 by 12
feet cost $1140, and on an adjoining claim pits 3 by 6 feet
and 18 feet deep cost $6 per foot. The light timbering
and moss filling used in the Fairbanks mines is to pre-
vent the muck walls from thawing and caving. In the
Rampart district thirty pits 3 by 6 feet and 20 feet deep
•cost from $75 to $100 each. The ground was partly
thawed, but required no timbering. In the Nome dis-
trict, on account of the entire lack of native timber,
shafts are cribbed with 1 or 2-inch planking, set close to-
gether, no 9ets being used. On the Snowflake bench
claim, on Anvil creek, the cribbing was re-enforced by
2 by 4-inch posts in the corners. Five dollars per foot is
the average cost of 4 by 5 shafts, timbered, in unfrozen
or partially frozen ground. On Bonanza creek, near
Nome, pits in the shallow creek bed, 3 by 7 feet and 7
feet deep, are said to cost 50 cents per foot. The ground
is only lightly frozen and requires no timbering. On
Ophir creek, in the Council district, it costs on an aver-
age $5 to sink pits 7 feet deep. In the northern part of
Seward peninsula the ground is solidly frozen. In the
Kougarok district pits 35 feet in depth, with steam thaw-
ing, cost $8 per foot, and require no timbering. In the
Candle or Fairhaven district, adjacent to Kotzebue
sound, twenty-eight pits 12 to 15 feet deep cost $4 a foot.
It was necessary to thaw to bedrock. The equipment
cost $500.
ARIZONA.
Graham County.
Work has been resumed at the Ash Peak mines, near
Duncan.
Maricopa County.
(Special Correspondence). — A small mill is being put
in by J. E. Maddox on his property in the White Tank
mountains, north of Buckeye. Should this prove to be
a success, a 5-stamp mill will be put in.
Buckeye, July 24.
(Special Correspondence). — Geo. Hamlin brought in
another bar of bullion from the Relief mine. This is
about the only producing gold mine in Maricopa county
at the present time. Eastern capitalists are visiting
the Mormon Girl mine in the Cave Creek district. In
the Union district a small stamp mill is to be put in on a
property north of the old Union mine. W. E. Wil-
liams of Douglas is working a gold property adjoining
the Union property.
Phoenix, July 24.
Plual County.
The Ophir Con. G. & C. M. Co. has been formed to
work mines near Twin Buttes. J. B. Daugherty is pres-
ident and J. T. Dunlap secretary and treasurer. It is
reported that the Saddle Mountain M. Co.'s new 150-ton
smelter, near Dudleyville, has been started.
Yavapai Connty.
The Great Republic M. Co. is putting in a 40 H. P.
gasoline engine to continue sinking their shaft on Tur-
key creek, near Prescott.
J. R. Thomas, of the Black Hills C. Co., has started
sinking the main shaft, near Jerome, to a depth of 1000
feet. This shaft is now down to a depth of 350 feet.
It is stated that the Copper Chief M. Co. will build a
smelter on Equator hill, near Jerome.
CALIFORNIA.
Amador County.
At the Climax mine, near Pine Grove, sinking 100 feet
deeper and the opening up of levels at this depth show
the ledge in undiminished size and richness. The put-
ting up of the 10-stamp mill is being pushed. The com-
pany has bought the Reward mill near Pine Grove, and
is hauling it to the Climax. The old 2-stamp mill has
been sold to parties near West Point. At the Gold
Top gravel claim at Pine Grove men are putting up the
necessary flumes to bring water to the mine. Hydraulic
operations will be started as soon as the ditch is com-
pleted.
Butte County.
Two new dredgers will be built in the Oroville dis-
trict. One will be on the Jacobs' orchard, with O. B.
Perry in charge of the construction, and the other on
the Baggett place, south of Oroville. Mr. Baggett has
signed a contract for a 7-foot dredger.
Calaveras County.
Work is to be resumed August 1 at the Blue Gravel
mine near San Andreas. W. H. Steffler has been chosen
secretary vice B. C. Miller resigned. The Red Gold
mine at Murphys is being unwatered preparatory to re-
suming sinking.
Del Norte County.
It is reported that the company prospecting the
gravel near the mouth of Klamath river have found the
ground rich enough to warrant working with a dredger,
and a small one will be built for further prospects along
the river. The gravel bed, where drilling was done, is
75 feet deep.
El Dorado County.
A. F. Buchanan's Zantgraf Extension mine, near
Loomis, is producing good ore. E. B. Quigley i9 super-
intendent.
F. M. Phelps, superintendent of the Cedar Creek mine,
Fairplay district, has commenced work on a 1000-foot
tunnel which it is expected will tap the center of the
channel. The Sliger mine, in Greenwood district, has
resumed operations under the superintendency of W. H.
Grenell of Bath, Placer county. The Blue Ravine
mine, Folsom district, is to be reopened and worked
through a new shaft 1 mile from the old works, and
preparations are being made to move the machinery to
the new location. At the Rosencrans mine, near
Garden Valley, near Placerville, sinking is being pushed
with two shifts. A whim has been put in at the shaft
which is down 70 feet. The Alpine mine, Garden
Valley, is being developed.
Kern County.
P. Sartiat of Bakersfield has contracted for a 10-stamp
mill on the Black Bob mine, in the San Emidio region,
near Tejon.
Preparations are being made by the Southern Pacific
Co. for improvements on its oil pipe lines in the Kern
river fields, which it is expected will facilitate the trans-
portation of oil. Wherever oil is transported through
pipes difficulty is experienced, due to the resistance
caused by water in the pipes. The new pipes which the
railroad company is preparing to put in are rifled like a
rifle barrel, the theory being that the re<olution of the
oil while traveling through the pipes will keep oil, in-
stead of water, at the surface of the pipes through
centrifugal force, the oil being the heavier fluid, and
that resistance will be overcome. The machine which is
to be used for the rifling will arrive at Bakersfield on
Aug. 8.
T. McCarthy and others are working a tungsten ledge
near Randsburg.
Lassen County.
The Nanney ranch, at Mountain Meadows, has been
bonded by a dredging company of Oroville and drilling
and prospecting to determine the probable richness of
the tract in gold is under way.
Mariposa County.
Edward J. and Eugene J. Mahoney of the Mountain
Queen G. M. Co., working claims on Good's gulch, near
Mariposa, have a shaft 112 feet deep on the Little Dtica.
Arrangements are being made to drive a tunnel of
400 feet on the Sunshade, the work to be done by con-
tract.
Nevada County.
Superintendent F. B. Hill of the Two Counties mine,
north of Nevada City, expects to have the new mill in
operation next month. A project for turning the
channel of the Middle Yuba opposite the mill at Delhi
has been formed by G. E. Alexander of Denver, Colo.;
G. M. Graves of Chicago; J. S. Wilbur of San Francisco;
S. Poorman of Alameda, to work a gravel claim. The
Bullion mine in Grass Valley has been troubled with
water, but Superintendent G. Mainhart has got the
water down to the 1200-foot level and says that the re-
maining 300 feet will soon be cleared.
Placer Connty.
(Special Correspondence). — It is reported that the
Dairy Farm copper gold mine has been sold to the Gug-
genheims. The price is not stated, but is thought to be
$250,000.
Lincoln, July 25.
The Jupiter mine at Iowa Hill has closed down tempo-
rarily.^ The gravel at the Buckeye mine, above For-
est Hill, is said to be averaging $5 to the car. They
have both the blue and the white lead, and it is believed
are on the old Morning Star channel.
Plumas County,
(Special Correspondence). — The New York mill at
Greenville has been temporarily closed down for repairs.
The 15-stamp mill at the Droege mill in Indian
Valley is running.
Greenville, July 25.
San Bernardino County.
Notices have been sent out by J. H. West of Needles
to the desert sections of San Bernardino county asking
for such information as may be necessary for the placing
of metallic guide posts for the guidance of the pros-
pector that he may find water. The State has appro-
priated money for the manufacture of the metallic posts
and sign boards and the counties are empowered to place
the boards.
. San Diego Couuty.
C. O. McCarroll of Mesa Grande has sold his tourma-
line property of 604 acres to Los Angeles men.
Sierra County.
Work is to be resumed at the Deep Blue gravel mine,
near Alleghany, under the management of J. W. Morrell,
who has also commenced work at the Mabel mine in
American Hill. Kieffer Bros, have resumed opera-
tions on the Gibraltar in the headwaters of Canyon
creek, near Table Rock.
Siskiyou County.
A. C. Brokaw of Fort Jones will put in a 10 stamp
mill at the Advance. Most of the hydraulic mines of
the Salmon district have been closed down because of
lack of water. The average cleanups have been good.
Trinity County.
J. H. Porter has resigned as superintendent of the
Fairview mine, Pappoose, and has bonded the Bonanza
mine, at Trinity Center, which he will actively develop.
Tuolumne County.
The Republican mine, near Jacksonville, has a small
force doing development work, and the mill is closed for
the present. The Longfellow mine, Big Oak Flat, has
completed pumping arrangements by which water will
be furnished for the mine and mill. A little delay has
been caused in the starting of the new ten stamps by
the non-arrival of some of the parts.
COLORADO.
The Yankee Con. M., M. & T. Co., at Yankee, have
overhauled the mill and plans to put in an aerial tram-
way, connecting the mine and mill. The Manhattan
tunnel is being worked by contract. R. McGillvray
has thrown up his contract for driving the Central tun-
nel a mile farther, because of the low bid he made on
the work and the unusually hard character of rock in
the drift. As a result, the Big Five Co., which owns the
tunnel, has closed down the power plant at the mouth.
No action will be taken towards the resumption of the
work for several weeks, until after the meeting of the
stockholders, which will be held during August.
Clear Creek County
The trail to the Arapahoe mines, in East Argentine
district, which was badly damaged by snow slides, is
being put in shape for the transportation of ore and
shipments will soon be commenced to Silver Plume.
The Harris lode, East Argentine district, near George-
town, which has been operated under lease by W. F.
Farragher for the past three year9, has been leased to
J. Keating. He intends to work in the raise, now up 50
feet, and to continue the tunnel.
The Lombard mine, at Yankee, is being worked con-
tinuously with three shifts.
Chaffee Couuty.
Manager Philbrick of the Shawmut Con. Copper Co.
has contracted to supply the Canon City smelter with
500 tons of copper ore monthly from the Sedalia mine,
near Salida. It is reported that work is to be resumed
at the Jasper mine in the Turret district. The Inde-
pendence, Vesper, Copper King and Badger are being
worked. J. B. MacDonald is shipping regularly from
the Madonna mine, near Monarch. The Monarch tun-
nel is in 1450 feet. It is to be driven 6000 feet.
G. H. Van Wagoner of London, O., president and
general manager of the Golden Fleece mine, in the
Manoa district, 12 miles north of Salida, has started
work, after equipping the mine.
Custer County.
In Junkins park, near Silver Cliff, the snow has gone
and all parts of the park are accessible to prospecting.
Development work is being done. P. M. F. Finnis has
organized the Fountain Park G. M. & M. Co., to work
claims in the district. Men are driving a tunnel that
will cut the dikes at depth.
Dolores County.
The Western G. M. & M. Co. contemplates putting a
small hoist on their mine near Rico.
Eacle County.
Mining at the head of Lake creek, at Silver City, is
going on. The claims are all above the timber line.
J. E. Miller of Leadville has eighteen claims which he
has leased to Eastern people. A tunnel is being driven
from the foot of the hill 100 feet and will be driven 1100
feet farther.
El Paso County.
As soon as the ore on hand is treated, the Standard
mill at Colorado City will be closed down. The reason
given by C. M. MacNeill, vice-president and general
manager of the United States Refining & Reduction Co.,
which owns the property, is shortage of ore receipts.
About 200 men will be thrown out of employment when
the mill shuts down.
tillpln Connty.
Since the new rule went into effect on the Colorado &
Southern road concerning shipments of ore and concen-
trates on the Clear Creek division of the line, wherein
the marked capacity of the car governed the freight
charge, regardless of how much less the shipment was,
efforts have been made to have the road rescind the or-
der, as it worked a hardship on many of the small ship-
pers on the line. The Colorado Mine Operators' Associa-
tion took the matter up with C. L. Wellington, general
traffic manager of the road, with a result as follows:
Effective July 5, 1905, the following carload weights on
oreB and concentrates shipped from points on the Clear
July 29, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
Creek division of the C. & S. railway, will govern: On
care under fourteen tons capacity, twelve tons minimum,
i )n cars over fourteen tons capacity, twelve tons mini-
mum. Manager Anderson of the Gold Dirt M. Co. in
fndependent district reports that the new mill in Gam-
hill gulch will be running os ores about August 1st.
Work has been resumed on the Gold Dollar property,
owned by Jenkins, Daly & Nelson of Central City. The
main shaft on the Happy Hollow, operated by the Inter-
State Con. M. Co., near Gambell gulch, is down 50 feet
and, as soon as the necessary timbering work can bo
done, superintendent Churohlll Intends to orossout to-
wards the north. Superintendent C. H. Karns of the
Km press mine, near Lake gulch, reports that they have
reached a depth of over 300 feet in their shaft, are mak-
ing good headway in cleaning out and retimbering the
shaft and expect to reach the bottom, a depth of about
400 feet, within two weeks. Work is being rushed on
the new shaft building on the East Notaway mine of tho
Town Topics M. Co. in Russell district, to replace the
large shaft building, which was destroyed by lightning
and fire.
The Imperial M. & M. Co. has put in a "-drill com-
pressor at the Mackey mine in the Pine Creek district.
The Newfoundland G. & S. M. Co. has men at work
extending the east 900-foot level as well as stoping in
the noil-foot east workings, with four leasers besides the
company men. They are shipping smelting, milling and
concentrating ores to Black Hawk. G W. Mabee, Jr.,
is superintendent. The Gladstone aDd Firenzi claims,
in Illinois-Central district, near Central City, have been
under a lease and bond by J. H. Heinz of New Marion,
Ind., who has appointed Henry Ehrhardt in charge of
the property. On the Gladstone property the main
shaft is down 225 feet and as soon as machinery can be
put in the lessees intend to clean out the shaft and sink
it 100 feet deeper. The new plant will consist of a 25
H. P. hoist and 35 H. P. horizontal boiler.
The Firenzi shaft is down 90 feet and a whim is to be
put in. The work of cleaning out the shaft on the
Homestake in Lake and Russell district, near Central
City, is under way and as soon as the bottom is reached,
a depth of a little over 300 feet, the Homestake Co. in-
tends to commence sinking. B. G. Granville has charge.
UUUDlaon < omit} .
The Raymond T. & M. Co., operating near Ohio City,
have ordered a 100-ton mill as soon as it can be built,
based on the plans and specifications being prepared by
C. Neicel of Denver. In the course of 2000 feet of the
Raymond tunnel a number of fine veins have been cut,
some of which have been developed by laterals from the
tunnel. To ascertain their value in bulk, Manager E. M.
Lamont sent several lots to the Denver Ore Testing &
Sampling Co., N. C. Bonnevie manager, and himself
watched the entire process of treatment. The results
were satisfactory, showing that all of these ores will pay
well when properly handled. The value originally was
$10.00 gold, 2] ounces silver, 3.6% lead and 2.8% zinc. _ It
amalgamates $4 per ton gold, the concentrates carrying
3 ounces gold, 14 ounces silver and 20% lead. The zinc
product was not saved, being within the penalty limit.
Neicel will have charge of the construction and opera-
tion of the mill.
The Joplin mine at Spencer is being worked by P. P.
Hott. B. Pomel of Spencer is working the Neglected
lode.
The machinery for the aerial tramway for the West
Gold Hill M. Co. is being hauled to the property from
Pitkin. This tramway when completed will be 2250 feet
long without a tower, and will convey ore from the mine
to the mill and 05-ton cyanide plant. Wm. Friend has
men working on the Grand Prize, near Pitkin. The
shaft is being sunk and is down 70 feet. The Forest
Hill mine and mill are to be started up. The values are
mostly in zinc. The Quartz Creek mill, near Pitkin,
is being put in shape by A. B. Clark for treating ore by
cyanide.
The old Montezuma mine, between Crested Butte and
Aspen, is being examined. J. E. Ericson, manager
of the Copper Creek M. Co. 's properties near Gothic,
has started work.
Hinsdale County.
The Fidelity M., M. &P. Co. has been formed at Lake
Cily by C. J. Fox of Philadelphia, Pa., T. Henneberry
of Denver and others to develop the Bull Hill claims and
the Alhambra placer in Four-mile park. They intend
to build a wire tramway to convey the Bull Hill ore to
the Alhambra placer, where the reduction works will be
built.
Lake Connty.
The different properties on Rock hill, Leadville, are
producing high-grade lead ore, and the different shafts
that are going down are making good headway. The
Reindeer is shipping 100 tons daily and development
work is being carried ahead in different parts of the
mine. The Dome is shipping and developing the ore
body to the north, and as work proceeds the ore shoot
becomes more defined. The Murphy shaft is down to
the necessary depth and drifts are being run under the
ore body. A shipment has been made from the Bessie
Wilgus and the drift has been run to the south under
the ore shoot and upraising started. New machinery is
being put in at Buffalo-President, on the Iowa gulch
side of the hill, and when completed will be in position
to handle the water struck recently in the shaft at a
depth of 300 feet. The Nil Desperandum is in ore in
both drifts.
Mineral County.
Ore is being taken from the Happy Thought mine at
Creede, through the Worcester tunnel, and is being
treated in the Humphreys mill. It is reported that the
Worcester tunnel, now in over 10,000 feet, is to be con-
tinued. A slimes plant is being added to the mill.
Ooray Connty.
Electric drills are to be put in the Blowout tunnel of
the Ouray Con. M. Co., | mile from Ouray. The tunnel
is in 475 feet and is to be run 2000 feet farther to cut
ledges at a depth of 1600 feet. J. H. Tumbach is man-
ager at Ouray. The Atlas M. & M. Co.'s tunnel,
north of the Revenue mine, is in 600 feet. F. Carroll of
Ourayhas charge.
In the Genessee tunnel of the Red Mountain R. M. &
S. Co. a crosscut from the main tunnel and 2100 feet
from the portal has cut a 7-foot body of ore, in depth 700
feet from the surface, where it outcropped. G. Craw-
ford of Red Mountain expects to unwater the old shafts
of the Yankee Girl, but tho volume of water is so great
that it will of necessity be slow. If the entire amount of
water was broken into at once it would flood the tunnel.
It is probable that the reservoirs of water will he tapped
with diamond drills and drawn off gradually.
l'nrk County.
(Special Correspondence). — Several properties are op-
erating in Buckskin gulch, among them being the Fannie
Barret, A. Crown manager. This company is running a
tunnel to tap the old stopes on the property which were
opened twenty years ago. This tunnel when completed
will be 1000 feet in length and will tap the vein 800 feet
below the surface. Tho property is on Loveland hill.
The Red Lion is under lease to S. A. OITerson & Co.
and two to three cars per month are being shipped.
Near the Red Lion, A. A. Bissell is operating the New
York and shipping about ten tons per day. A. B.
Ogden is operating the Sweet Home mine. This property
has been idle for many years, but during the early days
of the mine considerable ore was shipped to Swansea,
Wales. Power drills will be put in, also aerial tramway
for handling the output of the mine. The old Ling
mine on North Star mountain is being operated in a
small way, but arrangements are being made to put on a
larger force by Manager O. Eldredge. The Wheeler
mine on the south slopo of this same mountain is also
under the management of Eldredge and operations will
be increased about August 1. Small shipments are be-
ing made from both the Ling and Wheeler. R. A.
Morrison of Denver, Colo., president of the Montgomery
G. M. & M. Co., is driving a tunnel under North Star
mountain to strike the Ling vein and other veins on
their own property, which they have opened up on the
surface. The tunnel is in 620 feet and about 2 feet per
day is being driven by hand work. Work on the tunnel
is being done under contract by Blank & Larson.
A. M. Anderson has organized the Pawnee G. M. Co.,
and is operating the Helen Gould Nos. 1, 2 and 3 and
Goldsmith claims. This property is on London mountain.
J. M. Kuhn is manager and T. E. Schwarz, consulting
en.ineer. The Oliver Twist Co., Dear the London
Co., is developing on London ground. The 10-stamp
mill at Montgomery, 6 miles above Alma, on the Platte
river, is operating under the management of H. Eddy
on ore from one of the mines belonging to the company.
It is understood that J. A. Shinn of Leadville is in
Pittsburg, Pa., making arrangements for money to
carry through his tunnel scheme to pierce Mosquito
range in the Horseshoe district.
Alma, July 20.
(Special Correspondence). — On the Platte river, be-
tween Alma and Fairplay, the Snow-Storm Hydraulic
Co. is operating its placer ground. During the begin-
ning of the season they sunk sixteen drill holes and
eleven shafts to bedrock, a distance of 40 to 60 feet, and
tested the ground thoroughly. They have driven a
tunnel 600 feet under the hill to connect with a 40-foot
shaft. From this shaft and through the tunnel they
have built a double flume, which extends from the tun-
nel entrance. The flumes are each 3 feet wide and 3 feet
deep and the first 100 feet is composed of Angle iron
riffles. Owing to delay in receiving pipe from the
manufacturers, they have been delayed in getting their
giants, which will consist of two No. 1 and one No. 5, in
operation. The gravel and sand are washed from the pit
into the shaft and down through the flume. As work
proceeds in the pit, the shaft will be done away with and
later on the present pit will be used for a dumping
place. The giants will operate under 275-foot head of
water taken from Platte river. They are also putting
in an electric light plant.
Fairplay, July 24.
Pueblo Connty.
The two zinc concentrating mills of the United States
Zinc Co. at Pueblo are completed and running continu-
ously. One uses the dry crushing and the magnetic
separation method, the other the wet process, employing
Wilfley tables. E. Anderson is agent. The concen-
trators have a capacity of 100 tons a day. They can
smelt 25% to 30% zinc ores carrying clear values in gold.
silver and lead, without concentration.
Saguache county.
The Shawmut Gold, Silver, Copper M. & M. Co. has
put in a hoist preparatory to sinking in the Bonanza
district, 16 miles from Villa Grove. The Bonanza and
Morning Star mines are being developed in the same
district.
The Shawmut mines in Bonanza district, 12 miles
south of Alder, have been sold for $100,000 to W. P.
Black, G. C. Moore, E. E. Hume, H. J. Welman, Chas.
Eckles, C. Renner and H. A. Bush, of Cambridge Springs
and Erie, Pa. W. P. Black has been chosen general
manager, and is putting in a 100 H. P. steam hoist.
San Juan County.
The 6000-foot crosscut tunnel of the Stoney Pass M.
Co. has been driven over 1300 feet toward a lead-silver
vein in Prospect basin. J. W. Dolan of Silverton is
superintendent. Superintendent M. M. Gregg is drift-
ing on the Magnolia vein from the 1200-foot point of the
Hurley tunnel, near Gladstone. It is reported that
E. L. Thompson of Silverton, manager Delayed M. &
M. Co., intends putting in a compressor and drills at the
company's mine near Rockwood.
Malchus Bros. & O'Neil are making preparations for
a 75-ton mill, to be put on the Mayflower. The ore, be-
ing a copper-gold proposition with small lead-silver val-
ues, is satisfactory for concentration.
Kramer Bros. & Carmiehael, who recently took a
lease on the Silver Ledge mine and mill at Chattanooga,
are employing thirty men. The mill is taking sixty tons
daily of crude ore from which the concentrators return
fifteen tons of lead and ' eight tons of zinc, after the
Blake electric zinc separator has done its work.
The Grand Mogul Co. has under way improvements on
its property, near Gladstone. Excavations are being
made for a 200-ton mill. The ore is first to be crushed
under 1350-pound stamps, after which it is passed over
amalgamating plates. It is then further reduced in
Boss grinding pans, after which it is carried to the con-
centrating tables, where the remaining values are saved.
The product is then passed through the drying ovens,
when It is ready fur shipment. The mill will be con-
nected with the mine by an aerial tram, 8500 feet in
length.
Sati Mleuel County.
Work has been resumed at the Opbir Con. M. Co.'s
mines near Ophir, under the direction of W. B. Ludd,
representing Eastern directors. G. E. Driscoll is ex-
perimenting with ten stamps of the mill as to the best
method of treating the ore. The upper levels of the
Butterfly-Terrible are being worked by leasers, their
ore being treated in the company's mill. Manager J. P.
Keating of Ophir is continuing the crosscut tunnel.
J. O'Brien of Ophir has charge of the D. Gale M. Co.'s
work in Swamp canyon. Ore from the Montezuma-
Cariboo mines is being milled in the Yellow Mountain
mill, near Ophir, under the superintendence of O. Erick-
sen.
Summit County.
(Special Correspondence). — For a number of years
Summit county has been noted for its placer mines. At
present there is perhaps as much, if not more, lead min-
ing than placer work, especially in the neighborhood of
Breckenridge. The American Gold Dredging Co., W. W.
Dyar manager, is operating several drills on their prop-
erty Dear Swandyke, prospecting with a view of adding
several new dredgers to thoir equipment the coming
year. In French gulch the Lincoln G. M. Co. is operat-
ing its placer ground, using hydraulic giants. It has a
lease on the water from the Gold Run ditch which
belongs to the American Co. It has about 2000 inches
of water at present and it is thought that the supply
will continue till cold weather setj in, on account of the
large volume of snow in the hills. The flume of this
company is now about 2000 feet in length. It is prepar-
ing to put in a hydraulic elevator for handling the
water and gravel from its pit. The French Creek G.
M. Co. is driving a crosscut tunnel in Baldy mountain,
to tap some rich veins which are known to exist at the
surface. The tunnel is now in 1320 feet. Electric drills
are being used in doing the work. The tunnel is 5x7 in
the clear. The work is being done at present by E. T.
Brooks, under contract from the company. It is under-
stood the company intends to keep driving ahead until
it proves whether the ore goes down with depth. Should
good paying ground be opened up, it will be the means
of starting other enterprises along the same line of
work. In the same gulch nearer Breckenridge, on
Mineral Hill, is the old Wellington mine, being operated
by the Colorado & Wyoming Dev. Co. The crosscut
tunnel, which is 650 feet in length, cuts the "Big"
vein which carries zinc and lead. There are 650 feet of
drifting on the vein and 400 feet of raises. One shoot in
this mine is 14 feet wide and a 24-foot winze is sunk on
the shoot. Mostly development work is being done on
this property. They are able to ship enough ore from
the upper workings to pay for all development work.
R. W. Foote is manager and C. F. Aultland superin-
tendent. B. S. Revett is getting his big dredger under
operation in French gulch, and it is expected to increase
the output of the placer mines in this section. The
Old Union M. & M. Co. has five claims and millsite on
Mineral hill. The company has sunk its shaft to a depth
of 450 feet and now driving a crosscut from tho gulch
side to connect with the shaft, which will require some
1100 or 1200 feet to reach. In driving the tunnel they
have met with a few setbacks which have delayed their
work materially. The company has recently completed
a new mill at the mouth of the tunnel. As soon as the
tunnel is completed, the mill will be in shape to receive
the ore from the mine. The mill will have a capacity of
100 to 150 tons per day. It consists of crushers, rolls,
screens, jigs and tables. A. E. Keables is manager.
The Gold Dust Mines Co., M. W. Hoyle manager,
has been working the old Puzzler mine, near Brecken-
ridge, but recently closed down until they can make
arrangements to put in a mill. Manager Hoyle is now
in the East, endeavoring to raise the necessary capital.
On, Mineral hill the Abundance M. & M. Co. is
putting in a new hoist preparatory to doing a large
amount of development work. The shaft is down 175
feet but will be continued deeper. At the 150-foot level
they are crosscutting each way from the shaft to the side
Fnes and have cut veins on each drift, but are making
no efforts at present to develop them. John G. Goodier
is manager.
Breckenridge, July 24.
(Special Correspondence). — The Masontown M. & M.
Co. expect to start operations in the nextmonth on their
property at Frisco.
Frisco, July 25.
Teller County.
The Lonaconing property on Beacon hill, Cripple
Creek, is looking better than it has for many months.
The operators have proved that the ore shoot was not
worked out south of the shaft, and the developments
show that the shoot took a pitch another way and is
now showing mineralized rock. Machinery is being
put in at the Pay Rock, on Rhyolite mountain, Cripple
Creek, preparatory to sinking from the 200- foot level.
The machinery has been put in at the Blue Flag
mine of the Blue Flag M. & M. Co. by Manager J. F.
Erisman.
Marshall Bowers proposes to sink the Pharmacist
shaft on Bull hill, Cripple Creek, to a depth of 1000 feet.
A 6-drill compressor is to be put in. A hoist capable
of lifting from a depth of 2000 feet is to be put in at the
Shurtloff mine of the Findley Con. Co. at Cripple
Creek.
IDAHO.
Boise County.
J. K. Woodburn, who purchased the concentrates
produced by the War Eagle mill at Grimes Pass, found
them to be too low grade to bear the expense of wagon
haul to the railroad, freight charges and treatment.
Since then he and Eugene Grice have been experiment-
ing to discover an economical and successful method
of extracting the values. After several unsuccessful
attempts they found that by roasting values were
saved by cyaniding. They have shipped an outfit to
83
Mining and Scientific Press.
July 29, iy05.
Pioneerville and will begin operations at once. The con-
centrates will average $40 per ton, and it is thought they
will be able to save 85% at a cost of $5 per ton. There
are about 200 tons at the mill from the Bruiser and
Pheasant mines. Should this work prove a success it is
probable that these mines will be started up.
The American Exploitation Co. is working the Nellie
claims, in the Pearl district, with M. E. Hopkins as
manager.
Elmore County.
H. Le Bar, manager of the Mountain View property,
Dear Pine, reports that the 10-stamp mill is almost com-
pleted and the electrical plant is on the road. A cyanide
plant is to be built.
Idaho County.
H. Thorpe, manager of the Gott M. Co., operating
placer properties on Grouse creek, between Resort and
Warren, states that the big ditch built by the company,
which heads in Secesh creek, is being completed and it is
thought water can be turned in by September 1. The
ditch will be 4 miles long, 7 feet wide at the top, 4 feet
at the bottom and 3 feet deep. There yet remains 500
feet of excavating to be completed, and the work so far
has been done, including the clearing of a 20-foot right
of way, with thirty-five men since June 1. J. J. Toler
has sold his interest in the company.
M. F. Tytler, manager of the Seattle & Idaho M. Co.
at Dixie, has resumed work on the Comstock under
bond. The company intends to put in a cyanide plant.
Kootenai County.
H. M. Williams, general manager of the Ponderay
Smelting Co., owning the new lead smelter, near Sand-
point, says that all the machinery except the electric
equipment is on the ground, and the plant should be
running in two months. D. T. Parker is superintend-
ent. About 25 men are employed. People interested in
the Ponderay Company are developing in the Minerva
and the True Blue, nearby, and are also driving on the
Venezuela, and have let a contract for continuing the
crosscut 300 feet.
Shoshone County.
Good concentrating ore has been struck in the lower
workings of the Paragon mine, 4J miles east of Murray.
L. W. Stedman is manager. The New Hope M. Co.
is developing claims 2 miles from Osburn, on New Hope
gulch. On the south vein a tunnel has been run 240
feet. The lower tunnel is a crosscut intended to cut the
ledge 300 feet below the workings above and has been
run 420 feet.
The old tunnel on the Phoenix mine, near Osburn,
has been cleaned out by the German-American M. Co.
of Spokane, Wash. A compressor with two drills has
been put in and the contract let for 150 feet of tunneling,
extending the present tunDel, which is 640 feet. C. E.
Mitchell of Spokane, Wash., is interested.
Tooele County.
The Overland property at Sunshine, which was sold to
Denman Blanchard of Boston for $37,500, is to be started
again. The mill is to be overhauled. M. A. Sheets has
been named as superintendent.
MONTANA.
Broadwater County.
The Edward F. Co. is building a stamp mill and put-
ting in cages and cars at its property at Hassell. The
Mason syndicate have started their concentrator at
Mason. The concentrator on the East Pacific at
Winston will be started by August 1.
Fergus County.
The Armstrong property, at Kendall, is being devel-
oped by J. A. Irwin, of the Spokane Diamond Drill Con-
tracting Co. W. G. Moore has men at work on the
W. G. Norman ground at Kendall. A. S. Wright has
purchased twelve claims adjoining the Kendall, North
Moccasin and Barnes-King mines. E. E. Wright has
sold his one-quarter interest in the Boss fraction claim,
adjoining the Bullard property, to R. Hamilton, of Ken-
dall, for $1000.
Jefferson County.
General Manager M. L. Hewett of the Cataract C. M.
Co. at Basin has increased the force at the Bullion
mines. Recently a body of rich ore has been opened up.
The concentrator will be completed and ready to oper-
ate by September 1.
Lewis and Clarke County.
The Spring Hill, owned by the Pittsburg & Montana
Co., 4 miles south of Helena, has commenced shipping
to the company smelter at Butte. The mine is working
forty men, who have piled a large amount of ore on the
dumps, and shipments will be large. The East Helena
smelter is running three stacks, with a capacity of 450
tons of ore per day, and are receiving more ore than
they can handle. The ore supply is the largest for
years, and indications are that it will increase, making it
necessary to blow in another stack. The Red Bird
Co. is crosscutting at the 500-foot level and is sinking
another 100 feet on its Copper Hill property at Austin.
Madison County.
The new cyanide plant at Rochester is nearly com-
pleted. Five 16-foot and four 26-foot steel tanks, and
lilterers for the same, are being placed in position, and
all that remains to be done before starting the mill is
putting in the electric lighting plant. The Watseka
mill is claimed to be one of the most economical in the
State, everything being done as near as possible with
water. The new flume from the McClay - Murray
springs is completed; it is 1J miles long, and supplies
more than enough water to operate the plant.
The Garnet Co., near Pony, are undecided whether to
put in an electric power plant, a gas producer plant, or to
obtain electric power from the Madison Canyon Power
Co. A plant capable of furnishing 125 H. P. is required
and work must be started before the weather becomes
too cold to run water in an open ditch. Work has
been commenced on a 600-foot tunnel to develop the
Mountain Cliff vein in MiDeral hill, near Pony.
Silver Bow County.
The Supreme Court has reversed the decision of Judge
Clancy of Butte in the case of E. Hickey, L. A. Hickey
and J . M. Stewart against the Anaconda and Washoe
companies, better known as the Nipper case, in which
the lower court, after a memorable trial, held that cer-
tain veins of the Amalgamated Co. 's Anaconda and
Washoe veins found their apex in the portion of the
Nipper mine, owned by Heinze. The case is reversed on
account of errors, largely attributed to the failure of
Judge Clancy to admit certain evidence brought out on
cross-examination of Stewart, one of the plaintiffs.
NEVADA.
Lincoln County.
The Searchlight M. & M. Co. have started their new 15
H. P. hoist at the mine at Searchlight. An 800-pound
bucket will be used for hoisting the ores. Sinking is to
be resumed from the bottom of the 300-foot shaft. A 3-
stamp mill is being put in. The Shoshone claims, 4
miles east of Searchlight, near Summit Springs, and
owned by G. B. Smith and E. R. Bowman, has been
bonded to O. B. Steen and Geo. Montgomery, who have
started work.
fetorey County.
When the pumps in the Ward shaft on the Comstock
are put in they will have sufficient capacity, with the
pumps in the C. & C. shaft, to unwater all the lower
levels of the Comstock lode. At present the pumps are
lifting 7,250,000 gallons of water a day, but their capacity
will be 3,000,000 gallons more daily after the Ward shaft
pumps are placed iD operation. This will result in ex-
tensive workings of the lower levels.
Washoe County.
At Olinghouse, on the No. 2 mine, O. M. Pudor is pre-
paring to sink to the 300-foot level. As yet no mine in
the White Horse district has reached this depth, and if
the sulphides hold out at that depth the permanency of
the camp is assured. Large tunnels have been started
in the Oro and in the Pritchett & Dahl group.
OREGON.
Baker County.
Good ore has been opened up in the Minnie McDowell
claim, near Cable Cove, by E. Rawson and J. I. Sturgill.
The ore is being sorted for shipment to the Sumpter
smelter. The Conner Creek placer mines, near Baker
City, have been sold to a California syndicate repre-
sented by S. Adams. The property was owned princi-
pally by Union Pacific Railroad employes and was sold
for $60,000. By the terms of the sale the new company
agrees to spend $5000 in improvements this year. The
mines will be worked by the cribbing process. The
Buckeye mine is being unwatered and sampled. In
Rye valley, 30 miles southeast of Baker City, the Gold
Coin mine is being developed by a company recently
organized in Pendleton. Preparations are being made
to put in a 40-stamp mill, ten stamps of which it is ex-
pected will be dropping by September 1.
It is reported that a good strike has been made in the
Morris property, Greenhorn district, owned by the
Iowa-Oregon G. M. Co. of Webster City, Iowa. W.
J. J. Smith, one of the partners in ownership of the
Salmon group, near Greenhorn, says he will urge put-
ting in a compressor at the property when he returns to
the Cincinnati office of the company. The crosscut tun-
nel is in 900 feet. Drifting is to be carried on with the
machine drills, if they are authorized by the principal
owners.
L. V. Swiggett, manager of the Golden Chariot group,
in the Bear Gulch district, near Sumpter, states that the
ledge for which they have been driving the crosscut has
been cut.
Douglas County.
The Bohemia correspondent to the Telegram reports
that on the Hiawatha claims, on the west slope of Fair-
view mountain, 450 feet of work has been done, and the
management has again commenced operations for the
summer. A 5-foot ledge is exposed. The property is
owned by the Hiawatha M. Co. David Finn has charge.
Much work will be done, and it is the intention of the
management to put up a mill. The Gold Hill & Bo-
hemia M. Co. owns the Wall Street, adjoining the
Vesuvius and Music mines. Over 600 feet of work has
been done, exposing three veins. The Judson Rock
nine claims, on the western slope of Fairview mountain,
are making a good showing as development proceeds.
Over 1000 feet of work has been done on this property.
The Syndicate group, owned by C. E. Lockwood
and E. Jenks, adjoins the Noonday and Helena No. 1.
There are seven claims in the group, and the develop-
ment consists of four tunnels, several crosscuts and sur-
face openings. The Phoenix group of three claims
contains a good ledge. E. Jenks is the owner, and the
property is on Horse Heaven creek, south of the River-
side group. J. B. Morgan owns two claims below the
Riverside. He has a ledge 12 feet wide. The Mineral
King claims, owned by A. W. Zinicker, on Horse Heaven
creek, is below the Riverside. The Mayflower claims,
on Borse Heaven creek, is owned by the Mayflower M.
Co., W. P. Ely being the principal stockholder. This
property is opened up by tunnels. J. M. Peterson and
J. Klucky, owning the Golden Star group, have over
400 feet of work done. The Sweepstake eight claims,
on the west slope of Fairview mountain, S. J. Brund
owner, is opened by a 250-foot crosscut and 200 feet of
drifting on the lead. The Three Monte group, on the
slope of Fairview mountain, is the property of A.
Churchill, who has 250 feet of work done on the three
claims. The Knott property is developed by a 250-
foot shaft. G. Bohlman of Cottage Grove owns three
claims on the west slope of Fairview mountain. F.
Mackentire is developing the Clay property. J. B.
Kinp, on the White Iron and Black Bear claims, is driv-
ing a crosscut. The Pittsburg claims, owned by W.
H. Shane and F. Flesher, contains 800 feet of tunnel,
the longest tunnel being 200 feet.
Grant County.
Recent work on the Wide Awake four claims, near
Alamo, owned by L. Steinmetzer and Wm. Turner, has
opened a good vein of free milling ore.
The placer mine on Canyon creek, 2 miles above Can-
yon City, owned by Dart, Yorgenson & Walker, is closed
for the season, the final cleanup having been made.
Jackson County.
At the Oregon Belle mine, in the Forest Creek dis-
trict, the crusher, stamps and concentrators are in place
in the new mill and the plant will be in readiness for op-
eration by Aug. 1. At the Golden Standard property,
near Jacksonville, P. S. Casey has men working. It is
likely that a mill will be put in this fall or winter.
Josephine County.
The Grouse Mountain mine, on Mt. Baldy, 2 miles from
Grants Pass, has been sold to L. P. Larson and C. Jas-
per of Spokane, Wash. Development is under the man-
agement of A. L. Smith. The Horace Greely mine,
owned by E. E. Blalock and H. H. Howe of Golden, has
been bonded to :he Greenback M. & M. Co. for $15,000.
As a result of the returns on ore shipped from its
Picket Creek property, the Oregon Timber, Mining &
Development Co. has put in a mill and reduction plant
near Grants Pass.
SOUTH DAKOTA.
Pennington County.
The machinery for the Montezuma property, at the
head of Irish gulch near Rochford, is being hauled to
the mine. J. Hartgering has made the arrangements
for work on the Bullion mill near Keystone. The
process will be Chilian rollers and amalgamating tables,
with Wilfley concentrators, and then cyaniding the con-
centrates. F. Beedle is in charge of the work.
UTAH.
Juab County
The Tintic King M. Co. has been formed to work the
Manhattan and the Revenue lode claims, near Eureka.
L. Hopper will have charge of the development. The
officers of the company are W. R. Pike of Provo, presi-
dent; L. Hopper, vice-president, and E. Pike, secretary
and treasurer. A water seam has been cut on the 500-
foot level of the Uncle Sam mine, near Eureka, which
will supply the mine, which has heretofore drawn on the
mill for its supply of water. C. C. Griggs is superinten-
dent. The ore shipments from Tintic district for the
week ending July 21 amounted to ninety-two carloads,
and one carload of concentrates from the Uncle Sam
mill. The producers were: Gemini, 6; Bullion Beck, 3
Centennial-Eureka, 45; Yankee Cons., 4; May Day, 1
Uncle Sam Cons., 2; Eagle aDd Blue Bell, 6; Swansea, 6
Eureka Hill (lease), 2; Grand Central, 6; Victoria, 4
Ajax, 5; Carisa, 1; Mammoth, 1.
Park County.
The hoist has been put in at the King Con. mine at
Park City and sinking is to be resumed from the 800-foot
level.
Salt Lake County.
Sampling has been finished at the Utah copper mine,
at Bingham, and the report to the American Securities
Co. is being made out. The third east drift is to he con-
nected with the Ohio drift 100 feet below. The Bing-
ham West Dip Tunnel Co. intends to run a 4-mile tun-
nel from the Tooele side through the Oqulrrh range,
and drain the West Mountain district. It expects to de-
velop some mineral on its own ground and also pro-
vide water for the irrigation of Tooele lands. Reports
submitted at the recent meeting showed that the com-
pany was free from debt and work was progressing on
the tunnel. The following officers were elected: F. M.
Lyman, president; F. M. Lyman, Jr., vice-president;
M. Pratt, treasurer and manager; F. M. Bishop, secre-
tary. The Copper Center tunnel of the Boston Con.,
at Bingham, has been cleaned out and work resumed
driving it ahead. The American S. & R. Co. 's new
3000-ton copper smelter, which will be built 10 miles
north from the mouth of Bingham canyon, will be ready
for operation next spring, according to Daniel Guggen-
heim, chairman of the executive committee of the smelt-
ing company. The smelter was made necessary by the
increasing output of the Bingham mines. The Utah
Copper and Boston Con. alone will furnish 1000 tons of
ores and concentrates to the new plant. The contracts
on the Cactus and other properties and the increasing
tonnage from this camp will justify the smelter manage-
ment in fixing the capacity of the new plant at 3000 tons
daily. Six full sections of land, 6400 acres, have been
acquired by the smelting company, near the springs
north of Bingham, as a site for the new plant and there
will be no farmers to raise complaints of damage from
smoke.
Sevier County.
B. T. Ashby has made arrangements to work the
Congress claims on Gold mountain, near Richfield.
Utah County.
T. E. Steele and R. R. Steele, who own the Steele prop-
erty, will start work in American Fork canyon August
1. The new flume now under construction at the
WyomiDg mine is 480 feet long. This will give the mine
two flumes through which to convey their sacked ore
from the mine to the teamsters' station. Work is
continuing on the Silver Glance, near the Steele group,
under a lease held by J. H. Wooton.
WASHINGTON.
Ferry County.
Alex. Sharp, manager of the First Thought and
Napoleon mines, near Orient, reports that the First
Thought is shipping a carload of ore a day to the
smelter, while the Napoleon is shipping eight carloads a
week. These mines are owned by P. Burns.
Skamania County.
The McCoy Creek Mines Co. has been formed, with
principal place of business at Chehalis, by L. J. Sticklin,
G. E. Nolan, H. B. and B. J. Blankenship, A. Edlund
and K. Anderson. The new district is near the northern
boundary of Skamania county, on McCoy creek, a trib-
utary of the Cispus, which in turn flows into the Cow-
litz. The mines are reached by way of Chehalis. The
company intends to put in a mill and begin active
mining.
WYOMING.
Carbon Connty.
(Special Correspondence). — The mill at the Penn-
Wyoming Copper Co., of Encampment, is handling
all the tonnage the tramway can supply. The Han-
cock jig is a successful feature of the mill. The large
July 29, 1905.
Mining and scientific Press.
84
furnace is to be blown in soon. The Doane-Rumbler Co.
is about to build a concentrator. The camp has a
healthy appearance and all available teams are hauling
copper to Walcott.
Kn.utnpmont, Ju
FOREIGN.
CANADA.
BRITISH COLUMBIA.
Jtodiiiliiry DlltrlCl
Tho newly appointeil officers of the Dominion Copper
Co ■-. blob has taken over the holdings of tho Montreal
,v Boston Co., bave arrived at Phoenix and are making
arrangements to resume work. These include M. M.
-on, chief consulting engineer, T. W. Drummond,
the local superintend! IE C. Thomas, tho smelter
superintendent. They intend to reopen the mines at
also starting the company's 2-furnace smelter at
Boundary Palls. The ahalt on the Prince Henry is
down 65 feet. The diamond drill which has been
working with satisfactory results on the Wolford group
in Wellington camp is being removed to the Jewel prop-
erty in the Slmilkameen.
Nrlnmi DlfttrlCt.
The May Day and l'ink Diamond claims, near Ymir,
owned bj J, I''. Harbottle and others, have been bonded
to John Boultbee of Rossland at H5.000. NearSalmo,
strikes have been made near tho Queen and Kootenay
Belle mines. Billings & Schwinkie mado the first dis-
covery, and J. G. Devlin of Nelson has located rich
ground. The Kootenay Belle mine, on which Patrick
Clark recently relinquished his bond, has reverted to
the former lessees, Bell Bros, of Salmo. The 10-stamp
mill at the Porto Rico mine, near Ymir, has been
started by G. W. Barnhardt, the lessee. A large quan-
tity of high grade ore has been broken down for milling.
The mine is also being opened up on a deeper level.
Bossland District
The tonnage of ore shipped from and crushed at the
Rossland mines for the week ending July 22 and for the
year to date was as follows:
Mine. Week. Year.
I.r Rol 1.850 70.131
Le Rol (milled) 210 610
Center Star 2,250 53 880
War Eagle 1,230 30,870
Lo Rol Two, 60 4,402
l.i- Rol Two (milled) 4.830
White Beor 1,100
White Bear (milled) 3,920
Jumbo 300 5,529
Spltzee 60 4,479
Velvet-Portland 1,977
Gopher 60
Homestaltc 30
Lily May 30 60
Totals 5,990 187,778
On the ninth level of the Center Star a station has
been cut and a hoisting engine put in to deopen the shaft
for 200 feet below that level. The purpose is to develop
another shoot which has been opened by a winze extend-
ing down from the ninth level for 100 feet. The
Jumbo is being developed on the No. 1 and the interme-
diate levels. The following are the shipments for the
week ended July 15: Le Roi, 1950 tons; Le Roi (milled),
150 tons; Center Star, 2430 tons; War Eagle, 1350 tons;
Le Roi No. 2, 60 tons; Jumbo, 200 tons; Spitzee, 120
tons. Total, 6260 tons, and for the year to date, 181,788
tons.
The Le Roi Co. shipped from the mine to Northport
during June 8738 tons of ore, containing 3430 ounces of
gold, 3200 ounces of silver and 163,600 pounds of copper.
Estimated profit on this ore, after deducting cost of
mining, smelting, realization and depreciation, $13,600.
Expenditure on development work during the month,
$10,000. Experimental concentration mill commenced
running July 1.
CENTRAL AMERICA.
Panama.
According to a decree passed by the cabinet council of
the Republic of Panama, on May 15, 1905, the Republic
of Panama retains the right to all mines, of any kind
whatsoever, within its limits, even should the vein or
drift, etc., lie below the surface of private property.
The owner of such property has the right only to the
surface, and the subsoil belongs to the nation. How-
ever, the owners of land overlying mines which are
ceded or leased by the Government have a right to re-
muneration for the use of the surface of their land by
the concessionaire or prospector, as provided by law.
MEXICO.
Cedros Island.
The Esperanza M. Co. of Cedros Island expects to blow
in the new smelter as soon as G. Brown, the manager of
the company, arrives at the mines. This is the Morgan
smelter, which was set up at San Diego two years ago,
but never used. It was afterward bought by Mr. Brown
and taken to Cedros Island, but has been but recently
set up. The Esperanza Co. has been shipping copper
ore to San Diego, where it has been reshipped to the
smelter at Tacoma.
Guanajuato.
P. G. Corning, president of the Guanajuato Con. M. &
M. Co. at Guanajuato, reports that the new cyanide plant
is running successfully on a crude ore production rang-
ing from 130 to 150 tons daily. This output it is ex-
pected to gradually increase to the full capacity of the
plant, which is estimated at from 180 to 200 tons daily.
The waste tailings from the process show from 50
cents to $1, United States currency, per ton The es-
timated differences, based on the assays of the mill
headings and tailings, indicate a saving by the process
as now in operation, with combined mechanical concen-
tration and cyanidation, of 90V of the gold and silver
values. This is an improvement, without increased
cost, over the old milling process heretofore in use. The
company's Sirena mine has many years of ore in sight.
On the fifth level below the main tunnel, at a depth of
1200 feet from the surface outcrop of the vein, the ore
bodies have developed widths of from 20 to 100 feet.
The mine and mill are operated by electricity furnished
by the Guanajuato Power & Electric Co.
Cliiliuuliuil.
R. B, Hutchinson, general manager of the Concbeno
mine, near Ocampo. states that his company has decided
to increase the capacity of the present 60-ton cyanide
plant at the min. is to 100 ions daily. An electric power
plant is also planned.
Julia 00.
The Mexican-Union M. Co., operating in the Ayutla
district, is enlarging tho 35-ton reduction plant at tho
Soquite Prieto mine to take care of Increased produc-
tion. This capacity will be doubled. W. H. Lees is
manager.
Suiiora.
A lo-stamp mill and cyanide plant is to bo put up at
the Anita mine of the Magdalona M. & M. Co. at Llano.
Tho Yerkes G. M. Co. at Cajon de Amarillas, in tho
Altar district, is putting in an air compressor and
machine drills. A. H. Moore is developing a gold
property, 20 miles southwest of Llano. At Toledo the
Yaqui River S. & R, Co. are putting in a new reverbera-
tory furnace which will have a daily capacity of 100 tons
of calcined ore or sixty tons of raw. V. S. Oliver,
manager of the Tucabo mine, in the Magdalena district,
beyond the Santo Domingo river, has resumed opera-
tions. The 110-foot shaft will be sunk an additional 100
feet and 400 feet away a 3-compartment vertical shaft
will be sunk. 1. R. Magruder has let a contract for
sinking a new shaft upon the Yeso mine, near Las
Cruces, and a new mill has been ordered for the prop-
erty. It will have a daily capacity of thirty tons of ore
and will be a dry crusher and chlorination process.
NORWAY.
The British consul reports regarding the Sulitjelma
copper mines that 1400 men were employed and 80,000
tons of ore were produced in 1904. Of this amount about
64,000 tons of copper pyrites, containng 45% sulphur
and 3'j% to 4J% copper, were exported, and also 15,000
tons of ore for smelting. A wire rope tramway 4 miles
long was built to the Jakobsbakken mine. Various other
improvements have been effected, including a smelting
house in which a new process is to be used. This pro-
cess effects a saving in coke, and may be described as a
direct application of the Bessemer process to the ore.
The Alten Copper Works in Finmarken and the
Kra?ngenan mine have employed 360 men. Copper ore
has been produced containing 390 tons of copper. The
Bossmo pyrites mine in Moi Ranen produced 26,100 tons
of pyrites containing 49.5% or 50% sulphur, and em-
floyed 240 men. The Roros Copper Works produced
B,000 tons smelting ore and 11,000 tons pyrites; 733 tons
of copper were sold during the year; 600 men are em-
ployed. For 1905 a production of 800 tons of copper and
13,112 tons of export pyrites is planned. The Killing-
da] mine, north of Roros, produced 14,000 tons pyrites
and employed 100 men. The Kjoli mine, near Roros,
has built an aerial tramway 10 miles long. The min-
ing of iron pyrites, principally for export, has increased
from 105,000 tons in 1900 to about 120,000 tons in 1904.
Italian sulphur,, which has hitherto been used in the
Norwegian sulphite-cellulose factories, is now being re-
placed by Norwegian pyrites. Twelve or thirteen thou-
sand tons of sulphur were formerly imported, but the
factories now build roasting ovens for Norwegian fine
pyrites, thereby saving about 5 kroners per ton of cellu-
lose. When all the factories have carried out this plan
the home consumption of pyrites is estimated to rise to
30,000 tons per year, as compared with 15,000 tons in
1904. The production of pyrites in 1905 is expected to
rise to about 160,000 tons on account of the workings at
Sulitjelma and Kjoli. Between 3000 and 3100 men were
employed in 1904 in the Norwegian copper ore mines,
and the gross value of the products, delivered at a Nor-
wegian port, amounted to £264,000.
*************************************
*
Commercial Paragraphs*
ft^iftifrtpipipipifrifr .f,.-j«t:..;F.*p..-f..f.<|&i3isfii$i(f.iJi*£i ;j-.*f.i;.^.lii$i.-ji.f.<|-.<(i.$i.^«
The new plant of the Vulcan Iron Works, Toledo,
Ohio, will cost $250,000.
Wm. Stephens is erecting a 100-stamp mill for the
Joshua Hendy Machine Works, of San Francisco, Cal.,
on the Alaska Perseverance mine, 4 miles from Redding,
Cal.
ROY D. Hunter, formerly manager of the Denver
branch of the Sullivan Machinery Co., has been made
general sales manager, with headquarters at the home
office, Railway Exchange building, Chicago. W. P. J.
Dinsmore succeeds Mr. Hunter as manager of the Denver
office.
The S. H. Supply Co., Denver, Colo., are furnishing
two complete air compressing plants to Clear Creek,
Colo., and Arizona. This company also reports sales of
the Wild mill, which they are manufacturing, as follows:
Two No. 2 mills to Idaho and No. 2 and No. 3 mills to
Mexico.
At the Lewis & Clark Exposition at Portland, Or.,
the Byron Jackson Machine Works, 411 Market St.,
San Francisco, Cal., has a working model of
what is stated to be the largest high-head series
centrifugal pump in the world, now in operation at
Grants Pass, Or. The pump has a capacity of 10,000
gallons per minute, is designed for 500-foot lift and
tested to a working pressure of 250 pounds. The model
illustrates the method of creating artificial pressure at
the nozzle, discharging through a giant against the
bank of a miniature placer mine.
The new Ingersoll-Rand Co., which was recently
incorporated for $10,000,000, will open offices on the
fourteenth floor of the Bowling Green Building, 11
Broadway, New York City, early in August. The main
offices of the Ingersoll-Sergeant Co., for years in the
Havemeyer Building at 26 Cortlandt Street, New York
City, and the offices of the Rand Drill Co., at 128 Broad-
way, will be moved to the new location. By reason of
the consolidation of these two important enterprises the
Ingersoll-Rand Co. will start with a larger and more
widely distributed patronage, and a greater manufac-
turing capacity in the combined plants," in the rock drill
and air compressor business.
The Pelton Water Wheel Co. of San Francisco and
New York has a contract for a water wheel installation
for D. J. Aguirre & Co. of Topic, Mexico. Tho head
available is 175 feet, the plant consists of two Pelton
wheel units of 700 H. P. capacity each, direct connected to
300 revolutions per minute General Electric generators,
also two Pelton whoel units for driving exciters.
Sturgess oil type governors will be used. Pelton wheels
are universally employed at the sugar plantation of
Aguirre & Co., there being six wheels at present em-
ployed for driving heavy sugar rolls by means of direct
connection, machine 6hops, electric lighting plant, etc.
The company reports that their export trade has in-
creased in the past year, and that they bave made- largo
shipments to Central and South America, Japan and the
Straits Settlements.
I *
I Personal.
»»***iM-'H-M»ftiW
M>»*<M»*1> •t-'M-****** * \
A. Crown is manager Fannie Barret mine, near Alma,
Colo.
R. C. Gemmel has returned to Salt Lake City, Utah,
from Mexico.
W. E. THORNEis manager Snowstorm Hydraulic Co.,
near Fairplay, Colo.
E. K. Austin is general manager Yellow Mountain M.
Co., near Ophir, Colo.
James Real is superintendent Suffolk M. Co. 's mine
and mill at Ophir, Colo.
S. L. Ropes has been made superintendent Bald Butte
mine, near Helena, Mont.
A. M. Friend of Marshalltown, Iowa, is in Colorado
inspecting his mining properties.
F. M. Perkins has taken the management Beztan
mines, Huetama, Michoacan, Mexico.
J. WHiTEhas been appointed superintendent Ferris-
Haggarty mine at Encampment, Wyo.
James Cusick of Lead, S. D.> has been made superin-
tendent Ethel mine, near Rochford, S. D.
G. A. Treadwell of New York City has been
inspecting mines in Yavapai county, Ariz.
Chas. Dobler takes charge as superintendent Fair-
view mine, Pappoose, Trinity county, Cal.
Oliver Eldredge of Alma, Colo., is manager Ling
and Wheeler mines near Montgomery, Colo.
W. E. Connelly has resigned as superintendent
Ferris-Haggarty mine at Encampment, Wyo.
Richard Lloyd has been examining mines in the
San Francisco mining district, Mohave county, Ariz.
T. E. Schwarz of Denver, Colo., has returned there
from a trip to the London mine in Park county, Colo.
J. M. Philips, superintendent Rincon mine, near
Martinez, Ariz., has returned from a visit to Lodi, Cal.
Frank Caenahan has been made manager Cia Met-
allurgica Mexicana at Sierra Mojado, Coahuila, Mexico.
J. A. Kirby of Salt Lake City, Utah, has been chosen
superintendent Montana-Tonopah mine at Tonopah,
Nev.
Mont Tong has been appointed general manager St.
Paul M. Co. in Green Lake mountain, near Georgetown,
Colo.
Nathan Gregg, Sr., has returned to Denver, Colo.,
from an inspection of mining properties in Park county,
Colo.
O. TROJENOWSKY of Wallace, Idaho, has charge of
building a mill at Tin City, Cape Prince of Wales,
Alaska.
H. E. Lees is superintendent Creede United M. Co.'s
mines at Creede, Colo. L. H. Norton is mill superin-
tendent.
J. C. George of Milwaukee, Wis., interested in the
Snowstorm Hydraulic Co. at Fairplay, Colo., is at the
property.
W. J. Sharwood of Berkeley, Cal., has gone to the
cyanide department of the Homestake mine at Lead
City, S. D.
C. A. Bohn has been appointed manager Santa Rosa-
lia smelter of the Enciniilas M. Co. at Santa Rosalia, Chi-
huahua, Mexico.
H. C. Archer has resigned as superintendent Rising
Star mine of the Bully Hill M. & S. Co. at De Lamar,
Shasta county, Cal.
W. C. Off and Dr. S. B. Prevost of Kansas City,
Mo., are looking after mining interests in Summit
county, Colo.
P. S. Cauldrey has been made manager Le Roi Two
mine at Rossland, B. C, succeeding Ernest Levy, who
has returned to London.
John Treweeke has been appointed general super-
intendent Belle of Thunder Mountain and Sunnyside
mines at Roosevelt, Idaho.
W. K. Jewett of Colorado Springs, Colo., and R. M.
Gummere of South Bethlehem, Pa., have been in Alma,
Colo., looking after mining interests.
W. A. Prichard, late West Australian partner of
Messrs. Bewick, Moreing & Co., has opened offices at
681-682 Salisbury House, London Wall, E. O, for prac-
tice as consulting mining engineer and metallurgist.
85
Mining and Scientific Press.
July 29, 1905.
Books Received* |
The practicing analyst will find a useful working man-
ual in "Western Mill and Smelter Methods ot Analy-
sis," by P. H. Argall. It has been written as a
laboratory handbook for the assayer and chemist and
describes the methods of analysis in every day use in
mills, smelters and cyanide plants. The contents include
chapters on standard solutions, slag analysis, ores, coal
and coke and daily work in the cyanide process, together
with valuable hints on refinery and laboratory methods.
The author has selected the methods in general use,
those, that have been standardized, as it were, by the
titration of experience. His language is concise and to
the point, facilitating rapid and accurate determination.
The synopsis of cyanide methods is complete and practi-
cal. The book is not an indiscriminate collection of un-
tried methods. It is less complete than the ordinary
manual which usually presents many alternative meth-
ods. But the processes given have been refined by the
tests of experience and will help the busy assayer. It is
published by the Industrial Printing & Publishing Co.
of Denver, Colo., and will be sent postpaid by the Min-
ing and Scientific Press upon receipt of price, $1.50.
The fourth bi-monthly bulletin of the American Insti-
tute of Mining Engineers contains a number of interest-
ing papers on the manufacture of iron, including
supplementary data by James Gayley on "The Applica-
tion of the Dry-Air Blast to the Manufacture of Iron,"
discussions on the same paper by J, W. Richards and
T. W. Robinson and a paper by J. P. Roe on "The
Manufacture and Characteristics of Wrought Iron."
A. H. Brooks writes on "The Outlook for Coal Mining
in Alaska," giving a summary of investigated and re-
ported occurrences. Geology is represented by W. P.
Blake's paper on "Origin of Orbicular and Concretion-
ary Structure " and Ed. Halse's paper on "The Occur-
rence of Pebbles, Concretions and Conglomerate in
Metalliferous Veins." The former paper is based on the
study of a white volcanic tufa from Tucson, Ariz ; the
latter is a description of the occurrence of a water-worn
conglomerate in a gold-bearing vein in the Remedios
district, Antioquia, Colombia, South America, which,
the author argues, was formed in situ by the flow of
water in the vein itself. J. F. Kemp describes "The
Copper Deposits at San Jose, Tamaulipas, Mexico," a
study of the contact effect of a diorite-porphyry-lacco-
lith intrusive in a fine-grained, bluish limestone. T. H.
Oxnam contributes a detailed statement of conditions,
methods and costs in "Cyaniding Silver-Gold Ores of
the Palmarejo Mine, Chihuahua, Mexico." The system
of wet crushing, concentration and cyanidation has suc-
cessfully replaced dry crushing, roasting and pan amal-
gamation. A. H. Bromley writes of "Tin Mining and
Smelting at Santa Barbara, Mexico," and G. T. Wickes
on "A Machine for Drawing Coke From Bee-Hive
Ovens."
The working geologist's library receives a valuable ad-
dition in Arthur Lake's "Geology of Western Ore
Deposits." The author introduces his subject by an
exposition of general features of mining geology. This
is logically presented and clear cut in statement,
although at times more detail would give a better com-
prehension of conditions. Posiiive statements are fre-
quent, which are valuable to the student if they are not
subject to successful contradiction. He gives a practical
account of tbe historical geology of the Rocky moun-
tains that is intelligible to one ignorant of tbe fine points
of paleontology. Igneous rocks are described briefly,
the manner of vein formation is described in accordance
with generally accepted standards, and includes a de-
scription of tbe principal ores of the useful metals. Lit-
tle new material is introduced, but the author gives an
intelligent resume of tbe results of geological mining re-
search of the past decade. The results of his own pains-
taking work are more fully exemplified in accounts of
the important mining districts of Colorado, as illustrat-
ing the principles outlined in the preceding chapters.
This section is probably the most valuable in the book,
for from it one gains in condensed form an understand-
ing of Colorado's mineral occurrences. The author is
undoubtedly well acquainted with this subject, somewhat
of a contrast, it must be confessed, with regard to his
statements concerning other examples of Western ore
deposits. The Homestake mine of South Dakota is dis-
missed with twelve words in this section. The State of
Arizona receives two pages of text. This may be ex-
cusable on account of lack of space, but not so the state-
ment that "the Mother Lode extends from Mount
Ophir, in Mariposa county, to Mokelumne Hill, in Cala-
veras county, or over 70 miles," utterly ignoring the fact
of its occurrence in Amador county, which at present
contains its largest producers. The occurrence of sand-
stone and serpentine with the cinnabar deposits of the
Coast range is not specially mentioned, although many
accessories are named. These misstatements were
found only after a searching examination and may be
regarded as a few flaws in what is, in the aggregate, a
good specimen, well worth the careful attention of the
mining man. It might better have been called "The
Geology of Colorado Ore Deposits." A good feature of
the book is tbe ample illustration from the author's pen-
cil which accentuates the important geological princi-
ples. It is published by Kendrick Book & Stationery
Co., Denver, Colo., and will be sent postpaid by the
Mining and Scientific Press on receipt of $2.50.
1 Obituary, §
* *
Edward W. Nash, president of the American Smelt-
ing & Refining Co., died in Omaha, Neb., July 22, from
the effects of a stroke of paralysis sustained May 22.
* t
I Trade Treatises* |
* «■
>fc if, <p <fi 1$. if. (p. <£ iji if, if. if, if, if. if, if. iftif. if. if. if. if. if, if if if. if. if. if, if. if. if if. if. if, if #
Bulletin No. 55, of the Crocker-Wheeler Co. of
Ampere, N. J., illustrates and describes small generators
arranged for direct connection.
Haeseler " Axial Valve " hammers are depicted in con-
struction and in use in Form 6 of the Ingersoll-Sergeant
Drill Co., 26 Cortlandt street, New York City.
Aerial tramways are attractively pictured and detailed
in a neat brochure from the Vulcan Iron Works of San
Francisco, Cal. Both double and single-rope tramways
are illustrated.
" Progressive West" is the title of anew magazine
devoted to the development of the material resources of
the western country. It is edited by Mrs. M. Garwood
and is published at Reno, Nevada.
Latest Market Reports.
San Francisco, July 28, 1905.
Silver. — Per oz., Troy: London, 27 ^d (standard
ounce, 925 fine); New York, bar silver, 58;c, refined (1000
fine); San Francisco, 58|c; Mexican dollars, 47c, San
Francisco; 45Jc, New York.
Copper.— New York: Standard, $15.12J; Lake, 1 to 3
casks, $15.12i@15.25; Electrolytic, 1 to 3"casks, $15.25;
Casting, 1 to 3" casks, $14.50@14.75. San Francisco: $16.00.
Mill copper plates, $17.00; bars, 18@24c. London:
£67 15s spot per ton.
Lead.— New York, $4.60; Salt Lake City, $3.50; St.
Louis, $4.42£; San Francisco, $3.70, carload lots; 4|c 1000
to4000ibs.; pipe 6Jc, sheet 7, bar 5|c; pig, $4.85. Lon-
don: £14 $ long ton.
Spelter. — New York, $5.50; St. Louis, $5.18; Lon-
don, £23 15s ^ ton; San Francisco, ton lots, 6Jc; 100-ft
lots, 7c.
Tin.— New York, pig, $32.95@33.15; San Francisco, ton
lots, 31Jc; 500 lbs., 32c; 200 fts., 32Jc; less, 33}c; bar tin,
1 ib., 35@37£e. London, £150 15s.
Platinttm.— San Francisco, crude, $18.50 $ oz.; New
York, ingot, $20.50 f, Troy oz. Platinum ware, 75@$1.00
f: gram.
Quicksilver.— New York, $41.00@$41.50, large lots;
London, £7 7s 6d; San Francisco, local, $38.50@39.00 f(
flask of 75 lbs.; Denver, $42.00.
Babbitt Metal. — San Francisco, No. 1, 10c; No.
2, 7c; No. 3, 6Jc; extra, 17Jc; genuine, 32Jc; Eclipse, 35c.
Solder.— Half-and-half, 100-tt>. lots, 22.00c; San Fran-
cisco, Plumbers', 100-S). lots, 18.50c.
Zinc. — Metallic, chemically pure, f. ft., 50c; dust, <jftft.,
10c; sulphate, f, lb, .04c.
Nickel.— New York, 55@60c$ft.; ton lots, 40@47e.
Aluminum.— New York, No. 1, 99% pure ingots, 35c;
No. 2, 90%, 31@34c.
Aluminum.— No. 1, 99%, small lots, 37c $ ft.; 100 fts..
35c; 1000 lbs. 34c; ton lots and over, 33c, Pittsburg. No,
2, 90%, small lots, 34c; ton lots and over, 31c, Pittsburg.
STRDOTDKAI MATERIALS.
Iron. — Pittsburg, Bessemer pig, $15.60; gray forge,
$16.00; San Francisco, bar, 3c fi ft., 3Jc in small quan-
tities.
Steel.— Bessemer billets, Pittsburg, $23.00@$23.00;
open hearth billets, $23.00@$23.00; San Francisco, bar,
7c to 12c $1 ft.
White Lead. — Per ft., in kegs: 500 fts. and over at
one purchase, per ft., 7Jc; less than 500 fts., per ft., 8c;
in 25-ft. tin pails, Je ^ lb. above keg price; in 1 and 5-ft.
tin cans, 100 lbs. per case, Jc per ft. above keg price.
Dry Lead. — In bbls., 1 ton and over, 6Jc; do. in kegs, 7c.
Lime.— Santa Cruz, $1.25 country, $1.25 city fl bbl.
Cement.— Imported, $2.15@2.65 $ bbl.; California,
carload lots, $1.90 f. o. b. at works; small lots, $2.20 $
bbl. in sacks, 4 sacks to bbl., 5c for each sack returned.
Lumber.— (Retail): Pine, ordinary sizes, $24.00®
5.00; extra sizes higher; redwood, $28.00@30.00; lath, 4
feet, $4.50@5.00; pickets, $21.00;shingles, $2.50 for No. 1,
and $2.25 for No. 2; shakes, $13.50 for split and $15.00 for
sawed; rustic, $28.00(5)35.00.
Nails. — This week the basic prices are: Wire, $2.77:
Cut, $3.25. Meanwhile the nominal quotations per keg
(list prices) are: No. 20d to 60d, Wire, $3.35; Cut, $3.55
lOd to 16d, Wire, $3.45; Cut, $3.35; 8d, Wire, $3.50; Cut
$3.50; 6d and 7d, Wire, $3.60; Cut, $3.60; 4d and 5d
Wire, $3.70; Cut, $3.70; 3d, Wire, $3.85; Cut, $3.85; 2d,
Wire, $4.10; Cut, $4.10. Special rates for carload lots.
GENERAL SUPPLIES.
Antimony. — New York, Cookson's, 12c; Hallett's,
13c; San Francisco, 1000-ft. lots, lie; 300@500-ftc. 12c;
100-ft. lots, 13c.
Coal. — San Francisco, coast, yard prices : Welling-
ton, $8.00; Seattle, $6.50; Coos Bay, $5.50; Southfield,
$8.00. Cargo lot, Eastern and foreign: Wallsend, $7.50;
Brymbo, $7.50; Pennsylvania, hd., $14.00; Scotch, $8.00;
Cumberland, $13.00; Cannel, $8.50; Welsh Anthracite,
$13.00; Rock Springs, $8.50, long ton; Colorado Anthra-
cite, $14.00. Coke, $10.50 per ton in bulk, $13.00 in
sacks; Sunnyside, $8.50, long ton.
Powder. — F. o. b. San Francisco : No. 1, 70% nitro-
glycerine, per lb., in carload lots, 15Jc; less than one ton,
17Jc. No. ]*, 60%, carload lots, 13Jc; less than one ton,
15Jc. No. 1**, 50%, carload lots, life; less than one ton,
13§c. No. 2, 40%, carload lots, 10c; less than one ton,
12c. No. 2, 35%, carload lots, 9Jc; less than one ton,
lljc. No. 2**, 30%, carload lots, 9c; less than one ton,
lie. Black blasting powder in carload lots, minimum
car 728 kegs, $1.50 per keg; less car lots, $2.00 per keg.
Caps.— 3x, $5.50@6 per 1000; 4x, $6.50@7; 5x, $8@8.50;
Lion, $9@9.50, in lots not less than 1000.
Fuse.— Triple tape, $4.00 per 1000 feet; double tape,
$3.50; single tape, $3.10; Hemp, $2.75; Cement No. 2,
$3.00; Cement No. 1, $2.65, in lots of 3000 and up.
Candles.— Granite 6s, 16 oz., 40s., lie $ set; 14 Oz.,
40s., 9|c.
Chemicals.— Cyanide of potassium, 98%-99%, job-
bing, 23@24c f, ft.; carloads, 23@23Jc; in tins, 30c; soda
ash, $2.00 $ 100 fts.; hyposulphite of soda, 3@3Jc $1 ft.;
caustic soda, in drums, 3@3|c$ft.; Cal. s. soda, bbls.,
$1.10@1.20 fslOOlbs.; sks., 90c@$1.00; chlorate of pot-
ash, 12@13c; nitrate of potash, 6|@7c; caustic potash,
10c in 40-tt>. tins; roll sulphur, 2J@2jc; powdered sul-
phur, 2J-@2Jc; flour sulphur, French, 2|@ — c; alum,
$2.00@2.25; California refined, l^@2c; sulphide of iron,
8c <|ft ft.; copper sulphate, 5}@5|c; chloride of lime, spot,
$2.50@2.75; sulphuric acid, in carboys, 66% B, l|@2c fi
ft. ; nitric acid, carboys, 8c f> ft.
Oils. — Linseed, boiled, bbl., 64c; cs., 69c; raw, bbl.,
62c; cs., 67c; Lucol oil, boiled, bbl., 56c: cs., 61c; raw-
bbl., 54c: cs., 59c. Kerosene — Pearl, per gal., 17$c; As-
tral, 17Jc; Star, 17,tc; Extra Star, 20Jc; Eocene, 19Jc;
Elaine, 26c; Water "White, in bulk, lie; Mineral Seal,
iron bbls., 18c; wooden bbls., 20Jc; cs., 24c; Mineral
Sperm, cs., 26Jc; Deodorized Stove Gasoline, bulk, 14£c,
do., cs., 21c; "86° Gasoline, bulk, 25c; do., cs., 31c; 83°
Naphtha or Benzine, deodorized, in bulk, per gal., 12Jc;
do., in cs., 19c; Lard Oil, E. W. S., bbl., 75c; cs., 80c;
Neats-foot Oil, pure, bbl., 63c; cs., 78c; Sperm, crude,
63@68c: Natural White, 68c; Bleached, do., 57c; Whale
Oil, cs.. 52@67c.
Borax. — Concentrated, 6@7c f, ft; powdered, 8@10c;
fused, 20@25c; crystal, 7e; calcined, 25c.
Bone Ash.— Extra No. 1, 5@6c $ ft; No. 1, 4@5c.
Litharge. — Pure, in 25-ft. bags, 8@9c $ ft.
Molybdenum.— Best, $2.75 fi ft.
Chromium.— 90% and over, f, ft., 80c.
Uranium.— Oxide, f. ft., $3.50.
Mercury.— Bichloride, $ ft., 77c.
Tungsten.— Best, $ lb., $1.25.
Phosphorus.— American, $ ft., 70c.
Sodium.— Metal, f, ft., 50c.
Red Lead. — 500 fts. and over at one purchase, $ ft.
7Jc; less than 500 lbs., 8c.
Manganese. — Black oxide, "§, ft., 2J@4c.
Magnesium.— Pure, N. Y., $1.60.
Bismuth.— Subnitrate, "§, lb., $2.10.
Silver.— Chloride, 1ft oz., 90c@$1.00; nitrate, 55c.
Fire Brick. — Domestic, carloads B 1000, f. o. b., fac-
tory square, $25.00; soap and split, $22.50; arch and
wedge, $27.50; skewback, $30.00; circle, $32.00.
Fire Clay. — Domestic, K ton 2000 fts. in 125-ft. bags,
double, and dry ground, f. o. b., factory, $8.50.
New Patents.
Dewey, Strong &Co.'s Scientific Press Patent Agency, 330
Market street, San Francisco, has official repprts of the following
United States patents issued to Pacific Coast inventors :
FOB THE WEEK ENDING JULY 14, 1905.
794,834.-
794,837.-
Cal.
795,017.
784,918.-
794,925.-
795,105.-
794,928.-
794,931.-
795,112.-
795.034.-
794.797.-
794,801.-
794,714 -
794,865.-
795,137.-
794,871.-
795,018.-
791,875.-
794,733.-
795,161.-
795,162 -
795,231.-
794,883.-
794,884.-
794,948.-
795 176.-
794,958.-
794,950.-
794,963.-
795,084.-
794,706.-
-Pump Piston— R. Addison, Pomona, Cal.
-Roasting Furnace— Anker, Watson & Evans, Los Angeles,
-Steam Motor— F. S. Barkelew, Los Angeles, Cal.
-Chart Cabinet— L. O. Bisang, S. F.
-Garment Holder—.!. W. Cairns. San Mateo, Cal.
-FURNACE P'eeder-W. H. Curtis, Portland, Or.
-Concentrator— W. G. Dodd, S. F.
-Water Heater— M. Flatland, S. F.
-Safety Elevator— R. H. Gaylord, Pasadena, Cal.
-Drum— G Harris. S. F.
-Tool Holder— P. Hawkinson, Astoria, Or.
-Harvester— B. Holt, Stockton, Cal.
-Ore Grinder-F. J. Hoyt, Redlands, Cal.
-Spirit Level— P. Kaufmann, Portland, Or.
-Signal System— F. V. King, Winslow, Ariz.
-Wheel Adhesion— R. Lowry, Seattle, Wash.
-Book Holder— W. Maguire. Bisbee, Ariz.
-Sewing Machine- R. H. Moore, S. F.
-Retaining Ring— M. C. Neuner, Los Angeles, Cal.
-Gas Generator— J. J. Nix. Los Angeles, Cal,
Gate— A. Noe, Tacoma, Wash.
-Car Coupling - F. H. Norwood, Pasadena, Cal.
-Basket— M. L. Porter, Redding, Cal.
-Fruit Gatherer— M. L. Porter, Redding, Cal.
-Luggage Carrier— J .1. Richard, Pasadena, Cal.
■Fire Apparatus— S. A. A. Stenberg, S. F.
Dredger Box— C M. Symonds. S. F.
-Indicator— C. H. Townsend. Berkeley, Cal.
Knitting Machine— G. D. Whitcomb. Glendora, Cal.
Denture— L. L. White, Portland, Or.
Engine Boilers— T. M. Wilkins, Seattle, Wash.
Notices of Recent Patents.
Among the patents recently obtained through Dewey, Strong &
Co.'s Scientific Press United States and Foreign Patent Agency,
the following are worthy of special mention :
Pneumatic Ophthalmic-Chart Cabinet.— No. 794,918. July 18,
1905. Louis O. Bisang, San Francisco, Cal. This invention relates
to an apparatus especially designed for use in connection with
optical practitioners. It consists of a polygonal drum turnable upon
a shaft upon which it is carried and a pneumatically actuated de-
vice by which the drum may be advanced to expose its sides suc-
cessively, said sides having characters marked thereon which are
designed to test the condition of a patient's eye.
Indicator and advertiser.— No. 794,950. July 18, 1905 Chas.
H. Townsend, Berkeley, Cal. This invention relates to a device
comprising endless movable belts and a mechanism by which said
belts are driven at different rates of speed. It is designed to provide
a movable indicator with figures or characters which are suc-
cessively presented for inspection, and in conjunction therewith a
second movable belt adapted t" carry advertising or other matter
and which is moved in uni-on with the indicating belt. In conjunc-
tion with this is an alarm whenever the indicator is moved to call
attention theieto. The device is especially useful in barbers' shops
nr other places where a line of customers may be waiting to indicate
l he next in turn. It consists of a plurality of belts, independent
drums around which said belts pass, mechanism by which the belts
are advanced and a front through which the characters of each are
exposed; means for removing belts arjd drums, said means compris-
ing slotted bearings in which the shafts of the drums are turnable,
and elastic sections in tbe belts whereby said belts may be extended
to allow the drum shafts to be lifted from their bearings.
Garment Holder— No 794,925. July, 18, 1905. John W. Cairns,
San Mateo, Cal. This invention relates to a holder, and especially
to a device for holding cuffs, collars and other light articles of ap-
parel and which also comprises a receptacle for collar buttons,
studs and other things. Its object is to provide a simple, attractive,
inexpensive and practical device of this character. The device
comprises a tubular holder having means at one end for attachment
to a support, said holder having one end partially closed whereby
the interior of the holder is normally accessible and serves as a re-
ceptacle for collar buttons and the like, said holder having garment-
supporting means on its periphery.
Whole No. 2350.-v°LuKcl-
San Francisco, Cal., Saturday, August 5, 1905.
THREE DOLLARS PER ANNUM.
Single Copiot, Ten Canti.
Development of a Prospect.
The past two years has seen greater activity on
the deserts of southern Nevada than before in many
years. The rich strikes at Tonopah, Goldfield, Bull-
frog and in other districts have attracted men of
every nationality and every condition in life to the
wastes of rocks and sand in that desert region. Many
of these had little knowledge of mining, or none at all,
when they first reached the region of the mines, but
they went into the hills like their more experienced
companions, and, trusting to luck, as the greater
number of them did, located any reef of rocks which
seemed more prominent than those of the immediate
vicinity, or which showed the stain of iron oxides or
copper carbonate.
The outcome of those chance locations resulted
sometimes in discoveries of mineral wealth where
more experienced miners would scarcely have looked,
simply because the
conditions were
somewhat differ-
ent from the ordi-
nary.
In many in-
stances these gold
and silver-bearing
veins are unlike
those in other re-
gions, being found
almost wholly in
volcanic rocks,
such as rhyolite
and andesitic
rocks of various
kinds. Mineral
deposits found in
these formations
are wholly differ-
ent in appearance
from those occur-
ring in slates and
schists or other
sedimentary rocks
or in granite or
green stone. I n
these latter in-
stances the distin-
guishing features
of the outcrop are
usually a defined
vein of white or
mineral-s t a i n e d
massive or ribbon-
like quartz. In the volcanic rocks there are also
defined veins, but usually the outcrop is on a
zone of fracture, shearing and mineralization which
gradually passes over to the normal country rock.
There are many of these zones of fracture and
mineralization in the desert region, but not all of
them are valuable for their precious metal contents.
Some contain only iron oxides, with little or no silver
or gold. These worthless " blowouts, " as they are
sometimes called, look much the same as the most
valuable of the mines discovered under similar condi-
tions. It is merely a question of values, and these
cannot always be determined without assay, as was
the case at Tonopah.
When a find of one of these reefs is made by the
prospector his first move is to pile up a heap of rocks
which he dignifies by the term monument. In this he
places a folded location notice, claiming all the law
permits, and often more. The next step is usually
the location of adjoining land, to take in the extensions
of the original location.
He next proceeds to.locate additional claims on all
sides for "protection" against possible legal trou-
bles later on, and to make sure that nothing is over-
looked. Following these precautionary measures
work is commenced at the most favorable sppt on
the group of claims, and strangely subsequent devel-
opment usually justifies the initial judgment of the
prospector — and this applies to experienced, as well
as inexperienced men. It is rarely that there are
more than two or three, or at most half a dozen, very
valuable pay shoots in one small district, and some of
the greatest mines of the Southwest are practically
alone, isolated from all other mineral districts and
locally limited in extent.
Almost universally the first machine placed on a
mine is a windlass. Some of the greatest mines of
the world in their prospective stage have been so
equipped. In fact, where a shaft is required it is the
only rational device for hoisting inexpensively from
moderate depth. The simple windlass is often fol-
lowed by a whim, in which horse power is usually
employed. Shafts are not infrequently sunk 200 feet
or more with a device of this kind, though where the
A Noted California Mine.
The Champion-Providence Mine, Near Nevada City, Cal.
mine promptly proves up well under development, a
steam, electric or gas engine hoist is installed. It is
not uncommon to see a modern hoisting plant going
in on a mine not over 40 feet deep. The limitation is
a depth of shaft which will be sufficient to afford rea-
sonable security from the flying rocks when blasting.
Occasionally such energy is shown in equipment that
the hoist is in place and the headframe built and
under roof when it is still necessary to cover the
collar of the shaft with a bulkhead of timbers to keep
the flying rocks from tearing holes through the roof
of the shaft house.
The devices employed by miners in reducing the
amount and cost of manual labor about a new mine
are ingenious and interesting, and some of these have
been previously illustrated. The engraving on page
90 is representative of the first stage in the develop-
ment of a claim near Goldfield, Nev., which may in time
become a noted mine. The greatness of a mine cannot
always be predicted from the surface outcrop.
Mines, generally speaking, are made, not found. It
not infrequently requires years of active and ex-
pensive developments and metallurgical experiment
before a mine can be considered great from a finan-
cial as well as a mechanical point of view.
Mining, which for more than fifty years has been
vigorously prosecuted in the region adjacent to Grass
Valley and Nevada City, Nevada county, California,
had done much for the industry in an educational
way, as well as producing many millions of dollars in
gold from the mines. Many of the mines of these dis-
tricts have become noted through long years of con-
tinued prosperity. For years the Idaho mine at
Grass Valley was a famous producer. It was event-
ually closed down, but it has recently been reopened,
and there is promise that it will again become a pro-
ducer. The history of the Idaho is practically that of a
great many other mines of the district. Some of the
most important properties have had many "ups and
downs." A season of prosperity has at times been
followed by one of adversity, but in most instances a
mine which has at one time been a profitable pro-
ducer has again
become so when
vigorously worked
under competent
management.
The Champion
c o n s o 1 i dation is
one of the noted
groups of mines
near Nevada City.
It comprises the
Champion, Merri-
field, Wyoming,
Providence and
Nevada City
mines, besides a
number of others.
At present a por-
tion of the prop-
erty is tied up by
litigation with the
Home Co., the dis-
pute involving
some interesting
points in the law
of apex and extra-
lateral rights. Al-
though a consider-
able area of valu-
able ground is idle
through this suit,
the property is
being vigorously
worked in other
portions of it. A
long drift has been run from the Champion into the
Nevada City, and a good vein of mill rock opened up,
and in other places good ore is being mined. On the
surface some tributers are mining the outcrop and
gathering the float rock, hauling it to mill, and are
said to be doing very well by the venture. The
accompanying engraving illustrates the surface im-
provements. At the extreme right is the hoist
building over the Merrifield shaft, which is down
1600 feet on the incline. The building adjoining it on
the left is the chlorination works, not at present in
operation. The next building is the shaft house of
the Champion mine. This shaft, also an incline, is
down 2400 feet. Near this hoist is the old mill of
thirty stamps. Between these buildings is seen the
pipe line, which crosses the creek on a bridge. At
the farther end of the bridge is the hoist of the
Providence mine, not shown in the engraving. The
large building on the left of the picture is the new
40-stamp mill, and just above it, a little to the left,
is the original Wyoming shaft. To the right of the
mill is seen the mouth of the drain tunnel, which is in
nearly 5000 feet, draining the Nevada City to a depth
of several hundred feet. The present workings of
the Nevada City are far below this level.
87
Mining and Scientific Press.
August 5, 1905.
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
ESTABLISHED i860.
Published Every Saturday at 330 Market Street, San Francisco, Cal.
Telephone, Davis 771.
ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION.
Unltea States, Mexico and Canada 13 00
All Other Countries In the Postal Union ■ ■ ■ ° 00
Entered at the San Francisco Postoffice as second-class mail matter.
Branch Offices:
New York City, 921-24 Park Row Bldg. Boston, 27 School St.
Chicago, 1164 Monadnock Block. Denver, 606 Mack Block.
J. F. HALLORAN Publisher
SAN FRANCISCO, AUGUST 5, 1905.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
ILLUSTRATIONS: Page.
The Champion-Providence Mine, Near Nevada City, Cal 86
Amalgamating Tables— Section Showing Parts or Plates in
Place 89
Side View, Showing Drops in Plate 89
Tail Box and Mercury Trap 89
A Variation in Table Construction 89
Method of Constructing Table .'89
Development of a New Strike on the Desert 90
Inclined Shaft Continued to Hoist Level by Vertical Timbering . 91
Inclined Shaft Continued to Hoist on the Surface 91
Riveting in Pipe 94
Method of Supporting Pipe Line 94
Air Valve 94
Sluice Box and Method of Anchoring It 94
Useful Knots and How to Tie Them 96
EDITORIAL:
Development of a Prospect 86
A Noted California Mine 86
Ad Valorem Duty on Zinc 87
Cost Sheets 87
The Argentine Republic, S. A -. 87
The Base Metal Market 87
Graft in Mine Equipment 87
Incompetency of Hoisting Engineer 87
Rock Nomenclature 87
Innovations in Designing and Building 87
MINING SUMMARY 97-98-99-100
LATEST MARKET REPORTS 101
MISCELLANEOUS:
Concentrates 88
Amalgamating Tables 89
The Bingham Mining District, Utah 89
Vertical Shaft Sinking on the Witwatersrand, South Africa — 90
Value of Perfectly Transparent Quartz 90
The Ore Deposits of Mount Lyell 90
Sodium Cyanide in Practice 91
Location or a Hoisting Plant 91
Cyaniding Silver-Gold Ores of the Palmarej'o Mine, Chihuahua,
Mexico 92
The Prospector 93
The Amended Location Notice 93
Notes on Hydraulic Mining 94
Mining and Metallurgical Patents 95
Knots, Hitches and Bends 96
Personal 96
Obituary 96
Commercial Paragraphs 100
Books Received 101
Trade Treatises 101
New Patents 101
Notices of Recent Patents 101
THE recent placing of a 20% ad valorem duty on
zinc imported into this country is giving sub-
stantial aid to zinc producers of the United States,
the price of zinc ores having gone up materially since
the ruling of Secretary Shaw went into effect.
THE publication of cost sheets of mining and met-
allurgical operations have a beneficial effect on
those engaged in these industries, as they have a
tendency to stimulate a friendly rivalry, to bring
down the costs and to lessen extravagance in all de-
partments. The segregation of accounts also affords
an opportunity to locate excessive costs in the de-
partment where they occur should such exist.
I 'HE Argentine Republic of South America,
■*• concerning which numerous inquiries have been
made of late, is at present an agricultural and pas-
toral country, but it is said to possess great possibil-
ities in mining in the Andes, which lie along its
western border. As yet these mines are developed
only to a small extent, but, with the rapid settlement
of the country and the influx of American and Euro-
pean peoples, material progress in Argentina's min-
eral development may be expected.
THE strong tone of the base metal market speaks
■*■ well for the mining industry in America gener-
ally. Copper, lead and spelter are each showing an
upward tendency, and this in the face of increased
production. The great industrial activity in this
country and abroad absorbs the metal output as fast
as it reaches the markets, and prices are not only
maintained, but advance under the stimulus of strong
demand. Tin has not been as high as at present in
many years, but up to the present time the tin mines
of the United States have not yet reached a point
where they can take advantage of this condition.
Graft in Mine Equipment.
Mines are frequently equipped with expensive hoist-
ing and metallurgical plants which are either wholly
out of proportion with the available resources of the
mine, or entirely unsuited to the treatment of the
ore. Not uncommonly the owners and directors of
mines and mining companies have little or no knowl-
edge of the business of practical mining, and still less
of metallurgical plants and their operation. Such
men are likely to build a smelter on a dry ore mine,
or put in a gold mill to treat lead carbonate ores be-
cause they carry gold. From necessity, where the
directorate of a mining company realizes its lack of
technical knowledge, they naturally turn to the con-
sulting mining engineer for advice and assistance in
preparing proper plans and specifications for a suit-
able mining and reduction plant. In this engineer they
must have implicit confidence, or his services would
not be sought, but unfortunately the history of some
mining concerns proves that occasionally this confi-
dence is misplaced, and that the "consulting en-
gineer " employed is either grossly incompetent and
inexperienced, or that he is a "grafter," and some-
times both. On the other hand, the engineer may be
competent, but easily influenced, and, desirous of
securing a retainer, lends himself to the plans of an-
other, and recommends what he knows to be unsuited
to the requirements of the case, or, at least, that
which he is not sure will be entirely satisfactory,
trusting to some future turn of fortune's wheel for an
opportunity to set himself right — in other words, he
embraces an opportunity to experiment at the ex-
pense of his client.
In the manufacture and installation of mining equip-
ment there is often large profit, particularly where
the plant is extensive and the competition is not too
keen, and substantial proofs of the friendship exist-
ing between the manufacturer fortunate enough to
secure a good fat contract and the engineer who ad-
vises the purchase may sometimes pass. This prac-
tice, not at all uncommon in other industrial lines, has
resulted in its abuse by some.
Take as an instance a mining company owning a
valuable property, the ore of which is not free milling,
but which really requires considerable chemical and
metallurgical knowledge on the part of the consult-
ing engineer, who is called in in an advisory capacity,
to determine just what sort of plant would be best
suited to the reduction of this ore, assuming the
ore to be a sulphide, with several bases, but carrying
also good values in gold and silver. The engineer ad-
vises a stamp mill and an elaborate lixiviation plant.
The specifications are elaborate, and set forth in
detail each part of the machinery and specify certain
makes of mechanical devices which may run up the
cost unnecessarily. The investment required in this
plant would be large, but the possible commissions
coming to the engineer would help to sooth his
conscience, even though the entire plant must later
on be changed and remodeled at great expense to
suit it to the treatment of the ore.
Such grafting cannot but prove injurious to legiti-
mate mining. To avoid such results, the investors
should know that their engineer is competent to ad-
vise them properly, for in all probability there would
be just as much advantage to the engineer in advis-
ing a proper plant in the first place as in that which
ultimately proves to be useless for the purpose for
which it was intended. Many large plants, it would
seem, are ordered on insufficient investigation as to
their adaptability to the ore to be treated and to
surrounding conditions.
In one instance, the purchasing agent of an East-
ern corporation owning mines in the West made a
request for bids on a plant of certain description.
The engineer for the house assured the would-be pur-
chaser that the plant proposed was not at all suited
to the ore, but was told bluntly that it need not con-
cern him in the least; that the company had decided
to build a plant of that description, and if this house
did not care to furnish it they would go to those less
particular. As the machinery people were out for
business, they took the contract and built the plant,
but as had been said, it was not adapted to the ore
and it stands idle to-day.
and incompetency of the hoisting engineer, who was
immediately discharged. It seems unfortunate that
a human life should be sacrificed to make it apparent
that the hoisting engineer was incompetent. It is
certainly a part of the duty of the management of a
mine to know that a man appointed to so important
and responsible a position as that of hoisting engi-
neer, particularly when he must handle men, is com-
petent and experienced as an engineer of this class,
and also reliable as a man. The temperament and
disposition of a hoisting engineer is almost as impor-
tant as his ability as engineer.
Rock Nomenclature.
The widely divergent opinions of those high in
authority in geological science, and its several
branches, often render a clear understanding of what
is meant most difficult, if not impossible, to non-
technical readers, if not to the " Doctors " them-
selves. This is notably the case in rock nomencla-
ture. It is well known that rocks of certain groups
pass by gradual transition from one type to another,
the addition or absence of certain minerals, con-
ventionally determined as essential, making an im-
portant difference in the name. It is not infre-
quently possible to obtain from a single rock magma
half a dozen or more distinct classes of
rock, and yet, in the face of this knowledge,
the confusion, already more than sufficient, is being
increased by further hair-splitting determinations
until rock nomenclature is becoming so thoroughly
involved that it begins to look as though it would re-
quire the labors of an international congress of geolo-
gists and petrographical specialists to bring a sem-
blance of order out of the existing chaotic condition.
More than twelve years ago the late Dr. F. M.
Endlich, a noted mineralogist and geologist, said that
in a few years the microscope would cease to be em-
ployed as a means of rock determination, as by its
use confusion became more confused, and that the
transitions of rocks from one type to another, with
which all students of microscopic petrography are
familiar, would eventually result in rock classifica-
tion falling back upon chemical analysis as a means
of identification. It is scarcely probable that the
prophesy of this eminent scientist will be realized, if
for no other reason than the advantage the micro-
scope affords in the study of rock structure. It is
well known that certain rocks of nearly the same
chemical composition present a very different physi-
cal appearance, and under the microscope this differ-
ence is accentuated in even a greater degree.
If rock classification and nomenclature could be
simplified, instead of rendered more difficult, by the
creation of new and previously unheard of varieties
among rocks already commonly known by names suf-
ficiently definite and comprehensive, it would be
greatly appreciated by all concerned.
A CORONER'S JURY in Shasta county, Cal.,
found that a miner who was killed in the shaft
of a mine came to his death through the carelessness
ENGINEERS are not infrequently called upon to
undertake the designing and building of struc-
tures which call for innovations. When unusual
constructive features are introduced in these struc-
tures there is always the feeling that possibly the
novel construction is not all that the engineer believes
it to be — and a test is demanded, to prove the cor-
rectness of the engineer's theory and to demonstrate
that the structure is safe. Without doubt the test-
ing of new structures, whether built on new lines or
after ideas long in use, is necessary but, in numerous
instances, these structures are tested to their
destruction, being required to sustain loads or
undergo strains which never are equaled or approxi-
mated in working practice. When dams, arches, or
other structures are built, it is well to test them to
a reasonable extent, but not infrequently these tests
are carried far beyond the limit of safety, and usually
these structures, built on proper lines, are sufficiently
strong and would meet every requirement. Recently,
a reinforced concrete structure, which was not
designed nor required to carry any weight, was
loaded with sand for the purpose of test and the
entire structure collapsed. In Mexico a concrete
viaduct, built in a series of arches, was likewise
tested to its destruction. It would seem that tests
to determine the real capacity of an edifice or struc-
ture, or even so simple a thing as a rope, a timber,
or steel beam, might be applied without going beyond
the limits of rational demands for security.
August 5, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
[
CONCENTRATES.
The micas of commerce are muBcovite and phlogo-
pblte, the former being of more common occurrence.
Nickel and cobalt usually occur together, and
where one Is found at least a trace of the other is almost
sure to be found also.
The only mineral mined for commercial purposes
which contains titanium is rutilo. Its principal use is in
the manufacture of titanium oxide for coloring porce-
lain.
t T V V
The presence of metallic lead and alloys of lead, zinc,
etc., In amalgam, will lead to the belief before retorting
that the gold contents of tbo squeezed amalgam is much
greater than it really is.
wVVw
Danaite is a cobalt-bearing mUpickel When ex-
posed to natural oxidizing influences it usually becomes
coated with a pink efflorescence of erythrite or " cobalt
bloom," a hydrous cobalt arsenate.
Running ropes may be guided around curves by
placing alternately horizontal and vertical rollers, the
latter being slightly tapered, the greatest diameter be-
ing at the top, to prevent the rope working upward.
wwwv
Large rock breakers should be able to break rock
from a maximum size to a stated smaller size with less
expense than in a smaller machine of the same type. This
is a principle which is applicable to nearly every class of
ore reduction.
vvvv
The metals mostly used in steel hardening are chro-
mium, molybdenum, nickel, titanium, tungsten, uranium
and vanadium. Titanium is used only to a very limited
extent, other metals having been found to give more
satisfactory results.
WWW w
Monazite is an anhydrous phosphate of the rare
earth metals — cerium, lanthanum and didymium. It is
mined chiefly for its thoria contents, being obtained
from placers, both modern and ancient. It is obtained
in the same manner as gold, by sluicing.
WW WW
Metallic gold, when in very fine grains, or thin
sheets like gold leaf, is slightly soluble in a dilute solu-
tion of hyposulphite of soda. Metallic lead is not
affected. A moderately warm solution of sodium hypo-
sulphite is more active on most minerals than a boiling
hot solution. Silver sulphide is not soluble in the hypo
solution.
VwVw
It is impossible to estimate the value of an undevel-
oped mine by surveying the surface, though great mines
usually carry certain distinctive features which charac-
terize strong ore deposits everywhere. There are im-
portant exceptions, however, and valuable mines occa-
sionally underlie a surface that conveys little idea of the
value beneath.
VVVT
Garnet is a name employed to denote a group of
minerals which are closely related in both physical and
chemical properties. They are rather complex in com-
position, being silicates of alumina, with varying
amounts of lime, magnesia, iron, manganese, and other
metallic oxides, to which are due the various colors.
All garnets crystallize in the isometric system.
vvvw
An authority has placed the relative cost of the exca-
vation by hand of the various materials as follows:
Hard rock, 1.2 to 1.5; medium hard rock, 0.75 to 0.100;
soft rock, 0.35 to 0.50; friable soils, 0.20 to 0.25; loose
soils, 0.13 to 0.18. These figures may be referred to the
oost of excavating any particular kind of ground, for
the purpose of comparison, when any one is known.
w www
Fuller's earth resembles clay, but unlike most clays
does not become plastic upon being moistened. It is
used in fulling wool and in clarifying and deodorizing
oils, etc. It may be considered as a clay containing just
enough fine silica to destroy its plasticity, so that it
crumbles to fine powder when mixed with water. Some
siliceous rocks upon decomposition are converted to Ful-
ler's earth.
****
The sources of tungsten are the minerals scheelite,
wolframite and hubnerite. Scheelite iB the most readily
reduced of these to metal or to an alloy with iron. This
mineral is a tungstate of calcium. It is usually white or
cream colored and noticeably heavy. The most abund-
ant of the tungsten ores is wolframite, the tungstate of
iron and manganese. Hubnerite is similar to wolfram-
ite, but contains more manganese.
There is a structural difference between slate and
schist, though the chemical composition of these two
varieties of rock may be similar. Slate breaks with a
smooth cleavage, which may be due to either sedimenta-
tion or to pressure, or both. Schist does not split as
readily nor as smoothly as slate, having a more wavy
appearance. Slates are uniformly fine grained, and
schists may be either fine or coarse in texture. Many
confuse these terms. The same confusion exists between
slate and shale. The structure of shale is due entirely to
sedimentation, and not to pressure. Shale is not as firm as
slate, easily disintegrating. It is found more abundantly
in the later rocks. Shales have a laminated appearance,
due to bedding, and on exposure usually break in small
fragments. Shale is simply a consolidated fine clay or
mud — it may graduate Into slate. When the grains
become coarser the rock graduates into sandstone, and
when very coarse is called grit.
****
Diamonds have been found in a number of localities
in the United States, viz., In Alabama, in Shelby county;
in California, in Amador, El Dorado, Butte, Nevada,
Trinity and Del Norte counties, and one diamond is re-
ported from Tulare county; Indiana, in Brown and Mor-
gan counties: Kentucky, Russell county; Michigan, Cass
county, a diamond of 10J carats; Ohio, Clermont county;
Tennessee, Monroe, Roane, Lutterell and Union coun-
ties; Wisconsin, Pierce, Dane, Washington, Ozaukee,
Waukesha (1555 carats) and Racine counties.
VVwV
A "keeve " is a circular tank or pan in which a sepa-
ration of mineral is effected by the agitation of the pulp
by rotating paddles or stirrers, which are actuated by a
vertical shaft revolving in the pan, and by hammers or
other devices automatically striking the side of the tub
to produce a slight shock. Hammers are sometimes
similarly employed to strike a box containing sulphurets
shoveled from the concentrator box, the object being to
cause the sulphurets to settle more solidly and the water
rising to the surface of the box and flowing away,
thus reducing the moisture.
Assay slags are always brittle, and some are harder
and more dense than others, but the object should
always be to make a perfectly fluid slag which will per-
mit the lead particles, reduced from the litharge to take
up the particles of precious metals, and to accumulate
in a button at the bottom of the crucible. The earthy
and other impurities are driven into the slag. If the
slag is not sufficiently fluid, this result cannot be accom-
plished. The proper amounts and kinds of fluxes must
depend on the character or composition of the ore. Cop-
per makes the lead button hard, and antimony, arsenic,
tellurium, etc., make it brittle. The cause of lead adher-
ing to the slag is that Improper fluxes have been used or
that the heat has been too low to properly fuse the
charge.
W WWW
Where the mortar or the anvil block on a concrete
foundation cuts unevenly into the concrete, it has been
found by experiment that if a plate of steel (boiler plate)
be placed between the anvil block and the concrete, the
plate extending 2 inches or more beyond the edge of the
casting, this tendency to uneven wear is obviated to a
great extent. Concrete mortar blocks and heavy anvil
blocks between mortar bottoms and concrete have a
tendency to Increase the crushing capacity of the bat-
tery, but it also hastens the crystallization of the stamp
stems, with consequent increased breakage. Instances
are reported where this increased breakage was noticed
as 3 to 1 against mortars resting on wooden blocks.
This being the case, it is merely a question as to which
is the more economical — increased crushing capacity or
lessened expense for repairing the broken stems. This
each mill man must figure out for himself under the
conditions existing at his mill.
VVVV
A proper smelting mixture would require a careful
analysis of available fluxes, where the basis of the
charge is as follows: Cu, 4.35%; Si02, 52%; CaO, 9.3%;
MgO, 0.3%; S, 3.5%; Fe, 12.1%; A1203, 4.55%; Ag, 3.82
oz.; Au, .06 oz. ; to smelt in a 36-inch round furnace.
Should figure on a 35% silica slag for this work, and a
copper bullion product. The furnace should put
through about thirty tons in twenty-four hours of ore
and fluxes; fuel consumption about 13% of charge with
good coke. An ore such as described iB not self-fluxing
and would require the addition of lime and iron flux, the
amounts depending upon analysis of these fluxes. In
general this ore would require a charge approximating:
22% good iron oxide flux; 35% good lime flux; 43% ore
aB submitted. Such an ore would not pay to smelt in a
36-ineh furnace, and making bullion product, but if sul-
phides could be obtained in the vicinity, that would
stand a small working expense; it would be possible to
make it pay on a 100-ton basis, provided fuel is not too
expensive. In the case of a sulphide ore with fuel not
over $15 per ton, the same furnace should smelt fifty
tons of ore in twenty-four hours on a fuel consumption
of 6% or 7% coke. For method of charge, figuring and
general data, see "Modern Copper Smelting," by
Peters, in chapter devoted to "The Chemistry of the
Blast Furnace."
wwww
There are several of the so-called penetration devices
for determining the quality of asphaltic cement or pave-
ment, the most noted being Bowen's and Dow's. Bow-
en's apparatus consists of a needle of stated size and
weight, the vertical movement of which is indicated on
a dial, by a pointer. The needle is secured to a lever
which is balanced by a counter-weight. The needle is
lowered to the point of contact with the asphaltum
when a clamp is released and the needle penetrates the
asphalt for the period ore of second, and the amount of
penetration is registered on the dial. The asphalt must
have been kept at a temperature of 77° F. for half an
hour before the test is applied. The Dow machine con-
o( a No. 2. sewing needle secured to the end of a
brass rod, which is connected with a metal tube 0.4 inch
diameter and 1.6 inch long. Mercury is poured into tho
open end of the tube in any desired amount from 30 to
300 grains. The rod, tube and needle are free to slide
vertically in a frame and can be secured in any position
by a clamp. This vertical movement of the instrument
is registered by a pointer on a graduated dial. The
material to be tested must be at the standard tempera-
ture— 77° F. (25°C.) and the unit of measurement is the
distance, in hundredths of a centimeter, that the No. 2
needle will sink into the asphaltum pavement in five
seconds, when weighted with 100 grains of mercury.
This latter instrument is the standard of measurement
employed by the Government since Jan. 1, 1899.
When a large excess of lime is added to cyanide solu-
tions it results in the formation of Ca (CN2). Only suf-
ficient lime should be employed to neutralize the acidity
of the ore. If the use of lime does not produce the de-
sired result, it would, perhaps, be better to treat the
ore with fresh water to wash out a portion of the soluble
sulphates, and then a smaller quantity of lime should
suffice. Very few cyanide operators use caustic lime.
It is the almost invariable practice to use slacked lime.
It is a very difficult matter to determine the amount of
calcium cyanide present in a solution. The amount of
cyanogen present can be determined and also the
amount of calcium present. The operator must then
judge for himself the amount of calcium cyanide in the
solution. It is impossible to have calcium carbonate
present in an alkaline solution in appreciable amount
for the reason that it is an insoluble salt. W. H. Virgoe
says, in the Journal of the Chemical, Metallurgical and
Mining Society of South Africa, that if the alkali be
lime, one molecule of the ziDC salt requires the presence
of two molecules of lime, and the equations are probably
therefore as follows: 1 = 2(Zn Cy 2 2KCy ) + 4Ca (OH)2
+ 2A.g N03 = 2Zn Ca 02 + 2Ag KCy2 + 2KN03 + 2Ca
Cy2 + 4H20. 2 = 2Ag NOs = 2Ca Cy2 = Ag2 Ca Cy<
-f- Ca (N03)2. This paper was published in full in the
Mining and Scientific Press, Oct. 31 to Nov. 21,
1903, inclusive.
Vwwv
The Homestake mine at Lead, South Dakota, occurs
in pre-Cambrian rocks, of presumably Algonkian age.
These rocks consist of a series of metamorphic sediment-
aries — quartzite, mica schist, quartz schist, graphitic,
garnetiferous and chloritic schists, phylliteB, slates, etc.,
intruded by ancient basic dikes, now altered, for most
part, to amphibolite Bchist, but which were evidently
originally a type of rock similar to diabase, as the horn-
blende has been found, by study of microscopic slides, to
be uralitic — that is, altered from augite, and not original
hornblende. In these greenstone schists are found a
variety of minerals, mostly of secondary origin. They
include, according to J. D. Irving and S. F. Emmons,
actinolite, plagioclase, secondary quartz, and orthoclase
in subordinate amount, with zoisite, titanite, leucoxene,
and calcite. More recent intrusions of acid rocks have
taken place. These rocks are of two kinds, rhyolite and
what is described as a trachytoid phonolite. These lat-
ter dikes and masses are closely associated with the ore
bodies of the Homestake mine, and are thought by some
to have resulted in enriching the ore deposits. It is
known, however, that the schists were gold-hearing
prior to the intrusion of these dikes, as not only large
masses of the older rocks are gold-bearing where there
is no porphyry, as in the De Smet mine, but the overlying
conglomerate at the base of the Cambrian is gold-bear-
ing, while it is known that the intruded acid dikes are
not older than cretaceous.
The most important rock-forming mineral is quartz.
It occurs in many forms and under many guises, and its
presence is not always readily detected, being sometimes
found in microscopic grains. The next most important
rock-forming mineral is feldspar, of which there are sev-
eral varieties. Feldspar is particularly prevalent in
eruptive rocks, in some kinds forming a very large per-
centage of the entire mass. The most important char-
acteristics which distinguish feldspars are the presence
or absence of potassium, soda and lime. Orthoclase
feldspar is the characteristic feldspar of granite (potash
feldspar) and is colorless, greenish white to pink. Sani-
dine is the distinguishing feldspar of trachyte and rocks
of that class. It is similar to orthoclase, containing pot-
ash, but also some soda. It is usually glassy and trans-
parent. In color it is grayish or yellowish. A third
variety of potash feldspar is microcline, which occurs in
irregular grains rather than in distinct crystals. There
are two other varieties of feldspar, intermediate between
the alkali orthoclase feldspars and the basic lime-soda
feldspars. These are cryptoperthite (a soda-potash
variety) and anorthoclase (a potash-soda variety). They
are found mostly in basic rocks. The plagioclases are
the several varieties of feldspar which range between the
soda feldspar (albite) on one hand and anorthite (the
lime feldspar) on the other. Oligoclase is next to albite,
containing relatively much soda and a little lime. It
weathers readily to kaolin and white mica. Andesite is
a soda-lime feldspar, in which there is a relative increase
of lime over that in oligoclase. It is the characteristic
feldspar of the andesites and kindred rocks. Labrador-
ite is a lime-soda feldspar and is found only in dark
colored basic rocks, such as dolerite and norite. An-
orthite is lime feldspar, and is the ultra basic feldspathic
constituent of volcanic rocks. It is common in the lava
of modern volcanoes.
89
Mining and Scientific Press.
August 5, 1905.
Amalgamating Tables.
Written for the Mining and Scientific Pbess by
Algernon del Mar.
The accompanying sketches represent three styles
of amalgamating tables shown without the copper
plates and without supports. Each copper is pre-
sumed to be 4 feet in length (although, for convenience
in drawing, they are represented as 3 feet) and 4 feet
b' inches respectively in width, with a drop of an inch
after each plate. A higher drop between the plates
would have a scouring effect, while half an inch is often
sufficient to secure the desired result— that of turn-
ing the pulp over so that any floating particles^ of
gold or "quick" may be brought into contact with
the amalgamated surface of the plate. Should the
copper plates be 4 feet wide, as is often the case, the
side strips C (Fig. 1) may be made 4 inches wide, in-
stead of 1 inch, or an offset may be made at the top
of the table to fit around the lip of the mortar. The
necessary; but strength and insurance from leakages
are still the prime considerations.
The side strip, to be sure of a water-tight joint,
may be bolted down with J-inch bolts or securely
nailed or screwed, as is more often the case. The
plates should be underlaid with blanketing or canvas,
the latter preferred.
It is often a matter of discussion whether the top
of the table should be made with tight-fitting boards
or open spaces left between them. The writer is of
the opinion that it makes little difference, if the side
strips and all other joints are absolutely water tight.
But" can one be sure before actually turning on
water? If there are leakages and the boards are
planed to fit tight, any moisture getting under the
plates will tend to warp the table and so buckle the
plate. It is obvious, therefore, that leakages must
not be allowed. A good plan is to plane the boards
and leave about i inch space, between which fill with
some material that will expand before the wood, such
as oakum. Any liquid getting under the plates will
jTkv
Side View, Showing Drops in Plate.
Section Showing Parts of Plates in Place.
A Variation in Table Construction.
Tail Box and Mercury Trap.
objection to the 4-inch strip is that it takes off 6
inches of space between two tables, which in mills
where the battery posts are narrow would incon-
venience working between the plates.
Should it be deemed advisable to have the upper 4
feet of plate detachable, this can be easily arranged
in each case; but, unless special care be taken to
make a good joint and a sufficient overlap, the table
will be very leaky.
There are three important essentials in an amal-
gamating table, leaving out of question the grade or
angle of inclination: First, it must be strong and
rigid, to bear heavy weights and strains ; second, it
must be water tight, to prevent loss of gold by leak-
ages, and to prevent loss of temper on the part
of the millman, who neither desires to see gold lost
nor to wade about in rubbers; and, third, it must be
level on a line normal to the pitch of the plate, or
the pulp will go to one side. The center might even
be a shade lower than the sides, for the tendency
is always for the pulp to go to the sides.
Another important consideration, that has not so
much to do with the construction of the table as of
the mill, is that the floor on which the table rests, or,
at least, on which the supports of the table rests,
should be totally detached from the battery itself, for
the vibration caused by the falling stamps, if commu-
nicated to the table, will cause amalgam and "quick"
to gradually work down the plates, and it is most
unpleasant for the millman who has to stand and
work about on that same floor for twelve hours at a
stretch. With the old light stamps the vibration was
not an important consideration, but with stamps
weighing from 100U to 1300 pounds, dropping over 100
times a minute, it is an important matter and must
be reckoned with as a primary factor in mill con-
struction.
The table illustrated in Fig. 1 requires little skill
to construct, and the amount of lumber required in
each case being equal, it is, perhaps, to be preferred.
There are many other types of table, but Figs. 1, 4
and 5 are representative and may serve those who
are not altogether familiar with the subject in mak-
ing a choice. Some prefer one piece of copper 12 feet
long; therefore no transverse joints or steps are
Method of Constructing Table.
then cause a water-tight joint without warping the
boards.
At the end of the plates it is best to have a tail box
(Fig. 3), the length of which equals the width of the
table, and about 8 inches wide.
All the pulp from the table falls into the tail box,
which is fitted with a discharge hole at or near the
bottom, through which the pulp passes to the mer-
cury trap (shown in Fig. 3) through a connecting
pipe.
The exit of the pipe or pipes from the tail box into
the trap should be about 2 inches above the bottom
of the tail box, and the pipe should dip into and near
the bottom of the trap and not discharge on the sur-
face, for in this case the whole object of a trap is
negatived; the essential feature of a trap is to cre-
ate a zone of comparative quiet, where the heavy
amalgam and "quick " may have a chance to sepa-
rate from the lighter sand and sulphurets. An ordi-
nary truncated pyramidal trap is shown, but there
are many other patterns equally as good, some with
baffle boards and some with floats.
The Bingham Mining District, Utah.
A work of practical as well as scientific interest is
a professional paper entitled " Economic Geology of
the Bingham Mining District, Utah," by J. M. Bout-
well of the United States Geological Survey. An in-
troductory chapter on the general geology of the
region about the Oquirrh range, by S. F. Emmons,
adds much to the value of the paper, and a section on
the areal geology of the Bingham district, by A.
Keith, contributes greatly to its interest.
The field work, of which this report represents the
final results, was first undertaken in the summer of
1900. Owing to the fact that the geological struc-
ture of this district proved to be unexpectedly intri-
cate, the work of investigation has been more pro-
longed than was at first expected. While the delay
is cause for regret, this regret is much tempered by
the consideration that, had the report been published
earlier, many important facts brought to light during
the vigorous development of the region in late years
would not have been available.
In his introductory chapter, Mr. Emmons describes
the general geological features of the Oquirrh range.
The geography, topography and areal geology of the
Bingham district are described by Mr. Keith. In
the economic portion of the report, which forms the
main body of the paper, Mr. Boutwell gives a history
of the Bingham mining district, discusses the charac-
ter, occurrence and genesis of its ores, and describes
in detail the ore deposits in all the accessible work-
ings of every property in the district. A chapter is
devoted especially to the placer mines of the district.
From all these detailed scientific and economic
studies Mr. Boutwell deduces a valuable array of
commercial applications, which will make interesting
reading for the miner. The final chapter on recent
developments brings the investigation down to date.
The volume is amply and appropriately illustrated,
with forty-nine photographic plates and ten miscella-
neous maps, sketches and figures.
Bingham is the oldest and largest copper-produc-
ing camp in Utah. It is situated in the Oquirrh
mountains, 20 miles southwest of Salt Lake City.
The main slopes of the Oquirrhs, which rise steeply
from elevations of 5000 feet on the surrounding
deserts to elevations of 10,000 feet on the main divide,
are deeply dissected by many narrow, steep- walled
canyons. Toward the northern end of the range is a
prominent canyon which follows a crescentic course
northeastward across its eastern slope and receives
several tributary canyons from the west. This is
Bingham canyon, which has given its name to the
mining district. Its drainage basin embraces the
principal mining localities which constitute the Bing-
ham district, an oblong area of about 24 square
miles.
This region has been the center of a complex suc-
cession of geological activities, which have resulted
in the deposition of valuable ore bodies. The sedi-
mentary country rock has suffered extensive intru-
sion, intense Assuring and partial burial beneath a
latite flow. The ore bodies are centered in the local-
ities which have undergone the most intense intrusion
and Assuring. Outside the limits of the compara-
tively small area that is characterized by the com-
bined effects of these several activities, ore deposits
have not been found.
The present output consists almost entirely of low-
grade pyritous copper ore with comparatively
small amounts of enriched high-grade black copper
sulphide ore and of rich argentiferous lead ore. The
immense bodies of copper ore occur as lenticular beds
in metamorphosed limestone adjacent to intrusives
and fissures. The rich argentiferous lead ores occur
in strong northeast fissures.
The daily output of the camp is about 2000 tons,
which is produced almost entirely by five great con-
solidated properties located upon a belt of metamor-
phosed limestone. In 1900 the district produced only
a little over 100,000 tons of ore; in 1904 it is reported
to have had an output of nearly 1,000,000 tons of cop-
per ore alone. Its total output from 1874 to 1904 is
valued at about $40,000,000.
The two points in Mr. Boutwell's paper which will
be of most interest to the geologist and the miner
respectively are his conclusions regarding the genesis
of the ore deposits and the probable future of the
district.
Mr. Boutwell holds, briefly, that between Carbon-
iferous and late Tertiary time monzonitic intrusives
invaded sediments in the Bingham area, metamor-
phosed them and introduced metallic elements which
replaced marbleized limestone with pyritous copper
sulphide. Later, heated aqueous solutions intro-
duced additional metallic elements, such as copper,
gold and sulphur. Silver-lead ore was deposited in
the northeast-southwest fissures, mainly by filling,
partly by replacement. Since this second period of
mineralization, these original ores have been altered
in their upper portions, by surface waters, to car-
bonates and dioxides, and relatively enriched in their
underlying portions through replacement by black
copper sulphide with additional gold and silver, prob-
ably as telluride.
Mr. Boutwell believes that geological indications
and recent developments are favorable to the future
of the mining industry in the district. They show it
is reasonable to expect that new shoots of valuable
copper-sulphide ore will be found in the great lime-
stones in central localities, and that new lodes of rich
argentiferous lead ore will be discovered in the com-
posite country rock about the head of Bingham can-
yon, and in or adjacent to the calcareous-carbonace-
ous shale northwest of Bingham canyon and Carr
Fork. Furthermore, recent mining developments
have increased the known resources of two types of
copper deposits, first by indicating that the values in
the great copper shoots descend in depth, second by
proving that the disseminated low-grade auriferous
copper ores in the monzonite can be milled at a
profit. These facts indicate a probable regular in-
crease in the output in the immediate future and
imply the continued prosperity of the mining industry
of Bingham.
This valuable work will soon be ready for general
distribution. It is listed as Professional Paper No.
38, and may be obtained, free of charge, on applica-
tion to the director of the Geological Survey, Wash-
ington, D. C.
Auocst 5, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
90
Vertical Shaft Sinking on the Wit-
watersrand, South Africa.
In discussing the paper of H. F. Roche in the Jour-
nal of Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of
South Africa on " Vertical Shaft Sinking on the
Witwatersrand," J. Pedrini said:
Mr. Roche depicted an ideal method and gear for
sinking vertical shafts in future. I agree with him
that the steel headgear and the permanent hoisting
engine should be erected, if possible, at once, time
permitting.
The author recommends the tamping in of 20 or 30
feet of clay directly above the first set of bearers.
That might answer where the shaft is in country rock
from the surface, but I contend that the tamping in
of clay behind the timber cannot be relied on, nor is
it advisable where there is water and heavy pressure
behind the timber. A good plan and method, in my
opinion, for sinking through surface soil sand or
heavy ground, is to sink the shaft 2 feet larger than
the size required and timber temporarily, say b'xti
inches (ground permitting), until the solid formation
is properly entered, and the first set of bearers set
in position in deeply seated hitches in the bottom,
the ground leveled all around, and the first set of the
permanent timber resting on the bearers set in posi-
tion and closely lagged, when the bottom set of the
temporary timber could be removed if practicable,
and the space behind the timber tilled with 2 feet of
concrete; the operation repeated to the surface.
Should there be any water a drain pipe is put in
through the concrete at the bottom and run into a
tank fixed for the purpose, and thence baled or
pumped to the surface. A concrete mixer should be
erected near the collar of the shaft and a chute con-
nected to send the concrete down the shaft, thus sav-
ing unnecessary handling. This plan, in my opinion,
will keep all surface water entering the shaft and
will provide a solid foundation for the collar set. The
most important point is that it practically relieves
all pressure behind the timber. It has also proved a
success in other mining fields where running sand
and water were encountered.
I cannot endorse Mr. Roche's opinion in carrying
down a Cornish pump in conjunction with a sinking
pump where sinking operations are in progress for
many reasons. The size of the pump might prove
too small or too large for the water encountered,
hence the unnecessary cost involved. He says that
the size of the pump would depend on the quantity of
water and the surrounding conditions and data from
the outcrop mines. I am of the opinion that might
prove very misleading, and many instances could be
quoted where deep level mines have a great deal
more water to contend with the outcrops; in other
cases the reverse.
When we consider the great depth of future shafts,
the marvellous progress of electricity as a motive
power in other branches of engineering, and the in-
troduction of electrically driven high lift pumps
working at a pressure from 600 to 700 pounds per
square inch, corresponding to a vertical height of
1500 feet, a Cornish pumping plant beyond a depth
of, say 500 feet, in my opinion, has passed the stage
of practical economy.
As an illustration, suppose a shaft, say 3000 feet
in depth, to be equipped with a 10-inch Cornish
pumping plant. Before the water is delivered at the
surface it requires to be lifted by stages ten times,
requiring ten complete sets of pumping parts, five
sets of balance bobs, and five stations cut for same;
ten cisterns will also require to be cut, 10 inch deliv-
ery pipes, about 3000 feet of 10 to 12-inch pitch pine
rods, plunger poles, etc., and other moving parts,
making a total weight of, approximately, over 150
tons of reciprocating details, requiring same to be
started and stopped, say five or six times a minute —
the maximum speed that this class of pump could be
driven with safety, on account of the great weight in
motion limiting it, and stresses are soon overreached,
causing breakdowns. Now in an up-to-date high
lift pumping plant there are light weights, smaller
parts, continuous motion, requiring a smaller de-
livery pipe, delivering the water to . the sur-
face in two stages instead of ten, giving at
once the most flexible system, accommodating to
any size instalment, no moving parts in or near
the shaft, with less supervision and practically
very little wear and tear. These modern pumping
plants will prove themselves far more economical in
working than a Cornish plant. I also recommend a
compressor air-driven plant with reheater should be
put down as a stand-by in case of a breakdown.
Shaft sinking and mining on these fields are the
simplest in the world, and the same is true as regards
ventilation. It is only a matter of equipment and
other detail for the mines to be worked at the lowest
cost possible. We have no heavy water to contend
with except in a few isolated cases, no excessive
hardness of rock and everything favorable for record
shaft sinkings being made. In a comparatively dry
shaft I prefer hand labor over machines, being 20%
to 30% cheaper, but when water has to be consid-
ered, machines have the advantage ove"r hand labor,
and I prefer the larger size, viz., 3J inches diameter,
instead of the small size, 1\ inches, and the greater
number you can put down the shaft, the quicker the
ground drilled, consequently a better footage record
at the end of the month.
I can endorse Mr. Carter's remarks in regard to
efficiency and good workmanship in regard to shaft
sinking. It is better to sacrifice a little speed and
make sure that the work is done in a substantial
manner to last the life of the mine with a minimum
cost of repair. Proper bearers should be put in at
about SO feet interval and only the best of timber put
in the shaft.
Continuing the discussion, L. Simson said : I judge
that Mr. Roche has been somewhat misinformed in
regard to the sinking of the Catlin or East shaft of
the Jupiter Gold Mining Co., Ltd. The average
monthly sinking in this shaft for twelve months from
Feb. 1, 1898, the time when active sink-
ing commenced, after dewatering in
January, was 14b'. 6 feet, and the great-
est amount for any one month was 186
feet. Similar figures for the Howard
or West shaft of the Simmer & Jack
West, Ltd., from March 1, 1898, give
an average of 145 feet, with 203 feet for
the month of July as a maximum. From
these figures it will be seen that 211
feet per month were never made.
The natives working during this
period were not all "O.RC. Basutos,"
but a mixed lot, and not more than half
were "excellent," while fully one- third
were very poor. No contractors were
ever employed, and changes of employes
were frequently made. The rate of
pay for miners and timbermen was £l
for an eight-hour shift, and a bonus for
footages over 100 feet was distributed
to all those who were deserving and
directly connected with furthering the
shaft sinking, a part being often given
to employes who pushed along on break-
downs, repairs, etc. It is interesting
to note here that as late as 1895 similar
bonuses were given for lhand-sinking
footages over 40 feet, and this limit
has been gradually raised.
Where the ground permitted, shaft
timbers were not kept within 30 feet,
but generally 60 feet or over from the
bottom. The conditions under which
the sinking was accomplished were not
" perfect," and, with the exception of
the fact that there was little trouble
from water, the equipment did not ap-
proach the ideal laid down by Mr. Roche.
In regard to buckets versus skips,
it is probable that skips have given
greater safety in the past, but with our
present experience there should be no
danger from the use of buckets down
to 3000 feet. When three buckets are
used on one double-drum hoist, one beign
in process of filling continuously in that
spot in the shaft where the least shovel-
ing is needed, quicker cleanups and less
shoveling will be done in a large shaft
than with skips. If the nature of the
ground will permit the timbers being
kept, say 60 feet or over from the
blasting, more presentable shaft tim-
bers will result than is the case with
some shafts on these and other fields,
where the use of skips has necessitated
the timbers being kept close down and
the bottom set cleated.
Mr. Bradford has drawn attention to
the most excellent incline sinking done
under Mr. Britten's management of the
Wolhuter during 1902. Since that
time at the New Kleinfontein east in-
cline shaft, under Mr. Way's manage-
ment, an average of 171.6 feet per
month has, I understand, been made
over a period of five months, with a
maximum of 2135 feet for one month.
But even this is eclipsed by the work
done in July, 1898, under E. H. Garth-
waite's management at the Nigel Deep,
where a 14 by 17-foot incline shaft was
sunk at the rate of 2ti0 feet in a month,
two Ingersoll-Sergeant 3J-inch drills
being used. Besides the rock from the
bottom, rock fromthe development of
six drives and several winzes and raises
were hoisted through the shaft dur-
ing the month, and all this with a 7 by
12-foot double drum hoist, situated
underground at the top of the incline.
Perfectly transparentquartz, color-
less and without flaw, is valuable if oc-
curring in good sized crystals or masses.
A ball 5-V inches diameter, cut from a
crystal discovered at the Green Moun-
tain mine, Chili gulch, Calaveras county,
Cal., is valued at $3000. Several crys-
tals from the same deposit cut 7 inch
spheres, but they were not without
slight flaws. A 7-inch ball without im-
perfection would have a value about
$30,000.
The Ore Deposits of Mount Lyell.
NUMBER IV.— -CONCLUDED.
Written by J. w. Gregory".
The two main ore masses of the Mount Lyell field
both occur where masses of the schists have been
nipped in the re entering angles between great, hard
blocks of conglomerate. The Mount Lyell mine has
been developed in schist, which is bounded on the
east by the Great Lyell Fault; to the south by the
cross fault, which has thrown the Great Lyell Fault
to the west; and it is bounded below by a thrust plane,
which probably shifted the downward continuation of
■a
B
2
S3
GO
5.
91
Mining and Scientific Press.
August 5, 1905.
the Mount Lyell ore mass to the west, and left it
isolated as the buried pyritic mass of the South Lyell
mine.
If this explanation be correct there must be two
parallel faults below the Mount Lyell ore body — one
at a depth of 100 feet below the No. 8 level, which
has brought the conglomerates against the schist;
and another about 50 feet below the same level,
which cut off the original continuation of the ore
body, and threw it to the west. It is possible, how-
ever, that there is only one thrust plane, which was
formed before the date of the deposition of the Mount
Lyell ore mass. In that case the ascending solutions
which deposited the ores rose through the schists
opposite the Great Lyell Fault, in the South Lyell
Co.'s lease; on reaching the level of the thrust plane
the solutions were diverted eastward over the plat-
form formed by the thrust plane, so that they kept
along the band of crushed and shattered rocks in
close proximity to the Great Fault.
The intense heat generated by the formation of the
Great Lyell Fault caused any waters that came from
below along it to rise as hot solutions, and like most
plutonic or deep-seated waters they were probably
alkaline in character. They no doubt carried in solu-
tion sulphates of iron and copper and some silver and
gold. These solutions, nearing the surface, had their
temperatures lowered, and were subject to lighter
pressures; they therefore naturally precipitated their
contents along their channels. Where the solutions
rose along the simple fault lines in the schists, they
produced "the widespread fahlbands of mineralized
schist. In other places, owing to the intersection of
cross faults with the Great Lyell Fault, the rocks
were completely shattered and fault fissures ran in
all directions through blocks of rock; in these cases
mineralizing solutions would permeate the rock,
removing the original constituents, molecule by mole-
cule, and, replacing them by pyrites, formed the
great ore masses. Hence the chief pyritic masses
occur in every case where the schists have been com-
pletely crushed and shattered by intercrossing faults;
and it is only in such positions that we can anticipate
the discovery of similar ore masses. It is to be
regretted that the money spent in the thousands of
feet of experimental drives at the Lyell field were
not devoted to prospecting the places where the chief
cross faults cross the Great Lyell Fault, and in trac-
ing the course of this fault farther north and south
from the Lyell field.
The contact theory of the Lyell ores cannot be dis-
missed without considering the relations between
them and the great series of igneous rocks which lie
to the west of them, both north and south of Queens-
town. These igneous rocks are probably a pre-Si-
lurian series. They cannot have been connected with
the formation of the Mount Lyell ore, which must be
regarded as due to tectonic and not to igneous
action.
The possibility of the ores having been introduced
in the form of vapors, instead of in solution, must also
be considered. The metals were probably carried in-
to the rocks in hot alkaline solutions, for the primary
ores are sulphides. The gangue materials are
quartz and barite, the latter of which may have been
introduced as a soluble barium sulphydrite subse
quently oxidized to barium sulphate, and thus precip-
itated. The materials must in any case have arisen
as solutions, for there is a striking absence through-
out the field of volatile materials that could have
ascended in vapors. There is, for example, very
little arsenic. The ordinary analyses of the ores show
none of it. It occurs in very small quantities in the
form of enargite in some of the fahlore enrichments
of the Mount Lyell mine. I saw no arsenical pyrites
in the ores, but Mr. Batchelor tells me there was
some at the northwestern end of level No. 4 in the
Mount Lyell mine. Arsenic is practically absent
from the great ore masses, and is only present in the
small secondary enrichments. Antimony is, of
course, contained in the fahlore, and thus is present
in the fahlore enrichments of the Mount Lyell mine.
It also occurs in small amount in some of the fahlband
ores. It is somewhat more widely distributed
through the field than arsenic, but it is confined to
the minerals that were last deposited. The presence
of antimony is less evidence of the action of vapors
than is that of arsenic. The microscope shows that
the fahlore occurs as strings in cracks through the
pyrites or in thin skins around pyrites. The fahlore
may have been due to vapor, but this is not probable,
as it was introduced almost simultaneously with the
quartz, which is generally deposited from solution.
Of other volatile metals, there is neither bismuth
nor mercury, and there are none of the minerals of
the tourmaline or topaz group, which are produced
by the action of boron vapors on various feldspars.
The amount of zinc sulphide is much less than of
galena.
There is, moreover, no evidence that the ore
masses were deposited in cavities or fissures which
contained free air or were reached by superficial
waters. Had meteoric waters taken part in the
formation of the ores we should expect the occur-
rence of chlorides and carbonates, which are absent
except from the gossans. If the ores had been
deposited in cavities we should expect the deposits
would have been in layers, or, to use Posepny's term,
they would be crustified. This "crustified" struc-
ture is well developed in the pyritic ores of Eoros, in
Sweden; but there is nothing of the sort shown at
Mount Lyell. The lamination of the pyrites at one
place on Bench No. 3 is a pseudomorphic relic of the
beds replaced by pyrites, and not due to the deposi-
tion of the material, layer on layer, in a fissure.
Some of the quartz of the gangue shows an irregular
comb structure, but this quartz occurs in cracks in
the pyrites.
Another argument against the deposition of the
pyrites in a free space, or in contact with surface
waters, is the absence of sulphates (except of bar-
ium), of carbonates and metallic oxides, except
where the pyrites has been secondarily altered.
These features in the great pyritic masses of
Mount Lyell and the remarkable scarcity of gangue,
and the general uniformity of the ore, with the con-
centration of the precious metals on the foot wall side
of the ore body, all support the view that the ores
were formed by the replacement, molecule by mole-
cule, of the pre-existing rocks. The pyrites was
introduced in solutions, which permeated the country
in places that had been cracked in all directions by
complex earth movements.
The enrichment of the gold on the foot wall side of
the deposit is an ordinary case of secondary concen-
tration. It is due to the action of descending waters,
which removed the valuable metals from the higher
part of the jpyritic mass as it was destroyed by
denudation, and then re-deposited the metals, when
the soluble salts were reduced, at a greater depth.
Sodium Cyanide in Practice.
Written for the Mining and Scientific Press.
For several years the material sold as potassium
cyanide, and commonly supposed to contain 96% to
98% of that salt, has been known to be largely made
up of sodium cyanide. In a large number of consign-
ments examined at the port of New York, Dr. Rus-
sell found from 10% to 55% of sodium cyanide — and
only two brands out of eighteen were free from
sodium.
More recently sodium cyanide has been sold as
such and rated at its equivalent in potassium cya-
nide. Thus a fairly pure article, on account of the
lower atomic weight of sodium, would test " 125%
potassium cyanide " and was sold at a proportion-
ately higher price than the 98%, as it was supposed
to be correspondingly efficient. At this rate a saving
of about one-fifth of the freight would be made by
mining companies adopting the new cyanide. Tests
made in London were said to show an even better
extraction of gold by sodium cyanide than by its
equivalent of potassium cyanide, to the extent of
several per cent, so that 100 pounds of the 125%
would extract as much gold as 132 to 135 pounds of
the usual 98% double salt, and it was further alleged
to be more free from sulphides.
Doubt has since been thrown on some of these con-
clusions by the experience of several plants in
Nevada, which commenced to use sodium cyanide but
after a short trial have abandoned it in favor of the
mixed 98% salt, regardless of the higher freight on
the latter.
On the other hand, the sodium salt has been found
the most advantageous at the Palmarejo mine, Chi-
huahua, Mexico. Incidentally it may be added that
the consumption of cyanide at the mine mentioned is
unusually high — averaging from 3 to 4 pounds of the
125% salt per ton of ore, the values being principally
in silver. In a paper recently read before the Ameri-
can Institute of Mining Engineers, the manager,
T. H. Oxnam, says:
"For over a year past we have been employing
sodium cyanide exclusively. Titration with silver
nitrate shows that the sodium cyanide being used is,
on an average, equivalent to about 125% of potas-
sium cyanide. Our experience at this place with
sodium cyanide leads us to believe that it is fully as
efficient as potassium cyanide for the dissolution of
the values contained in the ore. It also appears
that, since commencing the exclusive use of sodium
cyanide, our solutions become rather less fouled than
was previously the case. Freighting expenses are
always a considerable item with us and by the adop-
tion of sodium cyanide, equivalent, as above stated,
to 125% of potassium cyanide, a saving of 20% of the
freighting expenses on this article has been effected.
Granted, as our experience seems to confirm, that
sodium cyanide is equally as efficient as potassium
cyanide, it would seem probable that it will gradu-
ally displace the latter, which, until recently, has
been almost universally employed. Besides the
direct saving in transportation expenses, the sodium
cyanide appears to possess other advantages. From
a metallurgical standpoint, other things being equal,
it would seem preferable to use a salt as nearly pure
as is to be obtained. Absolutely pure sodium cya-
nide being equivalent to about 132% of potassium
cyanide, a product testing from 125% to 130% of
potassium cyanide is manifestly nearly pure. It by
no means follows, however, that the ordinary com-
mercial cyanide, rated as 98% to 99% pure, and
which by the usual silver nitrate titration will stand
up to this strength, contains but 1% to 2% of im-
purities. That this commercial cyanide frequently
carries a varying percentage of sodium cyanide is a
well-known fact, and it of course naturally follows, on I
account of the relatively greater proportion of the
CN radical contained in this salt as compared to
potassium cyanide, that the greater this percentage
of sodium cyanide contained in the ordinary 98% to
99% of potassium cyanide, the greater will be the
percentage of impurities."
In view of these conflicting results, it is to be hoped
that the managers of other plants, where sodium
cyanide has been tried on a large scale, will follow
Mr. Oxnam's example and publish the details of their
experiences. From a chemical standpoint there
seems to be no reason why a molecule of NaCN in
dilute solution should act differently to a molecule of
KCN, nor why the gold double cyanide of the one
should be more or less stable than that of the other.
Possibly the alkaline carbonate, present as an impur-
ity in varying percentages, may have had some
influence in the case of certain ores. Fuller informa-
tion on the subject is certainly desirable.
Location of a Hoisting Plant.
Where the only suitable site for a hoisting plant- is
on the footwal! side of a vein and on the hillside above
the vein outcrop, which is near the bottom of the
canyon, there is no mechanical objection to continu-
ing the line of track upward on the surface to a
proper landing, particularly if there be no material
change in the angle of inclination. Inclined shafts
not infrequently change their dip underground, and,
if this be necessary, it may also be done on the sur-
face, and would be an advantage over building a
vertical line of timbers from the collar of the shaft to
the desired height, as was done in the instance illus-
trated in the accompanying sketch. Here the out-
Inclined Shaft Continued to Hoist Level by Vertical
TimberiD£.
Inclined Shaft Continued to Hoist on the Surface.
crop is near the bottom of a deep canyon and the
only available site for the hoist was about 75 feet
higher than the vein outcrop. The shaft was sunk at
an angle of about 60°, and from the collar the shaft
was carried upward vertically to a level with the
hoisting engine by a frame work of timbers, as shown.
By grading back of the hoist and at a somewhat
higher level, the shaft could have been carried up on,
August 5, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
92
the surface, somewhat after the style of that in the
accompanying engraving, which is at the Adams
iron mine in the Mesabi iron range of Minnesota.
There are many places where surface inclines connect
directly with shafts, and operations under such con-
ditions are in no way unsatisfactory nor more ex-
pensive than where the entire shaft is underground.
Cyaniding Silver-Gold Ores of the Pal-
marejo Mine, Chihuahua, Mexico."
NUMBER II.
Written by T. H. OXNAU.
Experiments With Wet Crushing, Concen-
tration and Raw Pan Amalgamation. — Shortly
after my return to this property in March,
1901, at which time I assumed the management, a
series of experiments was commenced to determine,
if possible, a better method of ore reduction which
would promise that future operations could be con-
ducted on a financially successful basis — a condition
which up to that time had not been attained.
In order to effect such a change, it did not neces-
sarily follow that a higher percentage of extraction
need be obtained. The difficulty might be solved by
the adoption of a treatment whereby the quantity of
ore treated would be substantially increased, while
effecting at the same time a material reduction in the
operating costs per ton, although the percentage of
values recovered be no more, or might be even less,
than that obtained under the old system.
With this object in view, two series of experiments
were conducted; one, on the treatment of the dif-
ferent grades of ore by wet crushing and concentra-
tion, followed by raw pan amalgamation and sub-
sequent reconcentration of the pan tailings; the
other, on the treatment of the ore by wet crushing
and concentration, followed by cyanide leaching of the
resultant sands. Several very careful tests on a
practical scale were made along the lines of the first
set of experiments and, although the results in-
dicated that, under such a system, operations could
be conducted at a certain profit, they were by no
means satisfactory and were not as promising as
those obtained by the cyanide experiments.
A brief summary of some of the tests made are
here given, and in them 1 ounce of silver is valued at
$1.20 (Mex.) and $1 gold at $2 (Mex.).
Test No. 1. — Eighteen tons of ore, of as nearly an
average composition as could be obtained of the ore
being regularly treated in the mill, were crushed wet
through a 30-mesh screen in a specially prepared
battery. The pulp was passed over a Wilfley con-
centrating table, which removed 1 ton of concen-
trates; the tailings from the table were elevated by
means of a belt and bucket elevator to a series of 3
connected settling tanks, having a combined capacity
of approximately 50 tons. The overflow from the
third tank was run to waste. After settling, the
ore was transferred to the amalgamating pans in
charges of 1.5 tons and the pans were run for from
6 to 8 hours at a speed of 68 revolutions per minute,
the temperature of the charge being maintained at
about 105° P. During the amalgamation, 200 pounds
of quicksilver, 15 pounds of salt and 7 pounds of
bluestone were added. The pans were discharged
into settlers, from which the material was fed over a
second WUfley concentrating table, the tailings from
which were run to waste.
The ore assayed 29.6 ounces of silver and $4.16 of
gold per ton.
18 tons @ 29.6 oz. of silver — 532.80 oz. of silver =
18 tons @ $4.16 of gold - 874.88 of gold
1639 36 (Mex.)
149.76 (Mex.)
Total value of 18 tons of ore = $789.12 (Mex.)
First Concentration.— By first concentration 1
ton of concentrates was recovered assaying 126.93
ounces of silver and $17.40 of gold.
1 ton @ 126.93 oz. of silver — 126.93 oz. of stiver — $152.31 (Mex.)
1 ton @ $17.40 of gold —$17.40 of gold = 34.80 (Mex.)
Total value of concentrates = $187.11 (Mex.)
The percentage of total values saved by first con-
centration was 23.70%.
Pan Amalgamation. — 15.7 tons of material were
worked in the pans, yielding 96 ounces of silver and
no gold.
96 oz. of silver —$115.20 (Mex.)
The percentage of total values saved by pan
amalgamation was 14.59%.
Second Concentration. — 100 pounds of concen-
trates were saved by the second concentration assay-
ing 117.15 ounces of silver and $19.24 of gold per
ton.
^15 ton® 117.15 oz. of silver — 58.58 oz. of silver — $7.03 (Mex.)
^i, ton @ $19.24 of gold - $0.96 of gold — 1.92 (Mex.)
Total value of concentrates — $8.95 (Mex.)
The percentage of total values saved by second
concentration was 1.13%.
In this test there was a loss of 1.3 ton of slimes,
equal to 7.22% of the total weight of ore taken.
These slimes, which escaped in the overflow from the
third settling tank, assayed 34.4 ounces of silver and
$4.16 of gold per ton. The larger portion of these
slimes could, however, have been caught in settling
♦Trans. Amer. Inst. Min. Engrs.
tanks of large capacity and treated, but the gain
which would result from this source was considered
as offsetting the losses that would occur in treating
the concentrates.
The results of Test No. 1 were:
_. , Percent.
E Iret concentration, total values saved 23 70
Raw pan amalgamation, totul values saved 14 59
Second concentration, total values saved l . 13
Total, total values saved 39 42
Test No. 2.— A second test on 12 tons of this same
ore, conducted along the same lines as Test No. 1, with
but slight variations, gave the following results:
Per Cent.
40
First concentration, total values saven
Raw pan amalgamation, total values
creased and several other minor changes effected.
Otherwise the leaching plant and the method of
treatment have been altered but slightly since the
commencement of operations under this system.
Owing to ill health, I was obliged during May, 1902,
to resign the management of this property, remain-
ing, however, in the service of the company as
their consulting engineer until May 1, 1903, and dur-
ing this period making a visit to the property. On the
latter date I again assumed the management. The
present plant and practice is as follows:
Present System op Milling. — The ore averaging
6% of moisture is brought to the mill in trains of
Second concentration, total values saved
Total, total values saved 41.37
Test No. 3.— The ore for Test No. 3 was taken
saved!^!:!!:;:'.'.:;!'''.'.'.'.i8!25 ; from S* t° 1-1 cars, each car holding 4.5 tons, and is
ped 8.78 dumped directlv into the main nnnpr et/iraro Inn
from a large dump
material, which
ore
containing about 40,000 tons of
was of so low a grade that it was
entirely worthless for treatment by the process used
in the mill. Could a process be devised by which this
material could be treated at a profit, either by itself
or by mixing it with the regular mine ore, the dump
would at once become a valuable asset, as there
would be no mining costs to charge against it and it
could be delivered at the mill bins for $1 per ton;
15.5 tons of this ore assaying 17.15 ounces of silver
and $3 of gold per ton were taken and crushed wet
through a 30-mesh screen. The crushed material
was treated practically the same as in Tests No. 1
and No. 2, with the following results:
Per Cent.
Fist concentration, total values saved 23.76
Raw pan amalgamation, total values saved '...19.43
Second concentration, total values saved 1,63
Total, total values saved 44.82
The results of these tests could not be considered
satisfactory, although a careful calculation of the
working costs under this system showed that both
the mine and the dump ore could be treated at a
small profit.
Experiments With Cyaniding Mine and Dump
Ores.— While the above mentioned experiments were
in progress, extended tests were started on cyaniding
mine and dump ores. The results did not indicate
that a higher percentage of the silver content could
be obtained than by the old process on the mine ore,
yet they showed that the treatment of both mine
and dump ores by wet crushing and concentration,
followed by cyanidation of the resultant sands, should
prove a commercial success. As a consequence of
these experiments, I made a report in June, 1901, on
the various tests which had been conducted, strongly
recommending that the mill be converted into a wet
crushing, concentrating and cyaniding plant. The re-
port being favorably received, the old process was dis-
continued in October, 1901, and the conversion of the
plant begun. The necessary changes in the mill to
permit of wet crushing were effected, the cyanide
plant was installed, and in February, 1902, opera-
tions under the changed conditions were commenced.
On account of the lack of sufficient fall between the
batteries and the available location for the cyanide
leaching vats, it was necessary that the material
leaving the mill be elevated for a height of from 5 to
6 feet, and for this purpose a wooden elevator wheel
built on the premises was installed.
The original idea was to subject the entire mill
product to a proper classification by means of a
series of steel hydraulic classifying cones, but owing
to the lack of ample fall this idea was abandoned.
The experiments indicated that a thorough oxygena-
tion of the sands during leaching was essential and
the advisability of putting in a double treatment
plant, in which half of the vats would be directly
superimposed over the other half, was fully con-
sidered, but put aside, largely on account of the lack
of proper fall, as well as on account of the greater
initial cost of installation. This lack of fall between
the mill and the cyanide plant rendered it necessary
in several ways to construct the plant along rather
different lines than would otherwise have been
adopted.
Experiments on the ores crushed through 20, 30
and 40-mesh screens and leaching, after concentra-
tion, for varying periods of time, with cyanide solu-
tions containing from 0.25 to 2% of KCN, resulted in
the decision to commence operations, crushing
through 20-mesh screens and subjecting the result-
ing sands to a ten-days' treatment with two strengths
of cyanide solution, the weak solution to be approxi-
mately 0.5% of KCN and the strong solution to be
approximately 1.5% of KCN; the ten-days' treat-
ment to include filling and discharging and being
equivalent to a nine days' leaching. It was the in-
tention to send the mine and the dump ores to the
mill in such proportions that the battery heads would
average about 22 ounces of silver per ton.
Certain modifications of the method and alterations
of the plant suggested themselves during the sub-
sequent operations. The working strengths of both
the weak and the strong solutions have been gradually
reduced; and the transferral of as many charges as
possible from one vat to another at some time during
the treatment has been adopted. About two years
ago the original leaching plant was increased by the
addition of two leaching vats and, at the present
time, two more leaching vats are in course of con-
struction. The solution sump capacity has been in-
dumped directly into the main upper storage bin,
which has a capacity of approximately 1100 tons.
From this bin the ore is drawn out over 3 5x10 feet
iron grizzlies having 1.5 inch openings to the 7x10-
inch Blake rock crushers. These crushers run at a
speed of 250 revolutions per minute and the jaws are
usually kept set sufficiently close to deliver a product
which will pass through a 2-inch ring.
We have made extended tests on the using of iron
crusher jaws cast in our own foundry compared with
manganese steel castings, and have found the latter
to cost slightly less per ton crushed and to give bet-
ter satisfaction in every way. For some time past
we have been employing the manganese steel cast-
ings exclusively.
The percentage of material falling through the
grizzlies varies considerably according to the per-
centage of mine and dump ore being treated. Of the
dump ore, which is very coarse and extremely hard,
approximately 90% goes to the crushers; of the mine
ore, which is much finer and of a softer nature, ap-
proximately 50% goes to the crushers, the other 10%
and 50% respectively falling through the grizzlies.
A secondary storage bin of approximately 1100 tons'
capacity receives the ore from both grizzlies and
crushers. The ore is then trammed to three small
intermediate bins, each of about 50 tons' capacity.
From here it is conveyed by means of half-ton cars to
the hoppers of the Challenge ore feeders. This
double handling of the ore is inconvenient, but is ren-
dered necessary because of the construction of the
mill which, as has been stated, was originally erected
to conform to different requirements.
The stamps when equipped with new shoes weigh
850 pounds, distributed as follows: Stem, 350; tap-
pet, 130; boss head, 215; shoe; 155; total, 850 pounds.
The stamps drop a distance of from 6 to 7 inches
100 times per minute, the order of drop being, 1, 3,
5, 2, 4; 20-mesh brass wire screens, No. 26 wire, are
used and the height of discharge is kept as nearly as
possible at 2 inches. The stamp duty is from 2.75 to
3.25 tons per 24 hours. The average stamp duty
would doubtless be somewhat increased by the in-
stallation of narrow mortars of the Homestake pat-
tern. The same wide, double discharge mortars used
in dry crushing are still in service. The back dis-
charge of these mortars has been closed by a blind
screen, and cast iron liners have been introduced into
the ends and backs of the mortars, thus reducing
their inside measurements; liners for this purpose
are cast here. For some time past forged steel shoes
have been used in preference to the cast iron shoes
of our own make. The steel shoes cost approximately
15 cents per ton of ore crushed as compared with ap-
proximately 18 cents for the cast iron shoes. We, how-
ever, cast all our own dies, for which purpose the worn
out shoes and otherwise useless iron and steel scrap are
employed. The average life of the forged steel shoes
is about 95 days, while that of the cast iron dies is
approximately 33 days. All of the cams are equipped
with Blanton fasteners, which give good satisfaction.
The camshafts are 41 inches in diameter and weigh
about 425 pounds. Heavier camshafts would be
more preferable, but it would prove a difficult mat-
ter to bring in a camshaft of more than the present
weight.
From the batteries, the pulp passes directly over
ten Wilfley concentrators, running with a I-inch
stroke at a speed of 215 strokes per minute. Dur-
ing the year ending July 1, 1904, the concentrators
removed 0.76% by weight of the ore forming concen-
trates, which contained 18.28% of the gold and
17.98% of the silver values of the ore crushed during
this period.
A large wooden launder conveys the pulp from the
tables to the tailings elevator wheel. The latter is
14 feet in diameter and is of the outside bucket type,
having 22 steel buckets, each 18 inches long, 8.5
inches wide and 8.5 inches deep, with a total capacity
of about 1025 cubic inches. The wheel is driven by a
1-inch plow steel wire cable, at a speed of 18 revolu-
tions per minute. The discharge efficiency, as in
all wheels of this type, is not high, the discharged
tailings leaving the wheel in a launder 5.5 feet above
the level of the mill launder supplying the pulp.
A large masonry sand retaining tank divided into
four compartments, each compartment measuring
25x80x4 feet in depth, receives the product from the
wheel. Distribution is effected by means of a central
launder in each compartment, provided with a num-
ber of 4-inch side discharge pipes. Each compartment
is provided with a removable end discharge gate, 4
feet wide, composed of pieces of 2-inch plank, planed
smooth on the edges and sliding in guides secured to
the side posts. As the compartment fills up with
93
Mining and Scientific Press.
August 5, 1905.
sands the discharge of these gates is raised. The
discharge overflow empties into the main slime
launder. Each compartment also communicates with
its immediate neighbors by means of small, side dis-
charge doors. The purpose of this arrangement is
that the mill product- may be emptying into one com-
partment, from which a portion of the finer material
escapes through one of the side gates to an adjoining
compartment, while the finest material is passing off
in the discharge over the lowered end gate of this
second compartment.
It is found, however, that a considerable quantity
of the finest material will always tend to collect at
the lower end of the first compartment, receiving the
discharge of the elevator wheel, to lessen which an
overflow from the end gate of the compartment is
also necessary. In every case, however, the first 5
or 6 tons of material removed from the compart-
ments are always extremely slimy and are trammed
a short distance to an open drying patio, where they
are spread out, sun dried and broken up, after which
they are mixed in with the coarser sands and treated
in the leaching vats. A third compartment of the
sands retaining tank is kept full of sands, which are
being allowed to drain, while the dry sands are being
trammed from the fourth compartment. Each of
these compartments holds the sands of from 48 to 60
hours' crushing in the mill when operating under
normal conditions. The retained sands are usually
subjected to about 2 days' draining before commenc-
ing to charge them into the leaching vats. The very
fine material escaping in the overflow from the
masonry retaining tank is carried by means of a
wooden launder to three, so-called, slime pits having
an aggregate capacity of approximately 15,000 tons.
Every precaution is exercised that no slimes escape
at the overflow gates of these pits, but, as is to be
expected, at no time is such overflow perfectly clear
and free from suspended matter.
During the 18 months ending December 31, 1904, of
the total net tonnage crushed in the mill, 19.16%
went to the slime pits. Various sizing tests, using
the ordinary brass wire assayer screens, have shown
that on an average about 6% of this material is re-
tained on 100-mesh, while approximately 85% passes
a 200 mesh screen.
Although this material as a whole is chiefly
slimes, which on long drying crack up into layers al-
most absolutely impervious to leaching, it is found
that considerable quantities of extremely fine, but
leachable, sands are deposited at the heads of the
slime pits in the vicinity of the discharges from the
slime launder. About two months after ceasing to dis-
charge into any one slime pit, this very fine sandy
material at the heads of the pits will have dried
sufficiently during ordinarily dry weather to permit
of being walked on, and it is then conveyed by con-
tract labor to the open drying floor or patio, to-
gether with a certain percentage of more slimy
material which unavoidably becomes mixed with it.
Here the material is spread out, sun dried and
thoroughly broken up, after which it is mixed in with
the ordinary sands and treated by leaching.
During the past year 2400 tons of very fine material
from the slime pits have been treated in this manner.
By far the greater portion of the material collected
in the slime pits, however, is so extremely fine and
of such a clayey nature that, as above stated, it is
almost absolutely impervious to leaching.
(to be continued.)
THE PROSPECTOR. !
It is not always possible to tell from the hand sam-
ple the correct name of a decomposed rock. It is
often necessary to study the occurrence in the field
to get a knowledge of its structural relations. For
instance, a mud shale may be transformed into a
hard, dense, flinty jasper. Pine grained limestone
may be silicified to a dense jaspery rock, and rhyo-
lite or felsite, as well as other rocks, may be altered
by silicification to dense jaspery rock. Each of these
siliceous rocks bear a resemblance to the others, and
if the occurrence can not be observed in place, the
only thing possible toward identification is to simply
call such rocks jasper, chert, flint or hornstone, etc.
Rocks are often much decomposed from atmospheric
or chemical agencies, due to more or less crushing
and the infiltration of waters which oxidize and de-
compose certain mineral constituents, often remov-
ing some minerals and substituting others, as in the
case of the silicification above referred to. Feldspars
are altered to kaolin or clay-like minerals, calcium
carbonate is found segregated, and the bisilicates —
hornblende, augite, etc. — are altered beyond recog-
nition to other minerals. So while it may be possible
for this department to describe the rock sample as it
now appears, it may be impossible to determine ac-
curately, or perhaps at all, what the rock was
originally The rock samples from Goldfield, Nev.,
are of this kind, and the following determinations are
made as nearly as the small size of the specimens
and their condition will admit. No. 1 is a silicified
rock. It is marked "dike," but there is no evidence
in the sample to indicate whether! it is a dike or a
portion of a larger formation that has been silicified
along a certain zone. No. 2 is much changed, the
feldspars being altered to clay. A rock so thoroughly
decomposed as this which does not effervesce with
acids suggests that the rock did not originally con-
tain lime-soda, or soda-lime feldspars, and that the
feldspar was largely orthoclase. The occurrence of
blebs of quartz in the rock further suggests either
rhyolite or quartz porphyry. The slickensides and
tendency of the rock to cleave into flat sheets in-
dicates that it has been subjected to pressure and
movement, and the occurrence of pyrite indicates
proximity to a vein or ore body. No. 3 has also been
subjected to pressure and movement, and is appar-
ently an altered rhyolite. No. 4 also looks like an
altered rhyolite. It con-.ains considerable iron oxide,
and may be from the outcrop of an ore body, but
whether low grade or not is for the owner to de-
termine. No. 5 is similar to No. 1, though contain-
ing more iron oxide. A few small feldspars are seen,
and also small plates of muscovite mica. No. 6 is a
cavernous fine grained feldspathic rock, not greatly
unlike Nos. 1 and 5. The color is due to iron oxide.
It may also have been rhyolite. No. 7 is so thor-
oughly decomposed as to render identification im-
possible. It resembles No. 2 somewhat, but contains
no pyrite. The feldspars have been wholly altered
to clay. The rock is less siliceous than those pre-
viously described. No. 8 is basalt. It contains no
olivine that can be seen without a microscope, and it
is vesicular.
The samples from Demo, Or., have been identi-
fied as follows: No. 1, pitchstone, a variety of vol-
canic glass occurring in dikes, boses and beds, some-
times of great thickness. No. 2 is quartz, carrying
a large percentage of micaceous iron (hematite); the
yellowish mineral is epidote, and quartz, stained with
dust-like inclusions of epidote. No. 3 is diabase, a
basic intrusive rock. No. 4 is rhyolite, in which
there is a large development of sanidine. No. 5 is a
basic eruptive — olivine diabase. No. 6 is a fine gran-
ular quartz rock in which there is some disseminated
pyrite. The yellow spots are iron oxide, due to the
decomposition of some iron-bearing mineral, the na-
ture of which is unknown. No. 7 is quartz in which
the green material is chlorite intermingled with the
quartz, and the greenish-yellow mineral is epidote,
derived from decomposition of the chlorite. No. 8 is
similar to No.7, except for the absence of the chlo-
rite and the presence of a large amount of epidote.
There are no sedimentary rocks in the samples sent.
The specimens from Homestead, Or., are: No. 1,
granular quartz with finely disseminated sulphide of
iron (pyrite). No. 2 is baryta (barium sulphate),
also called heavy spar. The green mineral is copper
ore. The rock also contains a crystal of copper-iron
sulphide altering to bornite. No. 3 is an altered igneous
rock, diorite or granite, in which there are veinlets of
quartz. The entire rock is siliceous and may be gold-
bearing. The greenish color is due to chlorite altered
from hornblende. No. 4 is greenstone, probably
diabase. No. 5 is an altered rock (probably igneous),
but is now mostly fine granular quartz and iron
sulphide.
The three samples from Confidence, Cal., are: No.
1 a cherty quartz, containing a large amount of
iron oxide (hematite) and probably some gold also.
No. 2 is quartz, with scales of molybdenite (sulphide
of molybdenum). This mineral when cleanly concen-
trated is worth about $200 per ton. No. 3 is decayed
hornblende schist, probably altered from grano-
diorite. It is stained slightly with green copper car-
bonate (malachite) on one side. The brown mineral
is iron oxide.
The rock specimens from Columbia mountain,
Nevada, are found on examination to be much
altered. The dark colored ore is almost wholly
brown and red (hematite) iron ore. The bright,
transparent and white crystals are calcium carbon-
ate. The black portion is not manganese, but iron,
and gives a red streak. This character of ore is
sometimes called by miners "liver-colored" rock.
The small, solid brown piece is similar to the other
dark ore, but is more siliceous. There is no tungsten
present in any of the samples. Gold and silver prob-
ably occur. The white, fine-grained piece is a much
altered rhyolite. The darker, bluish colored piece is
also a much altered eruptive, too much changed to
make identification positive. It looks like a frag-
mental andesite — tuff. The gray rock that gives a
red streak on striking with a pick is also tuff. The
red streak is due to the presence of innumerable
grains of red iron ore, which, on being scratched,
shows the characteristic color of hematite. The alka-
line taste of the samples is due to mineral salts pres-
ent, owing to decomposition of the rock.
phide. No. 2 and No. 4 may contain gold and silver,
and possibly No. 3 also.
The red rock sample from Canyon City, Colo., is
principally iron oxide. It resembles some scoria-
ceous lavas.
The Amended Location Notice.
The mineral specimens from Landore, Idaho, are:
No. 1, quartz, with needles of tremolite (a variety of
hornblende). The dark color is due to a mat of fine
hornblende crystals. No. 2 is a granular quartz
rock, seemingly altered from a dike. It contains
considerable iron sulphide (pyrite). No. 3 is a much
altered feldspathic rock, the feldspar having been
almost wholly altered to kaolin. It contains a small
amount of iron sulphide. No. 4 is a fine-grained dike
rock containing disseminated iron and arsenical sul-
Recently several readers have requested informa-
tion on the amendment of mining locations. The fre-
quent necessity for the amendment of mining locations
has been anticipated by several of the mining States
and legislation passed directing how it shall be done.
The States which have made provision for changes of
boundaries of mining claims are: Arizona, Colorado,
Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Da-
kota, South Dakota, Washington and Wyoming. In
all of the States, excepting Arizona, the laws are
similar to those of Colorado, which are as follows:
" If at any time the locator of any mining claim here-
tofore or hereafter located, or his assigns, shall ap-
prehend that his original certificate (of location) was
erroneous, defective, or that the requirements of the
law had not been complied with, before filing, or
shall be desirous of changing his surface boundaries,
or taking in any part of an overlapping claim which
has been abandoned, or in case the original certificate
was made prior to the passage of this law, and he
shall be desirous of securing the benefits of this act,
such locator, or his assigns, may file an additional
certificate, subject to the provisions of this act; pro-
vided, that such location does not interfere with ex-
isting rights of others at the time of such relocation,
and no such relocation, or other record thereof, shall
preclude the claimant, or claimants, from proving
any such title, or titles, as he, or they, may have
held under previous location."
The law in Arizona differs somewhat from that of
the other States and reads as follows:
' ' Location notices may be amended at any time
and the monuments changed to correspond with the
amended location; provided, that no change shall be
made that will interfere with the rights of others."
Concerning the amended location the Supreme
Court of Colorado has said: "The evident intent of
the statute is that the additional certificate shall
operate to cure defects in the original, and thereby
put the locator, where no other rights have inter-
vened, in the same position that he would have occu-
pied if no such defect had occurred. Such intent is
in accord with the principle of all curative provisions
of law."
Another court decision says: "Every one who is
at all familiar with mining locations knows that in
practice the first record must usually, if not always,
be imperfect. Recognizing these difficulties, it has
never been the policy of the law to void a location for
defects in the record, but rather to give the locator
an opportunity to correct his record, whenever de-
fects may be found in it. * * * This is the func-
tion and proper office of amendments: To put the
original in as perfect condition as if it had been com-
plete in the first instance."
In making an amended location the following form
may be used:
Know All Men by These Presents: That I,
, the undersigned, being a citizen of the United
States, claim by right of amendment and relocation
feet linear and horizontal measurement on the
(naming it) lode, along the vein thereof, with all its dips,
variations and angles, together with feet in width
on each side of the middle of said vein at the surface, and
all veins, lodes, ledges and surface ground within the lines
of this amended and relocated claim; feet on said
lode running in a direction from the center of the
discovery shaft of the claim originally located as the
(naming it) claim, and feet running in a
direction from said center of discovery shaft.
This amended additional and relocated lode mining claim
is bounded and described as follows, to wit: Beginning
at corner No. 1 (described by metes and bounds), being
situate in the mining district, county of
State of
That this is intended as an amendment and relocation
of the (naming it) claim, of which I am the owner,
the location certificate of which is filed in Book ,
page , in the office of the recorder of county.
This amended and additional location is made for the
purpose of changing the surface boundaries of said
(naming it) claim, so as to include within it the ground
heretofore covered by the (naming it) claim, also
owned by me, the location certificate of which is filed in
Book , page , in the office of the recorder of
county, and to secure all abandoned overlapping
claims.
That this amended and additional location as above
described embraces the original discovery, as well as all
development work, which I or my predecessors in inter-
est have performed upon or for the benefit of said
original (naming it) mining claim, and I therefore
claim that this amended certificate of location relates
back to the date of the original location of said
(naming it) claim, and that it is entitled to the benefit of
the original discovery, as well as of all work done or im-
provements made by me or by my predecessors in inter-
est within the limits of this amended and additional
location.
This amended and additional certificate is filed without
waiver of any previous rights. Date of original location
of (naming it) mining claim Date of
amendment and relocation
Signed
Dated 1905.
August 5, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
94
Notes on Hydraulic Mining."
Written by it. L. Gamut.
The methods of working gravel deposits by hydrau-
lic processes vary with the character and elevation
of the material. If the deposits are heavy the giants
must be placed behind the materials to be moved, in
order to attain a direct drive and to utilize as much
of the power as possible. However, if the materials
are light the draw method may be adopted. In a
placer mine on the Klamath river, California, in
which the bedrock is flat and the channel wide, two
giants are necessary to drive the gravel across the
channel to the sluices. Here one giant drives the
gravel from 100 feet to 150 feet and the second giant
drivi>s it from 100 feet tn 150 feet farther on to the
sluices. This method is an economical one, since
Hume construction is reduced to a minimum.
High banks are worked oil in benches of from 50
feet to 60 feet in height. If the gravel deposits are
light, it is well to remove the top dirt first and the
gravel last, since the gold is more easily saved by
this method. If the gravel is heavy, however, work
the top and bottom together, since the top dirt aids
in moving the heavy materials.
In a hydraulic mine the first work for the eugineer
is to determine the value of the deposits, and from
the topography of the surrounding country and from
the character of the deposits determine the best
method and the pressure necessary to work them.
After this information has been obtained, run a pre-
liminary ditch survey, giving the required head, from
the mine to the source of the water supply, examine
the topography nf the country and the character of
the formations through which the ditch must be con-
structed. Then, from experience, the engineer can
decide from the topography the least expensive and
best place to construct the ditch, and from the geol-
ogy of the formations the proper grades to be estab
lished. Plans can now be made, cost of plant calcu-
lated, expense of working the whole estimated, and
the least possible margin of profit appraised.
Ditch. — Put in waste gates every i to J mile. As
a protection against floods, flume all water in gulches
over the ditch, unless a flume is to be built across
the gulch, in which case put a turn-out gate in the
flume. Gates often save much expense when the
ditch breaks. In crossing large canyons, the in-
verted siphon may be cheaper than either ditch or
flume. When lumber is cheap and the life of the
mine is not more than ten years, and a ditch could
not be utilized for irrigation or power purposes after
the mine is exhausted, build a flume. The first cost
of a flume, in most instances, is less than that of a
ditch and the repair is very much less. A flume is
also more efficient, not only in the amount of water
conveyed by it, but in the time saved in repairs when
the weather is bad and water plentiful.
Pressure Box. — The penstock, or, more properly
speaking, the pressure box, should be spacious and
the water should stand not less than 4 feet deep over
the entrance of the pipe to prevent the admission of
air. Some miners put a partition in the pressure
box to prevent sand, gravel, etc., from entering the
pipe. A better method is to increase the depth of
the ditch 18 to 20 inches below grade from the pres-
sure box for 100 feet up the ditch and put in a waste
gate deep enough to drain the excavation, so that
the sediment's can be caught in the excavation and
sluiced out at the gate. Provision must be made in
the flume leading to the pressure box to prevent
trash from entering the pipe, by means of a rack,
and for the overflow when the gates in the pipe line
have been closed. In order to facilitate the removal
of the trash accumulated on the rack, design the
supply flume so that the overflow shall pass back
through the rack. Use 2-inch heart lumber in the
construction of the pressure box and make it port-
able.
Pipe Line. — The design and lay of the pipe re-
quires engineering skill and experience. Many obsta-
cles often lie in the course of the pipe line. A 2Mnch
pipe, owned by the Railroad & Mining Co. of Denver,
Colo., crosses the Klamath river on a suspension
bridge. The span is about 380 feet and the two cables
are each 2 inches in diameter.
To reduce friction, as well as expense, use the
shortest pipe line practicable with a minimum num-
ber of elbows and depressions. As a material of pipe
construction, iron is better than steel 'in some dis-
tricts, since steel oxidizes readily. I know of a pipe
line constructed of steel that lasted only two years,
and on the same mine they are using sheet iron pipe
of the same gauge that has been in service about
twenty years. The pipe in the mains should be prop-
erly covered with a mixture of coal tar and asphalt,
which makes a permanent protection. Always test
the tar before using it. Pig. 1 illustrates a good
method of pipe construction, since pipe manufactured
in this manner can be easily made water tight or re-
paired quickly. Much of the hydraulic pipe is put
together at the mine, and practically all of it is re-
paired at the mine. The pipe ordinarily used is 7, 9,
13, 15, 16, 20, 22, 30, 36 and 40 inches in diameter and
formed of Nos. 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18 Birmingham
•Abstractor Colorado School of Mines Bulletin.
gauge sheet steel or iron. The lengths of the sec-
tions are usually 12 and 17 feet, but may vary from 8
to 20 feet, depending somewhat upon the diameter of
the pipe and the character of the country.
The sections should be put together stovepipe
fashion, i. e., one end is simply inserted into the end
of the next piece 3 or 4 inches. If the joint is not
tight and the pipe telescopes too much, use tarred
cloth strips. Never use wood wedges; they injure
the pipe. To prevent flattening of the pipe, the sup-
ports under the pipe should be placed back of the
joint and directly under the first joint of the section;
thus at A and B. (See Pig. 2.) Anchoring the pipe
Fig.
-Riveting in Pipe.
Uoint
Fig. 2.-
A """" B
-Method of Supporting Pipe Line.
Fig. 3. — Air Valve.
Fig. 4. — Sluice Box and Method of Anchoring It.
line is necessary only where elbows, tapers, Y's or
gates occur, unless the slope is considerable. Put in
air valves at all points where vacuums are likely to
occur. An excellent air valve which any blacksmith
can make is shown in Fig. 3. In general, the expan-
sion in hydraulic pipe lines is neglected and is reduced
to a minimum by keeping water in the pipes by
means of the gates. Gates, also, reduce leakage to
a minimum. Sawdust, dirt and fine leaves are used
to stop leakage. The diameter of the pipe at the
head should be large and decrease as the head in-
creases according to the laws of hydraulics. The
effective pressure should be made as great as possi-
ble with reasonable outlay. Many miners err here,
not knowing how to make the proper calculations.
For economy, the gauge of the pipe material should
decrease directly as the pressure.
The introduction and filling of the pipe line with
water must be undertaken with great care. The in-
flow must be gradual to prevent the admission of air.
If this precaution is not taken, serious accidents may
occur, especially with high heads. The gate at the
pressure box, therefore, must be gradually opened.
Rapid opening of gates at any point on the main or
distributing lines should not be tolerated, since
shocking, bursting, bucking or collapsing may occur.
Giants. — The two types of giants in general use
are the single and double jointed. The double-jointed
giant is more efficient, as far as the efficiency of the
stream is concerned, but the single-jointed machine
is more efficient in manipulation, since it can be lubri-
cated without turning the water out of the machine,
which is necessary with the other style. The double-
jointed machine is safer under high heads (200 feet
or more).
The double-jointed giant is manufactured with or
without king bolt. The latter type has a clear water
way; hence is more efficient, but is objectionable since
it is ball bearing. The balls often crush, get lost or
work hard because of the dirt and sand entering into
the grooved ring. The king bolt type is simpler
in construction and is a good machine for all
practical conditions. There are eight sizes of
giants which use nozzles from 11 inch to 10 inches in
diameter, and which weigh from 390 pounds to 2300
pounds. The deflector is an indispensable attach-
ment for giants of all sizes, except the No. 1. From
20% to 80% more material can be piped by its appli-
cation. If it is not adjusted properly and handled
with care, it transposes the giant into a demon of
destruction. Many a poor pipeman has been killed
by one through carelessness. Before deflectors were
invented three men were required to move a large
giant under a high head, but now, by use of the de-
flector, a child can direct it at will with one hand.
The higher the pressure, the easier it works. The
giant is bolted to an 8x8-inch to 12xl2-inch timber,
6 or 7 feet long, called the bed piece or brace block.
In setting the giant, stake against this bed piece and
brace against the stakes. Catalogues and books on
the setting of the giant recommend driving bars of
iron or steel through holes, bored for the purpose,
through the ends of the bed piece into the ground to
secure the giant firmly. This is not practical where
there is bed rock. Stakes staked against the bed
piece are far better where, anything can be driven,
and they hold more than iron bars and can be more
easily removed. All the moving parts of a giant
should be kept well lubricated, since dry surfaces
cause serious accidents (breaking king bolts, etc.).
A mixture of one part tallow, one part lard, and one
part soft, fresh pitch makes an excellent lubricant
which is practically water proof.
It is important that the giant is set securely,
otherwise accidents may not only be serious to the
pipeman and expensive to the operator, but the loca-
tion for the machine may be damaged to such an ex-
tent that resetting is made difficult. Selecting the
location for the giant requires much skill and ex-
perience, especially when the bank is high. The in-
experienced operator would be wise to let his pipe-
man select the location, provided, of course, the
pipeman is experienced. No miner can afford to
have any but the best pipeman, since the success of
the mine depends largely upon him.
The Bedrock Sluices. — Since the mission of the
bedrock sluice is to catch the gold and convey the
materials to the dump, it is the most important ap-
paratus of a hydraulic mine. Great care must be
exercised in its design, location and construction.
The water supply, the character of the ground to be
mined, and the topography of the outlying country
determine the grade. Sands require heavy grades
and shallow sluices. The usual grade is 6 inches per
box of 12 feet, but may vary between 1 inch and 12
inches per box. Give the head boxes a little less
grade and increase slightly toward the dump. The
tail sluices are generally in poorer condition and
therefore require more grade.
Wide, shallow sluices are used in mines where the
deposits are light, grades scant, and dumps of little
depth. If the gravel is heavy (many large boulders)
and the dump is poor, use deep, narrow sluices. The
depth of the water in the sluices, in this case, should
be equal to the width of the flume. Their width and
depth, therefore, depend upon the character of the
material, as well as the water supply.
Sluices should be set as straight as possible, but if
curves are necessary, raise the outside bend accord-
ing to the degree of curvature and construct the
curve of half boxes (i. e., 6-foot lengths).
If the rim of the channel is high and wide or the
channel itself is very wide, the sluices are set in tun-
nels arranged so that they will remain in the bed-
rock at the lowest point of the channel, and should
be run as near to the center of the deposit as prac-
ticable before connecting with the surface workings.
This last point gives the maximum amount of mining
ground per tunnel. Open bedrock cuts are pre-
ferred where practicable, and are cheaply excavated
by loosening the bedrock in the proposed line of the
flume with powder and piping out the material with
the giant. Tons of material can be moved quickly
and cheaply by the application of this method. After
the cut is finished to grade and the flume set therein,
anchor the flume in the cut (a method of anchoring is
shown in Fig. 4), put in the riffles or blocks, put an
obstruction in the flume, and run the sluices full of
gravel to prevent them from floating. Next, bury
the sluices with gravel. All the spaces around the
flume will thus be filled and the grade and form of
the flume preserved. Lastly, remove the obstruc-
tion placed in the sluices and run the materials
through; the flume is now ready for use.
Sluices should not be less than 240 feet in length
for economical mining, since fine gold and mercury
may pass through. This is true, especially if there
95
Mining and Scientific Press.
August 5, 1905.
is much sand or clay in the deposits. Much of the
gold in all gravel deposits is fine and some of it is
rusty. Undercurrents or grizzUes are used to catch
these products which would otherwise be lost.
(to be continued.)
at *************************** ********%
I Mining and Metallurgical Patents*!
PATENTS ISSUED JULY 25, 1905.
Specially Reported and Illustrated for the MINING AND
SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
Ore Concentrating Table.— No. 794,928; W. G.
Dodd, San Francisco, Cal.
Transversely inclined ore concentrating table pro-
vided on its working face with series of longitudinally
extending collecting riffles, which riffles gradually
increase in length from uppermost riffle to lowermost
one of series, receiving and terminal ends of each
riffle extending beyond ends of preceding riffle, there
being unriffled or plain surface to table intermediate
terminals of riffles and its head and tail respectively,
and feeding means so arranged at upper edge of
table as to cause portion of pulp delivered onto table
to overlap uppermost riffle toward head, so as to
feed directly to projecting ends of part of subsequent
riffles.
Rock Drill. — No. 795,169; G. S. Power, Passaic,
N.-J.
In rock drill, combination of cylinder, piston having
piston rod integral therewith, neck or front head
composed of halves detachably secured together,
separably connected to cylinder and adapted for
working fit with piston rod, threaded portion upon
neck or head, adjustable gland adapted to work upon
threaded portion, tapered opening in gland, ■ and
tapered split bushing adapted to fit within opening
and to surround piston rod and pack same when
gland is adjusted.
Process op Producing Tungsten Steels. — No.
795,517; E. D. Kendall, Brooklyn, N. Y.
Process of producing alloy or alloys containing
tungsten and iron by preparing mixture of tungsten
ore, metallic zinc and iron and subjecting mixture to
thermal action of electric current, in electric furnace.
Apparatus for Allaying Dust in Connection
With Rock Drilling Machinery. — No. 794,752;
W. C. Stephens, Camborne, England.
In device of class described, combination with air
supply tap of rock drill, of spraying device provided
with adjustable nozzle adapted to be rotated to regu-
late quantity of spray, blade spring secured to
spraying device and constructed to bear upon face of
nozzle to prevent same from turning, spraying de-
vice being directly connected by ball-and-socket joint
to tap whereby direction of spray may be varied, tap
being provided with admission port for compressed
air and independent passages to rock drill and spray-
ing device and plug in tap constructed to admit sup-
ply of compressed air to either or both of passages
whereby rock drill and spraying device may be oper-
ated separately or together.
Fluid Pressure Feeding Device for Rock Drill-
ing Engines. — No. 795,735; C. H. Shaw, Denver,
Colo.
In fluid pressure feeding device for rock drilling
engines, combination with pneumatic hammer drill of
fluid pressure feed cylinder and piston, comprising
cylinder, piston reciprocally mounted at one end in
cylinder and secured at opposite end to pneumatic
hammer, and plug shaped cylinder head threaded to
rear end, motive fluid inlet passage extending
through plug cylinder head into cylinder at rear end
of piston rod and provided with threaded hole in end,
and brace bar comprising bar loosely threaded to end
of cylinder head at one end and provided with wreDch
receiving surface at opposite end.
Ore Reducing Apparatus.
Armstrong, San Jose, Cal.
-No. 795,471; W. T.
In portable apparatus of character described, tube
of uniform diameter threaded at ends, removable
closures for ends and rendering tube air tight, tube I
having inner lining capable of being reduced to car-
bonaceous form by heat, condenser, and pipe leading
from tube to condenser tube adapted to contain body
of carbon-forming material mixed with ore, and pipe
having end within condenser provided with check
valve to prevent backflow into tube.
Ore Treating and Filtering Apparatus. — No.
795,774; T. D. Jones, Denver, Colo.
In combined ore treating and filtering apparatus,
combination of frame trunnioned at extremities to
rotate, barrel mounted in frame to rotate therewith
on longitudinal axis and trunnioned in frame to ro-
tate independently of latter on axis extending at
right angles to longitudinal axis.
Excavating Bucket.— No. 795,417; H. H. Postle-
thwaite, San Francisco, Cal.
Excavating bucket, same comprising body portion,
cutting lip secured to upper edge thereof, ends of lip
terminating in bearings which project below bottom
edge of bucket, bottom plate and link section, link
section being united to lower edge of bucket's body,
link section being provided with forwardly projecting
and rearwardly projecting bearing ears.
Speed Controlling Device for Hoisting Ma-
chinery.—No. 795,641; J. McGeorge, Cleveland,
Ohio.
Combination of continuously operating motor,
structure driven thereby, switch, electrically actu-
ated clutch in circuit with switch and connecting
motor with driven structure, brake, and automatic
means operated from driven structure constructed
to mechanically actuate switch to effect action of
clutch and of brake.
August 5, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
96
Knots, Hitches and Bends.
Miners are daily required to make use of ropes in
various ways, both on the surface and underground,
and it is very desirable that the miner know how to
quickly make a safe knot, hitch or bend in a rope. It
is not only the necessity of making a secure knot, but
forming one which may readily be untied. For in-
stance, all miners are or should be thoroughly
familiar with the combination known as the "timber
and half hitch." This is illustrated in the accom-
panying sketches at V. Its utility is well known and
the sketch is both familiar and well made. As this
well-known form of hitch appeals to those who fre-
quently are required to make use of it, so each of the
other knots, hitches and bends have their particular
usefulness, and should be carefully studied and prac-
ticed, until each of them can be readily made. The
The figures DD to HH represent the eye splice
commenced and completed.
The bowline G is one of the most useful knots; it
will not slip, and, after being strained, is easily untied.
It should be tied with facility by every one who han-
dles rope. Commence by making a bight in the rope,
then put the end through the bight and under the
standing part as shown in the engraving, then pass
the end again through the bight, and haul tight.
The square or reef knot I must not be mistaken for
the "granny" knot that slips under a strain. Knots
H, K and M are easily untied after being under
strain. The knot M is useful when the rope passes
through an eye and is held by the knot, as it will not
slip, and is easily untied after being strained.
The timber hitch, S, looks as though it would give
way, but it will not; the greater the strain the
tighter it will hold.
The wall knot looks complicated, but is easily made
by proceeding as follows: Form a bight with strand
Useful Knots and How to Tie Them.
accompanying cuts and descriptive matter are from
the handsome pamphlet, "Manila Rope," issued by
the C. W. Hunt Co., of 45 Broadway, New York, on
transmission and hoisting rope:
Knots, Hitches, Bends. — The principle of a knot
is that no two parts which would move in the same
direction, if the rope were to slip, should lie alongside
of and touching each other.
A great number of knots have been devised, of
which a few of the most useful are illustrated. In
the engravings they are shown open, or before being
drawn taut, in order to show the position of the
parts. The names usually given to them are:
A — Bight of rope.
B — Simple or overhand
knot.
C— Figure 8 knot.
D — Double knot.
E — Boat knot.
F — Bowline, first step.
G — Bowline, second step.
H — Bowline, completed.
1 — Square or reef knot.
J — Sheet bend or weaver's
knot.
K — Sheet bend with a tog-
gle.
L— Carrick bend.
M — "Stevedore" knot com-
pleted.
N — "Stevedore" knot com-
menced.
O— Slip knot.
P — Flemish loop.
Q — Chain knot with toggle.
R— Half hitch.
S— Timber hitch.
T— Clove hitch.
U— Rolling hitch.
V — Timber hitch and
hitch.
W— Blackwall hitch.
X — Fisherman's bend.
Y — Round turn and
hitch.
Z — Wall knot commenced.
AA — Wall knot completed.
BB — Wall knot crown com-
menced.
CC — Wall knot crown com-
pleted.
half
half
1 and pass the strand 2 around the end of it, and the
strand 3 around the end of 2, and then through the
bight of 1, as shown in the engraving Z. Haul the
ends taught, when the appearance is as shown in the
engraving AA. The end of the strand 1 is now laid
over the center of the knot, strand 2 laid over 1, and
3 over 2, when the end of 3 is passed through the
bight of 1, as shown in the engraving BB.
Haul all the strands taut, as shown in the engrav-
ing CC.
The " Stevedore " knot M, N is used to hold the
end of a rope from passing through a hole. When
the rope is strained the knot draws up tight, but it
can be easily untied when the strain is removed.
Knots are Weak. — If a knot or hitch of any kind
is tied in a rope its failure under stress is sure to
occur at that place. Each fibre in the straight part
of the rope takes proper share of the load, but in all
knots the rope is cramped or has a short bend, which
throws an overload on those fibers that are on the
outside of the bend and one fiber after another
breaks until the rope is torn apart. The shorter the
bend in the standing rope the weaker is the knot.
(See the experiments of Prof. Edward F. Miller,
Massachusetts Institute" of Technology, in "Machin-
ery," page 198, March, 1900.) The results given in
the following table ate approximate, but are suf-
ficient to cause engineers to be cautious in all rope
fastenings employed in important work.
Table of the approximate strength of knots com-
pared with the full strength of the rope based on
Prof. Miller's experiments:
APPROXIMATE EFFICIENCY OF KNOTS EN A PERCENTAGE
OP THE FULL STRENGTH OF THE ROPE.
The Eftlciency
„ , of the Knot.
Hope Jry— average ot four tests from the same coil as the knots. . .100
Eyespllce over aa Iron thlmhle yo
Short splice in the rope 80
Timber hitch, round turn, and half hitch '.'. cs
Bowline slip knot, olove hitch on
Squure knot, weavers' knot, sheet bend.... 50
Flemish loop, overhand knot 45
Personal.
*
Sfc*"f 4"ff-f cf.cf.if.if.£f.cf.cf.if.cf,^.cf.cf.cf.if.if.cf. tf.tf.tf. tf.if.cw.if.if.if.if.if.if.if, y
R. B. Stanford of Columbia, Cal., has returned from
New York.
R. S. Light is manager Mollie S. M. Co., operating
near Creede, Colo.
Ed. Lynch has resigned as superintendent Keystone
mine at Amador City, Cal.
C. R. Downs has been made superintendent Keystone
mine at Amador City, Cal.
S. Davis of Butte, Mont., has taken charge Cork
mine at Kaslo, Slocan district, B. C.
M. A. Sheets has been appointed superintendent
Overland mine and mill at Sunshine, Utah.
S. H. Bashor, manager Copper Blush mine at James-
town, Colo., is making a short Eastern trip.
E. D. Trenam, manager Deer Lodge mine, Deer
Lodge, Nev., is directing work at the mine.
J. L. Parker is mine superintendent Brown Alaska
Co. at Hadley, Prince of Wales island, Alaska.
W. H. Aldridge, manager Trail smelter at Trail,
B. C, is on a trip to Montreal and New York City.
E. P. Mitchel of Santa Barbara, Cal., president
Goldstake M. & M. Co., has been in Deadwood, S. D.
J. C. Brennon, superintendent La Mina Sarto Tomas
at Torres, Sonora, Mexico, has been at Houghton, Mich.
J. Parke Channing has completed an examination
of the mines of the Nevada Copper M. Co. at Ely, Nev.
R. K. Humphrey has resigned as manager Montana
Zinc Co., Walkerville, Mont., to engage in general engi-
neering work.
H. J. Ryan of Cornell University has taken up his
duties as professor of electrical engineering at Stanford
University, Cal.
Freeman Rowe has been appointed foreman Hecla
mine at Wallace, Idaho. A. M. Perkins and Geo. Wall
have been made shift bosses.
A. W. Jenks has returned to Salt Lake City, Utah,
after four months spent in the examination of mining
properties in Nevada and Utah.
D. T. Parker, formerly superintendent Ohio & Colo-
rado S. & R. Co. at Salida, Colo., is superintendent Pon-
deray Smelting Co., Sand Point, Idaho.
Jos. Porter, recent superintendent Fairview mine,
Papoose, Cal., has taken the management of the Bonanza
King mine, Trinity Center, Trinity county, Cal.
J. W. Gates, for several years in the Denver office of
the Mine & Smelter Supply Co., has been appointed
local manager of their Salt Lake City, Utah, branch.
LOUIS B. Carr, formerly of Pueblo, Colo., has formed
a partnership with Geo. H. Sauer and opened a custom
assay and ore shippers' office at 1711 California street,
Denver, Colo.
Matthew Brodie, formerly of the Pittsburg office,
has been appointed local manager of the Salt Lake City
branch of the Sullivan Machinery Co. of Chicago, with
offices at No. 128 Keith building.
Theo. F. Van Wagenen, who recently returned
from South Africa, now makes his headquarters in the
City of Mexico. For the next ninety days he will be
traveling through Yucatan and the southern States of
the Mexican republic.
J. R. Hendra, superintendent Santa Fe Copper &
Gold Mining Co., with mines in Alamos, Sonora, and
also in Sinaloa, Mexico, has also taken the superintend -
ency of the San Bernardo Mining Co.'s mines in Aduana,
Alamos, Sonora, Mexico.
Obituary.
*
a-
j^tfltptfilft^tfltfltfltfl if.Cf.Cfltflif.tfttfttflSfttfltfttfiCf.tfl tfltft^tlJltftCfttptfltflifief.ifl Hi
Wm. Colley, a well-known zinc and lead miner, died
in Leadville, Colo., July 23, of pneumonia, aged 52.
Henry Ramdour, superintendent Globe mine at
Trinity City, Cal., died recently at Winnemucca, Nev.
William Jessop died on July 4 at Thornsett Lodge,
Bradfield, England, after a long illness. Mr. Jessop was
born October, 1856, was educated at Repton, Germany,
and at Cambridge. At the time of his death and since
1887 he was chairman of William Jessop & Sons, Ltd.,
steel manufacturers of Sheffield, England, and was the
head of the fourth generation of the Jessop family in
control of the firm — the business having been estab-
lished in 1774. He was also president of Jessop Steel Co.
of Washington, Pa., president of the Jessop hospital for
women, an institution founded by his father, the late
Thomas Jessop, to which he contributed over $200,000,
and which was zealously and liberally supported by his
son. He was noted for his kindness and generosity and
was greatly esteemed by all. He visited Australia,
Japan and America in 1903.
97
Mining and Scientific Press.
August 5, 1905.
St •& 4f & & *&J ■& tfc *S> * & & & *ffl tfc & "& & * "& ^J *8? *fe * "& * rfc & * 'Jj/Jt & nfct tfc i^j *A» *
1 MINING SUMMARY, I
Specially Compiled and Reported for the MINING AND
SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
ARIZONA.
GLla County.
The old shaft at the Old Dominion plant at Glohe has
been abandoned for all hoisting purposes and power ap-
plied to the new shaft. The gallows frame has been
taken from the old shaft and the steam plant is to be
removed. The new concentrator will be operated on
August 1. The fourth furnace will be put in at once and
serve as a relief for the three now in commission. They
can be repaired alternately without lessening the output.
Mohave County.
The Santa Inez M. Co. is working the Mohave mine,
near Boundary Cone, in the Vivian district. Superin-
tendent Malone is putting in a hoist at the Pay mine,
south of Kingman. The German-American mill has
been closed down owing to the failure of the water sup-
ply. Men have been put to work on the Pioneer shaft
and it will be driven down into the water stratum. If
sufficient water is developed the mill will be started up
again. At the Pinkham mine men are taking out
water and getting ready to sample the property. A
hoist will be put in at the Midnight mine and the prop-
erty unwatered. E. C. Eckis is superintending work on
both mines. Work on the Minnesota-Connor mine at
Chloride is under the management of P. H. Griffith. A
large compressor is being put in and machine drills will
be put in at once.
Final County.
(Special Correspondence). — -The Arizona-Pacific Cop-
per Co., whose property is near Florence, has put in a
complete shaft equipment, including a 35 H. P. hoist,
air compressor, machine drills, electric light plant,
pumps and other equipment. The company is engaged
in sinking a shaft to a depth of 1000 feet. It is down to
a depth of 350 feet, where a station has been cut and a
crosscut made to the vein. The main office is 702 Steven-
son Building, Indianapolis, Ind. P. P. Jeffries is presi-
dent, J. W. Sharpe vice-president and general manager
and E. B. Stafford superintendent. The property is said
to show several smaller veins, assaying 3% to 20% copper
and $5 to $20 gold per ton. A quartz porphyry dyke,
1200 feet long and of variable width, has been shattered
and cemented by veins carrying cuprite, melaconite and
chalcocite giving 3% copper.
Florence, July 31.
(Special Correspondence). — The Big Lead M. Co. has
purchased copper claims adjoining the Ray mines, 5
miles from Kelvin. A double-compartment shaft has
been sunk to a depth of 100 feet, and the copper ore
body has been crosscut at the bottom of the shaft to a
width of 100 feet. A successful concentration test of the
ore is said to have been made at the old Bob Tail mine.
A site is being graded on which to build a concentrating
and leaching plant with a capacity of 100 tons daily.
Kelvin, August 1.
Yavapai County.
Yavapai county has agreed to accept the road leading
from Poland past the Buffalo -Arizona camp to the
Michigan-Arizona mines. The opening of the road
makes an improvement in the vicinity, furnishing access
to the mines from Poland. Previously it has been neces-
sary for the companies operating south of the Buffalo-
Arizona to have the freight and mail sent to Prescott,
15 miles away. On the Gold-Copper Co. 's ground,
south of the Senator mine, near Prescott, the company
is completing a camp that will accommodate fifteen men
until reduction begins. Thos. Marmont is superinten-
dent.
T. J. Rigby, president and general manager of the
Rigby M. & R. Co., is establishing the Pohle-Croasdale
metal volatilization process at Mayer. All the buildings,
ore bins, etc., are completed, the machinery has been
made, much of it is on the ground and the rest in tran-
sit. The works will be ready to start up by October,
beginning with four furnaces capable of handling 125
tons per day. The superintendent and construction
engineer is H. A. Clarke. The operation is first one of
crushing the ore; second, its subjection to a desulphuriz-
ing roast to expel the sulphur; third, volatilizing the
metals and, fourth, condensing them in chambers pro-
vided for the purpose, where 95% to 98% of the values
are said to be recovered. It is automatic.
CALIFORNIA.
Amador County.
At the Volcano quartz mine on the Mokelumne river,
near West Point, a 10-stamp mill is being put up. F.
Jackson and J. Podesta are working their quartz mine
on the Spagnoli land, near Clinton. It is reported
that the Zeila mine is changing from the old to the new
hoist. The hoist has been all ready, but the work of
changing has been delayed on account of the flow of
water. The mill will be shut down for two weeks while
the change is being made.
Butte Couuty.
The main tunnel of the Gold Bank quartz mine, at
Forbestown, has been cleaned through its length of 2200
feet.
The Veigne ranch, 5 miles east of Honcut, consisting
of 1430 acres, has been bonded by W. E. Crook for min-
ing purposes.
Del Norte County.
(Special Correspondence). — It is reported that a 500-
ton concentrating plant is to be put in at the Monu-
mental mine at Monumental by T. W. M. Draper. The
ore is soft and it is planned to concentrate twenty-five
tons to one.
Monumental, Aug. 1.
Contra Costa County.
(Special Correspondence). — The new smelting and re-
fining plant of the Mountain Copper Co., near Martinez,
is about one-half finished. The lead tanks of the sul-
phuric acid plant have been put in and the building
partly built. Most of the buildings have been com-
pleted and the furnaces and boilers are being put in.
Martinez, Aug. 3.
JLos Angeles County.
A low-grade gold property in Millard canyon on
Mount Lowe is being developed by a Milwaukee com-
pany represented by H. J. Pullen.
Inyo County.
The Great Western Ore Purchasing & Reduction Co.
is running ten stamps at Keeler and five at Swansea.
Slag from Cerro Gordo and the Swansea furnaces is be-
ing worked, and Darwin's furnace sites will also be
worked.
Merced County.
L. K. Vaughan of Oroville is prospecting the bed of
the Merced river, near Snelling, with a drill. The
ground will be worked with a dredge, if prospectB war-
rant.
Nevada County.
Superintendent F. L. Whipple has temporarily sus-
pended operations on the Federal Loan mine, near Ne-
vada City, while the surface improvements are being
made, during which time only the pumps will be kept
going and a small crew employed. The mine is down to
the 1000-foot level and all ready for drifting and stoping.
Since the present company took hold they have sunk
200 feet. H. German and Weinman Bros, of North
San Juan, who are driving ahead the long tunnel at the
Orient gravel mine, near Nigger Tent, found gravel
while making an upraise. They connected with the
shaft and have fine air for working in the main tunnel.
The gravel is 60 feet above the tunnel, pitching at a
steep angle into the ridge. To reach the bottom of the
channel will require 300 feet of tunnel.
Superintendent W. H. Dunlap is putting in a 10-drill
compressor at the Lecompton mine at Nevada City.
The debris commission have granted permission to the
Omega Co. to build another restraining barrier in the
canyon below their gravel mine at Omega, near Wash-
ington. Superintendent W. M. Wilson expects to com-
mence work as soon as the preliminary arrangements
can be completed, as it is desired to have the barrier fin-
ished by next fall. R. I. Thomas and associates have
an option on the Hustler holdings, near Cherokee, on
the Bloomfield channel.
Placer County.
The Hidden Treasure mine is working 140 men and
making good progress on the air shaft near Forks
House. The Baltimore mine at Forest Hill is running
with thirty men and putting in a 50 H. P. engine.
At the Mayflower mine, near Forest Hill, they have
struck the Orino channel. At the Tadpole mine, at
Secret House, four men are driving the main tunnel.
The Jarvis mine, at Red Point, is being worked with
twenty-five men. About fifteen men are employed at
the Red Point mine. The Alameda mine machinery
at Black Canyon is being put in order, electricity re-
placing steam, and forty men will be employed. The
Paragon mine, at Bath, is working twenty-five men on
good pay dirt, two shifts a day. James & Smiley have
four men at work at the Prairie Flower mine, at Canada
Hill, developing. The Salvation mine, at Canada Hill,
has closed down for a short time. Drifting is to be
started at the Santa Fe mine, at Canada Hill. In the
Golden West mine, at Canada Hill, the pay channel is
said to have been reached.
The Acacia, or James mine, near Damascus, has been
sold to a San Francisco company by G. and H. W. Mc-
Aulay.
San Bernardino County.
W. V. Holley and J. Meyer of Los Angeles have
bought from J. Nelson and A. E. Moore their claims,
near Keswick Springs, on the desert, for $40,000. The
ore showed high values on the surface, and at a depth of
150 feet increased in value. Machinery will be put in.
San JDiego County.
Near Julian, the Julian Con. M. Co. is putting up a
50-ton roasting plant and also a 20-stamp mill and cya-
nide plant between the Helvetia and High Peak mines.
New shafts are being sunk on both mines and the old
ones are being retimbered, to be used for ventilation and
escape. The Julian Con. M. Co. also owns the Warlock
mine, between Julian and Banner, on which they are
running a crosscut to tap the vein. This crosscut is 800
feet long. W. J. Proud is in charge of the High Peak
mine, D. F. Lane of the Helvetia, D. S. McPherson of
the Warlock and D. G. Juewitt is in charge of the mill-
ing and cyanide plant. W. W. Boswell is the general
superintendent.
Shasta County.
D. McCarthy proposes to open up the Dry Slide mine
above Keswick.
Sierra County.
(Special Correspondence). — The Forest City M. Co.
have started men to work and this coming week will
have eight men working. New cars have been taken to
the mine and work will be crowded as much as possible,
and as soon as there is enough money will put on six
more men, and it will take but a short time to develop
the channel.
Forest City, Aug. 1.
At Forest City work has been started on the Mabel
Mertz mine, extending the West tunnel to tap the
gravel channel, which was struck some time ago.
Superintendent E. Kuhfield has been driving the tunnel
at the South Fork mine, near Forest, and it is now
believed to be under the gravel channel.
At the Mountain mine the tramway which was de-
stroyed by fire last December is being repaired. It is in
operation by means of a temporary chute from the level
of No. 3 tunnel to the lower bin of the upper terminal.
This arrangement is temporary, but will enable the mill
to be started and supplied with ore until complete re-
pairs are made. A gyratory crusher is to be put in at
the mine. The rock crusher will be driven by a 50 H. P.
electric motor, which will receive its current from a 75
K.W. generator at the mill. This plant will also furnish
lights for both mine and mill, and later will be used to
drive air compressors at the mine. L. H. Carver is su-
perintendent.
Siskiyou County.
The Williams Point gravel mine, 10 miles above Happy
Camp, has been sold by T. J. Nolton to Seattle, Wash.,
and Denver, Colo., parties, who propose to put in a
power plant and pump water from the Klamath river
for mining by hydraulic means. The experiment is
said to have been tried successfully in Colorado, and it
will be watched with interest, as there are many mines
that could be worked but cannot be provided with
ditches.
Stanislaus County.
T. Donohue, superintendent of the La Grange Ditch &
Hydraulic M. Co., is building 8390 feet of flume, 5x7 feet.
Work was stopped July 1 until this can be finished.
Yuba County.
It is reported that dredge mining is to be started, 4
miles east of Wheatland, by an English syndicate.
Jas. O'Brien has bonded from T. Mahoney land in Linda
township, 4 miles east of Marysville, for dredge mining
purposes and also from John Raynolds.
COLORADO.
(Special Correspondence). — The "good roads' move-
ment " which has occupied the attention of Denver the
past week will undoubtedly bring forth good results.
The question of good roads in this State is not one of
comfort and convenience, but one of necessity. In the
mountains, especially, the question needs agitation.
The county, State and Government should work in har-
mony along this line and endeavor to make better roads.
In many isolated districts and in places where the travel
is heavy the roads are almost impassable, even during
the summer months. It is to be hoped that the recent
convention held in this city will do all and more than it
has promised. The Short Line Railroad, which was
built by the mine owners and operators of Colorado
Springs and Cripple Creek district, and which is re-
ported as having been sold to the Colorado & Southern
Railway, is to have an airing in the courts. James F.
Burns, a heavy stockholder in the Short Line, has filed
suit against the directors and charges secret manipula-
tion in the sale of the stock. Burns has been refused,
according to his complaint, the books and is bringing
suit to compel them to allow him to examine the books.
Activity is shown in several districts where the ores
contain considerable zinc. On account of the high price
for zinc, a large number of old abandoned mines and
dumps are now working at a profit and many more are
being started. In upper Clear Creek county this is
proving true, as some of the old dumps are being worked
at a profit, others are preparing to open up the old
stopes as well as treat the dumps.
Denver, Aug. 1.
Clear Creek County.
(Special Correspondence). — The Independent M. Co.
has recently purchased the old Griffith mine and are
preparing to build a new concentrating mill for handling
the old dump as well as the low-grade ores from the
mine. The purchase price was $40,000 to be paid in
seven months; twenty-five to thirty tons per month are
being shipped at present. A new boiler will be put on
the property. This company is also operating in East
Argentine district. John Larson is manager, and
Simon Anderson is superintendent.
Georgetown, July 28.
(Special Correspondence). — It is reported that the
Empire Co. intend building a new smelter at Empire
station, on Clear creek. A number of tests have been
made, sufficient ore procured and the site of the smelter
selected. The Commodore Co., in which A. E. Rey-
nolds is interested, is pushing its Commodore tunnel into
Red Elephant mountain to develop mines in that moun-
tain. The Big 40 tunnel, being driven from Chicago
creek to Clear creek by the Big 40 M. & T. Co. of Den-
ver, has opened an ore shoot in the first lode. The
Two Sisters, or the American Sisters, are sinking a shaft
to be sunk 200 feet. The Joe Reynolds mine is ship-
ping high-grade ore. A new ore washer has been put in
at the mouth of their working tunnel to wash the dirt
taken from the old stopes before it is sent to the concen-
trator. This mine is being worked through a tunnel
driven by the company to drain the old workings, but
may eventually be worked through the Big 40 tunnel
and the Gold Valley tunnel. The Mint lode at Empire
is working.
Empire, July 29.
(Special Correspondence). — Stephens & McGroth have
a lease on the old Mendota mill and dump and upper
workings of the mine and are shipping 100 tons of con-
centrates per month. The dump ores run high in zinc.
The new mill of the Dives-Pelican Co. is in opera-
tion, but they are putting in a larger size motor, as the
one now in place is not of sufficient size to allow them
to run full capacity.
Silver Plume, July 29.
(Special Correspondence). — On the ground on Chicago
creek, where gold was first discovered in Clear Creek
county, by George A. Jackson in 1858, is the new stamp
and concentrating mill of the Waltham M. & M. Co.,
M. W. Tanner, president; A Anderson, treasurer. The
mill contains twenty stamps, Elspass mill, two Wilfleys
and one jig and has a capacity of 100 tons per day. The
cyanide plant contains six steel tanks witt a capacity of
100 to 150 tons each. Everything in the mill is automatic.
The shaft on the property is down 150 feet and is to be
sunk to the 500-foot level. The Bonita mill, F. Read,
manager, is adding 1000 square feet of canvas tables to
better enable them to handle the ore they are receiving.
Idaho Springs, July 31.
A right of way through the Silver Gem tunnel at the
head of Silver Age gulch has been secured by the Fos-
toria G. M. Co., which owns the old Hall ranch, an old
agricultural patent lying north of the dividing line
between Gilpin and Clear Creek counties, and the tunnel
will be extended several hundred feet to reach the prin-
cipal veins on the ranch. A 60 H. P. boiler and a 4-drill
August 5, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
98
air compressor will be placed at the mouth of the tunnel.
The Silver Gem tunnel is in 917 feet and is expected to
cut the St. Joseph lode, after which it will cut the Gal-
atea vein. W. E. Campbell of Idaho Springs is secre-
tary and manager. At the Ward mine od Jackson's
bar at Idaho Springs, men are sinking the present shaft,
now 165 feet deep, an additional 100 feet, the work to be
done with double shifts using machine drills. A largo
flow of water is coming in, but it will not interfere with
operations at present, as the mine is equipped with both
steam and electric plunger sinking pumps. The cyanide
plant is handling the entire tailings output of the mill.
Work was to bo started August 1 on an electric road
to the mouth of the Wilcox tunnel from Clear creek.
The line will run around the face of Lafayette mountain
on a (iu0 grade, and will be from 1500 to 2000 feet above
Georgetown. The road will be used almost entirely for
carrying the Waldorf ores to market. The road will be
built by C. J. Wilcox, manager of the Waldorf M. Co.
The Georgetown Courier says that considerable devel-
opment work is being carried on in the Daily district.
T. Tyler of tho Duluth & Colorado M. Co. states that
many persons aro in the field. The Continental tunnel
is in 130 feet. The Tarn O'Shanter Co., operating
claims adjoining the Puzzler group, is employing men in
development work. The Red Mountain Co. is employ-
ing two shifts and excellent headway is being made.
The property is showing good values in gold and silver.
The crosscut tunnel started a few months ago is in 200
feet. The Helen-Harold Co. is developing. L. W.
Aldrich is putting in an upraise to secure good air.
The Butler M. Co. has put in its machinery. The shaft
is to be given another lift of 100 feet. The Dunton
claims are being operated by the Vigilant M. Co., under
the management of J. Lundstrom. The lower adit is
being driven ahead.
Manager C. H. Morris has made arrangements for
more work at the mines of the Charter-Raton M. & M.
Co. on Breckenridge mountain, near Empire. The tun-
nel is in 150 feet.
Gilpin County.
The new mill of the Gold Dirt M. & M. Co. at Perigo
has been completed and is expected to be running by
August 10. The stamps are rapid drop, each weighing
1100 pounds. The plant will be lighted by electricity.
The mill ore will be hoisted from the tunnel level through
a 100-foot upraise to the rear and top of the mill by ele-
vator. The process employed is plate amalgamation,
concentration and cyaniding. J. R. Anderson is man-
ager.
Development at the Snowdon property, near the head
of Silver creek, is being done by the Missouri-Colorado
M. & M. Co. under the superintendency of T. J. Stroud.
They are drifting in the shaft at the 100 foot point and
at the 50-foot point they are stoping. No effort is being
made to ship ores at present. They expect to resume
sinking the shaft. J. P. Colby, owning the Mary and
Starling claims on the north side of Silver creek, is tim-
bering the Starling tunnel, intending to work that tun-
nel to open up the Mary vein. It is reported that the
Claudia J. vein has been cut in the crosscut at a depth
of 100 feet. Arrangements are being made for a steam
hoist. It is owned by W. Kelly of Apex. The
Branham syndicate, with F. L. Branham in charge of
operations, owns the Golden Crescent group on Black
mountain on the south side of Silver creek. The
Golden Rod M. & M. Co. have not been working for
some time on account of the large amount of water in
the main shaft which has reached a depth of 235 feet,
the development in the mean time consisting of driving
the tunnel to cut the shaft. This tunnel is in 70 feet,
and when it cuts the shaft it will drain the surplus
water, when operations will be resumed in the main
shaft workings, as by that time it is believed that the
water can be handled to advantage. — — At the Maine
Louise group on the south side of Silver creek, J. Tay-
lor and G. B. Wilkinson propose to extend the main
tunnel to get under the old workings. The Little
Lallie Mines Co., operating on the east side of Michigan
hill, have W. E. Garver in charge of developments.
The Pine Creek Con. M. & M. Co. has resumed work on
its Barrick group of mines on Michigan hill, the work
being in charge of W. S. Barrick.
Grand County.
The new mill of the Williams Fork M. & M. Co. is in
operation near Empire. The 1400-foot tram from the
mouth of the tunnel to the mill has been completed.
Gunnison County.
The Buena Vista M. Co. has put in machinery on its
property at Hancock, and will resume operations on its
tunnel into Mount Chapman from the northeast side.
The company proposes to drive this tunnel 2000 feet,
cutting through Mineral hill and into Mount Chapman.
Several veins will be cut. Regan & McCarthy of
Cripple Creek have leased and bonded the El Dorado
property, in Waunita park, and commenced operations.
Machinery has been placed on the shaft, and it will be
sunk deeper. At Camp Sherrod the Sunlight G. M.
Co., which has been driving a long tunnel into Mount
Chapman from the west, has opened some ore that runs
$50 per ton. Manager W. M. Bacon has a car of ore
ready for shipment. The tunnel is in 200 feet. The
N. B. C. Co. has started a tunnel into Brittle Silver
mountain, having let a contract for a 500-foot tunnel.
The Camilla M. Co., representing W. G. Smith and
other Denver people, will resume operations on its tun-
nel on Pomeroy mountain. It is now in 800 feet and has
cut several veins.
The Golden mine in Paradise basin is being worked by
L. Stanley and I. Brown of Gunnison. Geo. Kellogg,
of the Chloride at Pitkin, has secured a lease on the
Mono mill on Ohio ereek and has men repairing it, and
will treat by cyanide all the low-grade product of the
mine.
Lake County.
The Twin Lakes Miner says Hughes & Osburn are
operating their Lincoln gulch properties. J. M. Low
is working the Young & Morgan claim at Red Mountain.
Wm. Wheeler and T. Corlett are working the Iron-
Gold group at Red Mountain. The Manhattan M. &
p. property has let a contract to Garfield Chilson for
extra development work. Arthur Kindel et. al will
start extracting ore next month from the Kindel claims,
in Sayres' gulch. The Blaine Electric is making
rapid progress in their tunnel in Willis gulch, and are
employing a number of miners. The tunnel of the
Ml. Storm property is progressing rapidly since Frank
Low and Stove Dodge have secured the contract.
Operations have been resumed on the Dewar and Bow-
man properties at Red Mountain, by Harry Bowman.
E. J. Dewar will arrive later. Work has been re-
sumed on the Byby group belonging to E. Ludwig of
Denvor, and G. Hoover has secured the contract on the
new crosscut tunnel that will tap the several veins at
depth. Tho property is on Taylor Pass.
In Loadvillc the Western M. Co. is sinking two shafts,
one above the Penrose and the other to the south of it.
The upper shaft is the Home Extension, under lease to
the Cloud City Co., which is 600 feot deep and will be
sunk another 200 feet, to be on a level with the bottom
of the Cloud City, and when sinking is completed the
two shafts will bo connected. The other shaft to be
sunk is the Bobn, which is down 550 feet and will have
to go down another 350 feet to reach the ore shoot from
the Penrose.
La Plata County.
(Special Correspondence). — At La Plata the May Day
new tram is running. They are shipping twenty-five
ton6 of good ore daily. The second tunnel, being run to
cut tho vein at a depth of 1000 feet, is in 1100 feet, with
1000 feet more to be driven. Machine drills and three
shifts of miners are at work. A third shift is to be
put on at the New Hopes mine as soon as the road is
cleared of snow. Wm. Price of La Plata is manager.
The tunnel is in 1300 feet, which leaves 450 feet to be
driven before the vein is reached. The tunnel is being
driven with machine drills, making 6 feet daily. The
Lucky 4 mine, in Burnt Timber gulch, owned by Cripple
Creek parties, recently became one of the shippers in
this section. Manager Sye Roe is working two shifts
and is turning out five tons of ore daily. The Bonnie
Girl mill is being built and the management think they
will start up by Sept. 1. The mill is a 50-stamp concen-
trating plant and will be operated entirely by electric
power. Superintendent Al Beason has charge of the
work. Eastern parties are looking at the Neglected
mine and are thinking of starting it.
La Plata, July 29.
Mineral County.
At the Amethyst mine, near Creede, A 100-ton milling
plant is being put up. The plant was designed by L. H.
Norton, manager, and J. J. Fitzgerald, superintendent of
the milling department of Creede United M. Co. The
equipment includes a 9x15 Blake crusher, Bolthoff auto-
matic feeder, two sets 14x27 rolls, four trommels, four 4-
compartments jigs, tables and two 5-foot Chilean mills.
A novel mechanism is the shaking launder for dewater-
ing the jig middlings before delivery to the mills. Power
is furnished by two 80 H. P. boilers and a 14x36 Corliss-
Murray engine. It will probably be working within
three months. Cyrus Miller of Denver is the general
manager and Frank Ullman superintendent of the
Amethyst Co. The East Willow mill above Creede is
in operation, treating forty tons of ore daily. Chas.
Loughridge is general manager.
Ouray County.
The Joker tunnel of the Red Mountain R., M. & S. Co.
is in 1700 feet, the depth at the breast being about 350
feet. In its course of 7000 feet it is expected to cut the
Guston ground at a depth of 417 feet, the Robinson at
500 feet depth, the Yankee Girl at the sixth level, and
the Genessee at the 800-foot. Mining has been handi-
capped by the acid surface waters, which will be re-
moved through the Joker tunnel. During the six
months ending June 11, the tunnel was driven 1300 feet.
During March 282 feet were driven, the ground being
broken 12x14 feet, the tunnel in the clear being 7x8 i feet.
Leyner drills, size 5A, are in use. Back holes of 11J feet
and cut holes of 13J feet were drilled. Including drillers,
muckers, sharpeners, twenty-eight men were employed.
The tunnel is mainly in a hard blue porphyry. The
tunnel is timbered for 1000 feet, the timbers being
square-setted. A 250-K.W. dynamo has been put in for
electric lighting and haulage._ W. C. Aston has charge
of work, and G. Crawford is manager. The general
superintendent is G. B. Craft of Ouray.
The mill of the Treasury Tunnel M. & R. Co. at Red
Mountain has twenty stamps dropping, with twenty
more ordered and to be put in as soon as possible. The
Treasury mill is said to be now producing twenty tons of
concentrate a day — a ton to the stamp. W. J". Ham-
mond is manager. In the Bachelor district the Cal-
liope is shipping as well as the Bachelor and within
three months the Neodesha, on which the Arps Bros,
have started three shifts to drive a 400-foot tunnel, will
be producing. John Kelleher has charge of the Neode-
sha and Bachelor.
Park County.
It is proposed to run a transportation and development
tunnel from near Alma through London mountain of the
Mosquito range to the Ibex mine in Lake county. The
distance is over 4 miles, and will give a depth of over
2500 feet— cutting the London veins at a depth of 2550
feet, 850 feet below the present 1700-foot workings.
R. M. Sherwood and W. J. Kurt, of the London Moun-
tain Railroad, Tunnel & Mining Co., are interested.
J. H. Thorne has started work at the Snowstorm
placer, near Alma. The Hilltop mine on Horseshoe
gulch, 4 miles from Fairplay, has been leased by John
Geering. Wm. Bean has been shipping copper gold
ore from the May Queen mine, near Alma. Geo.
Shelton is shipping 200 tons of sulphide ore monthly
from the Kentucky Belle, near Alma.
San Juan County.
Tunnel work is to be resumed by the Golden Monarch
M. & M. Co. at its claims, near Gladstone. The 20-
stamp mill of the Gold Prince mine is handling 40 tons
daily. Work is to be started at the new 500-ton mill at
Animas Porks.
The Sound Democrat claims and millsite at the head
of Mastodon gulch, near Silverton, have been sold to J. B.
Lazell and J. W. Walker for $100,000 by J. James and
W. G. White.
San Miguel County.
It is reported that Alex. Greig will resume work at
the Nevada mine, near Ophir.
Tests of vanadium-bearing rock found on the San
Miguel river, near Newmire, are to be made by the
Vanadium Alloys Co., with ofiice at 25 Broad street,
New York City. W. T. Rynard, manager, and H. A.
Hillman have been at Telluride examining the deposit.
It is stated that a 25-ton mill is to be built to concentrate
the product.
Sum, till Couuty.
The Wachter & Weaver property in McCullough
gulch, near Breckenridge, is being developed by a tun-
nel. P. A. Yauger, manager of the Beaver Creek
Gold Mines Co. at Alma, has been getting machinery to
put tho Lucky mill at work on ore from the Beaver
Creek Co.'s property. The Wild Irishman, on Glacier
mountain, Montezuma, and operated under the manage-
ment of T. Connors of Leadville and Kokomo, is being
developed by running a lower tunnel which is to be 2000
feet in length. A vein of ruby silver ore has already
been cut. Superintendent E. W. Fairfield reports the
mining situation in the Silver Wing mine at Montezuma
as good.
E. T. Brooks has completed his 1000-foot contract on
the French Creek tunnel, in French gulch, for Lennox,
Evans & Co. The tunnel has been driven 1358 feet.
The Mary Verna and North American properties at
Frisco are to be equipped with air compressors and
power drills and the tunnels driven 3000 feet.
Teller County.
It is reported that a new ore shoot is being opened up
on the 12th level of the Last Dollar mine on Bull hill,
Cripple Creek. A new cyanide plant is being put up
at the Des Moines Co. 's property on Bull hill. The
new compressor has been started at the Blue Bird mine
on Bull hill. The Portland Gold M. Co. has opened
up a new vein at a depth of 1350 feet, in the No. 3 shaft,
located on the crest of Battle mountain, Cripple Creek.
The experimental mill erected at Stratton's Inde-
pendence has been closed after one year's service. The
mill was built to test the low-grade ore in the great
dump by the Cassell process. It is reported that the
low-grade ores of the dump, which approximate 1,000,-
000 tons and possibly average $4 per ton, can be treated
at a net profit.
The Winner Gold M. Co. has put in a 20 H. P. hoist,
with blacksmith shop on its Winter Hill holdings near
Midland. The company has seventy acres, on which de-
velopment work is being done. A. M. Levy is general
manager. Edward Mayfield has leased the Van Fleet
sampler, near Gold field, and will probably run it as an
independent plant. He proposes to use cyanide. The
closing of the Standard mill of the United States R. & R.
Co. at Florence has caused anxiety as to what will be-
come of the large body of ore that was formerly shipped
to that plant. The cyanide mill built by the Ex-
posit on Co. at the Los Angeles mine, on Bull hill,
Cripple Creek, is now in operation, fifty tons of ore be-
ing treated daily. The plant has three 150-ton tanks
and in time the full capacity of the mill will be treated.
Larger crushing machinery is to be put in when neces-
sary.
IDAHO.
Blaine County.
Vancil & Grimm have struck ore in their claims, 8 miles
west of Hailey. A vein of galena has been cut in the
Oswego mines, near Hailey, by Superintendent Weaver.
Idaho County.
The Hogan mill at Oro Grande is being enlarged.
R. W. Purdun, general manager of the Sunnyside
mine at Roosevelt, and Superintendent Treewick have
been making tests of the ore preparatory to putting in a
cyanide plant. The Standard ore is increasing in
value as the work goes on. This company will soon
have its mill in. The machinery for the Twentieth
Century mine is coming in to Roosevelt.
W. O. Brown, manager of the Concord mine in Buf-
falo Hump, reports that good work is being done in the
Hump this season and some excellent ore is being found.
Extensive development work is being done on the Con-
cord property, with good results.
Lemhi County.
W. S. Burton, superintendent of the Gold Dust mines,
near Leesburg, intends remodeling the mill.
Shoshone County.
The Benton M. Co., of Burke, is developing claims on
Gorge gulch. The last 50 feet of work on the No. 3
level has cut a shoot of good concentrating ore. The
No. 3 level is in on the middle vein 900 feet, having a
vertical depth of 400 feet. This level will ultimately
gain a depth of 1000 feet on the edge. The principal
owners of the Benton Co.'s stock are: John Callahan,
of Burke, president and manager; J. F. Callahan, of
Burke, Theodore Anderson, lessee of the Rex mine, and
W. Smith, of Portland, Oregon. The mill equipment
consists of one rock crusher and three sets of rolls, eight
Wilfley tables, a magnetic separator, separate ore bins
for lead and zinc concentrates and settling tanks. The
mill will fine crush all the ore for the purpose of getting
the best separation possible. None of the feed will pass
the rolls until it can pass through at least a 30-mesh
screen. This fine crushing and the electric separator
are the features of the mill and its object is to produce
both lead and zinc concentrates. It will have a capacity
of 100 tons of ore per day. Were it not for the desirabil-
ity of separating the zinc and the lead no milling would
be necessary, as the ore is all high in either lead or zinc
sulphides, as well a6 in silver. It is to treat ore from the
Granite mine.
Shortage of water is already doing some damage on
Nine Mile. The Rex mill has been closed temporarily
this week on account of it. A fair amount of rain would
supply enough water, and this is the only probable
source of supply. T. Anderson, the lessee, states that a
few men will be employed at the mine doing development
work. While the mill at the California and Black
Cloud has not been materially affected as yet, there is no
surplus of water. The new mill of the Success Co., to
99
Mining and Scientific Press.
August 5, 1905.
have been started by August 1, has very high pressure
and it is hardly possible for the water to get so low as to
interfere with its running.
At the Frisco mine at Gem there are three parties
working leases in the upper levels and shipping five
oars a month of ore and concentrates. Gus Ehren-
berg employs ten men steadily and for the past four
months has been averaging 150 tons of ore and concen-
trates a month from his workings. The mill is under
lease to him and his plan of operation is to accumulate
enough milling ore for a three days' run and then start
up the mill and keep it going until he has cleaned up.
The other two leasing outfits do not mill any of their
ore. All they extract is sorted by hand and such as is
not high enough grade to ship is left in the stopes or on
the dumps.
MICHIGAN,
Houghton County.
President W. A. Paine of the Copper Range Con. says
that the Champion does not contemplate the opening of
a fifth shaft this year. The four shafts now developed
— B, C, D and E — provide all of the ground that is
needed at present. It is impossible to say when shaft P,
to the south of E and toward the Globe property, will
he started. The Mass mine railroad extension to
shaft C is being connected to the Mineral Range Rail-
road. The Mass has been shipping rock regularly from
shaft C. This rock is hauled down the heavy grade by
team to the railroad connections at shaft B. The length
of the railroad extension will be 4000 feet. Shaft C is
opened to a depth of 600 feet. The shaft is sinking on
the Butler lode, but through crosscuts the Knowlton
lode is also being developed. At shaft A sinking is now
progressing below the fifteenth level and at B below the
sixteenth level.
The Isle Royale exploratory drift on the Portage lode
is 600 feet long at the 800-foot level. It equals the show-
ing made below the 1000-foot level in crosscuts from No.
1 shaft. No. 2 shaft is down 1800 feet, sinking in copper
above the mine's average. Section 11 shaft is 150 feet
deep; 900 feet of drifting has been done. The shaft is
bottomed in good ground. The Isle Royale mill is
treating 650 tons daily. As yet the management has no
plans for the Baltic lode.
MISSOURI.
Jasper County.
The Joplin News-Herald reports that the Maud E.
mill at Chitwood, belonging to B. L. Van Hoose and
S. J. Chitwood of Carthage, has been started.' The
Boston-Springfield mine, on the Gordon ground, has
been leased to a new company and the mine will be re-
opened. New pumps will be put in and the work of
draining the ground begun. Two mills are to be torn
down and rebuilt — the Big Kate at Neck City and the
Atlas at Carterville. The Big Kate is also to be moved
onto the Cockleburr mine, on the Reliance lease, and
the Atlas will be moved to the mine of the General Lead
& Zinc Co. at Prosperity. The Coil Co. are sinking
their shaft near the Bumble Bee. J. J. Wickham is
manager.
MONTANA.
Deer Lodge County.
In the Moose Lake mining district, 38 miles west of
Anaconda, the Moose Lake M. Co. is opening up its
claims. The company has a 10-stamp mill and a 40-ton
cyanide plant is to be added. They own 1000 inches of
water in Carp creek and intend to generate power with
the flow. Ore is being shipped from the Abe Lincoln,
a claim adjoining the property of the Moose Lake.
Granite County.
Smart Creek mining district, near Philipsburg, is at-
tracting attention since the bonding of the Red Metal
and Copper State properties to Butte people, who are
proceeding with development. The Eagle, owned by
U. P. Hughes, is also being worked. A tunnel has been
run 250 feet to cut the vein, upon which a shaft about
125 feet had been sunk. J. Bush is also developing the
Nancy Hanks in the same district. Sherr & Looney
are working the Nonpareil in the Princeton district with
a small force. The Nonpareil is a lead-silver proposition
and ore will be shipped to the smelter at Pen d 'Oreille,
Idaho, for treatment. They have been working the
mine through new shafts, but the old one, which i6 down
400 feet, is being retimbered and the hoisting plant at
the shaft will be put into working shape. At the Al-
bion, above Princeton, Wagoner and his associates are
developing. It is reported that a mill is to be put in.
The Royal Gold is again shipping. The property is
owned by Conrad Kohrs and others. The stamp mill
now on the property is being put, in repair and will soon
start running on good milling ore. The Scherr Bros.
are working the Old Witch mine, in the Princeton dis-
trict, under a bond and lease.
Jefferson Connty,
The Apollo claim, near Basin, owned by H. L.
Prank, of Butte, is being worked by D. Driscoll under a
bond and lease. He has several men working on the
property and has built ore bins at the side of the road
where it can be handled conveniently by the teams.
The ore is free milling gold and is to be hauled to the 10-
stamp mill on Basin creek, which is being repaired.
Madison County.
A. C. Sanders, superintendent of the Mammoth M. &
P. Co., is putting in new machinery at the mine at Mam-
moth.
Silver Bow County.
The mill of the Montana Zinc Co. in Butte is ready for
work, the improvements and repairs commenced a few
weeks ago being completed. During the suspension a
new revolving dryer was added and repairs made.
About a year ago changes were made in the Washoe
smelter, to enable the plant to handle the fine ores and
flue dust in a more satisfactory manner than the one in
use. Under the old methods the contents of the ore
cars were dumped bodily into the furnaces. The heavy
ore smelted easily, but the fine ore collected at the bot-
tom of the blast furnaces and it took a great deal of
blast and heat to make it yield. In the ordinary blast
furnace in use in Montana this heavy blast that was1 nec-
essary to get a perfect pour caused the generation of
large bodies of gas, which the company was unable to
use. Reverberatory furnaces were installed which were
confined solely to the handling of fine ores and flue dust.
This enabled the blast furnaces, running on coarse ores
alone, to increase their capacity largely and make an
increase in the amount of product handled by each fur-
nace of about 40%. In this way the Washoe avoided
the briqueting of its flue dust, which is now merely put
into the reverberatory together with the fine ores which
they treat. Besides, there is much less of the flue dust
in the large stack at the end of each day's run than was
the case when the ore was treated unsorted. By run-
ning the coarse ore alone less fuel is required and
the fusion is made more rapidly than is the case when
a higher temperature had to be employed. Coke is used
exclusively in the blast furnaces, while coal is used in
the reverberatory. This makes a great saving to the
company, as the gases which are generated by the coal
and the ores are conducted in ordinary pipes under the
boilers and used for the generation of steam for all the
varied purposes of the company. The saving thus
effected amounts to from 35% to 40% in the fuel charges
of the furnaces. While the item of flue dust has been
decreased, the direct method of handling this product
represents a saving of $1000 a day. The changes that
were made to effect these savings represented an outlay
to the company of a little less than $15,000, and their
total effect is that they have reduced the treatment
charges 40%. The only briqueting now done at the
Washoe is in connection with the saving of the slimes.
NEVADA.
Elko Connty.
A large pump haB been put in at the Dexter mine at
Tuscarora and the lower levels are being drained.
Work has started on the Commonwealth and Queen,
recently sold to New York and Denver people.
Esmeralda County.
Another attempt is to be made to extract the values
from the 400,000 tons of rich tailings that lie on the
dump of the old Bellville mine, 10 miles from Sodaville.
Drifts are being run both ways from the 350-foot level
of the Florence mine at Goldfield. The copper values
are said to be increasing. A station has been cut and a
drift is being run southeast at the 310-foot level of the
Dixie at Goldfield. On the Honsinger lease on the
February at Goldfield the shaft is being sunk 100 feet
from the 100-foot level. A gasoline hoist is in use. It
is reported that the Bonnie Clair M. & M. Co. will put in
a stamp mill and cyanide plant in the Tokop district.
Lincoln County.
Ore from the Chiquita mine at Good Springs is being
milled at the Keystone mill at Sandy. It is reported
that Byron, Rupe & Armstrong will put in a mill to
treat ores from the Red Cloud. A gasoline hoist has
been put in.
In Pioche canyon landslides have buried a stamp mill
belonging to the Southern Nevada Gold Ore Co., impris-
oning two miners, who were rescued in an unconscious
condition and taken to Las Vegas. They are not
thought to be fatally injured. Many mining companies
suffered heavy losses, but the railroads were the great-
est losers.
C. E. L. Gresh, manager of the Black Hawk M, Co. of
Eldorado canyon, has opened rich ore on mine No. 2 of
the company's property, comprising the Wedge, Rand
and Honest Miner claims. The Cyrus Noble main
shaft at Searchlight is down 402 feet and sinking for the
500 level is being pushed. Water was struck at 351 feet.
As soon as sufficient water is developed a mill will be put
on the property.
Lyon Connty.
The Eureka mill, one of the oldest and largest reduc-
tion works on the Carson river, has been sold to J. E.
Monroe of Reno. The deal embraces the mill building
and all real estate, consisting of 640 acres, a railroad 2
miles in length and all its rolling stock, together with
the cyanide plant.
Nye County.
It is reported the Congress M. Co. will start development
work at the old Chespa mine, near Johnie, with John
Ross as superintendent. H. Ramsay is general manager.
Washoe County.
Big strikes are said to have been made in the White
Horse mining district by DeWitt Bovee, who is driving
a long tunnel on the Ora group, i mile west of Oling-
house.
OREGON.
Baker County.
The 10-stamp mill at the Tabor fraction property at
Bourne is almost completed. A. G. and R. H. Hanauer
of Spokane, Wash., i.re interested. The owners say
they intend to double the capacity of the mill and put in
a cyanide plant for the treatment of tailings next
winter.
Considerable development is being done in the Eldo-
rado section south of Tipton. D. B. Stalter, manager of
the Heppner M. Co., is making arrangements to put in
a stamp mill to treat ore from the Mayflower group.
Near Greenhorn, the Weston, owned by W. H. Gilbert
and H. Shoemaker, has a shaft 50 feet deep. Work
was stopped owing to influx of water. Now a hoist and
pump have been put in. Sinking has begun again.
Grant County.
The owners of the Equity mine in the Quartzburg dis-
trict have put on a larger force and contemplate build-
ing a 75-ton mill and hoisting plant. Much work is being
done on the four levels and good ore reserves are being
established.
Josephine Connty.
Considerable work is being done in the Mule Creek
district, near Marial P. O. Mendenhall & Co. of Gold
Hill will put in a 3-stamp mill at the Mendenhall mine,
on the west fork of Mule creek, 2J miles from Rogue
river. T. Billings has charge. A. E. Frye, F. Frye
and E. A. Ruth have sold their gravel mine on Rogue
river, 3 miles below Mule creek, to Eastern parties, who
will put in two hydraulic giants to be supplied with
water from East creek by a 26-inch pipe, 1J miles long.
At Big Bend a company of Minneapolis and St. Paul
capitalists have bought 230 acres of placer ground and
have had men preparing for a hydraulic plant. The
water will be brought 4 miles, from Foster creek. The
stream will be 1£ foot deep and 4 feet wide, and-the water
will go to two No. 4 giants under a head of 300 feet.
H. J. Mattoon has been working the Mark placer at the
mouth of Mule creek. Manager Prank Fowler, of the
Gold Pick mine, on Bolen creek, near Grants Pass, is
putting in a 3-stamp mill and water wheel. A ditch, J
mile long, has been completed that will bring 250 inches
of water from East Bolen creek and deliver it to the
wheel under a head of 225 feet. This will furnish power
for a large mill and, Bolen creek being fed from the
mountains, the water supply will continue during the
summer months. Lumber for the mill was hauled from
near Selma to Sucker creek and packed in over the
trail. A. W. Gilbert and C. E. Platts are developing
copper claims on Bolen creek.
Lane Connty.
The Great Northern Dev. Co., which bonded the
Great Northern group, Blue River district, east of
Eugene, from the Great Northern M. & M. Co. for $45,-
000, has taken up the bond. The 4-stamp mill on the
property has resumed work. The new aerial tramway
has been completed. It is 1200 feet long. The new
water power plant and canal have been completed and
the plant will be run by water with steam auxiliary.
SOUTH DAKOTA.
Fall River County.
The Black Hills Pullers Earth Co. has been incorpo-
rated to work a deposit 12 miles southeast of Hot
Springs. The deposit is a cretaceous stratum in black
lake bed shale. The earth is of dark blue slate color.
E. S. Kelley of Hot Springs is president.
Lawrence County,
The property of the Minnie M. Co., which consists of
a number of claims between the property of the Golden
Crest and the Gilt Edge Maid, near Galena, has been
leased and bonded to Fritz Weber, who intends to sink
a two-compartment shaft.
The Victor G. M. & M. Co., working claims 4 miles
east of Deadwood, have driven their 400-foot tunnel 150
feet. I. N. Lawrence is general manager. The Mari-
posa Co. at Mystic, under the management of J. Wise,
has put men on a long crosscut tunnel. It is reported
that work is to be resumed at the Clover Leaf mine in
September.
UTAH.
Beaver County.
D. P. Rohlfing, manager of the Frisco Contact and
Lulu properties at Frisco, has put a blower in the Frisco
shaft to improve the ventilation. The shaft is down 285
feet. The shaft will be continued to the lime in case it
is reached within 500 feet, and, if not, a crosscut will be
made to it at that depth. At the present time over 800
gallons of water per day is making. Water is valuable
on account of its scarcity. At the Lulu drifting is pro-
gressing on the 400-foot level.
Juab County.
Three shifts are sinking the shaft at the May Day
mine, at Eureka, from the 300-foot level to the 500-foot
level, after which the ground will be explored. The
property of the Martha Washington M. Co. has been
sold to J. M. Taylor of Silver City.
The shipments from Tintic district for week ending
July 29 were: Centennial-Eureka, 50 carloads; Gemini,
10; Bullion-Beck, 5; Yankee Con., 5; May Day, 2; Eagle
& Blue Bell, 13; Swansea, 7; Eureka Hill (leasers), 4;
South Swansea, 2; Victoria, 7; Ajax, 2; Carisa, 2; Mam-
moth, 21.
Salt Lake County.
Manager W. C. Orem of the Utah Apex M. Co., oper-
ating at Bingham, reports the lower tunnel in 300 feet.
They intend to run 1000 tons of mill ore through the
custom plant owned by E. A. Wall as soon as the mill
can take it. Now it is running on ore from the Phoenix
mine.
The Bingham Bulletin publishes the following data on
Bingham mines:
Mine— Men. Tons. Payroll.
Highland Boy 350 860 132,000
Yampa (mine and smelter) 435 425 25,000
Utah Copper (mine and mill) 400 700 20,000
United States 300 425 12,600
Bingham Con 300 600 20,000
BostonCon 120 250 7,000
Bingbam-New Haven 50 50 5,000
Ohio Copper (mine and mill) 95 225 6,000
Utah-Apex and Red Wing 60 45 4,500
Fortuna 45 50 3,500
Phcenix 60 100 7,500
Silver Shield 22 .... 2.100
New England 20 25 1,500
Butler-Liberal 20 .... 1,500
Other properties 150 25 10,000
Totals 2,417 3,670 $158,100
The Congor mine in Bingham is to be started up again
after an idleness of several years, during which the lower
workings were allowed to fill with water. G. G. Hall,
the manager, has men putting in new equipment. A
new hoisting plant has been ordered and is on the
ground, and new boilers are being put in to replace the
old ones. The lower workings of the mine are reached
by way of an incline shaft 500 feet deep.
Tailings operations along the creek below Bingham
are becoming important. The largest is that of Rogers &
Lerwill at Lead mill. This is equipped with a device of
Rogers' invention, which consists of an endless belt and
designed to treat slimes. The owners have been troubled
with a shortage .of water. Brooks & Locke have a
plant above the smelter, consisting of two tables, two
jigs, canvas tables, electric motor, etc. Shackelford &
Fug are putting in a plant above Lead mill. Their
equipment consists of a Wilfley table, two jigs and a
gasoline engine. Manager H. M. Crowther, of the Con-
tinental Atlas mines at Alta, reports that his company
August 5, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
100
has begun concentration of molybdenum ores. While
the equipment for the handling of this class of ores has
not been perfected, Manager Crowther says the product
being obtained has a value of $200 to the ton. With the
existing facilities it is said that one ton of molybdenum
concentrate can be turned out daily.
Dinta County.
O. Wilkins, who has spent several months in Vernal, re-
ports placer mining at Green River, near Jensen, in the
newly discovered district, steadily going on, although the
high waters of the spring and summer have interfered
with the work. Men are taking out $1.50 to the square
yard with rockers.
WASHINGTON.
Ferry County.
Reports from Meteor camp, on the south half of the
Colville reservation, tell of greater activity than for two
years. The Meteor Co. is working seventeen men, and
arrangements are being made to put on a larger force. A
tunnel is being driven to crosscut the vein. A full crew
is working on the Nonpareil. This company is driving
a long tunnel to tap the lead. It is reported that the
Bhaft of the New York is in good ore. The Stray Dog is
preparing to continue work.
Skamania County.
R. C. Lange, manager of the Spirit Lake Power & M.
Co., which is operating near Spirit lake, intends to drive
a 3000-foot crosscut to open veins and raise to the sur-
face. The power plant and drills are to be put in.
Snohomish County.
(Special Correspondence). — Trustees have inspected
the Bonanza Queen mine at Monte Cristo. The raise of
1000 feet from the crosscut to the old workings is nearly
finished. Material for an aerial tram, 1 mile long,
from the crosscut to the Monte Cristo railroad, has been
purchased and will be put in. The old slag dump at
the American Smelting & Refining Co. 's Everett plant is
again being run through the furnaces to extract the
values left by previous treatment. P. W. Peabody's
Sidney mine at Monte Cristo is shipping ore to the
Everett smelter. A pump has been put in to keep the
mine dry until a crosscut to tap the vein at a depth of
180 feet is completed. The crosscut will be 500 feet in
length. Sinking and stoping will be continued. J.
Pecalo, superintendent of the Lucky Day M. Co., has dis-
covered a vein on Silver Tip mountain west of Monte
Cristo, carrying a high grade of native copper. A
new air compressor is being put in at the Packard M.
Co. 's mine at Monte Cristo.
Monte Cristo, Aug. 1.
Stevens County.
W. Connelly of Spokane has interested an Illinois
company in the New England claims, 5 miles from
Northport, on Deep creek, opposite the Last Chance.
The New England is a zinc producer, and the Illinois
people have taken a bond at $20,000, providing for two
semi-annual payments and a year'B continuous work.
The owners are L. Cook, B. Stout, J. Johnson and I.
Guzelius. The owners of the Galena Queen, near the
New England group, are sinking on the ledge. A depth
of 60 feet has been reached. C. E. Plumbtree has the
contract for sinking.
Whatcom County.
The Bonito G. M. Co. has been formed with W. P.
Bell, of Everett, president; E. Lenfest, of Snohomish,
vice-president; J. V. Bowen, of Snohomish, treasurer;
W. Whitfield, of Snohomish, secretary; A. W. Hawkes,
of Snohomish, general manager. The company will
work the Eureka mine, in the Slate Creek district, and
intend to start the plant on October 1. The company
has a 10-stamp mill and a 2000-foot tunnel with 2600 feet
of tram.
FOREIGN.
CANADA.
BRITISH COLUMBIA.
Boundary District.
For the week ending July 29 the Boundary ore ship-
ments were: Granby mines to Granby smelter, 13,630
tons; Mother Lode to British Columbia Copper Co. 's
smelter, 2272 tons; Emma to Nelson smelter, 418 tons;
Oro Denoro to Granby smelter, 33 tons; Last Chance to
Nelson smelter, 20 tons; total for the week, 16,373 tons;
total for the year to date, 523,217 tons. Boundary
smelters treated ore the same week as follows: Granby
smelter, 13,850 tons; British Columbia Copper Co.'s
smelter, 3960; total for the week, 17,810 tons; total for
the year, 535,742 tons.
Work is being pushed on the new power plant at
Bonnington Palls, on the Kootenay river, to supply
power to mines in the Boundary district. Power will
be transmitted from this plant as far as Phoenix, a dis-
tance of 80 miles. Shipments are starting from the
E. P. IT., near Greenwood, as repairs to the tramway
have been completed. Drifting is going on at the 200-
foot level. Three shifts of men are at work in the main
shaft of the Crescent, which is down 80 feet, and
will be deepened to the 100-foot level, when drifting
will be done.
Regarding additions to the machinery, plant and other
equipment of the Granby Con. M., S. & P. Co.'s mines
at Phoenix and smelting works at Grand Porks, the
British Columbia Mining Record says that complete
equipment, at a cost of $75,000, of a terminal for the
branch of the Great Northern railway, entirely separate
from that in use by the Canadian Pacific railway, has
been provided, this including receiving ore bins, ore
crusher with a capacity of 150 tons per hour, crushed
ore bins and facilities for loading about 1000 tons of ore
on a train of thirty-five cars in twenty-five minutes. No.
3 tunnel, which is about | mile in length, has been
double tracked and equipped with a 75 H. P. electric
motor and 10-ton steel ore cars. The new main double-
compartment incline shaft, which is being sunk to the
500-foot level, is nearly completed._ A 200 H. P. electric
hoist is to be put in. Balanced skips, each of a capacity
of three .to four tons, will be used. The size of shaft and
capacity of equipment will admit of hoisting 3000 tons in
two 8-hour shifts. The two 48x210-inch water-jacketed
furnaces, now being put in at the company's smelter, are
fitted with twenty-four tuyeres on each side. The auto-
matic charging cars are the invention of the manager,
A. B. W. Hodges. These cars are side dumping and
each is divided into four compartments. This arrange-
ment insures the proper distribution of the ore in the
furnace, the necessary proportion of " roughs " going
toward the center. Two of these cars, coupled, are run
into each of the ordinary sized furnaces on side rails.
For the larger furnaces three will be used. The cars
are moved between bins and furnaces by electric motors.
All slag is dumped hot, being handled from the furnaces
in 6-ton pots. The new double-cylinder blowing engine
for the converter room, in which there are two converter
stands and ten shells, has a capacity of 6000 cubic feet of
air per minute, thus bringing the total available air up
to 10,000 cubic feet. A 300 H. P. motor operates the
new engine. An automatic slag conveyor, similar to
that in use at the Washoe smelter, Anaconda, Mont.,
elevates the converted slag. A second mixing mill, for
converter linings, has been added. The new Conners-
ville blower, driven by a 300 H. P. electric motor, has a
capacity of 30,000 cubic feet per minute, as compared
with the 12,000 cubic feet capacity of those previously
installed. An addition of 800 feet has been made to the
dust chamber, giving a total length of 2000 feet. Machine
shops and blacksmith shops have been Improved.
Cariboo District.
R. H. Hanauer of Spokane, Wash., and A. G. Hanauer
have acquired a controlling interest in the Bear hydraulic
mine, 11 miles from Barkerville, and are preparing to
equip the property. Experimental work on the Bear
has extended the channel for a width of 350 feet with
both rims. The gravel is free, containing comparatively
little clay. B. A. Lascelles is directing the work. Two
ditches are being constructed. One of these will bring
in the water from Cunningham creek, a maximum flow
of 2500 inches being obtainable for ground sluicing. The
second ditch will carry water from Antler creek, 3000
inches being available from this source for the two
giants the owners will put in immediately. A cableway
will be constructed to handle boulders and a sawmill set
up on the property.
East Kootenay District.
The tests of Michel coal by the C. P. R. proved
satisfactory and sustained the convictions of the coal
company officials as to the quality of their coal for steam-
ing purposes. The ordinary evaporative power of coal
in the practical working of locomotives is from six to
seven pounds water evaporated to one pound coal con-
sumed. The tests conducted by Mr. McEvoy showed an
evaporative power up to 10.6 pounds of water to one
pound of coal consumed. The most interesting test was
on the local express between Winnipeg and Brandon,
with twenty stops between those points. It was found
that 3820 pounds of coal was sufficient to make the trip
of 137 miles. The Michel collieries, 23 miles northeast of
Fernie, are operated by the Crows' Nest Pass Coal Co.,
R. G. Drinnam general superintendent.
NelBon District.
The Dundee M. Co. has decided to put in a compressor
at the Dundee mine, near Ymir, and also to build a
5-stamp mill. A 140-foot tunnel has been driven into
the mountain and better indications are reported.
T. B. Sumner and E. Husted of Everett are president
and secretary.
Rossland District.
The White Bear mine, which closed down on account
of a shortage in its motive power on May 23, will resume
operations on August 1. F. Demuth, manager, says
that work will be recommenced on the rich shoot of ore
on the 700-foot level. . The drilling at first will be done
by hand, awaiting the arrival of the 400 H. P. motor to
furnish power for the mine and the concentrating mill.
The tonnages of ore shipped from and crushed at the
Rossland mines for the week ending July 29 and for the
year to date were as follows:
Mine. Week.
Le Roi 1,075
Le Roi (milled) 310
Center Star 2,310
War Eagle 1,500
Le Roi Two 60
Le Roi Two (milled)*
White Bear
White Bear (milled)
Jumbo .
Spitzee
Velvet-Portland .
Gopher
Homestake
Lily May
S.000
Year.
72,106
720
66 190
40,370
4,462
4,830
1,100
2,920
5,829
4,539
1,M7
Totals 6,415 195,193
At the Center Star at Rossland electric haulage is to
be substituted for man power in transporting ore from
the mouth of the shaft to the bunkers and the waste
from the shaft to the waste heaps. Workmen are
strengthening the trestles so that they may be able to
bear the increased weight. Horse power was tried for
a time, but the horse used was killed. E. Stevenson
of Rossland has leases on the Crown Point, Hidden
Treasure and the White Swan claims, on the slope of
Lake mountain, 21 miles southeast of Rossland. He has
ten men working.
Slocan District.
There are 250 men working in the mines around San-
don. The leasing system has helped the camp. The
Buffalo claim and the Lone Bachelor have been opened
up. At the Payne mine Walter Smith is working
fourteen men and shipping ore. The Slocan Star and
the Lucky Jim are shipping. The Hewitt group, 3J
miles southeast of Silverton, has been bonded to W. S.
Logan of Nelson for $250,000. At the Jackson mine,
5 miles from Whitewater station, the mill is running two
shifts and turning out. an average of fifteen tons of zinc
and two tons of lead per day. The zinc is being piled
up, there being 400 tons on hand ready for magnetic
separation. At the Last Chance eleven men are em-
ployed and development is proceeding with good results.
Ore is being sent down daily. The American Boy
mine, near Cody, is working twelve men and Manager
T. McGuigan expects to increase the force as soon as the
workings dry out.
West Kootenay District.
W. F. Henderson has organized the Gold Park M. Co.
to operate the Marquis & Gilbert properties at Poplar.
The company will begin work at once. It is reported
that a mill is to be put up at the Swede group to treat
ore from the recent discovery.
MEXICO.
Chihuahua.
Heffron & Piper have a 7-stamp mill on their Dos de
Abril mine, 15 miles from Dolores, and expect to start
the amalgamating mill August 15. The Tres Amigos
G. M. Co. is working mines at Guaynopa. B. L. Croff is
president and general manager, and Murray Lee, super-
intendent of the mines. The Watterson Gold, Ltd.,
at Ocampo, has received all of the material for its cya-
nide plant and is expected to have it ready for operation
in two months. At the Pinos Altos mines, in the
Ocampo district, the work of remodeling the old 55-
stamp mill is progressing well, and It is expected that
twenty stamps will be in operation within a month.
At the Concheno mines at Concheno the mill is ready to
be started now that the main shaft, 600 feet deep, has
been enlarged from two to three compartments. Super-
intendent Murray enlarged the shaft and timbered it up
in six weeks. The work of increasing the capacity of
the cyanide plant from 60 to 100 tons daily is to be com-
menced. At the Cruz mine, near Ocampo, a steam
hoist has been put in by T. Williams of Chihuahua city,
superintendent.
tiuanajnato .
A cyanide plant, a stamp mill of 250 tons capacity, six
pumps and other machinery are being put in at the
Guanajuato R. & M. Co.'s plant. The machinery is to
unwater the Valenciana mine. Joseph Slater and Orrin
Thacker of Columbus, Ohio, associates of C. L. Kurtz,
president of the company, are at the mines.
Jalisco.
John McGrath of Boston, Mass., formerly manager of
the Buena Vista mines at Tepic, and F. J. M. Rhodes
have surrendered their bond and lease on the Zuloaga
mine in the Bolanos district. T. C. Myers has pur-
chased the interest of H. K. Meyers of Philadelphia in
the Culebra mines, near Etzatlan, and will develop the
property. A steam hoist, capable of raising 500 tons
of ore daily, has been purchased by Ferdinand Sustersio,
manager of the Ampero M. Co. at Etzatlan, and will be
put in the old Santo Domingo shaft of the Santo
Domingo mine. The shaft will be made three compart-
ment. The experimental reduction plant, near the
Santo Domingo mine, is nearly finished. The company
has on hand about 1,000,000 tons of milling ore, and as
soon as the exact character of the treatment necessary
is determined, a reduction plant with a capacity of 100
tons daily will be built.
Jf******** ****************************
* Commercial Paragraphs. }
* »
Bailey-Smith Machinery Co. is a newly incor-
porated company, with office and salesroom at 91 Fre-
mont street, San Francisco, Cal.
The Independent Pneumatic Tool Co. has bought the
plant of the Aurora Automatic Machinery Co. at Aurora,
111., and are making a general line of pneumatic tools.
Their offices are in the First National Bank Building,
Chicago, with an Eastern branch at 170 Broadway,
New York. John F. Brady is president.
Orders have been received by the Westinghouse
Electric & Manufacturing Co. of Pittsburg, Pa., from
Nelson Morris & Co. for nineteen type CCL induction
motors, varying in sizes from 5 to 50 H. P. and totaling
410 H. P., and for eight motors of the same type from
the Decatur Car Wheel & Manufacturing Co., Birming-
ham, Ala. The Illinois Steel Co. has ordered eighty
direct current motors, having an aggregate capacity of
3920 H. P. The Hawaiian Electric Co. of Honolulu has
contracted for two 1200 K.W., three-phase, 2200- volt,
engine type generators, two 125 K.W. exciters and seven
500 K.W., oil-insulated, self-cooling transformers.
The Cameron Steam Pump Works of New York City
send two celluloid bookmarks, printed in colors from
appropriate designs, substantial and admirable for the
use for which they were intended. In each they have
utilized their trade mark, an acorn-shaped air chamber,
to furnish the base of the design, which is printed in
black and on which in one design is shown a Scottish
bagpipe player in full regalia, wearing the Cameron
plaid and piping lustily as he marches across the
heather. In the other design is shown in colors a win-
some lassie, wearing the Cameron plaid and dropping a
graceful courtesy, and the phrase, " Thank you kindly; "
both are veritable works of art.
Colorado Iron Works Co. of Denver, Colo., report
the following orders: Carload of jackets for the Maza-
pil Copper Co., in Mexico; slag pots, ladles and moulds
for the Ohio-Smelting Co., in Colorado; one 42x160 sil-
ver-lead blast furnace for the St. Joe Lead Co., in Mis-
souri; two carloads of slag trucks and bowlB for the
Cananea Con. Copper Co., in Mexico; accessories and
equipments for reconstruction of furnace for the Com-
pania Minora la Quimica y Anexas S. A., in Mexico;
additional equipment for the Minas Ferrocarril de Santa
Maria de la Paz y Anexas, in Mexico; one 42-inch circular
copper furnace and equipments for the Ohio-Mexican
Mining Co., in Mexico. Milling orders are placed as fol-
lows: Machinery and equipment for the Hercules Min-
ing Co., in Idaho, consisting of thirteen C. I. W. impact
screens, two sets 36x16 Humphrey crushing rolls, etc.;
one impact screen to the Annie Laurie M. Co., in Utah.
Mining accessories: Ore cars, buckets, etc., to the Lon-
don M. & R. Co., in Colorado, and one Bartlett simplex
concentrator to the Denver Ore Testing & Sampling Co.,
Colorado.
101
Mining and Scientific Press.
August 5, 1905.
1 Books Received. *
4 *■
■S -ji***** ********* *********************
Twenty-Third Annual Coal Report of the Illinois Bu-
reau of Lahor Statistics, 1901, from David Ross, Secre-
tary, Springfield, 111.
Report of the Royal Commission on the "Ventilation
and Sanitation of Mines of "Western Australia" contains
the results of an exhaustive study into the subject. It
is published by the Department of Mines, Perth, W. A.,
for o shillings.
"Gold and Tin Dredging Practice, " by H. L. Lewis,
is a pamphlet made up of republished articles on recent
di'edging practice in Australia, New Zealand and Cal-
ifornia. It is published by the Mining Journal, London,
Eng., and will be sent by the Mining and Scientific
Press for 50 cents.
Much of the disease of the average mining camp
might be prevented by observing the precautions given
by H. A. Bashore in "The Sanitation of a Country
House." It deals with the location, hygienic construc-
tion, water supply and waste disposal. The treatment
is practical and applicable to either permanent or tem-
porary camps. It is published by John Wiley & Sons,
New York City, and will be sent postpaid by the Min-
ing and Scientific Press for $1.00.
"Methods and Costs of Gravel and Placer Mining in
Alaska," by C. W. Purington, Bulletin 263 of the United
States Geological Survey. This contains an account of
methods of prospecting and operating placer mines
under adverse conditions. The materia] presented is of
the utmost practical value as a guide under similar con-
ditions, and should aid in opening up the country. The
illustrations are particularly good. The whole repre-
sents a judicious compilation of practical data.
"The Copper Handbook," Vol. V, 1905, by H. J.
Stevens, is devoted to the history, uses, terminology,
geology, geography, chemistry, mineralogy, finances and
statistics of copper. The book describes the copper
mines of the world, 3489 in number. In the five years of
its issue "The Copper Handbook" has grown from a
strictly local publication, the first issue having been de-
voted exclusively to Lake Superior mines, to a standard
reference book. The data given is essential, concise and
apparently reliable. It is published by H. J. Stevens,
Houghton, Mich., for $5, and will be sent postpaid by the
Mining and Scientific Press on receipt of price.
Vol. XXIV, No. 7, "Proceedings of the American In-
stitute of Electrical Engineers, " contains the following
papers and discussions: High-Power Surges in Electric
Distribution Systems of Great Magnitude, by C. P.
Steinmetz; Water Powers of the Southeastern Appal-
achian Pegion, by F. A. C. Perrine; A New Carbon Fila-
ment, by J. W. Howell; Alternate Current Machinery —
Induction Alternators, by W. Stanley, assisted by G.
Faccioli; Note on a Simple Device for Finding the Slip
of an Induction Motor, by C. A. Perkins; Notes on
the Power Factor of the Alternating Current Arc,
by G. D. Shepardson; Eddy Currents in Large
Slot-Wound Conductors, by A. B. Field; Data Re-
lating to Electric Conductors and Cables, by H. W.
Fisher; An Experimental Study of the Rise of Po-
tential on Commercial Transmission Lines Due to
Static Disturbances Caused by Switching, Ground-
ing, by P. H. Thomas; Constant Current Mercury Arc
Rectifier, by C. P. Steinmetz; Synchronous Converters
and Motor Generators, by W. L. Waters; The Organ-
ization and Administration of National Engineering So-
cieties, by J. W. Lieb, Jr.; Light Electric Railways, by
J. R. Cravath.
"Civil Engineering, " by G. J. Fieburger, professor of
engineering United States Military Academy, is designed
for the instruction of cadets being fitted for a profession
in which the principles of civil engineering are applied
daily. As a short course for any one desiring a thorough
grounding in these principles the book is admirable. It
fully treats stresses, beams, columns and rivets, with
both analytical and graphic determination of stresses
and effects of fixed and moving loads. Two chapters are
devoted to masonry arches, dams and retaining walls,
followed by a brief treatise on the pressure and flow of
water. The characteristics of timber, metals and stone
are treated successively. The general principles of con-
struction of masonry, foundations, bridges, trussed roofs
and floors, highways, water supply and sewerage are in-
dicated. While brief, the treatment is concise, logical
and easily read. The methods and formula; given are
up-to-date and recognized as standard. With this text
and a Trautwine there are few problems that a civil en-
gineer might meet in his practice that could not be
solved, even if he had forgotten the first principles. It
is published by John Wiley & Sons, New York City, and
will be sent postpaid by the Mining and Scientific
Press upon receipt of $5.
?? ******** ***-i<-t***-!?-!?*^"£'£'i,&& ************
Trade Treatises.
*
* «•
************* ************************
The Searchlight Publishing Co. is organized at 24-26
Murray street, New York, to forward the publishing
and advertising interests of manufacturers, publish the
"Searchlight," keep the Searchlight information
library up to date, and to publish books.
The Bartlett "Simplex" concentrator is illustrated
and described in detail in a neat pamphlet from the Col-
orado Iron Works, Thirty-third and Wynkoop streets,
Denver, Colo.
Dividends.
Bunker Hill & Sullivan M. & C. Co., dividend No. 95,
$150,000, payable August 4: total paid since Jan. 1,
1905, $2,475,000; total to date, $4,746,000.
Latest Market Reports.
San Francisco, August 4, 1905.
Silver. — Per oz., Troy : London, 27Jd (standard
ounce, 925 fine); New York, bar silver, 59Jc, refined (1000
fine); San Francisco, 59Jc; Mexican dollars, 46c, San
Francisco; 45}c, New York.
Copper.— New York: Standard, $15.50; Lake, 1 to 3
casks, $15.37i@15.50; Electrolytic, 1 to 3 casks, $15.50;
Casting, 1 to 3 casks, S14.87J@15.12J. San Francisco:
$16.00. Mill copper plates, $17.00; barsi 18@24c. London:
£68 6s 3d spot per ton.
Copper has taken a slight upward turn, showing that
the market remains firm under increased summer pro-
duction. There is said to be practically no floating
supply, which will have a tendency to maintain the price
at the present figure, if not to increase it. There has
beeu a slight falling off of price in London during the
past week, the present quotation, though higher than
that of last week, being somewhat lower than that of two
or three days ago.
Lead.— New York, $4.60; Salt Lake City, $3.50; St.
Louis, $4.42J; San Francisco, $3.70, carload lots; 4|c 1000
to 4000 fcs.; pipe 6Jc, sheet 7, bar 5|c; pig, $4.85. Lon-
don: £14 $ long ton.
Spelter.— New York, $5.70; St. Louis, $5.18; Lon-
don, £24 W ton; San Francisco, ton lots, 6|c; 100-Ib
lots, 7c.
Tin.— New York, pig, $32.80©32.85; San Francisco, ton
lots, 33Jc; 500 fts., 34c; 200 8>s., 34Jc; less, 35Jc; bar tin,
$ ft., 35@37£c. London, £151 10s lOd.
Platinum. — San Francisco, crude, $18.50 |oz.| New
York, ingot, $20.50 $ Troy oz. Platinum ware, 75@$1.00
$ gram.
Quicksilver.— New York, $41.00@$41.50, large lots;
London, £7 7s 6d; San Francisco, local, $38.50@39.00 $
flask of 75 fts.; Denver, $42.00.
Babbitt Metal. — San Francisco, No. 1, 10c; No.
2, 7c; No. 3, 6Jc; extra, 17Jc; genuine, 32Jc; Eclipse, 35c.
Solder.— Half-and-half, 100-ft. lots, 22.00c; San Fran-
cisco, Plumbers', 100-ft. lots, 18.50c.
Zinc— Metallic, chemically pure, $ ft., 50c; dust, f)B>.,
10c; sulphate, $ ft, .04c.
Nickel.— New York, 55@60c $1 ft.; ton lots, 40@47c.
Aluminum.— New York, No. 1, 99% pure ingots,
33@37c; No. 2, 90%, 31@34c.
Aluminum.— No. 1, 99%, small lots, 37c $ lb.; 100 lbs..
35c; 1000 lbs. 34c; ton lots and over, 33c, Pittsburg. No,
2, 90%, small lots, 34c; ton lots and over, 31c, Pittsburg.
STKlTTtHAL MATERIALS.
Iron. — Pittsburg, Bessemer pig, $15.60; gray forge,
$16.00; San Francisco, bar, 3c f^ ft., 3Jc in small quan-
tities.
Steel.— Bessemer billets, Pittsburg, $23.00©$23.00;
open hearth billets, $23.00@$23.00; San Francisco, bar,
7c to 12c f, ft.
White Lead. — Per ft., in kegs: 500 fts. and over at
one purchase, per ft., 7Jc; less than 500 fts., per ft., 8c;
in 25-ft. tin pails, Jc $ ft. above keg price; in 1 and 5-ft.
tin cans, 100 fts. per case, Jc per ft. above keg price.
Dry Lead. — In bbls., 1 ton and over, 64c; do. in kegs, 7c.
Lime.— Santa Cruz, $1.25 country, $1.25 city $ bbl.
Cement.— Imported, $2.15@2.65 $ bbl.; California,
carload lots, SI. 90 f. o. b. at works; small lots, $2.20 %
bbl. in sacks, 4 sacks to bbl., 5c for each sack returned.
Lumber. — (Retail): Pine, ordinary sizes, $24.00®
5.00; extra sizes higher; redwoodl $28.00@30.00; lath, 4
feet, $4.50@5.00; pickets, $21.00;shingles, $2.50 for No. 1,
and $2.25 for No. 2; shakes, $13.50 for split and $15.00 for
sawed; rustic, $28.00®35.00.
Nails. — This week the basic prices are: Wire, $2.77;
Cut, $3.25. Meanwhile the nominal quotations per keg
(list prices) are: No. 20d to 60d, Wire, $3.35; Cut, $3.55;
lOd to 16d, Wire, $3.45; Cut, $3.35; 8d, Wire, $3.50; Cut,
$3.50; 6d and 7d, Wire, $3.60; Cut, $3.60; 4d and 5d,
Wire, $3.70; Cut, $3.70; 3d, Wire, $3.85; Cut, $3.85; 2d,
Wire, $4.10; Cut, $4.10. Special rates for carload lots.
GENERAL SUPPLIES.
Antimony. — New York, Cookson's, 12c; Hallett's,
13c; San Francisco, 1000-ft. lots, lie; 300@500-ftr. 12c;
100-ft. lots, 13c.
Coal. — San Francisco, coast, yard prices : Welling-
ton, $8.00; Seattle, $6.50; Coos Bay, $5.50; Southfield,
$8.00. Cargo lot, Eastern and foreign: Wallsend, $7.50;
Brymbo, $7.50; Pennsylvania, hd., $14.00; Scotch, $8.00;
Cumberland, $13.00; Cannel, $8.50; Welsh Anthracite,
$13.00; Rock Springs, $8.50, long ton; Colorado Anthra-
cite, $14.00. Coke, $10.50 per ton in bulk, $13.00 in
sacks; Sunnyside, $8.50, long ton.
Powder.— F. o. b. San Francisco : No. 1, 70% nitro-
glycerine, per lb., in carload lots, 15|c, less than one ton,
17}e. No. 1*, 60%, carload lots, 13Jc; less than one ton,
15Jc. No. 1**, 50%, carload lots, life; less than one ton,
13|c. No. 2, 40%, carload lots, 10c; less than one ton,
12c. No. 2, 35%, carload lots, 9ic; less than one ton,
lHc. No. 2**, 30%, carload lots, 9c; less than one ton,
lie. Black blasting powder in carload lots, minimum
car 728 kegs, $1.50 per keg; less car lots, $2.00 per keg.
Caps.— 3x, $5.50@6 per 1000; 4x, $6.50@7; 5x, $8@8.50;
Lion, $9@9.50, in lots not less than 1000.
Fuse.— Triple tape, $4.00 per 1000 feet; double tape,
$3.50; single tape, $3.10; Hemp, $2.75; Cement No. 2,
$3.00; Cement No. 1, $2.65, in lots of 3000 and up.
Candles.— Granite 6s, 16 oz., 40s., lie fi set; 14 oz.,
40s., 9|e.
Chemicals.— Cyanide of potassium, 98%-99%, job-
bing, 23@24c $ ft.; carloads, 23@23}c;. in tins, 30c; soda
ash, $2.00 $ 100 fts.; hyposulphite of soda, 3@3}c fl ft.;
caustic soda, in drums, 3@3JeBft. ; Cal. s. soda, bbls.,
$1.10@1.20 fs 100 lbs.; sks., 90c@$1.00; chlorate of pot-
ash, 12@13c; nitrate of potash, 6|@7c; caustic potash,
10c in 40-ft. tins; roll sulphur, 2J@2|c; powdered sul-
phur, 2}@2Jc; flour sulphur, French, 2|@ — c; alum,
$2.00@2.25; California refined, lij@2c; sulphide of iron,
8e$ft.; copper sulphate, 5J@5|c; chloride of lime, spot,
$2.50@2.75; sulphuric acid, in carboys, 66% B, l|@2c $
ft.; nitric acid, carboys, 8c $( ft.
Oils. — Linseed, boiled, bbl., 64e; cs., 69c; raw, bbl.,
62c; cs., 67c; Lucol oil, boiled, bbl., 56c; cs., 61c; raw-
bbl., 54c; cs., 59c. Kerosene — Pearl, per gal., 17Jc; As-
tral, 17Jc; Star, 17Jc; Extra Star, 20Jc; Eocene, 19jc;
Elaine, 26c; Water White, in bulk, lie; Mineral Seal,
iron bbls., 18c; wooden bbls., 20Jc; cs., 24c; Mineral
Sperm, cs., 26Jc; Deodorized Stove Gasoline, bulk, 14Jc,
do., cs., 21c; 86° Gasoline, bulk, 25c; do., cs., 31c; 83°
Naphtha or Benzine, deodorized, in bulk, per gal., 12Jc;
do., in cs., 19c; Lard Oil, E. W. S., bbl., 75c; cs., 80c;
Neats-foot Oil, pure, bbl., 63c; cs., 78c; Sperm, crude,
63@68c; Natural White, 68c; Bleached, do., 57c; Whale
Oil, cs., 52@67c.
Borax.— Concentrated, 7@8c fi *; powdered, 9@10c;
fused, 25@30c; crystal, 7c.
Bone Ash.— Extra No. 1, 5@6c f, ft; No. 1, 4@5c.
Litharge.— Pure, in 25-ft. bags, 9J@10Jc fs ft.
Molybdenum.— Best, $2.75 <R ft.
Chromium.— 90% and over, f, ft., 80c.
Uranium.— Oxide, $ ft., $3.50.
Mercury.— Bichloride, fl ft., 77c.
Tungsten.— Best, f, ft., $1.25.
Phosphorus.— American, f, ft., 70c.
Sodium.— Metal, $ ft., $1.
Red Lead. — 500 fts. and over at one purchase, B ft.
7Jc; less than 500 lbs., 8c.
Manganese. — Black oxide, fi ft., 2J@4c.
Magnesium. — Pure, N. Y., $1.60.
Bismuth.— Subnitrate, fS ft., $2.10.
Silver.— Chloride, H oz., 90c@$1.00; nitrate, 55c.
Fire Brick.— Domestic, carloads f, 1000, f. o. b., fac-
tory square, $25.00; soap and split, $22.50; arch and
wedge, $27.50; skewback, $30.00; circle, $32.00.
Fire Clay.— Domestic, $ ton 2000 fts. in 125-ft. bags,
double, and dry ground, f. o. b., factory, $8.50.
New Patents.
Dewey, Strong & Co.'s Scientific Press Patent agency, 330
Market street, San Francisco, has official reports of the following
United States patents issued to Pacific Coast inventors :
for week ending JULY 25, 1905.
795.471.— Ore Reducing Apparatus— W. T. Armstrong, San Jose,
Cal.
795 473.— Annunciator— S. B. Bankson, S. F.
795.3S5.— Air Brake— N. V. H. Bergenheim, Oakland, Cal.
795,487.— Puzzle-C B Courtney. Weston. Or
795,534.— C.UN Sight— C. S. Daniel, Hoquiam, Wash.
795,586.— Cattle Guard— W. E. Dement, Blaine, Wash.
795,589.— Stock Feeder— J. J. Powell, S. F.
795,792 —Fruit Press— J. G. Fassett. Pasadena Cal.
795, 590.— Bicycle Support— E. H. Foster, Baker City, Or.
795,795.— Accordion— J. Galleazzi. S. F.
795,700.— Meat Support— Heidenreich & Fontaine, Lagrande. Or.
795,610.— Railway Spike— B. F. Herndon, Florence, Ariz.
795,702.— Watch— Hohmann & Kaatz, San Diego, Cal.
795.770— Coal Loading Apparatus— J. L. Howard, Oakland, Cal.
795,619.— Wardrobe, Etc.— J. Jones. Oregon City. Or.
795.707.— Penholder - C. A. Klein, S. F.
795,723.— Music Leaf Turner— J. McNeil, Oakland, Cal.
795,405.— Fence Post— C. J B. Moore, Calistoga. Cal.
795,409.— Oil Buhner— F. E. Nelson, Santa Barbara, Cal.
795.729.— Packaging Fruit— L. Olzen, S. F.
795,417.— Excavating Bucket— R. H. Postlethwaite, S. F.
795,450.— Drill— W. D. Rankins, Modesto, Cal.
795,734.— Producing Bodies— J. E Seeley, Los Angeles, Cal.
795,656.— Railway Signal— W. B. Smith. Redlands, Cal.
795,739.— Water Level Indicator— R. H. Stollar, Longbeach, Cal.
795.667.— Pumps— W. Wallace, Bakerslield, Cal.
795,323.— Electric apparatus-D. M. Watson, Portland, Or.
795,672 —Harvester— F. H. Willms, Knights Ferry, Cal,
Notices of Recent Patents.
Among the patents recently obtained through Dewey, Strong &
Co.'s Scientific Press United States and Foreign Patent Agency,
the following are worthy of special mention:
Ore Reducing Apparatus— No. 795,471. July 25, 1905. W. T.
Armstrong, San Jose, Cal. This invention relates to an apparatus
for reducing ores and separating and recovering therefrom the val
uable metallic and other ingredients. Its object is to provide a sim-
ple portable roasting. furnace for use of prospectors and others The
apparatus consists of a tube of uniform diameter threaded at the
ends, removable closures for said ends and rendering the tube sub-
stantially air tight, said tube having an inner lining capable of be-
ing reduced 10 a carbonaceous form by heat, a condenser and a pipe
leading from the tube to the condenser, said tube adapted to contain
a body of carbon forming material mixed with ore, and said pipe
having the rnd within the condenser provided with a check valve to
prevent backfiow into the tube.
Device for Packaging Fruit and the Like— No. 795,729. July
25,1905. L. Otzen, San Francisco. Cal. The object of this invention
is to provide an integral and continuous former and means by which
such a former may be removed from the fruit without hinges or
joints. It consists in a fruit pressing device, a box with open top
and bottom and a pressure plate fitting therein, a plunger and a
platen movable therewith, a guide by which the box is alined with
the press mechanism, means for transmitting pressure from the
plunger to the pressure plate in the box, means for lirting the box
after compression has been completed, and springs acting between
the plunger and pressure plate to hold the latter down while the
box is raised.
Combination Clothes Rack, Wardrobe and Bath Cabinet.
—No. 795,619. July 25, 1905. John Jones, Oregon City, Or. The ob-
ject of this invention is to provide a light, simple, portable device
that can be easily adapted as a clothes rack, a wardrobe, or bath
cabinet, which can be set up anywhere, and which can be easily
knocked down for shipment or transportation, and which in the set-
ting up requires neither bolts or screws nor outside tools. The in-
vention comprehends a suitable support and a series of arms pivoted
thereon and adapted to turn in vertical planes, so as to lie parallel
with each other and close to the support or to be extended fan-like
into horizontal position.
Sidbhill HARVESTEH— No. 795,672. July 25, 1905. F. H. Willms,
Knights Ferry, Cal. This invention relates to an apparatus for the
cutting of grain and like products. It is particularly designed to
maintain the thrashing and cleaning portion of the mechanism in a
substantially horizontal position, both transversely and longitud-
inally, and independent of any variations in the grade of the land
which is being passed over by the machine. It consists in the com-
bination of devices by which the body of ibe machine is allowed to
swing by gravitation while the wheel frame and other parts are
subjected to movement caused by inequalities of the land.
Whole No. 2351.-V0NLUSC'
San Francisco, Cal., Saturday, August 12, 1905.
THREE DOLLARS PER ANNUM.
Single Copies. Ten Certtt.
The Relation of Plant to Mine.
Notwithstanding the oft repeated warnings of the
mining press, and the spectacle of the numerous
monumental blunders— to call them no worse — in
mine equipment, the practice of building reduction
plants entirely out of proportion to the capacity of
the mine, and of installing plants in which one por-
tion is wholly out of balance with the others, con-
tinues. A newly organized company has come into
possession of several small mines in an old district of
the Southwest, where the industry has been fagging
for some years past, owing to a number of causes.
The new company evidently intends to put some
vigor into things, as it is stated the expectation is
to build a 20-stamp mill and roasting and cyanide
plant of fifty tons daily capacity. The ores of the
district in question are remarkable for their free-
milling qualities. The sulphides present in the ores
are chiefly pyrite, with small amounts of chaleo-
pyrite, blende, galena and mispickel. Free gold,
visible to the eye, is of frequent occurrence. The
rational process in the treatment of this ore is the
crushing of the quartz in a stamp mill, concentration
after amalgamation (and this, by hydraulic classifi-
cation and division of the product to concentrating
machines of proper design, should be readily and
cheaply accomplished), and subsequent treat-
ment of the concentrates. The method of treatment
of the concentrated sulphides, in a district such as
this, remote from convenient and inexpensive trans-
portation facilities, is one requiring careful study
and experiment. The chlorination process is avail-
able and it is known that a high percentage of val-
ues can be extracted by this means. The cyanide
process is also a possibility here, and very probably
it would work satisfactorily on these sulphides after
roasting, but that a 50-ton roasting and cyanide
plant would be necessary where the capacity of the
20-stamp mill is not likely to greatly exceed this
amount, and where the quantity of sulphides does
not exceed 2%, is not the first thing that comes to
mind. It seems improbable that it is the intention
to roast the entire product of the mine where the
conditions are as here described. It is possible, how-
ever, that the local papers have erred in stating the
company's intentions. It would be far more satis-
factory to know that the latter suggestion is the
case than to contemplate the result of another folly
The Cactus Mill and Trestle, Newhouse, Dtah. (See Page 109.)
wa
- ^5*.
V"
The Cactus Mine,' Near Newhouse, Utah. (See Page 109.)
in a district previously unfortunately handicapped by
inexperienced management and several installations
of improper machinery.
/&£
- - .
-
Concentration Mill of the Waltham Mining Co., Idaho Springs, Colo. (See Page 114.)
A GREAT many prospectuses descriptive of min-
ing properties, shares in which are being
offered the public, reach the editor's desk. Some of
these are gems of typographical art and literary ex-
cellence, others are less so. The magnificence of the
prospectus is not, however, a fair measure of the
merit of the property described, any more than is
the ordinary folder throughout which ignorance is
stamped on every page. One of the latest pseudo-
scientific effusions to be presented contains some re-
markable statements. Among them is the following:
"The hanging wall is porphyritic-limestone-quartz.
The foot wall has not been found. " One can not help
speculating what frightful combination of wall rocks
will be encountered when the footwall is reached.
Further on this scientist informs his readers that
"the ores of this region were formed undoubtedly by
metasomatic alteration including pyritic mineraliza-
tion and oxidation, and its attendant phenomena of
transportation and enrichment. * * * The Malpi
rock and volcanic formation prove beyond a doubt
that the ledges go down and are true fissure veins."
Prospectuses often contain exaggerated misstate-
ments, and the intent to deceive is evident to the ex-
perienced, but this latest prospectus is evidently an
effort at the honest presentation of some of the facts
as observed by one of small scientific attainment —
verily, "a little knowledge is a dangerous thing,"
particularly when it takes the form of a mining pros-
pectus purporting to present conditions as they actu-
ally exist, to obtain money to develop a new prop-
erty. The average investor is generally unable to
distinguish between the genuine and spurious article.
103
Mining and Scientific Press.
August 12, 191)5.
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
ESTABLISHED i860.
Published Every Saturday at 330 Market Street, San Francisco, Cal.
Telephone, Davis 771.
ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION.
United States, Mexico and Canada 13 00
All Other Countries in the Postal Union 5 00
Entered at the San Francisco Postoffice as second-class mail matter.
' Bbanch Offices:
New York City, 921-24 Park Row Bldg. Boston, 27 School St.
Chicago, 1164 Monadnock Block, Denver, 606 Mack Block
J. F. HALLORAN Publisher
SAN FRANCISCO, AUGUST 12, 1905.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
ILLUSTRATIONS: Page.
The Cactus Mill and Trestle, Newhouse, Utah 102
The Cactus Mine, Near Newhouse, Utah 102
Concentration Mill of the Waltham M. Co., Idaho Springs, Colo. 102
Problem in the Storage of Granular and Lump Material 105
Coil of Flexible Steel-Armored Hose 107
Splicing Clamp 107
Re-enforcing Bushing 107
Plan, Cyanide Leaching Plant, Palmarejo, Mexico 107
Cyanide Leaching Plant— Elevation 107
Klondike Rocker 109
Placer Miner's Cabin in Alaska 109
Rocking on the Beach at Nome, Alaska 109
Open Pit Mining in Alaska 109
The Table Floor of the Cactus Mill, Newhouse, Utah 110
King Solomon Mine, Frisco, Summit Co., Colo 110
The Hancock Jig Ill
The Automatic Clutch Ill
EDITORIAL :
The Relation of Plant to Mine 102
A Variety of Prospectuses 102
Judgment Influenced by Intuition 103
Undeveloped Mineral Resources 103
Merit of Small Importance in Speculative Investment 103
Ventilation of Mines 103
Numerous Holidays 103
MINING SUMMARY 113-114-115-116
LATEST MARKET REPORTS 117
MISCELLANEOUS:
Concentrates 104
Problem in the Storage of Granular and Lump Material 105
Available Supply of Platinum 106
A Mine Superintendent's Difficulties in Nicaragua 106
Portable Trams in Mine Stopes on the Rand 106
Flexible Steel Armored Hose 107
Cyaniding Silver-Gold Ores of the Palmarejo Mine, Chihuahua,
Mexico 107
Vulcanized Fiber for Friction Clutches 108
A New Abrasive 108
Placer Mining in Alaska 109
Gold in the Philippines 110
The Cactus Mine, Beaver County, Utah. 110
The Hancock Jig at Penn Wyoming Co. 's Mill Ill
Automatic Clutch Ill
Notes on Hydraulic Mining Ill
Galvanized Iron 112
The Prospector 112
Mining and Metallurgical Patents 112
Books Received 116
Commercial Paragraphs 116
MINING engineers and others whose business it is
to examine and pass judgment upon the
present value and future possibilities of a mine, while
guided to a great extent by the results of their
sampling, nevertheless, allow judgment to be in-
fluenced in no small degree by intuition. After all,
intuitive judgment, which comes of actual experience,
may not be so bad as that which blindly follows the
results obtained by a mechanical operation, no mat-
ter how carefully performed.
NEARLY every mining State, from the Rocky
mountain region westward to the Pacific, has
abundant mineral resources, which are not only unde-
veloped, but which remain undiscovered. Gold, silver,
copper, zinc, lead, tin, antimony, iron, mica and oil
each receives abundant attention and prospectors are
constantly alert to the signs of any or all of these
familiar metals and minerals, but there are other
minerals which have a present and growing value by
reason of their scarcity and the increasing demand
for them. That the rare metals and earths are not
abundant it is scarcely necessary to mention, but
such do occur, and it is more than probable that if
prospectors generally were more familiar with these
minerals their discovery would be of much more fre-
quent occurrence. To this end it has been suggested
by Prof. V. C. Alderson, president of the Colorado
State School of Mines at Golden, in that State, that
schools of mines and State mining bureaus be
equipped with departments of research, the work of
investigation and discovery being given into thor-
oughly competent hands. The present summer two
professors of the Golden school have been in the
Dolores region of Colorado exploring for vanadium
and uranium minerals. Other minerals, other than
the metallic, are later to receive attention. This is
merely suggestive of what may be accomplished in
almost any of the Western mining States through the
channel of properly directed effort. Rare minerals
are known in Colorado, South Dakota, Wyoming,
Utah, Califoruia and throughout the West generally,
and all, seemingly, that is required is that competent
men be employed by the several States to search for
these minerals and, discovering them, possibly lay
the foundation for a number of new industries. As a
matter of course, these things cannot be done through
unaided individual effort, but through the aid of the
States, much of value may be accomplished in this
direction. ■
Merit of Small Importance in Speculative
Investment.
Mines are not always taken up and developed on
intrinsic or relative merit. Good prospects are not
uncommon in some districts where mining has be-
come an every-day business, divested of the glamour
incident to days of rich strikes and the consequent
excitement, but their attractiveness is gone. When
mining settles down to a business basis comparable
with other industrial pursuits, much of the allure-
ment is dispelled, and the tendency to speculate is
dampened. It is regarded as a sure thing, too
definite in its results to make it an object to those
seeking sudden fortune by hazardous investment, to
"take a chance."
It is a strange but noteworthy fact that in the
operation of mines on the Comstock Lode of Nevada,
shareholders will uncomplainingly put up assessment
after assessment, as long as a shaft is being sunk, or
a long blind drift run, and there remains a specula-
tive chance of striking a bonanza Under these re-
peated calls for more, and still more money, the
shares will have an upward tendency in the stock
market, but as soon as an ore body is developed, and
a dividend paid, the "bottom drops out," and the
stock falls, the speculators finding a better oppor-
tunity in gambling in the uncertainties of adjoining
and possibly worthless property. This has been
proven time and again on the Comstock. The invest-
ing public wants a stock that moves rapidly — either
up or down — they do not seem to care much which.
When a new district is discovered and rich strikes
are daily reported, stock companies are quickly
organized on mines in the new district, and shares
are offered "at prices within the reach of all,"
accompanied by abundant but usually irresponsible
promises of large returns. The public eagerly buys.
All other districts are for the time being forgotten,
or cast aside, their stocks being regarded as poor in-
vestments. One may invest in a substantial stock in
a dividend-paying mine. At the end of a year the
mine is still paying, but the stock is quoted at about
the same price as before. There seems too little of
the element of chance in these substantial stocks. In
the meantime stock in the "Solomon's Temple " mine
has rapidly fluctuated between 3 cents and $1.50 per
share. Hundreds of thousands of dollars have been
lost and made by those playing the game, and yet
the "Temple " has never paid a dividend, and in all
probability never will When the investing public —
and particularly the army of small investors — clamor
so earnestly for lively stocks it seems too bad not to
accommodate them, and consequently a large num-
ber of obliging promoters and stock manipulators fix
up and deal the game regularly and profitably to
themselves.
Meanwhile in other old, substantial and well devel-
oped producing districts are numerous prospects
lying idle for the lack of necessary capital to equip
and develop them — properties which would in all
probability yield a good percentage return on the in
vestment for a long period of years, but these have
no attractiveness for the small speculator, and such
real opportunities remain unnoticed.
In former years mines were generally equipped
and developed by individuals, or unincorporated asso-
ciations, the act of incorporation often taking place
some years later when the value of the mine had
been proven. Then the investors visited the property
personally, and often took the management them-
selves. Now, many investors in the stock of mining
companies not only do not visit the property, but often
have only a vague idea of its situation, unable to
state in what county it is located, and sometimes
even the State is a matter of conjecture. Not infre-
quently the amount invested in operations of this
character by single individuals reaches many thou-
sands of dollars. The investment has been made on
the representations of a stranger who is a good
talker and whose promises of rich returns are gen-
erous. Men invest in such concerns who are ultra
conservative in their ordinary commercial business
affairs, but the opportunity to quietly speculate
without injury to their standing in the commercial
world seems irresistible, and they enrich the enter-
prising promoter to the extent of any loose thou-
sands that may be available. From this large mer-
chant investor, the list runs down to clerks, small
storekeepers and laboring people, of both sexes,
each anxious to make much out of little. The result
is too familiar to all to need comment.
Ventilation of Mines.
Considerable interest has been taken recently in
the problem of mine ventilation, particularly at
Butte, Mont., where many of the lower levels are
hot, and where the air is laden with noxious vapors,
exhalations and gases. Some of these mines are on
fire — that is, the sulphide ore is slowly burning, the
sulphur in the ore supplying the necessary fuel, and
the little remaining oxygen in the vitiated mine
atmosphere keeping it going. Fortunately, these
fires exist in only a few places, and no doubt in time
the ore will be entirely removed from around the
burning sections, and fires will then burn themselves
out for lack of material upon which to feed, when the
ore may be removed. Many of the mines of Butte,
like those of other large mining camps, are already
connected by underground workings, or such connec-
tions may easily be made, but in numerous instances
doors or bulkheads have been placed in these connec-
tions to prevent trespass. It has been suggested
that mine ventilation might be vastly improved by
substituting doors of iron bars for the airtight
wooden ones, thus allowing fairly free passage to the
air current, while defeating the cupidity of envious
or unscrupulous neighbors.
Of great interest in connection with this subject of
mine ventilation and sanitation is the report of the
royal commission of Western Australia on the venti-
lation and sanitation of mines. This commission was
directed to make inquiry as to the condition of venti-
lation and sanitation of the gold mines of Western
Australia, the effects of the said conditions on the
health of the persons employed in the mines, and the
measures which should be taken, where necessary, to
bring about an improvement thereof.
This inquiry was one of the most thorough and
extensive ever officially undertaken in reference to
metal mines. In the operation of coal mines the
question of ventilation is a most important one, and
for many years has received abundant attention;
but while conditions of ventilation in metal mines in
many districts — particularly in those where the
mines are dry — are bad, no such far-reaching inves-
tigation had been previously undertaken. It was
determined by the commission that the principal
causes of ill health among underground workers were
rock dust held in suspension in the air, due to rock
drilling and the handling of ore in the mines, and the
presence of too large an amount of carbonic acid and
gases resulting from the explosion of nitro-glycerine
and other explosive compounds. The greatest num-
ber of fatalities were due to the fumes from these
explosives.
The findings of the commission as to the causes of
foul air in the mines, and the suggestions for the
improvement of existing conditions, are most inter-
esting and important, and will be referred to at
greater length hereafter.
IN some of the important coal mining districts of the
eastern United States the operators are com-
plaining of the numerous holidays demanded by the
miners and men working at the coke-making plants.
During the year 1905, it is stated that in the Pitts-
burg district of Pennsylvania there were 150 holi-
days, occurring through the observance of Russian,
Slavonic, Italian and Hungarian holidays, and the
National, State and other holidays of the United
States. In addition to these, some of the men de-
mand time to observe certain saints' days. This
frequent breaking up of working crews has become a
most exasperating feature of mine management.
Aoqcst 12, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
104
CONCENTRATES.
a d
Water in a state of rest exerts pressure equally in all
directions.
wVvV
Oil at G cents per gallon and coal at $5 per ton about
balance as to cost.
****
The gold production of the United States for 1H04 is
Stated to have been (84,551,300, an increase ovor that of
1003 of ooarly $11, 000,000.
A STEEL HEADFRAME may "attract the lightning,"
but no record of the destruction of a steel frame from
this cause has been published. Wooden frames are more
likely to suffer from lightning than steel.
The question of the relative oltioiency and cost of
mine ventilation by fans or air compressors must be de-
termined by existing conditions. It is very expensive to
ventilate mine workings by moans of a small compressor
plant.
WTTT
Whether or not it will bo proiitable to strip a piece
of mineral ground depends entirely upon the cost of op-
eration and the relation of this cost to the result in
working the oro body, gravel or othor mineral deposits
beneath.
Very few of the gold dredgers now at work in Cali-
fornia are taking the gravel from the true bedrock. It
is mostly obtained from a false, or higher, bedrock — a
layer of volcanic tuff or mud covers the real bedrock,
and also probably older gravel.
Gold occurs in sandstone as well as in metamor-
phic and eruptive rocks. In some instances the occur-
rence of gold is not accompanied by intrusive rocks,
though usually dikes are present or in proximity to the
occurrence of ores in sedimentary rocks.
Fresh zincblende just from the mine, and which is
but little if at all oxidized, has no appreciable effect on
cyanide solutions, but that in the oxidized zone, or which
has been for some time on the dump and subjected to
oxidizing influences, decomposes cyanide solutions.
The capacity of a blast furnace for either lead or cop-
per ores depends to a great extent upon the ores, but no
furnace can be successfully or economically run with a
capacity of less than thirty tons daily. The larger fur-
naces are much more economical in fuel, labor and gen-
eral expense to the ton of ore handled.
Where ladders are placed in a vertical shaft there
should be platforms laid at least every third set, usually
every 15 feet. This insures the safety of men who may
be obliged to climb out long distances a difficult and
dangerous task where there are long stretches of verti-
cal ladder unbroken by platforms or other resting places.
The occurrence of dark colored figures, resembling
moss and trees in the fracture planes of many rocks, and
commonly called "forest rock," is due to the capillary
infiltration of mineral oxides into these planes. Usually,
these dentritic infiltrations are iron and manganese
oxides, though after oxides and salts of the metals make
similar deposits.
The superficial parts of some of the copper mines of
Butte, Mont., were first worked for placer gold by sluic-
ing. Later, in depth, the ores were milled for gold and
silver values, and still later for the copper contents of the
ores. The Alice, Lexington and other veins on that lode
are of a different character from most of the copper
mines of Butte district.
Rapid running increases the wear of hoisting ropes
and it is, therefore, better to increase the load than the
running speed. In doing this the limit of safety must be
considered. A |-inch plow steel rope has a breaking
strength of twenty^five tons. The safe allowable load is
five tons. This includes the weight of skip or cage, the
rope itself, and the rock placed in the Bkip.
Theoretically, one ounce of zinc shavings should
precipitate six ounces of gold or three ounces of silver
from cyanide solutions containing them, but in practice
a very much larger amount of zinc is required than is
indicated by the theoretical reactions taking place in
the precipitation boxes. It has been shown, however,
that the richer the solution in gold the less the amount
of zinc required per ounce to precipitate it.
It is the custom in nearly all the deep mines through-
out the West where a large number of men are employed
for the men to take their lunches underground with
them on going on shift, or to have them sent down at
the proper time, the food being eaten underground. At
some of the larger mines it would require an hour or
more to raise the men, give them thirty minutes on the
surface and send them back to the working places. This
is ordinarily considered an expensive loss of time.
Most black sands from placers and the beaches of
lakes, bays and the ocean, contain more or less mag-
netic iron, but all of the grains of iron ore present in
such sands are not magnetic. There is often present
titanic iron, hematite, arid limonito, pseudomorphs after
pyrite. The magnetic iron results from the degrada-
tion of basic rocks in which magnetic iron abounds,
both as an original eun.Htituent and of secondary occur-
rence resulting from the alteration of iron bearing min-
erals, such as hornblende.
The question of the right of an apex owner of a vein
to follow his vein on its dip beneath the patented laud
of a senior agricultural loeator has never been directly
determined by tho Supreme Court of the United States.
A case involving this question was presentod to tho Su-
preme Court several years ago in the case of the South
Spring Hill (;. M. Co. v. Amador-Modean G. M. Co., but
the properties involved in tho suit passed to the owner-
ship of the same persons, and the case was thereupon
withdrawn from the court9.
VVww
The water rushing through the head gates of a dam
may be prevented to a great extent from cutting by the
construction of an auxiliary rough dam across the
stream below the gates. By allowing the water to pass
through the gates under control, opening the gates
slowly until tho lower basin is filled, tho gates may then
be left wide open as long as there is a sufficient How of
water to fill them. When the low stage of water comes
the gates will be closed, but with coming again of the
flood season the same thing may be repeated.
V9ww
Where plows and scrapers can be employed on ditch
work, the cost of excavation can be reduced consider-
ably over shoveliug by hand. In digging a ditch along
a hillside, under ordinary conditions, a man will loosen
with a pick and shovel out from 7 to !) cubic yards of
material in 10 hours. In mountainous places narrow and
deep ditches are moro satisfactory than broad and shal-
low ones. The former cost less and require generally
less repairs. Surprisingly little damage is due to wash-
ing of the sides on steep grades in the mountain sections
of ditches.-
In iron smelting the blast is heated by the inflam-
mable gases resulting from combustion of the materials
in the furnace. This inflammable gas is chiefly carbon
monoxide. Very little of such gas is evolved in copper
or lead smelting in cupola furnaces, and consequently
the blast must be heated by other means. In rever-
beratory practice there is always abundance of heat
from the fuel used and from the burning of sulphur in
the ore, and this heat can often be utilized for heating
air for the blast furnaces or for steam making and for
other purposes. .
Arch/ean and Algonkian rocks are both pre-Cam-
brian in age, but the two are often confounded, particu-
larly where the area of rock exposed is comparatively
small. Geologists consider those rocks only Archaean
which are the oldest rocks known, with no limitation in
depth, being, in fact, the original crust of the earth.
It seems somewhat doubtful if such rocks actually exist
exposed on the surface. In some instances, the
Archtean appears to grade into the Algonkian, though
the latter are supposed to be clastic rocks derived from
the degradation of the older Archaean crystalline rocks.
There are those who believe that the growth of cer-
tain kinds of vegetation is promoted by the presence of
the oxides of various metals in the soil. Thus, there is
said to be a "lead plant," the presence of which is
thought to indicate the existence of lead ores in the
rocks beneath the surface. Certain other plants are
supposed to indicate the presence of other minerals.
These are known as "indicative plants." The idea is an
old one, but has been heard little of in late years. It is
scarcely likely that there is anything of importance in
it, or these indications would have been more closely ob-
served and followed to a definite conclusion long ere
now.
v9ww
By metamorphism normal rocks lose their identity
more or less completely. A limestone is often found
changed into a crystalline marble, or if it were originally
an impure limestone it might be altered into hornblende
schist, in which barely a trace of the original calcium
carbonate remains. A siliceous iron carbonate may be
changed to an actinolite schist in which is an abundance
of magnetite. Carbonaceous shales are altered to graph-
itic schists; dikes of basic magnesian rocks are altered
into magnesian schists; sandstone becomes mica schist,
or a dense hard quartzite.- There are many other forms
of metamorphism, of which the above are the most com-
monly seen.
A stockholder in a mining corporation cannot re-
locate a mining claim owned by the company in which
he is a stockholder because of the failure of the com-
pany to perform the annual assessment required by law
on unpatented claims. Nor can he perform the work
himself and "advertise the company out " If, through
neglect to attend to the assessment, the company loses
the claim, the stockholders who lose thereby may sue
the company for the damages sustained. Any other
person not a stockholder in the company may relocate
the claims for such failure to perform the annual assess-
ment work, and there is no law which prevents such
third party from giving an interest in the relocation to
a stockholder who has sustained loss through negligence
of his company.
It is seldom that tho best oil wells are obtained at the
place whore the oil seepage occurs, for the reason that at
tho place where tho oil oozes from the rocks is the out-
crop of the oil hearing stratum, though in some instances
t he seepage may be due to a fissure which extends down
to the oil-bearing formation beneath. The former, how-
ever, is the more common occurrence. It is the wells
which penetrate the oil sand some distance below its out-
crop that is tho most profitable. In many oil fields there
are several strata containing oil separated by a greater or
less amount of rock in which the oil occurs sparingly, or
not at all, and in such case a bore hole sunk at the point
of seepage of an upper layer of oil-bearing formation
might penetrate a lower stratum and produce a profit-
able well.
The ideal condition of bedrock in a placer mine is a
soft, somewhat decayed rock having many irregulari-
ties, such as is afforded by the upturned edges of mica
schists and slaty rocks. When this rock is 60 decom-
posed that it may be shoveled up from 1 inch to li inches
deep, it usually catches and holds tho gold passing over
it in the stream. The condition is improved if the
stream crosses the strike of the formation and the grade
is light. Where the grade is steep and the channel nar-
row, the bedrock is usually found smooth and gold only
lodges in the cracks of tho jointing planes of such rock.
It sometimes works its way several feet downward into
such cracks. To secure this gold the bedrock must be
taken up. The best pay is usually on bedrock, though
there are many exceptions to this.
When an engine, air compressor or other similar ma-
chine is worked beyond its capacity, it ceases to be an
economical machine, as it costs moro, for the work ac-
complished, than it would if a machine of proper size
were employed. The use of a machine much too large
for the work to be done is equally bad, as it is expensive
to operate and the wear and tear amount to proportion-
ately more than where the machine is suited to the
work. For this reason it is inadvisable to install a large
and expensive hoisting plant to sink the first 1000 feet of
a deep shaft. A smaller machine of proper size is more
economical in cost, operating expense and power re-
quired, and the larger engines, to be put in place later,
are not worn out before they enter upon a period of
activity for which they were designed.
'Ss&'tt'&r
Where ore bodies outcrop along the surface of a vein
it is not always good business to run a long crosscut
tunnel to reach these ore bodies in depth whilo still un-
developed, unless development on adjoining property
proves that the ore goes down. Long tunnels run for
this purpose are frequently disappointing in their re-
sults, as often no ore is found. In a case such as that
stated above, it would be better judgment to develop
the superficial portion of the vein first, and either mill
or ship the ore for the profit that may be derived from
the operation, using the proceeds in the running of tho
tunnel. In othor words, make' the mine pay for its own
development. It is often said that "this ore is only on
the surface, with depth it will get richer." There is no
rule nor experience in mining which justifies such a con-
clusion, though there have been instances where such a
condition has been found. Enrichment of this char-
acter is of local occurrence.
By using 5J-inch piston drills on the Henderson Point
rock work in Portsmouth harbor, New Hampshire, holes
were drilled in hard trap to depths varying from 50 to
79 feet. The drills were operated in series, seven ma-
chines being bolted to a frame of heavy timbers, set in
the bottom of a pit behind a coffer dam. Two hundred
and three lifting holes were thus drilled, which were 6
inches diameter at the start, decreasing to about 2
inches diameter at the bottom of the deepest hole.
Thirty-eight tons of dynamite were used in exploding
the entire series of holes bored, there also being numer-
ous down holes. The blast dislodged 35,000 cubic yards
of solid trap rock. The sticks of powder used were made
to order and ranged from 2J to 4 inches diameter and
24 to 30 inches in leugth. About one-half the powder
was 60% nitro glycerine, the remainder being 15%, or
somewhat stronger than the ordinary No. 1 powder.
Nine hundred exploders were required for the work.
The nickel aDd cobalt consumption of the United
States and Canada is practically controlled by the Inter-
national Nickel Co., which owns and operates extensive
mines in Canada and also in New Caledonia. The metal-
lurgical works at Orford', N. J., also handle nickel and
cobalt ores, also American Metal Co., 52 Broadway,
New York. In view of the above, it is difficult to state
what percentage of nickel and cobalt in pyrrhotite or
other ores would pay. The lowest percentage of copper
in sulphide ores that will pay is that percentage which
will yield a return in excess of the cost of production.
This is variable, depending upon conditions and circum-
stances which must be fully known and understood.
Ordinarily a copper ore to be profitable under favorable
conditions, and where shipped to a custom smelter,
should carry at least $10 worth of copper. This should
pay for the cost of mining, transportation and reduction,
together with the usual discounts. Where the same
person and company owns both mine and smelter and
the ore is self-fluxing, the value of the ore may under
favorable conditions pay when containing only $4.
1U5
Mining and Scientific Press.
August 12, 1<J05.
Problem in the Storage of Granular and
Lump Material.*
Written by W. E. Hunter and J. S. Meters.
It is a well-known fact that certain kinds of mate-
rial, dropped from a fixed point of discharge, will-
depending upon the material — assume definite angles
of repose which are notably uniform in slope over the
surface of the pile, rendering the computation of a
close approximation to the contents of the pile or
weight of the material an easy matter.
This angle of repose P (Fig. 1) is for anthracite
coal 27°, for bituminous coal 40°, for dry sand 33°,
etc. Often, however, the piles— whether in the open
or under cover — are confined at the base by vertical
retaining walls, thereby destroying the symmetry of
the natural conical shape, and the amount of this con-
finement may vary from the single vertical wall
placed at one side to complete enclosure of the base
by four such retaining walls forming a rectangle. To
compute the contents of the pile of material under
these circumstances becomes one of some difficulty if
necessary to resort to an elementary calculation,
consequently it is customary to use approximation
methods for the purpose, and while it may be con-
ceded that the approximation methods are suffi-
ciently accurate, the diagrams herewith exhibited
have the merit of not only greater accuracy, but also
of affording greater expedition in practice. The prob-
ability of error is likewise minimized.
In Fig. 1, which is the representation of a conical
pile enclosed at the base by four retaining walls, with
the apex O midway between the walls C C and B' B,
it is seen that the solid within one quadrant is made
up of a parallelopiped having the base OLCD and
altitude I H, and also that portion of the quarter
cone within the walls having its apex at O in plan
and O' in elevation and altitude J O'. It is, there-
fore, necessary to obtain the contents of the two por-
tions of the quarter cone cut off by the walls C C
and C B, having the bases C L F and D C E and alti-
tudes H 6 and J K, so that these volumes may be
subtracted from the contents of the quarter cone.
The mathematical treatment in a condensed form
is as follows, referring to Fig. 2:
Let a = altitude of cone;
r = radius of base of cone:
z = distance from axis of cone to cutting
plane; given in figure as Zx. Subscript
dropped for simplicity;
volume of entire cone;
volume of portion cut off by plane.
+ y2 = R2, andR : x :: r : a;
V
v =
We have
z2
therefore y
/r2xa r /
= \j z2 = — V*2 — -
and
2rna f»r / a2z3\2
v = — V \ ( x2 ) dx dz =
a Ja z Jz \ r3 /
S[['(ri
2 a za
z2)— — log„-
V7 r2 — z
dz =
2a z /r2
log.
3
r + /r2
The characteristics of each of these terms of v are
given in diagram A, both positive and negative
terms, for economy of space, being placed above the
v
zero line. The curve designated — gives the propor-
V
tion of the volume severed from the cone to the vol-
ume of the entire cone. This ratio is constant for the
z
corresponding ratio — , irrespective of the dimensions
r
a and r, consequently it is only necessary to obtain
the volume of the whole cone and multiply it by this
ratio as given in the table or from the curve, and the
volume of the portion severed is arrived at. For
instance, if it is desired to obtain the contents of that
portion of a cone remaining from which has been
removed a part exterior to a cutting plane situated
midway between the axis and the outer extremity of
z
the base, we first ascertain that the ratio — = .50,
r
and a reference to the diagram shows that the ratio
of the part cut off is, to the entire cone, .110.
Diagram A and the table accompanying it were
not worked out with more accuracy than may be
*Engineering News, July 27, 11105.
obtained by means of the ordinary slide rule, as the
writers, desiring a diagram more suitable to rectan-
gular bins, were agreeably surprised to find that a
means of the proper substitutions, displacing z by its
value as a function of the angle $ in the following:
sin 2 if — cos3 <t log. tan -
90° + *
-sin3 <t log, cot
0
Making a and r each equal to unity in the above
formula gives the formula for the unit semi-cone.
This unit value Ca was used in plotting diagram B,
and is shown thereon. The solution was made for the
semi-cone, as it is not always practicable to have the
apex at the geometrical center of the bin. The for-
mula and curve may be as readily used in the case
where the apex is not placed centrally in either direc-
ts. - - pj cm p) p\ 3. * ■ in in. *. iq >» s, <o a^
Values of ?,-i-r = Cosine <p
DIAGRAM AND TABLE A.
CO-ORDINATE DISTANCES
For *acK of ih« btrmt in th« aoe-prtfiftton
for th« uoluml of ine portion of a. con«
3<o«rod few passing o. Cutting pla.r\e
parallel to thtf a.xit-,jrom. Formula 2..
Ow ina«rllW.g <»Ulh« eo«tfCc..ent»in for«^a Z tM
3T4 <**■* 5tXWrTns oummatc. LrtO-r-ial b*}»'*,
formal. 2 ihr* become) U"£ °5* .. ^,3
Loot in CS urn common Loos. r
FIRST TERM IS CONSTBNTt.Tt/4 =.7854
VAL-
UE
T
SECOND
TERM
MINUS
THIRO
TERM
MINUS
FOURTH
TERM
PLU5
FIFTH
TERM
MINUS
Ratio t«
Entiw:
CONE
■v
,oo
.OOOO
.0000
.0000
.2&ie
.5000
.OS
.0 33 3
OS SO
.OOOI5
.25 35
45 2 4
,lO
.0 6 64
0504
.0010
.24 5 1
,4 0 6
1 5
.0 9 70
07S4
.0 029
.2 36©
.362
.2.0
.1 2 97
.1 OO 7
.0O6I
.2286
.318
.2 5
.16 17
.12 64
.01 07
.2 2 00
.2 7 7
.30
.19 ©9
.13 2 4-
,oiee
.2 1 IS
.2 37
■ 35
.2170
.I7B7
.0230
.2o2S
■ 2 0t
A°
.2 445
.2oS6
.0335
.is 30
-l&B
45
.2 6 02
.2333
.04 3 6
-I04Z
.13 7
.50
.2 OS 7
.2 SI©
.O 549
.174 6
,ll0 07t
.55
.30S4
.23 IO
,06 5 8
.1 649
.oSs
.<3o
.3 2 OO
■ 32 IG
'.079 O
.15-47
■0« 5
.G5
.3291
.5539
■OS 14
.1442.
■ 047
.70
-3330
,3Bflo
.10 2 0
.1325
.03 2
.707
.3333
.3927
.IOS9
.13 09
.03008*
.75
.3306
.42 46
.IMS
.12 04
■ OZ(
.60
3Z02
.4Q40
.1103
.1 O 74
.0 12
.65
2S8Z
.50BO
12 00
.092 4
.007
.90
*
-95
*
I.OO
.0000
.76 54
.OOOO
.OOOO
.OOOO
* Slide Rule Not Accurate Emouoh fb*TME»e
1" Solved St 5i* PLACE Loaa
Diagram B.
combination of two cutting planes, as shown in dia-
gram B, very much simplified the formula for pur-
poses of calculation. This formula was obtained by
tion by taking one-half the reading of the curve,
which then applies to a quarter cone. Formula CT
may also be transformed to give tons or bushels, as
August 12, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
106
desired, by multiplying it by the proper constants for
the material forming the cone. The values of C,
given to five decimal places were calculated, inter-
mediate values being readily interpolated from the
curve.
Table li gives values of C, corresponding to values
Z,
of — = .36 to 1.00, advancing bv .02 interpolated from
the curve. The column headed P gives the propor-
tion of the volume remaining to the volume of the
semi-cone. The column headed Ca gives the coeffi-
cient by which to multiply r , to obtain volume when
the material stored is anthracite coal, the angle of
repose of which is 27°. This table covers the range
for practical purposes, as it would not be economical
In construct bins under ordinary circumstances with
a width less than about. 0.5 to 0.0 of the length. In
use the reading of diagram A should be multiplied by
Constants for Volume of Semi-Cones
Havimc RieT«H«WLnn Base Pmoouccd &t Cuttims
pL*Ht* P»N*tL[L TO TMC R»I6.
Vmuii Mmnxco® Went C»kw...,i:. Wh- $•» Pinct Los.*.
X
or-
a= r tan p. p=270fopflni^UC4t#C<x.l.
<?
l_l tK« plan* X 3? Bo»n4#d b3 the
[Zi Pianos Parallel to tK« AivsWK.cH are
DliUnl Jrom Unt flx la. Zl *»i\d Zt
Respeclvoel^iP^CrVol^xw^ Semi Cone
Car! For-P=27° U= CaP.' Ct=.509525Ci
t i
U" =
p"
Zi-i-Z,
Ci
Cj
P
£
Z.+ Z,
C.
Cz
P
.36
.305
.15 5
.56S
72
J38
.223
.837
.38
.317
.161
.fcOG
3</
.7 2 65°
4389"
.2 2 36"
.833
.4 0
.32 8
.167
.62 7
.74
.441
.2 25
843
.4 2
.339
.173
.646
.7 6
.4 44
.226
.848
.44
.3-19
.178
.6 67
.7 8
.447
.228
.654
2 4*
44 52"
.35IO"
.1788°
JS7I
.80
.4 4 9
.229
.858
.46
.358
.182
-636
39*
.6096
4S00"
.2294°
.B&o
.4 8
.367
.187
■70I
-82
.4 5 1
.2 30
.862
.SO
.376
.192
.718
.6 4
.4 53
.2 3 1
865
27'
.S°95'
.3794"
.1933"
72 5
.8 6
.4546
.23 15
.668
.Si
.383
.195
,732
.88
.4 557
.2320
.870
.54
.391
.199
.747
4 2°
3004"
.4567"
.2327"
.872
.56
.398
.2 03
.76o
.92
4576
.2332
.874
s3
.3774"
.4 036°
.2056"
.770
.94
4 583
.2 335
.875
.58
404
.2 06
.772
.96
45Q6
.23 36
.876
.6 0
410
.209
,733
.98
4588
.2 337
.877
.62
416
.212
.795
4?
i.oo"
4 589"
.2338"
.877
.6 4
4ZI
.2 14
.&04
The loqaritHm* in the
ibooe
33°
.6494'
4234"
.2157°
,6o9
formula an live Natural
Loqari- th wi». To uj* Copimon
Looi rr,«lti.ply thcrk by
2.30a6
.6 6
.42 5
.2(6
.SI2
.6 8
.429
.216
.82 0
.7 0
4 34
.2 21
.629
tf*k
r*t • . 4
lirC"
fWHC »
r-i)is
S""
■ ttS*
Table B.
the contents of the complete cone and the product
subtracted from the entire contents. The reading of
diagram B should be multiplied by the product of the
altitude and the square of the radius of the base; the
result will be the contents of the semi-cone within the
bin, and this result divided by two will give the con-
tents of the quarter cone within the bin.
Example. — A bin for anthracite coal is 230 by 160
feet and the apex of the cone is at the center of the
building and 80 feet 8 inches from the floor. Required
the capacity of the bin:
zt = 115, z2 = 80, r = j/iT* + V^, and a =
r tan 27°.
(115)2 = 13.225
(80)2 = 6,400
r2 _ 19,625
logr2 4.3928079
logr 2.1464040
log tan 37° 9.7071659
zi 80
— -. — = .695, hence Ct
z2 115
(rom curve = 4332 and
log C, 9.6366884
Log V2 5.783IJ680 and V2 ™ 606,830 cu. ft.
and 2 V2— 1,213,660 cu. It.
log r 2.1404040
log tan 27° 9.7071659
log a 1.8535699 a — 71.379
80.667
71.379
log9.888 9184479
log 160 2.2041200
log 230 2.3617278
5.4842975
therefore, contents of parallelopiped isequalto 305,000 cu. ft.
contents of conical pile 1, 213,660 cu ft.
contents of the bin 1. 518, 660 cu. ft.
52
This amount multiplied bv 39,485 tons, the required capacity
2060
in tons of 2000 pounds, taking the weight as 52 pounds per cubic foot.
Available Supply of Platinum.
The Electrical Review says that the Croselmire &
Ackor Co., 42 Walnut street, Newark, N. X, plat-
inum, gold and silver refiners, announce that the
situation in Russia is becoming so serious, and the
supply of available ore so scarce, that it is possible,
and not at all improbable, that before the first of the
year it will be almost impossible to purchase plat-
inum in quantities of any account. Prices are ad-
vancing almost daily, and in the next month or so
the price of platinum will be very high. Platinum
to-day is worth from $21 to $21.50 per troy ounce,
according to the supply.
A Mine Superintendent's Difficulties
in Nicaragua.
Written for the Mining andScikn-iific Pkkss.
An impending sense of coming trouble forced itself
on my just awakened susceptibilities one morning
early in the first month of the current year.
The writer was the superintendent of a mine in
Nicaragua, and that day the "Jefe Politico," or
sheriff, after having attended the festivities of pro-
claiming a neighboring pueblo, was to pay our mine
a visit.
In a moment of weakness I had consented to enter-
tain this official with his numerous retinue; to provide
them with a light "almuerzo," and show them under-
ground. Well, we live and learn.
In the first instance, such a proposition meant, of
course, the complete disorganization of the working
staff, and no work being done that day.
The enthusiastic mine boss had fixed the main en-
try to the mine with native and home flags; and, in
addition, had embowered it with a young forest of
saplings, so that our ordinary business-like adit now
had the appearance of being fixed for a school treat,
or some such popular festivity.
On the flagpole at the office floated the blue and
white emblem of native patriotism; although, I am
bound to confess, I had no evidence of anyone even
noticing this, our offered tribute.
The first contingent arrived during the morning,
but these seemed to comprise most of the unofficial
hangers on. The big man himself was reported
" hors de combat " from the very strenuous under-
taking of attempting an all-night " baile " copiously
supported with certain well-known stimulants."
After a weary wait of most of the day, at about
4 p. m. the Jefe Politico and staff, accompanied by a
heterogeneous crowd of followers, and that indispens-
able adjunct, the brass band, without which no
government official would so demean his dignity as to
preside at any function, no matter how insignificant,
arrived.
As time was pressing I at once made inquiries as
to whether the colonel and staff desired to go under-
ground. On the reply being in the negative I was
immensely relieved, as the very evident incapable
state of all hands would make such a visit highly ex-
citing, if not positively dangerous.
The modest luncheon that had been prepared early
in the day was now called for, and with suitable apol-
ogies served. The cook had been somewhat gener-
ous in the quantities of mustard with which he had
sought to impart a suitable " gusto " to the other-
wise insipid sandwiches, and to the most callous pal-
ate they were, indeed, a trifle "piquante."
The first contingent, whose palate was more or
less normal, after a trial had positively refused to
suffer further; and so our apprehensions were great
as to the favor with which our further efforts in this
regard would be received. Apparently the pungent
relish acted as an antidote to the jaded palate, and
in many cases seemed to pass unnoticed — althoueh to
the normal innocent tears would start unbidden to
the eyes. And so the lunch proved an unqualified
success.
Almost at .5 o'clock, when the men, who had been
in readiness all day, were preparing to leave, the big
man felt sufficiently recovered to remember the
object of his visit and expressed a wish to undertake
the journey underground.
Numerous objections were offered, and I even
brought to bear some manifest fabrications, alleging
the mine to be full of powder smoke owing to the
nearness of "shooting time," which would be highly
dangerous to their excellencies. However, nothing
would avail; in fact, they rather thought they might
relish the smoke, and supremely despised any inti-
mated danger.
So, as there was no alternative, without giving
crievous offense — which in those autocratic countries
would be extremely impolitic — the order was given
to go below.
Although the main entry was but a stone's throw
distant, it was not compatible with the honor of "ca-
balleros" to walk, and so the whole party mounted
and went clattering down the hill. The colonel, in
fact, thinking possibly he was leading some desperate
charge, cantered across the bridge and was half way
up the opposite hill before he could be halted and ig-
nominiously brought back.
The party were manifestly in no condition to go
underground on foot, and so the accommodation pro-
vided was there. Timber trucks fitted with plat-
forms and seats came into service very handily.
The mine boss, who had himself grown a trifle hilar-
ious by this time, undertook a little pyrotechnic dis-
play on his own account, and also to demonstrate the
efficiency of the particular brand of powder used,
scattered with a free hand amidst the horses and
riders whole sticks of powder with a short lighted
fuse. The detonations were soon something fierce;
but happily, beyond a little trouble with the horses,
there was no damage done; _ Altogether the pros-
pects looked a little unpropitious, with such an un-
ruly crowd, to attempt the entry of the mine. How-
ever, in we went, the three automobiles with their
mozos in the van, and the stragglers following as
best they could. The mine was profusely lit with
candles placed in the levels, crosscuts and rises, so
that there was no lack of light. All went welt until
we reached the main shaft, when the mine boss would
insist expatiating on the glories of the undertaking,
which so interested the Jefe Politico that nothing
would suffice but that he must get out and see these
wonders for himself. So impressed was he that in
honor of the project he called for his band and in-
sisted on having a tune.
Great was his disgust when he found that the in-
struments had been left outside. After some
maneuvering I managed to get the party aboard
again and gave orders for full speed ahead to the
end of the drift, some half a mile farther.
My sole anxiety now was to get the party
through and out again without loss of limb or life.
On arriving at the " breast," with little more adven-
ture than a dump or two around the curves all hands
alighted.
In two crosscuts near the breast six rounds had
been drilled in each and loaded. After sundry
efforts on the part of the boss to practically demon-
strate how the holes were drilled, in which I had to
discontinue his efforts as he was operating perilously
near the charged holes, the Jefe declared his wish to
see the holes fired. I can picture the scene very
vividly now— the Jefe at the entrance to the crosscut
within a foot or two of the spitting fuse, yelling at
the top of his voice "Fire! Fire!" and waving his
arms over his head, apparently in blissful ignorance
that there were a half dozen shots in close proximity,
and spitting for all they were worth. Seeing the state
of affairs, I yelled to the other men not to spit their
shots and devoted my efforts in getting the enthusi-
astic party into some place of safety. We had
barely retreated to the switch when off went the
shots, one after auother; and, as a consequence, the
entire party was left in darkness, as all the candles
were blown out by the rush of air in the drift. The
martial sound of the shots evidently awoke the latent
patriotism and warlike sentiments, and "Vivas"
galore were yelled by the crowd for the president,
evidently with much gusto.
Now the proposition was to get the crowd out
again.
The members of the band took a fancy to be
trammed out in the mine cars; accordingly, they
were hustled aboard into three cars and trammed
out at a good lively gait, as the grade of the track is
in places considerable, and the mozos did not spare
their victims.
It was a matter of considerable congratulation that
none of the cars were derailed and the occupants
seriously injured; for as a matter of fact they must
have come out of that drift seemingly like a shot out
of a gun. As a matter of fact the entire party
emerged in perfect safety — the members of the band
a little sadder, but possibly wiser men.
By this time it was quite dark. After the inevita-
ble delay the Jefe, followed by the cavalcade, headed
for the office. On arriving there he evidently felt it
encumbent on himself to deliver a speech, as it ap-
pears customary in Spanish countries on every possi-
ble occasion to speechify. Earlier in the afternoon
we were given the benefit of some very lofty flights of
oratory, which, boiled down, I expect, meant very
little, if anything.
However, it seems inherent in the Spanish nature
to express sentiment in the most ornate manner,
whether called for or not; and so in this case the
happy period of departure was thereby dragged out
to such a length, assisted by a few supplementary
drinks, that I was beginning to think if we ever
should see the end of it — or whether some unfortu-
nate occurrence might not cause some little six-
shooter practice, as all the guests were, as custom-
ary, armed; when eventually the whole party,
headed by the jubilant Jefe, drew off into the dark-
ness and the night and left one individual, at least,
devoutly thankful for their safe departure and
vowing never again to volunteer or consent to enter-
tain any Government official on any pretext what-
ever, in any part of the Spanish Americas.
Portable Trams in Mine Stopes on the
Rand.
In stopes of small inclination the use of some form
of conveyor has become the general practice, says
the Government engineer of the Transvaal Depart-
ment of Mines.
A form of conveyor has been fouDd success-
ful at the Lancaster G. M. Co. It is the invention
of J. Faull, the manager, and takes the form of a
double line of tramways on which a pair of skips are
operated by gravity under the control of a brake.
The two skips are joined by a wire rope which passes
round the brake drum at the head of the stope. The
full skip pulls up the empty one. The skips are self-
dumping at the lower bin, this being effected by a
door at the lower end of each skip which opens auto-
matically when the skip lands on a buffer at the ore
bin.
The claim to novelty consists in the portable nature
of the apparatus, sections of parallel rails being fas-
tened at gauge to light sleepers, in suitable lengths,
which can be connected and disconnected readily,
107
Mining and Scientific Press
August 12, 1905.
aDd which also can be folded over on to one another
for the purpose of removal or storage. Besides the
facility of handling which the hinging affords for fold-
ing purposes, it also allows the rail track to accom-
modate itself to the_ uneven contour of a stope floor,
and in practice it has been found that this flexible
track is admirably adapted for the purpose for which
it is designed.
It has been found desirable to construct the track
in sections of different lengths, the shorter sections
of 3 feet being found to follow sharp undulations of
the floor more closely than the 9-foot sections, which
are suitable for stretches that are less uneven.
In the narrow stope between the second and third
levels of the Botha mine about 70 feet of parallel
double tracks are laid, made of 3-foot sections of 1S-
inch gauge. On these tracks are two skips of 9
cubic feet capacity each.
In another and wider stope between the sixth and
seventh levels similar tram lines are being worked,
only in this case the tracks are of 2-foot gauge, and
the sections in It- ngths of 9 and 3 feet, while the skips
are of 16 cubic fret capacity. The number of boys
engaged in serving these two skips, which convey a
ton of ore from the front face to the ore chute, a dis-
tance of some 70 to SO feet, every two or three min-
utes, is eight, viz., six at the loading station, one
operating the brake, and one clearing the discharge.
The installation of this folding track allows ten
shovelers to be dispensed with, besides more rapidly
performing the work.
Regarding the portability of the tram lines, 4 feet
of single track was folded up and transported in four
minutes and relaid in six minutes. These times need
to be doubled to obtain the rate for rigging and un-
rigging the double track. It has been recently defi-
nitely proposed to use belt conveyors, in 600-foot
lengths, to handle the ore on the main incline (com-
plementary to the main vertical shafts) of the deep
level mines of the eastern section of the Witwaters-
rand. The inclination of the reef is not expected to
be greater than 20°. while it may be as fiat as S°, and
it is felt that some method of continuous mechanical
transport will prove more economical than ordinary
methods of skip winding.
Flexible Steel-Armored Hose.
Mining superintendents and others will be interested
to know of a new product in the line of armored hose,
the construction of which prevents any collapse, as
the armor binds the rubber lining so tightly that
even after the rubber part becomes useless the loss
of steam or air is so small that the machine may be
continued in operation until it is convenient to re-
place the damaged hose. If from any cause a section
of the hose is cut out, the remaining two pieces can
Cyaniding Silver-Gold Ores of the Pal-
marejo Mine, Chihuahua, Mexico.*
Coil of Flexible Steel-Armored Hose.
Splicing Clamp.
afcBfiltti]M
Re-enforcing Bushing.
be coupled together without interfering with its
efficiency. The armor incases the hose completely so
that no part of the rubber lining is exposed to ex-
ternal injury. The efficiency of the hose is increased,
as it is practically impossible for the hose to kink or
flatten, thus maintaining a uniform internal diameter
which is essential to perfect circulation of steam or
air. It is obvious that a hose of this character is not
continually in the repair shops.
The steel-armored hose consists of a high-grade
rubber hose closely covered with an exterior metal
armor composed of interlocking strips of galvanized
steel wound spirally in such a manner as to give ex-
treme flexibility. Special couplings and fittings have
been designed, and can be supplied for mechanically
connecting the armored steam or air hose in the
most reliable manner to various makes of drills.
This new product is manufactured by the Sprague
Electric Co., 527 West Thirty-fourth street, New
York City, who will be pleased to send a descriptive
bulletin, No. 50,537, upon request.
NUMBER III.
Written by T. H. Oxnah.
This clayey portion, which we term "slimes," is
allowed to dry as much as practicable, and is then
treated by agitation in a separate plant, as will be
described farther on in this paper.
Figs. 2 and 3 show the arrangement of the cyanide
leaching plant in plan and in elevation.
Fig 2. — Plan, Cyanide LeachiDg Plant, Palmarejo, Mexico.
nide exclusively. Titration with silver nitrate shows
that the sodium cyanide being used is, on an average,
equivalent to about 125% of potassium cyanide. Our
experience at this place with sodium cyanide leads us
to believe that it is fully as efficient as potassium
cyanide for the dissolution of the values contained in
the ore. It also appears that, since commencing the
exclusive use of sodium cyanide, our solutions become
rather less fouled than was previously the case.
Freighting expenses are always a considerable item
with us and by the adoption of sodium cyanide,
equivalent, as above stated, to 125% of potassium
cyanide, a saving of 20% of the freighting expenses
on this article has been effected. Granted, as our
experience seems to confirm, that sodium cyanide
is equally as efficient as potassium cyanide, it
would seem probable that it will gradually displace
the latter, which, until recently, has been almost
universally employed. Besides the direct saving in
transportation expenses, the sodium cyanide ap-
pears to possess other advantages. From a met-
allurgical standpoint, other things being equal, it
would seem preferable to use a salt as nearly pure
as is to be obtained. Absolutely pure sodium cya-
nide being equivalent to about 132% of potassium
cyanide, a product testing from 125% to 130% of
potassium cyanide is manifestly nearly pure. It by
no means follows, however, that the ordinary com-
mercial cyanide, rated as 98% to 99% pure, and
which by the usual silver nitrate titration will stand
up to this strength, contains but 1% to 2% of im-
purities. That this commercial cyanide frequently
carries a varying' percentage of sodium cyanide is a
well-known fact, and it of course naturally follows, on
account of the relatively greater proportion of the
CN radical contained in this salt as compared to
potassium cyanide, that the greater this percentage
of sodium cyanide contained in the ordinary 98% to
99% of potassium cyanide, the greater will be the
percentage of impurities.
In view of these conflicting results, it is to be hoped
that the managers of other plants, where sodium
cyanide has been tried on a large scale, will follow
Mr. Oxnam's example and publish the details of their
experiences. From a chemical standpoint there
seems to be no reason why a molecule of NaCN in
dilute solution should act differently to a molecule of
KCN, nor why the gold double cyanide of the one
should be more or less stable than that of the other.
Possibly the alkaline carbonate, present as an impur-
ity in varying percentages, may have had some
influence in the case of certain ores. Fuller informa-
tion on the subject is certainly desirable.
As soon as a vat is charged, from 20 to 25 tons of
weak solution, carrying as just stated from 0.25% to
0.30% of KCN, is introduced from the bottom by
means of a 2-inch drop pipe, terminating in a Tun-
ZEE±nr.
OounatiattiTi
SCALE Of ftET
3J--f
Fig. 3. — Cyanide Leachins Plant — Elevation.
Ctanide Treatment of Sanps. — The sands re-
tained in the compartments of the large masonry
sand retaining tank, after being allowed to drain as
'ong as possible — usually from 36 to 48 hours — are
crammed by half-ton cars to the cyanide leaching
vats, twelve in number and each 30 feet in diameter
and 4.5 feet deep. The filter bottom, which reduces
the available depth to 4 feet 2 inches, consists of a
wooden, lattice framework covered by a layer of
cocoa matting, over which is stretched a filter cloth
of 8-ounce duck. Two heavier grades of duck have
been tried as filter cloths, but it was found that they
tended to reduce the rate of leaching and gave less
satisfactory service than the 8-ounce cloth. Ten of
the leaching vats are constructed of No. 9 sheet
steel; the other two were built here on the premises
and are made of 3-inch native pine. Two additional
vats of the same dimensions and capacity, made of
3-inch redwood throughout, are now in course of
erection.
The sands, as charged into the leaching vats, carry
from 14% to 16% of moisture. Each vat is charged
with the equivalent of 100 tons of dry sands. While
being trammed to the leaching vats, slaked lime is
added to each car, usually in the proportion of from
4 to 5 pounds of lime per ton.
The vats are filled and discharged by contract for
$19 a vat, which is equivalent to 19 cents per ton.
Two strengths of stock solutions are employed, the
weak solutions averaging between 0.25% and 0.30%
of KCN, and the strong solution averaging from
0.75% to 0.80% of KCN. The working strength of
the solutions is always taken as that indicated by
titration with silver nitrate in presence of a few
drops of 10% solution of potassium iodide, as an indi-
cator, 10 c.c. of the cyanide solution being taken
for titration. For the sake of convenience, we
still express the strength of our working solu-
tions in terms of potassium cyanide, although
for over a year we have been employing sodium cya-
* Trans. Amer. Inst. Min. Engrs.
derneath the filter. This solution is introduced
slowly in order to avoid channeling of the charge, and
it usually makes its appearance on top of the sands
about six or seven hours after being turned on.
When the solution stands 2 or 3 inches above the top
of the charge it is turned off and the material is
allowed to soak for six hours, during which time the
material will usually have settled from 3 to 4 inches.
The weak solution discharge valve at the bottom of
the vat is now opened and leaching is commenced.
During the next two, or sometimes three, days, weak
solution is added from the top as rapidly as per-
mitted by the leaching rate of the charge until a
total of from 100 to 130 tons has been applied. From
60 to 70 tons of strong solution, averaging between
0 75% and 0.80% of KCN, is now run through the
charge at a somewhat slower rate, the usual time
consumed for this operation being about forty-eight
hours. Weak solution is now run through the charge
as rapidly as possible, until within about twenty-four
hours before the time it is to be discharged, when
wash water to the amount of from 15 to 20 tons is
added in lots of about 5 tons each. The residue is
now ready for sluicing, which is accomplished by two
men in about six hours, each using a 2-inch hose,
equipped with a 0.5-inch nozzle and operating under
a head of 72 feet. After finishing the sluicing out
the canvas filter is usually swept clean with a broom,
it being found that if this is not done the filter cloth
frequently tends to become clogged with very fine
slimes and the rate of filtration is lowered. Each
vat is equipped with two 10-inch by 10-inch square
bottom discharge doors.
The quantity of wash water used is regulated
principally by the balance of the solutions on hand.
Although a separate zinc box is provided for waste
solutions, it is very seldom used excepting during
the rainy season, as very rarely during other times of
the year is any solution run to waste. Only two of the
leaching vats are under cover, and during the rainy
season it frequently becomes necessary to run a cer-
tain percentage of the solution to waste, as during
'
AnoosT 12, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
108
each heavy rain the exposed vats will collect a very
appreciable quantity of water.
It has so far been my experience that as thorough
oxygenation as possible of the material being treated
is a very desirable feature in the cvanidation of most
gold ores, and, in the case of the Palmarejo ores, it
appears to be absolutely essential in order to obtain
the best results. Due to the fact that the major
portion of the value of the material being treated is
in the silver content, the actual weight of fine metal
to be acted upon is much greater than is ordinarily
the case with gold ores.
In order to permit of as much air being supplied to
the sands as possible, the solution during the treat
ment is frequently allowed to drain down several
inches beneath the surface of the charge, air being thus
allowed to penetrate the material to this depth. It
is our custom to assay each charge every 24 hours,
after the first 5 days of treatment. Before each
sampling, the solution is also usually allowed to drain
down several inches below the surface of the sands,
thus allowing additional opportunity for the entrance
of air into the upper layer of the charge.
Under the most favorable conditions, however, the
air drawn into the top layer of the charge can have
but little effect on the lower half. It is doubtless
due, at least largely, to this difference in aeration to
which the upper and lower portions of the charge are
subjected, that practically without exception, when
ready for discharging, the lower half of the charge
will run from 1 to 1 ounces of silver higher than the
upper half. Frequently this difference is even more
marked, and occasionally a difference of as much as
three or four ounces will be obtained between the
upper foot and the bottom foot of the charge.
To overcome this difficulty to a certain extent,
after many experiments, the practice was adopted
some time ago of transferring as many charges as
possible from one vat to another during the treat-
ment. To transfer a vat means the loss of practically
24 hours of its available leaching time, as it is neces-
sary to drain the charge for about 12 hours before
commencing to transfer it. Also it is necessary that
one of the adjoining vats be empty at the proper
time to receive the transferred charge. By careful
manipulation, at present, about one-third of the
total number of charges treated are transferred.
When the two additional vats, which are now in
course of erection, are completed, a greater number
of charges can be transferred and the additional
capacity afforded will also permit of a longer treat-
ment to offset the time lost in transferral. The
transferring is done by contract for $16 a vat, which
is equal to 16 cents per ton. While being transferred,
the material is of course given a thorough exposure
to the air, any existing lumps are broken up by the
shoveling, and, roughly speaking, the bottom layer of
the original charge becomes the top layer of the
transferred charge. The period during the treat
ment at which the transfer is made naturally de-
pends upon the time at which an adjoining vat can be
empty and ready to receive the transferred sands,
but operations are usually so timed that the transfer
takes place while the strong solution is in contact
with the material. During the transfer, about 100
pounds of slaked lime are evenly distributed near
the bottom of the vat receiving the transferred
charge.
The charge is sampled just before and just after
transferral, the latter sample being nearly always
about 1 ounce higher in silver than the former, a re-
sult which is doubtless due to the fact that in taking
a sampling the almost unavoidable tendency is to ob-
tain a larger percentage of the top half of the charge
than of the lower half; and, as above mentioned, the
lower half of the original charge, after the transfer-
ral, becomes practically the upper half of the trans-
ferred charge.
The first solution added after the transfer is intro-
duced slowly from the bottom, after which the regu-
lar routine treatment is continued. The value of the
effluent solution from a charge is invariably found to
increase immediately after the charge has been
transferred, such increase being usually from 2 to 3
ounces of silver per ton of solution.
In general, all heads and tailings samples of the
sands treated are taken with a 1.5-inch auger at
from 12 to 16 different points of the charge.
Table 1 gives a part quautitative analyses of two
samples taken some time ago of the mill product
after concentration and ready for cyaniding. The
composition of the sands now being treated will
doubtless vary but little from that of these samples:
TABL.E I.— Part Quantitative Analyses of Sands.
Composition
Insoluble (chiefly Si02).
Iron
Sulphur
Manganese
Lime
Magnesia
Sample
No. 1.
Percent.
88.40
1.20
Trace
2.37
2 88
0.61
Sample
No. 2,
Per Cent.
81.90
1.05
0.17
1.87
6.00
1.38
Note.— Qualitative analyses of the ore before concentration show
the presence of small quantities of antimony, arsenic and bismuth,
and occasionally traces of zinc and copper are found.
Tables II and III give a complete record and anal-
ysis of the results obtained on a charge which was
transferred duriug treatment. Although dealing
with but a single charge, these results represent
those regularly obtained in ordinary operations.
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(a) Turned solution on from bottom at -1.30 p. m. Solution appeared
on top at 11 p. m. Let soak for six hours. Charge settled 4 inches.
(b) Let drain preparatory to transferring. At 6 30 A. m., Septem-
ber 2G. commenced to transfer to vat No. 3. Finished transferring
4 p m One hundred pounds lime distributed near bottom of trans-
ferred charge Solution turned on from bottom appeared on top at
10 P. M.
(c) Started to discharge vat at 7 p. m. Finished discharging at
2 A. M.
Note —Extraction equals 90 27% of gold and f3 21% of silver.
Total time of treatment, including charging and discharging, 11
days. „
Solution added: Weak 261, strong 64, wash water 15. total 340 tons.
All tailings samples with the exception of the discharged tailings
were washed before assaying.
During transferral a sample taken from upper 18 inches of charge
assayed $0.50 of gold. 9.20 ounces of silver, and one from lower 18
inches of charge assayed $0.82 of gold and 1 1 .92 ounces of sil ver,
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The effluent solution from the leaching vats is car-
ried to the sump tanks by means of two separate
lines, one for the weak, the other for the strong solu-
tion. These tanks are of masonry and are three in
number. Two of them, having a combined capacity
of 65 tons, are connected together and serve as a
weak solution sump; the other, having a capacity of
25 tons, is used for the strong solution. All solution
draining from the leaching vats is passed through
the zinc boxes before being returned to the vats.
The proper tonnage of strong solution is main-
tained by frequently determining the strength of the
effluent solution from the leaching vats, and when
this strength reaches about 0.35% of KCN the solu-
tion is turned into the strong solution sump. As a
working guide for maintaining the proper alkalinity
of stock solutions, they are titrated every day with
the addition of about 5 c.c. of strong lime water, 10
c.c. of cyanide solution being used in all titrations.
If the addition of the lime water causes a difference
of more than 0.5 pound in the indicated strength of
the solution, the quantity of lime added to the sands
charged into the leaching vats is increased.
From the sumps the solution is elevated by means
of a 3-inch centrifugal pump, running 900 revolutions
per minute, a vertical distance of 29 feet, through a
horizontal distance of about 150 feet, to three storage
tanks at the head of the zinc boxes; These tanks
are each 10 feet in diameter, 8 feet deep and have a
capacity of nineteen tons. Two of these tanks are
used for the weak and one for the strong solution.
The solution from the vats now passes through the
zinc boxes, from which it is led to three storage solu-
tion tanks beneath the boxes. These storage tanks
are made of No. 9 sheet steel, each one being 15 feet
in diameter, 6 feet deep and of a capacity of thirty-
three tons. Two of them are used as strong solution
storage tanks, the other as a weak solution storage
tank. The strong solution is brought up to the
required strength by adding the necessary quantity
of cyanide to the last compartment of the strong
solution zinc box, which is reserved for this purpose.
No cyanide is ever added directly to the weak solu-
tion.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
Vulcanized Fiber for Friction Clutches.
The construction of a dredger that can stand up to
the unusually severe work required in dredging river
gravels for gold has been a task that has been but
lately accomplished. The first dredgers built were
continually breaking down, and for a time it was
feared that economical running would be prohibited
by the high cost of repairs. Continual experiment-
ing has proved that manganese or other hard steel
is necessary for the bucket plates. The bearings
have at last been practically perfected and the man-
ufacturer now has time to give attention to minor
details.
One of the latter has been to find a suitable material
for the surface of the friction gearing used in some
makes, for transmitting the power. Rolling cylin-
ders are frequently used to transmit force, and con-
stitute what is known as friction gearing. In such
cases the axes are arranged so that they can be
pressed together with considerable force, and, in
order to prevent slipping, the surfaces of contact are
made of slightly yielding material, such as wood,
leather, rubber or paper, which, by their yielding,
transform the line of contact into a surface of con-
tact, and also compensate for any slight irregulari-
ties in the rolling surfaces.
Considerable difficulty has been experienced in
finding a material that would safely hold the heavy
load of lowering dredger buckets from 40 to 60 feet
below water level. The experience of a large San
Francisco firm in this matter has finally led them to
adopt either Eastern maple or a vulcanized fiber,
giving preference to the latter, as the maple will
burn if subjected to great frictional force.
This vulcanized fiber is produced by treating spe-
cially prepared vegetable fiber with chemicals,
whereby the outside of each separate fiber becomes
glutinous, and while in this condition the whole mass
is consolidated and becomes homogeneous. After the
chemicals have been extracted the mass is rolled,
pressed and cured, so as to give the vulcanized fiber
of commerce.
It is claimed that it is insoluble in all ordinary sol-
vents, and that it is not injured by contact with alco-
hol, ether, ammonia, turpentine, naphtha, benzine,
petroleum, or any of the animal or vegetable oils. It
absorbs water, but is not injured thereby. The hard,
vulcanized fiber is prepared in sheets 44x66 inches
and from 0.005 to 2 inches thick. Sheets from f to i
inch are usually used by the dredgers. It can be
worked in a lathe, drilled, riveted, sawed and
punched. It is not brittle nor easily broken, and
possesses great strength, elasticity and durability.
The Electric Railway & Manufacturers' Supply Co.,
68 First street, San Francisco, Cal., carries a large
stock of this material.
The new abrasive alundum is the result of the
fusion of the mineral bauxite in the electric furnace.
Bauxite is a hydrated oxide of alumina, and is in some
respects similar to corundum. The latter contains no
water and less aluminum than bauxite. It is a new
material sold in competition with carborundum, which
is also made in the electric furnace from the fusion of
silica and carbon.
109
Mining and Scientific Press.
August 12, 1905.
Placer Mining in Alaska.
In consideration of the importance of the placer
mining industry in Alaska, an exhaustive investiga-
tion of the mines and mining methods in vogue in the
far North was undertaken by the United States Geo-
logical Survey, the results of which have been pub-
lished in Bulletin No. 263 by C. W. Purington, and
from which the following has been abstracted:
Open-Cut Mixing. — Under this heading will be dis-
cussed the various methods of mining by which
gravel is taken out of open cuts — either simple pick-
aud-shovel methods or methods involving the use of
mechanical contrivances. The simplest of the open-
cut methods dominated throughout the province up
to within a few years, to the practical exclusion of
all others except winter drifting. To-day probably
60% of the placer mining operations in Alaska are
confined to open-cut methods, aud this investigation
has proved that, when combined with proper me-
chanical devices, these form often the most econom-
ical mode of exploitation.
Open-cut methods can be conveniently grouped
under various headings, but the underlying principle
of excavating and transporting the material to the
washing apparatus, either by hand labor or by some
mechanical means, remains the same.
Rocker asp Long Tom. — The simplest method of
work which the miner adopts after he has passed the
stage of panning is that of shoveling from the bank
and washing the gravel in a rocker. The form of
rocker employed in the Klondike, where its use has
been nearly discontinued in mining, is shown in Pig.
1. Two men are necessary to use the rocker prop-
Fig, i. — Klondike Rocker.
erly, while only 3 to 5 cubic yards of gravel can be
washed in ten hours. At no place was the long torn
seen in use in the North, although it was formerly
employed to some extent in washing the Nome beach
placers.
Shoveling into Sluice Boxes. — Conditions
throughout many of the Northern placer districts
favor this method of placer mining, for in many local-
ities the pay streaks are thin, ranging from 2 to 4
feet in thickness, rarely exceeding 5 feet. Tt is often
applicable where conditions of transportation pro-
hibit the installation of more elaborate plants.
When the total depth to the bottom of the pay
streak does not exceed 12 feet, the overlying barren
material can generally be " ground sluiced " off. even
where the grade does not exceed 1 %. at an expense
varying from 7 to 20 cents per cubic yard. The
draining or by pumpiug. If sufficient water (50 min-
er's inches) is available, a "China pump" can be
rigged up. This device is not economical in its use of
water, for the water is generally of more value for
other purposes in Alaska mining.
Dams. — As in all other forms of creek mining,
great care must be taken to keep the creek water
out of the working pits by means of dams. Dams
constructed of sod walls lined with sacks have been
found cheaper in the Klondike than those built of sod
and brush. Pile driving is not advisable in the
North, but in case timber is abundant cribbing is de-
sirable. In a dam built across Discovery Pork of
Drains. — Below the proposed pit a backwater
dam, generally 4 feet in height, is built across the
creek, and the end of the sluice is extended beyond
this dam a few feet. Assuming that the ground is to
be worked upstream, the method of laying off the
drain, commonly called the ''bedrock drain," is as
follows: In 12-foot ground take a level and sight
downstream from the prospect pit to a point where
12 feet vertical distance above the water in the
stream is obtained. The sight should be taken at a
point 2 feet above the surface of the ground, to allow
for the height of the backwater dam. The point
where the drain is to be started is the distance
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Placer Miner's Cabin in Alaska.
American creek the ends of the logs were set in
frozen ground on both sides and the muck was
allowed to refreeze arouud them. The dam, 40 feet
long, consists of 12-inch timbers, from 9 to IS feet
long, laid up in two rows 5 feet apart, earth and
rock filled, and braced with cross timbers. The
dam, self-dumping gate and accessory flumes were
built by two men, and are said to have cost, in labor
and time, only $3u0.
A self-dumping gate was introduced on Discovery
Fork during June, 1904. iu "booming" the overbur-
den from the area of pay ground which it was de-
sired to uncover. Swingiug on its horizontal axle,
set two thirds the distance from the top to the
bottom of the gate, it releases the water when the
reservoir becomes full and regains its closed position
when the reservoir is nearly empty. During a
period of three weeks a block of overburden consist-
ing of muck and barren gravel, 5 feet thick by 25
feet wide by 900 feet in length, had been removed by
the booming process before the shoveling operations
commenced, the total cost, including the construction
of the dam and gate, not exceeding 7 cents per cubic
yard.
The process, of booming by means of automatic
water gates was formerly generally in use in Califor-
downstream obtained by the sight plus 12 feet,
allowed as a safety factor. On a 2% grade this
would necessitate a drain 612 feet long. The drain is
dug and left open until after the first cut is made.
Its dimensions are generally 2 by 2 feet and it is
lagged inside with poles horizontally, these being
held by posts with 4 - foot centers, into which
shoulders are cut for caps. After the first cut the
drain must be covered by-logs and moss laid on top
of the caps. For small operations a box drain made
of sawed l-inch lumber, the inside dimensions being
12 bv 10 inches, is used. There should be a stand-
pipe bored with auger holes in the drain at the lower
end of every cut. The draiu should have a very
slight grade, as low as 1* inches to 100 feet being
used. At first the drain will handle only seepage
water, but if one cut of 100 feet in length after an-
other is successively worked upstream, sluice water
may have to be run through it to prevent backing
up. Some operators recommend keeping the main
drain large aud giving it the bedrock grade, while a
smaller drain, 8 by 8 inches, is kept parallel to it on
a less grade. This will handle the seepage water
and will gain depth upstream, thus allowing for in-
equalities in the bedrock, which are very frequent.
On Mastodon creek, in Birch Creek district, a bed-
Rocking on tie Beach at Nome, Alaska.
frozen muck which composes this overburden is from
50% to 75% water, and the solid residue of silt or
fine clay is easily carried away at any time of slight
rise in the stream.
On Anvil creek five strings of boxes with 120
shovelers give a twenty-four-hour capacity of 1080
cubic yards.
The handling of water is important. Even when
the gravel has been solidly frozen previous to strip-
ping and sun thawing, there are generally from 15 to
25 miner's inches of seepage water, which works into
the pit floor. This must be disposed of either by
nia. As a rule it is inapplicable to mining or strip-
ping in Alaska, because the stream grades are gen-
t.e and because the debris carried down by the tor-
rential stream will damage property situated farther
down the creek.
On Hunker creek, in the Klondike, a dam of moss,
brush and gravel, 90 feet long and IS feet high, built
for the purpose of keeping the water from an open
. lit cost $500. Dams in Seward Peninsula are suc-
cessfully built of sod, the material which overlies the
frozen muck to the depth of 2 feet. Sacks of sand
are also successfully used.
Open Pit Mining in Alaska.
rock drain, 500 feet long, dug 4 feet wide, lagged in-
side with 4-foot cord wood, making it 2 feet in the
clear, and covered with poles and moss, was dug
through cemented and frozen gravel and bedrock,
and cost $7000, its construction consuming all of one
season. In the Fairbanks district an open drain, not
lagged, 3 feet deep and 3 feet 6 inches wide, took the
labor of two men six weeks, costing nearly $900.
In excavating for drains the ground should be cut
in terraces, so that when it commences to thaw it
will not run and clog the canal. Pumping seepage
water from the pit is to be condemned in general as
August 12, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
no
strongly as pumping water for sluicing. In Bonanza
creek, Klondike, an operation involving the handling
of several thousand yards was said to be more ex-
pensive by 41) cents per cubic yard when pumping of
the seepage was done than when the water was
handled by drain. The pumping of seepage water
by any form of pump may be estimated to add at
least 25 cents per cubic yard to the expenses of
handling the gravel. The use of overshot wheels
operating China pumps is cheap where water is
plenty. A small one was using 20 inches of water
to lift about one-third this amount a height of 10
feet. Such a pump in the Klondike, with 5-foot
wheel, costs $100 to build.
Cost ov Shoveuro. — The cost of a plant, including
that of constructing a seepage water drain, sod
dams and a string of ten sluice boxes, with a ditch to
lead the water to the sluice, varies from $500 to
$2000, according to the conditions. The expense of
handling gravel by this method is from $1.25 to $2 50
per cubic yard, reaching $5 to *7 in remote districts
The duty of a man shoveling is variously estimated
in different districts of the North This form of min
ing having been nearly discontinued in the Klondike
region, very little information concerning it was
obtainable. Io one case, where a platform was used,
two men shoveling in two stages a total of 9 feet lift,
2 feet of pay were shoveled into the boxes at the
rate of 3A cubic yards per ten-hour man.
In Birch Creek district the duty of a man shovel-
ing, from an average of twelve operations, is 5 cubic
yards in ten hours, the depth of pay averaging 4.41
feet, and the lift never exceeding rt feet.
In American creek, where the boulders were large
and men had to stop work to get them out of the
way, the duty was 2ij cubic yards. On Discovery
Fork of this creek the duty was 4 cubic yards, the
depth being 5 feet.
In the Nome region 5.76 cubic yards duty is prob-
ably very near the average on a bank from 5 to 7
feet in height. In the case of the large operations of
the Pioneer Mining Co., on Anvil creek, the work
has been so systematized that on the 3-foot bank
handled the duty is 9 cubic yards per ten-hour man.
The method of working shallow placers by shovel-
ing into boxes has much to commend it, especially
when the water is drained from the cut, either with
or without a covered drain. In Alaskan gravels ex-
ceeding $3 in gold tenor to the cubic yard of materia!
handled by shoveling, frequently from one-half to
two-thirds of the gold lies in the crevices of the
upper 18 inches or 2 feet of the bedrock. Men
directly shoveling this material can thoroughly clean
the bedrock by the shoveling-in method. On the
other hand, if horse scrapers, steam scrapers or
steam shovels are used the bedrock is frequently not
cleaned, and a gang of men must go over the ground
a second time to pick up the auriferous material
which has been left. This point is of the first impor-
tance. No operator should contemplate the installa-
tion of mechanical excavators for working gravel
without taking full account of it.
In considering methods of mining by water or me-
chanical power, the cleaning of bedrock by men may
be permissible from an economic standpoint in excep-
tional instances, as, for example, where a thick over-
burden is cheaply removed by hydraulicking and a
very thin rich pay streak remains. When, however,
a mechanical method of removing overburden and
low-grade gravels costs from 50 cents to $1 a yard,
and the whole area has to be gone over again by men
to wheel the rich pay to the sluice, the gravel must
be extraordinarily rich to pay a profit. The lowest
cost of handling gravel by the method of shoveling in
was found to be $1 per cubic yard on one of the
creeks of Seward Peninsula, while the cost may
reach $5 on some of the isolated interior creeks of
Alaska. From 10 cents to $1 per square yard of
area worked must be generally added to the shovel-
ing cost to cover the cost of stripping muck or over-
burden. Ground which exceeds 12 feet in depth of
combined stripping and pay will rarely pay if handled
by the method of shoveling into the sluice.
(to be continued.)
Gold in the Philippines.
Gold is found in the Philippine Islands in a number
of localities. As recently as May 14, 1904, there
were reports of a rich gold strike — 128 ounces in a
short time under primitive methods — by an Ameri-
can prospector in the provinces of the Camarines.
The capital is Nueva Caceres, a city of 12,000 inhab-
itants, about 207 miles from Manila. Silver, iron,
copper and lead are also known to exist in the same
mountains. Specimens of quartz from another point
— Paracale — assay 38 ounces of gold to the ton." In
Benguet (the highlands of the Philippines), where the
summer Government station is to be erected, the
gravels of the river Agno carry gold. In another
district, years ago, natives produced 150 ounces of
gold per month, using only cocoanut shells as dishes.
Copper also is reported from many localities. Cop-
per ore was smelted by the natives before Magellan
discovered the Philippines. Assays show over 16%
of copper in the surface ores, and the ore bodies are
of good size and forma valuable undeveloped resource.
The Cactus Mine, Beaver County, Utah.
Written for the Mining and sciEirriric Pbkss-
On the eastern edge of Wah Wah valley, in the San
Francisco range of mountains, in Beaver county,
Utah, and 230 miles in a southwesterly direction from
Salt Lake City, is located the new mining camp of
Newhouse. This camp is reached via the San Pedro,
Los Angeles & Salt Lake railroad, Newhouse being
the terminus of a branch of this road from Milford.
The property is better known as the Cactus mine,
which has been worked in a small way for several
years. Since the present management has taken
control a large amount of development work has
been done and many improvements made. The tun-
nel is in over 6000 feet and they have drifted on the
second ore body. A crosscut has been run 135 feet
from wall to wall, and approximately 200 feet in
length, all in ore. A shaft 614 feet deep from the
surface to the tunnel level has been sunk and levels
made each 100 feet. The ore from the upper levels is
and the other trommel mentioned above is delivered to
a 10-mesh No. 20 wire trommel. The oversize from
this trommel goes to the No. 3 jigs; the undersize to
a 16-mesh No. 24 wire trommel and the oversize from
this trommel to the No. 4 jigs. The undersize goes
to a system of Calumet water sizers, which are ar-
ranged in series. The first compartment of the sizer
delivers the coarse material that will pass through a
16-mesh screen to a set of jigs running 325 strokes
per minute. The next compartment delivers to a set
of four Wilfiey tables, the next compartment to an-
other set of four Wilfleys, and the next compartment
to two tables. The overflow from these sizers goes
into a system of settling tanks. The settlings
from these tanks are treated by four tables and
the overflow from these settling tanks passes to
sump tanks in the bottom of the mill where the
slimes system proper begins. The water that flows
across the heads of all the tables is also re-
turned to the slimes system in the same manner.
From these sump tanks the slimes are pumped to a
set of fifteen settling tanks in the upper part of the
mill. These tanks are 8x8 feet and the bottoms are
in the form of an inverted cone. The purpose of
The Table Floor of tie Cactus Mill, Newhouse, Utah.
dropped through the shaft to the tunnel .level and
from there brought out by means of electric motor,
there being twenty-one cars handled at a trip. Each
car holds approximately 3i tons of ore. The ore is
then put through crushers, situated close to the
mouth of the tunnel, and from this point loaded into
railroad cars and sent to the mill for treatment. The
company has built a branch road from the mill to the
mine, something over a mile in length. The engrav-
ings on the front page and accompanying show the
mine and interior and exterior views of the mill.
Three 10x20 Blake crushers at the mouth of the
tunnel are used in crushing the ore, and the bins have
a storage capacity at the mine of 600 tons. At the
mill the ore is brought up a i% incline to the top of
the mill, where it is dumped into bins. These bins
have a capacity of 1000 tons. The ore bins are made
of steel. The cars which transport the ore from the
mine to.the mill are hauled directly over the bins and
dumped. The mill is built in two sections, which are
similar in every respect.
The ore is drawn off from the bins onto belt con-
veyors by means of the plunger feeders, and from the
conveyors delivered to the elevators. There are two
elevators in each section of the mill. The belt con-
veyors deliver the material to the dry
elevator, which takes it to the top of the
mill. The elevator is 70 feet high and
the cups are 6x12 inches. The material
from this elevator goes to a 14-millime-
ter mesh trommel and the oversize to
15x36-inch rolls, where it is crushed to
about 14-millimeter size and returned to
elevator. The undersize from the 14-
millimeter goes to a double trommel
consisting of a 7 and 3J-millimeter
screen. The oversize from the 7-milli-
meter goes to the No. 1 jigs; the over-
size from the 3'-milliineter to the No. 2
jigs. The product from the Nos. 1 and
2 jigs is taken out through a side dis-
charge. All tailings and hutch pro-
ducts are returned to the wet elevator —
16-inch belt and 6xl6-inch cups. This
elevator delivers the material to the 32-
millimeter trommel, and the oversize
from this trommel is returned to another
set of I5x3t>-inch roll= '••- recrushing.
and from jigs to wet elevator, and again
to a 31-millimeter sc: tea until all mate-
rial wiU pass through a 35-millimeter.
The undersize from this 3*-millimeter
these tanks is to give the slimes a chance to settle
and thicken, when they are drawn off through the
bottom of the tanks and delivered to a set of
slime tables. All the water in the slimes settling
tanks is collected in one tank and used to supply the
tanks with water. On the Nos. 3, 4 and 5 jigs the
tailings are discharged and sent out of the mill. The
product through the first and second jigs is returned
through the elevator for retreating. The middlings
from the tables are continually returned to the
head of the same table for retreatment. The prod-
uct from all the jigs and tables are delivered through
a system of shaking launders into push cars, which
are elevated and dumped into the concentrates bin.
The railroad cars are loaded from these bins ready
for shipment. The overflow from the shaking laun-
ders is also dumped back to the slime system. At
present they are handling about 600 tons per day
through the mill. The water for the mill and town
comes from Wah Wah springs, about 10 miles to the
west of the camp, and is carried across the desert or
valley in 12 and 14-inch pipe.
Gold ore has been mined and milled in California
for less than 50 cents per ton.
*See illustrations front page.
King Solomon Mine, Frisco, Summit County, Colo. (See Page 114.)
ill
Mining and Scientific Press.
August 12, 1905.
The Hancock Jig at Penn Wyoming
Co.'s Mill.
Written for the Mining and Scientific Press by R. B. Lamb.
The new Australian jig, more generally known as
the Hancock jig, installed at the mill of the Penn
Wyoming Copper Co. at Encampment, Wyoming, has
proved a decided success. The jig is handling feed
from three different trommels, one of which is 8-mesh,
one 4-mesh and one 3-mesh. The ore is crushed to
pass through a f -inch opening. The feed varies from
i inch to J inch. The jig is handling 380 tons of this
product daily.
The jig screens are, from the head downward, 8-
mesh, 4-mesh, J inch punched, f inch punched and f
inch punched respectively. The rolls are fed direct
from the jig.
The three products made are concentrates, mid-
dlings and tailings. The middlings are returned to
the jig to feed the bed.
A notable feature of the machine is its simplicity,
and the perfect control the operator has over a feed,
varying within very wide limits.
The special merits of this jig are high capacity,
simplicity, light screen wear; it will treat material
of varying sizes within certain limits; requires little
labor to operate; makes clean concentrate, and is
cleanly. It requires a constant speed and regularity
of feed. It requires about the same quantity of
water as other jigs per ton of ore treated.
The points to be guarded against are: (1) That all
moving parts be kept entirely free from lost motion.
(2) Large pieces of rock must not be allowed to enter
the jig, as the bed becomes immediately disturbed.
(3) The speed must not vary. (4) The moving parts
must be strong and free from spring. (5) The dis-
charge must be regular.
The machine briefly described consists of a box
made of 4-inch lumber, properly braced with angles
and rods, as shown in the accompanying engraving.
This box is approximately 25 feet long by 4 feet 2
inches wide by 5 feet 9 inches high, and forms the
hutch of the jig. It is supported by cast iron legs,
in order to raise the body of the jig sufficiently for
the operating mechanism. This makes the total
height of the jig nearly 10 feet, which is one of its ob-
jections. However, as it is customary to put the
foundation of the jig underneath the operating floor
of a mill, this brings the bottom of the hutch box
about at a level with the operating floor.
In this hutch box, and submerged in the water,
works the screen frame, or sieve of the jig. The
sieve is 20 feet long by 2 feet 8 inches wide, and is
divided into a series of pockets extending across the
screen. These pockets are intended to maintain and
hold a "ragging," or bed, through which the con-
centrates are drawn into the hutch. This screen or
sieve is carried on two cast iron cross bars fastened
to the screen. These cross bars are supported by
four upright arms, two on each side. The arms or
rods are connected at the bottom to rocking arm
screen. Both the amount of the up-and-down motion
and the " bump " are controlled by proper adjust-
ment, so that this movement can be regulated to suit
different kinds of ores. The number of reciprocations
of the screen is 180 per minute. Some of the special
and particular features of this machine are:
1. A large production, due to the fact that the
feed is carried along the screen by what is practically
a reciprocating motion, and not by a current of wa-
ter, another reason being the size of the machine
and sieve.
2. It handles an unsized feed.
3. The jig will handle 100 tons per day as well as
500 to 600 tons.
This suits the machine for a small concentrating
plant, say 100 tons in twenty-four hours, as well as a
large one. The Hancock jig simplifies the arrange-
ment of launders and transmission of power.
All concentrates are made in the hutch, although
it can be arranged to take off a clean concentrate
from the top of the screen, if this is necessary.
In operation the fine material in the feed is taken
down through the screen into the hutch at once. The
finest mesh screen that the jig uses is over the first
hutch compartment. The coarser part of the feed
forms a ragging, or bed, for this fine concentrate.
The next hutch compartment receives the medium-
sized concentrates, and the third hutch compart-
ment the coarse concentrates. In the last part of
the jig, commencing where the coarse concentrates
come down, the screen consists of plates punched
i inch larger than the largest size material the jig is
handling. In this section of the jig, an artificial
ragging, such as round iron punchings of proper size,
is used as a bed.
In the last section of the jig, the action of hydraulic
classification carries along the fine sands, while the
coarse concentrates are being taken down into the
hutch, an important feature of the jig. The last two
hutches are usually used for middlings, all the free
mineral contents of a feed being stratified and taken
down into the hutch in the first three compartments.
If all the middlings can be taken down in the fourth
hutch, the fifth hutch is usually used for a tailings
discharge. The hutch compartments can be changed
as to their dimensions in order to suit different
propositions by moving the cleats which hold the
hutch divisions.
It would appear from the experience at this place
that the jig would not be very successful on feed be-
low 10 or i2 mesh, though elsewhere I am told it
handles fine material with as satisfactory results as
those obtained on coarse here. The jig requires a bed
holder, which is made of 4-inch pieces set 4 inches apart
for the entire length of the screen. These pieces must
be renewed for about every 10,00i) tons of ore
treated. Otherwise when they become too much
worn they get springy, which imparts a motion to
the screen and the bed cannot be held. If the jig is
solidly constructed its operation gives no trouble
whatever.
Automatic Clutch.
Herewith is illustrated an automatic self-adjusting
clutch. A is the operating sleeve
which carries the pins B and C,
shown in section, which fit between
the faces of the cavity in the keyed
member D. Loosely placed bet-
ween the pins B and C is a lever E,
which extends between the ends of
the expansion ring P, which is
surrounded by the cup or loose
member G. If the keyed member
D be rotating in the direction
Notes on Hydraulic Mining.*
NUMBER IT.— CONCLUDED.
Written by R. L. Grider.
Riffles. — There are many different kinds of riffles
in use — poles, rails, wooden blocks and angle steel
riffles. The iron riffle saves gold better than the
wooden and requires little or no washing, but is gen-
erally more expensive. Where sluices are not less
than 200 feet in length and timber is cheap, blocks of
wood are preferred. For economy in wear and in-
creased gold saving area, place the heart side of the
block up stream. Near the head of the sluices (first
120 feet) space the blocks 1 to 3 inches apart and de-
crease the width of space toward the dump. Never
drive wedges between the sides of the flume and the
blocks, because the swelling of the blocks will rip or
split off the side boards from the bottom of the box,
rendering it unfit for use. This is a common mistake
made by miners. The blocks are prevented from
floating by using a side lining of 2x6-inch or 2x8-inch
scantlings which are spiked to the side of the flume.
After having washed gravel four or five days, charge
the sluices with mercury by pouring it into the flume
from side to side in a zigzag manner up or down the
flume once or twice a day. Do not strain the mer-
cury into the flume through drilling or buckskin, as
some recommend; this flours the mercury, rendering
it buoyant and loss occurs. One to four pounds of
mercury constitutes a charge per 50 feet of flume
and alternate 50-foot sections are charged daily.
In order to obtain unamalgamated specimens, do
not charge the first two or three boxes and never
put mercury in the race. If the flumes are long or
large and the gold flne, one to ten tanks of mercury
are used per run.
Dumps. — All dumps over 60 or 70 feet in height
give little or no trouble, but lower dumps require
much attention and a great amount of water to aid
in spreading the materials. Spreading dumps is also
facilitated by means of branch or Y sluices. When
the dump at the end of one branch is full, the water
is turned by means of a swinging hinged gate into
another branch and a sluice box is added to the
former. Consequently no time of actual mining is
lost by this method.
The Cleanup. — The bedrock is cleaned with the
pipe into the race and the race into the flume.
Muddy water aids in cleaning the gold from the bed-
rock, and if the rock is too rough and full of seams,
hand cleaning may be necessary. When the race is
clean, turn the water out of the sluices, rip off and
wash the slats (lining), take out the riffles or blocks,
which should be thoroughly washed and laid on the
side of the flume, loosen the materials adhering to
the bottom of the flume with shovels or hoes, and
turn on water enough (about 2 inches deep in the
sluices) to wash the material down the flume. The
mercury and amalgam drag along behind, and are
scooped up with an iron scoop. A small auxiliary
sluice leading from the side of the main sluice facili-
tates in cleaning up, and should be used unless there
is an undercurrent or grizzly connected with the
flume. The undercurrent or grizzly, however, is not
economical unless the flume is short and there is
plenty of water. Long flumes are always economical
gold-saving contrivances. In some cases where the
sluices are too short,. where the grades are too high,
where the sluices are poorly constructed, or where
the ground contains much clayey material, the loss of
gold and mercury is quite great, probably 10% to
40%. The loss of mercury depends upon the velocity
of the current, the length of the sluices, the length of
the run, the temperature of the water, and the char-
The Hancock Jig.
shafts, which are connected to levers, the ends en-
gaging a three-way cam on the main drive shaft of
the jig. The main drive shaft revolves at 60 revolu-
tions per minute and the result is a reciprocatory
movement imparted to the sieve, which can best be
described as an upward and forward movement and
downward and backward movement. The upward
and forward movement is produced by the rocking
arms; the downward movement of the drive by
gravity, and the "bump," or backward movement,
by the radial bar, which is connected to the end of
one cross arm. The up and down motion is about
v inch; the backward motion, or "bump," is only
sufficient to advance the feed properly along the
indicated by the arrow, the ring is freely revolved by
the' lever E, which is driven at point x, as pin C is
free of the lever; and pin B operates on the lever
only when the member D is revolving in the opposite
direction. When the clutch is engaged the sleeve A
is moved to the left, and pin C gradually relieves the
bearing'point x on lever, and the member D drives the
ring by the lever through the pin C. This causes
the lever E to expand the ring F within the cup G,
with such pressure that the friction caused exceeds
the force on the lever, so that " the greater the load
the tighter the grip." This clutch is manufactured
and furnished by the American Automatic Clutch
Co., Akron, Ohio.
The Automatic Clutch.
aeter of the material, as well as the method of charg-
ing the flume. Prom 90% to 98% of the gold should
be saved, and if the gold is coarse or heavy there is
no reason why 98% to 100% should not be saved.
Pipe clay and leaky flumes are the greatest sources
of loss.
Hydraulic Elevating. — The action of the hy-
draulic elevator is like that of a steam injector.
There are three kinds of these machines in general
use — the Hendy, the Evans and Campbell elevators.
Place the elevator in the lowest part of the mine
and deep enough in the bedrock, so that feed sluices
♦Abstract of Colorado School of Mines Bulletin,
AronsT 12, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
112
may be extended up to the workings. An hydraulic
water lifter, an auxiliary to a gravel elevator, should
be permanently installed by the side of the gravel
elevator to keep the pit free from water when it
becomes necessary to stop the elevator to make
repairs, change nozzles, relieve it of obstructions, or
clean up. A better method, however, is to install a
double elevator, so that in case one needs repair
the other can be used, and in case the volume of the
water varies its capacity can be regulated to the
quantity of water at command. An abundant supply
of air to the upcast is necessary for good work with
the hydraulic elevator, since the materials will puck
and not enter the upcast if air is not admitted. Fur-
thermore, the air, after passing the throat, is imme-
diately compressed, so that it aids the water in rais-
ing the material. The upcast — i. e., the pipe leading
up to the outer flume — discharges the material
against a striking plate or grate, which deflects the
material downward into the outer sluice. This
plate gives much trouble when the boulders are hard,
heavy and large, since they are impinged with great
force against the plate or grate. A grate of steel
bars, bent to the proper form, gives a better resist-
ance than a plate, wears longer, and is more easily
repaired. These bars are securely anchored in the
top of the first box of the outer flume. This box
must be covered, clamped, rigidly constructed, and
weighted with boulders. Usually no grade is given
to the first box of the outer flume, since the mate-
rials are discharged into it by the elevator with such
force that they are carried from 10 to 40 feet down
the Hume. The grade for the second box should be
1 to 2 inches, that of the third 2 to 4 inches, and so
on until the maximum grade for the outer flume is
reached. The construction and equipment of the
outer Hume is identical with that used in hydraulic
mining operations. The elevator should be fed regu-
larly, and it works better when fed by a bedrock feed
flume. To attain good results, the maximum amount
of gravel should be elevated with a minimum amount
of water, since the cost of lifting water is as much as
or more than that of lifting gravel. The proportion
of the distribution of water to the elevator is about
two-thirds of the estimated volume, the remainder
being used by the giants for piping.
Grizzlies are arranged in the bedrock feed flumes
to prevent cumbersome boulders or other large mate-
rial from entering the elevator and choking it. As
soon as an opening is enlarged, cut the bedrock feed
sluices upward from the elevator pit toward the bank
for economy in the transportation of the material to
the elevator, in the feeding of the elevator, and in
the catchment of the gold. Much experience is nec-
essary for successful mining with the hydraulic ele-
vator. It not only requires engineering skill to in-
stall a successful elevating plant, but it requires
technical engineering ingenuity to keep the machin-
ery working to the best advantage.
Hydraulic mining, as a whole, requires scientific
methods of work before success can be hoped for.
No matter how favorable all the conditions may be,
good business management will still be an indispens-
able requisite to success in such an undertaking. The
ground contains large amounts of precious metal,
but it is scattered through a vast amount of barren
material. To collect it, immense quantities of dirt
must be very quickly and very skillfully worked. Any
carelessness in the technical part will result in large
losses, but want of business management will result
in larger. Economical management is, therefore, an
essential requisite to success.
Galvanized Iron.
The first method of coating iron with zinc was
electrolytic, says the American Manufacturer, that
is, a solution of zinc such as zinc sulphate or chloride
was employed through which an electric current was
passed, the work to be zinced forming one pole and a
sheet of zinc the other. The wet or electrolytic
process was soon abandoned in favor of the hot or
molten process, as there were no efficient low tension
dynamos which are essential for the economical
working of such a process, and the coating applied
was found to be unreliable. The hot molten process
consists of dipping the article into a molten bath of
zinc (at a temperature of about 800° F.) covered
with a suitable flux, such as sal ammoniac. From
time to time various improvements, relating to the
mechanical details, have been introduced into the
working of the hot process, having for their object
the reduction of the amount of zinc consumed for a
given area of iron, but, unfortunately, such a reduc-
tion results in a corresponding decrease in the dur-
ability of the galvanized articles. Sheets are passed
through squeezing rolls as they leave the bath; wire
through asbestos rubbers or sand; nails and similar
articles are placed, when the zinc is still molten, in
centrifugal machines to remove as much zinc as pos-
sible. Another improvement of some moment has
been the introduction of close annealing to reduce
the amount of oxide formed, and the subsequent re-
moval in acid. Sand blasting — that is, projecting
sand at a few pounds pressure on. the article to be
freed from scale — has been substituted for the wet
acid process for some classes of work.
£****>****** **•*• ************* *********
THE PROSPECTOR. I
* #
St**********.**.!-,,..;. .|.+^,++ + + <. + + + + + + + + + + + +x
The mineral specimens from Burnt Ranch, Cal.,
are: No. 1 granular quartz, with an abundance of
pyrite — iron sulphide. No. 2 is massive quartz, with a
little pyrite and some talc on one side; the brown and
yellow color is due to iron oxide. No. 3 is an erup-
tive rock (diorite-aphanite) and is evidently the wall
rock of a vein; the black color is due to the multitude
of microscopic grains of magnetite. No. 4 is quartz
containing pyrite. Nos. 1, 2 and 4 probably are gold
bearing.
The rock sample from Truckee, Cal., consisting of
a small sack of broken pieces, is a good grade of cop-
per ore. Most of it is chalcopyrite in quartz gangue.
The mineral is altering to bornite, which occurs as a
film of oxidation, showing iridescent colors — blue,
purple, green, reddish and bronze shades. It is a
good concentrating ore, as it consists almost wholly
of quartz and copper sulphide. A small amount of
pyrite is present.
The rock samples from Tres Piedras, N. M.,
are determined as follows: No. 1, light brown, fine
grained rock, a typical rhyolite, showing quartz
blebs, a few somewhat altered hornblende crystals
and an occasional crystal of feldspar, with a few scat-
tering crystals of black mica (biotite). No. 2 is a
basic rock (porphyrite), having a slightly schistose
structure. No. 3 is a much decayed crystalline rock,
originally syenite.
The rooks from Nogal, N. M., are: No. 1., a silici-
fied country rock, possibly originally granite, or
some similar rock. It also formerly carried a con-
siderable amount of iron sulphide, and doubtless other
sulphides of the base metals, the only ones at present
remaining being finely disseminated pyrite. The py-
rite has nearly all been altered to iron oxide. This
ore may be gold-bearing. It has that appearance.
No. 2 is similar to No. 1 , but is not so much oxidized.
It shows crystals of lead, iron and copper sulphide.
No. 3 is an ore, apparently somewhat richer than
Nos. 1 and 2. It contains the sulphides of iron, cop-
per, lead and zinc, and has abundant quartz, also
a little iron oxide as a result of decomposition of the
pyrite. Gold and silver are also probably present
in this ore. No. 4 is similar to No. 3, but is less ox-
idized, and contains a higher percentage of galena
(lead sulphide), and chalcopyrite (copper sulphide).
This is an ore which should concentrate readily. No.
5 is a siliceous ore, containing much iron oxide — the
result of the decomposition of sulphides. No. 0 is sy-
enite, in which occurs iron, copper and zinc sulphide.
No. 7 is an altered and silicified crystalline rock,
probably something like No. 6. The rock has been
altered since its original silicification, by the oxidation
of the sulphide minerals. All of the specimens of this
lot probably contain gold and silver as well as the
other metals mentioned.
The rock specimens from "R," Marysville, Mont.,
are: No. 1, fine-grained granite, in which there is
abundant quartz, both orthoclase and plagioclase
feldspar, hornblende and biotite. It would probably
be more proper to call this rock grano-diorite. It
contains considerable iron-sulphide, which indicates
that it is near a mineral vein, as granite seldom con-
tains pyrite at a great distance from a vein, or zone
of mineralization. No. 2 is apparently a dike rock —
diorite — and is somewhat decomposed. The visible
minerals are quartz, feldspar and hornblende. No
pyrite is seen in this rock.
The white crystallized rock sample from Rands-
burg, Cal., is calcium carbonate, commonly called
"lime spar."
The sample of ore from Pollock, Idaho, is princi-
pally quartz, stained green with copper carbonate.
The greater part of the dark mineral is an aggre-
gate of chlorite scales. In several places are small
amounts of bornite, a purple colored metallic min-
eral (sulphide of copper), and at one place a small
amount of copper glance, also a copper sulphide. The
brownish stains are due to iron oxide.
The rock from Jacksonville, Cal., is quartz with
much decomposed ankerite (iron-lime-magnesia car-
bonate). The dark colored, bright, metallic mineral
is specular iron, a variety of hematite. The smooth,
greasy-feeling, scaly mineral on one side is chlorite
schist.
The rock samples from Dorleska, Cal., are as fol-
lows: No. 1, chiefly quartz, carrying pyrite. The
structure and general appearance of the rock sug-
gest a zone of mineralization in a granular eruptive
rock, probably quartz-diorite or grano-diorite. No.
2 is very similar to No. 1, but somewhat more miner-
alized. The bright sulphide is pyrite (iron sulphide);
the dark mineral is zinc sulphide (zincblende). In
No. 3 the sulphides are pyrite and mispickel, with a
few very small crystals of galena, zinc and copper
sulphide. These latter can only be detected by high
magnifying power. Package No. 5 contained two
pieces of rock. The float is quartz porphyry. The
dark colored piece is a much altered, but more basic,
rock, probably originally diorite. It contains much
iron sulphide and very little quartz, whereas the
float piece contains a large amount of free quartz.
No. 5 is granite of rather coarse texture. In this
same rock mass, doubtless, different varieties and
phases of the rock may be found, but in the samples
submitted the entire absence of hornblende removes
it from the diorites. No. 6 is a metamorphic rock —
graphitic-mica schist. Originally it was a fine sand-
stone, or mixture of fine sand and clay.
The rocks from Running Water, Wyoming, are :
No. 1, mica schist, with a little malachite (copper
carbonate). No. 2 is quartzite. It also contains
copper carbonate, and in one place a small amount of
native silver.
The mineral specimens from Sonora, California,
are : No. 1, a dike rock with veinlets of quartz.
No. 2, marble (crystallized limestone). It shows free
gold. No. 3 is mica schist and calcite. This also
shows gold. There are several localities, near the
Tuolumne river, in the vicinity of Groveland, where
similar ores are found. No. 4 is diorite, almost un-
altered. No 5 is quartz, containing a small amount
of telluride of gold.
if******-;.******************** *********
l Mining and Metallurgical Patents**
* *
m********************^***** *********
patents issued august 1, 1905.
Specially Reported and Illustrated Tor the MINING AND
SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
Drilling Apparatus. — No. 795,450; W. D. Ran-
kins, Modesto, Cal.
Implement of class described comprising threaded
shank, collar arranged thereon and provided at lower
end with bearing, clamping head entirely encircling
and mounted for rotation upon collar and resting at
one end upon bearing, lateral arms carried by head,
one of which is provided with one of pair of holding
chain-receiving recesses, and other of which is cleft
through to collar opening, members .formed by cleft
having opposing faces rabbeted to form second hold-
ing chain-receiving recess, and bolt and nut com-
bined with cleft arm to clamp head upon collar, bolt
serving as means for connecting holding chain with
implement.
Crushing Roll. — No. 795,331; W. Brinton, High-
bridge, N. J.
Crushing roll comprising core or hub having series
of pockets extending inwardly from periphery
thereof, such periphery having concaved formation
transversely thereof, plurality of segmentally formed
shoes each having transverse convex inner face fit-
ting into concaved seats of core, and inwardly ex-
tending lug, and means for securing such shoes in-
dividually to core, shoes having beveled coacting end
faces, certain of shoes being formed as wedges and
others as thrust members, wedges assisting to main
tain thrust members in position.
113
Mining and Scientific Press.
August 12, 1905.
#
*
*
MINING SUMMARY.
Specially Compiled and Keported for tbe MINING AND
SCIENTIFIC PEESS.
Including the production of coke from by-product
retort ovens, which in 1904 amounted to 2,608,229 short
tons, the total output of the coke ovens of the United
States during 1904, according to the report made to the
United States Geological Survey by E. W. Parker, 23,-
621,520 short tons, against 25,274,281 short tons in 1903.
The decrease in 1904, as compared with the preceding
year, was 1,652,761 short tons, or 6.54%. The total
value of the product declined in much greater propor-
tion, from $66,498,664 in 1903 to $46,026,183, a decrease of
$20,472,481, or 31%. At the close of 1904 there were
under construction 4430 new ovens, of which 832, or
18.8%, were of the retort or by-product type.
ALASKA.
The Ketchikan Mining Journal reports that the new
smelter at Coppermount is now running at full blast and
is handling over 250 tons of ore daily. This smelter has
been constructed by the Alaska C. Co. The power is
derived from Pelton water wheels of 600 H. P. The
water is taken from Lake Mellen in the hills back of
Coppermount. The company has 30,000 tons of ore in
. the bins ready for the smelter, and a large force are get-
ting out ore from the mines sufficient to keep the smelter
going. Prom the time the ore leaves the mines till it
reaches the hearth of the smelter it is handled by grav-
ity. A railroad 1400 feet long transports the ore from
the mine along the ridge of Copper mountain to the top
of the aerial tram, which delivers it down to the ore bins
above the smelter. Prom the bins it is conducted by
chutes into the furnace. One hundred and fifty men are
employed in the smelter and mines. At present the ore
is taken from Indiana claim, the ore body of which has
been stripped for over 250 feet. H. W. Mellen is presi-
dent and manager; D. D. Stewart is foreman of the
mines, and C. W. Puller is foreman of the smelter. Be-
sides their property at Coppermount, the company
has leased the Rush & Brown property at Kasaan bay,
and the ship Richard III is loading 700 tons at that place
for shipment to the smelter.
Seward, Alaska, has been connected with the outer
world by telegraphic communication. With the com-
pletion of the Seward-Valdez cable, the Government has
2300 miles of cable in Alaskan waters. There are hun-
dreds of miles of overland wires, aside from the wireless
system perfected by L. D. Wildran between Nome and
St. Michael. Messages for Seward over the new cable
have to be relayed twice. Going north from Seattle, the
first break is at Sitka, where there is a relay to Valdez.
At that point the message is repeated to the operator at
Seward.
A. Geffeler, manager for the Helvetia and Little Basin
companies at Windham Bay, will build an aerial tram to
the Windham Bay Co.'s stamp mill, which has been
leased to the Helvetia M. Co.
ARIZONA.
Cochise County.
At the Denn-Arizona, at Bisbee, the gallows frame has
been finished. One boiler has been placed and another
is on the way. The shaft is down 250 feet and progress
is being made at the rate of 100 feet per month. The
general formation through which the shaft is going at
present is an altered sandstone, and it is not expected to
get into mineralized ground until several hundred feet
more depth is reached. As the diamond drill reached
ore at the 900-foot level it will probably be six months
before that zone is reached by the shaft. B. M. Patti-
son is superintendent. The supplies for the Vantia
mill, in the Yellowstone district, have been hauled to
the mine, and the mill will be completed within a month.
Work underground is not being pushed until the new
hoist is running.
Gila County.
The Arizona Silver Belt describes the new concen-
trator at the Old Dominion, at Globe, as of the progres-
sive crushing type. The first operations begin in the
crushing plant at the new shaft where the concentrating
ore from the mine is brought into two of the six steel
bins. The ore is drawn from these bins onto a belt and
from thence passes automatically through the coarse
crushers over a picking belt, from which the first-class
ore can be sorted, and through a fine crusher and a set
of rolls and from thence it drops to another belt where
it is carried to the two concentrator storage bins, each
holding 210 tons of ore, and there stored. The ore is
drawn mechanically from either of these two storage
bins by automatic feeders which feed onto another belt
regularly, and at any given rate that the mill may
demand. The latter belt conveyor takes the ore up a
steep incline to the top of the mill and there discharges
it into a mixing box where the ore is mixed with water
and from thence passes into revolving screens. The ore
is classified into various sizes in the revolving screens
and in classifiers below them and is distributed accord-
ing to its size to the various machines on the roughing
floor. The two coarsest sizes, viz., the sizes rejected by
the §-inch and ;Vs-inch screens, respectively, drop into
two bull jigs and after the very coarse metal is
extracted, the tailings pass automatically to the finish-
ing rolls and are again elevated until they pass through
the ^-inch screen. All sizes of material from the j}-ineh
size down, excepting the finest slimes, are sized and
passed to the main roughing floor of the mill where they
are concentrated in seven jigs and the six Wilfley tables.
The concentrates from this main roughing floor discharge
automatically and unite with the concentrates from the
bull jigs and pass to the storage bins for concentrates.
The tailings rejected by the machines on the roughing
floor are collected and crushed finer, if necessary, in two
6-foot Chilean mills. The reground tailings are then
classified and are passed to the machines on the finishing
floor for final treatment. Automatic devices are used to
remove the water from the coarse tailings and to
thicken the slime pulps before they pass to the finishing
floor and the water thus obtained is returned for use in
the mill. The finishing floor is equipped with nine
Wilfley tables for the coarser sands and eighteen Prue
vanners for the finer sands and slimes. All concentrates
from this floor pass by gravity to an elevator and are
elevated and thrown into the stream of concentrates
from the upper floors and pass to the storage bins from
which they will be drawn into railway cars and taken to
the smelter. From this description of the process it will
be seen that from the time the ore is thrown onto the
upper belt until the time that the tailings are turned
out of the mill and the concentrates delivered into the
storage bins, everything is automatic and there is no
shoveling or wheeling of any kind. The mill building is
of steel with steel shaft supports and steel supports for
the revolving screens. The foundations are of concrete
and all heavy machines are set close to the ground upon
strongest foundations. The mill is designed to have a
capacity of 300 tons per day. Peed was turned on the
mill on the afternoon of July 30 and it ran steadily until
the end of the shift. There was no time to regulate the
flow of water and it has taken a few days to get the mill
started to work regularly.
Mohave County.
(Special Correspondence). — The West Gold Road Co.
has resumed active operations. New mine and office
buildings will be put up, a new hoisting plant installed
and a double-compartment shaft begun. Considerable
new hoisting and sinking machinery will be bought this
season. Jno. M. Wright is manager, J. D. Spargo
superintendent.
Acme, Aug. 8.
At the Minnesota-Connor mines, at Chloride, seven-
teen men are at work. G. H. Hooper is working the
Midnight and Pinkham mines at Chloride. Near Pil-
grim camp, at the Dempsy-O'Dea property fifteen men
are at work on the mine and the shaft is down 275 feet.
At the Azalia mine seven men are at work. — R. C.
Walker, superintendent of the Cerbat Mountain M. Co.,
reports that sinking below the 175-foot level is under
way.
Final County.
Development at the Buckeye mine, in Twin Butte dis-
trict, is progressing rapidly, the shaft being now down
375 feet. The company is making preparations to start
the smolter. A Pittsburg company has taken over
the Midday copper claims in Saddle Mountain district.
T. P. Weeden, the superintendent, has received instruc-
tions from the company to purchase ground at the river
along the line of the Phoenix & Eastern Railroad for a
site for a 500-ton smelter and concentrating plant.
Santa Cruz County.
R. E. Doan, of Los Angeles, has bought the Gringo
mine of J. Parks, in Temporal guloh, 3 miles from Pata-
gonia. He proposes to put up a 50-ton mill to treat the
low-grade gold ores.
Yavapai County.
(Special Correspondence). — It is reported that Dr.
E. B. Perrin, owner of the onyx quarries 45 miles north-
west of Prescott, has made a contract with the Denver
Development Co. to do $80,000 worth of work on
them, and other contracts with Chicago people to take
the entire output. A narrow gauge railroad is to be
built from Seligman to the quarries.
Prescott, Aug. 8.
(Special Correspondence). — The Harryhousen claims,
adjoining the United Verde on the north, have been taken
under bond by D. N. Bartholdi and associates, who are
making preparations for the development of the prop-
erty.
Jerome, Aug. 7.
The 10-stamp mill at the Golden Idol at Cherry creek
is said to be nearly finished. C. K. Tibbetts is superin-
tendent.
A gasoline blower and 1000 feet of air pipe have been
put on the Buffalo M. Co.'s mines on Berry creek. The
tunnel, which is now in 1000 feet, will be driven 500 feet
farther.
The Jeanette-Arizona Gold M. Co. is working claims
on the Santa Maria, 8 miles southwest of the Sultan
mine, near Hillside. Superintendent Carbaugh has two
shifts drifting from the shaft, which is down 400 feet.
At the Mineral Hill camp, near the Jeanette-Arizona
Co., a steam hoist has been put in. The Eagle Gold &
Copper M. Co. is working southeast of Martinez under
the direction of O. Jennings.
Yuma County,
The 20-stamp mill at the Soccorro mine, at Harris-
burg, is working twelve hours per day. B. J. Quinn has
temporary charge of the mine, and also has charge of
the cyanide plant at the Harqua Hala, employing six
men. It is reported that the water is to be taken out
down to the 600-foot level and the mine developed. J.
B. Martin has leased the Desert Queen mine to the C. H.
Pratt Co., and Hall Bros, are doing some work on it.
The Winzedale M. Co., under the management of Hanna
& Young, are putting up sampling works at Winzedale
and are developing a water supply. Water has been
found at a depth of 129 feet. Mining properties near
Cunningham pass, 8 miles from their works, are being
developed.
CALIFORNIA.
Calaveras County.
(Special Correspondence). — There is more interest be-
ing taken in the ancient river beds in this district than
in many years heretofore. There are several channels
under and near the town of Mokelumne Hill which are
mostly buried by the lava caps. In early days these
channels are reported to have yielded large returns and
to have given employment to several thousand men.
There remain remnants of old channels unworked and
the upper gravel of channels worked in the 50s which
was considered too poor to work at that time, but which
will pay well now. These channels are mostly buried
under Stockton ridge to a depth of 250 to 300 feet. The
old workings are for most part inaccessible, but new
shafts have recently been sunk ani the gravel channels
again exposed. Some new work is planned, and it is in- .
tended to explore and drain several of these old channels
through the medium of a tunnel from the west side of
Stockton ridge. This tunnel, known as the Hector, is
already in several hundred feet. The principal channels
under Stockton ridge are the Stockton ridge channel,
Chile gulch blue lead, the Corral flat, or French hill
channel, and further south the Duryea and Concentra-
tor channels. In addition to these there are believed to
be some other channels, of which but little is known at
present.
Mokelumne Hill, Aug. 7.
El Dorado County.
At the Mt. Pleasant mine, near Grizzly Flat, the mill
is running on fair ore and the mine is looking well.
It is reported that the first payment has been made on
the Zimmermann mine, Pacific district, and that work
will be resumed soon. At the Alcimento mine, Smith's
Plat district, Superintendent C. Henson has opened up
and repaired 700 feet of tunnel.
Kern County.
At the Butte mine at Randsburg it is reported that a
14-foot ledge has been struck at the 600 level, a part of
which shows assay values of $100 a ton.
The Baltic mine, near Randsburg, has been sold to an
Eastern syndicate. E. R. Abadie will have charge.
They have ordered a 25 H. P. gas engine for hoisting
and will sink 500 feet on the ledge. They have also
ordered a 50-ton cyanide plant. The water will be devel-
oped from Cuddaback lake.
Nevada County.
Superintendent Kendall expects to have the machin-
ery in place at the Banner mine, near Nevada City, by
August 15th, when pumping will be commenced. The
company has put in steam powor, being unable to get
water. It is possible electricity will be put in later. The
shaft is to be sunk from the 700-foot level to the 1200-
foot. C. C. Weisenburger has charge of the placing
of the plant. The mill at the Grey Eagle mine, near
Maybert, has been started again.
At the Empire mine at Nevada City, the crew at the
3000 level struck the main ledge, for which it has been
running a crosscut for several months. Drifting will at
once begin and an ore chute will be put through. It is
the intention also to equip the level with a more power-
ful pump.
Mariposa County.
The Exchequer M. Co., which owns mines above Mer-
ced Falls, is about to put in machinery and build a dam
on the Merced 7 miles above the falls and put in a power
plant. At the Houghton mine, north of Hornitos, a
new 10-stamp mill is being put up.
Placer County.
(Special Correspondence). — The recently completed
shaft of the Hidden Treasure gravel mine at Bullion is
being timbered. A sawmill is to be put up at the collar
of the shaft, and hereafter all timber will be supplied
through the shaft. The tunnel is being straightened
and 35-pound rails are being laid to replace the lighter
ones formerly in use. A new electric locomotive to be
put in will increase the output. H. T. Power is superin-
tendent.
Bullion, Aug. 9.
A fire at the Whisky Diggings mine, northeast of
Lincoln, August 4, destroyed the hoisting works. It is
reported that work will be resumed soon.
Shasta County.
It is expected that the new 5-stamp mill of the Middle
Creek G. M. Co. at the Dowbrowsky mine, near Shasta,
will be running by, September 15. D. J. Phelps has been
making arrangements to resume work on the Mt. Shasta
mine on Clear creek, west of Shasta.
Sierra County.
At the Alaska mine at Pike City the company has de-
cided not to open the old shaft, but will sink a new one
close by. The old shaft is 700 feet deep, and the old
company had trouble in contending with the flow of
water. The present company will have pumps that will
be able to handle the water. There is a new 20-stamp
mill on the mine.
The Alaska mine at Pike City is being opened up under
the direction of Superintendent George St. John. The
company has decided not to open the old shaft, but will
sink a new one close by. The machinery will be put in
as quickly as it arrives. The old shaft is 700 feet deep,
and the old company had trouble in contending with the
water.
The Forest City M. Co. is developing Chipps Ridge,
between Wolf and Kanaka creeks.
At the Rainbow mine, near Alleghany, the old flume
is being replaced with a new one preparatory to starting
up the mill. J. Clinton is in charge of the work. The
Marguerite mine, 2 miles west of Sierra City, is being
reopened by a company headed by J. E. Westall, who is
is charge of the work. The 4-mile Marguerite flume is
being rebuilt and will furnish power for pumping and
milling.
Siskiyou County.
Lack of water has caused a large number of Siskiyou
county mines to close down until the fall rains come on.
In the Oro Fino district D. Carter is sinking on a
ledge adjoining the Gardner mine.
Trinity County.
Superintendent Charles Dobler has seventy-five men
at the Fairview mine and mill at Minersville. Mill Fore-
man A. H. Philbrook is keeping twenty stamps drop-
ping. Dr. Johnson and M. W. Stover, who have a
bond on the Beaudry property at Minersville, will put in
a hydraulic elevator on the low ground. The ditches
give a pressure of 350 feet.
Yuba Connty.
Pour new mining dredgers at the Yuba Consolidated
Gold Fields are being equipped with machinery and will
be in operation this fall. The hulls have been com-
August 12, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
114
pleted and lloatod. The pit is ready for two more and
timbers are being framed for them. The two dredgers
being- built for the Marysville Gold Dredging- Co. are
well along and all ten of the machines, including the two
already operating, the four now being equippod, the two
just commenced and the two being built by the .Marys-
ville company will all be working on the training walls
on each 6ide of the river for the Government by Novem-
ber 1.
COLORADO.
Boulder County.
The Lulu 13. mine and mill, oporatod by the (Ttioa Hill
M. & M. Co., has been working near Ward under the
management of J. McKlmmery. The shaft is now down
450 feet. Levels have been run at each 75 feet, all of
which show large bodies of ore. Their 10-stamp mill, 1 ]
mile north of Ward, is running steadily. .1. L. Lee is
unwatoring the Morning Star mine, near Ward. The
(lid Humboldt mine at Ward is being worked under the
direction of W. T. DeCamp. The Sound Currency M.
Co. has been sinking a shaft on their property north of
Ward. They will put in a hoisting plant. The Myr-
tle M. & M. Co. has received word that its new Howell-
White roaster will be shipped by Aug. 11.
Denver County.
The Western Association of Technical Chomists and
Metallurgists hold a general meeting in Denver, Sept. 5
to 7. H. C. Parmalee is secretary.
Clear Creek Coantv.
Tho new concentrating mill of the Waltham M. & M.
Co., on Chicago creek, near Idaho Springs, is in opera-
tion. The plant was briefly described in the issue of
Aug. 5. An illustration of this mill and its surround-
ings appears on the front page.
At Idaho Springs the holdings of the International
Cold Mining Co., the Banner Development Co. and the
Colorado Development & Investment Co., which were
taken over by the Banner Consolidated mines, have been
consolidated. The threo companies owned forty-nine
claims on the ridge, between Clear creek and Trail
creek. The property will be opened up at depth by
means of the Rockford tunnel. Boilers, air compressor,
blower and drills are to bo put in at once. The tunnel
has been driven 1000 feet and will be continued to the
Donaldson vein, where it will attain a depth of 1600 feet.
H. A. Reidel will have charge of the operations. The
Crowfoot crosscut, of the Capital Prize group, is in 1000
feet on Griffith mountain, near Georgetown. Manager
W. Cooper intends to put in two more machine drills.
A. M. Hill, owner of the Julian property, on Lincoln
mountain, near Georgetown, having arranged for the
resumption of work, will drive the tunnel on the Julian
claim, which is now in 100 feet.
The Newhouse tunnel has placed an order for ten new
tram cars and a motor. The Sun and Moon and
Saratoga are getting ready to use a large increase of
oower and will push their development work through
the tunnel. The Ora M. Co. has begun work with air
drills, drifting on the Edgardine lode in a lateral from
the Newhouse tunnel. The Queen Francis Co. has put
miners to work, cutting a station and switch off from
the tunnel, preparing to drive a lateral on the Queen
lode; and work will begin on the Adduddell lode early
this month in the Newhouse tunnel.
The Little Richard M. Co. is running its tunnel to cut
the Lexington vein, near Idaho Springs. This tunnel is
now under the Lexington territory, but the vein, which
has a northward pitch near the surface, has turned and
pitched toward the south, making it necessary to drive
the tunnel much farther than was expected at the start.
Work has b en hindered by bad air, but this has been
overcome by a suction fan. W. J. Morgan of Milwau-
kee, Wis., is manager. G. L. Bingham of Idaho Springs
has charge of work. The Frances M. & M. Co. will
work the Queen vein, near Idaho Springs, through the
Newhouse tunnel. At the Torpedo tunnel, in Spring
gulch, operated by the Idaho Springs Gold Producing
Co., J. C. Hull of Idaho Springs manager, hand work
has been discontinued and machiney put in. W. M.
Kirke of Idaho Springs, who has been working the Cas-
tleton mine since the first of the year, is putting in new
ore plates preparatory to a heavier output. Opera-
tions have been started at the King mine on Fall river,
near Idaho Springs. W. H. Moore has charge. J. G.
Roberts, W. G. Arkills, J. Nelson, M. C. Potter, E. R.
Lumley, J. W. Anderson and R. R. Graham, all of
Idaho Springs, have leased a block of ground on the
Columbia mine on Little Mattie mountain, and are pre-
paring to sink the shaft another hundred feet.
Gilpin County.
The Hot Time Transportation, Tunnel, Drainage,
Mining & Milling Co. has been formed with W. L. Bush
as president; J. R. Spear, vice-president; G. K. Kimball,
secretary-treasurer and manager; all of Idaho Springs.
The company will work mining property lying between
the line of the Newhouse tunnel and the Old Town mine,
and drive the lateral connecting the Old Town workings
with the Newhouse tunnel. Work has been started
with machine drills. The distance to be driven is 4000
feet and will require eighteen months to complete. The
driving of this lateral will benefit the Russell Gulch sec-
tion, as its course will be almost directly under the low-
est part of the gulch the entire distance. It is believed
that it will ultimately drain every mine in the immediate
section through which it traverses. The Old Town
shaft is 1500 feet deep on the pitch of the vein, and the
lateral will cut beneath the bottom of the shaft. The
Dump mine, on Bobtail hill, is being operated under a lease
and bond by M. Dalpez & Co. of Central City. A new shaft
building and machinery has been put in. Sinking oper-
ations have been completed, the shaft being down 350
feet, at which depth drifts have been commenced on
both sides of the shaft. Drifts are also being extended
on both sides of the shaft at a depth of 280 feet, where
there is a good sized ore body and regular shipments are
being kept up. The Never Sweat mine in Lake gulch
is being operated under a lease and bond by J. B. Chat-
terton of Central City, the owners being H. M. Orahood
of Denver and A. B. Drake of Central City. Sinking is
being done, and drifts are to be run when down 100 feet.
A whim i6 being used for present hoisting purposes, but
if the indications continue a steam hoist is to be put in,
as deeper operations will follow. Doble & Co. are
working the Pedorson mine in Gregory district under a
lease, at the 250-foot workings. Eilmann & Co. have
been timbering a new shaft east of the main shaft on the
Susan Mary mine in Lake gulch, and will sink to a
depth of 125 feet, when they will make connections with
the main level from the deep shaft. They expect to put
in a whim for hoisting. The shaft of the Clay County
mine, in Lake gulch, is down 700 feet. The 300 west
level is being cleaned out. The New National Tunnel
M. Co. is sinking at the Caledonia shaft and are down
520 feot. Tho intention is to sink this shaft to the tun-
nel level for air connections as well as to take out the
ores through the tunnel level. G. W. Adams is superin-
tendent. The Ontario-Colorado Gold M. Co. is em-
ploying fourteen men at its O'Neill mine in Gregory dis-
trict. Two drifts aro being run on the west side at a
depth of 401 feet and sloping is also being carried on in
both places. Milling and smelting ores are being taken
out each drift and a winze is being sunk for ventilation
and for development purposes. H. Bowden is in charge.
A. E. and W. Hampson, who have been operating the
tailings plant at tho Smuggler-Union mills, have sur-
rendered their loase on the same and will hereafter op-
erate in Black Hawk. They will get the tailings from
eight mills for treatment without the payment of any
royalty whatever, compensation for the privilege being
only ground rental. Their plant will be equipped with
sixteen Willley tables, six Frue vanners and 150 canvas
tables.
A. B. Sanford of Denver is reopening the old Mann
and North Star claims, in Vermillion district, 5 miles
west of Central City. The main shaft on the North
Star is 314 feet deep, whence a level is being driven to
the west to get under the ore known to exist in the
upper workings. A new mill is planned to treat the ore
by plate amalgamation, concentration and cyanide.
The Victoria group of the Star of Gilpin Co. is being
worked under the direction of W. L. Shall. The prop-
erty is 2 miles from Rollinsville. The main shaft is now
down 150 feet and an upraise is being made. A new
shaft is being sunk 150 feet from the main shaft.
•JefTerson County.
(Special Correspondence). — Ground has been broken
for tho Guggenheim Hall at the School of Mines. The
money for this building, which amounts to $75,000, has
been donated by S. Guggenheim. The corner stone of
the building will be laid Sept. 30, 1905. A new power
house and assay laboratory are just being completed at
an expense of 850,000.
Golden, Aug. 7.
H. J. Reiling, president and general manager of the
National Gold Dredging Co., operating the gravel bars
on Clear creek, near Golden, states that he is handling
with two dredger boats 75,000 cubic yards of dirt per
month. Discovering that a considerable part of the
flour gold was escaping, he has put in a Pierce amalga-
mator as an experiment, and is also having it tested by
the jigging process at one of the testing plants in West
Denver. About 15% of the total yardage handled is
black sand, which contains, in addition to flour gold,
considerable quantities of monazite. The black sand is
saved for separate treatment hereafter. when the flour
gold and rare minerals will be extracted.
Lake County.
With the increasing demand for zinc and the success
attained by the new Yak tunnel it is probable that an-
other zinc mill will be working in Leadville inside of two
months. Pittsburg people are behind the enterprise
and the mill will be built near the Norton sampling
works, and H. H. Norton will have charge of it. At
present the mills in the camp are handling only 25%
zinc, but it is stated on good authority that the new mill
will handle a much lower grade at a fair profit.
Stewart & Thompson of Leadville have commenced
work on the Flagstaff group in Bosswell gulch.
Low-grade siliceous ore has been found in the Gold
Basin, belonging to the Big Four M. Co., Jonny hill,
Leadville, through the workings of the Fannie Rawlins.
T. D. Kyle and associates have a lease on the ground
and are shipping fifty tons daily from the 360-foot level.
La Plata County.
At the new Bonnie Girl M. & M. Co.'s 50-stamp mill
on the La Plata river, near La Plata, the ore is to be
carried from the mine to the mill by a 4600-foot Blei-
chert tramway, with a drop of 1100 feet. The longest
single span is 700 feet. The ore is distributed to the ore
bins, 1500 tons capacity, by a 20-inch belt, 85 feet long,
fed from a hopper. The mortars, weighing 6200 pounds,
placed 18 inches above the floor, are set on blocks of
crushed stone and Portland cement, the top dimensions
of which are 0 feet by 4 feet 9S inches and the base 7
feet by 4 feet 9.J inches. The mortars are lined with
manganese steel. Suspended feeders fitted with man-
ganese-lined removable spouts feed the ore to the bat-
teries, where it is crushed through 30-mesh screens.
The fifty stamps each weigh 900 pounds and will drop
from 6 to 8 inches at the rate of ninety-five per minute.
To every five stamps there is a friction clutch. Only
outside amalgamation, is to be practiced, two plates be-
ing 3 feet in length and one 4 feet. The mill water supply
comes from Tirbicco gulch, 1200 feet above the mill, and
is delivered to the mill in a 12-inch pipe under a 48-foot
head. Manager C. L. Buckingham has designed the
mill and electric power plant.
The Copper Age group, 2 miles from La Plata, is be-
ing worked by F. M. Crowell and C. Roundtree. The
main tunnel is in over 200 feet. The Chief M. Co. is
working five claims near La Plata, under the direction
of L. L. Swift.
Mineral County,
(Special Correspondence). — The Creede United Mines
Co. have not been running their big mill full capacity
for some time on account of scarcity of ore, but the capa-
city of the mine is increasing and it will be but a short
time before they will be turning out the full capacity of
the mill. The camp is better than for several years and
it is thought within a few months the output will be
increased.
Creede, Aug. 5.
Ouray County.
W. G. Brown, of the Security M. Co. of Ridgway, is
exPeS,ted to start the mill by Sept. 1. J. S. McCluskey
and W.E. O'Brien, who are leasing at the Grand View,
oelow Ouray, havo struck gold-copper ore in the new
tunnel which was started between the mill and shaft
house levels.
Park County.
In the lower Tarryall district, near Wayman, north of
Cripple Creek, J. K. Vanatta, president of the Apex
Copper Co., owns prospects. Mr. Vanatta has sunk two
shafts on tho Apex. The main shaft was sunk to the
-ju-ioot point. There lime was crosscut for 125 feet
the now shaft has been put down 130 feet. It is pro-
posed to continue one of these shafts to a depth of 300
leet. html Krickson is superintendent. At the Star
group of the Haymen Co., Manager Frank Clancy has
sunk the main shaft 270 feet.
San Juan County.
The railroad being constructed from Howardsville up
Cunningham gulch will have a beneficial effect upon the
fre}?^ent,ot,th0 mines in that section. It will pass
the Old Hundred group first, then the Green Mountain
and the Pride of the West, the latter operated by E.
bmitb and associates, who are putting in a big nower
plant with a 400 H. P. Leffel turbine. Thi Green
Mountain (Jo. will build a 3000-foot tram and put in
twelve Rand Slugger drills for opening up their prop-
erty to supply their 200-ton mill. The Old Hundred
people have ordered a Corliss Imperial Rand compressor
for their mine. N. R. Bagley has let a contract to
drive a 5000-foot tunnel into the property which he is
managing, and expects to order a compressor plant for
that work. J. Terry has opened up the Sunnysido
mine and is doing about 500 feet of development work
every month with machine drills. The Gold Prince
mill, being built at Animas Forks under the supervision
of O. O. McReynolds, will probably be completed by
Jan. 1,1906. At the Old Hundred mine Manager R W
Davis is pushing the mill construction to get under
cover before the beginning of winter. I. C. Boss in-
ventor of the Boss method of stamp milling, is erecting
the mill at the Grand Mogul. The Pass M. Co.,
operating the Champion mines, Sultan mountain, aro
putting up a Bleichert tramway 1400 feet long, and plac-
ing Rand drills for the more rapid development of their
properties.
The Animas Power Co. has its electric plant at Rock-
wood, between Silverton and Durango, on the Animas
river, almost completed and the stringing of wires into
the Silverton district has commenced. The work is
under the management of W. R. Allen of Colorado
Springs. To reach Animas Forks and the headwaters
of the Animas river, Gladstone and the tributaries of
Cement creek, together with the side lines to the Silver
lake and other large properties in the county over 60
miles of primary aluminum wire will be required, and of
secondary wire 150 miles will be required to accommo-
date the mining properties that have already signed
contracts to use the Animas power. The date set for
turning on the current is Oct. 1.
The Silver Ledge mill at Silverton is shipping two cars
of zinc concentrates to Denver and three cars lead-iron
concentrates to Durango each week. It is reported
from Animas Forks that the Dewey mine in Hurricane
basin has again been started up by Ouray parties.
Matson & Slattery have resumed work at the Queen
City property in Ohio gulch. At the Aspen mine, on
Round mountain, sixteen men, under the management
of J. O. Campbell, have been cleaning out the old tim-
bers and debris in the tunnels. The Hamlet M. Co.'s
new 50-ton mill is producing several cars of concentrates
a week. It is on the Animas slope of Middle mountain,
alongside of the Silverton Northern Railroad track.
C. Dale, the builder, is improving the jigs. The Her-
cules management at Silverton are sinking a shaft on
the Little Dora vein 1300 feet from the portals of tho
lower tunnel. The shaft will be sunk to a depth of 250
feet. The main tunnel is in 3500 feet and is still being
driven ahead. Since beginning operations in the spring,
Manager Thomas Kane has been developing and block-
ing out ore bodies, with intention of having mineral for
a continuous run of the mill. At the Champion mine
on Sultan mountain, near Silverton, the Ross M. Co.
are constructing an aerial tramway 1400 feet in length,
from the mine down to the D. & R. G. Railroad track.
A 6-drill air compressor will be put in at the foot of the
hill.
San Miguel County.
A rich strike is reported in the lower workings of the
Japan mines, near the Tomboy, in Savage basin, 5 miles
from Telluride. The company has decided to abandon
the old mill in Savage baBin, near the Japan mine. A
new plant will be constructed at Pandora, 2 miles from
the Japan group, by the Japan-Flora M. Co. Mine and
mill are to be connected by an aerial tramway.
Nelson, Kirby & Reed, all of Telluride, will operate
the plant at Pandora. In the Smuggler-Union mills
at Pandora they have 110 stamps dropping. In the new
60-stamp mill thirty stamps are pounding on the ore of
King & Lindsey, lessees of a large portion of the Smug-
gler-Union mines, and thirty on the ore of Townsend &
Bancroft. In the old 80-stamp mill only fifty are falling.
Of these thirty are on the ore of Wagoner Bros., lessees
of the Sheridan, Smuggler and Union dumps and the 76
claim, and twenty on the ore of King & Lindsey.
Summit County.
(Special Correspondence.) — Summit county is doing
more deep mining than ever before in the history of the
county, especially in the Ten-mile district. This dis-
trict begins at Fremont i^ass, north of Leadville, and
runs from the headwaters of the Ten-mile to where it
empties into the Blue at Dillon. In the upper Ten-mile
at Kokomo the two most active properties are known as
the Wilfley and the Breene. These mines are reported
as shipping about 100 tons of ore per day each. The ore
carries approximately 25% lead, 30% zinc and 30% to 40%
iron. At Frisco four crosscut tunnels are being driven.
The King Solomon mine, illustrated on page 110, is
equipped with boiler, 8-drill Rand compressor, and is
putting in electric light plant, and expects to drive the
tunnel 2000 feet farther, making 2500 feet in all. Ingoing
115
Mining and Scientific Press.
August 12, 1905.
this distance they expect to cut ten veins which are
known to exist at the surface, and from which consider-
able ore has been shipped heretofore. The North Amer-
ican and Mary Vernon properties belong to parties living
in Memphis, Tenn. It is understood they have made
arrangements for a. power plant, to be erected about
half way between the Mary Vernon and North Ameri-
can, which will supply air for both mines. A contract
has been let to run a tunnel on the North American 3000
feet and on the Mary Vernon 2000 feet, the company to
furnish the power, air and light, Mr. McAllister, at Frisco,
resident manager of the properties. The other tunnel
that is being driven is on the Mint property of the Mint
M. & M. Co., in Ophir mountain. Same is now in over
500 feet and will be continued. The company intends
putting on a plant of machinery, including electric light
plant, air drills, etc. F. E. Wire, Libertyville, 111.,
has charge of the operations. The Chief Mountain Min-
ing Co., in the district, own ten or twelve claims, from
which several tons of ore run well in gold, silver and lead.
An adit tunnel is being driven on one of the veins, which
is now in several hundred feet. It is the opinion of
prominent mining engineers as soon as some of these tun-
nels now under way are completed, it will be the means
of opening up some good ore, and that mining on the
Ten-mile will no longer be in the prospective stage, but
will be one of the leading districts of Colorado.
Frisco, Aug. 8.
Teller County.
J. Wellington and associates have secured a lease on
block 190, the Lucky Gus claim, of the Stratton Cripple
Creek M. & D. Co., and are working it. A shaft on the
Lucky Gus is 1000 feet deep, but the new operators
will commence work on the upper levels.
Fitts & De Masters, operating the Deerhorn prop-
erty on Globe hill, Cripple Creek, have a new body of
ore. Operations are being pushed through the Pinto
shaft of the Free Coinage Co. property on Bull hill and
in the town of Altman. Moon and associates have a
lease on the Nightingale property on Bull hill and have
put in machinery, and will push operations throughout
the shaft, which is now 300 feet deep. -The Golden
Cycle Co. has laid off between sixty and seventy
of their machine men while new compressors are
being put in. The company has received two 10-drill
air compressors. The company was formerly operating
eighteen drills. Heretofore the Golden Cycle Co. has
secured its air from the La Bella plant. The Gilpin &
Cripple Creek Co. is working in the Little Pearl shaft
on Bull hill. The company has leased the Atlanta prop-
erty to R. P. Russell.
Preparations are being made by lessees to put in a
100-ton cyanide plant on the Dos Moines property, oh a
south spur of Gold hill, near Cripple Creek. There are
six or eight cyanide plants in operation in the district
and all of them are recovering large amounts of gold
each month. The mill on the Los Angeles mine, on
Bull hill, is completed and the company is treating be-
tween forty and fifty tons of ore a day that is averaging
$5 to the ton in gold. Next month the Little Giant
Co. will commence operations in Pony gulch. The
Empire State shaft of Bull hill, Cripple Creek, is being
sunk from 800 feet to the 1300-foot point. At the Mary
Nevin C. C. Jackson and associates, lessees, have
arranged for a 12-drill compressor at the Nevin shaft.
IDAHO.
Boise County.
President J. J. Oberbilligof the Twentieth Century M.
Co., operating in the Black Hornet and Pearl mining
districts, states that during the past eight months he
has been at work on a tunnel being run to cut three
ledges. The tunnel is in 440 feet and has cut four of the
ledges. A 20-ton cyanide plant will be put up this fall,
the capacity to be increased as development requires.
Custer County.
To open up the Seafoam and Greyhound districts
Gov. Gooding states that the State will furnish half of
the $4000 which it is estimated the road will cost. The
miners there will have to do the rest. It is proposed to
make a contract with the miners to build half the road
under the supervision of the State and on a survey made
by the State, as it will be necessary to have a road
equally good at all points. The proposed road will start
at Wagontown on the Ketchum road, cross Vanity sum-
mit, run down Vanity creek to Rapid river and pass
down the latter stream to Float creek. It will be 12
miles in length.
Idaho County.
The Crooked River M. & M. Co. is building a flume to
their properties, near Oro Grande, to replace the ditch
now in use. It is hoped to continue operations during
the winter. Elevators, classifiers, distributors and
pumps are to be put in the mill. J. F. Powers, secre-
tary of the V. & O. M. Co., at Oro Grande, expects that
the new cyanide plant will be finished by the end of the
year. W. I. Sweet of Long Branch, New Jersey, says
that the Idaho Consolidated Little Giant M. Co., of
Warren, is preparing to put in an electric power plant
for the operation of their mine. The company has a 5-
stamp mill. H. Sheiler, of Warren, is the president and
manager.
Owyhee County.
H. M. Stevens, superintendent of the Rich Gulch Co.
mines, reports that a new strike has been made on their
claims near Silver City. Electricity is to be substi-
tuted at the Cumberland mill, on War Eagle mountain,
near Silver City, for the present steam power.
Shoshone County.
During the portion of last month that Richard Ander-
son was operating the Rex mine, formerly the 16 to 1,
under lease, the royalties of the company are said to
have amounted to $2000. About 200 tons of concentrates
were shipped, which assayed 62% lead and 30 ounces in
silver. The ore that was milled was taken from the
stopes between two levels. The ore as mined is said to
carry 14% zinc, but the value of this metal is not saved.
Low water has caused the Black Cloud mine and
mill to close down, throwing seventy-five men out of
employment. A Pittsburg corporation has been oper-
ating the property for several months. Until there is
an increase of water in Nine Mile creek only a small
force of men will be employed on development work.
This is the second property that has been forced to sus-
pend operations this summer on account of the lack of
water. The Rex mill closed down last week for this
reason.
Washington County.
The Ladd Metals Co. is pushing work on the smelter
at Landore and have commenced on the brick work of
the reverberatory furnace. They have fifty men at
work. C. W. Jones is working the Peacock mine,
near Landore.
MICHIGAN.
Honghton County.
The Adventure mine has been closed on account of a
strike. The company wished to save time and expense
of hoisting the men to the surface at the noon hour, and
announced that lunches would have to be eaten under-
ground in the future, whereupon the men walked out.
No extra labor will be required, the company says, to
resume when the men return to work on their terms.
Keweenaw County.
Sinking at the Allouez is below the fourth level 50
feet. The management states that there has been no
change in the quality of the lode as the sinking pro-
gresses. The beginning of stamping operations at the
Centennial mill on Allouez rock is due to start. The
shaft has three compartments, with 2-ton skips and
hoists good for a depth of J mile. Owing to the steep-
ness of the incline shaft, back rails of 6x10 inch timbers
are set so close to the wheels of the skips that their
flanges can not leave the steel rails, the wooden timbers
really serving as guides. At the change of angle from
80° to 38" on reaching the lode, a single idler with wide
flange cares for the cables passing at either end. In
order to save pumping charges on surface water enter-
ing the mine, H. J. Stevens, in the Copper Handbook,
says that a gutter has been cut around the shaft lead-
ing to an opening 36 feet long, half winze and half drift,
used as a sump.
MISSOURI.
Jasper County.
The Maud L. M. Co. has completed a new 200-ton mill
on its lease on the Leonard land at Chitwood. It is
equipped with electricity, except the air compressor,
which will be driven by an 85 H. P. gas engine. The
Three C M. Co., operating in Chitwood, is ready to
build a new mill. The company is under the manage-
ment of C. A. Morsman.
MONTANA.
Broadwater County.
The new concentrator at the East Pacific, near Wins-
ton, is finished. There are 20,000 tons of good concen-
trating ore on the East Pacific dumps which will be
worked, after which second-class ore from the mines
will be put through. F. A. Taylor is superintendent.
Fergus County.
The new cyanide plant for the Maginnis mine at
Maiden has been completed and the mill remodeled.
Granite t'ouiity.
The Granite Bi-metallic mines at Granite have been
closed by President P. A. Fusz.
Jefferson County.
The Basin Reduction Co. are building a new tail race
with a system of tanks which will quickly gather all the
tailings which can then be dumped into the cars. A race
was built with lateral sluice ways, the water being con-
ducted by these directly into the railway cars, allowing
the tailings to settle, the railway company then hauling
the cars to some of their high trestles near the Wickes
tunnel, where they are dumped. But this system has
proven ineffectual and was only built for temporary pur-
poses or until the tanks now under construction could
be put in. The tail race will be built over a series of
tanks having a dump bottom. The tanks will catch all
the tailings and these will in turn be dumped into the
cars direct. The plant will be inclosed in a building,
which will be steam heated to avoid freezing during the
cold weather. The company contemplates improve-
ments in their settling dam system to gather the slimes.
A. B. Keith is working claims near Clancy. H.
Williams is working the Sierras mine, near Basin, and
shipping ore to the East Helena smelter.
NEVADA.
Elko County.
Work has been resumed at the Wardell Iron mine,
near Wells, by the owners, C. O'Neill and G. R. Vardy.
It has been found that the ore is valuable for fluxes, and
it is said the owners have concluded an arrangement
with the United States Smelting Co. whereby a good
market is furnished.
Esmeralda County.
The Gold Bar M. Co. of Goldfield is said to have
secured 1000 acres of coal land near Coaldale, 47 miles
northwest of Goldfield. In a 5-foot blanket vein coal
that will do for steam purposes has been proven. Spe-
cial fire grates will be built for the boilers for its con-
sumption. Water has also been developed on the
ground and it is estimated that it can be pumped to a
mill at a cost of three cents for each 1000 gallons. An
electric railway may be constructed from the mill to
Goldfield. It was found that it would take about 60
miles of track, as all the heavy grades will be avoided,
thereby saving a large amount in the grading expense
and the power required to pull the trains. Electric
power for mines and lighting purposes will also be fur-
nished. It is reported that the company will put up a
500-ton cyanide and chlorination plant. J. M. Hower,
manager of the Dorcas mill at Florence, Colo., and E. F.
Browne are interested.
The Wisconsin mine at Lida has been sold by P. Kiser
to the Nevada Exploration Co., J. B. Croak, manager.
A double-compartment shaft is to be sunk and new ma-
chinery is to be put in.
Lincoln County.
Contracts are to be let by the Gold Coin M. Co. for
sinking the Sazerac shaft to the 300 level, for drifting
100 feet south at the 200 and for drifting north and south
at the 300 when reached. The mine is at Dupont camp
in Searchlight district. Carl Andersen has charge.
The present hoist will be replaced by a 25 H. P. hoist as
soon as the 300 level is reached. Work will be started
on the Mountain View claim of the Wynopa group,
belonging to the Gold Coin M. Co., B miles southwest
of the Sazerac. Water struck in the bottom of the
200-foot shaft of the New Era mine, near Searchlight,
has stopped work until a 6-inch- pump can be put in.
The shaft is to be sunk to the 350-foot level. A special
postoffice has been established at Nelson, Eldorado can-
yon, with P. A. Blair as postmaster.
NEW MEXICO.
Grant County.
At Silver City the Comanche M. & S. Co. will build a
200-ton concentrator and a briqueting plant. The rever-
beratory and blister furnaces have been finished. The
Ernestine M. & S. Co. has been unwatering the Mogul
and the Pinos Altos Town shaft preparatory to working
these properties. A steam hoist is being put on the
Pinos Altos, and a contract has been let for mining the
ore, on a tonnage basis. As soon as the water is low-
ered to the 500-foot level, the Gillette will start work
with a hoisting equipment and a permanent pumping
plant that will drain all the properties on the Pacific
vein. Ore is being taken from the Hearst shaft. The
air shaft to connect with the tunnel level will be finished
by AuguBt 15, when the force in the mines will be in-
creased.
Otero County.
The Southwest S. & R. Co. intends to begin work on
its proposed smelter at Jarilla on September 1.
OREGON.
Baker County
J. Cheyne, who has charge of the work in the cross-
cut tunnel on the Morning mine, near Greenhorn, says
the miners are contending with a large flow of water and
with running ground, but are making progress. The
Humboldt mine, near Greenhorn, is replacing its small
gasoline hoist with a larger steam one. The owners
of the Spero group, near Greenhorn, have resumed
work.
Manager M. E. Bain of the Overland mine, near Cable-
ville, says his deep work is entering the zone of the shoot
he proved at the surface. The Royal Winchester M.
Co. has been organized by G. Kellogg and associates of
Atlanta, Ga., to develop a property on the John Day side
of Cable Cove, near Cableville. M. F. Muzzy and D.
Cahill of the Cracker-Oregon Co. of Bourne have re-
sumed operations. Superintendent Rusk of the Platts
group, near Sumpter, states that the working force,
both underground and on the surface, is to be increased.
Deep work at the Indiana mine, near Baker City,
has been progressing since the management was author-
ized to put in a sinking plant. On the Golden Gate
mines at the head of Desolation creek, Greenhorn dis-
trict, a 40-foot tunnel has been driven.
Douglas County.
Manager W. B. Stewart of the Continental M. Co. at
Nugget has shipped a third carload of ore to the Ta-
coma smeltar. The winze being sunk from the 500-foot
level is down 75 feet. A 50-ton concentrating plant is to
be put up.
Grant County.
According to the statement of Manager J. Thomson
work on the Olive lake power plant of the Red Boy
mine, near Granite, will begin soon. At a recent meet-
ing of the Red Boy Co. the water rights, ditches and
flumes owned by it were sold to a new company for $50,-
000, to be paid in electric power.
Manager O. C. Wright has resumed work on the
Sheridan, near Granite.
Josephine County.
Manager C. R. Ray of the Condor Co. intends to re-
sume drilling with the'Keystone prospecting drill on the
McConough ranch, near Gold Hill, on which he took a
bond last year. Work on the High Line ditch, which
is being built at Gold Hill, proceeds on an increasing
scale.
F. W. Blaisdell is preparing to finish his ditch from
Reuben creek to his placer mines on McNail flat, in the
Grave creek district, near Grant's Pass. The ditch will
be about 8 miles in length when completed, and will
have one inverted siphon. A California company has
a drill prospecting the Wimer mine, at Waldo. T. W.
M. Draper has a drilling machine at work prospecting in
the Waldo section, and has recently located 2000 acres
of placer ground.
Lane County.
Operations at the Lucky Boy mine at Blue River,
owned by L. Zimmerman of Portland, have been steady
for some timo. The 40-stamp mill is in commission, with
an abundance of water and power for milling purposes.
The Treasure mill is expected to be finished in Sep-
tember
Wallowa County.
High-grade copper and silver ores are said to have
been discovered in the mountain ranges south of Lostine.
This district comprises an area 35 miles long and 12 miles
wide, between Eagle creek and Wallowa river. Lostine
may be reached by the O. R. & N. railroad to Elgin and
then 40 miles by stage, or from Lewiston, Idaho, by
wagon road, 90 miles in length. The first locations in
the district were made by J. Dunn of Joseph, Or. The
Great Northern Gold & Copper M. & M. Co. is develop-
ing thirteen claims under the management of E. T.
Sluer. He has men rebuilding the trail between the
Iron Dike camp and Windy Gap, in the Calumet camp,
where the property of the Great Northern Co. is lo-
SOUTH DAKOTA.
Lawrence County.
It is reported that the Homestake Co. is to build an
immense plant at Deadwood to treat the slimes from the
Lead and the Central plants. Filter presses designed by
C. W. Merrill will be part of the equipment. The
Lucky Star M. Co. has started work on its properties
between the Lucky Strike and the Clover Leaf mines.
J. G. Reid of Minneapolis is president and C. A. Allen of
Deadwood treasurer.
August 12, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
in;
I'enulngl ... County.
(Spoeial Correspondence).— At a meeting of the direct-
ors of the Clara Belle M. Co., held in Cleveland, Ohio,
July 31, the following officers were elected: Frank
Hebert president, N. P. Bowler vice-president, A. R,
Toachout treasurer, L. Hebert secretary, Walter Lister
MSfstant secretary, i'he company is now improving the
property, erecting a first-class stamp mill and saw mill,
building a tramway, a larg..' hoarding house and other
buildings. About twenty-five men are at work and more
will be put on soon. The property consists of 180 acres,
1 milo from Oreville, near Hill City, on the Burlington
Railroad. The work is an important one and will help
to develop this country, which is rich in minerals.
Oreville, Aug. 7.
UTAH.
Grand County.
In tho La Sal mountains, near Basin, considerable
work has been done since July 1. Superintendent M.
I. Fowler has opened up a new vein on the Tornado on
Gold Hill. J. Boasley of Provo is said to have struck
gold and copper ore on the Dirigo La Sal Co. 's property
in Boa er basin. W. B. Wheat of Basin, manager
Grouse Mountain Co., expects to start work on a 100-
ton cyanide plant noxt year. Work is to be continued
on the lowor tunnel, now in 350 feet.
Juab County
J. Aylward has finished building a 1500-foot cable for
the Bullion-Beck mino at Euroka.
The ore shipments in carloads from Tintic for the week
ending August 4 were: Gemini (i, Bullion-Beck 5, Cen-
tennial-Euroka 50, Yankee Con. 3, Eagle & Blue Bell 10,
South Swansea 5, Uncle Sam 3, Victoria 4, Ajax 3, Car-
isa 1, Mammoth 11, Lower Mammoth 1, Grand Central 3;
total 111.
Manager J. C. Sullivan, of the Raymond mine at
Eureka, is reopening the property by work in the south
drift on the 1500-foot level.
Piute County.
Work has been started on thu new 200-ton stamp mill
of the Sevier Con. Co. at Gold Mountain, near Kimberly.
Salt Lake County.
The capacity of the Yampa smelter, at Bingham, is to
be increased 100 tons by the construction of another
reverberatory furnace and four roasters. The plant
will then consist of two blast furnaces, two rever-
beratories and six roasters and it will be able to handle
500 to H00 tons daily.
Sin, in in County.
The Wild flower claims, near Park City, are to be
worked by a company, of which W. H. Whitehill of
Park City is president. At the Daly-Judge mine, at
Park City, little is being done beyond prospecting.
Tooele County.
Settling tanks and a canvas plant are being put in the
Stockton mino at Stockton. A new vein, said to be 30
feet wide, has been opened up on the 850-foot level.
Utah County.
The mill test having been completed, it is stated the
Utah Ozokerite Co. mine at Colton will resume opera-
tions and a mill of fifty tons' daily capacity will be built.
WASHINGTON.
There was a decrease of $136,000 in the production of
gold in the State of Washington last year, according to
the estimate of F. A. Wing, assayer in charge of the
Government assay office in Seattle. The same authority
gives the decrease in silver production as exceeding
$232,000. On the other hand there was a gain in the
output of copper and lead. The gold production in 1904
was 15,009.977 fine ounces, value $310,283.76; silver (coin-
ing value) fine ounces, 1904, 125,312.18, value $162,019.78;
copper 199,670 pounds, value $25,475.45; lead fine pounds,
378,588, value $16,312.06. Total values, 1904, $514,091.05.
Ferry County.
The Belcher M. Co. has purchased an 8-drili electric
plant for the Belcher mine, near Republic, and a similar
outfit for the Hawkeye mine, the latter being owned by
the Winnipeg M. Co. They also purchased a 35-ton
direct connected locomotive, suitable for traction on
heavy grades, and 100 tons of relaying rails for the
Belcher Mountain railway, of which E. R. Fraser is
president. An electric lighting plant was purchased for
use at the mines, intended at the start for sixty lights.
A gasoline engine will be used to drive the dynamo for
generation of electric power, to be subsequently rein-
forced by water power.
Douglas Comity.
The Waterville Coal Co. has commenced work on a
coal prospect across the Columbia river from Wenat-
chee. W. Milburn is manager.
Stevens County.
The new ore bunkers for the Copper King ore at Che-
welah are completed and the traction service is making
regular trips, hauling ore from the mine. The ore is
dumped from the traction cars through a shoot into the
railroad cars, obviating handling the ore by hand. J. D.
Blevins is superintendent. President H. H. Baker, of
the Nellie S mine, has let a contract to G. Abbott and
L. Barnes to sink 100 feet on this property. The con-
tract commences at the 160-foot level and when com-
pleted will give them a depth of 260 feet.
Okanogan County.
J. Boyd, manager of the Palmer Mountain Tunnel &
Power Co. at Loomis, reports that a 750 H. P. water and
electric power plant is to be put in and operated under a
365-foot head, on Touts Coulee creek. Electric power
drills for the mines are to be put in. There is talk" of a
300-ton stamp and cyaniding mill to be built within 1500
feet of the mouth of the tunnel. C. S. Reitze will have
charge of the electrical construction and equipment.
WYOMING.
Carbon County.
F. E. Brown has started work at the Batchelder mine,
near Dillon, which has been closed down for five months.
E. M. Sanders has started work on the Wall Rock,
adjoining the Pluto mine, at Dillon.
FOREIGN.
AUSTRALIA.
New South Wak'it.
The value of tho minerals exported during the half
year ending Juno 30 from New South Wales was as fol-
lows: Silver, £23,746; silver-lead, 61,179,981; copper,
£234,148; tin, £138,387; coal, e667,6I6; total, 62,243,876.
The amount for the corresponding period of last year
was t'2,038,772.
Western Australia.
In the State of West Australia the Government gives
assistance to small prospectors and small mine owners
who are without means and have good prospects. They
can have their ore crushed cheaply, and assistance is
given in supplying them water from the Gold Fields
Supply Scheme. The principal way in which the State
helps the miners is by crushing their ore in the State
batteries, as tho private facilities on the fields are not
always adequate for the ore obtained and at other times
are not available. By this means many of the smaller
mines have been kept going and those that were closed
have, in many cases, been reopened. Crushing is done
only for small mines. Electricity is used on the fields,
where the larger mines are lit by it and have their own
motors. There is always a market for the gold at the
Government mint in every State.
CANADA.
BRITISH COLUMBIA.
Atlln District.
A new placer gold strike has been made on the Nitsul-
tin river, which flows into Teslin lake in the Atlin coun-
try, and there has been a rush to the diggings both from
Atlin and Whitehorse. D. McG. Stewart, manager of
the Northern M. Co., has started a steam shovel on
Spruce creek, Atlin.
Boundary District.
Boundary ore shipments for week ending Aug. 5 were
Granby mines to Granby smelter, 13,325 tons; Mother
Lode to British Columbia Copper Co. smelter, 3163 tons;
Emma to Nelson smelter, 396 tons; Oro Denoro to Gran-
by s nelter, 68 tons; Providence to Trail smelter, 30 tons.
Total for week, 16,985 tons. Total for year, 540,022 tons.
Boundary smelters this week treated: Granby smelter,
13,540 tons; British Columbia Copper Co. smelter, 3590
tons. Total for week, 17,130 tons. Total for year, 552,-
872 tons.
W. A. Robertson of Chicago, acting for the Barbara
Syndicate, has consolidated the Freemont, Strathmore
and Barbara mines. The Strathmore and Barbara are
developed properties and ready to ship. '
Rossland District.
The shipments have passed the 200,000-ton mark for
the year and the outlook is that they will reach a larger
tonnage than last year, when the total was 340,000 tons.
The shipments for the week ending Aug. 5 were: Le
Roi, 1950 tons; Le Roi (milled), 210; Center Star, 2100;
Le Roi No. 2, 90; Le Roi No. 2 (milled), 600; Jumbo. 400;
Lily May, 30; Inland Empire, 30. Total for week, 6750,
and for the year, 201,953 tons.
Slocan District.
The No. 1 mine at Ainsworth has shipped six cars of
ore to the smelter and will be a continuous shipper dur-
ing the summer. H. Giegerich of Kaslo is manager.
The mill at the Jackson mine, 5 miles from Whitewater,
is doing splendid work on the zinc ores of the mine.
About 500 tons of zinc ore is in the concentrates pile.
Some of this requires separation, but another separate
pile runs above 50% zinc. J. Cronin will start up the
Eureka group, across from the Slocan Star, near Sandon.
West Kootenay District.
An 8-foot ledge of very rich silver-lead ore has been
discovered on the Sirdar, one of the claims of the Mam-
moth group on Goat mountain, near Camborne. E.
Baillie is manager. A new company called the Cam-
borne M. Co. was formed at Calumet, Mich., on July 21,
to take over the affairs of the Northwestern Develop-
ment Syndicate, Ltd., and the Gold Finch M. Co., Ltd.,
at Camborne. Last summer the mine buildings and
tram of the Gold Finch were burned. The McMinn-
ville group on the lower slope of Lexington mountain,
near the Eva mine, in the Lardeau district, will be
worked by M. U. Gortner, M. Morgan, F. Morgan, C. A.
Nelson and G. B. Row. It is reported that a new mill is
to be put in.
MEXICO.
Chihuahua.
(Special Correspondence). — There has been a drilling
contest in the Sierra deAlmaloya between theCigarrero
mine, using the Box and Adams electric drills, with gas-
oline engine, and the San Enrique mine, adjoining the
Cigarrero on the east, using a gas producer, air com-
pressor and the small " Rock Terrier" drills. Both are
driving tunnels in the same limestone formation.
The management of both companies seem satisfied with
the progress made, and are about to put in 300 H. P.
plants to run more drills, hoists, etc. For some time
neither have shipped ore, but with the completion of the
electric tramway for the Cigarrero and the aerial cable
tramway for the San Enrique, there will be another in-
teresting contest as to the amount of ore that can be
shipped per month.
Almaloya, Aug. 1.
The San Cristobal shaft at Parral has been retim-
bered and a new steam hoist put in, and development
work will be pushed by Superintendent Gerhardt. — A
50 H. P. electric hoist has been put on the Virginia
shaft of the Palmilla mine at Parral, and a like hoist
will be put on the San Francisco shaft. The new
stack of the Encinillas Mines, Ltd., at Santa Rosalia is
nearly finished. The shaft on the Palmira, belonging
to Weisel & Kock, is down 350 feet. A new gallows
frame and machinery have been put in.
Durango.
J. P. Julia of New York has bought the Sederita mine
at Mapimi. The mine is a copper proposition and is
connected by road with the railroad station at Desubri-
dora. He has commenced development work.
Jalisco.
The mill and cyanide plant of the San Felipe M. Co.
at Hostotipaquillo have been started. N. Z. Seitz is
president and general manager. It is reported that
tho work on tho cinnabar deposits near Moral, in the
Mascots dietriot, and the silver-gold mines in the Navi-
dad camp of that district will be pushod by the El Moral
M. Co., in which T. W. Lawson and F. W. Page are
said to be interested. A reduction plant and furnace are
to be put up. These properties were formerly worked
by the United Mexican M. & S. Co.
Sonora
Tho Monte Visto G. & S. M. Co. have takon over
the Monte Visto mine, 15 miles east of Cos. It is re-
ported that O. L. Neer, until recently general manager
of the Transvaal Coppor Co. at Cumpas, Sonora, has
purchased, for Cincinnati capitalists, the York mines,
near Moctezuma. Extensive development is the plan of
the new owners.
PHILIPPINE ISLANDS.
Copper has been mined and smelted in a crude way in
tho Philippines since the eighteenth century, according
to H. J. Stevens. In a native reduction plant the ore
after being hand mined is cobbed to medium size, then
broken to smal lumps on anvils, after which it is fine
crushed in rolls of iron or stone. The ore is then smelted
in crude furnaces. There are no figures of output avail-
able. There are copper and gold mines at Mancayan
and Suyoc, province of Lepanto, Island of Luzon. There
are also deposits of copper ore in the islands of Benguet,
Negros, Panay and Mindanao.
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Books Received.
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The progressive engineer is hunting for short cuts
that facilitate accomplishing more work in shorter
time, yet withal and above all of indisputable accuracy.
This seems to have been accomplished for hydraulic en-
gineers in "Hydraulic Tables," by G. S.Williams and
Allen Hazen. With great detail they show the loss of
head due to the friction of water flowing in pipes, aque-
ducts, sewers, etc., and the discharge over weirs. Ac-
cording to the introduction they show the flow of water
in pipes and other passages, as computed by the Hazen-
Williams hydraulic slide rule, based upon the formula
v = cr°-83s"-r"0.001 — °-u\ The most commonly used
formula for determining the velocity of flow of water in
pipes and channels is the Chezy formula, namely,
v = cv sr, where v is the velocity in feet per second, s is
the hydraulic slope, and r the hydraulic radius in feet;
c is a factor the value of which is an approximation to a
constant, but depends upon the roughness of the pipe
and upon the hydraulic radius and slope. The varia-
tions in the value of c are considerable, and make the
general use of the formula difficult. Kutter's formula
was devised to compute the value of c in the Chezy for-
mula. The tables give a series of values of c according
to the age of the pipe. They are published by John
Wiley & Sons, New York City, and will be sent postpaid
by the Mining and Scientific Press for $1.50.
As an extract from the "Mineral Resources of tho
United States for 1904," the United States Geological
Survey has issued the "Production of Salt for 1904."
This was reported to be 22,030,002 barrels (of 280
pounds), valued at $6,021,222, as compared with 18,968,-
089 barrels, valued at $5,286,988, in 1903. The chief salt
producing States are New York and Michigan, and the
combi ed output from these two States amounts to
about two-thirds of the total production of the United
States. The five leading salt producing States during
1904 were: New York, 8,600,656 barrels (39.04%); Michi-
gan, 5,425,904 barrels (24.63%); Ohio, 2,455,829 barrels
(11.15%); Kansas, 2,161,819 barrels (9.81%); Louisiana,
1,095,850 barrels (4.97%).
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j Commercial Paragraphs, f
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The United Iron Works have received a contract
from J. G. White of New York City to furnish a suction
dredge 22x44 feet, run by gasoline engine, to be used in
removing silt preparatory to building a large dam near
Yuma, Ariz. The dredge is to be working within Bixty
days.
The Rapid Economy Stamp Mill Co. of San Francisco,
Cal., report that they are putting in a number of their
stamps upon the Fern Leaf mine in Trinity county, Cal.,
and that the Chuckawalla M. Co. of Los Angeles, Cal.,
has contracted with them for the erection of a Richards'
Rapid Economy stamp miil on their property.
The Sullivan Machinery Co. is adding to its manufac-
turing plant at Claremont, N. H., to keep pace with the
rapid growth of business in mining and quarrying
machinery. The improvements comprise six new build-
ings, practically doubling the present plant. The com-
pany has recently shipped to Colon, Canal Zone, Pan-
ama, twenty-five rock drills, size UH-11 (3|-inch), fitted
with the new Sullivan tappet valves, for the Isthmian
Canal Commission.
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Obituary.
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Gustaf H. Stoiber, a prominent Colorado mining
man, died at Silverton, Colo., on the 3d inst.
117
Mining and Scientific Press.
August 12, 1905.
Personal.
G. G. Hall has charge Conger mine, at Bingham,
Utah.
Wm. Treloar is manager Hobart Ore Co., in Sparta
district, Minn.
D. F. Strobeck is manager Pacific Bullion Co. at
Ainsworth, B. C.
J. D. Spargo is superintendent West Gold Road
mine, Acme, Arizona.
R. H. Ward has returned to San Francisco, Cal.,
from an Eastern visit.
J. V. N. Dorr has returned to Terry, South Dakota,
from a visit to New York.
T. H. SCOTT is directing work for the Great Western
M. Co. near Burke, Idaho.
Ray Pool has been appointed superintendent Te-
huana M. Co., El Oro, Mexico, Mex.
G. W. Maynard is consulting engineer Guanacevi
Tunnel Co. at Guanacevi, Durango, Mex.
G. P. Roux has been appointed superintendent San
Felipe mines at Hostotipaquillo, Jalisco, Mex.
S.J. GORMLBY has been made superintendent Bing-
ham Copper Co.'s smelter at West Jordan, Utah.
W. W. Byrne of Salt Lake City, Utah, is making a
trip through Washington, Oregon and California.
H. G. Moneton has taken the position of mining en-
gineer for the Vesuvius G. M. Co. of Bohemia, Or.
W. P. Swart of Fulton Iron Works has returned from
Tonopah and Goldfield, Nov., to San Francisco, Cal.
Mrs. M. M. Garwood, editor "Progressive West," is
now secretary Reno, Nevada, Chamber of Commerce.
R. H. Strickland of Salt Lake City, Utah, has
joined the engineering staff of the American S. & R. Co.
Mark B. Kerr, having completed his work of mine
examination in Inyo county, Cal., is now at Silver Peak,
Nev.
A. Del Mar of San Francisco has gone to San
Bernardino county, Cal., to investigate mining prop-
erties.
H. W. Wallace has been made manager Sombrere-
tillo M. Co. at Saria, Sonora, Mexico, succeeding C. F.
Tolman.
Richard Roelofs has been appointed iuperintend-
ent Cresson mine of the Bull Hill M. & D. Co., Cripple
Creek, Colo.
J. A. Farwell, vice-president J. Geo. Leyner En-
gineering Co., has returned from San Francisco, Cal., to
Denver, Colo.
C. M. Fueller, Denver, Colo., is making examination
of the Redeemer M. Co. property, 250 miles east of Win-
nipeg, Canada.
Wm. A. Hewitt, president Compressed Air Machin-
ery Co., has returned to San Francisco, California, from
Tonopah, Nevada.
Byron E. Janes has been selected as head of the
department of mining and metallurgy of the University
of Idaho at Moscow.
J. D. Kendall of London, England, consulting engi-
neer of the Slough Creek Gravel Gold Co., is at Slough
Creek, Cariboo, B. C.
Wm. Loveland, manager moving machinery depart
ment Allis-Chalmers Co., has returned to Chicago' from
a business tour through the West.
C. F. Tolman Jr. has been appointed professor o
geology in the University of Arizona at Tucson, suc-
ceeding W. P. Blake, resigned.
H. V. Croll has opened offices in the Dooly block'
Salt Lake City, Utah, as representative of the Wellman-
Seaver-Morgan Co. of Cleveland, Ohio.
J. E. Hyslop, manager of the San Francisco del Oro
mines, near Parral, Chihuahua, Mexico, has left for
England. W. S. Harrison has charge during his ab-
sence.
F. G. Willis of the firm of Hills & Willis, mining
engineers, Cripple Creek, Colo., is examining mines in
Boise county, Idaho. His address till Sept. 10 will be
Pioneerville, Idaho.
J. D. Stewart of Gold Run, Cal., is manager and
superintendent Klamath River M. Co., with mines at
O'Neals creek, Calaveras county, and Klamath river,
Humboldt county, Cal.
B. N. Nieding has resigned as superintendent Tip
Top Copper Co. at Helvetia, Ariz., to become superin-
tendent Niblack copper mines, near Ketchikan, Prince
of Wales Island, Alaska.
A. H. Carpenter has resigned as manager smelter
at Takilma, Or., and is in Denver, Colo. George Cresar
and R. S. Stetson are managing and W. S. Keith super-
intending the smelter operation.
John Ingersoll has resigned his position as super-
intendent of the Hidden Fortune mill, near Deadwood,
South Dakota, to return to his old position of superin-
tendent of the Dakota mill, near Deadwood.
W. Lindgren, geologist, is in San Francisco, Cal.,
from Washington, D. C. He has lately been given
charge of the gold and silver statisties of the United
States for the Geological Survey, and is now investigat-
ing the work of the special agents for California, Ne-
vada, Oregon and Washington. His headquarters will
be San Francisco for several weeks.
J Trade Treatises. f
* «•
The special jubilee number of the "Valve World"
portrays fifty years of progress of the Crane Co. of Chi-
cago, 111.
/
The Colorado Iron Works of Denver, Colo., has issued
as catalogue No. 12 "Some Details as to Smelting Prac-
tice and Equipments." This is the fifth edition of what
has proved to be a practical treatise on blast furnace
smelting.
Latest Market Reports.
San Francisco, August 11, 1905.
Silver. — Per oz., Troy : London, 27|d (standard
ounce, 925 fine); New York, bar silver, 59|c, refined (1000
fine); San Francisco, 59|c; Mexican dollars, 46c, San
Francisco; 45|e, New York.
Copper.— New York: Standard, $15.50; Lake, 1 to 3
casks, $15.37£@15.62$; Electrolytic, 1 to 3 casks, $15.50;
Casting, 1 to 3 casks, $15.00 @ 15.25. San Francisco:
$16.00. Mill copper plates, $17.00; bars, 18@24c. London:
£69 spot per ton.
An electrical engineering paper of current issue calls
attention to the industrial risk the United States takes
in shipping abroad such large quantities of copper as
have been sent to Europe and the Far East the past two
years. The demand of home industries are nearly suf-
ficient to absorb the domestic output of the metal, and
the shipment of such great amounts to foreign countries
has about absorbed all the reserve stock on hand. The
fact is pointed out that copper, aluminum and iron are
the only metals practically available for electrical uses,
and of the'se copper is the most important. Iron and
aluminum can be employed as conductors of electricity,
but the wire winding of dynamos, etc., is almost wholly
done with copper wire, and this is a use which requires
an enormous quantity of the metal. Electric light
and railway uses consume annually a very large part of
the output of this country, beside which another large
amount is absorbed by the brass founding industry.
The development of new mines does not nearly keep
pace with the rapid exhausting of the producing mines.
In view of these considerations the copper outlook for
the future is promising.
Lead.— New York, $4.75; Salt Lake City, $3.50; St.
Louis, S4.52J; San Francisco, $3.70, carload lots; 4Jc 1000
to 4000 lbs.; pipe 6£c, sheet 7, bar 5Jc; pig, $4.85. Lon-
don: £14 ^ long ton.
Spelter. — New York, $5.70; St. Louis, $5.18; Lon-
don, £24 $ ton; San Francisco, ton lots, 6Jc; 100-ft
lots, 7c.
Tin.— New York, pig, $32.25@32.75; San Francisco, ton
lots, 33Jc; 500 lbs., 34c; 200 lbs., 34£c; less, 35Jc; bar tin,
fi ft., 35@37$c. London, £148 10s.
Platinum.— San Francisco, crude, $18.50 fioz.; New
York, ingot, $20.50 $ Troy oz. Platinum ware, 75@$1.00
B gram.
Quicksilver. — New York, $41.00@$41.50, large lots;
London, £7 7s 6d; San Francisco, local, $38.50@39.00 f|
flask of 75 fts.; Denver, $42.00.
Babbitt Metal. — San Francisco, No. 1, 10c; No.
2, 7c; No. 3, 6Jc; extra, 17Jc; genuine, 32Jc; Eclipse, 35c.
Solder.— Half-and-half, 100-ft. lots, 22.00c; San Fran-
cisco, Plumbers', 100-ft. lots, 18.50c.
Zinc. — Metallic, chemically pure, $ ft., 50c; dust, $ft.,
10c; sulphate, $ ft, .04c.
Nickel.— New York, 55@60c$ft.; ton lots, 40@47c.
Aluminum.— New York, No. 1, 99% pure ingots,
33@37c; No. 2, 90%, 31@34c.
Aluminum.— No. 1, 99%, small lots, 37c $ ft.; 100 fts..
35c; 1000 fts. 34c; ton lots and over, 33c, Pittsburg. No,
2, 90%, small lots, 34c; ton lots and over, 31c, Pittsburg.
STRUCTURAL MATERIALS.
Iron. — Pittsburg, Bessemer pig, $14.85; gray forge,
$16.00; San Francisco, bar, 3c $ 5>-i 3Jc in small quan-
tities.
Steel. — Bessemer billets, Pittsburg, $21.00@$21.00;
open hearth billets, $23.00@$23.00; San Francisco, bar,
7c to 12c fi ft.
White Lead. — Per lb., in kegs: 500 fts. and over at
one purchase, per ft., 7fc; less than 500 fts., per lb., 8c;
in 25-ft. tin pails, £e ^ ft. above keg price; in 1 and 5-Ib.
tin cans, 100 lbs. per case, £e per ft. above keg price.
Dry Lead. — In bbls., 1 ton and over, 6£c; do. in kegs, 7c.
Lime. — Santa Cruz, $1.25 country, $1.25 city f, bbl.
Cement.— Imported, $2.15@2.65 $ bbl.; California,
carload lots, $1.90 f. o. b. at works; small lots, $2.20 f,
bbl. in sacks, 4 sacks to bbl., 5c for each sack returned.
Lumber.— (Retail): Pine, ordinary sizes, $24.00®
5.00; extra sizes higher; redwood, $28.00@30.00; lath, 4
feet, $4.50@5.00; pickets, $21.00;shingles, $2.50 for No. 1,
and $2.25 for No. 2; shakes, $13.50 for split and $15.00 for
sawed; rustic, $28.00(3,35.00.
Nails. — This week the basic prices are: Wire, $2.77;
Cut, $3.25. Meanwhile the nominal quotations per keg
(list prices) are: No. 20d to 60d, Wire, $3.35; Cut, $3.55;
lOd to 16d, Wire, $3.45; Cut, $3.35; 8d, Wire, $3.50; Cut,
$3.50; 6d and 7d, Wire, $3.60; Cut, $3.60; 4d and 5d,
Wire, $3.70; Cut, $3.70; 3d, Wire, $3.85; Cut, $3.85; 2d,
Wire, $4.10; Cut, $4.10. Special rates for carload lots.
GENERAL SUPPLIES.
Antimony. — New York, Cookson's, 12{c; Hallett's,
13c; San Francisco, 1000-ft. lots, lie; 300@500-fts. 12c;
100-ft. lots, 13c.
Bismuth.— Subnitrate, $ ft., $2.10.
Bone Ash.— Extra No. 1, 5@6c fi ft; No. 1, 4@5c.
Borax. — Concentrated, 7@8e H ft; powdered, 9@10c;
fused, 25@30c; crystal, 7c.
Candles.— Spear Brand, 16 oz. adamantine, 40s., lie
% set; 14 oz. adamantine, 40s., 10c; 12 oz. adamantine,
40s, 9c; 10 oz. adamantine, 40s, 8c; 16 oz. stearic, 40s,
12|c f, set; 14 oz. stearic, 40s, llji 12 oz. stearic, 40s,
lOjc; 10 oz. stearic, 40s, 9£c. 100-case lots and over, \a
less. Not less than 50-case lots, )io less. Boxes of 20s,
price }c advance.
Caps.— 3x, $5.50@6 per 1000; 4x, $6.50@7; 5x, $8@8.50;
Lion, $9@9.50, in lots not less than 1000.
Chemicals.— Cyanide of potassium, 98%-99%, job-
bing, 23@24e B *• i carloads, 23@23Jc; in tins, 30c; soda
ash, $2.00 $100 fts.; hyposulphite of soda, 3@3£c$ft.;
caustic soda, in drums, 3@3Jc<(ftft.; Cal. s. soda, bbls.,
$1.10@1.20fU001bs.; sks., 90c@$1.00; chlorate of pot-
ash, 12@13c; nitrate of potash, 6J@7c; caustic potash,
10c in 40-ib. tins; roll sulphur, 2$@2$c; powdered sul-
phur, 2J-@2Jc; flour sulphur, French, 2|@— c; alum,
$2.00@2.25; California refined, l£@2c; sulphide of iron,
8c B lb.; copper sulphate, 5}@5Jc; chloride of lime, spot,
$2.50@2.75; sulphuric acid, in carboys, 66% B, lf@2c $
ft. ; nitric acid, carboys, 8c "% ft.
Chromium.— 90% and over, f| ft., 80c.
Coal. — San Francisco, coast, yard prices : Welling-
ton, $8.00; Seattle, $6.50; Coos Bay, $5.50; Southfield,
$8.00. Cargo lot, Eastern and foreign: Wallsend, $7.50;
Brymbo, $7.50; Pennsylvania, hd., $14.00; Scotch, $8.00;
Cumberland, $13.00; Cannel, $8.50; Welsh Anthracite,
$13.00; Rock Springs, $8.50, long ton; Colorado Anthra-
cite, $14.00. Coke, $10.50 per ton in bulk, $13.00 in
sacks; Sunnyside, $8.50, long ton.
Fire Brick.— Domestic, carloads f, 1000, f. o. b., fac-
tory square, $25.00; soap and split, $22.50; arch and
wedge, $27.50; skewback, $30.00; circle, $32.00.
Fire Clay.— Domestic, fi ton 2000 fts. in 125-ft. bags,
double, and dry ground, f. o. h., factory, $8.50.
Fuse.— Triple tape, $4.00 per 1000 feet; double tape,
$3.50; single tape, $3.10; Hemp, $2.75; Cement No. 2,
$3.00; Cement No. 1, $2.65, in lots of 3000 and up.
Litharge.— Pure, in 25-ft. bags, 9J@10Jc B ft.
Magnesium.— Pure, N. Y., $1.60.
Manganese. — Black oxide, f, lb., 2|@4c.
Mercury.— Bichloride, "§, ft., 77c.
Molybdenum.— Best, $2.75 f) ft.
Oils. — Linseed, boiled, bbl., 64c; cs., 69c; raw, bbl.,
62c; cs., 67c; Lucol oil, boiled, bbl., 56c: cs., 61c; raw-
bbl., 54c; cs., 59c. Kerosene — Pearl, per gal., 17£c; As--
tral, 17Jc; Star, 17Jc; Extra Star, 20Jc; Eocene, 19Jc;
Elaine, 26c; Water White, in bulk, lie; Mineral Seal,
iron bbls., 18c; wooden bbls., 20£c; cs., 24c; Mineral
Sperm, cs., 26ic; Deodorized Stove Gasoline, bulk, 14^0,
do., cs., 21c; "86° Gasoline, bulk, 25c; do., cs., 31c; 83°
Naphtha or Benzine, deodorized, in bulk, per gal., 12Jc;
do., in cs., 19c; Lard Oil, E. W. S., bbl., 75c; cs., 80c;
Neats-foot Oil, pure, bbl., 63c; cs., 78c; Spr.rm, crude,
63@68c; Natural White, 68c; Bleached, do., 57c; Whale
Oil, cs., 52@67c.
Phosphorus.— American, f, ft., 70c.
Powder.— F. o. b. San Francisco : No. 1, 70% nitro-
glycerine, per ft., in carload lots, 15Jc; less than one ton,
17}c. No. 1*, 60%, carload lots, 13Jc; less than one ton,
15Jc. No. I**, 50%, carload lots, life; less than one ton,
13§c. No. 2, 40%, carload lots, 10c; less than one ton,
12c. No. 2, 35%, carload lots, 9Jc; less than one ton,
llic. No. 2**, 30%, carload lots, 9c; less than one ton,
lie. Black blasting powder in carload lots, minimum
car 728 kegs, $1.50 per keg; less car lots, $2.00 per keg.
Red Lead. — 500 lbs. and over at one purchase, B ">■
7fe; less than 500 fts., 8c.
Silver.— Chloride, $ oz., 90c@$1.00; nitrate, 55c.
Sodium.— Metal, $ ft., $1.
Tungsten.— Best, $ ft., $1.25.
Uranium.— Oxide, fs ft., $3.50.
Notices of Recent Patents.
Among the patents recently obtained through Dewey, Strong &
Co.'s Scientific Press United States and Foreign Patent Agency,
the following are worthy of special mention :
Lubricator.— No. 796,125. Aug. 1, 1905. H. P. Josewski, San
Francisco, Cal. The object of this invention is to provide a device
by which a stated amount of lubricant will be supplied to the bear-
ing or part and without danger to the operator by reason of getting
into the way of running belts or moving machinery. The device
comprises a container, including a cylinder and upper and lower
heads, the lower head having an aperture through it with walls di-
verging toward the outer face of the head. A plate fits directly
against the lower head, the face presented toward the outer face of
the h^ad, and provided with an opening whose walls converge oppo-
sitely to the corresponding walls of the opening in the head whereby
a chamber of double conical shape is formed between the meeting
faces of the head and plate. There are other parts of construction
designed and arranged to bring about the desired result.
Line Grip Holder- No. 796,143. Aug. 1, 1905. Alexander Norcl,
San Francisco, Cal. This invention relates to a device for holding
clothes lines and generally lines of any kind which it is desired to
secure so as to be easily drawn taut or readily released. It consists
of a body portion having a projection from one side, and an arm pro-
jecting rigidly therefrom, a means for attaching the device at one
end and guides for the line in the opposite end. A second portion is
pivoted to the outer end of the projection of the first portion having
an arm projecting from one side, and a lever arm from the opposite
side, said arms and lever arm serving to grip turns of the line which
are made between the movable and fixed portions.
Drill Hole Enlarging Device. — No. 796,165. Aug. 1,1905. T. M.
Topp, Raymond, Cal. The object of this invention is to provide a
means by which after drill holes have been made in rock or other
material the bottom of such holes may be enlarged and a chamber
formed for the reception of the explosive with which the drill hole is
to be subsequently charged. It may also be employed for enlarging
similar holes for other purposes. The device may be used in connec-
tion with hand or machine drills and turned in the usual manner for
drilling ordinary holes. All the parts are loosely fitted together
They may be easily assembled or dismounted without the use of
screws or bolts or implements of any kind.
Fhuit Packing Machine.— No. 796,156. Aug. 1, 1905. S. H. Shel-
ley, San Jose, Cal. The object of this invention is to do away with
the expense and time of manually " facing " the box and by a simple
melhod mechanically packing the prunes into the box in cubes or
bricks of uniform weight and size similar to cartons without in any
way injuring the fruit or detracting from the appearance of the box
when opened. It consists in an apparatus for packing prunes, a
cellular open-ended mold adapted to be inserted into a box and
having a portion extending above the box. means interposed between
the box and the mold, and telescoping with the box and mold to p e-
vent the escape of material therebetween, said interposed means
carried by the mold, means for compressing the contents of the cells
of the mold, and means for withdrawing the mold during the com-
pression period.
Whole No. 2350.-woNL.uJ!.E,iCL
San Francisco, Cal., Saturday, August 19, 1905.
THREE DOLLARS PER ANNUM.
Single Copies. Ten Cents.
California's New Inland Sea.
For several months past the Colorado river has
been pouring a vast flood of fresh water into the de-
pression in San Diego county, Cal., known as the Sal-
ton Basin. This basin or sink is below the level of
the sea, being about 2liU feet below datum at the
lowest place — the salt marsh near Salton station.
There are in the world only half a dozen places where
the surface is below the level of the sea. These are
the Salton Basin in San Diego county and Death Val-
ually extended out into the
Gulf of California, eventually
forming a complete barrier
and cutting the Salton Basin
oflf from the Gulf. This re-
quired many years in its ac-
complishment.
In periods of low water the
river fell below the level of
the sand spit and in time of
flood cut crevasses through it,
Li**'.' •>
-k^ ~5ks^
~^Hfl
WBr r£
MINlt
<G AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS!
Water Recovery Plant at a Mill in a Mountainous Desert. (See Page 123.)
Congress Mill, Congress, Arizona. (See Page 123.)
ley in Inyo county, Cal., the Valley of the Jordan in
Palestine, where the noted Dead Sea is nearly 1300
feet below sea level; two small areas in the Sahara
desert of Northern Africa, and the largest, by far,
of all, and exceeding them in the aggregate area —
the valley of the Caspian sea in Western Asia — which
is 86 feet lower than the Black sea.
At one time, in recent geological age, the Salton
Basin in California was connected directly with the
Gulf of California. The Colorado river, flowing with
a sinuous but generally southerly course, emptied
into this broad, shallow sea. Its great vol-
ume of sediment, upon reaching deeper water, set-
tled to the bottom, gradually filling up the channel,
and spreading out over a large area. In time a spit
was built at the west side of the stream, which grad-
newer additions being made to the natural embank-
ment until it became a broad levee, completely
shutting off the basin from both the river and the
gulf, and only at times of unusually high water
did the river breach its banks and overflow into the
basin. This has occurred repeatedly in past years,
though at long intervals, the last time being in
1891-92, when the river flowed through a cut in the
bank made by high water, and the water reached
the salt works at Salton; but, the river receding,
the supply of fresh water was cut off and the newly
formed lake rapidly disappeared by evaporation, and
no great damage was done.
In the spring of 1905, however, an irrigation canal
was cut for the purpose of irrigating lands about
Imperial, a town which had grown up in the heart of
this desert wilderness, where the soil is wonderfully
fertile when it can be properly irrigated.
In this work a breach was made through the
levee, but the mistake was made of not providing
the necessary head gates. Soon after connection
was made between the canal and the river, the sum-
mer flood of the river occurred, due to the melting of
the snows in the Rocky mountains where the Colorado
river takes its rise, and the unusually heavy rainfall
increased the volume of the river until an irresistible
flood poured into the basin. Many square miles of
the basin are now under water, and if it is not checked,
without doubt the basin will fill in time, to the level
of the inflowing river, when a spit will again be built
by nature across the crevasse and the stream con-
tinue on its way to the Gulf as before.
Water Settling Plant, Congress Mill, Congress, Arizona. (See Page 123.)
Water Recovery Plant at Congress Mine, Congress, Arizona. (See Page 123.)
119
Mining and Scientific Press.
August 19, 1905.
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
ESTABLISHED i860.
Published Every Saturday at 330 Market Street, San Francisco, Cal.
Telephone, Davis 771.
ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION.
United States, Mexico and Canada 83 00
All Other Countries in the Postal Union ■ ■ ■ ° 00
Entered at the San Francisco Postoffice as second-class mail matter.
Branch Offices:
New York City, 921-24 Park Row Bldg. Boston, 27 School St.
Chicago, 1164 Monadnock Block. Denver, 606 Mack Block
J. F. HALLORAN.
.Publisher
SAN FRANCISCO, AUGUST 19, 1905.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
ILLUSTRATIONS: P&ge.
Water Recovery Plant at a Mill in a Mountainous Desert 118
Congress Mill, Congress, Arizona 118
"Water Settling Plant, Congress Mill, Congress. Ariz 118
Water Recovery Plant at Congress Mine, Congress, Ariz 118
A Water Recovery Plant, Side Elevation 123
" Bull Dog " Wrench I3'
Framework of a New Dredger in the Pit 125
Hull Completed and the Gantries Up 125
Ladder Frame and Rollers 125
Placing Close Connected Buckets in Position 125
The Tailings Stacker Drive 126
The Stacker Without the Belt 126
A Tailings Stacker With Belt Conveyor 126
Toothed Scraper I27
Set Up of Scraper, Klondike 12?
Bottomless Steam Scraper 127
EDITORIAL:
California's New Inland Sea 118
The Monuments Control H9
The Premium System 119
The Copper Situation - 119
Active Mud Volcano 119
Railroad Lands in Nevada 119
The Best Policy I19
MINING SUMMARY 129-130-131-132
LATEST MARKET REPORTS 133
MISCELLANEOUS:
Concentrates 120
The Transvaal Gold Mines 121
Mining Coal From a River 121
Some Primitive Mining Engineering 121
Cyaniding Silver-Gold Ores of the Palmarejo Mine, Chihuahua,
Mexico 132
The Black Hills Described as Auriferous 122
An Experience in Water Recovery 123
" Bull Dog " Wrench 124
The Ventilation of Mines 124
Gold Dredging in California 125
Iron Mistaken for Copper 126
Electric Drill Tests 126
The Prospector 126
Placer Mining in Alaska 127
Mining and Metallurgical Patents 128
Commercial Paragraphs 132
Trade Treatises 132
Personal 133
Books Received 133
New Patents 133
Notices of Recent Patents 133
The Monuments Control.
The United States Land Department has recently
rendered a decision to the effect that in the event of
any error in the description of mineral claim surveys
or of the line tying the claim survey to a govern-
ment land survey corner, the monuments must con-
trol, which is quite at variance with the position
taken by that department nearly two years ago,
when there was much controversy over this subject.
On April 28, 1904, Congress amended Section 2327
of the Statutes in such a manner that this principle
is clearly enunciated, and the recent decision of the
United States General Land Office referred to is
in direct line with the amendment, and was no doubt
influenced by it to a great extent, so that here-
after there need be no apprehension when an
error is detected in the survey of a mineral
claim for patent, as, regardless of all errors,
the monuments must control. This was the
position taken by the Mining and Scientific Press
in the latter part of 1903, when the Land Office at
Washington caused consternation throughout the
mining States of the West by announcing that the
surveys must stand, and that the "calls" of the
United States deputy mineral surveyors must take
precedence over monuments and everything else.
The decision was manifestly so unjust, and so con-
trary to the purpose and intent of the law, that
there was no hesitancy in declaring even at that time
that the monuments must control, and any case
wherein this question was the issue the United States
Supreme Court would decide in favor of the claim
owner and against the decision of the Land Office.
So earnestly did the miners of the West take up and
combat the proposition that Congress quickly recog-
nized the necessity of settling the point for all time,
and amended the section bearing upon this matter,
as above stated, and the Land Office now falls in line
and announces a decision in exact conformity with
the amended law.
The Premium System.
It is always the desire of the mine superintendent
or manager to have the work under his direction
done at as low a cost as consistent with a proper
regard for the men, and the conditions under which
the labor is performed. Experienced managers
know that it is not economy to require men to work
in poorly ventilated workings, nor to demand that
the men work in a constant shower of water, where
it can be avoided. There are places where these
difficulties are met and are most difficult to over-
come, and the wise manager makes it his business
to see that the unpleasant and disadvantageous situ-
ations in which the men labor are made as comfort-
able as circumstances will admit. The additional
work the men are enabled to perform by reason of
the improved condition more than pays for the
expense of making the necessary change. Men will
not, and cannot, work in a vitiated atmosphere, nor
in a heavy downpour of water. Good ventilating
plants improve the one condition, and temporary
protection of some sort, in the way of an improvised
roof of corrugated iron, shingles, or heavy prepared
paper, alleviate the other. One of the most difficult
tasks falling to the lot of the mine superintendent is to
get a proper return in the form of labor performed from
the men employed in exchange for the wages paid.
One of the first things to be considered in this regard
is the fact that good wages attract good men, while
if wages are low and working conditions bad the best
men will learn of it and stay away from a mine or
camp where these unfavorable conditions obtain.
After good pay, the next most important matter
is the proper judgment of what constitutes a day's
labor. How often the miner who has been sent to
the office with his time check sneeringly complains
that " the shift boss or foreman doesn't know when a
man is doing an honest day's work." In some in-
stances this remark may have some foundation
of truth in it, but, even so, it is quite as
probable that the discharged miner was not only
not doing what a competent judge would consider a
proper day's work, but that he was performing far
less than he could, and that his leisurely or careless
way of doing things was likely to affect the other
men on the shift adversely to the interest of the
employer. When the laggard is permitted to set
the pace, things soon go badly, indeed.
As a stimulus to greater endeavor, the pre-
mium system is sometimes introduced in the work-
shop and in the mine, and in many instances this
works satisfactorily, but here experienced judgment
is required in setting the minimum task. If this be
too low the result can more easily be imagined
than described. If the limitation be too high the
men will be unable to reach it, and knowing it,
will fail to make the desired effort. One good
way to adjust this difficulty, if the conditions
are unfamiliar to the manager, who may be new
to the country, is to let a series of contracts to deter-
mine what the men are capable of performing under
favorable wage rates. Then, basing the judgment
on the results obtained, the premium system may be
safely and satisfactorily introduced.
Railroad Lands in Nevada.
FOR some time past the copper situation has been
set forth in these columns, and the conditions
seemed to warrant a steady market and higher
prices. The price of the metal has slowly risen in
fractional figures until 16-cent copper is again all
but assured. Some metal is reported to have been
sold at 16 cents and the latest reports state that fine
Lake and electrolytic copper can scarcely be ob-
tained under that price. Should the present favor-
able conditions continue, there is no doubt that the
market price of copper will slowly advance, and it
seems not overhazardous to now predict the prob-
ability of 17-cent copper.
WITHIN the week Humboldt county, Nev., has
attracted unusual attention by bringing forth
an active mud volcano. The rent is several miles
northerly from Lovelocks, in the Black Rock Desert
region. As yet there is little apprehension of serious
damage. The former existence of mud springs simi-
lar to the one now active is evidenced at many points
in the Great Basin region. They are of the non-
explosive type and usually altogether local in effect.
Near Olinghouse, in Washoe county, Nev., much
consternation has recently been created by the
claims of the Southern Pacific Railroad to land con-
taining mining locations in Olinghouse canyon, White
Horse district. These claims are on the odd-numbered
sections which fall within the zone of lands granted to
the Central Pacific Railroad by the government.
The law makes express provisions as to what class of
lands shall be deeded to the railroad. All lands
known to be more valuable for mineral than for other
purposes, at the time the final lists filed by the rail-
road are accepted by the land department, are re-
served from the railroad grant, except those contain-
ing coal and iron.
Wherever conflicts of this character arise between
the mineral locator and the railroad, it becomes a
question of facts, in which that of the greatest im-
portance is, when was the land first recognized as, and
known to be mineral, as related to the date of the
railroad patent ? A discovery of mineral, after
patent has issued (and possibly after the final listing
of lands by the railroad, has been accepted by the
land office), by the miner, will not avail him as
against the railroad. There seems promise of a
hard-fought legal battle over the title to these lands.
If the miners can establish the fact that the lands in
question were known to be mineral prior to accept-
ance of the railroad company's list of lands for which
they desired patent, then the miners will undoubtedly
win their case, for upon this question the entire
proposition rests.
When the railroad company decides to take out a
patent on certain of the lands within the grant zone,
they make a list of such sections, or parts of sections,
as they wish to patent, and file the same in the gen-
eral land office. This is very much in the nature of
the application of a private citizen for patent to a
mining or agricultural claim. The land office then
reviews the land and attempts to determine whether
the land embraced in the application of the railroad
comes within the definition of mineral or not. The
lists of those lands determined not to be mineral are
accepted, and thereafter the land is closed to occu-
pation by any except the railroad. It would seem
that in a contention of this kind there should be no
difficulty in arriving at the facts in the case.
The Best Policy.
For generations past we have been taught the
familiar old saying, "honesty is the best policy."
For years this old saying carried much weight and
was generally accepted as an axiom, but in the light
of modern business standards and that which goes to
make success, is honesty still the best policy? In
considering this sentiment we must first inquire
what is expected to be attained by honesty. If it be
a reputation for integrity, high-minded purpose and
earnest effort to live up to the Golden Rule, then
honesty is not only an essential, but is practiced
because it is right. To be "honest " merely because
it is " policy " to be so is a species of honesty that
will not bear much pressure. When applied to the
flotation of certain mining and smelting prop-
ositions in these modern days, it is clearly evident
that "honesty is not the best policy," for in ninety-
nine cases out of one hundred, if the exact truth be
told, the proposition would present so little attract-
iveness that the promoter would find it difficult to
give his stock away. The investing public wants
something that looks alluring — they want an
investment which will place them in an easy finan-
cial position on what is apparently a comparatively
small risk. Should the mine promoter point out the
difficulties in the way of development and operation
of the enterprise he is endeavoring to float, and
enlarge upon the uncertainties of undeveloped mines,
or the unanticipated fluctuations of the market, he
would find few purchasers for his wares. Knowing
this, he pursues the directly opposite tack, and puts
the best of everything forward — points out the great
successes of famous mines, and without hesitation
draws an analogy, and easily shows that his property
possesses every element found in the successful one,
with a slight difference in favor of his proposition,
and in his enthusiasm forgets the old adage and
schools himself to believe otherwise.
August 19, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
12il
P 9
CONCENTRATES.
o o
A 36-INCH circular saw may be safely run at 1000
revolutions per minute. It is permissible to run saws at
a higher speed than By wheels of the same diameter.
TTTT
A GREAT deal has been written on the genesiB of the
diamond, but up to the present time none of the theories
advanced satisfactorily account for its occurrence.
VvVw
If pending patent proceedings the owner of an unpat-
ented mining claim fails to perform the necessary
assessment work, the claim becomes subject to reloca-
tion.
TTTT
EARTH and line rock, whon excavated and placod in
a bank, alway settle and shrink. The amount of
shrinkago is variable, depending on the class of ma-
terial.
vvvv
The reactions given by bismuth when heated on char-
coal are very similar to those of lead. Bismuth will
form a brilliant orange-red coloring on the coal and lead
a yellow color.
wVww
The pressure on the pipe lino leading to Virginia City,
Nev., is at one point 1700 feot. The water used in un-
watering the Comstock mines is used under a pressure
of over 2700 feet.
* vvvv
To elevate pulp or tailings in mills, belts, endless
bucket lines, platform elevators, sand wheels, pumps of
several types, including the spiral, and the hydraulic
jet are employed. Each of these devices have a greater
or less application to varied conditions.
V w w V
The presence of magnesium may be detected in a min-
eral by making an acid solution strongly alkaline with
ammonia, when the addition of sodium phosphate will
precipitate any magnesium present, forming white crys-
talline precipitate of ammonium-magnesium phosphate.
Vtvt
Belt conveyors can be used to good advantage in
many situations about a mine. They can be applied to
the handling of ore in surface cuts, in underground
stopes, in the mill and in many other places where ore or
waste must be moved from one point to another at small
cost.
The deepest anthracite coal mine in the United States
is at Brookside Colliery, near Tremont, Pa. It is down
1850 feet. Although the head frame, winding plant and
other surface equipment of coal mines is usually more
elaborate than that at the shaft of metal mines, the
latter average a greater depth than those of the coal
mines.
wwwV
The tanks of the cyanide or chlorination plant should
not be placed on the ground, nor on beams laid upon the
ground, but upon aframework of timbers which is so con-
structed that a workman may get under the tank to make
any necessary repairs or changes. The foundations for
tanks must be firmly built so that there shall be no sub-
sidence.
The proper function of a factor for safety is not to
cover up mistakes in engineering, but to make the neces-
sary allowance for defects in materials employed in
construction. It does not necessarily assume that the
material and workmanship will be poor, but it provides
a margin for safety in the event that such should prove
to be the case.
Tin smelted in reverberatory furnaces by the Mount
Bischoff Company of Tasmania is refined by skimming
off the slag after partial cooling, and forcing pieces of
green wood beneath the surface of the still molten metal,
the steam formed releasing the dross, which is skimmed
off. The refined metal assays 99.8% tin, and is shipped
to England in ingots of 75 pounds weight.
A "jumper," in mining parlance, is the term used in
the English colonies to indicate a drill of some length,
which is used to drill holes without the use of a hammer,
the bar being raised by hand and allowed to drop, the
cutting being done by the force developed by the weight
of the falling drill. The jumper is known in the United
States as the " ehurn drill."
It is stated that the dissolution of gold in cyanide solu-
tions is accelerated by bright sunlight. This is said to
apply to both potassium thiocyanate and to potassium
aurocyanide. This acceleration in the dissolution of the
gold is supposed to he due to the liberation of more
nascent cyanogen in proportion to the additional oxygen
absorbed, with a consequent increased formation of
aurous cyanide.
A few years ago canvas plants for the concentration
of slimes were much in favor and are still in use in many
places; but the introduction of various hydraulic classi-
fying devices, for the purpose of properly classifying
pulverized material and the subsequent concentration of
the several sizes on machines adapted to the various
grades of material, has demonstrated that where the
classification is properly performed and the concentrat-
ing machines are adapted to the work, there is little use
for the canvas slimes tables below the mill, as the values
are nearly all recovered before the canvas slimes tables
are reached, if the material has been crushed tine enough
to release the values.
****
l>v the use of a timber-framing machine the cost of
framing mino timbers can be considerably reduced.
With a properly equipped machine, a timber for the
square-set system— a post, for instance — can be framed
at both ends in from two to three minutes. Ties and
caps also can bo as quickly framed, ready for use. The
machines are as accurato as hand work and more eco-
nomical of time.
The fact that a company owns all the iron in the
neighborhood of its smelter, and that it is situated 00
miles nearer the coke ovens of the region in which the
property is situated, neither prevents other smelters
from operating, nor does it insure coke at less cost than
that paid by other competitors who are at a greater dis-
tance. This has beon demonstrated many times and is
one of the peculiarities of railway economy.
In working an ore deposit or vein by the open-cut or
glory hole method, where the face becomes so far re-
moved from the mill hole that the rock no longer runs
to it by gravity, or where the rock is shoveled into cars,
horse scrapers may be used to advantage if the rocks do
not break too big to be conveniently handled. A 2 horse
scraper should handle about seventy-five to eighty tons
of ore per shift, or as much as five men will shovel.
Where ores are so soft as to require no blasting, the
greatest care is necessary in their extraction under all
conditions, excepting in open-cut work. If stoping un-
derground is attempted in rock of this character, the
stopes must be carried up in small vertical sections and
should not spread over a broad superficial area. Timber
must be promptly placed and filling run in as soon as
possible and kept well up with the progress of ex-
cavation.
Undoubtedly in most cases drill holes may be
so pointed as to throw rock in any desired direction
when blasting. Ordinarily the rock is projected away
from the hole in the direction in which the drill is
pointed. This is more particularly the case in blasting
boulders and outcropping rocks on the surface. In
drifting and shaft sinking this theory is. exemplified in
the V-shaped cut holes which are first thrown out from
the center of the face.
Some gold quartz mills have no concentrating.devices
whatever, the values being saved on amalgamating
plates alone. This works well where the gold is wholly
free — not infrequently the case in the oxidized zone of
many mines, but with depth sulphides usually appear,
and more or less gold is associated with them. While it
is generally admitted the gold in sulphurets may be
recovered by amalgamation, it rarely pays to under-
take this method of recovery in competition with other
less expensive treatment.
Roads, ditches, flumes, dams, buildings, machinery
and other improvements on and for the benefit of unpat-
ented mining claims may properly be charged to assess-
ment work, and any legitimate labor performed or im-
provements made which is properly chargeable to
annual assessment is properly a portion of the $500
worth of work necessary to be performed prior to appli-
cation for patent. This $500 worth of work may be con-
tinued at the rate of $100 annually for five years, or it
may all be completed within a week if desired, and ap-
plication made for patent at once.
Where rock is to be broken down in open cuts, if a
mill hole is not available through which the ore can pass
down to a loading chute at a level below the bottom of
the cut, inexpensive chutes may he built at the side of
the cut which will permit the inexpensive delivery of the
broken ore to cars run under the chute. It does not
pay to build substantial or permanent structures of this
kind. In some instances where ore is being mined in
open cuts and the ore shoveled from the floor of the cut
into cars, it will pay to run a tunnel at a lower level and
put a raise through to the bottom of the cut, so that the
ore mined on the stopes of the cut will run by gravity to
the chute built in the tunnel below, thus reducing the
cost of handling.
A tube mill is mainly a cylinder nearly horizontal in
position, having an inlet for the material to be crushed
at one end, and an outlet for the finely pulverized mate-
rial, either through screens in the sides or at the lower
end of the mill. The cylinder is usually lined with some
sort of hard material, such as chrome or manganese
steel plates, and with the ore or other material to be
crushed is introduced either balls of steel or cobbles of
flint — generally the latter where the iron particles would
be detrimental to metallurgical treatment. The cylin-
der is rotated by power. This type of mill is extensively
employed in some districts to produce extremely fine
pulp or slimes, and is largely in use in Western Austra-
lia for this purpose.
Oil is reported in successful operation in smelting
copper sulphides at the smelting works of Kedabey &
Kalaxent, 40 miles southwest of Elisabetpol, Russia.
The petroleum used has specific gravity 0.882; it contains
87.4% carbon, 12.5% hydrogen,. 0.1% oxygen. The 5%
copper ores are smelted; the leaner are worked by lix-
iviation. The furnaces are fired by spraying crude
petroleum under a pressure head of 30 feet, at each side
of the waste-gas Hue, the spray being approximately in-
jected tangential to the furnace walls into the melting
chamber, where it is at once gasified, the two flames
BWeeping around the circumference of the furnace, meet-
ing at the opposite side and returning across the middle
in a straight line to the flue where the waste gases es-
cape into the roasting furnace and thence into the
chimney.
There is nothing less certain in their accuracy than
the readings from the dial of an aneroid barometer. It
is a very delicate instrument, and its adjustments are
easily disturbed. When carrying a barometer about
from place to place, climbing mountains, etc., it is im-
possible for the instrument to be kept in accurate adjust-
ment. Temperature also affects the barometer, and
corrections must be made for changes in temperature
and slight corrections for humidity. To measure the
.clilVerence of altitude between two places with a barome-
ter, first measure the air pressure (P) at the lower sta-
tion, and then the air pressure (p) at the upper station.
Calling T the indicated temperature in degrees Fahren-
heit, the vertical distance between tho two stations =
(00,360 4- [T — 32°] 122.68) log -.
P
Where it is the intention of a claimant to adverse
the holder of a conflicting mining claim, the adverse
notice must set forth the nature and extent of the inter-
ference or conflict; whether the adverse party claims as
a purchaser for valuable consideration or as a locator;
if the former, a certified copy of the original location,
the original conveyance, a duly certified copy thereof,
or an abstract of title from the office of the proper
recorder, should be furnished; or if tho transaction was
merely a verbal one, he will narrate the circumstances
attending the purchase, the date thereof, and the
amount paid, which facts should be supported by the
affidavit of one or more witnesses, if any were present at
the time, and if he claims as a locator he must file a
duly certified copy of the location from the office of the
proper recorder.
wwww
Aluminum and magnesium are readily attacked by
a solution of potassium cyanide in the cold; but of the
other metals only copper and zinc cause an appreciable
evolution of hydrogen, a double cyanide being formed.
In the case of zinc, the action soon stops owing to the
formation of the insoluble double cyanide Zn(CN)22KCN
which protects the metal. At the boiling point the
reaction is much accelerated. Certain metals e. g.,
cadmium and silver, will dissolve only in presence of air
or oxygen; while mercury remains unattacked. Quantita-
tive experiments show that when a strip of platinum is
boiled with potassium cyanide solution, the surface
gradually becomes pitted, and there is a decrease in
weight. If the metal is then placed in a fresh solution
and the boiling repeated, the loss of weight is greater
and approximates to 0.030 gram per square decimeter
per hour.
It is a principle of the mining law that the owner by
grant of mineral in a vein beneath the surface must
have the use of some portion of the surface, in order
that he may reach the minerals beneath. To do this he
has a right of way of necessity. (Wardell v. Watson,
93 Mo. 107, 5 S. W. 605.) This way of necessity should
not be of larger dimensions than is reasonably requisite.
(Monmouth Canal Co. v. Harford, 1 Cr. M. & R. 614-637.)
This right or privilege cannot be extended, however, to
the use of other lands belonging to the grantee, for the
purpose of transporting ore; nor can it be asserted for
any purpose not legitimately associated with the search
for and extraction of the minerals. It is also in accord-
ance with court decisions that the right to the use of
necessary surface is not restricted by reason of the fact
that the surface owner had granted a right of way for a
tunnel by means of which ore could be removed from
the mine.
w WW W
Much depends upon the conditions in blasting gravel
banks. A blast was laid several years ago in Trinity
county, Cal., in which a tunnel was run into the bank
a distance of 100 feet. At the face of the tunnel
the gravel bank was 86 feet high. At the mouth of the
tunnel the bank was 10 feet high. In the tunnel, 30 feet
from the mouth, a crosscut was run 30 feet each way,
and at 60 feet crosscuts were driven 40 feet right and
left, and again at the face 40-foot crosscuts were run in
similar manner. Four tons of low nitro powder were
placed in the first and second crosscuts on both sides of
the main drift, but owing to a shortage of powder, none
was placed in the crosscut at the face. It was the in-
tention or expectation to blast the bank as far a S the
second crosscut, and when this was hydraulicked away,
to extend the excavation and lay the second charge. In
each wing of the two crosscuts was placed 50 pounds of
No. 2 powder to act as a "primer." The wires were con-
nected and several holes drilled into the roof of the main
drift several feet from the entrance. This was blasted
down, the debris forming a substantial tamping for the
entire mine. When the blast was fired the ground broke
an area considerably in excess of the outlines of the tun-
neling operations. Not only was the ground broken
over the blast, but to the face and far beyond. The
total amount of gravel dislodged and broken up was 94,-
000 cubic yards.
121
Mining and Scientific Press.
August 19, 1905.
The Transvaal Gold Mines.
Written for the Mining and Scientific Phess by
Theo. F. Van Wagenen, E. M.
The object of the present paper is to review the in-
dustry in the Transvaal, which is that part of the
South African upland plateau lying between the Vaal
river on the south, and the Limpopo on the north.
The first mentioned is an affluent of the Orange
river, which flows into the Atlantic, while the other
empties into the Indian ocean. The continental
divide of the country therefore lies between the two
streams, and when it is carefully traced out it ap-
pears that the Witwatersrand (White Water range),
or the Rand, as it is popularly known, is a section of
this divide. Now the gold mining region, and the
town of Johannesburg, are situated directly on the
crest of this raDge. but when there, one has no sus-'
picion of the fact, for there is no outlook in any direc-
tion, and no appearance of hills or of a summit. In
fact, the country seems quite level and the several
lines of railroad coining up from Cape Town and Dur-
ban, on the south, and going out to Pretoria on the
north, have their terminals right in the heart of the
city, while a suburban road runs along the invisible
summit, connecting the principal city, Johannesburg,
with the numerous smaller towns that are strung
along it for 30 miles or more.
In a broad way the mineral formation may be said
to outcrop along the southern slope of this divide for
an equal distance at least, and, dipping to the north
at an angle of 25° to 55°, disappears in the bosom of
the plateau.
Without going too much into geological details,
which as yet are not settled and are not likely to be
for many years, it may be said that this outcrop has
been fairly well traced out for about 20 miles, and
with less certainty for perhaps 20 more. It is
crossed by numerous faults, which cause the line of
strike to assume a most irregular course, and there
are great variations in the angle of the dip. Away
to the east and west it is the popular fancy (for
which there is much warrant) that it curves around
to the north, and in the opinion of those optimists,
who are always found in a gold mining locality, and,
for that matter, in almost every locality that has
any good points at all, it will ultimately be chased
around until a complete circuit is proved up, that
will measure from 100 to 150 miles in circumference,
and will include a basin of a roughly oval shape, with
diameters ranging from 30 to 50 miles, within the
limits of which the most sanguine of the Johannes-
burgers have calculated that there are several bill-
ion tons of payable quartz carrying on an average not
less than half an ounce of gold per ton, and unlimited
billions more of lower grade. And when the boomers
get down to details, it is not at all easy to disprove
the position they take, which is, concisely stated,
that the Rand goldfield contains, and will yield, as
much of the yellow metal as has been produced by all
the other mining districts of the world, heretofore,
since the dawn of history.
It is easy to comprehend what a field of operation
this cheerful view of things opens to the speculator as
well as the miner, and it must be admitted that full
advantage has been taken of it.
The process of exploitation, development and flota-
tion has been as follows: Originally the entire re-
gion was owned by Boer farmers and was used mainly
for pasturage. The Transvaal mining law permits
mineral exploration on farm lands, and so outcrop-
pings were discovered here and there, and the his-
tory of the region as a gold field began. It does not
appear that there were any evidences of work by
Ancients in the vicinity, as is the case in most other
parts of the African continent. When taking up
land, the prospector, or his assign, the promoter,
generally got a bond on the tract from the farmer, so
as to quiet forever all matters of title, and then took
the proposition to London, where a company was
formed under the English corporation law, and a
working and developing fund provided by selling a
portion of the capital stock to the public. Thus
originated what are known as the "outcrop mines,"
including most of the properties that have so far be-
come productive and profitable. With a traceable
outcrop 20 to 3u miles long, a very good beginning
was made by the promoters and speculators, as may
be imagined, but at last the time came when all the
known outcrop was capitalized and floated off, and
then began the era of the "Deeps."
The Transvaal mining law does not recognize any
extralateral rights. Consequently all the outcrop
mines must in due time become exhausted, but,
wherever one of these had become a success, it was
an easy matter to organize and float off, on the
strength of its history and record, another company
in its rear, on the dip of the reef. Accordingly, more
acreage was blocked out, and drilling operations
were started to cut the reef in depth and prove the
value of the ground by demonstrating the continuity
and value per ton of the ore-bearing stratum. The
funds for conducting these preliminary operations
were provided by the organization of a small local
syndicate, or the deal was financed by one of the out-
crop companies. But as soon as sufficiently favor-
able evidence in the way of drill core and assays was
secured, the new area was floated off in London in
the same way as the outcrop areas had been, the
general public being called upon to provide the
means to sink the deep shafts required to reach the
ledge at depth, as well as all the costs already in-
curred, and also their share of the capitalized value
of the land. A good deal more capital was required
for these "Deeps " than for the outcrop propositions,
as may be easily understood, for shafts ranging in
depth from 1500 to 2500 feet had to be sunk to reach
the ore-bearing zone, before the process of its devel-
opment could even begin, besides which, each prop-
erty had ultimately to be equipped with the regula-
tion hoisting and milling plant. But the public of
England went merrily into the game, and, by proper
and entirely warrantable manipulation of the market,
a great deal of support was obtained from investors
that could be reached through the bourses of Paris,
Berlin and other continental cities. At one time
efforts were made to attract American capital into
" Kaffirs," as these shares were called, but it did not
succeed.
These " Deep " mines generally covered from 200
to 300 acres, and, of course, in due time, all the avail-
able ground immediately behind the apex mines was
floated off and the promoting fraternity were threat-
ened with a termination of their activities, unless the
public could be interested in a new series. These
were duly brought out under the name of "Deep-
Deeps." Necessarily each had to be provided with
even a larger capitalization than an ordinary plain
"Deep," but it proved easy at the time to raise money
for these enterprises, or rather to float off the com-
panies, for, as the task of reaching the ore zone with
shafts had now become a matter of five to seven
years, only a small part of the cash for the entire
operation was called up at the time, and the large
financial houses in London and elsewhere carried the
bulk of the shares for the first line of investors, all of
whom expected to be able gradually to pass en a
part of their liability at a handsome profit to the gen-
eral public in time to meet the deferred payments.
It was a grand scheme, quite worthy of the magnifi-
cent resources of the mineral field upon which it was
based, and quite liable, or even certain, to succeed,
but for the usual chapter of accidents that always
occurs sooner or later, but which you and I and
every one else hopes to be able to dodge, though we
fully expect to see the other fellows caught.
In this case the "Chapter" consisted of the Boer
war, which was expected to be all over in six months,
but which lasted more than three years. Its effect
on "Kaffirs " is well known, and need not be enlarged
upon here. But, while the Rand shares were mag-
nificently sustained by the London financiers during
that long struggle, and while the field has been thor-
oughly rehabilitated and brought back to its ante
bellum condition in the three years that have suc-
ceeded, the general public, upon whose broad shoul-
ders the real burden of the task was to be placed,
have not as yet come into the game as freely as was
expected. This, of course, has been due to the costs
of the war, which for a time has absorbed the bulk of
the savings of the investing public. However, the
job of the mastication and digestion of the remaining
" Kaffirs " that are hanging over the market will be
accomplished in due time, for the Transvaal goldfield
has wonderful merit and possibilities, and so long as
the gross output continues to grow, and gold remains
the sole standard of value, a steady absorption will
proceed until the manipulators of the London mining
market have got the mass of the shares placed as
they wish. But, so serious has been the check in the
progress of the game, and so heavy has been the bur-
den upon a number of the investors, that it is not
likely another series of "Deeps" will ever again be
attempted.
The general mining situation in the field may now
be summarized as follows : First, quite a number of
the outcrop mines are rapidly approaching exhaus-
tion, but they have paid so well, and will continue to
do so up to the last minute, that their closing down,
when it occurs, will not injure the market or injuri-
ously affect the reputation of the district. Second,
fifteen of the "Deeps " have been brought to the pro-"
ductive stage, and while it is now fairly well recog-
nized in inside circles, and quite extensively among
general investors, that the net profit per ton on the
"Deep" ores is not going to equal that obtained
from "Outcrop" quartz, yet the series will pay well
in the majority of cases. Third, while no "Deep-
Deeps " have yet been carried anywhere near the
producing stage, and will not begin to come in for
another three to five years, there is good hope for
the shareholders in that series, and in any event it is
certain that as a whole they will pay expenses and
hence will be operated, in which case the world at
least will get the benefit of the gold recovered.
(to be continued.)
working the dredge and operating the machinery.
The coal will be " picked " from the river by a steam
shovel and will then be carried to the rollers by ele-
vators, where the coal of the larger sizes will be
broken and run through a screen and separated
according to sizes. After the coal is separated
there will be chutes to receive each size and to run
the assorted coal to fiats lying along both sides of
the dredge. Mr. Hague has been to considerable
expense in fitting up the dredge, but he contends
that there are thousands of tons of fuel in the river
that can be taken out with a good profit.
Mining Coal from a River.
J. Hague, of Plymouth, Pa., has a large dredge
completed and has begun to dredge the river for
coal, says Fuel. He has been working for some time
on his " coal breaker," getting it in readiness, but
was detained on account of being unable to secure
the proper machinery. He has placed a boiler and
engine on the flat, which will generate power for
Some Primitive Mining Engineering.
Written for the Mining and Scientific Press.
Several years ago when in Tuolumne county, Cali-
fornia, I came across three pocket miners who had
on hand a piece of mining engineering which caused
them considerable anxiety, but which they worked
out in a primitive way to their own satisfaction, in a
manner which must have delighted the old German
author, Agricola, could he but have been a witness
to this operation. The methods of these three min-
ers were remarkably similar to those pictured in the
famous old work of that writer, "De re Metallica."
The problem confronting the miners, as I now re-
member it, was about as follows: They were devel-
oping a pocket mine on Bald mountain, near Sonora.
The vein coursed along the side of the mountain and
dipped steeply toward the canyon. They wished to
run a tunnel to strike the vein, but did not know how
far this tunnel would have to run to reach it. The
only instruments I saw them use were a small pocket
compass, secured to a strip of lath about 2 feet long,
and which was provided at each end with a rude
sight — a tape line 50 feet long, and a piece of string,
to one end of which was attached a rock weighing
about four ounces — this to serve as a plumb bob.
They had already made an open cut, the beginning of
which was in soft ground, but the back end where
the tunnel was to go under cover had become hard
and tough, and it was this fact apparently that
caused the desire to know about how long the pro-
posed tunnel must necessarily be to reach the vein.
It was my good fortune to arrive just as the engi-
neering difficulties began, and I was so much inter-
ested in the operation that I offered neither assist-
ance nor suggestion, preferring to watch how the
thing was done, thinking it might be useful knowl-
edge to me some time when I had no better means at
hand than they had.
The first thing they did was to set the compass on
a piece of timber set on end, on the dump. This was
really a needless operation, as it only gave them ap-
proximately the direction of the proposed tunnel as
related to the meridian. I have forgotten the exact
direction now, but it was easterly. The next oper-
ation was the driving of a peg or small stake into
one side of the dump at the place where its floor
joined the slope of the hillside — the place where they
first began to dig away the earth to start the cut.
Into this stake they drove a nail, after the manner of
surveyors, but which seemed to me an unnecessary
refinement in the process. From this nail they care-
fully measured up the hillside in the direction of a
small shaft they had started down on the vein, a
post on the outcrop being plainly visible from the
dump at the tunnel site. Two men did the measur-
ing, the third standing at the peg to keep the others
in alignment. They made no attempt at leveling,
but took the measurement on the slope of the hill.
When this had been accomplished we all climbed up
to the shaft. The distance reported on the slope
was, I think, 285 feet.
At the shaft one of the men fastened his plumb bob
to a nail and let it drop down the shaft until it nearly
touched the foot wall. When the rock at the end of
the string came to a state of rest, they carefully
measured the distance from the collar of the shaft on
the foot wall side to the plumb bob by means of the
tape, being careful not to touch the string. This
distance was 10 feet. They then as carefully meas-
ured across the shaft on the level and this distance
was found to be very close to 5 feet. The vertical
distance along the string was 8 feet 8 inches. This,
they said, showed the vein to gain toward the mouth
of the tunnel 1 foot in each 2 of inclined depth (a
60° slope, though they knew nothing of degrees).
We all returned to the lower dump. I was much
interested in ascertaining how they expected to
work out the problem with so limited information.
Arrived at the tunnelsite, a careful measurement
was made along the edge of the cut, this measure-
ment being on the slope angle of the hill, which, for-
tunately for their purpose, was quite uniform
throughout. They measured on this slope a distance
of 10 feet from the peg. At this point they drove a
second peg at the side of the cut, and then tacked a
narrow strip across the top of it horizontally, so that
one end of it would project over the edge of the cut.
From this the plumb bob was swung and when it was
quiet the spot beneath it was marked, and both the
vertical height of the cut at that place and the dis-
tance from the peg No. 1 were measured. The
former distance was, found to be about 5 feet. The
August 19, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
m
horizontal distance was found to be about 8 feet 8
inches.
From this data they now (inured that if in measur-
ing on the slope of the hill a distance of 1(1 feet they
gained a vertical height of ."> feet they would be when
vertically under the shaft 142 feet 6 inches below the
surface, or just one-half of the distance as measured
on the slope, which fact had been clearly demon-
strated by the measurements made in the cut The
horizontal distance gained on a 10-foot slope being 8
feet 8 inches, the distance gained in going 100 reef
they argued would be " nearly 90 feet, or say about
n7 feet, and in going 200 feet twice that, or 174 feet,
and in 8."i feet more about 72 feet, or a whole distance
of 240 feet." (The actual distance based on the
measurements was 246 feet, so it will be observed
these miners were good guessers.)
"Now," they said, "the vein dips toward us ."> feet
in 8 feet S inches of vertical depth. As the distance
from the level of the tunnel floor to the collar of the
shaft is 142 feet (1 inches, this offset of 5 feet will be
repeated about sixteen or seventeen times." To
arrive at this latter conclusion required considerable
figuring, discussion and dispute, but it was finally
agreed that sixteen and one-half times was about
right. This multiplied by •"> gave 82J feet to be de-
ducted from the whole distance of 246 feet, which
was 163. ."> feet. As the cut had already advanced
about 22 feet, this also was deducted, leaving a total
distance of 143.5 feet to run to reach the vein.
The tunnel was run and it cut the vein in 140 feet
from the point of going under cover, or 3* feet less
than they had calculated, owing to the vein taking a
slightly flatter dip than that in the upper part of the
shaft. These miners were Italians, and good work-
men. Although their education was limited, they
possessed an amount of ingenuity and practical sense
which carried them over many difficulties in their
work.
Cyaniding Silver-Gold Ores of the Pal-
marejo Mine, Chihuahua, Mexico. *
NUMBER IV.
Written by T. H. Oxnam.
Precipitation op Silver and Gold. — There are
six zinc boxes, five being used for the weak solution
and one for the strong solution. The five weak solu-
tion boxes, constructed of No. 10 sheet steel, are 2
feet wide and 18 feetlongover all. Each box contains
eight compartments, each compartment having an
available zinc capacity of 24x24x18 inches, equivalent
to 5 cubic feet. Six compartments only are filled
with zinc shavings, and each box, when freshly
dressed, therefore contains 36 cubic feet of shavings,
making a total of 180 cubic feet of zinc shavings in
the five weak solution boxes.
The strong solution zinc box consists of seven indi-
vidual round boxes or compartments, placed in ser-
ies, each compartment being 28 inches in diameter
and 24 inches in depth, and having an available zinc
capacity of approximately 5 cubic feet. Only six of
the compartments are filled with shavings, the last
compartment being reserved, as above stated, for
the addition of the quantity of cyanide required to
bring the strong solution up to standard strength.
The strong solution zinc box has, therefore, a total of
30 cubic feet of zinc shavings.
Records are kept of the quantity of weak and strong
solution daily passing through the boxes, together
with their assay values before and after precipitation.
These records for the year (1904) show that 91,793
tons of weak and 22,251 tons of strong solution passed
through the boxes, which is equivalent to an average
of 251 tons of weak and 61 tons of strong solution
every twenty-four hours. During this period, the
flow of solution through the boxes was naturally inter-
rupted on various occasions for a short time, due to
the ordinary cleanups, dressing of the boxes, etc.,
as well as various minor, unavoidable delays. With-
out taking such stoppages into account, however,
the average rate of flow of the solution through the
boxes equaled 1.4 tons of weak solution per twenty-
four hours per cubic font of shavings, and 2.03 tons
of strong solution per twenty-four hours per cubic
foot of shavings.
The actual rate of flow, however, exceeds these
figures, as it is here assumed that the boxes
were at all times kept dressed with the maximum
amount of shavings, which, strictly speaking, was
seldom the case.
The shavings used are cut on an ordinary zinc
lathe, from No. 9 sheet zinc— the size of the sheets
being 18x84 inches. Ordinarily, six sheets are wound
on the mandrel of the lathe for one cutting. One boy
working twelve hours cuts a sufficient quantity of
shavings to supply both the leaching and agitation
plants, which together require an average of about
120 pounds of shavings per twenty-four hours.
It is found best to keep only a few days' shavings
on hand— freshly out shavings giving better results
than those which have been cut for some time. The
*Trans. Amer. Inst. Mln. Engrs.
customary practice of moving the zinc from the lower
to the upper compartments, when dressing the
boxes, is not followed, fresh zinc being added as
required to the top of each compartment.
The strength of the solution running through the
weak boxes will average between 0.25",, and u 30%
of KCN, while that of the solution going to the strong
zinc box will average between 0.35% and (I 45% of
KCN.
The average assay values per ton of the solutions
entering the zinc boxes are approximately as follows:
Weak Solution.
II of Kokl und 2.25 oz. of silver.
Strong Solution.
11.94 of gold mid 3.5 oz of sliver.
It is very seldom that any trouble is experienced
with the precipitation of the contained values. As a
rule the precipitation of gold is practicallv perfect,
while that of the silver will average about 95%. When
the percentage of precipitation falls off, it is usually
due to the presence of an accumulated excess of lime
in the solution.
Table IV gives the results of assays taken from
each compartment of both the weak solution and the
strong solution boxes, and shows the progress of
precipitation in the successive compartments. These
results maybe taken as an average of those regularly
obtained.
Cleanup of Zinc Boxes— On account of struc-
tural difficulties the cleanup facilities are not as con-
venient as could be desired and it is necessary to
handle the precipitates more than would otherwise
be the case.
TABLE rv.— Precipitation of Gold and Silver in
Zinc Boxes.
A.— WEAK SOLUTION ZINC BOX.
Assay
Value of
Solution.
Extraction.
Constituent
Portion of
Total
Extraction.
Strength of
Solution.
Quantity of
KCN per
Ton.
Compartment.
Q
o
5
O
o
s
W
<
a
o
en
<
&
o
c
B
rfo
g-eg
n —
91.03
0 82
0.56
0.41
0.20
0.10
trace
07..
2 413
1.89
1.02
0.74
0.3(1
0.28
0 16
. %
X
%
%
Lbs.
6 3
6.3
6.4
6.4
6 3
6.4
6.4
Lb«.
6.6
Leaving No. 3
Leaving No. 4. . . .
Leaving No. 5
Leaving No. 0
20 39
45.63
60.19
80.98
90.30
100.00
23.17
58 54
69.92
85.37
88.66
93.50
20.39
25,24
14.56
20.39
9.72
9 70
23.17
35.37
11.38
15.45
3.29
4.84
6.6
6.7
6.7
6 7
6.6
6.7
i
100.00
93.50
B.— STBONi; SOLUTION ZINC BOXES.
Entering No. 1
Leaving No. 1
Leaving No. 2
Leaving No. 3
Leaving No. 4
Leaving No. 5
Leaving No. 6
Oz.
%
%
%
%
Lbs.
Lbs.
SI 21
1.03
3.64
3.18
8.4
8.4
9.0
16 94
12.64
16,94
12 64
9.1
0.51
1 74
58.87
52.20
41.93
39 56
8.5
9.1
0.41
1.03
66.94
71.70
8.07
19.50
8.5
9.2
0.20
0.71
83.1-7
80,49
16.93
8.79
8 6
9.3
0.10
0.42
91.94
88,46
8.07
7,97
8.6
9.4
trace
0 18
100.00
95.05
i 06
6 59
95 05
8.6
9.4
100.00
All the boxes are cleaned up twice a month.
Before commencing on any one box, clear water is
passed through it a sufficient length of time to dis-
place most of the cyanide solution, which usually
requires ten or fifteen minutes. The shavings in the
first compartment are thoroughly washed, after
which they are removed and the water bailed out
into the next compartment. The precipitates are
now conveyed by means of buckets to the cleanup
box, where they are passed through a 20 mesh
screen. A small percentage of " short " zinc passes
through this screen, but the greater part of
such product is here separated from the finer
precipitates and is returned to the boxes. The first
compartment is now filled with water and the zinc
contained in the other compartments is gradually
transferred to it and thoroughly washed, the precipi-
tates from each compartment being carried to the
cleanup box, as before mentioned. In order to reduce
to a minimum the rapid oxidizing effect resulting
from exposure of the wet zinc to the atmosphere, the
washed shavings are at once placed in the highest
vacant compartment of the zinc box and covered
with solution.
The precipitates accumulating in the first compart-
ment from the washing of the shavings, after being
allowed to settle for a short time, are also removed
to the cleanup box. This latter is provided with
three smaller settling boxes, placed in series, which
take the overflow from it. The bottom of the clean-
up box is tapped by a 4-inch drop pipe, which dis-
charges directly into two large drying pans beneath.
The product is now dried as much as is practicable
and then mixed, carefully sampled, assayed and sold
on the premises to one of the large ore buying com-
panies.
The moisture contained in the dried precipitates
has averaged 0.27% during the past year.
The cleanups, as would naturally be supposed, are
quite bulky. The net, dry weight of precipitates in
each cleanup averaged between 1100 and 1200 pounds
avoirdupois during the past year.
Considering the fact that the, precipitates receive
no treatment whatever beyond being passed through
a 20 mesh screen and the simple drying as above
mentioned, it is rather surprising that they carry
such a comparatively high percentage of fine metal.
During 1904 the assay returns on which the sale of
the precipitates is based have averaged slightly over
2u,000 ounces of silver and approximately $800(1 of
gold per short ton. By actual weight, therefore, the
percentage of fine metal contained in the dried prod-
uct recovered throughout this period was approxi-
mately 0K.57% of silver and 1.33% of gold, making a
total of 69.90% of both metals.
To the best of my knowledge this is the highest
percentage of precious metal contained in any cya-
nide precipitates regularly obtained in ordinary zinc
precipitation.
Two cleanups during 1904, of a combined net
weight slightly exceeding 2300 pounds, gave an aver-
age assay value of 2.2,200 ounces of silver per ton,
making the fine silver content equal to 76.12% by
weight of the precipitates.
Having noticed in recent papers of the Institute
the discussion of the number of ounces of fine metal
handled per man hour while removing the precipi-
tates from the zinc boxes or filter presses, the fol-
lowing data are offered.
A record kept for some time of the labor employed
in cleanups shows that on an average four men (one
American and three native helpers) would readily
remove 120U pounds (net dry weight) of precipitates
from the boxes and have the product in the drying
pans in eight hours. Based on the average assays of
the precipitates for the year, this means that in
thirty-two man hours approximately 12,200 ounces of
fine metal would be handled, being equivalent to a
duty of 381 ounces per man hour. This rather high
duty is, of course, due entirely to the fact that the
precipitates contain such an exceptionally high per-
centage of precious metals.
Table V gives the result of a sizing test made on
one lot of precipitates, which ran somewhat lower
than the average in silver:
TABLE V.— Sizing Test of Cyanide Precipitates.
Assay value of precipitates per ton was $8622.90 of gold and 19,488.65
ounces of silver.
Size of Material.
Weight.
Assay
Value.
Gold.
Silver.
Retained on 80-rnesn
Per Cent.
11.13
2.41
3.90
1.39
81.17
$1,914.04
3,369.21
5,465.00
5,702.25
9,683.00
Ounces.
2,805.40
5,565 2.
11,128 80
12 274.24
22,726.80
Tonnage and Extraction Percentages. — During
1904 a total of 34,5)00 tons of sands were treated in
the leaching plant. This tonnage would have been
considerably greater had it not been that during this
period, aside from the ordinary stoppages in the mill
due to general necessary repairs, the mill was closed
down at different times for intervals aggregating a
total of fifty-seven days for the entire fifty stamps,
from causes beyond our control, such as shortage of
water power during the dry season, washouts along
the railroad and power ditch during the heavy
rains, etc.
The extraction for 1904, indicated by the assay
differences between the sands charged into the leach-
ing vats and being discharged, was 95.5% of the gold
and 52.5% of the silver values. The combined total
value of the precipitates recovered during the year
checks closely with that called for by the sand assays.
The assay value of the sands treated during this
period has averaged approximately $2 85 of gold and
slightly more than 16 ounces of silver per ton.
The total returns called for by the zinc box pre-
cipitation records correspond very closely to the
actual returns from the precipitates recovered.
During 1904 the returns from the precipitates were
practicallv 1% less in gold and 0.5% more in silver
than those called for by the precipitation records.
This difference in the gold is accounted for by the
fact that the precipitated solutions are only occa-
sionally assayed for gold, it being ordinarily assumed
in the daily precipitation records that the precipita-
tion of the gold is perfect, while, as a matter of fact,
the solution leaving the zinc boxes will very probably
carry an average of a few cents of gold per ton.
Consumption of Cyanide, Zinj and Lime. — The
office records show that for 1904 the consumption per
ton of sands cyanided was as follows: Cyanide, 2.95;
zinc, 0.96; lime, 4.33 pounds.
It will be remembered in this connection that dur-
ing this period sodium cyanide of a strength equiva-
lent to 125% of potassium cyanide was exclusively
employed. Expressed in terms of potassium cya-
nide, this consumption would, therefore, equal 3.69
pounds of potassium cyanide per ton of ore treated.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
The Black Hills of South Dakota were described as
auriferous as early as 1867, but no note was taken of
the fact until 1875, when the first movement of
miners into that country occurred. The Hills were
included in the Sioux reservation.
123
Mining and Scientific Press.
August 19, 1905.
An Experience in Water Recovery.*
Written for the Mining and Scientific Press by
Geo. S. Bincklet, E. M.
To call attention to the importance of water recov-
ery in milling operations in the southwest is super-
fluous, if the reader happens to be familiar with the
conditions in the arid region. It is, however, not
always fully realized by others that very frequently
the output from a given property is limited abso-
lutely, by the water available, and not by the mechan-
ical equipment and labor employed. A mere trickle
of water, carefully husbanded, may be sufficient for
five or ten stamps, but when the limit of hydral econ-
omy is reached, the production has also touched its
limit.
When the mine operator is so fortunate as to have
a clean, hard quartz to deal with, little difficulty is
to be found in saving practically all the water circu-
lated, except that lost through evaporation, and even
this loss may be minimized by keeping down the sur-
face of the water exposed to the atmosphere to the
lowest possible limit, and preventing, so far as possi-
ble, the circulation of air over the exposed surfaces.
An instance of easy recovery is seen at Congress,
Ariz., where separation of clear water is effected
continuously by passing the slimes through a series of
V-shaped tanks over wide, shallow wiers, serving to
separate the tank into a number of divisions. The
thick slimes drawn from the bottom of these tanks
carry, naturally, a very considerable percentage of
water, which, under the system in use at the time of
the writer's last visit, seemed to be for the most part
lost through evaporation. Observation indicated,
however, that the proportion of slimes to the total of
the ore was low, which, as mentioned before, simpli-
fies the problem. The accompanying engravings
illustrate the situation at the Congress mine,
Arizona.
Quite another condition obtains, however, where
the ore treatment produces a large proportion of im-
palpable slimes. The writer has seen tailings pass
away from a certain well-known mill on the Mother
Lode, that would not have deposited 10% of the
slimes carried if passed through the recovery plant
of the Congress mill. Where, in addition to the light-
ness and impalpable fineness of the slimes, the water
is strongly or even moderately acid, the difficulties of
recovery are very greatly increased, and ordinary
methods entirely fail to produce clear water from the
slimes.
Dr. Pierre de Peyster Ricketts of New York de-
scribed to the writer, some years ago, a device he
was then using at Nacozari, Mex.. for thickening
pulp in a concentration mill. This was merely a
tank, about 8 feet diameter and 16 feet high, pro-
posed tests was lack of water at the mill, which was
formerly supplied through a pipe line 2J miles long,
from a source over 1000 feet lower than the mill.
The salt water formerly used, however, had entirely
destroyed the usefulness of this pipe line, so the mill
was left stranded high and exceedingly dry.
After the expenditure of some time and labor, a
limited flow of water was secured from the bottom of
a small and shallow shaft sunk for this purpose, and
another trickle of saline water was secured from a
wet spot in the canyon above the mill, so, making a
careful measurement of the flow from these sources,
the writer decided, at last, to proceed with the
tests.
In the design of the recovery plant, the system was
so laid out that the tailings, once raised by a bucket
elevator from the sluice to the upper part of the mill,
would run by gravity to the sand-settling tanks, and
> ee-r i o "*«.
the slimes would flow thence through the slime tanks,
delivering the clear water to the mill tank, which in
turn gave a gravity supply to the mill. The ar-
rangement of the tanks is shown in the accompany-
ing diagram, and the engraving from a photo shows
the relation of this part of the system to the mill.
The size of the sand tank was 5 feet deep, 10 feet
wide and 20 feet long, divided into eight equal com-
partments, so arranged that a continuous flow could
be maintained through the whole or part of the com-
partments. The discharge of sand could then be
accomplished without interference with the flow of
slimes. Each compartment had a discharge door
in the bottom, and the bottom of each was provided
with a regular filter rack, the same as that used in
the percolation vats for cyanide work, the object be-
ing to draw off as much clear water as possible by
direct filtration.
The slimes passing from the sand tanks were deliv-
ered through a launder to the slime separator. This
was practically Dr. Ricketts' device, before referred
to, except that it was not as deep, and was provided
with a pyramidal down- take box (see sketch), so that
the velocity of the descending column of heavy slimes
should be gradually decreased, and that of the
ascending column outside the box also uniformly de-
creased as it approached the lip of the tank. This
part of the system was carefully worked out, and by
30,000 gallons of slimes. Also, when water troubles
were seeming pretty hopeless, it developed that our
beautiful, oxidized "free-milling" ore carried a lot of
finely divided copper sulphate, which made a sight of
the plates to weep over — considerable galena began
to turn up with this same ore and a fair amount of
bornite developed. Then, the water became so acid
that the slimes would hardly go down at all, and a
temporary shut down became imperative.
Owing to the remoteness of the mines, no supplies
were immediately available, so a couple of barrels of
soda ash (sent out by mistake long previously) were
brought to the mill and used to neutralize the water.
Together with the minor improvements made in
the mechanical part of the system, we were able to
make another start, this time on a harder sulphide
ore, not highly siliceous and very slimy. In justice
to the original arrangement as a whole, it must be
said that although the light and impalpable slimes
gave us so much trouble, an amazing amount of mud
was deposited wherever the current was allowed to
come to rest, and an actual determination of the pro-
portion of slimes to sands in the original ore would
doubtless be surprisingly high.
Before serious trouble could again develop, an ar-
rangement was constructed and placed in position in
the big slime tank, which the writer calls, for lack of
a better name, a "skimming trough." This was a
circular trough about 6 inches deep, 6 inches wide
and in the form of a ring 16 feet 6 inches diameter.
It was built up of 1-inch lumber and bevelled, as
shown in the section on the upper lip, to about
45°, and the bottom rendered water-tight by a coat-
ing and fillet of pitch inside. This circular trough
was then placed and held in position in the large
slime tank in such a manner that the lips of the
trough were exactly level, and a pipe connection pro-
vided from the interior of the trough through the
side of the slime tank to the mill tank (see diagram).
It must be understood that after being secured in
position, made approximately level and connected up
with the pipe to the mill tank, water was allowed to
rise in the slime tank to the lip of the trough, which
was then planed off to an absolute level, both sides.
When the arrangement was tried, it was found to
work well, for so long as a thin skim of clear water
lay on the surface of the slimes, clear water only
would flow over the lip of the trough, even when over
thirty gallons of water per minute was passing. The
length of wier (over 100 feet taking both lips of the
trough) was so great that the depth of flow over the
lip probably did not average as much as ^ inch, and
localization of current was entirely avoided. When
the first trial of this part of the system was made, it
appeared that the problem was solved, but its limita-
tions were soon developed.
In few words, it became clear, that with a certain
slime, a definite and fixed relation exists between the
A Water Recovery Plant, Side Elevation.
vided with a circular trough outside and near the
top, and having the upper edge planed down to an
exact level all around. Pulp was led through a
launder to a wooden box, about a foot square, placed
in a vertical position in the tank and reaching from
the surface to something more than half way to the
bottom, so that the descending column of pulp depos-
ited its heavier constituents in the lower part of the
tank, while only the lightest slimes were carried by
the slow and uniform current to the top of the tank,
overflowing here into the circular trough before men-
tioned, while a constant stream of thick pulp was
discharged through a suitable opening below. This
scheme worked very satisfactorily on the Nacozari
ores, and would probably produce a continuous and
practically clear flow of water from the pulp of the
harder, more siliceous class of ores.
Some little time ago, the writer was confronted
with the necessity of making a series of tests to de-
termine the susceptibility to milling treatment of
some ores which, although treated by this process
previously, were known to have yielded but a low
proportion of their assay value. Absolutely no relia-
ble data existed on the actual extraction secured.
A seeming paradox existed in the apparently higher
extraction from base sulphide ores by amalgamation
than from soft and thoroughly oxidized ores from
near the surface. The first obstacle to the pro-
*See illustrations on front page.
careful attention to the blowing off of thick slimes in
the bottom of the tank, it was expected that a flow
of clear water would be secured over the lip and into
the overflow trough.
Unfortunately, difficulties developed. In the first
place, after but about a half hour of operation, the
filters in the bottom of the first sand tanks clogged
completely, and no further percolation was obtained,
blasting all hope of help from this source. In the
second place, a persistent tendency to indefinite sus-
pension was exhibited by the slimes, as, to all appear-
ances, as heavy slimes were passing over the lip of
the separator tank as flowed in from the sand boxes.
It didn't take long to come to the conclusion that not
only was something wrong, but that an immediate
remedy was demanded. As a makeshift, the largest
of the mill tanks was cut off and converted into a
slime tank, and a down-take box was so placed as to
lead the fine slimes discharged from the separator
tank toward the bottom of the big slime tank. This
tank being a large one, the scheme saved us for a
while, but the overflow pipe to the mill tank being on
one side, caused a local current which began to carry
slimes over.
About this time, things looked bad for a water sup-
ply for five 1080-pound stamps, two 6-foot belt con-
centrators, an arrastra and a gasoline engine. The
available supply of fresh clear water was about the
size of one's little finger, dripping out of the end of a
2-iuch pipe, and we were rapidly accumulating about
amount of clear water that may be continuously
taken off and the total volume of slimes that is under-
going precipitation. This fact was beautifully illus-
trated by observation of the working of the system
through one shift.
The mill was not run at night, so for half the time
the contents of the big slime tank were quiet and had
a chance to settle. In the morning the water would
be clear for several feet down, then, as distinct as
the line separating oil from water, the slimes would
begin. As the hours passed by with the mill in oper-
ation and the clear water flowing through the skim-
ming trough from the slime tank, the plane of the
slimes would rise, and if there was no wind to disturb
the surface of the water, the rise of the slimes would
be so even and uniform that clear water would be
discharged up to the last moment, when the slime
plane would actually reach the lip of the skimming
trough. But once this point was reached, the slimes
would flow over. Every scheme that ingenuity could
suggest was tried at this point, but the fact remained
that the uniform upward flow of the mass of slimes
and water was more rapid than the rate of precipita-
tion of the suspended particles.
In an attempt to conquer this difficulty, recourse
was even had to the capillary siphon, strips of burlap
being laid over the lips of the skimming trough, rais-
ing the water from a fraction of an inch outside of
the trough over the lip and letting it flow down inside.
But if the texture was sufficiently fine to act as a
August 19, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
124
filter, clogging would soon result, and, if open, the
slimes would pass the siphon.
As mentioned before, some effect was obtained in
the neutralization of the water with soda ash. When
the supply of this was exhausted, lime was produced
by the calcination of sea shells, and some little was
obtained from small amounts of superficial secondary
calcareous deposit, a kind of "caliche." Finally, a
kind of mess, made by cooking a variety of cactus
called "petaya" in water, was added to the slimes.
It had a decided effect on the slimes, as it is a power-
ful astringent, but after a day of its use, the mill
looked like the interior of a steam laundry in bad
order, as the petaya piled up great billows of foam at
every point that the pulp or water was agitated —
the discharge from the elevator looked like a cream
puff; the boot oozed suds from every seam; the bat-
tery frothed at the mouth, and so did the choleric
old millman.
However, care and patient study of every favora-
ble condition soon made it possible to operate the mill
without interruption, and some interesting results
were observed in the treatment of these ores. It
may be of interest to know that when the sulphide
ores would assay, for instance, $35, the concentrates
would go from $8 to $12. Also, higher results were
obtained from the amalgamation of the base sulphide
ores than from the soft, friable, oxidized ores, owing
to the presence in these latter of free sulphur — some-
times as high as 17%. This, together with the fact
that most of these ores contained copper sulphate
and ferric salts, induced in the contained gold a re-
pugnance to quicksilver that amounted to a hobby,
and that nothing but a nitric acid bath seemed to
cure.
With all these difficulties to contend with, further
operations were abandoned, as the purpose of the
tests was accomplished. The reasons why a 20-
stamp mill was ever built on this property are inter-
esting, but "that's another story."
A summing up of the results, as far as water re-
covery is concerned, shows that, even with a very
slimy ore, it is possible to recover over 88% of the
water circulated in the mill, neglecting evaporation,
which in the case described was very low, owing to
the high humidity of the atmosphere.
Furthermore, although every effort was made to
intercept the slimes before reaching the last slime
tank, there was deposited here an amount of slimes
equal to about 12% of the total of the ores worked.
It is also of interest that an examination of the tail-
ings showed but 7.5% of the total loss in the slimes,
10.5% of the total loss in the sulphides in the tailings,
while 82% of the total loss was in that part of the
tailings composed of coarse sands.
An analysis of the clear water in the mill tank,
made at the conclusion of the operations (the water
having been derived originally from saline springs),
showed the following results : Solids, 1.48%, con-
taining :
Per Cent.
Lead Trace
Aluminum sails Trace
Ferrous salts 19
Cupric salts 35
Magnesium salts 16
Calcium salts 21
Potassium salts Trace
Sodium salts 41
Undetermined i *>
The Ventilation of Mines.
Total.
1.48
Also, gold, per ton of water, $0.20; silver, per ton
of water, .05 ounce.
This is rather a discouraging mess for metallurgi-
cal purposes, but is interesting as demonstrating the
solubility of gold in a solution of cupric and ferric
salts.
In conclusion, the writer ventures the opinion that
with ores of a normal character such a system as
that used would probably secure a continuous flow of
clear water for a 5-stamp mill, running twenty-four
hours per day.
The rate of precipitation of the slimes in this case
was very low, being only about .594 cubic foot of
water per day per cubic foot of slimes undergoing
precipitation. With a hard siliceous ore, it is likely
that this rate would be at least doubled. With such
a plant, however, it will be perfectly safe to base cal-
culations on a flow of .206 gallon per hour per cubic
foot of slimes in the last tank, even with very slimy
ore, as the case described was probably extreme.
Bull Dog" Wrench.
The Whitman & Barnes Manufacturing Co., having
factories at Chicago, 111., Akron, Ohio, and St. Cath-
arines, Ontario, have recently added to their line and
are placing on the market their No. 2£ "Bull Dog"
wrench. This wrench, illustrated herewith, has a
length of 12i inches, holds pipe from f inch to 1 incl
in diameter, round iron from f inch to 1} inch in di
ameter. It is drop forged from special steel which
the manufacturers have made to their own analysis,
and is nicely finished in black with polished jaws.
Mine ventilation and sanitation is a subject of great
importance to miners the world over. Coal mines
become so dangerous, usually, where the ventilation
is poor, from the accumulation of explosive gases,
that much attention has been given this subject in
that class of mines. Metal mines, being to a great
extent free from firedamp, the subject of ventilation
is one often given less attention than it should have,
owing partly to the lack of appreciation of the exist-
ing conditions, and partly to the desire to entail no
unnecessary expense— the matter of providing better
ventilating facilities being too often considered as
"unnecessary expense" — so long as men can be per-
suaded or hired to work in the vitiated atmosphere.
In Western Australia the condition in some of the
mines was considered sufficiently bad to warrant of-
ficial investigation. In accordance with this idea a
Royal Commission, consisting of trained mining men,
physicians, chemists and others, whose experience
and business interests fitted them for such duty, was
appointed. The result of their exhaustive investiga-
tion has been published in a good sized volume en-
titled " Report of the Royal Commission on the Ven-
tilation and Sanitation of Mines," issued by the De-
partment of Mines at Perth, W. A., and from which
the following has been abstracted:
Methods op Ventilation in Use. — With very few
exceptions, the ventilation of the mines of this State
is entirely "natural," that is, due to differences of
temperature and height of the air columns in different
parts of the workings. Whether this method is sat-
isfactory or not depends on a great variety of cir-
cumstances', giving excellent results in many cases,
while others are very indifferent. When there are
two separate shafts to a mine, or. two main airways
by which a circulation of the air may be maintained
from the. surface into the deepest parts of the mine
and thence back by a different route to the surface,
the ventilation is generally pretty good, but if the
airways are small and much obstructed it may be
very poor. We are sorry to find this condition any-
thing but an uncommon one in our mines. The air-
ways ought at all times to be of such size as to easily
carry the necessary quantity of air. Where there is
only one opening into the workings, the shaft serving
both as upcast and downcast, it is almost impossible
to preserve good ventilation, as the air short-circuits
from one compartment into the others at every pos-
sible opportunity, and very little of it goes through
the workings. A very notable instance of this was
quoted in the Victorian Mines Ventilation Bonus
Board's final report, who found that of 31,348 cubic
feet of air entering the shaft per minute, only 2377
feet per minute went through the workings. This
phase of the question presents itself in most of the
deeper mines at their lower levels, before the levels
have been connected with those above them by rises
and winzes, and in such workings the ventilation was
often found by us to be far from satisfactory. Such
places require that some mechanical means of venti-
lation should be employed, but outside of these there
appears to be, as yet, no very great difficulty
experienced in practice in ventilating all portions of
even our deepest metalliferous mines by natural ven-
tilation, so long as the levels are connected with one
another right through to surface by winzes and other
openings. The ventilation is, however, subject to the
great drawback to all natural ventilation, viz., that
the direction of the air currents is often very vari-
able, depending on the balance of the air columns in
different parts of the mine, which is much affected by
the wetness of the places and by the heat generated
by working and by oxidation of minerals, as well as
by differences of temperature on the surface. It fre-
quently happens, therefore, that the air currents
flow one way one day and in the opposite direction
on another day. Even main shafts are found at
times to be upcasts and at other times downcasts.
In this State this variation is all the more likely to be
common because, as a rule, owing to the flatness of
the country, there is little difference in the relative
altitude of the tops of the upcast and downcast shafts.
It necessarily follows that there must be periods of
longer or shorter duration between the reversals of
the air current, during which there is no circulation,
and in certain parts of the mines this condition may
continue long enough to be serious. There may also
be local air currents circulating through certain
parts of mines, the same air passing round and round
without being renewed. Dr. Haldane and Messrs.
Martin and Thomas, in their "Report on the Health
of Cornish Miners," describe a striking instance of
this in the Levant mine, the warm air from the
deeper levels rising upwards through passes and
worked out ground into cool wet parts of the mine
and there becoming so cooled as to pass down the
main shaft again instead of rising to the surface.
The same air was therefore traveling round and
round without leaving the mine, and necessarily be-
came very impure. 'We met with a very similar case
in Bayley's mine at Coolgardie in the three lowest
levels.
In mines ventilated solely by natural ventilation, it
is evident that the variations of the conditions caus-
ing movement of the air must be attended with cor-
responding variations in the velocity of the current,
and, consequently, in the quantity of air passing
through and the degree of purity which can be main-
tained. Measurements of the quantities of air enter-
ing or leaving or passing any given point in a mine,
or tests of purity, therefore becomes of little use' in
determining the adequacy of the ventilation unless
they are repeated at very frequent intervals and the
results are averaged.
The want of constancy in direction and volume of
the currents of air in a mine ventilated solely by nat-
ural ventilation is therefore a grave difficulty in the
way of practically establishing whether or not it is
adequately ventilated. Great attention should ac-
cordingly be given to regulating the air currents, so
as to keep them as much as possible always moving
in the same direction, and to avoid vitiated air being
carried back into the workings. The methods of
"splitting" the air, which have proved so advan-
tageous in colliery ventilation, are unfortunately but
little used in our metalliferous mines, but could be
adopted with a great deal of benefit. Among our
witnesses there were several who were well ac-
quainted with both coal and gold mines, and their
testimony was almost unanimous that collieries are,
as a rule, far better ventilated than metalliferous
mines, both in this State and elsewhere, although
really much more difficult to deal with on account of
the greater extent of their workings, their usually
fiat dip, and the noxious gases which emanate from
the coal and the strata enclosing it, and which de-
mand a strong and continuous current of air to sweep
them away and render them harmless. They mostly
agreed, also, that there was little practical difficulty
in adapting the methods used in colliery ventilation
to metalliferous mines, the principles being the same
in both cases, and that it was the disregard of ele-
mentary principles in the latter that rendered their
ventilation on the whole so much inferior to that
found in good colliery practice.
The coal mines at Collie were the only mines in the
State examined by us in which any serious attempt
was made to replace natural ventilation by more ef-
ficient and controllable means. The Collie Proprie-
tary Co. use a large exhaust fan, and have a venti-
lating furnace as a stand-by, while the Cardiff mine
relied on a furnace. The fan employed gives a very
poor efficiency, and could be substituted by one of the
better modern types with great advantage. The
furnace does fair work, but has all the drawbacks in-
cidental to this method of ventilation, and would be
preferably replaced by a good modern fan. The
question of the mechanical ventilation of collieries has
been so thoroughly discussed in standard text books
and in numberless papers in technical journals that
we have not thought it necessary to devote more
than this passing reference to it. especially as the
collieries are at present only small in this State, and
their ventilation is a very simple problem from the
colliery engineer's point of view. The main question
to be decided in each case would be the choice of a
suitable fan, and so many considerations of finance,
business reasons and adaptation of existing plant
come into this that it would be out of place for us to
say what type ought to be selected.
In only a very few of the metalliferous mines ex-
amined by us has there been any serious attempt at
producing ventilation by mechanical means or fur-
nace draught. The largest installation was that at
the Associated Northern mine at Kalgoorlie, where
an iron pipe 12 inches in diameter leads from the foot
of the roasting furnace chimney down the main shaft
to the bottom level, 1050 feet, where branch pipes, 8
inches in diameter, are taken from it into the various
crosscuts and drives. The chimney draught causes
a fairly strong exhaust of air from the deep levels,
drawing out the smoke after firing with considerable
success. The draught, however, is not strong enough
to clear the ends of smoke so quickly as is required,
and a certain proportion of it hangs back in the level.
The device caused very considerable improvement in
the ventilation of the 1050-foot level, and the man-
ager, Mr. Roberts, in his evidence, expressed himself
well satisfied that its introduction had resulted in
economy of working, the men losing far less time in
waiting for the smoke to clear than previously. Con-
siderable difficulty was, however, experienced with
the pipes collapsing after heavy blasting, and being
broken down if brought too near to the face. Stouter
tubing was evidently required. In the Murchison
Associated mine at Day Dawn, since the commission's
visit, a small Sturtevant fan has been installed. In
the other mines the mechanical appliances seen were
confined to a few small water jets and compressed
air injectors used for ventilating rises and dead ends.
In Bayley's mine a small fan was used, driven by a
compressed air engine made from an old rock drill, a
device more noticeable for ingenuity than for eco-
nomical use of the compressed air. Very little care
had been taken with any of these appliances to se-
cure the maximum useful effect. In the great ma-
jority of the mines the use of compressed air from
the mains supplying the rock drills is looked to as
the only means of blowing out the smoke from explo-
sions, and the exhaust air from the working of the
drills is relied on to keep the atmosphere fit for men
to breathe. This method, therefore, calls for more
extended consideration.
(to be continued.)
125
Mining and Scientific Press.
August 19, 1905.
Gold Dredging in California.
The importance of the gold dredging industry in
California is increasing with each year. From a very
small beginning made nearly forty years ago, it has
grown and expanded, particularly within the past
decade, until it has become one of the most notable
factors in the gold production of that State. This
industry has been made the subject of official inquiry
by the State Mining Bureau of California, and the
latest bulletin issued by that institution is devoted
to the subject of gold dredging as practiced in all its
phases in California and from which the following is
taken:
History. — It is popularly supposed that mining
for gold with dredgers is an industry which has
grown up within the past decade and that it was a
success almost from the beginning. This is not true
There are bleaching skeletons of dredgers scattered
over California and New Zealand, some of which were
built nearly half a century ago. There was a dredger
near Oroville, on the Feather river, in the '50s. It
is over forty years since dredging was first tried in
New Zealand. Spasmodic attempts were made in
this direction on the Pacific coast and in New Zealand
from that time on. These efforts, futile as they
were, so far as giving dividends to shareholders go,
were of great value to the miner and mining engineer
of to-day. These failures were their warnings.
As a result, this class of mining, if properly
directed, is now as safe as any, provided that skilled
investigators direct the investment and use of capi-
tal, and see that it is only invested where conditions
permit of successful work.
Any one investigating the processes at Oroville or
Folsom, or in New Zealand, where conditions are
known by actual practice, will find that the difficulties
have been largely overcome, because the conditions
have been studied by skilled men at large expense
and met with appliances fitted for the local needs,
not only as to the digging of the ground, but also as
to the saving of the gold.
But under other conditions, in other districts, the
dredgers so successful at Oroville or Folsom or in
New Zealand would be failures as to some of their
parts. To explain: At Oroville the gravel is loose,
free from clay. There are no large boulders, the
bedrock is soft, the gold is fine and it easily amal-
gamates. Along the streams in the mountains of
California the boulders are larger, the bedrock harder,
and in places in Idaho and Colorado the gold will not
amalgamate owing to the presence of arsenic. Then
there are many other conditions that differ in other
places. Some of these difficulties may be overcome
by slight changes, either in the digging part of the
dredger or in the gold-saving appliances ; but some
of them, such as hard bedrock, in cases are fatal to
successful dredging.
The conditions bearing on the cost of operation are
such that each tract of ground becomes a problem in
itself, and any attempt to use the costs obtained un-
der one set of conditions, on which to predicate those
which would hold under another, without a thorough
knowledge of the various elements which enter into
the problem, will lead to large discrepancies between
the results predicted and those actually obtained,
with a consequent possible failure of the enterprise.
There have been built in California many dredgers
that have failed and become total losses. Yet to-day,
with all the data at hand for any careful investigator,
there should be little excuse for failure. The varying
conditions that exist where dredging is being done at
Oroville, Folsom, in Trinity county, in Idaho, Mon-
tana, Colorado, British Columbia, the Klondike,
Alaska and New Zealand, both as to the digging of
the gravel and the saving of the gold, give the miner
the actual experience necessary for him to come to
conclusions under most circumstances.
The single- bucket or spoon dredger was evolved in
New Zealand in the early '60s and was worked en-
tirely by hand. A steam single-bucket dredger was
built in 187(1. About 1880 bucket-and ladder dredgers
were introduced. These were nearly all worked with
power furnished by current wheels. The first steam
chain bucket dredgers of the present type were in-
troduced about 1881 One dredger of this class, built
about that time, was successfully worked for sixteen
years. On account of the success of a dredger in
1889 on a branch of the Molyneux river, some twenty
were built at an average cost of $17,500, but were
failures, owing mainly to the fact that the ground
was not suitable for dredging and the management
bad. Many of these dredgers were floated down to
the Molyneux river and under new ownership were
made successful. Then a number of suction dredgers
were built, but proved complete failures. Since then
the endless-chain bucket dredger, similar to those
used in California, has held the field. In New Zealand
at the end of 19U2 there were 201 dredgers working,
52 standing, 23 building, -14 under removal and 2
wrecked— a total of 292.
The first successful endless-chain bucket dredger in
the United States was built in 1894 at Grasshopper
creek, in Montana. Many attempts to dredge had
been made on the Pacific coast, but it was not until
1897 that a dredger of the present type was built in
California. In the summer of 1895 W. P. Hammon
and Warren Treat, who were interested in horticul-
ture near Oroville, were working some gravels for
gold on property now owned by the Feather Biver
Exploration Co. Mr. Treat had made a pit about 100
Framework of a New Dredger in the Pit.
Hull Completed and the Gantries Up.
Trfi
'jrfj
331 ' tp '■
1 ... ak
*:-'-~Tl
Hk " W^M
m,
^m W^^
Ik ' " ^L
Ladder Frame and Rollers.
Placing Close-Connected Buckets in Position.
feet square down to bedrock, using a centrifugal
pump to keep the water out, and hauling the gravel
in wagons out to small sluice boxes, where it was
washed. The gravel was handled several times by
manual labor, and in spite of the heavy cost for labor
and pumping water, there was a profit. Mr. Ham-
mon had another pit, but on approaching bedrock
found that the great amount of water coming in would
make mining at a profit difficult.
The attention of the writer was called to these
cases and he visited the property, and, after consult-
ing with Mr. Hammon as to the best process for
working, suggested hydraulic elevators; but it was
found on investigation that the distance necessary to
convey water, and the large amount of water in the
ground itself to be handled, would make this imprac-
ticable. At that time little was known of dredging
in California. However, some of the land had been
purchased through Mr. Hammon and A. F. Jones.
A few months later Thomas Couch and F. T. Suther-
land, from Montana, were in San Francisco, Cal.,
looking for mining properties. To them was sug-
gested the Feather river gravels, and there they
went, and, with Mr. Hammon, after prospecting for
about a year, purchased 1000 acres, which are now
being worked by five dredgers.
While they were prospecting this ground, R. H.
Postlethwaite, a New Zealand engineer, who had
come to California to look over the dredging field,
had constructed by the Risdon Iron Works a 33 cubic
foot bucket dredger to be used near Smartsville, on
the Yuba river. While the dredger itself was satis-
factory, the conditions did not permit of final success
in working.
The first dredger at Oroville, built for the Feather
River Exploration Co., began work March 1, 1898.
It was designed by Mr. Postlethwaite and built by
the Risdon Iron Works. This dredger is still being
successfully operated; it has been strengthened, how-
ever, in parts.
Steam was used at first, but now all the dredgers
in the Sacramento valley districts are worked by
electric power. During the first two years of suc-
cessful dredging at Oroville with endless-chain bucket
dredgers, a number of attempts were made to dredge
with suction and other styles of dredgers; but all
these, with the exception of one steam shovel dredger,
were failures.
Area of Dredge Gravel. — The following table will
show in a general way the acreage of gravel under
consideration for dredging. It is probable that these
figures will in many cases be increased and other
districts opened:
Average Value
per Cubic Yard,
District Acreage.
Oroville : 7,500
Yuba River 5,ono
Bear River 1,000
Folsom 5,000
Calaveras 350
Stanislaus 1 ,200
Trinity 1,000
Shasta 1 ,5"0
Siskiyou 1,000
Plumas 1,500
in Cents.
17
25 to 30
18 to 30
15 to 25
16 to 22
15 to 30
Total
.25,050
In Stanislaus countv considerable prospecting has
been done and about 1200 acres have been proved to
contain values sufficient to warrant dredging.
Tn Shasta county drilling is being done on Cotton-
wood creek and on land opposite ReddiDg, on the
Sacramento river, and on Clear creek.
In El Dorado county some land on the South Fork
of the American river, near Coloma, is being consid-
ered, but not yet reported proved.
In all these districts, and at other points in the
Sacramento watershed especially, there are consid-
erable areas of dredge gravel, most of which have
been more or less examined, but not proved to be of
sufficient value to work at the present cost.
The best dredge authorities claim that by proving
good grade of pay in some of this outlying ground and
reducing working costs, at least 25,000 acres will in
time be added to the fields which it is already decided
to dredge in the Sacramento valley.
In this connection experiments are being made
with a view to working by a process similar to the
present dredging system, but at a much lower cost.
Those interested do not care to give out any data at
present.
It may seem a simple thing to those who know to
say that there is a great diversity in methods of
gravel mining caused by varying conditions of the
deposits, and that the method in vogue in one case
may mean failure in another. Yet the want of this
knowledge has been the cause of immense waste of
capital. There have been large sums of money lost
in trying to hydraulic drifting ground. Attempts
have been made to use hydraulic elevators to work
dredging ground where there was an excess of water
to be handled. Dredgers have been built to work
ground that could be worked only by means of hydrau-
lic elevators. There are many thousands of acres of
gravel, mostly lacustrine deposits, in California and
other States and Territories on the Pacific coast and
in Alaska that is free from water and should be
worked with steam shovels, which people are now
exploiting with a view to working with dredgers. In
other words, they are proposing to make a condition
— by flooding the ground with water — that means an
unnecessary cost. A study of the conditions existing
will lead to conclusions as to the methods to be
adopted, and in this way only can economic success
be made.
The different kinds of gravel mining, it may be
said, are:
First. — Ordinary hydraulic mining, requiring water
Acqubt 19, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
126
under pressure and a good dump, with gravel easily
removable.
Second. — There are the drift mines in layers of
gravel deposits overcapped with lava or other ma-
terial of such great depth that only underground or
drift mining is possible.
Third.— There are the bars along the rivers, based
on hard bedrock, that must be worked with hydraulic
elevators for want of dumping facilities, and which
The Tailings Stacker Drive.
The Stacker Without the Belt.
w&
A Tailings Stacker With Belt Conveyor.
can not be worked with dredgers because the bed-
rock is hard. Yet in these cases it must be under-
stood that even hydraulic elevators are of no use if
there is an excess of water.
Fourth. — There is the gravel with an excess of
water, with soft bedrock, that can only be worked
with dredgers.
It would be futile to hydraulic the lava-capped
divides in Placer and other counties in California;
yet this has been attempted. They must be drifted.
It would be impossible to make an economic success
of the use of hydraulic elevators at Oroville or Folsom
on account of the excess of water in the gravel; yet
this has been attempted.
In some mountainous districts of California dredg-
ers have been tried and proved failures, because the
bedrock was too hard to dig and the gold could not
be lifted.
Then there are cases where the excess of water
prevents the use of hydraulic elevators, and the hard-
ness of the bedrock and the consequent conditions
that usually follow prevent the use of dredgers. Yet
inventions not now known may be made to work these
gravels at a profit.
Then, again, there are large tracts of gravel, usu-
ally of lacustrine deposit, in the Sierras, not deep
and not overcapped with lava, that afford good oppor-
tunity for the use of steam shovels.
Geology. — While dredge mining is being conducted
under conditions apparently satisfactory to those
engaged in the industry in the Sacramento valley
districts of Oroville, Yuba, Folsom and Calaveras
and on the Bear river, there is an interesting geologi-
cal feature worthy of more than a passing thought,
and that is that all this dredging is being done on
what may be considered a superficial layer of gravel,
underlaid by a stratum of volcanic mud and sand, the
deposition of which, of course, antedated the deposi-
tion of this gravel.
The gold-bearing veins existed and were eroded for
a great period of time, antedating the volcanic activ-
ity which is such a prominent feature of the Sierra
Nevadas, and the ancient rivers deposited their gold-
bearing debris upon the original bedrock, both within
the limits of their rims and upon the floor of the great
interior valley — the present valley of the Sacramento
river — which at that time was a vast fresh water
lake.
Subsequently the volcanic activity resulted in many
instances in filling the old gold-bearing rivers to the
brim with a vast quantity of volcanic material, now
recognized in the mud, tufa and breccia overlying the
ancient river channels, and, as a matter of course,
this volcanic material was carried out into the
estuaries, extending even into the lake itself to a
considerable distance, and covering the previously
deposited gold-bearing gravel. The subsequent uplift
of the whole Sierra Nevada system has resulted in
the exposure of these lake beds along the eastern
edge of the Sacramento valley.
The subsequent erosion of modern streams, cutting
through the original ancient river channels and often
into the underlying bedrock, with its complex system
of gold-bearing veins, resulted in the formation of a
later bed of gravel, which rests upon the volcanic
sands and mud of the lake.
Doubtless this process has been repeated a number
of times, and this point could be determined by drill-
ing or by sinking shafts. But it is clearly evident
that the present dredging is not in deposits of gravel
resting on the true bedrock — the slates and schists
which form the adjacent foothills— but in later and,
quite likely, less valuable gravel.
In many ancient river channels there are some-
times two or three gold-bearing strata, called by the
miners "leads," and the stratum of gravel on the
bedrock is usually the richest, while the upper strata
are relatively of less value in gold per cubic yard.
There are, however, instances contrary to this, where
one of the upper strata is of more value; but this is
due to local conditions, probably generally to the
erosion of other pre-existing beds of gravel. Why
this principle should not be proved true in this lake is
well worth considering.
Similar conditions have been found to exist in the
Cariboo country in British Columbia and in some of
the mountain districts of California outside of the
Sacramento valley region.
The discovery, however, of good value in these
lower strata might not lead to satisfactory economic
results, because the expense of handling large bodies
of water that might be encountered would handicap
any venture in that direction.
In connection with the question of reclaiming these
dredging grounds, it may be mentioned that James
H. Leggett, owner of dredgers at Oroville, has begun
some experiments by planting eucalyptus and olive
trees on the rock piles, with a few spadefuls of earth
at the root of each tree, and they are thriving.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
Iron Mistaken for Copper.
T. Lane Carter, who has lately returned to
Johannesburg from a long trip north of the Zambesi,
says Page's London Weekly, has been giving his fel-
low members of the Chemical, Metallurgical, and
Mining Society of South Africa some useful hints on
the subject of copper prospecting. He remarks that
in the first place the prospector should know copper
when he sees it, and not mistake something else for
copper. A case is mentioned where a number of
claims were staked out along a bold outcrop, beacons,
placed, etc., but when the prospect was sampled and
assayed the colored material turned out to be a
silicate of iron, without a trace of copper. As to the
amount of chemicals and appliances to be taken on an
expedition, everything depends on circumstances.
If one is to leave assay office and laboratories en-
tirely behind and wishes to assay the copper samples
at each prospect then it is necessary to have a com-
plete outfit. This outfit must indeed be complete,
for a whole expedition might be hampered by leaving
behind an important chemical.
Mistakes similar to those above referred to were
made in the early days in California along the
Mother Lode. From El Dorado county on the north,
to Mariposa county on the south, numerous copper
claims were taken up and considerable work done
on what was supposed to be copper ores, the bright
green micaceous mineral, afterward named mari-
posite, being mistaken by the early prospectors for
malachite, the green carbonate of copper. Glau-
coniteand a number of other iron silicates have a green
color and may be mistaken for copper ores, though
containing no trace of that-metal. Most copper ores
are readily soluble in nitric acid, making a green
solution, which the addition of an excess of ammonia
will cause to turn blue. Often it at first causes a
brown precipitate— iron — but by adding more am-
monia (which must be done with care, to avoid
spurting due to violent chemical reactions), the solu-
tion if containing copper will turn blue, the intensity
of the color being greater or less according to the
amount of copper present.
Electric Drill Tests.
Under date of August 8 A. W. Sayles. N. Y. rep-
resentative The Mine & Smelter Supply Co of
Denver, Colo., furnishes some data, showing
results of a recent test made in that city by the New
York Edison Co. of the Durkee electric drill. The
data are embodied in the following letter:
The Mine & Smelter Supply Co., 42 Broadway. New
York City.— Gentlemen: We beg to advise you that
we have made two thorough tests of the Durkee electric
rock drill supplied by you to this company, and have
found it most satisfactory. Both tests were made on
excavation work and have shown the drill to be most
efficient and economical. The first was conducted at our
121st Street station and resulted as follows:
April 21
April 22. ..
April 23,...
April 25
April 27
April 28
March 2
March 3
March 4
March 6
March y
March 10
March 13
z
S?
Z
*3
z
w
OS
ZB
red
r =
5" 3' 5
Be
rrB
■»3
23
a o
a"
s _
: m
o
n
B
s
a
$
5?
Pi
on
g.8
*0~
!
: ?
11
M,
12
58
6*
ii
80
58
8 7
If.
58
8
i
110
73
III il
IS
58
8
i
20
63
8 1
12
58
8
l
15
58
87
13
58
8
i
15
(13
e i
2
58
1
II
5
10
1.6
12
58
8
i
III
58
8.7
18
5K
8
1
5H
63
9.4
3
58
2«
n
40
15
B 2
III
58
7
II
35
18
8.2
8
58
«
II
511
39
5 8
2
58
1
II
III!
9
1 3
9
58
«
II
Ill
44
0,6
11
58
8
II
45
53
7.9
12
58
8
11
25
58
8 7
13
56
8
ii
3(1
63
9 4
11
58
8
n
20
53
7 9
1 5l
(581
1711
0
ii
llll
00
0 0
I 61
8
ii
35
61
9.0
1 6)
IV4I
1 38 ,
1)
ii
llll
00
0.0
1 6)
8
i
5
49
7.4
18
36
8
(1
45
48
6.3
I llll
0,94
0.87
II HI
11.15
ii >r
0.94
0.82
0.72
I) 58
II 13
0.611
0.79
0 87
0.94
0 79
0.00
0.911
O.CO
0 74
0.63
On April 21st and 27th and May 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th
the heavy rain prevented a full day's work. The aver-
age number of feet drilled per day was over 60 feet at an
average C09t of 1.5 cent per foot.
The second test wa9 made at the northeast corner of
12th Street and 4th Avenue, and confirmed the
figures contained in the previous test.
The following will show the work done from day to
%
O
Z
Z
w
W
o
O
Date.
il
«> 2
• o
: tn
• o
■ Q
■ CO
D
o
p*
CD
**-
0D,
~B
CD
£<°
c
VI
O
o
=
: a
. o
• c
• -1
: m
: TJ
■ a
CO
>U
CD
i
o
CO
MJ
CD
a
Cts.
Julv 5
17
48
8
68 8 09
.131
1.31
8 .89
July 6
17
48
8
68 8.35
.123
1.23
.835
July 7
18
48
8
72 1 06
.120
1,20
86
July 8
3
48
1.5
12
(15
. 04
.40
.05
July 10
11
48
6
44 4.05
. 92
.92
.405
July 11
20
36
8
60 I
45
.107
1.07
.645
On July 8th and 10th the work was stopped on account
of rain. At both 121st and 12th Streets, the rock is of
mica schist and muds easily, but your drill, on account
of its stroke, escaped this entirely.
Thanking you for your kindness in supplying us with
the drill, and congratulating you on its most satisfactory
showing. Yours very truly,
(Signed) Arthur Williams,
General Inspector.
THE PROSPECTOR.
The rock samples from Goldfield, Nev., are deter-
mined as follows: No. 9, a bleached rhyolite. No. 10,
gray, compact limestone No. 11 is a coarse apiite,
or micaless granite. No. 12 is crystalline lime-
stone. No. 13 is also apiite, similar toll, but con-
taining pink orthoclase. No. 14 is apparently a
silicified rhyolite. The quartz blebs are plainly seen
in this rock. No. 15, not yet determined. No. 16 is
an altered and silicified eruptive rock, the original
character of which it is difficult to determine in the
small hand specimen. An examination of the mass
from which it came might give further information
on that point. No. 17 is a white, bleached rhyolite,
very similar to No. 9. No. 18 is a fragmental rhyo-
litic rock composed of an agglomerate of pumice,
quartz blebs, shattered feldspar crystals and grains
of hard, firm, reddish brown rhyolite. The "sedi-
mentary deposit beneath " may also be of volcanic
material. No. 19 is a dense siliceous rock, probably
an altered sedimentary. No. 20 is a flint-like rhyo-
lite, in which a few crystals of pyrite appear. No.
21 is trachyte, in which there is considerable sana-
dine (glassy feldspar). No. 22 is rhyolite, similar to
Nos. 9 and 17, but is stained with mineral oxides.
No. 23 is not petrified wood, but a stringy, pumice-
like lava, containing still numerous crystals of quartz.
This stringy structure and the generally wavy
appearance of the rock is due to some movement
of the magma during the process of cooling, much
the same as molasses candy is stretched out in the
stage intermediate between the liquid and solid con-
dition. No. 24 is a granular eruptive rock, some-
what altered. It is also apparently rhyolite.
127
Mining and Scientific Press.
August 19, 1905.
Placer Mining in Alaska.
NUMBER II.
Horse Scraping into Sluice Boxes. — Ground
which can be worked by men shoveling into sluices
can, under certain conditions, be worked by horse
scraping, and at one-third the expense. The most
important governing condition is the degree of loose-
ness in the gravel and in the underlying auriferous
bedrock. Two horses or mules hauling a scraper,
with driver, will cost from $17 to $23 a day, and in
the ordinary small gravel of the Alaska placers, with
soft schist bedrock, the team will scrape into the
boxes from 30 to 40 cubic yards of gravel a day over
a distance of 75 feet. On Penelope creek, in Seward
Peninsula, it was said that the team would handle as
much as ten men could shovel, the cost per cubic
yard being 30 cents.
One common breaking plow with a team of horses
suffices to break up enough ground for four scrapers.
The method requires an inclined platform built up to
a height of 10 to 15 feet above the bedrock, over the
head box of the sluice. A rectangular opening in
this platform serves as a chute to the dump box.
Generally the horses travel in an elliptical track,
passing the end of the tail box and scraping the tail-
ings from it, then entering the pit, scraping up the
pay, and afterwards delivering it to the sluice. In
Seward Peninsula the cost of this method can be
brought as low as 25 cents per cubic yard, and in no
part of the interior will it exceed 50 cents, exclusive
of top stripping.
Steam Scrapers. — The ordinary scrapers used in
steam scraping operations on tailings in the Klondike
have a capacity of from J to J cubic yard, operated
by double drum, two-cylinder hoist; 16-inch drums,
25 to 30 H. P. capacity, handling on an average 250
cubic yards of loose material in twenty-four hours, at
an average expense of 49 cents per cubic yard. The
manipulations of the scraper, considered as a unit of
the plant, take three or four men on shift — a fire-
man, a hoistman, and either one or two men to fill,
guide and dump the scraper. The form and rigging
up of the scraper, with the system of sheaves, pulling
and drawback cables, is shown in Figs. 2 and 3. In
practice the scrapers drag the material from the pit
to the dump, a distance measured horizontally from
100 to 300 feet and vertically from 20 to 50 feet. The
scrapers are not always provided with teeth like the
one shown in the figure, but this is advisable. A
rigid bale should never be used, as flat stones catch
between it and the body oE the scraper. The plants
average $3500 in cost.
On Walker Pork, Forty-Mile district, Alaska, a
body of gravel 60 feet in width and 5 feet in depth,
with little or no stripping, was mined. According to
information, the gravel was only partially free, and
little or no stripping was required. As a rule the
scraper was found to clean the schist bedrock satis-
factorily. The scraper used had a capacity of one-
fifth cubic yard, being an ordinary horse scraper
rigged for steam with pulling and drawback cables.
A 6 H. P. hoist operated the scraper, giving a
capacity of 100 cubic yards in twenty-four hours.
The 10 H. P. boiler also furnished steam to operate
the bucket elevator which lifted the gravel to the
sluice from the hopper, to which it was dumped by
the scraper. A conservative estimate places the
cost of handling gravel with rig, three men being
employed and one-half cord of wood burned in ten
hours, at 40 cents per cubic yard.
The plant contains the elements of a device which,
it is not unlikely, may be applied to the working of
the wide, shallow creek deposits of Seward Penin-
sula, or of such creeks of the interior as Mammoth,
in the Birch Creek district, or lower Pedro, in the
Fairbanks district. If circumstances warranted,
the sheave anchor (a rock-filled crib) could be made
more easily movable by mounting it on a truck run-
ning on track, it being made fast by cable and dead-
man when occasion might require. The bucket ele-
vator employed is not recommended, as the use of
such contrivances for handling gravel, unless they
are specially and expensively constructed — as on
large dredges — is condemned by experience. In
place of this, the scraper should be dragged entirely
to the point of final discharge to the sluice on an in-
clined platform. The operation will necessitate the
building of a more elevated sluice or washing plant,
surmounted by a hopper, the gravel being fed from
this in order that the feed may be as nearly con-
tinuous as possible. Assuming that the elevation of
the head box of the sluice shown in the illustration is
12 feet above the surface of the ground, the scraper
could be dragged to double this elevation at a cost
not exceeding 10% above that necessary to haul it
up to the 12-foot elevation.
In general, it may be said that this method is ap-
plicable to operations on schist bedrock, but is en-
tirely impracticable on limestone or other hard bed-
rock. This is also true of the steam shovel and dredg-
ing methods. Grant that bedrock conditions are
suitable, and consider a solidly frozen deposit of
characteristic small gravel with muck and moss
overburden, 150 feet width of pay and 7 feet in total
depth from grass roots to bottom of pay. After the
moss is plowed up, the 3 feet depth of muck can be
ground-sluiced off in the ordinary manner at an ex-
pense of, say, 15 cents per cubic yard. The ground
sluicing should be done at the earliest possible mo-
ment in the open season, or preferably late in the
fall. The operator now has to deal with a stripped
block of frozen gravel and auriferous bedrock 4 feet
in depth, carrying pay, or the material which it is
desired to sluice. A vertical bank of this material
cannot be attacked by any mechanical appliance yet
devised, but if left uncovered for six weeks it will
thaw to bedrock. The operator, however, wishes to
take advantage of the continual thawing of the sur-
face by the sun, and to do this he must attack not a
| | wjlTTo ; ! o ; ; o : ; o
Fig. 2 — Toothed Scraper.
'sheave with l?"conical
plate beneath
i Position of scraper can be
altered by lengthening or
^shortening line to anchor
Fig. 3 — Set Up of Scraper, Klondike.
;:o*
Fig. 4 — Bottomless Steam Scraper.
vertical but a horizontal surface. The rate of nat-
ural thawing varies from 6 inches to 1 foot a week.
The scraper, armed with teeth rigged so as to make
a series of transverse cuts, say for 300 feet length-
wise of the channel, will attack the ground, scraping
off the thawed material better than any other me-
chanical appliance.
The sluice boxes or washing plant, built to a height
of 25 feet above the surface of the ground, can now
be approached by a broad incline platform, or if de-
sired the scraper may dump to cars, which convey
the material by gravity to an isolated and con-
veniently situated washing plant. The system
adopted will depend on the magnitude of the oper-
ations. In only very exceptional cases should the
expense of handling, after the material is once
dumped from the scraper, be allowed to exceed 5
cents to the cubic yard.
The plant above suggested implies the use of a
scraper of large capacity and should handle the
gravel at a total cost, including depreciation charge
and added cost of stripping, not to exceed 40 cents
per cubic yard in Alaska, provided that 700 cubic
yards of gravel a day are sent to the sluice. In
order to accomplish this a scraper, preferably of the
bottomless, self-dumping type, of 6 yards theoretical
capacity, should be used. It will be found that actu-
ally 3£ yards will be delivered each time by such a
scraper. The operations will require a 60 H. P.
boiler and double-drum hoist, and the services of
seven men on a shift. The total running expense of
the plant should not exceed $150 a day of twenty-
four hours.
The double-drum hoist operating the scraper will
have a position on the side of the sluice opposite that
of the cut, and can be mounted on skids so that it
can be easily moved by means of a sheave and dead-
man if necessary. The sheave through which the
drawback cable runs may be anchored to a weighted
car running on 200 feet of track laid parallel with
the cut on the side opposite that occupied by the
sluice and hoist. If it is desired to keep the draw-
back cable out of the way it may pass through two
sheaves, one anchored to traveling anchor and one to
deadman, the cables thus forming a triangular
arrangement, two of whose angles will vary as the
car is moved to cover various parts of the ground.
The car may be moved as often as desired, and thus
one furrow after another may be made by the
scraper over a triangular area as the ground thaws.
By means of a rearrangement of the sheaves it is
found that nearly all of the ground can be covered.
A plant erected for the Klamath River G. M. Co.* is
provided with two H-yard scrapers, which travel
back and forth alternately, both cables acting as
pulley and drawback cables. Two sheaves are used
cm the side of the excavation opposite to the washing
plant. " These sheaves are attached to a spreader
which keeps them spaced a given distance apart,
and to each end of the spreader is attached a tackle
which runs back at an angle to deadmen, to which
they are securely anchored."
The type of bottomless scraper shown in Fig. 4 was
seen in successful operation stripping loam at a
reservoir excavation near Portland, Oregon. It has
a theoretical capacity of 6 yards, and actually
handles over half this amount. Measurements of
a spoil bank showed that in seven ten-hour days,
stripping to 4 feet in depth, 400 cubic yards per shift
had been handled. The scraper was making furrows
over 300 feet in length. A 60 H. P. boiler was used,
but only one cord of wood at $2 per cord was burned.
The double-drum hoist was provided with 10x12-
inch cylinders and was gearded 6 to 1. Four men,
a winchman, fireman, and two scraper men were
employed, at $2.50 a day. It was said that under
these conditions the operations cost 5 cents per cubic
yard. It was estimated that in a haul of from 150 to
200 feet the scraper would deliver loam to the spoil
heap at the rate of 2 cubic yards per minute.
The above suggestions regarding the use of self-
dumping scrapers in northern placer mining will
doubtless be. looked on with considerable skepticism.
No direct application of the method has, so far as
known, been made in Alaska. The form of plant out-
lined is inexpensive as compared with many already
installed in Alaska, having a capacity not exceeding
700 cubic yards. The sum of $10,000 should be ample
to install an entire scraper and washing plant in
Seward Peninsula. Even should some form of steam
scraping be found applicable to the wider shallow de-
posits, the installation of elaborate cableways,
traveling towers, and the like, is not advisable, as in
most cases their cost would be prohibitory.
*Yeatman, J. A.. Automatic excavator for placer mining: Min. and
Sci. Press. Dec. 17, 1904.
(to be continued.)
Potassium Cyanide in the Blast Furnace.
The production of an inferior material in the pud-
dling furnace when the best pig iron is used has been
attributed to the action of nitrogen in the blast fur-
nace. H. Braune, in Oest. Zeit., 1905 LIII, p. 153,
considers that it is mainly due to the formation of
potassium cyanide and similar products which, owe
their origin to the use of basic charges, together
with high pressure and temperature of the air blast.
Iron and free nitrogen do not combine directly at any
temperature, but if the nitrogen is combined, as in
potassium cyanide, combination with the iron can
take place very easily, the reaction being acceler-
ated by rising temperature. Iron oxide is also not
attacked by free nitrogen, but it readily reacts with
potassium cyanide as follows: KCN + FeO = Fe +
KCNO. The potassium cyanate takes up oxygen,
forming carbonate, which rises to the furnace mouth
and is found in the flues and downcomers. If bisili-
cate charges be used, and the iron be blown with the
blast heated to 150° to 200° C, only traces of nitro-
gen are found in the resulting product. To remove
nitrogen from steel attempts have been made to use
titanium thermite.
August 19, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
ii-
»* * ********** ** •>** *-> * *** **** ******** *
* +
If
»s
I Mining and Metallurgical Patents^
PATENTS ISSUED AUGUST 1. 1906.
Specially Report. -.1 unj Illustrated for the MINING AND
SCIENTIFIC PKKSS
Ore Feeder.— No. 795,923; M. Nelson, Kalgoorlie,
Western Australia, Australia.
Ore feeder comprising ore chute, rotatively mounted
receiving table located at discharge end of chute,
guide wings for table secured to discharge end of chute
and projecting outwardly therefrom abreast of
table, means for intermittently rotating table, and
means for- adjusting tabic- toward and away from
wings.
Converter Linini
Lolo. Mont
-No
796,170; C. M. Allen,
Copper converter having air tuyeres, and distrib-
uted unpacked adherent interior lining of material
containing silica.
Attachment for Rock Drills. — No. 796,327;
M. Hardsocg, Ottumwa, Iowa.
In combination with bit, protective sheath having
walls of flexible material and having enlarged body
portion terminating at one end in mouth having edges
adapted to abut against substance being acted
upon, body terminating at opposite end in opening
surrounded by elastic flange adapted to impinge
against shank of bit for holding sheath in fixed con-
tact with bit and allowing body to be laterally ex-
panded with the forward movement of the bit, and
an exhaust pipe for exhausting air from interior of
sheath.
Ore Dressing Machine.— No. 796,172;
derson and J. W. Bennie, Clifton, Ariz.
H. S. An-
In ore dressing machine, combination of containing
vessel, metallic screen therein forming electrode,
electrolytic liquid containing metallic salt derived
from ore treated and submerging screen, means for
causing liquid to pa-- and repass through screen,
second electrode in vessel submerged in liquid and
subject to current thereof, and means for maintain-
ing screen in electronegative condition relatively i"
second electrode.
Method <>k Converting Matte
B hggaley, Pittsburg, Pa.
-No. 796,282: R
Method of converting matte, which consists in dis-
tributing lining of unpacked siliceous material over
working area of interior of converter, cintering same
in place, introducing matte into converter, and blow-
ing air therethrough.
Rock Drill —No. 796,228; E. R Laugford, Los
Angeles, Cal.
Cylinder, piston therein, piston rod connected
thereto, slotted extension from forward end of cylin-
der, sleeve on piston rod having wing which plays in
slot of extension, head on rear of cylinder, head hav-
ing cupped portion and plurality of journals, shaft
in one journal, gear on shaft and within cupped por-
tion, driving shaft in other journal, pinion on driving
shaft within cupped portion meshing with gear, pit-
man, crank pin through one end of pitman screwed
to gear, and pin through other end of pitman screwed
to wing of sleeve.
Electrolytically Repining Silver. — No. 795,887;
A. G. Betts, Troy, N.'Y.
Process of electrolytically refining silver which
consists in subjecting silver alloy anode to electric
current in electrolyte containing free, non-oxidizing,
strong acid forming, readily soluble silver salt, and
silver salt of acid, and electrolytically depositing sil-
ver on suitable cathode.
Drill Bit Rotating Mechanism for Rock Drill-
ing Engines.— No. 796,081; .1. G. Leyner, Denver,
Colo.
A rock drill, comprising cylinder having piston
hammer and revoluble drill chuck, support on which
cylinder is slidably mounted, feed screw in engage-
ment with cylinder and support, and means whereby
rotation of screw effects rotation of chuck.
Crushing Rolls ■
N. Y.
-No. 79fi,244; R. Pick, Buffalo,
Crushing roll having peripheral ribs arranged at
angle with relation to roll axis, each of ribs having
plurality of transverse V-shaped grooves.
Drill Hole Enlarging
T. M. Topp, Raymond, Cal.
Device.— No. 796,165;
Device for enlarging and chambering drill holes,
including shanks having outwardly turned bits at one
end, segmental heads at opposite end about which
they are turnable, heads having divergent adjacent
faces and interlocking point and socket central of
curvature of heads, shank having transversely dis-
posed segmental channel within which heads fit and
are turnable, and fixed wedge shaped block whereby
bits are forcibly separated at each stroke or impulse.
Copper Converter.— No. 796,174; R. Baggaley,
Pittsburg, Pa , and C. M. Allen, Lolo, Mont.
Copper converter having compacted silica liniug
and interior lining of unpacked material containing
ore.
129
Mining and Scientific Press.
Auqust19, 1905.
1 MINING SUMMARY. |
Specially Compiled and Reported for the MINING AND
SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
ALASKA.
Dredging operations are in progress on the upper
Yukon. Moncrieff Segber's dredger has been put on
Bonanza creek. Another big dredger at the mouth of
Bear creek is handling thousands of tons of gravel.
With favorable conditions it handles 2000 cubic yards of
dirt daily, though much of the ground is frozen. This
dredger digs 35 feet below the surface of the water,
throws the tailings 22 feet high and stacks them 90 feet
back of the machine. The hulls of the steamers Ora
aDd Nora are being used to form the twin hull of the
dredger which J. J. Rutledge is building for Forty-Mile
river. He will dredge the stream for 6 miles from the
mouth up. A dredger which the Williams Co. is tak-
ing down the Yukon from White Horse will work a big
concession in the Klondike basin, between the Klondike
City bridge and Ogilvie bridge. It is reported from
Fairbanks that 250 men have gone from there to the
new Kantishna gold strike, 150 miles in the interior from
Fairbanks. Steamers run within 75 miles of the dig-
gings. Pans on Eureka creek yield from $5 to $10. A
townsite has been started.
ARIZONA.
Cochise Comity.
The Tombstone Con. M. Co. expects to increase the
capacity of the present Girard mill to forty stamps and
put up a cyanide plant. The ore tests made have proven
satisfactory and the plans for the treatment of the large
ore reserves have been decided upon. The company
owns the Grand Central mill on the river, and twenty
stamps are to be brought to Tombstone and added to
the Girard mill. The third large pump at the 800-foot
level is expected to be in operation by September 1. At
the Emerald, Lucky Cuss, Tranquility and Silver
Thread, work continues with the same force.
Ulla County.
J. C. Erman, in charge of operations at the Keystone
Copper Co. 's mines, west of Globe, has been experiment-
ing with electrolytic copper precipitation at the mine
and has produced several sheets of copper. The ore in
solution is allowed to flow upon large copper plates on
which precipitation takes place and the sheets are
stripped from the plates as soon as this precipitation
ceases to be complete. The ore carries chrysocolla with
occasional carbonates and a little chalcopyrite in an
18-inch fissure vein traversing granite. Considerable
ore has been shipped to the Old Dominion smelter.
W. A. Thompson and Rayson have taken a bond on
the Barnett gold mine at Bloody Tanks, near Globe.
Machinery for treating the ores is to be put in. Frank
Thompson of Globe has bonded some claims on Pinto
creek to A. W. Sydnor, who is associated with A. West
& Bro. in operating the property. A. C. Sheldon of
Phoenix, after examining the Iron Cap property, east of
Globe, has interested capital in Salem and Beverly,
Mass., to carry out the company's plans. Active work
will be commenced within a month.
Graham County.
(Special Correspondence.) — Superintendent Rosecrans
of the Standard Consolidated C. Co. at Clifton re-
cently closed down the tramway for ten days while
the towers were strengthened. In the deepest work-
ings a 5-foot vein of ore has been uncovered
which may average 10% copper. The first shipment is
now ready from the San Jose mines. The company was
formed as a merger of the Coronado M. Co., Standard
copper mines and the San Jose mines, on Chase creek, 5
miles north of Clifton. The ore is carried from the mine
to the Coronado Railroad by a 3200-foot Leschen aerial
tram, with a drop of 800 feet, which carries the ore at a
cost of 5 cents per ton, as compared with $2 per ton
when shipped by burros.
Clifton, Aug. 14.
B. M. Crawford, manager of the Crawford G. M. Co.,
operating near Clifton, states that work is being pushed
on three levels of the mine, and that two new winzes are
being sunk. Development work has also been com-
menced on the Lefave property, recently purchased by
the company. Good milling ore is being developed in all
of the workings.
The Detroit Copper M. Co. will put in a new electric
motor to handle the air compressor and hoist at the
Old Yankee. The air compressor which is running the
drills in that mine and which is on the third level will be
brought to the surface. Gas has been used largely for
power. A Loomis generator, with capacity for making
gas to supply 1000 H. P. from New Mexico bituminous
coal, has given satisfaction, averaging 1 H. P. hour from
1.5 to 1.75 pound of coal, making a saving of 30% in fuel
cost. Gas is used for power throughout the mine and
plant, except in the locomotives and hoists.
Mohave County.
(Special Correspondence). — At the West Gold Road
mine at Acme Superintendent J. D. Spargo is putting
up a blacksmith shop and office, and, for the present, is
developing the mine with a 15 H. P. Union gas engine.
Acme, Aug. 16.
O. F. Kuencer, superintendent of the German-Ameri-
can mines, near Vivian, reports that sinking is in pro-
gress on the Thirty-fifth Parallel, Treadwell and Pioneer
of the German-American group, but that the volume of
water shows no appreciable increase. The shafts range
in depth from 225 to 250 feet, and in all of them the ore
bodies are improving in width and value. It is proposed
to sink the shafts to a depth of 400 feet, and if water in
quantity is not developed it is probable that a supply
will be obtained from the Colorado river.
Yuma County.
Tt is reported that the Colonial M. Co. have sunk a
180-foot double-compartment shaft on their quicksilver
mine at Cinnabar, 14 miles from Ehrenberg. Manager
L. S. Judd has been purchasing material for a reduction
plant.
Yavapai County.
The Richinbar M. Co. will put in a 50-ton cyanide
plant at_their works at Richinbar.
The Flanet & Saturn mine, near Congress, has been
sold to H. J. Beemer by W. A. Clark.
. CALIFORNIA.
According to E. W. Parker, in a recent report of the
C. S. Geological Survey, the total production of coal in
California in 1904 was 78,888 short tons, valued at $375,-
581. All of the coal produced in both California and
Oregon is lignitic in character. There are in California
a number of rather widely separated lignite areas, the
chief of which are the Mount Diablo and Corral Hollow
fields. The principal production is from the counties of
Alameda and Contra Costa, while small amounts are
mined in Kern, Monterey, Riverside and Siskiyou
counties. The Corral Hollow field is in Alameda county
and Mount Diablo in Contra Costa county. Two other
areas which have produced small amounts of coal are
the lone field, in Amador county, and a small area near
Elsinore, in Riverside county. In a number of other
counties coal or lignite beds have been prospected to a
greater or less extent, and Butte, Del Norte, Orange,
Fresno, Monterey, San Diego and other counties have
produced small amounts in the past. Some recent pros-
pecting has been done in Fresno, Mendocino, Placer,
Orange and Trinity counties, but little encouragement
is held out for any extensive development. The greatly
increased production and increasing use of crude petro-
leum as a fuel has not encouraged the development of
the coal mining industry in California in the last few
years. It is believed, however, that the recent demon-
strations made at the Geological Survey coal testing
plant at St. Louis, Mo., and which have shown the ex-
cellent producer gas-making qualities of lignite, will
create a demand for this class of fuel and stimulate pro-
duction in this State. In 1903 there were produced
104,673 short tons, valued at $294,736. This indicates a
decrease in quantity of 25, 785 short tons in 1904 and an
increase in value of $80,845. This increase in value, in
spite of the smaller production, was due to the fact that
all of the product of the Tesla mine, the largest pro-
ducer in the State, was shipped to Stockton and manu-
factured into briquettes. The value is given for the
briquetted fuel. The plant at Stockton is of new con-
struction and has a capacity of 125 tons per day of ten
hours. The briquettes produced are round, convex
lenses, or "boulets," weighing from six to eight ounces.
Asphaltic pitch from California crude petroleum is used
as a binder, the reduction from the crude petroleum to
pitch being done at the plant. The briquettes are com-
pressed under very heavy pressure and each one is
dropped 25 feet to a storage bin shortly after leaving
the press. So far as the writer is informed, this is the
only coal briquetting plant in practical operation in the
United States up to the close of 1904. There are, how-
ever, a number of experimental plants in operation, and
several plants are under construction or in contempla-
tion. One of these is at Oakland and another at Pitts-
burg, both in California. The decrease of production in
California in 1904 was due in most part to the mines at
Pittsburg being shut down, awaiting the completion of
the briquetting plant.
Butte County.
The Sky High mine, on Gravel range, near Powelton,
has been sold by George Broden and Gordon Graham
for $30,000.
Calaveras Connty.
S. W. Newell has contracted with Manager G. McM.
Ross of the Union Copper M. Co. at Copperopolis to
haul the supplies for the mines and the output of the
smelters with a traction engine on the roads between
Milton or a station on the Sierra Railway, as may be
determined later.
The San Andreas Blue Gravel mine has been unwatered
and sinking and drifting started.
Lake County.
(Special Correspondence). — The Baker mine, near
Lower Lake, is now in operation under Manager Dack,
and is producing about thirty-four flasks monthly.
Until recently this mine was not a commercial success,
but under the new management is said to be paying well.
Lower Lake, Aug. 14.
El Dorado County.
W. F. Russell of St. Louis and T. Arbuckle of Cincin-
nati have been inspecting the Argonaut mine, near
Greenwood, and if satisfactory arrangements can be
made, it is reported that they will put up a 60-stamp
mill and work the mine. The mine is owned by John
Smith of Greenwood and C. M. Jordan of Placer-
ville. At the Live Oak mine, Reservoir Hill,
near Placerville, the rich body of gravel holds good.
At the Last Chance mine, Nashville district, some very
rich ore is being taken out. Sinking is being done with
fifteen men. At the Havilah mine, near Nashville, a
strong pay ledge is being developed and seventy-five
men are employed.
Humboldt County.
In the Orleans Bar section the hydraulic claims are all
shut down, on account of scarcity of water, and very lit-
tle will be done there in mining until the rainy season
commences, about November. The past season in that
section has been very good for the miners, who have
taken out as much gold as the average season. Quig-
ley Bros. & Hegler have finished a 280-foot dam at the
Lew Doggett place on Klamath river, near Riverside, 12
miles from Areata, and have pumped out the water, so
as to commence sinking to bedrock in the river. A. C.
Brokaw of the Advance mine is ready to put in a new
10-stamp quartz mill at the mouth of China gulch. He
will commence building a wagon road, also digging a
ditch and building flume from Russian creek. The
Medina M. Co. at Oro Fino are working the Johnson
mine. The work on the Gardner ledge is proceeding,
and good ore is being taken out. The mill is closed
down for lack of water.
Mono County.
The Noonday mine and the South End mill at Bodie
have stopped work.
Nevada County.
The 10-stamp mill at the Culbertson mine, near
Graniteville, is running, it having been leased by John
Keller and Bon Albert, who are opening up their claim,
which adjoins the Culbertson.
Under the direction of Superintendent W. M. Wilson,
the Omega M. Co. has commenced building a new re-
straining dam in the canyon below the mine, near Wash-
ington. It is expected to have the dam ready for in-
spection before winter sets in, as the company desire to
make a good run during the rainy season. The barrier
will be larger than the one which was blown up last
winter and it will be constructed of concrete.
W. S. May has completed overhauling the Pennsyl-
vania mill, near Grass Valley, and will resume crushing
ore from the mine.
Shasta County.
The Bully Hill C. Co. has twenty miners employed at
the old Winthrop mine at Copper City. Day and night
shifts are at work. Ore was recently found in the Up-
per Winthrop, which is worked through an upper
tunnel.
Sierra County.
The Mabel mine, American hill, near Alleghany, is
being worked with twenty men under the management
of A. J. McCoy. This mine is owned by J. W. Morrell
&Co.
Siskiyou County.
The Mono M. Co. at Punch creek, near Humbug, is
putting in a 12-stamp outfit, also concentrators and cya-
nide vats to work the tailings and sulphurets. The mill
is to be operated by electricity from the Siskiyou Power
Co. The Eliza quartz mine on north fork of Humbug,
near Yreka, is to be opened by Patterson of Portland.
At the end of the old tunnel a 7-foot ledge has been de-
veloped. The new owners intend putting up a 10-stamp
steam mill, having figured that it is cheaper than to ex-
tend electric wiring 3 miles from the Mono mine.
COLORADO.
Clear Creek County.
Ore from the Santiago mine, in the East Argentine
district, is being crushed in the Clear Creek mill, which
was recently purchased by W. Rogers, general manager
of the Hazelton-Santiago Con. M. Co. The mill has
been overhauled and will handle from 50 to 100 tons of
ore during each twenty-four hours. The treatment con-
sists of first crushing the ore, then running it through
jigs, after which it is reground and run over the tables.
The plant is so arranged that the tailings will be dumped
back of the mill, where they will remain until the cya-
nide tanks, which have been ordered, have been put in.
The concentrating material which is being delivered at
the mill is being taken from the dumps of tunnel No. 3.
The smelting material is being taken from the devel-
opment work now going on in tunnel No. 3. F. A.
Maxwell, lessee of the Colorado Central, has made
arrangements for the treatment of ore which will be
taken from the upper dumps on that property. David
Kennedy, owner of the Centennial, will also send ore to
mill for treatment. The Bi-Metallic tunnel on McClel-
lan mountain, near Georgetown, is in 725 feet. It iB un-
derstood that the Bi-Metallic G. & S. M. Co. will put in
machinery. J. W. Boughton of Philadelphia, Pa., pres-
ident of the company, recently visited the property and
made arrangements for increased work. At the Min-
eral Chief on Democrat mountain, near Georgetown,
Manager W. C. Hood is working through the Moline
tunnel. Henry Seifried of Georgetown has purchased
a one-half interest in the McClellan mine on Leaven-
worth mountain. The Kirtley mine on Leavenworth
mountain, near Georgetown, is to be developed. Jeffer-
son Raynolds of Las Vegas, New Mexico, has bought a
one-fifth interest in the property from the estate of C. A.
Martine and preparations are under way for develop-
ment through the Equator tunnel. A drift is to be run
west 700 feet for the purpose of cutting under the old ore
shoot. The Independent M. Co., operating the West
Griffith property on Griffith mountain has made connec-
tion with the East Griffith workings.
Near Empire, the Charter Baton Co. are developing
claims on Breckenridge mountain, and have driven cross-
cut tunnels in 150 feet from the portal. The Marshall
Russell tunnel is still making good progress since the
washing out of their water power dam and the bursting
of their air compressor. They have put in a new air
compressor. J. Bridge has a 500-foot contract on the
tunnel, which enters the mountain near Empire Station.
Gilpin County.
Machinery is being put in by the Victoria-Phoenix G.
M. Co., on Mineral hill, north of Boulder park in the
Phoenix district, a new road having been built up Buck-
eye mountain. At the East Boston shaft of the East
Boston M. Co. drifting is being carried on in the 600-foot
level, while in the 500-foot level both stoping and drift-
ing is being carried on. The east and west levels of the
Rialto are being extended and an upraise is being made
to the 500-foot level both for opening up ore and im-
proving ventilation. S. Hoskin is manager and W. Job
is foreman. It is reported that the owners of the
Russell property in Russell district have decided to re-
sume operations with F. Paxton as manager. A heavier
plant of machinery is planned for the main shaft work-
ings of the group. The Perrin shaft in Russell dis-
trict is down 200 feet. The Esculapian G. M. Co. is
developing the Star of the West, in the Lake and Rus-
sell districts, under the management of W. J. Blake of
Denver. Operations are being carried on through the
Gibson shaft, which has been retimbered and the levels
cleaned out. The main shaft on the Gibson is down 225
feet, and after doing some development work in the 200-
foot workings, Manager Blake decided that additional
depth was needed in order to open up the ore bodies for
production, and sinking operations have been com-
menced to go down another 100 feet. The Raven
group, in Russell and Lake districts, is being worked by
the Pearce Gold M. Co., with H. G. Pearce of Denver as
August 19, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
1311
manager A gasoline hoist, formerly on tho Hamlet
mine in Gregory district, is being put in and an addition
is being made to the shaft building. The main shaft is
down 200 feet and will be sunk another lift of 100 feet.
P. Hardy is in charge of work.
The recent damage to the hoist of the East Notaway
mine in Russell district, southeast of Central City, has
been repaired and hoisting resumed by Superintendent
T. 6. Martin. A. Kapolla has charge of work at the
Powers mine in lower Russell district. Stoping is being
done in the 200-foot east lovel and an upraise is being
made from this level to the old workings of the Powers
shaft. F. Murphy is manager for tho owners. Hoist-
ing water from the Saratoga shaft was commenced with
the water standing a little below the 450-foot lovel.
Griffith & Co. will hoist the water to the 550-foot point,
after which Owen & Co. are expected to take the water
at least 200 feet deeper, so that work can be carried on
in some of the lower levels. Griffith & Co. of Russell
Gulch have been working the upper levels.
Gunnison County.
At the Midland mine, on Beaver creek, near Vulcan,
tho crosscut tunnel, which is to go in 1300 feet, has been
run 100 feet. A new mill with amalgamation and cyanide
equipment is planned. T. J. Thompson of Gunnison is
interested.
The Ashland M. Co., operating the Carter tunnel un-
der the management of C. M. Carter, near Ohio City,
has cut what is believed to be the same vein that was
lately cut by the Raymond tunnel. A larger compressor
and drills have been ordered.
Lake County.
It is announced that the Yak tunnel will be extended
from the Ibex mines into tho Big Evans section to drain
the mines in that quarter. The drive will be about 5000
feet. It is now over 2 miles long. It would strike under-
neath No. 2 shaft of the Resurrection, 30 feet deeper
than the present depth of that shaft, which is 050 feet.
The whole of the Big Evans basin would be drained and
the mines will have no further trouble from water.
Another h'nd of molybdenite has been opened by
Simons & Moorhead in their claims at Twin Lakes.
Arrangements are being made with the Colorado Tung-
sten Co. to handle all of the output, and shipments will
start in a few days.
Park County.
At a recent meeting of the Colorado -Minnesota M. Co.,
engineers recommended that the company erect a con-
centrating plant of a capacity of fifty tons per day, and
this was ordered done by a majority vote. M. D. Ster-
rett of Colorado Springs was chosen president; F. O.
Sterrett of Colorado Springs, secretary and treasurer;
W. L. Boatright, assistant secretary. The company
owns thirteen claims in the Tarryall district.
San Juan County.
(Special Correspondence). — On the Animas river, 6
miles north from Silverton, the Hamlet M. & M. Co. are
operating their 50-ton mill, which consists of crushers,
rolls, jigs and concentrating tables. A canvas plant is
being added to the mill. This company are the owners
of ten claims on Galena mountain, and so far the mine is
developed by four tunnels on the vein, all of which are
producing ore. Another tunnel is being driven 300 feet
below the present workings. The present workings are
1000 feet higher, vertically, than the top of the mill. As
the mine is developed and tonnage increased the capac-
ity of the mill will be increased. The ore carries copper,
zinc and some lead. A jigbaek tramway delivers the
ore from the mine to the mill. A carload of concen-
trates is shipped every two and a half days. Geo. Robin
is manager of mine and Chas. Gray, mill superintendent.
Howardsville, Aug. 12.
(Special Correspondence). — T. H. Kane, general man-
ager of the Hercules Con. M. Co., has been blocking out
ore preparatory to starting up his 100-ton concentrating
mill. New machinery will be put in and the mill capac-
ity will be increased to 150 tons. About 1$ miles down
Cement creek from the Gold King mill the Stony Pass
M. Co. are driving a tunnel to tap several veins which
are known to exist in Prospect basin. The tunnel is in
1420 feet and A. W. Hall, president of the company,
thinks that the first large vein will be cut in the next
100 feet. They have already cut several small veins in
the tunnel. The electric drill which was purchased
some time ago will soon be started up. It is understood
an electric hoist will be put in. J. W. Doolan is super-
intendent.
Silverton, Aug. 12.
(Special Correspondence). — The 80-stamp mill of the
Gold King Co. is handling 300 tons of ore per day.
After catching a good percentage of the values on the
copper plates it passes over Frue vanners and from there
to the new mill, which consists of four tube mills and
thirty-six Wilfley slimers. It is said the tailings after
passing through the new mill and which are sampled
automatically contain but a trace of gold. The De
Laval steam turbines, which were installed by the Den-
ver Engineering Works, are doing excellent work at this
mill.
Gladstone, Aug. 12.
The Ruby Basin M. & T. Co. is shipping 50% lead con-
centrates from the south Mineral creek mill, near Silver-
ton. The best ore comes from a shaft now down to a
depth of 25 feet on the December vein. This shaft will
be put down to a depth of 100 feet, when levels will be
run and a pumping station put in. The crosscut tunnel
on the Ruby property is in the meantime to be continued
from its present 1400-foot point on to the Tornado lode.
T. J. Hurley has charge.
San Miguel County.
At Ophir Loop Superintendent Ladd has twenty men
at work on the Butler vein of the Ophir Con. M. Co. and
in the 10-stamp mill. Chas. De Witt is to develop the
Merrimac claims in the Ophir district. The Gold
King Basin M. & M. Co. is making preliminary tests of
the ore carried by the principal vein of its claims in
Gold King basin, preparatory to making improvements.
Two mill runs, one from the upper tunnel and the other
from the lower, are being taken out and will be treated
at the Gold King 40-stamp mill. Chas. De Witt is fore-
man.
Summit County.
S. F. Stoughton has bonded and leased the Carrie
mine and 10-stamp mill, near Frisco, for the King Solo-
mon M. Co. Tho mill is being overhauled and refitted
and tho 900-foot tunnel has been cleared out.
The Carbonate and Little Tommy groups on Mount
Baldy, near Breckenridge, have been bought by the
Buckeye M. Co. and are being worked under the super-
intondency of C. E. Moon. The Lucky mill, near
Breckenridge, has been overhauled and started up by
the Beaver Creek M. Co., on lead ore.
The new 100-ton capacity concentration mill of the Old
Union M. &. M. Co., on Mineral Hii! near Breckenridge,
was started, after sonif alteration in the machinery.
The mill is believed to now be in good shape to handle
the second-class ore from the tunnel which the company
is driving to connect with the two shafts and the levels
therefrom. G. C. Smith is working the Copper King
and Copper Queen ledges in Muggins gulch, near Breck-
enridge.
Teller County.
Geo. Kimball of Idaho Springs and Geo. Leyner of
Denver have purchased the Gillett cyanide mill at Crip-
ple Creek and have teams and men working over the
dump of the Gillett reduction works. The lessees
operating the lower shaft of the Agnes Co., on Beacon
hill, Cripple Creek, have opened a new body of ore and
are building ore bins to hold the rock. The eighty
meu who were laid off for two weeks at the Portland
property on account of repairs being made at the mill in
Colorado City have been put back to work. The ore
body recently opened is holding out well. It was found
at a depth of 1350 feet in virgin territory. At Cripple
Creek the Moose Co. has finished timbering the Trilby
workings and operations have been suspended until
after the meeting of the company. The K. C. Mutual
M. Co., working a portion of the Jerry Johnson, have
cut a strong voin in driving north in the 100-foot level.
As soon as the surface water sinks sufficiently to permit
sinking the shaft will be continued down to a depth of
250 feet.— The Stratton-Cripple Creek M. & D. Co.
has appointed G. L. Keener lease manager of the com-
pany.
IDAHO.
Boise County.
L. and A. Unternahor of Boise are opening up a rich
quartz property on Hay Fork creek, 16 miles east of
Idaho City. It is reported that they intend putting in
a mill this fall.
Owyhee County.
Work has been commenced on the Banner M. Co. 's
property near Silver City, with Robert May in charge.
At the Addie mill, near Silver City, the pans and
settlers from the Scales & Smith amalgamating mill at
Wagontown are being put in. Stoping is being done in
the upraise in the mine.
Shoshone County.
Shipping ore is being opened up in the lower workings
of the Stewart mine near Government gulch, near Ward-
ner. H. F. Samuels is the principal stockholder in the
Stewart and has charge.
The Sonora Co., which owns claims above Burke, has
decided to resume work in an old shaft that has been
idle since the 80's. The Powhattan M. Co. owning claims
in Big creek, near Wallace, expect to resume operations
with two shifts. O. M. Gaut is managing direc-
tor. The new double compartment shaft which the
Sister Co. is sinking on its property in Canyon creek,
east of Wallace, is down 135 feet, and is being
sunk at the rate of 4 feet a day. Three eight-
hour shifts are employed. The intention is to put it
down 250 feet and then crosscut to the ledge. An elec-
tric hoist is to be put in. At the Pittsburg Co's prop-
erties on Nine Mile the mill is shut down for lack of suffi-
cient water for power purposes. The air pipe line has
been completed to the workings in No. 3 tunnel level,
and two drills are working double shifts on east and west
drifts from both crosscuts on the level. Nothing will be
done on the No. 4 level for at least a month. The com-
pressor has not sufficient capacity to run machines on
both levels at once. The company is overhauling and
repairing the mill and increasing its capacity by the ad-
dition of a new set of rolls and four 6-foot vanners. It
is also to be equipped with electric power, and as soon
as this is done the mill will resume, as there is at all
times an'ample supply of water for milling purposes.
Washington County.
The Iron Springs M. Co. at Iron Springs will convert
the Rankin mill into a cyanide plant and will put in a
50-ton crushing mill to determine the best process of ore
reduction.
MONTANA.
Granite County.
Sherr & Looney are working the Nonpareil, near
Princeton, with a small force. The shaft, which is down
400 feet, is being retimbered and the hoist is being over-
hauled At the Albion, above Princeton, Wagoner
and associates are developing. They expect to put in a
mill to treat the ores from the property.
The Lennstrende-Buck syndicate is putting a mill on
its properties near Garnet.
Jefferson County.
A. B. Keith is working claims near Clancy. High-
grade ore is being shipped from the Muskegon mine in
Lump gulch, south of Helena. Martin Mulvahill of
Helena has secured control of the Nob Hill properties in
Lump gulch, and will begin development at once, sink-
ing 100 feet from the 130-foot level.
At the Gold Hill, 2 miles southeast of Parrot, Manager
Van Zandt has replaced the surface equipment recently
burned and has retimbered the shaft. Sinking has been
started from the 200-foot level and will be continued to
the 400-foot. Fred Davis, Frank Pruitt and Tincture
are taking ore from "the Colorado mine, 6 miles from
Whitehall, at a depth of 200 feet.
Lewis and Clarke County.
The East Helena smelter is getting a larger ore supply
than for years bofore, most of which comes from prop-
erties in the immediate district. The Whitlach-Union
at Dnionville, south of Helena, being worked by the
Whitlach M. Co., has put in a new electric plant to run
its hoists, pumps and compressors. The shaft has been
sunk to the 500 level and a crosscut is being run to cut
the main vein at that depth, and will be run 170 feet to
strike the vein. The Brooklyn Bridge Co., owning
properties 1 mile south of the Whitlach, has decided to
abandon tbo old incline shaft and sink a 2-compartment
working shaft. The Sunriso mine in the samo vicinity
has been bonded to H. L. Frank of Butte, and is being
developed under tho direction of Miles Cavanaugh.
J. A. Rowland, who has been developing properties in
the Big Blackfoot in the Lincoln district, has purchased
a mill which will be put up at once. The Red Bird
Co. is working men on their Red Bird and Copper Hill
properties, near Helena. Another 100 feet will be sunk
on the Copper Hill from the 250 level and a crosscut is
being run to the vein from the 350-foot level on the Red
Bird.
8llver Bow County.
The Berlin Co., north of Butte, has sunk its shaft 200
feet and it is likely that no crosscutting will be done un-
til 500 feet is reached. The shaft is a double-compart-
ment and is being timbered as sinking progresses. The
capacity of the United Copper and Heinze smelter has
recently been increased. There are now two converters
in operation and three furnaces. With the ore of the
Rarus, Corra, Minnie Healey, Lexington and the waste
dump of the Belmont, together with the custom ore, the
plant has been busy.
MICHIGAN.
Houghton County.
(Special Correspondence). — Three years ago it was
thought that the ultimate productive capacity of the
Lake Superior mines would be about 200,000,000 pounds
per annum. This figure was exceeded in 1904 and will
he exceeded in 1905, barring accidents. The properties
of the district may be divided into five classes, according
to production: The old producing mines; the new pro-
ducing mines; the developing mines; tho active pros-
pects, and the inactive mines and prospects. Practi-
cally all of the old mines should at least hold their own
in output for the next five years. The Calumet & Hecla
has work under way which should result in increasing
its production to 100,000,000 pounds per annum within
the next few years. The Tamarack has been a slowly
declining property for the past six years. The Quincy
should show an increase. The northern end of the mine
is showing improvement at depth, and the prospects of
the property are brighter than for many years past.
The Osceola Consolidated may be included in the list of
old properties, and should show an increase. Atlantic
should hold its own, as should Wolverine. On the
whole it will be found that the old mines of the district
show possibilities for increased production. Among the
new mines there are excellent prospects of increased out-
put. The South Range mines, controlled by the Copper
Range Consolidated Co , the Baltic, Trimountain and
Champion, will make more than 40,000,000 pounds of
fine copper this year. On the north range the Mo-
hawk, which is now making 10,000,000 pounds per year,
is to be given increased capacity. The Michigan is
likely to double present production, and the Adventure
gives promise of also doubling its output. Of the devel-
oping mines the Allouez and Ahmeek should nach be
making 10,000,000 pounds or better within five years.
Both are producing in a small way at present, carrying
drift stopes which afford a limited tonnage of stamp
rock for the mills. Among the prospects there are
enough properties of promise to guarantee that from
the number several good producers will be secured.
The Globe tract, south of the Champion, is under option
to the Copper Range Co. The overburden is very
heavy and difficult of penetration, but the Copper
Range Co. has funds to overcome unfavorable features
of the early stages of development. Between the Globe
and the Winona mines is the Erie - Ontario prospect,
on which steady work has been performed. The Misk-
wabik has a promising property. Among the develop-
ments of the next five years should be. the opening of a
mine on Section 16 of the Atlantic Co.
Houghton, Aug. 14.
The Victoria has started to put in the permanent
hoisting engine and is building the shaft rock house.
The work on the three final cylindrical 5-foot shafts for
the hydraulic compressor has progressed to a depth of
130 feet in each shaft, leaving 200 feet to sink in each of
the shafts. The stamp head, the bed plates, anvil
blocks, mortar block, mortar grate casing and the heavy
frame legs have been put in position. The 5000-foot
tram road from the mine to the mill is graded.
Keweenaw County.
(Special Correspondence). — In Keweenaw county
there is activity in the southern end, at the Allouez,
Ahmeek and Mohawk properties. The southern end of
Keweenaw county is a continuation of the Calumet dis-
trict, from which it is distant but a few miles, with con-
tinuous producing mines from the Osceola to the Mo-
hawk at present. Farther north the Keweenaw Copper
Co. has eight old mineB, and will explore its property.
The Calumet & Hecla Co. has bought Keweenaw county
mineral lands during the present year. The Fitzgerald
interests control the Arnold, Ashbed, Humboldt and
Meadow properties.
Houghton, Aug. 14.
MISSOURI.
The United States Geological Survey has in press a re-
port by H. F. Bain and E. O. Ulrich on the copper
deposits of Missouri. Copper is now mined and smelted,
near Sullivan, and copper deposits at other points in the
State are attracting attention. Attempts to mine sul-
phide and carbonate copper ore have been made in Mis-
souri since 1837, and at different times copper furnaces
have been operated in Shannon, Ste. Genevieve and
Crawford counties, while a matte, which carries also
nickel and cobalt, has been steadily produced at Mine
131
Mining and Scientific Press.
August 19, 1905.
La Motte. Copper is found commercially only in the
southern part of Missouri, within the region broadly
known as the Ozark uplift. This is an elliptical, warped
plateau which has a major northeast-southwest axis
about 300 miles long, and reaches its topographic cul-
mination at Cedar Gap, west of the copper-bearing terri-
tory. In this region .iron, lead, zinc, barite and manga-
nese, as well as copper, are mined. The ores show a
preference for certain stratigraphic horizons, and, being
bedded, may be prospected with ease and economy.
The common association of sulphides with specular iron
of the sandstone region points to the advisability of the
investigation of the old iron pits. In Shannon county
the most favorable localities are along the contact of
porphyry and dolomite at points where the conglomer-
ate beds at the base of the latter fill in shallow basins in
the crystalline rocks. In the disseminated lead district
of southeastern Missouri copper occurs in connection
with the lead, and at a few points can be saved to advan-
tage. The mines near Ste. Genevieve have not been
worked for several years, but the building of the Illinois
Southern Railway to within a few miles of them so
changes the situation that they can probably now be
worked with profit.
Jasper County.
The Nest Egg M. Co. has leased of the Newell-Morse
Royalty Co. forty acres of the Wilson-Rinehart section,
near Webb City. J. J. Wickham of Cleveland, Ohio,
recently leased another forty acres of this same tract.
In each of these two leases there is a contract for the
lessees to build two big mills. They are each to put two
drills to work at once to test the drill holes already put
down. J. P. Hart, G. W. McClure and J. Crabtree of
Carterville have struck a fine prospect on their lease on
the Aylor ground at Alba. The Beacon Hill mine, on
the Leonard land in the Chitwood district, is being
worked again.
Newton County.
The Auburn M. Co., with a lease on the Muenning
land, southwest of Spring City, have their shaft down
181 feet and will sink to the 200-foot level.
NEVADA.
A petition signed by several hundred mining men and
prospectors operating in southern Nevada has been
received by Surveyor General Kyle, asking that a com-
plete survey be made by the Government of all the pub-
lic lands in the southern part of the State. At present
the greater part of Nye and Esmeralda counties has
been surveyed only by townships, the section lines not
being run. This makes the location and proper descrip-
tion of claims extremely difficult, and serious litigation
is apt to result. Surveyor General Kyle has endorsed
the petition and the matter will be taken up at once
with the authorities at Washington. Recently the Gov-
ernment ordered the survey by townships of several
hundred thousand acres of mineral lands in Nevada, but
the scope of the work is not large, considering the
enormous unsurveyed section in the State.
Elko County.
The stockholders of the Dexter-Tuscarora Con. M.
Co., with properties at Tuscarora, have ratified giving a
bond and lease of the property to J. H. Mayham of Den-
ver. The bond provides that Mayham is to sink the
shaft to the 500-foot point, which is 200 feet below the
present lowest level. The Dexter had a good showing,
but when the sulphide ore zone was reached it was
accompanied with such a great volume of water that
the management could not get it under control:
Esmeralda County.
It is stated from Bullfrog that J. Y. McKane and asso-
ciates, representing Charles Schwab, have purchased
the interests of the Montgomery Mountain M. Co., tak-
ing in the Shoshone Polaris property on the northeast
and the Montgomery Shoshone M. Co. property on the
east. The Crystal M. Co., which is controlled by
Schwab, is the purchaser.
It is reported that a 100-ton mill and cyanide plant is
to be put up at the Jumbo mine at Goldfield.
Eureka County.
Zinc discoveries are reported in the Roberts moun-
tains, at the head of Pine Creek valley, 50 miles south of
Palisade, on the Southern Pacific Railroad, and 12 miles
to the west of the Eureka & Palisade Railroad, a nar-
row-gauge line. The shipping station is Alpha. It is
40 miles north of Eureka. Fletcher & Jameson of
Eureka, the discoverers, have shipped a carload of ore
to Kansas.
Lyon County.
Herman Davis of the Nevada Reduction Works has
purchased the Briggs mill and tailings deposit in Gold
canyon. He has men tearing down the mill and clean-
ing up the site, and the tailings, of which there are
about 4000 tons, will be hauled to Dayton for reduction.
Nye County.
The narrow gauge railroad to Tonopah has been
changed to broad gauge and hereafter no transfer of ore
shipments will be necessary.
NEW MEXICO.
Grant County.
The Hermosa Copper Co., near Central, has closed
down the greater part of its properties on account of the
restrictions imposed by the forest reserve regulations,
the Central district being included in the Gila Forest
Reserve. Superintendent J. W. Bible hopes to make
arrangement for resuming work. In the Granite Gap
district the San Simon group of six claims, owned by
the Mineral Hill M. Co.; the Granite Gap group of seven
claims, owned by the United States & Mexico Dev. Co.,
and the Louise group of six claims, owned by the South-
western M. Co., are all being worked under the direction
of Superintendent S. C. Pratt of El Paso, Tex. The
Granite Gap shaft has been sunk 1000 feet on the vein,
or 600 feet vertically. The ores are shipped from Ante-
lope on the El Paso & Southwestern Railway. A good
wagon road of 11 miles has been built from the camp to
the railroad.
Otero County.
The Altamont M. Co. is to commence work on its
Cuprite property near Jarilla. The shaft, which is of
two compartments, timbered and lined, is down 130 feet
and is to be continued to the 250-foot station cut, when
two laterals will he started for the ore body.
OREGON.
Baker County.
J. K. Romig, manager of the Virtue mine, near Baker
City, has leased the property to W. L. Vinson, manager
of the Emma mine. Vinson says he will put a large force
at work to operate the mine, but has not indicated
whether he will continue the deep sinking begun with
the new triple-compartment shaft or continue work from
the lower levels of the old shaft. The tailings dump on
the mine has been leased by J. H. Davey & Son of Baker
City, who have a cyanide plant on it. Manager F. T.
Kelly of the I. X. L. mine at Greenhorn says he has
ordered a large amount of sinking machinery and pro-
poses to resume work with a larger force. The main
shaft is down to the 300 level.
Manager Pierre Humbert, of the Cornucopia mine at
Cornucopia, has started shipping to the Sumpter
smelter.
At the Eureka & Excelsior mine at Bourne, Superin-
tendent Jas. E. Wyatt has put a Jeanesville duplex
pump with a capacity of 400 gallons per minute on the
550 level which will enable sinking to the 900 level. The
water power plant is being increased, to furnish power
for an Ingersoll-Sergeant 8-drill compressor, and 1200
feet of 14-inch pipe has been laid to make a new high-
pressure line with a fall of 460 feet, giving at the highest
stage of water flow 590 H. P. During the lowest stage a
minimum capacity of 155 H. P. is had from the low-
pressure flume, which is 700 feet long, 3 feet wide and 2J
feet deep, carrying 150 inches of water with a fall of 260
feet. In addition to this, 525 feet of 20-inch pipe has
been laid to utilize an extra flow of water in the early
spring, which will give approximately 200 H. P. By
these improvements sufficient power will be generated
at all times of the year to furnish mine and mill with
power for operation and air for ventilation, and will
eliminate the burning of wood from March to August.
Crosscutting to the vein on the 550 level is in progress
and is expected to be reached in the next 60 feet, after
which drifting will begin and the shaft extended to the
700 level, later to be extended to the 900 level. Drifting
is in progress on the 400 level.
It is reported that the Curby copper claims on Snake
river, nea.r Homestead, has been sold to the same syndi-
cate which purchased the McDougal property. At
the Mayflower mine of this district the cyanide plant
being put up is arranged to separate the slimes and
sands and treat them in distinct tanks.
Jackson County.
A controlling interest in the Opp mine, near Jackson-
ville, has been sold to Albany, N. Y., parties through
Foster & Gunnell of Grants Pass, represented by
R. Murphy.
Josephine County.
Operation this summer at the Takilma smelter, 45
miles from Grants Pass, has been constant since the
plant was blown in. The output of matte is twenty to
twenty-three tons daily, the product carrying 30% cop-
per and about S10 gold.
The Argo M. Co. of Bellingham, Wash., has started
its new 5-stamp mill in the Galice district."
Because of the success of the pump at the power dam
of the Golden Drift M. Co., operating hydraulic giants
in the Dry Diggings, the company has begun enlarging
the penstock and placing eight more turbines of 400 H.
P. each. This will supply power for two more pumps
the size of the one now operated, or will give water and
pressure to a battery of six giants instead of two. The
company is operating its giants continually.
The Greenback Co. has begun placing thirty addi-
tional stamps in its lower mill on Grave creek, near
Greenback. The addition of these thirty stamps, to-
gether with the forty already at work and other equip-
ment that will be placed, will give the Greenback a daily
capacity of 200 tons.
The Oregon Belle's new 10-stamp mill has been started.
A 5-stamp mill has just been placed on the Rogue
River mine of Merlin district and a 5-stamp mill and
equipment is being put up at the Gold Pick mine of
Sucker creek, having been hauled by wagon to Holland.
Consolidation of the Almeda and Rand mining prop-
erties on lower Rogue river at Galice has been perfected,
the new company to be known as the Almeda Consoli-
dated Mines Co. There is 1300 feet of work on the Al-
meda. Arrangements have been made to put up a
smelter of 100 tons capacity. O. M. Crouch, formerly
president of the Almeda Co., has been named president
of the consolidated company, J. F. Wickham vice-presi-
dent and manager, R. C. Kinney secretary and treas-
urer and L. B. N. Simonds financial superintendent.
The Homestake mine, near Woodville, is to be opened
up. There is a 5-stamp mill at the mine, run by a gaso-
line engine, which is being replaced by electric motors
for power from the Condor Water & Power Co. The
concrete foundation for the transformer and two dyna-
mos have been put in, and it is expected to have the
transformers and motors in place within the next two
weeks. Water for milling has been secured from a gulch
near the mine, but in dry seasons this supply fails, and
to overcome this difficulty a pump will be put in to take
the water from Rogue river, a distance of 1600 feet.
SOUTH DAKOTA.
Custer County
Superintendent J. N. Wright intends enlarging the
Extreme mill and adding a cyanide plant. The mine is
2 miles northwest of Custer.
Lawrence County.
At Galena, J. D. Hardin is putting in a 180-stamp mill,
a 3-mile railroad and a large hoisting plant. Presi-
dent R. L. Bailie of the Golden Crest M. Co. has made
arrangements for resuming work at the company's mines,
3 miles from Galena. The shaft of the Dizzie mine,
near Maitland, is being sunk by H. H. Francis. A new
pump is to be put in.
Pennington County.
At the Gertie tin mine, near Hill City, Manager E. C.
Johnson has secured the necessary brick, cement, etc.,
for a small reverberatory for smelting the tin concen-
trates he is getting from the 35-ton experimental mill.
The ore, which is a granite of exceptionably coarse
grains and containing considerable mica, is crushed by
jaw crusher and steam stamp to 20 mesh. It is then run
over 15-foot copper plates to recover the free gold. No
trouble has been caused by the mica scaling. The pulp
is then concentrated on Wilfley tables. The Canton
M. Co. will continue their shaft," northwest of Hill City,
from the 135-foot to the 200-foot level. A 5-stamp mill
is being put up by the Gopher M. Co., near Hill City.
A hoist is being put in and an aerial tram between mine
and mill is expected 'to be running by fall. At the
Clara Belle mine, near Oreville, Frank Herbert has put
in an air compressor and two machine drills. A new
vertical shaft is to be sunk and a 10-stamp mill and cya-
nide plant to be put up. A working shaft is to be
sunk on the Mercedes mine, west of Rochford, by Super-
intendent James Cusick.
UTAH.
Beaver County.
In the Star district, near Milford, ore is being shipped
from the Moscow mine by D. Ferguson and from the
Marionette mine by J. Favey.
Juab County.
At the Carisa mine at Eureka, Manager H. S. Joseph
reports three new stopes, two being within Spy ground,
between the 600 and 700-foot levels^ another on the 200.
In addition to these the stope on the 150-foot level in the
Carisa vein is giving good ore. Work has been
started on a raise for air connection with the 400-foot
level of the Victor Con.
Salt Lake County.
Superintendent and Acting Manager A. O. Jacobson of
the Columbus Consolidated mine of Alta reports that his
company has twenty-two teams hauling ore from the
mine to the reduction works.
The Bingham-New Haven aerial tramway is expected
to be in operation by October 1. The survey has been
completed and Contractor Joseph Dederichs has men
framing timbers and excavating for towers. The com-
pany has finished a new assay office and equipped it with
new apparatus. The water system has been enlarged
and gives protection from fire. C. H. Doolittle of Salt
Lake City is manager. The Conger mine, near Bing-
ham, is being opened up by G. G. Hall.
Summit County.
Sinking has been resumed at the Silver King Consoli-
dated mine at Park City. The mine is now equipped to
take care of the water, which prevented the work being
carried on earlier in the year.
Utah County.
At the Wyoming mine in American Fork canyon fifty
men and twenty-five ore teams are being worked by
George and F. C. Tyng, the operators.
Wayne County.
A deposit of uranium is reported to have been found
2 miles from Fruita. The deposit is said to lay flat and
to be 2 feet in thickness. The ore carries copper and
some gold. T. E. Nixon is the owner.
WASHINGTON.
Ferry County.
A. Sharp, mine manager for P. Burns & Co., has
taken a bond on the Comstook-Treadwell group, 6 miles
north of Orient, from J. F. Mears, J. A. Connolly, H.
M. Vantine, Metz, J. H. Clarke and A._ Abrahamson,
and will start sinking at once.
Pierce County.
It is reported that an arsenic mine, near Elbe, is pro-
ducing twenty-five tons daily. The plant is said to be
the only one in this country where arsenic is taken
directly from the ore. It is usually collected from fumes,
as in Anaconda and other smelters. The present pro-
duct is white arsenic.
Snohomisli County.
It is reported that the shaft of the Wayside mine on
the Stillaquamish, near Granite Falls, is to beunwatered
and sunk from the 500-foot to the 1000-foot level. K. A.
A. Stahlgren has instructed President Haebecker to re-
sume work.
FOREIGN.
AFRICA.
Transvaal.
The production of gold at the Rand in July is offi-
cially announced at 419,505 ounces, the largest on rec-
ord. The production in June amounted to 412,317
ounces, and the outturn of July last year was 307,840
ounces.
AUSTRALIA.
New South Wales.
The Mining Journal reports that at Barraga the Lloyd
Copper Co. have put in a new reverberatory furnace,
said to be the largest in the Commonwealth. The State
Mines Department has dtcided that the cost of carriage
of trial parcels of ores from the mines to the ore reduc-
tion works be guaranteed by the Department, on the
explicit understanding that the carriage shall be the
first charge upon the proceeds after treatment charges
have been met. In the event of the value of the ore
being too low to cover the expenses of carriage and
treatment, the Department will pay any deficiency out
of the prospecting vote. In order that the Department
may be assured that assistance to forward any parcel of
ore is fully warranted, inquiry will be made into the
merits of each application by an inspector of mines, as is
A i (,i 81 19, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
132
done in respect to ordinary applications for aid from the
prospecting vote. The Prospecting Board will have to
be satisfied that the ore is worthy of a test, and that
reasonable facilities for testing the same do not exist in
the district. The board will also determine tho quantity
which may be forwarded. The Sulphide Corporation,
Ltd., Cockle Creek, has agreed to assist the Department
by making what concessions are possible In respect of all
parcels of ore forwarded with the approval of the Pros-
pecting Board. An important discovery of a silver-load
lode has been made in the Fumborumba district, where a
50-acre lease has been taken up by a Melbourne syndi-
cate. An official report speaks favorably of the find,
which is in good auriferous country. The specimens of
the ore, with the lluorlto forwarded by the Warden, have
been assayed by the Department of Mines with the follow-
ing average results: Gold traces, silver 13 ozs. l.Odwts.
20 grs. per ton; lead 59.3%. Also a vory small amount
of antimony is present, but no copper. At Cwira creek,
37 miles from Goulburn, a promising copper lode has been
discovered, a sample assay giving 50"„ copper, 12 ozs.
silver and 20 dwts. gold. Copper has also been found
near Blayney. The proposal of the London syndicate
to provide working capital to provide Broken Hill South
Blocks with necessary plant, etc., is generally approved,
and the work of reconstructing tho company, subject to
the approval of the shareholders, will be proceeded with.
Tho new company is to consist of 200,000 shares, each
El, fully paid up; 100,000 of those shares to go to share-
holders in the present company, and 100,000 shares to go
to the syndicate, who, in exchange, are to place £50,000
in cash to the credit of the new concern. Of the 100,000
shares received for the sale it is proposed to give 75,000
to paid-up shareholders of the company. At a re-
cent meeting in Melbourne of the North Broken Hill,
an agreement was signed between Rutter Clark, acting
on behalf of Messrs. Clark & Robinson of London and
the directors of the North Broken Hill Co., by which
the diroctors sold to that firm 10,000 shares for 30s each,
cash, and 10,000 shares at the same price, with delivery
at or within three months' time. This means that the
present company will, if the transaction is ratified by the
shareholders, sell its mine and plant to a new company
of 140.000 shares of £1 each. Of these shares 10,000 will
be held in reserve. Shareholders in the existing com-
pany will be allotted share for share, the difference of
20,000 shares going to Messrs. Clark & Robinson at 30s.
The capital derived from the sale of the 20,600 shares
will be ear-marked for the purpose of sinking a new
shaft and developing the mine, and out of the profits in
hand, an amount over £12,000, a dividend of 2s per share
will go exclusively to the holders of the 109,400 shares in
the present company.
CANADA.
BRITISH COLUMBIA.
Boundary District,
The Granby Co. has shut down its smelter at
Grand Forks to put in two additional copper furnaces
which will be of larger capacity than those at present
in use. It will give eight furnaces all told and increase
the present capajity of the smelter 50%. The present
Dominion C. Co. (the old Montreal & Boston) expects
to start a few men at work on the Brooklyn and Stem-
winder mines in the Phoenix camp to get the mine in
shape for shipping. The new compressor plant and ma-
chine drills of the Providence mine have been started.
The Granby Con. Co. has bought the Gold Drop claims
in Phcenix camp for $250,000 from the Gold Drop M. Co.,
of Montreal. The company has purchased from
Vaughan & Mclnnis, prospectors of Phcenix, the No. 13
claim, between the Granby and Gold Drop groups. The
diamond drill prospecting by the Granby Co. demon-
strated the existence of large ore bodies of similar
quality and value to the ore in the Knob Hill and Old
Ironsides. The group will be operated in conjunction
with the main Granby mines. Specifications are being
prepared for the headworks for the new three-compart-
ment shaft to be sunk at the Granby property this fall.
The hoi6t will be electrically driven, and probably of
200 H. P., capable of lifting a five-ton skip from a depth
of 1000 feet.
Rossland District
John Harryman of Baltimore, the owner of the O. K.
M. Co. 's interest in the O. K. mine, mill and water rights
on Sheep creek, near Rossland, contemplates working
the base ore in connection with the milling ore. The
mine is equipped with a 10-stamp mill and concentration
plant.
Superintendent Eugene Choteau is shipping to the
Trail smelter from the Cascade Bonanza at Rossland.
At the White Bear drifting is being done on the 700-
foot level to connect with the upraise to the 600-foot
level. No shipments will he made from the White Bear
until the new 400 H. P. motor is put in.
Slocan District.
It is reported from the Payne mine, near Sandon, that
12-ounce silver ore has been struck in three tunnels.
G. P. Ransom is manager.
Vancouver Island.
T. S. Lippy and Grant of Tacoma are to receive a
half interest in the June group of the Copper Mountain
M. & D. Co., at Quatsino sound, provided that within
three years they have completed 1800 feet of under-
ground work, built a railroad and smelter and put in
mine equioment.
ENGLAND.
Consul Stephens of Plymouth, England, reports on
mining operations in Cornwall and Devon. Last year
was not a prosperous one for metalliferous mines in
Cornwall and Devon. There was, however, slight in-
crease in the number of persons employed. Cornwall in
1904, with 54 mines at work, employed 3503 persons be-
low ground and 2717 above ground, a total of 6220.
Devon, with 24 mines at work, employed 285 persons
under ground and 144 above, a total of 429. These fig-
ures show an increase of 79 in Cornwall and 60 in Devon.
No females are employed in Devonshire mines, hut 228
found employment in Cornish mines, all above ground.
With regard to the output of minerals, the production
in Cornwall last year was : Arsenic, 827 tons; arsenical
pyrites, 43; copper ore, 4433; silver ore, 35; tin, dressed,
5980; tin, undressed, 640, and wolfram, 150, making a
total of 12.120 tons. Devonshire produced of arsenic. 149
tons; clays, 71,046; copper, 210; manganese, 177; slimes
ore, 322; stone, 3187, and tin, dressed, 9; a total of 75,700
tons. Last year Cornwall had 419 quarries at work, em-
ploying 5814 persons, and Devon -449 quarries, giving em-
ployment to 2299 persons. Of the employes, 4 were
females, and these were all employed in Cornwall.
Devon during the year produced 921,274 tons of min-
erals from its quarries, the details being : Chert and
flint, 18,504 tons; china clay and china stone, 08,533; pot-
tors' clay, 108,807; gravel and sand, 13,755; igneous rock,
87,592; limestone, 471,501; ocher and umber, 600; sand-
stone, ".4,420; slate, 0772, and other minerals, 700. In
Cornwall the production was 924,489 tons, comprising :
Chert and flint, 3015; china clay and china stone, 582,445;
clay, unwi'ought, 38,616; gravel, 1032; igneous rock,
242,o:iO; limestone, 10,237; sandstone, 11,594: slate, 20,758,
and other minerals, 7100.
MEXICO.
Chihuahua.
At the Grenadena mine, near Santa Barbara, the 00-
ton concentrating plant will be in operation about Sep-
tember 1. The Grenadena will be mined for zinc princi-
pally, as will the San Diego mine near there, belonging
to the Torreon smelter people. A concentrating plant,
said to be of 200 tons daily capacity, is being put up on
this latter property.
Jalisco.
H. M. Sunde is developing the San Jose de las Agujas
mine at Navidad. A doublo-compartment shaft is down
170 feet. Ore is being shipped from the San Antonio
y Anexas silver mines in the Tapalpa district, which
were recently purchased by the Chatterton M. Co. from
Silviano Camberos of Guadalajara.
Sonora.
(Special Correspondence). — At the Cananea mine the
concentrator is being enlarged on each end of the table
and vanner room, to double the capacity of the mill,
which now treats 1440 tons daily, using eight tons of
water to each ton of ore. There is also being built a
large steel sampling mill with steel ore bins and belt
conveyors, also an immense ore bedding plant of steel,
450x206 feet.
Cananea, Aug. 12.
It is reported that the Babicanora mine, near Bavia-
cora, is again in operation. Near Huepac, on the
Sonora river, Robt. Graham and associates are develop-
ing the Anita mine. — The mining camps, El Tiro, La
Yaqui and San Francisco de los Llanos, in the Altar
district, have been consolidated and named El Tiro.
The total population is 1319. Work of sinking the
shaft of the Santo Domingo mine at Aduana is progress-
ing satisfactorily.
NORWAY.
Of iron ore, 39,000 tons was exported from the Pehn
mines, near the Nordsjo, where about 230 men were em-
ployed during 1904. At Melo, in Bjarko, in the Tromso
district, the presence of iron ore was proved in 1903 by
magnetometric tests. In 1904, 4878 tons of iron ore were
produced here, containing 57% iron and .02% phos-
phorus; 2954 tons of this were exported. Other mines
exported smaller quantities, and the total export of iron
ore from Norway in 1904 amounted to 45,000 tons, com-
pared with 41,575 tons in 1903. The briquette works
at the port of Guldsmedvik in Moi Ranen have been
commenced, and the removal of the surface layer and
other preparatory work on the ore fields at Urtvand
has been taken in hand, so that 5000 tons per day can be
quarried in the summer of 1905. The whole works,
which are the finest industrial works in Norway, will be
ready by the summer of 1905, and the exportation will
then commence; an annual export of 750,000 tons of ore
per year is planned for the next few years.
SOUTH AMERICA.
Argentine Republic.
It is reported that a number of companies have been
formed in Buenos Ayres to dredge for gold in various
rivers in the Argentine Republic and in Bolivia,
Brazil and Chile. The mining law of the Argen-
tine Republic does not provide the security of title
conferred by the laws and codes of the neighbor-
ing countries, especially by Bolivian mining law, but
this is largely due to the discretionary powers vested
in her administrators. The present Minister of Ag-
riculture, however, has included in his budget for
the current financial year a large sum of money, which
is destined to effect improvements in the prevailing
methods. A large number of dredgers are to be ordered.
The severity of the climate will be an obstacle to dredg-
ing during the winter months in Tierra del Fuego and
Patagonia.
Colombia.
The emerald mines of Muzo are owned by the Govern-
ment and are among its most valuable assets. Colombia
is seeking a loan in foreign markets wjth which to carry
on operations in the mines. Lloyd-Owen was employed
by the Government and made a report, from which the
following is taken: The Muzo mines are in the State of
Boyaca, near Muzo, three days' riding on mule hack
from Zipaquira, the terminus of the Northern Railway.
Under great heat and pressure, due no doubt to further
and subsequent volcanic action, these various minerals
in the fissures or veins have crystallized in different
shapes and forms, according to the various minerals con-
tained in any p'articular vein or fissure. Under favor-
able circumstances the most beautiful deep green emer-
alds have been formed in these small veins, the green
color being undoubtedly due to the presence of chrome
in sufficient quantity. In other veins the emeralds are
found of a light green color, due, no doubt, to the fact
that there was not chrome enough present to give the
deep green color. In other veins no chrome was pres-
ent, and as a result the crystals are pure white or col-
ored red or yellow by oxide of iron. ' Many of the crys-
tals are pure silica and others have various minerals
combined with the silica. The general tendency in these
emerald-bearing rocks, is to form crystals of emerald of
green color, and the quality of the emerald, if it is clear
and free from Haws, depends upon its size and color, the
darker green being the most valuable. The thickness
of tho emerald-bearing strata at the present workings of
the Muzo mines varies from 100 to 200 feet. Although
some emeralds are found in the upper strata, the amount
is inconsiderable and practically all the emeralds are
found in the lower strata. Large quantities of barren
rock and strata have to be removed in order to get at
emerald-bearing ground by open workings, and as it
would not pay to remove this overburden by hand labor
water is employed. A small stream coming down the
mountain side above the workings is intercepted and
caught in a tank. When this tank is full the water is
released, and, rushing down and through a long, wind-
ing ditch, finally comes to some of tho debris and washes
it down the valloy, where it accumulates until washed
away by tho stream from the cros6 hills. It is necessary
that after the present accumulation of dobris has been
removed work should at once be commenced to remove
the overburdon from the next portion of emerald-bear-
ing ground proposod to be worked, and this should be
pushed on as fast as possible during the wet season,
when water is available. There should never be less
than twelve months' work of emerald -bearing strata
exposed and cloar of debris. It is stated that the pro-
duction of tho mines for the period included between
May 1, 1904, aud January 31, 1905, was as follows, stated
in carats: First-class emeralds, 262,548; second-class,
467, 090; third-class, 22,700; fourth-class, 16,000. These
figures give a total of 708,938 carats sout to Bogota in
the period named.
Peru.
A. W. McCune, in an interview at Salt Lake City,
Utah, said that the Cerro de Pasco mines, 210 miles from
the city of Lima, are being connected to the coal minos,
17 miles distant, where the Cerro de Pasco Co. will have
its coke ovens. The copper smelter will go into commis-
sion about Nov. 1, The plant was originally designed to
handle 1000 tons of ore per day, and equipment has been
provided accordingly. To begin with, only the first unit
of 500 tons will go into commission, but the capacity will
be gradually brought up to the maximum. The labor
question in South American countries is not a serious
one, and Mr. McCune finds that the natives give very
good satisfaction after a little training.
*************************************
f Commercial Paragraphs* §
* *
sfc & * ^"f- •i* $• ^ ^ ^ *> * * * *,' * * * hj u> *i' -I* * * ^ %• * 'f- * * $> t* <f< >& tp <& *
The Hercules Gas Engine Works, 215 Bay street, San
Francisco, Cal., were totally destroyed by fire on the
13th inst.; loss $100,000, insurance $25,000. The works
will be immediately rebuilt.
H. P. Gillette and G. H. Gibson have formed
a partnership as "advertising engineers, " under the
name of the Geo. H. Gibson Co., with offices in the Park
Row Bldg., New York City.
The Compressed Air Machinery Co. of San Francisco,
Cal., has recently shipped four of the Word Bros, im-
proved drill makers and sharpeners to the Oliver Iron
M. Co. of Duluth, Minn., making a total of seven ma-
chines placed with this company.
The Wellman-Seaver-Morgan Co., Cleveland, Ohio,
have established a branch office at No. 216 Dooly Block,
Salt Lake City, Utah. H. V. Croll, M. E., has been ap-
pointed manager thereof, and inquiries addressed to the
Salt Lake City office will have his personal attention.
The S. H. Supply Co., Denver, Colo., report the fol-
lowing recent shipments of machinery: Two No. 1 Wild
mills, suitable for mule-back transportation to Mexico;
No. 3 Wild mill to California; fifty-ton cyanide plant
complete with No. 2 Wild mill to New Mexico; complete
fifty-ton concentrating plant with No. 2 Wild mill to
Arizona; 75 H. P. Lidgerwood double-drum hoist to
Mexico.
The Colorado Iron Works Co., manufacturers of ore
milling and smelting equipments, state that their New
York sales agency, formerly in charge of the Traylor
Engineering Works Co., 114 Liberty St., New York
City, has been discontinued, and for the present the
company is not represented there, all inquiries, requests
for specifications, estimates, etc., being handled direct
from the main office at Denver, Colo., until further
notice.
The Pelton Water Wheel Co. report orders from the
Homestake M. Co., Lead, South Dakota, for one 800
H. P. Pelton water wheel unit direct connected to an
electric generator; the Nevada Power M. & M. Co. for
an additional Pelton wheel, 3000 H. P. maximum
capacity, direct connected to an electric generator and
operating under a head of 990 feet. This company is in-
stalling two Pelton wheels for direct connection to 750
K. W. generators and proposes to transmit power to
Tonopah and Goldfield, Nev. Through Mitsui & Co.,
San Francisco, was placed an order for 500 H. P. wheel
for use in electric light station in Japan.
$ *********** '.'? * '.'' ^ r.!." * *> * '*.? :'- r> *******-!* * * * * * 3S
I Trade Treatises. |
* 4-
%tytyty^^W®ip'tip****q'fyfyWfyepqifr<l?*W^tyipty^ty<&tl'<jii'Vi{t
A neatly illustrated booklet from the Ingersoll-Ser-
geant Drill Co., 26 Cortlandt street, New York City,
describes the construction and operation of the " Radia-
lax " coal cutter.
A finely executed folder from the De La Vergne Ma-
chine Co., Foot of East 138th St., New York City, N. Y.,
exemplifies the construction of the Koerting gas engines,
suction and pressure producers.
The Powell "White Star " valve is described in detail
with sectional illustrations in a little book issued by the
Wm. Powell Co., 2525-2531 Spring Grove avenue, Cin-
cinnati, Ohio, showing the value and economy of their
133
Mining and Scientific Press.
Auciust 19, 1905.
********** **^> <*•********** *********■*'***
*
Personal.
J. H. Cdrle has returned to London, Eng., from
South America.
H. K. Wheeler has returned to Los Angeles from
San Francisco, Cal.
Charles A. Molson of Salt Lake City, Utah, is on a
visit to New York.
W. A. Farish is examining mines in the Clifton-Mo-
renci district of Arizona.
Richard A. Parker of Denver, Colo., has returned
from Salt Lake City, Utah.
John C. Daly of Salt Lake City, Utah, has been
visiting in San Francisco, Cal.
J. C. Goodwin of Tempe, Ariz., is visiting the Lewis
& Clark Exposition, Portland, Or.
F. R. Fielding, who has been dangerously ill in San
Francisco, Cal., is reported convalescent.
J. Park Channing of New York City is in Salt Lake
City, Utah, after visiting San Francisco, Cal.
T. R. Hen ah an, manager Silverton M. Co., Silver-
ton, Colo., has returned there from Chicago, 111.
George E. Webber, manager Rand Mines, Ltd., is
on a visit to California from Johannesburg, S. A.
Ernest Gayford's temporary address is "The
Southern Manufacturers' Club, Charlotte, N. C."
W. L. Honnold is taking a holiday in Wisconsin.
He will return to Johannesburg, S. A., in October.
C. Gardner has been appointed manager Garden
Wall M. Co., working lead mines near Wiota, Wis.
T. J. Ludlow of Berkeley, Cal., has taken a position
with the Alaska Central Railway, at Seward, Alaska.
J. W. Conner, manager Veta Colorado M. & S. Co.
of Parral, Chihuahua, Mexico, has been in New York
City.
T. A. Rickard is in Nova Scotia, as advisor to .the
Provincial Government in its effort to stimulate gold
mining.
John Ross Jr. has returned to the Wildman mine,
at Sutter Creek, Cal., from professional business in
Nova Scotia.
G. G. Vivian, manager Hidalgo mines and smelter at
Sultepee, State of Mexico, Mexico, has been at George-
town, Colo.
H. E. Wilson, manager Eureka Nest Egg and Erie
mines, White Pine, Colorado, has returned there from
St. Louis, Mo.
Chas. M. Gunn, general manager Columbia Engineer-
ing Works, Portland, Or., has returned from a brief
California visit.
C. T. Durell, manager Gold Reef mine, Gilt Edge,
Mont., has resigned to become manager Spotted Horse
mine, Maiden, Mont.
Edward Hooper will leave London, England, in Sep-
tember to examine the Great Boulder Perseverance mine
in Western Australia.
N. W. Haire of Ironwood, Mich., succeeds W. E.
Parnall as manager of the Bigelow Syndicate's interests
in the Lake Superior country.
R. Gilman Brown of San Francisco, Cal., is supervis-
ing experiments with the Moore process at the mill of
the Standard Con. Co., at Bodie, Cal.
A. F. Rogers of Columbia University has been made
assistant professor in the department of geology and
mining at Stanford University, Cal.
Norms English, superintendent Darien G. M. Co.,
at Cana, Panama, has returned to San Francisco, Cal.,
and will probably remain until spring.
W. Gillette Scott, general manager and superin-
tendent of mines for the Great Western Gold Co. at
Ingot, Shasta county, Cal., has resigned.
F. MORGUES, general superintendent Quintera M. Co.,
at Alamos, Sonora,. Mexico, has resigned and will leave
for Paris. George La Brun is his successor.
Charles M. Becker, manager Stratton's Independ-
ence, Cripple Creek, Colo., has gone to New York to
meet F. W. Baker of the Venture Corporation.
W. F. Cochrane has been chosen president and man-
ager Great Northern Mines Co., operating in Trout
Lake division, N. W. Kootenay district, B. C.
S. B. Christy, professor of mining at the University
of California at Berkeley, Cal., has returned from a visit
to the mining camps of Colorado and Nevada.
E. H. Webster, formerly superintendent Grand Cen-
tral mine, at La Colorada, Sonora, Mexico, is assistant
manager Dolores mine, Minaca, Chihuahua, Mexico.
Books Received*
'b -> ■*■ ■& -J* £> -b * 'b -brb'b * * -b * * 'b 'b 'b * 'b -b •£• "b * ■*• •b <b * 36
*•
*
*
Each trade and profession has a language of its own,
and the expression and interpretation thereof is often
puzzling to the uninitiated. The vocabulary of the
machinist is admirably presented in "Machine Shop
Tools and Methods " by W. S. Leonard. This has been
written for the instruction of students in the machine
shop, and is particularly useful in that it not only defines
the tools, but tells how they should be used to get cer-
tain results. The book is written so as to be easily
understood by students who know very little of practi-
cal machine shop work, and is consequently exhaustive
in its description of even the commonest machine tools.
The book tells the why and wherefore of many methods
of doing certain work that machinists may have been
doing for years, but, having been taught how to do it
when apprentices, they have not learned the reason for
so doing. It will prove valuable for every student in an
engineering college, and a fine reference book for any-
body interested in machine shop tools, as it treats of the
most modern machines. For reference in a commercial
machine shop the description of the construction and
use of portable pneumatic tools would be much appre-
ciated, because these tools are constantly used in large
shops, but their construction and inner workings are
only understood by the tool keeper and his assistants.
The treatment is logical and comprehensive, yet emi-
nently practical. It is published by John Wiley & Sons
of New York City and will be sent postpaid by the Min-
ing and Scientific Press for $4.
Folio 124, "The Mount Mitchel Quadrangle," of the
U. S. Geological Survey, describes the geography and
geology of a part of North Carolina and Tennessee.
Soapstone, talc, mica, precious gems, corundum, marble,
serpentine, building stone, graphite, magnetite, brown
hematite, chromite, lime and brick clay are the economic
minerals.
" New or Imperfectly Known Rodents and Ungulates
from the John Day Series," by W. J. Sinclair, a bulletin
of the Department of Geology at the University of Cali-
fornia, Berkeley; price, 25 cents.
Latest Market Reports.
San Francisco, August 18, 1905.
Silver. — Per oz., Troy : London, 27ijd (standard
ounce, 925 line); New York, bar silver, 60Je, refined (1000
fine); San Francisco, 60Jc; Mexican dollars, 46c,' San
Francisco; 45Jc, New York.
Copper.— New York: Standard, $15,624; Lake, 1 to 3
casks, S15.62J@15.77J; Electrolytic, 1 to 3 casks, $16.00;
Casting, 1 to 3 casks, $15.25 @ 15.50. San Francisco:
$16.50. Mill copper plates, $17.50; bars, 18@24c. London:
£69 5s spot per ton.
Lead.— New York, $4.70; Salt Lake City, $3.50; St.
Louis, $4,524; San Francisco, $3.70, carload lots; 4Jc 1000
to 4000 lbs.; pipe 6Jc, sheet 7, bar 5Jc; pig, $4.85/ Lon-
don: £13 18s 9d IfUong ton.
Spelter. — New York, $5.80: St. Louis, $5.18; Lon-
don, £24 12s 6d $ ton; San Francisco, ton lots, 6?c; 100-Ib
lots, 7c.
Tin. — New York, pig, $32.55@32.85; San Francisco, ton
lots, 34c; 500 fts., 35c; 200 lbs., 35Jc; less, 35Jc; bar tin,
f, ft., 35@37Jc. London, £149 15s.
Platinum.— San Francisco, crude, $18.50 ^oz.; New
York, ingot, $20.50 $ Troy oz. Platinum ware, 75@$1.00
W-. gram.
Quicksilver. — New York, $41.00@$41.50, large lots;
London, £7 7s 6d; San Francisco, local, $38.50@39.00 fi
flask of 75 fts.; Denver, $42.00.
Babbitt Metal. — San Francisco, No. 1, 10c; No.
2, 7c; No. 3, 6Jc; extra, 17Jc; genuine, 32Jc; Eclipse, 35c.
SOLDER.— Half-and-half, 100-ft. lots, 23.00c; San Fran-
cisco, Plumbers', 100-ft. lots, 19.00c.
Zinc. — Metallic, chemically pure, fk ft., 50c; dust, ^ft.,
10c; sulphate, $! ft, .04c.
Nickel.— New York, 55@60cfHv, ton lots, 40@47c.
Aluminum.— New York, No. 1, 99% pure ingots,
33@37c; No. 2, 90%, 31@34c.
Aluminum.— No. 1, 99%, small lots, 37c $ ft.; 100 fts..
35c; 1000 lbs. 34c; ton lots and over, 33c, Pittsburg. No,
2, 90%, small lots, 34c; ton lots and over, 31c, Pittsburg.
STRCCTUKAL, MATERIALS.
Iron. — Pittsburg, Bessemer pig, $14.85; gray forge,
$16.00; San Francisco, bar, 3c K ft., 3Jc in small quan-
tities.
Steel.— Bessemer billets, Pittsburg, $21.00@$21.00;
open hearth billets, $23.00@$23.00; San Francisco, bar,
7c to 12c B ft.
White Lead. — Per ft., in kegs: 500 fts. and over at
one purchase, per ft., 7|c; less than 500 fts., per lb., 8c;
in 25-ft. tin pails, Jc ifo ft. above keg price; in I and 5-Ib.
tin cans, 100 lbs. per case, Jc per ft. above keg price.
Dry Lead. — In bbls., 1 ton and over, 6Jc; do. in kegs, 7c.
Lime. — Santa Cruz, $1.25 country, $1.25 city f, bbl.
Cement.— Imported, $2.15@2.65 B bbl.; California,
carload lots, $1.90 f. o. b. at works; small lots, $2.20 fl
bbl. in sacks, 4 sacks to bbl., 5c for each sack returned.
Lumber.— (Retail): Pine, ordinary sizes, $24.00®
5.00; extra sizes higher; redwood, $28.00@30.00; lath, 4
feet, $4.50@5.00; pickets, $21.00;shingles, $2.50 for No. 1,
and $2.25 for No. 2r shakes, $13.50 for split and $15.00 for
sawed; rustic, $28.00(3,35.00.
Nails. — This week the basic prices are: Wire, $2.77;
Cut, $3.25. Meanwhile the nominal quotations per keg
(list prices) are: No. 20d to 60d, Wire, $3.35; Cut, $3.55;
lOd to 16d, Wire, $3.45; Cut, $3.35; 8d, Wire, $3.50; Cut,
$3.50; 6d and 7d, Wire, $3.60; Cut, $3.60; 4d and 5d,
Wire, $3.70; Cut, $3.70; 3d, Wire, $3.85; Cut, $3.85; 2d,
Wire, $4.10; Cut, $4.10. Special rates for carload lots.
GENERAL SUPPLIES.
Antimony.— New York, Cookson's, 12Jc; Hallett's,
13c; San Francisco, 1000-ft. lots, lie; 300@500-ftr. 12e;
100-ft. lots, 13c.
Bismuth.— Subnitrate, $1 ft., $2.10.
Bone Ash.— Extra No. 1, 5@6c fi ft; No. 1, 4@5c.
Borax.— Concentrated, 7@8c "§, lb; powdered, 9@10c;
fused, 25@30c; crystal, 7c.
Candles. — Spear Brand, 16 oz. adamantine, 40s., lie
B set; 14 oz. adamantine, 40s., 10c; 12 oz. adamantine,
40s, 9c; 10 oz. adamantine, 40s, 8c; 16 oz. stearic, 40s,
12fc H set; 14 oz. stearic, 40s, 11J; 12 oz. stearic, 40s,
10Jc; 10 oz. stearic, 40s, 9Jc. 100-case lots and over, Jc
less. Not less than 50-case lots, %c less. Boxes of 20s,
price \a advance.
Caps.— 3x, $5.50@6 per 1000; 4x, $6.50@7; 5x, $8@8.50;
Lion, $9@9.50, in lots not less than 1000.
Chemicals. — Cyanide of potassium, 98%-99%, job-
bing, 23@24c B &■; carloads, 23@23Jc; in tins, 30c; soda
ash, $2.00 "% 100 fts.; hyposulphite of soda, 3@3|c$Sft.;
caustic soda, in drums, 3@3Jc $ ft. ; Cal. s. soda, bbls.,
$1.10@1.20#Sl00 1bs.; sks., 90c@$1.00; chlorate of pot-
ash, 12@13c; nitrate of potash, 6J@7c; caustic potash,
10c in 40-ft. tins; roll sulphur, 2J@2jc; powdered sul-
phur, 2J@2Jc; flour sulphur, French, 2|@ — c; alum,
$2.00@2.25; California refined, lj@2c; sulphide of iron,
8c ^ft ft.; copper sulphate, 5J@5Jc; chloride of lime, spot,
$2.50@2.75; sulphuric acid, in carboys, 66% B, lj@2c $
ft. ; nitric acid, carboys, 8c <^ ft.
Chromium.— 90% and over, f, ft., 80c.
Coal. — San Francisco, coast, yard prices : Welling-
ton, $8.00; Seattle, $6.50; Coos Bay, $5.50; Southfield,
$8.00. Cargo lot, Eastern and foreign: Wallsend, $7.50;
Brymbo, $7.50; Pennsylvania, hd., $14.00; Scotch, $8.00;
Cumberland, $13.00; Cannel, $8.50; Welsh Anthracite,
$13.00; Rock Springs, $8.50, long ton; Colorado Anthra-
cite, $14.00. Coke, $10.50 per ton in bulk, $13.00 in
sacks; Sunnyside, $8.50, long ton.
Fire Brick. — Domestic, carloads f, 1000, f. o. b., fac-
tory square, $25.00; soap and split, $22.50; arch and
wedge, $27.50; skewback, $30.00; circle, $32.00.
Fire Clay.— Domestic, f| ton 2000 lbs. in 125-B
double, and dry ground, f. o. b., factory, $8.50.
FUSE.— Triple tape, $4.00 per 1000 feet; double tape,
$3.50; single tape, $3.10; Hemp, $2.75; Cement No. 2,
$3.00; Cement No. 1, $2.65, in lots of 3000 and up.
Litharge.— Pure, in 25-ft. bags, 9J@10£c f, ft.
Magnesium. — Pure, N. Y., $1.60.
Manganese. — Black oxide, "§} ft., 2j@4c.
Mercury.— Bichloride, B ft., 77c.
Molybdenum.— Best, $2.75 f, ft.
Oils. — Linseed, boiled, bbl., 64c; cs., 69c; raw, bbl.,
62c; cs., 67c; Lucol oil, boiled, bbl., 56c; cs., 61c; raw-
bbl., 54c: cs., 59c. Kerosene — Pearl, per gal., 17Jc; As-
tral, 17Jc; Star, 17Jc; Extra Star, 20jc; Eocene, 19Jc;
Elaine, 26c; Water White, in bulk, lie; Mineral Seal,
iron bbls., 18c; wooden bbls., 20Jc; cs., 24c; Mineral
Sperm, cs., 26Jc; Deodorized Stove Gasoline, bulk, 14Jc,
do., cs., 21c; "86° Gasoline, bulk, 25e; do., cs., 31c; 83°
Naphtha or Benzine, deodorized, in bulk, per gal., 12Je;
do., in cs., 19c; Lard Oil, E. W. S., bbl., 75c; cs., 80c;
Neats-foot Oil, pure, bbl., 63c; cs., 78c; Sperm, crude,
63@68c; Natural White, 68c; Bleached, do., 57c; Whale
Oil, cs., 52@67c.
Phosphorus.— American, B B>-> 70c.
Powder.— F. o. b. San Francisco : No. 1, 70% nitro-
glycerine, per ft., in carload lots, 15}c; less than one ton,
17Jc. No. 1*, 60%, carload lots, 13Jc; less than one ton,
15Jc. No. 1**, 50%, carload lots, lljc; less than one ton,
13|c. No. 2, 40%, carload lots, 10c; less than one ton,
12c. No. 2, 35%, carload lots, 9Jc; less than one ton,
lljc. No. 2**, 30%, carload lots, 9c; less than one ton,
lie. Black blasting powder in carload lots, minimum
car 728 kegs, $1.50 per keg; less car lots, $2.00 per keg.
Red Lead. — 500 fts. and over at one purchase, B ">•
7Jc; less than 500 fts., 8c.
Notices of Recent Patents.
Among the patents recently obtained through Dewey, Strong &
Co. 's Scientific Press United States and Foreign Patent Agency,
the following are worthy of special mention:
Detorsion Timber Square —No. 796,645. Aug. 8, 1905. James
Herche, San Francisco, Cal. The object of this invention is to pro-
vide for such corrections in the timber as will enable the operator to
correctly effect the desired results. The device comprises a rec-
tangular block with intersecting guides parallel with its sides,
blades and means for adjustably holding them in said guides, a level
fixed parallel with two of the sides of the block, and standards ad-
justable upon the horizontal blade. There are other details of con-
struction adapted to bring about the desired result.
Protective Caps for Tuning Fins.— No 796,«77. Aug. 8, 1905.
Isidor B. Rosencrantz, Alameda, Cal. This invention relates to a
removable covering for the tuning pins of pianos. It is well known
that the strings of pianos and other instruments are more liable to
get out of tune where they and their tuning pins are subjected to any
considerable or sudden changes In temperature. This is due particu-
larly to the tendency of the pins to expand or contract, and so put
the strings out of tune. The object of this invention is to provide a
simple, inexpensive, practical, protective cap or covering for the
tuning pins which may be quickly and easily appliPd to the pins of
any piano, and which will grip all the pins alike to hold it in place,
and at the same time will allow of the pr ,per circulation of air
about all the pins and not allow one pin to be affected by tempera-
ture more or less than any other pin. It consists of a protective cap
for pinno tuning pins, composed of flexible material and of greater
length than width, and having interior longitudinal integral por-
tions to engage the opposite sides of all the pins alike and io retain
the cap in place, at the same time permitting the free circulation of
the air between the several pins.
New Patents.
Dewey, Strong & Co.'s Scientific Press Patent Agency, 330
Market street, San Francisco, has official reports of the following
United States patents issued to Pacific Coast inventors :
FOR WEEK ENDING AUGUST 1, 1905.
-Oke I'resser — Anderson & Bennie, Clifton, Ariz.
-Ore Dresser— Ander>on & Bennie, Clifton, Ariz.
-Bottle— S. E. Bell, Represa, Cal.
-Road Rollkr— a, E. Burns, Los Angeles, Cal.
-Therapeutic Apparatus— H. E. Currey, Baker City, Or.
-TJnderreamer— E. Double, Los Angeles, Cal,
-Fish Tank— J. B. Duryea. Tacoma, Wash.
-Hose Coupling— I. W. Epley, Colville. Wash.
-Lifting Jack— E. H. Goodwin. Ulympia, Wash.
-Curtain Pole— m. M. Harding, Monrovia. Cal.
-Flower Stand— Hyde & Buchanan, Wadsworth, Nev.
-Lubricator— H. P. Josewski, S. F.
-Rock Drill— E. R. Langford, Los Angeles. Cal.
-Animal Dipping Machine— J. Manifold. Willows, Cal.
-Surface Dressing Machine— D. Mathews, Los Angeles,
79(5 172.
7%, 390.
^96,186.
796,114.
796,197.
796,118.
796,306.
796,204.
795,972.
795,837.
796.125.
796,228.
796,232.
795,997.
Cal.
796.(101.
796.143.
796,253.
796,150.
796, 15*.
795. still
796,205.
796,104,
796,377.
796,028.
-Plane— J. H. McGhan, Baker City. Or.
-Line Grip Holder— A. Nord, S. F.
-Treating Stone— h. Ryan, Seattle, Wash.
-Fruit Sheahs—T. A. Ryles. Pomona, Cal
-Fruit Packing Machine— S. H. Shelley, San Jose, Cal.
-inhaler— J. R. Spanogle, Athena, Or.
-Steam Boiler— C. A. Sturm, Castlerock, Wash.
-Drill Hole Enlarger — T. M. Topp, Raymond, Cal.
-Pipe Fitting— F. Walker, Los Angeles, Cal.
-Hame Fastener— W. G. Youngs, Montesano, Wash.
Whole No. 2351. -V0NL„KC'
San Francisco, Cal., Saturday, August 26, 1905.
THREE DOLLARS PER ANNUM.
Single Copies, Ten Cent*.
Situation a Factor in Mining.
In the development of a new mine or a new mining
district the situation is often one of great importance
in securing the necessary capital for development
and equipment. Naturally it would seem that the
situation might, to a great extent, dominate all other
considerations; but such is not always the case,
though often there is less difficulty in securing the
needed capital for opening and equipping a new mine
in a situation where the conditions are favorable
than where they are difficult. There are, however,
a sufficient number of exceptions to be interesting.
In Colorado no situation seems impossible to the
miner and capitalist. If the vein only shows up suf-
ficient value to make it attractive, the necessary
money is usually promptly forthcoming. No altitude
seems too great. No difficulties of transportation,
apparently, are insurmountable. If railway facilities
are wanting, railroads are built. If expenses can be
reduced by concentration, concentrating mills are
hauled into the most rugged and highest moun-
tain basins adjacent to the mines, and an aerial
tramway forms the connecting link. Nature
obtrudes many obstacles to success, but the
ingenuity and enterprise of the miners surmount
these as fast as they present themselves. Idaho
has offered many difficult situations to the
progress of mining enterprise, but where the mines
justified it, as in Colorado and Idaho, these difficulties
have been overcome. In earlier days in California —
thirty years or more ago — there were numerous
companies operating mines in the Sierra Nevada. A
large amount of gold and silver was taken out, but
at great cost. Hundreds of thousands of dollars
were expended in the construction of roads alone.
Mining and milling machinery were hauled in and an
active campaign was carried on. These enterprises,
for most part, are now idle and abandoned. The
mechanical difficulties were overcome, but there
were other troubles as great or greater. The ores
were, for the most part, base, and the extraction
was both low and expensive. Supplies and wages
were higher than now, and results were not always
satisfactory. Now things are different. Most of
the ores can be reduced successfully, supplies and
wages are lower than at that time, and the mechani-
Mill of the Nickel Plate Mine, Hedley, B C. (See Page 137.)
cal appliances and methods are both superior to
those in use in the former years. Notwithstanding
these facts the mines of the high Sierra are mostly
idle. The California miner, as a class, has found
mining in the foothill region, surrounded by gardens
and orchards, with the railway station within easy
reach, far more to his liking than a life among the
towering, snow-clad peaks of the Sierra. He loves
to look upon them from a distance, and in the swel-
tering heat of a midsummer day wishes himself some-
where amid the snow fields, on a pleasure trip, but
he seldom thinks of the mining possibilities awaiting
a more energetic fellow.
The accompanying illustrations, and those on page
The Village of Hedley, B. C, Showing Nickel Plate Mill. (See Page 137.)
137, are of the equipment of the Nickel Plate mine,
near Hedley, B. C. Here is an instance where dif-
ficulties of situation did not count for much. When
this property first came to the attention of the man-
ager, it was many miles off the main lines of travel
surrounded by high and snowcapped mountains.
There was little inducement to even visit such a des-
olate wilderness, other than the story of a good-sized
vein of rich gold rock. This sort of thing tempts
many engineers to make what proves to be "wild-
goose chases," but in this instance, the "story"
seemed well founded. Development was commenced in
midwinter and continued uninterruptedly. Gradually
the property was equipped, and is now going steadily,
increasing in magnitude of operations, equipment
and value. The difficulties of situation have largely
been overcome. Propositions of this character de-
mand something more than money. They require
that the engineer understand his business and
that he be able to judge fully andwith an approxima-
tion to exactness what is required, what will it cost,
and what the probable result will be. If these
problems can be satisfactorily solved then the invest-
ment may be safely made, or the project dismissed as
too hazardous, or of no value at all.
THERE is a saying among geologists, especially
those who devote their attention more particu-
larly to the economic features, "Once mineral, always
mineral." This refers to the probabilities of minerals
of economic importance occurring through a succes-
sion of geological formations. Thus, in the Black
Hills of South Dakota it is positively known that the
Algonkian schists were gold-bearing in pre-Cambrian
times. The overlying Cambrian, Silurian and Creta-
ceous rocks are also mineral-bearing. Whether still
later rocks — the Cretaceous and Tertiary, which no
doubt also at one time occurred there, but which
have since been removed by erosion — were also min-
eral-bearing, it is impossible to say. In this Dakota
instance, at least, the saying seems well founded.
IN view of the rate at which gold is being absorbed
in dentistry at the present day, the "prehistoric
burying ground" of the distant future is likely to
prove a rather profitable gold mine.
135
Mining and Scientific Press
August 26, 1905.
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
ESTABLISHED i860.
Published Every Saturday at 330 Market Street, San Francisco, Cal.
Telephone, Davis 771.
ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION.
Cnlted States, Mexico and Canada '3 00
All Other Countries in the Postal Union 5 00
Entered at the San Francisco Postoffice as second-class mail matter.
Branch Offices:
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Chicago. 1164 Monadnock Block. Denver, 606 Mack Bloclt-
1. F. HALLORAN Publisher
SAN FRANCISCO, AUGUST 26, 1005.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
ILLUSTRATIONS: Page.
Mill of the Nickel Plate Mine, Hedley, B C 134
The Village of Hedley, B. C, Showing Nickel Plate Mill 134
Gravity Tramway, Nickel Plate Mine, Hedley, B. C 137
The Nickel Plate Mine, Hedley, B. C 137
Plan of the Slime Plant, Palmare jo, Mexico 139
Vertical Section of Slime Plant, Palmarejo, Mexico 139
Agitation Vat and Pump Connections ; 139
find Dumping wheelbarrow 11°
View Showing Tailings Stacker 141
The Bucket Line and Pilot House 141
Beginning the Work of Dredging in a New Pit 141
A Completed Dredger HI
The Main Drive HI
The Buckets in Operation ; HI
Folsom Development Co.'s Dredger No 1 141
The Transformer on a Modern Dredger 141
Plan of Derrieking Plant, Ophir Creek, Seward Peninsula 142
Tailings Wheel, Robinson Mine, Johannesburg, S. A 143
Head Frame, City and Suburban Mine, Johannesburg, S. A 143
EDITORIAL:
Situation a Factor in Mining 134
" Once Mineral, Always Mineral " 134
Gold Absorbed in Dentistry 134
Suggestions by Workmen 135
Mine Bookkeeping 135
" Tricks of the Trade " 135
Equity in Mine Taxation 135
The Cheapest Mining 135
MINING SUMMARY 145-146-147-148
LATEST MARKET REPORTS 149
MISCELLANEOUS:
Concentrates 136
The Nickel Plate Mine of British Columbia 137
Cheap Gold Mining and Milling in the Black Hills 137
Large Project for Los Angeles 138
The Ventilation of Mines 138
Scientific Blasting 138
Cyaniding Silver-Gold Ores of the Palmarejo Mine, Chihuahua,
Mexico 139
The Prospector 14''
An End Dumping Wheelbarrow 140
Gold Dredging in California 141
Placer Mining in Alaska .142
The Transvaal Gold Mines 143
Mining and Metallurgical Patents 144
Books Received 148
Commercial Paragraphs 148
Personal 148
Trade Treatises 149
New Patents 149
Notices of Recent Patents 149
IT is said that D. G. Delprat, manager of the
Broken Hill Proprietary mines, at Broken Hill,
N. S. W., has conspicuously posted in the company's
works a sign bearing in effect the following legend:
" Look around and see where money can be saved.
Any suggestions in this direction, together with the
name of the writer, if placed in the box beneath, will
receive the prompt attention of the manager." Mr.
Delprat is a well-known and successful mine man-
ager, and the above appears to indicate why he is
successful. He evidently endeavors to surround him-
self with men who use their brains as well as their
hands. Without doubt, the workman who makes a
valuable suggestion receives substantial reward for
his earnestness in behalf of his employer. The ex-
perienced manager may sometimes learn valuable
lessons from the most humble man on the payroll.
There are those whose success has carried them so
far that they feel no longer the need of advice or
suggestion from their peers, to say nothing of those
in their ranks, but the wise manager never rises to
this dangerous height. The ideas of the men who
daily come in contact with the details and the drudg-
ery are often well worthy of consideration.
A MINE bookkeeping system may be made
** more or less elaborate according to the needs
of the business or the wishes of the manager. If
itemized costs be desired, it is impossible to obtain
them without a careful and complete segregation of
accounts. Every department concerning which
detailed information is wanted must of necessity have
its separate account. The various charges should be
made on exact information, and not by guess, or by
an apportionment among several departments, as,
for instance, the amount of powder used on each of
the several levels of a mine. An accurate record
must be kept of the powder going to each level, and
if any be taken from that level to another place, the
level from which it was taken should be credited on
the books with it, and the amount charged against
the place where it is actually used. A bookkeeper
who was more noted for his love of leisure than for
the energies devoted to his business undertook to
apportion the powder used among the several levels
and working places, gaging the several amounts by
the number of men employed in each level. Against
one level several hundred pounds of powder were
charged, when during that particular month only
retimbering and repairs had been going on, a knowl-
edge of which fact by the manager at once exposed
the fallacy of a scheme so foolishly devised and
applied.
"Tricks of the Trade."
That there are " tricks in all trades," has come to
be accepted as an axiom. There are probably more
" tricks " in cyaniding than in any other branch of
metallurgy. By " tricks " in this instance are not
meant deceptive or crafty performances, but a cer-
tain adroitness in manipulation, or a keen under-
standing of the requirements in perplexing situations.
The field of experimentation in cyaniding is broad, and
if followed intelligently and faithfully, it will bring out
the latent powers of the operator in a manner that
few other callings can equal. In cyaniding, "rule
of thumb " and precedent must be abolished if the
highest success is sought. Because a successful
operator has accomplished what was acknowledged
to be a difficult task at one place, is not proof posi-
tive that he can do the same thing elsewhere in ex-
actly the same manner. He may have to modify his
treatment or method considerably. He must be
flexible. The only way in which he can afford to be
stubborn is to persistently refuse to accept defeat,
but if failure is succeeded by failure, try again along
somewhat different lines, but always be rational.
A difficult ore problem presented itself to several
cyanide operators. Filter-pressing was found out of
the question. The slimes flowed like water through
every grade of filter cloth. When the fabric was
fine enough to act as a filter the meshes clogged
with the slime and soon filtration either ceased alto-
gether or the slimes were forced through with the
solution. Another operator tried to treat this same
material by agitation and flocculation with lime.
The pulp would not flocculate. More lime was tried,
but without success. Another operator, more will-
ing to try extremes in an emergency, undertook the
same plan, starting with very little lime. It did not
do as well as was required, but was an improvement.
The caustic lime was then pulverized, screened and
scattered over the tank with a shovel — an ordinary
2S-gallon bucket of lime to a 30-foot tank of slimes, so
fine that a high power microscope was required to
see the individual particles in the sludge when
spread on a slip of glass. In an hour the pulp was
clear. The usual filter bottom with canvas was used
and filtration was discouragingly slow, particularly
the last 18 inches of sludge. An experiment was
tried. Cocoanut matting overlaid by jute bagging
was tried, and the filtration after decantation was
rapid and complete.
These instances merely illustrate the need of
adaptation of the methods to conditions. The latter
usually cannot be materially changed, the methods
can be, and it is up to the cyanide operator to be
fully acquainted with all the "tricks of his trade,"
and to practice them whenever it is required of him
to devise a new method or to improve an old one.
Equity in Mine Taxation.
Several of the mining States of the West are strug-
gling with the problem of mine taxation. All who
have ever had experience with this aggravating prop-
osition know that it is a matter not easily dealt with
to the satisfaction of all concerned. The owner of
the operating, paying mine thinks himself entitled to
favorable consideration, for upon the industry under
his direction depends, to a proportional extent, the
prosperity of the town, district or county in which he
operates. If he and the other mine operators of
the county were to close down their mines, all other
industries in the district would probably cease to
exist with them, for all are built up by and depend
directly upon the mining industry. Let the mines
shut down and deserted villages would quickly result.
The district would soon be depopulated and the region
revert to a wilderness. The owner of the unprofit-
able mine declares he is already placed at a great
disadvantage and an exception should be made in his
favor, as he is spending money in an effort to develop
a mine which some day may become profitable, and he
will then be able to contribute to the support of the
county and State Government. The owner of the
idle mine says he cannot afford to pay taxes on a
property which brings him in nothing, and protests
vigorously against taxation. In Arizona there is
serious talk at the Territorial capital of raising the
assessment of all mining property in the Territory —
each county to have its assessment raised from 100%
to 15,000%, according to the existing assessment and
conditions in the respective counties. That this
proposition is meeting with vigorous resistance, it
is needless to say. In South Dakota the Mining
Men's Association, which is the representative body
in that section, is earnestly protesting against a
threatened increase in assessment. The proposition
is by no means a new one, and many schemes have
been tried by means of which to raise the money nec-
essary to meet the expenses of county and State
Government. Direct taxation on valuation of the
mines, taxation of improvements, bullion, or output
tax — each of these and others have been tried, but
from the miner's standpoint none of them are popular.
The Cheapest Mining.
South Dakota still continues to attract attention,
as one of the regions of cheap mining in the West.
The Black Hills is a section of the mining country
favored above some others in many ways — there usu-
ally being abundance of timber and water — but, on
the other hand, it labors under some disadvantages.
The extremes of temperature are its greatest draw-
back, but, notwithstanding the fact that the ther-
mometer ranges from 110° in midsummer to 40° or
more below zero in midwinter, little time is lost in min-
ing operations due to the weather. The Wasp No. 2
mine, situated in the Black Hills, on Yellow creek,
about 2 miles south of Lead, and which has become
somewhat noted for the heavy blasting operations
carried on there, has recently fired another "big
shot," in which it is said 7000 tons of ore was broken
down in the open cut. The ore shoot lies flat, and
affords excellent opportunity for such feats in mining.
Unfortunately, the cost of mining and milling at the
Wasp is not available, but it is known that by cyanid-
ing a profit is made on ore assaying under $5 a ton.
Elsewhere herein is the description of mining
practiced at the Benedict mine, in Pennington
county, in the southern Black Hills, where gold
ore is being mined and milled at present for about 35
cents per ton, which is about as cheap as the cost of
mining and milling is done any place. At one time,
about 1890, mining and milling were accomplished for
(it was stated at the time) less than 50 cents per
ton, at the Dalmatia mine, in El Dorado county,
Cal., but as .soon as the open cut method was no
longer available costs went up, as the workings went
deeper.
Two miners picked down and sent to mill 115 tons
of ore daily, or at the rate of 7} cents per ton. The
mill equipment consisted of three Huntington mills
and ten stamps. The ore contained $2 per ton. It
seems likely that if the cost of power on capital
account be added to the Golden West statement it
would bring the expense to about 40 cents per ton,
which is still less by about 10 cents per ton than the
cost at the Dalmatia.
At the Big Indian mine, near Helena, Mont., min-
ing and milling were being done in the summer of 1903
for 46^ cents per ton. This mine was worked by
the open cut and mill hole method, 310 tons of rock
going to the 60-stamp mill daily. In this instance
two expert miners did all the drilling. Besides these
there were employed the foreman, a carman, black-
smith and twelve laborers. Miners received $3.50
per day and laborers $3. The mill capacity was
high — over five tons per stamp. In these charges
were included power, insurance and general expenses.
It does not appear that the managers of any of the
above mentioned properties have any cause to blush
for their record as expert and careful miners. This
sort of work cannot fail to stimulate others to emu-
late the very good example these several perform-
ances afford.
August 26, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
136
n q
CONCENTRATES.
h o
The mineral lands on the Uintah, Utah, reservation
will not be open for entry till October 27, 1905.
Nearly 50% of the zinc product of the United States
is absorbed in making galvanized iron and large
amounts are used in the manufacture of brass.
**■**
Wolframite and scheelite may occur associated
in the same vein or deposit — one being tungstate of iron
and manganese and the other tungstate of calcium.
Some mill men consider graphite an excellent lubri-
cant for cams in stamp mills; others prefer the old-fash-
ioned "dope." The graphite eliminates the danger of
grease.
During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1905, the Brit-
ish Columbian Government bounty rtf 50 cents per 100
pounds, in lead produced therein, aggregated $332,418,
which Includes the bounty paid on exported lead.
WW
PENSTOCKS, sluices, mill races and other places where
ice forms may be quickly cleared of the obstruction by
the use of water under pressure, as in hydraulicking.
The ice melts or breaks up under the continued force of
tho stream.
wvwv
A ROUGH pine board, placed below the lip of the
mortar and at the head of tho apron plates of a stamp
mill, affords an excellent indication of the condition of
amalgam within the battery, and is a guide to the feed
of quicksilver.
The element columbium (Cb) is the same as niobium,
it is a metal of steel gray color, having a brilliant luster,
and has an atomic weight, as referred to oxygen, of 94.
Niobium is the name more commonly used in the United
States, though in England it is still often called colum-
bium.
Up to the present time all efforts to reduce cinnabar
by wet processes have proved commercially unsuccess-
ful. The distillation of the mercury by fire applied
directly to the ore, or to the concentrated ore in retorts,
has thus far been the only successful method of treat-
ment.
Marble is usually intended to include those rocks
composed of carbonate of lime or of lime and magnesia —
limestones and dolomites — but the term has been ex-
tended to embrace some other varieties of stone, such as
some altered varieties of serpentine, and called verde
antique marble.
Bittern is the liquid remaining after sodium chloride
and some other salts have been crystallized from sea
water by evaporation. Bittern contains bromine in the
form of bromide of magnesium and bromide of sodium.
Bromine also exists in certain mineral springs. Bromine
is the only element beside mercury which is liquid at
ordinary temperatures.
vvvv
The true onyx is silica and occurs in nodular masses
having various colored bands — black and white or shades
of red and white, yellowish red, brown and white, etc.
In recent years some banded aragonites (calcium carbon-
ate) deposited by calcareous springs have also been
called onyx. The Mexican onyx and that from Big Bug,
Yavapai county, Arizona, is of this kind.
So FAR as known to "Concentrates," the largest mass
of native copper ever found was taken from the Phoenix
mine, in Keweenaw county, Mich., and weighed 500 tons.
Its extraction is said to have necessitated the calling of
a $20,000 assessment. This large mass was cut in place
with long-handled chisels, to sizes that could be hoisted,
by men who make a specialty of that work.
Air compressors may be fitted with automatic
devices which regulate the pressure within fixed limits,
as, for instance, 90 to 100 pounds. When the pressure
falls to 90 pounds the machine starts up automatically.
When the pressure has been raised to 100 pounds the
machine automatically cuts off and the compressor stops,
only to start up again when the pressure is down to 90
pounds.
W w WW
Mica schist, hornblende schist and some other meta-
morphic rocks are often found mineralized, more or less
silicified, and gold-bearing along a certain strike, with
rather indefinite walls, sometimes none at all, the com-
mercial result being the only definite limitation when
working the deposit. Although such deposits cannot be
defined as veins, this need not render them less valuable,
as many such deposits have been worked with good
profit.
In some instances concentration can be accomplished
by rather coarse work, resulting in large capacity per
crushing unit. A well-appointed modern mill, with
hydraulic classifiers, etc., would do much closer work,
but where the product is low grade the less scientific
method produces the best economic results. Where the
concentrate is high grade the proposition assumes a
different phase and close sizing, and classifying before
concentration are justifiable.
Power has been successfully and economically trans-
mitted by wire rope for considerable distances — upward
of a mile — the rope running on idlers attached to low
towers. This line was employed In running a pump to
supply a quartz mill with water, the power being trans-
mitted by the mill engine. In another instance power
was transmitted from a mill run by water power half a
milo up hill to a hoist. This also was run by wire rope
and proved satisfactory and economical.
WW W W
The quantity of water discharged through the nozzle
of pipe under known head may be approximately deter-
mined as follows: Extract the square root of the head
in feet and multiply this by 8.03. The product will
equal the spouting velocity In feet per second. Multiply
the area of the nozzle at the mouth by this velocity and
the result equals the cubic feet of water discharged per
second. Thus a 0-inch pipe under a 400-foot head will
discharge x/400 = 20 X 8.03 = 160.6 X 28.27 = 4523.8
cubic feet per second.
VNV
There should be no difficulty in concentrating schee-
lite from its matrix. Quartz, feldspar and the other
ordinary rock-forming minerals have a specific gravity
of about 2.6, that of scheelite being 5.9 to 6.1, or more
than twice as heavy as minerals of the gangue. Pyrite,
which usually concentrates readily, has a gravity of 4.9
to 5, being considerably below that of the tungsten ores.
If the proper machinery is used in crushing and concen-
trating, the scheelite should give no trouble whatever.
Tungsten ores are successfully concentrated in Boulder
county, Colo., and elsewhere.
The single-phase commutator-type alternating cur-
rent hoisting motor is essentially a series wound motor
and may be controlled by any method which changes
the impressed voltage. With alternating current there
are several ways of doing this, but the simplest method
is by means of a rheostat such as is used in controlling
direct current series motors. Recently automatic hoist
controllers have been placed on the market which pro-
duce an even and proper acceleration without regard to
personal characteristics of the operator and without
danger to the motor or operating mechanism.
A gravity tram is better suited to a fairly uniform
gradient than an aerial wire tram, where the distance
between terminals is not too great; but where there are
many inequalities of surface, such as intervening canyons
and gulches, ridges, etc., the aerial tram is far superior,
both in first cost and in operating expense. The gravity
tram is not well adapted to numerous and decided
changes of grade. The latter can usually be satisfac-
torily constructed with three rails, with a turnout at the
center. The curve at either end of the turnout must
not be sharp, or cars may frequently be derailed.
It is estimated that for good ventilation in mines at
least 100 cubic feet of fresh air should be supplied for
each man employed underground. Some mines have
ventilating plants which actually supply this amount,
but the system of air distribution is so poorly arranged
that in some places the fresh air is in excess of require-
ments, while in others it is deficient. It is evident that
a single machine drill exhausting 180 cubic feet of air
per minute when in actual operation supplies no more
air to two men working there than they actually need,
and that it falls below the theoretical requirement.
VVww
Dampers in ventilating pipes in mines, employed to
deflect air currents, should be made of heavy plate, simi-
lar to that used in turn sheets, for the heavy Russia iron
usually used will not stand the shock incident to blast-
ing, but double up around the damper rod. The pipes
must also be made of material heavy enough to resist
collapse, due to the momentary semi-vacuum produced
within the pipe by the explosion. Where it is
necessary to carry the pipe close to the blasting face, it
is well to either use old pipes or three or four lengths of
extra heavy pipe to withstand the damage of flying
rocks.
vvvv
Usually the effect of explosions is most noticeable
where there has been the most resistance. The explosive
force exerted on the air is not noticeable, but the effect
on the ground or on rock where powder has exploded is
clearly evident. This has led many to think that the
explosive force of powder is downward only. If a stick
of powder be placed in a horizontal crevice in the rock,
or in a hole drilled horizontally into rock, and the bur-
den given it not too great, the overlying portion of the
rock will be shattered and blown off. If the explosive
force were downward only, the overlying rock would not
be materially affected.
Pew of the surface equipments in the Missouri-
Arkansas zinc-lead field are extensive or expensive for
the reason that the individual ore shoots or deposits are
comparatively small though numerous. This condition
renders a surface plant of only transitory value, and
it has usually soon outlived its usefulness, and may be
transferred to a new place. For this reason head
frames are made of light timber— 2x6 and 2x8 pine, and
the hoisting engines are mostly small, not being re-
quired generally to hoist from a greater depth than 200
feet. It is generally cheaper to sink a new shaft than
to continue to tram ore 700 to 1000 feet underground only
a few feet below the surface.
The first hydraulic mining of which there is an au-
thentic record was at Yankee Jims, a placer camp in
Placer county, Cal., about 3 miles west of Forest Hill.
A ditch was dug along the hillside and from this a flume
was built outward toward a small ravine, where the
mine had boen opened. This flume was carried out until
it had reached a point 40 feet above the ground. Here
the water poured into a barrel, to the bottom of which
was attached a hose or pipe of rawhide. The nozzle was
a tin pipe about 4 feet long and shaped like an ordinary
horn, having an opening 1 inch in diameter at the end.
With this small and simple apparatus E. E. Mattison,
the inventor, soon proved tho superiority of his device
over shoveling, and the idea was at once adopted and
quickly improved and enlargod upon.
W W Vv
Blasts have been successfully discharged by means
of the electric spark for many years. The spark is gen-
erated in a device made for the purpose, the spark being
created by friction. If all the holes loaded and primed
are connected to the electric wires, all of the holes are
discharged simultaneously, which frequently results in
greater or less damage to timbers. If it is the intention
to shoot the entire round at once by means of the elec-
tric spark, the holes should be given a lighter load than
where they are fired miscellaneously or after a prear-
ranged succession, by cutting the several fuses of differ-
ent lengths. Efforts have been made to produce a fuse
which would make it possible to fire holes previously
loaded and connected up at one time, bo that they might
be discharged in series, but this attempt has as yet only
met with partial success.
A bucket from a vertical shaft may be easily dumped
by means of what is known as a "trip rope." This rope
is secured at some point above the shaft, usually 12 to 15
feet, and at a place which will cause the bucket to dump
at the desired spot, either in front of or behind the
shaft, into a bin or car, or on the ground, as desired.
The rope is provided with a hook, which is caught by
the bucket tender into the ring beneath the bucket.
When the engineer slacks the hoisting rope the bucket
is drawn either backward or forward by the trip rope,
and at the same time inverted and the contents fall
wherever desired. At some shafts two ropes are used,
one in front of the shaft, the other behind it. By this
means ore is dumped at one place and waste at another.
Where the trip rope is used the shaft should be provided
with doors, which may be closed before the bucket is
dumped. This gives greater security to the men below,
and without such precaution the use of the trip rope is
extremely dangerous.
WWW^P
It is dangerous to store large quantities of high ex-
plosives in the mine, as frequent disaster from the prac-
tice shows. A magazine built of stone is considered by
many the best place in which to keep dynamite and
other high explosives. Others think light frame struc-
tures covered by corrugated iron better than heavy
stone magazines, as in the event of an explosion, there
is less flying debris to increase the danger. Still others
believe the underground magazine better than either
of the former. Without doubt a more even tempera-
ture can be had in an underground magazine, and such
a storage place is superior to all others if it be dry, but
this fact does not warrant the placing of powder in mine
workings that are in use or which are connected with
the main exits, and in a situation between these and the
working faces. If there are abandoned workings in
the mine, at some point distant from the main tunnels
or shafts, and in a place where no great damage would
result to the permanent improvements, nor to the work-
men employed should an explosion occur, in such old
workings a good storage place for powder may be found.
Not more than a day's supply should be kept at the
loading bench on any level, in the mine, and the caps
should be kept in a separate place.
Where gold ores contain copper it is often difficult to
secure satisfactory results by the cyanide process.
Metallic copper is slightly soluble in cyanide solutions,
but, like gold, is not acted upon sensibly if in large grains
or sheets, but many of the ores of copper decompose
cyanide solutions, some of them, such as the carbonates
and oxides, so rapidly as to render the direct applica-
tion of the cyanide process, for the extraction of gold,
commercially a failure. In such cases some success has
been attained by first leaching out the copper with a
weak solution of sulphuric acid; washing the ore to dis-
place the acid, and when necessary neutralizing the
remaining acid by the addition of lime, and the subse-
quent treatment of the ore by the cyanide process for
recovery of the gold. This process is said to have been
introduced with considerable success at Barstow, Cal.,
on ores from Camp Rochester in San Bernardino county.
Ores containing as high as 3% copper can sometimes be
treated by cyaniding better than by any other process,
but it as often occurs that an ore containing less than
\% copper will give much trouble, the copper accumu-
lating in the circulating solution until it can no longer
be used. Where copper becomeB thus troublesome it is
often better to use the electrical process for precipita-
tion. There is considerable literature available on the
subject of electrical precipitation of gold and silver from
cyanide solutions.
137
Mining and Scientific Press.
August 26, 1905.
The Nickel Plate Mine of British
Columbia.
Written for the Mining and Scientific Press.
Within the past few years there has been devel-
oped, near the little mining village of Hedley, B. C,
one of the richest gold mines in the world — the
Nickel Plate of the Hedley Reduction Co, Ltd. Hed-
ley is an obscure little place in the valley of the Similk-
ameen river, at present off the line of railroad travel
and up to the present time but little has reached the
outside world concerning the Nickel Plate mines. In
1900 the mine came to the attention of M. K. Rod-
gers, who is the general manager, while he was in
Victoria, B. C. For five years before rinding the
Nickel Plate, Mr. Rodgers had been in search of a
large and profitable mining property for Marcus
Daly, of Butte, Montana. In the furtherance of this
desire to find a good mining property, he traveled
many thousands of miles, examined over 500 mines
and prospects, scattered over a good part of the
world, and finally met the owner of the Nickel
Plate at Victoria, when the mine was still in the
prospective stage. The mine was visited with diffi-
culty, for at that time there were no such conven-
iences of travel as at present. It "stood up" to crit-
ical superficial examination, there being little devel-
opment, and eventually it passed to the present
owners. The property comprises about twenty
claims of fifty acres each.
The Nickel plate mill and office buildings are in the
valley of the Similkameen, the mine being upon the
mountain. The mine and the mill are connected by
gravity tramway and electric railroad, the former
9000 feet long with a difference of 4300 feet altitude
between terminals. The mill buildings and tramway
are well illustrated by the accompanying engravings.
At the head of the gravity tram is an electric road,
on which cars run between the ore bin and the mine
— the cars running directly into the stopes. The
cars descend by gravity to the upper loading ter-
minal of the gravity road, and are hauled back to the
mine by electric motor. On this line are twenty-two
cars of two tons each.
The gravity tram has not got a uniform gradient,
but varies between 10% and 66 8%. When first
built this tramway was all in one section, but, owing
to the frequent changes in grade, it was decided to
operate it in two sections, which was found to be far
more satisfactory. At the head of the upper section
is a hoist driven by compressed air, which is con-
nected with the winding drums of the rope. The
function of this hoist is to hold the cars under con-
stant control, and to equalize the uneven tension on
the ropes, due to variable gradient. At the middle
station the cars are detached and connected to the
ropes of the lower section, thus dispensing with the
necessity of reloading. At the lower end of the
lower section, the cars run upon a tipple and dump
automatically into a bin. Here the ore is reloaded
into cars of five tons capacity, which deliver it to the
breakers at the top of the mill.
The great difference in altitude between the mill
and mine in that latitude makes a marked difference
in the climatic conditions, there being about three
months more summer at the mill than at the mine.
The ore, for most part, contains an auriferous mis-
pickel, showing more or less free gold. The formation
is greenstone, and in places this rock is sufficiently
mineralized to constitute good pay ore, these miner-
alizations constituting the veins and ore shoots. Up
to the present time the greater part of the ore is
mined by open-cut and mill-hole method.
The reduction equipment comprises a complete
stamp mill and cyanide plant, though all of the ore is
not amenable to this treatment, some of it being
smelting ore.
The mill is equipped with forty stamps, sixteen
vanners and the usual rock-breaking machinery.
All power for the mine is generated by water, sup-
plied by Twenty-mile creek. A flume 14,200 feet long
was built to carry 1000 inches of water. A head of
406 feet is obtained at the lower power house. A 20-
inch steel pipe carries the water to the wheels. A
second pipe line, 16 inches in diameter, runs to wheels
at the mill, operating under a head of 207 feet. At
the main power house are the large compressors,
electric dynamos, etc.
The mill is built on benches graded into the solid
rock of the hillside. It is a gravity mill throughout.
It covers a floor space of 43,500 square feet. The
ore is delivered to a large bin at the upper part of
the mill, 150 feet above the lowest floor. From this
bin it passes through a chute to a grizzly, with bars
spaced 1 inch apart. The oversize goes to a jaw
crusher set to break to H inch. The ore passes
another grizzly, the oversize going to a smaller
breaker, from which it drops onto a belt conveyor,
which delivers to a second conveyor running longi-
tudinally with the mill bins and at right angles to the
first. By means of the second belt the ore is distrib-
uted wherever required in the bins below, keeping
the ore supply evenly distributed. These bins have
a storage capacity of 2000 tons, which is suf-
ficient to supply the stamps for twelve or more days.
There are three water wheels attached to the mill—
*See illustrations on front page.
one for the breakers, one for the stamps and the third
for concentrators. The mill has at present forty
stamps, but sixty more are to be added. The stamps
weigh 1050 pounds and drop 7 inches ninety-two times
per minute. The discharge is 6 inches above the die,
through a 20-mesh brass wire screen. About four
tons per stamp are crushed each twenty-four hours.
The free gold is caught by amalgamation inside the
batteries and on the outside plates. It has been
found advisable to increase the number of concentrat-
Cheap Gold Mining and Milling in the
Black Hills.
Written for the Mining and Scientific Press by E. J. Kennedy.
California and Montana have each furnished exam-
ples of remarkably cheap mining and milling in the
years gone by, and some excellent records have been
made in these and other Western States. It seems
Gravity Tramway, Nickel Plate Mine, Hedley, B. C, gooo Feet Long, 4300 Feet Fall.
ing machines, there being at present two vanners to
each battery of five stamps. This will be increased
by the addition of eight more machines, and the new
addition of sixty stamps will be similarly equipped.
The concentrates are almost wholly mispickel, to the
extent of 10% of the ore. The concentrates are at
almost needless to state that these low costs have
always been made where the mining was done by the
open cut method. In California some of the deep
mines operate at a cost not exceeding $2 per ton,
but when the cost drops below $1 the open cut
method may at once be surmised to be a factor in the
The Nickel Plate Mine, Hedley, B. C.
present being stored, until experiment demonstrates
the best means of treatment — an important matter
not yet determined.
The tailings are treated by the cyanide process,
the plant covering a floor 220x50 feet. There are
twenty-four tanks, 34 feet diameter and 6 feet deep.
They are arranged in two series, one above the other,
for double treatment. The mill force, including those
in the power department, requires the services of
thirty men.
The veins of scheelite (calcium tungstate) recently
discovered about 5 miles east of Randsburg, San Ber-
nardino county, Cal., is said to be from 6 to 18 inches
wide, and to carry about 30% tungstic acid through-
out. The pure ore runs about 80% tungstic acid.
case, even when the conditions are unknown to those
at a distance from the mine.
In the Black Hills of South Dakota are the largest
gold mines in the world, and the most extensive
operations in the world under one company are those
of the Homestake at Lead, in Lawrence county.
There are other large mines in the Hills, particularly
in Pennington county, and some of these latter are
now making good records for low mining and milling
costs, after years of idleness resulting from various
causes. Among these is the Benedict mine, owned
by the Golden West Mining Co. The property is sit-
uated in Hornblende district, at the head of White
Weasel gulch, and the mill 2700 feet distant, at the
forks of North Castle creek and the main Castle
creek, in a heavily timbered region, and in the heart
Aooust 26, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
isa
of the southern gold belt of the Black Hills
The writer undertook the development of this prop-
erty three years ago, following the ore in develop-
ment. Shafts, cuts, drifts and crosscuts were driven,
mostly in ore, and the ore thus mined in the course
of prospecting and development was hauled in wag-
ons to a 10-ton Chile mill ruu by water power. This
was an inexpensive prospecting outfit, costing about
$900— mill, flume, water wheel, and everything con-
nected with the plant, ready to run. The cost of
hauling and milling in this somewhat primitive man-
ner was about $1.25 per ton, the mining cost not
being included, as it was charged to development
work. The ore sent to mill ranged in value from
$1.25 to $5 per ton, the average for the first summer
season being $3. 15 per ton. During that season—
1902— about 100,000 tons of ore were blocked out,
which was considered sufficient to warrant the exten-
sion of our plant.
A flume and pipe line were built, 24 miles long,
having a capacity sufficient to carry all the water of
Castle creek. The head at the mill was 123 feet.
This gives us 300 H. P., which is more than is at
present required.
The cut at the mine is 270 feet higher than the
mill, with which it is connected by aerial tram, which
operates without the least trouble. Only one man —
the loader— is employed on this line. During the
present season (1905) five men mine 100 tons of ore
daily from an open cut. Cars are run close to the
face of the cut, where rough, portable plank chutes
are set up, and the ore is caved into the cars, which
run on a level with the top of the ore bin at the upper
terminal of the tram.
We also have a belt conveyor for certain places.
This is quickly adjusted at any desired place and the
ore is shoveled onto the belt, and this is also deliv-
ered into the upper terminal bin. The belt conveyor
takes its power from the upper terminal wheel, the
tram being connected to the power at the mill —
everything being operated by water power owned by
the company. The buckets are dumped automat-
ically into a large gyratory crusher at the mill,
which is situated above an ore bin of 500 tons capac-
ity. The mill crew consists of two men on day shift
and one at night, the mill crushing 100 tons every
twenty-four hours. No night crew is worked at the
mine, the day shift easily keeping the mill supplied
for the full period of twenty-four hours. In the event
of any stoppage in mining the mill bin, containing 500
tons, and the bin at the upper terminal may be
drawn upon, and are capable of keeping us going
nearly a week.
Ordinarily our expenses for a day's operations at
mine and mill are about as follows:
Five miners at $3 per day $15 00
One loader at $3 per day ; 3 00
Twomillmen at $4 per day 8 00
Superintendent at *5 per day 5 00
Total ' $31 00
We have a large Chile mill, in which the wear on
steel is very light. The cost of the mill steel, oil,
repairs, etc., will not exceed $4 per day. This makes
the cost of mining, transportation and milling 100 tons
of ore daily but $35, or a cost per ton of 35 cents.
This is a very low cost, and is, I believe, a record
breaker for a $3 camp. Of course, the surrounding
natural conditions are all in our favor. We have
abundance of timber, free water power — more than
is required; the ore is decomposed and soft and free
milling, the tailings only being worth about 20 cents;
no drill steel is required, as no drilling is necessary;
little powder is used, the blasting being in crevices
and in bulldozing larger masses. Altogether, we are
at present fortunately situated. Later, as depth is
attained, the expenses must increase somewhat, but
then the glory hole system will be put into practice,
and as gravity can still be utilized the additional cost
is not expected to be prohibitive.
The formation here is hornblende and micaceous
schist, with small lenses and veins of quartz, and
broad silicified zones impregnated with auriferous
pyrite and gold. This ore at the surface is oxidized
and free milling. In depth the oxidation will gradu-
ually disappear, and we will then have a less simple
and more expensive metallurgical problem to con-
tend with than at present.
The Hornblende district, in which this property is
situated, extends in a belt about 3 miles in width
from the property of the Black Hills Copper Co., in
the canyon of the main Rapid creek, at the north-
west corner, to the Golden West property on the
southeast. The postoffice for this district is Roeh-
ford, near which are the Stand-by, Montezuma, Alta-
Lodi and a number of other mines.
A 260,000,000-qallon water supply through a
240-mile conduit at a cost of $23,000,000 is the large
project announced by the city officials of Los An-
geles, Cal., says the Engineering News. The officials
report that options on water rights and on con-
duit right-of-way have been secured and that the
people will soon be asked to vote on the necessary
bond issue. The source of the proposed supply is the
headwaters of Owens river, on the eastern slope of
the Sierras, in Inyo county, Cal. It is. said that a
concrete conduit, 15 feet wide and 9 feet high, is pro-
posed, and that there will be about 17 miles of tunnel.
It is expected that the provision of an abundant
water supply will lead to the consolidation of outlying
municipalities with Los Angeles, and in any event
contribute materially to the growth of Los Angeles
and vicinity. Win. ".Mulhollaud is superintendent of
the water works of Los Angeles and Owen McAleer
is Mayor. In development of this water supply
scheme an important part has been taken by Fred
Eaton, M. Am. Soc. C. E., who has served as both
city engineer and Mayor of Los Angeles.
The Ventilation of Mines.
HER II.
Use ok Comphesskh Air for Ventii.atino Pur-
poses.—The air set free from the rock drills is with-
out doubt a most useful addition to the stock of air
in the mine, and is liberated where it is most wanted,
at the place where the men are working. This por-
tion of the compressed air, too, has done its mechani-
cal work in actuating the drill, and has repaid as far
as is possible the cost expended in compressing it.
With air set free from the mains to blow out smoke
the case is different, for the air which has been com-
pressed at considerable expense is used without do-
ing any mechanical work, and the quantity so liber-
ated gives a very poor return for the cost expended
on it. The commission questioned a great many wit-
nesses as to what was the cost of the compressed air
used for ventilation, and what proportion of the
whole of the compressed air sent into the mine was
used for this purpose as compared with that used
through the rock drills, but only very vague replies
were received, very few of the users of compressed
air having apparently troubled to go into the matter.
One witness said plainly he was afraid to go into the
cost of ventilating in this manner, knowing that it
must seem out of all proportion to the result ob-
tained. The reason for using the compressed air, in
spite of its admitted high cost, is that it is so con-
venient, the pipes having necessarily to be led
through all the workings close to the "faces" and
the hose pipes for the drills being available at any
time for blowing out smoke.
To use any other system of ventilating requires the
employment of a separate pipe system, or brattices,
air sollars, or other means of dividing the air cur-
rents, and the very heavy blasting usual in our mines,
where from thirty to fifty pounds of blasting gelatine
are frequently fired in one round of holes, making it
impracticable to carry any of these devices close up
to the working points.
One Kalgoorlie mine superintendent, well known
for able and economical management, held that not-
withstanding the high cost of the compressed air it
was cheaper to use it than to employ any of the
other suggested methods, loss of time in fixing venti-
lating appliances and the cost of maintaining them
in good order being, in his opinion, so great as quite
to equal or even surpass the cost of the compressed
air. It must be admitted that there is great force
in this contention, and that the destruction of venti-
lating pipes and other appliances by the unavoidable
heavy blasting is a very serious difficulty in their
practical application. At the same time we must
point out that the quantity of compressed air put
into the working places is often very inadequate for
their proper ventilation, and that, owing to its cost,
there is a strong inducement to cut down the amount
allowed to be used to the minimum that will permit
the men to work. This is especially the case where
the compressor is rather small for the needs of the
mine and there is a pressing demand for air for the
drills, a condition liable to recur from time to time as
the mine extends and reaches nearer and nearer to
the capacity of the compressor. While there is a
general agreement of opinion among most of our wit-
nesses that the air in the immediate vicinity of the
machines is fairly good while rock drills are actually
working, it takes very little calculation to show that
the quantity of air put into the mine through the
compressed air mains is altogether insufficient of
itself for proper ventilation. Let us take the case of
the Associated Mines at Kalgoorlie, which have a
very fine large air compressor, designed for sixty
drills, and stated to be able, with an expenditure of
1000 H. P., to compress 5000 cubic feet of free air
per minute. According to the returns made to the
commission by the manager, the amount of air ordi-
narily put into the underground workings is 1700
cubic feet of free air per minute, which supplies
twenty drills and two air-winches, while about 100
cubic feet per minute are used in driving pumps.
Taking the winches as using 300 cubic feet per minute,
and neglecting leakages, the amount supplied to
each drill would average 65 cubic feet per minute.
The number of men underground is returned at 292,
or, say, 100 men in one shift. The total amount of
air per man put into the mine by the compressor,
therefore, only averages 17 cubic feet per minute.
Taking the men on the drills only, each drill having
two men, the quantity per man averages 321 cubic
feet per minute. As each drill, when actually work-
ing, liberates probably over 100 cubic feet of air per
minute, the average of 65 cubic feet must be much
higher than the amount set free while the drill is not
working, and the amount supplied to the men while
setting up the machine must be very small. Usually
the air is used for blowing out the smoke, and then is
cut off, or almost so, while the men rig the drill.
During this period the ventilation is often very de-
ficient. The analyses made by Mr. Mann show that
in point of fact, even when the drills are running,
there are places where the ventilation is very far
from perfect.
We do not wish to be understood to mean that in
the instance quoted, and similar cases, the only ven-
tilation in the mine is that from the compressed air,
for as a matter of fact the principal air supply to
these mines is obtained from natural ventilation.
The figures quoted were meant to show that the com-
pressed air by itself is a quite insufficient supply, and
would not alone be able to maintain the air in a pure
state. Usually there is a certain amount of air from
the main airways slowly finding its wav into even
such places as are some distance from the main air
currents, and gradually removing the vitiated air.
Many working miners hold the belief that air from
the compressed air mains is inferior for breathing
purposes to air sent in by other means, there being a
common impression that the air has been in some way
injured by compression.
The analyses made by Mr. Mann of samples of com-
pressed air from the mines' ordinary supply show
that this opinion is mostly a prejudice, the air being
practically pure. The air in passing through the
rock drill often receives a charge of atomized oil, as
oil has to be used very freely in the drill to keep it in
good running order. Besides the oil in the air there
is also, however, at times a very offensive odor,
probably due to organic matter in the pipes when
they are laid, the composition used in making the
joints, the finely divided oil from the compressor, and
dust in the air compressed. The moisture in the air
compressed is often incompletely condensed before
the air enters the pipe system, and therefore con-
denses in the pipes, and lying in low parts of the pipe
line it may become very foul and offensive. It is a
not uncommon occurrence for such water to be blown
out of the pipes through the drills. Occasional traps
on the pipe line, automatically blowing themselves off
when full of water, are therefore advisable.
(to be continued.)
m'
Scientific Blasting.
Written tor the Mining and Scientific Phess.
Occasionally miners are required to perform dif-
ficult blasting operations, where buildings, flumes or
other structures in the vicinity are endangered and
must be protected. Experienced workmen can usu-
ally overcome these difficulties by the judicious point-
ing of holes and in careful use of powder. Not long
since, in a city which it is needless to name here, it
became necessary to remove a number of concrete
piers which had been constructed in the basement of
a large brick building. These piers were foundations
of large size made from the best material by compe-
tent engineers, and had been placed in position as
foundations for heavy machinery and had been in use
for more than ten years. It became necessary to
remove these foundations, and it goes without saying
that it had to be done without injury to the building.
The foundations were built on a concrete floor and
extended upward to about the level of the main floor
of the building — the street level. For a day or two
men were engaged in the attempt to remove these
concrete piers with picks, hammers and gads, but
they made most discouraging headway. One of those
interested made inquiry of an expert miner, H. P.
Gordon, and asked if the foundations could be mined
or blasted out. Mr. Gordon examined the proposi-
tion, felt satisfied the job could be done and accepted
the contract. After drilling two holes and firing
them, there seemed to be no longer an experiment in
the proposition and the contract was undertaken.
For a period of thirty-five days from four to seven
miners were employed under direction, drilling and
blasting these concrete piers. In addition to these
miners, a crew was employed sledging the larger
pieces of concrete and in shoveling the debris into
wagons. During this time a total of 470 holes were
drilled in the concrete, the most of them being 30
inches deep, a few of them being short block holes.
Sixteen hundred feet of fuse, 170 pounds of No. 2
dynamite and 470 detonators were used. The result
of these municipal mining operations was 740 wagon-
loads of broken concrete, about 2220 tons. The work
was continued to a successful conclusion, no damage
whatever was done, and these unusual operations did
not even attract the notice of passersby nor of those
occupying the neighboring buildings. All work was
done during the day, the blasting being accomplished
whenever the round of holes was ready. As no per-
mit was obtainable for work of this character, it had
to be done secretly; but no unusual precautions were, .
observed. The holes were well tamped with moist
clay and each hole was loaded with nearly one and a
half sticks of powder, the block holes requiring less.
The success of this operation shows that blasting
may be successfully accomplished without damage
within the limits of a metropolitan city if the neces-
sary care is exercised in the work.
139
Mining and Scientific Press.
August 26, 1905.
Cyaniding Silver-Gold Ores of the Pal-
marejo Mine, Chihuahua, Mexico.*
NUMBER V.
Written by T. H. Oxnam.
General Kemarks.— The total quantity of solu-
tion passing through the zinc boxes during 1904,
divided by the quantity of sands for the same period,
shows that, for each ton of sand treated, 3.27 tons of
solution left the leaching vats, of which 2.63 tons
were weak solution and 0.61 ton strong solution.
It is found in the treatment, that large quantities
of the weaker solution give more satisfactory results
than small quantities of the strong solution, and it is
always made an important point to pass as much
weak solution through a charge as possible. Ex-
perience has demonstrated that in a given length of
treatment a rapid leaching rate and a large quan-
tity of solution is more efficient than a slower leach-
ing rate and a consequently lesser quantity of solu-
tion. The solution pipe lines and launders occasion-
ally become quite choked in places with scale de-
posited from the solution. This scale, taken from
lines carrying precipitated solution, contained from a
trace of $1 of gold and from 1 to 7 or 8 ounces of sil-
ver per ton. The scale deposited from the unpre-
cipitated solution usually runs higher, several assays
taken having averaged about $5 of gold and 18
ounces of silver per ton.
Ordinarily the solutions do not become excessively
fouled. They usually contain small percentages of
iron and manganese in addition to the zinc com-
pounds present. Alkaline sulphides are very rarely
or never noticed in solution. Sulphocyanides and
ferrocyanides appear to be constantly present, how-
ever, in fair quantities. The average of a number of
determinations made at various times gives about
0.41% of ferrocyanides and 0.048% of sulphocyanides.
The sands charged averaged about 0.09% of latent
acidity, and, as a rule, they contain no free acid.
The concentrates produced are sold to the same
company that buys the cyanide precipitates. When
making the original cyanide experiments on this ore,
a good deal of time was devoted to an attempt to
treat the concentrates by cyanide, but without suc-
cess. Experiments on both raw and dead-roasted
concentrates reduced to various degrees of fineness,
by leaching and agitation, for varying periods of
time, up to 34 days, and using solutions varying from
0.2% to 2% of KCN, proved entirely unsatisfactory.
Table VI gives the working costs for milling and
cyaniding during 1904. It should be remembered
that the cost of all supplies is considerably increased
by the very heavy freight transportation expenses,
as well as by the duties placed by the Mexican Gov-
ernment on most of the supplies used. The freight-
ing facilities have not improved any since the change
in the milling operations — the difficulties of transpor-
tation remaining as described earlier in this paper,
and being, therefore, the source of an unusually
heavy portion of the expenses for the supplies.
TABLE VI.— Working Costs per Ton.
Milling-
Supplies $0 . 640
Labor 0.357
Lubricating 0,023
Assay office (labor and supplies) 0.035
Concentrating — 0.092
Power (ditch, maintenance and supplies) 0 .234
Salaries 0.264
Miscellaneous (lighting, etc.) 0.018
Management and general expenses 0.336
Total 81 . 999
Note.— $1,999 Mexican currency during tbis period was equivalent
to SO. 95 gold.
Cyaniding—
Cyanide (2.95 lb. (S> $0,63) 11 . 859
Zinc (0.96 lb. © $0.30) 0.288
Lime (4.33 lb (S> $0.0118) 0.051
Other supplies 0.050
Labor 0 .329
Salaries 0.371
Assay office (labor and supplies) 0.036
Power (ditch, maintenance and supplies) 0.017
Miscellaneous (lighting, etc.) 0.004
Management and general expenses 0.186
Total $3. 191
Note. — $3,191 Mexican currency during this period was equivalent
to $1.52 gold.
The cost of realization on cyanide precipitates has
not been included in above cyanide working costs.
This cost is naturally very high, the quantity of pre-
cipitates produced being much greater in proportion
than that produced when treating gold ore only,
while the treatment charges per ton of ore are no
less. Transportation expenses on the precipitates
are also very heavy. In addition to this comes the
heavy item of Government bullion taxes.
The average cost of realization on cyanide precipi-
tates per ton of ore cyanided is as follows: Govern-
ment taxes, $0.84; treatment charges (including
transportation expenses), $1.06. Total, $1 90.
The cost of realization on the concentrates pro-
duced is also unusually high on account of the heavy
transportation expenses and Government bullion
taxes. The average cost of realization per ton of
ore crushed is as follows: Government taxes, $0.35;
•Trans. Amer. Inst. Min. Engrs.
treatment charges (including transportation ex-
penses), $1.08. Total, $1.43.
Treatment of Slimes. — As before mentioned, the
accumulated and currently produced slimes are now
being treated in a separate plant by a system of
agitation and decantation, centrifugal pumps being
used as the means of agitation. The slime plant
a 14-inch riveted steel pipe, tapping the main pipe
line supplying power to the mill. This 14-inch pipe
line was brought in by mule back, riveted in 10-foot
lengths, although some difficulty was experienced in
its transportation.
Figs. 4 and 5 give plan and section of the slime
plant.
=<Hf«"JHI
Fig. 4. — Plan of the Slime Plant, Palmarejo, Mexico.
Fig. 5. — Vertical Section of Slime Plant, Palmarejo, Mexico.
Fig. 6. — Agitation Vat and Pump Connections.
consists essentially of the following parts and acces-
sories:
Pour agitation and four decantation vats, all pro-
vided with conical bottoms and each being connected
with its own separate centrifugal pump; two solution
tanks placed at the head of the zinc boxes, which
receive the solution from the decantation vats; four
sets of zinc boxes and three solution sumps, which
receive the solution leaving the zinc boxes; one spe-
cial solution tank placed at a higher level than the
rest of the plant and used principally to supply solu-
tion to the pump bearings under pressure; two ordi-
nary 3-inch centrifugal pumps, used only for pumping
solution from the sumps to any desired vat or to the
upper solution tank just mentioned, they being so
connected up that either pump can be used should
the other get out of order. Each pump is run by a
friction clutch pulley, which enables it to be started
or stopped in a moment, independently of the other
pumps. A small 14xl5-inch friction-geared hoist is
used to convey the slimes from the slime pits to the
agitation vats. The entire plant is run by a 5-foot
Pelton wheel, making about 115 revolutions per min-
ute and operating under a head of 81 feet, using a
4-inch nozzle. Water power is obtained by means of
The method of treating the slimes is quite similar
to that ordinarily practiced by agitation and de-
cantation and consists briefly in giving the slimes
j about a two days' agitation in the agitation vats,
with from two to three times their weight of cyanide
solution, followed by another two or sometimes three
days' treatment in the decantation vats, during which
latter portion of the treatment the charge, after
having been sufficiently agitated with the addition of
slaked lime, is allowed to settle as much as practica-
ble, and the supernatant clear liquor is deposited and
passed through the zinc boxes. This operation of
agitation, settling and decantation of clear solution
is repeated as many times as permissible within the
time limit of the treatment, ordinarily being but
three or four decantations.
The material being treated, when dried to from
20% to 25% of moisture, is quite tough and of the
consistency of soft putty. It contains, however, a
certain percentage of very fine sands, and, when
viewed in vertical section, presents a. somewhat
stratified appearance. As previously mentioned, it
cracks on long drying into layers almost absolutely
impervious to leaching.
Description op the Plant. — The four agitation
I vats, made of 3-inch redwood throughout, are pro-
vided with conical bottoms, slanting at 45°. As
shown in Pig. 6, each vat has an inside diameter of
15 feet 7 inches, and their vertical depth from top of
side staves to the iron casting at point of conical bot-
tom is 15 feet, the inside depth of vertical side staves
being 7 feet 3 inches. Each agitation vat is con-
nected with a special manganese-steel lined, 4-inch
centrifugal pump, which runs at a speed of 900 revo-
lutions per minute. The pump is connected with
the vat by the 4-inch suction pipe, a. which enters
the vat through the side staves about 6 inches above
their juncture with the bottom staves and extends
nearly to the center of the vat, where it is connected
by means of a movable elbow, b, with a short piece of
4-inch pipe, c, provided at the free end with a good-
sized screen or strainer, d, made of i-inch sheet iron,
punched with a number of 1-inch holes; this short
piece of pipe, together with the screen, is of such a
Acopst 26, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
140
length that when being lowered the screen will just
clear the bottom staves. The screen is provided
with a small iron ring, to which is fastened a piece of
rope, by means of which it can be raised and lowered.
Just outside of the vat, the suction pipe is pro-
vided with an air cock, e, which admits air to the
material going through the pump. This air cock,
however, is very rarely used at the present time.
The service cock, f, permits the shutting off of the
material from the pump at any time it may become
necessary — as, for instance, to repack the stuffing-
box or to examine the interior of the pump. The
2-inch pipe line, g, provided with the valve, h, con-
nects with the upper solution tank.
When it becomes necessary to shut the pump down
for any length of time, either at the conclusion of the
agitation of the charge or at any time during the
treatment, the 2-inch valve, h, is opened and the
service cock, f, is closed, thus allowing clear solution
only to pass through the pump. The friction clutch
pulley running the pump is now thrown out of clutch,
and after the pump has stopped the valve, h, is
closed. By this means is avoided the accumulation in
the pump interior of solid matter that would natur-
ally be deposited, when the pump is stopped for any
length of time, from the slimy material ordinarily
passing through it.
The 4-inch discharge pipe, i, of the pump is pro-
vided with a small bibb- nosed pet-cock, j, a few inches
from the body of the pump, by means of which
samples can readily be taken of the material passing
through the pump. The discharge-pipe passes over
the top of the vat, and at a point vertically over the
center of bottom casting is provided with an elbow
and drop pipe, k, which reaches to within about 15
inches of the bottom casting. This pipe is held
(irmly in position by means of an iron clamp and four
legs made of 0.75-inch bolts fastened to the bottom
casting and which serve as a tripod. The distance of
the lower end of this discharge pipe from the bottom
of vat is a matter of some importance in the agita-
tion, and a number of experiments made along this
line have indicated that the best satisfaction is
obtained at a distance of 15 inches from the bottom
casting.
Different shapes of discharge ends, or nozzles, have
been tried at the lower end of the drop pipe, but
experience so far has shown that the plain 4-inch
pipe end gives as satisfactory results as any other
shape. The discharge pipe of the pump tends to act
as a siphon when the pump is stopped at any time
during the agitation, and would therefore cause
inconvenience when repacking the stuffing-box or
making any necessary repairs. To prevent this, air
is admitted to the pipe by opening the small air cock,
1, tapped into the elbow at the upper end of the
drop pipe. This air-cock, 1, is also frequently used
to allow the entrance of air into the charge being
agitated, it being found more preferable for this pur-
pose than the air-cock on the suction pipe. (It
might be supposed that when this air cock is open
during the agitation, a steady stream of the material
passing through the discharge pipe would be ejected
through it; and with regard to the air cocks similarly
situated on the pump connections of the decantation
vats, such is the case. As regards the pumps con-
nected with the agitation vats, however, the effect is
found to be quite the reverse, and rather a strong
air suction usually occurs when this air cock is open.)
The pump bearing nearest the pump shell is tapped
with a small pipe line, m, provided with the valve, n,
which connects with the upper solution tank pre-
viously mentioned. By this means, the bearing is
supplied with clear solution under pressure and the
wear on the shaft and bearing is greatly reduced.
At the commencement of operations, clear water was
supplied to the pump bearings and was also used for
cleaning out the pumps and for priming, when neces-
sary. It was soon found, however, that the quantity
of water added in this way increased the volume of
stock solution very appreciably, and, of course, an
equal quantity of weak cyanide solution had ulti-
mately to be run to waste. Not only did this cause
an unnecessary, mechanical consumption of cyanide,
but the quantity of water added through the pump
bearings naturally reduced the strength of the work-
ing solution in the vat under operation, with a con-
sequent deleterious effect on the percentage of
extraction. The quantity of solution that will be
added to a vat during the usual period of agitation
(from 40 to 44 hours), when the shaft and bearing is a
little worn, is surprising, amounting in some cases to
15 tons, even when the greatest care is exer-
cised. The amount of solution added in this way
is naturally the least just after the pump has been
equipped with a new shaft and new liners, and the
bearing re-babbitted. On an average, however,
the quantity of solution added to each charge
through the pump bearings is from five to six tons.
The agitation pumps in use, while in most respects
proving very satisfactory, have nevertheless cer-
tain defects in their design, which contribute
largely to the rapid wearing of the shaft and the
bearing next to the pump shell, and also to the wear-
ing of the interior, renewable manganese-steel wear-
ing parts. The life of these parts naturally varies
somewhat, but ordinarily it becomes necessary to
equip a pump with a new shaft and certain portions
of the manganese-steel wearing-parts and to re-bab-
bit the bearing, about every six weeks. The pumps
are equipped with a pulley having a ti-iuch face, but
it is found preferable to use a 4-inch belt, since this
reduces the weight on the pump shaft with a conse-
quent decrease in its wear, while a 4-inch belt runs
the pump equally as well as a 0-inch one. Wire lac-
ing is used on all the belts.
The results of the sizing test in Table VII repre-
sent an average of those obtained from the material
treated up to the present time.
TABLE VII
-sizing Test on Slimks
Sl/.i: "1 MATKKIAI.
Aaui
Value.
Peroantityreol
Total Valu.s
Contained
Gold.
Sliver
Sold
Silver.
%■
Value
Ok.
%.
Retained on Kil-mesli
1.1
»2 3H
14 22
0 63
11 77
Retained on lOU-mesli ...
2.7
2 00
13 00
1.85
1.81
Retained on 120-mesb
5.6
1 96
13 08
2 no
3 SO
Retained on l60-me8fa
3.1
2 27
14.14
1.70
2.16
Retained on 200-mesb
2 7
2 10
13 III
1.41
1.74
Passed 200-mesh
84 8
4 54
21 68
113 22
Ml 58
100.0
100.97
Assay value of material was $4.13 of gold and 20.30 ounces of silver
per ton.
(TO
iE CONTINUED
)
THE PROSPECTOR. I
* *
■; ., ;- •!--,-.;. ....;..,..,..,,. ;..,..; .,. ..../.....-.if.,;..};.;;-, if. if. i(. if, if. if. if, if, if, if. .f. if, ;i
The rocks from A. J. T., Yerington, Nev., are:
No. 1, a very much altered and indeterminable rock
containing copper carbonate; the white mineral is
calcium sulphate (gypsum). No. 2 is a much altered
diorite, also showing a little copper carbonate; gyp-
sum is also associated with this rock. No. 3 is an
oxidized ore from near the surface; it consists prin-
cipally of iron oxide; [the iridescent colors are due
to copper; there is gypsum in this ore also. No. 4 is
a much altered eruptive rock carrying a large per-
centage of iron sulphide (pyrite). No. 5 consists
chiefly of epidote (light yellowish-green mineral),
specular iron (the brilliant metallic mineral), and
calcium carbonate (the white mineral); the general
appearance of the rock suggests a greatly altered
diorite, in which there has been a secondary forma-
tion of several foreign minerals.
The silver ore from P. F. G., Mascota, Mexico,
contains several complex combinations of silver with
sulphur, antimony, etc. The larger piece contains
principally the ore known as freieslebenite, a com-
plex combination of silver, antimony, lead and sul-
phur. In this there is also a very little black sul-
phide of silver. The smaller and darker piece contains
considerable argentite (silver glance) or black silver
sulphide, and also combinations of silver, sulphur,
antimony, etc., occurring so intermixed as to render
their determination individually almost an impos-
sibility.
The three mineral specimens from Roosevelt, Idaho,
have been determined as follows: No. 1. Quartz-
porphyry. No. 2 is an acid eruptive in which strati-
fication seems to have been induced by pressure.
The rock presents many of the characteristics of
aplite, though stratification is unusual in that rock.
The determination of small specimens is often diffi-
cult. No. 3 is vitrophyre, a variety of volcanic glass.
The rock samples from Havilah, Cal., are: No. 1
is a micaceous schist, heavily stained with iron oxide.
No. 2 is a very siliceous mica schist which evidently
at one time contained pyrite, the oxidation of which
has rendered the rock porous, giving it a honey-
combed appearance; the rock may be gold bearing.
No. 3 is a silicified dike rock (probably pegmatite),
the greater part of the quartz having a flint-like
appearance. No. 4 is also a siliceous dike rock,
through which are scattered numerous feldspar crys-
tals; this rock may also be gold bearing.
The minerals from Forest Hill, California, are :
No. 1, steatite. No. 2 is a basic rock altering to a
talc schist. No. 1 evidently represents a further
state of alteration of the same rock. These rocks
may be, as stated, gold bearing, as similar auriferous
rocks occur elsewhere in California.
The white crystallised rock samples from Gisborn,
Utah, are calcite (calcium carbonate). The speci-
mens'are only translucent. When perfectly trans-
parent this mineral is known as Iceland spar and
possesses the remarkable property of double refrac-
tion. That is, two images are seen in looking through
it. This property is taken advantage of in micro-
scopic petrography by the use of what are known as
nicol prisms, which .are made from clear, trans-
parent, flawless Iceland spar.
An End-Dumping Wheelbarrow.
Written for tbe Minim; and Scikntii'ic Phi>- |
Matt. w. ai.hkbson.
A number of articles illustrating self-dumping ar-
rangements for the hoisting bucket have been pub-
lished. Recognizing the value of self-dumping skips,
under certain conditions, the writer has, neverthe-
less, been unable to see where they can be made of
practical value to the prospector. In hoisting it
does not seem possible to arrange to dispense with
at least one man on the surface and, as a general
rule, this man is the man who has time to spare.
After receiving one bucket and sending an empty
one down, he has time to empty several buckets
while the one below is being filled. A self-dumping
arrangement only gives him more time, which he has
no use for. This would not be true, of course, if the
bucket below was loaded from an ore pocket or bin,
but prospectors generally would not put in such, till
developments warrant. What seems to be needed is
arrangements to save work below.
Where hoisting is done, after the shaft is sunk, by
windlass, whip or whim, it is not often that the
ground is hoisted as broken. Generally a man will
work several days breaking, throwing the dirt be-
hind him, till there is accumulation to justify a day's
hoisting. It is of advantage to have the dirt to be
hoisted as near the shaft as possible and when one
gets his level in over 20 feet he cannot throw the ma-
terial behind him and near the shaft without great
waste of time in walking back and forth. And he
can not pile it close behind him very long and leave
room to get out. As a remedy for this condition of
affairs the writer has used a wheelbarrow so ar-
ranged as to dump conveniently on the end instead
of at the side. This contrivance, illustrated here-
W i
7H
'1 *■
\
^1
End Dumping Wheelbarrow.
with in all its crudity of construction, is a wooden-
framed wheelbarrow in which the construction has
been changed so the bed of the barrow is raised till
it is 20 inches above the floor. The bed is also
turned, so the ends of the barrow are forward and
back instead of to the sides. The wheel is set so as
to be under the barrow, the front of the wheel being
in line with the end of the tray — not much farther
forward, as in most wheelbarrows. The legs are 22
inches apart at the bottom. The handles are short
— 36 inches in all, from hub of wheel, and 26 inches
apart at the hand holds.
It will be understood that this barrow, when
loaded, is top heavy and one needs to exercise care
in loading and handling it. It is well in loading to
lay large pieces across the front of the scoop, thus
preventing fine stuff from falling off onto the track.
One needs a clear track over which to run the bar-
row, as it dumps so easily that a piece of rock on the
track the size of a hen's egg will overturn it. But it
is a great convenience. One easily runs the dirt out
from the face, piling it up along the track to a depth
of 18 inches to 2 feet. The best way to unload the
barrow is to give it a quick forward thrust instead
of dumping. At one stormy period in the winter
time, when it was not practicable to attempt to
hoist in the exposed place where the shaft was sit-
uated, work progressed for weeks with this- con-
trivance where otherwise it would have been neces-
sary to suspend operations. At another time, when
the face was in exceptionally hard rock, the miner
worked on for six weeks before needing assistance to
hoist. Then what was broken was taken out with a
whip in two and a half days. If it had been neces-
sary to have a man and horse on the surface every
day or so, say once a week, the expense would have
been greatly increased. The level was fitted with
track for the truck carrying the buckets used by the
whip, and was thus also ready for a car when develop-
ments warrant, a temporary plankway being put
down between the rails on which to run the wheel-
barrow. This plankway facilitates shoveling and the
material of which it is composed may be easily moved
when chutes are put in and buckets or car can be
loaded direct from them.
141
Mining and Scientific Press.
August 26, 1905.
Gold Dredging in California.
NUMBER II.
The continuous-chain bucket dredger is practically
the only type that is in successful operation in the
gravels of the Sacramento Valley districts, New Zea-
land, Montana, Idaho, Colorado and Oregon, and it
holds the field in gravel where there is an excess of
water and where conditions are generally favorable
for dredging. There are many differences in detail
Hull. — So far, in California, all the hulls are made
of wood, but some dredgers sent to Dutch Guiana have
been built with steel hulls. This hull is rectangular in
shape, with a slightly reduced width in the bow of the
boat. As, practically speaking, all the parts of the
machinery of a dredger are renewed during the life of
a dredger, it has been suggested that steel hulls would
give a longer life and more solidity; but so far none
have been constructed, and probably will not be until
there is a nearer approach to perfection of the ma-
chinery and a better knowledge is had of the limits
View Showing Tailings Stacker.
The Main Drive.
ijj rri
m \\|jf j§;
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J^fejiii. '
mfl**
1 B
3r "-'
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— 0 1
^Bmr .■ .*J£>M^BH
.»_ ..ai^m^^m
The Bucket Line and Pilot House.
The Buckets in Operation.
Beginning the Work of Dredging in a New Pit.
Folsom Development Co.'s Dredger No. r.
L_L_- -- -— — — =ss"
~i
WW
A Completed Dredger.
in the different dredgers, but under favorable condi-
tions, such as exist in the Sacramento Valley district,
in New Zealand, in the States named and in Alaska,
the results obtained from these dredgers do not differ
much except where the conditions are abnormal and
difficult. The dredger in use is much like the ordinary
continuous-chain bucket dredger used for other work,
so far as the digging part goes, except that the size
of shaftings and strength and weight of all parts are
greatly increased. For gold mining it consists of a
hull, a digger, screen, sluice-table and sluice-boxes,
a stacker, a pump, amalgamator, and sometimes a
sand-pump, with lines or lines and spuds to hold the
boat in position and separate motors for each part
where power is required.
The Transformer on a Modern Dredger.
of the capacity of the dredgers, for the tendency is to
discard the smaller dredgers and to build those of
larger capacity. To allow the digging ladder and its
chain of buckets to descend to the bottom of the
ground to be worked, the hull in the forward part is
divided by an opening called the well, in which the
ladder is moved up and down. The dimensions of
the hull vary with the size of the buckets. The hulls
vary in width from 30 to 40 feet, in length from 80 to
120 feet, and in depth from 7 to 9 feet.
Gauntries. — Near the center of the hull there is a
main gauntry, to support the upper end of the dig-
ging ladder and the main drive of the bucket chain.
These have commonly been made of wood, but lately
some have been constructed of steel plates. There
is a stern gauntry to support the tail sluices, the
conveyor ladder and the spuds, if they are used.
Digger. — This consists of a ladder frame, built
strongly of iron or steel so that a chain of buckets
may travel continuously around its length. On the
best of these, manganese steel is used in the lips and
bushings of the bucket, and on the ladder rollers. It
has been found that a large saving in cost of repairs,
which is the main cost, and where future saving can be
made in the cost of dredging, is in strengthening the
wearing parts of these buckets and links. A refer-
ence to the tables of cost will show how large is the
proportion of the cost of working caused by the
breaking of the buckets and other parts of the dig-
ger. However, this has been very much reduced
since the first successful work was done at Oroville,
and is being continually reduced as new dredgers are
constructed. The greatest improvements are now
being made by the use of special steels and in the
shape of the buckets.
The bucket line is either what is called of a "close
connection" or of an "open connection," that is, the
buckets follow each other on each link of the chain,
or there are open links between the buckets.
Wherever there are no large bowlders and the gravel
is comparatively loose, there can be no question that
the close- connected buckets, with less speed, will dig
more ground than will the open-connected. As to
the difference between the open and the close-con-
nected bucket in hard ground, the question as to the
greatest capacity has not been settled, but it is prob-
able that the close- connected bucket will give more
satisfactory results. However, where there are
large bowlders, the open-connection must be used, or
the backs of the buckets will be jammed and broken.
The close-connected buckets are run at a lower rate
of chain speed than the open-connected buckets, the
former moving at the rate of about 50 feet, or 18 to
25 buckets per minute, and the latter at 60 feet, or
12 to 15 buckets per minute. Yet in hard ground
the open-connected buckets are filled to their full ca-
pacity more often than the close-connected buckets.
In this connection it may be said that most of the
newer dredgers at Oroville and Folsom are equipped
with close-connected buckets.
Owing to the greater weight of the close-connected
chain of buckets and the greater yardage handled,
more power is required than for open-connected
buckets. The following tables will give an idea of
the difference:
The different motors in the Oroville Gold Dredging
and Exploration Co.'s 5-foot Risdon dredger are of the
following capacities:
Main drive
Stacker and screens
Side lines and head lines..
Ladder hoist
Water pump
Primer pump
Horse Power.
50
20
10
15
40
Total.
The average amount of horse-power used in the
dredger was 90. No returns were made of the pro-
portion of the full capacity of each motor used.
The following figures are given by the builders of
the Bucyrus close-connected, belt conveyor, shaking
screen dredgers, as to the horse-power of the motors
as built:
DBEDGEB WITH 3 CU FT. BUCKETS.
Horse Power.
Digging motor 50
Winch motor 15
Screen and conveyors 20
water pump 80
Sand pump 80
Priming pump 3
Total 148
Actual consumption, about 100 H. P.
DREDGEH WITH 5 CU. FT. BUCKETS.
Digging motor 75 or 100
Winch motor 20
Screen 15
Conveyor 10 or 15
Water pump 50
Sand pump 30
Priming and clean-up 5
Total
Actual consumption, about 125 to 150 H. P.
DBEDGEB WITH 6 CU. FT. BUCKETS.
Digging motor
Winch motor
Screen
Stacker
Water
Sand pump
Priming and clean-up
100
30
15
15
50
50
7W
Total
Actual consumption, not yet known.
267K
The following data have been given as to the actual
consumption of power, as per report in L. J. Hohl's
paper read before the California Miners' Associa-
tion :
For a 3 cu. ft. close-connected bucket dredger, with shak-
ing screen and belt conveyor: Horse Power.
Main drive — 26 to 45
Stacker and screen 12 to 16
Water pump 45 to 50
Winches, maximum 28
Sand pump 32 to 50
For a 5 cu. ft. dredger of the same type:
Main drive 42 to 70
Stacker and screen ., 10 to 20
Water pump .' 50 to 75
Winches, maximum 27
Sand pump, not tested.
For a 5 cu. ft open-connected bucket dredger, with revolv-
ing screen and bucket conveyor:
Main drive 60
Water pump 52
Screen and stacker 18H
Other motors, not tested.
August 26, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
112
Yuba dredger, ti en. ft. bueketa, close-eonnMted, with
shaking screeo and belt eonveyor. This dredger
.hi.". BO feet deep:
M:iiu dnv- 108
Wuterpump Bfl
Sand pump OS
Sliu-ker u
Shaking screen II
Auxiliary supply 13
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
Placer Mining in Alaska.
NUMUEK III.
Self-Domhno Cabrieks.— The conditions in the
Klondike district appear to have necessitated the
adoption of this expensive method of placer mining.
Outside the Klondike Held the method was not seen
except at one place on Mastodon creek, in Birch
Creek district. The method is adopted to work rich
gravels where conditions do not permit working by
ordinary shallow open cut methods, and where drift-
ing is impossible or inadvisable.
The average depth of eight Klondike operations
was 17.5 feet, being greater than that economically
advisable (namely, 15 feet) for open-cut operations in
general. The operator adopts this method because
tions, a plant whose first cost exceeds $5000 is out of
the question. The greatest expense will then result
from the hand shoveling in the pit The getting of
the material into the receptacle in which it is con-
veyed to the sluice is the principal item of expense in
the operation. It is therefore necessary that the
high-priced shovelers get as much gravel into the
wheelbarrows or buckets as possible. The bucket,
37 inches square on top. 38 inches square on bottom,
and 25 inches deep, holding j cubic yard, is dropped
into a crib built in the bottom of the pit, to which
the shovelers wheel their dirt in wheelbarrows. From
four to six wheelbarrows are necessary to fill the
bucket. There is no mobility to the bucket; it must
always rise and fall to the same spot. Men instead of
occupying all their time in shoveling are employed
nearly half of it in wheeling and dumping. Five
operations are necessary to get the gravel from the
bank to the sluice, namely, (1) shoveling into wheel-
barrows, (2) wheeling to bucket, (3) dumping to
bucket, (4) raising bucket to carrier, (5) conveying
and dumping to sluice.
This may now be compared with the derricking
system. On Pedro creek, Fairbanks district, an
open cut 15 feet of depth with 9 feet of pay gravel is
worked by derricking. The plant has a capacity of
233 cubic yards a day, which is handled at a cost of
-,y''- •■ '•', '■-, ■. Avyy Capacity cSOcubic yards
•'/■,xv m 10 hours
II cubic feet bucket
average lift zsfect
\ To engine
Elevation it shoty arrangement oftacMte
Clevation to show arrangement of tackle
Fig. 6.— Plan of Derricking Plant, Ophir Creek, Seward Peninsula, Alaska.
there are thawed streaks and channels in his deposit
If such ground is drifted, the chances are that he will
increase his expense to a prohibitive amount through
excessive timbering and through pumping of seepage
water, whereas by the open cut method the water
is handled by drain. As $2.14 was the average cost
of the above mentioned eight operations in the Klon-
dike, seven drifting operations in similar deposits,
with an average depth of 25.3 feet, gave
an average cost of $1.95 per cubic yard, the
depth of the pay or thickness of gravel actually sent
to the sluice being almost exactly the same in both
cases, and the capacity in the drifting being only 17.5
cubic yards less in twenty-four hours. Granting,
however, that in a given deposit carrying $3 to the
cubic yard of pay, the depth being 16 feet, drifting is
impossible, and the rich pay, 75 feet in width, must
be worked by open cut. Whatever method be adopted
the moss must first be plowed up and about 6 feet of
muck ground-sluiced off at a cost of 17 cents per
cubic yard. Next 6 feet of barren gravel or sand
must be removed, either by horse scrapers at 60
cents per cubic yard, or, if the plant warrants the
operations, by steam scraper at 49 cents per cubic
yard. The 4 feet of pay being laid bare, what
method shall be adopted to get it into the sluice? On
account of the necessarily short life of the opera-
$1.75 per cubic yard. The plant costs no more than
the average price of a self-dumping carrier plant of
daily capacity not exceeding 200 yards. The first
cost of all, including a 30 H. P. boiler, was said to be
$4500. Here the gravel is shoveled into buckets
holding 8 cubic feet. These buckets are trammed on
small trucks running on wooden tracks, hooked onto
by the derrick cable and lifted and conveyed at same
time to the sluice. The derrick boom has a radius of
reach of 40 feet, and a much smaller proportion of
time is consumed by the shovelers in tramming than
when the fixed bucket on cable is used. The ex-
pense was increased in this plant by the necessity of
continually thawing with twenty-four points.
As against the five operations of the cable tram
system, there are only three in the derricking system
if properly handled. The proof that the derricking
system is superior to the wheeling and cable tram
system is evident from the comparative cost. The
services of a man at the dump box are generally
necessary in all cases under the present sluicing
practice, so that the self-dumping arrangement of
the bucket helps but little.
It should be noted that the Fairbanks operator was
working under higher prices generally than the
Klondike miners, both for labor (at $10 a day, as
against $7.50 a day) and for general supplies, and he
also had an excessive amount of steam thawing. His
lower cost depended primarily on his increased
capacity, resulting for the most part from the in-
creased duty of each shoveler, owing to the expedi-
tions and adaptable system of hoisting and convey-
ing afforded by the derrick. A derricking system
in use on Seward Peninsula will be separately de-
scribed.
The conclusion is that while the cable tram system,
using the Dawson carrier, is excellent for drifting
work, it is not to be recommended for open cut work
where it is possible to obtain space for installing a
derrick.
Dekkickixo. — The plant described below is located
on Ophir creek, in the Council mining district of
Seward peninsula. The stream has been turned aside
and work is proceeding in the old bed. The distinc-
tive feature of the plant is the use of derricks in over-
coming exceptional difficulties encountered in the
character of the deposit. Hand labor is used in ex-
cavation, while transport of material to be washed
and disposal of tailings are accomplished by derricks.
The pit in which work is being done depends for its
shape and size upon the method of working and
length of the derrick boom. An area of 30 feet be-
yond the end of the derrick boom is worked. A pit,
roughly circular, having a diameter of 140 feet, is the
result, since the boom reaches approximately 40 feet
in its sweep, and the buckets are hauled 30 feet from
the bank. Under a stratum of sand and soil, vary-
ing from 4 to 5 feet in thickness, the gravel, in places
considerably mixed with sand and clay, descends to
bedrock, usually 30 feet below the surface. The
gravel is entirely unfrozen, rounded, and for the most
part small, not over 10% exceeding 6 inches in diam-
eter, while no bowlders are found above 18 inches.
Bedrock is a massive limestone, extremely irregular
in its position, and causes the greatest difficulty in
the extraction of much of the gold, though this same
feature must have played an important part in the
enrichment of the claim. In places deep holes have
been made by action of water, and the depth to which
work is carried in the recovery of the gold depends
entirely upon the economy with which it is extracted.
There is no doubt that much gold remains below, to
obtain which would not be profitable under present
conditions.
Excavation is accomplished entirely by pick, the
gravel being shoveled into the derrick buckets.
These buckets are hauled by the derrick line, guided
by hand, upon wooden skids, to a point directly be-
neath the end of the boom, where they are hoisted
and carried to the dump box.
The buckets are of 11 cubic feet capacity and war-
rant detailed description. They are made of crude
oil drums or gasoline tanks, cut to a height of 2 feet
8 inches, and are 2 feet 5 inches across the top. Two
lugs to hold the bale are set opposite each other one-
fourth distance up from the bottom. The bale is
made from the original hoops of the drum. The bot-
tom edge is strengthened by the original flange of the
tank, while on the upper edge has been riveted the
flange originally at the top of the tank. The bale is
supplied with a catch which, when the bucket is trav-
eling, rests in a notch constructed on its edge, which
holds the bucket in an upright position. On reach-
ing the dump box, a man on the platform with his
shovel frees the catch, and the bucket dumps in turn-
ing bottom upward. In fitting the lugs holding the
bale, a piece of iron 9 inches square is riveted to the
inside of the material composing the drum, which is
i inch thick. To the outside of the drum a strip 9
inches long, 2J inches wide and i inch thick is also
riveted, and to this the lug (2 inches long) is welded,
making a very strong construction. These buckets
weigh 140 pounds, and, including labor, blacksmith
fuel and original price of drum, cost about $25.
The skids upon which the buckets are hauled are
ordinary smoothed timbers, and are not fastened
down. This admits of rapid change in accommodat-
ing the hauls to the advancing work. It is desirable
to have these timbers as much as possible in a radius
of the circle described by the derrick, as this gives a
straight haul on the boom.
The derrick in use at this plant is of a very simple
and practical design, there being but one haulage
line, which with gravity utilized in the lean of the
derrick accomplishes the desired work. The derrick
leans toward the pit in which excavation is taking
place — i. e., when at rest the boom swings away
from the hoisting engine. (See Fig. 6.) The hauling
line passes through a block at the foot of the mast
and a few feet in front of it, or toward the direction
of haul. In this position immediately upon receiving
a hauling strain the boom tends to move toward the
dump box, and once there, having disposed of its
load, returns by gravity to the pit. To the end of the
boom is attached a rope by which a man in the pit
giving his entire attention to this operation can reg-
ulate the swing of the boom to a nicety. By snub-
bing this line about a post set firmly in the ground,
hauls can be made in any direction with no inconven-
ience from the swinging of the boom, and the dump-
ing of the load on the platform can be accurately
adjusted. The derrick on an average lift raises
material about 25 feet and carries it approximately
85 feet to the sluices. The amount of material han-
dled is generally 500 cubic yards in twenty- two hours.
Power is obtained from a 15 H. P. boiler and 8 H. P.
double engine hoist, which burns one-half cord of
143
Mining and Scientific Press.
August 26, 1905.
wood in twenty-four hours at $15 a cord. The der-
ricks are of Washington fir, both boom and mast
being 40 feet long. The hauling line, i inch in diam-
eter, is of crucible steel wire, plowshare steel not
bending easily enough, and the guy lines f inch in
diameter, also of steel, are tightened by watch
tackles.
Stones over 12 inches in diameter are not sent
through the sluices, being piled by hand in the center
of the pit. Larger stones and boulders are handled
by the derrick and piled in the same manner. The
removal, however, of stones exceeding two tons in
weight is not attempted with the derrick. A move
is necessary each thirty days, and in advancing the
entire plant approximately 110 feet eighteen hours
are generally consumed. An auxiliary flume and
dump box must of necessity be used to permit such
rapid change.
The dump box, which is'furnished with a platform
sufficiently large to prevent spilling of material, is
from 6 to 12 feet above the ground. It is 16 feet long
and has a grade of 14 inches. Below it are 132 feet
of boxes, 20 inches deep and 16 inches wide, with a
grade of 7 inches to the box length (12 feet). These
are furnished with pole riffles made 2 inches square,
capped with iron, and will last two seasons. At the
end of the string is a very efficient undercurrent,
invented on the' ground. It consists of an ordinary
sluice box furnished with iron bars approximately f
or i inch in diameter, running lengthwise with the
box and placed side by side. Beneath these bars,
held by Hungarian riffles, is a quantity of quicksil-
ver, which catches any gold that may have passed
the preceding string. Such an arrangement, though
of considerable use when gold is generally coarse,
will not serve when fine gold is encountered. An
undercurrent of greater surficial area and greater
grade, carrying the water in a thin sheet, would
then be demanded.
In washii y the gravel 150 miners' inches are used.
The water is brought from Ophir creek in a ditch 1J
mile long. It is 6 feet on the bottom, 9 feet on top,
and has a grade of TV inch to 100 feet. It cost $8000.
Tailings are handled by a derrick and a self-dump-
ing scraper. Power is supplied to the latter by
hauling directly from the derrick boom, and its oper-
ation is directed by two men. In this case the der-
rick leans toward the dump pile, to which it carries
its load by gravity, being hauled back by the steam
winch. To the scraper is attached a rope which, on
tightening as the derrick swings, dumps the load at
its destination. (See Fig. 6.) Both the derrick boom
and mast are 40 feet long and are arranged like
the excavation derrick, except that the mast leans
in the opposite direction. A 15 H. P. boiler and 8
H. P. winch are used, and there are three men on
each shift. The tailings derrick is not occupied more
than one-fourth the working time of the pit derrick.
In all from fifty-five to sixty men are employed
about the plant. A man is continually needed at the
mud box to trip the bucket and to feed the gravel as
regularly as possible to the sluices from the platform.
A winch man is needed at each derrick. A man in
the pit devotes his entire attention to the snubbing
line, while two men are necessary on the scraper.
The latter feature could possibly be improved by
some mechanical method not requiring hand labor.
Wasres are 50 cents an hour, with board, and work is
continued eleven hours each shift.
Besides the derrick plant described above, an-
other, seen on Ophir creek, made use of iron skips of
li cubic yard capacity, which were run on trucks to
the working face, and, after loading, were trammed
within reach of the derrick and lifted to the sluice.
As nearly as could be learned, while the capacity
of this plant was from 15% to 20% higher than
the one previously described, the work was not being
done so cheaply. In the last case it was necessary
to pump the seepage water from the pit, while in the
first case all seepage water was naturally disposed of
by draining into the peculiar cavernous limestone
bedrock. In derricking plants in general, large
rather than small buckets or skips are to be recom-
mended, but the various elements of the plant should
be so co-ordinated that the capacity of the derrick is
not above that of the shoveling and tramming or of
the sluice.
The derricking plant seen on Pedro creek, in the
Fairbanks district, has been described in connection
with the method of using the cable tram and self-
dumping bucket in open cut work. Its efficiency was
found to be high and its cost low in comparison with
this well-known Klondike method. In general, it may
be said that derricking is a simple, efficient, adapt-
able and comparatively cheap method of working
open cuts where gravel must be shoveled into the
first receptacle by hand and the bedrock cleaned
by men.
(to be continued.)
The agriculturists of the Deer Lodge valley, Mont.,
who for some time past have been suing the Anaconda
Copper Co. for damages sustained to their crops be-
cause of smelter fumes, etc., are now in a quandary.
That region the present summer has been visited by
unusual rainfall, and as a result the crops are abund-
ant — proof positive that it was not the smelter
fumes, but the lack of moisture that has diminished
their crops. The farmers are now said to be offering
to settle on almost any terms.
The Transvaal Gold Mines.
NUMBER II.
Written for the Mining and Scientific Press by
Theo. f. Van wagenen, e. M.
Here something should be said as to the nature of
the formation in which the gold is found. It is called
a " banket." The word is Dutch, and signifies a cake
that has raisins or nuts or seeds of some kind scat-
tered through it. The Rand banket is really a con-
glomerate made up of small quartz pebbles (up to 1
or \i inches in diameter), tightly held together by
a siliceous cement. Three parallel beds or layers of
this pudding stone have been recognized by those
who have made a study of the formation, one of which
is from 12 to 60 inches or even more in width, but
does not average over 30 inches, while the other two
are narrower. The broadest vein carries from a
quarter to a half ounce of gold per ton, while the
narrower ones are of higher grade. The metal exists
in the cementing material and not in the quartz peb-
bles. The three beds are separated from each other
by bands of quartzite, and the entire zone is bounded
on both sides by walls of the same rock. It is uni-
versally conceded to be a water formation, but the
geologists are not wholly agreed as to the method of
its deposition. Writing broadly, it is rarely over 25
feet from wall to wall of the entire mineral formation,
and often less. Sometimes one or both of the narrow
beds are absent, or so thin as to be economically
of stamp. In some of the mills where the ore showed
base metal early in the game, concentration machin-
ery has already been installed with good results, and
the concentrates treated by the chlorination process.
Costs (including everything) range from $6 to $8
per ton, and when analyzed are found to consist
mainly, as elsewhere, of the two items of labor and
management, but at the Rand these items are larger
proportionately than is the case in any other part of
the gold mining world. As the walls of the reef are
very hard, and stand perfectly, the expense of tim-
bering is very small, which is most fortunate, as the
country is quite devoid of timber of any kind. With
one or two exceptions water gives no trouble. The
consumption of steel and explosives is large, because
of the hardness and toughness of the rock. The in-
stallation of electric lighting circuits for all the
main galleries has reduced this item of cost to a mini-
mum. A fair quality of steam coal is obtainable at
the mines at $4 per ton, so that power is cheap, as
far as fuel costs are concerned. So, if further econ-
omies in the district are to be realized, they must be
mainly attained in the two items of labor and man-
agement, and it is in these directions that the best
efforts of those that are in control are being made.
The native is the natural laborer in the Transvaal,
as in the rest of Africa. But he is (at his best) only a
very poor miner. Naturally and racially shiftless
and easy going, he sells to his employer, and grudg-
ingly, only his muscle and time, and not his brain. In
Africa the fallacy of cheap and unskilled labor is still
believed in, and even regarded as a necessity at the
foundation of things. Consequently the Chinaman
has lately been introduced there as a worker, in the
■Mfi ■-
B'mHI
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HKpi v* -•■^t,t^>
ISel
I
MINING AND SC
E^IRC^RESS^^^B
* - J
Tailings Wheel, Robinson Mine, Johannesburg, S. A. Head Frame, City and Suburban Mine, Johannesburg, S. A.
unworkable. Again, the whole series is, in places,
and throughout large areas, very nearly barren of
the precious metal. Along the outcrop there were
found many very rich spots, as is common with all
gold deposits, and underneath these are the bonanza
portions of the reef, but unlike the experience in the
ordinary gold fissure vein, the payable sections of
the Rand banket exhibit great uniformity in the
matters of width and grade and continuity of pay
ore, within those limits. A very small amount of
pyrite was found in the upper parts of the outcrop
properties, but as depth was attained the percentage
of iron slowly but steadily increased, until in their
lower parts and in the "Deeps," it has become a
constant component. In certain parts copper pyrites
have also begun to appear, and it is generally
believed that in due time enough of this metal will be
present to seriously interfere with the usefulness of
the cyanide process. Up to date the ores of the
region have averaged from $7 to $12 per ton in recov-
erable values. The amount of silver present with the
gold is insignificant.
So far the method of treatment has been crushing
under stamps, amalgamation on copper plates and a
supplementary treatment of the tailings and slimes
with a solution of cyanide of potassium. As English
companies are great admirers of tonnage, and great
believers in fine crushing, the weight of the stamps
and the speed of their drop have been increased until
a duty of at least five tons per head per twenty-four
hours, through a 40-mesh screen, is expected, and is
obtained. This naturally has resulted in the produc-
tion of a very high percentage of fines and slimes, so
that the retreating or secondary parts of a Rand
gold mill has become a most important affair. On
the principle that the best way to clean up a muss is
not to make one, it is quite open to question whether,
on the whole, fully as high a percentage of recovery
could not be obtained by coarser crushing, followed
by concentration, with a much larger duty per head
hopes of exciting the ambition of the native, or of
compelling him, through competition, to do better
work. The great fault of the negro is that he will
rarely stay at his job more than six months at a time,
so that he never becomes manually proficient or re-
liable, and the force at the mines is constantly chang-
ing and requiring new training. Moreover, as he
exhibits no ambition to accumulate money beyond his
immediate needs, which are insignificant, he cannot
be induced to do a full or good day's work, even by an
increased wage. The Chinaman is not expected to
become a skilled workman, in fact is prohibited by
law from becoming one, and the change from black
to yellow workmen has been brought about only to
secure economy as an indirect result from attaining
a steady and reliable supply of manually well-trained
miners and laborers. It is too early as yet to say to
what extent this end has been secured, or is likely to
be attained in the future.
In the matter of supervision, an enormous corps of
white underground and surface bosses are steadily
required, or thought to be, to handle the workmen,
the proportion being about one white to tenor twelve
negroes or Chinese, and these whites absorb as much
wages as the real workers, and add only a minimum
of efficiency. The South African managers are earn-
estly searching for ways and means to alter or im-
prove this system, recognizing that it is an entirely
unnatural one, and that it almost exactly doubles the
cost of labor at the mines. But there are many ob-
stacles in the way that will be hard to overcome.
Unhappy is the land where manual labor is considered
undignified or unworthy, of the people who endeavor
to advance themselves by means of the toil of an
alien and despised race in their midst.
(to be continued.;)
Diamonds were mined in India and Brazil long before
they were discovered in South Africa, though the latter
country has produced by far the greatest mines.
August 26, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
144
* + * + ** + +******* *•***•!• -J.** 1- + + + <. **.******»:
| Mining and Metallurgical Patents,|
* «•
« + + + + + + * + •** *'f"*'f + >l"f + + + -(-^4"f+'H*'f -f + >f + + + ^ jc
PATENTS ISSUED AUGUST 8. 1906.
Specially Reported and Illustrated for the MINING AND
SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
Ore Concentrator.— No. 796,110; I. A. Cammett,
Denver, Colo.
In ore concentrator, combination of bowl, means for
producing centrifugal movement within same, dis-
charge opening for waste material from bowl, dis-
charge opening for concentrates in outer portion of
bottom of bowl, oscillatory rotary valve for control-
ling concentrates discharge opening, and adjustable
means for limiting rotary movement of valve.
Ore
Colo.
Jiq.— No. 796,553; M. P. Baugh, Pueblo,
In ore jig, ore screen, hopper beneath same, fluid-
forcing means co-operating with hopper, plunger
connected to fluid-forcing means and having upper
end guided in one of frame members, square collar
threaded on plunger above frame member, vertical
plate bearing against collar for preventing rotation,
and means for operating plunger.
Concentrating Table.
dan, Chicago, 111.
-No. 796,940; T. P. Sheri-
Keeiprocating transversely inclined concentrating
table having lower side edge and forward end edge
in oblique relation to each other, series of riffles of
equal length extending from forward end toward rear
end of table upon upper portion thereof, smooth sur-
face portion between rear ends of such riffles and
rear end of table, and second series of riffles of pro-
gressively diminishing length extending progres-
sively from lower side edge of table wholly subtend-
ing such smooth surface portion and adapted to
return concentrates thereto.
Process ok Treating Ores.— No 7!m;,754; J. R.
Parks, Spokane, Wash
Process of treating ores, which consists in inter-
mixing pulverized ore, cyanide of potassium, and fluid
electric conductor and simultaneously passing cur-
rent of air and current of electricity through mixture
and retarding escape of air from mixture.
Machine for Treating Ores. — No. 796,753; J. R.
Parks, Spokane, Wash.
In machine of class described, combination of outer
shell forming chamber and provided with inner me-
tallic portion, second metallic element mounted adja-
cent to such inner metallic portion insulated there-
from and forming chamber between such parts for
containing mixture having pulverized ore therein to
be operated upon, means for connecting such metallic
elements to negative and positive poles respectively
of source of electric supply, means for agitating mix-
ture containing pulverized ore to be operated upon,
and means for forcing air into chamber formed by
shell.
Art op Mining Coal.— No. 796,499; O R. Clag-
horn, Wehrum, Pa.
Improvement in art of mining coal, which consists
in forming main heading, cross headings connected
therewith, two or more of which extend in same
direction as sides of relatively wide intervening area
of coal, forming clearance space or upriser near
each heading, main heading, cross headings and up-
risers being relatively deep and provided with track
systems, forming two working faces, both transverse
to cross entries, breaking down coal along working
faces, transporting broken-down coal along one face
by endless conveyor in one direction toward clearance
space or upriser and depositing coal in cars therein
and transporting coal in opposite direction by second
endless conveyor extending from opposite heading
and delivering coal -to cars in clearing space ad-
jacent to heading.
Rock Drill.- No. 796,890; .1. T. Blackett, Guis-
borough, England.
Combination with revoluble feed scr»w, of station-
ary feed nut casing, feed nut formed in two sections
which engage with screw and which are siidable in
casing, operating lever pivoted to one nut section,
link extending crosswise of feed screw and pivoted to
lever and to other nut section, and stop arranged in
path of last nut section.
Apparatus for Treating Slimes in Ore Reduc-
tion.—No. 796,503; G. A. Duncan, Deadwood, S. D.
Apparatus for treatment of ore slimes, consisting
of filtering cell having length and breadth respect-
ively horizontal and vertical and thickness small
relatively to other dimensions; tank in which such
cell is suspended and which accommodates same with
relatively small space at opposite sides; suction pipes
intruded into cell from top, terminating open near
bottom; means for producing suction through such
pipes and means for supplying slime-bearing liquor to
tank and for aerating same from bottom.
Apparatus for Placer .Wining. — No. 796,780; J. L>.
Weaver, Boise, Idaho.
Screen provided with inner foraminous cylinder
having series of angular or inclined flights on inner
side overlapping at adjacent ends, outer and concen-
tric foraminous cylinder or wall, screw between
walls, approximately volute discharge vanes at one
end, and spout having central discharge for coarse
material, and provided with opening in wall for dis-
charge of finer material.
Process for the Treatment of Ores Containing
Antimony.— No. 796,849; J. S. MacArthur, Glasgow,
Scotland.
Process for treatment of ores containing antimony,
consisting in, firstly, treating ore with solution con-
taining not more than 4% of caustic soda, solution
being meanwhile maintained at temperature exceed-
ing 50° centigrade, whereby antimonial content is
dissolved; secondly, precipitating, by carbonic acid
gas, antimony from antimonial solution thus obtained
and forming at same time carbonate of soda therein;
thirdly, regenerating alkali solution by treatment
with lime.
145
Mining and Scientific Press.
August 26, 1905.
J MINING SUMMARY, f
£ tf, if, if. .f if. if. if, if if *;- if if .f »;- .> .;- ^ if ^ •;'- <;< if. ty if. if. if. i^> if. if* if. if. if. if. if. if. $>
Specially Compiled and Reported for the MINING AND
SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
ARIZONA.
Cochise Connty.
(Special Correspondence). — The Tombstone Con. M.
Co. is opening up new ground with satisfactory results.
A rich strike was made recently in the shaft of the com-
pany between the 600 and 700 levels. Regular shipments
are being made from the various mines of the company
at the rate of three cars per day. An additional oil tank
is being built which, when completed, will have a capac-
ity of 104,000 gallons. This is being done so as to provide
against washouts and delays. The additional pumps
which were ordered recently arrived and will be put in
at once and will increase the pumping capacity to 6,000,-
000 gallons per day. Work on remodeling the old
Girard mill is progressing rapidly, and it is expected
that it will be completed and its additional stamps
added within three months, at which time the concen-
trator, which is being built on the grounds, will also be
finished.
Tombstone, Aug. 21.
(ill a County.
The Silver Belt in describing the hopper scale charge
weighing appliance at the Old Dominion smelter at
Globe, put into operation during the latter part of June,
says that the different ingredients of the charge, such as
all classes of ores, oxides, sulphides, acid flux and lime-
stones, the black copper slag, coke, etc., each have
their respective pockets in the large ore bins into which
they are delivered from steel hopper bottom cars,
each material being provided with four chutes, which,
on opening the gate, deliver their material to a steel
hopper, which takes the place of the platform of an
ordinary scale of 2500 pounds capacity, and is allowed to
run therein until the beam indicates that the desired
quantity has been received. The charge train of three
cars and an electric motor passing under the hopper
scales, stops and receives three charges of coki', then
limestone, ore, sulphides, old slag, etc., in such quanti-
ties as-the metallurgist may designate and takes them
to the furnaces. Manual labor is reduced to a minimum,
the varying weights of the different cars have no effect
on the charge contained, and an error in any one of the
component parts does not affect any of the remaining
Ones, which was always the case with the old system
where too much ore meant too little coke, or vice versa.
Mohave County.
Work has been temporarily suspended at the Blue
Ridge mine and mill near Vivian. C. D. Pickering,
superintendent of the Yucca Cyanide M. & M. Co. 's San
Francisco mine at Cedar, reports that the mine on the
lower level is showing up good bodies of ore. A 50 H. P.
compressor and machine drills are to be put in at once
and work on the mine rushed.
Pima County.
(Special Correspondence). — The Helvetia C. M. Co.'s
Isle Royale shaft at Helvetia is down to the 800-foot
level and crosscutting has been started. The mines are
in the Santa Rita mountains, 35 miles southeast of
Tucson. The nearest railroad station is at Vail, 16
miles from the mines. The formation resembles that at
Bisbee, the carboniferous limestone being of the same
geological horizon with similar porphyritic intrusions.
The ores turned to sulphides on the third level. A 25-
mile railroad connects the mine and smelter. The first
smelter was burned in 1900 and rebuilt in 1901, the pres-
ent plant having a daily capacity of 150 tons. The fur-
naces are to be started before November 1 on ore now
being blocked out. Crosscutting has been started at the
fourth level down. Water has been struck at the bot-
tom of the shaft and will be pumped and impounded for
smelter use.
Helvetia, Aug. 20.
Pinal County.
(Special Correspondence). — Superintendent A. C. Sei-
both of the Lake Superior & Arizona M. & S. Co. re-
ceived returns recently from a 30-ton shipment of ore to
El Paso that netted the company over $70 a ton. This
company has recently opened up a large body of gold
ore. The mines are in the Pioneer district, near Flor-
ence. The property shows three copper ore bodies,
mainly in limestone, near a quartzite contact. The ores
are mainly oxides and carbonates, associated with iron
and manganese.
Florence, Aug. 21.
Santa Cruz County.
(Special Correspondence). — The Grubstake gold and
silver mines of Oro Blanco have passed into the owner-
ship of the Grubstake Con. G. M. & M. Co.
Oro Blanco, Aug. 21. .
Yavapai County.
The shaft of the Bauman Copper Co. at Dewey is be-
low the 300-foot level and will be continued to the 1000-
foot level, making short crosscuts at each 100-foot level.
The country rocks are quartz, porphyry and slate, the
principal veins occurring as fissures in quartz porphyry,
with heavy gouge in foot wall. The ores are cuprite,
malachite and azurite above, with chalcopyrite below.
W. H. MacKay is superintendent. At Crown King
the Ore Bell has eighty men working in the mine and
10-stamp mill. The Crown King is regrinding and re-
treating the tailings. Manager Timmons has ten men
working at the Gold King, near Crown King. The 10-
stamp mill at the Lincoln is to be started as soon as new
boilers have been put in.
CALIFORNIA.
Amador County.
The strike of the Amador Miners' Union against the
Fremont M. Co. of Amador City has been officially de-
clared off.
Calaveras County.
At the San Andreas Gold Quartz mine, John L. Henry
has put up a gallows frame and whim. When the shaft
is down a sufficient depth to admit of crosscutting, a
larger force will be put on. Active operations are to
be commenced at the Round Butte mine, near San
Andreas. The property is under the management of
James Stewart. The first work to be done will be the
sinking of five shafts on the property. The Yellow
Boy M. Co. of Salt Lake City is operating the Red Gold
mine, west of Murphys, and the Gum Boot, on San
Antonio creek.
£1 Dorado County.
It is reported that another rich body of ore has been
struck in the Union mine, El Dorado district. At the
Cedar Creek mine, Fairplay district, the tunnel is in 100
feet of the 750 feet necessary to tap the channel.
At the Havilah mill, near Nashville, twenty stamps
are dropping on ore from the mine, where seventy men
are at work. It is reported that a mill is to be put on
the Last Chance mine, 6 miles north of Plymouth. The
shaft is being sunk by Manager Smith.
Manager F. M. Curtis is putting in an auxiliary
steam power plant at the Red Raven mine, near Placer-
ville. This will run the 10-stamp mill when water
power is not available.
Placer County.
The Rawhide mine, near Towle, on the American
river, has reopened under the management of the
original Rawhide M. Co. Since the failure of the
Soldon M. Co., at the expiration of the year for which
it had bonded the mine, all work has been suspended.
John Mottrom has been elected president of the old
company. The Whisky Diggings mine, 9 miles north-
east of Lincoln, has been reopened by a company of San
Francisco men, who will sink the old shaft to a depth of
1200 feet. A new hoist and other machinery is being
put in. At the Evening Star mine, on Rock creek,
work is being carried on on the 60-foot level. The
Lewis Hill Gravel M. Co. is developing its mine, 3 miles
helow Newcastle. The work is in charge of R. M. Mooer
of Auburn. The lower tunnel is in 380 feet and the up-
per one 120 feet. There is an upraise of 70 feet, which
furnishes fresh air.
Plumas County.
W. P. Hammon is interested with H. H. Yard and
J. H. Leggett in a large dam being built to increase the
storage capacity of Silver lake by raising its surface 6
feet. Five thousand horse power of electricity will be
developed by the water from the lake, and this will be
used to operate a system of electric cars that will convey
the sand and gravel on the claims held by them from
the place of excavation to the points where water will be
available for washing it. The claims are in canyons and
on hillsides and cannot be worked by the dredger.
Shasta County.
The rates the Mammoth Copper Co. has established
for treating siliceous ores at the smelter at Kennett may
vary from time to time, but those now offered follow:
Ore from $3 to $15 a ton in assay value will be smelted
free and 75% of the value returned to the shipper. On
ore between $15 and $25 a ton 77J% of the assay valuo
will be returned and there is no charge for smelting.
Ore from $25 to $50 per ton, 90% returned; $3.50 a ton
smelting charge. Ore from $50 to $75 a ton, 95%
returned; $5 a ton for smelting. Ore from $75 to $100 a
ton, 95% returned; smelting charge $7 a ton. Ore from
$100 to $200 a ton, 95% returned; smelting charge $10 a
ton. In addition to the above percentages of gold, 90%
of all silver assays will be returned on all ores carrying over
five ounces of silver. If less than that amount of silver
is contained in the ore, according to assays, no returns
will be made. Only siliceous ores going as high as 90%
in silica will be treated free. Ores deficient in silica are
subject to a charge for smelting. Gold will be paid for
at the rate of $20 per ounce and silver at the current
New York quotations. Ore must be shipped in lots
of not less than ten tons. Work is progressing rapidly
on the aerial tramway to supply the smelter with ore
from the Mammoth mine.
sierra County.
(Special Correspondence). — At the White Bear gravel
mine, north of Downieville, Superintendent Wm. J.
Belcher finds that a small part of the gold is left in the
tailings and has decided to impound them, as the gold
may be recovered after the clay has been weathered.
The flume is to be lengthened. The Forest City M. Co.
have cut two quartz ledges in their main tunnel being
driven to open up the old Mabel Mertz, near Forest
City. Superintendent H. B. McCormack is employing
ten men and will start an upraise soon. This is a drift
mine and heretofore little attention has been paid to
quartz. It is claimed that the Bald Mountain gravel
channel has been tapped by the 2500-foot tunnel of the
South Fork drift mine at Forest, after twelve years of
work. Fred Kuhfeld is superintendent. At the Lucky
Dog drift mine, 2 miles west of Forest City, the channel
has been found, after being cut out for a long distance
by lava. W. J. Finney, superintendent of the Tele-
graph Drift M. Co., purchased an electric plant for the
Telegraph mine, north of Downieville. This mine has
both quartz and gravel, and is equipped with a 5-stamp
mill. The new power plant will be used for milling,
ventilation and pumping. T. J. Lamouroux has
taken a bond on the property of the Sovereign G. M. Co.,
near Downieville, and will put up a 10-stamp mill.
Downieville, Aug. 21.
R. J. Fitzgerald has bonded the Carson mine at Alle-
ghany.
Trinity County.
The hydraulic mine, originally operated by Fordyce
Bates and J. F. Tourtelotte at Minersville, has been
bonded by A. F. Johnson, who has men cleaning up
preparatory to putting in a hydraulic elevator. The
La Grange Hydraulic M. Co., operating the placer mine
on Oregon Gulch mountain, near Weaverville, has
started repairing the flume from near the head of Stu-
art's Fork to the great inverted syphon across that
stream, below Van Metre creek. The water supply sys-
tem of the La Grange mine includes the large inverted
syphon, 35 miles of flume and ditches and a 10,000-foot
tunnel.
At the Headlight mine, near Trinity Center, eight
men are employed under Frank Kidd. A tunnel is being
driven to cut the vein. Work has been resumed on
the Dorleska mine on Coffee creek. The dredger on
the Trinity, above Trinity Center, is running steadily
with four men under Superintendent G. W. Payne.
Tuolumne County.
At the Clio mine, near Jacksonville, a level has been
made at the 400-mark and sinking to the shaft will con-
tinue. At the Horse Shoe Bend mines, near Columbia,
E. A. Skewes of Liverpool, England, has started grad-
ing for the mill. After a thorough overhauling the
mill at the Del Monte mine, near Groveland, has been
started. At the mine the pump has lowered to the bot-
tom of the main shaft. On the 90-foot level, 100 feet
east of the main shaft, an upraise is being made. H. M.
Stanley is superintendent. At the Cosmopolite mine,
at Groveland, eleven men are at work in the lower tun-
nel. A crosscut is being run 94 feet from the mouth of
the main tunnel, while old timbers are being replaced
with new. Superintendent Wm. Pool is in charge.
Yuba County.
At the Peerless mine at Smartsville the shaft has been
cleared. A gasoline engine has been put in to handle
the debris and water in the shaft.
COLORADO.
Boulder County.
A half interest in the Livingstone mine, near Boulder,
has been sold by W. R. Doty, who retains the other
half, to F. G. Shaffer of Denver. The Potato Patch,
as it is familiary known to the mining world, was at one
time worked with plows and scrapers and the earth
loaded in wagons was sent to the smelters and brought
the owners over $200,000. Since that time the vein in
place has produced over $200,000, and the deepest work-
ings on the property are less than 300 feet. The Good
Moruing tunnel, which enters Sugar Loaf at Wall
Street, 8 miles above Boulder, is to be driven 6000 feet
to tap the Gladys, Ragged Top, Livingstone and Cross
and Sphynx properties. All of these properties have
been profitable and heavy producers, and were recog-
nized as such until the question of water in the work-
ings became such an expensive one. The Livingstone
property has three shaft houses, a mill and a power
plant. New machinery is to be added.
The Cash mill at Magnolia has, according to recent
accounts, solved the problem of ore treatment in that
camp by oxidizing the telluride products in a roasting
cylinder and then cyaniding. The Boulder Times says
that F. A. Leonard, the manager, has met with such
success that he has decided to put in two more leaching
vats. He has made a saving of 95% and $30 ore is being
treated in the mill instead of being shipped to the smelt-
ers. The fuel used is crude petroleum from the Boulder
oil wells. The amount treated is fifteen tons per day,
but when the new leaching vats are in place the capacity
will be doubled.
Clear Creek County
A strike of high grade gold, silver, lead and copper
ore is reported from the Little Flat mine, in Cascade
creek, in the drift being driven east from the 400-foot
level. The mine is owned by the Allen M. Co., J. B.
Allen of Idaho Springs being resident manager. It is
the intention of the company to build a concentrating
mill on Chicago creek when a sufficient amount of ore
has been blocked out in the mine. The property will be
cut by the Burns-Moore tunnel within the next few
months and operations will also be carried on through
that outlet at a greater depth.
The U. P. R. lode, one of the earliest discoveries on the
western slope of Bellevue mountain, near Idaho Springs,
has been cut by the Lucania tunnel, 2100 feet from the
portal, and at a depth of nearly 1000 feet. The Queen
of the W.est mine, on Argentine Pass, has been leased to
Thos. Cunningham, who will start development.
Work has been resumed on the Ramsdale claims, located
on Lincoln mountain, near Georgetown, by G. W. Teagar-
den and A. B. Montgomery. A power plant is to be
put in near the mouth of the 400-foot crosscut, together
with an air compressor and machine drills.
An 8-drill compressor and steam power plant is to be
put in by the Banner Con. Co. for the Rockford tunnel,
near Idaho Springs. The tunnel is to be driven to the
heart of Donaldson mountain and has already been run
1000 feet, about 2500 feet remaining to be driven.
Gilpin County.
The Register Call reports that the Petersen mill in
Lump gulch, near Central City, has been leased by
Manager Frank Augustus of the Colorado M. Co. and
A. C. Dart has been placed in charge. It is equipped
with fifteen slow drop stamps and has a daily capacity of
twenty-five tons, is equipped with bumping tables and
was last run on ores from the Gold Dirt mine, on which
a very good saving was made during the three months in
which tests were made with the cynanide process. The
mill has been leased for the purpose of treating the ores
from the Colorado tunnel property of the Colorado M.
Co. A new shaft building 20x40 feet has been put on
the Daisy Extension mine on Perigo hill in the Indepen-
dent district, by J. A. Gilmour of Central City, who is
the owner and operator, and an 8x10 double cylinder
hoister of McFarlane manufacture has been put in,
together with a 35 H. P. boiler. The shaft on this
property is down 125 feet and has been repaired and
cleaned. A contract is to be let for sinking the main
shaft another lift of 100 feet.
At Russell Gulch, Manager Nickerson of the Fairfield
M. Co. is asking for bids on putting up a shaft building
45x40, to replace the one burned last month, as well as
for a gear hoist 8x10 and a 60 H. P. boiler. The
Fostoria G. M. Co. is putting in machinery in the Silver
Gem tunnel, near Gilson gulch, to operate its Summit
group, in the Pleasant Valley district.
Development work is being carried on at the property
of the Twolon Gold M. Co., known as the 2:40 mines in
Willis gulch, under the management of Stephen Hoskin
of Central City. Operations are being carried on in the
200 and 350-foot levels, and a few leasers are at work.
At the Alps mine on Quartz hill, near Central City,
operations are being carried on at a depth of 600 feet in
the main shaft and also at a depth of 1300 feet in what is
known as the submarine shaft. The property is being
August 26, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
un
worked under a lease and bond from Hal Sayr and
associates by a local pool, of which James Williams is
superintendent. Leasers are at work at the Eldorado
mine in Russell district, which is operated by the
Eldorado M. Co. The company is arranging for the
resumption of operations on their Lynn shaft, the main
shaft being down 200 feet and is to be sunk deeper.
S. T. Harris is in charge.
During the second week of this month the shipments
of smelting and crude ores, tailings and concentrates to
the Denver smelters and to outside points from Central
City were seventy-two cars, or 1510 tons. The following
shipments were made to Argo: Druid mine in Willis
gulch, two cars; one car by Martin & Co. of the Puzzle
mine on Bobtail hill, one car of enargite ores from tho
Powers mine, Russell district; one car from the Im-
perial M. & M. Co., operating in the Pine Creek district,
and one car of 10-ounce ores from tho East Notaway
mine in Russell district, besides two cars of zinc ores
from the Ivanhoo mine on Quartz hill to the Lanyan Zinc
Co. of lola, Kans. At a stockholders meeting of the
Pewabic Con. Gold Minos Co. the following officers were
elected: President, general manager and treasurer, J. C.
Fleischbutz; secretary, W. A. Funk. The plans as sub-
mitted by Manager Fleischbutz for the Increased devel-
opment and operation of the properties have been ap-
proved. They include operation on the base of Pewabic
mountain through two working shafts, the main Po-
wabic and the Iron. A new and complete hoisting and
compressor plant is to be put on the Iron at an early
date. Shipments are being made to the New York miil
at Black Hawk, under lease and option by the Pawabic
company.
tiuiiuiHin, County.
A rich strike of gold ore is report d from the property
of the Gold Vein M. Co. on North Cross mountain, near
Tin Cup. C. P. Wahl of Tin Cup is superintendent.
George Brant has started work on the Copper Sulphide
lode, near Bowerman. A shaft is being sunk. He is
also doing work on the Gold Ridge lode. A lease and
bond have been secured by A. B. Coats and Jas. Henry
on the Nettie lode, near Bowerman. The Augusta
mine, near Crested Butte, has been temporarily closed.
Horace Miller has started work on the Hard Cash
and Mexican mines on Galena mountain, near Crested
Butte.
Hinsdale County.
Increased work is to be done by the Golden Fleece
Con. Co., near Lake City. T. B. Stearns has charge of
work. Machine drills are to be put in at the Moro and
Ajax mines of the Hanna M. & M. Co. by Manager G. H.
Martin.
Larimer County.
The Pearl smelter is completed and equipped, and will
begin ore reduction not later than September 15. The
smelter has cost $100,000, and will begin by reducing
5000 tons per month. The works at present will make
55% copper matte, a bullion converter being probably
added next year. Ore is being gathered and eoke and
charcoal arranged for.
Mineral County.
(Special Correspondence). — Mining in the southern
part of the State is in a healthy condition. During the
past year a large amount of development work has been
in progress, and as a result of the development in the
mines several mills are being erected for the treatment
of the ore. In the Creede district there has been a
scarcity of men and as a result the mines have not been
able to operate full capacity. It is understood a survey
is being made from Creede to Durango with the idea of
making a standard gauge road to connect with the new
branch of the D. & R. G. Ry. now being built south of
Durango. The road from Denver to Creede is standard
gauge.
Creede, Aug. 21.
Ouray County.
(Special Correspondence). — The Treasury Tunnel M. &
R. Co., W. J. Hammond, Jr., manager, are preparing to
add twenty more stamps to their 20-stamp mill. An
electric motor for delivering ore from the mine to the
mill is to be put in later on. The Joker tunnel, which
ia being driven by W. C. Aston, intends putting in an
electric motor to facilitate the work in the tunnel.
Red Mountain, Aug. 19.
(Special Correspondence). — In the Red Mountain dis-
trict, on the Ouray side, the Barstow, Treasury and
Crawford companies are doing an immense amount of
work. The Barstow Co. is operating thirty stamps on
ore from their mine, and the Treasury Co., under the
management of W. J. Hammond, Jr., is adding twenty
more stamps to their mill which now contains twenty
stamps. For a time there was difficulty with some of
the men at this property over wages, the men claiming
they were obliged to work in a wet place while the man-
agement contended otherwise. The difficulty, which
was not great, has been disposed of, and the property is
being operated full capacity. Across the gulch from
the Treasury is the Genessee, Guston and other prop-
erties of the Crawford Syndicate, which are being devel-
oped as rapidly as possible. They are driving the Joker
tunnel, to be used as a drainage and transportation tun-
nel. This tunnel starts 1 mile above Ironton and is 12
feet by 14 feet outside the timbers and double tracked.
The tunnel is now in 2000 feet and being driven at the
rate of 9 feet per day. A crosscut is being started from
the main tunnel to connect with the Guston workings,
and is expected to tap the Guston at a depth of 600 feet.
About 1200 feet farther the main tunnel will cut the old
Yankee Girl at a depth of 800 feet. The breast of the
tunnel is broken with nineteen holes, using an upper cut.
An electric motor will he put in to handle the rock from
the tunnel. W. C. Ashton is superintendent.
Red Mountain, Aug. 21.
Kio Grande County.
At Summitville, the Gold Crown M. Co. has taken a
bond and lease on the Esmond, one of the oldest mines
in the camp. At Summer Coon, 6 miles north of Del
Norte, there are strong veins carrying galena and Iron.
The Esther M. Co. is taking out gold, silver and lead
ore, but there is no mill in the camp. At Embargo,
the Washington Gold M. & M. Co. is sinking on its
Evening Star and drifting from the 170-foot level. The
Golden Income Co. will begin work soon. The manager
of the Tornado M. Co. of Terra Hauto, Ind., has been
working all summer on the Black Hawk at Embargo.
On the Mesa, flurm & 1 1 askins are developing the lad-
die, where tho shaft will bo sunk to tho 100-foot level on
an incline.
Sun Juan County.
(Special Correspondence!. — The Ledge M. & M. I
being operated this year by Kramer Bros. & Carmicbael
and is averaging about luu tons of lead concentrates and
50 tons of zlno concentrates per week; the zinc will run
about 50J(f. Only a portion of the mill is boing operated
at present.
Silverton, Aug. 19.
(Special Correspondence). — About IB miles north of
Rock wood the Delayed M, .V M. Co. is driving a tunnel
7x7 feet which gives them 120 feet depth. Some very-
rich assays are reported by E. L. Thompson, manager
of the property. The ore carries copper, gold and sil-
ver. Where this property is located there has beon but
little prospecting done for a number of years. The mine
is on the west side of the West Needles. Buffalo, N. V.,
parties are interested. Another tunnel 900 feet in
length is to be started to tap the mountain at a depth of
500 feet. Near Animas Forks the Gold Prince Co. are
developing their mine, oporating their old mill and
breaking ground for their new 100-stamp mill to be
built at Animas Forks. The frame work will bo of steel
and foundations of concrete. At present 100 men are
employed in preparing the foundation and excavating.
O. O. McReynolds, chief engineer on the works, expects
to have the mill ready to receive the machinery by Dec.
15th this year. An aerial tramway is being built from
the mine to the mill. Tower will be supplied from the
electric plant at Rockwood, below Silverton.
Silverton, Ang. 21.
Summit County.
Near Kokomo, in May Mower gulch, the Thomson M.
& M. Co. is driving the Bird's Nest tunnel. Ore bins
are being put up on the Result mine on Gold hill, near
Kokomo. M. Hyman of Denver is interested. The
tunnel of the Union Con. group on Gold hill is being
driven under the management of M. Gagan.
Teller County.
The .'100-foot shaft in the South Burns claim of the
Acacia is to be continued to the 800-foot level by the
Exposition M. & L. Co. of Cripple Creek. The prop-
erty of the Wheel of Fortune M. Co. has been sold at
sheriff's sale to satisfy a judgment of $2021.54 held by
Wm. Helm, who purchased the property. Surface
water around Independence has been causing consider-
able trouble to several properties. The Independence
Con. Co. has been forced to start its pumps and is draw-
ing between 200 and 250 gallons of water- per minute.
The Golden Cycle M. Co. has decided to put up a cyanide
plant of 200 tons capacity either on the company's prop-
erty .at the mines on Bull hill, Cripple Creek, or at Colo-
rado City. The bromo-cyanogen process will probably
be used. J. Emerson, who is operating under lease
the Murphy shaft on the Bull hill property of the Strat-
ton-Cripple Creek M. & D. Co., has started shipping,
after having been closed down for some time on account
of the surface water. Ore bins are being built on the
east end of the Rocky Mountain property on Beacon
hill, Cripple Creek.
IDAHO.
Blaine County.
Superintendent Allen has prepared specifications for a
concentrator at the Hillside mines, in Lee's guleb, near
Hailey. The 170-foot raise in the mine to connect the
tunnel with the surface has been completed, and is to be
continued in depth as a shaft 200 feet below the tunnel
level. A road is being made to the Lucky Boy mine,
west of Ketchum, so that ore shipments can be made.
The Boulder Con. M. Co., operating on Boulder
ereek, 25 miles north of Hailey, is going to drive a tun-
nel from the Wood river side of the Boulder range to
the East fork of the Salmon. The tunnel will be over
5000 feet in length and cut the formation at a depth of
2800 feet. It will prospect, drain and develop a large
extent of mineral-bearing ground.
Idaho County,
In the Thunder Mountain district it is reported that
the mills of the Standard, Sunnyside and Dewey proper-
ties are closed for the present, but the mines are being
developed. The ore seems to have become refractory
with depth, and experiments are being made to get the
values from the slimes and tailings.
Shottuune County.
V. C. Hikes, of the Geological Survey, who has been
making examinations of the placer gravels through the
West with the view of determining if rare metals were
likely to be found in them, reports that tantalum has
been found in sands from Snake river and in the Pierce
district.
The Monitor mine of the Monitor Con. Copper M. Co.,
5 miles west of Saltese, Mont., is shipping regularly to
the Tacoma smelter. Otis Hill of Tekoa, Wash., is man-
aging director.
Regarding mineral production of the Cceur d'Alenes,
the Idaho Press says that the shipments to smelters of
ore and concentrates for the first seven months of 1905
aggregated 175,000 tons. The California will soon
have its electrical equipment put in and its enlarged mill
ready to treat its newly found bodies of galena, besides
being in shape to secure a much higher extraction from
its carbonates. The Success Co.'s mill will be in oper-
ation probably within another week. The Hercules
mill will also be in operation in a short time. The
Snowstorm is arranging for an increased output of both
first and second class ore, and numerous other proper-
ties such as the Rex, Chesapeake and Tamarack and a
half dozen mines of the North Side, will ship.
MICHIGAN.
Houghton County.
(Special Correspondence). — The Manitou and Fon-
tenac copper mining companies, recently organized to
develop and operate copper mines on the Keweenaw
peninsula, are controlled by the Calumet & Hecla Co.
The Calumet & Hecla 'has recently secured control of
60,000 acres of mineral land, originally held only for the
timber on it. There are many test pits on this tract
ami some gin . tsfor copper rock. This work
was done in early days, when it required a much higher
grade of rock to pay a profit than now. The conditions
surrounding the industry have changed and rock that
now yields anything above 1%, by the use of modern
machinery and largo tonnages, can be made to yield a
profit. Exploratory operations have been started on
the properties. It was known that several lodes cross
the property which the company had acquired, but
their value can only be determined by extended explora-
tion. The general character of tho amygdaloidal beds
yields easily to milling processes. If this state of affairs
to any great extent, even if the percentage of cop-
per ton is small, the rock should he capable of show-
ing a profit if worked on a large scale.
Houghton, An;;. Is.
Following the mineral extension of tho Mineral Range
R, R. to shaft C, the extreme west opening on the Mass
property, the company let a contract for a permanent
rock house at tho shaft, construction to begin immedi-
ately. ( m tin- railroad extension the grading is com-
pleted and the laying of rails is in progress. Shaft C is
100 feet above shafts A and B. The showing of the two
lodes that are being worked through the shaft are good.
At the present time only one head of the stamping
capacity of tho mill is available, b'ut it is possible to
handle a slightly increased capacity over what is being
treated at the present time. The compounding of the
stamp head, which has been under discussion by the
management for some time, would probably follow
closely a production which the mill is unable to handle.
Such an improvement, at a cost of about $10,000, would
increase the capacity of tho mill about 200 tons per day.
MONTANA.
Fercim County.
A suit is now on trial in the Lewiston district court,
the action being brought by I. F. David, a rancher on
the Judith river, against the New Mines Sapphire Syn-
dicate, owning and operating the sapphire mines at
Yogo. David claims that by reason of a waste ditch
from the mines, which discharges into the river above
the intake of this irrigating ditch, a vast amount of the
waste has been carried upon his land, where it has
formed a cake, being, according to the exhibits of
squares of earth offered in court, all tho way from a
few inches to a foot thick. Tho plaintiff and his wit-
nesses, all of whom are ranchers, assert that this de-
posit forms a hard cake over the soil, which speedily
chokes out the crops, and it is also claimed that tho
deposit in the bed of the river has changed the channel
below the point of discbarge. The plaintiff contends
that the present plan of getting rid of tho waste can be
changed without interfering with the operation of the
mines if the defendant will convey the waste upon its
own lands. The defense will claim that the waste, so far
from being harmful, is really beneficial to the land, act-
ing as a fertilizer.
Granite County.
At Royal a cyanide plant is being put in to work the
tailings from the Royal mill. J. Terry of Butte has
charge. Pyke & Lindquist, leasing in the mine, have
twenty men at work.
Madison County.
The Pony Sentinel reports that bullion to the amount
of $15,850 was shipped in one week from the mines
around Pony, in -addition to the shipments of concen-
trates and ore. In the Pony and South Boulder dis-
tricts fifty stamps are dropping constantly and several
cars of concentrates and shipping ore are sent to the
smelter at East Helena every month. The Clipper group,
discovered in 1877, and owned by the Indian G. M. Co.,
is leased by Elling & Morris, who have ten stamps drop-
ping at the mill. At the Garnet mine, of which F. C.
Wood is the president, twenty stamps are dropping.
At the properties of the Mammoth M. & P. Co., on the
head of the South Boulder, near Pony, the company
has ten stamps dropping. At the Lennstrende-Buck
property, between the Pony mines and those of the
Boulder section, a 5-stamp mill has been put up.
Missoula County.
Work has been resumed on the Montana Standard
mine, 11 miles from Thompson. Work on a flume 2
miles long has been started. This flume will take the
water from Crow creek and will be utilized for power for
a compressor. Work has been resumed by hand in the
No. 3 crosscut tunnel, which is being driven to tap tho
ledge at a depth of 800 feet. As soon as the new com-
pressor is put in, a contract to extend this tunnel 1500
feet will be let. John Murphy is the principal stock-
holder.
1'ark County.
In the Crevasse mountain district, near Jardine, tho
Conrad-Stanford Co. intend putting in a new stamp mill
and adding concentrators to the present mill.
Silver Bow County.
In the injunction suits brought by an association of
farmers against the Washoe smelter of the Amalgamated
Company, the farmers are seeking to close the smelter
permanently, and claim that their farms have been
ruined by the smelter smoke and poisonous refuse. Be-
fore suits were brought they offered to settle for less
than $1,000,000, but they now want $2,000,000. In their
testimony and pleadings before the Federal court they
represented that nothing will grow in the smoke dis-
trict, covering many miles, but this season has been the
most profitable the ranchers in that part of the State
have ever known, and crops have grown so rank and
plentiful as to create despair among the farmers who
have been trying to settle with the company. There has
been an unusual rainfall this summer. It is reported
that the Pittsmont smelter of the Pittsburg & Montana
Co. is again closed down temporarily, making the
eighth break down since the smelter was started. A
new blower is to be put in.
NEVADA.
Lyon County.
Surveys are being made for work at the Hayward
mine and Eureka mill, at Silver City. J. E. Munroe has
charge of work.
147
Mining and Scientific Press.
August 26, 1905.
Nye County.
At Liberty, 20 miles north of Tonopah, among the
properties being worked are La Libertad, under the
management of W. C. Wynkoop, with a 485-foot shaft,
the Callington and the Cedrio under Albert Weaver,
the Florence Extension, with a 115-foot shaft, the
Tonopah Berkeley with a 150-foot shaft, in charge of
L. C. Orndorff, and the Oregon and St. Paul.
NEW MEXICO.
Santa Fe County.
A strike of molybdenite is reported 6 miles from Santa
Fe, on ground belonging to the Santa Fe Water Co., by
Frank Owen. A rush is being made for the district and
over 400 acres have been located. The strike was made
at a depth of 40 feet.
OREGON.
According to E. W. Parker, in his report to the
United States Geological Survey, the total coal produc-
tion of Oregon in 1904 was 111,540 short tons, valued at
$243,588. The only productive coal field in Oregon is in
the southwestern part of the State in Coos county, and
is known as the Coos Bay field. It occupies 250 square
miles, its length north and south being 30 miles and its
maximum breadth at the middle 11 miles, tapering regu-
larly toward both ends. Other coal fields have been
prospected in different parts of the State, and some have
been shown to contain coal of fairly good quality.
Among these are the Upper Nehalem field, in Columbia
county; the Lower Nehalem field, in Clatsop and Tilla-
mook counties; the Yaquina field, in Lincoln county,
and the Eckley and Shasta Costa fields, in Curry
county. All of these fields lie west of the Cascade range,
but none has been developed to the point of production.
Another field has been located in the basin of the John
Day river, east of the Cascade range, but little is known
concerning it. All of the fields west of the range, with
the exception of the Coos Bay, are of limited area, the
largest, outside of the Coos Bay, being the Upper
Nehalem, which has an area of less than 20 miles. All
of the coal of these fields is lignitic in character. Trans-
portation is confined exclusively to Coos bay and the
Pacific ocean, and San Francisco is the principal market.
The Coos Bay field is divided by its structure into six
portions — four basins and two arches. The basins are
known as the Newport, the Beaver slough, the Coquillo
and the South slough, and are separated by the West-
port and Pulaski arches. The principal development
has been in the Newport basin, so named from the New-
port mino, which is the most important producer.
Baker Count V
Near Greenhorn, the Snow Creek, Psyche and Diadem
mines are all running again, having settled their June
pay rolls. The Diadem is turning out good ore that is
being treated at the Psyche mill. The Big Johnny is
having :■ mill test of its ore made at the Psyche mill.
The I. X. L. mill, at Greenhorn, is being put in shape to
work ore from the Royal White. A mill test will also
be made on ore from the Olive creek mines, near Green-
horn, for S. Tobin, who may put in a mill of his own.
Grant County.
New power drills are to be put in by the Portland M.
& R. Co. at the Monumental mine at Granite. The shaft
is down as far as it was intended to sink at this time.
Drifts are to be started both ways and a raise made in
line with shaft to the upper or mill level. There are fif-
teen men employed at the mine and this force will soon
be doubled. Manager C J. Allen is taking a rest. S. P.
Ross of Portland is in charge during his absence.
Josephine County.
A. B. Cousins, manager of the Galice Con. M. Co., op-
erating on lower Rogue river, near Galice, states that
his bedrock flume has been completed for 1800 feet from
the Rogue river, with prospects of finishing dead work
early this season. Washing gravel will begin a short
distance beyond the present head of this work. They
are cutting the flume down to 3 feet in bedrock and main-
taining the width of 6 feet.
Lane County.
Blue River camp is affected by the low stage of water
in its streams. The Lucky Boy has not been running
full capacity lately, because of the shortage of water for
the mill, and the smaller mills which have been put up
the past season are also in trouble. As deep tunnels are
driven, the flow of water in the basin is developing ma-
terially. At the Treasure, managed by C. H. Parks,
the main tunnel has enough water for a fair sized plant,
and the flow is increasing as the depth is attained. This
shortage hindrance will be overcome in a year or so, and
at present it is only the driest seasons that the trouble
is experienced. Power, drawn from the McKenzie
river, 6 miles away, never varies.
SOUTH DAKOTA.
JLawrence County.
Referring to the slimes plant to be put in by the
Homestake Co. at Deadwood, C. W. Merrill reports
that they have demonstrated experimentally on a prac-
tical scale that the 600 tons of slimes made daily by their
mills and running from $0.50 to $1.00 per ton can be
treated by cyanide at a profit.
UTAH.
Grand County.
It is reported that the McDonald Matte Furnace Co.
of Toledo, Ohio, are to put up a 30-ton matte smelting
furnace near Basin. C. W. Munson is manager.
Juab County.
The Raymond-Illinois, at Eureka, has been started up
again with one shift, drifting on the 1500-foot level.
The May Day mine was recently closed temporarily on
account of scarcity of water. Arrangements were made
by Superintendent Eigan to secure water from the Uncle
Sam M. Co., for which 800 feet of pipe had to be laid.
Piute Couuty.
The capacity of the Annie Laurie mill at Klmberley is
to be increased from 200 to 300 tons per day.
Salt Lake County.
The Shawmut Con. C. Co. has been organized to oper-
ate in Bingham canyon. The properties are on the
north side of Carr Fork, in a large belt of lime. The
management will extend the lower tunnel through the
property, connecting upraises with the workings above.
This will give from 800 to 1200 feet above the tunnel
level. The property is equipped with a new mill
designed by Manager Jackling, of the Utah C. Co., who
estimates the cost of mining and concentrating the
Shawmut ore at $7.29 per ton. The Shawmut Co. has
a lease and option to buy the Sedalia copper mine, near
Salida, Colo.
Manager H. S. Joseph of the Silver Shield M. Co. re-
ports that a new 50-ton mill is to be built near the mouth
of the main tunnel at Bingham.
Tooeie County.
The Ophir Hill mill at Ophir is being enlarged by
Manager E. W. Clark.
WASHINGTON.
E. W. Parker, in "Production of Coal for 1904," says
that Washington's total production in 1904 was 3,137,681
short tons, valued at $5,120,931. The coal fields of Wash-
ington are confined to the western and central portions
of the State. Four principal fields may be mentioned —
the North Puget Sound field, including the coal mines of
Skagit and Whatcom counties; the South Puget Sound
field, containing the operations in Pierce and King
counties; the Puget Sound basin, east of Seattle; the
Roslyn field, in Kittitas county, on the eastern slope of
the Cascade mountains, and the Southwestern field, em-
bracing the counties of Lewis and Cowlitz. The coals
of Washington range from lignite to bituminous coking
coals and some natural coke has been observed. The
bituminous coals of Washington are the only bituminous
coking coals on the Pacific slope of the United States.
The coking coals are found in the Wilkeson-Carbonado
district, in the South Puget Sound field, in the Roslyn
field and in the North Puget Sound field. The Wilkeson-
Carbonado coal runs high in ash and is usually washed
before coking. The lignite coals of Newcastle and Ren-
ton, in the South Puget Sound field, are generally of
high grade and well suited for domestic use. Coal was
first discovered in Washington in 1848, when a lignite of
rather low grade was found in the Cowlitz valley. Four
years later bituminous coal was discovered on Belling-
ham bay, Whatcom county, and the first mine in the
State was opened on this bed. Shipments did not begin,
however, until 1860. This mine was operated continu-
ously from 1860 until 1878, when, because of a fire caused
by spontaneous combustion, the workings were aban-
doned and they have not since been reopened. Ship-
ments were not resumed from any of the mines in the
northern district until thirteen years later — in 1891.
Coal was discovered in King county in 1859, and mining
began near the present Issaquah in 1862. Shipments to
San Francisco began in 1871, since which time Washing-
ton mines have been an important source of coal supply
to the San Francisco market. About the same time the
Talbot and Ronton mines, whicd are in King county, be-
gan shipping, and rail connection between the Ronton
mines and Seattle was obtained in 1877. Production in
the Green river field, also in King county, began between
1880 and 1885, and the Pierce county fields, which had
been opened up in 1875 and afterwards abandoned, again
began shipping about the same time. The Roslyn mines,
on the east side of the Cascade Range, were opened in
the first half of the same decade. The Bellingham Bay
mines, in the first year of their recorded production —
1860 — shipped out 5374 tons. In 1903, the year of maxi-
mum production, Washington's output of coal was
3,193,273 tons.
Snohomish County.
C. H. Packard of the Packard M. Co. of Monte Cristo
reports that the new compressor plant has been put in
and is doing satisfactory work.
Stevens County.
The Last Chance mine has resumed ore shipments to
the Joplin, Mo., lead smelter and will ship regularly for
several months. David Baker, superintendent of the
mine, has made arrangements to have the ore hauled in
wagons 8 miles to Northport.
Whatcom Comity.
A. W. Hawks, E. Blackman, Alonzo Low and W.
Whitfield of Snohomish and W. Brown of Sylvana are
at the Bonito G. M. Co. 's property in the Slate Creek
district. The mines are 60 miles by trail from Belling-
ham and 50 miles from Brewster. Hawks, Blackman
and Low will remain indefinitely and take charge of the
work. Hawks, the business manager, intends to double
the force in the mine and mill.
WYOMING.
Carbon Connty.
(Special Correspondence).— Encampment is a town of
1500 people, built up in the last five years, founded and
supported principally by the Penn-Wyoming Co. and its
antecedents. At the reduction works 150 men are em-
ployed. There aro 30,000 pounds of copper at the
smelter. At the reduction works one furnace is running
night and da3'. They are also rebuilding a larger fur-
nace, which is almost completed. By the system of
smelting and concentrating which the Penn-Wyoming
Co. employs, 90% of the copper is extracted from the
ore. The Australian jig saves 80% of the ore and has a
daily capacity of 800 tons of ore. Together with two 48-
inch Griffith mills, twenty-four Wilfley tables and twelve
Frue vanners, another 10% is saved. There is plenty
of limestone in the vicinity. The company owns their
own machine shop, foundry, blacksmith shop, harness
shop, carpenter shop and electric lighting plant, supply-
ing light for lighting the town as well as for their own
use at the reduction works, and their own water power.
The entire plant is run by water power furnished by
water from a 4-foot main from a dam 4 miles above the
works. The 16 miles of Leschen tramway from the mine
to the smelter cost $385,000, and has a carrying capacity
of about 1000 tons a day. The tramway carries 800
buckets 100 feet apart, averaging 700 pounds to the
bucket. Three-fourths cord of wood furnishes power to
run this tramway for one day. Considerable freight is
carried over this tramway to mining companies in the
immediate vicinity, netting the Penn-Wyoming Co. $1
per cwt. The cost of transporting ore over this tram-
way from the mine to the smelter, a distance of 16 miles,
is 30 cents a ton, compared with $14 a ton when hauled
by wagon. The mine of the Penn-Wyoming C. Co. em-
ploys about 100 men. The plant comprises three 80
H. P. boilers; one compressor, large enough to operate
twenty-five drills; one engine, which runs the com-
pressor, furnishing power to handle the cars for the
mine; one 300-light dynamo direct connected to a 35
H. P. engine, to give light to the mine and surrounding
buildings. A winze has been sunk from the lower level
to a distance of 150 feet, showing ore bodies to that
depth. All of the ore in the mine is handled by gravity
and compressed air, thus reducing the cost to a mini-
mum. The cost of producing the copper, including
hauling to the railway at Walcott, is stated to be 6j
cents per pound.
Encampment, Aug. 17.
The Battle Lake Tunnel Site M. Co., owners of the
Doane-Rambler mine at Rambler, will construct a 500-
ton concentrating plant at the Doane-Rambler mine. A
dam is to be constructed at the mouth of Battle lake by
which it is proposed to raise the waters of that body 18
feet. The lake is surrounded on three sides by steep
cliffs and the construction of the dam will create an im-
mense body of water, furnishing an inexhaustible water
power for the operation of the mine. Work will be In
charge of H. F. Brown.
FOREIGN.
CANADA.
The Dominion government has appropriated $15,000
for making experiments with the electric process of
smelting ores and manufacturing steel at Sault Ste.
Marie, and the Con. Lake Superior Power Co. will fur-
nish a building and dynamo capable of supplying 400
electric H. P. for four months free of charge. AH kinds
of ores will he experimented with. Great possibilities
for Canada underlie the inauguration of a cheaper pro-
cess for manufacturing pig iron and steel than is now in
use. Ontario is dotted with ore bodies, the development
of which is at present prevented by lack of cheap fuel.
There is coal in the eastern and western parts of Canada,
but the cost of conveying it to points where coke is
needed for smelting purposes is prohibitive. On the
other hand, there are a great many water powers
throughout the provinces of Ontario and Quebec where
electricity can be developed and utilized.
Ontario.
The Bruce copper mine has been purchased by the
Lancaster syndicate of London, England, which has
formed the Copper Mine & Smelting Co. with a capital
of $1,000,000. The Bruce property is on Georgian bay,-
Algoma, and covers 12,840 acres. The ores are mainly
chalcopy rite in quartz gangue, occurring in several paral-
lel veins traversing diabase.
BRITISH COLUMBIA.
Boundary District.
(Special Correspondence). — At the 40 -stamp Nickel
Plate mill at Hedley sixty stamps are to be added by
Superintendent M. K. Rogers. There are sixteen van-
ners in the concentrating room, to which eight are to be
added, in addition to those for the new stamps.
Hedley, Aug. 18.
On the summit of Hardy mountain, 2500 feet above
Grand Forks, at the American Eagle property the own-
ers will build a tramway down the steep incline to haul
ore for treatment at the Granby smelter. The mine is
owned by John Holmes. On the Betts and Hesperus
mines on Hardy mountain, 4 miles from Grand Forks, a
tunnel has been driven 600 feet. It has been decided by
the management to add another machine drill.
At the Helen mine, on the east side of Boundary
creek, near Greenwood, a new boiler, hoist and drills
have been put in. A new two-compartment shaft is
being sunk. A new compressor has been put in at the
Providence mine at Greenwood. Ore is being shipped
regularly.
Figures for the first month of the second half, of 1905
show that the ore tonnage of Boundary mines for July
was somewhat in excess of the output for June. The
total for seven months of 1905 shows that 527,874 tons
have been shipped from the district mines so far this
year. For July the following are the figures from the
several mines: Granby, 54,320 tons; Mother Lode, 13,-
532; Mountain Rose, 330; Oro Denoro, 198; Emma, 1096;
Providence, 60; E. P. U., 50; Last Chance, 20; miscel-
laneous, 75. July total, 69,681 tons.
East Kootenay District.
The Crow's Nest Pass Coal Co. 's employes have decided
to stand out until the company pays the rates agreed to
under the written agreement entered into last spring
between the company and its employes. The men are
all out. The present conditions at the Crow's Nest col-
lieries will have an important and possibly serious effect
on the camp if the strike is maintained for a consider-
able period. The Crow's Nest Pass Coal Co. has a
monopoly of the fuel supply of the mines and smelters of
southeastern British Columbia, including the Northport
smelter. The Trail smelter is well supplied with coke,
but the conditions at Northport, where the smelter is
being operated at one-third its capacity, makes the situ-
ation rather serious for the Le Roi. The mines can get
coal from Lethbridge, Roslyn and western Washington,
but there is no coke available except from Coleman, in
the Northwest Territory, and Comox, on Vancouver
island.
Nelson District.
It is reported that work is to be started on a concen-
trator at the Molly Gibson mine, on Kokonee creek,
which has been under development for the past two
years, after a long shutdown, the company having re-
paired the tramway and mine buildings, which had been
destroyed by a snowslide.
W. R. Ingalls, of New York, will head an expedition
which will leave shortly to investigate the zinc de-
posits in British Columbia. The investigating party
will meet in Nelson, B. C, about September 1. Philip
August 26, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
14S
Argal, of Denver, will assist him. The points to bo de-
termined by the expert are as follows: (1) Examination
of the present development of mines and approximate do-
termination of tonnage of ore immediately available;
occurrence and character of the ore and future pros-
pects, together with cost of mining; (2) examination of
present methods of milling; i.'li investigation of adapta-
bility of ores to the new methods, concentrates, mag-
netic, electrostatic, etc.; (4 1 study of conditions affecting
marketing of concentrates, including question of smelt-
ing in province or elsewhere in Canada; (5) investigation
of the possibility of utilization of zinc ore with silver
content.
ic.--ii.ni uutrlct
The tonnage of ore shipped from and crushed at the
Kossland mines for the weok ending August 19 was as
follows:
Week. Ycnr.
Le Roi 3.050 77.8013
Le Roi (milled) 210 I, MO
CentreStar 2,010 02,190
War Eaulc ! .200 11,2111
LeRotTwo 360 1.072
LP Rot Two (milled) 6,030
Jumbo 200 6.429
Spltzee 4.639
Velvet-Portland 1,977
Gopher 00 13(1
Homestake 30
Lily Maj 90
Inland Empire 30
Cascade Bonanza 30
White Bear 1.100
White Hear (milled) 2.920
Totals 6,180 213013
The experimental concentrating mill of the Le Roi M.
Co., at Ros9land, has been closed down pending the in-
stallation of additional machinery. J. M. Astley is
manager of the Le Roi.
si.,, mii District.
The remodeled concentrator at the Jackson mines, on
Jackson creek, 5 miles from Whitewater, is turning out
fifteen tons of zinc concentrates and two tons of lead con-
centrates daily. The auxiliary steam plant is to be
started because of water shortage. The Bell mine,
adjoining the Jackson, has been sold to parties repre-
sented by John Keen, who will start development.
Vancouver Island.
(Special Correspondence). — During July the Tyee
smelter ran eleven days and smelted 1793 tons of Tyee
ore, giving a return, after deduction of freight and refin-
ing charges, of $31,472.
Duncans Station, Aug. 14.
MEXICO.
Chili liuhiia.
The Material Metal Co., controlled by the National
Metal Co., is building a metal refinery at Nonoalco, in
the Federal district, to handle high-grade ores, gold and
silver bullion, sulphides, cyanide precipitates, etc. H. P.
Lewis, general manager of the National Metal Co., with
headquarters in Mexico City, is quoted as saying the
plant will be in operation in sixty days. E. C. Doney,
formerly in charge of the DeLamar Copper Works,
Chrome, N. J., has been appointed superintendent of
the new refinery.
Guanajuato.
It is announced in New York that the American Fur-
nace & Securities Co. of New York has made the last
payment on the purchase price, amounting to $2,500,000,
to the Casa Rul M. Co. for its dumps and properties at
Guanajuato. A fund of $400,000 gold has been set apart
for mill construction and development work, from which
reduction mills and cyanide plant have been purchased
and are now on the ground at Guanajuato. These, with
the pipe lines, buildings and tramways, are expected to
be in readiness for operation by Jan. 1.
Guerrero.
(Special Correspondence).— The Rio del Oro Explora-
tion Co. have commenced operations on their mineral
concession of 300 square kilometers along the course of
the Rio del Oro. Wm. Niven, the general manager, is
directing the work of testing the large gravel deposits
by sinking prospect pits to bedrock from 10 to 40 feet
deep, at a cost of 30 cents Mex. per foot. The pay
gravel averages from 3 to 6 feet and runs from 40 cents
to $1 per cubic yard. The ground near the town of
Placeres del Oro, in the valley of Potambo, shows the best
values and is remarkably free from boulders. Water is
abundant and the conditions quite favorable for dredg-
ing at Bome points.
The new gold district of Los Pozos, near the line of
Michoacan, and only some 12 leagues from the Pacific
coast, is attracting considerable attention at present.
W. J. Neale and E. Nolte have returned after a month's
trip to the region. They found the property guarded
by soldiers, as some of the buscones had been carrying
off the free gold ore which crops on the surface. After
presenting their permit from the Mexican Government
they made a thorough examination of the Antioquia
mine. The chief feature of this property is the cropping
of ore 45 metres long 12 metres wide and 8 metres high,
which has been named the Bonanza Block. It is a mass
of white quartz. Arrangements are being made to de-
velop this valuable deposit. S. L. Butler has denounced
some adjoining claims under the name of Los Pozos.
Placeres del Oro, Aug. 9.
Tamaollpas.
The Mexican Petroleum Co. is to begin drilling for oil
again at Ebano. The drilling was stopped several
months ago because no market could be found for the
oil; but now that the Mexican Central and other rail-
roads have made contracts for fuel oil for use in locomo-
tives, it is thought that the petroleum company sees a
market for its product. The drilling is to be commenced
Oct. 1.
Zacatecas.
It is reported that R. S. Towne has closed down his
mines in the Sombrerete district, thus throwing 5000
men out of employment. The 200 ore wagons, used
to haul the ore from the mines to the Mexican Central
to Fresnillo and Gutierres station, have been sold to min-
ing companies in the State of Coahuila. Towne is said
to have become disgusted with the Mexican Central for
not building a railroad to that portion of the Sombrerete
district and closed down to force the building of the
branch road. The Central has had a concession for a
road from Fresnillo through the Sombrerete district
since 1890 and recently ^'ot the federal government to
renew it at a cost of $10,500. The Towne interests own
the San Luis Potosi smelter, the railroad to Sierra
Mojada and other mines.
e***++++4-*-l-> -■- ■ ••**i..i,4.j.i.*.i.***++*+****«
» «■
I Books Received.
* *
x >•******* .-. •;•■. . ■■■:••-,• . .-■•j-*-T-******'W-++<-f **
The United States Geological Survey has issued a sec-
ond edition of J. E. Spurr's " Descriptivo Geology of
Nevada South of the Fortieth Parallel and Adjacent
Portions of California," Bulletin 208.
In the series of reports of progress of stream measure-
ments during 1904, the United States Geological Survey
has issued Bulletin No. 125 on the " Hudson, Passaic,
Raritan and Delaware River Drainages," and No. 130 on
"Hudson Bay, Minnesota, Wapsipinicon, Iowa, Des
Moines and Missouri River Drainages."
As an extract from the "Mineral Resources of the
United States for 1904," the United States Geological
Survey has issued " The Production of Coal in 1904, " by
Ed. W. Parker. The total coal production of 1904 was
352,310,427 short tons, with a spot value of $444,816,288,
a decrease from 190,1 of 5,045,989 short tons.
" Le District Aurifere do Cripple Creek et ses Recents
Developpements dans la Zone Prof'tnde " is the title of
an article published by Etienne A. Ritter in the Annales
des Mines and printed separately in pamphlet form.
This is the first technical description of the Cripple
Creek district published in the French language.
Professional Paper No. 38 of the United States
Geological Survey, " Economic Geology of the Bingham
Mining District, Utah," by J. M. Boutwell, with "A
Section of Areal Geology " by Arthur Keith and an
" Introduction on General Geology " by S. P. Emmons.
This forms a comprehensive and masterly treatise on the
geology of the region described.
In Bulletin No. 257 of the United States Geological
Survey, T. W. Stanton and J. B. Hatcher describe the
"Geology and Paleontology of the Judith River Beds "
of northern Montana, with a chapter on the fossil plants,
by F. H. Knowlton. The conclusion is reached that the
Judith river beds are older than the Laramie and iden-
tical with the Belly river beds of Canada.
The excellent work of the United States Geological
Survey in Alaska will undoubtedly do much to open up
the country and make the outside world acquainted with
the true conditions there. In Bulletin No. 251, L. M.
Prindle describes "The Gold Placers of the Forty-Mile
Birch Creek and Fairbanks Regions, Alaska," and in
No. 247, F. H. Moffit writes of "The Fairhaven Gold
Placers, Seward Peninsula, Alaska." These give the
geography, geology and practical mining conditions of
the district.
* *
| Commercial Paragraphs* §
* *
: ;. .;-.. ^ ,|« .',-. .■;-. v *f< i-T1 .'" '■I1 'P t* $* 'T' 4> & W 4° 'f* ty & $• 'T"-!1 (f"l> I1 <$• ^ f lV ty 'T1 •'f"* &
The new briquetting plant of the Western Fuel Co. of
San Francisco, Cal., is working steadily. Most of the
output is for Spreckels Co.'s tug boats, and will be used
soon also on the Pacific Mail liners.
The Crocker-Wheeler Co. is in receipt of an order for
a 200 K. V. A., three-phase, 60 cycle, engine type alter-
nating current generator for the Ivorydale, Ohio, light-
ing and power plant of the Proctor & Gamble Co., a
duplicate of the first Crocker-Wheeler alternator ever
built, which was installed ten months ago in the Atlanta
plant of the Proctor & Gamble Co.
The Ottumwa Iron Works, Ottumwa, Iowa, report
recent shipments of two carloads of mining machinery
to Ocotlan, Mexico, and one sectionalized double hoisting
engine to a gold mine in northern Mexico; two carloads
of mine machinery to Littleton, 111., one carload to Cre-
cus, N. M., and one carload to Butte, Mont. The Ot-
tumwa Iron Works further report contracts for two
carloads to Robard, Ky.; one large double Corliss cylin-
der, 18x36 inches, with double independent friction
drums, for a copper mine at Bisbee, Ariz.; two carloads
of haulage engines for a concrete stone company of Chi-
cago, 111., and one carload for northern Idaho. The
company will enlarge its business and put new lines on
the market.
The Wood Drill Works, Paterson, N. J., writes:
" The greatest engineering feat of its kind ever known
in the world was completed at ten minutes after four
Saturday afternoon, July 22, 1905, at Henderson's Point,
at the end of Seavey's island in Portsmouth harbor.
Fifty tons of dynamite was exploded to blow up the rim
of the point. The ground was broken August, 1902, and
for three years Wood drills were working ceaselessly
night and day drilling holes for excavating the rock at
that point. During that period of time over 500,000
tons of rock was blasted and cleared away, nearly all of
it below high water mark. The point has always been
a manace to navigation for years and the Government
finally decided that Henderson's Point should be no
more. The river is now 400 feet wider at its narrowest
point and 35 feet deep at low water. The contract price
for the work was $749,000." ;
The Calumet & Arizona M. Co. of Bisbee, Ariz., is
installing a Sullivan Corliss cross-compound steam two-
stage air compressor, with a total piston displacement of
3660 cubic feet, which, on account of the altitude at
which the compressor operates, is. figured to be equiva-
lent to an actual delivered capacity of 2700 cubic feet of
free air per minute, against a terminal pressure of 100
pounds per square inch while running at 83 revolutions
per minute. This machine is expected to attain a high
efficiency, being designed to run condensing, and to
operate whon carrj ing its most economical load on 15.2
pounds dry steam per 1 H. P. per hour. The steam cyl-
inders are 17 inches and 34 inches and air cylinders 20
inches and 34 inches in diameter, with a common stroke
of 42 inches. Rolling inlet valves, controlled by inde-
pendent eccentrics, are U6ed on both the high and low
pressure air cylinders. Rolling discharge valves are also
used on the low pressure air cylinder. In addition to
these a number of automatic poppet discharge valves
are used on the same cylinder. The high pressure air
cylinder is equipped with a full set of removable auto-
matic poppet discharge valves, which act in a direction
parallel with the steam piston rod. An interesting fea-
ture is the automatic oiling system, which lubricates all
the working parts regularly and without the attention
of the engineer. Tho machino will be used for operat-
ing rock drills and other pneumatic tools about the
mines. The company already has three Class WB-2
Sullivan straight lino compressors, giving a total air sup-
ply of about 5700 cubic feet per minute.
1 Personal. |
* *
W. H. Brevort of New York City is at San Fran-
cisco, Cal.
Frank Earle is consulting engineer Azurite M. Co.,
Dillon, Wyo.
Robert May has charge Banner M. Co., near Silver
City, Idaho.
M. T. Chestnut of Webster Groves, Mo., is in Sil-
verton, Colo.
Robt. W. Davis, Jr., is manager Old Hundred mine,
Silverton, Colo.
D. R. Reed, Ouray, Colo., has returned there from
California and Nevada.
W. C. Greene has left San Francisco, Cal., for Can-
anea, Sonora, Mexico.
H. A. Moore of Idaho Springs, Colo., is developing a
coal mine at Bellingham, Wash.
Alfred Brile has been engaged as superintendent
Anchoria mine, near Dillon, Wyo.
W. C. Thomas has returned to the Montreal & Bos-
ton Co.'s property at Rossland, B. C.
J. L. Harper, manager Belcher M. Co., Republic,
Wash., has returned from a trip East.
Howell Hinds of Cleveland, Ohio, is in Silverton,
Colo., looking after his mining interests.
H. H. Nicholson, manager Standard Con. mine,
Sumpter, Or., has returned to Denver, Colo.
L. Maurice Cockerell is now manager Mezquital
Gold Mines, Mezquital del Oro, Zacatecas, Mexico.
Herbert Haas is at the Kamloops Mines, Ltd.,
smelter at Kamloops, B. C, on professional business.
Gordon Hardy, formerly manager Dolores M. Co.,
Chihuahua, Mexico, has resigned and gone to Japan.
Samuel Newhouse is attending the directors' meet-
ing of the Montreal & Boston M. Co., at Nelson, B. C.
F. H. Johnston has succeeded G. W. Root as super-
intendent New York-Grass Valley mine at Grass Valley,
Cal.
W. A. Frazer has resumed his work as superinten-
dent Rigby reduction plant at Mayer, Yavapai county,
Ariz.
Leonard D. Sivyer, a mining engineer and geologist
of Los Angeles. Cal., is at Mayer, Ariz., on professional
business.
Edwin Fernald of Detroit, Mich., has been ap-
pointed manager New York-Grass Valley mine at Grass
Valley, Cal.
John Lawler, owner of the Hillside mine, west of
Prescott, Ariz., has been in San Francisco and at the
Portland Exposition.
W. H. Roelsma has resigned from the Condor Water
& Power Co. to take the management of the Alice mine,
near Gold Hill, Oregon.
G. W. Root has resigned as superintendent New York-
Grass Valley mine at Grass Valley, Cal., to devote his
time to private interests.
J. T. Cave, president CoaBt Line Copper Co., has re-
turned to Pasadena, Cal., from a visit to the company's
mines in Sonora, Mexico.
E. G. Dewald is now the Pacific coast representative
Piatt Iron Works, Dayton, Ohio, with headquarters at
11-13 First St., San Francisco, Cal.
R. P. Franck, formerly of Benson, Arizona, has been
appointed mining engineer for La Cia Minora del
Picacho at Boacoachi, Sonora, Mexico.
Richard B. Stanford has resigned as manager
Ranch mine, Columbia, Cal., and goes as manager
Siempre Viva mines, Nicaragua, C. A.
W. J. Curtis has had charge of the work of the Key-
stone Copper Co., near Tapalpa, Jalisco, Mexico, during
Manager Theo. Briedenbach's visit to Philadelphia.
Wm. H. Shockley has been exploring copper de-
posits near Tokar, Sudan, Africa, and on Sept. 1 goes
reconnoitering a gold dredging proposition in the Urals.
R. B. Lamb, superintendent Penn-Wyoming C. Co.'s
concentrator at Encampment, Wyo., who has been seri-
ously ill for a month past, has recovered sufficiently to
resume his duties at the mill.
A. S. Additon has returned to San Francisco, Cal.,
from Boston and New York, where he went on business
connected with the McKeen mine of the Helena G. M.
Co., near Callahans, Siskiyou county, Cal., and which
he recently examined.
Mining and Scientific Press.
August 26, 1905.
#&<&&****'* &*■*•■* ^H*'& ********* ************
* «■
Trade Treatises, §
Circular No. 1108 of the Westinghouse Electric & Man-
ufacturing Co. of Pittsburg, Pa., describes Westing-
house regulating and reversing controllers for alternat-
ing and direct current motors.
Crane Co. of Chicago, 111., have issued a valuable
treatise on "Flanged Pipe Joints." It describes joints
used for various temperatures and pressures in attach-
ing flanges to wrought pipe, including screwed, lap,
weld, rolled, shrunk and riveted joints.
Bulletin No. 60, " Small Motors, " from the Crocker-
Wheeler Co., Ampere, N. J., illustrates one of their
specialties, motors for small power service. On page 13
is technical data intended to be valuable to users of elec-
tric motors and generators of any make.
Latest Market Reports.
San Francisco, August 25, 1905.
METALS.
Silver. — Per oz., Troy : London, 28|d (standard
ounce, 925 fine); New York, bar silver, 61£c, refined (1000
fine); San Francisco, 6Uc; Mexican dollars, 47c, San
Francisco; 46fc, New York.
Copper.— New York: Standard, $16.00; Lake, 1 to 3
casks, $16.00@16.25; Electrolytic, 1 to 3 casks, $16.00;
Casting, 1 to 3 casks, $15.50 © 15.87J. San Francisco:
$16.50. Mill copper plates, $17.50; bars," 18@24c. London:
£70 15s spot per ton.
The copper market remains firm, with a slightly in-
creased price for the several grades of metal — Lake,
electrolytic and casting. The demand appears to wholly
absorb the output, and any event which may in any way
suspend or retard the present output will undoubtedly
result in an increase in price of the metal. While cer-
tain large dealers in the metal may be able to manipu-
late the market, the present healthy condition of the
copper mining industry, and of the industries of the
country, point to no lower price than at present quoted
for some time to come. The visible supply on August 1,
as reported by James Lewis & Son of Liverpool, was
17,411 tons, nearly 1000 tons less than the first of the
previous month.
Following are the figures of the German consumption
of copper for the months from January to June, 1905, as
compared with the same period of time for 1904 and 1903:
1905. 1904. 1903.
Imports, tons 52,886 56,316 43.688
Exports, tons 6,399 4,063 5.380
Consumption, tons 46,587 52,253 38,308
Out of the above, 44,656 tons were imported from the
United States.
Lead.— New York, $4.70; Salt Lake City, $3.50; St.
Louis, $4.52J; San Francisco, $3.70, carload lots; 4Jc 1000
to 4000 lbs.; pipe 6Jc, sheet 7, bar 5|c; pig, $4.85. Lon-
don: £14 f, long ton.
Spelter. — New York, $5.75: St. Louis, $5.65; Lon-
don, £24 17s 6d $ ton; San Francisco, ton lots, 6|c; 100-tt>
lots, 7c.
Tin.— New York, pig, $33.15@33.50; San Francisco, ton
lots, 34c; 500 fbs., 35c; 200 lbs., 35Jc; less, 35£c; bar tin,
fi lb., 35@37£c. London, £145.
Platinum. — San Francisco, crude, $18.50 $ oz.; New
York, ingot, $20.50 f, Troy oz. Platinum ware, 75@$1.00
$ gram.
Quicksilver. — New York, $41.00@$41.50, large lots;
London, £7 7s 6d; San Francisco, local, $38.50@39.00 $
flask of 75 lbs.; Denver, $42.00.
Babbitt Metal. — San Francisco, No. 1, 10c; No.
2, 7c; No. 3, 6.Je; extra, 17Jc; genuine, 32Jc; Eclipse, 35c.
Solder.— Half-and-half, 100-rb. lots, 23.00c; San Fran-
cisco, Plumbers', 100-ft. lots, 19.00c.
Zinc— Metallic, chemically pure, $ fl>., 50c; dust, $fb.,
10c; sulphate, $ ft, .04c.
Nickel.— New York, 55@60c "$ lb.; ton lots, 40@47c.
Aluminum.— New York, No. 1, 99% pure ingots,
33@37c; No. 2, 90%, 31@34c.
Aluminum.— No. 1, 99%, small lots, 37c $ lb.; 100 lbs..
35c; 1000 fbs. 34c; ton lots and over, 33c, Pittsburo-. No,
2, 90%, small lots, 34c; ton lots and over, 31c. Pitt-ihurgr.
STRUCTURAL MATERIALS.
Iron. — Pittsburg, Bessemer pig, $14.85; gray forge,
$16.00; San Francisco, bar, 3c $ B>., 3Jc in small quan-
tities.
Steel.— Bessemer billets, Pittsburg, $21.00@$21.00;
open hearth billets, $23.00@$23.00; San Francisco, bar,
7c to 12c $ ft.
White Lead. — Per ft., in kegs: 500 lbs. and over at
one purchase, per ft., 7fc; less than 500 Sis., per lb., 8c;
in 25-ft. tin pails, Jc $ ft. above keg price; in 1 and 5-tt>.
tin cans, 100 fts. per case, Jc per ft. above keg price.
Dry Lead. — In bbls., 1 ton and over, 6Jc; do. in kegs, 7c.
Lime. — Santa Cruz, $1.25 country, $1.25 city K bbl.
Cement.— Imported, $2.15@2.65 fi bbl.; California,
carload lots, $1.90 f. o. b. at works; small lots, $2.20 $
bbl. in sacks, 4 sacks to bbl., ,5c for each sack returned.
Lumber.— (Retail): Pine, ordinary sizes, $24.00®
5.00; extra sizes higher; redwood, $28.00@30.00; lath, 4
feet, $4.50@5.00; pickets, $21.00;shingles, $2.50 for No. 1,
and $2.25 for No. 2; shakes, $13.50 for split and $15.00 for
sawed; rustic, $28.00(3,35.00.
Nails. — This week the basic prices are: Wire, $2.77;
Cut, $3.25. Meanwhile the nominal quotations per keg
(list prices) are: No. 20d to 60d, Wire, $3.35; Cut, $3.55;
lOd to 16d, Wire, $3.45; Cut, $3.35; 8d, Wire, $3.50; Cut,
$3.50; 6d and 7d, Wire, $3.60; Cut, $3.60; 4d and 5d,
Wire, $3.70; Cut, $3.70; 3d, Wire, $3.85; Cut, $3.85; 2d,
Wire, $4.10; Cut, $4.10. Special rates for carload lots.
GENERAL SUPPLIES.
Antimony.— New York, Cookson's, 13ic; Hallett's,
14Jc; San Francisco, 1000-fo. lots, 14c; 300@500-fts. 12c;
100-ft. lots, 13c.
Bismuth.— Subnitrate, $ ft., $2.10.
Bone Ash.— Extra No. 1, 5@6c $ ft; No. 1, 4@5c.
Borax.— Concentrated, 7@8c fl ft; powdered, 9@10c;
fused, 25@30c; crystal, 7c.
Candles. — Spear Brand, 16 oz. adamantine, 40s., lie
$ set; 14 oz. adamantine, 40s., 10c; 12 oz. adamantine,
40s, 9c; 10 oz. adamantine, 40s, 8c; 16 oz. stearic, 40s,
12Jc 5^ set; 14 oz. stearic, 40s, 11J; 12 oz. stearic, 40s,
lOjc; 10 oz. stearic, 40s, 9Jc. 100-case lots and over, Jc
less. Not less than 50-case lots, %c less. Boxes of 20s,
price \c advance.
Caps.— 3x, $5.50@6 per 1000; 4x, $6.50@7; 5x, $8@8.50;
Lion, $9@9.50, in lots not less than 1000.
Chemicals.— Cyanide of potassium, 98%-99%, job-
bing, 23@24c f, ft. ; carloads, 23@23Jc; in tins, 30c; soda
ash, $2.00 f, 100 lbs.; hyposulphite of soda, 3@3|c $ ft.;
caustic soda, in drums, 3@3}c^ft.; Cal. s. soda, bbls.,
$1.10@1.20$1001bs.; sks., 90c@$1.00; chlorate of pot-
ash, 12@13c; nitrate of potash, 6J@7c; caustic potash,
10c in 40-ft. tins; roll sulphur, 2J@2Jc; powdered sul-
phur, 2J@2Jc; flour sulphur, French, 2J@ — c; alum,
$2.00@2.25; California refined, lj@2c; sulphide of iron,
8c ^ft ft.; copper sulphate, 5J@5Jc; chloride of lime, spot,
$2.50@2.75; sulphuric acid, in carboys, 66% B, lj@2c $
ft. ; nitric acid, carboys, 8c 3ft ft.
Chromium.— 90% and over, 3ft ft., 80c.
Coal. — San Francisco, coast, yard prices : Welling-
ton, $8.00; Seattle, $6.50; Coos Bay, $5.50; Southfield,
$8.00. Cargo lot, Eastern and foreign: Wallsend, $7.50;
Brymbo, $7.50; Pennsylvania, hd., $14.00; Scotch, $8.00;
Cumberland, $13.00; Cannel, $8.50; Welsh Anthracite,
$13.00; Root Springs, $8.50, long ton; Colorado Anthra-
cite, $14.00. Coke, $10.50 per ton in bulk, $13.00 in
sacks; Sunnyside, $8.50, long ton.
Fire Brick.— Domestic, carloads 3ft 1000, f. o. b., fac-
tory square, $25.00; soap and split, $22.50; arch and
wedge, $27.50; skewback, $30.00; circle, $32.00.
Fire Clay.— Domestic, 3ft ton 2000 fts. in 125-ft. bags,
double, and dry ground, f. o. b., factory, $8.50.
Fuse.— Triple tape, $4.00 per 1000 feet; double tape,
$3.50; single tape, $3.10; Hemp, $2.75; Cement No. 2,
$3.00; Cement No. 1, $2.65, in lots of 3000 and up.
Litharge. — Pure, in 25-ft. bags, 9J@10£c 3ft ft.
Magnesium. — Pure, N. Y., $1.60. "
Manganese. — Black oxide, 3ft ft., 2J@4c.
Mercury.— Bichloride, 3ft ft., 77c.
Molybdenum.— Best, $2.75 $ ft.
Oils. — Linseed, boiled, bbl., 64c; cs., 69c; raw, bbl.,
62c; cs., 67c; Lueol oil, boiled, bbl., 56c; cs., 61c; raw-
bbl., 54c; cs., 59c. Kerosene — Pearl, per gal., 17£e; As-
tral, 17Jc; Star, 17Jc; Extra Star, 20Jc; Eocene, 19£c;
Elaine, 26c; Water White, in bulk, lie; Mineral Seal,
iron bbls., 18c; wooden bbls., 20Jc; cs., 24c; Mineral
Sperm, cs., 26ic; Deodorized Stove Gasoline, bulk, 14tc,
do., cs., 21c; 86° Gasoline, bulk, 25c; do., cs., 31c; 83°
Naphtha or Benzine, deodorized, in hulk, per gal., 12Jc;
do., in cs., 19c; Lard Oil, E. W. S., bbl., 75c; cs., 80c;
Neats-foot Oil, pure, bbl., 63c; cs., 78c; Sperm, crude,
63@68e; Natural White, 68c; Bleached, do., 57c; Whale
Oil, cs.. 52(7?67c.
Phosphorus.— American, 3ft ft., 70c.
Powder.— F. o. b. San Francisco : No. 1, 70% nitro-
glycerine, per ft., in carload lots, 15}c; less than one ton,
17}c. No. 1*, 60%, carload lots, 13Jc; less than one ton,
15jc. No. 1**, 50%, carload lots, life; less than one ton,
13|c. No. 2, 40%, carload lots, 10c; less than one ton,
12c. No. 2, 35%, carload lots, 9Jc; less than one ton,
lljc. No. 2**, 30%, carload lots, 9c; less than one ton,
lie. Black blasting powder in carload lots, minimum
car 728 kegs, $1.50 per keg; less car lots, $2.00 per keg.
Red Lead. — 500 fts. and over at one purchase, 3ft ft-
7|c; less than 500 lbs., 8c.
Silver.— Chloride, 3ft oz., 90c@$1.00; nitrate, 55c.
Sodium.— Metal, 3ft ft., $1.
Tungsten.— Best, 3ft ft., $1.25.
Uranium.— Oxide, 3ft ft., $3.50.
New Patents.
Dewey, Strong & Co. 's Scientific Press Patent Agency, 330
Market street, San Francisco, has official reports of the following
United States patents issued to Pacific Coast inventors :
FOR WEEK ENDING AUGUST 8, 1905.
796,696.-
796.888.-
796,805.-
7*6,901.-
796,711.-
796,573.-
796,631.-
796,905.-
796,636 -
796,909 -
796,643.-
796,967.-
796,645.-
796,91.-
796,727 -
796,735.-
796,621.-
796.590.-
796,592.-
796,753.-
796,754.-
796.674.-
796,677.-
796,538.-
796,613.-
796,540.-
796,541 -
796.948.-
796,477.-
Clasp— F O. Brockhaus, Port Angeles, Wash.
Pack Saddle— C H. Baker. Republic, Wash.
-Centering Frame— P. R. Burton, Bakerstield, Cal.
-SAW— H. Dool. Northfork, Cal.
-SHIRT— C. J. Ferguson. Pendleton, Or.
■Lumber Dresser— J. F. Finnegan, Igerna, Cal.
Jar Closure— F. O. Fischer, San Leandro, Cal.
-HOG Catcher— D. P. Funk, Monroe, Wash.
-Jouhnal Hox - F. Gottfried, S F.
■PUMP— E. A. Hardi«on, Bakerstield, Cal.
-TANK LUG— E. N, Harmon, Belvedere, Cal.
■Thill Iron— C. Heilrath, Sacramento, Cal.
Square J Herche, S. F.
-Heater— Houze & Hurrie, Stockton, Cal.
-Elastic Flour— C. R. Hunt, Sacraruento, Cal.
-Fuhnace— F. Klein, San Jose, Cal.
Barber's Chair— W. Lupton, Lodi, Cal.
-Irrigating Apparatus— J. H. Martin, Riverside, Cal.
■HOE— H. Matthies n, Livermore, Cal.
Treating Ores— J. B. Parks, Spokane, Wn&h.
■Treating Ores— J. B Parks, Spokane, Wash.
■Faucet— E. a. Rider, Stockton, Cal,
-Cap for Tuning Pins— I. B. Rosencrantz, S. F.
■Dressing Fish— E. A. Smith, Seattle, Wash
■Tobacco Pipe— N. B. Stone, Outlook, Wash.
■Meter— J. Sutherland, Seattle. Wash.
Hoist— W. A. Tompkins, Portland. Or.
Fishing Rod— J. B Tuttle, Claremont, Cal.
-Thresher— R. V. Wallace, Alkl, Wash.
Notices of Recent Patents.
Among the patents recently obtained through Dewey, Strong &
Co. 's Scientific Press United States and Foreign Patent Agency,
the following are worthy of special mention:
Disk Plow Attachment.— No. 797,177. August 15, 1905. W. S-
Cook, San Jose, Cal. The main object of this invention is to in-
crease the tread of the plow so as to render the plows very steady in
their operation and prevent undue oscillations and movements of
the frame. The device consists of a plow beam or frame, a bracket
adapted to be bolted to said frame, a horizontal journal box carried
by the bracket, a crank axle having long and short arms each turn-
ably fitted to the journal box, and a land wheel fitting and turnable
upon either arm of the axle when the other is in the journal box. A
lever is fulcrumed upon the journaled arm of the axle having its
short arm bolted to the crank portion of the axle, and there is a
segment concentric with the journal box having peripheral notches
and a pawl carried by the long arm of the lever adapted to engage
said notches
DUMP WAGON —No. 797,164. August 15, 1905. R. E. H. Wurdiscl^
San Francisco, Cal This invention relates to a wheeled vehicle
having a body adapted to carry loose material and connections by
which said body may be so disposed as to discharge its load and to
again be returned to Its normal position. It consists of a main wheel
frame, a supplemental frame hinged at the rear, a vehicle body
freely movable upon said frames, a winding drum mechanism by
which the supplemental frame is raised into an inclined position,
means for allowing the bo ly to move rearwardly on said frame to a
dumping position and to return the body to its normal position, a
tail gate hinged to the upper part of the body and a lever
mechanism by which said gate is opened to discharge the contents.
Sectional Centerboard for 'Vessels.— No. 797,146. August
15, 1905. Viggo L. Ogidlnssen, Sau Francisco, Cal. The objects
of this invention are to provide a centerboard which will not require
the cutting in two of the vessel along the keel, as is now customarv,
and which weakens the vessel considerably; to avoid having the
large heavy casings in the hold, as at present, and which add to the
weight of the vessel and take up so much room as to beacontinua
detriment in loading and unloading; to add to the efficiency of the
used surface of the centerboard to prevent a vessel making lee-wa.v.
(with ordinary centerboards only half of their sui faces Is ava'lsibjo
for that purpose) and finally to distribute the strain from the center-
hoard more evenly over the vessel's keel and body. The various
parts are adapted to produce the required result.
Mining Sluice.— No. 797,168. August 15, 1915. Pierre Bouery,
Weaverville, Cal. This invention is particularly applicable to
such sluices as are employed to sav* valuable and precious
metals, while allowing the rocks, boulders and heavy valueless
materia! to escape. It consists 'n a sluice having bottom, sides and
transversely disposed riffles, rails mounted thereon with conned log
bolts, interspacing bolt protecting blocks, rails fixed along the sides
of the slu-ce and resting upon the riffle rails and lining blocks fixed
to the sides of the sluice above slid longitudinally disposed rails;
and other details of construction.
Common Sense
teaches us that RUBBER against an article creates friction. In fact, we
wear rubber soles — use rubber on steps, etc., to prevent slipping — to
create friction.
Why do you use ENGINE PACKING with rubber on top — on the bot-
tom— and in between — where it is rubbing against the rod all the time —
creating excessive friction — loss in power — fuel — money?
No such mistake in
"EUREKA" PACKING.
The rubber is where it should be — embedded in flax —
which takes the wear — the lubricants prevent friction.
Isn't it up to you to try GENUINE "EUREKA,"
particularly as the price is one-half less?
JAS. L. ROBERTSON & SONS. 195 Fulton St.. New York
p A. D. COOK, fl
^B
Manufacturer of Improved St|
Water and Oil hB§""
sgl
Wcll Supplies. H
Cook's Patent
TUBE WELL STRAINERS. STEAM PUMPS.
WORKING BARRELS, PUMP RODS
AND PUMP ROD JOINTS
A Specialty.
LAWRENCEBURG, INDIANA, U. S. A. j0Z\
Sold by all Branches c Crane Co. JJUm-q"
Send for Catalog: F. ^^B
K- Law
(jjJJJjSrf
Whole No. 2352.-™^ ft'-
San Francisco, Cal., Saturday, September 2, 1905.
THREE DOLLARS PER ANNUM.
Single Copiei, Ten Centi.
Bank of Hydraulic Mine in Nevada County, Cal., Showing ttie Great
Depth of Excavation.
Barrier No. i, Yuba River, Showing Method of
Construction.
Barrier No. i, Yubi River, Completed Ready to Turn the River
Over the Dam,
Barrier No. i Completed. The Spurts of Water are from the Heads of
Piles Not Sawed off Accurately.
Top View of a Log Crib Dam Before Mining was Commenced. Log Crib Dam, With Spillway, Plumas County, California.
Some of the Engineering Features of the Control of the Debris of Hydraulic Mining in California.
(See Page 152.)
150
Mining and Scientific Press.
September 2, 1905.
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
ESTABLISHED i860.
Published Every Saturday at 330 Market Street, San Francisco, Cal.
Telephone, Davis 771.
ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION.
United States, Mexico and Canada *3 00
All Other Countries in the Postal Union 5 00
Entered at the San Francisco Postoffice as second-class mail matter.
Branch Offices:
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Chicago, 1164 Monadnock Block. Denver, 606 Mack Block.
J. F. HALLORAM.
.Publisher
SAN FRANCISCO, SEPTEMBER 2, 1905.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
ILLUSTRATIONS: Page.
Bank of Hydraulic Mine in Nevada County, Cal , Showing the
Great Depth of Excavation 149
Barrier No. 1, Yuba River, Showing Method of Construction 149
Barrier No. 1, Yuba River, Completed Ready to Turn the River
Over the Dam 149
Barrier No. 1 Completed. The Spurts of Water Are From the
Heads of Piles Not Sawed Off Accurately 149
Top View of a Log Crib Dam Before Mining Was Commenced.. .149
Log Crib Dam, With Spillway, Plumas County, Cal 149
Brush and Rock Dam on Yuba River, Cal , Later Destroyed by
High Water 152
Down Stream Face of a Log Crib Dam 152
Plan and Sections of Second Step Barrier No. 1, Yuba River. . .153
Sketch Map of Yuba River Near Marysville, Cal 151
Method of Constructing Brush Restraining Dam 154
One Pocket of Log Crib Dam Before Chinking or Filling 154
Decantation Vat and Pump Connections 157
Timber Foundations Supporting Decantation Vats of Slime
Plant 157
Decantation Vats of Slimes Plant in Course of Construction 157
General Arrangement of Slime Plant, Palmarejo, Mexico 157
Agitation Vats and Tops of the Decantation Vats 157
Plan of Track and Incline System, Anvil Creek, Alaska 158
Plan of Steam Shovel Workings, Anvil Creek, Alaska 158
Plan of Steam Shovel Operations 1 58
Market Place, Johannesburg, S. A 159
Headframe, Crown Reef Mine, Johannesburg, S. A 159
A Modern California Gold Dredger 160
The Rosario Mine at Guadalupe y Calvo, Chihuahua, Mexico. . .161
The Brilliant Diamond 163
EDITORIAL:
Technically Educated Men 150
The Question of Power for Mines 150
Expansion of the Mining Industry in the Orient 150
The Reward of Perseverance 150
The California State Debris Commission 150
MINING SUMMARY 163-164-165-166-167
LATEST MARKET REPORTS 168
MISCELLANEOUS:
Concentrates 151
" Control of Hydraulic Mining Debris in California by the Fed-
eral Government" 152-153-151
Spitting and Snuffing of Fuses 155
International Atomic Weights 155
Responsibilities of Australian Mine Managers 155
The Ventilation of Mines — 156
Salting Mine Samples 156
Cyaniding Silver-Gold Ores of the Palmarejo Mine, Chihuahua,
Mexico 157
Placer Mining in Alaska 158
The Transvaal Gold Mines 159
The Prospector 159
Gold Dredging in California 160
Proposed Prize Competition 161
A Noted Mexican Gold Mine 161
Mining and Metallurgical Patents 162
Something of the Diamond Industry 163
Caisson Disease 163
Setting Up a Wooden Tank 163
Books Received 167
Commercial Paragraphs 167
Personal 168
Obituary 168
Trade Treatises 168
New Patents 168
Notices of Recent Patents 168
UNDOUBTEDLY the best results are secured
where technically educated men are placed in
charge of mining and metallurgical operations, pro-
vided the men are otherwise fitted for such positions.
Some men go through the college course without
giving their studies the necessary thought. They
are superficial, and manage to get through in some
way, but such men rarely make a success of their
chosen profession. It is those who go into the uni-
versity with one determination uppermost in mind —
to make the most of the opportunities presented; to
endeavor to understand and to make practical appli-
cation of the knowledge thus gained. All cannot
step from the graduation stage into the position of
superintendent or manager. A few, by reason of
personal influence of family or friends, may, but the
majority find this impossible — nor is it best. There
is a period of apprenticeship which must be first
served to fit the student for the higher duties and
responsibilities of life. There is much of detail to be
learned which can only be accomplished by direct ap-
plication and continued contact with the work, and
with the men. There are menial jobs to be done, and
one must do them if he is to become a competent
judge of the performances of others. The college is
but the preparatory school — the beginning of knowl-
edge — not its ending.
The Question of Power for Mines.
A paramount question in the equipment of new
mines is what kind of power shall be adopted. This
question should be answered by the economic condi-
tions presenting themselves at each particular mine.
Undoubtedly the most satisfactory power is that de-
veloped by free water — that is a water power, or
privilege, owned by the mine. Such a power, if con-
stant in amount, is flexible, in that it may be applied
to hoists, compressors, electric dynamos, to mills,
and to every description of machinery requiring
motive force. The compressed air or the electricity
may be economically carried to considerable dis-
tances from the generating station and utilized in
many ways, in operating drills, running hoists, and
variously otherwise. True, steam may be applied in
similar manner to all of these various uses, and so
also may electricity, as a primary power, but elec-
tricity must either be bought from a distribut-
ing company or generated by the mine's own
power plant. Steam requires a considerable
outlay of capital and is a source of con-
stant expense when operating. The water power
plant may be far more expensive in first cost, but
more economical in operation unless the water must
be brought from a distributing company at such a
price as to increase the cost. The power question
should always be determined in the same manner as
any other concerning mine equipment and operation
— by careful consideration of all the features having
a bearing upon economical result and a selection
made accordingly. Occasionally a mine is seen
equipped with both steam and water power plants,
both of which are in operation at the same time.
The conditions are unusual where this becomes nec-
essary, but it is no uncommon thing to find mines
equipped with water power plants, with steam as
auxiliary, to be used in the event of failure from any
cause of the water plant. The breaking of a reser-
voir, ditch, pipe line or flume may close down a mine
for some time if no steam plant is available.
Many mines have installed electric plants, buy-
ing power from distributing electric companies,
but it is always wise to keep the steam
or hydraulic plant in readiness in the event
of the failure of the electric power. In some mining
districts the electric companies have endeavored to
entrench themselves the more strongly by buying up
the pre-existing water companies and informing the
operating mining companies, which have for years
been buying water from the ditch companies, that
" all the water is now required for the electric plant,
and electric power must be substituted for water
power." Where the change does not work an ap-
parent disadvantage to the mining companies, there
is seldom a serious objection to this change; but, in
the event of the failure of electric power, the mines
are closed down for a greater or less time until power
can be again delivered to them. The right to a con-
tinued use of the original water under these circum-
stances is a matter for the courts to decide. Such
irregularities are annoying, but they also occur with
private as well as distributing companies. There are
so many phases of the power problem, under ordinary
circumstances, that the matter should receive very
serious consideration and be investigated from every
point before being definitely decided. Even when
steam is decided upon, the various classes of fuel
should be considered with reference to their relative
value. Inmost cases there is a choice between wood,
coal and petroleum, and also gasoline or distillate
engines, as a means of power. Each must be fully
inquired into, as well as the relative efficiency and
cost per horse power month, of each of the sources of
power available. The matter is not usually a difficult
one to decide, but it requires some careful thought.
"THE ending of the bitterly fought war in the
■■■ Orient is likely to result in an expansion of the
mining industry in the countries most affected, par-
ticularly in China and Korea, where there are known
to be extensive undeveloped mineral resources.
Japan, too, it is assured, will take immediate steps to
enlarge the scope of the mining already being done
and to apply the most approved American methods
and machinery for the time being, at least. Just
how far America and Americans will be benefited by
the new regime is difficult to predict, as to Japan,
but in both China and Korea, where there are already I
extensive American interests, additional concessions
will be sought and new development undertaken.
The mineral resources of the Celestial empire are
varied and extensive, and the adoption of American
methods, with the native cheap labor, will make
propositions of unusually low grade available and
profitable.
The Reward of Perseverance.
The success attending the efforts to successfully
treat a constantly lower grade of slimes at the Home-
stake plant at Lead City, South Dakota, is an in-
stance of perseverance and intelligent scientific
experimentation rewarded. The Homestake ores
are low grade, and the slimes created in the stamp-
ing of these ores are of infinitesimal fineness. These,
after the several metallurgical operations through
which they pass, still contain from 50 cents to $1 per
ton in gold. These slimes it is now proposed to treat
by a new process, as previously mentioned herein,
and a new plant is to be built at Deadwood, where
the slimes from all of the several mills of the Home-
stake Co. may be conducted by gravity, thus reduc-
ing the cost incident to the operation of two plants.
C. W. Merrill has spent several years in the treat-
ment of Homestake tailings by the cyanide process,
and has succeeded in treating at a profit a constantly
lower grade of material. It should not be under-
stood that the Homestake tailings and slimes
are constantly growing of less value with the
passing of the years, but the percentage of
extraction has been increased and the cost per ton
of operating has been reduced from year to year,
until this final result seems to have been accom-
plished. "Whether still further improvements will be
made beyond this latest achievement remains to be
seen. All of the ores now being successfully treated
by the cyanide process in its various modifications in
the Black Hills gave much difficulty in the earlier
days, but for most part these difficulties have been
overcome and the most rebellious ores, with the ex-
ception of a single kind — the so-called unoxidized or
blue telluride ores — now yield a high percentage of
their values at relatively low cost. Chlorination,
cyanidation and smelting have each been helpful in
the solution of these vexing metallurgical problems.
In the southern Black Hills, however, are still some
rather annoying and perplexing metallurgical prob-
lems. In that region are some mines in which the
gold is largely associated with arsenic, and it is these
ores which have proven difficult of treatment. The
Keystone, Holy Terror and Extreme mines each
have had this sort of trouble, and were it not for the
unusually high grade of these ores at the mines men-
tioned, they would probably have proven too unat-
tractive to capital. The Holy Terror early in its
history attracted attention by the high grade of its
output. Nothing stimulates endeavor to overcome
difficulties like abundant reward if success be attained,
and the good grade of the base ores generally in the
hills will continue to make them a subject for the
attention of expert metallurgists until the several
problems of their reduction have been solved.
ELSEWHERE appears a report of a lecture re-
cently delivered at the Academy of Sciences in
San Francisco, Cal., by a captain in the Corps of
United States Engineers, a member of the California
Debris Commission, a body that is vested with con-
siderable power and grave responsibility. Seldom
does this journal praise or censure, but it is only their
just due to say that the members of the California
State Debris Commission, from its inception in 1893
to the present hour, have shown a zeal and single-
ness of intelligent purpose that entitles them to the
thanks and commendation of all whose interests are
affected by their acts. The task assigned them from
the start was wholly without precedent; the condi-
tions were all new and untried, the appropriations
inadequate, the expectations both sanguine and im-
mediate. That progress has been slow, and at times
unsatisfactory, is to have been expected. Even the
segis of United States authority is not always suffi-
cient to immediately overcome such a stupendous
problem as that given the United States engineers
in California to solve. With the resources at their
command, they have done much, and it is believed that
with the experience gained, advance in the solution
of the problem will be more rapid.
'
.September 2 ,1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
15]
9 9
CONCENTRATES.
y o
THE cost of operating- a mine dc|wnds much on the
character and size of the mine: much on the situation
and not a little on the management.
Flumes are sometimes built on a grade cut into the
hillside like a narrow road, and the flume then covered
with earth. This is done sometimes in cold countries to
prevent freezing.
ASSESSMENT work may be done on a patented claim
for the benefit of a contiguous unpatented claim, pro-
vided such work is actually a benefit to such jointly
owned unpatented claims.
Concrete, properly made, cannot, after having firmly
set, be picked down. It is as firm as rock and must be
blasted. The proportions of materials used in mixing
concrete vary, according to the purposes for which the
concrete is to be used.
Bell cords should always be placed in the shaft
within the reach of the men riding on the cage or skip.
Nothing in the equipment of a mine requires more care-
ful attention than the bell signal service, for on it the
lives of the men depend.
WTTT
A heavy iron gossan does not necessarily indicate a
valuable deposit of copper ore below. There is usually,
though not always, some indication of copper in the gos-
san if there be any below. This indication appears in
the form of copper carbonates and oxides.
Of primary importance is the size of vein, value of the
ore and the method of recovering the mineral, and the
cost per ton of the entire operation of mining and treat-
ment. These questions are usually of greater impor-
tance than the character of the ore deposit.
Where stamp stems cannot be readily driven out of
the boss head by blows of the sledge on the wedge, small
charges of dynamite may start the stem. This method
is usually successful, but should be used with caution, as
there is an element of danger in employing it.
The relocator of an abandoned mine cannot claim the
work performed nor improvements made by the former
owner when applying for a patent. The new tenant
must comply with all requirements of the law, the same
as though the ground had never been located.
V v V V
IP rock drills be tempered very high— straw color in
very hard ground — they are likely to chip off at the cor-
ners, and sometimes, unless the temper be evenly drawn,
the entire bit snaps off. A color between bronze and
dark blue is rather better in the hardest ground.
In Mexico, where it is believed that placers exist at
considerable depth below the surface, and no surface
discovery is possible, the law gives the miner one year
in which he has the exclusive right to prospect his
claim by shaft or otherwise, to make the necessary dis-
covery.
The depth of a gravel channel covered by soil, heavy
deposits of gravel or by a lava cap, may usually be de-
termined by boring. Information gained in this manner
may save many thousands of dollars, which not infre-
quently results from, running a tunnel too low, the depth
of the channel being only guessed at.
Large boulders in drift mines are often a source of
much annoyance and expense. When directly in the
way it is usually the better plan to work around them,
though in main drifts and gangways they are sometimes
blasted out, the result being a straight, drift and unin-
terrupted grade. Often considerable gold is found to
have lodged under boulders of large size.
Mining and milling of gold ore has been done in Cali-
fornia, according to official report, for less than 50 cents
per ton, at the Dalmatia mine, near Kelsey, El Dorado
county. (See Tenth Annual Report of the State Miner-
alogist, pages 174-175.) Two miners did all the work in
the mine under contract, at a cost of 1\ cents per ton.
Transportation and milling brought the cost up to about
50 cents per ton.
Suspended earthy slimes may be prevented from
entering the zinc precipitation boxes of cyanide plants
by placing a filter of cocoanut matting in layers in the
head box. The particles of precipitate which may be
suspended in the water flowing through the boxes,
which are disturbed from time to time through various
causes, may be caught on a similar filter placed after- the
last zinc compartment.
Where a crankpin was tightly held by reason of hav-
ing been shrunk in, the pin was removed, when it became
necessary, by drilling a bole through the center of the
pin from end to end, tapped each end to fit a f-inch pipe
thread, and screwing a piece of pipe in the same with
cold-water hose attached to one end of the pipe. After
heating the crank and pin to a cherry red by means of a
portable forge, the water was turned on, cooling the pin,
which shrunk sooner than the more massive crank, and
the pin was withdrawn by the attached pipe.
****
Investigation of the sources of the diamonds found
in North Carolina is to be made. Diamonds are found
in the glacial drift of Wisconsin and in somo of the an-
cient river channels of California, but the source of any
diamonds found in the United States has never as yet
been discovered. A species of flexible sandstone, said to
accompany the diamonds of Brazil, S. A., is also found
in some of California's ancient rivers.
A water SUPPLY of fifty gallons per minute is an in-
sufficient quantity to operate an overshot wheel of large
diameter, and the powor derivable from this quantity of
water on a small wheel is not commercially valuable.
It would be more economical to employ some form of
gas engine if a larger supply of water is not available.
Overshot wheels are not advisable with a constant sup-
ply of less than 15 cubic feet per second.
It will pay in almost overy case to pump water to a
quartz mill, rather than transport the ore a long dis-
tance to the water. In California there are several
mines where the water is pumped from 1 to 14 miles and
raised from 100 to over 500 feet. The cost varies with
the size of the plant, etc., but is seldom over 20 cents
per ton of ore treated. The water may, in most cases,
be settled after passing the mill, and pumped back for
reuse.
Too MUCH care cannot be given the locating of a
mining claim. The locator should endeavor to comply
as fully as possible with the requirements of the law— all
this for protective purposes — for if the claim prove to
be rich a careless disregard of the legal requirements
may result in the loss of the claim to the discoverer, or
serious and expensive legal complications. The laws are
simple and easily understood, and should be followed to
the letter.
Gold ore which does not show free gold upon pan-
ning may still yield a fair percentage of its value to
amalgamation. The fact that the gold is extremely fine
does not always render the ore refractory nor make it
incapable of amalgamation. It will probably be neces-
sary to crush ore of this character, through a fine
screen, in order to free the particles of gold. Such ore
may also prove amenable to the cyanide process, if there
are no base materials present, which prevent successful
treatment by that method.
IIVVV
Copper in solution in the water flowing from copper
mines can be precipitated by passing the water through
sluice boxes having a low grade and filled with scrap
iron, tin scrap, etc., the copper displacing the iron. The
tin has no effect on the copper, and small flakes of the
tin may sometimes be seen in the precipitates. The
acidulated water decomposes the thin sheet of iron
which lies between the film of tin on either side of it,
and the tin scales off, usually in flakes so small as to be
unobserved. Occasionally, where tin cans have been
used as a precipitating agent, the gummy substance or
varnish with which the can ha6 been covered, causes
good sized patches of the tin to adhere, when the tin
may be readily seen.
IT is a common feature of large quartz veins to be
divided into a series of floors by cracks, which extend
from wall to wall, usually at right angles to the dip.
The distance between the floors is variable in different
veins and also in the same vein. Near the surface these
cracks are sometimes several inches wide, the space on
the floors or between the blocks being filled or partly
filled by granulated quartz, quartz crystals, clay, iron
oxide and other minerals, and sometimes also gold. The
reason for the separation (particularly noticeable in
granite formation) is probably due to the decomposition
of the granite, which has resulted in an increase in bulk,
causing the vein to be drawn out and the several blocks
thuB separated.
Quicksands, through which it became necessary to
sink, have been hardened by injecting hydraulic cement
into the bed of sand. This has been successfully accom-
plished by driving pipes into the quicksand at varying
distances of 4 to 8 feet and attaching a pump to each
alternate pipe, leaving the remaining pipes open. When
pumping began, a circulation was established between all
the pipes of the series. When sufficient sand had been
removed, a cement grout was pumped in for some time
and the open pipes were capped and the pumping con-
tinued, which forced the grout into the sand. The
pipes were drawn a foot or more and the operation
repeated. The cement sets, causing the ground to
become hard enough to be mined out. Plows of water
may also be retarded in ditch work or other excavations
in wet materials. This scheme can only be operated
under favorable conditions.
Much of the success of concentrating machines de-
pends upon a proper distribution of the feed at the head
of the belt or table. It does not pay to overload a con-
centrator nor to keep a certain class of the material at
an intermediate point, where it neither passes over with
the valuable material nor off at the lower end with the
tailings. This class of material accumulates to the dis-
advantage of all the remainder of the pulp being treated.
The fact that this middle product does occur proves
conclusively the necessity of ihydraulic classification be-
fore attempting to concentrate on machines of any kind.
For the best work the pulp must be first classified, and
then the feed and fresh water supply must be regulated
and maintained at a stated rate, and the machines must
run steadily at a givon number of vibrations, for after
once having been properly adjusted to given conditions,
if these conditions, or any of them change, poor work
i6 the immediate result.
VVvv
A Golukield, New, miner has offered the following
ingenious theory to account for the rich accumulations of
gold found in that district at and near the surface: "The
ore occurs on the knolls and not in the depressions, which
may be explained by the fact that the ores are more
siliceous, and being harder, are better able to resist
erosion than the normal rock, which being softer is
eroded more rapidly, producing hollows. The soil and
superficial rocks of the Goldfield region are impregnated
with manganese, sodium chloride, calcium sulphate,
Buorite, otc. The decomposition of the sulphides of
the veins supplied sulphuric acid which, acting upon the
sodium chlorido in the presence of the black oxide of
manganese, liberated chlorine, and being a solvent of
gold, dissolved it, and reprecipitated the metal at
favorable places, through the medium of surface
waters, thus accounting for the remarkable instances of
secondary enrichment found there."
Contracts for shaft sinking, drifting and for other
mining work are commonly undertaken by miners, and
not infrequently to their advantage. The contractors
never put up bonds to guarantee the fulfillment of the
contract, for the reason that there are so many unknown
conditions and possibilities that he cannot afford to as-
sume the risk. Contracts of this character are not alto-
gether one-sided in their operation. The miner may
base his price on hard ground at the beginning of the
contract and the ground may become softer or otherwise
easier to work, which results in the contractor making
more than he anticipated; but if the ground becomes so
hard he cannot fulfill his contract without considerable
loss, he usually gives up the job. Most contracts stipu-
late that 25% of the contract price on work completed
shall be withheld until the completion of the entire con-
tract; so if the miner throws up his contract he forfeits
one-fourth of the amount of money he has earned.
The selection of a mining method without an oppor-
tunity to examine the situation is not an easy matter,
but in the case where the vein is described as being 8
feet wide between firm and fairly well-defined walls, with
a dip of over 60°, it would seem that the proper method
would be the driving of a heading about 15 feet high
along the ore shoot, the full width of the vein. This should
be substantially timbered with posts and cap sets, and
heavy lagging of fi-inch poles laid on the caps. This will
bring the floor of the stope within 6 to 7 feet of the back
— a good working height for hand or machine drilling.
Some shoveling may be saved and lagging protected by
running this heading in two sections, the uppermost one
several feet in advance; then, if the timbering be
kept well up to the lower face, much of the rock
blasted from the upper face will fall upon the lagging.
Loading chutes should be provided every 30 feet along
the length of the stope and unless good air is mechanically
provided for the stope a raise should be run to the
level above, and in the event of the ore shoot proving to
be a long one — 200 feet or more — it would be wise to
have a raise at either end, and, if in excess of 300 feet, a
raise at every 150 feet. When the workings have been
arranged as suggested, stoping operations may begin by
shooting the rock down upon the lagging, with lightly
loaded holes at first, until the poles are protected from
heavy blasting. The large rocks must be broken up to
pass the chute doors, and only enough ore drawn away
to make proper room for the men to work in the stopes
without either cramping them for space or allowing the
back to get too high for convenient work. A cribbed
manhole should be carried up with the ore at one end,
both ends, or at intermediate points, according to the
length of the stope. The chutes require no cribs, pro-
vided no great amount of waste is shot down with the
ore. As stoping progresses upward, only about one-
third of the ore is drawn off. When approaching the
level above the back may be shot down or left intact,
according to requirements, and at the discretion of the
superintendent. In this system no timber is required
except that used in the sill floor sets and in the man-
ways. The ore supports the walls, and as it is eventu-
ally drawn off, if any slabs fall or the walls collapse, no
particular harm is done. The stope may be entered at
any time, and, as the ore settles by reason of being
drawn away below, any slabs of wall rock which appear
threatening may be removed and broken up, or allowed
to remain on the ore. When the accumulated waste of
this description reaches the chute it may be rejected and
either sent out of the mine, piled up in walls, or allowed
to remain in the stopes. In some instances even the
timbers may be removed and reused, if still in good con-
dition. In some veins it might be advisable to put up
raises every 30 feet along the drift, for a height of 10
feet, placing the chutes directly below the raises. The
stope may then be opened out about 10 feet above the
back of the gangway, and the work of stoping carried
on as described above. This will leave several sections
10 feet thick and the width of the vein to remove after
the stope is all mined out, and will save the cost of tim-
bers, framing and placing the same, and also the cost of
considerable shoveling at the start.
152
Mining and Scientific Press.
September 2, 1905.
"Control of Hydraulic Mining Debris in
California by the Federal
Government. "*
Announcement that an address on the above sub-
ject would be given by Capt. Wm. W. Harts, U. S.
Corps of Engineers, in the Academy of Science build-
ing, in San Francisco, Cal., on the evening of Aug.
21, filled the auditorium to hear one of the California
Debris Commission give an authentic account of what
had been done and what was proposed to do in the
great work of such interest to the hydraulic min-
ers of California since the inauguration of the pro-
ject in 1893.
The lecture was an interesting one and worthy of
the source. Seldom is so good an opportunity
afforded to learn from a prominent IT. S. engineer
regarding the history and details of the work in the
supervision of which he is engaged, and Capt. Harts'
address is a notable contribution to the sum total of
knowledge on this important subject.
The first portion of his lecture was devoted to a
history of the mining debris problem in California,
the situation that gave rise to the creation of a Cali-
fornia Debris Commission, and the scope and intent
of that body's powers. This was followed by a de-
scription of the mining region assigned to the control
of the Commission, and estimates of the amount of
detritus lodged in the streams, and the duties of the
Commission under the federal law. Following this, in
speaking of the manner of work done, Capt. Harts
furnished considerable further data hitherto unpub-
lished. In the matter of individual dams, he said that
various kinds of dams had been tried — those of
stone, of earth, brush and rock, log-crib filled with
behind debris dams especially constructed for the
purpose.
Another side of the Commission's duty is the
study of the rivers of the Sacramento and San Joa-
quin river systems with a view to the preparation of
plans for the treatment of these streams and their
tributaries, so that the injurious mining detritus may
be kept out of the navigable rivers and the streams
restored to their former condition of navigability as
far as might be needed.
The first step after preventing the operation of
mines when debris is not properly impounded was
the treatment of the larger tributaries to prevent
the enormous quantities now in their beds from reach-
ing the navigable streams.
In 1881 the State of California built a brush dam
in the Yuba and one in the Bear river, with a view to
impounding debris up to the crest of the dams. They
were only a few feet high and were constructed of
brush, gravel and sand bags. They were founded on
the unstable gravel bed of the river. Neither dam
withstood the first high water. Both streams have
variable discharges, the Yuba varying from about 500
cubic feet per second in the summer and autumn to
about 80,000 to 90,000 cubic feet per second during
floods. The Bear river varies from about 10 cubic
feet per second during the summer low water to an
estimated flood discharge of about 20,000 second feet.
With these flood volumes it is evident that any
dam to hold, if built on the treacherous gravel of the
river bed, must be of considerable strength.
General Principles oe Improvement. — In under-
taking the formulation of a plan for these rivers, the
engineer officers adopted a general line of work that
was believed to be applicable. It consisted of three
divisions :
1. Barriers across the river just below Smarts-
ville, to prevent the addition of coarse detritus from
the upper reaches.
2. A cut at Daguerre point through which to divert .
the river at high stages, with embankments forming
a settling basin for impounding fine material during
the remainder of the year.
3. Training walls 2000 feet apart, extending from
Daguerre point to the Feather river, to confine the
flow to a selected channel.
Barriers. — The barriers were to be a system of
weirs extending across the river, where the banks
are high enough to afford large impounding capacity,
the first located a few miles below Smartsville.
This first barrier was the only one estimated for
in the present project, but it was to be supple-
mented by others as soon as it was filled, the
others to be located and built in the future when
necessary.
A dam of brush, rock and gravel was first pro-
posed, with a row of Wakefield sheet piling 20 feet
deep to protect the toe. It was found impracticable
to drive the sheet piling on account of the coarse and
heavy material of the river bed, and this type was
therefore abandoned after several hundred feet of it
had been placed with much difficulty. This portion
built afterward washed out during a flood in the win-
ter of 1903h1.
A modified brush barrier was then tried by the
Commission. It was a "cob-house" construction of
brush fascines, forming pens 5 feet square, with an
elevation of 4 feet above the river bed. These pens
were filled with heavy rock. An apron 20 feet wide
was made of a mattress of brush fascines fastened
together with cables. This dam was destroyed by
the first high water. The large amount of drift car-
Brush and Rock Dam on Yuba River, Cal., Later Destroyed by High Water.
Down Stream Face of a Log Crib Dam.
rock, and many others. After twelve years of ex-
perience, it has been found that the usual small mine,
where impounding dams can be used, will need one of
two general types — either log-crib dams or brush
dams.
There are special cases, of course, where other
kinds of dams are needed; but these two types are
most common for the smaller mines, and printed
specifications for these dams, with a cut explaining
their construction, have been prepared by the Com-
mission.
The log crib is the more common type. It con-
sists of a cob-house crib, with the logs of which it is
made notched and bolted together. It is filled with
quarried rock and chinked against leakage. This
type of dam is seldom built over 40 feet high, this
being the limit of safety placed by the Commission
for the usual case. These dams are very satisfactory
for their purpose when well made. As long as they
are kept wet they are practically permanent, and in
those locations where the logs rot, due to being dry
part of the time, the rock being well bedded in gravel
will resist erosion long after the logs have failed to
bind the dam together.
The brush dam is less used, as it is permitted
usually only when the water flow over the dam is
small, or when the river is diverted through a spill-
way at one end, and only when the slope of the can-
yon above is slight. These brush dams are not per-
mitted over 20 feet in total height.
In this way the debris from hydraulic mining has
been regulated so that very little is added now to the
old supply. These restrictive measures have unfortu-
nately been too much to permit the resumption of
hydraulic mining on the large scale it formerly was
accustomed to; but, on the other hand, they have
permitted many mines to operate that otherwise
would have to remain idle.
There is how mined nearly a million cubic yards
each year which is stored in the canyons and ravines
*See illustrations on front page.
1. Building moderately high dams in the foothills
where the rivers emerge into the valleys and where
the value of land is not great. These dams being
located where the slopes in the river bed are high,
were so placed with a view to sorting the heavy
material that will stand on high slopes from the fine
material that will not, thus storing this heavy ma-
terial where it will be impounded cheapest.
2. Embankments and basins lower down in the
river, forming settling pools, where the slopes are
flatter and where practically all of the finer material
can be deposited by bringing the flowing water al-
most, if not entirely, to rest at all except high stages
of the river.
3. Training walls in the remainder of the lower
river, to confine the flow in selected channels, so that
the large quantities of debris now in the river beds,
outside these walls, should not be overflowed, and
thus could lie undisturbed indefinitely.
After investigating various other plans, it was be-
lieved that the application of these principles would
hold back all of the debris that could be impounded
and would offer the best solution of the problem.
Yuba River. — It was decided to commence with
the Yuba river, as this stream has suffered more
from mining debris than any other in California, and
if the difficulties here could be surmounted, the meth-
ods found best adapted for the purpose would likely
be more easily applied to the other streams.
After a study of several years and after extended
surveys in which numerous borings were made, a plan
was adopted by the Commission and submitted to
Congress in 1900. The details of this plan were elab-
orated by Hubert Vischer, assistant engineer, under
the direction of the Commission. They have since
been modified from time to time as the progress of
the work rendered necessary. The estimated cost
was $800,000, of which the State of California, under
the provisions of the Caminetti Act, agreed to pay
one-half. This project was adopted by Congress and
funds appropriated therefor.
The project provided for:
ried by this freshet broke apart the fascines and the
dam soon disintegrated.
The design next tried was much stronger. It was
anchored to the river bed with piles, the dam, 6 feet
high above the river bed, being comprised of rock
fill held in place with concrete blocks weighing about
10 tons, molded in place over the rock fill, and con-
nected together with wire cables imbedded in the
concrete. Leakage was checked by timber bulk-
heads. A broad apron, 20 feet wide with a 6-foot
extension, diminished the scour at the toe, that other-
wise would have undermined the dam. A sloping up-
stream face prevented damage from drift.
It is thus seen that most of the weaknesses of the
previous dams had been remedied in the new type.
This dam has just passed successfully through its
first high-water season and is the first to withstand
a single freshet in the lower Yuba river.
The dam consists of four rows of piles, the two
upper intervals between rows being 10 feet, and the
interval between the third and fourth rows being 18
feet.
Piles were 6-feet centers in the uppermost row, 12-
feet centers in the two middle rows, and 3-feet 'Cen-
ters in the lowest row. Every 12 feet the piles in a
tier up and down stream were connected at their
upper ends with 1-inch galvanized wire cable. A
timber bulkhead 3 inches thick was spiked to the
upstream and another to the downstream row of
piles, and was carried as deep as the water in the
river would permit.
Between the first two rows of piles was placed a
fill of rock which was brought up to a subgrade, so
that when covered by the concrete blocks, 1J feet
thick, the height of the barrier would be 6 feet above
the average level of the river bed. Concrete blocks
about 10 feet square and li feet thick were built in
place over all this fill, connecting by means of a
rollerway with an apron 20 feet wide resting on the
river bed below the dam.
The upstream slope was protected with an in-
clined layer of large rock laid in Portland cement
September 2, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
153
mortar. The concrete slabs of the top surface of the
dam and those of the apron were separated from
each other by tar-paper joints, and, to prevent dis-
location by the river currents, were connected in the
direction of the stream How with 1-inch galvanized
wire cables, 3 feet apart, imbedded in the concrete.
The cables connecting the piles referred to above
were also imbedded in a narrow strip of concrete IS
inches square, which helps bind the heads of the piles
together in each tier and separates the large blocks.
Excepting these narrow strips, the concrete slabs
rest on the river bottom only and are not supported
on the piles. They are jointed so that they are free
to move vertically, the cables acting as a hinge.
This, it was designed, would permit the concrete
blocks to follow down any considerable scour under
the apron, should it occur, and thus prevent any
serious damage to the dam due to back-lash.
The weak place in all over-fall dams on poor founda-
tions is, of course, the toe. The rollerway and apron
it was hoped would protect the river bed from ex-
cessive and dangerous scour. In addition, an exten-
sion or lip of masonry 6 feet wide was placed below
the apron to carry the water farther away from the
toe, and if undersecured it would break up, fall in the
hole and offer protection against further action. In
addition, for about GOO feet the dam at the south end,
where the scour was believed to be strongest, was
further protected by large rock or rip-rap placed at
random.
The south end of the dam was joined to the bedrock
of the river bank, but at the north end a concrete
abutment was built, founded on piles, to act as a
retaining wall for the earth embankment which was
later built to connect the dam with the shore. The
north shore is composed of compactly cemented
* I1
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154
Mining and Scientific Press.
September 2, 1905.
gravel, through which it was originally planned to
have a spillway constructed to carry the river at all
stages except flood. During construction the entire
river was permitted to pass between this abutment
and the north shore before building the embankment,
so that the concrete dam could be constructed entire
on the dry river bed. When it came time to close
this gap through which the river flowed, it was found
to be an undertaking far greater than was antici-
pated, as there were about 1200 to 1300 cubic feet per
second flowing around the end of the dam. This flow
had to be lifted upwards of 8 feet over the completed
structure.
The first pilework placed to close this gap failed
with the pressure of water, and through the serious
scour in the bottom which took place while trying to
close the opening. Later more piles were placed in
the opening, and by the liberal use of brush and sand
bags the gap was finally closed.
Much assistance was afforded by an auxiliary dam
or levee in the river i mile upstream, hastily built to
divert the flow over the dam and away from the cut.
Over 20,000 sand bags were used in closing this gap,
as no rock was available. As soon as closed the gap
was filled with an earth embankment. The experi-
ence with the north bank near the end of the dam
has decided the Commission to change the location of
the spillway from the north end to the south bank,
where the cut will be in rock.
This spillway will be 400 feet wide on the lip and 4
feet deep, taking a flow of 13,600 second-feet before
the dam comes into use, so that the river will be car-
ried around the south end of the dam at all stages
except for a short time each year at flood stages.
This will make the dam when completed practically
permanent and easily maintained.
The first step of the permanent dam having been
completed as above described, it is now proposed to
build in accordance with the project a similar step 8
feet higher, lying upstream of the present work and
connecting with it. Contracts are already let and
work has been commenced on this second step.
In the same way it is expected to put a step 8 feet
high on the dam each working season. In this way
the ultimate height of the dam will be reached by suc-
cessive steps. This method was found advisable, as
the amount of work possible in the river bed during
the low-water season is limited and time must be
given the river to fill each step with gravel.
The first step, already built, has been filled with
gravel to its crest since the first heavy freshet, and
gravel as large as pigeons eggs have been rolled over
the top of the dam for several months.
It is thus plainly seen that the dam as a whole is a
gravel fill dam sluiced into place by the river itself,
the downstream slope of which is composed of a layer
of concrete blocks having a general inclination of
about 1 vertical to 3* horizontal. The concrete over-
lies a rock fill held in place by a framework of anchor
piles and timber bulkheads.
The first piling were driven by the United States,
because it was not believed advisable to contract for
this work at first, as the risk was considerable and it
was freely predicted by some engineers that no piles
could be driven in the Yuba river bed at that place.
This work, however, was carried to completion
without notable difficulties, S88 piles being driven
with an ordinary land driver equipped with a 20 H. P.
Uidgerwood engine and a 3500-pound hammer working
in 45-foot gins. The driving was difficult, each pile
requiring from 150 to 250 blows. The piles cost from
19 to L'3 cents per foot delivered in Marysville, and 10
cents per foot to haul to the site of the work, 17 miles
farther. This made each pile cost about $12. The
driving cost $5.02 per pile, making the cost of each
pile in place about $17. Including experiments with
water jet and accidents, the cost was $19.74.
This price was considered high at the time, but the
work under the contractor thus far this spring on
the second step, it is believed, has' exceeded this
price. Under contract, the new piling has cost 31 J
cents per foot per pile delivered at the site of the
work, making each pile cost $12.60. The contract
price for driving is $7.60, making each pile under con-
tract cost $20.20 in place.
Portland cement costs $2,785 delivered at the site
of the work. Concrete was mixed by hand and was
made from gravel and sand taken from the river bed
and screened. It was mixed in the proportions of 1
cement, 2 sand, 2 gravel and 4 cobbles passing a 2-inch
ring.
The work on the first step, including the abutment,
cost as follows, prices including placing:
Excavation, 6.470 cubic yards at 30 cents $ 1,911 00
Lumber, 01,655 feet, board measure, at $-10 2,460 20
Loose brush, 95 cords at $3.50 332 50
Large rock, 2,411.75 tons at $2 4.823 50
Large rock in cement, 1.021.307 cubic yards at 87 11.349 15
Small rock fill, 4.251 tons at $1 4.251 00
Cable, 30,300 linear feet at IScents 5 454 00
Concrete, 3,754.2 cubic yards at $7.50 28,156 50
Extra work 1,^00 10
Total $00,073 95
The entire dam, including piles and excluding abut-
ment and embankment, cost in round numbers
$78,613, or about $63 per linear foot.
Daouerre Point Section. — The plans for the
treatment of the intermediate section of the Yuba
river involve the construction of high embankments
across the river in a V-shape, with the apex up-
stream, the ends connecting, one with Daguerre
point on the north, and the other with a high knoll
on the south bank.
A diverting barrier connects the apex of the V
with the north shore, diverting to the south all wa-
ter below the elevation of its crest. Through
Daguerre point is being cut a channel 600 feet wide
basin is practically clear. At stages of the river
occurring for a short time only each year, where the
flow of water through the settling basin would be
more than could be settled, the regulating devices
will exclude the excess, causing it to pass into the
cut. This will happen only in such high stages that
YUBA RIVER CAL.
J/n<7rfrw//£ /a Maryj-y/Z/e.
MFN1NG AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
•Sct^/e //S7.'?J7T//eS.
Sketch Map of Yuba River Near Marysville.
and 25 feet deep, through which all the river flow at
high stages will pass.
On the south bank, regulating works will admit all
the water diverted by the diverting barrier below a
limit of about 6000 to 7000 second feet, passing it into
a natural depression of about 2 square miles and lying
adjacent to the river on the south. These works will
exclude all flow above what is considered safe, com-
pelling the excess to pass to the north over the
diverting barrier and through the cut.
This plan is simply taking advantage of the natural
regimen of the river.
All rivers have their sections of active erosion,
the velocities are thought to be sufficient to carry
whatever fine sediment is in suspension into the
Feather and Sacramento rivers, which, being in flood
at the same time, will carry the sediment into the
tidal currents of the bay and thence into the ocean.
The solution of the extreme high water part of the
problem is not thoroughly satisfactory, in view of the
fact that adequate levees are not yet built on the
Sacramento to control its flow; but as the periods of
such high water are short, the damage, if any should
result, will be limited and will vanish when the Sacra-
mento is regulated — a vast problem now receiving
attention.
every 4fce/-
i-" /ft c/Sarne/'t.
w: 7/ ~''i< •
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS ".'-■.'.'" •■'•.•' - •
Method of Constructing Brush Restraining Dam.
usually where slopes and velocities are highest, their
sections of transportation where slopes and velocities
are sufficient to carry sediment but not to scour, sec-
tions of sedimentation where the reduced velocities
permit the sediment to fall and form deposits, and
the section of discharge.
The construction of the embankments and the use
of a large settling basin only increase the natural
One Pocket of Log Crib Dam Before Chinking or Filling.
area of the section of sedimentation. The river is
passed into an area where the velocities are checked,
although not entirely overcome, so that practically
all thair load of sediment is dropped. The water
passing back into the river at the lower end of the
Work in the vicinity of Daguerre Point has been
in progress for considerably over a year. Of some-
thing over 700,000 cubic yards excavation, about
504.000 cubic yards have already been removed.
A steam shovel having a \\ cubic yard dipper is
used, the excavated material being removed by two
trains of about ten cars each to the dump at the
north side of the entrance. An average of 30,000
cubic yards per month is required under the contract,
which should be completed by the close of the calen-
dar year. The contract price of excavation is 23i
cents per cubic yard of earth and 90 cents per cubic
yard of rock removed. The total cost of this cut will
be something over $160,000.
It was originally intended that the United States
should build the embankments across this part of the
river; but before operations could be begun it was
found that a gold dredging company had secured ex-
tensive mining rights in the vicinity that promised to
conflict decidedly with the plans of the Government.
It was also learned that the company, in the exercise
of its rights, proposed to dredge for gold in the river
bed just where the original settling basin had been
located. After considerable controversy, an amicable
agreement was reached by which the Commission
was enabled to obtain a larger settling basin on the
south side of the river in exchange for the first
adopted location; certain deeds to property were
secured which were essential to the project, and the
company also agreed to build the embankments neces-
sary free of cost to the United States and give them
back their originally located settling basin when it
had been mined.
These terms were distinctly advantageous to the
United States and made a considerable saving in the
cost of the work.
Under this agreement about 2000 linear feet of
embankment, about 30 feet high and about 300 feet
wide on the base, have already been built near the
apex of the V. These embankments are made while
mining by stacking the dredged material in a mound
September 2, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
155
behind the dredger as it digs ahead through the river
bed.
It is expected to have the cut through Daguerre
Point completed by the end of 1905 and the embank-
ment connecting Daguerre Point with the south shore
by the end of 1906.
Training Walls.— In the section of the river
between Daguerre Point and Marysville the project
calls for training walls to confine the channel to one
location. Whether these walls shall be high dikes or
levees throughout to positively control the river even
at high water, or whether lower and partially per-
meable dikes, partly built of living brush and thus to
act only as guiding walls, shall be adopted, has not
been fully decided for the lower sections. The result
of the first high sections now being built near
Daguerre Point will likely determine this question
when their action at high water is learned.
Already considerable has been accomplished be-
side obtaining rights of way from the owners. Secur-
ing these rights was a first consideration and has
been exceptionally hard in some places on account of
the gold dredging fever, which has made each owner
believe that he has a valuable mining property. The
necessary rights have, however, been all secured,
with some minor exceptions.
In addition, agreements have been made with two
gold dredging companies to build free of cost to the
United States the south training wall from Daguerre
Point west for a total length of about 2 miles, and
dredgers are now being built for this work as an in-
cidental to their gold dredging operations.
Contract has been made for the north wall along
a parallel line for a total length of about 2 miles.
This work will be commenced this summer and com-
pleted within a year by scraping. The contract price
is 12.4 cents per cubic yard in place for about 200,000
cubic yards. This wall, with the south training wall,
to be built without cost, will control the floods of the
Yuba river for their length of 2 miles, confining the
river to the 2000-foot space between the walls. They
will be 11 feet or over in height and will not be over-
topped.
It is, of course, too soon to prophesy what suc-
cess will attend this work; but the encouraging start
made and the good results obtained as far as work-
has proceeded are certainly encouraging.
Bear River. — As stated before, the Yuba river
was the first to be studied and the first to be taken
up for treatment. The Commission are now planning
to take up the work on Bear river, and a survey is
authorized and is now being arranged on which to
base plans for the future improvement of this stream.
Should the Bear river work be approved by Con-
gress and by the State of California, and funds pro-
vided, the work will be extended to the American
river and other sediment-bearing streams until the
entire problem is solved.
Captain Harts illustrated his lecture by photo-
graphs projected on a large screen in front of
his audience, graphically portraying the salient
points of his discourse. The accompanying illustra-
tions and those on the front page aid in furnishing an
intelligent understanding of the present phase of this
great work. For opportunity to use them the Min-
ing and Scientific Press takes pleasure in acknowl-
edging the courtesy of Wm. M. Harts, Capt. Corps of
Engineers, U. S. A., and Mr. Otto Von Geldern, vice-
president Academy of Sciences, in furnishing the
photographs from which they were engraved.
Spitting and Snuffing of Fuses.
In view of the increasing number of fatal explosions
in mines at Bendigo, Victoria, the relative merits of
the methods of " spitting " and " snuffing " of holes
have been discussed at some length and the Mining
Managers' Association have seriously considered the
matter, says the Australian Mining Standard. The
practice in vogue is to charge several holes at one
time, and either "spit "or "snuff" the fuse. The
former system is to merely ignite the ends of the fuse,
while "snuffing" consists of placing a small piece of
lighted candle, called a "snuff," under the fuse, thus
requiring the outer covering of the fuse to be burned
through before the powder catches. In coal mining
this is called " smift "or " snift," and consists of a bit
of touch paper, touch wood, etc., attached by a bit of
clay or grease to the outside end of the train of
" gunpowder " when blasting. It appears that six
fatal accidents have occurred in the Bendigo district
within the past five years from " missed " holes. At
the recent inquest on the bodies of the miners who
were killed at the Virginia mine, Bendigo, Mr.
Abrahams, Inspector of Mines, made strong objec-
tions to the practice of "spitting" holes. The rep-
resentatives of the A. M. A. held different views on
the methods of firing. Miners of forty years' ex-
perience contended that "snuffing" was the only safe
way; others of less experience maintained that
" where a man could get away easily ' spitting ' was
equally as safe as 'snuffing.' " Eventually, however,
the following recommendations were adopted: "(1)
That the safest method of firing is by using snuffs to
fire all holes; (2) that four holes be the maximum
amount fired, and not more than three holes when
they are dependent one upon another in any one stope
or place; (3) that not less than 6 inches lead of fuse
shall be given to each hole fired; (4) that these rec-
ommendations be forwarded to the Minister of Mines,
and also to the Mining Managers' Association."
W. Curtis took exception to these proposals, and
said that, in view of the fact that the fuse used in the
Bendigo mines was about the best in the world, a far
greater number of holes than that recommended
could be safely fired. At the meeting of the Mining
Managers' Association, J. Veale said that he had found
the practice of "spitting" holes preferable to
"snuffing." Mr. Rodgers said that he had frequently
reprimanded miners for firing too many holes at one
time, and they had replied that they were saving
time. The Association decided to take no action in
the matter. It is generally recognized that most of
the accidents have been due to the carelessness of the
miners themselves, for they have been known to
carry pieces of dynamite about in their waistcoat
pockets down below. Only last week a tributor at
Bendigo had his house blown to pieces through using
it as a magazine, there being twenty sticks of nitro
powder, dynamite caps and fuse stored in a box in
one of the rooms. Referring to the risks which min-
ers accept, W. Abrahams says, in his annual report
for 1904: "In the three fatal accidents, two men were
killed while boring into the bottom of old holes with
rock drills. This shows how careless miners are; in
either case there was no necessity to bore into the
old holes, and until miners exercise more care there
will be accidents. Another man lost his life using an
old rope, absolutely rotten, for a swing stage to re-
pair a small alluvial shaft. These lives were care-
lessly thrown away."
International Atomic Weights.
The following from the Journal of the London
Chemical Society is the list of atomic weights as issued
by the International Committee with their report
for 1905:
0=16 H=l
Aluminum Al 27.1 26.9
Antimony...., Sb 120.2 119.3
Argon A 39.9 39.6
Arsenic As 75 74.4
Barium Ba 137.4 136.4
Bismuth Bi 208.5 206.9
Boron B 11 19.9
Bromine Br 79.96 79.36
Cadmium Cd 112.4 111.6
Cesium Cs 132.9 131.9
Calcium Ca 40.1 39.7
Carbon C 12 11.91
Cerium Ce 140.25 139.2
Chlorine CI 35.45 35.18
Chromium Cr 52.1 51.7
Cobalt Co 59 58.55
Columbium.: Cb 94 93.3
Copper Cu 63.6 63.1
Erbium Er 166 164.7
Fluorine P 19- ijj.fl
Gadolinium Gd 156 154.8
Gallium Ga 70 69.5
Germanium Ge 72.5 72
Glucinum Gl 9.1 9.03
Gold Au 197.2 195.7
Helium He 4 4
Hydrogen H 1.008 1
Indium In 115 114.1
Iodine I 126.97 126.01
Iridium Ir 193 191.5
Iron Pe 55.9 55.5
Krypton Kr 81.8 81.2
Lanthanum La 138.9 137.9
Lead Pb 206.9 205.35
Lithium Li 7 03 6.98
Magnesium Mg- 24.36 2418
Manganese Mn 55 54 6
Mercury Hg 200 198.5
Molybdenum Mo 96 95.3
Neodymium Nd 143.6 142.5
Neon Ne 20 19.9
Nickel Ni 58.7 58.3
Nitrogen N 14.04 13.93
Osmium Os 191 189.6
Oxygen O 16 15.88
Palladium Pd 106.5 105.7
Phosphorus P 31 30.77
Platinum Pt 194.8 193.3
Potassium K 39.15 38.85
Praseodymium Pr 140.5 139.4
Radium Rri 225 223.3
Rhodium Rh 103 102.2
Rubidium Rb 85.5 84.9
Ruthenium Ru 101.7 100.9
Samarium Sm 150.3 149.2
Scandium Sc 44.1 43.8
Selenium Se 79.2 78.6
Silicon Si 28 4 28.2
Silver Ag 107.93 107.11
Sodium Na 23.05 22.88
Strontium Sr 87.0 86.94
Sulphur S 32.06 31.82
Tantalum Ta 183 181.6
Tellurium Te 127.6 126.6
Terbium Tb 160 158.8
Thallium Tl 204 1 202.6
Thorium Th 232.5 230.8
Thulium I'm 171 169.7
Tin Sn 119 118.1
Titanium Ti 48 I 47.7
Tungsten W 184 182.0
Uranium .....U 238.5 236.7
Vanadium V 51.2 50.8
Xenon Xe 128 127
Ytterbium Yb 173 171.7
Yttrium <Yt 89 88.3
Zinc •' Zn 65.4 64.9
Zirconium Zr 90.6 89.9
Responsibilities of Australian Mine
Managers.
Written for tiie Minim, asi> Soiihtific Press by R. B. Lamb.
The law regulating mining operations in Australia
is very strict in all States of the Commonwealth.
Although the Eastern States do not labor under the
stringent legal disabilities of the West, the laws in
relation to the operation of underground workings
and surface equipment are almost uniform through-
out the continent. Inspectors of mines are appointed
by examination, the successful applicant holding the
position for life, if he strictly carries out his official
duties. Bis power is fixed by the Mines Regulation
Act, and he is directly responsible to the Minister of
Mines for the time being, to whom he reports. He
makes regular visits to all mines throughout his dis-
trict, and during his stay on the mine he practically
is the general manager of the mine, any workman or
employe being compelled to answer his questions or
carry out his directions. His jurisdiction under-
ground is very great. Stopes, etc., which he con-
siders unsafe must be secured. He may direct that
all mining elsewhere in that mine shall cease until the
part has been secured to his satisfaction. Any order
he may give in regard to hand rails, covers over
winzes, etc., must be promptly carried out. Should
the manager fail to comply, the inspector prosecutes
before the warden's court to enforce his directions.
In the matter of explosives the law is very rigid.
Should the inspector see explosives in a stope,
or in or around a mine, outside of a maga-
zine, not in the regulation canister, the man-
ager is liable to be heavily fined. The surface
equipment must be rendered safe as the law directs.
Belts, etc., must have hand rails. Should the man-
ager fail to provide these things, the plant would be
closed down until it is accomplished. Boilers are
inspected twice yearly, and may be condemned if
considered unsafe, or the steam pressure lowered.
Should a manager work a condemned boiler, he is
heavily fined and the plant may be closed down.
Should a fatal accident happen from a condemned
boiler, the manager is guilty of manslaughter. In
Western Australia, in addition to the inspector
of mines, inspectors of boilers and machin-
ery are appointed, whose duties consist of
testing and examining all boilers and machin-
ery, and the same cannot be started without their
certificate. In no part of Australia can any plant
be started to operate until passed by the inspector.
Cages and wire ropes are regularly tested by the
inspector and may be condemned by him when con-
sidered unsafe, and they cannot be worked when
condemned.
In Western Australia wire ropes are not allowed
to become covered with thick grease; every strand
in the rope must be visible to the eye. The inspector
can direct the testing of ropes or cages at any time,
and the manager in all cases is bound to carry out
his orders. The disinfection and sanitation of the
mine are thoroughly looked into by him, and the man-
ager must see to it that any recommendations or
orders are promptly carried out as he directs. Cer-
tificated men only can be employed on hoists, boilers
and stationary engines. The manager must see their
certificates. Should a fatal accident happen with an
uncertificated man at the hoist, the manager is guilty
of manslaughter. Work at mines is not permitted on
Sundays, except in special instances, such as on
pumps, necessary repairs, etc., to do which a permit
from the inspector is necessary. The Australian law
is uniformly strict in the matter of accidents, either
underground or on the surface.
Should an accident happen, fatal or otherwise, no
matter how trivial, the inspector must be imme-
diately notified. In case of fatal accident, the place
where it occurred must not on any account be dis-
turbed. If underground, no work must be done until he
orders it. If on the plant, it must remain stationary
until after his examination The inquiry into serious or
fatal accidents is very rigid, and in Western Austra-
lia a fatal accident renders the manager guilty of
manslaughter. In east Australia, if any part of the
Mines Act has not been carried out, a fatal accident
would mean that the manager is guilty of manslaugh-
ter. In all cases of fatal accidents the manager must
appear before a jury and must, if any negligence has
been shown, stand trial for manslaughter. He may
further be sued under statute law by relatives of the in-
jured or dead person for damages, which, if negligence
has been shown, will be awarded. In cases of serious
accidents the manager, if regulations have not been
carried out, will be heavily fined and may be further
sued by the injured man for damages.
In all cases of accident the manager must promptly
secure medical attendance and relief for the sufferers,
regardless of cost.
Should any workman or others report to the in-
spector any non-observance of the mining regulation
on the part of the mine manager, the inspector must
immediately examine the same in company with the
manager.
Two or more miners, if they consider the mine un-
safe to work in, may report the same to the man-
156
Mining and Scientific Press.
September 2, 1905.
ager, who is bound to notify the inspector and have
him examine the same.
Should any miner report an unsafe place to the
manager, and an accident occur, the manager is
guilty of an offense against the Act and punished
accordingly.
In Western Australia compulsory arbitration is in
force, and both workman and manager are bound by
its awards. The workmen cannot strike, or they
commit an offense against the Act and are punished.
Neither can the manager go outside the award, or
he commits an offense against the Act. Australian
mine managers, therefore, are compelled to operate
their mines in accordance with the mining Act, and
any failure to do so renders them liable to severe
penalties.
The Ventilation of Mines.
NUMBER III.
Means Suggested tor Improvement of Ventila-
tion.— In this State the main problem is the better-
ing of the ventilation of the metalliferous mines,
especially those which are large and deep. As
regards the collieries we need add very little to what
has been said in a preceding section, the need being
for the application of well-known practices rather
than for any new or less usual expedients. The pro-
vision of better designed and more powerful fans, and
more attention to keeping stoppings, air doors, and
brattices in good order, and to carrying the brattices
well up to the faces of the bords, -are all that is
necessary to make the ventilation as nearly perfect
as possible, except that in long headings, slants, and
inclines driven for exploration purposes ahead of the
main work, the same devices must be used as in long
drives and crosscuts in metalliferous mines, in order
to carry air to the working faces. The blasting
being as a rule much lighter than in our gold mines,
it is usually possible in the collieries to thoroughly
ventilate such workings by the use of bratticing; in
other cases ventilating pipes may be preferable. In
some parts of the Collie mines also, the ventilation
would be much improved by greater attention to
draining the traveling ways, so as to prevent them
from becoming exceedingly muddy and filthy, as at
present, as the trampled dirt, especially on the horse
roads, is often very foul-smelling.
In the metalliferous mines the practicable means of
improving the ventilation may be divided into — (1)
Connections between workings to bring about circu-
lation of the air; (2) Appliances for systematizing
and regulating the air currents; and (A) Devices for
mechanically ventilating the whole or any portions of
the mines.
Connections Between Workings: The best means
of securing thorough natural ventilation is without
doubt the use of two (or more) separate shafts, one
of which is an upcast and the other a downcast.
When the workings of adjoining mines can be con-
nected, the same effect may be secured, the air pass-
ing down one shaft and up the other. In the shal-
lower portions of mines it is usual for at least two
shafts to exist, but as they get deeper the workings
are apt to become concentrated more and more
round a single shaft. The sinking of a second venti-
lating shaft of equal depth to the main working shaft
would often be so expensive as to be quite out of the
question, and in deep mines it is only when there is a
very large quantity of mineral to be raised and the
workings are very extensive that it is possible to
provide two main shafts. The adoption of the col-
liery rule that all mines must have two shafts is,
therefore, quite impracticable in a great many
metalliferous mines. It is generally quite practic-
able, however, to have a second connection from the
lowest workings to the surface through winzes and
worked-out ground, and where these openings are of
sufficient area and are kept sufficiently clear to con-
stitute a good air passage, they have the same effect
as a second shaft in bringing about good ventilation.
Care should be taken in all mines that such air pas-
sages are made of sufficient size in the first place,
and are kept open constantly afterwards. It very
often happens in this State, as elsewhere, that they
are much too small, and also that they are used as
ore and mullock passes, so often becoming blocked.
In every important mine there should be at least one
air way, in addition to the shaft, of large size, main-
tained quite unobstructed from top to bottom of the
workings, and kept for ventilation and traveling
purposes only. In sections of mines where the venti-
lation is defective, care should similarly be taken to
have one or several clear air passages from level to
level. The system of using "rearings" when filling
stopes with mullock, so as to leave a space between
the filling and the unbroken reef, is very commend-
able from the ventilation point of view, besides being
an excellent practice, for other well-known reasons.
The construction of winzes to enable the ground to
be blocked out, and the formation of ore passes as
the stoping proceeds, usually cause the ventilation
to improve very much as the mines become better
opened up, but during the development period, before
the connections are completed, it may be very
defective. To remedy this by connecting at the earl-
iest possible moment is, then, the only practicable
course if natural ventilation is relied on entirely, and
in the meanwhile the men may suffer considerably.
To minimize this, the levels should not be too far
apart, and connections between them should be as
frequent as the nature of the mine permits. This is
readily enough attained when the levels are in good
ore, but when they are passing through poor or
valueless portions of the lodes it is impracticable to
insist on frequent connections. The distance between
levels is governed by several considerations, such as
size, vame, and underlay of the ore bodies, their
length and relative position, and the hardness of the
rock to be driven through. It may be most judicious
and economical to drive the levels 60, 80, or 100 feet
apart vertically, or it might pay best to have them
150, 200, or even 250 feet apart. So also in one case
the levels might be connected by winzes or rises
every 100 fee/t apart, while in another, owing to
small size of the lode, or poorness of the ore, it might
be necessary to have them a long distance from one
another. It is therefore impossible to lay down any
hard and fast rules regulating the permissible dis-
tance apart of levels and winzes, and great discre-
tion must be allowed to mine owners in deciding what
they had best do. In some cases it may be necessary
to carry down a main shaft several hundred feet
before again opening out, in order to pass through
an unprofitable zone in the lode, and the question of
connections then becomes a very serious one. It
may then be better to install some mechanical means
of ventilating the lower workings, instead of attempt-
ing to maintain natural ventilation. We are of
opinion, however, that even in these extreme cases,
if the ore developments are at all extensive and valu-
able, it will usually be economical to make a winze to
secure another air way independent of the main
shaft. Besides being advantageous for ventilation
purposes, a connection separate from the shaft,
which can be used as a traveling way, is a great
safeguard for the workmen in the not impossible
event of the main shaft being wrecked by explosion,
accident, or fire. The sinking of winzes is, of course,
also a well recognized means of prospecting the
ground, and valuable from that point of view. In
order to have the connections available at the earliest
possible date, we would recommend that the sinking
of winzes should, whenever practicable, be carried
out simultaneously with the sinking of the main shaft,
and the driving therefrom, so that the drive may
connect early with the bottom of the winze.
The ventilation of deep mines from a single timber-
lined shaft is attended with many difficulties, it being
nearly impossible to line the compartment so closely
as to prevent leakage from the downcast into the
upcast one. At the chambers where the levels join
the shaft, also, it is very difficult to prevent short
circuiting of the air. It is obvious that unless the
downcast current is led into the level and the upcast
one out of it quite separately from one another, no
considerable circulation can be relied upon. By put-
ting a door on one or other compartment of the
shaft and leading the air from or into it by a large
box under or over the plat, which in turn communi-
cates with an air way formed in the level by brattic-
ing or boxing, it is possible to keep the ingoing and
returning air currents separate from one another,
but the method is rather cumbrous, the air boxes are
difficult to maintain free from leakages, and, if the
door is placed on one of the winding compartments,
the constant opening and shutting of it when using
the cage interferes very much with the air currents.
It is best to have the winding compartments both up-
casts or both downcasts, and to make the pump or
ladder shaft the other air way, as a door on it need
rarely be opened; but the state of wetness or dry-
ness of each compartment often has a great deal to
do with its being an upcast or a downcast, and without
the aid of an artificially produced draught it is fre-
quently not possible to insure that the air will travel
in the direction it is wanted to go. The pump shaft
may be closed at the top, only leaving room for the
rods to work through the cover, and connected with
a tower or stack on surface of height sufficient to
cause a constant draught. Sometimes a fire is used
in the bottom of a stack to increase its natural
draught. An exhaust fan at surface would obviously
be an even better solution of the problem.
When the pump shaft is used as a downcast and
the winding compartments as the upcast, a convenient
way of leading the air into each level is by the old
and well known method of a deep covered drain under
the plat and floor of the level, by which the intake
air may be carried right up to the ends of the drives.
These air sollars, to be effective, must not be too
small, and the method involves a good deal of expense
in extra excavation and in the close planking required
to cover the drains. They are, however, much less
liable to be destroyed than boxes along the sides of
the drives or sollars along the roof. Many of our
witnesses mentioned the floor sollar system with ap-
proval, as having been successfully used elsewhere,
especially in Victoria, but we did not see an instance
of its use in any of the mines visited. The system of
taking out leading stopes along the backs of the levels,
and at the same time timbering the levels so as to
divide the air way, was also very properly regarded
as commendable in cases where circumstances rend-
ered it applicable, the air travelling in along the level
and back through the stope. In all the cases ex-
amined by us, however, where one shaft was the only
entrance and exit for the air going into a level, no
trouble was taken to separate the currents, and the
circulation was confined to an almost imperceptible
flow of the cooler air inwards along the floor, and a
corresponding return current along the back of the
level. The ventilation was generally poor in conse-
quence, and the air from the rock drills was greatly
relied on to keep the faces in a workable condition,
and to blow out the smoke. Haste should always,
therefore, be made to obtain connection with higher
levels by winze sinking and rising, which, when com-
pleted, furnishes a separate air way to the surface,
and does away with the need for having both ingoing
and outgoing air passing in opposite directions
through the same shaft or drive. Ventilation from a
single shaft alone is, therefore, rarely expected to be
more than temporary. An instance of somewhat ex-
tensive workings was, however, seen in Bayley'smine
at Coolgardie. where there is no opening, except the
main shaft, between the 600 and 800 foot levels. The
three lowest levels are connected by winzes, but no
attempt was made at the highest of the three to con-
fine the return air to the upcast compartment of the
shaft, and there was nothing to prevent it going down
the downcast shaft again back into the workings.
The generally bad state of the air in these levels,
disclosed by Mr. Mann's analyses, and very appreci-
able to visitors by a sensation of great heat and stuffi-
ness, was doubtless due to the same air being cir-
culated over and over again. In this instance it
seemed to us easily possible to allow only the down-
cast air from surface to go into the bottom level, to
cut off its return to the shaft at the next higher one
so as to compel it to go up to the next one, and to
lead the whole of the return air into the upcast by
the use of a fairly simple system of doors.
The question of connections between different mines
to aid the ventilation is one that has a good many
aspects. There is no doubt that they bring about a
great improvement in the mine which happens to be
the downcast, and often also in the one which is the
upcast, but there are cases where the latter may be
detrimentally affected by receiving the smoke and
vitiated air from the first. A mine which is itself
well ventilated may reasonably object to becoming
the upcast for its neighbor. It is therefore a ques-
tion how far it is fair in such a case to force on a mine,
which does not desire it, a connection which will
benefit only its neighbor.
Cases were mentioned to us by witnesses who had
been at Charters Towers of men in some of the up-
cast mines being much incommoded by the smoke from
mines below them. There are also instances at Kal-
goorlie, and more than once the connections have
been closed by the mines who were receiving their
neighbor's smoke. There are now a great many of
the principal mines at Kalgoorlie connected one with
another, and the general result has been undoubtedly
a great benefit in the ventilation on the whole, but it is
unquestionable that there have been occasional cases
of hardship inflicted thereby. The benefits so far
outweigh the disadvantages, however, that we are of
opinion that connection should be permitted whenever
a reasonable case is made out for it, and so long as
the neighboring mine cannot show strong grounds for
objecting. In case of such objection the mine bene-
fited might reasonably be required to go to the ex-
pense of diverting its fumes through the neighbor's
workings so as to keep them away from the latter's
men. This could often be done by leading them
through rises and the ends of stoped ground so that
the ventilation of the working faces would not be in-
terfered with. When a boundary between two
owners crosses a payable lode a winze or pass on the
intersection, made at the joint expense of both, would
be one of the best solutions of not only ventilation
difficulties, but some others also which do not concern
the present question. The decision as to when con-
nection between mines may be made compulsory, in
the event of amicable arrangement between the
owners being impossible, and as to the terms on which
it may be made, can hardly be the subject of fixed
regulations, the circumstances of each case demand-
ing separate inquiry and adjudication. An independ-
ent board to consider and settle such disputes seems
to us the best solution of the problem. The guiding
principle should be, according to the theory of mine
tenure in this state, that, the mines being the prop-
erty of the Crown, it may demand that the lessees
work in such a way as will be for the general advant-
age of the public estate, and consequently may insist on
the connections being made if the mining industry in
the district is thereby benefited. At the same time
the recipient of immediate benefit should do the ut-
most possible to protect his neighbor from any evil
consequences of the connection, and compensate him
for actual damage.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
In mine examination the expert is constantly
devising means for the detection of salting his sam-
ples, should this have been done, and many and inge-
nious are the ways by which he attempts to deter-
mine this important point, but it should always be
remembered that it is even of greater importance to
prevent being salted. This is far more difficult than
the detection of the fraud after it has been accom-
plished. There are several reliable methods by means
of which salting can be detected, but to absolutely
prevent it requires constant vigilance at every step
in the process.
September 2, 1905.
Mining and scientific Press.
til
Cyaniding Silver-Gold Ores of the Pal-
marejo Mine, Chihuahua, Mexico. i:
NUMBER VI.
Written by T. U. iixnam.
Each agitation vat was originally provided with a
6-inch discharge opening at the center of the bottom
casting. This opening was bushed down to 4 inches
and was provided with a nipple and a straightway
valve. The first few vats were discharged from the
bottom by this means, but a great deal of trouble was
experienced, due to the fact that though all the slimes
entering the agitation vats were passed through a
grizzly having 1.25-inch openings, the bottom valve
would frequently become choked with small rocks
and other solid material which seemed to become
unavoidably mixed in with the first slime treated.
This bottom discharge was therefore discontinued
and a hole was bored in the bottom staves, about 10
inches from the bottom casting, and a 3.5-inch iron
service cock was secured to the vat by means of a
short nipple and iron flanges. The vats are dis-
charged through this valve into a wooden launder
which conveys the material to the corresponding
decantation vat. This launder is provided with rows
of 6-inch wire nails, which serve to remove any small
pebbles or other foreign matter.
The four decantation vats, made of 3-inch redwood
throughout, are of the same dimensions as the agita-
tion vats, with the exception that they are provided
with conical bottoms, slanting at 20°. Each one is
connected with an ordinary 3-inch centrifugal pump.
Fig. 7 shows in detail the connection of the pump
Fig. 7. — Decantation Vat and Pump Connections.
with the vat, which is practically identical with that
of the agitation vats and pumps. The vat is dis-
charged through a 3.5-inch bottom discharge vat and
pipe into the residue launder, from which the dis-
charged material flows to the river. Removal of the
clear solution is effected by means of a 2-inch decan-
tation pipe and float. This pipe enters the side of
the vat, about 0 inches above the bottom staves, and
is provided with two loosely threaded elbows, which
permit of the free raising and lowering of the portion
within the vat. The float proper is made of two ordi-
nary 5 gallon oil cans, soldered water tight and
painted with paratfine paint. The rate of decanta-
tion is controlled by means of a 2-inch valve just
outside of the vat.
It frequently happens that the solution drawn from
the decantation vats is not perfectly clear and two
filter boxes are provided (see Pigs, 4 and 5) for the,
at least part, clarification of such solution before it
enters the solution tanks at the head of the zinc
boxes. Each compartment of these filter boxes is
provided with a discharge valve, by means of which
the sediment deposited from the solution can be
washed into a discharge launder and run to waste.
In practice, however, it is found that these boxes are
not sufficiently large to carry all the solution and,
therefore, that portion coming from two of the decan-
tation vats is run directly to the solution tanks.
The solution tanks at the head of the zinc boxes
are two in number — one being used for the weak and
the other for the strong solution. They are made of
2-inch redwood throughout and are each 11 feet 8
inches in diameter and 7 feet 7 inches deep, inside
measurements, having a capacity of 25 tons. Each
solution tank is provided with a 2-inch floating hose,
by means of which the clearest solution in the tanks
is always supplied to the zinc boxes. A 3-inch open-
ing in the bottom of each of these solution tanks pro-
vided with a valve permits of the periodic discharge
of the accumulated settled slimes into a waste
launder.
Pig. 8 shows the timber foundations supporting the
decantation vats, the conical bottoms resting on the
three beveled rings shown. The supports for the
agitation vats are built in the same manner, the sup-
porting rings, however, being placed to line at 45°
instead of at 20°. Pig. 9 shows the decantation vats
in course of erection.
There are four sets of zinc boxes, each set being
composed of six round individual boxes or compart-
ments, each compartment being 28 inches in diame-
ter and 2 feet deep, and having an available zinc
capacity of approximately 5 cubic feet. One of the
boxes is used solely for strong solution and two for
•Trans. Amer. Inst. Min. Engrs.
weak solution, the fourth being so connected up that
either weak or strong solution may be run through
it. The solution leaving the zinc boxes passes to
three sump tanks, made of 2-inch redwood through-
out, each 11 feet 8 inches in diameter and 9 feet 7
inches deep, inside measurements, and of a capacity
of 32 tons of solution. Two of these tanks are con-
nected together and serve as a weak solution sump,
the other being used for the strong solution.
Pig. 10 gives a good view of the plant shortly before
its completion and shows its general arrangement.
Fig. 11 gives a nearer view of three of the agitation
vats and shows the tops of two of the decantation
vats. The 4-inch centrifugal pump connected with
No. 1 agitation vat is seen partially connected up.
Protruding from the top of the decantation vat, a
little below the center of the picture, is seen the end
of one of the 2-inch decantation pipes.
Method of Treatment.— The accumulated slimes,
after having been allowed to dry in the slime pits as
much as practicable, are conveyed to the agitation
vats in ordinary half-ton ore cars by means of the
small, friction-geared hoist already mentioned. Each
agitation vat is provided with an iron grizzly, meas-
uring 3 feet 3 inches by 9 feet, and having i. 25-inch
openings, which is suspended over the vat, to one
water must be added to counterbalance the loss of
solution due to the fact that the discharged pulp car-
ries a higher percentage of moisture than the slimes
charged. It is true, however, that any addition of
water that may thus be rendered necessary is most
advantageously added to the charge in the "form of a
final wash of water. It seems that the complete dry-
ing of the slimes by some cheap, appropriate process,
followed by the powdering of the dried slimes before
charging them into the agitation vats, should be pro-
ductive of improved commercial results. The net dry
tonnage of slimes constituting a charge varies, but
thus far a charge equivalent to about 15 tons
of dry slimes gives more satisfactory results
than does a heavier one. Before commencing
to charge the s|imes, about 35 tons of solution
from the strong solution sump, usually of a strength
between 0.12% and 0.15% of KCN, is pumped into
the vat and the attached centrifugal pump started.
From 75 to 100 pounds of slaked lime are then added
and the charging of the slimes commenced. After the
required quantity of slimes has been added, a sample
of the material passing through the pump is taken,
filtered and the clear solution titrated. The neces-
sary quantity of cyanide to bring the solution up to
the proper strength is then added. Experiments
Fig. 8. — Timber Foundations Supporting Decantation
Vats of Slime Plant.
Fig- 9- — Decantation Vats of Slime Plant in Course of
Construction.
MJkk'\
wSlftittiteB.
Fiz,
10. — General Arrangement of Slime Plant,
Palmarejo, Mexico.
Fig. ir.-
-Agitation Vats and Tops of the
Decantation Vats.
side of the center. The content of the car is dumped
onto this grizzly and the portion that does not pass
through of its own weight is trampled, or otherwise
forced through, by one or two boys. For some time
the material treated averaged from 20% to 25% of
moisture; and in this condition was rather lumpy and
extremely cohesive. During this period the agita-
tion was very unsatisfactory and the percentage of
extraction was consequently lower. A great deal of
difficulty was experienced in discharging the vats, as
the unagitated portion of the charge would remain in
the pointed bottom of the vat as a tough, putty-like
mass, after all the liquid portion had been discharged,
and could only be washed out by means of a stream
of solution or water under pressure. In such cases
the most effective procedure was to attach a 2-inch
hose to one of the valves on the solution line and
sluice the material out under pressure furnished by
the pump, into the launder leading to the correspond-
ing decantation vat. The experience so far seems to
have demonstrated that the best condition of the
material, in order to obtain the most satisfactory
results under the present practice, is to have the
major portion of it, when dumped on the grizzly, run
through of its own weight. In this state the slimes
will usually carry from 30% to 35% of moisture. It
is desirable that the percentage of moisture con-
tained in the slimes when charged shall be as low as
possible, compatible with satisfactory agitation, since
it is obvious that the greater the percentage of
moisture contained in the slimes the greater will be
the mechanical consumption of cyanide resulting from
the loss of cyanide present in the solution contained
in the pulp as finally discharged, when the treatment
is finished. It is true that a certain quantity of
have been made with various strengths of solution in
the agitation vats, the results thus far showing the
use of 0.2% solution to give more satisfactory results
than the use of a weaker solution. The cyanide is
placed in perforated buckets or cans and suspended
in the charge. It is found, however, that unless the
receptacles containing the cyanide be frequently agi-
tated about in the charge, the cyanide dissolves
exceedingly slowly. It has been found on different
occasions, when this point has been overlooked for
any reason, that cyanide broken up in pieces about
the size of 6-inch cubes and suspended in the charge
at about 6 p. M. had not entirely dissolved by 6 A. M.
of the next morning. The lesser the proportion of
solution to solid matter present, the more noticeable
is this tendency of the cyanide to dissolve very slowly.
It is also noticed in this connection that the thicker
the charge the slower is the action of the cyanide on
the silver and gold contained in the slimes. During
the agitation it is found best to keep the screen at
the end of the suction pipe just as near the surface
of the charge as possible, without allowing the en-
trance of air. By so doing, the material passing
through the pump always contains a minimum quan-
tity of solids, and the wear on the pump is conse-
quently lessened. In addition to this, the movement
or circulation within the charge is then the greatest,
since the suction and discharge points are then the
farthest separated. It is quite probable that a con-
siderable portion of the heaviest and coarsest part of
the material treated does not pass through the pump
at all, as owing to its greater weight it may never be
raised to the height of the suction screen. The agi-
tation of the mass seems to depend chiefly on the
fact that the discharge issuing from the drop pipe
158
Mining and Scientific Press.
September i, 1905.
tends to keep the point of the conical bottom free
from any settled deposit of slimes, and the thickened
material constituting the lower portion of the charge
keeps constantly sliding down the inclined sides to-
wards the bottom point. The product issuing from
the discharge pipe, being drawn from the surface of
the charge, must pass upwards through the entire
mass above before it can again pass through the
pump.
The percentage of solid matter contained in the
material passing through the agitation pumps is de-
termined from samples taken through the bibb-nosed
pet-cock tapping the discharge pipe a few inches
above the pump shell. The results usually show this
percentage to be a little less than the percentage of
solids contained in the charge as a whole. The aver-
age of a number of these samples shows that the pulp
ordinarily passing through the pumps will carry
about 25%, by weight, of solids.
A thorough oxygenation of the mass is found to be
an essential feature, and becomes more necessary as
the proportion of solid matter to solution present in-
creases. At the commencement of operations, the
small air cock, e (Fig. 5), was used to permit the con-
tinuous admittance of air to the suction pipe of the
pump. This practice, however, was soon abandoned,
because the agitation was seriously affected by it.
The entrance of air into the suction pipe had a detri-
mental influence on the capacity of the pump, and
though the reduction in capacity was not very
marked — due to the fact that, owing to the manner
in which the pumps are connected up with the vats,
the suction side of the pump is, of course, continually
under pressure from the pulp in the vat, and no suc-
tion on the part of the pump is necessary — neverthe-
less the effect was found to be injurious to the best
agitation. Perhaps the chief trouble was due to the
rapid rise to the surface of the imprisoned air imme-
diately on being expelled from the discharge pipe,
following closely the sides of the central drop pipe.
The air bubbles, breaking on reaching the surface of
the charge, caused a splendid surface movement that
was easily mistaken for the thorough agitation of
the entire mass. The current of pulp expelled
from the discharge pipe appeared to follow the
line of least resistance established by the rising
bubbles of air, also rising towards the surface
along the central drop pipe, without effecting a proper
scouring of the bottom point of the vat. The present
practice is to allow the entrance of a smaller quan-
tity of air into the mass, through the small air cock
1 (Fig. 6), and the effect on the agitation is very much
less detrimental. In addition to this, a certain small
quantity of air will be drawn into the pump almost
continuously through the stuffing boxes, which are
seldom kept absolutely tight. The quantity of air
added in this way is so small that it affects the agita-
tion but little, if any.
For experimental purposes, one agitation vat was
so connected that the suction of the pump drew
directly from the bottom of the vat, while the dis-
charge pipe entered through the side of the vat at a
point about 6 feet from the top and terminated in a
movable curved pipe which imparted a circular
motion to the discharging pulp. Owing, doubtless, to
the physical condition of the slimes charged, this
method of pump connection was a failure, since the
tendency to clog the suction at the bottom of the vat
was very marked, and the charges so agitated never
completely discharged from the vat of their own ac-
cord, but always left a more or less quantity of un-
agitated material remaining, which had to be sub-
sequently sluiced out.
Ordinarily a charge is agitated in the vats from 40
to 44 hours, after which it is discharged into the cor-
responding decantation vat, where it is usually given
a two days' treatment. Should the charge from the
agitation vat not fill the decantation vat, enough
precipitated solution is pumped up from the strong
solution sump to fill it, and after agitation for half
an hour, the charge is allowed to settle. Should the
addition of this extra solution be unnecessary, the
charge is not agitated, but allowed to settle as long
as practicable, the clear supernatant solution being
meanwhile decanted off. After the first settling and
decantation, the vat is pumped full of weak, precipi-
tated solution, which is usually of a strength ap-
proximating 0. \% of KCN per ton, and the charge
is agitated for from 1.5 to 2 hours by means of the
3-inch centrifugal pump connected with the vat,
about 25 pounds of slaked lime being added during
the agitation. The pump is then stopped and an
additional quantity of slaked lime, usually about 10
pounds, is sprinkled evenly over the top of the charge.
After settling a few hours, the decantation pipe is
lowered and the settling and decanting of clear solu-
tion continued as long as practicable. As many
washes and decantations as possible within the time
limit of the treatment are given in this manner.
When permissible, the last wash given is of clear wa-
ter, though in order to avoid too great an accumula-
tion of stock solution a few of the charges have to be
washed entirely with weak solution.
(to be continued.)
The distance between levels of a mine should be
determined by the size of the vein, or ore body, and
its dip. If flat, below 35°, the levels should not be
more than 60 to 75 feet apart. If steeply inclined
they may be from 100 to 250 feet apart.
Placer Mining in Alaska.
NUMBER IV.
Tracks and Inclines. — The track and incline
working at No. 8, Anvil Creek, Nome district, is
fairly representative of open-cut work by this sys-
tem. (See Fig. 7.) A special feature of the plant,
however, is the removal of the overburden, in all 7
feet of muck and 5 feet of barren gravel, by
hydraulicking. Seven hundred miner's inches are
used through a giant, under a pressure of 200 feet
obtained by pumping. After the barren ground has
been removed the remaining gravel, averaging about
6 feet in depth, is shoveled into cars, pushed to the
foot of an incline, elevated, and washed. The tail-
ings are impounded on the claim, being scraped from
the end of the sluices by two-horse scrapers.
At the time of observation six cars were in use,
though this number can be varied to suit the condi-
tions in hand. Two men are employed with each car.
They take turns in shoving the car to the incline, ooe
remaining at the bank with pick. The cars at this
plant were of a capacity of 221 cubic feet, though
larger ones might be found more economical. From
250 to 300 cars are run up each ten-hour shift.
The material is lifted 30 feet to the mud box and
there dumped by hand. A man is continually em-
ployed for this duty. He also watches large bowl-
ders and prevents jamming in the flume. However,
very few large stones are allowed to pass through,
sinks in the broken schist about 2 feet, but not at all
in the clay.
A bedrock drain, 250 feet long, has been cut nearly
level, which is joined by small drains from various
parts of the pit. Only about 15 miner's inches of
water were running from the drain at the time of
observation. Men are paid $5 a day, with board.
The advantages of the car-and- incline system are
not especially pronounced. The method of stripping
used in the above-described plant, or at any plant
where water under pressure is available, can hardly
be improved upon. Where the overburden is thawed
or where frost is encountered only in spots, as in the
claim under discussion, hydraulicking has been found
the most economical and efficient means of removing
material. The car system, however, has little of
solid economic advantage to recommend it. In order
to increase capacity more men must be employed to
shovel. In this system an undue proportion of time
is consumed in tramming the cars to the top of the
incline. A mechanical system, such as derricking or
steam scraping, has many advantages over the
track-and-incline. In the Klondike, so far as could be
learned, the track-and-incline system does not make
so economical a showing as other methods of working
open cut, although the opportunity for comparison of
efficiency was limited.
The Steam Shovel. — When the ground exceeds 12
feet in depth and is unfrozen, certain conditions
justify the installation of a mechanical excavator of
large capacity, say 1000 cubic yards or more in
S
Capacity appro*. 4CO - 450_yds per PO firs
/5M Pt>cn/er4r>a/ie>,st
Grade ofs/u.ces ■?■<• to/' /ror, r/ff/es
\\S H P scraper
ij/O car a</mpea O/ nonet ?$q feet
Fig. 7. — Plan of Track and Incline System, Anvil Creek, Alaska.
t,ind!^£^'Psi""""'
tS& Grade slUlce8"tol£' for l'r30'remamder 7" ft . . 12 '
first lltom .imn riffles.- remainxr i T^ f*"**
blank iron plates'*
; scraper
Fig 8. — Plan of Steam Shovel Workings, Anvil Creek, Alaska.
E'ig. 9- — Plan of Steam Shovel Operations
for in the work of excavation the larger rocks are
piled at one side of the track.
One man is employed at the hoisting winch and
does his own firing. Three 114-pound sacks of coal
are consumed each shift. A 15 H. P. boiler is used
with vertical engine, and a finch cable hauls the
cars.
The dump box is 24 feet long, 4 feet wide, and 3
feet high, and has a grade of 1 inch to 1 foot. Fol-
lowing this are 240 feet of boxes with a grade of f
inch to 1 foot. The boxes are 16 inches wide and 14
inches high, and are supplied with cast-iron grate
riffles. These are 16 inches square and can be used
either as Hungarian or longitudinal riffles. In wash-
ing, 125 miner's inches are used, all obtained by
gravity from a claim above. After being used the
water is caught in a retaining dam, settled, and
carried by flume to a lower claim, where it is sold.
Two two-horse scrapers are used to keep tailings
clear, and all gravel is impounded by a brush dam
upon the claim.
A little gold is caught in the entire string, though
by far the greater proportion is retained in the mud
box and that following. In the mud box a perfor-
ated iron sheet laid over the riffles aids the moving
of material and prevents clogging. In the center of
this sheet is placed a heavy iron plate which receives
the heavy fall from the cars and saves the bottom of
the mud box.
Bedrock on this claim is mica schist, though in
places the pay is underlain by a stiff clay. The gold
•Bulletin 263 U. S. Geological Survey.
twenty-four hours. It will seldom be found advis-
able to install so large and cumbersome a machine as
the steam shovel in the creek diggings of Alaska, for
the ground is rarely deep enough to justify the ex-
pense of installation. On bench diggings, however,
where the pit can be drained by gravity, the steam
shovel has a value which has probably been under-
estimated. The fact that water under pressure is
difficult or impossible to obtain for the hydraulicking
of benches raises the question whether these bench
gravels cannot be excavated by other means. The
value of the steam shovel lies in the fact that it per-
forms for the earth worker that portion of his work
which would otherwise be most expensive.
The ground which the shovel is to move must pos-
sess certain favorable conditions. In the first place,
it must be entirely free from permanent frost when
the dipper lip of the excavator attacks it. If the
ground holds a certain amount of permanent frost
and this, can be thawed by ground sluicing the muck
off at a period far enough ahead, the shovel may still
have a profitable field, but its operations are likely
to be more expensive. Heavy gravel and bowlders
are easily handled by the mechanical excavator. It
is safe to say that no quality or state of the Alaska
gravels makes them unfit to be dug by the dipper
except the frozen condition.
The bedrock must be of sufficient softness to allow
the dipper lip to dig far enough into it to recover all
the gold; otherwise a gang of men will have to follow
the shovel to clean bedrock, and a large part of the
value of the shovel will be lost. In one attempt to
operate with a steam shovel in the interior of Alaska
it was found that as many men had to be employed in
cleaning the bedrock as in the remainder of the
plant.
A prime essential to success, as has been proved
by experience, is that the washing plant shall be
isolated, the gravel being conveyed from the dipper
to the sluice by some form of tramming. If cars are
used, they should be large — 2 yards capacity, or
even larger. Under ideal conditions the dipper will
dump into cars which run by gravity to the hopper
of the washing plant, the water being brought to the
sluice also by gravity. The full cars would in this
case carry the empties back to the pit. It is rarely
possible, however, to find an auriferous gravel de-
September 2, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
159
posit in which such eminently lit conditions exist for
work. The tramming, even when it must be up an
incline to a height of 35 feet above the pit door, adds
proportionately little to the expense, as will be seen
by figures following. It is a common fault iu all
steam shovel operations that the shovel is ahead of
the car discharge. A partly idle steam shovel, how-
ever, is not so serious a fault as idle men, since the
shovel draws no pay.
As to capacity, it is likely that a 2-yard shovel,
fitted with extra long boom and 11-yard dipper, will
be found most economical. A 25-foot bank can be
dug and caved. If the sluice and tramming capacity
is TOO cubic yards a day, the shovel will easily supply
the material if no frost is encountered.
The work done by a shovel on Anvil creek is con-
sidered satisfactory, though its installation is experi-
mental, and a larger one is planned. The 25-ton
shovel (J-yard dipper) is working on an 18-foot face.
It has not reached the bottom of the gravel, and
must make another cut 7 feet lower vertically before
all the pay is extracted. It is said that from July 23
to September 1, 19(14, 25,000 cars of 11 cubic yards
capacity were dug and moved to the sluice boxes at
a working cost of 12 cents a yard. The low bench is
sufficiently above the level of the present creek to
permit the pit to be drained, the seepage water be-
iug handled by bedrock drain. The workings were
is less than one-half the amount that could be
handled were the shovel digging loose gravel. As it
now works, the shovel is digging only one-third the
time.
(TO HE CONTINUED )
The Transvaal Gold Mines.
NUMBER III— CONCLUDED.
Written f,,r the .Ml. MSC AND SOIBKTIFIG 1'iie>s hy
Thko. 1\ Van WAi.ENKN. E. M.
Management expenses are abnormally high, mainly
because the English Company Act compels a very
elaborate system of accounting and auditing in all
public corporations, and also because the written
and unwritten laws and customs of the country have
induced a very coventionalized way of doing business,
the net result of which is that the staff of officials and
clerks in every line of activity, and particularly in
that of mining, is unreasonably large. This is well
recognized in both London and at the goldfields, and
efforts are being made to bring about changes, but
the system is so deeply rooted, and English conserva-
tism is so great, that it will be some time before im-
provements can be secured.
In spite of these drawbacks, production will not
only continue but will increase. For the goldfield is
ing adventure is expected to yield, considering the
assumed extra hazardous nature of the business.
But further investigation displays the fact that only
forty of the companies paid dividends in 1904, while
the other J45, either because they had not yet
reached the producing era or were not capable of it,
yielded nothing at all to their shareholders. If we
apportion the entire capitalization pro rata among
all the corporations — which will be at least fair in
the present calculation, for the most of the paying
ones are the outcrop mines with comparatively small
capitals— it appears that about $50,000,000 of the
investment is paying about 50% per annum to its
holders, while the remaining $302, (100,000 is as yet
unproductive. This is really a very tine showing, for
of course most of the non-productive mines are in the
developing era and are simply spending the capital
that has been raised for their equipment and, one by
one, will in the majority of cases and in due time
reach the stage of production and profit.
It is necessary to admit, if one gives the great
camp a fair and impartial study, that nearly all of
the developing mines have good business prospects
for becoming large producers and dividend payers.
In all cases before shaft sinking has begun the ground
has been well tested with the diamond drill, the reef
has been located at a number of points and its value
has been ascertained. There is much more certitude
Market Place, Johannesburg, S. A
Headframe, Crown Reef Mine, Johannesburg, S. A.
visited a second time three weeks after the present
cut was made. A complete section of the bank to
bedrock is given below:
Feet.
Muck ■ 3
Fine gravel and sand 5
Fine subangular gravel 5
Large subangular schist and limestone fragments, stained with
iron oxide, with a few bowlders up to 3 feet in diameter 15
The upper 3 feet of muck was ground sluiced; the
remainder was moved by the steam shovel.
This frozen ground illustrates the peculiarly trying
conditions with which the Alaska placer miner has
frequently to deal. None of the ground encountered
in 1904 was frozen. In the early part of the season
of 1903, however, on account of the light snowfall
during the preceding winter, the sides of a cut oper-
ated on were frozen to a depth of 8 feet and to a dis-
tance of 15 feet into the bank. This was annual
and not permanent frost. Had the attempt been
made to work the ground at that time with the shovel
the operations would have been greatly delayed. In
this plant, after the shovel had worked to a consider-
able distance from the bottom of the incline, the 11-
yard cars, three in number, were trammed to the
bottom of the incline by horses and hoisted to sluice
by a 15 H. P. hoist. The tramming may be more
cheaply accomplished, where there are several years'
work ahead, by a small locomotive in the pit running
to the bottom of the incline or, under favorable condi-
tions, directly to the washing plant. Pig. 8 shows a
plan of the operation under discussion.
The tramming system illustrated by Fig. 9, used at
Galesburg, 111., in a shale pit, is considered highly
economical in steam shovel work. As may be seen,
the locomotive occupies a position intermediate
between the two trains of cars, which deliver two
ways to the bottom of two inclines leading to the
hoppers of the clay machines at each end of the pit.
In placer operations, if conditions admit of dividing
the water to two washing plants, this system is to
be recommended, as it allows of rapid delivery of the
cars from the shovel. In this plant the locomotive
keeps twenty cars going, each of two yards capacity,
tramming them alternately in trains of six and four,
two ways to the ends of the pit, whence they are
hauled two at a time to the hoppers. When empty
they run down and are switched automatically to the
empty tracks. The 90-ton shovel, of 5-yard dipper
capacity but fitted with 2-yard dipper, is ahead of
the capacity of the clay machines, but must be used,
owing to the difficulty of digging the firm shale which
composes the bank. The actual yardage moved
workinc nine hours a day, is 670, or at the rate of
1488 yards in twenty hours. It is estimated that this
a genuinely meritorious one, is of enormous extent,
and the capital has been raised to develop and equip
a very large part of it. These factors may be con-
sidered as definitely settled. The mines will be
worked as long, at least, as actual costs can be re-
covered from them, and in many cases, if necessary,
at a loss, in the hope of a change in the results. The
output of metal from the camp will amount to nearly
$90,000,000 during the current year, and will grow
at the rate of not less than 5% per annum for many
years to come. This means that between now and
1913 (for example) the Transvaal will add over
$1,100,000,000 worth of gold to the existing world's
stock of the metal, and will then be producing at the
rate of nearly $140,000,000 per annum. By 1920
the annual output will have almost reached the
enormous figure of $200,000,000, and its contribution
of new gold since the close of the year 1904 will ex-
ceed a value of $2,300,000,000. As the existing stock
at the present time in the shape of coin and bars is fig-
ured by statisticians at not over $11,000,000,000, the
Transvaal alone, if these anticipations are realized,
will be responsible for an addition of more than '20%
during the next fifteen years, to say nothing of the
increments that will come from the other gold fields
of the world, and which will at least amount to twice
as much or more. Just what is going to happen in
international trade and commerce through this enor-
mous expansion in the next few years in the mass of
the only legal money metal, is hard to say.
The Transvaal is an ideal mining region in many
respects, and particularly that part of it known as
the Rand. There the altitude is over 6000 feet, and
the climate superb. The American, accustomed to
the extremes of temperature in all parts of his coun-
try, will revel in the very moderate range which the
thermometer shows in Johannesburg. In June and
July thin ice forms at night in exposed places, and in
December and January it is uncomfortably hot in the
sun during the middle of the day. But that is all.
In no possible sense can the climate be considered
even as sub-tropical, or one in which the white man
cannot labor with the same continuity and vigor as in
Europe and the United States.
At the end of 1904 there were 285 mining companies
operating on the Rand whose combined capitalization
amounted to $412,337,357. The gross output of gold
in the district for the year was $76,5^3,481, and the
dividends declared and paid totaled about $25,000,000,
two-thirds of which came from the outcrop mines
and the remainder from the first series of "Deeps."
Thus, considering the whole field, a net profit of 6%
on the gross capital was obtained. This is not a bad
result, but of course is much below what a gold min-
in operating on the Rand banket than is usually the
case in the business of gold mining. And in any
event, even if dividends do not quite come up to ex-
pectation, production will continue, so that the busi-
ness world is bound to experience the stimulus of
the new gold that will be poured into the channels of
trade. Personally, however, my view is that the
Rand will meet the expectations of all but the very
wildest of the optimists.
It is a fact that the reef slowly but steadily loses
its dip as it is followed downward into the earth, and
there is every reason to believe that it ultimately
becomes horizontal and even may show an upward
trend. But it is not tjiought that it comes to the
surface again, for the indications of extensive fault-
ing of the formation to the northward are too numer-
ous and positive to allow of such an outcome. As to
the depth to which mining upon it can be prosecuted,
there appears to be no insurmountable physical or
mechanical obstacles short of 10,000 feet vertical,
though unless the present range of costs in the items
of labor and management are materially reduced,
the ore from such depths, and a considerable way
this side of it, assuming no decrease in the grade,
will not pay for its extraction.
W****\M?***** **************** *** ******
I THE PROSPECTOR. !
■s *
The brown sugar-like mineral in the ore from the
Mount Hope mine, El Dorado county, Cal., is quartz,
which occurs in the form of rounded, sand-like grains.
The dark-colored rock samples from Cochrane, Ariz. ,
are diabase, but considerably altered.
The mineral sample from Placerville, Cal., is pla-
tinum and liridium. These metals usually occur to-
gether in regions of serpentine rocks and peridotites.
The rocks from Keeler, Cal., are: No. 1, rhyolite;
No. 2, rhyolite tuff; No. 3, mica schist; No. 4, lime-
stone. The green mineral is chrysocolla (a silicate of
copper).
The rock sample from Cochrane, Ariz. , is a much
altered dike rock. The rock now consists chiefly of
quartz, kaolinized feldspar, chlorite and talc, with
microscopic flakes of secondary mica. It was prob-
ably a granitic or dioritic rock originally. It is
sheared and so much altered as to make positive
identification impossible.
160
Mining and Scientific Press.
September 2, 1905.
Gold Dredging in California.*
NUMBER III.
Buckets. — The buckets at Folsom, Oroville and
Yuba vary in size from 3 cubic feet capacity up to 8J
cubic feet, and it is proposed now to build a dredger
at Polsom with buckets of 13 cubic feet capacity. They
vary considerably in shape, and in the material used,
but some of the best are those that are made with a
cast nickel steel bottom piece, with sheet steel hood
and manganese steel lips, and reinforced cutting
edges. If a comparison could be made as to the
breakage and consequent extra cost between the
earlier buckets made and those now being turned
out, a great advance would be shown, and greater
advances are possible. This is a matter for the con-
sideration of the manufacturers and the engineers in
charge of the plants.
As to the difference in cost of operating under
favorable and similar conditions with the different
sized buckets, it may be said that the cost for labor
is nearly the same for the small as for the large
dredger, and much smaller per cubic yard for the
larger; that there is a proportionately smaller cost
forward end of the boat are two steel-wire rope lines
fastened to the shore to move the boat to right and
left through an arc of a circle, and two at the stern.
(2) Instead of spuds and lines, five lines are used —
two at the stern, two forward, and one ahead to hold
the boat against the bank.
In the lighter and softer ground in New Zealand,
the guy method seems to be preferred, but in Oro-
ville both methods are in vogue.
Where the surface of the ground is level, and the
ground to be dug is soft and shallow, some of the
dredger owners prefer the lines. An uneven surface
of the ground, hard gravel or deep gravel makes the
spuds preferable. Most of the largest operators in
Oroville equip boats with both, but use the head line
only in emergencies. When using guys only, the dig-
ging must be done only from the bottom; while with
the spuds the bank may be cut in terraces, and this
is sometimes preferable in deep ground.
In deep ground when cutting the bank by digging
from the bottom up in terraces, or down, there is
less danger of injury to the bucket line and cleaner
lifting of all gravel if spuds are used. This means
that there would be less loss of pay gravel caved
down behind where the digger is working, and less
none have been built in California and no definite
data are at hand.
Sand Pumps. — In order to prevent the filling up of
the basin in which the dredger floats and consequent
interference with its flotation, in many cases in Oro-
ville it has been found necessary to pump the fine
tailings that come from the sluice box up to the top
of the rock pile made by the stacker. As thi9 re-
quires considerable power, it is discarded wherever
possible. In deep ground with deep water, it is not
required.
Screens, Sluices, Etc — The conditions that are
most important to be considered in order to deter-
mine the kind of appliances to use in saving the
values are: (1) Size of particles of gold; (2) Shape
of the particles, whether nuggety or flaky; (3) Pres-
ence of clay; (4) Will the gold amalgamate readily?
(5) Amount of black sand; (6) Amount of platinum;
(7) Hardness of gravel.
Screens: Two kinds of screens are used in Cali-
fornia— the shaking and the revolving. The purpose
is to disintegrate the gravel and clay in order to per-
mit the fine material, the values and water to pass
through the holes along the length of the screen to
the gold-saving tables or sluices below, and convey
A Modern California Gold Dredger.
for power and for repairs. Management and all
other expenses are reduced in the larger dredgers,
provided, of course, that in their construction there
is given, by the strengthening of the parts, as little
loss by breakdowns. Then, it may be said, that the-
larger buckets will handle larger bowlders and so de-
crease the breakage in the bucket line. The parts
being heavier, it is possible to dig harder ground.
The increased yardage handled will mean a decrease
in the interest cost on the original investment. As
against this, it may be said that the first cost is
much larger, and that better equipped repair shops
are required.
The weakest portions of the bucket bottom are the
eyes and the parts coming in contact with the man-
ganese or nickel steel wearing plates of the upper
and lower tumblers. As these wear there is an in-
crease in danger of breakage, and it is to the manu-
facturers that we must look for remedies in this re-
spect, by the addition of more metal to add strength
and compensate for wear, by improvement in the
character of the steel used, and by changes in the
faces of the tumblers in order to give better bearing
and reduce the strain. Simpler and stronger parts
of the best materials must be used to remedy the
present evils.
Spuds and Head Lines. — To 'keep the dredger in
place, move it about, and hold it against the bank,
there are two methods in use: (1) Two spuds, one of
steel, and one of wood at the stern of the boat — the
wooden spud being used when the steel spud is lifted
and it is desired to "walk " the boat ahead. At the
*Bulletin 36, California State Mining Bureau.
loss of time and consequent less loss of capacity in
yardage. However, several operators state that
with a head line instead of spuds in digging deep
ground, the dredger may be moved more quickly in
case of heavy caving of the bank, and so save acci-
dents. Then, again, the use of the head line gives an
easier and more even distribution of the tailings, and,
it is claimed, makes the sand pump unnecessary.
The Stacker. — There are two types of stackers in
use in California — one the ordinary belt conveyor,
and the other an endless chain of buckets. Usually,
the Bucyrus dredgers, and other makes except the
Risdon, are equipped with belt conveyors, while the
Risdon is equipped with bucket conveyors. The belt
conveyor will not work at a higher grade than 18%
or 20%, while the bucket conveyor works usually at
35°. The belt of the former must be renewed every
six or nine months. This makes the cost of "re-
pairs " considerably more than for the bucket con-
veyor. However, to offset this, there is considerably
less loss of time with the belt conveyor from this
cause, for practically the only wearing part is the
belt, and when this wears out, a new one can be put
in in a few hours. Some of the tables of loss of time
and cost of repairs of conveyor give figures so that
comparisons can be made, but hardly enough data
have been kept to figure closely on the differences.
In New Zealand a number of dredgers equipped
with centrifugal stackers are in use. It is claimed
for them that the original cost is less, that the
weight saves several tons on the boats, that the cost
of repairs is less, and that the efficiency is as great
as for the belt and bucket conveyors. However,
all coarse material to the stackers, to be carried to
the dump piles. As to screens, two main questions
must be determined: (a) Whether to use a revolving
or a shaking screen; (b) Size of holes in the screen.
As to (a) the hardness of the gravel and the pres-
ence or absence of clay are main determining fea-
tures. If the gravel is a clean wash, comparatively
free from clay, such as that at Oroville and Polsom,
the shaking screen is generally preferred to the re-
volving screen, mainly because the first cost and the
cost of repairs are less. However, there are cases,
even in these districts, when some hard pieces of
gravel are not disintegrated and the values lost. In
case there is any clay present, it will adhere to the
gravel or pieces of bedrock, especially if blocky, or
will " ball up " and so carry off the gold. In a shak-
ing screen, boulders and larger pieces of bedrock will
not be turned over so that the water jets will have
free play. This is the case especially in such bed-
rock as most of that along the Yukon, which is often
blocky, and carries much gold in clayey seams down
to a depth of from 1 to 6 feet. Where the gravel is
hard it has little opportunity to disintegrate in the
length of the shaking screen. A revolving screen
with flanges and rods across the screen will turn the
material over and over, subjecting all sides of it to
the force of the water from the jets, and will afford a
sort of milling process by which the boulders and
smaller stones are lifted up and thrown down on the
lumps of gravel and clay.
Under the favorable conditions existing in the Sac-
ramento valley districts the shaking screen is pre-
ferred for the following reasons: (1) The effective
September 2, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
lei
screening surface is larger: (2) It is easier kept in
repair, because the plates are small and conveniently
replaced; (3) The gravel drops over a larger surface
on the plates below, and so comes the better in con-
tact with the quicksilver. Then the water from the
jets playing down on the screen plays over a wider
and thinner surface.
In some cases a combination of the revolving and
shaking screens would be preferred. In this way
two screenings could be had.
The revolving screen varies in diameter from 3<
feet and in length up to 24 feet. The shaking screen
for a 5foot bucket dredger is in some of the later
dredgers built in two parts — the first part 7 feet
wide and 10 feet long, and the second, or lower part,
7J feet wide and 16 feet long. This enables, of course,
a much larger sluicing table space to be employed
below the snaking screen.
The size of the holes in the screens will be deter-
mined by the size of the largest particles of gold.
At Oroville and other districts in the Sacramento
valley, where all the gold is fine, /„ and I -inch holes
It may be said that if some of the finest gold saved
at Oroville were shaken up in a bottle of clear water
it will take two hours' time to settle again. There-
fore, neither panning, nor rocking, nor any of the
present gold-saving devices can save all the gold.
One of the best informed men at Oroville, who has
been in the industry since the beginning, says that,
with the improvements that may in time be made in
the gold-saving appliances, it would be possible to
save more gold in the dredgers than could be shown
by the most careful and exact sampling with pans
and rockers.
In most cases at Oroville and Folsom the tailings
are sampled in order to determine how much gold is
being lost. But this sampling is of no value except
to show that the sluice boxes and tables save a large
per cent of what could be found by panning or rock-
ing. In other words, very little is found in the tail-
ings, and in most cases Dractically none at all, by
panning or rocking.
The quantity of fine sold which goes off in the
water should be determined by test, and if it amounts
be taken into consideration by the jury. The ready
manuscripts must be put in an envelope bearing only
a motto, and lodged with the international labor
office at Basel on or before December 31, 1905. The
full name and address of the author should be stated
under a separate sealed cover bearing on its outside
the same motto as above. Contributions arriving
later than December 31, 1905, will be excluded from
the competition.
A Noted Mexican Gold Mine.
The Rosario mine at Guadalupe y Calvo is in the
southwestern corner of the State of Chihuahua,
Mex. The great gold-bearing veins of the district
occur in andesite. The Rosario is one of the largest
gold veins in the world, and is from 60 to 150 feet or
more in width. The hanging wall has been eroded
to considerable depth below the outcrop, so that the
vein forms a great wall facing the valley. The to-
The Rosario Mine, at Guadalupe y Calvo, Chihuahua, Mexico.
are generally used. Where there is both coarse and
fine gold it must be remembered that with the larger
holes coarse material will have to be sluiced, a
greater depth of water will be required in the sluices,
and there will be a consequent greater loss of fine
gold. To obviate this, it is suggested that smaller
holes be used in the upper part of the screen and
larger holes in the lower part, and that the finer and
coarser material be run into separate sluices. It
would not be necessary to have the larger holes in
more than 4 feet, or even less, of the length of the
screen.
Sluices: On the dredgers in the Sacramento val-
ley districts, such as Oroville, Yuba and Folsom, the
gold is saved on what are called gold-saving tables
and a sluice running out astern of the dredgers where
the tailings are dumped into the water. The area of
these tables is for a 5-foot dredger with shaking
screen about 750 square feet and for the sluices about
300 square feet, and somewhat less with revolving
screens. This area is somewhat less for the smaller
dredgers and more for dredgers of larger capacity.
As it is, generally speaking, all the surface possible
is made, and it is limited, of course, to the size of the
boat. There can be no question but that much of the
finer gold is lost. How much this may be has not
been determined, for, no matter how careful the
rocking and panning of the drill samples, the finest
gold is not saved.
to as much as seems probable, there should be de-
vised a scheme, in connection with the sand pump,
for an auxiliary saving appliance that would enable
a larger proportion of the finest gold to settle. The
amount of extra power that would be required and
the cost of extra equipment need not be much. Of
course, the larger the dredger, the greater the op-
portunity to save larger proportions of the gold now
being lost.
(to be continued.)
Proposed Prize Competition.
The international labor office, of Basel, Switzer-
land, has invited an international prize competition
for the prevention of lead poisoning and want to
make the fact known to every one engaged in mining,
milling, smelting and refining lead. The competition
is proposed subject to certain conditions. Among the
prizes offered are one prize of $1200 for the best
treatise on the prevention of lead poisoning in the
operation of mining and milling lead ores or ores con-
taining lead and one prize of $2400 for the best trea-
tise on the prevention of lead poisoning in smelting
and refining works.
The papers may be written either in English,
French, or German. ' Already printed books cannot
pography and general appearance of the mine on the
surface is well illustrated in the accompanying en-
graving.
The main open cut on this great vein is nearly
2000 feet in length, and about 130 feet wide.
There have been four large shoots of payable ore
worked. These were separated by masses of low-
grade quartz. This latter material has been piled
up in large dumps about the vicinity of the mine.
This low-grade ore has lain on these dumps for many
years and has mostly been sorted and picked over by
the villagers, but, notwithstanding this, it is said
that what now remains contains payable values in
gold when worked by the cyanide process, assaying
about one-half ounce of gold per ton. The natives
say the vein was discovered in 1835 by an Indian,
who made its whereabouts known to miners working
at El Refugio mine, about 30 miles to the south-
ward.
When the extent and value of the Rosario and the
surrounding district became known, a stampede to
the new district resulted and in a very short time
2000 people had settled about the mine. The Rosario
has had many owners and the yield became so large
at one period that the Government built a mint at
Guadalupe y Calvo. The great vein is credited with
a production of over $40,000,000. It is now owned
and operated by American capital, and is again an
active producer.
162
Mining and Scientific Press.
September 2, 1905.
I Mining and MetallurgicalPatentsJ
* «•
iPiTENTS ISSUED AUGUST IB, 1905.
Specially Reported and Illustrated for the MINING AND
SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
Reverberatort Furnace. — No. 797,352; A. M.
Gaylord, Auburn, N. Y.
T33F7
_^
Furnace comprising two chambers, one above the
other, and connected by vertical passage, lower
chamber having fuel inlet and upper chamber having
inlet for material to be melted, upper chamber hav-
ing opposite ends provided with closures, each of
which is horizontally divided to form lower and upper
sections, which are hinged together at meeting edges,
whereby upper section may be swung downwardly
upon lower section.
Mining Apparatus.
Duluth, Minn.
-No. 797,068; A. McDougall,
Mining apparatus comprising pump, pipe deliver-
ing water to and mixing it with ore or other mate-
rial, inlet of pump in communication with mixed water
and material, outlet of pump delivering mixed water
and material to dump pile, reservoir in which water
is collected by seepage from dump pile, aforesaid
pipe in communication with and receiving supply
from reservoir.
Dry Concentrating Table.— No. 797,239; H. M.
Sutton, W. D. Steele and E. G. Steele, Dallas, Tex.
Combination of inclined pervious floor, having sur-
face provided with longitudinally disposed riffles,
means for maintaining successive zones of separated
material, and meats for maintaining beneath floor
uniform upward pressure
floor and material upon it.
of air through perviou
Stamp Mill.— No. 797,202; C.
Mich.
J. Hodge, Houghton,
In stamp mill, combination of stamp shoe having
flat lower surface provided with continuous corruga-
tions extending throughout length of shoe, flat sur-
face arranged in horizontal plane, upon which shoe
is adapted to stamp and means for raising and lower-
ing shoe bodily away from latter surface and im-
parting rotary step-by-step movement thereto while
it is entirely clear or elevated from surface upon
which it stamps.
Rock Drill or Rock Drilling Machine. — No.
797,111; H. Hellman and L. C. Bayles, Johannes-
burg, Transvaal.
In rock drilling machine or engine, in combination,
power cylinder carrying percussive apparatus and
drilling bit or boring tool, casing surrounding cylin-
der, packing located at rear of cylinder forming air-
tight joint with interior of casing, pipe attached to
rear end of cylinder formed with holes placing casing
in communication with interior of cylinder, cover
fitted on rear end of casing formed with inlet through
which actuating fluid enters casing, cover serving as
guide or support for pipe, and means for rotating
power cylinder and bit or tool.
Combined Front Cylinder Head and Cross Head
Supporting Frame tor Steam and Power Air Com-
pressors.— No. 797,519; J. G. Leyner, Denver, Colo.
casting comprising pair of suitably constructed and
oppositely arranged cylinder heads which are con-
nected by brace bars, holes through cylinder heads
in axial alignment with each other, and lugs upon
opposite sides of each cylinder head, and guideways
connecting lugs on one cylinder head with those on
other cylinder head.
Device of character described consisting of integral
Oil Well Pumping Rig.
Findlay, Ohio.
-No. 797,421; S. F. Field,
In oil well pumping rig for transmission of power
from central source to plurality of pumps, crank disk
having annular series of pin-receiving openings, set
of lugs grouped around each opening, lugs of each set
being correspondingly disposed throughout entire
series of sets, crank disk being further provided with
plurality of equidistantly spaced bolt-receiving open-
ings grouped around each pin-receiving opening,
wristpin-carrying block having central pin adapted
to any one of pin-receiving openings, and being pro-
vided with recesses for reception of lugs, recesses
being equidistantly spaced to permit circumferential
adjustment of block, and bolts for securing block in
adjusted position.
Ore Roasting Furnace.-
hoff, Milwaukee, Wis.
-No. 797,003; H. C. Holt-
In ore roasting furnace combination of central com-
bustion chamber, roasting chamber having annular
floor or hearth communicating on inner side with
upper part of combustion chamber through rapidly
disposed openings or passages distributed around it,
exit pipe or flue connected with outer part of roast-
ing chamber by branches distributed around it, and
means for gradually moving ore across floor or hearth.
Suction Dredger.
San Francisco.
-No. 797,109; M. C. Harris,
Cutter head for suction dredgers, consisting
of hub; arms radiating therefrom; socket heads
on arms approximately parallel with line of driv-
ing shaft, and converging to inclosure, series of
rolling elements, plurality of obstructing and deflect-
ing elements arranged upon surface of central inclo-
sure, against which rolling elements are adapted to
impinge, and pivoted member operable by hand for
diverting rolling elements into different receiving
pens.
September 2, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
163
Something of the Diamond Industry.
The greater number of diamonds mined are sent to
Antwerp, Belgium, for cutting and valuation. Brit-
ish Consul General Hertslet has contributed some
interesting information concerning the cutting of a
diamond to the London Mining Journal, from which
the following is taken:
The cutting of a brilliant is undoubtedly the process
which best shows forth the lights and reflections con-
tained in a diamond. A perfectly formed brilliant
should have the proportions in depth from the upper
surface or summit to the lower point called the pyra-
mid or pavilion of two-thirds of the diameter of the
stone at the belt or middle, as is shown in the illus-
tration. The diagram, however, refers to the cor-
The BrilliaDt Diamond.
rect dimensions of a brilliant only, and must not be
taken as illustrating the correct formation of the cut
facets of a diamond.
The summit or crown of a brilliant should have
thirty-two facets, and in addition one large central
facet called the table. Prom the side of the pyramid
it should have twenty-four facets and one small facet
at the lower point called in this country the "col-
lette," making in all fifty-eight facets, and not, as
has been sometimes stated, sixty-four facets. These
facets should be calculated, divided, and regularly
cut in such a manner that those cut on the pavilion
of a diamond may reflect the light on to the facets
,cut on the summit, and vice versa, thus showing
forth in as high a degree as possible the sparkle and
glitter of the gem.
All diamonds are cut in a series of stars, one being
formed over the other. On looking through the flat
surface or table of a properly cut brilliant the " Col-
ette " or lowest point should appear to be directly in
the center of the table. In the regular cutting of
these facets depends the whole beauty of the dia-
mond, and in their formation lies the secret and diffi-
culty of the diamond trade.
The rose is a more usual form of cutting diamonds
of less value and thinner formation, and is cut with
one large facet at the base and twenty-four triangu-
lar facets on the summit. The thicker stones cut in
this manner with twenty-four facets are called on the
continent " roses couronnees." Those which are only
cut with twelve or six facets are known by the name
of "roses d'Anvers," and form one of the chief spe-
cialties of Antwerp. They are not, however, cut in
this manner unless the stones are of insufficient thick-
ness to allow of their being cut in the form of " roses
couronnees."
In addition to the two regular modes of diamond
cutting described above, which are almost universally
adopted, there are several other ways, but long
experience has proved that the brilliant and the rose,
or regular formation, show forth the sparkle and
light contained in the diamond in a greater degree of
brilliancy than other methods of cutting.
The quality and value of a diamond may be roughly
determined by examining it against the light. In a
stone of inferior value there appear to be many lines
or scratches, whereas the more perfect stone is rec-
ognized by its purity and lack of marks in the grain,
and also by its regularity of formation.
Caisson Disease was the subject of a suit for dam-
ages and a legal decision relating to employers' liabil-
ity in London recently, says the Engineering News.
A workman had been employed in compressed air
work on the tunnel being built for the Charing Cross,
Euston & Hampstead Railway. The pressure in the
work is normally fifteen pounds, but at times it was
increased to twenty-five pounds. After working in
the tunnel for eight months the workman became ill
with what was claimed to be caisson disease or
"bends." He sued his employers for damages,
claiming that the attack was an accident resulting
from his employment. The defendants contended
that the disease, if caisson disease, was of gradual
development and not a sudden happening, hence
could not be classed as an accident. The court held
that the plaintiff had not suffered from an accident
which would entitle him to compensation, and non-
suited him.
In setting up a wooden tank, lay the bottom on the
prepared sills first and then set up the staves in
their regular order. Usually the manufacturers
number each stave and bottom piece, as the tanks
are set up by the makers. The bottom hoops are
put on first, and the hoops are also tightened from
the bottom upwards.
I MINING SUMMARY, f
* *
*t *f *f -f + + + *■ 4- -T- * <f* + •( - 4. + .f f. 4. if. 4. 9 *f .f. .f. + + 4. <f <f f. if q. 4. -f. 4. #
Specially Compiled una Reported Tor the MININU AND
SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
Although mica has been found in commercial sizes in
about one-third of the States and Territories, it has
been mined the past year only in North Carolina, New
Hampshire, Colorado, New Mexico, California, Georgia,
South Dakota and Idaho, which are named in the order
of their importance as mica producers. Tho total quan-
tity of sheet or plate mica produced in this country dur-
ing 1904, as computed by J. H. Pratt of the United
States Geological Survey, was 668,358 pounds, valued at
$109,462, an increase of 4s, 758 pounds in quantity but a
decrease of $8,626 in value, as compared with a produc-
tion of 619,600 pounds, valued at $118,088, in 1003. It
appears that in 1903 and 1904 the production was nearly
300,000 pounds greater than in 1901 and 1902. This large
increase in the production of sheet mica during the last
two years is due to the very large quantity of small sized
disks and rectangular sheets of mica that have been pre-
pared for electrical purposes. The production of scrap
mica during 1904 amounted to 1096 short tons, valued at
$10,854, as against 095 short tons, valued at $6400, in
1903. During 1903, however, there were also reported
964 short tons, valued at $18,580, which were sold in the
rough blocks as produced. This probably made at least
800 tons of scrap mica, so that the actual production of
scrap mica in 1903 was greater than in 1904. Of the 1904
production, 610,121 pounds of sheet mica, valued at $100,-
724, and 200 short tons of scrap mica, valued at $2000,
were produced in North Carolina. This was over nine-
tenths of the total production of the United States in
1904.
The total production of gypsum in the United States
during 1904 is estimated by G. P. Grimsley, in a recent
United States Geological Survey report, as 940,917 short
tons, valued at $2,784,325. Of this quantity 56,137 tons
were crude rock, 70,167 tons land plaster, 274,672 tons
plaster of Paris and 390,668 tons wall plaster. Gypsum
is quarried and calcined in the following seventeen States
and Territories, named in order of their importance as
producers: Michigan, New York, Iowa, Texas, Okla-
homa, Ohio, Kansas, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Vir-
ginia, California, South Dakota, Nevada, Montana,
Oregon and New Mexico. A number of new calcining
gypsum plants have been established in Iowa, Okla-
homa, Colorado, California and Oregon.
ALASKA.
It is understood that smelting operations are to be
commenced in October at the smelter of the Alaska S. &
R. Co., erected for that company by Paul Johnson at
Hadley, Prince of Wales island, southeastern AlaBka.
United States Assayer Fred Wing, in charge of the
Seattle assay office, states that his estimate of the gold
output of Nome for the season of 1904 was $10,000,000.
This amount will be the record for Nome and will ex-
ceed the output of last year by $3,000,000. Mr. Wing
bases his estimate on the amount of gold which has been
sent out of Nome so far thiB year and on the private ad-
vices which he has received from assayers and others.
The large amount of machinery and ditching material
which has been placed in operation at Nome and other
localities on the Seward peninsula this year is responsi-
ble for the increase in the gold output.
In describing the Fairhaven gold placers, Seward
Peninsula, Alaska, in a recent report of the United
States Geological Survey, F. H. Moffit says that the
total production of the Kotzebue gold field for the three
years during which mining operations have been carried
on is probably not far from $415,000. Of this amount
Candle creek alone has turned out over three-fourths.
The gold field immediately south of Kotzebue sound is
divided naturally into three minor fields, defined by the
watersheds separating the drainage basins of Inmachuk,
Kugruk and Kiwalik rivers. The streams in the In-
machuk river valley, including the south fork, or Pin-
ned river, which up to the present time have been gold
producers, are few in number and as yet only partly de-
veloped. Old Glory and Hannum creeks, with two or
three small tributaries, are the chief ones besides the
Inmachuk and the lower part of Pinnell river. Hannum
creek joins Inmachuk river 2$ miles west of Record.
The stream, which is about 9 miles long, occupies a deep
canyon-like valley, which in a few places expands for
stretches of i mile or less into a level floor 600 to 800 feet
in width. The valley is cut into a series of schists and
shales interstratified with occasional thin limestone beds,
and is surrounded by a capping of lava of no great
thickness. The schists and slates of the valley
slopes are generally covered by the debris from
the overlying lava, so that outcrops are not plenti-
ful. The gold is unevenly distributed over the
bedrock, and on only one claim had anything like a
continuous pay streak been exposed. Here the valu-
able gravel deposits had a thickness of from 6 inches
to 4 feet and a width approaching 100 feet. Besides the
gold, the heavy concentrates from the sluice boxes show
a large number of rounded and polished pebbles of hem-
atite, some pyrite, and a small quantity of galena.
Black sand is not found with the gold, since magnetite
occurs in very small quantity. Gray sand or finely
ground pyrite appears constantly in the pan, and larger
pieces up to 2 or more inches in diameter are not infre-
quent. The best gold values are taken from the bed-
rock, which is usually a blue clay resulting from the
decomposition of the underlying schists. The gold is
heavy and black and is said to assay $18 to the ounce
when cleaned.- Nuggets worth $2.50 are not uncommon,
but no very large ones have yet been found. Not more
than eight or nine of the forty-five claims which have
been staked on Hannum creek, and extend from the
mouth of the stream at No. 20 below Discovery to the
source at No. 25 above Discovery, were being worked at
any time during the season of 1903. No development
work of consequence has been undertaken below Dis-
covery at the mouth of Collins creek nor above the
mouth of Cunningham creek. Between these points the
gold is coarser and the grade of the stream sufficient to
permit tho use of bedrock drains, so that pumps are
not required. Toward the mouth of Hannum creek the
grade decreases noticeably and the gold becomes finer
and brighter in character. Although there is said to be
sufficient water at all times for sluicing purposes, the
work so far done can hardly be considered sufficient to
determine the future of the creek. The largest tribu-
tary to Hannum creek is Cunningham creek, 2 miles
long, which joins the larger stream 7 miles from its
mouth. Like Hannum creek it flows over a schist bed-
rock. The valley is narrow and V-shaped and its sides
are capped through much of their length by the shat-
tered outcrops of the lava flow. The gravels are schist
and vein quartz, with a small percentage of limestone at
the lower end. The Cunningham gold is coarser than
that of Hannum creek, but has never been found in
large amount. Collins creek joins Hannum creek at Dis-
covery, but has not yet been much prospected. The
presence of valuable gold fields south of Kotzebue
sound was first demonstrated on the creek known as Old
Glory. This stream rises in the limestone area north-
west of Asses Ears, follows an east-northeast direction
for 6 miles, and reaches Pinnell river 1} mile south of
the new mining camp of Record. The lower 4 miles of
this course is directly across the bedding and cleavage
of the schists, which occur to the east of the limestone
area just mentioned. Quartz lenses and stringers
appear in all the schist outcrops, and angular blocks of
vein quartz strewn along the hilltops have now and
then furnished locations for quartz ledge claims. The
cleavage dips quite constantly toward the northeast, so
that the waters, in carving out the valley, impinged
against the upturned edges of the inclined schist slabs,
which acted like the riffles in a sluice box in concentrat-
ing the gold. This relation of stream course to cleavage
may account also for the presence of the broad, rounded
basins, or " pot holes," as they are called by the miners,
which ocGur in the bedrock of the channel and are a
source of some difficulty in the operation of mining.
Both pyrite and hematite are found in the sluice
boxes. As assays showing tin are reported, a careful
examination of tailings from the sluice boxes was made
at two or three places where work was being carried
on, to establish, if possible, the truth of this report.
None was found, but later information was received
from Cabell Whitehead, of the Alaska Banking & Safe De-
posit Co., that 27 ounces of metallic tin were obtained
from gold brought to the bank from Old Glory creek,
the metal occurring in the form of fine cassiterite grains,
which, because of their weight, remained in the pan
with the gold. The gold from Old Glory is heavy and
black; it occurs irregularly on bedrock along the chan-
nel, but at no place on the stream can a well defined pay
streak be shown. The smaller ".pot holes" are said to
be quite rich and to carry the best values on the rim,
the larger basins returning a smaller profit to the miners.
These pot holes are more difficult to work than are the
other gravels, since it is necessary to shut out the water
from the main channel and to keep the holes pumped
out, and such work is not required where a bedrock
drain can be used, as is generally the case. Drains and
ditches for sluicing purposes are occasionally made by
simply removing the moss and allowing the water to
melt its own channel through the ice bed beneath.
There is plenty of water for the requirements of the
sluice boxes at all times with the "exception of a week or
two at the end of the season, during which there has
been less than the usual amount of rain. Nelson
Gulch leads down from a broad, low saddle in
the divide between Old Glory and Inmachuk.
Not much sluicing has been done on Nelson gulch since
the early part of the season (1903), owing to the scarcity
of water. It was expected, however, that this difficulty
would be removed by the completion of a ditch more
than a mile long which was being dug to bring water
from a higher level on Old Glory. The gold is brighter
than that of Old Glory, is rough and angular, and con-
tains considerable quartz, and evidently has not trav-
eled far from its original source. With the magnet a
few grains of black sand may be found associated with a
much larger amount of pyrite and some ruby sand.
American creek is the largest tributary of Old Glory and
heads up toward the north side of the Asses Ears. The
gold is brighter than the other gold of the vicinity, but
has never been found in quantity to encourage the pros-
pector much. Candle creek of the Kotzebue field has
given rise to the largest mining camp in the northern
part of the Seward peninsula, and has yielded' more than
three times as much as the combined output of all the
other creeks. From headwaters to the mouth, a distance
of 16 miles, every foot of the ground has been staked,
though not prospected, and some sixty-six claims have
been recorded at Candle. Candle creek heads in the
main divide between the north and south drainages of
the peninsula. It follows a course nearly north-north-
east and joins Kiwalik river at Candle, 6 miles above the
head of Spafarief bay and 9 miles south of the sand spit
on which the town of Kiwalik is situated. The stream
occupies a broad, shallow valley, with sides sloping so
gently that water does not drain off as readily as in the
other valleys of the field, and in consequence traveling
is more difficult. The lava rim is not so conspicuous
here as on Inmachuk and Kugruk rivers, but its pres-
ence is made known by fragments in the gravel and on
the hill slopes and by occasional outcrops. Exposures of
the schist are rare, except where uncovered by the min-
ers. Thin limestone beds are not unusual in the schists,
and a small area of light-colored gneissoid rock is found
on Potato creek. No pay streak is known on Candle
creek, and the gold is, as the miners say, "spotted " or
irregularly distributed on the bed. The presence of rich
gravels just below the mouths of the tributaries from
the west leads to the general belief among the miners
that the gold comes from the country west of Candle
creek, and in consequence only on that side have the
bench claims had much attention. Black sand is unknown
in the clean ups; pyrite and a few small pieces of rutile
which occasionally have been mistaken by the miners for
tin ore are heavy minerals associated with the gold; it is
not considered a favorable sign when the iron stones fail.
164
Mining and Scientific Press.
September 2, 190S.
Work on this creek has been carried on under many
difficulties. Although more easily reached than many
of the other Alaskan fields, the short season, eombinec
with the high freight rates and great cost of fuel and
supplies, has had the effect of retarding considerably the
development of the region. In addition to these disad-
vantages, the cost of mining is increased by the low
grade of the stream and the necessary use of the pump,
andlon some claims by lack of water for sluicing during
a large part of a season already too short.
ARIZONA.
Cochise County.
(Special Correspondence). — Monazite is being shipped
from Johnson, in the Dragoon mountains. It is found
associated with the wolframite which Owen Smith and
others has been shipping.
Johnson, Aug. 28.
Gila County.
High-grade sulphide ore is said to have been struck in
the property of the Con. M. & D. Co., 7 miles west of
Globe. The shaft is to be sunk to a depth of 150 feet.
Graham County.
At the Polaris mine, near Clifton, L. F. Sweeting is
getting ready to resume development work.
Mohave County.
Thomas Murphy, R. J. Penberthy and George Ayers
have taken a lease on the American Flag mine, 15 miles
east of Kingman, and have begun work. The mine is
opened by tunnel to a depth of 700 feet. The Vivian
M. Co. has been incorporated, with J. A. Graves of Los
Angeles as president and Thomas Ewing general man-
ager. The properties are in the San Francisco district,
near Vivian. A new mill will soon be put in, as well as a
new hoist, air compressor and machine drills.
CALIFORNIA.
According to a recent report of the United States
Geological Survey, Spain (long the world's leading pro-
ducer of quicksilver) is now second to the United States.
The output of quicksilver in the United States during
1904 was 34,570 flasks, valued at $1,503,795. Up to June 1,
1904, these flasks held 76$ pounds each; since then they
have contained 75 pounds each. The production of 1904
was a decrease from that of 1903, which amounted to
35,620 flasks, valued at $1,544,934. All the quicksilver
produced in this country comes from Texas and Cali-
fornia. The production of quicksilver in Texas increased
in quantity from 5029 flasks in 1903 to 5336 flasks in 1904,
a gain of 307 flasks, and increased in value from $211,218
in 1903 to $232,116 in 1904, a gain of $20,898. The quick-
silver production in California amounted to 29,217 flasks,
valued at $1,270,940, as against 30,526 flasks, valued at
$1,330,916 in 1903, a loss in quantity of 1309 flasks and in
value of $59,976. The average price for quicksilver per
flask in San Francisco was $44.10 in 1902, $45.29 in 1903
and $43.50 in 1904. The value of quicksilver imported
into the United States in 1904 was $1405, whereas 16,351
flasks, valued at $650,076, were exported from San Fran-
cisco alone, mostly to China, Mexico and Japan, while
the total exportation amounted to 21,064 flasks, worth
$847,108. The greater part of the world's consumption
of quicksilver is satisfied by the older mines. Besides
the famous Almaden mines, worked by the Rothschilds
under a renewal Government agreement for ten years
from 1900, there are commercial deposits in the provinces
of Almeria, Granada and Oviedo. Spanish quicksilver
usually sells in London at 1 shilling per flask higher than
the Italian metal. This difference is partly explained
by the Spanish export tax of 540 pesetas per 100 kilos,
imposed in 1898 as a result of the Spanish-American
war. As the Italian output from the mines near Monte
Auriate, Tuscany, is not large, any variation in the price
of other brands would not influence this market appre-
ciably. The Idria mines in Austria rank third in the
list of producers and, although they have been worked
for 412 years, their ore reserves are estimated to last
forty or fifty years longer at the present rate of mining.
Germany showed an increased consumption of quicksilver
in 1904 by importing 1,522,964 pounds, and re-exporting
only 94,772 pounds. Russia has enlarged the output of
its mines in the Ekaterinoslav district, which are worked
by A. Auerbach & Co. An appreciable quantity of
quicksilver is exported annually from Russia to Ham-
burg, Germany. In Mexico the great activity in the
gold and silver mines has given an impetus to the quick-
silver industry, especially in the Guadalcazar district, in
San Luis Potosi, and at Huitzoeo, in Guerrero. Other
deposits are at Ranas, in Queretaro, and at Batuco in
Sonora. Quicksilver occurs also at Yulgibar, in New
South Wales; at Huancaveliea, in Peru; at Taghit, in
Algeria; in Japan; in Germany; and near Akluri, in
Turkey.
Amador County.
Near Amador City the Fremont shaft is to be sunk to
the 1300-foot level and connected by a drift with the
1500-foot level of the Gover shaft. The mill is running
full capacity.
At the Markley mine, 4 miles northeast of Volcano,
fifteen men are grading for a 10-stamp mill. The dump
is to be worked first. It is reported that the soap-
stone deposit on the Bean place, east of Sutter Creek, is
to be developed by Dr. Bishop of Sutter Creek. The
new 10-stamp mill at the Newman mine, on the Mokel-
umne river near the West Point bridge, has been
started,
Calaveras County.
The Chapman gravel mine, near San Andreas, has
been bonded to L. C. Hunter, who intends to open it up.
This property is a consolidation of several interests. The
channel is opened at both the upper and lower ends of
the property and good values are known to exist at
both ends.
El Dorado County.
(Special Correspondence). — The Crusader mine, at El
Dorado, has been purchased by W. P. Frick and Sey-
mour Hill. They have commenced development work,
and the machinery is being received and placed in posi-
tion on the property.
El Dorado, Aug. 29.
Those interested in the Rio Vista copper mine, near
Fairplay, have been investigating a new electric process
of concentrating their ore. — —The Larkin property,
south of Placerville, is being operated under bond.
The H. L. Robinson gravel beds, between Smith's Flat
and the Five Mile House, near Placerville are to be pros-
pected under a bond. They are owned by W. C. Green
of Georgetown. C. S. Older has taken the bond. A
new hoist has been put in at the Koppikus mine, near
Georgetown. Ten additional stamps are to be added
to the Pyramid mill, near Shingle Springs, making 25
in all. A new engine and boiler are being put in at
the Red Raven mine, near Shingle Springs.
Madera County.
(Special Correspondence). — There is unusual activity
in the mining section of the high Sierras in this county
the present season. Iron and copper deposits which
have been known for years past, and which have been
located and relocated many times over, have again been
taken up and considerable development done. In the
same region, east and southeast of Mount Raymond and
south of Yosemite valley, there are gold, silver, copper,
lead, zinc and iron deposits of considerable extent. The
most extensive of the latter are those in what is known
as the Minarets district, 75 miles northeast of the city
of Fresno. A large number of locations has been made.
The ores outcrop in great masses of hematite and mag-
netite. Most of the ores contain a little gold and silver.
Near the iron mines is found siliceous silver ores. The
entire district is heavily mineralized and only requires
convenient and less expensive transportation to become
producers. At Texas Flat, near Coarse Gold, the gold
mines are in operation, after a long period of idleness.
O'Neals, Aug. 28.
Nevada County.
W. J. Morris, the agent of the American Smelting &
Refining Co., which is operating the Selby smelter at
Vallejo Junction, has purchased from the Pioneer Re-
duction Works, near Nevada City, the sulphuret tailings
that accumulated through years of operations at the old
works. The local company is not in a position to work
these tailings as closely as the Selby company, and the
latter also desires it as flux in the treatment of ores and
sulphurets. The work of opening up the Wright &
Bailey mine at North San Juan has commenced under
the direction of Manager Crane. It is said that a mill
will be put up during the fall.
San Bernardino County.
(Special Correspondence). — On the Sunrise mine of
Beck & Body, in Kingston mountain, two ore shoots
have been opened up and drifting is under way.
Sandy, Nev., Aug. 29.
The Arizona-Mexican M. & S. Co. expects to have its
plant at Needles in operation within ninety days. The
preliminary details have been completed and the prop-
erty of the Fletcher S. Co. transferred to L. D. Golishall,
managing director of the new company, who will make
changes that will amount to practically building a new
plant. The equipment will include an automatic me-
chanical roasting furnace and sampling works.
Shasta County.
The new smelter of the Mammoth Copper Co. at Ken-
net is now almost completed and ready to go into opera-
tion. From the time the ore enters the smelter from
the mill, 2$ miles distant, the process is entirely auto-
matic. The ore is conveyed to the smelter from the
mine by a system of trams, which present a novel fea-
ture. The grade from the mine entrance to the millsite
is so steep — the two levels being 2219 feet apart — that
two tramways are used for covering the entire distance.
Midway between mine and mill a transfer station is
placed. The grade from the mine to the station is 22%.
This necessarily generates a much higher power than is
required for the conveyance of the ore. The surplus
power is utilized in compressing air. The grade from
the transfer station to the mill is just sufficient to pro-
vide for the conveyance of the ore. The smelter con-
sists of three 250-ton water jacket furnaces, the fumes
from which are conducted by individual goosenecks to a
hopper bottom dust chamber 280 feet long, where the
dust and fumes are collected. At the south end of the
dust chamber the stack, which is constructed of boiler-
plate steel 150 feet high and 12 feet in diameter, stands.
This stack is deeply seated in a concrete base so that it
needs no guys to insure its stability. Under the dust
chamber there is an electric track which leads the cars
to the briquetting plant. The building containing the
furnaces, which is the smelter proper, is 130 by 70 feet.
There are two levels to the building — the lower for the
tapping and the higher for the charging floor. From
the former tracks lead away to the slag dump. Behind
the smelter building is the storehouse, in which the flux-
ing ores, limerock, coke and custom ores are to be stored.
It is 214 feet in length, and the railroad enters it at an ele-
vation of about 20 feet greater than the charging floor.
These tracks lead over to the bins and the ore is dumped
in by gravity. Twenty-seven scales provide for the in-
dividual weighing of the cars. The sampler is situated
at the north of the custom ore bins. The ore capacity
of the bins provides for 1000 tons of the company's ore;
1200 tons of limerock and 2500 tons of custom ores. The
blower house is 80x50 feet, in which are three blowers
driven by three motors of 200 H. P. each. Each of the
blowers will deliver 18,000 cubic feet of cold blast a min-
ute. The capacity of the tram for delivering ore is esti-
mated at 1600 tons a day of twenty-four hours. Each
bucket has a capacity of 1100 pounds and they are placed
at intervals of 150 feet on.the rope.
Siskiyou County.
The new dredger, near Yreka, on Yreka creek will
begin to dig September 4. This is the second dredger
built on this ground. The first was on the scoop pat-
tern, and was a failure. The present one is a modern,
up-to-date bucket dredger.
Tuolumne County.
Work is to be resumed with power drills at the south
extension of the Black Oak mine, near Soulsbyville.
It is reported that work is to be resumed at the Donella
mine, near Arrastraville, by J. E. Conde. At the
Dutch mine at Quartz a sump is being put down from
the 1720 level and a station is to be cut preparatory to
drifting to the pay shoot. In the mine and mill sixty
men are employed. A. Trittenbach is superintendent.
It is reported that a rich strike has been made on
the 700 level of the Lightner mine, Angels Camp. At
the New Calico, east of Stent, since work was begun on
April 6, the main vertical shaft has been sunk 225 feet
and 1000 feet of drifting and crosscutting done. Sinking
has been temporarily suspended and a crosscut started
east from the bottom. An 8-drill air compressor has
been ordered. J. A. Thompson is general manager.
COLORADO.
Clear Creek County.
The Central tunnel of the Big Five Tunnel, Ore Re-
duction & Transportation Co., near Idaho Springs, is in
4420 feet and is to be continued 5000 feet farther. It is
to cut the veins of the Quartz Hill district. The ore
transportation charges for mill ore, according to the
Mining World, are 4 cents per cubic foot for 5000 feet or
less of haulage and $ cent per cubic foot additional for
each additional 1000 feet or fraction thereof to 15,000
feet. For tramming smelting ore $1 per ton additional
is added to the other rates, and waste is hauled for one-
half the above rates. Air is furnished for driving drills
at the following rates: Leyner drill, No. 5, each drill $4
per shift. Plunger drill with 2$-inch cylinder or less,
each drill $4 per shift, with an increase of 25 cents for
each J inch- increase in diameter of drill cylinder; eight
hours to constitute a shift and any less number of hours
to be charged as full shift; if air be furnished for longer
than eight hours at one time extra time will be charged
pro rata for each hour or fraction thereof of thirty min-
utes or over. Sharpening hand drills, 3 cents each;
sharpening plunger drill bits, 6 cents each; sharpening
Leyner drill bits, 7 cents each; sharpening picks, per
point, 3 cents each; sharpening gads, moils, chisels and
similar tools, 3 cents each; making hand drill bits, 6
cents each; welding plunger drill bits, 25 cents each;
welding Leyner drill bits, 35 cents each; laying picks,
per point, 50 cents each; making plunger drill bits, with
one weld, 65 cents each; making Leyner drill bits, two
welds, not including making shank, 75 cents each; gen-
eral smithing, smith only, 75 cents per hour; general
smithing, smith and helper, $1.25 per hour. No charge
less than 25 cents. The Newhouse tunnel is in nearly 3
miles and is transporting ore from the Gem, Sun and
Moon and the Saratoga. This tunnel charges for the
first mile, smelting ore, $1.25; mill ore, 65 cents; waste,
25 cents a ton, which charges increase proportionately
up to $2 a ton for smelting ore with added distance.
This and the other tunnels furnish free drainage for
properties along the line of the tunnel, and are purely
transportation enterprises; it is optional whether the
companies owning the veins cut operate through the
tunnel or not. The advantage of tunnel transportation
is so great, notwithstanding the arbitrarily high
charges, that practically all the ore in the veins cut by
the tunnel, within a lateral distance of half a mile along
the tunnel course, will be taken out through the tunnel.
In the case of the Newhouse tunnel, the tunnel company
has no financial interest in the mines along its course,
and it furnished the funds for driving the tunnel, except
that in some cases arrangements were made with mining
companies to advance funds for the work, to be credited
on future transportation charges. The tunnel cost
about $500,000. The tunnel is equipped with a double
track and an electric trolley system of haulage. The
portal is immediately upon the railroad track and the
ore cars are dumped automatically into bins for loading
by gravity into cars. The Newhouse tunnel is 9x12 feet
and the Central 6x8 feet, single track. These tunnels
have cost $15 to $25 per foot to drive, no timbering be-
ing used except at the portals.
The R. E. Lee tunnel of the Southern M., M. & Dev.
Co. on McClellan mountain, near Silver Plume, is in 460
feet. Above the R. E. Lee a crosscut is being driven to
the King of the West lode. F. A. Babcock is superin-
tendent. The Dives-Pelican mill, near Silver Plume,
is now running continuously, as a larger dynamo has
been put in for driving the Huntington mills. A large
duplex pump has been put in to supply the mill with
water from the creek. It is reported that B. J.
O'Connell intends driving a lower tunnel on his property
on Republican mountain, near Silver Plume. Super-
intendent Csesar Garrett of the Colorado Central prop-
erty, on which F. A. Maxwell recently secured a lease
and bond, reports that the task of cleaning out the old
workings and putting them in shape for operation is
completed, and that a large ore production will now be
commenced.— D. W. Stewart of Idaho Springs has
secured a bond and lease on the Blue Bird claims from
Wm. Hunt of Georgetown and Nels Frohm of Denver.
He proposes to continue work on the crosscut, which is
in more than 800 feet. A strike is reported from' the
Dictator property on Columbia mountain, near George-
town, being operated by George August under lease.
Gilpin County.
The Gold Dirt mill at Perigo, 3 miles above Rollins-
ville, has been started up. E. C. Englehardt has charge
of the cyanide plant. The crushed ore is carried from
the Huntington re-grinder (where it is ground to 100
mesh) by an elevator to hydraulic sizers, and the sands
from the sizers run by gravity to revolving barrels,
where they are cyanided, the process being completed in
four hours. The slimes from the sizers are settled in six
10x20 slime tanks, the first two receiving them, the
overflow passing into the other four. In due course the
settlings with the solution are pumped through the en-
tire series of tanks. The mill is equipped with com-
pressed air, bullion furnaces and assay office. The main
inclined shaft of the Gold Dirt mine is down 700 feet, but
Manager Anderson is sinking a new vertical shaft near
the mill. The mill is an experiment to treat by cyanide
pyrite ores.
The Druid G. M. Co. is operating in Willis gulch of
the Russell district under the superin tendency of C. W.
Anderson. Operations in the main shaft are being car-
September 2, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
165
ried on In the 150 and 200-foot levels, drifting being
carried on in the 200-foot level, where ore is shoeing up
on both sides of the shaft, while sloping is in force in the
east and west 150-foot levels. Both milling and smelting
ores are being taken out, the milling ores being sent to
the Polar Star mill, while the smelting ores go direct to
the smelters in Denver.
At the Pride mine, on Mammoth hill near Central
City, the main shaft is down ISO feet. Hoisting is being
dono with a whim, but M. E. McLain intends putting in
hoisting machinery soon.
The Chemung-Belmont mine, near Lake gulch, has
been started up under the foremanship of Wm. Willis of
Central City. The property is being operated by the
Central Bonding & Leasing Co. with Chris Hesselbineof
Denver as manager. Work was resumed in the main
.shaft with a contract for 100 feet of sinking, the shaft
being down H00 feet. Drifting will bo commenced on
both sidos of the shaft at the 600-foot point. It is re-
ported that machinery and topbuildings will be put on
the No. 2 shaft on the Russell property of the Russell
M. Co. The company owns the Russell and West
Pewabic in the Russell district. Frank Paxton is super-
intendent. It is reported that the Hillhouse mine in
Russell district, owned by Potter & Co. of Central City,
is to be started.
It is reported that work is to be resumed on the Gun-
nell properties in Eureka district, near Central City.
New machinery is to be put in. F. C. Young of Donver
is manager.
Gunnison County.
The aerial tramway of the West Gold Hill M. Co.,
which runs from the Carbonate King claim to the mill,
near Tin Cup, is in working order. A tram from the
Iron Hat to the Carbonate King, where the ore is trans-
ferred to the mill tramway, is also in place. The track
has been laid in the Carbonate King incline and ore is
being taken out. L. Cavnah is in charge. The Keyes
Placer M. Co. has men and teams working on their
ground, 7 miles northwest of Tin Cup, making prepara-
tions for hydraulic mining next spring, as the ditches
cannot be gotten in shape until too late for work this
fall. The old ditch in Dry gulch is being repaired and
water from Willow, Cow, Pass and Texas creeks will be
used. A new strike has been made by Charles Stiles
on the McKinley property on Anna mountain in tho Tin
Cup district.
Hinsdale County.
Machine drills are to be put in the Wyoming mine,
near Lake City, by Superintendent W. G. Pitts.
Lake County.
The Fortune mine, near Leadville, owned by James
McNeece, has been leased to Geo. Becker, T. S. O'Brien
et al. Development is being continued to the upper
workings. The drawing of the pumps from the lower
levels of the Resurrection has not flooded the lower lev-
els of the Fortune, and work from the bottom of the
shaft will be carried on next month after the lessees
have prospected the ground and located the ore shoots.
The Resurrection is workiDg the upper levels and ship-
ping a fair grade of iron.
Park County.
The Almaden M. Co., operating at Alma, has acquired
the Colorado claims near the Golconda mine, on Fall
river, and is preparing to put in machinery. W. T.
Dumbleton is in charge.
San Juan County.
On King Solomon mountain, near Silverton, the Arpad
M. Co. is running a new tunnel with three shifts. The
Arpad Co. is composed of Denver people, with Theodore
Grabowsky as general manager and mine superinten-
dent. A 2700-foot flume is being built by Charles Dale
from Stony creek to Old Hundred mill in Cunningham
gulch. A tank is being put up for the Old Hundred Co.
for a reservoir at the mill. Its diameter will be 15 feet
and its height 12 feet. An air compressor and drills
are to be put in at the new 1000-foot tunnel to be run by
the Mayflower Co. from Arrastra gulch, near Silverton.
Summit County ,Q
The Beaver Creek G. M. Co., which is operating the
Old Lucky and adjoining lodes on Mineral hill, near
Breckenridgo, has had the concentration mill on the
property running on ore from the mine. The manage-
ment will add a number of concentrating tables to the
plant later on. At present the concentration of the
second-class ore is being done with Hartz jigs. By add-
ing concentrating tables the capacity of the plant will
be increased. G. E. Moon of Breckenrldge is superin-
tendent.
Niles & Walker have nearly finished building a 5-stamp
mill and concentration plant near the mouth of the
lower tunnel of the Laurium in Illinois gulch, near
Breckenridge. The Quandary mill, near Brecken-
ridge, is to be overhauled and its capacity increased to
100 tons a day. W. H. Harrison of Grand Island, Neb.,
has been at the mine.
Teller County.
C. G. Jackson & Co. have a lease on the Fountain Val-
ley claim of the Banner G. M. Co., between Beacon and
Rosebud hill, Cripple Creek. Work is to be started as
soon as a compressor has been put on the Mary Nevin.
The main shaft is to be sunk 100 feet deeper, giving a
depth of 438 feet. Tube mills are to be used at the
Little Giant mill in Pony gulch, 3 miles southeast of
Cripple Creek, to crush the ore for cyanide treatment.
The Last Dollar G. M. Co. of Cripple Creek has re-
sumed hoisting after a short shut-down to repair the
hoist. It now can handle 50°;; more rock than before.
Manager E. M. De La Vergne of the Elkton.Con.
expects to finish repairing and retimbering the Elkton
shaft by Sept. 1. Gold-bearing ore is reported to have
been Btruck by Lessees Duncan and Kain in the east end
of the Teutonic property of Ironclad hill.
IDAHO.
According to E. W. Parker's statistics in the U. S.
Geological Survey's report on "Coal Production in 1904, "
Idaho produced 3330 short tons, with a spot value of
$12,230. The only coal areas of Idaho from which any
production has been obtained are found in the Horseshoe
bend and the Jerusalem districts, occupying the lower
portion of a ridge between the Boise and Payette rivers,
in front of the Boise mountains. In the Horseshoe Bend
district there is one seam of high-grade lignite of about
3 feet in thickness. The Jerusalem district, which con-
tains four different seams averaging from 3 to 8 feet in
thickness, also contains lignite of about the same charac-
ter as that of the Horseshoe Bend district. There are
two other occurrences of coal in the State— one near
Salmon City, the other at the northern edge of the
State, where the Sublette field of Wyoming extends
across the line. No mining is carried on in either of
these districts at the present time. The production from
the Horseshoe Bend and Jerusalem districts has been
very irregular, never reaching any commercial im-
portance.
' i-i.-r County.
At the Golden Sunbeam, 7 miles from Custer, Superin-
tendent Gable has ten men at work. The mill is running.
Considerable excitement has been caused by the re-
cent strike at Parker mountain, between Custer and
Challis. It is reported that John Wallace of Boise will
put a dredger on his placer mine near Bonanza.
n ,-/- I'erces County.
A. C. Woary and G. S. Ellinger of Chicago have re-
turned from a visit to the Gold Crown mine, on the
upper Snake river, near Cave gulch. They will arrange
for a 100-ton cyanide plant. The property is managed
by J. M. Edwards of Lewiston. G. A. Garvin and
I. S. Hammond of Portland have completed arrange-
ments for a cyanide plant at Lewiston to handle black
sand from the Snake and Clearwater rivers. The plant
will have a capacity of sixty tons per day at the begin-
ning. The black sand is separated from the gravel on
concentrating tables. The Ry-Bar M. Co. is operat-
ing a concentrating plant 3 miles south of Lewiston, on
Snake river, and is securing 800 pounds of concentrates
daily. The process is new, having been perfected by the
local assaying firm of Jellum & Jones.
Owyhee County.
The War Eagle Consolidated Co., of Silver City, are
cleaning out the Oro Fino tunnel, which drains the
mines belonging to that company to the depth of 400
feet, with the intention of pumping out the Chariot
shaft through that tunnel. The men who have been
making the upraise from Sinker tunnel have been laid
off and work from that point suspended until the shaft
has been pumped out and surveys made to ascertain
where they are at. The manager had contemplated
tapping the bottom of the Chariot shaft with a diamond
drill, starting the hole from the Sinker tunnel upraise,
now up from the tunnel 600 feet, with 300 feet more of a
raise to make to reach the bottom of the shaft. But
the uncertainty of driving the hole right, and the dan-
ger of tapping a body of water with 1000 feet pressure,
even with a drill hole, were too serious engineering
problems to be solved by that means. The De Lamar
mill at Silver City is being overhauled. A. Buckbee,
manager of the Pioneer M. Co. of Silver City, has con-
tracted with the Trade Dollar Co. for electric power;
ordered a motor, and is having a survey made to the
Cumberland mill from the power line now running up
War Eagle to the Poorman, and having a transformer
put up at the mill, for the purpose of having the mill
run by electricity. The Addie M. Co. is pushing the
reconstruction work on its mill, but will require two
weeks to get it ready to start, new pans and settlers be-
ing put in.
Washington County.
Manager S. Peacock of the Ladd Metals Co. of Landore
states that his company is putting in a reverberatory
furnace of fifty-five tons daily capacity.
MICHIGAN.
Houghton County.
The Allouez, which has been operating one skip, has
placed a second one in commission and resumed sinking
for the fifth level. At the Centennial mill a second
head is being overhauled to give the Allouez the exclu-
sive use of one head instead of having Centennial run
three days and Allouez three days alternately on
the same head. This second head will be availa-
ble for Allouez in a week. About two-thirds of the
rock going to the mill comes from underground,
while one-third comes from the stock pile which accu-
mulated from the openings before the milling began.
The buildings completed at No. 1 are the steel shaft rock
house, the steel and stone engine house, the stone boiler
house, with four boilers, the compressor house, the ma-
chine ship, which at present contains the blacksmith
shop, and the change house. Work is progressing fav-
orably at No. 2 location, in getting into shape for sink-
ing the permanent shaft. The third drain shaft is going
down very well, having reached a depth of 50 feet, and
the flow of water is decreasing there, while in the first
and second drain shafts it has been reduced to a very
marked degree.
At the Erie-Ontario property the steam power hoist-
ing engine has begun service. As this replaces the der-
rick and horse power which have been in use, the work
will be prosecuted with greater facility. An air com-
pressor has been put in at the Erie-Ontario.
MISSOURI.
Jasper County.
The Cataract M. Co. intend to put up a new 150-ton
mill on the Gover land, at Chitwood. R. S. Neal is man-
ager.
Stone County.
The Oronogo mill, on the Riddle tract, southwest of
Galena, has been burned. It was operated by Robert
Murdock and James Keyes.- The loss is estimated at
$5000; insurance, $1000. Schellack & Co. have started
a shaft on the Weyman tract, northwest of Galena.
MONTANA
According to the report of the TJ. S. Geological Survey
on "Coal Production .for 1904," Montana's total coal
production in 1904 was 1,358,919 short tons, valued at
$2,194,548. Although most of the coal of Montana is of
Cretaceous age, coal-bearing formations are found in all
rocks, from the Jurassic to the Tertiary. The coal
found in the Jurassic, however, is too thin to be profit-
ably worked. The coals of Montana vary in character,
from lignite to bituminous, some of the latter being fair
coking coals. The total area of Montana underlain by
coal is estimated at 32,000 square miles. The producing
areas are in somewhat widely separated fields, among
which may be mentioned the Bull Mountain field, north-
east of Billings, where a considerable amount of pros-
pecting and development work has been done. The coal
of this field is lignitic in character. In the Clarks Fork
field, in the southwestern portion of Yellowstone and
northeastern part of Sweetgrass counties, and extending
southwestward through Carbon county, the coal is lig-
nitic and not at present worked to any large extent.
The Rocky Fork field, in Carbon county, contains five
different beds of coal, varying in thickness from 4 feet to
7 feet !i inches. All of this coal is between lignite and
bituminous and said to make an excellent steam and
domestic coal. The Yellowstone field and the Trail
Creek field are in Park and Gallatin counties and cover
the operations in and around Bozeman and Livingston.
The Cinnabar field is a small area lying just north of the
Yellowstone National Park, and west of this are the
West Gallatin and Ruby Valley fields, which have not
yet been developed to any great extent. Other areas
are the Toston, Smith River and Belt, or Great Falls
fields, the last mentioned being the most important.
Some of the largest mines in the State are those at Cot-
tonwood, in Cascade county. Judging from the activity in
the coal mining industry of Montana, there has been lit-
-tle or no change in the industrial conditions of the State
during tho last ten years. Coal production has remained
practically stationary during that time, ranging from a
minimum of 1,358,919 short tons in 1904 to 1,601,775 in.
1900, and averaging 1,513,818 short tonB for the entire
period. The greater part of the coal production in Mon-
tana is used by railroad locomotives, and as there has
been no railroad building to speak of in the State for the
last ten years, the stationary condition of the coal min-
ing industry may be accounted for. The production in
1904 was the smallest tonnage recorded since 1894.
Compared with 1903, when the output was 1,488,810
short tons, the production in 1904 exhibits a decrease of
129,891 short tons, or 3.7%. The value of the product
decreased from $2,440,846 in 1903 to $2,194,548 in 1904— a
loss of $246,298, or a little over lO^. During 1904 the
coal mines of Montana gave employment to 2505 men,
that averaged 243 working day6 each, against 2155 men
for 254 days in 1903. The average production per man
employed for the year in 1904 was 542.5 tons, against 691
in 1903 and 805 in 1902. The average daily tonnage per
man was 2.23 in 1904, 2.72 in 1903 and 2.98 in 1902. The
majority of the mine workers in Montana worked nine
hours a day, all of the larger mines but two reporting a
9-hour day. There were nineteen mines, employing al-
together 646 men, that reported eight hours; eight
mines, employing 1653 men, reported nine hours, and
four mines, employing twelve men, worked ten hours.
Deer Lodge County.
After being closed down a month to permit of the
retimbering of the shaft, operations have been resumed
at the Never Sweat mine at Butte. During the
time the mine was out of commission no ore was raised,
but a number of miners were engaged in opening up new
ground and doing other dead work. At the Mountain
View of the Boston & Montana, the new boilers for the
new hoisting engine will be finished soon. The job is
not interfering with the mining of ore in the property.
Fergus County.
The Hedges G. M. Co., owning seven claims at Ken-
dall, is preparing to do diamond drill work for the pur-
pose of determining the extent of the ore bodies in its
Mary claim, on which a shaft was sunk some time ago.
This is now on a ledge of ore at a depth of 75 feet. Its
tract comprises 140 acres. The officers are M. M.
Hedges president, C. M. Goodell vice-president and
J. W. Hedges secretary-treasurer.
G. S. Wells has sold to A. M. Plumb the Edna prop-
erty at Kendall, and the owner will develop this pros-
pect at once.
Madison County.
E. W. Merritt is running 100 tons of ore from the
Highup mine through the Shatter mill, near Virginia
City. The mine is at the head of Hungry hollow and is
developed by a tunnel, the face of which is in 250 feet.
Silver Bow County.
(Special Correspondence). — A new and large ore body
has been opened in the Corra mine, one of the United
Copper properties, and the mine is now shipping 600 tons
of ore per day. The Lexington mine, an old silver
producer, is turning into a copper property. P. A.
Heinze is developing the mine and is shippiog about fifty
tons of copper ore daily. The Lexington will go into
the new La France C. Co. The August output of
copper from the whole Butte district will exceed 31,000,-
000 pounds, and of that amount the Washoe smelter, at
Anaconda, will contribute 15,250,000 pounds, the highest
mark in the history of the smelter. The Washoe treats
the ores from the mines of the Anaconda, Washoe, Par-
rot, Trenton, Speculator and Butte & Boston Cos.
With the exception of several mines that are closed by
injunction in the Heinze-Amalgamated litigation every
property in the Butte district is working, many mines to
their utmost capacity. The stimulus is the high price of
copper and the fact that there is comparatively little
stored. The North Butte M. Co. is shipping about
800 tons of ore a day.
Butte, Aug. 29.
NEVADA.
Esmeralda County.
(Special Correspondence).— In the Goldfield district
the following mines have reached water level and the
sulphide zone, and are producing sulphide and undecom-
posed ore: The Florence, Combination, Red Top, Janu-
ary, Quartzite, Jumbo and Silver Pick. Several leasing
companies on the above mentioned properties are now
sinking to get to the sulphide zone.
Goldfield, Aug. 28.
166
Mining and Scientific Press.
September 2, 1905.
Lincoln County.
(Special Correspondence). — The Shenandoah lead-sil-
ver patented mine has been bought by Judge Barton, of
Pioche. Development work on the Chiquita gold
mine improves the size of the ore body, and arrange-
ments are under way to mill the ore in the Keystone
mill at Sandy. The Potosi lead-silver mine has 35
men at work. Ore is shipped by the San Pedro &
Salt Lake railroad to the smelter in Salt Lake valley,
Utah. D. W. Johnson is developing a lead-silver
mine.
Sandy, Aug. 29.
An automobile line has been established between
Searchlight and Leastalk, on the Salt Lake route, and
Manvel, on the Santa Fe. P. D. Howells intends to
continue sinking the Sazerac shaft at Searchlight till
the lower ore bodies are reached, estimated at a depth
of 800 feet. Gordon Surr has resumed cyaniding the
tailings from the Cyrus Noble at Searchlight. The
Searchlight Bonanza M. Co. has been formed, with
H. A. Perkins as manager, to work the Black Bear,
Nevada, Lion and Iowa claims. A 200-foot shaft is to
be sunk.
Lyon County.
The Nevada Smelting Co., which has recently pur-
chased the plant of the Boston-Nevada Smelting Co., is
trying to make contracts with the copper mine opera-
tors near Yerington for sufficient ores to run for ten
years a smelter they plan to establish. The company
offers to reduce the ores at the rate of $10 a ton and buy
the copper at the regular market price.
Nye County.
A 15 H. P. gasoline hoist is being put in at the Stein-
way mine, near Bullfrog. Sinking is to be resumed.
Superintendent McCauley is putting in a new gasoline
hoist at the Great Eastern mine, near Bullfrog, and will
resume sinking from the 110-foot level. After reach-
ing a depth of 330 feet work has been stopped at the
Amargosa, at the south end of Ladd mountain, Bullfrog
district, until a new hoist can be put in.
Storey County.
The steel headframe at the Union shaft at Virginia
City has been completed and the rope changed from the
temporary wood gallows frame. This is the first steel
headframe to be used on the Comstock, and was put in to
replace the frame destroyed by fire.
White Pine County.
It is reported that the smelter of the Con. M. Co. at
Ely is nearly completed. This is to have a capacity of
250 tons, and Superintendent J. L. Giroux hopes to treat
100 tons of ore with eight tons of coke.
NEW MEXICO.
Dona Ana County.
The Modoc M. Co. has resumed work at Organ and
will put in a new dry process to treat its low-grade ore.
Shipments of lead ore are being made to the smelter at
Doming. The Stephenson-Bennett Con. M. Co. has
put in a new air compressor and is pushing work on its
double-compartment shaft, which will be sunk to a depth
of 450 feet to cut the old Bennett vein on its dip.
Grant County.
The St. Louis Copper Co. is working the Garnet group
at Jarilla under lease and bond. The shaft is down 400
feet and a number of shipments of a good grade of ore
have been made. As soon as electric power can be had
an electric hoist and electric drills are to be put in.
The Lincoln Copper Co. is developing claims at Jarilla
and will put in electric machinery as soon as the con-
templated electric power plant of the Southwest S. & R.
Co. has been built. A double-compartment shaft and a
crosscut are planned.
Taos County.
The Mammoth mill at Pinos Altos has been running
steadily on ore from the Mina Grande, which Walter
Brandis, the superintendent of the mill, has under lease.
The mill has been treating twelve tons a day, but the
capacity is to be increased shortly to twenty-five tons,
and two shifts will be put on, both at the mines and the
mill. Brandis also has a lease on the Mogul. A tunnel
connection will also be made with the Mina Grande, so
that ore from the latter may be taken out of the Mogul
shaft.
OREGON.
Baker County.
The ore body cut on the 400 shaft level of the Baisley-
Elkhorn mine, near Baker City, is being drifted and is
said to be equal to that mined on the upper levels of the
property. The ore was found on a diorite-granite con-
tact at a depth of about 700 feet, as the collar of the
shaft is in a long crosscut having a depth of 300 feet.
Douglas County.
The mill of the Oregon Securities Co., at Bohemia,
has been shut down since August 1 on account of lack of
water. Prior to the mill closing the stamps were treat-
ing between fifty and sixty tons a day. The manage-
ment expects to start the mill on October 1, and keep it
in continuous operation.
Tillamook County.
Drilling for oil in the Nehalem district has commenced
under the direction of the Portland Development Co. A
standard rig drill has been secured and is said by the
management to have commenced boring. It will drill
to a depth of 2500 feet, if necessary, to prove the forma-
tion.
SOUTH DAKOTA.
Lawrence County.
The Dizzy M. Co., in False Bottom gulch, 3 miles from
Maitland, has resumed work with two shifts. The work
was stopped by water recently, but a pump with a
capacity of 200 gallons per minute has been put in. H.
H. France is superintendent of the company.
Penningtou County.
The Mainstay Co., at Keystone, is having an artesian
well drilled to a depth of 400 feet below the bottom' of
the shaft, making a hole 700 feet deep. Machinery is
being received.
UTAH.
Beaver County.
A gasoline hoisting plant has been put on the Moscow
mine, near Milford. William Ferguson is superintend-
ent. The Lenora M. Co. is shipping high-grade silver-
lead ore from Milford. The Lenora group is in Star
district. M. L. Burns and son are the owners. J. C.
Brownfield, manager of the Wasatch King M. Co., in
Beaver Lake district, has driven the tunnel in over 400
feet.
Juab County.
The ore shipments from Tintic district were 148 car-
loads for the week ending August 24: Centennial-
Eureka, 62; Eureka Hill (lease), 6; Bullion-Beck, 6;
Gemini, 12; Victoria, 6; Grand Central, 6; Mammoth, 13;
Carica, 5; Ajax, 4; Swansea, 7; South Swansea, 1;
Eagle & Blue Bell, 14; Yankee Con., 2; Uncle Sam, 4.
Two carloads of concentrates were shipped from the
Uncle Sam mill. Work is progressing satisfactorily at
the Raymond-Illinois property, north of Eureka. Super-
intendent J. C. Sullivan is running a drift from the
1500-foot level, so as to tap the ore extension of Tintic in
the north. A body of silver-lead ore has been cut by
W. R. McComb in the old workings of the Gomery
claims, in East Tintic.
Salt Lake County.
At the Fortuna mine at Bingham machine drills are
at work in the crosscuts. A gasoline hoist is being put
in on the main working level, where an old shaft was
cut. This shaft is to be sunk deeper, to give a depth of
1500 feet on the vein.
The management of the Congor mine at Bingham is
having difficulty in unwatering the lower workings and
the examination by representatives of the holders of the
existing bond is being delayed. G. G. Hall is manager.
H. M. Crowther, manager of the Continental Alta
mine at Alta, states that the first shipment, of wulfen-
ite concentrate from that property is ready.
The Phcenix M. Co. of Bingham has put in an electric
air compressor. The building is 18x50 feet. The Ohio
Copper Co. will sink to the 500-foot level.
Summit County.
To get around the last cave in the Ontario drain tun-
nel at Park City it has been decided to employ the same
tactics that were used to draw off the water without en-
dangering the lives of the men employed when the. first
bad cave was struck, and which, at the time, was
thought to be the one that was holding back practically
all of the water and allowing the mine to fill up. First
the ground was tested by driving pipe into it. That
was followed by Superintendent M. Connolly .drifting
into the mass for 50 feet. From that point he has put
men and machine drills at work to parallel the main tun-
nel with a new one. Where this work is being done the
ground has been considered rather treacherous for 400
feet ever since the tunnel was constructed. That being
so, Superintendent Connolly will probably push the side
drift for the distance named. Strong concrete and steel
bulkheads will then be put in, as in the first instance,
and a large number of holes will be drilled through to
the main tunnel from the pipes set in the bulkhead and
equipped with valves to control the water as each punc-
ture is made. This will probably take four months more.
WASHINGTON.
Okanogan County.
Henry Bahrs, manager of the Copper World Exten-
sion M. Co., at Loomis, is sinking a shaft on the Copper
World Extension mine. This shaft is down 150 feet and
will be sunk to a depth of 300 feet before any more cross-
cutting will be done. The Douglas mountain tunnel,
on Palmer mountain, which is to he driven 3000 feet in
all, is now in 308 feet.
Stevens County.
The traction outfit of the Copper King mine is deliver-
ing 60 tons of ore per day to the railroad for shipment
to the Northport smelter. The Nellie S. mine has four
men at work sinking on the main shaft near Chewelah.
President H. H. Baker has charge of the work.
FOREIGN.
AFRICA.
Transvaal.
The Main Reef series has been cut at a depth of 3862
feet in the shaft of the Angelo Deep, east of Germiston.
The shaft of the Cinderella Deep at Bokshurg is also
close upon the Main Reef. There are now between
40,000 and 45,000 Chinese at work in the Rand mines,
and, beyond a little friction with the white miners, no
serious trouble has been experienced.
AUSTRALIA.
New South Wales.
The New South Wales gold yield for July amounted to
39,862 ounces, valued at £128,092, as compared with
27,169 ounces, valued at £102,486, in the corresponding
month of last year. The total yield for the seven months
ending July 31 was 171,140 ounces, valued at £603,280, as
against 196,216 ounces, valued at £704,312, in the first
seven months of 1904.
Victoria.
Regarding dredger mining and hydraulic sluicing in
Victoria during 1904, D. B. Sellars in his annual report
to the Secretary for Mines and Water Supply, says that
twenty-two bucket dredgers working for an aggregate
period of 839 weeks raised 4,653,026 cubic yards of ma-
terial for a yield of 18,962 ounces of gold, or 1.9 grains
per cubic yard. The area treated was 202 acres, the
quantity of gold saved per acre being 93.7 ounces. The
dredger which treated the most material got 1479
ounces for fifty-one weeks' work, from 19?, acres of
ground, which averaged 1.5 grains of gold per cubic
yard of material dealt with. The average weekly yield '
of gold per plant was 22.6 ounces. The number of men
employed ,was 325. Thirty-one pump hydraulic sluices
for an aggregate working time of 912J weeks dealt with
5,302,014 cubic yards of overburden and washdirt for a
return of 29,294 ounces of gold, or 2.65 grains per cubic
yard; 23 tons 15 cwt. of tin were also won. The area
worked was 136£ acres, the quantity of gold saved per
acre being 214.4 ounces. The plant with the highest
yield got 3078J ounces from 14J acres of ground, contain-
ing 660,660 cubic yards of material, or an average of 2.2
grains per cubic yard. The average weekly yield per
plant was 32.1 ounces, and the number of men employed
was 1015. One other plant working gave 51 ounces, but
further particulars are not available. Six hydraulic jet
elevators working for an aggregate of 109 weeks put
through 237,360 cubic yards of alluvium for a return of
1463 ounces, or 2.95 grains of gold per cubic yard of
material treated; 19 cwt. 3 qrs. 2 lbs. of tin were also
won. The area dealt with was Tf acres, the quantity of
gold won per acre being 185.8 ounces. These six plants
provided work for 69 men. An additional yield of 256
ounces was obtained from five other plants, but other in-
formation is not available. In all, fifty-nine dredger
mining plants, comprising twenty-two bucket dredgers,
thirty-one pump hydraulic sluices and six jet elevators,
treated 10,192,400 cubic yards of material for a yield of
49,718 ounces of gold, or an average of 2.34 grains per
cubic yard of solid matter dealt with. The area worked
was 346.7 acres, which averaged a return of 143.4 ounces
of gold per acre, and employment was given to 1409 men.
From returns supplied in connection with hydraulic
sluicing by gravitation, it appears that there were ten
plants operating, of which seven were working under
leasing conditions and three under mining by-laws of the
district. The aggregate number of weeks worked was
181, the quantity of overburden and washdirt dealt with
being 464,842 cubic yards for a return of 3014 ounces, or
at the rate of 3.1 grains of gold per cubic yard of ma-
terial treated. The area worked was about 9.1 acres, the
quantity of gold saved per acre being 313.9 ounces. The
highest yield was 1646 ounces from four acres. These
plants gave employment to 83 men. Four other plants
gave an aggregate return of 80J ounces of gold and 35
tons 9 cwt. of tin; further particulars not available.
Other plants working sent in no returns. An additional
yield of 2136 ounces was obtained by small sluicing par-
ties working under miners' right. The total quantity of
material treated during the year under the heading of
dredger mining and hydraulic sluicing by gravitation
was 10,657,242 cubic yards, as against 7,963,927 cubic
yards for 1903. The amount of gold obtained shows an
increase of 13,211 ounces, being 55,257 ounces, as against
42,046 ounces. The yield of gold per cubic yard of ma-
terial treated was 2.375 grains, as against 2.39 grains for
the previous year. The number of men employed was
1505, and the total area treated 356J acres. The quan-
tity of tin obtained during the year was 60 tons 3 cwt. 3
qrs. 26 lbs. It is satisfactory to note that the elevator
as an aid to mining has disappeared from the bucket
dredgers. Originally there were seven plants in use
fitted with this appliance; at present there are none. It
has been discarded in favor of the box sluice. Box
sluices, furnished with a silt distributor by means of
which the finer materials are spread out evenly and
regularly over the top of the coarse material, are now
doing good work in the Bright and Omeo districts.
Experience shows the necessity of having, when dealing
with very light wash or stiff clayey material, greater
power for the nozzle than for the elevating pump in
hydraulic sluicing, otherwise much financial loss occurs
through pumping large quantities of simply useless
water. It is generally supposed that ground having
once been treated by a dredger becomes useless there-
after for mining purposes. In the case of stiff, clayey
ground, however, this rule does not always hold good.
Two cases have occurred during the past year where
bucket dredgers have worked through, at a profit, pre-
viously dredged ground, and in one other case similarly
treated ground yielded sufficient gold to pay working
expenses.
CANADA.
BRITISH COLUMBIA.
Boundary District.
Chicago men have completed an examination of the
Chicago-British Columbia M. Co.'s properties in Sky-
lark camp, 2J miles from Phoenix. In the party were
J. Gerts, vice-president of the company; N. Kuhnen,
treasurer; T. T. Mueller and L. Warneke. They were
met by Manager H. H. Shallenberger. The group con-
sists of the Lake, Iola, Yellowstone fraction, Crescent
fraction and Don Pedro.
Ore shipments from the mines of Boundary for the
week ending Aug. 26 were: Granby mines to Granby
smelter, 9137 tons; Mother Lode to British Columbia
Copper Co.'s smelter, 3328 tons; Emma to Nelson
smelter, 390 tons; Skylark to Granby smelter, 20 tons.
Total for week, 12,875 tons; total for year to date, 571,-
007 tons. Boundary smelters this week treated ore as
follows: Granby smelter, 11,102 tons; British Columbia
Copper Co.'s smelter, 1956 tons. Total treatment for
week, 15,058 tons; total treatment for year to date, 585,-
534 tons.
Slocan District.
The London Hill D. & M. Co. has let a lease and given
a bond on its two claims on London hill at Bear lake to
A. E. Eckert of Sandon.
Yale District.
Regarding the Similkameen division the British Colum-
bia Mining Record reports that development work on the
Sunset, at Copper mountain, by the British Columbia
Copper Co., is proceeding satisfactorily, and fine ore is
being met with on two drifts on the lead. The drift
into the porphyry has been run 118 feet without reach-
ing the contact. A few tons of ore were lately shipped
for the purpose of having tests in concentration made.
The ore is high in silica and low in lime and iron, so it
presents a more difficult smelting problem than the cop-
per ores of the Boundary. Some effective method of
concentration would greatly simplify the treatment of
this ore. The management are considering the feasibil-
ity of driving a tunnel from the Princess May claim with
September 2, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
167
the object of striking the Sunset lead at greater depth.
This tunnol would have to be nearly a mile in length and
would pass through a number of claims having good
surface showings. Between 20 and 25 men are working
on the Sunset. Pouwells & Bonnevier have com-
pleted a 50-foot shaft on the Red Star at Roche river.
Within two miles of Princeton, on One Mile creek,
W. C. McDougall is employing several men on the
United Empire group. During the past 6ix months, on
this group, a tunnel was run 150 feet, and a shaft sunk
on a vein carrying copper and gold. Average assays
are said to show valuos of $24. 65 to the ton. A wagon
road is being constructed to connect the property with
the main trunk road up and down the valley. Be-
tween Princeton and Granite Creek, on the i'ulameen
river, Oswald Coulthard is working on the Roany claim.
An important resource that promises to be of com-
mercial value is found in connection with the coal in this
district, in the shape of an excellent fire clay that
approaches closely in quality the best Scotch and Eng-
lish clays. A seam between 2 and 3 feet in thickness
has been exposed in the tunnel the Vermilion Forks Min-
ing & Development Co. has driven on its large coal crop-
ping near the Similkameen bridge.
CHINA.
The Mining Journal reports that to the north of Ton-
kin, near the Chinese frontier, in the district of Cao-
Bang, there are extensive tin deposits. These deposits
lie in a high valley on the side of the Pia-Ouac mountain,
in the district of N'Guyen-Binn, circle of Cao-Bang. They
were discovered in 1899 by G. Gaillard and Duverger.
Tin has long been mined by the Chinese in the alluvial
deposits formed by erosion. The grant of Tinh-Tuc has
already given excellent results, in spite of the primitive
plant available. A granulito formation along the crests
of the mountains contains the mineralized stock work of
cassiterite, accompanied by wolfram and quartz. There
are some valleys formed of privileged placers where the
cassiterite is workable on strata of fine material containing
white mica, tourmaline, obsidian and quartz. Cassiterite
is found scattered about with a little gold and wolfram
in the deposits of the upper valley. The proportion of
the cassiterite increases with the depth of the alluvium.
The barren superficial earth is so much thicker and
more clayey as it occupies the lowest parts of the valley.
The average percentage of tin is 50%, though some sam-
ples have given 65%. The proportion of ore to the cubic
meter of earth treated is, after washing, an average of 5
kilograms. Washing experiments made at various parts
of the deposit gave 2.800 to 9.500 kilograms of cassiterite
per ton of earth treated. A certain number of small
local workings treat the ore on the spot, after washing,
in Chinese furnaces, with very primitive blowing appa-
ratus, employing wood as fuel. Nevertheless the yield
attains 80% of the analyses of the ore utilized. In rich
parts of the veins one, and exceptionally two, kilograms
of metal are obtained per Chinese coolie per day. The
claim of Duverger freres, which is the most important, was
established on the Tinh-Tuc mine. It comprises a useful
workable area of 12 hectares. Mining is done by forming
a single step 25 meters long without previous removal of
the superficial barren soil. The large stones are sepa-
rated from the earth to be washed and are piled in the
center of the excavation over a rich place to avoid cost
of transport. The ore, often mixed with sterile materials,
is carried away to be washed in baskets containing an
average maximum of 2 kilogs. Two sluice boxes of the
old Malacca type are employed. They are badly main-
tained and managed, a large quantity of fine ore rich in
cassiterite being lost. The ore, still mixed with quartz
and magnetite, is reduced in cupola furnaces, where the
excess of silica to scorify makes the operation long. Not
more than 1 kilogram of tin is produced per coolie per
day. The tin is of excellent quality, thanks to the small
amount of wolfram and mispickel. It is run in pigs
weighing 25 kilos., which are sold at 3 to 3.50 francs per
kilogram to the Chinese of the frontier. The Syndicat
Francais Indo-Chinois intend to work a tin mine north-
west of Cao-Bang. Stanniferous deposits are also to he
found at Laos and Pak-Hin-Boun — a cassiterite in con-
tact with ferruginous ore. At Yunnan the Chinese work
stanniferous deposits similar to those of Cao-Bang.
MADAGASCAR.
Consul Hunt of Tamatave, Madagascar, furnishes a
decree issued by the President of the French republic on
June 23, amending a decree issued on June 3, suspending
all prospecting for precious metals and precious stones
on unclaimed lands in Madagascar. The effect of this
modification will be that requests for prospecting permits
may be received and registered by the mining department,
which registration will simply maintain priority rights
until the promulgation of a new decree amending the
mining laws of February 20, 1902. The modified decree
issued by President Loubet follows: Requests for per-
mits to prospect for natural deposits of gold, precious
metals and precious stones in Madagascar, prescribed
on the conditions of Chapter 2 of the decree of February
20, 1902, will be, notwithstanding the stipulations con-
tained in the decree of the Governor General of Mada-
gascar, dated June 3, 1905, received and registered, as is
provided in Article 12 of the aforesaid decree, but will
have no other effect than to establish the priority of the
requests and the eventual rights of the applicants for
the obtaining of permits to prospect in accordance with
the dispositions of a new law to intervene in the mat-
ter. It will not be applied to these prospectors' permits
until after promulgation in Madagascar of the said law.
The decree of the Governor General of Madagascar,
dated June 3, 1905, is amended in all that is contrary to
the dispositions of Article 1 of the present decree.
MALAY PENINSULA.
Gold mining operations are limited to certain mines in
Pahang and Negri Sembilan. In Pahang the result is
unfavorable. The total export of gold in 1904 was
20,157 ounces. The quantity obtained during the year
from actual erushings was in Pahang, 12,625 ounces from
54,961 tons, and in Negri Sembilan 2189 ounces from
3438 tons. In addition, 146 ounces were won from al-
luvial workings, and 2115 ounces from 11,350 tons of
tailings by means of the cyanide process.
MEXICO.
The Mexican Government has appointed a commission
to study and reform the laws regarding coal and oil.
As the law stands now, these minerals go with the land,
and the land is owned in immense tracts generally by
men who know nothing of these minerals, and the devel-
opment of these industries is retarded. The plan of the
Government is to segregate oil and coal from the land
and put them in the same position with gold, silver, cop-
per and other metals, which can be located by anyone
on private lands. The commission Is composed of J. L.
Requena, Kodolfo Reyes, E. Martinez Baca, Joaquin
Rounds and M. Ortega of Espinosa. As land stands now,
its owners pay practically no taxes and they will resent
anything which interferes with their prerogatives. The
method of treating coal and oil will undoubtedly call for
a tax on the lands which contain them, giving the land
owners the first right to locate, and paying taxes is some-
thing a big Mexican land owner is unaccustomed to.
During the fiscal year 1904-5 the Department of
Fomento issued 2840 titles to mines in the republic, cov-
ering 45,797 hectares of land, equal to a fraction over
113,164 acres. Of these titles, 1232 were issued in the
half year from July 1 to December 31, with 19,690 hec-
tares of land, and 1608 titles, covering 26,107 hectares, in
the half year from January 1 to June 30, showing that
376 titles, with 6416 hectares of land, more were issued in
the second half of the fiscal year than in the first half.
The following dividends were paid by Mexican min-
ing companies during July, 1905: Dos Estrellas
$90,000, Santa Gertrudis- Guadalupe $60,000, La
Blanca, Pachuca, $50,000, San Rafael, aviadoras,
$48,000, Santa Maria de la Paz $48,000, Amistad y Con-
cordia $39,296, Real del Monte $25,540, Norias de 'Bajan
$20,000, Soledad, aviada, $19,200, San Rafael, aviadas,
$19,200, La Union Hacienda $15,000, Victoria, San Luis
Potosi, $12,500, Provideneia, San Juan de la Luz, $12,000,
Sorpresa, aviada, $9600, San Francisco, Hac, $6000,
Maravillas - San Eugenio $5000, Santa Maria de Guad-
alupe $5000, Turquesa, preference, $750, total $485,086.
American capitalists continue to search the mining
districts of Mexico for profitable investment, and not
infrequently promising mines, both old and new, are
found, which are promptly equipped and sooner or later
are placed on a paying basis. Good mines are to he had
in Mexico, but no longer " for a song." The native min-
ers have awakened to a realizing sense of the value of
their mines, and to-day a good prospect or a developed
mine in Mexico commands a price similar to that which
it would bring if located in the southwestern United
States. There are bargains occasionally, but as a rule a
Mexican mine costs all the showing warrants these days.
Chihuahua.
At the Pinos Altos mines, in the Ocampo district,
twenty stamps of the mill are ready to be started. The
rest of the mill is undergoing repairs. The pan amalga-
mation process is to be substituted by concentration,
with the cyanide process for the tailings. The pans are
to be abandoned. H. T. R. Cowell, manager of the
Barranca de Cobre copper mines, 40 miles south from
Bocoyna, on the line of the Orient Railroad, west of
Minaca, has resumed operations on the mines. The con-
centrating mill will be started up next month. The
management suspended all operations some months ago,
but, now that the Orient Railroad will soon be running
into Bocoyna, the mines will be within 40 miles of rail-
road transportation. The mines belong to a company
which is controlled by the National Metal Co. H. P.
Lewis, manager of the latter company, is expected to
visit the mines.
Guanajuato.
The Guanajuato Reduction & Mines Co. has made
final payment to the Casa-Rul M. Co. for the Veta-
Madre mining properties at Guanajuato, and also min-
ing properties in the district of La Luz. A 250-ton re-
duction mill and cyanide plant are to be put in before
January 1, 1906.
Guerrero.
The Mexican M. & S. Co. has taken over the San
Jose mines in the Taxco district and will operate a
smelter there. L. W. Tatum of Cincinnati is general
manager and W. D. Budrow has been appointed super-
intendent.
Mexico.
R. B. Hutchinson, manager Concheno mine, near
Ocampo, is to increase the capacity of the cyanide plant
from 60 to 1-00 tons daily. An electric power plant is to
be put in.
Sooora.
The Democrata Cananea-Sonora C. Co. at Cananea,
P. F. Hook superintendent, which has been developing
during two years past, having closed down the smelter
with a record of production of 3,000,000 pounds of refined
copper in the year 1903, is preparing to put in a new fur-
nace with a daily capacity of 300 tons of ore, and resume
production.
SOUTH AMERICA
Colombia.
Consul Snyder of Bogota furnishes a copy of the law
recently enacted by Colombia reorganizing the national
monetary system, from which the following items are
taken: The monetary unit and current money of the
republic is the gold dollar, divided into 100 cents, 1.672
gram weight and 0.900 fine. The other gold coins are:
Double condor, of the value of $20; the condor, of the
value of $10; the half condor of the value of $5. There
will also be silver coins as follows: The half dollar, value
50 cents gold; the peseta, value 20 cents gold ; the real,
value 10 cents gold. Each of the coins mentioned will
be of 0.900 fine and the weight corresponding to its
value, relative to the gold monetary unit. For the pur-
pose of minting • the silver and fixing the values of the
coins, each gram of gold of 0.900 fine will be considered
as equivalent to 33 grams of silver. For each $100 of
gold put into circulation there can only be put in circu-
lation $10 of silver. If the Government deems it neces-
sary for smaller transactions it may also order the mint-
ing of fractional coins of -nickel, copper or bronze, with ',
sufficient aluminum, of the value of 5, 2 and 1 cents, and
not to exceed 2% of the amount of gold in circulation.
The paper money legally emitted by the old National
Bank and by the departmental governments will con-
tinue to preserve its character of forced currency and
its independent powers according to the following rules:
1. It is in the power of all classes of contracts or trans-
actions, civil or commercial, be they official or private,
to state freely any class of domestic money or foreign
gold. 2. In those parts of Colombia where the legal
medium of exchange is silver, this will pursue its free
power in relation to the price the standard of gold may
have in the market, and contracts may be freely made
in said money. The national silver coins known as
ancient money, as the pesos of eight-tenths, and the
coins worn in uso will be classed with the money of 0.835
fine for the purposes of changing same for the new
national money. The Government is authorized to re-
call, whenever it may deem it convenient, all old silver
money circulating in the country in order to change it
for those expressed in the present law, In the proportion
which corresponds to it according to its value. The
coins thus taken up and those received in the national
treasury will be recoined in the mint. Individuals, both
native and foreign, are prohibited from importing sil-
ver money. Domestic or foreign moneys which may bo
introduced into the country will be confiscated.
*************** i************* •*******+*
I *
* Books RecetvecL
"The Western Electrical Directory, " with names of
companies operating electric light and power plants and
electric railways, with additional information, is pub-
lished by the Blanchfield Pub. Co., Rialto Building, San
Francisco, Cal.
Professional Paper No. 36 of the U. S. Geological Sur-
vey, "The Lead, Zinc and Fluorspar Deposits of West-
ern Kentucky," by E. O. Ulrich and W. S. T. Smith.
This is a detailed report on the geology and mining of
this district and should do much toward opening up
many undeveloped resources of the country.
As extracts from " Mineral Resources of the United
States " the United States Geological Survey has pub-
lished "Statistics of the Clay Working Industries in
1904 " by J. Middleton; it deals chiefly with the pot-
tery and brick and tile industries, and is largely tabular
in treatment. And "Statistics of the American Iron
Trade in 1904 " by J. W. Swank.
The latest addition to the recent literature on cement-
ing materials is a comprehensive summary on " Cements,
Limes and Plasters," by E. C. Eckel. The author's
sequence of treatment is based on a logical classification
of cementing materials into two groups, the simple and
the complex. The simple cementing materials includes
all those which are produced by the expulsion of a liquid
or gas, through the action of heat, from a natural raw
material, and whose setting properties are due to the
simple reabsorption of the same liquid or gas, and the
reassumption of original composition. The author sub-
groups this into the hydrate cementing materials or
plasters, manufactured by dehydrating gypsum, and the
carbonate cementing materials, or limes and magnesia,
manufactured by driving off C02 from limestone or
magnesite. The complex cementing materials include
those whose setting properties are due to the formation
of new chemical compounds during manufacture, or use,
the set cement differing in chemical composition from
the raw materials from which .it was derived. This
includes the silicate or hydraulic cements, whose setting
properties are due to the formation of silicates, and the
oxychloride cementing materials whose setting proper-
ties are due to the formation of oxychlorides. In suc-
cession is detailed the composition, distribution and
excavation of raw materials; the chemistry, machinery
and methods for manufacture and the composition,
properties and tests of the finished product. In contrast
to L. C. Sabin's "Cement and Concrete," this is more
essentially a treatise for the manufacturers. Stress has
been laid in the discussion of manufacturing methods on
the general chemical and physical principles which
underlie these methods rather than on the details which
differ at every plant and may change with each year.
The data on labor, power and costs seem to be particu-
larly reliable. It is published by John Wiley & Sons,
New York City, and will be sent postpaid by the Mining
and Scientific Press for $6.
I Commercial Paragraphs* |
* *
a#******** ************** ^^M********
The Ogden Assay Co., 1725 Arapahoe street, has
moved its office to 1540 Court place, Denver, Colo. — a
more central and commodious place for their line of
work.
Peary of Arctic fame has sent to A. Leschen & Sons
Rope Co., St. Louis, Mo., for some of their patent flat-
tened strand Hercules hoisting rope for use in his Arctic
explorations.
The El Paso Con. G. M. Co., Cripple Creek, Colo., is
installing a Jeanesville Iron Works triple expansion
station pump 1000 feet below the surface; capacity 2000
gallons per minute. The pump is fitted up with Corliss
valve motion; the steam cylinders are lagged with
Russia iron, steam separators and power lubricators.
The Mine & Smelter Supply Co., Denver, Colo., with
branch houses in Salt Lake City, Utah, El Paso, Texas,
City of Mexico, Mex., and office in New York City, has
recently purchased the patents for the United States of
the Willley concentrating table and Wilfley slime table
from A. R. Wilfley and in the future will manufacture
this line of machines. A. R. Wilfley will be associated
with the Mine & Smelter Supply Co. as director of the
company and consulting engineer.
168
Mining and Scientific Press.
September 2, 1905.
* *
Personal.
*
«■
W. T. McDonald, of Chinipas, Mexico, is in New
York City.
W. E. Sharps is manager Kelvin reduction works at
Kelvin, Ariz.
G. F. Colton has been appointed manager Good
Hope mine, near Searchlight, Nev.
H. B. Maxson of Reno, Nev., has been elected secre-
tary of the National Irrigation Congress.
Owen Doyle has succeeded R. B. Stanford as super-
intendent Ranch mine, near Columbia, Cal.
W. N. Frederick has been appointed superintendent
Richfield M. Co., near Tuape, Sonora, Mexico.
James Fleming of Minnesota has taken charge of
Last Chance mine at Maybert, Nevada county, Cal.
S. C. Pruntz has been appointed superintendent Bau-
tista and San Rafael mines at Ameea, Jalisco, Mexico.
F. M. Smith has been appointed manager, Helena,
Montana, smelter of the American Smelting Securities
Co.
A. F. Williams, manager De Beers Con. Mines, Ltd.,
will return soon to South Africa from San Francisco,
Cal.
F. G. Owen is to have charge of Mexican Petroleum
Co.'s drilling operations in Ebano fields, Tamaulipas,
Mex.
E. G. Hadow, manager Ferguson Mines, Ltd., Trout
Lake City, B. C, is in London, England, on a business
trip.
Fred Butler, superintendent Topaz gold mines at
El Mico, Nicaragua, has been visiting Salt Lake City,
Utah.
F. J. Clark has been appointed manager Butterfly-
Terrible mine near Telluride, Colo., vice J. F. Heating,
retired.
Pat Sheehan of Butte, Mont., has succeeded J. A.
Czizek, retired, as manager Lost Packer smelter at
Loon Creek, near Custer, Idaho.
John Shaw has resigned as foreman Iron Mountain
mine, Shasta county, Cal., to take a similar position at
the United Verde mine, Jerome, Ariz.
John Blatchpord of Terry, S. D., has resigned as
superintendent Golden Reward mine, and will take
charge of mining operations at Kirwin, Wyo.
Emerson Gee is in Los Angeles, Cal., from Sonora,
Mexico, where he has been engaged in professional
business, and is returning to Sonora and Sinaloa, Mexico.
J. F. Callbreath, secretary American Mining Con-
t'ress, has returned to Denver, Colo., from a visit to
Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Salt Lake
City.
J. H. Talbot, formerly superintendent Riena de Oro
M. Co., at El Tiro, has succeeded the late P. E. Murray
as superintendent America M. Co., at Cananea, Sonora,
Mexico.
E. E. Alexander of Spokane, Wash., has been ap-
pointed superintendent department of mines and mining
at Spokane Interstate Fair, which meets this year Octo-
ber 9 to 15.
J. D. Kendall of London, England, consulting en-
gineer Slough Creek Gravel Gold, Ltd., has been in-
specting the company's drift mine on Slough creek,
Cariboo, B. C.
Rensselaer H. Toll, of Mancos, Colo., is in Den-
ver, Colo. He has resigned the superintendence of the
M. Con. G. M. & Dev. Co., to attend to private interests
and engineering practice.
THOS. Kiddie has resigned as manager Tyee Cop-
per Co.'s smelter at Ladysmith, Vancouver island,
B. C, to accept the management of the Britannia Smelt-
ing Co.'s smelter at Crofton, Vancouver island.
E. B. Braden of the Everett and Helena smelters,
H. B. Underhill, Jr., of the Selby smelter, and H. R.
Rust of the Tacoma smelter, are the Western commit-
teemen having charge of the interest of the American
Smelting Securities Co. on the Pacific coast.
i$ $ifc&»fc&&tfc6<b4'<lr<l> ****4? 4f 'Sfb'k'b'b&'b'ik <fc'&*fc'4' ****)>**
Obituary.
*
*
* *
John Federer, superintendent of the Modoc mine,
died at Cripple Creek, Colo., August 22, of pneumonia.
Wm. A. Cain, foreman Standard mill, Bodie, Cal.,
was killed August 24 by falling on a revolving flywheel.
James C. Savery, owner of the Cable mine, died at
Cable Mountain, Mont., August 21, of heart failure. He
was a pioneer in California, Idaho and Montana.
| Trade Treatises.
* *
a************ ******** *f..f* fp^M- 41 <p ?-**$<¥ .';
A catalogue, entitled " Morgan Continuous Gas Pro-
ducer," gives information concerning this rapidly devel-
oping industry. The application of producer gas to all
operations requiring fuel for heating purposes is shown
to be desirable economy. In tests made by Robt. W.
Hunt & Co. an average efficiency of 92% is reported to
have been obtained; 6x9, fifty pages, embossed cover,
from the Morgan Construction Co., 40 Exchange Place,
New York City.
Latest Market Reports.
San Francisco, September 1, 1905.
Silver. — Per oz., Troy : London, 27Jd (standard
ounce, 925 fine); New York, bar silver, 60c, refined (1000
fine); San Francisco, 60c; Mexican dollars, 48c, San
Francisco; 46c, New York.
Copper. — New York: Standard, $16.50; Lake, 1 to 3
casks, $16.50@17.00; Electrolytic, 1 to 3 casks, $17.00;
Casting, 1 to 3 casks, $16.12J@16.17J. San Francisco:
$16.50. Mill copper plates, $17.50; bars, 18@24c. London:
£71 10s spot per ton.
Copper has made a further advance within the week,
and according to expectation has touched the 17-cent
mark for the best Lake metal. There exists at the
present time an unusual condition in the copper market.
The sellers are reluctant to make quotations, and the
general feeling appears to be that no large orders out of
the ordinary could promptly be filled by the producers.
The threat of Thos. W. Lawson to raid the market has
had no appreciable effect upon the price of the metal, as
yet, nor is it likely to have. The industrial conditions
of this country, and of Europe, are such that the pres-
ent demand for copper must rather increase than dimin-
ish, and as it is apparent that the supply does not more
than meet the demand, there seems little likelihood of
the price going much lower at present. If, owing to a
bear movement, the prise of the metal falls, it will, with-
out doubt, promptly recover. That the present price of
the metal is maintained by the legitimate demand of the
world's industries appears to be without doubt. Should
a treaty of peace be signed by Russia and Japan there
are those who think such an act would affect the mar-
ket adversely, but the beginning of a new industrial life
in the Orient would quickly tend to offset any tempo-
rary effect caused by the conditions which made a de-
mand for copper imperative in the conduct of the war.
True, Japan, and probably China, also, will soon be
larger producers of copper than heretofore, but all of
the metal they will produce for some time to come will
be absorbed by their home requirements, even if their
domestic output can supply the demand which a revival
of industrial life must bring. For the present no ma-
terial fall in price need be anticipated, or should such
occur it is evident it cannot remain below 16 cents for
any considerable length of time. Indeed, it seems quite
likely to go above 17 cents. Its only dangerous com-
petitor is aluminum, and the controlling interests of the
copper market do not care to make this competition too
sharp. The relative merit and usefulness of copper and
aluminum is likely to fix the price of copper as long as
present conditions prevail.
Lead.— New York, $4.80; Salt Lake City, $3.50; St.
Louis, $4.52J; San Francisco, $3.70, carload lots; 4ije 1000
to 4000 lbs.; pipe 6Jc, sheet 7, bar 5ijc; pig, $4.85. Lon-
don: £14 8s 9d f, long ton.
Spelter.— New York, $5.75: St. Louis, $5.65; Lon-
don, £25 128 6d$ ton; San Francisco, ton lots, 6Jc; 100-tb
lots, 7c.
Tin.— New York, pig, $32.75@33.25; San Francisco, ton
lots, 34c; 500 fts., 35c; 200 lbs/, 35Jc; less, 355c; bar tin,
f, ft., 35@37Jc. London, £150 5s.
Platinum.— San Francisco, crude, $18.50 f, oz.; New
York, ingot, $20.50 fl Troy oz. Platinum ware, 75@$1.00
"¥. gram.
Quicksilver. — New York, $41.00@$41.50, large lots;
London, £7 7s 6d; San Francisco, local, $38.50@39.00 f,
flask of 75 lbs.; Denver, $42.00.
Babbitt Metal.— San Francisco, No. 1, 10c; No.
2, 7c; No. 3, 6Jc; extra, 17Jc; genuine, 32ic; Eclipse, 35c.
Solder.— Half-and-half, 100-ft>. lots, 23.00c; San Fran-
cisco, Plumbers', 100-ft>. lots, 19.00c.
Zinc. — Metallic, chemically pure, f. ft)., 50c; dust, f,Ib.,
10c; sulphate, fl lb,'. 04c.
Nickel.— New York, 55@60e $ ft>.; ton lots, 40@47c.
Aluminum.— New York, No. 1, 99% pure ingots,
33@37c; No. 2, 90%, 31@34c.
Aluminum.— No. 1, 99%, small lots, 37c f, *.; 100 fcs..
35c; 1000 ftis. 34c; ton lots and over, 33c, Pittsburg. No,
2, 90%, small lots, 34c; ton lots and over, 31c, Pittsburg.
STRUCTURAL MATERIALS.
Iron. — Pittsburg, Bessemer pig, $14.85; gray forge,
$16.00; San Francisco, bar, 3c f ft)., 3Je in small quan-
tities.
Steel.— Bessemer billets, Pittsburg, $21.00@$21.00;
open hearth billets, $23.00@$23.00; San Francisco, bar,
7c to 12c f, ft).
White Lead. — Per ft)., in kegs: 500 lbs. and over at
one purchase, per ft)., 7^c; less than 500 lbs., per ft)., 8c;
in 25-ft>. tin pails, \a f> ft), above keg price; in 1 and 5-ft>.
tin cans, 100 lbs. per case, Jc per ft), above keg price.
Dry Lead. — In bbls., 1 ton and over, 6Jc; do. in kegs, 7c.
Lime.— Santa Cruz, $1.35 country, $1.25 city f, bbl.
Cement.— Imported, $3 00@4.00 f> bbl.; California,
carload lots, $1.80 f. o. b. at works; small lots, $2.10 f,
bbl. in sacks, 4 sacks to bbl., 5c for each sack returned.
Lumber.— (Retail): Pine, ordinary sizes, $24.00®
5.00; extra sizes higher; redwood, $28.00@30.00; lath, 4
feet, $4.50@5.00; pickets, $21.00;shingles, $2.50 for No. 1,
and $2.25 for No. 2; shakes, $13.50 for split and $15.00 for
sawed; rustic, $28.00(5)35.00.
Nails. — This week the basic prices are: Wire, $2.77
Cut, $3.25. Meanwhile the nominal quotations per keg
(list prices) are: No. 20d to 60d, Wire, $3.35; Cut, $3.55
10d to 16d, Wire, $3.45; Cut, $3.35; 8d, Wire, $3.50; Cut.
$3.50; 6d and 7d, .Wire, $3.60; Cut, $3.60; 4d and 5d
Wire, $3.70; Cut, $3.70; 3d, Wire, $3.85; Cut, $3.85; 2d
Wire, $4.10; Cut, $4.10. Special rates for carload lots.
GENERAL SUPPLIES.
Antimony. — New York, Cookson's, 13Jc; Hallett's,
14Jc; San Francisco, 1000-tt>. lots, 14c; 300@500-Ibs. 12c;
100-ft. lots, 13c.
Bismuth.— Subnitrate, f> tt>., $2.10.
Bone Ash.— Extra No. 1, 5®6c f, ft>; No. 1, 4@5c.
Borax. — Concentrated, 7@8e fi lb; powdered, 9@10c;
fused, 25@30c; crystal, 7c.
Candles.— Spear Brand, 16 oz. adamantine, 40s., lie
f, set; 14 oz. adamantine, 40s., 10c; 12 oz. adamantine,
40s, 9c; 10 oz. adamantine, 40s, 8c; 16 oz. stearic, 40s,
12|c f, set; 14 oz. stearic, 40s, 11J; 12 oz. stearic, 40s,
lOJc; 10 oz. stearic, 40s, 9£c. 100-case lots and over, Jc
less. Not less than 50-case lots, "^c less. Boxes of 20s,
price ic advance.
Caps.— 3x, $5.50@6 per 1000; 4x, $6.50@7; 5x, $8@8.50;
Lion, $9@9.50, in lots not less than 1000.
Chemicals.— Cyanide of potassium, 98%-99%, job-
bing, 23@24c ?> ft).; carloads, 23@23Jc; in tins, 30c; soda
ash, $2.00 f, 100 fts.; hyposulphite of soda, 3@3|c f, ft).;
caustic soda, in drums, 3@3£cf>ft.; Cal. s. soda, bbls.,
$1.10@1.20$1001bs.; sks., 90c@$1.00; chlorate of pot-
ash, 12@13c; nitrate of potash, 6|@7c; caustic potash,
10c in 40-fi). tins; roll sulphur, 2j@2Jc; powdered sul-
phur, 2£@2£c; flour sulphur, French, 2|@ — c; alum,
$2.00@2.25; California refined, l£@2c; sulphide of iron,
8c ^ft lb.; copper sulphate, 5J@5|c; chloride of lime, spot,
$2.50@2.75; sulphuric acid, in carboys, 66% B, lj@2c fl
lb. ; nitric acid, carboys, 8c fl ft).
Chromium.— 90% and over, f| ft)., 80c.
Coal. — San Francisco, coast, yard prices : Welling-
ton, $8.00; Seattle, $6.50; Coos Bay, $5.50; Southfield,
$8.00. Cargo lot, Eastern and foreign: Wallsend, $7.50;
Brymbo, $7.50; Pennsylvania, hd., $14.00; Scotch, $8.00;
Cumberland, $13.00; Cannel, $8.50; Welsh Anthracite,
$13.00; Rock Springs, $8.50, long ton; Colorado Anthra-
cite, $14.00. Coke, $10.50 per ton in bulk, $13.00 in
sacks; Sunnyside, $8.50, long ton.
Fire Brick.— Domestic, carloads f, 1000, f. o. b., fac-
tory square, $25.00; soap and split, $22.50; arch and
wedge, $27.50; skewback, $30.00; circle, $32.00.
Fire Clay. — Domestic, B ton 2000 lbs. in 125-Jb. bags,
double, and dry ground, f. o. b., factory, $8.50.
Fuse.— Triple tape, $4.00 per 1000 feet; double tape,
$3.50; single tape, $3.10; Hemp, $2.75; Cement No. 2,
$3.00; Cement No. 1, $2.65, in lots of 3000 and up.
Litharge.— Pure, in 25-tb. bags, 9i@10ic fl lb.
Magnesium.— Pure, N. Y., $1.60.
Manganese. — Black oxide, f> ft>., 2ij@4c.
Mercury.— Bichloride, fl lb., 77c.
Molybdenum.— Best, $2.75 f> ft).
Phosphorus.— American, f> ft>., 70c.
Powder.— F. o. b. San Francisco : No. 1, 70% nitro-
glycerine, per ft)., in carload lots, 15Jc; less than one ton,
17Jc. No. 1*, 60%, carload lots, 13Je; less than one ton,
15Jc. No. 1**, 50%, carload lots, life; less than one ton,
13|c. No. 2, 40%, carload lots, 10c; less than one ton,
12c. No. 2, 35%, carload lots, 9Jc; less than one ton,
ll|e. No. 2**, 30%, carload lots, 9c; less than one ton,
lie. Black blasting powder in carload lots, minimum
car 728 kegs, $1.50 per keg; less car lots, $2.00 per keg.
Red Lead. — 500 lbs. and over at one purchase, f> ft).
7Jc; less than 500 lbs., 8c.
Silver.— Chloride, f> oz., 90c@$1.00; nitrate, 55c.
Sodium.— Metal, f, ft)., $1.
Tungsten.— Best, f, ft>., $1.25.
Uranium.— Oxide, fs ft)., $3.50.
New Patents.
Dbwbv, Stkong & Co.'s. Scientific Press Patent agency, 330
Market street, San Francisco, has official reports of the following
United States patents issued to Pacific Coast inventors :
iron the week ending august 15, 1905.
797, 398.-
797,168.-
707 170.-
707.171.
707,097.
797,-0)5.
797,177.-
787,187.-
707,195.-
797,196.-
797.108.-
797.279.-
797,100.-
797,057.-
797,114.-
797,004.-
797,3)6 -
797 146.-
797,072.-
707,533.-
797,223.-
797,226.-
797,230.-
797,465.-
797,088.-
797,478 -
797,164.-
-SwiTCH— W. J. Bell. Los Angeles, Cal.
-Mining Sluice— P. Bouery. Weaverville, Cal.
-Boring machine-L. Brodt, Berkeley, Cal.
-Fruit Washer— a Cerruti, San Francisco.
-advertising Curtain— P.O. Chapman, Los Angeles, Cal.
-Linotype Mouthpiece-R. Collins. San Francisco.
-Disk Plow— W. S. Cook, San Jose, Cal.
-Car Signal— F. Ensign, Los Angeles. Cal.
-Drifting Tool— H. D Gould, Hood River, Or.
-Drift Plug— H. D. Gould, Hood River, Or.
-Saw Handle— O C. Hanson, Eureka, Cal.
-Game Bag— L. W. Harpham, San Francisco.
-Dredger— M. C. Harris, San Francisco.
-Bale Tie Tightener — C. A. Hartmann, Hoquiam, Wash.
-Ambulance— W. R. Hill, Sacramento. Cal.
-Coal Bucket— J D. Isaacs, Oakland, Cal.
-Carburetor— H. L Jessen. Oakland, Cal.
-Center Board— V. L. Oeldiussen. San Francisco
-BICYCLE Saddle— H. M. Perkin. Las Angeles, Cal.
-Motor Cahriage— R. M O. Phillips. Los Angeles, Cal.
-Swimming Apparatus— C. P. Randolph, Oceanpark, Cal.
-Stove— E H. Richardson. Ontario, Cal.
-Injector Burner— A C. Rush, Los Angeles, Cal.
-Clamp— J. G. Sioberg, Oakland. Cal.
-Pastry Knife— F. A. Tobler, Los Angeles. Cal.
-Coffee Filler — E. A. Weil, Sacramento, Cal.
-Dump Wagon— R E H. Wurdisch, San Francisco.
Notices of Recent Patents.
Among the patents recently obtained through Dewey, Strong &
Co.'s Scientific Press United States and Foreign Patent Agency ,
the following are worthy of special mention :
Shoe Lace Fastener —No. 797,743. Aug. 22, 1905. John A. Mc-
Coy, Sisson, Cal. The object of this invention is to provide a neat,
simple and practical means for securing the end of a lacing without
the tying of any knots. It consists in combination with a shoe hav-
ing a lacing opening, of an eyelet secured to oie side of the opening,
said eyelet composed of a shank and a head, said shank having an
opening through it for the lacing and having a longitudinal slot, and
said head being made concavo-convex with its convex side presented
outwardly and Its peripheral edge normally in contact with the shoe
upper, said head, also, radially slotted from its center outward, and
with said slot arranged co.ncident with the slot in the shank and the
walls of said radial slot turned outwardly at the entrance to the slot
to permit the unobstructed passage of the lacing when winding the
latter upon the shank portion interior to the concaved portion of the
head.
Window Tightener.— No. 797.767. Aug. 22, 1905. G. H. Dyer,
San Francisro, Cal. This invention relates to a device which is de-
signed to prevent the rattling of windows an 1 maintaining them
substantially tight The device consists of an inclined plate to be
tixed to one of the parts of a window, a plate to be tixed to a com-
panion part of the window, a pin mounted in the last-named plate,
and a roller mounted on said pin, said roller having a slot extending
radially from each side of its center and through which slot the pin
passes whereby the disk is slidably mounted relative to the pin and
the inclined plate.
Jar fastener.— No. 797,711. Aug. 22, 1905. E. Abramson and E.
O. Bennett, San Francisco, Cal. E. O. Bennett, assignor of whole in-
terest to E. Abramson. This device comprises two wire loops hav-
ing inwardly projecting and horizontally curved hook members, each
adapted to embrace a segment of a jar, said members having their
inner ends overlapping and provided with eyes, and an oper-
ating lever formed of a single piece of wire, having its ends forming
inwardly extending pintles adapted to enter the eyes of the huok
member's, said lever having, also, at points between its pintles and
the outer end, eccentric portions located to one side of the pintles
and adapted to fulcrum on the cover of the jar, and such details of
construction as are necessary to produce the required result,
ssgaftfesiAa
IHIII
Whole No. 2353.-^?.'; i<,cl
San Francisco, Cal., Saturday, September 9, 1905.
THREE DOLLARS PER ANNUM.
Single Copiot, Ton Cnnli.
St — **«
| ;n: 9C'CNTlFiC PRESS „ %
_^0tefe^^» Sl^
SvHB
wilt**.
floral
jot
W. H. Shockley and Party.
Bad Trail for Camels.
Quartz Outcrop.
Quartz Outcrop.
^s_;:^_:_:_^--;
The Guide.
Musa on His Lode.
Panning Samples at Abandob. Juniper Forest, Hagar Nush.
SCENES NEAR TOKAR, EAST NUBIA, IN THE SUDAN, AFRICA. (See Page 175.)
W. Shockley, AH, and Warthogs.
The Ubiquitous Mining Engineer.
In these days of strenuous industrial development,
no portion of the earth's surface seems to escape the
inquiring, investigating proclivities of the mining en-
gineer. He is found everywhere that mineral is
known in commercially profitable quantities, and
often seeks for it where it is not. The odds and
ends of earth's dark places — the terra incognitas —
are each being subjected to that prying inquest for
mines and mineral deposits. It is but a few years
since the mineral resources of China were little
known to the outside world. To-day the mining en-
gineer is there in numbers, and China's mineral indus-
try seems likely to grow into surprising prominence.
The Arctic regions have become almost as well known
as others of the earth's vast sparsely settled prov-
inces, and that mostly within the last ten years, all
due to mining development, and now attention is be-
ing turned to the Antarctic region. Not only are these
remote and scarcely known lands being invaded by
the mining engineer, but attention is being also di-
rected to some of the oldest known regions of the
earth. On this page are presented nine illustrations
of a country which, in the early history of the world,
was on the confines of a land noted for its high civil-
ization—east Nubia, in the Sudan, Africa, overlook-
in" the Red sea. The earliest civilization of the
earth flourished in the countries about the Red sea,
in Egypt, Arabia and immediately surrounding ter-
ritory, and now, after 6000 years, the modern mining
engineer invades the wilderness of the Sudan in
search of mining possibilities. On page 175 is given
some of the recent experiences of an engineer in that
desert land. That east Nubia was ever settled by a
civilized nation is not known to be a fact, but it has
for ages been the land of roving Arabs, and there are
numerous towns and villages scattered throughout
the region. It would seem from the report of the
engineer that the copper prospects in that section
are not particularly promising, though with develop-
ment something more alluring may be discovered.
168
Mining and Scientific Press.
September 9 1905.
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
ESTABLISHED i860.
Published Every Saturday at 330 Market Street, San Francisco, Cal.
Telephone, Davis 771.
ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION.
United States, Mexico and Canada *3 00
All Other Countries in the Postal Union 5 00
Entered at the San Francisco Postoffice as second-class mail matter.
Bhanch Offices:
New York City, 921-24 Park Row Bldg. Boston, 27 School St.
Chicago, 1164 Monadnock Block. Denver, 606 Mack Block.
J. F. HALLORAN.
SAN FRANCISCO, SEPTEMBER 9, 1905.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
ILLUSTRATIONS: Page.
Scenes Near Tokar, Bast Nubia, in the Sudan, Africa ... 167
The Ancient River System in Calaveras County, Cal 170
Sketch Showing Position of Copper Deposits Near Tokar, Sudan.175
Pulling-Up Device for Steam Shovel 176
Rig for Small Drifting Operations in Alaska 177
Improved Lunkenheimer Valve 177
A California Dredger in Operation 178
A Modern Dredger in Construction 178
Steel Headframe Building Over the Temporary Wood Frame. . .179
EDITORIAL:
The Ubiquitous Mining Engineer 167
From Silver to Copper 168
Experimental Metallurgy 168
The Cyanide Process i°8
Cyaniding Raw Sulphides 168
MININU SUMMARY 181-182-183-184
LATEST MARKET REPORTS 185
MISCELLANEOUS:
Concentrates 169
Ancient Gravel Channels of Calaveras County, Cal 170
Experiments by the Dominion of Canada 171
To Reduce Tendency of Turbine Wheels to Burn Out Steps 171
Almost Pure Native Copper in Some Lake Superior Mines 171
Cyaniding Silver-Gold Ores of the Palmarejo Mine, Chihuahua,
Mexico 171
New Methods in Treatment of Low Grade Copper Ores 172-173
Running Expensive Tunnels 173
Mining and Metallurgical Patents 174
Notes on Copper Deposits Near Tokar, Sudan 175
The Ventilation of Mines 175
• Placer Mining in Alaska 176
The Prospector 177
Improved Regrinding Valves 177
Gold Dredging in California 178
Temporary and Permanent Headframes 179
Probable Ending for Control of Le Roi Mine 179
Wooden Tanks 179
Cyaniding Raw Sulphides 180
A "Bear Raid " on Copper Stocks 180
The New Leadville Discoveries 180
Refining Zinc Precipitates .180
Books Received 180
Obituary 180
Personal 180
Commercial Paragraphs 184
Trade Treatises.... 184
New Patents 184
Notices of Recent Patents 184
Dividends 184
From Silver to Copper.
Among the first mines discovered and developed
in the Butte district of Montana were those of the
"Rainbow Lode." Noted among the early producers
were the Alice, Magna Charta, Moulton and Lexing-
ton. Some of these were opened as early as 1876.
The croppings were siliceous, mineral stained and
attractive to the prospector, as the red iron .and
black manganese oxide gave them an appearance of
carrying values in precious metals, which they did.
Both gold and silver were found in paying quantities,
and the mines of the Rainbow Lode became famous
almost before the great copper mines of Butte were
known. The lode consists of a vein system in which
the vein upon which the Alice mine is located is the
most prominent. Many millions of dollars in gold
and silver have been taken from the lode and rich
placers were found in the gulches below the outcrop.
As depth was attained, the oxidized ore gave place
to the sulphides of iron, lead and zinc; but little is
said in early reports on the district about the occur-
rence of copper in these ores. An analysis made of
ore taken from the lode in 1878 indicated the pres-
ence of gold, silver, lead, zinc, iron and sulphur, but
copper is not mentioned. It is the more interesting,
therefore, to note that the Lexington mine, which
has recently come into the possession of P. A. Heinze,
is now being worked for copper, and is said to be pro-
ducing at present 50 tons of copper ore daily. If the
Lexington becomes a copper producer there is a rea-
sonable probability that the numerous other mines in
this same system of fissures may also become copper
mines; also, probably, heretofore no one has ever
thought of them as such.
There are numerous instances of mines recognized
as producers of gold, silver, lead and zinc ores, but
which were not considered as having a possible value
for copper, that with depth have become valuable for
their output of copper ores. Notable instances are
the silver mines of Cerro de Pasco, Peru; Horn Silver
mine at Frisco, Utah, noted as a lead-silver mine, and
some of the mines of Bingham canyon, Utah. These
instances might be multiplied many times, but a suffi-
cient number of important occurrences have been
noted to indicate the possibilities which lie in so-called
worked-out mines. In some districts zinc replaces
iron and lead sulphide to a great extent, with increas-
ing depth, but it would now seem that it is a possi-
bility that copper, in its turn, may displace the zinc.
Copper sulphides are the most readily dissolved and
altered of the base metal sulphides, and the metal is
carried away in solution to be redeposited elsewhere,
often forming a zone of enrichment, but it must
always be remembered that a normally very low grade
of copper ore may result in the formation of a zone
of greatly enriched ore — sulphide, or oxide, or car-
bonate, and that this forms no basis of estimate of
normal values below. This new development in the
Butte district of Montana will probably stimulate the
exploration of the old mines on the silver belt for
copper.
Experimental Metallurgy.
The hope for success in the commercial application
of metallurgical processes is in nearly every case
based on well-known chemical reactions. Tests are
made in the laboratory, necessarily on a compara-
tively small scale, and on the result of these small-
scale tests large plants are sometimes designed and
built. Unfortunately, the conclusions which are
reached as a direct result of the laboratory experi-
mentation are not always borne out in a satisfactory
manner when the process, which has been worked
out along more or less elaborate lines, is applied on a
commercial scale. There are several reasons for
this, but the most common one is, no doubt, insuffi-
cient or improper experiment— the conducting of the
tests along lines which cannot be economically dupli-
cated on a working scale. Another cause for failure
is occasionally found in the fact that the experimenter
has wedded a "hobby." He has a certain elaborate
scheme along the lines of which he determines to
operate, regardless of the character of the ore. He
is sure of the success of his pet process, if only the
ore can be adapted to it. It is more particularly in
metallurgical operations by wet methods that these
mistakes are made, for in smelting there are certain
laws of chemistry which can only be violated within
definite limits, and, passing these limitations, the dis-
aster is so pronounced that all will know who chance
to be in the vicinity. Too much coke, too little coke,
too much or too little of any of the essential elements
in the charge, and something of a very pronounced
nature occurs. An expert may be able to overcome
the difficulty, and the refractory furnace be brought
back to a normal condition by the application of the
proper remedy. He may increase or diminish the
blast, employ more or less fuel, add or reduce the
silica, iron or lime. He is able to tell by the physical
appearance of the inside of the furnace and a study
of the charge what is wrong and make the necessary
correction.
Not so, however, in wet processes. A weak solu-
tion looks the same as a relatively strong one. The
rate and amount of extraction can only be deter-
mined by careful test. The pulp looks the same after
treatment, generally, as it did before. No rule of
thumb is applicable here.
No metallurgical process exemplifies the conditions
here referred to better than the cyanide process.
Cyanide solutions have been recognized as solvents
for gold for more than 150 years and some historians
say that a solution of potassium cyanide was known
to dissolve gold in the Middle Ages. This knowledge
had been made use of by electroplaters for many
years prior to the first metallurgical patent granted
for a process to extract gold from its ores by this
method. The first patent for this process was issued
February 5 and March 12, 1867, to Dr. J. H. Rae of
Syracuse, N. Y. Since then there have been issued
patents on modifications of the process and methods
of applying it in great number.
The simple cyanide process, as described by the
MacArthur-Forrest patents, is applicable to those
ores which are free from mineral substances which
have a tendency to foul the solution or to decompose
the cyanide present, and in which the gold is in a fine
state of division and so exposed that the metal may
readily come in contact with the solution. Ideal con-
ditions have in some instances been found in old
tailings dumps which have for many years been ex-
posed to the decomposing action of the winds and
rains, by means of which the sulphides, if originally
present, have become oxidized and have left the ore
in a fit condition for the application of the process in
its simplest form.
There are many ores which are not amenable to
the cyanide process without some preliminary treat-
ment. This may be amalgamation for coarse gold;
concentration for sulphides, or probably roasting may
be necessary to render the ore susceptible to cya-
nidation. There are instances, however, where a high
percentage of the values may be extracted by old
and well-tried means, which, if properly applied, will
render the cyanide process unnecessary.
Take as an instance gold quartz ore carrying about
1% sulphurets, mostly pyrite. The gold is both
coarse and fine, and when freed from its matrix
amalgamates readily. Concentration follows and au-
riferous sulphides are collected for treatment by
chlorination or smelting. This ore should, by proper
milling, yield 95% of its values, or possibly more, but
only 80% is obtained. Evidently something is being
done which should not be done, or something remains
undone which should be done. An investigation is
made and it is found that the screens, though nomi-
nally 30-mesh, are really 24 to 26. A 30-mesh screen
is tried and the saving is raised from S0% to 85%. A
40-mesh screen is tried, and the tailings after the
machines show the extraction to have been in-
creased to 90%. This suggests that gold had pre-
viously been lost in the uncrushed grains of quartz.
A test of the tailings from the 30 screens and an
assay of the coarse sands prove this surmise to be
correct. A careful test of the tailiogs below the con-
centrators shows that there still remain some values
in the form of sulphides which have passed the ma-
chines. A classifier is introduced, the coarse sands
are sent to one machine and the fines to another, and
the result is a further saving of 5%. The ore as it
reaches the mill is worth $10 per ton. By a rational
process of crushing, classifying and concentration a
saving of 95% is effected, and the tailings are too
low grade to cyanide. It is surely not to be recom-
mended in such a case to change this simple and
highly satisfactory process for one which will leave
sufficient values in the taiiings to pay to treat by
the cyanide process.
It may be claimed that by reducing the mesh of
the screen the capacity of the mill is cut down. This
would be a natural result of introducing a finer
screen, but this may in most instances be offset in a
measure, if not altogether, by lowering the discharge,
which in itself would have a tendency to increase the
crushing capacity of the mill.
IN the operation of the cyanide process there ap-
pears to be a tendency to revert to the original
practices, and to discontinue the use of the numerous
modifications introduced within recent years. The
entire process, after all, is based on simple facts —
the reactions which take place when a weak solution
of potassium cyanide comes in contact with fine gold
in the presence of oxygen. So many side issues have
been introduced into the process in the effort to solve
some unusually difficult metallurgical problem, that
these modifications of the process are sometimes em-
ployed from the beginning instead of the more simple
process of straight cyanide of potassium solution.
No metallurgical process in use requires the exercise
of a greater amount of common sense than the cya-
nide process, but this is not always a pronounced fea-
ture of the efforts made in its application.
THE note on cyaniding raw sulphides in South
Africa which appears elsewhere herein should
attract the attention of those who have similar prob-
lems to solve. In this case it appears that the
element of time — forty days — was an important
factor. More experimentation along these lines
might result in valuable information. As usual, it is
not unlikely that much depends upon the ore. Raw
treatment may be a success at one mine and, for
some unknown cause, not successful at another. In
all cases, however, fine grinding appears necessary.
In West Australia raw ores are successfully treated
at some of the mines.
September 9, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
1o9
9 9
CONCENTRATES.
b o
Quartzite is often gold-bearing. Copper, lead, zinc
and other mineral also occur in quartzite, and such ores
are sometimes rich.
Ordinarily an estimate of 1 cubic foot of water per
horso power per hour is sufficient to generate steam in a
boiler where a modern engine is employed.
A change in the locality where water, which has
been appropriated, is used does not invalidate the right.
A ditch or Hume may be extended and the water used at
another place.
Shaking screens always clear themselves more quickly
and afford largor capacity than screens which are sta-
tionary. Impact screens operate in the same manner as
shaking screens.
A 10-stamp uattery of 1000- pound stamps will
weigh, including all iron and wood work, guides, etc.,
about 34,000 pounds. The mortars weigh from 5000 to
1)000 pounds, and certain special designs even more.
VWVw
IN quartz veins limonito and hematite almost invari-
ably change to sulphides in depth. Large masses of
hematite, however, do not always change to sulphides,
as, for instance, the large iron deposits of Michigan and
Minnesota.
W W W W
The roasting of sulphide ores not only volatilizes or
oxidizes the sulphide, arsenical and antimonial com-
pounds present, but also renders the ore more porous
and better fitted for leaching or other metallurgical
treatment.
wwww
FOR settling and classifying, tanks having vertical
sides and conical bottoms, sloping at an angle of about
50° to the horizon, are believed to be of great practical
value. Some excellent work is being done with tanks of
this description.
W WWW
Ores consisting largely or wholly of talc, and which
give considerable difficulty in crushing to proper fine-
ness, sometimes can be handled more satisfactorily if
first calcined. This dehydrates the rock and it is more
easily reduced to powder.
W W Ww
A dynamo can usually without material alteration, or
without any at all, be employed as a motor. Motors
were introduced for convenience and for particular pur-
poses. A single dynamo may run any number of motors
within the range of its electro-motive force.
Some engineers require that only clean, sharp sand
shall be used in cement mortar. Experiments made by
competent engineers have indicated that sand with clay
or loam up to 15% results in forming a stronger mortar
than where clean, sharp sand only was used.
The deepest gold mines in the world are at Bendigo,
Victoria, Australia— over 4000 feet vertical. The deep-
est vertical shaft in California at the present time is in
the East shaft of the Kennedy mine near Jackson,
which is down 2800 feet and sinking at the rate of 60 feet
per month.
Wife •J?*
Where a party enters into an agreement to work for
another party for an indefinite term, and a date is stipu-
lated at which time the money shall be paid for such
services as may have been rendered, the money is not
due before such date, and there would be no hope of col-
lecting the money sooner by filing a labor lien.
Whether wet crushing has any advantage over dry
crushing should be determined by the character of the
ore and the method of treating it after crushing. In a
few mills the ore is crushed in cyanide solution in the
battery, and the ore subsequently amalgamated. The
process appears to have nothing in particular to com-
mend it.
Where ore passes in mines are of a height exceeding
100 feet, and suitable rock (6labs from the walls) cannot
be obtained to build strong walls in these raises, or ore
passes, they may be timbered with good sized poles laid
longitudinally of the vein, the ends abutting on the ore
pass. The wear on timbers laid in this manner is much
less than where the sticks are laid at right angles to the
walls.
When wall plates in an inclined shaft get out of level
through carelessness in placing, or by reason of being
shifted by blasting and not reset in proper position, the
error may be corrected by shortening the posts for two
or three sets on the lower side; but in doing this care
must be taken to keep the alignment perfect, or the
shaft will take a "wind " and cause much trouble in the
future.
Quartzite may be usually distinguished from quartz
by its structure. The latter is massive and the former
has a granular appearance. Quartzite is a metamorphic
sedimentary rock in which the grains of sand have been
cemented by silica. It occurs from fine to rather coarse
grain— that is, a texture in which the granules of the
original rock may be readily seen without the aid of a
magnifying glass. Massive Quartz in veins is sometimes
fractured by pressure so as to resemble quartzite, and it
may then be difficult to distinguish it from quartzite
without the polarization microscope, but generally the
two may be easily told one from the other.
TVVT
Tin; amount of water usually estimated as necessary
for coarse concentration, as in the case of native copper
from its gangue, or sulphide copper ores from its
matrix, is about 4000 gallons to the ton of ore crushed,
but the amount really depends upon the character of
the ore, that containing clay requiring more than where
the gangue is quartz, ralcite or some other brittle
mineral.
Sectional MACHINERY — pans, mortars and other
parts in which quicksilver is to be charged and ground
or stamped — must be put together with the greatest
possiblo care, or leakage is sure to result. The sections
come planed and every effort is made by the makers to
have the parts fit perfectly, but much depends upon the
manner of fitting these parts together when set up at
the mill.
rfe v v v
Zinc precipitation boxes are made in long units divided
by double partitions into sections each about square.
They are also made in individual boxes, and in some
works half barrels are used for the purpose. It is not
apparent that one kind of box has a great advantage
over any of the others. The single boxes have the pos-
sible advantage of being more easily cleaned and moved
about when necessary.
ffeWlfellJ s
There are a great many patents issued for modifica-
tions of the cyanide process in the United States. Some
of these patents cover metallurgical features — some are
on the mechanical devices employed — and it would be
impossible to state whether it would be necessary to pay
a royalty on the use of the process or not unless all con-
ditions were known, and even then it might require a
suit at law to settle the matter satisfactorily.
Gold ore which consists largely of hydrated iron
oxide (limonite) is often difficult to amalgamate, either
on plates or in pane. In such ores the gold is usually
very finely distributed, the ore slimes bady on crushing,
and these two conditions render amalgamation unusu-
ally hard to satisfactorily accomplish. Burning such ore
aids somewhat, but it is better to treat it by chlorina-
tion, if the values be high enough to justify it.
The lowest grade of copper ore which can be worked
depends entirely upon the conditions surrounding the
proposition. In the Lake Superior region some of the
mines pay which carry not to exceed \% metallic copper.
In British Columbia at one mine copper ores are mined
and worked at a profit which do not carry more than $5
per ton. This proposition is so variable that no definite
answer can be given to a question of this kind.
The Cripple Creek ores from the superficial portions of
the veins — the oxidized ore — are treated by cyanidation
without roasting, but that from the deeper levels where
the ore has not been affected by oxidation is roasted
prior to treatment. The telluride ores of the Black
Hilis, occurring in the oxidized zone, yield a high per-
centage of their values to cyanide, but the unoxidized
blue ores are not found so amenable to this treatment.
The cost of electric power, where supplied by distrib-
uting companies, is usually influenced by the cost of
other power which may be available. The competitors
to electric power are commonly water, steam, gasoline
or similar engines and competing electric lines. The
price ranges from $3.50 per horse power per month un-
der favorable conditions to $12 or over where the expense
of generating power is high and where competition is
not very active.
With machine drills having about 3-inch pistons and
operating under about 90 pounds pressure, 45 to 50 feet
of holes in an eight-hour shift is considered a good day's
work in hard rock— greenstone, granite, quartz-porphyry
or other similar hard, massive and unaltered rock, that
is not softened by weathering or decomposition, for some
hard and tough rock becomes very soft on being sub-
jected to alteration by atmospheric or chemical agencies,
such as solfatara.
Some States require that a person taking up a water
right shall make affidavit to such fact before a notary
public. The water right should also be recorded, and
work begun on the dam or ditch within a "reasonable
time," and continued with " reasonable diligence." The
exact meaning of the terms reasonable diligence and
reasonable time is not made clear by the law, and it
would require the opinion of a court to determine what,
under existing conditions, would be reasonable time and
diligence. If a person has located a water right and has
allowed his right to lapse, he alone or with another may
again locate the right, if in the meantime it has not been
taken by another.
The magnetic needle is strongly influenced by an elec-
tric current. If a magnetized needle be held over a
horizontal copper wire through which no current is pass-
ing, and the wire is carefully adjusted to coincide with
the direction of the needle, and a current of electricity
is passed through the wire, the needle will at once
swerve to the right or left to the extent of nearly
90°, depending on the strength of the current. As
soon as the current is shut off the needle will swing
back to its former position, pointing to the magnetic
pole. If the direction of the electric current be now re-
versed, by changing the connections of the wires, the
needle will again be deflected from its true position, but
in the opposite direction. If the needle be held beneath
instead of over the wire, the deflection of the needle will
be directly opposite to those of the first trials. The dis-
tance between the needle and the wire also is a factor —
the nearer the wire the greater the deflection for given
strength of current.
The velocity of water flowing in a stream is not uni-
form throughout its entire cross section. It has been
found by careful experiment that the average velocity
of a stream is from 0.81 to 0.93 of its maximum velocity.
At a point about midway between the surface and the
bottom of the current the velocity is close to 0.915,
and on the bottom about 0.83, of that at the
surface being more or less according to the
character of the bottom — whether smooth or rough.
To find the volume of water flowing in a stream,
multiply the area of cross section in feet by the velocity
in feet. This will give the cubic feet passing during a
stated interval, either per second or per minute, depend-
ing on the length of time given to velocity. Thus if a
stream be 5 feet wide and 4 feet deep, and the maximum
velocity be 30 feet per minute, the volume of water flow-
ing in the stream will be approximately 30X-915X4X5=
549 cubic feet per minute, or 9.15 cubic feet per second.
It is likely to give greater accuracy if the velocity of the
stream be taken for a minute or even longer than for a
shorter period.
W^fe ffe*fe
When unpatented mining claims are forfeited to re-
locators because of failure to perform the necessary
assessment work, any buildings, cabins, machinery or
other fixed improvements become the property of the
party relocating the claim. As a matter of safety the
relocator should state that it is a relocation of a claim,
and he should place the location of record, whether the
State laws require it or not. It is not necessary to bring
suit to quiet title, but the former proprietor may file an
adverse, when the relocator must prove that the claim
was subject to relocation at the time the relocation was
made. It does not appear that a pipe line and giant, in
place on a line thus relocated, would be excepted from
the improvements which pass to the new proprietor,
even though the pipe line were not tied to the ground or
to trees, etc. Pipe lines are only so tied where neces-
sary to render them secure as to slopes. The original
locator having failed to comply with the law — the condi-
tion of the statutes which requires the performance of
certain acts to insure his title to the ground — he is an in-
truder and no longer has the color of title to the prop-
erty. Although the statute does not define what prop-
erty shall be considered as fixtures, it is only reasonable
to include a pipe line in such improvements, while a
wheelbarrow or a portable forge might not be properly
so considered. The relocator may legally enter upon
the use of such improvements as were left by the former
proprietor, and may do so at once.
VVVV
The principal kinds of rock are sedimentary, erup-
tive, metamorphic, and those resulting from chemical
deposition. Each of these is divided into numerous
classes. Among the sedimentary rocks are sandstones,
shales, calcareous sandstones, sandy limestones, and var-
ious gradations between purely argillaceous and purely
sandy rocks. Under this head also come grits (coarse
sandstones) and conglomerates. The eruptive rocks are
chiefly of two kinds: (1) those intruded from below in the
form of roughly round masses, or bosses; in elongated
sheets (dikes) and in flat sheets (sills), land none of
which reach and flow out on the surface, and (2) those
which do reach the surface and spread out in sheets —
volcanic or effusive rocks. In the latter class is also
included the fragmental rocks resulting from the
recementing of volcanic debris thrown out from volcanic
vents, such as tuffs, agglomerates, etc. Limestones are
for most part in a separate class, but may be considered
as sedimentary. They are formed in various ways. The
principal sources of limestone are from the secretions and
the shells of minute organisms in the ocean, and from
the deposition from calcareous springs. Metamorphic
rocks include every class of the above, when they have
been changed from their original condition. This
change may have been slight, or may have progressed
to such an extent as to have entirely changed the rock
from its original condition to a new one. (The decay of
rocks, due to weathering, is not metamorphism.) By
pressure and movement, and the heat developed in the
operation of these processes, the individual constituents of
a rock are changed, passing over to an entirely different
lot of minerals and the formation of a new rock, not
recognizable as having any resemblance to the original.
Thus limestone may by metamorphism become marble,
or it may be altered to pyroxene and the latter further
changed to serpentine. These changes involve many
chemical reactions, the removal of some of the original
constituents and substitution of others with the intro-
duction of still other foreign material. Sandstones may
be altered to quartzite, or to mica schist, garnet schist,
etc. Shales become hard slates, often with the develop-
ment of coarsely crystallized minerals in the finer mass
of the rock, such as garnets, chiastolite and other crys-
tals. Metamorphism is a subject so involved that it
would require a large volume to give a comprehensive
idea of the great number of alterations, which individ-
ual minerals and rocks undergo.
170
Mining and Scientific Press.
September 9, 1905.
Ancient Gravel Channels of Calaveras
County, California.
Written for the Mining and Scientific Press by W. H. Storms.
There is no feature of gold mining in California
systems taking their rise in regions several miles
apart — the greater number originating in Amador
county or even beyond the limits of that county.
The map shows these three systems clearly — one the
Mokelumne Hill system, the second the Port Moun-
tain channel, and the third the Central Hill system.
The first is the most complicated and comprises at
least ten separate channels, and there are probably
one or two more not yet positively identified. These
channels, mostly taking their rise apparently in Ama-
dor county, flowed in diverse directions toward what
is now known as Mokelumne Hill, and from there by
The Ancient River System in Calaveras County,
California.
Reproduced from Twelfth Annual Report of the State
Mineralogist of California.
more interesting than the exploration and develop-
ment of the ancient gold-bearing rivers. There is
nothing particularly obscure or mystifying about
these old rivers, but owing to the occasional uncer-
tainty of their course for comparatively short dis-
tances there has been much controversy over the
identity of some of these channels from place to place.
The accompanying map is designed to show partially
the extent of this ancient river system, but there are
characteristics of these channels which do not imme-
diately attract the attention on the map. This is
that the channels, though geologically of one age
(usually they are referred to the Pliocene), did
not all exist at one time, but that they were
living rivers during a long period of time, and that
certain geological phenomena occurred during this
long continued period, which had an important bear-
ing upon the formation of these several channels, and
their relations, one to the other.
In Calaveras county there were three distinct river
September 9, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
171
sinuous course in a generally southwesterly direction
toward the valley of the Sacramento river.
The Fort Mountain system took its rise in Amador
county, in the Sierra region, and flowed with its
numerous tributaries in a southerly, and then a
westerly, direction toward San Andreas, and about 4
miles west of that town joined the Mokelumne Hill
system. The Central Hill channel had its origin
somewhere northeast of the village of Murphys.
There seem to have been several important channels
in this system, some unexplored and practically
unknown. For instance, about 1 mile south-
east of Murphys a channel has cut directly
across the Central Hill channel flowing in a southerly
direction. This channel cut out 500 feet of the Cen-
tral Hill channel, but little is known of it beyond this
fact, and that where passed through by a tunnel
driven to reach the Central Hill channel it was filled
with coarse volcanic sand and was saturated with
water.
In the vicinity of Douglas Flat and Vallecito there
is a complex of ancient channels something like that
at Mokelumne Hill, but the relations of these several
channels are not fully established, nor can they
be until further work is done and a systematic
investigation carefully made of the entire district.
There is another channel system which originates
in Calaveras county, in the region of the Sierra,
above the Big Tree section, which (lowed in a
generally southerly and southeasterly direction into
the adjoining county of Tuolumne, entering that
couuty near the town of Columbia, and which, where
worked, has been found usually to be rich in gold.
In Calaveras county alone there are more than 100
miles of these ancient stream beds. Of this about
25% has been removed by recent erosion; about 25%
probably has been mined, and there still remains
nearly 50% of these old golden rivers intact, await-
ing the enterprise of the miner. It is this fact that
gives these old river beds an interest beyond their
mere existence. As a geological study there
is nothing of greater interest, but this is en-
hanced by the possibilities of profitably mining these
gravels, and recovering the gold which has lain in the
old rivers for so many thousands of years.
When contemplating these ancient rivers and simi-
lar streams elsewhere it must be understood, and re-
membered, that the same natural forces which have
formed the modern creeks and rivers were at work
in Pliocene time, and the causes which produce
familiar effects to-day produced similar effects at
that time. Nature constantly strives to tear down
the mountains to the level of the sea. The agencies
which perform this work are the sunshine and rain,
the wind and changes of temperature. The process
is slow but never-ceasing, and in a long period of
years a stream will cut a deep canyon into the hard-
est rocks. Where the stream contains much detritus
and the volume of water is sufficient the erosion is
more rapid than where the water is comparatively
free from sediment and gravel. These are the first
principles of erosion. A great mountain region will
in time be reduced to a base level by erosion if noth-
ing interfere to prevent it. When studying these
ancient rivers these simple facts must be kept
in mind, and a rational solution will be usually
found for almost every perplexing problem which
presents itself. It is at times difficult to identify
certain channels when they are unexpectedly encoun-
tered underground in the development of another
channel, but further development usually clears up
a problem of this kind.
The most important economic feature of the
ancient rivers lies in the fact that the tremendous
erosion which produced these streams also freed the
gold from the rocks and veins in the mountains, and
the contents of millions of tons of ore was thus con-
centrated into a comparatively few narrow streams.
Thus it will be seen that a country may produce only
mediocre quartz mines, but by erosion make rich
placers. There are numerous instances of this fact
throughout the mining world.
The ancient river - forming period undoubtedly
lasted for thousands of years. The gold was freed
from the rich veins of this portion of the mineral belt
of the State in Calaveras and Amador counties and
was concentrated in the earliest system of rivers —
channels of the first period. At this time began a
period of volcanic activity which was spread over a
wide region of the State, in both the Coast Range
and the Sierra. Volcanic vents opened along and
near the crest of the Sierra and volcanic debris
poured out over the adjacent country. Ashes and
mud covered the slopes and the accompanying vio-
lent rains swept the mud down into the gulches and
canyons, often filling them, in time, to the brim and
completely burying the gold-bearing gravels under
the muddy flood. Following this outburst of volcanic
rock came a period of quiet, and the erosive forces of
nature continuing, another set of new channels was
formed. These latter channels did not follow directly
the course of the former streams, but conformed
with them in a general way — flowing southwesterly,
in a line normal to the general trend of the Sierra.
In time these new streams reached the underlying
crystalline bedrock and the gold-bearing veins were
subjected, in places, to a second period of erosion.
In some instances the later channels intersected the
older channels, sometimes crossing and recrossing
them, as shown on the map, in the neighborhood of
Mokelumne Hill. The channels of the first period
were cut out at these intersections and the contained
gold went to help enrich the channels of the second
period. Again volcanic activity played an important
part in the economy of the golden rivers which were
to yield up their gold in later ages, to the energies of
civilization.
Once more the channels were filled with volcanic
mud, sand and rocks, and then again followed a period
of quiet and long-continued erosion. These alternat-
ing intervals of volcanic activity and quietude suc-
ceeded each other several times, always with similar
results — the burying of the existing channels and
the formation of a new system later, when the mud
rivers had ceased to flow and the volcanic debris had
settled into a semblance of firm rock or compacted
sand. That there were long periods of freedom from
volcanic outbursts is abundantly proven by the tre-
mendous extent of the erosion which marked these
periods. Great trees grew along the river banks,
and with the coming of the next volcanic flow these
trees were overturned or remained standing upright
and were buried in the great volume of mud. The
trunks of these ancient trees have been found in the
course of mining operations, sometimes turned to
stone; sometimes a hollow, cylinder-shaped hole in
the indurated mud How indicating where the tree for-
merly stood.
During all of this period of channel forming, with
its variations, many of which are clearly indicated by
a study of the several channels and their relations to
each other, the entire Sierra region was slowly ris-
ing. This slowly moving uplift is supposed by some
geologists to be in progress at the present time; but
our lives or the history of the country are far too
short to make conclusive such theories.
The rivers emptied into the great depression be-
tween the Sierra and the Coast Range — the great
interior valley of California. At that time the valley
was a vast fresh water lake. The sands, gravels and
fine sediment from the ancient rivers during their
several periods were carried down into this lake and
spread out in fan-shaped flat cones in the estuaries
formed at the mouths of the rivers. These deposits
were essentially almost horizontal; but the beds
formed at that time are now found raised above the
interior valley along the eastern foothills and tilted
toward the valley at a much higher angle than that
produced by the deposition of sediment from a river
into a large body of still water.
It is this long-continued uplift of the entire Sierra
region that caused the comparatively rapid forma-
tion of this series of ancient rivers, for, with a con-
stantly rising region, the streams kept up their
grades and caused them to cut rapidly into the bed-
rock. As a stream approaches the base level of
erosion — the level of the sea — its power of erosion
and its ability to carry along with it the sediment,
gravel and other debris, which are the most powerful
factors in cutting and wearing away the bedrock,
constantly decreases, until at sea level it is nil.
Having outlined the processes by which the ancient
channels were formed, not only in Calaveras county,
but in every other county of California where they
may be found, it may now be proper to inquire
more directly into the characteristics of the several
channels.
(to be continued.)
The Government of the Dominion of Canada has
appropriated $15,000 for making experiments with
the electric process of smelting ores and manufactur-
ing steel at Sault Ste. Marie, and the Consolidated
Lake Superior Copper Co. will furnish a building and
dynamo capable of supplying 400 H. P. for four
months free of charge. All kinds of ore will be
experimented with, and important results are
expected to be obtained. Great possibilities for
Canada underlie the inauguration of a cheaper pro-
cess for manufacturing pig iron and steel than is now
in use. Ontario is dotted with ore bodies, the devel-
opment of which is prevented by lack of cheap fuel.
There is coal in the eastern and western parts of
Canada, but the cost of conveying it to points where
coke is needed for smelting purposes is prohibitive.
On the other hand, there are a great many water
powers throughout the Provinces of Ontario and
Quebec where electricity can be developed and util-
ized. If the electric system proves to be commer-
cially feasible, Canada is looking for the inflow of a
large amount of capital and considerable mining
development.
A method to reduce the tendency of turbine wheels
to burn out their steps is suggested in the Engineer-
ing News in the following: Cut across the bearing
surface of the steps three or four deep grooves,
radially. These grooves are of generous depth and
width, say f and k inch, respectively. It would ap-
pear that their action is to allow free access of the
water to the bearing surface of the step, aided pos-
sibly by a more or less energetic circulation through
the grooves, thus keeping down the temperature.
However it may be, the fact remains that the device
is most effectual.
In some of the Lake Superior copper mines oc-
cur native copper almost pure, and native silver also
practically pure. As far as known these minerals
are never found alloyed in these mines.
Cyaniding Silver-Gold Ores of the Pal-
marejo Mine, Chihuahua, Mexico.11
NUMBER VII.— CONCLUDED.
Written by T. H. Oxnam.
When treating charges containing the equivalent
of 15 tons of dry slimes, usually four settlings and
four decantations can be effected within the forty-
eight hours of treatment, each decantation averag-
ing about 22 tons of solution. Hence about 90 tons
of solution are decanted in treating a 15-ton charge,
and each decantation removes approximately 58% of
the total solution present. Assuming the wash agi-
tations to be perfect, the four decantations should
then theoretically contain about 97% of the total
values dissolved at the time the washing was com-
menced.
The settled pulp is discharged through the bottom
valve and the 4-inch discharge pipe into the residues
launder and is run to waste.
Table VIII shows the rate of settling per hour,
determined at various times, on several different
charges.
The pulp, ready for discharging, carries about 50%
of moisture, the contained solution averaging 0.07%
of KCN and having an average value of approxi-
mately $0.40 gold and 1.50 ounce of silver per ton.
These values are, of course, higher than would be
expected theoretically to remain in the solution after
the several decantations and dilutions effected, but,
as has already been recorded by several different
parties operating similar slime plants, the dissolution
of values from the slimes does not cease at the com-
pletion of the agitation proper, but continues
throughout the washing, and the value of the wash
solution is thus being constantly augmented. This
feature, however, is more noticeable with the silver
than with the gold values, since the gold dissolves
much more rapidly than does silver and the maxi-
mum extraction of the gold values is obtained earlier.
The solution used for washing will always carry a
certain quantity of values, which, of course, results
in a corresponding, direct increase of the values that
would otherwise be carried by the solution contained
in the discharged residues. Moreover, it may often
be the case that the wash agitations are not perfect.
For these reasons the solution contained in the dis-
charged pulp will always carry more values than it
should according to calculations based solely upon
the successive dilutions and assuming the agitations
to be perfect.
TABLE VIII. — Settling Rate op Slimes per Hour, With
Addition of lime.
Settlement (in Inches) of Slimes.
At
Test
No. 1.
Test
No. 2.
Test
No. 3.
Test
No. 4.
Test
No. 5.
(c)
Test
No. 6.
(e)
Test
No 7.
End
or
Proportion of
Solution to
Slimes
2 5:1
2 5:1
2.5: 1
2.5: 1
2.5: 1
2 5 : 1
3.3: 1
Lime Added per
Ton Slimes (a)
2 lbs.
3 lbs.
3 lbs.
3 Bbs.
3 lbs.
None
0>>
4 lbs.
Ihour
11.0
21.0
27.5
33.0
36.0
38.0
39.5
40.5
41.0
41.0
41.5
41.5
10.5
19.0
26.0
32.0
35.5
38.5
40.0
41.0
41.5
42.5
42.5
43.0
10.0
16.5
23.5
30.0
36.0
40.0
41.5
42 5
43.0
43.5
43.5
16.0
26.5
33 0
40.0
42.0
43.0
44.0
44.5
45.0
45.0
14.0
21 0
30.0
39.0
43.0
47.0
48.5
48.5
49.0
49.0
15.0
24.5
33.5
40.0
42.0
43.0
44.0
44.5
44.5
45.0
45.0
22.0
36.5
3 hours
4 hours.
51.5
54.0
67.0
6 hours.
7 hours.
8 hours.
9 hours.
10 hours.
58 0
59.0
59.5
59.5
59.5
(a) This quantity of lime added was in addition to the lime
already contained in the solution, sufficient lime usually being pres-
ent in solution that the addition of 5 c.c. of lime water to a titration
(with silver nitrate), for strength of solution, would make no differ-
ence in the titration,
(b) See note (a).
(c) Tests No. 5 and No. 6 were on material from near the head of
the slimes pits, and which, therefore, contained a larger percentage
than usual of fine sands.
Each 2 inches of solution equals 1 ton.
A portion of the sample of the pulp ready for dis-
charging, together with its proper proportion of con-
tained solution, is dried, the assay results being taken
to represent the value of the discharged slimes. An-
other portion of the pulp is washed and then assayed.
On an average the washed sample will run about
$0.40 of gold and from 1 to 2 ounces of silver per ton
lower than the unwashed sample.
As previously noted, the 3-inch centrifugal pumps
connected with the decantation vats are the ordinary
pumps commonly used for pumping solutions, the only
alteration being that the bearing nearest the pump
shell is tapped with a 0.25-inch pipe, which supplies
the bearing with solution under pressure. These
pumps run about four hours in twenty-four, and they
have given excellent satisfaction during the five
months that the plant has been in operation, the only
repair work that has been required on them being an
occasional repacking of some of the stuffing boxes.
For experimental purposes, one of the decantation
vats has been connected with the pumps in such a
manner that by means of loosely threaded elbows the
ends of both the suction and discharge pipes are
movable, and the suction may be dropped to the
point of the conical bottom or may be raised at any
*Truns. Amer. Inst. Min. Engrs.
172
Mining and Scientific Press.
September 9, 1905.
height up to about 4 feet above it, while the dis-
charge pipe can be raised to the top of the charge or
lowered to the bottom. The end of the discharge
pipe is curved, conforming to the circumference of
the vat, and imparts a circular motion to the charge
during agitation. While practically this same idea
was tried on the agitation vats, with very poor
results, the scheme works very well on the decanta-
tion vats, doubtless due to the fact that the slimes
before entering these vats have been thoroughly
broken up and mixed in the agitation vats. Although
the agitation in this specially connected vat seems to
be excellent, and to all appearances is better than
that taking place in the other decantation vats, no
appreciable difference has so far been noticed in the
average assays of the discharged residues.
.Table IX, giving a somewhat detailed record of the
treatment of one charge, may be taken to represent
in spite of all precautions, a certain quantity of sus-
pended slimes will be carried with the solution into
the zinc boxes and will be retained there, thus lower-
ing the grade of the precipitates. The highest grade
precipitates yet recovered from the slimes plant
assayed approximately $6800 of gold and 17,300
ounces of silver per ton.
Tonnage, Percentages, Etc. — The normal capac-
ity of the plant, while treating 15-ton charges and
allowing a two days' treatment in both agitation and
decantation vats, is 30 tons per day. During the
last quarter of 1904 approximately 2550 tons of
slimes (net dry weight) were treated, and the extrac-
tion during this period, shown by the differences
between assays of the charge and the residues, was
74.9% of the gold and 49.2% of the silver. During
this period the assay values of the slimes, as charged,
averaged approximately $4.35 of gold and 19.25
TABLE IX.— DETAILED RECORD OF SLIMES TREATMENT.
Charge No. 39. Vat No. 1. Net weight of slimes charged, 18 tons. Moisture in slimes as charged, 31 5 per cent. Proportion of
solution to slimes present, 2:1. 100 lb. lime added at commencement of charging.
Assay value of slimes per ton as charged was $1.34 of goid and 19.52 oz. of silver.
TREATMENT IN AGITATION VAT. ,
Date and
Time.
Agita-
tion.
Assay of Solu-
tion.
Values Ex-
tracted by
Solution.
Assay of Tail-
ings.
Extracted as
per Solution-
Assays.
Extracted as
per Tailings-
Assays.
Strength of Solution
in KCN. Sample
taken at
Remarks.
Gold.
Silver.
Gold.
Silver.
Gold.
Silver.
Gold.
Silver.
Gold.
Silver.
Vat. (a)
Pump.(a)
Sept. 29.
Hours.
JO 95
0.90
1.05
1.15
1.20
1.30
1.50
1.55
1.60
Ounces.
0.85
0.96
1.01
1.45
2.13
2.42
3.35
3.73
3.99
4.28
4.65
4.75
4.76
4.67
4.83
4.80
4.94
4.81
Ounces.
Ounces.
Per
Cent.
Per
Cent.
Per
Cent.
Per
Cent.
Per Cent.
0.11
Per Cent.
Commenced charging, 7 a.m. Fin-
ished, 4 p.m. Added 90 lb. of
cyanide (NaCN = 125 per cent,
of KCN), at 4 p.m.
Added 301b, of lime.
Commenced to discharge into decan-
tation-vat. Discharging in 1 hour.
4 cm
0.09
6 p.m..
6 pm..
10 p.m..
10 p.m..
Sept. 80;
2 a-m..
2 a.m..
8 a.m..
8 a.m..
2 p.m..
2 p.m..
8j>.m..
8 p.m..
12 p.m..
12 p.m..
Oct. 1.
4 a.m..
4 a.m..
2
2
6
6
10
10
16
16
22
22
28
28
32
32
36
36
$2.10
2.30
2.40
2.60
3.00
3.10
3.20
3.30
3.20
3.40
3.30
3.40
3 60
3.40
3.50
2 02
2.90
4.26
4.84
6.70
7.46
7.98
8.56
9.30
9 50
9.62
9.34
9.66
9.60
9.83
9 62
48.4
53.0
653
59.9
69.1
71.4
73.7
10.5
15.1
22.2
25 2
34.8
38.8
41.4
44.5
48.4
49.4
49 5
48.6
50.3
49.9
514
50.1
52.5
16.2
0.40
$2.06
1.44
1.24
1.14
1.03
1.03
16.10
14.66
13.20
11.78
10.98
10.68
0.16
0.30
66.8
71.4
73.7
76.3
76.3
23.7
31.3
38.7
42.9
44.4
0.22
0.23
0.23
0.19
0.19
1.65
1.60
1.70
165
1.70
1.80
1.70
1,75
76.0
73.7
78.3
76.0
78.3
82.9
78.3
80.7
0.22
0.92
0.82
0.82
0.82
0.92
0.82
0.82
10.14
10.34
10.22
10.26
10.04
9.85
9.70
78.8
81.1
81.1
81.1
78.8'
81.1
81.1
47.2
46.2
46.8
46.6
47.7
48.7
49.5
0.22
019
0.18
0 18
0.18
0.17
0.17
New Methods in Treatment of Low-
Grade Copper Ores.*
{a) Vat sample taken from surface of charge, in vat. Pump sample taken from discharge pipe, near pump.
TABLE IX— (CONTINUED).
Treatment in Decantation Vat.
_ Date.
Time.
Solution Deoanted.
Remarks.
Quan-
tity.
KCN.
Assay-Values.
Total Assay-Value.
Gold.
Silver.
Ounces.
Gold.
Sliver.
Oct. 1 , ,
Oct. 1.....
Oct- 1
Oct. 1
Oct. 2
Oct. 2
Oct. 2 ,
Oct. 2
Oct. 3
5 a. m.
8 a .m.
3 p.m.
1 1 p.m.
4 a. m.
10 a.m.
3 30 p.m.
11 p.m.
3 a.m.
Tons.
Per Cent.
Ounces.
Finished receiving charge from agitation- vat. 20 lb. lime added
while being charged. Let settle for 3 hours.
Commenced decanting.
Finished decanting. Added 18 tons 0.10 per cent. KCN solution,
and 40 lb. lime. Agitated for 2 hours. Let settle for 6 hours.
Commenced decanting.
Finished decanting. Added 18.5 tons of 0.11 percent. KCN solution,
and 40 lb. lime. • Agitated for 2 hours. Let settle for-4 hours.
Commenced decanting.
Finished decanting. Added 19 tons of 0.09 per cent. KCN solhlion,
and 40 lb. lime. Agitated "for 2 hours. Let settle for 5.5 hours,
Commenced decanting.
Finished decanting. Discharged vat.
}l8.0
}l8.5
J19.0
}l8.0
0.18
0.14
0.11
0.09
$1.70(6)
0.91
0.48
0.30
4.84(o)
2.56
1.44
0.88
$30.60
16.83
9.12
5.40
87.1 2 j
47.36 j
27.36 ]
15.84 {
73.5
$61.95
177.68
(6) In all these decanted-solution samples, the value of the solution, as added to the charge, has been deducted.
Note,— Assay of discharged residues (unwashed) : $1.03 of gold, 9.62 oz. of silver. Extraction, 76.27 per cent of gold and 50.47 per
cent of sliver.
Assay of discharged residues (washed) : $0.62 of gold, 8.38 oz. of silver.
Moisture contained in discharged residues, 51.4 per cent. Assay value of solution was $0.40 of gold and 1.24 oz. of silver. Strength,
0.09 per cent of KCN.
Extraction indicated by values contained in decanted solutions : 79.30 per cent of gold and 51.36 per cent of silver.
Total time of treatment : In agitation-vats, 45 hr.; in decantation vat, 48 hr
the usual practice, though the charges then being
treated were heavier than those treated at the
present time. The usual charge is now but 15 tons
of slimes (dry weight), while the proportion, by
weight, of solution to slimes present has been in-
creased to 2.5 : 1.
Precipitation.— All solution leaving the decanta-
tion vats is passed through the zinc boxes before
being reused. The zinc boxes have to be watched
very closely, since, owing to the excess of lime usu-
ally present in the solution, difficulty is experienced
in obtaining good precipitation. Records are kept
of the quantity of solution daily passing through
the boxes, together with the assay values of the solu-
tion, before and after precipitation. These records
show that, during the last three months, an aver-
age of practically 48 tons of strong and 117 tons of
weak solution, or a total of 165 tons, were passed
through the boxes daily, the average assays of the
solution being approximately as follows:
Strong Solution.
Weak Solution.
Gold.
Silver.
Gold.
Silver.
Entering zinc boxes
$1.05
0.10
Ounces.
2.90
0.40
«0. 60
0.10
Ounces.
1 70
0.35
The zinc boxes having a combined total shavings
capacity of approximately 120 cubic feet, the rate of
flow of solution through the boxes during 1904 aver-
aged 1.37 ton per cubic foot of shavings per twenty-
four hours.
The precipitates recovered are always of lower
grade than those obtained in the sand plant, because,
ounces of silver per ton. Since the above was writ-
ten the consumption of cyanide has been steadily
decreased, and during the last two months (March
and April, 1905) has averaged 3.56 pounds of sodium
cyanide (equivalent to 4.40 pounds of potassium cya-
nide) per ton of slimes treated.
The average extraction of silver for the last three
months has been 51%.
The consumption of cyanide, zinc and lime per ton
of dried slimes treated during this time was: Sodium
cyanide 4.42 pounds, zinc 0.957 pound, lime 13.95
pounds. The sodium cyanide consumption is equiva-
lent to 5.52 pounds of potassium cyanide. Table X
gives the operating cost per ton of slimes treated:
TABLE X.— Working Costs per Ton of Slimes Treated.
Cyanide (4.42 pounds at $0.63) $2 785
Zinc (0.957 pound at $0.30) 0.287
Lime (13.95 pounds at $0.0118) 0 165
Other supplies 0 238
Lubricating ■. 0.033
Labor 0.491
Salaries .. 0.748
Assay office (labor and supplies) 0 . 060
Power (ditch, maintenance and supplies) 0 621
Miscellaneous (lighting, etc.) 0.002
Management and general expenses 0.179
Total.
$5,615
Note.— In Mexican currency during this period $5,615 was equiva-
lent to $2.66 gold. The cos of realizing on the precipitates produced
is not included in the above working costs. For the same reasons as
given in the portion of this paper relating to the sand treatment,
these expenses are unusually high. The average cost of realization
on the precipitates produced in the slimes plant, per ton of dry
slimes treated, is: Government taxes, $0,856; treatment charges (in-
cluding transportation expenses), $1,202; total, $2,058.
I wish to acknowledge my indebtedness to Mr. W. T.
MacDonald, mill superintendent of the Palmarejo &
Mexican Gold Fields, Ltd., for his valuable assistance
n the preparation of this paper.
Written by N. S. Keith.
The following described process of treating low-
grade copper ores, written with particular refer-
ence to the ores occurring in certain geological hori-
zons in the Eastern United States, are of interest, as
it deals with a problem which is not uncommon in
some western localities as well, particularly in Utah,
Arizona, western Colorado and southern Nevada,
and the ideas are suggestive, at least, of application
in many districts where ores of the character here
described are found. — Ed.
In many sections of the United States there are
vast deposits of sandstone, carboniferous, triassic,
and earlier, which contain copper, either in the
metallic state, or mineralized as sulphides and car-
bonates. The chief sulphide is Cua S, variously
called chalcocite, copper glance, or cuprous sulphide.
Sometimes chalcopyrite occurs, more or less mixed
or combined with iron pyrites, but comparatively in-
frequently. In the eastern section of the country
these cupriferous rocks are noticeably occurrent in
the Appalachian ranges, from Maine and Vermont to
the Carolinas.
In the sandstone regions, disconnected from the
main range, such deposits have been found, and have
been somewhat exploited from the earliest years of
the history of the country.
Beyond Maine, along the coast of New Brunswick,
there is a considerable tract of cupriferous, carbonr
iferous sandstone at Dorchester. In Connecticut,
not far from New Haven, are copper-bearing sand-
stones. In New Jersey, at Arlington, 8 miles west
of New York City, are such sandstones of the tri-
assic formation, with intrusive trap dikes and sheets,
from which trap the copper impregnations were
probably derived.
On the banks of the Delaware river, in Warren
county, New Jersey, a few miles above the Delaware
water gap, are cupriferous rocks, classed as Medina
and Oneida sandstones, of an older period than the
triassic, and not associated with trap rocks, or other
evidences of volcanic disturbances. There are other
places in New Jersey where sandstone deposits have
had attention given them.
In Adams county, Penn., nor far from Gettysburg,
there are sandstones which contain not only chalco-
cite and carbonates, but metallic copper. In this
case, as in all of the others, the copper carbonates
(malachite and azurite) occur at and near the sur-
face, and are the result of the action of the atmos-
phere and carbonated waters on the chalcocite and
metallic copper.
All of these sandstones are essentially siliceous, be-
ing built up from quartz grains cemented together
by silica from thermal waters containing silica in
solution. The silica solution may have been, and
probably was, the result of the solvent action of the
thermal waters on the sand itself while lying on a
horizontal plane, from which position the sandstones
have been moved to planes having various dips from
their original ones.
The sandstones frequently contain a small percent-
age of calcium carbonate, or calcium in some other
combination, such as the sulphate.
In Virginia, near Virgilina, on the boundary line of
North Carolina, there is a mineralized belt of coun-
try extending 25 miles north and south in the two
States. The country rock is slate; in this slate there
are quartz veins and porphyry dikes, parallel with
each other, and conformable with the stratification
of the slate.
These veins and dikes carry carbonates of copper
and chalcocite, with bornite, and occasionally chalco-
pyrite. These rocks are siliceous, as in the other
cases.
Besides their contents of copper the rocks at the
various points I have named carry gold and silver, in
amounts varying from traces to some dollars in value
per ton of rock. The copper constituent averages in
the several cases at from 1% to 3% of the weight of
the rock; that is, from twenty to sixty pounds per
ton.
There are many other places at which like rocks
are obtainable; but these serve to illustrate prevail-
ing conditions, and to show the foundation for the
methods of treatment which I am about to consider.
In all of these cases the smelting of the rocks to
obtain their metals is possible in theory, and prac-
ticable under favorable conditions; but these favor-
able conditions are absent. The unfavorable condi-
tions are:
1. The absence of, or expense of, suitable fuel at
the mines.
2. The absence of, or the expense of, suitable
fluxes, such as iron oxides, iron sulphides, or lime-
stone, at the mines.
3. The cost of transporting the rock to the neigh-
borhood of fuel and fluxes.
4. The "low grade" of the rock. That is to say,
the copper, gold and silver are not in quantities
enough to yield values sufficient to pay either for
♦Journal Franklin Inst.
September 9, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
173
bringing the fuel and fluxes to the mine, nor for tak-
ing the rock to the fuel and fluxes.
There are places where copper ores and rocks of
no higher grade than these are worked at a profit.
But they are where the ores are ''self-fluxing."
That is to say, where the ore itself is composed of
materials which naturally react on each other in the
furnace to produce slags which are liquid enough to
permit the metals to come together, and where the
necessary fuel is cheap enough; or, in cases where
there are cheaply obtainable suitable ores to admix
so as to make a fusible mixture. Then, again, the
rocks which have their copper in the metallic state
can be worked after the methods pursued at the
Lake Superior mines, where rock containing less
than fifteen pounds of copper per ton are mined and
reduced at a profit.
But I am to consider the treatment of siliceous
rocks where the considerations are unfavorable for
smelting.
Foremost among the methods which have been
tried is that of "leaching." Leaching consists in
submitting the cupriferous material to the action of
solvents of the copper constituent, and then reducing
the dissolved copper from the solution by means of a
reducing agent. The rock must first be crushed and
ground to a fineness, say that of fine sand, so that
the solvent may have access to all of the copper min-
eral. About the only available solvent of the chalco-
cite and metallic copper is a solution of ferric sul-
phate or ferric chloride. A solution of either of
these salts of iron dissolves, though slowly, both
chalcocite and metallic copper, by forming copper
sulphate or copper chloride, and the ferric solutions
are changed to ferrous solutions. These ferrous
solutions are changed by exposure to air, by absorp-
tion of oxygen, to the ferric state; and are then
again usable to dissolve more copper. The copper
may then be deposited from its solutions by means of
metallic iron, generally scrap, or by means of elec-
tricity.
This seems at first glance a simple process. But
there are serious complications, chief among which is
the presence of lime, or calcium compounds, in the
rocks, as is almost always the case.
The lime acts up to its limit in quantity to neutral-
ize its combining equivalent of the sulphuric acid, or
chlorine, constituent of the solvent, and that action
is preferential above that on the copper. The only
exception to this is when the lime is present as a sul-
phate, which is seldom. It is generally calcium car-
bonate.
The next leaching method is to grind the rock to
sand, as before, and then roast it, so as to oxidize its
oxidizable constituents. The result then is, if the
operation is carefully performed, the formation of
oxide of copper in the sand, and of some calcium sul-
phate, and some calcium oxide, or lime. Then the
roasted sand is leached with a dilute solution of
either sulphuric or hydrochloric acid. But this has
been found impracticable where acids are expensive,
and where there is lime in quantity as low, even, as
one-half of 1% of the rock.
If there be at hand some sulphide ores, as of iron,
carrying some copper, say 1% of the latter, it may
be ground and mixed with the ground sandstone or
quartz and roasted as before. Then the lime will be
sulphated and will not thereafter combine with the
acid to its loss in the subsequent leaching.
Having thus obtained the solution of copper, with
questionable economy, the method of precipitating
the copper therefrom by the use of iron scrap, or
pig, is pursued in various localities. This method of
precipitation of copper is very old and well known,
and is only one of the steps constituting some of the
modern methods pursued in obtaining that metal.
But, to-day, that step is too costly in most localities.
While, theoretically, fifty-six pounds of iron should
precipitate 63.35 pounds of copper, in practice
nearly three times that quantity of iron is used.
This comes from excess of acid in the copper solu-
tion, a waste in itself, uniting with its equivalent of
iron; from oxidation of iron; from the formation of
ferrous salts; scale and rust and dirt on the iron as
purchased, small pieces undissolved, etc. Then the
precipitated copper is very impure. It contains on
the average about 70% of copper. The other con-
stituents of this " cement copper," so-called, is iron
oxide, sand, and other extraneous matter, which
must be removed by smelting.
A better method is this: Having obtained the
solution of copper by some method, it is deposited by
means of electricity. In brief, this is accomplished
by immersing the electrodes of a source of elec-
tricity into the copper solution, and causing a
graded current of electricity to flow from the anode
through the solution to the cathode. In this way, if
the strength of the electric current be properly pro-
portioned to the amount of copper in the solution
(the electrolyte) at all instants of the time of the
operation there will be produced on the cathode a
deposit of reguline copper of great purity, and in a
commercial scale much cheaper than by iron as
above outlined.
But the anode must be insoluble. In sulphate solu-
tions lead stands the action in the bath much better
1 than any other sufficiently cheap material. Carbon
anodes do not endure in sulphate solutions, but are
practicable in use in chloride solutions, in which lead
anodes are quickly chloridized. But lead anodes
must be, as far as possible, kept continually in action
to prevent them from sulphating. The cathode is
generally a thin sheet of copper at the start, pre-
pared by the electro-deposition of copper on a
cathode of lead, from which latter it is stripped
when thick enough for use.
Under the just-described method it is necessary, in
order to economically deposit the ultimate quantity
of reguline copper within a required time, to begin
the deposition by use of the current at its maximum
density between the electrodes, permissible in the
production of reguline metal on the cathode, and
retrogressively decrease that density as the action
goes on, and in proportion to the decrease of the
metal in the solution, till, at the end the minimum
density of current is in use, and the minimum amount
of copper is left undcposited in the solution.
It is not necessary to deposit all of the copper,
because the solution will be used again to dissolve
more copper, the acid from the deposited copper
being freed by the electrolytic action so that it may
again combine to form a soluble salt of copper.
It is evident from the above that the source of
electricity, a dynamo, is not acting during the time
on the average above one-half of its capacity. It
was started at its maximum and finished at its
minimum.
To obviate this difficulty I have devised the follow-
ing described apparatus and method: The deposition
vats are placed in series, so that the liquid or solu-
tion is caused to flow from the first to the last in
regular succession. They are also connected with
the dynamos in electrical series, so that the electric
current flows through all in equal strength in
amperes.
As the solution has, in practice, a nearly uniform
amount of copper per unit in it as it flows into the
first vat of the series, that vat has in it a cathode
surface which permits the deposition of about the
maximum amount of reguline copper obtainable on
that area of surface.
That area is limited by the amperes of current
available. In other words, the density of current is
such that reguline copper is deposited, but the dens-
ity of current is less than that which causes the depo-
sition of a brown, sandy deposit.
In the second vat is a larger cathode area. As
the same amperes of current flow in this vat, the
density of current is less — because the area of cath-
ode is greater. The same amount of reguline copper
is deposited as in the first vat, and in the same time,
but over a larger area.
The same progressive increase in cathode area is
made in each successive vat of the series. The same
current flows through all, but its density is less and
less through the several vats of the series, so that
reguline copper is deposited to the same amount in
each, until the depleted solution flows out of the last
vat of the series, to be again used to dissolve copper
from more rock or ore. In this way the electricity
is used most economically.
But none of these leaching methods obtains the
gold and silver which almost invariably accompany
the copper. To obtain these, leaching by cyanide of
potassium solutions might be performed after thor-
oughly washing the pulp which has been treated for
copper. But this will often be found too expensive
for the values obtainable.
1 have devised and put into successful operation
the following described method of treating the silice-
ous copper-bearing rocks which we have been consid-
ering. It is based on these chemical and metallurgical
facts:
Silica alone is infusible at temperatures at which
copper, gold and silver are melted. In those rocks
there is not enough iron or lime to act as fluxes for
the silica, which last averages 90% or more of the
whole.
Oxide of iron, and oxide of calcium, separately, are
likewise infusible.
Copper carbonates, azurite and malachite, when
exposed to red heat, are decomposed; carbon oxide is
freed as a gas, and cupric oxide remains. If the
atmosphere in which this decomposition takes place
be a reducing one, say carbon monoxide, then the
copper is reduced to the metallic condition by passing
of the oxygen of the cupric oxide to the carbon mon-
oxide to produce carbon dioxide. If the temperature
be high enough to melt copper that will be found in
small metallic globules if the carbonates were diffused
in the rock.
Chalcocite, or copper glance, Cu2 S, when exposed
to a like heat in an oxidizing atmosphere, as on the
hearth of a roasting furnace, is decomposed; the sul-
phur partly distills off, and is partly oxidized to sul-
phurous acid, S02. The copper is first freed as a
metal, and then rapidly oxidized to cupric oxide. If,
then, the character of the flame and gases be changed
to a reducing nature the copper oxide will be reduced
and fused as stated above.
If carbon, such as coal, be ground or pulverized,
and be projected into a flame in a furnace with free
access of air, it immediately ignites and is oxidized to
carbon' monoxide and carbon dioxide. If the air be
insufficient to furnish oxygen enough for the forma-
tion of dioxide only monoxide will be formed.
The air admitted with the powdered carbon maybe
sufficient to form at the first stage of the combustion
only carbon dioxide, but as the action continues, the
hot particles of carbon absorb half of the oxygen of
the dioxide, reducing the latter to monoxide.
The atmosphere resulting from this operation con-
sists of nitrogen, from the air, and carbon monoxide
from the union of the oxygen of the air with the car-
bon. There are, also, small quantities of gaseous
hydro carbons, because of reactions due to the pres-
ence of water in the air and in the coal. This at-
mosphere of hot gases is ready to, and does, take
oxygen from hot oxides and thus reduces them to the
metallic state.
The practical, working furnace in which the several
reactions above recited take place consists of a
vertical shaft about 20 feet high, constructed of red
brick with a fire-brick lining.
At the top of this shaft are many holes, or openings,
through which the powdered rock, powdered coal
and flames from producer gas, or like fuel, are intro-
duced. The bottom of the interior of the shaft is in-
clined at an angle of about 45°, and this incline is ex-
tended in to a dust-collecting chamber. This chamber,
in turn, connects with another vertical shaft, also
with an inclined bottom, dipping toward the other in-
cline. The interior of this shaft is filled with pieces
of coke, or small stones. This latter shaft is called
the "condensing chamber." Near its topis a sprink-
ler to distribute water over the coke or stones, after
the manner of a gas washer or scrubber. The draft
for this furnace is produced by an exhaust fan through
a pipe from the top of the condensing chamber. The
draft is downward in the first shaft and upwards in
the condensing chamber.
The operation by which copper, gold and silver are
extracted from the siliceous rocks is described as
follows :
The rock, as it comes from the mine, is dumped
from the cars into a crusher, or a series of crushers,
which reduces it to sizes suitable for the pulverizers,
into which it is automatically fed, and in them reduced
to powder. The fineness of this powder is determined
by the diffusion of the copper mineral in the rock ; and
it should be so fine that the particles of rock and
mineral are no longer coherent, but, of course, still
mixed. The degree of comminution is measured by
sieves, which may be as fine as 60-mesh, or finer, or
coarser, according to the above requirement.
At some stage of this process of comminution finely
pulverized coal, in weight about 3% of the rock, is
intimately mixed with the powdered rock, and the
mixture is deposited in a hopper above the furnace
shaft.
The draft and gas flames having been started, the
comminuted mixture of rock and carbon is contin-
uously fed into the holes at the top of the shaft, pass-
ing into the furnace with the flames and air. The
particles of carbon and copper mineral are imme-
diately ignited and oxidized by the oxygen of the air
in which the particles are suspended and diffused.
This oxidation is combustion, and produces an in-
tense heat. At first the carbon particles have their
surfaces oxidized to produce carbon dioxide; but as
the particles pass farther down the shaft the oxygen
of the air supply becomes exhausted, and then the
carbon dioxide parts with half of its oxygnn to the
unburned incandescent carbon to form carbon mon-
oxide, which last, in its turn, acts upon the oxides of
copper and silver, taking their oxygen, thus reducing
them to the metallic state.
As the heat is intense, these particles of metal are
melted and assume globular shape.
The gold particles are likewise fused. The heat
does not fuse the silica nor the lime. The result of
this operation is a sand carrying in it minute globular
particles of copper, gold and silver.
The dust and condensible gases are collected on the
wetted surfaces of coke or stones in the condensing
chamber and washed by the water to the bottom,
where the water also meets the sand and carries it
out of the furnace, in a constant stream upon con-
centrators, which separate the sand from the metal
particles.
The metallic concentrates are then dried, melted and
cast into merchantable shapes; such as copper anodes,
when there is enough gold and silver to pay for the
expense of electrolytic refining and separation of the
associated metals.
The process is a continuous one and automatic from
start to finish. It is cheap; and under the economic
conditions of the localities we have considered the
cost does not exceed $1 per ton on a scale of treat-
ment of 100 to ^00 tons per day of 24 hours.
The gas drawn from the furnace by the exhaust fan
is a combustible one, consisting mainly of carbon mon-
oxide and nitrogen, and may be used for heating
purposes. The sulphur dioxide and carbon bisulphide,
if any of the latter, are condensed in the chamber
and pass off in the water.
The limits of this paper do not admit of entering
into specific details of construction and operation.
The process is applicable in many cases where older
methods are not practicable.
To attempt to locate and run long and expensive
tunnels through bedrock to reach gravel channels, the
depth of which has not been previously ascertained
by means of drilling numerous bore holes, is fool-
hardy. Many tunnels have thus been run by guess,
but those engineered in this haphazard manner
usually fail in accomplishing the desired result — the
tapping and draining of the channel.
■ '"
Yti
Mining and Scientific Press.
September 9, 1905.
«•
■ ' «•
*
PATENTS ISSUED AUGUST 22, 1906.
Mining and Metallurgical Patents*
Speolally Reported and Illustrated tor the MINING AND
SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
Air Look Apparatus for Caissons. — No. 797,817;
E. W. Moir, London, England.
Air lock apparatus, comprising caisson having air-
tight floor, vertical shaft, hoisting cage therein,
horizontal air lock at its lower end, with runway in
air lock and secondary hoist within caisson.
Automatic Bucket Loader for Aerial Tram-
ways.—No. 797,944; E. F. Crawford, Nelson, Canada.
Combination of bucket or other container of tram-
way, loading hopper mounted to reciprocate and
provided with discharge gate, accelerating lever for
imparting motion of bucket to gate to open same,
accelerating lever for imparting motion of gate to
hopper to cause latter to move along with bucket
while it is being loaded from hopper, means for auto-
matically releasing hopper from bucket, and means
for automatically closing gate and returning hopper
to normal position.
Assay Furnace.
Chloride, Ariz.
-No. 797,901; A. M. MacDuffee,
Assay furnace comprising base and ends and body
portion forming muffle chamber, one of ends having
projection on its inner face inclosing air space, muffle
in chamber having opening in back end to connect
air space with interior of muffle, muffle having nor-
mally loose, readily separable bottom thereby adapt-
ing muffle for both melting and cupeling operations,
means for admitting flame to muffle, and means
whereby spent products are allowed to escape from
furnace.
Furnace for Roasting Ores.— No. 797,915; W. T.
Rushton, London, England.
In continuous roasting furnace, combination of re-
fractory furnace chamber, rotatable cylindrical muf-
fle mounted therein having internal spiral conveying
flange, inclined baffles projecting laterally therefrom,
inwardly directed flange fixed on each end of cylinder
forming annular recess, stationary disks closing cyl-
inder ends aDd resting in annular recesses and means
for rotating cylinders.
Rotary Breaker. — No.
Minneapolis, Minn.
797,616; J. M. Schutz,
Rotary breaker comprising horizontal cylindrical
shell or casing having feed chute in side and provided
with breaker block at foot of chute, in combination
with curved grating extending from block across
bottom of casing, corrugated lining provided in top
of casing, shaft extending through casing, bearings
therefor, roll mounted on shaft within casing, and
flat faced or ended hammer bars tangentially fixed in
roll and therewith nearly filling casing.
Core Drill
run, Pa.
■No. 797,627; W. S. Smith, Big-
Combination with reciproeatory frame, of pair of
racks carried by frame and adjustable thereon to
operative and inoperative positions, teeth of racks
being yieldable in opposite directions, respectively,
shaft, and gear carried by shaft and intermeshing
with racks.
Jack Arm for Excavating Machines. — No. 797,-
627; E. B. Stone, Oakland, Cal.
In machine of character described, combination
with A-shaped supporting standard of pair of jack
arms hinged to apex portion of standard so as to
swing in vertical plane.
Ore Roasting Furnace.— No. 797,584; C. E.
Keating, East Chicago, Ind.
In device of class described, combination of hori-
zontally disposed hearth for supporting layer of
material to be roasted, track extending along each
side of hearth, shaft extending across hearth and
supported by wheels riding on tracks, plurality of
stirring devices mounted on shaft and rotatable
about axis thereof, stirring devices having radially
disposed arms and being adapted to rotate through
engagement with material on hearth for stirring
same, arms being curved in radial direction whereby
rotation of stirring devices when shaft is moved along
hearth will cause arms to pass endwise into mass of
material on hearth and be lifted edgewise therefrom,
and means for moving shaft along hearth.
Mining Sluice.-
vffle, Cal.
-No. 797,168; P. Bouery, Weaver-
In sluice having bottom and sides and obstructing
riffles, T rails having base flanges fixed upon riffles,
blocks interposed between rails having ends' fitting
curvature of rail sides, holes made through blocks
and countersunk depressions at ends, bolts extend-
ing through holes and through rail flanges, heads of
bolts being enclosed within depressions at one end of
block, and nuts by which bolts are secured to rail
web being enclosed in next adjacent block.
September 9, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
175
Notes on Copper Deposits Near Tokar,
Sudan.*
Written for tlie Mimn>. am. sitMiH. I'm
W. H. SHOCKLIT.
These copper deposits lie between 17° 30' and 18°
north and 37° 45' to 38° 30' east. They cover with
their float an area of 500 square miles; the ore in
place was found over an area of 130 square miles.
They have been but little studied and nothing has
been published on them that I know of. The only
engineers who have visited the region are J. F. Mor-
ris and myself; we were there during February to
April, 1905.
The region is mountainous, the highest summits
rising to 9121 feet on the Erythrean border, at a dis-
tance of 50 miles from the sea.
The formation is exclusively made up of schists
having a strike a little east of north and a steep
westerly dip as a rule. The schists are varied in
structure and injected into them are eruptive rocks
with well marked crystals. Limestones, sandstone,
basalts, porphyries and granites, all of which are
found to the west, are wanting.
The slopes facing the sea are covered with dense
brush and small trees, and on the higher ranges are
forests of juniper. The country is sparsely peopled
The following assays were made chiefly of float and
are only valuable as showing the existence of good ore:
Copper Silver Per Ton.
From— l>er Cent. Ozs. Dwt. Ore.
Klior Art-trlli 2.01 0 0 14
Ibrahim Ledge, Dear 11 truces
Abundob ulout) 1196 2 2 11
Khor Dareb ,.....„.. 42 ft9 31 10 0
Khor Arelrlbut Abuiulob itoutj 2126 7 2 17
Khor Arelrlb. near Abaadub moat) 14 33 2 IB 0
Khor Humrlk (ttont) nil nil
Near Kutul Dui 34.24 15 !U 0
Small Khor from Arelrlb. near Abandob ft 59 traces
Mahomed Ledge. Khor Humrlk 2.98 traces
All these deposits are on the concession of the
Tokar Syndicate, and will be further studied the
coming winter. No other mineral deposits were
found. Quartz veins are very abundant in one por-
tion of the concession, and the ground is covered to a
depth of several inches for many square miles with
quartz float, but all the samples assayed were barren.
The Ventilation of Mines.
NUMBER IV.
Appliances for Regulating Air Currents: The use
of doors and stoppings for systematizing the ventila-
tion of metalliferous mines has not had the attention
which its importance deserves, the currents being
generally allowed to travel haphazard through the
Sketch Showing Position of Copper Deposits Near Tokar, Sudan.
by Hasas, a tribe of black Arabs, living almost en-
tirely on milk from their sheep and goats. Cattle
and camels are also kept. There is much game,
gazelle, koodoo, warthogs, bustard and guinea fowl
being the principal varieties.
The copper float found consisted of rock, stained
green by malachite, varying from small pebbles to
boulders weighing twenty-Sve pounds. The float,
though distributed over 500 square miles, is nowhere
abundant, and it needs careful searching to find it.
The Arabs soon become expert in finding float; at
first they had great difficulty in distinguishing be-
tween the chlorite and epidote rocks, which are com-
mon, and the copper ore. Specular iron ore is found
as float and also in lodes. This mineral is found in
the croppings of the copper veins at Bearhaven, in
Ireland, which consist chiefly of white quartz. After
sinking a short distance the quartz is replaced by
copper ores. This fact I learned from Mr. Morris,
who examined these mines recently with a view to
reopening them.
By following up the copper float we found a num-
ber of lodes and indications of many others which our
limited time did not allow us to discover. None of
these deposits showed any ore that would pay to
ship. It is possible that some of the deposits we
found may improve in depth, and further prospecting
may find much better lodes than we have yet seen.
The strongest outcrop we saw was of white quartz
75 feet long, 10 feet high and 15 feet thick. This
showed many small stains of malachite. Strata of
schist, impregnated with copper, were found in many
places varying from lenses 40 feet long, witha width
of a few inches to 4 feet, to a vein a foot wide and
extending for several hundred feet along the surface.
The largest deposit showed copper stains in a space
100 feet wide by 200 feet long. The staining did not
cover the whole space; the largest outcrop here was
15 feet long by 6 feet high and 2 feet wide. A sam-
ple taken here gave 2% copper.
*See illustrations front page.
mines. The smoke and vitiated air from lower work-
ings are consequently often found passing into upper
ones to the detriment of the men there, when by a
little trouble they could be diverted into a return
way in which they could do no harm. Each level
should, as far as possible, be made a separate "split"
from the downcast current, the air being guided
through the stopes above it and thence into the main
return. Frequently it is not practicable to make
each level a separate split, and then two or more
may have to be worked on one split, but the more
the principle of ventilating the mine in sections can
be carried out the more thoroughly it will be venti-
lated. '
The regulation of the distribution of the air can be
carried out by stopping all unnecessary air ways,
and placing doors so as to direct the currents into
the paths along which they are desired to travel. In
our examination of the metalliferous mines we found
only two which made regular use of an air door sys-
tem throughout the mine, namely, the Sons of Gwalia
and the Ivanhoe, and in both the evidence of wit-
nesses showed that their construction had been at-
tended with great improvement of the ventilation.
In the Sons of Gwalia the main shaft is an upcast,
the downcast air coming from the surface into the
mine through winzes and stoped-out ground, and in
order to drive it to the bottom levels it proved abso-
lutely necessary to use doors to prevent it returning
to the upcast by the shortest route. In the Ivanhoe
case the object of the air doors is to carry the down-
cast air through the main shaft into the bottom of
the mine before allowing it to escape upwards through
the workings. In the Lake View Consols mine good
use is made of air doors at one or two important
points, and in the Ida H. mine, near Laverton, we
noticed a well-considered plan of using bag doors to
good advantage, but in the great majority of the
mines visited there was Very little attempt made at
any regulation of the air currents. Undoubtedly the
judicious use of doors and stoppings would be of the
very greatest advantage in almost all mines. In our
opinion it should be incumbent on every mine to show
should be marked, in order that consideration of this
the course of its ventilating currents on suitable plans
and sections, on which also all doors and stoppings
question should be constantly forced upon the atten-
tion of the management, and come prominently under
the notice of the inspectors of mines.
Devices for Mechanical Ventilation: A great many
different devices for mechanically assisting the venti-
lation of metalliferous mines were mentioned by wit-
nesses as being used in mines with which they were
familiar here and elsewhere, from the large ventilat-
ing fans used in collieries to hand driven fans, water
jets, and other simple appliances employed in ven-
tilating small portions of mine workings. There
can be no doubt that, in order to insure a thorough
and constant ventilation throughout a mine, the use
of a powerful fan is the most certain method of attain-
ing the desired end, and that in very many cases
where the natural ventilation presents difficulties, the
best solution would be a fan installation. The case
of the Sons of Gwalia mine seemed to us one which
could best be dealt with by a fan. Instead of having
the main shaft the upcast, it would be much prefer-
able to have it the downcast into the mine, which
could be brought about by putting an exhaust fan on
the small shaft, which is the present principal in- take
of air, and enlarging the air-way from this through
the workings. So long, however, as a fair amount of
natural ventilation can be obtained in metalliferous
mines in the course of opening them up in the ordi-
nary way, it is hard to persuade owners to go to the
expense of installing mechanical ventilation on a
large scale, even though in many cases such ventila-
tion would be so much superior that economy, in-
stead of expense, would result. It is somewhat dif-
ficult to convince managers that this might be possi-
ble without direct comparison of cases where one sys-
tem has been tried against the other, which are not
available in this State; but the experience of coal
mines strongly supports the contention that mechan-
ical may be even more economical than natural
ventilation, notwithstanding the obvious expense of
the former as shown on the cost sheet. Should it
enable the working force underground to do only 1%
more work in the same time, there would evidently
be a very considerable credit to put against the
debited cost. That the state of the ventilation does
affect the working efficiency of the men employed
can not be disputed, especially when the mines are
hot. With better ventilation, not only is it possible
for men to work longer, on account of more rapid
clearing of the smoke from blasting, but the lowering
of the temperature brought about also enables them
to exert themselves to better effect and do more
work. The observations of Dr. Haldane as to the
effect on men of high temperatures underground
show very strikingly the impossibility of performing
vigorous exertion when the workings are very hot
and moist. That the temperature may be greatly
reduced by ventilation was proved in the driving of
the St. Gothard tunnel, where, "before the fan was
brought into operation, the temperature used some-
times to be as high as 107° F., with 97% of moisture;
but by artificial ventilation the temperature fell to
81° F., subsequently to 74.5° F."
Any of the well-known types of fans used for col-
liery ventilation may be used also for metalliferous
mines, either driving air into the workings (plenum
system) or exhausting it out of them (vacuum sys-
tem), and the choice is a matter for individual con-
sideration.
In the system of ventilating mines by large fans at
surface, either blowing or suction, the mine excava-
tions themselves are the principal conduits for the
air. Another system, however, is often applied, es-
pecially in conjunction with natural ventilation,
namely, that of blowing or exhausting the air
through pipes. Root's and similar blowers are often
used for this purpose, driving or drawing air through
pipes into or from the places where ventilation is re-
quired. In the blowing system the pure air is con-
fined to the pipes until it reaches the points of dis-
charge, and all the smoke and vitiated air have to
travel back through the mine passages; while in the
exhaust system the pure air travels inwards to the
faces through the workings, and the fumes are re-
moved in the pipes and do not pass over the workmen
to any extent. When the air is blown in, however,
there is an advantage in the fact that the current
can be sent forward some considerable distance from
the end of the pipe, while with an exhaust there is
little current perceptible a few feet from its end.
The blast is, therefore, much preferable in clearing
ends of smoke, as it is impossible to keep pipes right
up to the faces.
Although the main ventilation of a mine may be
very good, it generally happens that development
work must be carried on so far ahead of any possible
connections that some means must be adopted of
carrying a current of air into them. This can occa-
sionally be done by bratticing or by the air-sollar
system, as already mentioned; but usually pipes of
some sort are the most applicable method. Very
generally, however, those used are much too small.
Small fans and blowers driven by hand, or by water
power, if available, or by a small compressed air en-
gine, or by an electric motor, are often used success-
fully in such cases, causing air to pass in from a well
ventilated part of the mine and removing the vitiated
w4
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
SEPTEMBER 9, 1905.
#************** ************* *********
1 Mining and Metallurgical Patents J
* i-
PATENTS ISSUED AUGUST 22, 1906.
Speolally Reported ana Illustrated for the MINING AND
SCIENTIFIC PKESS.
Air Look Apparatus tor Caissons. — No. 797,817;
E. W. Moir, London, England.
Air lock apparatus, comprising caisson having air-
tight floor, vertical shaft, hoisting cage therein,
horizontal air lock at its lower end, with runway in
air lock and secondary hoist within caisson.
Automatic Bucket Loader for Aerial Tram-
ways.—No. 797,944; E. F. Crawford, Nelson, Canada.
Combination of bucket or other container of tram-
way, loading hopper mounted to reciprocate and
provided with discharge gate, accelerating lever for
imparting motion of bucket to gate to open same,
accelerating lever for imparting motion of gate to
hopper to cause latter to move along with bucket
while it is being loaded from hopper, means for auto-
matically releasing hopper from bucket, and means
for automatically closing gate and returning hopper
to normal position.
Assay Furnace.— No. 797,901; A. M. MacDuffee,
Chloride, Ariz.
Assay furnace comprising base and ends and body
portion forming muffle chamber, one of ends having
projection on its inner face inclosing air space, muffle
in chamber having opening in back end to connect
air space with interior of muffle, muffle having nor-
mally loose, readily separable bottom thereby adapt-
ing muffle for both melting and cupeling operations,
means for admitting flame to muffle, and means
whereby spent products are allowed to escape from
furnace.
Furnace for Roasting Ores.— No. 797,915; W. T.
Bushton, London, England.
In continuous roasting furnace, combination of re-
fractory furnace chamber, rotatable cylindrical muf-
fle mounted therein having internal spiral conveying
flange, inclined baffles projecting laterally therefrom,
inwardly directed flange fixed on each end of cylinder
forming annular recess, stationary disks closing cyl-
inder ends and resting in annular recesses and means
for rotating cylinders.
Rotary Breaker.
Minneapolis, Minn.
-No. 797,616; J. M. Schutz,
Rotary breaker comprising horizontal cylindrical
shell or casing having feed chute in side and provided
with breaker block at foot of chute, in combination
with curved grating extending from block across
bottom of casing, corrugated lining provided in top
of casing, shaft extending through casing, bearings
therefor, roll mounted on shaft within casing, and
flat faced or ended hammer bars tangentially fixed in
roll and therewith nearly filling casing.
Core Drill— No. 797,627; W. S. Smith, Big-
run, Pa.
Combination with reciprocatory frame, of pair of
racks carried by frame and adjustable thereon to
operative and inoperative positions, teeth of racks
being yieldable in opposite directions, respectively,
shaft, and gear carried by shaft and intermeshing
with racks.
Jack Arm for Excavating Machines.— No. 797,-
627; E. B. Stone, Oakland, Cal.
In machine of character described, combination
with A-shaped supporting standard of pair of jack
arms hinged to apex portion of standard so as to
swing in vertical plane.
Ore Roasting Furnace. — No.
Keating, East Chicago, Ind.
797,584; C. E.
In device of class described, combination of hori-
zontally disposed hearth for supporting layer of
material to be roasted, track extending along each
side of hearth, shaft extending across hearth and
supported by wheels riding on tracks, plurality of
stirring devices mounted on shaft and rotatable
about axis thereof, stirring devices having radially
disposed arms and being adapted to rotate through
engagement with material on hearth for stirring
same, arms being curved in radial direction whereby
rotation of stirring devices when shaft is moved along
hearth will cause arms to pass endwise into mass of
material on hearth and be lifted edgewise therefrom,
and means for moving shaft along hearth.'
Mining Sluice.— No. 797,168; P. Bouery, Weaver-
ville, Cal.
In sluice having bottom and sides and obstructing
riffles, T rails having base flanges fixed upon riffles,
blocks interposed between rails having ends' fitting
curvature of rail sides, holes made through blocks
and countersunk depressions at ends, bolts extend-
ing through holes and through rail flanges, heads of
bolts being enclosed within depressions at one end of
block, and nuts by which bolts are secured to rail
web being enclosed in next adjacent block.
September 9, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
175
Notes on Copper Deposits Near Tokar,
Sudan. *
Written for the Minino and SciBNTmc PBXSG bj
W. H. Shock ley.
These copper deposits lie between 17° 30' and 18°
north and 37° 45' to 38° 30' east. They cover with
their float an area of 500 square miles; the ore in
place was found over an area of 130 square miles.
They have been but little studied and nothing has
been published on them that I know of. The only
engineers who have visited the region are J. P. Mor-
ris and myself; we were there during February to
April, 19U5.
The region is mountainous, the highest summits
rising to 9121 feet on the Erythrean border, at a dis-
tance of 50 miles from the sea.
The formation is exclusively made up of schists
having a strike a little east of north and a steep
westerly dip as a rule. The schists are varied in
structure and injected into them are eruptive rocks
with well marked crystals. Limestones, sandstone,
basalts, porphyries and granites, all of which are
found to the west, are wanting.
The slopes facing the sea are covered with dense
brush and small trees, and on the higher ranges are
forests of juniper. The country is sparsely peopled
The following assays were made chiefly of float and
are only valuable as showing the existence of good ore:
Copper Silver Per Ton.
Prom— Percent. O-s. Dwt. Urs.
Kiu>r Arelrlb 2.01 0 a 14
lliruliim Ledge, near H ■ 2.03 traces
Abandob (Itoult 11.96 2 2 11
EEhorDareb .'.'.'.,'.'.'. 42.59 20 16 0
Ktiui- Areirlu at Abandob (float) 21 2ti 7 2 ir
Khor Arelrlb. near Abur.dub boat) 14 3.1 2 1U 0
Khor Humrlk (tlotit) nil nil
Near Ratal Dui 31.21 15 10 0
Small Khorfrom Arelrlb, nrur Abandob 5 59 traces
Mahomed Ledge, Khor Humrlk 2.93 traces
All these deposits are on the concession of the
Tokar Syndicate, and will be further studied the
coming winter. No other mineral deposits were
found. Quartz veins are very abundant in one por-
tion of the concession, and the ground is covered to a
depth of several inches for many square miles with
quartz float, but all the samples assayed were barren.
The Ventilation of Mines.
NUMBER IV.
Appliances for Regulating Air Currents: The use
of doors and stoppings for systematizing the ventila-
tion of metalliferous mines has not had the attention
which its importance deserves, the currents being
generally allowed to travel haphazard through the
Sketch Showing Position of Copper Deposits Near Tokar, Sudan.
by Hasas, a tribe of black Arabs, living almost en-
tirely on milk from their sheep and goats. Cattle
and camels are also kept. There is much game,
gazelle, koodoo, warthogs, bustard and guinea fowl
being the principal varieties.
The copper float found consisted of rock, stained
green by malachite, varying from small pebbles to
boulders weighing twenty-five pounds. The float,
though distributed over 500 square miles, is nowhere
abundant, and it needs careful searching to find it.
The Arabs soon become expert in finding float; at
first they had great difficulty in distinguishing be-
tween the chlorite and epidote rocks, which are com-
mon, and the copper ore. Specular iron ore is found
as float and also in lodes. This mineral is found in
the croppings of the copper veins at Bearhaven, in
Ireland, which consist chiefly of white quartz. After
sinking a short distance the quartz is replaced by
copper ores. This fact I learned from Mr. Morris,
who examined these mines recently with a view to
reopening them.
By following up the copper float we found a num-
ber of lodes and indications of many others which our
limited time did Dot allow us to discover. None of
these deposits showed any ore that would pay to
ship. It is possible that some of the deposits we
found may improve in depth, and further prospecting
may find much better lodes than we have yet seen.
The strongest outcrop we saw was of white quartz
75 feet long, 10 feet high and 15 feet thick. This
showed many small stains of malachite. Strata of
schist, impregnated with copper, were found i-n many
places varying from lenses 40 feet long, with a width
of a few inches to 4 feet, to a vein a foot wide and
extending for several hundred feet along the surface.
The largest deposit showed copper stains in a space
100 feet wide by 200 feet long. The staining did not
cover the whole space; the largest outcrop here was
15 feet long by 6 feet high and 2 feet wide. A sam-
ple taken here gave 2% copper.
*See illustrations front page.
mines. The smoke and vitiated air from lower work-
ings are consequently often found passing into upper
ones to the detriment of the men there, when by a
little trouble they could be diverted into a return
way in which they could do no harm. Each level
should, as far as possible, be made a separate "split"
from the downcast current, the air being guided
through the stopes above it and thence into the main
return. Frequently it is not practicable to make
each level a separate split, and then two or more
may have to be worked on one split, but the more
the principle of ventilating the mine in sections can
be carried out the more thoroughly it will be venti-
lated.
The regulation of the distribution of the air can be
carried out by stopping all unnecessary air ways,
and placing doors so as to direct the currents into
the paths along which they are desired to travel. In
our examination of the metalliferous mines we found
only two which made regular use of an air door sys-
tem throughout the mine, namely, the Sons of Gwalia
and the Ivanhoe, and in both the evidence of wit-
nesses showed that their construction had been at-
tended with great improvement of the ventilation.
In the Sons of Gwalia the main shaft is an upcast,
the downcast air coming from the surface into the
mine through winzes and stoped-out ground, and in
order to drive it to the bottom levels it proved abso-
lutely necessary to use doors to prevent it returning
to the upcast by the shortest route. In the Ivanhoe
case the object of the air doors is to carry the down-
cast air through the main shaft into the bottom of
the mine before allowing it to escape upwards through
the workings. In the Lake View Consols mine good
use is made of air doors at one or two important
points, and in the Ida H. mine, near Laverton, we
noticed a well-considered plan of using bag doors to
good advantage, but in the great majority of the
mines visited there was very little attempt made at
any regulation of the air currents. Undoubtedly the
judicious use of doors and stoppings would be of the
very greatest advantage in almost all mines. In our
opinion it should be incumbent on every mine to show
should be marked, in order that consideration of this
the course of its ventilating currents on suitable plans
and sections, on which also all doors and stoppings
question should be constantly forced upon the atten-
tion of the management, and come prominently under
the notice of the inspectors of mines.
Devices for Mechanical Ventilation: A great many
different devices for mechanically assisting the venti-
lation of metalliferous mines were mentioned by wit-
nesses as being used in mines with which they were
familiar here and elsewhere, from the large ventilat-
ing fans used in collieries to hand driven fans, water
jets, and other simple appliances employed in ven-
tilating small portions of mine workings. There
can be no doubt that, in order to insure a thorough
and constant ventilation throughout a mine, the use
of a powerful fan is the most certain method of attain-
ing the desired end, and that in very many cases
where the natural ventilation presents difficulties, the
best solution would be a fan installation. The case
of the Sous of Gwalia mine seemed to us one which
could best be dealt with by a fan. Instead of having
the main shaft the upcast, it would be much prefer-
able to have it the downcast into the mine, which
could be brought about by putting an exhaust fan on
the small shaft, which is the present principal in-take
of air, and enlarging the air-way from this through
the workings. So long, however, as a fair amount of
natural ventilation can be obtained in metalliferous
mines in the course of opening them up in the ordi-
nary way, it is hard to persuade owners to go to the
expense of installing mechanical ventilation on a
large scale, even though in many cases such ventila-
tion would be so much superior that economy, in-
stead of expense, would result. It is somewhat dif-
ficult to convince managers that this might be possi-
ble without direct comparison of cases where one sys-
tem has been tried against the other, which are not
available in this State; but the experience of coal
mines strongly supports the contention that mechan-
ical may be even more economical than natural
ventilation, notwithstanding the obvious expense of
the former as shown on the cost sheet. Should it
enable the working force underground to do only 1%
more work in the same time, there would evidently
be a very considerable credit to put against the
debited cost. That the state of the ventilation does
affect the working efficiency of the men employed
can not be disputed, especially when the mines are
hot. With better ventilation, not only is it possible
for men to work longer, on account of more rapid
clearing of the smoke from blasting, but the lowering
of the temperature brought about also enables them
to exert themselves to better effect and do more
work. The observations of Dr. Haldane as to the
effect on men of high temperatures underground
show very strikingly the impossibility of performing
vigorous exertion when the workings are very hot
and moist. That the temperature may be greatly
reduced by ventilation was proved in the driving of
the St. Gothard tunnel, where, "before the fan was
brought into operation, the temperature used some-
times to be as high as 107° F., with 97% of moisture;
but by artificial ventilation the temperature fell to
81° F., subsequently to 74.5° F."
Any of the well-known types of fans used for col-
liery ventilation may be used also for metalliferous
mines, either driving air into the workings (plenum
system) or exhausting it out of them (vacuum sys-
tem), and the choice is a matter for individual con-
sideration.
In the system of ventilating mines by large fans at
surface, either blowing or suction, the mine excava-
tions themselves are the principal conduits for the
air. Another system, however, is often applied, es-
pecially in conjunction with natural ventilation,
namely, that of blowing or exhausting the air
through pipes. Root's and similar blowers are often
used for this purpose, driving or drawing air through
pipes into or from the places where ventilation is re-
quired. In the blowing system the pure air is con-
fined to the pipes until it reaches the points of dis-
charge, and all the smoke and vitiated air have to
travel back through the mine passages; while in the
exhaust system the pure air travels inwards to the
faces through the workings, and the fumes are re-
moved in the pipes and do not pass over the workmen
to any extent. When the air is blown in, however,
there is an advantage in the fact that the current
can be sent forward some considerable distance from
the end of the pipe, while with an exhaust there is
little current perceptible a few feet from its end.
The blast is, therefore, much preferable in clearing
ends of smoke, as it is impossible to keep pipes right
up to the faces.
Although the main ventilation of a mine may be
very good, it generally happens that development
work must be carried on so far ahead of any possible
connections that some means must be adopted of
carrying a current of air into them. This can occa-
sionally be done by bratticing or by the air-sollar
system, as already mentioned; but usually pipes of
some sort are the most applicable method. Very
generally, however, those used are much too small.
Small fans and blowers driven by hand, or by water
power, if available, or by a small compressed air en-
gine, or by an electric motor, are often used success-
fully in such cases, causing air to pass in from a well
ventilated part of the mine and removing the vitiated
176
Mining and Scientific Press.
SEPTEMBER 9, 1905.
air. They may be worked on the plenum or vacuum
system, as the operator may consider most advisable.
Where electric power is available in a mine, the use
of small high-speed fans driven directly by motors
affords a very flexible system of air supply; and
where there are no electric leads a small engine,
worked by compressed air from the rock drill mains,
also permits a very convenient installation. Where
there is a good deal of water allowed to pass from
the higher levels to a pumping station lower down in
the mine, the water may sometimes be made use of at
the lower level as a source of power, being brought
down in a pipe and used on a small Pelton wheel or
other motor. Where there are Cornish pumps at
work, the old "duck machine " or Hartz blower may
be used very successfully. If high pressure water is
available, as above, or can be obtained from a small
pipe let into the rising main of a pump, it is often
utilized more simply by merely turning a jet into the
bell mouth of a ventilating pipe, the jet driving the
air forward. The jet may similarly be arranged to
exhaust. In the Ida H. mine we were shown another
application of the water blast — a simple variation of
the old and well known "trompe," the air being
carried down by a stream of water from a rose in
such a way that its only outlet was through the ven-
tilating pipe. Air driven in by a water blast is often
much liked by the men, on account of its coolness and
sensation of freshness. In dry mines, however, either
hand power, electric power or compressed air must
be resorted to to produce the ventilation. One of the
most convenient ways of employing the compressed
air to produce a draught, either inwards or outwards
as desired, is to use it as an injector, by introducing
a small pipe through the side of the ventilating pipe
and fitting it with a right-angle bend and small noz-
zle, so as to deliver a jet of air along the axis of the
pipe. A Korting injector may be used as a more
elaborate form of the same device. The jet device
was employed in the Sons of Gwalia mine, but was
dismantled at the time of our visit; we were informed
by witnesses, however, that it had been very success-
ful. It was also used in a long crosscut, some 1300
feet or more in length, made some years ago in the
Queen Margaret mine, at Bulong, and was regarded
as most successful by the manager — an opinion cor-
roborated by some of our witnesses who had seen it
in action. In both these cases the jet was turned
into ordinary 6-inch or 8-inch galvanized iron ventila-
tion piping.
The convenience of using a blast of compressed air
from the mains to blow out the smoke from working
faces after firing, makes up, in the opinion of many
practical men, for the admittedly high cost of this
method of air supply, and it is the means at present
in almost universal use in our mines. We have shown,
however, that the air so driven in is far too small for
adequate ventilation, and ordinarily it is set free too
far back from the face, at the coupling from the air
hose, to have the best effect, and comparison of the
horse power required to deliver a certain quantity of
air by fans or blowers with that needed to supply the
same amount as highly compressed air, proves that
the latter method is absurdly more costly. It also
has a great disadvantage, in many cases, in raising a
large amount of dust. The difficulty of maintaining
large and light ventilation pipes close up to the fir-
ing points is admittedly so great as to be almost im-
practicable, and the use of large, strong pipes means
serious cost. We would suggest, however, that the
following compromise system might meet the difficulty
and would be worth practical trial: Large, light
ventilating pipes exhausting to the shaft, either by
furnace draught at surface, or, better, by exhaust
fan, to be carried to, say, 200 feet from the face,
and continued to 100 feet from it by stronger spiral-
rivetted piping of the same diameter, the line to be
extended from time to time by carrying forward the
strong pipe and introducing behind it fresh connect-
ing lengths of the lighter pipe. Then, to bring the
smoke back to where the exhaust pipe can reach it,
carry in as close to the face as practicable a strong
iron pipe 4 or 5 inches in diameter — an old com-
pressed air main would do — with the injector jet in it,
by which a blast may be sent in which will reach the
face; the injector to be attached to the air mains at
the rock-drill hose coupling by a short length of hose.
The smoke would then be blown out to the exhaust
pipe and drawn out by it. In many cases of rising
and sinking winzes the injector pipe alone would be
required, the smoke being carried away by the
natural currents when it reached the level. This plan
might not give so high an efficiency as an electrically
driven fan, but would, we think, be more adapted for
the rough usage of mine work and be a long advance
on the use of compressed air directly from the mains.
The injector system uses a considerable portion of the
power contained in the compressed air in moving a
relatively large volume of other air, but the power in
what is blown off from the mains is almost absolutely
thrown away.
Where steam pumps are used in a shaft, the ex-
haust steam from them may be usefully turned into
the bottom of a large ventilating pipe or wooden box
placed in the shaft and connected with branch pipes
into the levels. The warming of the air in the column
up the shaft by the exhaust steam increases the
draught very materially by accentuating the differ-
ences of temperature on which the movement of the
air depends. The steam pipes leading down to the
pump are sometimes placed inside a large surround-
ing ventilating pipe for the same reason, and also for
the sake of a slight economy in steam, through the
steam pipe passing through the warmer air in-
stead of going down the shaft uncovered.
(to be continued.)
Placer Mining in Alaska.*
NUMBER V.
For moving up the ears within reach of the dipper
as each one is filled, the device shown in Fig. 10 is
used. This was devised by W. S. Purington, and has
succeed in extracting a large percentage of the
values.
The steam shovel plant at the junction of Bear
creek and Klondike river occupies the flood plain of
the latter stream, a fact that influences greatly the
economical excavation and disposal of material, since
both lack of grade for washing gravel and dump for
disposal of tailings must be supplied artificially.
This steam shovel digs in a pit 20 feet below the
surface of the flat. The dipper empties into cars
which are pushed by hand to the foot of an incline
and raised by steam winch to the platform of the
washing frame, where they are dumped by hand into
a hopper. The material passes through a trommel,
and the oversize falls into a self-dumping carrier and is
Body of steam shore*
/ iteem £-5
Cxhaust'lT-. .-.„--„ ■....: .-■-■-.. A- ■■---.-■---.-■■.-.-...■■-■ :IIU
14 feet -
Trolley fTrack
Fig. 10. — Pulling-Up Device for Steam Shovel.
been in successful use for five years. The long cylin-
der, made with casting to attach to the shovel, here
shown on the near side, contains a piston of equal
length, which is supported on suspended track and
wheel as it leaves the end of the cylinder. To the
near end of the piston a cable passing over a sheave
is attached. The other end of the cable is hooked to
the corner of the gravel car, steam is turned into the
near end of the cylinder, and as the piston travels
back toward the forward end of the shovel car, the
gravel car is hauled by the cable an equal distance —
from 5 to 7 feet, as may be required. Steam is then
turned into the cylinder, allowing the piston to
return and the cable to free itself; the cable is un-
hooked and pulled by the car man to the following car
and hooked in readiness to pull it along. The amount
of steam and the time consumed in the operation are
so small as to be almost negligible. By passing the
cable around the body of the shovel car over a second
sheave, the cars on the opposite side of the shovel
can be moved, when the relative position of the shovel
is reversed.
Dipper chains are generally preferable to cables in
placer operations, as illustrated by the experience of
the shovel dredger in Solomon river. A link in a chain
can be repaired where a wire cable can not.
In Anvil Creek plant the present arrangement for
dumping the cars at the sluice is unsatisfactory and
will be changed. Self-tripping, two-way dumping
cars will be substituted for the man who trips the
cars. The sluice presents no new features. It is 500
feet long by 32 inches wide by 36 inches high at the
dump box, and narrows to 26 inches wide by 24 inches
high, in 10-inch grade, and is furnished with angle iron
riffles. The cost of digging, tramming and dumping
the gravel to sluice is said to be 12 cents per cubic
yard.
In the Anvil Creek operation the actual working
cost of digging the gravel, tramming and hoisting,
and tripping the cars to the sluice box is given below,
as estimated by the superintendent — the figures cov-
ering 81U yards in twenty-four hours, and including
superintendence on the ground, labor, crude oil fuel
at $3 a barrel, lubricants, etc. :
COST OP STEAM SHOVEL WORK AT ANVIL CREEK,
ALASKA, PER CUBIC YARD.
Digging SO . 045
Tramming to incline 0.025
Hoisting 0.018
Dumping 0 011
Proportionate superintendence on ground, and incidentals 0.021
Cost per cubic yard $0,120
Although the cost of 12 cents on Anvil creek
appears attractively low, it must be remembered
that it does not take into account the labor of shov-
elers cleaning bedrock after the shovel. This opera-
tion, unfortunately, can rarely be dispensed with, at
least in portions of the ground, and it will naturally
increase the cost of getting the auriferous material
into the cars. In some places in Alaska the slabs
and leaves of bedrock must be scraped with brooms
in order to recover all the gold. The prospective
steam shovel miner should keep in mind the fact that
a machine which will handle a large quantity of mate-
rial, however cheaply, is of no avail unless it can
♦Bulletin 263 U. S. Geological Survey.
elevated to dump. The undersize passes over tables
and through sluices, and the fines are also raised by
steam, a scraper being employed to secure dumping
ground. There are, therefore, four distinct eleva-
tions, viz., by the shovel, the gravel by the tram, the
coarse tailings by the bucket, and the ' fines by the
steam scraper.
The pit in which the shovel works varies in depth
from 20 to 21 feet. The gravel lies beneath 3 feet of
muck, is generally mixed with considerable sand and
extends to bedrock. The material is well rounded
and contains but very few stones (but 1%) that are
over 18 inches in diameter. Considerable black sand
is found in the cleanup. In spots the ground is
frozen, necessitating the occasional use of steam
points. Steam is conveyed across the cut in a cov-
ered steam pipe hung from a stretched cable. A
schist bedrock, generally hard, is excavated for about
2 feet by the shovel.
The shovel weighs 35 tons and revolves 360° upon
a turntable. The dipper holds 1 cubic yard, and the
machine has a capacity of 1000 yards in ten hours,
though this cannot be obtained owing to inadequate
tramming facilities. Its cost on the ground is about
double that charged by the manufacturer. The
boom; when horizontal, reaches 22 feet beyond the
bow, but when at level of track only 14 feet. Three-
quarter inch cables are used in transmitting power.
The faults of cables in steam shovel practice in inac-
cessible localities have been commented on above.
The dipper contains no new features. Prongs are
added to save lip, the central one being longer than
those adjacent. The machine has three engines and
uses in all about 40 H. P.
For conveying material three cars of 2 yards ca-
pacity each are used, running on a 3-foot gauge track
with 16-pound rails. The cars are pushed by hand
to the foot of an incline, which has an angle of 22°
and extends 100 feet, and thence elevated by cable
connected to a 40 H. P. hoist. Two hundred and
fifty cars are usually raised in ten hours. On reach-
ing the platform the cars are dumped by hand and
returned by gravity to the foot of the incline.
From the hopper into which the cars dump the
gravel is fed into a revolving trommel 16 feet long
and 3 feet in diameter supplied with a worm upon the
inner surface and punched with holes varying from
$ to U inches in size. The rate of feed is reg-
ulated by hand, a gate being raised and lowered when
necessary. Water is supplied to the trommel by a
6-inch longitudinal pipe. All oversize passes directly
over a sheet iron chute into a square hopper, from
which it falls by gravity into a self-dumping carrier
and is elevated approximately 40 feet upon a dump.
A 10 H. P. winch does this duty. The hopper is fur-
nished with a heavy iron gate, raised by the steam
winch running the self-dumping carrier, and is low-
ered by its own weight. The fines (the material
passing through the trommel) fall directly on gold-
saving tables similar in design to those used on many
gold dredgers. The tables, which are fed by two
4 inch pipes, are six in number (three on each side of
the trommel), and have a gold-saving surface of 80
square feet. They are fitted with expanded metal
and cocoa matting riffles, which prove to be very effi-
cient, the greater part of the gold being caught near
the upper end of the first table. The material then
Septembeb 9, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
177
passes to a longitudinal sluice, which consists of eight
boxes 22 inches wide, furnished with Hungarian
riffles constructed of 1x3 inch inclined cleats, capped
with three-sixteenths-inch iron. The tailings are re-
moved by a steam scraper and elevated upon a dump.
The winch for the scraper is 30 H. P. and elevates
40U 4-wheelbarrow units 15 feet in ten hours, seven-
eighth-inch cable being used. It will be seen that the
above double elevation of material must be costly,
using as it does, not only much power, but also addi-
tional men on separate winches.
The greater part of the water for sluicing, 300
inches, is brought by Hume from Bear creek. The
remainder, amounting to 100 inches, is raised from
the pit by a series of pumps. A No. 6 centrifugal
pump raises the water to the foot of the washing ap-
paratus, from which it is lifted 25 feet by a No. 8
centrifugal and used for sluicing. A 35 H. P. engine
does the latter work. An additional pulsometer
pump is occasionally used in the pit.
The power plant contains two 60 H P. boilers and
one 50 H. P. boiler, wood being used for fuel. Sixty
men are employed about the plant, the daily wage
of the laborer being $4 and board. The men work
two 10-hour shifts throughout the working season.
The above-described plant will undergo considera-
ble change in the near future, improvements de-
signed to effect greater economy being contemplated.
It is planned to haul all material excavated a dis-
tance of 2000 feet by locomotive, in trains of six cars,
to a washing plant on the banks of Klondike river,
where the ground is 8 feet below the upper edge of
the pit, and then wash it by gravity water from Bear
creek. High water in the Klondike will greatly
economize the handling of tailings, and it is hoped
the full capacity of the shovel may be utilized.
A machine run on radically different principles
from those above is illustrated by a steam shovel on
El Dorado creek, in the Klondike region. In this
case the use of a tramming system is entirely avoided
by so arranging the plant as to allow direct dumping
by the dipper into the sluice boxes. In this case the
shallowness of the ground and the use of a 50-foot
boom permit such an arrangement. The work lies
in the creek bed proper and cuts are made longitudi-
nally along the stream, the sluice boxes being moved
every three or four days, following the progress of
the shovel. This practice alone involves both good
and bad features. The practice of dumping directly
into the sluice is, theoretically, much to be desired,
embodying, as it does, only one elevation of the gravel,
an arrangement which consumes the least power and
time — two all-important factors. The moving of the
sluice boxes, however, in this case consumes much
time — from one to two days for each move — and,
wages beiug $6 a day and the season very short,
constitutes a serious drawback, greatly reducing the
capacity of the plant. The boom of the machine, as
stated, is 50 feet long and hoists the gravel 30 feet
above the cut. If an arrangement facilitating the
moving of the boxes could be devised, so as to avoid
the long delays caused by this operation, a very sat-
isfactory result might be effected. Such a system
A tramming system which would convey the mate-
rial to be washed to such a point as would admit of
the disposal of the tailings by gravity, even if a thou-
sand feet or more distant, would be a more economi-
cal arrangement, saving, as it would, not only all
elevation of tailings, but also all delay in moving the
washing apparatus.
Ten men are employed about the plant eai-h shift,
occupied in scraping tailings, forking gravel in dump
box, running shovel, attending steam points, and in
cleaning bedrock at places where the dipper could
not effectually work.
The shovel is moved on rollers running on skids,
power being obtained from the shovel winch. The
dipper is furnished with soft steel prongs which wear
very rapidly.
Drift Minim; —Northern gold gravel deposits,
that are sufficiently rich to warrant the method, can
generally be exploited by drifting beneath the over-
burden at all times of the year. In drift mining creek
deposits the gravel is hoisted through shafts, and
where bench gravels are worked it is generally
trammed through adits. In all portions of the inte-
rior of Alaska and in the Klondike the drifting of
auriferous gravels has been carried on with fully as
much activity in the winter as in the summer. The
expense of winning the gold by winter drifting and
spring thawing is greater by over $1 per cu. yd. than
that of summer work. This is due to the necessity
of rehauling and, in many cases, of rethawing the
dumps in the separate process of sluicing. In
consequence, only the richer ground, running from
$6 to $10 to the cubic yard, can be profitably
drifted. The price of labor during the winter in the
interior is only 25% less than in summer, so that this
does not afford a great offset to the increase of cost
from other causes. In Seward Peninsula, where the
price for winter labor is only $2.50 a day and board,
as against $5 in summer, it would seem that winter
drifting can be undertaken more generally than
heretofore. A reliable operator of Nome is of the
opinion that winter drifting operations should be con-
tinued in that vicinity where timbering is necessary
but thawing is not, and where the gravel can be
trammed to surface through adit for $3 per cubic
yard, including all expenses of extraction and sluic-
ing-up in the spring. This is less than double the
cost of drift mining in the Forest Hill divide region of
California, where conditions are eminently favorable.
Neglect to sample is the worst possible practice,
as many lamentable failures have resulted from over-
confidence in the value of the ground taken out, and
the miner who confidently waits for the big wash-up
before thoroughly knowing the amount of gold in the
material he is handling is frequently doomed to disap-
pointment.
Where timber is scarce and costly and wood for
fuel has to be hauled from a distance, it is advisable
to consider the entire abandonment of attempts at
winter work. The amount of gravel which can be
hauled is less and the cost per cubic yard is greater.
The time spent in sluicing the winter dump may fre-
quently be more profitably employed in preparing for
20H.P boihralso used for thayjing
Fig. n. — Rig for Small Drifting Operations in Alaska.
requires a relatively shallow bank, however, and it is
doubtful whether it is available for steam shovel op-
erations in general.
In this instance the gravel to be taken out is
frozen, and continuous thawing must accompany the
advancing work. In this work fifteen steam points
are driven into the bank to bedrock, where they re-
main 24 hours, the process consuming during that
time three cords of wood. A 25 H. P. boiler is used
for this duty.
Water is very scarce at this plant and is used re-
peatedly, being raised from the pit by a centrifugal
pump and carried back to the sluice boxes in a flume.
The pump also serves to drain the pit. The sluice
boxes have a grade of 9 inches to 12 feet, but, with
the water at hand, are unable to keep pace with the
capacity of the machine.
The shovel carries a one-yard dipper operated by
chains. It is claimed that one cubic yard is moved
every two minutes. Bedrock of a slaty nature is
taken up to a depth varying from 2 to 5 feet.
The problem of disposal of tailings is a difficult one
and has not been solved economically. A steam
scraper is used and all tailings must be scraped to
one side and elevated. Not only is the expenditure
for wood an item, but a man must be constantly at-
tending the scraper while another handles the steam
winch.
the summer. The ordinary small rig for drifting op-
erations without timbering is shown in Pig. 11.
(to be continued.)
! THE PROSPECTOR. }
St***********'!"*''*'* »»***«M> * *.i|iif.<»i!f.ili<f.<tisf,if.4|i*jj
The samples from Oasis, Cal., were determined as
follows: No. 1, quartz, with considerable brown iron
oxide. At one end about a nucleal bunch of copper
glance is green copper carbonate (malachite) and
copper silicate (chrysocolla). On breaking the speci-
men galena (lead sulphide) was found. There are
also indications of the presence of arsenic, and it may
also carry gold and silver. No. 2 is feldspar por-
phyry. No. 3 is the same, but somewhat altered by
pressure and shearing. On one side are seen several
crystals of galena.
The gold sent with black sand from Burnt Ranch,
Cal., is what may be called quartz or vein gold. It
is rough and shows not the slightest sign of having
been rounded by water wash or attrition of any sort.
It is very probable. that the vein or deposit is not far
distant. A portion of the sand is magnetic, and is
mostly altered pyrite — that is, pyrite in a stage of
semi-oxidation, bring what is known as a "pseudo-
morph "-limouite after pyrite. Gold when first freed
from its matrix is always rough, no matter what the
gangue may be. Placer gold is more or less rounded,
according to the distance it has traveled from its
source and to the scouring agencies. A large nugget
may not travel far in a creek bed, and yet be much
rounded by the scouring action of the sand and peb-
bles which are carried along by the water in the
stream.
The rock samples from Prescott, Ariz., are: No. 1,
a hard, dense, mctamorphic rock, which was origin-
ally a clay rock. No. 2 is andesite. No. 3 is liparite.
No. 4 is quartz-porphyry. No. 5 is gr.anite. The
black veinlet on one side is tourma..ne. No. 6 is
largely epidote and feldspar. The black metallic
mineral in scales is specular or micaceous iron, a
variety of hematite.
The rock sample from Dorleska, Cal., is hornblende
schist. In rocks of this character frequently occur
gold-bearing veins. The specimen contains very
little silica, but in some localities this class of rock
becomes silicified along certain zones, and then often
carries gold, silver, copper, etc.
The samples from Constellation, Ariz., are: No. 1,
mica schist, of no value whatever. No. 2, muscovite
mica In its present condition it is of little commer-
cial value except after being ground into powder.
In depth the quality may improve, when it may be-
come valuable for various purposes. Large electri-
cal manufacturing concerns, like the Westinghouse
company, are interested in getting a supply of inex-
pensive mica.
The samples from Burnt Ranch, Cal., are: A, a
very siliceous metamorphic rock, originally fine sand-
stone, now practically a quartzite; b, a very much
decomposed rock, impossible to properly classify, but
seemingly an altered greenstone, probably diabase or
some similar rock. C is principally silica, carrying
finely disseminated iron sulphide. It is probably an
altered dike rock, such as felsite.
The rocks from Barstow, Cal., are: No. 1, an al-
tered and partly serpentinized limestone. It still
effervesces with acids. No. 2 is the. variety of vol-
canic glass known as pitchstone-porphyry or vitro-
phyre. It contains numerous crystals of feldspar and
one or two fragments of stony rhyolite.
The ore from Elk City, Idaho, is evidently a por-
tion of a silicified dike rock, possibly diabase or dio-
rite. It consists principally of quartz with probably
3% pyrite (iron sulphide). By careful examination
with a high power lens a few minute yellow spots
were seen which may possibly be calaverite, but the
quantity is so very small as to make positive deter-
mination impossible.
^
Improved Regrinding Valves.
The Lunkenheimer Co. of Cincinnati, Ohio, manu-
facturers of the Lunkenheimer engineering special-
ties, have made -a number of changes on their
resrrinding valves, increasing the weight of the valve
JQQ
^B*©*'
Improved Lunkenheimer Valve.
as an additional precaution against rough handling
while attaching, etc. The medium pattern valves
are guaranteed to stand a working pressure of 200
pounds per square inch, and the extra heavy pattern
up to 300 pounds per square inch. They have also
altered the shape of the valve, which improves its
appearance and increases the area through the
valve permitting an unobstructed passage, the area
being more than equal to that of the connecting pipe.
To insure a perfect and strong joint between the
pipe and valve, the pipe threads have been made
considerably longer, thus overcoming the danger of
stripping threads. All sizes of the valves now have
lock nuts on the hand wheels, which facilitates the
taking apart and assembling of the valve for repairs.
Referring to the sectional illustration, it will be
'178
Mining and Scientific Press.
SEPTEMBER 9, 1905.
noticed that the hub which carries the operating
stem is secured to the body by a union connection,
which, in turn, screws over the shell of the valve
body. By means of this construction, it is impossi-
ble for the hub and the body to become corroded to-
gether, as the thread which holds the union ring to
the body is protected at all times from the action of
the steam, the joint being made between the flange
on the hub and the neck of the body. This tends to
make the valve rigid and strong. The disc is held
loosely to the stem by means of a lock nut, and will
therefore adjust itself to the seat readily. The stem
is fitted with a strong, durable and long thread, and
the manufacturers emphatically state that the valve
is easy to operate and that there is practically no
exertion necessary to tightly close even their largest
valves, as the hand wheels are so proportioned in re-
spect to the seat opening that no additional lever-
age need be applied to the hand wheel to facilitate
the operation of the valve. To regrind the valve,
the bonnet ring is unscrewed and the trimmings are
removed from the body. A wire or nail is placed
through the lock nut and stem, a little powdered
sand or glass and soap or oil is placed on the disc,
and the trimmings are again placed in the ^alve and
reground.
Gold Dredging in California.*
NUMBER IV— CONCLUDED.
There are two classes of sluice and table paving
used in the Sacramento valley gravels to save fine
gold. One is ordinary Hungarian or cross riffles
with quicksilver, and the other cocoa matting cov-
ered with expanded metal, 2J-inch mesh. These are
nearly equally satisfactory, so far as the managers
report. However, in most cases each manager has
used only one kind and made no comparison. Where
comparison has been made the preference seems to
be in favor of the riffles with quicksilver. There is
no arsenic or anything else present to prevent a
rather free amalgamation. Yet there is present so
much black sand which would prevent the gold from
reaching the quicksilver that it is found necessary, in
putting in the riffles, to insert between them stones
that stand up above the tops of the riffles in order to
stir up the black sand and allow the gold to go to
the bottom. On the cocoa matting the expanded
metal, in diamond shape, about 1 inch deep, is placed
for the same purpose.
One of the most careful managers at Oroville states:
matting or some similar appliance must be used. It
would appear that where the very fine gold amalga-
mates freely, riffles and quicksilver are preferable to
cocoa matting.
As platinum does not amalgamate with quicksilver,
there is a greater loss of this metal when riffles and
quicksilver are used, than when cocoa matting and
expanded iron mesh are used.
Crew of a Dredger. — The following table will give
an idea of the number of men commonly required on
dredgers. The wages named are those usually paid
at Oroville:
crew FOB ONE dredger. ,— Per Day.^
One foreman, at $5 per day $5 00 to $ 5 00
Three winchmen, at $3 to 53.50 per day 9 00 to 10 50
Three oilers, at $2 to $2.50 per clay 6 00 to 7 50
One blacksmith, at $3.50 per day 3 50 to 3 50
One helper, at $2 to $2.50 per day 2 00 to 2 50
Two Chinamen, $1.75 to $2.50 per day 3 50 to 5 00
Total $29 00 to $34 00
and that there have been no breakdowns and con-
sequently very little, if any, costs for repairs. The
labor bill has been very light, for the running time
has been full. The owners of this dredger have
stated that their costs will be materially increased in
working loneer periods of time, through the loss in
actual working time caused by breakdowns and the
cost of new parts and for repairs.
So it is only those reports on dredgers which have
been in operation for a long time, say three or four
years at least, that are of much value in determining
what would be the average cost of working under
similar conditions. However, one must remember
that the lately built dredgers are more strongly
made and afford less opportunity for breakage and
repair costs. The record for low cost is 2.36 cents
per cubic yard with a new dredger.
In studying these reports, one must consider in re-
A California Dredger in Operation.
A Modern Dredger in Construction.
"We originally used cocoa matting on our dredger,
but later installed the riffles and quicksilver and in-
creased our gold-saving area 85 square feet, by util
izing the space in the distributing box directly under
the screen. We are going to use riffles and quick-
silver in our new dredger."
Under the screens on the first tables quicksilver in
large quantities held in place by riffles is used with a
view to bringing the fine gold into contact as it drops
from the screens. In this respect shaking screens
do better work than revolving screens, because they
let the fine material down over a larger surface. •
Both at Oroville and Folsom, and even at Yuba, it
has been found that gold — even the very finest gold —
if brought in contact with the quicksilver, will amal-
gamate without much difficulty. In Colorado and in
Idaho, where there is fine gold, and dredging has
been done on rather an extensive scale, it has been
found impossible to make any consequential saving of
gold with quicksilver, owing to the presence of ar-
senic or something else. The result is that cocoa
*Bulletiu 30, California State Mining Bureau.
In addition there is a superintendent, whose time
is generally divided among several dredgers. The
winchmen and oilers work eight-hour shifts, while the
blacksmith and helper work ten hours. The China-
man clear the ground of brush and trees, "bury
dead men," as making fasteners for the lines is called,
and do general chores.
The depth to which the present dredgers may
dig is from 30 to 60 feet below the water level, the
latter depth being reached by the new dredgers on
the Yuba. That greater depths may be reached is
only a question of increased strength and power and
longer digging ladders. These work at their best, it
is claimed, on an angle of 45°.
Working Costs. — A majority of the dredger com-
panies in California have given statements as the ap-
proximate actual cost of dredging per cubic yard.
These costs vary from 2.36 and 3 cents to as
much as 8} cents. It will be seen that where a
return of 3 cents or less is given, it is for a new
dredger with all the advantages of the latest
ideas as to strengthening the parts of the machinery,
spect to the different districts: (1) The cost of
power; (2) the rate of wages; (3) whether the com-
pany reporting has one or several dredgers under
one management; (4) whether the company has its
own machine shop or not; (5) the hardness of the
ground, and this particularly as to whether blasting
with powder is necessary; (6) the size of the buckets;
(7) whether the buckets are alternating or close
connected; (8) whether belt or bucket conveyor is
used; (9) whether revolving or shaking screens are
used; (10) whether a sand pump is used; (11) the age
of the dredger.
Only one company operating at Folsom returns
cost of working, and that at 5 cents. At Folsom the
cost for power is 0.65^ a cent per kilowatt hour,
while at Oroville it is 1$ cents.
Some idea of the difference in cost per cubic yard
between operating one dredger and operating several
dcedgers under one management may be had from
the estimate of the Oroville Gold Dredging and Ex-
ploration Co.
Of course, under certain difficult conditions a
dredger of small capacity may be preferable, but under
most ordinary conditions, such as at Oroville, Folsom,
and other places in the Sacramento valley, the
greater the yardage capacity of the dredgers, the
lower the cost of working.
It may be said that the cost of repairs is still ex-
cessive, but this item of expense has been reduced
from year to year since the first successful dredger
was put in operation in 1898. It may be said, too,
that if the dredger builders had not increased the
strength of the buckets, the quality of steel used, and
in many other ways strengthened all the straining
and wearing parts of the dredgers, it would now be
impossible to build, as they propose doing at Folsom,
a dredger with 13 cubic feet buckets, or even 7 cubic
feet buckets. A comparison of costs of a new dredger
with those of an old dredger of same size and type is
therefore unfair.
Whenever the Bucyrus type of dredger is men-
tioned, it is understood to have close connected
buckets, a shaking screen, belt conveyor, and riffles
and quicksilver on the sluicing tables; while the
Risdon dredger has alternating buckets and links, a
revolving screen, bucket conveyor and cocoa matting,
with expanded metal mesh covering them on the
sluices.
It is for the dredger builders and for the skilled
managers at Oroville or Folsom or elsewhere in the
State to more seriously consider this question of
cost of repairs than anything else, except, of course,
the question of saving the present loss of fine gold,
which is far greater than most of them suppose.
Prospecting and Examination or Conditions. —
It may seem a simple thing to say that a careful
September 9, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
179
study of all the conditions should be made before a
dredger is ordered, no matter how large the values
in gold may be found to be. The values may in many
cases be of almost minor importance, or of no im-
portance, where, as is the case in some of the moun-
tain districts, the hardness of the bedrock, with
much of the gold on the bedrock, has prevented
dredging very rich ground. There have been many
failures in California, and all because proper examina-
tion of the ground was not made before the dredgers
were built.
In Trinity county, in one case, a dredger was put
in and failed and has been dismantled because the
fact that the ground was valueless was not proved.
There is another case where a dredger was built and
operated for a time on very heavy ground, but it was
so weak in construction that it failed and was dis-
mantled. Now another company is building a dredger
to work the same ground, with every promise of suc-
cess. There are similar wrecks in the Oroville sea
caused by incompetent pilots.
It has been said in regard to sampling, that which
will apply to any other part of the examination of a
dredging property: "Haphazard and occasional
sampling and assaying are worse than useless. They
lead to great losses of valuable capital, frequently to
the total abandonment of good properties, and, worse
than all, to a false sense of satisfaction that discour-
ages improvement by denying its necessity."
Conditions to be considered: The following are
some of the conditions, etc., to be determined by
drilling and other examination prior to determining
whether the ground may be dredged, prior to estimat-
ing costs, and prior also to determining the kind of
dredger to be used:
Whether bedrock Is level or not.
Water— amount of supply, and
cost.
Cost of power.
Wages.
Cost of transportation.
Cost of supplies.
Cost of repairs.
Cost of land.
Climatic conditions.
The following table shows the form in which notes
of sampling have been kept in making an examina-
tion at Folsom:
Value In gold per cubic yard,
and its distribution.
Hardness of gravel.
Total depth of gravel to bed-
rock.
Depth of gravel from water level
to bedrock
Whether level or rough on sur-
face.
Size of bowlders.
Amount of clay in gravel.
Hardness of bedrock.
Hardness of Gravel: Generally speaking, any
gravel that may be picked may be dug with the
dredger, without the use of powder. If it is so hard
as to require blasting, the cost per cubic yard will
be increased from 2 to 3 cents.
Depth of Gravel: The most satisfactory depth to
dredge with some newer dredgers now in use is not to
exceed 60 feet, but they will work down to 70 feet. In
order to work to a greater depth than 70 feet, some
changes in the digger, stacker, and power would be
required.
Level Surface of Gravel: With an uneven surface
the use of headlines is not so satisfactory as spuds.
Size of Bowlders: Very large bowlders can not be
handled with the ordinary dredger, and much gravel
may be left on the ground. The size of the bowlders
must be considered also in deciding whether to use an
open or close connection of buckets in the digger, the
latter rendering it impossible to handle the larger
bowlders.
Climatic Conditions: Of course, freezing weather
will prevent washing the gravel, and cause a stop-
page of work. In the northern latitudes of Montana
and Alaska, the season is commonly not more than
five months long.
Clay in Gravel: The clay will not permit of clean
dumping from the buckets, and not only is much gold
carried back to the bottom and lost, but the yardage
capacity of the dredger is decreased. Besides this,
the clay carries off gold and fine amalgam from the
sluice boxes.
Hardness of Bedrock : If the bedrock is too hard
to dig, gold in the crevices or lying near the bedrock
is lost. The drill will locate the position of the pay
which may not be too close to the bedrock.
Level Bedrock: The bedrock should be near enough
level to permit the boats to float over all the ground
to be worked.
Presence of Arsenic: The presence of arsenic or
anything else that will prevent free amalgamation
makes the use of quicksilver and riffles of little avail,
and cocoa matting, plush, or other such means must
be adopted to save the gold, especially where it is in
fine particles.
Drilling: Nearly all this work in the Sacramento
valley districts of California has been done with
Keystone drills, No. 3 traction. Owing to the
presence of water in the gravel in most instances, it
has been found impracticable to sink shafts. The
cost of the drill, including freight, etc., is about
$1900 complete. Three men are required to work it,
with wages from $3.50 to $4, and $2.50 and $2 per
day. To this must be added the cost of fuel, water,
repairs, etc., and wages of one or two men to do the
sampling. The sampling, if properly done, would re-
quire a skilled man, and his pay might add much to
the cost. The total cost per day to run the drill and
do the sampling varies from $15 to $30. About 12 or
15 feet per day is a good average speed for sinking
in the gravels of the Sacramento river basin. With
larger bowlders and harder ground the cost might be
materially increased.
In comparatively shallow ground, where there is
not much water, it is much more economical to sink
shafts than to drill, and the results will be found more
satisfactory.
Column marked " a " indicates colors of line and hour gold, small-
er than " b " size.
Column marked " b ' Indicates colore of size estimated 25 to I cent.
Column marked "c" indicates colors coarser and heavier than
■' b " size.
APRIL II. 1901-HOLE NO. I.
No. |
of ; Material,
feet.
No. of Colors.
"a "
•■u"
■• c"
0 Surface line.
i |
2 Sand and Kravel.
3
2 U
0
One pun.
i 1
n 1 Loose gravel.
13
6
6
0
Hole 4 % feet 0 i\ U.
April 12, 7:80, twp
pans started.
K Loose gravrl. Hi)
" 1 1
8
2
Five pans.
» 1
11 Loose gravel. 1ft
12 1 1
■1
0
Rocltered.
1 1
j^ | Bedrock. 1 10
0
(J
No water, roekered.
Total
63
18
2
General Remarks.- Drilled 14 feet In the clay, being a volcanic;
ash; first few feet a light brown color, then whitish, down as far as
we drilled. This clay Is called "bedrock."
Diameter of drill. 55a inches; diameter of shoe, 7 inches; casing,
h% inches, inside diameter.
By proper sampling is meant the determination,
from a comparatively small sample, of the values in a
parts of the gravel that have been sampled, less care-
ful examination is necessary on intervening tracts in
order to determine most of the conditions and values.
Errors in sampling frequently occur from the
squeezing in of material around the bottom of the
casing, so that more gravel than is called for by the
size of the hole is lifted. A check on this is to drill
and pump in a section of a foot or so and weigh the
material. Sliming and consequent loss of gold some-
times result when too long a period of churning
transpires before pumping the hole.
The casing should be kept driven below the point
of drilling, whenever possible.
Pine Gold: When the gold is as fine as at Oroville
or Folsom, the pan and rocker will not save all of it,
but will save all that the best saving tables in the
dredgers will save, and may save considerably more.
But when it is considered that if some of the finest
gold now being saved be shaken up in a bottle of clear
water it will take one or two hours to settle, there
can be no question that some is lost whether the
sampling is done by panning or rocking, and also in
the sluicing. How much this is could be determined
by gathering samples, especially of the water from
the pans and rockers and also at the ends of the
sluices and subjecting them to proper tests. It
would seem that this work should be undertaken and
carefully carried out by the dredger people. If much
gold is bping lost, there is a spur to ingenuity in de-
vising means for saving it.
Temporary and Permanent Headframes.
Not infrequently it becomes necessary to construct
I a permanent headframe over a pre-existing tempo-
rary wooden structure, while the work of mining con-
tinues, using the wooden frame. The accompanying
engraving illustrates how this was accomplished at
the Mizpah mine at Tonopah, Nevada. The old two-
post wooden frame was used daily, while the new
steel frame was being placed. In some cases the
Steel Headframe Building Over the Temporary Wood Frame.
much larger volume of the same material. Care,
judgment, and experience are necessary, and all such
work, whether done by drilling or by sinking shafts,
should be put in charge of an experienced man.
Gravel lifted by drills or taken from a shaft must be
accurately measured or weighed, and proper allow-
ances made for expansion when loosened. Allowance
must be made for excess of bowlders not sampled, and
for excess of gravel beyond the normal width of the
drills that may come in and be lifted.
Prospecting: There is no rule as to the number of
holes that should be sunk. More drill holes would be
required, to give satisfactory results, than shafts. If
the values are comparatively evenly distributed over
the tract to be examined, fewer holes would enable
nearer approach to a correct estimate of values than
where the pay is uneven. In districts where the
character and values are comparatively well known in
hoisting plant is located opposite the end of the shaft
to facilitate the installation of the permanent hoist.
The recent ousting of A. J. McMillan from the
management and directorate of the Le Boi mine
at Rossland, B. C, will probably result in end-
ing a long-fought battle for control of that property.
It is thought by those competent to judge that if the
conflicting interests are harmonized, and the Center
Star and certain other properties be consolidated
with the Le Roi, the proposition can be placed on a
paying basis, if the metallurgical branch of the enter-
prise is properly handled.
Wooden tanks will last longer and give better ser-
vice if the outside of the tank is painted. A mixture
of coal tar and asphaltum in equal parts, applied hot,
makes a good coating for the inside of tanks.
180
Mining and Scientific Press.
September 9, 1905.
Cyaniding Raw Sulphides.
At Barberton, S. A., a somewhat unusual opera-
tion was recently undertaken in the cyanidation of
iron sulphide concentrates assaying about $60 per
ton in gold. Ordinarily only low-grade material is
treated by the cyanide process, but the success of
the attempt in South Africa, here described, indicates
that high-grade ores may also be successfully treated
by this process under favorable circumstances.
The work was done by A. L. Edwards, and is thus
described by him in the Journal of the Chemical, Met-
allurgical and Mining Society of South Africa:
As the results from several experiments proved
favorable, the company decided to cyanide their ac-
cumulated concentrates, some 210 tons in quantity,
assaying 60 dwts. to the ton.
The concentrates were ground in a small ball mill,
and passed through a 1600-mesh standard screen,
sampled, thrown into treatment vats, water washed,
and four pounds of lime per ton of concentrates
added, a first weak (.05% KCy) wash was run on,
leached off, then a second medium (.1% KCy) solution
run on, and leached off, and the concentrates were
turned over. A strong (.75% KCy) was then run on,
and allowed to remain in contact for twelve hours,
the solution drawn off, and all dissolved gold washed
out as rapidly as possible; this treatment was re-
peated on three subsequent occasions, with the re-
sult that the extraction was brought up to 93%.
The time occupied in treatment was forty days, but
this could have been reduced to 25% had time been
allowed for grinding the concentrates to a finer state
of division.
The cost per ton for cyanide was 12s, zinc 4d, lime
3d and labor 5d (the costs of power, lubricants and
supervision are not available); it will be seen that
the solvent is responsible for 12s of the 13s, the high
consumption being due to the unroasted state of the
concentrates. An experiment carried out on a
quarter ton lot of roasted concentrates showed a
cyanide consumption of 8s per ton on a twenty-eight
days' treatment.
It was known beforehand that, to successfully treat
concentrates by percolation, roasting was essen-
tial, but the company having "shut down," time did
not allow of this being done.
The leaching was good and the precipitation excel-
lent, and the action so strong as to necessitate the
flow being reduced to two tons per hour.
Two-thirds of the gold, 390 ounces, was precipitated
in the first three weeks.
In the strong box only clean zinc was used, while
the zinc-lead couple was used with good effect in the
weak box, the solutions leaving at from six to eight
grains. The strongest solution used was .75%, and
the weakest .08% with a final water wash.
Towards the end of the treatment period the
"white precipitate" made its appearance in the
weak box.
I am informed that chlorination charges are:
1. SA per ton for treatment SA 0 0
2. 15% of gold contents not paid for 1 18 0
3. Railage at 20s per ton 1 0 0
Making a total charge per ton of £6 18 0
This sum deducted from the value of the concen-
trates means roughly 50% of the value.
Now, if we put the total charges of cyaniding at
40s (a liberal margin) we find that the cost of treat-
ment locally is only 15% as against 50%. It is hoped
that these notes may prove of service to members
and associates engaged in cyaniding in the outside
districts, and in far away Rhodesia, where cyaniding
concentrates by agitation as at the George Goch, or
fine grinding by tube mills are not applicable.
If the press reports to the effect that Thomas W.
Lawson of Boston is organizing a "bear raid" on
copper stocks and the metal be true, that astute and
somewhat spectacular operator has adopted a most
unusual method in carrying out his plan. It is not
customary for large operators to so openly announce
their intentions concerning the market. Under
existing conditions a bear raid looks somewhat like a
risky proposition, though success in the stock mar-
ket is largely, if not wholly, based upon the cupidity
and fear of the public. These very human attributes
are responsible for most of the rapid fluctuations in
stock and metal prices in the markets. The eager-
ness with which the public sometimes buys offered
stocks and other securities has an immediate effect
upon the market — the demand raises the price — and
the precipitate haste with which the same public
endeavors to unload their holdings upon a falling
market must be a matter of supreme satisfaction to
the manipulators, who know the real value of the
article dealt in, and who fully appreciate and take
advantage of these weaknesses of the investing pub-
lic. Pew of that class of speculators buy for actual
value of the stock, and for the dividends honestly
earned and paid, but for the purpose of making quick
turns, either on a rising or a falling market, for the
experienced operator knows how to make money in
either event; but when he publicly announces his inten-
tion to raid the market either way it is just as well
to be a spectator, and not an active participant in
such a campaign. It would seem that Mr. Lawson,
with a full knowledge of the fact that the stock-
gambling public is easily elated and as readily thrown
into a panic, has some idea of engineering a campaign
against copper stocks, but that he seriously contem-
plates attacking the metal market with a view to
"pounding down" the price of copper — the metal —
seems unlikely.
The New Leadville Discoveries.
When one learns of the numerous important dis-
coveries of valuable ore bodies in the Leadville district
of Colorado made within the past year, it is a matter
of surprise that these discoveries had been so long
delayed. It was not due to a lack of knowledge of
the geology of the region nor of the possibilities
which remained in untried areas, for, more than
twenty years ago, the work of S. F. Emmons and
of others of the United States Geological Survey,
and that also of other engineers, indicated clearly
the character and, to a considerable degree, the
probable extent of the ore-bearing formations. Pos-
sibly the fear of encountering large volumes of water
have deterred some of the mine operators of Lead-
ville from sooner proving the unprospected areas.
Several of the most important finds have been made
by means of the diamond drill — and for the purpose
of securing definite information at minimum cost this
device is certainly superior and should be employed
more than it is. Prom a district which was moving
along in a slow and rather uncertain way, Leadville
has taken on new life and is again one of the leading
centers of the mining industry in Colorado. Another
important factor in the revival of Leadville is the
discovery of a means by which the large amount of
zinc in the ores may be utilized at a profit. Old
dumps and certain ore bodies, known to carry large
amounts of zinc, were left untouched for years simply
because they were not commercially available. The
electro-magnetic separators have solved this prob-
lem, and the zinc of Leadville district now finds as
ready a market as its lead or silver. That the lim-
itations of Leadville's ore-bearing territory have
been sharply defined many do not believe, and there
are those who think that properly conducted pros-
pecting in the region about Breckenridge would
result in the discovery of ores similar to those at
Leadville, and at the same geological horizons.
Refining Zinc Precipitates.
The following method of refining the precipitates
recovered from the zinc boxes at the Homestake cya-
nide plant has been adopted by C. W. Merrill. It
comprises a preliminary treatment with HC1, the re-
moval of the liquid through a filter press, a subse-
quent treatment with H2S04, the washing and drying
of the precipitates, mixing with litharge, borax,
silica and powdered coke, sprinkling with lead ace-
tate, and briquetting under a pressure of from two
to three tons per square inch. The briquettes are
melted upon the hearth of an ordinary cupelling fur-
nace, the resultant slag is run off, air is turned on
and the Pb is cupelled in the same furnace. The re-
sultant metal 975 to 985 fine, is run into bars. Cupel
slags and bottoms are put through a blast furnace,
recovering the Pb for the next cupellation, and the
litharge is added to the next charge of precipitates.
Mr. Merrill says that the blast furnace slags carry
less than 5 dw ts. to the bar; that the total cost of
refining is less than .75%, and the loss, less than
.1%, goes to the next precipitate. The total cost of
this refining amounts to less than .75%. The loss in
refining is given as less than . 1%.
£ ************** ************* *********
Books Received*
*
*
" The Dela van Lobe of the Lake Michigan Glacier of
the Wisconsin Stage of Glaciation and Associated Phe-
nomena," by W. C. Allen, Professional Paper No. 34 of
the U. S. Geological Survey.
"The Structure and Genesis of the Comstock Lode,"
by J. A. Reid, Bulletin No. 10, Vol. 4, of the depart-
ment of geology of the University of California, is a
study of the ore deposits, in which the author discusses
the form of the Comstock lode, the deposition of the
ores and the location of the bonanzas.
Recent geological work carried on J>y the palseontol-
ogists of the University of California is embodied in
Bulletins Nos. 7, 8 and 9, of Vol. IV, of the department
of geology. These are: " New Mammalia from the
Quaternary Caves of California, " by W-m. J. Sinclair;
" Preptoceras, a New Ungulate from the Samwel Cave,
Cal.," by E. L. Furlong, and "A New Sabre-Tooth from
California," by J. C. Merriam.
*************************** *********£
* «■
Obituary.
Alfred Mulhall, assistant superintendent of the
United Verde mine at Jerome, Ariz., was recently killed
by an accident.
P. B. Rindge, a mining man of Los Angeles, Cal.,
died at Yreka, Cal., August 29, while inspecting mines
in Siskiyou county.
********** ************** *************
*
Personal*
Newton Dunyon has charge Little Bell mine at Park
City, Utah.
P. S. Couldrey has resumed charge Le Roi No. 2 at
Rossland, B. C.
J. P. Broad is manager Sonora Quartz M. Co. at El
Tero, Sonora, Mexico.
V. G. Hills is making a mine examination in San Mi-
guel county, Colorado.
L. D. SlVYERof Los Angeles, Cal., has been examining
mines near Mayer, Ariz.
Arthur Buokbee has taken the management Sinker
tunnel near Silver City, Idaho.
H. Dunn has been appointed superintendent Zeibright
mine, east of Nevada City, Cal.
A. C. Masse Y has been appointed superintendent
Richinbar M. Co. at Richinbar, Ariz.
Wm. Deem has taken the management Golden Gate
mines, near Mayer, Yavapai Co., Ariz.
Robt. Lanka has returned to southern Nevada and
will examine properties near Bullfrog.
Leo Von Rosenberg of New York City has been
examining mines near Silverton, Colo.
G. B. D. Turner, manager West Quincy mine of Park
City, Utah, is making a short trip East.
Wm. MAGENAUis superintendent mines and smelter
for the Luna Lead Co. at Doming, N. M.
J. A. Shinn, of Denver, Colo., has returned there
after an absence of ten months in Pittsburg, Pa.
S. M. McElroy, of Pittsburg, Pa., is examining min-
ing properties in Lake and Summit counties, Colo.
A. P. Rogers of San Francisco, Cal., has been ex-
amining mines near Guazupares, Chihuahua, Mexico.
M. D. Draper has resumed the superintendency Min-
nesota-Connor mine, at Chloride, Mohave county, Ariz.
R. M. Atwater, Jr., of Helena, Mont., is examining
the Calumet & Arizona Co. 's properties at Bisbee, Ariz.
J. K. Brown has been elected manager Leavenworth
Mountain Mining & Tunnel Co. of Georgetown, Colo.
A. L. McEwen, manager Imperial mine at Cable
Cove, Or., is conferring with the directors at Detroit,
Mich.
J. H. Talbot has succeeded the late P. E. Murray as
superintendent America M. Co. at Cananea, Sonora,
Mexico.
H. H. Travis has been appointed manager Banker
M. Co. at Winfleld, Colo., succeeding A. E. Stahler,
resigned.
F. L. Larson, superintendent El Globo mine, near
Nacozari, Sonora, Mexico, has been spending his vaca-
tion in California.
R. J. Davidson of Bath, N. Y., president Oregon
Mines Exploration Co., has been visiting their proper-
ties at Tipton, Or.
R. G. Burnett has been appointed manager Doorn-
poort Diamond Mines & Estate Co., near Pretoria,
Transvaal, South Africa.
S. J. GORMLEY has been appointed superintendent
Bingham Con. smelter, at Bingham, Utah, in place of
W. H. Nutting, resigned.
G. L. Moats of Salt Lake City, Utah, manager Ohio
Lead Mining and Smelting Co., has been attending a di-
rectors' meeting at Dayton, Ohio.
G. W. Kimball of Placerville, Cal., is superintending
drill prospecting for the Western Exploration & Dredg-
ing Co. in Burnt River valley, Baker county, Or.
R. E. Miller, with Crocker-Wheeler Electric Co. in
Denver, Colo., has resigned to accept a position with the
Westinghouse Electric & Mfg. Co. in their Denver office.
Oliver Hartline has been appointed superintend-
ent British Columbia M. & D. Co., working mines on
White Grouse mountain, 15 miles from Marysville, B. C.
John H. Hudson Jr. desires to announce that his ad-
dress is now with Messrs. W. R. Grace & Co., Lima,
Peru, where he would be glad to hear from his friends
at all times.
W. E. Mitchel, a mining engineer of New York
City, is in San Francisco, Cal., returning from an inves-
tigation of the Montreal and Boston mines at Green-
wood, B. C.
Jos. C. Erman has taken over the management of the
Live Oak C. M. Co. 's property and will hereafter be in
charge of that mine as well as the Keystone mine, near
Globe, Ariz.
Louis B. Carr, of the firm of Carr & Sauer, mining
engineers and chemists, Denver, Colo., has returned
there from Cyclops, Arizona, where he has been exam-
ining mining properties.
C. E. Brainard, late manager mining department
of Fairbanks, Morse & Co., is now with the Power &
Mining Machinery Company, with offices in the First
National Bank Building, Chicago.
Placer miners usually consider a " sluice head "
for a 12-inch box set on a grade of 8 inches to 12 feet
at 20 miners' iDches or 30 cubic feet per minute. If
five sluice heads are required it means about 150
cubic feet of water per minute.
September 9, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
181
* ******** **********■£«*** *******;*******
I MINING SUMMARY.
+
« •»* + '*■ •*•<!"»• *•*■*•*>» ** + +++ + + + +**+++++ + + -f-*.f-I- X
Specially Compiled and Keported for the MININ'O AND
SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
ALASKA.
It is reported that work is to be started on the Valdez,
Sterling & Northern railroad, from Valdez to the Cop-
per River mining district, by A. W. Swanitz.
ARIZONA.
Cochise County.
A concentrator is to be put in by the Cochise Cod. C.
Co. at Paradise. H. Alexander is manager. The com-
pany has been working the Davie group. The Ains-
worth shaft on the Mascot claim is sunk at an incline
of 60°.
Coconino County.
The surveyor general has approved the official survey
of the Sunset lode and Sunset millsite, designated as
survey No. 2118 A & B. These claims are in the Warm
Springs mining district, on the strip of ground lying on
the north side of the Grand Canyon of the Colorado.
This is a new mioing district which has been opened up
in the last few years.
Gila County.
(Special Correspondence). — Work has been commenced
on the Live Oak mine, near Globe, by Manager J. C.
Erman and twenty tons of copper ore are being shipped
daily. A leaching and electrolytic precipitating plant
are to be put in.
Globe, Sept. 4.
A 25-ton experimental concentrating plant is to be put
in at Globe by the Inspiration M. Co., of which J. D.
Coplen is manager.
Graham County.
Superintendent F. C. Alsdorf of the Cuprite Copper
Co. at Metcalf reports a good strike in the Cuprite claim
40 feet from the surface on a drift from the main shaft.
A new 6 H. P. Fairbanks-Morse gasoline hoist is being
set up.
Mohave County.
It is hoped to reach the 300-foot level of the Victor &
Virgin mine in the San Francisco district by Septem-
ber 15.
The German-American M. Co. has leased the water of
the Blue Ridge Co., near Vivian. The Blue Ridge peo-
ple are sinking their shaft, and it will be a number of
months before the mill will be run. At the German-
American mines the work of sinking the shafts on three
of the main veins of the group is being pushed. Con-
siderable water is being developed, and the mill is to be
started up at once.
Final County.
[t is reported that a Chicago company has resumed
work on the Lake Shore mines in the Casa Grande
district.
Santa Cruz County.
The Gringo mine in Temporal gulch, 3 miles from Pat-
agonia, has been sold to R. E. Doan of Los Angeles, who
is reported as intending to put in a 50-ton mill to treat
the low-grade ore.
Yavapai County.
The Crown King M. Co. is pushing work on the Crown
King deep level and the Zika tunnels in the Bradshaw
mountains at Crown King. The former has been sur-
veyed to run 7000 feet west and will reach a depth of
from 900 to 1800 feet. The Zika tunnel starts 1 mile west
of the deep tunnel and runs north on ground of the first
south extension of the Zika claim for a depth of 1500
feet and then crosscuts to the Zika and Jack Pot loca-
tions where it will form a connection with the deep level
tunnel. It has been driven 500 feet. Two 15 by 16 Rand
compressors have been ordered. Pending their arrival
the work will be driven by hand. The El Dorado
G. M. Co., in Copper basin, west of Prescott, has its
working shaft down 200 feet.
Yuma County.
The owners of the Valenxuela mines, 15 miles north-
west of Quartzsite, have struck water in the well that
they have been boring. The company has the machin-
ery on the ground for a 10-ton smelter and has, only
been waiting for the discovery of water before setting it
up and beginning work.
CALIFORNIA.
Amador County.
The Zeila's new hoist is in operation and the mill has
resumed crushing. They are putting in an air compres-
sor to be run by electric power. They will operate
machine drills.
Butte County.
J. M. McClung has taken the blue lead mine near
Bangor, and is pumping out the water and getting the
mine in shape so gravel can be taken out. A. Duggins
has charge.
Calaveras County.
The Calaveras Prospect publishes the following list of
mines, together with the names of the local superin-
tendents and foremen; Yellow Boy M. Co., C. V. Zinn,
J. A. Campbell, Murphys; Chispa M. Co., F. A.Mitchler,
Murphys; Ozark M. Co., F. A. Mitchler, Murphys;
Othello M. Co., John M. Shepherd, Murphys;
Cordellia M. Co., W. L. Driver, Murphys; Hercules M.
Co., L. L. Washburn, Murphys; Clary G. M. Co., W. B,
Clary, Sheep Ranch; Big Horn mine, J. E. Spencer.
Murphys; Big Trees M. Co., G. O. Pearce, Murphys;
"49" M. Co., J. M. Evans, Douglas Flat; Bourbon M.
Co., W. H. Tulloch, Murphys; Black mining claim,
E. Black, Murphys; Carley Bros, mining claims, S. O.
Carley, Murphys; May Day M. Co., John Bunney, Mur-
phys; Stonewall and Hidden Treasure mines, Geo. Tay-
lor, Murphys; Caruthers mine, Jeff Raggio, Sheep
Ranch; Lucky Strike mine. Northwood Barrow, Mur-
phy-: Alhambra mine. John Koss, Murphys; Sonoma
mine, Sierra Nevada D. Co., San Francisco.
El Dorado County.
A new hoist has been put on the Clipper mine above
Georgetown. F. Hall of San Francisco has bonded
the Marco Varozza property near Smith Flat. It is
reported that a 20-stamp mill will be put on the mine in
Coloma canyon which is being operated under the su-
pervision of S. Beers of Butte, Mont.
Mariposa County.
W. Graham of Los Angeles has bonded the Dexter
mines, 0 miles east of Coulterville. Harry Argaul
has charge of pumping out the water. The Austin
mill at Whitlock has started crushing. At the Teats
mine in Whitlock. .1. Xevills, E. Donovan and S. Hogan
are mining, and as soon as enough ore is taken out the
Teats mill will be started. The Schroeder Bros, of
Saxon's Creek, near Whitlock, intend building a mill on
their property.
Nevada County.
The new 10-stamp mill at the Oustomah mine, near
Nevada City, was destroyed by fire September 1, a loss of
$12,000, on which there is an insurance of $4000. -. — The
pumps have been started at the Banner mine on Banner
mountain, near Nevada City. Pipe has been laid for a
water supply and a shaft will be sunk to the 1200-foot
level. C. M. Belshaw and E. C. Voorheis are interested.
Under the direction of Superintendent J. H. English
of the Spanish Ridge mine, in the Washington district,
concentrators purchased from the Gold Tunnel mine are
to be put in.
Plumas County.
The Plumas-Eureka mine on Eureka peak, near Johns-
ville, has passed under the control of J. D. Johnston and
associates of Newport, R. I., who intend to run a 6000-
foot double-track tunnel at a lower level than the old
workings. It is reported that a new stamp mill and
cyanide plant are to be put up at the mouth of the
tunnel.
Shasta County.
Another furnace will be put in the Afterthought
smelter at Ingot.
Sierra County.
At Pike City, G. W. Mohler will work the Nobby
placer mine this fall and winter. C. C. Weisen-
burger is repairing the 10-stamp mill at the Rainbow
mine, between Alleghany and Chipps Flat. As a re-
sult of an examination of the Poker Flat quartz mine,
near Table Rock, by Jos. Voyle, it is reported that F. P.
Roddy will put in a cyanide plant.
Tulare County.
The Josephine mine at White River is putting in a
roller mill and other machinery to crush their ore.
Tuolumne Connty.
A new rock breaker has been put in at the Los An-
geles mine, near Sonora, being worked by J. Phillips. —
George Stayton is sinking a 3-compartment shaft on his
claim, near Jacksonville.
Superintendent Partington has fifteen stamps drop-
ping at the Longfellow mill at Big .Oak Flat. The
water company has given notice that the supply will
have been exhausted by Sept. 10. Many mines will
close as a consequence, and mills will be given a general
overhauling and put in condition for a long run when
the wet weather sets in. The New Lead mine, near
Phcenix lake, east of SoDora, owned by M. Bottini, has
been bonded to H. J. Dykes. The property has been
developed to a depth of 120 feet, drifts being run 60 feet
east and west on the 100-foot level. A new incline shaft
will be put down, and the property will be equipped
with a 10-stamp mill. A company has been organized
to work the Columbia mine, situated near Columbia on
Experimental gulch, by W. G. Phipps and A. Baier of
Columbia, F. Littlehall of San Francisco, and G. B.
Morow of Sonora.
COLORADO.
Chaffee Connty.
Platinum in paying quantities has been discovered
near Buena Vista by W. G. Zeigler. In a sample sub-
mitted to the United States Geological Survey a chemist
found gold, 1.99 ounce per ton; platinum, 0.43 ounce
per ton. The samples submitted were taken from claims
2 miles up the Arkansas river.
Clear Creek County.
The Topeka group, in East Argentine, owned by E.
Erickson, has been bonded to Eastern parties, who are
developing it. Thomas Rodda of Idaho Springs has
secured a bond and lease on the Waukegan from Frank
McCready, and is making arrangements to carry on
development work during the winter. The Waukegan
is near Loveland pass. The Blue Bird claims, on
Republican mountain, have been leased and bonded by
D. W. Stewart of Idaho Springs. The property is
owned by Wm. Hunt of Georgetown and Nels Frohm of
Denver. A crosscut tunnel which has been driven 800
feet will be continued. The Silver Plume M. Co., with
Edward Butts of Chicago as president, has taken an
option on the Aspen-Promise group, on Leavenworth
mountain, near Silver Plume, and is prepared to carry
on development. On Republican mountain, near
Georgetown, the Joplin tunnel is being driven by the
Joplin Tunneling G. & S. M. Co. to develop the Gam-
betta group. Of the 800 feet to be driven, over 100 feet
have been run. B. J. O'Connell of Georgetown is super-
intendent. R. C. Bonney, manager of the Sun and
Moon mines, has purchased for his company twenty-one
mining claims in Pleasant Valley district. This group
adjoins the Sun and Moon holdings and will be devel-
oped by a lateral, which is now being driven on the Sun
and Moon, from the Newhouse tunnel. Bonney 's lateral
has been run easterly for 1200 feet and is rapidly drain-
ing the mountain. Walter Farragher has started
operations on the Queen of the West, in the East Argen-
tine district, recently secured under lease by Thomas
Cunningham of Georgetown.
Custer County.
It is claimed that the continuation oE the Bassick con-
tact has been struck in a 100-foot crosscut from the Vul-
can tunnel of the Walcott G. M. Co., near Silver Cliff.
The existence of the Bassick contact has long been dis-
puted. The tunnel is to be continued under the old
shaft, giving a depth of 500 feet. The company intends
building a mill on the east side of Tyndall mountain.
£a£le County.
Rich gold strikes have been made 18 miles southeast
of Eagle by James Murphy and H. W. Ennen and R. B.
Davis. They have a lease on the Lucy mine, where the
strike was made. The ore is found in the granite 500
feet below the quartzite. It carries oxidized iron sprin-
kled with free gold.
Gilpin County.
The Powers mine, in lower Russell district, has shipped
enargite to the Denver smelters. The second-class ores
are shipped to the concentrating works. Increased ship-
ments of this class will be made from the 200-foot east
workings to the old workings, which will improve the
ventilation, after which the working force will be in-
creased and regular shipments will follow. The Ben-
zie Investment Co. announces that it will resume oper-
ations on the Ingalls property, on Gunnell hill, near
Central City, and that a large plant of machinery will be
put in. G. W. Mabeet, Sr., and other Denver parties
are arranging for the resumption of work on the Vir-
ginia property, up Chase gulch, near Central City.
Work has been resumed on the Polaris group on Colo-
rado hill, in the Pine Creek district, by J. A. Peterson
of Idaho Springs and J. L. Walters of Apex. The main
shaft on the Polaris is 70 feet deep and is to be unwat-
ered and retimbered and arrangements are being made
to sink it deeper. The Sherman & Macon M. & M.
Co. is developing its claims on Silver creek, near Apex,
with a tunnel which has been driven 600 feet and is to be
extended 400 feet farther. Charles Sperry is in charge.
The Pet shaft of the Golden Rod M. & M. Co., near
the head of Silver creek, is down over 200 feet and is to
be unwatered by a crosscut tunnel being driven to tap
it. The Fine Creek G. M. & M. Co. is unwatering its
Bonanza shaft on Oregon mountain, near Apex, with
W. S. Barrick in charge. The shaft is down about 70
feet, and as soon as the water is out they will timber and
continue sinking. The Pine Creek Co. is building a
shafthouse on its Rochester shaft, with the intention of
putting in machinery. This shaft is down 65 feet and
the company intends to sink it to the 100-foot point and
then drift and crosscut to open up the ore body. At
the property of the Evergreen G. & C. M. Co., Superin-
tendent J. L. Walters has been grading for a new road
and a new shaft building to be put up east of the main
tunnel. The new shaft building is to be 30x60 feet in
dimensions and the equipment will consist of a 30 H. P.
hoisting engine, 80 H. P. boiler and a Cornish pump.
The shaft on which this plant is to be put in is down 75
feet and is to be continued several hundred feet, so as to
get below the ore bodies of the Evergreen property,
which have already been opened up in the tunnel and
other shaft workings. The main tunnel is in 485 feet,
while the other tunnel is in 215 feet. The Wheeler
mill on North Clear creek has been leased by H. B. Gil-
bert & Sons for the treatment of ores from their lease on
the Star of Gilpin mine in Russell district. In the
shaft of the Homestake mine in Russell district sinking
operations are being carried on at a depth of 330 feet.
Stoping in the 300 west level is developing a high-grade
concentrating material in sight, from which shipments
are being made. A new shaft building 28x50 feet has
been built on the Ralls County mine on Quartz hill,
Nevada district, and an 8JxlO hoist and 50 H. P. boiler
have been put on. The main shaft is down 700 feet.
The shaft has been repaired in good shape down to the
300-foot level, at which point work for the present will
be carried on, the intention being to repair the balance
of the shaft at a later date.
Gunnison County.
The Belzora-Bassick M. & D. Co. plans to drive a
2700-foot crosscut tunnel into Sacramento mountain,
near Pitkin. This is intended to cut the Sacramento,
Monte Vista and Lillie Dell veins. The Taylor Park
M. Co. is building a 100-ton cyanide plant to treat the
output of the Enterprise mine in Tellurium gulch, near
Tin Cup.
The vein in the Camp Bird shaft, near Bowerman, is
improving with depth. The shaft is 130 feet. The mill
has completed the treatment of 500 tons of ore. A test
is being made on seventy-five tons by cyanide at the
Quartz Creek mill at Pitkin. Adjoining the Camp
Bird, the Netted Gem M. Co. is sinking a shaft and
driving a tunnel.
Work is being pushed on the mill being built by the
Raymond Consolidated Mines Co. on Ohio creek, near
Pitkin. They expect to have it finished by November
15. Wm. Friend, operating the Grand Prize group,
near Pitkin, will start a new level at a depth of 106
feet.
Lake County.
(Special Correspondence). — J. A. Shinn. who has been
in Pittsburg the past ten months, endeavoring to inter-
est capital in his mining and railroad enterprise, has
returned to Leadville with S. M. McElroy, who is inter-
ested in the enterprise, and it is believed the big tunnel
will be cut through the hill from Empire gulch, on the
Leadville side, to Four Mile, on the Fairplay side of the
mountain. This tunnel will open up some undeveloped
country and will be used as a transportation as well as a
mining tunnel. It is understood that the Westinghouse
Electric & Manufacturing Co. of Pittsburg has inter-
ested itself in the enterprise and will back the railroad
end of the scheme. If the railroad is built it will con-
nect with the Colorado & Southern at Fairplay and run
through to Leadville.
Leadville, Sept. 2.
The lower section of the ore channels between the Pen-
rose and the Coronado is to be thoroughly explored, as
the pump station at the bottom of the Penrose shaft,
100 feet long by 16 feet high and 60 feet wide, is com-
pleted. Two large compound and one triple expansion
pumps are being set, with a combined capacity of 2500
gallons per minute. When the pumps are working
smoothly the 1200-foot drift to the -Coronado will be
Mining and Scientific Press.
September 0, 190§.
driven as quickly as possible. When the drift reaches
the Coronado it will be JOO feet below the bottom of the
shaft, which will be sunk to the level of the drift to
make connections. When the connections are made the
Coronado ground will be drained. Little water will be
lifted from this shaft, as it will be handled at the Pen-
rose. The Sixth Street shaft is the half way mark be-
tween the two properties, and from the upper levels of
this property large quantities of iron have Been shipped,
but below the 600-foot point no work has been done.
The Penrose drift will cut under the shaft 300 feet, and
it is the general belief that the same ore shoot found in
the Coronado will be exposed in the Sixth Street shaft.
By the driving of the drift the downtown section will be
drained. At the Mammoth placer, in Big Evans
gulch, the drill hole discloses two bodies of ore, one at
the 450-foot level and the other at 600 feet. The shaft
is down 400 feet and making good progress, and the
water so far has not impeded sinking.
In Iowa gulch, near Leadville, the Ella Beeler has
driven a tunnel in 600 feet and rails are being laid to the
breast, and the ore body that was recently opened will
be thoroughly prospected. The Doris is shipping iron
and manganese, also some carbonates that were recently
opened. The Ready Cash from the breast of the tun-
nel, 400 feet, is shipping a good grade of ore. A new
tunnel has been started on the North Star and will be
driven 500 feet. The Auroras Nos. 1 and 2 are to be
opened up by a tunnel driven from the Ready Cash.
The Moyer from both shafts is shipping 1300 tons per
month of iron, copper, lead and zinc. All of the surface
improvements, including new boilers and hoisting plant,
have been put in at the Tucson, a continuation of the
Moyer shoot to the east, preparatory to sinking the
shaft another lift of 350 feet. When this is completed
the shaft will be 950 feet deep and under the ore shoot.
Sinking has been started from the 400-foot level of the
Silver Chord winze in the Yak tunnel. This is a shaft
4x8 feet and equipped with hoist and pumps, and will be
sunk 200 feet farther. The 420 foot level of the Bal-
lard shaft at Leadville has been reached. The shaft is
to be enlarged to 4x9 in the clear and retimbered to the
bottom. Lomeister & Lynch have leased the Little
Nell on Carbonate bill, Leadville, and resumed drifting
from the bottom of the shaft, a depth of 500 feet. They
hope to catch the Doddridge ore shoot.
Work has been resumed with two shifts on the Mt.
Elbert property, 2 miles west of Twin Lakes. The
Manhattan M. &. M. and the Mt. Elbert T. & M. Cos.
have resumed work, and arrangements have been con-
cluded by which the Twin Lakes G. M. Co. has turned
over, under lease, their mining property on Mt. Elbert
to Chas. J. Fox, et al.
Ouray County.
The Atlas M. & M. Co. are making a test of the ore
produced from their property near Ouray, having leased
the Governor mill and put in electric power. President
J. P. Sid well is at the mine.
San Juan County.
(Special Correspondence). — Three years ago the opera-
tors and miners in San Juan county made an agreement
which was satisfactory to both sides. This agreement
expired on Sept. 1, and there is some rumor of there
being trouble in the camps surrounding Silverton, but
the more conservative element on both sides does not
anticipate any serious difficulty, and it is believed and
hoped that an adjustment of all differences can be made
without a clash. During the big strike last year in
other camps the agreement in the Silverton district be-
tween the operators and miners avoided a strike. It has
been intimated by some that there will be no agreement
signed this year. The following is the scale submitted
by the Mine Owners' Association: Battery — Huntington
and Chilian millmen, $3.50 for eight hours or $4 for
twelve hours. Jig Men — One to five single jigs, without
helpers, $3.25 for eight hours or $3.75 for twelve hours.
Jig Men — More than five single jigs, without helpers,
$3.50 for eight hours or $3.75 for twelve hours. Table
Men — $3.25 for eight hours or $3.75 for twelve hours.
Vanner Men — $3.50 for eight hours or $4 for twelve
hours. Canvas Plant — $3 for eight hours or $3.25 for
twelve hours. Engineers — $3.50 for eight hours or $4
for twelve hours. Firemen — $3 for eight hours or $3.30
for twelve hours. Crusher Men — $3.25 for ten hours or
$3.75 for twelve hours. Blacksmiths — $4 for ten hours.
Blacksmiths' helpers — $3.25 for ten hours. Roustabouts
— $3 for ten hours.
Silverton, Sept. 4.
The tunnel at the Auburn claims, near Middleton,
northeast of Silverton, has been driven over 450 feet,
under the direction of A. V. Shaw. Progress is to be
increased in speed when arrangements have been made
to handle the water. The new Hamlet mill at Middle-
ton is handling from fifty to sixty tons of ore daily and
an average of three carloads of concentrates are being
shipped to the smelter each week. Canvas tables are to
be put in. O. Brendle, of the Bullion Bar M. Co., is
working properties in Maggie gulch, near Silverton, and
is making preparations to put in a compressor and air
drills. The Highland Mary mine, near Silverton, is
being operated by the Gold Tunnel & Railway Co., under
the supervision of W. D. Cole.
At the Galty Boy claims, in Dry gulch, north of Sil-
verton, the work is being done by the Ross M. Co. A
600-foot crosscut tunnel has been run, 700 feet of drifting
has been finished and a 200-foot upraise is being made.
A 6-drill air compressor is to be put in.
T. J. Hurley, manager of the Ruby Basin M. Co., and
the Natalie-Occidental Co. of Silverton, has bought
machinery for water power and electric plant to run
the Ruby concentrator mill and operate the Ruby mine
by electricity. The Ruby mill treats from sixty to sixty-
five tons of ore from the mine daily, making from four-
teen to fifteen tons of concentrates, carrying on an aver-
age 50% lead containing silver and gold values. He
states that he is driving work in the Natalie-Occidental
and will probably construct a large mill on these proper-
ties another season, as well as enlarge the mill of the
Ruby Basin Co.
The Silver Ledge mine, near Chattanooga, is shipping
zinc concentrated by magnetic separators. Carmichael
& Kramer of Silverton are working the mine. The mill
is equipped with water power, and operations have to be
suspended each season on account of the freezing up of
the water supply pipes. The Ledge management is en-
deavoring to have the electric company extend its line
from Red Mountain to Chattanooga and supply the
Ledge mill with electricity.
San Miguel County.
The greater part of the Smuggler-Union mines at Tel-
luride has been leased by the owning company to J. H.
Robeson of Denver and E. J. Carter, the present super-
intendent of the property, for a term of years. Their
leasehold comprises all of the territory lying between
the Bullion tunnel and the third level, a block of ground
600 feet high by several thousand feet in length, includ-
ing the New Pandora mill of 60 stamps. The new oper-
ators will require 200 men for the mine and mill.
Summit County.
G. C. Smith of Breckenridge is opening up good lead
and silver ore in the Charlie Ross property, at the head
of McCullough gulch.
At this time of the year most of the high-bar placer
mines in this county are running at half speed on account
of shortage of water. To obviate this difficulty, G. L.
Kingsbury, manager of the Banner Placer G. M. Co.,
had several artificial ponds constructed 3500 feet west of
and 200 feet above the placer pit. These small lakes fill
during the night and next day there is an abundant sup-
ply for the two hydraulic giants. A small self-acting
boom reservoir at the head of the pit fills and discharges
itself every few minutes during the day and night. This
"booming" sweeps everything before it down to the
bedrock or hardpan to the "wings" of the first sluice,
where the stream is contracted, and the material is
forced through the 4-foot wide sluiceway, the bottom of
which is lined with angle-bar steel riffles. An undercur-
rent separates the black sand from the balance of the
waste and delivers it to the concentrating shed, where
concentrating tables reduce the bulk of the sand to a
grade of concentrates suitable for smelting. The tables
are driven by electricity generated by a water wheel.
At the Jessie mine near Breckenridge 20 stamps are
running on good ore from the upper and lower tunnel
workings. The main crosscut tunnel of the Mary
Verna mine at Frisco is in 240 feet. D. W. Fall is
working a lease on the Maggie May and J. K. & F. prop-
erties on Gibson hill. A shaft is sunk. The North
American mines'jmain tunnel atCurtin is in over 240 feet
At the Novelty group near Breckenridge, now
owned by J. G. Detwiler and the Summit County Min-
ing Exchange, a horse whim is being put in and a shaft
house put up. They intend to sink the main shaft 100
feet deep and then commence taking out ore for ship-
ment, continuing to sink at the same time.
Teller County.
The output of Cripple Creek mines for August was as
follows :
Plant. Tons. Av. Value. Value.
Smelters 10,000 S60 00 S 600,000
Portland 7,500 29 00 217,500
TJ. S. K. &R 25,000 30 00 750,000
Economic 7,500 30 00 225,000
Dorcas 3,500 33 00 115,500
Wild Horse 1,500 4 50 6,975
Anaconda 2,000 5 00 10,000
SiouxFalls 1,550 2 00 3,100
Totals 58,600 »l,928,07o
Sinking has been resumed from the 270-foot level of
the Modoc mine on Bull hill, near Cripple Creek, by
Manager F. H. Frankenberg. The shaft has three com-
partments and is to be sunk to a depth of 1000 feet.
Carrington & Eby, lessees of the Silver Belle & Mo-
hawk Belle properties on Raven hill near Cripple Creek,
are putting in crushers and rolls with a capacity of
twenty tons to crush the ore before amalgamation.
The hoist of the Last Dollar mine on Bull hill has been
repaired and work resumed. R. P. Russell has ob-
tained a three-years' lease on the Cardinal on a south-
west spur of Gold hill. Water has caused Hansbrough
and associates to stop work in the lower levels of the
Morning Star claim of the Acacia. Work is being done
on the 400-foot level until the water subsides. The
Morning Star has a 400-foot shaft, and 170 feet from the
shaft a winze has been sunk 250 feet, or to a total depth
of 650 feet. It is proposed to continue the winze for 100
feet.
High-grade gold ore is said to have been opened up at
a depth of 100 feet in the Agnes property, on Beacon
Ml), near Cripple Creek. Therson Bros, are developing
the vein. A" five-year lease has been taken on the
Red Rock and the Iron King lode claims of the Colorado
City & Manitou Co., on the saddle between Ironclad and
Tenderfoot hills. A 15-ton daily cyanide plant will be
put in for trial purposes. At the Home claim of the
Cedar Hill G. M. Co., on Ironclad hill, Gardner, Jones
& Co. are preparing to unwater the shaft and resume
sinking to the 200-foot point.
IDAHO.
Blaine County.
The upraise at the Hillside mine near Bellevue has
been finished and sinking is being continued in the shaft.
The new works are showing good galena ore. A boiler,
engine and hoist are to be put in.
Hoiwe County.
A cyanide plant is planned to treat the ore from the
Red Jacket ledge of the Equitable Co., in the Black dis-
trict, near Boise. Manager J. J. Overbillig of the
Twentieth Century Co. is working day and night shifts
drifting for the main ledge. J. W. Edgerton intends
developing the Nelson property, in the Black Hornet
district, near Boise, recently taken over by the Con-
servative Development Co. He intends putting up a
reduction mill.
EUniore County.
The 10-stamp experimental mill at the Tahoma mine
at Atlanta is said to have proven a success, and twenty
stamps are to be added to the mill, which will first amal-
gamate and then concentrate and cyanide the ore.
Idaho County.
It is reported that the Penn-Idaho G. M. Co. of Boise
has filed articles of incorporation and will acquire mining
property near Big creek formerly owned by D. T. Davis.
Development work is to be pushed to determine the
proper reduction process adapted to the treatment of
the ore, and a mill will be built next summer. The
property will be managed by J. B. Eldredge, who is also
manager of the Independence. At the Twentieth
Century property, near Roosevelt, preparations are being
made for continuous development through fall and win-
ter. Dynamos and electric fixtures with capacity of 700
lights and the stamp mill machinery are being put up.
The cable for the aerial tramway from the main working
tunnel, Toltac No. 3, to the mill has arrived. The Tol-
tac No. 3 tunnel is in 600 feet.
Nez Perces County.
The Lewiston-Clarkston Co. is preparing to run a
high-power line up the Snake river, 25 miles above Lew-
iston, to furnish power to mining properties and the G. H.
Kester marble quarries. Negotiations for the first power
have been opened by J. M. Edwards, president of the
Gold Crown Co., the Eastern stockholders of which have
decided to start with a stamp mill with a capacity of 10
tons per day.
MICHIGAN.
Houghton County.
The Champion's experimental crushing mill at Freda
is designed to test the efficiency and economy of rock
crushing as against rock stamping. For the test in
economy each unit of the machinery is to be driven by
an independent individual electric motor. An individual
meter will be attached to each of these motors, by which
the electric consumption may be measured at each unit.
For the test in efficiency the principles of the crushing
system are such that samples will show exactly what
copper is being recovered, what non-productive pulp is
being discharged and what copper is being lost at each
stage of the work. The rock for this plant will be
crushed in the rockhouse at the mine in crushers which
will have a maximum opening of 4 inches and a mini-
mum opening of 3 inches. The rock at the mill will feed
from the bins to a shaking grizzly, and in this process
the barrel copper will be picked out. The bars in the
grizzly screen will each have a face of 2J inches, with
spaces between of lj inch. All material above 14 inch
will feed to a gyratory crusher, whose jaws will have an
opening of approximately 14 inch, thus bringing the
product uniformly to that maximum size. The entire
product will then be sized in a series of cylindrical re-
volving screens, graded to sizes varying in stages of \
inch, and all copper released by the crushing in the
gyratory will be extracted in this process. The sized
material will then be crushed in stages of § inch and the
released copper extracted and automatically discharged,
while material not containing copper in commercial
quantity will be discharged at each stage. The first
stage of crushing after the rock leaves the gyratory will
be in the Anaconda type of rolls, with heavy springs on
the axis, so that any chunks of copper feeding to it may
be allowed to pass through without obstructing the
work. After this initial crushing in rolls, the various
stages will have rolls with rigid axes.
The Tecumseh will have two shafts under way this
fall. The first of these has been started. The second
will follow the diamond-drill exploration to be under-
taken, 1000 feet southwest of the first location.
The annual report of the Wolverine mine at Kearsarge
shows that there were hoisted from the various shafts
of the mine 336,780 tons of rock as against 328,412 tons
hoisted for the preceding year, a gain of 8368 tons, despite
an interruption of two weeks by reason of a strike of the
trammers. Of this rock 321,813 tons were stamped,
making a discard of only 14,967 tons. The mineral re-
turn for 1905 was 11,982,345 pounds, against 12,152,690
pounds for the year preceding, while the product of cop-
per was 9,729,971 pounds, against 9,300,695 pounds for
the preceding year. The cost per ton of rock hoisted
was $1.47 a ton, against $1.50 a ton last year, a saving of
3 cents a ton. This presents the apparent anomaly of
greater depth and decreasing cost. The cost per ton of
rock stamped shows no change from 1904, the charge
being $1.51 a ton. The cost of the refined copper laid
down at the mine was 5.098 cents, as against 5.329 cents
last year, a saving of .231 of a cent a pound. The total
cost per pound of the copper laid down in New York
figures to 6.222 cents a pound, the cost of smelting,
freight and marketing charges with those of the New
York market being 1.124 cent' a pound. The total cost
of copper last year was 6.458 cents a pound, being .236 of
a cent more than the price for which the finished prod-
uct was obtained this year.
The Calumet & Hecla struck the Kearsarge lode, con-
taining good copper, at No. 21 location, within 200 feet
of the Osceola boundary. It has been searching at this
location for the past two years. The lode was cut at a
depth of about 100 feet.
At the plant of the Michigan Smelting Co. in West
Houghton, in the regular course of work, there was taken
from one refining furnace working on Copper Range
Consolidated output 292,000 pounds of refined copper,
cast in ingot bars, in 7 hours. During the process there
was an interruption of half an hour, so that the actual
time of casting was 64, hours. This work was done at the
rate of 750 pounds of" copper every minute. In operat-
ing the furnace and casting machinery 6 men were em-
ployed, while 4 men were loading the copper as the fin-
ished ingots were delivered to the loading platform from
the conveyor.
MISSOURI.
The district output of zinc ore for the first eight
months of 1905 has been 323,842,350 pounds, as against a
production of 345, 145, 670 pounds durin g the corresponding
period of 1904. The ore brought $7,272,750 as against $5,-
724, 1 85 in 1 904. The lead output since January 1 has been
39,829,720 pounds, which sold for $1,166,130. During the
same time last year the output was 43,769,160 pounds,
which sold for $1,193,420; a decrease of 3,939,440 pounds
in production and $27,290 in value. The total for both
ores for the first eight months of the year is $8,448,780
September 9, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
183
against a total value of 3C,'.HT,600 for the corresponding
months of 1904; an increase of $1,531,180.
MONTANA.
The mine owners and miners of Montana have reached
an agreement on the wage scalo for the coming year.
The new schedule is to continue until Oct. 1, 1906. The
wages for skillful men range from $3.60 down to $3 a
day for underground work; for outside work they are
from $4 down to $2.50. Five holidays are mentioned.
Broadwater County.
The concentrator on the East Pacific at Winston has
been started and runs successfully. There are 20,000
tons of concentrating ore on the dumps, besides large
bodies of concentrating ores in the mines which are
blocked out. A cyanide plant may be added.
Fergus County.
Prospecting is to be started with a diamond drilon the
Fergus-Hilger land on Dog creek, northeast of Kendall.
A. S. Wright, W. H. Fergus, H. M. Kae and David Hil-
ger are interested in the company. The mill at the
Gold Reef mine at (Hit Edge has been temporarily
closed until the cyanide plant is finished. L. U. Loomis
is manager.
(iranitc County.
Rich silver ore is being opened up in the Fraction
lode of the Hope mino at Philipsburg. J. R. Lucas is
superintendent.
•ferferson County.
It is reported that John Rothfuss intends putting up a
100-ton concentrator at the Jacquemin properties in the
Elkhorn district. He has been making large shipments
to the East Helena smelter.
Lewis and Clarke County.
The Bald Butte Co. mines, 4 miles from Marysville,
are in charge of L. S. Ropes. R. M. Awater of Helena
is consulting engineer. Twenty of the forty stamps in
the mill are dropping on the company ore, two shifts
each day, and eight of the sixteen concentrating tables
are running. About 2000 feet from the entrance to the
lower tunnel a shaft has been sunk 400 feet, giving the
company a depth of 1000 feet. Crosscutting for the veins
from the bottom is now in progress. There are two
veins, the Albion and the Genesee. All the drilling is
done by hand. The company is impounding the tailings
from the mill. It is employing forty-one men, thirty-six
of whom are in the mines.
Madison County.
The new 5-stamp mill at the Tesla mine near Pony
has been started under the direction of C. E. Beebe.
Missoula County.
(Special Correspondence). — The Amador M. Co., which
is building a railroad 12 miles long from the town of
Amador to the mines, expects to have the line com-
pleted soon. The road will be equipped by the North-
ern Pacific Railroad Co., and as soon as the road is
finished the Amador expects to begin shipping ore to
Butte for treatment at the rate of 100 tons a day to start
with.
Missoula, Sept. 3.
Sliver Bow County.
(Special Correspondence). — F. A. Heinze of the United
Copper Co. is operating a copper property on Knight
island in Prince William sound. The United Cop-
per mines in the Butte district have increased their
output. The Corra mine has been raised from 300 to 600
tons of ore per day, and the Belmont, one on which
Heinze spent $200,000 in development work, now yields
100 tons a day. Ore bins are being built at the Belmont,
and as soon as completed the output will be more than
doubled. The North Butte M. Co. has taken up the
bond on the Miners' Union claim, adjoining the Specu-
lator, and has purchased the outstanding interests. The
North Butte now owns the Miners' Union, Jessie, Edith
May and the Speculator. The company is producing 800
tons of ore daily, and has a long-time contract with the
Washoe for the treatment of its ores. The North Butte
will sink an additional shaft in order to increase the out-
put. Any funds necessary for sinking the new shaft
will be provided from the earnings. The by-products
of silver and gold in the copper ores of the Anaconda
Co. amount to $3,000,000 annually. Last year the com-
pany produced more than 100,000,000 pounds of copper,
4,000,000 ounces of silver and $300,000 worth of gold.
This year the cooper production of the company will be
115,000,000 pounds.
Butte, Sept. 4.
Hoisting has been resumed at the Neversweat mine of
the Amalgamated at Butte, after a month of shaft
retimbering. The Pittsburg & Montana Co. is making
matte and shipping it to the smelter of the Montana Ore
Purchasing Co., where it is being treated in the blast
furnace. The matte carries a copper product of 15%.
The Pittsburg Co. did not intend to attempt to operate
any of its furnaces until the arrival of its new blower,
bought from the Mountain Copper Co. of Keswick, Cal.,
a short time ago, but its ore bins were overflowing and
it had no place to put the output of its mines except on
the ground, which would necessitate handling it over
again. The hoisting engine bought by the Reins C.
Co. for the Combination mine is working. The shaft
will be deepened 400 feet, which will give it a total depth
of 1200 feet, after which the veins will be crosscut and
mining of ore resumed. The company has two pumps
at the 800-foot station, each of which will throw 700 gal-
lons of water 800 feet per minute, and will use other
pumps while sinking. The upraise started from the 800
to the surface, 40 or 50 feet north of the shaft, has
broken into the opening on the 600 and will be continued
upward. At the property of the Raven Co., north of
Butte, development work by way of the 1200-foot station
of the Buffalo is progressing rapidly.
The Little Annie mine, west of the Goldsmith No. 2,
northwest of Walkerville, has been sold to the Cobban
Realty Co. of Butte. The mine was owned by C. Rams-
dell of Deer Lodge.
NEVADA.
Lincoln County.
W. H. Bainbridge, superintendent of Ascott M. & M.
Co., intends resuming work on the Ascott mine, near
Searchlight, during September. The Wallace G. M.
Co. is to resume work at its claims at Capitol Camp, 7
miles southeast of Nelson, under the direction of D. Cat-
lin. The Quartette shaft at Searchlight is 40 feet be-
low the ninth level and is to he continued to a depth of
1000 feet. Drifting has been started on the ninth and
is being continued on the seventh levels. It is re-
ported that a 10-stamp mill and cyanide plant is to be
put up at the Cyrus Noble mino, at Searchlight, by
Manager J. J. Prendergast. Sinking has been begun
on the Commonwealth mine, near Searchlight.
White l'lne County.
(Special Correspondence). — An organization of Butte,
Mont., mining men has secured twenty claims near Ely
close to the property of the Giroux & Nevada M. Co. and
has organized the Butte & Ely Copper Co.
Ely, Sept. 4.
NEW MEXICO.
Grant County.
L. P. Doming is sinking a new shaft on the Pacific
mine at Pinos Altos to provide better air. The shaft
will be sunk to a depth of 400 feet and is down 150 feet.
The Colorado Fuel & Iron Co. is again working a
large force on its iron mines at Fierro.
Sierra County.
Work is to be resumed on the Wicks mine, near Hills-
boro. The owners of the Snake mine, near Hillsboro,
have let a contract for 100,000 feet of lumber and work
will soon be commenced on a 50-ton reduction plant.
Socorro County.
In the Key mine, in the Magdalena mountains, near
Kelly, owned by the Mine Dev. Co., at a depth of 400
feet, while making a crosscut east from what was sup-
posed to be the footwall of the ore, high-grade lead car-
bonate has been found by C. T. Brown.
OREGON.
Douglas County.
The Oregon Securities Co., at Bohemia, has completed
arrangements for building an aerial tram from near the
summit of the ridge between City creek and Champion
basin to the Musick mine. This plan of equipment was
decided on by Superintendent Archer "when he took
charge of the property, instead of continuing the cross-
cut through the ridge, and then building a surface tram
from the City creek portal to the Musick. Under the
new arrangement ore mined at the Musick will be loaded
on the aerial tram, transported about 3000 feet and will
be delivered into a bin over an upraise made from the
lower Champion tunnel level, which will discharge by
gravity into a receiving bin 500 feet beneath. From this
bin ore will be loaded into the cars operated by the sur-
face tram, drawn 1000 feet through the crosscut tunnel
and then 3600 feet down the incline to the 30-stamp mill.
Champion ores which are being mined on the crosscut
level will be loaded direct into the ears that are moved
by the surface tram. The crosscut, which has been
driven 1000 feet into the mountain, is 10x10 feet in the
clear, has room for a double track and will accommodate
the large electric motor put in by the company for trac-
tion work on this level. At the Oregon Securities mill
twenty stamps have been dropping this summer on
Champion ore. A rich placer strike is reported on
Twelve-Mile creek, in the western part of this county.
This new placer find is said not only to comprise the
creek bed, but also its banks and even the high ground
bordering thereon. This new discovery is in the Salmon
mountain, Johnson creek and Sixes mining belt in the
Coast Range mountains. — —At the last meeting of the
Bohemia Mine Owners' Association, F. J. Hard, A. Y.
Churchill and Frank Mclntyre were chosen a committee
to investigate the possibilities of having a smelting plant
built in the district.
Grant County.
The Sheridan shaft, near Granite, has been unwatered
and sinking and drifting has been started.
Josephine County.
A 3-stamp mill and water power plant is being put in
at the Gold Pick mill on Bolen creek, near Holland, by
Manager Frank Fowler.
Lane County.
At the Great Northern mine, in the Blue River mining
district, the aerial tram recently put in is a success.
Within the past few months a new mill and bunkhouse
have been built by Manager C. L. Inman.
Malheur Connty.
Reports from the Mormon Basin district state that the
Summit mill, under the management of P. G. Wells, is
operating steadily; the output is so satisfactory that at
a recent meeting of the owners it was decided to increase
the capacity of the mill to forty stamps. At the Gold
Coin group the hoist has been completed and the reduc-
tion plant is ready for operation.
UTAH.
Beaver County.
The Peck concentrator, which, after a long series of
experiments has been found suitable to work at a profit
the dump of the Horn Silver mine of Frisco, has begun
its regular run, and the management expects to put
through from now on not less than 200 tons daily.
Superintendent Gott of the Skylark Copper Co., oper-
ating at Blue Acre, in the Beaver Lake district, in his
report to Manager McMullen of Salt Lake for August,
says that the shaft now being sunk is down 124 feet and
the bottom is in ore. The vein is on a contact of lime-
stone and granite and carries values in copper, lead, sil-
ver and gold.
Juab County.
Ground has been broken on the Tetro property at Eu-
reka preparatory to sinking the new shaft 400 feet to the
east of the entrance to the old tunnel. A shaft with a
single compartment and manway will be sunk 700 feet.
A station is being cut at the 400-foot level of the May
Day mine, at Eureka.
Piute County.
It 16 reported that telluride ore is being taken from
the incline shaft of Wm. Robottom's mine, near Junc-
tion City. The shaft is down 90 feet.
Salt Lake County.
The Bingham Mary M. Co. has been formed to work
the Commonwealth and Mary claims of Bingham. S.
Bamberger of Salt Lake City is president and J. H.
Bean secretary. An electric hoist is to be put in and
shaft sinking started.
The Uintah, M., M. & D. Co. has bought the Castro
group at Bingham from N. Castro. Manager L. C.
Moore will continue tho tunnel, which has been driven
700 feet.
Sevier County.
The Mt. Baldy M. Co., operating in the Gold Moun-
tain district, near Richfield, is driving a main working
tunnel which will tap the vein at a depth of 500 feet.
C. W. Watts is president.
Shoshone County.
H. Berteaumaux of Spokane and G. A. Henkle of
Sprague have bought placer properties on Gold creek,
near Orofino, from P. Sawyer. Another condemna-
tion suit has been started by P. Larson and. T. L.
Greenough to obtain a right of way for the Morning
tunnel No. 6. E. J. Clark, W. P. Wood, D. F. Clark
and M. J. MeHugh, owners of the Midnight claim,
which Larson & Greenough desire to traverse, are the
defendants. A right of way for 560 feet through the
Midnight claim is sought, the tunnel being 1000 feet long
and 12 feet high. This is at a depth of 2100 feet. The
appointment of three disinterested persons to assess the
damage resulting is asked. This is the second suit of
this kind brought in Idaho. Other condemnation pro-
ceedings were instituted several months ago by Larson
& Greenough to secure a right of way for the same tun-
nel through the claim owned by Hedlund & Baillie of
Mullan. The court decided they were entitled to a right
of way, and three persons are now appraising the dam-
age. The tunnel has been driven 8250 feet, and is in the
Youlike claim 2100 feet beneath the surface. It is in-
tended to drive it 1310 feet farther, giving a working
depth of 2500 feet. The Midnight claim is located be-
tween the vein in the Morning and Evening and the
mouth of the No. 6 tunnel. The complaint states that
the mine cannot be successfully completed or profitably
worked by any other tunnel; that the right of way
across the Midnight is useful, beneficial and necessary
for the draining, working and development of the mine;
that no damage can result to the Midnight claim, but on
the contrary, the tunnel will be an advantage to the
claim.
Summit County.
The new hoist of the American Flag Co. at Park City
has been started by Superintendent W. M. Curtiss.
Tooele County.
It is reported that Manager Keifer of the Herschel
mine, at Mercur, will put in a mill.
Washington County.
John Green reports that the new shaft of the Blue Jay
Extension Co., 18 miles northwest of Stateline and in
Washington county, is down 65 feet, with sinking to be
continued.
WASHINGTON.
Okanogan County.
A double cable aerial tramway is being put in at the
Grand View mine near Loomis.
Snohomish County.
The drift on the Imperial mine at Silverton is in 650
feet and will be continued until a cross ledge which crops
on the surface is cut. The greater portion of the ore
runs as high as 15% in arsenic, for which the company
receive nothing when the ore is shipped to the smelter.
At the Bonanza Queen mine at Silverton a contract
has been let to sink a winze from No. 2 tunnel to make
connections with the raise now being driven from No. 3
evel.
Stevens County.
J. L. Magney, manager of the Heckley mines on the
east slope of Heckley mountain, 12 miles east of North-
port, in the Metalline mining district, reports that the
group has 285 feet of tunnel, 180 feet of shaft, 65 feet of
open cut and 500 feet of stripping work. The ore is ga-
lena and zinc. The company is preparing to move a con-
centrator from Deer Park, B. O, to the Heckley mine.
Whatcom County.
A big strike of free milling ore is said to have been
made on the Columbia group of the North American
mine in the Slate Creek district, 60 miles by trail from
Bellingham. T. F. James is manager.
WYOMING.
Carbon County.
It is reported that the Penn-Wyoming Copper
Co. intends adding furnaces to increase the present
smelting capacity of 350 tons daily to 1000 tons daily, and
an auxiliary steam plant at the smelter to be used when
water power is not available; also a 1000-ton concentrat-
ing plant at the mine. They are working the Ferris-
Haggarty property at Dillon. The present concentrat-
ing plant is producing 300 tons of a 28% product daily.
At the Doane-Rambler mine at Rambler the lower
levels are to be opened up and sinking continued. A
largo pump has been put in at the 645-foot level. J. L.
Powell is superintendent. The Battle Lake Tunnel
Site Co. is working the mine. It is reported that they
intend putting in a new water power plant. Prepara-
tions have been made to build a dam at the outlet of Bat-
tle lake. Manager Aaron Slothower intends putting in
a hoist and continuing the main shaft of the Investors'
M. & P. Co. at Rambler.
184
Mining and Scientific Press.
September 9, 1905.
FOREIGN.
AUSTRALIA.
New South Wales.
The half-yearly statement of the Broken Hill Proprie-
tary shows a profit for the six months ended May 31 of
£147,671. Net assets £423,905, and profit and loss ac-
count shows a credit balance of £580,470; £16,278 has
been expended in construction during the half-year, of
which amount £5,499 has been on account of zinc concen-
tration plant and sulphuric acid plant. As the result of
modifications in the furnaces at Port Pirie, satisfactory
results have been attained in the recovery of metals.
Connection has been made between MeBryde shaft and
Delprat shaft at the 1000-foot level, opening communica-
tion from Delprat shaft to not far from the southern
boundary — a length of 2150 feet. Delprat shaft has
reached a depth of 1120 feet. Cost incurred in prospect-
ing, £22,076. Zinc concentration plant in full operation
three months, and this worked satisfactorily, pro-
ducing 12,851 tons of concentrates for the half-year; con-
tracts are signed for the sale of concentrates at the rate
of 40,000 tons per annum, extending to the end of 1907.
The erection of the necessary plant for the manufacture
of spelter, definitely decided to be situated at Port Pirie,
is being pushed ahead as much as possible. The zinc
concentration plant has a producing capacity of 1200 to
1400 tons weekly; this quantity is sufficient to meet all
requirements for own manufacture, in addition to con-
tracts. Since reporting, in February, 1903, the esti-
mated quantity of ore in sight was 4,250,000 tons; have
extracted 1,400,000 tons. In view of latest developments,
a fresh survey has been made, and, according to recent
estimates, the quantity of ore in sight amounts to 3,200,-
000 tons, of usual quality. Average prices obtained
during the half-year: Lead, 12s 3d per ton, and silver,
49-64d better than during the past half-year. The past
half-year completed the twentieth year of the company's
existence, and within the time 7,747,306 tons of ore
treated, producing 733,025 tons of pig lead, 4576 tons of
copper, 7201 tons of antimonial lead, 129,740,728 ounces
of fine silver, and 82,933 ounces of gold.
Western Australia.
As a consequence of favorable bore-hole prospecting,
the management of the Boulder Main Reef is preparing
to sink the main shaft from the 1400-foot level to the 2500-
foot level.
CANADA.
The following announcement has been made by the
Canadian authorities regarding duty on white lead:
" Provided that dry white lead purchased on or before
the 6th day of July, 1905, at any place out of Canada for
importation into Canada, on evidence to the satisfaction
of the Minister of Customs of the purchase and sale hav-
ing been so made on or before the said day, may be
entered for duty at the rate of duty in force immediately
before that day, notwithstanding an increase of custom
duties under this act, but this proviso shall cease to
have force and effect after the 15th day of September of
this year." July 6th was the date of delivery of the
budget speech.
BRITISH COLUMBIA.
Some time ago the British Columbia parliament en-
acted a law forbidding the employment of Chinamen in
mining underground. The Wellington Colliery Co., de-
siring to test this law, continued to employ Chinamen in
underground work, whereupon an agreed case was sub-
mitted to the courts and passed finally to the privy
council in London, England, the court of last resort.
The judicial committee of the privy council has handed
down a decision in favor of the colliery company. The
committee sustained the contention of the company that
it could send its employes to any portion of its prop-
erty. Similar acts, relating to both Chinese and Japan-
ese, have been disallowed by the Dominion Government.
Boundary District.
At the Emma mine at Summit the main incline shaft
is now down 150 feet, where crosscutting is being done.
Work has been resumed on the Jewel in Long Lake
camp with seven men, working under J. H. Smith.
Within the last year the Granby Con. M., S. & P. Co.,
Ltd., has purchased thirteen additional mineral claims
in Phoenix, at a cost of $432,000, the last of which was
the completion of the Gold Drop group, purchased for
$225,000. The claims purchased were as follows, with
their respective amounts: Monte group of four claims,
$15,000; Monarch and Tamarack group of four claims,
$180,000; Gold Drop group of four claims, $225,000; No.
13 claim, $12,000. It is the intention to open up the Gold
Drop at once, by running a raise from the No. 3 tunnel
to the surface, and quarrying the ore and dropping it
down the raise. Superintendent Hodges states that he
expects shortly to begin work on a surface tramway
from the Gold Drop to one of the Snowshoe's Central
Pacific Railroad spurs, for shipping purposes, the ar-
rangements now being made with the Snowshoe Co. for
that purpose. When the tramway is built to this spur
ore bins will be built.
Rossland District.
The output for the week ending September 2 was 6540
tons. The Crown Point, after an idleness of several
years, has shipped a carload. Shipments for the week
were: Le Roi, 3590 tons; Center Star, 2250; Le Roi No.
2, 150; Le Roi No. 2 (milled), 400; Spitzee, 120; Crown
Point, 30; Jumbo, 400; total for week, 6540, and for year,
225,653 tons.
Slocan District.
The Bosun mine, between New Denver and Silverton,
has been purchased by the Monitor & Ajax Co. of New
Denver, which controls also the new zinc concentrator at
Rosebery. The Bosun is developed by five adit tunnels
on the lead, with a vertical depth of 365 feet and a total
length of 1800 feet. The lowest tunnel is 1000 feet long
and is connected by raises with No. 2, 130 feet above,
which is 800 feet long. Eighty feet above it is No. 3,
which is 1000 feet long. No. 4 is 85 feet higher and 500
feet in length. No. 5 is 60 feet above No. 4, 60 feet below
the surface at the face and 500 feet in length. The lead
is a large fissured zone containing quartz, galena and
zincblende. It is announced that the works at Rosebery
are completed. The Monitor Co., of which M. Gintz-
burger of New Denver is manager, has everything in
readiness at the mines and reduction works for oper-
ations.
Vancouver Island.
Consul Dudley of Vancouver writes that the Britannia
mine, 30 miles from Vancouver, has started shipments of
ore and concentrates to the Crofton smelter. The mine
lies at an elevation of 3500 feet above the beach at the
head of Howe sound. An aerial tramway, nearly 3 miles
in length, has been built to bring the ore from the mine
to the crusher, which has been built upon the side of the
bluff that rises from the shore, at an elevation of 100
feet. Prom the crusher the ore travels by gravity to
the concentrator. The tramway has a capacity of 100
tons per hour. The concentrating plant has sixty
tables. The concentrates are carried by gravity to bins
at the shore, so arranged that three cars may be loaded
at one time by simply opening the chutes and allowing
the concentrates to run into the cars. The cars will be
brought upon a transfer barge and, when loaded, will
be towed across the Gulf of Georgia to Vancouver
island, 40 miles, where they will be run on rails to the
Crofton smelter. The contents of the car3 will be
dumped into the bin and the smelting and refining of
the concentrates will be carried on day and night. The
motive power of the tramway, the crusher and all other
machinery, including the compressed air plant used to
operate the drills, is electricity, generated on the spot.
A small stream, with a fall of several hundred feet, gives
power to the generator.
MEXICO.
Durango.
The Parral Miner reports that the Lustre M. Co. at
Santa Maria del Oro, Durango, have been running the
slag from their smelters into iron moulds of suitable
shape for building purposes. These slag building blocks
or bricks are cast in iron moulds 8x16x15 inches, with a
taper of -5 inch all around to facilitate removal from the
blocks. These blocks come from the mould smooth and
shiny on the edges and rough, with tendency to blister
on the top, while the bottom is reasonably smooth, as
the mould is set on a heavy iron plate which serves as a
bottom. The rough top is found to be an advantage, as
it holds the muds or lime in building and helps bind the
wall. There is no tendency to split or crack as might
be expected in a basic slag. The company has built one
house, 22x18x14 feet with 24 inch walls laid in mud, and
is completing a second building 38x18x20. The slag
blocks are laid up in lime mortar. The slag carries 55%
silica and 20% iron. The Inde Reduction Co. has blown
in their La Roca smelter. Their present output is two
tons daily. La Cruz Mineria have completed their 25-
ton smelter and will treat their own ores in the future.
D. M. Burns, general manager of the Candelaria mines
in the San Dimas district, is having plans prepared for
a hydro-electric plant in that district. A mountain
waterfall will be utilized, and electric power will be sup-
plied to the Candelaria and other mines and to reduction
plants in the San Dimas district.
The Lupita M. Co. of Colorado Springs, Colo., operat-
ing in the Navidad district, has purchased the Socorre-
dora mine on Agujas mountain. Ore rich in silver and
gold has been cut in reopening the Barranca mine in the
Ameca district. A force of 125 men is employed. The
Barranca mine was purchased by E. J. Callahan for the
Bonanza M. Co. A reduction plant at the mine is being
built and new machinery will be added.
s******** ************ ****************
* *
1 Commercial Paragraphs. |
* *
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The contract which R. W. Christian, gold dredger
operator and inventor, has entered into with the Allis-
Chalmers Co. gives that company the exclusive rights
to his patents, and also his services as engineer in design-
ing and constructing gold dredgers which the company
may make embodying his inventions.
The Rapid-Economy Stamp Mill Co. of San Francisco,
Cal., reports a lively demand for their Richards' Rapid-
Economy stamp mill. They have a contract to equip
the Castle Mont M. Co. 's property in Tuolumne county,
Cal., with a number of their stamps, and report the
shipment of one of their 3-stamp batteries to F. H. Elder
for his mine in Humboldt county, Cal.
N. C. Bonnevie, president Denver Ore Testing Co.,
Denver, Colo., has contract for making plans and build-
ing a 50-ton stamp mill for the Sound Democrat mine at
Animas Forks, near Silverton, Colo., and 50-ton Elspass
mill for Max B. Fitch, manager the Southwestern Lead
& Coal Co., Socorro, N. M. Both these parties had
their ore tested by the Denver Ore Testing Co., and
from the tests decided the kind of machinery to use in
their new mills.
The Trenton Iron Co. of Trenton, N. J., have recently
built, or are building, Bleichert aerial tramways for the
May Day G. M. Co. and the Bonnie Girl M. & M. Co.,
Hesperus, La Plata county, Colo.; the Howell Hinds Old
Hundred mine, Howardsville, Green Mountain M. & M.
Co., Silverton, Grand Mogul mine, Gladstone, Ross M.
Co., and the Gold Prince mine, Silverton, San Juan
county, Colo. It is expected that all the above will be
completed within the present season.
Steam hose in being dragged around rocks, etc., is
liable to kink. Kinking breaks the hose from the out-
side, when the hose, then being unable to stand the
necessary pressure, bursts. This kinking is said to be
overcome in the flexible steel-armored hose as the nature
of the armor maintains a uniform internal diameter. The
steel armor of the flexible steel-armored hose entirely
covering the inner rubber hose, and being interlocking,
prevents an open rupture, with the result that sufficient
steam pressure is maintained to continue the use of the
hose. A drill or other machine can thus be continued
in use with a damaged hose until it is convenient to re-
place it with another piece. Full description of this new
hose may be had from the manufacturers, the Sprague
Electric Co., 527 West Thirty-fourth street, New York.
?£ ******** **************** ************
I Trade Treatises.
" Smelting Furnaces and Accessory Equipment " are
attractively illustrated and described in Catalogue No.
122 of Allis-Chalmers Co., Milwaukee, Wis. The treat-
ment includes blast furnaces for lead and copper ores,
hot blast stoves, water jackets, forehearths, slag, matte
and bullion pots, charging apparatus, blowers, engineB
and electrical apparatus.
As an exponent of recent hoisting practice, Catalogue
No. 126, of the Allis-Chalmers Co. of Milwaukee, Wis.,
on "Hoisting Engines and Accessories," is practical and
interesting. Besides illustrating many recent examples
of fine hoisting installations, it contains much informa-
tion and data on hoist problems. Its typographical
appearance is in accord with the high standard already
set.
Bulletins Nos. 1600 and 1601 of the Allis-Chalmers Co.
of Milwaukee, Wis., describe tests and records of the
30,000,000-gallon pumping engine installed in the Chest-
nut Hill high-service station of the Metropolitan Water
Works, Boston, Mass., and of the 15,000,000-gallon ver-
tical triple-expansion pumping engines installed in the
Baden high-service station of the St. Louis, Mo., Water
Works.
"The Automobile Washstand-Turntable, " manufac-
tured by the Link-Belt Machinery Co., Chicago, 111., is
the subject of a trade treatise which shows that this
appliance facilitates the handling of motor cars in
garages and manufactories by enabling the car to turn
as on a pivot toward any objective point, thus ren-
dering every part of the garage easily accessible, and
reducing the space ordinarily required for maneuvering
cars to an extent which greatly increases the capacity of
the garage. It permits the car always to face the door,
thus avoiding the inconvenience and risk of accident
which occur in backing out, especially when the ap-
proach is narrow or on a grade.
New Patents.
Dewey, Strong & Co.'s Scientific Press Patent Agenot, 330
Market street, San Franolsco, has official reports of the following
United States patents issued to Pacific Coast inventors :
FOR THE WEEK ENDING AUGUST 32, 1805.
797,711.-
797,839.-
797,841.-
797,721.-
797,796.-
797,767.-
797,730.-
797,959.-
797,736,-
797,737.-
797,901.-
797,778.-
797,779.-
797,743.-
797,709 -
797,018.-
797,627.-
797.638-
797,831.-
798,317.-
798,393.
798,323,
798 576.
798,278.-
798,334.-
798,192.-
798,297.-
798,195.-
798,288.-
798,209.-
798,299.-
798,541.-
798,308.-
798,311.-
798.150 -
798,312.-
■Jar Fastener— Abramson & Bennett, San Francisco.
-Switch— C. J. Carlson, Spokane, Wash.
-Chair— C. Conn, Bremerton, Wash.
-Agitator— M. J. Covell, Los Angeles, Cal.
-Hose Coupling— E. Devlin, San Francisco.
-Window Tightener— G. H. Dyer. San Francisco.
-Escapement— F. Gundorpb, Sac Francisco.
-Mixing Device— Hulvorsen & Walls, Vashon, Wash.
-Penholder— P. L. Keller. Petaluma, Cal.
-Butter Cutter— N. W. Kline, Long Beach, Cal.
-Assay Furnace— A. M. MacDuffee, Chloride, Ariz.
-Wheel— D. C. MoCan, Los Angeles, Cal.
-Wheel— D C McCan, Los Angeles. Cal.
-Shoe String Fastener— J A. McCoy, Sisson, Cal.
-Dirt Scraper— P. J. Petterson, Seattle, Wash.
-Wedge— F. P. Sharp, San Francisco.
-Jack Arm— E. B. Stone, Oakland, Cal.
-Handle— J. L. Thomas, Winlock, Wash.
-Bottle— M. T. Wright, Port Orford, Or.
FOB THE WEEK ENDING AUGUST 29, 1905.
-FAUCET— S. F. Baker, Santa Barbara, Cal.
■Plow — J. Beard, Westport, Cal.
■Shingle Machine— W. L. Connett, Sweet Home, Or.
-Chute— C. F. Cormack, San Francisco.
-Lock Nut— I. W. Exley, Colville, Wash.
■Quartz Crusher— L. C. Graupner. San Francisco
■Fish Trimming Machine— C. P. Hale, San Francisco.
-Siphon Head— D. Landau, San Francisco.
■Smoke Purifier— Lawton & Reynolds, Grants Pass, Or.
-Fire Protector— Locher & Predom, Auburn, Cal.
■Sash Holder— G. Malcolm, Oakland, Cal.
■Door Knob— B. Phelps, Seattle, Wash.
-Sewing Machine— J. O. Rollins. Tuolumne, Cal.
■Duplicating Apparatus— G. M. Stroud, Portland, Or.
•Thill Attachment— W. J. Thomas. Inglewood, Cal.
■Buggy Top Rest— E Wiet, Sacramento, Cal.
■Carburetor— S. B. Wolgamott, Tancred, Cal.
Smelting Furnace— H L. & N. Wrinkle, Keeler, Cal.
Notices of Recent Patents.
Among the patents recently obtained through Dewey, Strong &
Co.'s Scientific Press United States and Foreign Patent Agency,
the following are worthy of special mention :
Tool attachments for Sewing Machines. — No. 798,299. Aug
29, 1905. John O. Rollins, Tuolumne, Cal. This invention relates to
attachments for sewing machines, and particularly to a form of re-
movable tool hanger and means for driving the same from the ma-
chine treadle Its object is to provide a detachable carrier for
rotary tools, which may be applied to machines already in use and
which will drop below the table to permit of its being run from the
main drive wheel without interfering with the table or requiring
changes therein, and to provide a novel and efficacious means for
operating the tools from the treadle of the machine and without nec-
essarily running the sewing arm. It consists in the combination
with the frame casting and operating treadle of a sewing machine,
of a detachable arm arranged to be secured thereto, means Including
a bolt passing through the frame casting and plates on the bolt upon
each side of the frame for detachably securing said arm to the side
of the frame casting, a direction pulley and a flexible connection
passing over said pulley between said arm.
Fish Trimming and Splitting Machines.— No. 798,334. Aug. 29,
1905. Cress P. Hale, San Francisco, Cal. The object of this inven-
tion is to provide a practical labor-saving device which will auto-
matically remove the tails, fins and head of large-sized fish, such as
salmon and the like, and which will split the fish along the baok to
allow the removal of the backbone. The invention comprises in fish-
dressing apparatus, the combination with fish-conveying means, of
a table on which the flsh is delivered therefrom, a rough-shaped car-
rier extending In the direction of movement of said conveying
means and operatable at right angles thereto and across said table,
means for delivering the fish from the table into said trough, and a
cutter to one side of the path of the trough to sever an extremity of
the flsh.
Dividends.
Bunker Hill & Sullivan M. & C. Co., Idaho, dividend
No. 96, $150,000, payable Sept. 4; total paid since Jan. 1,
1905, $2,625,000; total to date, $4,896,000.
Whole No. 2354.
_ VOLUME XCI.
Number 12.
San Francisco, Cal., Saturday, September 16, 1905.
THREE DOLLARS PER ANNUM.
Single Copies, Ten Centi.
The Prospector, Etc.
In a recent lecture on "The Laboratory and the
Gold Mine," by Prof. S. L. Bigelow of the University
of Michigan, emphasizing the need of mining and
scientific research, and the absolute requirement of
technical skill in mining, he said that time was when
the treasure seeker in the mountains needed only a
pan in which to wash the sand to determine if the
prospect was a good one, but that nowadays the
first requisite was the installation of costly machinery
and that the day of the prospector is over.
It is singular how this latter idea clings to the
minds of so many people; possibly it is because of their
environment. The professor was right in recounting
the achievements of mining and metallurgical science
and in stating that knowledge of the sciences con-
nected" therewith is absolutely necessary for success;
but he was wrong in assuming that "the day of the
prospector is past." It is not, and it would be a
sorry day for the mining industry if it were. The
prospector with his pan, his scanty outfit and his
patient, humble work is still the avant courier of the
mining industry of America. He is still the sturdy
pioneer that blazes the way and makes the initial
discovery that renders possible the mining camp and
all the busy life that clusters round a great mining
property. As the acorn holds within its tiny cup the
potentiality of the mighty oak, so in the kit of the
prospector is the germ of the great subsequent in-
vestment— the development of the mine, the pur-
chase of machinery and the outlay of vast sums of
money.
This is not always easy to be realized by any one
not acquainted with the eternal conditions that neces-
sarily make it so. It is one of the things, to explain
which is unnecessary to one that can understand it
and useless to one that can not.
No man can thoroughly understand it if he forever
sphere; the prospector his, and, with all due defer-
ence to the professor, the prospector is at least as
important. Were it not for the prospectors, some
of the professors would be without business. The
prospector is as the voice of one crying in the wilder-
ness, " Prepare ye the way of the Lord ! " or words
to that effect.
VVVlTH impulse wheels to which water passes in
" planes at right angles to their shafts, it is
desirable, in order to avoid changes in the directions
of water pipes, that direct connected wheels and
generators occupy the same room. This is the
arrangement at the Colgate, Cal., Electra and Santa
Ana, Cal., electric power houses. The area of a
Drill Department, Ingersoll-Sergeant Co.'s New Plant.
Foundry, Ingersoll-Sergeant Co.'s New Plant. Court Between Foundry and Pattern Storage Buildings.
THE NEW INGERSOLL-SERGEANT PLANT AT PHILLIPSBURG, N. J. (See Page 193.)
'
lives his life where there is no unoccupied Govern-
ment land, and hence no possible area for the pros-
pector to wander in. For wanderer he is, and he must
have an area of public domain to roam over. -For-
ever filled with an unrest and a spirit of divine dis-
content, forever hopeful of finding something better
than before, he and he alone is the real mine dis-
coverer. He is by no means extinct; in his methods
he differs little from his predecessors; in his results
he is more fortunate in these advanced days of scien-
tific mining, of which the professor quoted repre-
sents in many ways an honored adjunct. He has his
Nor is the professor particularly happy in his sug-
gestion that the installation of costly machinery
should be a primary proposition in the development
of a mining property. That should be about the very
last thing done on the property, and in a well man-
aged mining proposition occupies the final place in
the whole scheme. From the prospector's find to the
installation of costly machinery is ordinarily a long
and evolutionary process, and the ordinary modes of
such evolution can not be hastened, reversed or dis-
turbed without considerable disregard of the regular
rules of business.
wheel room may frequently be reduced at stations
operating direct current, horizontal pressure tur-
bines, under low heads, by placing the wheels at the
bottom of the canal, which has one side of the sta-
tion or generator room for a retaining wall. Verti-
cal wheels direct connected to generators must
be directly under the main room of their sta-
tion, and may be in a canal over which the station
is built, in a wheel room that forms its lowest
part, or in a wheel pit, and supplied with water
through penstocks, as at the Niagara Falls electric
plants.
186
Mining and Scientific Press.
September 16, 1905.
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
ESTABLISHED i860.
Published Every Saturday at 330 Market Street, San Francisco, Cal.
Telephone, Davis 771.
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Chicago, 1164 Monadnock Block. Denver, 606 Mack Block
J. F. HALLORAN Publisher
SAN FRANCISCO, SEPTEMBER 16, 1905.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
ILLUSTRATIONS: Page.
Drill Department, Ingersoll-Sergeant Co.'s New Plaiit 185
Foundry, Ingersoll-Sergeant Co.'s New Plant 185
Court Between Foundry and Pattern Storage Buildings 185
System or Opening a Drift Mine 191
Hidden Treasure Drift Timbering 191
Plan of Drifting Operations, Solomon Hill Mine, Klondike 191
Ancient Gravel Channels of Calaveras County, Cal 192-193
McGill Lubricator 194
Flow-Sheet of No. 2 Mill 195
EDITORIAL:
The Prospector, Etc
Impulse Water Wheel
American Mining Machinery in Russia.
Oriental Labor Underground
Mineral Lands and Townsite Patent —
A National Need
Electrical Engineering
Growing Importance of Mining
Cal ifornia Supreme Court Decision
The Deadly "Knocker".
Appreciation in the Price of Silver 187
Transvaal Corrjmis'.ion to Inquire into Mining Matters 187
Statistics of Ore Shipments 187
What the Owner of a Ledge or Lode May Do 187
Quarreling With the Creator 18?
LATEST MARKET REPORTS 201
MINING SUMMARY 197-198-199-200
MISCELLANEOUS:
Concentrates 188-189
Mining School Graduates 190
The " Economic Geologist" 190
Tunnel Expenses 1 90
Placer Mining in Alaska 191
Production of Antimony in 1904 191
The Ventilation of Mines 191
Ancient Gravel Channels of Calaveras County, Cal 192
Semi-Electrolytic Process of Gold Assay 193
The New Ingersoll-Sergeant Plant at Pbillipsburg, N, J 103
McGill Lubricator 194
Treatment of Copper Rock at Quincy Mills, Hubbell, Mich 194
Mining and Metallurgical Patents 196
Personal 200
Obituary 200
Commercial Paragraphs 201
Trade Treatises 201
Books Received 201
Notices of Recent Patents 201
IN connection with the expansion of American busi-
ness in Russia is to be noted one of the first fruits
of President Roosevelt's mediation between Russia
and Japan, in cordial appreciation thereof, the
Russian Czar has ordered a discontinuance of dis-
criminating duties on American manufactures in
Russia, which takes off from 20% to 30% duty on all
kinds of American machinery imported into Russia,
and which will thus tend to largely increase the
American mining machinery trade with Russia.
THE operators of the large coal mines on Van-
couver Island, B. C, appear to have sained a
victory in the test, case which was tried to determine
whether the law of the Dominion Parliament, making
it unlawful for mine operators to employ Oriental
labor underground, was good law. The case has
been carried up from one court to another, eventually
reaching the Privy Council in London, the British
court of last resort. This high tribunal decided in
favor of the mine operators. An ultimate decision
was reached much more quickly than is usually possi-
ble in the United States.
TO except mines or mineral lands from the opera-
tion of a townsite patent, it is not sufficient
that the lands do in fact contain valuable minerals
when the townsite patent takes effect, but they must
at that time be known to contain minerals of such
extent and value as to justify expenditures for the
purpose of extracting them; and if the lands are not
known at that time to be so valuable for mining pur-
poses, the fact that they have once been valuable, or
are afterwards discovered to be still valuable for
such purposes, does not defeat or impair the title of
persons claiming under the townsite patent.
A National Need.
The Canadian Government is about to accede to
the requests of Canadiau mining men and establish a
National Department of Mines at Ottawa, under the
direction of a Minister of Mines. The idea is a com-
mendable one. As a cold business proposition Canada
will make money by it. Such governmental depart-
ment will pay for itself ten times over in the first
year of its existence. Such a government depart-
ment will foster and aid the mining industry of the
Dominion in many ways.
For many years the necessity for a national Cab-
inet Department of Mines and Mining has been urged
as a requisite part of the executive branch of the
United States Government. The objections against
the measure have been met, and the arguments for
so salutary a step are now unanswered because un-
answerable. The only objection noted of late is that
the supervision of the mining industry can be left to
the several States and that the general government
need not be burdened with such proposed federal
supervision. Such argument is born of ignorance
and has no excuse for existence. If the mining in-
dustry were solely a State matter; if here and there
throughout the nation there were only a sparse and
sporadic evidence of its existence, then, as in similar
cases, it might well be left to State supervision. But
it has become the great basic industry of the nation.
Many things the several State governments can have
justly delegated to them for sole control : in the case
of the mining industry it is due to its dignity and im-
portance that it be accorded the fullest measure of
federal recognition. In our system of government
the federal power is dominant, and when it stamps
the seal of paramount authority upon an industry,
it lifts it to a height of industrial importance denied
to anything controlled by State measures. To such
dignity would the mining industry be raised by the
creation of a Cabinet of Mines and Mining.
But it is not a matter of " dignity " so much as a
plain present business requirement. The importance
of an industry that last year produced twelve hun-
dred millions of dollars is manifest, and justifies such
Cabinet creation. It has always been the wise policy
of the Government to create Cabinet departments in
accordance with the growth and requirement of the
nation. In the early years of the Republic the Cab-
inet of the President of the United States had but
four officers. As we advanced it became necessary
to have a Secretary of the Navy; later, the nation
needed a Postmaster-General. Doubtless in those
days there were men who shook their heads and
thought it was unnecessary and extravagant to have
so many Cabinet officers. But in 1848 it was found
necessary to create a "Department of the Interior,"
and any one who has had anything to do with land or
mines in the last half-century knows how overcrowded
and overdone is the little section of that Cabinet de-
partment that is devoted to those matters. Since
the first recognition of mining in the United States
a little desk in an obscure corner of the Interior De-
partment's all that is accorded the great industry
that made the nation what it is and maintains its
strength and prestige through the years.
In 1889 it was found needful to create a Cabinet
Department of Agriculture. In 1903 was created a
Department of Commerce. Every dictate of justice,
economy and good business requires that there be
created a Department of Mines and Mining, an officer
as member of the Federal Cabinet. As shown, the
President's advisers and assistants have grown in
number with the growth of the country. The time
has come when the industry that has made all others
possible be given its due representation in the execu-
tive branch of our Federal government. It would
be a good investment in every way.
And in this there is no plea for aid nor call for as-
sistance; no hint at fostering care or protection; no
request for favor or help of any kind. The Ameri-
can miner is perfectly able to take care of himself
and asks no governmental help. He does think,
however, that the Government exhibits a lack of un-
derstanding of its own true interests in its neglect
to help itself. What mining is in 1905 is only an in-
dication of what it can be made to be. We have
illimitable mineral resources; abundance of capital;
the highest quality of technical skill. There are
many present limitations on all these because of the
lack of proper governmental representation. Men
who have a clear conception of national requirements
see this; a broad-guage policy requires that the de-
ficiency be supplied. In former arguments for the
creation of a Cabinet Department for Mines and Min-
ing, this journal has gone into details illustrative of
the pressing need from a national standpoint of this
measure. When the Mining and Scientific Press
began the effort there was considerable apathy.
There is a little left, and it is this indifference alone
that has prevented the mining men of the United
States from having a Cabinet Department years ago.
Concert of action would secure a Cabinet Department
of Mines and Mining inside of two years. Whenever
the mining men want it they can have it by giving
the national legislators to understand that votes
count, and that mining men the country over know
their friends.
NO kind of engineering has developed so fast as
electrical engineering. The electrical engineer
has an unusual advantage over other engineers in the
fact or existing condition that in his line everything
lends itself to exact calculation, and a completed
machine or any of its parts may be submitted to the
most searching electrical and magnetic tests, because
such tests, unlike those applied by other engineers,
do not destroy the body tested. In mining, tunnel-
ing, earthwork, building, making railways or canals,
the engineer is supremely dependent on the natural
conditions provided for him, and these conditions
are seldom twice the same. The rock is different,
the ore is dissimilar, the ground is not alike. There
are no simple laws known to the engineer about the
way in which currents will act upon sand and gravel;
and engineers who have had to do with such problems
are continually appealing to nature, forever making
tests and observations, and bringing to bear upon
their work all the knowledge and habits of thought
that their past experience has given them. But the
advantage cited in the case of an electrical engineer
is sometimes set off by the concomitant fact that
because of this as a finished product the electrical
engineer must not overlook the need of training in
the exercise of his judgment in actual, practical
work.
THE growing importance of mining is being
variously illustrated. Uncertainties in indus-
trial stocks, the glut of cheap money, the strenuous
competition in mercantile and manufacturing as con-
trasted with the profits of intelligent mining work,
induce investments tremendous in the aggregate.
Noticeable, too, is the increase in the number of stu-
dents who in the different universities take up the
"mining course." With requisite training and expe-
rience, the graduate of a mining college can be a
good miner or mining engineer, the chief advantage
of his college education being the " right start " he
has secured; but in this matter nothing can take the
place of experience, and this can only be had by
actual work and responsibility. This influx of young
men who in entering a mining college for a four years'
course dedicate their lives to the profession of mining
is also illustrative of the recognized importance of
the mining industry, by reason of the fact that in
mining, as in other important industries, it is the
young man who has charge of affairs, and to the
properly qualified man the mining industry affords
fine opportunity for a prosperous career.
THE Supreme Court of California decided that
any one who connects himself with the title of
a mining corporation may take advantage of the law of
that State prohibiting the directors of mining cor-
porations from selling or encumbering its mining
grounds unless ratified by the stockholders. In the
case of Williams vs. Gaylord, 186 United States Re-
ports, 157, the Supreme Court of the United States
has decided that such decision is binding on the Fed-
eral courts; that is, a State may require the consent
of the stockholders of a foreign mining corporation
as a necessary prerequisite to the sale or encum-
brance of the mining ground owned by it within the
State, as such a requirement is not a regulation of
the internal affairs of the corporation, but has refer-
ence to the conduct by it of its business.
September 16, 1905.
Mining- and Scientific Press.
187
The Deadly "Knocker.
A letter from a little town in northern Idaho says,
as usual, that there is nothing needed there but cap-
ital— that the indications made manifest by the devel-
opment work already done show conclusively that all
that is required is capital to make three or four big
mines. Very likely; indeed, almost positively so.
The same assertion is made to this journal over and
over again in the course of a year, and usually what
the correspondent says is the truth. But it is not
the whole truth. Such correspondent from northern
Idaho, or southern Oregon, or eastern California or
western Colorado, the same as other correspondents
from many other promising localities throughout this
west half of America, omits one important requisite
not usually possessed by the denizens of a promising
mineral region, namely: co-operation, which involves
the absence of local antagonism.
It is, too often, the experience of would-be invest-
ors in a deserving mining prospect that some one on
the ground — some local resident — will often do his
best or worst to "knock " the sale of his neighbor's
property, sometimes from pure cussedness, other
times because he himself has a property that he
wants to sell, and sillily knows no better way to
recommend it than by decrying his neighbor's own-
ings. One or two such male specimens can kill a
camp or hold back a really deserving mining locality.
It is within the writer's personal experience to be
approached on his visiting a place that "needs
nothing but capital," and confidentially told by a
leading local light that the property under consider-
ation was "n. g.," and that "no one but a damned
fool would buy or bond it," meanwhile affording the
information that he had a really fine proposition, just
what was wanted, and might be induced to consider
suitable offer therefor. This is not an uncommon
experience. Of course, the almost inevitable result
is that the visitor leaves on the next stage — and
sometimes has reminiscent remarks not wholly favor-
able to further inquiries concerning that particular
locality.
That this is the acme of folly goes without saying,
but it is just what is being done over and over again
in a hundred deserving localities.
Such people might with great benefit take a leaf
from the ledger of real estate men's policy. If a
"stranger" visits Brownstown or Silverville, and
talks of buying a lot, the local real estate dealer to
whom the "stranger" talks doesn't tell him that he
has the only lot in town worth buying and the other
fellows are only false alarms. He sensibly credits
the visitor with the possession of ordinary intelli-
gence (which is usually safe), and contents himself
with effort to sell the lot in question, telling the truth
(which is good enough, and most folks believe it).
Should the visitor finally buy a lot from another real
estate agent in the same town, the first one talked
to says, usually: "That is a good lot, too; indeed,
next to the one I showed you, I believe I would
recommend it for your purpose."
Were he to start in telling the would-be buyer that
that lot was badly located; that the property just
there would depreciate, and that the whole was
worthless, he would do no worse for the place of his
habitation than the man who "knocks " the sale of a
mining prospect in his locality.
"Then," it may be asked, " would you advise that
an innocent purchaser be kept in ignorance of the
situation ? Is it not common honesty to let an in-
vestor know the defects and shortcomings of a prop-
erty ? Is it not the duty of a resident, acquainted
with the facts, to so inform one uninformed ?"
If there be swindling or false misrepresentation
going on it is only right that the poor innocent pro-
moter or mining engineer (who of course knows
nothing), be told of his folly, but, generally, it is
not with any such high ideal of his duty to his fellow-
man that the "knocker " does his deadly work. He
" knocks " because his own narrow envy and little
lust for lucre blinds him to the injury he is doing his
locality. He is not fooling the promoter nor mining
engineer into believing what he says about his own
property, but he is helping to throw suspicion upon
any honest statement of others, for in nothing is
confidence more easily destroyed than in anything
relating to the purchase of a prospect.
This is not a lecture nor a sermon, nor even to be
considered as advice, but is, perhaps, a harsh way of
saying what has been said herein before in more
courteous terms, viz., that nothiDg is ever made and
much is often lost by false and foolish statements
made by local residents about their neighbors' prop-
erty.
Many a good sale has been spoiled; many a deserv-
ing locality is dead or dying, because of the lying
tongue of some resident idiot who is denied the sense
that God gives to geese. Such a locality is unfortu-
nate in possessing such an undesirable specimen of
inhabitant, and if ever a boycott was justifiable it is
in his case.
I 'HE appreciation in the price of silver is of inter-
*• est from either a mining or monetary stand-
point, solely that it produces more profit at its
present price to the miner. Indeed, in some cases
where silver is a product, there is more money for
the miner with silver at 62 cents than when it was $1.34
an ounce, thanks to improved metallurgical methods,
gerater facility for transportation, and decreased cost
of supplies. So far as the monetary question is to be
considered, the parallel of anomaly is considered
coincident. With silver at 50 cents an ounce, or
25 cents, or 62, as at today's quotations, the busi-
ness of the world would adjust itself to the fluctua-
tion. The currency or its value is unaffected by the
current price of silver, for, in the United States, the
silver dollar is in the last analysis merely a government
note stamped on silver. The material counts for
nothing in giving it circulation value, any more than
does the paper on which national bank notes are
printed. Should silver go to $1 per ounce, or drop
to 25 cents, our currency would remain unaffected,
provided the total amount of unexportable money in
circulation here was kept within the amount that
could find employment at par.
I JHE Transvaal, South Africa, Government has
* appointed a commission of twenty-four mem-
bers to inquire into and report on the present prac-
tice in the matter of conveying persons in mine
shafts, more especially with • reference to winding
ropes, their structure, material, preservation, exam-
ination, best method of attaching rope to load, and
the reliability and adaptability of safety catches and
appliances in shafts. There are five printed pages
in the schedule received at this office, covering the
entire subject in an exhaustive manner. The com-
mission asks for technical testimony from any and all
who are acquainted with the subject sufficiently to
make their evidence of any material value. They
would likewise be pleased to have manufacturers of
devices connected with the subject furnish drawings,
models and plans of such devices, with full descrip-
tions of their workings. It will be necessary for
each manufacturer submitting drawings or models
to grant permission to construct the appliance in
question for test purposes. The schedule may be
seen at this office by any one interested. Anything
sent in connection with the subject should be ad-
dressed P. O. Box 1132, Johannesburg, South Africa,
and reach the secretary there not later than Janu-
ary 31, 1906.
IT sometimes occurs in statistics of ore shipments
from mining districts that the figures would indi-
cate decreasing values. But that is simply illustra-
tive of how delusive statistics can be. It is the ordi-
nary history of every mining district that after the
first two years the ore shipments showed a lesser
average value, manifestly because decrease in freight
and increase in smelting or milling facilities made it
possible to ship ore that in first conditions wouldn't
pay for shipment or treatment. True statistics
rightly elaborated would almost invariably bear out
this latter view. A district might have shipped $100
ore two years ago, and now be shipping ore that
goes only $20; but of the $100 ore only 20,000 tons
were shipped, while of the $20 ore 200,000 tons is go-
ing out, the fact being that the camp is now shipping
$4,000,000 value of ore, where two years ago it was
shipping but $2,000,000.
i — ; ■
THE owner of a ledge, lode or vein may follow it
upon its dips or pitch beyond his side lines and
into the adjoining claim, provided that the apex of
the lode is upon the claim of the one who seeks to
follow it; provided, further, that the lode is a con-
tinuous one, and that the end lines of the claim are
parallel. With any one of these three conditions
non-existent, the Federal mining law will not permit
the owner of the lode to follow it beyond his own
lines.
Quarreling With the Creator.
That "divine discontent" which impels desire to
better one's financial condition is always commend-
able, but we have no sympathy with those who con-
tent themselves with futile complaint of the "unequal
distribution of wealth," and who talk as though some
one was doing them out of their share. The man
who attacks the possessor of money without having
the ability to acquire some himself is merely at-
tempting to institute a quarrel with the Almighty
because in the distribution of talents the gift of
acquiring wealth was denied him. For a money-
getter is merely a man who has ability in that direc-
tion and who exercises it. He can no more help
making money than the man devoid of such a gift
can help being without much of it. It is as useless
to "kick" at the unequal distribution of the money-
making talent as at similar unequal distribution of
the inventive talent, or the musical talent, or the
poetic talent, or the scientific talent, or the talent
that makes an efficient mine manager. The world of
invention is open to every one, and the fame and
profits resultant from successful invention are the
prizes of him who can win them; yet it would be
ridiculous for any one to inveigh against Edison or
any other great inventor because his mental endow-
ment was not equal to producing such great in-
ventive results.
It would be equally ridiculous for one to utter out-
cry because of his inability to write like Kipling or
Conan Doyle or Winston Churchill. A "kick"
against Tennyson or Shakespeare or Burns because
of inability to write such poetry as they wrote would
be as logical as this eternal bleat about the "monop-
oly of money power " by those who have no money-
making ability.
As well declare against a Bessemer or a Roebling;
a Hewitt or a Melville; a Oyama or a Roosevelt, or
any men in any age made famous by deserved suc-
cess, by the exercise of natural gifts. Of as much
real purport to decry the achievements of the elec-
trical or mining engineer because the success that
has followed their intelligent efforts is not shared by
the envious witness of the well-earned fame that fills
the earth. Of course if it be bad to have men who
can invent or write poetry, or make money, or
create success of any kind; if the ability to do these
things be a "monopoly," then let us all decry and
defy this monopoly of talent and take steps to have
such monopoly in any line destroyed. Why should
Patti be paid $2000 to sing a song when the writer
couldn't get a thousand cents for as many ditties ?
Of what justice is the fact composed that permits
Kipling to get $500 for a short story when many of us
couldn't get 5 cents for the longest kind of a yarn ?
How shameful a fact and full of menace to mankind is
the sad spectacle of an Edison getting $50,000 for an
electrical device that adds $50,000,000 to the wealth
of the world, when we ourselves are unable to think
up an improvement in a hen coop !
What an outrage on the natural rights of man for
some miscreant to invent a cyanide process, or a
water - jacket furnace, or a concentrator, even
though such devices add thousands of millions
of dollars to the world's wealth, where the
railer at such wealth hasn't sabe enough to see
pay ore in an outcropping 1 Let us take away
the talent for doing anything well from the pos-
sessors thereof and drop everything to the dead level
of mediocrity. It is an outrage to which no free man
should submit that any one should be able to get
wealth or renown because of individual talent or
effort when such success institutes so damaging a
comparison between relative mentalities !
Mind will always rule matter; brains will always
win; intelligent and honest effort in any line, whether
wealth, poetry, science, literature, music, mining or
engineering, will invite success, and it is inane for
any one to lose time in envious carping at those who
substitute perspiration for inspiration, and who work
at their chosen avocation first for the joy that a true
worker finds in congenial work, and second for the
material success that it brings.
188
Mining and Scientific Press.
September 16, 1905.
[
CONCENTRATES.
J0
ROSIN dissolved in alcohol will give a flux that will
Dot corrode in soldering wire or electrical connections.
In generating steam at 125 pounds pressure from feed
water at 62°, about 25% of the total heat required is
needed before steam temperature is reached.
Copper can be welded by being first treated with a
solution of nitrate of potassium and a cyanide, after
which it can be welded either to itself or to iron or steel.
A man can stand a temperature of 122° F. and work
therein when the air is comparatively dry; but in air
saturated with moisture 104° h\ would prove fatal to
human life.
The generally accepted value of a mining property is
based to a great extent upon assumed knowledge of what
it will pay as distinctive from what it may pay, with a
fair allowance for future possibilities.
Palladium is not in much demand. It is used to a
limited extent by makers of chronometers, surgical and
optical implements. It is found in connection with plat-
inum and also with nickel in Canada.
****
The best wooden tanks for metallurgical purposes are
made of redwood. Pine, spruce, fir and other resinous
woods are less suitable. Steel and galvanized iron are
also successfully used in cyanide work.
As between adding quicksilver to the mortar of the
stamp mill or simply on the plates, it depends largely on
the ore. The personal experience of "Concentrates"
favors the addition of mercury to the mortar.
The Idaho statement does not show sufficient cause
for contest. To constitute a valid contract (one that can
be enforced by law) five things are necessary — competent
parties, sufficient consideration, mutual assent, lawful
subject matter and time of performance.
To case harden set screws, make a mixture of equal
parts pulverized prussiate of potash, niter and salam-
moniac. Heat the screws a dull red, roll in this powder,
then plunge them in bath of four ounces salammoniac
and two ounces prussiate of potash dissolved in one gal-
lon soft water.
Regarding belt creep, it is to be said that for a com-
mon leather belt, running under ordinary conditions,
the creep should not exceed 1%. This is usually styled
" legitimate slip, " but is an actual loss of power and can
not well be prevented by patent pulley coverings nor
belt tighteners.
****
A "PURE zinc sulphide " would contain 663% zinc
and 33|% sulphide. Leadville, Colo., zinc ore will aver-
age about 42% zinc. Carbonate of zinc will carry about
50% zinc. Zinc ore is reduced to a metallic state by dis-
tillation. A zinc ore carrying less than 20% is not com-
mercially profitable.
Coal of good quality is widely distributed through
Alaska and, with increased transportation facilities, will
be utilized. The lignitic coal on Cook's inlet is now being
mined in a small way for local use. The short seasons
and absence of harbors have deterred the coal develop-
ment of the peninsula.
The Philadelphia & Reading Railway, in Pennsylva-
nia, is believed to be the biggest coal carrying corpora-
tion in the United States. It annually carries about
9,000,000 tons of coal. There is probably no other rail-
road system in the country that does so much business
and makes so little profit.
Bauxite, the raw material from which aluminum
is most economically manufactured, is produced in the
United States to the extent of about 20,000 tons
annually. About the same amount is imported. Cryo-
lite is not mined in the United States; it is almost solely
produced at Ivigtut, Greenland.
Invention does not always constitute discovery. It
is not difficult to invent or devise a machine that will
serve a useful purpose, though that would not be a dis-
covery, which is quite another matter. When one can
make a discovery in mechanics or science, he has
achieved something rarely vouchsafed to the most
gifted.
It is possible to live and breathe and work for some
hours under a pressure of two and one-half atmospheres
(about 37J pounds per square inch), but a greater pres-
sure would tend to produce paralysis. The pressure
under which men worked in the building of the St.
Louis, Mo., bridge was one of over four atmospheres (63.7
pounds per square inch).
sheets, 1J- cent; manufactured, 35% ad valorem. Zinc,
sulphate comes under the latter heading.
Silver cyanide may be prepared by precipitating the
nitrate with alkaline cyanide. It is a white powder;
specific gravity 3.94, which on being heated melts and
loses half its cyanogen. It is converted into chloride by
chlorine water, or hydrochloric acid. It may be pre-
pared by dissolving silver chloride, cyanide, carbonate
or oxide in a solution of potassium cyanide.
V w v w
A reciprocating engine which is turning over
slowly, with the throttle valve just off its seat, or with
by-pass open, and having all its oil cups open and regu-
lated, can be brought up to speed seventy-five turns in
two and one-half minutes. If the engine is cold all over
and has all its oil cups shut tight, and all its auxiliaries
quiet, fifteen minutes would be a quick start.
Minerals, crude or " not advanced in value or condi-
tion by refining or grinding, or by other process of
manufacture," are admitted free of duty into the United
States. Zinc ore as mined comes under that head. The
duty on zinc in blocks or piga la 1 cent per pound; in
Osmium is of the platinum group and is reduced by
alloying the residue which remains when platinum is
dissolved in aqua regia, with zinc, lead or tin. The
osmium-iridium thus passes into a finely divided state,
and, when heated in a current of oxygen, splits up into
osmium tetroxide and iridium. Osmium may then be
obtained by treating the osmium tetroxide with any
reducing agent.
There are numerous disinfectants and purifiers of
water. The one in every way the best is chloride of sil-
ver. The addition of two milligrams of this chloride to
a liter of most impure water will completely sterilize it,
the purified water permanently remaining so disinfected.
Tincture of iodine — three drops to a quart — will sterilize
water, but the water will taste of iodine, and the steril-
ization will not last an hour.
Tin is mined and smelted crudely and spasmodically
at Santa Barbara, Guanajuato, Mexico. The country
rock is rhyolite; the ore formation is cracks in the rhyo-
lite filled with clay. It averages about 0.5% metallic tin.
It is a tin oxide. It is smelted in small native charcoal
furnaces. About 40% of the ore contents is the result.
Roasting or reconcentration are ineffectual, and the im-
purities are insoluble in acids.
All silver ores, however complex, can be treated by
amalgamation after a preliminary roasting with salt;
but this, while adding greatly to the expense, gives rise
to an additional loss by volatilization, and in most cases
unless an ore can be amalgamated direct — that is, unless
it is fairly free from base sulphide minerals — and the
gangue is mainly quartzose or earthy, it is preferable to
adopt either a smelting or a lixiviation process.
Will"**
A placer location, even though taken by legal
subdivisions, is required by law to be staked or marked
on the ground. In the case of Mitchell vs. Olive (84 Cal.,
409, 24 Pac. Repts., 164) it was held that: "The location
of placer claims, using the names of persons as co-locat-
ors who are not intended to have any real interest, but
who are to convey the rights after location (commonly
called dummy locators), is a fraud upon the Govern-
ment."
High extraction of values from ores is always desir-
able, but the expense of obtaining high percentages of
extraction may prove greater than the net result
justifies. There is usually a point where the greatest
profit results, and this, from a commercial standpoint, is
the point the metallurgist should strive to reach. It is
always permissible and proper to increase the percent-
age of extraction, but if it be done at a loss of profit
there seems nothing to justify the effort.
vvwv
So FAR AS "inducements " are concerned, the present
Arizona charter law regarding foreign and local corpora-
tions therein is certainly very "inducing." There is no
annual tax, or tax on the amount of capital stock, no
annual statement is required, no examination of the
affairs of the corporation is called for or permitted, and
the Legislature which has made the Territory itself the
sole medium through which this business is transacted
has not reserved the right to repeal a charter.
The quantity of water discharged through the nozzle
of pipe under known head may be approximately deter-
mined as follows: Extract the square root of the head
in feet and multiply this by 8.03. The product will equal
the spouting velocity in feet per second. Multiply the
area in feet of the nozzle at the mouth by this velocity
and the result equals the cubic feet of water discharged
per second. Thus a 6-inch pipe under a 400-foot head will
discharge ^400 = 10 X 8.03 = 160.6 X 0.19635 = 31.533
cubic feet per second.
When attempting to operate the decantation process
in cyaniding the pulp should not be too thick. There
should be abundance of solution with the slimes if suc-
cess is to be obtained at all. Some kinds of material can
be worked somewhat thicker than others. For instance,
extremely fine sands, so fine as to be considered slimes,
may be settled with a less percentage of moisture than
talcose slimes. Practical sense must be used in these
operations, for there is no rule, but the result of expe-
rience, which may be safely depended upon.
In a noted construction of concrete the specifications
for mixing and placing required in part the following:
" The sand and cement shall be thoroughly mixed dry,
then sufficient water added to make a plastic or wet
mortar, and the whole thoroughly wet again. The
broken stone having been previously wet dowD, shall
then be added, and the whole mass thoroughly mixed
until every particle of stone is covered with mortar.
The concrete thus mixed should be immediately placed
in position and rammed until excess mortar shows over
the entire surface.
As HAS been many times previously stated, ques-
tions to which these brief paragraphs are answers can-
not be published for two reasons — want of space and
natural disinclination on the part of the inquirer
to have such publicity given him. The questions
themselves would transcend our limits, and even the
answers have to be boiled down to the briefest space
consistent with accuracy and clearness. Unless the
journal is set in finer type it is not likely that more than
the condensed answer can be given. An attempt some
years ago to use smaller type in these pages brought so
much adverse comment that the present style of large
type was continued in use.
In an estimation of copper by potassium permanganate
the copper in solution rendered slightly acid with
hydrochloric acid is reduced by sodium sulphite or
sulphurous acid previously nearly neutralized with
sodium carbonate and precipitated as cuprous thiocya-
nate, boiled and filtered and washed thoroughly with
hot water onto a filter, the funnel inserted in the neck of
the precipitation flask and a boiling 10% solution of
caustic soda passed through twice, and the alkaline
thiocyanate resulting rendered acid with sulphuric acid
and titrated with decinormal permanganate.
VVWW
It is hard to say just what should be the measure of
responsibility of a contractor in carrying out a piece of
work that was planned by some one else, circumstances
entirely determining the rights in the case. The con-
tractor generally prepares his own plans and submits his
working drawings to the engineer in charge for ap-
proval or change. Contract drawings cannot always be
considered available as working drawings. It is always
best to have a thorough preliminary understanding be-
tween contractor and engineer before the actual work
begins. A little extra time and expense at the start will
save considerable of both later on.
It has been more than once suggested that in the
smelting and refining of zinc gold slimes a furnace built
somewhat along the lines of the Bessemer converter
would do the work with less cost and inconvenience than
that occasionally made necessary. It haB been suggested
that instead of heating a large number of crucibles, the
precipitates, mixed with requisite fluxes, be melted on
an open hearth, this hearth to be supported on a hinge
and maintained in a horizontal position by a hydraulic
jack. After completion of the melting it would be but
necessary to open a tap and allow the slag to flow slowly
into a cone, the melted gold to be received in a mould.
Fir, pine and other resinous woods are not as suit-
able for the construction of tanks as redwood, for several
reasons. Pine, etc., always contain pitch, and if from
any cause the pitch is driven from the wood leaks are
almost certain to result, and pine does not stand changes
of temperature as well as redwood. If the settling tank
leaks, it is probably due partly to faulty construction
of the tanks. Oakum is a better material to use
in calking tanks than candle wick, as it swells and has a
decided tendency to fill the space completely, thus stop-
ping leaks. In a hot and dry country like southern
Nevada pine tanks cannot be as satisfactory as either
redwood or metal.
Flumes in very cold countries may be kept from
freezing by placing them on the ground, covering the
tops and allowing them sufficient grade to give the water
a rapid but quiet current. All sharp curves must be
avoided, and also any inequalities of surface which would
have a tendency to create any overflow, splashing, or
any other disturbance of the water, for at such points
ice will promptly form aDd soon result in serious trouble.
If it becomes necessary to carry the flume across a gulch
on a trestle, it must be made as Dearly water tight as
possible, for if it drips the cold will soon form large
icicles, which may so overload the strength of the struc-
ture as to cause it to fall.
There are mining engineers who are paid $25,000
annual salary, and that is not considered the limit, as
some distinguished members of the profession are cred-
ited with receiving more thao that. Such a salary is by
no means an unusual one among railway men, some of
whom receive $50,^00 a year. As to whether any man
can make himself worth that amount of money to any
concern per year, it may be said that while no one might
" earn " that amount in the ordinary acceptation of the
term, yet where a man by knowledge, experience and
judgment can save or make, say a million a year, to the
company he represents, 5% of that would represent his
salary, and there are many broad gauge engineers,
miners and railway men capable of such showing.
The height of a mill from the concentrator floor to
the point where the ore enters the building depends gen-
erally upon the series of processes through which the ore
must pass, and varies from 60 feet to 100 feet in a gold
mill. The latter includes delivery bins above the break-
ers, tandem breakers, storage bins, with abundant space
September 16, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
189
at every step of the process. It Is a common mistake to
allow too little vertical height, for instance, between the
battery or plate lioor and the concentrator lloor. Twenty
feet is not too much, as, if hydraulic classifiers are to be
used, all of this room will be utilized. It also admits of
the use of mercury traps and allows plenty of grade to
launders. If cyanide works are to be included below the
concentrators, the vertical height required may be as
much as ltio feet.
By careful experiment it has been determined that
in plain mortars permeability dopends upon the voids in
the sands. A mortar not poorer than 1 cement to 2
sand will not leak, no matter what kind of sand is used.
Mortars consisting of 1 cement to 4 sand will be imper-
meable if made of a normal mixture of sand — an unsized
sand, having the normal variation in size of grains — and
any mortar will become impermeable if the water in con-
tact with it carries solid matter im suspension. A coating
of neat or clear cement \ inch thick will render any
mortar impermeable. Where soap and alum are used
in cement mortars to render them impermeable, they do
not at once become so. Generally speaking, it is more
satisfactory to make a higher grade mortar — use more
cement, which insures a better result at little, if any,
increased cost.
Natural and hydraulic cements are produced
by a simple process of eliminating the carbonic acid from
clay-bearing limestone at a temperature of 100U F.
Portland cement is the result of exact chemical and
mechanical mixture of lime, silica, alumina, magnesia
and sulphuric acid in due proportions, calcined at a tem-
perature of 2000J P. When mixed with water, Portland
cement becomes a plastic mortar. Concrete is a mix-
ture of cement with sand, gravel or broken stone.
"Armored " or "reinforced " concrete is when steel is
added to strengthen the mass. The steel is in bars,
beams or wire netting, the cement being usually poured
around the metal and allowed to set in a mould. " Slag "
cement is the product obtained by pulverizing, without
calcination, a mixture of granulated basic blast furnace
slag and slacked lime.
vvVV
In electrical precipitation of gold from cyanide solu-
tion, the solution is permitted to flow through a mass of
hard fragmental carbon, packed round the porous cup
of an electrolytic cell and connected as the cathode of a
circuit of and EMF of 15 volts. The anode consists of a
carbon plate immersed in a solution of caustic soda con-
tained by the porous cell. Upon passage of the current
the gold is deposited in pulverulent form through the
mass of the cathode. The two compartments are then
emptied of their solutions, a carbon plate silvered and
rubbed with plumbago substituted for the carbon aniode,
and the current connections are renewed. A strong
solution of potassium cyanide is then made to flow suc-
cessively through the anode and cathode compartments,
in the order named, and the recovery of the gold in the
regular form is effected.
VV99
The " Great Bonanza" which occurred in the Consoli-
dated Virginia mine and extended into the California
mine, on the Comstock Lode, was discovered, according
to official record, in February, 1873, though there is little
doubt that the probable existence of a valuable body of
ore had been previously obtained through the medium of
a drift run in a tortuous manner from the shaft of
a neighboring mine. The find was made in Consolidated
Virginia ground nearly 2 years before the Big Bonanza
was struck in a drift run on the 1200 level of the Gould
and Curry mine. In places this ore body was 320 feet in
width. It was about 800 feet high and 1200 feet long. It
was without exception the most valuable ore body ever
discovered in modern times. Others have been found
and worked out which were of larger size, but no other
has produced so much in gross value or yielded so large
a net profit.
Cyanide men are divided in opinion as to the relative
merits of sodium cyanide and potassium cyanide, but
several prominent practitioners favor the former. By
its use they claim the solutions are less liable to fouling;
a saving of 20% is effected in freight expense, and its
greater purity renders it more efficient. Absolutely
pure sodium cyanide is equivalent to about 132% potas-
sium cyanide. It is impossible to state even approxi-
mately the requisite proportion of cyanide, zinc and
lime to be used per ton of ore, for each local situation in-
volves so many different factors as to be a separate
problem. In a broad way, it might be stated that 3J
pounds potassium cyanide, 1 pound zinc and 4 pounds
lime per ton of material treated would be a possible aver-
age. In cyanide treatment of slimes this approximation
would he modified. Perhaps for the latter 5J pounds
potassium cyanide, 1 pound zinc and 14 pounds lime
would be nearer the general requirement. No exact fig-
ures could be furnished without accurate knowledge of
the local conditions.
There is a Congressional law for the incorporation of
labor unions, should any of them desire to avail them-
selves of its provisions. Most of the labor leaders advise
against such incorporation. Several trade unions in the
different States are incorporated. The question involves
complex discussions of policy, of responsibility in the
case of suing and being sued, that cannot be even
briefly brought out in a "concentrate." It may be said
that incorporation would not make the members of a
union more responsible than they are at present^ except
as the union might possess property or money. The
mere act of incorporation of a body of men united not
for the purpose of pecuniary profit would not ordinarily
create any more collective financial responsibility than
previously existed on the part of the individuals compos-
ing it. Purely as a matter of opinion, it is believed that
incorporation would have a steadying influence upon a
trade union, and bring its most conservative and cool-
headed men to the front. Essentially, incorporation is
a privilege, and not a duty.
THE substitution of oil for water in cooling cylinders
of gasoline engines does away with any risk of damage
to the engine by the freezing and expansion of the water
jacket. Small engines can be cooled with oil by replac-
ing the water tank with an ordinary hot-water heat
radiator. For engines of medium size a special radiator
is used in the form of a vertical boiler containing small
tubes open at both ends. The top of the boiler is cov-
ered by a cone and short stack into which the exhaust
from the engine is conducted to induce a draft through
the tubing. The hot oil is fed into the top of the boiler
and the cooled oil drawn off at the bottom to circulate
back through the jacket of the engine. Large engines
require the addition of a small centrifugal pump to keep
the oil circulating rapidly. This form of cooler has been
successfully applied to engines of over 40 H. P. It can-
not freeze, requires no attention, and works well under
any climatic conditions. The tank, connections and
jackets are sealed air tight, so that no waste of the oil
can take place, and the original supply will last as long
as the engine.
VVwv
Lead can be imported in three ways: In lead-bearing
ores, on which there is a duty of 1J cent per pound on
the lead contained; in lead bullion, containing more or
less of the precious metals, on which there is a duty of
21 cents per pound on the weight of the bullion, and in
refined pig lead, on which there is a duty of 2J cents per
pound. The first article— lead-bearing ore — is smelted
and refined by the bonded smelter in bond, and, after
the lead contents of the ore have been ascertained by the
Government assayer, a quantity of lead equal to 90% of
the ascertained contents of the ore is locked up in the
warehouse by the Government official, which lead has
been taken from a general lead pile existing in the
smelter, and if this 90% of lead is exported the Govern-
ment cancels the bond. On the second class — that is,
lead contained in lead bullion — the Government locks up
in the bonded smelter 90%. of the weight of the bullion,
and if this 90% is exported the bond is canceled, the
same as is done in the case of lead extracted from lead
ores. The third class is foreign refined pig lead imported
in the shape which can be immediately used by manu-
facturers.
There have been so many methods described for de-
termining the free gold in ores that to give " a new one "
is not easy. There is a test, however, not in common
use, where say four pounds of ore are crushed to pass a
60-mesh sieve, and panned down in an ordinary miner's
pan. With placer gold six pounds are taken for the
test as representing si„ of a cubic yard of gravel
figuring that 18 feet of gravel in the bank weigh a ton,
a cubic yard being thus figured at one and one-half ton.
A small piece of gold weighing 123 grains is beaten out
so as to form a shallow dish, shaped like a watch glass,
and amalgamated on the inner surface. The pannings
after having been weighed are transferred to this dish
by gently sluicing out the pan through a small funnel
held vertically over the dish, the latter being immersed
in about an inch of water. The black sand residue in
the gold test is then gently agitated or rubbed over the
amalgamated surface with the finger. The dish is after-
ward dried in the sun, or on a sand or water bath, and
calculated from the increase of weight. A prospector
would want to have a small case with a number of bot-
tles to hold pannings when it was not convenient to
make the test at once. Any gold adhering to the dish is
of course scraped off before making the next test.
The problem of transmitting 100 H. P. a given dis-
tance requires consideration based upon stated condi-
tions, viz., drop in the line, power wasted in the line,
pressure, cost of copper employed, relation between cost
of copper and power wasted in transmission, and attend-
ant data. To transmit 100 H. P. 1 mile with 10% drop,
if the engine or turbine shows 100 I. H. P., then the
dynamo transforms 95% into electrical energy. When
95% enters the line 90% is delivered at the other end.
The power delivered at the distant end of the line is 95
H. P., minus 9.5 H. P., 85.5 H. P. The process is not
complete as yet, although the power is now at hand,
ready for use. It is necessary to transform it again into
mechanical energy. This transformation involves a loss
of from 5% to 10%. the balance left being the difference
between 85.5 — 8.55 = 76.95 at 10% loss in the motor, or
the difference between 85.5 — 4.275 = 81.225% at 5% loss
in the motor. The efficiency of transmissiou in any case,
with 100 H. P. at one end, and the loss throughout in
dynamo, line and motor of 10% apiece, respectively, will
be about 77%. |The 100 H. P. is thus reduced to 77 H. P.
from the beginning to the end of the system. The
actual transmission can be readily accomplished if the
cost is not prohibitive, but in instances where this threat-
ens to be the case certain means must be employed to
raise the efficiency and reduce the cost of installation.
San Miguel, Colo., cyanide treatment does not
vary much, if any, from that of other localities, vari-
ance in cyanide practice being a question of ore rather
than locality. At the Liberty Bell cyanide works
the upper vats are drained under suction, lime being
added in the proportion of four pounds to the ton of
sands. A weak solution running about three pounds of
cyanide to the ton is then pumped on to displace the
water retained in the sands. This is washed to waste
until cyanide shows and run through the waste solution
2-inch box. At a strength of one pound per ton it is
diverted into the weak solution box. After several days
of treatment the upper vat is drained and lowered to the
vats underneath and the sands washed with strong solu-
tion containing six pounds of cyanide per ton. The
treatment lasts rour days and the strong solution is dis-
placed by weak washes and water until the strength falls
to .7 pound per ton, when the vat is ready to sluice out.
The strong solutions have a total alkalinity equal to
about five pounds lime per ton, of which about half is
due to cyanide and half to dissolved lime, so that the
solutions are considered to be virtually a saturated solu-
tion of caustic lime. The cost of cyaniding 4000 tons per
month is about 65 cents per ton; the consumption of
cyanide is about one pound per ton of ore treated. The
zinc consumption is .035 pound per ton. The extraction
averages about 07%, the residues containing about 85
cents per ton.
In the determination of gold and silver in copper bul-
lion the following is considered to be a good method :
The first and most essential point is the preliminary
amalgamation of the copper to be assayed. This is
effected by shaking one assay ton of the copper with 25
c. c. of water and 5 c. c. of a solution made by dissolving
50 grams of mercury in H N03 and diluting to 1 liter.
The copper is then treated with 200 c. c. of dilute H N03
(475 c. c. to 1 liter), and when the violence of the action
begins to diminish, the beaker containing the solution is
placed on a hot plate. When action has ceased the solu-
tion is heated to boiling and diluted with 150 c. c. of hot
water. Any undissolved copper or mercury may be dis-
regarded, as their presence will not affect the results.
The solution requires a turbid appearance, owing to the
formation of mercuric sulphide, which, by the action of
the hot nitric acid, is converted into the insoluble double
sulphide and nitrate of mercury. The precipitate is fil-
tered off, the first portion of the filtrate being passed
through the filter a second time. The filter is washed
and the beaker wiped out with a small piece of filter
paper, which, with the paper in the funnel, is dusted
with finely divided test lead, and placed in a 2J-inch
scorifier, the bottom of which is covered with test lead.
From the filtrate the silver is precipitated as chloride,
but since silver chloride is soluble, in mercuric nitrate
solution, a large excess of sodium chloride is needed, viz.,
sufficient to convert the mercuric nitrate into chloride in
addition to precipitating the silver as chloride. The
solution is filtered cold, the paper and precipitate
washed, sprinkled with test lead, scorified and trans-
ferred to the scorifier containing the gold. The papers
are burned, the ash covered with test lead, scorified and
cupelled with the usual precaution. In scorifying, it is
best to start by heating gently without the addition of
borax, the assay being gradually melted, but prevented
from scorifying until all indications of spitting have
passed; the borax is then added, and the temperature
raised until scorification begins.
VwwV
The use of any flux beyond what is actually required
involves expense in its own cost and in the increased
production of slag and expenditure of time, labor, fuel
and crucibles consequent upon its addition. Owing to
the basic nature of acid treated slimes, a flux of acid
character is obviously required. A mixture of ground
fused borax, not burnt or calcined, and sand well fills
this requirement — the first to occasion fluidity, the sec-
ond to protect the clay liner. The use of soda as a flux
in an already basic material appears unnecessary, the
small amount of alkaline oxide needed for the formation
of a homogeneous slag being supplied by the borax.
Bicarbonate of soda is objectionable, on account of the
high percentage of gas it evolves upon fusion. Pow-
dered glass instead of sand has been used, but since the
function of the latter is to supply an acid flux and pro-
tect the liner, the introduction of such a complex silicate
as glass containing unnecessary bases is not wholly
advisable. Fluorspar is occasionally used for producing
fluidity, especially of sulphates present, but is not
deemed absolutely necessary. The effect of smelting a
charge with an insufficiency of acid flux and excess of
sodium oxide is to produce a corrosive slag, which, on
cooling, may be dark and opaque, from suspended base
metallic oxides displaced from combination by sodium
oxide, and which may even deliquesce on exposure to
the air. In dealing with unfamiliar slimes it is consid-
ered advisable to run three or four preliminary trials on
the actual material to be smelted on a working scale,
and under working conditions, with sufficient borax and
varying proportions of sand and manganese dioxide and
to note on pouring the quality of the bullion produced,
the fluidity of the slag as evidenced by its appearance on
pouring, and by the freedom or otherwise from gold
prills, and the corrosion of the liner. A matte or base
looking bullion indicates too little manganese oxide,
while too much manganese oxide yields an infusible slag,
or one containing much silver. If the proportions and
temperature are otherwise correct, addition of borax
increases fluidity, while corrosion of the clay liner indi-
cates the need of more sand. Too much sand yields a
viscous slag, but, of course, this cause of viscosity can
not operate if corrosion of the liner also takes place.
190
Mining and Scientific Press.
September 16, 1905.
Mining School Graduates.
To the Editor: — In a recent bulletin of the Depart-
ment of Mining and Metallurgy of the University of
California, Prof. S. B. "Christy has presented a dis-
cussion relating to the general educational problems
now confronting mining schools in this country. The
paper, "Present Problems in the Training of Mining
Engineers," has attracted considerable notice, due to
certain general and pronounced views which it pre-
sents, and to the writer it suggests a number of ideas
with which he is not entirely in accord. With no
spirit of mere criticism or antagonism (for the writer
is personally acquainted with Prof. Christy's views
and is in accord with many of them), are the follow-
ing remarks made. The general subject treated is
of immense interest to all engineers and all. engineer-
ing schools, and is not alone of importance to mining
and metallurgy.
Is There an Oversupply op Engineering Gradu-
ates ? — After giving figures from census reports and
elsewhere, Prof. Christy concludes "that there is a
legitimate field for not much over 300 mining school
graduates each year." The value of this statement
must depend upon the point of view. Are mining
and other engineering schools to graduate only men
who enter the distinctive professions indicated in out-
line by their college studies ? If we assume with
Prof. Christy that all graduates are to strictly fol-
low their respective professions, even then the writer
cannot agree with his statement as quoted. It does
not follow that all graduates will follow by their life
work their college course of study, nor is it desirable
that they should. A large output of graduates must
produce competition, giving the important places to
those best fitted, and must force the less adapted
ones to positions heretofore filled by the so-called
practical and more or less untrained man or out of
the profession altogether. Competition must pro-
duce greater endeavor and activity and the writer
can see in this only good for the profession as a
whole. A student, because he has been given a de-
gree, should not be led to believe that therefore he is
fit. A college training in mining at best only fits a
man for the start and does not insure, of itself, his
success. We need a large output of graduates in all
the engineering professions in order to procure
always the necessary amount of the proper talent.
Engineering Schools Can Train Men for Gen-
eral Business and Professional Usefulness. —
This leads me'to state that it is well, for another rea-
son, to have a larger output of graduates from the
engineering schools than seem to be directly needed
in the strictly, technically professional pursuits; and
it further seems to me that engineering teachers, in
shaping the college course of study and the require-
ments for graduation, should remember that the
engineering school may have a wider mission and
broader sphere of usefulness to the whole community
than the developing of but one type of man. A broad
engineering training founded upon a sufficiently
broad cultural course of study, the two closely
blended throughout the student's life, may admirably
fit a man for many business responsibilities where his
technical knowledge will be of the first importance
and assistance to him. American corporations are
learning that it is to their interest to select for
their directing forces men of business and legal ca-
pacity who are also technically informed. Surely no
one will deny that many lawyers are handicapped in
treating important problems of the day by their lack
of personal knowledge of the fundamental principles
of technology. I do not mean to imply that every-
body should have a technical training, for then would
I be going to another extreme, but I do imply that
because a man has studied in colleges as an engineer
is no reason why he must try to be one. When that
training is wisely broad he will be equally fitted to
seek his adaptability to one of many spheres of use-
fulness; and when he is in earnest he will find his
place; and therefore I hope that the number of
graduates may always be relatively large.
Whether or not there are too many mining or other
technical schools and whether they are all of suf-
ficiently and equally high grade is another and very
different question, which the writer is not called upon
to discuss. What effect the steadily increasing num-
bers of technical graduates may have upon their
average wage, and whether engineering courses of
study are sufficiently broad and cultural in their ten-
dencies, are further questions of importance raised
by the preceding remarks, but they also do not re-
quire attention in this letter.
Elementary and Fundamental Subjects and
Their Relative Importance in Engineering
Courses of Study. — In conclusion I wish to express
some opinion regarding what Prof. Christy calls
"Fundamental Subjects," because the writer does
not exactly agree with him as to the relative values
of these fundamental subjects to the different en-
gineering professions; and I venture to speak on this
topic because I believe I am not alone in the follow-
ing friendly criticism of certain statements of the
professor's which I herewith give verbatim:
" If we can secure for the American mining stu-
dent a foundation training broad, deep and thorough
in mathematics, physics and chemistry, he needs lit-
tle else to make him invincible. The mining engineer
must have a broader basal training than either the
civil or the mechanical engineer, even though he
specialize less. Mathematics, physics and chemistry
are necessary for all engineers; but for the civil
engineer mathematics is fundamental, for the me-
chanical engineer physics is equally so, while for the
mining engineer we must add not only physics, but
also chemistry, with the closely related allies, miner-
alogy and geology."
Before Prof. Christy's bulletin went to press, the
writer had the privilege of discussing with its author
the meaning of the above quotation, and he realizes
fully that for brevity and force of expression the
author was obliged to sacrifice some truth. Upon
its face the quotation is too severe to civil, mechani-
cal, electrical and sanitary brothers of the mining
graduate. It is true that one type of the mining
man requires perhaps more chemistry and mineral-
ogy or geology than his brethren, namely, the met-
allurgist or prospector, but for pure mine construc-
tion and operation it is not true. All phases of
engineering are sufficiently broad to require a
scholarly engineer to be strongly versed in the three
so-called fundamental subjects of mathematics,
physics and chemistry. The engineer of structures
must certainly know his mechanics and the laws of
physics, and chemistry bears a vital relation to the
manufacture of steel and cement; the sanitary spe-
cialist must know his chemistry and bacteriology;
the electrical and mechanical devotees decidedly
their physics and chemistry. In short they must be
well rounded students, and no one can definitely say
that they require one elementary subject more than
another, and certainly in his life work the student
cannot afford to follow such a statement in the selec-
tion of his studies and the amount of time he applies
to them. Engineers are just like other men in that
they generally are not masters of their own des-
tinies. Few men follow the line of work they thought
themselves most adapted for or interssted in while at
college. I know a number of successful mining en-
gineers who studied only in a civil engineering school.
The reverse is also true. Lawyers, after their col-
lege days, have transferred their attention to tech-
nology with the most flattering success.
These remarks lead me to my final statement,
which, I think, may well deserve serious considera-
tion by professors of mining in this country. The
statement applies to no particular school; it applies
equally and with justice to three schools of mining
with which I am thoroughly acquainted, all three of
the highest rank; and 1 have every reason to believe
that the statement may be generally applied to most
mining schools in this country.
What is a fundamental subject ? To me mathe-
matics, physics, chemistry are elementary because
they underlie those fundamental subjects with which
every designing engineer should be conversant what-
ever his specialty, whether mining, electricity, sani-
tation, etc.
What, then, are fundamental subjects for the de-
signing engineer ? Those subjects which deal with
the physical and chemical properties of materials,
the behavior of materials under stress and in the
presence of fire and other destructive agencies — in
short, which deal with their life and their adaptability
to particular designs. Mechanics, a complete study
of the strength, elasticity, peculiarities and manu-
facture of the materials of engineering, and the
methods for the analysis of the stresses and the
means for the design of the simplest types of en
gineering structures, are fundamental. Unless a
man enters metallurgy pure and simple, he has much
need for all of these fundamentals. The mining man
who is concerned with the getting of ore out of a
large mine, the ore once found, is a structural en-
gineer and should know how to build dams and retain-
ing walls, steel head frames and buildings; he may
even want to build a water works and a sewage
plant, not to speak of a railway spur. Beside, tun-
neling and shaft sinking on a large scale are civil
engineering subjects, despite what may be said by an
opposing advocate. The writer does not intend to
decry or limit mining in these statements. That he
could not do, for he realizes that the mining engineer
has the broadest kinds of problems to solve. But he
does mean to say that mine construction and opera-
tion are almost always structural problems, and with
the present engineering curricula the civil engineer-
ing graduate seems to have had for such work the
fittest training. How many fresh mining graduates
are familiar with the first principles of modern steel
construction or the building of a high gravity dam ?
Their ideas are general, but not quantitative. This
explains why civil engineers are often quickly suc-
cessful in mining fields and why many mining men
with whom I have talked agree to these statements.
I am not trying to prove that a civil engineer makes
a better mine constructor than a mining graduate,
for such a position would contradict my first re-
marks. But I do say that what we want always, as
the result of all engineering instruction, is a broadly
trained man in his elementary and fundamental
studies just because he cannot be sure of his future
specialized field. That is why I think that most of
our mining schools err in devoting time to chemistry
and metallurgy at the almost complete expense of
necessary knowledge of structural materials and the
design of steel, stone and sanitary structures.
Chas. Derleth, Jr.,
Professor Structural Engineering, University of
California, Berkeley, Cal.
Sept. 5, 1905.
The "Economic Geologist."
To the Editor: — At last the "economic geologist"
has appeared, and the horizon of the miner, and tho
mining investor, is clearing rapidly. Scarcely a
cloud remains to mitigate "the roseate hues of early
dawn " of a new and facile era in mining.
A slight feeling of confusion and doubt will have to
be confessed upon first meeting the title, and its true
meaning was only determined after earnest thought
and a process of elimination — a negative process, so
to speak. Webster and other authorities were con-
sulted. At the first blush it seemed that the term
"economic" referred to the relation, in a matter of
business, as between these gentlemen and those who
desired their professional services; that arrange-
ments could be made which would be economical for
the latter, as it were.
But this idea was eventually dismissed as undigni-
fied as pertaining to anything quite as awesome as
an " economic geologist," and it was evident that the
term conveyed a deeper and subtler meaning. The
dictionaries say, "economic: — relating to the man-
agement of a household; regulative; family, domestic;
frugal, careful; economic use of money or time, etc."
The last definition given was puzzlesome for a time,
but how could anyone use anything quite as passive
to the human conception as geology ? We could ap-
preciate that a knowledge of geology could prevent
many an error in mining operation, for instance, but
the economic geologist apparently uses the geology
economically. It is, or has been, with him, a purely
domestic, frugal, regulative matter, in which his
frugal instincts have been applied.
No: the "economic" is not passive. "Manage-
ment of household, domestic, careful." In these we
must find the true meaning. It can only mean an
active participation in the great scheme of the uni-
verse, throughout the geologic ages, ruled by the
great principle of economy. These economic geolo-
gists of to-day are assuredly the reincarnation of
the acting committee on geology throughout the eons
of the creation. They may be pictured, at that
period, as advising against the employment of costly
cataclyptic forces to effect a given purpose when air
and water currents could be made more inexpens-
ively to do the work by merely rearranging a few
mountains, or, similarly, advocating the use of
groynes instead of messing around with ruinous
dredging, etc. — sort of consulting engineers and
economists.
Theirs then, to-day, are the secrets of the deposi-
tion of the mineral wealth of the earth, which prob-
ably accounts for the ease and assurance with which
they make apparently extravagant statements, and
define conditions, in a manner totally impossible to
the mere ordinary human being, however learned.
Their source of information is unquestionably super-
natural.
But to the outward appearance they are said to
be not altogether unlike the ordinary human animal,
and, in order probably to disguise as far as possible
their supernatural origin and powers, are similarly
said to possess many purely earthly characteristics
and weaknesses. Any community having the min-
eral interests of their district at heart should not
fail, as early as possible (for the supply will probably
be limited), to secure one of these "economic geolo-
gists." When secured, the community could proceed
to play Jacob to the E. G. 's angel until the blessing
is obtained in the shape of definite information as to
where the E. G. and his fellow economists stowed
away the better class of ore, locally. Miner.
Rossland, B. C.
Tunnel Expenses.
To the Editor: — I enclose you a report from my
superintendent on the expenses of tunneling with a
box electric drill:
RUNNING EXPENSE FOR JUNE, 1905.
179 gallons of gasoline, at 25o J 44 75
5 gallons of engine oil, at 80c 4 00
Vz gallon of motor oil, at 80c. ^, 40
2 gallons of coal oil, at 35c 70
1 pound of compression grease, at 25c 25
950 pounds of powder, at 13c 123 50
1500 feet of fuse, at 65c per hundred .... — 9 75
300 caps, at 75c per hundred .' 2 25
300 candles, at 214c 7 50
750 pounds of blacksmith coal, at lc 7 50
124 feet of air pipe, at 30o 37 20
124 feet of 12-pound track, at 35c 43 40
Hauling supplies 11 78
Repairs 51 92
Incidentals 25 00
Payroll 582 50
Assaying 22 00
Total 8974 40
Made 24 set ups with drill, drilling 1061 feet in 202
holes, breaking 827 cars rock, making 124 feet of
headway in main tunnel. Average cost per foot,
$7.86. Drilled more holes and less number of feet
September 1G, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
191
than in May. Rock much harder and distance grad-
ually getting farther to run out the rock, therefore
more expense. The item of assaying is a new ex-
pense this month. Tunnel, 8x8J feet, and SOU feet in.
E. P. Mitchell.
Santa Barbara, Cal., Sept. 1.
Placer Mining in Alaska. :i
NUMBER V.
Drifting and TIMBERING. — Drift mining, whether
the workings are approached by shaft or adit, can
be most economically conducted by adopting the sys-
tem which proved successful in California. The mine
is opened by a main tunnel or runway, 6 by 6 feet,
which generally requires timbering with logs 8 by 8
inches, 0 feet long, the sets having 5-foot centers.
This runway is continued out to the end of the block
of ground "which it is proposed to work, say from 50
to 100 feet in ordinary Alaska operations. It is
assumed that the runway occupies the longer dimen-
sion of the ground and approximately the center of
the pay streak, say 75 or 100 feet in width. From
the main tunnel drifts are run transversely each way
to the outer edges of the pay. These generally do
not require timbering in frozen ground. Fig. 12
OJ fl
ooririr
Fig. 12 — System of Opening a Drift Mine.
illustrates the system of main runways and drifts.
The gravel can now be breasted out, a face being
carried the full width of the pay and the work being
continued in two or more of the drifts, as desired, the
breasts being always carried toward the shaft or
adit mouth. The drifts may be timbered either with
sets, where ground is heavy, with single posts and
caps in moderately firm ground, or left entirely un-
timbered, as in solidly frozen ground. Fig. 13 shows
Fig. 13.
Floor of c/rofne/
-Hidden Treasure Drift Timbering.
the manner of timbering closely and rock filling
behind when breasting out faces of loose gravel in the
Hidden Treasure gravel mine in California. The
sketch is made up in part from the report of Ross E.
of separate base blocks sills are used. Fig. 14 shows
a portion of the drift operations which were prose-
cuted on Solomon hill in the early years of the Klon-
dike exploitation. The plan of the workings is here
reproduced by courtesy of G. T. Coffey, manager of
the Anglo-Klondike MiniDg Co.'s operations. The
drifting operations in the southern portion of the
ground are still in progress.
The main adits are timbered with 4-inch timbers,
in sets with Si-foot centers, at a cost of $1.75 for
framing and putting in per foot of tunnel run The
entire cost of driving the tunnel 5* feet high, including
steam thawing, excavating, tramming, timbering,
and laying track of 12-pound rail, was $0 25 per foot.
Transverse drifts were run from the main adits, and
the ground was always breasted out in the direction
of the adit mouth. The irregularity of the workings
in a portion of the ground is accounted for by the
fact that a certain amount of unsystematic work had
been done previous to the purchase of the ground by
the present company.
The ground is solidly frozen and had to be thawed
by steam points. The rate of speed with which the
work was carried on may be judged from the fact
that two men, working a shift in running a straight
tunnel after the points had been left in fourteen
hours, averaged 5* feet, including taking out the
points, putting in timbers, keeping up the track, and
driving in other points to a distance of 5 feet. The
average height to which the gravel was taken out in
a representative block was 4 feet. The cost of min-
ing was $5.50 per square yard of area worked. In
drifting out the ground it was found that three
points in a face B feet wide, allowed to thaw twelve
hours and then withdrawn, the ground being
"sweated" twelve hours longer, would thaw all the
ground. The sluicing was conducted in the ordinary
way of piling up the dump and afterwards caving and
hydraulicking with a nozzle into the boxes. The
actual working cost of washing was about 18 cents
per square yard of area worked.
(to be continued.)
Production of Antimony in 1904.
Several obstacles combine to prevent the profitable
exploitation of antimony ores in this country. These
obstacles are set forth by Dr. E. O. Hovey in a report
made for the United States Geological Survey on the
production of antimony in 1904. In the first place, the
reduction of antimony from its ores and its alloys with
other metals is a difficult, complex and expensive
process, and successful smelting depends upon pecu-
liar conditions. Foreign ores are abundant and cheap.
The price of the metal is comparatively low. It is
apparent, therefore, that domestic ores do not repay
the cost of transportation, and it is not surprising that
the production of metallic antimony in the United
States from domestic ore during 1904 was practically
nothing. Only 25,000 pounds, valued at $396, were
Fig. 14.— Plan of Drifting Operations, Solomon Hill Mine, Klondike.
Browne (the ancient river beds of the Forest Hill
divide, Tenth Ann. Rep. State Min., Cal., 1890,
p. 452) and in part from the writer's own observa-
tions. The system of filling behind with quartz stones
is impracticable for Alaska mining. Instead of this,
timbers should be pulled and the ground allowed to
cave. This form of timbering is in use in the drift
mines of Solomon hill, Klondike, except that instead
♦Bulletin 263 U. S. Geological Survey.
reported. Small as was this production, however, it
is an advance over 1902 and 1903, when abs61utely no
domestic ores were reported.
Although the United States has practically no out-
put of metallic antimony from domestic ores, a large
quantity of hard lead or antimonial lead is produced
here in the process of smelting impure silver lead ores.
In 1904 the production of this alloy was approximately
21,752,000 pounds; with an antimony content ranging
from 2«.13% to 32%, and amounting to about 5, 142,000
pounds. Hard lead is used in the manufacture of the
several alloys of antimony. Its price ranges about
20 cents per 100 pounds less than that of soft lead.
The total amount of metallic antimony obtained from
domestic and foreign ores and from hard lead was
3057 short tons in LSOi, valued at $505,524.
During 1904 the quantity of antimony ore imported
into the United States and entered for consumption
was 2,288,518 pounds, valued at $50,414, whereas in
1903 the quantity was 2,714,617 pounds, valued at
$54,316, a decrease in quantity, but a slight increase
in the average price per pound.
During most of the year 1904 the price of antimony
varied but little from 7 to 8t cents per pound for
Cookson's, 61 to 6] cents per pound for Hallett's,
and 5;' to 61 cents per pound for the United States,
Japanese, French, Hungarian and Italian brands.
Toward the end of the year, however, the effect of
the increased demand caused by the Russo-Japanese
war began to be felt and prices began to rise. In-
terest in the market fell off toward the end of Decem-
ber, and the closing quotations were 8} to 8; cents
per pound for Cookson's, 9 to 9 J cents for Hallett's,
and 7i to 8 cents for other brands.
Antimony is a white, very brittle metal, of lami-
nated or crystalline texture. It fuses at a low tem-
perature and readily vaporizes. It is not used in the
pure state, but it forms several valuable alloys and
compounds. The most important alloys of antimony
are type metal, britannia, pewter and anti-friction
metals. Type metal consists, essentially, of lead and
antimony, often with the addition of small quantities
of tin and nickel or copper. Britannia is a white-
metal alloy of antimony with tin, copper and bismuth,
and is much used for tableware. Pewter is a similar
alloy, but it contains a smaller percentage of anti-
mony than britannia. There are several anti-friction
alloys which usually go under the name of babbitt
metals. One of these consists of 50 parts of tin to 5
of antimony and 1 of bismuth, but other proportions
are in use. The addition of antimony to lead hardens
it, and the addition of a small quantity of bismuth
gives the alloy the property of expanding at the mo-
ment of solidification from a molten state, thus pro-
ducing a perfect cast from a mold.
Among the useful chemical compounds of antimony
may be mentioned tartar emetic, a double tartrate of
potassium and basic antimony, which is employed for
medicinal purposes and as a mordant in dyeing vege-
table fibers; a mixture of antimony trisulphide and
antimony trioxide, which forms a flame-red pigment,
known as antimony cinnabar, used somewhat in paint-
ing; and antimony pentasulphide, which is used in vul-
canizing rubber and gives a red color to the product.
The report from which these notes are taken is
published as an extract from the Survey's forthcoming
volume " Mineral Resources of the United States,
1904." Those desirous of obtaining a copy should
address the Director of the Geological Survey,
Washington, D. C.
The Ventilation of Mines.
NUMBER V.
What is Adequate Ventilation ? — The amount of
ventilation required in mines to keep the air in such
a state of purity as will enable the workmen to main-
tain good health depends greatly on circumstances,
which may be very different in different parts of the
State, and even in different parts of the same mine.
The object of ventilation is to remove vitiated air and
supply fresh, and it clearly depends on the amount of
vitiation how much fresh air must be sent in to replace
it. Where there is much blasting being done with
heavy charges of explosives, or where there is much
foul air emanating from the "country," a much
larger quantity of fresh air is required than when
little blasting is done and foul air is absent. Also
when the temperature of the rock itself is high, and
the workings consequently hot, it requires a much
stronger current of air to be sent through them to
cool them down than when the places are naturally
cold. It is evident, therefore, that no fixed rule can
be laid down to say that any absolute quantity of air
is an adequate amount for a given mine, unless such
a large amount is specified that it will be quite suf-
ficient for the worst places in it. In other words, an
unnecessary quantity must be forced into good places
in order to comply with a fixed rule based on what is
required in bad places. Otherwise, if for example
an average amount for the whole mine, or group of
mines, or district is fixed by regulation, the good
parts of the workings will still receive more air than
is required and the bad ones less than is needed, if
the rule is strictly carried out. It is evident, there-
fore, that rules governing the amount of air to be put
into a mine should be based on the condition of its
various parts, and not on the number of men working
in it, there being no necessary connection between
the number of men and the state of the ventilation.
When mechanical ventilation is employed, the sup-
plying of an unnecessary amount of air becomes a
serious matter from an economic point of view, as
the horse power required to increase the ventilation
is not in proportion to the increased quantity, but to
192
Mining and Scientific Press.
September 16, 1905.
its cube, that is, to double a given quantity, eight
times as much horse power is needed; to treble it,
twenty- seven times; and so on. The cost, therefore,
rises very rapidly, and the supply of more air than is
necessary is a direct waste of money. The end to be
aimed at, therefore, is to put into the mine such a
quantity, and to distribute it through the workings
in such a way that every man shall receive so much
as will thoroughly ventilate the place he is in accord-
ing to its individual requirements. One place might
require 100 cubic feet of air a minute, another 200,
and yet another 400. Also a fully sufficient average
quantity to give a good supply to every man engaged
might be entering a mine, but through improper dis-
tribution it might not reach all parts, some places
being exceptionally well ventilated and others re-
ceiving very little air. Various attempts have been
made to fix a definite standard of quantity as consti-
tuting adequate ventilation, without great success
when the regulation comes to be carried out in
practice.
(to be continued.)
Ancient Gravel Channels of Calaveras
County, California.
NUMBER II— CONCLUDED.
Written lor the Mining and Scientific Press by W. H. Storms.
The Mokelumne Hill channel system is the most
complicated of the several systems occurring in this
county. Nine distinct channels have been identified
by the writer in this district, each of separate age,
and each having its own peculiarities and character-
istics. The channels range in elevation through a
distance of 250 feet. That is, the lowest of these old
river beds is not less than 250 feet below the highest
channel in the vicinity. Relative altitude is not an
indication of the respective geological age of these
channels, but, generally speaking, the higher chan-
nels are older than the lower ones, and in some cases
the older streams have been crossed and cut out by
the later rivers, and what is true of the Mokelumne
Hill system in this respect applies to all of the
ancient river channels of California.
The earliest channels of the Mokelumne Hill system
are high above the neighboring ravines and gulches,
and these have been exposed at numerous places, as
on French hill, a mile northeast of Mokelumne Hill,
and on the north end of Stockton ridge, in Happy
valley and elsewhere, but the latest channels have
cut their ways down into the bedrock, and are con-
siderably below the level of the drainage of the mod-
ern streams. The channels of intermediate age are
often found to have been cut, for most part, in the
lava which caps all of the ancient channels. One of
the most recent channels of the Mokelumne Hill sys-
tem is what is known as a volcanic channel — that is,
composed almost wholly of volcanic cobbles, boulders
and other debris, often forming a cemented agglom-
erate. The latest of all the channels of this system
is that known as the Old Woman's Gulch channel,
and is 250 feet lower than the Corral Flat channel at
Mokelumne Hill, but since that ancient stream was
formed and filled by volcanic mud and an agglomer-
ate of andesitic material, the Mokelumne river has
cut its channel down through hard greenstone and
other crystalline rocks, at least 500 feet below the
ancient stream under Old Woman's gulch. This fact
in itself indicates an enormous lapse of time since
these old rivers were living streams.
The channels lying high up on the hills and ridges,
and which were easily attacked by the miners, have,
to a great extent, been worked out, but the deep
streams lying below the drainage have offered some
obstacles to the development of mining operations,
the principal one being the abundance of water usu-
ally encountered in these deep streams. Although
the canyon of the Mokelumne river affords abundant
opportunity to cut under the old channels, they
nearly all flow away from the river, and it is not
generally thought the results of mining will justify a
tunnel of sufficient length to reach the old streams at
a point where any advantage would be gained. Thus
a tunnel driven from the canyon of the Mokelumne
river to reach and drain 2% miles of the Old Woman's
Gulch channel must be at least 3 miles in length, an
undertaking too expensive to be given serious con-
sideration until something more definite is known
concerning the probable result of such an enterprise.
There are two leads in the Old Woman's Gulch chan-
nel— a bedrock channel, and a later higher channel
having for bedrock a volcanic ash, indicating two
periods in the formation of this stream. This is a feat-
ure not uncommon with a number of channels in this
county. In some instances the upper leads have been
worked at considerable profit, chiefly, however, by hy-
draulic methods. It is also known that a large portion
of the Chile Gulch channel still remains intact, but the
same disadvantages — abundance of water and uncer-
tainty of results — handicaps exploration by means of
long tunnels driven through bedrock. The accom-
panying sketches illustrate the relation of these
ancient streams to the modern drainage.
The high channels have, to a great extent, been
worked out, .though doubtless there still remain
remnants of these which would pay handsomely could
they be discovered. It must be remembered that
these older streams were generally smaller and more
sinuous in their course than those formed later, and
that these earlier streams were intersected at
various places by the later streams. As these old
river beds are for the most part buried beneath 200
to 500 feet of lava, it is not an easy matter to pick
up a stream which has been cut by a later one, when
there may be a breach 1000 feet or more in width in-
tervening between the worked out end and its possi-
ble continuation. In some instances the later stream
has cut into the earlier one at a low angle and for
some distance, at least the two coincide in the direc-
tion of their flow, thus making it far more difficult
for the miner to pick up the continuation of his river
bed where once cut out. In the early days when
these high channels were worked extensively claims
were small — 16 feet square in many cases in the Mo-
kelumne Hill district, particularly on Stockton ridge.
The channels were from 250 to 350 feet deep under
the lava cap and numerous small circular shafts
were sunk to find the channel, and although sunk
fifty years ago these shafts are still open. In order
nearly opposite the point where the stream in ques-
tion is cut by the later Old Woman's Gulch channel,
and it is believed by the writer to be the continu-
ation of this small river. It is undoubtedly cut by
the Concentrator channel a little farther west.
The Concentrator and Duryea channels came from
the direction of Volcano and Rancheria, in Amador
county, passing near the town of Jackson, and there
being intersected by the Mokelumne River canyon.
A remnant of these channels appears on the high
hills between Jackson and Stockton Hill, and they
then pass under Stockton ridge, as shown on the
map.
The Fort Mountain channel system rises in the re-
gion north of Calaveras county and flows southwest-
erly toward San Andreas. This system is joined
near this town by the system of old veins coming
from the direction of Murphys. In the early days of
placer mining in this county there were a number of
noted places where large amounts of gold were ob-
tained for comparatively little labor; these were at
Mokelumne Hill, San Andreas, Murphys, Cave City
and Vallicita. In each of these instances the gold
came mostly from the ancient rivers at places where
cfoss- sEcno/t Laoi(ift6 floqrfylv/iitD rffr£rf otf£ wie sot/rfr or />rotf£Lt//i//£ qui f#c//*ry£
HO/f£i_lJrl/V£ /?/&# ro Tff£ £/fsr hoc or oip tron/?//s Gt/tc//
LOHG/rt/0/f/ti. ^gcr/o// cctfr/r/iL. ctt*////£L^.r*oM C£//rA/ri. /fat *i//J£ to £*sr s/oc or cororc cmif/f
e/STArSc£_ 7soo ft Gff/tor. 300 /r ft o/v£.rt't£
C1033 SfCr/0// CS/SrtyL I/ILL fil//S£ /SljfJ
/wvryrs s//otr///s rfos/o/S or urrrfr irjjo.
CfjOSi S6CTIO/S C£//r/f*L f'lL Cff^//fl/£i^ & l'i£. foot's
^/JLLECITO tVlOT/f or t/PPrft i.£/JO ?0O -/OOOSi
to work to advantage many small claims were con-
solidated and in this way rich gravel deposits were
worked. All claim owners worked as rapidly as pos-
sible to remove the gravel before those owning
neighboring claims could appropriate a portion of
that which did not belong to them — a practice not at
all uncommon in those days, and conflicts were
numerous and sanguinary. Little attention was
given to the geology of these deposits, and judging
from the cement literature of that day they had the
most vague and erroneous ideas of the origin and
character of the old rivers.
The respective courses of the several ancient
rivers is shown on the accompanying map, which was
made from data carefully obtained. There are, as
previously stated, some uncertain points which still
remain unsettled. One of them is the probability of
a channel occurring on the east side of Chile gulch
about a mile south of Mokelumne Hill. Another inter-
esting and much disputed point is the course of the
channel rising in Section 1, T. IN,, R. 11 E. This
has two branches flowing northward with heavy
grade for half a mile, when it flattens, and for more
than a mile the grade is nearly flat. It is cut out by
the Old Woman's Gulch channel, but work done in
the Chile Gulch channel about ten years ago at this
place discovered a narrow channel flowing westerly,
they had been cut by the modern gulches and where
the gravels were easily accessible.
In a number of instances the old river beds, where
favoraby exposed, were hydraulicked, and large
profits resulted. In others the gravel was drifted
and sluiced with good results. At Vallicita a drain
tunnel was run under the flat and many thousands of
dollars taken from a comparatively small area.
Similar conditions were found in the vicinity of the
place known as Cave City, at that time a settlement
of several hundred miners, now only a memory, with
two or three dilapidated houses.
At San Andreas most of the gold was obtained by
drifting the rich gravels. Water was troublesome
but was handled by long, though shallow, drain tun-
nels. In one instance the owner of a claim known as
the Plug Ugly required a drain in order to work his
mine. Such a drain would naturally prove a benefit
to the claims lying above on the same channel, so he
solicited financial aid from these claim owners, which
was refused. He ran the drain himself, worked out
all of his ground but a few feet and then stopped,
leaving this nearly impervious barrier to dam up the
water on to the claims above. They remained idle for
years, for, contrary to expectations, the clay in the
gravel held the water back and the mines could not
be worked unless the drain was continued or power-
September 16, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
193
ful pumps put in to control the water. After several
years a compromise was made and by paying a stipu-
lated sum the drain was run and work was con-
tinued.
It would be expected that these ancient channels
would have been largely worked out many years ago,
but such is not the case, for there still remains a
large amount of unworked ground in the channels of
this county. Not only is this a fact, but there is
more activity in this class of mining in Calaveras
county at present than before in many years. At
Douglas Flat, San Andreas and Mokelumne Hill par-
ticularly, active mining is being done by a number of
companies, beside which there is a large amount of
prospecting and development in progress. Although
there are 40 miles of ancient unworked channels in
this county, the great drawback to the more
vigorous development of these deposits probably lies
in the fact that by far the greater portion of the
cathode remains uncoated. The action is, therefore,
mechanical in its nature; the anode is disintegrated
by the evolution of oxygen and the current of elec-
tricity, without being actually dissolved. If, how-
ever, the cell contains water, but be faintly acidi-
fied with nitric acid, the electrolyte does not become
cloudy, the weight of the gold remains unchanged,
while the silver and all other soluble metals in the
anode (except lead) are deposited on the cathode or
dissolved on the liquid. Bock's process of gold assay
depends on this phenomenon; and the following ex-
ample, which shows its accuracy, also indicates the
method of carrying it out in practice. Two pieces of
fine gold, weighing 500 milligrams, were each melted
with 1300 milligrams of silver in previously warmed
graphite crucibles. After cooling, the buttons were
hammered, rolled and melted once more to ensure
uniformity of composition — the yield in each case was
exactly 1800 milligrams of alloy. The second but-
cwsj sscriorf coij/i/iL rufr c/Z/t/Msl. rfssrst-opc fffc/Vct/ /y/tt
ri°K£J-Urt/f£ HILL O/STfji cf
" ztl "fl" cross secr/o/Z tu/^/J£l-^/pc£ c///?/J/J£c sp/tiflc
C£cc/itj Guicy }/£$/? fif/ppr' /JfUEV /y-yvfe
C/IOSS S£CT/0// Tt//Sfi/£.l. ft'0C£. Clpf/l/fi/£J^ . £&Sr SJD£. £P/f/M6 6l/lC/f
w iyas£/r n//n£L. sijomM £f/c/fOflci/pj£.f/r^oLmvopi/j//s a/icij tfppvu-efja.
ground is covered by agricultural patents. It seems
straDge that agricultural patents could be obtained
on land of this character, but it has been accom-
plished, and in some instances, at least, the means to
defray the expense of obtaining the patent and to
pay for the land was secured by working the gravel
beds for the gold they contained.
Semi-Electrolytic Process of Gold Assay.
In the ordinary process of assaying by cupellation
and parting, the former operation is accomplished
with a loss of gold, while the latter is incompetent to
remove the last traces of silver. When the whole as-
say is experimentally carried out on absolutely pure
gold, mixed with absolutely pure silver, the final
error is a constant one, and the proper allowance
may be made. But in practical work other metals
besides silver and lead are liable to be present (al-
though in small amounts), and by their difference in
specific gravity they cause the results to vary. A.
Bock finds that if a plate of gold be placed as anode
in an electrolytic bath filled with nitric acid of the
specific gravity 1.2, opposite a platinum cathode, the
liquid rapidly becomes opalescent and opaque. On
interrupting the current, the electrolyte clears again
and a precipitate of gold is deposited, but the
tons were rolled out, parted in the usual manner,
then immersed in a bath composed approximately of
1 volume of nitric acid (sp. gr. 1.2) diluted with 6 vol-
umes of water, and submitted to an electric current,
the strength of which was " about that employed in
copper analysis." After ten minutes, the platinum
vessel containing the rolls of gold were rinsed out
with water, placed in boiling water for a few minutes,
again washed, and the gold dried and ignited in an
earthen crucible. The total weight of metal recov-
ered was exactly 1000 milligrams. When the legal
alloy of 900° fineness is being examined, not more
than 900 milligrams of silver should be added to each
500 grams, lest the pieces of gold become too porous
and break; but the process is generally as accurate
as in the case of fine metal. In melting this alloy, it
is well to use nearly new plumbago crucibles, so that
the carbonic oxide produced may prevent oxidation
of the copper. As lead is not dissolved by the above
process, when this metal appears in the pieces of
gold, they must be treated in a fresh bath of nitric
acid with' the direction of the current reversed; but
under no circumstances must the change of polarity
be made in the one platinum dish. The new method
occupies practically the same time as the old one; it
is, taken altogether, a little cheaper, and it forms an
easier way of preparing samples of pure gold to act
as standards.
The New Ingersoll Sergeant Plant at
Phillipsburg, N. J.*
The new plant of the Ingersoll-Sergeant Drill Co.
at Phillipsburg, N. J., is completed. It is a large
and modern establishment devoted to the manufac-
ture of rock drills, air compressors and pneumatic
tools. The design of this entire plant, to the minor
details of floor arrangement, was the work of the
Ingersoll-Sergeant Co.'s own engineers and draughts-
men. The intent has been to obtain maximum effi-
ciency with minimum expenditure of time, power and
manual effort.
There are twenty separate buildings, each of struc-
tural iron, brick and concrete construction. While
each is a unit complete in itself, the several shops
are so arranged as to form a single unit, which is
capable of further extension along the original plan.
Within and between the buildings dozens of Pawl-
ing & Harnischfeger traveling cranes (which have
helped to make Milwaukee famous) are in readiness.
The foundry alone has ten of these cranes and here,
as in all other buildings, the cranes can control the
entire floor area, whether in the main building or in
the wings.
The facilities of the plant are such that castings
from the foundry are advanced from one process to
another almost automatically, and each part is so
accurately constructed as to be interchangeable.
In_ the center of the group of buildings and con-
necting with each is a subway of concrete and steel
construction, which carries piping and wiring for
compressed air and electric power transmission,
water supply, lighting and hot water heating.
Everything in this subway is on the unit system
and can be altered or enlarged as required. The
piping is bracketed to the walls and the wiring
enters the various buildings through multiple con-
duits. In the shops electric plugs — each with its
steel cover-plate — are conveniently located near the
supporting columns, so as to connect readily with
the many Crocker-Wheeler direct connected motors
with which lathes, drills, planers and other shop tools
are run. Compressed air connections for pneumatic
tools are made in a similar manner at convenient
points.
The shop heating system, whose main stem also
traverses the subway, is supplied by two De Laval
steam turbine two-stage centrifugal pumps, each of
50 H. P. The boiler which supplies steam to these is
equipped with Poster superheaters.
In the engine room of the central power plant are
an Ingersoll-Sergeant-Corliss compound condensing
two-stage air compressor and an Ingersoll-Sergeant
class H compound condensing duplex air compressor;
three 300 K. W. Crocker-Wheeler direct current
generators, each driven by 450 H. P. Cooper-Corliss
compound engines, and a 100 K. W. generator driven
by a 150 H. P. engine, both of the types last men-
tioned.
The boiler room has a capacity of ten boilers,
arranged in double batteries, which will give a total
capacity of 2500 B. H. P.
The rock drill department has a floor area of 125,-
000 square feet. Hundreds of workmen are busy at
dozens upon dozens of planers, lathes and machine
drills, while thousands of parts, from the rough cast-
ing to the finished jacket or piston, are piled in
orderly rows convenient to the workman's hand.
Everywhere are jib and traveling cranes, and none
of them seem idle. Motor drives and line shaft drives
are arranged on parallel systems, designed to give
the greatest efficiency in the least possible space
consistent with good results. This rock drill building
is of one story construction with saw-tooth roof
arrangement, thus insuring an equality of light every-
where in the shop, and an almost perfect system of
natural ventilation.
Near at hand but in a separate building is the drill
testing department, fully equipped to give the drills
a practical test through all of the varying conditions
of actual operation. Every drill turned out by the
company has to pass through the hands of the experts
in this department, and any defect in construction or
irregularity in operation marks the drill at once for
thorough overhauling. Whenever a new type of drill
is designed by the firm, as in the case of the " Little
Jap" drill recently put upon the market, tests cov- .
ering a period of months are made at the company's
quarry, near the old plant at Easton, Pa. These
practical tests are of course supplemented, in the
case of all drills shipped to the trade, by the severe
"service tests " in the department just described.
The air compressor erecting shop is an interesting
feature of the plant. In this the complete compress-
ors are subjected to no less severe tests than those
which the rock drills receive, and the operatives are
men of many years' service and experience with the
company. The compressor erecting shop is 325
feet long and 45 feet high. Connected with this
shop are the compressor manufacturing depart-
ments, each situated in a wing of the main building.
As in the rock drill shop, a noteworthy feature is
the large number of parts which are going forward
to completion.
The foundry building is 500x160 feet, and has an
equipment of four cupolas and eight coke ovens,
*See illustrations on front page.
194
Mining and Scientific Press.
September 16, 1905 .
besides a full complement of mammoth traveling
cranes. The cupolas range in size from 68 inches to
86 inches, and each is supplied with a motor driven
blower set.
The foundry floor is 18 feet below the main plant
level, thus facilitating the handling of coke, pig,
sand, scrap, etc., for the storage of which huge bins
are conveniently located under the standard gauge
railroad spur, which adjoins the foundry building on
a level with the main plant. In the shop yards are
over 5 miles of standard gauge and "industrial"
track for transportation of material between the
buildings.
The pneumatic tool department, now at the old
plant at Easton, Pa., will shortly have a building of
its own at the new works. This branch of the com-
pany's business has grown rapidly of late.
Already a considerable settlement is springing
into existence around the new plant, and many of the
2000 or more operatives will doubtless build or buy in
this vicinity, to be near their work.
McGill Lubricator.
Herewith is illustrated the McGill lubricator, com-
posed of a wooden box 15x15 inches in the clear, made
in two sections, to be easily separated and put to-
gether. In lubricating flat hoisting cables, the box
is taken apart and placed over the mouth of the shaft
on two pieces of wood, the rope being allowed to pass
through the center of the box. The oil is kept in a
galvanized storage tank and is forced out by means
of compressed air through small apertures on each
side of the rope, thereby lubricating the under as well
as the upper side of the rope at the same time. In
oiling, the rope is always lowered. A few inches be-
low these apertures in the box there are two
brushes, one on either side of the rope, which cleans
the rope of any surplus oil. The waste or surplus oil
is caught and used over. By the use of this lubrica-
tor the manufacturers claim it is a saving of time as
well as in oil. It is made and sold by the Hendrie &
Bolthoff Manufacturing & Supply Company, Den-
ver, Colo.
Treatment of Copper Rock at Quincy
Mills, Hubbell, Mich.*
Written by C. K. Hitchcock, E. M.
The rock treated at the Quincy Mills is a moder-
ately hard amygdaloid, coming from the Quincy mine,
which is working upon the Pewabic lode. It contains
at present about li% of native copper and varying
amounts of quartz, calcite, epidote and the zeolites
filling the amygdules." Since the specific gravity of
the copper is far in excess of any of the other con-
stituents of the rock, it will be seen that the dif-
ficulties in milling arise more from the low grade of
the rock than from the nature of the separation. As
is the case in all low-grade milling operations, a frac-
tion of a per cent of the valuable mineral, more or
less, in the tailings represents a relatively large
variation in the amount saved compared with the
original amount in the rock, and, of course, means
much in the profits of the operation.
During recent years efforts have been made to re-
duce, as far as practicable, the loss in the tailings.
Without going into details concerning the experi-
ments and tests in this line, the method of treatment
will be described as it is to-day. It will suffice to say
that the efforts to reduce the loss in the tailings have
been made in three directions:
1. In obtaining the most economical machines for
treating the material.
2. In re-treating material heretofore sent to
waste.
3. In making the tailings poorer by increasing
the amount of the heads, thereby decreasing the
richness of the same.
After experimenting for several years, the result
at present is: The substitution of Wilfley- and
new standard tables for the old two-deck revolv-
ing round tables; the separation, grinding and
further treatment of a middle product from the
roughing jigs, and the increasing of the amount of
slime copper (No. 3 grade), at the expense of its
richness, to a point where the increased smelter
charges offset the saving of copper. Besides these,
of course, changes of detail in treating the material
have been made. The saving of float copper, how-
ever, still remains to be effected. The float copper is
* School of Mines Quarterly.
not due, as in the case of friable ores, to the crushing
operations so much as to the shape of the piece. It
does not matter so much how small the particle, so
long as it is comparatively thick and compact. But
the copper occurs in the mine in many places in thin
sheets, much like foil, and this, when broken up small,
will float off in the wash water, in spite of all care
taken. The production of fine copper in stamping,
however, has been greatly reduced by introducing a
mortar discharge, by means of which copper which
has been freed from rock, and which is too large to
pass through the mortar screens, is taken directly
from the mortar while stamping continues. Formerly
this copper remained in the mortar, subject to the
stamping which it could not escape. Frequent
shutting-down of the stamp head was then necessary
to allow for cleaning the mortar, which is now greatly
reduced, resulting in a saving of time. Improved
facilities for shipping the mineral to the smelter
might be added to complete the list.
The two mills are on the shore of Torch
lake, Houghton county, Mich. The older, or
No. 1, mill contains five stamp heads, and the
new one, No. 2, contains three. Although the
treatment in No. 2 mill in particular is described
here, the method used in No. 1 differs only in minor
details. No. 2 mill measures 217x132 feet in size, of
steel frame, and is situated on a side hill, so that
nearly all material is handled by gravity. The stor-
age bins extend the entire length of the building and
are 22 feet wide and 26 feet deep at the front, holding
when Ml about 2000 tons. The bottom was con-
structed by filling in poor rock until it took the
natural slope from the back to the front, and by then
laying a plank covering over this filling. The founda-
tions of the stamp heads are built up of concrete and
timber from the rock foundation. Power is furnished
by a 16x36-inch engine. Water is supplied at the
rate of 16,000,000 gallons per twenty-four hours by a
vertical, triple-expansion pump of E. P. Allis make,
and is maintained at a constant head by pumping it
into an open iron supply tank, provided with an over-
flow. Formerly the water was furnished to each mill
by a separate pump; but now the two systems are
connected, so that a break-down of either pump will
not necessitate a shut-down of either mill.
The copper rock, having passed through 4-inch
grizzlies or through 10x20-inch jaw crushers at the
mine, is dumped directly into the bins from the rail-
road cars. About 3350 tons per day are treated by
the mills, which represents the output of the mine,
exclusive of such masses of copper as are cut up un-
derground, and such smaller masses as may be easily
cleaned in the rock houses at the mine. The rock is
then fed from the bins to the stamps by means of a
chute. These stamps were all furnished by the E. P.
Allis Co., but a Nordberg mortar has been substituted
for the third head in No. 2 mill. They make 100
strokes per minute, at 120 pounds steam pressure.
At present each head is stamping over 500 tons of
rock per twenty-four hours, which is crushed until it
will pass through the f-inch mortar screens. Such
pieces of copper, however, as can not be reduced suf-
ficiently in size to pass through the screens are from
time to time removed directly from the mortar by
means of the mortar discharge. This is done merely
by allowing the pieces of copper to pass through an
opening in the mortar against a stream of incoming
water strong enough to prevent the discharge of the
smaller pieces of rock. The copper thus obtained is
called No. 1 grade of mineral. Such material as does
pass through the screens is conducted over a hydrau-
lic classifier, which consists of a square box attached
to the launder in such a way that the material must
pass over a strong rising current of water. What-
ever is heavy enough to pass down through the clas-
sifier against the stream of water is also collected as
No. 1 mineral. The other portion passes into trom-
mels, and those pieces which are too large to pass
through the trommels — that is, over } inch in diam-
eter— are returned to the stamp by means of a bucket
elevator to be crushed finer. These trommels are of
perforated sheet iron with i-inch holes and are 5 feet
10 inches long by 2 feet 3 inches in diameter at the
small end and 3 feet 5 inches at the large end. They
make fifteen revolutions per minute. The material
passing through the trommels is conducted over
other hydraulic classifiers which separate out, as
above described, No. 1 mineral and allow the remain-
der to go to the roughing jigs. There are two trom-
mels to each head and each supplies material to three
sets of four jigs each, each jig having two sieves and
each sieve being 2x3 feet in size. The jigs are all
run at 133 strokes per minute with a J-inch stroke.
The plant is so arranged that each set of four jigs
receives the same grade of material, and the supply
to each can be regulated by a gate placed in the
launder; but the material treated by the individual
jigs of each set is classified by being fed against a
rising stream of water, so that the first sieve of the
first jig, being 8 mesh, receives the coarsest material;
the second sieve, 10 mesh, less coarse; and so on with
the first and second sieves of the second jig, which
are respectively of 12 and 14 mesh and receive finer
and finer sizes. The third and fourth jigs of each set
treat the overflow from the first and second jigs re-
spectively, and the sieve in each case is 2 meshes per
linear inch finer than the sieve whose overflow it
treats. Whatever does not go to the roughing jigs
is considered slime and passes on through an over-
head launder to the settling boxes, which feed the
slime tables. The tailings of the third and fourth jigs
of each set go to the wastes and launder.
A middle product is obtained from both sieves of
the third jig of each set — that is, the jig treating the
overflow from the jig which treats the coarsest ma-
terial. This middle product is drawn off through a
f-inch pipe entering a little above the sieve, an oper-
ation which is accomplished by admitting air through
another pipe at this point. This material runs in a
launder to a Chilian mill in mill No. 2 and to a Hunt-
ington mill in mill No. 1, where it is reground and
treated as will be described later. As the jigs run
with considerable suction, a large amount of hutch
work is obtained. This is treated on the finishing
jigs and tables.
The finishing department consists of two sets of
three 2-sieve jigs and two Wilfley tables to each head.
These jigs are of the same size as the roughing jigs,
but are of a more recent design, in that the motion
is imparted to the plunger by means of an eccentric,
instead of the rocker arm, whereby the motion is
more easily regulated. They are run at 165 strokes
per minute, with a f-inch stroke. The material com-
ing to each set passes over a hydraulic classifier, the
overflow from which feeds the two sieves of the first
jig, the same as in the case of the roughing jigs.
Stuff too fine for treatment on the jigs passes into a
settling box, whence it is fed to a Wilfley table. The
overflow goes to waste. Whatever goes through the
hydraulic classifier, together with the hutch work
from the first finishing jig of each set, contains all the
silver that is saved. Formerly No. 1 mineral was
picked over by hand for silver, but this is now found
not to pay.
The overflow from the first finishing jig is treated
by the second jig, and the overflow from this, in turn,
is treated by the third jig. The overflow from this
last goes to waste. The hutchwork of the second jig
is collected in a box and is called "No. 2 mineral."
That from the third jig is too poor for a finished prod-
uct and is re-treated on the slime tables. The con-
centrate from the Wilfley tables mentioned above is
called "No. 3 mineral."
The slime department consists of nineteen Wilfley
tables, a set of jigs and four new standard tables.
The Wilfley tables are of the standard size and treat
twenty-five tons of material a day. The new standard
tables are used to furnish the finished product, while
the Wilfleys discard the tailings. As stated above,
the material coming to these tables is stuff that is too
light for treatment on the roughing jigs. Before
reaching the tables it is received in six settling boxes
— two to each stamp head. These boxes are 11 feet
by 5 feet 6 inches in size, rectangular in plan but
pointed in elevation, with a depth of 3 feet 9 inches.
They are elevated about 10 feet above the floor and
the tables are fed by small closed launders. Each
settling box feeds three Wilfley tables. The tailings
from the tables go to waste, but the heads from each
group of six Wilfley tables are collected and by means
of a centrifugal pump are sent to another settling
box, from which a new standard table is fed. The
heads from these new standard tables are collected
and are called " No. 3 mineral " or "slime copper."
The tailings are returned to one of the first-named
settling boxes for retreatment on the Wilfleys.
The Chilian mill mentioned above as treating the
middle heads from the roughing jigs has a 6-foot mor-
tar with 10-mesh mortar screens. It is run at
twenty-five revolutions per minute and treats sixty
tons of material per day. The crushed material
passes from the grinder over a hydraulic classifier to
a set of three 2-sieve jigs, precisely similar to the fin-
ishing jigs.
The product of the classifier is "No. 2 mineral,"
the hutchwork from the first two jigs is " No. 3 min-
eral," and the hutchwork from the last jig is re-
treated on the slime table. The fine overflow passing
the jigs is treated on a 'special Wilfley table, from
which the heads are saved.
Until recently the different grades of mineral were
packed in separate barrels, as has long been the cus-
tom in the Lake Superior region, and shipped to the
smelter by rail. This is a primitive and expensive
method of shipping mineral where any considerable
amount is to be handled and has now been abolished
at the Quincy mills. The mineral is shipped in bulk
in special cars by rail to the smelter, which is situ-
ated a short distance east of Hancock, on Portage
lake. The different grades are now collected from
the concentrators in a bucket which holds 400 pounds
and which is suspended from a traveler running on a
6-inch I beam overhead. The contents of the bucket
are emptied into small cars holding from 2J to 4 tons
each, depending on the grade of mineral. The ears
enter the mill on the ground floor, where they are
filled and made up into trains which are hauled by an
electric locomotive — like those used underground at
the mine — to the old mill, where the contents are
dumped into bins. In the old mill the collecting
bucket empties directly into the bins. These bins
are large enough to hold two days' supply and are
divided into compartments for the different grades of
mineral. The empty mineral cars are brought in and
spotted on a 54-foot set of railroad scales, the compart-
ments of which correspond to the compartments in
the bin. Each grade may now be run separately into
the cars without any necessary movement of the lat-
ter, and at the same time the amount of mineral is
September 16, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
195
*3
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H-
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r
196'
Mining and Scientific Press.
September 16, 1905.
weighed directly or by difference. A further ad-
vantage is secured over the old barrel method in
that there is a greater elimination of moisture before
the mineral reaches the smelter. When once the
mineral was barreled it lost but little moisture, and
in winter it generally froze so that a great number
of barrels were destroyed getting the frozen mineral
out. Now the moisture drains while in the bins and
in the cars and is exposed to the cold only while in
transit to the smelter. At the smelter bins have also
been constructed where further drainage takes place
before the mineral is charged to the furnaces.
j Mining and Metallurgical Patents*!
* *
PATENTS ISSUED AUGUST 29, 1905.
Specially Reported and Illustrated for the MINING AND
SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
Oil Well Pump Attachment.
S. Drennen, Montpelier, Ind.
-No. 797,672;
In oil well apparatus, combination with pump shaft,
mutilated pulley periphery of which is less than semi-
circle and tangentially situated relatively to line of
shaft of pump, lugs formed integral with pulley at
top end thereof, flexible connecting strap hingedly
connected at upper end to lugs, and removable con-
necting coupling situated at bottom end of strap, of
reciprocating means, lever integral on and situated
at one side of mutilated pulley, extending radially
from center of and beyond periphery thereof and
provided with series of clevis-pin-receiving holes ar-
ranged at intervals or gradations along length, cable,
clevis and clevis-pin connecting clevis and lever, re-
ciprocating means conuected to cable, and suitable
triangularly formed supporting frame comprising
vertically extending forward portion, backward or
rear inclined portion and bottom connecting or sill
portion for supporting pulley.
Rook Drill.
Colo.
-No. 798,416; M. C. Jackson, Denver,
In rock drill or similar tool, combination with
eccentric shaft, of hammer, drill bit distinct from
hammer, but arranged to be acted on thereby, and
suitable connections between eccentric shaft and
hammer, and between eccentric shaft and drill bit
for simultaneously imparting to hammer and bit
eciprocating movement.
Ore Roasting Kiln.— No. 798,524; J. McNab,
Catonsville, Md.
Improvement in ore roasting kilns comprising
series of fireplaces arranged in battery side by side
and extending in two rows with opposite fireplaces
back to back, fireplaces being provided with crown
arch composed of arched slabs, key slabs hav-
ing tapered sides, and key block having tapered
sides and opening for escape of gas, main gas flues
extending above fireplaces of each row and receiving
gas from key blocks of several arches, niter oven to
which main gas flues discharge at one end, fines-
burning flue extending longitudinally above one of
main gas flues, means for supplying fines to burning
flue, and return or dust flue connecting at one end
with forward end of fines-burning flue and extending
thence rearwardly alongside fines-burning flue and
discharging at rear end to one of main gas flues.
Apparatus for Treating Crushed Ohes, Slimes
and Other Materials.— No. 798,568; A. Z. Clark,
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Combination of flat-topped block formed with
series of openings of different sizes, and with recesses
in top face adjacent to openings, pawl in each recess
formed with flat top and of size to lie flat in recess with
top flush with top of block, one end of each pawl bev-
eled and toothed and projected into adjacent opening
and pins passed through blocks and pivotally sup-
porting pawls in recesses.
Ore Concentrator.— No. 798,064; W. O. Journeay,
San Antonio, Tex.
Improved ore concentrator comprising main pulp
receiver and concentric chamber pendent therefrom,
pulp hopper having vertical body arranged concen-
trically within receiver, concentric rotary shaft to
which hopper is attached, agitator attached to hop-
per and rotating together with it and shaft, overflow
hopper surrounding upper portion of main receiver
which is provided with openings at that point, tail-
ings spout connected with overflow hopper, vertically
reciprocating plunger arranged in hopper and means
for reciprocating same to cause pulsations in mass of
pulp, water jackets applied to main receiver and con-
centrate chamber and communicating with same by
openings, cut-off valve arranged between main re-
ceiver and concentrate chamber, and discharge valve
applied to latter.
Crushing Rolls.
Denver, Colo.
-No. 798,415; R. K. Humperey,
Crushing roll mechanism comprising crushing rolls,
pillow blocks mounted movably in proper relation to
rolls and provided with bearings for shafts of rolls,
cap plates for covering bearings, pillow blocks hav-
ing apertures extending through them upon each
side of bearings, straps inclosing caps, and extend-
ing at ends through apertures, and inclined tapering
keys engaging ends of straps for preventing with-
drawal from apertures.
Amalgamator. — No. 797,740; E. S. Moss, Chi-
cago, 111.
Amalgamator comprising sluice having depression
for mercury, movable supporting frame mounted
over depression, series of wheels revolubly mounted
in frame, each of wheels being provided with series
of longitudinal amalgamated blades, adjustment of
frame being such as to cause one or more of blades
to be immersed in mercury when frame is actuated,
and riffle adjusted to raise level of passing slimes to
top of lowermost wheel, whereby blades of each wheel
may be freshly amalgamated and rotated within
slimes while permitting unobstructed passage of
latter.
Centrifugal Wet Crushing and Grinding Mill
for Quartz.— No. 798,278; L. C. Graupner, San
Francisco, Cal.
In centrifugal ore crushing machine, pan consti-
tuting base, die-ring with inclined face secured to
inner wall face of pan, central conduit secured to
pan, having lateral openings for delivery of ore to
rollers, disk plate revolubly mounted on top of con-
duit on suitable bearings, and plurality of pendulously
mounted rollers carried by plate, their faces ar-
ranged to contact with and press laterally against
die-ring.
September 16, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
19T
»+*****************-»*********:*******
1 MINING SUMMARY. |
* *
Specially Compiled and Reported for tbe MINING AND
SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
Consul Williams of Cardiff, Wales, furnishes the fol-
lowing output of tin by countries for the last three years
as approximately correct:
1902. 1803. 1901.
Country •. Tods. Tons. Tons.
Malay States 53,756 54.7B7 58/57
Bnnca and million 1K,765 2U.H00 14,698
Bolivia 111,160 9,500 9,200
England 3.05(1 1,150 1,982
Australia .3,3011 1.991 i,082
Miscellaneous 850 395 S8«
Totals 90.177 93.883 98,219
According- to these figures the production of tin is al-
most at a standstill, and there was an actual falling off in
the output during 1904. On the other hand the eon-
sumption is on the increase, and the accepted cstimato
for 1004 is as follows:
Countries. Tuns
d Slates 88,000
Great Britain 15,898
Germany. 14,888
All other countries 25,525
Total 91,755
Thus the consumption for the year was 2512 tons in
excess of the output. Ordinarily the tin consumed is
lost forever, but the increasing demand and the threat-
ened diminution of the available stock has given rise to
a new industry, the dotinning of tin scrap. The statis-
tics show that the United States consumes over 40% of
all the tin produced.
Director of the Mint Roberts' estimate of the produc-
tion of gold and silver in the United States for 1904 shows
an increased production over the calendar year 1903 of
$7,131,500 gold and 3,486,000 fine ounces of silver. The
largest gold gain was by California, which increased
$3,000,000 more than in the previous year, and a larger
amount than in any year since the 60's. This gain came
chiefly from dredger operations, and a further gain is
expected during the current year and for some years to
come. Colorado shows an increase of nearly $2,000,000
gold and 1,300,000 ounces of silver; Alaska a gain of
$700,000 gold; Montana a gain of 2,000,000 ounces of sil-
ver; Utah a gain of 1,300,000 ounces of silver; Idaho a
gain of 1,300,000 ounces of silver. Forty-eight per cent
of the silver was produced from lead ores, 26% from cop-
per ores and the rest largely from ores which also car-
ried gold.
Gold. Silver.
States. Value. Fine Ozs.
Alaska J9.03I.200 210,800
Arizona 3,343,900 2,744,100
California 19,109,600 1,532,500
Colorado 24,395.800 14,331 ,600
Idaho 1 ,503.700 7,sio,:oii
Montana 5.097,800 14,608,100
Nevada 4,037„800 2,095.1(1(1
New Mexico 381,900 314,000
Oregon 1 ,309,900 143,200
South Dakota 7,024,600 187.000
Texas 2,300 469.600
Utah 4.215,000 12,481,300
Washington 327,000 149,900
Wyoming 16,400 4,400
The total gold production was $80,723,200; silver, 75,-
786,100 fine ounces. The total amount of gold mined was
3,904,986 ounces and the commercial value of the silver
produced was $33,515,938, making the total value of the
two metals $114,239,138.
ALASKA.
A gold strike made last November on the upper fork
of the YeDtna river, 120 miles from Cook Inlet, has be-
come known. Sixty miners from the Cook Inlet camp
have stampeded to the Yentna and will winter there.
It is said that eleven men working this summer on Kahilta
have taken out $10 a day each.
ARIZONA.
Cochise Connty.
A company has been organized to prospect for coal
near Morenci.
Connection of Nos. 2 and 3 furnaces of the Calumet &
Arizona Co. 's smelter at Douglas has been completed
aDd No. 1 furnace will be completed as speedily as pos-
sible. The new power crane is in position and has been
tested without load with highly satisfactory results. It
will be three weeks before the building in which the
crane is located is ready to permit of operations of the
machinery.
Graham Connty.
A company has taken hold of the oil fields about Saf-
ford and has commenced boring operations. P. Ander-
son has charge.
Mohave County.
Ore has been opened up in the shaft of the Hot Tom
mine at Chloride belonging to T. B. Scott. A gasoline
hoisting engine will be put in to facilitate hoisting.
The Connor-Minnesota mine at Chloride has struck a
5-foot vein of high-grade silver ore. — — E. Clark of Spo-
kane, Wash., has taken a bond and lease on the Yellow
Ned mines in El Dorado district.
Water in the Cyrus Noble mine, in Searchlight dis-
trict, is causing trouble. It has come into the 400-foot
level of the mine and all work has been transferred to
the firBt and second levels. J. V. Clark of Ocean
Grove, Cal., and H. V. DeHaas of Los Angeles, Cal.,
have purchased an interest in the Little El Dorado M.
Co., in Crescent district. A 200-foot shaft is to be sunk
on the property at once and drifts run for 500 feet north
and south in the hope of catching parallel veins of ore.
The Old American Flag mine on Big Wallapai moun-
tain, 15 miles east of Kingman, has been cleared of debris
and water in the lower workings preparatory to a re-
sumption of work. H. J. Heffron of Los Angeles,
Cal., has started work at the Alpha mine, at Layne
Springs.
Pima County.
I.. M. Kobinson, manager of the Robinson-Arizona
Co., operating in the placer section at Greaterville, says
that the company is waiting for water, and for the Inte-
rior Department to confer the privilege of allowing the
company to build a reservoir of 3,500,000 gallons capacity.
Final County.
The experiment being tried by the Ray C. Co. at Kel-
vin is satisfactory and promises success, which may
turn the concentrating plant into a 500-ton leaching
plant. The Big Lead M. Co. in the Kelvin district is
said to be getting .'U"cl copper ore. A small leaching
plant is to be built.
Yavapai County.
Superintendent S. Sessions of the Gold Lode M. Co.
has finished grading for u 10-stamp mill. They will put
in a cyanide plant.- — The hoist has been started at the
Pickaway mine, east of Val Verde.
The Bunker Hill G. M. Co. is pushing its deep work-
ing tunnel, 8 miles from Val Verde. The company
stopped work on its main shaft and decided to open and
operate its property entirely through the deep working
tunnel. The distance between the mouth of the tunnel
and the main shaft is 1800 feet.
It is reported that the Tiger G. M. Co. intendl sinking
a double-compartment inclined shaft on the Gray Eagle
vein at Harrington. It is planned to connect this with a
winze from the Cloveland tunnel. They also intend
putting in a 20-stamp mill in addition to the 20-stamp
mill now running. G. P. Harrington is manager and T.
S. Scblesioger manager. The Apache Panther G. M.
Co. is running a development tunnel to open up their
claims near Harrington. It is planned to run this 1300
feet. J. C. Ray and Bernard Cunniff are interested.
The Saratoga G. M. Co. is running a drift to connect
their 155-foot vertical shaft with an abandoned shaft on
the Silver King. O. F. Place is president and Ed Foltz
foreman. Superintendent S. R. Trengove is sinking a
shaft on the Colonel M. Co.s land, near Crown King. It
is to be sunk 500 feet and is down 180 feet.
The following is reported as the details of the Pohle-
Croasdale process to be used by the Rigby Mining & Re-
duction Co. at Mayer: From the bins the ore is taken
by car to the dryer, where it passes through two revolv-
ing dryers — one of 40 inches diameter by IS feet long, the
other 60 inches diameter by 26 feet long — the hot ore
passing from them by gravity to cars, which take it to
the feed hoppers in the Tollhouse, having three sets of
30xl4-inch rolls and a set of 20xl2-inch rolls with the nec-
essary screens, elevators, etc. The dust due to crushing
is collected by three large automatic fans and dust col-
lectors. The crushed ore is taken from the screens to a
40-ton iron ore bin in the mixer house by an automatic
belt conveyor 84 feet long. Here the ore and the salt
from a smaller bin are weighed by two sets of hopper
scales and deposited on a 60-foot belt conveyor, which
takes it to a box mixer, whence it is dumped into a car,
which takes it to the four feed hoppers, from where it is
automatically fed into four revolving furnaces, and the
ore, after passing through them, is dumped into an ore
conveyor that carries it to cars which place it in the tail-
ings dump, its values having been volatilized and
taken to another department. The furnace room
is 88 . feet wide, 133 feet long and 40 feet high.
The fumes are drawn from the furnaces through the
flue house, which contains four sets of 3-foot wrought
iron pipe 175 feet long, into the condensing house by
four large pressure blowers, each capable of handling
6600 cubic gas of feet per minute, and on reaching them
is forced into the condensing chambers, where the gold,
silver, copper and lead are recovered. From the
solution thus obtained, the gold, silver and lead values
are filtered and the copper is precipitated either
by electricity or iron and the precipitates melted.
It is reported that the extraction of metal values is
accomplished in the furnace hy the application of heat
to the mixture of ore, salt and sulphur, causing the
sodium of the salt and the sulphur to unite as sulphate
of soda and freezing the chlorine of the salt, which unites
with the metals, forming gases, which are drawn from
the furnaces and forced into the condensers by the
pressure blowers.
CALIFORNIA.
Production of quicksilver by flasks in California, by
counties, during 1904 was:
County. Quantity. Value
Colusa 400 $17,400
Lake 3,044 132.414
Napa 5,329 231,811
San Benito 8.480 368,880
San Luis Obispo 4.896 212,976
SantaClara 3.889 169,172
Solano 377 16.410
Sonoma 2,700 117,450
Trinity 102 4 437
Total 29,217 $1,270,940
In California it is estimated that the dredger min-
ing field covers 25,050 acres. The Feather River district
has 7500 acres, Yuba River 5000, Bear River 1000 and
American River 5000, the balance being scattered in
Shasta, Plumas, Siskiyou, Calaveras, Trinity and Stan-
islaus. The value of the ground in the larger fields runs
from 17 cents to 30 cents per cubic yard.
Butte County.
Robert D. Evans and other stockholders of Boston
have sold their holdings in the Boston & Oroville, Boston
& California and Bear River companies to the Venture
Corporation, Limited, of London. The latter concern
has incorporated under Maine laws the Oroville Dredging
Co., Limited, with a capital of $3,500,000 in $5 shares to
take over these. The Venture Company transferred
the stock it purchased, which included all the Boston
& California and Bear River companies and a majority
of the Boston & Oroville stock to the American con-
cern as an operating company. A number of other dredg-
ing companies are to be. included. F. W. Baker is the
president and F. W. Batchelder the treasurer.
Calaveras County.
E. J. West has bonded from W. T. Robinson the Look
Out quartz mine, near the Calaveras river, in the San
Andreas district. An option has also been secured on
the Hexter mine, west of Mokelumne Hill, and operations
will be resumed.
Kl Dorado County.
The Pacific House drift has been sold by J. E. Sexton
to a company headed by L. E. King of Cripple Creek,
Colo., and I. H. Bingham of Eugene, Or. Drilling is to
be done before running the tunnel. — — At the Crusader
mine. El Dorado district, Seymour & Frick are pushing
development work. At the Alcimentes mine, Smith's
Flat district, they have developed a fine body of gravel.
Mono County,
The Liberty-Pittsburg claims in the Masonic Moun-
tain district, near Bodie, have been taken over by the
Tonopah M. Co.
Nevada County.
High-grade ore has been struck by leasers in the 200-
foot level of the Union Hill mine, near Grass Valley.
A rich strike is reported at the Kenosha mine at Dead-
man's Flat, near Grass Valley. A shaft is to be sunk
on the Iron Mountain copper prospects, near Spencer-
ville, by E. A. Wiltsee. Borings have been made.
San Luis Obispo County.
The Western Mining & Steel Cor. will commence dia-
mond drill prospecting for copper and iron on ranches
on Los Osos, near San Luis Obispo.
Shasta County.
The miners and smelter men at Ingot have organized
a union, a branch of the Western Federation of Miners.
Organization was effected through J. C. Williams of
Grass Valley, vice-president of the Federation. The
union starts out with a charter membership of thirty.
Homer Dehaven was elected president and Albert Lane
secretary. At the new Mammoth smelter at Kennett
the ore crushers connected with the sampling rooms
have been crushing the H. H. Thompson's ore from Old
Diggings.
Fire at Redding destroyed the Central cable station,
together with several ore cars and a train of the Ried
mine, under bond to Hunt & Sallee. Ore bins just ready
to be filled with an ore shipment to the Kennett smelter
were destroyed.
The ore body in the Midas mine at Harrison Gulch has
been found in the 900-foot level.
Sierra County.
The Forest City M. Co. is drifting on the channel of
the Mabel Mertz, recently reached on the western rim
after running 1600 feet. H. B. McCormick is superin-
tendent. The mine is at the junction of the Mabel Mertz
and Balsam Flat ridges, 5 miles east of Forest. A. J.
McCoy has charge of driving the tunnel on the Mabel
mine, adjoining the Mabel Mertz. The Alleghany M.
Co. is driving a long tunnel in the Balsam Flat ridge.
At Minnesota, south of Alleghany, the channel is
sought by F. B. DeLauney of 'Chips Flat. At the last
Resort mine, near Downieville, a new crosscut tunnel to
catch the vein is being run by Manager A. L. Wilson.
The company proposes to put in a 3-stamp mill.
Tuolumne County.
(Special Correspondence). — A number of mines have
been temporarily closed on account of a shortage of
water. The Black Oak mine, mill and cyanide plant at
Soulsbyville have been shut down. Pumping is being
continued with steam power. At the Rawhide mine
near Sonora the plates are being replated with silver
during the shut-down. The mine and mill at the App
have been closed. The Shawmut is shut down, but
the chlorination plant is running.
Soulsbyville, Sept. 13.
The Wheal-Perrin mine, near Soulsbyville, is being
unwatered. The Sunnyside mine, south of Toulumne,
on the Tuolumne river, has been bonded to W. P. Cun-
ningham, who is putting in an air compressor.
Work has been stopped at the Ranch gravel mine,
near Columbia, pending the action of New York di-
rectors. The Santa Ysabel mill at Stent is to make a
test run on ore from the mine as soon as water power is
available. The new 5-stamp mill on the Fair Oaks
mine, near Confidence, has started up. The main tunnel
is in 150 feet on the vein. At the mouth of the tunnel a
2-compartment shaft has been started and is down 40
feet. When 150 feet is reached drifting will begin.
James Hamilton, superintendent of the Don Pedro gold
mines, 21 miles from Jamestown and 9 miles from
Cooperstown, is putting in a 30 H. P. new air com-
pressor. The main shaft is 200 feet deep. Work-
men are grading for a 10-stamp mill. The company
operating the Surprise gravel mine at Dead Man's
Bar, west of Sonora, and secured under bond from its
owner, Otto Kanig, is making good progress on the
property, with John Heath as superintendent. Bed rock
has been struck after sinking 35 feet. The work of
crosscutting the old river channel is underway. it
the Republic, in the Parrott's Ferry district, the main
tunnel is in on the vein 800 feet and being driven ahead.
The mill is hung up owing to a scarcity of water. The
underground forces in both the Grizzly and New Albany
have been increased. The tramway connecting the
properties is nearly completed. A new incline is being
sunk alongside the old 160-foot one on the Manzanita.
When a depth of 90 feet is reached the vein will be
stoped out to within 40 feet of the surface.
Yuba Connty.
Frank Weston of San Francisco has bonded from
James O'Brien, J. E. Ebert and T. A. McKenna 1200
acres of dredger mining land 4 miles east of Marysville
at $375 an acre. Sacramento capitalists have bonded
1000 acres adjoiuing the town for $200 an acre.
COLORADO.
(Special Correspondence). — Since the merger of the
various railroads entering the Cripple Creek district the
operators have received notice of an advance in freight
rates. The Short Line, which was built by the operators
a few years ago, was built to compete with the roads
already entering the district and to relieve the high
rates then in vogue; but, on account of some of the
stockholders of the Short Line having disposed of their
198
Mining and Scientific Press.
September 16, 1905.
holdings, the operators have lost control of the road —
hence the advance in rates. It is now reported that a
smelter will be built to handle the ores from the district
and in competition with the mills and smelters now
handling the ore.
Work has been commenced in Gore canyon by the
Moffat road. This canyon was claimed by the Reclama-
tion Service of the United States, and an injunction was
brought against the road to prevent it from using same.
Judge Hallett rendered a decision a few days ago in favor
of the road. This will give the road an outlet into Routt
county, and be the means of opening up valuable coal
and mineral lands.
Denver, Colo., Sept. 11.
Arapahoe Countv.
The American Zinc & Chemical Co. 's plant at Utah
Junction, north of Denver, was totally destroyed by fire
Sept. 8. The plant was a combination smelter and chem-
ical works. C. F. Dewey is the manager.
Boulder County.
Wm. Scott of Nederland has put machinery on his
tungsten property. J. H. Kemp intends to remodel the
Eldora chlorination mill to a cyanide plant, preparing it
to treat ores in Eldora and surrounding camps.
Chaffee County.
The Colorado Commonwealth M. Co. is operating near
Marysville, near Salida. W. A. Redenberg is president;
J. Kestler of Marysville, vice-president; C. J. Brock,
secretary and treasurer. The Fourth of July M. Co.
has claims near Turret. J. A. Seemann of Turret is
president.
Clear Creek County
Work has been resumed on the Poorman property
above Freeland by J. and R. W. McKenzie. The work-
ings below the tunnel level are filled with water. At a
distance of 250 feet from the portal of the tunnel an up-
raise of 60 feet will be made to connect with the bottom
of a 40-foot shaft on the Poorman vein, and with an 80-
foot winze. At the bottom of the latter a crosscut has
been run to the No Name vein. On Columbus moun-
tain, near Empire, work is being done by the Krupps
M. Co. under the direction of P. M. Tucker.
The Loop Mines & Tunnel Co. has been formed to de-
velop claims on Republican mountain, near Silver Plume,
by means of a tunnel to be driven at least 2000 feet.
Preparations are being made to resume operations on
the Josephine property, which lies near the A. -P. tun-
nel on Kelso mountain, near Silver Plume. I. B. Nich-
ols has been getting things in shape for putting men to
work.
Gilpin County,
During the last week of August the shipments of
smelting and crude ores, tailings and concentrates from
the Black Hawk depot to the Denver smelters and out-
side points of treatment were 58 cars, or 1220 tons, mak-
ing a total of 281 cars, or 5900 tons, for the month. In
comparison with the preceding month, last month's
shipments showed a gain of 55 cars, or 1135 tons, an in-
crease of nearly 25% over the shipments for July, while
for the corresponding month of last year the shipments
showed a gain of nearly 20%. Because of a cave-in of
the shaft at the 200-foot level, work has been suspended
by the Newfoundland Gold & Silver M. Co., near Cen-
tral City. G. W. Mabee, Jr., is superintendent. It is
reported that a new shaft will be sunk. The new mill
of the Monarch Mill Co., in Gambell gulch, near Central
City, is running double shifts, principally on ores from
the Colorado tunnel, but it is to be run also on ores from
the Mountain Monarch property. The new mill is
equipped with five rapid "drop stamps, copper plates,
bumping tables and a concentrating table. It is the in-
tention of the company to put in five more stamps and
additional tables. J. C. Barrows, of Rollinsville, is man-
ager and G. C. Carson millman. Work has been re-
sumed on the O. K. mine on German mountain, near
Central City, by A. Johnson. Retimbering of the shaft
and other repairs will have to be made before work
underground can be pushed. The shaft is down 600
feet. A 30 H. P. hoist has been put on the Gladstone
mine in Lake district. Central City reports say that
the Golden Sun M. & M. Co. will put in an air com-
pressor at their claims east of Boulder park on the
south side of South Boulder creek. The main tunnel,
being driven by Peterson & Co. under contract, is in
over 300 feet. L. A. Shearer is superintendent. The
Denver & Northwestern M. Co., on South Boulder
creek, intend putting in a compressor.
The Mountz & Palmer mill, near Apex, is running on
ores from the Mackey mine and the Sarah Jane tunnel.
Air drills are opening new ground in the Mackey.
The Boston Occidental Co., operating the Mascot mine
at American City, sunk its shaft an additional
lift and is now crosscutting for its vein at the
lowest level. The company has its drying room
at the millr eady for use and will soon be ready
to treat its own ores at the minedump. W.
Shultz of the Shultz Wonder is prospecting for ore
shoots in his underground workings. The Imperial
M. & M. Co. and the Cyrene Mines Co. have consoli-
dated, the Imerial taking over the property of the
Cyrene Co. Surveyors from Yankee have run a line
for a wagon road from Yankee to Tolland on the Moffat
Railway. The road will be run on a 10% grade. The
Moffat management promised to build the first mile
from Tolland. The Palace M. Co. is underhand stop-
ing on a shoot of lead ore in their tunnel. The Little
Sallie M. Co. has bought the Marie Louise group of
claims on Silver creek and intends putting up a mill to
treat their ores near the mine dump. W. E. Garver is
the superintendent.
Gunnison Connty.
The Carter tunnel of the Ashland M. Co. is said to
have cut good veins at the 1450 and 1490-foot points. It
will be continued until in 3500 feet, when it is estimated
that all the important veins will have been cut. New
air compressors will be put in. C. W. Carter is manager.
In the Tin Cup district the Blistered Horn tunnel has
been driven 1600 feet and struck a 7-foot vein of ore at a
depth of 1000 feet. I. L. Johnson is running a long
tunnel from Middle Willow creek to get under the old
workings of the Gold Cup.
Hinsdale Connty.
High-grade ore is being shipped from the St. Jacob's
mine at Carson, 14 miles south of Lake City. It is re-
ported that a new shaft is to be sunk.
I.ake Connty.
A tunnel is being run from the level of the Adams mill,
Carbonate hill, Leadville, into the mill to tap the Wolf-
tone shaft at a point 100 feet below the present mark
from which water is being lifted. The tunnel will be 480
feet in length, and when the shaft is tapped will do away
with some pumping, and the ore from the mine will be
dumped into the bins at the mill. The tunnel will be
5£x6J in the clear. The lessees on the Fortune, Big
Evans, Becker & O'Brien have completed all of the sur-
face work and are hoisting fifty tons a day of siliceous
and sulphide ores from the upper and one of the lower
levels. Where the work is being carried on the drifts
will be driven farther ahead and to the north. The
levels at the bottom of the shaft will be worked later,
when arrangements will be made to handle the water.
Work has been resumed at the Bartlett mine, near
Twin Lakes, by the Twin Lakes G. M. Co. ■ Geo. Mil-
ler has charge of work on the Sunnyside mine, near
Twin Lakes. The Last Chance Co. have resumed
work on their Echo canyon claims. S. E. Smith of Twin
Lakes has charge. The Bromley mill is being moved
to Lackawanna gulch.
San Jnan County.
At the Sound Democrat claims in Mastodon gulch,
near Silverton, Walker & Ezell are finishing the struc-
tural work of a new 10-stamp mill.
San Mlf*uel County.
Prior to the leasing of the greater portion of the
Smuggler-Union mine and both the Smuggler-Union mills
to Robeson & Carter the mills were under different man-
agements. It is understood the new leasers will put
both plants in charge of M. R. Hansen. W. J. Thomas,
who has been foreman of the Suffolk-Globe 40-stamp
mill at Ophir, will be head amalgamator.
Summit Connty.
On the Star placer, in the Upper Blue valley, Superin-
tendent Dearing is prospecting and extending ditches,
pipe lines and flumes. M. Anderson and J. Cramer,
leasing the Washington property, on Nigger hill, near
Breckenridge, reached through the Wineland and Mayo
tunnels, are shipping lead-gold ore. The American
Dredging Co., while prospecting its placer territory on
the Swan, has sunk thirty-nine drill holes to bedrock.
The holes vary from 38 to 40 feet in depth. Careful
pannings and assays have been made and records of
each hole kept, and when dredging is resumed the com-
pany will be in possession of data concerning gold values
and depth of wash on each tract. Excavation has
been completed for an addition to the mill of the Wash-
ington-Joliet Co., on Nigger hill. Development is being
pushed in the Puzzle-Extension shaft, and a drift now
being driven from the 100-foot level will cut the ore
shoot at greater depth. TheHoosier Creek G. M. Co.,
operating the Bemrose placers, Hoosier gulch, near
Breckenridge, has been sinking a shaft to cut an iron
ore vein on the dip. At 110 feet from the surface a sta-
tion was put in and a crosscut drift was driven from the
vein. At the Old Union mine, near Breckenridge, the
main tunnel is near the 1000-foot mark. A crosscut will
be driven west to the Old Union main ledge, a distance
of 150 feet, and a crosscut east will cut two other veins.
A continuation of the tunnel for 500 feet will put the
breast of it under the main shaft workings, when con-
nections will be made. The company is taking out mill-
ing ore. At the Novelty mine, being worked by J.
Detwiler and the Summit County Mining Exchange, the
whim has been put into position and the main shaft
baled out. The shaft will be sunk 50 feet on contract,
and then will begin the work of taking out ore for ship-
ment.
Teller County.
An 8-drill belt compressor driven by electric motor
has been put in at the Los Angeles mine by the Exposi-
tion Mines & Leasing Co., and work has been renewed
on low-grade ore bodies of the Los Angeles to supply the
cyanide mill. A skip will be put in the shaft and hoist-
ing resumed. Superintendent J. Mcllwee has opened
up good ore in the Maid of Orleans shaft on Beacon hill,
Cripple Creek. The shaft is to be sunk from the 500 to
the 600-foot level. Work has been resumed at the
Elkton after a short shut-down during which repairs
were made in the main workings.- The Long John
shaft on Ironclad hill, Cripple Creek, which is to be
sunk to a depth of 200 feet, is down 145 feet. A. W.
Oliver is interested. The Hull City mine of the Inde-
pendence Con. G. M. Co. is shipping 1000 tons monthly.
W. P. Dunham of Colorado Springs is manager. Les-
see Walsh has started a crosscut from the 610 level of
the Forest Queen shaft on Ironclad hill, Cripple Creek.
The Dexter G. M. Co. recently granted a lease to O.
M. Deemer and J. F. O'Neill of Omaha on the Dexter
and other of its claims on Bull hill, near Cripple Creek.
The lessees have put in a temporary small hoist, pend-
ing the arrival of an 80 H. P. boiler, a 10x12 hoist and a
5-drill air compressor. The shaft is down 625 feet.
IDAHO.
Blaine Connty.
The Wood River Zinc Co. 's mill near Hailey is tem-
porarily shut down because of breaking of the main line
shaft. New crushing machinery and more concentrators
are being put in. The development work at both the
Nay Aug and War Dance mines is being continued. At
the Nay Aug a raise to the surface is being started for
air.
The Lipman Tunnel & Mines Co. intend starting work
on their 3000-foot tunnel from the south side of Bullion
camp, near Hailey, in the Wood River mining district.
The tunnel will give an outlet to the Red Elephant,
Bullion and Mayflower mines, and save the expense of
hoisting and pumping. An incline shaft is to be sunk
on the Point Lookout to connect the lower tunnel with
the upper workings.
Boise County.
The Black Pearl M. Co. at Pearl is putting in a cyanide
plant.
Manager W. T. Nasseur of the Whitman Co. 's prop-
erty at Pearl states that the adit level on the Levia-
than vein has been driven 622 feet. The adit level on
the Red Warrior vein has been driven 521 feet. .
Shoshone County.
At the SuccesB mill, near Wallace, twelve jigs are to
be put in to increase the present capacity of 200 tons.
Settling tanks are being built to handle the zinc tailings,
and new concentrating tables will be put in to work over
the settlings from these tanks. The average assay value
of the feed since the mill went into operation, three
weeks ago, has been 20 ounces of silver, 25% lead and 25%
zinc. Two kinds of concentrates are obtained. The
lead contrates run from 40 ounces to 45 ounces of silver
and from 50% to 65% in lead, with practically no zinc.
The zinc concentrates contain almost no silvor values,
3% lead and run from 45% to 50% zinc. The separation
of the zinc and lead is made with the tables, no electric
magnets being used. The Dominion M. Co., of which
C. E. Poor of Los Angeles, Cal., is manager, has let a
contract to W. W. Shaw to run 300 feet of crosscut
tunnel to reach its main ledge near Wallace, making
the tunnel, when the preBent contract is complete, 665
feet in length. The Rochester claims, 12 miles south-
west of Wallace, have been incorporated and prepara-
tion will at once be made to develop them. The property
is now owned by the Mastodon-Coeur d'Alene M. Co. J.
F. Firch of Spokane is president; A. M. Mundell of Wal-
lace, vice-president; C. P. Ward of Spokane, secretary.
Foreman John Thyne of the Golden Chest mine, near
Murray, reports that the Idaho tunnel for the month of
August was advanced 220 feet. The tunnel is 6Jx9 feet.
The work was done by nine men in two shifts. Power
drills were used. The cost per foot was $6. Miners and
shovelers received $3.50 per shift. The tunnel must be
driven 400 feet farther to get under the Klondike shaft.
Work has been started on the 20-stamp mill of the
Golden Reward mine, near Murray. C. S. Crysler is
manager.
The appraisers appointed by Judge Beatty to deter-
mine the loss suffered by Headrick & Baillie by having
their claims, the Blackhawk and Alvy, traversed by the
great Morning tunnel of Larson & Greenough, found
that the claims had suffered no damage by being trav-
ersed by the tunnel, but were benefited. As compensa-
tion for the ground used by the tunnel, Headrick & Bail-
lie were awarded $97.16. This is the first case of the
kind ever brought in the courts of Idaho. Larson &
Greenough instituted condemnation proceedings against
Headrick & Baillie for right of way for Morning tunnel
No. 6 through the Blackhawk and Alvy claims. They
claimed that the only complete, successful and profitable
manner of working the Morning mine is by this tunnel,
which has already been driven 1$ mile, and that to reach
the ore bodies through this tunnel, it is necessary to
drive it for some distance through the Blackhawk and
the Alvy claims. Judge Beatty decided in favor of Lar-
son & Greenough and appointed F. F. Johnson and
E. H. Moffltt of Wallace and Al Page of Wardner as ap-
praisers to determine the amount of damage done.
The directors of the Tamarack & Chesapeake M. Co.,
owning a property near Wallace, have decided to com-
mence shipping ore from the mine. An arrangement for
the treatment of the product has been concluded with the
Salt Lake smelter. The ledge has been drifted upon in
ore for 250 feet, at a depth of 500 feet.
MICHIGAN.
Houghton Connty.
(Special Correspondence). — The Wolverine ore returns
a trifle better than thirty pounds of copper to the ton.
The Calumet & Hecla has an average of forty-five pounds
of metal per ton and the branch vein of the Michigan
averages thirty-two pounds of copper per ton. The Al-
louez, Ahmeek, Wolverine, Mohawk, Centennial, North
Kearsarge and South Kearsarge mines are producing
copper regularly from rock mined out of the Kearsarge
amygdaloid bed. The Calumet & Hecla is opening a
good mine upon the same lode, while the Miskwabik has
a promising prospect upon its northern extension and
the Tecumseh has a chance of making a mine to the
southward. The Baltic lode has three mines developed
— the Baltic, Trimountain and Champion. A fourth
mine is being opened to the northward by the Superior
Copper Co., while a fifth is to be opened later on Section
16 by the Atlantic Co. A sixth is being started on the
Globe tract, south of the Champion, while a seventh is
being developed at the Challenge property of the St.
Mary's Mineral Land Co.
Houghton, Sept. 11.
MISSOURI.
Jasper County.
The shaft of the Union Zinc Co., on the Lyon M. & D.
Co.'s lease between Prosperity and Duneweg, has reached
ore. A new mill is being constructed on the Longen
land, north of Chitwood, by Chitwood and associates.
A 200 ton electric mill is being built by the Maud L.
M. Co., on the Leonard land, north of Chitwood.
MONTANA.
The report of B. H. Tatem, assayer in charge of the
United States assay office at Helena, for August, shows
that the total receipts of gold from Montana during the
month were $192,289.96. The contributions of the coun-
ties follow: Fergus, $71,142.37; Lewis and Clark, $21,-
745.97; Missoula, $13,039.64; Chouteau, $14,682.63 from
other places; British Columbia, $22,725.87; Alaska,
$4109; Nevada $7928.95. Total receipts from all sources,
$209,979.18.
Missoula Connty.
Copper ore is being shipped to the Tacoma smelter
from the 300-foot level of the Monitor mine at Saltese.
President Otis Hill is at the mine.
Sliver Bow County.
(Special Correspondence). — In August the Butte dis-
September 16, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
199
trict yielded 449,500 tons of copper ore,
produced 28,356,940 pounds of copper:
from which were
Companies. nago.
Anaconda 142.000
Boston & Montana W1.800
Butte 4J3oelon i
Parrot 17. »"
Washoe 2>l.:tJi
Trenton 16.740
North Hutto 86,860
Oorra Rock Island IK.Uiu
Ii:nus 81,700
Minnie Hculcy 15.600
llolmont . a ion
Cluk'a mines 10,800
Miscellaneous is:«p
Monthly Pounds
Ton Per
Ton.
64
70
65
70
70
gg
03
55
06
Monllilv
Produe-
tlon.
7,700.400
r.,i)7i!,iMin
1 .20H.IHM1
1.S16.MO
1,844 MM
I li> l> III
8,108,000
1,116,000
pr.i.iKMi
I.HIJ'J.IJIH)
170.500
2.0111,600
1130,000
llllilv
Prodao*
tlon.
118,400
i or.,
W.UIHI
N 900
68,500
86,640
6B.O00
80 mho
18.000
31,000
6,600
81.500
su.ooo
Totals 4I8.H0U 28,350,(140 814,740
The Washoe smelter of the Amalgamated Company,
which treats the ores of the Anaconda, Washoe, Parrot,
Trenton, Butte & Boston and North Butte companies,
produced 15,181,940 pounds, and the Boston & Montana
smelter at Great Falls 6,07(1,000, making the total Amal-
gamated output 21,257,940 pounds of copper. The total
for the United Copper Co., including the Rarue, Minnie
Healey, Corra and Belmont, was 3,549,500 pounds.
Butte, Sept. 11.
It is reported that there has been a rich strike of gold
in one of the United Copper mines, near Butte. The
mine is in the Lexington group. A large body of ore
was uncovered on the 200-foot level. It is said to run
104 ounces in gold and 124 ounces in silver to the ton.
The Little Annie Mine No. 2, northwest of Walker-
vllle, has been sold to the Cobban Realty Co. of Butte.
The mine was owned by Clinto Ramsdell of Deer Lodge.
At the Reins Copper Co. 's mine at Butte, the shaft is
near tho 900-foot level The work will be continued until
the 1200 mark is reached. Then a station large enough
to accommodate a pump will be cut and a crosscut
started. No ore is being mined, and it is the intention
of the company to not attempt to extract any until the
development work under way is finished. While sinking
is in progress, another crew is raising from the 800-foot
station to the surface, in order to make the shaft uni-
form in size its entire depth. The large pumps on the
800 station are working well, and there is therefore no
trouble in keeping the water out of the shaft.
NEVADA.
Esmeralda. County.
The railroad between Tonopah and Goldfield has been
completed and trains are now running. Goldfield is 28
miles south of Tonopah; 16 miles south of Goldfield is
Tank Springs; 29 miles south is Summerville, the new
strike, which is 3 miles west of Thorp's Mills; 27 miles
south from Summerville is Muddy Spring; 8 miles south
from Muddy is Old Bullfrog or Amagoza (now deserted);
$ mile south is the new town of Bullfrog, formerly called
Bonanza. From Ryolite to Beatty, a town of 500 people,
is 4 miles northeast, passing the Montgomery Edwards
mine. South from Beatty, 4 miles, is Gold Center, with
250 people; 110 miles southeast from Bullfrog are the
rich strikes of Las Vegas.
Lincoln County.
It is reported thattbe Searchlight Parallel G. M. Co.
has bought a 15 H. P. hoist for its mine at Searchlight.
The main shaft is 200 feet deep. G. F. Colton an-
nounces that the development of the New Year's Gift
Fraction at Searchlight will be continued. The Good
Hope property will be developed to deeper levels.
The Searchlight shaft will be put down deeper. The
company has decided to develop the Gypsy claim.
Water has been struck in the main shaft of the Sazerac
mine at Searchlight at a pepth of 215 feet. Sinking has
been discontinued until pumps can be put in. The
Searchlight M. & M. Co, have started the new 3-stamp
mill. Sinking is to be resumed when? the pump is re-
paired.- B. Macready states that the main shaft of
the Santa Fe mine at Searchlight will be sunk to the
500-foot level. The mine will be equipped with a 25
H. P. gasoline hoist, a Cornish pump, ventilating appli-
ances, and cut-off and rip saws for preparing mine tim-
bers. The Santa Fe M. & M. Co.'s property includes
the Barney Riley, Santa Fe, Telluride, Pan American,
Georgetown and Erie. The main shaft is 170 feet deep.
Water was struck at 165 feet, and prevented further
sinking. The pump and hoist has been put in at the
Pompeii at Searchlight, and pumping is to be started
preliminary to sinking to the 600-foot level. D. C.
Spence, representing an Eastern oil company which re-
cently leased 5000 acres of land in Muddy valley, near
Logan, for drilling for oil, will begin operations soon.
Nye Connty.
In the double-hand drilling contest at Tonopah, Sep-
tember 4th, Wm. B. Ross and Walter Bradshaw of To-
nopah drilled 43/j inches in fifteen minutes; J. Mc-
Iver and C. Make of Bisbee, Ariz., drilled 43} inches,
and McElvary and Bijorn of Goldfield drilled 38T7a
inches. Fred Youckey of Tonopah drilled 28| inches in
the single-hand contest, and Walter Bradshaw drilled
25^ inches.
NEW MEXICO.
Dona Ana County.
The Stephenson-Bennett Con. M. Co. at Las Cruces
has put in a new air compressor and is pushing work on
its double-compartment shaft, which will be sunk to a
depth of 450 feet. The Modoc M. Co. is to try an-
other dry concentrating process at its property in the
Organ mountains, near Las Cruces. Changes are being
made in the old plant. Shipments of lead ore are being
made to the smelter at Doming.
Urant Connty.
The Hermosa Copper Co. at Hanover will sink 1000
feet on the Ivanhoe as soon as three hoists, aggregating
300 H. P., and the necessary boilers have arrived.
Lincoln Connty.
The Eagle M. & I. Co. will soon have a new mill to
treat its low-grade gold ore. This will give a capacity
of 150 tons of ore daily. The company's property is be-
tween Carrizozo and Capitan.
Otero County.
The Lincoln Copper Co., having made arrangements
with the Southwest Smelting Co., which is to build blast
furnaces at Jarilla to bundle its ore, announces that it
will resume sinking' its double-compartment working
shaft on its property. The Southwestern S. & R. Co.
has let a contract to bring water to its 25,000,000 gallon
reservoir, north of Jarilla, on B^ird hill. The St.
Louis Copper Co., which has a lease and option on tho
By Chance mines, near Jarilla, has its shaft down 400
feet. As soon as electric power can be had an electric
hoist and drills aro to be put in.
Bocorro County.
The Minn Development Co., in the Magdalena district,
has a plan to connect their Tip Top tunnel with the Key
tunnel, thus giving the Key ore an outlet on the west
side of tho range. Tho ends of tho tunnel are 950 feet
apart. In the Cooney district work is to be resumed
on tho Deadwood mine and a cyanide plant is to be put
on the Confidence by the Helena M. Co.
OREGON.
Baker Connty.
At the Mayllower mine in the Cornucopia district the
Stampede M. Co. is putting up a new mill and intends
building a 42-foot tramway from mine to mill. The ore
will be crushed in cyanide solution and amalgamated by
passing over copper plates. Then it will pass through
classifiers separating the slimes from the sands, the
slimes being at once deposited to the bottom of a 16x16
tank. The sands are then passed over Frue vanners,
being discharged into 20x5 percolation tanks. The over-
flow solution from both percolation and slime tanks is
discharged to the bottom of an additional 16x6 slime set-
tling tank, the bottom of which is connected with a suit-
able pump for throwing the solution back to the battery
supply tank. The overflowing solution from the slime
settling tanks passes through a clarifying box, the com-
partments of which are filled with excelsior, which clar-
fies the solution so that it may be passed through zinc
boxes when desired, or discharged directly into sump
tanks, which tanks are connected with a clear solution
pump pumping the clear solutions to the vanner supply
tanks. The slimes are treated by agitation and decanta-
tion in the 16x6 tanks into which they are discharged
from the spitzkasten, and the sands are treated by per-
colation. The concentrates, which consist principally of
telluride of gold and silver, are treated separately by
agitation and decantation. G. W. Boggs is manager.
Curry County.
The Chetco M. Co. has been formed, with T. H. Gill-
ham as manager, to work seventeen claims on Chetco
creek, near Chetco, and 20 miles from tide water.
Douglas County.
The Bohemia Smelting & Railway Co. has been incor-
porated at Portland by A. D. LeRoy, H. Daniel, J. W.
Sherman, W. G. Woodruff and J. B. Keefer. The
objects are to operate mines and a smelter and to build
electric lines in the Bohemia district.
Josephine County.
The OroviHe Dredging Co. of California has done con-
siderable prospecting of placer and dredger ground on
Applegate and Illinois rivers, near Grants Pass, under
the direction of Manager Hanford. As a result they
have already bought the Vroman'and Bird's Eye
ranches. Down Rogue river, some 45 miles from
Grants Pass, the Gold Bar M. Co. is making prepara-
tions to start hydraulicking with water from Foster
creek. Manager A. C. Hoofer of the Mt. Pitt mine,
near Grants Pass, has opened the main vein in the lower
crosscut, 210 feet from the portal. The Whitehead &
Willeke placer ground on Grave creek, near Leland, is
to be worked by W. A. Krum and G. P. Furman.
The Hammersly mine has closed. W. H. Osgood of
Seattle has a bond on the property and did considerable
work under its terms before closing. The mine is located
at the head of Jump-Off-Joe creek, near Grant's Pass.
A shaft is down over 200 feet.
SOUTH DAKOTA
Custer County.
The Ivanhoe mill near Custer is crushing ore from the
250-foot level of the mine.
Lawrence Connty.
The main tunnel of the Homestake Extension near
Deadwood has been driven 800 feet. Manager C. E. Mc-
Hugh contemplates putting up a stamp mill.
Pennlngrton County.
Tungsten-bearing ore is said to have been discovered
in the Bagdad district, 3 miles to the southeast of
Keystone, by Ed. Christerson. A cyanide plant is be-
ing put in at the Standby mine at Rochford, and ten
stamps of the 60-stamp mill are to be started soon. The
main tunnel has been driven 1410 feet, and a 450-foot
raise has been made.
UTAH.
Beaver County.
A 25 H. P. gasoline hoist is being put in at the Burn-
ing Moscow mine, at Shauntie, by Manager M. Cullen.
Sinking is to be continued.
Jnab Connty.
In the double-handed drilling contest at Eureka on
Labor Day, H. R. Kelly and R. Leroy of Park City
drilled 32$ inches; J. Nancarrow and E. Eplett of Eureka
31J inches, and I. Novack and C. Holmes of Eureka 27 J
inches.
President H. G. McMillan of the Star Con. M. Co. of
Eureka reports that the shaft is 740 feet deep in a lime
formation on the 400 level, where some work is being
done. The ore shipments from Tintic district for the
week ending Sept. 7 amounted to 114 carloads, produced
by the following mines: Eagle & Blue Bell, 12; Centen-
nial-Eureka, 47; Eureka Hill (leasers), 2; South Swansea,
1; Swansea, 4; Yankee Con., 3; Uncle Sam Con, 5;
Godiva, 6; Bullion-Beck, 1; Gemini, 10; Victoria, 8;
Grand Central, 3; Mammoth, 10; Carisa, 2; concentrates
— Uncle Sam mill, 2.
Finte Connty.
The Sevier Con. M. Co. of Kimberley will use electric-
ity in its new mill. Manager R. W. Foster has located
water rights in Clear Creek canyon, 7 miles from the
millsite. This is to be the location of a new power plant
of 300 H. P. capacity.
San Lake County.
The Shawmut property in Carrs Fork, near Bingham,
is being opened up preparatory to inspection. F. A.
Darrenouge is superintending the property and work
has been started in the Cuba tunnel. The Wall mill
has begun the treatment of ores from the Silver Shield.
The Utah Copper Co. has made connections with
the workings of the Ohio Copper Co. through a 2100-
foot drive from the main tunnel of the Utah. D. C.
Jackling and associates have an option on the Ohio.
Manager G. G. Hall of the Congor mine of Bingham re-
ports that the mine will soon be un watered.
Snmmlt County.
At the Ontario drain tunnel, at Park City, tho drift
which is being run around the last cavein is going paral-
lel with the main tunnel. The drift was sent off at an
angle for 54 feet, and now it is expected that it will be
run parallel with the tunnel for 350 feet. Every precau-
tion is being taken for the safety of the workmen, and
though it will take some time, there is no question about
the big drain being opened up again and work resumed
at the mine. Water has been reached in the 1100-foot
level in the shaft. At the Harwood property the new
whim is in place and sinking on the vein continues. The
shaft is down 100 feet. Ore shipments for week ending
Sept. 9 were: Silvor King, 1,305,840; Daly-West, 1,125,-
000; Clegg Brothers, 183,000; Kearns-Keith, 57,000.
Toople County.
The Cyclone shaft at Stockton is down 650 feet and
sinking is being continued by Superintendent F. H.
Muhlenbrook. The Honerine mill at Stockton has
been closed down and will probably remain down until
the drain tunnel and mine are connected, which may be
within three months. For a number of months the
plant has been running on tailings left from an old mill
operated at Stockton in the early days.
WASHINGTON.
Snohomish County.
(Special Correspondence). — Part of the machinery for
the 50-ton concentrator at the Washington Zinc Co.'s
mine has arrived at Arlington. The Mineral City
Power & Transportation Co. has been organized to build
an electric road between Index on the Great Northern
Railroad and Mineral City in the Silver Creek mining
district, and expect the line will be complete within
fourteen months. It will be 13 miles long. The presi-
dent is O. O. Roland; vice-president and treasurer, W. J.
McAllister; secretary, C. M. Baker.
Everett, Sept. 10.
FOREIGN.
ARGENTINE REPUBLIC.
A. C. Ross, English Consul at Buenos Ayres, reports
that no gold has been won by dredging in the Argentine
Republic. A number of companies have been floated in
Buenos Ayres to work on rivers in the Argentine, in
Chile and in Brazil. Several of the companies have
imported dredgers, and in the course of this year results
ought to appear. Reports made by New Zealand mining
engineers state that there are good prospects of large
returns from the rivers. On the Bolivian rivers the
average results of numerous te6ts were from 40 cents
to $1.20 per cubic yard. In Tierra del Fuego (Chile) the
average of fifty-six bores was 16 cents per cubic yard of
stuff moved.
AUSTRALIA.
Queensland.
A subsidy of £2500 is to be granted by the Queensland
Government toward the cost of sinking a bore at Roma
in search of oil. As natural gas has been obtained it is
reasoned that petroleum exists. The minerals other
than gold, coal or precious stones won for the quarter
ended June 30, 1905, were as follows: Copper, 1975} tons,
valued at £130,636, compared with 944 tons, value £45,-
273; silver, 144,866 ounces, value £15,743, compared with
172,685 ounces, for £18,618; lode tin, 662J tons, value
£44,992, compared with 663 tons, for £42,103; alluvial tin,
382 tons, value £31,617, compared with 441 tons, for
£33,829; lead, 541| tons, value £6856, compared with 530
tons, for £6227; wolfram, 374} tons, value £25,283, com-
pared with 297 tons, for £31,477; bismuth, 14 ton, value
£565, compared with 2 cwts., value £50; molybdenite, 2J
tons for £342, compared with 2 cwts. for £10; manga-
nese, 501 tons, value £2004, compared with 185 tons for
£738; bismuth and wolfram, 1J ton for £321, compared
with 16 cwts. for £80; ironstone, 950 tons, value £687,
compared with 640 tons for £244; scheelite, 1J ton, value
£128, compared with 3$ tons, value £300; limestone, 4980
tons, value £3253, compared with 3605 tons for £1971;
total value, £262,327, compared with £189,920 for the
same period of last year. The exports of silver, copper
and lead during the first six months of the year show a
net increase of £205,104, as compared with the corre-
sponding period in 1904. The exports of silver, silver-
lead, etc., show an increase in value of £255,478, and the
output for the year bids fair to be the largest during
the past decade. The value of the coal exported is less
by £22,621. The shipments to Australian ports show
an increase of £26,490, but against this the quantity dis-
patched to other ports exhibits a falling off in value of
£49,111. In copper and tin there was a decrease of
£9245 and £18,508 respectively in value. The value of
the copper and tin ore imported into the State during
the half-year for treatment was £21,175 and £87,005 re-
spectively.
Victoria.
The Mining Journal reports that considerable interest
is being evinced in an invention aiming at the effective
and economic treatment of battery tailings and slimes.
Recently a test was made in a vat 20 feet in diameter
and 7 feet in height, and the material operated upon con-
sisted of thirty tons of beach sand, with thirty-five tons
of water. The principle of the apparatus consists of two
vertical deflecting plates placed almost opposite one
another, worked in combination with propellers enclosed
200
Mining and Scientific Press.
September 16, 1905.
in a cylinder. The propellers are of the augur type, and
move freely within the cylinder. The cylinder is raised
from the bottom of the vat according to the nature and
character of the material to be treated. From beneath
the cylinder is projected a Btrong current of water, the
force of which disturbs the mass on the bed of the vat.
With a driving power of 20 H. P., seventy revolutions
per minute are obtained by the propeller, which was
sufficient to give a continuous and perfect movement to
the whole of the charge. In the demonstration the
material was thoroughly mixed within five minutes of
the work being started. "When in motion the whole of
the contents of the vat, both solid and liquid, were
brought into a uniform condition. The apparatus is the
invention of a Melbourne resident. A ingenious tin-saving
appliance has been invented in Melbourne. Its main
feature is a longitudinally divided sluice box, provided
with a series of transverse wells, in each of which works
an archimedian screw carrier. Farther down the sluice
is a revolving grating, overlying a subsidiary sluice, also
provided with one or two similarly constructed wells and
carriers, and with a transverse sloping lip, which causes
the carrier to be continuously submerged. In operation
the mixed ore material and water pass down the main
sluice, depositing the finer and heavier material in the
transverse wells. The revolving action of the screws
has the effect of keeping the material in motion, thus
assisting concentration, and at the same time conveying
the concentrates into the clear water sluice which runs
parallel to the main sluice. In this clear water sluice
the product is still further reduced by sluicing, and the
concentrates are allowed to escape into a launder by
means of a slot in the bottom of the wells underlying the
end of the clean water sluice.
CANADA.
The Ontario government has issued a report showing
an increase during the first half of the year in every
mining and steel business carried on in the Province.
The total yield is valued at $6,529,728.
Quantity. Value.
Gold, ounces 2,930 $25,093
Silver, ounces 1,128,212 595,974
Nickel, tons 4,671 1,638,010
Copper, tons 2,356 335,637
Cobalt, tons 65 80,560
Iron ore, tons 113,583 274,224
Pigiron, tons 116,794 1,510.197
Steel, tons 64,527 2.070,003
Total $6,529,728
Practically all the silver, all the cobalt and thirty-two
tons of the nickel were produced in the newly-discovered
mines at Cobalt, Temiscaming district. The quantity of
ore shipped from these deposits during the half year
was 891 tons and the value $684,879, so that the average
value realized for the ore as shipped was $768.66 per ton.
BRITISH COLUMBIA.
The returns of the lead production in British Colum-
bia for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1904, and ending
June 30, 1905, are as follows:
Lbs Lead. Bounty.
Nelson smelter 16,421,071 8116,709 1
Trail smelter 13,446,086 96,684 36
Unclaimed 7,599 51 84
Including claims paid at another smelter, the totals
for lead produced and treated in Canada are 33,730,546
pounds of lead and $240,288.90 bounty. The amount of
lead exported was 21,972,988 pounds, on which the bounty
paid was $96,697 37. The grand total for the year,
therefore, is 55,703,534 pounds of lead produced and
$336,986 37 paid in bounty. The leading producers and
bounty earners in order are: St. Eugene, North Star,
Slocan Star, Ivanhoe, Idaho, Payne, Paradise, Silver
Cup, Enterprise, Lucky Jim, Silver Hustler, Ymir and
Triune.
Vancouver Island.
The Cordillera M. Co. of Seattle, Wash., of which
Alfred Raper is manager, has bonded the Cornell mine
on Texada island and work has recommenced. The 32
H. P. boiler is being put in and the air line is being con-
nected with the Copper Queen mine. The upper levels
are being cleaned and the lower levels are to be pumped
out. The shaft is down to the 500-foot level.
Itoundary District.
A large body of low-grade ore is reported as having
been struck in the 250-foot level of the new shaft which
has been sunk on the Last Chance mine of the Republic
group at Smith's camp, west of Boundary Falls. W. T.
Smith is manager. It is reported that work will be
resumed on the Preston in Skylark camp. At the
Elkhorn a new shaft is being sunk. Recently the Elk-
horn was incorporated as the Boundary-Elkhorn Mines,
Ltd., P. McDonald and J. Sutherland of Greenwood
being the chief owners. The Jewel mine in Long Lake
camp has resumed operations after a several years' shut-
down. J. H. Smith is in charge.
East Kootenay District.
Development of the Aurora mine at Moyie is said to
show ore running 40% zinc.
West Kootenay District.
At the Canadian smelting works at Trail another
gold-copper furnace will be added to the present equip-
ment. There are already four copper furnaces, with a
combined capacity of 1000 tons a day. The smelter is
now receiving about 4000 tons a week from the mines of
Rossland and from 100 to 200 tons a week from Larson,
Idaho. The Le Roi will send a little over 2000 tons a
week at the start. The new furnace will reduce 250 tons
a day, which will give a total capacity of 8750 .tons a
week for the five furnaces.
MEXICO.
The Chihuahua Enterprise states that the American
Smelting & Refining Co. has the smelter at Aguascali-
entes with a capacity of 2000 tons daily, and one at Mon-
terey with 1000 tons. The tonnage of the independent
smelters in operation is shown by the following: At
Santa Rosalia, Lower California, the Companie du Boleo,
a French company capitalized at 12,000,000 francs, is
operating a smelter of 1200 tons daily capacity. This
plant produced last year 22,466,000 pounds of fine' cop-
per. The Copete M. & S. Co.. at El Copete, Sonora, has
a smelter of 200 tons capacity. The Democrata M. Co.,
La Cananea, Sonora, has a furnace of 125 tons daily
capacity and is producing 3,750,000 pounds of copper per
annum. The Descubridora M. & S. Co., now closed
down, has a 600-ton smelter near Mapimi and a 200-ton
plant at Conejas. The Compania de Pinoles, of Mapimi,
has a capacity of 1000 tofts per day, employing 3000 men.
The Yaqui Smelting & Refining Co., San Antonio de la
Huerta, Sonora, has a new furnace of 125 tons daily
capacity, which is supplemented by a concentrating
plant, making a total capacity of 250 tons daily. The
Moctezuma Copper Co., a branch of Phelps-Dodge Co.,
has a 300-ton smelter and a 600-ton concentrator at Na-
cozari, Sonora. At present only the concentrator is be-
ing operated and the concentrates are shipped to the
Copper Queen smelter of the same company at Douglas,
Ariz. The Greene Consolidated Copper Co., consoli-
dated with Phelps-Dodge interests, has a smelter of 2000
tons daily capacity which is supplemented by a concen-
trating plant of 2600 tons capacity. Over 4000 men are
employed. For the year ending July 31, 1905, the com-
pany produced 63,005,848 pounds of refined copper, 399,-
270 ounces of silver and 3790 ounces of gold, worth $9,-
768,000 gold. The Douglas Copper Co., Alamos district,
Sonora, has a smelter of 250 tons capacity. The Mazapil
Copper Co., Ltd , has a 500-ton smelter at Saltillo and a
small furnace at Concepcion del Oro, and is producing
6,000,000 pounds of copper per year. The Compania
Metalurgica, at San Luis Potosi, employs 1000 men and
operates a copper and lead smelter of 1000 tons capacity,
doing a custom business. The Mitchell M. Co., Chilpan-
cingo, Guerrero, has a 200-ton furnace and will add
more. The Monterey Smelting & Refining Co., Monte-
rey, N. L., has a plant of 1500 tons capacity. The Com-
pania Metalurgica de Torrean has a capacity of 1000
tons daily and is to have two copper furnaces of 250 tons
each. It is currently reported that the smelter trust is
negotiating for the purchase of the plant. In addition
to the foregoing there are thirty-six small plants of
from 25 to 250 tons capacity each, or an average of 85
tons each, having a total capacity of 3100 tons in actual
operation, besides those that have been closed down.
There are several others in course of construction,
aggregating 1000 tons daily capacity. In the past few
months there have been several concessions granted for
smelters in various parts of the republic, among which
are one at Naco, Sonora, one at Durango, one each at
Jimenez and Parral, Chihuahua, aggregating perhaps
1000 tons capacity daily. The plant at Santa Rosalia is
to be increased from 80 to 300 tons daily, and the owners
say it is to be made 800 tons.
Aguus Calientes.
The Con. Tin M. & S. Co. is working a tin mine 30
miles from Aguas Calientas. W. A. Pratt and W. H.
Foster are interested.
BMJa Call Torn' a
(Special Correspondence). — New machinery is being
put in at the Aurora and Princess mines at Alamo by
Superintendent G. W. Russell. The smelter of the
Esperanza M. Co. has been blown in on Cedros island by
D. A. Crowley, who has returned to San Francisco.
The machinery for the electrolytic copper reduction
plant at Julio Ctesar camp has arrived at Punta-Canvas,
on the mainland. G. P. Brown is general manager.
San Diego, Cal., Sept. 11.
Chihuahua.
The output of the mines of Santa Eulalia, as shipped
to the smelters during August, was about 27,980 tons.
The Buena Tierra mine of the Santa Eulalia Explora-
tion Co. shipped 5500 tons', Chihuahua Potosi Co.,
16,000 tons; Galona, 2750; Mina Viega, 2200; Juarez, 1000;
Eureka M. Co., 100; Dolores, 100; San Juan M. Co., 30;
other shippers, 300. The Juarez mine of Manuel Gameros
and Juan Trevino has been producing but a short time.
The output of the mines of the Parral district, includ-
ing Santa Barbara and Mlnas Nuevas, was 22,993 tons of
ore. of which 13,098 tons were shipped to the various
smelters and 9895 tons were treated locally. The output
of Santa Eulalia was 27,980 tons. Of this amount the
Chihuahua M. Co. and the Potosi M. Co. shipped 16,000
tons; the Buena Tierra, 5500 tons; the " trust " mines,
4950 tons and the Juarez mine, 1000 tons. The Pinos
Altos M. Co. at Pinos Altos has remodeled the old
60-stamp mill and changed the process from amalgama-
tion to cyanide and concentration. Twenty stamps are
now in operation and will be regularly producing from
now on. The company expects to enlarge the plant.
The regular monthly shipment amounted to $90,000.
Lluvia de Oro has now a 20-stamp mill in operation and
sent out gold bullion to the value of $120,000.
The Veta Grande property, formerly owned by N. S.
Finch, is under bond to J. Galey of the United States
Steel Co., and development work is being pushed, forty
men being employed under the supervision of A. Houle.
A three-compartment shaft is being sunk on the princi-
pal ore body and will go down 600 feet. The property is
in the Arispe district, 9 miles from Bocoache.
The Richfield M. Co., in the Ures district, 12 miles
east from Tuape, has ordered a double-reel hoisting en-
gine, with a capacity for sinking 1000 feet. As soon as
it is in operation the double-compartment shaft, now at
a depth of 300 feet, will be carried down to the 1000-foot
level. Arrangements are to be made for a concentrating
mill with a capacity of fifty tons of ore daily. A road is
to be built between Querobabi station and the camp, 37
miles.
SP ft ft ft ft ft ft ft * ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft * ft ft ft 35
*
Obituary*
*
%ffrfyfyfy<frfyfy^fytfrtfrtfrtfr^ipCfiCf*iftCflCf,lftiflCfifftlfrCft(frtyifiifii)[iClpiftl)ftipg
Vernon H. Rood, vice-president Jeanesville Iron
Works Co., died in Bad Neuheim, Germany, Sept. 1.
His death is deplored by many friends and business
acquaintances.
&ftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftft%
Personal*
D. R. Reed has returned to Ouray, Colo., from Den-
ver, Colo.
E. R. Abadie is superintendent Baltic shaft, Rands-
burg, Cal.
• A. W. Brattdnd has charge Ward mill at Idaho
Springs, Colo.
Herman Davis has returned from San Francisco,
Cal., to Dayton, Nev.
H. W. Turner of Terlingua, Tex., is examining
Idaho mining property.
S. H. Cox is professor of mining at the Royal School
of Mines, London, Eng.
S. A. Harsh, Denver, Colo., is in San Francisco, Cal.,
looking after mining interests.
R. B. Stanford, formerly of Columbia, Cal., is now
at Bluefields, Nicaragua, C. A.
V. Sherwood is manager new 100-stamp mill Guana-
juato G. M. Co., at Guanajuato, Mexico.
L. S. Austin, professor of metallurgy in the Michigan
College of Mines, is visiting New York.
A. A. Bernaud of Colorado has been appointed super-
intendent Dairy Farm mine, California.
John Carrol is superintendent Sidewinder mine, at
Victorville, San Bernardino county, Cal.
S. E. Lake is superintendent Dragoon Mountain M.
Co., near Dragoon, Cochise county, Ariz.
A. C. Redding is superintendent Monumental Mines
Co., at Monumental, Del Norte county, Cal.
Ex-Lieut.-Gov. John Daggett has returned to
Siskiyou county from a San Francisco visit.
N. H. Murray has charge cyanide plant San Felipe
M. Co., near Hostotipaquillo, Jalisco, Mexico.
W. B. Ladd of Madison, Wis., has been appointed
manager Ophir Con. M. Co., at Telluride, Colo.
F. C. Ppeiper, a mining man of Esmeralda county,
Nev., is in San Francisco, Cal., on mining business.
W. C. Ralston, president Fulton Iron Works, has
returned from Denver, Colo., to San Francisco, Cal.
S. J. Gormley has succeeded W. H. Mulling as super-
intendent Bingham Con. smelter at Bingham, Utah.
E. C. Holmes, manager San Juan mine, at Santa
Eulalia, Chihuahua, Mexico, is in San Francisco, Cal. :
O. P. Ankeny has been appointed mine superintend-
ent Gilt Edge Maid M. Co., working near Galena, S. D.
Samuel Parnall, superintendent Calumet & Ari-
zona mine, at Bisbee, Ariz., has been at Calumet, Mich.
R. B. Brinsmade has been elected to the chair of
mining in the New Mexico School of Mines, at Socorro,
N. M.
R. J. Grant, on his return to Colorado from Western
Australia, is spending a few weeks at Greenville, Nova
Scotia.
W. P. Thompson is manager reorganized Waterson
G. M. Co., Ltd., operating near Ocampo, Chihuahua,
Mexico.
W. N. Fsederick has been appointed superintendent
Richfield M. Co., operating near Tuape, Sonora,
Mexico.
M. F. Perry, manager Charles Butters Co., at La
Colorada, Sonora, Mexico, has returned from a visit to
San Francisco, Cal.
J. G. Hardy, general manager Dolores M. Co., at
Minaca, Chihuahua, Mexico, has returned to the mines
from a trip to Japan.
W. R. Thomas, superintendent Central Eureka mine
at Sutter Creek, Amador county, Cal., is said to have
resigned because of illness.
Jas. Hartgering has been appointed manager
Dakota M. & M. Co. of Deadwood, S. D. N. I. Leydig
will be mill superintendent.
H. E. Crain, representing the United States Geologi-
cal Survey, is in Wyoming investigating the platinum
deposits on Pliny creek, 35 miles north of Sheridan.
C. T. Durell, manager St. Paul-Montana M. Co.,
operating the Spotted Horse mine at Maiden, Mont.,
has returned from a directors' meeting in St. Paul,
Minn.
L. D. Rickets has been appointed general manager
Greene Con. Copper Co. of Cananea, Sonora, Mexico, re-
ported to have been consolidated with Phelps-Dodge
interests.
H. A. Shipman, formerly manager of Stratton's Inde-
pendence at Cripple Creek, Colo., leaves Western Aus-
tralia in November and will return home by way of San
Francisco, Cal.
Auguste Mathez and W. B. Rogers, both of Salt
Lake City, Utah, are examining copper deposits in Con-
currie district, north of Brisbane, Australia, for Samuel
Newhouse.
G. J. McCarty, general manager Creston-Colorada
M. Co., has returned to La Colorada, Sonora, Mexico,
from a trip to Chihuahua, City of Mexico, San Francisco
and Denver. He had been absent since May.
Frank S. Cronk, for the past year manager of the
advertising and publicity department of the Colorado
Iron Works Co., Denver, Colo., has resigned to accept a
similar position with the Fulton Iron Works Co., San
Francisco, Cal.
September 16, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
201
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Commercial Paragraphs. |
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The Redwood Mfg. Co. will erect a new $50,000 con-
crete building for its Oakland, Cal., tank department.
The Fulton Iron Works of San Francisco, Cal., is
sending a $100,000 stamp mill to the Lookout mine,
Oasis, Nev.
The S. H. Supply Co., Denver, Colo., report the sale
of a four-drill American compressor with boiler and drills
to Durango, Mexico, also a No. 2 Wild mill, with 50-ton
concentrating plant, to California and a No. 2 Wild mill
to New Mexico.
A Byron Jackson centrifugal pressure electric pump
has been put in on the 400-foot level of the Old Ironsides
mine, Phucnix, B. C. It has a 300-gallon per minute
capacity against a 500-foot head and is operated by a
75 H. P. Westinghouse motor. The office of the Byron
Jackson Co. is 411 Market St., San Francisco, Cal.
The Raymond Con. M. Co., Ohio City, Colo., have
contracted with the Colorado Iron Works Co., Denver,
Colo., for a mill of twenty 1050-pound stamps, chrome
steel to be used in all the mill parts; the amalgamating
plates 12 feet long, in two sections; capacity 100 tons per
day, power to bo supplied by a 150 H. P. Skinner engine.
The Colorado Iron Works will erect the complete plant,
including the mill building.
The Chicago House Wrecking Co., Thirty-fifth and
Iron streets, Chicago, 111., bought most of the Louisiana
Purchase Exposition and are offering the material, etc.,
for sale. They bought everything within the grounds,
including the fence, except a few of the foreign and
State buildings. This company is the largest one of its
kind in the world and has an organization that enables
it to handle such gigantic operations as wrecking and
selling world's fairs. A great deal of the material is
illustrated in the new catalogue, No. 142, which will be
sent on application.
ARMSTRONG Bros. Tool Co., large manufacturers
of tool holders, are in their modern factory at 104 North
Francisco Avenue, Chicago, 111. This concern has been
progressing rapidly since their organization twelve
years ago. The new factory is 00x175 feet, three floors
and a basement, and is of modern mill construction.
The basement has concrete floors, and the lighting
facilities are of the best. Considerable new automatic
machinery has been installed and the company is in
good shape to handle their growing business. A new
eighty-page catalogue will be sent to anyone on request.
The Japanese army has rebuilt the city of Dalny,
using Malthoid roofing, which haB been used extensively
by the Japanese Government for several years, finding
it to be durable, long-lasting, convenient and inexpensive
for army use. The compactness and ease with which it
can be transported, together with the fact that all of the
necessary nails, cement, tin caps and directions are con-
tained in each roll enabled the Japanese army to quickly,
inexpensively, and thoroughly re-roof the buildings that
had been partially destroyed by fire and the devastation
of war. Samples and booklets are furnished by The
Paraffine Paint Co., 24 Second street, San Francisco Cal.
Under date of the 7th inst., the New York Sun
says: Alton B. Parker, as referee, has reported to the
Supereme Court that the John A. Roebling Sons Co. is
entitled to a judgment of $231,081, with interest from
December, 1902, for work done in the construction of the
new Williamsburg bridge. From the amount claimed by
the Roeblings fines at the rate of $1000 a day were de-
ducted by the bridge commissioners for failure to complete
the bridge contract time. The total value of the contract
awarded to the company was $1,398,000. Judge Parker
holds that the failure of the Roeblings to finish their
part of the work was not due to any fault of theirs, but
to obstacles which were placed in the way of the con-
tractors by city officials.
The Union Gas Engine Co. of San Francisco, Cal., will
install Union engines of 300 H. P., running on crude oil,
in the Pacific Coast Oil Co. 's barge No. 4. These en-
gines are of the same size and type as those recently in-
stalled in the lumber schooner Argus, property of the
Pacific Shipping Co., San Francisco; the lumber schooner
Sotoyome, property of the Albion Lumber Co., San
Francisco, and the Alaskan passenger boat Anvil, prop-
erty of the John J. Sesnon Co., San Francisco. The
German Government 9chooner Ponape, and the schooner
Oakland, property of Hunt, Hatch & Co., San Francisco,
were recently equipped with Union engines of this type.
The Union Gas Engine Co. will soon enlarge its facilities,
having purchased nine acres with a frontage of 350 feet
on the Oakland, Cal., estuary, with a depth of water of
12 feet at low tide.
The J. Geo. Leyner Engineering Works Co., Denver,
Colo., report recent air compressor sales as follows:
Asiatic T. & M. Co., Colo., two ten-drill compressors;
Waldorf M. & M. Co., Colo., two eight-drill compressors,
electric driven; American S. & R. Co., Utah, cross-com-
pound; Southwestern B. & I. Co., Colo., complete plant
with tandem compound, ten-drill compressor; F. C.
Miller, Mont., belt-driven compressor; Denver G. & E.
Co., Colo., tandem compound; Prescott Engineering
Works, Ariz., duplex; Denver & Rio Grande Railway
(Colo. 1, Utah 1), two steam actuated, two-stage, of
1000 cubic feet capacity each; Mountain C. Co., Cal.,
belt-driven, four-drill; United States Reclamation Ser-
vice, tandem, compound; Japanese Government, electric
driven; Kansas City Southern Railway, La., steam,
straight line; Blue Flag M. Co., Colo., eight-drill, steam
actuated; Denver Iron & Wire Works Co., Colo.,
electric driven; Consolidada de Construccione9 Metalicos
Mexico, electric driven; Newark M. & M. Co., Nev.,
two-drill, steam; Centennial Coal Co., Colo., two-stage,
steam. The company reports its new factory completed
and machinery now being installed by degrees without
interference with its production.
X ******** ***■!■ -I****** ***** ************
I Trade Treatises*
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it************ + + ++*♦*..(. ******** ** + $. + <{,.+ ,(
"Hoisting and Conveving Machinery for Power Sta-
tions," Bulletin No. 12 of Robins Conveying Belt Co.,
Park Row Bldg., New York City, gives an interesting
illustrated exposition of the construction and use of the
belt conveyor, giving emphasis to its utility in handling
fuel.
The Sullivan Machinery Co., Railway Exchange, Chi-
cago, 111., describe the Sullivan automatic cross-over
dump in Bulletin 48K. This Is designed for the rapid
and economical handling of cars from mines and quar-
ries.
"Link-Belt Car Hauls " Is an illustrated bootilet from
the Link-Belt Machinery Co., Chicago, 111., showing the
advantages of this system in the economical handling of
material.
The process of washing coal for coke or fuel is ad-
mirably detailed by text and pictures in Booklet No. 42
of the Link-Belt Machinery Co., Chicago, 111., "Wash-
ing Bituminous Coal."
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I Books Received. §
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As extracts from "Mineral Resources of the United
States," the United States Geological Survey has issued
" The Production of Quicksilver in 1904," "The Pro-
duction of Fuller's Earth in 1904," and " The Produc-
tion of Antimony in 1904," by E. O. Hovey.
Latest Market Reports.
San Francisco, September 15, 1905.
METALS
Silver. — Per oz., Troy : London, 28^ (standard
ounce, 925 fine); New York, bar silver, 62c, refined (1000
fine); San Francisco, 62c; Mexican dollars, 48c, San
Francisco; 47c, New York.
Copper.— New York: Standard, 816.37J; Lake, 1 to 3
casks, $16.00@16.25; Electrolytic, 1 to 3 casks, $16.75;
Casting, 1 to 3 casks, $15.75@16.25. San Francisco:
$16.50. Mill copper plates, $17.50; bars, 18@24c. London:
£68 17s 6d spot per ton.
Following are the figures of German consumption
of foreign copper for the months from January to July,
1905, as compared with the same period of time for 1904
and 1903:
1905. 1904. 1903.
Imports, tons 63,458 64,334 49,263
Exports, tons 7,289 4,814 6,283
Consumption, tons..' 56,164 59,520 42.980
Out of the above, 53,914 tons were imported from the
United States.
Lead.— New York, $4.90; Salt Lake City, $3.50; St.
Louis, 84.52J; San Francisco, $3.70, carload lots; 4fc 1000
to 4000 lbs.; pipe 6£c, sheet 7, bar 5Je; pig, $4.85. Lon-
don: £14 6s $ long ton.
Spelter. — New York, $5.85; St. Louis, $5.65; Lon-
don, £26 $ ton; San Francisco, ton lots, 6fc; 100-ft
lots, 7c.
Tin.— New York, pig, $32.00@32.10; San Francisco, ton
lots, 34c; 500 fts., 35c; 200 lbs., 35Jc; less, 35Jc; bar tin,
•jft ft., 35@37£c. London, £145 10s.
Platinum.— San Francisco, crude, $18.50 $oz.; New
York, ingot, $20.50 f, Troy oz. Platinum ware, 75@$1.00
"§i gram.
Quicksilver.— New York, $40.00@$40.50, large lots;
London, £7 2s 6d; San Francisco, local, $38.50@39.00 $
flask of 75 lbs.
Babbitt Metal. — San Francisco, No. 1, 10c; No.
2, 7c; No. 3, 6Jc; extra, 17Jc; genuine, 32}c; Eclipse, 35c.
Solder.— Half-and-half, 100-lb. lots, 22.00c; San Fran-
cisco, Plumbers', 100-lb. lots, 19.15c.
Zinc— Metallic, chemically pure, $ ft., 50c; dust, $ft.,
10c; sulphate, $ ft, .04c.
Nickel.— New York, 55@60c $ ft.; ton lots, 40@47c.
Aluminum.— New York, No. 1, 99% pure Ingots,
33@37c; No. 2, 90%, 31@34c.
Aluminum.— No. 1, 99%, small lots, 37c ® *>•; 100 fts..
35c; 1000 fts. 34c; ton lots and over, 33c, Pittsburg. No,
2, 90%, small lots, 34c; ton lots and over, 31c, Pittsburg.
8TRCCTCRAL MATERIALS.
Iron.— Pittsburg, Bessemer pig, $15.00; gray forge,
$16.00; San Francisco, bar, 3c $ ft., 3jc in small quan-
tities.
Steel.— Bessemer billets, Pittsburg, $21.00@$23.00;
open hearth billets, $23.00@$24.00; San Francisco, bar,
7c to 12c 1 ft.
White Lead. — Per lb., in kegs: 500 fts. and over at
one purchase, per ft., 7Jc; less than 500 lbs., per ft., 8c;
in 25-lb. tin pails, \c ifo lb. above keg price; in 1 and 5-fi>.
tin cans, 100 fts. per case, Jc per ft. above keg price.
Dry Lead. — In bbls., 1 ton and over, 6Jc; do. in kegs, 7c.
Lime.— Santa Cruz, $1.35 country, $1.25 city fl bbl.
Cement.— Imported, $3.00@4.00 $ bbl.; California,
carload lots, $1.80 f. o. b. at works; small lots, $2.10 $
bbl. in sacks, 4 sacks to bbl., 5c for each sack returned.
Lumber-.— (Retail): Pine, ordinary sizes, $24.00®
5.00; extra sizes higher; redwood, $28. 00@30.00; lath, 4
feet, $4.50@5.00; pickets, $21.00;shingles, $2.50 for No. 1,
and $2.25 for No. 2; shakes, $13.50 for split and $15.00 for
sawed; rustic, $28.00(^35.00.
Nails.— This week the basic prices are: Wire, $2.77;
Cut, $3.25. Meanwhile the nominal quotations per keg
(list prices) are: No. 20d to 60d, Wire, $3.35; Cut, $3.55;
lOd to 16d, Wire, $3.45; Cut, $3.35; 8d, Wire, $3.50; Cut,
»3.50; 6d and 7d, Wire, »3.60; Cut, $3.60; 4d and 5d,
Wire, $3.70; Cut, $3.70; 3d, Wire, $3.85; Cut, $3.85; 2d,
Wire, $4.10; Cut, $4.10. Special rates for carload lots.
GENERAL SUPPLIES.
Antimony.— New York, Cookson's, 13»c; Hallett's,
14jc; San Francisco, 1000-lb. lots, 14c; 300@500-fts. 12c;
100-lb. lots, 13c.
Bismuth.— Subnitrate, $ lb., $2.10.
Bone Ash.— Extra No. 1, 5@6c $ ft; No. 1, 4@5c.
Borax.— Concentrated, 7@8c $ lb; powdered, 9@10c;
fused, 25@30c; crystal, 7c.
Candles.— Spear Brand, 16 oz. adamantine, 40s., lie
$ set; 14 oz. adamantine, 40s., 10c; 12 oz. adamantine,
408, 9c; 10 oz. adamantine, 40s, 8c; 16 oz. stearic, 40s,
12ijc ¥, set; 14 oz. stearic, 40s, 11}; 12 oz. stearic, 40s,
lOjc; 10 oz. stearic, 40s, 9}c. 100-case lots and over, Jc
less. Not less than 50-case lots, %c less. Boxes of 20s,
price Jc advance.
Caps.— 3x, $5.50@6 per 1000; 4x, $6.50@7; 5x, $8@8.50;
Lion, $9@9.50, in lots not less than 1000.
Chemicals.— Cyanide of potassium, 98%-99%, job-
bing, 23@24c $ ft.; carloads, 23@23Jc; in tins, 30c; soda
ash, $2.00 fl 100 lbs.; hyposulphite of soda, 3@3}c $ ft.;
caustic soda, in drums, 3@3Jc$tt>.; Cal. s. soda, bbls.,
$1.10@1.20 $100 lbs.; sks., 90c@$1.00; chlorate of pot-
ash, 12@13c; nitrate of potash, 6j@7c; caustic potash,
10c in 40-lb. tins; roll sulphur, 2}@2}c; powdered sul-
phur, 2J@2jc; flour Bulphur, French, 2j@ — c; alum,
$2.00@2.25; California refined, lj@2c; sulphide of iron,
8c B lb.; copper sulphate, 5J@5Jc; chloride of lime, spot,
$2.50@2.75; sulphuric acid, in carboys, 66% B, l}@2c $
ft. ; nitric acid, carboys, 8c $ ft.
Chromium.— 90% and over, K ft., 80c.
Coal. — San Francisco, coast, yard prices : Welling-
ton, $8.00; Seattle, $6.50; Coos Bay, $5.50; Southfield,
$8.00. Cargo lot, Eastern and foreign: Wallsend, $7.50;
Brymbo, $7.50; Pennsylvania, hd., $14.00; Scotch, $8.00;
Cumberland, $13.00; Cannel, $8.50; Welsh Anthracite,
$13.00; Rock Springs, $8.50, long ton; Colorado Anthra-
cite, $14.00. Coke, $10.50 per ton in bulk, $13.00 in
sacks; Sunnyside, $8.50, long ton.
Fire Brick.— Domestic, carloads $ 1000, f. o. b., fac-
tory square, $25.00; soap and split, $22.50; arch and
wedge, $27.50; skewback, $30.00; circle, $32.00.
Fire Clay.— Domestic, f> ton 2000 fts. in 125-ft. bags,
double, and dry ground, f. o. b., factory, $8.50.
Fuse.— Triple tape, $4.00 per 1000 feet; double tape,
$3.50; single tape, $3.10; Hemp, $2.75; Cement No. 2,
$3.00; Cement No. 1, $2.65, in lots of 3000 and up.
Oils. — Linseed, boiled, bbl., 58c; cs., 63c; raw, bbl.,
56c; cs., 61c; Lucol oil, boiled, bbl., 51c: cs., 56c; raw-
bbl., 49c; cb., 54c. Kerosene — Pearl, per gal., 17Jc; Ab-
tral, 17Jc; Star, 17Jc; Extra Star, 20Jc; Eocene, 19jc;
Elaine, 26c; Water White, in bulk, lie; Mineral Seal,
iron bbls., 18c; wooden bbls., 20}c; cs., 24c; Mineral
Sperm, cs., 265c; Deodorized Stove Gasoline, bulk, 14Jc,
do., cs., 21c; 86° Gasoline, bulk, 25c; do., cs., 31c; 83°
Naphtha or Benzine, deodorized, in bulk, per gal., 12jc;
do., in cs., 19c; Lard Oil, E. W. S., bbl., 75c; cb., 80c;
Neats-foot Oil, pure, bbl., 63c; cs., 78c; Sperm, crude,
63@68c; Natural White, 68c; Bleached, do., 57c; Whale
Oil, cs.. 52@67c.
Litharge. — Pure, in 25-ft. bags, 9J@10Jc $ ft.
Magnesium.— Pure, N. Y., $1.60.
Manganese. — Black oxide, $ ft., 2}@4c.
Mercury.— Bichloride, f, ft., 77c.
Molybdenum.— Best, $2.75 $ ft.
Phosphorus.— American, $ ft., 70c.
Powder.— F. o. b. San Francisco : No. 1, 70% nitro-
glycerine, per lb., in carload lots, 15Je; less than one ton,
17}c. No. 1*, 60%, carload lots, 13Jc; less than one ton,
No. 1**, 50%, carload lots, life; less than one ton,
No. 2, 40%, carload lots, 10c; less than one ton,
No. 2, 35%, carload lotB, 9Jc; less than one ton,
No. 2**, 30%, carload lots, 9c; less than one ton,
Black blasting powder in carload lots, minimum
car 728 kegs, $1.50 per keg; less car lots, $2.00 per keg.
Red Lead. — 500 lbs. and over at one purchase, $ ft.
7Jc; Iobb than 500 fts., 7fc.
Silver.— Chloride, $ oz., 90c@$1.00; nitrate, 54c.
SODIUM.— Metal, B *>•> SI-
Tungsten.— Best, f, ft., $1.20.
Uranium.— Oxide, % ft., $3.40.
15Jc.
13Jc.
12c.
ll}c.
lie.
Notices of Recent Patents.
Among the patents recently obtained through Dewey, Strong &
Co.'s Scientific Press United States and Foreign Patent Agency,
the following are worthy of special mention :
BALING Phess.-No. 798,782. Sept. 5, 1905. William H. Gray,
San Leandro, Cal. This invention relates to improvements in bal.
ing presses, and is especially applicable to vertically disposed
presses. It consists in the combination of a vertical press box, a fol-
lower, a superposed bate chamber and a vertioal arm extending into
the bale chamber and a vertical arm extending upwardly above the
pivotal point of the lever and against the vertical sides of the press,
means for actuating the retainers in series, and a unitary spring con-
nected with the actuating means to normally retain the levers in
position.
Raking and loading Apparatus.— No. 798,810. Sept. 5, 1905.
John R. Lewis, Biggs, Cal. This invention relates to an apparatus
which is designed for raking and loading hay. grain, or equivalent
material, and by the use of a closed shovel it may also be employed
for the digging and lifting of earth or similar material that cannot
be handled by a rake. Its object is to provide an apparatus by
which material may be gathered, lifted, and deposited at a distant
point. The apparatus comprises a wheeled frame and support, a
rake or gatherer located at the front, a normally, downwardly and
forwardly inclined frame having its upper end connected with the
support a flexible connection with said inclined frame and the rear
of the gatherer, and a propelling frame hinged to the gatherer and
intermediate between it and the front of the wheeled frame.
Hoisting and Conveying apparatus.— No. 798,861. Sept. 5, 1905.
Charles J. Allen, San Francisco, Cal. The object of this invention
is to provide a simple and portable apparatus that can be quickly
and easiiy rigged up and which is designed particularly for moving
loads short distances in vertical and horizontal directions, as in
handling material about a building In course of construction and for
excavating loading, or unloading coal and the like, for transferring
burdens from a ship to the dock, and vice versa, and generally where
it is now usual to employ either a block and tackle or a derrick and
boom The apparatus consists in a combination with end supports
of a hoisting rope on one support, a counterbalanced rope on the
other support, a block carried by the counterbalanced rope through
which the hoisting rope passes, means for reciprocating said block
between the two supports, and a spring hook or grab normally dis-
posed at one side of the vertical plane of the ropes and adapted to
engage with the counterbalanced rope. ■
19
Mining and Scientific Press.
September 16, 1905.
CATALOGUE OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY
AND GENERAUHEMISTRY.
PUBLISHED AUGUST 15, 1905.
«3-<7«)- Complete Classified Catalogue of Books on
Chemical Technology ami General Chemistry ar-
ranged under the following heads: Acids, Alkalies,
and Salts: Beverages, Brewing. Cider, Distillation.
Fermentation, Liquors, Preserving, Vinegar, Wine.;
Brick, Ceramics. Class, Porcelain. Pottery; Cement
and Concrete: India Rubber, nulla Percha, Glue.
Ink: Leather Manufacture: oils, Fats. Wares, Paints
and Varnishes: Paper Manu/actun . Fibres: Per-
fumery; Soap and Candles; Sugar, starch; Flour,
Baking, Bread, Confectionery: General Reference
and Receipt Books. General Chemistry. Chemical
Arithmetic. Calculation, Tables, etc.; Chemical
Analysis; Inorganic chemistry: Organic Chemistry;
Electro-Chemistry; Addenda: sent free to anyone in
any part of the world who Will send Ms address.
HENRY CAREY BAIKD & CO.,
Industrial Publishers. Booksellers and Importers,
810 Walnut St., Philadelphia, Pa., U. S. A.
DELINQUENT SALE NOTICE.
ALTA SIERRA GOLD MINING COMPANY.—
Location of principal place of business, Room
620, Kohl Building, 406 Montgomery street, San
Francisco, California; location of works, Sierra
County, California.
Notice— There are delinquent upon the following
described stock on account of assessment of thirty
(30) cents per share, levied on June 22nd, 1905,
the several amounts set opposite the names of the
respective shareholders, as follows:
No. No.
Names. Cert. Shares. Amt.
A.R.Baldwin 67 500 S 150 00
A. R.Baldwin 68 500 150 00
A. R. Baldwin 69 556 166 80
W. H. Mead 73 4,000 1200 00
W.H.Mead 74 2,000 600 00
And in accordance with law and an order from
the Board of Directors, made on the 19tb day of
August, 1905, so many shares of each parcel of such
stock as may be necessary, will be sold at the office
of the company, Room 620, Kohl-Building, 406 Mont-
gomery street, San Francisco. California, on MON-
DAY, September 18th, 1905, at 12 o'clock m. of said
day, to pay the delinquent assessment thereon,
together with costs of advertising and expenses of
sale. By order of the Board of Directors.
SAM. W. CHEYNEY, Secretary.
Office— Room 620, Kohl Building, 406 Montgomery
street, San Francisco, California.
ASSESSMENT NOTICE.
GOLDEN WEST MINING COMPANY.— LOCA-
tion of principal place of business, San Fran-
cisco, California; location of works, Tuolumne
County, California.
Notice is hereby given, that at a meeting of the
Board of Directors, held on the 19th day of August,
1905, an assessment (No. 51 of one cent per share,
was levied upon the capital stock of the corpora-
tion, payable immediately in United States gold
coin, to the secretary, at the office of the com-
pany, 307 Battery street, Room 15, San Francisco,
California.
Any stock upon which this assessment shall re-
main unpaid on the 28th day of September, 1905,
will be delinquent, and advertised for sale at pub-
lic auction; and, unless payment is made before,
will be sold on SATURDAY, the 11th day of No-
vember, 1905, to pay the delinquent assessment,
together with the costs of advertising and expenses
of sale.
By order of the Board of Directors.
CHAS. BOVONE, Secretary.
Office— 207 Battery street, Room 15, San Fran-
cisco, California.
WEALTH
IN
SIGHT.
The Territory tributary to the
Santa F^e
System
In INDIAN TERRITORY, TEXAS, COLO-
RADO, NEW MEXICO, ARIZONA and
CALIFORNIA, offers to limited Investments
of capital, backed by energy and brains,
unusual opportunities for development of
GREAT MINERAL PROPERTIES.
Deposits of the following are known to
exist on and within a few miles of our
lines:
Antimony, Alum, Asbestos, Asphalt, Ba-
rytes, Bauxite, Borax, Cement Rock, Coal,
Cryolite, Clays of all kinds, Copper, Gold,
Graphite, ■ Gypsum, Granite, Iron, Kaolin,
Lead, Lithograph Stone, Manganese, Mica,
Marble. Mineral Paints, Nitre, Nickei,
Natural Gas, Onyx, Petroleum, Phosphate
Rock, Pumice Stone, Pyrites, Quicksilver,
Salt, Silica, Strontianlte, Stone— Oolite,
Lime and Sand, Silver and Zinc.
For further Information, address
WESLEY MERRITT,
Industrial Commissioner,
Atch., Top. and Santa Fe System,
CHICAGO, ILL.
The Lyceum
An excellent preparatory school for the University,
Law and Medical Colleges, etc. Begins its thir-
teenth year on July 24, 1905. Come and be with us;
we prepare you well.
References: David Starr Jordan or any Stanford
Professor.
PHELAN BUILDING, SAN FRANCISCO.
WE BUY AND SELL MINES
on reasonable commission. We furnish money to
develop prospects. We handle floatation of mining
stocks and guarantee success. WILKES, WILKES
& WILKES. 401 Stimson Bide.. Lo«a Aneeles. Oal.
PAIR
OF
Mccormick turbines
4000 H. P. 72-foot head, arranged
to drive generator and a single
turbine to drive exciter.
Five settings built for the
Hudson River Water PowerCo.'s
Spier Falls Plant and fourteen
puirs 51-inch for their plant at
Mechanicsville, New York.
Write for catalogue if contem-
plating purchase of turbines.
S.Morgan Smith
Company,
YORK, PA.
176 Federal St., Boston, Mass.
E STAB LIS H-E'D I &5 5 ;;;, i
EVERY
Pelton Wheel
Is Designed Especially for the Work to
be Performed.
The Head and Power Factors Deter-
mine the Character of Bucket to be
Used.
RESULT—
Uniformly High Efficiency. Absolute Reliability.
Catalog on WATER POWER Sent to Those Interested.
THE PELTON WATER WHEEL CO.
124 Main Street, San Francisco.
147 Liberty Street, New York.
KNIGHT'S WATER WHEEL.
The accompanying cut shows the general arrangement of the KNIGHT WATER WHEEL, direct
coupled to a 750 kilowatt generator, with governor mounted on top of wheel casing.
These wheels are designed for 100 to 2500 H. P. HIGHEST EFFICIENCY AND REGULATION
GUARANTEED. Wheels from G to ^2-4- Inches, enclosed in cast-iron casing.
Wheels for Mill and Reversible Hoisting Works a specialty.
For full particulars, send for
desc.Hpt.lvp oiU;i.lfitriip.
KNIGHT & CO., SUTTER CREEK, CAL.
WESTON
ELECTRICAL INSTRUMENT CO.
Main Office and Works, Waverly Park, NEWARK, N. J.
WESTON STANDARD PORTABLE DIRECT READING
VOLTMETERS, MILLIVOLTMETERS, VOLTAMMETERS, AM-
METERS, MTXAMETERS, GROUND DETECTORS, AND CIRCUIT
TESTERS, OHMMETERS. PORTABLE GALVANOMETERS.
Our Portable Instruments are recognized as The Standard the
world over. The Semi-Portable Laboratory Standards are still
better. Our station Voltmeters and Ammeters are unsurpassed
in point of extreme accuracy and lowest consumption of energy.
SAN FRANCISCO: Frank E. Smith & Co., 418 Eugenia Ave.
London Branch: Audrey House, Ely Place, Holborn.
Paris, France: E. H. Cadiot, 12 Rue St. Georges.
Berlin: European Weston Electrical Ins rument Co., Ritter-
strasse, 88.
New York Office: 74 Cortlandt St.
Weston Standard Voltmeter
SAMSON TURBINE
During the FORTY-THREE YEARS we have been in this business, we have been
constantly on the alert for NEW IDEAS. We have been adding IMPROVEMENTS
to our turbines and eliminating all weak features. The SAMSON is the outcome of
our experience.
JAMES LEFFEL & CO « M5 "G0NDA 5AREET IT « .
J A1UEJ LErrEL Ol VW., ipRDiGFlELD, Uhio, U. S. A.
HARRON, RICKARD & McCONE, San Francisco. Cal., Sales Agents for California, Arizona and Nevada,
Whole No. 2357.-Tli?.Erf3CI
San Francisco, Cal., Saturday, September 23, 1905.
THREE DOLLARS PER ANNUM.
Single Copies. Ten Centi.
Electricity in Mining.
The equipment of a mine is often left to the discre-
tion of the superintendent. He is often a man who
has worked his way up through the hard school of
experience gained through mistakes, which mistakes
he will never again make. But within recent years
the progress in mining machinery has been so rapid
that few superintendents have been able to keep
track of all the latest improvements.
This is particularly so with reference to the appli-
cation of electricity to mining. When for various
reasons a board of directors has voted that an elec-
fied greatly if the mine be within the ever-widening
zone of great central generating plants. For in this
case one deals only with the motor, and not the
dynamo.
The most recent developments in the electric field
tend to the use of single-phase alternating current
motors for use in hoisting and all variable speed work.
This is displacing the direct current machines largely
because of the economy effected by the use of the cur-
rent without preliminary transformation. For min-
ing work this is still in an embryonic stage, but its
success in railway work is an indicator of possible
usefulness in mining. Consequently developments in
originally bought for and worked as a gold mine,
later developing into a first-class copper property.
The Mountain Copper Co.'s property in Shasta
county, California, was first sold as a gold mine, and
long believed to be such.
A PART from any speculative excitement, the
■* *• value of the mining industry as an investment
proposition is manifest. Much of the present pros-
perity of the country is because of the permanence
and profit of the mining industry. And those words
"permanence and profit" are deliberately chosen.
A business fifty years old is not usual; a manufactur-
A Level Party.
Studying Adjustment of Solar Compass and Transit. I ~ tix
Bird's-Eye View of Students' Camp. Noon Hour in Dining Tent Room.
SUMMER CAMP OF SURVEYING STUDENTS, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA. (See Page 207.)
trie hoist or other electric power application be in-
stalled at their mine, they usually look to the super-
intendent to put in an efficient plant at the least
possible cost. He is immediately confronted with the
problems of deciding whether to use direct or alter-
nating current; single or polyphase circuits; high or
low frequency; synchronous or induction motors, and
rotary converters or motor generators. In his per-
plexity he usually consults a number of machinery
houses, each of which urges the advantage of their
own product, but all tending to confuse him. For a
large installation it is undoubtedly best to employ an
unbiased electrical engineer to design the installa-
tion.
But the progressive superintendent can often solve
the problem himself if he make a careful study of the
circumstances and conditions under which the plant
will be required to operate. The problem is simpli-
this line are being watched with interest by engineers
intent upon cost reduction commensurate with effi-
cient service.
HOW the facts may be juggled and how figures
may be mixed up in what are called "statis-
tics," in an effort to prove anything, is strikingly
shown in the current issue of a contemporary where-
in the argument is made that "oil cannot compete
with coal." It is now in order to furnish further
data proving that for economy and efficiency the
electric light is not in it in competition with the
tallow candle.
BUTTE, MONTANA, reports that one of the
mines in the Lexington group, heretofore classed
as a strictly copper proposition, is developing into a
high-class gold mine. Senator Clark's biggest wealth
producer, the United Verde, Jerome, Arizona, was
ing or mercantile establishment one hundred years
old is phenomenal, but "going " mines that have been
profitably productive for hundreds of years are not
so uncommon as to excite remark. As a regular,
steady, legitimate business, mining stands equally
well with commerce, manufactures or agriculture in
this present era of prosperity, and when the inev-
itable period of financial depression rolls round it is
to the miner that the whole industrial world looks for
immediate relief. For it is he alone who is a creator
of wealth. The dollar that he produces makes the
world have just that dollar more than it ever had
before. The merchant's transaction is but a swap:
the manufacturer's product but an assemblage of
already created values, the agricultural product but
a brief evolution of perishable material, but the
product of the metal miner enhances the aggregate
of the world's wealth forever.
203
Mining and Scientific Press.
September 23, 1905.
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
ESTABLISHED i860.
Published Every Saturday at 330 Market Street, San Francisco, Cal.
Telephone, Davis 771.
ANNUAL, SUBSCRIPTION.
United States, Mexico and Canada 13 00
All Other Countries In the Postal Union 5 00
Entered at the San Francisco Postoffice as second-class mail matter.
Branch Offices:
New York Citt, 921-24 Park Row Bldg. Boston, 27 School St.
Chicago, 1164 Monadnoek Block. Denver, 606 Mack Block.
J. F. HALLORAN.
SAN FRANCISCO, SEPTEMBER 23, 1905.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
ILLUSTRATIONS: Page.
Summer Camp of Surveying Students, University of California:
A Level Party .'. . 202
Studying Adjustment of Solar Compass and Transit 202
Bird's-Eye View of Students' Camp 202
Noon Hour in Dining Tent Room 202
The Murphy Drill 210
Cameron Boiler Feed Pumps 212
Cameron Special Brine Circulating Pumps 212
EDITORIAL:
Electricity in Mining — • 202
Juggling With Facts and Figures 202
Developing Into a High Class Gold Mine 202
Value of the Mining Industry as an Investment Proposition 202
"Concentrates" 203
Origin of Our Mining Laws 203
Trans-Pacific Trade 203
" Can't Run a Mine on Jawbone " 203
American Mining Congress 204
Fires in Mining Camps 204
Handbook for Metallurgists and Metal Miners 204
Means of Communication : 204
The Making of a Mine 204
Demand for Tin 204
Report of American Smelting & Refining Co 204
MINING SCMMABI 214-215-216-217
LATEST MARKET REPORTS 218
MISCELLANEOUS:
Concentrates 205-20C
Operating a Mine Without Money... 207
Why Study Mining » 207
Ball Nipple Blast Connection 207
Employment of the Diamond Drill 207
Summer School of Surveying 207
The Prospector 208
To Render Zinc Free From Undesirable Elements 208
Crushing Machinery for Mines 209
The Ventilation of Mines 209
The Murphy Drill 210
Charcoal Precipitation From Aurocyanide Solutions 210
Treatment of Copper Ores by the Electric Furnace 210
Placer Mining in Alaska 211
How World's Weight Is Calculated 212
Ice Making and Refrigerating Machinery 212
Mining and Metallurgical Patents 213
Personal 217
Obituary 217
Books Received 218
Commercial Paragraphs 218
Trade Treatises 218
New Patents 21 8
Notices of Recent Patents 218
Concentrates.
A good many questions are weekly asked this jour-
nal; questions involving everything relating to mining
or metallurgy, which includes considerable technical
matter, engineering, law, geology, etc. Some of these
questions are hard to answer, especially in the usual
limits of a "Concentrate" in which is accorded the
answer. Some of the questions take a long time to
answer, for the required information is not on tap,
nor can it be had by the mere pressure of a button.
Many questions so received have had to journey long
distances for solution, for, on the principle that
"everybody is wiser than anybody," specialists on
different subjects are constantly consulted, and,
through the years, there are many men of pronounced
p ominence in the mining world who have been cour-
leously requested to answer some of the myriad
questions submitted to this journal, and in turn for-
warded to them in recognition of their ability or
knowledge in that particular line. In this connection
gladly indeed is the statement made that almost in-
variably the requested information has been fur-
nished. Thus through the years have those pages of
"Concentrates" become the repository of the very
kind of practical, up-to-date information most eagerly
sought by live mining men everywhere. Of course,
there have been mistakes, for infallibility is an attri-
bute denied to any work of hand or brain, but it is
honestly believed that in no other way has so much
of practical value been gathered in such concise
shape for miners, mining engineers, mechanicians and
metallurgists everywhere as in the thousands of
"Concentrates" that have appeared since that de-
partment was started by the writer in 1894. The
appearance of so many similarly worded paragraphs
under various names in so many contemporaries is
not the least of the numerous testimonials to the
recognized value of the work.
Origin of Our Mining Laws.
"An Act granting the right-of-way to ditch and
canal owners through the public lands, and for other
purposes."
There is nothing in the above that would even
remotely indicate that the act, so entitled, covered
the location and patenting of a mining claim, but it
does, the quoted paragraph being the title of the
first law in relation to mineral land ever passed by
the Congress of the United States. The real "origin
of our mining laws" is the procedure of the California
miners "in the days of '49," in the local enactment of
mining district regulations. So obscure was the
whole matter in the minds of our national legislators
that there was no attempt by them to make any law
applicable to mines or minerals till the close of the
Civil war of 1861-65, when in December, 1864, the
Secretary of the Interior in his official report sug-
gested that, as mineral lands were the property of
the Government, a revenue tax be laid upon the
miners, and that the Internal Revenue Department
be invested with power to issue licenses and collect a
tax of 1% per annum "on the present product of the
mines." That scheme did not meet with approval,
and then it was proposed in Congress to "sell all
the mineral lands in California and other Western
States and Territories" and apply the proceeds to
the payment of the national debt. In June, 1865,
Congressman G-. W. Julian of Indiana introduced a
bill providing for a survey of mines, filing of plats,
and public advertisements that at set times and
places such lands be sold at auction to the highest
bidder. California and Colorado protested stren-
uously, holding that such action would throttle min-
eral development, that it would shift the burden of
the war debt from the East to the West and that
the West was furnishing the solid money that held up
the arms of the Government, whereupon Congress-
man Fernando Wood of New York, a great leader of
that day, moved that the President be authorized to
send an army to expel the miners from California,
Colorado and Arizona, "by armed force if necessary
to protect the rights of the Government in the min-
eral lands."
Mr. Wood's plan was tc run the miners out, take
governmental possession "and work the mines for
the benefit of the national treasury." (That was the
time for Congress to establish a bureau of mines and
mining, with a Cabinet officer, as advocated then,
and ever since, by the Mining and Scientific Press )
Mr. Wood, who was invincible in peace and invisi-
ble in war, found a few supporters iu his plan of bat-
tle murder and sudden death, but Congressman
Washburn of Illinois reminded him that the miners
were fighting Indians and digging gold, and were
altogether an earnest lot of hardy chaps, and that if
Mr. Wood's motion prevailed the Government would
probably have a bigger Civil war on its hands than
the one in the South.
It happened that at that time the then Territory
of Colorado had Jerome B. Chaffee as Congressional
delegate. He argued that miners were not tres-
passers on the public domain, but that their work
was essential to the national life and the development
of this west half of America, and that so far from be-
ing exterminated by the bloodthirsty member from
New York, they, as a class, should be allowed some
few rights in accordance with their innate privilege
to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." He
was a miner himself, able to give his fellow Solons a
few pointers. Senator Stewart of Nevada and Sen-
ator Conness of California were also able to show
cause for more peaceable measures.
About that time there was an agitation regarding
some Eastern canal rights, and as a great concession'
when the 1866 law thereon was being enacted, Stew-
art, Conness and Chaffee succeeded in having tacked
on to it a clause giving the Western miner a right
to possess and hold a mining location by virtue of an-
nual assessment work. For a long time these regu-
lations were known as the "Chaffee laws." The
Government did not further contemplate either sale
or operation of the mines. Whether it would have
been wiser policy at the time to create a mining code
and have the Government share in the production of
the property would now be futile to discuss. By
1869 it was manifest that " the lode law of 1866 " was
insufficient, and in 1870 Congress passed " the placer
law," which, as regarding placer mining property,
amended and supplemented the law of 1866.
In 1872 a law of the utmost importance to the min-
ing industry was passed. It set the stamp of gov-
ernmental approval on mining by declaring 'that all
mineral deposits on land belonging to the United
States were open to exploration and purchase. The
law of 1S72 also brought out and confirmed the extra-
lateral right, and which, as interpreted by the fed-
eral courts, gives the owner of a lode claim the right
to follow the vein wherever it goes. Around this
point, which includes the "apex" of the lode, have
been waged furious wars, wreaking ruin on many and
enriching mining lawyers. For over a generation
this has gone on. The time has arrived for a federal
mining code, which, as distinguished from a lot of
loose ideas on a little understood subject, shall be a
clear, terse, dignified creation and compilation of
national governmental mining requirements commen-
surate with the importance of the subject regarding
which it enacts.
Trans- Pacific Trade.
With the Russo-Japanese war over there is general
expectation of increase in demand for all kinds of
American machinery. So far as Japan is concerned
such expectations should not be too sanguine. The
Japanese are as wily in the arts of peace as of war,
and their standards of commercial morality are dif-
ferent from those of Aryan stock. They have bought
American machinery, but only to copy it wherever
possible, and whenever practicable they have merely
used their purchase as a model and made no more
purchases, faithfully or faithlessly copying what
they had bought. Little matters like patents, or
trade marks, have not stood in the way. Their com-
mercial value is recognized, but there is usually no
recognition of ownership rights therein on the part
of many Japanese purchasers. An air compressor
or steam boiler, a motor or a band saw, are of
primary value to them and exactly reproduced, with
the name of the maker, date of patent, as in the
original. Such infringement of rights in other coun-
tries would invite suit for damages, but the Japanese
manufacturer is immune in that regard and boldly
appropriates the product of American brains with
no acknowledgment of any obligation on his part.
Of course such procedure is inimical to expectation
of increasing trade. Japan expects to modernize
her mills and shops and then compete with America
for Oriental business. Her success in that direction
will be proportional to her ability to furnish raw
material. It would seem that for the next few years
there should be good business for American products
in Russia and China, where exists tremendous possi-
bilities of demand.
It is manifestly the intent of Japan to make herself
as independent of other nations as possible. She
possesses considerable coal and copper, but little
gold or silver, and less iron, being particularly poor
in that basic requirement. For her deficiency in
natural resources she will attempt aggrandizement
in Corea and China, where late events give her pres-
tige. To China especially will she be likely to look ,
her ultimate idea being to furnish the engineering
there that will utilize that country's mineral re-
sources to the profit of Japan. Japanese engineers
are in some particulars as superior to Chinese en-
gineers as they are inferior to American engineers,
an inferiority that they hope to overcome. In this
regard may be noted as characteristic of Chinese
engineering that it is fairly successful along static
lines, but a failure in anything that involves motion.
Whatever in China has to do with the work of moving
men or merchandise is rude and primitive, but their
fixed structures evince a higher order of talent. The
subtle Japanese hope to absorb the ability of the
West to build up a vast Eastern empire and dominate
the Pacific.
THAT "you can't run a mine on jawbone " has
long had almost the moral force of an axiom,
but the narration from Barkerville, B.C., on page
207 goes far to disprove so self-evident a truth in
the particular case cited. Contrasting the usual with
the occasional, it is to be said that the circumstances
certainly were unique, but the statements carry the
stamp of truth sufficient to warrant their publica-
tion.
September 23, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
204
American Mining Congress.
There will be a convention of the American Min-
ing Congress at El Paso, Tex., on November 14,
11)06, and continuing one week. This organization
under different names has led a precarious exist-
ence for several years from its inception in Den-
ver, Colo., in 1897. In so far as it aids in any way in
the development of the mineral industry of the nation,
it is deserving of commendation and support. Its
utterances are sound, its declared intent deserves
endorsement, and the principles it advocates are of a
worthy nature. It has at times been left largely to
its own devices, and has not always earned or deserved
the dignity and respect that are necessary for the
best results from such an organization. Like all
similar societies it Is just whatever the American
miner pleases to make of it. If he go as a delegate
to its conclaves; if he contribute with voice and purse
to its support; if he take an active interest in its
life and welfare, it will flourish. If he neglect it, it
will languish. There is a certain field that it or some
similar organization could fill with dignity and ad-
vantage to all. There is reason for the continuous
successful existence of a society having for its sole
object the advancement of the mining industry of the
country, and so far as it aims toward such high ideal
it is worthy of commendation and active personal
support. There are several matters affecting the
mining industry that might be aided at the coming
session of the Mining Congress. Among them are
the present need of a cabinet department of mines
and mining, with a cabinet officer in charge, as in co-
ordinate departments of the Federal Government.
This is so plainly an existing necessity that it re-
quires no argument. Another is the revision of that
jumble of statutes known as the United States min-
ing law. Now that ex-United States Senator Stewart
of Nevada is relegated to private life, one of the
legislative blockades has been removed. While he
was in the United States Senate, " senatorial cour-
tesy " enabled him to kill any attempt to simplify or
modernize that maze of cryptic mystery — the "fed-
eral mining law."
Another matter, though not of such pressing im-
port, is necessary provision by law of method where-
by accurate statistics of the production of precious
metals shall be secured by the Government. We
have an effort in that direction now, but it is largely
guesswork. The director of the Mint gives out an-
nual estimates made up as best he can, but they are
usually susceptible of successful contradiction. So
far as mint receipts go, the statistics are fairly ac-
curate, but a law requiring each transportation
company by land or sea receiving bullion to demand
from the shipper a certificate of the smelter or as-
sayer, showing the contents thereof in gold, silver
and other metals, the consigner, consignee and money
value of each metal and that such certificate be im-
mediately deposited in the nearest mint or govern-
ment assay office to be forwarded to the Philadelphia
mint, would appear to be a salutary measure. Sup-
plementary calculation of such items as had been al-
ready reported from other smelters and their elim-
ination from the sum total would tend toward final
accuracy. The suggested certificates should show
in all cases whether the bullion came from the
original producer or from a mill or smelter. With
such additional data at his command, the director of
the Mint could very closely approximate the annual
yield.
THE season is almost over for this year in which
isolated mining camps are most threatened
by fire, but there exists another deadly menace to
life in many mining districts in the existence of so
many uncovered prospect holes and abandoned shafts.
True, there are many State laws and local enact-
ments, regarding those deadly pitfalls and the com-
monest promptings of safety and humanity almost
universally impel prospectors and mine owners to
heed such requirements. But carelessness and
callousness exist, and scattered throughout the
mining region are myriads of man traps. Any one
who reads all the local papers every week will note
with regret the many fatal accidents resulting from
unguarded walking where such deadly holes abound.
It is a homely subject, but one of great importance.
Often there is an ineffectual or thwarted effort to
^overcome the danger by covering the hole with poles
or planks, but where such covering is stolen for fire-
wood or other use, the condition is worse than be-
fore. Holes made in the course of assessment work-
seem chief among the causes in such fatality. The
better way to do is to fill up the abandoned openiug.
Human life is not so cheap that it can be unnecessa-
rily sacrificed, and the subject is one of sufficient
personal import to make every miner who reads this
remember that prevention of disaster is not so much
a silent precept as an active duty.
Handbook for Metallurgists and Metal
Miners.
The mining superintendent of to-day is called
upon to meet the same fundamental problems as
was his predecessor of yesterday, but in the mean-
time each of these problems has been complicated
by the introduction of new aids and obstacles
that were unknown in the past. Within the last
few years the development of great forces has been
coincident with the development of great mines, and
modern mining requires methods and machinery un-
known in the past. Great progress has been made,
not only in the power, but also in the vehicle for the
transportation of material, both underground and on
the surface. While the fundamental principles of
prospecting, drilling, blasting, timbering and devel-
opment are the same, yet they have been so ampli-
fied by recent experience that ignorance of the new
methods becomes a serious handicap to successful
progress.
To intelligently cope with all these problems re-
quires a knowledge of the principles and applications
not only of mining, but also of mechanical, electrical,
civil and chemical engineering. These being under-
stood, an engineer meeting a problem involving their
application, looks up how some one else has solved a
similar problem, and then modifies such solution to
meet the needs of his own problem. Instead of wast-
ing time and thought in devising an original method,
he applies the combined experience of others to his
own case, modifying it to meet the new conditions.
He profits by the mistakes of o.thers and is often
saved from making a costly mistake himself.
But this requires an extensive and expensive li-
brary of current engineering literature. By neces-
sity the average mining man is a nomad. He has
little opportunity or inclination for accumulating and
less for transporting such a library. To meet this
deficiency various "handbooks" have been devised
to give a portable yet comprehensive collection of
facts and formulas; and to-day the civil engineer can
ill afford to be without his Trautwine or the mechani-
cal engineer without his Kent.
But it is believed that no single suitable handbook
has been written for metal miners and metallurgists.
A mining engineer is compelled to get a number of
handbooks, each designed for a single class of which
he is not a member. Such books necessarily contain
much material not pertaining to mining, and they
also omit much that is essential to the miner for a
proper understanding of the context, but which
would be a useless repetition to those familiar with
the field. In the aggregate these give an excessive
bulk and even then are deficient in many of the most
essential subjects.
It seems that a handbook might be written to meet
the demand above indicated; a book in which the
fundamentals of each engineering branch are lucidly
and compactly treated, omitting all the specialized
detail except that which is applicable to the field of
mining. It would also, perhaps, be well to include
an account of metallurgical practice in all its
branches, giving a metal miner's and metallurgist's
handbook designed for those interested in gold, sil-
ver, copper, lead and zinc mining.
To be successful such a book should not be written
by one individual, but should be made up of the sug-
gestions of a great number, so as to be of value to
all classes of mining men. The work should be
under the direction of one having a good knowledge
of engineering in general, but understanding that
the elementary phases of each should be treated as
well as . the more advanced. His duty would be to
bring the work of specialists within the range of the
users of the book, his work to be subsequently re-
vised by the specialists for the correction of errors
and omissions.
Every mining man should be willing to help the
common cause by suggesting and contributing sub-
jects that in his estimation would be of value to the
handbook. This is not written with the idea of merely
suggesting a need, but with the intent of filling that
need, and it seems that such a work could be profit-
ably preceded by discussions from mining men in
these columns.
|N mining and scientific progress few phases are
•*• more noticeable than the ease and swiftness of
communication as compared with the slow and pain-
ful transit of a few years ago. The railway and
motor car are doing much for mining development
throughout desolate mining regions. Places to which
it took days to travel can now be reached in as
many hours with a minimum of discomfort The
automobile is greatly in evidence, in the mining world
no less than in other fields, and is of prime value. The
man who at one period paid 35 cents a mile for a seat
in a back-breaking buckboard at a 5-mile- an-hour
gait across a Nevada desert finds reason for con-
trast between past and present in the ease and
swiftness of a 20-mile-an-hour automobile jaunt over
almost the same region. To associate the pros-
pector with other than the burro, the bacon, beans,
flour and frying pan would seem like a severance of
indissoluble ties, but it is within reason to believe that
to the prospector no less than to the mine owner or
mining engineer the automobile will prove of inesti-
mable value. In the mountains everywhere are
found the best of natural roads and that the motor
will displace slower and more cumbersome means
of locomotion is manifest. And this, too, not only for
passengers, but for freight service. In this way the
automobile will make mining property more valuable
in securing cheaper access. This marks a change in
accord with the advance in mining and scientific
methods. Visitors to mining camps now pass swiftly
in palace cars across the way that is ofttimes bla-
zoned with the bones of those who perished on former
toilsome journeys through the same region.
THE making of a mine and its development from
a prospect to a dividend-paying proposition is
usually accompanied by numerous reminiscent re-
marks, as the stock ascends in value, from those
who "could have bought that stock" for as many
cents as it now costs dollars per share. "To the
victors belong the spoils," and to the man that takes
chances belongs the profits that immediately come
from the advance in values, and the likelihood of a
steady income if the mine shows promise of perma-
nence. This is as applicable to any other form of
investment or mode of business as mining. There are
as many ups and downs in merchandising or manu-
facturing as in mining, and, contrary to the usual
opinion, while the risks are no greater in mining than
in many other business investments, the chances of
profit are immeasurably greater.
THE great and growing demand for tin, and
its comparative scarcity, makes the Alaska
tin ore deposits of exceptional value. The scanty
tin yield of Temescal, Cal., and Tinton, S. D., have
hitherto been this country's sole contribution to the
world's tin supply, which in 1904 was 92,243 tons,
being 2512 tons less than the tin consumption of the
world for that period. The cassiterite deposits near
Cape Prince of Wales, Alaska, ai-e found in an area
10 miles by 25, and are being taken up under the
United States placer mining laws. Recent assays
are reported to show from 50% to 75% tin. A railroad
is projected from Port Clarence, 40 miles south, to the
newly discovered tin mines.
THE annual report of the American Smelting &
Refining Co. is of material interest from the
magnitude of its operations and the position it occu-
pies as to possibilities of profit or loss in connection
with the laws of supply and demand. The report
shows that for the year ending April 30, 1905, the
net income, after deducting $3,500,000 for the 7%
dividends to which the preferred stock is entitled,
was $4,118,912. The company's present prosperity
is partially occasioned by rise in the price of silver
and lead. It is also ascribed to increased economy
of operations and improved methods. Dividends for
one year to the amount of $8,898,811 certainly show
the profit and possibilities of such consolidation.
205
Mining and Scientific Press.
September 23, 1905.
a tj
CONCENTRATES.
b d
Air released from a pressure of 100 pounds will expand
four and one-fourth times its volume.
lll'Jl VV
A 10-POOT head of water would give an approximate
pressure of 4J pounds per square inch.
There is no metallic zinc mined in Mexico. Zinc is
now being shipped from Wallace, Idaho.
In constant regular work a "horse power" may he
considered as equal to the work of eight men.
The weight of a steel pipe SO inches in diameter, 150
miles long, i inch thick, would be 41,600,000 pounds.
Lead went down in price to 2.9 cents per pound in
August, 1896. In March, 1877, it was 6| cents per pound.
Green lumber will weather season better and quicker
if a hole be bored through it lengthwise, and it will also
add strength to the stick.
The green coating on the copper mill plates is a hy-
drated oxide of copper, and is removable by ammonia,
dilute acid or cyanide of potassium.
Carbon disulphide is usually made by passing the
vapor of sulphur over red hot carbon. It boils at 47° C,
and when mixed with air the vapor forms an explosive
compound.
iJPW W "iff
Telephones are a valuable adjunct in extensive mine
operations, being of sufficient economic importance to
warrant general use, and any large mine or smelter can
find profitable use for them.
Since the advent of oil as fuel the coal question of
free or duty paid is of secondary importance in California.
The coke consumed in California comes from British
Columbia, Australia and Antwerp.
It is permissible to use other mining claims to desig-
nate boundaries of a mining claim in locating it, clear
reference to natural objects and permanent monuments
sufficing to cpmply with the statute.
V w w V
In the casting of brass the pattern should be slightly
larger to insure the proper dimensions. The shrinkage
allowance on patterns for casting brass is ^ of an inch
to the foot in length or diameter of the pattern.
The apex of a vein is not necessarily a point, but o'ten
a line of great length, and any portion of the apex on
the course or strike of the vein found within the limits
of a claim is a sufficient discovery to entitle the locator
to obtain title.
The latest best unbound work on stamp milling and
amalgamation of free gold ores is considered to be the
article written for this journal by the late Dana Har-
mon, and which appeared in the issues of Jan. 17 to Feb.
21, 1903, inclusive.
Cripple Creek, Colo., is now producing about
75,000 tons of ore per month. Of this about 45,000 tons
are chlorinated, 12,000 tons cyanided, 18,000 tons smelted.
In the ehlorination process the cost averages $3.25 per
ton, with a 90% extraction.
When a boiler is to be laid up for some months it
should be filled to -the safety valve with water at boiling
heat, when all air will be expelled from the water, closed
to keep out air from the inside and so covered as to also
keep out air from the outside,
vvvv
A placer patent includes with it all lodes not known
to exist at the date of application therefor; but if a lode
was discovered within the placer location limits before
such application it could he located, and the placer loca-
tion to that extent would have to yield to it.
There would seem to be some merit in the suggestion
that the Siberian black sands be smelted and the gold
recovered in metallic iron, but the idea has not been
brought to a definite conclusion. Pyritic smelting is
practiced in the Altai mountains as elsewhere.
Pahang, in the Malay peninsula, is reported to con-
tain immense deposits of tin and gold-bearing drift, but
which can only be worked profitably by dredging and
hydraulic elevators, the details of the work, of course,
only determined by careful and thorough investigation.
There is no trouble about constructing a wave motor;
they are built right along; the trouble is in getting one to
develop power. A motor operated by the waves of the
sea will deliver power in an intermittent way, but to de-
velop power as a commercial proposition is a different
matter.
In a case of poisoning by phosphorus, sulphate of zinc
in 10-graiu doses, dissolved in water and given at inter-
vals of ten minutes till vomiting ensues, is the best anti-
dote. A half-teaspoonful dose of old turpentine is also
recommended. No oil of any kind should he admin-
istered.
Steel is an alloy, and a very complex one. Alloy
steel is that to which other metals have been added to
improve its natural properties. Pure iron may be
classed among the "rare metals," and not a pound of
pure iron has been made under ordinary smelting con-
ditions.
With coal at $6 per ton and fuel oil at 80 cents per
barrel, delivered, the latter would represent a substan-
tial economy in mine and smelter work. A matteing
furnace which would need a ton of coal for every three
and three-fourths tons ore should smelt a like quantity
with four barrels oil.
Considerable of the sulphur used in the eastern
United States comes from Sicily at very low freight
rates; the cost of transportation usually precludes profit-
able working of Pacific coast sulphur deposits; makers
of sulphuric acid import considerable sulphur from
Mexico and Japan.
It is not unusual to find the upper levels of a mine
wetter than the lower levels. Several gold mines along
that part of the gold belt of California extending through
Amador and Calaveras counties are of that nature,
notably the Kennedy of Jackson, Cal. The Lake Supe-
rior mines are dry to their lowest levels.
An atom is the smallest particle of an element which
can exist, and it cannot be divided by any means either
chemical or mechanical. Every atom of a given element
has the same weight, hut the atoms of different elements
have different weights. The lightest atom is the atom
of hydrogen. The heaviest is uranium.
Ordinarily the Purple-of-Cassius test, of such value
in gold ehlorination works, is of little avail in cyanide
solution, the purple coloration not appearing. If, how-
ever, the cyanogen present is got rid of by oxidation or
otherwise, the purple color will show with the same deli-
cate clearness as though pure solutions were used.
The percentage of antimony in hard lead may he
very closely estimated by determining the specific grav-
ity. Hard lead consists chiefly of lead and antimony
with only small percentages of impurities, and, theoreti-
cally, the specific gravity of the alloy should vary
according to the proportions of lead and antimony.
At the United Verde copper mine, Jerome, Arizona,
the ore averages 6j% copper. It carries from 15% to 32%
sulphur. When heap roasted, such ore is piled 3 feet high
on 8 inches of wood, which, being ignited, fires the sul-
phur on the ore, that burning from five to eight weeks,
when the now desulphurized ore goes to the furnaces.
If the battery screen be inclined outward at the top it
will greatly aid the discharge. Strips of J inch wide of
.,'« inch rubber sheet packing between the tin and wood
frame will double the life of the tin screen. If, before
using, the tin is burned off before a clear forge fire — just
heating to redness — it will anneal and toughen the iron.
*tfc4>*
By a miner's inch in Colorado is known that volume
of water which is discharged through 1 square inch of
an aperture which is 2 inches high and 4 inches long, cut
through a plank 1.25 inch thick, the lower edge of aper-
ture being 2 inches above the bottom of the measuring
hook, and the upper edge 5 inches below the level of the
water.
In South Africa, as elsewhere, the "cheap" miner,
that is the low-priced peon, is often found to be the dear-
est. The Chinese are plodding and patient and in sur-
face or shallow work can be used, but even in such cases
a white miner is worth three Chinese, and wherever
skilled work in mining is required there can be no
comparison.
There are two universities within 30 miles of San
Francisco, Cal., the University of California, with
about 3500 students, and Leland Stanford, Jr., Univer-
sity, with about one-half that number. They both have
excellent mining colleges and equally excellent colleges
of mechanical engineering. The cost of attendance at
either need not exceed $500 per annum.
At Guanajuato, Mex., a 60,000-volt transmission line
carries about 3300 electric H. P. 100 miles; one 60,000-volt
circuit transmits 13,000 H. P. 147 miles in California, and
another transmits 15,000 H. P. 142 miles; two 55,000-volt
circuits carry 10,000 H. P. 65 miles, from Canyon Ferry
to Butte, Mont. These are but a few isolated instances
of long-distance electrical transmission.
Red lead is usually tested by oxalic acid and sugar.
A much finer way is: Take 2.5 grams red lead, treat
with 20 c.c. dilute nitric acid, and shake. The red lead
will be converted into the oxide, oxygenated water to be
added while shaking. If the red lead be free from
barium sulphate, sand or other impurities, a solution
almost limpid will be obtained in three or four minutes.
rfcrfc*fc<l>
Mill plates are silver plated by the electro-plating
process. A solution is made of the requisite proportions
of cyanide or chloride of silver, cyanide of potassium and
water. The copper plate is thoroughly cleaned, im-
mersed in the solution and attached to the negative
pole. The silver sheets (anodes) feed the solution, and
the silver is deposited on the plates, as the solution,
being a conductor of electricity, permits the current to
pass through the anodes to the copper plate.
The amount of air required by a rock drill dependB
much on the make or design. It is commonly estimated
that a 3-inch drill will consume about 15 cubic feet of air
per minute, compressed to a pressure of sixty pounds.
A 3J-inch drill will use about 20 cubic feet per minute.
These figures, which are about a general average, may
be used for choosing a compressor which is to operate
drills at sea level.
In the case of Tyson vs. Beill, 70 Pac. Rep., 791, the
Supreme Court of Idaho held that where parties enter
into a written contract for a lease with option to pur-
chase placer mining claims, the details being given, that
such contract cannot he defeated by showing an oral
agreement not made subsequent to the signing of the
written contract, no fraud or mistake in securing such
contract being alleged.
HBtPWW
Colorado quartz mines start in in altitude about
where California quartz mines leave off. The bulk of
California quartz mines are from 2000 to 5800 feet above
sea level. The most of Colorado's quartz mines are
above the 8000-foot level, none below 5500. The highest
quartz mine in Sierra county, Cal., is the Oakland, 7400
feet above the sea. There are quartz mines in Colorado
operated at a height of 13,000 feet.
Statements made by a party as to the value of goods
when selling them where no confidential relations exist
between him and the buyer, and the property can be
seen and inspected by the latter, are considered as mere
seller's statements, and furnish no ground for an action
for damages for false representations, as such statements
do not relieve the buyer from responsibility of investi-
gating for himself before purchasing.
A BOY of 17 is not too young to enter an engineering
school, though he could better grasp the requirements
of the course were he a year older. It is not the most
brilliant or showy student that always makes the best
engineer, the chap who has to "dig " and acquire knowl-
edge slowly often developing into the most trustworthy
engineer. In its commercial application engineering is
the art of making a dollar earn the most interest.
Tin ore exists in southern California, South Dakota,
Texas and Alaska, but for a variety of reasons is not
yet being mined in a commercial way. In the Federated
Malay States is the greatest present annual production.
In Bolivia, South America, a production of 8000 tons
and in Australia an annual yield of 3000 tons are re-
ported. The cost of production varies. In Cornwall,
England, at the Dolcoath mines, a ton of black tin now
costs from $275 to $400.
VVVw
Fire clay is acid, and when a basic furnace lining is
required, dolomite (magnesian limestone) is used. It
consists of carbonates of magnesia and lime, from which
the carbon dioxide is driven off by calcining. The result-
ing mixture of magnesia and lime has little coherence,
and hence it is coarsely ground and mixed with tar into
a plastic material, which is formed into the furnace lin-
ing. Heating then cokes the tar and it becomes a cement
for the magnesia and lime.
There are several welding compounds for steel and
iron. One recommended is: Iron filings, 1000 parts;
borax, 500; balsam copaiva, 50; sal ammoniac, 75. Mix,
heat and pulverize. Another is made thus: Borax, 5
pounds; sal ammoniac, 1 pound; prussiate of potash, J
pound: resin, J pound; alcohol, \ pint; water, \ pint;
iron filings, J pound. Melt in iron pot over gentle fire;
allow compound to boil a few minutes until it becomes
dry and charred, then pulverize.
South African mining engineers calculate that with
a mean temperature of 68° F. at 1000 feet, the rock tem-
perature at a depth of 8000 feet would be 102°, and at
12,000 feet about 122°. In the lower levels of the Corn-
stock, Nevada, a temperature of 170° F. was frequent till
ventilating connections were made, when the heat was
reduced from 30° to 40°. Detailed discussion has elicited
a general belief in the practicability of deep mining in
the Transvaal being carried on successfully at a greater
depth than 6000 feet.
It would be impossible to say how much salt there is
in a boiler at any given time except by a test with a salo-
meter, or by a boiling test. Sea water boils at atmos-
pheric pressure at 213°, and saturated sea water at 226°.
The amount of salt remaining in the boiler depends upon
the amount of water that the boiler has evaporated and
very slightly on the density of the water. To keep the
water in the boiler at a certain density it must be blown
down sufficiently to secure that result, the quantity or
amount blown down being proportionate to the amount
evaporated.
Various colored cements can be produced by incor-
porating certain metallic oxides or metallic salts
directly with the ground raw materials used in the
manufacture of Portland cement, and then burning the
resulting mixture in the usual manner. A small quan-
tity of chromic oxide added tp the raw cement mixture
September 23, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
206
will produce a green colored cement; oxide of cobalt will
give a blue, varying in intensity according to the quan-
tity of metallic salt added. Oxide of copper will yield a
peacock, or blue-green, cemeDt; a small quantity of
oxide of iron, oxide of manganese and oxide of cobalt,
in almost equal proportions, will produce a black
cemeDt.
In feeding ore to a furnace the fine ore should be
thrown against the sides and the coarser in the middle to
neutralize the natural tondoncy of the material in being
shoveled up, where the fine will tend to go to the bottom
and the center, while the coarse has an equal tendency
to go to the top and the sides. Thus, when Hung from
the shovel, the coarse will go farther than the fine and
land beyond It. It may be noted that in a conical heap
of ore formed by shovelfuls the coarser particles of ore
will tend to roll to the base and the finer will stay near
the top.
Figures giving in detail the cost of mining and mill-
ing free-gold ore havo been given repeatedly from special
data furnished by experience in Colorado, California,
Alaska and South Dakota. In the San Juan district,
Colorado, in mining and milling 54,000 tons of ore, among
other costs it was determined that the powder used
cost 11.8 cents per ton of ore; fuse, 1.87 cent per ton;
caps, .081 cent; candles, 4.4.'! cents; steel, .30 cent; stop-
ing, 1.22 cent; timbering, 47.45 cents; crushing, 8.98
cents; stamping and amalgamating, 27.27 cents; cyanide
treatment, including tailings, 70.25 cents.
VVTV
In making malleable castings, white cast iron — that is,
iron with all the carbon in combination — is melted and
cast into the required forms. These castings, whichare
hard, weak and brittle, are packed in cast iron boxes in
the midst of coarsely powdered oxide of iron, usually
hematite ore or hammer-scale. These boxes are sealed
and exposed to a temperature of full redness in a rever-
boratory oven for from three to six days. They are then
slowly cooled down, and the cast iron is found to be
changed to something that is very much like wrought
iron in strength, ductility, resilience and softness.
AN excellent way to lay up a earn shaft pulley is to
have the boards radiate from the hub and to extend full
length from hub to rim. Another way is to lay the
boards transverse to the shaft. It will be found," how-
ever, that In operation the strain of the belt and the jar
tend to make the transverse boards work, until in a
short time the rim boards drop or give at every revolu-
tion of the pulley. Where the boards radiate from the
hub there will be no such drop. In the one case de-
pendence is placed upon the nails and bolts keeping the
pulley in place; in the other one has the full strength of
the fiber of the wood.
Molybdenum alloys are used for a variety of pur-
poses, combining with steel and other metals for indus-
trial use. Molybdenite, the ore from which' molyb-
denum is produced, is scattered widely throughout this
west half of America, in California, Arizona, Nevada,
Washington, Utah and elsewhere. To be of much value
it must be free from copper and carry 50% or more
molybdenum. If it assays 55% it is worth approxi-
mately $300 per ton. Metallic molybdenum is worth
about $1.70 per pound. Any large steel works can give
exact reply as to the likelihood or terms of purchase of
the ore. The treatment of the ore cannot be more than
a concentration at the mine; the metal is produced at
the metallurgical works, where the ore is bought by
assay.
The roasting of sulphides has a three-fold effect. It
occasions an alteration of obnoxious compounds into in-
different ones; it removes the sulphur and the ore grains
become porous, and the fine gold and silver particles
become accessible to solvents; there is also occasioned a
certain amount of fritting of the fine ore grains, which
allows more rapid leaching afterward. If roasted
"dead," the effects will be different. The last-named
point would be the same; but, instead of insol-
uble oxides, there would be a mixture of sulphates
and oxides, as well as undecomposed sulphides, and
hence a less porous product. If one could transform all
sulphides into sulphates at the same time, little could be
said against adopting such a method preparatory to
cyanidation.
The mining statutes of the United States require a
locator of a mining claim to disclose a vein or lode of ore
in place, but do not require that he sink a 10-foot dis-
covery shaft. If he should sink a shaft to any depth
required by the local or State or Territorial laws, and then
mark his claim and record it according to law, even
though he found no ore in place in his discovery shaft,
and afterward discovered ore in place in another part of
the location, such discovery of ore has been held to cure
the defect of not finding ore in place in the discovery
shaft, and the claim was adjudged as good and dated to
the time of original location. This will not apply to
cases where any second locator has obtained conflicting
territory by location between the dates of the first loca-
tion and the discovery of ore in place.
Vvww
The assay ton has been repeatedly explained. One
pound, avoirdupois, equals 7000 grains; 2000 pounds
equals one ton; so that there are 14,000,000 troy grains in
one ton, avoirdupois. There are 480 troy grains in one
ounce, troy; hence, by dividing 14.000,000 by 480 one
gets 29,106 troy ounces in 2000 pounds avoirdupois. Ore
is weighed by avoirdupois weight; gold and silver by troy
weight. In assay work, by taking as many milligrams
of ore as a ton contains ounces, every milligram of gold
or silver extracted is equivalent to an ounce to the ton.
In one assay ton lA.T.), there are 29,166 milligrams.
Hence, by taking one assay ton of ore, one milligram of
gold or silver extracted equals one ounce troy to the ton
of ore. That is, 2000 pounds is to one assay ton as one
ounce troy is to one milligram. Weighing by grains,
the assay ton contains 29, 166 grains; hence one grain of
gold or silver extracted equals one ounce troy to the ton
of ore.
V V V V
There are miners' associations in California, Oregon,
Idaho and British Columbia, each with substantially the
same intent, viz: to advance the general good and pro-
tect and foster the industry. The California association
of late has been more technical in its tendencies than in
former years, and the British Columbia association still
debates and resolves. The Oregon and Idaho associations
aro solely protective in their present tendencies. The
Colorado association is composed almost entirely of mine
owners and operators. The chief danger in any such
association is that it be left to its own devices and be liable
to seizure by those who would use it for the furtherance
of their own private interests. Whether a Montana
miners' association would or would not prosper, "Con-
centrates" is not prepared to say; but it would seem
difficult there, were such an organization perfected, to
keep it out of politics.
The price of the platinum found in the California,
Oregon and British Columbia sands varies considerably
from the quoted price of pure platinum, just as the price
paid for placer gold varies with the fineness or freedom
from impurities of what is offered for sale. True, pure
gold sells for $20.67 per ounce, and platinum for $20, yet
gold will run as low as $13, and platinum as found in
these sands as low as $9. The platinum as found nearly
always carries iron, iridium, osmium, etc., either in sep-
arate, grains or usually as a natural alloy, and while the
osmium or iridium, if separated, could he sold at high
values, yet it requires skilled apparatus to so separato
them, and their existence is a detriment instead of an
addition to the value in such shape. Native platinum
and platinum in place have been apparently authentically
reported at various times, but "Concentrates" is not
prepared to affirm the known existence of platinum in
situ in rock in this country.
The connection of cause and effect in the case of mag-
netism and electricity gives rise to the energy produced
by and in the electric motor, occasioned by that result
of magnetic influence called induction. If a magnet be
moved about in the vicinity of a coil of wire whose ends
are connected to a means for measuring the passage of an
electric current, it will be found that a current of elec-
tricity will be generated in the wire of the coil, and that
it flows only when the magnet is being moved nearer the
coil; and also that as the magnet moves toward the coil,
the current flows in one direction through the coil, and
as it is being pulled away, the current flows in an oppo-
site direction. By suitably arranging a set of coils and
magnets in such a manner that the coils pass in front of
the magnets, there can be generated strong currents of
electricity. It is by reason of this fact, and primarily
on such plan that all dynamos and generators are ope-
rated. The ordinary method is to so mount an electro
magnet (called the field magnet) that there is a break in
the magnetic circuit, across which the lines of magnet-
ism will pass in completing their circuit. In this gap in
the magnetic circuit, an armature, consisting of a num-
ber of coils of insulated wire mounted on a shaft, is re-
volved by means of power applied to it. As these coils
of insulated wire move through the lines of magnetism,
currents of electricity are generated in them which are
carried away from the armature for the varied uses of
power, light, heat, etc.
The principal cause of corrosions in boilers is the
presence of animal or vegetable oils in the feed water.
Most of those oils are composed of glycerine chemically
united with acids. When heated they separate into free
glycerine and free acid. This decomposition takes place
at a temperature of about 2200° F. This is the temper-
ature of steam having a pressure a little above that of
the atmosphere, showing that such oils are not safe in
even low-pressure boilers. In the case of the liber-
ated acids they attack the boiler plates until they have
corroded and carried away an amount of iron equal in
weight to the glycerine they have given up. The result
of this chemical action between the iron of the boiler
and the acids of the oils is a compound that either falls
to the quieter parts of the boiler or sticks to the sides of
the shell, a sticky black grease that must be removed by
mechanical means. Neither common salt nor sulphate
of lime are corrosive, but chloride of magnesia is, the
hydrochloric acid in the latter when set free attacking
the boiler where lime is present, it and the chloride of
magnesia also reacting on each other, producing, among
other products, carbonic acid. The form of local corro-
sion known as grooving makes its appearance at the
edges of the plates where they come together to form a
riveted joint. Grooving is always found on flat boiler
heads next to the circumferential seam that joins the
heads to the cylindrical shell, and around the points
where the through stays are secured to the heads. The
cause of grooving is that the boiler material first cor-
rodes to a uniform depth at nearly all points, and then
the alternate expansion and contraction causes the pro-
tecting layer of corroded iron and boiler scale to crack
off at the line of greatest flexure, which is close to the
riveted joints and around stays, because the stays"
through the heads and the double thickness of metal at'
the joints cause a greater stiffness of the shell at these
points, and this results in a concentration of the bending
along a line adjacent to the rigid portions. The parts
thus uncovered are again attacked, and the above series
of operations repeated.
Under no circumstances should any one not an ex-
pert attempt the manufacture of nitroglycerine, and
even if thoroughly understanding the details of its
manufacture no move should be made toward combin-
ing its constituents unless the operator has all the
needed requirements to reduce to the minimum the ever
present danger of destruction. In making it the nitric
and sulphuric acids are first mixed, the pure colorless
glycerine poured in, in a fine stream, the acids stirred
while they boil and send out thick red vapors of gas. If
the glycerine is poured in too fast, or the water in which
the jars set gets too warm, the mixture will blaze with a
blowing noise, and if it is not stirred fast the blaze will
shoot up 3 or 4 feet. The mixture is kept stirred with a
glass rod until the action becomes less intense. Each jar is
stirred in turn as glycerine is added, with a good current
of cool water running around the jars, until the jars
have each had some glycerine. Then that work is be-
gun over again at the first jar, and so kept up till no
more action takes place and no more fumes are given
off. When all is quiet, and as much glycerine taken as
the acids will convert, the nitroglycerine will be in the
bottom of the jars, like a milky, heavy, oily-looking
fluid. Then the acids are poured off, and it is washed
with water, for nitroglycerine is insoluble in water. An
old-fashioned wooden churn with a dasher ia good for
that kind of work. After most of the acid is washed
out, and poured out of the jars, the nitroglycerine and
acids left can be poured into the churn, water then
dipped in, and the churn briskly operated; the wash
should be so thorough that litmus paper will show no
reaction. One should continue to keep on putting in
more water and churning and pouring off, for on the
freedom from all acids depends the safety and keeping
quality of the nitroglycerine. When the churning is
done the stuff is poured into a wooden bucket, and it is
ready for use, looking milky, with a little clear water on
top. After two or three days the milkiness disappears,
and the nitroglycerine looks clear. If it grows yel-
lowish it shows free acid, and should be churned some
more with clear water. If it becomes orange colored
some lime or soda should be put in the churn. If it be-
gins to look deep orange or cloudy it should be exploded
at once, or poured out on the ground where it will not
be dangerous. It is a most dangerous proposition from
the start, and unless properly handled throughout, dis-
aster is likely to result.
VVwV
Silver is easily dissolved by nitric acid and converted
into nitrate of silver, but this acid, if pure, does not at-
tack gold. If the nitric acid contain chlorine, however,
it will dissolve some of the gold, so that it is always nec-
essary to test it by adding a little solution of nitrate of
silver, which will render it milky, from the separation of
the insoluble chloride of silver, if any chlorine be pres-
ent. An alloy, containing two parts of gold to five parts
of silver, is most suitable for this process. If it contain
a larger proportion of gold than this, the acid will be
unable to penetrate to the center of the mass, while if
it contain more than three parts of silver to one of gold,
the latter will break down to a fine powder, after the sil-
ver has been removed, by the action of the acid. With
the proportion first named, the silver may be completely
dissolved, but the skeleton of gold may be still suffi-
ciently coherent to hold together unless it be violently
boiled or roughly handled. Originally the proportion of
three to one was employed, and the term quartation, or
inquartation, applied to the process, was derived from
this fact. The alloy, in a granulated state, is heated
with twice its weight of moderately strong nitric acid
(sp. gr. 1. 32), in a still made of platinum, glaBS or earth-
enware, connected with an apparatus for condensing
the vapors of nitric acid which pass off. While the sil-
ver is being dissolved, a large quantity of the red gas-
eous oxides of nitrogen are evolved, resulting from the
action of the silver upon the nitric acid, and when these
are no longer perceived, the silver is known to be dis-
solved. The still is then cooled, the solution of nitrate
drawn off, and the undissolved gold boiled with a little
more nitric acid to extract any remaining silver. It is
then washed with water, dried, melted and cast into an
ingot. The use of the nitric acid method of parting gold
is practically confined to assay laboratories, where it is
universally employed. In order to recover the silver
from the nitrate, hydrochloric acid is cautiously added,
so as to separate the bulk of the silver, as the insoluble
chloride, leaving the nitric acid in the solution, which
may be used again if care be taken to leave a little ni-
trate of silver undecomposed in the solution, so as to
insure the absence of chlorine. The separated chloride
of silver is washed with water moistened with sulphuric
acid, and some bars of zinc or iron placed in it when
chloride of zinc or iron is formed and dissolved, the silver
being left in the finely divided metallic state. The rest
of the zinc is taken out, the silver allowed to remain in
contact with dilute sulphuric acid to dissolve any
particles of zinc, then thoroughly washed with water,
dried, melted, and cast into ingots.
207
Mining and Scientific Press.
September 23, 1905.
Operating a Mine Without Money.
To the Editor: — Sometimes a miner with more
luck than sense strikes it rich; sometimes mining is a
straight, unobstructed short cut to fortune, but more
frequently sense looms large in mining success. Often
the miner meets difficulties sufficient to put his abil-
ity and courage to a supreme test. On those few
occasions when Fate plucks a commonplace man from
the bunch and thrusts him into ephemeral fortune
and lasting fame the story of it travels far and be-
comes a classic. On the opposite hand, a man may
accomplish the seemingly impossible in his fight
against adverse fortune, and it follows as naturally as
his tail follows a dog that the exploit attracts but
little more attention than is accorded by those criti-
cal incompetents who predicted failure.
These remarks are introductory to the story of a
unique example of pluck and fact in mine manage-
ment. Although the facts related are well known
locally, no reference thereto has ever appeared in
print — from which it may be surmised that some men
are better at doing a thing than bragging about it.
The Slough Creek Gravel Gold Co.'s deep channel
placer is in Cariboo district, near Barkerville. The
development of this channel was begun by the Slough
Creek Mining Co., composed chiefly of Tacoma men.
W. F. Sargeant was secretary and money hustler,
and John Hopp was manager from 1893 until the
present year. The development of a wet channel 287
feet deep requires a lot of money, so it happened that
in 1895 the money stringency throughout the United
States nullified Mr. Sargeant's every effort to sell
stock, so he went to England and began negotiations
in "the tight little isle," and finally succeeded in
reorganizing the company with a goodly sum in the
treasury. It was good work, but it was not quick
work — the Englishman doesn't do business that way.
He is the best man on earth to back a mining propo-
sition when once you get him in — his word is good, he
stays, his feet remain warm. But the wear and tear
on a promoter's mind while the Englishman is, being
separated from his money on a mining deal is nearly
hades. It must have been all that to Manager Hopp,
who at this time for a period of two years kept the
development work going steadily, without fuss,
strike, or outward show of trouble, and ' without a
dollar! There was no money to pay his salary, the
wages of the miners, grub, tools — anything. I reckon
it was the completest, longest stand-off ever put up
by an incorporated company. It amounted to $25,000
or $30,000, which, of course, was promptly paid after
reorganization. How was it done? I do not know
yet, and I was here at the time. Obviously Hopp
had entire confidence in himself, Sargeant and the
mine, but how he could impart that confidence to all
whom those thousands of dollars might concern is
certainly .a difficult thing to understand, for he is not
a brilliant talker, and there is in him no spark of
" that genius which your soul leaps to meet." For
one thing, he was frank; everyone concerned knew as
much about the situation as Hopp could tell him.
Another factor was his long-headed foreman, Lau-
rent Muller, now manager of the Willow River Min-
ing Co. This sketch would be incomplete if it failed
to mention other men whose loyalty made the work
possible: S. A. Rogers and John Peebles, merchants;
John Bowron, gold commissioner, and John Steven-
son, sheriff and magistrate; miners E. D. Fargo (now
accountant for the Cariboo Consolidated), L. D. Mul-
ler (now merchant and mine owner at Teller City,
Alaska), Robert Fleming (now mine owner at Fair-
banks, Alaska), James Shriver, Charles Moulton,
Julius Hansen and Ener Enersen. Messrs. Sargeant,
Peebles, Moulton, Hansen and Enersen have passed
away. Good men and true they were.
I almost forgot to mention Ah Wah, the cook, who
was one of the stayers. Imagine the nerve requisite
for standing off a Chinaman to the extent of two
years' wages!
I trust this sketch will tap other veins of reminis-
cence in the readers of your valuable journal.
Henry Boursin.
Barkerville, B. C, Sept. 12.
Why Study Mining?
To the Editor: — Nothing is more difficult to cor-
rect in the public mind than its convictions upon
education and special classes of training, when once
fully committed to an error. Every one knows that
for ages past all record, holes in the ground have
been dug and mineral in varied forms taken there-
from; and yet, in modern times, certain people have
foolishly thought that if men were specially set aside
and trained for it, and were to devote their time,
thought and energies toward a study of geological
conditions, to the improvement in methods of mining,
and to the treatment of metalliferous mineral, that
mining would, in a productive and business sense,
achieve a higher measure of success. As this falla-
cious notion grew and thrived, they established schools
and colleges, instituted courses in practical training,
sent their sons to them, spent thousands upon such
education and special training, only to find out later
on that it was, for them, just so many years and
monies wasted.
For other pursuits and professions, of course, a
special preparation is essential. No one would at-
tempt to become a doctor, lawyer, banker, merchant,
or, in fact, anything else, without a preparatory
period of study and a subsequent period in which to
acquire practical experience, or a combination of the
two. But that it is being very generally accepted at
last as wholly unnecessary with reference to mining,
among the educated and thinking public, is evidenced
by the many mining enterprises entered upon by in-
dividuals who have been, probably, fairly successful
in other pursuits, and to whom the calling of mining
appeals as one of attractive ease and profit and a
larger measure of success, when backed by the sound
business judgment which has distinguished them in
their own chosen pursuit prior to their entry into the
mining field. To them it is a matter of tolerant sur-
prise that there should be deemed necessary any-
thing like a training, technical or otherwise, to
"simply run tunnels, drifts and crosscuts or sink
shafts and winzes." This is the sum total of the nec-
essary work. There are hammers, drills, powder,
timber, hoists, etc., and labor. What could be more
simple ? Method of work and costs as against pro-
duced values are matters which must perforce regu-
late themselves. If the element of cost happens to
predominate — well, nothing could alter that. It
then, in a manner, becomes "all a gamble," and
should never be permitted to rank as a legitimate
business, needing special training, study or experi-
ence. Any one can mine. That 99 out of 100 enter-
prises so conducted fail early and miserably is no
evidence of the business incapacity in this line of the
gentlemen associated with it or any evidence of the
desirability of the so-called technical assistance. It
simply demonstrates the precarious nature of the
mining business in its entirety.
The foolish advocates of professional miners would
insist that it is only by reason of study and experience
that so many properties of low tonnage value, for
many years deemed utterly impracticable, are work-
ing profitably to-day; but better informed people
know that it is just accident, and that they could
have done equally well with such properties had it
occurred to them to take it in hand.
And so the tinker, tailor, soldier, sailor, etc., will
continue to cheerfully tempt fate in the assurance of
their capability and wisdom in the simple matter of
mining. Miner.
Tucson, Arizona.
Ball Nipple Blast Connection.
To the Editor: — The old method of making blast
pipe connections, its delays and annoyances are well
known to managing metallurgists. Ever since the
Bessemer process was adopted for converting, all
connections were made by means of a short stuffing
box and a canvas pipe rigidly attached to the con-
verter. This necessitated the removal of all bolts
whenever a coupling was made or broken. Time was
thus wasted in unbelting from expanded metal.
L. H. Wheeler, superintendent of the F. M. Davis
Iron Works Co. of Denver, Colo., has a device in
which he uses the air pressure generated for the
blast on its way to the converter, to actuate a piston
of a greater diameter and area than that of the
coupling and its contained surfaces. By this force a
short pipe with spherical ends is propelled forward
to a junction with a receiving cup or seat in the side
of the converter shell, thereby making an airtight
and secure contact and connection. One end of this
connecting pipe is seated in a piston working in a
cylinder formed by a horizontal extension of the blast
pipe, the other end being seated as above. By means
of a hand lever, the piston and connecting pipe are
moved backwards and forward to and from the seats,
thus connecting or disconnecting the blast from the
converter shell. The ball finish at the ends of the
pipe permits of motion in any direction, on the prin-
ciple of a universal joint, thereby compelling a tight
connection to be maintained, although the seats are
not in line. Metallurgist.
Denver, Colo.
Thorough and systematic prospecting is not under-
taken nowadays without employment of the diamond
drill. Formerly these drills were a monopoly and
could not be purchased at all, but had to be leased.
Now, however, they are sold outright. Drills and
plants can be purchased at prices ranging from $1500
to $5000. A plant once on the ground, it is ordina-
rily estimated that the cost of drilling averages
about 10 cents per foot. The cost of a good hoisting
plant and pump is as much as that of a diamond drill.
It takes two men to operate a drill and at least that
many to sink a shaft. A diamond drill will sink 40
feet a day in hard rock; two men will not average
over 2 feet. The diamond drill takes out a core
which will show just as well what there is at any
depth down to 1500 feet as a shaft, and any number
of holes can be drilled rapidly along the vein, so as to
cut it at any desired depth down to about 1500 feet.
When the diamond drill has demonstrated the fact
that the ore is down there and in sufficient body,
capital will go after it with a shaft in hot haste.
Summer School of Surveying.*
Written for the Mining and Scientific Press by
Charles Derleth, Jr., c. E.f
An examination of the booklet! entitled " Summer
Session of the University of California" shows that
all the University's summer work is not done on the
campus at Berkeley. On the coast of the Pacific, l'i
miles north of Santa Cruz, where Lyddell creek adds
its waters to the ocean, is the Summer School of Sur-
veying, a veritable engineer's camp, Camp California,
which, during the session just past, was a village of
sixty tents, housing 225 students and a faculty of six
instructors, not to mention cooks and other help.
The summer school idea is growing rapidly in the
United States. Technical or engineering schools feel
the necessity most keenly. During the winter
months engineering students have little time for out-
of-door work and their practical surveying and min-
ing and machine shop practice must in part, if done
at all properly, come in the summer vacations. All
our mining students are required to work in a mine
at some time during their four years' course, and all
mining students devote at least one summer to that
work. All students in civil engineering and mining
must go to the Summer School of Surveying at least
once, while certain students in civil engineering tak-
ing the railroad and sanitary engineering courses are
required to go two different summers. And so when
one looks at the University's summer session pros-
pectus, one finds, as already mentioned, the Summer
School of Surveying.
All the large Eastern institutions have summer
surveying schools. Some of these are older and
more equipped with permanent buildings, but none
are larger than Camp California, while the latter has
the distinct advantage of lacking all permanent fix-
tures and being exactly like the roving camp of a
railroad party which is locating a long length of
track through a wilderness.
During the winter months the students devote
themselves to theory and mathematical subjects
which form the ground work of the true engineer's
training, but at Camp California for two months each
year practice is emphasized, always with respect for
theory, however, and the young engineer is given a
chance to measure his fitness and aptness for his
chosen profession. The true engineer is neither the
man who devotes all to theory and book learning, nor
the so-called practical man who despises mathe-
matics and respects only the rule of thumb, the tape
and the hatchet. He is the well rounded scholar
who knows to what extent to use his theoretical
knowledge so that, he may obtain in the quickest
time and with the least labor results and designs
accurate and strong enough for the particular pur-
poses in hand and for the least expenditure of money.
Such a man is not made in four years at college, but
only after further years of study and experience;
however, during his undergraduate career, the Sum-
mer School gives the budding engineer the first good
chance to weigh theory and practice and the first
principle of instruction at Camp California has
always this end in view. While the student weak in
theory is discovered at Berkeley, the man lacking in
practicality is picked out in the Summer School.
Summer Camp or 1905. — The 225 students who at-
tended camp this summer represented the fresh-
man, sophomore and junior classes in civil engineer-
ing and the freshman and sophomores in mining; 158
of them reported for duty on May 18 and the rest on
June 15. Previous experience has developed a com-
plete code of rules for the conduct of the camp and
these rules with field instructions, printed in pam-
phlet form, are distributed to the students before
their departure for camp. Students who do not re-
port on the right date or in the right year are fined,
and all pay a regular fee of $10 to the University for
the privileges of the camp, the use of instruments,
and the benefits of instruction, a mere nominal sum
which covers an extremely small fraction of the run-
ning expenses, which are mainly borne by the Uni-
versity. In the East, students in some institutions
pay as much as $35 for similar privileges, which
shows in this one way the great boon of our Univer-
sity to the sons of California. Each man pays an
additional sum of $20 to the committee of the faculty
in charge of finances. This amount covers all living
expenses connected with the four weeks' trip and in-
cludes railroad fare to and from San Francisco. The
University provides the student with a tent. Three
to four students occupy a tent together. The camp
provides for him a postoffice service and furnishes
his meals and equips him with all the main instru-
ments for field surveying. He provides all minor
materials, his cot, roughing clothes and bedding, but
these are sent in bulk for the class by the University
authorities from Berkeley to the camp.
During the past session of May, June and July the
camp was under the personal direction of Professor
E. N. Prouty, who holds the chair of surveying and
*See illustrations first page.
fAssoclate Professor Structural Engineering, University of Cali.
fornia, Berkeley, Cal.
tTbts booklet may be obtained by addressing ibe Recorder of
Faculties, University of California, Berkeley, California. A pros-
pectus giving general information regarding the work at the Sum-
mer Surveying Camp may be obtained by addressing the Depart-
ment of Civil Engineering.
September 23, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
208
railroad engineering at the University. He was
assisted by five instructors: Messrs. C. Loring, J.
P. Williams, E. A. Gibbs, H. R. Ebright. and Dr. .1.
C. Blair. These men each represented a special
branch of instruction work and further assisted the
director, as appointed, in the care and assignment
of instruments, the sanitary arrangements, commis-
sary department, meetings and lectures, finances
and discipline. Dr. J. C. Blair acted also as camp
physician and adviser in sanitary matters, which
have been developed to a high and careful standard,
a matter of gravest importance in so large a camp.
Much credit is due this body of instructors for the
efficient instruction at the successful camp season
just closed, and the writer of this article, speaking
for the home faculty of the College of Civil Engineer-
ing, takes great pleasure in making this statement.
The First Davs at Camp.— Upon arrival at camp
in stages from Santa Cruz on May 18, the students
and instructors joined hands in the construction of a
cook house, a wood house for sheltering instruments,
a barn for horses, feed and storage, sanitary build-
ings and water supply, and in the pitching of nearly
sixty army tents. This work is no small job and has
proved to be, as already intimated, one of the most
valuable experiences for the young men, for it gives
them all the conditions of the actual establishment of
a large camp on untried ground and all enjoy and
profit by it. In Eastern summer schools these
opportunities are often wanting, due to the perma-
nent nature of the site and buildings.
Field PROBLEMS. — With these matters settled, the
work of the school is planned, which has as its final
object the making of a complete topographical map
of Arroyo de la Laguna Ranch, a property of about
2500 acres, by the freshmen and sophomores; and
the running of an imaginary railroad line by the
junior class. All of this work is done in a most
practical way and with complete organizations of
parties so changed in personnel from day to day that
every student gets a chance to be everybody from
axeman and chainman to transitman and chief engi-
neer. The results of the summer's work are care-
fully compiled and recorded and used in further
studies the following winter at Berkeley.
The Day's Work. — The discipline is strict and
each day's work carefully outlined. At 5:15 o'clock
in the morning the rising horn blows, breakfast is
served at 5:30 and field work begins at 6 o'clock.
Dinner is served at 11:15 and work continued at
noon. At 3 o'clock in the afternoon the work-day
officially stops because little field work can be done
with accuracy during the later afternoon due to the
prevailing high winds from the ocean at this season,
but so keen are the boys for their work that most of
them devote the later hours till 5 and 6 p. M. to the
office work of computation and draughting, which is
done in their tents. Saturday is a half holiday and
Sunday for rest. While the students find their days
full and busy there is nevertheless much time left for
enjoyment and it is at camp that good fellowship is
formed and lasting friendships made. Some of the
fondest recollections of an engineer's student days
are centered about the rough and democratic life of
the camp, and many a student owes many manly
qualifications to his camp experiences. At night
when the tired parties come tramping into camp
there is always food and lots of it to appease the
hungry appetites. Three Celestial cooks and an
army of student waiters are kept busy satisfying the
cavernous appetites of the boys. There is little dif-
ference between the three daily meals; hot bread,
ham and eggs, beefsteak, milk, potatoes and vege-
tables, form the menu of nearly every meal. After
supper the boys often collect about a camp fire with
their songs and stories and all the good natured rail-
lery of college camp life. Saturday afternoon often
sees good ball playing. Sunday morning is "wash-
day " in the surf and a mussel bake often fills the
evening hours.
Four weeks spent in this way prove of inestimable
value to all the men. They get a taste of the appli-
cation of at least part of their theoretical studies;
more than that, they learn to live with their fellows
and feel the influence of obeying the chief of party
and in turn being the master. But above all it is
healthful and invigorating and all return to the city
better fit to begin another hard year at Berkeley.
The students invariably have a good word for camp
and all feel the object of and the end to be attained
by the Summer School of Surveying.
Problems for the Freshman Class. — A few
words are not amiss as to the detailed procedure of
the professional work:
For the freshman and sophomores? the object, as al-
ready stated, is a complete topographic map of a
ranch of about 2500 acres. By parties of three
men the angles of a net work of triangles covering
the ground are read by repetition and direction
methods with engineer's transits; ail stations in the
triangulation have their elevations determined with
respect to a main bench mark on the ocean coast by
running lines of levels with engineer's levels, and
two base lines, at opposite ends of the ranch which
are at the same time sides of the triangulation, are
carefully measured with catenary tapes. Each party
8 In the future this work will be clone regularly only by students
who have just completed their freshman studies at Berkeley. Here-
tofore it was a sophomore requirement.
maps a part of the coast line by plane table survey-
ing and ties it to the main triangulation, and then
determines the complete topography of some assigned
piece of the ranch property by running a closed
azimuth traverse about it with a transit, assisted by
plane table and level work for details and contours.
Each party computes and reduces the entire trian-
gulation system, starting with one base line and
checking to the other, and maps its piece of coast
line location and a part of the inland topography.
In all the work methods of checks and balances are
used to insure accuracy for the final results, and at
all times it is intended that the student shall ap-
preciate the schemes of checks and balances and ob-
serve the general unity of the survey of which he is
producing a part. Moreover, every student is cau-
tioned to observe what degree of accuracy should
be aimed at in each part of the work and to
appreciate the degree of accuracy which may,
with reasonable care, be obtained with any type
of instrument or any given method. The actual com-
pletion of a survey of a given piece of land is one thing,
but a just appreciation of precision and method and
the value of time is another and much more important
thing to the engineering student.
By observations of the North Star, Polaris, at
elongation, each party determines the azimuth of
some line of main triangulation, and the whole net-
work of triangles is tied and checked to a nearby
government monument.
Besides this main freshman and sophomore work,
each party is given some special problems depending
upon the remaining time available and the ability of
the individuals. Sextant observations are made upon
the sun at noon to determine the latitude of some
station of the camp triangulation, and other observa-
tions of the same orb when off the meridian to deter-
mine the error of the watch and obtain the true time
of day.
Special parties also find time to run township lines,
to observe the sun for azimuth with solar attach-
ment transits, and some of the mining students are
given problems to locate mining claims or to stake
out tunnel and mine shaft lines.
Problems for the Junior Class. — There were
forty-four men in the junior class who took the rail-
road field work and they were divided into eleven
parties of four men each. These parties were under
the immediate charge of the instructors who devoted
parts of their time to each of a number of parties,
and all parties were under the general supervision of
Prof. Prouty.
Each party locates a piece of line about 1 mile in
length between two designated points. After a re-
connaissance survey with hand level, clinometer,
aneroids, pacing and sketch books, and a resulting
rough map, the preliminary line is located by transit
deflection angles with taping and levels on the center
line and side slopes with clinometer. From this field
work a preliminary map and profile are made and a
paper location platted. A final line is then run from
notes prepared from the paper location and adjusted
in the field and cross-section notes for cut and fill are
made. A computation of earth work in excavation
and fill; a final estimate for the complete piece of
location and construction; a location map describing
the right of way and a location profile showing
grades and curves completes the main work.
Special side problems for each party consist in the
locating of transition curves and the sketches and
studies for bridges, trestles, culverts, embankments
etc., as demanded by the special conditions of the
various surveys.
Much of this work required heavy grades and
sharp curves, due to the extreme roughness of the
coast topography, and would be classed as extreme
mountain construction, still it is done with all the
care and completeness demanded in actual practical
problems for important roads to be built to pay
dividends. • Much of the material gathered by this
group of students will be used in their senior studies in
the fall at Berkeley in their advanced courses on rail-
roading and construction.
Probable Future Developments. — 1. Permanent
Site for the Camp: In the past the camp property has
been leased by the University from year to year and
has not always been located at Santa Cruz. Every
property is not suitable. The site for camp must be
readily reached and yet must not be too near a town
or city. It must afford a wealth of varying topog-
raphy for surveying purposes and must be near a
large body of water. The Department of Civil En-
gineering hopes in the immediate future to secure
through the Regents of the University a lease for a
long term of years of a desirable tract of land so that
certain features of the camp may become fixtures.
While it is intended to preserve the lack of perma-
nency in the camp life for the reasons already stated,
it is desired that monuments, base lines and bench
marks become permanent so that the instructors
may be better able to check the accuracy of the
student's labors, a condition that can only be obtained
with a fixed site. Moreover, much labor to the in-
structors will thereby be saved and more time be-
come available for the real work of instruction.
2. Changes in the Curriculum: Heretofore no
surveying instruction was given to the freshman
class. With the increased requirements for entrance
to the University which have just gone into force, it
was made possible, beginning with this year, to re-
quire of the freshman what was before done by the
sophomores. The freshmen now receive at Berkeley
instruction throughout the year and become familiar
with all the important branches of plane surveying.
The Summer School immediately follows this course
of study and tests the student's acquired class-room
knowledge. It is hoped that very soon it will be pos-
sible to somewhat restrict the scope of the freshman
lectures and Summer School, thereby covering less
ground, but securing greater thoroughness, and to
introduce into the sophomore year an entirely new re-
quirement of surveying lectures to deal with more
advanced branches of plane surveying, such as the
plane table, solar attachment and solar compass,
bydrographic work, mining claims, city surveying,
etc., and the elements of railroad field work. These
studies in turn are to be followed by a Sophomore.
Summer School, a new requirement, to complete the
field practice of plane surveying. The adding of
the elements of railroad surveying to the sophomore
schedule will allow further expansion of the junior
lectures and the Junior Summer School practice in
that important subject.
3. Instruction in Geodesy: At present the Uni-
versity of California gives instruction in those
branches of astronomy which are necessary for a
proper prosecution of higher surveying. This course
is given under the direction of Prof. Leuschner, and
so far as the writer's experience goes, is second to
none in this country. It is required of the junior and
senior students in the College of Civil Engineering
who elect the railroad engineering course and deals
with the astronomical methods which determine
latitude, longitude, time and azimuth. In the senior
year the same students receive from Prof. Prouty a
course of lectures on higher surveying or geodesy,
that branch of surveying which deals with vast areas
of the earth's surface and requires that the curva-
ture and size and figure of the earth be taken into
account. It is intended to amplify this final course,
both by lectures and field work so that in the near
future the railroad students may become more
familiar with the methods of the United States Coast
and Geodetic Survey. Field work, including angle
reading with theodolites, base measurements by
tapes and compensating bars, barometric hypsome-
try, precise level work, etc., in combination with the
astronomical field work with sextants, transit in-
struments, etc., now required under Prof. Leuschner,
will comprise the fourth and final Summer School.
When this complete program shall have become a
working reality, and the time is certainly not far
distant, it is safe to state that the civil engineering
students of the University of California will have op-
portunities in the study of plane surveying and
geodesy second to those of no institution in the
country.
*
The samples from Burnt Ranch, Cal., are the fol-
lowing: No. 5, much altered diorite; No. 6 is mostly
a variety of soda lime feldspar. It also shows some
quartz and a little mica. No. 7 is chiefly feldspar
with a little quartz, evidently from a pegmatite
vein. No. 8, quartz with considerable iron and
copper sulphide; No. 9, vein quartz with small crys-
tals of iron oxide. This rock looks like the quartz
often associated with the occurrence of gold pockets
in California. No. 10 is chalcocite (copper glance).
No. 11 is quartz. No. 12 is a bluish vein quartz,
probably gold bearing.
THE PROSPECTOR.
The rocks from Hailey, Idaho, marked "F. C. M.,"
are as follows: No. 1, phyllite, a metamorphic rock,
with some graphite. No. 2 is a much altered green-
stone. No. 3 is syenite in which there are also a few
quartz blebs. Quartz is not an essential constituent
of syenite, but may occur sparingly, as in this rock,
without necessitating a change in name. With
abundant quartz the rock would be more properly
called hornblende granite. No. 4 is pegmatite, a
granitic dike rock. The prominent minerals present
are pink orthoclase, white quartz, muscovite (white
mica) and black tourmaline. It is always a good
idea to prospect for tinstone (cassiterite) in pegma-
tite dikes. No. 5 is gneissic granite. In this may
be seen quartz, feldspar, biotite (black mica) and
hornblende, all arranged in rudely parallel layers.
No. 6 is quartz with considerable copper glance and
copper carbonate enough to constitute a fair grade
of copper ore. No. 7 is trachyte containing large
feldspars, both sanidine and plagioclase. No. 8 is
porphyrite, or feldspar porphyry. The greenish
color is due to finely disseminated hornblende. A
very little quartz can be seen scattered through the
rock.
When zincblende is associated with iron sulphide
the quality of zinc is sometimes affected by the pres-
ence of the iron, but by the employment of modern
methods of concentration and reduction of the sul-
phides the zinc is rendered as free from undesirable
elements as that entirely free from the presence of
iron sulphide in the ore.
209
Mining aNd Scientific Press.
September 23, 190f>.
Crushing Machinery for Mines.
Written for the Mining and Scientific Press.
There is great variety in the devices employed ia
crushing ores for subsequent metallurgical treat-
ment. Since the dawn of history the hammer in some
form has been employed as a means of reducing rocks
and ores to a granular condition of greater or less
fineness. This crude and expensive type of crushing
machine is exemplified in the various designs of stamp
mills, and may be said to reach its greatest capacity,
if not its highest efficiency, in that machine known as
the steam stamp.
From the stone hammer of the aborigines to the
steam-driven crushing machine has been a long step.
Centuries have come and gone in the interval be-
tween, and yet in some portions of the world the
stone hammer, or some modification of it, is still in use
to crush rock for the purpose of freeing gold from its
rocky matrix and also for other purposes. In Central
America the writer has seen a basin hollowed out in
a hard, tough rock, the depression having possibly a
capacity of a gallon. In this bowl-shaped hole rich
gold rock from a neighboring vein was crushed by
pounding upon it with a boulder weighing about ten
pounds. The boulder was fitted with a forked handle
— the branch of a sapling of strong wood. With this
rude stamp mill the native pulverized his ore, scooped
it from the bowl with his bare hands, unmindful of
the sharp-edged cutting fragments, and washed the
sand in a horn spoon, making in this way a living with
no more capital than his hands and abundant patience,
time counting for nothing. The device, simple as it
was, answered its purpose, for the reason that the
owner of this primitive quartz mill had never heard
of a gravity stamp mill, nor of the steam stamp, and
looked upon his simple device with satisfaction.
Less than a century ago power derived from an
over-shot water wheel, the shaft of which was pro-
vided with projections that acted as cams, was em-
ployed in raising and dropping a rude hammer-like
mass of metal upon ore placed beneath it. By slow
degrees the modern stamp mill has been evolved.
Even no longer than fifty-five years ago the stamp
mill of California consisted largely of wood, the lower
ends of the stems only being shod with iron, the stems
themselves being square pieces of timber. The iron
stamp mill was soon introduced into California prac-
tice, however; but the first mills having iron stems and
shoes, and iron cams, were far inferior to the modern
mills. The principles, however, remain the same — a
weight raised by power and allowed to drop upon the
ore falling beneath it.
Early in the mining practice of the civilized ages
men sought constantly to improve upon the crushing
machines, and this effort is still being made. The fact
that the stamp was idle the greater part of the time
— the period during which it was being lifted and fall-
ing again by gravity — has stimulated men to find
some device which would be continuous and not inter-
mittent in its operation. The arrastre and the Chile
mill are the earliest types of the result of these en-
deavors. For ages the millman has used a mechanism
consisting of a shallow basin in which stood a central
upright post, from which projected horizontally one
or more cross arms and to these were attached drags
of heavy stone. This is the arrastre in its simplest
form. Animal power was usually employed in run-
ning the arrastre. The stones are dragged around
the post in a circle, crushing the ore beneath it by
sheer weight and attrition. The stones are disposed
from the cross arms in such a manner as to cover as
completely as possible the entire surface of the
crushing basin in a single revolution of the central
post. This simple form of crushing machine has re-
sulted in the introduction of such devices as the
Huntington, Griffin and similar rotary mills. Steam,
water, electricity, gas engines and other means of
power are employed in driving these mills.
Flouring mills have been equipped for ages with
grinding or burr stones, and this type of crushing or
grinding mill finds its modern representative in such
forms of the quartz mill as the Washoe pan, with
muller (which really means miller), the Wilcox pan,
Knox pan and the various other kinds of grinding
pans in which the grinding surface is practically
nearly the entire area of the basin.
Although the Kinkead mill is a rotary crushing de-
vice, its operation is somewhat different from those
above mentioned, as it crushes rather than grinds.
The Chile mill may be rudely described as one or
more wheels having a broad face, revolving vertically
about a central shaft, crushing the ore in its path by
weight of the wheel itself. The original Chile mill
was equipped with blocks of hard stone, shaped like a
rather flat cylinder, and set on edge. The modern
Chile mill is of iron and provided with rings of hard
metal — chrome, manganese or chilled steel — to resist
wear. Other grinding mills are similarly provided
against excessive wear of the grinding parts. As the
outgrowth of the Chile mill, have been introduced
such devices as the Bryan and similar mills. The
various types of this class of mills have been provided
with arrangements calculated to increase the crush-
ing capacity of the machine beyond that due to the
weight of the rollers only, by the use of springs and
other devices.
In addition to these are other types of pulverizing
machines of entirely different structure and opera-
tion, but perhaps, none the less efficient, and, in some
instances, at least, are better suited to the class of
work they are required to perform, for it must be
understood that every type of crushing mill is not
equally well adapted to every class of ore.
One of the simplest forms of crushing machinery is
that of cylinders of iron furnished with steel shells
running on horizontal shafts and set in pairs, so dis-
posed that rock passing between these cylindrical
masses of metal must be crushed as small at least as
the space between them. Bolls have been in use for
many years, and for certain classes of rock they are
perhaps superior to any other crushing device. The
early Cornish rolls have been improved upon in many
ways by modern machinery manufacturers. The
frames have been strengthened and made of better
material, the springs controlling the space between
the rolls have been placed in many ways, each manu-
facturer claiming some particular excellence for his
devices and attachments. The early rolls were rela-
tively broad for their diameter. More recently rolls
have been made narrow and of larger diameter, and
calculated to run at high speed. There are a great
number of rolls in the market to-day and these repre-
sent every variety of shape and size of the rolls — in
reference to width of face to diameter of the rolls.
Some are set to run at high speed, some at slow speed
and others at intermediate speeds. Some are driven
by gears, others by belts, and there are numerous
other differences of mechanism. Bolls are excellent
crushing machines and in their proper place are
superior to most other devices for the purpose. As
to the relative merits of high and low speed, or inter-
mediate speed rolls, the character of the ore must
determine this. Some ores will crush faster than
others when the rolls are run at high speed, and vice
versa.
There are numerous so-called pulverizers. These
are various in design and effect the crushing by
means of rolls, impact, grinding or otherwise. There
are centrifugal pulverizers, pneumatic pulverizers,
grinding pulverizers, pulverizers with rolls and pul-
verizers in which steel balls or cobbles of hard rock
comminute the ore fed into it. Each and every one of
these machines has been through the process of evo-
lution— " there is no new thing under the sun."
Beside the numerous types of machines above men-
tioned, there are others in less common use. These
include rocking mills, mills provided with hinged ham-
mers and a few of peculiar and little known design,
being mostly "home-made" contrivances of limited
capacity and usefulness.
(to be continued.)
The Ventilation of Mines.
NUMBER VI.
Dust in Mines and Mills. — The researches of the
Transvaal Miners' Fhthisis Commission led that body
to attach very great importance to the dust pro-
duced in mining work as the cause of the great mor-
tality from miners' phthisis in the Transvaal, and
the more recent report of Dr. Haldane and Messrs.
Martin and Thomas on the Health of Cornish Miners
takes the same view even more strongly. The latter
authors point out the other causes to which the prev-
alence of miners' phthisis have been attributed, such
as an atmosphere more or less vitiated by carbonic
acid, sudden changes of temperature, chills from
working in wet clothes,iabsence of sunlight, and so on,
are shared in common with metalliferous miners by
coal and ironstone miners, who are rather more
healthy in respect to this disease than the average
population. Then, too, those engaged in occupations
which require the worker to breathe an atmosphere
laden with stone or metallic dust, such as stone
masons, file grinders and potters are affected quite
similarly to the metalliferous miners. The common
factor is the stone or metallic dust, and there can be
little doubt that this is rightly regarded as the main
cause of miners' phthisis. The ravages of this dis-
ease among miners are so terrible that its prevention
by every possible means is one of the most serious
problems of public health, and of the highest impor-
tance from the standpoints both of humanity and
of working efficiency.
The men on rock drills underground are the most
affected by miners' phthisis of any class of under-
ground workers, and it is evident to anyone watch-
ing them at work that they are in a position which
compels them at times to breathe an exceedingly
dusty atmosphere. When water can be used in the
holes, the dust may be prevented, but in drilling
"uppers," and especially in rising, the holes are
commonly bored dry, and the crushed rock from the
borehole is driven out as sharp sand and dust. The
workmen become rapidly covered thickly with dust,
and the whole air is full of it, so that the men must
breathe it constantly. It is only the excessively fine
dust that can reach the workers' lungs, but under
such conditions it is evident that some of the dust
must get right in. The dust is fine particles of the
rock which is being bored through, which is often
mainly quartz, and the shape and constitution of the
particles are dependent on the physical character-
istics and composition of the rock mass. At times,
therefore, they may be sharp, splintery, needle-
shaped or knife-like, or they may be more rounded
or granular. There is a presumption that the former
sort of particles would be more likely to cause irrita-
tion of the tissues of the lungs than the latter, though
there is no very positive proof yet available on this
point. Fine particles of steel from the drills are also
in the dust, and seem likely to be specially pernicious,
as in the allied case of the file grinder's occupation.
Besides the dust from rock drilling, there is also a
large amount raised after blasting, partly by the con-
cussion stirring up dust that has already settled, and
partly from the attrition of fractured rocks thrown
out. The air immediately after blasting is often so
thick with dust that it is impossible to see a light a
yard away from the eyes. The heavier dust soon
settles, but the very light particles, which are the
dangerous ones, remain suspended for a long time in
a dry atmosphere. There is also a good deal of dust
produced in dry ground during the operations of shov-
eling ore to passes and in filling stoped out ground
with "mullock." A common cause of dust being
raised is the blowing out of air from the "nose" of
the rock drilling machine, owing to defective pack-
ing, this air preventing the dust from the boreholes
from settling. In such cases greater attention to
repairs is required. In the mills on the surface there
is often a great deal of fine dust generated at the
stone breakers, whether of gyratory or jaw crushing
type, and in the mills which have dry crushing there is
also much dust produced when the stone is ground to
fine powder either by stamps, Griffin mills, ball mills
or any other similar device. The handling of this
dust by elevators and conveyors, its storage in bins
and removal therefrom, its treatment in roasting
furnaces and removal therefrom are all dusty pro-
cesses, and unless special care is taken to keep the
dust down the whole mill may become full of fine dust.
Even when a great deal of care is taken this is very
likely to happen, a little dust escaping at all times
and a good deal when there is any hitch in the work-
ing of the plant, and in consequence dry crushing
mills invariably show fine dust lying everywhere, and
it is more or less perceptible to the sight in the air
of the mill. The dust may be kept down very much,
but not entirely. In this State several of the largest
mills crush their ore dry and roast it before beginning
amalgamation and cyanide treatment, and the ques-
tion of dust in these mills is therefore important.
Under similar circumstances the workers in New
Zealand dry crushing mills were, about four years
ago, allowed higher wages than in corresponding
posts in wet crushing batteries, when the wages
were settled by the Arbitration Court, the court
considering that the work in dry mills was more
unhealthy than in wet treatment. In the dry crushing
mills of this State, it is usual to have storage bins in
which reserves of finely crushed pulp are kept for
feeding the roasting furnaces on Sunday and at any
other time when the ordinary supply may become
suspended. It is sometimes necessary for men to go
into these bins to shovel the pulp — a most exceedingly
dusty piece of work. Bespirators are then generally
used. At one mill, however, there was a filthy prac-
tice, the men using the respirators indiscriminately,
which should be absolutely forbidden; obviously each
man should have a thoroughly clean respirator
served out to him, which should be used by nobody
else till returned to store and again cleansed.
When the mill is a wet crushing one the dust at
rock breakers may be overcome by spraying the
stone with water as it passes through the breakers,
but where the stone has to be crushed dry this is im-
practicable, as the moisture would have to be removed
before the subsequent fine dry grinding would be pos-
sible. When the ore is very wet, as it comes from
the mine, it is frequently necessary to provide special
drying furnaces before it can go to the fine crushers.
Sprinkling with water to lay the dust from fine
crushing is plainly out of the question too, when the
next process is that of roasting the dust, as caking
of the material must be carefully avoided. The
roasted dust might sometimes be sprinkled after
cooling sufficiently, but it is so much more easily car-
ried in conveyors, elevators and shoots when quite
dry than when damp that it must generally be kept
quite dry. In the dry crushing process, therefore,
any method of laying the dust with sprays of water
is impracticable. The usual method in vogue here is
to close all crushing machines and dust conveyors,
and to connect them with dust chambers, into which
the dust is drawn by exhaust fans. There being an
in-draught at every opening to the machines, the
dust is not able to escape into the open air, but is
drawn into the flues and dust chambers, or carried
through the fans and blown into the chimney stack.
Where the method is well carried out it is very suc-
cessful, and very little dust is seen in the mill, except
what has escaped during stoppages of the draught
and opening of the machines for cleaning and repair-
ing. There was, however, a great deal of difference
in the dry crushing mills seen by us in this respect,
some of them being fairly free from dust while others
were exceedingly dusty, and required much attention
to dust removal.
The devices to prevent dust underground by sys-
tems of spraying with water are numerous and
September 23, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
210
varied, ranging from simple jets of water in the faces
to the elaborate systems of mains and standpipes
used in some collieries for laying the coal dust, and
from vessels of water carried by men, to large spray-
ing tanks running by electric or other power along
the mine roadways. It is now recognized that fine
coal dust suspended in mine air, if not, as some con-
tend, itself liable to form an explosive mixture,
greatly intensities the violence of explosions of lire
damp and that, in a mine where much fine coal dust
is lying about, a slight explosion of fire damp may
raise such an amount of dust that a very serious
explosion may result. Consequently the constant
spraying of dry colliery workings is now rendered
compulsory by legislation in many countries. It is
unnecessary, however, for us to enter into this aspect
of the dust question, as our only collieries at present
are naturally very damp and coal dust does not rise
in them. In the metalliferous mines the question of
the humidity caused by spraying has to be taken into
account, as some authorities think that the creation
of an atmosphere saturated with moisture is likely to
be as unhealthy and more uncomfortable than a dusty
one.
(TO BK CONTINUED.)
The Murphy Drill.
Herewith is illustrated the newest device in the
The Murphy Drill.
drill field, the Murphy drill, which its makers say
strikes 2000 blows per minute. Another claim to
favorable attention is the statement that the exhaust
air through the steel keeps the hole clean in front of
the bit, also serving the purpose of keeping the bit
cool. The makers further say that with it the holes
can be put in just as they would be by hand,
and shot as often as desired. These drills are
stated to be in active use in several large mines in
Colorado, Arizona, Nevada and Mexico. They are
made by the C. T. Carnahan Manufacturing Co.,
1724 Lawrence street, Denver, Colo.
Charcoal Precipitation From Auro-
Cyanide Solutions.
In the district of Victoria, Australia, this method
is used, in many cases probably in imitation, rather
than with any definite grounds for its superiority
over the zinc process.
The methods are identical down to the extractor
house, which in a typical plant contains 189 tubs,
each 2 feet 4 inches high, 2 feet 1 inch in diameter at
the top and 1 foot 9 inches at the bottom. In the
center of the bottom of each tub are two small
wooden cleats, 4 inches apart, on which rests a glazed
drain pipe, 4 inches in diameter, flanged end down-
wards. Center pipes and tubs are filled with char-
coal, coarse for 6 inches from bottom, and medium
size to within 6 inches of top of center pipe, with
about 3 inches outside, and 5 inches inside the tub of
coarse charcoal again. On the top of the charcoal
inside the tub and all around the pipe is a wooden
lid to keep the charcoal from Boating and blocking
the outlet pipe.
Another form of tub much used has no center pipe,
but there is a false bottom of filter cloth, while on the
top of the charcoal is a hinged lid with feed pipe let
into it.
The preparation of the charcoal is important, im-
purities being prejudicial and wasteful. Fine stuff is
objectionable, being a bad filtering medium and also
passing through into the sumps. Heavy compact
charcoal again is not so efficient as that which is light
and porous, gold being deposited throughout the
whole of light charcoal, so that compact material
offers less depositing surface, and is, moreover, more
difficult to incinerate. The charcoal is ground and
sieved to three sizes — coarse, medium and fine, the
latter being discarded. The other sizes are thrown
into separate tanks of water, and only that which
floats used.
The tubs in above works are arranged in two
groups, the first of 14 1 filters, in twenty-four sets of
six each, for strong solution; the second of fifty-four,
in eighteen sets of three each, for alkaline wash
(0.04% and KCN) and weak solution.
The solution passes down the center pipe of the
first tub in each set, coming up on the outside and
flowing over the lid through a 1-inch pipe to the next
tub of the series, and so on, finally passing away to
its own particular sump. The top filter catches
most of the gold, and when fairly charged, is re-
moved, each of the remaining five being
moved up one step and a newly charged
tub being placed in the sixth position.
The filter removed is drained of someof
its solution and emptied into a large box
with a filter bottom, where the rest of>the
solution is run off into the sump, leaving
the auriferous charcoal ready for the
furnace room. A tub occupies first posi-
tion for about three days.
The efficiency of the precipitation is, of
course, an important point. The strength
of solution does not appear to affect the
precipitation at all, the percentage ex-
traction being uniformly high, the solution
going out to the sumps in one establish-
ment rarely showing more than three and
one-half grains per .ton (original value not
stated), while 0.04% KCN solutions are
successfully precipitated. The gold in the
top filters is considerably purer than that
caught in the lower ones, and the author
suggests that means might be taken to
keep the contents of the top filters sepa-
rate. Frequent tests show steaady dimin-
ution in the value of the gold, taking the
place downwards through a set, till the
bottom tub is nearly pure silver.
The exact action of thecharcoal has
never, as far as the writer knows, been
experimentally demonstrated, but he
thinks it may be due to the hydrogen and
hydro-carbons remaining in the charcoal,
the result being the formation of hydro-
cyanic acid and free gold. This KCN
represents a certain amount of loss of
active agent.
From the filter house the auriferous
charcoal is conveyed to the furnace room,
where it is incinerated in four reverbera-
tory furnaces, each 10 feet long. The
ash is sieved through a 900-mesh trom-
mel, and the coarser residues returned to
the furnaces. The fine stuff or " ash," con-
taining about 80% gold, is then smelted.
The author points out what appears to him to be
the following advantages:
1. A high-class bullion is produced — one well-
known mine receives £4 per ounce for cyanide gold.
2. Percentage extraction is high regardless of
strength of solution.
3. In spite of the large amount of auriferous char-
coal to be handled the " waste " is easily got rid of
by burning, and the ash is easily smelted without the
necessity of treating with strong acids or careful
oxidizing roasts (with some unavoidable loss).
One great disadvantage is the greater chances of
loss through the immense bulk of stuff to be handled,
and the higher cost of the operation itself. The cost
of charcoal precipitation (with charcoal at 9d per
forty pounds) works out at 4.29d per ounce of gold,
or 0.545d. per ton of stuff. Zinc precipitation (with
zinc at 4Jd per pound) would cost 2.25d per ounce of
gold, or 0.275d per ton of stuff. Labor works out at
0.763d per ton for the charcoal, and 0.382d per ton
for zinc. To recover the gold from the "ash " at these
works costs Is per ounce, bullion 900 fine, exclusive of
labor, as against about 2d for zinc slimes, which
would probably average not more than 800 fine.
There remains the question of increased outlay for
plant and buildings, but these are not very serious.
Considering the same works, the 198 tubs cost £247
10s; zinc boxes would require but a small portion of
this. '
From three to eight days is the time considered by
cyaniders as requisite for maximum extraction of
gold, dependent on existing local conditions. The
general idea is to use a weak solution and give plenty
of time.
Treatment of Copper Ores by the
Electric Furnace.''
By M. Vattikr.
We are not dealing here with a philosopher's stone
which would, as by magic, transform any copper ore
into a mass of pure metallic copper, or which would
overthrow and supersede the well-known reactions of
the old metallurgy of copper. Nor do we pretend to
have discovered a process which suppresses all the
cost of production, and permits of reaping imaginary
millions from auy kind of ore under any conditions.
We abandon the monopoly of these pretentions to the
fancy prospectuses which circulate in certain finan-
cial centers, and which cause such diappointment to
the credulous investors, and we approach the sub-
ject in a more scientific and industrial spirit, and
especially with the intention of facilitating, within
the limits of our powers, the labor of the indefatiga-
ble workers who strive to further improve these pro-
cesses, and whose efforts deserve praise and reward.
You all know that, generally speaking, in the met-
allurgy of copper by dry processes, either in rever-
beratory or water-jacketed furnaces, the copper
ores are first of all converted by the help of coke or
coal into copper matte containing 40% to 50% of the
metal; these mattes are then submitted to a roast-
ing, followed by a remelting, either by special treat-
ment in converters or in Thofern and Saint-Seine
reaction furnaces, which transforms them into copper
bars; these are then refined by electrolytic pro-
cesses, which produce the pure copper and effect the
separation of the gold and silver.
At present our object is solely to suppress the con-
sumption of fuel (coke, coal or charcoal) used to smelt
the ore for the production of the matte, and to re-
place these calories of the black coal by electric heat
derived from the "white coal;" that is from hy-
draulic forces. Then we proceed to the refining of
this matte by the processes now in use in metallurgy
(converters, furnaces, etc.), and all we ask from elec-
tricity is to lend us its aid to produce the heat, when-
ever it can be done with advantage, by the introduc-
tion of the electrodes.
In a word, the endeavor is to develop a process
which could be established in regions favorably situ-
ated as regards water powers, and where coal is
costly; it is the difference between the cost of the
black coal and the white coal, which shall constitute
the main profit derived from the adoption of these
new processes. It is bearing these conditions in
mind that we made the series of experiments of
which I shall now give you a brief account.
Ore. — Our experiments were conducted on two
different kinds of ore.
First — Copper ore from the Volcan mine, Chili, be-
longing to Gregorio Denoso. The copper contents
was approximately 7%, present as copper pyrites.
This ore contains from 8% to 9% of sulphur, and the
gangue comprises silicates, silica, a little carbonate
of lime, but mainly micaceous copper oxide.
Second — Low-grade copper ore from the mining
regions in the vicinity of Santiago, Chili, mixed with
a small proportion of manganese and lime.
The composition of the charge of the furnace was
as follows:
Per Cent.
Carbonic acid 4.310
Silica 23.700
Alumina 4
Lime 7.300
Magnesia 0 . 33
Sulphur 4 125
Iron . . , 28 500
Manganese 7.640
Phosphorus 0.046
Copper 5.100
Arsenic trace
These ores were crushed partly into large pieces
and partly to dust. The crucible was filled with a
hand shovel, indiscriminately, of the coarse or dust,
and without experiencing the inconveniences which
usually accompany the presence of "fines" in the
water-jacketed furnaces. All the charges were very
carefully weighed and sampled, and an exact record
of the various phases of the experiments was kept.
Rather large blocks, at first refractory, were soon
dissolved and incorporated in the molten charge,
after undergoing a pronounced gyratory movement.
Furnaces. — The main furnace, for the first fusion
or breaking up of the molecules by the application of
heat, is a chamber or crucible built of refractory
bricks, and having the following dimensions: Length,
1.80U meter; width, 0.90 meter; height, 0.90 meter.
Below this chamber we have a forehearth, in which
can be effected the sharp separation of the matte
from the slag; the dimensions of this forehearth are
as follows: Length, 1.20 meter; width, 0.60 meter;
height, 0.60 meter.
At the bottom of the upper chamber there are
some openings which can be tamped at will by means
of fire clay, for the purpose of tapping the contents
into the lower forehearth. In the upper chamber
two carbon electrodes, with a square section of 0.30
meter on the side, and a length of 1.70 meter, are in-
troduced, and their height may be so regulated as to
either be immersed in the bath or just clear its
surface.
Into the forehearth penetrate two carbon elec-
*From the French.
211
Mining and Scientific Press.
September 23, 1905.
trodes of 0.25 meter on the sides, which are used to
reheat the bath. Openings are left at different levels
of the forehearth, and which are opened by means of
steel rods driven in by blows of a hammer, for the
purpose of tapping either the slag into small sand
trenches, or the matte into steel ingot moulds, which
are handled by an overhead crane. Voltmeters and
ammeters permit of observing the intensity of the
current. Alternating current was used. A special
contrivance allows of easily and independently rais-
ing and lowering each of the electrodes.
Procedure of Operations. — The two large elec-
trodes are lowered into the upper chamber, and the
circuit is established by the introduction of pieces of
carbon and of matte placed at the bottom of the cru-
cible, and the temperature is gradually raised. The
ore is elevated by a hoist to an upper platform, and
is charged into the furnace around the electrodes,
which are raised in proportion as the burden in-
creases. Fusion begins to take place in a very short
time, and when the crucible is full of molten or semi-
molten material a taphole, situated some 0.10 meter
from the bottom, is unplugged by means of a steel
rod. The molten mass, more or less pasty (quite
fluid after a short time), flows into the forehearth,
where the reactions are completed, and where the
separation of the liquefied materials is effected by
means of the reheating electrodes.
When this forehearth is nearly full the slag is evac-
uated through one of the upper openings, and as soon
as the quantity of underlying matte is judged to be
sufficient, it is tapped off by one of the lower open-
ings. It is thus a process of successive tappings,
both from the upper and the lower crucibles.
Data of the Method. — The furnace has a smelting
capacity of twenty-five tons of ore per twenty-four
hours, which it converts into matte. The current
used for the experiments was of 4750 amperes; 119
volts; cos « = 0.9, which corresponds to 500 kilo-
watts, or 680 H. P. Therefore, to treat one hundred
tons of ore per twenty-four hours will require from
the dynamos 2833 H. P., in round numbers 3000
H. P. of 76kg/m.
Products Obtained. — Mattes of the following com-
position were obtained:
Per Cent
Silica 0.800
Alumina - 0.500
Iron 34 . 300
Manganese 1 .400
Sulphur 22. 960
Phosphorus 0 005
Copper 47.900
and slag of the following composition:
Per Cent.
Silica (Si02) 27.200
Alumina 5 200
Lime 9 900
Magnesia 0.390
Iron 32.500
Manganese 8.230
Sulphur 0.570
Phosphorus . . 0.062
Copper 0 . 100
The slags at both the beginning and the end of the
operation usually contain a slightly higher propor-
tion of copper.
The slag has high contents of iron and silica and could
be used to manufacture ferro-silicon. For this pur-
pose it should be poured directly into a special cru-
cible, submitted to the high temperature of the elec-
tric furnace as soon as possible, in order to take
advantage of the heat it possesses when it is tapped
out of the crucible.
If the slag should be high in manganese, it could be
manufactured into ferro-manganese and spiegels.
Remarks.— For good results it is advisable to use
a voltage sufficient to cause the arc or electric cur-
rent to pass from one electrode to the other, by reg-
ulating their height to just clear the surface of the
bath, in order to avoid as much as possible their
coming in contact with the bath. Carbon at such
high temperatures has a tendency to reduce the iron
oxide into metallic iron, which gives rise to the fol-
lowing inconveniences:
First — A more rapid wear of the electrodes.
Second — Loss of electric energy.
Third — Decrease of the copper contents of the
matte.
By the use of Acheson's graphite electrodes these
inconveniences would be greatly diminished.
The economic and other advantages of this new
electro- metallurgical process are at present quite
evident, without having to defer judgment until fur-
ther improvements are introduced. The problem
may be said to have been solved by the Livet experi-
ments.
Comparison Between the Old Processes of Cop-
per Metallurgy and Those of Electro-Metal-
lurgy.— Let us consider the case of a copper mine
situated in South America, in Chili, for instance, and
at some distance from the coast, in the foothills of
the Cordillera; such a mine is the Volcan, the ore
from which was submitted to the experiments of
electric smelting; under these conditions coke costs
at least 100 francs, and owing to the slope and other
local conditions, a powerful and constant hydraulic
power can be developed economically. We shall take
for purposes of comparison the figures relating to
one ton of copper ingots, extracted from the Volcan
ore, which has a copper content of 7%; this is a com-
paratively high tenor, higher than the average mines
worked on a large scale.
For the production of a ton of copper we shall have
to treat some sixteen tons of ore; we shall neglect
the figures, which would be the same for both cases
as regards mining of the ore and subsequent treat-
ments, and we shall restrict ourselves to the compar-
ative elements of the two methods.
First — In the present water- jacketed furnace, the
production of the matte, containing one ton of metal-
lic copper, shall require 3200 kilograms of coke, at
100 francs per ton, that is to say, an expenditure for
fuel of 320 francs.
Second — In electric furnaces the smelting of six-
teen tons of ore will require an energy of 1.25 kilo-
watt-year, at a cost, in the regiun in question, of 30
francs per kilowatt-year, representing a cost of 1.25
X 30 = 37.50 francs, say 38 francs.
The wear of electrodes, as shown by our experi-
ments, amounted to 75 kilograms per ton of copper
in matte, so that we may calculate an actual cost of
45 francs for this item; this would be.greatly reduced
by the adoption of electrodes such as above men-
tioned, and more especially of graphite electrodes.
In short, the electro-metallurgical process for the
smelting of sixteen tons of ore would entail a cost of:
38 + 45 = 83 francs,
and the economy effected, over the water-jacketed
furnace, in the fundamental element of heat energy
is, therefore:
320 — 83 = 237 francs, or more than £9.
The additional important advantages derived from
the use of electric furnaces are the following :
First — Suppression of the blowing engines, which
are essential in connection with water-jacketed fur-
naces.
Second — The possibility of operating on much more
refractory ore than with the water-jacketed fur-
nace.
Third — Suppression of the manufacture of bri-
quettes or of an agglomeration of the fines and dust.
Fourth — Notable decrease of the cost of labor.
Fifth — Elimination of the danger of scaffolding of
the charge in the interior of the furnace; this acci-
dent is comparatively frequent and costly in the
water-jacketed apparatus; moreover, choking up
and obstruction of the hearth is likewise avoided.
Let us now consider the case of low-grade ore, say
i%; the production of one ton of metallic copper in
matte shall require:
First — In water-jacketed furnace, an additional
expenditure of coke amounting to
100
1000
X (5000 — 3200) = 180 francs.
Second — In the electric furnace, instead of 1.25
kilowatt-year, we shall need two, which entails an
additional cost of
30 X (2 kwt.-yr.— 1.25 kwt.-yr.) = 22.50 francs.
Which represents an additional saving of 157.50
francs, which figure is comparatively important for
a low-grade ore.
It is, of course, impossible to arrive at a general
average figure representing the savings effected by
the adoption of the electric furnace; this depends on
the grade of the ore and also on the local conditions;
yet, in the case of the ores produced from the South
American mines, remote from the coast and in prox-
imity of powerful and constant waterfalls, the econ-
omy effected would certainly not be less than £10.
Placer Mining in Alaska.
NUMBER VI.
In drifting operations on a bench of Anvil creek,
Seward peninsula, a main long adit was run 4 by 6
feet 6 inches in the clear, at a cost of $4 a foot, un-
timbered, for the entire width of the ground
in a direction transverse to that of the creek.
This was 500 feet in length and was 10 feet below the
surface of the schist bedrock. The average depth of
the ground was 20 feet, being 2 feet of muck, 11 feet
of wash gravel containing almost no gold, and 7 feet
of pay dirt, the last consisting of 5 feet of pay gravel
and 2 feet of bedrock, which contained the best pay.
This was the thickness drifted. The adit served as a
drain for the workings. The ground was only par-
tially frozen, and it is likely, as has been found in
parts of the Alaska interior, that the constant drain-
ing of the ground assisted in a gradual thawing of
the frozen parts. From the end of this main adit a
long tunnel (600 feet) was run for the length of the
ground which was to be drifted, at a level of 8 feet
above that of the adit floor. This was timbered with
6 by 6-ineh posts, 8 by S-inch caps, sets with 4-foot
centers, lagged with 2 by 6-inch plank, top and sides.
From this long drift cross drifts were run in a direction
parallel to that of the main adit, at intervals of 100
feet, and with lengths of 40 feet on each side of the
main longitudinal drift. The ground was then
breasted, carrying a 40-foot face toward the adit.
The Hidden Treasure system of timbering, using
false sets, was employed. Track was laid both in the
main adit and in the upper workings, and cars of 21
cubic feet capacity were employed in tramming, four
in the main adit and from fifteen to twenty in the
upper workings. The stopes never exceeded 20 feet
^Bulletin 263 U. S. Geological Survey.
in back and forward dimensions. The timbers used
were 8 by 8-inch posts, 7 feet long, 10 by 10-inch
caps, 11 feet long, 5-foot centers, all ways, between
posts. Boards were laid down to shovel on. The
ground was so heavy that it was found impossible to
save the timbers, but the track was all recovered.
In extracting 21,000 cubic yards timbering cost
$14,000, with lumber at $50 per thousand.
The gravel was trammed to the surface and dis-
tributed on a long dump 40 feet on each side of a pre-
viously constructed 24-inch sluice 500 feet long. As
usual, planks were laid on top of the sluice, and when
spring opened the gravel was caved and horse
scraped into the sluice. In distributing the gravel
on the dump three men and a horse scraper had to
be employed most of the time in keeping the snow off,
on account of especially heavy snowfalls when the
work was being done. When completed, the dump
measured 700 by 80 by 20 feet, approximately. The
drifting work consumed nearly eleven months, and
the sluicing about two" months, being delayed on
account of frost in the gravel.
Labor employed averaged forty-five men in two
shifts of ten hours, at winter wages of $2.50 a day
and board. A shift in the drifting operations con-
sisted of ten men shoveling into cars, averaging 8
cubic yards to the man, and three to four trammers
took care of the dirt shoveled. In sluicing, ten men
and two horse scrapers were used to a shift. The
product of the operations was $160,000, and the cost,
including preliminary prospecting, was 59% of the
output. The work was done in 1901-2, and the opin-
ion was given by the operator that the cost could be
decreased 20% under present conditions.
In drifting operations on high benches lying be-
tween Anvil and Dexter creeks, near Nome, the
gravel must be hoisted through shafts. It is said
that powder is efficient in extracting the frozen
ground. This is contrary to experience in the Alaska
interior, and is doubtless due to the fact that the
gravel is not nearly so solidly frozen. In fact, it is
said that the powder is used for only a portion of the
time. From the main shaft, which must be in some
cases 230 feet deep to reach the second pay streak,
a drift is run the length of the pay ground. From
this transverse drifts are run at alternate intervals
of 50 feet in each side of the main drift. Some oper-
ators sink the shaft on the side rather than in the
center of the ancient channel, as by this method the
shaft is less likely to "squeeze." The shafts are
3 by 6 feet, timbered with 2 by 12-inch plank laid up
on the sides, with 2 by 4-inch timbers set vertically
on the corners inside.
The face can be carried from 50 to 100 feet in
length in the winter, as the constant slight freezing
renders the gravel less heavy. In summer, on the
other hand, the ground must be worked in small
blocks. With the methods of timbering in use, 6 by
6 to 10 by 10-inch sawed posts are put in, on base
block, and with a short 4 by 12-inch plank caps, posts
having 3-foot centers in all directions. A space of
three sets in width is generally carried before the
ground is allowed to cave. When the ground is ready
to cave a bulkhead is nailed to the second set, the
timbers are pulled with ropes from the third, and the
caved ground is caught by the bulkhead. The breast
is then carried forward as before. No lagging is
used except in the shaft and the main runway. In
summer work the area of bedrock exposed in one
stope rarely exceeds 10 square feet.
In sluicing the dumps from winter operations on
the high Anvil benches, the expedient is adopted of
building small dams of sod and erecting snow fences
behind them to catch snowdrifts, so that sluicing
water may be afforded in the spring from the melt-
ing snow. The remarkable phenomenon of deep-lying
pay streaks on the Anvil benches has been consid-
ered by A. J. Collier in his geological account of the
Nome district.
On Eagle creek, in the Birch Creek district, an
interesting drifting operation was seen. It is espe-
cially difficult to work the creek claims by drifting on
account of the partially thawed character of the
gravel. A bedrock drain was run in winter at one
side of and parallel with the paystreak, and low
enough to drain all the ground which it was proposed
to work. The drain was covered and lagged with
poles and thus rendered permanent. A shaft was
then sunk at the lower end of the ground, 4 by 8 feet
in dimensions and 20 feet deep. This was timbered
only for the upper 14 feet, and was sunk in three
days by two men. A tunnel was then run upstream
the length of the ground, wide enough to admit 8-foot
caps. Posts were 5 feet long, all timber being 9
inches square. Sets had 4J-foot centers, and the
tunnel was lagged overhead with 21 -inch flattened
poles. A set of timbers delivered cost $4, there
being thirty-four caps to a cord of wood. Lateral
drifts 8 feet wide were driven at intervals of 8 feet,
4J feet in thickness of gravel being taken. The
gravel was wheeled to the shaft and windlassed to
the surface, about 25 cubic yards being raised in ten
hours. The lamentable lack of any tramming
arrangement for transporting the gravel to a dis-
tance resulted occasionally in the caving in of the
ground from the added weight of the dump. The
gravel so laboriously raised was thus lost. Some
idea of the difficulties of operating on Eagle creek
may be seen from the following figures: Wood was
$10 a cord, not excessively high; lumber, $180 a thou-
September 23, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
212
sand; freight packing rates from Circle, on the
Yukon, 25 cents a pound in summer and 8 cents in
winter. Considering the remoteness of the district,
the work carried on was remarkably good and sys-
tematic.
Thawing. — One who has never visited the interior
of Alaska finds it difficult to conceive the formidable
condition of solidly and perpetually frozen alluvium
which is there encountered by the placer miner. The
quantity of water in the form of ice which occurs in
the frozen gravel averages about 25%; while in the
overlying fine, black silt which forms the overburden
the quantity of ice varies from 50% to 75%. What-
ever may be the physical composition of the material,
it forms a mass as solid and as difficult to penetrate
as solid stone, and can be disintegrated only by ex-
posure to the sun's rays or by the long-continued
application of some form of energy artificially ap-
plied.
In any open-cut operations the dense blanket of
moss, from 12 to 18 inches in thickness, which covers
the frozen ground, must be broken into and turned
over either by adzes or plows before the action of sun
and water can take any effect on the underlying
muck. As has been said, this effect is remarkably
rapid when the water is allowed to run over the ex-
posed black and icy mass.
A curious condition exists in the treeless area of
Seward Peninsula. Wherever a growth of stunted
willows occurs, the ground beneath is found to be
thawed, and wherever the willows are replaced by
moss the ground is frozen solid. The rule is not with-
out exceptions, but has been found to have rather
general application. The distribution of the willows
and moss covered patches in the creek bottoms
How World's Weight Is Calculated.
When Newton set himself to find the law by which
an apple falls to the earth and the planets revolve
at varying speed along their orbits, he con-
structed a formula which would explain these phe-
nomena. He laid it down as a law that the force with
which the earth attracts the apple or the apple the
earth, or the planets one another, is equal to the mass
of the one multiplied by the mass of the other, and
divided by the square of the distance between them —
the whole multiplied by a constant called G. G is
the Newtonian constant of gravitation. It is of all
the constants the most important to physical science;
it is a constant for the more accurate determination
of which Prof. Boys has been willing to spend five
years of arduous and minute observation. Mitchell
first devised an instrument by which it would be
possible to obtain, by actual observation, the attrac-
tion which two bodies have for one another.
Cavendish improved upon Mitchell's observations,
Cornu carried it on. Professor Boys has carried it
two decimal places further. If Professor Boys were
to hang a couple of 50-pound lead balls by two fibers
he would find it as impossible to measure the inclina-
tion of the two fibers to one another as to weigh a
sunbeam. But there is a possible way of measuring
the attraction, and Professor Boys has made it more
practical by the employment of quartz fibers to sus-
pend some of the balls he uses. He uses four balls —
two gold balls V inch in diameter, weighing forty or
to establish these other two decimals. Taking this as
a basis, the weight of the world may be figured as
5,882,000,000,000,000,000,000 tons.
The instrument which contains the system of gold
and lead balls is put in the corner of an underground
crypt in Oxford. There is too much tremor of the
earth in London. It is boxed up in a thick octagonal
wooden box. It is separated from the observer by a
series of felt curtains. He sits 80 feet away and
examines its movements by means of a telescope
through slits in the felt curtains and in the wooden
box, and in the metal tubes holding the gold ball
system.
The mirror reflects a 9-foot scale with 5000 divisions
placed behind the observer's head. To avoid creat-
ing currents of air, Professor Boys has the scale
illuminated only by a little traveling lamp. To avoid
tremors of earth, he works at dead of night, for a
train switching a mile away will move that tiny mir-
ror; and once an earthquake in Transylvania, on
the other side of Europe, was marked by it. As to
the measurements, the distance of the lead balls
from one another is calculated by micrometer and
microscope to the three hundredth part of an inch,
the distance of the gold ball quartz fibers in the ten
thousandth part of an inch, and a force equal to the
millionth of a grain would be sufficient to send the
reflection of the mirror right off the scale.
Ice Making and Refrigerating
Machinery.
A severe test of pumping machinery was made by
the Ice & Cold Machine Co. at the ice making and
Fig. i.— Cameron Boiler Feed Pumps.
Fig. 2. — Cameron Special Brine Circulating Pumps.
and along the low valleys appears to be entirely
irregular.
Drifting operations in the creek deposits of the
Klondike, Birch Creek, Forty-mile and Fairbanks
districts of the interior are nearly always carried on
in solidly and perpetually frozen ground. A neces-
sary accompaniment of the work is the thawing of
the ground by artificial means. G. W. Pichard has
thoroughly investigated for this report the possibili-
ties of using any form of the electric furnace for
thawing the frozen gravel and has reached the con-
clusion that electric thawing is impracticable. Arti-
ficial power, through the agency of the steam point,
is only in rare cases applied in open cut work. The
Klondike district afforded a few examples of this
application of power, notably in connection with
dredging operations on Bonanza creek, the steam
shovel operations on Bear creek and in two open cuts
on Upper Dominion and Hunker creeks. It is dif-
ficult to determine the efficiency in open work, as,
naturally, a portion of the thawing is done by the
sun. From the data collected, however, it does not
appear to be any greater than its underground ef-
ficiency, which will be presently discussed.
The method of thawing gravel underground by
wood fires is expensive, and, unless the conditions are
very exceptional, is not used in those districts where
transportation facilities permit the bringing in of
boilers.
According to experience on Deadwood creek, Birch
Creek district, the efficiency of a wood fire in creek-
ground was as follows: A fire taking three-fifths
cord of wood (at $12 a cord) is built against the face
of the bank. The pile of wood will be 18 inches wide,
2 feet high and 25 feet long. Stones are laid up over
the pile and a space is left to light the fire. The fire
is lighted at 5 p. m. and left to burn until 8 a. m. the
next day. The stones, which quickly get hot, are re-
garded as most efficient in thawing.
(to be continued.)
fifty grains, and two lead balls, 4£ inches in diameter
and weighing each sixteen pounds.
Suppose these four balls in their first position sus-
pended in one plane. The two little gold balls are
suspended by quartz fibers on either side of an oblong
mirror, to which they are attached. If any force
were to pull one gold ball a little way forward, and
at the same time to pull the other little gold ball a
way back, it is obvious that a twist, an oscillation,
would be imparted to the tiny mirror. So delicately
is this mirror, with its gold balls, hung on its tube,
that a force equal to the hundred-millionth part of a
grain will set it swinging. With this degree of sen-
sitiveness attained, one begins to get near some
means of measuring influences upon it. The influence
we can measure is that of the two lead balls. We
imagined them to be, in the first instance, in the
same perpendicular plane as the little gold balls.
Suppose we move them contemporaneously and co-
equally, so that one lead ball moves in front of one
gold ball and the other lead ball moves, exactly in
the same way, behind the other gold ball. If the
hanging of the mirror and its gold balls is delicate
enough, it is obvious then that the force exerted by
the attraction between the gold balls and the lead
balls will give the mirror to which the gold balls are
attached a little twist and will set it oscillating. The
instrument is delicate enough.
Seated 80 feet away the observer can time it. He
therefore can measure the force which the lead balls
and the gold balls exert upon one another; he can
measure the distance which the balls are apart; he
can measure the balls. Therefore, knowing the
force, the masses and the distance between them, he
can determine the great constant G, and, knowing
G, he can determine the specific gravity of the earth;
he can find its weight. Prof. Boys, after years of
experiment, has found the specific gravity of the
earth to be 5527. Before this time we were content
to regard it as 5.5. He has taken five years or more
refrigerating plant, Louisiana Purchase Exposition,
St. Louis, Mo., during the entire period of the Fair.
Fig. 1 shows two Cameron boiler feed pumps,
8x6x13, in the boiler house, and used for supplying
two water tube boilers of 750 H. P. Fig. 2 shows
two 10 x 9 x 18 Cameron special brine circulating
pumps, of the light service pattern, having long
bodies and composition linings, also in operation at
the plant, and were used alternately in the refriger-
ating pipe line, which was claimed to be the longest
continuous line in operation using brine as a refrig-
erating agent. These pumps were in constant use
day and night from May 14, 1904, to the close of the
Exposition, December 3, for the 500-ton refrigerat-
ing machine, with the two ice tanks capable of mak-
ing 120 tons of ice daily, and cold storage space of
100,000 cubic feet. Brine at a temperature of 10° F.
was put into the pipe line and pumped through the
various and numerous refrigerator boxes, containing
60,000 cubic feet, at the " German Tyrolean Alps,"
7000 feet from the plant, the brine traveling through
the pipe 14,000 feet after leaving the pumps before
returning to the brine coolers. The manufacturers
state that these pumps successfully withstood the
constant rack and strain to which they were
subjected. P. D. C. Ball of the Ice & Cold Ma-
chine Co. states that the service was entirely satis-
factory.
The pipe line was used by other parties for refriger-
ating between the above mentioned points, the connec-
tions and arrangement being such that no difficulty
was experienced in getting proper circulation, and
without interfering with other boxes on the line.
The pumps presented a unique and picturesque
appearance, owing to their being covered with a
layer of frost. One old mining engineer's wife re-
marked: "Those pumps look like statuary, and
unlike the old station pump at the mine shaft, which
we have seen in service nigh on to twenty years."
213
Mining and Scientific Press.
September 23, 1905.
************************************ fc
IMiningandMetallurgicalPatentsJ
* «■
PATENTS ISSUED SEPTEMBER 6, 190B.
Speoially Reported and Illustrated for the MINING AND
SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
Smelting Fdrnace.— No. 798,312; H. L. Wrinkle
and N. "Wrinkle, Keeler, Cal.
Smelting furnace having circular crucible, per-
manent outer top wall for crucible, inner top wall be-
low outer wall and spaced therefrom to form circular
chamber, stack sustained by outer top wall and pass-
ing through both top walls, radial partition in cir-
cular chamber, air blast pipe passing into chamber
at one side of partition, and air blast pipe passing
from chamber at other side of partition and leading
into crucible.
Mining Macbine. — No.
Columbus, Ohio.
798,10S; E. E. Merrill,
In mining machine, combination of bed, carriage,
cutting apparatus on carriage and arranged to be
thrust thereby directly into coal, two-part feed
mechanism, of which one part is secured to bed, and
other is supported by carriage, electric motor hav-
ing armature shaft arranged longitudinally of ma-
chine, bevel wheel at rear end armature shaft, ver-
tical shaft behind motor, bevel wheel thereon above
bevel wheel on armature shaft, worm gear on ver-
tical shaft, gearing interposed between vertical shaft
and carriage feed mechanism and means connecting
vertical shaft to cutting apparatus.
Reel for Mine Locomotives.
Booker, California, Pa.
-No. 798,389; H.
Combination with electric locomotives for mines, of
revoluble shaft operated by locomotive, disk carried
by shaft, drum loosely mounted upon disk, cable car-
ried by drum, means to establish electric connection
between locomotive and cable and means to hold drum
in stationary position.
Pump or Compressor.— No. 798,506; M. W. Hall,
Brooklyn, N. Y.
In pump or compressor, combination with cylinder
having differential bores, of differential piston fitted to
bores, piston having passage therethrough, valve
carried by piston controlling passage, discharge
valve controlling discharge from forward end of
larger cylinder bore, cylinder provided with inlet
passage leading to rear end of smaller bore thereof
at rear of smaller head of differential piston, and
passage through wall of cylinder separating differ-
ential bores, connecting rear end of larger cylinder
bore at rear of larger piston head, with discharge.
Assay Furnace.
ver, Colo.
-No. 798,950; W. W. Case, Den-
In assay furnace, combination of wall thereof hav-
ing flame inlet near bottom and near one end thereof,
series of crucibles located in furnace, crucibles near-
est fuel inlet partly surrounded by wall of furnace
to protect them from too rapid heating, wall pro-
vided with exit for products of combustion located in
proximity to rear top thereof, series of projectors, or
heaters, arranged within wall of furnace and around
crucibles located at or near rear end to heat up latter
rapidly enough to keep pace with heating of cruci-
bles located nearer fuel inlet.
Dry Ore Concentrating Table. — No. 798,843;
A. Tetrault and E. C. Pohle, Boulder, Colo.
In dry concentrator, smooth surfaced table, cover
therefor forming top chamber, leaving openings
across three edges of table, closure for fourth edge
thereof, casing forming exhaust chamber extending
across openings at one end of table, pipe connected
to one end of exhaust chamber, means to draw air
therefrom connected to pipe, open ended pipe rising
from latter, valve controlling open ended pipe for
regulating volume and force of air currents, feed
hopper opening into table chamber at closed edge,
means for causing reciprocating bumping movements
to table.
Separating and Sizing Attachment for Concen-
trators.—No. 798,632; J. H. Smith, Creede, Colo.
Attachment for concentrating tables, comprising
angular supporting brackets, pair of guide rods car-
ried by brackets, rectangular screen frame having
end bars apertured for reception of guide rods and
series of openings in side bars, middlings trough sup-
ported by frame at one end, trough retaining devices
engaging openings, screen mounted on frame at one
side of middlings trough, and values trough secured
to frame and extending beyond opposite side of mid-
dlings trough.
Slime Concentrating Table. — No. 798,842; A.
Tetrault and E. C Pohle, Denver, Colo.
J.,rfr
In concentrating table, foundation frame, means
thereon for supporting table in operative relation to
frame consisting of bracket guide rising from each
corner of frame, pair of beams loosely fitted in pair
of guides, means arranged beneath beams at one side
of frame for simultaneously and vertically adjusting
ends of beams, means carried by other ends of beams
for independently adjusting each vertically, pair of
rocker arms mounted on upper side of each beam,
adapted to swing at right angles to length of beams,
in combination with table mounted on rocker arms,
abutment carried by table, abutment carried by
frame, means for reciprocating table, means for
adjusting table toward and from its driving crank
shaft to vary its stroke consisting of crank shaft,
pitman rod bow spring, links connecting spring, head
connecting links having screw stem, loop bracket
secured to and projecting from table, and nuts en-
gaging screw stem and bracket.
Steam Boiler Furnace. — No. 798,684; J. J. Le
Due, Mankato, Minn.
Combination with firebox having water space sur-
rounding, opposite stepped brackets provided upon
inner walls of firebox progressing upwardly and for-
wardly from back with steps at one side staggered
with respect to steps at opposite side of firebox,
headers supported upon steps of brackets, each
header provided with inlet and outlet, water tubes
extending between corresponding headers at oppo-
site sides of firebox, each tube inclined upwardly from
outlet of one header to inlet of next above header at
opposite side of firebox, inlet connection between
lowermost header at one side of firebox and water
space at back of firebox, and outlet connection be-
tween upper portion of device and water space at
top of firebox.
Ore Concentrating Table.— No. 799,021; A. Te-
trault, Denver, Colo.
In ore concentrating table, foundation frame, table
having V-shaped bearings on under side, pairs of
pointed rock arms engaging grooves of bearings,
pair of beams supporting rock arms, means for ad-
justing beams at feed end of table, guide brackets
within which both ends of beams are loosely placed,
means on beams engaging brackets to prevent rock
arms from sliding out of table bearings, and means,
for reciprocating table.
September 23, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
214
ie ******************* -X.*********;*******
I MINING SUMMARY. J
* *
IS -f- ••- -I- -I- -f"f' HT* -T* -J- "T- -f* -*- -T- *******t- ********* ******
ally Compiled and Reported for the MINING AND
SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
ALASKA.
Henry Bratnober has discovered copper at the head-
waters of the Nabesna, White and Tanana rivers. It
is stated that John Rosene and associates will build the
Northwestern & Copper River Railroad to the Nabesna
copper district witnin throe years. Rosene's first sec-
tion of 35 miles from Valdez is now being built.
ARIZONA.
Cochise County.
It seems certain that the wagon road to the Bacoachic
district in Sonora from the Nacozari railroad will be
started. It will open up a rich mining district tributary
to Douglas, but which Is severely hampered by lack of
transportation. The road will open up a large number
of camps in the Arizpe district.
Near Charleston, south of Fairbank, is a new discov-
ery by J. Lorrien, the values being principally in vana-
dinite of lead, although there are other ores of lead in
the veins. It is claimed that this ore can be concen-
trated and the concentrates of the vanadinite of lead
saved.
Regarding tungsten a recent report of the United
States Geological Survey says that there were quite
extensive operations conducted on the tungsten deposits
in Cochise county. These deposits occur 13 miles from
Benson and 6 miles north of Dragoon, in the Little
Dragoon mountains. This area has been pretty thor-
oughly prospected for tungsten ores by means of open
cuts, pits, shallow shafts, etc. These prospect cuts and
pits have been made on a long ridge, in the gulches of
which placer and lloat tungsten minerals have been
found, principally hubnerite, in aplite veinlets and crys-
talline quartz that occupy fissures in the main body of
granite constituting the country rock, also as hubnerite
and wolframite, which are due to the alteration of the
incasing wall rock and flank the vein itself. Scheelite
has occasionally been found in small seams or streaks
with the hubnerite. The deposits near the surface have
been more or less decomposed. The belt containing
these veins is the ridge at the head of Texas ridge and
Sheep canyon. There has been considerable work done
on this ridge by running in crosscuts and tunnels to
intercept these vein6, but many of the lower tunnels
which were run in sufficient distances to have intercepted
the vein if it existed found no trace of it at these lower
depths, with the exception of the Bluebird vein, which
seems to be more continuous than the others. This
vein occurs at the contact of granite and intrusive dio-
rite. It has a strike of north 50° east and dips 55° to 60°
toward the east and is on the hanging wall side of the
diorite dike. The tungsten minerals in these veins are
very apt to occur in bunches and also in streaks, so that
a large proportion of the vein contains little or no tung-
sten minerals. In some instances where the vein is a
number of feet in width, the tungsten minerals have
been concentrated in seams 5 to 6 inches in width; then
again, rich bunches of hubnerite ore. from a few pounds
to four or five tons of nearly pure ore, averaging from
50% to 60% tungstic acid, have been obtained. The
supply of tungsten ore from this locality has been
obtained from the veins, and also from the placer depos-
its in the gulches below the veins, and it is probable
that by far the larger part has been obtained from these
placer deposits. One estimate made of the production
of this locality has been over 500 tons of tungsten ore, of
which not over fifty tons have been obtained from the
veins themselves, the balance being the result of mining
in the placers. The percentage of tungsten in these
ores varies from 50% to 78%, and usually it can be con-
centrated so that the ore will yield an average of 68% of
tungstic acid (W03).
It is reported that the Empire Copper & Gold M. Co.
intend sinking a three-compartment shaft 700 feet to
develop their claims, near Johnson. J. L. Brooks is
manager. The Cons. M. Co. has sunk 260 feet on the
Republic mine and 275 feet on the Mammoth mine, both
near. Johnson. The Republic is shipping ore to El
Paso. S. J. Entriken is manager. A double-com-
partment shaft is being sunk on the Black Prince, near
Johnson, under the direction of Robt. Mackey. It is
reported that the smelter of the Southwestern S. & R.
Co., at Benson, is to be completed under the direction of
Manager Doane Merrill. The works are to be of 350
tons capacity, with one 250-ton water-jacket blast fur-
nace and one 100-ton reverberatory furnace. The pro-
duct will be a 60% matte.
Work has commenced this week on the Cochise Dev.
Go. 's property, near Bisbee. The old shaft will he
widened to a two-compartment. Orders have been
placed for a double-hoisting engine, boilers, compressors
and air drills. C. L. Jones is managing director and
Robert Ludwig mine foreman. At Gleason the Cop-
per Belle Co. is putting in additional machinery. A new
blower for the smelter is being put in place. The min-
ers have been blocking out ore to he run through the
smelter when it starts up again.
611a County.
The August production of the Old Dominion Copper
Co. at Globe was 2,242,000 pounds of blister copper, as
compared with 2,080,000 pounds in July. An accident to
one of the blowing engines interfered with production
for seven days. The company's new plant has been
completed at a cost of $1,500,000 and paid for. Three
furnaces are in blast at the Old Dominion smelter and
the concentrator is running continuously. The Pinal
Copper Co. of Globe, of which C. W. Slack is superinten-
dent, has been reorganized in St. Louis and will here-
after be known as the Arizona Banner Copper Co.
The Arizona Commercial Copper Co. recently stopped
shipping ore from the Copper Hill mine to the Old Do-
minion smelter, as there would he a saving to the com-
pany of IS to $6 per ton if the ore was first concentrated.
The Old Dominion Co. was charging the Arizona Com-
mercial Co. $3 per ton working charge, but had made an
additional charge of $1 per ton on account of the Copper
Hill ore being highly siliceous. They may make an
arrangement with the Old Dominion Co. for concentrat-
ing the ores, whereby the largest part of the silica will
be eliminated, in which case shipments will be resumed,
otherwise they will build their own mill. It is stated
that a diamond drill is being put in.
Graham Comity.
Rich silver ore has been found at the bottom of the
200-foot shaft of the Commerce mine, 14 miles from Dun-
can. Arthur Murphy is superintendent. Consider-
able second-class ore is being shipped from the Standard
copper mines north of Clifton. Good milling sulphide
ore has been struck after driving 200 feet in a tunnel on
the Copper Plate mines, near Metcalf. Ambrose Burke
has charge.
Mohave County.
W. G. Kelly, of Winslow, Arizona, is directing work
on a mine near the Ark, it; miles north of Kingman.
Work will be continued until water is struck.
The Vivian M. Co. is building a mill near the shaft, to
the east of the Mohave & Milltown railroad at Vivian.
The shaft is down 200 feet. A supply of water for all
purposes is said to have been found in the mine.
Santa Cruz County. ,
The recent sale of the Grubstake gold and silver mines
of the Blanco district, near Nogales, to the Grubstake
M. & M. Co. recalls the early discovery of the property
when it was considered a rich silver mine while now it is
considered almost entirely for its gold, running $12 per
ton, with large bodies of ore. Many years ago these
mines were located for silver, when that metal was high.
Out of one shallow shaft and crosscut the original
locators, Holden & Hewitt, took $17,000. To-day the
mine is to be worked as a gold mine.
Yavapai County.
At the Senator mine, 12 miles south of Prescott,
Superintendent A. J. Pickerell has the tunnel in 2500
feet. In the same district the Gold Copper Co. is run-
ning a development tunnel from Crook canyon under
the superintendency of T. Marmont. At the Mt.
Union mine, south of Prescott, the shaft is down 530
feet, with drifts from the 400 to the 500-foot levels. The
ore is crushed and concentrated at the mine. E. E.
Greenwood is manager and L. Greenwood superinten-
dent. At Walker, the Metals M. Co., under the man-
agement of G. W. Middleton, is developing the Sheldon
and Monroe properties. A car line extends to the Shel-
don, with a branch to the Monroe. At present the cars
are hauled by animals, but the company has contracted
with the Arizona Smelting Co. for electric power suf-
ficient to supply the mines, car line, and a new mill of
250 tons capacity.
At the Jeanette-Arizona mine, near Hillside, the shaft
has been sunk 440 feet under the direction of Superin-
tendent Carbaugh.
CALIFORNIA.
Amador County. ,
The Oneida mine, near Jackson, is to he prospected to
greater depth. A winze is to be sunk from the 2400
level to a depth of 600 feet. The grade of rock at pres-
ent being worked is low. At the Zeila mine, near
Jackson, thirty of the forty stamps will be run by elec-
tricity, the other ten will be run by water power. This
utilization of water for part of the mill is necessary to
supply sufficient water to carry off the tailings.
El Dorado County.
Richard Reed and Clifford Cheek will put in an arrastra
on the Silva mine at Georgetown. The Gopher-Boul-
der mill near Kelsey has been started up on a test run.
C. S. Hersey of Georgetown is millman.
The River Hill mine, near Placerville, has reached a
depth of 1300 feet, 1000 feet in the main shaft and 300
feet in the winze. At the Nigger Plat mine, near
Placerville, they are boring for the channel and splendid
progress is reported.
Humboldt County.
A 3-stamp mill is being put in at the Fern Leaf mine
at Orleans Bar, 65 miles by trail from Areata. F. S.
Elder is superintendent. The lighter machinery is be-
ing packed by mules to the mine, while the heavier sec-
tions are to be hauled by wagon to Hoopa, and then car-
ried up the Klamath river by boats to within 8 miles of
the mine, whence they will be taken in by sleds.
Los Angeles County.
(Special Correspondence). — The Lowell & California
M. Co., F. C. Fenner manager and J. L. Witney super-
intendent, have started their new 10-stamp mill at Big-
horn on ore from the No. 6 tunnel, averaging four tons
to the head.
Bighorn, Sept. 16.
Mono County.
(Special Correspondence). — The metallurgical treat-
ment of ore at the mines of the Standard Con. Co. at
Bodie has been materially changed within the past
eight months, and is now one of the most modern in
California, including crushing in cyanide solution, fur-
ther crushing in tube mill and final treatment by the
Moore process. The ore is crushed to 30 mesh in the 20-
stamp mill. Crushing is done in cyanide solution, using
two pounds of cyanide per ton of ore. Plate and battery
amalgamation Bave 60% of the values, which run from
$18 to $20 per ton. The plates have an inclination of 2J
inches to the foot. After concentration by vanners the
pulp is elevated to the tube mill, where it is first classi-
fied by spitzkasten and the coarse material fed to the
tube mill, together with the sands and slimes from the
vanners, which are fed dry. Irregular pebbles from
Mono lake have been used, but, being irregular, they
slide and will not roll, causing greater wear on the liners
and requiring more power. Hereafter Iceland flints,
now being shipped, are to be used. The tube mill
crushes to 150 to 200 mesh. The coarse material from
the mill is separated by spitzkasten and recrushed. The
pulp then passes to settlors and the settlings, 25% to 30%
solid, are treated by the Moore process. This makes an
extraction of 85% from the slimes and mill tailings, as
compared with 70% extraction obtained before regrind-
ing was tried. The concentrates from the vanners are
ground fine with strong cyanide solution in pans and
also treated by the Moore process, giving an extraction
of 95%. In the Moore plant two " baskets" or units of
filters are used, consisting of a series of parallel plates 4
inches apart, each plate being about 20 feet long and 4
feet high, consisting of a light framework covered with
canvas. In the original plant a suction pipe passed
through the top at the center to within J inch of the
bottom; two blowpipes also entered at the top. The
whole series was hung from a crane, which raised and
lowered the basket and carried it from one compartment
of the tank to another. The filter is lowered in the
slimes compartment and the vacuum pump started, the
slimes being agitated to prevent settling. The suction
i6 continued until a coating of slimes is formed on all
parts of the filtering surface to a depth of from if to 1
inch. During this time the pump is continuously dis-
charging the clear gold solution. The crane then car-
ries the basket to the weak solution and to the wash
water, the vacuum preventing the cakes from dropping
off during the transfer. To discharge the cakes, a blast
of air is turned into a pipe connected with the blowing
pipes of each plate and the vacuum pump is stopped, the
air dislodging the slime cakes, which drop into cars
below. The filtrate from the baskets passes to the zinc
boxes and thence to the sump, whence the solution is
pumped to the mill. The Moore process is giving satis-
faction. Theodore J. Hoover is superintendent of the
mine and mill and W. P. Hamilton is foreman of the
plant.
Bodie, Sept. 18.
Nevada County.
It is stated that the Gaston M. Co. at Gaston intends
running a tunnel from Poorman's creek, several thou-
sand feet below the present workings. The new tunnel
would he over 5000 feet in length in order to reach the
ledge, 3000 feet below the surface. The present tunnel
is 2000 feet long.
The Prescott Hill shaft, near Grass Valley, has a depth
of 650 feet, and it is the intention of the Sultana Co.,
which owns the mine, to put it down 500 feet farther.
ShaHta County.
Suit has been filed in the Circuit Court of northern
California by Joseph A. Coram against the Balaklala
Con. C. Co. of Nevada: the Western Exploration Co. of
Utah; F. H. Buhl of Sharon, Pa.; G. H. Baird of Chi-
cago; Willard F. Snyder of Salt Lake City, Utah; the
executors of the estate of Peter L. Kimberly, and the
White Knob C. Co. of Maine, to prevent the sale of
the Balaklala Co.'s property to the White Knob C.
Co., which previously operated in the Hailey dis-
trict in Idaho. The complaint states that on April
3, 1905, F. H. Buhl, representing a majority of the di-
rectors of the Western Exploration Co., which at that
time owned the entire capital stock of the Balaklala C.
Co., with the knoweledge and consent of the other di-
rectors, Peter L. Kimberly and Willard F. Snyder, who
owned and controlled a majority of the stock of the
Western Exploration Co., authorized J. A. Coram to
sell the Balaklala property for $750,000 cash and $1,-
000,000 worth of stock in the consolidated company of
which the Balaklala was to form one of the constituent
parts. Pursuant to the authority granted to him, J. A.
Coram accomplished the sale of the property on May 3,
but on July 3 the Western Exploration Co. sold the
property to the White Knob C. Co. Coram prays that
the sale to the White Knob C. Co. be set aside and the
Western Exploration Co. be compelled to pay damages
in the case. The complaint further shows that Mr.
Coram, in his endeavor to keep his agreement with his
principals, tried to purchase a controlling interest in the
White Knob C. Co. The agreement between Mr. Buhl
and Mr. Coram, under which the latter sold the prop-
erty, is also exhibited.
The rates which the Mammoth Copper Co. at Kennet
has established for the treatment of siliceous ores are as
follows: Ore from $3 to $15 a ton assay value will be
smelted free, and 75% of the value returned to the ship-
per. On ore between $15 and $25 in assay value, 77J%
of the value will be returned to the shipper and there is
no smelting charge. On ore from $25 to $50 a ton, 90%
of the assay value will be returned and a charge of $2.50
a ton will be made for smelting. On ore from $50 to $75
a ton, 95% will be returned and a charge of $5 a ton will
be made for smelting; on that assaying from $75 to $100
a ton 95% will be returned and a smelting charge of $7 a
ton will be made. On ore from $100 to $200 a ton, 95%
will be returned and a smelting charge of $10 added.
In addition to the above percentages of gold, 90% of all
silver values will be returned on ores assaying above five
ounces to the ton. No return will be made on less val-
ues. Only siliceous ores as high as 90% in silica will be
subject to a smelting charge; gold will be paid for at
the rate of $20 per ounce and silver at current New York
quotations. No lots of less than ten tons will be received
at the smelter.
sierra County.
It is stated that A. J. Pinkstone, superintendent of
the Sierra Buttes mine at Sierra City, will develop the
Comet quartz mine in Jim Crow canyon, 5 miles from
Downieville.
Siskiyou County.
The Eliza mine on Humbug, near Yreka, is being de-
veloped under the superintendence of C. A. Patterson.
The machinery for a new quartz mill and cyanide plant
is. on the ground. The Deadwood placer mine, near
Yreka, has been sold to a syndicate of Chinamen at San
Francisco, headed by U. S. Interpreter Mun.
Tuolumne County.
It is reported that a pumping plant, 100-ton gravel
mill and excavating machinery are to be put in at the
Montezuma gravel mine, near Columbia. ' W. T. Bever-
idge is interested. Leasers are working the New
York tunnel on Table mountain, near Columbia. The
lower channel has not been reached. A drain tunnel
has been run 1000 feet to unwater the Cincinnati mine,
215
Mining and Scientific Press.
September 23, 1H05.
near Columbia. The shaft was abandoned because of
the water. The Richards' claim on Table mountain is
to be unwatered by the Muir tunnel. The Trucken-
miller Con. M. Co. are making a raise to tap the gravel
channel, having run the tunnel 670 feet. Sluices and
gravel bins are being put in to work the gravel. H.
Knott is superintendent.
The Clio shaft, near Jacksonville, is down 400 feet.
At the Mustang mine, near Confidence, twenty-two men
are at work. A 5-stamp mill has been put up and a
short mill run made. J. M. McMahon is manager. ■
At the New Calico at Stent the shaft is down 220 feet
and the ground to that depth has been explored and ore
blocked out. At present they are crosscutting at the
200 and drifting north and south on the west ledge. The
expense for fuel, for hoist, pump station, drills, etc.,
runs $5.60 per twenty-four hours.
COLORADO.
(Special Correspondence). — Although W. S. Stratton
of Cripple Creek fame has been dead for a number of
years, every few months some one files a suit against
his estate, claiming that at some time or other during
the life of the deceased he had furnished him a sack of
tobacco to prospect on, or some other similar charge.
The latest suit filed is by a party named Meredith, who
claims to be a mining engineer, and who further claims,
according to reports, that there is coming to him from
the Stratton estate $10,000 commission from a mining
deal that never went through and $50,000 for the depre-
ciation of the stock on account of the deal not having
been consummated. According to the U. S. Mint
report for 1904 recently sent out, Colorado seems to be
in the front rank as a gold-producing State. This year
should see a much larger production than during 1904,
as the districts affected by the strike are about to their
normal condition and others are forging ahead. Dur-
ing the past few years there is a tendency to put in elec-
tric power for operating various machinery employed on
a mine. In a number of instances a company has
secured control of water rights on certain streams for
power purposes and has harnessed same up with electri-
cal machinery, strung wires for a distance of 20 or 30
miles over mountain ranges and are supplying power to
the mines for 10% to 40% less than the mines can produce
their own power by snipping in coal. When this was
first talked of, some said it could not be done on account
of the climatic conditions they had to contend with in a
mountainous country. It has been done and a number
of such projects are now under way throughout the
State. Wherever tried it has been a success and a source
of revenue, not only to the company selling the power,
but to the purchaser of the power. There seems to be
considerable agitation for electric roads to the mines.
One of the late ones to come into prominence is at Tellu-
ride, where a franchise has been granted to a company
who intends to build an electric road into Marshall and
Savage basins, and will not only carry passengers, but
ore and supplies as well. According to report, they have
agreed to reimburse the county of San Miguel for the
amount of money expended on the county road into
these basins. The greatest difficulty to be encountered
will be through the winter months on account of
heavy snow and slides, but this, like the difficulties with
the electric lines for power purposes, will undoubtedly be
overcome. If such an undertaking proves successful, it
will be the means of others throughout the San Juan and
other sections of Colorado.
Denver, Sept. 18.
According to J. H. Pratt in a recent report of the
United States Geological Survey, the tungsten deposits
of Colorado are located in Boulder, Gilpin, Lake, Ouray
and San Juan counties, with the more important depos-
its in the first-named county. The deposits in Boulder
county are in the vicinity of Nederland and Sugar Loaf,
ann these localities produced by far the largest propor-
tion of the tungsten output of 1904. According to the
reports received from the producers in this county, the
ore concentrated on the average ten tons to one, the con-
centrates averaging from 60% to 68% of tungstic acid.
Practically all of these concentrates are shipped East,
where they are treated chemically and reduced to the
black tungsten metal or powder. Other portions are
used directly in the manufacture of the fused metal or
in the ferrotungsten alloy.
Chaffee County.
Ore is being shipped from the first vein cut by the
Latchaw tunnel being driven in Mount Princeton under
the direction of C. N. Sharp of Buena Vista. Stoping is
to be started in other veins cut in drivings of 3000 feet.
Coster County.
The Hessite G. M. Co. is said to have struck rich ore
at a depth of 50 feet on the Evening Star lode, near
Silver Cliff. Manager M. S. Olin will sink the shaft 100
feet deeper.
Gilpin County.
Peter Daly and James Cody of Central City are devel-
oping the Mountain Lion, Elk and Alice Taylor lode
claims, up Elk creek, by means of a tunnel which has
been driven in on the Mountain Lion vein 175 feet. It
is reported that five stamps are to be added to the mill of
the Mountain Monarch M. Co., near Rollinsville.
Grading is being done near Rollinsville for the new mill
of the Penobscot M. & M. Co. The new mill is to be
located below the tunnel entrance, and will be a 10 rapid-
drop stamp amalgamating and concentrating mill. A
4-drill air compressor is to be put in, as well as a 100
H. P. boiler, in the new mill building. P. J. Hamble is
manager. Buress & Dowd of Denver have taken an
option on the Copper King, in Lump gulch, and are pre-
paring to unwater the main shaft, preparatory to put-
ting in hoisting machinery. The mine is owned by
Lunwall & Sons of Central City. The Imperial M. &
M. Co., operating the Mackey and Sarah Jane mines and
the Mountz and Palmer mill, at the junction of Elk and
Pine creeks, near Apex, has consolidated the holdings of
the Cyrene Gold Mines Co., owning the Cyrene, Cyrene
Extension, Jack Middleton, Clara Gees and Cronje lodes,
in Twelve Mile and Elk Park sections of the Pine Creek
district. The work on the Cyrene group at Twelve Mile
is rather prospecting, a shaft having been started from
surface. Operations were until recently carried on in
the main shaft, but were suspended on account of there
being too much water to handle. The hoisting engine
formerly at the Mackey mine is being removed to the
Cyrene shaft, and Manager Mountz has bought a 30
H. P. boiler and a new shaft building will be built. At
the Mackey mine the small hoist formerly used has been
taken out and will be replaced by the larger hoisting rig
from the Cyrene mine in Twelve Mile. The levels at a
depth of 150 feet are being extended both ways. The
main shaft is down 250 feet, and they intend after the
heavier machinery is in place to sink 200 or 300 feet dur-
ing the winter. The Postoria G. M. Co., who leased
the right of way to work their property in the Pleasant
Valley district, 2£ miles south of Central City, through
the Hudson Burr tunnel, have commenced drilling. The
mouth of the tunnel is in Clear Creek county and cuts
Nighthawk mountain. Before striking the vein of the
Fostoria, the company will have to drive 400 feet. They
will cut the Postoria vein at a depth of 600 feet. W. E.
Campbell has charge. The Pleasant Valley M. & M.
Co. has graders making preparations for the switch to
connect the Gilpin tramway with the Banta-Hill prop-
erties. C. E. Hurlbut of Downsville, N. Y., has pur-
chased a one-half interest in the Great Divide claims, in
Mammoth gulch, the other half interest being owned by
A. M. Willard of Gilpin. Development is being done by
a tunnel now in over 175 feet. The Portland-Dow M.
Co., in developing their claims in Moon gulch, have
driven their tunnel 600 feet. Superintendent C. L. Dow
reports that they have cut five veins. Development
work is being carried on in the Gauntlet mine, on the
east end of Quartz hill, by the Gauntlet M. Co., with L.
D. Hobson as manager.
Clear Creek County.
An important strike has been made in the Marshall
tunnel, near Georgetown, through which the Colorado
Central-Aliunde property is being worked by P. A.
Maxwell. The strike was made on company ground and
in the east drift recently started on the Aliunde vein No.
2. Considerable zinc is contained in the ore. The first
shipment by the lessees from the 1000-foot level has been
made by McClusky & Cottingham. John Beyo & Co.,
operating to the east, expect to start shipments soon.
The winze, which was being sunk for the purpose of
proving up disputed ground, has broken through and a
big body of medium-grade ore is exposed. This ground
is being worked out as fast as possible in order to enable
Haggart & Patton to cover the winze. It is reported
that the Vesper group, near Georgetown, will be turned
over to Chicago men. D. W. Shepard and E. Williams,
owners of the property, are employing men in develop-
ment work. C. G. Mety of Denver has a lease and
bond on the Gladstone-Cardigan mines, south of Idaho
Springs. W. S. Mety has been placed in charge of the
mine work and also the Allan mill on Chicago creek.
This mill has been secured under lease for the purpose
of running the mill dirt from these properties and such
custom ores as may be offered. The Mount Theresa
G. M. Co. has been formed by A. D. Bullis, C. Arthur
and W. E. Garver to operate the Consolidated Moore
and Big Chief groups on Mount Theresa, 1 mile south of
Idaho Springs, on Soda creek. The company plans to
put in a power plant on Soda creek and drive its ma-
chinery, hoist, pumps and drills by electric power. An
ore shoot exposed in the Moore tunnel will be explored
by sinking a shaft. The Moore tunnel is heading
toward the ground of the Lexington and Preacher lodes.
The tunnel on the Little Richard mine is in 2000
feet and two machine drills are forcing it ahead toward
the ground on the Lexington vein. G. L. Bingham is
manager.
Gunnison County.
The Elk Mountain Pilot of Crested Butte reports a
strike of $35,000 gold ore on Cross mountain across Tay-
lor river from the Doctor mine. The Doctor mine is
to be reopened and operated by some Swedish miners. —
A strike of ruby silver ore is reported near Marcellena
mountain.
The Midland mine, south of Gunnison, has been leased
and bonded to the Spring Valley Gold M. & R. Co.
The cyanide process has been adopted in the mill and
the company is treating ten tons per day. The com-
pany is driving a tunnel to cut the ore below the shaft
100 feet. It will be driven 1300 feet.
Lake County.
J. W. Bailey of New York has a five-year bond and
lease on the Grand Trunk group in the Holy Cross dis-
trict, near Leadville, and will develop the property.
The main tunnel is in 2050 feet, and from a point in this
tunnel a crosscut drift will be run 350 feet to tap the
chimney of ore opened in the upper tunnel.
T. J. Cash and associates, lessees on the Triumph,
Jonny Hill, Leadville, have a lease on the Irene, a par-
allel claim, and are making preparations for develop-
ment. The property has not been worked for ten years,
the last being the driving of the lower drift, when, it is
said, the fault was cut.
Ouray County.
The Atlas M. & M. Co. of Ouray has decided not to
build its mill this year. Most of the machinery, dis-
mantled from a mill in Rio Grande county, is laid
down near the company's mill site. Instead, the
company has rented the Governor 10-stamp mill for
three months and will make 50-ton test runs on the
Atlas surface ores, as well as upon those of the Mogul,
Gilpin county and other lode claims adjoining the prop-
erty.
San Juan County.
Superintendent A. A. Lamont of the Boston & Silver-
ton M. & R. Co. reports that there is yet 400 feet more
of tunnel to run to tap the Uncle Sam vein on the com-
pany's property 2 miles up Cement creek from Silver-
ton. This will make the length of the Yukon tunnel
bore 2300 feet into the mountain, and the Lamont tunnel
on the same group is now into the hill 900 feet.
In level No. 1 of the Highland Mary in Cunningham
Gulch, near Silverton, twenty men are developing the
new strike. The Frisco M. Co., working in the Min-
eral Point section, near Silverton, has let a contract for
5000 feet of tunnel work.
On November 1, the A.nimas Power Co., with its elec-
tric plant located at Rockwood, 25 miles south of Silver-
ton, at the mouth of Cascade creek, will turn on the
current arid begin supplying the mines of San Juan with
the cheapest and most effective power they have had.
San Miguel County.
It is planned to connect the mines of Marshall and
Savage basins in Telluride district by an electric
traction line, with the chief shipping station of the Den-
ver & Rio Grande Southern Railroad at Telluride. It
will connect with the Tomboy, Smuggler-Union, Japan-
Flora and Liberty Bell mines, conveying the ores to the
mills at Pandora and concentrates to the Rio Grande
cars for shipment to the smelters.
Wagner Brothers are increasing their operations on
the Smuggler & Sheridan dumps of the Smuggler &
Sheridan mines, near Telluride, and the 76 claims
on which they have a lease, and are employing 100 men.
The dump ore is put through a Crane separator, and
then transported over the Smuggler-Union tramway to
the Smuggler 80-stamp mill for treatments
Summit County.
At the Old Union mine on Mineral hill, Breckenridge,
more men have been put to work and considerable ore is
being opened up in the Moore tunnel. The mill is run-
ning Bteadlly. The Briar Rose properties, on Peak
Ten, 5 miles southwest of Breckenridge, have been sold
to the Parker Syndicate of Memphis, Tenn., by C. A.
Finding. The property, while inconvenient to get to in
the winter season, has been a producer of high-grade sil-
ver ore. They propose to open the mine with a lower
tunnel. The Hoosier Creek G. M. Co. have struck a
vein of gold-bearing pyrite in a crosscut at the 110-foot
level. G. C. Smith, who is operating the Charlie Ross
property at the head of McCullough gulch, near Breck-
enridge, reports striking a new silver-lead vein. At the
surface the vein, which has been named the Crater,
shows partly oxidized lead ore that shows indication of
silver chloride.
Teller County.
A depth of 300 feet has been reached by lessees in the
shaft of the Beacon hill Ajax, near Cripple Creek, and
at that depth a station has been cut and a crosscut
started toward the vein. It is probable that work
will be resumed on the Perrault group on Mineral hill.
It is reported that a leasing company will start work
on the Extra Session claim of the Grace G. M. Co. of
Cripple Creek, putting up a mill and sinking a shaft
from the 200 to the 300-foot level. Chas. Weider has
leased the Finn claim of the Royal Oak of Cripple Creek
and proposes to sink the shaft from the 200 to the 400-
foot level. A steam hoist is to be put in. Articles of
incorporation for the Dark Horse M. & L. Co. have been
filed by T. R. Cudahy, E. Mitchell and C. L. Bailey.
The principal office is Central City and the place of
operation Teller county. The company has leased the
Flying Cloud, Sarah Ann McDonald, Royal Age and
part of the Brinsmaid. The Flying Cloud lies on the
southeast slope of Bull hill and near Pinnacle park.
Several veins have been exposed from the surface to 100
feet deep, and one of them has surrendered ore. The
latter body had a width of from 2 to 3 feet and a me-
tallic content varying from pay to $30. Arrange-
ments are being made by the Oro Mines Co., lessee of
the Oro claim on the north slope of Ironclad hill, Crip-
ple Creek, to put in a steam hoist. As soon as it is in
commission sinking will be resumed. Machine drills
will be used in the work. The shaft has a depth of 80
feet. It will be continued to the 300-foot point.
Hodges & Taubert, leasing on the Little Clara claim of
the Work Co., will use machine drills in their prospect-
ing work. They reach the Little Clara through the
Moffat tunnel. Shipments are to be resumed from
the Maybeso mine on Squaw mountain, near Cripple
Creek, by Bateman & Co., lessees.
IDAHO.
Boise County.
Manager G. Z. Edwards of the Lincoln Co. of Pearl
says the first half of the new cyanide plant with which
the properties are being equipped is ready to go into
commission with the second half to follow soon. It has
a crushing capacity of 150 tons daily. On the 340-foot
level he has drifted on gold-bearing ore with some silver
and of uniform value for over 200 feet. Near Pearl a
mill is being constructed by the owners of the Black
Pearl group, in which much ore has also been blocked
out, while another plant has been started at the Osborne
group.
Elmore County.
B. J. Erwin, vice-president and general manager of
the Provident Investment Co., owner of the Mountain
View mine at Pine, reports that a vein of high grade
ore has been cut at the Mary Glenn. Work will be con-
tinued all winter in charge of Theodore Knutson. For
the Mountain View mine, Erwin is putting in an electric
power plant on Lime creek. It will have a capacity of
400 H. P. and will be completed ready to run thft
Mountain View mill within two months. The Mountain
View has an SO-ton mill.
Idaho County.
A big strike was recently made in the Jumbo claim,
near Grangeville, on the 850-foot level. Milling has begun
on the new ore.
Kootenai County.
D. W. Casseday, president of the Panhandle Smelting
Co., expects that the smelter being built at Ponderay, 1
mile from Sandpoint, will be finished within a month.
This is a 200-ton custom smelter built to treat the ore
from the mines near Lake Pend d 'Oreille. These include
the Minerva M. Co.'s mines near Granite creek, on the
east side of the lake, which produce lead-zinc sulphides
and gray copper ore; the B. R. & B. mine at Blacktail,
producing silver-bearing gray copper ore, which has been
opened by an 1800-foot crosscut drain tunnel under the
management of J. A. Brown; the B. F. & H. mine near
Blacktail, being opened through a 700-foot crosscut tun-
nel, and the Venezuela, Keep Cool and Weber mines near
Lake View.
I. <in lit County.
The deposits of nickel and cobalt in Lemhi county,
September 28, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
21(1
from which about sixty tons of ore produced in 1003
were shipped as a sample of t ho ore, did not produce iu
1004.
Owyhee County.
The Owyhee Nugget says that the recent strike on
the Ruth mine, near Silver City, and the finding of the
main vein shows the wisdom of crosscutting a ledgo
when evidence of ore is to be found, closely connected
with the vein. The Ruth mine was acquired by G. W.
Wostlake and .1. Lewis, who proceeded to develop it
according to modern methods. The Ruth is an old loca-
tion, on the northwestern slope of War Eagle mountain.
The formation is normal and metamorphic granite.
The vein is split by altered granite which the previous
owners mistook for the banging wall, and development
was confined to a small stratum of quartz accompanying
the foot wall. A tunnel was driven on the ore streak
1100 feet and ore extracted which netted the owners a
little over $65,000. The work cost about $30,000 and can
be used to advantage, as the main ore vein lies 15 feet
from the foot wall and plainly shows the comb structure
of the fissure vein system. A shaft is being sunk on the
property and drifting on the vein will be done on the
100-foot level. The War Eagle Consolidated Co. has
men cleaning out the old Oro Pino tunnel and the stopes
between it and the Golden Chariot shaft, preparatory to
pumping out. A. Buckbee has charge.
Shoshone County.
J. H. Nordquist has been given the contract to drive
an 800-foot tunnel on the Bull Pen group, a copper
property, near Wallace.
At the Idaho Giant, two miles south of Mullan, there
are 1200 feet of tunnel, and men are drifting on the vein.
A gasoline engine and blower have been put in for ventilat-
ing, and a larger force of men can now be employed. The
present work is in following the vein, and the company
expocts to be under the ore shoot in three months.
MICHIGAN.
Houghton County.
The Uhode Island shaft, which was recently started
for the Quick lode, has been discontinued before reach-
ing rock, awaiting Franklin results on the Kearsarge
lode. The eighth level from the working shaft is in 1200
feet in oncouraging ground.
MONTANA
Beaverhead County.
It is reported that silver ore has been struck in the
New Departure mine, 10 miles south of Dillon. The
mine is being operated by O. M. Best, John Mackey and
W. A. Jones, all of Dillon.
Fergus County.
N. J. Littlejohn of Lewistown and A. S. Wright of
Chicago have located 1100 acres of ground as placer
claims between the Gold Reef property and Whisky
gulch, near Gilt Edge. The land will be prospected with
a diamond drill.
At Kendall the Cyanide G. M. Co. has been formed by
W. A. Shauls of Kendall, E. Johnson of Portland and
J. R. Cook of Spokane to conduct mining operations on
property beneath the townsite of Kendall.
Granite County.
It is reported that President Paul A. Fusz of the
Granite-Bimetallic Co. and C. D. McLure of the Combina-
tion M. & M. Co. have leased the Granite-Bimetallic mines
at Phillipsburg, and will sub-let certain portions of them.
Such sub-leases have been made to a few.
Silver Bow County.
(Special Correspondence). — The Hancock lode claim
purchased by the North Butte Co. is but 500 feet wide
and 150 feet long, but it is a valuable piece of ground,
because it is probable that the copper vein of the Jessie
mine runs through the Hancock. The latter lies west of
and adjoins the Jessie, in which the North Butte has
been mining ever since it acquired the Speculator prop-
erties. The company is trying to buy the Kentucky
lode claim west of the Hancock. Another company is
being organized to take the Berlin and Lynchburg
mines. The North Butte has been sued for $20,000
damages by a miner who was injured in the Speculator
mine, and for which he blames the company. The
Washoe smelter at Anaconda is consuming 11,300 tons of
material daily, consisting of 8000 tons of ore, 1300 tons of
lime rock, 400 tons of coke, 600 tons of coal and 1000 tons
of other materials. The company employs 2500 men, of
that number 1850 being at work in the smelter proper
and the others at the foundry, brick yard, etc. The
daily average of ore shipped from Butte to Anaconda is
8000 tons, though it has reached as high as 10,400 tons
in one day. The smelter is able to handle 12,000 tons a
day. It seems probable that the Amalgamated Co. will
make another attempt to get an injunction against the
Minnie Healey mine, owned by United Copper, and stop
work on the ore bodies claimed by the Boston & Mon-
tana, to apex in the Piccolo, Gambetta and Colusa lode
claims. It has been the contention of the Boston &
Montana that the big Colusa vein dips under the Piccolo
and Gambetta and into the Minnie Healey and that the
Heinze Companies which have been working the Minnie
Healey have mined on the Colusa vein and not on a sep-
arate vein having its apex in the Minnie Healey ground.
Last fall a suit for $5,000,000 damages, on account of ore
alleged to have been taken from the Colusa vein, was
brought against the Heinzes and a restraining order was
issued from the court which caused a suspension of op-
eration on the mine for several days, and then the in-
junction was set aside. Since then the case has been
allowed to rest in court until a few days ago when
another Heinze Company was added as defendant, and it
waB stated to be the intention of the Boston & Montana
to push the case. A large body of ore has been found
on the 300-foot level of the Lexington mine, which runs
104 ounces in gold and 124 ounces in silver to the ton.
The Lexington is a property of the La Prance Copper
Co., which is being floated by P. A. Heinze, and is inde-
pendent of United Copper. Mr. Heinze has just re-
turned from Prance, where he had been for several
months in the interest of his new company.
Butte, Sept. 18.
The /Raven .mine is shipping silver-copper ore from a
depth of 1200 feet. A raise is to be made from the end
of tho crosscut from the 2400-foot level of the High
Ore to connect with the Mountain View shaft of the Bos-
ton & Montreal Co. at Butte. This is down 1800 feet.
MISSOURI.
According to II. F. Bain and E. O. Ulrich in a recent
report of the United states Geological Survey, copper in
the form of sulphides and carbonates has been found at
many points in southern Missouri, and has been mined
in several localities, notably in Ste. Genevieve, Madison,
Shannon and Crawford counties. Very large deposits,
rivaling those of the West, have not been found and are
not to be expected. Tho character of the ore and the
low cost of flux, fuel and labor make it possible to work
some, at least, of the deposits with profit. The ores
show a preference for certain stratlgraphic horizons,
and, being bedded, may be prospected with ease and
economy. The common association of sulphides with
specular iron of the sandstone region points to the advis-
ability of the investigation of the old iron pits. In
Shannon county the most favorable localities are along
the contact of porphyry and dolomite at points where
the conglomerate beds at the base of the latter fill in
shallow basins in the crystalline rocks. In the dissemi-
nated lead district of southeastern Missouri copper
occurs in connection with the lead, and at a few points
can be saved to advantage.
NEVADA.
Elko County.
Work has been commenced on the Nevada Northern
Railway, which is to connect Elko with Toano, giving
the copper deposits about Copper Plat, Pilot Knob and
Ely an outlet.
Lincoln County.
The Searchlight Parallel G. M. Co. is putting in a 12
H. P. gasoline hoist, ore cars, rails, blower, pipe and
other material at their mine near Searchlight. T. D.
Forney is superintendent. The shaft will be sunk to the
500-foot level. Stations will be cut at each 100 feet.
M. W. Hurt, of London, England, has bought the
Esther group, near Searchlight, from W. A. Groffs, and
will sink to the water level. The Skylight, Moonlight
and Starlight claims, near Searchlight, have been sold
to P. Armond of Switzerland and London and J. Koebig
of Los Angeles, by W. L. Colton, T. L. Henderson and
L. Wheatley. The shaft in the New Year's Gift ledge
of the Duplex M. & M. Co., of Searchlight, is now down
45 feet. The company intends to start shipping.
Nye County.
Articles of incorporation of the Las Vegas Tonopah
Railroad Co. have been filed in Utah. The incorpora-
tors are: William A. Clark of Butte, Mont.; R. C. Ker-
ens of St. Louis, Mo.; J'. Ross Clark, R. J. Waters and
W. H. Comstock of Los Angeles, and C. O. Whittsmore
and Pennel Cherrington of Salt Lake City. The corpo-
ration has an authorized capital of $4,000,000, of which
$500,000 has been subscribed, as follows: William A.
Clark, $100,000; R. C. Kerens, $200,000; J. Ross Clark,
$199,600, and each of the other incorporators, $100. The
officers of the corporation are: President, J. Ross Clark;
vice-president, C. O. Whittemore; secretary, W. H.
Comstock; treasurer, R. J. Waters. -As stated in the
articles of incorporation, the object and purposes of the
corporation are to construct and operate a line of rail-
road from a point of connection with the San Pedro, Los
Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad at Las Vegas, Nev., by
the most feasible and practicable route, through the
counties of Lincoln, Nye and Esmeralda, to the town of
Tonopah, Nov., with connections to the mining camps of
Bullfrog, Beatty, Rhyolite and Goldfield.
Washoe County.
The Keystone Nevada M. Co., through C. H. Bovee,
has purchased the Olinghouse mine and mill, in Oling-
house Canyon.
NEW MEXICO.
Grant County.
On a claim between the Baltic and Flagler at Chloride
Flats, near Silver City, a rich gold strike was made
recently by Manuel Taylor and Ernest Oughton.
Otero County.
Arrangements are being made to put in washers and
amalgamators south of Baird hill at Jarilla by Wells &
Bohardt on their placer grounds. The Electric M. Co.,
which has 100 acres of placer ground, is also preparing
for active work. A contract has been let to sink the
Garnet shaft at Jarilla from the 450-foot level to a depth
Of 500 feet. An incline shaft has been started from
the 690-foot level of the Nannie Baird mine at Jarilla.
The incline follows the center of the vein.
OREGON.
Baker County.
Work is to be resumed on the Ross Gulch mine, owned
by Basche & Stern, 2 miles southeast of Greenhorn.
Rich ore has been cut by the 50-foot shaft at the Pyx
mine, near Greenhorn. The shaft will be sunk to a
depth of 100 feet and crosscuts driven.
Josephine County.
N. E. Emerson is getting the Dutch John placer mines
ready for the winter run. The mine is on the south
bank of Rogue river, between Shan and Pickett creeks,
near Grants Pass. The equipment consists of two
giants. The water supply is from Shan creek and 1800
feet of pipe is used to give the head of 180 feet.
The smelter and reduction plant for Rogue River S. &
M. Co. is being built in Spokane, and will soon be ready
for shipment to Grants Pass. Ground has been cleared
on the site, by Rogue river, 3 miles above Grants Pass.
A straight line copper and gold furnace, 36x89 inches,
will be put in. A dam will be built across the Rogue, by
the dumping of slag from the plant. Coke can be
delivered at the furnace for less than $9 a ton. One ton
of coke will reduce six tons of ore, thus making the fuel
charge $1.50 per ton. The company estimates that it
will cost 50 cents a ton to handle the ore at the smelter.
The nearest smelter is at Waldo, 45 miles from Grants
— A new mill . has been put in at the Gold Pick
mine at Sucker creek, near Grants Pass. Frank Fowler
is manager.
SOUTH DAKOTA
Lawrence County.
A government report on the mineral resources of the
United States states that the tungsten deposits in South
Dakota are found in the Black Hills in two localities —
one almost immediately north of Lead, near the top of
the high hill forming the divide between Gold Run and
Doadwood gulches, and the other more to the south of
Lead, on the divide between Yellow and White Wood
creeks. The tungsten mineral is wolframite, and it
occurs in an impure dolomite which is very siliceous and
grades off almost into a quartzite. The wolframite is
found in flat, horizontal, but irregular masses up to 2
feet in thickness, which frequently cover considerable
areas, one having been observed to cover 20 to 30 square
feet.
ft is reported that 120 stamps are to be erected by the
Columbus Co. at a convenient site near the main shaft
in Sawpit gulch, Central City. The plant will be
equipped with cyaniding devices.
Pennington County.
The Cuyahoga Co., near Keystone, has resumed work.
Sinking on the main shaft is now in progress. Otto
and Albert Monger of Keystone are making experiments
on the treatment of the tailings from the Holy Terror
mill.
UTAH.
Juab County
The ore shipments from Tintic for the week ending
Sept. 16 were as follows in carloads: Eagle & Blue Bell,
8; Swansea, 8; Eureka Hill (lease), 1; Godiva, 4; Gemini,
11; Bullion-Beck, 1; Centennial Eureka, 67; Ajax, 2;
Carisa, 3; Grand Central, 5; Mammoth, 11; Victoria, 5;
Total, 127.
Salt Lake County.
The Emma mine at Alta is being reopened under the
direction of Manager Thomas of the Maxfield Co.
The Guggenheim Exploration Co. has begun prospect-
ing the property acquired by the recent Utah copper
deal with diamond drills. D. McCarty of Leadville,
Colo., has been employed to sink holes at various points
on the company's holdings. These holes will be sunk
both in and out of the mines.
WASHINGTON.
Clielau County.
In the United States the two principal deposits of
molybdenum that have been exploited are near Crown
Point, Chelan county, Wash., and at Cooper, Washing-
ton county, Me. The deposit in Chelan county is 30
miles from the head of Lake Chelan, which extends for
60 miles in a narrow rock gorge from 2 to 4 miles in
width. At the head of the valley the gorge extends
westward from the lake to where rises a nearly precipi-
tous granite cliff in which is the molybdenite deposit.
The first tunnel was started 900 feet up the side of the
cliff. The molybdenite occurs in a blanket quartz vein,
which outcrops along the perpendicular granite cliff re-
ferred to for a distance of several hundred feet. It is
nearly horizontal, but in places has an inclination of
from 5" to 6° toward the west. The vein varies in thick-
ness from 2 to 3 feet and has been opened by two tun-
nels, one extending 195 feet toward the northeast and
the other 80 feet westerly. The molybdenite is found in
the quartz in small seams up to several inches in thick-
ness that appear to ramify through the quartz in all
directions, and it has not thus far been found in the bio-
tite granite which incloses the vein. The molybdenite
occurs in flakes from minute particles to irregular
masses, and also in crystals that, for molybdenite, are
well developed.
FOREIGN.
AFRICA.
The production of gold at the Rand in August is offi-
cially announced at 428,581 ounces, the largest on record.
The production in July amounted to 419,505 ounces, and
the outturn in August last year was 312,277 ounces.
AUSTRALIA.
New South Wales.
G. D. Delprat's manager report for half year ending
May 31, 1905, to the Broken Hill Proprietary Co., Ltd.:
The tonnage of ore mined at Broken Hill was 296,730
tons, as against 324,535 tons for the previous
half year. The cost of working during the period
under review was approximately the same as in the
previous half year, and the grade of the ore showed no
appreciable difference. The 1000-foot level is now con-
nected with Delprat shaft. A gallery is being driven
northwards in this level in order to explore the northern
portion of the leases, and this is now in about 50 feet.
The 800-foot level is now supplying ore regularly. Del-
prat shaft has been sunk a farther 100 feet, preparatory
to opening up the 1200-foot level, the total depth now
being 1120 feet. Stewart shaft has been sunk a farther
105 feet, its total depth now being 755 feet. The whole
of the sulphide ore was sent to the concentrating mills
and the oxidized ore to the smelters. At the concentra-
tion plant an increase of 1% in the lead recovery was
noted. Six new ball mills were put in for regrlnding,
with satisfactory results. The sintering works treated
61,786 tons of slimes from the two ore-dressing mills and
55,880 tons of sintering product were dispatched to the
smelting works. Mechanical feeders were put in and
several stoppages occurred owing to shortage of acid.
The total quantity of tailings fed in was 41,292 tons, pro-
ducing 12,851 tons of concentrates. The tailings result-
ing from this operation form a valuable material for
underground filling; it is very cheap to handle and packs
well. The capacity of the plant is now 4000 tons per
week. The working costs have come down materially.
Another chamber was added to this plant, making three
in all. One Glover and two Gay Lussac towers have
also been erected. Six hundred tons of strong acid were
made during the half year. A furnace for roasting zinc
217
Mining and Scientific Press.
September 23, 1905.
concentrates has been built and will be put into commis-
sion immediately. It is proposed to substitute for the
present roasting plant a zinc roasting plant, which is ex-
pected to give cheaper acid, and at the same time pro-
duce roasted zinc concentrates, required for spelter.
The magnetic separators were kept idle during this
term, as the other process for the same purpose gave
more economical and rapid results. An additional elec-
tric locomotive has been obtained for use in connection
with the transport of mill tailings, and three of these
locomotives are now at work. At the smelter at Port
Pirie the new 600 H. P. engine and condenser for driving
the blowers is now in regular work, and the two Green
blowers are in position. One of the smelting furnaces
was modified on new lines, and after a trial extending
over several months it was found that the recovery was
increased very materially and other advantages fol-
lowed. All the other furnaces are now being modified on
these lines; four are already completed and the others
will be taken in hand at once. The following shows the
quantity of ore treated in the smelters : Kaolin and
siliceous ore (inclusive of purchased ores), 3600 tons; sul-
phide concentrates, 70,167; sintered slimes, 57,301; car-
bonate slimes, 3112. Total, 134,180 tons. In addition to
the foregoing, there were retreated : Plue dust, 1028
tons, producing 3402 tons of lead; raw matte, 409 tons,
producing 324,590 ounces of silver; refinery drosses, 4955
tons, producing 2213 ounces of gold. Thus making the
total quantity passed through the smelters 140,572 tons.
The roasting plant treated : Concentrates and slimes,
70,608 tons; smelting ore and kaolin, 653; matte, 374.
Total, 71,635 tons. The substitution of sheE for lime-
stone continues to yield good results. The refinery
treated 34,838 tons of bullion, as against 35,851 tons for
the previous half year, producing: Silver, fine, 2,638,588
ounces; gold, 1564 ounces; lead, soft, 33,195 tons; anti-
monial lead, 305 tons. The Dore plant treated 44,349
ounces, producing 1564 ounces of fine gold. At the lime-
stone quarries at Point Turton all preparatory works
are finished. Storage bins were erected, a flying fox
put up, manager's house built and the jetty raised and
lengthened. In future all our limestone requirements
will be taken from here. A statement showing the total
production, together with revenue and expenditure,
since the inception of the company in 1885 : Gross ore
treated, 7,747,306 tons; lead produced, 733,025; copper
produced, 4576; antimonial produced, 7201; silver pro-
duced, 129,740,728 ounces (fine); gold produced, 82,933
ounces. Receipts — Net amount received, £26,808,743;
cash received for sale of blocks 15 and 16, £576,000.
Total, £27,384,743. Expenditures — General working ex-
penses, £17,123,774; depreciation, £938,999. Dividends
and bonuses paid — From profits, £7,984,000; from sale of
blocks 15 and 16, £576,000; from call made, £16.000.
Total, £8,576,000. Reserve and insurance funds, £l65,-
500; balance of profit and loss account, £580,470. Total,
£27,384,743.
CANADA.
BRITISH COLUMBIA.
Boundary District.
The production of the mines of the Boundary for the
week ending Sept. 16 was: Granby Mines, 11,371 tons;
Mother Lode, 3808; Emma, 110; Providence, 20; Last
Chance, 20; E. P. U., 40; Don Pedro, 20. Total for
week, 15,389. Total for year, 619,172 tons.
Rossland District.
The Rossland Miner reports the tonnage of ore shipped
from and crushed at the Rossland mines for the week
ending September 16 was as follows:
Mine. Week. Year.
I.e Roi 2,100 86,826
Le Roi (milled) 210 1.350
Centre Star .• 2, 1 60 70,740
War Eagle 1,280 48,950
Le Roi Two 450 5,872
Le Roi Two (milled) 7030
Spitzee 4.809
Velvet-Portland 1,977
Gopher 180
Homestake 30
Lily Mav ... 90
Jnland Empire 30
Cascade-Bonanza 6')
White Bear 1.100
White Bear (milled) 2.920
Crown Point 60 180
Jumbo 300 7.629
Totals 6,570 239,773
At Le Roi ore shoot on the 1550-foot level values con-
tinue to be about $15 to the ton, while the shoot is
developing in a satisfactory manner. The dimensions of
the shoot will not be known until considerably more work
has been done. Drifting and crosscutting on the shoot
is in progress. The Black Bear ore shoot, where it has
been found on the ninth level, is looking well, and prom-
ises to yield a large tonnage of ore. At the Le
Roi Two the shoot on the fifth level is looking very
well and will yield a good-sized tonnage. The
other portions of the mine are developing well,
and it is stated that at present the Josie is looking as well
as it ever did in its history. The shaft that is being ex-
tended from the 900-foot level is making good progress.
The 250 H. P. electric motor which is to be used in sink-
ing the shaft from the ninth level has not yet arrived.
The Spitzee has closed down pending the completion of
the reorganization. Under this the company shares
are made assessable, and the funds realized from the
assessments will be ample for all requirements to place
the Spitzee upon a profit making basis. The shut down
will be short. At the Center Star the main shaft has
reached the tenth level and is being extended from the
tenth to the eleventh level. At the rate of progress
which is now being made it will not be a great while be-
fore the 2000-foot level will be reached. This will be
level with the Columbia river and on the level of the
water line. The Le Roi concentrator has started up.
The management of the Le Roi states that the concen-
trator is doing better work than ever. Since the con-
centrator started operations tests on a large scale with
several hundred tons of ore at a time were made, and in
each instance the smelter returns suggested changes.
These changes have increased the efficiency of the plant.
The Le Roi 2 concentrator continues to treat second-
class pre, concentrating it at the ratio of 20 to 1.
Nelson District.
The Nelson News states that the Hendryx cyanide
plant has been successfully tested at the property of the
Reliance G. M. Co., the values saved being 95%. The
ore is received in a bin at the lower terminal of the aerial
tram, 1700 feet in length. The coarse ore passes over a
slanting grizzly, then to a Blake crusher, and then, with
the ore that was already fine, passes between rolls 36x14.
Prom the rolls, the crushed ore falls to the feed bin,
from which, by gravity, it is passed into the Chilian
mill. There it is reduced to pulp and mixed with a cya-
nide solution, which passes over amalgamation plates on
which nearly 60% of the gold is saved. The liquid solu-
tion then passes through a series of ten storage settlers,
and thence conveyed by launders to the Hendryx agita-
tor. After from six to eight hours in the agitator the
remaining gold values are on the plates that are con-
tained in it. In the agitator the solution is continually
exposed to the air by the revolution of the propellor,
which hastens the separating process. The solution and
the tailings pass from the agitator to a decanter, from
the bottom of which the tailings are drawn away to the
creek. The then clear solution of cyanide passes to a
sump tank, from which, by centrifugal pumps, it is re-
turned to the storage settlers, and from there to the
original storage tank, so that the same solution is avail-
able for use again. The amount of cyanide required for
the process is never more than a pound to a ton of ore,
ana averages two-fifths of a pound. The same solution
may be used repeatedly, with small additions, and the cost
of cyanide is 23 cents a pound. S. Lay, the company's
superintendent and metallurgist, has increased the sen-
sitiveness of the plates in the agitator by using galvan-
ized plates. Hendryx is making a further improvement
by enclosing the plates in a vacuum, covered with a fil-
tering envelope. The vacuum will then draw only the
clear solution to the plates and precipitate the gold.
The mill treats ore from the May & Jennie mine on 49
creek.
Slocan District.
Work is to be resumed October 1 on the Fisher Maiden
group on Four-Mile creek, near Silverton. The prop-
erty is being opened up by tunnels. Zinc ore has been
struck in a tunnel being driven on the Grey copper
claim, near Sandon, under the direction of J. A. Whittier.
Vancouver Island.
The Tyee Copper Co. 's smelter at Duncans Station
ran twelve days during August and treated 2018 tons of
Tyee ore, giving a return, after deduction of freight and
refining charges, of $39,110.
Duncans Station, Sept. 16.
MEXICO.
Chihuahua.
The Almoloya M. Co., of which N. O. Bagge of Los
Angeles, Cal., is the principal owner, and D. W. Shanks
general manager, is putting in a 60 H. P. gas producer
power plant for air drills and electric lighting at Sierra
Almoloya. A hoist has been put in at the Johnson
mine, near Santa Cruz.
The supreme court of Mexico has granted the injunc-
tion of Eduardo Barcenas, G. C. Harding and others
against J. F. Johnston, the Stallforths and others re-
straining the award to the latter of their locations of
10,000 pertene'ncias known as the Bazatan denounce-
ment in the Sierra Almoloya district. This scramble
for locations on the 10,000 pertenencias mentioned was
going on for several months, and in July last the prop-
erty was to have been raffled off among 1400 locators.
The mining agent at Santa Rosalia awarded it to John-
ston, Stallforths and others, but the award was immedi-
ately enjoined in the federal court at Juarez, and this
has been sustained by the federal supreme court to await
trial on the merits of the case.
The Waterson G. M. Co., Ltd., at Ocampo has re-
sumed operations after several months' shut-down to
remodel the mill and put in a cyanide plant. This is the
first cyanide plant to be put in at Ocampo.
Guanajuato.
The Peregrina M. & M. Co., operating the Peregrina
mine at Guanajuato, is preparing plans for a new 100-
stamp mill and cyanide tanks. The company now has
twenty stamps and several cyanide tanks in operation.
G. W. Bryant is general manager. T. H. Leggatt of
London has bonded the El Cubo mine at Guanajuato
from H. P. Hollis and associates of Chicago. The
Guanajuato River M. Co. is preparing to put in centrifu-
gal pumps, jigs and concentrators along the river, near
Guanajuato. R. H. Ramsden is superintendent.
Jalisco.
The 30-ton experimental reduction plant at the Santo
Domingo mine, near Etzatlan, is in operation. It is ex-
pected that within two months the exact treatment de-
manded by the Santo Domingo ores will be determined,
and following that plans will be made for the proposed
100-ton plant. Manager Sustersic states that the erec-
tion of the big plant will be rushed. A new air com-
pressor and ten new drills are to be put in. The Inde-
pendence M. Co., C. O'Brien manager, is putting up a
10-stamp mill at its properties, 25 miles southwest of
Ameca.
Mlcnoacan
Contracts have been made for fifty additional stamps
for the reduction plant at the Dos Estrellas mine at
Tlalpujahua.
Sonora.
(Special Correspondence). — The Minas Nuevas mill at
Alamos is working full blast and giving satisfaction. The
new electric-light plant is in, and the underground work
is being pushed. The shaft of the Santo Domingo
mine at Alamos is down to a depth of 300 feet, and is
now crosscutting to the lode on the east side of the shaft.
The Quintera, at Alamos, is working full blast, and
the smelter is turning out rich matte. Seaboldt is in
charge of the smelter. Superintendent Ortiz is run-
ning a tunnel west, between the Quintera and Santo
Domingo.
Alamos, Sept. 12.
The Yaqui S. & R. Co, is putting in a new reverberat-
ing furnace at Toledo. It will have a daily capacity of
100 tons of calcined ore.
Work at the Concordia copper mines, east of Hermo-
sillo, is progressing favorably, with ten men at work
under Superintendent C. H. Rankin. The mill at
Minas Nuevas, Alamos, having been overhauled and re-
paired, is running full blast.
The Arizona M. & D. Co. has decided to build at
Naco, Sonora, a 10-stamp mill to treat the ores of
the Gold Treasure mine, 8 miles distant. E. T. Spar-
row is general manager of the company, and Charles
McHenry is superintendent. The Democrata Cananea-
Sonora C. M. Co. of Cananea is preparing to put in a
new furnace with a daily capacity of 300 tons of ore, and
to resume production again. The Democrata has nearly
2 miles of underground workings, which has exposed a
large ore body. P. F. Hook of Cananea is the superin-
tendent.
SOUTH AMERICA.
The Cerro de Pasco M. Co. continues to work in the
shafts already sunk, and is prospecting the Cerro de
Pasco district and in the districts of Goyllarisquisca,
Quishuarcancha and Vinchuscancha by means of dia-
mond and other machine drills. The company has fin-
ished the construction of the railway from Oroya to
Cerro, which is now open for public traffic. A branch
line has also been constructed for 9 miles from Cerro to
Vinchuscancha. It has also constructed branch lines to
its shafts for the transportation of ore from the mines
to the large smelter now being built at Tinahuarco,
about 3 leagues from Cerro. This smelter will be fin-
ished within eight months and have a capacity of 500
tons Der day.
************************ *******->****K
*
Personal.
Norris English
Ariz.
1 examining mines near Chloride,
T. A. Rickard has returned from Halifax, N. S., to
New York.
G. P. Uptos is manager Oro Grande mine, near
Wickenburg, Ariz.
F. W. Smith has resigned as manager Snow Creek
mines, near Sumpter, Or.
J. M. Clements, of New York City, has been examin-
ing mines near Globe, Ariz.
W. H. Whiteside succeedsl B. F. Warren as presi-
dent the Allis-Chalmers Co.
Wm. Barenscheer is superintendent Denver Ore
Testing Works, Denver, Colo.
A. F. Eolden, a mining man of Salt Lake City, Utah,
has been in San Francisco, Cal.
F. A. Darrenodghe has been made superintendent
Shawmut Con. M. Co. at Bingham, Utah.
H. C. Tabor has been appointed superintendent Maud
S. Gold M. & D. Co., at Cripple Creek, Colo.
F. J. Clark has succeeded J. F. Heating as manager
Butterfly-Terrible M. Co. at Telluride, Colo.
John H. Mackenzie of San Francisco has taken the
management Le Roi M. Co. at Rossland, B. C.
Malcolm McGregor is superintendent Hermosa
Copper Co., working near Hanover, Grant county, N. M.
Samuel Fields has been made superintendent Ari-
zona-Mexican mines at Stockton Hill, near Kingman,
Ariz.
A. F. Holden, general manager United States M. Co.,
has been examining the company's new smelter at Ken-
not, Cal.
C. C. Irwin has been appointed superintendent Good-
enough M. & M. Co., working near Riggins, Idaho
county, Idaho.
E. H. Davison, superintendent U. S. & Mexican Min-
ing Syndicate at Santa Lucia, Sinaloa, Mexico, is in San
Francisco, Cal.
Mark B. Kerr has returned from Silver Peak,
Nevada, and is examining mines near Cuyamaca, San
Diego county, Cal.
C. P. Overfield, western manager American Stoker
Co., is in California en route to the Northwest, returning
to Salt Lake City, Utah.
J. E. Spurr has resigned from the United States
Geological Survey to become mining geologist for the
Guggenheim Exploration Co.
R. P. Wheelock has resigned as superintendent
Enterprise M. R. & I. Co., but will continue assaying
and laboratory work in Kingman, Ariz.
W. J. Watson has been appointed as manager Tyee
Copper Co. 's smelter at Ladysmith, Vancouver Island,
B. C, in place of Thomas Kiddie, resigned.
John E. Rothwell, engineer with the Colorado
Iron Works Co., Denver, Colo., is making an extended
trip through the Black Hills and the Northwest.
John Gross, formerly manager the Horseshoe mill,
Lead City, S. D., has formed a partnership with Louis
Cohen and opened an office in the Jackson block, Den-
ver, Colo., as metallurgists and mining engineers.
*************************************
* t
* f~\1 >. *
Obituary.
a********* <f,if,if,i(i<f.<f,<f.<|i*if.<f,.»><fi.* *** <S»****«f **f *
E. G. Morrison, a mineralogist, was accidentally
killed at Los Angeles, Cal., Sept. 17.
September 23, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
218
*
«
Books Received.
+ *
* »»***+ ***+*»**•!• *****♦******♦** + *****
"Advanced Mechanical Drawing," by A. P, Pierce,
will prove valuable to students wishing to know why
they conform to certain practices in their work. The
treatment is concise and practical. The author opens
the theoretical instruction with a chapter on isometric
drawing and cavalier projection, continues with a dis-
cussion on shadows, and concludes with a chapter on
perspective. The problems are well chosen. The text
is for advanced students and corresponds to the second
year's work in a college course on descriptive geometry.
It is published by John Wiley & Sons of New York City
and will be sent postpaid by the Mining and Scien-
tific Press for $2.
There are few technically educated engineers of to-day
who have not at some time advantageously consulted
"Mechanics of Materials," by Mansfield Merriam. The
fact that a tenth edition is necessary and has appeared
is in itself good evidence that the author's treatment of
this important subject has been appreciated throughout
the past thirty years. In this time many advances have
been made in this important branch of engineering,
making necessary certain additions and in many cases a
more exterfdod treatment. The subject is introduced by
a discussion of elastic and ultimate strength, explaining
the simple stresses and their varying effects on different
materials. Then various beams, columns and shafts are
discussed and analyzed, the principles explained being
illustrated by a number of practical problems. This
part of the book is much like previous editions, but the
subjects of impact on bars and beams, resilience and
work, and apparent and true stresses have been changed
with the intention of rendering the presentation more
clear and accurate. Among many new topics intro-
duced are those of economic sections for beams, mov-
ing loads on beams, constrained beams with supports on
different levels, the torsion of rectangular bars, com-
pound columns and beams, reinforced concrete beams,
plates under concentrated loads, internal friction, rules
for testing materials, and elastic-electric analogies. A
few changes in algebraic notation have been made in
order that similar quantities may always be designated by
letters of the same type, Greek letters being used only
for angles and abstract numbers. Compared with the
ninth edition, the number of articles has been increased
from 151 to 188, the number of tables from 8 to 20, the
number of cuts from 85 to 250, and the number of prob-
lems from 222 to 305. The length of each page has been
increased 8%, smaller type has been used for formulas
and problems, and the number of pages has been
increased from 378 to 518. The main purpose in rewrit-
ing and enlarging the book seems to have been to keep
it abreast with modern progress. The treatment is
mathematically concise, yet detailed enough to be clear
to the student. It is published by John Wiley & Sons,
New York City, and will be sent postpaid by the Min-
ing and Scientific Press for $5.
Commercial Paragraphs.
W5***-*"**** * ******* 4"±>rfc* ****************
*
«
* *
Hif.tf.tf. iptf.if.if* tf.^. if.if.if.tf.if.tf.tf.tf.tf.tf.if.tf.tf.iii.tf.tf.if.tf.tf.if.if.if.ifiif.4t.tf.iti
The Standard Machinery & Supply Co. has been or-
ganized to handle mining and other machinery at 427-29
Mission street, San Francisco, Cal.
P. J. Frost and John C. Hall have opened a brok-
erage office in the Cooper Building, Denver, Colo., and
will sell various kinds of mining' machinery. They now
represent several Kansas City firms.
The Denver, Colo., office of the Crocker-Wheeler Co.
are furnishing four large motors for the new tube mills at
the Portland Cement Co., Portland, Colo., and have the
contract for the electrical apparatus for the paper mills
at Denver, Colo.
L. S. Pierce, Denver, Colo., has recently received
orders for his amalgamators from the Black Pearl M. Co.,
Pearl, Idaho; Alice M. Co., Boise, Idaho; J. H. Bemis,
Quartzsite, Ariz.; U. S. Mint at Denver, Colo.; J. H.
Reilley, Johannesburg, Cal.; Z. A. Harris, Red Rock,
Mont.
The California Ore Testing Works, 559 California
street, San Francisco, has recently sampled a car of
high-grade tungsten ore shipped to them en route for
Germany, where it is used in the manufacture of armor
plate. The ore is from the southern part of the State
and will be followed by other shipments.
The Geo. W. Lord Co., Philadelphia, Pa., have re-
sumed shipment of Lord's boiler compounds to Japan
and Russia. They report that since the signing of the
treaty of peace, in addition to filling standing orders,
they have received from their Vladivostock agent an
order for a carload of compound to be shipped direct.
W. S. Doran, formerly associated with the British
Westinghouse E. & M. Co., Ltd., has been appointed
manager of the power department of Allis-Chalmers Co.
He will have entire charge of the company's commercial
affairs pertaining to reciprocating steam engines, steam
and hydraulic turbinos, condensers, gas engines, blowing
engines for iron and steel blast furnace service, and roll-
ing mill engines, with headquarters at the general offices
of Allis-Chalmers Co., Milwaukee, Wis.
The Sullivan Machinery Co., of Chicago, reports the
addition of two branch offices to its list, one at Knox-
ville, Tenn., and one at Joplin, Mo. The Knoxville
office, with quarters in the Houston Building, is in
charge of E. L. Thomas, for several years connected
with the New York branch. Rock drills, stone channel-
ers and quarrying machinery are carried in stock.
S. A. Allison, who has been the company's representa-
tive at Joplin for the past two years, now becomes dis-
trict manager at that point. A stock of Sullivan com-
pressors, rock drills and duplicate parts and supplies is
carried at the company's warehouse at Joplin. The
new office is in the Keystone Hotel Block, corner of
Fourth and Virginia avenue.
x ************************ ************
I Trade Treatises.
* *
Jf»****f *+*■*** + + +++■»■•»• <•+ + + . T"H-+**-H- + ¥***
Chas. C. Moore & Co., engineers, 63 First street, San
Francisco. Cal., have issued a handsome and interesting
illustrated description of "Gas Engines." Concisely,
yet thoroughly, the construction and operation of Alamo
and National gas and gasoline engines are explained.
These engines are of the 4-cycle type.
Latest Market Reports.
San Francisco, September 22, 1905.
Silver. — Per oz., Troy : London, 28Jd (standard
ounce, 925 fine); New York, bar silver, 62Jc, refined (1000
fine); San Francisco, 62Jc; Mexican dollars, 47c, San
Francisco; 47c, New York.
Copper. — New York: Standard, $16.35; Lake,
$16.00@16.25; Electrolytic, $16.50; Casting, $15.75©16.20.
San Francisco: $16.50. Mill copper plates, $17.50; bars,
18@24c. London: £69 5s spot per ton.
Lead.— New York, $4.90; Salt Lake City, $3.60; St.
Louis, $4.50; San Francisco, $5.00, carload lots; 5Jc 1000
to 4000 6s.; pipe 7Jc, sheet 8, bar 6|c. London: £14 6s
fi long ton.
Spelter.— New York, $5.95: St. Louis, $5.75; Lon-
don, £26 10s $ ton; San Francisco, ton lots, 7c; 100-6
lots, 7|o.
Tin.— New York, pig, $32.00@32.10; San Francisco, ton
lots, 34c; 500 lbs., 35c; 200 Bis., 36c; less, 37Jc; bar tin,
fi ft.., 40c. London, £145 10s.
Platinum.— San Francisco, crude, $18.50 fi oz.; New
York, ingot, $20.50 fi Troy oz. Platinum ware, 75@$1.00
$ gram.
Quicksilver.— New York, $40.00@$40.50, large lots;
London, £7 2s 6d; San Francisco, local, $38.50@39.00 fi
flask of 75 lbs.
Babbitt Metal.— San Francisco, No. 1, lOJc; No.
2, 8c; No. 3, 7£c; extra, 17Jc; genuine, 32£c; Eclipse, 35c.
Solder.— Half-and-half, 100-6. lots, 22.00c; San Fran-
cisco, Plumbers', 100-6. lots, 19.15c.
Zinc— Metallic, chemically pure, fi ft.., 50c; dust, fi fi>.,
10c; sulphate, fi t>, .04c.
Nickel.— New York, 55@60cfl6.; ton lots, 40@47c.
Aluminum.— New York, No. 1, 99% pure ingots,
33@37c; No. 2, 90%, 31@34c.
Aluminum.— No. 1, 99%, small lots, 37c fi ft..; 100 6s..
35c; 1000 ft>s. 34c; ton lots and over, 33c, Pittsburg. No,
2, 90%, small lots, 34c; ton lots and over, 31c, Pittsburg.
STRUCTURAL MATERIALS.
IRON. — Pittsburg, Bessemer pig, $15.50; gray forge,
$16.50; San Francisco, bar, 3Jc fi ft.., 3Jc in small quan-
tities.
Steel. — Bessemer billets, Pittsburg, $21.00©$24.00;
open hearth billets, $23.00@$25.00; San Francisco, bar,
7c to 13c fi ft.
White Lead. — Per ft>., in kegs: 500 lbs. and over at
one purchase, per ft.., 7|c; less than oOO Sis., per ft.., 8c;
in 25-ft>. tin pails, Jc fl ft", above keg price; in 1 and 5-Ib.
tin cans, 100 lbs. per case, jc per tt>. above keg price.
Dry Lead. — In bbls., 1 ton and over, 6£c; do. in kegs, 7c.
Lime. — Santa Cruz, $1.35 country, $1.25 city fi bbl.
Cement.— Imported, $3.00@4.00 fi bbl.; California,
carload lots, $1.80 f. o. b. at works; small lots, $2.10 fi
bbl. in sacks, 4 sacks to bbl., 5c for each sack returned.
Lumber.— (Retail): Pine, ordinary sizes, $24.00®
5.00; extra sizes higher; redwood, $28.00@30.00; lath, 4
feet, $4.50@5.00; pickets, $21.00;shingles, $2.50 for No. 1,
and $2.25 for No. 2; shakes, $13.50 for split and $15.00 for
sawed; rustic, $28.00@35.00.
Nails.— This week the basic prices are: Wire, $2.77;
Cut, $3.25. Meanwhile the nominal quotations per keg
(list prices) are: No. 20d to 60d, Wire, $3.35; Cut, $3.55;
lOd to 16d, Wire, $3.45; Cut, $3.35; 8d, Wire, $3.50; Cut,
$3.50; 6d and 7d, Wire, $3.60; Cut, $3.60; 4d and 5d,
Wire, $3.70; Cut, $3.70; 3d, Wire, $3.85; Cut, $3.85; 2d,
Wire, $4.10; Cut, $4.10. Special rates for carload lots.
GENERAL SUPPLIES.
Antimony. — New York, Cookson's, 13Jc; Hallett's,
14Jc; San Francisco, 1000-ft>. lots, 14c; 300@500-6s. 12c;
100-6. lots, 13c.
Bismuth.— Subnitrate, fi ft.., $2.10.
Bone Ash.— Extra No. 1, 5@6c fi ft.; No. 1, 4@5c.
Borax. — Concentrated, 7@8c fi ft>; powdered, 9@10c;
fused, 25@30c; crystal, 7c.
Candles. — Spear Brand, 16 oz. adamantine, 40s., lie
fi set; 14 oz. adamantine, 40s., 10c; 12 oz. adamantine,
40s, 9c; 10 oz. adamantine, 40s, 8c; 16 oz. stearic, 40s,
12Jc fi set; 14 oz. stearic, 40s, 11J; 12 oz. stearic, 40s,
lOJc; 10 oz. stearic, 40s, 9Jc. 100-case lots and over, Jc
less. Not less than 50-case lots, %c less. Boxes of 20s,
price }c advance.
CAPS.— 3x, $5.50@6 per 1000; 4x, $6.50@7; 5x, $8@8.50;
Lion, $9@9.50, in lots not less than 1000.
Chemicals.— Cyanide of potassium, 98%-99%, job-
bing, 23@24c fi 6.; carloads, 23@23}c; in tins, 30c; soda
ash, $2.00 fi 100 6s.; hyposulphite of soda, 3@3Jc fi 6.;
caustic soda, in drums, 3@3jc fi 6. ; Cal. s. soda, bbls. ,
$1.10@1.20fU001bs.; sks., 90c@$1.00; chlorate of pot-
ash, 12@13c; nitrate of potash, 6J@7c; caustic potash,
10c in 40-6. tins; roll sulphur, 2}@2jc; powdered sul-
phur, 2|@2Jc; flour sulphur, French, 2|@ — c; alum,
$2.00@2.25; California refined, l|@2c; sulphide of iron,
8c f*, 6.; copper sulphate, 5J@5}c; chloride of lime, spot,
$2.50@2.75; sulphuric acid, in carboys, 66% B, lf@2c fl
&.; nitric acid, carboys, 8c fi 6.
Chromium.— 90% and over, fi 6., 80c.
Coal. — San Francisco, coast, yard prices : Welling-
ton, $8.00; Seattle, $6.50; Coos Bay, $5.50; Southfield,
$8.00. Cargo lot, Eastern and foreign: Wallsend, $7.50;
Brymbo, $7.50; Pennsylvania, hd., $14.00; Scotch, $8.00;
Cumberland, $13.00; Cannel, $8.50; Welsh Anthracite,
$13.00; Rock Springs, $8.50, long ton; Colorado Anthra-
cite, $14.00. Coke, $11.50 per ton in bulk, $13.00 in
sacks; Sunnyslde, $8.50, long ton.
Fire Brick.— Domestic, carloads f| 1000, f. o. b., fac-
tory square, $25.00; soap and split, $22.50; arch and
wedge, $27.50; skewback, $30.00; circle, $32.00.
Fire Clay.— Domestic, fi ton 2000 6s. in 125-6. bags,
double, and dry ground, f. o. b., factory, $8.50.
FUSE.— Triple tape, $4.00 per 1000 feet; double tape,
$3.50; single tape, $3.10; Hemp, $2.75; Cement No. 2,
$3.00; Cement No. 1, $2.65, in lots of 3000 and up.
Oils. — Linseed, boiled, bbl., 64c; cs., 68c; raw, bbl.,
61c; cs., 66c; Lucol oil, boiled, bbl., 51c; cs., 56c; raw-
bbl., 49c; cs., 54c. Kerosene — Pearl, per gal., 17Jc; As-
tral, 17Jc; Star, 17Jc; Extra Star, 20Jc; Eocene, 19Jc;
Elaine, 26c; Water White, in bulk, lie; Mineral Seal,
iron bbls., 18c; wooden bbls., 20jc; cs., 24c; Mineral
Sperm, cs., 26Jc; Deodorized Stove Gasoline, bulk, 14Jc,
do., cs., 21c; 86° Gasoline, bulk, 25c; do., cs., 31c; 83°
Naphtha or Benzine, deodorized, in bulk, per gal., 12Jc;
do., in cs., 19c; Lard Oil, E. W. S., bbl., 75c; cs., 80c;
Neats-foot Oil, pure, bbl., 57Jc; cs., 62Jc; Sperm, crude,
63@68c; Natural White, 68c; Bleached, do., 57c; Whale
Oil, cs., 52@67c.
Litharge.— Pure, in 25-6. bags, 9J@10Jc fi 6.
Magnesium.— Pure, N. Y., $1.60.
Manganese.— Black oxide, fi 6., 2J@4o.
Mercury.— Bichloride, fi 6., 77c.
Molybdenum.— Best, $2.75 fi 6.
Phosphorus.— American, fi 6., 70c.
Powder.— F. o. b. San Francisco : No. 1, 70% nitro-
glycerine, per 6., in carload lots, 15ic; less than one ton,
17£c. No. 1*, 60%, carload lots, 13Jc; less than one ton,
15jc. No. 1**, 50%, carload lots, life; less than one ton,
13|c. No. 2, 40%, carload lots, 10c; less than one ton,
12c. No. 2, 35%, carload lots, 9Jc; less than one ton,
lljc. No. 2**, 30%, carload lots, 9c; less than one ton,
lie. Black blasting powder in carload lots, minimum
car 728 kegs, $1.50 per keg; less car lots, $2.00 per keg.
Red Lead. — 500 6s. and over at one purchase, fi 6.
7Jc; less than 500 5s., 7fc.
Silver.— Chloride, fi oz., 90c@$1.00; nitrate, 54c.
SODIUM.— Metal, fi 6., $1.
Tungsten.— Best, fi 6., $1.20.
Uranium.— Oxide, fi 6., $3.40.
New Patents.
Dewey, Strong & Co. '8 Scientific Press Patent Agency, 330
Market street, San Francisco, has official reports of the following
United States patents issued to Pacific Coast inventors :
FOR THE WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 5, 1905.
-Hoisting Apparatus— C. J. Allen, San Francisco.
-Fender— W. J. Birchell, Phoenix, Ariz.
-Belt Lacing Point— D. Daniels, San Francisco.
-Brake— G. Eisenkramer, San Francisco.
-Stirrup— C. F. Eldenburg, Spokane, Wash.
-Insecticide— W. D. Everette, Tacoma, Wash.
-NUT. LOCK— C. C. Garrison, Truckee, Cal.
-Baling Press— W. H. Gray, San Leandro, Cal.
-Umbrella— B. M. Greene, Myrtlepoint, Or.
-air Blast Nozzle— J. Haas, San Francisco.
■Arm Support— J. C. King, Callahan, Cal.
-Compressing Hams— H. A. Kurflinke, San Francisco.
-Raking Apparatus— J. R. Lewis, Biggs, Cal.
-Railway Crossing— E. F. Meisner, San Francisco.
-Muffler— E. H. Moflitt, San Francisco.
-Fire Extinguisher— Poole & Bartlett, Pomona, Cal.
-Wheel Tire— W. C. Poole, Marysville, Cal.
-Dust Conveyor— I. A. Putnam, San Francisco.
-Fishing Reel — F. J. Rabbeth, Redlands, Cal.
-Pleasure Railway— J. C. Reckweg, Los Angeles, Cal.
-Motor Truck— C. Schmidt, San Francisco.
-Oiler— E. A. Strause, Los Angeles, Cal.
-Decorticator— J. B. Sutherland, Seattle, Wash.
-Hydrating Lime— J. Thomlinson, Portland, Or.
-Scale Remover — L. W. Thompson, Hobart Mills, Cal.
-Spirit Level and Square— C. G. Weatherly, San Fran-
-Steam Governor— T. M. Wilkins, Seattle, Wash.
798,861.
798,593.
798,664.
798,891.
798,953
798,603.
798,778.
798,782.
798,783.
798,674.
798,734-
798,805.-
798,810.
798,744.
799,015.
798,623.
798,974
798,977.
798,701.
798,979.-
798,926.-
799,020.
798,840.
798,755.
798,715
798,717.-
Cisco.
798,088.
Notices of Recent Patents.
Among the patents recently obtained through Dewey, Strong &
Co.'s Scientific Press United States and Foreign Patent Agency,
the following are worthy of special mention :
Single-Trace harness.— No. 799,294. Sept. 12, 1905. George V.
Beckman, Lodi, Cal. This Invention relates to harness, and espe-
cially to a harness for use in plowing or cultivating in orchards,
vineyards and the like. Its object is to provide a simple praotical
means which will permit plowing or cultivating close up to vines
and trees with no possible chance of breaking the vines or tearing
the bark off of the trees, as so frequently occurs with the ordinary
double-trace harness and whiffle and swingle-tree arrangement. It
comprises a rigid trace member, having means for attachment to
the horse and extending along one side and to the rear thereof, said
trace member having a rigid lateral projection approximate to its
rear end for the attachment of the plow or cultivator, and an evener
appliance for said trace member.
Gas Generators for Explosive Engines.— No. 799,341. Sept.
12,1905. Adolph W. Jones, Alameda, Cal. This invention relates to
an apparatus for converting liquid hydrocarbons into a suitable gas
for use in explosive engines. Its object is to provide an apparatus
whereby may be produced a cheap practical gas, and which shall
utilize the heat of the exhaust from the engine to assist in the vapor-
ization of the hydrocarbons, such as petroleum distillate and the
like which are not very volatile under normal conditions. It com-
prises three concentric domes inclosing outer and inner gas cham-
bers and an intermediate heating chamber, a source of heat for
said heating chamber, means for delivering oil into the outer cham-
ber to be vaporized, connections between the outer and inner cham -
bers and connections between the inner chamber and the inlet of
an engine.
19
Mining and Scientific Press.
September 23, 190b.
Aetna
Dynamite
Now for Sale in
DENVER
This brand of dynamite has heretofore been
difficult to obtain in the Western mining States
because the entire product of the factory has
been eagerly taken up in markets near home.
Increased facilities for manufacturing now en-
able them to supply more distant trade.
To the man who has used it, "AETNA"
means something extra in the way of quality
and uniformity.
For Sale in Denver by Geo. T. Kearns, 520 McPhee Building.
MADE BY
The Aetna Powder Co.
CHICAGO
The rierrell Pipe Threading
and Cutting flachines
— FOR —
MINES, MILLS, POWER PLANTS,
AND FACTORIES.
MACHINES FOR HAND,
MACHINES FOR POWER,
Combined Machines for Hand and Power,
Motor and Engine Driven Machines,
SEND FOR CATALOGUE.
HAND MACHINE.
THE MERRELL MFG. CO., Toledo, Ohio, U. S. A.
PiCmO COAST REPRESENTATIVES:
THE PACIFIC HARDWARE & STEEL CO., Mission & Fremont St>., San Francisco. Cal.
Common Sense
teaches us that RUBBER against an article creates friction. In fact, we
wear rubber soles — use rubber on steps, etc., to prevent slipping — to
create friction.
Why do you use ENGINE PACKING with rubber on top— on the bot-
tom— and in between — where it is rubbing against the rod all the time —
creating excessive friction — loss in power — fuel — money?
No such mistake in
"EUREKA" PACKING.
The rubber is where it should be — embedded in flax —
which takes the wear — the lubricants prevent friction.
Isn't it up to you to try GENUINE "EUREKA,"
particularly as the price is one-half less?
JAS. L. ROBERTSON & SONS, 195 Fulton St., New York
A. CARLOAD OF
JEFFREY
COAL CRUSHERS
(SWING-HAMMER)
READY TO SHIP ON A SECOND ORDER FROM AN EASTERN COAL COMPANY.
Accessibility of Working Parts;
Material Partly Crushed in Suspension,
Are among the desirable features.
CATALOGUES FREE ON
ELEVATING CONVEYING PULVERIZING
SCREENING
DRILLING
MINING
THE JEFFREY MANUFACTURING COMPANY,
COLUMBUS, OHIO, U. S. A.
NEW YORK PITTSBURG DENVER
CHICAGO KNOXVIIXE CHARLESTON, W. VA.
JOSHUA HENDY MACHINE WORKS, San Franolsoo Agents for Electric Mine Locomotives.
HENSHAW. BULKLEY & COMPANY, San Francisco Agents for Elevating and Conveying Machinery .
PORTABLE and STANDARD
DRILLING MACHINES
to develop
Minerals, Oil, Gas or Water.
SOLE AGENTS PO
Chapman's
Patent
ROTARY
Boring
Machine.
WRITE
FOR PARTICULARS.
DEEP WELL
PUMPS,
AIR COMPRESSORS
and
GAS ENGINES.
CATALOGUES
ON APPLICATION.
Co.
17 & 19 Fremont Street,
SAN FRANCISCO, CAL.
AMERICAN TOOL WORKS,
J. EASTWOOD, Prop.
HAMMERED STEEL
SHOES AND DIES.
Veil Boring and Drilling Tools.
ALL KINDS OF
STEEL FORGING.
109-111 MISSION STREET,
Between Spear and Main,
SAN FRANCISCO.
TeleDhone Main 5578.
THERE is no unsupported "theory" in our advertising columns.
What there appears has cost millions in experiments; has been
proved to be efficient and represents the most advanced state of the art.
Whole No. 2358.
_VOLUME XC1.
Number 14.
San Francisco, Cal., Saturday, September 30, 1905.
THREE DOLLARS PER ANNUM.
Single Copiet, Ton Cents.
THE prevalent lack of uniformity in the mining
laws of the several States hampers mine devel-
opment. Federal authority being paramount, the
United States revised statutes applicable to mining
take precedence, and in case of conflict overrule
State legislation. There never can be the requisite
uniformity in mining law that would best inure to the
advantage of mining men until there is a national
department of mines and mining with a Cabinet offi-
cer at its head, which is an additional argument for
the necessity of the creation of such a department.
This journal is credibly informed that President
Roosevelt seriously contemplates in his December
message to Congress a recommendation that such a
department be created. If he does he will occupy
even a higher place in the good will and affection of
millions of his fellow citizens than he does at present.
He is broad gauge enough to see that it is but a
tardy act of justice to the American miner that such
a department be created for the greater develop-
ment of the greatest industry of the nation.
THE two new smelters to be built on the bay of
San Francisco, Cal., together with recently in-
creased facilities in existing plants, will tend to ren-
der unnecessary any further shipments of silver ore
from Chile to Pueblo, Colo., via Galveston, Tex., a
more direct form of transportation being conducive
to economy. Fuel oil and improved transportation
of necessary fluxes a'd in such advance.
Section of Tram Road, Four and One-Half Miles From Cana.
Cut on Tram Road Four Miles From Cana.
Gallows Frame of Lodin Shaft During Construction.
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Maisounabe Shaft House, Boiler House, Mill and Shop. Maisounabe Shaft House During Construction, Heenan Shaft in Background.
MINE WORKINGS OF THE DARIEN GOLD MINING CO., PANAMA, CENTRAL AMERICA. (See Page 224.)
220
Mining and Scientific Press.
September 30, 1905.
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
ESTABLISHED i860.
Published Every Saturday at 330 Market Street, San Francisco, Cal.
Telephone, Davis 771.
ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION.
United States, Mexico and Canada 83 00
All Other Countries in the Postal Union. 5 00
Entered at the San Francisco Postoffice as second-class mail matter.
Branch Offices:
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Chicago, 1164 Monadnock Block. Denver. 606 Mack Block.
J. F. HALLORAN Publishe
SAN FRANCISCO, SEPTEMBER 30, 1905.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
ILLUSTRATIONS: ~ Page.
Section of Tram Road, Four and One-half M iles From Cana 2:9
Cut on Tram Road Four Miles From Cana 219
Gallows Frame of Lodin Shaft During Construction 219
Maisounabe Shaft House, Boiler House, Mill and Shop 219
Maisounabe Shaft House During Construction— Heenan Shaft in
Background 219
Maisounabe Shaft From Near Lodin Shaft 224
Hoist for Centennial Copper Co 225
Copper Queen Smelter, Globe, Ariz 225
"Wire Rope Exhibit at the Portland, Or., Exposition 228
Compound Condensing Pump 229
Details of Steam Point and Cros^head 229
EDITORIAL:
Necessity for Department of Mines and Mining 219
A More Direct Form of Transportation 219
The Geologist and the Miner 220
Metal Production of the United States 220
Developing Mine Prospects 220
United States Patent Office Surplus 221
Mining Stock Speculation 221
Activity Among the Railroads 220
Assessment Work and Patents 221
Assessable and Non-Assessable Stock 220
Better Roads Needed 221
New Nevada Mining Camps 221
Importation of Foreign Zinc Ore 221
MINING SUMMARY •. 231-232-233-234
LATEST MARKET REPORTS 23=
MISCELLANEOUS:
Concentrates 222-223
Darien Gold Mines 224
Mine Ventilation in Montana 221
Copper Queen Smelter 225
New Hoist for Centennial Copper Co 225
To Distinguish a Quartzite 225
Mineral Products of the United States 226-227
Crushing Machinery for Miners. 228
Wire Rope Exhibit at Portland, Or., Exposition 228
Placer Mining in Alaska 228
Compound Condensing Pump 229
Concerning Forest Fires 229
Mining and Metallurgical Patents 230
Personal 234
Trade Treatises 235
Books Received 235
Commercial Paragraphs 235
Obituary '235
New Patents 235
Notices of Recent Patents 235
|N former years the geologist and the miner did not
*■ get along very well together, neither being in
favor with the other. With mining and scientific
advance, they realize how inter-dependent they are
and how they can mutually aid each other. The
geologist primarily collects his facts from the miner.
The facts thus systematized and arranged are within
the reach of every intelligent miner, who is of more
value to himself by their use. Rudimentary knowl-
edge regarding rock formation, forces past and
present, the constituents of the rocks, the general
relation of rock groups and their modifications are of
economic value to the miner and are good examples of
" applied science." "Science" is simply organized
knowledge, and with the miner, as with everybody
else, the more he knows about the business in which
he is engaged the more valuable he is to himself and
all concerned.
^"~\N pages 226 and 227 is reproduced a graphic
*^ portrayal of the mineral and metal production
of the United States from the years 1895 to 1904 in-
clusive, as furnished by the U. S. Geological Survey.
It will be noted that the aggregate value of $1,419,-
288,117 in 1903 dropped in 1904 to $1,289,660,788,
occasioned by the lesser yield in coal and iron. An
increase in the gold and copper yield of 1904 over
that of any other year therein specified is- noted.
Prom the $69,303,319 given as the value of the
53,603,000 troy ounces silver mined in 1904 should be
deducted de facto $37,141,519, leaving $32,161,800.
The former figure represents the coining value, the
latter the commercial value at 60 cents per ounce.
As in 1903, the value of the copper yield of the
country exceeds that of the gold yield. The chart is
interesting to every mining man and is reproduced in
its entirety.
Developing Mine Prospects.
The present low rate of interest obtainable and the
obvious profit in mining occasions a desire to invest
capital, and there is existing demand for gold and cop-
per properties. None but the very wealthy care for
"going" mines, because a developed mine is usually
worth more to its present owner than to any one
else, unless he be offered an unusually tempting price,
and a comparatively small amount will secure a good
1 'prospect. " A prospective mine is always an attrac-
tive proposition — provided it be opened up sufficiently
to indicate some real value, something more than a
mere "prospect," no matter how well located. One
trouble is that when the original owner has opened
up his prospect sufficiently to show that investment
of capital would probably make a mine out of it he
often gets the idea that he should have as much for
it as though it were a developed mine, ready to yield
ore in paying quantities. The point is that a little
work in addition to that already done will enable
many a prospect owner to make a showing that
would justify him in asking a reasonable price with
more likelihood of getting it. There are a great
number of "prospects" (over 17,000 in the State of
California), the. vast majority of which cannot be con-
sidered in shape to show a possible purchaser, and as
things go there is no form of work that would pay
better than for the owner of an undeveloped prospect
to put it in such condition, if possible, as to justify its
examination with a view to purchase at a fair figure
by one who has the money to make a mine if the mak-
ings of the mine exist. Of course objections will
arise right here to this argument by many readers,
"the first being, "If by development I make my pros-
pect valuable enough to be bought, why not keep on
developing it and make a mine of it for myself?" By
all means, if you have the money. If not, were it not
well to let it go at a profit to some one who has? The
other objection is an occasional one, and in the light
of twentieth century business ideas is almost
comic. It is, "If I do much more work on my
prospect I will spoil it," which carries with it its
own refutation.
Until recently the Eastern investor wanted only
"going" mines; to this day the foreign investor dis-
cards the proffer of a prospect, and looks for a devel-
oped property paying present profit. Both Eastern
and foreign investors looked at the matter just as
they would in buying industrial stocks or bonds, for
immediate dividends — a prospect or a partially devel-
oped property was not worth considering. The Cal-
ifornia or Colorado or other Western investor, on the
contrary, has always shown a desire to get hold of a
good prospect and develop it. Frankly, that is
where the biggest profit lies. Almost without excep-
tion, every big mining operator has made most of his
money by developing a good prospect. The great
fortunes of the great miners living or dead were not
made by buying developed mines, but by developing
prospects into mines. It is in that way millions are
made in mining, and one might almost say the only
way.
In this connection the Mining and Scientific
Press offers a suggestion. Instead of as now in so
many cases waiting for "foreign capital" to come in,
it were well for local capital to take hold. This
is being done in a good way in Colorado. A good
example of the same kind of work is afforded by the
residents of Nevada county, Cal., where merchants,
mine owners, working miners and others take shares,
pay assessments and enable good mines to be devel-
oped, and when Ithey are developed, keep the money
in local channels, to the general profit of the entire
community. In many a deserving mining district
throughout this west half of America are owners of
prospects awaiting "capital." The local bankers,
storekeepers, office holders and others can, with a lit-
tle effort, put up enough to develop a promising local
prospect into a paying mine, and then own it them-
selves. And it may be said in no way could they
quicker secure the wished-for influx of capital than
in the manner indicated.
I 'HE United States patent office has a yearly
*■ increasing surplus which should be devoted to
the needs of that overworked and overcrowded
department, instead of being piled up in the treas-
ury. It was never intended that the patent office
of the United States Government be a money-making
proposition, and every dictate of justice and business
policy is in favor of needed change in this matter.
Inventions in mining and metallurgical appliances
and machinery constitute a large percentage of the
great number of patents weekly issued, and hence
the subject is an important one to the mining and
manufacturing industry. There should also be some
radical changes in the present patent laws, which
are as antiquated as the building in which the patent
office business is conducted. No patent agent or
attorney should be allowed to practice until he had
passed an examination showing sufficient knowledge,
and the myriad of shyster solicitors who prey upon
inventors should be treated by the Government the
same as other swindlers, who are denied the use of
the mails and otherwise suppressed by the Govern-
ment postal authorities.
Mining Stock Speculation.
There is lack of reason or judgment in the senseless
cry one often hears against speculation in mining
stocks. Nor is the fact that money may be lost in
such speculation any business argument. Money may
be lost in buying any kind of stock — railroad, in-
dustrial or other sort; it may be lost in purchase of
city lots, or stocks of goods, yet people will go on buy-
ing these things. The cry is from timid souls or those
who do not think. The point is that in any sort of
speculation judgment is a necessary attribute.
After careful study and observation, the man who
speculates in mining stock is just as likely to win as
though he speculated in anything else. His chances
for success are as good; true, they are also as bad,
but the business view of such things is to exercise
all possible precaution and then be resigned to the
inevitable element of uncertainty that enters into
everything one can do. Men have made unfortunate
speculations in matrimony, yet people go right on
marrying and giving in marriage, as though there
were no such thing as divorce courts or a domestic
fight to a finish. In like matter it is said and sung
that a bear is a bad element in the stock market.
Yet he is just as necessary as the bull. The average
man abhors a stagnant market; he doesn't care
much which way the stock goes, up or down, just so
there is something doing. He wants to get action
for his money. It is neither our province nor our
purpose to uphold or justify gambling in mining
stocks, but it is to be remembered in connection there-
with that some of the biggest and best mining enter-
prises in the world's history were made possible only
by the active dealing in the stock. The public who
followed its fluctuations knew little and cared less
whether the ore shoot at the 800 level pinched out or
the breast of the drift in the 1200 level was in
bonanza, and when assessment after assessment was
levied it was the public, by holding up the stock and
paying the assessments, who furnished the funds
necessary to prosecute the heavy and expensive dead
work that made the mine so great an ultimate suc-
cess.
PROMINENT among the things that help Western
mining interests is the great present activity
among the railroads. The "Moffatt" road, now
building from Denver, Colorado, to Salt Lake City,
Utah, will open up a new section of rich mining coun-
try to the certainty of development and increase of
wealth that follows facility of transit. Of the
"Clark" road from Salt Lake City, Utah, to Los
Angeles, Cal., precisely the same may be said. This
week comes news that that line is to be extended
from Los Vegas, Nev., up through that State to
Tonopah, Goldfield and other new rich camps of
southeastern Nevada. By the "Hazen cut-off" the
Southern Pacific has placed that same section in
standard gauge railway connection with the rest of
the world. The Western Pacific Co., which will
build from Salt Lake City, Utah, to San Francisco,
Cal., has begun actual work at both ends of the line
on what will be practically a new transcontinental
route, traversing for a considerable part of its
length a mineral region hitherto isolated but suscep-
tible of development similar to that enjoyed by other
mineralized territory to which the railroad always
brings life by suitable transportation. In Arizona
the Santa Fe Co. is doing the same thing by numer-
ous branches and connections. In the last six months
September 30, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
221
all of the above work has assumed tangible shape, and
much of it has been accomplished. It means a great
deal to the mining man, manufacturer, merchant,
and the great numbers who always hail a newly
opened country as a chance for the success that
should attend honest effort.
Assessment Work and Patents.
The annual required $100 work on an unpatented
mining claim to prevent it from lapsing to be again a
part of the public domain and thus subject to reloca-
tion, is not cumulative in its effect. ODe can do $100
worth of work or improvement on his claim every
year right along, for twenty years, and if he omits
so doing for any one year the claim is just as subject
to relocation as if he had done no work thereon at
all. If, on the other hand, he does no work on his min-
ing location his " title" thereto is undisturbed so long
as no one else thinks the claim is worth jumping. If
he wants to take the chances on no one wanting to
relocate it he can let the claim alone for as many
years as he chooses. How the locator treats his
claim is usually indicative of what he thinks of it him-
self. The better way is to do sufficient development
work on it to entitle him to apply for a United States
patent thereto. In case he wants to sell it such
patent would be a splendid investment, for ability to
show a title from Uncle Sam goes a good way with a
buyer who is as careful in the purchase of a mining
property as he would be in buying any other kind of
real estate. The lenient requirement of all State and
Federal enactments regarding annual assessment
work is merely to incite development and discourage
the pernicious practice of holding claims without
working them. Discovery and appropriation are the
sources of title to mining claims, and development by
working, as a condition of continued ownership, until
a patent is obtained, the latter being the ultimate
intent.
Objection has been made to this journal against
patenting a claim that it then immediately be-
comes taxable. Such argument is not tenable.
While, as a matter of fact, it does "become tax-
able," the unpatented claim itself is subject to tax-
ation, and even if the patented claim were taxed a
few dollars every year, such amount would be much
less than the $100 necessary annual assessment work.
Those objections to patenting or even to the annual
assessment work itself usually come from those who
are trying to hold several claims without complying
with legal requirements and endeavoring to hang on
to more mining ground than they can legally work or
claim. The spirit of the liberal law is that each man
must make use of what he has or else give it up to
somebody else. Whether it be the capitalist, the
promoter, the speculator, the miner or the pros-
pector, each has equal rights that must be respected.
The man who bonds or buys wants no question
raised as to title, so that be can not be attacked by
lawsuits that often crop up when the property
becomes valuable, and in case he wants to sell or
transfer the property " the ironclad potency of a
U. S. patent" is most desirable.
Assessable and Non-Assessable Stock.
"Which is best, assessable or non-assessable mining
stock?" is a question from a Colorado subscriber that
merits editorial reply. The question involves matters
of more interest commercially than locally, and in its
broader sense is unaffected by made law. In Colo-
rado and other States it is optional in the organiza-
tion of a mining company whether the stock be
assessable or non- assessable. In California all stock
is by law issued only on the assessable plan.
Whether it be Colorado, California or anywhere
else, it is our belief that assessable stock is the
best for all honest purposes. Non-assessable stock
offers better opportunities for swindling. Be-
cause of this, some self-styled "mining men" ob-
ject to assessable stock. It is largely a" ques-
tion of intent. Where a mining company is or-
ganized to make a mine out of a prospect, or to
mine for the legitimate profits likely to result, an
assessable stock is preferable. Should more money
be needed, the stock can be assessed. In a non-
assessable company, unless there is enough money at
the start, there is ordinarily no way of raising it
except by selling treasury stock, and, that resource
failing, nothing remains but to shut the mine down or
freeze the smaller stockholders out, for the knowing
few to have the property sold at sheriff's sale and
buy it in themselves. Mines must be made, and it
takes money to make them. Equable assessment of
the owners of stock therein is the best device ever
invented for securing such necessary money. Of
course, the custom can be abused, and has been many
times.
Unjust or unnecessary assessments for stock job-
bing purposes are not uncommon, but of late years
the courts have thrown safeguards around the own-
ers of assessable stock, and the directors are liable
to be brought up short to answer why a receiver
should not be appointed in case of any suspicious
levying of assessments. As stated, the question re-
solves itself into one of intent. If the intent be to
make a mine, assessable stock is better; if the desire
be to swindle the public, the non-assessable plan
presents superior possibilities.
As to "par values" of stock, there is a possibility
on the part of the vendor of juggling with terms.
" Par value " is an elastic term. The selling value
more nearly represents the actual value, on the
principle that a thing is always worth what it will
fetch. There is nothing in the contention in some
quarters that there should be a small par value on
all assessable mining stocks, on the ground that as-
sessments must cease as soon as the par value has
been paid up in full. That used to be argued, and so
used the statement be made that a mining company
whose capital had been paid up in full by means of
assessments could only continue to assess the stock
by reorganizing with enlarged capital. But there is
nothing in such argument. Assessments can be
levied upon an assessable mining stock even after the
capital has been paid up in full, provided the money
so collected is put into the company's plant in the
way of enlargement or improvement.
Better Roads Needed.
Throughout many mining districts there is a great
and constant loss to miners, merchants and manu-
facturers because of bad roads. Ofttimes, especially
in the winter months, there is a delay of supplies and
machinery and an enforced stoppage of work because
of sheer inability to transport goods. In the one
State of California alone this loss is enormous. In
regions ramified by narrow gauge roads it is not so
appreciable, but where wagon roads are still
depended on, the condition of such excuses for roads
is ofttimes deplorable.
The reason for present allusion to this state of
affairs is that the fall elections are coming on,
and with the county residents of most of the dis-
tricts so held back lies largely the remedy,
which is to elect to the boards of supervisors men
who will see that the roads are properly attended to.
Public sentiment is not so lax in this regard as might
be supposed, but, ordinarily, people forget their most
immediate needs in the fuss and fight over who shall be
sheriff or county clerk, or some other good paying
position, and overlook the need of putting intelligent,
broad gauge men in as supervisors. The ordinary
county supervisor wants to see how little can be
spent and how low the tax rate can be made. This,
in the abstract, is a commendable idea, but it is not
always good practice. The taxes levied by State
and county lie less heavily upon a community than
the tax levied by the residents upon themselves
by lack of proper means of transportation. Econ-
omy is well, but it should be true economy —
which is only another name for judicious expendi-
ture of money. If necessary, five cents should
be saved; but, if necessary, ten thousand dollars
should be spent. Economy takes a more broad
gauge view of things than the immediate "saving"
of a few dollars in taxes. Such saving is often the
most costly form of financial folly. This is generally
understood, but, as stated, if in the coming elections
the "German vote" or the "Scandinavian vote," or
any other kind of vote be solely figured on in the
effort to get some favorite son elected to a paying
position, and the more important post of supervisor
be thrown to geographical sections of the county
" just to fill up the ticket," there can not be much
improvement expected in the present backwoods
system of roads in so many mining districts. As a
cold business proposition it would pay. The saving
in one year in the loss now entailed and the improve-
ment in values would more than justify the slightly
increased tax rate. The subject is a homely one, but
of close concern to the mining industry, and those
who have given any observation to it will concede
that the remarks are as true as they are trite.
New Nevada Mining Camps.
The greatest present general interest in mining
development still centers in the southeastern Ne-
vada gold discoveries, even to the extent of railway
building to the new districts. The gold is there and
the country is "new." There is a charm about "a
new mining country " that would call the prospector
and the miner anywhere. Because it was a new
country is what sent so many to the Klondike and to
Nome. It is the lure of the new region that calls
the miner. It was always so, and probably always
will be.
In the early days of the world an altar was built
to the rising sun, and that altar has ever been
thronged with worshippers. Men have a feeling that
in a new mining region their individual chances are
better. When the news of Tonopah, Goldfield, Co-
lumbia, Bullfrog, etc., was first told, men instinct-
ively felt that there was a new El Dorado with all that
that implied. No matter that there were good mines
and fine prospects elsewhere. In so many parts of
the "elsewhere " matters had settled down to ordi-
nary commercial requirements. There "one man's
chances were as good as another's," and there thou-
sands have flocked. When in 1901 and 1902 was told
in these columns the extent and wealth of the new
Nevada gold strikes it was felt that in the hazard of
new fortunes lay larger possibilities of quick success,
and since then new discoveries in that vicinity vindi-
cate the faith felt in Nevada's revival as a mining
State.
In the days of the first discoveries of gold in the
famous mining camps of Tonopah and Goldfield, Nev.,
and the newer camps adjacent, much was said in
these columns, and the press throughout the country
has since spread the news to so great an extent that
many have thought all they had to do was to go
there and they would get on somehow. The general
idea is not a bad one, but an unskilled man going to
a new camp with intent to work the mine and not
the street is often a misfit. A letter from Goldfield
this week says there are "too many idle men here."
That is always the case. There never yet was, and
probably never will be, a rich mining camp without its
undue quota of idle men, some from choice, many
from necessity.
What is here meant to be said is, that while no
advice is needed by the prospector or another class,
who live by their wits, or skilled miners who can
get on anywhere, the unskilled man who wants to
earn daily wages working in a mine would do better
to go elsewhere than to a new mining camp. He
should choose an older mining district, for there
exist more opportunities to learn and to get employ-
ment than in a new mining community, where men
are obliged to depend to a greater degree on their
own resources.
STRONG protest has been made for some time
against the importation of foreign zinc ore under
present conditions. Effort is being made by the Mis-
souri & Colorado zinc mine operators to have the
Government levy a 20% advalorem duty on zinc ore
from Mexico and British Columbia, as present condi-
tions tend to keep down the price of the ore.
Another question affecting American zinc miners also
comes up. The tariff provides that minerals crude
or not advanced in value, not specifically provided
for, shall be admitted free of duty, and that metallic
mineral substances in a crude state shall pay a duty
of 20%. There is a present effort to have definitely
determined in which class zinc ore belongs; also
whether lead-bearing zinc ores, which are subject to
duty on the lead contained therein, includes the pase
where the ore contains so little lead as to simply ap-
pear in too small a quantity to justify commercial
consideration. On the 21st inst. the Treasurer of
the United States heard argument pro and con in
Washington, D. C, on the subject, and turned the
question over to the United States Attorney General
for his opinion.
222
Mining and Scientific Press.
September 30, 1905.
*r
CONCENTRATES.
J0
Cast iron in cooling contracts I inch per foot.
tfcwAtfc
Use a lower power explosive to leasen the amount of
fines produced in blasting the brittle rock.
WWWW
It is best to admit air to the compressor as cold as
possible and to the motor as hot as possible.
The electro chemical equivalent of a metal is the
weight in grams precipitated by a current of one ampere
flowing for one second.
The absolute scale of temperatures has its zero point
460.66° F. below the ordinary zero, or 492.66° F. below the
freezing point of water.
The burning of one pound of average crude petroleum
requires 190 cubic feet of air and produces 19,500 B T. U.,
3.1 pounds C02 and 1.25 pound H20.
It is incorrect to say "ore in sight" unless the ore
body has been opened on three sides, e. g., two levels
with a connecting raise shaft or winze all in ore.
Tar OR rosin should not be used on belts, as exces-
sive power is required and the belt soon destroyed. Some
graphite preparation would give good satisfaction.
To CLEAN and remove the pencil lines from the trac-
ing cloth apply a rag saturated with gasoline or benzine.
Water will destroy the surface and render it unfit for use.
FOR single-hand drilling an octagon steel rod J inch to
f inch in diameter is commonly used, with f inch to 1
inch as limits; double-hand work requires a heavier
steel.
The melting points of gold and silver are 1065° C. and
962° O, as carefully determined with the hydrogen ther-
mometer for use in standardizing the Le Chatelier pyro-
meter.
The average gold extraction at Johannesburg, South
Africa, is about 85% of the total gold contents of the ore
sent to the mills. As high as 93% has been obtained in
special cases.
A CUBIC foot of coal gas will sustain two-thirds of an
ounce, avoirdupois, in mid-air. One hundred pounds at
the surface of the earth would weigh 99.75 pounds 5 miles
above the earth.
If telluride and highly arsenical ores are very finely
pulverized and no copper is present, an extraction of 90%
to 98% is often obtained by using the filter press process
without roasting.
Sprouting or vegetation of molten silver when cool-
ing is due to the escape of oxygen, which is absorbed
during melting. It may be avoided by cooling slowly
and keeping the surface warm.
To get the horse power safely transmitted by a steel
line shaft with bearings every 8 feet, multiply the cube
of the diameter in inches by the number of revolutions
per minute and divide by 75.
The best way to distinguish the dolomite from the
limestone is to touch tha rock in question with a drop of
dilute hydrochloric acid; il it effervesces strongly it is
limestone, otherwise it is dolomite.
The grease on the amalgamating plate is either from
candle ends in the ore or the use of too much lubricat-
ing oil in the machinery. Caustic potash will remove
the grease and benzine will remove the mineral oil.
Eight pounds of sulphur in iron pyrites has the
same calorific power as three pounds of coke for pro-
ducing heat in the furnace and smelting the charge. It
can be burned and utilized by using a hot blast, not a
cold one.
Strain is the extension or change of form of a body
under the influence of a stretching or distorting force
called stress. The ratio of tensile stress per unit cross-
section to tensile strain is the modulus or coefficient of
elasticity.
California crude oil makes a good road with almost
all kinds of soils, because it contains an asphalt base.
On the other hand, Pennsylvania and other oils contain-
ing a paraffine base have proven unsatisfactory in road
sprinkling.
Cyanide of potassium solutions may be protected
from decomposition by the carbonic acid of the air ac-
cording to the reaction 2KCy -f C02 = KZC03 + 2 HCy,
by covering with heavy petroleum oil and drawing the
solution off from the bottom.
****
Approximately, handling earth with pick and
shovel would cost about as follows: Excavating and
loading in a wagon, 54 cents per cubic yard for hardpan;
27 cents per cubic yard for tough clay; 20 cents per
cubic yard for ordinary clay, gravel or loam, and 16
cents per cubic yard for very light sandy soil; this is
reckoned on the basis of 20 cents per hour for wages.
Theoretically the horse power necessary to ele-
vate water to a given height, multiply the total weight
in pounds of the water discharged per minute by the
height in feet, and divide by 33,000; practically this
result should be about doubled.
VVww
The Betts process for the treatment of lead bullion is
based upon the solubility of lead in an acid solution of
lead fluosilicate. The lead is deposited at the cathode,
while the gold and silver accumulate in the slimes, and
are recovered by ordinary metallurgical methods.
The use of lime forms the cheapest and least trouble-
some way for clearing water from a stamp mill so that it
can be used over again. This could be done by settling
tanks and decantation, or by the use of a settling pond
from which the water could be pumped as needed.
No. 16 wire gauge copper plates are ordinarily used
for amalgamating and weigh four pounds per square
foot; No. 13 wire gauge, weighing five pounds per
square foot, is used for heavy work, and No. 11, weighing
six pounds per square foot, Is used for mortar plates.
The failure of the oil burning boiler to supply sufficient
steam may be due to the layer of nonconducting soot
from black smoke. This can be prevented by thorough
combustion obtained by an accurate combination of oil
and steam in the atomizer and a proper admission of air.
tfcrfcrfc*
Platinum may be quickly and thoroughly cleaned
by rubbing with sodium amalgam applied with a cloth
and then putting in water to oxidize the sodium and
leave the mercury free to alloy with foreign metals.
The platinum is then cleaned and washed with moist sea
sand.
W WWW
In its application to the generation of electricity the
steam turbine is certainly making noticeable progress,
and in some cases is displacing the horizontal steam en-
gine for this class of work. Probably the aggregate
power of steam turbine sets now in use may be approxi-
mately estimated at 200,000 KW.
Slag-roasting galena has been almost abandoned
because of excessive volatilization of lead. Desulphur-
ization of zincblende is becoming obsolescent for the
same reason. Dust chambers aid in the partial recovery
of the volatilized lead, though there is always trouble in
condensing and settling lead fume.
Vwww
To TEST cyanide solutions for potassium cyanate
(KONO), first convert the KCN into K2C03 by passing
C02 through the solution and precipitate it with alco-
hol. The filtered solution contains potassium cyanate if
it turns blue upon the addition of cobalt acetate, owing
to the formation of cobalt cyanate.
In assaying zinc ores, preparatory to titration of the
zinc solution, the use of aluminum in removing copper
is not to be recommended on account of the action of
aluminum salts, which are formed on the indicator, and
the liability of aluminum to be precipitated as ferrocya-
nide. Lead should be used in place of aluminum.
In the case of black powder there might be something
in the idea in using the fuse of placing the cap in the
middle or the bottom of the charge to occasion a more
thorough explosion, but in the case of using dynamite it
goes off so quickly that it makes no noticeable difference
whether the cap be placed in the bottom, middle or on
top.
A serviceable clinometer may be made by pasting
a graduated scale of degrees on a note book cover and
suspending a small weight by means of a thread fastened,
through the center of the are. The dip of the vein is
found by holding the edge of the note book parallel to
the vein inclination and noting where the vertical
thread cuts the scale.
The Canyon Ferry, Mont., electrical transmission
plant delivers power at Butte, 65 miles distant at 50,000
volts. This is exceeded in volt power and distance of
transmission by other systems in Utah and California.
As to whether "the limit has been reached " is not pos-
sible to answer. The great game of scientific progress is
played without a limit.
It has been found almost impossible to get an air
valve-gear which would work satisfactorily at speeds
much above fifty revolutions per minute on low-pressure
work where the air cylinders are very large, and where
the valve area, particularly that of the inlet, must be a
very large percentage of the piston area in order to pre-
vent a suction loss in filling the cylinder.
To make an inch hole in the center of a glass plate,
dissolve camphor in turpentine; in this dip the blunted I
end of a round file; with this file by a slow twisting mo-
tion grind a hole in the glass plate, which must rest
evenly all around on a perfectly flat surface. Great pa-
tience and considerable skill is requisite; when the open-
ing is made through the glass it can be worked to the
required size by the file, which must be kept wet all the
time of operation by frequent immersion in the cam-
phorated turpentine.
VVVV
The difference between mechanical and free hand
drawing lies in the point of view. The former repre-
sents objects as they are, the point of sight is at an in-
finite distance and the lines of sight are parallel. In the
latter the observer's eye is the point of sight, and
the radiating straight lines extending to the dif-
ferent points of the object from the lines of sight. The
point of sight may be real or imaginary, the line of
sight is imaginary.
In all overhead construction the electro-static leakage
takes the form of a brush discharge between wires with
high pressures, and is considerable. One recent test
showed loss of energy due to air leakage with 47,300
volts, to be 1215 watts per mile when the distance be-
tween the wires was 15 inches. When this distance was
increased to 52 inches the leakage was reduced to 122
watts per mile. With high pressures it is usual to place
the wires about 10 feet apart.
Few California mines have a higher altitude than 8000
feet; few Colorado mines are so low. There are " going "
mines in that State at an elevation of 13,000 feet. Alt-
man is the highest mining town in the State. "Con-
centrates " does not know what is "the highest town in
the world." Probably Cerro de Pasco, in Peru, is. Its
altitude is slightly over 15,000 feet. For 300 years the
Cerro de Pasco mine was worked for silver; now it is
America's greatest copper mine.
TURQUOISE of a fair quality is found in Pinal county,
Ariz. The turquoise was obtained by the ancient in-
habitants of that section of the country and worked into
articles of personal adornment by them. Turquoise
beads and pendants are often found in the ruins in the
Gila and Salt River valleys. A genuine turquoise is a gem
of slight transparency, sky-blue in color, and is usually
found in the veins of rocks composed of gray and yellow
quartzite, sandstone, and porphyry dikes.
There are several mining papers published on the
Pacific coast. In Los Angeles, California, is published
the Mining Review; in San Francisco, California, the
Mining and Engineering Review; in Grant's Pass, Ore-
gon, the Mining Journal; in Portland, Oregon, the
Pacific Miner; in Seattle, Washington, the Northwest-
ern Miner. The different newspapers published in the
various mining districts also furnish excellent local ac-
counts of mining progress and development and are of
material value therein.
No coal is mined in Idaho on a large scale. The Boise
district, in front of the Boise mountains and between
the Boise and Payette rivers, extending north 30 miles
from a point 6 miles north of Boise, includes the Horse-
shoe Bend district, with one 3-foot high-grade lignitic
bed, and the Jerusalem district with four beds from 3 to
8 feet thick of lignite. The mines near Salmon City,
however, with their 6-foot vein, promise to prove of
great importance whenever a railroad supplies them
with an outlet.
The machine drill must have had unfair usage to have
broken as stated, for those drills are carefully con-
structed of tested material. Great care is exerted
throughout, and to secure uniform temper the several
parts, bolts, nuts, moving pieces are packed in bone
ash in a steel box on which a cover is luted, and heated
to a bright red in a furnace, whence the several pieces of
steel are given a bath in a tank of cold water to give all
of them the same degree of hardness, temper and uni-
formity of texture.
VvwV
In the case of Hough vs. Hunt, Supreme Court of
Colorado, 70 Pac. Rep., 1079, it was decided that where
the locators of a quartz mine after being in possession
for several years, and expending $1000 in developing it,
suspended work, and during a year did only $25 work on
the mine, but hired a man to live in a house on the
location and watch the property, the amount paid to him
could not be counted to make up the $100 worth of
work each year required to conform to the statute con-
cerning preserving the right to the claim.
Fines coming from the extractor boxes 42% in gold
and silver often contain no more than 15% to 20% zinc,
and of this amount only a small proportion is in the
form of metallic zinc; it will be found upon treating it
with acid that the hydrogen evolved is small in propor-
tion to the zinc actually in the product, and this is the
reason why in acid treating fines one finds it difficult to
remove so much of the zinc as he would naturally ex-
pect. The zinc is doubtless combined with some organic
acid difficult to dissolve in dilute sulphuric acid.
At the Granby, B. C, smelter the copper matte con-
verting plant comprises a steel building 160x68 feet, con-
taining two horizontal barrel-type converters, 72 inches
diameter, 100 inches long. A 40-ton traveling crane
handles the shells and matte; a 10-ton traveler brings
the molten matte from the furnace building. The blast
September 30, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
2&
pressure is ten pounds per square inch. After sufficient
slag- is formed it is removed, after which the pure matte
is converted into blister copper. The slag is granulated.
Each set of converters has a daily capacity of from fifty
to seventy tons of matte.
Linseed oil is of commercial value solely because of
the comparative rapidity with which it absorbs oxygen.
To electrical workers a method of arresting the oxida-
tion of a film of linseed oil at any desired point would be
of great value. But tbat seems at present impracti-
cable. It continues to oxidize until it becomes a brittle,
cracked and defenseless mass, so far as its capacity to
prevent the passage of a stray electric current is con-
cerned. More electrical apparatus has bad to be recon-
structed or repaired because of the oxidation and other
defects of linseed oil than for all other causes com-
bined.
The California oil holes are not "drilled down into a
lake of oil." The oil is in the sand; the hole is drilled
down to and through this stratum of oil sand. This
stratum may be 1 foot or 100 feet thick. Tho oil under
internal pressure seeps through inch holes in the casing
surrounding the perpendicular hole driven through the
sand and is pumped to the surface; if there be gas
enough the oil will be forced to the top of the well with-
out pumping. About 25% of the sand is oil in a good
district. An acre of good area with an oil sand 100 feet
thick ought to yield about 150,000 barrels. One well
will not ordinarily drain more than an acre of oil land.
Tho local custom is to sink wells 100 feet inside one's
boundary.
Natural bitumen is brownish black in color. In
structure it is amorphous. The specific gravity varies
from 0.950 to 1.5 or more, according to Ihe mineral mat-
ter present. Its melting point varies widely from 180° to
600° P., sometimes only softening and melting with decom-
position at over 600° F. It burns with a smoky flame.
It varies from the liquid form of maltha through tough
and leathery substances to brittle solids. Its value to
the maker of compositions for electrical purposes
depends on many things, but chiefly on the nature of
the pure bitumen, which can be prepared from the nat-
ural substance, its melting point, and most of all its
capability of being drawn out into threads. Should it
possess natural elasticity it is of exceptional value.
****
Giant powder will freeze at 42° F.; water at 32°; dyna-
mite when frozen is hard to load and uncertain of effect.
Thawing is a simple operation if rightly done, a most
dangerous one if carelessly or ignorantly undertaken.
Because a stick of giant can be lit with a match and
carried while burning in the open air with safety (some-
times) is no reason that it can be thawed before a fire or
on top of a stove. If lit with a match there is only a lit-
tle bit of the mass that is heated, the rest being cold;
but if any one starts to roast, bake or fry it, the usual
result is disaster, for when the whole stick of giant is
exposed to direct heat the entire mass heats up to the
danger point very quickly, and at a temperature of 360°
F., it is liable to explode. Just how to thaw frozen
giant has been stated herein repeatedly. The intent is
here to emphasize how not to do it.
The modus operandi of the filter press process is as
follows: Assuming the pulp properly mixed and aerated
with the gold partially In solution in weak cyanide pre-
viously introduced, it is discharged into the pressure
tank or forcing receiver (montejus), where it is first thor-
oughly agitated to dissolve the gold and then forced by
compressed air into the filter press at from fifty to eighty
pounds per square inch. When the press is completely
filled alternate charges of solution and compressed air
are forced through the washing channels of the
machines to extract the balance of gold remaining
after the preliminary agitation. The final charge of
compressed air is continued long enough to dry the
cakes after the final displacement of the wash water.
The contents of the filter press are then discharged into
tip trucks or on conveyor belts by unscrewing the bolts
and lifting the frames and plates apart.
A GOOD way to temper the drill is to first heat the bit
till cherry red, then plunge into water for a moment,
till partly cooled, when it is rubbed on a stone to remove
the scales so that the play of colors can be seen in the
dark corner of the shop. Between 430° F. and 600° F.
these vary from a very pale yellow, through a straw, a
brown, a purple and a full blue to a dark blue. If the
cooling is uniform the colors should advance parallel to
the cutting edge, otherwise that side of the bit on which
the colors are moving most rapidly should be held in
water. When the colors move parallel with the edge
(this is important to insure uniform hardness), watch
until it is a straw color and quickly plunge into the
water a short distance, moving it about until the steam
ceases to form, when it may be left in a quenching bath,
usually water, but often brine, tallow or coal tar; which
vary the rate of cooling in the order given.
To make a drift air tight is feasible, though expensive.
Some time ago in one of the lower levels in the Moose
mine, Raven hill, Cripple Creek, Colo., a drift was run,
along the length of which fissures were cut, from which
large volumes of gas issued into the workings. The
miners worked with difficulty, although the ventilating
plant was unusually large. The drift was timbered with
square sets and tightly lagged; but the gas made breath-
ing difficult. Then was tried lining the drift from the
shaft to the face, 600 feet, top, bottom and sides, with
asbestos sheets reinforced with a sheeting of tin plates.
This shut oil the How of foul gas. Swelling ground
might similarly be hold. Ground which swells in mine
excavations does not do so rapidly, it often being several
days before the swelling becomes troublesome. It is
supposed to be partly due to the effect of the contact of
the rock with tho atmosphere.
Hill's Ann. Laws, section 3009, provides that ma-
terial mon shall have lions for materials furnished for
improvements on land, and that every contractor hav-
ing charge of tho construction of any building or im-
provement for another shall be held to be the agent of
tho owner. A contractor constructed a stamp mill and
tramway in connection with a mine for defendant, and
material men filed liens against the property. In an
action to enforce the liens, judgment was given against
the defendant for tho amount, directing that the mill
and tramway be sold to satisfy the judgment, and that
any surplus of the proceeds should be paid defendant,
with no provision in case of a deficiency. Held, that
the defendant could have a personal judgment for the
deficiency, notwithstanding the recitals in the judgment
of the amounts found to be due. Watson vs. Noonday
Min. Co. et al., 60 Pac. Rep., Or., 994.
CODE Civ. Proc. 1895, section 592, authorizes a tenant
in common to sue for an injury to the property by a co-
tenant; and Laws 1899, p. 134, amending the same, de-
clares that nothing contained therein shall prevent the
occupancy and enjoyment of mining property by co-
tenants, or the operation of the same, subject to ac-
counting to a nonjoining co-tenant for net profits, nor
prevent such joint co-tenant from receiving his propor-
tionate share of all ores on the dump, on payment or
tender of the cost of mining the same. Held, that a co-
tenant not joining in the operation of a mine, and suing
for damages for the removal of ore therefrom through
another mine, owned by his tenants in common, to
which plaintiff had no right of access, was entitled to an
injunction pendente lite to restrain such removal,
though defendant offered to account for ore extracted
therefrom. Butte & B. Con. Min. Co. vs. Montana Ore
Purchasing Co. et al., 60 Pac. Rep., Mont., 1039.
The discharge which a stream has at a certain height
of water is usually found by taking a cross-section at
right angles to the direction of the current and multi-
plying the submerged surface or wetted perimeter of
this profile by the mean velocity of the current, accord-
ing to formula. The section should be taken at a point
where the river is of uniform width and of regular form
for some distance above and below, so that the directions
of the currents may be practically parallel, thus avoid-
ing oblique velocities. As sections of a river bed are
quite irregular and would not be the same at points but
little separated, it is usually best to take several sections
at established intervals, and thus secure a mean cross-
section. The stage of water at the commencement of
the work, together with changes which take place dur-
ing its progress, should be known and recorded. When
the soundings have been completed, and levels taken for
that portion of the river bed which lies above the water
at the time of sounding, the whole can be plotted and
the area determined for any stage proposed. The points
at which soundings are taken along the range line should
be accurately located, so that each day's notes may be
referred to the same ground.
The following artificial preparations are of more or less
use in compositions or in refining bitumen: Pittsburg
flux, produced by heating petroleum oil, such as Pennsyl-
vania residuum, with sulphur. Hydrogen sulphide is
given off and the oil becomes tough and sticky, and only
melts at a very high temperature. This formation is due
to condensation of the unsaturated hydrocarbons by the
action of sulphur, the finished product still containing
about 4% of sulphur. It will not pull into strings and is
very short. Sludge asphalt, made from the sludge tar
of the refiners, and is much more like natural bitumen,
as it pulls out in threads, melts easily and has the gen-
eral physical properties of ordinary bitumen. Byerlite,
an artificial bitumen of a hard type, produced by the
action of oxygen on heavy petroleum oils. No sulphur
is employed, and sulphur is not present in the product.
Asphaltine, a petroleum residuum specially prepared for
the asphalt paving industry, and may be heated for
seven hours at 400° F. without losing more than 2% to
5% of volatile oils, while the residue will still continue to
flow at ordinary temperatures. Other petroleum or
shale oil residuums may lose up to 15%, and the residue
will not flow owing to the amount of parafBne present,
but in neither case is the resulting residue solid or
brittle.
Refining copper by the copper-bottom process is not
a new method; the matte is merely enriched by
washing and resmelting till it carries from 55% to
65% copper. This enriched matte is then subjected to
a roasting by which occurs a reaction between the oxide
and the 'sulphide, setting free a certain per cent of
metallic copper and carrying down much foreign mat-
ter, including almost all the gold. It has been recently
thought feasible by metallurgists to extend this copper-
bottom process to the separation of the gold from the
copper. Say ten tons of 65% copper matte are put upon
the hearth of a small reverberatory furnace, the doors
left open; the charge fired for eight hours; the doors
then closed, and the charge melted down. The reaction
cited above would set free about 14% copper; the whole
charge being tapped into moulds would result in sheets
of impure copper— "copper bottoms "—being found be-
neath the slag blocks nearest the furnaces. At this
stage there would be the bulk of the gold concentrated
into a ton and a half of material for further treatment,
that is returned to the same furnace, roasted again as
were the original ten tons, again smelted down, the cop-
per oxide slagged off, and tho copper tapped into sheets
or granulated for further treatment upon a copper test
or other furnace, where it is again roasted, and slagged
with silica until sufficiently reduced in quantity to re-
'fine the gold with litharge or other suitable flux.
W V V V
To quickly determine the amount of sulphur in coke,
intimately mix 700 milligrams of finely powdered coke
with thirteen grams of sodium peroxide, in a nickel
crucible of about 30 c. c. capacity. The peroxide must
be finely powdered and dry, and should be weighed
rapidly and brushed off the watch glass with a glass
brush. The cruciblo is to be covered and a 3-inch fuse
inserted under the edge of the cover and extended well
into the mixture. The crucible is then supported on a
triangle and placed in about 3 inch of water; the fuse is
ignited and in three or four minutes, when the mass
has cooled sufficiently, the crucible and cover are placed
in a small beaker and 30 c. c. of water added. The mass
dissolves completely in about two minutes. After rins-
ing off the crucible and cover, the solution is made just
acid with hydrochloric acid and filtered through a small
filter. The filtrate is boiled and precipitated with
barium chloride in the usual way. The fuses are made
by nitrating cotton wicking with- a mixture of one part
fuming nitric acid and two parts concentrated sulphuric
acid for twelve hours at 15° C. The nitrated cotton is
then washed in running water for twelve hours, to re-
move every trace of acid, and dried at laboratory tem-
perature. When dry, it is treated with a cold, nearly
saturated solution of potassium nitrate for an hour, then
the excess of solution is pressed out, dried as before, and
finally cut into lengths of 3 inches ready for use.
Dry batteries which have become exhausted can be
recharged. Remove the outer cardboard casing from
each cell and drill six small holes in the zinc casing
about 1 inch from the bottom. As four cells are gener-
ally used for ignition purposes in connection with the
induction coil, get four small glass or stone jars, about 1
inch larger in diameter than the cells and about three-
quarters the height of the same. Dissolve about half an
ounce of powdered sal ammoniac in each jar, in a suffi-
cient quantity of water to bring it almost to the top of
the jar when the cell is in it. Get four cells of gravity
battery and put them in series with each other by con-
necting the zinc element of one cell to the copper ele-
ment of another. Put each dry battery cell in the solu-
tion in its respective jar and connect the three binding
posts on the zincs together, and the three carbon posts
also, by means of insulated copper wire. Then attach
the wire from the zincs to the zinc element of the grav-
ity batteries, and the wire from the carbons to the cop-
per element of the gravity batteries. Allow the cells to
remain over night, and if they are of good, reliable make
they will be found in the morning to be almost as good
as new. This process of recharging dry batteries can
be repeated twice, but after each recharging their
renewed life will be shorter than formerly. After the
batteries have been recharged the small holes which
were drilled in the casing can be stopped by a strip of
adhesive tape, covered with bicycle tire cement, and
tightly wrapped around the zinc casing over the holes.
The cells should be wiped thoroughly dry and then
replaced in their cardboard casings when they are ready
for use.
The largest nugget or mass of silver ever mined of
which "Concentrates" has authentic detail was a piece
weighing 1340 pounds, which was taken from the Smug-
gler mine, Aspen, Colo., in 1894. In regard to this
nugget S. I. Hallet says: "The nugget in question
formed part of a consignment of 15,031 pounds of ore,
which with silver at 58 cents or thereabouts netted us,
free and clear of all expenses, very close to $82,000. This
particular nugget was gotten out by itself, and seemed
to be extremely pure, so that I photographed it. It was
impossible to assay it in the ordinary acceptation of the
word, and it was put directly into crucibles and the
crucible returns given to us by the company. The
smelting charges on Buch ore were naturally high. This
streak of silver occurred as a core in some very rich
ore, averaging about 1000 ounces per ton. At times it
would be half an inch in thickness, and then widen out
to 2 feet or 2h feet. It was a little purer than a silver
dollar and almost as bright. We were obliged to mine
by the side of it, allowing it to hang down into the stope
until we had reached a natural crack or very thin place,
when we could break it off. It extended along the stope
for 20 or 30 feet in height, was 3 or 4 feet in length,
width as given. As to just how it was made it is hard for
me to give a theory. It was sometimes found crystal-
lized in connection with argentite, which might lead one
to think that it had simply been argentite, and that by
the enormous pressure exerted on it the sulphur had
been expelled. Again, I found pieces in which the outer
surface was a very thick mass of wire silver practically
welded together, which would, of course, account for'it
in a very different way. ' '
224
Mining and Scientific Press.
September 30, 1905.
Darien Gold Mines.
"Written for the Mining and Scientific Press.
Ever since the time of the early Spanish explorers
South and Central America have been looked upon
as possible sources of fabulous wealth. But, as has
proven true in all other countries, while the mineral
may be in the ground, it is not to be taken out with-
out hard and persistent effort. As an example of
such effort that has been finally crowned with suc-
cess, a description of the Espiritu Santo mine of the
Darien Gold Mining Co. cannot fail to be of interest.
Situated in a densely timbered tropical country
among an indolent and often hostile people, difficult of
access and inimical to the health of the white man, it
is a proposition whose working requires the utmost
persistence and courage.
The mine is on the south side of the Cana river,
200 feet above the Cana plateau, which has an eleva-
tion of 1800 feet above sea level. Cana is in the
province of Darien, and is reached most conveniently
from Panama, 80 miles northwest. A steamer runs
from Panama down through the Gulf of Darien into
Darien harbor, thence up the Rio Tuyra to El Real.
At this point freight is transhipped to small light-
draught river steamers during the wet season and to
native dugout canoes during the dry season. These
run 40 miles up the Tuyra to Boca del Cupe at the
confluence of the Cupe and Tuyra rivers. Prom this
point, during the dry season, the freight is hauled
overland in wagons a distance of 30 miles to the mine,
Maisounabe Shaft from Near Lodin Shaft.
but during the wet season it is taken up the Cupe I
river 16 miles to Citura station, whence it is packed
into the mine, on mules and bulls. An ordinary mule
load is 130 pounds and a pack ox can bring up 200
pounds. Most of the machinery at the mine was
made for muleback transportation.
The mine had been worked to a depth of 200 feet
by Spanish miners working intermittently from 1665
to 1727. These workings followed the soft rich
streaks and were mainly shafts irregularly connected
by drifts, often timbered and separated by pillars of
high-grade ore. These works were finally abandoned
because of caves and the intrusion of great quantities
of water.
Various unsuccessful attempts were made to clear
the mine by pumping, but finally in 1894 the problem
was solved by running a 1100-foot adit tunnel which
drained the mine to a depth of 150 feet, and made
possible the sinking of the Heenan shaft to a depth
of 180 feet below the adit level. Considerable rich
ore was taken out in the upper levels, but the
work was hampered by the number and intricacy of
the old workings, the shaft being finally abandoned
and filled.
In the meantime in 1898 the Maisounabe shaft was
sunk with five compartments, two being 4£x3£ feet,
two 4Jx3 and one 4Jx5. This shaft is 154 feet deep
at level No. 1, the adit and drain tunnel, to which
the water from the lower levels is pumped by a 4-
stage turbine pump direct cunnected to a hydraulic
turbine, placed at the sixth level. The water for
power is conducted from the collar of the shaft to the
sixth level, 538 feet below, where, after use, it is
pumped through the same pipes as the mine water
to the drain tunnel. The pump has a capacity of
3.i0 gallons of water per minute. In addition there
are auxiliary Cameron pumps operated with com-
pressed air.
Until the new Lodin shaft is completed all hoisting
of ore is being done through the Maisounabe shaft.
Heretofore, this has been done with an 8x12 double
cylinder band friction hoist, but at present a new
14x18 double cylinder, double drum friction hoist is
being erected and will soon be ready for use.
The Lodin shaft, started in 1902, is now down to
the sixth level. It has three 4x5 compartments and is
being sunk on an incline of 70°. During sinking a
*See Illustrations on Front Page.
I single drum 8x12 double cylinder, double reduction
1 gear steam hoist is being used. Compressed air is
used in pumping. This shaft is to be continued until
as deep as the Maisounabe shaft before any ore is
hoisted through it. Prom the Maisounabe shaft
levels have been opened up and some stoping done at
No. 2, 100 feet below the adit level, at No. 3, 80 feet
below, at No. 4, 80 feet deeper, at No. 5, 40 feet
below, at No. 6, 84 feet below and at No. 7, 85 feet
below.
Quoting Woakes' "Modern Gold Mining in the
Darien," Vol. XXIX, Transactions A. I. M. E., -'the
country rock is essentially andesite in an extremely
decomposed state. There are two predominating
series of "cleavage planes apparent, the first, gener-
ally the most marked, running N. 55° W. with a
westerly dip, and the second running N. 65° E. with a
southerly dip. Roughly speaking, the ore deposit
appears to have been formed in an irregular quadri-
lateral, the boundaries of which are formed by these
cleavage planes, the N. 55° W. cleavages forming the
east and west walls, while the N. 65° E. form the
north and south walls. In adopting this theory
liberal allowance must be made for the variations of
bearing, such as naturally would occur in fissures
running through such brittle and jointy rock. The
sides of the quadrilateral are by no means equal or
parallel in their entire length The longer side or
base of the figure may be taken as that forming the
north wall of the deposit, the shortest is then the
opposite or south wall. This gives to the figure the
shape of an irregular truncated cone.
"It is, however, the formation and character of
the ore body itself which forms
the most interesting study to
the mineralogist, and is so
striking in appearance to the
mirier. By far the greater
part of the ore body is com-
posed of boulders and rock
fragments from the adjoining
country rock, varying in size
from pieces as small as a wal-
nut to masses of many tons
weight. They are generally
completely angular, but at
times as round as a pebble. In
the writer's opinion this round-
ing is not due to the action of
the water, but rather to a
process of decomposition The
rock fragments are completely
surrounded by concentric shells
of brilliant crystalline sulphides
andcalcite. The order of depo-
sition of these minerals around
the matrix is generally iron-
pyrites, then blende, and then
galena, with an outer coating
of calcite in which occur acicu-
lar quartz crystals.
" The gold occurs for the most part in a crystalline
form, but often as wires or strings. It is found ad-
hering to the sulphurets, and no doubt the very fine
gold is disseminated through them. It is a rule that
the greater the percentage of zinc and lead sulphides
in the ore, the richer it is in gold. Three distinct
classes of ore have been observed in the lode mass.
In the vicinity of the walls, especially on the north
and west sides of the deposits, the cementing mate-
rials of the breccia are chiefly calcite and quartz,
while the matrix is softer from more advanced de-
composition. Here, therefore, we find low-grade
rock. Immediately inside this mass, which varies
from 15 to 40 feet wide at different levels, and reck-
oning from north toward the south we find the inter-
stices in the breccia not entirely filled up with
cementing material, an infinity of vugs being left.
Here calcite, quartz and iron pyrites, all more or
less crystalline, form the cement. This class of gold
assays from 1 to 1.5 ounce of gold per ton, accord-
ing to the amount of the matrix present. To the
center and southwest of the lode mass we find the
ore very rich in the sulphides of zinc, lead and iron,
all more compact, the vugs being entirely absent.
This may be said to be the best class of ore in the
mine. Occasional pockets and veins of a soft and
friable mixture of all the lode-forming constituents
are met, containing free gold in quantity. * * * *
The conclusion seems to be forced on us that an ex-
plosive eruption took place, at a comparatively weak
spot, primarily formed by a complicated intersection
of a number of fracture planes. The filling up and
cementing together of the resultant rock fragments
would follow as a natural sequence were the neces-
sary ingredients at hand."
In 1902 a 40-stamp mill was put up, and now treats
all the ore from the mine. The ore is very free mill-
ing and no attempt is made to concentrate the tail-
ings, as they are of low grade. The ore from above
the 180-foot level, the old Spanish workings, gave
high values in the concentrates, which were saved by
cyaniding. It is thought that this was due to the
presence of fine rusty or tarnished gold, which
escaped amalgamation rather than to special rich-
ness of the suiphurets. This tarnish upon the free
gold was probably caused by contact with water im-
pregnated with decomposition products from the
timbers and other vegetable matter in the old tim-
bers.
There are 800 men employed about the mine and
mill. These are chiefly Jamaican negroes. They are
lazy, obstinate and show no interest in their work,
working like animals, simply because they are obliged
to do so. They constitute 80% of the labor, 10% being
natives of the West Indies and 10% natives of Darien.
The shift bosses and all in authority are necessarily
white men, nearly all being Californians. Construc-
tion work on the Panama canal has increased the
wages and reduced the efficiency of the labor, as
heretofore the supervision of canal work has not been
strict, and men, naturally indolent, become more so.
The wages range from $1.60 for top labor to $3 for
timbermen, being paid in the silver currency of Pan-
ama, which is worth 50 cents on the dollar.
The climate is such that white men can not live
there more than two or three years without change.
There are two seasons — the wet and the dry. Prom
the end of December until the middle of May but lit-
tle rain falls; but during the balance of the year,
especially in June and July and in September and
October, the rainfall sometimes totals 100 inches.
Henry Loew, a French engineer, is superintendent
and manager, and Norris English of California is
assistant.
Mine Ventilation in Montana.
The Butte, Mont, Miner of the 17th inst. has an
extended interview with Benj. Tibbey, former super-
intendent of the Parrot mine, on his system of supply-
ing fresh air to that mine when in control. Superin-
tendent Tibbey's theory and practice were along the
following lines:
The old system used to be to carry the air through
every place in one current and take the impure air
from one portion of the mine to another, which re-
sulted in its being loaded down with gas so heavily
that they could not work on certain days in some
parts of the mines. When the weather was stormy
or cloudy and the barometer fell there would be a
greater discharge of gas, and consequently they
would not be able to work more than half time in
such weather. The barometer, thermometer, hy-
grometer and airmeter are as necessary for the
mining man as for the sailor. The barometer indi-
cates a change in atmospheric pressure, the ther-
mometer tells the temperature of the air, the hy-
grometer tests the humidity of the air and the air-
meter tells the velocity of the air. If the barometer
fall 1 inch it marks a difference in atmospheric
pressure of seventy-two pounds to the square foot.
In a drift 7 feet high and 4J feet wide, making an
area of 30 square feet, this fall in the barometer shows
that there is 2160 pounds less air in that drift, and
this condition will remain until the barometer rises
again. Approximately the air pressure at the sea
level is fifteen pounds to the square inch, 2160 pounds
per square foot. It is figured that the pressure
diminishes half a pound for every 1000 feet up or
down. The atmospheric pressure at 6000 feet is
three pounds less than at the sea level,, so the pres-
sure in Butte is 1728 pounds per square foot or one-
fifth, which is 432 pounds per square foot less than
at the sea level. Less air means less oxygen, re-
quiring one to breathe faster to get the amount of
oxygen required. One's average respiration is four-
teen to sixteen times a minute, and at each respira-
tion one takes in from 30 to 40 cubic inches of air;
57% of this is exhaled as carbon dioxide. The at-
mosphere is composed of 21% oxygen and 79% nitro-
gen, approximately, with a trace of carbonic acid
gas. To make a test for carbonic acid gas, take two
saucers filled with lime water, and place one on the
floor and the other near the ceiling. The one near the
floor will turn white, which indicates the presence of
the gas, while the one near the ceiling will not change
its color. Carbonic acid gas is a third heavier than the
air, and consequently always falls; the air will pass
through it, like it will through a lady's crepe veil,
and it is hard to move.
There is much carbonic acid gas in the mines of
Butte. All quartz mines produce carbonic acid gas;
coal mines produce the hydrogen gases. Dynamite
No. 1 contains 75% nitroglycerine, and one pound of
this powder in exploding develops one-third of a
pound of carbonic acid gas. The gas created by
powder is heated and more mixed with the air im-
mediately after an explosion, and if not given time
to settle to the floor, it can be carried away at once,
if there is a good circulation of air in the mine. If
there is not good ventilation the gas falls to the floor
and remains.
This gas also injures the timbers in the mines.
Timber rots or decays quicker in a return airway
than in an intake. In air return courses is a larger
amount of carbonic acid gas and watery vapor than
in the intake, and timber, like other vegetable struc-
tures, takes up a great amount of carbonic acid gas
and watery vapor, and these two ingredients, with
the timber, form a chemical action resulting in the
rapid decay of the timber. The timber will last
many times longer in pure air, and this itself is a
vast saving wfien the cost and the amount of timber
used in Butte are considered. The timbers in a
downcast shaft will not decay nearly as rapidly as
the timbers in an upcast shaft.
In the Parrot mine Superintendent Tibbey divided
September 30, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
the air system up into five different currents from
the downcast shaft. Each current had about 4000
feet to travel, about 1500 feet along one level and
back through the stopes, and delivered to the upcast
and thrown to the elements above for nature to
purify. Under his system it required ten minutes
for air enterintr the downcast to be discharged by
the upcast to the surface. The air was changed
every ten minutes in the mine, as shown by the air-
meters, which indicated its exact velocity.
He had a standing reward of $1000 for any man
who could find smoke in the face of any working place
five minutes after a shot had been fired.
The hygrometer showed the humidity of the air
going into the mine and also the increase in humidity
of that returning to the surface. If the air showed
a humidity of 80% to 85% on leaving the mine, and if
the upcast shaft was wet, it indicated the necessity
of increasing the air current in the lower levels, for
the current was too feeble to raise the heavily laden,
moist air. He had five currents in the mine, and the
lowest levels were always the wettest. By dividing
the air, sometimes he did not have sufficient draught
to raise that extra percentage of moisture from the
lower levels, which occasionally would result in
reversing the current in some levels, and he would
have to put in more air to counterbalance this humid-
ity. There were about 200 tons of water carried out
of the mine by the air everyday. The timbers never
bore any fungi. The presence of the fungi indicates
carbonic acid gas.
Superintendent Tibbey says that when he took
charge of the Parrot he considered well and profited
by the mistakes he had seen others make, and he
resolved to make the Parrot an example of what
good ventilation should be in a mine. He carried the
mine workings to the depth of 1100 feet and the air
improved with each 100 feet in depth. He thinks he
could have carried it to the depth of 1 mile with
equally good results. When he left the upcast shaft
averaged 00° temperature; the temperature in the
face of the workings would not average over 40°, and
lower in winter.
His explanation of the cause of heat underground
is as follows: The atmosphere is the earth's great
boiler valve, preventing the outbreak of gases which
are pressed and penned up in the earth's strata
like steam in a boiler. The slips and seams of the
earth, known to some as crevices in the rocks, are
the pores of the earth, the same as the pores of one's
hands and body. A fall in the barometer allows these
gases to escape owing to the air being lighter. Mines
are affected by a change of weather, because the
weight of the atmosphere which presses gas in the
strata is diminished when the barometer falls. When
a change of weather takes place the weight of the
atmosphere may be diminished from fifteen to four-
teen pounds, figuring at sea level. This diminishing
weight of atmosphere causes an extra discharge of
gas as an extra discharge of steam would blow out of
a boiler if a little weight were taken off the safety
valve. The moment the pressure of the atmosphere
is reduced, gas expands every place into which it is
compressed. Miners often say on seeing a cloudy,
wet morning, that they will not be able to work
that day. The miner knows the weather affects his
working place. The condition of the air in a mine
depends much on the state of the air at the surface.
The weight of the atmosphere is shown by the height
of the barometer. When the barometer has sunk
the air has become lighter, and the pressure which
before assisted to keep in the gas, now being dimin-
ished, allows it to escape. As the gases coming out
of the slips and seams of the earth come in contact
with air, and the air being hot, the moisture in the
mines naturally makes it oppressive, as there is so
much humidity in the air, the same as it is in the
East. When it is 85° or 90° in the shade, the air be-
ing of low humidity, we do not feel the heat here as
much as we do in the East. The humidity existing
there makes it oppressive, and so it is in the mines
when the ceiling is only 7 feet high as in a drift or
stope. Compare how much cooler a room with a high
ceiling is to one with a low ceiling. Take it in Ari-
zona and Mexico, where it is from 110° to 130° in the
shade at times, the atmosphere there contains so
little humidity that it is not so oppressive as 90°
would be in the East, but if the temperature of
Mexico existed in the East with the humidity com-
mon there, thousands would die. The powder smoke,
the gases of the earth, the carbonic acid gas given off
by the men in breathing and perspiring forms a combi-
nation of gases. To get rid of it is to remove the
cause which produces the effect, and the effect
ceases. That can only be done by plenty of fresh air.
The mines in the Lake Superior district are not
hot. The reason for their not being so is the ore car-
ries little or no sulphur. The mines of Butte carry
20% more or less. Decomposition of the minerals
results in setting up heat. Air expands with heat
and contracts with cold. Air at a temperature of
32° weighs 550 grains per cubic foot, and its volume
is 100; air at a temperature of 42° weighs 539 grains,
and its volume is 102; at 52° its weight is 529 grains,
and volume 104; at 62° its weight is 518 grains, and its
volume 106; at 72° its weight is 506 grains, and its
volume 109; at 82° its weight is 495 grains, audits
volume 111; at 92° its weight is 487 grains and its
volume 113.
The increase in heat is the greatest ventilating
power that there is, if it is properly utilized, for the
warm air is so much lighter than the cold air. Like
a balloon in the air or a cork in water, the cold air is
so much heavier that it rushes down and takes the
place of the warm air, forcing the latter out. A
current of air is affected by friction, just as water is.
Friction increases with velocity. By one system of
ventilation you can prevent 80% of the gases from
escaping out of the strata of the earth, except as
you work the ore out. Under another plan you re-
lease these gases of the earth. The extra percent-
age of gases mixing with the air of a mine increases
its volume, thus increasing the friction of the air cur-
rent, and these gases may become too prevalent,
even to the extent, at times, of blocking your venti-
lating system, and the deeper you
go the more poisonous and noxious
gases you must expect.
When the Parrot mine only had
one downcast and one upcast to a
depth of 1100 feet, it was well
ventilated. Now there are five
shafts more and the temperature
is 87°. This increase of raises from
each level and shafts to the surface
does not show that they improve
ventilation, but rather that they
have made it worse, as shown by
the increase in temperature and
the deterioration of the air.
There are too many openings
and no man can handle them. Cold
will go to heat, but heat is never
known to go to cold. The differ-
ence in temperature which exists
here shows a variation from 80° to
90° in summer to 30° or 40° below
zero in winter, and it will be noticed
that under these conditions some
shafts are downcast in summer and
upcast in winter, and the air goes
at will and is not conducted as one
would water. Air is elastic and
can be taken anywhere as long as
the laws of nature are obeyed; you
cannot drive hot air down and cold
air up.
Poor ventilation costs Butte millions of dollars.
Say there are 5000 men working in poorly ventilated
mines in Butte. One-third of eight hours' pay is
$1.17; let us put it at $1 a day for 5000 men. In
thirty days that would be $150,000, or $1,8011,000 per
year— 6% on $30,000,000. This is a loss that is no
benefit to the working man, no benefit to the com-
panies, but a loss of that amount of money to the
world.
Copper Queen Smelter.
Herewith is illustrated a portion of the new Copper
Queen smelter at Globe, Ariz. The Copper Queen
Co. is locally stated to be the largest producer of
copper in the United States. It certainly is one of
the foremost factors in the production of this import-
ant metal at the present time. The Copper Queen
Co. is putting in additional furnaces and converters,
and enlarging the power house in connection with an
increase of the output. For the use of the engraving
acknowledgment is due to the courtesy of the Hum-
phries Photo Co., El Paso, Texas.
New Hoist for Centennial Copper Co.
Herewith is illustrated a hoisting engine of heavy
design, shipped to the Centennial Copper Co. from
the Chicago works of the Sullivan Machinery Co It
is of the direct-acting type and consists of two 36x60-
inch simple, reversible Corliss engines of the heavy
duty type, connected to a straight-faced drum, 15
feet in diameter by 15 feet winding face. The drum
Hoist for Centennial Copper Co.
is grooved for lj-inch wire rope and is keyed direct
to the engine shaft. The plant is designed to hoist
from a vertical depth of 5000 feet at the rate of 4000
feet per minute, with a boiler pressure of 150 pounds.
The reverse engine may be operated by either steam
or air.
The brake mechanism is arranged for steam,
hand or gravity operation, with independent control
in each case. The main throttles are on the cylin-
ders, moved by hand from the engineer's platform,
which is elevated to a point higher than the drum.
The dial indicators are provided with fast and slow-
moving pointers. A sensitive automatic stop and
throttle-closing device diminishes the danger of over-
winding, with the high speed used.
A quaetzite is a sandstone silicified by under-
ground waters. It can be distinguished from vein
quartz precipitated from underground waters with a
microscope, which will usually show the faint out-
lines of the original grains of sand.
Copper Queen Smelter, Globe, Arizona.
226
Mining and Scientific Press.
SeWembeb 30, 1909.
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Mining and Scientific Press.
September 30, 1905.
Crushing Machinery for Mines.
NUMBER II— CONCLUDED.
Written for the Mining and Scientific Pbess.
The problem which often confronts the mine super-
intendent when equipping a new mine is: What kind
of crushing machinery shall be installed ? This is a
question which prejudice should not be permitted to
decide. There is a very great difference in ores and
some kinds of ore are crushed more effectively and
are better prepared for further treatment by one
kind of mill than another. For instance, there are
numerous examples of the oxidized croppings of a
vein carrying gold which is tarnished by iron oxide,
coated with a fine film of silica,' or which in some
other way is unsuited to ready amalgamation. For
such an ore stamps are usually found unsuited, and
some form of grinding mill should be chosen.
Which type to choose is for the superintendent to
decide by test, or, perhaps, he may be able to go far
in this through the advantage of previous experience.
Machines of the arrastre type remove the foreign
coating from the gold, burnish it and render it more
readily susceptible to amalgamation. Of course, if
the gold is difficult to amalgamate because of chem-
ical combinations, grinding may have no advantage
over other methods, and stamps, rolls or some of the
various forms of pulverizers may do equally as well
as a grinding mill. The future treatment of the ore
must always be an important factor in determining
by what means it shall be pulverized, and is as im-
portant, if not more so, than rapid crushing at low
cost.
Where it is undesirable to make a large percentage
of slimes, grinding machines would be inadvisable.
The character of the ore must then decide whether
stamps or rolls are preferable.
In the ease of a free-milling gold ore, in which the
only element which may be considered rebellious is a
small percentage of auriferous pyrite, and where the
tendency to create slimes is not pronounced, stamps
would probably be chosen, in the absence of any for-
eign influence, for stamps have been and are still
being employed in crushing a very large part of all
the gold ores reduced in the world, whether free-
milling or not; but the free-milling quartz gold ore is
pre-eminently a stamping ore.
Where the ore is more heavily sulphuretted, carry-
ing galena, pyrite, blende, chalcopyrite, etc., and it
is desired to concentrate after crushing, it is doubt-
ful if stamps will in every case produce the most
satisfactory results. The principles upon which rolls
operate suits that class of crushing machinery to the
pulverization of ore for concentration. Eolls crush
by direct pressure. They are set to crush to a given
size, and therefore the tendency to slime is greatly
reduced, as the granules of crushed ore which are
small enough to pass between the rolls drop down
and are not subjected to further comminution,
excepting, possibly, in those types of roll-crush-
ing machines which are provided with devices to
return a portion of the coarser particles for re-
crushing. In these machines often a considerable
portion crushed sufficiently fine fails to pass the
screens and is returned with the coarser particles,
and thus subjected to a further crushing. Neverthe-
less, rolls have a tendency to create the minimum
quantity of slimes and should be employed in those
cases where slimes are particularly objectionable, or
where the percentage of sulphides, or, rather, heavy
mineral to be concentrated, is above 3%. Where the
ore contains metals or minerals which are malleable,
such as native copper, or native silver or horn silver,
each of which will flatten out when passing rolls set
for fine crushing, the product would be difficult to
concentrate, for the reason that the flat flakes are
unsuited to ready concentration on jigs or other con-
centrating machines, and the percentage of loss is
consequently heavy. Stamps, therefore, are superior
to rolls on such ore. Some silver sulphides, though
somewhat sectile, do not flatten out like flakes of
horn silver, but slime so badly that stamps, though
suitably preparing the ore for amalgamation in pans,
are undesirable where concentration is to follow.
This has led to the belief that silver sulphides, par-
ticularly argentite, can not be concentrated; but this
is not a fact, as this class of ore is being crushed and
successfully concentrated at Virginia City by rotary
crushing mills.
The flattening of grains of gold is not particularly
objectionable in any type of crushing mill, for the
reason that the fineness of crushing is usually deter-
mined by a screen, and if the flakes of gold, being
flattened, are unable to escape through the meshes
of the screen, it will be more readily amalgamated in
the battery or pan. All gold ores are not so readily
amalgamated; but, without do'ubt, much unnecessary
expense is entailed in the treatment of ores by pro-
cesses and machines unsuited to the ores, and wnere
simpler processes would not only be less expensive
but altogether more satisfactory.
The peculiar physical characteristics of ores must
be seriously considered when deciding upon the kind
of crushing machinery to employ, for more often this
is far more important than the chemical combinations
occurring in the ores. Where there is a tendency to
produce slimes, either this characteristic should be
taken advantage of and machinery introduced which
will not only crush the ore but produce in the oper-
ation the greatest percentage of slimes at the lowest
cost, or the class of machine selected should be that
which produces the least slimes.
The ore should be ca refully studied and experienced
opinions solicited as to the kind of machinery to in-
stall, if the superintendent has not had sufficient per-
sonal experience. It is very easy to make a mistake
at the beginning, but it is almost as easy to avoid,
such errors by employing competent advisers to aid
in reaching the proper determination, and not place
orders for machinery without knowledge of its adap-
tability to the conditions as they actually exist.
As to capacity and size of the plant, this is an en-
tirely different matter; but it may be said that it
should be as large as the development of the mine can
keep constantly supplied with ore. Undoubtedly the
tendency is to over equip mines. Mills are built the
demands of which can not be met by the mine. The
writer visited a new mine some years since, and, al-
though the shaft was only down 125 feet, an under-
hand stope was found at the 100-foot level. The
inquiry was made: "Why are you stoping underhand
here?" The reply was almost pathetic: "Great
Scott, man! I have to keep a 100- ton smelter going!"
To this the encouraging response, "lean see your
finish," seemed to lend little hope to the unhappy
superintendent in his desperate situation. The ex-
pected happened — the smelter was soon closed down
for lack of ore.
Here was an instance where the equipment, though
of the proper kind, was premature — a mistake almost
as serious as the selection of a class of machinery un-
suited to the ore.
Another important phase of the equipment propo-
sition is the likelihood of the character of the ore
changing in depth; but, if the mine be developed far
enough ahead, disaster in this direction may be easily
averted. In many cases the ores of the oxidized zone
are sufficiently abundant to warrant a milling plant
in themselves, and modifications or radical changes
may be made later suited to the change in the charac-
ter of the ore.
There appears to be crushing machinery for every
class of ore — machines which slime and those which
do not, or which, at least, produce a minimum of
slimes. It remains for the person or persons in
whose hands the decision lies to carefully study the
requirements of their ores and to decide along those
lines which are proven to produce the most satisfac-
tory economic results.
Wire Rope Exhibit at Portland, Or.,
Exposition.
That " a thing of beauty is a joy forever " has long
been recognized. When such a prosaic thing as wire
rope can be transformed into a "thing of beauty " it
certainly deserves special mention.
Herewith is portrayed an exhibit now on display
styles of rope. Around the spool is a 20-foot diame-
ter circular track on which is run a miniature spool
of cable on a model of the "Jumbo" steel wagon,
drawn by thirty miniature horses, all mounted in a
complete manner, running in opposite directions to
cable and spool. There is also a trainload of wire
rope supplies drawn by a miniature locomotive. On
the outside of the circular track is a miniature aerial
tramway, showing the manner in which ore, timber,
etc., are transported in midair. The whole effect is
a fine illustration of what is and can be done with
wire rope.
In the rear are two cabinet cases containing 5-inch
diameter power steel ropes, capable of sustaining
2,500,000 pounds. These ropes revolve and present
a handsome appearance.
An interesting feature of the exhibit is the carving
set made entirely from power steel rope. The knife
is 3 feet long with a perfect rope handle; the fork
and steel are in proportion. The set is perfectly
made and highly finished in silver.
In the rear and on top of the exhibit is a painting,
30 feet long by 12 feet high, representing a mountain
mining aerial tramway scene.
The entire exhibit is from the factory of Broderick
& Baseom, St. Louis, Mo., who make wire rope of
every design, and for all purposes for which wire
I'ope is adapted and was designed by the company's
general superintendent and mechanical engineer,
E. P. Frederick.
Placer Mining in Alaska.4
NUMBER VII.
On a 4-foot thickness of pay this amount of fire
will thaw, in the time specified, from five to six cubic
yards of gravel, at the rate of 9.2 cubic yards to the
cord of wood, which is considerably less efficient than
the method of thawing with steam. Time, delays and
awkwardness of the method, moreover, make wood-
fire thawing the most expensive that can be adopted.
The figures per foot for shaft sinking range from
$3.16 to $7.50 in taking gravel from prospect shafts.
The efficiency given in the above-cited case on Dead-
wood creek appears to be very nearly the same as
that given by E. D. Levat for the operations in east-
ern Siberia.
The direct application of jets of dry steam to the
gravel bank through the agency of driven pipes has
been found to be the most efficient method in general
practice for thawing frozen gravel. The amount of
moisture contained in steam can be judged by the
color of a jet of steam issuing from a small brass pet
cock. If it is transparent or whitish near the orifice
it contains less than 2% of moisture; if pure white,
the moisture is above 2%.
Fig. 15 shows the details of the steam point and
some of the fittings which its use entails.
In creek claims exceeding 15 feet in depth where
solidly frozen ground occurs, as, for example, in the
£Jr:U!Ji,rjJi
Wire Rope Exhibit at the Portland, Or., Exposition.
in the Liberal Arts Building of the Lewis & Clark
Exposition at Portland, Or., and which is an artistic
display.
The central figure is a spool of cable, 11 inch
diameter, 33,000 feet long, weighing 137,000 pounds,
made for the Metropolitan Street Railway of New
York. It required fifty-six horses to haul it through
the streets. The spool is 10 feet in diameter and 8
feet wide, mounted on a turntable and revolves. On
the outside flanges of the spool are two 7*foot diame-
ter revolving disks, containing various sizes and
new Fairbanks district of Alaska, the method of
drifting with the use of the steam point is as follows:
A 20 H. P. boiler, capable of running ten steam
points, is put on the ground, and frequently one or
two extra long points are provided for sinking holes.
These long points, from 10 to 12 feet in length, are
not so strongly made as the 5-foot points used in the
drifting operations. In some cases pieces of }-inch
hydraulic pipe are used. The point is set up on the
ground and steam or hot water is turned on. The
♦Bulletin 363 U. S. Geological Survey.
September 30, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
229
time for sinking a hole by this method to bedrock is
from twenty-four to forty-eight hours. If large, flat
stones are encountered in the gravel underlying the
muck it is sometimes advisable to use strong, specially
made points to prevent breaking. The average
radius of a vertical shaft thus thawed by a single
point is 2 feet, and the hole when cleaned out has a
cylindrical or tube shape.
If timbering is required after the shaft is sunk it is
generally found that the hole will thaw sufficiently to
allow the shaft to be carried 4 by 5 feet or 4 by U feet
inside the timbers. Asa rule, however, winter shafts
are not timbered. When bedrock is reached a tun-
nel or runway is run for a distance varying from 50
to IUU feet from the tunnel lengthwise of the claim.
From this central drift, which is generally timbered,
lateral drifts are run to a distance not exceeding 5U
feet, or from this down to 10 feet, or the width of the
pay streak. Two tunnels parallel with the central
runway are carried at the ends of the cross drifts
and connections made from them to the shaft. These
are rarely timbered.
The frozen condition of the overburden allows a
lirm roof to stand without timbering while the gravel
is being extracted. This is a great advantage and
in part offsets the difficulties attending the breaking
up of the frozen ground. The ground is now ready
for working. The drifts and main ways are run as
low as possible in cases where the pay is thin, but a
height of 3J feet is the lowest that can be worked
with economy.
During the night shift sufficient gravel is thawed
to occupy the men in extracting it in the day time.
In handling, not only the picking and shoveling from
the bank must be allowed for, but the wheeling to the
shaft, the time of return to the face, and the hoisting
of the gravel to the surface and conveying to the
dump. The face exposed by the cross drift at the
far end of the runway is worked back toward the
shaft, and the gravel is trammed in wheelbarrows to
the shaft and hoisted. Points 5 feet in length are
used to thaw the gravel, and are generally used in
batteries and crossheads of four. The points are
supplied with steam from a crosshead of iron gas
pipe, 3 inch in diameter, fitted with elbows and short
pieces of i-inch pipe leading to the steam hose, to
which the points are attached. The valves are gener-
ally set in these short pieces of pipe. The points are
driven in with a mallet by the point man working on
the night shaft. The points are left in the bank from
ten to fourteen hours. The thawing is nearly always
done on the night shift, the only men occupied being
the point man below and the fireman at the boiler
in the Fairbanks district is the experience at No. 8,
below Fairbanks creek. Points of Diwson manufac-
ture, 5 feet long, costing $15 each laid down, were
used in crossheads of four. They were put in at dis
tances of from 2 feet 0 inches to 3 feet apart. The
points were started with hot water, and it took
three hours to drive them in. A 12 H. P. boiler sup-
plied the steam for ten points, three-fourths of a
cord of wood being burned on the night
shift, when the thawing was done. In
twelve hours the ten points thawed a
block of gravel 3(1 feet in length by 5
feet in height by (> feet into the bank —
an average of 3.3 cubic yards to the
point.
The above is a little high for the
average duty in the Fairbanks district,
but is low for the Klondike drifting
operations. Atypical result on Hunker
creek, where 11 to 11 H. 1'. was used for
each 5}-foot point running ten hours,
was 4* cubic yards Three cords of
wood, at $13 per cord, were burned in
twenty-four hours to generate steam
for. operating fifteen of these points 10
feet long. These thawed ground 14
feet deep to bedrock. As four cords of
wood were burned in addition on the steam shovel,
and twenty men, at $0 a day, were employed in the
twenty-four hours to get out less than 500 cubic
yards a day, the operations were not economical. In
connection with a dredging operation the thawing by
means of steam conducted through gas pipe in 11-foot
lengths was estimated to add 40 cents per yard to
the cost of working the ground.
The only drifting and steam thawing plant at Nome
gave an efficiency for each point of only 1} cubic
yard. The points were using in this case a little
less than 1 H. P. each and were run only for eight
hours. Moreover, the gravel was small and was
mixed with much ancient beach sand, which in a
frozen condition is extremely difficult to thaw with
steam.
The method of thawing with hot water by means of
a force pump set in the underground workings, which
forces hot water through a small nozzle against the
bank, has been tried successfully in the Klondike
district. At a claim on Gold Run, where it was de-
sired to extract a 3-foot pay streak of gravel capped
by 27 feet of barren gravel at a depth of 50 feet be-
low the surface, a small force pump of the ram pat-
tern, with outside packed valves, was placed in the
main runway near the shaft. It drew water from a
•i * P'y siaam hose
Compound Condensing Pump.
Herewith is illustrated a compound condensing
pump with 200 gallons per minute against 950 feet
vertical lift, with no part over 300 pounds in weight.
This pump has just been delivered to the Compania
Beneficadora Del Concheno, where it is now reported
_.J"3 ply steam hose
fool steel SI macninery sreel
4"or J kx hydraulic pipe
fool steel
m
■r--- — »-— -I
Fig. 15. — Details of Steam Point and Crosshead.
above. Each point thaws a block of gravel on an
average 6 feet into the bank, 18 inches on each side
of the point and 4 feet high. The crosshead is laid
on the floor of the drift, at a distance of 10 feet away
from the face, and the steam hose connecting each
cock of the crosshead with the individual points must
be long enough to reach the desired distance for
placing the point in the bank. The cross pipe,
to which the hose clamp attaches the hose, should be
carried through the steel head and brazed on the
opposite side so that it will not break off by a chance
blow from the mallet.
It is considered good practice as a rule to start
the points with hot water turned through the hose.
The points must be driven carefully and slowly, and
for ten points distributed along a face the average
time needed is from one to three hours. The amount
of steam required for each point has been found to
vary in amount from 1 to 2 boiler horsepower. One
and one-half may be taken as a safe average. The
amount of gravel which a point will thaw appears to
vary with the length of the point, and this is regu-
lated somewhat by the character of the gravel. The
5-foot point has been found the most economical size
for the small operator.
A typical illustration of the efficiency of the points
6-foot sump near at hand, to which the workings
drained. The pump had 4-inch intake, 3-inch dis-
charge choked to 2-V-inch, and the water was pumped
to the face by means of cotton hose and discharged
through a 1-inch brass nozzle at forty pounds pres-
sure. Six thousand gallons of water were used over
and over, and by discharging the exhaust from the
pump into the suction the water was kept at a tem-
perature of 150° F. In a shift of ten hours the pump,
using 30 H. P., thawed and broke down ready for the
shovelers 175 cubic yards of gravel. This is vastly
superior to the average Klondike duty of the li
H. P. steam point, even allowing 4 cubic yards to
the point, as the 30 H. P. would supply only twenty
points and the maximum duty would be 80 cubic yards
Only under certain very favorable conditions, how-
ever, can the hot water method be used'. There
must be no silt in the gravel, otherwise the water
becomes thick and cannot be settled in the sump. If
the bedrock is in large flakes, and the pay sinks into
it, the hydraulic method is inefficient in thawing the
valuable ground. The method is worthy of the
serious attention of the Fairbanks placer miners,
however, as will be pointed out in the discussion of
that district.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
Compound Condensing Pump.
to be successful operation and doing better than the
guarantee. This piece of pump designing was done
by the Jeanesville Iron Works, Hazleton, Pa., its
builders.
Concerning Forest Fires.
Forest fires are almost always unnecessary. They
usually result from failure to realize that careless-
ness will be followed by injury and distress to others.
The resident or traveler in forest regions who takes
every precaution not to let fire escape, and who is
active in extinguishing fires which he discovers, con-
tributes directly to the development and wealth of
the country and to the personal profit and safety of
himself and neighbors. He who does not, assumes a
great responsibility by endangering not only his own
welfare, but that of countless others.
Care with small fires is the best preventive of large
ones. The following simple rules may easily be ob-
served by all:
1. Never drop burning matches or tobacco where
there is anything to catch fire.
2. Camp fires should be as small as will serve.
3. Fire should not be built in leaves, rotton wood,
or other places where it is likely to spread.
4. Fire should not be built against large or hollow
logs, where it is difficult to be sure that it is com-
pletely out.
5. In windy weather and in dangerous places,
camp fires should be confined in holes, or by clearing
all vegetable matter from the ground around them.
6. A fire should never be left, even for a snort
time, before it is completely extinguished.
7. Except as specifically permitted by law for
logging redwood or back firing, fire or explosives
should not be used to clear land during the dry sea-
son without permission from an authorized fire war-
den.
8. No engines or boilers using fuel other than oil
should be operated near forest, brush or grass lands,
unless provided with spark arresters and firebox
protectors.
The last three of the above rules are law in some
States and their infraction directly punishable.
Failure to observe the others would be considered
willful negligence, should the fire escape and spread.
Any person discovering a fire too large to be put
out at once should immediately seek help in the
vicinity and, if necessary, notify the nearest fire
warden. If no fire warden is available, the local
justice of the peace, constable, or road overseer
should be called upon. All of these officers are
authorized to call upon able-bodied citizens for assist-
ance. Failure upon the part of any person who
allows a fire to get beyond his control to take every
practicable step to secure assistance is considered
willful negligence.
The best tools for fighting fire are the shovel, mat-
tock and ax.
If possible, a fire should be stopped or checked by
plowing, trenching, or the use of earth; but if this is
impracticable, back firing may be resorted to. The
use of back fires is attended by danger of useless
burning and loss of control, therefore they should
never be set by inexperienced persons except in
great emergencies. If a fire warden can be reached
in time, such measures should be left to his judgment;
if not, and the fire is large, an experienced leader
should be chosen to direct the work and his directions
followed, so that there may be no loss through unor-
ganized effort.
Back fires should always be set from a road,
stream, cleared space, or natural fire liue. Since
fire rushes up hill, is checked by air currents at the
crest, and usually works down hill slowly, it should
be attacked from the top of a ridge if possible. If it
is burning down hill, endeavor to meet it before it
reaches the bottom. If it is working up hill rapidly,
it seldom pays to try to stop it before it approaches
230
Mining and Scientific Press.
September 30, 1905.
the top. The night or early morning hours are the
best time to work, when any choice exists, for nearly
all forest fires die down more or less at night and
spring up during the heat of the day. Never trust a
fire which is smoldering or "under control." Con-
tinue work until it is out, if possible. If not, watch
it closely for fear wind or drying weather will cause
it to break out again. Protect valuable timber
rather than brush or waste. Young trees suffer
more from fire than old ones.
A surface fire in open woods may not seriously in-
jure old growth, but it destroys reproduction by kill-
ing the seedlings. Dry sand or earth thrown on a
fire is usually as effective as water and easier to get.
With a large fire in the vicinity, do not allow your-
self and your neighbors to stay at home watching
your fences and buildings when organized effort will
put the fire out and save not only your property but
that of others. Here, more than anywhere else, " In
unity there is strength." A little thinking often
saves work and makes it successful. Haste and ex-
citement rarely lead to success.
I Mining and Metallurgical Patents*!
* «•
5£ .£,,$. .$,.}* .flip if. t$n$n.-ji *ji (jiijitfi if. jfi ;$. iji *•$;.$.$£. if- *£.*{! if. jf..};. <:£i^.-fli.f.ij;,if.*jsif.^
PATENTS ISSUED SEPTEMBER 12, 1905.
Specially Reported and Illustrated for the MINING AND
SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
Metallurgical Furnace. — No. 798,258; G. H.
Benjamin, New York, N. Y.
Metallurgical furnace embodying in construction
series of oppositely inclined and connected hearths,
means for feeding material to be acted on upon up-
permost of hearths, means for charging fluxes or
other combining materials on surface of material as
it passes over each hearth, and means for subjecting
material to high temperature as it passes from one
hearth to next.
Roasting
New York.
Furnace.— No. 799,063; F. Klepetko,
In furnace, hollow rabble shaft, structural mem-
bers radiating from axis of shaft outwardly through
walls thereof, suitable formations conjointly forming,
with adjacent portions of members, partition walls
dividing shaft into series of contiguous compart-
ments, hollow arms passed over projecting portions
of members, forming conduits therewith, arms estab-
lishing communication between two consecutive com-
partments through conduits aforesaid.
Miner's Washing Pan. — No. 799,059; J. Johansen,
Paramaribo, Dutch Guiana.
Washing pan for extracting precious metals from
foreign substances by manipulation, comprising coni-
cal basin of sheet iron, having conical recess in bot-
tom, cup of copper, conforming to and fixed within
recess, copper-headed rivets fastening plate therein,
inner surfaces of body of basin, plate, and heads of
rivets being closely fitted, smoothly polished on com-
mon inclined plane, whereby precious metal may be
readily caused to move down surface, accumulate on
plate, and be there amalgamated.
Feeder for Stamp and Other Mills. — No. 799,-
376; C. C. Hamill, Barstow, Cal.
Z~7
In ore feeder for crushing mills, an open-bottomed
hopper, series of rollers beneath bottom thereof, end
ones being beyond ends of hopper, each provided with
flange at each end, belt on rollers, edges of which
belt extend beyond sides of hopper, each edge of belt
being flanged portion of surface between flanges be-
ing provided with protecting shields, and means for
moving belt forward.
Ore-Feeding Mechanism or Pneumatic Stamp
Mills.— No. 799,101; J. J. R. Smythe, Johannes-
burg, South Africa.
In ore-feeding mechanism for pneumatic stamp
mills, combination of cylinder placed in communica-
tion with top of pneumatic cylinder, piston .working
in cylinder operated by excess of pressure in pneu-
matic cylinder, piston operating means for controll-
ing feed. In combination, stamp stem A, recipro-
cating pneumatic cylinder B, mortar box C, vibrat-
ing feed chute E adapted to deliver ore into feed slot
c of mortar box C, means for moving feed chute E in
rearward direction, buffers F F' fixed on under side
of feed chute E adapted by impact to deliver ore into
mortar box, wedge K formed with inclines k3 k4 and
flat or plane part k6 between inclines, bracket k2 for
guiding and supporting wedge K, cylinder G, pipe H
placing top of pneumatic cylinder in communication
with cylinder G, Don-return valve e6 between cylin-
ders, relief valve e7, piston e' and piston rod e2,
means for connecting ends of piston rod e2 and wedge
K, pin or projection i on piston rod e2, arm j of bell
crank lever J formed with slot j' engaging pin i, arm
j2 of lever J and adjustable weight j3 arranged
thereon.
Gold Saving Machine.— No. 799,161; J. B.
Holmes, Los Angeles, Cal.
In a placer gold separator; a frame; an elevator
therein; screening hopper into which elevator emp-
ties at upper end of frame; screens in hopper; trough
below screens near lower end of hopper; separating
boxes below trough; feed hoppers opening into boxes;
flexible tubes leading from trough to feed hopper;
hackle pins projecting upwardly from bottom of
boxes; haggle pins being staggered; riffles extend-
ing transversely of boxes; inclined swinging gates
above riffles; gangue spouts at ends of boxes; travel-
ing apron below boxes adapted to receive gangue
and carry same out of machine; means to cause
boxes to reciprocate; means to cause ends of boxes
to be alternately raised and depressed.
Pneumatic Rock Drill.
Schmucker, Franklin, Pa.
-No. 799,406; A. P.
<X "T * f-An.ll/t-/j
In portable pneumatically operable drill, combina-
tion of cylinder, piston operable therein, second cylin-
der, piston operable therein, port connecting one end
of first-mentioned cylinder with corresponding end of
second-mentioned cylinder, port connecting opposite
end of first-mentioned cylinder with corresponding
opposite end of second-mentioned cylinder, whereby
pressure is admitted directly from first-mentioned
cylinder to corresponding ends of second-mentioned
cylinder, piston in second-mentioned cylinder having
rack formed on one side thereof, serrated ring having
segment of gear engaging rack, annulus, drill-bit
holder provided with ratchet teeth adapted to en-
gage teeth of serrated ring, and teeth of annulus,
whereby drill-bit holder is rotated and backward
movement thereof prevented, and drill bit seated in
holder.
Process op Extracting Gold From its Ores. —
No. 799,548; F. W. Dupre, Leopoldshall, Germany.
Process of extracting gold from its ores consisting
in subjecting the ores to the dissolving action of
aqueous solutions of cyanides in the presence of ethyl
alcohols.
September 30, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
231
1 MINING SUMMARY. |
* *
!ly Compiled und Reported for tho MINING AND
SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
Chas. Kirchhoff in a report of the United States
Geological Survey on copper production states that there
was an increase in the production of copper in the
United States of 114,492,750 pounds, from 698,044,517
pounds In 1903 to 812,537,267 pounds in 1904, and an in-
crease in the net exports of 231,638,043 pounds, from
161,614,632 pounds in 1903 to 383,252,676 pounds in 1004.
fn other words, tho enormous export trade absorbed not
alone the increase in production, but 117,145,293 pounds
additional. The domestic consumption fell off in 1904 as
compared with 1903, so that instead of drawing upon
stocks to the extent of 117,000,000 pounds they were
drawn upon only to the extent of 50,000,000 pounds.
ARIZONA.
Gypsum can be obtained in tho Santa Rita mountains,
Pima eounty, southeast of Tucson; the low hills along
the San Pedro river in Cochise and Pinal counties; the
Sierrita mountains, south of Tucson; the foothills of
Santa Catalina mountains, north of Tucson, and the
Fort Apache reservation in Navajo county.
Cocblse County.
(Special Correspondence). — At the 400-foot level of the
shaft of the Tombstone Consolidated mines a large body
of carbonate ore showing native silver has been cut.
The opening of these ore bodies above the water level
shows that the old Contention was not worked out. The
old storage plant at the Tombstone has been completed
and is in use. An additional station pump has been put
in. Since its installation the daily pumping capacity of
the plant has been increased from 4,000,000 gallons to
5,500,000 gallons. Another rich strike said to have
been made in the Tombstone district shows reported
values of 4041 ounces in silver, 32 ounces of gold and
h\% lead. The property from which this ore was taken
is owned by John Heminger, and adjoins the Inde-
pendence.
Tombstone, Sept. 24.
(Special Correspondence. )— The new furnace of the
Calumet & Arizona Co. 's smelter at Douglas is to be
blown in October 7. The new furnace is complete and
material for another furnace has been ordered to be
built immediately. The smelter is 25 miles from the
mine. The first stack was blown in November 15, 1902,
the second in the spring of 1903, the third in October,
the fourth in 1904, and the fifth just completed. The fur-
naces are of 300 tons daily capacity each. The fifth furnace
will be held in reserve to replace any one of the others
out of blast, giving an actual capacity of 1200 tons.
Matte is discharged by furnaces into tilting wells and
taken thence by electric crane to the four converters,
which turn out 99.2% blister copper carrying small gold
and silver values.
Douglas, Sept. 25.
(Special Correspondence., — The Hume at the Bonanza
Circle mines is taxed to its utmost capacity. The Junc-
tion and Briggs shaft of the Calumet & Pittsburg are
now discharging, approximately, 4700 gallons a minute.
Four pumps, with a capacity of 800 gallons per minute,
are now handling the water in the mine, and are lifting
2700 gallons a minute. The flume carries this water to
the farm south of the Mule mountains, where the farm
company has started a lake. The Hoatson shaft of
the Calumet & Pittsburg is down 400 feet and sinking
continues. A new boiler is being set and a larger hoist
being put in. A larger cement tank for holding oil has
been completed and a change house has been finished.
A building for framing timber has been added to the
surface improvements. The shaft is passing through a
stratum of barren limestone. At Bisbee drifting has
begun in the 800-foot level oF the Shattuck-Arizona.
Drifting on the 700-foot level will begin again. A new
boiler is being set to furnish more power for the pumps,
as it is expected the flow of water will increase as de-
velopment work goes on. At Dos Cabezos, Collard
Bros, have opened up another property near the Gold
Nugget which shows a good sized ledge of galena ore.
The Dos Cabezos G. M. Co. has men taking out
nuggets in their placer claims. The recent rains have
deposited a large quantity of new gravel in the claims
which is showing up good values.
Bisbee, Sept. 25.
(Special Correspondence.) — It has been decided to
build the mill of the Arizona M. & D. Co. on the Sonora
side of the line for economic reasons. At present a 10-
stamp mill will be built. The machinery has been
ordered. For the work of excavating for the mill
foundations, and the grading of the spur from the rail-
road to the mines, the contract was awarded to G. Mc-
Carty of Naco.
Naco, Sept. 26.
W. K. Maull of the Slimes Tailing Co., who is operat-
ing a plant at the Grand Central mill, near Tombstone,
states that his company has completed six of the tanks
and commenced to handle tailings. Work on the other
tanks, twenty in number, is being completed. These
tanks are 31 feet in diameter and 7 feet deep and are
capable of holding 30,000 gallons of solution. They ex-
pect to handle from 200 to 500 tons per day. Cyaniding
the entire tailing bed will take some time, as the bed in
some places is 15 feet deep. It is reported from Pearce
that the management working the Commonwealth un-
der lease will start the other forty stamps and increase
the number of men employed. J. Metcalf is acting as
foreman of the mine.
Gila County.
The Payson Milling Co. has built a stamp mill, to
work custom ores, \\ mile below Payson. The mill will be
ready for work within a month. On Spring creek, near
Payson, P. G. Ellison and Van Duzen & Mankins are
developing gold claims and are working the ore in
arrastras. Superintendent W.S. Sultan of the Arizona
Commercial C. Co. has made a new contract with the Old
Dominion Co. for the treatment of Copper Hill ores
and will resume shipment. The sulphide ores will
go to the smelter direct and the more siliceous ores to
the concentrator. Shipments will be restricted tem-
porarily on account of the lack of bin room at the
United Globe whero the Copper Hill ores are delivered.
— rNear San Carlos the Stanley Butte Co. have
finished a wagon road to their property. Superin-
tendent J. C. Erman of the Live Oak C. Co., near Globe,
now has fourteen teams hauling ore.
Graham County.
At the concentrators of the Shannon Copper Co.,
where acid waters from the mines have played havoc
with jig screens, eating up steel wire and punched
screens in a few days and wearing out copper and brass
screens from abrasion in a month, a new device has been
successfully applied. This is said to be so satisfactory
that there is no reason why it may not prove excellent
in all cases where acid water, containing sulphuric acid
and copper sulphate, attacks metal of the mining and
dressing plants. The device is a low-voltage electric
plant attached to the jig, whereby the screen becomes
the cathode to the circuit. This attacks hydrogen and
disintegrates it from water, the hydrogen then decom-
posing the metallic salts in the water and permitting the
freed copper to deposit upon that part of the screens
formerly reduced by abrasion and destroying the action
of the acids upon that part of the screens which it
formerly ate out. The system is giving satisfaction.
Olobave County.
At the Gold Road mine at Acme the ore is unbroken
from the shaft 550 feet west. In the breast the main
ore body is 8 feet wide and samples taken across the
entire width gave results of $221 gold to the ton. Eight-
een machines are in use. The results obtained at the
mill are good, the ore remaining neutral. Leasers are
at work in the Billy Bryan mine and are getting out
considerable high-grade ore, which is handled through
the mill. Superintendent J. D. Spargo has his
machinery put in at the West Gold Road mine at Acme
and sinking is going ahead rapidly. Sinking is pro-
gressing rapidly at the Vanderbilt mine, near Cerbat.
At the 200 level a crosscut will be driven to the foot
wall vein. F. Dunham of Los AngeleB has been exam-
ining the Fay mine, south of Kingman. The shaft is
down a depth of 165 feet and will be continued to the
200, where levels will be run. A mill may be placed on
the property.
Fima County.
The Santa Rita M. Co. at Greaterville is short of
water for placer mining, but until recently has done con-
siderable work. The Robinson-Arizona Co., operating
placer mines at Greaterville, is also waiting for water
and for the Interior Department at Washington to nllow
it the privilege to build a reservoir of 3,500,000 gallons'
capacity. Eugene Larrieu and John Plance of Tucson
are at Charleston, examining into the feasibility of open-
ing up a vanadium mine at that place. A 12-inch vein
is uncovered, and a shipment of the ore will soon be
made to New York to test its value.
Santa Cruz County. ,
(Special Correspondence). — At the Red Rock mine, 13
miles from Patagonia, work has been suspended pending
the arrival of a pumping plant to handle the water re-
cently met in the main shaft.
Patagonia, Sept. 25.
Yavapai County.
The Poland mill at Poland is to resume crushing on
October 1. It has been repaired and equipped with
steam and electric power. It is reported that Man-
ager C. J. George of the Poland Extension at Poland
will start work at both the mine and the mill. The
Arizona Smelting Co. expect to have their 500-ton
smelter at Humboldt, formerly Val Verde, completed
by December 1. C. E. Finney is manager. The Davis
mine, 15 miles south of Prescott, has been sold to N. O.
Murphy, who will start development work.
CALIFORNIA.
The United States Geological Survey's report on cop-
per production for 1904 states that an addition to the
future copper production of California will come from
the undertaking entered into by the United States
M. Co. in Shasta county. The Mammoth mines have
been acquired after examination of the property, which
indicated that there are in sight 200,000 tons of ore run-
ning 5% copper and better. Based upon the develop-
ment, a smelting plant is now under construction, with
an estimated capacity of 1000 tons per day, the smelter
being equipped with three stacks, two of which will be
in operation at the same time, the third being held in
reserve. It is estimated that the copper product will
amount to 1,250,000 pounds per month. Au English
company, the Fresno Copper Co., is building at the
mines in Fresno county a works which is to have two
furnaces and a converter plant. The plant of the Great
Western Gold Co. at Redding was not started in 1904,
but will be a contributor to the product of the State
during the current year. The Balaklala mine in Shasta
county has been purchased by the White Knob Cop-
per Co., which has abandoned its mines at Mackay,
Idaho. The smelting plant at the latter property is to
be removed to California. The Bully Hill Co., which
produces a little over 4,000,000 pounds of copper per
annum, has been acquired by interests identical with
the General Electric Co.
Amador County.
The Jose Gulch mine at Butte City has started up
under the management of W. E. Stewart. A new tun-
nel has been run 50 feet.
Butte County.
B. C. Clark and E. A. Stent intend working the Yuba
mine, in Morris ravine, near .Oroville. They have five
men developing the property. A shaft is being sunk to
below the gravel, then a bedrock tunnel will be run and
an upraise to the gold-bearing gravel.
Kl Dorado County.
Work has been resumed at the North Weber gravel
claim, above Camino. Operations are to be resumed
at the Gold & Silver mine, near Kelsey. The Gopher-
Boulder mine, near Kelsey, has been started on a test
run.
Hern County.
A 10-stamp mill and cyanide plant is to be put up near
Amalie to treat the ore from the Zada, Cowboy and
Zenda mines.
Mariposa County.
The Hunt brothers of Bear valley, who have a lease
on the Josephine mine, are taking out milling ore, which
is crushed at the company's 5-stamp mill at the river.
Mono County.
The Pittsburg claim at Masonic, near Bodio, is being
worked by Whietlle & Eastwood under lease. Work
is to be resumed at the Myrtle & Julia, near Masonic.
Work is to be started on the Blue & Gold, near
Masonic, owned by O. R. Morgan of Reno, Nev.
Nevada County.
At Cherokee a hoisting and pumping plant have been
put in on the Badger Hill & Cherokee claim, under the
superintendency of R. A. Thomas. The shaft is down
40 feet and will be sunk to bedrock.
The South Yuba M. & S. Co. has sold its copper prop-
erty near French Corral to a company who intend to
build a smelter, unless C. M. Wilson makes his proposed
road to the property from Lincoln, where he expects to
put up a smelter. O. Woehler of Grass Valley is gen-
eral manager.
Shasta County.
It is reported that the Arps claims at Copper City, 22
miles from Redding, have been sold to T. J. Donnellan.
Work has been started at the Wiser & Dakin mine,
5 miles northwest of Redding, under the direction of
W. C. Stanley, representing F. Van Meter, who intends
putting in a new hoist and continuing shaft sinking.
A new process of reducing ores has been invented by
A. B. Moody of Oakland and a plant is being built on
the Advance claim, near Delta, on Dog creek, owned
principally by H. P. Dalton of Oakland. It is a disinte-
gration process by means of heat and steam.
The White Knob Copper Development Co. of New
York is the owner of the Balaklala gold and copper
mines, near Kennett, having paid $2,000,000 for them.
Rivalry for the possession of these mines has for some
time been intense between the White Knob Co. and the
Bingham Con., but an amicable settlement was arrived
at recently. C. J. McCormick of the White Knob Co.
states that it is the intention of the new owners to push
development work.
Trinity County.
(Special Correspondence). — The Maple creek hydraulic
mine, Junction City mining district on Trinity river,
owned in San Francisco, has been a large producer,
mainly in coarse gold. It was recently decided to shift
the inverted siphon and. other machinery to a point at
which it was believed the gold output would be in-
creased. This occupied two months. The change was
under the direction of Superintendent G. 0- Laws, with
J. W. Bergin in charge of the siphon work. The pipe
is 14 inches in diameter; in its construction Nos. 6, 8, 10
and 12 steel was used. The grade in some instances was
at an angle of 38°. Mr. Bergin superintended the rivet-
ing of the heavy pipe and shaped all the steel elbows
with the hammer, having no rolls to bring to bis aid.
This siphon passes from the intake down the mountain
on a bridge, and at an angle of 38° crosses Maple creek
and ascends the opposite slope on a trestle several hun-
dred feet in length and from 3 to 20 feet high, on an
angle, to the top of China hill, an ancient gravel deposit,
the total length of bridge and treBtle being 634 feet.
The pressure at the outlet is 426 feet.
The Valdoo M. Co. are making a drill prospect on the
Huertevant property in Junction City district, with a
view to dredging.
The North Mountain Power Co., with base of opera-
tions near Junction City, is sending successfully current
to Eureka, Humboldt bay, about 100 miles.
John Tarpley & Co. are fitting up a new mine near the
Cie Fse property (owned by the North Mountain Power
Co.), opposite Junction City, and will be ready Nov. 1.
The owners of the Dick Mack mine on Summit Creek
mountain, in Hay Fork valley, have good gravel in a
shaft at a depth of 110 feet. It is blue, and 40 feet of
the distance shows a prospect of 40 cents per yard. It
is an old mountain channel, and believed to be the most
extensive gravel deposit in Trinity county.
Nearly fifty years ago, what were known as the "Kel-
logg diggings " in upper Hay Fork valley, were among
the richest yielding in Trinity county. Recently Beard
Bros, opened this old claim and found that the original
owner had not reached the bedrock, as supposed, but
a stratum of hardpan instead. Beneath this they found
a body of blue gravel yielding coarse and fine gold. In
one instance a showing of $2.50 per yard was exhibited.
Junction City, Sept. 26.
William Vollmers reports that development work on
the Bonanza King mine, near Trinity Center, is pro-
gressing satisfactorily. Preparations for the winter are
being made. This property, owned by Vollmer6, Ellery
& Fillman, is under bond to Treadwell Bros, of San
Francisco, Joseph Porter superintending the work for
the latter. The old wagon road to the mill is being im-
proved. There are 1400 feet of tunnel on the property
and a 5-stamp mill. The ground of the Valdor M. Co.
below Junction City is being prospected with a Keystone
drill to ascertain its value for dredging purposes. One
drill is at work and another is on the way from Trinity
Center. H. L. Lowden has charge of the operations for
P. Bouery, who is managing the company.
Tuolumne County.
Good progress is reported on the tramway being built
from the New Albany mine to the Grizzly mill, near
Carters. It is expected the mill will be started up early
in October. The old workings of the New Albany are
being retimbered. The Spring Gulch mine, near
Tuolumne, owned by R. Marshall of Sonora, has been
232
Mining and Scientific Press.
September 30, 1905.
bonded to Wm. Connally and J. Vargas, who will begin
work on a newly discovered vein running parallel with
the Spring Gulch vein.
COLORADO.
(Special Correspondence). — The operators are still
having trouble with "high graders" in camps where
the ore is high grade, and especially in Cripple Creek
district. In that camp there seems to be an organized
gaDg at work in the mines, especially in the mines pro-
ducing rich ore. In the San Juan considerable high
grading is carried on in the richer mines. The pre-
liminary survey for the drainage tunnel in Cripple Creek
is being made by the engineers in order to determine the
most feasible route for the tunnel. In order to receive
the most benefit from the project it was deemed advis-
able to appoint an engineer to report after having made
surveys and decided upon the best route. A larger por-
tion of the money has already been subscribed by the
operators who will receive the benefit. The electrical
men of the State held their third annual session in Glen-
wood Springs on the 19th. Several interesting papers
were read before the meeting. The laying of the cor-
ner stone of the Guggenheim hall will take place Mon-
day, Oct. 2nd, at Golden, Colo., at the School of Mines.
The money for this building was donated by S. Guggen-
heim. There is considerable opposition being brought
to bear against the completion of the Moffat road to
Salt Lake. Work is progressing in Gore canyon over
which there has been a legal contest between the
Reclamation service of the U. S. and the Moffat inter-
ests. To date Moffat is the winner. According to a
decision rendered last week at Trinidad in the southern
part of the State, the coal miner's union is not liable for
damages. Suit was brought against the union by one of
the coal companies. The officers, according to the
decision, can be sued for damages.
Denver, Sept. 25.
Boulder County.
At Camp Albion, near Boulder, the Cashier M. & M.
Co., under the management of T. L. Wood, intends to
build a large concentrating mill.
Clear Creek County.
It is reported that the Waldorf M. Co. may sell the
Stevens mine and mill for $300,000. Another tunnel, to
be 12,000 feet in length, has been started. Construc-
tion work on the Anglo-Saxon mill, near the base of
Saxon mountain, near Georgetown, is being carried for-
ward. The walls for the mill building proper are com-
pleted. The machinery has been delivered. George
Albertson of Denver, who is driving a tunnel into Re-
publican mountain, near Georgetown, has all the prelim-
inary work completed and will continue the tunnel from
the 75-foot point. A. Roberts has started work on his
claims on Democrat mountain, near Georgetown. Devel-
opment is being done through a crosscut tunnel which
has been driven over 200 feet. 1. L. MeLyman & Co.
are making arrangements to start work on the Royal
claims on Columbia mountain, up Beaver creek, near
Georgetown. The Royal tunnel is in 400 feet.
Custer County.
Work on the Racine Boy property, near Silver Cliff,
owned by Haskell & Townsend, has been resumed as the
result of the returns they secured from rock sent to the
Salida smelter. The ore yielded 23.8 ounces per ton.
The track has been laid through the tunnel.
Grllpln County.
At the Modoc mine on Quartz hill, near Central City,
operated by the United Mining & Exploration Co., Su-
perintendent John Lyng reports that they are putting
an upraise through from the 250-foot level to get under
the ore body and improve the ventilation. It is re-
ported that the company is making arrangements for
leasing a mill on North Clear creek to handle their own
product, and that they will have the Gilpin tramway
lines extended to their mine. Frank Straub of Denver
is manager. LyDg & Co. of Nevadaville have leased
the California dump on Quartz hill and are building a
road from the east side of it, and will soon commence
shipping to the Hidden Treasure mill on North Clear
creek. Sinking operations have been started at the
Gibson shaft of the Esculapian G. M. Co. in lower Rus-
sell district, near Central City, at a depth of 225 feet.
W. J. Blake is manager. Work is to be started on
the Crown Point & Virginia mine at the head of Vir-
ginia canyon, near Russell Gulch. Sinking has been
discontinued at the Pozo mine in Nevada gulch, near
Central City, at a depth of 165 feet, and levels are being
driven off at 150 feet. The property is being operated
under a lease and bond with A. M. Rucker as manager.
The Goldfield-Homestake M. Co. have been work-
ing the Gold Retort mine, near Central City, through
the La Crosse tunnel, where an upraise is being made
from the tunnel to connect with the shaft workings,
which when completed will make the shaft a total depth
of 210 feet. A 10x12 friction hoist and boiler are to be
put in.
Manager J. R. Anderson of the Gold Dirt mine, near
Rollinsville, says that he will pay all pending claims and
that the Gold Dirt mill will start up again at full capac-
ity. The Monar h and Colorado mines mill, in Gam-
bell gulch, near Rollinsville, will probably have five
more stamps added to it within a month. This will give
the mill ten stamps.
Gunnison County.
(Special Correspondence). — The Mollie Gibson mill at
Pitkin is handling 200 tons of silver-lead ore from the
Percy La Salle mine. Newman, Hall & Barnes have a
lease on the Little Annie mill, 6 miles from Pitkin,
and are handling ore from the Little Annie mine, treat-
ing sixty tons per day. Joe Miller and partners have
opened up silver, lead and zinc ore on their property at
the head of Taylor park and expect to build a mill to
treat the output from the mine. The Smuggler mine
has finally gotten the fire in the mine under control,
which necessitated closing down for a time. It is now
shipping the usual amount. The Mineral Farm, near
Pitkin, is being worked under lease by E. D. Wright.
Electric centrifugal pumps are being put in and as soon
as they are i-eady to operate the shaft will be sunk
deeper. It is down 700 feet below the tunnel level. The
electric hoist is 2 miles from the mouth of the Cowen-
hoven tunnel, where it is located. The hoisting engine
of the Homestead is farther in the tunnel. When the
pump is put in the company will start breaking ore.
This property is operated by the Cowenhoven Co.
The Bushwhacker is divided into blocks and operated
by leasers, and the ore is run through the Hunter creek
mill. The Cowenhoven tunnel is nearly 3 miles in
length and cuts Smuggler mountain at a depth of 1400
feet.
Aspen, Sept. 25.
The Keystone lead-silver-zinc mine, near Crested
Butte, has been cleaned out and retimbered. An up-
raise is to be made from the lower level to the surface
and a concentrating plant is contemplated.
Lake County.
(Special Correspondence). — In the down town district
the Cloud City M. Co., J. A. Jones, superintendent, has
secured the Home Extension property, and is sinking
the shaft, now down about 600 feet. As soon as the
shaft is completed connections will be made with the
Cloud City mine, which will give both properties good
air. All the water will be pumped from the Cloud City
shaft. The distance between the two shafts is 900 feet,
of which over 500 feet has already been completed by a
drift. As soon as the connections are made a large force
will be put on taking out ore. The Western M. Co.,
which is operating theCoronadoand Penrose, are install-
ing some large pumps to handle the large volume of
water which they reached while sinking the Penrose
shaft. They intended to sink the shaft to a certain depth
and then put in the pumps, as they expected a large
flow of water. They were within a few feet of having
the shaft completed when they struck a heavy flow,
which has caused them much trouble. On account of
the ground in the stations at the bottom of the shaft
being soft, it became necessary to lay the floors in con-
crete and set the pumps on concrete foundations. One
of the pumps is 18—28x42—10—36, built for 1200 feet,
two pumps 183x361x10— 24, built for 1000 feet. Two
of the pumps are set in stations, 16x16x54 feet,
and one 14x14 feet. The sump is between the two pumps.
The water is now being handled by several smaller
pumps, and as soon as the installation is completed
the smaller pumps will be withdrawn. About 2000 gal-
lons per minute is being handled in the Penrose shaft
and considerable being pumped through the Coronado
shaft. A drift connects the two shafts, and all the water
will be taken out through the Penrose. It is expected
the pumps will be throwing water within a month, and
large mining operations will be carried on by this com-
pany. Six boilers, giving 800 H. P., have been put in
on the Penrose, and the plant is equipped with a double
drum hoist. A steam winch is used in lowering the big
pumps into the shaft. The Coronado is producing,
through a single compartment shaft, from 180 to 200 tons
of lead and copper ores per day. In Big Evans gulch,
11 mile from Leadville, A. V. Bohn has the man-
agement of the Citizens M. Co., operating the old
Mammoth placer. The shaft is down 450 feet, and will
be sunk to the 600-foot level. A. V. Bohn also has
charge of the Brattleboro. On Bruce Hill the Penn
is being worked in a small way by leasers. Most of
the work done by the Ballard Con. M. & M. Co. on this
hill has been in the old workings of the Ballard. C. R.
Osgood, the manager, thinks that they are getting out
of the caved workings, as the ground is becoming firmer.
They are shipping 800 tons per month of $9 ore. Con-
siderable bismuth was among the early shipments.
There is some complaint here at present on the scarcity
of good miners. The card system, it is reported, is being
used on some of the properties, regardless of the injunc-
tion against the operators in the district from using
same. The operators using the card system claim they
are using it as individual concerns, and independent of
the association. Judge Owers, of the District Court,
has the question of a permanent injunction, which was
asked for by the Federation, under advisement. Which-
ever way the decision goes, the question will undoubtedly
go to the Supreme Court of the State.
Leadville, Sept. 25.
The Castle View shaft, belonging to the Western M.
Co., Carbonate hill, Leadville, has resumed operations
and is shipping 100 tons daily of a good grade of iron
and sulphides. The iron carries a small percentage of
lead, which makes it a desirable product for the smelter.
After being idle for fifteen years, the Grand Trunk
claims in the Holy Cross district, near Leadville, has
again resumed operations. J. W. Bailey of New York
has put men to work.
The Twin Lake Miner says that the Ruby mine has
considerable ore blocked out and shipments of high-
grade will commence. Wm. Chisholm has taken out
tons of high-grade ore in sinking 12 feet on his vein in
Lincoln gulch. The cave-in in the tunnel of the Twin
Lakes G. M. Co. has been caught up and retimbered,
and the lessees are ready to develop. The Echo Can-
yon G. M. Co. are crosscutting for a vein in the Last
Dollar tunnel, and are upraising for the New Discovery
vein. Owing to the hardness of the rock, slow pro-
gress is being made in the Mt. Elbert T. & M. tunnel.
The Lincoln vein is beginning to improve, but 30 feet
more will have to be driven before the rich ore is
reached. Work will be resumed on the Columbine
group on Lost Canyon mountain. F. G. Mitchell, the
president, is making preparations for the resumption of
work.
Mineral County.
Creede has shipped since the beginning of 1905 51,065
tons of ore. The largest output was in March, amount-
ing to 8312 tons, and the lowest in June, 4241 tons. The
shipments for July were 5645 tons and for August 5285
tons. There has been a decrease since last year, due to
the larger tonnages milled into concentrates. The Creede
United Mines Co. sends out 600 tons of concentrates a
month. The Del Monte Leasing Co., operating the New
York and Chance properties, is marketing from 1500 to
1600 tons per month of crude mineral and the Amethyst
from 500 to 600 tons. The Humphreys mill is making
two separate products — lead and zinc concentrates, of
the latter about 300 tons monthly. The East Willow
Creek Milling Co. is producing from 75 to 100 tons of
lead concentrates and about the same amount of zinc.
The manager expects to have it in running order in the
latter part of November. It is of the same style, or
nearly so, as the Humphreys. The Commodore is work-
ing. There are now plenty of miners to meet the needs
of the operators. Men are employed upon the Emma
mine at Spar, chiefly on development propositions. The
Commodore electric plant has been leased to the Ame-
thyst Co., which will extend the wires to its mine and
mill.
Ouray Connty.
C. L. Ingram is leasing on the Great Western, near
Ouray. The Gypsy group, above the Camp Bird mill,
near Ouray, and owned by A. Nelson, has been started
up under lease and bond, under the management of C.
W. Miller. The last annual report of the Camp Bird
mine for the year from May 1, 1904, to April 30, 1905,
shows a profit of £947,252. The development of the
mine gave a total of 8568 feet. The most important dis-
covery during the year has been the development of an
ore body of considerable size on a vein parallel to that
on which work in the western portion of the mine had
previously been carried on. Stations have been cut at
the fourth and fifth levels, the latter being at a depth of
300 feet below the fourth level. Shaft No. 2 has been
enlarged and retimbered, stations being cut at 175 feet
and 300 feet below the collar, and sinking resumed after
putting in pumping and hoisting machinery. The man-
agement, Cox & Hammond, report that after treating
74,674 tons of dry ore, the reserves were on April 30
116,535 tons broken in the stopes and 114,962 tons
blocked out, making a total of 231,497 tons of dry ore in
reserve. The net profit in the reserves of £993,853 is an
increase of £30,738 over the previous year's estimate.
From the ore treated during the year an extraction of
93.40% of the gold values has been obtained, yielding
$31.18 per ton. Exclusive of depreciation of plant, the
total cost of the mine was $9.12 per ton. The additional
ten stamps to the mill, with the concentrating and cya-
niding plant and electrical hoisting and pumping ma-
chines, have been put in. The Ores & Metals M. Co.'s
claims, 3 miles from Ouray, are under the management
of J. H. Henler of Cleveland, O. A tunnel has been
driven 500 feet in the Ores & Metals vein.
San Juan County.
The new Mogul mill at Gladstone is to be completed
by the first of the year. Its capacity will be 200 tons of
ore per day. The equipment will consist of forty stamps,
Wilfley tables and tube mills for regrinding. The com-
plex character of the ores will make a lead, copper and
zinc product, the latter requiring magnetic zinc separa-
tors in addition to the regular mill equipment. The
Mogul mines are about 11 mile north of the mill and an
aerial tramway will bring the mineral to the plant.
Summit County.
The Carrie mine on Wise mountain, Swan river dis-
trict, near Breckenridge, is being put in condition for
production by S. F. Stoughton, who has a bond and
lease. A cyanide plant will probably be added to the
10-stamp mill now in use. Work has been started on
the Gold Dust mine in Illinois gulch, near Breckenridge.
E. J. Hoyle is in charge of operations. The Beaver
Creek M. & M. Co. has opened up a pay streak in a drift
from the Lucky shaft on Mineral hill, 4 miles east of
Breckenridge. The Carbonate and Little Tommie
groups of mines on Mount Baldy is to be worked by the
Buckeye G. M. Co., with G. E. Moon of Breckenridge as
manager.
Teller County.
The report of J. W. Graham, Jr., secretary of the
Jerry Johnson G. M. Co. of Cripple Creek, for the seven-
teen months ending Aug. 31, 1905, shows that 4953 tons,
averaging $47.86 a ton, were shipped during that period.
The gross value was $237,457.82, the cost of treatment
and other expenses $50,129.27, leaving $187,928.42. The
company roceived in royalties $55,853.41, which, with
$6326.01 cash on hand March 31, 1904, $83,459.30 stock
sales and other receipts, brings the gross receipts up to
$147,674.51. When from this is deducted $88,459.30 for
property bought, $24,932.50 for a dividend, and other
sums, it left $9715.48 in the treasury Aug. 31, 1905. The
main production has come from the 300, 400 and 450-foot
levels, no ore of commercial value having been found up
to the present time on the lowest level. The 450-foot
level is producing nearly all of the ore now being
shipped. The shaft on the Caley lease is 440 feet deep,
and as it is 75 feet north of the ore being mined by the
Gilpin Leasing Co. and on the trend of the ore shoot, it
should reach the ore zones very soon. J. E. Hewitt of
Denver and G. Glenn of Cripple Creek, who have a bond
and lease on the Pinnacle property, consisting of thirty-
six acres on the northeast slope of Bull hill, expect to
take up the bond. The shaft on the Lansing claim on
this property has been sunk 500 feet.
Stratton's Independence Co., Ltd., of London, Eng.,
disbursed dividend 17 on Aug. 22. The amount was 12
cents per share, or $120,000. Lessees have been working
the mine for some time and to their success are due the
profits. The total of dividends to date is about $5,000,-
000. The company's suit for $6,000,000 against the
Stratton estate, on account of alleged salting of the
mine, has been dropped.
The Exposition M. & L. Co., in closing a 30-day run on
its mill on the Los Angeles mine, on Bull hill, treated
680 tons of ore, having an average value of $6.50 per ton,
by cyanide, and the cleanup was $2800. A crusher will
be put in capable of handling twenty-five tons an hour.
The number of employes at the main workings of
the Elkton Con. Co. on Raven hill, Cripple Creek, has
been increased to ninety. Many of these men are on the
800-foot level, where ore is being broken. Levels lying
between 500 and 700 feet are receiving attention. A drift
is to be started on a vein found at the 400-foot point
when the shaft was being relined. The Redbird claim
of the Nighthawk Co., south of Cripple Creek, is ship-
ping thirty tons daily from the 200-foot level.
The Treasure Vault M. Co. has been organized, with
H. M. Lesher as president and general manager, to op-
erate on Bull hill, Cripple Creek. The Mabel M. mine
of the Gold Dollar Co., on the east side of Beacon hill.
September 30, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
233
Cripple Creek, will resume shipments. The shaft on
the Colorado Boss, near Cripple Creek, has been sunk to
the 500-foot level by John Sharpe, lessee, and a crosscut
will be run. C. A. Fitch is running a crosscut from
the 900-foot level of the Moon Anchor shaft, near Crip-
ple Creek. The Index M. & M. Co. are shipping ore
from the second and fifth levels of the Mint mine, on
Gold hill, near Cripple Creek.
IDAHO.
According to Chas. Kircbhoffin the United States Geo-
logical Survey's report on copper production, the cop-
per produced in Idaho during 1904 came entirely from
ores shipped to distant smelters, tho local works not
having been in operation. The plant of the Ladd Met-
als Co. at Landon will, however, treat ores from the
Seven Devils district during the current year.
mm M. County.
Lyttleton Price is running a drift on the 1000-foot
level of the Minnie Moore mine, near Hailey.
Elmore County.
H. P. Chattin of Pine states that the Franklin cyanido
plant is completed.
KANSAS.
The price of all grades of oil has advanced again. The
greatest increase was in the cheaper grades. Fuel oil
and oil grading 30" were each advanced 5 cents a barrel.
The scale follows: Fuel oil, 35 cents a barrel; 30°, 39
cents; 30r, 42 cents; 31°, 45 cents; 31*°, 48 cents; 32°, 51
cents. This is the first advance in the price of oil grad-
ing 32° since December, 1903.
MICHIGAN.
Houghton County
The No. 2 or main development shaft on the Rhode
Island is down 1265 feet, where the tenth level is estab-
lished. The upper level at which drifting is being car-
ried forward is the eighth, at a depth of 1000 feet, and
has been extended northward 1220 feet from the shaft.
The development of the new or No. 3 shaft, north of
No. 2, has been begun. Since the No. 3 shaft was started
momentous changes have come about in connection with
the Kearsarge lode. It has been opened by two new
shafts, one at the Tecumseh, 2J miles north, and one at
the Calumet & Hecla, 3:,' miles from the Rhode Island
boundary, while the Tecumseh has a diamond drill at
work and will start a shaft within a short time 2 miles
north of the boundary, and the Franklin Junior has one
drill outfit at work 1500 feet south of the boundary, and
a second about 1 mile south of the boundary.
MISSOURI.
Jasper County.
The Consolidated Jack Mines Co. of Duenweg has
added a new 14-acre lease of the Crown Point land to
their holdings. The shaft on this lease is said to show
a 22-foot face, 16 feet high, of 8% jack, with ore in the
bottom of both drift and shaft. A new mill will be built
at once. Bids are being received by M. W. Hovis at
the Joplin office of the company. The King William
mine at Duenweg is on its lower level and taking up
stope between the two hoisting shafts. As soon as this
work is completed the mill will be put on double shifts.
The M. & B. mine at Duenweg is being operated at
the 200-foot level, where good ore is being worked.
Lawrence County.
The mines at Stotts City have had trouble this sum-
mer from water which flows into the shafts at the 30-foot
level, where the soft, gravelly ground rests upon hard
limestone. Preparations are being made to cement the
shafts for the first 30 feet, which will keep all surface
water from entering the mines. There is very little
water in the lower workings.
MONTANA.
Fergus County.
The members of the Fergus family owning the Fergus
tract of 4500 acres adjoining the Bullard property at
Kendall have transferred it to the Fergus G. M. Co. of
Chicago, in which John A. Drake is the principal owner,
the stated price being $2,999,750. The 1500-foot diamond
drill that Was been in use on the Drake properties at
Gilt Edge has been removed to the Fergus tract and
boring will commence this week.
The Helena Record states that in the Moccasin moun-
tains of Fergus county the Kendall and Barnes-King
companies are working the sedimentary deposits. Some
one with an original conception of the ore deposits in
Fergus county conceived the idea that many of them
were in blanket form. To demonstrate the truth of this
idea diamond drills were secured and borings commenced
in the valleys in line with the dip of the known paying
properties. A number of ranches were bonded for the
purpose of prospecting them, and the borings have dis-
closed immense underlying beds that are declared to be
richer than anything as yet discovered on the outcrop
of the reefs. There seems to be no doubt but what the
ore has been found and penetrated by the drills, and
it is now only a question of time when working shafts
will be sunk and new and large mills built. The ores
are worked by cyaniding. The bedding plane is de-
scribed as dolomite, or magnesian limestone, seamed
here and there with porphyry dikes. The ore is not a
quartz, but a fine-grained sediment 60 to 200 feet in
width, and is enclosed between dolomite and quartz
walls.
Flathead County.
The mill at the Snowshoe mine, near Libby, will begin
as soon as the fall rains fill the reservoirs. The mill has
been shut down on account of the shortage of water, but
the mine has been running.
Oranite County.
Paul and Will Scott have started their mill and cya-
nide plant in Douglas gulch, 1£ mile south of Sunrise,
near Phillipsburg. John Huddleston of Phillipsburg is
in charge of the mine. The Gold Coin Co. has de-
cided to erect a 10-stamp mill on their claims below the
Milwaukee Gold Extraction Co.'s plant. The Gold Coin
mill on Georgetown Hats is running and it is reported on
better ore than ever before. The Milwaukee Gold
Extraction Co., who are operating the Hannah mines,
in the Red Lion district, near Phillipsburg, have started
up their new 100-ton mill. The new 3380-foot tramway
has been completed. There are twelve towers, set 300
feet apart. The tram buckets have a capacity of 500
pounds each and run 100 feet apart. The mill and other
buildings are lighted by electricity, generated at the
mill. The mine is operated by means of tunnels and the
lead is said to be 60 feet wide. G. H. Savage is general
manager and P. C. Waite assistant superintendent.
Madison County.
The High Dp mine in Hungry hollow, near Virginia
City, is owned by E. W. Merritt, N. D. Johnson and
L. L. Callaway. Under the management of E. W. Mer-
ritt a tunnel has been run 300 feet to open up the vein.
The Copperopolis mine, near the High Up, owned
by Kelly & Chambers, is shipping ore to the Shafter
mill. The St. John mine, owned by John Reed of Vir-
ginia City, is under lease and bond to C. E. Damours.
The Independence mine, near Virginia City, which
is owned by L. L. Callaway and N. D. Johnson, is under
lease to Richard Suydenham for two years.
Silver Bow County.
(Special Correspondence).— The North Butte Copper
Co. now owns the Speculator, Edith May, Miners Union,
Adirondack, Copper Dream, Jessie and Hancock claims,
and others that have not yet been made public. At the
present rate of production the company has ground
opened for five years and i6 producing at the rate of
3,000,000 pounds of copper a month at a cost of 5} to 5J
cents a pound. The company has been operating since
last April, but the fact was not given to the public until
June, in which month the earnings showed $193,000 net
and in July $196,000. Owing to the fact that in August
the main shaft was shut down for retimbering and the
ore was hoisted through a neighboring mine, by arrange-
ment with the Anaconda Co., it was expected that the
earnings would show a decrease, but instead there was
an increase of $70,000 over July. When the new shaft is
completed the production will be increased 50% and the
expense will be lessened. The Amalgamated Copper
Co. is earning at the rate of $5,640,000 a year on its
by-products of gold and silver. With an average output
of 21,5C0,000 pounds of copper per month from the com-
pany's smelters at Anaconda and Great Falls, its output
of by-products is about 800,000 ounces of silver and 300
ounces of gold per month. At the present average price
of silver that by-product is worth- to the Amalgamated
$5,568,000 a year and the gold $72,000. Owing to the
unusually low water in the mountain streams and rivers
this year the electric power companies, which have been
supplying the Butte mines with power, have been com-
pelled to cut off the supply and the mining companies
have returned to the use of steam. The result has been
that the big compressors and machines have been put
out of commission and smaller ones put in their places.
There has been fear that some of the mines would have
to suspend operations for a time, but the work will be
kept up, though at greater expense a,nd more inconven-
ience. The old silver mines in the Butte district con-
tain copper, and on many of them explorations will be
made. The Standard Copper M. & R. Co. has been
formed, to develop copper properties in the Fleecer
mountains, 25 miles southwest ot Butte. The trouble
among the owners of the Southern Cross M. Co., which
resulted in a suspension of operations some months ago,
is to be adjusted and work will be resumed. The Jen-
nie Dell M. Co. has been reorganized by the stockholders
and work is to be resumed on the mine, in the north-
western part of the Butte district.
Butte, Sept. 25.
NEVADA.
The tungsten deposits in Nevada, according to a re-
cent report of the U. S. Geological Survey, are in the
foothills on the west slope of the Snake mountains, near
the base of Wheeler peak, and 12 miles south of Osceola.
On account, however, of the distance of these deposits
from the railroad, the nearest point being Frisco, Utah,
on the Oregon Short Line Railway, 100 miles distant,
there has been no shipment of ores from these deposits,
and most of the work has been the annual assessment
work. Recently these deposits have passed into the
control of the Tungsten M. & M. Co., which has worked
them during the past year. The company has taken
out about eighty tons of ore, but has not concentrated
any of it. The tungsten mineral is hubnerite and occurs
in veins of quartz, which vary from a few inches to a
number of feet in width, beiDg normally about 3 feet
wide, but pinching in places to a few inches. The main
vein or deposit can be traced 2100 feet by means of out-
croppings and of float and is composed principally of
milky white quartz and hubnerite. The vein, which
cuts across the porphyritic granite, is composed of
quartz, mica and hornblende, has a strike of N. 68° E., and
dips 65° N. W. The hubnerite occurs in solid masses up
to 16 and 12 inches in thickness, and also in disseminated
particles or blade-like forms through the quartz and
occasionally in groups of crystals intermingled with
quartz crystals. Occasionally small apophyses of ore
are found penetrating out into the country rock. It
should be an easy matter to concentrate this ore, as it
crushes readily, and the hubnerite could undoubtedly be
easily concentrated by jigging.
Lyon County.
The Logan & Holly mine at Como has been sold to the
Ohio-Tonopah M. Co., for $75,000.
Nye County.
Big strikes in the Bellhelen district, 65 miles due east
of Tonopah, have been made recently. On the Tyree
claims a lead was struck said to average $914 to the ton
in gold. On the Aggie B claim, belonging to M. Malone,
a similar body of ore, carrying surface averages of $214
a ton, was uncovered. Similar strikes were made on the
Edwards claims and' those of the Southwest Nevada
Mines Co. The country has been staked out. Water
is found near by. Superintendent R. M. Smith, of
the Bullfrog Mining Co., on Ladd mountain, near Bull-
frog, says that they have a vertical depth of 200 feet on
vein No. 2, and are employing twelve men. Work on
the Quartette, owned by the Montgomery Quartette
Mines Co., on tho southern slope of Ladd mountain, will
be resumed under the superinteudency of A. A. P. Gar-
berg. The new hoist at the Shoshone is running
smoothly and work of shaft sinking is progressing.
Storey County.
The Overland mines at Gold Hill have been sold to T. E.
Young of Cleveland, Ohio; P. Ely of Tonopah, manager
of the Ohio-Tonopah M. Co., and J. J. McSorley of
Calaveras county, Cal., for $25,000. Grading has com-
menced for a stamp mill and an electric hoist.
OREGON.
Baker County.
The U. S. Geological Survey's report on gypsum pro-
duced in 1904 says that beds of rock gypsum of limited
extent are found in Oregon on the eastern border of the
State, on a ridge dividing Burnt river and Snake river.
The rock is used at the 100-ton mill on Burnt river, 4
miles below Huntington, at the station of Lime. The
rock is 20 feet thick, is white and crystalline, and is
worked by tunnels. '
Josephine County.
A rich strike in copper ore is reported from the Queen
of Bronze mine, near Takilma, being developed by C. L.
Tutt. The Takilma Smelting Co., from July 1 to Sep-
tember 1, shipped thirty-nine cars of matte and used
thirty cars of coke besides lime rock.
Owners of placer mines are getting their diggings
ready for piping. It has been a long, dry summer and
the surface miners have had time to shape their proper-
ties for work. Ditches have been cleared and enlarged,
new pipe lines laid and flumes rebuilt. Two new
hydraulic mines have been developed and equipped dur-
ing the summer and will begin this winter. All of the
old properties will operate again. The Galice Consoli-
dated will have its bedrock flume finished. The Columbia
will operate four giants instead of three, and the Royal
group of Galice will have three giants at work. The
Golden Drift Co., now operating two, will have its power
dam enlarged and additional turbines placed so that
four giants can be operated.
SOUTH DAKOTA.
Lawrence County.
The Homestake M. Co. of Lead reports for the fiscal
year ending May 31, as follows :
1905. 1901.
Tons of ore milled 1,398,100 1,299,057
Proceeds of bars $5,221 ,089 $1,800,558
Other income 81,240 146.877
Total income 85,302,338 S4.947.435
Operating expenses and taxes 4,235,975 4,039,753
Balance $1,066,363 $ 907,683
Dividends 819,000 655,200
Balance $ 247,363 $ 252,482
Interest 16,028 45,014
Surplus * 231 ,335 $ 207,408
The report says that during the past year no mishap
to the property of special importance occurred. Devel-
opments in various parts of the mine progressed steadily
and satisfactorily. The ore at the 1250-foot level has
been reached and is being crosscutted. The plant is in
fine condition and everything is running smoothly, with
ore reserves for years.
The Homestake M. Co. has applied for the purchase
of a large amount of timber in the Black Hills forest
reservation. The company wishes to purchase and has
bid 12,000,000 feet of green timber, 1200 acres of green
wood, 3,000,000 feet of timber killed or infested with in-
sects, 3000 acres of wood similarly affected and 5000 acres
of dry wood.
UTAH.
The United States Geological Survey's report on cop-
per production states that the principal producers of
copper in Utah, all of whom increased their output in
1904, were the United States Mining Co., the Utah Con.
and the Bingham. Besides these, the American S. &
R. Co. treated a considerable quantity of Utah ores.
This company has decided to build a very large copper
smelting plant in Salt Lake valley, which will add to the
facilities for custom smelting and will stimulate produc-
tion. The Yampa S. Co. began operations during 1904.
The United States M. Co. operates properties in both
the Bingham and the Tintic districts, and at its smelt-
ing plant also treats custom ores. The mines of the
company in the Bingham district are capable of yielding
15,000 short tons of ore per month, while the mines of
the Centennial-Eureka group can readily furnish 8500
tons per month. The smelting plant, which consists of
six furnaces and two stands of converters, is capable of
dealing with 25,000 tons of ore per month. The com-
pany has purchased a controlling interest in the De
Lamar copper refining plant at Chrome, N. J.
Grand County.
A reduction works may be built near Basin, by the
MacDonald Matte Smelter Co. of Toledo, O., who pro-
poses to put in a 60-ton mill. The plant will be a con-
centrator, working four tons of ore into one, then matte
the concentrates on the ground preparatory for ship-
ment. C. W. Munson, president and manager of the
MacDonald Co., expects to make the necessary contracts
for ore supply and also to arrange for preliminary work
on the mill. The properties to be worked this winter
are the Grouse Mountain, the Castle Mountain, Sky-
lark, Laura, Tornado, Gold Hill, High Ore, Bryan, Lit-
tle Dot, Aspen, Corsair and two properties in Beaver
basin.
Juab County
It is reported that a concentrating plant is to be put
in at the Yankee Con. mill at Park City. The prop-
erty, machinery and building of the Martha Washington
mine at Silver City have been sold to G. Hanson, C. C.
Griggs and J. C. Jensen of Eureka, who intend to
234
Mining and Scientific Press.
September 30, 1905.
move the hoisting plant to the Copper Jack property in
West Tintic.
Salt Lake Counts'.
The Utah Copper Co. has four diamond drills work-
ing. Two are in the tunnels and two on the surface.
Thirty-three feet in a shift is the drilling record estab-
lished so far. The Yampa smelter, at Bingham, is to
build a second reverberatory furnace that will bring
their capacity to 800 tons per day.
The report of the Consolidated Mercur Gold Mines Co.
for the year ending June 30, 1905, shows that the earn-
ings were $100,398.88. During the year the gross earnings
were $754,676.91, of which sum $742,291.76 was derived
from gold bullion, and the mill at Manning, operated on
tailings, gave $13,587.90. The disbursements during the
same period amounted to $654,278.03, this leaving a net
profit of $100,398.88, the cash on hand and that repre-
sented in supplies at the close of the statement amount-
ing to $122,574.75. The report by George H. Dern,
treasurer and general manager of the company, shows
that during the same period there were reduced 245,026
tons of ore, or an average of 20,419 tons per month. The
financial statement shows $728,703.86 in gold produced at
the Golden Gate mill during the year. Dividing this
amount by the tonnage, as given above, it is found that
the extraction averaged $2.97 per ton of ore treated.
This shows an improvement of 11 cents per ton as com-
pared with last year's report. The average value of the
tailings during the year was confined to 98 cents per ton;
that of the previous year to $1.03. However, the months
showed fluctuations in the value of the tailings, this due
to variations in the composition of the ore. Adding the
loss in the tailings to the amount recovered, and the av-
erage value of all that was reduced during the year was
$3.95 per ton. The mining costs for the year, including
prospecting, were $370,934.56, or $1.51 per ton. The
milling costs were $273,865.08, or $1.12 per ton. Accord-
ingly, the total operating costs of the company, including
all expenses, except construction items, were $644,799.64,
or $2.63 per ton. This is the lowest record for expenses
that the company has ever made, the best previous re-
port being $2.88 in 1903.
Manager L. A. Jeffs has started a new 200-foot shaft
on the Superior property at Alta.
Summit County.
O E. Lawrence is incorporating his lease and bond on
the Jupiter claims in Thaynes canyon, near Park City,
and will develop them during the coming winter. The
shipments reported for the week ending September 23
are: Silver King 1.516.200 pounds, Daly West 1,250,000
pounds, Alliance (jiggings) 178,000 pounds, Clegg &
Blake 52,000 pounds, Kearns-Keith 30,000 pounds. Total
3,026,200 pounds.
The Park Record says that the great old Cornish
pump, which for many years has lain idle, is being
broken up and sold as scrap iron. The massive parts of
the pump are being raised by means of large blocks and
tackles, placed on trucks and hauled outside and broken
up into convenient sizes by means of an apparatus re-
sembling a pile driver. This arrangement is inexpen-
sive. The small pieces are loaded into cars, taken down
the shaft and out through the tunnel, to be loaded for
shipment to the purchasers. The old Cornish pump
was up until the drain tunnel was opened, and it fell
into disuse, the finest piece of machinery in the entire
Western country. It was placed at the Ontario in
1882-83, to handle the water in the mine. It took more
than a year of continual labor to install the pump, while
it will be taken out and broken up in about three
months. This Cornish pump was exceeded in capacity
by Union Consolidated, on the Comstock, Nev., but not
equaled in foundations, had a capacity of hoisting 2000
gallons of water per minute from a depth of 2000 feet to
the 600 level, where it was run through the tunnel. The
bearing shaft and flywheel weighed seventy tons; the-
pump rod, of Oregon pine 15 inches square, when con-
nected weighed thirty-two tons. The foundation of this
engine was excavated on the open hillside, 40 feet deep
and laid in solid rock. The pump and foundations cost
8300,000.
WASHINGTON.
Snohomish County.
The Imperial mine, near Silverton, is working six men
in the lower level. They intend getting compressed air
from the Independent concentrator and putting in a ma-
chine drill. The Crown Imperial Co. has run 80 feet
of tunnel on its free-milling property, near the head of
Malady creek, near Silverton.
Stevens County.
Near Deer Trail, wolframite occurs in the properties
of C. S. Palmer of Deer Trail and of the Roselle M. Co.,
which is mining this mineral at Roselle Camp. The de-
posits are 27 miles from the railroad. The ore concen-
trates and will give a product containing about 68%
GW03.
FOREIGN.
CANADA.
BRITISH COLUMBIA.
Boundary District.
The E. P. U. mine, at Skylark camp, has been closed
down to make necessary repairs to the machinery and
tramway. No. 6 furnace at the Granby is ready for
operation. An ore body 10 feet wide is said to have
been reached in the new workings in the Emma mine,
Summit camp.
The Dominion Tariff Commission from Ottawa, con-
sisting of W. S. Fielding, Minister of Finance; L. P.
Brodeur, Minister of Inland Revenue, and W. Patter-
son, Minister of Customs, were given a memorial by the
Granby Consolidated, the British Columbia Copper Co.
and the Dominion Copper Co. asking for the following:
Removing the duty of 3 cents per pound on explosives;
reducing the duty on structural iron from 35% to 20%;
removing the duty of 5% on bar steel; reducing the 25%
duty on mining candles one-half; reducing the duty on
rubber hose from 35% to 20%; reducing the duty on iron
pipe from 35% to 25%; removing the duty of 25% on
rough, and 30% on finished steel castings; removing the
duty of $7 per ton on steel rails when used for mining
and smelting purposes; placing on the machinery free
list blast furnace slag trucks, to be hauled by mechan-
ical power, and admitting free blast furnaces complete
and converting machinery complete, also to place repair
parts for machinery on the free list; opposing a duty on
rough lumber. In most of these cases it was maintained
that either the goods were not manufactured at all in
Canada, or if they are manufactured, the product is of
such poor quality that it is more economical to purchase
abroad.
Rossland District
The memorial presented by the Rossland committee
to the government commission on proposed tariff
changes recommended a duty on lead and lead products;
removal of duty on fluorspar; reduction of duty on
explosives when used for mining purposes and removal
of duty on raw materials from which they are manufac-
tured; reduction of duty on candles when used for min-
ing purposes and removal of duty on raw materials from
which they are manufactured, and the removal of duty
on steel rails when used for mining purposes. Regard-
ing the duty to be placed upon lead and the products of
lead, they recommend a specific rather than an ad
valorem duty, and suggest a rate of 1J cent per pound
on pig lead and 1$ cent per pound on such products as
litharge, dry red lead and orange mineral, as soon as
they are manufactured in Canada. While lead is not
produced in the Rossland district, the conditions sur-
rounding the production of lead in neighboring districts
have a most important bearing upon the mines there, as
the dry ores can be treated more cheaply with lead ores,
and should the lead mines be obliged to close down the
smelters would be unable to provide the lead necessary
for the treatment of dry ores, and thereby the cost of
smelting the dry ores would be increased.
J. H. Mackenzie of the Le Roi has made arrange-
ments for the shipment of Le Roi ore to Trail. Enough
ore will be sent to Northport to keep two furnaces in
operation until the reserve ore now on the roast heaps
there is smelted. About 5000 tons are now lying in the
Northport yards awaiting treatment. The custom ores
contracted for by Northport will be smelted there so
lrng as the smelter is in operation, but when it is blown
out they will be shipped elsewhere. The Canadian
Smelting Works have built an electrolytic lead refinery
at Trail to refine Canadian lead and supply the Canadian
market with Canadian pig lead. The most important
element in connection with the electrolytic refining pro-
cess is electrolyte. This has been purchased in the past
from manufacturers in the United States, and was for-
merly subject to a duty of 20%. This duty was removed
by the last tariff revision, which helped the industry,
but on account of the unstable character of the solution
and the great losses experienced in its transportation
the Canadian Smelting Works are now contemplating
the manufacture of their own hydrofluosilicic acid, or
electrolyte, which acid is manufactured by treating
fluorspar with sulphuric acid. The sulphuric acid is
obtained through Canadian chemical companies, but
fluorspar will have to be imported from foreign points,
as there is at present no known deposit of fluorspar in
the Dominion of Canada. As the electrolyte — which is
produced from fluorspar — is an important item in the
cost of lead refining, amounting to between 70 cents and
$1 per ton of lead, and as fluorspar is at present subject
to a duty of 20%, they ask that the duty be removed
from fluorspar, so that it will be possible to establish a
manufacturing plant for hydrofluoric or hydrofluosilicic
acids in Canada. The Rossland Board of Trade asks
that the present tariff of 3 cents per pound on explosives
when used for mining purposes be reduced by at least
one-half, and that the raw materials used in the manu-
facture thereof be placed upon the free list. The reason
for this is that under the present tariff the cost for
explosives per ton of ore produced is at least 64 cents,
which is an almost impossible burden for the low-grade
ores to bear. Mines which are in process of develop-
ment feel this even to a greater extent, the cost of pow-
der in that case being one-fourth of the total expense
thereof. The present duty of 25% ad valorem on the
class of candles used for mining purposes adds materially
to the expense of mining, inasmuch as 5 cents per ton of
ore is added to the cost of mining, and the board urges
that the duty on this class of candles be reduced by at
least 50%, and in order that the manufacture of candles
may be encouraged in Canada the board further urges
that the raw materials from which mining candles are
manufactured be placed on the free list. The board fur-
ther urges that rails when used for mining purposes be
placed upon the free list, in view of the fact that the
raw material is at present receiving a government
bounty.
Sloean District.
Two zinc magnetic separators are being put in the
Kaslo plant of the Kootenay Ore Co., and another will
be added shortly. Owing to some delay about the
vanner blankets, the Rosebery zinc plant is not yet
ready for continuous operation. At the Ottawa mine,
on Springer creek near Sloean City, an air compressor is
being put in. Sinking will be continued below the lower
drifts.
Ontario.
The old Bruce copper mines are to be reopened. A
copper smelter is to be built under the supervision of
J. J. Case for custom purposes as well as for handling
the ores of the Bruce property. The new company to
handle the Bruce mine is a London syndicate. The
mine is 40 miles east of Sault Ste. Marie, on Georgian
bay, Algoma. The smelter will be capable of treating
250 tons of concentrates daily. The concentrating plant
at the mine is sufficient, including rock crushers, rolls,
hydraulic sizers, tables and vanners.
MEXICO.
Gnanajoato.
The San Gregorio mines near Guanajuato, which are
owned by the Dwight Furness Co., have been taken over
under option by the Mineral Development Co., of which
W. M. Wiley of Philadelphia is president. The 80-
stamp mill of the Guanajuato Reduction & Mines Co.
will be ready the first of 1906. The stamp mill is being
built near the Cata mine near Guanajuato, and the cya-
nide plant at the old Flores reduction works. A pipe line
3 miles long will carry the crushed ore from the stamp
mill to the cyanide plant. The Guanajuato Coo. M. &
M. Co., operating the Sirena mine near Guanajuato, is
cyaniding 100 tons of ore daily and the full capacity of
the cyanide plant, which is 200 tons a day, will be
reached soon. F. C. Corning is president of the com-
pany and M. E. McDonald is manager.
Sonora.
It is reported that enough work has been done at the
Guadalupe mine of the Pittsburg & Sonora Co., near
Bocoachic, to justify putting in a reduction plant. J. P.
Casey is manager. W. R. Holmes of Mexico City has
been investigating the ores from the Picacho mine, near
Bocoachic, preparatory to putting in a 50-ton reduction
plant. C. F. Hansen, manager of the Monte Vista
mine, 15 miles east of Cos on the Nacozari railroad,
reports a rich strike of gold ore. He plans to start ship-
ping-
C. E. Perkins of Llano de Oro, who has charge of the
engineering work at the mine, says there are 200 men
employed. The excavating for the 100-stamp mill is
completed. The company is building a road and pipe
line 15 miles from Trinchera. At Cerro Prieto work
on the new 120-stamp mill for the Black Mountain M.
Co. is under the management of Frank Cox of Nogales.
>f "J?*** ■£*■&» *A,&"I* ** -A' *&**'&".!.'* iA. *&*$»*)? *'A"A.'!.4."'.MHH*it'^"*'*
* ._ *
I Personal. *
* *
Thos. H. Leggett is in New York.
R. L. Herriok is in Westfield, Mass. "
W. A. Farish has been examining mines at Clifton,
Ariz.
W. M. Wiley has left New York to visit Guanajuato,
Mexico.
Ben. S. Revett of Breckenridge, Colo., is in London,
England.
Anton Eilers has left New York for a holiday in
Europe.
Frank K. Borrow is in New York on his return from
Rhodesia.
F. W. Bradley has returned to San Francisco, Cal.,
from Alaska.
W. Y. Westervelt of Kelvin, Ariz., has been in
New York City.
Arthur Winslow is in San Francisco, Cal., en route
to Goldfieid, Nev.
W. B. Gray is superintendent Kawich-Bullfrog mine,
near Beatty, Nev.
E. S. Wiard is surerintendent Sweeney mill of Fede-
ral M. Co. at Kellogg, Idaho.
C. L. Dignowitz has returned to Salt Lake City,
Utah, from a trip to Europe.
B. J. McDonald is manager Original Bullfrog mine
at Bullfrog, Nye county, Nev.
H. H. Nicholson has returned to Sumpter, Or.,
from an extended Eastern trip.
T. A. Rickard is on his way from New York to Mex-
ico, where he will spend a month.
Chas. Anderson is consulting engineer for the Cow-
enhoven properties at Aspen, Colo.
J. H. Cdrle arrived in New York from London,
England, Sept. 27, and will visit California.
D. H. Hanks of Eureka, Utah, has been elected presi-
dent Signal Peak M. Co. at Richfield, Utah.
W. A. Prichard was in New York Sept. 18, on his
return from Australia, and will visit California.
W. E. Defty, who is now making examinations in
Colorado, will be in Sonora, Mexico, in October.
R. McF. Doble of the Abner Doble Co., San Fran-
cisco, Cal., has returned from the west coast of Mexico.
C. J. Allen has resigned as manager Monumental
mine, near Granite, Or., and has returned to Colorado.
D. W. Brunton has been selected as consulting engi-
neer for the new drainage tunnel at Cripple Creek, Colo.
Geo. Oswell has resigned as superintendent High-
land mine, near Haines, Or., and has gone to Sumpter,
Or.
G. H. Carnahan has been appointed superintendent
Montezuma Lead Co. at Santa Barbara, Chihuahua,
Mex.
F. A. Babcock, superintendent Southern M., M. & D.
Co., has returned to Silver Plume, Colo., from an East-
ern trip.
Arthur C. Nahl has succeeded Edgar Richard as
superintendent Progreso M. Co. at La Paz, Baja Cali-
fornia, Mex.
J. N. A. Connor has been appointed metallurgical
engineer with Veta Colorado M. & S. Co. atParral, Chi-
huahua, Mex.
Daniel Guggenheim has been elected president
American Smelting & Refining Co., succeeding the late
E. W. Nash.
J. W. Opp of Jacksonville, Or., has been examining
his mines in the Harvey Creek district, near Phillips-
burg, Mont.
Barry Hog arty has been made assistant superin-
tendent Pueblo, Colo., smelter of A. S. & R. Co., vice
James Heggie, resigned.
Jno. C. Wagner has resigned the general superin-
tendency Thunder Mt. H. Y.-Climax M. Co., Roosevelt,
Idaho. J. B. Whitlock succeeds him.
September 30, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
235
John Goss has resigned as superintendent Horseshoe
mill at Terry, S. D., recently burned, to open offices in
the Jackson building, Denver, Colo.
Edgar Richard has resigned as superintendent Pro-
greso M. Co. at La Paz, Baja California, Mex., to engage
iu private practice in San Francisco, Cal.
J. W. Walker has been made general manager
Arkansas M. & M. Co., working Sound Democrat mines,
near Animas Forks, San Juan county, Colo.
H. Y. Haden, representing the De Laval Steam Tur-
bine Co., Trenton, N. J., is making a trip in the interest
of his company through Colorado, California and the
Northwest.
R. H. Richards, professor of mining in the Massa-
chusetts Institute of Technology, Boston, is examining
for the Dominion Government the magnetic black sand
of British Columbia.
The San Francisco Engineering Club is to be formed
in San Francisco, Cal., with a membership of consulting
and constructing engineers in the following lines: Chem-
ical, civil, electrical, gas, hydraulic, mechanical, mining
and steam. The club is to be formed for the education
and fraternalization of its members. The committee on
organization is as follows: L. E. Sperry, California
Electrical Works; E. B. Parsons, Kilbourne& Clark Co.;
T. E. Bibbins, General Electric Co.; C. L. Cory, Onion
Trust building; A. C. Roulfson, A. C. Roulfson & Co.;
George P. Low, Crossley building, and C. E. Wiggin,
Electrical Contractors' Association.
Obituary.
********** **++++*** ***** 4>4>4><P>f"f"F'(>4"f'>f"f> *
Henrv Grant, a pioneer mining man of Garnet,
Mont., died September 20 in Deer Lodge at the age of 77
years, from a paralytic stroke.
X ******** **************** ************
Trade Treatises.
*
*
*************************************
Hardsocg Wonder Drill Co. of Ottumwa, Iowa, has
issued a neat booklet illustrating and describing various
types of the Wonder air hammer rock drills.
Circular 9 C W J of the Crane Co. of Chicago, 111.,
gives description and price list of Craneweld flanged pipe
joints and Circular 6 C L J Cranelap extra heavy
Hanged pipe joints.
A folder from Smith, Emery & Co. of 83 New Mont-
gomery street, San Francisco, Cal., details various physi-
cal and chemical tests of construction materials, fuels,
waters and processes for which they are equipped.
The National Electric Co. of Milwaukee, Wis., de-
scribe their Type M. B. generators, direct current and
belt driven, in Bulletin 335. The construction and oper-
ation of Christensen air brake equipments are discussed
in Bulletin 357.
Bulletin 1067, 1068 and 1070 from the Fort Wayne
Electric Works of Port Wayne, Ind., respectively de-
scribe their Type A transformers for line service, Type
M induction motors for multiphase currents and Series
A. C. arc lighting system.
"Charging and Manipulating Apparatus" is the title
of a handsomely illustrated book from the Wellman-
Seaver-Morgan Co. of Cleveland, Ohio. It contains a
series of half-tones and descriptions of various installa-
tions for charging open-hearth and reheating furnaces.
Its attractive typographical appearance is a favorable
introduction to the machinery described.
*************** **********************
* • *
Books Received. |
* *
a r.***** ********* *********************
Water Supply and Irrigation Paper No. 144 of the
United States Geological Survey treats on "The Nor-
mal Distribution of Chlorine in the Natural Waters of
New York and New England," by D. D. Jackson. This
is a valuable contribution to the subject of water supply
and pollution.
As extracts from "Mineral Resources of the United
States for 1904," the United States Geological Survey
has issued "Production of Copper," by Chas. Kirch-
hoff; "Production of Glass and Other Sand," by A. T.
Coons; "Production of Gypsum," by G. P. Grimsley,
and " Production of Asphaltum and Bituminous Rock,"
by E. O. Hovey.
The Missouri Bureau of Geology and Mines has issued
a report on "The Geology of Moniteau County," by
F. B. Van Horn and E. R. Buckley. The book first
treats on the physiography, then the historical geology,
and finally the economic minerals. TheBe include lead
and zinc, barite, coal and various structural materials.
This report might well be used as a model by various
State mining bureaus in describing their mineral re-
sources.
?f ******** ************ ****************
| Commercial Paragraphs. |
* #
>. ********* ************************** j;
The Joshua Hendy Manufacturing Co. of San Fran-
cisco, Cal., have moved from their old-time downtown
office, 38-44 Fremont street, to their fine new salesrooms
directly across the street, 29-81 Fremont street, where
they now occupy the entire building, with increased
facilities for the transaction of business.
The Denver Engineering Works Co., Denver, Colo.,
reports the sale of a complete steam turbine plant to the
Denver Union Water Co., to be installed in Platte can-
yon, near Denver, for pumping water to the city of
Denver. The plant is to" be completed by Feb. 15, 1906.
Same will consist of three steam turbine centrifugal
pumps, one steam turbine electric generator, boilers and
necessary equipment. The turbines are of the De Laval
make.
Latest Market Reports.
San Francisco, September 29, 1905.
Silver. — Per oz., Troy : London, 28Jd (standard
ounce, 925 line); New York, bar silver, 61jje, "refined (1000
fine); San Francisco, 61 §c; Mexican dollars, 47c, San
Francisco; 47c, New York.
Copper.— New York: Standard, $16.25; Lake, $16.00
@16.25; Electrolytic, $16.37J; Casting, $15.75@16.12£.
San Francisco: $16.50. Mill copper plates, $17.50; bars,
18@24c. London: £71 spot per ton.
Lead.— New York, $4.90; St. Louis, $4.75; San Fran-
cisco, $5.00, carload lots; 5Jc 1000 to 4000 lbs.; pipe 7Jc,
sheet 8, bar 6ijc. London: £14 2s 6d fllong ton.
Spelter.— New York, $6.00: St. Louis, $5.75; Lon-
don, £27 5s $ ton; San Francisco, ton lots, 7c; 100-tb
lots, 7}c.
Tin.— New York, pig, $32.00@32.15; San Francisco, ton
lots, 34c; 500 fcs., 35c, 200 lbs., 36c; less, 37Jc; bar tin,
$ ft., 40c. London, £145 12s 6d.
Platinum.— San Francisco, crude, $18.50 ft oz.; New
York, ingot, $20.50 $ Troy oz. Platinum ware, 75@$1.00
ifi gram.
Quicksilver.— New York, $40.00@$40.50, large lots;
London, £7 2s 6d; San Francisco, local, $38.00@39.00 $
flask of 75 lbs.
Babbitt Metal.— San Francisco, No. 1, lOJc; No.
2, 8c; No. 3, 7Jc; extra, 17£c; genuine, 32Jc; Eclipse, 35c.
Solder.— Half-and-half, 100-Ib. lots, 22.00c; San Fran-
cisco, Plumbers', 100-Ib. lots, 19.15c.
Zinc— Metallic, chemically pure, $ ft., 50c; dust, f(ft.,
10c; sulphate, $ ft, .04c.
Nickel.— New York, 55@60c % ft.; ton lots, 40@47c.
Aluminum.— No. 1, 99%, small lots, 37c fi ft.; 100 lbs..
35c; 1000 lbs. 34c; ton lots and over, 33c, Pittsburg. No,
2, 90%, small lots, 34c; ton lots and over, 31c, Pittsburg.
STRUCTURAL MATERIALS
Iron. — Pittsburg, Bessemer pig, $15.25; gray forge,
$14.75; San Francisco, bar, 3Jc % ft., 3Jc in small quan-
tities.
Steel. — Bessemer billets, Pittsburg, $21.00@$24.00;
open hearth billets, $23.00@$25.00; San Francisco, bar,
7c to 13c fi ft.
White Lead. — Per ft., in kegs: 500 fts. and over at
one purchase, per ft., 7|c; less than 500 fts., per lb., 8c;
in 25-ft. tin pails, Jc $ lb. above keg price; in 1 and 5-ft.
tin cans, 100 fts. per case, Jc per lb. above keg price.
Dry Lead. — In bbls., 1 ton and over, 7Jc; do. in kegs, 8c.
Lime. — Santa Cruz, $1.35 country, $1.25 city $ bbl.
Cement.— Imported, $3.00@4.00 $ bbl.; California,
carload lots, SI. 80 f. 0. b. at works; small lots, $2.10 %
bbl. in sacks, 4 sacks to bbl., 5c for each sack returned.
Lumber. — (Retail): Pine, ordinary sizeB, $24.00®
25.00; extra sizes higher; redwood, $28.00@30.00; lath, 4
feet, $4.50@5.00; pickets, $21.00;shingles, $2.50 for No. 1,
and $2.25 for No. 2; shakes, $13.50 for split and $15.00 for
sawed; rustic, $28.00®35.00.
Nails. — This week the baBic prices are: Wire, $2.77;
Cut, $3.25. Meanwhile the nominal quotations per keg
(list prices) are: No. 20d to 60d, Wire, $3.35; Cut, $3.55;
lOd to 16d, Wire, $3.45; Cut, $3.35; 8d, Wire, $3.50; Cut,
$3.50; 6d and 7d, Wire, $3.60; Cut, $3.60; 4d and 5d,
Wire, $3.70; Cut, $3.70; 3d, Wire, $3.85; Cut, $3.85; 2d,
Wire, $4,10; Cut, $4.10. Special rates for carload lots.
GENERAL SUPPLIES.
Antimony.— New York1, Cookson's, 13Jc; Hallett's,
14Jc; San Francisco, 1000-ft. lots, 14c; 300@500-Ibs. 12c;
100-ft. lots, 13c.
Bismuth.— Subnitrate, $ ft., $2.10.
Bone Ash.— Extra No. 1, 5@6c $ ft; No. 1, 4@5c.
BORAX.— Concentrated, 7@8c f, ft; powdered, 9@10c;
fused, 25@30c; crystal, 7c.
Candles. — Spear Brand, 16 oz. adamantine, 40s., lie
$! set; 14 oz. adamantine, 40s., 10c; 12 oz. adamantine,
40s, 9c; 10 oz. adamantine, 40s, 8c; 16 oz. stearic, 40s,
12Jc ^pi set; 14 oz. stearic, 40s, 11J; 12 oz. stearic* 40s,
10}c; 10 oz. stearic, 40s, 9Jc. 100-case lots and over, jc
less. Not less than 50-case lots, %c less. Boxes of 20s,
price Jc advance.
Caps.— 3x, $5.50@6 per 1000; 4x, $6.50@7; 5x, $8@8.50;
Lion, $9@9.50, in lots not less than 1000.
Chemicals.— Cyanide of potassium, 98%-99%, job-
bing, 23@24c f, ft.; carloads, 23@23Jc; in tins, 30c; soda
ash, $2.00 $ 100 fts.; hyposulphite of soda, 3@3Jc $ ft.;
caustic soda, in drums, 3@3jc^ft.; Cal. s. soda, bbls.,
$1.10@1.20 $100 lbs.; ska., 90c@$1.00; chlorate of pot-
ash, 12@13c; nitrate of potash, 6|@7c; caustic potash,
10c in 40-ft. tins; roll sulphur, 2j@2Jc; powdered sul-
phur, 2J-@2jc; flour sulphur, French, 2J@ — c; alum,
$2.00@2.25; California refined, lj@2c; sulphide of iron,
8c $1 ft.; copper sulphate, 5J@5Jc; chloride of lime, spot,
$2.50@2.75; sulphuric acid, in carboys, 66% B, H@2c fl
ft.; nitric acid, carboys, 8c % ft. '
Chromium.— 90% and over, $ ft., 80c.
Coal. — San Francisco, coast, yard prices : Welling-
ton, $8.00; Seattle, $6.50; Coos Bay, $5.50; Southfield,
$8.00. Cargo lot, Eastern and foreign: Wallsend, $7.50;
Brymbo, $7.50; Pennsylvania, hd., $14.00; Scotch, $8.00;
Cumberland, $13.00; Cannel, $8.50; Welsh Anthracite,
$13.00; Rock Springs, $8.50, long ton; Colorado Anthra-
cite, $14.00. Coke, $11.50 per ton in bulk, $13.00 in
sacks; Sunnyside, $8.50, long ton.
Fire Brick.— Domestic, carloads $ 1000, f. o. b., fac-
tory square, $25.00; soap and split, $22.50; aroh and
wedge, $27.50; skewback, $30.00; circle, $32.00.
Fire Clay.— Domestic, fl ton 2000 fts. in 125-ft. bags,
double, and dry ground, f. o. b., factory, $8.50.
FUSE.— Triple tape, $4.00 per 1000 feet; double tape,
$3.55; single tape, $3.10; Hemp, $2.85; Cement No. 2,
$3.10; Cement No. 1, $2.75, in lots of 3000 and up.
Oils.— Linseed, boiled, bbl., 54c; cs., 59c; raw, bbl.,
52c; cs., 57c; Lucol oil, boiled, bbl., 51c: cs., 56c; raw-
bbl., 49c; cs., 54c. Kerosene— Pearl, per gal., 17Jc; As-
tral, 17Jc; Star, 17Jc; Extra Star, 20tc; Eocene, 19Jc;
Elaine, 26c; Water White, in bulk, lie; Mineral Seal,
iron bbls., 18c; wooden bbls., 20Jc; cs., 24c; Mineral
Sperm, cs., 26Jc; Deodorized Stove Gasoline, bulk, 14Jc,
do., cs., 21c; 86° Gasoline, bulk, 25c; do., cs., 31c; 83°
Naphtha or Benzine, deodorized, in bulk, per gal., 12Jc;
do., in cs., 19c; Lard Oil, E. W. S., bbl., 75c; cs., 80c;
Neats-foot Oil, pure, bbl., 57Jc; cs., 62Jc; Sperm, crude,
63@68c; Natural White, 68c; Bleached, do., 57c; Whale
Oil, cs., 52@67c.
Litharge.— Pure, in 25-ft. bags, 9J@10Jc $ ft.
Magnesium.— Pure, N. Y., $1.60.
Manganese.— Black oxide, $ lb., 2j(S)4c.
Mercury.— Bichloride, $ ft., 77c.
Molybdenum.— Best, $2.75 $( ft.
Phosphorus.— American, $ ft., 70c.
Powder.— F. o. b. San Francisco : No. 1, 70% nitro-
glycerine, per ft., in carload lots, 15Jc; less than one ton,
17Jc. No. 1*, 60%, carload lots, 13Jc; less than one ton,
15Jc. No. 1**, 50%, carload lots, life; less than one ton,
13|c. No. 2, 40%, carload lots, 10c; less than one ton,
12c. No. 2, 35%, carload lots, 9Jc; less than one ton,
lljc. No. 2**, 30%, carload lots, 9c; less than one ton,
lie. Black blasting powder in carload lots, minimum
car 728 kegs, $1.50 per keg; less car lots, $2.00 per keg.
Red Lead. — 500 fcs. and over at one purchase, $ fc.
7Jc; less than 500 fts., 7Jc.
Silver.— Chloride, fl oz., 90c@$1.00; nitrate, 54c
Sodium.— Metal, $ ft., $1.
Tungsten.— Best, fl ft., $1.20.
Uranium.— Oxide, $ ft., $3.40.
Notices of Recent Patents.
Among the patents recently obtained through Dewey, Strong &
Co.'s Scientific Press United States and Foreign Patent Agency,
the following are worthy of special mention :
Obtonding Apparatus.— No. 799,811. Sept. 19, 1905. Crittenden
Van Wyck, San Francisco, Cal. The object of this invention is to
provide a simple, practical apparatus which may be placed and held
in position on the patient and be and remain entirely independent
of the handpiece, which shall be capable of directing a spray in any
desired direction and to any part of the mouth, which will maintain
the spray continuously as long as necessary or desired, whether the
operator is immediately at hand or not, and also which will provide
a shield for the patient's nostrils and a spreader and holder for the
rubber dam. The apparatus comprises the combination of a plate
shaped to rest upon the upper lip of a patient, and having a con-
vexed portion fitting over the nose, said plate having means for the
attachment of the rubber dam, an ejector and means for removably
supporting the latter on the plate and on either side of the patient's
mouth.
Traveling Attachments for Buildings.— No. 799,865. Sept.
19, 1905. Thomas McConnell, San Francisco, Cal. This invention
relates to attachments which are especially designed for buildings
and for the purpose of saving life and property in case of fires and
generally to make access to any part of the building from the front.
Its objeot is to make such access easy and rapid, to assist in the
removal of persons or property from the windows at various heights
in the building, and to enable the firemen to conveniently apply
water at different points, and to obtain easy access to any part of
the building front. The apparatus comprises a frame, a track upon
which said frame may travel parallel with the upper part of the
building, a car suspended from said frame, mechanism by which it
may be raised or depressed with relation thereto, means for prevent-
ing the swinging of the car, said means comprising horizontally
guided slidable bars adapted to project from the ends of the car and
contact with the sides of the building and locks for said brace-bars.
Stone Saws. -No. 799,870. Sept. 19, 1905. William B. Buble, Rio
Vista, Cal. This invention relates to improvements in what are
known as "granite" or "stone-sawing" machines. Its object is to
provide an improvement in the teeth or blades which form the cut-
ting or operating portions of such saw and a means for adjusting and
interlocking such blades with the bars or carriers by which they are
supported. The invention consists of independent blades having
V-shaped channels in the lower edges, bars having vertical channels
cut through them to receive the saw-blades, with intermediate inte-
gral spacing portions, keys driven in said channels to lock the blades
edgewise, and binding-screws adapted to lock the blades trans-
versely.
Checkrein Attachment.— No. 799,920. Sept. 19, 1905. Louis
Moretti, Santa Cruz, Cal. The object of this invention is to provide
a device which when in use holds the checkrein and the horse's head
in the desired position. When it Is desirable to release the horse
from the tension of the checkrein, it may be done by the occupant of
the oarriage without leaving his seat, and when it is desired to
again check up the horse's head it can be done in a similar manner.
The device consists of a spring-actuated revoluble drum upon which
the checkrein may be coiled, a shaft for the drum, and a means for
locking the drum and holding the oheck in position, said means con-
sisting of a fulcrumed spring-actuated lever having one arm adapted
to engage and lock the drum-shaft and the other arm driving reins.
New Patents.
Dewey, Strong & Co.'s Scientific Press Patent agency, 330
Market street, San Francisco, has official reports of the following
United States patents issued to Pacific Coast inventors :
FOR THE WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 12, 1905.
799,293.— Tikes J. Baker, Pasadena, Cal.
799.294.— Hahness—G. V. Beckman, Lodi, Cal.
799,453.— Car Step— G. G. Comer, Kalama, Wash.
799 460.— Tobacco Pipe— A; C. Duncan, Teslu, Cal.
799,044.— Shoe Lacing Hook— H. J. Griswold, Eureka, Cal.
799,376.— Ore Feedek— C. C. Hamill, Barstow, Cal.
799,335.— Berry Box— P. Henrich, Seattle, Wash.
799.161.— Gold Saving Machine— J. B. Holmes, Los Angeles. Cal.
799, 234.— Carpenter's Plank— ,T. Jett, San Francisco.
799.341.— Gas generator— a. W. Jones, Alameda, Cal.
799.167.— Pencil Holder— G. .Torgensen, Seattle, Wash.
799^389.— Graining Machine— H. G. Krasky, San Francisco.
799,390.— Baby Cabi-jet— M. A. Kuykendall, Portland, Or.
799,181.— Sawmill Dog— a. B. McCulloch, Everett, Wash.
799]408.— Weedek— L L. Bldwell, Rivera, Cal.
799 104.— Flower Stand— T. S. Sprague, Alma, Wash.
799.617.— Fruit Clipper— E. P. Steffa, Pomona, Cal.
799,416.— Screen- J Stork, San Diego, Cal.
799,426 — Still— H. B. Williams, McMurray, Wash.
19
Mining and Scientific Press.
September 30, 1905.
Mine Hoist Driven by Westinghouse Type C Induction Motor.
Westinghouse
Type C Induction Motors
For Mine Work
Secure the best, rather than incur
the expense of constant repairs.
We invite correspondence.
Westinghouse Electric
& Mfg. Co., Pittsburg, Pa.
Address nearest office.
San Francisco, 425 Market St.; Seattle, 314 Occidental Ave.; Los Angeles, 537 South Main St.;
Salt Lake City, 151 S. Main St.; Denver, 429 Seventeenth St.; and other large cities.
For British Columbia: Canadian Westinghouse Co., Limited, Vancouver, B. C.
Wenezal <$lectztc wempanj/
Double Drum Lidgerwood Hoist, Operated by a 100 H. P.,
'550- Volt Induction Motor.
Electric
Mine Hoists
Embrace Advantages of Electric
Power Transmission.
High Efficiency— Always Ready
lor Service— Perfect Control-
Reliability.
Correspondence Solicited. Esti-
mates Promptly Furnished.
Principal Offices:
Schenectady, N. Y.
Sales Offices in All Large Cities.
San Francisco Crossley Building
Denver Klttredge Building
Salt Lake City, 25 East First South St.
Los Angeles Douglas Building
Portland Worcester Building
534
HIGH GRADE
SMALL MOTORS
for every mining service.
FORM L, SIZES '., to S //. P.
FliUM I. SIZES* to SO H. P.
Simple design and the best materials result in RELIABLE machines.
sh„k cairitil in San Francita-o ami Deuctr.
\J* AMPERE, N. J. **rf
OPERATING WITH
JEFFREY ROCK DRILLS
DOUBLES PROFITS
At the Quarries of
Casparls Stone Company,
TWartole Cliff, Ohio.
DRILLING— MINING— ELEVATING— CONVEYING—
SCREENING— CRUSHING— DREDGING
CATALOGUES FREE.
THE JEFFREY MANUFACTURING COMPANY,
COLUMBUS, OHIO, U. S. A.
NEW YORK
CHICAGO
PITTSBURG
KNOXVILLE
DENVER
CHARLESTON, W. VA.
JOSHUA HENDY MACHINE WORKS, San Francisco Agents lor Electric Mine Locomotives.
BENSH AW, BTJLKLEY & COMPANY, San Francisco Agents for Elevating and Conveying Machinery .
THESE MACHINES
Are evaporating more than their weight
of water every ten hours.
U°l DRY ANYTHING £*
RUGGLBS - COLES
ENGINEERING CO.
SMITH, EMERY & CO., Agents, SAN FRANCISCO.
New York, Chicago, Atlanta.
FRESNO AGRICULTURAL WORKS
FRESNO. CALIFORNIA.
"Every Time
I Yell,"
said the Belt to
the Foreman, "I'm
calling for
Stephenson
Bar Belt
Dressing
and nothing else."
Why not gratify that belt?
Send 4c for liberal sample, stating II for
Leather, Rubber or Canvas.
STEPHENSON MFG. CO., ^ftp-
THE CALIFORNIA DEBRIS COMMISSION
having received applications to mine by hydrau-
lic process from Bernnard Kavanaugh in Parke &
Brown Mine, near Last Chance, Placer County,
Cal., draining into Deep Canyon, which drains into
North Fork of Middle Fork of American River;
from Dougal Duncan in St. George Gravel Mine,
near Yankee Jims, Placer County, Cal, draining
Into Devils Canyon which drains into North Fork of
American River; from Klamath River Hydraulic
Mining Co . in Round Butte, Round Butte Exten-
sion and Dump Placer Mines, near Sheep Ranch,
Calaveras County, Cal., draining into Baptista
Creek which drains into Calaveras River, gives
notice that a meeting to receive any protests will
be held at Room 68, Flood Building, San Fran-
cisco, Cal., Oct. 9, 1905, at 1:30 P. M.
AMERICAN and FOREIGN
TRADE MARKS.
PATENTS
IDEWEY.STRQNG aC0.330 MARKETST,
THE trade journal which has the con-
fidence of its readers is the one
that pays the advertiser the best.
Whole No. 2359.-v^rrf5c'
San Francisco, Cal., Saturday, October 7, 1905.
THREE DOLLARS PER ANNUM
Single Copies, Tan Canti. -,
Fig. i.— Pack Train, Cunningham Gulch, Near Silverton,
Colorado.
Fig. 2. — Upper Terminal of Line, Showing Trestle. This is 1800 Feet Above the
Mill and Lower Terminal, and is Built at an Angle of 350.
Fig. 3. — Terminal of Line and Boarding House on Side of Mountain. All Material
Was Packed on Burros to Top of Mountain and Lowered by Chute
500 Feet. The Incline is 650.
Fig. 4. — Power House, Trestle and V-shaped Wall and Lower Terminal. (See Detail
of Wall and Trestle Fig. 6 Below.)
Fig. 5 —Weighing Ore— A Freight Team at the Scales About to Start for the Railroad,
80 Miles Away.
Fig. 6.— Detail of Wall and Trestle Shown in
Fig 4 Above.
ORE TRANSPORTATION IN COLORADO, SHOWING AERIAL TRAMWAYS, TERMINALS, PACK TRAINS, ETC. (See Page 240.)
237
Mining and Scientific Press.
October 7, 1905.
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
ESTABLISHED i860.
Published Every Saturday at 330 Market Street, San Francisco, Cal.
Telephone, Davis 771.
ANNUAL, SUBSCRIPTION.
United States, Mexico and Canada 13 00
All Other Countries In the Postal Union 5 00
Entered at the San Francisco Postoffice as second-class mail matter.
branch Offices:
New York City, 931-24 Park Row Bldg. Boston, 27 School St.
Chicago, 1164 Monadnock Block. Denver, 606 Mack Block.
J. F. HALLORAN Publisher
SAN FRANCISCO, OCTOBER 7, 1905.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
ILLUSTRATIONS: Page.
Pack Train, Cunningham Gulch, Near Silverton, Colo 236
Terminal of Line, Showing Trestle 236
Terminal of Line and Boarding House on Side of Mountain 236
Power House, Trestle and V-Shaped Wall and Lower Terminal. 236
Weighing Ore 236
Detail of Wall and Trestle Shown 236
Man Crossing the Chasm on Aerial Tramway 210
The Ore Bins and Jigs at the Mine 240
Seventeen-Mule Pack Train, Southern Colorado 240
Automatic Plumb Bob 244
Milling Pit, Auburn Mine, Mesaba Range, Minn 246
Missabe Mountain Mine, Mesaba Range, Minn 246
Self Dumping Carrier 247
The Nissen Stamp 247
EDITORIAL:
Mine Accidents— Mine Inspection 237
A Successful Mine Manager 237
MINING SUMMARY 248-249-250-251
LATEST MARKET REPORTS 252
MISCELLANEOUS:
Concentrates 238
Mine Manager's Requirements 239
A Homely Suggestion 239
A Tough Experience 239
Steam Shovels in the Atlin District, B. C 239
Transportation in Colorado 240
Southern Rhodesian Gold Mining 240
Wolframite and the Prospector 241
Black SandJnvestigation 241
The Mercur Gold Mines of Utah 242
Decree for the Regulation of Mining in Madagascar 212
To Hold a Joint Meeting in London 242
Mining and Metallurgical Patents 243
Structure and Genesis of the Comstock Lode 244
Automatic Plumb Bob 244
Application of Electric Power to Gold Dredging 245
The Ventilation of Mines 245
Quarrying Iron Ore 246
The Prospector 246
Placer Mining in Alaska 247
Keeping Surface Water Out of the Pit 247
The Nissen Stamp 247
Personal 251
Trade Treatises 251
Books Received 251
Commercial Paragraphs 252
Obituary 252
Mineral Statistics of Sweden 252
New Patents 252
Notices of Recent Patents 252
Dividends 252
Mine Accidents — Mine Inspection.
The most casual reader of the daily papers pub-
lished in the mining towns cannot help noting the
number of mine accidents that constantly occur.
Whether they can indeed be all called " accidents " is
questionable, as many of them are manifestly cases of
cause and effect, and not "accidents" in the strict
sense of the term. In the course of a recent hour's
reading of local papers was observed the following:
The death of Henry Jones and Thomas Ball at the
Keystone mine, Sierra county, Cal. They were work-
ing in an upraise to tap the old workings. They
knew that a great body of water was somewhere
above or about them, but had no exact memoranda
as to its precise locality. They put in a blast which
tore away the ground, letting the water rush out,
and were drowned in the flood. The old workings
had been operated through a tunnel below the shaft
on the vein. Some "thought" the shaft had been
200 feet deep, some 300, some 400; the general idea
was that it was 230 feet. On this latter hypothesis
the men were running the upraise to miss the old
workings 150 feet. It had also been figured that the
old drift was 250 feet in length; in reality it was 400
feet long. The shaft was about 400 feet deep. With
wrong data the two men went to their doom. Any
one can, of course, be wise after the event, but if
what has been editorially advocated several times in
these columns had been observed these men need not
have been sacrificed, viz. : An accurate map made of
the underground workings of the mine and left by the
outgoing management as part of the records of the
mine. This is the invariable rule in many mines — to
have a map of just how the work is below, up to the
day of departure and filed by the outgoing manage-
ment. Then as work progresses, or is resumed,
there need be no guessing as to the length or loca-
tion of any underground work, and the probability of
such accident as the one referred to thus reduced to
the minimum. The same day Frederick Duckett was
killed in the Stratton's Independence mine, Victor,
Colo., by falling 100 feet in a stope at the 400-foot
level. The Coroner's jury found that " the timber-
ing of the fourth level was not put in in a workmanlike
manner." It is stated that the platform upon which
he was standing when he fell to his death gave way
under him. This, if so, carries with it its own con-
demnation of such carelessness in construction. The
day before these three men lost their lives as nar-
rated, Richard Tregaskis, in the Utah Copper mine,
Bingham, Utah, was killed by a blast. He with his
partner had drilled and loaded six holes and were
trying to shoot them. Two of the fuses ignited.
Tregaskis lingered in an attempt to get the other
four to light, and finally giving up the effort sprang
for the ladder to go up. He was 8 feet up when
the two shots went off. He fell back in the winze
and was dead in an hour. This appears to have been
a case of familiarity with danger making an experi-
enced miner careless. In such instances no rules or
precautions are of avail. The same day Robert
White at the Banner mine, Nevada county, Cal., was
starting up in the skip, just off night shift, he being
warned by his brother with him that his position in
the skip was a dangerous one. The skip had only
gone 3 feet when his head hit a timber cap, he was
forced backward and crushed between the skip and
shaft timbers; he was carried to his home with a
broken back. The following day, in the Gladstone
mine, at French Gulch, Shasta county, Cal., three
men — Jno. Healey, Darby Judge and Wm. Hayes —
were at work at the bottom of a double-compartment
shaft, 175 feet below the main tunnel. The engineer
in charge of the hoisting machinery ran the cage up
into the sheaves, the cable broke and the heavy cage
crashed down onto the three men in the bottom of
the shaft, crushing them into an indistinguishable
mass. This would appear to be a clear case of crimi-
nal carelessness on the part of the engineer.
Here are five accidents, three of which were appa-
rently caused by individual carelessness, the first
two the result of ignorance of their surroundings.
More extended perusal of the local papers would
doubtless disclose a larger list of fatalities.
In such cases as those cited, inquiry always arises
as to the possibility of prevention of such "acci-
dents." To any one who ever worked in a mine, it is
manifest that a great portion of such grim hap-
penings is the result of carelessness. Men become so
familiar with their dangerous surroundings that they
will take chances that a stranger or one knowing
nothing of mine workings would shrink from. Men
will work in ground that they know is treacherous;
they will leap across a shaft with 1000 feet of fearful
fall to smash them if they slip; they will use an iron
or steel bar in tamping holes charged with powder;
they will strap timbers, lagging, etc., to the outside
of a skip. They will take great personal risk and do
dangerous things as a matter of course and without
any display or bravado, but just as a part of the
day's work, partly because, as said, they become
familiarized with danger, and, sometimes, because
they dislike to even appear to be afraid. A large
percentage of the accidents are due to neglect and
improper management or lack of safety appliances,
but it must be said that an equally large per cent is
because of the neglect or refusal of the men them-
selves to use the proffered safeguards or appliances,
recognizing the danger, but ignoring the likelihood of
it affecting them.
The question brings up the correlative one of mine
inspection in connection with proposed prevention,
but occidental statistics do not seem to favor that
legislative idea, for about as many casualties are
reported from Western States having mine inspectors
as from those not having such officials. Still as mine
inspectorship is comparatively new west of the 100th
meridian, it is not wholly fair to institute present
comparison in that regard.
What has been said above applies solely to metal
mines west of the Missouri river. That much good
has resulted from official inspection of coal and other
non-metallic mines is manifest. Since 1870 there
have been mine inspectors and rigid rules concerning
their action in anthracite coal mines in Pennsylvania,
and since 1877 in bituminous coal mines in that
State. For thirty years there has been State
inspection of some sort in nearly every coal district
east of the Mississippi river, and its good results
are evident. In 1870 the coal produced in the
Pennsylvania coal region, per violent death of miner
therein, was 59,969 tons; in 1900 after thirty years
regime of inspection it was 114,864 tons. The num-
ber of deaths there per 1000 miners in 1870 was
5.601; in 1900, 2.71. These statistics indicate a
decrease of 5U% in casualties — a gratifying showing —
and in connection with better machinery, improved ap-
pliances and the general advance in mining methods,
must justly be credited to efficient mine inspection.
The chief objection to the appointment of a mine
inspector in California, for instance, is the just
dread of mine owners in the possibility of being sad-
dled with incompetent officials possessing a political
pull, and with well developed sense of " touch." An
appointive office is sometimes open to these objec-
tions. California and other mining States would con-
fessedly be better any day for the creation of mine
inspectors if the incumbents were thoroughly effi-
cient, "but," say the objectors, "a man who would
make a good mine inspector can earn twice as much
as a mine manager or superintendent than he could
be paid by the State." So that the first requisite
would be to attach sufficient salary to the office to
enable the commonwealth to get honesty and ability.
To properly fill the office of mine inspector would
demand a high degree of talent; the incumbent would
have to be an unusually able man. Wherever
created, the office of the mine inspector is to enforce
enacted law, and reduce number of casualties. To
do this he must become an educator to a large num-
ber of mine foremen; he must also be not only an
instructor, but a conveyor or transmitter of informa-
tion concerning improvements. He has great oppor-
tunities, to use or abuse. He sees and notes the
various appliances in use at all the mines' he visits
and can suggest the adoption where applicable of
improvements that have been used successfully in
other mines. He is called any time of the day or
night anywhere in his jurisdiction where accidents
occur, and assumes the responsibility for the subse-
quent proceedings. A man that is able to do all this,
to act quickly, intelligently and impartially; to hold
aloof from even the suspicion of dishonesty, is worth
big money as a mine manager for some large mining
company where he would be spared the contumely
and annoyances inseparable from such a position.
In the Pennsylvania anthracite coal regions the
mine inspectors are practical men; they have had
long experience in charge of mines before being
appointed. They are not politicians and are not
appointed to please political friends; they are com-
missioned by the Governor of the State on the recom-
mendation of a board of examiners appointed by the
judges of the courts having jurisdiction. The board
of examination consists of two reputable mining
engineers and three reputable working miners
engaged in present actual work. The Governor has
no choice in the selection of the mine inspectors, but
must appoint the one recommended in each case.
The inspectors are commissioned for five years, have
reputations to maintain, and are practically certain
of reappointment so long as they efficiently discharge
the duties of their office.
In any discussion of mine inspectorship the differ-
ence in the personnel of the coal and the metal miner
must be borne in mind. In many of the" anthracite
coal mines hordes of Huns and Polacks are herded,
and of necessity require a censorship that would be
repelled as degrading and intolerant by the western
metal miner, who does all his talking and most of his
thinking in United States language.
IN another column a Colorado mine manager dis-
courses on some of the necessary qualities that go
to make up a successful mine manager. At the
risk of making the list too long it is here suggested
that many successful mine managers have found it
well to be always ready to recognize the value of a
new idea, regardless of where the idea came from.
Suggestions and even criticisms from subordinates
in respect to details are often of sufficient value and
enlarge the horizon of view. Should the tendency be
to resent criticism or advice, it might be borne in
mind that it were no harm to listen, and that whether
the suggestion shall bear fruit would be for himself to
say. Nothing that is good need ever be discarded
because of its source.
October 7, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
238
cr
CONCENTRATES
D
Silver can beelectrolytically deposited on aluminum.
This discovery was made at Sheffield, England.
MM
There are mines in southeastern Arizona producing
bismuth and lead, the mineral being bismuthinite.
MM
The American Mining Congress will meet at El Paso,
Tex., November 14, and will continue in session for ono
week.
■1 V V v
The cost of wagon transportation over good roads is
usually figured at 25 cents per ton per mile, though in
some instances the cost is less than this amount, and in
others much more.
Although mining has been vigorously carried on in
California since 1848, new discoveries continue to be an-
nounced, the most recent being in Modoc county, in the
extreme northeast corner of that State.
vVVT
In determining the value of a mine it is as important
to know the length of the ore shoot as to know its width
and height. An ore body may have considerable width
and height, but be so short as to scarcely justify a mill
or other reduction works.
MM
In the early days of tho Stonewall Jackson mine of
southern Arizona many mules were "packed " with the
native silver taken from the rich veins of that mine.
Native silver and nuggets of hornsilver were also found
in the neighboring gulches.
v VvV
Any person, a citizen of the United States, may locate
as many mining claims on a lode or vein, that is not al-
ready appropriated, as he cares to take. The law does
not prohibit the number of claims one may take or buy,
and the several claims may be on one or several veins.
W W W W
The speed with which holes may be drilled by means
of a pneumatic hammer drill depends upon the kind of
drill used, hardness of the rock, air pressure, and also
upon the miner himself. Some men will make better
head way than others when all conditions are the same.
ZINC fume is an extremely fine powder of metallic
zinc, obtained from condensing chambers of the zinc
furnaces. It is mixed with water and is used as an
emulsion in precipitating gold from cyanide solutions in
some mills, this method being preferred by those who
use it.
4t4fi> W
There is no economy in running a stamp mill so fast
that the tappets strike the cams when falling. More
damage is done than is gained in increased capacity.
The height of drop may be decreased somewhat with the
same number of drops per minute and the interference
of cam and tappet thus avoided.
Where the heat from exhaust steam is found insuf-
ficient to heat feed water for the boiler, steam may be
admitted from the receiver of a compound -condensing
engine to the water heater direct without danger. Or-
dinarily, however, the exhaust steam will raise the tem-
perature sufficiently for the desired purposes.
VwwS
The "Concentrate," page 223, in theissueof September
30, beginning "Code Civ. Proc. 1895, section 592, etc.,"
referred to the Code of Civil Procedure of the State of
Montana. All of the States have codes of civil pro-
cedure, but in many respects these differ from one
another to a greater or less extent.
SHU
CROSSCUT tunnels run from the surface to intersect
veins cropping a great distance away are often contin-
ued far beyond the vein without the vein itself having
been noticed by the miners, owing to contraction of the
vein or to some other cause. This is probably what has
occurred in the San Bernardino county, Cal., instance.
Where the mine is situated at the top of a vertical
cliff, the ore may be safely and cheaply delivered to a
mill or ore bin at the foot of the cliff by means of an
aerial ropeway. Constructions of thiB character are not
uncommon in Colorado. On the front page of this issue
and on page 240 appears illustrated reference to the
subject.
A region wholly destitute of payable quartz mines
may produce a rich placer field. In such places the gold
usually occurs in small seams of ochre, clay or quartz
and too far separated to make it possible to mine the
mineral zone as a whole, but the erosion of such a
region often results in a concentration of the gold in the
gulches and depressions, forming payable diggings. -
It is not uncommon to find hoisting plants at mines
equipped with some automatic device which warns the
engineer of the approach of the skip or cage to the sur-
face. These devices are usually either bells, shaking
indicators, or flashing red lights. Such arrangements
are no doubt of value, but the engineer should know
exactly where the skip is at any moment, and not de-
pend upon extraordinary alarms and devices to tell him
of the danger of overwinding, for the reason that plac-
ing entire dependence upon such mechanical arrange-
ments may result in a serious accident in the event of
failure of the mechanism to operate.
****
The diameter of a Pelton wheel has little bearing on
the amount of power developed, as it merely determines
the speed at which the wheel should run under high
head. To develop 250 H. P. with a Pelton wheel, water
would be required in the following quantities: Head, 300
feet, 347 miner's inches; 400 -foot head, 260 miner's
inches; 500-foot head, 208 miner's inches. A miner's inch
is legally 1.5 cubic foot per minute.
MM
The tourmaline bouring dikes of pegmatite near Mesa
Grande in San Diego county, Cal., were discovered in
1890 by a field assistant of the State Mining Bureau, and
attention was called to the occurrence of black, green
and red tourmalines found in these dikes in the thir-
teenth report of the State Mineralogist of California
issued in 1897. These deposits are now being worked for
the pink tourmalines occurring in the granite dikes.
TfT*
As the ore is delivered to the mill by aerial tram, it may
be that the "grease which is interfering with amalgama-
tion " may be caused by oil dipping from the wheels
supporting the buckets on the wire way. It must be
this, or the oil comes from some place in the mill— drip-
ping shafting, cams, etc. If neither of these, it may be
some mineral substance in the ore that is giving trouble
and not oil at all. Plumbago, arsenic, antimony, molyb-
denite, talc and other minerals disturb amalgamation,
often seriously.
In the case of the claims A and B in Oregon, while
claim A may lie higher than claim B, work on A if of
actual value to B may be charged in part to B. A mill
built on the creek to treat ore from both claims may be
applied as assessment on both claims. A tunnel run on
the vein on A might not be construed as work tending to
develop B, while a shaft on A might be so construed. It
is merely a matter of fact. The authority under which
assessment work is done on one claim for the benefit of
several claims of a group is the United States Revised
Statutes, Sec. 2324.
ON page 169 of the issue of September 9, in tho
"Concentrate": "A dynamo can usually without
material alteration, or without- any at all, be em-
ployed as a motor. Motors were introduced for con-
venience and for particular purposes. A single dynamo
may run any number of motors within the range of its
electro-motive force": "Electro-motive force" might
have read horse power. In electrical engineering 746
watts are figured as equivalent to 1 H. P. The watt is
the term employed to express electrical power, and is
obtained by multiplying the voltage (electro-motive
force) by the amperes or current.
WWWW '
In the case of clarifying slimes referred to by the cor-
respondent from Anaconda, Mont., the material was not
acid, but consisted largely of fine silica and impalpable
hematite dust. It is not essential that the slimy
material be acid to make it possible to clarify it with
lime. If no acid be present it is, of course, necessary to
avoid excessive alkalinity. The addition of lime to
material to be treated by cyanide process must be made
with caution. The same methods are not always ap-
plicable nor successful. At some plants the milk of lime
is employed, while at others this method is unsatis-
factory. Some crush the lime with the ore in the
battery, others crush it separately. At the Homestake
plant in Lead, South Dakota, the lime is crushed in
a mortar by a single stamp and it has been found that the
size of the crushed particles is an important factor in the
success of the operation.
The cost of pumping water per ton of ore treated for
milling or other metallurgical purposes must be deter-
mined by the situation, the factors being the distance
and height to which the water must be pumped, the
amount required, and cost of power for pumping and of
labor. Where it is possible to pump the water to a suf-
ficient height to a tank on some elevation near the
pumping station it is better to do this, allowing the
water to flow by gravity to the mine, if the distance be
great. This overcomes the friction head, which in long
pipe lines is considerable. Generally the cost of pump-
ing water does not exceed 50 cents per ton of ore treated,
if the pumping installation is commensurate with the
magnitude of metallurgical operations. It is not economy
to have a plant capable of supplying a larger amount of
water than the works require. It is generally better to
pump less water than the maximum amount required,
and to settle the tailings and pump back a part of the
water from the settling dam.
There are many mines where iron has been found
to contain an increasingly greater amount of copper
with depth up to certain limitations. Copper has ap-
peared in many of the mines of Leadville, Colo., with
depth. The depth at which this change takes place
varies greatly. In some mines it is comparatively near
the surface, in others the change comes several hundred
feet below the surface. No arbitrary line can be drawn.
In mines where no copper appears in the superficial por-
tions of the vein or deposit, and it does begin to appear
with increasing depth, the " signs " should be followed.
It may be that the amount of copper present will never
become an important ( factor in the value of the mine,
but if the copper contents add any value to the mine at
all it should be welcomed. The normal zone in a copper
producing mine is usually found to be low grade, some-
times less than \%, and yet this class of ore may havo
produced a zone of great enrichment at higher levels,
while at the surface no copper is found in the ore at all.
The object sought in adapting briquetting to the
smelting of fine oreB is to obviate the loss ensuing from
the escape of Hue dustB, concentrates and granulated
mineral fines during the smelting process, and to put the
fine mineral ores, tailings, and similar fine materials into
such a form as will admit of their being treated in the
smelter without loss. Considerable has been expended
in experiments along many lines; many smelting con-
cerns are operating briquetting plants for the treatment
of fine dusts, and materials which for many years have
been running down the canyons or into the settling
basins, are carried baok to the smelters and, after being
solidified in the form of mineral briquettes, are resmelted
with profit. Through the treatment of these mineral
fines and the flue dusts and slimes from the concentra-
tors, it has been found possible to increase the smelter
output 10%, old ore dumps, flue dust, etc., containing as
low as 6% of mineral value being treated by the briquet-
ting process with profit. Briquetting as applied to fine
minerals eliminates other disadvantages arising from
the use in the smelter of concentrates and fine ores in
their natural state.
MM
The chief thing to look out for in setting up a gravity
battery for telephone work is to prevent any mixing of
the solutions, and care and dexterity will be required.
The solution of copper sulphate is a thoroughly satu-
rated solution, and several pounds of copper sulphate
crystals are placed in the jar to maintain the solution at
the saturation point as long as possible. The copper
solution should about half fill the jar; the weak solution
of zinc sulphate is poured carefully in on top until a
layer of zinc solution is obtained deep enough to cover
the zinc element when it is in place. The battery must,
of course, be set up in the place where it is to be used
and left undisturbed as any movement of the cell would
cause the solutions to mix. To replenish the copper
solution the zinc solution should first be drawn off,
which can be done with a battery syringe or syphon;
the practice of dropping crystals of copper sulphate
through the zinc solution is a bad one, as it causes a
mixing of the solutions. When the solutions become
mixed and the zinc becomes discolored, which will occur
if the cells are moved or shaken, or if they are left long
on open circuit, the solutions should be drawn off, the
plates thoroughly scraped and cleaned, the zinc re-amal-
gamated, and the battery should be set up again with
fresh solutions. Speaking generally, the gravity bat-
tery is not a good type of cell for telephone work, as it
deteriorates so quickly on open circuit; its use is practi-
cally confined to situations where a continuous current
is required, and for such purposes the motor generator
and storage battery are better.
6464)
It is sometimes said that a banker to whom a cus-
tomer has paid in moneys for his current account is
a trustee of such moneys, but this is a mistake. The
true relation between a banker and his customer is that
of debtor and creditor only, with an obligation on the
part of the banker to discharge the debt in a particular
manner. So clearly is this the case that if, after paying
money into the hands of a cashier to the credit of his ac-
count, which is not overdrawn, the customer should sud-
denly suspect the solvency of the bank, he cannot with-
draw it except by check. In the same way, the moment
a bank clerk in cashing a check has placed notes or
money in the control of the person presenting the check
there is actual delivery and possession, and he cannot
take them back. Should a customer overdraw his
account the bank is not bound to offer the sum really
due him, but can rightly refuse to honor the check.
When a check ia indorsed the indorsee can bring an
action against the drawer, just as the indorsee of a bill
can sue the acceptor. A check is not an assignment of
any portion of a debt due from a banker to his customer,
but simply a request with which the banker has prom-
ised to comply. Should the latter fail to meet his engage-
ment to pay, all things being in order, the customer can
bring an action against him and, although no actual loss
has been sustained, will be entitled to nominal damages,
as the obligation of a banker to honor his customers'
checks rests upon a clear and distinct promise or agree-
ment to that effect, which arises from the course of busi-
ness and the nature of the transaction. There can be an
indorsement in blank or a special indorsement of a check.
The post-dating of a check drawn to bearer, or order, in
no wise affects its validity, and a person taking it bona
fide and for value has a perfectly good title. Every banker
who honestly pays a check drawn upon himself is enti-
tled to charge the sum he so pays to the account of his
customer, although the signature of the payee or indor-
ser has been forged. A banker is bound to know the
signature of his customer, and therefore, if he pays a
check bearing the latter's forged signature, he cannot
charge the customers' account with the sum so paid.
And if the amount payable on a check has been fraudu-
lently altered, the banker who pays it can only recover
from his customer the sum for which it was originally
drawn. But when there is evidence that the gross neg-
ligence of the drawer clearly afforded opportunity for
the alteration of the check, the customer may have to
bear the loss himself if there has been no want of care on
the part of the banker in cashing the check.
239
Mining and Scientific Press.
October 7, 1905.
Mine Manager's Requirements.
To the Editor: — Even in the present advanced
stage of progress in mining, one sees many cases of
extravagance in operating mines. Notwithstanding
the excellent work of the periodicals devoted to the
mining industry, more than one mining venture, in-
volving perhaps the total capital of some man or
company, is allowed to proceed as if it had no man-
agement whatever. Perhaps that important func-
tion is vested in the person of some influential friend
or relative, who must be provided for, or some anti-
quated hobbyist may have here a chance to air his
pet ideas, or a dreamer, whose principal feature is
the profundity of his appearance, may prove the
stumbling block.
The management factor is of primary importance.
On it depends the mutual relations of owner and
miner. The capitalist and promoter by their very
nature have little in common with the man who does
the work. The theorist being on his own intellectual
plane appeals more directly to him, and the miner
has an inherent contempt for the methods of the
scientist, meeting him with the trite observation that
one man can see no farther into the ground than an-
other, or gold is where you find it. etc.
It is the province of the manager to demolish this
barrier between mining brain and brawn, and not
have arbitrary orders issued without an understand-
ing of conditions and executed in a contemptuous and
half-hearted manner.
There are many kinds of managers, who manage
with varying degrees of success. Prominent among
these are the specialists in some branch of science
which may or may not pertain directly to the work-
ing of a mine. Here there is perhaps a civil engi-
neer or a master mechanic, or perhaps one who has
attained distinction in metallurgy. Sometimes a
butcher or even a dry goods merchant or other
tradesman will be observed among the ranks of mine
superintendents. Now any of these may meet suc-
cess for a brief period, but there comes a time when
the strictest economy is needed and even trifling ex-
travagance of the past will be felt.
It is here that good management becomes impera-
tive, and where the specialist is apt to fail. Lines
apart from the one with which he is thoroughly con-
versant will not be in condition to meet the new re-
quirements, nor will they assume due prominence in
his eyes.
One who is pre-eminently a business man will natu-
rally see the numerous opportunities for saving in
the purchase and transportation of supplies. He
will not leave necessary material until the last mo-
ment and then have it hurried through at much ex-
pense, when the slower freight would have answered
the purpose. Nor will he neglect to watch the mar-
ket reports when buying. Thus it is with specialists
in any line, while applying their efforts to their own
particular branch; others equally important are
overlooked.
There are numerous ways in which economy may
be practiced: Buying and "selling, keeping in mind
not only what is needed but what may be needed,
always having on hand a supply of necessary ma-
terial, for in waiting and doing without and hurry-up
orders much money is wasted. In transportation
local conditions must be studied; roads kept in good
shape for bringing in men and supplies will always
pay for themselves, not only cheapening supplies, but
also bringing in a class of men who are not compelled
through incompetency to expose themselves to the
worst conditions. For the same reasons accommo-
dations and working conditions should be kept up to
the best possible standard.
It is unnecessary to revert to possibilities in sam-
pling, mining, milling and handling of ore, the placing
or handling of machinery, simply treating of the man
who must superintend these various lines of business.
It has been exemplified many times that the student
fresh from college and without practical training is
not able to handle a problem so various and intricate.
No more is the miner, who has spent a lifetime under
the ground studying how to rend the rocks, capable
of dealing with such abstruse problems. Yet we
must admit the knowledge which the miner gains is
an invaluable acquisition to the fund which the man-
ager should possess.
There is a capacity which neither experience nor
study can be said to produce entirely. It is an in-
herent quality which experience alone will discover;
that is the power of handling men. Such a power
should belong in an eminent degree to a superinten-
dent of mines. The large amount of machinery
needed to work a mine makes it incumbent on him
also to understand the installation and operation of
the same. Surveying, too, is an important feature
in mining operations. The mine superintendent who
can survey knows where he "is at," and where a
map of the workings is kept at hand he can direct
operations to the best advantage. A good general
knowledge of various metallurgical processes also is
imperative. The reasons are as obvious as that an
engineer should know the location of the throttle of
his engine. Yet how many " supes " are there who
could not start the mill or run down an assay. As
the great industry grows the importance of geology,
mineralogy and kindred sciences in the practical field
become more and more evident. So our manager
must be versed in these lines. He must also be a
bookkeeper, a draughtsman and electrician, in order
that he may more thoroughly oversee the workings
of those under him There are emergencies arising
every day with which the guiding hand must be able
to cope, or money and time are wasted in searching
for a master to overcome them.
One of the most serious troubles he can have is a
lack of funds for carrying out plans known to be
essential. Directors are crying to cut down ex-
penses and output is growing sensibly less as the
more favorable ore bodies are becoming exhausted
and there is no development of workings or plant to
meet new requirements.
Here is a juncture that emphasizes the utility of
figures and plans for guidance, with of course a lib-
eral allowance for possible deviations, and margins
varying with the knowledge of conditions.
With such plans it is known what will be necessary
in the shape of plant, etc. There need be then no
costly delays caused by some essential factor being
thought of just when needed. Nor will there be the
extra expense of substitution in some part of the
plant which has been found inadequate for develop-
ment of the mine, and the lack of harmony often seen
in the various parts will be avoided. One piece of
machinery will not be using power out of proportion
to the amount of work to be done. Allowance can
be made for growth within close limits. Second-hand
machinery is not a very desirable asset.
Of course it is easy to say what the manager shall
know and do. But no doubt many have found it a
serious problem to secure the man who has these
multifarious branches of knowledge blended in the
right proportions. One sees advertised in your col-
umns that a man of experience is wanted. What
this experience has been, under what conditions or
with what result, does not seem to cut much figure.
Again a man finds favor who can produce an array
of recommendations, no weight being given to the
fact that the writer of such documents has less at
stake than the reader.
On looking about one can see here a field that has
not been sufficiently supplied to have brought about
any considerable amount of selection. The require-
ments are so diverse that only recently has it been
possible to encompass their acquirement in one life-
time. The occasional college man who is not afraid
to labor with his hands for a time has an advantage
not to be despised. No less is that of the student miner
or mechanic. Though previous experience is essen-
tial, where delays and expense liable to experiment
would be fatal, it is a poor criterion except in so far
as conditions are similar. Of course failure is liable,
but progress is based on failures.
Teiluride, Golo. Mine Foreman.
A Homely Suggestion.
To the Editor: — In Sierra county, Cal., Canyon
creek, above Devils gate, was evidently once a large
lake. Into this lake flowed many small streams,
from the gulches cut deeply into the sides of the sur-
rounding high mountains. Mt. Filmore is the third
highest mountain in California; its peak is over 3000
feet above Poker Flat, which is situated at the bot-
tom of the ancient lake site, where Canyon creek now
runs. High up on the sides of the mountains are many
abandoned placer mines, in channels of ancient river
beds, formerly profitably worked by hydraulic
methods.
About 1000 feet above the bed of Canyon creek
are the deep cuts made as parts of the work on a
large canal, designed to bring water to the hydraulic
miners from Gold lake, 20 miles distant. On all sides
are the evidences of past extensive hydraulic mining
done here. Over $3,000,000 in gold was taken from
the mines around Poker Flat, which is but an index
of what remains. As a result of the restraints on
hydraulic mining, this fact is worthy of consideration,
as a typical case, and the question arises, Cannot
something be done to enable the miners to take out
the gold that remains in these mines?
On looking over the ground with this object in
view, there is presented an apparently very simple
solution of the problem. The boundaries of the an-
cient lake site are high mountains, on all sides except
the outlet, where the waters of Canyon creek pass
through a narrow slit in a narrow wall of rock. This
opening is over 100 feet in height, and part of it is
less than 40 feet in width. Far above the gate, on
the mountain side, are crags, on the up stream side;
a few well placed shots would throw down enough
rock to close the gate, and thus, with the necessary
chinking, a debris dam could be formed that would
restrain all of the objectionable material brought
down from the hydraulic mines on Canyon creek and
its tributaries, from Devils gate to Gibraltar, a dis-
tance of 7 miles.
Farther down the creek, other places where high
rocky points, on each side, are not far apart, might
be utilized in the same way. It is not necessary
that, in all cases, the full height of these dams be
made at once. When sufficient height to produce the
desired result is reached, the mining can go on, and
the dam be raised as may be required, the object
being to provide a barrier against boulders and
gravel, and a check pool to make slack water in
which the heavier material will settle; the lighter
portion that remains in suspension in the slack wa-
ter will not be deposited by the running water of the
lower streams. Canyon creek is a tributary of the
Yuba river.
With this proposed dam at Devils gate, 1 mile down
stream from Poker Flat, as a type, other hydraulic
mining regions might locate similar suitable dam
sites, and thus aid many abandoned mines on ancient
river channels to yield abundance of gold by the
cheap, simple method of hydraulic mining.
Downieville, Cal. Joseph Votle.
A Tough Experience.
To the Editor: — Frequently I read accounts of
mining and milling methods that show success. Just
by way of variety I send you a truthful narrative of
what may be considered a failure. You said some time
ago that "failures were but stepping stones to suc-
cess." I believe it, and have a few good-sized boul-
ders to start on. I represent one class of your sub-
scribers, the class that is trying to do a little mining
in a small way on a small capital, the class who
get a few dollars ahead and are then willing to risk
them in trying to do better for themselves and a few
others, for it is not possible to work a mine to any
extent without furnishing employment to others. My
mine is a ledge of free milling ore 2 feet in width, car-
rying a good percentage of sulphurets. It had been
worked in the seventies and abandoned on account of
the ore being low grade, and also a rush of water,
which stopped the work. Five years ago a friend of
mine tried to open up the mine with a whim, and
while he took out enough ore to pay him for the out-
lay, he could not get below the 80-foot level without
putting in a steam plant, which he was unable to do,
so he gave it up, leaving about 100 tons of ore on the
dump that assayed $5 per ton and more. As it was
a long, hard haul to the nearest mill, it would not
pay for the hauling and milling.
Having known of the mine for a number of years,
and having had a long experience with a "poor
man's mill" — i. e., an arrastra — I tackled it, putting
in a steam hoist, pump and arrastra, the latter at the
mouth of the shaft, to run the whole with one boiler
and engine, having everything arranged conveniently,
so that one man could do all the top work.
Just as I was ready to fire up to test the machin-
ery, after over a year's hard work, the shaft caved,
coming together for over 40 feet, so I had to retim-
ber the shaft from the top to the water, the latter
making as high as twelve buckets of water to one of
waste. But. as I wanted lots of water, of course,
that suited me. I finally got started and everything
ran smoothly. I ground out a ton of the dump
every six hours, making two tons per day of twelve
hours, and the way it took the "quick" was cer-
tainly encouraging. "Stocks" went out of sight,
and I knew I "had it " at last.
But pride preceded my fall — the "knock " was there
all right and I got it. I had a tank alongside the shaft
that I pumped into from the sump. I used to fill it
every night after shutting down the " mill," as it not
only saved time by doing so, but it also ran down the
head of steam. On the fifth night after starting to
grind something went wrong with the pump. I went
down the shaft in the morning and found only 6
inches of water in the sump. The water had quit in
the mine. I tried to run the dump through, but I
had to wait a whole week to get enough water to
grind a batch of ore. The deeper I got into the ore
dump the more talc and clay showed up, which took
three times the amount of water the clean quartz
had required. So I concluded I was surely "up
against it." Now, tell me, was this a case of bad
judgment, or is there such a thing as bad luck?
Piute, Cal. Miner.
Steam Shovels in the Atlin District, B. C.
One of the companies operating in the Atlin dis-
trict, in British Columbia, the Northern Mines, Ltd.,
recently completed the installation of a steam shovel
plant, for placer mining purposes, says the Canadian
Mining Review. The plant includes a shovel, with a
capacity of 1000 yards in ten hours; an auxiliary
hoisting plant; 2000 feet of flume, and 200 feet of
sluices. The shovel has been placed on a stratum of
clay cement in a pit excavated for the purpose. The
dirt is deposited by the shovel into skips holding li
yard, which are hoisted by the auxiliary plant on a
cableway conveyor some 40 feet to the dump box.
At the end of the dump box there is a grizzly which
cuts out all rock over 3 inches, from there the gravel
travels over 60 feet of block riffles, at the end of this
sluice there is another grizzly which cuts out all
material over f of an inch, and the remaining gravel
then passes over another 40 feet of sluice to the
dump. From the height of the sluices, some 40 feet,
there has been provided an ample dump, and the
possibility of a block by tailings has been greatly
minimized. During subsequent tests for a three-hour
run some ninety-five buckets were handled and it is
estimated that 800 yards per day can be handled
with ease.
October 7, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
240
Transportation in Colorado. *
Written for the Mining and Scientific Prkss.
Transportation facilities in Colorado are being im-
proved upon each year. It is not uncommon to see
large pack trains consisting of burros or mules car-
rying ore from the mine or mill to the station and
returning with supplies for the mine. In the San
Juan country, especially, a large amount of the ore
is carried in this manner, as many of the mines are
inaccessible for railroads or wagons, and in some
instances, where there is a fairly good road, the
operators seem to think it the cheapest and most
economical to pack the material in preference to
hauling by wagon. At the Tomboy mine, near Tellu-
ride, they have a good wagon road to the mine and
mill — about 6 miles — but most of the material is
packed on mules or burros for this mine. Several of
the other mines, such as the Smuggler-Union and
Liberty Bell, have their mills in the valley, on the
railroad, and the ore is brought from the mine to the
mill by aerial tramway. The aerial tramway is
undoubtedly a great benefit to this section of the
State, as the mountains are extremely high and the
mines are in out-of-the-way places, where it requires
several miles to reach by wagon road or trail, while
the tramway is built over the most precipitous moun-
Fig. 7. — Man Crossing the Chasm on Aerial Tramway.
tains and across gulches. As an illustration of tram-
way building, the Old Hundred mine, on Galena
mountain, about 5 miles north of Silverton, in Cun-
ningham gulch, is an example of what can be accom-
plished. This tramway is built in three sections.
Beginning at the foot of the hill, in Cunningham
gulch, the first section extends up the side of the
mountain for a distance of 1800 feet, and is known as
the Bleichert system. Of the three sections in the line
this is the lightest grade, being only 35°. On the front
page (Fig. 4) is illustrated the lower terminal of this
section of the tramway and a high trestle over the road
in the gulch. This trestle is used for hauling out the
waste for the mill foundation, which is being erected
at this point. At the foot of this trestle a high stone
wall, built of solid masonry, has been erected in a V
shape to protect the power house and terminal from
snowslides. This wall is built in this manner so that
the snowslide will be split and the force of the same
stopped before any damage can be done. Snowslides
must be guarded against in these high altitudes, and
especially where the mountains are so steep as in the
San Juan country.
In Fig. 2 is illustrated the loading terminal and
trestle of the Bleichert tramway at station No. 1.
Fig. 7 illustrates the jigback tramway, with a man
on board, between No. 1 and No. 2 stations. This
line is 760 feet long and the steepest point is about
50° angle. The second jigback, between No. 2 and
No. 7, is 2200 feet in length and has an angle of
63°. To appreciate the difficulties in erecting such a
line, it is necessary to take a trip over it. There are
several lines in the district much higher from the
ground, but none quite as steep. To one not accus-
tomed to riding the tramway lines, it looks as if the
bucket was going straight up. The sensation can-
not be described. The total length of the three lines
is 4750 feet, with a fall of 2200 feet.
Fig. 3 shows the boarding house and upper termi-
*See illustrations front page.
nal of the upper jigback. This boarding house is
built on the side of the mountain, and in order to get
room enough it was necessary to blast out of the
solid rock. From the porch to the bottom of the
next stopping place it is several hundred feet, almost
perpendicular. The material for this boarding house
and terminal was packed on burros from the railroad
at Howardsville, 4 miles north of Silverton and 1 mile
from the lower terminal of the tramway, up Cun-
ningham gulch, where a trail was struck and followed
to the top of the mountain, making about 5 miles by
trail and less than 1 mile straight up the hill, where
it was lowered down in an improvised chute a dis-
tance of 500 feet. A steel range for the boarding
house was also handled in this manner. This work
was done in the dead of winter, and anyone familiar
with the San Juan country during winter months will
understand the trials and tribulations of a tramway
builder at that season of the year.
The pack train in some sections is almost a neces-
sity, as to build wagon roads would mean large
tation facilities. One thing in favor of Cripple Creek,
the hills are not so hard to get around" as in the
southern part of the State and in other localities,
although the grade on some of the railroads entering
the camp is very steep.
There is now considerable talk of an electric road
being built to the different mines in Leadville dis-
trict, which, if constructed, will be the means of han-
dling much lower grade ore than at present.
Southern Rhodesian Gold Mining. *
Written by C. E. Parsons.
The conditions existing to-day in southern Rhode-
sia are widely different to those of a few years ago,
the general welfare of the community being more
dependent upon the existence and prosperity of small
individuals than it has been in the past. The growth
of tributers and small local syndicates operating
Fig. 8. — The Ore Bins and Jigs at the Mine.
' _tl^gg/k
■:
' .fi
*"?
L^
^^fi
. m
it&t
ImBf^
V~'
$£jf W'
fi
Tf " ' n\T^
*
■MB . |
lI5
;;vc,..t,™W.^
Fig. g. — Seventeen-Mule Pack Train, 3400 Feet ij-lnch Cable, Southern Colorado.
amounts of money, and until the country is more
thickly settled and more mines opened up the pack
train must of necessity take the place of the railroad
and tramway. The pack train shown herewith con-
sists of seventeen mules carrying 3400 feet of li-inch
wire cable in one piece for use on an aerial tramway.
In Leadville some of the ore is loaded from the ore
bin at the mine direct to the railroad cars for ship-
ment to the smelters, and in many instances it is
hauled by four, six and eight-horse teams to the rail-
road.
In Gilpin county, at Central City, the majority of
the mines are located on the line of the Gilpin County
Tramway, which traverses the hills as far as Russell
Gulch and down to Black Hawk, to the mills, where
it connects with the railroad.
In Cripple Creek it is interesting to see the num-
ber of railroad tracks circling here and there around
the hills to the different mines in the district, and to
watch the trains as they are loading with ore for
shipment to the mills and smelters. In this district,
which cannot be said of any of the other districts in
the State, the men are enabled to live at home and
catch an electric or steam train at a certain hour in
the morning or at night for their work, and which
takes them within a few minutes' walk of any of the
mines.
It is believed that in time a majority of the mining
camps will be equally as well supplied with transpor-
mines of their own or properties originally developed
and leased to them is one of the most noticeable
features.
The value of the gold for the year ending March
31st, 1905, was £1,120,528, or 31.8%. The return
for June, 1905, was valued at £127,812, which consti-
tutes a record. This amount was contributed by
seventy-two producers, of which about fifty-six were
individuals and local syndicates who have embarked
their own capital and labor in the various enter-
prises.
Of the total value of gold produced for the month
of June, over £38,000, or 30%, emanated from small
owners. From this it will be seen what an important
factor they represent. In June 774 stamps or their
equivalent were operating, and at the present
moment over 200 further stamps or their equivalent
are under order.
A large number of properties which have not yet
reached the milling stage should be producing in the
near future. Of these the following may be men-
tioned: The El Dorado, Sabiwa, Giant, Jumbo, Bat-
tlefield, Clifton, Yankee Doodle and Etna. All these
mines have considerable ore reserves. Milling has
just commenced on Qaika and Beatrice mines,
neither of which figures in the June output. In two
other cases milling plants are being increased. Allow-
ing for the exhaustion of several of the existing prop-
hage's Weekly.
241
Mining and Scientific Press.
October 7, 1905.
erties, a progressive output should be maintained.
Rhodesia has advantages over the Transvaal in
that it is better timbered and watered. Against
that, railway rates are high and materials in conse-
quence more expensive. It has cost the inhabitants
£9 10s to £16 a ton for goods imported by them.
Railway rates, however, are shortly to be reduced
about 25%. The configuration of the country in a
few instances, together with water power, is in its
favor. This applies principally to the Umtali dis-
trict. The ore deposits do not possess the perma-
nency and stability that obtain in the Rand conglom-
erate series, but compare favorably with those on
most of the other gold fields scattered over the globe,
both from a geological and mineralogical standpoint.
It is not too much to say that Rhodesia offers a
very wide field for small mining propositions. At the
same time low-grade reefs and bodies of ore exist that
cannot be well handled by individuals owing to the
heavy outlays demanded. Most of the gold is derived
from quartz veins and reefs, but a large percentage
is also extracted from diorite, schist, and a small
amount from alluvial deposits.
In the Lomagundi district a deposit of auriferous
conglomerate on the El Dorado mine is attracting a
great deal of attention, and excellent results are
being obtained. Small owners may now work to a
profit under arrangement with the Chartered Co.
Should they make more than £100 profit a month, a
royalty of 1\% is payable on the gold won. If, there-
fore, profits do not reach £100, no royalty is de-
manded.
The auriferous area is extensive, large and small
gold mines being scattered throughout the territory
and exist at wide intervals apart, often many miles
from a railway. Mines treating varying tonnages,
from 14,000 tons to a few tons of specimen stone, or
even less, are the order of the day.
Working costs are difficult to get at, conditions
varying to such an extent that we find every case
stands by itself. The president of the Chamber of
Mines in his last annual report selects seven repre-
sentative mines. Two large low-grade mines work-
ing under exceptional conditions are not included.
The following are his approximate figures:
Mining... ' 0 10 2
Milling 0 4 10
Hauling, crushing, sorting and headgear 0 2 9
General 0 3 0
Cyaniding 0 3 2
Total 1 3 11
This does not include redemption, depreciation,
etc. With these additions the amount would work
out to about 30s.
Tributers working on a smaller scale, having fewer
expenses and not including their own time, would
probably work for from 12s to 20s per ton. This fig-
ure can only be estimated from experience. Alto-
gether about 1200 whites and 1500 natives are em-
ployed in the mining industry.
Apart from gold, silver valued at £902 and lead at
£548 were obtained in June, 1905, while deposits of
copper, zinc and wolfram occur. From the Wankie
collieries about 7000 tons of coal is being supplied to
the railways, mines, and in other directions. Near
Gwelo a water-worn deposit of diamondiferous gravel
is being prospected and stones of good quality have
been found.
Unlike many Australian "fields," the country
under irrigation or during the wet season is capable
of producing all kinds of crops, while vegetables grow
well. It is an excellent stock raising country. About
1100 whites live by farming, scattered over 950
farms. These factors will assist the gold industry.
The total population consists of 12,000 white people
and 565,000 natives living in the country.
In most cases outcrops and the upper portions of
reefs of any value have already been removed from
the surface to 30 and over 100 feet by the " ancients,"
consequently modern mining often commences below
the first level.
The general practice in Rhodesia is that adopted
in other parts of the world, with modifications. The
stamp battery (heavy type) finds most favor. A
large number of other mills are used by themselves
and as auxiliaries. One large dry crushing roller
mill is treating upwards of 14,000 tons a month, and
another smaller plant is being erected. Over twenty
Tremain steam stamps are in operation, also ten
Huntington mills. Several tube mills will shortly be
at work.
Wolframite and the Prospector.
In recent years a great deal of interest has
attached to the tungsten minerals, of which the most
important are wolfram, hubnerite and scheelite.
Wolfram is the most abundant so far as known.
Considerable quantities have been mined in the south-
ern Black Hills of South Dakota in granite dikes,
and in the northern Hills in Cambrian quartzites. In
Arizona and in other States it occurs in veins. The
following description of wolframite, by a writer in
the London Mining Journal, is of interest and value
to prospectors:
Wolfram is of a black or deep brownish black
color, and has a luster resembling black glass, but
with a metallic or submetallic tinge. In breaking, it
usually cleaves along flat, shining faces, very much
like antimony, and in this respect is very different
from the conchoidal fracture of broken glass. Where
exposed on the surface this cleavage is not always
present. On handling the mineral one is impressed
with its specific gravity; it is heavier than iron, not
quite so heavy as lead — about the weight of metallic
copper. The following list shows the specific gravity
of wolfram compared to that of other substances:
Wolfram 7.8, magnetite 5, hematite 5, hornblende 3,
titanic iron 5; tinstone 7, rutile and metallic iron 7,
metallic copper 8, lead 11 and water (the standard).
The streak is the mark left when the mineral is
scratched by a substance harder than itself, and cor-
responds with the powder when the mineral is finely
crushed. Minerals agreeing with one another in
color very rarely have the same colored streak or
powder, and this fact is useful in distinguishing wol-
fram from those minerals which otherwise it closely
resembles. Magnetite, hematite, titanic iron, man-
ganese dioxide, tourmaline, tinstone, hornblende,
zincblende, black volcanic glass, etc., are all black,
or most of their varieties are, but vary considerably
in the color of their streak.
The streak of magnetite, coal, manganese is black,
that of tourmaline, tinstone, rutile, hornblende and
volcanic glass is of various shades, but all light col-
ored, while hematite, zincblende, chromite and titanic
iron resemble that of wolfram in leaving a dark-
colored streak tinged with brown or red.
The hardness of a mineral is also a very useful test.
Titanic iron, chromite, wolfram, hornblende are
about as hard as a common knife blade; while hema-
tite, tourmaline, magnetite, tinstone, rutile and
franklinite are all harder.
As an example of the working out of the various
tests how to know wolfram, say I have a blackish
mineral. Its weight at once impresses the observer.
It would, therefore, not be hornblende, chromite,
zincblende, tourmaline nor rutile, but might be either
wolfram, magnetite, hematite, titanic iron or tin-
stone (specific gravity test).
A piece now very finely crushed gives a powder or
streak which is neither black nor light colored. Tak-
ing those among which the mineral might be found in
the previous tests, it will be seen that it cannot be
tinstone (light colored) or magnetite (black), but
being reddish or brownish may be wolfram, hematite
or titanic iron (streak test).
If one now takes a small piece of the mineral and
tests it in a blowpipe flame and the mineral fuses or
melts on the edge or corners, it is therefore not hem-
atite nor titanic iron, but probably wolfram (fusible
test).
Now break from that piece a flake, and the clean,
bright submetallic luster of a cleavage face is shown.
The presence of the mineral is confirmed (cleavage
and luster test).
I thought the above may be some guide to the wol-
fram prospector, but to those more advanced I
append a chemical test.
Chemical Test. — As a tungstate of iron and man-
ganese gives a gray, infusible mass on charcoal, with
borax, and lead gives colorless beading in the oxidiz-
ing flame; in reducing flame gives a yellow bead
while hot, which changes to yellowish brown when
cold. With microscosmic salt it gives a colorless
bead in the oxidizing flame, while in the reducing
flame it is dirty green when hot and becomes blue on
cooling; on the addition of iron it is blood red.
Wolfram when present in small quantities may be
detected as follows: The sample is fused with about
five times its weight of sodium carbonate, the mass
extracted with water, and the tungstic acid precipi-
tated in the form of a white powder by means of
hydrochloric acid. The precipitate becomes yellow
on boiling, and is insoluble in excess of the acid, but
dissolves in ammonia. The solution after acidification
gives a deep brown coloration with potassium ferro-
cyanide, and after some time a precipitate of the
same color separates out. The solution, after adding
the ammonia, gives a white precipitate with silver
nitrate and yellow stannous chloride. On acidifica-
tion with hydrochloric acid, and warming, the pre-
cipitate becomes a beautiful blue color, which is very
characteristic. If wolfram is treated with strong
sulphuric acid and some zinc added to the solution,
the solution will have a deep blue color. Wolfram is
usually associated with tinstone, and for a long time
the separation of the minerals was a matter of con-
siderable difficulty. It is now effected by roasting
the crushed minerals with carbonate of soda, by
which means tungstate of soda is formed and the tin
ore can be separated. The tungstate of soda thus
formed is used with starch for rendering light fabrics
such as muslin uninflammable. It is also employed
as a mordant by dyers; it is also used for hardening
plaster of Paris, and it is the chief source from which
tungstic acid is derived.
For the estimation of the quantity of the wolfram
present, the best method is as follows: Take ten
grains of the substance and boil for about an hour
with twenty-five cubic centimeters of pure hydro-
chloric acid, then add five cubic centimeters of pure
nitric acid; boil for about half an hour and then allow
to stand about twelve hours. Dilute with an equal
volume of water, and filter. The iron and manganese
are obtained in solution, while the silica and tungstic
acid compose the residue (with, perhaps, tin). Col-
lect the undissolved residue, filter and wash with
dilute hydrochlorine, dissolve in warm ammonia, filter
off the undissolved residue — silica and possible tin.
Dilute the solution and evaporate to dryness in a
weighted porcelain dish; when dry, ignite carefully
till it assumes a uniform yellow color, cool and weigh.
The iron and manganese, etc., are then to be esti-
mated.
Black Sand Investigation.
During the last session of Congress, says TJ. S. Geo-
logical Survey Bulletin No. 199, an appropriation was
made to enable the U. S. Geological Survey to inves-
tigate the black sands of placer mines. Under the
supervision of Dr. David T. Day, chief of the division
of mining and mineral resources, samples of black
sands have been collected from placer mines of the
United States, British Columbia, Central America
and Mexico, and concentration experiments have
been carried on all summer at the Lewis and Clark
Centennial Exposition at Portland, Or., in connection
with the exhibits of mining machinery. A preliminary
report on the progress of the investigation has re-
cently been submitted by Dr. Day to the Director
of the Survey.
A circular letter requesting samples of black sand
was sent last March to the 8000 placer miners of the
United States and 828 samples of sand have been re-
ceived for investigation from all parts of the United
States. Of these, 195 specimens have been assayed
for their contents of gold and platinum, with the re-
sults shown in the accompanying table:
AMOUNT OP GOLD AND PLATINUM CONTAINED IN BLACK
SAND CONCENTRATES PROM VARIOUS PLACER MIN-
ING DISTRICTS.
[OUNCES PER TON. J
ARIZONA.
Columbia
Granite Creek .
"Walnut Grove .
County.
Oroville
Alvarado placer mine, Butte Creek.
Buchanan Hill
Peavine Creek
Empire
Wild Goose mine
Orleans
T. 16 N., R. 12 W., Sec. 7
Rough and Ready Township
Taylor mine, North Fork American
river, Colfax
Southwest of Auburn
Gold Run
Gold Blossom mine, Butcher Ranch
mining district
American River
Nelson Creek
Boulder Nest mine on Grizzly Creek,
Genesee district
Rock Island Hill mine
Little Grizzly mine
La Porte ,
Van Dusen canyon, Holcomb
Gem mine, Saoramento river, north
of Redding
Gypsy mine, Shasta district
Fox Creek
Grouse Creek ;
Happy Camp district
Junction City mining district
South Fork and Trinity river
T.5N..R. 7 E
Yavapai
Yavapai .
Yavapai .
CALIFORNIA.
Butte ....
Butte .
Butte
Butte .....:
Butte
Calaveras . .
Humboldt. .
Mendocino .
Nevada
Placer . .
Placer ..
Placer . .
Placer . .
Placer . .
Plumas .
Plumas
Plumas
PJumas
Plumas
San Bernardino.
Shasta ......
Shasta
Siskiyou ,. .
Siskiyou . . .
Siskiyou . . .
Trinity ....
Trinity
Trinity
Buena Vista
San Luis Valley
Junction of Gunnison, Chaffee and
Pitkin counties
Pole Creek, Cretone
West of Telluride
Saw Pit
COLORADO.
Chaffee .
Costilla
Pitkin
Saguache ..
San Miguel
San Miguel .
IDAHO.
Bingham . . .
Bingham . . .
Boise
Boise
Elmore . .
Elmore . .
Fremont .
Idaho
Shoshone .
Shoshone .
Shoshone .
West of Blackfoot
West bank Snake river
Ox Bow tunnel, Payette river
Gold Fork, North Payette river
Bear Creek mining district, Rocky
Bar
Baker Gulch, Crooked river
Gem placer mine, Menan
Elk City district
Pierce City
Big Island, North Fork Clearwater
river
Beaver Butte mining district; Trail
creek
MONTANA,
Princeton | Granite
NEW MEXICO.
Los Cerrillos [Santa Fe
Tecolote mountains J Lincoln . .
OREGON.
South of Durkee : Baker
Old Ocean Beach, Randolph mining
district, No. 1
Old Ocean Beach, Randolph mining
district, No. 2
Old Ocean Beach, Randolph mining
district, No. 3
Ocean Beach, Whiskey river
Ocean Beach
East of Riddle
Cow Creek mining district, Glen
dale
Riddle
North Fork Steamboat river
No. 2 Bohemian mining district
Fry Gulch mine
Galice Creek
Sucker Creek
Allen Gulch mine, Waldo
Coyote Creek
South Santiam river
Camp Carson district, Grande Ronde
river
SOUTH DAKOTA.
French Creek | Custer. .
UTAH.
Colorado river IGarfield .
North of Morgan jMorgan .
.79
trace
trace
19.94
5.22
1 09
7.03
.08
39.08
19.00
trace
5 60
29.26
24.14
37.61
191.60
126.90
1 45
1.44
10.80
trace
64
8.29
.72
10 31
none
28 43
9.02
1.99
none
.37
trace
19.62
1.60
.52
2.02
1.10
trace
trace
1.08
.16
Plati-
num
.06
trace
trace
27.45
.17
.08
.83
trace
.35
4.00
trace
.52
1.27
1.48
8.78
9.67
.12
trace
.21
.06
trace
.18
.82
25.80
1.28
4.61
.43
trace
.05
.06
09
trace
.16
.18
.70
.11
| 1.67
Coos .
Coos .
Coos
Coos
Coos
Douglas . .
Douglas . . .
Douglas . . .
Douglas . . .
Douglas . . .
Josephine .
Josephine .
Josephine .
Josephine
Josephine .
Linn
Union .
trace
trace
none
.02
none
1.25
4.71
50
19.27
.18
trace
1.88
none
6.58
37 30
none
2.60
2.40
trace
trace
.05
.04
trace
.05
trace
trace
2.10
.91
.10
.20
6.23
8.59
2.25
128.73
.02
trace
4.53
.26
.67
.58
trace
8.52
.12
| trace | trace
.15
trace
Adequate machinery and appliances have been se-
cured and placed in the Lewis and Clark Exposition,
October 7, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
242
Portland, Or., in charge of competent metallurgists,
to treat one carload in eight hours. The manner of
treatment varies with the kind of sand to be treated.
The sands are grouped in two classes — (1) sea sands,
low-grade gravels and tailings from a number of
dredgers and their middlings from placer workings,
and (2) heavy tailings from concentration, containing
the residue from the cleanup from placer mines, etc.
The method of treatment so far developed for beach
sands and tailings from placer mines has been to
deliver the sand, after appropriate sampling, to the
automatic feeder. It is then elevated to the roof of
the building, passing over the screen, and delivered
to an automatic distributor, from which it is evenly
fed by a current of water through four iron pipes to
the several concentrating machines. These machines
separate the sands into three portions — concentrates,
middlings and tailings. The entire concentrates and
middlings are collected and samples of the tailings
are taken out every live minutes. Samples of these
concentrates, middlings and tailings are dried and
then treated by the process devised by Henry E.
Wood of Denver, Colo., by which the sands are first
separated by the magnetic separator into six por-
tions by live successively increasing currents, repre-
senting the chief minerals contained in the sands.
These are finally separated by a hand batea. The
end products thus separated and obtained are mag-
netite, chromite, garnet, olivine, monazite, zircon,
quartz, gold and platinum. The amounts of these
minerals are then weighed and the portions repre-
senting precious minerals are assayed.
The following results are stated to have been ob-
tained by concentrating the black sand: Forty
pounds of black sand received from Placer, Josephine
county, Or., yielded oversize on 10-mesh screen 18
pounds 9 ounces, which yielded 13.754 grams of gold
nuggets. The undersize through a 10-mesh screen,
weighing 21 pounds 5 ounces, yielded 11.6 grams of
nugget gold. Its total weight being 25.354 grams,
the gold would be worth, if pure, $16.84, giving a
value per ton of $842.
Another run of the black sands was from the resi-
due from a cleanup of dredging operations from
Rock Point, Or., weighing 468.6 pounds, containing
quicksilver, amalgam and gold. The oversize through
10-mesh screen was 223i pounds and yielded 3.992
grams of gold; the undersize was 243 pounds and
gave 15.270 grams of gold, making a total yield of
nugget gold of 19. 26a grams. This, if pure, would be
worth $12.71, or the residues were worth $54.20
per ton.
The Mercur Gold Mines of Utah.
The annual report of the Consolidated Gold Mines
Co. of Utah, for the year ending June 30, 1905, is of
interest to mining men of the western United States.
During the fiscal year the daily average tonnage was
671 tons, the total for the year being 245,026 tons, of
which about one-third was base ore. From all this
ore an average of $2.97 was extracted, being 11
cents per ton more than the previous year.
The tailings values during the year showed a re-
markable fluctuation in value. Concerning this the
report makes the following statement:
Tailings. — The tailings, by months, were as follows:
July, 1904 SO 91
August, 1904 86
September, 1904 85
October. 1904 94
November, 1904 96
December, 1904 121
January, 1905 81 18
February. 1905 104
March, 1905 1 02
April, 1905 92
May, 1905 95
June, 1905 92
Average $0 98
On last year's report, the tailings averaged $1.03
per ton, hence we have gained 5 cents per ton on
the extraction.
It will be observed that the tailings do not always
remain uniformly low, the fluctuations being chiefly
due to variations in the character of the ore. How-
ever, the general average shows a material improve-
ment over the work of the two preceding years. It
is true that we do not extract all the soluble gold,
and it was for this reason that we undertook our dis-
astrous experiment with the slime plant, two years
ago. However, we aim to operate along the lines of
greatest profit, and, while it might be possible to get
a greater extraction of values by some other method,
the increased saving might be more than offset by
added expenses. The Mercur ore is a rather com-
plex one, and many suprising things happen, from
time to time, in the course of its treatment. I do not
feel as if we had reached the best possible results,
and even now we are experimenting along some new
lines, in the hope of finding a cheap, practicable method
of getting our tailings as low in practice as they can
be got in impracticable laboratory tests.
Ore Values. — Adding the amount lost in the" tail-
ings to the amount extracted, we find that the aver-
age value of the ore treated during the year was
$3.95 per ton. This most important item, too, shows
an improvement over last year's results, the average
value of the ore having increased 6 cents per ton.
On such a large tonnage as we handle, an increase
of a few cents per ton soon runs into money.
Expenses. — The mining costs for the year, includ-
ing prospecting, were $370,934.56, or $1.51 per ton.
The milling costs were $273,865.08, or $1.12 p"er ton.
Accordingly, the total operating costs of the com-
pany, including all expenses, except construction
items, were $644, 709 C4, or $2.63 per ton.
This is the lowest record for expenses that the com-
pany has ever made, the best previous report being
$2.88 in 1903. It is obvious that this economy of
operation was the greatest factor in bringing the
company such a prosperous year as compared with
the preceding twelve months.
The mining cost per ton shows an increase of eleven
cents over last year's figures. This is not surprising
when it is considered that the past year has been
devoted largely to reopening the mine. Driving into
caved stopes has been expensive, both for labor and
timbers, and ore from such places naturally costs
more to get out than from virgin bodies. There have
also been some extraordinary expenses for repairs,
that were charged to operating, mention of which is
made under Mine Report.
The milling costs, on the other hand, have shown a
most gratifying decrease, being forty-eight cents per
ton less than last year. Economies have been effected
in many departments, and especial attention has been
paid to regulating the work, according to the principle
of intensified production.
Dividends. — One dividend was paid by the com-
pany during the year, viz. : Dividend No. 20, June 6,
1905, ih cents per share, or $25,000.
The previous disbursements of the company were
$1,030,000, hence the total dividends to date are
$1,055,000.
Adding to the above the amounts paid by the old
Mercur and De La Mar companies, prior to their
consolidation, we find that the total of the dividends
paid by the properties of the Consolidated Mercur
Gold Mines Company is $3,235,312.97.
Manning Mill. — Last summer, after making the
necessary repairs, the Manning mill was leased on a
royalty basis. The lessees operated the mill for a
short time, but their results were so disappointing
that they were obliged to throw up the lease, and the
company received no revenue from their operations.
Upon the relinquishment of this lease, the mill was
operated by the company until the end of the season.
This run lasted from September 25th to December 5th,
during which period 21,040 tons of old tailings were
re-treated. The gross production was $13,587.90, or
64 cents per ton, and the total expenses were $11-
452.43, or 54 cents per ton. Hence, the net profits
on the company's operations were $2,135.47, or 10
cents per ton.
This spring the mill was again leased, and up to the
close of the fiscal year the company had received
royalties amounting to $4038.15, covering the months
of April, May and June.
Mill Report. — The year ends with the mill gener-
ally in good condition, so far as machinery and gen-
eral equipment are concerned. The building, how-
ever, needs painting, and some of the iron roofing
will have to be renewed. These matters will be
attended to before winter.
Crushing. — In the crushing department no mate-
rial change has been made, except to regulate the
operations of the machinery so as to handle the ore
most economically. Some alterations have been made
in the size to which the ore is crushed, as well as in
the screening arrangement, with a view toward bet-
tering the extraction. This department is giving
good results, and is being cheaply operated.
Roasting. — In the roasting department five fur-
naces are at present in operation, although during
portions of the past year only four were running.
The furnaces now handle a larger tonnage than ever
before, with far lower operating expenses, and with
only a fraction of the repairs of former years.
Leaching. — The leaching department has been
operating very smoothly during the past year. Par-
ticular care has been exercised in the method of
charging the ore into the leaching tanks, as well as in
applying the solutions. The consumption of chemicals
has been comparatively low, that of cyanide being .82
pound per ton of ore.
The tailings tracks were changed, and new cars
provided, to admit of ihe use of horses in tramming
out the tailings, which are now being discharged by
contract, at a considerable saving to the company
over former day's pay work.
Mine Report. — The past year has been an interest-
ing and important one in the mine. Broadly speaking,
the work has largely consisted of reopening the older
workings. Early in 1904 the property was in a pre-
carious condition. A considerable portion of the
mine was caved, and had been abandoned as worked
out. This seemed surprising, in view of the fact that
the various blocks of ground had never yielded any-
thing like the quantity of ore indicated by the original
development. Our more recent operations have made
it clear that the caving of the various stopes was not
due to exhaustiou of the ore, but to faulty mining.
The mining was nearly all done with stulls. This
system is very good under certain conditions, but the
Mercur ore bodies range from 20 to 80 feet in thick-
ness, and to attempt to mine such an ore body by
means of stulls, even though the vein be taken in
slices, or "subs," is wholly impracticable, and it is
not surprising that in some of our best stopes not over
one-third of the ore was got out before the country
caved. The mine was in the first place quite intelli-
gently prospected and developed; but the same good
judgment was not displayed in the selection of min-
ing methods.
We have done a great deal of prospecting in virgin
territory, during the past year, and have opened up
much new ore; but a large share of our work has been
in going back into the old stopes, driving through
caved ground with tunnel sets, preparatory to mining
by the caving system. To persons inexperienced in
this sort of work, this often seems dangerous; but, as
a matter of fact, when done by men accustomed to it,
it is as safe as running untimbered tunnels in new
ground. Hence, there has been no apprehension on
the score of safety, the principal thing to look out for
being to keep solid bottom for all drifts, and not to
drive over any open caves, which might let the floor
of a drift through. We have been very successful in
this respect, the single exception being due to dis-
obedience of orders on the part of contractors who
were breaking ore by the car. But, of course, this
sort of work takes great quantities of timbers, which
run up the cost of the ore while we are blocking out.
Furthermore, the drifts are not made very large, so
they do not produce much tonnage as they progress.
Again, while in some stopes the cave drifts are all in
ore just as if it were a virgin ore body, in some other
places the material contains a great deal of waste
rock, the waste often exceeding the ore. The ore
from such places, naturally, is pretty expensive.
Taking the foregoing points into consideration, it is
not hard to understand why our mining costs in-
creased a little during the year.
Ore Reserves. — I wish it were possible to make a
close estimate of the tonnage of ore in sight in the
mines, but it must be apparent to anyone reading
what I have said about the workings in caved ground
that this is out of the question. The best I could hope
to do would be to make a guess. I said last year that
I thought the ore then developed ought to admit of
profitable operation for at least two or three years,
and that there was no reason to doubt that during
such a period many new developments would be
made. The year's results have shown that that esti-
mate was certainly conservative. I feel just as con-
fident to-day that we have at least twice as much ore
in sight as we had a year ago.
Improvements and Repairs. — Owing to the great
difficulty we have had with hand sampling, we decided
last year to build a small sampling mill at the Mercur
mine. The mill went into commission in December
and has been of great advantage, because instead of
having to rely upon samples of a few pounds, we can
now run through a ton at a time, if desired, thereby
getting much more reliable results. In building the
plant, we used a good deal of material and machinery
we already had on hand. The financial statement
shows the cost of the plant to be $1514.76. As a mat-
ter of fact, it cost about $500 more than this amount,
but the difference was charged to operating expenses.
Our large electric hoist got into bad condition dur-
ing the year, owing to the wear and tear of seven
years' operations. We are obliged to provide an
entire new main driving gear, which costs about
$2000, all of which was charged to operating expenses.
The timbering in the Tramway tunnel at the Mercur
pockets, under the tailings dump, got into such
wretched condition that it became necessary to give
the place a general overhauling. Since the condition
of the mine had so greatly improved as to justify the
expenditure, we retimbered the entire wide part of
the tunnel with 12x12 inch Oregon fir timbers, the
sets being 8 feet high in the clear. This makes a com-
modious, safe and convenient tunnel, that will last for
years. The cost of the work was several thousand
dollars, and was included in the operating expenses.
These extraordinary expenditures run up the cost
of mining. Unfortunately, they are not all over yet.
Among the prospective jobs for the ensuing year is
retimbering the main shaft, which is in bad condition,
and which is a constant source of expense for repairs.
A recent Reuter dispatch from Madagascar
contains the following: "The draft of the decree
for the regulation of mining in Madagascar is
still at the Ministry of Finance, where it is be-
ing examined by the Minister of Justice. As soon
as the document is returned to the Ministry of the
Colonies. M. Clementel will submit it to the Council
of Ministers, and will publish it as soon as pos-
sible in the Gazette. The decree divides the mines
of Madagascar into two categories, alluvial mines and
reef mines. In the case of alluvial mines a tax of 5%
ad valorem on the gross output and an annual tax of
2 francs per hectare of land will be imposed. As re-
gards reef mines, the system to be adopted will be
similar to that in force in the Transvaal. There will
be a tax of 200 francs per hectare and an ad valorem
tax of 10% or 15%. The amount of the ad valorem
charge has not yet been finally determined, but it is
very probable that it will be fixed at 10%."
The Council of the American Institute of Mining
Engineers has accepted the invitation from the
Council of the Iron & Steel Institute of England to
hold a joint meeting in London in August or Septem-
ber, 1906, the exact date to be subsequently decided.
The ninetieth meeting of the Institute, forthe read-
ing and discussion of papers, will be held at Lehigh
University, South Bethlehem, Pa., beginning Feb. 21,
1906.
243
Mining and Scientific Press.
October 7, 1906.
I Mining and Metallurgical Patents J
PATENTS ISSUED SEPTEMBER 19, 1906.
Specially Reported and Illustrated for the MINING AND
SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
Process of Mining Sulphur. — No. 799,642; H.
Frasch, Cleveland, Ohio.
\2 Oj3 Z-
In sulphur mining in porous rock, improvement
consisting in forcing hot water into underground de-
posit and out through walls of mine cavity, so that it
flows away through surrounding rock, allowing
melted sulphur which separates itself by gravity
from water in mine to collect until it seals end of sul-
phur pipe, and introducing air or other aeriform
fluid into column of melted sulphur so as to reduce its
density and allow it to be raised by pressure in mine
cavity.
Concrete Flume. — No.
Boston, Mass.
799,827; W. L. Church,
Flume comprising opposite walls having outwardly
projecting flanges, and connecting wall, all of con-
crete and integral with each other, and series of in-
dependent transverse tie rods connecting side walls,
tie rods formed with means interlocking with con-
crete and having ends embedded in flanges.
Metallurgical Furnace.— No. 799,745; P. A.
Mackay, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.
In metallurgical furnace comprised in unitary
structure, combination with parallel passages or
chambers extending longitudinally along center of
furnace, regenerative furnaces extending longitudi-
nally along sides of furnace, passage ways con-
necting regenerative furnaces with parallel cham-
bers, partitions between chambers, each partition
being hollow to form left and right reduction cham-
ber having thin walls, oxidizing chambers extending
longitudinally over regenerative furnaces, one at
each side of structure, passage ways connecting left
reduction chambers with left oxidizing chamber,
passage ways connecting right reduction chamber
with right oxidizing chamber, opening in top of each
reduction chamber for receiving products to be
treated, passage way below each row of reduction
chambers, and trap door 15, at bottom of each re-
duction chamber by means of which products of each
of reduction chambers may be conveyed to each of
passage ways below reduction chambers.
Ore Crusher. — No. 799,647; P. Hart, Johannes-
burg, Transvaal.
In crusher of nature indicated in combination,
cone spindle and crushing cone secured thereon,
means for imparting gyratory and eccentric motion
to spindle, ball slidably fitted on upper ex-
tremity of cone-spindle above cone, spider forming
bearing for upper end of cone spindle, spider having
semispherical internal recess which is adapted to re-
ceive portion of ball and adjustable gland fitted in
top of spider and having internal semispherical re-
cess to fit upper portion of ball, gland being fitted to
spider in such manner that spherical socket is formed
for ball in which ball is confined vertically and per-
mits it to rotate, gland also having hole above top of
cone spindle, and a cap which serves for closing hole
in gland, cap having internal recess forming with
hole in gland, grease or lubricant holding box com-
municating with spherical socket and from which
grease or lubricant can pass between sphere and
socket and ball and spindle.
Pulverizer. — No.
Rapids, Mich.
799,990; G. S. Knapp, Grand
Combination of rotative case, means for passing
material longitudinally through case, large roll near
axis of case and movable vertically, and series of
smaller rolls surrounding large roll and radially mov-
able relative thereto, all of rolls being supported by
lower side of case.
Pulverizing Mill — No.
Denver, Colo.
800,089; J. H. Elspass,
In pulverizing mill, combination of inner and outer
series of posts, each series of posts having inclined
lower parts whose lower extremities are outermost,
upper portions of both series of posts being vertical
and bifurcated, annular rotary mortar located be-
tween two series of posts, rollers supporting mortar
from below, pulverizing rolls provided with axles
journaled in boxes mounted in bifurcated vertical
portions of inner and outer posts, tension springs
also located in bifurcated portions of posts and en-
gaging springs from above, pulverizing rolls co-oper-
ating with mortar to perform pulverizing function.
Brill for Mining Purposes. — No. 799,880; J.
Tonge, Jr., Westhoughton, near Bolton, England.
Brill comprising tubular body provided with volute
flanges, plurality of flanges being slotted, and cutters
provided with stems adapted to project through
slotted flanges, tubular body being provided with
holes or openings into which ends of stems are bent.
phy, Leadville, Colo.
Percussion drill having mounted thereon adjust-
able dust catcher consisting of body of water-absorb-
ing material having portion thereof surrounding and
engaging drill, sleeve mounted upon drill, extending
partly through body and provided with integral
flange abutting against one end of body, and attach-
ing means secured to flange to which body is secured
for connecting latter to sleeve.
Treatment of Sulphide and Complex Ores. — No.
799,696; C. H. Ward, Sydney, New South Wales,
Australia.
Process of treating ores containing sulphur, which
consists of following steps: First, in raising temper-
ature of crushed ore to degree sufficient to cause
decomposition of sulphides by means of current of hot
gases moving in direction opposite to movement of
ore; secondly, adding sodium chloride to ore so
treated; thirdly, subjecting mixture of ore and so-
dium chloride to hot gases produced during first step
of process and causing such gases and ore to move
together in same direction; and, fourthly, reducing
temperature of commingled ore and gases while they
are moving together by introduction ' of cooling
medium.
Process of Treating Zinc Ores. — No. 799,743;
P. A. Mackay, Wenona, 111.
Process of treating zinc ores containing cadmium
sulphide and zinc sulphide, which consists in subject-
ing ore to dead roast, whereby zinc sulphide is oxi-
dized and cadmium sulphide converted into cadmium
sulphate, thereafter dissolving out deleterious sul-
phate and grinding and distilling remaining zinc oxide
to obtain therefrom pure refined zinc.
October 7, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
244
Structure and
Genesis of the
Lode.*
Comstock
The formation of the Virginia City bonanzas is
peculiar, and has never yet been concisely presented.
The present developments in mining work have
thrown much light upon this question of genesis. In
the Virginia City portion of the lode the ore occurs
not in the main lissure, but in openings or veins in
the hanging wall, which occupy nearly vertical posi-
tions. These veins are more nearly allied to gash
veins than to what are usually called fissure veins.
The secondary vein, now so productive in the Ophir
ground, has brought to light some valuable and inter-
esting facts: (1) It has been found only in the lower
mine levels, either as a mere fault zone or a produc-
tive deposit. (2) From the lines of motion preserved
finely in the clay gouge, the relative movement of the
walls is seen to have been nearly horizontal, whether
north or south the writer is not able to state defi-
nitely. From the parts of the vein observed, how-
ever, chiefly on the 2050 level, it seemed probable
that the motion was to the south for the east wall,
dipping downward about 4° in the same direction
This corresponds to the view that the vein itself is
due to a pulling apart of the rock mass, causing the
greatest openings to the north, in the concavity
caused by the bending of the vein to the east at the
north end.
The ores are doubly interesting from the fact that
their deposition still continues, due to faulting open-
ing up new fissures and fractures, and from the fact
that the mine waters are, for such waters, rich solu-
tions yielding very positive results to fire assay
methods. The ores are moving in two ways — upward
and downward.
That the ores have moved upward at more than
one time has been noted best by Becker. He writes:
"In the great California & Virginia bonanza several
streaks or veins of very rich black silver ores, said
to be largely stephanite, occurred These were sep-
arated from the surrounding quartz very sharply, as
if of later origin." Again he writes: " What I have
seen * * * leads to the belief that these rich
concentrations were of later origin than the rest of
the ore. The quartz in the C. & C. was almost
everywhere a crushed powdery mass, while the thin
and persistent veins of black ore running through it
were very solid. A somewhat similar relation
seems to have existed near the croppings, and it is
not impossible that these ores were formed at the
expense of others of the more usual kind at a later
date, and that they occupy spaces opened in the ore
masses by a faulting action."
The writer had hoped to present even more conclu-
sive evidence of successive deposition and its recency,
but owing to the fact that the lowest mine workings
are not open to outsiders, this became impossible.
However, such evidence as already possessed is as
follows:
In the ore bodies opened within the last year on
the secondary vein now worked, some pertinent facts
presented themselves. The finest specimens of ore
show often very perfect crystals of stephanite and
argentite coating, or wedged between, quartz crys-
tals. Coating one side, the downward side, of all the
minerals, is a thin layer of calcareo-siliceous mate-
rial. Below the surface crystals of ore and quartz is
a layer of quartz, resting in turn upon a second layer
of calcareo-siliceous matter. This shows below it a
second layer of ore, resting upon quartz crystals,
and so on, the series often repeating itself several
times more or less perfectly. In that portion of the
ore occurring in the lower depths, from which the
water has been drained but a short time, the surface
layers of ore, quartz and calcareo-siliceous matter
showed clear and fresh, while, on standing in the open
or in the higher portions of the vein, the same minerals
appeared dusty and old. In some of the vugs in the
lower portion of the ore body, quite a number of small
but perfect rhombohedra of calcite were found; also,
as noted by Becker, old fractures in the ore, caused
by faulting movements, are cemented with quartz and
ore. In the ores now worked, however, the motion
appears to have been a pulling apart, for brecciation,
though present, is rare, and the two sides of a
cemented break are usually fully complementary.
This process of successive deposition is not limited to
the Virginia City portion of the lode, but is found
quite well developed in the Gold Hill mines, and in
the calcite gangue of the Justice ore body.
Further uncemented fractures present themselves
as indicators of motion up to the present time, since
the withdrawal of the waters by the mine pumps.
The great volume of water still entering the lower
workings also contributes abundant proof of fissures
kept open by late motion, for the lode proper, where
cut by the shaft, is reported to have been completely
filled with quartz.
* * * * * * * *
The ores are moving downward by the leaching
action of the acid surface waters. In this way they
are extracted from their containing rocks and rede-
posited below. This process in the past has produced
*John A. Reid, University of California, an abstract.
the striking nodular ores of the Andes mine, noted
by King as occurring just below the level of ground
water. These ores are now in their turn being
attacked and again being carried below. A striking
example of the ore deposited by the vadose waters
was exposed on one of the levels of the Andes mine.
The presence of east-west slips has already been
noted as occurring here, and one of these, dipping
south (30°, had opened sufficiently to allow the free
circulation of water. The slip had cut across all
other rocks, vein and country, and was filled with
about 2 inches of solid coarse black sulphides of lead
and silver. This small sheet of ore pinched out
toward the bottom of the drift, and broadened above.
The grain of the ore, and general characteristics of
ratio of lead to silver, etc., were all different from
the ore which occurs below, deposited from the deep
circulation. The nodular ores consist typically of
nodules ranging in size from that of a pea up to a
foot in diameter, and composed of rich black sulphide
ore in a matrix of fine crystals of quartz. Each
nodule is completely surrounded by barren quartz,
which at times may penetrate the nodule along later
cracks. These quartz crystals are built upon the
nodules as centers, giving them a radial arrange-
ment.
All the facts relating to these peculiar ores tend
to confirm the view of their deposition resulting from
the intermingling of oxidized surface waters with
deep alkaline unoxidized solutions. They are known
to occur nowhere else on the lode in any mine work-
ings, although the exploration within the croppings
is very little in amount.
The acid surface waters which are now doing so
much work have covered the walls and crosscuts of
the Andes mine with 6 inches to 1 foot of sulphates,
containing traces of gold and silver. The chief salt
is the magnesian aluminum sulphate, with also large
admixtures of iron and copper, which results in a
remarkable variety of colors. The workings of the
Central tunnel likewise show these sulphates, but in
general the circulation of air is too rapid to allow of
their great formation except in some favorable local-
ities. The composition of these salts is shown as an
average in the water analysis following. In the
Central tunnel in one particular spot, where the sur-
face waters are not fully oxidized, ferrous sulphate
and pyrite are being deposited at the present time.
Some sulphates are being formed here in delicate
needle-like crystals containing a large amount of the
ferrous salt. Bright, well-formed cubes of pyrite
and some few dark sulphides, too small in amount to
admit of testing, occur below and within the sul-
phates. Not infrequently a little crystal of pyrite
tips a needle of sulphate where the solution is plenti-
ful. Also, almost solid masses of the sulphide are
found within the wall in the partly decomposed coun-
try rock. The water is descending along an east-
west slip which dips to the south. The clay, or clayey
rock, upward along this slip is full of pyrite, but this
mineral is heaviest near the wall of the drift where
the solution is able to cover more ground. The clays
of the upper portion of the lode are all found to con-
tain well formed but small crystals of pyrite contain-
ing some value. There is probably but one process
responsible for all this, and a possible reaction of the
surface waters to produce such a . result may be
expressed as follows:
FeS04 + 2H2S04 + 7H2S03 = FeS2 +
8H2S04 + H30.
This reaction is, of course, possible only when
there is an insufficient supply of oxygen, as occurs
locally in this part of the Central tunnel.
The water surrounding the sulphates and pyrites
being deposited is strongly acid, the most so where
the pyrite is heaviest. As the wall is worked into
the acidity becomes perceptibly less. The ferrous
sulphate appears to exercise the necessary protect-
ing influence over the pyrite to save it from attack
by the free acid or further attack by the small
amount of free oxygen present.
* * *****
The Comstock lode is divisible on structural
grounds into two main portions: (1) The Virginia
City portion and (2) the Gold Hill portion. The Sil-
ver City fault or lode (or branch, as now called) is a
distinct unit, probably of a later age. The grounds for
this belief are, as seen, the facts of it being a distinct
fault and that the vein filling is different from that
of the Comstock lode proper. The only grounds for a
belief in a later age are those of structure; it is well
shown that much faulting took place after the first
formation of the main lode, and to combine all the
facts presented it is necessary to assume a period of
faulting not coincident with that which formed the
bonanza gashes, but later than the first faulting. In
this country of great and long-continued faulting
such an assumption is not without a good basis.
The Virginia City portion of the lode is bounded on
both north and south by a series of east-west faults.
Also, to the north, some forking of the lode occurs,
with one strong branch bending to the east in the
Sierra Nevada ground. The faults or slips to the
south are those approximately in and east of Bullion
ravine. But few of these east-west fractures contain
much secondary mineral. The few which do become
veins are largely calcite bearing, and probably of
different age from the others. Between these two
lines of east- west motion is located the Virginia City
portion, differing from the other part in having a
greater relative movement of the foot and hanging
walls. This motion has been so great that an unequal
movement of the hanging wall block was produced,
the bottom moving farther than the top, with conse-
quent rupture. These ruptures produced the sec-
ondary vertical gashes, or veins of rifting. This
motion causing rupture, however, was distinctly later
in age than the first vein forming movements.
Hence, when the secondary openings were formed
they were filled with concentrations from the previ-
ous deposits as well as with original supplies from
great depths. And there is no good reason for
assuming that either the movements or the ore depo-
sition have ceased, but rather all facts tend to con-
firm the idea that ore is yet being moved from place
to place in the greater depths, as well as fresh sup-
plies from below being brought up by the hot waters.
In the Gold Hill portion the relative movement of
the walls of the lode has been less; there have been
no rift veins formed, and the ore bodies are within
the lode walls, near the hanging. The same two
periods of deposition of vein filling were present here,
the bonanzas occupying later fissures near the hang-
ing wall of the earlier vein. No doubt deposition is
still progressing in depth here, though not enough
mining work has been done to allow a definite state-
ment in this regard. The one exception to form in
this portion of the lode, in the Yellow Jacket mine,
was due to the fact that the vein, in its proper plane,
did not reach the surface, so that the relative move-
ment of the hanging wall block downward was taken
up near the surface by a gash or rift.
On account of the importance of the subject, a
reiterated statement is not out of place regarding
the two periods of ore deposition. Had the second
of these periods not existed, there would be practi-
cally no ore on the Comstock, hence the relations of
these two must be of vital concern. The first period
of vein rilling was due to the primary faulting, and
low-grade materials were placed in the open fissure.
The second and later period opened new fissures, rift
veins in Virginia City, and openings within the vein
in Gold Hill, in which the rich concentrated ores of
the bonanzas were deposited. This second period
probably continues in the depths, as it would surely
do above were the lode still intact from man's hand.
The details of this ore deposition have not yet been
thoroughly studied out, nor can they be until our
knowledge of the physical chemistry of the subject is
more complete.
The deep ore bodies of Virginia City have been, and
will be, found within the hanging wall, in more or less
vertical fissures, of which the surface east vein, the
Great Bonanza and the vein now being worked are
examples. More such bodies should be found by
properly driven crosscuts and drifts lower down and
to the eastward. There is also a large stretch of
the lode above the 2150-foot level which has not been
thoroughly explored. The probable reason for the
peculiar rifting of the hanging wall block is that the
cementing of the first fracture by quartz, and the
concomitant weakening of the hanging wall by the
leaching action of the ground waters, enabled the
later stresses to fracture the hanging wall block as
it is found. The reason for believing in the existence
of still deeper similar rifts filled with ore is that the
surface for 2 miles eastward from the lode shows the
hanging wall block to be greatly altered by the action
of hot waters, and therefore weakened. The Sutro
tunnel section corroborates this, and the mine work-
ings also show the rocks east of the lode not to be
solid nor unaltered.
Also, there is considerable concentration of ore
taking place from above from the surface, or vadose,
waters. These ores will occur on or near the foot
walls of the numerous branches of the lode which out-
crop on the surface, within a few hundred feet of the
outcrops. Such material is low grade, however,
and, in the main, not yet available because of the
high cost of mining and milling. A body of future
reserves is thus assured. The low grade of these
ores has been proved by numerous assays. Further,
the west wall of the lode has never been thoroughly
investigated, and such work might prove very
profitable.
Automatic Plumb Bob.
J. S. J. Lallie of Denver, Colo , in-
ventor of instruments and attachments
for use of civil, hydraulic and mining
engineers, has recently invented an
automatic plumb bob, designed to fur-
nish instantaneous action in elevating
or depressing the bob to any desired
position, without the use of screws or
other devices. With it, it is stated the
engineer can make the adjustment of
the bob as readily while wearing gloves
as without them and, when the survey
is complete, the cord may be instantly
coiled within the bob. The matter of
proportion has been taken into consid-
eration in shaping this new plumb bob,
and it is provided with a case-hardened
steel point, steel bushing in the head, rounded to pre-
serve the cord.
245
Mining and Scientific Press.
October 7, 1905.
Application of Electric Power to Gold
Dredging.*
As the modern gold dredger is primarily a western
institution, it might possibly be . well to briefly de-
scribe the object of it and the method of operating
it before taking up the subject of power.
The object of the gold dredger is to collect the gold
from the deposits of sand and gravel which have
been deposited there by the action of some river or
glacier which, in its course, has broken up and car-
ried along the rock that originally formed the bound-
ary of its channel. When gold bearing veins exist
in the rock, the gold in the course of time becomes
freed from its surrounding ore and is together with
the gravel deposited at some point, where the
velocity of the stream ceases to be high enough to
keep the gravel in motion.
Many schemes have been devised to regain the gold
from these deposits, the simplest being to feed the
gravel into an inclined sluice box through which a
stream of water flows. The gold, owing to its
greater specific gravity, is deposited in the riffles in
the bottom and the gravel is carried through. To
use this process on a large scale, there must be a
sufficient grade to the deposit of gravel and under-
lying bedrock to prevent the tailings from interfer-
ing with the excavating operations which feed the
gravel into the sluice. Ordinarily, a pit was sunk to
bedrock and the gravel elevated by means of a con-
veyor to the sluice above at a height sufficient to
carry the tailings away from the workings.
In many localities the prohibitive cost of water has
made it impossible to work these deposits by this
means. The perfection of the gold dredger within the
past ten years has made it possible to work many of
these low-grade deposits and many properties that
have heretofore been considered worthless are now
paying good interest on the investments.
The dredger, in brief, consists of a floating platform
provided with an endless chain of buckets working
on a ladder; one end of this ladder is fixed and the
other can be raised or lowered, thus regulating the
depth of the cut. The gravel, sand and boulders are
scooped up by the buckets elevated and dumped into
a revolving screen. Jets of water play on the gravel
and thoroughly wash it. The gold, gravel and smaller
stones fall through the openings in the revolving screen
to a shaking table, while the larger boulders that
might damage the tables and riffles pass through
the end of the revolving screen and are carried
through chutes to the side of the dredger and de-
posited. The coarser gravel is separated from the
finer on the shaking table and falls on a belt conveyor
iwhich carries it to a considerable distance in the
•irear and deposits it, thus filling up the cut. The
finer gravel containing the gold passes over a system
of riffles containing mercury, where the gold is col-
lected;.the gravel and sand are washed over the riffles
aud fall overboard in the rear. The dredger is held
in1 position by an anchor in the rear, and side lines
from the bow permit the buckets to be fed across
the face of the cut.
■ The first dredger that was a commercial success
as a placer mining machine in the United States was
installed at Bannock, Mont., in 1895. The first sea-
son it was operated by steam power, but the high
price of fuel (wood was $4.50 per cord and coal $12 a
ton) made the operating expenses extremely heavy
and the steam equipment was replaced by a direct
current electric system, a hydraulic generating
plant furnishing the power.
From its nature, the dredger is not adapted to the
receiving or carrying of fuel, often being operated at
points very difficult of access, and by its great flexibil-
ity, electric power is the ideal motive power for this
class of service and has become universally used,
making it possible to reduce the working force one-
half.
There are at present two of these dredgers being
operated near Golden, Colo., power being furnished
from Denver, one owned by the Clear Creek Dredg-
ing Co., about 12 miles from Denver, and the other
by the National Gold Dredging Co., about 11 miles.
It is reported that two more will be installed within
the next year, but this cannot at present be verified.
The electrical equipment of one of these dredgers
is as follows: One 20 H. P. three-phase induction
motor for operating the revolving screen; one 20
H. P. induction motor for operating the shaking
screen; one 20 H. P. induction motor for operating the
stacker or conveyor that deposits the gravel in the
rear; one 30 H. P. induction motor for operating the
sand pump; one 50 H. P. induction motor direct con-
nected to a 10-inch and 6-inch centrifugal pump for
furnishing water to the revolving and shaking'screen;
two 45 H. P. direct-current motors with series-
parallel- reverse control for operating the buckets;
one 20 H. P. direct-current motor used to operate
winches and in moving the boat and raising and low-
ering the anchor; one 10 H. P. induction motor for
driving a centrifugal pump in the hold used in prim-
ing the other pumps and for clearing the hold of leak-
age water.
The direct current motors are supplied by a 100
*A paper presented to the 1905 meeting or the Colorado Electric
Light, Power & Railway Association by J. P. Dostal.
K.W. rotary converter and a 5 K.W. transformer of
370 to 110 volts supplies current for the lights when
operating at night.
The entire electrical equipment was supplied by
the General Electric Co. The induction motors are
of the Type "K," starting with a separate compen-
sator and all operating at 370 volts, e phase. The
direct current motors operate at 600 volts.
As to the nature of the loads on the various motors,
that on the motors that drive the buckets is a pecul-
iar one; it may be described as a combination of an
elevator and a street car load with not quite as many
stops and no particular need for very rapid accele-
ration. When beginning a cut at the surface, the
incline up which the buckets travel may be only 20°
from the horizontal; the soil is, as a rule, very loose
and the starting torque is, comparatively speaking,
nominal. The motor has only to overcome the inertia
due to the mass and weight of the buckets —
that is, from 400 to 600 pounds per foot of length.
As the buckets become loaded with gravel the load
increases. The speed of the buckets at the top of
the cut may be as high as 50 feet per minute. This
load is similar to an elevator load and is steady, the
only fluctuations being caused by a bucket as it re-
volves around the lower tumbler, taking an extra
large bite out of the gravel or else missing the gravel
entirely. As the depth of the cut increases the load
becomes heavier, because of the greater angle up
which the buckets travel, the gravel being packed
harder and the occurrence of large boulders.
Most of the gold is found in the gravel immediately
over bedrock, and it is desirable to get all of this
gravel possible. The most severe condition on the
motors occurs when they are stalled, caused by the
buckets striking an extra large boulder, a stump, or
by the bank caving and completely burying the
buckets. In such a case the motors are reversed till
a little slack is gotten into the chain; the motors are
again started and this reversing continued till the
buckets are worked loose; whatever the nature of
the obstruction is it must be overcome, because the
boulders, if not dug out, will form an effective barrier
between the buckets and bedrock, and upon bedrock
lies the bigger per cent of the gold. On some of the
newer dredgers variable speed induction motors are
used for the buckets and winch drive, thus dispensing
with the rotary converter.
Rotary converters, especially when operated on
60 cycles, are not entirely satisfactory, and more or
less trouble is encountered in their operation when
handled by inexperienced men, and the experience of
dredging engineers is that the reliability of the in-
duction motor drive more than offsets the higher
efficiency of the series parallel control of the direct-
current set. Actual tests on the bucket motors
show them to operate at from 1.4% to 25% over-
load.
The induction motors driving the centrifugal pumps,
shaking screen, revolving screen- and conveyor are,
after once started, subject to constant load, or very
nearly so. Actual tests show them to be loaded as
follows:
50 H. P. for centrifugal pumps 60% full load
20 H. P. on conveyor 35% "
20 H. P. revolving screen ' 29% " "
20 H. P. shaking screen 34% " "
10 H. P. for hold pump 30% overload
The motor that drives the winches is not subject to
any unusual load. The power required to move the
boat is not great and the winches are fitted with two
speed gearing and friction clutches. A good part of
the time this motor is running light. Test shows this
motor to operate at from \% to 50% overload.
While the total connected load is about 200 K.W.
for each dredger, the power required varies from 75
K.W. to 150 K.W., the average being about 100
K.W. Most of the induction motors are much larger
than really needed, and, since they are very light
loaded, the power factor is bad.
Had the power company been consulted in the
selection of these motors, smaller motors would have
been chosen, which would have resulted in a smaller
motor investment and a better power factor on the
system.
The load, from the central station standpoint, is a
very desirable one. They operate the entire twenty-
four hours for nine months of the year in this
climate, and for the remaining three winter months
it is a day load — just exactly the .load the central
station is looking for to improve its load factor.
As a matter of fact, the machinery is so heavy and
the service so severe that they are shut down possi-
bly 20% of the time for repairs. As a matter of
general interest, I may say that the bucket train
consists of forty buckets of 5£ cubic feet capacity,
weighing 1500 pounds each, and capable of handling
about 3000 cubic yards of gravel per twenty-four
hours.
The consumption for a dredger of this size is very
nearly 1 K.W. H. per cubic yard of gravel handled.
Current is delivered on the grounds of the dredging
company at approximately 11,000 volts, three phase
and 60 cycles; it is stepped down to 370 volts and de-
livered on board at this pressure.
The step-down transformer station is quite unique,
inasmuch as it is portable in form. The transformer
house, containing three 50 K.W. oil-cooled transformer
choke coils, lightning arresters and switches,' is buiit
as compact as possible and mounted on skids, so that
it may be moved from place to place as the operation
of the dredger progresses. The dredger is connected
to the transformer house by 600 feet of 3/0 three-
conductor cable. This allows the dredger to operate
over quite a large area and necessitates the moving
of the transformer house only once in every four
months.
Since the direct-current motors can not be oper-
ated at potentials greater than 600 volts, this re-
quires that the alternating current shall not be at a
greater pressure than 370 volts, and, as the induc-
tion motors must be built for this voltage, they must
all be special machines. This departing from the line
of standard operation necessitates the motors all
being special makes and the installation more expen-
sive and difficult to replace in case of accident. This
is a strong point in favor of the induction motor drive
on the buckets.
In conclusion, I will say that the rate to be charged
for this class of service can only be determined by the
costs of generation and the costs of construction,
each case requiring a separate analysis, the construc-
tion costs in most cases being so large that the busi-
ness might be found unprofitable on a straight meter
rate, unless it contained a heavy minimum to assure
the central station of continuity of operation, and I
would advise the use of a rate similar to the Doherty,
or else a sliding scale.
The Ventilation of Mines.
NUMBER VII.
Gases Due to Explosives. — Mr. Mann's special
report deals very fully with the nature of the gases
produced by firing of explosives, and the accidents
recorded show that the vitiation of the mine air from
this source is liable to be very serious, and that there
have been more than a few deplorable fatalities from
it, though the total number is, after all, surprisingly
small when compared with the immense amount of
explosives used, as pointed out by Mr. Mann. The
most distressing cases are those in which the oxides
of nitrogen appear to be the active agent, the suffer-
ers experiencing little inconvenience at the time ex-
cept a good deal of coughing, and having no warning
at all from the way the candles burn that the air is
bad. The circumstances under which part of the ex-
plosives burns instead of exploding are not com-
pletely determined and are not easy to find out. Out
of the hundreds of charges fired daily, it is only very
rarely that one burns, probably many thousand plugs
exploding completely for one that takes fire. When
the percentage is so small as this, it is clearly very
difficult to determine what are the causes of failure
to explode. The experiments carried out by Mr.
Mann showed that complete explosion could be ob-
tained over and over again with overloaded holes
and weak detonators, so that neither overcharging
nor undercapping can be relied on to produce incom-
plete explosions, as has been commonly held. Never-
theless, it has been shown that there are often causes
at work which would tend to reduce the strength of
detonators, as, for example, leaving them exposed in
moist workings; and we would therefore recommend
that all detonators should have the full strength pre-
scribed for their particular number, as laid down in
Mr. Mann's report. It seems possible that in a very
minute percentage of cases the explosives may be
bad, but these are so rare that the chances are
enormously against the bad plugs being pitched upon
for testing. In continuous work, however, every one
of them must be used some time. The same may be ■
said of detonators and fuse; one bad cap or piece in
10,000 would almost certainly escape testing, but
would be found sooner or later in working through
the stock. One such bad piece may cause an acci-
dent, while other plugs from the same package, or
caps from the same box, or pieces of fuse from the
same coil, may be tested time after time and proved
to be perfect. Absolute uniformity of manufacture
cannot be guaranteed, and it seems just as likely
that inexplicable explosions and burning of charges
may be due to the very rare occurrence of bad mate-
rials, as that it is brought about by any of the causes
popularly assigned to it. Nevertheless, our inquiries
have led us to the conclusion that the general quality
of the explosives used in this State is good; and it
does not seem possible in practice to greatly improve
on the methods of testing now employed. Age of the
explosive and the manner in which it has been
stored, may have a good deal to do with deteri-
oration of quality. It has been pointed out in Mr.
Mann's report that the merchants' magazines are
frequently inspected; but it appears essential, also,
that stocks should not be kept in the mine magazines
for too long a time without similar supervision. Sev-
eral witnesses, who were practical miners, told us of
their having met with instances of charges burning
instead of exploding — some having actually seen the
bright glare of the burning stuff, others judging by
the characteristic smell and by the state of the holes
afterwards. It seems possible that the cause of this
burning may be that an earlier shot has blown off the
top of the charge and the detonator with it, and
ignited the remainder without exploding it, as it is
well known that such "cut-outs" occur not infre-
October 7, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
quently; and it seems also possible that a cutout
charge might be ignited by sparks from showers of
stones thrown out by the other shots. Another
cause is probably the practice followed by some min-
ers of burying the detonator deeply in the charge;
for if the fuse "spits," as it is liable to do occasion-
ally, it might ignite the explosive before the detona-
tor is reached. The rate of burning of the explosive
is extremely rapid, and a considerable amount may
therefore be burned before the fuse ignites the buried
detonator, and thereby explodes the remainder of
the charge. In Mr. Mann's tests it was only when
the detonator was buried that a strong reaction was
obtained for nitrous fumes in the gases resulting from
the explosion. The result of burning of explosives is
always the production of quantities of very poisonous
fumes of carbon monoxide and nitrogen peroxide, as
explained in Mr. Mann's report. The disastrous ac-
cident at the Mount Charlotte mine, at Kalgoorlie,
by which six men lost their lives, shows how deadly
these gases may be. Similar accidents are on record
elsewhere, and the moral to be drawn from them is
that all places in which shots have been fired must be
thoroughly cleared out by a current
of air before they are fit for men to
resume work.
It is worth noting that, according
to our knowledge of the decomposi-
tion of nitroglycerine explosives, the
formation of peroxide of nitrogen is
accompanied by that of carbon mon-
oxide; so that when the one gas is
present the other should be also. It
is commonly stated that a certain
amount of carbon monoxide is found
even in complete explosions of nitro-
glycerine compounds, while no mention
is made of the peroxide of nitrogen;
but the equations given by authori-
ties on the subject all involve the
simultaneous presence of both gases,
the oxide of nitrogen in'greater volume
than the carbon monoxide. Yet in
analysis quoted in the Transvaal Com-
mission's report, and also by Haldane,
Martin and Thomas, carbon monoxide
is often reported without any corre-
sponding peroxide of nitrogen. In
the tests carried out by Mr. Mann,
both gases were uniformly absent, so
far as any measurable quantity was
concerned, except when some blasting
gelatine had been deliberately burned,
though traces of nitrogen peroxide
could be detected qualitatively in
several cases by the very delicate
iodide-of- starch test. In wet work-
ings it may be that the very soluble
fumes of nitrogen oxides are rapidly
absorbed by the moisture present,
while the slightly soluble carbon mon-
oxide remains in the air. This may
be the explanation of the accident to
Owen Hughes, at the Turn of the
Tide mine, who appears, according
to the medical evidence, to have been
poisoned by oxides of carbon without
being affected by the oxides of nitro-
gen. We cannot, however, feel at all
certain of the diagnoses that have
been made in cases of fumes poison-
ing, as our inquiries rendered it very
evident that hardly any of the me
dical men examined had given special
attention to the nature of the gases
causing accidents, or had been at
pains to ascertain whether nitrogen
oxides or those of carbon, or both,
were responsible for them.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
ance of such a mine than any written description. I
This style of mining is mostly iu vogue where the ore |
is in gigantic pockets. It sometimes occurs that a |
costly pumping plant must be provided. Where
depth is attained and the ore vein is followed, such a
mine as that depicted develops into an underground
mine, with its customary shafts and levels.
Mining and scientific progress is grandly exempli-
fied in the case of the Lake Superior iron mines. Not
only is this shown in the system of mining, but to
even a greater extent in the handling of the ore. A
recent achievement iu that line was the loading of a
steamer — the Augustus B. Wolvin — at the Great
Northern docks, Allouez bay, with 10,245 tons of ore
in eighty-nine minutes. That ore was carried in that
steamer to Conneaut, Ohio, at a cost of less than 75
cents per ton.
From the Lake Superior iron ore region, of which
the Mesaba range is so prominent a part, there have
been shipped over 250,000,000 tons of ore. About
80% of America's iron ores come from this region,
and about that percentage of the country's iron and
steel is made from those ores. This represents a
deposit of iron and copper ore. The green mineral
is malachite (copper carbonate). No. 17 is a much
altered greenstone, probably diorite. No. 18 is prob-
ably the same kind of rock, occurring nearer the sur-
face. This may prospect in gold. No. 22 is diorite.
No. 23 is feldspar porphyry. No. 24 is diorite. No.
25 is also greenstone, probably diorite.
The samples from Hailey, Idaho, are: No. 1, a sul-
phide ore containing lead, iron, zinc, arsenic, a little
copper, probably gold and silver. It is a very com-
plex ore, requiring smelting, or concentration of the
various minerals by means of magnetic separator.
The gangue is quartz. No. 2 is gray limestone, one
piece of which shows iron oxide.
The rocks from Goldfield, Nev., are as follows:
No. 25, a type of diabase. No. 20 is chiefly calcium
carbonate. No. 27 is rhyolite, with porphyritic feld-
spars and quartz blebs. No. 28, rhyolite. No. 29,
porphyrite. No. 30, quartzite. No." 31 is basaltic
rock. No. 32, rhyolite of fine and even texture.
No. 33, diorite containing some iron sulphide. This
Milling Pit, Auburn Mine, Mesaba Range, Minn.
Misaabe Mountain Mine, Mesaba Range, Minn.
Quarrying Iron Ore.
Written lor the Mining and Scientific Press.
Vastly different in appearance from the drift mines
of California, the quartz mines of Colorado, or the
copper mines of Montana, are the iron mines of Min-
nesota. Of the latter, there are several kinds and
modes. In the surface pit a steam shovel is the main
factor in results, it being an open cut like ordinary
railroad work. In the underground iron mines is the
nearest approach to gold or copper workings; the
expense of securing the ore is considerably more, but
as it requires extended admixture of different iron
ores to make the required quality of iron, and as
some of the requisite ore can only be secured from
lower strata, the extra expense becomes necessary.
Another form of iron ore mining is the milling, or deep,
open pit. Manifestly the cheapest mine to operate
is the surface pit, of which the Missabe Mountain
mine, Mesaba range, Minnesota, furnishes a good
illustration. As shown, the ore is simply loosened
up, lifted on cars by steam shovels and started for
the smelter, there to be converted into steel. In an
open pit mine the surface is first stripped of its soil,
which may be 2 or 50 feet in depth. The accompany-
ing illustration of an open pit at the Auburn mine, on
the Mesaba range, gives a better idea of the appear-
growth of fifty-two years. In 1853 seventy tons of
Lake Superior iron ore were used in a Pennsylvania
blast furnace. Fourteen years after the Bessemer
process (to which the Lake superior ore is particu-
larly adapted) caused the Lake Superior iron ore
mining industry to begin to assume its present gigan-
tic proportions. There are now a score of mines
there, each of which annually produces more than
500.000 tons of ore.
! THE PROSPECTOR. !
■9 *
The green-stained rock from Pine Nut range, Lyon
county, Nevada, is feldspar porphyry, with incrust-
ing stains of malachite (copper carbonate) and chrys-
ocolla (copper silicate). Very low grade. The white
rock is sericite schist.
Three packages of rocks received from Burnt
Ranch, Cal., are determined as follows: No. 13, fel-
site, with finely disseminated pyrite. No. 14, a feld-
spathic rock containing several per cent of copper
sulphide (ehalcopyrite). One side is incrusted with
calcium sulphate (gypsum). No. 15 is similar to
No. 14, but also contains epidote (a greenish yellow
mineral). No. 16 is from the croppings of a vein or
rock is older than the volcanic rocks previously
described, and probably occurs in the underlying for-
mation or is from another district. No. 34, tuff.
No. 35, similar to No. 32, but somewhat stained with
iron oxide.
The rock from Unuk River, B. C, is diorite and
contains disseminated copper sulphide and pyrite.
The slaty mineral from Corning, Tehama county,
Cal., is hematite, with some earthy impurities. It is
an ore of iron and should be tested as to its value by
those engaged in the industry of iron making. At
present no iron mines are being worked in California,
although there are large deposits of the ore in
various localities.
The rock sample from Lamb Creek, Idaho, is am-
phibole rock — consisting largely of hornblende. It
also contains iron and copper sulphide.
The rock from Harrington, Ariz., is quartz, with
bright, glistening specular iron (variety of hematite).
This was probably mistaken for galena. The sample
contains no lead, but should be carefully tried for
gold.
The Prospecting department of this paper makes
no analyses nor assays of rocks or ores — simply classi-
fies rocks and determines minerals.
247
Mining and Scientific Press.
October 7, 1905.
Placer Mining in Alaska.
NUMBER VIII.
Hoisting. — For hoisting and conveying, say to a
distance not exceeding 200 feet, the Dawson self-
dumping carrier, with accompanying bucket, cables,
etc., and steam hoist, must be used in order that the
most economical work per man employed can be
done. This device, which is shown in Fig. 16, is with-
er
&
Fig. 16. — Self-Dumping Carrier.
out doubt the best system of handling gravel from a
shaft of shallow depth now in use in the Northwest.
It is strong and compact, and is simple in operation.
Those parts which by their position receive the most
strain and jar can be made sufficiently durable to
withstand hard usage.
No springs are used in the construction for the
reason that at low temperature, say 40° F. below
Fig. 1.
is toward the engine, and the lower en of the dog e
still prevents the apparatus from movi
When, however, the cam A by the up ird move-
ment of the bucket reaches the horizontal position
indicated by the solid lines, the point of the dog f
jumps into the notch, lowering at the same time the
point e which allows the carrier to move up the J-inch
conveying cable, and also once more secures the cam
in its horizontal position.
The block attached to the cable is held in a vertical
position by a suspended log or block, which insures
its engaging with the dog.
By this system of working, if the self -dumping rig
handles 250 of the 30-pan buckets in ten hours or,
roughly, 6) cubic yards, the plant will necessitate
the employment of twelve men, namely, two firemen,
one hoist man, one point man and seven men shovel-
ing and wheeling, beside the foreman. The boiler
used for generating the steam for points at night is
used for running the hoist in the daytime. In run-
ning from fifteen to twenty points a night it will
burn from one-half to one cord more. The total daily
twenty-four hour expense can not be brought below
$130 and will probably amount to $150. It is evident
that with such a plant the tenor of the gravel must
amount to at least $2.60 to the cubic yard to pay any
profit at all, exclusive of washing in the spring, and
should be 4 cents to the pan, or $5.20 to the yard, to
pay a profit which compensates for operating in so
remote and expensive a country. The cost of wash-
ing in the spring is in general from 50 cents to $1 per
cubic yard.
The winter dumps are piled in a conical heap
around the gin pole, to which the trolley cable of the
self-dumper has been attached while the dumping is
in progress. In laying out the space for the dump,
the string of boxes in which the gravel is to be
washed during the following spring is so laid that it
but it will prove less effective — that of forepoling in
the shaft — that is, driving lagging ahead of the
work of excavation. This lagging must be of sawed
plank and set as closely together as possible. It is
not calculated to hold back the water, but to keep
the soft ground back in place so that the miners may
rapidly remove that from the bottom of the excava-
tion. The water must in this case be removed by a
pump or otherwise. Some difficult sinking has been
accomplished by means of two shafts sunk close
together.
The Nissen Stamp.
The Nissen stamp is an individual mortar stamp
with circular screen surface. In South Africa coarse
stamp mill crushing is deemed desirable because of the
increased capacity per stamp and consequent saving
of power and interest on the investment. There it is
followed by regrinding in mills. Elspass mills, tube
mills and Chilian mills are used for regrinding. The
circular screen of the Nissen stamp, among other
features, is intended to increase the capacity of the
stamp. The splash in a Nissen stamp, striking the
screen at right angles because of its being circular,
is with the intent of allowing more ore to go through
the screen each splash than ordinarily.
Fewer slimes is another essential. Where the
splash of the water carrying the ore with it always
strikes the screen at right angles, and thus gives the
particles of ore crushed small enough to pass the
screen better opportunity to do so, and the ore thus
being able to escape from the mortar more easily,
fewer slimes are made. This is especially a desirable
feature where an ore is to be stamped to pass a cer-
tain sized screen for amalgamation purposes, and to
be followed by concentration or cyaniding, or both,
in either case the slimes being undesirable and in.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 4.
The Nissen Stamp.
zero, metals are very brittle, and the constant jar, a
necessary accompaniment of the work of this appara-
tus, renders springs and any light metallic member
unsafe.
As Fig. 16 shows clearly the construction of the
carrier, only a few words need be said of its opera-
tions.
It may be stated that three distinct operations are
accomplished, two of which are performed by the
carrier, the third being effected by an auxiliary rope
used in dumping the bucket. The first consists in
engaging the bucket as it arrives from the shaft and
carrying it to the dump box, the second in returning
the bucket to the head of the shaft and there drop-
ping it to the bottom. As the carrier returns down
the J-inch cable, the hook to which is attached the
bucket occupies the position indicated by the solid
line. The cam A lies horizontally and is held firmly
in this position by the dog B, the weight of the
bucket pressing the notch of the cam against. the
point of the dog f. When the carrier reaches the
head of the shaft the end c of the dog strikes the
block D and frees the point of the dog from the notch
of the cam. The front of the cam now occupies the
position indicated by the dotted line, and, as the
bucket sinks into the shaft, is pressed against the
block, since the carrier tends to move backward.
Thus as the bucket sinks with the hook on the J-inch
cable the carrier is held firm.
As the bucket rises from the shaft or pit the strain
•Bulletin 263 U. S. Geological Survey.
will bisect the proposed cone, having its proper
grade and length. When the spring opens the dump
is easily shoveled into the boxes, from both sides,
beginning at the lowest point and working upward.
Boards are generally laid over the top of the boxes,
and a portion of the gravel rests on these. The
boards are taken off as the work of shoveling in pro-
gresses.
The expenses of winter work are much greater
than those in summer, and the tenor of the gravel
must in consequence be much higher. In the first
place it is to be remembered that the gravel dumped
in winter must be all rehandled in the spring. In
thawing, also, the amount of steam used in winter is
greater than in summer, and all pipes and hose con-
veying steam both above and underground must be
coated with asbestos or other nonconducting mate-
rial. On the other hand, labor is generally cheaper
in winter than in summer, and the possibility of
striking thawed streaks of ground is much less.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
Surface water may sometimes be kept out of the
pit at the commencement of sinking a shaft through
soil, decayed rock, or other loose material, by driv-
ing sheet piling, either of metal or wood, entirely
around the excavation to bedrock or far enough into
the ground to cut off the water percolating through
it, thus forming a sort of coffer dam, from which the
water may be removed. If the depth to bedrock is
too great, then another means may be employed,
creasing the cost of operation. Many mills in the
western part of the United States have found this to
be the case.
The Nissen stamp is manufactured by Fairbanks,
Morse & Co. in several styles of mortars to suit the
particular requirements — as to discharge, size of the
mortar and location of the amalgamation* plates —
that each individual mine has found best suited to
their ores. It is primarily a circular mortar having
a gravity stamp operated by the usual cam and tap-
pet method, one stamp in each mortar.
Each Nissen stamp is intended to be a separate
and complete stamp mill in itself. The mortar weighs
one-third of that of an ordinai-y 5-stamp mortar.
Each stamp can be hung up and the mortar cleaned
separately.
The Nissen stamp chuck block mortar is shown in
Fig. 1. General arrangement, height of discharge
and other details are made in each case to suit the
requirements of the mine. The Nissen mortar
arranged for inside amalgamation is shown in Fig. 2.
In many cases a sectionalized mortar for muleback
transportation is necessary. The ease with which
this can be arranged in the Nissen mortar is shown
in Fig. 3. The general view of the Nissen individual
mortar stamp in Fig. 4 shows the arrangement used
in the Nissen stamp.
Fairbanks, Morse & Co. are the sole manufactur-
ers of this stamp and assert that they have their
plants running overtime supplying the demand that
exists for this stamp and other of their mining and
milling machinery.
October 7, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
248
*
*
* *
MINING SUMMARY.
Speelally Compiled uml Ro ported (or the MINING AND
SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
ARIZONA.
Cochise County.
The new mill of the Vanita M. Co., which U working
the Pearco property below Benson, was stopped after
running a few days, by the breaking of essential parts,
and instead of repairing them it is said that the com-
pany will build a larger mill. The new mill is to be
built at once, and will have double the capacity of the
old one. Pumping machinery supplies water from the
mine to run the entire plant.
Ulla County.
(Special Correspondence). — Shipping is to be resumed
from the Starlight mine of the Tri-Bullion Smelting &
Development Co., in the Stanley Butte region, 8 miles
south of San Carlos. Mining work was begun in Janu-
ary, 1003.
San Carlos, Oct. 2.
The Arizona Commercial Copper Co. is putting in a
Sullivan diamond drill on the 300-foot level of the Cop-
per Hill mine, near Globe. A strike of rich ore was re-
cently roported to have been made on this level. On
the Black Hawk mine crosscutting on the 200-foot level
is in progress. Superintendent F. M. White of the
Warrior Copper Co. is shipping fourteen tons daily to
tho Old Dominion smelter. Work is to be resumed on
the Arizona-Colorado M. Co. 's property near Globe by
Superintendent J. W. Banhauer. The shaft, now down
300 feet, is to be sunk to a depth of 500 feet and then a
crosscut made to the main lead. The Globe & Arizona
Dev. Co. have driven the tunnel on the Black Oxide
claim 480 feet and is in mineralized rock. The company
is also sinking a shaft on its Limestone claim.
Graham Comity.
(Special Correspondence). — Rich silver ore is being
shipped from the Commerce mine, 14 miles from Dun-
can. It is under the management of Arthur Murphy.
The new strike was made at the bottom of a 200-foot
shaft.
Work has been started on the Fraction claim, near
Metcalf, by P. F. Crowley. It is expected that the
new converting plant of the Shannon Copper Co. will be
in operation about the first of the year.
Mohave County.
W. B. Ridenour, of Hackberry, has relocated the
Hackberry mine and intends to reopen it to the north of
the deep shaft. The mine was opened to a depth of
nearly 600 feet when owned by the Indian Queen Co.
R. P. Wheeler, of Milwaukee, is at the Sun Cloud mine,
where he will give a contract to sink 100 feet, a whim
having been sent to the mine from Congress. The mine
is on the Big Sandy, 4 miles south of Signal.
CALIFORNIA.
According to the report on mineral products of this
State for 1904, prepared by L. E. Aubury, State Min-
eralogist, the total value of mineral substances produced
in the State in 1904 was $43,778,348; that of 1903 was
$37,759,040, an increase of 86,019,303. This is a greater
increase than has been shown for many years past, the
usual amount for the past ten years being about
$2,000,000 a year. The largest increase for the year is in
the gold output, which amounted to $3,000,000 above the
yield of 1903. The total value of the metallic substances
(including precious metals) for 1904 was $25,114,699,
which includes gold, silver, pyrites, quicksilver, copper,
lead, manganese, platinum and chrome. The silver is
given in commercial value, or the amount received for it
by producers. The total value of non-metallic sub-
stances was $2,131,369. These substances include borax,
coal, mineral waters, salt, infusorial earth, gypsum mag-
nesite, mineral paint, lithia-mica, fullers earth, mica,
soda, tourmaline and other gems. The total value of
the hydrocarbons and gases was $9,257,434, an increase
of $1,312,161. The hydrocarbons and gases include
asphalt, bituminous rock, natural gas and petroleum.
The petroleum price is the average free on board at
wells or stations in each county. The number of barrels
of oil produced was 29,736,003, valued at $8,317,809, as
against 24,340,839 barrels in 1903, valued at $7,313,271.
The increase in asphalt is also very large for the year, it
now being made in the refining of California heavy oils.
The total value of structural material was $7,274,846, an
increase of $366,383 over the previous year. These
materials include brick and pottery clays, Portland
cement, lime and limestone, macadam, rubble and con-
crete, paving blocks, marble, granite, sandstone, serpen-
tine, slate, glass sand and soapstone. The relative value
of the principal minerals of the State is as follows: Gold,
petroleum, copper, clays and their products, cement,
rubble, quicksilver. The amount and value of each of
the mineral substances is tabulated by the State Miner-
alogist as follows:
Asbestos, tons 10 $162
Asphalt, tons 58,187 672,910
Bismuth, tons 20 2,400
Bituminous rock, tons 45,280 175,680
Borax (crude), tons 45,647 698.810
Cement, bbls 969,538 1 ,539,807
Chrome, tons 123 - 1,845
Clays (brick), M 281,750 1,994,740
Clays pottery), tons 84,149 81,952
Coal, tons.... 79,062 376,491
Copper, pounds 29,974,154 3,9d9,9B5
Fuller's earth, tons 500 9,500
Glasssand, tons 10,004 12,276
Gold 19,109,600
Granite, cubic feet 520,087 467,472
Infusorial earth, tons 6,950 112,282
Gypsum, tons 8,850 56,592
Lead, pounds 124,000 . 5,270
Lithia-mica, tons 641 25,000
Lime, bbls 579,451 571,749
Limestone, tons 40,207 87,207
Macadam, tons 532.G90 414,668
Manganese, tons
. 2.4311,320
144.437
Hngnesltfi [orude i tons
1,985
Mineral water, gallons
196,846
99,786,008
1B1 768
Petroleum, bbls
B,817,80fl
1,848
88,992
1,086.828
1,227,209
200
8,810
B78,62fl
50,000
228
2,315
71,000
.843,778,318
Amador County.
Electric is being substituted for water power at the
Argonaut mine, near Jackson. The mine, mill and
rock breaker are to be run by electricity. The Climax
new 10-stamp mill, near Jackson, is to be ready within a
month. A 4000-foot pipe line and 2 miles of ditches have
been put in.
Hutte County.
The Boston & California Dredging Co., now operating
three dredgers; the Boston & Oroville M. Co., now oper-
ating three dredgers and constructing another; the Bear
River M. Co., now constructing one dredger, and the
Oroville Gold Dredging & Exploration Co., now operat-
ing two dredgers, are included in the new Orovillo
Dredging Co., Ltd., with W. P. Hammon as manager.
The properties include 3000 acres of proven ground, of
which 300 acres have been mined. Of the 3000 acres,
2000 are on Feather river and the remainder on Bear
river, between Yuba and Placer counties. These prop-
erties include eight dredgers in operation and two being
built. The properties of the Yuba Con. Gold Fields Co.
are not included in the new company.
Calaveras County.
The Angels quartz mine has started their quartz mill
at Angels. Superintendent Alex. Chalmers, of the
Lightner mine at Angels, has struck on the 700-foot
level a 30-foot vein, which shows the main ore body
worked on the upper levels has been reached on the low-
est workings. Sinking is being continued at the Cor-
delia mine at Murphys.
El Dorado County.
The Sunrise mine, near Kelsey, is to be reopened and
worked by Colorado capitalists. ■ G. C. Ranney iB ar-
ranging for lumber with which to rebuild the mill.
Inyo County.
Coso camp is 33 miles from Keeler, the terminus of the
Carson & Colorado Railroad. In this district G. D.
James of Reno, Nev., recently examined the Green Bay,
Calumet, Chicago, Delaney No. 1, Delaney No. 2, De-
laney No. 3 and the Wisconsin properties and found a
mineral zone 150 feet in width showing values of $3 to
$10 gold per ton. The belt appears to be valuable for
cyaniding. In the Modoc district, along the eastern
foothills of the Argus range and 20 miles east of Coso,
the veins appear to be narrower and encased in granite
and porphyry walls, the granite predominating. Among
the properties examined were the Clementina, Isabella,
New Year, New Britain, Willie, Lost Hope and Bordel.
The veins are about 2J feet wide, as shown by a 12-foot
shaft on the Isabella, a 30-foot crosscut tunnel on the
New Year, with drifts each way, and on the Clementina
a drift 60 feet in length. The values are much higher.
Modoc camp is across the Panamint valley and 18 miles
from the old Ballarat camp.
Kern County.
At a meeting of representatives of all the companies in
the Independent Oil Producers' Agency of Kern county
at Bakersfield, Oct. 4, preliminary plans were laid for
uniting all the independent companies into one large
company, to which all the oil land now in the possession
of the independent producers will be deeded. Prelimi-
nary plans were also laid for the construction of two
1,000,000-barrel reservoirs for the storing of oil. The
object of the independents is to compete with the Asso-
ciated, to which company the agency is now bound
under contract to deliver oil at the wells at 18 cents a
barrel. The contract will be completed in a few months,
and the evident intention of the independents is to be
prepared at the fulfillment of the contract to market the
independent oil at a satisfactory figure. Under present
conditions the greater portion of the independent oil is
being delivered to the large companies at a price that
means little if any profit to the producers, and the pre-
liminary action of to-day means the beginning of a last
determined effort on the part of the independents to
throw off the burden of the big corporations. This is
but a continuation of the first united move on the part
of the independent producers a year ago, and has for its
object the formation of a company organized much on
the plan of the Associated, and which it is intended
shall embrace all the independent companies in the Kern
River, the McKittrick, the Sunset and the Coalinga
fields. If the plans of the producers are carried out, the
properties of the independent companies will be deeded
to the proposed company, and will be paid for in stock
issued by the company. By this means the new Com-
pany will hold in fee simple all the oil properties in the
San Joaquin valley, with the exception of the holdings
of the railroads, the Associated Oil Company and the
Union Oil Company, and will be in a position to take
steps toward transporting independent oil by means of
an independent pipe line to tidewater and the market.
The Big Four M. Co. has driven its development and
drainage tunnel, near Havilah, 800 feet.
Modoc County.
(Special Correspondence). — Considerable excitement
has been caused by reports of gold discoveries west of
Fort Bidwell. The camp is 12 miles from Fort Bidwell,
in Surprise valley, and 6 miles from New Pine creek, in
Goose Lake valley. The mails go up from Reno by rail
to Madeline, 144 miles, and thence by stage to Alturas,
the county seat of Modoc county, 35 miles. From Alturas
there are two stage lines — one through Surprise valley
to Fort Bidwell, the other through Goose Lake valley
to New Pine Creek, which is on the Oregon-California
line, half the town being in one State and half in the
other. The distance either way from Alturas is 45 miles,
making the total distance from Reno 230 miles. It may
also be reached via Redding. The discoveries have all
been made in the Warner Range, which runs north and
south between Goose Lake on the west and Surprise val-
ley on the east. They prove that the country is min-
eralizod and worth prospecting. The rocks are eruptive
and no sedimentaries have been found. The camp is 86
miles from the Nevada-California-Oregon narrow gauge
railroad at Nevadaline, and it will cost $20 a ton to haul
the ore by wagon to the railroad.
The Plummer-Reid-Wade mine, near the summit, has
been bonded by B. Levison of Elizabeth, N. J., who in-
tends to develop it. It is said to be a large low-grade
proposition. Ore has been taken out of the Syphreth
and Kafeder claims. No reliable assay reports have been
made as yet, and, while the country is undoubtedly min-
eralized, yet the extravagant reports of bonanzas should
not form the basis for investment without investigation,
Modoc county consists of a succession of valleys, formerly
inland lakes, following one another through the country
from north to south. Goose lake, Tule lake and lakes in
Surprise valley are remnants of these former lakes.
These valleys are connected by narrow rocky canyons,
or are separated merely by low volcanic ridges, and are
bordered by bluffs of volcanic rock, marking the limits
of former lava Mows. Prospecting has been difficult on
account of the lava coverings. Warner's Range is
in several places over 8000 feet in height and snow pre-
vents winter access. Water is plenty in the range,
though scarce in some of the surrounding country.
Alturas, Oct. 2.
Nevada County.
R. J. Simmons is opening up the Eclipse mine on Gold
Flat, near Nevada City. The old shaft, which is 150
feet deep, will be cleaned out and retimbered. The
new hoisting plant on the Badger Hill drift mine, near
Nevada City, has been completed and sinking is now
under way. The vertical shaft will be sunk to a depth
of 150 feet. The Junction mine at North San Juan
has been bonded to R. W. Correll of San Francisco for
$60,000.
Placer County.
The Black Canyon mine, near Westville, has closed
down. The Polar Star at Dutch Flat is to be
reopened.
The drill used in boring the air shaft in the Hidden
Treasure mine, at Bullion, has broken through and the
air can now go through the shaft, but there is still 70
feet to finish, as the hole from the drill is only a small
one. The Reed and White placer mines and ditches
have been leased to F. G. Albinos and M. Toy of
Michigan Bluff by J. D. Meredith. J. S. Mills is
sinking the main shaft of the Dairy Farm Extension
mine, near Lincoln.
Siskiyou County.
The C. A. Patterson Co., operating the Eliza mine,
near Yreka, and putting up a 12-stamp mill, has secured
the Judge Spencer mine, adjoining.
Sonoma County.
Arrangements are being made at the Socrates quick-
silver mine at Pine Flat to operate all of the machinery
by electricity, as well as to light the shafts and tunnels.
A dam, 35 feet high, has been made across Sulphur
creek, opposite Dewey's mill. At present steam is being
used as power. The company has built a 50-ton ore fur-
nace, which will be fired about October 15. November
15 the first charge of ore will be placed in the furnace.
Tuolumne County.
E. C. Loftus, superintendent of the Santa Ysabel
mine, near Stent, is putting in concentrators. All is in
readiness to start twenty of the mill's forty stamps drop-
ping as soon as power comes on. Ore has been blocked
out in Nos. 2, 4 and 6 levels of the main 3-compartment
shaft, while sinking in this, which has been temporarily
suspended at the 800-foot mark, will be resumed and con-
tinued to a depth of 1500 foet. Retimbering the shaft
and other improvement work is being done on the Gold-
win mine, near Tuolumne. The old pipe line at the
App mine, near Quartz, is being replaced by a new one.
Superintendent A. W. Bryant of the Prudhomme,
near Carters, says that work on the property will be
resumed in the spring. A new tunnel will be started
on the Sunnyside mine, near Tuolumne, that will tap
the vein 200 feet deeper than the old working adit.
The incline shaft on the Confidence mine, at Confidence,
is down 900 feet. Drifting is being done from the bot-
tom in an endeavor to pick up the pay shoot found in
the upper levels. The mill and cyanide plant are run-
ning steadily.
COLORADO.
(Special Correspondence). — The corner stone of the
new hall at the State School of Mines was laid October
2. The money for the erection of this building was pre-
sented to the school by S. Guggenheim of the smelter
trust. The school is at Golden. The State Supreme
Court handed down a decision in the flat tax question
which means that the fiat tax law must stand and that
corporations will be assessed accordingly. It is believed
that the case will be appealed to the U. S. Supreme
Court for final decision, as it will make considerable dif-
ference with the firms doing business in the State. It
is encouraging to note the difference between now and
this time last year. In several camps visited during the
past few months the report is to the effect that there is
a scarcity of good miners. There are plenty of men
running around the towns saying ''there is nothing do-
ing," but according to the operators in the various dis-
tricts there is plenty of work for good men. A few days
ago in Leadville one of the operators stated that he had
been for several days trying to get five miners and had
not been able to secure them. This seems to be the re-
port generally over the State. The summer months
have seen a good trade among the machinery and sup-
ply houses of this city and for some time to come the
249
Mining and Scientific Press.
October t, 1905.
trade should be Al, as in many camps they are now tak-
ing in supplies for the winter, especially in the more
rugged and colder districts.
Denver, Oct. 2.
"Boulder County.
After an inactivity of several years the Wano mine
and mill at Jamestown are being renovated. The Mon-
arch Consolidated Co. will begin operations. W. H.
Davis, the company's chemist, reported that roasting
and cyanide treatment are applicable to the ores of the
Jamestown region. The capacity of the mill will be
increased to meet the demands of the Wano mine.
Rolls will be put in for crushing. No outside custom
ore will be treated by the company. A six-pound solu-
tion of cyanide will be used and a direct oxidizing roast,
such as was recently put in at Magnolia, will be
employed. The plans for the new mill are being
drawn by Franz Cazin, of Denver. The mill is to be
operated by a 500 H. P. water plant and a 100 H. P.
steam plant.
There are said to be 400 men working in tungsten pro-
ducing mines, near Nederland. A recent shipment of
41,100 pounds of crude ore from Miller & Co. yielded
7475 pounds of tungsten, carrying 66.07% tungstic acid.
The shaft is 30 feet deep. The 15-stamp mill of the
Boulder County mine is running continually. Super-
intendent T. P. Oliver, of the Colorado Tungsten Co., is
opening up good ore and shipping to the Boyd mill at
Boulder. P. Karstrom is shipping to the Boyd mill.
The Nederland Tungsten Leasing Corporation is
working the Illinois property of the Wolf Tongue M.
Co. and have a tunnel in 80 feet. Several loads of fair
tungsten ores were taken out of the surface workings of
this lease,
Chaffee County.
(Special Correspondence). — P. G. Mitchell, manager of
the Lost Canon Con. Deep Tunnel G. M. Co., is operat-
ing in Boswell gulch, 20 miles south from Leadville.
The tunnel is now in 1100 feet and considerable drifting
done on the vein. According to reports, the ore aver-
ages $20 per ton. The tunnel cuts the vein 600 feet
under the surface. A mill will be built next spring.
Leadville, Oct. 2.
Clear Creek County.
The Gem Mines Co. has completed the new electric air
compressor at the collar of the Gem shaft, near Idaho
Springs. It will be driven by a 150 H. P. electric motor
and will furnish air for ten drills. The plant will fur-
nish power for twenty-five sets of leasers in the Gem and
Freighters' Friend mines, besides furnishing power for
the operations of the company in their lower levels.
Wright, Lilly and associates of Colorado Springs intend
to organize a new company on the Dubuque claims up
Fall river from Idaho Springs and opposite the Lucania
tunnel in which they are now interested. The property
has been developed by an adit tunnel which is in 400
feet. A main tunnel will be driven to cut the different
lodes. 1. N. Rogers and H. C. McCreery have sold
the Refugee mine at the head of Hukill gulch to G. A.
Starbird and E. S. Lewis of Denver.
At the Santiago mine, in East Argentine district, near
Georgetown, after running the crosscut No. 5 over 600
feet the main vein was reached and drifting started.
The width is 4 feet between walls, the pay streak carry-
ing 18 inches of fine smelting ore. This point is 150 feet
below No. 4 tunnel and 1100 feet below the crest of the
hill. No. 4 tunnel is being driven on a 3-foot streak of
ore. Manager Wm. Rogers is cutting an upraise above
No. 3 and another above No. 2 tunnel. The mill at
Georgetown, after being overhauled and adjusted, is
handling forty tons every twenty hours, there being an
interval of four hours each day when the electric power
from the Georgetown plant, being otherwise engaged, is
insufficient. The rock concentrates from three to seven
tons into one after the smelting product has been sorted
out, and contains in the crude from $8 to $20 per ton.
The process employed is crushers, rolls, Huntington
grinders, jigs and tables. It is probable that the finer
products, slimes, etc., will be cyanided later on. The
mill is shipping from one to two cars of concentrates per
week and three cars of selected ore per month. The
entire output of the mine is hauled in wagons 74 miles to
the ore bins of the mill at a cost of $1.80 per ton, each
wagon carrying from four and a half to five tons at a
load.
The Consolidated Park M. Co. has been formed to
work the Park claims on Seaton mountain, near Idaho
Springs, under the direction of J. J. May. An electric
motor to run an air compressor is to be put in as soon as
machine drills can be used to advantage. Reports
come from Empire of two important strikes in the
Dailey district, one in the tunnel being driven by the
Red Mountain & Mad Creek M. Co., of which J. D.
Williamson of Denver is president. The other strike is
in Horseshoe basin.
Superintendent F. M. Tucker, of the Krupps M. Co.,
operating claims on Columbia mountain, near Empire,
reports breaking into a 3-foot vein of high-grade silver-
lead ore, running high in lead and carrying good values
in gold and silver.
Ollpln County.
The stone foundation, being built on the Evergreen
property in Apex, is completed and work will be com-
menced on the 60xl00-foot shaft house which is to be
built near the mouth of the 500-foot tunnel the company
has been driving. Work on the tunnel is to be aban-
doned as soon as sinking is commenced. Work has
been resumed on the ..-Etna property in Nevadaville.
New machinery has been put in. Work will be pushed
in the 600 crosscut north at the 200 level. John Sim-
mons has charge.
F. H. Owen of Central City has resumed operations on
the Review mine, on Winnebago hill, and is stoping on
the 200-foot east level. The property is owned by N. D.
Owen of Denver. The main shaft is down 460 feet.
Superintendent Frank Paxton, of the Russell M. Co.,
reports that they have completed retimbering the No. 4
shaft on the West Pewabic property from top to bottom,
a depth of 180 feet. Leasers are at work in the lower
levels. J. J. Elliott of Denver intends starting the
Springdale or Gold Rock property in Russell district,
under a lease and bond. The main shaft is down 600
feet.
Gunnison County.
C. Skinner is superintending work on the Volunteer
mine, near Pitkin. The winze is being unwatered pre-
paratory to starting development work. The Ben
Franklin group, near Pitkin, has been leased to A. B.
Clark, who intends working it.
Hinsdale County.
It is expected that the Hanna mill, at Capitol City,
will be completed by Nov. 1.
Lake County.
A good body of ore has been opened at the 900-foot
level of the Evelyn, Graham park, near Leadville. The
shaft on the property is 1200 feet deep. Machinery is
being placed on the Little Nell claim on the crest of Car-
bonate hill by Lomeister and associates, of Leadville,
and when in running order work will be carried on at
the bottom levels. At present prospect work is being
done at the 500-foot level to try to locate a shoot of ore.
The Long & Derry property, near Leadville, will
again be worked. C. Taylor, of Leadville, is interested.
After being idle for several months the Adelaide, one
of the oldest mines near Leadville, has started hoisting.
The plant is being operated for N. West of Denver by
John McAlister. The water has been pumped out.
Work is to be done at the bottom level, 380 feet below
the surface, where drifting is being carried on. The
Hub mine, near the Adelaide, is idle. A little sulphide
is being taken out of the No. 1 shaft of the Ohio& Lead-
ville Co. 's OUie Reed mines. They are prospecting at
the fourth level. A diamond drill has been at work for
some time in the No. 2 shaft. It has gone down at the
rate of 12 feet a day, and is now 250 feet below the bot-
tom of the 350-foot shaft. The Mastiff M. Co., which
has a lease on the Humboldt mine at Adelaide Park, is
taking out fifteen tons a day of low-grade ore. Stoping
is being carried on at the 375-foot level.
San Juan County.
The Sultan Mountain M. Co., operating claims on
Sultan mountain, near Silverton, have begun a winter's
campaign. They are running a crosscut tunnel on the
Junior Warden vein to cut the Molas lead, and a con-
tract of 400 feet has just been completed by Jesse Herr &
Co. of Silverton. An additional 100 feet is to be run
under contract by Olsen Bros., and when this contract
is completed the breast of the tunnel will have been car-
ried to within 300 feet of the objective point, at a depth
of 150 feet below the old workings of the mine and 250
feet below the surface.
Summit County.
The stockholders of the Senator Gold M. Co. have
voted to raise $30,000 for further development work by
issuing gold bonds on the property. The property is on
North Star mountain, 10 miles south from Brecken-
ridge, and is developed by a crosscut tunnel which has
cut veins carrying iron and copper sulphide ore with
values in gold and silver. The property is equipped
with a compressor, drill plant and buildings.
The Old Union M. & M. Co. of Breckenridge is run-
ning mine and mill to utmost capacity. Mill Superin-
tendent C. Gilbert is shipping zinc products, which have
found a market in Kansas. It can be safely stated at
present that the Old Union is past the experimental
stage, and from now on will be listed among the steady
producing and dividend paying enterprises of the dis-
trict. Work has been resumed by the Rothschild
Tunnel Co. on its bore at Argentine. Driving another
2000 feet is in charge of Thomas Webb.
In experimenting with the black sand in the Banner
placer hydraulic works with wooden riffles, the value of
the sand saved is 8.39 ounces in gold, and with steel rif-
fles after passing the wooden riffles the value is $17. This
shows a great value in black sand, of which there are
large quantities, and all has heretofore gone to waste in
placer mining. J. H. Myers states that the King Solo-
mon Mining Syndicate has been able to interest capital
in the mineral fields near Montezuma, and they will soon
have a mill running at the mouth of the Lenaway
tunnel.
Teller County.
The mill of the Little Giant M. & M. Co. in Pony
gulch, near Cripple Creek, is finished. It is calculated
that the mill will be capable of handling 150 tons of low-
grade ore daily, ore from surrounding properties as well
as that of the company being desired for treatment.
Operations have been resumed at the Homestake
mill, on Ironclad hill, with S. M. Downs of Cripple
Creek in charge.
The United States Reduction & Refining Co., operat-
ing the Standard plant at Colorado City, will shortly
build a tailing cyanide plant. Ore has been struck by
the Equity M. Co. in its exploration on the second level
of the New Discovery property, on the summit of Mineral
hill, 1 mile north of Cripple Creek. The Laura Lee on
Mineral hill has been leased by an Eastern company and
it is proposed to sink a shaft to the 1000-foot level and
cut the cap rock which is believed to cover the hill. The
shaft is down 400 feet. In the Ruby mine on Bull hill,
near Victor, prospecting is under the direction of the
Merger M. Co.
The total output and value of Cripple Creek ore for
September were'
Average Total
Ton*. Value. Value.
Sioux Palls 1.200 $2 50 $ 3,000
Anaconda 2.550 7 00 17,850
Los Angeles 640 4 50 2,800
Wild Horse 1,200 6 50 7,800
Santa Rita 450 8 00 3,600
Smelters 9,500 60 00 570,000
TJ. S. R. and R 25,000 30 00 750,000
Dorcas 3,300 32 50 107,250
Portland 7,500 28 00 210,000
Economic 6,000 28 00 174,000
Totals 57,340 81,846,300
Ore is being broken in the Midway mine, between
Ironclad and Bull hills, Cripple Creek, at a depth of
186 feet. Exploration at a depth of 1000 feet in the
Anaconda mine of Gold hill has shown ore. In reaching
the 1000-foot point, a winze was started from the tunnel
level, which has a depth of 600 feet and continued for
400 feet.
The Huntington mill, on the Mohawk Belle and Twin
Sisters claims, between Raven and Bull hills, near
Cripple Creek, is handling ten tons of ore a day. The
plant is being operated by Carrington & Epy. Ore
running $40 per ton is being shipped from the Gregory
mine at Cripple Creek.
A stake has been made in the Black Diamond on Ten-
derfoot hill, near Cripple Creek. Prospecting began in
a 120-foot shaft.
IDAHO.
Owyhee County.
W. F. Sommercamp has organized the Potosi M. Co.,
which has taken over the Home and Potosi mines at Sil-
ver City. A hoist is to be put on the Potosi, on which a
shaft was sunk several years ago, to a depth of 240 feet.
The Home mine is on the same vein, adjoining the north
end line of the Potosi. The mill of the Addie M. & M.
Co., at Silver City, has been started under the direction
of Arthur Knapp. Amalgamating pans have been put
in and amalgamating is done in the batteries, the pulp
being elevated back and run through the battery twice
before going through the pans.
Shoshone County.
The Snowstorm mine, near Mullan, is shipping 300
tons of ore daily. This is said to be the only copper
mine in the Coeur d'Alenes that is producing at the pres-
ent time. John Newbury & Son are driving a cross-
cut on the Fanny Gremm, a property east and adjoining
the You Like and the Midnight, near Mullan.
Washington County.
Work with the Landore smelter, owned by the Ladd
Metals Co., has been steady since blowing in the rever-
beratory furnace. The plant is giving satisfaction. It
has a capacity of fifty tons daily. Coke has been hauled
regularly, so that the management has a good supply of
fuel on hand.
MICHIGAN.
Houghton County.
Superintendent Edwards of the Tecumseh states that
the drill at the second location has cut the Kearsarge
lode at a depth of 185 feet and that drilling has been con-
tinued until both walls of the lode have been determined,
together with their copper contents. The core that was
extracted from the lode shows the same state of mineral-
ization as that discovered in the other hole. Machinery
is being moved to the location. Work will be started on
the shaft as soon as possible, as sufficient development
work has been done to assure the management that the
lode exists on the location in the same state of minerali-
zation as that of the first.
MONTANA.
Granite County.
D. T. Conkling and M. L. Bashor have leased from
Gannon & Neu the Oro y Plata placer mines near the
mouth of Henderson gulch, near Philipsburg. Associ-
ated with them is John Brasslin. While good weather
lasts the lessees will prospect and make ready for
work in the spring.
Silver Bow County.
(Special Correspondence). — Another section of the
Butte copper district likely to rival both the old por-
tions and the new country in north Butte lies south of
the Pennsylvania mine. A scheme is on foot for the
consolidation under one big company of a number of the
best of these producing mines. The Mountain View
mine of the Boston & Montana Co. is in continuous
operation and yielding 20,000 tons of ore each month.
The Mountain View has been equipped with a new hoist-
ing engine capable of working to a depth of 500 feet.
A new hoisting engine has been ordered for the new
four-compartment Bhaft that is now down 500 feet on
the Leonard mine of the Boston & Montana Co. From
the 1200-level of the mine another force is raising to con-
nect with the opening from the surface. A new surface
plant is being built, and will include a steel gallows
frame 140 feet high and new ore bins 150 feet long. The
shaft will be equipped with shaft dumping skips. The
Columbia mine in the Lowland district, 18 miles north-
east of Butte, is being worked by leasers who are ship-
ping to the Butte smelters.
Butte, Oct. 2.
The Butte Miner reports that the big concrete stack
of the Butte reduction works, 352 feet and 7 inches high,
has been finished after four months' work. In its build-
ing were used 60 tons of "T" steel, 1500 barrels of Port-
land cement, 1400 tons of sand. The weight of the chim-
ney, inclusive of its concrete base and slag foundation,
is 15,275 tons. The stack has a diameter of 18 feet, and
rests on a concrete base of 1806 feet. This base stands on
a slag foundation designed by James Doull. of the Butte
reduction works, and is put into place under his super-
vision. This foundation was originally intended for a
brick stack of the same internal dimensions as the pres-
ent concrete stack. The outside diameter of the base of
the chimney is 21 feet. For the foundation the ground
was excavated to a depth of 7 feet, the formation of
ground being a natural washed sand deposit. Into this
excavation a box was made of cast iron plates 100 feet
square and 3 feet deep. Into this box was poured molten
slag. The foundation was built up by a series of these
slag blocks 3 feet high, each block being stepped in
from the outer edges of the one below 3J feet, there
being six of these blocks, making the slag foundation 18
feet in depth and 663 feet square on its top surface.
While the molten slag was being poured into the boxes,
layers of steel wire rope, chain and T rail were sewed hor-
izontally through each block, and standing vertically
through these blocks of slag and projecting out of top of
slag foundation and into the stack foundation base were
70 tons of scrap iron and steel. On top of this founda-
tion was built the foundation of the chimney. This
foundation consisted of a solid block of concrete 42* feet
square and 5 feet high at its sides and 8J feet high in the
center, the top of this block being shaped like the frus-
tum of a pyramid. Horizontally through this block of
concrete was laid four layers of ljxlj-inch T iron, two
layers being laid parallel with the sides of block and two
layers diagonal. Into this network was placed vertically
and in a circle corresponding to the size of ihe chimney
October 7, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
250
500 bars of ljxlj-inch T steel, these bars being all beat
outwardly at their lower ends. From the base to the
top rings of lxl-inch T iron wore laid horizontally. For
the first 21 feet of height of the chimney the walls aro
18 inches in thickness and in these walls are the two
inlets to the chimney, one on each side, each opening
8x17 feet. On top of the 18-inch wall the double shell of
the chimney is placed, the outer shell being 9 inches
thick, the inner shell 5 inches thick, these shells being
separated by a 4-inch space, the air space at the bottom
being connected to the atmosphere through the outer
shell by portholes. The inside shell extends up to 101J
feet above the base, and the outer shell is offset over the
inner Bhell, the air space being left entirely open on the
inner side of the chimney and the inner shell free from
the outer shell at the top. The outer shell is then car-
ried 7 inches thick to the top of the chimney. The
building of the stack has been rapid, 30 feet of height
being attained per week. Main dust chambers to con-
nect with the stack will be .'160 feet long, 225 feet being
B0 feet in width, while the remaining 105 feet will be 80
feet wide. They will be 30 feet in height. The cham-
bers are being built of structural steel, with sheet steel
roof and brick walls. Every consideration is given the
welfare of the men employed in connection with the
flues, the chambers being built on slag piers with trans-
verse ducts permitting free circulation of air. Aux-
iliary dust chambers connecting with the calcine cham-
bers will communicate with the main dust chamber. A
steel converter building, which will accommodate two
converter stands, is being built. This plant will be large
enough for three converter stands if necessary. Two
new matte furnaces, 20x60 feet, are being installed with
600 H. P. boilers, the waste gases of which will be
utilized in the matte reduction.
NEVADA.
Esmeralda County.
The Goldfleld News reports that for the week ending
Sept. 28, 2340 tons of ore, having a value of $320,132,
were consigned to the local mills or were shipped out over
the railroad to the smelters. No returns were received
from the Goldfleld R. Co., as the Frank mill is closed
down temporarily pending the arrival of an automatic
sampler. The plant of the American R. & M. Co.,
which was started up the first time a few days since,
has as yet handled but a small amount of ore.: During
the period 200 tons of ore, having an average value of
$40 per ton, were treated at the Combination Co. 's mill;
693 tons of an average value of $104 per ton were treated
at the plant of the Columbia Sampling & Ore Co., 50
tons— experimental — having an average value of $50 per
ton at the plant of the American R. Co.; 290 tons of
milling ore, lhaving an average value of $40 per ton,
and 152 tons of shipping ore, having an average value
of $230 per ton at the plant of the New Western R. Co.
At the latter plant there is now awaiting treatment 400
tons of milling ore and 500 tons of shipping ore. Aside
from this there went out via the railway 28 cars con-
taining 955 tons of ore of a gross value of $191,000. In
connection with the railroad it can be stated that a flat
rate of $17 per ton haB been established on ore ship-
ments, and that on first-class merchandise a rate of $3.80
per 100 pounds has been established; on other grades of
merchandise a graduating scale has been adopted, these
rates applying to goods en transit to and from San
Francisco. The WeBs Fargo ExpresB Co. has also made
a reduction since the advent of the railroad of $1.50 on
the 100 pounds to all Pacific coast points.
Lincoln County.
The Old Colony M. Co. has ordered a 5-stamp mill and
cyanide plant for the Yellowstone mine at Juniper Camp,
near Searchlight. A 15 H. P. hoist has also been
ordered. A new working shaft is to be started to go to
the 500-foot station for the first stage. Levels will be
run from this at every 100 feet. At the same time work-
ing shafts of similar depth are to be put down on the
Bird and Golden Rod by the same company. Leonard
Tobin is manager. Work is to be resumed on the Old
Roman mine near the Empire camp at Newberry moun-
tain, near Searchlight. C. F. De Puy is manager.
Superintendent A. A. Ross has resumed work in the
Good Hope mine, near Searchlight.
Lyon County.
The Overland mine, in Silver City, has been sold for
$25,000. It is understood that a shaft will be sunk on
the property to a depth of 500 feet and a modern mill
and cyanide plant put In. At the Hayward mine, in
Silver City, an electric hoist, mill and cyanide plant will
be put in. The Silver King mine, at Silver City,
owned by A. A. Smith, has been bonded for $15,000.
The Dayton mine, in Silver City, is under bond for $30,-
000, and is being inspected and sampled.
Nye County.
The American S. & R. Co. is preparing to build a 50-
ton automatic sampling works in the Lida district.
Representatives are now in the field looking over the
situation, under direction of San Francisco capitalists.
The plant is to be of modern construction, with machin-
ery for grinding and sampling fifty tons daily. The ore
will be shipped to the Selby works and other plants of
the trust.
Storey County.
L. M. Hall, consulting engineer in charge of the Corn-
stock mines, says he has received orders to at once in-
stall the machinerv and equipment that is to drain the
3100-foot levels. Two 800 H. P. motors will be placed at
the bottom of the Ward shaft in the south end of the
lode, and these will lift the waters from the lowest levels
to the Sutro tunnel. In this tunnel the old flume will be
replaced by a 30-inch pipe carrying 10,000 gallons of
water a minute. Power to operate the great motors will
be secured at Marmol, on the Truckee river, where a
generating station is being built.
OREGON.
By the findings of the mining jury of awards of the
Lewis and Clark Exposition, which have just been made
public, Colorado receives 161 awards. Nine are gold
medals, 13 silver medals and 14 bronze medals, while the
remaining 125 are honorable mentions. Oregon stands
second in the number of awards with 82. Out of 43
awards received, California got 13 gold, 14 silver and 13
bronze medals, with 3 honorable mentions. Montana
got 13 gold, 11 silver and 8 bronze medals, with 25 hon-
orable mentions — 57 awards in all. Washington received
70 altogether, but few are gold and silver medals.
Among her 55 awards Wyoming got 3 gold medals, 10
silver and 20 bronze, with 22 honorable mentions. Idaho
got 29 awards, of which 2 were gold medals, 6 silver, 12
bronze and 9 honorable mentions. Utah received 9, 3 of
which were gold, 3 silver and 3 bronze. Many of the
States will appeal to the superior jury of awards.
Baker Conntr.
The Cable Cove Power Co. has been organized to build
an electric power plant to supply the mines near Cable
Cove, including the Valley Queen and Sheridan in Grant
county, near Granite. Water is to be obtained from
Baldy lake.
The North Pole mine, near Bourne, is running steadily,
as is the Columbia. The Bonanza, since being leased by
Albert Geiser, the original owner, has been steadily
worked, and, from reports, the results are satisfactory.
Work is also being done on the Golconda, near Bourne,
which has been reorganized. The Virtue, near Baker
City, after being shut down for a time, has been sold to
a Belgian company and is now reported to be taken out
ore and shipping to the Sumpter smelter.
Graut County.
The dredger at Crane Flat, operated by Burch &
Burbidge of Spokane, has been shut down for the season.
It is reported that no work is being done at the Red
Boy mine, near Granite.
Josephine County.
Manager F. Fowler of the Gold Pick, near Holland,
has completed packing the small stamp mill into that
property. Reduction work is to be commenced soon.
The Alder Gulch M. & T. Co., of which A. Osburn is
president and W. T. Perry secretary and treasurer, is
working in the Oscar Creek district, near Murphy.
SOUTH DAKOTA.
Pennington County.
(Special Correspondence^ — Near Rochford the Ethel
Co. is sinking a shaft and machinery for this property
is being received. At Meyersville the Cochran mine is
idle pending the overhauling of the mill and power
plant. James Cochran has ore enough blocked out to
keep his mill employed for several years. The ore is
hornblende schist and is free milling: ■ At the Golden
West, 6 miles west of Rochford, the mine and mill are
running steadily under direction of E. J. Kennedy. It
has been found advisable to reduce the tonnage of the
Chile mill, as a higher saving of values can be made if
less ore be crushed. Canvas tables are being considered
as an accessory in saving values from the plates.
Rochford, Sept. 27.
The Egyptian claims, at Keystone, have been sold to
the Western Exploration Co. of Salt Lake City.
P. O'Keefe is to be superintendent. The plan is to sink
a shaft 500 feet before drifting and to put -up a 100 stamp-
mill.
Lawrence County.
(Special Correspondence). — At Lead the Homestake
Co. is building a steel building on concrete piers for an-
other compressor to supply compressed air to motors
underground. The building iB on the same grade as the
Ellison hoist and east of the shaft. At Gayville con-
struction on a separating plant to remove a large por-
tion of the water from slimes is under way. The clear
water will be reused and the slimes sent by pipe line to
the new slimes plant to be built on McGovern hill at
Deadwood. This plant will not be in operation before
next spring, as its construction involves a large amount
of grading, tank building and other work. At Pluma
the tall stack of reinforced concrete at the new electric
distributing plant is going up. This plant will supply
electric light and power to mines, mills and other indus-
trial concerns throughout the northern Black Hills.
At the head of Strawberry gulch, 3 miles east of Lead,
the Puritan Co. is putting in cyanide tanks and making
other improvements to treat the silver bearing quartzite
which constitutes the ore body in this property. The
shaft on the Puritan is about 100 feet deep and the ore
body 20 feet thick.
Lead, Sept. 28.
UTAH.
Beaver County,
The Majestic Copper M. Co., at Milford, has resumed
shipments to the Newhouse mill. The developments on
the Harrington-Hickory ground, according to Manager
Hanchette, have been encouraging. The Gomer shaft
for the last 80 feet has been in first-class ore.
The Moscow mine at Milford is shipping ore regularly.
A new whim has been put on the Wasatch King in
Beaver Lake district. Manager J. C. Brownfield has In-
creased the working force of Milford. The tunnel is in
400 feet.
Salt Lake County.
The Pioneer mine, at Alta, is being developed under
the direction of Arthur Murphy. It is reported that
the Centennial-Emma mine, at Alta, has been bonded to
a Chicago company.
With a single shot the management of the United
States Co.'s lime quarries at Topliff broke up recently
20,000 tons of rock, using 2500 pounds of black powder.
There was broken enough limerock to supply furnaces
at Bingham Junction for sixty days, as they use an aver-
age of 300 tons daily.
The cost of operating the mines, the mill and the tram-
way at the Alta properties of the Continental Co. has
been reduced 50% by Manager Crowther. He has re-
duced the payroll to 65 persons from 120 and accomplish-
ing the same results.
Summit County.
At the annual meeting of the shareholders of the West
Quincy M. Co. of Park City, G. D. B. Turner was elected
president and general nlanager; J. H. Moyle, vice-presi-
dent; R. E. Miller, secretary, and S. Fargo, treasurer.
The report of Manager Turner showed that from' the
Little Bell, a neighboring property, it had driven 3000
feet to a station 1100 feet under Bonanza Flat. The con-
tact is now being run on, with the main ore bodies ex-
pected at its intersection with the fissure cut on the 600-
foot level in the original workings.
Tooele County.
T. Jennings, of Salt Lake, haB mining claims in the
mountains 10 miles west of Grantsville, and has let a
contract to Samuel Games of Park City to extend the
800-foot tunnel on the Third Term mine. The mines in
the Lake Side mining district are being worked, and
general activity prevails around Grantsville.
The management of the Honerine mine at Stockton
has decided to continue the long tunnel to the main in-
cline, giving a total length of 9500 feet. They will have
800 feet farther to drive. It means the unwatering of
other ledges.
The bottom of the incline shaft on the Cyclone Co.'s
property at Stockton iB in the fissure and a body of good
lead ore is being cut. The shaft is down, according to
Superintendent H. T. Sappington, 660 feet.
Utah County.
C. B. Snyder, representative of the Snow-Darst Co. at
Provo, will give a contract to drive a 300-foot tunnel on
the company's holdings east of Provo. The tunnel will
be driven near Provo canyon and is intended to open up
one of the deposits of broken anthracite coal from which
the company intends to generate gas to be supplied to
Salt Lake and other towns of the State.
"WASHINGTON.
Ferry County.
The Mountain M. Co. put in a 30 H. P. boiler, engine,
hoist and machine drills at the Pomeroy mine, 10 miles
northeaBt of Orient. The First Thought mine, near
Orient, in Kettle river district, is shipping 30 tons of ore
daily to the smelter. The shaft on the Comstock-
Treadwell mine is gaining depth. This is the property
recently bonded by P. Burns & Co. Preparations
are being made to resume work on the Trojan mine
on Toulou mountain, near Orient. A new tunnel will be
started, which will tap the ore body at considerable
depth.
Snohomish County.
A power drill has been put in at the Imperial mine,
near Silverton. Air connection has been made with the
Copper Independent. It is reported that work is to be
resumed at the Copper Independent. At the Justice
mine, at Monte Cristo, the connection has been com-
pleted between the crosscut and the old workings. The
production is to be increased. F. W. Peabody is driv-
ing a 600-foot crosscut at the Sidney mine, at Monte
Cristo.
Stevens County.
A. I. Goodell, manager of the Northport smelter, an-
nounces that the plant would be closed about Nov. 1.
WYOMING.
Crook County.
Paul Danckwardt, superintendent of the Golden
Reward M. Co., which owns coal lands in the Sundance
coal fields, announces that his company will begin the
construction of a power plant at the coal mines and that
in addition to operating and developing the collieries
power would be transmitted by an electric line to the
Black Hills to operate the mining and milling business
at that place.
FOREIGN.
AUSTRALIA.
In New South Wales, South Australia and Tasmania
marble of excellent quality is found. The principal
quarries are at Caloola, near Newbridge. The Hawkes-
bury sandstone formation, which underlies Sydney, pro-
vides a supply of stone adapted to building purposes.
Limestone is obtained in New South Wales, where it is
largely used in the manufacture of hydraulic cement, as
well as for fluxing purposes in smelting works. At Port-
land, near Wallarawang, extensive works for manufac-
turing cement have been erected, and works are also in
operation at Granville, near Sydney. In South Austra-
lia 40,138 tons of limestone were raised from deposits at
Yorke's Peninsula. In Western Australia a limited
quantity of limestone is raised for fluxing purposes.
The establishment of the cyanide process for the recov-
ery of gold in which lime is freely used has led to the
opening up of limestone mines in various parts of Queens-
land. Gypsum of good quality is found in Victoria, the
production of 1903 being valued at £897, its use in the
production of cement and plaster of paris being yet in
its infancy. It is also found crystallized in clay beds in
New South Wales, and in isolated crystals in the salt
lakes of South Australia, where a small proportion of
sulphate of lime is present in the water. In the latter
State it is used as a fertilizer. Gypsum is also found in
the form of an insoluble salt in Victoria and New South
Wales. Quartz is of common occurrence in all parts of
the commonwealth. Rock crystal, white, tinted and
smoky quartz are frequently met with, as well as varie-
ties of crystallized quartz, such as amethyst, jasper and
agate. Asbestos is obtained in New South Wales in the
Gundagai, Bathurst and Broken Hill districts. In Tas-
mania, asbestos is known to exist in considerable quan-
tities in the vicinity of Beaconsfield. Tripoli has been
found in Victoria. Mica has been discovered in the New
England and Barrier districts of New South Wales. In
Western Australia good mica has been met with at Bin-
doon and also on the Blackwood river, near Cape Leeu-
win. Deposits have also been found near Herberton, in
Northern Queensland. In the northern territory of
South Australia mica has been obtained on a small scale.
Kaolin, fire-clays and brick -clays are common in all the
States.
CANADA.
BRITISH COLUMBIA.
Boundary District.
Returns from the shipments of ore from the Crescent
and Don Pedro, adjoining mines in Skylark camp, gave
251
Mining and Scientific Press.
October 7, 1906.
over $60 per ton. Work on both properties is being
done under H. H. Shallenberger, the manager. At
the Granby mine, in addition to the regular work of
stoping and shipping 2000 tons of ore daily, development
is going on at the Monarch, Gold Drop and Monte
groups, recently bought. The winze in the Old Iron-
sides mine is down to the 500 level, the deepest workings
yet reached in the Granby properties. Work will be
started on the new 3-eompartment main incline shaft at
the Granby.
Work has been discontinued on the E. P. U. mine,
near Greenwood, to make repairs to the machinery.
Slocan District.
Work has been stopped on the Mountain Con. mine
for the season. The mine is in a basin at the head of
the South Fork of Carpenter creek at an altitude of
8000 feet, S miles from Sandon, from which it is reached
by a wagon road to Cody and a trail "to the mine. It
costs $20 per ton to carry supplies from Sandon to the
mine and $12 a ton to pack ore from the mine to the K.
& S. railway at Cody. The ore body occurs in a quartz
fissure vein cutting through an abrupt granite peak, and
the ore runs as high as $200 per ton in silver and lead.
The crosscut tunnel on the Vera has reached the ledge
after running 82 feet.
The new crosscut tunnel being driven by the Rambler
Cariboo Mines, Ltd., is in 3000 feet, leaving 1400 feet yet
to be driven to reach the vein at a depth of 1400 feet.
The tunnel is 7Jx7i feet in the clear, and starts from
Dardanelles creek, between MeGuigan station and the
mine. W. E. Zwicky of Kaslo is manager. The cost of
hoisting and pumping has stopped work in the 800-foot
shaft on the vein until a raise can be made from the
tunnel.
ONTARIO.
(Special Correspondence;. — The Dreyden district, 200
miles east of Winnipeg, is well mineralized, but little de-
veloped. There are several companies working, includ-
ing the Reindeer M. Co., which recently started its 10-
stamp mill. They are preparing to build a cyanide
plant in connection with the stamp mill. North from
here lies the new district of Sturgeon Lake and it is re-
ported that $150,000 silver ore was taken from the sur-
face by one man in six weeks. In the same district an-
other 10-stamp mill is said to be netting $30,000 per
month.
Dreyden, Sept. 29.
YUKON TERRITORY.
(Special Correspondence). — The electric gold dredger
at the mouth of Bear creek on Klondike river went into
commission August 15. The dredger was built and
started digging in forty-six days from time construction
work began. It is owned by the Canadian Klondike
M. Co., Ltd., and was built by the Marion Steam Shovel
Co. of Marion, Ohio.
Dawson, Sept. 25.
MEXICO.
The Etzatlan smelter, at Etzatlan, has been started
as a custom smelter by the Etzatlan C. S. Co., in which
B. Kearns, M. E. Raines and E. Pinley are interested.
The smelter has a twenty-ton water jacket furnace.
The Carrizo copper mine, in the Autlan district, is to
be developed by the Carrizo Copper Co., of which K. E.
Keller is president. E. E. Nicholson, formerly foreman
at the Granby mine in British Columbia, will take
charge of the property as superintendent. H. A.
Wheeler of St. Louis is consulting engineer.
Sonora.
At a meeting of the Promontorio Con. M. Co., in
Nogales, Ariz., R. M. Eberle of Los Angeles, Cal., was
elected president; Robert Christie of Owen Sound, Can-
ada, vice-president; A. H. Merwin of Los Angeles, secre-
tary; N. Robinson of Owen Sound, treasurer. Work
at the mine has been resumed. Contracts have been let
for moving out to the camp the machinery for a 100-ton
plant, which has been some time at Nogales. The air
compressor will be started at once and work of sinking
the deep double-compartment shaft will be resumed.
PHILIPPINE ISLANDS.
H. D. McCaskey, Chief Mining Bureau, Philippine
Islands, in a recent report of the United States Geolog-
ical Survey, states that the outlook for a profitable
mineral industry is more hopeful to-day than it has been
at any time since the American occupation of the Philip-
pine Islands. Modern machinery has begun to arrive
from the United States. Mining development is being
carried on in the provinces of Lepanto-Bontoc, Benguet,
Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Rizal, Batangas,
Tayabas, Camarines, Albay, Masbate, Cebu, and Min-
danao, and prospecting is being done in almost every
island and province of the archipelago. In Suyoc,
south of Mancayan, Lepanto, on the IslaDd of Luzon,
prospects are being developed by American miners.
Gold and copper ores both occur. In Benguet some
important development work has been done, particularly
in the district of Antamok. Here lie the claims of Kel-
ley, Clark, Petersen, Clyde, Lehlbach, and others, most
of whom have been at work on them for several years.
Although the ore bodies have not yet been subjected to
detailed investigation, this work will be taken up by
A. J. Eveland, geologist mining bureau. The ore
bodies are apparently extensive. Much of the ore so far
uncovered is free-milling. Lehlbach has announced the
intention of his company to order a 10-stamp mill with
1000-pound stamps, short drop, and rapid discharge, and
a 100-ton cyanide plant complete. Kelley, Clark, Peter-
sen, and Clyde have done sufficient work upon their
claims to prove these deposits worthy of serious con-
sideration and the quantity of ore to be large. Kelley
has put in a 10-stamp mill with a cyanide plant and
Clark has received a 3-stamp triple-discharge Hendy
mill and a 60-ton cyanide plant, in charge of C. M. Eye,
mining engineer. Petersen and Clyde have built in
Manila shops a 3-stamp mill for development purposes.
In the Bataan district the Philippine Gold M., P. & D.
Co. has opened a number of drifts, but has not yet suc-
ceeded in getting its 10-stamp mill upon the ground
owing to transportation difficulties en route. In the
Bued River district Hanson and Meade have uncovered
a rich gold -copper lead, for which a 3-stamp mill is being
built. The Tacoma smelter has secured a rate from the
Boston Steamship Co., per long ton, free on board,
Manila Bay, and delivered on smelter wharf at Tacoma,
of $5 per ton. In Pangasinan, in the foothills of the
northern Zambales range, near Salasa, a number of
claims have been recorded and worked. The ores here
are copper carbonate and sulphides, assays of three
samples from the claims of W. H. Miller, giving,
respectively, 19.9%, 11%, and 18% in copper, 13.2 ounces,
0 ounces, and 2 ounces in silver, and $2.76, $1.60, and
$3.80 in gold. In Nueva Ecija, near Gapan, and Pena-
randa, on the Rio Chico and elsewhere, extensive
deposits of placer gold have been known for many years.
In the Camarines Province the Spanish concessions
upon the extensive gold deposits in the districts of
Paracale and Mambulao have been relocated by Amer-
ican mining men under the present laws and without
friction with the former concessionaries. In Masbate,
in the northern part of the island of Visayas, near the
town of Aroroy, work has been done upon claims, prin-
cipally of free-milling gold ores in quartz, and upon gold
placer claims on the Lanan and Guinabalan rivers.
Manganese and iron ores of high grade have also been
found here, but little attention has been given them.
Upon claims of the Eastern M. Co., A. Heise has built a
5-stamp mill to handle the free-milling ores, and upoD
the trial run of this mill the clean-up from the plates
showed $11 to the ton of ore. Upon the placer ground
of the Philippine M. Co. on the Lanan River a Risdon
dredge has been completed and launched. P. H. Kim-
ball is in charge. Upon the placer claims of the Mas-
bate and Oriental M. Co., on the Guinabatan River, a
similar Risdon dredger is in charge of H. J. Robinson.
* *.;.' w * * * * * * * -V * * -.V *!.' * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * -)- * * 4' * * *
$ *
1 Books Received. |
"The Philippine Mineral Industry in 1905," by H. D.
McKaskey, extract from " Mineral Resources of the
United States."
As an extract from " Mineral Resources of the United
States," the United States Geological Survey has issued
the " Stone Industry in 1904. " It is largely statistical
and deals with the production of granite, sandstone,
slate, marble and limestone.
The United States Geological Survey has issued Bul-
letin No. 256, "Mineral Resources of the Elders Ridge
Quadrangle, Pennsylvania," by R. W. Stone; Bulletin
266, " Paleontology of the Malone Jurassic Formation of
Texas, " by F. W. Cragin, with stratigraphic notes by
T. W. Stanton; and Bulletin 271, "Bibliography and
Index of North American Geology, Paleontology, Petrol-
ogy and Mineralogy for 1904," by F. B. Weeks.
As Water Supply and Irrigation Paper No. 143, the
United States Geological Survey has issued "Experi-
ments on Steel-Concrete Pipes," by J. H. Quinton. The
experiments have been made on large steel-concrete
pipes designed to replace the iron, steel or wood stave
pipes used in hydraulic work. The author introduces
the subject with a discussion of the advantages and dis-
advantages of iron, steel and wood stave pipes, shows
the need for a stronger material, and suggests the use of
concrete-steel. He details method of construction and
tests, giving results of same. It is concluded that the
finished pipe is more durable and costs about the same
as the wood stave. The main difficulty is to make a pipe
that will stand 100 feet of head of water without leakage
through the porous concrete. Many results of the
experiments are negative and suggest the necessity for
further investigation. The pipes made and tested were
5 feet in diameter inside and 20 feet long, with a 6-inch
thickness of concrete shell inclosing an armor of steel
rods sufficient to resist a head of 150 feet of water with a
factor of safety of 4.
Analytical chemists will welcome a revised edition of
"Engineering Chemistry, " by T. B. Stillman, a book
that is considered invaluable by many engaged in the
analysis of iron and fuel. The most notable point in
the revision is the improvement, coincident with recent
progress, in the analysis of materials of construction.
Additional matter relating to asphalts, lubricating oils,
Portland cement and the technology of blast furnace
products has been incorporated in the book. The meth-
ods described are exhaustive, and at the same time are
clear and concise. All phases of the analysis, both phys-
ical and chemical, of the ordinary fuels and their waste
products are treated in great detail. The determination
of all elements employed in the manufacture of iron and
steel is specifically described. Then follow directions
for analysis of various materials of construction. Other
materials, whose analyses are described, include paper,
alloys, soap, petroleum, lubricating oils, paints, and
water for boiler supply. The work seems accurate and
reliable throughout. It is published by the Chemical
Publishing Co., Easton, Pa., and will be sent postpaid
by the Mining and Scientific Press for $4.50.
?* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * '.!.' * '.!- * * *.!.- ">*-!- * * * * 9s
Trade Treatises.
" Dry Air for Blast Furnaces " is the title of an inter-
esting leaflet from the De La Vergne Machine Co. of New
York City.
De La Vergne Machine Co., foot of East 138th street,
New York City, sends a finely printed and illustrated
booklet showing a few of the numerous uses to which
the " Hornsby-Akroyd " oil engines are adapted. It
contains information valuable to any one interested in
economical power production by oil engines.
# ********* ***************************
Personal.
*
I
H. C. Hoover is at Melbourne, Australia.
R. J. Frecheville is in Rhodesia, South Africa.
A. W. Geist of Guadalajara, Mex., is now in New
York.
Fred C. Corning is expected in New York from
London.
H. A. Keller has returned to New York from South
America.
I. H. Rolker has returned to London from Western
Australia.
Philip L. Foster is on his way from Lima, Peru, to
New York.
R. S. Robinson has charge Century mill at Park
Valley, Utah.
Ben S. Revett has returned from Europe and is now
in New York.
Jas. Guerin is superintendent Hunter G. M. Co., near
Mullan, Idaho.
W. G. Perkins is superintendent Nevada Consolidated
smelter at Ely, Nev.
Jacob King has charge New England & Clifton Cop-
per Co. at Clifton, Ariz.
Howard W. Dubois has returned to Philadelphia,
Pa., from the Klondike.
E. C. Voorhies has returned to Sutter Creek, Cal.,
from San Francisco, Cal.
R. C. Turner, superintendent Dolores mine, near
Minaca, Mex., is in New York.
John Mayhevv has been made superintendent Big
Jack M. Co., at Plattsville, Wis.
C. M. Fueller has returned to Denver, Colo., from a
business trip to Ontario, Canada.
W. J. Bracking of Wallace, Idaho, is manager North
Franklin M. Co. at Mullan, Idaho.
Chas. D. Walcott, director United States Geologi-
cal Survey, is visiting western Utah.
H. R. Plate, mining engineer, has opened an office at
501 Majestic Building, Denver, Colo.
Jas. D. Hague, president North Star Mines Co.,
Grass Valley, Cal., is visiting his mines.
W. G. Arkills, manager Star tunnel of Clear Creek,
Colo., has been in New York on business.
Frederick Grundy has returned to Los Angeles,
Cal., from a mine examination near Ehrenberg, Ariz.
J. M. Bourke of San Francisco, Cal., is examining
mines in the Union Pass section, near Kingman, Ariz.
W. E. Garver has been appointed manager Mount
Theresa M. Co. 's new mines near Idaho Springs, Colo.
W. A. Douglas, general manager Pearl G. M. Co. at
Roosevelt, Idaho, has been visiting at Atlantic City, N. J.
J. H. Curle. and W. A. Pritchard are making a
reconnoissance of the Oroville, Cal., gold dredging field.
J. W. Bucher, formerly with the Greene Con. M. Co.
at Cananea, Mex., is at 1729 Champa street, Denver,
Colo.
Otty Wakeling succeeds H. S. Shelton as manager
machinery department Baker & Hamilton, San Fran-
cisco, Cal.
R. R. Leslie, assistant manager Creston-Colorado
Co. 's mines at Torres, Sonora, Mex., is on a trip to Ross-
land, B. C.
Robt. C. Sticht, general manager Mt. Lyell M. Co.,
has been elected president Australian Institute of Min-
ing Engineers.
H. F. Bain of the United States Geological Survey
has been appointed State Geologist for the new Illinois
Geological Survey.
Frank Augustus has been appointed manager Moun-
tain Monarch M. & M. Co. at Rollinsville, Colo., vice
J. C. Barrows, rosigned.
C. B. Wisner, president Montana Zinc Co. of New
York City, has been in Denver, Colo., on his way to the
works at Walkerville, Mont.
G. E. Fitzgerald has succeeded W. S. Dillon as gen-
eral manager American-Mexico M. & Dev. Co. at San
Lorenzo, Chihuahua, Mexico.
H. L. Huston, late superintendent Old Soulsby mine
at Soulsbyville, Cal., is at Dayton, Nev., examining
properties for the Ohio-Tonopah M. Co.
G. D. Doveton, who has been examining Cripple
Creek, Colo., low grade ores for a method of profitable
treatment, has returned to Denver, Colo.
J. C. Welch has been appointed superintendent
Alaska Copper Co., which is building a smelter at Cop-
permount, Prince of Wales Island, Alaska.
H. S. Morris, formerly chemist of the Sand Pile cya-
nide plant in Amador county, Cal., has gone aB chemist
to the Creston-Colorado mine, Torres, Mexico.
L. T. Pockman, for some time past connected with
mining in southern Oregon, has been appointed superin-
tendent White Chief M. & M. Co. 's properties, Chinipas,
Chihuahua, Mex.
B. S. Williams has been appointed superintendent
Eagle & Blue Bell mine at Eureka, Utah, and James-
Clark, who has been acting in that capacity since the-
resignation of James Creighton, has been appointed
mine foreman.
October 7, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
252
Latest Market Reports.
San Francisco, October 6, 1905.
Silver. — Per oz., Troy : London, 28Jd (standard
ounce. 925 line); New York, bar silver, 61 Jc, refined (1000
fine); San Francisco, 61|c; Mexican dollars, 48c, San
Francisco; 47c, New York.
Copper.— New York: Standard, 816.75; Lake, 81t;..'i71
@1H.75; Electrolytic, $16.(i2J; Casting, 81ti.l2*(" .16.37*.
San Francisco: $16.50. Mill copper plates, $17.50; bars,
18@24c. London: £71 5s spot por ton.
Lead.— New York, $4.90; St. Louis, 84.90; San Fran-
cisco, $5.00, carload lots; 5Ac 1000 to 4000 lbs.; pipe 7Ac,
sheet 8, bar 6jc. London:" £14 10s $ long ton.
Spelter.— New York, $6.10: St. Louis, $5.75; Lon-
don, £27 12s 6d 13 ton; San Francisco, ton lots, 7c; 100-tb
lots, 7jo.
Tin.— New York, pig, S32.37i@32.62}; San Francisco,
ton lots, 34c; 500 lbs., 35c; 200 Bis., 36c; less, 37*c; bar tin,
#tb., 40c. London, £148 7 s 6d.
Platinum.— San Francisco, crude, $18.50 ^oz.; New
York, ingot, $20.50 $ Troy oz. Platinum ware, 75@$1.00
f> gram.
Quicksilver.— New York, $40.00@$40.50, large lots;
London, £7 5s Od; San Francisco, local, $38.00®39.00 $
flask of 75 lbs.
Babbitt Metal. — San Francisco, No. 1, lOJc; No.
2, 8c; No. 3, 7}c; extra, 17Ac; genuine, 32Jc; Eclipse, 35c.
Solder.— Half-and-half, 100-lb. lots, 22.00c; San Fran-
cisco, Plumbers', 100-fb. lots, 19.15c.
Zinc. — Metallic, chemically pure, *$ lb., 50c; dust, iRfb.,
10c; sulphate, $ ft, .04c.
Nickel.— New York, 55@60c fl lb.; ton lots, 40@47c.
Aluminum.— No. 1, 99%, small lots, 37c f, ft.; 100 fts..
35c; 1000 fts. 34c; ton lots and over, 33c, Pittsburg. No,
2, 90%, small lots, 34c; ton lots and over, 31c, Pittsburg.
STRUCTURAL MATERIALS.
Iron. — Pittsburg, Bessemer pig, $15.25; gray forge,
$14.75; San Francisco, bar, 3Jc $ ft., 3Jc in small quan-
tities.
Steel.— Bessemer billets, Pittsburg, $21.00@$24.00;
open hearth billets, $23.00@$25.00; San Francisco, bar,
7c to 13c $ ft.
White Lead. — Per lb., in kegs: 500 fts. and over at
one purchase, per ft., 7Jc; less than 500 lbs., per lb., 8c;
in 25-ft. tin pails, Jc fy ft. above keg price; in 1 and 5-Ib.
tin cans, 100 fts. per case, Jc per lb. above keg price.
Dry Lead. — In bbls., 1 ton and over, 74c; do. in kegs, 8c.
Lime. — Santa Cruz, $1.35 country, $1.25 city "ft, bbl.
Cement.— Imported, $3.00@4.00 fl bbl.; California,
carload lots, $1.80 f. o. b. at works; small lots, $2.10 B
bbl. in sacks, 4 sacks to bbl., 5c for each sack returned.
Lumber.— (Retail): Pine, ordinary sizes, $24.00®
25.00; extra sizes higher; redwood, $28.00@30.00; lath, 4
feet, $4.50@5.00; pickets, $21.00;shingles, $2.50 for No. 1,
and $2.25 for No. 2; shakes, $13.50 for split and $15.00 for
sawed; rustic, $28.00(5.)35.00.
Nails. — This week the basic prices are: Wire, $2.77;
Cut, $3.25. Meanwhile the nominal quotations per keg
(list prices) are: No. 20d to 60d, Wire, $3.35; Cut, $3.55;
lOd to 16d, Wire, $3.45; Cut, $3.35; 8d, Wire, $3.50; Cut,
$3.50; 6d and 7d, Wire, $3.60; Cut, $3.60; 4d and 5d,
Wire, $3.70; Cut, $3.70; 3d, Wire, $3.85; Cut, $3.85; 2d,
Wire, $4.10; Cut, $4.10. Special rates for carload lots.
GENERAL SUPPLIES.
Antimony. — New York, Cookson's, 13Jc; Hallett's,
14£c; San Francisco, 1000-S>. lots, 14c; 300@500-fts. 12c;
100-ft. lots, 13c.
Bismuth.— Subnitrate, $ ft., $2.10.
Bone Ash.— Extra No. 1, 5@6c B ft; No. 1, 4@5c.
Borax. — Concentrated, 7@8c f, ft; powdered, 9@10c;
fused, 25@30c; crystal, 7c.
Candles. — Spear Brand, 16 oz. adamantine, 40s., lie
H set; 14 oz. adamantine, 40s., 10c; 12 oz. adamantine,
40s, 9c; 10 oz. adamantine, 40s, 8c; 16 oz. stearic, 40s,
12Jc Tfr set; 14 oz. stearic, 40s, 11J; 12 oz. stearic, 40s,
10}c; 10 oz. stearic, 40s, 9}c. 100-case lots and over, Jc
less. Not less than 50-case lots, ;i"cless. Boxes of 20s,
price Jc advance.
CAPS.— 3x, $5.50@6 per 1000; 4x, $6.50@7; 5x, $8@8.50;
Lion, $9@9.50, in lots not less than 1000.
Chemicals.— Cyanide of potassium, 98%-99%, job-
bing, 23@24c$ft-; carloads, 23@23Jc; in tins, 30c; soda
ash, $2.00 B 100 fts.; hyposulphite of soda, 3@3Jc $ ft.;
caustic soda, in drums, 3@3jciftlb.; Cal. 8. soda, bbls.,
$1.10@1.20 fl 100 lbs.; sks., 90c@$1.00; chlorate of pot-
ash, 12@13c; nitrate of potash, 6|@7c; caustic potash,
10c in 40-lb. tins; roll sulphur, 2J@2Jc; powdered sul-
phur, 2}@2Jc; flour sulphur, French, 2}@ — c; alum,
$2.00@2.25; California refined, lj@2c; sulphide of iron,
8c $ ft.; copper sulphate, 5J@5Jc; chloride of lime, spot,
$2.50@2.75; sulphuric acid, in carboys, 66% B, lf@2c $
ft. ; nitric acid, carboys, 8c ,ft ft.
Chromium.— 90% and over, $ ft., 80c.
Coal. — San Francisco, coast, yard prices : Welling-
ton, $8.00; Seattle, $6.50; Coos Bay, $5.50; Southfield,
$8.00. Cargo lot, Eastern and foreign: Wallsend, $7.50;
Brymbo, $7.50; Pennsylvania, hd., $14.00; Scotch, $8.00;
Cumberland, $13.00; Cannel, $8.50; Welsh Anthracite,
$13.00; Rock Springs, $8.50, long ton; Colorado Anthra-
cite, $14.00. Coke, $11.50 per ton in bulk, $13.00- in
sacks; Sunnyside, $8.50, long ton.
Fire Brick. — Domestic, carloads B 1000, f. o. b., fac-
tory square, $25.00; soap and split, $22.50; arch and
wedge, $27.50; skewback, $30.00; circle, $32.00.
Fire Clay.— Domestic, f, ton 2000 lbs. in 125-ft. bags,
double, and dry ground, f. o. b., factory, $8.50.
Fuse. — Triple tape, $4.00 per 1000 feet; double tape,
$3.55; single tape, $3.10; Hemp, $2.85; Cement No. 2,
$3.10; Cement No. 1, $2.75, in lots of 3000 and up.
Oils. — Linseed, boiled, bbl., 54c; es., 59c; raw, bbl.,
52c; cs., 57c; Lucol oil, boiled, bbl,, 51c; cs., 56c; raw-
bbl., 49c; cs., 54c. Keroseno — Pearl, per gal., 17$c; As-
tral, 17Jc: Star, 17.',c: Extra Star, 20Ac; Eocene, 191c:
Elaine, 26c; Water White, in bulk, lie; Mineral Seal,
iron bbls., 18c; wooden bbls., 201c; cs., 24c; Mineral
Sperm, cs., 261c; Deodorized Stove Gasoline, bulk, 141c,
do., cs., 21c; 86° Gasoline, bulk, 25c; do., cs., 31c; 83°
Naphtha or Benzine, deodorized, in bulk, per gal., 121c;
do., in cs., 19c; Lard Oil, E. W. S., bbl., 75c; cs., 80c;
Neats-foot Oil, pure, bbl., ",7,1c; cs., 62jc; Sperm, crude,
63@68c; Natural White, 68c; Bleached, do., 57c; Whale
Oil, es., 52®67c.
Litharge.— Pure, in 25-lh. bags, 91@101c B ">■
Magnesium.— Pure, N. Y., $1.60.
Manganese.— Black oxide, H ft., 2J(S}4c.
Mercury.— Bichloride, $1 ft., 77c.
Molybdenum.— Best, $2.75 B lb.
Phosphorus.— American, $ lb., 70c.
Powder.— F. o. b. San Francisco: No. 1, 70% nitro-
glycerine, per ft., in carload lots, 15Jc; less than one ton,
17|c. No. 1*, 60%, carload lots, 13jc; less than one ton,
151c. No. 1**, 50%, carload lots, 111c; less than one ton,
13jc. No. 2, 40%, carload lots, 10c; less than one ton,
12c. No. 2, 35%, carload lots, 9$c; less than one ton,
11 Jc. No. 2**, 30%, carload lots, 9c; less than one ton,
lie. Black blasting powder in carload lots, minimum
car 728 kegs, $1.50 per keg; less car lots, $2.00 per keg.
Red Lead. — 500 fts. and over at one purchase, f, ft.
71c; less than 500 lbs., 7jjc.
Silver.— Chloride, $ oz., 90c@$l-00; nitrate, 54c
Sodium.— Metal, $ lb., $1.
Tungsten.— Best, ft ft-, $1-20.
Uranium.— Oxide, ft ft., $3.40.
SP******** &$4>&$tl'4)&&4>tb& ■*"fc*'*'*'*':M?& *■*"&**& 35
Commercial Paragraphs.
Jfc ift if, tf. if* .J'. .] J .f. .'). .'J*' if. if. if. if. if. if. if. if. if. if. i(i if. if. if. if. if. if. if. if. if", if. if* if* if* if. if. JJ
The S. H. Supply Co., Denver, Colo., are furnishing
tanks for a 150-ton leaching plant to the U. S. Reduction
Co., Colorado City, Colo., and a 100-ton leaching plant
with crushing department, consisting of two No. 2 Wild
mills and Sampson crushers to New Mexico.
C. M. Fueller, 1750 California street, Denver, Colo.,
reports having recently secured an order for 10-stamp
mill for Birmingham, Alabama. Work is to commence
in the next thirty days.
Chas. M. Schwab says that the Union Iron Works
of San Francisco, Cal., is to have additions to its present
capacity to the extent of increasing its facilities for the
manufacture of mining machinery to equal that of any
similar establishment in the United States.
The Blaisdell Co. of Los Angeles, Cal., have a con-
tract, through Chas. C. Moore & Co., engineers of San
Francisco, Cal., for an installation of the Blaisdell sys-
tem in the new cyanide plant of the Tonopah M. Co.,
Nevada. The Blaisdell Co. have the sole agency in the
United States and Mexico for the Robins Conveying
Belt Co. of New York on all work relating to cyanide
plants.
The American Car & Foundry Co. has added to its
equipment ut the Madison plant, Granite City, for the
construction of steel and composite cars, among the
equipment being 100 Boyer long stroke riveting ham-
mers manufactured by the Chicago Pneumatic Tool Co.
The company reports business in general continuing
good and the prospects bright for the remaining months
of the year.
The Ingersoll-Rand Co. of 11 Broadway, New York,
announces the establishment of a branch office at Hough-
ton, Mich., under the management of T. F. Lynch, who
has for several years past represented the Ingersoll-
Sergeant Drill Co. in the copper and iron districts of
the north. At the new office a complete stock of repair
and duplicate parts for all Ingersoll-Rand machinery
will be carried, assuring ready service to patrons of the
company in the territory covered.
The Power and Mining Machinery Co. of Cudahy,
Wis., report the following contracts recently secured
for mining machinery: Shannon C. Co., Clifton, Ariz.,
complete converter plant, including four 7xl0-foot
hydraulic converters of new design. This plant, when
complete, will be modern throughout; Colusa-Parrot
M. & S. Co., Butte, Mont., six 7xl0-foot electrically
driven converters; American S. & R. Co., new Garfield
plant, near Salt Lake City, Utah, twelve 8xl0-foot
hydraulic converters of the same type as the Shannon
and Colusa-Parrot; the same company, Aguas Calientes,
Mexico, plant, three 8xl7-foot vertical copper converters;
Old Hundred mine, near Silverton, Colo., complete 40-
stamp mill, electrically driven.
I Obituary. *
* *
W. V. O'Daly, a mining man well known in Arizona
and Mexico, was assassinated at Choix, Sinaloa, Mexico,
on Sept. 28.
Henry Seincke, aged 70 years, died at Boulder,
Colo., on the 30th ult. He was the last of the four men
who invented the diamond drill.
General Director Richard Akerman of Stock-
holm, Sweden, reports the following statistics of the
production of iron ore, pig iron, etc., in Sweden, in
1904, in metric tons: Iron ore, 4,408,647 tons; pig
iron, 528,525 tons; charcoal blooms, 189,246 tons; bar
iron and steel, 181,175 tons; nails, wire rods andiron
and steel, 102,976 tons. During the year there was
an average of 331 furnaces in blast, with an average
daily production per furnace of 15.1 tons.
New Patents.
Dkwet. Stuonc: &Co.'s Scientific Pkess Patent ackncv, 330
Market street. Sun Francisco, has official reports or the following
United States patents issued to Pacific Coast inventors :
FOIt THE WEEK EN1MNG SEPTKMHEH IN. 1905.
789,900.— Cak C"i ii i\ . ii, -nnetts & Jones, Tacoma, Wash.
8uu.0uil.— WiupSNAl'PEn-llr.maiif.'h A: Kistler, Los Angeles, Cal.
8CI).l)07.— Bimliunl BLOCK— H. D. HrooUe. San Franolsoo.
799,851. — Sasit LOCK— H. Conboy; San Francisco.
799,691.— UNIT1N,; STAVES— D. Crane, Sin Francisco.
800,064.— WATER HE.M in \\- c. Dice, Seattle. Wash.
600,111.— Partitions- w. C. .lames, Los Angeles, Cal.
798,865.— Tkavei.ini: Attachment mil Bdildings— T. McConnell
San Francisco.
sin, .— Model— C. Melrose, San Francisco.
T'.il'.'.'-'H.— ciii-ik Kiin- i. Morrtli, Santa Cruz, Cal.
8011,008.— Rail Joint— I A Oliver, Santa Clara, Cal.
799,801.— Sewing Machine Tahle — Pangburn & Olea, Seattle
Wash.
799,937.— SWAGE— .1. A. Iieid, San Francisco.
799,758.— Elevatoh Lock— R, .1. Koulo. San Francisco.
799,870.— Stone Saw— w. ii. Ruble. Sun Francisco.
799,800.— Nuhsini. Dottle— f;. 11. Simonds. HerUelev, Cal.
7119,1181,— Ei.el'Tkic FrsE-Snvdcr & Hardison, Santa Paula, Cal.
800,025.— TOY— A. Stein. San Mateo. Cal.
799,919.— Oil Bcknkk-11. Il SMIz. Seattle. Wash.
800,029— Insect Cati heu-m. TerletzKy. Gobie, Or.
800,032— Soap That- f. ll Turner, Sat'tlev, Cal.
799,766.— THBOST Plate— A. W. Tweoden, Tacoma, Wash.
799,811— OivniNbEU-C Van Wyck. San Franolsoo.
799,820 —Can— Young & Symonds, San Fxanciscn.
799,821.— CAN-Young & Svmoncls. San Francisco.
799,822.- CriEE Holdeh-M. P. Zindort, Seattle. Wash.
Notices of Recent Patents.
Among the patents recently obtained through Dewey, Strong &
Co.'s Scientific Press United States and Foreign Patent Agency,
the following are worthy of special mention:
Diaphragm Pomps.— No. 800,356. Sept. 26, 1905. Prank Brlggs
and George N. Briggs, Yountville, Cal, This invention relates to
improvements in pumping apparatus, and particularly in that class
ot pumps known as diaphragm pumps as distinguished from the ordi-
nary plunger pumps, lis object is to provide a simple, practical
pump devoid of bushings through which leak may occur and convert-
ible at will from a lift to a force pump, or vice versa. It comprises
a unitary structure, a divided casing and a centrally apertured flex-
ible diaphragm secured between the two parts of the casing, said
diaphragm aperture reinforced, a non-rotatable guide fixed centrally
in the aperture of the diaphragm, a sleeve of less length than the
guide and slidably mounted thereon, said sleeve having at one end an
adjusting nut engaging a threaded portion of the guide whereby the
sleeve is movable vertically on said guide, and having a foot piece
or stop at the opposite eod, and a flexible disk valve loose upon the
guide and having a central opening through which the guide passes
whereby the guide directs the loose valve in its opening and closing
movements from and toward the aperture in the diaphragm.
Vehicle Tires— No. 800,357. Sept. 26, 14105. Floyd Burnham,
Fresno, Cal. This invention relates to a tire which is especially
adapted for buggies and all carriages. The object of this invention
is to provide a tire having all the advantages of a tubular elastic
casing with a substantially rigid interior support, which is provided
by an ordinarily formed rope of sufficient diameter to entirely fill
the interior of the casing. It comprises an improved tire composed
of an outer tubular casing having relatively thin walls of substan-
tially uniform thickness and forming an inner chamber which is con-
centric with the exterior of the tube, and a multistrand rope tilling
said inner chamber and supporting the walls of the casing.
Amalgamator.— No. 800,378. Sept. 26, 1905. Henry L.. Lightner,
San Francisco, Cal. This invention relates to an apparatus for the
amalgamation or saving of precious or valuable metals. Its object
is to combine with a surface of mercury or au amalgamated surface
a device adapted to discharge air under pressure upon said surface
in such a manner as to move the material which has been delivered
upon the surface and to separate therefrom any gold or valuable
heavy substance, which separated material will be retained and the
gangue will be discharged. The device may be employed in various
ways, either operating in a direct line or as a revoluble apparatus.
The apparatus comprises a circular amalgamated concave surface,
means for supplying water with pulp containing valuable metal cen-
trally upon the surface, an air blast apparatus, a conducting pipe
and radially disposed arms having perforations adapted to discharge
a blast of air downwardly and outwardly upon the inclined surface.
Concentrator.— No. 800,379. Sept. 26, 1905. Henry L. Lightner,
San Francisco, Cal. This invention relates to an apparatus for the
concentration of substances having varying specific gravity. The
apparatus comprises a tub with vertical slots made around its
periphery, vertically movable gates having openings made there-
through, means for supplying pulp to the tub, an air blast apparatus,
a revoluble vertically adjustable tube connected with said appara-
tus, and having radially perforated arms projecting from the lower
end, and means by which said tube and arms may be gradually
raised in unison with the movement of the gates.
Baling Presses.— No. 800.384. Sept. 25, 1905. Chas. L. Miller,
Berkeley, Cal. This invention relates to improvements in baling
presses, and especially that class which 1s designed for baling hay
and like substances. It is especially designed to be used in that
class of presses having a vertical press box with a means for deliv-
ering charges of material into the unper part of the box, these
charges being successively compressed by means of a follower which
is moved downward by suitable connections, so as to compress the
charges successively into the lower part of the press box, and when
the bale has been completed and tied it is removed through a door
opening, which is located below the point at which the material is
delivered into the press. The device comprisps a press box with an
inclined cutaway side contiguous to the discharge door, a plate
loosely fitting said cutaway section, and stops fixed to and swinging
with the door, by which the plate is automatically moved forward
or released by the closing or opening of the door.
Splash Plates for Stamp Mills.— No. 800,398. Sept. 26, 1905.
Geo. C. Richards, Oakland, Cal. This invention relates to improve-
ments in stamp mills, and especially in splash plates used in con-
junction with stamp mill mortars. The invention resides in the use
of vertically disposed amalgam plates instead of ordinary straight
non-amaigam surface splash boards, the object being to save as
much gold as possible where a good chance is offered to save it, and
to prevent scourin.', as would occur if a straight amalgam surface
was used. It is not customary, however, to use amalgam plates in
this connection, because the sand and water would scour off all the
amalgam or " silvering," and leave nothing for the values to adhere
to; employ a mortar having a conical ore chamber and segmental
screens, disposing the latter coaxial with the chamber, so that all
the splash from a stamp acts at right angles to the screen surface.
The invention comprises the combination with a stamp mortar
having a screened opening of a corrugated plate exterior to said
opening and having an amalgamated surface presented toward said
opening.
Power Pump Heads— No. 800,399. Sept. 26, 1905. Geo. C. Rich-
ards, Oakland, Cal. The object of this invention is to provide a
power pump head which will be very simple in construction, easily
set up and easily knocked down for shipment, which is adapted for
either single or double acting pumps for deep wells, and which will
be powerful and absolutely rigid. It comprises a triangular end
castings having integral axiaily alined journal boxes at their
apices^ side castings disposed between and bracing the end cast-
ings, and long tie bolts passing through the end castings and side
castings and extending across the latter.
Dividends.
Bunker Hill & Sullivan M. & C. Co., dividend No. 97,
$150,000, payable Oct. 4th, a total paid since January 1,
1905, of $2,775,000, and total to date, $5,046,000.
19
Mining and Scientific Press.
October 7, 1905.
The best of their kind —
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ATENTS.
We'attend to all business connected with TJ. S. and Foreign Patents, Caveats, Designs.
Trade-Marks, Copyrights and Labels: prepare Assignments, Licenses and Agreements
and furnish opinions as to Patentability, Infringement, etc. DEWEY, STRONG & CO.
(Established I860), 3SO Market St. 8. F., Gal., and 918 F St., Washington, D. C.
Common Sense
teaches us that RUBBER against an article creates friction. In fact, we
wear rubber soles — use rubber on steps, etc., to prevent slipping — to
create friction.
Why do you use ENGINE PACKING with rubber on top— on the bot-
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creating excessive friction — loss in power — fuel — money?
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which takes the wear — the lubricants prevent friction.
Isn't it up to you to try GENUINE "EUREKA,"
particularly as the price is one-half less ?
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FRANKLIN AIR COMPRESSORS
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acid SO2 as a by-product. For particulars, address
OWNERS AND MANUFACTURERS, W . H. MOl TER OC SON,
office: 1 124 SEVENTEENTH ST.
'phone, pink 541. DENVER, COLO., U. S. A.
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Daily and personally conducted excursions in Pullman tourist sleep-
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For tickets and lull Information call on ticket
agents Southern Pacific Railway,
or adores s
EL. R. RITCHIE, General Agent Pacific Coast,
617 Market Street, San Francisco, Oal.
C. &N.-W. RY.
UNION
PACIFIC
Whole No. 2360.-^^ ft'
San Francisco, Cal., Saturday, October 14, 1905.
THREE DOLLARS PER ANNUM.
Single Copies, Ten Centi.
The Prospector and His Claim.
Good mines do not always fall into good hands. In
this instance, by good mines are meant those which
possess the elements of success, and by good hands is
implied the ownership by those who are able to prop-
erly equip, develop and operate these mines. There
are mines which require little capital at the outset,
producing high-grade shipping ore from the grass
roots, but such mines, though in former years fairly
abundant in certain districts, are no longer so easily
found. A man whose capital is limited to his strength
and skill as a miner is placed at a disadvantage, as
compared with the one who has the necessary capi-
tal of his own, or the backing of friends, in his enter-
prise. He may own a really meritorious property,
as its development may later prove, but is unable to
equip or develop it except in a very small way. He
may perform a small amount of labor on it for a
period of years, and in time dispose of the claim for
a nominal sum, when the purchaser at once supplies
the needed means, equips the property, and in a few
months has it on a paying basis. Most miners who
have good prospects realize fully the possibilities of
their holdings, but, while realizing their own inability
to develop and equip the mine, still ask a price so
high as to prevent anyone from investing in what
must necessarily be, at first, somewhat of a hazard-
ous venture. The usual result is that the poor owner
continues to be the owner, without making material
headway. In such cases it is usually the part of wis-
dom to sell a good prospect for a reasonable price,
and to use a part of the money thus secured in the
development of another claim — as the prospector
generally has a number of promising locations. In
this way he may rise from absolute helplessness to a
condition of independence and thereafter be able to
proceed with the further development of his prop-
erty in the same manner as the capitalist, and pos-
sibly with equally good results.
The prospector is, as a rule, not an experienced
business man, nor is he always an accomplished
miner and metallurgist, and for this reason he some-
times fails to accomplish the results secured by
others later on the same property. Ordinarily it is
the desire of the prospector to sell his claim at the
highest price obtainable, and to continue to prospect
as before, being unwilling to give up this most allur-
AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
The Rowe Concentration Mill at the Portal of the Yak Tunnel, Leadville, Colo. (See Page 259.)
ing of pursuits. These are the reasons why the
owners of prospects wish to sell their holdings — un-
able to work them themselves, and not caring to be
anything else than a prospector. "Once a pros-
pector, always a prospector," is a common saying,
and, generally speaking, is true. The prospector,
after a fortunate sale of property, proceeds to enjoy
himself after his own fashion, and in time, when funds
run low, he goes optimistically forth once more into
the wilderness, in the firm belief that he can repeat
the exploit — a conceit which does not always ma-
terialize, but he continues to prospect just the same.
There are many exceptions to this latter, the typical
prospector, but he usually follows the well-beaten
trail of his kind. The mere fact that the prospector
offers to sell can in no wise be considered as evidence
that his claim is worthless, for, as a rule, an experi-
enced and successful prospector will spend little time
on a poor showing. If he has done much work on the
property, it may be taken as a sort of prima facie
Prospector's Summer Camp in the High Sierra. (See Page 261.)
evidence that he has something worth looking into.
On one occasion the writer made a trip of 30 or
more miles in Arizona to inspect a prospect on which
the owner represented he had done over a thousand
dollars' worth of work. On arriving at the mine the
development was found to consist of one small hole
which could have been dug in two days. The vein was
small and not particularly promising. In explana-
tion, this fellow said he feared, had he told the truth,
he would not have succeeded in inducing any one to
take a look at the so-called mine. It is needless to
say that he was not from the ranks of the typical
prospectors, but was a fraud who did most of his
prospecting about town with his pockets bulging with
other people's ore.
The investor can usually afford to listen to the
bona fide prospector, and, making the necessary
allowances for over-zealousness in description on the
part of the latter, may safely offer to at least investi-
gate what he has to proffer in the way of an unde-
veloped mine.
THE Transvaal government has appropriated
$10,000 toward defraying the expense of a com-
mission to investigate the means of preventing acci-
dents incident to hoisting in shafts. It is said that
the character of some of the shafts on the mines of
the Rand is such that the deterioration of ropes is
rapid and consequently dangerous. It has been
found that in the upcast shafts, particularly, the cor-
rosive effect of the polluted mine air on the hoisting
ropes was very noticeable, the action mostly taking
place in the interior portions of the cable, and where
it could not be readily observed. The practice has
been to handle most of the men through these upcast
shafts, but it has become a matter of such impor-
tance that a searching inquiry into the existing con-
ditions and means to lessen the danger is now deemed
necessary. The mining rules of the Transvaal do
not require that a mine have two shafts, though the
advantage which two or more shafts possess is well
known, but for commercial reasons it has been found
expedient to overlook this matter, and good ventila-
tion has been secured in most instances through the
connection of the workings of adjoining mines. It
may be that the commission referred to will suggest
that the mining laws be so amended as to make two
shafts a legal necessity. Safety-hooks to prevent
over-winding are in general use on the Rand, but up
to the present many shafts have no safety clutches
attached to the skips or cages, though their necessity
is recognized throughout the mining world elsewhere.
254
Mining and Scientific Press.
October 14, 1905.
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
ESTABLISHED i860.
Published Every Saturday at 330 Market Street, San Francisco, Cat.
Telephone, Davis 771.
ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION.
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Chicago, 1164 Monadnock Block. Denver, 606 Mack Block.
J. F. HALLORAN Publisher
SAN FRANCISCO, OCTOBER 14, 1905.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
ILLUSTRATIONS: ~~ Page.
The Rowe Concentration Mill at the Portal of the Yak Tunnel,
Leadville, Colo 253
Prospector's Summer Camp in the High Sierra 253
Vertical Cross Section of the Golden West Mine, Hornblende
District, Near Rochford. South Dakota 257
A Miner's Measuring Stick 258
Wilfley Slime Table 260
A Glacial Lake in the High Sierra, California 261
In the Mineral Belt of the Sierra Nevada 261
Murphy Automatic Pump Cut-off 262
Universal Condenser 263
EDITORIAL:
The Prospector and His Claim 253
Appropriation for Preventing Mining Accidents 253
The Value of Observation 254
Live Business Methods 255
At What Depth Do Gold Mines Quit ? 255
The Meaning of a " Dollar " in Mexico 255
MINING SUMMARY 265-266-267-268
LATEST MARKET REPORTS 269
MISCELLANEOUS:
Concentrates 256
The Golden West Mine. Pennington County, South Dakota 357
Selling Timber From the Forest Reserves 257
A Miner's Measuring Pole . 258
Extinguishing a Fire in a Pyritous Mine 258
Hardness of the Diamond 258
The Borax Industry 259
The Yak Tunnel 259
Provision for the Freezing at Exhaust Ports 359
Power Required to Operate on Inclines 359
History of Pyritic Smelting 260
The Wilfley Slime Table 260
Working Costs on the Rand 260
Undeveloped Resources of the Sierra Nevada 261
The Prospector 261
The Ventilation of Mines 362
Automatic Pump Cut-off 262
Placer Mining in Alaska 263
Electric Locomotives 263
A Universal Condenser 263
Apparatus for Entering Mines Filled With Deadly Gases 263
Mining and Metallurgical Patents 364
Personal 268
Commercial Paragraphs 368
Trade Treatises 268
Books Received 269
New Patents 269
Notices of Recent Patents 269
The Value of Observation.
Many of the most successful mine managers owe
their success to the habit of observation. They are
quick to see whatever comes within the range of
their vision; prompt to appreciate any advantage in
a new device or method successfully applied, and are
able to adapt the ideas and principles which this
observation suggests to their own business elsewhere.
There are others who, with the same or superior
opportunity, fail to either see, understand or appre-
ciate the object lessons which the successful opera-
tions of others should teach. Not infrequently men
of this stamp are managing mines for other people.
There are in the United States many great and
successful mining enterprises, and some of these are
managed in a manner so practical and so thoroughly
sensible that all may learn something by observing
the methods employed, and carefully studying the
various processes in the numerous departments which
lead to ultimate success. The greatest gold mine in
the world at present is undoubtedly the Homestake
combination at Lead, South Dakota. The writer
recently had an opportunity to visit and inspect the
surface equipment and underground workings of this
great property, after an absence of nineteen years.
Having been familiar with the mine in its earlier his-
tory, its tremendous development and stupendous
equipment were the more noticeable by comparison
with what it had formerly been. There seems little
lacking about the great plant, and the few improve-
ments and additions to meet present requirements
are being provided as rapidly as possible. There are
six great shafts and hoisting plants; six mills con-
taining in the aggregate 1000 stamps; two cyanide
plants — the largest in the world — for the treatment
of sands, and an equally large plant for treating
slimes is to be built. There are machine shops, foun-
dries, storerooms and warehouses, railroads, canals,
ditches, pumping plants, and every accessory requi-
site to the greatest success. Millions of dollars have
been invested in surface plant and millions more
underground, but the mine has paid for it all, with
the exception of an assessment of $200,000 levied in
1877-78. A rich mine can supply and afford all that
may be necessary in the way of equipment, but the
Homestake is not a rich mine; it is simply a series of
vast low-grade ore deposits — so low grade that no
extravagance is permissible. Notwithstanding all
the above elaborate equipment, and the expenditure
of the millions of dollars, which have been necessary
to make this great mine a success, not a single inno-
vation, not a new venture in plant, process or
method, has been adopted without careful considera-
tion and trial. From one end of this vast property
to the other, from the surface to the lowest level,
nothing is done by guess, no expensive installations
are made before their necessity has become evident
and their adaptability proven.
Throughout — underground and on the surface — one
is impressed with the mature thoughtfulness evident
in every operation, and in the application of every
mechanical device. It is true, changing conditions
have resulted in changes of plant and method from
time to time, but when an installation is made it is
the best that experience can suggest at the time,
even though later it may be deemed advisable to dis-
place it by another machine or method. Time and
again the methods of mining have been changed, until
to-day the methods in vogue are probably the best
that can be applied in each particular case — for the
ore is not all mined by the same method. Some
stopes are much larger than others, and in some
places the rock is softer than in others. The method
adopted for each particular mine or stope is that one
which has been found to give the best economic re-
sults at each place, irrespective of the others.
Although mining has been reduced to almost an exact
science on the Homestake belt, the engineers in
charge are still studying the conditions and endeav-
oring to accomplish still better results, and without
doubt they will succeed.
In the early history of these mines all underground
stopes were heavily timbered, but not filled. The
great stopes caved, and a different method had to be
sought. Stopes were then timbered and filled with
waste rock. This prevented caves, but was so ex-
pensive that some means of reducing the expense
was sought. By degrees a method was evolved
which has resulted in a great reduction in the cost
of mining. The great stopes are now extracted with
a minimum of timber, all of the ore is recovered,
and the breaking of the ore is cheaper than before,
as the miners are not limited in the amount of ore
they may break, as they often were when the expen-
sive square sets were in place. A plan is now being
devised to reduce the cost of mining the pillars left
after stoping out two rooms. The plan will result, if
successful, in largely doing away with the shoveling
of that block of ore. In a pillar 42 feet wide, 100
feet high and 500 feet long (the width of the vein)
this will effect a saving of about $25,000. As the
original stopes are 60 feet wide and the alternating
pillars will be 42 feet, this will mean the saving of a
large sum of money on each level.
The instance here mentioned is but one of the many
improvements constantly being made. At the pres-
ent one is inclined to believe that perfection has been
about reached; but the experience of the past shows
that this is improbable, and that the future will wit-
ness other changes in equipment and methods which
will still further reduce the cost of mining and milling
on the Homestake. It is safe to assume, however,
that no radical change will be made which has not
been first carefully studied out in its every detail and
tested fully before it is adopted.
For many years the tailings from these mills ran
to waste from the plates, the only effort to save any
values being a few strips of brussels carpet, over
which the pulp passed on its way to the canyon. The
plate area was increased and silvered copper plates
were put in. These were among the first in the
United States. A section of plate was added below
the original apron plates, but this lower plate was
given a greater width than the old plate next to the
mortar. This second plate saved considerable addi-
tional gold. A third and wider plate was added and
a still further saving resulted. There being no room
for more plates in the mills, plate houses were built,
and in these one may see the unusual spectacle of
thousands of square feet of silver-plated copper
plates, over which the pulp runs in a thinly distrib-
uted sheet. When these great plate areas are being
dressed the men walk about on them, sweeping them
backward and forward with full-sized house brooms.
Each of these plates yields a quantity of amalgam
every twenty-four hours, which suggests that possi-
bly additional plate surface may not be amiss. The
providing of these extra plate areas was an abrupt
departure from mill practice elsewhere, but the wis-
dom of the installation has been long since demon-
strated. T. J. Grier, the manager of this great
property, has grown up with it and he is familiar with
its every detail. Many of the innovations are the
outcome of his own careful study and observation;
other ideas have been supplied by the efficient corps
of engineers, foremen and assistants.
As stated above, the addition of what would else-
where be probably considered abnormally large plate
area resulted in the saving of much additional gold.
Still the tailings carried an increasingly larger per-
centage of values as the mine workings went deeper
and the proportion of oxidized ore grew steadily less.
The cyanide process was then tried on these ores and
was found to be fairly satisfactory at the outstart.
C. W. Merrill took up the proposition. It was a large
one — the largest in the world, as far as quantity of
material was concerned. The method of treatment
was worked out along rational lines. Improvements
were made from time to time. Special apparatus
was devised to meet various requirements and the
methods were adapted to existing conditions. A sys-
tem of classification was worked out and resulted in
an almost perfect separation of sands and slimes.
The sands were found to be readily amenable to cya-
nide treatment by percolation. The slimes, however,
to the extent of 1600 to 1800 tons of material, still
contained values upwards of $1 per ton, and these
were and at present are still being used to sluice the
sands from the tanks. By means of a long series of
experiments involving many disappointments and
failures, Mr. Merrill has eventually worked out a
method by means of which these slimes may be treated
at a profit.
Although such satisfactory results have been ob-
tained in mines, mills and cyanide plants, the man-
agers of the various departments are still endeavor-
ing to make further improvements, that expense
may be lessened and returns increased. It is only
through a knowledge of the details of this great un-
dertaking that one may fully appreciate what is now
being done, and to what extent the methods of the
present are superior to those of the earlier days on
the Homestake.
There are few mines which could not find some-
thing in the equipment and methods of the Home-
stake worth following. Necessity has had much to
do with the results now being obtained. It is only
recently that it was decided that the water pumped
from Spearfish creek over a divide to the head of
Whitewood creek, several miles south of Lead, could
be made available as a source of power. For some
years this water has flowed down the bed of White-
wood gulch, to be taken up lower down and carried
by flume to Lead. The water is now to be conveyed
in pipes and a pressure of several hundred feet se-
cured, when the water will be utilized to generate
electricity, which will supply power to various motors
at the mine, while the water will still be available for
mill use as before.
Notwithstanding the fact that the Homestake mine
stands as an eminent example of careful, conserva-
tive and successful management, whether viewed
from the practical, engineering, scientific, metallur-
gical or business standpoint, there are within the
radius of 5 miles of Lead some of the most ill-advised
installations that may be found anywhere. There are
mines equipped in a manner that one would not ex-
pect from any one but a novice who had never had an
opportunity to see anything better — mills built in
cramped position, with numerous devices to handle
material that should be handled by gravity — for good
mill sites are available close at hand. In one mill the
grizzly was found so clogged with broken ore that
not a pound of the fines could pass through to the
bins beneath. In another the ore from the breaker
October 14, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
255
was so large that it would barely pass the feed slot in
the mortar. This was inexcusable, for the reason
that the breaker could crush to inch cubes if desired.
Other similar defective methods and installations are
in evidence, and always where better results could
have been obtained, as the conditions were favorable
to the application of the best appliances and
methods.
The managers and superintendents of these mines
evidently do not realize how impractical their install-
ations are. They do not know, and in some instances,
at least, they will probably never become aware that
they do not know. With the unusual opportunities
for observation of thoroughly practical up-to-date in-
stallations, mining methods and metallurgical prac-
tice, there seems little excuse for these so-called
mistakes.
Notwithstanding the excellent examples supplied
by the Homestake and some others, millwrights and
others continue to place rock breakers in the mills
and above the level of the floor, necessitating the
shoveling into the crusher of every pound of ore. The
apron plates are allowed to bank up with sand until
one-half or more of the area is covered and therefore
useless as an amalgamating surface. The feed in
some instances is so fast that the mortars fill up and
holes are constantly punched through the screens.
Canvas tables are allowed to run for days without
cleaning up, and are therefore serving no useful pur-
pose. The mining methods are in some instances ex-
traordinary— the work being done for to-day only,
with no thought of the morrow. The result is the
mines are being gouged, leaving the ground in bad
and dangerous condition. Soon work must come to a
standstill, as no more ore will be available without
sinking, or filling the old stopes, in order that the
backs, in which there remains thousands of tons of
ore, may be reached. In some of these mines great
headers are run through the ore, the work being
carried up from 20 to 50 feet or more, the miners
standing on the broken ore. The ore is then shoveled
into cars and sent out of the mine, leaving the back-
high overhead and out of reach for the future, unless
timber or filling be put in. This has not been the
outcome of necessity, but is the result of a short-
sighted policy.
Many other instances of flagrant mismanagement
might be mentioned, but those cited are sufficient.
The same conditions obtain in other districts and in
other States, but they are particularly noticeable in
Lawrence county, S. D., because of a comparison
with the Homestake, which one can not avoid mak-
ing, .and because there seems no excuse for the lack
of observation on the part of the managers of some
of the mines of that district, for which every oppor-
tunity is afforded.
Live Business Methods.
A good example of business nerve is afforded in
Cleveland, Ohio, where nearly all the machinery of a
plant has been sent to the scrap heap, to be replaced
by new machinery. It had been in use only one year,
was in fine condition, cost over $200,000 to install,
but the owner ruthlessly "scrapped" it for good
business reasons — new and improved devices for the
same kind of work had just come out and he felt that
as between replacing his $200,000 outfit or running
behind in the competitive race, it was economy to
put in the new machinery, even though it involved
throwing out the machines of which he had been so
justly proud only a year previous, and which had cost
what was in itself a fortune. It was simply a case of
good business judgment, the quick, decisive action
that puts the American manufacturer to the front
and keeps him there.
This week comes another example of the same
kind, which, while it does not involve the immediate
pecuniary loss accompanying the case cited, is unique
in its relation to the business itself. C. A. Schieren
has one of the biggest belt making establishments in
the country — and has thrown out all the belts in his
own plant. The Schieren belt plant power is now
furnished by direct-connected electric motors, and in
their new big factory belts for other people to use
for distributing power are made by machinery driven
by direct-connected motors, instead of by belts, as
before. This system has cost them a good deal extra,
but, like the Cleveland establishment, they figure
that it is economical. As for the fact being detri-
mental to the prestige of their business, they show
that in other lines of business belts are still neces-
sary and will be used, and that it does not follow that
because they discard shafting and beit connection
that others need do the same thing, it being with
them a simple case of economical action. Mr. Schie-
ren says " the simple turning of our shafting used to
daily consume 15 H. P. There is a saving of $2000
per year in that one item."
Whether it be the factory, the mine, the mill or
the smelter, the present effort is to adopt the most
economical device to do the desired work, regardless
of what it costs or what is discarded. Nor is the
idea solely for the immediate time, to be determined
by the expense or profit of the first year. In an
established business that looks considerably ahead,
it is always reckoned good business to seize upon
possibilities of decreased cost of production whenever
presented.
At What Depth Do Gold Mines Quit?
There is a growing tendency on the part of ex-
perienced mining engineers to discover some relation,
or connection, between the enriched portions of veins
and ore deposits and the topography of the country.
In many instances the richest portions of veins are
found at and near the surface, and particularly on
the elevated ground through which a vein passes,
while those portions lying in the canyons or along
the lower ground do not, as a rule, afford equally
satisfactory results. There are exceptions, and
these are numerous, but without doubt the greater
number are of the character above indicated.
For many years mining engineers and geologists
have tried to establish the theory that there is no
apparent relation between the occurrence of pay-
able mineral and the topography of the country, but
the more extensive the development of mining
regions, the more noticeable the fact becomes, that
there is apparently such relation.
In some districts it is much more noticeable than
in others, but in a general way such relation can
be traced out. The causes for this condition are,
as yet, speculative, but are presumed to be due to
secondary enrichment, caused by the downward flow
of surface waters. Nearly all veins carry more or
less iron sulphide, which, decomposing, partly becomes
altered to iron sulphate. A solution of iron sulphate
is said to have the power to dissolve gold in much
the same manner as solutions of potassium cyanide.
If this be true in nature (as it is known to be in
the laboratory) then the iron sulphate solutions
slowly dissolve to very fine gold, and reprecipitate
it at convenient places in its downward flow — at
the intersection of the vein with floors, cracks,
seams, and with other veins. The pocket hunter is
familiar with these accumulations of gold, a1 what he
knows as "crossings." A floor or fault in a vein
usually results in enriching, that portion of the vein
immediately above the floor or fault plane, and often
there is little or nothing below it. Instances of this
character are particularly numerous. Another locus
of enrichment is in those portions of the vein where
there is a flattening in the dip, forming a sort of roll
or floor, on which there is often an accumulation of
richer ore, and sometimes a pocket.
A careful study of the occurrence of gold in pocket
mines would probably throw much light on the sub-
ject of ore deposition and particularly on the sec-
ondary enrichment of gold-bearing veins and de-
posits. The richest pockets ever obtained from Cal-
ifornia mines were found near the surface, or at
least in the oxidized zone. The noted mass of gold
found on Carson hill, in Calaveras county, at the
Morgan mine, in 1850, occurred at the surface, the
entire amount coming from the surface pit not over
30 feet deep. Other large pockets were found near
the surface. The largest pocket found in the Bo-
nanza mine at Sonora, in Tuolumne county, was ob-
tained within 100 feet of the surface— vertical meas-
urement. Other noted pockets in other mines have
been found at or near the surface, while compara-
tively few — and no very large ones — have been dis-
covered at great depth.
A noted writer stated recently in a current pub-
lication that it was doubtful if any gold mine was as
rich below 1000 feet from the surface as it had been
above it. There are many instances to prove that
this statement is not borne out by the facts, for in
California there are numerous mines which have
proved to be richer below 1000 feet than above that
depth. Among the mines illustrating the fallacy of
this supposition are the Kennedy mine and Argonaut,
near Jackson, the Central Eureka and Eureka mines,
near Sutter Creek, and some of the mines of the
Grass Valley region.
Then there are mines which continue to be largely
profitable below 1000 feet which have also been good
above it, but it cannot be said that this richness, nor
that of the mines previously mentioned as being bet-
ter below the 1000- foot level than above it, are due
to secondary enrichment. In these cases the condi-
tion seems to be normal. To what depth the payable
ore (or ore of the same grade as that now being
mined) will continue, it is, of course, impossible to
predict. As mining operations go deeper, the cost
per ton usually increases somewhat, while the grade
of ore may not improve, if it even remains as good as
it is at present levels. Secondary enrichment, how-
ever, is a different proposition, and there are those
who even say that no payable ore will be encountered
below the zone of downward circulation of surface
waters; but those who profess this belief fail to point
out clearly where this level is to be found.
Payable ore is still found in the deepest gold mines
of the world — those of Colorado, California, and Vic-
toria, Australia. The latter are down 4000 feet,
with pay ore still in sight. The deepest California
mine is down about 2800 feet, with good ore in the
lowest level. Some Colorado shafts have penetrated
below the 2000 level, and the mines still are prosper-
ous. At what level may we expect them to become
barren? Deep mines may become unprofitable be-
cause of increased expense, while the value of the ore
remains the same as above. On the Rand, in the
Transvaal, for instance, the gold-bearing banket con-
tinues to produce nearly the same average values as
above, while the expense of mining increases as the
levels are carried to deeper and still deeper levels,
this being due entirely to economic and not geological
conditions.
A careful review of all that is known of the genesis
of ore deposits, and particularly of secondary enrich-
ment, leads to the inevitable conclusion that there
still remains much to learn about both original and
secondary ore deposits. At one time secondary en-
richment was not recognized as an important factor
in mining, but a study of the remarkable phenomena
of the ore deposits of Butte, Montana, forced the
conclusion upon the observing engineers that the rich
ore bodies of some of the great mines of that district
were due wholly to secondary enrichment. No one
now doubts that the phenomenally rich ore of Fryer
Hill, at Leadville, Colo., Treasure Hill. White Pine,
a score of places in Arizona and Nevada and else-
where, were due to similar causes. The gold mines
of California owe their surface richness to the same
cause. The notably rich deposits at Goldfield, Ne-
vada, must be ascribed to this secondary enrichment,
as must almost every other occurrence of unusually
rich ore at or near the surface.
It may be that rich accumulations of gold ore in
depth, such as those occurring in Cripple Creek dis-
trict, in California and in many other places, are due
to somewhat similar causes. The water levels may
at one time have been much higher or lower than
now, for in all mining regions is found usually abundant
evidence of oscillations of the region up and down —
now rising, now falling. These changes take place
slowly and extend over a long period of time, but the
best that may be said is that the problems of ore
deposition and alteration have only been partially
solved.
THE question in Mexico of what a "dollar"
means has been authoritatively settled. The
Department of Finance of Mexico has decided that
the word " dollar " shall mean the American gold
dollar, and that when the Mexican silver dollar is
meant the word " peso " shall be employed. Some
time ago an American resident at Tampico wrote
" dollars " on a check, and the Tampico bank cashier
to whom the check was presented paid the amount in
gold values. The drawer of the check claimed that
it was his intention to have silver paid. Litigation
was threatened, but upon investigation the authori-
ties decided against the drawer of the check. The
Mexican ruling applies to all documents — notes,
drafts, etc,
256
Mining and Scientific Press.
October 14, 1905.
a 13
CONCENTRATES.
y ; - — — o
Where patent has been applied for to a mining claim
the pending of patent proceedings does not excuse the
performance of the annual labor prior to the issuance of
a certificate of purchase by the Government to the claim
owner.
Alum used in paper manufacture is quoted in New
York about as follows: For lump mineral $1.75 per 100
pounds; for ground alum $1.85 per 100 pounds; for por-
ous $1.00 and for the powdered variety $3.00 per 100
pounds.
Pulverized mica is used in the manufacture of lubri-
cants, and also in making certain kinds of wall paper.
Sheet mica is bought by large stove manufacturers, and
the smaller sheets are used as insulators by electrical
manufacturing companies.
An oxygen base consists of a positive (basic) radical
joined by oxygen to hydrogen. An oxygen acid consists
of a negative (acid) radical joined by oxygen to hydro-
gen. An oxygen salt consists of a positive radical or
radicals joined by oxygen to a negative radical or
radicals.
w V V V
That steel rusts much more readily than iron under
ordinary atmospheric conditions, is well known. This is
supposed to be due to the fact that the microscopic par-
ticles of carbon and other substances in the steel render
it more easy of attack by oxygen in the presence of
moisture.
The performance of an amount of work or improve-
ments in excess of $100 during any year on an unpat-
ented mining claim does not permit the claim holder to
carry this excess over and charge it to the following
year. If $1000 worth of work be done, or improvements
made this year, not more than $100 of it applies for this
year, and none of it can be credited to next year.
The "market for burros " in any particular locality
is a matter upon which no exact information can be
given. On general principles, it maybe assumed that
in a district where much prospecting is in progress there
would be a demand for these useful animals, particularly
on the desert, where they can subsist on less than
almost any other beast of burden. Southern Nevada
should afford at present a good field for the burro stock-
man.
Mineral claims cannot be "taken up" on agricul-
tural lands which have been patented. If mineral is dis-
covered on patented agricultural land after patent issues
the only way to get possession is through purchase or
lease. It is not necessary to file a mining location on
such land. Mineral veins on patented agricultural lands
have no extralateral right — that is, the owners have no
right to follow the vein on its dip beyond the bound-
aries of the property. Otherw ise mines may be worked
on agricultural lands the same as elsewhere.
The Helena, Mont., copper ore would bring $6
per ton and would cost $7 per ton to smelt and
mine. The plan seems to be to haul an ore of
about $16 per ton and hauling cost of at least $10,
to be mixed with the copper ore in hope tnat some
money could be made out of it. It is difficult to see how
this could be worked to be a profitable venture and it is
not strange that the smelter is shut down. Answering
the last question — that it would be quite possible to esti-
mate the possibilities of smelting this ore without the
expense of an experimental run. The cost of such an
investigation would probably reach $1000, but from data
furnished it is doubtful if it would pay.
About 20 years ago a record run was made at a large
hydraulic mine in California, where the cost of washing
gravel did not exeed 3 cents per cubic yard. This was
accomplished in a somewhat unusual manner. The bank
was first prepared by drifting, crosscutting, etc., for a
heavy blast. This having been placed and fired, the
water was carried on to the face of the bluff above the
pit, and allowed to fall in a cataract upon the broken
loose gravel, which it gradually washed away, leaving
the gold upon the irregular surfaces of the bedrock, to
be cleaned up later by a few men. No manual labor
was employed in the washing, and no water was used
under pressure. As a result the costs were unusu-
ally low.
Where " stoping without timbers " is practiced on an
extensive scale, it usually will be found necessary to re-
inforce the sets of the main gangways, as the pressure of
the shifting masses of broken rock wrench the timbers
first in one direction and then in another, depending on
the settling of the mass. The timbers can never be kept
in perfect alignment, but usually do not seriously inter-
fere with tramming. Square set timbering costs from
20 to 50 cents per ton of ore extracted, depending on the
price of timbers, the size of timbers used, cost of framing
and labor in placing. Blockholing and shoveling in stopes
where no timbers are used costs not to exceed 20 cents,
snd is therefore to be preferred to timbering, being
cheaper, and all the ore may be recovered. Filling costs
more or less, according to existing conditions.
The slope angle at which the sides of a ditch or cut
will remain open without caving depends upon the char-
acter of material and its position as regards dip. Some
material, like cemented gravel, will stand with vertical
sides. Near Auburn, Placer county, Cal., is a railroad
cut in this kind of material, which is in places over 80
feet deep (Bloomer cut), which was made in 1867. It
has never caved and the slope of the sides ranges from
80° to vertical. Some volcanic material, such as tuff,
will stand when cut by vertical excavation. Stratified
and slaty rocks give the most trouble, particularly when
they have a dip of over 30°. One side of the cut may re-
main firm while the other constantly caves. Some
material which stands well dry will not stand at all when
wet, particularly that containing clay or talcose minerals.
Gold accumulated on the plates of a mill makes the
best amalgamating surface, but there is no real need of
carrying several hundred ounces on a single plate for this
purpose. A mill plate cannot be subjected to a more
harmful practice than that of scraping its surface with
steel chisels or other implements of metal. It not only
removes the film of gold so desirable in amalgamation,
but also the silver plating beneath, and it lowers the
fineness of the bullion, owing to the presence of silver
and copper. The gold should be allowed to accumulate
in a thin film over the plate, and nothing harder
employed in the cleanup than a solid rubber, such as is
provided for this purpose. If the gold is entirely
removed, the surplus amount thus taken off must be
replaced on the next run (and this is always attended
with more or less difficulty), before the plate is again in
proper condition.
The North Bloomfield ditch, according to A. J. Bowie,
was 8.65 feet wide on top, 5 feet at the bottom and 3^
feet deep. It was run on a grade of 16 feet to the mile
and discharged 3200 miners' inches. From 1870 to 1877
the North Bloomfield Co. washed ll,021,630cubic yards of
gravel, the average amount moved being 4.6 cublic yards
per miners' inch. The nozzles used were 6 and 9 inches
diameter, the head of water 450 feet. The pipe line was
22 inches diameter in the main line and 15 inches in the
branches. At times the face of the bank was carried
to the height of 250 feet. The yield of 1,858,000 cubic
yards of gravel washed in 1874-75 was 3.91) cents; 2,919,-
700 cubic yards washed in 1875-76 produced 6.6 cents
per cubic yard. During 1876-77 the amount washed
reached 2,293,900 cubic yards, which yielded at the rate
of 12.68 cents per cubic yard. The cost per cubic yard
during the several periods was: 2.86 cents in 1874-5; 3.25
cents in 1875-6 and 6.19 cents in 1876-77. The misstate-
ments found in some works dealing with mining opera-
tions and costs are difficult to account for.
Sulphuric acid is employed in the manufacture of
fertilizers. Calcium phosphate is treated with the sul-
phuric acid to form what are commonly known as super-
phosphates of lime. The chemical reaction is as follows:
Ca3 (PO,)2 + 2H2SO., = CaH, (PO.,), -+- 2CaSO.,. The
calcium sulphate is filtered off and the super-phosphate is
left in solution. The commercial super-phosphate manure
is a moist mixture of calcium phosphate — CaH., (P04)2
and calcium sulphate (CaSO„). It is prepared for the
market by mixing the ground mineral phosphate with
sulphuric acid. Its chief value lies in the large amount
of soluble phosphate it contains. The compound de-
teriorates in time. A portion of the soluble phosphate
reverts to insoluble phosphate, owing, it is supposed, to
the action of the super-phosphate upon some of the un-
decomposed calcium phosphate remaining in the com-
pound, resulting in the formation of the insoluble hydro-
calcium phosphate. The presence of the sulphates of
aluminum, magnesium and iron also have a bad effect on
the super-phosphates, converting the phosphoric acid
into insoluble forms. A super-phosphate is also made by
dissolving bone ash in hydrochloric acid, precipitating
with ammonia and digesting the washed precipitate of
calcium phosphate with phosphoric acid. On evapora-
tion the salt crystallizes.
As TO the adaptability of the diamond drill in pros-
pecting: It may be used to advantage in any firm
ground. In soft or loose ground it usually proves unsat-
isfactory, and mining by ordinary means is not usually
expensive in ground of this kind. When deciding to
employ the diamond drill in prospecting two things are
of greatest importance — a knowledge of structural and
mining geology, and a man to set the diamonds and run
the drill who thoroughly understands his business. The
drill runner may be an experienced and capable man
with his machine, but know nothing of geology. The
probable result would be much loss of time and money
in working at random. If the services of a competent
geologist can first be secured to outline the general plan
of operations, when this is understood the drill runner
may then be trusted to go ahead under instructions, and
results secured should be of value. Drilling must be
conducted systematically and a careful map made show-
ing the direction and depth of each hole and formations
passed through. In this way a correct record is com-
piled, from which afterward the proper conclusions may
be drawn. A diamond drill in proper hands affords an
excellent means of prospecting at a minimum cost, oth-
erwise the entire outlay may be a waste of time, money
and energy.
When driving a raise it is always a good idea to
divide it by a partition, using one side for the passage of
rock or ore, and the other for manway. This may be
done by putting a line of stulls in a vertical raise, or
posts, as they would be called in an inclined raise, and
spiking planks to these timbers. By arranging a chute
at the bottom, the rock broken above may be drawn
into cars and handled cheaply. If the ore or rock is
drawn away as fast as broken above, the partition will
afford good ventilation. If the ore pass is allowed to fill
up, only enough being drawn away to keep that side of
the raise full, the air circulation will be reduced. If the
latter case is necessary, a pipe should be carried up the
manway side and air forced into the raise, either by
means of fans or compressed air. In some mines a jet of
compressed air is sent into a pipe of larger diameter ex-
tending up into a raise or stope. This jet gives the air in
the pipe an upward movement and additional air from
the atmosphere surrounding the pipe at its lower end is
carried into the pipe by the suction. This is proper and
usually satisfactory if the air at the foot of the pipe is
free from foul gases, but which it usually is not. In the
latter case a circulation of air results, but the air being
already vitiated does not afford the necessary relief.
When a long raise is started, sinking from some point
above to make connection as quickly as possible is
always advisable, and when the winze and raise ap-
proach each other sufficiently conditions may be im-
proved at the last by drilling a long hole downward in
the winze to connect with the top of the raise. A circu-
lation of air may thus be secured when the faces are still
20 feet or more apart. Although the drill hole will be
small, it will be found to make an appreciable difference
in atmospheric conditions. If the winze above is wet,
the water can be conducted to one side of the raise.
The following notes on assaying copper ores by the
cyanide method are from Ricketts & Miller's " Assay-
ing:" The method is based on the decolorizing of an
ammoniacal solution of copper nitrate by potassium cya-
nide. The reactions are complicated, as different organic
compounds are formed under varying conditions. For
this reason it is essential to the accuracy of the method
that the bulk of solution, the temperature, the excess of
ammonia, the quantity of ammonium salts, and approxi-
mately the amount of copper in the solution shall be the
same as in standardizing. The solution for titration is
made by dissolving 22 grams of pure potassium cyanide
in water and diluted to 1 liter. In standardizing, weigh
out portions of pure copper of about 200 milligrams
each; dissolve in 10 c.c. 1.2 gravity nitric acid in a beaker
capable of holding 200 c.c; boil out the fumes; dilute
with cold water to about 80 c.c; add caustic soda solu-
tion till a slight permanent precipitate forms; then add
6 c.c. strong ammonia, specific gravity, 0.9. Run in cya-
nide solution from a graduated burette till the blue color
is very faint, then dilute the solution to 150 c.c. and con-
tinue adding cyanide a few drops at a time until the blue
color has disappeared. The bulk of the solution should
be 150 c.c. at the end of each case. To obtain this the
operation is continued until but a few drops more are
required, then diluted to the correct volume. The
beakers should be marked at a point where they hold
150 c.c In making the assay — dissolve the ore, matte
or bullion as already described; precipitate the copper
by aluminum or zinc, or as sulphide by means of hydro-
gen sulphide, dissolve the precipitate in nitric acid and
proceed as in standardizing. The amount of KCy solu-
tion required to discolor the blue solution indicates the
percentage of copper present.
TO give a proper outline of treatment of any ore from
description only is most difficult, and usually is also un-
satisfactory. The Mexican ore containing gold $6, silver
about 20 ounces, manganese dioxide 6.45%, etc., leaves a
doubt as to the character of the silver — whether native,
chloride or some complex compound. Naturally one
would first expect to be able to amalgamate at least a
portion of the gold on plates or in pans, and possibly,
also, some of the silver. The manganese oxide may give
some trouble in amalgamation, which can in some meas-
ure be overcome by the employment of a quantity of
quicklime fed regularly with the ore at the rock breaker.
The amount to be used must be determined by trial.
The result of attempts at subsequent concentration is
wholly speculative: If the silver occurs as black sul-
phide, and stamps are used in crushing the ore, a very
limited saving of the silver sulphides will result. An-
other type of mill would give better results. Naturally
it is desirable, if possible, to avoid roasting the ore
owing to increased expense. The "dead roasting," it is
said, resulted in good extraction of gold, but low on sil-
ver. In roasting ores for chlorination it is very import-
ant that the heat should not be too high in the early
stages, or insoluble compounds of silver are likely to re-
sult, and the same may be the case in cyanidation. It is
never possible to say whether or not the cyanide process
is adaptable to any particular ore even after analysis.
The experiment must be tried on a scale sufficiently
large to demonstrate its commercial adaptability. The
fact that a better extraction can be obtained from sands
than from slimes is probably due to mechanical causes.
These two classes of ore can be completely separated by
a series of hydraulic classifiers, and each treated sepa-
rately. Ordinarily there is no difficulty in treating the
sands by percolation, but the slimes require an entirely
different treatment — filter pressing or in some other
manner— the scheme in each case to be worked out.
October 14, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
257
The Golden West Mine, Pennington
County, South Dakota.
Written for the Minim; ami SciEHTIHO Phess bp W. H. Stok.ms.
One of the most interesting and unusual gold-bear-
ing deposits in the Black Hills of South Dakota, a re-
gion noted for its strange and remarkable ore de-
posits and minerals, is that owned by the Golden
West Mining Company. Some weeks ago there ap-
peared herein a description of the mining methods in
vogue at this property, written by E. J. Kennedy,
the superintendent. Since that time the writer has
had an opportunity to personally inspect the mine
and plant and to watch its operation. A further de-
scription is not only of interest, but is justified by
the facts. The geology of the deposit is of particular
interest, and may be said to be an anomaly among
the numerous gold mines of the Black Hills, there be-
ing no duplicate or other similar deposit there so far
as known to the writer.
The ore deposit occurs near the summit of a group
of rolling hills, near the head of what is known as
White Weazel gulch, and about one-half mile from
Castle creek, in Hornblende district, 6 miles west of
Rochford. It cannot be said to occupy a basin,
and yet, for most part, the deposit is found at the
side of a "saddle" between the hills and is nearly
flat. The country rock is hornblende schist, with
numerous small stringers, and a few veins of larger
size, of white or bluish granular quartz. The entire
mass is impregnated with auriferous iron sulphide
and free gold. The ore near the surface is colored,
red, yellow, brown, black, and various other colors,
in many shades, the result of the oxidation of the sul-
phide minerals. The.strike of the formation is a few
degrees west of north, and its dip slightly from the
perpendicular to the eastward. Naturally in such a
formation, and under the conditions described, it
would be expected that the ore deposit would con-
form closely in strike and dip with the rocks in which
it occurs. It may be that this will eventually be
found to be the case, but as far as the development
has progressed it leaves this important matter in
some doubt.
The accompanying diagram will aid in giving an
thought to be as late, if not later, than Cretaceous.
In the the central and southern Hills, however,
there are many intrusions of basic rocks, principally
diabase and diorite. In the village of Rochford, near
the Montezuma mill, a large diorite intrusion occurs
in the micaceous and hornblende schists, and near
the head of Irish gulch, 2 miles north of Rochford, a
quartz-bearing diabase dike may be seen. Near
Lookout, on Castle creek, are several dikes of diorite
and diabase, showing that the Algonkian age in the
Hills was not free from this sort of disturbance.
The Golden West mine involves some interesting
problems in mining and transportation. Up to the
present time mining and milling have been accom-
plished at very low cost, but in the future this cost
will probably be somewhat higher. As stated above,
the upper ore deposit is covered with from 1 to 8
feet of soil, grass and tree roots, and drift from the
neighboring hills. This has largely been mined with
the ore heretofore and sent to mill, but as the breast-
ing out of the ore proceeds in the cut the thickness
of this overburden increases somewhat, and although
it contains some gold it is generally an insufficient
amount to make its transportation and milling profit-
able. A method of stripping and disposing of this
waste material must soon be provided. The lower
ore zone is almost wholly unknown, but if on explora-
tion it is found to contain payable values over a con-
siderable area, it might be the better method to
mine this zone or sheet, whichever it proves to be,
and to fill the underground stopes with the waste
from the surface. This would afford a means of dis-
posing of what is now a source of expense, while pro-
viding a cheap filling for underground workings. It
is not known whether the underlying schist is again
cut by a second and lower dike, or whether it will
form a zone of gold-bearing schist extending, like the
Homestake, to indefinite depth. In either case the
mine will be able to continue to supply a large
amount of ore to the mill, and when contemplated im-
provements have been made the cost of milling,
transportation, and possibly mining, may be some-
what reduced. Should it be found that the lower
zone is of great depth when the ore lying above the
dike has been removed, the dike itself could be
broken and employed in filling the lower workings.
At present all ore is supplied from the superficial
workings of the open cut. The ore is picked and
HORN
Vertical Cross Section of the Golden West Mine, Hornblende District, Near Rochford, South Dakota.
understanding of the conditions as far as they have
been determined by present development. As previ-
ously stated, the formation is nearly vertical, and is
covered by soil and other debris to depths varying
from 1 to 8 feet where exposed in the cut. About 15
feet from the surface on the west side of the cut is
seen a flat sheet of quartz cutting the schists at
nearly right angles. This quartz is shattered by
pressure and slight movement, is mineral stained and
gold bearing, as well as the schists both above and
below it. The cut is irregular in outline, but is
rudely circular and about 100 feet in diameter. On
the south side of the cut the ore is abruptly cut off
by what appears to be an intrusive massive rock dip-
ping 17° to the eastward. This dike-like mass is
seemingly a type of coarse-grained diorite, and con-
sists largely of fibrous hornblende grouped in brush-
like bunches with white feldspar, and little or no
quartz. The rock presents every physical appear-
ance of being a dike, which it probably is. It is
wholly devoid of the schistose structure so pro-
nounced in the overlying schists. A shaft sunk a
few feet back from the rim of the open cut was
started in this hard, tough diorite, but passed
through it and entered schist similar to that above
the dike, and this lower zone of schist is known to be
gold-bearing also. The relative position of this shaft
and lower ore zone is shown in the sketch. This
seems to indicate clearly the dike-like nature of the
massive amphibole rock. If further development of
the mine proves this to be the correct conclusion, the
dike is probably of pre-Cambrian age. In the north-
ern Black Hills there has been extensive dynamic
action, and dikes, both large and small, are very
numerous. The northern Black Hills also furnish a
number of examples of typical laccolithie intrusions,
but south from Custer's peak few, if any post-Cam-
brian intrusives are known. The geological age of
most of the igneous rocks — porphyries, felsites, rhyo-
lites, andesites, phonolites, trachytes, etc. — is
barred down, being loose and easily mined, and very
little powder is required. The ore is shoveled up at
the face into cars and trammed a short distance to
the loading bins, from which it is drawn into the
buckets on the aerial tramway. At most terminal
stations the buckets are pushed around the terminus
by the men, but at this plant an automatic device
takes the buckets when released from the running
rope, at the lower end of the terminal, and by means
of lugs on a chain the buckets are carried forward
and are dumped automatically into a hopper which
feeds the rotary rock breaker. The bucket con-
tinues on its way and the clip on the running rope
automatically clutches the bucket carrier and the
bucket is returned to the upper terminal. This
tramway is 2700 feet in length and operates very
satisfactorily, but it has a far greater carrying
capacity than is demanded of it at present. An in-
crease in tonnage would result in a decrease in run-
ning expense of this branch of the business.
Upon passing the rock breaker the ore falls into a
large bin and from that by means of a chute goes to
an automatic feeder, which discharges into a large
Chile mill. Some time since this mill was run at
higher speed than now and the feeding was forced so
that the capacity reached 100 tons daily. It was
found that by reducing the feed somewhat better
amalgamation could be done. In the judgment of the
writer the screens in use are too coarse, and finer
crushing would result in reducing the values in the
tailings materially. The plate surface, too, is
deemed inadequate, and should at least be double
what it now is for the amount of pulp passing over it.
The mill is provided with one stationary plate 4 by 12
feet and two shaking plates of similar size.
The mill is so arranged that an additional grinding
machine may be set up beside the first. As the com-
pany has an abundance of power available, it would
be economy to add this equipment. The mine, the
tramway, crusher, and entire paraphernalia are able
to supply and handle the additional ore and the in-
stallation of another mill would materially reduce the
cost of operations.
Selling Timber From the Forest Reserves.
The new rules for the national forest reserves, an-
nounced by the Secretary of Agriculture on July 1,
were made to give freer use of the reserves to the
residents of the States in which they are situated.
Experience has already shown that they are wel-
comed.
The West understands what this means better
than does the East. From the first the East has be-
lieved in the reserves and declared that there could
not be too many of them; but in the West the first
effect of their proclamation was widespread alarm.
It was feared that the reserves would check the de-
velopment of the region, would burden neighboring
communities with taxes, and would prevent the tak-
ing for local needs of the timber which lay close at
hand. Both in the East and in the West the wrong
idea prevailed that a reserved forest was not for use.
A forest reserve is meant to yield up its wealth, as
a farm does, or a stream which turns the wheels of
many mills. In the long run it should both guard
and increase the resources of the country in which it
lies.
The mere creation of forest reserves, without pro-
vision for their administration, was therefore both
ineffectual and annoying to local interests dependent
upon their resources. Consequently the Secretary
of the Interior, in 1896, requested the National
Academy of Sciences to recommend a national forest
policy. This resulted in the passage of the act of
June 4, 1897, under which, with several subsequent
amendments, forest reserves are now administered.
On the theory that the management of land, not of
forests, was chiefly involved, this law gave the Sec-
retary of the Interior authority over the reserves,
and provided that their surveying, mapping and gen-
eral classification should be done by the United
States Geological Survey, and the execution of ad-
ministrative work by the General Land Office.
The result was not satisfactory. The technical
and complex problems arising from the necessary use
of forest and range soon demanded the introduction
of scientific methods and a technically trained force,
which could not be provided under the existing sys-
tem. The advice and services of the Bureau of For-
estry were found necessary, but, under the law,
could be but imperfectly utilized. The necessity of
consolidating the various branches of Government
forest work became apparent and was urged upon
Congress by the President and all the executive
officers concerned. Finally, the act of February 1,
1905, transferred to the Secretary of Agriculture
entire jurisdiction over the forest reserves except in
matters of surveying and passage of title.
Scientific forestry means wise use — not the locking
up of forest wealth, but putting it to profit under
well known laws which control the right utilization of
the forest. It is just because a second crop is de-
sirable that the first crop calls for the forester's -ax,
and the forester's skill is again needed in the reser-
vation of seed trees and, above all, in protection from
fire.
So when the reserves were transferred to the care
of the forest service, in the Department of Agricul-
ture, work was at once begun to bring the forests
into larger use, to develop their resources both for
the needs of settlers and for the good of the forest
itself. The office was moved nearer to the applicant;
that is, more authority was given to the forest
officers on the reserves, so that settlers entitled to
the free use of timber, as well as those wishing to
purchase timber in small quantities, might be served
on the spot, without delay. Whenever timber is
wanted on a larger scale, experts are assigned to
report on the advisability of a sale, and where large
transactions are in due course completed, the timber
is removed under contracts which provide for a sec-
ond crop by fixing a diameter limit, by careful log-
ging methods, and by burning the slash to prevent
fires. Twenty-two forest assistants, assigned as
technical assistants to forest supervisors, are at
present engaged in the making of working plans.
Forest inspectors inspect and report upon all the
work done on the reserves.
Besides these technically trained foresters there
are also employed forest supervisors, rangers, and
guards. To these men is given general administra-
tion and care of the reserves. They must know their
regions, be familiar with local conditions, and com-
bine good sense, independence, and the physical,
mental, and moral qualities which make good woods-
men.
The Secretary of Agriculture has, under the law,
discretion to allow or refuse free use of forest re-
serve timber and stone by "bona fide settlers, min-
ers, residents and prospectors." This free use is in-
tended merely to provide for the immediate needs of
the individual himself, not to permit him to cut tim-
ber for sale to others. Free use is expressly refused
to sawmill proprietors, owners of large establish-
ments or commercial enterprises, and companies and
258
Mining and Scientific Press.
October 14, 1905.
corporations. The free-use privilege is also refused
to any trespasser.
Under the present scheme of administration all
timber on forest reserves which can be cut safely and
for which there is actual need is for sale. Appli-
cations to purchase are invited. Green timber may
be sold except where its removal makes a second
crop doubtful, reduces the timber supply below the
point of safety, or injures the streams. All dead
timber is for sale.
There are three classes of timber sales. Setting
aside California, where every sale of any class of tim-
ber must be advertised for sixty days, the classes
are briefly these: The first includes dead timber
worth not more than $20, on application to a forest
ranger or a deputy forest ranger; the second, dead
and living timber, worth not more than $100, for
which the forest supervisor's approval must be
secured; and the third, timber worth more than
$100, which must be advertised, and can, as a rule,
be approved only by a forester: All timber must be
paid for, in full or in installments, before it is cut.
The local officers of the reserves receive all appli-
cations for permission to cut, and grant permission
for small amounts, but they receive none of the
money paid for timber or for any other use of the re-
serves. No one but the special fiscal agent of the
forest service, in Washington, D. C, is authorized to
receive any payments whatsoever. The regulations
promulgated by the Secretary of Agriculture specify
that:
"All money, whether payments, deposits, or set-
tlements, must be sent direct to the special fiscal
agent and not transmitted through a forest officer.
Money must always be sent by postal money order,
express money order, or national-bank draft on New
York. Other forms of drafts, cash, checks or certi-
fied checks will not be accepted."
A Miner's Measuring Pole.
Written for the Mining and Scientific Press by
Matt. W. Alderson.
I called on a neighbor a few days ago, my nearest
neighbor to the west, 6 miles away. For four years
we had received our mail from the same postoffice
and yet had not met. 1 found him a robust man, just
past three score, a man with whom, it was a pleasure
to converse; for it was easy to see he was blessed
with sturdy common sense. For eight years he has
been prospecting at the head of a gulch for the vein
from which rich placer deposits below him were sup-
posed to have been derived. A few hundred feet
from where he is at work one nugget was taken out
valued at over $3000. If the generally accepted
theory is correct he is doing intelligent work. But
that little word "if I" And the tragedies that follow
the belief in false theories !
But I am not writing of theories just now. The
work of the man showed he had put heart into it.
His tunnel was straight as an arrow and the timber-
ing such as to delight the eye of a mechanic. Part
of the tunnel was through soft ground and the sides
were lagged up with stone — granite broken in driv-
ing the tunnel — laid dry, with the face as smooth as
the wall of a well-built house. I stood back in the
tunnel and looked out. It seemed as if there was not
a cap in a distance of 150 feet that was a quarter of
an inch out of line.
I could but think that a man who did such work
was worthy of splendid remuneration. And in most
lines he would receive it. But, as a friend says:
"All the paths on this globe are not smooth ones.
Some of the rough ones naturally occur in the Bocky
mountains."
As I passed out of this man's tunnel I noticed his
measuring stick and I said to myself, "There's a
good idea." It was short, but embodied something I
had not thought of. It was good any way it hap-
pened to lie. I have used measuring sticks for years
in mines, but the marks on them were simple notches
on one side. My neighbor's measuring stick had
grooves that went entirely around the stick. And
its advantages in other respects must be apparent
to every man who does measuring of rough work
around the mine.
To make these serviceable measures, take round,
smooth sticks li to 2 inches in diameter and of such
length as will be most useful for the work in hand.
For tunnel work let one stick be 4 feet and another
7 feet. On one end of the sticks mark 1 foot in 1-inch
lengths, the next foot in 6-ineh lengths. On the
other end mark the first foot in spaces 3 inches apart,
the next foot in 6-inch lengths. The space between
the 2 feet on each end may preferably be in markings
of 1 foot. Then carefully groove the marks around
the sticks, cutting the groove in about one-eighth of
an inch. Do this carefully with a saw, and one will
have a measuring stick with which he may make
Extinguishing a Fire in a Pyritous Mine.
On the 27th ult , in an address before the students
of the Mining College at the University of California,
Berkeley, rial., Lewis T. Wright, general manager of
the Mountain Copper Co., gave an account of an un-
derground fire in the Iron Mountain mine, Shasta
county, Cal. , and how it was overcome:
"The Iron Mountain mine is a large mass of cuprif-
erous iron pyrite. In mining this the immense cavi-
ties formed by the galleries, stopes and workings are
filled with rock. In course of time it was found that
the mine temperature had increased and was increas-
ing. The ventilation system was that almost invari-
ably used in metalliferous mines, viz., natural venti-
lation. The pyrite in places became hot, and it
became necessary to aid the ventilation by means of
fans. One morning a faint odor of sulphurous acid
was observed, and by midday it had increased to such
an extent that a large part of the mine had to be
abandoned. The mine was on fire and the gases from
the fire made it impossible to live in the workings.
The fire proceeded rapidly through parts of the fill-
ing and the workings, burning out the timber. That
fire was extinguished by heroic means and the use of
water. The problem now was to find a means of
cooling the working places so that work could be
carried on, to prevent gases from fires that might
originate in filled ground from spreading to the
workings, to extinguish fires that might originate in
covered ground without interfering with the opera-
tions, and to prevent small traces of gases from such
fire from entering the workings where their presence
would drive out the miners.
"What was the cause of the heating of the ground
that was the precursor and cause of the fire ? Some
thought it was the pressure of the backs on the fill-
ing. No doubt in the settling and packing of this by
immense weight above there might be some heat
generated. So manj' million tons falling so many
feet in such a time would produce a calculable amount
of heat. Some thought it was the kaolinization of
the rock filling and adjacent country. I reasoned as
follows: A mass of pyrite dry and at normal tem-
perature like a specimen in a museum does not get
hot, does not oxidize, and may from all we know last
a million years without change if so preserved. But
a heap of pyrite exposed to moisture and oxygen
does oxidize or sulphatize. That reaction produces
heat. The majority of such chemical actions proceed
at a greater rate as the temperature rises.
"I once performed the following experiment on a
coal that was known to be fiery: I powdered it into
a fine condition, moistened it, and left it in a heap.
When it commenced to warm up I placed some of it
in a tube and allowed at first air to pass through it
but very gently. It became warmer. I then in-
creased the flow of air and it became hot, and then
by greatly increasing the flow of air brought it into
a state of vivid combustion. The essence of this ex-
periment where there is such chemical action pro-
ducing evolution of heat is to take care to lose heat
by radiation at a lesser rate than that at which it is
produced. The temperature then will rise and rising
the action proceeds at a faster rate and the gain in
temperature becomes increasingly rapid, and finally
vivid combustion ensues.
" Heaps of cupriferous pyrite in Spain are washed
judiciously with water for the extraction of copper,
and their temperature rises, thus promoting the de-
sired sulphatizing action, but the temperature is not
allowed to rise to the point of combustion. I have
seen heaps of iron filings by careful watering and
protection from loss of heat brought in their interior
to melting point. A single wisp of straw does not
rise in temperature, but a heap of straw will get hot
if damp and may catch on fire by itself.
"The heating of the ore was caused by the action
of oxygen with moisture or water acting as a carrier.
There are other factors in this problem. The work-
ings had to be ventilated, but it will be thought that
the adding of air to fire would be dangerous. Take
the case of a coke fire burning actively in a grate.
By throwing and spreading out the embers on the
ground they will cease to burn and cool off. An ex-
cess of air will in that way put out the fire. With
the natural system of ventilation then in use at Iron
mountain I had frequently occasion to observe that
air coming from certain crevices would put out the
light of a candle. I had other evidence that the
ground as a whole was porous.
"There was still another factor in the problem —
an extinctive atmosphere — one in which certain
classes of combustion cannot proceed for reason
of either a total want of the combustion support-
ing element — oxygen or its dilution by other inert
cooling gases Carbonaceous flames will extinguish
when the surrounding atmosphere contains less
A Miner's Measuring Stick.
accurate measurements even in the dark. Illustra-
tion herewith shows how such a stick will look when
finished.
than a certain amount of oxygen — say about 15%.
This is an extinctive atmosphere for such flames.
The roasting of metallic sulphides proceeds less
slowly when the gases surrounding contain deficiency
of oxygen, and will cease entirely when the oxygen
falls below a certain amount, though still present to
an appreciable amount. If the heat production is
less than the heat loss by radiation or air cooling
then the temperature of a burning body will fall, and,
falling below the temperature of ignition, will cease
to burn.
"These were all factors in the problem I had be-
fore me. There was porous ground, there was a
material that was combustible and that could heat
itself and take fire, and that could be cooled if hot,
and if on lire could be extinguished either by a great
excess of air or deficiency of it. I then argued, by
forcing through the drifts a sufficient quantity of air
I can cool off the external faces of heated blocks of
ore. If I can maintain in the interior of the blocks
of ore and filling an extinctive atmosphere I can pre-
vent accumulation of this interior heating. By
maintaining in the open workings an atmospheric
pressure slightly above that in the ground which is
practically that of the atmosphere, I can prevent the
gases from the interior penetrating into the work-
ings and driving us out of them with their suffocating
properties. By not making this pressure too high I
can hold the gases, so to speak, in the interior, where
they will act as an extinctive atmosphere. I then
had powerful fans fitted up at certain entrances,
which were closed by doors, and provided with entry
for the air from the fans, and ordered that air was
to be driven by the fans through the workings, main-
taining a pressure slightly above that of the outside
atmosphere. If the friction of the air drifts was not
sufficient to produce this excess over atmospheric
pressure, then doors or baffles were to be adjusted
to hold the gases in the interior of the blocks of ore
and filling, the intent being to push back the gases
into the filling slowly through the mass of ore and
filling to the surface, using just enough pressure to
make the movement of air from the workings through
the filling and to assure that it was not in the reverse
direction.
"The system was started and within twenty-four
hours the workings operated on were freed of smoke
and bad air, and in a few days the heated faces of ore
cooled off and became dry. If the fans were stopped
a few minutes traces of foul gases and sulphurous
acid were perceived; on restarting the fans this dis-
appeared.
"If evidences of fire are noticed in the interior of
a section of ground by balancing the air pressure
around it by means of the fans and doors, etc., the
fire can be held in an extinctive atmosphere when it
quickly dies out. Use is also made of this system in
attacking blocks of heated ore when the ore faces
are quickly cooled off by air currents. The positive
plenum system of ventilation then had fulfilled its
triple purpose. It supplied the fresh, cool air re-
quired by those working in it, it cooled off the heated
faces of ore and the permeable nature of the ground
enabled us to keep an extinctive atmosphere in the
interior of the bloeks of ore and filling and prevented
the pernicious gases of any smoldering fire from
entering the workings."
Hardness of the Diamond.
In an extended treatise on the "Genesis and
Physical Properties of the Diamond," read before the
British Association, Sir William Cookes says of the
hardness of the diamond:
Diamonds vary considerably in hardness, and even
different parts of the same crystal differ in their re-
sistance in cutting and grinding.
Beautifully white diamonds have been found at
Inverel, New South Wales, and, from the rich yield
of the mine and the white color of the stones, great
things were expected. In the first parcel which
came to England the stones were found to be so
much harder than South African diamonds that it was
at first feared they would be useless except for rock
boring purposes. The difficulty of cutting them dis-
appeared with improved appliances, and they now
are highly prized.
The famous Koh-i-noor, when cut into its present
form, showed a notable variation in hardness. In
cutting one of the facets near a yellow flaw, the
crystal became harder and harder the further it was
cut, and after working the mill for six hours at the
usual speed of 2400 revolutions a minute, little im-
pression was made. The speed was increased to
more than 3000, when the work slowly proceeded.
Other portions of the stone were found to be com-
paratively soft, and hardened as the outside was cut
away.
I can illustrate the intense hardness of the diamond
by experiment. On the flattened apex of a conical
block of steel I place a diamond, and upon it I bring
down a second cone of steel. With the lamp I pro-
ject an image of the diamond and steel faces on the
screen, and force them together by hydraulic power.
I can squeeze the stone into the steel blocks without
injuring it in the slightest degree.
The pressure gauge shows 60 atmospheres, and
the piston being 3.2 inches diameter, the absolute
pressure is 3.16 tons, equivalent on a diamond to 12
square millimeters surface to 170 tons per square
inch of diamond.
Although not directly bearing on the subject, I will
October 14, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
259
introduce the only serious rival of the diamond as re-
gards hardness. It is the metal tantalum, a fine
specimen of which I owe to Siemens Bros. A hole
had to be bored through a plate of this metal, and a
diamond drill was used revolving at the rate of 5000
revolutions per minute. This whirling force was con-
tinued ceaselessly for three days and nights, when it
was found that only a small depression ! millimeter
deep had been drilled, and it was a moot point which
had suffered most damage, the diamond or the tanta-
lum. In another respect tantalum is likely to rival
graphitic carbon, as it has rivaled adamantine car-
bon. Its thin wire is extensively used for filaments
of incandescent electric lamps; it shows a much
higher efficiency than does the old carbon filament.
The melting point of tantalum is about 2300° C, a
temperature seldom or never reached in an ordinary
lamp. _
The Borax Industry.
The borax industry, as a branch of mining, is one
of which, despite its value and extent, comparatively
little is known, and of which, therefore, current
knowledge can hardly be arrived at with any cer-
tainty, says the London Mining Journal. The indus-
try is controlled by a Trust of European and Amer-
ican producers, under the title of Borax Consoli-
dated, which, with the exception of the Diamond
Syndicate, is probably the most powerful and favor-
ably situated of the combinations which control any
important part of the mineral industry. The com-
pany was registered in London in 1899, and embraced
the consolidation of California interests known as the
Pacific Borax & Redwoods Chemical Works, the San
Bernardino Borax Co., the important Turkish con-
cessions in the hands of the Borax Co. and the
Societe Lyonnaise des Mines et Usines de Borax,
with unexpired terms of forty and ninety years
respectively, Mear & Green, Ltd., the chief pro-
ducers of Chili and Peru, with a large number of
options, especially in South America. The above list
indicates shortly the main sources from which the
commercial product, borate of lime, is mainly
obtained. The United States is the largest pro-
ducer, but owing to the great internal demand she is
also an importer to some extent. The United States
Geological Survey's report for 1903 gives the produc-
tion as 34,430 short tons, six-sevenths of which is 25%
ore. The following are the latest statistics we have
of the other main producers, arranged as far as pos-
sible in order. Chili is the next in importance after
the United'States, the output for 1903 being 15,732
tons, which H. D. Hoskold, in his investigations into
the position of the industry in South America, esti-
mated at 44%. Turkey probably produces some
8000 to 9000 tons, but there are, of course, no official
statistics. Peru gave 5055 tons of borate of lime in
1903, estimated by Hoskold at 45.9%. Italy's con-
tribution in 1903 was 2583 tons.
Bolivia, according to official statistics in 1904, gave
1196 tons, of a percentage, according to Mr. Hoskold,
of 38.74%. The output of India, probably the oldest
source of borax, was in 1904 only 212 tons. The
Prussian production is a similarly negligible quan-
tity, being 135 tons for 1903. Like other portions of
the subject the genesis and depositions of the known
formations of borax ores does not seem to have been
very fully studied, but it is generally believed that
the boric acid was liberated from the containing
magma, and rising in gaseous form was condensed on
contact with air temperatures, being subsequently
dissolved by atmospheric waters and carried into the
lake and river beds where it is now found as lacrus-
tine deposits. In some cases, also, it is believed that
the fissures may have discharged their gases into
water basins. In any case, it is to dry and desert
tracts that attention mainly turns for such discov-
eries, and this fact is, no doubt, largely responsible
for the success of the control in checking competi-
tors. The distance of the unworked supplies and the
desolate character of the country in which they occur
make the construction of railways or some similar
medium a necessity, so that they are valueless save
to a concern with large capital; thus the combine is
easily able to secure options over any new district,
which is in this way closed to further operations.
Deposits exist, and have been worked, in Oregon,
Nevada and California; the principal active source of
supply in the U. S. A. is the Calico deposit in San
Bernardino county. The American industry, more-
over, owes its existence largely to the import duty,
which under the Dingley tariff is 5c per pound, and
against any loss from its removal the great interests
of the Trust in South America amply secure them.
What arrangements they may have with the admin-
istrations of Chili, Peru, and Bolivia, is not known,
but apparently they of late years sought to obtain
from the Argentine Government an exclusive conces-
sion of all occurrences in the Republic, but without
success.
The total annual yield of boric acid is estimated by
Mr. Hoskold at 22,000 tons. The treatment which the
crude ore undergoes varies considerably according
to it richness, and the form in which it occurs, the
chief being the Stassfurt salt, consisting of pure
boracite containing 61% to 62% of boric acid; price-
ite,
% to 50%; hydroboracite, 41% to 48%;
ulexite, 42%; tinkalzite, 37%, which derives its name
from the material shipped to Europe from the Tibe-
tan deposits in earlier days; pandermite (named from
the Turkish port of shipment), and colmanite. The
Chilian supplies arc derived from the districts of
Ascotan, Saiiuas Grandes, and San Pedro de Ata-
cama. The Trust has a line connecting Ascostan
with the Antofagasta railway, and the operating
costs are given by Mr. Hoskold as follows: Exploita-
tion and drying, 51s 5d; carriage to Antofagasta,
27s 4d; freight to Europe, 26s lOd; insurance ex-
cise, Is 6d; total, 107s 6d per ton, which, consider-
ing that the percentage of boric acid is about 44, is
believed to be representative of the most favorably
situated deposits. With the growth in production,
the price of borate of lime has gradually declined.
The price in 1864, when the industry started in the
United States, was £150, and in 1899, when the
Trust began operations, it was £13 10s, falling to £9
at the end of that year. The retail price of borax,
accordiug to Messrs. Sacre's table published at the
beginning of the present month, was £12 5s Od
The policy of the Trust appears to be to restrict the
price to a figure such as not to tempt competitors
into the business, while relying on reduction in price
to broaden the basis of consumption, though if the
figures quoted above are representative there is a
good margin of profit. The uses of borax are exten-
sive. It is widely employed in glass, tile pottery and
enamelled iron work, as a flux in metalling, and for
solder, as a constituent of soaps and washes, in the
textile turning and printing trades, as a drying
agent in paints, oils, and varnishes, while as a food
preservative and in medicine its use is widespread.
The Yak Tunnel.
One of the most interesting mining enterprises in
Colorado is the Yak tunnel in the Leadville district.
This tunnel starts in Califcrnia gulch, about H mile
from the center of Leadville, and continues for a dis-
tance of over 2 miles under Iron and Breece hills to
the Little Johnny shaft of the Ibex M. Co. It also
connects with several other well-known properties
along the route, among them certain parts of the
Iron Silver M. Co. It is used as a drainage tunnel
for several mines, as well as for the transportation
of ores to the mill and railroad at the mouth of the
tunnel. Considerable ore from different companies is
now being treated at the Rowe mill, which was
erected last winter by the Yak Co. for the handling
of their own as well as custom ores. The tunnel was
started in 1887, and the present company commenced
operations in 1894. The large area drained by the
tunnel saves considerable money each year to the
owners in pumping plants. The Tucson on Iron hill,
which is a portion of the Iron Silver property, is
drained through this tunnel. About 6000 tons of ore
per month is taken out of the company's mines
through the tunnel and 150 tons per day from other
companies whose property is tapped or adjacent to
♦See Illustration on Front Page.
the tunnel. An electric motor is used in transport-
ing the ores from the mines to the railroad. The Yak
Co. is operating the Cord mine from the tunnel level,
and about } of a mile from the tunnel entrance in the
Cord ground they have sunk a winze and installed an
electric hoist. In sinking the winze the following
formation was encountered, which was taken from
the drill book of the company:
.— Feet.-^
Limestone o to 25
Intrusive porphyry 25 to 27
Blue limestone 27 to 187
Quartztte 187 to 207
Lime contact 207 to 209
White limestone 209 to 219
Quartztte 219 to 222
Ore 222 to 282
Sulphide porphyry 282 to 332
Sulphide 332 to . . .
Prom the surface down a distance of 500 feet the
ore is oxidized.
The company has recently installed an Allis-Chal-
mers 400 H. P. cross-compound engine and Bullock
generator, and have left room for a duplicate plant
in the same building, which will be installed as soon
as needed. Prom this plant, which is at the mouth
of the tunnel, wire has been strung for about 1 mile
up the hill to the Horseshoe shaft where transform-
ers are being installed. The electric power from
these transformers will be used in hoisting and in
operating the electric pumps, which are being
installed to pump water from the shafts and winzes
up to the tunnel level.
The bane of compressed air in expanding engines
has been the freezing at exhaust ports, says Page's
Weekly. At the Gray Canyon plant at North Am-
herst, Ohio, this trouble was anticipated and pro-
vided for. A large part of the entrained moisture is
condensed and collected in the inter-coolers and after-
coolers; another portion finds lodgment in the primary
receiver. Prom this point the lines grade to second-
ary receivers, where the condensation of the entire
line is collected and removed through cocks. So per-
fect is this system for removing moisture that the
plant was operated for weeks in freezing weather
without reheaters and with no freezing whatever.
Power Required to Operate on Inclines.
AH are familiar with the fact that less power is re-
quired to lift a load on an incline than vertically, and
that more power is required to move a given load on
even a very low grade than on the level. The press-
ure on the rails on any given grade is determined by
multiplying the weight of the load — including the car
or skip — by the sine of the angle of inclination. Thus
a load of one ton on an incline of 30° from the horizon
exerts a downward pressure normal to the track of
1000 pounds. The following table was designed to
make readily available information of this kind on
tracks at any angle up to 36° 31', and will be found
useful to those who have traction problems to solve
where the road runs on grades and has more or less
numerous curves. The table, with accompanying
foot notes, is self-explanatory:
FORCES
ON
INCLINED PLANES
^of
Perpen-
Stress
Stress
Stress
<of
Perpen-
Stress
Stress
Stress
Grade
dicular
in
Grade
Rise
Angle
Pressure
Rope
Rope
Rise
Angle
Prcssure
Rope
Rope
per Ton
y.<y> lbs.
Rope
Ft.
on Plane
per Ton
2000 lbs.
per Ton
2000 lbs.
Sine
Cosine
on Plane
per Ton
per Ton
per Ton
2iJ0O lbs.
per Ton
2000 lbs.
2C00 lbs.
too
of 2000
Friction
Friction
loo
of 2OC0
Friction
Friction
Friction
Ft.
lbs.
1/40
1/32
1/25
Ft.
lbs.
1/10
1/32
1/25
1
0°35'
.0101
.9999
1999.8
70
82
100
38
20°49'
.3553
.9347
1809.4
756
763
784
2
1» 9'
.0200
.9997
1999.4
90
102
120
39
21°19'
.3635
.9315
1803 0
773
730
801
3
1°44'
.0302
.9995
1999 0
110
122
140
40
21°49'
.3716
.9283
1856 0
789
801
817
4
2°18'
.0401
.9991
1998.2
130
142
160
41
22° 18'
.3794
.9252
1850 4
805
816
832
5
2°52'
.0500
.9987
1997.4
150
162
179
42
22°47'
.3872
.9219
1843.8
820
632
848
6
3°27'
.0601
.9981
1990.2
170
182
199
43
23°I7'
.3952
.9185
1837.0
836
848
864
7
4° 1'
0700
.9975
1995.0
189
202
219
44
23°45'
.1027
.9153
1830 6
S51
863
679
8
4°35'
.0799
9968
1993.6
206
221
238
45
24° 14'
.4104
.911S
1323 6
S60
873
894
9
5° 9'
0897
.9959
1991.8
228
241
258
46
24°43'
.4181
.9083
1816.6
8S2
894
913
10
5°43'
.0990
.9950
1990 0
248
261
278
47
25°U'
4255
.9049
1809.8
897
909
925
11
6° 17'
.1094
.9939
1987.8
267
280
297
48
25°39'
.4328
.9014
1802 8
911
923
939
Ol
12
6°51'
.1192
.9928
1985.C
287
300
317
49
26°07'
.4402
.8978
1795 6
926
938
954
13
7°25'
.1290
.9916
1983.2
307
319
337
50
26°34'
.4472
.8944
1788.8
940
952
962
I
14
7°59'
.1388
.9903
1980.6
326
338
356
61
.)yo 0/
.4545
.8907
1781.4
955
967
981
15
S°32'
.1483
.9SS9
1977.8
345
357
' 375
52
27°29'
.4614
.8871
1774.2
968
980
994
16
9° 6'
.1581
9874
1974.8
365
377
395
53
27°56'
.46S4
.8S34
1766 8
980
992
100S
>.
17
9°39'
.1676
.9358
1971.6
384
396
414
64
2S°23'
.4753
.8797
1759.4
994
1005
1022
0
o
18
10°13'
.1773
.9841
1968.2
403
415
433
65
03049/
.4820
.8761
1752.2
1003
1018
1036
19
10°46'
.1868
.0823
1964.6
422
434
452
56
29°15'
.4S86
.8724
1744 8
1021
1032
1049
20
11°19'
.1962
.9S05
1961.0
441
453
471
57
29°41'
.4952
.8687
1737.4
1034
1045
106t
21
1T52'
.2056
.9786
1957.2
461
472
490
58
30° 7'
.5017
.8650
1730.0
1047
1958
1071
22
12°25'
.2150
97CG
1953.2
473
491
609
69
30°33'
.5052
.SOU
1722.2
1060
1071
1087
23
12°58'
.2243
.9745
1949.0
497
509
525
60
30°5S'
.5145
.8574
1714.8
1073
1084
1100
24
13°30'
.2334
9723
1944 6
514
527
643
61
31°23'
.5207
.8537
1707 4
1085
1090
1112
26
14° 3'
.2427
.9700
1940 0
533
640
562
62
31°48'
.5268
.8498
IC99.6
1007
1107
1124
20
H°35'
.2517
.9677
1935 4
551
563
560
63
32° 13'
5331
.8460
1692.0
1110
1120
1137
27
15° 7'
.2607
9653
1930.6
569
680
598
64
32°38'
.5392
.8421
1684.2
1122
1132
1149
28
15°39'
.2697
.9629
1925.8
587
599
610
65
33° 2'
.6451
.8383
1676.6
1134
1144
1161
29
16°ll'
.2787
.9603
1920.6
605
617
634
66
.33°26
.6509
.8345
1669.0
1145
1154
1171
30
lri°42'
.2873
.9578
1915.6
622
630
651
67
33°50
.5567
.8306
1601.2
1159
1167
1133
31
17° 14'
.2962
.9551
1910.2
639
650
669
68
34°13-
.5623
.8269
1653.8
1168
1178
1194
32
17°45'
.3048
.9523
1904.6
656
660
686
69
34°37
.5680
.8229
1C45.8
USO
1190
1206
33
18° 16'
.3134
.9496
1899.2
673
686
703
70
35° 0'
.6735
.8191
1638.2
1191
1200
1217
34
18°47'
.3219
9467
1893 4
690
703
720
71
35°23
.6790
.8152
1630.4
1202
Ml 1
1227
35
19°18'
.3306
.9438
1887.6
708
721
738
. 72
35°<6
.5844
.8114
1622.8
1211
1221
1238
36
19°48'
.3387
.9408
IS81.6
724
737
764
73
36°08
.5896
.8076
1615.2
1222
1231
1249>
37
20° 19'
.3472
.9377
1875.4
741
754
771
74
36°31
.5950
.8036
1607 2
1233
1243
1280
Note.— Stresses and Pressures are in pounds.
Note. — 1/40 should be used in all cases of straight inclines planes.
Note. — 1/32 should be used on haulage roads moderately curved.
-(OO Ft
Note.— 1/25 should be used on haulage roads with sharp curves, and is a safe value to use in all cases of haulage roads likely
to'be met with up to lj miles, on longer roads weight of rope should be added to load*
Example.— 105 tonB to be hauled up a road moderately curved, 30% slope stress in rope=63OslO5=60,15O pounds.
Rule.— Multiply number opposite grade, and in column headed Friction, corresponding to kind of haulage road by tons to
be hauled. Product equals pull in cable to haul load.
260
Mining and Scientific Press.
October 14, 1905.
History of Pyritic Smelting.*
By KOBEHT C. Sticht.
Among the great mines of the world is the copper
property of the Mount Lyell Mining & Railway Co ,
in Tasmania. The general manager of this property
is Robert C. Sticht, who was recently elected presi-
dent of the Australasian Institute of Mining Engi-
neers. In his address to the Institute, upon his
acceptance of this honorable office, Mr. Sticht gave
a most interesting and valuable history of pyritic
smelting. The valuable and interesting data com-
prise a good-sized volume, and, while it is iateresting
throughout, space required for articles on other sub-
jects makes it impossible to reproduce the work of
Mr. Sticht verbatim. An abstract of the essential
features, however, will be presented, and will be found
of interest to all who are engaged in or in any way
identified with pyritic smelting:
For the purpose of dealing with the subject it will
be convenient to divide it into two concurrent hpads,
and to distinguish, for historical reasons as well as
for metallurgical ones, between that branch of the
general method of matte smelting, which, until about
1891, has been called "pyritic smelting," and the
more recent offshoot of the latter, which, by distinc-
tion, may be called " pyrite smelting." The nature
of pyritic smelting was clearly defined by Dr. John
Percy in 1880, and his interpretation may be accepted
as well known.
Whereas "pyritic smelting" is fairly ancient,
"pyrite smelting," on the other hand, is a distinctly
novel and modern achievement. Both are blast fur-
nace operations, using pyrites as a collector. But,
while pyritic smelting demands carbonaceous fuel in
order to flourish, true pyritic smelting suffers with
its use.
The historical course of development has broadly
been, first, pyritic smelting; then pyrite smelting;
and lastly, partial pyrite smelting. Yet the interval
of time intervening between the second and third is
extremely short compared with the long step from
the beginning of pyritic to pyrite smelting.
As remarked above, the introduction of pyritic
smelting took place in 1555, and to Barthold Kohler
belongs the credit of having first conceived the notion
of using iron pyrites for the special purpose of act-
ing as a collector of the precious metals, without the
use of lead, or the presence of copper in the furnace.
His endeavor was to make what is now called an
"iron matte."
For several centuries progress in pyritic smelting
was slow and but little advance was made. Improve-
ments were made in the blast and in the tuyeres.
Except in rare instances, all smelting during this
long period of years was done with "noses." Even
down to forty or fifty years ago the proper method
of charging the furnace to obtain the correct and
only suitable length of nose before the tuyere,
together with the correct inclination of the tuyere and
blast nozzle, was a matter for the most serious differ-
ences of opinion in European metallurgical circles.
In the twenty years preceding 1827 pyritic fur-
naces had risen in height from 10 feet to one 24 feet,
but still had usually but one tuyere, with a double set
of bellows. Wooden box or square piston blowers
replaced the triangular wooden blowers at Freiberg
from 1823 to 1827, but all of the important works had
cylindrical piston blowers by about 1831.
Coke was first tried in Freiberg in 1818. * * *
The results were immediately successful, and it was
observed that the products came out purer and
cleaner. * * * In consequence of coke, the year
1823 saw a pyritic furnace run seven weeks for the
first time at Freiberg, and later the same year a
campaign of twelve and one-half weeks was accom-
plished.
Of considerable interest, and of some bearing on
pyritic work, were the facts established by Lampa-
dius iu connection with the application of a heated
blast in pyritic work. J. B. Neilson had successfully
introduced hot blast in iron smelting in 1828-9, and
Lampadius recommended its use in 1831, but actual
trials were not made with it at Freiberg until 1836
and 1837. They were then carried out not only in
connection with the pyritic smelting operation, but
with all the rest where a heated blast appeared of
possible service.
Hot blast was given up at Freiberg after a few
years, and in the other localities it also appears to
have dropped out of use the same as at Freiberg,
and probably the most notable instance of its perma-
nent retention, in pure pyritic work, is Kongsberg.
Here, however, it dwindled down, in course of time,
to a mere hollow tuyere arrangement, in which the
blast circulated prior to entering the furnace.
The number of tuyeres began to increase, and
three or four became common in due course — i. e.,
about the middle of the nineteenth century. The
" great furnace " at Freiberg, built in 1845, after a
Swedish model, had three tuyeres. Iu Sweden pyritic
smelting furnaces with three and four tuyeres were
in use, and the furnaces 18 and 24 feet high, while
campaigns lasted eight to ten mouths.
♦Abstract of Proceedings Australasian Inst. Mining Engineers.
With the spread of smelting operations in America
since the sixties, the easily transportable rotary
blowers found a rapid application to the smelting of
metals other than iron, the older Root's blower, how-
ever, giving way, for a time, to the Baker. The
water tuyere gradually developed into the water
jacket, and from that time on the furnace construc-
tion was to receive a prodigious furtherance in per-
fection of detail. In connection with the progressive
movement then established in the United States,
which has since quite dislocated the center of
merit in blast furnace management by shifting it
iron and sulphur are as effective fuels as the constit-
uents of pig iron, which are burned in the Bessemer
process proper, are in its particular instance.
(to be continued.)
The Wilfley Slime Table.
The No. 2 Wilfley slime table illustrated herewith
has several improvements over the old style table.
The movement is self-contained and mounted upon a
strongly ribbed base made of close grained cast iron.
Wilfley Slime Table.
from Europe to America, not the least signally use-
ful and convenient invention is that of the independ-
ent— i. e., outside — movable forehearth, which is so
typical of Yankee practicality.
Pyritic smelting received a check which undoubt-
edly injured its advancement. It occurred at Frei-
berg, the very home of its birth, where, after care-
ful comparative trials, extending from 1847 to 1852,
the whole scheme of pyritic work was altered by
casting aside the blast furnace for the purpose, and
substituting the reverberatory. The incentive to
the change was the low capacity of the blast furnace,
the reverberatory trebling the figures obtained by
its rival.
The middle of the nineteenth century, among other
advances pertaining to metallurgy, was characterized
by a renewal of the interest in combustion and oxida-
tion among the chemists and physicists, and the
foundations were laid for our present and future
knowledge of thermo-chemistry at the hand of exten-
sive study. In the less abstruse and more immedi-
ately useful field covered by the purely chemical side
of the reactions taking place in slow oxidation phe-
nomena, one name, that of Plattner, still stands alone
as that of the paragon of painstaking investigation
and close research. To this day his work on the
roasting processes is the authoritative one and has
received no important modification, although pub-
lished in 1856
However, as far as the practical utilization of the
oxidation idea is concerned, its most magnificent ap-
plication was not vouchsafed to a metallurgical or
analytical scientist, but to a man whose modicum of
early scientific training had left him so untrammelled
by considerations of philosophical exactitude as not
to make him shrink from announcing to the world of
science that he had found a method of making wrought
iron and steel "without the use of fuel." This was
Sir Henry Bessemer. The first Bessemer patent was
taken out in October, 1855, but the details were first
broadly published in the celebrated article read at
the Cheltenham meeting of the British Association in
1856. Thus the principles of slow and the surprising
effects of rapid oxidation were first given to the world
in the same year. Of the two it must be said that
the revelations of the latter have had by far the
farther-reaching consequences and have revolution-
ized the whole domain of metallurgical thought, or, at
all events, bestowed upon what might indefinitely
have remained mere speculation the endorsement of
the most concrete and material feasibility.
In 1866 the management of the steel plant in the
Bogoslowsk district, in the Ural mountains, at the
initiative of the official head of the district, Semen-
nikow, successfully carried out a series of tests in the
local Bessemer apparatus to work up copper mattes
from the adjacent copper works to a richer metal, or
black copper. It was this Russian engineer, there-
fore, who demonstrated the actual practical feasibil-
ity of the expected reactions; but, for the present,
the efforts did not achieve the production of metallic
copper, as was hoped. Fifteen trials were made with
rather small quantities, and, although the experi-
ments remained inconclusive in the chiefly desired
respect, still the experience demonstrated that, for
substances that contain them in sufficient quantity,
The frame is securely bolted to the girder support,
doiDg away with the lost motion. The table proper,
or deck, consists of a number of shallow troughs or
trays, having the bottom of each covered with duck
or heavy canvas, which is dipped in a specially pre-
pared paint before putting in tray. These troughs
are arranged side by side and attached to link belts,
forming in the whole a large belt moving across the
table very slowly, taking about forty-five minutes to
make one complete revolution. While this belt or
series of trays is slowly moving across the table,
from left to right when standing facing the move-
ment, a lengthwise, oscillating motion is given to the
deck by the movement head. The revolution of the
belt is produced by sprocket wheels and a link belt
driven by means of a worm gear and shaft, geared to
the head motion eccentric shaft.
The oscillating motion, according to the manu-
facturers' statement, carries off the particles of silica
and gangue, while the smaller particles of ore, con-
centrates and slimes remain in the cavities in the
canvas bottom of the trays and pass slowly over the
side of the table, returning on the underside of the
table, and, as they pass over a concentrates box, the
values are sprayed by a small stream of water and
washed into the concentrates box. The machines
are fully explained in Bulletin S — 8 of the Mine &
Smelter Supply Co., Denver, Colo., who are sole
owners and manufacturers.
Working Costs on the Rand.
A contributor to the London Mining Journal writes
as follows on mining costs on the Rand:
An impression seems to be gaining ground that all
is not being done by the mine managers to reduce the
working costs. It is undoubtedly a fact that, con-
sidering the cheaper stores, explosives, and fuel, the
working costs do not show the advantage antici-
pated, nor do the lessened railway rates show any
diminution in the cost of living. Stores and explo-
sives are undoubtedly cheaper, but an instance was
seen the other day, where the whole of this advan-
tage apparently went to the white employes.
There has always been a liberal consumption of stores
on the Rand, and until every item is closely watched
there is likely to be wastage. As for the reduction
of railway rates and the connection of the mines by
railway sidings bringing about an appreciable reduc-
tion in the cost of fuel, the unduly high charges
placed upon the use of the new sidings have to a
large extent neutralized the good results anticipated.
Then, undoubtedly, native wages are high, and the
same may be said of the wages at present paid to the
Chinese; but it is to be hoped that, as they become
more skilled, this difficulty will disappear. As the
result of the lengthened scarcity of unskilled labor
and the attempt to employ poor whites, more money
is being paid away in white wages than formerly,
while the skilled white employes are earning as good
wages as formerly. If the matter be closely
examined, it will be seen that no definite attempt
appears to be made to reduce working costs, and
until this is taken more thoroughly in hand, the high
wages, coupled with the fact that lower grade rock
October 14, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
261
is being treated than was the case before the war,
cannot help but make themselves felt in the shape of
lessened protit.
Undeveloped Resources of the Sierra Ne-
vada.*
There is unusual activity in the high Sierras of
California the present summer. Prom several local-
ities, from Tulare county on the south to Plumas
county on the north, comes the news of energetic
ing mines are below 8,000 feet, while the greater
number are at 10,000 feet altitude or higher.
The snowfall is heavy, the winters are long, but
when adequate means for transportation is provided
there is apparently nothing that need prevent a
proper stocking of the camp during the summer
months with supplies to last throughout the succeed-
ing winter. In Colorado this is nothing unusual, and
in many districts of that State nothing better is
expected or apparently wanted. Both Leadville and
Cripple Creek are more than 10,000 feet above the
sea, and many small towns in Colorado are consider-
A Glacial Lake in the High Sierra, California.
In the Mineral Belt of the Sierra Nevada.
search for new mineral deposits, and stories of am-
ple reward for these efforts. The Sierra region is
known to be rich in minerals, both precious and base,
but of late years comparatively little attention has
been given to the development of these resources.
The ore deposits are in many cases large, and the
grade of ore is not too low to allow a good profit if
the mines be properly equipped and managed, though
the difficulties attendant upon mining operations in
that high region are greater than in the warm low
foothills to the westward, and even greater, in
some places, than in the camps situated out on the
desert in the Great Basin to the eastward of the
mountains. The peaks are from 12,000 to 13,000
feet or more in height, and few of the most promis-
*See Illustration on Front Page.
ably higher; yet climatic conditions there interpose
but a small obstacle to the development of the mines.
The present season's work in the Sierra Nevada of
California will probably be a long step toward the
reopening of the idle mines of that elevated region,
and in the development of new discoveries. The
accompanying illustrations give a good idea of two
types of scenery in that part of California. The rug-
ged, treeless slopes face the Great Basin on the east
side of the range, aud the gently sloping timbered
ridges are on the west side. Mines are found under
both conditions.
With the approach once more of cold weather in
the northern States, the usual number of powder-
thawing accidents may be anticipated.
w*********** ■**+************* **********
THE PROSPECTOR. !
* *
********* *<f**|i<f $••¥'>$•$ .T"-T"T"V*"f •T't1 ****.f if *** **■*#
Those sending rock and mineral samples for deter-
mination must send their names and the locality from
which the samples were obtained, otherwise it will be
impossible to identify them. A great many samples
are received, and many of them bear no name nor
letter of explanation. With these nothing can be
done.
The samples from Burnt Ranch, Cal., are: No. 19.
Gouge produced by the crushing and movement of
country rock; the original rock apparently consisted
largely of feldspathic and magnesian materials. No.
20 is serpentine. No. 21 is a much altered feldspathic
rock.
The black, flat rock from Hardy, Or., marked
J. A. W., is a piece of foliated clay slate. The pris-
matic colors are due to the partial oxidation of a
small amount of iron and copper sulphide present in
the rock.
The rock from Lyon county, Nev., is not of unusual
weight. It is a much altered dike rock, which ac-
counts for the mass having "walls." It should be
assayed for gold and silver. It may be, however,
that the values, if any, occur in the flint-like quartz
forming the hanging wall. The dike and walls should
be assayed wherever they can be cut in search of a
pay shoot. In flinty quartz the gold is likely to be
extremely fine and possibly could not be detected by
panning, which would render assays necessary. The
brown mineral in some of the rock is limonite, an
oxide of iron, due to decomposition of iron sulphides.
The rocks from Clifton, Ariz,
bonate of lime (limestone).
are principally car-
The rocks from Liscum, Ariz., are very much al-
tered, but were apparently originally rhyolite. It is
not likely that large bodies of copper ore will be found
beneath this outcrop — at least, the rocks give no in-
dication of it. They should rather be tested for gold
and silver.
The rocks from Grants Pass, Or., are: No. 1.
Diabase. No. 2. Diorite, with some iron sulphide.
The greenish rock specimens from Lake City, Colo.,
are sandstone, consisting chiefly of crystals of mag-
netite cemented by grains of glauconite (iron silicate).
By crushing, the magnetite might be recovered by
either water or electric concentration.
The red mineral from Winkelman, Ariz., is earthy
hematite, with some calcium carbonate. No. 2 is
amphibole (hornblende).
The black mineral specimen from La Sal, Utah, on
which there is a coating of green and blue copper
carbonate, is apparently a volcanic scoria, or sort of
pumice, which has included small pebbles from the
sands over which it flowed. The presence of the cop-
per can only be accounted for by the assumption that
there are or have been waters carrying copper in
solution, and the copper has been precipitated in and
on this rock. This is not an unusual phenomenon.
At Copper Basin, Yavapai county, Ariz., copper car-
bonate has been deposited in acres of gravel in this
manner.
The lead-colored mineral in sample No. 1 from Cer-
rillos, N. M., is molybdenite (sulphide of molybdenum),
and the bright yellow metallic streak is pyrite (iron
sulphide). No. 2 is largely kaolinized feldspar, with
bunches of "wad," an impure ore of iron and man-
ganese oxides.
The rocks from Pearl, Idaho, have been classified
as follows: No. 1 is chert (flint) carrying consider-
able very fine iron sulphide; it may be gold-bearing,
but would have to be crushed very fine to liberate
the pyrite and gold. No. 2 is so much altered as to
make positive identification impossible; it resembles
a devitrified volcanic glass or pearlite and appears
to be breaking up into rounded grains. No. 3 is com-
posed of rounded grains of quartz and chalcedony,
cemented by carbonate of lime — a fragmental rock.
No. i is volcanic ash. No. 5 is similar to No. 3.
No. 6 is very much like Nos. 3 and 5, except that the
cementing material in No. 6 is iron instead of lime.
No. 7 is a quantity of quartz pebbles. No. 8 is a
coarse sand rock composed of rounded quartz grains
and cemented by clay and iron. If these rocks and
sands contain gold, the question of being able to ex-
tract the gold by the cyanide process is one which
must be determined by experiment. This question
can never safely be answered without making a test.
The small mineral specimen from Las Cruces,
N. M., is apparently a variety of obsidian (volcanic
glass).
The rock sample from New Bridge, Or., is meta-
diabase and is evidently an ancient breccia, as it pre-
sents a semi-fragmental appearance, consisting of
various sized pieces of angular greenstone, rece-
mented by the later magma of the rock mass. It is
an interesting rock and sometimes forms the walls of
gold-bearing veins.
262
Mining and Scientific Press.
October 14, 1905.
The Ventilation of Mines.
NUMBER VIII. — CONCLUDED.
Fumes From the Cvanide Process. — From time to
time there have been maiiy complaints as to vitiation
of the air of mines by fumes arising from the tailings
from cyanide treatment very commonly used for fill-
ing stoped ground, and some of the witnesses heard by
us were of opinion that the use of these should be
absolutely prohibited; others thought that the tail-
ings should be stored at surface till thoroughly dry
and freed from cyanide. On the other hand, it was
claimed by many managers that if the sands were
well washed and not left too wet they may be used
underground with perfect safety. The question is a
very important one. Huge heaps of tailings have to
be got rid of in some way at the big mills, and it is
not always possible to get suitable dumping ground
for them close to the mills, so that they may have to
be carried some distance before they can be stored.
If they are not used for filling, the expense of re-
moval becomes a perceptible item in the costs sheet,
and amounts to a very large sum of money annually
in mines with a large output. At the same time the
spaces underground from which the ore has been ex-
tracted must be filled with "mullock " for safety, and
in most of the larger mines of the State there is not
nearly enough filling material obtained in the course
of development work to fill the stopes, and if tailings
may not be used, "mullock " has to be quarried and
sent down into the mine, again leading to further ex-
pense. The tailings, apart from the fumes arising
from them, are a highly desirable sort of filling, run-
ning well in the passes, easily shoveled, and packing
the ground admirably. The prohibition of their use
should therefore, be contemplated only on demon-
stration that they are a serious danger to health.
The occurrence of two fatal accidents from fumes
given off from tailings used for filling has been re-
corded, one causing the death of one man in the Pad-
dington Consols mine and the other the death of two
men in the Jacoletti mine. In the first case three
other men were also affected, but recovered. Wit-
nesses have also informed us of numerous cases of
men being turned sick by the fumes from the tailings,
though not made seriously ill. In both the fatal
cases the sands were new and damp, and the ventila-
tion became blocked, so that the fumes could not be
removed. The smell s usually very noticeable, and the
men working find a bitter taste in their mouths. It
can easily be understood that if the ventilation is bad
the poisonous gas may accumulate to a dangerous
extent, even if there is only a very small percentage
of cyanide present. As the decomposition of potas-
sium cyanide is mainly due to the carbonic acid of the
air, it seems likely that in a badly ventilated place,
where the amount of carbonic acid rapidly rises to,
say, ten times the normal percentage, and the
humidity is considerable, the liberation of hydrocyanic
acid will be correspondingly more rapid. It would
seem from these considerations that even well-
washed tailings might become dangerous in a badly
ventilated place. Where the ventilation is good
there appears to be practically no danger, which in-
dicates that when these sands are to be used the first
provision to be made is that the place should have a
good current of air passing through it.
We would, therefore, recommend that tailings
should not be used for filling (1) in a wet state, nor (1)
when they contain more than .01% of their weight of
cyanides calculated as cyanide of potassium, nor (3)
in any place in which there is not a current of air
passing freely In some cases where it is not possible
to thoroughly wash the sands, and a larger amount
than .01% of cyanide of potassium is left in them, it
would be necessary to expose them to the air at sur-
face for several months before using them, until the
cyanide is reduced below the prescribed limit. The
stacking of the tailings at surface prior to use as
filling certainly necessitates some expense that would
be saved by putting them direct into the mines, but
we consider that the danger is so great and real that
this expense must be borne rather than that there
should be any question of using doubtful sands where
they might cause loss of human life.
Rising. — Of all mining work, the operation of " ris-
ing " from a lower level to a higher one is generally re-
garded as most likely to lead to injury of health, and
among the workers' witnesses who came before the
Commission there was .a very general desire evinced
to have the height to which rises might be carried
limited by law. The relative danger of accidental in-
jury in this sort of work, as compared with other
kinds of mining operations, is a question outside the
scope of our Commission; but, from the standpoint of
ventilation, we have given it considerable attention.
Most of the mining managers examined were against
high rises, partly on account of the health of their
men, partly because the working difficulties, and,
consequently, the costs, increase with height. The
opinions expressed both by managers and men as to
the height which should not be exceeded were very
various, from 20 feet above the level to as much as
200 feet being considered fair limits. The most
general opinion appeared to be that rises should not
be carried up more than 50 feet, unless special cir-
cumstances made a greater height unavoidable. A
great deal of difference of opinion was also expressed
as to the best method of construction of rises to en-
sure both ventilation and safe working, the ordinary
practice in this State being, as a matter of fact, to go
up with stages on " spreaders," without any division
of the rise. The air from the rock-drilling machines
is in these cases usually relied on entirely for venti-
lation. In some of the mines strong platforms or
pent-houses are made at intervals, alternately on
each side of the rise, leaving a small open space in
the center for the dirt to be thrown down. This,
evidently, is a method peculiarly well adapted to
preventing any natural ventilation. The workers'
witnesses were almost unanimously strongly in favor
of the "box "system of rising (that is, constructing
the rise in three compartments, with the center one
filled with broken rock), and many under-managers
and managers supported them. We saw only three
such rises, however, in our visits to the mines. The
advantage is that, when there is a current passing
through the level beneath, by putting a door under
the central compartment of the rise, the air may be
sent up one side of it and down the other, thus main-
taining good ventilation. It also affords greater
safety in working, and there is less liability of the
timber being knocked out by the blasting than
with the ordinary spreaders. Some managers con-
sidered these boxed rises were more expensive than
the ordinary type, but others thought there was
very little difference in point of cost, the advantages
of the box, and speed gained in the work, being held
to make up for the cost of the timber used in it. We
were unable to get any direct comparison of cost.
We are, however, of opinion that the advantages of
the box in ventilation and safety of working are very
great, and recommend that its use should be com-
pulsory in all rises intended to be over 20 feet in
height. If the box is well constructed, and provision
made as well for mechanical ventilation in case of the
compartment for sending down the dirt becoming
choked, there seems no reason why rises should not
be carried to any desired height, and for high rises
the cost with a box would almost certainly be less
than without one. The method of rising diagonally
on the plane of the lode, instead of directly up it, so
as to have a rise with an inclination of not more than
45°, instead of whatever may be the. underlay of the
lode, has also been brought to our notice; but while
it would, undoubtedly, tend to greater safety from
accidents, it does not appear to have any advantages
from the point of view of ventilation.
The analyses made by Mr. Mann of the air in rises
as that of air. With percentages of carbon dioxide
in the mixture of not more than one-tenth of the ex-
ample taken, as is the usual practical condition, a
very slight rise in temperature prevents the vitiated
air from falling at all. The carbonic acid formed by
breathing and by burning of candles is so dilute,
and produced so slowly, that it becomes entirely
diffused at once into the surrounding air, and even
that produced by explosions is much diluted when
generated, becomes greatly mixed with a large
volume of air at once by the action of the explosion,
and is highly heated, so that it does not fall down the
rise, but remains at the top and is only removed by
diffusion or ventilation.
We would not, however, recommend any specific
limit to the height of rises, as high ones are not in-
frequently unavoidable, and such a restriction would
operate very injuriously to economical working in
such cases. We think that the use of the box and
mechanical ventilation, and the enforcement of the
previously recommended standards of allowable tem-
perature and purity of air, would remove the ob-
jections to rising.
Winzes. — The ventilation of winzes is usually
simple, the cool air from the levels going down and
the warmed air coming up. Several bad accidents,
however, in winzes show that the removal of fumes
after blasting has sometimes been unsatisfactory. So
long as natural ventilation is alone relied on there is
liable at any time to be a cessation of air currents
entering winzes, and then they may be very danger-
ous to go into after firing. We think that in all
winzes provision should be made for some effective
mechanical means of ventilation.
Automatic Pump Cut-off.
Herewith is illustrated the Murphy automatic
pump cut off, which device has been in use at the
Resurrection mine, Leadville, Colo., for ten months.
It is used on a Knowles compound condensing pump,
pumping 225 gallons per minute, a lift of 750 feet.
The shaft where the pump is located is not being
worked, all the work of the mine being done at an-
other shaft, i mile away. To run this plant, two
firemen are required, one on day shift and one on
night shift. Twice a day, every morning and even-
ing, one of the men employed at the other shaft, tak-
ing care of the machinery about the property, goes
Murphy Automatic Pump Cut-off.
show clearly that they are much worse ventilated
than most others parts of the mines, the tests prov-
ing to be often very hot and foul. This is only
to be expected, as the heat of the men's bodies, of
their candles, and of the rock after blasting, all goes
to warm the air in the top of the rise, and this warm
air cannot escape except by diffusion unless a strong
air current is sent through the rise. The tendency
is for a stagnant body of warm air to remain in the
top of the rise, receiving all the vitiation, and being
removed only slowly by diffusion. There is a popular
misconception as to the behavior of carbon dioxide
gas in such places which should be corrected,
namely, that, being half as heavy again as air, it will
fall down from a rise. This would be so if a quantity
of the pure gas were liberated all at once in the
place; it would fall directly downwards. But if in-
stead of pure gas it was a mixture of say 3% of car-
bon dioxide with 97% of air, both thoroughly mixed
together, there would be very little tendency to fall,
as the specific gravity of the mixture would be very
little greater than that of air. A rise in tempera-
ture of 9° F. would make its specific gravity the same
down this shaft and oils the pump. The manufac-
turers say that the pump runs by itself all the time,
and that it is safe with this attachment to let it do so.
"During the time it has been in use, the pump
dropped a suction valve; it stopped immediately, do-
ing no harm. The large cast-iron ' Y ' at the bottom
of the water column burst when no one was there;
the pump stopped and did no harm."
The illustration is a side elevation of a double-act-
ing pump showing the automatic cut off in accord-
ance with this invention arranged in operative rela-
tion with respect to the pump 1 denotes the double-
acting pump, 2 the motive fluid supply pipe which is
provided with an automatically operating cut-off in
the form of a double valve, as at 3, the stem 4 of
double valve projecting below the pipe 2. A pair of
seats 5 is provided for the valves 3.
When the device is used in connection with a
double-acting pump, a pair of supports is provided;
if used in connection with a single-acting pump, but
one support is necessary. The device is manufac-
tured and sold by the Carnahan Manufacturing Co.,
Denver, Colo.
Ootobee 14, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
263
Placer Mining in Alaska.
NUMBER IX.
Drijtinu in the Fairbanks DISTRICT — As has
been stated, the only mining practiced at Fairbanks
is creek mining. In the open season, although the
bulk of the ground can be worked by drifting, a
smaller proportion is workable by open cutting. By
far the larger portion of the ground must be worked
by drifting on account of the depth to bedrock and,
iii many cases, the thinness of the pay. The ground
is in the main frozen, but thawed streaks occur. The
gravels are of the angular and subangular character,
which marks all the gravels deposited in recent time
in the northwest. The angularity is more pro-
nounced than in the Birch creek district or the Klon-
dike.
One characteristic feature of the Fairbanks gravel
has an important bearing on the method of thawing
the frozen gravel. This is the fact, that while the
layer of so-called muck is comparatively thin, from 2
to 7 feet in the workings on the creeks themselves,
exclusive of the slopes, the gravels, which are from 6
to 15 feet in thickness, do not carry pay throughout
their section, but only in the lower part. The pay is
sometimes as thin as 6 inches in the gravel, and
rarely exceeds 3 feet. It is then frequently neces-
sary to take only a portion of the gravel down, and
to run the drifts as low as possible, i. e., not to ex-
ceed 3J feet. To do this economically, and so that
the top and barren gravel will not be continually cav-
ing and falling during the drifting, the ground must
either be timbered or the method of steam thawing
must be abandoned. Another reason why the method
of steam thawing has a limited application in the
Fairbanks district is the fact that the gravel is very
argillaceous in its pay portion, and the thawing and
drying with the steam result in the baking of the
ground. Thus the gravel which was frozen becomes
in its dry state cemented, and the difficulty of getting
it out is not avoided, but only lessened.
Thawing by means of hot water driven through a
force pump and conducted to the bank by means of
cotton hose and piped against the bank by means of
a small fireman's nozzle is the most successful method
which has been so far tried to thaw ground under the
above-mentioned conditions. As regards the heating
of the water, the system adopted at Fairbanks is to
conduct the exhaust steam of the pump back into the
suction of the pump as it draws water from a sump
alongside of it. This has been found more effective than
simply turning the exhaust pipe directly into the
sump itself. The water used is sometimes supplied
in sufficient quantity from the mere seepage from the
ice mixed with the thawed gravel. But sometimes
it will have to be introduced into the pit in small quan-
tity. On the other hand, especially where thawed
streaks occur naturally in the gravel, the water
must be pumped out. This is done by the same pump
used for hydraulicking, without changing its position.
The method of thawing by hot water piped against
the bank has two advantages. The strongest
appears to be the fact that gravel thawed by this
method can, as it were, be selected in the face, and
no higher gravel than may be profitable need be
taken down. The portion of the gravel above the
part taken down remains solidly frozen, and conse-
quently the roof of the drift or wide stope does not
cave any worse than does the roof of solid muck in
drifting operations, where all the gravel in its com-
plete vertical section is extracted. Another advan-
tage is that the gravel is moved from its original
position further than by steam, and if it contains
clay the clay has less opportunity to bake and cake
than by steam thawing, and the amount of hard work
in picking down is lessened.
A serious objection to thawing by hot water may
justifiably be raised in eases where the bedrock con-
sists of large slabs of schist, into which the gold
sinks from 1 to 4 feet and even more. In such a case
the water cannot be piped to reach all the frozen
gold-bearing material. Although I am not aware
that a combination of the hot-water and steam-thaw-
ing methods has been tried in such a case as the
above, it seems not impossible that such a combina-
tion would be the most economical. On the other
hand, where the bedrock consists of a finely commi-
nuted schist or softened, thoroughly rotten rock,
even should the gold be found in it to the depth of 2
feet, there can be no valid objection to the hot-water
hydraulicking method. In the Nome district of
Seward Peninsula, where the hot-water method was
tried, it was found that the water finally became too
thick with sediment to be used in the pump, and the
system was abandoned.
A minor recommendation for the use of the hot
water method is the fact that all the unpleasantness
of the steam method, which fills the workings with
steam, creates dampness, etc., is obviated, and the
walls and roof of the drifts are dry, while ditches cut
in the bedrock on grade to the pump sump can be so
cut as to prevent the floors from being wet. The
obscurity of the air in the workings by steam, espe-
cially in the early part of the day shift, is frequently
a source of danger, as the roof can not be watched
so closely as it could were the air clear; and conse-
quently slabs of the roof that are ready to fall can
•Bulletin 26S U. S. Geological Survey.
not be easily seen, so that the liability that men will
be crushed is greater.
I should especially recommend the method of hot
water thawing to the consideration of the miners of
Cleary and Pedro creeks, while on Fairbanks creek,
as hitherto developed, the method of thawing with
steam points seems more applicable.
In the Fairbanks district shafts sunk for work in
the summer time are in nearly all cases timbered,
either wholly or partially. In very deep shafts — as,
for example, on the left bank of Cleary creek, near
the junction with Chatham, where 40 feet or more of
solid muck is encountered — timbering does not appear
to be always necessary throughout the whole of the
shaft. The muck forms a wall which resembles in its
consistency a wall of solid ice, and in working
throughout a season of four months, with the shaft in
constant use, there will be little caving of the walls.
All shafts that extend 20 feet or less, however, espe-
cially where gravel composes half or more of the sec-
tion— shafts intended for working out a block of
ground, conducting steam connections, pump connec-
tions, and connections for hoisting — should be securely
timbered.
In view of the local conditions, the following method
of timbering appears the most satisfactory: After
the hole is sunk to the required depth by thawing, a
square set with 6-foot centers — or should the shaft
be 4 by 6 feet, of this dimension — is put iu at the bot
torn. Three-inch pole lagging, with cross sets of 6-
inch timbers inside at 6-foot intervals, is carried up
to the collar. Inside the sets 6 or 12-foot poles, 3-
inch, are nailed in the four corners to the cross sets.
Moss is laid up outside the pole lagging, as dry as
possible, and packed against the gravel or muck
walls. In cases where it is impossible to sink with-
out timbering as the shaft is sunk, the timbering is
carried down and the lagging is driven as each set
progresses, the square set being put in at the bottom
on the completion of the shaft. Shafts timbered in
this manner have been found to stand for periods of
from one to two years — as long as the work in the
Fairbanks district has been in progress — and there
is no reason why they should not stand much longer.
Timbering of this sort can be done for the most part
with the ordinary cordwood delivered for fuel, and
this is much the cheapest method available.
The cribbing method is sometimes adopted, accom-
panied by the same packing, with moss outside the
cribbing. It is, however, more expensive, and in a
shaft of considerable depth is much more likely to get
out of plumb in this frost-ridden country.
In the Fairbanks district it has not yet been found
necessary to timber the underground workings to
any great extent. The main runway, if it be used
for the whole season or for a period exceeding a
month, should be timbered for safety. Six-foot sets
of posts and caps only, with lagging over the roof,
are generally sufficient. Pole lagging is cheaper and
more advisable than split lagging. The caving sys-
tem, working always toward the shaft, allows the
faces to be carried forward without timbering the
stopes. The elaborate timbering methods necessary
in the Klondike benches and in many parts of Cali-
fornia in drifting operations are happily not needed
in this portion of Alaska, and are not likely to be
required in any extension of the Tanana area. No
case has been seen in the operations, as thus far
developed, where false sets were carried in taking
out gravel. When the operations at Fairbanks
beoome more extensive, however, and drifting is car-
ried on more systematically with wide faces, it is
very likely that the workings will require timbering.
At present it is not possible to give the cost of this
work, as the figures were not obtainable.
(to be continued.)
Electric Locomotives.
The New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad
will put twenty-live alternating current single phase
electric locomotives on the New York end. It is the
first order for electrical apparatus purchased by
them as a part of the scheme for the electrification
of their entire road between New York and New
Haven, Conn.
Each locomotive will have a total weight approxi-
mating 78 tons, and will be equipped with four 250
H. P. A. C. — D. C. gearless motors of the Westing-
house type, the motor armatures being built directly
upon the axle. They will be equipped with the latest
type of unit switch system of multiple control for
A. C. — D. C. operation. The locomotives will be so
arranged that they can be connected two or three
in multiple on a train. Each locomotive will have
sufficient capacity to haul a 200-ton train (exclusive
of locomotive weight) at a schedule speed of 26 miles
per hour for the local service on the New York end,
and will have a capacity for hauling a 250-ton train
at a maximum speed of 60 to 70 miles per hour for
express service where there are fewer stops. Loco-
motives are designed to collect direct current both
from a third rail on the side of the locomotive and
from an overhead conductor, and alternating cur-
rent from an overhead conductor.
This is the first large order for electric locomo-
tives awarded in open' competition by a steam rail-
road in this country, and appears to mark the
beginning of a new era in railroading.
A Universal Condenser.
The Schutte & Koerting universal condenser is
shown in accompanying illustration: Z represents
condenser; W water-check valve; H free exhaust
valve; S basket strainer; Y automatic discharge
valve; X discharge relief valve; XI suction check;
K air check. This arrangement is deemed desirable
in deep mines having a great discharge height and
consequently greater volume of exhaust in propor-
tion to the volume of water pumped. Under these
Universal Condenser.
conditions, if discharge from condenser were
returned to sump, the temperature of sump water
would increase, causing annoyance and damage to
the timber and detract from the effectiveness of the
condenser. By discharging direct iuto the suction of
the pump, the warm water is removed as it is pro-
duced and the sump water remains cool. The dan-
ger of having steam enter the pump through acci-
dental stoppage of pump or condenser (and thereby
destroying the valves and otherwise disturbing the
action of the pump) is intended to be eliminated by
the automatic action of discharge valve Y, which
closes when vacuum in condenser is destroyed, while
condenser is free to re-start through check X. And
as soon as condenser resumes its action valve Y will
open automatically diverting the discharge from the
condenser again into the pump suction. Schutte &
Koerting, 702 Security Building, Chicago, are the
designers and manufacturers of several condensing
or recooling systems.
The scientific investigators of Polytechnic Uni-
versity of Vienna, Austria, have devised an appa-
ratus to be utilized in entering mines filled with
smoke, deadly gases or otherwise dangerous to human
existence. This apparatus is portable and may be
carried on the backs of members of rescue crews,
firefighters or others, and contains the chemicals
necessary to generate a liberal supply of oxygen for
a considerable period. It is based upon the prin-
ciple of producing the oxygen required for breathing
by means of the exhalation products themselves, by
filtering them through a layer of sodium potassium
peroxide, whereby the exhaled products — carbon
dioxide and water — are absorbed. There are two
types of this apparatus, one for constant use while
at work and the other for use in the moment of dan-
ger. The first type will support life in an atmos-
phere which is wholly irrespirable for about an hour,
thus giving the miner sufficient time to escape from
the impending danger. Briefly the apparatus con-
sists of a frame provided with a hose, mouthpiece
and a bag sufficiently large to hold a box which con-
tains the layer of sodium potassium and the neces-
sary filters. Equipped with this apparatus, the
miner places the breathing tube in his mouth and
clamps a spring pin to his nose to prevent breathing
of the vitiated air, and, breathing naturally through
the tube, he goes to the rescue of those who are in
danger. Without doubt, apparatus of this kind may
be found extremely useful, and, if found to answer the
purpose for which they were designed, should be
promptly adopted by mining companies everywhere.
With mechanical stokers the poorer grades of
bituminous coals can be used, and a higher efficiency of
the boiler obtained. It is customary to use with the
stoker the poorest and cheapest grades of slack
coal obtainable, and the resultant saving over hand
firing with run-of-mine or lump coal is apparent
without considering the higher efficiency.
264
Mining and Scientific Press.
October 14, 1905.
%
PATENTS ISSUED SEPTEMBER 26, 1906.
| Mining and Metallurgical Patents* j
Specially Reported and Illustrated for the MINING AND
SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
Smelting or Melting Furnace. — No. 800,148; A.
B. Griffen, Verona, N. J.
Furnace comprising tiltable body provided, with
two chambers arranged in horizontal line, one cham-
ber constituting preheating chamber, and other aug-
menting chamber, vertical partition between two
chambers having eccentric opening for establishing
communication between chambers for passage of
flame or gases when furnace body is in melting posi-
tion and for establishing communication between
chambers for passage of molten metal from preheat-
' ing chamber to augmenting chamber and for closiDg
off communication when furnace body is tilted for
pouring.
Rock Crusher.-
ver, Colo.
-No. 800,278; J. H. Elspass, Den-
In rock crusher, combination with suitable frame
and fixed jaw, movable jaw, means for imparting cir-
cular motion to one end of movable jaw, means for
causing other end of movable jaw to move on arc
whose center lies beyond fixed jaw, and means for
adjusting center of arc in line parallel with face of
lixed jaw.
Bucket Dumping Device. — No. 800,449; J. C.
Kirsch and J. J. Hartman, Granite, Colo.
In bucket dumping device combination, pivotally
supported bucket holder, means for holding same in
inclined position, bucket adapted to descend upon
bucket holder when held in inclined position, holder
having hooks at lower extremity thereof, and bucket
having ring adapted to engage hooks to form point of
rotation to dump bucket.
Concentrator. — No. 800,379; H. L. Lightner, San
Francisco, Cal.
In concentrator, horizontally supported tank hav-
ing peripheral discharge openings, means for supply-
ing tank with pulp and water, air blast apparatus,
vertical revoluble conductor extending centrally into
tank, hollow arms fixed to and radiating from bottom
of conductor and having perforations whereby jets of
air are discharged over and through material within
tank.
Machine for Grading Sand.-
Palmer, Philadelphia, Pa.
-No. 800,480: C. W.
Combination of series of containers each having
conduit for liquid overflowing therefrom, means for
conveying material from bottom of each container
and discharging into another container, receptacle
for finished product, conduit connecting overflow con-
duits with receptacle, and another conduit connect-
ing lower portion of last container of series with re-
ceptacle, with adjustable means for directing ma-
terial from overflow conduit of any container into
conduit to receptacle.
Splash Plate for Stamp Mills.— No. 800,398; G.
C. Richards, Oakland, Cal.
Combination with stamp mortar having screened
opening, of splash plate exterior to opening and hav-
ing inner face presented toward opening and amal-
gamed and provided with means on face to retard
flow of water and sand thereover.
Amalgamator.-
Francisco, Cal.
-No. 800,378; H. L. Lightner, San
Amalgamator comprising concaved pan having
surface coated or charged with mercury, raised con-
caved center within pan, receiver for water and pulp
suspended above pan center and having discharge
openings around bottom, air blast apparatus, air pipe
extending vertically therefrom through bottom of
pulp receiver having perforations in bottom discharg-
ing into convexity of raised center, radial arms ex-
tending outwardly from tube below receiver and in
proximity with concaved bottom, arms having air
discharge jet openings in lower part, mechanism by
which arms are revolved and rate of speed changed,
frame upon which apparatus is carried and means by
which frame may be raised or depressed with relation
to pan.
Roasting Furnace.-
Kansas City, Mo.
-No. 800,588; A. R. Meyer,
Furnace having side and end walls of masonry and
external buttresses, at opposite sides connected by
cross beams, with arches 1 extending from end to
end and plurality of hearths above each arch, other,
arches 6 arranged below hearth arches to form inter-
mediate flues, flues connected in series, and plurality
of shafts and rabbles carried thereby to sweep over
different hearths.
Concentrator.
Lake City, Utah.
-No. 800,293; S. L. Hague, Salt
In concentrator having inclined spout with lateral
curvatures and converging sides, bottom of spout
having downward, transverse curvature and channel
along bottom, which is nearer outer than inner side
of spout in lateral curvatures.
Protector for the Rollers of Dredge Lad-
ders, etc. — No. 800,276; R. R. Douglas, Dunedin, New
Zealand.
Protector for rollers of dredge ladders, elevators
and like, consisting of combination with tapered
roller of correspondingly tapered liner provided with
circular flange at one end and means for securing
flange to roller.
OrTOBER 14, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
265
I MINING SUMMARY. |
* *
je+ + + + + + + .M. + + + ++ + + ^.;..l..h.,. +^. + ++ + + .f..f. + + .|. .[..[. X
Specially Compiled nml Reported for UM MINING AND
SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
A report on the stone industry in 11104 by the United
States Geological Survey states that the total value of
stone reported was 874,200,361, a gain of 111,254,453 over
the value in 1903, when it amounted to 872,945,908.
(Iranite, marble and limestone increased in value, while
slate and sandstone decreased. Granite showed the
largest increase. In 1904 its total value, including that
of trap rock, was 819,992,983; in 1903 it was $18,436,087,
a gain of $1,550,890 for l'.ioi. ' 1 ' 1 1 . • granite production in-
creased from $15,603,793 in 1903 to $17,169,437 in 1904, a
gain of $1,465,644; and the trap rock from $2,732,294 in
1903 to $2,823,546 in 1904, a gain of $91,252. Sandstone,
including bluestone, decreased in value from $11,202,259
in 1903 to $10,295,933 in 1904, a loss of $960,326. The
value of bluestone included in the sandstone was $1,779,-
457 in 1903, and $1,791,729 In 1904, an increase of $12,272.
The sandstone figures decreased from $9,482,802 in 1903
to $8,504,204 in 1904, a loss of $978,598. The value of
marble increased from $5,362,686 in 1903 to $6,297,835 in
1904, a gain of $935,149. The slate output was valued at
$6,256,885 in 1903, and at $5,017,195 in 1904, a loss of
$639,690. The limestone output remained nearly the
same, being valued at $31,627,991 in 1903, and $31,996,415
in 1904, a gain of $368,424 in 1904.
ARIZONA.
Cocttlse County.
At. the Gold Nugget mine a new shaft is being sunk on
the vein and the management intends sinking another
one. Sufficient ore is being taken out to keep the mill
going. The Gold Nugget is managed by J. G. Pritch-
ard of Bisbee and is in the Bowie mountains, south of
Bowie station. At the Copper Queen mine at Bisbee
the new change houses are completed. A new cable has
been supplied for the hoist at the Holbrook shaft. It is
expected the Holbrook shaft will supply the greatest
amount of ere for the reduction plant at Douglas. The
Oliver shaft has been thoroughly equipped and is ready
for hoisting. At the shaft of the Junction Co. there is
a great deal of exploration work is going on under unus-
ual difficulties. A compartment shaft is being raised
from the 90-foot level to the surface, and it is hoped it
will be finished this month. It will add to the ventila-
tion of the mine, which is now hot, and work can be car-
ried on only in short relays. In the Shattuck-Arizona
shaft drifting is going on in the 700 and 800-foot levels.
In the latter there are indications that it is approaching
the ore body recently passed through by the drift on
the 700-foot level. Work in the latter continues with
the expectation of finding another ore body beyond the
lime formation it is now in. The 8x21-foot shaft on the
Denn-Arizona is down over 500 feet and it is the purpose
of the management to go at least 400 feet farther with-
out stopping. This shaft was started five months ago.
A. D. Brewster and others, owning the Randolph
mine at Tombstone, have resumed work. A whim will
be used at first and until greater depth is attained, when
a gasoline motor hoist will be put in.
.1. A. Collier of the Vermont & Arizona Copper Co. is
crosscutting the ledges that run across the property.
The property is 4 miles from Gleason, in the Dragoons.
Rebuilding the Girard mill for the Consolidated Com-
pany at Tombstone is progressing rapidly. The grading
for the additional twenty stamps has been finished, as
has most of the grading for the cyanide tanks; the con-
crete foundation has been completed.
Gila County.
J. W. Bordman is putting up a custom stamp mill 4
miles west of Payson. Some of the high-grade ore of
the district is being shipped to Globe.
The Arizona & Eastern Con. M. Co. has given A. A.
Patterson a contract for the development of copper claims
on Mineral creek, near Globe. The output of the Old
Dominion smelter for September was 1255 tons, or
2,510,000 pounds, of blister copper, which is a gain over
the two previous months. Three furnaces are in blast
and the concentrator running day and night. About
5000 tons of Bisbee sulphides have been accumulated and
shipments will continue until a stock pile of 20,000 to
25,000 tons has been accumulated. The company also
has on hand 7000 tons of coke and a large quantity of
fuel oil.
Graham County.
(Special Correspondence). — At the Copper Creek
mines, in the Bunker Hill district, Galurio mountains,
the company has put in a hoist suitable for sinking 1000
feet, and air compressor and air drills. The machinery
is in operation and shipping has been resumed. The
main shaft has been enlarged and straightened and tim-
bering put in. A level has been opened at 120 feet, and
drifts are in sulphides in both directions from main
shaft. The main shaft is 180 feet deep, and the second
level will be opened in the sulphide body at 200 feet. The
■ ores are cuprite and chalcocite, with small quantities of
malachite and chrysocolla, and occur as fissure veins in
rhyolite and as contact veins between rhyolite and
porphyry. F. J. Sibley, at First National Bank building,
Chicago, 111., is secretary.
Clifton, Oct. 9.
Maricopa County.
J. Osborn has resumed development work on the Ben
Hur mine, near Cave Creek.
Yavapai Coonty.
Diamond drill prospecting is being done at the Verde
Chief mine in Black canyon, 9 miles south of Jerome,
under the direction of D. N. Bartholdi. The shaft of
the Golden Idol,' near Cherry, is down over 100 feet.
The mine is being worked with three shifts. The Ari-
zona Gold Lode has completed the grading for a 10-stamp
mill and cyanide plant at Cherry. The Poland mill
at Poland has been started, and it is reported that thirty
more stamps will be added to it, making fifty stamps in
all. The Poland mine had a 3000-foot tunnel and other
development before the completion of the Poland tun-
nel, which cut the main Poland ledge 500 feet from
the mouth of the tunnel and at a depth of 300 feet.
Drifting on this ledge from the tunnel will give a depth
of 800 feet. The Poland tunnel cut a number of other
ledges which can be drifted on and the ore cheaply
handled and transported to the mill.
W. A. Dearing has charge of work on the claims of
the Thumb Butte M. Co., near Prescott. The claims
of the Knickerbocker M. Co. in the Thumb Butte dis-
trict, west of Prescott, are being developed under the
direction of G. U. Young.
The character and amount of assessment work being
done near Walnut Grove, in the Bradshaw district,
seems to indicate that the great dam washed out by the
floods of 1890 is to be rebuilt. The flood took with it
$600,000 worth of proporty, bosides causing the death of
100 people. Originally the dam was built as a hydraulic
mining proposition. The storage or the upper dam was
located at the lower end of Walnut Grove, 35 miles from
Prescott. It measured 400 feet from end to end and 12
feet wide on the surface, and at the stream base was 125
feet in thickness. It had a height of 112 feet. At least
$5000 a year has been expended for the past fifteen
years, in complying with the law governing mining ex-
penditures, as the ground held by the company com-
prises fifty locations. All the assessment work has been
directed toward the rebuilding of the dam. The bed-
rock foundation has been completed on both sides of the
river, and, in the performance of this year's work, it is
the purpose to continue the laying of the foundation to
greater elevation on both sides of the river.
CALIFORNIA.
Amador County.
Superintendent Webb Smith says that the Kennedy
east shaft, near Jackson, has reached a depth of 2945
feet, and that further sinking was discontinued on Sep-
tember 30th. A new station will be opened at the 2850
level, and the work of cutting out for the water tanks,
the station levels and chutes is now in progress. The
Keystone mill at Amador City is running to full capacity
with sixty stamps dropping and one of the Griffin mills
is runnings A. M. Hambric has started the new can-
vas plant at the Fremont mine, near Amador City.
G. Hambric and J. Glavich are putting up a canvas
plant below the Keystone mill at Amador City, to han-
dle the concentrates from that mill.
Bntte County.
The Amoskeag mine, near Oroville, is to be pumped
out preparatory to being opened up by F,. Moore & Co.
Del Norte County.
(Special Correspondence). — Prospecting in the inter-
est of foreign capital continues along the south bank of
Klamath river for several miles above Requa. The drill
work is to be pushed. The operators have a long term
option on many miles of bench and bar deposit. Drills
and pumps heretofore in use will be duplicated by those
of greater power. It is expected that the lower Klam-
ath river district will be a lively one. On high bars
rich gravel has been lifted from a depth 6f 30 feet, and
the showing seems to be satisfactory so far.
Crescent City, Oct. 9.
Humboldt County.
(Special Correspondence). — The Humboldt quartz
claim and Humboldt extension quartz claim, Red Cap
district, have been located by G. and B. H. Wilder.
Many locations have been made in this and Orleans dis-
trict of late. Sixty placer, quartz and water locations
have been made along the Klamath and its tributaries,
between Orleans Bar and Klamath Bluffs, since June 1.
A new quartz mill has been put in at Orleans district,
prospects are being developed, and the outlook for
renewed mining effort is good in this isolated region.
The same awakening is noticeable along the Trinity
river from Willow Creek to the Hoopa reservation.
Orleans, Oct. 10.
Kern County.
(Special Correspondence). — The California Mines Co.
has bonded the Baltic mine, J mile from Randsburg, and
is sinking a 200-foot shaft and building a 60-ton cyanide
plant. B. R. Abadie, Jr., is superintendent. C. A.
Burshaw contemplates opening up the Phcenix mine in
Johannesburg.
Randsburg, Oct. 10.
(Special Correspondence). — The Exposed Treasure
M. Co., operating at Mojave, has decided to cease mill-
ing operations for a few months, and will deepen their
shaft another 1000 feet. High grade ore, unsuitable
for treatment in a free-milling gold mill, has been found
below water level. The quantity of water has proven
very large, and a large pump will be put in. After
further development a new plant, suitable for treating
the unoxidized ores, will be put up. C. De Kalb has
been retained as consulting engineer.
Mojave, Oct. 11.
Mariposa County.
(Special Correspondence). — The Tennessee & California
G. M. Co., near Indian Gulch, have shut down their
mine and 10-stamp mill, discharging all employes. The
company may be reorganized. The Grimshaw mine,
6 miles from Indian Gulch, is being unwatered prepara-
tory to opening it up.
Indian Gulch, Oct. 12.
Nevada County.
(Special Correspondence). — The Ethel mine, on Can-
yon creek, is showing good values as the drift pro-
gresses. The new 5-stamp mill is making big cleanups
and a 10-stamp mill is planned for next year by Superin-
tendent A. Maltman. The mine has been opened by
1700 feet of tunnels and has already 400 feet of backs.
This is believed to be a continuation of the Gray Eagle
lead.
Graniteville, Oct. 10.
sierra County.
(Special Correspondence). — A large cleanup is re-
ported, after running twenty stamps for ten days, at the
Mountain mine, near Sierra City. Last year work was
resumed on this property after an idleness of several
years; tbe result was the discovery of a parallel vein 150
feet in the hanging wall from the veins previously
worked. Work has been resumed on the Alice and
Pappoose quartz claims in Jim Crow canyon, 3J miles
southeast of Downieville. They are repairing the ditch
and Hume and when that is completed the cannon ball
mill will be started. The new tunnel started recently
on the Yuba location of the Sovereign G. M. Co. prop-
erty is said to show up good values. This property is
3A miles northwest of Sierra City. G. B. Morse has
charge of work at the mine.
Sierra City, Oct 10.
(Special Correspondence).— At Forest City the South
Fork Co. have their flume completed and will commence
washing gravel in two weeks. The Maple Grove Co.
of Forest City intend to start work on their claims. It
is expected that they will strike the continuation of the
South Fork channel. The Forest City M. Co. have a
large crew doing development work. The Lightner,
at Alleghany, continues its production of specimen ore.
T. F. Baker of Honolulu and F. C. Le Blond of San
Francisco recently inspected their mine, the Hilo, at
Chaparral Hill, which is producing pay gravel. Wm.
Brady of San Francisco has put on a crew to run a tun-
nel in to gravel on the Irwin ground, adjoining the Hilo.
Forest City, Oct. 10.
(Special CorresDondence). — Peckwith & Spaulding
have struck the White Bear channel in their ground at
West Point. It prospects well. The Telegraph mine,
near Downieville, is putting in an electric plant in Good-
year creek to furnish power to run their mill and hoist.
The Sierra Buttes Co. have their new cyanide plant
running, and will start the 40-stamp mill as soon as their
tramway is completed. The Oaklick Co. are sinking
a winze in their lower tunnel, in Jim Crow canyon, near
Downieville.
Downieville, Oct. 11.
Siskiyou County.
It is reported from Etna Mills that Geo. V. Gray &
Co. have bought the Lanky Bob mine, in the Salmon
river district, from George Skillen. The new company
will put in a 2-stamp mill at once and commence develop-
ment work.
Trinity County.
(Special Correspondence). — At Denny, near the head-
waters of New river, the Hunter mine, owned by F. J.
Ladd, has been acquired by J. P. Hennessy and K.
Hicks. The Hard Tack and Cape Nome quartz mines,
in the same district, which yielded satisfactorily while
operations continued, are awaiting a resumption of de-
velopment work. The pay streak in all these ledges are
small but rich. The purchasers of the Hunter have a
3-stamp mill. Operations at the Quimby mine, on the
lower river, are suspended because of shortage of water.
Placer miners along 30 miles of New river are hur-
rying preparations for the winter work.
Denny, Oct. 11.
COLORADO.
(Special Correspondence). — Considerable discussion has
taken place recently over the establishment of a National
park on the White River forest reserve,. on the western
slope of the Rocky mountains in Colorado. The reserve
mentioned above is located in the counties of Routt, Rio
Blanco, Eagle and Garfield. A petition opposing the
project is being circulated among the residents of the
counties and will be presented to Congress or President
Roosevelt. It is claimed in the petition that a park at
the point mentioned will be of no benefit to the State or
to residents of the district, but will in fact be a detri-
ment. It is understood that all bids for the comple-
tion of the Gunnison tunnel, near Montrose, in the
Uncompahgre valley, have been rejected and that the
Government will continue the work to completion. The
parties who had the contract for the tunnel were obliged
to discontinue work, on account of not being able to
come out even on the price agreed upon. It was stated
at the time that the bondsmen would be held for the
completion of the tunnel, and that the Government
would not be the loser by having to do the work itself.
Good roads for Colorado is still taking the attention
of parties who are interested in the movement. A pro-
ject is on foot to build a pike from Trinidad in the
southern part of the State to Greeley in the northern
end of the commonwealth, touching Pueblo, Colorado
Springs and Denver en route. Another one is to begin
at Pueblo and end at Grand Junction, near the Utah
line. Convict labor is being talked of for doing the
work. This part of the programme will undoubtedly be
fought by the labor unions.
Denver, Oct. 9.
Boulder County.
(Special Correspondence). — Tbe Jenny Creek, oper-
ating at Frantz, has recently put in a 30 H. P. hoist-
ing engine and is developing its property. Sinking
is proceeding on the Snow Ball vein. A crosscut is
being driven to connect with the Tootsey and Argo
veins.
Frantz, Oct. 9.
(Special Correspondence).— The Progressive M. Co. is
operating the Mark Hanna mine at Sunsbine and is put-
ting in a 25 H. P. hoist and boiler, and expects to have
everything ready for development work some time during
the month. The shaft on the property is down 70 feet,
but will be continued to the 500-foot level.
Sunshine, Oct. 9.
The St. Louis mill has been closed down by Manager
Harabel, owing to a failure to provide a settling reservoir
for the tailings. A recent cleanup from the vats of
the Cash mill at Magnolia indicates a saving of over
90%. New machinery has been put in in the Eagle
Rock mill and it is now running on wolframite.
The tungsten properties of the Boulder County Farm,
at Nederland, under the management of C. F. Lake of
Boulder, has been closed down. The mill having but ten
stamps and not being fitted for the best saving of the
tungsten concentrate, it was deemed best to put in
another plant before working tungsten ore. It is said
that Manager Lake will build his mill at Nederland on
the site of the old Boulder county mill, as Middle Boul-
266
Mining and Scientific Press.
October U, 1905.
der creek is a much better water right than the gulch
stream, where the present mill stands. The mill now
working will continue to operate the gold and silver ore
for which it was originally built. Nederland is 18 miles
north of Boulder and 4 miles from Rollinsville, on the
Moffat road.
Chaffee County.
Work is to be resumed at the Mary Murphy at St.
Elmo.
Clear Creek County.
• The Red Mountain & Mad Creek M. Co. has been
formed at Empire for $2,000,000. The properties are 12
miles west of Empire, in the Dailey district. J. D. Wil-
liamson is president. A. N. Shepard of Denver has
commenced work on his claims on Red Elephant moun-
tain, near Empire.
The Centurion G. M. Co. and the Banner Con. Mines Co.
of Idaho Springs have entered into an agreement where-
by the latter will continue the Rockf ord tunnel 800 feet, to
the intersection with the Little Champion vein. The Cen-
turion management has suspended operations below the
tunnel level, and will continue to operate ore bodies
above.
The crosscut tunnel being driven by the Leavenworth
Mountain M. Co. near Georgetown lis in over 180 feet.
Manager J. K. Brown is directing the work . The Leaven-
worth Mountain M. Co. controls fifty-four claims and six
millsites on Payne's peak, and every lode may eventually
be cut by the crosscut tunnel. The upraise from the
Ashby tunnel level to the old and rich workings of the
Dunkirk vein, near Georgetown, has been finished. It
will result in proper ventilation for the underground
workings, and the work of development being pushed by
the Dunkirk M. & L. Co. can be carried on without in-
terruption. E. F. Kendall, manager of the Pay Rock
mines, supplied the compressed air, which enabled the
leasing company, of which J. H. Crandall is general man-
ager, to finish the work. A. M. Hill is operating the
Julian claims near Georgetown. The Julian lode was
recently cut by the crosscut tunnel. J. O'Connell of
Silver Plume has men cleaning out the old crosscut tun-
nel on the Bertha claims, located on Kelso mountain,
near Georgetown.
The LorellaM., M. & T. Co. is working in the East
Argentine district, near Georgetown. The Sandberg
vein was cut 140 feet from the portal of the tunnel and
drifts are being run east and west. A shaft sunk on
the Silver Edge vein to a depth of 15 feet resulted in 20
inches of high-grade ore being uncovered. The lode
will be cut by a tunnel in another 100 feet. Manager
Sandberg has ordered compressor, boiler, engine and
water-Leyner drills. Machinery for the Vidler tunnel
power plant has been delivered. The St. Paul M. Co.,
operating in East Argentine on Green Lake mountain,
is driving the crosscut forward at the rate of 5 feet per
day. Manager Mont Tong is employing ten miners.
After driving 60 feet through vein matter the hanging
wall of the Domino lode has not as yet been penetrated.
H. Cochran is superintendent. The crosscut tunnel is
in 320 feet. This property is on Payne's peak, opposite
the Sidney tunnel, operated by the East Argentine M.
Co. Power drills will be put in and the power secured
by running a pipe line from the East Argentine. The
Mazeppa mine on Democrat mountain, near George-
town, is to be developed by D. W. Shepard. The tun-
nel is in 700 feet. It is probable that arrangements will
be made with the Anglo-Saxon mill for treating as soon
as the new mill is put into commission. Work has
been started this week on the Aspen-Promise claims,
on Leavenworth mountain, near Georgetown. E. J.
Butts of Georgetown, president and general manager of
the company, states that he has enough money for con-
tinued operation for at least three years to come.
£a£le County.
The Lion's Head M. & M. Co., at Minturn, has sus-
pended temporarily while arrangements are being made
for further development. The shaft is down 100 feet, is
in the gray lime and will be sent down to the carbonifer-
ous, where ore is expected. On the Lucy, at Pulford,
considerable copper is coming in. Superintendent M.
McHale of the Holy Cross M. & M. Co., ' 16 miles from
Red Cliff, is getting the machinery in place on the
Bailey properties, and will drive the tunnel ahead soon.
This tunnel runs 2000 feet on the vein and is expected to
cut the Grand Trunk vein at the 2350-foot point. Air
drills are used and the tunnel will be driven with - three
shifts all winter.
Fremont County.
(Special Correspondence).— Chicago and local parties
are making arrangements to build a plant either at
Florence or at Canyon City for the treatment of low-
grade Cripple Creek ores. The ores they expect to
handle will be ores that the present mills in this vicinity
do not treat at a profit.
Florence, Oct. 8.
A defective electrical generator started a fire at the
Fremont coal mine at Florence, Colo., Oct. 6. All the
buildings, including the shaft house, were destroyed.
Fifty miners were working in the mine at the time the
fire was started, and ten of them were rescued without
difficulty. By good fortune the air compressor was not
damaged by the flames, and the work of saving the
other men was made possible. By the prompt work of
their companions they were rescued alive through the
air shaft. The men were in the main working shaft
when the fire started and were unable to get to the sur-
face by reason of the flames having destroyed the main
shaft. Superintendent McAllister, realizing their dan-
ger, signaled them to hasten to the air shaft -and that
ropes would be let down to rescue them. They acted at
once, and while all the available men in the camp were
fighting the flames, which were extinguished several
hours later, Superintendent McAllister and twenty men
were hoisting the miners from the air shaft one at a
time.
Gilpin County.
A gasoline hoist is being put on the Hampton mine,
Russell gulch. R. G. Griffith & Co., of Russell gulch,
are leasing on the Saratoga No. 3, west of the main
shaft, in the Russell district. They have a good plant
of machinery and are stoping west from the shaft at a
depth of 300 feet. The Dump lode on Gregory moun-
tain, operated by Phillips & Co. of Central City, is ready
to start shipping. The shaft is 350 feet deep and levels
have been driven east and west. Frank Poole, of the
West Notaway mine, near Central City, has ten men
working on the lease system. The ore is of a smelt-
ing character and does not do well in the stamp
mills, as it is too refractory. The main shaft is
down 500 feet, but most of the work is being done be-
tween the 200 and 400-foot levels. The East Notaway,
on which the shaft house was destroyed by an explosion,
is again running. Tom Martin is looking after oper-
ations and running the hoist.
Charles Horning of Nevadaville has leased the Smug-
gler claim in South Moon gulch from Hawn, Stephenson
& Co. of Rollinsville. The property is developed with
shaft and a tunnel in 300 feet. Horning has made plans
for a ten slow drop stamp mill of the amalgamation and
concentration pattern. Grading is under way for the
new 10-stamp mill of the Penobscot M. & M. Co. in Gam-
bell gulch, near Central City, near the mouth of its main
tunnel, which is in 1900 feet on the vein. The tunnel
workings are 400 feet below the bottom of the Penobscot
shaft and an upraise is to be made. They intend to
drive their main tunnel 8000 feet to Tip Top mountain.
Sinking at the Clay County mine in Lake gulch,
near Central City, has given a depth of 640 feet.
Eilmann & Co. bave commenced work in the main shaft
of the Susan Mary mine near Lake gulch.
Gunnison County.
A new air compressor has been put in at the North
Pole mine, near Crested Butte, by Manager W. T.
Deaner. The company have purchased the Hard Cash
ore that was not treated by the mill at Gothic and will
ship the same to the smelter at Grand Junction. The
Ruby Peak M. & M. Co. has resumed work near Irwin
under the direction of Superintendent M. Pennington.
At the Napoleon mine, near Pitkin, the ore body has
been drifted on for 15 feet, and assays show the ore to
run from 40% to 48% zinc. The main incline will be
sunk 75 feet to catch this ore body.
Hinsdale County.
The Hanna mill at Capitol City may be completed by
Nov. 1. Three sets of jigs are being put in. The
Pittsburg Metals M. & M. Co. will put in an engine,
dynamo, 3-drill compressor and boiler. Bunk and board-
ing houses will be built and preparations made for con-
tinuing operations throughout the winter. Under-
ground drifting is now in progress on the Wyoming
vein, and several carloads of the material will be sent
to Durango and Salida smelters for test runs.
Lake County.
The connections with the Yak tunnel and a drift in
the Tuscan at the bottom of the drift have been made
and the shaft of the Tuscan is now going down and will
be sunk another lift of 450 feet, making it 950 feet when
completed. All of the water struck in sinking will be
lifted to the 550-foot level, and from there diverted to
the upraise and then through the tunnel. This will
reduce the expense of sinking considerably. It will
probably be the first of the year before sinking is com-
pleted.
The owners of Peoria Boy on Breece hill, near Lead-
ville, are drifting from the tunnel level to the shaft, a
distance of 400 feet.
South of Yankee hill, near Leadville, the large tanks
for the tailings of the Wolftone mine are being housed.
The Bohn shaft, near the Penrose mine, Leadville,
has been started, with J. W. Newell as manager. The
mine has been idle for some time. Lead and zinc ore
has been struck on the Ponsardin shaft on Yankee hill,
which was recently started up again after an idleness of
seven years. The El Paso mine on Fryer hill, Lead-
ville, is shipping two cars of ore a day. The pump
works from a depth of 550 feet and has a capacity of 560
gallons. A. V. Bohn is sinking a shaft on his Mam-
moth placer claim. A depth of 450 feet has been
reached. An air compressor has been put in the mine.
More work is being carried on at present in the down-
town section of Leadville than for several years. The
last property to be started after several months of idle-
ness is the A. V. shaft. The drifts are being cleaned
out and put in good working order, and when completed
breaking ore will commence. A switch will be laid to
the ore bins to facilitate the shipping of ore. When
this shaft was first opened considerable high-grade
chloride ore was shipped, and the present lessee, T. S.
Schlessinger, expects to open another body of it in the
ground to the south, which has never been prospected.
The south drift of the Cloud City is being driven to
connect with the bottom of the Home Extension shaft.
The Coronado is producing from 250 to 300 tons daily
of siliceous lead ore and from the Northern, Poverty
Flats, 100 tons daily of a good grade of iron is going to
the smelters.
Montezuma County.
(Special Correspondence). — The center of activity in
quartz mining in this county is the Old Kentucky, on
the East Mancos, 10 miles from the town of Mancos. A
good deal of prospecting and assessment work is being
done, but the only real mining is in the O. K., where air
drills have been steadily at work since spring and now
have the tunnel in 450 feet. The vein remains strong,
from 1 to 7 feet wide, and carries good milling values all
the way, with a good streak of shipping grade. All the
ore is being left in the dump, as the company intends to
put in a mill next spring. A good strike was recently
made on the East Mancos, 3 miles above the O. K. The
vein is a true fissure, 1 to 3 feet wide so far as opened, all
shipping ore, much of it assaying over $600 in gold.
Placer mining in this section has received an impulse
this summer which bids fair to put it far ahead of
quartz mining within a short time. Half a dozen differ-
ent concerns have been at work on the San Juan, south-
west of Mancos, and the bars for 100 miles are being sys-
tematically prospected. One small outfit has been at
work for some time with a hydraulic plant and has ob-
tained good results. Another company recently acquired
an option on a large area and has shipped in a Keystone
driller, with which it intends to put in the entire winter
prospecting. The manager of another company has
gone East to order a plant which will handle 1000 yards
per day. It will consist of a floating mill, power shovel,
and tramway, probably operated by electricity. The
high bars are said to average over $2 per yard.
Mancos, Oct. 9.
San Juan County.
Among the new mills under construction, all slated
for completion on or before the last of December, are
the Gold Prince 500 tons, Old Hundred 300, Grand Mogul
150, Green Mountain 200, Hamlet 75, Arkansas Company
100, Sound Democrat 100, making from these sources
1425 tons daily of crude oil reduced to concentrates.
Adding to these the product of the Gold King 400 tons,
Silver Lake 500, Iowa-Tiger 250, Silver Ledge 150 and
the Sunnyside (which is preparing to double its capacity
and has purchased an electric separator for zinc saving,
thereby enabling its owner to handle 300 tons a day)
gives a total of 3025 tons of crude material daily that
will be raised and treated at the several establishments
named. This should yield over 600 tons of concentrates
on the estimated average of five tons to one. The
lower terminal station of the Iowa M. Co. 's tramway line
from the mill to the Silverton & Northern railroad was
burned recently. The terminal building was a two-story
frame structure, from which concentrates from the mill
were loaded for shipment. The loss will amount to about
$4000. The Iowa mine and mill have been idle for the
last three years. It is not likely the terminal will be
rebuilt or the tramway repaired before next year.
The Champion 1500-foot aerial tramway, on Sultan
mountain, south of Silverton, has been completed. Here-
tofore the mineral has been transported down to the
railroad by burro pack train. Work on the Champion
will continue all winter, and the output of the mine will
be steadily increased. A big strike is said to have been
made on the Moses claims, on the eastern slope of Bear
mountain, owned and operated by Mrs. M. A. Garrett of
Silverton. The strike was made on one of the crosscut
tunnels, 175 feet from the portals and at a depth of 200
feet.
San Miguel County.
A mill for the treatment of vanadium ores is to be
built at Newmire by S. W. Traylor and H. A. Hillman.
Considerable vanadium ore has been taken out at this
place and it is thought that a mill will stimulate the
search for other bodies of vanadium ore.
Summit County.
(Special Correspondence). — The Old Union mill is run-
ning continuously with two shifts of twelve hours each,
handling over 100 tons and producing £5 tons of concen-
trates per day. The Lucky mine on Mineral point is
shipping high-grade ore from the main shaft workings
and is producing a good grade of milling ore for concen-
trating at its own mill. The same management has the
Carbonate mine on Mount Baldy. The Reliance
Dredging Co. 's large dredger is working smoothly now
that the excavation is large enough for it to move
around. The Summit Banner Placer Co. in a cleanup
of its sluice boxes and tables saved $1.03 per cubic yard.
The black sand that is being saved in the steel riffles and
on the new patent concentrating tables has given assays
of 8.39 ounces per ton. The Washington-Joliet M. &
M. Co. are increasing their milling capacity by addi-
tional concentrating tables and will resume milling oper-
ations soon. The Morning Star mine on Mount
Baldy, besides having been shipping a high-grade
silver-lead ore for some months, has discovered a good,
rich ledge, which is producing high-grade ore.
The Sallie Barber mine is making considerable ship-
ments of zinc ore to Kansas City. The Abundance
mine is being opened up at the lowest levels with good
results. The shaft is being continued down. The
Jessie mine and mill are being worked continually by
the leasing company and good returns from bullion and
concentrates are being obtained. It is reported that
there is to be a consolidation of the Gold Pan M. Co.
and the North American M. Co., to work both properties.
Breckenridge, Oct. 9.
Teller County.
Good shipping ore is being taken from the Bill Nye
claim of the Copper Mountain Co. by the Metallic M. &
L. Co. of Cripple Creek, under the superintendence of
R. Blanchfield. A good strike is reported from the
C. F. Springer lease on the Oro, on Ironclad hill.
Preparations are being made by A. Holman and associ-
ates to work the Christmas mine of Bull hill on a larger
scale. They have bought a 10-drill compressor and 125
H. P. boiler from John Sharpe, lessee of the Colorado
Boss, and will soon have it in position and operation.
With this plant it is proposed to increase the depth of
the shaft, the bottom of which is at the 300-foot point,
and at 1000 feet to crosscut for some of the bodies known
to enter from neighboring mines. These shoots will also
be sought on existing levels. E. S. Johnson of Colo-
rado Springs, operating on the Blue Bird, on Bull hill,
near Cripple Creek, has put in a 250 H. P. Corliss hoist.
The shaft has been fixed to accommodate the cage, re-
placing the bucket hitherto used. Drifting to break into
the Portland workings to secure ventilation has been
started.
The main shaft of the Golden Cycle mine at Cripple
Creek, that is now 1000 feet in depth, is to be deepened
an additional 200 feet immediately, and when that is
completed will be extended out and the ore cut again.
The Golden Cycle Co. has decided to build a cyanide
mill of 200 tons capacity, which will cost $200,000 when
completed. The building will be so constructed that, if
necessary, additional tanks can be put in which will
bring the capacity up to 500 tons daily. The manage-
ment has not decided if it will erect the mill on its prop-
erty near Gold field, or whether it will be constructed on
a millsite which the company owns near Colorado City.
IDAHO.
Blaine County.
Superintendent Ruthrauff announces that the Dollar-
hide mill, 20 miles west of Ketchum, is enclosed and will
be ready for operation by October 1. It will be run only
a short time, however, as it is the intention to have the
ores thoroughly tested before installing any extensive
concentrating system. The ore is carrying 25% to 35%
zinc, which will be separated and sold as zinc concen-
October 14, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
267
tratea. Considerable ore is accumulating and over 400
tons are now waiting to be moved to the mill.
Boise County.
Manager W. T. Nassaur of the Whitman Co. of Pearl
has opened the fourth shoot of the Leviathan vein after
driving the adit level 622 feet. The new cyanide plant
at the Lincoln mine at Pearl has been finished and is
running.
I. ill... C'uuutj.
Seattle lessees have resumed work on the Comstock
mine near Dixie. A 100-ton mill is being put in at the
Bandette mine, near Oro Grande. Oro Grande is 70
miles from Stites, the nearest railway point. The
Champion 10-stump mill, near Elk City, is running.
It ie reported that a new mill is to be put in at the Ore-
gon mine, near Elk City. The Sunnyside mine, near
Roosevelt, is being worked with forty-six men undorthe
direction of R. W. Purdom. Cyanide tests on the ore
have beon satisfactory and a plant may be put in.
Kootenai County.
The Golden Reward mill on upper Alder gulch, 1 mile
north of Coeur d'Aleno, is making good progress and
Superintendent Kepp is pushing the work.
The Tyson Con. M. & M. Co., at Tyson camp, 20 miles
from St. Mario, on the St. Joe river, is putting in an
8-mile pipe line for box and hydraulic sluicing of the
gravel. The quartz leads are also being exploited. J. S.
Haviland of St. Marie is general manager.
I . ... I.. Count)'.
(Special Correspondence). — After a number of years of
inactivity, the Texas mining district is again on the
boom. Present operations are at Gilmore and Spring
mountain, at the head of the Lemhi river, 80 miles from
Dubois, Idaho, and 05 miles from Redrock, Montana, the
nearest railroad points. Salmop City lies 70 miles down
the valley, at the mouth of the Lemhi river, which flows
into the Salmon river. The Gilmore M. Co. are down
275 feet. New machinery is being put in to sink to the
500-foot level, as well as an increase in their concentra-
tion plant to fifty tons capacity. At present the ore is
hand sorted into first and second class, the first class
going to bins for immediate weighing and shipping, and
the second class is dumped on floors, screened and con-
centrated with jigs, the coarse or large pieces being re-
sorted and emptied into the bins for shipment. Crush-
ers are to be put in. The cost of transportation, in-
cluding smelter charges, amount to $30. The ores are
first hauled by wagon to Dubois, Idaho, 80 miles, and
from there to Pittsburg, Pa., by rail. Freighters haul
over a ton to the animal, it being a water grade and
good roads. They receive $10 per ton for ore delivered
in Dubois. The output of the mine is now about a car
per day. This vein lies between porphyry and lime-
stone, and varies in width, in some places being 20 feet
wide. The shaft is equipped with a gasoline hoist, and
concentrators are operated by steam power. The mines
of Spring mountain lie 10 miles south of Gilmore. These
properties are being worked on a large scale by Salt
Lake people. No ore has been shipped this season, the
supposition being that a smelter will be put in when suf-
ficient ore has been blocked out to justify it. Many
new strikes are reported and a number of sales made,
notably a property 25 miles southeast of Gilmore, on
Birch creek, to be operated by an English company.
The Texas mining district promises to be one of Idaho's
best silver-lead camps.
Gilmore, Oct. 7.
The 30-stamp mill and cyanide plant at the Kittle Bur-
ton mine, at Indian creek, north of Salmon City, has
been destroyed by fire. The mill cost the company
about $45,000 and was insured for about two-thirds of
that amount.
Shoshone County.
The German-American M. Co., developing the Phcenix
property, near Osburn, has the main tunnel in 975 feet,
with a depth of nearly 900 feet below the surface out-
crop. It is stated by the management that for a distance
of 150 feet the average daily progress made with the
18-pound Hardsocg hand drill was 7J feet, the ground
being broken 7x5 feet. It is the intention to continue
the main drift, as indicated, and crosscut to the several
parallel leads on the property. W. P. Belding is super-
intendent.
The Gold Ridge M. Co. intend sinking 100 feet deeper
on their claims in the St. Joe mining district, 18 miles
south of Wardner. D. Davis is manager.
MISSOURI.
Jasper County.
During September the lowest price paid for top grade
zinc was $40 a ton during the first week of the month,
since which the top price has been above $50, and the
month closed with the price at $55. The output of zinc
for the nine months just ended has been 376,456,780
pounds, which was sold for $8,424,385. During the cor-
responding period of 1904 the output was 386,719,490
pounds, which sold for $6,500,790. These figures show
that the 1905 shortage of over 21,000,000 pounds in pro-
duction, which existed September 1, has been reduced
to a little over 10,000,000 pounds during the month. For
the first time in 1905 the value of the lead output
exceeded that for the corresponding period of 1904,
although the output of lead is still below that of last
year — the total production being 45,971,340 pounds,
which sold for $1,358,540, as against an output of 48,702,-
560 pounds, which sold for $1,324,450 during the same
period of 1904. The total value of both ores during the
first nine months has been $9,784,124, which is" an
increase of $1,958,885 over the total production for the
corresponding period of last year.
MONTANA-
Chouteau County.
Whitcomb & Phillips are working the Ruby Gulch
properties near Zortman. It is reported that they in-
tend to put up a new mill. They already have a mill
and cyanide plant.
Granite County.
In the Red Lion district, near Philipsburg, the South-
ern Cross litigation which has kept the mine closed
down is so far over that work has been resumed by
Lucien Eaves. He had gone down 200 feet on the in-
cline, on the new ore body opened up a year ago, when
the mine was closed down. Operations at the mine have
been resumed by putting men to sink this shaft on the
new ore body 100 feet. Shipping ore is to be commenced
as soon as the 300-foot level is reached.
Jefferson County.
The Pen Yan and the Blue Bird mines, near Corbin,
have been bonded to a Michigan company by Parchen &
Keefe. Superintendent McCabe has started work with
three shifts.
PoweU Countv.
At the Coloma mines, 1 mile from Coloma, work is
under the supervision of H. V. Salisbury. The Comet
group comprises fourtoen claims and is owned by Phila-
delphia capitalists, H. J. Seible, Jr., being the president
of the company. About 3000 feet of work has been done.
The property is being developed by means of an incline
shaft, which is down 400 feet. There are two main
levels, at 200 and 400 feet. A crosscut iB being run from
the bottom of the 400-foot level in the direction of the
Mammoth mine, of the group at Coloma. It will be re-
quired to run this crosscut about 800 feet to reach the
lead in the Minor's Dream. Superintendent Salisbury
is also starting to sink from the bottom of the incline
shaft.
Silver Bow County.
(Special Correspondence). — In September the Butte
mines yielded 409,500 tons of ore and 26,970,000 pounds
of copper. To each pound of copper there was a bi-pro-
duct value of 21 cents. The following table shows the
monthly output:
Comnanies Tons P°unus Pounds
L-ompames. Q, 0re per Ton_ of 0oppe,.
Boston & Montana 90,000 70 6 300,000
Anaconda 133,000 55 7,260,000
Butte & Boston 18,000 63 1,131,000
Parrot 16,600 68 1,122,000
Washoe 24,000 70 1,680,000
Trenton 18,000 58 1,044,000
North Butte 18,000 140 2,520,000
United Copper 45,000 70 2.700,000
Clark Mines 33,000 70 2,310,000
Miscellaneous 15,000 60 910, 0U0
Totals.
.409,500
26,970,010
The rich yield of North Butte is due to the fact that
only a very high grade of ore is being mined, while the
shaft is being retimbered and the ore is hoisted through
the shaft of the High Ore mine, one of the Anaconda
properties. It will be a month or six weeks before the
shaft is completed, and then the output will be increased
fully 30%. The general average of the ore of the
North Butte group is double the value of any other ore
mined at present in the Butte district. A new com-
pany, that will probably be known as the East Butte,
is being organized for the purpose of consolidating about
ten or twelve producing mines in the southeastern por-
tion of the Butte district. The company will take in all
the territory lying between the Pennsylvania mine of
the Boston & Montana Co. and the Kane shaft of the
Butte & Boston. Within the territory already secured
are ten producing shafts, but the claims are all small,
with the exception of the Oneida, which is a full min-
ing claim. Among the properties already taken in
are the Yankee Boy, with a 250-ton concentrator; the
Mary MacLane, Oneida. Dutton, Symon and two others
not made public. The shafts are from 53 to 300 feet
deep, and ore is being taken from all of them. The
ground is surrounded by the Pennsylvania, Glengarry,
J. I. C, Kane, Silver Bow Nos. 1, 2 and 3, and Heinze's
Belmont. It is predicted that the East Butte will rival
the North Butte as a producer. Butte and Boston and
New York men are interested in the new company.
Butte, Oct. 9.
NEVADA.
Esmeralda County.
Arthur Winslow of Boston, manager of the Combina-
tion Co., is at Goldfield looking after the new addition
to the mill and the development of the mine. The
details of the mill work are in the hands of F. L. Bos-
qui. The original mill was built as suggested by him
after he had made tests on the ores. The present mill
is adapted for the reduction of the oxidized ores, but in
the new addition provision will be made for treating the
sulphide ores of the lower levels, and Mr. Bosqui expects
to make the same high saving of values that he does on
the oxidized ores. The concrete work for the batteries
and bins is finished, the material for the building is
nearly all on the ground and the machinery all ordered.
From the stamps the ore will go to a grinding mill, then
a Wilfley table, then to four Frue vanners. All the tail-
ings from the Frue vanners are reground in a tube, mill
and then concentrated, followed by cyaniding. The
ores do not amalgamate as well as is generally believed,
the saving on the plates being but 35% to 50%; 7%
of the values are saved in concentration and the balance
by cyanide. When the new addition is finished the mill
will treat 80 tons per day. At the mine, a gallows frame
for the new 30 H. P. electric hoist is being built at the new
working shaft, which is now down to water levol — 240 feet.
A cage will take the place of the bucket. E. A. Collins
is superintendent of the mine. The American M. Co.'s
mill and cyanide plant at Goldfield is running under the
direction of F. A. Doran.
Operations have been resumed in the main workings
of the Goldfield-Portland Co.'s ground and the work of
sinking the shaft to the 500-foot point is to be started as
soon as the necessary timbers can be landed at the prop-
erty. John McKane has a lease on the territory and is
planning to develop and prove up the ore bodies. D. B.
Gillies is in charge.
Eureka County
The Eureka M. & M. Co. are putting in new milling
machinery and a compressor at the Bay State mine at
Newark, near Eureka. C. M. Perry is president of the
company.
Humboldt County.
(Special Correspondence). — H. Bender has bonded
three claims, near Jack,son creek, for $12,000 to Copley
of Kansas City.
Humboldt House, Oct. 10.
Lincoln Comity.
S. P. Moore, superintendent of the Interstate M. & R.
Co., is developing a gold property at Fay. A mill is to
be put up. G. E. Otis of the Cyrus Noble M. Co. of
Searchlight states that the company will put up a 10-
stamp mill on its properties near Searchlight.
The shaft on the Techaticup mine, at El Dorado can-
yon, is being driven to the 500 level. At the 400 a cross-
cut was run to the vein. The mine is under the manage-
ment of Charles Gracey.
Washoe County.
The Harris mine, near Washoe City, has been sold to
Indiana capitalists, who are getting the workings in
shape and intend to build a 10-stamp mill near the mine.
The Smith mine in the same district has been sold
to Colorado men, who will open it up. They purchased
a millsite of four acres and will build a mill.
NEW MEXICO.
Grant County.
W. E. Hockie has charge of the properties of the
North American Co. at Lordsburg. Men are sinking
the main shaft on the Cobra Negra under his super-
vision. The Morning Star Co. have decided to sink a
development shaft on the Atlantic, near Lordsburg, to
a depth of 800 feet. The main shaft of the Cobra
Negra, of the North American M. Co., at Lordsburg,
has been unwatered and sinking has been resumed.
Work has been resumed on the Old Commerce at Ash
Peak.
Sierra County.
A concentrating plant is to be put on the Virginian,
Templar and Keystone, near Kingston. The plant will
have a capacity of 100 tons a day. Ore thrown on the
dump in 1885 and 1886 is to be treated. J. H. Moffatt is
the superintendent and A. W. Harris of Kingston is the
principal owner. The property has been leased to a
company, of which B. S. Rodey of Albuquerque is the
president.
OREGON.
Baker County.
The mill and cyanide plant at the Mayflower mine,
near Cornucopia, is nearly completed. Work is being
pushed on the aerial tramway. The 10-stamp mill and
concentrators at the Gold Coin mine, 3 miles from Rye
Valley, are almost completed. Manager T. Kennerly
has finished surface improvements at the John B. Sipe
group, near Bourne, and will continue work through the
winter. The Victor crosscut near Bourne is in 1000
feet. Machine drills are being used in drifting on the
No. 2 vein cut by the crosscut.
DoufrlaB County.
The aerial tram connecting the Musick mine and 30-
stamp mill, near Bohemia, has been finished. Devel-
opment has been resumed in the mine. -The Bohemia
Mine Owners' Association will hold their annual meet-
ing in November. The Vesuvius mill at Bohemia
has resumed operations after a shut-down for repairs.
Grant County.
It is reported that the main Gold Bug vein, near
Granite, has been cut after running the crosscut tunnel
800 feet. Manager T. S. Van Fleet has sacked some of
the ore for shipping. The new mill building at the
Standard cobalt mine, near Comer, has been finished,
and the crushing and concentrating machinery iB being
put in as it arrives.
Jackson County.
The Maid of the Mist property, 4 mileB from Apple-
gate, is to be worked by E. M. Wright and brother of
Union, Oregon, and C. Hawkins of San Francisco. They
are building cabins and intend to put up a mill building
soon, as there is said to be enough ore in sight to war-
rant construction of a small plant.
Josephine County.
A good pay shoot has been opened by the 525-foot tun-
nel at the Eureka mine, near Selma. A. F. Nelson is
manager. C. B. Kelton has started work on the Calu-
met main tunnel, near Selma.
Manager O. L. Tutt of the Takilma smelter says that
he will have to close the smelter by November, owing to
the condition of the roads. The 42-mile haul from
Grants Pass becomes impossible when fall rains set in.
During the winter the smelter management will rush
development.
Malheur County.
A large seam of coal, reported by prospectors to be 20
feet thick, has been located at the mouth of Dry creek,
35 miles southeast of Ontario. The preliminary work
done on the discovery indicates that the seam will pro-
duce a good grade of ore, and it is the purpose to
arrange for thorough prospecting. The discovery is in
the same general vicinity as Malheur oil formations,
which attracted much attention a few years ago.
Miners have been confident of coal in the district, but
exploratory work had never been thorough enough to
determine where the measures would be found and the
wash of the country is too heavy for the prospector to
learn much from croppings.
SOUTH DAKOTA
Lawrence County.
The annual report of the Homestake M. Co. for the
year ending June 1, 1905, has recently been issued, and
is of more than usual interest. The company has devel-
oped the largest body of gold-bearing ore in the world,
and though low in grade — less than $4 per ton — so care-
fully has the business of mining and ore reduction been
systematized there, that a substantial profit results from
these operations. The company is mining and crushing
nearly 1,500,000 tons of ore annually, the daily run being
about 4000 tons. There are six shafts from 800 to 1400
feet deep; six mills, containing in the aggregate 1000
stamps (some additions having been made the past
year), crush this ore through a 40-mesb screen, much of
the pulp being reduced to a fineness of 200 mesh. Two
great cyanide plants handle the sands, there being an
almost perfect separation of sands and slimes, and a
plant is now being installed which will remove a large
percentage of water from the slimes, which will render
268
Mining and Scientific Press.
October 14, 1905.
the latter amenable to cyanidation as readily as the
sands. The more important items of mining and milling
cost are here mentioned, together with the cost of simi-
lar operations during the previous two years for the pur-
pose of comparison, and will prove of interest to miners
elsewhere:
Item 1903. 1904. 1905.
Total production 14,526,942 04 84,800,558 48 $5,221,089 B0
Tons milled . . 1,279,075 00 1,299,057 00 1,398,100 00
Average per ton 3 539 3 695 3 734
Dividends paid 819,000 00 655,200 00 819,000 00
Property purchased 5,167 76 210,168 85 1,784 48
Mine labor 1,548,447 07 1,570,740 00 1,671,271 84
Taxes 67,530 59 78,758 10 85,861 46
Water . 96,099 44 65,747 48 30,313 78
Interest 31,139 50 16,028 47
Indebtedness 425,784 97
The cost of mining the past year was about $1.14 per
ton. The cost of milling, cyaniding, etc., is not given.
In former (recent) years the dividends were somewhat
larger than during the past three years, being in 1900.
$1,175,000, in 1901 and 1902. $1,260,000 each year, but
owing to extensive and expensive additions to plant, the
dividends have of late been somewhat lower, though
higher the last than the previous year. It is anticipated
that the dividends of the present and immediately suc-
ceeding years will show an increase, as the increase in
milling capacity will have a noticeable effect. The con-
templated slimes plant, the construction of which is now
in the preparatory stage, will form a large item of ex-
pense, as will also the water power installation now be-
ing made, but the economy of these investments will
later become evident. The total dividends paid by the
Homestake Co. proper up to and including September,
1905, is $13,896,350. If" with is included those paid by
the De Smet, Dead wood-Terra, Caledonia, Highland,
Golden Star and other subsidiary companies absorbed
by the Homestake Co., the total amount would be about
$25,000,000 from ore averaging not above $4 per ton.
The annual report of the superintendent, I. J. Grier, is
characteristically brief and contains the following:
"During the twelve months now closing no mishap to
the property of especial importance occurred. Develop-
ments in various parts of the mine progressed steadily
and satisfactorily. The ore at the 1250-foot level has
just been reached and is now being crosscutted. The
Ellison shaft has been sunk to 1400 feet and the work of
opening a level at that depth begun. The B. & M. shaft
has attained a depth of 1250 feet, the Golden Prospect
900 feet. The Old Brig and the Golden Gate remain at
800 feet each and the Golden Star at 1100 feet. The
plant generally is in fine condition, with ore in sight for
a great many years."
"Work commenced October 6 for the new slime plant
which the Homestake Company is about to build at
Deadwood. Men were put to work grading for the
ditch through which the iron pipes containing the slimes
will be run. A tunnel will also be driven beside cy anide
No. 1 through the hill to the north. The pipes will be
laid through this tunnel, thus cutting off several hun-
dred rods of distance between the mills and plant. For
the past month work has been carried on in Blacktail,
fixing foundations and moving buildings in order to ob-
tain a suitable site for the new settling tanks, which will
have to be built on that side of the hill. Work for the
grading of the plant itself will be begun in Deadwood as
soon as the houses on the site can be moved.
Pennlnjrton County,
(Special Correspondence). — A spur is being built west-
erly from Rapid creek, near Nahant, by the Burlington
road, toward the Wyoming line, presumably to the coal
fields of western Wyoming.
Nahant, Oct. 7.
UTAH.
Beaver County.
The first shipment of ore from the Majestic Co. 's
Harrington-Hickory mine, under the Newhouse man-
agement, has been made from Milford. The Hecla, 10
miles east of Milford, is being developed by H. Harris.
A. C. Washington, president of the Horn Silver
mine at Frisco, accompanied by Manager P. T. Farns-
worth, visited the mine recently. Manager J. A. Mc-
Mullin is having the assessment work done in the O. K.
Extension Co. 's properties, near Milford.
Carbon County.
The shaft being sunk at the Overland mine at Sun-
shine is down 220 feet.
Juab County.
The management of the Mammoth M. Co. contem-
plate putting in an aerial tramway to convey ore from
the mine to the loading station at Robinson, a distance
of 1 mile.
Tooele County.
It is reported that Manager Trenam of the Stockton
mine at Stockton intends to put iu a new hoist and air
compressor. The present hoist is taxed to take out ore
from the 850-foot development work. The mill has been
running with but one shift because of water shortage.
WASHINGTON.
Okanogan County.
The Palmer Mountain T. & P. Co. is putting in a
3000 H. P. power house and a 300-ton milling plant and
an air compressor at the mines near Loomis. The first
unit, 750 H. P., of the power plant, will be in readiness
within a month, when the work of extending the 4400-
foot tunnel will be resumed. It is the plan to extend
this bore an additional 4700 feet, making a total length
of over 9000 feet. J. Boyd is the manager and E. Beid-
ler is the superintendent in charge.
Stevens County.
Silver Queen Mines, Ltd., are working claims in the
Kettle river valley, 3 miles south of Kettle Falls. Hoist-
ing and pumping plant will be put in. W. W. Warner
is the superintendent and R. K. Green is manager.
The new smelting plant of the Turk M. & M. Co. in the
Cedar Canyon district, near Davenport, is temporarily
out of commission. The Silver Seal Co., F. M. Van
Horn manager, is producing steadily. The Providence
M. Co., S. L. Boyer, manager, has also made a number
of profitable shipments. The Deer Trail M. Co. has
started work at the Royal. The First Jump M. Co.
has taken over the Brooks property between the Silver
Seal and First Jump. The Deer Trail Consolidated M.
Co. has adjusted its difficulties and will resume work
with W. W. Tolman of Spokane as manager. These
mines are all tributary to Davenport.
FOREIGN.
CANADA.
BRITISH COLUMBIA.
Boundary District.
(Special Correspondence). — The 40-stamp mill of the
Daly Reduction Co. at Hedley is crushing over 3000 tons
of Nickel Plate ore per month, with returns of $14 to $15
per ton. They have 250,000 tons blocked out in sight.
R. B. Lamb has charge of the mill and M. K. Rodgers is
superintendent of the mine.
Hedley, Oct. 7.
East Kootenay District.
The Sullivan mine, at Kimberley, is being prospected
with a diamond drill. The buildings at the upper end
of the St. Eugene tramway were recently burned.
The big shaft house at the Lake Shore workings of
the St. Eugene mine, near Moyie, was burned to the
ground Oct. 6, and the loss will probably reach $30,000.
The timbering in the shaft and in the main tunnel was
partly burned. This is the second bad fire within ten
days that the St. Eugene has had. The buildings will
be rebuilt.
West Kootenay District.
(Special Correspondence). — Work has been started on
the Silver Dollar mill on Mohawk creek, near Camborne.
Water is to be used for power. The pipe, 18 inches in
diameter, is of wooden staves, wound with galvanized
iron wire and coated with pitch. The Mammoth
group, above timber line on Goat mountain, near Cam-
borne, is to be worked throughout the winter under the
direction of M. McCollom. The ore is galena and gray
copper, carrying high values in silver. It is hand-
picked at the mine and rawhided as soon as the trail is
in condition.
Camborne, Oct. 6.
At the Mother Lode, at Poplar creek in the Trout
Lake division, 600 feet of tunneling, shafting and up-
raising has been done. In the No. i tunnel the ledge
has a width of 35 feet, with an ore shoot that varies in
width from 7 to 8 feet. There is 18 inches of ore in the
7 or 8-foot shoot and the remainder is concentrating ore.
Work has been started on No. 2 tunnel so as to prove
the ledge at depth. This tunnel, when driven for 400
feet, will strike the ledge at a depth of 400 feet. The
chief values in the ore are silver and lead, with some
gold. It is a concentrating proposition, and ultimately
a concentrator will have to be provided. Cbisholm &
Simpson are developing the Calumet and Hecla, on
Rapid creek, near Poplar. A shaft has been sunk to a
depth of 35 feet on the ledge. It is a free gold proposi-
tion. Marquis & Gilbert, the owners of the Gold Park
group, which were the first claims staked in the Poplar
camp, are closing a deal with a Minneapolis syndicate,
which has ample means for development.
MADAGASCAR.
Consul Hunt of Tamatave writes that there are bright
prospects of gold being found in very large quantities in
Madagascar. He says that the exports of gold in 1903
and 1904 amounted to 4211 and 5423 pounds, respectively.
Quite a number of persons are prospecting for gold, but
most of them are men who have had little experience in
prospecting. Gold dirt has been found that yields $34.70
per metric ton (2200 pounds). Gold-bearing reefs and
alluvial deposits have been found in various parts of the
island.
MEXICO.
A statement issued by the Mexican Treasury Depart-
ment, covering the exportation of precious metals by
that country in the eleven months from July, 1904, to
May, 1905, inclusive, shows an increase of $2,551,020.07
of gold over the corresponding period of 1903-4 and a de-
crease in silver of $13,478,934.46. The silver decrease
was the result of the adoption of the monetary reform,
which discontinued the exportation of silver dollars. In
the period mentioned (July, 1904, to May, 1905) there
were exported :
Mexican gold coins $85.91 1 00
Foreign gold coins 39,122 50
Gold in bars 11,307,354 80
Gold in other forms 921,393 49
Total gold exported $12,353,781 79
Mexican silver coins $1,892,071 27
Foreign silver coins 76,471 00
Silver in bars 47,385.298 92
Silver in other forms 9,982,433 32
Total silver exported $59,336,274 51
Copper $26,237,018 96
Lead 5, 112,408 00
Other mineral products 1,049,206 39
Total $32,398,633 35
The total exportation of gold, silver and other metals
shows a decrease of $5,182,748.78 as compared with the
corresponding eleven months of 1903-4.
PHILIPPINE ISLANDS.
According to a recent government report in Lepanto,
in the copper district of Mancayan, on the Island of
Luzon, forty claims, including the Santa Barbara and
Sin Nombre pertenencias of the Spanish regime, all now
located under the present mining laws, have been
secured as an option by agents of a New York syndicate.
The old Spanish workings have uncovered large bodies
of high-grade copper ore on the Santa Barbara and the
Sin Nombre claims. In Batangas Province work has
been done in the Loboo Mountains upon a group ot
claims containing copper carbonate ores, two surface
samples of which have assayed respectively 2.71% and
17.1% in copper, with a trace of gold in each. In
Rizal Province placer washing for gold has been carried
on by the natives for many years, and this has led
Personal.
American prospectors to the search for the origin of the
gold in the hills. No important discoveries have as yet
been made, however, other than the discovery of plati-
num, identified in small quantity in placer sands from
Rizal.
^<&*)?**&*k*'&*.>*M:'<fc&rl«fctjvM*&&&& *************
*
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S£^*4<4<vY.i<P <$>££>££, ,f.^V^^.^.ii^i.^.t"-i|'.^JVfi^iliiI*i"fitiJ if. if. if. if. if. iji if* t$> if. if. \
A. A. BLOW is in New York.
Edward M. Rogers is in Chile.
George A. ScHROTERis now in New York.
N. Samwell has returned to London from Mandalay.
R. S. Botsford is in London, on his return from
Borneo.
George W. Maynard has left New York on his way
to Mexico.
Frank Western returned to Egypt at the end of
September.
Martin Scbwerin has returned to New York from
Tennessee.
O. E. Jackson is manager Big Giant M. Co., near
Boise, Idaho.
C. B. Kingston left London on September 9th for
South Africa.
Ben S. Revett is going shortly to Colombia to exam-
ine placer ground.
Martin H. Heller has returned to San Francisco,
Cal., from New York.
W. C. Howard of San Francisco, Cal., has returned
to his mines near Camp Mohave, Ariz.
G. E. Alexander is manager Middle Yuba gravel
mine, North Columbia, Nevada county, Cal.
Roger Taylor has been appointed assistant superin-
tendent Tacoma Smelting Co., Tacoma, Wash.
Ernest Rammelmeyer is superintendent Iron
Springs M. Co., at Iron Springs, Washington county,
Idaho.
E. L. De Lestky of St. Paul, Minn., manager Ari-
zona & Eastern Con. M. Co., has been at the mines near
Globe, Ariz.
E. H. Cook has resigned as manager Santa Francisca
mine, Asientos, Aguascalientes, Mex., and is in Los
Angeles, Cal.
F. A. Hill of Ronton, Wash., has been appointed
general manager Canadian Coal & Coke Co., Frank,
Alberta, B. C.
Frederick Grundy has gone to the City of Mexico
to make an extended trip examining properties in
southern Mexico.
F. H. Johnson has succeeded G. W. Root as superin-
tendent New York Grass Valley mine, Grass Valley,
Nevada county, Cal.
W. J. Belcher, superintendent White Bear mine,
near Downieville, Cal., has been examining mines in
Mohave county, Ariz.
Norman Carmichael has resigned as manager High-
land mine, Ainsworth, B. C, to take charge of some of
the Arizona Copper Co.'s mines near Clifton, Ariz.
H. Schiefflein, assistant manager mining and
crushing machinery department Allis-Chalmers Co. of
Milwaukee, Wis., is in San Francisco, Cal.
G. F. Rendall, consulting engineer American Lead
Corporation, with headquarters at 120 Liberty street,
New York, is examining the Bullychoop mines, Shasta
county, Cal.
It is stated on good authority that W. J. Chalmers,
who was until September 7th last the vice-president and
treasurer, and also a director of Allis-Chalmers Co. since
its organization, has resigned as director, and that he
has sold all the shares of stock held by him, so that he is
therefore no longer connected with the company.
W. F. Wagner, general manager Win. Jessop &
Sons, Limited, in the United States, together with E. L.
Hand, who represents them in Philadelphia; E. W. Sal-
isbury of Warren Salisbury & Nightingale, their agents
in Providence; R. B. Ridgley. their representative in
Detroit, together with F. W. Babcock of the Standard
Oil Co., resident of Providence, sailed on the Cunard
steamer Caronia, October 3d, to attend the 282nd annual
gathering of the Cutlers Co., at their banquet in Shef-
field on October 12th. On this occasion S. J. Robinson,
managing director of Wm. Jessop & Sons, Limited, will
be installed as Master Cutler, a position of great honor
and social and commercial influence.
^ & * * * * * * * *b -.!?*-'' * * '.!.' 'b -'- * -!'-!''.!.-*•!- * -V * -!- ■>'.*.' * * * & * * a
* *
I Commercial Paragraphs. |
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ft if, if, <$, if* if, if, .;-. if. if. if, if, if, if, if. if, if, tji if, cf. if. if, if, ,*;; <ji if, if. ,-£..-{-. if, if, if, if, ifi if, cf. #
The Chas. C. Moore Co. of San Francisco, Cal., have
a contract from the Tonopah M. Co. for a 100-stamp
mill to be operated by electric power.
as * * * * * * * * * * * ■& * * * * * * rh * -V * * 'h * 'b ~k -!• * * -!• <-h * * -4, %
■S *
J Trade Treatises.
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st .f * <# *&<& * * Wf1 't* * * * * ^ '-I' ^ ■£ * ^ *?* * '!- * 'f1 * * -i- * * *,'• * ~* >7- •> *T- ft
A neat booklet on " Coal Mining Machinery, " from the
Ingersoll-Sergeant Drill Co. of 11 Broadway, New York
City, illustrates and briefly describes the "New Inger-
soll " and the " Radialaxe " coal cutters, the "Haeseler"
Ootobeh 14, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
269
coal boring machine, the " Little Jap " hammer drill
and air compressors.
Catalogue "C " of the C. H. Shaw Pneumatic Tool
Co., 35th and Wazee Sts., Denver, Colo., describes the
Shaw Eclipse air hammer rock drill and the Eclipse
Pneumatic hammers. It contains valuable information
on operating the drills, besides full description of their
construction.
Books Received.
*>+**•»■+ ♦♦♦•M'-**** **********************
" Proceedings of the American Institute of Electrical
Engineers," Vol. XXIV, No. 9, September, 1905.
"Preliminary List of Deep Borings in the United
States," by N. H. Darton, forms Water Supply and Irri-
gation Paper No. 149 of the United States Geological
Survey. It is arranged according to States and coun-
ties, and reports all wells and borings more than 400 feet
in depth.
"Second Year Chemistry." by Edward Hart, a hand
book for laboratory and class work in qualitative analy-
sis of the commoner metals and non-metals, with a brief
introduction to methods of quantitative work. This is
an elementary treatise containing little to differentiate it
from scores of similar manuals already written. It is
published by the Chemical Publishing Co. of Easton,
Pa., for SI. 25, and will be sent postpaid by the Mining
and Scientific Press on receipt of price.
As extracts from "Mineral Resources of the United
States for 1904," the United States Geological Survey
has issued "Potassium Salts," by W. M. Courtis, con-
taining a short sketch of the German potassium salts
industry, and a discussion of the possibilities of finding
potassium salts in the United States; "The Production
of Aluminum and Bauxite in 1904, " and "The Produc-
tion of Cement in 1904," by L. L. Kimball, with notes on
average characteristic tests of cement in the United
States.
An ever-increasing demand for timeliness and for the
concentration of information has been met in " Pyrite
Smelting," edited by T. A. Rickard, from a series of dis-
cussions in the Engineering & Mining Journal. The
volume is a revised reprint of these discussions thus
brought together in more convenient form than afforded
by the files of a journal. The contributions are essen-
tially answers to a series of ten pertinent questions on
the subject, submitted to a number of prominent metal-
lurgists. These questions were: 1. What types of ore
are suited to pyrite smelting ? 2. Is hot blast advisable ?
3. To what extent can fuel be eliminated ? 4. What
amount of copper is required for the collection of the
precious metals ? 5. What percentage of lime is neces-
sary to a clean slag ? 6. What percentage of zinc in the
charge can be treated profitably ? 7. What is the de-
gree of sulphurization attainable ? 8. What are the
possibilities as to capacity of furnace '? 9. What are the
limitations of the process? 10. What is the relative
economy as compared, with rival processes? These
questions were answered by L. S. Austin, E. P. Mathew-
son, Walter E. Koch, S. E. Bretherton, P. R. Carpenter,
W. R. Ingalls, R. L. Lloyd, W. T. Keith, Herbert Lang,
L. D. Godshall, William A. Heywood, G. P. Beardsley,
Thomas T. Read, Henry W. Edwards, Charles H. Pul-
ton, P. Wiseman, W. H. Nutting, W. H. Preeland,
E. A. Weinberg, Amado Buen, Edward D. Peters,
Hiram W. Hixon, S. Dillon-Mills, Lewis T. Wright,
Charles S. Palmer, P. L. Marston, J. Parke Channing,
W. Randolph Van Liew, George W. Metcalfe, James W.
Neill and C. H. Doolittle. Thes6 contributions give the
views of each smelterman on the questions submitted,
and also on many other points of practical smelter run-
ning. The subject is important, and this book con-
tains the latest and best information relative to it. It is
eminently practical. It is current, not ancient, history,
and being a live subject it is necessarily incomplete. The
book is for sale by the Mining and Scientific Press
for $2.
The Bimonthly Bulletin of the American Institute of
Mining Engineers contains a number of technical papers.
These may be roughly classified as relating to geology,
metallurgy of gold and silver, iron treatment, coal min-
ing, and miscellaneous subjects. Of the first class, J. E.
Spurr's "Genetic Relations of Western Nevada Ores "
has already appeared as reports of the United States
Geological Survey. In " The Magmatic Origin of Vein
Forming Waters in Southeastern Alaska " A. C. Spen-
cer correlates the geology of Alaska with that of Cali-
fornia, and discusses a theory of the vein formation that
may be of value if borne out by further field work. Ed-
ward Hake, in discussing H. M. Chance's paper on the
"Taviche Mining District," near Ocotlan, Oaxaca, Mex-
ico, presents additional detail regarding the geology of
this district. The precious metal metallurgy is confined
to a theoretical paper by Herman Poole on "Kernal
Roasting" and a discussion by T. K. Rose on H. O.
Hof man's paper on " The Effect of Silver on the Chlori-
nation and Bromination of Gold." J. E. Johnson con-
tributes a paper, " Notes on the Physical Action of the
Blast Furnace, " H. R. Hall "The Use of a High Per-
centage of Fine Ores in a Charcoal Blast Furnace."
Mansfield Merriam discusses H. H. Campbell's paper on
"The Influence of Carbon, Phosphorus, Manganese and
Sulphur on the Tensile Strength of Open Hearth Steel, ' '
and a number discuss J. P. Roe's paper on "The Manu-
facture and Characteristics of Wrought Iron." "The
Classification of Coals " is discussed by M. R. Campbell,
who concludes that carbon-hydrogen ratios form the
most satisfactory basis for coal classification, being bet-
ter than fuel ratios, calorific value or carbon. He also
treats on "The Commercial Value of Coal Mine Sam-
pling," giving some practical points as to how it should
"be done. S. B. Christy presents a paper on' " Present
Problems in the Training of Mining Engineers, " upon
■which comment has already been made in these columns.
"Geological Mine Maps and Sections" are shown by
D. W. Brunton, who proposes that more use be made of
the map in mining work. Biographical notices are
given of Sir Lowthian Bell and B. W. Frazier Jr.
Latest Market Reports.
San Francisco, October 13, 1905.
METALS
Silver. — Per oz., Troy : London, 28Jd (standard
ounce, 925 line); New York, bar silver, 61|c, refined (1000
fine); San Francisco, til 5c; Mexican dollars, 48c, San
Francisco; 47o, New York.
COPPER.— New York: Standard, $16.37* ; Lake, $16.37*
@16.75; Electrolytic, $16.62*; Casting, $16.12*@16.37*".
San Francisco: $16.50. Mill copper plates, $17.50; bars,
18@24c. London: £71 5s spot per ton.
Several weeks ago the report was sent out that a bear
raid would be made, not only on copper mining stocks,
but also on the metal. It was pointed out in these col-
umns at that time that any attempt to depress the price
of copper would havo only temporary effect, if any at
all, as the industrial condition of the country, the in-
creasing demand for the metal, and the fact that the
production barely keeps pace with the demand, all were
against a slump in prices. The statement made at that
time — September 9 — has been proven to be correct.
Copper is stronger to-day than at that time. The
monthly reports of the large companies show no mate-
rial increase, if any at all, in production, while the de-
mand still holds good for the various grades of metal.
Following are the figures of German consumption of
foreign copper for the months from January to August,
1905, as compared with the same period of time for 1904
and 1903:
1805. 1904. 1803.
Imports, tons 73.234 74.482 56,094
Exports, tons 8,254 5,610 6.964
Consumption, tons 64,980 68.873 49.130
Lead.— New York, $4.95; St. Louis, $4.90; San Fran-
cisco, $5.00, carload lots; 5Jc 1000 to 4000 lbs.; pipe 7*c,
sheet 8, bar 6|c. London:" £14 12s 6d ft long ton.
Spelter.— New York, $6.10: St. Louis, $5.75; Lon-
don, £28 fJ ton; San Francisco, ton lots, 7c; 100-ft
lots, 7ijc.
TIN.— New York, pig, $32.00@32.35; San Francisco,
ton lots, 34c; 500 fts., 35c; 200 fts., 36c; less, 37Jc; bar tin,
ft ft., 40c. London, £147 2s 6d.
Platinum.— San Francisco, crude, $18.50 ft oz.; New
York, ingot, $20.50 ft Troy oz. Platinum ware, 75@$1.00
fi gram.
Quicksilver.— New York, $40.00@$40.50, large lots;
London, £7 5s Od; San Francisco, local, $38.00@39.00 ft
flask of 75 fts.
Babbitt Metal.— San Francisco, No. 1, lOJc; No.
2, 8c; No. 3, 7£c; extra, 17Jc; genuine, 32£c; Eclipse, 35c.
Solder.— Half-and-half, 100-ft. lots, 22.00c; San Fran-
cisco, Plumbers', 100-ft. lots, 19.15c.
Zinc. — Metallic, chemically pure, ft ft., 50c; dust, fl,
10c; sulphate, ft ft, ,04c.
Nickel.— New York, 55@60c ft ft.; ton lots, 40@47c.
Aluminum.— No. 1, 99%, small lots, 37c ft ft.; 100 fts..
35c; 1000 fts. 34c; ton lots and over, 33c, Pittsburg. No,
2, 90%, small lots, 34c; ton lots and over, 31c, Pittsburg.
STKIK II K 1L MATERIALS.
IRON. — Pittsburg, Bessemer pig, $15.25; gray forge,
$14.75; San Francisco, bar, 3Jc ft ft., 3|e in small quan-
tities.
Steel.— Bessemer billets, Pittsburg, $21.00@$24.00;
open hearth billets, $23.00@$25.00; San Francisco, bar,
7c to 13c ft ft.
White Lead. — Per ft., in kegs: 500 fts. and over at
one purchase, per ft., 7|c; less than 500 fts., per ft., 8c;
in 25-ft. tin pails, Jc ft ft. above keg price; in 1 and 5-ft.
tin cans, 100 fts. per case, Jc per ft. above keg price.
Dry Lead. — In bbls., 1 ton and over, 7Jc; do. in kegs, 8c.
Lime.— Santa Cruz, $1.35 country, $1.25 city ft bbl.
Cement.— Imported, $3.00@4.00 ft bbl.; California,
carload lots, $1.80 f. o. b. at works; small lots, $2.10 ft
bbl. in sacks, 4 sacks to bbl., 5c for each sack returned.
Lumber. — (Retail): Pine, ordinary sizes, $24.00®
25.00; extra sizes higher; redwood, $28.00@30.00; lath, 4
feet, $4.50@5.00; pickets, $21.00;shingles, $2.50 for No. 1,
and $2.25 for No. 2; shakes, $13.50 for split and $15.00 for
sawed; rustic, $28.00(5)35.00.
Nails. — This week the basic prices are: Wire, $2.77;
Cut, $3.25. Meanwhile the nominal quotations per keg
(list prices) are: No. 20d to 60d, Wire, $3.35; Cut, $3.55;
lOd to 16d, Wire, $3.45; Cut, $3.35; 8d, Wire, $3.50; Cut,
$3.50; 6d and 7d, Wire, $3.60; Cut, $3.60; 4d and 5d,
Wire, $3.70; Cut, $3.70; 3d, Wire, $3.85; Cut, $3.85; 2d,
Wire, $4.10; Cut, $4.10. Special rates for carload lots.
GENERAL SUPPLIES.
Antimony. — New York, Cookson's, 13Jc; Hallett's,
14Jc; San Francisco, 1000-ft. lots, 14c; 300@500-fts. 12c;
100-ft. lots, 13c.
Bismuth.— Subnitrate, ft ft., $2.10.
Bone Ash.— Extra No. 1, 5@6c ft ft; No. 1, 4@5c.
Borax. — Concentrated, 7@8c ft ft; powdered, 9@10c;
fused, 25@30c; crystal, 7c.
Candles. — Spear Brand, 16 oz. adamantine, 40s., lie
ft set; 14 oz. adamantine, 40s., 10c; 12 oz. adamantine,
40s, 9c; 10 oz. adamantine, 40s, 8c; 16 oz. stearic, 40s,
12$c ft set; 14 oz. stearic, 40s, 11J; 12 oz. stearic, 40s,
lOJc; 10 oz. stearic, 40s, 9Jc. 100-case lots and over, Jc
less. Not less than 50-case lots, '4c less. Boxes of 20s,
price 1c advance.
Caps.— 3x, $5.50@6 per 1000; 4x, $6.50@7; 5x, $8@8.50;
Lion, $9@9.50, in lots not less than 1000.
Chemicals. — Cyanide of potassium, 98%-99%, job-
bing, 23@24c ft ft. ; carloads, 23@23Jc; in tins, 30c; soda
ash, $2.00 ft 100 fts.; hyposulphite of soda, 3@3};efift.;
caustic soda, in drums, 3@3}cftft.; Cal. s. soda, bbls.,
$1.10@1.20 ft 100 lbs.; sks., 90c@$1.00; chlorate of pot-
ash, 12@13c; nitrate of potash, 6|@7c; caustic potash,
10c in 40-ft. tins; roll sulphur, 2£@2fc; powdered sul-
phur, 2J@2Jc; flour sulphur, French, 2|@-^c; alum,
$2.00@2.25; California refined, lj@2c; sulphide of iron,
8c ft ft.; copper sulphate, 5J@5|c; chloride of lime, spot,
$2.50@2.75; sulphuric acid, in carboys, 66% B, lj@2c f)
ft. ; nitric acid, carboys, 8c ft ft.
Chromium.— 90% and over, ft ft., 80c.
Coal. — San Francisco, coast, yard prices : Welling-
ton, $8.00; Seattle, $6.50; Coos Bay, $5.50; Southfield,
$8.00. Cargo lot, Eastern and foreign: Wallsend, $7.50;
Brymbo, $7.50; Pennsylvania, hd., $14.00; Scotch, $8.00;
Cumberland, $13.00; Cannel, $8.50; Welsh Anthracite,
$13.00; Rock Springs, $8.50, long ton; Colorado Anthra-
cite, $14.00. Coke, $11.50 per ton in bulk, $13.00 in
sacks; Sunnyside, $8.50, long ton.
Fire Brick.— Domestic, carloads ft 1000, f. o. b., fac-
tory square, $25.00; soap and split, $22.50; arch and
wedge, $27.50; skewback, $30.00; circle, $32.00.
Fire Clay.— Domestic, ft ton 2000 fts. in 125-ft. bags,
double, and dry ground, f. o. b., factory, $8.50.
Fuse.— Triple tape, $4.00 per 1000 feet; double tape,
$3.55; single tape, $3.10; Hemp, $2.85; Cement No. 2,
$3.10; Cement No. 1, $2.75, in lots of 3000 and up.
Oils. — Linseed, boiled, bbl., 54c; cs., 59c; raw, bbl.,
52c; cs., 57c; Lucol oil, boiled, bbl., 51c: cs., 56c; raw-
bbl., 49c; cs., 54c. Kerosene — Pearl, per gal., 17Jc; As-
tral, 17*.c; Star, 17Jc; Extra Star, 20*c; Eocene", 19}c;
Elaine, 26c; Water White, in bulk, lie; Mineral Seal,
iron bbls., 18c; wooden bbls., 20Jc; cs., 24c; Mineral
Sperm, cs., 26*c; Deodorized Stove Gasoline, bulk, 14Jc,
do., cs., 21c; 86° Gasoline, bulk, 25c; do., cs., 31c; 83°
Naphtha or Benzine, deodorized, in bulk, per gal., 12jc;
do., in cs., 19c; Lard Oil, E. W. S., bbl., 75c; cs., 80c;
Neats-foot Oil, pure, bbl., 57Jc; cs., 62*c; Sperm, crude,
63@68c; Natural White, 68c; Bleached, do., 57c; Whale
Oil, cs., 52@67c.
Litharge.— Pure, in 25-ft. bags, 9*.@10*c ft ft.
Magnesium.— Pure, N. Y., $1.60.
Manganese.— Black oxide, ft ft., 2|@4c.
Mercury.— Bichloride, ft ft., 77c.
Molybdenum.— Best, $2.75 ft ft.
Phosphorus.— American, ft ft., 70c.
POWDER.— F. o. b. San Francisco : No. 1, 70% nitro-
glycerine, per ft., in carload lots, 15Jc; less than one ton,
17}c. No. 1*, 60%, carload lots, 13Jc; less than one ton,
15jc. No. 1**, 50%, carload lots, ll|c; less than one ton,
13jc. No. 2, 40%, carload lots, 10c; less than one ton,
12c. No. 2, 35%, carload lots, 9Jc; less than one ton,
lljc. No. 2**, 30%, carload lots, 9c; less than one ton,
lie. Black blasting powder in carload lots, minimum
car 728 kegs, $1.50 per keg; less car lots, $2.00 per keg.
Red Lead. — 500 fbs. and over at one purchase, ft ft.
7Jc; less than 500 fts., 7Jc.
Silver.— Chloride, ft oz., 90c@$1.00; nitrate, 54c
Sodium. — Metal, ft ft., $1.
Tungsten.— Best, ft ft., $1.20.
Uranium.— Oxide, ft ft., $3.40.
New Patents.
Dewey, Strong & Co.'s Scientific Press Patent Agenct, 330
Market street, San Francisco, has official reports of the following
United States patents issued to Pacific Coast inventors :
FOR THE WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 26, 1905.
800,534.— Telephones— Andriano & Herbstritt, San Francisco.
800,260.— Horse Weight— T. Hellstedt, San Francisco.
800,539.— Draft Equalizer— M. H. Blanchard, Davisville, Cal.
800,356.— Pumps— Briggs & Briggs. Yountville, Cal.
800.136. — Lawn Sprinkler— B. Brown, Longbeach, Cal.
800,357.— Vehicle Tire— F. Burnham. Fresno, Cal.
800,263— Log Raft-J. A. Campbell, Seattle, Wash.
800,264.— Log Cradle— J. A. Campbell. Seattle, Wash.
800,437.— Rail Chair— R. H. Fray. Traver, Cal.
800,371.— Fruit Picker's Sack— E. Harter, Riverside, Cal.
800,298.— Filter— C. Heilrath, Sacramento. Cal.
800.374.— Folding Bed— W. C. James, Los Angeles, Cal.
800,37rf.— Amalgamator— H. L. Lightner, San Francisco.
800,379.— Concentrator— H. L. Lightner, San Francisco.
800,384.— Baling Press— C. L. Miller, Berkeley. Cal.
800 592.— Connecting Rod— Phillips & Walkley, Los Angeles, Cal.
800,398.— Splash Plate— G. C. Richards. Oakland. Cal.
800 399 — PUMP HEAD— G C. Richards, Oakland, Cal.
800,509.— Time Beater— J P. Stanton, San Francisco.
800,335 —GATE— J. F. Stirton, Monroe, Wash.
800,518.— Trousehs' Stretcher— W. J. Wardwell, Redondo, Cal.
800,252— concrete Mixer— G. W. Weller. Baker City, Or.
800,349.— Triple Valve Clamp— O. L. Wright, Richmond, Cal.
Notices of Recent Patents.
Among the patents recently obtained through Dewey, Strong &
Co.'s Scientific Press United States and Foreign Patent Agency,
the following are worthy of special mention :
Triple Valve Clamps— No. 800,349. Sept. 26, 1905. Ovid L.
Wright, Richmond, Cal. This invention relates to a device which is
especially designed for holding the triple valve of an air brake
mechanism in place upon the inspecting and repair table. It is de-
signed to provide a rapid, convenient, and secure holder for pecul-
iarly shaped valve casings while the inspection or repairs are going
on. It comprises a work bench or table having upon one side an up-
wardly projecting standard, said standard having a gasket against
which a removed valve casing is fitted and having openings for pipe
connections, a bent lever fulcrumed to the table standard, having
one end forked to straddle the valve casing and having the opposite
end extended over the table, and an air cylinder and piston for oper-
ating the lever.
DREDGER BUCKET.— No. 800,936. Oct. 3. 1905. T. O'Leary, Oak-
land, Cal., one-half assigned to R. S. Moore of San Francisco, Cal.
The object of this invention is to provide certain improvements in
dredger buckets and the connections thereof whereby the minimum
of wear is effected with convenient and ea^y adjustment and com-
pensation for such wear as may occur. It consists of dredger buckets
having segmental shells, longitudinally disposed extensions upon
one side and detachable reversible links secured thereto and forming
coupling connections for the buckets; also means for relieving and
distributing strains, said means comprising lips extending out-
wardly from one side, and links extending longitudinally upon each
side and riveted to said lips, and other details of construction.
Nail.— No. 800,912. Oct. 3, 1905. M. Hermelink, San Francisco,
Cal. The object of this invention is to so construct the nail as to
insure its driving properly into both the parts which are to be
united, and this is effected by a novel construction of the point of the
nail The invention comprises a nail having a head at one end, a
diagonally grooved channel extending from the edge upon one side
of the entering end to the opposite side of the nail shank, said
channel having transverse corrugations.
Antiseptic Telephone Mouthpiece. — No. 800,907. Oct. 3, 1905.
W. B. Curtis. San Francisco, Cal. The object of this invention is to
provide a simple, attractive, cheap and practical antiseptic mouth-
piece or attachment:therefor which will possess all the desired germ-
destroying qualities without detracting from the appearance or the
efficiency of the telephone. It consists of a telephone mouthpiece
having means of attachment at one end to a telephone stand or the
like, and provided with an annular flange proximate to said end. an
absorbent filler inclosed by said flange, said mouthpiece having a
perforated diaphragm and having ports connecting the filler chamber
with a space upon each side of the diaphragm, and other details of
construction.
19
Mining and Scientific Press.
OcTOBfett 14, 1905.
BRODERICK Sc BASCOM ROPE CO.
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A. J. CAPRON, Portland, Or.
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ESTABLISHED 1865. NOTICE TO GOLD MINERS. INCORPORATED 1890
Silver = Plated Copper Amalgamated Plates
T?/-\T\ O A "\ 7'T'H.T/'"' f f\"\ T"\ IN QUARTZ, GKAVBL OR BEACH MINING.
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DEWEY, STRONG & CO., PATENT AGENTS,
«* & & J> & SAN FRANCISCO, CAL.t and WASHINGTON, D, C J> <* j* & &
CATALOGUE OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY
AND GENERAL CHEMISTRY.
PUBLISHED AUGUST 15, 1905.
8®~0ur Complete Classified Catalogue of Hooks on
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any part of the world who will send his address.
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THE WILSON
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WEALTH
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The Territory tributary to the
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In INDIAN TERRITORY, TEXAS, COLO-
RADO, NEW MEXICO, ARIZONA and
CALDJORNIA. offers to limited investments
of capital, backed by energy and brains,
unusual opportunities lor development of
GREAT MINERAL PROPERTIES.
Deposits of the following are known to
exist on and within a few miles of our
lines:
Antimony, Alum, Asbestos, Asphalt, Ba-
rytes, Bauxite, Borax, Cement Rook, Coal,
Cryolite, Clays of all kinds, Copper, Gold,
Graphite, Gypsum, Granite, Iron, Kaolin,
Lead, Lithograph Stone, Manganese, Mica,
Marble. Mineral Paints, Nitre, Nlckei,
Natural Gas, Onyx, Petroleum, Phosphate
Rock, Pumice Stone, Pyrites, Quicksilver,
Salt, Silica, Strontianite, Stone— Oolite,
Lime and Sand, Silver and Zinc.
For further information, address
WESLEY MERRITT,
Industrial Commissioner,
Atch., Top. and Santa Fe System,
CHICAGO, 1J.L.
THE trade paper costs the least
and produces the most of any
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whole no. aBwaxsw-
San Francisco, Cal., Saturday, October 21, 1905.
THREE DOLLARS PER ANNUM
Single Copies, Ton Conli.
The Disadvantages of Prejudice.
In some old mining districts, new strikes are an-
nounced in unexpected places, the find in almost
every instance having been made by those who were
comparative strangers to the locality and unpreju-
diced as to formation and other geological conditions.
Recently the Queen of the Hills Company, operating
in Whistler gulch, near Deadwood, S. D., made a
strike in a new shaft which promises important de-
velopment. The company had previously spent con-
siderable money in the vicinity searching for a pay-
able ore body, but until this new strike was made
had found little of consequence.
Whistler gulch is a tributary of the Whitewood
creek from the eastward and on the hillsides outcrop
both the old steeply dipping crystalline schists of the
Algonkian, and the overlying nearly horizontal
formation of the Cambrian. Both formations are
intruded by dikes, and there is every geological evi-
dence there of the possibility of ore in the rocks of
both ages, but until now there seems to have been
little inducement to prospect for ores in the im-
mediate vicinity of Deadwood On the east side of
Waverly, Nova Scotia, Looking Southwest. Low Area in Foreground is a Fault Valley. (See Page 273.)
dices are strong and their views are not easily
changed, and generally they require some strong
incentive to break away from cherished theories and
practices. This accounts for some remarkable dis-
coveries made by the so-called " tenderfeet," who,
untrammelled by fallacious ideas of geology, or as to
the various kinds of rocks that the miner considers
favorable or unfavorable for mineral, tries every-
thing that comes in his way. He innocently picks up
flint from the limestone and finds on having it
assayed that it is rich in gold, as was the case in the
Ragged Top district in the Black Hills.
It was only in a moment of desperation that Strat-
ton, of the Independence mine at Cripple Creek,
Colo., had some samples of rotten granite assayed,
and found that it was shipping ore. He had tried
everything else in the vicinity without success, and
reasoned against his own belief that possibly the
granite dike might be gold-bearing.
From Goldfield, in southern Nevada, now comes
soft, decayed, sandy porphyry, bearing hardly a
trace of free quartz, and yet some of this unpromis-
ing appearing rock carries several hundred dollars
per ton. A sandstone, apparently a volcanic tuff,
is also rich in gold. Rhyolite, dense and silicified, is
rich in gold in some claims. A fine grained, flint-like
quartz assays into the hundreds of dollars. Every
day produces new evidence in that district that the
miners' axiom, "Gold is wriere you find it," is one
which should be constantly in mind when prospect-
Government Building, Halifax, Nova Scotia. (See Page 273.)
NEWFOUNDLAND has at last developed a pay-
able gold mine. Arehtean rocks are chiefly
found in that region and considerable prospecting
has been done on the island, but until recently with-
out satisfactory result. The Goldenville Mining Com-
pany are the owners of the newly developed mine,
which is at Mings, on that island.
the town and within its corporate limits, the geolog-
ical conditions are most favorable, and the little
prospecting done there years ago proved the ex-
istence of ore, but it was not found in large quan-
tities, and development work ceased. There is every
probability that intelligent prospecting on the ridge
between the city of Deadwood and Spruce gulch, a
mile to the eastward, would result in the discovery
of payable ore, but no one having made a valuable
discovery in that immediate vicinity, the inducement
to try seems small. The great mass of pyritic iron-
copper ore in the Whizzers mine, half a mile above
Deadwood, remained unknown for years until dis-
covered through the intelligent and energetic pros-
pecting of the present owner of that property.
Deadwood is not alone in this. It remained for
the years 1904-'05 to chronicle the discovery of some
of the most phenomenal ore bodies Leadville, Colo.,
has ever known, after nearly thirty years of the
most active kind of mining operation in that dis-
trict.
Miners the world over are too much influenced by
tradition and the results of the past. Their preju-
Oxen Hauling Timber in Nova Scotia. (See Page 273.)
270
Mining and Scientific Press.
October 21, 1905.
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
ESTABLISHED i860.
Published Every Saturday at 330 Market Street, San Francisco, Cal.
Telephone, Davis 771.
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Chicago, 1164 Monadnock Block. Denver, 606 Mack Block.
J. F. HALLOBAN Publisher
SAN FRANCISCO, OCTOBER 21, 1905.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
ILLUSTRATIONS: Page.
Government Building, Halifax, Nova Scotia 269
Waverly, Nova Scotia, Looking Southwest— Low Area in Fore-
ground Is a Fault Valley 269
Oxen Hauling Timber in Nova Scotia 269
Map of the Gold Region of Nova Scotia 273
Arrangement of Feed to Facilitate Sampling 274
Trap at Foot of the Plates 274
Hauling Ore From Surface Workings at Goldfield, Nev 277
Typical Scene in Placer Mines— A String of Sluices Showing
Mud Box 276
Mud Box 276
Modified Caribou Undercurrent 276
Improved Hungarian Riffle 276
Disposition of Exhaust Steam From Mine Pumps 279
Self-Packing Steam Radiator Valve 379
Chicago Hose Coupler 279
EDITORIAL:
The Disadvantages of Prejudice 269
Paying Gold Mine in Newfoundland 269
Success in Mine Promotion 270
Reports of "Noted" Mining Engineers ' 270
Geological Survey Report on Production of Aluminum and
Bauxite in the United States in 1904 270
The Unsophisticated Director , 270
The " Lateral Secretion" Theory. ' 270
Mining Laws in Alaska 271
Resumption of Long and Derry Mine at Leadville, Colo 271
Difficulties in Concentrating Ores 271
Design of Stamp and Concentrating Mills'. 271
Gold Fields of Nova Scotia 27e
Electrical Energy at Victoria Falls, on the Zambesi 271
Revision of Ontario's Mining Laws 271
MINING SUMMARY 281-282-283-284
LATEST MARKET REPORTS 285
MISCELLANEOUS:
Concentrates 272
In Nova Scotia 273
Common Sense Mining 273
Hand Sampling in Small Stamp Mills 274
The Diamond Bearing Rock of South Africa 275
Latest Electrical Equipment of the Karawanken Tunnel 275
Sulphide Deposition 275
Placer Mining in Alaska 276
The Pioneers of the Desert 277
History of Pyritic Smelting 277-278
Disposition of Exhaust Steam From Mine Pumps 279
Self-Packing Steam Radiator Valve 279
Falling Bodies in Deep Shafts 279
The Prospector 279
Chicago Hose Coupler 279
Mining and Metallurgical Patents 280
Personal 284
Commercial Paragraphs 285
Trade Treatises 285
Books Received 285
Obituary 285
New Patents 285
Notices of Recent Patents 285
Dividends 285
Success in Mine Promotion.
' Probably not less than nine out of ten mines, which
are financed by the public, are placed on the market
through the efforts of promoters. As a result, the
promoter has come to be looked upon as being as
essential to a successful flotation as the capitalist
himself. It is rarely that the owner of a mine, no
matter what its stage of development, successfully
places his mine before individuals, or the general
public, without assistance. The promoter seems
almost inevitable. In some instances the promoter
seeks a mine he may offer for sale direct, or
that may be incorporated and its stock placed on the
market, but as often the mine owner voluntarily
seeks the aid of some one experienced in the art of
raising the money necessary to develop and equip
mining properties. These two, working together,
form a strong combination, and the usual result is,
if the property possesses merit, a successful flota-
tion. Not infrequently the flotation is successful
when the property has no evident value. In the lat-
ter case success — if raisiug money only can .be con-
sidered as success — is due altogether to the pursua-
siveness of the descriptive powers of the promoter.
He pictures the possibilities of the venture in such
glowing terms, and his assurances are so earnest and
convincing, that the uninitiated investor finds himself
unable to resist the desire to take a chance. Occa-
sionally ventures of this class turn out satisfactorily,
more often they do not. Some mines are floated with
comparative ease, largely on the chances of encount-
ering the ore bodies developed in neighboring prop-
erty. It is not an uncommon thing for shoots of ore
to pass into neighboring ground on their downward
trend, and speculative promotions based on a con-
tingency of this kind may be classed as legitimate
risks. All undeveloped mines are risks, no matter
what their surface showing may be. It is only the
mine having large development with abundance of
payable ore in sight that may be looked upon as pos-
sessing no hazard whatever. Ordinarily, however,
the valuation placed on property of this description
is so high that the element of risk is still great to
the prospective investor. As soon as a mine is
recognized as having passed the stage of speculative
value, the demand for its stock is so great that the
market value quickly becomes inflated, in which case
the investor may about as well put his money in a
less positive proposition, while standing a chance to
realize handsomely on possible developments.
Where a promoter desires to make a business of
raising money for mine development and equipment,
he must become a conservative, for in this way only
can he urotect himself from the result of unfortunate
investments. The individual or company which
engages in the business of mine promotion can attain
the greatest success by a careful and discriminating
selection of the best properties from among the many
offered. Having secured by option or purchase
that which seems to afford the greatest security for
investment, the property is vigorously developed, the
extent and character of its ore bodies determined,
and the proper machinery for the treatment of the
ores installed. Success usually follows this conserva-
tive method of operation and the prospect develops
into a "going concern," paying a monthly net profit;
and if it possesses sufficient reserves for the future,
the property can be sold at a large advance on the
capital invested. The individual or firm who can do
this is constantly besieged by would-be investors for
mines. Having thus established a reputation for
reliability, and more particularly for success, it will
be found difficult to supply the demand for good
mines. This was the policy pursued by a large firm
of mine promoters, and with almost phenomenal suc-
cess. These successes were numerous, and the fail-
ures— they were charged to "profit and loss," for
they never floated a mine on the public which proved
an absolute failure.
Here lies the road to the highest success in mine
promotion, but the lack of capital and haste to real-
ize on any venture undertaken result in the failure
of a large number of undertakings, which possibly
may have become successes were less haste made to
make a turn. In this is not considered that class of
promotions commonly known as " wild cats," for, as a
rule, the promotions of this latter class have nothing
whatever to recommend them other than the pro-
moter— generally under such circumstances a ques-
tionable endorsement.
HOW often one sees in connection with what are
evidently exaggerated statements concerning
mines of no great development, that "Mr. Blank,
the noted mining engineer, has made the report and
on its accuracy is willing to stake his professional
reputation, " etc. Usually the "well-known mining
engineer " is neither well known nor an engineer,
and has no reputation to lose. Conservative and ex-
perienced engineers are not so ready to stake their
reputations upon unknown conditions in mines, for a
long experience with the uncertainties of ore de-
posits, and the vagaries of geology, has taught them
caution, and mine reports which contain these reck-
less risks of reputation at the expense of other peo-
ple's money may usually be looked upon with some
suspicion, for the chances are that the reputation at
stake is but little better, if as good, as the mine
itself.
A bulletin of the United States Geological Survey,
on the production of aluminum and bauxite in
the United States in 1904, says that aluminum is
being more widely used each year for other purposes
than as electrical conductors, and that usually from
two to five ounces of the metal are employed in mak-
ing each ton of open-hearth steel, and from six to
eight ounces per ton of Bessemer steel, the object in
adding the aluminum being to reduce the slag or
oxide formed during the pouring of the molten steel,
and had every ton of steel manufactured in 1904 been
subjected to this treatment, there would have been
consumed about 5,000,000 pounds of aluminum. A
great many other uses are being found for the metal,
and its production is likely to increase, if suitable
material can be found from which it can be made at
not too great a cost.
The Unsophisticated Director.
One of the most serious drawbacks to the proper
and successful management of many mining proper-
ties is undoubtedly the lack of knowledge of the busi-
ness on the part of the directors who usually control
the destinies of the enterprise. Men are selected for
the responsible position of director for various rea-
sons, one of them being that his name may give good
standing to the concern when it is desired to sell
stock. Another, and more legitimate reason, is that
he is chosen to represent investors, who, having
every confidence in his integrity and business experi-
ence, feel that their interests will be protected. In
other cases, the buyer of a large block of stock stip-
ulates that in consideration of his election as a
director he will take the stock, and the trade is
made. There is always this desire to control, natu-
ral enough, too, but the men who thus seek to con-
trol should have some knowledge of mining and met-
allurgy, or they are of no particular value in the
directorate, while their presence there may operate
to the disadvantage of the enterprise. A managing
director of a European mining company visited the
company's property in the West some years since,
and while at the mine asked the most absurd ques-
tions, showing that he knew nothing of even the rudi-
ments of mining, and yet this concern was placed
wholly in his hands, and as may be expected under
such circumstances, it was a dismal failure. He had
been responsible for the purchase of the property in
the first place, and, too late, discovered there was
not enough ore available to keep the mill employed.
In another instance, the president of a mining com-
pany, and also a director, visited his mine and
remained a week or more, a close observer of every-
thing. One day he said to the superintendent, "I
see you don't hoist the same amount of ore every day
— sometimes 100 tons, and sometimes over 200 tons.
How much can that engine hoist in 24 hours?" On
being informed that it could easily handle 1000 tons
daily, he gave orders to hoist no less than that
amount as long as the engine could do it, and when
it failed the company would supply another. These
things seem amusing, but they have another than a
humorous side. If men of this stamp have the busi-
ness sagacity and experience usually attributed to
them, they should realize that they know nothing
about the business, and should be contented to learn
before presuming to dictate the policy of the man-
agement. Mining is a business requiring years of
study and experience. It cannot be learned in a day
any more than can the law or medicine, or steel mak-
ing, or any other great business or profession. It
has more phases, and more changing features, than
any other business in the world. The condition of
the mine changes daily; the ore changes more or less
from level to level; the metallurgical methods usu-
ally undergo many changes during the life of the
mine, and the whole proposition presents a multi-
tude of ever shifting conditions which only knowl-
edge, gainedby experience, can master; and yet the
unsophisticated director Very frequently is a domi-
nating factor in it all.
THE "lateral secretion" theory of ore deposition
still has its advocates — mostly among the older
members of the mining fraternity. One strong argu- '
ment in support of this theory is that the evidence of
the mineral in the vein having been derived from the
adjacent walls is in the sulphide minerals found in
the wall rocks. Those who favor the theory which
attributes the filing of veins, zones and other forms
of ore deposit to ascending solutions, argue that the
sulphide minerals in the wall rocks were deposited
therein from the same solutions as those which pro-
duced the ore deposit itself. Assays made of coun-
try rock in a mineralized region usually give small
returns in the precious metals, as well as often in
iron, copper, zinc and lead sulphides, and in some
instances these values increase as the walls of the
deposit are approached. The advocates of both the-
ories point to the same deposits to prove the sound-
ness of their judgment.
October 21, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
271
Mining Laws in Alaska.
The extensive location of mining ground in groups
of claims in Alaska has been the cause of much litiga-
tion up to the present time. An important question
which arose in the progress of this litigation was:
'•What constitutes a valid discovery?" Another
matter which came up for judicial determination was:
" Is a single discovery sufficient to base a group-
claim of eight locations upon? " Some of the locations
were made upon the discovery of line colors of gold
in the surface alluvial and moss, and all of the group
locations, as far as known, were predicated upon a
single discovery. The Alaska court instructed the
jury that a discovery should be of such a nature as
to justify a reasonable man to perform work upon
the claim, and also instructed them that a single dis-
covery on a tract of 160 acres was insufficient — that
a discovery must be made on each of the 20 acre
tracts constituting the group claim. Concerning this
important matter, " Lindley on Mines" says, Sec.
438: "Where more than one person (not exceeding
eight) participate, an area equivalent to twenty
acres to each is permitted; but they locate the whole
area jointly, becoming tenants in common thereof,
and are not, according to the practice, required to
each locate a particular specified 20-acre tract.
Such being the case, the question has arisen as to
whether one discovery within the limits of the entire
area appropriated by an association of persons would
be sufficient upon which to base a location as to such
area, or whether a discovery is necessary upon each
20-acre tract, or unit of location. In case of lode
locations, where an appropriation in excess of the
statutory limit of a single location is desired, a sepa-
rate discovery and separate location are necessary.
' ' In applying the law to this class of cases (placers),
the land department follows the rule that only one
discovery is required where a location is made by an
association of persons; this, however, has not always
been the ruling of the department in such cases; but
it is now the settled law, so far as the department is
concerned, and there is little reason to apprehend
any change. The Supreme Court of Montana was
committed to this view even before the land depart-
ment reversed its older rulings. ***** The
department holds that one discovery is a sufficient
prima facie showing of the character of the entire
tract; but it is not conclusive, and the character of
the remainder of the tract may be investigated. The
wisdom of this rule is peculiarly manifest when we
consider the difficulties which would otherwise be
found in the locating of deep placers and petroleum
lands. ***** Ground selected as placer
must be mineral land, non mineral surface not being
permitted as an incident to a placer claim."
The above is in accordance with the rulings of the
land department at Washington and is not a Supreme
Court decision. The last paragraph is important in
that it does not discriminate between ordinary
placers, where the entire mass of material from sur-
face consists of "wash" — that is, the sand, gravel,
cobbles and boulders, characteristic of ordinary
placer deposits, and those not having these typical
features. As gold is found in superficial detritus that
is not at all rounded, and yet where the gold has been
derived directly from veins or pockets in the rocks
of the vicinity, and situated at some higher point,
and as most placer deposits have a covering of loam
and soil, on which is usually a growth of vegetation,
surface discovery is not always possible. In some
instances several feet of this non-auriferous material
must be passed through before a color of gold can be
found. The deep ancient rivers of California are in
many places buried beneath lava flows sometimes
1500 feet or more. No surface discovery is possible in
such cases. The law, while applying to the majority
of instances, makes no provision for these particular
and unusual ones.
The question has also arisen in Alaska: "What
constitutes a sufficient discovery? " This is directly
in line with the foregoing and formed an important
feature of the suits recently tried in the far North.
The Alaska court, like those of the United States,
has failed to arbitrarily fix this point, contenting it-
self with saying practically that the amount of
mineral found at discovery should be sufficient to
justify a reasonable man in following it up by devel-
opment work. The personal equation is here a very
large one. One man may place a very different esti-
mate on the value of his discovery from that made by
another person at the same place. One may see in
the discovery so little evidence of commercial success
that he passes on and seeks a more promising place,
while another man is perfectly satisfied to take his
chances with the discovery and proceeds to locate
according to law. The courts have never held that
mineral in paying quantities must be found in order
to make a valid location. Such a theory, if carried
out, would make most mining locations legally im-
possible. In this matter Judge Hawley said: "It
would prohibit a miner from making any valid loca-
tion until he had fully demonstrated that the vein or
lode of quartz or other rock in place bearing gold or
silver, which he had discovered, would pay all the ex-
penses of removing, extracting, crushing and reduc-
ing the ore and leave a profit to the owner. If this
view should be sustained, it would lead to absurd, in-
jurious and unjust results."
The principal difficulty, apparently, in Alaska has
been that the locators of large tracts have failed to
work their claims, beyond the making of a discovery
and setting their stakes or monuments, holding the
ground evidently for speculative purposes. Those
arriving later, and, finding long stretches of the
creeks located and no work in progress, naturally set
new stakes and began mining operations in earnest,
which resulted in much litigation, the most of which
still remains unsettled. The Federal mining laws are
such that these original locators may legally do just
what has been done in Alaska, thus retarding the
development of the country. What the mining dis-
tricts of Alaska should do to remedy this evil is to
pass local laws or rules requiring a stipulated amount
of work to be done on each claim as a part of the act
of location. The several States have the legal right
to make legislation of this character, and the several
mining districts of the States and of Alaska may do
the same, and so long as these laws or rules are
within the bounds of reasonable requirement, there
is little doubt the courts would sustain the rules of a
properly organized mining district.
FOR fifteen years the once noted Long and Derry
mine, on Long and Derry hiill, at Leadville,
Colo. , has been closed by litigation. The difficulties
have been settled and the property is once more to
go into active operation. Considering the losses to
both sides in lawsuits of this kind, and they are not at
all uncommon, it seems strange that the contestants
do not more frequently meet on a common ground and
compromise their differences. In most instances
such course would be to the advantage of both sides
to the controversy, but compromise is seldom a
feature of these conflicts. Nearly every important
mining district of the West has seen the effect of
almost interminable litigation, and in many cases the
conditions were so perplexing that it made impartial
decision of the questions involved nearly impossible.
The natural result has been the creation of a vast
amount of legal precedent, not in the statutes, and
commonly known as judicial legislation. The dif-
ferences of opinion between noted engineers when on
the witness stand in these cases was naively sum-
marized by a prominent engineer as " probably rep-
resenting the large financial interests at stake." In
at least one mining district of the Southwest the
owners of adjoining large and valuable properties
have forestalled the expenses and difficulties arising
from the extralateral right by drawing arbitrary
lines between their properties, neither claiming the
right to follow their ore bodies beyond the boundaries
of their claims.
IN the concentration of ores of any particular kind
the same methods cannot always be arbitrarily
pursued with success at different mines. Take, for
instance, a quartzose gold ore, in which there is but
\% to 3% sulphides. These are comparatively rich
and must be recovered by concentration, after hav-
ing been reduced to pulp by stamping or otherwise.
These sulphides are not always similar in different
mines, and there is often a vast difference in them
from different parts of the same mine. Some sul-
phides crush in granules and are saved without great
difficulty. Other kinds break up in thin, flaky
plates, and these latter — though of approximately the
same specific gravity — are far more difficult to
handle on concentrating machines unless hydraulic
classification be first resorted to. It is a physical
impossibility to separate from the gangue both gran-
ular and micaceous sulphides by a single operation
on any kind of a concentrating machine. The
mechanical movements, grade of machine and volume
of water which will permit a saving of one will result
in the loss of the other. The hydraulic classifier
effects a separation of these various kinds of sul-
phides, and the subsequent treatment is greatly sim-
plified. The classification may be carried out to any
desired length, by arranging the classifiers in series,
the products from the several classifiers going to
different machines. The result is usually satisfac-
tory, if the plant is properly designed and in charge
of an experienced operator.
I 'HAT the design of stamp and concentrating mills
■*■ should, by this time, have been reduced to an
exact science, all will doubtless agree, but judging
from the constructive features of a large number
of so-called modern mills it has not, as yet, reached
this happy stage, or, if it has, the average construct-
ing engineer or millwright has not become aware of
the fact. One would naturally think that after more
than half a century of experience in every corner of
the world where mining is done that certain underly-
ing principles in mill design would have long since
been recognized and adopted generally as the best
practice, but such appears not to be the case. The
same kind of mistakes are daily made that were
made thirty years ago. The average mill builder
seems to pride himself upon the individuality of his
own ideas, and seeks no further than the horizon of
his own experience for suggestions as to what is best
for each individual case. The result is that one must
seek far to find the model mill. Variations in the
character of ores require that they be subjected to
somewhat different treatment, but in the mechanical
design, the handling of material, etc., there continues
to be a great divergence of opinion as to what is the
best practice. Some mills are far superior to others
in this respect, but one has not to look far in the min-
ing regions to find monuments of stupidity that are
astonishing.
THE gold fields of Nova Scotia have attracted
more or less attention for a half century past,
and a great deal of gold has been produced from the
veins of that region, much of it in a primitive manner.
The geology of that gold region is particularly inter-
esting and has been the subject of professional inves-
tigation by a number of geologists and engineers.
The latest to give attention to these fields is T. A.
Rickard, who elsewhere herein begins a series of
papers descriptive of that section. In the earlier
days of mining in Nova Scotia a great deal of gold
was taken from the rich small veins by men having
no better tools than hammers and rocks. The
quartz, rich in free coarse gold, was broken off from
the ledge and pounded with a hammer on hard
boulders, thus freeing the gold from the matrix.
THE possibilities of electrical power development
of Victoria falls on the Zambesi river, in South
Africa, continue to attract attention, and a com-
mission of engineers has been appointed to visit the
great plants at Niagara Falls to study the methods
and installations there with a view to duplicating
these methods of application. The falls of the Zam-
besi are about 400 feet in height, and a large volume
of water is passing in the driest season, but the
amount in the wet season is many times greater than
that at Niagara. The power, consequently, which
may be developed there is tremendous, and long dis-
tance installations are possible, which may equal, if
not surpass, any similar installations in either Europe
or America.
THE province of Ontario, Canada, contemplates
a revision of its mining laws at the coming
legislative session, and it has been suggested by
some of the leading mining men of that province that
a stipulated working condition should be required of
all locators of mining lands, and that it be strictly
enforced, while idle mining property be taxed
heavily. It is thought laws of this kind, if passed,
will have a tendency to develop the mineral resources
of the province more rapidly than under the existing
laws.
272
Mining and Scientific Press,
October 21, 1905.
CONCENTRATES.
A SALT, in chemistry, is any acid in which one or more
atoms of hydrogen have been replaced by metallic atoms
or basic radicals.
Tin occurs chiefly as the oxide (cassiterite) and as the
sulphide (stannite). It also occurs in small amount asso-
ciated and in combination with other minerals, such as
copper.
The amount of water usually fed to a 5-stamp, rapid
drop battery is about 1.5 cubic feet per minute. In some
mills more than this amount is used and in others less,
depending on the character of the ore.
w" w" w w"
The air pressure employed in copper blast furnaces
varies from 36 to 40 ounces at the blowers and from 30
to 34 ounces at ihe furnaces, the difference being due to
frictional loss in the pipes and furnace connections.
Flat hoisting ropes possess one advantage over
round ropes of having every strand visible, and broken
wires or other defects are therefore more easily detected
in flat than in round ropes, but round ropes are prefer-
able in other respects.
Matte smelting is defined by Lang as "the smelt-
ing of natural sulphides, with the design of collecting
their valuable parts in a quantity of artificial sulphides. "
There are various kinds of matte — iron matte, copper
matte, lead matte, silver matte, etc.
All mines producing black or gray sands should be
tested for the minerals they may possibly contain.
Streams heading or running through basaltic rocks or
dark colored greenstones, serpentine, and other basic
rocks will contain an unusual amount of magnetite, but
these same sands may also contain chromic iron, and
more Bare and valuable minerals.
The "market for burros " in any particular locality
is a matter upon which no exact information can be
given. On general principles, it may be assumed that
in a district where much prospecting is in progress there
would be a demand for these useful animals, particularly
on the desert, where they can subsist on less than
almost any other beast of burden. Southern Nevada
should afford at present a good field for the burro stock-
man.
Statistical information concerning the yield of the
Eureka mine at Sutter creek, Cal., are not available,
but it is known that over 30,000 tons treated about 1868
returned gold at the rate of about $20 per ton. The
cost of mining at that time was $4 to $5.25, and the cost
of milling $2.15 per ton. The average pulp assay was
said to have been $27 per ton. The tailings, conse-
quently, contained an average of $7 per ton. The total
output of this mine is said to have been $18,000,000.
Nearly all if not all of the ores of copper are derived
by alteration from chalcopyrite, in a more or less direct
manner. Chalcopyrite is the normal ore and, in deep
mines producing sulphide ores only, chalcopyrite is prac-
tically the only copper-bearing mineral present. There
is a great variety of copper-bearing minerals, including
oxides, carbonates, silicates, sulphides, and more complex
compounds of copper with lead, zinc, arsenic, iron, anti-
mony, etc. With these latter it is not uncommon to
also find gold and silver.
TVVT
The knowledge of the average cost of gold milling in
California is not imformation of any particular useful-
ness, for at each mine the conditions and character of
the ore vary more or less. On the Mother Lode, in El
Dorado, Amador, Calaveras, Tuolumne and- Mariposa
counties the average cost is about 40 cents per ton. In
the Grass Valley and Nevada City region and on the
EaBt Lode the expense is somewhat greater, in some
instances reaching $1.50 owing to character of ore, char-
acter and scope of operations and local conditions.
ww ww
Skips possess the advantage over cages of taking on
the load immediately upon the arrival of the skip at the
loading pocket, no waiting for the arrival of cars being
necessary, as is not infrequently the case where cages
are employed. On reaching the surface the skip dumps
automatically into a bin provided for the purpose, and
may be sent immediately back into the mine if desired,
without intervention of workmen other than the engi-
neer. This effects a saving of labor on the surface. At
some mines the skips are loaded as well as dumped auto-
matically.
The solid residues of gummy and tarry appearance,
which result from the evaporation of crude petroleum,
are all soluble in alcohol and ether, but insoluble in
water, therefore, any gummy substance found in tb'e
rocks, which is soluble in water, is not one of the
products of the natural evaporation of petroleum.
There are numerous organic substances which have
much the same appearance as the residual products of
evaporated petroleum, among them being the excretions
of rhodents and other animals deposited in caves and in
fissures in the rocks.
It is better to have abundant plate surface in a gold
mill. Too much is better than too little. The stream
should be spread out in a thin sheet, with not too heavy
a grade — just enough to keep the sands from banking
upon the plate. Too much water should be avoided on
the plates. If there are still considerable values in the
coarse quartz grains, the rock should be crushed finer
to free this gold.
A "dap," in the mine timber framer's vocabulary, is
the name given to the shallow cut made entirely across
a shaft plate to receive the posts at the corners, and
sometimes between the corners on the wall plates. In
some cases where the posts are smaller than the plates,
the daps, being cut the size of the posts, may be likened
to shallow mortises. They are cut on both the upper
and lower sides of the plates and serve to keep the posts
from shifting.
In sampling faces of ore in the oxidized zone of a gold
mine, it not infrequently occurs that the fine material
contains much more gold than the hard, firm ore. The
sampler must guard against being salted by this kind of
material. Usually the soft, fine portion of the ore dis-
appears with shallow depth and only the hard, normal
ore remains. It is necessary to get samples representing
normal, and not enriched, conditions. Many who make
mine examinations are deceived by the fine prospects
found in the oxidized zone, being unable to duplicate
them in the deeper part of the mine.
Electro-magnetic separators work continuously,
and by an ingenious arrangement of electric currents of
varying intensity on the several magnets, a differential
separation of the various minerals in black sands from
beaches and river beds can be effected. Among the
minerals separated from the sands containing them are
magnetite, chromite, zircons, hematite, monazite, gar-
nets, quartz, etc. The non-magnetic minerals of com-
paratively low specific gravity can be easily separated
from the heavier minerals by hydraulic classification
and by wet concentration on various machines.
The nearest railroad point to the Panamint range in
Inyo county, Cal., and probably the best outfitting
point for a prospector intending to go into Panamint, is
Johannesburg, in Kern couDty, Cal. In former years
many prospectors going to Panamint and Death Valley,
Resting Springs, and that section of the desert, went in
from the vicinity of Daggett, crossing the Mojave river
at Fish Ponds, 4 miles above the present site of Daggett.
From Daggett to Ballarat on the west side of Panamint
range is nearly 100 miles. From Johannesburg to Bal-
larat is about 60 miles in a direct line, and somewhat
farther by the Searles Borax Works.
Split lagging is usually made of spruce, where obtain-
able, and is from 5 feet to 7 feet in length, depending on
the place and the conditions under which it is used, and
from 4 to 8 inches in width. The thickness is usually
from 2J to 3 inches, but for special purposes may be
thicker. The cost of lagging varies greatly in the vari-
ous mining districts, being about 4 to 6 cents each where
the timber is abundant and easily obtainable, to 10 or
12 cents each in districts where no suitable lagging can
be cut. Under some conditions lagging costs delivered
at the mine much more than the highest figure here
given, owing to the cost of transportation.
Bismuth is a hard, brittle metal, with a reddish-white
color and metallic luster. It looks much like antimony,
but is readily distinguished from the latter by its reddish
tinge of color. When heated to redness it burns with a
bluish flame, forming the yellow oxide of bismuth. It is
not very abundant in nature. The most important ores
of bismuth are the oxide and sulphide. Its chief use is
in pharmacy, and the metal must be free from impuri-
ties, particularly arsenic. Bismuth ores are roasted,
after which various methods of treatment are employed,
according to the ore. When arsenic is present the last
traces of it may be removed by melting the metal with
niter. Hydrochloric acid has little effect on metallic bis-
muth; strong sulphuric acid forms bismuth sulphate,
and when treated with nitric acid bismuth nitrate re-
sults. Bismuth is not known to form any combinations
with hydrogen. One of the producing mines of bismuth
ores in quantity is the Ballard at Leadville, Colo. Bis-
muth ores also occur near Tucson, Ariz. Bismuth ores
were reported from the vicinity of Ouray, Colo., some
years since. Bismuth, or some of its ores, were reported
found in placer sluices on Big Pine creek, Inyo county,
Cal., some years since.
In shaft sets it is not good practice to use corner posts
of too small dimensions. Scantling (2x4-inch) would be
of no practical usefulness. The posts should be equal in
size to the timbers of the main set, if these are as small
as 6x8, or smaller; but where larger timbers are used for
wall plates (8x10 and larger), the posts should be nearly
equal to the plates in cross-sectional area. In very heavy
ground, or where there is likely to be any shifting of the
timbers, then the posts should be the full size of the
plates. No lagging is required at the corners where the
posts are flush with the outside of the set. Daps should
be cut in the wall plates at each corner of the shaft,
about i inch deep, to receive the ends of the posts, both
top and bottom. In instances where it is not necessary
to use a " bridge " and to drive the lagging, a cleat
ljxlj inch should be nailed to the outside of each of the
wall plates, and on these the lagging may be set, extend-
ing upward to catch the lower half of the plate in the set
above. After placing a lagging, it may be held in place
by dropping a block of wood, or a rock between the lag-
ging and the rock wall. In some places the wall will be
found close enough to admit of using a wedge only, no
other blocking being required. When figuring on sink-
ing a shaft several hundred feet, it is a good idea to in-
clude a large amount of miscellaneous blocks, ends of
planks, etc., the waste of lumber mills. These answer
every purpose and take the place of the more expensive
wall plate timbers, which otherwise must be used.
Salt is mineral and is subject to entry under the min-
ing laws. The law of January 31, 1901, is as follows:
" That all unoccupied lands of the United States con-
taining salt springs, or deposits of salt in any form, and
chiefly valuable therefor, are hereby declared to be sub-
ject to location and purchase under the provisions of
the law relating to placer mining claims; providing that
the same person shall not locate more than one claim
hereunder." Prior to the passage of the above law in
1901, salt lands were classed by themselves, and were not
subject to entry under any law operative throughout
the public land States. Under the act of January 12,
1877, salt lands were disposed of at auction at not less
than $1.25 per acre, or at private sale at the same mini-
mum rate, in the event that the sales were not effected
at auction. The operation of this act was confined to
States which have had grants of salines and which have
been fully satisfied. The act did not apply to the terri-
tories, nor to the States of Mississippi, Louisiana, Cali-
fornia, Nevada, North and South Dakota, Montana,
Washington, Idaho, Utah or Wyoming, none of which
received grants of such lands. Under existing laws a
salt claim consists of 20 acres and only one claim can be
taken. Any citizen of the United States, male or fe-
male, adult or minor, is permitted to make such location.
The several simple and primitive devices employed in
separating gold from the auriferous sands or the pulver-
ized rock containing it are the hornspoon, made from
the horn of a cow or ox; the batea, of wood; the gold
pan of the early California miner, and the shovel used
for this purpose. In the use of either of these imple-
ments an operator, by practice, can become very expert.
The hornspoon is used largely in Spanish American
countries, and in the southwestern part of the United
States where water is scarce. The batea is a flat, bowl-
like piece of wood, circular in shape and having the
appearance of a very flat cone, the slope being in a true
plane from rim to center, and not curved as in crockery
dishes. The gold pan is usually of sheet steel pressed
from a single piece, having sides sloping at ,an angle of
about 40°. The diameter at the top is about 17 inches,
the depth 3 inches and the flat area of the bottom about
10 inches in diameter — these dimensions vary slightly.
The pan is the most useful of these several implements,
but the batea can also be used with good effect, and with
speed in experienced hands. The knack of vanning suc-
cessfully on a flat shovel is more difficult to acquire than
dexterity with any of the other tools mentioned. Cor-
nish concentration men in the tin districts become expert
in the manipulation of the shovel, and can easily sep-
arate the cassiterite, copper sulphide and galena from
each other by this means. The pan is so much more
convenient for general hand concentrating operations
that it has largely replaced all of the others in the
United States.
W W W w
When in shaft sinking it is desired to use a crosshead
there are two things absolutely essential to success and
safety. First, a clip must be securely fastened to the
hoisting rope, which will arrest the fall of the crosshead
should it become jammed in the shaft when going down,
and then, becoming released, falling. This clip must be
placed so high above the bucket as to be out of reach of
the men riding on the chime of the bucket or on the bail.
Second, to insure further safety and to lessen the liabil-
ity of the crosshead to become jammed when running in
the guides, the frame should be made at least twice as
high as the distance between the guides, and the shoes
should be so constructed that the crosshead will have
perfect freedom of motion and not be caught by any
small projection or irregularity in the guides. Another
matter too often neglected is the daily inspection of the
guides, and of the crosshead itself, to see that they are
in proper working condition. Serious accidents have
occurred from failure to give the several matters here
mentioned the necessary attention. The crosshead is so
arranged as to move freely upon the rope down to the
clip above mentioned. This can be made more secure by
either turning the rope up the necessary distance above
the eye to which the hook is attached, or by clamping
to the hoisting rope a piece of old rope of the necessary
length to take at least four clips. This, if secured at the
proper height, will hold the crosshead. It is also a good
idea to have a good sized cast iron washer resting on
this obstruction to reduce the liability of the crosshead
splitting and breaking should it fall. The crosshead be-
ing free to move when the bottom of the guides are
reached, blocks placed there will hold the crosshead
whiie the bucket continues to the bottom of the shaft.
On hoisting, the clip on the rope picks up the cross-
head, and the swaying of the bucket is reduced to a
minimum. The blocks at the lower end of the guides
should be separate from the guides, being merely pieces
of timber larger than the guides themselves, spiked to
the last set of timbers.
October 21, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
273
In Nova Scotia.— I.
Written tor she mimm. anu ScriMTinq phkks by T. A. Biokabs.
Any one who is told to "go to Halifax " is apt to
regard such consignment as anything but kindly. I
found it far otherwise. Whence then comes this
curious saying '! It appears that in the days of the
American Revolution, when many New Englanders
remained loyal to the old country, there was a
migration of families across the line into Canada.
Many of these went to Nova Scotia, by way of the
port of Halifax. Any American not wholehearted
in the cause of liberty was apt to be invited to follow
the loyalists and get out of the country; it was meant
as bitter sarcasm to be told to "go to Halifax."
But all that is changed now, the American patriot
and the loyal Britisher alike followed the call of their
manhood and became the founders of progressive
communities. Halifax has lost its stinging suggest-
iveness and we know it as a picturesque military and
uaval station, a charming city, and the gateway of a
continent.
It may be said of Halifax that no other great sea-
port has gold mines so near to it.* Within 10 to 15
miles are the goldfields of Montague and Waverley.
They were the first that I visited and they were the
scene of the earliest activities. Just as Hargreaves
made the discovery of gold in Australia (at Moonee
Ponds on February 12, 185 1), through the knowledge
acquired concerning conditions in California, so also
the first diggers in Nova Scotia were prompted to
prospect. The farmers and fishermen on the east
uated close to the shore of the estuaries that indent
the eastern coast of the province. But all of them
are pleasantly accessible, the roads generally being
good. Occasionally the bush is allowed to encroach,
so as not only to impede a vehicle, but also to keep
the track in shadow and prevent drying after rain.
A mechanical scraper is employed in road making;
it is expeditious and does good work. This machine
scrapes the sides toward the center so as to form a
crown and leave a wide gutter on each side. Broken
slate packs well and makes an excellent road bed; so
does granite, the feldspar of which decomposes to a
cement. Near the estuaries a topping of gravel is
obtained from the beach. Owing to the absence of
mountainous declivities and great extremes of tem-
perature, the roads wear well.
Decent accommodation is readily obtainable, the
country folk are kindly and clean, so that no real
roughing need be experienced. Simple fare is the
rule, the monstrous overfeeding of our western
mining camps being unknown. Fresh codfish and
blueberries are important articles of diet during
summer. Excellent lamb is served occasionally, but
the beef is tough, for reasons suggested by the ac-
companying photograph, which shows that oxen are
used for draught. Tea is the universal beverage; it
is boiled to bitterness; real coffee is practically un-
known; bread is served in a great variety of ways,
as in New England. By reason of a law known as
the Scott Act, it is illegal to sell intoxicating bever-
ages of any kind, even those containing a minimum of
alcohol, such as light beer or hard cider. This does
not prevent the sale of intoxicants, but it does stim-
ulate trade in cheap concoctions of an injurious
kind. Drunkenness is infrequent. On the whole, I
got the impression of a steady, thrifty, hard-working
Common Sense Mining.
Written for the Mining and Scientific Press by w. H. Stohms.
In 1878, M. D. Rochford and some others discov-
ered the Standby and other gold-bearing deposits in
the vicinity of Little Rapid creek, about 18 miles
southeasterly from Deadwood, in Pennington county,
South Dakota. These discoveries were followed by
numerous others in the neighborhood, on the tribu-
taries of Rapid creek, among them being the Paul
Jones and Minnesota mines on Silver creek, the Cali-
fornia mine on Smith's gulch, the Montezuma on
Irish gulch, the Montana mine, near the head of Irish
gulch, near Rochford, and the Jenny Lind and other
claims at what was afterwards named Meyersville.
Each of the mines above mentioned has an interest-
ing history, and each has good prospects for making
a mine. The best known of these several properties,
perhaps, is the Standby, being the initial discovery
of the district and the first to be equipped with a
mill. On this property active development was un-'
dertaken in 1879, when a 40-stamp mill was built,
power being supplied by Pelton wheels under about
150 feet pressure, the water being taken from Little
Rapid creek about 2 miles above the mine, to which
it was conveyed by ditch and flumes. This was a
notable installation, as it was the first power equip-
ment of the kind in the Black Hills, and for many
years remained the only power plant of its kind in
that region. The first superintendent, A. J. Sim-
mons, being a California miner and familiar with the
uses and advantages of water power, did not hesitate
Map of the Gold Region of Nova Scotia.
coast had heard of gold being found in California and
Victoria within rocks resembling the slate and sand-
stone of Nova Scotia; they began to investigate the
quartz which outcropped plentifully in their own
vicinity. To John G. Pulsiver, of Musquodoboit, is
given the renown of the first find; it was in the sum-
mer of 1860 and the locality was Mooseland, near
Tangier Harbor. In the early reports of the Mines
Department it is recorded how other finds were
made successively in adjoining districts; they were
made in the same way, by men who had become at-
tracted in the search for gold by the stories blown
across the world from the great diggings on the
Pacific coast and in Australia, and who had become
personally acquainted with the look of gold-bearing
quartz by seeing it at Tangier and in the surround-
ing region.
From 1862 to 1904, inclusive, the total output of
gold has amounted to 819,152 ounces, valued at $15,-
563,900, the average yield being 10 dwt. 3 gr. per
ton. The largest return was 31,104 oz. in 1898; in
1904 it was only 14,279 oz., with an average yield of
4 dwt. 13 gr. per ton. It is evident, therefore, that
at no time has the industry assumed proportions
comparable to that of the greater goldfields of the
world, and it is apparent that at this time there is
less productive activity than in any year since the
initial discoveries. Nevertheless, the stimulus given
to the development of Nova Scotia by the men who
have been, and are now, engaged in gold mining is
not to be measured only by the statistics which I
have quoted. The exploitation of the gold lodes has
been overshadowed by that of the coal measures,
which is destined to give Nova Scotia a high rank
among industrial communities. The production of
coal in 1904 was 5,247,135 tons, having a value of
about $15,000,000 at the pit's mouth. This is only a
beginning.
The accompanying map shows the relative position
of the principal gold-mining centers. With the ex-
ception of Brookfield and Leipsigate they are east of
Halifax. Mt. Uniake is due north. Most of the set-
tlements are off the line of railway, many being sit-
*The writer recently investigated the geological occurrence of
gold in Noya Scotia, in. behalf of the Provincial Government, but as
his report has not been published he confines himself in this article,
and those that follow, to the merely superficial aspects of the gold
mining country of Nova Scotia.—T. A. R.
people, making the best of an ungenerous soil and a
rigorous climate.
I am speaking of the region where they mine for
gold; this is not on the trail of the tourist who knows
Nova Scotia as "the land of Evangeline." The
tourist goes to the Annapolis valley, a splendid tract
of meadow guarded by ridges that cut off the fogs
from the Bay of Funday and obstruct the cold east
winds of the Atlantic. This valley, famous for its
picturesque beauty and its historic associations, ex-
tends 100 miles, from Windsor to Annapolis. It is
the old Acadie, the country settled by French col-
onists too patriotic and too much out of the world to
recognize English authority after France lost do-
minion in North America. 150 years ago. The forci-
ble deportation of these peasants to New England
and the South, the romance of their subsequent pil-
grimage and, in many cases, eventual return to Nova
Scotia, have served as good material for many a
writer.
But the valley of Annapolis is not typical of Nova
Scotia; it is a happy vale consecrated to apples and
poetry, to Parkman and to Longfellow. I saw it
after four weeks of travel among the severe and
monotonous scenery of a region swept of all distinc-
tion or beauty by the ruthless hand of that ice mon-
ster to whom we assign the glacial period. Partly
because it is cut out of softer rock (Devonian slate
and Permian sandstone)' and largely by reason of the
two hill ranges that flank it on the north and south,
the valley of Annapolis is especially favored. The
tidal rivers find a winding way deep into the pasture;
the dykes, first built by the Brittany peasants, pro-
tect the interval land from the encroaching wave;
the wide orchards bask in sunshine, the quiet villages
sleep peacefully under gray church steeples; and on
either side the hill slopes, checkered with cultivation
and crested with dark forest, look down protectingly,
while a wreath of fog halting over Blomidon suggests
the stress and disquiet of a cold world that lies be-
yond this dreamland.
It is not uncommon to find pyrite in deep gravel
mines— undoubtedly formed in the bed of the stream
since the deposition of the gravel. So far as known,
the pyrite thus formed contains little or no gold.
to adapt California practice to the conditions of the
Hills. The Standby mine at first gave little trouble,
but with depth the free gold largely gave place to
auriferous sulphides. The mine was half a mile or
more from the mill, and the situation was such that
without a long tunnel it was necessary to handle the
ore several times between mine and mill. The ex-
pense was thus unusually heavy, and the mine
appeared to never run long enough at one time to
permit of systematic development and operation —
always working under some disadvantage. The tail-
ings losses were high; there was not a concentrator
in the Black Hills at that time and the cyanide pro-
cess was not dreamed of. Since those early days the
Standby has run spasmodically, with a greater or
less success, under many managers. Within recent
years a tunnel 1400 feet in length has been driven
into the hill on a level with -the upper floor of the
mill and connections made with upper workings.
This will greatly facilitate the operation of the mine
and cheapen the cost of handling ore. The mill is
being overhauled and once more gotten into running
shape, and these operations will give the mine an-
other lease of life.
The Standby, like many other mines of the central
Black Hills, is low'grade, and now, more than ever,
requires a conservative and competent management
— neither extravagance nor parsimony being possible
where success is to be attained.
The Minnesota and Paul Jones mines on Silver creek
had much the same sort of experience. The surface
ores paid well, but with depth the sulphides so re-
duced the output of free gold that operations were
discontinued. The California mine on Smith's gulch
never reached the mill-building stage, though the
mine at one time was considered one of the best in
that section, and produced considerable specimen
rock. The Montana mine has never had a mill, but
has developed a large body of low-grade ore. The
Montezuma is also in the development stage, though
equipped with an experimental mill, which is not at
all adapted to the treatment of the ore.
The Jenny Lind and adjoining claims at Meyers-
ville later attracted as much attention as either of
the mines above mentioned, and in 1880 a group of
these claims passed into the hands of Iowa people,
known as the* Alta-Lodi M. Co., which proceeded to
274
Mining and Scientific Press.
October 21, 1&05.
develop the mines superficially while building a 40-
stamp mill. Among other engineering exploits at
this mine was the driving of a 500-foot tunnel to get
80 feet of backs, the tunnel then being extended sev-
eral hundred feet beyond the highest point on its line.
Several open cuts were opened on what was pre-
sumed to be the vein, and the mill was started. The
water supply was too limited to admit of large and
continuous milling operations, which was a detriment,
in that it resulted in the cost of milling being higher
than it should be. One of the most important, as
well as most unfortunate features of mining at this
property, lay in the fact that the management evi-
dently conceived the idea that this mine was similar
to the Homestake, and that the entire ridge on which
the mine was situated would pay to mine and mill for
the gold it contained. This is plainly evidenced by
the several great open cuts in the hillside. The mine
did not pay and was closed down permanently after
several spasmodic but ineffectual attempts to over-
come the difficulties of the situation.
The chief difficulty in the way of success lay in the
fact that the entire mass of red and brown schist did
not contain sufficient gold to pay (though assays are
obtainable almost anywhere on the hill over a width'
of 200 feet or more). As in mines everywhere else,
the gold at Meyersville occurs in shoots, or zones,
which are more or less sharply defined, if not physi-
cally, at least, by relative value of the rock.
The formation is hornblende schist, through which
are many lenses and veins of quartz. This quartz
is of two kinds. Lens-shaped masses and string-
ers of granular appearance, either white or bluish
in color, and vein quartz of crystalline structure —
the granular appearance being entirely absent.
Each of these varieties of quartz is gold bear-
ing and each also contains iron sulphides. The color
of the schists is due partly to decomposition of iron
sulphides, but more largely to the oxidation of the
iron minerals in the hornblende. Certain zones of
the schist are so much decomposed as to have lost
wholly, or nearly so, all traces of schistosity, and re-
semble much decayed dikes, which possibly they may
be. Some of the zones of this description contain
gold in payable quantities, but the values are gener-
ally scattered erratically. One place will show no
gold at all on panning, when another prospect from
the same streak, taken a foot higher or lower, will
indicate the presence of gold to the extent of $5 to
$20 per ton. The principal gold-bearing rock, how-
ever, is the schistose formation in which are numer-
ous stringers and lenses of quartz, the exposed face
in cut or drift presenting a banded appearance.
Careful sampling demonstrated that the appear-
ance of this rock could not be trusted as a true index
of value, and it is this fact, no doubt, that misled the
early operators on this mine — they neglected to keep
informed of values by taking the proper samples,
assuming that the rock was all payable because it all
looked much the same. One large cut, from which
thousands of tons of ore were milled, did not pay for
the mining expense, and yet, just south, and but a
few feet distant, the ore was found subsequently to
be not only payable, but rich. Still there was little,
if any, difference in the appearance of the bodies of
rock.
After several years of desultory operations the
Alta-Lodi Co. permanently discontinued operations,
and in 1884 the mill was removed to the Lookout
mine on Castle creek, several miles to the southward.
The Jenny Lind and other claims of the group re-
mained idle for years, but eventually came into the
possession of James Cochran, who still owns them.
Being a practical miner, and appreciating the differ-
ence between a small vein of rich rock and a moun-
tain mass, throughout which a little gold could be
obtained at any place, the new owner spent months
in prospecting the various claims. This careful in-
quiry into existing conditions demonstrated the fact
that there were a number of places on the property
where pay ore could be obtained in considerable
amount. Having satisfied himself that pay ore
actually existed on the property, and in sufficient
amount to justify a mill, Mr. Cochran, whose means
were limited at that time, put up a small Huntington
mill, boiler and engine. A concentrator he thought
he had no particular use for, as the rock was free
milling. At first this practical, common-sense miner
chose his rock with care, mined it himself, hauled it
with wagon and team to his mill 1000 feet distant,
and when he had accumulated sufficient ore to war-
rant starting up the mill, he became his own fire-
man, millman, superintendent and master mechanic.
He supplied all the wood necessary, cutting it on the
neighboring hills and hauling it to the mill. In this
small way he began operations, nor has he enlarged
upon them very materially. For years he has con-
tinued to work his mine during the summer months,
employing such help in mine and mill as was required,
and he has made a fortune from these operations.
He still owns and works the mine in his own fashion,
but he does it in a methodical and practical manner.
Experience has taught him that because a face of
ore is largely profitable, he cannot assume that after
a round of holes have been blasted he can depend
upon equally good results in the new face, for this
has been found to be an uncertainty.
The ore shoots occur in the hornblende schist
throughout a zone known to be more than 100 feet
wide and several hundred feet long, and the indica-
tions are that there are other shoots in the hanging
wall side which have not been developed as yet.
The strike of the country generally in the vicinity is
about N. 15° W., and the dip about 80° to the east-
ward. It has been found that the best ore in this
mine occurs in the schists at places where there has
been noticeable torsion of the rocks. Small dis-
placements have taken place, and the stress causing
these faults has also resulted in twisting the schists
to a small but noticeable extent, together with a
certain amount of crushing. Where the disturbance
is most pronounced the richest ore has generally
accumulated. The disturbance of the schists, as it is
here called, consists of a slight foliation of the rocks,
together with a more or less marked change in strike,
up to 15° or 20°.
What has thus far been considered the main shoot
is about 60 feet in length, and from 15 to 20 feet or
more, in places, in width. Lying to the westward,
and separated by about 20 feet of very low grade
rock, is a second shoot. This is from 3 feet to lo feet
wide and about 160 feet in length. This latter has
been opened by a surface cut almost its entire known
length to a depth of 20 to 30 feet. A shaft has been
sunk about 100 feet and a level run at 30 feet and
another at about 60 feet from the surface. The shoot
previously mentioned has been worked by open cut
and shaft connected with a tunnel about 30 feet below
the surface, and has produced thousands of dollars,
the rock averaging $15 per ton.
A shaft was sunk to a depth of 125 feet in the main
cut, but the one on which this was started dipped
out of the shaft with depth, and no attempt has been
made to develop the shoot at this level. East of the
main shoot and branching out from the principal cut
is another and smaller vein, in which good values
have been found, but work has not been continued
far enough to determine its relation to the ground
lying beyond. On the surface considerable prospect-
ing has been done, resulting in the discovery of sev-
eral places where rich ore exists, and the indications
are that all of these occurrences have something in
common — in fact, all apparently belong to a system
of ore deposits which in depth may be found to unite
into a single large ore body. This has been proven
to be the case at the Homestake, and the conditions
at the Cochran mine are not very dissimilar from
those at Lead, though the mineralization occurs on
a much inferior scale. The most noticeable difference
in the geology of the two mines, aside from their
comparative magnitude, is in the lack of igneous in-
trusions at the Cochran mine. At the Homestake,
in the upper levels, the dikes of rhyolite are a most
pronounced feature, though in the lower workings
they form a comparatively inconspicuous factor, but
it is well known that the hornblende schists of that
mine were gold bearing ages before the date of the
intrusions of rhyolite. The disposition of the ore
shoots at the Cochran mine is similar to that at the
Homestake, and the country rock is almost identical,
the chief difference being in the extent of mineraliza-
tion at the two places. This difference is, of course,
a most important one, but it is interesting to note
how much alike the two occurrences are otherwise.
At this time the Cochran mine lacks extensive and
systematic development, and consequently little is
known of the existing conditions below 50 feet from
the surface, but the property stands as an object
lesson in what may be aptly termed common sense
mining — an instance where a practical miner has
made a paying proposition of a mine which, worked
Hand Sampling in Small Stamp Mills.*
Written by A. W. Warwick.
The question of sampling is one which should
receive a thorough discussion by the members of the
Association. The effects of slovenly sampling meth-
ods are profound. The first and most apparent
effect is that, without careful sampling, it is impos-
sible for the metallurgist to know where the losses
occur; the second effect is that incorrect methods
may even point in the wrong direction; the third is
that a suspicion of the samples leads to lax work on
the part of every one working in' the mill. The third
point made might be discussed at great length with
profit since, after all, laxity on the part of the mill
attendants is really the source of much of the avo id-
able losses. The millmen, knowing that the samples
cannot be used as a check against their work, natur-
ally become somewhat careless. Nor does the effect
stop at the millmen. The assayer, knowing that the
samples are practically worthless, pays very little
attention to their assaying. "What is the use," he
says, "of carefully assaying pulps which represent
%,d P/a.fe
Arrangement of Feed to Facilitate Sampling.
little or nothing? " The result is that the mill assay -
er's work has become to be a reproach not only to
himself but to the profession at large. Remove this
suspicion as to the samples and work all along the
line will be improved. And certainly millwork needs
improving.
The fact is that accurate assaying is worthless
without accurate sampling, and commercially one
cannot be obtained without the other.
While it is true that in large mills some effort is
made to check up the work by systematic sampling,
yet in most smaller mills practically no provision is
made for this very important work. Where it is
attempted the mill is usually so awkwardly arranged
that it is practically impossible to get a correct sam-
ple. Automatic sampling is out of the question in
small works, owing to the expense of installation.
Hand sampling must be resorted to.
It is commonly stated that hand samples are of no
nVli.^/e.
Ca/HjVCUi ■?-&&<.
Trap at Foot of the Plates.
with elaborate equipment and large means, but inex-
perienced management, was a disastrous failure.
The mine possessed the elements of success, these
elements were discovered by the present owner by
searching for them in a practical, common sense
manner, and the subsequent working of the prop-
erty, though almost primitive in its character, has
demonstrated the unwisdom of the large equipment
and extravagant operation of a mine which did not
justify such outlay, but which, when properly handled,
became largely profitable.
Hematite is frequently known to occur as a
gangue mineral and associated with iron and other
sulphides. In these instances the hematite is con-
sidered as of secondary importance and is not looked
upon as an ore, though technically hematite is always
an ore of iron. Hematite may be produced in nature
from ferric iron by the action of certain carbonates
and alkaline carbonates without oxidation.
value. As generally taken we must admit this cur-
rent condemnation. Yet there is no reason why
hand samples cannot be relied upon if, when design-
ing the mill, provision is made for convenient and
accurate sampling. The average design never takes
cognizance of the question of sampling. A couple of
features in the design of an amalgamation mill
recently devised by the writer may be of interest.
They work with perfect satisfaction and the cost is
practically nothing.
It is essential to sample the ore before it goes
through the mortar, owing to the general practice
of employing inside amalgamation. The ore is
crushed to pass a li-inch gauge, giving pieces rang-
ing from l*x4 inches down to dust infinitesimally fine.
The usual practice is either to take a few pieces off
the feed plate of the automatic feeder or to take out
a scoopful between the ore bin and feeder, say, every
half an hour. The sample thus obtained is usually
♦Western Chemist and Metallurgist.
October 21, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
too low, owing to getting insufficient fines. The
device for taking a hand sample is to provide a hinged
flap between the feed plate and mortar. By raising
the feed plate 4 inches and putting it back about 6
inches ample room will be provided. To take a sam-
ple the hinged feed spout is turned over for one-
quarter of a minute and the feed is directed to a
sample box, as shown in Fig. 1. By taking a sample
every half hour and directing the feed for about one-
quarter of a minute, about sixty pounds will be col-
lected in every twenty-four hours from each feeder.
This will give a sample the average of which in each
two weeks' run (between cleanups) is quite reliable.
A small crusher, set to crush to J-inch and driven from
the battery countershaft, will facilitate cutting down
the samples. A riffle sampler is also very con-
venient.
To sample tails the ordinary practice is to run a
cup along the end of the table and collect a certain
amount of the pulp. The sample so collected is often
ridiculously small and is rarely to be trusted; not
only is there danger of vitiating the sample by the
liquid pulp overflowing the cup, but particles of
amalgam may be scraped off the plates. There is,
therefore, danger that the tailings sample may often
run higher than the headings, and indeed this often
occurs.
A simple device for taking a tailing sample is to
put in the bottom of the collecting launder at the end
of the plate a 2i-inch nipple, so arranged that a
small sheet iron spout can be put under and the
whole supply of tailings diverted into a five-gallon
coal oil can. (See Fig. 2.) A sample collected for
about a quarter of a minute every half an hour will
give a sixty-pound sample in twenty-four hours. The
pulp is allowed to settle as long as possible in the
sample can and the muddy water is poured off into a
cloth filter, which is 12 inches in diameter at the base
and 18 inches deep. The filter cloth is carried on an
iron ring and supported in a wood frame, as shown
in Fig. 3.
The discussions of hand sampling in connection with
ore buying have conclusively demonstrated that auto-
matic sampling is by far preferable for custom work,
not only on the score of economy, but also on account
of accuracy. It is here submitted that these consid-
erations do not apply in mill work, provided that
suitable arrangements are made so that hand sam-
ples can be taken with convenience. The conditions
are quite different in the two cases. In custom work
it is a sine qua non that the sample on each lot must
represent the true value of that lot. According to
the law of averages, providing no constant error is
made, the buyer stands no risk even if he pays a little
too much for one lot, for on the next he may even
matters up by paying a little less than the ore is
worth. This, however, is not satisfactory to the
seller, who may only ship occasionally, and to whom
the law of average does not apply.
In a mill where the grade of ore does not fluctuate
between very wide limits samples taken daily will
average up during a run spread over a month or two
weeks, always provided, of course, that no constant
error occurs. The errors in sampling will be more
or less compensating. Yet the errors in milling ore,
even when hand sampling, need be very small. In a
characteristic case, which may be cited, we can see
that the ore is pretty well mixed by the time the ore
reaches the automatic feeder. In this case the ore,
after being delivered at surface, goes to a sorting
shed, where the ore is mixed and assorted to a very
considerable extent. The ore is then trammed to
the mill, where it is again mixed in the coarse ore
bin. From the bin it goes to a rock breaker, from
which it is spread in two streams feeding two auto-
matic feeders of a 10-stamp mill. Each stream of
ore is sampled. Thus we see that the possibility of a
single car of ore being able to get through to the
feeder without being at least partially mixed with
other ore is quite remote. Then by taking a sample
every half hour from two streams of ore it is practi-
cally impossible that a single ton can get through
without having a cut or even two taken out of it.
The errors of weighing and moisture determination
are certainly greater than the sampling, if the sam-
ples are taken with any degree of care.
So far as the assaying is concerned it must be ap-
parent that the samples should be regarded the same
as controls and assayed in triplicate. In the case of
very high single assays in amalgamation tailings,
either the very high result should be rejected, or
another set of assays made so as to have enough to
strike a fair average. The very high result is due in
most cases to a small piece of amalgam getting into
the assay sample. Should the results be very irregu-
lar from day to day, either the mill work requires
looking to or the sampler should be properly in-
structed in his work.
Latest Electrical Equipment of the Kara-
wanken Tunnel.
The diamond bearing rock of South Africa
resembles the dark green serpentine commonly found
throughout the Pacific Coast region from Alaska to
Southern California. In some of the pipes it presents
a granular appearance, in others it is solid and mas-
sive. The source of diamonds in California still
remains unknown, though most of the diamonds
found in that State, if not all of them, come from a
region east of any known serpentine or other
peridotite rocks.
Written for the Mining and Scientific Press by F. C. Pbhkins.
The total length of the Karawanken tunnel, in
Austria-Hungary, at the north end, completed up to
May 17, was 4.892 kilometers. During the last 892
meters of this excavation, a considerable amount of
water was encountered. Four electrically operated
centrifugal pumps were installed, after a distance of
4 kilometers had been excavated, and these electri-
cally driven pumps were increased in number to
eight, and finally to ten, in order to keep the tunnel
free from water while the construction work was in
progress.
For the construction of the Karawanken tunnel,
one of the most interesting electrical power trans-
mission plants and equipments has been utilized. The
tunnel begins at Rosenbachthal, South Valden, on the
Worthersee. The south end of the tunnel is located at
Birnbaun, on the State railroad, in the valley of
Wurzener Saye. The construction of the tunnel was
started at both ends and met in the center at a
height of 630 meters above sea level. The fall to the
south was 6%, while the grade on the north was 3%.
In the construction of the tunnel there were 1700
workmen at the northern end, 1100 of whom worked
in the tunnel itself, while on the south side there
were 2200 workmen, 1200 working in the tunnel,
which was constructed with a minimum height of
3 meters and a minimum width of 2} meters.
. The necessary power is supplied bv an electrical
power transmission plant, installed in Rothweinbach,
a distance of 6 miles from the south tunnel portal,
and another at Rosenbach, a distance of li mile from
the northern tunnel portal. The line voltage is 5000.
The water power available at Roweinbach was equiv-
alent to 900 H. P., with a fall of 28.4 meters and a
discharge rate of 3 cubic meters per second. The
power house at Rothweinbach was equipped with
three turbines of 450 H. P. each, a three-phase
alternator of 400 kilowatts capacity being directly
coupled to each turbine, the speed being 750 revolu-
tions per minute. Two of these three electrical gen-
erators were usually employed, the third being held
in reserve. These machines supplied three-phase
currents, with a frequency of 50 periods per sec-
ond and a pressure of 5500 volts. The turbine wheels
at the plant are equipped with automatic regulators,
which control the speed very accurately. The switch-
board consists of three marble panels for the meas-
uring instruments, regulating apparatus and
switches, which control the high-tension, three-phase
transmission line, which connects the power house
with the tunnel entrance. Highly insulated, iron-
armored cables are used within the tunnel.
This power house was extremely difficult to con-
struct, on account of the trouble of transporting the
building material and machines to the site of the
plant, and a new bridge had to be constructed for
aiding in the work of transportation. The hydraulic
installation was undertaken by Madile & Co. of Klag-
enurt, the mechanical equipment being installed by
the Maschinenfabrik Andrits Aktiengesellschaft of
Andritz, and the electrical equipment by Siemens &
Halske of Vienna. The power transmission line con-
sisted of three bare copper wires, each 8 millimeters
in diameter. The total length of the high-tension
power transmission line is about 6 miles, which
includes an underground section of armored high-ten-
sion cable, of the three-phase type, having a copper
section of 3x50 square millimeters. The entire loss
on the transmission line is from the central station to
the tunnel— 10%.
The Karawanken tunnel is provided with a ventila-
tor plant, the current being received from the Roth-
weinbach power house, and consists of two groups,
with three centrifugal ventilators in each group.
Each group of three ventilators is directly coupled to
a high-tension, three-phase a. c. motor of 180 H. P.
At a speed of 1450 revolutions a minute the ventila-
tors supply 350 cubic meters per minute to the tun-
nel, making the atmosphere therein satisfactory for
the workmen. These motors may be operated with
short circuited windings and also with slip rings and
brushes.
Each of the two motors with its group of three
ventilators is operated for three days of twenty-four
hours each, and at times for a longer period, after
which the second group is placed in circuit while the
first group is inspected. The ventilating pipe is 600
millimeters in diameter, a water-cooling system being
provided, so that the air forced into the tunnel in
summer is of a moderate temperature.
For this tunnel, Siemens & Halske supplied the rail-
way locomotives. These electric locomotives were
required to handle ten loaded cars of material, each
4200 kg., or together, 42,000 kg., the smallest curve
having a radius of 75 meters. Or they are required
to handle a train of fifteen empty cars, each weigh-
ing 1.2 ton, or together 18 ton, with the. same mini-
mum curve. The maximum drawbar pull of the loco-
motive is 2900 kilograms. Two of these electric
locomotives are coupled together, forming a double
locomotive with single control. Each axle is con-
nected to a direct-current railway motor of 25 H. P.
capacity. The normal speed of these locomotives is
10 kilometers per hour. Three of the double electric
locomotives were operated on the south side of the
tunnel, the total length of the trips being 7* kilome-
eters.
The current for operating the electric locomotives
was supplied from a sub-station which was connected
with the Rothweinbach power station transmis-
sion line and equipped with step-down transformers
and a 250-kilowatt rotary converter. The sub-sta-
tion received current from the transmission line at
5000 volts, and two stationary step-down transform-
ers of 230 kilowatts each were provided for lower-
ing the pressure to 350 volts, which the rotary raised
to 560 volts direct current. The rotary converter
has eight poles, and operates at a speed of 750 revo-
lutions per minute. It is provided with a six-pole
synchronous motor of small size for driving the rotary
up to synchronizing speed.
The electric railway overhead working line consists
of a bare copper wire of 80 millimeters cross section.
The loss of pressure was about 10% at the greatest
distance from the sub-station.
Twenty-six arc lamps of 1500 candle power each
supply the outside lighting, while the inside lighting
is provided by 618 incandescent lamps of 16 candle
power each. The lighting current is supplied from
transformers of 60 kilowatts capacity, the pressure
being 190 volts for the arc lamps and 110 volts for
the incandescent lamps.
There is also supplied from the Rothweinbach cen-
tral power station the current for operating the two
electrically driven compressors, each requiring 200
H. P., and has a workshop in the same building, the
total power used being 438 H. P. The air compress-
ors each supply 25 cubic meters of air per minute at
a pressure of seven atmospheres, for operating the
six pneumatic boring machines. The ventilating
plant and the power station, as well as other points,
are connected with a telephone system, the conduct-
ors used being 1} millimeter in diameter and mounted
on the high-pressure transmission line poles, two
meters below the power conductors. The total
length of the telephone conductors is 40,000 meters.
The power station on the north side of the Kara-
wanken tunnel, located at Rosenbach, takes water
from the Drau river, a small stream which supplies
a minimum of 600 liters per second and a normal sup-
ply of 1U00 liters of water per second under a head
of 72 meters. The water pipe is of wrought iron 800
millimeters in diameter and 1850 millimeters long.
This plant is supplied with three turbines of 3 H. P.
each, operating at a speed of 500 revolutions per
minute, with a water consumption of 510 liters per
second under a head of 58 meters. Each of these
turbines is directly coupled to a three-phase alterna-
tor, constructed by the Oesterreichischen Schuckert
Werke, with a capacity of 270 kilowatts as a maxi-
mum load, or an output of 216 kilowatts, with a
power factor of eight-tenths and a pressure of
5200 volts. This central station is connected by a
transmission line 2300 meters long to the electric ven-
tilator plant at the north tunnel entrance. This
transmission line consists of three bare copper wires,
each five millimeters in diameter mounted upon high-
tension insulators on wooden poles. This ventilator
plant includes two three-phase motors of 180 H. P.
capacity, constructed by the Oesterreicheischen
Schuckert Werke, directly coupled to two groups of
three ventilators each, similar to those on the south
side of the tunnel, supplying 350 cubic meters of air
when operating at a speed of 1450 revolutions per
minute. The double electric locomotive and electric
railway equipment, as well as the lighting installation
and telephone systems, at this side of the tunnel are
very similar to those of the south side.
The use of electric boring machines is an interest-
ing feature connected with the construction of the
Karawanken tunnel. These boring tools are each
provided with 2 H. P. motors operating the drills.
The electric boring machines consist of a car pro-
vided with a cable drum and several electric drills
mounted on an adjustable frame. Both direct cur-
rent and alternating current motors have been util-
ized in the operation of these machines.
The current from the high-tension power transmis-
sion line, which is a 5000 volt three-phase current, is
conducted through a three conductor, iron-armored
high-tension cable of 3x6 square millimeters copper
cross section to a transformer of 25 kilowatts capac-
ity, which is used for transforming the pressure to
250 volts. The low-pressure cables are also iron-
armored and lead-covered, with three conductors
each of 35 square millimeters cross section. These
cables connect with the boring machines, which are
provided with drums holding about 200 feet of cable.
It is generally acknowledged by those competent
to judge of such matters that sulphides are deposited
in veins and zones of fracture from ascending solu-
tions containing them. It is also thought that under
certain conditions in the upper portion of veins that
these sulphides may be oxidized to sulphates and
reprecipitated as sulphides numerous times, but the
original source of the sulphur appears to have been
the deep-seated sulphides of the original crystallized
rocks and of magmas.
27rj
Mining and Scientific Press.
October i\, 1905.
Placer Mining in Alaska.
NUMBER X.
Sluices and Gold-Saving Appliances, Exclud-
ing Hydraulic Operations. — Creek miners in the
Klondike and Alaska placer fields have met, with
extraordinary vigor and a considerable amount of
success, the peculiarly difficult conditions attendant
on mining operations in the Northwest. Inventive
genius has been called largely into play, since, except
in parts of Seward Peninsula, hydraulic mining in
working the creek deposits is not practiced. It is
evident, however, to one who visits the Klondike dis-
trict that the methods there in vogue for working
the rich creek deposits have been developed with
special attention to the economical mining and con-
veying of the material to the sluice, while the wash-
ing of the gravel in the sluice is not, as a rule, con-
ducted with a view to the saving of the greatest
economic amount of the gold. Whereas in the hydrau-
lic-sluicing methods the benefit of long experience has
resulted in generally commendable practice, the
smaller hand and mechanical creek operations fre-
quently exhibit gross carelessness in the matter of
gold-saving appliances.
The method of shoveling by hand into a string of
sluice boxes is naturally the one first tried by the
assistance of a nozzle, and the remainder is shoveled,
wheeled to and dumped into the sluice. Small bunk-
ers or hoppers are sometimes built over the sluices;
but no hoppers of large capacity, like those in use in
Plumas county, Cal., were seen in the north. On An-
vil creek, in Seward Peninsula, a large winter dump
was handled in this way, with the exception that
those portions which could not be caved to the sluices
were conveyed to it and dumped in by means of horse
scrapers. Though loss of gold may be permissible in
primitive operations of small capacity, it should be-
come proportionally less when larger mechanical in-
stallations are made and the capacity of the plant is
increased. .
One of the early difficulties which the miner in the
interior encountered was the presence of sticky clay
and mud in the rich pay dirt. The difficulty was
partly 'overcome by the introduction of the mud box,
or puddling box, which was set in the middle or at
the upper end of the string. Into this the men shov-
eled, or a bucket or car dumped. Pig. 17 shows the
form of the mud box used in the Klondike and its
position in the line of boxes. Its grade is generally
made steeper than that of the rest of the string; 12
inches is common. The services of an extra man as
stirrer, who also forks out the large stones, are re-
quired.
Where men shovel into boxes, the mud box is used
merely as a wide part of the sluice. In larger plants,
where buckets, cars or derrick skips dump into the
mud box, a platform, inclined at an angle of about
50°, 9 feet square, and built up of timber floored with
Typical Scene in Placer Mines — A String of Sluices Showing Mud Box.
miner in a remote district, working in shallow ground,
after he has passed the panning and rocking stage.
In these operations the cost, even under present
northern conditions, varies from $1.25 to $2 50 per
cubic yard (averaging $1.63), the capacity per man
per shift averaging 5j cubic yards. The most primi-
tive appliances are the most economical. Prom three
to six boxes, 12 or 14 inches in width by 12 inches deep
by 12 feet long, on a grade of 6 or 7 inches to the box
length, fitted with 6-foot 3-inch pole riffles made of
saplings, form the customary rig in the interior where
timber is at hand. Prom 30 to 60 miner's inches of
water are used. Operations of this kind, where from
three to twenty men shovel in, are to be found on all
the gold-bearing creeks exploited in Alaska, though
in the Klondike they have been largely supplemented
by methods employing less hand labor. As none but
rich gravel can be so worked, exigency permits a loss
of fine gold. It is rare that placer miners will admit
that they are losing gold; but it is safe to estimate
that in the interior, where two to five boxes are in
use for saving, and where drop-offs are not used, or
are only such as are caused by the telescope connec-
tion of the boxes, from 10% to 20% of the gold lifted
into the boxes is allowed to return to the creek bed.
It would seem that heavy losses would occur in con-
nection with the sluicing of the winter dumps taken
out in drifting operations. The strings of sluice boxes
are erected at as small an elevation as possible, in
order that the greater proportion of the material
will not have to be rehandled when the spring sluic-
ing is done. Boards are laid over the sluices, and
when sluicing is resumed the water is turned through
the sluice, and, beginning at the lower end, the
boards are successively removed. As much of the
gravel as possible is caved in, sometimes with the
*Bulletir 263 U. S. Geological Survey.
rough scantling, is erected on the side of the box for
the gravel to fall on.
The capacity of the sluice is cut down rather than
increased by the use of the mud box, and the expense
is increased by the cost of the man. A greater sav-
ing of gold is made; but at best the operation is ex-
pensive and of small and variable efficiency. In some
shoveling-in operations the use of the mud box is ad-
visable; but where mechanical self-dumping buckets
are used, it is possible that some other form of agita-
tor might be advantageously employed.
The developments of the open-cut and drifting
methods of gravel mining have necessitated an en-
larging of the sluicing capacity. With the enlarging
of the capacity, however, there has not been a pro-
portionate improvement in the construction of the
gold-saving appliances. In other words, instead of
drawing on the experience of the hydraulic miner
and the dredger miner for the adoption of gold-saving
methods, the creek miners of the Klondike have con-
tinued the method of the long, narrow sluice used for
shoveling-in operations, amplifying its error and suf-
fering the inevitable losses of fine gold which its use
entails.
The average capacity of a small placer operation
where hand labor is employed is 40 cubic yards in a
day of ten hours. Grant that the narrow sluice of
36 feet in length with pule riffles is most economical
for the needs of such a man. Now take an average
summer drifting plant, where the gravel is dumped
into the mud box by means of the cable tram and self-
dumping carrier. The capacity is 175 cubic yards in
twenty-four hours and the cost is approximately $1.50
per yard. After it is hoisted from the shaft
the material is elevated to a height of 25 feet
above the surface of the ground. Water is pumped
to this height for sluicing. The sluice consists of a
mud box 16 feet long and 30 inches wide, on a 12-inch
grade, tapering to the 14-inch sluice boxes which fol-
low. There are eight of these, set on a grade of 10
inches to 12 feet, furnished with pole riffles, which last
three weeks only and cost $3 per box length to renew.
The man forking in the mud box costs $6.50 a day of
Crade.s'lo le'n 12'
Side delation
1
1
1
Fig. 17. — Mud Box.
ten hours. At this plant the gold is in part very
finely divided, and it is impossible to believe that the
sluice in use is operating with economy.
Proof of the losses now going on in the Klondike
was seen on a neighboring creek. At a plant some-
what larger than the one above described, where 240
cubic yards a day were handled at a cost of $1 a cubic
yard, a small undercurrent had been installed at the
Punched boles^n'
tto.S Iron or steal
Orddo, IB"to e*in!Z'
Fig. 18. — Modified Caribou Undercurrent.
end of ten 16-inch boxes, 12-inch grade, pole riffles.
The undercurrent was fed through a small it on grizzly
and consisted merely of one 16-inch sluice box, 12 feet
in length, with a riffle of cocoa matting and expanded
metal. It cost $20 to construct this device, which
was saving an average of 5% of the product each
day. A sample of the gold was taken, and although
some of it is too fine for handling, such particles as
Scale affect
Fig. rg. — Improved Hungarian Riffle.
could be weighed and counted gave a result of 280
colors to the cent, the gold being worth $15.60 per
ounce. Gold of finely divided but never flaky charac-
ter was seen in all the large producing creeks of the
Klondike, and at the new Fairbanks district of
Alaska.
The plants above referred to represent the average
capacity of the creek mines of the interior of Alaska,
October 21, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
27?
where the hoisting of material and frequently the
pumping of sluice water are necessary. It costs from
$3000 to $5000 to rig up such plants, which are used
for three seasons or longer. To install a washing
plant in such a case as the above would add little to
the first cost, and the additional expense would prob-
ably be justified by the results.
Before entering on suggestions as to the use of
washing plants, I wish to emphasize the fact that the
methods of sluicing in use in Alaska, especially in the
Birch Creek, Forty-mile and Fairbanks districts,
and, to a certain extent, in Seward Peninsula, have
been and will continue to be influenced by the Klon-
dike developments. Though many of the methods
developed in the Klondike are excellent and are
worthy of imitation in any country where conditions
are similar, at the same time the Alaskan miners
should note' the wrong principle of the primitive sluice
box which has been continued there. The entire
absence of screening or use of grizzlies, other than
the rough, expensive hand method employed, renders
valueless much ground which could be worked. A
plant costing $5000, designed to thaw, excavate,
hoist, convey and wash 150 cubic yards a day at a
cost of $1 a yard, could by an addition of from $500 to
$2000 to the first cost of the plant and an addition of
10 cents per yard to the cost of washing, recover at
least 10% more value in gold from a cubic yard of
material.
It may be said that the fine gold found in the Klon-
dike does not occur in the Alaska creeks. This is
disproved by experiments made on small parcels
undercurrents combined in the main sluice. Its ad-
vantages of cheapness, adaptability to conditions and
simplicity recommend it. No extra power or water
is required. On the other hand, the use of the mud
box is not obviated.
(to be continued.)
The Pioneers of the Desert.
The desert of southern Nevada continues to attract
much attention from the mining world generally by
reason of the repeated announcement of rich strikes
in districts both old and new. The discovery at
Tonopah by Butler five years ago has been like a
pebble dropped in the mill pond — the waves have
radiated outward from the center for miles in every
direction — and numerous discoveries have been made
as the direct result of the impetus which Tonopah
gave to mining in the Great Basin.
Old districts, practically abandoned for years,
have again come into prominence, and in the unknown
territory lying between these old-time camps new
districts have been founded and towns have grown up
there almost in a day. As a matter of course, no
ordinary mine can long exist in that region, remote
from the source of all supplies — nothing but the high-
grade mine survives. The freighter found profitable
employment at first in hauling the rich ore from
Tonopah to the railroad. As the prospectors pushed
History of Pyritic Smelting.*
NUMBER II.
By Robert C. Sticht.
In 187S John Hollway took steps to test by actual
experiment his expectations on ithe subject, and
made a decisive attempt to apply the principle of
rapid oxidation to pyritic ores. For a beginning he
had the great advantage, over the past, of the im-
portant theoretical aids now offered by thermo-
chemistry, and by consulting their testimony before
embarking on experiments on a large scale he
marked, more clearly than by any other undertaking,
the immense strides by which the science of metal-
lurgy had advanced, chiefly in the preceding three-
quarters of a century.
But the thing was to put the idea to practical test.
This followed in due course, first on a small scale,
and then with the aid of the full complement of the
colossal plant of the steel works, in all cases with
equally significant success, fully substantiating the
pre-established theoretical results. In the spring of
1878 Mr. Hollway began by forcing a current of oxy-
gen gas through molten iron sulphide in a clay cru-
cible. Then air was blown through cupriferous iron
pyrites that had been previously melted in a steel
melting furnace, larger crucibles being employed and
a proportion of sand added, in order to flux the pro-
Hauling Ore From Surface Workings at Goldfield, Nevada.
taken from pannings on the various creeks. Fine gold
from Fairbanks creek, in the Tanana district, runs
500 colors to the cent, the gold being worth $17.70 an
ounce. A small proportion of gold fromOphir creek,
in Seward Peninsula, was found to run 170 colors to
the cent, the gold being worth $18.50 an ounce. No
means of knowing the proportionate amount of this
gold is possible, as with the methods at present em-
ployed very little of it is recovered. Five per cent is
considered a fair average of the total gold repre-
sented by the above fineness of division. This gold,
which is not flaky in spite of its fine character, could
easily be saved with the proper appliances, and there
is no doubt that much coarser gold is lost.
The question will be asked: Can a cheap and ef-
ficient washing plant be installed, where gravel must
be elevated by power, which will not add greatly to
the cost, and the parts of which can be easily and
quickly made with the materials at hand?
On the principle that gold is best saved in the thin-
nest sheet of water which will carry the tailings
away, it is evident that for fine gravel a wide sluice
is better than a narrow one. In the narrow sluice
boxes, full or nearly full of running water with great
velocity, fine gold will be carried along. Lengthen-
ing the sluice will not help matters. In fact, a short
sluice with drops or undercurrent attachment is fre-
quently more effective than a long sluice without it.
In a given case assume that the ordinary 14-inch
boxes are widened to 24 inches, and that five boxes
with a grade of 9 inches to the box, fitted with the
ordinary sapling-pole riffles, as at present, are suc-
ceeded by three boxes with the form of screen repre-
sented in Fig. 18, the grade being made adjustable
by means of blocking. An addition of 19$ inches to
each of the three boxes would compensate for the
loss of grade consequent on the uptilting of the
screens. The whole drop in the string of boxes would
be 103.5 inches, as against 108 inches were twelve
boxes used with a 9-inch grade. Under the punched
iron plates riffles of one or more kinds, as described
below, charged with quicksilver, should be used. The
riffle shown in Fig. 19 will be found satisfactory.
Mats, plush or blankets may under certain conditions
be found more economical. A short transverse table
following the last box, arranged under a grizzly from
which the large material is discharged to the dump,
will enable the operator to determine whether losses
are occurring in the main sluice and screening boxes.
The above installation is in principle a series of
out, Lone Mountain, Gold Mountain and then Gold-
field came into prominence. Later Bullfrog and
Kawich made demands on the teamster and his out-
fit of wagons and mules.
The railroad has penetrated to Tonopah and Gold-
field, but there still remain other outlying districts;
so that the freighter is not without occupation, nor
is he likely to be for a long time to come in that
section.
The accompanying illustration is typical of a desert
ore-hauling outfit, such as may be seen now any day on
the sage-covered plains and hills of southern Nevada.
The summer season has drawn to a close in that re-
gion, and with it the most menacing of the dangers
which beset the prospector on the desert. Water is
not more abundant, generally speaking; but both
days and nights are cooler now and the risks are
noticeably lessened. This means a revival of active
search for new bonanzas, and the prospectors are
already setting out in quest of new districts — north,
south, east and west from each of the several centers
of supply that have been established within the past
four or five years — and it is safe to predict that the
coming fall and winter season will see new and, at
this time, unheard of camps spring into existence,
and in these will be re-enacted the scenes so familiar
in the older camps. The entire populace of that re-
gion is on the qui vive and ever ready at the first
announcement of a new strike to swoop down upon
the district almost en masse. A few are successful;
the remainder linger disappointedly about, waiting
no less eagerly for the next stampede, confident that
luck will favor them at the next turn of fortune's
wheel. It is this feeling of optimism that aids largely
in sustaining these new camps, where there is little
comfort in human existence; but it is the nature of
the prospector — he is "built that way "—and to him
and his brother, the freighter, is due almost entirely
the tremendous development of that desert region
known as the Great Basin.
A coal hoisting feat was performed at the Max-
well No. 20 shaft, in Luzerne county, Pa., a few days
ago, says the American Manufacturer. Because of
a scarcity of cars the full capacity of this breaker
had never been tested. But last week there seemed
to be no limit to the supply of cars, and in nine hours
1285 were hoisted — an accomplishment considered
remarkable in a district where mining machinery is
thought to have reached its greatest development.
toxide of iron. This test lasted half an hour. Like
the preceding one, it demonstrated that sufficient
heat was actually developed by the iron and sulphur
to keep the mass in a molten condition. A fluid slag
was formed, and the copper was concentrated in a
small body of enriched regulus, which separated
readily from the slag. In other words, it was, so
far, conclusively proved that pyrites could be melted
by the heat generated in its own oxidation. It was
evident that, if iron pyrites could be made to behave
in this manner at all, there was reasonable indication
that the operation might be carried on in a proper
furnace, notwithstanding the fact that the trials were
made on pre-molten ore and the furnace would have
to take it cold and raw.
However, the small tests revealed a feature which
the thermal calculations had been silent on, and that
was the insufficiency of a low blast to achieve the
best effect, and the necessity of a fairly rapid oxida-
tion. This observation caused the selection of the
Bessemer converter as the most accessible and only
immediately available apparatus guaranteeing the
required pneumatic advantages. . Thanks to the
assistance of Mr. Matheson, Mr. Hollway was enabled
to conduct a systematic series of trials at the Peni-
stone steel works of Messrs. Cammell & Co., near
Sheffield, in July, 1878, and subsequently, all of which
fully confirmed what yet was wanting demonstration.
Mr. Hollway at once expressed his opinion that the
Bessemer converter was not a truly suitable appara-
tus for the work, but, of course, inferences from the
behavior of the substances within it could be reliably
applied to other apparatus capable of exciting the
same energy, which was wholly within the capabili-
ties of the blast furnace of that time.
The material used for these larger experiments
was ordinary Rio Tinto pyrites, with about 3.5%
copper. It was run down with coke in the pig iron
cupola and conveyed into an ordinary 6-ton, gan-
nister-lined steel converter, served by the usual blow-
ing engines, supplying a pressure of 20 pounds. The
first blow was made on the 10th and 11th of July,
1878, and lasted half an hour. No sand having been
added, the lining was greatly corroded. The second
trial was made on the 11th and 12th of July, the reg-
ulus obtained after fifteen minutes of blowing show-
ing an increase of copper of from 3.4% to 46%. Sand
having been thrown in, the corrosion decreased cor-
* Abstract of Proceedings Australasian Inst. Mining Engineers.
278
Mining and Scientific Press.
October 21, 1905.
respondingly. Six experiments were made, consecu-
tively, on the 17th and 18th of July, and every met-
allurgical detail observed, the gases sampled, their
temperatures measured, and the spectroscope ap-
plied. The six tests all gave similar results.
Mr. Hollway at once followed to their utmost theo-
retical limits all the possibilities of the process, and
laid them before the Society of Arts at a meeting
held on the 12th of February, 1879, Prof. Roscoe pre-
siding. Together with the discussion, this article
forms one of the most interesting contributions to
the archives of the science of metallurgy, just as the
magnificently successful experiments themselves con-
stituted one of the most daring and conclusive events
in the annals of the art. The simple chemistry of the
process is quite fully discussed, and its principles and
their corollaries clearly enunciated, and, in fact, that
paper, with the critiques of the members, may be
regarded as a small pyrite smelter's gospel, voicing
early inspirations.
In 1880 P. Manhes began his experiments for blow-
ing mattes up to white metal in one operation, in a
regular Bessemer converter, suitably modified, at
Vedennes and Eguilles, near Avignon, in France — a
scheme which was subsequently perfected by being
extended to the black copper stage, and which has
become the beautiful process which nowadays is so
widely in favor. It belongs to exactly the same met-
allurgical family as pyritic ore treatment, and is the
most fitting supplement to the preparatory work
done by the latter, where the ores are suitable. Yet,
with the usual subversion of natural sequence char-
acteristic of historical development, it reached its
climax first.
The agglutination of the ore column in the upper
portions of the furnace shaft by the volatile sulphur,
and the consequent hanging of the charge, even when
the hearth region showed signs of smelting, was the
obstacle encountered at the very beginning of all
trials with heavy sulphides. Hot blast might have
led to success in such cases, but works treating basic
ores did not have this attachment, and those that
had it were working siliceous ores, which lacked the
pyrites.
Apparently almost no records of such attempts
have found their way into literature. One instance,
however, may be cited, as probably typical of others,
or all. It is the experience of C. A. Hering, who, no
doubt, induced thereto by the Hollway experiments,
tested the pyritic idea in 1878 at Accessa, in Tus-
cany. Before tempting the Providence that controls
the behavior of blast furnaces, Mr. Hering turned a
large roast heap into an exaggerated wind smelting
pile, such as the more primitive nations of the middle
ages were in the habit of obtaining their lead with.
A larger bed of wood was given than usual, the heap
built up higher than ordinary, the sides thickly cov-
ered with roasted fines, and an updraught through
the pile provided. After ignition a great evolution
of heat took place, with a sulphur flame at the apex
of the pile, which lasted for days, while molten reg-
ulus in quantity ran from the base. In three weeks
the heap was opened. At the bottom it showed a tre-
mendous sow: above that a conglomeration of ore,
matte and slag; over that, well-roasted ore, and on
top, the residues from the liquation of the sulphide
ores, chiefly consisting of quartz. Some of the latter
showed unmistakable signs of fusion, without having
been fluxed, so that the temperature evolved must
have been enormous. Mr. Hering's next attempt
was in the blast furnace at the same place in 1879,
the declared intention being to make a richer matte
while saving coke. As the plant did not permit of
special alterations for the purpose of the best effect,
the investigation had to be limited to giving more
blast than usual, and later on a higher pressure. The
improvement was undeniable. Ordinarily the sulphur
loss within the furnace was 11%; it was now 15%.
The matte usually contained 23% to 24% copper, but
now ran 28%. These small advantages, however,
seemed to the experimenter outweighed by certain
more serious disadvantages, such as overfire, irreg-
ular sinking of the charges, increased flue dust, the
dragging of more or less matte into the slag pots,
and a worse separation. Consequently no further
trials were made.
The pure form of pyrite smelting, as well as par-
tial pyrite smelting, thus lay dormant from 1880 on,
and pyritic smelting also seemed to be on the wane.
They required renewals of impetus towards further
progress which, practically, only those conditions of
ore supply and mineralogical character of the same
could give, which were sufficiently one-sided to be
amenable to no other smelting methods.
F. A. Bartlett is the pioneer of pyritic smelting in
America, and during the eighties devoted all his ener-
gies to its cause. His operations were conducted
in the State of Maine, but his advocacy of the pro-
cess covered the entire country. He rightly consid-
ered it a lost or forgotten art, though filling a most
important place in the metallurgical rank and file of
methods, even when locally dissociated from the sub-
sequent extraction of the precious metals from the
mere middle product, i. e., matte, which is all that it
can produce. Mr. Bartlett's opinions on the method
resolved themselves into a matte smelting of the raw
ores in a very simple blast furnace plant, practically
independently of all but the merest traces of copper.
In this metal he empirically drew the line at 3% on
the charge. He obtained mattes as high as 70 to 80
ounces of silver per ton with both lead and copper
absent — i. e., making excessively siliceous slags con-
taining less than 1 ounce of silver — but with i% cop-
per on the charge he rose to 200 ounces of silver in
the matte, and with 3% copper up to 700 ounces,
without serious losses. The ores he considered most
suitable were those carrying considerable amounts of
iron and manganese, and the sulphur contents were
to be regulated by partial roasting, when high, and
the use of sulphides raw, when low. The advantage
of a possible partial desulphurization in the furnace
itself came in as a very largely recognized feature
also, but was not made the paramount feature. Coke
was still used in considerable amount, and only a
reducing furnace atmosphere contemplated. Blast
pressures were as yet low — i. e., from 8 to 12 ounces
per square inch — and furnaces were small. Mr.
Bartlett's type of 18S7 measured 3 feet by 4 feet at
the tuyeres, of which there were eight, and about 8
feet from tuyeres to charge opening. This furnace
was water-jacketed all over, except the drop bot-
tom, and used a heated blast derived from the fur-
nace gases by means of an air-jacketed hood above
the throat. The blast was trapped for the slag out-
let, but there was a special tap for the matte, direct
from the furnace hearth. The constructional depart-
ures from the European types thus briefly indicated
marked the radically different circumstances under
which pyritic smelting now had to be made success-
ful, and also indicate the general trend of the im-
provements to be effected in the wake of the migra-
tion into transatlantic surroundings. The utility of
a large blast volume was understood, and fans were
advocated by H. M. Howe and others, but rotary
blowers were ordinarily employed.
We now finally enter upon the period, and into the
circumstances, in which the most interesting division
of the general subject — viz., the special one of pyrite
smelting — suffered a restoration. This revival
occurred in the United States of America, in the
western part of the country, in the Territory of
Montana.
In the latter half of the eighties an English com-
pany, originally engaged in, or an offshoot from one
engaged in, the pastoral industry on the high pla-
teaux of Montana, founded a township on the banks
of the Missouri river, in a promising agricultural val-
ley, about 40 miles east of Helena, the capital of the
Territory. The inducement to locate there was the
presence of a few mines, and that of the Northern
Pacific Railroad, which ran alongside the river at
the point selected. The township was called Toston.
The original industry having proved disastrous,
owing to the long and very severe winters, it may
have been proposed to try smelting instead. Any
way, a small plant was erected for the purpose, but
not much hope of success attended the enterprise
until it was decided to utilize the gold-bearing iron
pyrites of certain adjacent mining properties, which
gave some promise of permanency. The metallurgi-
cal affairs were in the hands of W. L. Austin, and to
him is due, not alone the second — or Western — reju-
venation of pyritic smelting in America, but also
a later, still more excellent, because more difficult,
achievement — namely, the consummation of pyrite
smelting, as we now know it, in blast furnaces. Mr.
Austin's attainments as a Freiberg graduate and
erudite metallurgist easily found the only direction in
which the local ores could be made amenable to
profits, and first suggested the application of the old
Roharbeit or pyritic smelting. In 1885 a small, old-
fashioned sandstone furnace, about 4 feet square in-
side, and provided with water tuyeres, was erected
for this purpose. Experiments showed that the Ger-
man spurofen style of hearth construction was the
most suitable, the products discharging continuously
through a taphole, without trapping the blast. A
Herreshoff furnace was also employed, but proved
inconvenient, on account of the inaccessibility of the
passage leading from furnace to forehearth, which
the irony matte constantly choked up. At first, as
in the Roharbeit days, the ore was not roasted, but
the matte subjected to this operation, and resmelted
with siliceous ores to enrich it. Lead soaking, etc.,
were not carried out, but the product sold to large
lead smelting works elsewhere. The most satisfac-
tory results are said to have been obtained with a
low column and large volume of air, coke being used
for fuel in due quantity. The pyrites in the mines
became granular after a while, and finally so fine
that one-half of it had to be roasted in a calcining fur-
nace and bricked with lime. No lead or copper ores
were bought, but some copper must have been pres-
ent, however little, for the recoveries clashed with
the well-known fact, established through centuries of
similar work, that pure iron matte is not a suitable
collector for gold and silver. About this time special
research by E. G. Spilsbury and others had definitely
settled this point, at least as far as gold is concerned.
As a matter of fact, too, .the mattes subsequently
obtained out of the main ore by means of pyrite
smelting did contain considerable copper, although it
was lost sight of, because no t paid for by the pur-
chasers. The undertaking up to this stage seemed
but little destined to make a name for itself, for ore
was scarce in the immediate vicinity, and not to be
had elsewhere except by means of a railway journey
of a couple of hundred miles, and coke was very
dear.
This precarious and stressful condition of affairs is
directly responsible for the revival of the blast fur-
nace bessemerizing of sulphide ores, which had been
abandoned by Mr. Hollway, and which, under Mr.
Austin's direction, was here to be achieved in a dia-
metrically opposed environment. The. former had at
his command all the tremendous paraphernalia of the
iron industry, the latter only the most limited array
of commonplace apparatus, sufficing for matte smelt-
ing on a very small scale. Nothing could appear less
promising, for it must have seemed that if pyrite
smelting was capable of balking even the most intense
metallurgical energies which could be brought to bear
on it, then the resources available at the poverty
stricken Toston smelter had not a shadow of hope of
success. However, the outcome was the very
reverse. Still, success was not born in a moment,
but came by slow degrees. •
It was natural, since coke was dear and funds were
scarce, that a Freiberg student should revert to hot
blast, which could be fired by wood or coal, in order
to cut down the consumption of the dearer fuel.
Accordingly Mr. Austin erected a small impromptu
iron pipe stove, of cramped dimensions. This had,
one may assume, all the desired effect, when not out
of order. A Root blower permitted of pressures of
blast up to 3 pounds in the small furnace.
Now undoubtedly followed a series of observations
which, in due course, guided Mr. Austin to the bold
step of depressing the coke percentage to less than
half the usual amount, with the deliberate object of
forcing the fuel qualities of the iron pyrite to assert
themselves as an essential contribution to the heat
balance of the furnace. In any case, what had not
been dared, or, if dared, had not been successfully
carried out before, anywhere else, was to be accom-
plished with the confined and shabby appointments
of Toston. Many desultory runs were made, and the
process tested as far as possible, although the course
of experimenting was made particularly rough by a
variety of circumstances, technical and other-
wise.
Meanwhile financial stress, scarcity of ore and
internecine troubles caused the cessation of smelting
operations, and the plant was shut down. For some
time it was leased as an auxiliary plant by the Helena
M. & R. Co. for the treatment of Cceur d'Alene
galena ores, and a 36x78-inch lead furnace, of the usual
American water-jacketed type, was erected by the
lessees. Upon the termination of the lease this fur-
nace afforded the Toston company a more adequate
opportunity for further testing the pyrite work, and,
when operations were finally again resumed after
finances had been improved, this furnace was altered
to suit matting operations. A much more appro-
priate cast iron pipe stove, of the hanging U-tube
pattern, of fair dimensions, was also constructed. In
1890-91 the experiments were resumed on the en-
larged scale now possible, but, for various mechani-
cal reasons, which it is unnecessary to detail, the
work was not successful as a continuous exhibition of
the possibilities of pyrite smelting. There was, of
course, the same dearth of proper ores as before,
and much rubbish had to be treated. Special pre-
cautions were taken to meet special troubles that
presented themselves. For instance, the jackets of
the narrow lower tier, resting immediately on the
bottom plate, were made solid, in order to resist the
dynamiting which was resorted to for the purpose of
rending the accretions that accumulated in the
hearth — this operation being a portion of the regular
curriculum of the campaigns. However, sufficient
information as to the proper furnace mixtures, etc.,
was gained to allow of successful exhibition smeltings
whenever special occasions required them to show off
the process. Mr. Austin went to Colorado in 1891 to
introduce the process there, and the patent was
granted soon after, in the same year.
On the strength of the latter a new company, oper-
ating the Toston plant, was formed, which controlled
the rights for the two States of Montana and Idaho.
Although a practical superintendent, possessing the
whole fund of collective experience at the place, was
in charge, it was felt that outside judgment was
desirable, and accordingly the writer investigated
the Toston innovation in the fall of 1891 for some
friends. The aims of the process were being much
misunderstood, and its products even placed under a
ban, inasmuch as one lead smelting plant, which had
purchased the matte, attributed heavy losses in gold,
which it had sustained, to the Toston manufactured
material. A banker, a man of sagacity, however,
was accustomed to declare that if the furnace could
be made to run for a day he could not see why it
could not be persuaded to run for weeks. The opin-
ion is certainly justified that, had it not been for the
common sense, patience and faith of this interested
though wholly untechnical gentleman, the art of
pyrite smelting would once more have suffered a
relapse, in Montana, at least.
Of the few weeks which the writer spent at Toston
as the counsellor and guide of the superintendent, it
will be sufficient to say that everything went fairly
smoothly. It was patent how the furnace action dif-
fered from that of the wholly coke-fed furnace, but,
as the phenomena required a complete reversal of
the predisposition of mind generated by the ordinary
blast furnace practice, there was an abundance of
novel and interesting points.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
October 21, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press
279
Disposition of Exhaust Steam From Mine
Pumps.
The disposition of exhaust steam from pumping
machinery in mines is a worthy subject. In mining
operations large bodies of water are frequently met.
A method of steam condensation is provided by the
A. S. Cameron Steam Pump Works, foot of East
Twenty-third street, New York, herein illustrated
and described:
Pig. 1.
Fig. I shows a Cameron vertical plunger sinking
pump, having the slings attached by which it is hung
in the shaft. The darker portion shows the condenser,
with the exhaust pipe leading thereto, and bolted to
the water valve chest.
Fig. 2.
Fig. II gives a sectional view of the condenser
chamber. The constant flow of water through the
suction piping connected to the bottom of the con-
denser is designed to cool the bronze sleeve which is
arranged within this chamber, so that when the
exhaust steam comes in contact with the cool surface
part of it will immediately be condensed and the
remainder passing through the annular opening will
also be condensed after mixing with the water pass-
ing through the suction. It is necessary that the
water cylinder be fully charged before the exhaust
steam is turned into the condenser, by allowing the
pump to exhaust into the atmosphere until it has
become filled with water, then the three-way valve
may be .turned and the exhaust steam admitted to
the condenser, but it should not be allowed to enter
except in combination with water. In some cases
automatic floats are arranged to stop the pumps
when the water supply is down. An air leak is fatal
to the successful working of any condensing appa-
ratus.
The manufacturers claim that expense and delay
when the pumps are moved about in the mines can be
avoided by the use of the Cameron condenser.
Self -Packing Steam Radiator Valve.
Herewith is illustrated a Crane quick opening
self-packing radiator
valve. The lever handle
can be operated by the
foot, as well as by the
hand. The construction
of these valves is such
that, when closed, the discs
bear on the seats very
tightly, and the valve is
locked in place until re-
leased. The bonnets of
thpse valves are inter-
changeable with the bon-
nets of Crane regular ra-
diator valves. These
valves have artistically de-
signed proportions and
add much to the appear-
ance of a nicely furnished apartment by their symmet-
rical proportions and rich appearance. Prices, etc.,
will be furnished by the manufacturers, Crane Co.,
Chicago.
Falling Bodies in Deep Shafts.
There still remain things connected with the force
known as the attraction of gravitation which are
difficult to understand. Theoretically, any object
dropped in space above the earth falls directly toward
the center of the earth. The plummet is supposed
to indicate the direction in which the center of the
earth lies. Notwithstanding this, it is now said that
objects dropped into deep vertical shafts never reach
the bottom, but always fall toward the east side of
the shaft, lodging somewhere in the timbers, nothing
reaching the bottom which falls into the shaft from
or near the top. It is said that this peculiar fact
has been demonstrated at the Red Jacket shaft of
the Calumet & Hecla copper mine, near Houghton.
The article, no matter what shape or size it may be,
is invariably found clinging to the east side of the
shaft. One day a monkey-wrench was dropped, but
it did not get to the bottom. It was found lodged
against the east side of the shaft several hundred
feet down. This incident coming to the attention of
the Michigan College of Mines, it was decided to make
a careful test of the apparent phenomenon. It was
decided best to use a small but heavy spherical body,
and a marble tied to a thread was suspended about
12 feet below the mouth of the shaft. When the mar-
ble was absolutely still, assuring that it would drop
straight down, the thread was burned through by
the flame of a candle. The marble fell, but at a point
500 feet from the surface brought up against the east
wall of the shaft.
The same would be the case were a man to fall into
the shaft. While it would mean sure death, the body,
badly torn, would be found lodged in the timbering
on the east side. Members of the faculty of the Col-
lege of Mines are now engaged in experiments with a
view of developing data as to the thickness of the
earth's crust. It is not hoped to solve the perplex-
ing problem of the distribution of the earth's matter,
but it is hoped to add to the information collected
concerning it.
To this end the Red Jacket shaft presents advan-
tages possessed by no other place in the universe.
The deep shafts in other parts of the country and in
foreign lands generally begin at an altitude and end
above or very little below the sea level, whereas at
the Calumet mine the Red Jacket shaft starts in a
comparatively low altitude and pierces the earth's
crust deeper and farther below the ocean level
than any other in existence. It is hoped within a
year to be able to give some intelligent information
regarding the investigation.
It is probable that further investigation of this
matter will show that the rotation of the earth on its
axis is in some measure accountable for these phe-
nomena, and that it is not wholly due, as heretofore
supposed, to air currents in the shaft.
*
S*********** **************** *********
THE PROSPECTOR.
* »
>t'f if <f «f if * if .f.f .f .f if if if .f if if if if .f .f if if if if if if .f if if if eft if if ,f £
The rock sample from Glen Ellen, Cal., is ande-
sitic breccia. The dark colored fragments are ande-
site and the white, chalk-like material is rhyolite
tuff. This rock is very common in the volcanic
regions of both the Coast Range and the Sierra of
California.
The rock samples from Custer, Idaho, are: No 1,
light, 3, much altered eruptive rock, possibly an old
andesite, too much altered and kaolinized for deter-
mination. This rock resembles what was known on
the Comstock, by the old geologists, as propylite, and
was at one time supposed to represent a distinct
class of rock, but it is now known that several rocks
of that district by alteration take on the character-
istics of the so-called propylite. No. 2, the dark
rock, is a metamorphic sedimentary rock. It has
been silicified somewhat and evidently contains car-
bonaceous matter.
The mineral specimens from Middletown, Lake
county, Cal., are: No. 1, iron sulphide (variety
marcasite); No. 2 is principally pyrrhotite, the
mono-sulphide of iron, which is magnetic, but associ-
ated with it are also pyrite, chalcopyrite (copper
sulphide) and cinnabar (the sulphide of mercury).
The percentage of copper present is appreciable,
probably 3% or 4% in the specimen. No. 2 is an
unusually interesting ore, because of the various
minerals it contains.
The mineral samples from Weiser, Idaho, are
determined as follows: No. 1, a basic eruptive rock
in the vesicles of which copper carbonate has infil-
trated; No. 2, iron stained jasper; No. 3, a veinlet
of crystallized quartz in an eruptive rock, much
altered but apparently aplite; No. 4 is a silicified
greenstone (diorite); No. 5 is a type of granite much
altered and containing a little copper carbonate; No.
6 is also a granitic rock containing pyrite (iron sul-
phide); No. 7 is volcanic ash; No. 8 is largely mag-
netic iron sand. Samples of this sand should be sent
to Dr. David T. Day at the Exposition in Portland,
Or., for a determination of its several constituents.
The rock samples from Sheridan, Mont., are: No.
1, diorite; No. 2 is hornblende granite, much altered;
No. 3 is a veinlet of quartz and feldspar, with some
iron sulphide occurring in a granitic rock. The pink '
color is due to iron oxide, and the green color to iron
silicate.
The small black pebble from Hayden Hill, Lassen
county, Cal., is black obsidian, a variety of volcanic
glass. It has no value.
The soft white mineral from Placerville, Cal., is
infusorial earth. The diatoms observable under the
microscope are of great variety and interest.
Chicago Hose Coupler.
The Chicago hose coupler is designed to meet the
demand for a universal coupler, so that a plant, once
standardized, could be so maintained.
The coupler illustrated herewith has no male or
female part at coupling end proper, but instead each
half has embodied therein both features whereby each
is the same, and will couple regardless of the size
and style of the shank.
These couplers are manufactured by the Chicago
Pneumatic Tool Co., Chicago, 111.
It is uncertain by what process of nature an ore
consisting of definite proportions of gold, silver and
tellurium, as tellurium ores, are formed. All experi-
ments attempted with a view to produce homoge-
neous compounds of gold, silver and tellurium have
thus far failed, though there has been no difficulty in
obtaining metallic gold and tellurium salts, or mix-
tures of gold and tellurium in irrational composition.
The sponge-like gold produced by some mines is
thought to be psuedomorph after tellurium. It is
not uncommon in Cripple Creek and in some parts of
California where tellurides are found.
28tf
Mining and Scientific Press.
October i\, IJI06.
#************** ************* *********
I Mining and Metallurgical Patents**
PATENTS ISSUED OCTOBER 3, 1905.
Specially Reported and Illustrated (or the MINING AND
SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
Magnetic Separator.— No. 800,370; C. M. Green,
Lynn, Mass.
In magnetic separator, combination of frame, elec-
tro-magnet mounted thereon comprising two similar
interlocking core bodies having pole nieces formed
thereon and coil inclosed by core bodies, non-magnetic
cover for magnet, contact devices for conveying cur-
rent to magnet, hopper pivotally supported at one
end, means for moving hopper to distribute material
to be separated over magnet, means in hopper for
breaking up masses of material, means for breaking
up masses of material after leaving hopper, and re-
volving brush for removing magnetic material from
magnet.
Deep Boring Apparatus
' Nordhausen, Germany.
-No. 801,072; E. Frieh,
In deep boring apparatus with percussion drill and
core tube, combination of boriDg rod, core tube rig-
idly secured thereto and provided with slots in lower
extremity or shoe, drill driving apparatus within
bore hole, and percussion drill connected with driving
apparatus and provided with cutters which enter
end slots in core tube.
Dumping Bucket.— No. 800,711; S. M. Bishop and
J. L. Mitten, Wellsville, Ohio.
In dumping bucket, combination of quadrangular
body having lower discharge opening in each of sides,
pyramidal bottom, doors, each swinging outwardly
opposite one of sections of bottom, and hinged to
body above one of discharge openings, and means for
coincidently locking and unlocking all doors.
Pick.— No. 801,166; A. Walker and R. W. Mewes,
Whatcheer, Iowa.
Socket having hole extending thereinto, and slots
at opposite sides of hole and opening thereinto, com-
bined with tool blade fitted against socket and having
hole to register with that in socket, bolt adapted to
extend through registering holes and provided with
lateral fins to enter slots when bolt is turned, and
nut threaded on to upper end of bolt and adapted to
engage outer face of tool blade.
Belt Conveyor Mechanism.— No. 800,786; W. E.
Bee, Detroit, Mich.
Conveyor belt roller, having in combination there-
with upwardly projecting oil case forming interior
oil chamber open at upper end and provided with
spindle projecting upward through oil chamber,
roller constructed with sleeve or hub engaged upon
spindle, oil chamber arranged to contain supply of
oil to submerge lower extremities of spindle and of
hub.
Hydraulic Elevator for Dredging Purposes. —
No. 800,910; B. Flood, Los Angeles, Cal.
In hydraulic elevator, means to introduce water
under pressure between elevator pipe and suction
pipe, comprising return bend E made up of upper
and lower member E" and E'", respectively, secured
to connecting branch B and together as shown.
Dredger Bucket.
land, Cal.
-No. 800,936, T. O'Leary, Oak-
Dredging bucket comprising segmental rim with
digging lip at front, longitudinally disposed extension
from opposite side of bucket having shoulders and
coupling extension at rear, links reversibly secured
upon opposite sides of extension havmg shoulders
adapted to engage those at rear of extension, bolt
holes through link shoulders and coupling extension
of extension, bolts having T-shaped heads convergent
on sides, correspondingly shaped channels in link
ends in which bolts are reversibly fitted, and supple-
mental pins or bolts by which heads are secured.
Device for Holding Checks Upon Mine Cars.
No. 800,781; J. M. Wysor, Mannering, W. Va.
Device for holding checks upon cars comprising, in
combination with car, board, strap hinges secured to
inner face of ear and to which board is connected,
one of hinges extending beyond swinging end of board
and turned to form eye, rod having angled end
engaging eye, and other end bent to form hook,
designed to pass through aperture in side wall of car,
and adapted to receive and hold check.
Process or Separating Nickel from Mattes. —
No. 800,130; R. H. Aiken, Winthrop Harbor, 111.
Method of separating nickel from copper-nickel-
sulphide mattes which consists in adding to molten
matte in converter suitable highly heated flux ma-
terial, principally silica, subjecting whole to air blast
to oxidize nickel and removing nickel-silicate slag
formed before blast has materially acted upon cop-
per.
Process of Reducing Ores. — No. 801,129; H.
Arden, San Francisco, Cal.
Method of reducing finely divided ores which con-
sists in mixing with ores carbonaceous matter, hydro-
carbon, and water glass, forming mixture into
coherent masses, coking masses, and finally reducing
ores.
Process op Preparing Dust Ores for Blast
Furnaces.— No. 801,143; H. E. Esch, Giessen, Ger-
many.
Process of preparing ore dust of high fusibility for
blast furnace which consists in feeding ore by rotat-
ing advancing action first through region of gradually
increasing heat, and then into region where it is sub-
jected to stream of ignited fuel mixed with easily
fusible material, thereby agglomerating it, and finally
removing resulting* agglomerated masses.
Molten Metal Conductor for Cupolas, Etc. —
No. 801,453; C. L. Glover, Newcastle, Pa.
In combination with cupola or other furnace or ves-
sel from which molten metal is drawn, upright con-
ducting basin or vessel located to receive continuous
outpour of molten metal, and having below top lat-
eral discharge spout or trough, and mounted to turn
on central vertical axis for pouring molten metal into
different molds or receptacles, and capable of tilting
on horizontal axis to raise up end of discharge spout
during such turning for interrupting pouring, ca-
pacity of conducting vessel being sufficient to hold
inflowing molten metal and prevent overflow during
periods of interruption of discharging or pouring.
Process for the Production of Metals of the
Alkali Group by Electrolysis. — No. 801,199; E. A.
Ashcroft, Weston, via Runcorn, England.
The herein described process of producing sodium,
which consists in electrolyzing preliminary electrolyte
consisting of fused sodium chloride over cathode of
fused lead and thereafter using fused sodium-lead alloy
thus produced as anode, providing fused sodium-
hydrate electrolyte for alloy of sodium-lead and
directly producing sodium by dissolving it from anode
by suitable current and depositing sodium at cathode
with consuming secondary electrolyte.
Apparatus for Electrostatic Separation of
Substances of Diverse Electric Susceptibilities.
—No. 801,380; C. H. Huff, Brockton, Mass.
In electrostatic separation, combination of repell-
ing electrode, opposite electrode, means to intensify
that concentration of lines of force in static field
for which shape and proximity of electrodes are re-
sponsible, means to feed material to repelling elec-
trode at region thereon of relatively low field inten-
sity, repelling electrode being rotary to transplant
material from point of delivery toward opposite elec-
trode and into region of relatively high field intensity
and divider to intercept particles of lower grade of
conductivity during movement from repelling elec-
trode.
Process for Treating Precious-Metal-Bearing
Materials.— No. 801,470; C. W. Merrill, Lead, S. D.
Improvements in treating precious-metal-bearing
material containing reducing agents, with cyanogen
bearing solutions consisting in first collecting mate-
rial in container and after removal of liquid when
present there from interstitial spaces, oxidizing all
or part of reducing agent by means of oxygen of
compressed air brought into contact with material
in same container in which subsequent contact with
cyanogen bearing solutions is to take place, and sub-
sequently bringing cyanogen bearing solutions into
contact with materials in container.
Ootobee 21, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
281
k +******* +**+****+*•.■• ■*■*■* *+*****:****** *
MINING SUMMARY.
+ *
« + * +♦+*■ * •*••»•*•»• ** *• *.**+*** <f ******** *t *** *
Specially Compiled and Reported for the MINING AND
SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
Former Congressman De Vries of California, now U. S.
Appraiser, has returned to the East after an extensive
Western trip, taking testimony in the eases of protests
by different firms regarding the method followed by the
United States officials in assay tests to ascertain the
amount of lead in ores. In making these assays it is
claimed that the percentage of lead in the dry sample
taken is unfairly reckoned as the percentage of the whole
lot or cargo. The claim is made by lead importers that
the governmental method results in a heavier duty un-
der the 1J cent per pound tariff than were a different
course pursued. The last testimony taken was at Kan-
sas City, Mo., and Mr. De Vries will shortly issue a rul-
ing in the case.
According to a recent report of the United States Geo-
logical Survey, the output of platinum in the United
States increased from 110 ounces in 1903, valued at $2080,
to 200 ounces, valued at $4160, in 1904. The price rose
10% during 1904. Thescarcity of platinum, and the con-
sequent rise in price, led to much energy on the part of
Eastern smelteVs of platinum in urging upon the placer
miners of the West the advisability of saving platinum
in cleaning up the hydraulic mines. The outlook for
increased production for 1905 is good, not only on ac-
count of the continued high price of platinum, but be-
cause of the investigation undertaken by the Geological
Survey of the black sands of the Pacifio slope and of the
increased knowledge thus furnished to the miners in
regard to the value of the platinum and to simple means
of saving it. The world's total supply of platinum for
the year amounted to about 300 kilograms, or 9625 troy
ounces, from South America, and 6000 kilograms, or
192,500 troy ounces, from Russia. No production of
platinum from Australia was reported. A slight prod-
uct of both platinum and palladium from the Sudbury
copper mines continues to come on the market, but it is
not profitable to extract all of the platinum and palladium
which these ores could furnish. Increased interest in
the occurrence of platinum in hydraulic mines and
dredges of the Fraser river is due principally to the fact
that the natural alloy of iron and nickel previously found
in Josephine county, Or., and in Del Norte county, Cal.,
has also been found in commercial quantity in the Fraser
river at Lillooet. An interesting and new occurrence of
platinum in place in Sumatra has been noted by Prof. L.
S. Hundeshagen. All the American platinum came
from California and Oregon, inasmuch as operations have
been suspended in the Rambler copper mine, Wyoming,
which furnished some platinum the year before. The
imports of platinum into the United States during 1905
showed a decline of more than 8000 ounces, due to Euro-
pean control of the supply. The present prices are the
highest that platinum has commanded in recent years.
ALASKA.
Judge Wickersham has delivered a mining decision
that has wide application and settled the question as to
what constitutes a discovery of mineral under the loca-
tion laws. It was a four-sided fight for mining ground
on Cripple creek at the mouth of Esther creek. It is a
continuation, in a sense, of the Sturtevant case. In this
the contention is between two groups, as well as against
the individual locator — the Sturtevant case being a
group against an individual. Here the groups overlap
each other. The ground was first taken up as separate
mining claims. Then came a group party and located
the same ground, and another group party located ad-
joining ground, which overlapped this ground. Sturte-
vant was interested in No. 11, Esther creek, and his
claim was included in the original group, but he was
awarded the decision. The judge, in dismissing the case,
said that he had lately come into possession of a ruling
from the Supreme Court and this, together with the
fact that he had become better acquainted with the con-
ditions, made him feel disposed to modify some of the
points laid down in former decisions. The princi-
pal interest is the fact that he indicates that one dis-
covery for eight claims will no longer serve — there must
be a discovery for every separate claim.
A new smelter is to be constructed on Windy arm,
Alaska, according to T. M. Daulton. This smelter
proposition is advanced by J. H. Conrad, who has prop-
erties on Windy arm. Discoveries made during the
past summer make it necessary to have reduction works
on the ground. In September a body of copper ore 60
feet in width is said to have been discovered across the
arm.
ARIZONA.
Cochise Connty.
The Tombstone Con. is now sinking below the 800-
foot level and no other stations will be cut until the 1000-
foot level is struck. It is expected that it will take a year
to reach the latter level and handle the water. A winze is
being sunk and considerable native silver is being taken
from the 400 and 700 levels.
E. G. Kennedy, general manager, and W. G. Barney,
mining engineer of the Black Diamond Co., have started
work at the mines of the company in the Dragoon moun-
tains, near Tombstone.
Gila County.
Jos. C. Erman, general manager of the Live Oak M.
Co., near Globe, has made a contract with the El Paso
smelter to ship to that concern 40,000 tons of ore cover-
ing a period of eighteen months. The shipments call
for not less than fifty tons daily of siliceous and sulphide
ores in the proportion of two of the former to one of the
latter.
The Arizona & Eastern Con. M. Co. has been formed
to develop and operate the Patterson copper claims on
Mineral creek, near Globe. E. L. DeLestry is general
manager.
Graham CoDDty.
The New England Co. of Clifton has raised $100,000
for development purposes and work on an extensive
scale is soon to be commenced. General Manager Ayllng
has gone East. Jacob King, E. M., is in charge of the
property.
The output of the Arizona C. Co. for September was
1,972,000 pounds; the output of the Shannon C. Co. was
1,170,000 pounds of copper.
Mohave County.
(Special Correspondence). — The Pyramid mill is run-
ning steadily on ore from the Catharine mine. The mill
has twelve stamps and is capable of handling 35 tons
of ore daily. If the mill handles the ore successfully it
will be improved and enlarged. It is operated by W. C.
Howard and J. F. Littlefield.
Kingman, Oct 17.
The San Francisco mine, near Kingman, is to be
equipped with a compressor and five machine drills.
The main shaft is now down 500 feet and the drift from
that level is in 425 feet to the north. A contract has
been let to drive the drift ahead while the new plant is
being put in. About fifteen men are at work on the
Pink ham and Midnight mines at Chloride. On the 230
level of the Pinkham drifts and crosscuts are being run.
On the Midnight a crosscut is being driven to the south
toward the main vein. F. H. Griffith, general man-
ager of the Minnesota-Connor mines, near Kingman,
reports opening up ore bodies on the 400 and 500 levels.
All leases on the Billy Bryan mine of the Gold Road
group have been declared off and the company will here-
after operate the property.
Pima County.
The Michigan & Arizona Development Co. has decided
to exercise its option on 100,000 shares of stock of the
Helvetia C. Co., at Helvetia. The holder of the options
considers that the development during the past year un-
der the superintendency of F. B. Close justifies the ex-
ercise of the option. The general object now is to
continue development; 12,000 tons of ore are blocked
out.
Pinal County.
The mill of the Desert Queen mine, near Casa Grande,
has made its first cleanup. The mill is a twenty-five-
ton plant. Work on the mine waB commenced the first
of the year and it is expected to be a regular producer
from now on. Chas. F. Wren is president of the com-
pany.
The Florence Mines Co. will put miners to work on
the Brooklyn group, in the Ripsey district, near Flor-
ence, under the supervision of J. K. McCarthy. Juan
DeArmitt and J. A. Brady have opened a body of cop-
per ore on their Champaign claim in the South Butte
district, near Florence. The Hotchkiss syndicate has
ten men developing the Snyder claims, 40 miles from
Winkleman station, on the Phcenix & Eastern, in the
Banner mining district. N. H. Mellor is in charge of
the work. Superintendent E. R. Stafford of the Ar-
izona Pacific Copper Co., of Woolley, near Florence, re-
ports development work at the mine progressing. The
main working shaft is down 40 feet, and a contract has
been closed with Robert Pierce for continuing the shaft
to the 550-foot level. It is the intention of the company
to sink thi6 shaft to the 1000-foot level as rapidly as pos-
sible. James Crowley, who has a lease on the Vekol
mine and mill, near Florence, has completed a profitable
run.
Yavapai County.
(Special Correspondence). — The Douglas-Lacy mill,
recently leased by Fennell & Davis, has resumed opera-
tions. Foreman Knight and six men are handling thirty
tons daily of high-grade ore from the Gladstone mine,
near McCabe, and expect to increase to sixty tons soon.
The Gladstone mine is being developed under lease by
C. G. Fennell. Eighty men are employed in and about
the mine. A new electric dynamo is being placed on the
800, which will furnish power for the hoist to be used in
the sinking of the main shaft to the 1000-foot level. The
hoist on the surface has reached its capacity. By this
arrangement the ore will be raised to a bin on the 800,
from whence it will be raised by the other hoists to the
surface. The White G. M. Co., owning properties
near Martinez, is putting up a 40-stamp mill, 13 miles
from Wickenburg. Construction has stopped tempora-
rily. The building for the mill is completed. In the
meantime operations in the mine are progressing satis-
factorily. The main tunnel is now in 585 feet, having
gained a vertical depth of 600 feet. The tunnel runs
alongside the ledge, which is crosscut occasionally. The
winze or Bhaft is 80 feet below the tunnel, and it is 116
feet to the surface, making the total depth of the shaft
196 feet. From the tunnel to the surface the shaft has
been timbered, and timbering from the tunnel down is
in progress. A 12 H. P. gasoline hoist for the shaft has
been received at the mine, so that the ore can be con-
stantly removed as sinking in the shaft continues. A
strike of rich ore is reported in the R. A. M. mine,
owned by G. E. Waddell and C. J. McNulty. The prop-
erties are on Little Copper creek, near Prescott.
Prescott, Oct. 16.
The capacity of the Richinbar stamp mill is to be
increased "and other improvements made that will facili-
tate the production of the mine on a larger scale. The
motive power for the present 66 H. P. plant is furnished
by water, but to this is to be added a battery of two 60
H. P. boilers to be operated by steam. One of these will
always be in use, the other being for emergency. With
the new equipment in place the Richinbar mill will han-
dle 60 tons a day, and it can be Increased to 70. There
are 30,000 tons of ore blocked out. The new 50-ton cya-
nide plant is completed.
J. J. Carmiehael, superintendent of the Pine Mountain
M. Co., at Walker, expects to have his mill in operation
Nov. 15. Since Aug. 1 he has sunk the shaft on the
Pine Mountain mine from a depth of 520 feet and run a
drift from the 500-foot level, where he cut a station and
ran a drift 50 feet.
A new wagon road is being built from Turkey to
Richenbar. At Richenbar ten stamps are to be added
to the mill; there will also be concentrators, and a 100
H. P. steam plant will be put in. The Richenbar
cyanide plant is ready to start up. Wm. Theisig of
Turkey creek is putting in a 2-stamp mill.
E. Greenwood and E. Campbell have bonded from
M. D. C. Putman the Express mine, near Poland.
M. Canton, of Walker, has his main shaft on the north
extension of the Amulet down 75 feet. It ia stated
that a quartz mill and cyanide plant are to be placed on
the Midnight-Test group, south of Prescott, in Groom
Creek district. The shaft on the Baumann Copper
Co.'s Swiss Girl mine, at Dewey, iB down about 460 feet.
J. Jackson has started work on the Copper Hill mines,
south of Prescott in the Copper Basin district. A hoist
is to be put in. It is proposed to build a wagon road
from Crown King to Tip Top. H. J. Newhouse, of Bel-
oit, Wisconsin, E. J. Wager, of Prescott, and A. R.
White, Jr., are looking over the route.
CALIFORNIA.
Amador County.
The Fremont M. Co., near Amador City, has built
two restraining dams in the gulch leading from the mill
to Dry creek to prevent sand from the mill filling up the
gulch. Groom & Parson have discontinued the can-
vas plant below the Argonaut mill, near Jackson.
Calaveras County.
The Del Monte mill, near Railroad Flat, is kept run-
ning, and an addition of five stamps is being made, giv-
ing twelve in all.
Del Norte County.
Ore is being taken from the 200-foot level of the Mon-
umental mine at Monumental. The Elkhorn Placer
M. Co. will start hydraulicking, near Monumental, as
soon as there is enough water.
Kern County.
B. Ostick, who has a lease on the Merced mine, in the
Stringer district, near Randsburg, is taking out rich ore.
J. O. Balschweid and Y. Ray have a lease on the
Pearl Wedge, in the Stringer district. E. Shipsey and
J. J. London are leasing on the Napoleon, in the Stringer
district, and have uncovered a vein of high-grade ore.
H. Giondoni and C. Taylor are leasing on the Little
Butte, in the Stringer district. Regarding tungsten
properties near Randsburg, the Californian states that
P.'Mertz and M. C. Curran are working on the Opportu-
nity and are taking out some very rich ore that goes as
high as 72% tungsten. The ore is beinsr sacked for
shipment. T. McCarthy and C. S. Taylor have re-
ceived returns from a carload of tungsten ore which they
shipped to Germany recently. It netted $8000 after
paying freight and all other expenses. McCarthy,
Taylor and Grendoni are crosscutting at the 135-foot
level in the La Cross mine to tap the rich body of ore
believed to pass into the La Cross from the Sunshine.
J. J. Osborn & Bro. are sinking a shaft on a fraction
claim adjoining the La Cross and Sunshine mines.
A. E. White, owner of the Sydney mines in the south-
western part of the district, which is known as White's
camp, is working four men on the Sydney annex. The
shaft is down 200 feet and a drift is being run.
Placer County.
Machine drills and an air compressor are to be put in
at the Evening Star mine, near Auburn.
Plumas County.
The Alleghany M. Co.'s tunnel, now in 1300 feet, is
being driven to tap the channel at the bottom.
Shasta County.
The Pittsburg & Mount Shasta M. Co., which owns
the Little Nellie and Bennington mines, between Kts-
wick and Iron Mountain, intends to develop the Ben-
nington and will drive a 400-foot tunnel on the property
at once.
The first furnace of the Mammoth C. Co. 's smelter at
Kennet was blown in on October 16. Manager Frederick
Lyon has returned from St. Louis, and is superintend-
ing the work. No. 3 furnace has been started first.
No. 2 next, while No. 1 will be last to start up. The wa-
ter jackets for No. 2 furnace are on their way. As soon
as they arrive they will be put in place and this furnace
started. The water jackets and machinery for No. 1
furnace are being made.
TheHiatt mine at Buckeye, near the Quartz Hill mine,
is to ba opened up by W. S. Haskena and associates of
San Francisco.— — October 26th has been the day set for
the final transfer of the Balaklala mine to the White
Knob Co., which now has a smelter at Mackay, Idaho.
W. H. Brevort is manager.
Sierra County.
(Special Correspondence). — The gravel claims owned
by Truman Clark, on the Middle Fork, were recently
examined by T. B. Shepard, David Voss and M. C. Em-
erson of Nevada City. C. F. Breed, K. C. Parrish
and J. W. Hall of Chicago have finished their prelim-
inary examination of the Comet mine in Jim Crow can-
yon, near Downieville. The mines of the Sovereign
G. M. Co., near Downieville, are being examined by W.
J. Belcher. R. Phelan is putting in an electric plant
at Sierra City to furnish power and light for his prop-
erties.
Downieville, Oct. 17.
Siskiyou County.
Superintendent J. H. Tibbitts of the Headwater quartz
mine, on Humbug, near Yreka, has started up the saw-
mill at the mine to secure lumber to build a 5-stamp
mill. The new quartz mill and cyanide plant at the
Mono mine, on Punch creek, a tributary of Humbug,
west of Yreka, has been completed. W. A. Chamber-
lain has put in a large pump at the Black Lead mine, on
Greenhorn, near Yreka. The Greenhorn Blue Gravel
mine is to be worked by the Yreka Blue Gravel M. Co.
Stanislaus County.
J. T. Quinn of Stockton and J. L. Conrad of Knights
Ferry plan to dredge the Stanislaus river for gold be-
tween Orange Blossom and Knights Ferry.
Trinity County.
The tunnel which will drain Trinity river for J mile
and with the aid of a deflecting dam will lay bare the river
bed and enable miners to dig the gold that is supposed
to be in the sands, is half completed. The works are at
HorseBhoe bend, and T. H. Seward, A. W. Lindsay and
Henry Anderson have them in charge. The tunnel
282
Mining and Scientific Press.
October 21, 1905.
when finished will be 430 feet long. In driving the tun-
nel a great quantity of talc has been cut, necessitating
much timbering. Notwithstanding all difficulties, the
work is half done. On New River, 16 miles from Haw-
kins Bar and 65 miles from Eureka, several promising
discoveries have been made this year. The La Grange
hydraulic mine, 4 miles from Weaverville, has made a
larger output this year under the management of Pierre
Bouery than during any previous season. The last
cleanup amounted to $70,000. The water was recently
turned off and new flumes are being put in preparatory
to next season's work. Unusually low water has re-
tarded mining greatly throughout the summer and fall
within the watersheds of the Trinity and Klamath
rivers. The Hupp & Mc Murray placer, near Weaver-
ville, has had a good run for the season.
The Hunter mine, on New River, has been purchased
by Robert Hicks of Junction City and J. P. Hennessey
of Tonopah. It is equipped with a 3-stamp mill and was
owned by F. J. Ladd.
Tuolumne County.
The Big Creek G. M. Co., which recently purchased
the Golden Rock ditch from the Merced G. M. Co., have
sent General Manager L. R. Wiley of Bangor, Me., to
Groveland and vicinity to superintend the work of put-
ting the property in good condition. Meu are cleaning
out and repairing the ditches and flumes so as to be in
position as soon as possible to supply various mines with
water. The Harvard mine and 60-stamp mill on
Whisky Hill, below Jamestown, was sold at public auc-
tion recently for $20,000 to W. R. Payson of San Fran-
cisco in behalf of J. E. Carroll of Boston.
COLORADO.
(Special Correspondence). — Oil is being reported from
various sections of the State. The oil industry of this
State, it would seem, could be made much greater than
at present if it was properly handled. The Florence
field, in Fremont county, seems to be the only district,
which is producing to any extent. Boulder field does
not improve in activity. A couple of years ago the oil
industry in Boulder county was at high tide, but a large
majority of the companies operating at that time have"
retired from business. At Debeque, in Mesa county,
several wells have been put down during the past year,
but in each case the wells have been lost on account of a
heavy flow of water, which the operators were unable
to control. Some of the companies in this district have
a long lease on certain property and are not operating
the property but simply waiting until some of their
neighbors develop ground in the district. The old
toll roads in the State are fast becoming the property
of the county in which they are located. The last one
reported to have gone from private hands to the county
is near Silverton.
Denver, Oct. 16.
In an epitome of mining conditions in Colorado fore-
casting the final summary at the close of the current
year, the Denver Post says that all signs indicate a ma-
terial increase of production in both tonnage and value.
The zinc output will be the largest on record, owing to
the urgency of buyers and the advanced prices paid.
The representatives of big zinc consumers at home and
abroad have been urging the operators of mills in dis-
tricts where that mineral is abundant to make special
effort for its recovery; therefore a number of mills that
hitherto have given it no attention have added proper
devices to meet the demand. There has been marked
improvement in Leadville, Cripple Creek, San Juan. San
Miguel, Dolores, Summit, Gilpin and Clear Creek
through the exposure of great ore bodies and in the
facilities for mining and reduction. In Park county the
London has come to the fore as one of the richest gold
mines in the State. A number of idle properties have
been started up and the prospect for better work in that
section is very favorable. More mills, air compressors
and tramways have been built for Colorado mines this
year than in any previous time. Telluride is doing better
than ever before and so is La Plata county. By reason
of the important work done at Silver Plume, East Ar-
gentine and on Seaton mountain, the output of Clear
Creek county, large as it has been this year, will be more
than doubled next year. The same may be said of San
Juan county, because the six or eight big mills now
building there will be in action soon after next January.
Ouray county is favored by a line of improvements at
Red mountain and in various other parts of that exten-
sive mining region that can not fail to produce heavily
increased yields in the next twelve months. It is coming
into its own again after twelve years of discouraging
times. The Camp Bird is earning profits; the Revenue
is on a better plane than for the last four years; the
Crawford syndicate is pushing two big tunnels. The
placer mines about Breckenridge, those in South Park,
at Keystone, in San Miguel and on Clear Creek below
Golden have all had very satisfactory success the past
season.
Boulder County.
(Special Correspondence). — The Myrtle M. Co., A. T.
Rautenberg manager, is putting in a 48-foot by 60-ineh
White-Howell roaster, made by the F. M. Davis Iron
Works Co. of Denver. They expect to be operating
about Oct. 25. Several other properties are doing con-
siderable development work. The proper method of
handling the ore has been a serious drawback to the
camp, but the Myrtle people believe they have solved
the problem, and if they are successful others will follow
their example.
Ward, Oct. 16.
The report on the geology of Boulder district, pub-
lished by the U. S. Geological Survey, describes a rec-
tangle 16 miles north and south by 9 miles east and west.
The city of Boulder is southwest of its center. The chief
exploitation for oil has been near the center of the area,
from 2 to 4 miles northeast of Boulder. It was necessary
to make a careful study of areas at considerable dis-
tances from the oil wells, because the wells are located in
the broad central portion of the district on the outcrop
of the Pierre shales, which are in general so non-
resistant and homogeneous that exposures of solid rock
are rare. Ground water is found in this area at moder-
ate depths. Within the area mapped granite has not
yet been quarried or even studied with reference to its
use as building stone. The great mass of the Fountain
red rock is not adapted to building purposes. Locally,
however, there are near its summit beds of the finest
quality of structural stone. The Lyons sandstone is the
most abundant rock of economic importance. The flag-
stone industry has its center at Lyons, 3 miles north of
this area. Near Boulder the thickness of the beds is
generally greater, and the stone is commonly quarried
for building. The brick industry at Boulder is large.
The development of oil and gas in the Boulder area be-
gan in 1901, though their presence was suspected and
rumored as early as 1867. Development has been suc-
cessful only within a limited area, the center of which is
from 3 to 4 miles northeast of the city of Boulder and a
little less than 3 miles east of the foothills. About 100
wells from 300 to over 3400 feet in depth have been
drilled within 5 miles of the McKenzie and about twenty
more are scattered over the area between Fort Collins
and Golden. The oil production in 1903 amounted to
39,000 barrels.
Clear Creek County.
H. A. Riedel, acting for the Banner Consolidated
Mine Co. of Idaho Springs, has a long-time lease and
bond on the Donaldson mine on Trail creek. The Don-
aldson vein will be reached by the Rockford tunnel,
whici is owned by the Banner Co., 600 feet ahead of its
present breast, and will cut the lode at a depth of 1000
feet below the bottom of the deepest shaft on the Don-
aldson, which is about 600 feet. The tunnel will drain
the upper workings, making them accessible, as well as
tapping the ore bodies. Machinery is being put in at
the portal of the Rockford tunnel.
W. D. Hoover of Denver, owner of the East Griffith
mine on Griffith mountain, near Georgetown, has had
tests made to determine the best treatment of the ores
and will put in a new mill. The East Griffith during the
past year has shipped from 200 to 400 tons of smelting
ore monthly. No attempt has been made to handle any
of the milling ore and much material is blocked out in
the various workings. The shaft is to be sunk 500 feet
deeper. Drifts are being run from the 100 and 200-foot
levels. The American Sisters mine, near Georgetown,
has made its first shipment under the present operators.
The shaft is 265 feet deep, and, according to surveys, con-
nection with the Jo Reynolds tunnel No. 4 will be made
soon. Drifts are now being run from the 100, 200 and
250-foot levels by Jarbeau & White. Cottingham &
Craycroft have taken a contract to sink the shaft on
Edgar lode, near Georgetown, 50 feet deeper. This shaft
is down 115 feet, and is expected to reach the junction of
the Edgar, Rodgers and Junction lodes within the next
35 feet. The Maine and Phoenix mines, near George-
town, are to be developed by the Scotia Mines Co. The
property is on Sherman mountain. The incorporators
are W. P. Jewell, A. W. Rich and A. C. McCall.
J. Raymond and J. Molloy, owners of the Pinion and
Annex properties on Griffith mountain, near George-
town, have started development work.
The Loops Mines & Tunnel Co., which owns twenty-
five claims on Republican mountain, near Georgetown,
has retimbered the mouth of its tunnel and is making
good headway in pushing the tunnel ahead. It has cut
the Hamburg vein. Winter supplies have been taken
to the mines operated by the Silver Plume M. Co.
Gilpin County.
(Special Correspondence). — The Pozo mine in Nevada-
ville, owned by W. J. Lewis of Central City, is being
operated under lease by A. M. Rucker and associates.
About fifteen carloads of ore per month are being taken
out. The ore runs as high as 35% zinc by the carload.
It also carries gold, silver, lead, copper and iron, and is
shipped direct to the Lanyon Zinc Co. in Kansas. The
ore is handled principally for the zinc it contains.
Central City, Oct. 16.
Gunnison County.
An electric hoist is being put in at the West Gold Hill
mines, near Tin Cup. A crusher and rolls being added
to the mill will increase the capacity to 100 tons.
Lake Connty.
The Norton sampling works and zinc mill, owned by
H. H. Norton, in the western part of Leadville, were
destroyed by fire October 8, involving a loss of $100,000.
There was no insurance. The sampling works were
built in 1878 by Eddy & James.
In the Mosquito range section, near Leadville, the
Winchell has taken out sixty tons ef ore from the 20-foot
shaft. The Moffat and New York tunnels are being
driven steadily ahead. The London is shipping the
usual amount of ore. On the east side of Fryer hill
most of the ore comes from the claims controlled by the
Fryer Hills mines, the El Paso, Jimmy Lee, Cora Belle
and Bangkok and Silver. Both siliceous and sulphide
ores are being hoisted. M. O'Brien and J. Ahern, leas-
ing on the north end of the Chrysolite, are shipping
steadily a fair grade of iron.
Routt County.
L. A. Pease, of the Boston-Sierra Madre M. Co. of
Three Forks, Snake river, near Hahns Peak, has gone
East to arrange for a concentrator on the company's
property. The Three Forks mining properties are in
Colorado and Wyoming. The concentrates will be
shipped from Rawlins, Wyo. The Elkhorn mine, near
Columbine, is being worked. A shaft has been put
down 150 feet. The Slavonia district is on the head-
waters of the Middle fork of Elk river, 20 miles north-
east of Hahns peak, and extends from the upper edge of
Hinman park to Mount Zirkel on the Continental divide,
the distance being 12 miles in length by 10 miles in
width, with its upper confines closely approaching the
Larimer county line. The Martha Vranesich will be
developed this winter by a new tunnel at a lower level to
strike the vein at a depth of 350 feet, when a shaft will
be put down 50 feet to water level. This shaft is ex-
pected to develop copper ore.
Saguache County.
The Rollay M. Co., with E. Y. Burns of Alder as
superintendent, has let a contract to J. J. Hand of Crip-
ple Creek for 500 feet of sinking. The company employs
twenty-five men. The Chicago M. & S. Co., with
John Wisdom superintendent, is operating a claim on
Spring creek, 5 miles south of Alder. It is driving a
tunnel to tap a vein that the company has opened by a
shaft from which the company has shipped several cars
of ore. The big tunnel is in about 900 feet.
San Juan County.
The Frisco Mines & Tunnel Co. has given a contract
to Richard Whinnerah for a 5000-foot tunnel, 6x7j feet
in the clear, with waterways and pipe lines, to be run
through Houghton mountain, in the Mineral Point and
Animas Forks districts, 12 miles north of Silverton.
The price to be received by Mr. Whinnerah for the
work is $16.50 per running foot. The contractor binds
himself to make at least 180 feet of bore per month. A
6-drill air compressor and Ingersoll-Sargeant drills,
steam boiler and engine have been put in. On the
ground of the Frisco Mines & Tunnel Co. on Houghton
mountain there are rich mineral veins which will be cut
by the proposed bore. The tunnel when completed will
afford easy transportation of the ores of the various
veins to the Ouray side of the mountain for treatment
at the mill to be built by the company, and ultimately
the tunnel will be made use of as a carrier for passengers
as well as for the product of other mines.
The management of the Bullion Mountain M. Co.
with claims in the Needleton district, south of Silverton,
after a summer's work with successful results, have
closed the property down for the winter, with the in-
tention of resuming operations in the spring. Several
other properties in the district will probably continue
work all winter, among them being that of the Aztec
G. & C. Co.
H. M. Bennett's leaBe on the Shenandoah No. 3, on
King Solomon mountain, near Silverton, is shipping two
carloads per week to the Durango 9melter. A Hoist has
been put in and water which threatened to flood the
workings is under control. Milwaukee capitalists
have bought claims near the summit of Galena moun-
tain, between the Ridgeway and the Anti-Periodic
groups. As soon as new surveys and plats of the terri-
tory are completed, the owners intend to develop them.
Work on the group will be continued all winter under
the supervision of F. E. Schurman of Silverton.
Summit County.
The Morning Star lode, on Mount Baldy, near Breck-
enridge, which is being operated by Condon & Shrock,
is keeping one team hauling ore to the sampler at Breck-
enridge.
The new stamp and concentrating mill of the Laurium
mine in Illinois gulch, near Breckenridge, has been com-
pleted and is running day and night on the crude ore
from the large veins recently opened by the 1600-foot
tunnel and its branches by Niles & Walker. The mill
is said to handle about twenty tons of crude ore per
twenty-four hours, and reduces five tons of crude ore
that assays $7 per ton into a ton of concentrates. Be-
sides the silver and gold contained in the ore, the con-
centrate carries sufficient lead and iron sulphides to
make it of a desirable grade for smelting. An upraise
is being driven at the breast, 1640 feet from the portal
of the tunnel, on a 2-foot wide streak of partly oxidized
smelting ore.
The Mary Verna and the North American companies,
near Breckenridge, both of which were organized and
floated by J. E. Parker of Memphis, Tenn., have let a
contract for a $12,000 power and drill plant to the J. G.
Leyner Engineering Co. of Denver, Colo. The plant is
to be driven by water power in the Ten-Mile canyon,
near Frisco. The same plant is designed to supply the
mines of both companies with light and power.
Teller County.
The shaft at the City of Cripple Creek mine is down
415 feet. A drift has been started north toward the
First , National. Preparations are being made by the
Omaha Leasing Co. for putting in a larger hoisting
plant on the Dexter. It will be placed behind the plant
in use, which is proving inadequte. Ore is being raised
from the second and third levels and additions are to be
made to the shaft. Machinery has been put in by
J. Jolly, superintendent for the Beacon Hill Leasing Co.,
on the Robert H. claim on the west slope of Beacon hill.
The plant will be used in continuing the shaft, which is
down 70 feet. It is proposed to sink the Pharmacist
shaft, near Cripple Creek, from the 650 to the 1000-foot
level. Marshal Bowers is leasing the property.
An adit being driven into the Blue Bell property of
Gold hill, Cripple Creek, by a leasing company, is in 650
feet from the portal.
Engineer D. W. Brunton made his report to the mine
owners on the proposed drainage tunnel for the Cripple
Creek district on October 14. Brunton 's plan is to run
the new drainage tunnel from Window in the Rock, on
Cripple creek, 3j miles from the El Paso mine. Should
the tunnel be extended to the west side of the camp, or
to the Vindicator mine, the extreme length of the tunnel
will be nearly 6 miles. The tunnel level, as proposed,
will be at an altitude of 7660 feet, or 1130 feet below the
present El Paso drainage tunnel. The cost of the new
tunnel is estimated at $510,000. Engineer Brunton's re-
port was discussed and a decision deferred to the next
meeting, which is subject to call. The Rocky Mountain
News deduces that the Window in the Rock plan would
give 350 feet greater depth at an additional cost of $80,-
000 over the Gatch park scheme, or only $228 additional
vertical foot of ground drained. The tunnel which
Engineer Brunton favors would have an elevation of
7660 feet at its portal, as against an elevation of 8020 feet
for the Gatch park plan, or 8160 feet for the Cape Horn
location. It would drain to a depth of 1130 feet below
the present Cripple Creek drainage tunnel. A depth of
1000 feet would be gained and the cost per vertical foot
of depth drained would be only $468, as against $581 for
the Gatch park tunnel and $628 for the Cape Horn pro-
ject. The entire cost of the tunnel would be $510,000.
It is figured that the Gatch park scheme would take
$430,000 to put it through and the Cape Horn $380,000.
It would take2J years to construct the Window Rock tun-
nel. Brunton says that the tunnel should cross the erup-
tive area from the El Paso to the Vindicator mine. The
scheme he favors would make the distance from the
portal to the El Paso shaft 17,200. He states it is not
necessary to crosscut the entire distance to drain it,
although the extra expenditure would be justified by
October 21, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
283
the combined advantages of draining, ventilation and
prospecting. The shortest routes to the productive
area are found in the Cripple Creek canyon; that while
Wilson creek affords some excellent tunnel sites at B100
feet, the distance to the Gold Coin shaft would be 17,'.iuu
feet, and it would be 20,500 feet before the igneous rock
is reached to begin drainage. The same result could be
obtained, he says, from Cripple Creek a distance of 5000
feet shorter. Engineer Brunton submitted his report at
the meeting of the Cripple Creek mine owners, held at
the offices of the Elkton Consolidated M. & M. Co.
E. A. Colburn of Donvor was chairman and A. E. Carl-
ton of Cripple Creek secretary. No definite action was
taken regarding the selection of a plan, but a committee
was appointed to have the report printed and distributed
to the owners for their personal consideration. This
committee is composed of Frank G. Peck, representing
the Portland: S. S. Bernard of the El Paso and William
Lloyd of the Stratton estate. The report was accepted.
Brunton was tendered a vote of thanks for the thorough-
ness with which he treated the matter, his report being
a very exhaustive document. The following figures
showing the cost and dimensions of the three projects
considered were submitted by Engineer Brunton: Cape
Horn tunnel, elevation of portal, 8160 feet. Depth below
the Cripple Creek drainage tunnel, 630 feet. Distance
to the El Paso shaft, 12,840 feet. Distance to the main
water channel, 13,840 feet. Distance from the portal to
tunnel shaft, 8840 feet. Depth of tunnel shaft, 650 feet.
Length of time to complete tunnel, 1.97 years. Cost
$380,000. Depth gained 605 feet. Cost per vertical foot
of depth drained, $628. Gatch park tunnel: Elevation
of portal, 8020 feet. Depth below Cripple Creek drain-
age tunnel, 770 feet. Distance to El Paso shaft, 14,550
feet. Distance to main water channels, 15,550 feet.
Distance from portal to tunnel shafts, 10,570 feet.
Depth of tunnel shaft, 880 feet. Length of time to com-
plete tunnel, 2,',, years. Cost $430,000. Depth gained,
740 feet. Cost per vertical foot of depth drained, $581.
The Window Rock tunnel: Elevation of portal, 7660
feet. Depth below the Cripple Creek drainage tunnel,
1130 feet. Distance to El Paso shaft, 17,200 feet. Dis-
tance to main water channel, 18,200 feet. Distance from
portal to tunnel shaft, 12,690 feet. Depth of tunnel
shaft, 1140 feet. Length of time to complete tunnel, 2i
years. Cost $510,000. Depth gained, 1090 feet. Cost
per vertical foot of depth drained, $468.
Two rich finds of ore have been made in the American
Eagles mine, on Bull hill, Cripple Creek, tn the first
level south of the shaft in the back of an old level, 4
feet of mineral is being broken. The other find was
made in the second level, and consists of a flat vein.
A. O. Keener, who has a sublease on the Old Summit
mine, on Globe hill, has opened a new ore shoot. The
shaft on the Empire State, of the Isabella Co., is down
1100 feet, and at the depth of 1120 feet sinking will be
stopped temporarily to permit of levels being driven.
A depth of 400 feet has been reached by the Exposition
Mines & Leasing Co. in the South Burns shaft of the
Acacia Co., on the east slope of Bull hill, Cripple Creek.
As soon as a station is cut, sinking will be resumed.
The shaft will be continued to a depth of 600 feet.
IDAHO.
Elmore County.
T. J. Brownfleld of Lincoln, Neb., is developing the
Mary Glenn and Old Sam properties in the Skele-
ton Creek mining district. A 500-foot tunnel being
driven on the Mary Glenn is in 350 feet. On the
Old Sam nearly 500 feet of tunnel work has been com-
pleted. One well defined ledge and several good string-
ers have been cut, and recently another ledge, ranging
from 4 feet to 7 feet in width, has been discovered.
The Skeleton Creek district is on the South Boise drain-
age, 14 miles by trail east of Atlanta.
The cyanide plant that has recently been put in
the Franklin mine at Pine is in operation. It will be
UBed for the tailings from the mill and also on the old
tailings dump that has been accumulating at the mine
for some time past.
Shogbone County.
It is reported that the Federal M. & S. Co. has
bought the Morning mine of Lar6on & Greenough at
Mullan. They have been under bond for $3,000,000.
The Morning mine consists of a large group of claims of
which the principal ones are the Morning, Evening,
Grouse and You Like. These mines are at present
worked through the No. 5 tunnel which taps the various
ore bodies at a depth of about 1000 feet. The No. 6 tun-
nel, which was projected to tap these ledges at a depth
of 1000 feet below the No. 5 level, recently cut the You
Like vein and opened up big chutes of shipping ore and
high grade milling ore. It has 1000 feet yet to run to
tap the Morning vein. A shaft has been sunk on the
Morning vein from the No. 5 level to a depth of 600 feet.
On the 200 and 400-foot levels of this shaft drifts have
been run on the ledge. The mine is equipped with a 40-
drill compressor plant, a 1000-ton concentrator and a
narrow gauge railway from the mill to the mine.
James Bond of Black Bear has leased the Argentine
mine, 2j miles west of Wallace. It is expected that
the Hercules 300-ton concentrator near Burke will be
completed and ready for operation by November 1. It
will be operated by electric power from Spokane. The
power line to the mill has just been completed. The
Monarch concentrator near Wallace has been closed
down and will not resume operations until there are bet-
ter transportation facilities. About 20 men are em-
ployed at the mine on development work.
Washington County.
In the Rapid River section, near Iron Springs, the
Great Northern Mining, Milling & Development Co. has
bought the Pedro No. 1 and Pedro No. 2 from W. L.
Doiling and C. S. McMillan.
MICHIGAN.
Houghton County.
It is reported that the Calumet & Hecla Co. has pur-
chased a large interest in the Superior copper mine,
south of the Isle Royale and operating on the Baltic
lode.
MISSOURI.
•I.i'I'it County
The Joplin News-Herald reports that the Billy M. Co.,
operating on the Teol land near the old Log Cabin mine
at Duenweg, have made a rich strike of lead ore. In
sinking the shaft a distance of 18 inches in the ore,
1500 pounds of lead are said to have been taken out.
There have been a number of good lead strikes in this
locality recently, which was at one time the most famous
lead diggings in the district. Two now strikes of ore
are reported this week from the Rob Roy lease, south of
Joplin — one by Hendry, Blanchard and associates on a
two-lot lease just west of the lease of the Togo M. Co.,
with good ore at 60 feet; the other by G. M. Keller of
Joplin and Webb City associates on a two-lot lease south
of the Mike the Duck mine, where silicate was struck at
45 feet. Good zinc was shown by the drill at 63 feet, the
silicate not being indicated by the drill.
Newton County.
The Auburn M. Co., composed of Chicago and Joplin
parties, have secured leases and fees on 1412 acres of land
near Spring City and will at once begin mining oper-
ations. The company has a shaft down to a good body
of ore at this place; but as the pump drained a large
section of the country, the company wished to secure
control of it also.
MONTANA
ISeaverheafl County.
The Silver Fissure M. Co., which is operating the
Polaris mine, 40 miles from Dillon, is preparing to haul
its smelter machinery from the railroad to the mine
with a traction engine. They are grading the road be-
twoen Red Rock and the mine. J. J. Cusick of Butte is
in charge of the work. The engine will have a hauling
capacity of 100,000 pounds, and in addition to hauling in
machinery, it will be used afterward for transporting
coke from the railroad to the plant and hauling matte
from the plant to the road.
Fergus County.
About thirty men are employed by the New Mines Sap-
phire Co. in the Yogo district, near Lewiston. Charles
Gadsden is the superintendent, Wallace Danforth mine
foreman, and H. E. Maltby timberman. Two shifts are
employed in sluicing and cleanups are made four times a
day. A shaft has been sunk 100 feet, from which drifts
are run to reach the lead. The rock in which the stones
are imbedded is raised from the mine by a steam hoist
and dumped in piles from the ore carts. It is then satu-
rated with water and left to decompose, after which it
is worked through sluice boxes containing riffles. The
gravel is placed in a rocker, which has screens of differ-
ent sized meshes. After the finest screen has been used
the cleanup is placed in sacks or boxes and stored away,
to be eventually looked over for the sapphires contained
therein. The New Mines sapphires are shipped to Lon-
don, where they are cut, polished and prepared for mar-
ket. Work in the mine will be continued all winter and
sluicing as long as water can be had.
Granite County.
The Goff concentrator, at Garnet, has recently made
a shipment of several tons of concentrates to the smelter
at Helena. Having unwatered the property to the
bottom of the 150-foot level, Superintendent Illingworth,
who is in charge of the Copper Cliff mines, near Garnet,
began stoping in the level, and is taking out some high-
grade copper ore. A new lease has been given on the
Nancy Hanks, near Garnet, to Thienes and Lowery.
They will sink an incline shaft. C. D. and D. Mc-
pherson, who have a bond and lease on the Daisy claims,
between Garnet and Top of Deep, have opened a strong
lead in the tunnel which they have been driving.
Lewis and Clarke County.
Manager F. M. Smith, of the East Helena plant of the
American S. & R. Co., states that the price of lead paid
at this smelter for lead in ores has been over 2 cents per
pound for 90% of the lead contents. This price is equiv-
alent to a quotation of $3.50 per cwt., less 1J cent per
pound for 90% of the lead contents. Beginning
with Monday, October 9, they will pay for lead
in ores on the following basis, when the lead is
5% or over: For 90% of the lead contents 90% of the
average sales price in New York for common desilver-
ized domestic lead in 50-ton lots, as made by the Ameri-
can S. & R. Co., during the week preceding date of
settlement of the lot in question, less H cent per pound,
so long as such selling price shall be $4 per cwt. or over.
Should such price exceed $4 per cwt., then the price to
be paid in settlement would be 90% of $4, less It cent.
For example: The selling price of domestic lead in New
York is $4.85 per cwt.; 90"% of $4 equals $3.60; plus one-
half the difference over $4 (42£ cents) equals $4.42J per
cwt.; less 1* cent per pound equals S2.52J per'cwt.
Therefore, instead of paying $2 per cwt. or 2" cents per
pound for lead as heretofore, they will pay $2,521 so long
as lead is selling at $4.85 in New York.
Missoula County.
H. J. Rossi and H. J. Read of Wallace has bought
the Monitor mine, and will proceed with active work
with a large force. E. P. Spalding, manager of the
Monarch mine at Murray, will act as consulting engineer.
The Monitor is a copper-gold mine, near Saltese, Mont.
Sliver Bow County.
The blast furnace of the Pittsburg & Montana Copper
Co., with which the company has been making matte
since the old blower gave out, is in operation again. It
had been closed down a few days to permit of some
changes in the manner of getting rid of the slag. In the
first place the company had a centrifugal arrangement
for carrying the slag outside of the building, but it gave
out, and Manager Baggaloy decided to install a system
like that in use in other smelters.
The plant of the Montana Zinc Co., which is the old
60-stamp mill of the Alice Co. in Walkerville, has been
started up again. The mill was closed down recently
because of an inadequate water supply. A pipe line has
been put in near the Lexington mine, where it is con-
nected with the hill system of the Butte Water Co. to the
mill. The company has on hand about 1000 tons of ore
from the Lexington mine on which to resume operations.
The company expects to run between 80 and 100 tons
per day through the mill. The zinc saved from this
product aggregates 45% or 50% in addition to which
there is some iron and lead, and also some gold and
silver in the zinc. The company is figuring on add-
ing machinery that will make the total zinc product 80%
instead of 50.
NEVADA.
Esmeralda County.
The Goldfield Custom Mill Co. has been incorporated
under the laws of the State of Nevada to build a 20-
stampvmill at Gold Center. M. G. Rhodes is president
and H. H. Hubbard secretary.
Lincoln County.
Sinking has been resumed at the Pompeii mine, near
Searchlight. The mine will be opened up by drift6,
crosscuts and upraises, and if the showing to the 600-
foot depth is as satisfactory as indicated in the present
workings a double compartment shaft will be sunk west
of the present gallows frame. This will be used as the
main shaft of the mine, the present shaft being used for
air. At the Searchlight M. & M. Co.'s property sink-
ing has been resumed. The water supply is steadily in-
creasing and is now of sufficient volume to keep the mill
running continuously. The new pump is handling the
flow satisfactorily. W. R. Gosewisch, president of
the New Era M. Co., will sink 200 feet on a new discov-
ery and then drift north towards the main shaft, on the
same level, till the two connect. Pumping machinery
is to be put in. E. J. Roberts, manager of the Eldo-
rado-Nevada M. & M. Co., operating the Silver Legion
mine at Knob Hill, has started development work.
The new 500-foot working shaft in the Rand ledge has
been started by the Black Hawk M. Co. of Eldorado
Canyon.
Lyon County.
Ely & McSorley intend to put in a 100-stamp mill and
cyanide plant at the Hulley Logan mine, near Como.
The purchasers of the Haywood mine, near Silver
City, will also put in a large milling plant.
Nye County.
The Four Ace M. Co. has started a shaft near the
base of the south end of Montgomery mountain, near
Bullfrog. T. Kilker is superintendent and E. W. Grif-
fith is manager. The Big Bullfrog double compart-
ment shaft is down 110 feet. A. L. Fontana is superin-
tendent.
NEW MEXICO.
Grant County.
Ground is being graded for the extension to be made
to the 200-ton concentrator of the Burro Mountain Cop-
per Co. at Leopold. Twelve additional Wilfley tables
and Frue vanners will be put in.
The North American Co. is sinking on the Cobre
Negro property, near LordBburg. The work is being
done on the main shaft and is under the supervision of
W. E. Hockie. The Morning Star Co. has decided to
sink a development shaft on the Atlantic mine, near
Lordsburg. A depth of 800 feet is the intention.
Ground is being graded for the extension to be made
to the 200-ton concentrator of the Burro Mountain Cop-
per Co. at Leopold. Metcalf & Mungaul, working a
silver-lead property at Camp Fleming, have netted 191
ounces of silver and 21% lead, or $206.77, from a test
shipment of 5300 pounds to the smelter at El Paso.
At Fierro the Hermosa Copper Co. has added twenty-
five men to its force; the Phelps-Dodge Co. is employing
twenty-five men on the Hanover dump and in the Han-
over mine. The Colorado Fuel & Iron Co. has em-
ployed 100 laborers from Mexico in its mines at Union
hill and is increasing this force.
OREGON.
Saber County.
Manager E. I. Field of the United Elkhorn mine, near
Baker City, says that a drift is being extended on the
400 level of the shaft workings. This work is opening
the same shoot that has been explored on the 300, 20C
and 100 levels. On the No. 3 level the manager says
that he is breaking three sets in width, as the shoot has
widened at that depth and the grade of ore is excellent.
The milling plant continues to deliver about fifteen tons
of concentrates daily at Baker City for the Sumpter
smelter. The crosscut which is to open the Baisley vein
system at a depth of 1200 feet is being driven. A
3-drill compressor is being placed on the Ben Pierce
property, Little Salmon district, near Greenhorn. A
crosscut is to be driven to open the vein at a depth of
500 feet. O. E. Connors and O. Binkley have an option
on this property and expect to work it steadily. H. H.
Ames, one of the owners of the Morning mine, near Tip-
ton, says that the crosscut of the Morning mine may be
opening the Pairview ore shoot at a depth of 200 feet be-
low upner workings. This crosscut is on the mill level.
The Don Juan 10-stamp mill, near Greenhorn, has
been started by Ellis & Ludwig.
Josephine County.
A. Jeldness of Grants Pass has put men to work at the
Blue Ledge copper mines at the head of Applegate river.
J. F. Reddy of Jacksonville is interested.
UTAH.
Juab County.
The Supreme Court of Utah has decided in favor of
the Grand Central M. Co. in its long-pending litigation
with the Mammoth M. Co. Both properties are in the
Tintic district. The opinion affirms the decision given
by Judge Marioneaux in the District Court for Juab
county. The action was begun in September, 1899, by
the Grand Central M. Co. against the Mammoth M. Co.
to recover $300,000 alleged to be due because of the
extraction of 6000 tons of ore by defendant from the Sil-
veropolis mining claim, owned by the plaintiff com-
pany. The defendant set up a counter claim, alleging
that the ore bodies were in a vein which had its apex in
U. S. lot No. 38, which is in Mammoth territory. The
issues were tried out on the claim to the apex, and in
this Judge Marioneaux, in District Court, ruled in favor
284
Mining and Scientific Press.
October 21, 1905.
of the Grand Central. The case was first tried before
Judge Higgins, who ruled in favor of the Grand Cen-
tral. But a new trial was granted by Judge Mario-
neaux, with the result stated. Upon the determination
of this point rested the action for damages for the
extraction of ore. Judge Bartch's opinion enters with
great detail into the testimony of the experts on the
case, and into mining laws in general. The gist of the
opinion is that the case is largely one of evidence, and
on this he rules that the weight is in favor of the Grand
Central's contention as to the Silveropolis claim, and
while the lower court may have erred in some particu-
lars, his decision must be sustained on the main points in
question. The decision covers only the question of title
to the ground in dispute, which is awarded to the Grand
Central Co., the matter of the $300,000 alleged damages
for ores claimed to have been extracted from the ground
now awarded to the Grand Central having been held in
abeyance until the determination of the question of title.
There is another and similar action pending in the
Federal court, which had been brought there because of
the reincorporation of the Grand Central Co. under the
laws of another State.
The ore shipments from Tintic district for the week
ending October 13 were: Bullion-Beck, 4; Centennial-
Eureka, 58; Gemini, 11; Victoria, 3; Grand Central 7;
Black Jack, 1; Mammoth, 8; Ajax, 4; Carisa, 4; Swansea,
6; Eagle and Blue Bell, 8; Eureka Hill (lease) 2; Star
Consolidated, 2; Uncle Sam Consolidated, 4; total 127.
Concentrates: May Day jigs, 22; Uncle Sam mill, 1;
total, 23.
Work has been resumed at the Raymond mine, near
Eureka. A 75-ton mill is to be put in at the Godiva.
mine, at Eureka. J. C. McChrystal is manager.
Salt Lake County.
The Shawmut Consolidated Copper Co., of Bingham,
has decided to push development work just as soon as
the mine is unwatered. Superintendent P. A. Darren-
ougue is in charge of the property and has ordered new
machinery. The Crown Point shaft, now 230 feet deep,
will be sunk to a depth of 800 feet. S. H. Williams of
Boston is general manager. A new hoist is to be put
in at the Bingham Mary.
A. Van Patten, president of the New York & Great
Western M. & D. Co., has made arrangements to resume
work at the Bazouk mine, Bingham.
Tooele County.
The Eastern & Western G. & C. Co., has been formed
to operate claims at Ophir. James Quinn, superinten-
dent of the Buckhorn mine, and Mark Lumb are the
owners of the ground.
WASHINGTON.
Ferry County.
A tunnel has been started on the Trojan property, on
the summit of the northern end of Toulon mountain.
According to the surveyor's figures, the length of the
new tunnel will be 775 feet in order to reach the ore
body, and will give a vertical depth of 450 feet, cutting
the ore body 250 feet lower than tunnel No. 2, which cuts
the main ledge 400 feet in from its portal.
WYOMING.
Carbon County.
E. K. Hum, general manager of the Ferris-Haggarty
mine, tramway and smelter at Encampment, reports
that the Ferris-Haggarty mine has closed down for
the winter, but will be opened again as soon as the
proposed new railroad is completed to Encampment
next April. This action was taken because of the great
expense of getting coke into the camp and hauling the
copper to the railroad. The big reduction works will
continue to run until the ore now in the bins has been
exhausted.
FOREIGN.
AUSTRALIA.
The regulations for testing the qualifications of mine
managers, under the Victorian Mining Act of 1904, have
been published. They provide that every candidate
for a certificate must produce evidence as follows: For
first-class certificates as mining manager, 5 years' prac-
tical mining experience, and be 25 years of age; second-
class mining manager's certificate, 3 years' practical
mining experience, and be 23 years of age; underground
foreman's certificate, 2 years' practical mining experi-
ence, and be 21 years of age; battery manager's cer-
tificate, 1 year in charge of works or under a competent
manager, and be 21 years of age; for a certificate as cy-
anide works manager, 1 year in charge of works or un-
der a competent manager, and be 20 years of age; for
certificate as chlorination works manager, 1 year in
charge of works or under a competent manager, and be
20 years of age. In addition to this, candidates must
either undergo an examination, or produce a certificate
of having passed the requisite examinations of any
school of mines or institution approved by the board of
examiners for mining managers. The standards for ex-
aminations are extremely comprehensive, and cover a
wide field.
CANADA.
BRITISH COLUMBIA.
Boundary District.
It was recently announced that the directorate of the
Dominion Copper Co. have decided to build their
smelter on the North Fork river, J mile above the
Granby smelter. It has been generally thought that
the Morrissey creek situation was the favorite, but it
has been learned that by building above the Granby
smelter no damage by smoke would be done to any fruit
farms, which was feared if the other location had been
taken. The new plant will have six furnaces to com-
mence with, with one large stack. The entire plant
will cost $750,000, and will take a year and a half to com-
plete.
Cast Kootenay District.
W. F. Collins, of Perry creek, is preparing to work a
bar opposite Old Town, and for this purpose is con-
structing a flume.
Slocan District.
The Canadian Metal Co. has secured control of the
Pilot Bay smelter and of the Bluebell mine, and will
begin operations as soon as possible. It has been decided
to operate the concentrator at Pilot Bay as soon as it
can be restored to working order after seven years' idle-
ness. The company now has two plants, the newly con-
structed one at Frank and the one at Pilot Bay. It is
probable that the Frank plant will be reserved for the
treatment of silver and lead ores, to which it can easily and
readily be adapted, and that the Pilot Bay smelter will
treat zinc ores exclusively. Work on the concentrator
has been started. The ore of the Bluebell mine, already
available, will supply material for operation for a con-
siderable length of time. The company, however,
already has control of many other zinc properties of
proved extent and value.
Vancouver Island.
(Special Correspondence). — The Tyee Copper Co.'s
smelter ran 11 days in September, and treated 1919
tons of Tyee ore, giving a return, after deduction of
freight and refining charges, of $35,019.24.
Duncan's Station, B. C, Oct. 16.
West Kootenay District.
At the Silver Cup mine, near Five Mile, development
is being pushed by twenty-five men. A flume is being
built to supply water power to the compressor.
MEXICO.
Chihuahua.
The shaft of the San Cristobal, near Parral, is being
unwatered with the new 150-gallon bucket and work on
the 5th level is being pushed both to the north and
south.
The Pinos Altos mill, near Chihuahua, will be put in
operation just as soon as the cyanide tanks can be placed
in position. Ore has been opened up on the eighteenth
level.
The State Government has issued new regulations
regarding the taxes on ores. Briefly summarized they
state that the value of metals shall be the basis of all
taxes. Silver and gold in bars or bulk pay \\% of their
value. When gold or silver are brought to the Federal
assay office in Chihuahua the payment of taxes shall be
made to the State Treasurer; otherwise, to the tax office
of the district whence it came. When the exact value
of the gold or silver is not known, the owner can make
bond or deposit to the satisfaction of the tax collector,
together with a manifest of the number of bars, exact
weight and approximate value. When gold and silver
are taken from the place of production without compli-
ance with the foregoing articles, such violations are
punishable, as provided in the Ley de Hacienda. Ores
and metals extracted for reduction in and out of the
State for transportation will be taxed on the total value,
according to the testing works' liquidations. Included
in this valuation are all metals which pay charges
according to Article 120 of the Law of Hacienda. Own-
ers or managers before shipping will make a manifest of
the exact weight and approximate value before the met-
als or ores will be allowed to be shipped and the tax
office guaranteed the tax by bond or deposit. The
State Executive will accept igualas for imports on metals
when asked for on the following basis: When the value
of the metals contained is $50 or over per ton, H%;
when the value is $40 and less than $50 per ton, V{%;
when $30 and less than $40 per ton, \\%\ when the val-
ues are less than $30 per ton, 1%. Crushed ore and con-
centrates will be taxed 1% of their metallic value. To
procure an iguala it will be necessary to make a bond
to the State Treasurer to the value per year of the tax.
Raving procured a bond, the recipient thereof will make
manifestations. The agencies of reduction plants and
the offices of metals buying agencies are obliged to make
monthly statements to the tax office in the districts in
which they are located. These statements must specify
where the consignments are made, the value of the met-
als in dollars, and the names of the owners. For any
violation of this rule the ores will not be permitted to be
transported.
Durango.
The Guanacevi Tunnel Co. of Guanacevi will put in
air drills. This company have placed a new boiler
and hoist on a rich gold vein, which they are now devel-
oping at a depth of 120 feet. The 300-ton mill which
is being built near Guanacevi for the treatment of the
product from the Soto group will be started Nov. 15.
Jalisco.
The Mexican Premier Syndicate, Ltd., has taken over
the Gachupinas mine, in the Hostotipaquillo district, to-
gether with the La Cruz del Sur and Saturno mines in the
same district, and it is not unlikely that the America
mine of D. B. Nichols and W. J. Payne will be acquired.
Operations at the Gachupinas mine are being conducted
under the management of D. B. Nichols. B. H. Ham-
mett of Guadalajara, accompanied by G. J. Snook of
Akron, Ohio, president of the CastanaM. Co., and H. H.
Slater of Cleveland, Ohio, are examining their placers in
the Pihuamo district. A hydraulic elevator has been
put in and operations will be commenced at once. A
dam has been built across the Belem river for storage
purposes and a pipe line to carry water from the river 2
miles to the placer has been constructed.
Zacatecas.
The work of unwatering the old San Rafael Grande
mine, which extends under Zacatecas, is in progress, and
water from the old workings is being supplied to the
city of Zacatecas under the contract entered into by the
Stilwell Co. and the State Government. The contract
specified that the mining operations of the company
should be exempted from taxation in return for supply-
ing water to the State capital. The company is headed
by Arthur E. Stilwell, president of the Kansas City,
Mexico & Orient Railroad. It is estimated that it will
cost at least $75,000 to unwater the San Rafael Grande.
The mine was at one time one of the greatest producers
in Mexico, and it is believed that when the mine is
cleared of water and sinking operations are commenced
below the old workings rich ore will be again found.
The mine is being operated in the upper levels, but the
ore there is low grade.
Personal.
NEW ZEALAND.
According to the Mining Journal, the three Smith-
Dav!dsen mills at the Waihi Co.'s 90-stamp mill at
Waihi are doing excellent work, and pulverizing beyond
expectations. E. G. Banks, the company's metallurgist,
reports that in the earlier working the mills were set
the task of grinding the whole of the coarse sands
passed through a 25-mesh from ninety stamps. Since
then the 20-mesh has been adopted, and the manage-
ment are pleased to discover that the coarser the sand
the mills have to deal with the more effectively and finer
they crush. One would naturally surmise that the fine
sands from a forty mesh would receive a finer grinding
than if the mill had to deal with the coarse sand from
the twenty mesh. Not so, however; for the mills grind
more rapidly and much finer when the sands are coarse.
The importance of the above fact lies in its bearing on
the future rapid treatment of ores; for by the use of the
20-mesh the duty of the stamps will show an appreciable
increase, while the task the tube mills have to perform
can be carried out without any increase of speed or ex-
tra labor. They are now crushing and treating fully
30% more ore by the aid of the mills, compared with
what their 90-stamp mill was dealing with prior to the
acquisition of the tube mills. It is now only a matter of
time when the company's Union mill of forty stamps at
Waihi, and Waikino mill of 200 stamps at Waikino, will
be fully equipped with the required number of mills.
The Banks vacuum slime process is satisfactory in ac-
tion.
J* 4j * <&» * * r& <& <fr <& <& pjtj & tfj * <& .fc» i& r> i& <$r tfc ifc ifc •& <$> * * <&• <*• •& * * <& * * 35
C. W. Purington is at Sunrise, Alaska.
F. G. Farish is in Montana on professional business.
A. J. Bettles has returned to Salt Lake City, Utah,
from California.
T. A. Lister has returned from Pennsylvania to
Lordsburg, N. M.
J. J. Jackson is manager Copper Hill M. & S. Co.,
near Prescott, Ariz.
A. W. Tibbals has charge of work of Goldfield G. &
C. M. Co., near Goldfield, Nev.
Wm. Temby has been appointed superintendent Sun-
set M. Co , near Platteville, Wis.
H. H. Nicholson, manager Standard Con. Mines Co.
at Quartzburg, Or., is in Mexico.
H. C. Cutler has been appointed superintendent
Sandstorm mine at Columbia, Nev.
B. F. Hartley, superintendent Three Stars mine,
near Auburn, Cal., is on a trip East.
C. T. Brown has returned to Socorro, N. M., from
mine examination at Tres Hermanos.
Richard Rodskell of Calumet, Mich., has returned
from inspecting mines near Globe, Ariz.
Peter Dawe of Hancock, Mich., has been appointed
mine inspector for Houghton county, Mich.
W. B. Morris has succeeded H. C. Cutler as super-
intendent North Star mine at Tonopah, Nev.
William Williams of Ironwood, Mich., is superin-
tendent Comanche M. Co., near Silver City, N. M.
F. A. Hill has succeeded G. H. Broome as manager
Canadian Coal & Coke Co. at Frank, Alberta, Canada.
W. F. Miller, manager the United States Tin Co.,
has begun operations at Corona, Riverside county, Cal.
Homer Wilson, president Wildman Con. M. Co.,
has returned to San Francisco, Cal., from New York
City.
V. C. Heikes of the United States Geological Survey
is visiting the mining districts of Mohave county, Ari-
zona.
T. J. Galiger, superintendent Stockton G. M. & M.
Co. at Stockton, Tooele county, Utah, has gone East on
business.
Karl Staahlgren, president Wayne M. Co., has
returned to the mines at Granite Falls, Wash., from
New York City.
J. H. McChrystal, formerly of Salt Lake City,
Utah, has ooened offices as mining engineer at 333 Pine
street, San Francisco, Cal.
Z. A. Harris of Cleveland, O., president Twentieth
Century M. Co. at Roosevelt, Idaho, has been at Boise,
Idaho, on company business.
H. B. Lodwen has assumed the position with the
Colorado Iron Works Co., Denver, Colo., made vacant
by the resignation of F. S. Cronk.
Edgar Rickard, who recently resigned the mana-
gership Progresso M. Co., Triunfo, Baja California, is
in California, his present address being 21 Fremont St.,
San Francisco, Cal.
O. F. Westlund has resigned as manager Aguascali-
entes, Mexico, plant of the American S. & R. Co., to
take the management of a new smelter in Oaxaca. Kuno
Doerr has succeeded him.
G. F. Rendall, consulting engineer for the American
Lead Corporation, 120 Liberty street, New York City,
has been inspecting the Cleveland Consolidated mine
at Bullychoop, Shasta county, Cal.
Governor Cutler of Utah has named the following
delegates to the American Mining Congress, which meets
in El Paso, Tex., Nov. 14 to 18: Senators Reed Smo»t
and George Sutherland, Congressman Joseph Howell,
J. R. Twelves of Provo, Alma Eldredge of Coalville, J.
C. Sullivan of Eureka, Frank Pierce, W. H. Tibbals, D.
H. Peery, Caleb Tanner, Gomer Thomas, David Keith,
October 21, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
285
H. S. Joseph, P. T. Farnsworth and Benjamin Tibbey
of Salt Lake City.
The following delegates have been appointed by Gov-
ernor Warner to represent Michigan at the El" Paso
meeting of the American Mining Coogress: James Mc-
Naughton, Calumet; James Chynaweth, Calumet; Fred
Smith, Kearsarge: Norman W. Haire, Houghton; Frank
McM. Stanton, Atlantic; F. W. Denton, Painesdale;
John L. Harris, Hancock; M. M. Duncan, Ishpeming;
W. H. Johnson, tshpeming; O. C. Davidson, Iron Moun-
tain; William Kelley, Vulcan; W. J. Richards, Crystal
Falls: J. H. McLean, Ironwood: H. F. Ellard, Ironwood;
George B. Morley, Saginaw; E. B. Foos. Bay City.
Latest Market Reports.
San Francisco, October 20, 1905.
Silver. — Per oz., Troy; London, 28!!,d (standard
ounce, 925 fine); New York, bar silver, 62Jc, refined (1000
fine); San Francisco, 62Jc; Mexican dollars, 50c, San
Francisco; 47Jc, New York.
Bar silver is higher locally, in New York and in Lon-
don, than for some time past, the quotation at present
being 62 J cents per ounce. Although the advance is
small, it means, in most cases, just that much additional
profit, as the expense of producing the metal is not in
the least increased. While the hope for high-priced
silver is a thing of the past, every small advance over 60
cents is gladly welcomed by producers of the metal.
COPPER.— New York : Standard, $16.37* ; Lake, $16.37*
@16.75; Electrolytic, 916.32*; Casting, $16.00@16.37*.
San Francisco: $16.75. Mill copper plates, $17.50; bars,
18@24c. London: £72 10s spot per ton.
Copper shows a firm tone, there being a slight advance
over last week's quotations. Those controlling the mar-
ket have no desire, apparently, to allow the price to go
above 17 cents, as it stimulates production in too large a
degree, while also offering an inducement to consumers
to substitute other metals — iron, aluminum, etc. — for
copper.
LEAD.— New York, $5.50; St. Louis, $4.50; San Fran-
cisco, $5.00, carload lots; 5Jc 1000 to 4000 lbs.; pipe 7Jc,
sheet 8, bar 6}c. London:" £14 18s 9d $ long ton.
SPELTER.— New York, $6.20: St. Louis, $5.75; Lon-
don, £28 12s 6d $ ton; San Francisco, ton lots, 7c; 100-fb
lots, 7jc.
Tin.— New York, pig, $32.50@32.75; San Francisco,
ton lots, 34c; 500 lbs., 35c; 200 B>s., 36c; less, 37Je; bar tin,
1 ft., 40c. London, £148 17s 6d.
Platinum.— San Francisco, crude, $18.50 $oz.; New
York, ingot, $20.50 f, Troy oz. Platinum ware, 75@$1.00
$ gram.
Quicksilver.— New York, $40.00@$40.50, large lots;
London, £7 5s Od; San Francisco, local, $38.00@39.00 f(
flask of 75 fts.
Babbitt Metal.— San Francisco, No. 1, lOJc; No.
2, 8c; No. 3, 7Jc; extra, 17Jc; genuine, 32*c; Eclipse, 35c.
SOLDER.— Half-and-half, 100-ft. lots, 22.00c; San Fran-
cisco, Plumbers', 100-ft. lots, 19.15c.
Zinc— Metallic, chemically pure, $ lb., 50c; dust, $».,
10c; sulphate, f, lb, .04c.
Nickel.— New York, 55@60c f, ft.; ton lots, 40@47c.
Aluminum.— No. 1, 99%, small lots, 37c f, ft.; 100 lbs..
35c; 1000 lbs. 34c; ton lots and over, 33c, Pittsburg. No,
2, 90%, small lots, 34c; ton lots and over, 31c, Pittsburg.
STRUCTURAL MATERIALS.
Iron. — Pittsburg, Bessemer pig, $15.25; gray forge,
$14.75; San Francisco, bar, 3*c $ ft., 3|c in small quan-
tities.
Steel.— Bessemer billets, PittBburg, $21.00@$24.00;
open hearth billets, $23.00@$25.00; San Francisco, bar,
7c to 13c $ ft.
White Lead. — Per ft., in kegs: 500 fts. and over at
one purchase, per ft., 7|c; less than 500 fts., per ft., 8c;
in 25-ft. tin pails, Jc ^ ft. above keg price; in 1 and 5-fi>.
tin cans, 100 fts. per case, Jc per ft. above keg price.
Dry Lead. — In bbls., 1 ton and over, 7£e; do. in kegs, 8c.
LIME.— Santa Cruz, $1.35 country, $1.25 city fl bbl.
Cement.— Imported, $3.00@4.00 $ bbl.; California,
carload lots, $1.80 f. o. b. at works; small lots, $2.10 $
bbl. in sacks, 4 sacks to bbl., 5c for each sack returned.
Lumber. — (Retail): Pine, ordinary sizes, $24.00®
25.00; extra sizes higher; redwood, $28.00@30.00; lath, 4
feet, $4.50@5.00; pickets, $21.00;shingles, $2.50 for No. 1,
and $2.25 for No. 2; shakes, $13.50 for split and $15.00 for
sawed; rustic, $28.00(5)35.00.
Nails. — This week the basic prices are: Wire, $2.77;
Cut, $3.25. Meanwhile the nominal quotations per keg
(list prices) are: No. 20d to 60d, Wire, $3.35; Cut, $3.55;
lOd to 16d, Wire, $3.45; Cut, $3.35; 8d, Wire, $3.50; Cut,
$3.50; 6d and 7d, Wire, $3.60; Cut, $3.60; 4d and 5d,
Wire, $3.70; Cut, $3.70; 3d, Wire, $3.85; Cut, $3.85; 2d,
Wire, $4.10; Cut, $4.10. Special rates for carload lots.
GENERAL SUPPLIES.
Antimony. — New York, Cookson's, 13Jc; Hallett's,
14Jc; San Francisco, 1000-ft. lots, 14c; 300@500-fts. 12c;
100-ft. lots, 13c.
Bismuth.— Subnitrate, ?, ft., $2.10.
Bone Ash.— Extra No. 1, 5@6c B ft; No. 1, 4@5c.
Borax. — Concentrated, 7@8c $ ft; powdered, 9@10c;
fused, 25@30c; crystal, 7c.
Candles. — Spear Brand, 16 oz. adamantine, 40s., lie
$ set; 14 oz. adamantine, 40s., 10c; 12 oz. adamantine,
40s, 9c; 10 oz. adamantine, 40s, 8c; 16 oz. stearic, 40s,
12fc ^ set; 14 oz. stearic, 40s, 11J; 12 oz. stearic, 40s,
lOJc; 10 oz. stearic, 40s, 9Jc. 100-case lots and over, Jc
less. Not less than 50-case lots, ',(a less. Boxes of 20s,
price \c advance.
CAPS.— 3x, $5.50@6 per 1000; 4x, $6.50@7; 5x, $8@8.50:
Lion, $9@9.50, in lots not less than 1000.
Chemicals.— Cyanide of potassium, 98%-99%, job-
bing, 23@24c fl ft.; carloads, 23@23}c; in tins, 30c; soda
ash, $2.00 $ 100 fts.; hyposulphite of soda, 3@3}c $ ft.;
caustic soda, in drums, 3@3}c$lb.; Cal. s. soda, bbls.,
$1.10@1.20 '8100 lbs.: sks., 90c@$1.00; chlorate of pot-
ash, 12@13c; nitrate of potash, 6J@7c; caustic potash,
10c in 40-ft. tins; roll sulphur, 2j@2jc; powdered sul-
phur, 2J@2Jc; flour sulphur, French, 2j@ — c; alum,
»2.00@2.25; California refined, l$@2c; sulphide of iron,
8c B ft.; copper sulphate, 5J@5jc; chloride of lime, spot,
$2.50@2.75; sulphuric acid, In carboys, 66% B, l|@2c $
lb.; nitric acid, carboys, 8c $ ft.
Chromium.— 90% and over, f, ft., 80c.
Coal. — San Francisco, coast, yard prices : Welling-
ton, $8.00; Seattle, $6.50; Coos Bay, $5.50; Southfield,
$8.00. Cargo lot, Eastern and foreign: Wallsend, $7.50;
Brymbo, $7.50; Pennsylvania, hd., $14.00; Scotch, $8.00;
Cumberland, $13.00; Cannel, $8.50; Welsh Anthracite,
$13.00; Rock Springs, $8.50, long ton; Colorado Anthra-
cite, $14.00. Coke, $11.50 per ton in bulk, $13.00 in
sacks; Sunnyside, $8.50, long ton.
Fire Brick.— Domestic, carloads $ 1000, f. o. b., fac-
tory square, $25.00; soap and split, $22.50; arch and
wedge, $27.50; skewback, $30.00; circle, $32.00.
Fire Clay.— Domestic, $ ton 2000 fts. in 125-ft. bags
double, and dry ground, f. o. b., factory, $8.50.
Fuse.— Triple tape, $4.00 per 1000 feet; double tape,
$3.55; single tape, $3.10; Hemp, $2.85; Cement No. 2,
$3.10; Cement No. 1, $2.75, in lots of 3000 and up.
Oils. — Linseed, boiled, bbl., 54c; cs., 59c; raw, bbl.,
52c; cs., 57c; Lucol oil, boiled, bbl., 48c: cs., 53c; raw-
bbl., 46c; cs., 51c. Kerosene — Pearl, per gal., 17Jc; As-
tral, 17jc; Star, 17*c; Extra Star, 20jc; Eocene, 19Jc;
Elaine, 26c; Water White, In bulk, lie; Mineral Seal,
iron bbls., 18c; wooden bbls., 20Jc; cs., 24c; Mineral
Sperm, cs., 26*c; Deodorized Stove Gasoline, bulk, 14Jc,
do., cs., 21c; 86° Gasoline, bulk, 25c; do., cs., 31c; 83°
Naphtha or Benzine, deodorized, in bulk, per gal., 12Jc;
do., in cs., 19c; Lard Oil, E. W. S., bbl., 75c; cs., 80c;
Neats-foot Oil, pure, bbl., 63c; cs., 78c; Sperm, crude,
63@68c; Natural White, 68c; Bleached, do., 68@73c;
Whale Oil, cs., 52@67c.
Litharge.— Pure, in 25-ft. bags, 9J@10Jc f, ft.
Magnesium.— Pure, N. Y., $1.60.
Manganese.— Black oxide, % ft., 2|@4c
Mercury.— Bichloride, $ ft., 77c.
Molybdenum.— Best, $2.75 K ft.
Phosphorus.— American, $ ft., 70c.
Powder. — F. o. b. San Francisco : No. 1, 70% nitro-
glycerine, per ft., in carload lots, 15£c; less than one ton,
17Jc. No. 1*, 60%, carload lots, 13Jc; less than one ton,
15Jc. No. 1**, 50%, carload lots, life; less than one ton,
13|c. No. 2, 40%, carload lots, 10c; less than one ton,
12c. No. 2, 35%, carload lots, 9Jc; less than one ton,
lljc. No. 2**, 30%, carload lots, 9c; less than one ton,
lie. Black blasting powder in carload lots, minimum
car 728 kegs, $1.50 per keg; less car lots, $2.00 per keg.
Red Lead. — 500 fts. and over at one purchase, ft ft.
7Jc; less than 500 fts., 7Jc.
Silver.— Chloride, <fi oz., 90c@$1.00; nitrate, 54c
Sodium.— Metal, $ ft., $1.
Tungsten.— Best, f, ft., $1.20.
Uranium.— Oxide, $ ft., $3.40.
$ *:*
| Commercial Paragraphs, f
* *
}fc********* *********** tyfyty ************#
The Salt Lake Hardware Co. of Salt Lake City, Utah,
were again awarded the gold medal on Keller assay bal-
ances at the Lewis and Clark exhibition at Portland, Or.
At a directors' meeting of the Crocker-Wheeler Co.,
manufacturers and electrical engineers, on the 13th
inst., at Ampere, N. J., the regular quarterly dividend
of 1}% was declared.
At the Lewis and Clark Exposition at Portland, Or.,
F. W. Braun & Co. of San Francisco and Los Angeles,
Cal., were awarded a gold medal on their exhibit of
assay and chemical laboratory apparatus, consisting
mainly of the following: Braun's disc pulverizer, Chip-
munk crusher, combination assay furnaces, hydro-
carbon burners, Marvel crude oil burners and cupel
machines.
The S. H. Supply Co., Denver, Colo., have made
recent shipments of the following American air com-
pressors: 8-drill tandem compound machine to Arizona;
6-drill tandem compound to Wyoming; 5-drill straight
line to Sunnyside, Coal Co., juouisville, Colo.; 3-drill
straight line to United Mines and Exp. Co., Central
City, Colo. This company is also furnishing a com-
plete 40-stamp mill, including concentrating plant, to
Sonora, Mex., and a 20-stamp mill to the same com-
pany.
The superior jury at the Lewis & Clark Exposition,
Portland, Or., has approved seventeen different and
several awards in the electrical department, relating to
the exhibits of the General Electric Co., which is stated
to have been the largest manufacturer exhibiting in that
department. The highest award granted by the jury
was a gold medal. The company states that it received
a gold medal for the best exhibit in the electrical
department and also gold medals on each of the seven-
teen features of the exhibit. For its new metalized car-
bon filament incandescent lamps, the company also
received a gold medal. This exposition in common with
other recent American expositions was lighted by Edison
incandescent lamps, furnished by the General Electric
Co.
The Pelton Water Wheel Co. of San Francisco and
New York has a contract with the Oro Water, Light &
Power Co. of Oroville, Cal., for two Pelton units of 2000
H. P. capacity each, direct connected to electric genera-
tors, the wheels operatingunder 465-foot head. The water
wheel arrangement embraces the double overhung
type of construction, which is typical of Pelton appa-
ratus. The current is to be used for both light and
power, the latter involving the operation of gold
dredgers, in which the fluctuations of power and load
are sudden and heavy. Other recent orders include a
wheel equipment for a power and pulp company of
Washington, consisting of a triple Pelton unit for direct
connection to heavy pulp grinders ,in the paper mills.
The wheels are mounted on a steel shaft 18 feet in length,
provided with an oil thrust bearing of special design.
Takata & Co. have ordered a 300 H. P. unit for Tokio,
and a large wheel has just been furnished the Ingersoll-
Sergeant Drill Co. for direct connection to one of their
compressors. The Pelton Water Wheel Co. will enlarge
its works, and has bought a block of land in South San
FranciBco, where a modern machine shop is now being
built.
********* ******************** * J, 4- * * ** K
* _ *
Trade Treatises.
************* ******** ******** ******* s
Catalogue G of The Doming Co. of Salem, Ohio, illus-
trates and specifies an extensive line of power pumps of
the triplex, deep well and other types. Pumps for many
purposes are handsomely pictured.
Air Cooled Duntley Electric Drills are illustrated and
described in special circular No. 52 of the Chicago Pneu-
matic Tool Co., Fisher Bldg., Chicago, 111. A table of
tests shows its adaptability for rapid and economical
drilling of cast iron and steel plate.
The Ingersoll-Sergeant Drill Co. of 11 Broadway, New
York City, issue an interesting booklet on "Stone Work-
ing Tools" from the pneumatic tool department. It
illustrates the application of air power to the various
processes of stone carving, polishing and dressing.
The tenth Catalogue of Assayers' and Chemists' Sup-
plies, from the Denver Fire Clay Co. of 1742-46 Champa
St., Denver, Colo., gives illustrations and prices of a
great variety of muffles, crucibles, scorifiers, furnaces,
chemical and physical apparatus and general laboratory
supplies.
t************** **********************
*
*
»
Books Received.
*
j,*** ******************** $
Obituary.
-8
it jr.*****
As extracts from "Mineral Resources ;of the United
States," the United States Geological Survey has issued
"The Production of Mineral Waters in 1904 " and "Pro-
duction of Gas, Coke, Tar and Ammonia at Gas Works
and in Retort Coke Ovens in 1904," by E. W. Parker.
*
St *
W. A. Roberts, a mining man of extended experience
throughout the Pacific coast States, died at Hornbrook,
Cal., on October 12th.
New Patents.
Dewey, Strong & Co. 's Scientific Press Patent agency, 330
Market street, San Francisco, has official reports of the following
United States patents issued to Pacific Coast inventors :
FOR THE WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 3, 1905.
801,057.— Saw Swage— C. J. Anderson, Eureka, Cal.
801,129.— Reducing Ores— H. Arden, San Francisco.
800,791.— Water Purifier— F. K. Bowden, San Jose, Cal.
800,842.— Glove— F. H. Busby, San Francisco.
800.982.— Safety Pin— E. A. Campbell, Los Angeles, Cal.
801,061.— Gas Generator— E. A. Chamberlin, Los Angeles, Cal.
800,793.— Feed Water Regulator— C. H. Chandler. Seattle, Wash.
800,794.— Hopple and Tail Holder— J. G. Connell, Hoquiam, Wash.
800,907.— Telephone Mouthpiece— W. B. Curtis, San Francisco.
801,063.— Railway Tie— H. S. Delamere, Cloverdale, Cal.
801.065.— Square— R. M. Dixon, Stockton, Cal.
800,910.— Elevator— B. Flood, Los Angeles, Cal.
801,077.— Cloth Stretcher— L. B. Girard, Los Angeles, Cal.
800,846.— Comb— E. D. Hamilton, Montavllla, Or.
800,912— Nail— M. Hermelfnk, San Francisco.
800,804.— Oil Burner— C. R. Herrington, San Francisco.
801.015.— Flue Cutter— C. J. Johnson, Seattle, Wash.
800,852— Saw Jointer— M. Kapp, Bellingham, Wash.
800,746.— PLANT Protector— C Landon, Yuma, Ariz.
800,807.— Solder— H. P. Larson, Portland, Or.
800,808.— Hay Rake— C. E. Lindberg. Seattle, Wash.
800,872.— HOE— J. O. Newcomb, French Camp, Cal.
800,936.— Dredger Bucket— T. O'Leary, Oakland, Cal.
800,913.--Egg Carrier— D. B. Replogle, Los Angeles, Cal.
801.106 —Viol Organ— E. Ringer. Tacoma, Wash
800,882.— Window— D. Schuyler. Los Angeles, Cal.
800,947 —Fiber Picker— A. M. Sheakley, Stockton, Cal.
801,118.— Telegraph Receiver— G. T. Swenson, San Pedro, Cal.
801,119.— Pencil Holder— E. P. "Van Alstyne, Bisbee, Ariz.
800,775.— Culvert— W. J. Walsh, Miller, Cal.
801,120.— Window Frame— T. F. Ware, Reno, Nev.
801,122.— Lawn Mower— J. West, Seattle, Wash.
Notices of Recent Patents.
Among the patents recently obtained through Dewey, Strong &
Co.'s Scientific Press United States and Foreign Patent Agency,
the following are worthy of special mention:
Pocket Calculator.— No. 801,354. Oct. 10, 1905. F. S. Beckett,
San Francisco, Cal. This invention relates to improvements in cal-
culating devices, and pertains particularly to a chart in the form of
a pocket tape designed for computing, multiplying, dividing, ascer-
taining the roots and powers of numbers, etc. The object of the
invention is to provide a simple, compact, handy device for calcu-
lating mathematical problems and which may be readily carried in
the vest pocket It consists of a flexible tape longitudinally divided
along one side into two scales, one scale graduated to a series ol
natural numbers, the other to the corresponding logarithms or said
numbers or their fractions, and the graduations so arranged that a
portion of the numbers of one scale are equally spaced, while the
spaces between the corresponding figures of the other scale vary,
and other details of construction designed to produce the desired
result.
Dividends.
Oct. 14 the Bunker Hill & Sullivan Mining & Con-
centrating Co. declared dividend No. 98, of $180,000,
payable on Nov. 4. This makes total paid since Jan. 1,
1905, $2,955,000, and total to date $5,226,000.
19
Mining and Scientific Press.
October 21, 1905.
The best of their kind —
Aetna
Dynamite
Lion Fuzes
and
Blasting Machines
Use them and your blasting troubles will
be few
Send for the booklet
"Firing Blasts by Electricity'
l£4
ALL MADE BY
The Aetna Powder Co.
143 Dearborn St., Chicago
We are BOILER PHYSICIANS not Boiler Doctors.
We believe in preventing trouble from incrustation and sedimentation, ratber than in trying
to dissoh e or hammer it out after it has been deposited. The
STILWELL FEED- WATER HEATER
stops ihe sediment in the feed water before it enters the boiler, and at the same time
Saves the heat otherwise wasted in the exhaust steam.
Returns steam to the boiler in the shape of pure distilled water.
Protects the boiler from injury by cold water and
Lessens shutdowns and labor for cleaning and repairs.
Engineering information on this subject has been collected by our engineers into aliOOK,
"MS," which we shall be pleased to send in return for a postal card from you.
THE PLATT IRON WORKS CO.
Successors to the STILWELL-BIERCE & SMITH-VAILE CO.,
DAYTON, OHIO.
Builders of PUMPING MACHINERY, WATER WHEELS, AIR COMPRESSORS
AND POWER PLANT APPARATUS.
Western Agents: Salt Lake Hardware Co.. Salt Lake City, Utah.
VULCANIZED FIBRE for
DREOGE FRICTION CLUTCHES
e,„_„ Ci.,j;. r>..—.UI~ I wul Hold Yonr Load Without Slipping or Rinding.
Strong, CiaStlC, UuraDie. | Send for Samples and Test It Yourself.
ELECTRIC, RAILW&Y & MANUFACTURERS' SUPPLY CO., 68 First St., San Francisco, Calif.
Common Sense
teaches us that RUBBER against an article creates friction. In fact, we
wear rubber soles — use rubber on steps, etc., to prevent slipping — to
create friction.
Why do you use ENGINE PACKING with rubber on top— on the bot-
tom— and in between — where it is rubbing against the rod all the time —
creating excessive friction — loss in power — fuel — money?
No such mistake in
"EUREKA" PACKING.
The rubber is where it should be — embedded in flax —
which takes the wear — the lubricants prevent friction.
Isn't it up to you to try GENUINE "EUREKA,"
particularly as the price is one-half less?
JAS. L. ROBERTSON & SONS, 195 Fulton St., New York
A LARGE VARIETY of TYPES OF
CONVEYORS of JEFFREY DESIGN
illustrated
in
Catalogue 69,
Mailed Free
with
ELEVATING,
POWER
TRANSMITTING,
SCREENING,
CRUSHING,
DREDGING,
COAL and ROCK DRILLING,
COAL WASHING,
MINING
Catalogues.
THE JEFFREY
MFG, COMPANY,
COLUMBUS, OHIO,
U. S. A.
New York
Pittsburg
OPEN TROUGH CONVEYOR.
Chicago Denver
Charleston, W. \I £
JOSHUA HENDY MACHINE WORKS, San Francisco Agents lor Electric Mine Locomotives.
H ENSHAW. BULKLEY & COMPANY, San Franc Isco Agents for Elevating and Conveying Maohlnery .
"CRACK B» PROOF"
PURE RUBBER BOOTS are the Cheapest because they are
the Most Durable. BEWARE OF IMITATIONS.
GOLD SEAL and BADGER Belting, Packing and Hose.
Rubber Factory in San Francisco. VALVES, GASKETS, ETC., made to order.
GOODYEAR RUBBER CO. EtfESFSSk^
R. H. Pease Pres.; M. Shepard, Jr., Treas.; C. F. Runyon, See'y.
PORTLAND. OREGON.
The flerrell Pipe Threading:
and Cutting flachines
— FOR —
Mines, Mills, Power Plants,
and Factories,
MACHINES FOR HAND,
MACHINES FOR POWER,
Combined Machines for Hand and Power,
Motor and Engine Driven Machines.
SEND FOR CATALOGUE.
Combination Hand and Power Machine.
THE MERRELL MFG. CO., Toledo, Ohio, U. S. A.
PACIFIC COAST REPRESENTATIVES:
THE PACIFIC HARDWARE & STEEL CO., Mission & Fremont Sts.. San Francisco. Cal.
ROTARY DRYERS
WE MAKE WE LARGEST VARIETY /N THE WORLD. MORE THAN ZOONOW IN USE
NOW USED IN THE GOV. COAL TESTING PLANT. GOLD MEDAL ATSTLOUIS.
THE C.O.BARTLETT & SNOW CO. CLEVELAND OHIO U.S.A.
Whole No. 2362.
_VOLUME XCI.
Number 18.
San Francisco, Cal., Saturday, October 28, 1905.
THREE DOLLARS PER ANNUM
Single Copies, Ten Cent*.
Danger in Mines.
With each succeeding year the statistics of mine
operation continue to show loss of life through
underground accidents. Constant effort is being
made in most mining regions to provide greater
safety to miners, and means are taken to lessen the
likelihood of accidents from certain causes, such, for
instance, as overwinding, breaking of hoisting ropes,
caving of ground and many other like contingencies
with which all miners have become more or less
familiar. These precautions, however, appear to be
insufficient, for accidents continue to occur. To one
who carefully investigates the majority of accidents
in mines it becomes at once apparent that these acci-
dents are usually of a kiud that could not well have
been anticipated or they would not have happened.
Miners have become familiar with the dangers which
are a part of underground life, and the old saying,
" familiarity breeds contempt," is as applicable to
underground dangers in mines as it is to men.
A large percentage of accidents is due to careless-
ness of the men themselves. Miners walk carelessly
into shafts — a gate is placed between the shaft and
the station floor — and the next man will as carelessly
step from a skip into the yawning compartment
Bluenose Mine at Goldenville, Nova Scotia. (See page 290. )
Interior of Dodiver Mountain Mill, Nova Scotia. (See page 290.)
work of so important a character. Some min-
ing companies provide a code of rules as a guide
to the conduct of miners when underground. These
rules are devised as a protective measure, not only
to the men, but to secure the company from loss
through carelessness of the workmen, and any in-
fringement of the rules results in the prompt dis-
missal of the guilty party if he is discovered. Often
one careless man will endanger the lives of a score
or more of his fellow workmen. Not that he would
intentionally injure any one of them, much less him-
self, but he is simply careless and neglects the most
ordinary precautions.
In the handling of high explosives the careless
miner excels. It is not uncommon to find an old and
experienced miner opening a 50- pound box of nitro-
powder with a pick, or serenely fixing his primers
while puffing contentedly at a pipe. He will take a
small box containing a dozen or more sticks of pow-
der, and fuses with caps attached, climb a ladder to
a stope and give box and all a careless toss over a
pile of obstructing rock or timber at the top of the
passage way. He has done it many a time before
wilhout serious result, and he comes to believe it
perfectly safe to continue such dangerous practice.
Nothing can protect such men from serious injury
sooner or later but sheer good luck, which may some
day desert him.
a
adjoining and fall to his death. Roof falls occur
where all felt secure. Runs happen when and where
little expected, or the necessary protective means
would be employed to avert the disaster. The nat-
ural tendency is to pass legislative enactments that
will protect miners from these dangers. Mine inspec-
tors are appointed to see that such accidents cannot
occur, or, at least, that by proper inspection their
frequency be diminished, but it is not apparent that
the percentage of accidents, relative to the number
of men employed, is less in those States having
inspectors than in those having no such officials.
The superintendent of a mine is as anxious to avoid
an accident as the miners working under him. - He
can see no advantage in a cave, a run, a flood, or
other unexpected and expensive interruption of
work, any more than can the mine inspector, and if
he understands his business he will take all the pre-
cautions necessary to avert it. If men put up frail
staging, which gives way when the miners are at
work standing upon it, the miner is as much to blame
as any one, unless he be an inexperienced hand, in
which case he should not have been intrusted with
Moose River Mines, Nova Scotia. (See page 290.]
287
Mining and Scientific Press.
October 28, 1905.
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
ESTABLISHED i860.
Published Every Saturday at 330 Market Street, San Francisco, Cal.
Telephone, Davis 771.
ANNUAL, SUBSCRIPTION.
United States, Mexico and Canada 13 00
All Other Countries In the Postal Union 5 00
Entered at the San Francisco Postoffice as second-class mail matter.
Branch Offices:
New Yobk City, 921-24 Park Row Bldg. Boston, 27 School St.
Chicago, 1164 Monadnock Block. Denver, 606 Mack Block.
J. F. HALLORAN Publisher
SAN FRANCISCO, OCTOBER 28, 1905.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
Page.
.2J2
ILLUSTRATIONS:
Interior of Dodiver Mountain Mill, Nova Scotia
Bluenose Mine at Goldenville, Nova Scotia
Moose River Mines, Nova Scotia
The Nancy Hanks— An Original Engine
Drainage Tunnel at Cripple Creek, Colo
Sluice and Undercurrents, Siberia
Siberian Plan for Handling Clayey Gravel 282
Pole Riffle With Knives for Cutting Clay 293
Riffle to Hold Sheet of Quicksilver 293
Water Settling Boxes 293
Sampling Products of Concentrating and Slimes Tables 294
Tailings Sampler 391
Portable Powder Thawer .295
Blower and Engine Set 296
EDITORIAL:
Danger in Mines 286
Gold Production of the World 287
British Columbia Duty on American Products 287
The Value of Iron Bearing Sands 287
Promoting Mining Enterprise in Mexico 288
Lead-Silver Mines of the Coeur d'Alene Eclipse All Records — 288
The Law of Location 288
Science in Mining 288
Homestake Mine Equipment 2P8
SI IN INli SUMMARY 297-298-299-300-301
LATEST MARKET REPORTS .
. 302
MISCELLANEOUS:
Concentrates 289
In Nova Scotia 290
A Noted Pyrite Deposit 290
The Drainage of Cripple Creek Mines 291
Temperature of Feed Water 291
Placer Mining in Alaska 292
An Experience in Water Recovery 293
The Prospector 293
Sampling Products of Concentrating and Slimes Tables 294
History of Pyritic Smelting 294
An Inexpensive Powder Thawer 295
Blower and Engine Set 295
Mining and Metallurgical Patents 296
Books Received 301
Personal 301
Trade Treatises 302
Commercial Paragraphs 302
New Patents 302
Notices of Recent Patents 302
Gold Production of the World.
Carefully compiled statistics indicate that the
present gold production of the world is about one
million dollars daily. This large increase in the gold
output of the mines of the world is due more to the
application of modern methods and machinery to
low grade deposits than to the operation of mines of
phenomenal richness. Mines producing unusually
rich ore are generally short lived, as compared with
those of low grade. The former have a meteoric ex-
istence— flash into prominence and in a few months
are exhausted and are soon forgotten — while the
large low-grade mines continue to produce year after
year, for a generation or more. The improvement
in dredging machinery has made available a source
of gold not previously possible to operate at a profit
— the placers of the valley lands, where grades are
almost nil, and where the amount of gold dissem-
inated in the gravel is so small as to make limited
or small scale operations commercially impossible.
Twenty-five years ago, the cheapest mining done in
the world was by means of hydraulicking in some of
the largest mines of this class in California, but the
cost of operating a modern dredger is not more per
cubic yard than the average of the most economically
conducted hydraulic mine of those former years. Not
only does the dredger work as cheaply, but the cost
of installation is far less than that of one of the large
hydraulic plants, many of which cost from $200,000
to $500,000 or more. A large modern dredger can
be built for $75,000, and, under ordinary conditions,
will handle from 50,000 to 65,000 cubic yards per
month. Dredgers are operating or are in construc-
tion in almost every country in the world where ex-
tensive low-grade placer deposits exist, and where
the conditions are favorable to this method of gold
mining.
The modern methods of rock mining, too, have
aided materially in increasing the activity noticeable
in the gold mining industry. In iron mining, methods
have been devised to meet existing conditions and to
cheapen the cost of production. It has been found
that some of these economical methods are also ap-
plicable to gold mining practice and a lowering of
cost of production has usually followed the introduc-
tion of these methods wherever the experiment has
been tried- It is the low-grade mines which 'are be-
coming so important a factor in the swelling and
maintaining of the world's gold production.
Metallurgical science is also aiding in this direc-
tion. In former years gold ores not readily treated
by amalgamation were shipped to smelters, or if this
could not be done at a profit, they were allowed to
remain in the mine because they were unprofitable,
awaiting a more propitious day. The improvements
in concentration have made it possible to successfully
eliminate a large percentage of waste from such ores,
the values being collected in a small volume of en-
riched material — concentrates. These may be
shipped to smelters or treated at the mine by
chlorination, or by some of the wet processes, among
which the cyanide process, with its varied modifica-
tions, is most important.
Improvements in every branch of the industry have
made available ore deposits previously of no com-
mercial value. There still remain other deposits,
which, for the same reasons as in the past, are at
present unavailable, but which, by further reduction
of the cost of mining and further improvements in
metallurgical processes whereby the cost is dimin-
ished and the recovery of gold values increased, will
become a source of revenue and swell the world's gold
output.
There are those who think they can see in this
tremendous output of precious metal, the greatest in
the history of the world, a danger to the standard
of monetary values by reason of overproduction.
This condition, which in the past did at several times
in the history of the civilized world actually occur, is
not likely to be repeated in the present age. The
constantly expanding commercial life of the world
demands a continually increasing supply of gold, and
this all the mines of the earth are not more than
capable of supplying. The real danger appears to lie
in exactly the opposite direction — the failure of the
mines to keep up with the demand. It is not at all
likely that this condition will soon obtain, but,
eventually, the gold deposits now known must have
been exhausted, and we must then look to those
deposits, at present either unknown or too low
grade to be profitably exploited, to maintain the
supply.
PRESENT effort is being made in British Columbia
to continue the existing import duty on Ameri-
can products, and especially the bounty on lead,
which latter has thirty months more of life under
former legislation. The Dominion lead bounty in 1904
was $326,000; in 1903, $191,000. Canada's total lead
production in 1904 was valued at $1,637,000; of this
amount British Columbia produced $1,422,000. The
increase of import duties on white lead has occa
sioned a great advance in lead ore production; there
is now throughout British Columbia over $20,000,000
invested in silver-lead mining plants. The assertion
is made that under present conditions the lead bounty
virtually represents a protection of 20%. The
Province will ask, through its mining legislators, for
the removal of the duty on steel rails when used for
mining purposes, a 50% reduction on the present
tariff on candles and explosives and a reduction of the
tariff on mining machinery, the latter designed to
afford fair competition on the part of American
mining machinery manufacturers. The British Co-
lumbia smelting men are particularly strenuous in
the request that there be suitable reduction in the
present mining machinery tariff, which does not inure
to the benefit of the Province. The fact is also
pointed out that the cost of dynamite is the Ameri-
can price with 60% duty added on importations from
the United States. This last item is largely a mat-
ter of commercial relations between makers of dyna-
mite on both sides of the boundary line; but, as a
matter of mine development, it would seem that the
requests of the British Columbia miners are just and
equitable, and that due regard for the mining inter-
ests of the Dominion would warrant compliance with
the requests for change and modification.
The Value of Iron-Bearing Sands.
At the present time a great deal is being said and
published about the "newly discovered" values in
the iron sands of rivers and beaches of the Pacific
Coast States. It is by no means a new discovery,
for the existence of these iron sands has been known
for the past half century, and no attempts have
been made to separate these iron sands from the
accompanying earthy minerals. The increasing de-
mand for platinum (and its growing scarcity) was
one of the things which induced the United States
Geological Survey to undertake the testing of
the sands from the gold districts of California and
Oregon, where platinum was known to occur, in the
hope that new sources of this metal might be discov-
ered and, incidentally, it was decided to carefully
search the sands for such other elements of value
as they might contain. The work of conducting the
investigation was placed in the hands of Dr. David T.
Day at the Portland, Or., Exposition which recently
closed. With the aid of the newly introduced electro-
magnetic separators and of several types of excellent
mechanical concentrators, many tests were made
on sands from nearly all of the Western States and
some of these sands were found to be comparatively
rich in gold, monazite, zircon and other minerals, but
chiefly in magnetite in the form of black grains. The
streams producing the greatest abundance of these
iron sands were found to be those which flowed
through the vast fields of basaltic lava, which cover
thousands of square miles in Oregon, Idaho and
Washington. Magnetite is a prominent constituent
of nearly all dark-colored, basic, igneous rocks, and ,
the erosion of areas of this character supplies a vast
quantity of iron ore, in the form of grains of magne-
tite, to the streams tributary to such areas. Gold,
platinum, monazite, zircon and other metals and
earthy minerals of high specific gravity, and also a
portion of the magnetite, must have been derived
from granite and other crystalline rocks underlying
the lava beds.
A good concentration was found possible in most
cases on the mechanical concentrating machines, but
the fine differentiation of the minerals of high specific
gravity was effected on the electro-magnetic sep-
arators by the employment of electric currents of
varying intensity on the respective magnets of the
series in each machine. In this manner sands con-
sisting originally of quartz and other minerals of
comparatively low specific gravity were separated
from those of high gravity, and this partially con-
centrated material was then run through the electro-
magnetic machines with a close separation of what-
ever minerals were still present. These were usually
found to be varying proportions of magnetite, chro-
mite, gold, platinum, monazite, garnets, zircon, etc.
The most abundant concentrate, in every case, was
magnetite. The tests have merely proven what has
been known for fifty years, viz., that these sands
contained a large amount of iron ore in the form of
magnetite. The presence of the other valuable min-
erals was only suspected in most instances, and not
positively known, particularly in the case of the
monazite, which is a mineral with which the Western
miner, up to the present time, has not become
familiar.
While it may be gratifying to know that there lies
in these Western rivers, and on some of the ocean
beaches, a great store of high-grade iron ore, it re-
mains to be demonstrated that it can be utilized in
the production of iron and steel in large quantity in
successful competition with iron and steel made in
the East and in Europe in blast furnaces. It is a
significant fact that in the iron production of 1902,
for instance, the total output of iron ore in the United
States was about 35,500,000 tons, of which 30,500,-
000 was red hematite, 3,300,000 was limonite and
but 1,688,000 was magnetite. About 27,000 tons of
iron carbonate ores were also treated. This in-
dicates that in the Eastern iron mining region the
hematite and limonite ores are preferred to mag-
netite.
Although electric smelting is comparatively in its
infancy, having, as yet, scarcely emerged from the
experimental stage, yet it is to this branch of metal-
lurgy that we must turn to make available the mag-
netic iron ores of those Western rivers. Magnetite,
when pure, produces more metal from a given weight
than any other kind of iron ore, and for this reason
October 28, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
288
should be more valuable. As compared with the
production of iron from other classes of ore in the
blast furnace, magnetite might also be considered as
possessing other advantages, providing the economic
problem is solved by the new electro-metallurgy. In
the making of about 18,000,000 tons of pig iron in
1902 there were required about 73,000,000 tons of
raw materials, of which only about 33,000,000 tons
were iron ore, the remainder being coke, coal and
limestone.
In the manufacture of iron and steel from the black
magnetic sands of the Western rivers two factors
appear as absolutely essential to commercial success.
These are cheap and abundant water power for the
generation of the electrical current, and a deposit of
magnetic sand easily and cheaply available aDd of an
extent sufficiently great to justify the installation of
a suitable plant. It has been demonstrated that
good iron and steel can be made direct from the ore
by electrical methods of smelting, but upon how large
a scale this can be accomplished remains still to be
proven. Experiments in this direction are now in
progress, and while the outlook is most promising
much still remains to be demonstrated on the eco-
nomic side of the proposition.
THE national Government of Mexico and the
Governors of the several mining States of that
Republic are doing all that can be done, apparently,
to promote legitimate mining enterprise in their
country. Mexico is recognized as a country possess-
ing great mineral wealth and vast undeveloped
resources. The success of modern companies opera t-
ign mines there, both old and new, is attracting much
attention abroad, and a constant stream of foreign
money is pouring into Mexico to buy, equip and oper-
ate mines. The United States has mineral resources
more vast than those of Mexico and second to no
country under the sun, but the same energetic inter-
est is not taken in the development of these resources
by our Government, or by the States, as that shown
in Mexico. There the mineral lands and the oper-
ation of the mines are directly under the eye of
the Government, while in the United States mining is
only one of a great many large resources of the
country, and the mining industry is largely left to
work out its own destiny in the hands of individual
owners, and all that has been accomplished here is
due to this unassisted personal effort and to the
mines themselves.
MEXICAN mines find great favor in the eyes of
British investors at the present time, while
similar American propositions are "not in fashion" in
London, just now. The complaint has been made in
England that disaster has too frequently followed
investment in the mines of the United States. One
does not have to seek far to ascertain the cause of
British losses in American mines. English experts
are constantly scouring this country in search of
what appears to be good mining property. Not
infrequently they find a mine that will stand up to
rigid investigation. The proposition is placed in the
hands of promoters — English not American promo-
ters— who find no difficulty in setting a valuation on
the property 400% to 500% higher than its develop-
ment will warrant. They, with equal facility, place
the stock, preferred and common, as well as
bonds of the company and the venture is a suc-
cess, from the promoter's standpoint. The in-
vestors have bought a million dollar mine from their
own people at a $5,000,000 price. The mine fails to
meet with expectations, the investors lose on a falling
market and American mines get the odium of it all.
History repeats itself, and, unless rare caution be
exercised by English investors in Mexico, it is not
difficult to foretell what will happen in connection
with Mexican investment within a very few years, for
it is an easy matter for the "frenzied" promoters
to transfer their methods from Kafir or American
to Mexican mines.
"
A LTHOUGH the lead-silver mines of the Cceur
■**■ d'Alene district of Idaho have established the
reputation of being the greatest producers of lead-
silver ores in the world, the indications are that these
mines will eclipse all previous records during the
year 1905. Several important strikes of high-grade
ore have recently reached the outside world, and
their development will help to swell the already large
output in no small degree. The district is largely
operated through lengthy drainage adits, which have
greatly cheapened the cost of production in that
district.
The Law of Location.
It is a natural supposition that after the many
years of experience in mining in the West, miners
generally would be perfectly familiar with the law
relating to mines, and yet some are surprisingly
ignorant of those features which have a most impor-
tant bearing on the subject of location — the initial
point in securing mining property on the public
domain. The laws relating to aliens, to the extra-
lateral right, and to some other legal phases of
mining, are not so readily understood, the most astute
attorneys being themselves often at a loss how to
proceed with safety to their clients, but the statutes
defining the location of claims is simple and easily
understood. To such an extent is this a fact that
the logical inference is, that in some cases the miner
purposely fails to understand, or frames a law of his
own which suits his ends better than the plain lan-
guage of the statutes. The laws regulating the loca-
tion of mining claims and securing title to them by
the performance of certain acts are plain and easily
understood, and for this reason the conflicts con-
stantly arising over the ownership of mining ground
should not occur at all. The fault often lies with the
locator himself, who carelessly fails to comply with
the requirements of the statutes and sets up an
insufficient number of corner monuments or posts —
sometimes none at all, or putting them at the proper
places, they are so frail as to be readily destroyed or
so inconspicuous as to remain unobserved by others
seeking mining ground. Often too much dependence
is placed on the discovery stake, upon which is posted
the claims of the locator, who states thereon the
name of the location and the extent of the
territory he locates under the law. This is
insufficient and will not meet the requirements
of the law. Stakes must also be set out at the cor-
ners and at the end centers of the claim. These
stakes or monuments must be plainly visible from
one to the other, and if, when standing at any of the
stakes, the next adjacent stake can not be seen,
because of intervening brush, rocks or rising ground,
then additional intermediate stakes must be set, so
that, in the language of the statutes, the boundaries
of the location may be plainly traced.
Discovery is the inception of the miner's right.
This should first be made and the location laid out to
conform to existing conditions — as to strike of the
vein, etc. — as nearly as may be ascertained. Often
it is difficult or impossible to determine without con-
siderable work the direction of strike of a vein or ore
deposit, and then the miner must stake the claim to
the best of his ability and judgment. A claim may
be laid out prior to discovery, but it must be remem-
bered that in such event the legal date of location
begins at the time discovery is actually made, and
not from previous date of location. Such location
may be permissible when the outcrop of the vein is
obscure, but a location without previous discovery is
difficult to hold against trespassers.
The mining law should be amended in this respect
that the bona fide locator may have sufficient time,
based upon continued work, within which he may hold
his claim against others while searching for the vein
or deposit of mineral believed to lie beneath the sur-
face. Occurrences of this character are numerous
in regions of bedded deposits, deep placers and flat
veins, but no law exists on the statute books which
makes provision for discovery under such conditions.
The most confusing feature of mining legislation is
the lack of uniformity of State laws. The several
States have the power to enact laws regulating the
location and development of mineral lands, providing
such enactments do not conflict with the United
States laws, and most of the States have taken ad-
vantage of this to pass laws calculated to promote
the development of their mineral resources, by
requiring a stated amount of actual development
within a limited time — sixty to ninety days, gener-
ally — this requirement being made a part of the
act of location. Laws of this character have been
proven to be beneficial to the legitimate and more
speedy development of the mineral lands of those
States, as it does not permit the location of mineral
ground without the performance of any work for
nearly two years, which is possible under the Federal
laws. The only unfortunate phase of the State laws
is the lack of uniformity. That which is legal and
proper in Colorado may not be sufficient in Arizona,
or in Idaho.
In view of this fact, the miners in several States
should familiarize themselves with the Federal laws
relative to making mining locations, and also with
the laws of the State and district in which they live,
and then, having a knowledge of these laws, seek to
comply with them in the fullest degree, and there
would be far less mining litigation than there now is.
Science in Mining.
There seems to be a disposition on the part of
many well-meaning people to cavil at the work of
scientific men in geological science and mining prac-
tice, and they who are thus disposed apparently take
particular delight in pointing out that "the scien-
tists are again at fault" in their judgment of this or
that mining district — that their prophesies are en-
tirely disproven. So common have such remarks
become that many are misled into believing that
these strictures are well deserved. The fact is that
really accomplished scientific observers are usually
too slow in expressing an opinion where they have
insufficient data upon which to base their judgment,
or to hazard a theory as a possibility.
It is the pretenders — those without real scientific
knowledge or training— who are so prompt to thrust
themselves to the front with unsolicited opinions as
to the possibilities of that or this district. These
parvenu scientists represent the extremists in the-
ory— one side claiming the most extravagant things
for the newly discovered district, the others dismally
predicting disaster for the same region. Meanwhile
the real scientist is carefully noting the result of
development, and in time finds sufficient grounds
upon which to base a tenable theory.
When Cripple Creek, Colo., was first discovered
the fake scientists were quickly on the ground, look-
ing wise and gloomily shaking their heads, while pre-
dicting that the " values would not go down." Their
optimistic brethren were also there, and quickly
announced that the vast wealth of the district was
without precedent, and the veins would never be
bottomed by a device within the range of human pos-
sibility, and the values would not decrease in depth.
Needless to say, the latter were in the popular favor.
Both were wrong, and this may be said of them wher-
ever they appear.
Science is based upon observed facts, not uoon
irrational theory, nor to a great extent upon anal-
ogy. The same experience is now the lot of the new
rich mining districts of southern Nevada. The misfit
scientists are there in full force, predicting good, bad
and indifferent things, and are freely quoted by the
uninitiated, while the real seeker after knowledge is
eagerly seeking the facts, yet reserving his judg-
ment, that he may not fall into the erring ways of
his less modest imitators.
FOR years the Homestake mine shafts at Lead,
South Dakota, have been equipped with cages —
generally with two decks. On these the loaded
cars are run and hoisted, and the empty cars
returned to the levels below. No skips are in use,
which is probably due more to tradition than to any
lack of appreciation of the value of skips. The min-
ers are accustomed to cages, and many of them
never have seen a skip in a shaft, but the Homestake
management is said to be seriously considering the ad-
visability of putting 10-ton skips in the Ellison shaft,
to replace the cages in use there. So large are these
cages that the sides are made of solid sheets of steel
instead of the usual frame of steel rods. The vibra-
tion was found to be too great with the ordinary
type of cage. The contemplated change will
necessitate considerable expense in underground ar-
rangements, but the advantage of skips over cages,
where such large tonnages are handled, has become
so obvious that the contemplated change is likely
soon to be made, and when it is decided to make it,
it is probable that the skips will be installed without
the loss of an hour's time or the hanging up of a single
one of the thousand stamps in the mills of the com-
pany.
289
Mining and Scientific Press.
October 28, 1905.
jr x
CONCENTRATES.
fa 6
Mill plates for inside the battery are usually about
| incb in thickness, the outside plates being from ,'g to J
inch thick.
****
A GOLD dredger was in operation some years since
in northern Italy, and the enterprise is said to have
been successful.
w V W W
When molybdenite occurs finely disseminated, but in
small amount, in rock, it is not likely that the mineral
contained can be recovered at a profit. The same thing
may be said of graphite.
****
The loss of gold by volatilization increases rapidly
with the rise of temperature above its melting point,
which is higher than that of silver and a little below
that of copper.
****
Some recent experiments made with nickel-steel wires
for hoisting purposes have shown that carbon steel is
superior to that containing nickel. The presence of
nickel up to 6.28% in the steel does not prevent rusting.
****
"Blue billy'' is a purple "ore," resulting from
the calcination of pyrites and the residuum from roast-
ing ferriferous and manganiferous zinc ores and is mixed
with other iron ores in the manufacture of pig iron.
Battery guides must not be allowed to become so
badly worn that the stamps interfere with each other in
passing. The guides must be kept in such condition
that the stems pass without unnecessary friction; but
too much space should not be allowed, or broken stems
are likely to result.
When square sets are placed in a mine, the timbers
must be strongly braced and blocked against the sur-
rounding walls and ore faces — ends, sides and top — or
blasting may knock out several timbers of one or more
sets and do a great amount of damage, beside increasing
the danger from caving.
Potassium is a constituent of many minerals, but
particularly of orthoclase feldspar. It is a complex
silicate of potassium and aluminum. When potassium
combines with aluminum and sulphuric acid the pro-
duct is known as alum. When it combines with nitric
acid it is called saltpeter or potassium nitrate.
*****
The tabulated statement of assays of black sand ap-
pearing in the issue of Oct. 7 is evidently of the sand just
as it was received by Dr. David T. Day at the Portland
Exposition, and it is presumably the sand which has
been going to the tailraee after sluicing, the greater
portion of the gold having been caught in the riffles of
the sluice boxes.
**** ■
In no instance is a quartz mill fed as regularly and
properly by hand as by a good properly regulated
automatic feeder. All experienced mill men under-
stand the advantage of regular feeding. Without
it the discharge cannot be evenly maintained, and the
even flow of pulp over the plates will be interrupted
unless the feeding is regular.
The Attorney General of Nevada has given the fol-
lowing opinion concerning the taxation of patented min-
ing property in that State: "The County Treasurer
can refuse legally to accept less than one-half of the full
taxes due on each patented mine, irrespective of the
number of owners. He should give but one original
receipt, but if duplicate receipts of the original are
demanded the County Treasurer should give same to
each individual owner."
****
The necessity for a chuck tender in machine drilling
is largely due to the lack of ability and knowledge of the
machine on the part of the drill runner. An expert
machine man will frequently drill holes 5 to 7 feet deep
with no assistance from the chuck tender other than
making the necessary changes of drills as the work
advances. A drill runner, who carelessly starts his hole
and allows it to become fitchered, needs the services of
not only a chuck tender but an instructor.
wVVw
In roasting pyritic concentrates, the presence of a
small percentage of siliceous sand is advantageous. It is
well also that the ore should not be too fine, but rather
that it should contain about 25% of grit of a texture
which will just pass through a No. 25 gauze, one that
contains twenty-five holes per lineal inch; this facilitates
the perfect roasting of the ore, rendering it spongy and
thus promoting the easier circulation of heat and evo-
lution of gases. The perfect roasting of the ore is, of
course, essential to close extraction by subsequent amal-
gamation, and for this reason too great care cannot be
exercised in conducting this stage of the operation.
****
In a Nova Scotia coal mine a shaft, 12 feet 6 inches by
24 feet, was sunk during September, 1905, a distance of
113 feet. During the month 146 feet of shaft were tim-
bered. Considering the size of the shaft this is probably
the most vigorous shaft sinking on record, though in
the distance sunk in a single month about 100 feet behind
some of the record work in this direction done on the
Rand in South Africa, where the shafts are less than
one-half of the superficial area of the Nova Scotia shaft.
****
At Doornkloof, South Africa, a diamond drill hole
has been bored 5560 feet deep, the core being lf-inch
diameter. It required fourteen months to put the hole
down, three shifts working eight hours daily. When a
depth of 5000 feet had been attained, it required nearly
four hours to haul out and disconnect the rods, which
were in 50-foot lengths. An equal time was required to
replace them and continue drilling. A hole has recently
been put down to test the banket on the Rand, which
has reached a depth of 5582 feet. It was bored in nine
months.
****
The essential manufacture of the materials in
hydraulic cement are calcium carbonate and clay.
These ingredients are various in their original form.
The calcium carbonate may be in the form of marble, of
travertine, chalk or any other material supplying an
essentially pure carbonate of lime. The clay is usually
derived from clay banks most easily available. In some
localities there exists a natural rock which contains the
several ingredients in the proper proportions. Furnace
slag is also largely used in some localities, in the manu-
facture of Portland cemeDt.
In charges of black powder, that portion of the fuse
which enters the powder should be wrapped with some
fire proof substance to prevent the fuse spitting into the
powder, and exploding it prematurely. In the case of
dynamite, the primer can be placed on top of the charge
and held in place with clay tamping. Should the
primer be placed in the middle or bottom of the charge,
the chance of burned holes and stinkers is materially
increased. Any one on burning a piece of fuse will
notice the fire burn through the fuse at short intervals,
and wherever this happens in the charge, it sets the
powder on fire.
****
The climatic and probably the geological conditions
under which the ancient river channels of California
were formed were very different from those existing in
that State at the present time. The larger ancient
streams flowed in broad shallow valleys, and there must
have been a far greater amount of water than at pres-
ent. Some of the channels were not unlike the modern
streams, having steep grades and narrow rims, but some
of the great rivers were from 1000 feet to over a mile
wide, with gravel 300 to over 1000 feet deep. Ice may
have been an important factor in the formation of those
streams. In some of these streams boulders of immense
size are often found surrounded by gravel and cobbles of
uniformly small size.
****
Cyanogen is a compound of carbon and nitrogen
(C2 N2). Carbon does not combine with nitrogen under
ordinary conditions, but if these two elements are
allowed to come into contact at very high temperatures
in the presence of metals they combine to form sub-
stances known as cyanides. The cyanide of potassium is
not made from orthoclase (potash feldspar). Potassium
cyanide is prepared by fusing in an iron crucible a mix-
ture of thoroughly dry potassium-ferro-cyanide (8
parts), with dry potassium carbonate (3 parts). As soon
as the escape of the carbonic acid gas ceases and the
metallic iron has settled, a clear fused mass of cyanide
and cyanate of potassium remains, which may be poured
into a suitable mould.
wwww
Remsen thus summarizes the knowledge of bases,
acids and salts: An acid contains hydrogen; a base con-
tains a metal; when an acid acts upon a base the
hydrogen and metal exchange places; the substance
formed by substituting hydrogen for the metal is water;
the substance obtained from the acid by substituting a
metal for the hydrogen is neither an acid nor a base, but
is generally neutral. An acid is a substance containing
hydrogen, which it readily exchanges for a metal, when
treated with a metal itself, or with a compound of a
metal, called a base. A base is a substance containing
a metal combined with hydrogen and oxygen. It easily
exchanges its metal for hydrogen when treated with an
acid. The products of the action of an acid on a base
are, first water, and second, a neutral substance called a
salt.
wVVw
The natural color of gold is yellow, and all pure re-
fined gold has this color. The idea that gold from dif-
ferent districts has different colors is not based upon
facts, but is due to the metal being alloyed with silver or
copper, which gives it variety of shades of yellow, from
a whitish silvery yellow to reddish color. Refined gold
is of uniform color, no matter from what part of the
world it may come. It is the only metal that has this
yellow color. Some alloys of tin and copper, copper and
zinc, and other mixtures have a golden yellow. Brass,
for instance, is almost the counterpart of gold in color,
but may be easily distinguished from the latter by its
lower specific gravity, and by being readily attacked by
most of the mineral acids, while gold is only soluble in
nitro-hydrochloric acid, no single acid having any effect
on it. Precipitated gold in a finely divided state as-
sumes various colors — violet, purple, ruby, brownish and
black. On heating to redness these colors disappear
and the pure yellow color again appears.
Placer mining in Siberia is carried on usually under
considerable difficulty, owing to the lack of grade, which
is characteristic of most of the valley gold districts. The
sluices are short, seldom being over 100 feet in length.
The upper end of the line of boxes is raised on a trestle,
in order that the line of boxes may be given the neces-
sary grade. The gold-bearing gravels occur for most
part in low, flat valleys, in which the streams flow slug-
gishly or the water lies in marshy tracts, with no per-
ceptible current. Ordinarily the ground is worked in a
series of terraces or benches, each about 5 feet in height.
The gravel is either carried by men or is hauled in some
kind of vehicle to the sluices. This method of working
would be very expensive if it were not for the fact
that labor is very cheap in Siberia. It may be that
the gravels could be successfully mined by dredging in
many of these districts as dredgers are already success-
at work in some of them.
****
The capacity of an air compressor to compress free
air is determined by calculating the piston displacement
per minute. This is ascertained by multiplying the area
of the piston in feet by the distance traveled in feet per
minute; this gives approximately the displacement per
minute. Calculate what volume this air will occupy at
the working pressure, and this will be the required vol-
ume of the receiver. Example: The maximum piston dis-
placement of compressor per minute equals 65 cubic fejt;
working pressure equals 80 pounds (gauge). To determine
the volume of 65 cubic feet of free air when compressed
to 80 pounds pressure, the following formula may be
used: v _ 14.7V,
2 P2 + 14.7
In which V, equals maximum piston displacement in
cubic feet per minute equals 65. P2 equals working
pressure (gauge) equals 80 pounds. V2 equals volume
uf the air at the higher pressure. Substituting in this
formula we have:
V,
14.7 X 65
80 + 14.7
equals 10 cubic feet, which would be the volume of a
receiver 18 inches in diameter and 6 feet long.
****
The interesting case of a fiat vein crossed and inter-
sected by a fissure at a high angle, near Phillipsburg,
Mont., is a difficult proposition to size up from descrip-
tion alone. From the statement that the croppings of
the flat vein for a depth of 12 to 15 feet extend for a dis-
tance on the strike of 125 feet, the impression is gained
that the ore shoots in the flat vein have a strike essen-
tially north-south. There may be several of these. Ore
deposition in limestone is extremely uncertain, but in this
instance the proposition appears to be simplified by the
fact that the ore occurs between a shaly and a massive
limestone. It is quite probable that the crossing fissure
may be found to bear some direct relation to the dispo-
sition of the ore bodies on the contact. "Concentrates"
believes it would be good judgment to sink on the south
side of the fissure and on the line of intersection. The
shaft could be excavated in this manner without much
difficulty. Another way to explore the contact south of
the fissure is by drifts run through the fissure from the
shaft already sunk on the north side. There is no rule by
which one can be guided in exploratory work of this
character. The contact is known to be ore bearing, and
the probability is that the shoots strike north-south; by
exploring with inclines driven in an east-west direction
these shoots should be discovered if they exist. That
the fissure is responsible for the mineralization of the
contact is only an assumption. If such is the case there
should be some evidence of it at the line of intersection.
****
A vein composed of quartz carrying considerable
amounts of red hematite, specular hematite, limonite
and nodular masses of copper (the latter occurring as
chalcocite), it would be good prospecting and good busi-
ness to follow the same and develop it both longitudi-
nally and in depth in search of a pay shoot. Veins of
this character not infrequently carry gold, and occa-
sionally are rich, particularly in the vicinity of the cop-
per nodules. A mine in San Bernardino county, Cal., the
Rose, was of this character, and when the copper masses
were encountered the values went up to as high as $500
gold per ton. In the same range of mountains, but 25
miles distant from the first mentioned mine, is another
mine, the Lookout, where similar ore occurs, and
there the values are also high, particularly when the
copper appeared. These nodules varied in size from that
of hazel nuts to lumps as large as the fist. On Castle
creek, in Arizona, near the Tiptop district, specular iron
occurred in considerable amount in the Roberts mine,
and it carried payable gold values. In Brazil, an emi-
nence known as Mount Itabira is largely formed of a
highly ferruginous mica schist (specular iron) which is
gold bearing. Other occurrences are the Carolinas, of
Sutton, Canada, Norway, and the Gold Coast, West
Africa. That the amount of specular iron is an index of
the amount of copper that may be found in depth is
very doubtful, for the reason that in some instances no
copper at all is found in veins of this character. The
theory that specular iron is the result of different pro-
cesses from those forming other varieties of hematite
is probably the expression of an individual opinion.
Nearly all large iron mines produce more or less specu-
lar iron. Near Lynchburg, Va., are found iron deposits
consisting of hematite, limonite and magnetite. Where
the enclosing rocks are both limestone, the bed of ore is
limonite; when limestone on one side and sandstone on
the other, the ore is red hematite; where it is sandstone
and schist, the ore is magnetite,
October 28, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
290
In Nova Scotia.— II.*
Written (cr tne Minim; and Scientific Phess Ijy T. A. Kii'kahd
Milling methods are simple, as they should be, for
the usual produat of the mines is the simplest type of
gold-bearing quartz, containing a little pyrite, usually
mispickel. In most cases the treatment consists of
crushing under stamps, with one inside plate, fol-
lowed by passage over the amalgamating table out-
side; and there it ends. At the Caribou a 40-stamp
mill is treating quartz yielding from $2 to $4 per ton,
giving a tailing which has ranged between 8 and 32
cents per ton during the last two years, despite the
fact that extraction of gold ceases after the passage
of the pulp over the apron — 12 feet long. The ore
carries about 1% of sulphides, chiefly pyrrhotite,
with a little galena, blende and pyrite. At the Rich-
ardson mine the ore contains more sulphide and the
treatment is more complex. Sixty stamps, in twelve
mortars, provided with a front plate, discharge onto
12-foot aprons. Thence, without classification, the
pulp goes to Wilfley tables — one table for each ten
heads. The ore yields concentrate in the ratio of
3%, the assay value being $20, equivalent to one
ounce of gold per ton.
At this mine the bromo-cyanide process is employed
to treat the concentrate, which is not roasted. The
salt used is a mixture of bromide and bromate of
potassium; it also contains sodium chloride and is
sufficiently variable in composition to hinder accurate
chemical work. This reddish salt is dissolved in
water, to which sulphuric acid is added in an amount
that just avoids precipitating the liquid bromine. A
given quantity of this solution (equal to one twenty
fourth of the amount used per diem for the particular
grade of concentrate under treatment), is put into an
ordinary pickle bottle. To this a 10% solution of
potassium cyanide is added slowly, so as not to crack
the bottle with too sudden a generation of heat, until
the wine-red color has changed to lemon-yellow,
marking the end point of the reaction that forms the
bromo-cyanide of potassium. This is then added to
the working cyanide solution in the vats. The man-
ager, H. S. Badger, informed me that the working
solution can be used continuously without danger of
reprecipitating the gold, until it contains $45 to $50
per ton; even a solution assaying $70 has been em-
ployed safely. Owing to this enrichment of the solu-
tion, the precipitation of the gold in the zinc boxes is
rapid, the precipitate being so heavy as even to show
the characteristic gold color. The concentrate is
arsenical pyrite (mispickel) mixed with 20% of silica;
when treated by ordinary cyanide solution, without
roasting, it requires twenty-eight to thirty days for
satisfactory extraction; with the bromo-cyanide, the
treatment is completed within forty-eight hours and
gives an extraction of 80% to 81%. The consump-
tion of bromide salt is at the rate of three pounds per
ton of concentrate, which is high. The bromo-cyanide
solution is acid and therefore destructive to the KCy;
if a neutral bromide salt could be used the loss would
be diminished. Bromine itself is not obtainable be-
cause of danger in transport, the carboys being liable
to breakage, especially during hot weather; there-
fore the railroad and shipping companies refuse to
handle it.
The following test, made at Brookfield, where
this process was first tried in Nova Scotia, will be of
interest: Fifty-three tons of concentrate, assaying
$38 per ton, yielded in forty-eight hours a tailing car-
rying $1.50 per ton. showing a calculated extraction
of 96%. The fifty-three tons contained $2014, and
the resulting solution, by assay, carried $1634. After
precipitation on zinc there was obtained 120 ounces
slime, which on reduction with H2S04 and roasting
of the residue, yielded ninety-two ounces bullion,
worth $18.20 per ounce.
As already stated, this method was first introduced
at the Brookfield mill, but it has been replaced there
by plain cyanidation. Several years ago Captain
Adolph Thies installed a chlorination plant modeled
on that which he had operated so long and so success-
fully at the Haile mine in South Carolina. It in-
cluded three single hearth reverberatory furnaces,
each with a hearth 8 feet wide and 70 feet long.
Ferrous sulphate was the precipitant. But it was
not an economic success — the fate of this particular
barrel process everywhere, save at the Haile mine,
where "the ore is of exceptional character, the gold
being fine and lying between the lamina? of the schist,
so as to be readily soluble to chemical treatment,
while the gangue itself is wholly insoluble; after
chlorination, W. L. Libbey, the energetic manager
of the mine, tried the bromo-cyanide method intro-
duced by E. D. Maze, who had worked with Messrs.
Sulman and Teed. This, in turn, gave way to plain
cyanidation. Nevertheless, I expect, eventually, to
see the application of bromine in the treatment of
pyritic concentrate, because whether employed as a
compound with cyanogen, or directly, in a manner
analogous to chlorination, it has been found to accel-
erate solution of the gold and to facilitate the subse-
quent filtering.
*See illustrations on front page.
Another metallurgical problem now being solved
in Nova Scotia is the treatment of gold-antimony ore.
At West Gore, in Hants county, the Dominion An-
timony Co. is working a series of lodes yielding an ore
in which the gold is closely associated with both na-
tive antimony and the sulphide (stibnite). The gold
is often visible. After sorting, the first-class ore
carries 45% to 50% antimony and 2} to 3 ounces
gold per ton. The second-class stuff contains 20% to
30% antimony and $^0 to $30 in gold. There is a
fairly constant ratio between the two metals. Va-
rious methods have been tested, until finally J. S.
MacArthur, whose name is identified with the cya-
nide process, originated a scheme which depends upon
the solubility of stibnite in caustic soda. The min-
eral is dissolved in a dilute solution of caustic soda
(NaHO), which is then neutralized with carbonic acid
gas (C02), with the formation of a red precipitate of
amorphous antimony sulphide (Sb2Sa). The inten-
tion is to cyanide the residue to extract the gold,
and the problem will be to get rid of the soda before
cyanidation. This is confidently expected. In the
meanwhile the selected ore is shipped to Swansea.
Operating costs in Nova Scotia are creditably low.
At the Richardson, the total cost is $2.40 per ton,
when supplying thirty stamps and the bromo-cyanide
plant. At the Caribou, L. W. Getchell has reduced
his cost, when running forty stamps, to between
$2.50 and $3 per ton, despite a difficult problem in
mining. At Brookfield, the total cost, with twenty
heads and cyanidation, is $3 per ton. Milling ranges
between 25 and 60 cents per ton at the three mines
mentioned. Wood fuel is cheap — $2.25 per cord; but
mines near tide water burn coal, as at the Richard-
son, where I saw a curious engine, affectionately
known as the Nancy Hanks. The photograph shows
MNft flNO SCIENTIFIC PRESS
The Nancy Hanks — An Original Engine.
that she looks like the ingenious application of rem-
nants of machinery, but the peculiarity of construc-
tion is due to the fact that the engine was designed
for double duty, to push ten tons of coal over a prim-
itive railroad and to hoist freight from vessels onto
the wharf at Isaac's harbor. The forward axle is
geared by sprocket chain to a short counter-shaft
under the platform between the two axles; this
counter-shaft is geared similarly to a shunt pinion
sprocket wheel on the shaft of the engine, which
can actuate either the hoist or the car axles. The
Nancy Hanks has done pioneer work, but the cost
of her maintenance has been, as might be supposed,
excessive.
Labor is cheap in Nova Scotia. Drillmen get $1.70
to $1.75 per day, ordinary miners $1.35 to $1.60,
working ten hours. There is complaint, by the op-
erators, of a scarcity of workmen, despite the small
number of active mines. This is owing to the fact
that the men are independent and go off to their
hay making, farming, or lobster fishing without
apology, leaving the mine operators shorthanded. The
lobster canneries pay $2 per day during the season.
Low wages are due to the restricted demand for
miners; so few properties are in operation, and even
these are far apart. Nevertheless, the workmen
are better off than their friends in the unionized
camps of the West where high wages are obtained.
The Nova Scotian pays from $2.50 to $3 per week
for his board; he is sober, he has his farm or his fish-
ing to help him; and I venture to say that taking a
period of ten years he will save more money and be
in better health than the men who get $3.50 per
day, a large part of which goes to the saloon and the
gambling den, while they have to pay for their board
and their other expenses, a percentage which in the
end largely offsets the higher wage. I have heard
sneers against the Nova Scotian miners because they
are, in part, fishermen and farmers. The natives
of the province resemble the greatest miners the I
world has known, the Cornishmen, who, like them,
live in a rugged country encompassed by the sea, so
that they earn their livelihood on the deep as fisher-
men and in the depths as miners. The result has
been that the Bluenose and the Cousin Jack have
been pioneers the world over, as sailors and as pros-
pectors. He who can force his way through the
rock in search for ore and take his dory through
tempestuous seas in pursuit of the finny spoil is a
man— a man built on the scale of 12 inches to the
foot.
Emigration is draining the best blood of Nova
Scotia. The languishing condition of the gold mining
industry has led many of the energetic to go to Brit-
ish Columbia and the Northwest. Of late, the de-
mand for laborers in the wheat fields of western
Canada has attracted the young men. Up to the
end of August this year 3700 men had left Nova
Scotia and New Brunswick on "harvest excursions "
to Manitoba and Alberta; nor was the exodus at an
end. The railroads offer unusual facilities, the rate
to Winnipeg being only $10 for the trip. Every year
several thousand vigorous men go westward and a
large part do not return, but take up land on their
own account. Nor is this migration altogether
strange, the contrast between the Atlantic coast
and the bountiful West affords excuse enough; if the
West had been as near Europe as the East, then,
there can be very little doubt, the eastern seaboard
would have been regarded as a never-never land, an
inhospitable region, fitted only for the most hardy
and the most unhappy.
(to be continued.)
A Noted Pyrite Deposit.
Written for the Mining and Scientific Pbess by W. H. Stokms.
Almost within the city limits of Dead wood, S. D.,
is a notable occurrence of sulphide ore in what is
known as the Whizzers mine. The property is a por-
tion of a group of claims locally called the Montezuma
and the Whizzers. The group consists of several
claims, lying on the divide between Deadwood and
Whitewood canyons.
The geology is simple, consisting of upturned
schists of Algonkian age — hornblende and mica
schists, and slates, quartzites and other metamorphic
rocks of that remote period. The most pronounced
feature of this formation in this vicinity is the bold
outcrop of several quartzite reefs. These are par-
ticularly prominent and may be followed for long
distances, their course only interrupted by the
numerous canyons of the region. Sometimes the
quartzites become slaty, and then for some distance
their outcrop may be somewhat obscure; but ordi-
narily they reappear in massive ridges, often standing
boldly above the surface from 10 to 50 feet in height.
Occasionally these deposits are 100 feet or more in
thickness.
These prominent quartzite reefs are of very com-
mon occurrence in the eastern half of the Algonkian
area of the Black Hills. In some of them gold has
been found and in several of them copper also occurs.
Ordinarily they are extremely siliceous, but occasion-
ally carrying considerable iron oxide in the outcrop —
both hematite and limonite. In the early days of
mining in the Black Hills some development work was
done on these quartzites near Deadwood, and small
bodies of massive pyrite and quartz carrying dis-
seminated pyrite were found; but no systematic min-
ing was undertaken, as the ore was low grade in gold
and the copper content was too small to be commer-
cially valuable.
When the Deadwood & Delaware smelter began
operations, the supply of siliceous ore came from the
Bald Mountain and Terry Peak region. The smelting
of these ores required a large amount of iron ore and
limestone. The limestone was readily available in a
score of places within a mile of the smelter, but the
greater portion of it was obtained on the line of the
railroad, about 12 miles distant — a striking lesson in
the economy of mining, though possibly it could not
have been obtained any cheaper near the smelter,
the railroad haul being 25 cents per ton. For a time
the Homestake Co. supplied the necessary iron ore
from the accumulation of years of concentrated sul-
phides in their mills. This supply was soon exhausted
and search was made in the veins near Deadwood
known to contain iron sulphide. Several mines were
opened; some of them proved more valuable than
others as producers of sulphides for the smelter.
The last of these deposits to be opened and the one
most extensively developed was the Whizzers mine.
At first a tunnel was run on a mineralized vein,
which, though furnishing some good ore, was too small
to meet the requirements. To the westward of this
vein about 250 feet was a heavy iron gossan on the
surface, and it was determined to explore this zone in
search of ore. A tunnel was driven into the hill,
which quickly entered a body of solid pyrite and con-
tinued for some distance, it being found that the ore
body was continuous and evidently of considerable
magnitude.
A second and larger tunnel was driven several
feet higher than the original prospect drift, in order
291
Mining and Scientific Press.
October 28, 1905.
that cars might be run from the mine directly over
the ore cars on the railroad track. In 100 feet from
the portal of this tunnel the deposit was encountered.
From that point the drift has been continued for
more than 600 feet, all in solid pyrite, carrying a
small percentage of copper and variable values in
gold. The vein was found on opening out the head-
ings to be about 45 feet in width. It seems remark-
ably uniform in character — a dark-colored, pyritous
hornblende schist, forming solid masses of mineral in
many places, though usually containing over 80% iron
sulphide. The walls are covered with an efflorescence
of copper sulphate, showing that copper is present
throughout the mass. In some of the ore chalcopyrite
can be seen disseminated throughout the pyrite. A
winze sunk near the hanging wall side of the ore body
is in similar ore to that found above, though the cop-
per content is somewhat higher. Gold was also found
to increase somewhat at this point. Whether this
single prospecting hole below the general level of the
workings is an index of the character of the entire
deposit in depth can only be surmised. The water
flowing from the tunnel is strongly acid and impreg-
nated with copper salts. Considerable copper could
be obtained from this source if the owner would take
the trouble to run the water through a line of sluices
The Drainage of Cripple Creek Mines.
Ever since the great benefits derived from driving
what is known as the El Paso drainage tunnel in the
Cripple Creek district of Colorado have been fully
demonstrated and realized, engineers, mine superin-
tendents and mine owners in that vicinity have been
discussing the advisability of another lower and
longer tunnel, which would effect the drainage of a
much larger area, and make it possible to more
economically and rapidly explore and work the
deeper portions of the great system of veins which
have proven so richly profitable in the portions above
the present drainage level.
Before the El Paso tunnel was driven some of the
deeper mines found it almost impossible to proceed
to greater depth owing to the heavy inflow of water
encountered in the shafts. Where shafts were sunk
deeper it was only at largely increased expense. It
was figured that if a tunnel were driven to connect
with the lowest level of the El Paso mine, a large
area would be drained to a depth of between 200 and
the relative position of the several shafts and their
approximate depth, together with the proposed new
tunnel, which will drain the mines over 1100 feet be-
low the present drainage level. It is known that
payable ore exists in nearly all of the more import-
ant mines to the greatest depth _ that has been
reached by any of them. There are few important
exceptions, and these exceptions have no extensive
development below their lowest ore shoots, so it may
be reasonably inferred that, with further deep ex-
ploration, these, too, will be found ore bearing at
greater depth.
The need of the deeper tunnel is fully realized, and
as the project is in good hands it, like the El Paso
tunnel, is likely to become a reality. It is thought
the completion of the tunnel now proposed will
lengthen the period of life of the mines not less than
ten years. It is thought by engineers of the district
that, unless conditions change materially with
greater depth, the cost of the new tunnel will be about
$500,000. The El Paso tunnel cost about $85,000,
and gained about 250 feet depth. The new tunnel
will gain nearly five times that depth.
A report on the feasibility and cost of the proposed
enterprise has been made to the associated mine
owners by Engineer W. D. Brunton and the report
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Profile Sketch of Mines and Drainage Tunnels, Cripple Creek, Colo.
containing iron scrap; but no attempt in this direc-
tion has yet been made.
The mining methods by which the ore has been re-
moved from the Whizzers are not such as would com-
mend themselves to a manager with any regard to
the future success of the property. The plan gener-
ally followed has been to put up a raise, build a
timber chute at the foot of it, and then open out a
large stope overhead, only enough ore being removed
to allow the miners to keep within convenient reach
of the back. When the stope had been carried up
from 20 to 50 feet, the ore was all withdrawn, leaving
large open excavations, without timbers or filling for
support, and making future operations somewhat
dangerous. There is still abundance of good ore
available when desired; and this may be removed
while the inaccessible portion in the large stope is
placed within reach once more by filling the stopes
from the surface, when extensive operations may be
resumed on a larger scale.
The Montezuma mine, which constitutes a portion
of the property, is on a parallel reef of quartzite and
has as yet only superficial development.
Copper and gold both occur in the superficial por-
tions of this outcrop, and more extensive development
of this reef may find that large ore bodies also exist
in that zone.
The smelter at Deadwood has been idle the past
two years, having been closed down through dif-
ficulties with the labor unions, and the owners, the
Golden Reward Mining Co., have not resumed oper-
ations. It may be, however, that the large body of
pyritous ore in the Whizzers mine can be mined and
matted with profitable results, as it contains both
gold and copper. The proposition to make copper
matte from this ore is now being considered, and the
Whizzers mine may yet be operated independently.
Siliceous ores are obtainable in abundance and lime-
stone may be had for the quarrying in the vicinity.
300 feet below the lowest level of the greater number
of mines of the vicinity. The tunnel was successfully
driven, and long before its completion the direct
benefits due to drainage of the ground were apparent
to all.
This enterprise having been carried to a suc-
cessful termination, it is not strange that some of
those most largely interested, foreseeing the need of a
similar and deeper adit, some time since began to
vigorously agitate the idea and urge its importance
upon all those of the district who would be directly
benefited by it. Drainage tunnels are not an experi-
ment. They have been used to good advantage in
other places in the United States, notably on the
Comstock Lode at Virginia City, Nev., at the On-
tario mine, Park City, Utah, and also in the Coeur
dAlene district of Idaho and elsewhere, as well as
numerous instances in the drainage of European
mines.
The lease of life gained by driving the El Paso tun-
nel is drawing to a close, the mine workings are
mostly down to the tunnel level, and the ore reserves
are no longer of such magnitude as to give confidence
in the future prosperity of the district. When the
El Paso tunnel was driven attention was then called
herein to the future needs of the district, and the
fact emphasized that the El Paso tunnel would afford
only temporary relief. This statement is now veri-
fied in the present condition of the mines of the Crip-
ple Creek district, and a deeper tunnel has already
become a pressing need if the mining industry is to
be perpetuated. Some of the important mines on
the line of the El Paso tunnel are now practically
exhausted down to that level, and others are rapidly
approaching it.
The accompanying profile sketch, showing the im-
portant mines of that portion of the district, is re-
produced from the Rocky Mountain News of Denver,
for which the data were compiled. The sketch shows
favorably accepted by the association at a recent
meeting held in Colorado Springs.
Temperature of Feed Water.
Every steam engine, and every regimen of steam,
has its own peculiar temperature of feed-water
which gives the maximum economy of fuel, and which
can only be experimentally ascertained. No experi-
ments have been made to determine, in given differ-
ent cases, this temperature. Probably it admits of
wide variation without affecting the fuel economy,
the gains sensibly equilibrating the resulting losses.
The higher the feed-water temperature, the less tube
i surface is required in the condenser; but, then, the
higher the feed-water temperature, the larger must
be the capacity of the cylinder for developing equal
powers, other things equal, owing to the increased
back pressure against the piston with higher tem-
perature of the condenser. The higher temperature
of the feed-water increases the economic vaporization
by the boiler in a higher degree than is due, numeri-
cally, to the increased temperature of that water,
because the heating surface of the boiler having, in
equal time, to transmit less heat, will, necessarily,
utilize more of the heat in the gases of combustion
than it would do with feed-water of lower temper-
ature.
Further, with the same engine, for the production
of a given power with equal reciprocating speed of
piston, the boiler pressure must be carried higher,
the higher the back pressure against the piston, and
there is a distinct and measurable economic gain due
to the greater dynamic effect of a given weight of
steam of higher pressure over the same weight of
steam of lower pressure, after allowing for the
greater total heat of the former.
October 28, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
Placer Mining in Alaska.*
NUMBER XI.
Regarding the use of punched plates in working
New Zealand gold bearing marine deposits, H. W.
Young says:
"The best size of perforation for hopper plates has
been a matter of experiment by myself and others,
variations from J to I inch having been put to work-
ing tests. It is proved that holes of less than f inch
diameter unduly limit the discharge through the
plates, are liable to choke, and that there is no ad-
vantage whatever to be gained by their use. The
discharge through TT,T inch holes is sufficient in
amount, and the fine shingle particles which pass
through with the sands and seldom exceed } inch in
diameter are not troublesome in their size and quan-
tity. In fact, many consider that they are of benefit
in keeping lively the sands on the tables. With holes
exceeding T7,j inch in diameter, the size and quantity
of small shingle become excessive, and the water
passes away so rapidly as to prevent material from
being carried forward over the plates."
The above remarks are of somewhat general ap-
plication for the use of punched iron screens in any
form of undercurrent where it is assumed that a por-
tion of the gold, including any nuggets which may
occur, has been previously saved. In northern de-
posits where dredgers have been installed, as in the
Klondike and on Stewart river, punched iron screens
used in revolving trommels have large holes, up to
1* inch, even when a tailings stacker is used, while
the average size in Oroville dredging practice is
J inch.
A screen installed in one box of the main sluice of
a plant on Ophir creek, Seward Peninsula, consisted
of a number of longitudinally disposed round iron
rods, acting as a grizzly, fitted above the bottom of
the box, the gold being saved on mats below. This
box, which was placed at the end of a 120-foot sluice,
was said to save much fine gold.
When it is desirable to introduce the principle of
the undercurrent, separate from the main sluice, the
following device, adapted from one used in Siberia,
as described by E. D. Levat, may be adopted. Its
capacity is given as 172 cubic yards per shift. The
principle of the undercurrent is here introduced, but
the discharge, of both coarse and fine, is to the same
heap. This contrivance uses no power, and the
method of handling accumulations of tailings will be
more expensive than in plants already in use. Where
the steam scraper is so generally employed, how-
ever, as in the Klondike, for handling tailings, the
innovation of the modified " kulibinka " here figured
whether simpler and cheaper devices will not accom-
plish nearly as good results for the Alaskan miner.
A plant to accomplish good washing results with
sticky clay and gravel, and which can be built of ma-
terials at hand, is shown in Pig. 21. This type of
Siberia, the central shaft is frequently a wooden
beam, and, instead of the :iron shoes, heavy stones
dragged with chains, as in the arrastre, may sup-
plant them.
The above suggestions are made with reference to
Q —
J2L
A
\?S=&\
XL
• Perforated pipe
Sections or, Itr.c Y-V
r~-~ j h^t
* l/i ateel plate inclined totvand
~H -tiute with grede ef J"m 6 'and
[ punched mth'/f'to !~livhz
Fig. 21. — Siberian Plan for Handling Clayey Gravel.
plant, founded on the idea of the Siberian pan, has a
capacity of from 100 to 200 cubic yards in ten hours,
and can be built in the winter months. Assuming
that steam power is already at hand, it requires no
outside material beyond the iron shoes and simple
castings and the punched steel plate which forms the
floor of the pan. Its operation will require 10 H. P.,
and, if the material is conveyed to it by self-dumping
carrier, the services of two men are sufficient to
take care of the tailings. The machine will not only
Plan
Pole
1 riffles
Punched
iron plote
%"Ao/es
Pole riffles
Punched
iron plate
3L "holes
Hungarian riffles
Longitudinal section of both main sluice and undercurrent
Grade, 9" in 12'
Scale of feet
Section on line A-B
Fig. 20. — Sluice and Undercurrents, Siberia.
(Pig. 20) would not add over $1000 to the expense of
installation, while the efficiency in saving the values
would be greatly increased.
It has been shown that the Klondike sluice gen-
erally necessitates a man forking. The object of this
forking is to take out the stones, from 6 to 18 inches
in diameter, after their surface is washed. Mechan-
ical devices for accomplishing this would be advan-
tageous. Experience with gold dredgers has proved
that the revolving screen or trommel, inside of which
play powerful jets of water, accomplishes this screen-
ing process most successfully. The trommel is, how-
ever, expensive, and its various parts and castings
must be specially made at elaborately equipped
works. Therefore it is worth while to consider
*Bulletir 263 U. S. Geological Survey.
break up and thoroughly wash clayey gravel, but
with properly arranged tables below will save the
bulk of the fine gold which has been set free from its
matrix. The cost of a pan of the dimensions here
figured will not exceed $2000, including the tables
and sluices. The device for automatically clearing
the bottom of the pan of large stones is not used in
Siberia, where hand labor is cheap enough to dis-
pense with it, the large stones being periodically re-
moved by the lifting of gates in the periphery of the
pan. The amount of water used in such a machine
does not exceed 125 miner's inches.
The drawing of this machine is made diagrammat-
ically, since the manner of its construction will de-
pend on local conditions. A four-armed casting,
keyed to the shaft and bolted to the horizontal tim-
bers, is advisable. As used in remote districts in
working the rich gravels of the shallow northern
placers. Gravel containing less than $2 to the cubic
yard is rarely wooked by the method of the cable and
traveling bucket. Lack of natural grade makes it
necessary that the miner elevate his material, and
the impossibility of getting water under head makes
the use of steam power imperative. The point is
that when such elevation is attained, it should be
made available to thoroughly wash the gravel. At
present this is not done. Perhaps the suggestions
here offered may be of benefit to some operators.
In the construction of washing plants of a larger
and more expensive kind, the operator has the bene-
fit of the experience developed in gold dredging.
This now rather important industry has brought into
service devices for gold saving, in the use of which
one of the main objects is to utilize to the best ad-
vantage all available vertical and areal space.
The employment of large mechanical excavators
for placer mining has a field in the Northwest. Such
operations necessitate one or more permanent wash-
ing plants to receive the gravel from each machine.
It has been demonstrated that the dredger is the
only form of excavator which can economically trans-
port its sluices as it moves. Therefore a plant, situ-
ated as safely as possible with reference to danger
from floods, and economically with reference to tram-
way, dump and water supply, must be constructed
frequently at a considerable expense.
The shaking screen, although it has received a
thorough trial on gold dredgers, does not find as
much favor as the trommel. It is not impossible that
modifications of the principle of the shaking screen
and of the shaking table may be developed which
will act more efficiently in saving gold than the trom-
mel. P. Francois has recently figured and described
a "shaking sluice box " system of gold saving, for in-
stallation either in stationary washing plants or in
dredgers. He claims a very high percentage of
saving, and as additional advantages the elimination
of the use of quicksilver and the employment of a
small amount of water. He does not give the cost of
the plant, however, nor any actual results of its
operation in practice.
A trommel was used in a stationary washing plant
erected in the Klondike in connection with a steam
shovel and incline operation. A short description of
this plant is appended, but it should be understood
that for the average miner the installation of such a
plant is impracticable on account of first expense
and the difficulty of getting the complicated ma-
chinery. The plant used 125 miner's inches of water,
led by "a ditch from Bear creek; the capacity was
said to be 500 cubic yards in ten hours. The material
elevated to the platform at the upper end of the
trommel was dumped into a hopper feeding the trom-
mel. The water was led into the lower end of the
trommel and fed through a perforated pipe. The
largest holes in the revolving screen were I inch in
diameter, and all oversizes passed through and into
293
Mining and Scientific Press.
OctobM 28, 19(JS.
the hopper below the lower end, whence the tailings
were hoisted in a self-dumping carrier, on a cable,
for a horizontal distance of 200 feet and a vertical dis
tance of 60 feet. The fines passed over 80 square feet
of riffle tables, floored with expanded metal and cocoa
matting, on a grade of 12 inches to 12 feet, followed
by sluices with iron Hungarian riffles. The fines
were, after passing out of the 96 feet of sluice boxes
following the tables, elevated by a steam scraper to
a pile 200 feet distant and 15 feet high. The ex-
pense of installation of such a plant will be not less
than $5000, and will more likely be $10,000 in any
part of the interior of Alaska.
In arranging a number of gold-saving tables to re-
ceive the discharge from a screen, great care should
be taken to distribute the material equally to these
tables, so that the duty of each may be the same.
This in the best Oroville, Cal., practice is done by
leading a small sluice trough from the main receiving
sluice beneath the screen to each of the tables. In
case of a second sizing, as in the Atlin dredger de-
scribed below, the distribution is necessarily accom-
plished by a series of grizzlies in the main sluice. If
small ducts or troughs are used, they should be pro-
vided with gates, the whole made of wood, like those
used for distributing the pulp to the tables in con-
centrating mills. The attempt to distribute the fines
directly from the trommel by means of iron gates is
considered less satisfactory.
Riffles for the saving of fine gold in sluices are of
many kinds and are of very ancient origin. Hum-
boldt (Asie Centrale) refers to the method in use of
working the placers of Colchis — that of employing
wool in the sluices — as a possible explanation of the
legend of the " Golden Fleece." It was in fact known
that the kings of Imeret in the eighteenth century
used wool for collecting gold in Tskinitskali and
Abacha rivers in the Caucasus, while the Turkish
gypsies use goatskin for gold saving on Belichta
river.
The pole riffle made of saplings, with or without
strap iron nailed to the top, has long been in favor in
small placer operations in the United States, and is
to-day employed in the primitive shoveling-in opera-
tions throughout the northern territory. An im-
provement on this riffle, simply made, aiding in the
disintegration of clay, was seen by F. L. Hess in the
Rampart district of Alaska, and a sketch furnished
by him is shown in Fig. 22. Small squares of sheet
Scale of feet
Fig. 22.— Pole Riffle With Knives for Cutting Clay.
iron TV inch by 2x2 inches are driven cornerwise
into the poles.
A development from the wooden pole riffle is the
iron or steel rail, laid longitudinally in the sluice box.
At the present day the saving of fine gold is re-
ceiving marked attention on gold dredgers, as the
product of these machines frequently consists largely
of gold in an exceedingly fine state of division.
The Oroville gold contains a much larger propor-
tion of fine colors than the northern fields. From an
undercurrent sample of Klondike gold, assuming that
it represents 5% of the total recovery, screening
tests appear to indicate that under \% of the Klon-
dike gold, and under 2% of the Fairbanks creek gold,
will pass 150 mesh.
The fineness of the gold on Sulphur creek is shown
by the table below:
FINENESS OF GOLD FROM SULPHUR CREEK.
Mesh. Per Cent.
Under 150 10
160-100 6C
100-80 20
80-80 10
Moreover, the gold, whatever its fineness of divis-
ion, is generally round and shot-like and not flaky.
Under such conditions, in view of the Oroville experi-
ence, losses such as undoubtedly occur in the north-
ern practice are inexcusable.
The riffle shown in Fig. 23 is designed to hold a
Z feet - <\
Fig. 23.— Riffle to Hold Sheet of Quicksilver.
divided sheet of quicksilver. Another form is made
by boring li-inch augur holes to the depth of i inch.
Some operators claim that a recurring quick jar im-
parted to the fine gold tables by means of an eccen-
tric or other device aids the saving of gold. The
efficiency of this principle is questionable.
(to be continued.)
An Experience in Water Recovery.
To the Editor: — The "Experience in Water Re-
covery " by George S. Binckley is interesting, and,
having had a very similar experience some eleven or
twelve years ago, I believe I can offer a few sugges-
tions that will insure clear water at all times.
The plant would be about as outlined and drawn by
Mr. Binckley on page 123 of the Aug. 19th, 1905,
number of the Mining and Scientipio Press, onlv,
instead of the pyramidal downtake box, a baffle
board B, as shown in the accompanying drawings,
should be put across the heavy-slimes box, or tank,
about 2 feet from the end, into which the slimes are
discharged, if round, and 4 feet if square, the deliv-
ery trough E discharging at the level of the top of
tank, and near the edge.
If the discharge trough L is placed, as shown in
sketch, just below the edge of the tank, say 2 inches
lower than the top of the baffle board, and have at
least 15 feet of skimming surface (the more the bet-
ter), the water should be discharged practically
clear from the second tank, or the one Mr. Binckley
designates as the heavy-slimes tank. I believe this
will prove to be so, in case the skimming launder be
set in a semi-circle, 6 inches from the inner edge of
vat, opposite to and farthest from baffle board B, as
indicated at A in the plan (Fig. 1).
■S
THE PROSPECTOR.
*
The slaty rock from Yreka, Cal., is a graphitic
schist. The rock contains no molybdenite. The
scales are graphite.
The ore' from Sonora, Cal., is quartz containing
iron, copper and zinc sulphide, the dark colored
mineral being the zinc blende. The ore also contains
gold. The silvery white mineral on one edge of the
specimen is foliated talc.
Samples continue to arrive for determination with-
out the name of the sender. One sack containing
eight pieces of rock, each marked with red paint
and a running number, has been received, but the
tag accompanying it has been so badly mutilated
that the sender's name is unknown.
The samples from Belgrade, Mont., are: No. 1,
hornblende schist containing considerable finely dis-
seminated pyrrhotite ((magnetic iron sulphide). It
may also contain gold, silver, nickel, cobalt and
other minerals, and should be assayed for these met-
als by competent assayers. Ore of this character
frequently occurs associated with sulphide copper
Tlan, ncf.I.
T^/an , T,g S.
*=*
Sec 6 /or?,7ij-I
Sccr/e: ^ =/.
Water Settling Boxes.
ec6/or>7 Tij.ii
Should slimes still pass over, the light-slimes tank
or vat could be arranged identical to the one just
described, and, from my experience with exceedingly
slimy ores, I am certain no slimes would be conveyed
to the mill water tank.
Fig. 1 is an excellent model, and the collecting
trough A should be set 2 inches below the top of the
vat, and should be made with the edges beveled in,
as shown by Mr. Binckley.
The baffle board B need not be more than 1 inch
thick and 12 inches deep; but it must absolutely cut
off the flow of water and slimes, and should be set
flush with the level of the top of the tank.
In the rectangular tank, which should be not less
than ^0 feet long and 5 feet wide, the baffle board
B (Fig. 2) should be set 4 feet from the intake laun-
der E. The discharge launder, or skimming trough,
can be made 4 inches wide and 6 inches deep, with
the side L cut 2 inches lower than the other side, the
higher side being nailed to the top edge of the tank
and level with it, thus leaving the side L 2 inches
lower than the top of the tank. This will allow the
thinnest of sheets of water to pass over into the col-
lecting launder, creating a minimum of current, and
the slimes particles, deflected down by the baffle
board, will never rise to the surface, even though the
slimes fill the tank to within 1 foot of the bottom of
the baffle board. This is my experience; and at first
I met with almost the identical difficulties that Mr.
Binckley encountered.
I here adopt Mr. Binckley's model of collecting
trough; for, where I used round vats, I cut down the
upper edge of the vat itself 2 inches, leaving the in-
side edge sharp, with the bevel toward the outside,
building a circular collecting launder around the out-
side, just below the lip of the skimming edge.
Where I have used rectangular tanks I have done
the same, cutting down the edge of the sides and dis-
charge end (the discharge end of the tank being
about double the width of the intake end in a 25-foot
long tank), collecting the clear water on the outside.
Either way will do the work and give almost perfect
results.
I have never seen the third — or fine-slimes — tank
used, but can readily see that it would be of advan-
tage with soft, earthy, decomposed ores, giving a
large percentage of clay slimes. E. A. H. Tats.
San Jose de Gracia, Sinaloa, Mexico, Sept. 18.
ores. No 2 is quartz and lime spar (calcite). The
specimen contains a very little pyrite and a few
scales of molybdenite.
The rock samples from Phoenix, Ariz., marked
W. L. H., are: No. 1, aplite (micaless granite); No.
2, Labradorite (soda-feldspar); No. 3, diabase; No.
4, a much altered greenstone, now consisting largely
of what is known as pro-chlorite; No. 5 is quartz-
diorite carrying pyrite and chalcopyrite.
It is not sufficient for a prospector going into (to
him) an unknown portion of the desert region with
only a general knowledge of the whereabouts of
springs. While springs are not numerous, and per-
ennial running streams are almost wholly unknown in
the deserts of the southwest, the sources of water
are usually numerous enough to make the passage of
the intervening wastes safe if the traveler knows
accurately where these springs are. Old Woman's
spring, in San Bernardino county, Cal., flows enough
water to supply a thousand people or more with all
the water they require, and yet one may pass easily
within a few hundred yards of it and not suspect its
existence. Coyote Holes, a spring north of Calico, is
even more obscure, and Paradise spring, which flows
nearly 5 inches of water, could only be found by those
who know where the springs are, being off the main
routes of travel. A small spring exists on the north
side of the large dry lake north of the Calico moun-
tains, but it is probable that not over 50 people know
of its existence. In Riverside county, about 12 miles
northeast of Walters' station, on the Southern Pacific
railroad and J mile from the road leading to Cotton-
wood springs and Eagle mountain, is a small spring
known to only a few travelers in that region. It is
not so much the lack of springs on the desert as it is
the exact knowledge of where these springs are that
makes travel dangerous in that region. The in-
stances here mentioned are but a few of the great
number of obscure springs occurring on the Mojave
and Colorado deserts. Those unaccustomed to the
desert and unfamiliar with the water holes and
springs should not venture out into these wastes with-
out a guide who knows the road and trails where
water may be obtained, and who also knows from
experience how to travel on the desert and to make
the best of any situation.
Octobkr 28, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
294
Sampling Products of Concentrating and
Sliming Tables.*
Written by J. C. BAlLAB.
Id the discussion of this question it may be well to
consider the sampling of the products of a stamp mill
using plates, with tables for concentration of the
tailings.
If there are no sampling works in connection with
the mill, a sample of the ore may be taken by catch-
ing it as it comes from the stamps in a long pan
placed in front of the screen.
For sampling the products of the amalgamating
plates and concentrating tables almost every mill
has its own device. In some the sample is taken by
hand, in others by an automatic sampler.
The haud sample is usually taken by catching the
The automatic sampler consists of a spout or box
that is carried at intervals under the end of the
launder. Some of these samplers are driven by the
power that operates the mill, some by water carry-
ing the ore. Of these latter one very common device
is an overshot wheel; another is a scoop-shaped box,
so arranged that when it is full it tilts, emptying
itself and at the same time causing the end of the
sample spout to pass under the end of the launder.
Still another device consists of two such boxes placed
back to back with the spout for taking the sample
between them, the whole resting upon a support so
arranged that it can rock from side to side. (See
j Fig. 1.)
When the right-hand box is full it tilts to the right
and the left-hand box is brought under the falling
stream and when it is full the sample tilts to the left.
j At each tilting the sample spout passes under the
I end of the launder, taking a sample. Any of the
J above can be made by the mill carpenter. The over-
I shot wheel is best where there is a large amount of
L a u -n cJc .-
Sorr7K>7e Sc
Fig. 1.
water and pulp in a bucket as it comes from the
launder. If taken in this manner the sample should
be collected at regular intervals and the bucket
should never be allowed to overflow. If the bucket
overflows there is liable to be a concentration, as the
lighter particles are more liable to be carried away
than the heavier ones. After a sample is taken it
should be allowed to settle until the water is per-
Tailings Sampler.
fectly clear, when it may be drawn off by suitable
means. The settling may be hastened by warm-
ing.
Sometimes a sample is taken by passing a pan or
bucket with a regular motion along the lower edge of
the plate or concentrating table. This is not good
practice, but, if it is necessary, care should be taken
not to touch the edge of the plate or table, as the
slimes clinging there may be far from an average of
the ore. When possible, samples should be taken
from the launder, and best from the end. When
samples cannot be taken from the end' of the launder
they may be taken at any convenient point by a
swinging or sliding gate which diverts all. the water
for a short time into the sample box. The objection
to this device is that, while it may divert all the
water, there is almost sure to be a small amount of
ore close to the bottom of the launder that escapes.
♦Journal Western Chem. and Met.
water flowing and the tilting box where the amount
is small.
A very ingeuious and satisfactory device in use by
a Montana copper company consists of a 2-inch
pipe about 6 feet long, closed at one end, and
pivoted near the center so that it turns in a
horizontal plane. At the closed end a slit is cut
about i inch wide and 16 inches long. To
the sides of this slit are fastened what might be
termed ''side boards " of sheet metal about 8 inches
high and connected at the ends, forming a box 16
inches long, 8 inches high and i inch wide, opening at
the bottom into the pipe. This is driven by an inter-
mittent gear, consisting of a large wheel with some
cogs on one side. With each revolution of this wheel
these cogs engage a small cogwheel attached to the
sampler, rotating the latter and causing the open
end to pass under the falling stream. The sample
falls into the opening in the pipe and passes out
through the open end into the sample box. The sides
of the opening in the pipe are not parallel, but form
radii of the circle in which it moves. (See Figs. 2
and 3.)
In many of the mills of Gilpin county, Colo. , the
concentrates are thrown in a heap and sampled by
thrusting into the pile a "pipe" or "spear" sam-
pler. This is made by splitting an inch gaspipe about
3 feet long. When it is withdrawn from the pile it
brings with it a "core " of ore. This is not always a
fair sample of the section through which it passed, as
the ore may clog in the end and push everything be-
fore it, not cutting out a clean section of the pile.
It would give a much more accurate sample to dry
this ore and sample it by some approved mechanical
sampler.
The greater part of the errors made in sampling
are so evidently wrong that it would seem unneces-
sary to call attention to them. Some of the more
common are:
Allowing the bucket to overflow when taking a
sample by hand.
Not sampling at regular intervals.
Not allowing the sample to settle before decanting
off the water.
Sampling immediately after changing feed or
water.
Scraping the lower edge of the table when taking a
sample.
Not drying and properly cutting down the sample
after it is taken.
The sampling department should determine not
only the value of every product of the mill, but also
the quantity, so that the foreman may know what
becomes of every pound of ore and every gallon of
water that enters his mill. Without this knowl-
edge the most accurate sampling may be of little
value.
In proof of the above statement may be cited the
case, well known in the history of metallurgy, of a
copper company of Ducktown, Tenn., which suffered
large losses until they adopted the practice of weigh-
ing everything that went into the plant. After this
the loss was quickly discovered and corrected.
The fact that the tailings from a mill run very low
is not proof that all values are being saved. There
should be a system of checks that will discover every
loss as soon as it occurs.
History of Pyritic Smelting.*
NUMBER III.
By Robert C. Stjcht.
The practice of returning matte to the pyrite fur-
nace unroasted, either alone with quartz or together
with ore, for the purpose of concentrating it, was
practiced at Toston from the very beginning, and
also subsequently at once at all the other plants that
adopted pyrite smelting. They were all naive
enough not to look upon this as in any manner a mer-
itorious achievement, though this most facile and
rapid method of enrichment appears not to have
found an entrance into the conventional branches of
copper smelting, in spite of its equal applicability.
Another point of some interest was the behavior of
pyrrhotite, which is so much dreaded by the copper
and lead smelter using the ordinary process. When
the opportunity came, its very special suitability for
pyrite smelting immediately showed itself, and once
more demonstrated the superfluity of carrying appre-
hensions from one metallurgical branch into another
which is not parallel with it.
The proof of permanency achieved at Toston now
removed financial hesitation, and gave encourage-
ment to the starting of a new company, the Boulder
Smelting Co., which, under the supervision of the
writer, erected a little one-furnace plant in Boulder
valley, Mont., on the strength of a promising pyrit-
ous quartz lode carrying fair gold — the Hope mine at
Basin, not far away. The reef subsequently attained
a certain amount of celebrity on account of the abun-
dant occurrence, in a pyritous portion, of grains and
slugs of native gold. But this was after, not during
the smelting experience. The ore was expected to
form the financial mainstay of the metallurgical oper-
ations, the basic ore to be obtained from other
sources. The furnace was blown in in July, 1892, but
the conditions for true pyrite smelting, or even
pyritic smelting only, were so unfavorable that oper-
ations quite rivalled those at Toston for erratic run-
ning and spasmodic puffs of activity. Almost the
only basic ore that proved available without loss was
stuff that the general market rejected, and which
carried 21% zinc and 11% of lead. It was totally
unfit for the methods in their early innocence, and
still remains so for their present cunning. A very
interesting hot-blast stove was installed, built on the
efficient Groditz type, which has not been used
in pyrite smelting anywhere else, although quite suit-
able for it, if well built, owing to the comparatively
low temperatures which are sufficient. The princi-
ple was that of a series of concentric horizontal pipes,
duly cross-connected in a combined horizontal and
vertical zigzag manner, and so arranged that the
blast was confined to the annular space between the
pipes. The flame coursed around the outsiue and
through the inside of each double pipe, and the whole
was laid out on the counter-current principle, and
enclosed in a simple brick structure, with a wood-fired
fireplace below. The temperatures obtained when
this stove worked well were very high, but false econ-
omy had caused the taking of too many liberties with
the simplification of the pipe connections, so that the
stove usually leaked unmercifully, and the pressure
went down as low as 2 or 3 ounces at the furnace.
In the meantime, W. L. Austin had made a demon-
stration run at Leadville, Colo., in the spring of 1892,
in an improvised experimental plant, at the old La
Plata works, which sufficiently proved the profitable-
ness of the method for it to be taken up by local par-
ties, and a regularly appointed plant at once to be
erected by them, on the basis of data gathered from
Toston and Boulder and locality. This was the Bi-
metallic Smelting Co. Needless to say, the greater
practical sagacity inherent in the local furnace crews
— always an important feature in a new departure,
and which was more abundant in a smelting district
like Leadville than it had been at either of the purely
agricultural districts of Toston and Boulder — assisted
largely, so that, under the careful direction of Frank-
lin Ballou, the method was finally placed in good odor,
a desirable issue which neither of the Montana works
had been able to achieve. Leadville ores, too,
although by no means clean, were far more suitable,
pyritically, than those of the northern State.
Encouraged by the example of the Bi-metallic
smelter, a further plant was erected at Kokomo,
near Leadville, by the Summit M. & S. Co., in 1892,
but on a very zincky and friable pyrites, which also
happened to be totally devoid of copper. This absence
of copper, or any other vehicle for collecting, in the
presence of zinc, gave serious trouble, and the writer
was again called for to adjust matters late in
1892. Slags were rich in silver, separation was bad,
and forehearths froze up. To counteract the evil it
was natural to propose the addition of copper ore.
But copper ores were scarce in the State of Colo-
rado. The arrival of the single railway truckload
which was procured, and had to travel all the way
from Silverton, in the southern part of the State, to
this inaccessible northern portion, at an elevation of
over 10,000 feet above sea level, was awaited with
* Abstract of Proceedings Australasian Inst Mining Engineers.
295
Mining and Scientific Press.
October 28, 1905.
great anxiety. The first shovelful of the ore, which
contained about 30% of copper and about the same
amount of lead, put into the furnace, however, at
once relieved the entire slag distress, and subsequent
truckloads relieved it permanently. It was here,
also, at a moment when the conditions were favora-
ble, that the gratification of running the furnace
wholly without coke was experienced for the first
time. This pleasure had, however, to be limited to 5
hours, for by that time the furnace showed signs of
weakening on the heat side. The Kokomo enterprise
lasted until the middle of 1893, when the depreciation
of silver and the deviation of pyritic interest to more
promising localities put an end to it.
Under the same auspices as the Kokomo works,
another plant was erected in the San Juan district
of Colorado, at Silverton, subsequently followed by
one or two others, all, like the above, hot-blast pyrite
plants treating basic iron pyrites and siliceous ores.
But most of these had a short life, chiefly for want of
proper ore, and also in consequence of rather poor
machinery, since frugality compelled the finan-
cial pioneers of pyrite smelting to use it second
hand to the greatest possible extent. Neverthe-
less, experience trained a few men to the work, from
the practical point of view at least, and established
the superfluity of any special method of furnace
charging, as well as the fact that no special furnace
construction whatever was required, and that the
ordinary American Rachette type of furnace, suita-
ble for matte-smelting, was fully adequate. A
trifling change in blast connections was required by
the use of hot air. The only point of importance, per-
haps, was the multiplication of the number and the
closer setting of the tuyeres. Hot air was produced
in TJ-tube stoves, preferably heated by means of a
cheap petroleum residue, but blast temperatures,
though recorded high by the pyrometers, were, as a
matter of fact, very low. Comparatively much coke
was employed, and generally a belief soon arose that
coke was cheaper than hot blast, and faith in the lat-
ter weakened.
It must be remarked that most of these plants
were misapplications to ores that were not suitable.
The pure pyrite method, as Dr. Peters early pointed
out, will never be applicable to many of the more
important mining districts, for, as a rule, heavy
pyrite ores are scarce. Hot blast itself was by some
regarded as the magic measure by means of which
all smelting difficulties could be overcome and the
most siliceous ores reduced to ready fusibility. The
impression, in fact, arose that the method was partic-
ularly adapted for the smelting of a maximum of
siliceous ore with a minimum of pyrites. The practi-
cal results, however, as the public could easily dis-
cern, did not justify such an inference.
In 1894 W. L. Austin patented an improvement of
the original pyrite idea, which embraces comprehen-
sive claims for a method of treating raw sulphides,
etc., in a blast furnace, by means of rapid oxidation,
and without the use of coke or coal, but with the
introduction, through the tuyeres, of gasified carbon-
aceous fuel, or hydrocarbons, or powdered solid fuels,
the purpose being the production of a reducing or
semi-reducing atmosphere immediately in front of the
tuyeres. This was to prevent the formation of ferric
oxide there. At the same time limestone in lumps
was to be mixed with the charge, not as a flux, but
to prevent the sulphides from fusing together. The
blast was intended to be cold, except for such heat
as the fuel injection would impart to it, and the
atmosphere before the tuyeres was to be reducing,
the rest of the furnace, however, being expected to
oxidize.
There has been no opportunity for noting how this
innovation would fare at the hands of the ever-ready
theoretical Germans, for in 1894 the latter were still
occupied in proving the impossibility of smelting
pyritically at all after the manner of the original idea
without considerable carbonaceous fuel in the fur-
nace. The original claims had not been taken seri-
ously in America in this respect, and, with other fea-
tures, were renounced even by the most interested.
L. Kloz, in January, 1894, correctly set forth the
position as it had actually developed in American
practice, and defined the method as a means of work-
ing up argentiferous and auriferous pyrites with as
much quartzose ore as the formation of a proper slag
necessitated, and with the object of collecting the
precious metals in a matte, together with the simul-
taneous combustion of a certain proportion of the sul-
phur (and iron). This was really partial pyrite
smelting, and represented the degree of pyrite smelt-
ing into which the paucity of sulphides had driven the
various plants. Several interesting and valuable
essays descriptive of the pyrite process were pub-
lished in the various journals by Mr. Austin, and the
aspersions at home and abroad caused him to reply
to Hering's assertion that pyrite smelting could not
be carried out without carbonaceous fuel. He cal-
culated the pyrometric intensity developed as 1836°
C. for an excess of air of 50% and a blast heated to
400° C. Hering, however, not satisfied, retorted
thermo-chemically, and definitely demonstrated that
the claim (not advanced by Mr. Austin, however) that
the process was adapted for working up a maximum
of siliceous ore by means of a minimum of pyrites,
and without carbonaceous fuel, was wrong, and that
the process was more likely to be suitable for a maxi-
mum of pyritic ores with a proper modicum of silica,
leaving the question of the total exclusion of coke in
suspense. Here the whole matter has since rested.
The controversy is only mentioned for the reason
that it was the first sound scientific discussion of the
thermal features of the process which found its way
into print.
It is sufficiently clear that the earlier career of
this newest and most interesting of all blast-furnace
smelting was by no means a happy one. When
the writer came to Mount Lyell in March, 1895,
there was not a single plant in the United States
running satisfactorily on the process in its purest
form, and not one that promised an extended life.
Scarcity of ore and metallurgical romance interfered
with the extension of its application.
In 1895 the Mountain Copper Co., an English com-
pany, which, at Keswick, Cal., owns a pyrite deposit,
similar to Mount Lyell, though carrying some zinc,
also began pyrite work, and installed an ingenious
system of treatment in which various novel mechani-
cal ideas were first introduced, among them a method
of heating the blast by means of the waste heat of
the slag, etc. However, the time was not ripe for the
proper mechanical execution of these novelties. The
results were disastrous, and the naturally short-
lived patience of the company caused an early return
to the old roast-reduction process. This important
desertion created a bias against pyritic smelting
which has only of late years been overcome. In the
same year James Douglas, in a Cantor lecture before
the Society of Arts, fairly stated the objects of the
process, and benevoleutly predicted a great future
for it, notwithstanding its frequent semi-failures in
the United States.
About the same time pyritic smelting operations
at Tilt Cove, Newfoundland, by the Cape Copper Co.,
were successfully being conducted, but beyond the
oft-repeated statements that no carbonaceous fuel
whatever is being used, that the ore has 4% copper
and 8% silica, and that the matte therefrom, by cold
blast, contains from 6% to 8% of copper, also that
the addition of silica is found to be objectionable,
nothing definite has come to public knowledge about
the practice.
(to be continued.)
An Inexpensive Powder Thawer.
Written for the Mining and Scientific Press by Matt w.
Alderson.
In the elevated mountain sections of the northern
part of the United States it is necessary to have
facilities for thawing dynamite the year round; for
even in some of the warm summer months, where
the magazine is kept on the surface, the temper-
ature at any time is liable to go below the freezing
point of such an explosive.
The company employing a large number of miners
has no difficulty in securing a thawer which has large
capacity and can be operated at small expense. The
prospector, who roams over considerable territory,
Portable Powder Thawer.
and the operator who employs several men in differ-
ent places on a property, often feel the need of
thawers of small capacity, easily moved from one
place to another. The writer has paid from $5 to
$10 each for thawers to be utilized in this way and
he has known of persons who did not care to go to
expense in such matters, who have adopted expedi-
ents exceedingly dangerous. Thus, at one time, I
remember walking into a tunnel where two men
were at work with a candle box on end behind them,
a shelf in the upper part of which was filled with
powder being warmed by a lighted candle below. I
made my visit exceedingly short and heaved a sigh
of relief as I reached a safe distance. Just below I
passed a shaft house in which a similar contrivance
was in full blast. A few days later I passed the
same place and the shaft house had disappeared.
Fortunately, the explosion had occurred while there
was no one near and the prospector was down in the
shaft. He was showered by pieces of broken boards,
but was not injured.
Powder manufacturers inform us that there is
practically only one way in which dynamite may be
safely thawed and that is by thawing it on the glue
pot principle — in other words, where the tray or
shelf carrying the powder is surrounded by water.
The danger in thawing dynamite is in raising it to
too high a heat, and any radiating heat, as a dry
heat from flame or fire, may raise a portion of the
powder to the point (360° P.) where it is certain to
explode. Heated in a water jacket, the temper-
ature will be equable and it is almost impossible to
raise the heat to the danger point. Nevertheless,
the prudent man uses judgment and care in heating
even with a water thawer, and there is no necessity
of ever heating the water beyond 100°, or say half
way to the boiling point.
The writer has found a very convenient inexpensive
powder thawer for the prospector and isolated miner
in an ordinary lunch pail — the oblong kind, where the
bottom of the pail may be used for water and the
upper part to hold the powder. There are two
sizes of these pails on the market, the larger of
which is admirably adapted to the purpose. The
tray of the upper part is long enough to admit the
8-inch sticks and wide enough to allow five to lie side
by side. This is ordinarily all one man will use in
half a shift, but there is no trouble in thawing fifteen
or twenty sticks at a time, if the miner thinks he
will need them. In ordinary weather, a piece of can-
dle 2 inches in' length will thaw the powder nicely
and in a cold situation one will seldom need to exceed
4 inches. By lighting the candle when one goes to
work, the powder will be nicely warmed and ready
to use in from two to three hours.
I have paid for these thawers from 35 to 60 cents
each. They are not heavily tinned, so with some mine
waters they will soon rust and leak; but, on an aver-
age, they will last sufficient length of time to make
their cost not exceed 5 cents each per month. This
is expense which is no tax on the poorest prospector
and it is a convenience he can not afford to do with-
out. He can carry it into the hills with him as he
goes, the powder thawing in the meantime, if he puts
warm water in it before he starts; and, if the
weather should be too cool for the powder to remain
thawed till he needs it, all he has to do is to set two
stones under the ends and place a pieces of lighted
candle between. As the capacity for water is lim-
ited, he will need to see that the lower part is filled
frequently and it will do no harm if the tray is
washed occasionally. The intelligent mine manager
often carries on prospecting at points distant from
regular work and where it would be inconvenient to
have the men come to the general magazine for their
supplies. With the simple thawer above described,
each man at a distance may be fitted out independ-
ently at a saving of time and money to the manage-
ment.
Blower and Engine Set.
The combination of blower and engine shown in the
accompanying illustration is unique. At a first
glance one might think it simply a blower with some
sort of patent bearing, but on observation it will be
found to be a blower direct connected to an engine,
which its manufacturers claim "is entirely fool-
proof." In construction it is simplicity itself. The
moving parts consist of a spider and four roller
valves. When running these valves roll upon the
bore of the cylinder and are held there by steam
pressure and centrifugal force. Their action is that
of check valves between the pressure and exhaust.
The particular Cooley engine shown in this cut is
3 H. P. and runs at 2600 revolutions per minute; it is
8x9x8 inches in size and weighs forty-three pounds.
Steam or compressed air can be used. The blower
to which the engine in the cut is connected is a No. 2
Buffalo B volume type having a 6-inch discharge.
The Michigan Copper mine in Ontonagon county,
Mich., has always been considered a "mass" copper
mine. The masses of copper have varied from a few
pounds to one weighing 500 tons. The Minnesota,
Cliff and other mines have produced large amounts
of mass copper. These masses are cut up by men
who make it their trade. Hammers and cold chisels
are the implements employed in this work. Although
these men develop great skill in their line, the
expense of cutting up large masses of copper absorbs
a large portion of the values.
October 28, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
296
*************************************
*
4-
« *
J Mining and Metallurgical Patents,]
PATENTS ISSUED OCTOBER 10, 1908.
Specially Reported and Illustrated (or the MINING AND
SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
Hydraulic Classifier.— No. 801,200; H. S. Bailey,
Denver, Colo.
Hydraulic classifier, comprising chamber provided
with overflow spout, valved discharge outlet in bot-
tom portion of chamber, hopper in chamber, conical
sieve in chamber below hopper, water supply ring
surrounding conical sieve at apex, and plurality of
water distributing pipes arranged below conical
sieve, center pipe being provided with converging
circular row of water projecting spray jets arranged
to discharge collectively conical jet of water toward
axial center of conical sieve, and outer pipe being
provided with circular row of radially arranged jet
apertures arranged to project plurality of spray jets
of water in circular body upwardly between pyra-
midal jet and chamber.
Panning Sluice Box.
Medford, Mass.
-No. 801,289; J. F. Wiswell,
Apparatus for purpose specified, having platform,
means for imparting orbital motion to platform,
broad middle sluice box mounted in inclined position
on platform and having in it low partition which
divides it longitudinally, hopper at upper end of
middle box, hopper provided with inclined baffles,
two side sluice boxes, situated at respective sides of
middle box and inclined in opposite direction, higher
ends of sluice boxes being hinged to lower end of
middle sluice box, means for varying inclination of
respective boxes, and spouts connecting side boxes
with middle box.
Combination Miner's Candlestick and Match-
Safe. — No. 801,465; J. B. Lindahl, Colorado Springs,
Colo.
In miner's candlestick, combination of hollow
handle, constituting match-case, removable cap
inclosing one end of handle, opposite end of handle
provided with threaded recess, spear removably
positioned within recess, hook carried by spear, and
candle-supporting member carried by spear com-
prising folded sheet of material provided with slit ted
end producing tongues of different lengths and of the
same width, one of tongues provided with aperture,
the opposite end of sheet provided with tongue hav-
ing tapering end and body portion of same width as
unapertured tongue formed upon opposite end.
Machine Drill.— No. 801,805; W. Meissner, Char-
lottenburg, Germany.
In drilling machine, combination with threaded
member for supporting drill, of driving means for
rotating member in single direction, threaded sleeve
engaging threaded member, gearing interposed be-
tween driving means and sleeve for rotating sleeve in
same direction with and faster than drill, sleeve being
adapted when thus rotated to feed drill toward work,
clutch rotating with sleeve, for connecting sleeve
with and disconnecting it from gearing, and fixed
clutch member adapted for engagement with afore-
said clutch and co-operating therewith to stop rota-
tion of sleeve.
Pulverizing Centrifugal Mill. — No. 801,592;
L. Hunt and W. W. Wheeler, Iola, Kan.
In pulverizing or crushing mill, roll shaft consist-
ing of cable made of wire of suitable size and strength
twisted into strands forming cable of proper diame-
ter, in combination with roller body fastened thereto
at lower end, and metallic tube or quill, having
internal bore to correspond with curve or angle
taken by shaft when rotating, shaft being suspended
from quill at upper end, and rotating with quill.
Ore Separator.
Guthrie, Okla.
-No. 801,349; L. J. Vandervoort,
discharge openings, temporary closures for same,
riffles rising from and inclined with relation to bot-
tom and located below lower edge of openings, means
for agitating contents of box comprising rotary
beaters arranged at intervals below bottom of box
and adapted to strike bottom, feed located at upper
end of and above sluice-box, and means for delivering
blast of air below feed and into upper end of sluice-
box.
Oil Well Derrick. -
Rawson, Ohio.
-No. 801,372; S. M. Poltz,
H '
I "'
In portable derrick, wheeled frame, derrick mem-
ber pivotally connected thereto and arranged to be
lowered onto frame for transportation, slidable block
carried by derrick, brace rod connecting block to
frame, and means for pulling block downward toward
pivot point of derrick to effect adjustment of latter
to vertical position.
Shaft Sinking Apparatus. — No. 801,828; E. Frier
and R. Nollenburg, Nordhausen, Germany.
Combination, in ore separator, of inclined sluice-
box having plane bottom provided with plurality of
-DP
DC
DC
DO
DO
In shaft sinking apparatus, combination with tub-
bing segments, channels or pipes therein, shoe at
lower end of tubbing provided with perforations com-
municating with channels, projecting ring at lower
end of tubbing, cover or lid bearing on ring, hollow
boring rod extending to point near bottom of shaft,
packing in cover and valve in boring rod above shaft.
Shaft Lining.— No. 801,432< E. Albrecht, Han-
over, Germany.
^i5 3fi
Shaft lining composed of series of superposed
rings, weighted levers fulcrumed to bottom ring,
rollers carried by levers that bear against shaft, and
packing between shaft and rings.
297'
Mining and Scientific Press.
October 28, 1905.
I MINING SUMMARY. |
Specially Compiled and Reported for the MINING AND
SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
G. E. Roberts, the director of the mint, has prepared
a statement of the world's production of gold and silver
for the calendar year 1904. This statement shows total
gold valued at $347,150,700, an aggregate of 168,493,538
fine ounces of silver, and a commercial value
of silver totaling $97,726,300, the coinage value
of which is $217,850,200. The figures submitted
show an increase of about $22,000,000 in gold over the
bureau's estimate for 1903. The United States shows a
gain of about $7,000,000 and South Africa of $18,000,000.
The director says that both of these countries are still
upon a rising scale of production. Australia, on the
other hand, is an important producer which shows a
tendency to reduce its contribution, although the falling
off is not large and may be temporary. Considering the
development in well-known fields, it seems a reasonable
forecast to put the world's output in 1905 to exceed that
of 1904 by $25,000,000, with another gain probable in
1906. The report says that the most important goldfield
in the world is that of the Transvaal, and for that the
data for working costs and profits are incomplete. The
output for 1904 was $78,130,728, produced by seventy-
four companies. Their working profits, after paying
the 10% tax on profits to the Government, are reported
at $26,402,163. The amount actually divided in divi-
dends was $19,114,784.70. Only thirty-five companies
paid dividends, these producing 70% of the total yield.
The tabulated statement follows:
NORTH AMERICA.
Gold.
Value.
United States 880.723,200
Mexico 12,605,300
Canada 16,400,000
Africa 85,913,900
Australasia 87,767,300
EUROPE,
Russia $24,803,200
Austria-Hungary 2,117,300
Germany .
Norway
Sweden
Italy
Spain.
Greece
Turkey
France
Great Britain.
64,700
40,200
44,000
SOUTH AMERICA.
Argentina $9,200
Bolivia 3,000
Chile 636.900
Colombia 1,974,400
Ecuador 132,900
Brazil 2,043,500
Venezuela 300.000
British Guiana 1,608.800
Dutch Guiana 481.200
French Guiana 1,788,800
Peru 1,329,200
Uruguay 25,000
Central America 1,120,700
ASIA.
Japan $3,984,000
China 4,500,000
Korea 3,000,000
Slam 51 800
British East Indies 1,392,800
Dutch East Indies 662,500
Silver.
Ounces.
75.786,100
60,808,978
3,718,668
486,408
14,558,892
172,912
1,987,797
5,799,133
260,300
23.702
757,777
4,876,076
895,172
564,685
609,638
174,517
66,153
6.083,333
868,067
946,006
Silver.
Value.
$33,516,000
35,2159,900
2,156,800
282,100
8,444,300
$100,300
1,152,900
3,363,700
150.910
13,800
439,500
2,828,100
519,200
327,500
353,600
101,200
$38,400
3,528,300
503,500
518,700
3,008,705
1,093
655,357
1,745,100
600
380,100
3,208,620 $1,861,000
101,800
ALASKA.
The gold season of 1905 is coming to a close. Assayer
F. A. Wing has been preparing the tri-quarterly ac-
count. The gold receipts from Junuary to September,
1905, inclusive, at the United States assay office amount
to $14,109,528.01. In 1904 the receipts for the like period
were $10,512,601.17. There came from the Yukon this
season gold worth $6,146,000; last year the receipts there-
from were $7,295,000, there being a decrease of $1,149,000.
From Nome there came this season $3,047,000 against
$1,918,000 in 1904, a gain of $1,129,000. From Tanana
there came $3,323,000, against only $176,000 in 1904. The
number of deposits this year so far was 2426; in 1904,
2045, a gain of 381. The weight of the gold this year in
troy ounces was 821,433.98; in 1904 the weight in the like
period was 623,712.59. The gain for 1905 was thus
197,721 ounces. The September receipts were $2,690,-
315.28; in September, 1904, the amount was $1,980,013.70.
ARIZONA.
Cochise Comity.
The Princeton Copper Co., H. Hamburg president and
general manager, is to resume work on its eight copper
claims in Ramsey canyon, near Bisbee. Operations
were stopped a year ago when 1500 feet of work had
been done.
The new No. 3 furnace of the Calumet & Arizona
smelter at Douglas has been blown in. The present
total capacity of the smelter is 900 tons of ore. The new
smelter will give employment to 75 additional men. It is
not the intention of the smelter to accept custom busi-
ness, the entire capacity of the plant being required to
handle the company's own ore. The blowing of the third
furnace at the Calumet & Arizona smelter marks the
completion of four furnaces, it being necessary to keep
one reserve furnace for overhauling and repairs.. A fifth
furnace is now on the ground ready for installation.
But it will not be erected at present, and probably not
until such time as the ore volume from the five proper-
ties is sufficiently large to require the services of four
furnaces.
Gila County.
The Keystone Copper Co. is building a 25-ton testing
plant at Globe which is to be in operation by the first of
the year. This small plant is to prove whether the pro-
cess is adapted to the ores. After the ores are reduced
to fines and roasted, a pulp is made, which passes to a
slowly revolving chlorination barrel, where it remains
for three hours. The electrical precipitation of the re-
maining solution will be upon carbons at first, instead of
copper plates.
The Five Points Copper M. Co. has been formed to
work the Clark and Lockwood & Van Wagenen claims,
14 miles west of Globe. The incorporators are J. C.
Britt, A. M. Lockwood, J. C. Clark, A. T. Hammons
and G. R. Hill. The property is being developed under
the supervision of J. C. Britt.
Maricopa County.
H. Bennett is opening up the Buffalo-Arizona mine,
10 miles northeast of Morristown. H. Boline, cus-
todian of the Grand Traverse and Arizona, on Gold Hill,
near Cave Creek, is expecting a superintendent to con-
tinue development suspended for the summer. The
machinery is on the ground, and most of it in place.
John and William Osborn have resumed work on the
Ben Hur at Cave Creek. J. F. Smith, superintendent
of the Phoenix mine, at Cave Creek, has men prospect-
ing. A. A. Mills, superintendent of the Kentucky &
Oriental Co., of Gold Hill, is doing exploratory work.
Mohave Connty.
(Special Correspondence). — The Santa Fe Railroad
Co. has made the rate to Chloride on oil, lumber, hay,
grain and machinery, the same as that to Kingman A
rate of $6 on ore to San Francisco has gone into effect
and is to be followed by a rate of $2 per ton to Hum-
boldt. The rates are on ores under $35 value per ton,
ore heretofore of too low grade to handle.
Kingman, Oct. 24.
(Special Correspondence). — The shaft on the Holmes
mine, 6 miles east of Hardyville, has struck the vein at
a depth of 280 feet.
Hardyville, Oct. 25.
The Lucky Boy mine, near Kingman, is being un-
watered and it is probable that a mill will he put in to
handle the low grade ore. Fred Stull is in charge.
L. Hoffman, superintendent of the Samoa mine, near
Kingman, reports that the mine is showing up good
ores in all the new works and that the shaft will be sunk
another 100 feet.
Pima County.
Superintendent F. R. Close, of the Helvetia Co., re-
ports that there are 150 miners at work in the company's
mines, and that this number will be doubled next month.
The 200-ton smelter at Helvetia will be blown in as soon
as coke arrives. The company has a large amount of
ore blocked out, which will be ample to keep the smelter
going all winter. The Old Dick, which is down to a
depth of 800 feet, and the Al Royale are being worked.
It is likely that the company will build a railroad from
Vail's to Helvetia, as it is quite costly to freight the pro-
duct to Vail's in wagons. The distance is 16 miles.
Final Connty.
(Special Correspondence).— On Ask creek, Saddle
Mountain mining district, near Dudleyville, S. D. Gor-
dam is opening up a gold prospect and taking out and
sacking shipping ore.
Dudleyville, Oct. 22.
The Kelvin Reduction Co., Frank Sharpe manager, is
to build a reduction plant at Kelvin. Part of the plant
will be the leaching process of twenty-five tons capacity.
Santa Cruz County.
(Special Correspondence). — The 100-ton smelter being
built at the Mowry mines, 12 miles from Patagonia, will
be blown in Nov. 1. The ore at these mines carries
values in gold, silver and copper. The output of the
smelter will be hauled to the railroad station at Pata-
gonia, but a survey has been made for a narrow gauge
road, which the company will build during 1906.
Patagonia, Oct. 23.
Yuma County.
(Special Correspondence). — The Valensuela Copper M.
Co. at Quartzsite are putting in a 30-ton water jacket
smelter. Water is to be taken from the mine. Richard
Darling is general manager. The property is 70 miles
from the Southern Pacific Railroad and 15 miles from
the steamer landing on the Colorado river, supplies be-
ing received by water. The country rocks are limestone
and schist, showing two contact veins, carrying values
in copper, silver and gold in malachite, azurite and oxide
ores.
CALIFORNIA.
Amador Connty.
(Special Correspondence). — The Wildman syndicate,
operating at Sutter Creek, has been reorganized and a
large amount of money provided to continue the devel-
opment of this large property. Work in the Emerson
vertical shaft commenced several years ago and sunk to
650 feet is to be resumed at once and the shaft con-
tinued to the 2500-foot level, which will not only make
accessible the ore bodies in the deeper portion of the
mine, but also cheapen the cost of mining materially.
As soon as the development work now planned is suf-
ficiently advanced to justify it the milling capacity of
the consolidated mines will be increased to treat 1000
tons of ore daily, the present capacity being about 400
tons. The consolidation embraces the Wildman, Ma-
honey, Lincoln, Stewart and several other mines, as
well as considerable ground held under agricultural
patent. At present the Wildman lowest level is at 1400
feet, the Lincoln being down 2000 feet on the incline.
The Emerson shaft will be sunk at least 800 feet lower
than the present deepest workings on the property.
Sutter Creek, Oct. 17.
Work is to be resumed on the McKee gravel mine,
near Oleta, by a Placerville company. The Clark
tunnel, near Oleta, being run by T. Mahon, is in 800
feet. An upraise is to be made to the channel. The
Rhetta or Bay State mine, 4 miles north of Plymouth,
has been started up under an arrangement with the
employes, to whom the company is indebted, who will
operate on some pay ore. It is hoped in this way to pay
off the debts incurred by the company.
Calaveras Connty.
The Ballanponte M. Co. is running a tunnel to cut
the Table Mountan gravel channel, 1 mile east of Valle-
cito. At Douglas Flat, near Vallecito, W. Moyle is
sinking a shaft to tap the gravel channel. •
Kern Connty.
Atkinson Bros, are working the Sunshine mine, near
Randsburg. They have put in an air compressor and
will put in power drills. A 15-ton cyanide plant is being
put in to work the tailings, of which there are about
1300 tons now on the dump. F. D. Mann, superin-
tendent of the Gold Coin and Stanford mines, is working
twelve men and is in a good body of ore on the 250-foot
level. The ore is high grade and is being milled at the
company's mill in Johannesburg, known as the Red Dog
mill. The Butte and other mines which have not yet
out in mills of their own have their ore worked at the
Red Dog mill. In Mountain Springs canyon, near
Randsburg, a Nissen mill has been put in for the Mount
Vernon M. Co. The company has sufficient water and
is developing more. The well being sunk by the Yel-
low Aster Co. at Squaw Spring is down 1200 feet and the
prospect for a good flow of water is good.
It is reported that the deep well that the Grace Oil
Co. is drilling in the Kern river field is down 2910 feet
with a 4J-inch casing. This line of casing is stuck and
the work has been stopped until smaller casing can be
obtained, lit is the intention to go on with the well as
soon as this special casing is received, and it will be sunk
as deep as possible in the hope of striking a profitable
deposit of high-grade oil. The drill has passed through
a thick stratum of shale that was impregnated with gas.
The California Mines Corporation, which has a bond
on the Baltic mine, near Randsburg, E. R. Abadie gen-
eral manager and superintendent, has two shifts sinking
in the main shaft, which is down 185 feet. When the
250-foot level is reached they will crosscut. The shaft
will be continued down to the 500-foot level and drifts
and crosscuts run at each 100-foot level. A 50-ton cya-
nide plant to'work the tailings now on the dump is being
put in.
Nevada County.
The California Miners' Association has decided that
instead of holding all the conventions in San Francisco,
as heretofore, it will meet in the mining sections of the
State. The Association came into existence when it was
desired by the miners to rehabilitate hydraulic mining.
Placer, Sierra, Amador, Nevada, Yuba, Tuolumne and
other mining counties rallied with financial and moral
support and the movement that resulted enabled the
Association to secure appropriations from the National
Government and from the State of California to have
dams established on the Yuba river to restrain mining
debris. The Caminetti Act helped the smaller opera-
tors by the hydraulic process in certain localities, but
never enabled the larger hydraulic mining enterprises to
resume. When it became apparent in the mining coun-
ties where hydraulic mining had proved to be very prof-
itable to individuals that the Caminetti Act, which was
accepted as a compromise in the first instance, did not
work to full satisfaction, the financial support that cer-
tain mining counties had given dropped off and the prin-
cipal source of support came from San Francisco. In
course of time miners spoke unfavorably of this. To
regain favor, by showing the mining counties that an
organization is for the benefit of the mining industry of
the entire State, it has been voted by the California
Miners' Association to hold conventions at various
points. The annual convention of 1905 will be held at
Nevada City, November 22, 23, 24 and 25. Committees
of the California Miners' Association have been ap-
pointed at Nevada City and at Grass Valley to co-oper-
ate with the local committee to make the convention as
much of a success as possible. Fred Searles, W. P.
Englebright and Nat. P. Brown are appointed by the
Association for the Nevada City committee and George
Mainhart, A. D. Poote and C. G. Church will serve as
committeemen at Grass Valley.
Lack of water for power threatens to shut down many
of the mines at Grass Valley and Nevada City.
Placer Connty.
D. B. Groff, superintendent of the Diamond Creek
Mining & Development Co., near Emigrant Gap, reports
satisfactory progress at the mine. The Diamond Creek
is a gravel mine, and work is now being done on a wing
of the main channel. Work is being done on the
Heridia tract, 8 miles northnast of Lincoln, by G. H.
Wright of San Francisco and G. Gray.
San Bernardino County.
J. T. Kerr and J. C. Button of Colton have sold to the
Big Lode M. & M. Co. of Los Angeles the Big Lode No.
1 and Big Lode No. 2, 3 miles east of Rock Springs and 1
mile north of Old Holcomb valley.
San Diego County.
After having been unwatered, the Stonewall mine, near
Julian, has been closed down.
Sliasta Connty.
The Jim Loage mine, near Centerville, 6 miles from
Redding, is being developed by H. W. Weldon and
H. V. Burleson.
Sierra Connty.
(Special Correspondence). — The Pilgrim mine, at
American Hill, was examined recently by O. A. Daube
of New York City. At the Alaska mine, at Pike City,
a new vertical 3-compartment shaft has been started and
is down 50 feet. They intend to sink to the 700-foot
level before doing any drifting.
Downieville, Oct. 23.
At the Mabel mine, at American Hill, 7 miles east of
Alleghany, the new tunnel is in 150 feet, and the com-
pany intends to run ahead 125 feet more and then make
an upraise to the channel. A. J. McCoy is foreman.
A gold brick, weighing 176 pounds and valued at $43,-
000, is said to be the result of a thirty-two days' run at
the Tightner mine, near Alleghany. The bullion came
from specimen rock. Only three men were employed in
extracting the rock that gave this result. H. L. John-
son is the owner.
Trinity Connty.
The lawsuit over the Globe mine, in the Canyon Creek
mining district, near Dedrick, has been compromised.
Tuolumne County.
A steam hoist is being put in at the App mine at
Quartz. A station has been cut at the 1720-foot level
of the Dutch mine at Quartz and a crosscut will be run
east to the vein. The Mt. Eden mine, near Tuolumne,
has been bonded to Holland & Williamson.
October 28, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
298
COLORADO.
(Special Correspondence) — The mines in the higher
altitudes are preparing for the winter campaign by tak-
ing in the necessary supplies. Already a heavy snowfall
is reported from various districts, and it will not be long
before the roads are impassable to some of the mines.
By this means the mines are able to operate during the
winter months, especially whore thoy are under cover.
A number of arrests have recently been made in the
Cripple Creek district for high grading. If some means
could be devised for meting out tho proper punishment
for the guilty ones, it would undoubtedly have a good
effect on the remainder of tho individuals who make a
business of stealing or receiving tho stolen ore. It is the
opinion of some that there i6 an organized gang of the
thieves working in that district. A strike was called
ou the Gold King mine and mill at Gladstone, in the Sil-
verton district, a few days ago. After calling the strike
the leaders of the strike are trying to effect a compro-
mise with the management. What the outcome will be
remains to be seen. Some months ago, when there was
talk of a strike on this property, Superintendent Kinney
gave tho men to understand they could strike if they
desired; if they did strike, there would be no compro-
mise; the mine and mill would be closed indefinitely.
The reports from that district are rather vague as to
the cause of the strike, but it is understood that one of
the agitators was requested to "move on." In order to
"get even," the men were called out. The owners of
the Gold King are also heavily interested in the Gold
Prince, where a large concentrating mill is now being
built. It is not known at this writing whether the
strike will spread to that mine or not. During the
stormy times in Telluride and Cripple Creek two years
ago the Silverton camps were not molested, although
there was some talk of calling the men out at that time,
From information received here it is believed to be a
personal affair, rather than among the men.
Denver, Oct. 23.
Boulder Couoty.
The Wolf Tone M. Co. is putting in a hoist and 50
H. P. boiler on the Oregon shaft. This company is
operating a number of mines and is operating the mill at
Nederland on its own custom ores. The mill is equipped
with twenty stamps. The concentrates are dried before
shipping and the mill is reported to be doing a share of
the reduction of ores from the local section. William
Loach is manager with William Todd in charge of the
mill. Manager C. P. Lake has closed down the
Boulder County mill owing to the demoralized condition
of the tungsten market. A recent decision in the courts,
whereby the free importation of crude tungsten ores is
permitted, has made the market rather unstable, and
Mr. Lake prefers to close down the property rather
than take chances with his product. It is reported that
the tungsten producers of Boulder county will ask for
protection on crude ore. W. I. Scott and associates,
who are operating Graham lease No. 1 on the Rogers
patent, have received a 20 H. P. double-friction hoister
and a 30 H. P. boiler at Cardinal, which is being deliv-
ered to their lease. They will put up a new shaft house.
They have made a 50-ton shipment to the Nederland
mill. Manager T. L. Wood of the Cashier M. & M.
Co., operating at Camp Albion, near Breckenridge, is on
a visit to Boston to consult his associates regarding
future operations of his company. He takes with him
the report of the summer's work and expects to return
authorized to make immediate arrangements for the
erection of a 50-ton concentrating mill at Camp Albion.
The mill will be built near the portal of the Snowy
Range tunnel.
Clear Creek County
I. B. Nichols is operating the Josephine property at
the base of Kelso mountain, near Silver Plume. He ex-
pects to increase the force. It is probable that a winze
will be sunk on the ore body now being opened, and if
water should be found in sinking an electrically driven
pump will be put in, as the power line for the Steveni
mill runs close to the mine. Retimbering of the ore
chute in the Pelican mine has been completed near
Silver Plume, so that the mill can be again supplied
with ore. The chute was lined with iron, and the work
has been delayed on aocount of inability to get the iron
from Denver as fast as it was needed. A chute will be
built from the mouth of the Zero level to the foot of the
dump so that the mill dirt can be run out of that level,
loaded into wagons and hauled to the mill as an auxiliary
supply. Work has been commenced on the Mexico
property, near Silver Plume, in which C. H. Morris is
interested. Work is being done through the Diamond
tunnel, from which a drift is being driven west on the
Selkirk vein to get under former workings. Jewell &
McCall have started work on the Maine-Phoenix prop-
erty, near Silver Plume, and are cleaning out the tun-
nel that was driven in early days to cut the Maine at a
point east of the shaft.
The tunnel being driven by the Joplin M. Co. of
Georgetown, of which B. J. O'Connor is superintendent,
is in 125 feet. The drift is being run on the Washington
lode, and according to surveys it will be necessary to
drive 600 additional feet before the objective point will
be reached. At that time a crosscut will be run for 100
feet to cut under the Gambetta workings. This tunnel
will furnish an increased depth of 380 feet over the upper
workings.
The Silver Plume Standard reports that ore ship-
ments from the Stevens mill have been resumed and
several teams are hauling the concentrates. The con-
centrator at the Wilcox tunnel is also in operation,
making two mills on the Waldorf properties for han-
dling the milling material in addition to a large force
taking out smelting ore at the Tobin, Kitty Owsley and
the Wilcox tunnel, so that the completion of the rail-
road now being built into the East Argentine district
will enable large shipments to be made. The Lorella
M. Co., operating in East Argentine district, is reported
to be meeting with excellent results in the development
work that is being carried on. The Silver Edge vein
has been cut 110 feet from the portal of the tunnel and
a good body of smelting ore found. Drifts have been
started east and west on the vein, which continues to
make a good showing. The property will soon be
equipped with a plant of machinery for more rapidly
prosecuting work during the winter. A temporary
shutdown of the Dives Pelican mill at the portal of the
Burleigh tunnel was rendered necessary last week, in
order to retimber an ore chute in the mine through
which the milling dirt from the upper workings was
sent to the mill. This work is being carried on by
three shifts of men, working eight hours each, and it is
expected to soon have it completed. Considerable work
is also being done in the mill to put it in shape for con-
tinuous operation as soon as it can be supplied with
material again. Preparations are being made to com-
mence operations on the Mexican group. The power
plant of the St. Paul M. Co., which was recently put in,
is reported to be in successful operation and a progress
of about 5 feet per day is being made in the crosscut
tunnel, which is being driven to open a number of lodes
at various depths. It '- expected to drive this tunnel
about 2000 feet. Manager William Stephens of the
Indiana G. & S.M. & M. Co. expects to get work started
on the company's proporty within a short time.
Custer County.
The new shaft to be sunk on the G. P. D. claim of the
Valley M. Co., near Silver Cliff, will soon be under way,
the location having been selected and the surveys made.
It is proposed that the new shaft will tap the south
drift of the Dakota Bill.
Gilpin Connty.
At the After Supper mine, near Black Hawk, the Ban-
zai M. Co. have sunk the shaft 410 feet, and it is to be
sunk to a depth of 435 feet, where drifts will be driven
for sump purposes The drift at a depth of 240 feet is to
be connected with the 140-foot level. L. R. Tatum of
Denver is manager and A. Watters of Nevadaville is in
charge of the underground workings. J. P. Hopkins
of Denver has started operations on the Sleepy Hollow
property, in Gregory district, which has been idle for
years. The main shaft is down 800 feet, and as soon as
it has been retimbered another 100 feet will be sunk.
The Castleton mine, at the head of Virginia canyon, is
being operated by Cleveland, Ohio, parties under a lease
and bond, under the management of W. M. Kirk of Rus-
sell Gulch. Operations have been delayed by water.
Work is now being carried on in the 425-foot levels. The
shaft is to be sunk 200 feet deeper.
The Black Hills & Denver G. M. Co. is driving its
Park tunnel, which is now in over 700 feet, with one
shift, using electric drills. M. H. French of Denver is
manager and J. A. Bush of Tolland is superintendent.
The company is also driving the Grant tunnel into Min-
eral hill. This tunnel is in over 400 feet. Sinking has
been stopped at the Chicago-Carr property on Bobtail
hill, in the Gregory district, at a depth of 560 feet,
where levels are being extended on both sides of the
shaft, with prospects of soon getting into some good
ores, reports Manager B. M. Myers. The intention is to
commence sinking again.
The Eagle mill in Black Hawk, which was leased
from the owner, F. Came, by the Eagle Mill & Ore Co.,
has been making test runs with a new process for low
grade ores. According to a statement made by J. G.
Eversman of Denver, the tests that have been made at
the mill on low grade ores have proven satisfactory.
An air compressor and other machinery is to be put in
at the Ingram mine in the Pine Creek district, near
Central City. The Rochester, at the mouth of Pine
creek, is being operated with a small force. The
Boston-Occidental Co. are working the Mascot mine and
mill at American City, near Central City. The company
is also shipping smelting ore over the Moffatt road to
the smelter at Denver.
The Gower Mines Syndicate, who have been working
the Clay County mine in Lake gulch, near Central City,
have made a rich strike in the 350-foot west level of the
property. The main shaft' is 650 feet deep, but where
the large body of ore has been cut is in a winze in the
350 west level. This winze has been sunk 14 feet and
shows a body of ore 4 feet wide, which carries a very
high percentage of gray copper and also lead and copper.
GuuntBon Connty.
Idaho capital has a lease on the Volunteer mine, near
Gunnison, and the water is being pumped out prepara-
tory to extensive development.
Lake Connty.
The Morocco shaft in Leadyille is being cleaned out
preparatory to shipping ore. Sinking has been started
on the Bohn shaft, and the 350 feet that will be opened
should be completed by the end of the year. This shaft
is being sunk to catch the Penrose ore shoot to the
south. Both drifts of the Cloud City are in the line, the
south drift just entering the parting quartzite. Small
streaks of iron are found in both drifts.
At the 500-foot level of the Flagstaff mine at Leadville,
after driving a drift 300 feet from the shaft a good body
of lead carbonate ore has been opened. The shaft on
the Porter claim at Leadville is down 200 feet and a
drift has been run to the southwest. A new shaft is
being sunk on the Yankee Doodle and is down 150 feet.
e ark County.
(Special Correspondence).— The London mine is ship-
ping two cars per day of high-grade ore. Other ship-
pers are the New York, Wheeler, Moose, Russia and
Shelby. This last is a zinc producer and is shipping to
the Empire Zinc Co. at Canon City. There are other
mines that could furnish a fair grade of zinc ore, and
by the use of the magnetic concentrator possibly become
dividend payers. The Snowstorm placer has quit
hydraulicking for the season. They have one drill test-
ing gravel and 20 men with four teams enlarging
ditches, repair work, etc., making ready for the season
of 1906. The Cincinnati P. M. Co. has one drill at
work testing gravel from the mouth of Sacramento
creek up the Platte river, preparatory to putting in
dredgers.
Alma, Oct. 23.
Rio Blanco County.
The gilsonite veins of Utah are said to enter the west-
ern part of Rio Blanco county and considerable of the
product has been mined and shipped. Near Rangely
elaterite exists, W. C. Miller having lateiy discovered
three veins on Piceance creek in seams 4 inches wide.
Nearby are deposits of sand asphaltum. Meeker capi-
talists have spent $75,000 in developing petroleum in
Raven park, but their wells have not yet reached the
main deposit. Of the seven holes put down, each has
seepage oil that would pay all development expenses if
it could be saved and marketed. The Union Oil Co. of
Meeker and the Requena Syndicate of San Francisco,
Cal., will do considerable new work this fall and winter on
their Raven park oil holdings. Skull creek basin and
Blue mountain contain paying quantities of uranium
and vanadium. These rare ores are found in sandstone
formation, the veins being from 2 to 4 feet wide.
Koutt Connty.
The gravel beds of the Jack Rabbit springs, 20 miles
northwest of Craig, are being worked by Blivins Bros.
They are tapping the subterranean flow of the Jack
Rabbit springs and using a steam dredger of 65 H. P.
with a capacity of 1000 cubic yards per day. North of
the Jack Rabbit springs the Board Gulch springs are
the water supply of 1100 acres of placer ground belong-
ing to Howard Bros, and C. C. Merrill. A steam dredger
will be put in on these properties in the spring. North
of the Board Gulch springs T. Emerson has 800 acres of
placer ground, with a maximum bedrock depth of 18
feet. With a 6 H. P. gasoline engine he is developing a
bedrock pay streak. Improved machinery is to be put
in next year.
San Juan Connty.
The Saratoga mill, between Silverton and Ouray, will be
converted into a matte smelter for the treatment of the
ores from the Ironton district. The Saratoga mill was
one of the most complete and costly establishments of
the kind ever built in the San Juan country, but failed
to satisfactorily treat the ores of the section in which it
was located, and was shut down several years ago and
has remained idle ever since.
The Silverton M. Co. will develop their property on
Sultan mountain, near Silverton, during the winter.
Thi crosscut tunnel being run is in 3800 feet, 1300 feet of
this distance having been run within the past year.
The main tunnel is being pushed to cut the Belcher vein.
The Little Ida claims, in California gulch, north of
Silverton, in the Animas Forks mining district, has been
sold by Fisher, Carlow & Triplett, to Denver parties,
for $10,000, and as soon as Surveyor W. C. Marshall of
Denver has finished a resurvey and replatting of the
ground and the process of patenting the claims is start-
ed, the first payment of $2500 will be paid. -The 5000-
foot tunnel started by Richard Winnerah on the prop-
erty owned by the Frisco Mines Co., on Houghton moun-
tain, which is to be completed within two years, and
cost $82,000, is expected to cut forty-six leads in Hough-
ton mountain.
San Miguel Connty.
The Tomboy shaft, near Telluride, is down 300 feet,
and it is the intention of the management to sink it 300
feet deeper. From this shaft a level is being run on the
Argentine and Cincinnati vein. The Red Cloud, owned
by the company, is on the same lead, and when the tun-
nel gets under this claim it will be 1500 feet vertically
beneath the surface. The company's 60-stamp mill is
running steadily.
Summit Connty.
The enlarged and improved concentrating mill on the
Washington Joilet property, on Nigger hill, near Breck-
enridge, is ready for crushing, stamping and concentra-
tion. Originally the mill was 56x71 feet and contained
twenty stamps, four Wilfley tables, engine, boiler and
other necessary appliances for treating lead-gold ore.
The new addition to the mill building is 28x71 feet, which
brings the structure up to 84x71 feet. The added ma-
chinery consists of three Wilfley tables, three hydraulic
sizers, one Callow settling tank and one Sperry slimes
saver. C. S. Newson is manager. The Dunkin
property, on Nigger hill, has been leased and will be op-
erated by J. C. Baird.
Teller County.
The Dillon shaft at Cripple Creek is to be continued
from the 800 to the 1000-foot level. A depth of 430
feet has been reached in the shaft of the City of Cripple
Creek G. M. Co. of Cripple Creek. Considerable water
is being pumped. At a depth of 500 feet crosscuts will
be started. The company is operating under a 20-year
franchise, which gives it the right to mine beneath the
streets and alleys of Cripple Creek. Operations have
been resumed at the Camilla mine on Beacon and Guyot
hills, Cripple Creek. Drifting has been started by
F. T. Caley, lessee in the Arapahoe claim of the Jerry
Johnson Co. on the north slope of Ironclad hill, Cripple
Creek, at a depth of 450 feet. He is following the vein
cut by the shaft recently. The Sioux Falls Milling
Co. of Cripple Creek is successfully treating Copper
mountain ore with cyanide. The value varies from $2
to $10 in gold per ton. It costs $1.60 a ton to mine and
treat it and it is understood that the percentage of ex-
traction is high. An ore house is being built at the
Midway mine, on the saddle of Bull and Ironclad hills,
by O. Fogleman, lessee.
IDAHO.
Blatne County.
State Mine Inspector R. N. Bell has returned from a
trip to the upper Salmon river country At the Dollar
Hide mine, 24 miles northwest of Ketchum, twenty-five
men are at work. This is a zinc and silver-lead mine,
and carries one of the strongest ore shoots in the Wood
river region. One of its ore shoots is 250 feet long, with
an average width of 2 feet. Another ore shoot is 150
feet long, and a third 100 feet long. The principal devel-
opment consists of two crosscut tunnels, with drifts
along the vein and raises connecting the two main drifts.
The ore is a heavy mixture of zinc, iron and lead sul-
phides, with quartz, and carries from forty to sixty
ounces in silver. This property is being operated by
C. C. Rutherauff of New York, who has built a 30-ton
concentrating mill on the Warm Spring side of the
divide. In the Boyle Mountain mining district, 14
miles west of Ketchum, the Lucky Boy mine is being
operated by the Lanyon Zinc Co., under lease, with
Owen O'Rourke in charge. The new Payette district,
in Omaha gulch, is reached most easily from Stanley,
from which there is a wagon road 7 miles to Stanley
299
Mining and Scientific Press.
October 28, 1905.
lake, which is 7 miles by trail from the mines._ Claims
already opened up give fine values in lead and zinc.
Idaho County.
Twenty men are employed at the Anaconda mine, 12
miles from Newsome. A new 5-stamp mill will be ready
soon. The Graham & Ross Co. is in charge.
Cyanide plants are being put in at the Dewey and Sun-
nyside mines, near Roosevelt. The State wagon road
from Council to Big creek is almost completed. Rob-
erts & Stonebraker have formed the Crooked River M.
& M. Co., to work mines on Crooked river, 4 miles from
Big creek.
The Comstock M. Co. is working the Comstock mine
near Dixie. The 4-stamp mill and cyanide plant are in
operation. The McKinley M. Co. is putting in a mill
at its mines on Salmon river near Lucile. A double-
compartment shaft is being sunk at the Anaconda mine
near Newsome by the Ross-Graham M. Co., under the
superintendence of W. H. Hill.
Kootenai County.
The Echo M. Co. is developing claims west of Sand-
point. Wm. Elsasser is manager. The Panhandle
smelter at Ponderay, on Lake Pend d 'Oreille, is to be
started about Nov. 1. The initial capacity will be 100
tons of ore daily. The water-jacket lead-silver turnace
measures 36x120 inches at the tuyeres. The steel stack
is 125 feet high. The dust chambers, built of stone, are
8x10x160 feet.
Owyhee County.
The Stormy Hill M. Co. has been formed by C. W.
Hill of Silver City, M. A. Carton, G. S. Ballard, J. G.
Slauson and W. E. Hayes, all of Utica, N. Y., to develop
the War Eagle and Stormy Hill mines, near Silver City.
The Potosi M. Co. is building a new shaft house and
putting in pumps and machinery at its mines in Silver
City. W. F. Sommercamp is superintendent.
Shoshone County.
Work has been resumed on the Little North Fork
M. & M. Co.'s copper claims, near Wardner, with J.
Kalbenback in charge. In the upper tunnel crosscuts
will be driven until both walls are reached and the width
of the ledge determined. In the lower tunnel the main
ore body was not reached by the work carried on this
year.
Work has been commenced on No. 4 tunnel on the
Snowstorm mine, near Mullan. It will be run 3100 feet
to reach the ore body. This will give a depth of nearly
2000 feel on the dip of the vein. The present lowest
workings have a depth of 1000 feet. The company and
the lessees are working nearly 150 men. A raise is being
made from No. 3 to No. 2 tunnel and a shaft is being
sunk from No. 2 to meet the raise. Besides the 3100-foot
tunnel, T. L. Greenough advocates putting in electric
power and other improvements. The first zinc con-
centrates to be shipped from the Cceur d'Alenes will be
sent to the Iola, Kan., smelter this month from the Suc-
cess mine, formerly the Granite. Preparations are now
being made at the mill to load two cars of concentrates.
A wagon road half a mile long is being built to the
Northern Pacific's Nine-mile branch. When the ex-
perimental tests at the mill proved to the satisfaction of
H. F. Samuels, manager and principal owner, that the
process installed would save zinc as well as lead values,
machinery was put in. The mill has been working sat-
isfactorily.
The Mayflower Mining Co. is developing its property,
2J miles east of Wallace. J. H. Foss of Mullan, one of
the owners, is in charge of the work, and is running two
shifts on a long crosscut tunnel. The Hunter mine
and mill, near Mullan, will resume operations. Work
on the new deep level tunnel has been stopped and with
the resumption of work in the mine will be pushed
ahead as rapidly as possible. -The management of the
North Franklin Co., at Mullan, has decided to purchase
new equipment for the mine.
KANSAS.
A recent report of the United States Geological Sur-
vey states that the production of spelter in the United
States in 1904 amounted to 186,702 short tons, valued at
$18,670,200, as compared with a production of 159,219
tons in 1903. The principal increase in the production
of zinc has taken place in Kansas, where new plants were
started by the Caney Zinc Co. at Caney; by the Chanute
Zinc Co. at Chanute, and by the Cockerill Zinc Co. at
Altoona. The La Harpe Smelting Co. at La Harpe,
which started in 1903, had a full year's production. The
plant of the Granby M. & S. Co. was enlarged. The
large works of the Edgar Zinc Co. at Cherryvale, con-
trolled by the United States Steel Corporation, reached
their full product in 1904. In Illinois the Illinois Zinc
Co. built an addition of 120 retorts; and the Mineral
Point Zinc Co., controlled by the New Jersey Zinc Co.,
is building large new works at Depue. During 1904 the
new works of the Graselli Chemical Co. of Cleveland
were started at Clarksville, W. Va.
MICHIGAN.
Houghton County.
The Mass Con. M. Co.'s new shaft C is ready to oper-
ate at its full capacity. The track of the spur which the
Mineral Range is running to the opening is completed.
The shaft will be fully equipped by January 1. The
sinking has reached the sixth level.
MONTANA.
Jefferson County,
The concentrator of the Cataract C. M. Co., 8 miles
from Basin, at Bullion, has been started. The company
has twenty-two claims in the Cataract district showing
argentiferous and auriferous chalcopyrite. M. L. Hewett
is manager and G. H. Bartlett the millwright in charge.
Lewis and Clarke County.
By the first of the year the Whitlach M. Co., which
is operating the Whitlach-Union mine at Unionville,
south of Helena, expects to have the new 20-stamp mill
running. The Whitlach is down 500 feet, and the miners
are developing on the 500 and 400-foot levels.
MadlBon County.
On account of cold weather the cyanide mill of the
Watseca G. M. Co., at Rochester, has closed down for
the winter, it being impossible to operate to advantage.
The mill ran three months.
A. H. Wiseman of Ruby, who is interested in the Con-
rey Placer M. Co., which is operating several dredgers
near Alder, states that the company began operations,
working one dredger, in 1900. In 1902 they built and
put in operation another dredger and now have in course
of construction another dredger. The capacity of
dredger No. 1 is 50,000 cubic yards of dirt per month;
that of No. 2 is 65,000 per month, and that of the dredger
now building, or No. 3, is 90,000. The work is in Alder
gulch, 1$ mile east of Alder. The values in gold run
from 15 to 20 cents per cubic yard on the sides of the
valley and from 60 cents to $1 per yard in the center.
They claim to save 95% of the values. Each dredger has
an endless chain of forty-one scoop buckets which will
dig into the earth at the rate of nine per minute. Each
bucket on No. 1 has a capacity of 7J cubic feet of dirt,
on No. 2 of 10, and on No. 3 the capacity will be 12 cubic
feet.
Missoula County.
H. J. Rossi and H. J. Read, who have made a $25,000
payment on the Monitor mine, near Saltese, have men
at work under the foremanship of Theodore Brown.
The shaft is being enlarged and retimbered and a large
hoist will be put in.
Sliver Bow County.
The Butte Cyaniding Co. has been formed by Gus
Nickel, C. Riehl, D. P. O'Connor, A. C. Evans, W. R.
Young and W. R. Evans, to take over the plant of F. W.
Link & Co., who have been operating on Lexington tail-
ings. Link and his associates have been using six 20-ton
wooden tanks, but an iron tank having a capacity of 40
tons has been added, and another of the same size is to
be added, making the total capacity 200 tons. During
the year there have been treated in the plant 8000 tons
of tailings, from which a little less than $4 in gold and 2
ounces in silver per ton were saved. The company has
leased the tailings from the Alice mills, and will begin
treating them at once. There are about 10,000 tons in
the pile. The Reins Copper, operating the Combina-
tion mine, east of Butte, is sinking its shaft and is down
900 feet. Sinking is in progress at the Minnie Healey,
a United Copper property adjoining the Leonard, in
Butte.
Reconstruction of the North Butte Co.'s Speculator
shaft will be completed by the end of the year, when the
contract with the Amalgamated for the use of the High
Ore shaft will cease. It is now necessary to tram the
ore about 1000 feet to get over to the High Ore shaft.
The North Butte has developed and is now working two
veins, which are approximately parallel and separated
by about 800 feet. The principal vein is the Edith May,
originally developed on the company's Edith May claim.
The Edith May vein has been opened nearly 900 feet and
there still remains over 900 feet to go before the bound-
ary limit of the property is reached. This vein is
opened on the 1000-foot and 1200-foot levels. The Jessie
vein is reached through a crosscut 800 feet long from
the Edith May vein. The North Butte will seek greater
depth in its shaft as soon as the reconstruction is com-
pleted, driving it down from the 1600-foot level to the
1800-foot level.
MISSOURI.
A recent bulletin of the United States Geological Sur-
vey states that in southeast Missouri further progress
has been made by an increased activity among the
older mines. The St. Joseph Lead Co., the largest indi-
vidual producer of lead in the country, has gained in
output by enlarging the old Bonne Terre mill, by put-
ting into operation a new mill at the Hoffmann shaft
which will be capable of handling 1000 short tons of ore
per day, and by adding to the smelting facilities at the
Herculaneum works. The Doe Run Co., which is closely
allied with the St. Joseph Lead Co., has operated to full
capacity. The Desloge Lead Co. has sunk a new shaft
and has increased its mill capacity 50%. The Central
Lead Co. produced only 3812 short tons of lead in 1904,
as compared with 5536 tons in 1903, the falling off being
due to the fact that the mines and works were idle for
three months as the result of a strike to force a recogni-
tion of the first miners' union organized in the district.
The effort failed. The Central Lead Co. has been sold
to the American Smelters' Securities Co. The National
Lead Co. now ships the product of the Derby mines to
the new smelter at Collinsville, 111., which went into
operation during 1904. The Federal Lead Co. produces
considerable quantities of ore and smelts large amounts
of ore on toll. The Mine La Motte Co. did not produce
as largely in 1904 as in previous years. The old Shibbo-
leth Lead M. Co. of Cadet, Mo., has passed into the
hands of the American Lead & Baryta Co.
NEVADA.
Douglas County.
B. F. Livingstone, superintendent of the Mammoth
mine, near Carters station, near Gardnerville, intends
putting in a mill to be erected to work the ore.
Esmeralda County.
(Special Correspondence). — The standing and wealth
of this district have not been overstated. Two years
ago the site which Goldfield occupies to-day was a
brushy blank on the map of Nevada and the camp now
has a population of 7000. There are some good stone
and frame buildings, but the greater number of people
live in tent houses and tents. Many substantial build-
ings are being erected. At Diamondfield some valuable
showings are being made. The Reilly lease on the Flor-
ence expired recently and the claim is made that it
returned to the leasers $750,000. Work on the lease
commenced July 1, three and one-half months ago.
Goldfield, Oct. 23.
Eureka Connty.
Grading has been started on an extension of the Eu-
reka & Palisade railway to the mines on Ruby hill.
Men in the Consolidated and Richmond mines at Eureka
are examining the condition of the old workings, which
were abandoned on account of the litigation that ruined
the old company. As soon as this examination is made,
the abandoned workings will be cleaned out.
Humboldt County.
At the Nevada-Superior properties, 20 miles north-
west of Humboldt, Manager C. D. Rooklidge has put in
a hoist and pumping plant. This shaft is down 125 feet,
and is to be sunk to the 200-foot level. A station is to
be cut and drifts run to the north and south from the
125-foot level.
Lincoln Connty.
Active development of the Santa Fe, near Searchlight,
has begun after a long period of underground prospect-
ing. A 25 H. P. hoist, a Cornish pump with a capacity
of 6000 gallons an hour, an air compressor and drills are
being put in. C. Leonard of Los Angeles is president,
Geo. C. Mitchell vice-president, and B. Macready gene-
ral manager. Excavation has been started for a 10-
stamp mill at the Cyrus Noble mine at Searchlight.
Sinking for the 600-foot level has been resumed in the
Good Hope mine, near Searchlight. The company has
let a contract for the first 100 feet to Wm. Allison and P.
Williams. The sump in the 400-foot crosscut is com-
plete, and catches the water from the vein, so that the
new section of the shaft is comparatively dry. Sink-
ing has been resumed from a depth of 220 feet on the
Parallel vein at Searchlight. The Southwest M. Co.
is working three shifts on the Techaticup mine at El
Dorado. The station has been cut at the 450-foot level,
and the shaft is being continued to the 550.
Nye County.
The rates for transportation of ores from Tonopah to
Murray, Germania, Pallas, Bingham Junction, West
Jordan and Sandy, Utah, and to California smelting
points as shown by the rate sheet, are as follows: On
ore of an actual value not exceeding $25 per ton, $6.50;
over $25 but not exceeding $40, $8 per ton; $40 but not
exceeding $50, $9.75 per ton; over $50 but not exceeding
$100, $15.45 per ton; over $100 but not exceeding $150,
$17.10 per ton; over $150 but not exceeding $200, $17.50
per ton; over $200 but not exceeding $300, $18.50 per ton.
The haul from Goldfield to Tonopah is additional and is
as follows: On ores not exceeding in value $25, $1.50 per
ton; over $25 but not exceeding $50, $2 per ton; over $50
but not exceeding $75, $2.25 per ton; over $75 but not ex-
ceeding $100, $2.50 per ton; over $100 but not exceeding
$200, $2.75 per ton; over $200 but not exceeding $300,
$3.50 per ton. In addition a flat rate of $10 per ton is
charged for smelting all ores.
Washoe County.
D. M. Harvey, superintendent of the Keystone-Nevada
mines at Olinghouse, is working fifteen men. They are
developing water rights and a stamp mill will be built
south and east of the Ora mine. H. Lincoln will de-
velop the Golden Eagle, near Olinghouse. The Buster
mines, near Olinghouse, will be operated soon.
In the Pyramid district, 40 miles north of Reno, the
Pacific Con. M. Co. has been developing their copper
properties under the superintendence of R. W. Parry.
The main tunnel is in 2000 feet.
NEW MEXICO.
Lincoln County.
It is reported that work is to be resumed on the Vera
Cruz mine, near Nogal, by J. H. Canning.
Luna County
(Special Correspondence). — The Deming smelter oper-
ated by the Luna Lead Co., of Deming, has been blown
in. The management of the Deming smelter has made
rates to small lead mines that permit the mining and
shipping of low grade ores, which were heretofore con-
sidered unprofitable.
Deming, Oct. 23.
McKinley County.
The American Fuel Co. has established a new coal
mining camp near Gallup, which will be known as
Heaton. A new mine has been opened, a large number
of men are employed and new men are being added daily.
The camp is a short distance from the old camp of Gib-
son.
Otero County.
Men have been put to work on the Excelsior at Jarilla
by O. D. Warnock, general manager. A 4-foot vein of
sulphides is being exposed. The Southwestern Co.
announces that it will have its smelter at Jarilla com-
pleted and blown in by January 1. The Jarilla Devel-
opment Co. has given order to its secretary, Paul Ream,
to begin work on the Ferro Oro property, on the west
side of the Jarillas. Work is being pushed on the 500-
foot level of the Nannie Baird at Jarilla. The level is
being driven toward the west and is in good ore.
Sierra County.
A $10,000 concentrating plant is to be built on the
North Percha, near Kingston, for the Virginia, Tem-
plar and Keystone mines. The capacity of the plant is
to be 100 tons daily. Some of the old dumps are to be
treated. The mines are owned principally by A. W.
Harris, and J. H. Moffat is superintendent.
Socorro County.
E. C. McDermitt, acting for a corporation of which
David Moffat of Denver, Colo., is a director, has pur-
chased the property of the Helen M. Co. at Graham and
Mogollon, and has ordered the machinery for a 75-ton
reduction plant. The plant will be put up at Graham to
treat the tailings from the mill, after which ore from the
Confidence mine will be treated as an experiment. The
main shaft of the Confidence is down 600 feet. The
mine is lighted by electricity and has an electric hoist.
OREGON.
Baker County.
Manager R. E. Norton of the Golconda mine, near
Bourne, has increased the working force and has started
the power plant to furnish electric power to the Colum-
bia mine.
The double-compartment shaft of the Indiana mine,
20 miles from Baker City, is down 330 feet, and drifting
is being done on the 100, 200 and 300-foot levels. W. J.
Mesner is manager. It is reported that a reduction
plant is to be put in at the Strasburg mine, near Alamo,
October 28, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
300
next year. W. H. Remington and F. Clarno of Portland
are interested.
Crook Count)-.
Development work is to be resumed at the Red Jacket
mine, near Ashwood. D. W. Leech of Woodburn is in-
terested. A 10-ton furnace, recently completed 28 miles
from Prineville, was put in commission for a test run re-
cently, and, while handling the first charge of ore,
turned out two flasks of quicksilver. Work was then
suspended while the superintendent constructed a drier,
which had not been provided when operations were
commenced.
Grant County.
The Dixie Meadows mill, near Comer, has been
enlargod, and hereafter crushing will be done with fif-
teen stamps and auxiliary rolls. Manager Reese has
developed the ore shoot to a depth of 350 feet.
At the Bull of the Woods mine at Susanville, another
ore shoot has been opened. The old shoot was stoped
to a depth of 200 feet. The tunnel on the 200-foot level
of the shaft, from which rich ore was mined, has been
extended 500 feet farther on the ledge, where another
rich body of ore has been opened.
Josephine County.
The Gold Standard copper mine, 4 miles from Merlin,
has been sold by H. E. Booth to Metzger & Haviland of
Toledo, Ohio. On the Silver Creek properties, near
Merlin, P. E. Metz, manager of the mine, is tunneling
1600 feet to tap gravel. At the Lucky Queen mine,
2* miles from Merlin, a 10-stamp mill is in place ready
for operation. The Baby mine, on Jump-Off-Joe, has
a 5-Btamp mill in operation and the Mount Pitt mine is
said to be opening up a body of rich ore.
The Takilma imelter has closed for the winter on ac-
count of the condition of the roads. An air compressor
is being put in and a second matting furnace is ex-
pected to be in place for next season's run. Develop-
ment work will be continued all winter at the Queen of
Bronze, where rich copper ore was uncovered recently.
Since the people of the district are made to feel that this
important industry is compelled to suspend work be-
cause of bad roads, greater interest is aroused in the
work of affording the smelter every possible convenience
for steady work. Assurance is given that the smelter
could have run for a considerable time yet, possibly all
winter, if it was closely connected with the railway. The
investigations made for installing a traction engine out-
fit on the road proved that this was impossible, for the
bridges and culverts were too weak to sustain the
weight.
The Frank Sickels placer mine, at the mouth of Deer
creek, southern Josephine county, has been sold to J. C.
Anderson and R. D. Morris of Los Angeles. The prop-
erty consists of old channel bars as well as river bottom,
the low bars being from 8 to 10 feet deep and the high
bars of the old channel from 8 to 40 feet. The new own-
ers will dig a large ditch, which will furnish abundant
water for the greater portion of the year.
Lane County.
Manager C. H. Park, of the Treasure mine at Blue
river, has finished the aerial tram which is to connect
the milling plant with the mine workings, and Novem-
ber 1 is the date set for the commencement of operations.
The tram extends from the main drift a distance of 1500
feet down the mountain, covering a difference in eleva-
tion of 400 feet. The new plant consists of twelve rapid-
drop stamps and no concentrating tables. The maxi-
mum depth attained in the present workings is between
500 and 600 feet, but the ore is thoroughly oxidized to
the deepeBt level and all values are expected to be caught
on the plates.
SOUTH DAKOTA.
Lawrence County.
The Imperial M. Co. of Deadwood, owning mines in
the Terry's Peak region and a mill at Deadwood, has
bought the McGovern group, near Portland, which they
have been working under bond for a year past. It is
stated that a good portion of the money paid the sellers
of the property came from the net results of operations
during the year. Near Maitland A. J. Simmons is
sinking a shaft on the Echo property. It is reported
that the Bhaft is already in good ore, with indications
for a large body of good mineral, the further develop-
ment of which will soon call for milling facilities.
Penulngtou County.
R. J. Truax, who is interested in wolframite prospects,
has leased the custom mill at Keystone, and will make
a test of wolframite ore.
James Cochran is overhauling his milling plant at the
Cochran mine, 3 miles from Rochford. The Monte-
zuma Co. at Rochford is endeavoring to get its business
in shape to continue the development of the mine, and
to perfect arrangements whereby a suitable milling
plant may be provided. The development of the Blue
Lead copper property, near Sheridan, is proceeding.
A winze is being sunk near the face of the main drift, to
determine the character and extent of the ore in depth.
UTAH.
Juab County
Irwin Spriggs, A. E. Larson and O. Baker have filed
a suit against the Bullion-Beck M. Co. of Eureka. They
were leasers at the Beck mine, and in following a small
stringer of ore broke into a stope from which a great
deal of rich ore had been taken apparently by the
Eureka Hill Co. There is considerable rich ore left in
this stope, but the Bullion-Beck Co. refused to allow-the
leasers to continue work until suit was brought against
the Eureka Hill M. Co. For the amount of ore which has
been unlawfully removed. A suit has been brought by
the leasers to recover damages for a share of the ore
now remaining in the stope. If the Bullion-Beck Co.
receives damages for ore which they did not know ex-
isted until the leasers made the discovery, it might be
presumed that the leasers will be entitled to their share
of the money. G. W. Riter of the Eureka Hill mine
has leased a large portion to local people. Practically
everything down to the 800-foot level is now open to
leasers. Recently the Eureka Hill M. Op, tried leasing
e
in the upper workings of its mine, and the results have
been so satisfactory that it was decided to give the
leasers a chance in the lower levels. The hoist is to be
started.
Halt Lake County.
At the Fortuna of Bingham, Superintendent J. Start
is working principally in the Freedom level, a drift from
the upper working tunnel. A new gasoline hoist has
been put in. A shaft is to be sunk from the Keystone.
Dispatches from Boston state that American Smelting
& Refining Co. '6 intorests have bought in the open mar-
ket between 30,000 and 40,000 shares of the Boston Con-
solidated Co.'s stock. Private negotiations are declarod
to be under way for the purchase by the smelter inter-
ests of control of the company to make it part of a con-
solidation of Bingham mines. The ultimate object is to
make Bingham a rival of Butte as a copper camp, and
of Salt Lake valley the greatest smelting center in the
world. The mines it is proposed to take into the com-
bination, with their approximate estimated market
value, are as follows: Utah Copper Co., $10,000,000;
Ohio Copper Co., $750,000; Boston Consolidated, $10,000,-
000. To these may be added the Newhouse mines in Bea-
ver county, with an estimated market value of $10,000,-
000, making it require $30,750,000, roughly estimated, to
swing the consolidation. The first two companies
named are already under bond to the American Smelters
Security Co., the smelting company's mining corpora-
tion. When the new concentrating mill and smelter
now being constructed at Garfield are completed and in
full operation, it is expected that not less than 12,000
tons a day of ore will be coming from the Boston Consol-
idated and Utah Copper mines, and that the annual
production of copper two years from date and thereafter
will not be less than 150,000,000 pounds, having a value
of $20,000,000 to $25,000,000. This is in addition to tbe
output of other Bingham companies, which exceeded
31,000,000 pounds last year. The total production of
the Amalgamated Copper Co. in 1904 was 240,000,000
pounds, and it is decreasing, while the entire State of
Michigan, second on the list of copper producing States,
turned out 142,153,171 pounds, or less than this one com-
pany can place on the market annually after two years.
This production means sending 600 big cars of ore a day
from the consolidated mines. Estimates of the number
of men to be employed are roughly made as follows:
Mining and shipping ore, 4000; milling and smelting,
3,000— total, 7000. Annual wages, figured at average of
$2.25 a day, $5,748,750.
H. S. Joseph, manager of the Silver Shield Co. at
Bingham, has bought from the Boston Con. Co. land
near the mouth of the Shield tunnel for a millsite. The
mill will have a capacity of fifty tons of ore a day.
In his report to the stockholders of the United States
Co., President Evans says that the company has pur-
chased the Mammoth mines in California, and has built
a modern smelter there of 500 tons capacity. They
have also built a lead smelter of three furnaces adjoining
its copper smelter in Utah, to which it is now adding
three more lead furnaces. It has added two copper fur-
naces to its Utah copper smelter, is about to build a
third copper furnace and has built a reverberatory fur-
nace for treating flue dust, etc., which is working satis-
factorily. Its subsidiary companies own the group of
mines in Bingham, the Centennial-Eureka mine at Tin-
tic, a lime quarry believed to be large enough to supply
all the lime rock needed for smelting in Utah, the Mam-
moth mine in Kennett, California, a copper and lead
smelter in Utah, a copper smelter at Kennett, and a con-
trolling interest in the DeLamar refinery at Chrome,
New Jersey. All these properties are in active opera-
tion, except the Kennett smelter, one furnace of which
has started. The net earnings of the companies for the
sixteen months from March 1, 1903, to July 1, 1904, were
$1,045,719.78, and for the twelve months from July 1,
1904, to June 30, 1905, were $1,092,987.82. The net earn-
ings during the last twelve months were affected by the
break down of the blowing engines and by several stop-
pages incident to improvements made at the Utah
plant. Managing Director A. F. Holden, in his report
to the president, stated that the condition of the Tele-
graph, Old Jordon, Centennial-Eureka and Mammoth
mines is satisfactory and that the ore reserves are being
developed to take the place of the ore removed. The
quarries of the United States Lime Co. have been fur-
nishing the smelter with its entire supplies of lime. A
crushing plant costing $30,000 is the only requirement
at this plant. At the United States smelter they are
running six copper furnaces and three lead furnaces in
addition to ten roasters and one reverberatory furnace.
The entire plant is working smoothly. Five additional
roasters are being completed for the lead plant and five
more will be built. Orders have been given also for
doubling the number of lead blast furnaces. During the
year from Oct. 1, 1904, to Oct. 1, 1905, tbe smelter pro-
duced 71,445 ounces of gold, 2,107,956 ounces of silver,
14,965,438 pounds of copper and 10,200,826 pounds of
lead. Much improvement has been made in controlling
our flue dust losses, thus eliminating a large factor in
the so-called smoke trouble in Salt Lake "Valley. The
large supply of custom ores will necessitate building a
third sampling mill. The following board of directors
were elected: Frederick Ayer, William H. Coolidge,
R. D. Evans, Eugene N. Foss, Albert F. Holden,
Nehemiah W. Rice, James J. Storrow, E. C. Swift,
S. W. Winslow.
Summit County.
No more water is being tapped in sinking the King
Con. shaft at Park City.
Tooele County.
In a drift on the 200-foot level of the Consolidated
Mercur Co.'s mines a fine body of oxide ore was broken
into recently.
Utah County.
The Whirlwind M. & M. Co. of American Fork, oper-
ating the Whirlwind mine in American Fork canyon,
has resumed work.
Washington County.
A. L. Adams, owner of the Paymaster mine, 18 miles
west of St. George, has shipped eighty-one bars of copper
bullion from the 150-foot level. He intends to sink on
the vein to a depth of 450 feet, where he will cut the
workings of the Dixie and use the tunnel.
WASHINGTON.
Ferry County.
The British Columbia Copper Co., operating the
smelter at Greenwood, and the Mother Lode mine, in
Deadwood camp, B. C, has taken a bond on the Napo-
leon, at Boyds, 6 miles from Marcus. The Napoleon was
originally bonded by P. Burns & Co., who have been
shipping for some time from their First Thought mine,
near Orient, to the Northport smelter. The Napoleon
ore, containing an excess of iron and sulpbur, besides
other values, was useful for mixing with the siliceous
ore of the First Thought; but with the closing of the
Northport smelter, P. Burns & Co. had made arrange-
ments to sell the bond on the Napoleon to the British
Columbia Copper Co., and that company now has Harry
Johns at the property in charge of the work and ship-
ments of about twenty tons daily are being made to the
company's Greenwood smelter.
Franklin County.
Gold in paying quantities has been discovered at Rich-
land, 8 miles north of Pasco, by John Prentice, and en-
gines and machinery have been purchased to begin op-
erations.
Okanogan County.
Ore recently taken to Loomis shows a high percentage
of tung9ten. Ore concentrated and sent to Philadelphia
gave 73% tungsten. Henry Bahrs, manager Copper
World Extension Co., and C. D. Baldwin report that
there is a well-defined 3-foot vein traceable on the sur-
face, which in several places where it was opened car-
ried tungsten. Log cabins have been built and arrange-
ments made for development during the winter. H. G.
Cupples with ten men has commenced the survey of the
Methow-Barron State wagon road, for which the last
Legislature appropriated $10,000, contingent upon
Okanogan county appropriating one-half of that sum and
completing the survey. After spending the entire sum-
mer in making preparations, the county commissioners,
after the attorney-general had filed suit against Okano-
gan county to compel the acceptance of the appropria-
tion, made an order for the survey of the road and an
appropriation to cover the county's portion of the ex-
penditure. Okanogan county will expend $5000 along
with the State fund of $10,000, and it is estimated that
the survey will cost between $1500 and $2000. The
Methow-Barron road will extend from the mouth of the
Methow river to the summit of the Cascade mountains,
where Okanogan joins Whatcom. Barron is west of the
summit in Whatcom county and is the center of the
Slate Creek mining district. The road will be 65 miles
long.
Pierce County.
The Tacoma Smelter Co.'s new stack is 307 feet 6|
inches high, and cost $28,000. The stack was built
to carry away the poisonous fumes from the smelting
works at Tacoma. In its construction 1225 barrels of
cement were used, in addition to which the structure
contains 105,000 pounds of T iron, 705 cubic yards of
sand and 231 cubic yards of gravel. The con-
crete foundation is 36J feet square and 6
feet thick. For the chimney proper the mixture was
one part cement and three parts sand. The
chimney is constructed in two parts. From the founda-
tion to a height of 90 feet there are two distinct shells,
one built within the other, while for the rest of its
height it is built with a single shell. The purpose of the
double shell is to protect the structure from cracks due
to extreme variations of temperature. The inner shell,
which is separated from the outer one by an air space of
5 inches, is designed to shield the outer shell from the
direct effect of the intense heat at the base of the chim-
ney, while the outer serves as a like protection to the
inner shell, by shielding from cold weather, which might
cause it to crack by cooling too suddenly.
Stevens County.
The Review M. & M. Co. will resume work on the old
Mountain View property, near Northport. W. E. Har-
ris is president and manager.
FOREIGN.
AFRICA.
The September gold production of the Witwatersrand
mines was 416,487 fine ounces. This was 12,094 ounces
less than the August and 3,018 ounces less than the July
production. This may be accounted for by the fact that
September had hut thirty days, while July and August
had thirty-one. There are fewer Kaffir laborers and
the supply of Chinese does not keep pace with the
Kaffir falling off.
CANADA.
BRITISH COLUMBIA.
Boundary District.
The properties which the British Columbia C. Co. is
developing on Copper mountain, near Chesaw, have
been closed down for the winter. Work will be resumed
in the spring.
The tonnage from Boundary mines for the week end-
ing October 21 was: Granby mines 16,448 tons, Mother
Lode 4160 tons. Providence 30 tons; total for week 20,638
tons, total for year to date 709,492 tons. Arrange-
ments have been made by the Dominion C. Co. to take
100 H. P. from the Cascade works to operate the com-
pany's compressor now in use with steam at the
Brooklyn mine in Phoenix. A larger and more modern
compressor plant is to he put in by the Dominion C. Co.,
which will also he driven by electricity. The manage-
ment of the Dominion C. Co. has been considering the
advisability of operating the company's present smelter
at Boundary Falls, which was blown out last May by
the Montreal & Boston Con. — this company's predecessor
in ownership— but lack of adequate slag dumping ground
has stood in the way. This week, however, this matter
has been arranged and dumping ground has been
secured, and it is now the intention to blow in the
smelter.
Work has been resumed on the Rathmullen group,
301
Mining and Scientific Press.
October 28, 1905.
Dear Grand Forks, under the direction of R. H. Hewes.
The I. X. L., on McKinley mountain, near Franklin,
is to be worked this winter by F. MacFarlane.
East Kootenay District.
The work of repairing the damage done by the recent
fires at the St. Eugene is being- pushed. The blacksmith
shop is up and everything is in readiness for building
the shaft house. A new hoist, a duplicate of the old one,
has been ordered. In the meantime a temporary hoist
will be brought from Bossland and will be used until the
new one arrives. Sinking the shaft an additional 160
feet will be commenced. The mill will be closed down
and no shipments will be made until everything is in
shape again. The cause of the fire is unknown.
Rossland District
The Rossland Miner reports the tonnage of ore
shipped and crushed at the Rossland mines for the week
ending October 21 and for the year to date was as follows:
Mine. Week. Year.
Le Roi 1.650 »3,926
LeRoi (milled) • 630 3,030
Center Star 1,710 81 ,450
War Eagle 1,260 55.550
LeRoi Two 180 6,652
Le Roi Two (milled) 8,230
Spitzee 1,809
Velvet-Portland 1,977
Gopher 180
Homestake 30
Lily May 90
Inland Empire 30
Cascade-Bonanza 90
White Bear 1,100
White Bear (milled) 2,920
Crown Point ■ , 270
Jumbo 200 8,639
Totals 5,030 270,963
The Center Star shaft, which is being extended down
from the tenth level, has reached a point 100 feet below
that level, and is to be extended farther. The tenth
level has not been opened. At the west end of the Cen-
ter Star a large glory hole has been made. The ore is
blasted out and falls through a shaft to the first level,
from where it is trammed to the main shaft and hoisted
to the surface. A new wire cable is being put on at
the main War Eagle shaft. The secretary of the Le
Roi Two Co. has issued a circular from the London of-
fice of the company stating that permission had been ob-
tained from the directors of the Le Roi Mining Co. to
explore the deep levels of the Le Roi Two from the
lower levels of the Le Roi. Probably the workings on
the 1350-foot level of the Le Roi, which are closest to
the Le Roi Two ground, will be used. As the Le Roi
and the Le Roi Two shafts are started from the same
level, the workings of the Le Roi 1350-foot level extended
into the Josie ground will be practically on the 1350-
foot level. The deepest workings in the Le Roi Two at
present are 900 feet, and the proposed work when done
will give a depth of 450 feet below that level. The
Spitzee pumps are kept in operation and a few men are
at work around the mine, pending the reorganization of
the company and the readjustment of its financial af-
fairs, Development of the ore shoot on the 1550-foot
level of the Le Roi continues with good results. The
ore shoot on the 1450-foot level is also receiving atten-
tion. The Black Bear shoot, which has been found on
the ninth level, promises to yield a more than ordinarily
large tonnage. All of the ore from the Le Roi, amount-
ing to 1650 tons, was sent to the Canadian smelting
works at Trail, this being the first week that the entire
output of the mine has gone to Trail. The Trail cop-
per furnaces were kept in full blast on ore from Ross-
land, the Boundary and Larson, lldaho. The work of
installing the additional copper furnace is being pushed
as rapidly as possible. The lead stacks are kept in op-
eration, although there threatens to be a shortage,
which will occur before the St. Eugene begins to again
produce its lead concentrates.
Vancouver Island.
Manager Kiddie of the Crofton smelter, which was
closed for six months this year, will blow in in Novem-
ber and will treat the Britannia mine's ore thereafter.
Custom work will also be taken and the amount of ore
treated gradually increased. The Britannia output may
be 500 tons a day. The Van Anda mines on Texada
island are starting up again.
YUKON TERRITORY.
Consul-General Foster of Ottawa, Ontario, writes that
an order in council, dated July 27, and recently made
public, abolishes for ten years the royalty on gold
produced from any quartz claim or group of claims
in the Yukon Territory in respect to which an ex-
penditure of money has been made to the amount
of not less than $25,000 within five years after the
date of the order in council or within five years
after the date of issue, hereafter, of the patent for
such claim. The royalty on the gross output of cop-
per mined in the Yukon is permanently abolished in
respect to those claims upon which an expenditure of
money has been made to the amount of $50,000 within
ten years after the date of the order in council or after
the issue, hereafter, of the patent for such claims. The
royalties previously payable were 2i% on all gold shipped
from the Yukon Territory and 5% on all copper mined
in said Territory. The gold, for the purpose of estimat-
ing such royalty, was valued at $15 per ounce.
MEXICO.
The Treasury Department has issued complete mining
statistics to Dec. 31, 1904, from which the following figures
are compiled. On that date there were in existence 19,-
471 legally registered titles. The classification of these
properties consists mainly as follows:
No. of Hec-
Mineral. Properties, tares.
Gold 1,478 20,187
Gold-silver 5.208 53,409
Silver 5 153 44,454
Gold-silver-copper 861 16.198
Gold-silver-lead 913 12,073
Gold-copper 234 3,572
Silver-copper 671 10,798
Silver-copper-lead 254 4,379
Silver-lead 2,924 30,629
Copper 768 20,269
Copper-iron 176 3,619
Copper-lead 21 532
Iron 351 14,472
Lead 67 1,073
Mercury 160 5,749
Tin 30 632
Sulphur 105 4,069
Antimony 45 2,087
In addition to the foregoing there are titles for man-
ganese, bismuth, granite-tourmaline, opals and turquoise
properties. The situation of these properties in the
various States and Territories is:
No. of Hec-
Nortbern States— Properties, tares.
Coahuila 455 8,580
Chihuahua 3,319 40 971
Nuevo Leon 4?5 9,395
Sonora 2,670 45,767
Totals 6,919 104,715
Central States—
Aguascalientes 202 1,116
Durango 2,827 25,024
Guanajuato 784 10.216
Hidalgo 753 6,489
Mexico 414 4,973
Morelos 52 650
Puebla 150 1.929
Queretaro 130 2,060
San Luis Potosi 375 8.865
Tlaxcala 2 18
Zacatecas 1,503 14,525
Totals 7,191 76,869
Gulf States—
Tamaulipas 99 3,540
Veracruz 55 1,006
Pacific States and Territories —
Baja California : 641 5,513
Colima 39 985
Chiapas 19 293
Guerrero 629 14,067
Jalisco 1 ,039 8,338
Michoacan 455 13,433
Oaxaca 1.373 11,489
Sinaloa 866 7,580
Teptc 246 1,938
Totals 5,207 63,638
Chihuahua.
There is being shipped from the State of Chihuahua
to the smelters in the United States 1600 tons of zinc ore
per month. The Calera M. Co. is*shipping 1000 tons per
month from the mines at Minaca to the Empire Zinc
Co. at Pueblo, Colo., and McDonald & McKenzie are
shipping 600 tons per month from San Sostenes to La
Harpe, Kan. Interest is bein j shown in zinc mining in
that State, and the prospects are that the industry will
be developed during the coming year. It is 9tated that
a new zinc sampling works may soon be established in
Chihuahua to facilitate the handling of the ore. At
present all of the ore has to be shipped to the smelters
for sampling, greatly delaying settlement.
It is reported that a New Haven, Conn., company is
examining mines belonging to Tiburcio Garcia, in the
Mina district, near Guadalupe y Calvo. A. E. Roberts
of Mexico City is interested. The group is known as the
Galeana group. The mines are on the Humayo river.
La Fayette Bros, of Chetopa, I. T., have opened up
gold properties northwest of Guadalupe y Calvo.
Guerrero.
Superintendent G. D. Case, of the Mitchell M. Co. of
New York, operating the La Dicha mines, near Acapulco,
states that a run of the furnace for twenty -one days gave
a gross return of $131,600. They are getting out twenty-
eight tons of 65% matte each day. This result is brought
about by the self-fluxing nature of the ore, which re-
quires no barren flux to run it through the furnace.
Plans and specifications are being made for the building
of a 2500-ton plant, and this will be put in as rapidly as
it can be built and shipped to the mines.
Mexico.
H. P. Lewis, general manager National Metal Co.,
expects to be able to start the company's new separat-
ing and refining plant at Noalco by November 1st.
Sonora.
A controlling interest in the Refugio copper mines,
near Cananea, has been bought for Archibald & Mar-
shall of London, who will develop the property after
prospecting with diamond drills.
Zacatecas.
A cyanide plant with a daily capacity of 100 tons will
be put in at the El Bote mine, near Zacatecas, to work
the tailings. The ore from the El Bote mine is being
treated by pan amalgamation, and it is said that 18% of
the silver and 25% of the gold assay values are lo9t. The
average ore runs 1J kilos silver and 15 grams gold to the
ton, and at the present time the reduction plant is han-
dling about 2000 tons monthly. If the cyanide treatment
proves satisfactory, the plant will he enlarged. The El
Bote was opened twenty years ago, and one shaft is down
900 feet. There is another shaft 800 feet deep, and a
ventilating shaft extends for the same distance. A Cor-
nish pump has just been put in at the 800-foot level.
J. S. Pattinson, the manager, is employing 700 men.
It is reported that W. C. Palmer of Zacatecas is arrang-
ing to form a company to work the Mala Noche mine, 3
miles from the Zacatecas capital,
SOUTH AMERICA.
Bolivia.
In 1904 the Oruro district produced 8000 tons of me-
tallic tin. The Tres Cruces district is being opened up
with satisfactory results. Bolivia is the largest tin pro-
ducer in America.
Books Received.
£ ,', ,.!, '!, °k •& *b $p $, *k rk & <& ,4, r{, -J., r,!j p(, 4, ,J, rf, ,f., ^ rj, *|, *t> *f, 1$, ,4- J, & rj, <J, ,4, & fjj &
*
*
The United States Geological Survey has issued
"Columbia River and Puget Sound Drainage" as a
report of stream measurements during 1904. It is No.
135 of the Water Supply and Irrigation Papers.
"A Handbook of the Mineral Resources of the State
of Jalisco, Republic of Mexico," by T.E.Smith. Price
50 cents. It contains descriptions of the leading mines
and districts of the State. A map would add to its use-
fulness.
* _ *
J Personal. |
■* *
J. T. Marriner is in Korea.
J. E. SPURR is at Mexico City.
G. W. Maynard is at Tucson, Ariz.
T. A. Richard arrived at El Oro, Mex., on the 20th
inst.
J. B. Hastings is returning to Denver from Guerrero,
Mex.
R. H. Anderson has been examining mines in Ja-
lisco, Mex.
J. L. Warner has charge O. K. mine at Ross-
land, B. C.
H. C. Sandifer has returned from New York to
Mexico City.
A. W. Butler is superintendent Matoon M. Co., near
Baker City, Or.
J. A. Lewandowski is manager Savage G. & C. Co.
at Paradise, Ariz.
R. T. Hill has changed his office to 807 Trinity
building, New York.
George Schroter is examining the Pelegrina mine
at Guanajuato, Mex.
R. L. Edward is manager Kittie Burton Co. at Ulys-
ses, Lemhi Co., Idaho.
Otto Will has resigned as manager Eureka mine at
Bullion, near Hailey, Idaho.
A. J. Brent, interested in Humboldt county, Cal.,
mines, is in San Francisco, Cal.
J. M. Goodwin of Silver City, Idaho, is examining
mines in Humboldt county, Nev.
A. H. Gracey has resigned as manager Oyster-Cri-
terion mine, near Camborne, B. C.
J. A. Veatch of Napa, Cal., has gone to Magdalena,
Sonora, Mex., on mining business.
H. S. Drinker was installed as president Lehigh Uni-
versity at Lehigh, Penn., on Oct. 12.
W. C. Howard, superintendent Pyramid mines, near
Kingman, Ariz., is in San Francisco, Cal.
H. B. Sturtevant has been appointed superinten-
dent Lincoln Con. M. Co. of Tucson, Ariz.
V. G. Hills, who has been examining mines in Ari-
zona, has returned to Cripple Creek, Colo.
J. H. Hindry, manager La Esperanza at El Oro, Mex.,
is taking a holiday at Santa Barbara, Cal.
J. H. McKenzie, consulting engineer Le Roi mine at
Rossland, B. C, has been in San Francisco.
C. H. Doolittle, manager Bingham & New Haven
mines at Bingham, Utah, is in New York City.
John Seward of New York City has been examin-
ing the Caballo mine at Inde, Durango, Mexico.
J. H. Driscoll, manager Santa Fe mines at Hope-
well, N. M., has returned to Salt Lake City, Utah.
Martin Houk, manager Trilby M. Co., near Silver-
ton, Colo., has returned to the mine after a trip East.
F. K. Baxter has accepted a position on the staff of
the Mammoth Copper Co. at Kennett, Shasta county,
Cal.
R. D. Rhodes has charge of the Mammoth smelter of
the United States S. & R. Co. at Kennett, Shasta county,
Cal.
J. J. Hoban of Idaho Springs, Colo, manager Ster-
ling M. & T. Co., is in Scranton, Pa., on company busi-
ness.
J. J. Case, manager Cerro de Pasco smelter, has
returned to Peru from an extended visit in the United
States.
E. C. Knight has been given the management Amer-
ican S. & R. Co. 's new smelter at Velardena, Durango,
Mexico.
E. J. Wilson, manager Arizona Smelting Co., with
headquarters at Prescott, Ariz., has been in San Fran-
cisco, Cal.
J. L. Madden of the San Juan Mining Co., operating
about 40 miles southwest of Austin, Nev., is in San Fran-
cisco, Cal.
John Champion, superintendent Yak tunnel, Lead-
ville, Colo., is visiting Calumet and other mining camps
of Michigan.
W. J. Morphy of Chicago, and interested in the
Granite Hill mines, near Grants Pass, Or., is in San
Francisco, Cal.
N. C. Bonnevie of Denver, Colo., and Chas. Janin of
San Francisco, Cal., have returned to Denver from Gun-
nison county, Colo.
R. B. McConney, manager Denver, Colo., office of
Allis-Chalmers Co., Milwaukee, Wis., is in Chicago, 111.,
and Milwaukee, Wis.
Franklin R. Carpenter of Denver, Colo., is in
Nova Scotia, investigating the commercial possibilities
of large deposits of pyrite.
Kdno Doerr has been appointed manager American
S. & R. Co. 's smelter at Aguascalientes, Mexico, in place
of O. A. Westlund, resigned.
W. A. Pritchard has left San Francisco, Cal., for an
extended tour of the mining districts of Mexico. He
expects to be absent several months.
H. L. Huston has accepted the position of consulting
October 28, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
302
engineer of the Ohio-Tonopah M. Co., with headquar-
ters at the Overland mine, Gold Hill, Nev.
W. S. Dillon has resigned as manager American
Mexico M. & D. Co., at San Lorenzo, Coahuila, Mexico,
and has been succeeded by G. K. Fitzgerald.
B. H. Bennetts has been named as superintendent
of the Garfield smelter of the American S. & R. Co.,
near Salt Lake City, Utah, with F. C. Knight as
assistant.
Theo. Van Wagenen, who since his return from
South Africa has been engaged in mine examinations in
Mexico, is now examining mining property near Globe,
Ariz.
Governor Gooding of Idaho has announced the fol-
lowing list of appointments as delegates to the American
Mining Congress at El Paso, Texas, on November 14:
J. W. Alshie, I. N. Sullivan, J. J. Deming, Charles S.
Hlmrod, A. B. Crusen, T. J. Jones, August Paulson,
E. H. Moffatt, F. Stead man, Al Page, R. W. McBride,
W. O. Page, Lyttleton Price, E. R. Dewey.
COLORADO delegates to the American Mining Con-
gress at El Paso, Tex., are: R. W. Bonynge, J. B. Grant,
Denver; W. A. Haggott, Idaho Springs; I. Howbert,
Colorado Springs; W. W. Davis, Leadville; V. C. Alder-
son, Golden; B. A. Langridge, Boulder; F. M. Woods,
Victor; J. F. Callbreath, Jr., George Leyner, Denver;
Charles Cavendar, Leadville; W. Z. Kinney, Silverton;
E. M. De La Vergne, Colorado Springs; E. A. Colburn,
Denver; T. B. Burbridge, Cripple Creek; S. D. Nichol-
son, Leadville; Frank Peck, Colorado Springs; Wm.
Bainbridge, Cripple Creek; E. R. Hendrie, Denver; Wil-
liam Lennox, Colorado Springs; J. M. Downing, Aspen;
Regis Chauvenet, Denver; L. H. Wygant, Jr., Denver;
Nelson Franklin, Victor; L. R. Johnson, Boulder; E. L.
Davis, Telluride; B. B. Lawrence, Denver; Frank Bulk-
ley, Denver; George Keener, Colorado Springs; W. J.
Cox, Ouray; G. S. Newman, Aspen; Benj. Ferris, Pueblo;
J. W. Finch, D. W. Brunton, E. L. White, Denver;
Wm. Loach, Nederland.
Jf <***"*"*"*- •4"*'***'* ■*"*»*•*** &4»th<fc6$ *$.■"&*■&* ■*<-,!•* *<*"**
* *
Trade Treatises* |
* *
a^********** ********. ******** **.T.****#
The Angels Iron Works of Angels Camp, Cal., in
their "Guide Book" describe the Pacific battery stem
guide, having no bolts, nuts, set screws, wedges or keys.
The Westinghouse Machine Co. of East Pittsburg,
Pa., has issued a neat booklet illustrating the construc-
tion of Westinghouse storage batteries for signal service.
The Mine & Smelter Supply Co., of Denver, Colo., has
issued two interesting illustrated bulletins on "Copper
Converting Machinery" and "Smelting Machinery,"
No. 11 and No. 12, respectively. Besides picturing appa-
ratus they contain much relevant information.
Of interest to every assayer and chemist is the 342
page, standard size catalogue of the Denver Fire Clay Co.,
Denver, Colo., illustrating and describing furnaces,
scorifiers, muffles, crucibles, and general laboratory
supplies. It will be sent on request to any address.
Bulletin Number Ten of the Jeffrey Mfg. Co. of Co-
lumbus, O., is a beautifully illustrated text describing
the construction of the Jeffrey electric mine locomo-
tives. It pictures many types for various purposes, and
showB both surface and underground installations. The
book will form a valuable addition to a library devoted
to the problems of ore transportation.
The Allis-Chalmers Co. of Milwaukee, Wis., sends a
number of handsome bulletins. No. 1402 describes in
detail the construction and operation of their steam
shovel. No. 1403 portrays the Hancock jig and includes
pictures of a plant where the jig is successfully used.
No. 1404 Bhows the McDougal roasting furnace, an in-
closed firebox type. No. 1607 and 1608, from the pump-
ing engine department, illustrate, respectively, a high
duty, horizontal, double acting, crank and fly-wheel,
plunger pump driven by cross-compound, (Reynolds
Corliss engine, and a single-stage centrifugal pump,
motor driven. Catalogue No. 123 pictorially details
sawmill carriages and accessory machinery.
********* ************ ****************
I Commercial Paragraphs. *
* *
****** tPW* if.****'!"!1******'!1 »l"ti**4»***<f"***«
The Westinghouse Machine Co. of East Pittsburg,
Pa., have received recently thirty-six orders for gas
engines, ranging from 10 B. H. P. to 1000 B. H. P., and
aggregating 6647 B. H. P.
The Eel River Power & Irrigation Co. of Ukiah, Cal.,
write to the Rix Compressed Air & Drill Co. of San
Francisco, Cal., as follows: " We have been using your
Torpedo drills exclusively this summer in driving our
7x7 tunnel. In July we drove 362 feet in one heading,
and 389 feet in August. This was all in standing ground.
— Warren Egbert, Supt."
The DeRemer Water Wheel Co. of Denver, Colo.,
have closed contracts for the following water power in-
stallations: High Creek Electric Light & Power Co.,
Richmond, Utah, two 400 H. P. DeRemer water wheels
with governor regulation; Marguerite M., M. & L. Co.,
San Luis valley, Colo., one 100 H. P. DeRemer water
wheel; Bourne G. M. Co., Bourne, Idaho, to equip a
11-foot 6-inch foreign wheel with twenty-four 18-inch
DeRemer water wheel buckets.
The Broderick & Bascom Rope Co. of St. Louis, Mo.,
write that they were awarded gold medals by the Lewis
& Clark centennial exposition at Portland, Or., in the
following seven groups: Wire ropes, cables for trans-
mission of power, aerial cables for transportation of ore,
hawser steel cables for marine use, wire ropes for haul-
ing timber and logging purposes, wire rope and aerial
cables for mining purposes, and also a gold medal for
originality of design and practical demonstration of en-
tire exhibit, besides a gold modal for tramways.
The Wellman-Seaver-Morgan Co. of Cleveland, Ohio,
has just been awarded the contract to furnish for the
Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway at Huron, Ohio, a com-
plete ore handling plant, consisting of four Hulett ore
unloading machines, equipped with the Hulett patented
excavating bucket. These machines will be able to span
four tracks, having cantilever at the rear of the ma-
chines and folding boom at the front or water side of
the machine. The plant is to be completed by May 1,
1906. The Wellman-Seaver Morgan Co. have recently
closed a number of important contracts for steel works
machinery for Great Britain, and mining outfits for
Nevada and Mexico.
Latest Market Reports.
San Francisco, October 27, 1905.
Silver. — Per oz., Troy : London, 28;d (standard
ounce, 925 fine); New York, bar silver, 62 jc, refined (1000
fine); San Francisco, 62Jc; Mexican dollars, 51c, San
Francisco; 48c, New York.
This week's silver quotations show an advance in the
market price of the metal, having gone from 62J cents
last week to 62J cents, the present quotation.. Even
these small additions to the value of the white metal are
very welcome to the producer of silver.
COPPER.— New York: Standard, $16.37 j; Lake, $16.37*
@16.75; Electrolytic, $16.32J; Casting, $16.00@16.37J.
San Francisco: $16.75. Mill copper plates, $17.50; bars,
18@24c. London: £71 15s spot per ton.
The copper market remains firm and practically
unchanged from the quotations of last week. The price
hovers around $16.50 and $16.75, with no indication that
it will move either up or down in the immediate future.
Lead. — New York, $5.40; St. Louis, $4.50; San Fran-
cisco, $5.00, carload lots; 5Jc 1000 to 4000 Bis.; pipe 7Jc,
sheet 8, bar 6ifc. London:" £14 17s 6d $ long ton.
Spelter.— New York, $6.25; St. Louis, $6.00; Lon-
don, £28 12s 6d $ ton; San Francisco, ton lots, 7c; 100-Ib
lots, 7Jc.
Tin.— New York, pig, $32.35@32.65; San Francisco,
ton lots, 34c; 500 fbs., 35c; 200 fts., 36c; less, 37Jc; bar tin,
$ tt>., 40c. London, £148 12s 6d.
Platinum.— San Francisco, crude, $18.50 Boz.; New
York, ingot, $20.50 $ Troy oz. Platinum ware, 75@$1.00
ty> gram.
Quicksilver.— New York, $40.00@$40.50, large lots;
London, £7 5s Od; San Francisco, local, $38.00@39.00 $
flask of 75 fbs.
Babbitt Metal.— San Francisco, No. 1, lOJc; No.
2, 8c; No. 3, 7Jc; extra, 17Jc; genuine, 32Jc; Eclipse, 35c.
Solder.— Half-and-half, 100-S>. lots, 22.00c; San Fran-
cisco, Plumbers', 100-Ib. lots, 19.15c.
Zinc. — Metallic, chemically pure, f, ft., 50c; dust, $ft.,
10c; sulphate, $) ft, .04c.
Nickel.— New York, 55@60c$ft.; ton lots, 40@47c.
Aluminum.— No. 1, 99%, small lots, 37c $ ft.; 100 lbs..
35c; 1000 fts. 34c; ton lots and over, 33c, Pittsburg. No,
2, 90%, small lots, 34c; ton lots and over, 31c, Pittsburg.
STRUCTURAL MATERIALS.
Iron. — Pittsburg, Bessemer pig, $16.35; gray forge,
$14.60; San Francisco, bar, 3Jc $ ft., 3Jc in small quan-
tities.
Steel. — Bessemer billets, Pittsburg, $26.00@$27.00;
open hearth billets, $27.00@$28.00; San Francisco, bar,
7c to 13c 1 ft.
White Lead. — Per ft., in kegs: 500 fts. and over at
one purchase, per ft., 7Jc; less than 500 fts., per lb., 8c;
In 25-ft. tin pails, Jc $ ft. above keg price; in 1 and 5-ft.
tin cans, 100 fts. per case, Jc per ft. above keg price.
Dry Lead. — In bbls., 1 ton and over, 7Jc; do. in kegs, 8c.
LIME.— Santa Cruz, $1.35 country, $1.25 city f, bbl.
Cement.— Imported, $3.00@4.00 $ bbl.; California,
carload lots, $1.80 f. o. b. at works; small lots, $2.10 f(
bbl. in sacks, 4 sacks to bbl., 5c for each sack returned.
Lumber. — (Retail): Pine, ordinary sizes, $24.00®
25.00; extra sizes higher; redwood, $28.00@30.00; lath, 4
feet, $4.50@5.00; pickets, $21.00;shingles, $2.50 for No. 1,
and $2.25 for No. 2; shakes, $13.50 for split and $15.00 for
sawed; ruBtic, $28.00®35.00.
Nails. — This week the basic prices are: Wire, $2.77;
Cut, $3.25. Meanwhile the nominal quotations per keg
(list prices) are: No. 20d to 60d, Wire, $3.35; Cut, $3.55;
lOd to 16d, Wire, $3.45; Cut, $3.35; 8d, Wire, $3.50; Cut,
$3.50; 6d and 7d, Wire, $3.60; Cut, $3.60; 4d and 5d,
Wire, $3.70; Cut, $3.70; 3d, Wire, $3.85; Cut, $3.85; 2d,
Wire, $4.10; Cut, $4.10. Special rates for carload lots.
GUNEIUL SUPPLIES.
Antimony. — New York, Cookson's, 13Jc; Hallett's,
14Jc; San Francisco, 1000-ft. lots, 14c; 300@500-fts. 12c;
100-ft. lots, 13c.
Bismuth.— Subnitrate, B B>-> 82.10.
Bone ASH.— Extra No. 1, 5@6c $ ft; No. 1, 4@5c.
Borax. — Concentrated, 7@8c $ ft; powdered, 9@10c;
fused, 25@30c; crystal, 7c.
Candles. — Spear Brand, 16 oz. adamantine, 40s., lie
3ft set; 14 oz. adamantine, 40s., 10c; 12 oz. adamantine,
40s, 9c; 10 oz. adamantine, 40s, 8c; 16 oz. stearic, 40s,
12 Jc fl set; 14 oz. stearic, 40s, 11J; 12 oz. stearic, 40s,
10Jc; 10 oz. stearic, 40s, 9Je. 100-case lots and over, Jc
less. Not less than 50-case lots, l4.a less. Boxes of 20s,
price \c advance.
Caps.— 3x, $5.50@6 per 1000; 4x, $6.50'@7; 5x, $8@8.50;
Lion, $9@9.50, in lots not less than 1000.
Chemicals. — Cyanide of potassium, 98%-99%, job-
bing, 23@24c $ ft.; carloads, 23@23jc; in tins, 30c; soda
ash, $2.00 f, 100 fts.; hyposulphite of soda, 3@3Jc $ ft.;
caustic soda, in drums,. 3@3Jc $ ft.; Cal. s. soda, bbls.,
$1.10@1.20$1001bs.; sks., 90c@$1.00; chlorate of pot-
ash. 12@13c; nitrate of potash, 6|@7c; caustic potash,
10c in 40-lb. tins; roll sulphur, 2j@2}c; powdered sul-
phur, 2}@2Ae; flour sulphur, French, 2J@— c; alum,
$2.00@2.25; California refined, l|@2c; sulphide of iron,
8c 7t». It>.; copper sulphate, 5J@5jc; chloride of lime, spot,
$2.50@2.75; sulphuric acid, in carboys, 66% B, lj@2c $
lb.; nitric acid, carboys, 8c $ ft.
Chromium.— 90% and over, "§> ft., 80c.
Coal.— San Francisco, coast, yard prices : Welling-
ton, $8.00; Seattle, $6.50; Coos Bay, $5.50; Southfield,
$8.00. Cargo lot, Eastern and foreign: Wallsend, $7.50;
Brymbo, $7.50; Pennsylvania, hd., $14.00; Scotch, $8.00;
Cumberland, $13.00; Cannel, $8.50; Welsh Anthracite,
$13.00; Rock SpringB, $8.50, long ton; Colorado Anthra-
cite, $14.00. Coke, $11.50 per ton in bulk, $13.00 in
sacks; Sunnyside, $8.50, long ton.
Fire Brick.— Domestic, carloads f> 1000, f. o. b., fac-
tory square, $25.00; soap and split, $22.50; arch and
wedge, $27.50; skewback, $30.00; circle, $32.00.
Fire Clay.— Domestic, f, ton 2000 fts. in 125-ft. bags
double, and dry ground, f. o. b., factory, $8.50.
Fuse.— Triple tape, $4.00 per 1000 feet; double tape,
$3.55; single tape, $3.10; Hemp, $2.85; Cement No. 2,
$3.10; Cement No. 1, $2.75, in lots of 3000 and up.
Oils.— Linseed, boiled, bbl., 54c; cb., 59c; raw, bbl.,
52c; cs., 57c; Lucol oil, boiled, bbl., 48c: cs., 53c; raw-
bbl., 46c; cs., 51c. Kerosene — Pearl, per gal., 17Jc; As-
tral, 17Jc; Star, 17Jc; Extra Star, 20*c; Eocene, 19Jc;
Elaine, 26c; Water White, in bulk, lie; Mineral Seal,
iron bbls., 18c; wooden bbls., 20}c; cs., 24c; Mineral
Sperm, cs., 26Jc; Deodorized Stove Gasoline, bulk, 14Jc,
do., cs., 21c; 86° Gasoline, bulk, 25c; do., cs., 31c; 83°
Naphtha or Benzine, deodorized, in bulk, per gal., 12$c;
do., in cb., 19c; Lard Oil, E. W. S., bbl., 75c; cs., 80c;
Neats-foot Oil, pure, bbl., 63c; cs., 78c; Sperm, crude,
63@68c; Natural White, 68c; Bleached, do., 68@73c;
Whale Oil, cs., 52@67c.
Litharge.— Pure, in 25-ft. bags, 9j@10Jc f> ft.
Magnesium.— Pure, N. Y., $1.60.
Manganese.— Black oxide, $ ft., 2J®4c
Mercury.— Bichloride, f, ft., 77c.
Molybdenum.— Best, $2.75 fi ft.
Phosphorus.— American, $ ft.-, 70c.
Powder.— F. o. b. San Francisco : No. 1, 70% nitro-
glycerine, per lb., in carload lots, 151c; less than one ton,
17ic. No. 1*, 60%, carload lots, 13Jc; less than one ton,
No. 1**, 50%, carload lots, life; less than one ton,
No. 2, 40%, carload lots, 10c; less than one ton,
No. 2, 35%, carload lots, 9Jc; less than one ton,
No. 2**, 30%, carload lots, 9c; less than one ton,
Black blasting powder in carload lots, minimum
car 728 kegs, $1.50 per keg; less car lots, $2.00 per keg.
Red Lead. — 500 fts. and over at one purchase, fi ft.
7Jc; less than 500 fts., 7Jc.
Silver.— Chloride, B oz., 90c@$1.00; nitrate, 54c
Sodium.— Metal, fs ft., $1.
Tungsten.— Best, $ ft., $1.20.
Uranium.— Oxide, $ ft., $3.40.
15Jc,
13|c.
12c.
lljc.
lie.
New Patents.
Dewey, Strong & Co.'s Scientific Press Patent agency, 330
Market street, San Francisco, has official reports ol the following
United States patents Issued to Pacific Coast inventors :
FOR THE WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 10, 1905.
801,564.-
801,707.-
801 ,567.-
801,710-
801,360.-
801,369.-
801,775.-
801,584.-
601,830.-
801,831.-
801,463.-
801,464.-
801,532.-
801,741.-
801.601.-
801,549-
801,553.-
801,617.-
801,410.-
801,411.-
801.346.-
801,751.-
801,493.-
-Mug— H. H. Allen, San Francisco.
-Pocket Calculator— F. S. Beckett, San Francisco.
-Cane-H. H Bernhard, Chico, Cal.
-Speculum— I. C. Carstensen, Oakesdale, Wash.
-Oil Burner— E. Christensen, Portland, Or.
-Door fastener— Dickson & Ely, Castlerock, Wash.
-Triple Valve— J. Dellander, San Francisco.
Chandelier— T. D. Greene, Davenport, Wash.
•Ornamental Structure— T. F. Hal], San Jose, Cal.
-Siphon Bottle— D. Landau, San Francisco.
-Crate— J. G. Lettetier, Los Angeles, Cal.
-Crate— J. G. Lettelier, Los Angeles, Cal.
-Wheel adhesion— R. C. Lowry, Seattle, Wash.
-Bicycle Fork— M. Mclntyre, Canyonville, Or.
-Harrow — L. M. Morrow, Wasco, Or.
-Boot Heel— U. Santini, San Francisco.
-Rotary Engine— N. B. Smith, Seattle, Wash.
-Typewriter— T. C. Smith, Spokane. Wash.
-Disk Plow— G. Spaulding, San Francisco.
-Weighing Machine— F. Stebler, Riverside, Cal.
-Evaporator— H. C. Tabrett, San Francisco.
Spark Arrester— E. Tomer, Hanford, Cal.
-Dead Centers— J. Whittington, Baker City. Or.
Notices of Recent Patents.
Among the patents recently obtained through Dewey, Strong &
Co.'s Scientific Press United States and Foreign Patent Agency,
the following are worthy of special mention :
Toilet Seat Attachment.— No. 802,106. Oct. 17, 1905. J. y. Mat-
teson, Fruitvale, Cal. This invention consists of an improved toilet
seat having in combination a hollow annulus having a diaphragm or
partition across the rear portion, arms fixed to said annulus extend-
ing rearwardly and having hinge pins about which they are turn-
able, one of said arms being hollow and forming a swivel joint, a
supply pipe connected with said joint and having a controlling cock,
and a discharge passage upon the opposite side of the partition
whereby a heating medium at the rear of the seat at one side of the
partition is caused to circulate to the front of the seat and thence to
the rear again before being discharged, said passage having a
smaller capacity than the inlet passage.
Gtjn Mount.— No. 802,123. Oct. 17, 1905. M. C. Taylor, San Fran-
cisco, Cal. This invention consists in a gun mount, a shield con-
vergent to the front, open at the rear, a yoke or frame having up-
turned ends in which the ends of the shields are journaled, a floor
within the shield having parallel ribs between which the rear ends
of the gun are fitted whereby the parallelism of the gun is main-
tained, mechanism by which the shield may be tilted in a vertical
plane and mechanism by which the yoke and shield may be tilted in
a vertical plane transverse to the flrst-named plane.
Gold Saving Apparatus.— No. 801,968. Oct. 17, 1905. J. A. Clark,
Yankee Hill, Cal. This invention is designed particularly for use in
hydraulic and other placer mines. It consists in the combination
with a sluice and a concentrating table upon which the sluice de-
livers, of a screen frame on the table comprising upper and lower
side plates between which the screen is removably clamped, said
upper plates having drop portions extending over and beyond the
inner edge of the lower plates and rigid connections between the
plates on the opposite sides of the frame, and means for securing
the screen to these connections. There are other details of construc-
tion combined and adapted to bring about the desired result.
a
Mining and Scientific Press.
Octobeb 28, 1905.
BRODERICK Sc BASCOM ROPE CO.
MANUFflCTURERS OF
WIRE ROPE AND AERIAL TRAflWAYS.
Branch Houses: Seattle, Wash., and Portland, Oregon.
SURFACED
PROTECTED
UNSURFACED
UNPROTECTED J
l/SX^? When you do, buy H&H Rubber Sanded Roofing. Never buy anunsurfaced
roofing when you can get a surfaced roofing (H&H RUBBER SANDED) at
about the same price.
H&H RUBBER SANDED ROOFING
won't wear out, crack or melt. LIGHTEST— STRONGEST— BEST. Not
affected by vapors, steam or acid. Any workman can lay it. Requires no
painting or patching. Samples and prices by mail.
LOS ANGELES, GAL.
R. WILLIAR, Sales Agent for San Francisco, 214 Pine Street
A. J. CAPRON, Portland, Or.
A. MERLE, President
A. KKJDGEaS, Manager.
ESTABLISHED 1865. NOTICE TO GOLD MINERS. INCORPORATED 1890,
Silver - Plated Copper Amalgamated Plates
T7/-VT1 OAT TTRTf* f /^lf T"\ IN QTJARTZ, GRAVEL OR BEACH MINING.
rUK oAVllNvJ KjkJL^U made of best soft lake superior copper.
AT REDUCED PRICES.
Our Plates are guaranteed, and by actual experience are proved, the best in weight of Silver and durability. Old Mining Plates replated, bought, or
ps!d separated. THOUSANDS OP ORDERS FILLED.
A. MERLE CO.,
SUCCESSORS TO
SAN FRANCISCO NOVELTY AND PLATING WORKS,
515-517-519 Mission Street above First, San Francisco, Cal
*S" Send for Circulars. Telephone Main 976-
DEWEY, STRONG & CO., PATENT AGENTS,
* & & & J SAN FRANCISCO, CALV and WASHINGTON, D. C ^ <* <* & &
CATALOGUE OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY
AND GENERAL CHEMISTRY.
PUBLISHED AUGUST 15, 1905.
8£B*Our Complete Classified Catalogue of Books on
Chemical Technology and General Chemistry ar-
ranged under the following heads: Acids, Alkalies,
and Salts; Beverages, Brewing, Cider, Distillation,
Fermentation, Liquors, Preserving, Vinegar, Wine;
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and Concrete; India Rubber, Gutta Percha, Glue,
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ROSE'S
Complete Practical Machinist.
19th Edition.
The Complete Practical Machinist: Embracing
Lathe Work, Vise Work, Drills and Drilling, Taps
and Dies, Hardening and Tempering, The Making
and Use of Tools, Tool Grinding, Marking Out
Work, Machine Tools, etc By Joshua Rose, M. E.
Illustrated by 395 engravings. 19th edition, greatly
enlarged, with new and valuable matter. 12mo,
504 pages. Price, S2.50 By mail, free of post-
age, to any address In the world.
Abstract of Contents.— Chapter I. Cutting
Tools for Lathes and Planing Machines. II. Cut-
ting Speed and Feed . HI. Boring Tools for Lathe
Work. IV. Screw Cutting Tools. V. Lathe Dogs,
Carriers or Drivers VI. Turning Eccentrics VII.
Hand Turning VIII. Drilling in the Lathe. IX.
Boring Bars. X. Slotting Machine Tools. XI.
Twist l rills. XII. Tool Steel. XIII. Taps and
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XVIII. Lining or Marking Out Work. XIX. Ma-
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Wheels, Pulleys, etc. XXL How to Set a Slide
Valve. XXII. Pumps. Index,
By the same author:
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on Boiler Construction and Examination. 73
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DAWIDOWSKY-BRANNT— Glue, Gelatine, Ani-
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Mine Foremanships. By Robert Mauchline, late
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FLEMMING.— Practical Tanning. A Handbook
of Modern Processes, Receipts and Suggestions
for the Treatment of Hides, Skins and Pelts of
Every Description. By Louis A. Flemming,
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AMERICAN ORE & REDUCTION CO.,
Buyers of
Tungsten,
7V\olyfc>denite
and Other Or^s.
Crocker Building, San Francisco.
Whole No. 2363.-vS^.Er?9C'
San Francisco, Cal., Saturday, November 4, 1905.
THREE DOLLARS PER ANNUM.
Single Copiei, Ten Centf.
Trials of the Amalgamator.
The average gold millmau has ideas of his own and
his personality usually asserts itself in his mill work
sooner or later. Many gold mine superintendents
have a firm belief, probably established by experi-
ence, that a man who has acted in the capacity of
amalgamator in a silver mill has no business in a gold
mill. In certain individual cases this is, no doubt, a
well fouuded prejudice, but that a man may not be as
good an amalgamator in a gold mill as in a silver mill
seems absurd — possibly, however, he would be a
somewhat better millman if he were to learn the art
in the plate mill before coming in contact with what
seems to the gold millman the extravagant use of
quicksilver, as practiced in the silver mill. The
methods of amalgamation are wholly different in the
two classes of mills, and the transferring of a silver
millman to a gold mill is sometimes followed by curi-
ous results. Whatever the silver mill amalgamator
may do in a gold mill, he is scarcely likely to do any
worse than the gold millman who religiously feeds a
given amount of "silver" to the battery at stated
intervals, regardless of the condition of the plates.
He is the " rule of thumb " man, and to him all exte-
The Tebekwe Mine, Rhodesia, S. A. (See Page 313.)
A Woodland Scene in Nova Scotia. (See Page 311.)
rior signs of the mill battery do not appeal. He feeds
quicksilver by the watch, and not by the condition of
the plates. It is true that the silver millman in the
gold mill, unless he has had special training, is likely
to overfeed the quick. An instance occurred some
time since at a well-known mine in the tropics. An
American amalgamator was engaged to take charge
of the mill. He was an experienced gold millman.
On the day of his arrival he found his predecessor,
ably assisted by two or three natives, on their knees
on the plates. The mill foreman was plowing up
ridges of amalgam, silver plating and raw copper,
with the aid of an old axe, while the natives industri-
ously endeavored to emulate his good example with
steel chisels. The newly arrived amalgamator looked
upon the proceeding with some misgivings, and in-
quired if that was about the regular thing. When he
took charge of the mill the following day he at once
introduced the methods of mill practice with which he
was familiar, and which he knew to be successful
under ordinary conditions. Before noon the super-
intendent appeared, and at once told him that
he would have to do differently if he expected to
accomplish results. He was told that the retired
millman was a very competent man — an old and
experienced silver millman — and that his mill prac-
tice was of the best and up to date. The new man
was astonished to find that he was not using one-fifth
enough quicksilver, of which there was abundance —
no need to be afraid to use it. He called attention
to the fact that he had the plates in good condition
and that evidently things were going well, and finally
asked permission to run the mill in his own way, for a
day or two, at any rate, and then if results were not
satisfactory he would willingly adopt some other
method. For three days he was allowed to work in
his own fashion, but the morning of the third day the
superintendent again appeared in a greatly disturbed
frame of mind. He said the whole thing was " going
to the dogs," that the ore contained no values, for
there was nothing in the tailings, whereas it was
customary to get at least $5 to $6 per ton in
them. The new millman called attention to the
amalgam accumulating in the safe from the daily
dressing of the plates, and this tangible result of his
mill methods compensated for the lack of values in
the tailings. This circumstance is in no manner
exac°erated, but it illustrates two important phases
of mining — the first, that the superintendent chosen
to look after the business of this company knew so
little of its practical operations, and the other is that
a silver millman is prone to overfeed the battery of a
gold mill unless he has had special training in the
latter branch of the business,
304
Mining and Scientific Press,
November 4, 1905.
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
ESTABLISHED i860.
Published Every Saturday at 330 Market Street, San Francisco, Cal.
Telephone, Davis 771.
ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION.
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Chicago, 1164 Monadnock Block. Denver, 606 Mack Block.
J. F. HALLORAN Publisher
SAN FRANCISCO, NOVEMBER 4, 1905.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
ILLUSTRATIONS: Page.
The Tebekwe Mine, Rhodesia, S. A 303
A "Woodland Scene in Nova Scotia 303
Sectional View of the Heroult Furnace .' 307
The Heroult Electric Furnace in Operation 307
Sketch of Machine Drills 309
An Outcrop Near Axis of an Anticline 311
Goldenville, Showing Old Workings 311
Mouth of Indian Harbor, Nova Scotia 311
Wine Harbor, Nova Scotia 311
Bonsor Mill, Selukwe, Rhodesia, S. A 313
Headgear of the Veracity Mine, Rhodesia, S. A 313
* Plant of the Wanderer Mine, Selukwe, Rhodesia, S. A 313
EDITORIAL:
Trials of the Amalgamator 303
Crude Petroleum in Power and Metallurgical Operations 304
Motive Power at Mines 304
Cyanide Process in Treatment of Raw Auriferous Sulphides 304
Motor Cars in the Deserts of Southern Nevada 304
Pyritic Smelting 305
Fire at the Tjigbtner Mine, Angels, Cal 305
The Theory of Concentration 305
Operation of Machine Drills 305
Completion of Tunnel Between New Jersey and New \ork 305
MINING SUMMARY 315-316-317-318
LATEST MARKET REPORTS 319
MISCELLANEOUS:
Concentrates 306
Electric Smelting 307
Cleaning and Agglomeration of Ore D"st. 307
Copper Sulphide Soluble in Yellow Sodium Sulphide 307
The Practical Operation of Machine Drills 308
Some Important Minerals 308
The Prospector 309
Mining and Metallurgical Patents 310
In Nova Scotia 311
Placer Mining in Alaska 312
Four Typical Rhodesian Gold Mines 313
History of Pyritic Smelting ! 314
Divining Rod as a Water Finder 314
Personal 318
Commercial Paragraphs 319
Books Received 319
Trade Treatises 319
New Patents .:... 18^
Notices of Recent Patents. 18H
THE use of crude petroleum as a fuel in power
and metallurgical operations is increasing
yearly, and in some districts, at least, promises to
displace all other classes of fuel. Its successful ap-
plication to reverberatory furnace practice was a
long step in the right direction, and has stimulated
the endeavor to apply this class of fuel to blast fur-
nace operations. Several ingenious inventors have
already attempted this difficult task. One type of
furnace may be described as intermediate between a
cupola and a reverboratory, the hearth being inclined
at a high angle. The other type of furnace, although
a stack, to all intents and purposes, is, in its opera-
tion, a radical departure from the ordinary blast fur-
nace practice, being what is known as the "down-
draft" furnace. In this device the ore is reduced to
a fine granular condition, and is fed at the top and
comes in contact with the intensely hot flame of
the petroleum-steam jet which is projected down-
ward from near the top of the furnace. The theory of
the operation is in the belief that the ore particles
will be oxidized and reduced to liquid condition before
reaching the crucible of the furnace. The volatile
elements will pass off to be condensed in several
chambers, each being precipitated at a different
temperature, which it is hoped to regulate so as to
effect a differential separation of these several pro-
ducts. These include zinc, arsenic, antimony and
other readily volatile minerals. The metals' such as
copper, lead, iron, etc., together with gold and sil-
ver, if present, are expected to be found in the lower
part of the shaft, where they may be tapped in the
usual manner. This process, although, as yet, in
the experimental stage, indicates clearly the trend
of modern furnace experimentation, and it is proba-
ble that something tangible may yet result from these
efforts.
Motive Power at Mines.
The principal motive powers now employed in mine
operations are either steam, water, or some form of
gas or other type of explosive engine. By means of
these, power is generated and applied in other ways
— by ropes, by compressed air, or by electricity.
When deciding upon what means shall be adopted to
supply power to a mine, the problem should always
be solved by selecting that which will afford the best
economic results. In many situations no one of these
several methods will supply every requirement.
Either of them will operate a mill or a hoist, but
there are generally pumping problems and traction
problems to be worked out. Underground haulage
is an important matter with all large mines. For
this purpose, men as trammers, horses, rope-haul-
age, electric, steam, and compressed air motors are
employed. The question which each manager is re-
quired to decide is, which system will give the most
satisfactory and economical results. If the mine
workings are large and well ventilated, and fuel is
cheap, the ordinary type of mine steam locomotive
would operate satisfactorily, no doubt. If the
amount of material to be handled does not appear
to justify a motor of any kind, horses or mules
may be what is required.
As between compressed air and electric motors,
the choice must be determined by the first cost of
installation, the situation and the convenience of
either system. On the Forest Hill divide, in Placer
county, Cal., are two noted drift mines, the Hidden
Treasure and the Red Point. These mines are situ-
ated similarly in many respects, the former being
opened from the south side of the ridge and the latter
from the north side. The haulage in the Hidden
Treasure mines is accomplished by electric motors,
and has proven eminently satisfactory. In the
Red Point a compressed air motor was in use and
was found equally satisfactory. The advantage
in point of installation probably lies with the Red
Point, as the plant was less expensive than that
of the Hidden Treasure — due largely to the incidental
relative situation. The water from the tunnels of
the Hidden Treasure Co. is conveyed in pipe lines to
a reservoir about 3 miles distant, where it is em-
ployed to develop power under 850 feet head. The
water wheel is attached to a dynamo, and the elec-
tric current operates the motor cars and lights the
mine workings and buildings.
At the Red Point mine the water flowing from the
mine drives ventilating fans, and is again used at a
lower elevation to drive an impulse wheel which sup-
plies power to run a large air compressor of special
design. This air is charged into the receiver of the
motor which hauls the empty cars into the mine.
The loaded cars run out on the grade in trains, being
controlled by brakes, the motor not being required
for the purpose of hauling out, though attached to the
train. The system worked satisfactorily, and was
similar to compressed air haulage elsewhere. The
Red Point mine is at present being operated only in
a small way, by leasers.
The two instances above cited are typical, and the
situation at the two properties, though not very
unlike, seems to have been met in each instance by
the adoption of the method best suited to each case.
There are many good things that may be said of the
use of electricity or compressed air in and about
mines without disparagement to the other. Both
are good, and it is merely a matter of decision which
to employ under conditions as they exist.
At the Homestake mines in South Dakota, com
pressed air haulage is in use both underground
and on the surface. In former years steam loco-
motives were used to haul cars from the large open
cuts to the mills, a portion of the route traveled
being underground. The compressed air motors
were introduced on account of ventilation.
In the Cripple Creek district of Colorado many of
the larger mines are equipped with electric motors,
and these are found to give inexpensive and satis-
factory service.
In mine pumping operations the Cornish pump, at
one time the most extensively used device for un-
watering mines, has largely been displaced by direct
acting steam or electric pumps, though in certain
districts the Cornish pump still continues in favor.
Where this is the case the plants are in position and
have been there for years. They have been found
efficient and satisfactory. The amount of water is
not greatly variable in these mines, and never
exceeds the capacity of the pumping plant, there-
fore there is no marked incentive to change to any
other system. In cases where constantly increasing
amounts of water are met with as the development
of the mine becomes daily more extensive, some more
expansive and readily applied system of pumping
must be installed. To meet these requirements, the
compact steam or electrically driven pumps are
utilized, and both are satisfactory. In some districts
bailing has almost wholly superseded pumping oper-
ations in mines, and some engineers do not hesitate
to express the opinion that when properly equipped
a mine may handle its water more cheaply by bailing
than by any system of pumping.
Hoisting is one of the most important of all mine
engineering problems. Here are found a greater
range of power appliances than in any other depart-
ment in mining. Hoisting is successfully accomplished
by geared, friction and direct acting steam engines;
by the same methods of application employing water
power; by the use of compressed air — usually with
electrically driven compressors — the initial power
generally being water; and by electricity direct.
Gas, gasoline and heat engines are also used largely
in some districts where water and fuel are expen-
sive.
Compressed air hoisting plants must necessarily
be less efficient than where the power is applied
direct from the motor, whether a water wheel, a
steam engine or an electric motor, but this loss of
efficiency is in some measure compensated for by the
greater expansibility of the compressed air system.
Should anything occur to interrupt the initial power,
there is usually sufficient air in the receivers to ena-
ble the engineer to haul a cage or skip in transit to
the surface. The electric motor, though having a
higher efficiency than the compressed air plant, must
stop immediately the current is interrupted. Still
the electric hoists are growing in favor, and seem
well adapted to certain districts and conditions.
Many improvements in electrical hoisting machinery
may be anticipated. With most managers it is not
so much the question of water, steam, electric or
other power, as which will be the most satisfactory
and economical at any particular place. With this
question in mind a consulting engineer may advise a
water plant for some portions of California, a steam
plant for the Black Hills, a gas engine plant for Ari-
zona and electricity for Colorado, depending upon
the mine's environment and the cost of power.
THERE appears to be an increasing tendency to
attempt the treatment of raw auriferous Sul-
phides by means of the cyanide process, or some
modification of it. Experience at some mines has
demonstrated that solution of bromo-cyanide is
usually more effective for this purpose than the
ordinary solution. The most important factors in
the operation of this method of treatment appears
to be abundant time of contact, with the solution and
in some instances a repeated contact. The results
obtained at various places is extremely variable, but
a fair extraction seems possible in many cases where
the material is ground sufficiently fine. Complete
aeration of the sulphides after each contact with the
solution appears to also be very important. In
Western Australia various methods of treating the
sulphides have been tried, but it has been found that
by careful roasting before cyanidlng a very high per-
centage of extraction was generally obtainable — up
to 99\.- Although the roasting of the ores was an
additional expense in the treatment, the increased
saving of values more than offsets it.
THE needs of rapid transportation for passengers
in the deserts of southern Nevada have resulted
in the introduction of motor cars. A company owns
a line of these vehicles, twenty in number, which make
schedule trips between Goldfields and Bullfrog, in
addition to which there are numerous private cars
running on the same road. A good highway has been
constructed between the most important towns, and
traffic vehicles are not allowed to travel on it. The
result is that one may now travel between these
desert camps in comfort and in a surprisingly short
time. The success of these auto-cars suggests the
feasibility of their more extended use for traction
November 4, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
305
purposes, by means of which the expense of trans-
porting mining supplies, machinery, etc., may not
only be greatly facilitated, but cheapened. The
energy being put into the development of these south-
ern Nevada mining districts is likely to find a way
out of every difficulty.
Pyritic Smelting.
With this number is concluded the abstract of the
interesting paper on the " History of Pyritic Smelt-
ing," by Robert Sticht, manager of the Mount Lyell
mines, Tasmania. In this contribution to the science
of smelting the author has reviewed the ups and
downs of one of the most useful and eventually suc-
cessful accomplishments of metallurgy. One of the
most interesting features of the entire proposition
was the fact that after all the years of expensive ex-
perimentation and the numerous failures, when
success was finally accomplished, it was along
lines previously laid down in Europe many years ago.
Even at that time the old operators were only a step
from the success which they so earnestly desired,
and strove to attain. Dr. Carpenter, who, as stated
by Mr. Sticht, did so much for the science of pyritic
smelting in his practice at Deadwood, South Dakota,
says in his article on pyritic smelting in the Transac-
tions of the American Institute of Mining Engineers,
Vol. XXX, that he based his operations largely upon
the operations as practiced at Kongsberg, Norway,
and at Mansfield. The conditions at Deadwood were
perhaps the most unusual attending any large oper-
ations in the world ; but ingenuity overcame all of
these difficulties and the result was complete success.
Unfortunately, Mr. Sticht gives little space to the
interesting practice at Mount Lyell, where he has
made an unqualified success of the difficult metallur-
gical operations and reduced the smelting of those
low grade and rebellious ores to an exact science.
In an official report the operations at Mount Lyell
are thus briefly described: "The quantity of coke
used in the blast-furnace smelting, when calculated
on the ore, is about 5\ in current work for the two-
fold furnacing, and 6% on the ore, including all
incidental coke for glowing- in purposes and similar
occasional use, while on all the material fed to the
furnaces (less coke itself) the percentage is only Z\%
for the double smelting. It can hardly be maintained
that so small an addition of coke has any vital bear-
ing on the furnace reactions, from a heat point of
view, and it is commonly remarked that the coke
simply serves to keep the tuyeres from becoming too
hard. It is fed along the long walls of the furnace
with this special object in view. Such low percent-
ages of coke are only possible owing to the applica-
tion of the oxygen of the atmosphere to the ore
mixture under conditions which make the oxygen
perform a function somewhat different in its effect from
that which it exercises in ordinary blast-furnace
smelting, where a larger percentage of carbonaceous
fuel is necessary. In all stages of the process the
material (ore or matte) is constantly subjected to an
oxidizing action, and not a reducing one. The pro-
cess, therefore, in this respect is the direct inverse
of ordinary smelting operations in the blast furnace.
* * * * It may be said that the Mount Lyell ore
smelting is nothing more than a bessemerizing of
ores, or matte therefrom, direct in blast furnaces,
but so managed as to be continuous and not inter-
mittent, as is the bessemerizing operation (in con-
verters), and also under perfect control, both as to
the composition of slags and mattes, and the proper
mechanical separation of these two products."
With such operations as those conducted at Mount
Lyell, at Granby, B. C, at Cananea, Mexico, and
formerly at Deadwood, S. D., there need be little fear
of metallurgical problems arising in the treatment of
pyritic ores which will long remain without a suc-
cessful solution, if the ores themselves contain the
elements of success.
THE complete destruction by fire of the surface
plant of the Lightner mine at Angels, Cal.,
on the 30th ult., involving a loss of $150,000, accentu-
ates the necessity of adequate fire protection about
mines. A small percentage of the loss1 sustained
would, it would be supposed, have afforded ample
protection against fire. As usual, however, in the
late summer and fall season in central California, the
water supply is low, and many of those mines, ordi-
narily well protected by a sufficient fire service, are
now deprived of it, and many of the mines are closed
down for lack of power, where water is depended
upon alone. In past years the mining companies
have suffered heavy losses owing to the same cause.
Fires originating many miles away from the mines
have swept unresisted over hill and dale, enveloping
forests, grass land and brushy slope alike, and destroy-
ing hoisting and milling plants unfortunately lying
in its course. In Tuolumne county alone, several
years ago, fifteen mines had their plants swept out
of existence by fires which covered several hundred
square miles of territory. It has become an old story
in the central mining counties of California, and yet,
as the years roll around, no adequate provision is
made to impound sufficient water during the spring
months to last throughout the summer and fall —
until the rains of early winter set in and replenish
the supply. The conservation of mountain water for
mine use is a subject which receives only a tithe of
the attention which it deserves.
The Theory of Concentration.
Mining men often remark the great number of con-
centrating machines that are on the market, and
observe with some surprise that the number of de-
vices for separating mineral of relatively high specific
gravity from that which is low continues to increase.
Scarcely a week passes that does not see a patent
issued for some new device, the object of which is con-
centration of ores.
Naturally the inquiry presents itself: Why is there
so great a variety of concentrators ? There are
oblong, square, circular and polygonal shapes in con-
centrators. There are buddies, jigs and bumping
tables galore, beside a variety of other kinds too
complicated in design to be readily described. There
are end-shake and side- shake machines and those
which oscillate. Vibratory motion is communicated
in a variety of ways — by cams, cranks and other
devices. Some have slow motions, others run rapidly
— in fact, almost every conceivable device to effect a
separation of heavy mineral from the light can be
found already in existence, and others continue to
arrive with astonishing frequency.
The most interesting thing about it all is that any
one of these numerous makes of machines will do good
work when in competent hands. An experienced and
unprejudiced operator can effect a fair separation of
heavy from light material with any of these machines,
and some of them seem to lack little of perfection
itself.
Beyond a doubt, the incentive which has resulted
in such abundant evidence of the ingenuity and skill
of the inventors is a belief on the part of each one
that he can devise a machine which will make a
perfect separation of the valuable minerals, usually
of high specific gravity, from the less valuable and
comparatively low specific gravity.
Unfortunately for the inventors and makers of con-
centrating machines generally, here lies a physical
impossibility, for it has been repeatedly demon-
strated, long since, that it is impossible to separate
a coarse and an extremely fine particle of heavy min-
eral from a relatively light gangue at a single opera-
tion, with the same grade of machine, the same vibra-
tion and same amount of water. The combination of
movements and volume of water which will accom-
plish the saving of the coarse particle will permit the
fine particle to escape, and vice versa. The grade,
vibration and flow of water which will carry off the
sands and slimes of the gangue will also carry away
with it the finest of the sulphides, and usually the
richest. A concentrator man points with just pride
to the clean concentrate his machine is producing.
Examination shows it to be almost wholly free from
gangue minerals. But what of the tailings? An
equally careful examination may show them to contain
considerable slimed sulphides — the richest portion of
the ore. When the machine is set to save a reasonable
percentage of these rich slimes, sands are also saved,
and the concentrates are no longer clean.
The cause is readily discovered. A moment's
thought will convince any reasonable person that it is
a physical impossibility to save all the values in a
pulp by passing the material over a single machine.
The grade and volume of water which will carry
away the coarse grains of sand will, in all probability,
hold in suspension the microscopic particle of pyrite,
galena, blende, or chalcopyrite. While this is true, it
is equally true that when the fine particle of sulphide
is saved, the grade and consequent force of the cur-
rent of water will be insufficient to carry away the
coarse grains of quartz, or other gangue mineral.
This being the case, the necessity for classifying
the pulp from the crushing machines, before concen-
tration is attempted, is evident. This can be accom-
plished by sizing screens or by the employment of
hydraulic classifiers. In the case of some ores, both
devices may be resorted to with success. At some
of the largest concentrating mills, the crushed ores
pass through sizing trommels, and from these screens
the several sizes go to jigs set to treat each par-
tic ular class. Further hydraulic classification is
then followed by concentration on machines of some
make. The result is that little of value eventually
escapes. The entire scheme of concentration is
arranged to operate automatically, and requires
overseeing only.
In the treatment of most gold ores a much less
elaborate plaDt is required. The ore is first sent to
classifiers, and from these the discharge from beneath
goes to one machine, the overflow going to another
and sometimes entirely different make of concentra-
tor. Here, again, is an opportunity to carry the
concentration of values to a refinement exceeding
the economic results, but, although there is little
use in going to the latter extreme, it is self-evident
that in order to effect successful concentration the
pulp must be subjected to a classification of some
kind. The concentrating of pulp from batteries
direct, and the recleaning of the resulting concen-
trates on another machine, is simply another form of
classification, but is not the best practice. If satis-
factory results follow this method of treatment, it is
almost a foregone conclusion that a more rational
course would produce a closer saving at a reduced
cost, which should be sufficient to recommend it to
all who are in need of suggestions along these lines.
THE operation of machine drills is a matter which
concerns almost every hard-rock miner. The
great number of makes of drills of the various kinds
— air, steam, electric, gas and hand-power machines
— and the endless variety of conditions which the
miner finds in his daily work underground, makes
the operation of drills a constant study to the careful
and observing man. Elsewhere herein is an article
on the operation of machine drills on the Rand, in
which the author calls attention to many important
points. The suggestion that the pressure under
which the drill operates be increased to somewhere
near 100 pounds per square inch is one which will
meet with universal approval among those who have
operated drills under pressures below 70 pounds.
Whatever may be the pressure indicated by the
gauge in the compressor room, it will not be found to
have the same pressure at the drilling face in the
mine. Friction in pipe lines and leakage will reduce
the pressure to an extent determined by existing
conditions. The statement in the paper referred to
— that some miners object to drilling more than four
holes during a shift — simply illustrates a local labor
situation, for the amount of work represented by
four holes under ordinary conditions would scarcely
be considered more than half a shift's work. The
reference to the faulty work of hand miners, who are
proficient in drilling with the right hand only, is sim-
ilarly due to local practice and would not long be
tolerated in any country where skilled labor is obtain-
able. The stopes in the mines of the Rand are all of
comparatively small dimensions — rarely over 6 feet
in height — and the banket dips at low angles, so
that the conditions described and the operation of
machine drills there must be recognized as typical of
economic and geological conditions on the Rand, and
as not being of general application elsewhere.
THE second tunnel connecting New Jersey and
New York City was recently completed. This
work was commenced about 25 years ago, and con-
siderable progress made, but the many difficulties
encountered and accidents occurring, with the result-
ing loss of life, caused a suspension of operations,
which were only renewed in recent years, when, with
the aid of modern scientific methods, the great work
has been successfully completed. These tunnels are
each a little over a mile in length.
306
Mining and Scientific Press
November 4, 1905.
CONCENTRATES*
bu
]
A. townsite patent, where valid mining locations
have heen made, does not grant the minerals to the
townsite.
Float in miners' parlance is the name given to pieces
of ore which have become detached from the ledge and
lie upon the surface, or mixed with the debris between
bedrock and the surface.
Apatite is calcium phosphate. It occurs in many
rocks, particularly in dark basic rocks like norite, where
it appears in the form of slender needles. It is also
found in good sized six-sided prisms in pegmatite dikes.
Formerly the size of quartz mining claims in the
Black Hills of South Dakota was 300 by 1500 feet. So
many broad lodes were discovered that the law was
amended, and the claims since located are 600 by 1500
feet.
(b<fetfe4f
The cost of breaking ore or rock in a mine or quarry
is entirely dependent upon the conditions under which
the mining or quarrying is done. It would be impossible
to give even an approximate figure without a full knowl-
edge of these conditions. •
The Federal laws expressly provide that lands within
forest reserves, which are shown to be mineral in charac-
ter, may' be located under the mining laws. This, how-
ever, does not apply to the national parks. Claims so
so taken in a; forest reserve may be patented.
Work performed upon an unpatented mining claim by
leasers may be applied upon the annual assessment work
by the owner of the claim, but work done by a tres-
passer, even though paid for later, may not be so applied.
The work must be done by the owner, or at his instance.
There is no book or pamphlet containing the mining
laws of the State of Nevada and California separately.
" Lindley on Mines" contains the mining laws of the
several States. " Morrison's Mining Rights" also con-
tains an epitome of the Federal and State laws, land
office rulings, etc.
Where mine pipes for either air or water have to be
bent around corners, the flange joint will in every in-
stance be found superior to screwed connections. The
saving in time in making connections or disconnecting
the same will save several times the additional cost of
the flange fittings.
The basis of valuation of a mine must be naturally
the amount of gross value it contains as referred to the
cost of extracting the ore and turning it into money. A
mine with a million dollars' worth of ore in sight which
careful calculation shows will cost two millions to turn it
into money is worse than worthless.
There is no law specifically entitling the locator of a
tunnel site to any surface ground for the purposes of
dump, buildings, etc. The locator might proceed, how-
ever, under the mill-site law, by the terms of which he
would be limited to a surface of five acres. This sug-
gestion, however, is tentative. There is no decision or
Land Office ruling on this subject.
In some districts the fire insurance companies refuse
to write policies on mining or other industrial concerns
using petroleum for fuel, where the tanks are set on an
elevation so that the oil may run to the burners by
gravity, as they claim the damage in case of fire is likely
to be much greater under such conditions than in those
instances where the oil is pumped to the burners.
Chloride op silver is readily soluble in solutions of
potassium cyanide, but the cyanide solutions must be
considerably stronger than those required for treating
the usual run of gold ores. Where the ore contains
chloride of silver alone, with little or no gold, solutions
of hypo-sulphite of soda are usually employed in the
lixiviation of such ores, or they may be treated by pan
amalgamation.
The courts generally have decided that the true
measure of damages in the case of mine trespass, and the
extraction of ore, depends upon circumstances of aggra-
vation, and ranges from the net profits of working the
ore, to the gross value of the ore after breaking it down
in the stope. In all cases where there has been neither
intent to defraud, or culpable negligence, the cost of
mining should be deducted.
. &&&&
Good amalgamation can be done at almost any
temperature between 35° and 100° F., but those who
have experimented on the relation of results in amalga-
mation to the temperature of battery water say that the
best results are obtainable at a temperature of 52° to
55° F. A certain amount of heat is always produced in
the mortar by the falling stamps, but to what extent
this raises the temperature of the battery water is not
known.
**rbtb
The watt is the unit of electrical power and is 1-746 of
one horse power. It equals the mechanical energy rep-
resented by 44.24 foot pounds. One ampere of current
moving under the influence of one volt pressure, or any
combination of volts and amperes, and that will make
'unity when multiplied together, is the equivalent in the
expenditure of energy to the work a man would do in
lifting one pound 44.24 feet high, or any work — any
weight — raised any distance, in which the weight and
the distance multiplied together make 44.24.
tfetbtfe*!)
Zinoblende is not infrequently mistaken for galena,
and it has been taken for tellurium when occurring in
quartzose gold ores. It can usually be determined by
its streak, which is always brownish, the streak of galena
;being the same as that of the ore itself. A drop of
hydrochloric acid on blende causes an evolution of the
ihydrogen sulphide, which can readily be detected by its
odor, resembling that of addled eggs. Zincblende is
sometimes rich in gold and silver, but, like galena, its
appearance is no index of its value in precious metals.
Where A, B and C are partners in unpatented min-
ing claims and A contracts debts of a personal character,
it seems reasonable that A's interest in these claims may
be attached for such debts, without prejudice toBandC.
In such cases the law is usually plain, but the facts are
often difficult to establish. It would be impossible to
igive a comprehensive answer without being acquainted
with all the facts, and even then it may require the
services of attorneys and the courts to reach a final
decision. This is not a question of mining law but an
ordinary civil case.
In drifting the machine bar should be placed hori-
zontally and the machine clamped directly to the bar, as
the arm is not necessary. The machine may be turned
either above or underneath the bar. By boring the
upper part of the round first, the muckers may remove
any debris from the last round of holes. While this is
being done the upper holes may be drilled. The rock
removed, the bar may be taken down and placed in posi-
tion for the lower holes of the round. This saves time
for all hands engaged in the work and cheapens the cost,
of driving the drift.
rb'tt'b'ir
Concrete foundations for water or solution tanks
are all right, but much more expensive than those of
timber. There may be situations where the concrete
would prove the most satisfactory. No wooden tank
should be built so low as not to admit of passage beneath
it for the purpose of inspection and repairs when neces-
sary. Tanks may be provided by excavating in the
ground and lining the pit with concrete, after the man-
ner of cisterns. The tailings may be removed by me-
chanical excavator, hydraulic ejector or by sluicing out
through a passage built underneath the tank.
A mine differs from a quarry in that the former is
usually an excavation underground, where artificial
light is used, while a quarry is open to the sky. Many
mines consist of open excavations as well as those under-
ground. In the Western United States are numerous
ore deposits lying nearly horizontal, on the summits of
hills. The excavations on these deposits, through open-
like quarries, are usually referred to as mines, so that
the material produced in a measure influences the name.
Deposits producing metals and some earthy substances,
such as magnesite, calcium borate, gem stones, etc., are
called mines, regardless of the character of the deposit,
so long as it is rock in place, while workings producing
structural materials — granito, marble, sandstone, etc. —
are called quarries. Deposits of clay, gravel, sand and
similar substances, when opened by excavating, are
called pits.
Minerals as constituents of rocks undergo many
changes, due to oxidation and chemical alteration.
Hornblende is altered from a dark green, compact crys-
tal to a bunch of fibrous mineral, the outline of the
original crystal being usually indicated by a border of
black grains of magnetite. Augite alters to hornblende
(uralite), but this may often be distinguished by means
of the microscope. When augite has altered to horn-
blende, the latter takes the characteristic cleavage of
hornblende, while the outline of the augite crystal
remains unchanged. Often in the center of the crystal
may be seen an unaltered core of the augite, with its
characteristic cleavage lines. By shearing and pressure
the hornblende is drawn into flat, disconnected filaments
and gradually passes over by further alteration to chlo-
rite, and chlorite to epidote. Greenstones undergoing
alteration usually afford examples of these several phases
of the alteration of augite and hornblende to other
minerals.
VVVw
The distribution of power in a quartz mill is a matter
requiring as much attention as any of the other details
of construction, or much power may be wasted by the
employment of unnecessary shafting, belts, etc. All
shafting, whether on blocks or hanging, should be kept
in perfect alignment. Often the timbers placed in mill
frames are unseasoned, and in time warp badly on dry-
ing. Shafting placed on such timbers will be thrown
out of adjustment, and this necessitates watching the
lines of shafting and occasionally lining them up with a
transit. The transit is far better for this purpose than
a chalk line. Rock breakers and concentrating machin-
ery should not only have shafting separate from the
other machinery of the plant, but each should be driven
by a separate wheel or motor. Where a large engine
runB the machinery of the mill, the breaker may be run
from a pulley on the line shaft, but it is better to have a
separate engine for the concentrators in any case, as on
the steadiness of the operation much depends.
wwwv
When water issues from the mouth of a mining tun-
nel and finds its way down a hillside, no one lower down
on the hillside can acquire any permanent right to have
this water continue coming down to him, if the mine
owner chooses to stop it later. But if the water coming
down from the mouth of the tunnel reaches a natural
stream, it becomes part of the natural stream by acces-
sion, and may then be appropriated by others together
with the water of the stream from which it can no
longer be distinguished. The mine owner cannot there-
after take it out of the stream against prior appropri-
ators of the stream, nor can he stop it before it reaches
the stream to the injury of such appropriators. This is
the best rule upon the point. Water coming from a
mine tunnel cannot be appropriated by others, until it
reaches a natural stream, but then it becomes a part of
the stream and belongs to the appropriators of the
stream. It is presumed that the correspundent from
Phillipsburg, Mont., referred to water from a mine tun-
nel, and the above answer is made accordingly. The
matter will be found discussed in " Water Rights in the
Western States," Sec. 131.
The life of the electric furnace depends mainly on the
durability of the lining used, the best of which prin-
cipally consists of silicon carbides, such as carborundum,
siloxicon and crystallized magnesite, themselves pro-
ducts of the electric furnace. For ordinary furnace
kilns, carborundum is ground fine, and mixed in the
proportion of three parts by weight of carborundum to
one part by weight of silicate of soda (water-glass). Af-
ter thoroughly brushing the freshly set firebrick to get
rid of the dust (the mixture does not stick readily to a
surface which has been already fired), the carborundum
is painted on to the depth of half a millimetre. It is
left for twenty-four hours to dry; afterwards the fire
started up gradually, when a layer of carborundum be-
comes cemented over the whole surface of the firebrick
lining, and if properly done it adheres soundly. Where
basic slags or basic materials have to be taken into con-
sideration, fireclay is employed as a binder instead of the
waterglass, the proportion being usually six parts by
weight of carborundum to one part by weight of fireclay.
Although to a certain extent self-binding when heated
to a high temperature, in commercial work it is advis-
able to add some form of bond to siloxicon.
After many years running of a 25-stamp mill, there
is naturally a considerable accumulation of magnetings,
that is, iron scraps and dust, due to the wearing of
shoes and dies in the mortars, which are separated by
magnet from amalgam and pyrites during each cleanup.
The gold adhering to the larger particles of iron is easily
recovered by heating, pounding and amalgamation; but
that associated with the finer particles and dust can not
be as easily extracted. The presence of a high percent-
age of metallic iron beds renders any attempt at grind-
ing out of the question. It may be mixed with a little
less than six times its weight of pyrite concentrates and
the whole roasted in a reverberatory furnace. The sul-
phur thus liberated from the pyrites, combined with the
metallic iron, forming a sulphide of that metal, and this,
in its turn, as roasting proceeded, is reduced to Fe203,
which is amenable to grinding, and the gold is conse-
quently liberated. A small quantity of bichromate of
potash may be added when the pulp is charged to the
pan; and, after grinding for six hours, the muller
raised and mercury introduced. For two hours, al-
though the mercury remains bright but somewhat slug-
gish, no amalgamation will take place. On the addition
of a little dilute sulphuric acid, however, the gold will
be immediately taken up, the actual extraction approx-
imating 95% of the assay contents.
Mill amalgam contaminated with babbitt metal,
lead, etc., may be freed to a great extent of these im-
purities by placing the foul amalgam in a pot containing
sufficient quicksilver to readily float the contaminated
mixture. Stir this well and allow to settle for several
hours, or, better, a couple of days. The lead alloy will
float on top of the mercury and the gold will settle to the
bottom of the pot. By skimming off the dross and
straining the quick, the gold may be recovered. If
the process be repeated with the lead alloy it may be
rendered quite free of mercury and gold. This lead may
then be fused with a suitable charge in a crucible, when a
lead button containing gold and silver will result, the tin,
antimony, copper and other metals going into the
slag. The lead button may then be cupelled to get rid
of any base metal, the gold and silver only remaining.
When the amalgam contains a quantity of nails and
other metal scraps to which the amalgam clings, the
mass should be treated some hours in a cleanup barrel,
or, lacking this useful auxiliary to the mill, the mass
may be ground or stirred in an iron mortar with an ex-
cess of quicksilver. This will soften the amalgam ad-
hering to the metal, and the greater portion will become
detached from the nails, etc., and drop to the bottom,
while the nails will float on the surface of the mercury,
from which they may be removed by the hands or a
perforated strainer. This scrap should then be placed
in a box and sprinkled with salt and allowed for several
months to rust. In time this can be placed in the clean-
up barrel or pan and ground with quicksilver for a day,
when the gold will be recovered in the quicksilver.
November 4, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
307
Electric Smelting.
The smelting of iron ores by electricity will
doubtless be successfully and economically accom-
plished in the near future, but the process is
practically still in the experimental stage, although
plants are being built for the purpose — one in Ger-
many, one at Syracuse, N. Y., and one at the Sault
Ste. Marie, Canada. As by the electric process it is
thought iron sands and fines can be smelted without
first briqueting the material, should the experiments
now in progress prove commercially satisfactory, the
electric method will become an important factor in
the iron industry.
Dr. Heroult is possibly the best living authority on
the smelting of iron ores and the manufacture of
steel by the electric method. He has invented the
process which is named after him. The works at
of the electrodes in a diagrammatic sketch of the fur-i
nace, and the accompanying engraving illustrates the!
furnace in actual operation.
A bath of melted metal having been prepared
either in the electric furnace itself or in some other
suitable vessel, the material is treated electrioally in
a receptacle lined with a non-conducting refractory
material free from carbon. In this vessel it is cov*
ered with a layer of slag or of other substance which
only acts as a conductor at high temperatures. The
electrodes are immersed in this slag to such a slight
depth, and at such a distance apart, that the cur-
rent is forced to How from one electrode through the
slag immediately beneath it to the metal below, and
thence through the same layer of slag to the other
electrode. This is arranged by regulating the pro-
portion of the resistance between the electrodes and
the sum of the resistances between the metal bath and
the electrodes, respectively. Care must be taken
that neither electrode touches the fluid metal. It is
Sectional View of the Heroult Furnace.
The Heroult Electric Furnace in Operation.
Syracuse, N. Y., are being erected by the Holcomb
Steel Co., who have obtained a license from Heroult
to use his invention. The cost of the works will be
$1,000,000 and the output will be from 80 to 100 tons
daily. The company propose to manufacture tool
steel and also high-class billets. The Holcomb Co.
will be the first concern on the American continent
to use electricity in connection with the making of
steel. It will be produced by the ordinary method
and the electricity will be applied to a purifying or
refining process. Dr. Heroult has undertaken to
superintend experiments in the making of pig iron
and steel at the plant now in course of construction
at Sault Ste. Marie, and for which the Canadian Par-
liament voted $15,000. Associated with him. will be
Dr. Haanel, superintendent of mines.
In the Heroult process the metal to be smelted is
only brought indirectly into the electric circuit, and
at the same time is introduced a layer of slag, or of an
electrolyte, to act as a heating resistance between
the electrodes and the metal. In this- way all direct
contact between the metal and the carbon electrodes
is avoided. W. G-. McMillan's translation of Dr. W.
Borchers' treatise, "Electric Smelting and Refin-
ing, thus briefly describes the Heroult process:
The accompanying figure shows the arrangement
neither injurious nor necessary that arcs should be
formed between the electrodes and the melted mate-
rial in which they are immersed. It is, however,
essential that the distance between the electrodes
and the metal bath should be so regulated that the
layers of slag in these spaces should, throughout the
process, be hotter, and therefore a better conductor
than the slag which lies between the two electrodes.
Only in this way can the current be made to take the
path indicated above.
It is perhaps hardly necessary to say that the only
way to act on the metal smelted in the above manner
is by means of reagents introduced onto or into the
metal, whether the object be to eliminate unde-
sirable constituents or to add such as are desirable.
The author has to thank Dr. P. Heroult for the fol-
lowing particulars of the composition of various sam-
ples of tool steel smelted in this furnace:
Per Cent.
Sulphur 0 016 to 0.032
Phosphorus 0.006 to 0.011
Silicon 0.020 to 0.023
Manganese 0 .092 to 0. 138
Carbon , 0 . 840 to 1 . 080
The percentage of carbon was designedly raised to
the figures quoted; that it can be kept below this
level is shown by the following composition of mild
steel: S 0.008%, P 0.003%, Si 0.007%, Mn 0.000%
and C 0.008%. The pig iron used for this charge
contained: S 0.05%, P 0.129%, Mn 0.89% and
C 0.31%.
The Heroult process can also be carried out on a
comparatively small scale; and a current of 50 elec-
trical horse power proved sufficient for the purpose
of small demonstrations in the Aachen Metallurgical
College.
With a 300 H. P. furnace, and starting with cold
metal. Heroult has succeeded in producing 44 pounds
of steel per electrical horse power in twenty-four
ho'irs. It is evident this figure would be considerably
exceeded if the furnaces were charged, partly or
wholly, with molten pig.
The success of this new process must be attributed
to the fact that the electrodes are kept out of con-
tact with the metal to be smelted. A simpler method
than the one adopted is hardly conceivable, so long
as a dynamo current has to be employed; but since
that time a noteworthy method has been discovered,
in which the use of electrodes is rendered superfluous,
namely, the Kjellin method of generating the heating
current within the metal itself by induction. The
inventor of this process has favored the author with
the following particulars:
"The furnace consists of a circular trough, with
brickwork sides and bottom and covered top. In the
center of the circle is a square core of thin, soft iron
plates, enclosed in a bobbin of insulated copper wire.
The core projects above the furnace chamber and
forms a rectangle which occupies, in relation to the
furnace, the same position as one link in a chain does
to another. The bobbin is connected to the poles of
an alternating current generator.
The passage of the alternating current through
the bobbin excites the iron core and induces an alter-
nating current in the metal contained in the annular
bath. Since the bath is situated in a single plane
around the core, the strength of current is equivalent
to that produced in the generator, multiplied by the
number of coils in the bobbin. The tension, of course,
varies inversely with the strength of the current.
In this way use may be made of a generator of high
tension alternating current to produce in the furnace
a low tension current of increased strength, and that
too without the use of wasteful electrodes and large
copper conductors.
Cleaning and Agglomeration of Ore Dust.
A concentrating and smelting plant at Niagara
Falls makes use of the Ruthenburg processes, says
the Iron Trade Review. The ore concentrated is a
fine dust containing sand, which must be got rid of
before it is a valuable product. The tailings are
also valuable from the copper content. The first step
in the process is to remove the sand. This is done
by means of a magnetic separator, which consists of
a revolving electromagnet driven on a horizontal
axis by means of an e'ectric motor. Over this is
placed a metal apron which, on one side, leads to a
bin of the concentrates, and on the other to a shallow
trough into which the dust is fed. The dust is
stirred and pushed along this trough by means of a
conveyor. When the magnet is revolved, the mag-
netic particles of ore are attracted by it, and, as
each pole approaches them, rise, stand on end, and
then fall flat in the other direction, rising again as
the next pole approaches. In this way, by a series
of somersaults, they march up the metallic apron
in a direction opposite to the motion of the magnet,
pass over the top, and fall into the concentrate bin.
This concentrator is said to be very effective in re-
moving siliceous matter and phosphorous impurities.
After concentration, the ore, being in a powdered
condition, requires special treatment before it is
suitable for the smelter. This is accomplished by
means of the Ruthenburg electric smelter, which has
been described recently. In brief, it consists of an
electromagnet having two cylindrical parallel elec-
tromagnets, the poles of which are cylindrical and
arranged side by side. These poles also serve as the
electrodes for passing heavy currents through the
magnetic ore as it is passed through them. The
particles of dust form bridges across the poles,
through which the current flows, partially melting
them, when they become non-magnetic and fall into a
receiver placed below, in the form of beads.
Copper sulphide is said to be soluble in yellow
sodium sulphide, says a writer in a German chemical
journal, the solubility increasing according to poly-
sulphides present. In the assay of copper in tin ores,
by fusion of the oxides with equal parts of caustic
soda and sulphur, and the extraction of the fused
mass with water, large quantities of copper are dis-
solved in the solution according to Prost and Van der
Casteele; this amount varies from 3% to 64% of the
total copper present. Rossing claims that the cop-
per will remain entirely insoluble in the fused mass if
a current of hydrogen be allowed to permeate
through the mass while being extracted with cold
water. The author claims it easier to add sodium
sulphite from time to time to the boiling solution of
the polysulphides until the liquid becomes colorless,
sodium thiosulphate and monosulphide being formed.
It is claimed this method gives accurate results in the
separation of copper from lead and antimony ores.
308
Mining and Scientific Press.
November 4, 1905.
The Practical Operation of Machine
Drills.*
Written by E. M. Weston.
To say that an 8-inch deep vertical hole, bored with
a Star bit of 3-inch diameter in homogeneous rock,
represented truly the work to be done underground
would be a mistake, because most holes bored in
mines are nearly flat or inclined 45° on either side of
♦Abstract Jour. Chem. Met. & Min. Soc, S. A.
the horizontal. The difference in conditions in bor-
ing a nearly flat wet hole 7 feet long in "sticky"
ground on an " upper " inclined only a few degrees
from the horizontal, and a short vertical hole, is
enormous. In one case the drill has little or nothing
to retard its rotation or to cause sticking and test
the machine's power of recoil; in the other the drill
is working in a long tube filled with grit and water,
often, when too little water is applied, becoming a
stiff mass. In the case of a dry hole also the tube is
half filled with stiff sand, causing great friction and
retarding rotation and recoil. The shallow hole is
Some Important Minerals.
There is a constant inquiry as to the properties, value and production of a number of minerals pro-
duced in the United States. The following tabulated statement will give this information in condensed
form. Here is given the composition, value, color and production of the most important minerals produced
in the United States in 1904:
ELEMENT.
Metal Value.
Principal
Approximate
Color
Production 1904
0res- j Analysis. Per Ct Mineral.
Quantity. | Value.
$ .34 lb.
Bauxite AlQmina 74lWhite Ll42 tons
S 2,477,000
Water 26j Gray
.08 lb.
Stibnite
Antimony 72 Gray to 3o57 tons
505,524
Orpiment
Arsenic 6 1 Lemon
Sulphur 39: Yellow
Oxide
36 tons
2,185
Arsenopyrite
Arsenic. 46
Sulphur i9
Iron 34
Black
.10 lb.
Powdered
Colemanite
Boron. 25
Calcium 19
Water and Oxi
Colorless or Crude 69g gl0
•
Sodium
Bromide
Sodium 22
White
897,100 lbs
269.130
3.10 lb.
Tetradymite
Bismuth 52
Tellurium 48
Gray
BIsmutite
Bismuth, Ox 88
Carbonic Acid 07
Greenish
Yellow
1.00 lb.
Greenockite
Chromite
Cadmium 79
Sulphur 21
Orange
Yellow
.80 lb.
Dark
Brown
123 tons
Chromium 52
Oxygen
1,845
.15 lb.
Lhaicooite
Co\ellite
Bnrnite
Chalcopyrlte
Cuprite
Tenorite
Malachite
Azurite
(Copper glance)
(Indigo)
(Peacock)
(Pyrite)
(Ruby)
(Black)
(Green)
(Bluei
Copper
contents
from
trace
to 88%.
812,537,267
lbs.
105,629,845
Fluor Spar
Calcium 51
Fluorine 49
Pink
Yellow
36,452 tons
234,755
Cryolite
Sodium 33
Aluminum 13
Fluorine — 55
Green
White
20.67 ounce.
Native
Various Alloys [Yellow |4,090.176oz 84,551,300
Sylvanite
£°1(* SiSteel
Tellurium 56> Gra.y
Calaverite
Gold 45 Brass
Tellurium 55l°rass
19 00 ton
Magnetite
Iron 70
Oxygen 30
Black
Pig
16,497,033
tons
Hematite
Iron 72
Oxygen 28
Indian
Red
.04 lb
Galena
Lead 86
Sulphur 13
Gra 1 i*h
Black
Metal
3)7,000 tons; 26,402,000
Cerussite
Carbonic Acid 16
White
2 75 lb.
75-1 b flask
4 0 0U
Pyrolusite
Manganese ^Black ,?re 29,466
Oxygen 37> ac 3,146ions
Cinnabar
Mercury 86 Red
Sulphur 14 Vermilion
34'570 1,503,795
flanks
2 75 lb.
Molybdenite
Molybdenum 60Grayisti
Sulphur 40 Black
.45 lb.
NiccoHte
Arsenic, etc 56
Brownish
Black
21,000 lbs.
11,400
Gersdorflte
Nickel 35
Arsenic 45
Sulphur 20
Black
Nickel and Cobalt are generally found together.
.60 ounce
Argent ite
Blackish
Gray
53,603,000
oz
Pyrargyrlte
Silver 60
Sulphur 17
Daik Red
to Black
Pearl
Gray
Coining
value
69,303,319
Cerargyrite
Silver 75
Argentiferous
Galena
Grayish
Black
Sulphur
.30 lb,
Cassiterite
Oxvgen 22
Black
Stannite
Tin 27
Iron 13
Sulphur 29
Copper 29
Black
1.25 lb.
Wolframite
Scheelite
Manganous Ox 05
Tungsten Ox 76
Black
Calcium Oxide 19
Tungsten Oxide . . .80
White
Brown
Green
3.50 lb.
Brownish
Black
Uranium &
Vanadium
45 tons
10,600
.06 lb.
Sphalerite
Zinclte
Zinc 67
Brown
Zinc 80
186,702 tons
18,670,200
20.50
200 oz,
2,600
bored with a star bit having 6 inches of cutting edge,
while a large proportion of a deep hole may be ad-
vanced by a chisel bit with only 2 inches of cutting
face. Again, in shaft sinking the recoiling power of
the machine is severely tested to lift 8 or 9 feet of
heavy steel from a deep hole.
All types of machines will sometimes rifle badly in
one hole, while boring the next truly cylindrical, and
I believe "rifling" is almost always due to faulty
alignment of the drill in the hole, causing friction on
one side or other of the cutting bit or the steel itself.
Quite a large number of holes are bored thus, owing
to various causes, and the best machine will bore a
hole while " laboring" to a great extent. Sometimes
this is due to inattention of the boys in charge, and
often the mere loosening of gig bolt or clamp will at
once increase rate of boring. At other times it is
impossible, owing to lack of room, to move the ma-
chine to properly follow the hole.
No deduction drawn from the tests before referred
to appear so contrary to practical experience as the
alleged advisability of using air at 60 pounds pres-
sure for underground boring in ground of the average
hardness found in this district. In actual work nearly
40% more work can be done in a given time with the
pressure at 80 pounds than at 60 pounds. I have
often gone below and had difficulty in boring 3£-inch
holes when the pressure was low; while in the same
ground I could bore five holes when it rose to about
75 pounds. In West Australia I have seen 100
pounds pressure kept on the receiver when working
in hard quartz; and as far as I can compare the dif-
ference in ground, the number of feet bored per shift
compared favorably with that shown by the same
machine here. I am of course aware that in some
cases this pressure would be excessive owing to blunt-
ing and breaking drills and the trouble in securing
bar and connections. It appears strange that more
advantage has not been taken of the facilities for
forming large and cheap air reservoirs in drives un-
derground that would be of value also in freeing the
compressed air from injurious oil and other impuri-
ties. The necessity of preventing leakage in the un-
derground pipe circulation has always been insisted
upon. I should like only to point out that a mis-
taken desire for economy may force the miners or
pipe repairer to use really worn out piping and hose
for connections. This leads to frequent stoppage to
repair breaks, and to more or less constant loss by
leakage. Hose and pipes showing signs of deteriora-
tion should be at once condemned for air service and
taken out of the mine or used for lagging to ensure
their not being again used. I also think plug taps
should not be used below. My experience is that
they are always either too tight to turn or leaking
badly. The wheels of wheel valves are too liable to
get lost or damaged and it would be an advantage to
get a special type of these with a handle like a
plug valve i-inch square that can be opened and shut
by a spanner. I shall not soon forget the experience
of trying to turn one of the ordinary ones (whose
wheel had been lost), by means of a spanner while
clinging to the foot wall of a stope having an angle of
about 10° from the vertical. I remember being
struck by the maze of pipes and right angle bends in
the air service of a Broken Hill mine, where the
square set method of timbering caused difficulty in
supplying the many floors between levels with air,
and wondering what pressure a gauge set before
each machine would show under the circumstances.
Conditions here are not so bad, but elbows are often
seen put in where bends should have been insisted
upon. The need, however, of a periodic test with a
pressure gauge at each working face in a mine seems
apparent from the following incident.
During one month the air pressure in our stope
was good, during the next we could make no pro-
gress, and not being able to find a cause we put it
down to something wrong with the compressor.
Finally it was discovered that a stone had lodged in
an old stop valve in the pipe line along a level some
distance from our working face. In mines there is
always a possibility of something of the sort happen-
ing, and I think in some mines surprising falls of pres-
sure in some places might be detected by means of a
gauge test at regular intervals. Some pipe men and
their Kaffir assistants have a bad habit in making
joints. When it is necessary to join up two pipes by
means of a coupling having right and left handed
threads a washer of rubber packing is inserted to
stop leakage. I have seen this put in a 2-inch or 1J-
inch pipe with a hole barely 1 inch diameter and cut
in the center. This must greatly increase pipe fric-
tion to the passage of air.
In many quarters the advantage of using the long-
est possible holes in large stopes has been recognized.
Mines may, I think, still be found where the same
steel is served out for stoping as for development in
drives, where a hole about 6 feet long is generally
used. It is the starting, and the first foot or two of
hole, that occupy the time in boring. It might be
worth while to inquire what is the most economical
length of hole to be used in stoping over 42 inches
high. We must remember that in big stopes in aver-
age ground it is seldom possible to bore more than
four, or at times five, holes to advantage from one
bar. Indeed many miners decline to bore more than
four holes in a shift. It is a loss of time to take
down machine arm and bar and rig again. The shift
is from 9£ to 10J hours long, and holes must usually
November 4, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press
309
be (ired every shift. If. then, the miner is provided
with steel that allows him to bore a hole no longer
than b' feet, it may often happen that he has finished
his four or five holes, say 1J hour before it is time to
blast, when half an hour would be the time required
to pull down machines and load up. Hence there is
an hour's time wasted, which might have been profit-
ably employed lengthening each hole. We would say,
then, that the most economical hole is of such a
length that four such holes can be bored on one
bench, the machines removed, and the holes loaded
and lired during one shift. This length may be any-
thing from 5 feet to 10 feet, depending on the air
pressure available, hardness of ground and facilities
for working. For work in narrow stopes with small
machines many consider that holes of 5 feet are as
long as can be advantageously used. Holes t> feet to
7 feet long can, however, be successfully used in such
cases. It is possible to finish the hole with a chisel of
;-inch diameter, steel 8 feet long. This can b ■ u*ed
even with a 2j-inch machine in ordinary ground with
air at 70 pounds pressure. I think it advantageous
to use steel of different sizes for different lengths
of chisels, as it is easy even in hard ground to get
three chisels to follow one another if they are made
of 14 inch, 1 inch and I inch octagon steel, respec-
tively. It is, of course, possible to make such a series
from 1 inch steel, but in actual work the other ar-
rangement guards against any mistake being made
in sharpening, and allows a large shoulder margin on
the cutting bit of the last chisel. Such details may
appear trivial, but I know of one case here or else-
where where such a method would have effected a
great saving. A useful set of steel for 2t, t\ or 23-
inch machines where the ground does not allow a
longer hole being used is as follows: Starter, 2 feet
long, 2] inches face, star bit; chisel, 3i feet long, \\
inch bit, of 1J inch steel; chisel, 5 feet long, If inch
bit, of 1 inch steel; chisel, b' feet, li inch bit, of i inch
steel. Measurements are "more or less." The
relative merits and defects of star and chisel bits
applied in rock drilling deserves discussion. Com-
pared with chisels, star bits have the advantage
that in hard ground the wear on the cutting edge is
halved for the same distance driven, and that the
four shoulders opposed to wear allow a longer dis-
tance to be driven on a smaller difference of gauge
between following drills. In ground full of heads and
fissures in stoping or shaft sinking they will put down
a hole where a chisel would certainly stick. They
are, however, relatively heavier and oppose more
resistance to turning, and in some grounds do not
bore so quickly as a chisel bit. To what extent their
use is advisable must depend on the circumstances of
each particular case.
An objection to using I inch steel often urged is
that it is impossible to get li inch gelatine to the
bottom of the hole, and that the last portion of the
hole is thus rendered useless; while to do advan-
tageous work the explosive should be concentrated
in the bottom of the hole. Devices have indeed been
proposed for enlarging the bottom of hole. If the
direction of a stope hole is attended to this would be
needless, and the smaller quantity of explosive in the
end rendered effective in many cases.
Some notes on experience gained while working in
large and small stopes on the Central Rand may
illustrate this and other points. Firstly, the ques-
tion as to the number of feet of working space ad-
visable to allow to one machine deserves discussion.
We were usually working three machines on a face
of 160 feet long. This I consider too crowded up for
the best work. Each machine should be given 70 to
80 feet of space in a small stope, and 100 feet in a big
stope where long holes are used and where there are
many cillars to cut round. When we were able to
work three machines on two faces east and west of a
winze, we considered we could break from 3 to 6
fathoms more in a month than when we had to keep
to one face. These figures refer to stoping when the
whole round of four to six holes bored are not all
loaded and blasted at the end of the shift. This, of
course, is never done now where good results are
expected; as the only proper system to use is that
one miner loads and fires the front holes he has bored
and the back holes left by his partner on his ' ' bench, "
and he leaves his back holes in turn to be blasted by
his partner. In this system the failure, if any, of
the front holes to explode or " come " does not in-
volve wasting the charge in the back ones. The
reason a machine requires lots of face room is that
it often happens that a " round" of holes may not
have come well, leaving an awkward bench to bore,
or one too narrow to make it worth while to put four
or five holes in; while the time may not allow of
boring three holes there and setting up again and
boring elsewhere. When there is lots of room, how-
ever, another bench may be brought down to enlarge
or deepen the poor one, and no time lost in setting
up for a poor shift's work. If one could ensure that
each time a machine was set up it had a face before
it on which it was possible to bore a full "round "of
holes to the best advantage and break a maximum
area of ground, the efficiency of rock drilling would be
so increased as to make it cheaper than hand stoping
in stoping any width. To attain this ideal is perhaps
impossible, owing to various causes; but it can be
approached by giving machines lots of room. It
would also be a great advantage in machine stoping
if the miners were given the services of a few ham-
mer boys whenever they required them. For in-
stance, it often happens that there is a bench as
shown in plan in Fig. 1 The machine A can bore a
Fig. i.
long hole; but the shape of the face B D E G makes
it quite useless to put in a long hole, as the "toe" of
rock E F 6 would prevent the bottom portion
"coming." If, however, a hand hole or holes E F
were put in and fired first, the hole B C would come
out perfectly, and a bench 3 or 4 feet deeper could
be taken out. It is obvious that it would not pay to
set up a machine to bore E F alone.
In stoping, the direction of the hole in relation to
the face is of vital importance. It is only by using
the utmost care in alignment that long holes can be
effectively used, and as many miners either do not
know enough or won't take the trouble to do this,
they prefer short holes. A very slight error in the
direction of a hole will be the cause of its not break-
ing. Even in stopes worked by good miners it may
happen that a considerable percentage of holes do
not break well, either owing to unforeseen heads in
the rock or to the tendency there is when on contract
to put the last inch of ground on a hole and to make
the hole "look in." This latter tendency is very
noticeable in hand stoping where right handed boys
have to work on an east face of a stope, and an
examination of that side will always show a greater
percentage of useless holes than a west one. For
this reason, whenever it is practicable, boys should
be kept working on west faces and machines on east
faces.
Where the burden on a hole is small in comparison
to the height of face, the direction of a hole is not of
so much importance, but as the length of hole and
the burden increase in proportion to height of face,
the importance of a true direction increases. Look-
ing at Fig. 2 and comparing the plan of the holes A,
Fig. 2.
B and C, say 6 feet long, bored in a face 40 inches
high, A when bored exactly parallel to the face
A' B' C D will "come clean," bringing out the
ground to A' B will "come;" but will leave a foot of
stump and break the ground to B'. C will do no good
at all, the force of the explosion merely tending to
form a volcano and break the ground near the mouth
to C. It is a question whether this would occur
were the explosive concentrated at C, B and A; but
the charge fills up between 2 and 3 feet of the hole.
With high explosives the detonation and liberation of
the gases is so sudden that the effects are localized,
and so far as my experience goes, practically every
cartridge has to be responsible for the shattering of
the rock in front of it. If, then, an explosive car-
tridge at A, B or C is given more burden than
another nearer the mouth of hole, and fails to move
the rock in front of it on the first shock, its gases
merely aid those higher up to break out, or they
escape where the rock is already fractured. Machine
holes in narrow stopes sometimes tend to "bull
ring," i. e., break out at the bottom and leave the
portion of rock round the mouth of hole, asEC'D F.
Where we expected this to happen— as in the case
where, owing to difficulty in pitching the hole, it was
impossible to give a 6 foot hole more than 15 inches
or 18 inches of burden on a 38- inch face — we spread
the charge as much as possible along the hole and so
did not mind using Mneh steel and boring with small
bits. We used to place a few cartridges of J-inch
gelatine in the bottom of the hole, then 6 inches or 9
inches of sand packing in a paper cartridge, then
insert a l}-inch cartridge and packing alternately
until the hole was full to within 18 inches or so of col-
lar. To do this takes time and trouble, and so again
many miners prefer a short hole where the charge
can be placed right at the bottom without trouble.
Many miners fail to arrange their stoping holes in a
rational way in relation to each other. The general
plan is to put in the four, with two on top and two
exactly below the others, and to load them with the
same charge. I have seen a skillful miner put in two
holes in a narrow stope, with about 24 inches "bur-
den " on each, one being exactly below the other, and
he placed five or six large cartridges in each. What
happens in such a case is that the hole exploding first
tears nearly all the burden off the other one, and one
charge is mostly wasted. Holes should, when pos-
sible, be placed in zigzag order. In stoping a wide
reef of 5 feet or over this is not always possible; as
to get a sufficient burden on the back holes the
machine has to be moved from the end of the arm on
one side of the bar to the end of the arm on the other
side. In that case about half the charge in the holes
exploding last of the pair will be sufficient.
(to be continued.)
cV*********** **************** **** 1*1***35
I THE PROSPECTOR.
**************** ****<f.«|ii|iip %tf>tf,sf,t(l<f,iflit,qlif,q.ti,i!i
The mineral and rock specimens from Portland
canal, Bear river, Alaska, are: No. 1, a felsitic dike
rock, throughout which are scattered veinlets of iron
and zinc sulphides. No. 2, diabase. No. 3, quartz
containing much iron sulphide (pyrite), and should be
assayed for gold and silver. No. 4 consists largely
of barite (heavy spar), with sulphides of iron and
zinc. A small amount of calcite is present. No. 5 is
quartz containing a high percentage of granular iron
sulphide and a small amount of copper sulphide.
Arsenic is also present in this ore. No. 6 is com-
posed largely of zinc sulphide in a gangue of spar.
No. 7 is tennantite, a compound of antimony, copper,
zinc and sulphur, with chalcopyrite. No. 8 is prin-
cipally bornite (copper sulphide), with chalcopyrite,
the latter also a copper sulphide, but of lower grade
than the former. No. 9 is an amorphous sulphide of
iron and zinc. No. 10 is a soluble sulphate of alumi-
num and magnesia, occurring as an efflorescence as
the result of the action of sulphuric acid (resulting
from oxidizing sulphides) upon the alumina and mag-
nesian minerals in the rocks.
The mineral samples from Surprise valley, Modoc
county, Cal., are much decomposed and in part iron-
stained quartz porphyry, and may contain gold.
Of the two samples from Mineral Park, Ariz., the
smaller one (No. 1) is flint. No. 2 is evidently from a
dike and consists chiefly of quartz and feldspar. It
contains some fine iron sulphide, a trace of copper
sulphide and a little zinc sulphide. On one side is a
scale of molybdenite.
The sample of material from Pearce, Ariz., is not
mineral. It is pine gum with some remnants of
bark, in which the tannin is still a prominent con-
stituent. That which appears to be a deposit is ev-
idently a fallen pine tree, the woody portion of which
has long since decayed, leaving the resinous gum
and fragments of the bark.
The samples from Lowrey, Tehama county, Cal.,
are: No. 1, altered greenstone containing pyrite
and chalcopyrite. No. 2 is bornite, with a little
quartz.
The rock from Elk City, Idaho, if apparently a
much altered intrusive rock, consisting principally of
quartz and feldspar. It contains a large amount of
finely disseminated iron sulphide. It is not a typical
rock of any class.
The minerals from Ibapah, Utah, are: The trans-
parent crystals, topaz; the two larger crystals are
silicate of aluminum, but are evidently pseudomorph
after topaz, and are most unusual. The small tabu-
lar black crystals are illmenite (titanic iron). The
light green mineral is jadite, a metasilicate of sodium,
and aluminum.
310
Mining and Scientific Press.
November 4. 1905.
XS *ttj*(fe^********* ****&******** *********
I Mining and Metallurgical Patents*!
* *
PATENTS ISSUED OCTOBER 17, 1905.
Specially Reported and Illustrated for the MINING AND
SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
Reheater for Furnace Gases. — No. 801,318;
H. Howard, Brookline, Mass.
In apparatus of class described, row of roasting
furnaces, reheating chamber contiguous thereto,
heated by conduction of heat from burning ore, two
inclosed and continuous conduits extending longitud-
inally above reheating chamber, for passage of puri-
fied, cooled gases, and plurality of reheating units
connected in parallel with conduits and extended into
reheating chamber, whereby cooled and purified
gases pass from one to other conduit through units,
to be reheated thereby.
Method of and Apparatus for Treating Coal,
Ores and Other Minerals for Draining Them of
Water.— No. 801,204; F. Baum, Heme, Germany.
Method of treating washed coal and like for drain-
ing water therefrom, which consists in charging
washed coal into draining buckets of transporting
belt by causing it to descend through quiescent body
of water in which buckets are immersed at one point
of travel whereby the coal is deposited loosely in the
buckets so as to facilitate subsequent drainage, wash-
ing water accompanying coal being at same time clari-
fied in body of water by settlement of sludge there-
from, and deposited sludge being conveyed from body
of water into buckets after these have received
charge of coal while clarified water is conveyed back
to washing apparatus.
Process of Extracting Tin From Tin Slag. —
No. 801,290; C. A. L. W. Witter, Hamburg, Ger-
many.
Process of treating tin slags containing iron, which
consists in smelting them in presence of plumbiferous
material aud sulphur.
Pulverizing Mill. — No. 801,572; J. H. Davis,
Glens Falls, N. Y.
In pulverizing mill, outer support, annular die
mounted in support, rotatable support also mounted
in outer support, means operated by centrifugal
force, due to rotation of rotatable support co-oper-
ating with die, for pulverizing material passed
through mill, stationary casing extending above and
surrounding pulverizing means, casing being open at
top, means for directing blast of air downward
toward center of pulverizing means, second station-
ary casing surrounding upper part of first casing,
second casing being closed at top and having inclined
bottom with chute attached for leading pulverized
material out of mill, and suction pipe connected with
top of second casing for removing dust in casing and
directing it into blast for revolving member.
Gold-Saving Apparatus. — No. 801,968; J. A.
Clark, Yankee Hill, Cal.
In gold-saving apparatus combination with sluice
box, and grizzly in bottom thereof and comprising
plurality of spaced bars extending in direction of
current flow, and hinged closure for grizzly closure
normally pendent beneath grizzly and including bars
extending in direction of current flow and adapted,
when closure is moved upwardly about hinged con-
nection, to close interspaces between bars of grizzly
whereby flow of current is diverted, means for rais-
ing and lowering closure and means for holding clos-
ure in closed position.
Rock Crusher and Pulverizer. — No. 801,921;
A. Scott, Carters, Cal.
Crusher comprising stationary crushing member,
rocking crusher head, integral lever projecting out-
wardly from crusher head, crusher head being
pivoted at point adjacent to stationary crushing
member, gyrating bearing box mounted outside lever
and below same, said lever being formed with verti-
cal web and horizontal flanges projecting therefrom
at lower edge forming broad bearing having movable
engagement with gyrating bearing box, and cam
member for operating gyrating bearing box.
Machine for Grinding. — No. 801,854; W. and F.
Dorey, Gananoque, Canada.
In grinding machine, combination with revoluble
vessel having tubular piece secured to one end
thereof and extending well within vessel, tubular
piece mounted upon roller bearing, detachable
bracket secured to support having tubular portion
of same bore as tubular piece and carrying means,
for feeding material to vessel, which extend through
tubular piece.
Apparatus for Mining. — No.
galey, Pittsburg, Pa.
802,349; R. Bag-
Apparatus for mining comprising passage other
than mine shaft extending from surface of ground,
tube therein for passage of filling material, and
gated receiving hopper beneath tube.
Magnetic Separator. — No. 801,947; J. P. Wether-
ill, South Bethlehem, Pa., and H. A. J. Wilkens, New
York, N. Y.
Magnetic separator for materials of low magnetic
susceptibility, comprising series of magnets having
highly concentrated magnetic fields, series of feed
belts for several magnets respectively, feed belts
discharging one upon other, receiver for heads in
proximity to concentrated field of each magnet, and
cleaner belt running past magnets in same general
direction as feed belts.
November 4, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
311
In Nova Scotia.— III.
Written for the Mining anu Suikm iuc FttKSS by T. A. HlCKABD.
The five fundamental occupations of man are agri-
culture, fishing, mining, forestry and the chase.
Those who live far from tide-water may wonder oc-
casionally why so much fuss, even to the point of
diplomatic rupture, is made over the fishing rights
off Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and the Great Lakes.
A ton of gold ore outweighs a quintal of codfish, but
the difference in value is not always one way. The
fisheries of Nova Scotia (with a total population of
about -10% is occupied by masses of granite, which
has intruded through the Cambrian sediments and
underlies them. The distribution of these bosses of
granite is shown on the map accompanying this
series of articles, where it is apparent that the main
body of granite is in the northwestern part of the
mining territory.
In the eastern regions the houses stand in the val-
ley, under the protecting shadow of the hills. In
the west they are usually on the hill top; one might
argue that in this case the owners were more fond of
scenery or that the winds of that part of Nova Scotia
were less severe; but the difference is due to geologic
conditions. In the west glacial drift stiii crowns the
ridges, the bedrock has not been bared, there is
more soil. Much of the configuration is due to
the position of glacial moraines; the lakes are
frequently made by bars of drift, and marshes
have been developed by the same cause. The
granite especially is dotted with small lakes doe
to cup-like erosion. The main watershed runs
northeast and southwest, and in running to the
Atlantic the streams have but little grade, the
height of land being only 500 feet, therefore they
form linked patches of water, often held back by
itous faces coincident with the cleavage, the bedding
of the apex being flat. Where the cleavage is highly
developed and vertical, it is well to look for the top
of the saddle, for the planes of cleavage usually
radiate toward the anticlinal axis. The quartz
lodes are also found following the bedding planes for
a couple of thousand feet on each side of the anti-
clinal axes. The valleys often follow lines of fault,
thus, the estuary of Isaac's Harbor follows a fault
(estimated by E. R. Faribault to have a throw of
1200 feet) for a distance northwestward of 4 miles
and then passes up Branch brook toward the inlet
of Country Harbor, until finally it cuts into the Car-
boniferous rocks, which it also dislocates.
No description of the region can proceed far with-
out reference to the evidence of glacial erosion. Nova
Scotia proper has no mountains. The highest land is
about 600 feet above the sea. No rock mass has been
strong enough to survive its lordly summit and snow-
crested range; there are no proud peaks to throw
their long shadows over dark ravine and sunlit plain,
all such sculpturing of the earth's surface has been
obliterated as by a ruthless hand; there remains only
the basal wreck, not without beauty, clothed with
forest, glad with lakes that give back the azure of
An Outcrop near Axis of an Anticline, Dip is to the North,
Cleavage is South to the Left. In Nova Scotia.
Goldenville, Showing Old Workings.
half a million) make an annual output that is sold for
$8,000,000; while the lumber, chiefly exported as
"deal" to England, is valued at $20,000,000 per
annum. These industries push the mining for gold
into a subordinate place.
The scenery of a country is largely determined by
the underlying geologic structure; the soil, the drain-
age, ttie height of land, the sculpturing of frost and
snow, the softening touch of atmospheric erosion are
all traceable to the character and distribution of
the prevailing rocks. In the region where gold
mining flourishes in Nova Scotia, the prevailing for-
mation consists of highly altered slate and sandstone
the debris left by the ice in its passage southward.
Between the Intercolonial Railway and Caribou
there is an overlapping tongue of Carboniferous lime-
stone; this marks the course of the Musquodoboit
valley. The limestone has been eroded to rounded
ridges with smooth slopes, making a neat landscape,
diversified by hillocks surmounted with clumps of
spruce and fir. In crossing from Country harbor to
Antigonish the road traverses the Carboniferous and
Silurian formations. The rocks of the latter are
maroon colored sandstones, yielding a red soil and a
richer vegetation.
In the gold-mining region one finds a succession of
the sky, but nevertheless disciplined and tamed from
the larger contours of an earlier geologic period.
The marks of the ice age are everywhere to be seen,
the rocks are striated and glacial drift is scattered
far and wide. The transport of rock is most marked
in the case of the granite, boulders of it being found
20 miles from their nearest possible source, as at
Bridgewater. The stria?, run nearly due north and
mark the general direction of movement southward;
but local variations due to the topography are not
infrequent. In considering the comparative fresh-
ness of this writing on the rock, of the grooves
cut by the stone pulled forward under the advanc
Mouth of Indian Harbor, Nova Scotia.
of great geologic antiquity. These rocks are as-
signed to the Cambrian period, although, in the ab-
sence of the safe evidence of fossils, it is not certain
that they are not pre-Cambrian, that is, Algonkian.
The area they cover is estimated at 8500 square miles,
representing the seaward half of the Province, their
strike being roughly in agreement with the longer
axis of the peninsula. Of this 8500 square miles,
*See illustration on front page.
low ridges, a billowy land, without anything moun-
tainous, wooded throughout and dotted with lakes
connected by small streams which, as they approach
the shore, expand into long estuaries. The Cambrian
rocks are tremendously contorted, forming sharp
anticlinal and synclinal folds. The compression they
have undergone has developed a decided cleavage in
the slate and has metamorphosed the sandstone into
a hard quartzite. Many of the ridges are anticlinal
crests. Bold escarpments frequently exhibit precip-
Wine Harbor, Nova Scotia.
ing mass of ice, one is impressed with the extreme
slowness of geologic action. These marks were made
fully 10,000 years ago, and yet the effects of atmos-
pheric erosioD, of snow and sun, of wind and rain,
have not sufficed to rub them out, although they
never were deeper than an inch. No wonder the
geologist asks for a blank check on time. These inch
deep marks have survived 10,000 years, and yet the
very rocks on which they are graven were at one
time, on indisputable evidence, overlaid by several
312
Mining and Scientific Press.
November 4, 1905.
miles of sediment, all of which have been eroded and
removed to the depths of the sea.
Incidentally, it is interesting to note that glacial
action has robbed Nova Scotia of her alluvial gold
deposits. The erosion of the Cambrian series must
have yielded large accumulations of gold-bearing
gravel, for these rocks are full of small seams of
quartz containing gold. At the time of the first dis-
covery of the veins, it was indeed supposed that
important alluvial deposits would be found; when
these did not become visible, it was supposed that
they lay buried in the marshes and lakes. Attempts
were made to drain some of these, but without profit-
able result. The patches of glacial debris, contain-
ing fragments of gold quartz, gave rise to false hopes
until it was recognized that the region had suffered
extreme denudation. The surface has been scoured
by the ice, and the loose material which once lay
upon it has been swept into the Atlantic ocean,
where it will form the gold-bearing agglomerate of
a geologic to-morrow.
Placer Mining in Alaska.
NUMBER XII.— CONCLUDED.
On the Snowflake claim, a bench claim, worked by
drifting, situated between Anvil and Dexter creeks,
much of the gold sluiced from the winter dump was
porous, occurring in lumps one thirty-second to one-
fourth inch in diameter, resembling dentist's gold.
A peculiar riffle shown in Fig. 24 was devised, con-
sisting of sawn blocks nailed to riffle strips.
\
\
\
\
\ i \ \
\ ! \ i \
\
4
|
1
|
1
1
|
I
I
t
i
I
1
~~l
~7
~7
/
J
/
!
t
Scale
13 6 9 1
f inch
JS
Fig. 24. — Special Block Riffle.
This riffle used on 14-inch boxes, on 8-inch grade,
with 50 miner's inches of water, was said to be the
only one of many tried which would catch this gold.
S=
it
-S
3
B
B
finches
Fig. 25.— Iron Grate Riffle.
Fig. 25 shows an excellent iron riffle used in the
smaller sluices of Seward Peninsula for saving gold
of average fineness. The castings are light, can be
easily handled, and can be set in the sluices so that
the long dimension of the slots lies either transversely
or longitudinally. The longitudinal arrangement has
been found to be the better.
The use of quicksilvered copper plates is not likely
to give increased saving to Alaska placer operations.
Blankets, mats, or other fabrics are not generally
used on account of their expense. H. W. Young has
designed for the Waiwhero Sluicing Co., of New Zea-
land, a form of apparatus for the saving of fine gold
which is used in New Zealand beach deposits where
the gold is accompanied by an excessive amount of
black sand. A few of Mr. Young's remarks are here
quoted:
"The modern fine gold washing plant, as used on
the West Coast, consists of three main essential parts.
The first is the hopper box with stone shoot, which
*Bulletlr 263 U. S. Geological Survey.
receives the water and gravels from the tailrace con-
necting with the sluicing face, and separates the
stones and shingle from the water and sands. The
second comprises the 'sand box' or 'boil box, ' with its
discharge ducts and other accessories, intermediate
between the hopper and the tables. The third com-
prises the washing tables and their accessories. The
three essential parts deal with the stuff from the
face, and reduce it to concentrated gold and heavy
sand ready for amalgamation."
The introduction of a sand box or agitation box, in
which the material is kept in agitation by being made
to pass over and under a system of baffle boards
before passing to the tables, as described by Mr.
Young, is of obvious advantage in connection with
the plant described. The principle will undoubtedly
be of use in some of the washing plants of Alaska, as
it provides a moderate stirring action without the
use of mechanical power. The quantity of water
economical for a plant such as the one described, with
material screened to seven-sixteenths inch size on the
tables with a grade of 12 inches to 12 fee-t, is in the
proportion of 40 miner's inches to each 10 feet of
width of table. As at Oroville, the value of sepa-
rate ducts from the feeding or sand box to each table
has been proved.
The clearing of the gold from the accompanying
minerals of high specific gravity is often difficult. In
the creek workings on Bonanza creek, Klondike, for
example, of the total weight of gravel handled, 1%
of black sand, mostly magnetite, is caught with the
gold in the cleanup. In American creek, Alaska, the
cleanups are impeded by the presence of large quan-
tities of barite pebbles. In the Fairbanks district
red garnets and rutile, in some cases in quantity up to
i of 1% of the total material washed, are caught with
the gold. In the Birch creek district there is enough
rutile in the auriferous sand to cause trouble in the
cleanup. In Seward Peninsula the magnetite is in
comparatively small amount. Garnets occur in
the creek diggings up to 5 pounds to the cubic yard
of gravel. In the beach and so-called "tundra" gold
sands of the coastal plain from 3% up to as high as
61% of garnets occur.
The use of quicksilver in the northern operations
of America is limited. Even allowing for the extra
expense and time consumed in the use and recovery
of quicksilver, it is surprising that this important
agency for saving fine gold is not more generally
employed. It has been shown that the proportion of
fine gold in the interior fields is large. The neglect
to use quicksilver in attempting to save such
gold can be considered only as a penny-wise pound-
foolish policy. It is needless to say that in all
of the appliances above suggested for the sav-
ing of fine gold the use of quicksilver is imper-
ative. Carelessness in the use of quicksilver, how-
ever, may result in increasing rather than dimin-
ishing the loss of fine gold. According to Bowie,
float quicksilver containing microscopic gold parti-
cles has been taken from the surface of the water 20
miles from the place where the amalgam entered the
stream. A single flask of quicksilver is ample for
the needs of the average creek operation of the Klon-
dike or interior Alaska, and even with wasteful
handling would last a season.
Whether quicksilver is used or not, it will be found
advantageous to get the gold and amalgam as clean
as possible on the floor of the sluices or tables before
removing the valuable product. The comparatively
small amount of heavy concentrates accompanying
the creek gold of Seward Peninsula makes this possi-
ble in the frequent cleanups of the tailrace. Skillful
manipulation will accomplish the same result in the
interior except where excessive quantities of mag-
netite occur. In one case on Bonanza creek, Klon-
dike, the fine concentrates which could not be
removed with the magnetite after drying were skill-
fully separated by dry-panning.
Black sand or other concentrates have occasionally
been found rich enough to pay for sacking and ship-
ping to smelters after cleaning. Exaggerated reports
of high assays in gold obtained from black sand fre-
quently find credence. Nevertheless, whenever this
concentrate accumulates in the sluices or tables in
any considerable amount, it should be sampled and
assayed to ascertain the amount of finely divided
gold which still remains in it.
Cleaning, Eetoeting and Melting. — If amalgam
is to be treated, it should be well stirred, either in
buckets or large porcelain mortars, and the base
material — sand, scraps of iron, etc. — which comes to
the surface should be skimmed off.
" This residue (which holds considerable amalgam)
is concentrated by washing in pans or rockers, and
the concentrations ground in iron (or porcelain)
mortars and treated with more quicksilver. Any
base material which floats on the surface of the bath
is melted by itself to a base bullion. The remainder
is added to the fine amalgam. The amalgam is
strained from the quicksilver through drilling, and
the dry amalgam is retorted in iron retorts."
In cleaning the placer gold, when no quicksilver is
used, a magnet inside a cotton sack passed through
the dust will remove all the magnetite. Minerals of
high specific gravity not attractable by the magnet
are not easily removed by mechanical means. Rutile,
garnets, and ilmenite are examples of these occur-
ring in Alaska. In small operations the gold dust is
roughly cleaned from these minerals by blowing and
dry-panning. Where the amount of gold is consider-
able, a melting plant is advisable. In retorting
amalgam, small hand retorts will in general be found
adequate.
" Before the amalgam is put in the retort the in-
terior is coated with a thin wash of clay, which pre-
vents the amalgam from adhering to the iron.
" The amalgam should be carefully introduced and
evenly spread. The iron pipe which connects the
back end of the retort with the condenser must be
clear of all obstructions, and under no circumstances
should the amalgam be spread so that the pipe can
possibly become choked, as in that case an explosion
would probably ensue.
" To avoid any danger arising from this source after
the cover has been put on, lined with either clay or a
mixture of clay and wood ashes, and securely clamped,
the fire is lighted and the heat gradually raised, a
dark-red heat being all that is necessary to thor-
oughly volatilize the quicksilver. Toward the end of
the operation the heat is raised to a cherry-red
color, at which it is kept until distillation ceases.
The retort is allowed gradually to cool, and when
cold is opened."
A stream of cold water should be always flowing
through the jacket which incloses the condensing
pipe, so that by no possibility can mercurial vapor
pass into the receiving vessel in which the lower end
of the pipe terminates. The discharge end of the
pipe should be kept under water during the retort-
ing operation.
When gold accumulates in sufficient quantities to
make the shipment of the dust inconvenient, the
metal may be melted on the ground and molded into
bricks. Both for convenience of shipment and facility
in guarding against losses, this practice is to be re-
commended. A brief description of the essential
features of this work follows.
In melting, a gasoline 2 -jet furnace may be used.
Gasoline under a pressure of 30 pounds enters a heat-
ing coil attached to the burner. The heating coil is
so arranged and fed that liquid gasoline burning on
the outside of the main feed vaporizes the gasoline
which is used within the furnace. With the 30 pounds
pressure used a very hot flame is the result. The
gasoline supply should be stored without the building
and brought in through pipes, so as to reduce the
danger of explosion. An air barrel connected with
the supply line and supplied with a small hand pump
serves to keep the gasoline pressure as high as may
be necessary. The furnace is made of sheet iron and
lined with fire brick. A cover of asbestos and iron
serves to retain heat. This should be so constructed
as to allow the bolting on of new iron plates, as they
burn off with the great heat generated. The operator
should be supplied with asbestos gloves.
Crucibles are of various sizes. A No. 30 crucible,
costing between $2 and $2.50, will hold from 900 to
1000 ounces of impure gold or bullion with the neces-
sary fluxing charge. They are composed of fine clay
and graphite, and to prevent breaking certain pre-
cautions should be observed. A new crucible should
stand near the furnace, at least during two melts,
and when first used should be heated gently. This
precaution is not necessary when a crucible has once
been used. After a crucible has been used five or six
times it can not be depended on and it would be
economy to discard it, as breaking during a melt is a
source of great inconvenience and loss of time.
It is necessary to have an iron table near the
furnace, upon which can be placed gold pans, shovels,
tongs, etc.
Before the gold is placed in the crucible it should
be accurately weighed and cleaned with a magnet, as
above described.
In melting 900 to 1000 ounces, three-fourths of a
pound of borax should first be melted in the crucible
as a flux. After the dust is poured in, one-fourth
pound of soda with one-half pound of borax should be
placed on top. The soda unites with the silica of the
sand, but in perfectly clean gold is not needed. The
borax unites with the iron occurring with the gold.
When the dust is mixed with considerable iron pyrite
it is well to add a small quantity of scrap iron. This,
in uniting with the sulphur, forms iron sulphide,
which comes off in the slag. If this precaution be
not taken, a hard matte, very difficult to remove,
forms upon the brick.
During the melt it is necessary several times to
skim the slag from the gold. A special instrument
is used for this purpose, essentially a long rod bear-
ing at its lower end an enlargement to which the slag
will stick. Affer gathering a small quantity upon
the skimmer it is brought out, and by rolling on
the iron table is made into a smooth, disk-shaped
mass upon the end of the rod. This operation is con-
tinued until the slag collected upon the skimmer be-
comes unwieldy, when it is cooled by plunging it in
water and broken off. When the gold is reached
it may be readily detected by its greater weight. A
second flux of borax alone is then added, and when
this has melted the product is ready for pouring.
Though the mold should not be heated too much, it
should always be raised to such a temperature that
oil will burn on contact with it.
On removing the bullion brick from the mold it is
placed in a pickle of three or four parts of water to
one of nitric acid, which serves to clean the gold of
surficial deposit. By using a hammer and a steel
slag brush the brick is made ready for shipment.
November 4, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
313
Four Typical Rhodesian Gold Mines.*
Written for the Minim; and Scientific Phbss by Tiiko. F. Van
Wagutbn.
TnE Tebekwe.— The Tebekwe is one of the two
mines of Rhodesia (the other being the Globe A
these croppings the mysterious "ancients" of the
region had worked out nearly everything that was
rich down to depths ranging from 50 to 150 feet,
leaving deep trenches bordered on their lower sides
by long dumps of cobbings, containing thousands of
tons of low-grade quartz, the most of which has
Bonsor Mill, Selukwe, Rhodesia, S. A.
Headgear of the Veracity Mine, Rhodesia, S. A.
Plant of the Wanderer Mine, Selukwe, Rhodesia, S. A.
Phoenix) that have been dividend payers. The vein
is apparently a true fissure between walls of schist,
stands nearly upright, has a width of 5 to 12 feet,
and the croppings — or what is left of them — are
traceable on the surface for i mile or more. Along
* See illustration on front page.
since been milled with profit by the modern owners
of the ground. The vein filling at this mine is the
usual hard, glassy and bluish tinted quartz of the
region, that looks very cold and dead to an Amer-
ican. But in the Tebekwe it has yielded from $7 to
$12 per ton, and in several places the stopes have
been over 10 feet in width of such material. Ex-
plorations have been pushed to the depth of over
1000 feet on the mine, and so far with very sat-
isfactory results, though the lowest level does not
happen to show at the present time as well, for
either quality or quantity, as some of those above it.
The payable ore shoot is from 500 to .600 feet long.
Very little pyrite is to be found, even in the lowest
workings, and very little visible gold in any part of
the mine. The equipment consists of a well appointed
40-stamp mill and cyanide plant, which handles about
200 tons daily. The working force, when the mine
is operating at full capacity" consists roughly of 100
white men and 1000 black laborers. The location is
in the Selukwe hills, a bunch of elevations that rise
perhaps 1200 to 1500 feet above the general level of
the Rhodesian upland, which, at this latitude (about
18° south), stands about 4500 feet above the sea. A
branch of the Rhodesian railway system approaches
within a mile or two of the mine.
The Wanderer. — This is a quarrying proposition.
Tt is located also in the Selukwe hills — which are in
the eastern part of Rhodesia — and consists of a run
of opaque white quartz, from 40 to SO feet wide, that
crops out for 600 or 700 feet on the slopes of one of
the ridges. The material is moderately soft, shows
little or no pyrite, and carries frpm $3 to $4 per ton
in recoverable gold values. The process of treat-
ment is by dry crushing, followed by direct cyanidiza-
tion. About 400 tons are handled daily, at costs
ranging from $2.50 to $3 per ton. Considered by it-
self, it is a magnificent gold proposition, that might
be made as profitable and permanent as the Home-
stake; but the capitalization (nearly $2,500,000) is
many times what it actually cost to equip the mine,
or what it should have cost, and the general Rhode-
sian scale in the way of fuel, supplies, labor and
supervision costs is so severe a handicap that, up to
date, little or no profits have been realized. Ul-
timately, no doubt, the property will be reorganized,
and the capitalization cut down to proper dimensions.
When this is done, and when the general commercial
conditions in Rhodesia are brought into line with
those of other gold mining communities, the Wan-
derer will take a good position among the notable
gold mines of the world.
The Bonsor. — The Bonsor had an unusually long
line of ancient workings at its surface, fully 1800 feet
of them, and gave every promise of becoming a highly
payable property. The vein (or reef, as it is called
in South Africa, following the Australian nomencla-
ture) stands nearly upright between schist and dio-
rite walls, and carried from 5 to 20 feet of hard,
glassy, blue-white quartz, that assayed from $5 to $7
per ton from the bottom of the ancient diggings down
to about 400 feet. At this distance from the surface,
however, it became very low grade and unpayable,
except in spots, and up to date the company owning
it has not had the means to push below this low-grade
zone. This is an experience that has been met in
gold-bearing quartz veins almost everywhere, and in
every case the miner or the mining company has been
compelled to work out their own salvation as best
they could. In many regions the barren zone has
been shown, sooner or later, to be underlaid by a sec-
ond payable one, not so good, perhaps, as the sur-
face bonanza area, but still highly profitable, because
generally more extensive. In Rhodesia the ore bodies,
in the vast majority of cases, are lenses of hard
quartz lying in the bedding planes of Archaean
schists, or between schist and diorite, and, while
their extent laterally is rarely more than 1000 feet,
and often much less, they have, in a number of in-
stances, been pursued downward for that distance
and farther, without any indication (so far as the
quartz is concerned) of coming to an end. But, as in
the case of the Bonsor, the gold values have often
decreased notably, and at times almost disappeared,
at depths ranging from 350 feet and downward, and
where that has occurred there is no instance yet on
record in the country where it has been possible to
prove a return of values below, because working cap-
itals have become exhausted, and the various pro-
cesses of reconstruction have not yet come about.
So the problem of what is going to happen in Rhode-
sia in depth upon its numerous and magnificent
quartz ledges is still an unsolved one. The Bonsor is
now under lease, and if the royalties that are slowly
accruing are devoted to deep exploration the mine
may yet be carried into the winning class. It is also
one of the Selukwe hill properties, is conveniently
situated for economical operation, but, like all the
other Rhodesian gold mines, is handicapped with a
capitalization many times too large.
The Veracity. — This is a good example of the
Rhodesian variety of the " poor man's " mine. It is
a comparatively narrow, but very rich, quartz ledge,
with a short ore shoot. The pay will average 2 to 5
feet in thickness, and will assay §12 to $25 per ton.
It was started as a company proposition, but could
not be made to pay under those conditions. It is now
under lease. It lies in a perfectly flat region that
was originally densely covered with stunted trees
and low, thorny brush. No American miner would
look for a gold vein in such a place, yet the African
"ancient" found the rich decomposed surface crop-
pings, went down on them till stopped by water, and
then disappeared. The jagged earth scar left was
sufficient to draw the attention of the Rhodesian
314
Mining and Scientific Press.
November 4, 1905.
company claim pegger, and in due time the little
thing was capitalized and floated off the stocks with
all the style and circumstances attending the launch-
ing of a battleship, when its proper measure was
about that of a neat little fishing schooner. But if
it, and the thousands like it in the country, had
fallen into individual hands, and could have been
worked with freedom, and the energy and resource-
fulness that freedom brings out, the gold production
of Rhodesia would long ere this have startled the
world with its magnitude.
History of Pyritic Smelting.*
NUMBER III.— CONCLUDED.
By Robert C. Sticht.
Of Mount Lyell, and the introduction of the pyrite
process there, it is not necessary to speak, except
perhaps to say that the process was there yet to be
put to the severest test it still had to meet. By the
initiated the pyrites of the Mount Lyell mine could
not but be regarded as a veritable metallurgical
feast, but to the outside world pyrite smelting had
still to prove its adaptability to copper ores pure
and simple. Some anxiety had arisen in this regard
in the minds of prominent authorities, but previous
experience, aided by a few simple chemical facts,
had inspired the writer with considerably greater
confidence in the fidelity of copper to sulphur under
nearly all circumstances, and, for his part, he could
not call up any apprehensiveness that " the powerful
oxidizing atmosphere of the pyrite furnace " would
ever be quite powerful enough to shatter this strong
bond of affinity. It was gratifying to observe that
this question was practically settled by the very first
slag that ran out of the first Mount Lyell furnace,
though not a little amusing mystification was en-
gendered by the extreme emphasis of the endorse-
ment given by the furnace. It went even further
than the wildest expectation could have gone, for the
slag analysis revealed no copper at all. However, this
ideal state of slag did not continue long, and a few
shifts soon reinstated the ordinary imperfections of
all mundane affairs, metallurgical ones included, and
so it has remained since. Still, the powerful oxidiz-
ing effect of the blast has up to date not asserted
itself, for it requires greater pressure and longer
application of the blast than is ever likely to be ex-
erted on a copper ore in a blast furnace operated up
to 50% matte only. The process in this respect is
far more reliable than the smelting of roasted copper
ores.
Mount Lyell started with hot blast and pressures
not exceeding eighteen ounces, in June, 1896, after a
stock of only 150 tons of coke had been slowly ac-
cumulated, which, with all machinery and two fur-
naces and stoves, had to be painfully carted a dis-
tance of Z6 miles over a barbarous mountain road.
Fortunately for the continuity of the running, since
no irrational hope was entertained of accomplishing
the absolutely cokeless state of pyrite smelting
within a few weeks, the railway into the reduction
works valley was completed on July 18th, and the
first train delivered an augmentation of the coke
stock. In course of time the original two-furnace
plant grew into six, in No. 1 plant, and later on No.
2 plant was added, with five more furnaces. The
experience of Mount Lyell has demonstrated the per-
fect suitability of the process to high and low-grade
copper ores, on a large scale, and the establishment
still remains the largest pyrite plant in the world,
with a total complement of eleven furnaces, the sec-
ond five of larger size than the first six, and both
sets originally supplied with hot blast. Matte con-
centration was resorted to at once, for though a
converter grade of matte might have been produced
in one smelting, this would have been less profitable
than the two-fold smelting. The only drawback for
several years was that, owing to the excessively
basic character of the Mount Lyell pyrites, and the
then apparently absolute lack of profitable dry ores
in the locality, it was necessary to use barren silica.
In due course, however, matters improved in this re-
spect, through the opening up of the siliceous mines
in the district, whose product was secured by pur-
chase. Some attempts were made in the early years
to run with cold blast, but under the conditions then
obtaining they yielded no result.
The example of Mount Lyell started the Lake
George United Co., which began pyrite operations at
Captain's Flat, N. S. W., with five furnaces, in 1897,
at first using cold blast, but subsequently hot blast.
Notwithstanding remarkably economical work,
operations could not remain continuous, largely
owing to the unsuitable nature of the main ore.
Since 1896 it may be said that pyrite smelting has
been on the regular plane of a truly recognized smelt-
ing method, adaptable to copper. A rather vast
literature, for so short a life, has accumulated, much
of it inconclusive, and of a contradictory character
in respect of the salient features of the process —
such, for instance, as the necessity of hot blast.
Much that has been written about the latter, espe-
cially, is to cross-purpose, and the voluminous dis-
* Abstract of Proceedings Australasian Inst. Mining Engineers.
quisition wants sifting and bringing to a common
ground for comparison.
In 1895 appeared the seventh edition of E. D.
Peter's work on "Modern Copper Smelting," in
which the pyrite method is first treated comprehen-
sively from an independent standpoint. This work
also contains an essay by the writer. This was
originally written for a group of business men familiar
with smelting operations, and not as a purely scien-
tific expose, so thai it is not of as much service to
the metallurgist as it might, have been made.
The present day status of pyritic smelting owes
much to Franklin R. Carpenter, not because of the
perseverance with which he has remained faithful to
the general process under the most difficult ore con-
ditions, but also on account of the liberal and lucid
manner in which his investigations and opinions have
been laid before the profession. He has elevated this
form of the general method, and incidentally the con-
dition of pyrite smelting itself, as well as that of par-
tial pyrite smelting, to a chemical perfection along
certain lines which, but for him, it would not so read-
ily have reached. He is largely eclectic, his sources
being predominantly the work of the older Germans.
But so are we all at the present day, and it is fortu-
nate that there is an opportunity for learning from
the past. The metallurgist who does not now look
back to see what has been attempted and accom-
plished before may not hope to make much of an ad-
vance in so difficult a study, and can not obtain a
proper comprehensive grasp of its manifold aspects.
Dr. Carpenter's pyritic work at Deadwood, S. D.,
and in Colorado, has been and is a creditable triumph
of modern metallurgy. It is the old Roharbeit still,
but etherealized, if one may use this expression about
so material a thing as smelting, into a distinctively
new and far-reaching process. His treatment of ex-
cessively dry siliceous ores carrying up to 76% silica
with the use of a scarcely basic pyritous concentrate
as a vehicle, and the addition of dolomite, running
1000 tons of charge daily into only 10 tons of matte,
has never been equalled. His conviction that there
is much needless wet concentration and wet process
treatment — i. e., amalgamation, chlorination, leach-
ing, etc. — of siliceous pyritic and cupriferous ores,
practically free from zinc and lead, together with
much superfluous roasting to facilitate subsequent
reduction smelting, is shared by most metallurgists
holding broad views of the pyritic art, and it may
safely be predicted that we shall in due time see the
largest mining localities of the world, which now use
mechanical concentration and the roast reduction
process, follow this important suggestion.
At Mount Lyell the latter part of 1902 saw the
gradual abandonment of the use of hot blast, with all
the attendant economic and metallurgical advantages,
such as a higher concentration, etc., and with no
palpable increase in the cost of mechanical power or
other drawback to offset this result. The departure
was first made in the matte concentration operation
and then extended to the ore smelting in No. 1 plant.
In the early part of 1903 hot blast was finally wholly
discarded at Mount Lyell in both plants. Increased
experience has caused the number of furnaces in
blast to be gradually lowered from six or eight in both
plants to four in No. 2 plant only, to which the original
blowing capacity of both plants is now being applied.
The total tonnage capacity has remained the same,
but a single smelting only is now performed to pro-
duce a converter grade of matte, which implies a
concentration of about 18 or 20 into 1.
In 1902 the companies working the great pyrrho-
tite deposits of Ducktown, Tenn., finally also investi-
gated the subject of pyrite smelting, and, independ-
ently discovering its great advantages, rapidly
worked themselves fully into it. W. H. Freeland has
published the very interesting experimental data re-
lating to the first successful trials there, which were
collected with exceptional care. More recently the
ore of the Great Cobar mine also began to be treated
by the pyrite process, for which pyrrhotite is an
ideal substance.
The years 1901-3 brought an almost complete re-
turn to Mr. Hollway's experimental smelting of
pyritic ore in lumps in a tiltable converter vessel. It
is the process of E. Knudsen, carried out at Sulit-
jelma, Norway. The difference, however, lies in the
fact that the vessel lining is basic, though this was
spoken of even at Hollway's meeting, and the vessel
is also, of course, of a special design. The pyritic
ore itself is only slightly basic in composition. It is
not easy to comprehend the advantage accruing from
the converter, for the same ore would have an enor-
mous tonnage at a very much lower pressure in the
ordinary pyrite furnace. The capacity of the con-
verter appears to be about forty tons a day and the
power per ton 4 H. P. As an ordinary pyrite smelter
need use only roughly from J H. P. to 1 H. P. per
ton of ore with the same or a higher rate of concen-
tration, it is difficult to see why blast furnace oper-
ations at Sulitjelma were abandoned in favor of a
converter process.
Finally, the most important recent contribution to
the discussion of the subject, dealing with it in that
scientific manner which is theoretically the most ab-
sorbing and practically the most helpful, is a valuable
review by Prof. A. Lodin, also in 1904.
The application of the pyritic principle to the met-
allurgy of copper, silver and gold, or, more properly,
of that of rapid oxidation, has guided Barthold Koh- I
ler's old Roharbeit, in the hands of latter-day metal-
lurgical artists, to consummations which even a quar-
ter of a century ago were scarcely dreamed of. But
while the Ihodern devotee of the art may rejoice that
so decided an advance has been made, he will not be
able to suppress a feeling of regret that it should
have required the unconscious wastes incurred during
more than three centuries to bring us to such a point
at last. He will also simultaneously apprehend that
much more yet remains to be done. The encyclopedic
Karsten (who died just two years before the first
Bessemer experiments) in 1831 remarked that, "how-
ever greatly the state of metallurgy in a further 300
years might surpass that of the present, an outlook
to which the rapid progress being made in the dis-
covery of natural laws gave encouragement, it was
not likely that the disparity between then and now
would be as great as that between now and 300 years
ago." Our modern disposition, it may be said, is not
to the same effect, however modestly the thought was
meant. The progress already made teaches us to
look forward to scientific revelations in the future of
which the applications will make the methods of to-
day appear like those of the veritable dark ages, and
will relegate the sixteenth, nineteenth and twentieth
centuries into one common obscurity of mere semi-
science.
Divining Rod as a Water Finder.
All miners are more or less familiar with the divin-
ing rod or gold finder, as it is used by the various
"professors" who attempt to lead others to believe
that they can locate with a fair degree of accuracy
valuable mineral deposits. Some of these forked de-
vices are elaborate and expensive, gotten up in fine
style, with linen or silk-wound handles, various wires
and insulating devices for mysterious purposes, but
the operators of the divining rod have never yet been
known to grow rich in the pursuit of their profession
from the value of ore bodies located by them in this
manner. There are, however, numerous fairly well
authenticated stories of the finding of water by
means of the divining rod. The Engineering News
prints the following as an interesting instance:
Successful use of a divining rod is reported by
G. Franzius of the German harbor construction
bureau, associate director of the construction of the
Kiel concrete drydocks, in the Zentralblatt der Bau-
verwaltung of Sept. 13, 1905. The occasion for a
trial of divining rod performance presented itself a few
months ago when it became necessary to sink addi-
tional wells on the grounds of the Imperial Navy
Yard at Kiel for water supply. In this territory
water is found overlying an impervious hardpan
whose surface is very irregular. The conditions are
such that at one point a borehole may give ample
water, while a dozen feet away no water is struck,
and at still other points artesian flows of low head
may be obtained. In order to avoid, if possible, the
expense of many trial boreholes, Mr. Franzius ob-
tained the assistance of one Mr. von Bulow-Bothkamp,
who had made a large local reputation as a water
and gold finder. The appliance used by him is a
piece of iron wire, about i inch or less in thickness,
bent to the form of a loop, with long cross ends. This
"rod " is held by grasping in the two hands its oppo-
site ends, which thus serve as axis, and allowing the
loop portion to project horizontally forward from the
body. When passing over or near an underground
flow of water (apparently Mr. v. B.-B. is able to indi-
cate only flowing underground water), the loop of the
"rod" flies up sharply, striking the operator's
breast. Armed with this instrument, the expert
first discovered a large underground flow, undiscern-
ible from the surface, but well known to the engineer
in location and direction, because it had been tapped
in drydock work. The expert at once found its course
and direction. Next, at a driven well which had
been closed off with a plug some time before, the
expert obtained no reaction, in spite of the positive
statement of the engineer's assistant that this pipe
had given an artesian flow. As proof of the expert's
error, the plug was taken out of the pipe, when, lo!
no water came. It was thought possible that a well
driven some 60 or 70 feet away may have laid dry
the flow supplying the first well. The next test,
made at the second well — an artesian borehole — was
for depth of supply flow. The expert guessed 43
feet, which was correct. He next discovered a large
flow, suitable for an additional well, and, as the first
discovered location was inconvenient, he followed its
course some 100 yards to a point where he said water
would be struck at 50 feet depth. Subsequently an
excellent well was put down here, with a natural
head of several feet above the ground surface. By
this time the expert was visibly exhausted, so that
work was stopped. At the discovery of the spring
last noted he asked Mr. Franzius and others of the
party to touch the "rod" which he held. The for-
mer and some of the others claim to have felt dis-
tinctly something like an electric shock, while others
were insensitive. Mr. Franzius later was able him-
self to obtain reactions with gold and water, using
a bent fresh walnut twig, and also found some
among his acquaintances who could, in varying
degrees of strength, detect the effects in question.
Judging by his signed article above referred to, from
which the preceding is taken, Mr. Franzius appears
convinced that there is something in the matter.
November 4, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
315
1 MINING SUMMARY. |
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** + * + **■ *f *•!- *f"f **• I6* T- -f* ♦* + «f *J"f- 4* *f * + *• f ** •**"*•*• «
Specially Compiled and Reported for tbo MINING AND
SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
ALASKA.
The Anvil Hydraulic & Drainage Co., developing
placer ground on Bourbon, East Bourbon, Holyoke,
Saturday, Lake and Wonder creeks, near Nome, is
draining the tundra by means of a 24-inch steel-banded
circular pipe. Dredgers are to be put in and the ground
worked from tide water toward Anvil mountain.
E. E. Powell organized the company.
ARIZONA.
Cochise County.
(Special Correspondence).— At the Cole shaft of the
Lake Superior & Pittsburg Co. of Bisbee excavations
are being made for the foundation of the new gallows-
frame. A sump has been finished at the bottom of the
shaft, and when the new hoist is put in, it is understood
the shaft will be sunk 400 feet from the 1100-foot level.
This will make it the deepest shaft in the district. Shaft
No. 3 is being put in order. A new road is being built
from Don Luis to the hoist. The Cole shaft has been
straightened, retimbered and enlarged from two to four
compartments of full work ing size,8x24 feet outside of tim-
bers. A new hoist has been put on the Denn mine,
near Warren. At a depth of 575 feet the formation is
still conglomerate.
Work has commenced on the Randolph mine, near
Tombstone.
Bisbee, Oct. 30.
On the 700 level of the Shattuck-Arizona of Bisbee
two faces in different workings are in ore 200 feet apart
and from 75 to 100 tons are being placed on the dumps
daily. At Bisbee the Calumet & Arizona Co., the
Calumet & Pittsburg Co., the Lake Superior & Pitts-
burg Co. and the Junction Co. are all preparing to
put in new hoists. A. Brackman has sunk a 100-foot
shaft on claims 12 miles from Douglas.
Graham County.
J. F. Weber, manager of the Federal M. Co., reports
that it has been reorganized under the name of the Gila
Valley Copper Co. This company absorbs the Federal,
San Juan and Great Eastern group of mines near Saf-
ford, in the Lone Star district. F. H. Wilson was elected
president. A 50-ton concentrator is to be put in.
The tunnel of the Chase Creek Copper Co., near Clif-
ton, is in 1040 feet.
Mohave County.
It is reported that W. H. Cushing of Topeka, Kan.,
intends putting a mill on the De La Fontaine mine, in
the Stockton Hill district, near Kingman. The vein
carries values in silver, lead and zinc. Machine drills
are to be put in at the Pinkham and Midnight mines,
near Kingman. The Pinkham shaft is to be sunk deeper.
R. G. Eekis is superintendent. E. M. Carson is to de-
velop the Bethel mine in Todd Basin, near Kingman, by
driving the Green Linnet tunnel to cut the Bethel vein
at a depth of 300 feet.
Kavapal County.
(Special Correspondence).— The Esmeralda M. Co. has
bought a new hoist which is to be set up on the Penfield
mines, near Cherry creek, recently bought from E. R.
Hutsenpiller. Operations will be commenced on one of
the claims, which has a shaft down 80 feet. Sulphide
ore, 4 feet in width, has been struck in the Shelton mine,
near Walker, operated by the Metais M. Co. The com-
pany is running a crosscut tunnel from the Helwick tun-
nel to tap the vein on the Eureka mine. E. Green-
wood and E. Campbell have bonded from M. D. C. Put-
nam the Express mine, near Poland.
Prescott, Oct. 30.
(Special Correspondence). — The Octave mine at Octave
has resumed active operations. At the Rincon mines,
near Congress, ore is taken from the 1100-foot shaft to
run the mill. Two new Wilfley concentrators have been
added to the plant in order to more economically handle
the rich ores coming from the mine at this time,
when the management expects to increase the produc-
tion to nearly the mill's full capacity. The Rincon M.
Co. has spent $150,000 on the mine and has now sixty-
five men employed. The company owns its own freight
teams and hauls its own freight, bullion and distillate,
which latter is bought by the carload and stored in tanks
built on the railroad at Congress Junction.
Congress, Oct. 30.
The 10-stamp Silver Flake mill at Groom creek is be-
ing moved to the Arizona Gold Mines property on
Cherry creek. R. H. Burmister of Prescott is manager.
At Middleton the De Soto M. Co. has seventy men
at work. A two-compartment working shaft is being
sunk by the Tiger Gold Co., near Crown King. J. J.
Shaw continues to remove the ores from the fire district
in the United Verde mine at Jerome. The part of the
mine where this work is now being done is known as the
Hampton stope and is known to contain a body of ore.
There are now employed under ground in the United
Verde mine 540 men. Superintendent Taylor has the
United Verde smelter working to almost its full capacity.
A rich vein of gold and copper ore is said to have been
discovered near Black mountain, in the Bill Williams
Fork range, 14 miles northwest of Wendon, on the Ari-
zona & California railroad. It was found by T. J. Car-
rigan and J. E. Rogers, of the Clara G. & C. Co. The
district may be reached from Wiokenburg.
Yuma County,
(Special Correspondence). — The number of employes
on the California-Arizona and Hecla properties has been
increased and several freight teams have been purchased
preparatory to starting ore shipments between the mines
and Tacna, the shipping point on the Southern Pacific
Railway. Arrangements have been made for building a
line from Welton, the postofflce station on the Southern
Pacific Railway, to the mines. On the Temper claim
one tunnel is in IliO feet; a winze has been sunk from this
tunnel 96 feet; another tunnel is being driven 100 feot
below.
Welton, Oct. 30.
CALIFORNIA.
Calaveras County.
The Lightner hoisting works and 40-stamp mill were
destroyed by fire Oct. 30. The loss will reach $150,000,
with an insurance of $50,000. The fire started in the
candle room, where the men change their clothing on
going to work. It is supposed that the flame from a
candle waB communicated to a miner's coat. One thou-
sand cords of wood was also destroyed. The sixteen
men in the mine escaped through a 000-foot shaft into
the Angels mine. The Lightner mine is owned princi-
pally in Stockton. W. T. Mitchell and F. Sciaroni
were convicted at San Andreas recently of having at-
tempted to wreck the Angels mine at Angels Camp
during last May. Sciaroni was the foreman, and, learn-
ing that he was to be discharged, with Mitchell and
Charles Holmes put in blasts at different levels of the
mine to cave the shaft in. Holmes turned State's evi-
dence, thus avoiding prosecution.
Nevada County.
The South Yuba M. & S. Co. has bought the Virginia
& Gold Hill and the Martha quartz mines, near French
Corral. Al Ellinger of Grass Valley is president of the
company. O. Woebler is the general manager. Devel-
opment work will be started.
Placer County.
It is reported that rich wash gravel has been struck
at the Dardanelles mine at Forest Hill, being operated
by A. G. Read. F. Randall is foreman,
sierra County.
(Special Correspondence). — The Forest City M. Co.
report pay gravel. Wm. Brady, superintendent of
the Irwin gravel mine, is putting in power drills, to be
run by gasoline. Spaulding & Peckwith will start the
West Point mine when the rains come on. The
Golden Scepter have rich gravel opened up in their
channel at Bunker Hill. There is a report of a copper
strike near Basset's station. The Keystone will soon
be ready to start its 10-stamp mill near Sierra City, as
the work of repairing the damage caused by the recent
flood is nearly completed. 'The electric plant being
put in at the Telegraph mine, near Downieville, is nearly
completed. This will furnish power with which to sink
on the vein. J. W. Finney is the superintendent.
Sinking still continues to show up a strong vein of fair
values at the Oaklick, in Jim Crow canyon, near Sierra
City. It is stated that 2530 pounds of ore taken from
the Lightner mine at Alleghany last month gave a bul-
lion return of $35,325.42 and 263 pounds of concentrates
which assay $110,000 per ton. The 263 pounds of con-
centrates will give returns of about $15,000. This prop-
erty is owned by H. L. Johnson of Alleghany. Lum-
ber is being taken to the Sovereign mine, near Downie-
ville, to repair the buildings for winter.
Downieville, Oct. 31.
Henry Goering of Sierraville has sold the Last
Chance gravel mine above Mohawk Valley in Sierra and
Plumas counties, not far from Clyde. He has been
placed in charge of the mine for the present. A new
tunnel 800 feet long will be run to cross the channel and
arrangements will be made for working all winter.
Trinity County.
A rich strike is reported in the Bonanza King mine, 4
miles east of Carrville. The mine was bonded to Tread-
well of San Francisco by Vollmer, Eldridge & Filmer.
The dredger at Trinity Center, owned by Payne Bros.
& Keenan, has closed work for the season. This is the
only dredger operating in this county and this was the
third season it had been in use. G. W. Payne of Santa
Rosa, the superintendent, says this season's run has
been satisfactory. The boat haB a capacity of 500 yards
a day.
A rich strike has been made at the Mountain Bloomer
mine at Denny by J. A. Byers.
Tuolumne County.
Shaft sinking has been started at the Reed mine, near
Big Oak Flat. It is reported that a 5-stamp mill is to
be put up at the Mary mine, near Arrastraville. Lack
of water has caused suspension of work at the Jumper
mine at Stent. At the Black Oak at Soulsby ville ad-
vantage is being taken of the idle season to make needed
repairs and to retimber wherever necessary. At the
Sunnyside mine, near Tuolumne, a crosscut tunnel will
be started. A compressor is to be put in and machine
drills will be used in the tunnel.
COLORADO.
(Special Correspondence).— The question of making
the Bureau of Mines a repository for maps and other in-
formation of different mining sections is being consid-
ered among mining men of this State. It is proposed to
ask the next Legislature to appropriate money to this
department for maintaining men in the field in gathering
information and making maps that will be of value to
the mining industry. A question arises similar to the
drainage question now being agitated in the Cripple
Creek district. The Bureau of Mines sends a repre-
sentative to the section involved and makes a map of
the district, and estimates the cost of driving a tunnel
necessary to drain the section. By a certain number of
property owners petitioning the parties in charge to
drive the tunnel the work is commenced and finished,
and each property holder benefited by the tunnel will
be assessed according to the benefits received from the
tunnel. In this manner it is believed by the parties who
have the matter in hand that much quibbling and de-
lays will be avoided in getting the necessary relief. In
Leadville the Yak tunnel is draining a large area of
valuable mineral land without recompense from the
owners of the land benefited. The same applies to the
Cowenhoven tunnel. at Aspen, Newhouse tunnel at Idaho
Springs, the Nelson tunnel at Creede and the El Paso
at Cripple Creek. If the State had charge of this work
the expense would be divided among the parties bene-
fited instead of allowing individuals of one company to
do all the work and stand all of the expense involved in
the enterprise. In this manner each mining district
would be benefited to the extent that a map would be
made of their locality and additions and corrections
made from time to time. These maps would be kept on
file and copies could be obtained from the Bureau of
Mines office. Governor McDonald has declined to call
an extra session of the Legislature to provide bonds for
the handling of the war debt incurred during the big
strike in Cripple Creek and Telluride; also to pass a law
regulating banking institutions of the State. Most of
the placer mines of the State have closed down for the
winter. The recentjsnows made it impossible, as well as
the shortage of water and freezing nights, caused the
shut down for the year. The machinery at the new
United States Mint in this city has been tested and is
now ready for coining. Regular work will not be com-
menced before the first of the year.
Denver, Oct. 30.
Clear Creek County.
(Special Correspondence).— The St. Paul M. & M. Co.,
Mont. Tong manager, is driving a tunnel under Green
Lake mountain to tap the Colorado Central vein. The
tunnel will cut the vein 1000 feet deeper than the old
workings of the Colorado Central Co. The tunnel is in
150 feet, being driven with an electric air drill. It is
being debated whether they will do all the work through
this one tunnel or divide the work with the old workings
of the St. Paul Co. Nearly 2000 feet of work has already
been done in different places on the property, and this
tunnel will be 2000 feet in length when completed.
The East Argentine T., M., M., P. & T. Co. is driving
the Sidney tunnel. This tunnel is now about 900 feet in
Pendleton mountain and still driving. The same com-
pany are also driving the H tunnel, which is in 300 feet.
Power drills are used in both tunnels. The power plant
of the company consists of a 9J-foot Pelton wheel and
8-drill compressor. They have 200 feet water fall, giving
them about 100 pounds pressure. At the upper end of
the flume they have a boiler and intend to turn steam
into the pipes, to keep from freezing during the winter
months, and they believe in this manner they will be
enabled to operate throughout the year. This is an
experiment. H. J. CriBt is president and M. Sidney
manager. The Domino M. Co., owning a property
across the gulch from the Sidney tunnel, has given an
option for two years to E. Quigley of Idaho Springs,
who intends to start a new tunnel. Power will be ob-
tained from the East Argentine Co. to operate their
drills. The Waldorf M. Co. has completed a 50-ton
mill at the Wilcox tunnel and will soon be in a position to
turn out concentrates. The power for operating the
mill is obtained from the Georgetown Electric Light
Co. This company also furnishes the different proper-
ties of the Waldorf Co. with power for operating and
light purposes. The wires are strung through Silver
Plume to the Stevens mill and then brought over the
hill to the Kittie Ousley and Tobin mines, and thence to
the Wilcox. The Wilcox is running seven drills in the
mine and two more will be added. At present they are not
driving the tunnel, but drifting on the Commonwealth
and Paymaster veins, in which they are opening up
some good ore. The tunnel will be continued on to con-
nect with the Stevens mine, on the opposite side of the
mountain. Peter Hector is mine foreman. The Tobin,
on the eastern slope of McClelland mountain and one of
the Waldorf Co. 's properties, is doing development work
preparing for spring shipments. One tunnel is in 2000
feet and one 1600 feet. They are not aiming to take out
large amounts of ore at present, as they do not expect
to be able to ship before spring, when the railroad will
be operating from the mine. Machine drills are used.
Eighteen men are employed in the mine. John Nash is
foreman. The Kitty Ousley, belonging to the same
company, is taking out some good ore. Foreman J. E.
Wing states that he has opened up a vein 18 inches to 2
feet wide of sulphide ore and is looking better with each
shot. A concentrating mill will be built in the spring to
handle the ore from the mine. These properties, as
well as the Wilcox tunnel, are above timber line. Chas.
Tingle is superintendent and E. J. Wilcox of Denver
manager. In this same district the Santiago mine is
keeping three wagons busy hauling ore to the mill at
Georgetown, where it is being milled for shipment to
the smelterB. Wm. Rogers is manager. D. Kennedy
has started his mine, which has been idle for several
months past. The mine is being cleaned out ready to
take out ore. S. Anderson, manager of the Independ-
ence M. Co., is operating on the Griffith mine, near
town. The company intends building a mill for handling
the ore at the mine, as well as treating the old dump,
which carries considerable lead and zinc. Another
year should see heavy shipments of ore from the East
Argentine district. The amount of work done in that
district the past year has been satisfactory to all.
The Vidler tunnel, which is intended to pierce the range
and come out in Summit county, is operating a few men
at present. R. C. Vidler, manager of the property, is
still in London, but is expected home within the next
sixty days. It is reported he has raised the necessary
capital to finish the project. This tunnel when finished
will be used as a railroad tunnel, and it is the intention
of the management to build a railroad from the portal
of the tunnel in Summit county to connect with the Col-
orado & Southern at Keystone, a few miles from Dillon.
This will make a much shorter route from Denver to
Leadville than by the present route which goes through
South Park via Como and Breckenridge. On the east-
ern slope of the range it will connect with the new road
now being built by the Waldorf Co., and the grade of
which is now within a few hundred feet of the eastern
portal.
Georgetown, Oct. 28. '
(Special Correspondence).— The Dives-Pelican mill,
which has been closed for some time on account of some
repairs being made to the chutes in the mine, will be
started about Nov. 1. The railroad being built from
Silver Plume to the East Argentine district has been
graded and the laying of steel has commenced. The
management of the railroad hope to have trains running
316
Mining and Scientific Press.
Novembeb 4, 1905.
to the mines of East Argentine in the next thirty days.
The road connects with the Colorado & Southern at Sil-
ver Plume. In order to get to the top of the mountain
a switchback had to be built, and the grade is extremely
hard. Some difficulty will undoubtedly be encountered
with the snow during the winter months.
Silver Plume, Oct. 30.
The Commodore tunnel driving into Red Elephant
mountain, near Empire, has reached the big veins and
the 'company is upraising and drifting to prospect and
develop them.
The Flexible tunnel has been driven over 200 feet into
Saxon mountain, near Georgetown, under the direc-
tion of D. B. Roberts. The Magnet mine, on Saxon
mountain, is being developed under the management of
W. B. Jacoby. Drifting from the 265-foot level of
the American Sisters mine, on Columbia mountain, near
Georgetown, is opening up good ore. The upraise
from the Bonanza tunnel of the Democrat Mountain M.
Co., for the purpose of securing air, has been com-
pleted after five months' work. The shaft on the
Edgar property can be sunk without difficulty.
£agle County.
J. H. Lemmon has struck rich ore while sinking a
shaft on the North Star on New York mountain, near
Fulford. The lessees on the Lucy, near Pulford, are
breaking high-grade ore and sacking it for shipment.
J. Bowman has let a contract for development on the
Cattlet & May, near Pulford, to W. E. Frost.
Ullpln Connty.
The Pewabic Co. of Russell gulch is putting machinery
on the Iron mine which will enable it to sink to a depth
of 1500 feet. The TJte mine at Nevada, near the Cali-
fornia, has been started up by Central City men under
the direction of Manager Pearce. The force at the
Freedom mine has been increased. The Imperial Gold
M. & M. Co., operating the Mackey mine at Apex, has
commenced work on a new lode, the Amazon, which
was recently purchased by the company. S. T.
Elliott will sink the Grand Central shaft, near Central
City, from the 400 to the 600-foot level, and drifting will
be commenced in the 350-foot level west. Retimbering
of the shaft is to be done from the 200 to the 300 level.
Copper-iron ore has been found at a depth of 100 feet
in the Rochester shaft of the Apex G. M. & M. Co., at
Apex, by Manager C. E. Barrick.
The Carr claims, on Bob Tail hill, the aerial tramway
and the Randolph 50-stamp mill, owned by King Leopold
of Belgium and a number of wealthy Englishmen, have
been sold to an Eastern syndicate for $50,000 cash. The
deal was put through by G. P. Goodyear of Denver.
The Randolph mill is in North Clear creek, below Black
Hawk. The group has one shaft 800 feet deep.
Gu unison County.
The Maple Leaf Con. G. M. Co. is developing the
Maple Leaf group, near Gunnison. The main shaft is
down 250 feet and has opened milling and shipping ore.
A mill is to be put on the property at once. The
Cortland mine, above Ohio City, in Mclntyre gulch, has
been leased out in blocks and the leasers are taking out
ore.
It is reported that the Gold Link T. & M. Co. has re-
sumed operations on its big tunnel above the Raymond,
near Gunnison.
Hinsdale Connty.
It is reported that high-grade ore has been opened in
the Monte Queen mine, on Crooke mountain, near Lake
City.
Lake Connty.
The Ruby mine, near Twin Lakes, recently shipped a
carload of first-class ore to the Leadville smelter that
netted $300 per ton. All of the low grade ore from the
property is being stacked on the dump waiting the com-
pletion of the mill. The property will work all winter.
From the different properties on Carbonate hill, Lead-
ville, the tonnage during the month has been increased
and they are sending out 400 tons daily. The upper and
lower shafts of the Waterloo are shipping seventy-five
tons daily and the Porter, Ladder and Crescent No. 2
are outputting 150 tons daily. The company working
one shaft on the Evening Star is shipping fifty tons and
a number of small lessees are shipping from ten to
twenty tons daily. Prospecting with the diamond drill
on the Ollie Reed No. 2 shaft, South Evans, Leadville,
has ceased, as the results were not satisfactory. The
company is working in No. 1 shaft. New prospect drifts
will be started from the different levels in this shaft and
the ground developed.
J. A. Storm has resumed work on the Bedford group
on Mt. Ewing, near Twin Lakes. ■ Work will com-
mence very soon on the Ten Broeck, near Twin Lakes.
The Mt. Storm tunnel at Red mountain is near the
vein from which the rich ore was obtained on the surface.
Pitkin Countv.
Aspen ore is a low-grade 9ilver-lead, but it i9 cheaply
mined and gets the benefit of very low smelting charge
because of its lime and the small per cent of silica. Some
of the properties contain zinc, but it, too, is low grade.
This product is marketed in Pueblo and at Iola, Kan.
Most of the district's output is from leased ground. The
recent fire in the Percy-La Salle, one of the most exten-
sively developed properties, threw many miners out of
employment temporarily; but it is stated that the dam-
age will be fully repaired before the close of December,
when the former activity will be resumed. The Smug-
gler and Percy-La Salle have been the largest shippers,
but the Aspen, Compromise, Spar, A. J. Refent, Home-
stead and some others of lesser note have been steady
producers. The ruling wage scale is $2.50 per diem.
San Jnan County.
The Rattling Jack and Elk claims, on Breeee hill, Sil-
verton, have been leased to G. F. Barry, who will sink
both shafts deeper. The present depth is 300 feet. The
Rattling Jack shaft will be sunk to a depth of 750 feet.
The Silver Ledge mine and mill and the Esmeralda
mine, near Silverton, have been closed down for the
winter.
San Miguel County.
Manager W. C. Beam of the Japan-Flora M. Co. has
closed down the property near Telluride. The Pan-
dora Gold M. & D. Co. has been formed with W. E.
Westland of Denver, president; Charles Rittmaster,
vice president; J. A. Manifold, secretary; S. L. Fulker-
son, manager and treasurer, all of Telluride, except the
first named. This company recently secured from the
Smuggler-Union M. Co. a long-term lease on 2300 contig-
uous feet within Smuggler-Union territory, on the
Pandora vein, between the point where this vein is
intersected by the Pennsylvania tunnel and the lines of
the Valley View group of mines. Just below the Valley
View, which is much higher than the Pennsylvania tun-
nel, Messrs. Hallet & Webb held a lease on a considerable
stretch of the Pandora vein, whose interests the new
company purchased, giving it a clear passage. The pur-
chase lease is known as the upper lease, and between it
and the Pennsylvania tunnel the ground is known as the
lower lease. The lease from the Smuggler-Union Co.
carries with it the privilege of operating the Pandora
vein through the Pennsylvania tunnel. The Pandora
crossing the Pennsylvania at an angle of 45°, it is the in-
tention of the management of the new company
to crosscut from the Pennsylvania tunnel to the
Pandora, drift on the latter until vertically under
the upper lease and then raise to the surface.
The upper lease is now being operated as extensively as
the ground opened up will permit, the output being
packed by mule trains to the Smuggler-Union mills at
Pandora for treatment, and the values realized are more
than sufficient to pay operating expenses. The Smug-
gler-Union M. Co. has a tramway in operation from the
mouth of the Pennsylvania tunnel to its two large mills
at Pandora; therefore, after the level has been pro-
jected on the Pandora vein and connection made by a
raise with the workings of the upper lease, the ore can
be dropped down, delivered at the surface of the upper
terminal of the tramway and transported to the mills,
effecting a saving of $2.50 per ton over the present
method of packing the product on mules to the reduc-
tion plants.
Summit County.
It is reported that rich gold ore has been found in the
Excelsior mine, near Frisco. The new power plant of
the Southwestern Brokerage Co. has been started up.
It will furnish power for the air drills to be used in the
driving of the main tunnels of the North American Mines
Co. and the Mary Verna M. Co. The concentration
mill of the Old Union M. & M. Co., near Breckenridge,
is running full time. The property is being worked
through the main 1600-foot tunnel. A crosscut driven
97 feet north from the 1000-foot point in the tunnel
recently cut a 2-foot streak of good concentration ore.
A. E. Keables is manager and G. C. Smith superin-
tendent.
Teller County.
The Hummer mine, of Cripple Creek, has been leased
for two years to the Hummer Leasing Co., and active
mining operations are to be under the direction of Chas.
Ridpath. A 10x12 hoist is to be put in over the shaft,
which is 230 feet deep. Hoisting has been started from
the 13th level of the Ruby mine, of Cripple Creek.
Work has begun in the Hoosier mine on Tenderfoot
hill, Cripple Creek, under the direction of B. Shell, les-
see. He will prospect to the bottom levels. On the 500-
foot level a vein of good appearance has been followed
by drift and winze for a short distance. Like conditions
have been exposed on the bottom level to a depth of 635
feet. The Trilby and Ben Harrison claims of the
Moose Co., on Bull hill, Cripple Creek, have been sold
to C. J. Billerbeck and T. Murray. P. McDonald
has started work on a lease on a section of the Mabel M.
mine on Beacon hill, Cripple Creek.
IDAHO.
Custer County.
The White Knob copper properties at Mackey have
been leased and work will be continued under the man-
agement of F. M. Leland. The White Knob smelter is
being dismantled, preparatory to shipping to the Bala-
klala mines in Shasta county, Cal.
Elmore County.
F. C. Innes, general manager of the Benton mine, at
Atlanta, says in the experimental mill the saving on the
plates runs from 55% to 58% of free gold, with from 22%
to 24% of the values obtained in the concentrates, and
from the slimes and sands remaining they are securing
80% by cyanide, giving a total extraction approximating
95% of the crude value of the ore. Mr. Innes will spend
the winter in San Francisco, Cal., and while there will
have a full equipment of machinery made for the prop-
erty. This will consist of a hoisting plant, air com-
pressor and machine drills and an electric plant.
Idaho County.
F. . S. Myers of Richmond, Va., one of the princi-
pal owners of the Silver King mine at Warren, has
shut down the mill because of lack of water. Steam is
to be substituted for water power and the ore treatment
changed.
At Florence four companies have been working this
year in preparation for next year's run. The Gold Lake
Co. has been active on Gold creek and has ditches in
readiness for the spring run. The Mammoth, consist-
ing of 600 acres, has been operated by a Cleveland, Ohio,
company. The Last Chance has put in one giant. De-
velopment work has also been done on Miller creek.
Shoshone County.
The Success mill is shipping about 1000 tons of ore and
concentrates a month. The zinc ore and con-
centrates average over 50% zinc, with low
silver values, while the lead ore and concentrates
will average 60% lead and about 45 ounces silver
to the ton. The mill as rearranged has a capacity
of 100 tons a day. Its equipment consists of a Blake
rock crusher, 1 set of Blake and 2 sets of Humphrey
rolls, 6 impact screens, 4 sets of jigs and 5 Wilfley
tables. So far it is the only producer of 50% zinc ore or
concentrates in the Cceur d'Alenes. The lead concen-
trates are marketed without any trouble, but the zinc
concentrates and hand sorted ore are being shipped to
the smelter at Iola, Kans., the freight rate being $10 per
ton. The smelter agrees to purchase them, provided
they average 50% zinc or more, for $33 per ton. After
the freight rate is deducted this leaves the Succobs Co.
$23 per ton for its zinc concentrates and ore. AH the
other lead mines of the district, most of which contain a
percentage of zinc in their ore, get rid of as much of the
zinc as they can in milling, with the result that the
creeks are full of rich zinc tailings.
The annual report of the Federal Mining & Smelting
Co., operating in the Coeur d'Alenes, covering the year
ended August 31, shows a gross tonnage of ore mined
amounting to 664,830 tons. The concentrates and ship-
ping ore amounted to 85,205 tons. The total mineral
production shows an output of 2,689,867 ounces of silver
and 88,274,055 pounds of lead. The financial statement
is as follows: Value of silver shipments $1,502,652;
value of lead shipments, $3,066,779; net profit for the
year, $1,242,697; dividends paid in the same time,
$1,098,895; cash in banks August 31, 1905, $558,607. The
general manager reports that the various mines belong-
ing to the company are in excellent condition, and that
the ore reserves were increased by 600,000 tons dur-
ing the year. The control of the Federal Co. recently
passed into the hands of the American Smelters' Securi-
ties Co.
MONTANA.
Fergus County.
The Barnes-King Co., at Kendall, will soon be operat-
ing its new electric diamond drill on ground adjoining its
main property, and through its operations the com-
pany expects to add a considerable area to its producing
ground. Much new machinery is now being put in at
the mine.
Granite Connty.
C. Bergstrand, of Gold creek, has purchased the
Wahlgren & Swanson properties, near Royal. The
group comprises the Tussle, Hope, Hope Extension and
Durvey quartz mining claims and the Little Creek
placer mining claim. The principal development work
on the group consists of a shaft which has been sunk 110
feet. The Butte and Anaconda smelters are bidding
for siliceous ores in Granite county. The minimum per-
centage of silica they require is 70, which they will work
for $3 per .ton. For every unit higher than 70 and up
to 90, they allow 15 cents, giving the shipper all the
metallic values in the ores. Thi9 premium will give a
stimulus to mining in Granite county. The Royal
Gold mill at Royal has started to crush ore. The low
grade or milling stuff is being put through the mill,
while the high grade ore is being shipped to the smelter
at Helena.
Madison County.
The Toledo mines and mill, near Sheridan, which
were formerly owned and operated by the Bismark-
Nugget Gulch Co., are to be worked by the Toledo M. &
P. Co. The incorporators are L. D. McCall, W. A.
Stanton and C. W. Foster of Chicago; H. M. Blossom
of St. Louis, H. M. Langdon of Cincinnati, G. J. Renner
of Youngstown, Ohio, and J. J. Shubert of Kankakee,
111.
Sliver Bow County.
(Special Correspondence.) — By the amalgamation of a
number of independent mines, which have been ship-
ping about 100 tons of ore daily, the East Butte Co. will
increase the output to at least 500 tons a day. Work
has been started on the Mary MacLane, and sinking is
in progress on the Yankee Boy. The Wheeler, Oneida,
Hancock, Simons and Lassen are also working. A new
engine and hoisting plant has been put on the Dutton
capable of working to a depth of 800 feet. The Pitts-
burg & Montana Co. has purchased the Carlisle mine,
located J mile east of its smelter. The Carlisle is sup-
posed to be on an extension of the Pittsburg and East
Butte veins. The destruction of the coking plant of
the Utah Fuel Co. by fire for a time threatened to incon-
venience the Washoe smelter of the Amalgamated Co.,
as it has been getting one-third of its supply of coke from
the Utah Co. However, it also has three or four other
sources of supply, and these have promised to increase
the shipments to Anaconda, so that the loss from the
Utah source will be offset by increases from other
sources, and the Washoe smelter will continue to run as
heavily as usual. Judge Hunt of the United States
Court has refused to vacate an injunction in a suit of E.
Rollins Morse against the Montana Ore Purchasing Co.,
one of the first suits brought in the noted litigation be-
tween the Amalgamated and Heinze interests. The in-
junction prevents the Heinze people from working in
the Michael Devitt ground, owned by the Butte & Bos-
ton Co. Heinze has for years claimed that the vein
from the Rarus mine dips into the Michael Devitt and
that he has a right to follow it. He has twice convinced
jurors of his contention, but the courts themselves have
not been satisfied and the case is awaiting its third trial.
In the meanwhile the injunction stands. North Butte
keeps up its record of ore shipments. The new shaft
and equipment will soon be completed.
Butte, Oct. 30.
Siliceous copper-silver ore is being reduced to blister
copper without concentration, heap roasting or any
other process except that of running it through the
blast furnace and converter, at the property of the
Pittsburg & Montana Copper Co. at Butte. There
are only two furnaces in operation in the plant, one of
which is a blast and the other a converter, capacity
of the latter being 15 or 16 tons of ore. The ore in its
raw, moist state goes into the blast furnace and comes
out matte, and then a mixture of matte and raw ore goes
into the converter and comes out blister copper. At a
public test given the plant recently the pour from the
converter was begun shortly before 12 o'clock and lasted
nearly an hour, during which time between 5 and 6 tons
of blister copper in slabs, weighing 200 pounds each,
were added to the stock.
NEVADA.
Humboldt County.
A test furnace, put in at Lovelocks by C. A. Gage
recently, produced a 60-pound bar of antimony. The
NovBMBEa 4, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
317
claim from which the ore was taken has been developed
by a tunnel 1200 feet and a shaft 250 feet. J. M. Jones
of New York and C. A. Gage are the owners.
The Inability of the Salt Lake smelters to handle the
ore output from Nevada will compel several of the larger
mines at Tonopah and Goldfield to build mills in order
to treat their own ore. The announcement has been
made that the Western Ore Purchasing Co. of Reno,
representing the American Smelting & Refining Co.,
can hereafter ship but 150 tons a day from the south-
ern district until an additional smelter can be built
in Utah. This allotment is apportioned to the vari-
ous mining companies, and the first to announce, in
consequence, that it will build a mill of its own is the
Montana-Tonopah. President Knox says that at the
start a 50-stamp mill will be put up, and that it will be
built in units, so that it may be enlarged.
Eameralda County.
The Mohawk-Alpine Co. at Silver Peak is operating
its two stamp mills. Most of the ore being worked is
obtained from the Mohawk-Alpine mine, but the ore
from the Mary mine yields equally as good returns on
the plates. Development work is under way at the
Mary mine, which was recently purchased by the com-
pany from John Chiatovich. The company is operat-
ing a cyanide plant in connection with each mill.
Lincoln County.
The mill of the Newport-Nevada Co. at Deer Lodge
is said to be handling thirty tons daily of ore that runs
$15 in gold per ton. E. D. Trenam, manager of
the Deer Lodge G. M. Co., adjoining the Newport-
Nevada properties, reports good progress on the tunnel,
which will tap the ore bodies at a depth of 325 feet.
Deer Lodge is 24 miles by stage from Uvada, Utah.
A 10-stamp mill has been bought for the Cyrus Noble
mine at Searchlight. Good ore is said to have been
struck in a winze from the 200-foot level. The Ascot
M. & M. Co. will resume sinking on the Ascot shaft, near
Searchlight, from the 365-foot level. A 300-foot verti-
cal shaft is to be sunk on the Big Six group at Search-
light by James Wilson.
Nye County.
A new gasoline hoist has been put in at the Humboldt
Tonopah mine by Superintendent Prank Haley.
Water has been struck at the 200-foot level of the Ton-
opah Home shaft being sunk by J. W. Skelton.
Owing to the scarcity of water and the high rates
charged for it by the water companies, the Tonopah
Railroad offers to transport crude California oil free to
both Tonopah and Goldfield for use in oiling the streets
of both towns.
NEW MEXICO.
Grant County.
Henry Woods and H. H. Whitehill, owners of the St.
Helena mine, Central City, are preparing to put in a
boiler and pump to unwater the shaft preparatory to
again Btarting work on the property. The ore will be
shipped to the Silver City smelter. The Phelps
Dodge Co. is working 26 men in the Hanover copper mine
at Hanover under the direction of Robert Musgrave.
The Hermosa Copper Co. at Hanover is developing
the Tourmaline and the Humboldt mines. A 90 H. P.
boiler and a new hoist have been put on the latter. The
old shaft is down about 140 feet and has been enlarged
to two compartments to a depth of 90 feet. At Santa
Rita the Santa Rita Copper Co. has completed a new
shaft, known as No. 8, to a depth of 214 feet. It is
a 2-compartment shaft, 4x4J and 4£x5 feet.
Taos County.
The New Mexico Chemical Amalgamating Co. intends
putting up a mill near Red River. M. L. Harney is
president, with principal place of business at Springer.
OREGON.
Baker County.
M. A. DeHuff of Spokane, a stockholder in the Daines
M. & M. Co., which owns the Belcher mine, near Green-
horn, says that the company proposes to operate the
mine all winter. A 1200-foot tunnel will be run from the
Belcher property under the Golden Gate ledge.
Douglas County.
Manager W. B. Stewart, of the Continental mine at
Myrtle Creek, has started the new 50-ton concentrating
mill.
The Magnolia 10-stamp mill, near Granite, is to be
started on ore from the Snow Bird mine under the di-
rection of L. Durkee. Work at the Black Jack mine
at Alamo is under the direction of T. J. Sheedy.
Grant County.
Superintendent N. P. Heath of the Standard mine,
near Comer, has driven 300 feet in No. 1 tunnel during
the last two months. A 171-foot raise has been com-
pleted and another raise has been made to a height of 90
feet. The first raise connects with No. 3 level. The
intermediate level between Nos. 1 and 3 has been driven
170 feet on the vein, and will be carried ahead until it
is above the face of No. 1. This level is 86 feet above
No. 1. On November 30 bids are to close for the new
concentrating plant. The excavation and timbers have
been .finished. The new mill will be put at the portal of
the intermediate level, 86 feet above No. 1, as the latter
does not give sufficient dump. The lower level will be
continued as a drain at that depth, and ore mined there
will be hoisted to the mill level when operations com-
mence. A crew of forty-two men is employed at the
Standard.
Jackson County.
The New York & Western Mines Co., which recently
bought the Opp mine, near Jacksonville, has begun
work under the direction of FoBter & Gunnell of Grants
Pass. Next summer a plant capable of treating 200 tons
of ore daily is expected to be placed on the Opp. A car-
load of ore has been shipped from the Opp to Denver
for treatment and analysis, that the best method of
reduction might be ascertained. A building is being put
up at the mine for a 10-drill compressor which will be
driven electrically. A double-track tunnel is being
driven on the mill level to tap the Opp veins at depth,
and all ore for the mill will come through this.
The Layton hydraulic placer mines, near Applegate,
have been sold by J. Layton to G. P. Mimms. Six
giants are to be added to the battery, and the capacity
increased.
JoMephlne County.
The affairB of the Lucky Queen M. Co. of Grants Pass
are being readjusted. Work will be resumed under tho
management of C. D. Crane. A 10-stamp mill was put
in last year.
SOUTH DAKOTA.
Lawrence County.
Although it was announced that the Golden Reward
Co. had decided to put up a large cyanide plant at Bald
mountain to handle its ores more economically, it has
since been decided to abandon this plan and to increase
the capacity of the mill at Deadwood. The 200-ton
cyanide plant of the Eloventh Hour Co. is nearly com-
pleted.
Peuolngtou County.
(Special Correspondence). — James Cochran has uncov-
ered a new shoot of ore lying east and north of the main
open cut. The full extent of the new find has not yet been
determined, but preparations are being made to get into
this new ground by means of a drift from the floor of the
cut, running in a northeasterly direction. Stopingof this
ore body will be commenced as soon as preliminary
arrangements for economically handling the ore have
been completed. At the Golden West mine as depth
is attained the character of the ore is gradually chang-
ing, and the installation of a cyanide plant is being con-
sidered, as a portion of the gold is said to be difficult to
amalgamate. Amalgamation is practiced in a Chile mill.
Rochford, Oct. 28.
TEXAS.
James T. Callbreath, secretary of the American Min-
ing Congress, has completed the preliminary programme
for the international meeting to be held at El Paso,
November 14 to 18. It follows: Invocation; addresses
of welcome; response by President Richards; responses
by States; J. H. Richards, annual address; R. S. Morri-
son, author of "Morrison's Mining Rights, "" Mining
Laws;" V. C. Alderson, Golden, Colo., "Co-operation
Between State Mining Schools and State Mining
Bureaus;" C. M. Shartel, member of Congress, Neosho,
Mo., " The Zinc Industry of the Kansas-Missouri Fields;"
W. J. Thomas, chemist of Bingham (Utah) smelter,
"Damages Arising From Smelter' Fumes;" C. J. Nor-
wood, director of Kentucky State ■ Geological Survey,
Lexington, Ky. (subject not assigned); W. M. Porter,
Chicago, " Eastern Exhibition of Minerals and Mining
Machinery by American Mining Congress;" F. E. Wire,
Libertyville, 111., "Attitude of Eastern Capital to West-
ern Enterprises During Development Stage, and How to
Attract It;" W. B. Phillips, president Texas State Min-
ing Association, Terlingua, Tex., "Quicksilver Deposits
of Brewster County, Texas;" P. A. Jones, Albuquerque,
N. M., "Mineral Resources of New Mexico;" L. E.
White, State Commissioner of Mines, Denver, Colo.,
"Mine Drainage Districts;" M. A. Smith, Tucson,
Ariz., "A Department of Mines and Mining;" R. E.
Benedict, Thatcher, Ariz., of United States Forestry
Department, " Forestry as It Affects the Mining Indus-
try;" C. D. Wolcott, director of United States Geologi-
cal Survey, "The Advantapes of Greater Co-operation
Between the United States Geological Survey and State
Mining Bureaus;" L. E. Aubury, State Mineralogist of
California, and author of "California Law to Prevent
Mining Frauds," "The Prevention of Mining Frauds by
State Legislation;" J. W. Malcolmson, M. E., El Paso,
Tex., "The Relation of Mining and Smelting Between
Mexico and the United States;" W. P. Blake, Tucson,
Ariz., "Ores, Worthless Twenty-five Years Ago, Which
Have Been Made Valuable by Improved Mining Meth-
ods;" R. Gilman Brown, San Francisco, "The Examina-
tion of Mines Preliminary to Purchase of To-day as
Compared With Twenty-five Years Ago;" unassigned,
"Mine Management Now as Compared With That of
Twenty-five Years Ago;" "The Proper Education of a
Mining Engineer."
UTAH.
Beaver County.
Steam shovels are to be used at the Cactus mine of
the Newhouse M. & S. corporation at Newhouse. At
the same time a large force of men will be put to work
cutting into the mountain and increasing the flow of the
Wah Wah springs, from which the mill and the town of
Newhouse derive their water. There has recently been
uncovered a surface deposit of ore 300 feet long by 180
feet wide, which it is estimated will yield 4000 tons of
ore for every foot of depth attained in it. Mr. Newhouse
calculates that the steam shovels can be profitably em-
ployed to a depth of 100 feet in this deposit.
Carbon County.
In a fire at Sunnyside on October 26, two crushers, J
mile of trestle work running up to the mouth of both
mines, the main hoist of No. 1 mine, three coal crushing
plants, the tipples, railroad and mine cars and several
small buildings of the Utah Fuel Co. were destroyed.
This has caused some inconvenience to Utah and other
smelters dependent on this plant for coke. The plant is
to be rebuilt at once by General Manager H. G. Williams.
Salt Lake County.
Manager D. C. Jackling of the Utah Copper Co. re-
ports that grading for the company's big concentrating
plant is being pushed at a site 4 miles from the American
S. & R. Co.'s smelter. The grading will be finished by
the middle of November. The main concentrator plant
will cover five acres of ground and will have a capacity
of 5000 tons of ore a day. The first unit of this plant
will be put into commission as soon as completed and
will handle 3000 tons of ore per day. The construction
of the second unit of the plant will commence as soon as
the first is in commission.
Announcement is made by the Bingham Con. C. & G.
M. Co. that its new additional equipment for its smelter
will be ready to be placed in commission early in Novem-
ber. The new reverberatory is finished and the roasting
plant is under way. With these additions to the pres-
ent plant completed and placed in operation the com-
pany will be capable of handling 1000 tons of ore daily.
The capacity of the plant is now taxed to the utmost.
The Bingham Group M. Co. intend repairing the 3000-
foot Last Chance tunnel preparatory to working the
Greeley-Sacred claims in the West Mountain mining dis-
trict, near Bingham. R. L. Booth of Bingham is inter-
ested.
Summit County.
The Ontario drain tunnel at Park City is open foi
13,000 feet and workmen are driving a drift around what
is thought to be the last cave. The first drift started
was sent in for 30 feet and then the pressure from the
tunnel side — the ground being bad — was so great that
the timbers were broken as fast as they could be put in.
Consequently this drift was abandoned, a bulkhead put
in, and work on a new drift running off at a greatei
angle from the tunnel was commenced. This drift is in
50 feet and, though the ground is at present soft and
treacherous, it is thought that it will soon change and
that solid ground will be reached. A diamond drill is a1
the tunnel in readiness to be set up as soon as the
ground will permit of its being done in safety. A bore
will then be sent through to the tunnel, and unless all
expectations are wrong the pent-up water will be
tapped. If this is the case, water will be drained off and
the trouble which has caused the Ontario Co. so much
expense will be over.
Tooele County.
The new slimes plant at the Ophir Hill mine at Ophir
is reported to be satisfactory by Manager E. W. Clark.
The Overland shaft at Sunshine is down 280 feet.
Uinta County.
The Uinta Reservation was thrown open to mineral
location on October 27 and many claims were located
near Vernal, including gilsonite, asphaltum, coal, lead,
copper and silver properties. The deposits of gilsonite
and asphaltum are rich.
WASHINGTON.
Ferry County.
The First Thought M. Co. is making regular ship-
ments of gold ore from their mine near Orient. P.
Walsh is superintendent. H. K. Jessup of Spokane is
shipping zinc ore from the Young America mine at Boss-
burg.
FOREIGN.
AUSTRALIA.
Queensland.
The report of the general manager of the Mt. Morgan
mines states that during the year ended May 31, 1905,
the ore treated from the open cut amounted to 134,435
tons, which is 13% more than for the previous year, and
the gold recovered from it amounted to 56,604 ounces,
being 20% more than was obtaiued during the previous
year. The amount of sulphide ore treated from under-
ground was 109,296 tons, 8% less than for the previous
year, and this yielded 62,034 ounces of gold, an increase
of 5% as compared with last year. The quantity of cop-
per precipitate won from this ore amounted to 237 tons
15 cwt., carrying 75.5% of copper. The total of both
kinds of ore treated was 243,731 tons, which is greater
than for any previous year by 6000 tons. In addition to
the above, 3182 tons of auriferous copper ore were
treated in the early part of the year, from which 263
tons of copper matte, carrying approximately 1409
ounces of gold and 115 tons of copper, were produced.
The open cut is now in a satisfactory condition for ex-
tracting ore, the large mass of barren rock which over-
laid and endangered the workings having been removed.
It will be necessary to make provision for carrying the
open cut down to the 450-foot level, 200 feet below the
bench now being worked on. For this purpose it is
necessary to excavate the waste for a considerable dis-
tance from the ore body to prevent it endangering the
workings when the ore is being mined at the level men-
tioned. It is much less costly to do this in the imme-
diate future while the steam shovels and trains are in
position and have ample room to work. Prospecting at
the lower levels by means of diamond drills was discon-
tinued in April, the establishment of reserves of ore be-
ing amply in advance of the undertakings for extracting
and treating it. The main working shaft is now down
to the 650-foot main level, and the remaining 300 feet to
be sunk will be finished in time to supply ore to the cop-
per reduetion works. Two of the main oreways are fin-
ished, and the other two are sufficiently advanced to
enable their completion in ample time. The consump-
tion of explosives now aggregate nine tons per month,
and will shortly reach about eleven tons. The superin-
tendent of the reduction works states that the total
quantity of ore and tailings operated on during the year
was 278,123 tons. Of this quantity, 109,296 tons was sul-
phide ore, and was dealt with at the mundic works.
On the west works 134,435 tons of oxidized ore was
treated. These two quantities represent 39.3% and
48.3% respectively of the total amount of material
handled. At the lower works 34,392 tons of old tailings
were retreated with payable results. The aggregate
amount of ore and tailings put through for the year
shows an increase of 11,724 tons compared with the pre-
vious year, which is equal to 4.4%. Notwithstanding
the increasing sulphur contents of the ore, particularly
on the west works, the average cost of treatment per
ton is practically the same as last year — viz., 11.3s per
ton. The installation of a battery of gas producers on
the west works is now complete, and it is materially due
to this factor, taking into consideration the nature of
the Ore at present being treated on this plan, that the
cost of treatment is being kept at a normal figure. The
sluicing scheme has been completed on the mundic
works, and the results from same have fully come up to
expectations, the cost of emptying these vats having
been reduced from 8d to Id per ton. The same system
is now finished on the west works, and will effect a pro-
portionate saving there. Machinery for filling the
318
Mining and Scientific Press.
November 4, 1905.
lnundic vats has been installed on the first section of
these works and is working satisfactorily, reducing the
cost of filling from 5d to 2d per ton. Similar machinery
has been put on No. 2 section. The canals for the pre-
cipitation of copper have been added to, and from time
to time are being augmented in order to cope with the
gradually increasing supply of liquors. During the year
237 tons 15 cwt. of copper precipitate was recovered,
carrying 75.5% of copper, this being an increase com-
pared with the previous year of 38.5% in quantity and 1%
in quality. The total quantity of ore treated for the
twelve months was 243, 731 tons, and the fine gold ob-
tained 122,281.22 ounces. In addition to the ore treated,
34,400 tons of tailings were retreated at the lower reduc-
tion works, and 1305.49 ounces of fine gold obtained, the
average value being 2.10 dwt. The average grade of all
ores treated during the year was 9.71 dwt., or 41.24s per
ton, which is an advance in value of 3.31s per ton on the
ore treated during the previous year. The ore treated
at the mundic works shows an increase in value of 1.4
dwt. per ton, and that treated at the west works an in-
crease of 0.5 dwt. per ton. The total amount of fine
gold produced during the year was 122,281.22 ounces.
The amount of bullion in which the above yield was
contained was 137,694.90 ounces, of an average value of
£3 15s 9.33d per ounce.
Victoria.
There are now fourteen State batteries at work in Vic-
toria, and it is proposed to invite tenders for five more,
with the option of taking two or more. Five-head bat-
teries are to be substituted for the three-head machines.
Several applications have been received for batteries,
and the residents of the localities have agreed to comply
with the conditions of the Mines Department to form
trusts for their management. A nominal rental of Is a
year is charged to create the legal position between
landlord and tenant.
Western Australia.
The regulations under the Western Australia Mining
Act, 1904, came into operation throughout the State on
Sept. 1. Prospecting areas of forty-eight acres for gold
and minerals other than coal or oil are granted to hold-
ers of miners' rights outside the limits of a gold field, and
eighteen acres within the limits of such field. Bona fide
work in prospecting must be carried out after ten clear
days from the date of registration. The area for coal or
oil is 3000 acres and must be worked after the expiration
of thirty clear days by not less than three men for every
1000 acres. Exemption from labor conditions is only
granted in special cases. Records and plans are to be
furnished in certain eventualities and the discovery of
gold or mineral is to be reported to the Warden. The
extent of the reward claims is to he determined accord-
ing to the distance of discovery from the nearest mine.
The labor conditions need not be complied with on any
reward claim granted in conjunction with any ordinary
claim which adjoins, if the labor conditions in respect to
the latter are complied with; but a reward claim held
alone is to be worked by at least one man. Reward
leases are also granted, the labor conditions of an ordi-
nary mining lease to be applied thereto; but the rent
may be remitted for a certain period, according to the
distance from the reward lease to the nearest mine.
Regulations are made respecting alluvial and lode claims,
water rights and mining on reserved and exempted
lands. The maximum area which may be marked off
and applied for as a mining lease is as follows: For coal,
sec. 52, 320 acres; coal, sec. 56, 640 acres; gold, sec. 52
and sec. 56, 48 acres; gold in all other cases, 24 acres;
metallic minerals, sec. 52 and sec. 56, 48 acres; metallic
minerals in all other cases, 24 acres; non-metallic min-
erals in all cases, 48 acres; precious stones, 24 acres. Coal
or oil leases are to be worked by not less than one man
for every sixty acres for the first twelve months, not
less than two men for the second twelve months, and
three men for every succeeding year. Gold leases, under
section 52 or subsection (1) of section 43, are to be
worked by not less than one man for every twelve acres;
every other gold lease by one man for every six acres;
but in no case shall any lease be worked by less than two
men. Provision is made for the amalgamation of leases,
mining on private land, the purchase and sale of gold,
marking off of mining tenements, boundary marks and
forfeiture and all exemptions from the labor covenants
of a lease are to be registered and an annual return pre-
sented. A mining tenement on which labor conditions
are prescribed shall be considered " efficiently worked "
when the requisite number of men are engaged bona
fide in working thereon for eight hours on every work-
ing day except Saturday, when four hours shall be suf-
ficient. The men so employed must be either the holder
or holders, men working on wages or men working un-
der a duly registered tribute, which authorizes their
employment as fulfilling or partly fulfilling the labor
conditions. Regulations are also set out in regard to
transfers, liens, mortgages, and caveats, partnerships,
tribute agreements, surveys and proceedings in the
Warden's Court.
BRITISH COLUMBIA.
Boundary District.
The Daly Reduction Co. at Hedley has applied for
5000 inches of water from the Similkameen river, the
water to be returned to the river at Twenty Mile, after
having been used for power. The company's 40-stamp
mill is running continuously on ore from the Nickel
Plate mill.
Treasurer G. W. Wooster of the Granby Con. gives
the following summary of the year's business of the com-
pany, ending June 30, 1905: Produced 14,237,622 pounds
fine copper, sold at an average price of 14.36 cents; 212,-
180 ounces fine silver, sold at an average price of 58.30
cents; 42,8S4 ounces fine gold, sold at $20. These prices
are Dot after all expenses have been deducted. The
total realized equals $2,749,145.02. Working expenses
at mines and smelter, freight, refining, selling, general
expenses, $1,797,964,35; foreign ores purchased, $238,-
531.41; net profit for year ending June 30, 1905, $712,-
649.20; surplus from previous year (corrected), $842,-
226.01; net surplus June 30, 1905, $1,554,875.27; expended
in new construction, equipment at mines, smelter and
converter plants, etc., $343,974.28; for additional mining
properties, $142,603.33. All development, renewals and
repairs have been charged to working expenses. Mine
development, 5200 lineal feet; diamond drill development,
3148 lineal feet; Granby ore smelted, 550,738 dry tons;
foreign ore smelted, 39,382 dry tons.
Boundary mines for the week ending October 28 sent
ore out as follows: Granby mines to Granby smelter,
17,655 tons; Mother Lode to B. C. Copper smelter, 4032
tons; Oro Denoro to Granby smelter, 50 tons; to B. C.
Copper smelter, 50 tons. Total output for week, 21,787
tons; total for year to date, 731,277 tons. Following is
the treatment record of the Boundary smelters for the
week: Granby smelter, 16,944 tons; B. C. Copper
smelter, 4047 tons. Total for the week, 20,991 tons;
total for the year to date, 750,093 tons. ■
East Kootenay District.
James Cronin, manager, states that the miue at Moyie
will be working a full crew by November 15th, and that
the concentrator will be running by December 1st. The
smelters at Nelson and Trail are in need of ore, as before
the recent fire and shutdown half their supply came
from the St. Eugene. The blacksmith shop is com-
pleted, and the temporary hoist is in place. Work in
the shaft has been resumed. It is to be sunk an ad-
ditional 160 feet.
Rossland DlBtrlct.
The Le Roi mine for the year to date has shipped 97,-
576 tons of raw ore to the smelter and milled 3240 tons of
second-class ore. The shoot on the 900-foot level of the
Le Roi, a portion of the Black Bear ore shoot, which
was 108 feet wide on the 800-foot level, is being stoped.
On the 900-foot level it is nearly as wide as on the level
above. The tonnage shipped for the week ended Octo-
ber 28 was: Le Roi, 1650; Le Roi, milled, 21; Center
Star, 1630; War Eagle, 1050; Le Roi No. 2, 60; Jumbo,
100. Total for the week, 5630 tons, and for the year,
270,964 tons.
Slocan District.
In Ainsworth camp it is reported that P. Burns and
associates have bonded the Highlander property.
The reduction works at Pilot Bay have been leased to
the Fernau syndicate, which has been making repairs
for some time. The concentrating section is ready for
operation, and will be employed in reducing zinc ores
from the Blue Bell mine. At Kaslo the Sapper mine
is in operation and has about 1500 tons of zinc ore accu-
mulated. This produce carries an unusually high per-
centage of zinc, and is expected to run 50%. George
Alexander is expected to ship ore this winter from the
Ruth mine, near Slocan. At Sandon the Payne and
Star properties are being operated. The Fernau zinc
enrichment plant at Rosebery has been blown in. The
Monitor mine at Three Forks is shipping to Rosebery.
West Kootenay District.
Near Camborne the Eva mine is working forty men
in gold ore. The Beatrice, at the head of Mohawk
creek, near Camborne, is reported to be making a good
showing in development work. The Silver Dollar,
on Mohawk creek, is putting in machinery. The
Mammoth, on Goat mountain, near Camborne, has had
supplies packed in and will work all winter. Its princi-
pal ore is silver. Near Ymir, the Molly Gibson mine
has completed its concentrator and is prepared to ship
at least a car of ore daily. The company will wait until
snow falls to afford sleighing from the mine to the lake
front.
JAPAN.
The law passed by the Japanese Parliament recently,
which empowered and invited the Land Bank to make
advances to the proprietors of mines at moderate rates
of interest, not exceeding 8% per annum, is proving
effective. According to the Belgian Moniteur des Inter-
ets Materials, advantage has already been taken of the
new legislation. When fully applied, it is estimated that
this will increase the annual output of gold and silver by
about 5,000.000 yen. It was really the outbreak of the
war with Russia which moved the Government to turn
its serious attention to the matter, and during 1904 the
annual output was increased 50%. The advances of the
Land Bank are made upon the advice of a committee,
which inquires into the organization of each mine, the
quality of its output, etc. The capital advanced is to
be returned in yearly payments within a period of ten
years, the Bank of Japan, acting upon the advice of the
Imperial Mint, buying up the gold and silver produced.
The mines of Formosa are also increasing their produc-
tion every year, while in Corea the Osaka Mint is
already actively buying up Corean gold dust. When
modern methods shall have been introduced for the
exploitation of the gold fields, this country also may
take an important position as a gold producer. For the
twelve months ending February, 1905, the output of the
gold mines in Japan amounted to 9,000,000 yen. The
gold fields in Formosa yielded 3,000,000 yen, making the
total yield from Japanese territory 12,000,000 yen —
about $6,000,000.
MEXICO.
Chihuahua.
The San Patricio mines in Parral district are again to
start work. Sinking will be resumed on two of the
shafts and continued to the 650-foot level, when cross-
cutting and drifting will be commenced. J. N. A. Con-
ner has completed an experimental test plant at Parral
to determine the proper cyanide treatment of the ores
of the Veta Colorado M. Co. preliminary to the building
a 500-ton reduction plant.
Durango.
Superintendent F. C. Morehouse, of the Mexico Con-
solidated M. Co., reports from Guanacevi that at the
300-foot level of the Otero shaft on the Soto property an
ore body has been disclosed on the north carrying high
values. Previously the ground there had been barren.
The management plans to have the mill in operation
during the first part of November.
Guanajuato.
The Guanajuato Amalgamated Gold M. Co. is working
the Jesus Maria and Villarino mines, purchased from the
Castenada estate. A. Adams of New York is at the
head of the company. The Mineral Development Co.
is preparing to sink a deep shaft on the Nueva Luz prop-
erties at Guanajuato. The Guanajuato R. & M. Co.
will have its mill completed by the first of the year.
Milling ores are being found in the Cata mine. The
Guanajuato Consolidated M. & M. Co. is successful in
cyaniding its ores. It will put up a mill at the Carmen
mine.
Jalisco.
An air compressor and drills, hoist, pumps and an elec-
tric light equipment are being put in at the Carrizo cop-
per mine, west of Autlan. K. E. Keller is manager and
E. E. Nicholson superintendent. C. Romero, owner
of the Tamara y Anexas mines, has leased the San An-
tonio reduction works on the bank of the Santiago river,
near Hostotipaquillo. He will improve and enlarge the
reduction works, and will treat the milling ores of the
Tamara y Anexas mines there. The San Antonio plant
has been operated in the past by the San Antonio M. &
M. Co. The San Antonio plant consists of a 20-stamp
mill, a concentrating table and a patio for amalgama-
tion. Only five stamps are now in shape for operation.
The mill will be repaired so as to secure the service of
the entire twenty stamps, two concentrating tables will
be added and cyanide tanks will be put in.
(Special Correspondence). — The Sonora Bonanza M.
Co. is working its mines, 4 miles west of Imuris. The
ores contain copper, gold, silver and wulfenite. Con-
centrating machines and a cyanide plant are to be put
in. W. M. Barker is general manager.
Cananea, Oct. 28.
The Yeso mines, near San Jose de Gracia, 25 miles
east from Hermosillo, are being worked by the Angus
M. & M. Co. It is reported that owing to the impos-
sibility to get wood cut and hauled into camp, on ac-
count of the depredations of Yaquis in the vicinity, the
Copete M. Co. has had to suspend operations. An effort
to substitute coal was made, but the beating to death
with clubs by Yaquis of four teamsters, on the road be-
tween Carbo station and Copete, has made it impossible
to get coal transported from the Sonora railway to the
camp. The Verde Grande M. Co., 40 miles northwest
of Hermosillo, have contracted for a new smelting fur-
nace, burning charcoal. J. D. Fresh is general manager.
Zacatecas.
The San Rafael gold mine, near Zacatecas, is being
pumped out. This mine is now owned by A. E. Stilwell
of Kansas City, Mo.
# & "> * * ~b 'h * * * * * r.!' -.!.'* -.!"!' rhrh ".!.' & 4.-* * & * -A' * * **■ &'i> * * * * * *
Personal.
C. B. Kingston is now in the Transvaal, S. A.
J. R. Crdm of New York is in Guerrero, Mexico.
J. A. Shinn of Leadvilie, Colo., is in Pittsburg, Pa.
M. Tong is manager St. Paul mine, Georgetown, Colo.
E. C. Johnson is manager Gertie M. Co. at Hill City,
S. D.
H. L. Jones is now manager Antler mine, Hill City,
S. D.
Wm. M. Brewer of Vancouver, B. C, is visiting Cal-
ifornia.
W. F. Grace has returned to England from northern
Australia.
Bertram Hunt has returned to California from Cen-
tral America.
S. F. Goddard is in charge of mines in the Val
d'Aosta, Italy.
Philip L. Foster sailed from New York for London
on tbe 25th ult.
James H. Robertson has left El Oro, Mexico, to
proceed to Peru.
Hennen Jennings has returned from London to
Washington, D. C.
F. T. Kelley, manager I X L mine, near Sumpter,
Or., is East on business.
W. S. Morse is to resign charge of the Mexican busi-
ness of the Guggenheims.
J. W. Astley has retired as superintendent of the
Le Roi mine at Rossland, B. C.
W. C. Potter changes his residence from Mexico
City to Aguascalientes, Mexico.
The address of H. W. Turner will be hereafter care of
Ladd Metals Co., Portland, Or.
J. H. Mulligan has resigned as mine superintendent
Cataract Copper Co., Basin, Mont.
Frank Graham is superintendent Dives- Pelican-
Seven Thirty mill, Silver Plume, Colo.
M. P. McCartney has resigned as assayer Bam-
berger-DeLamar Co. at DeLamar, Nev.
E. C. King has resigned as assistant superintendent
Arizona Smelting Co. at Humboldt, Ariz.
J. H. Vandercook has charge Sinaloa-Durango
M. & M. Co., near San Ignaclo, Sinaloa, Mexico.
H. G. A. Brunnier, manager Conlon mine, Grass
Valley, Cal., has returned from a visit to Idaho.
C. F. Maunder has been appointed superintendent
Chicago-Goldfield M. Co., at Diamondfield, Nev.
F. W. Bradley has succeeded J. S. Wyatt as general
manager Eureka & Excelsior mine at Bourne, Or.
G. W. Schnider, Inspector State Bureau of Mines,
Denver, Colo., has returned there from Portland, Or.
Walter Fitch has resigned as general superintend-
ent of United States M. Co. of Salt Lake City, Utah.
November 4, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
31i)
G. A. Guess haB taken the position of chief chemist
Cananea Con. Copper Co. at Cananea, Sonora, Mexico.
P. H. Mahoney, manager Potosi mine, Good
Springs, Otah, has returned there from San Francisco,
Cal.
Jas. Gkaron, superintendent Hunter mine at Wal-
lace, Idaho, has returned to the mine from a visit to
Chicago.
John M. ShErrehd, general sales agent Taylor Iron
& Steel Co., High Bridge, N. J., is on a business visit to
California.
E. L. A.DKXN8 of Bellingham, Wash., has been ap-
pointed manager Marvel M. Co., operating mines at
Yale, B. C.
Grant Snyder, superintendent Balaklala mine at
Sennet, Shasta county, Cal., has returned from Salt
City, Utah.
Henry Prall of the Empire Zinc Co. of Denver,
Colo., has been examining zinc properties around Van-
couver, B. C.
A. V. Oliver has resigned as manager TucabeM. Co.,
near Magdalena, Sonora, Hex., and has been succeeded
by A. \V. Morris.
W. A. Desborouqh, formerly with the Risdon Iron
Works, will hereafter represent the Fulton Iron Works
of San Francisco in the Southwest.
E E. NICHOLSON, formerly foreman Granby mine,
British Columbia, has been appointed superintendent
Carizzo copper mine, near Autlan, Jalisco, Mex.
R. B. Lamb has been elected superintendent and gen-
eral manager Daly Reduction Co., operating the tram-
way and mill treating oro from the Nickel Plate mine at
Hedley, B. C.
W. M. Barker has resigned as superintendent Green
Con. C. Co., Cananea, Mexico, to devote his time to the
Sonora Bonanza M. Co., Imuris, Sonora, Mexico, of
which he is president and general manager.
W. C. Miller, general manager Federal M. & S. Co.,
which has taken over the Morning mine at Mullan,
Idaho, announces that H. W. Morse will be retained as
manager and J. Corson as mine superintendent.
J. E. McAlister has been appointed manager Mother
Lode mine at Deadwood, Boundary district, B. C, to
take the place of Frederick Keffer, who has been made
engineer of the mining department of the B. C. Copper
Co., with headquarters in New York.
Books Received.
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Water Supply and Irrigation Paper No. 141 is entitled
" Observations on the Ground Waters of Rio Grande
Valley," by C. S. Slichter. This report contains results
of recent investigations in connection with the under-
ground-water problems of Rio Grande valley.
The United States Geological Survey has published
Water Supply and Irrigation Paper No. 145, entitled
" Contributions to the Hydrology of Eastern United
States, 1905," M. L. Fuller, geologist in charge. This
paper is the third of a series of progress reports on the
hydrology of the eastern part of the country. It con-
tains papers on the following subjects: Hydrologic
Work in Eastern United States; Drainage of Ponds into
Drilled Wells; Two Unusual Types of Artesian Flow;
Construction of So-called Fountain and Geyser Springs;
A Convenient Gauge for Determining Low Artesian
Heads; A Ground Water Problem in Southeastern
Michigan; Water Supplies at Waterloo, Iowa; Water
Supplies From Glacial Gravels near Augusta, Me.; Water
Supply from the Delta Type of Sand Plain; Waters of a
Gravel-filled Valley near Tully, N. Y.; Notes on Certain
Hot Springs of the Southern United States; Notes on
Certain Large Springs of the Ozark Region; Water re-
sources of the following areas: Catatonk area, N. Y. ;
Pawpaw and Hancock quadrangles, W. Va. - Md. - Pa.;
Nicholas quadrangle, W. Va. ; Mineral Point quadrangle,
Wis.; Joplin district, Mo. -Kan.; Winslow quadrangle,
Ark.; Contact region between the Paleozoic and Missis-
sippi embayment deposits in northern Arkansas; Ports-
mouth-York region, Me.-N. H.
" Technical Methods of Ore Analysis," by Albert H.
Low, will prove valuable to every conscientious assayer.
The book describes analytical methods that are likely to
be needed in giving a complete report on the total com-
position of any ore that may be submitted. The author
presents practical methods for the determination of
twenty-nine of the more common metallic elements in
all of their usual combinations, alphabetically arranged.
Some of the methods given have been devised by the
author, some are compilations of the work of others and
some are modifications of existing methods. The direc-
tions for manipulation are complete but not verbose.
Each has been subjected to the crucible of actual trial and
repeatedly refined by laboratory experience. In contrast
to many existing manuals the methods are applicable to
the common ores cf this continent and omit details
necessary for some foreign compounds. The book is
essentially a manual of practical methods that have
proven good in the varied experience of a man well
known for accurate and original work. The author
states: " It has been my aim to make the descriptions
so minute and complete that if the operator will follow
them exactly he can scarcely fail to obtain satisfactory
results. But herein lies the difficulty. There seems to
be a tendency among technical chemists not to follow
directions exactly. In carrying out a method the alert
operator sees a short cut and takes it, or' a "better
way " occurs to him and he introduces it in the place of
the one given him. There would be no ultimate harm
in this (since all methods fall short of perfection) if the
operator would only take the time to investigate and
determine the real value of his ideas. In some cases he
might discover that his supposed improvement was
spoiling a good method, and he would come to agree
with the author of the method, who had himself prob-
ably gone over the same ground. I have seen methods
of my own thus modified, and ideas hastily adopted
whose incorrectness I had previously demonstrated by
careful investigations." The chapter on combining
determinations contains several time-saving hints. Ap-
proved methods are also given for testing boiler waters,
coal and coke and crude petroleum, apparently with the
intention of determining their commercial value, rather
than presenting a complete analysis. The chapter on
apparatus gives some novel devices for the laboratory,
but that on electrolysis is deficient, as it describes sev-
eral antiquated methods and omits referenco to recent
electro-chemical progress. The book could be short-
ened by omitting an elementary explanation of the use
of logarithms. These indispensable adjuncts to rapid
work are among the fundamentals of the chemist's edu-
cation, and could be omitted in a manual of this charac-
ter. Heretofore the working chemist has often depended
upon manuals prepared for students' use. These are
necessarily limited in their application, and usually sev-
eral volumes are required to furnish a working library.
This book will find a welcome place on the working shelf
of the assayer, who is compelled to leave many of his
books in his trunk. It is published by John Wiley &
Sons, and will be sent postpaid by the Mining & Sci-
entific Press for S3.
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| Commercial Paragraphs. §
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.. .. .,..|"f.****<f* if.**** cf.if.sf.tf,tf.sfif,tf,if <p,t>**<p<P*'l"F*<»<P«
The Main Belting Co. have appointed Messrs. Frost
& Hall of 312 Cooper Bldg., Denver, Colo., as special
selling agents for the " Leviathan " belting in that ter-
ritory.
The Chicago Pneumatic Tool Co. 's statement shows
profits for the quarter ending Sept. 30, 1905, of $241,-
791.45. After deducting quarterly dividend No. 11 of
$61,137.83, there is a surplus carried forward of $483,-
813.50.
The gold dredgers owned by the Clear Creek Dredg-
ing Co. and the National Dredging Co., now operating
about 12 miles from Denver, Colo., are Bucyrus dredg-
ers. All the machinery was built in South Milwaukee,
Wis.
The Yampa Smelting Co. have contracted with the
Allis-Chalmers Co. for six McDougall furnaces for
the Salt Lake City plant. Each furnace will have six
superimposed hearths, each with its sets of rabble arms
and rakes. Furnaces measure 18 feet, outside diameter.
The Nevada Con. Copper Co. of Nevada has contracted
with the Allis-Chalmers Co. for similar furnaces.
L. S. Pierce, 1653 Welton St., Denver, Colo., patentee
and manufacturer of the Pierce amalgamator, was
awarded a gold medal by the Portland, Or., Exposition
by the jury of awards. He reports recent shipment of a
25-ton machine for South Africa, through the Leyner
Engineering Works of Denver, Colo., and one to the Sys-
sert Iron & Mining Works, Station Mramorskja, Gov-
ernment of Perm, Russia.
The North Carolina granite corporation of Mt. Airy,
N. O, is installing a Sullivan Corliss two-stage air com-
pressor for driving the Sullivan drills and other com-
pressed air appliances used at its quarries. This com-
pressor has a capacity of 2000 cubic feet of free air per
minute at seventy-eight revolutions. The air cylinders
are connected to a Sullivan Corliss cross-compound, con-
densing steam end, especially designed and proportioned
for this purpose. The air inlet valves are of the Corliss
type, operated by independent eccentrics, and the dis-
charge valves on both cylinders are of the automatic
poppet type, moving in a direction parallel with the pis-
ton rod, with removable seats located in the cylinder
heads. A similar machine is installed at the works of
the Southern States Portland Cement Co. at Rockmart,
Ga., and is stated to have given efficient service during
the two years it has been, in operation.
W. H. Whiteside, president Allis-Chalmers Co.,
says that there is no truth in the rumors of contem-
plated absorption of the company by the General Elec-
tric Co. "In the electrical business the Allis-Chalmers
Co. has about $3,000,000 invested. This is in the Bul-
lock plant at Cincinnati. It represents $3,000,000 out of
a total capital of $36,000,000 of the Allis-Chalmers Co.
Our business as a whole differs from that of the General
Electric. We are engaged largely in the manufacture of
steam engines, mining machinery, flour milling ma-
chinery, saw milling machinery, crushing machinery,
sugar machinery, etc. To acquire the electrical business
of the company, in which alone the General Electric
would be interested, would involve the purchase of the
controlling interest in the entire Allis-Chalmers Co."
The Allis-Chalmers Co. is stated to have purchased out-
right the Bullock property, which it formerly leased.
There will also be expended at Milwaukee over $3,000,000
in improving the plants there.
Trade Treatises.
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*
■8
5t ip sjft tf. ,f. ip if. tf. i^ tji ty ,■;*. v '!• v <i* ci4 'i1 ^ ^ %* ^ ^ v 1'*!* ^ '$ *> ^ * ','• * * * -J- ft
Cranes — ladle, overhead traveling, gantry and locomo-
tive— are superbly illustrated and explained in a hand-
some booklet from The Wellman-Seaver-Morgan Co. of
Cleveland. Ohio. As one of a series descriptive of iron
and steel works equipment, this will prove interesting to
metallurgical engineers.
Catalog A of assay, analytical and pulp balances and
weights of precision, manufactured by Wm. Ainsworth&
Sons, Denver, Colo., is a good example of modern high-
I class catalogue work. ' Good pictures, terse text and neat
arrangement give a favorable representation of the
instruments catalogued. Details of balance construction
are well illustrated.
The large catalogue of the Morse Bros. ' Machinery
& Supply Co., Eighteenth and Lawrence streets, Den-
ver, Colo., contains 226 pages descriptive of mining, mill-
ing and smelting machinery supplies. It is conveniently
indexed for ready reference, gives freight rates to aU
principal points, and is embellished with hundreds of
illustrations portraying the machinery described and
offered for sale. A copy will be sent anywhere on appli-
cation.
A useful catalogue of books on steam and the steam
engine is received from Henry Carey Baird & Co.,
industrial publishers, booksellers and importers, 810
Walnut street, Philadelphia, Pa. The catalogue is con-
veniently arranged, alphabetically by authors' names,
its augmented usefulness by such arrangement being
manifest. There is also' a brief description of
each book on the subject which this old estab-
lished house publishes. Besides, there is a sim-
ilarly complete cataloguo of their books on mechanics,
machinery, machinists' work, dynamical engineering,
mechanical drawing, transmission of power, gas, gaso-
line and heat engines, refrigerating machinery, fuel,
boiler making and management, pattern making, heat
and thermo-dynamics. the heating of buildings by steam
and hot air, mechanism, tool making and designing,
screw cutting and boiler incrustation, which will be
sent free to any address anywhere upon request.
Latest Market Reports.
San Francisco, November 3, 1905.
METALS
Silver. — Per oz., Troy: London, 281£d (standard
ounce, 925 fine); New York, bar silver, 62fe, refined (1000
fine); San Francisco, 62:jc; Mexican dollars, 51c, San
Francisco; 48c, New York.
Copper.— New York: Standard, $16,351; Lake, S16.35J
@16. 67 i; Electrolytic, S16.62J; Casting, "$16.00@lb.37j.
San Francisco: $16.75. Mill copper plates, $17.50; bars,
18@24c. London: £71 10s spot per ton.
Copper is at practically the same price as last week,
but is in somewhat less demand, large consumers having
apparently stocked up for the present. A slightly lower
price may now be anticipated. The monthly statement
of James Lewis & Son of Liverpool shows the total
visible supply of copper in October, 1905, to be dis-
tributed as follows: Total stock on hand, 8304 tons;
afloat from Chile 4000 tons; from Australia, 4000 tons;
total visible supply 16,304 tons, which is over 1000 tons
less than the amount reported on the first of August and
first of September respectively, but is nearly 2400 tons
more than was on hand October 3, 1904. This circular
contains the following information concerning copper:
The scarcity of refined copper which has been experi-
enced for some time past has now extended to Standard
copper, the available quantity of which has been reduced
to the extent of 1847 tons during the past month, con-
siderable shipments of Chile bars having been made to
the United States and also to the Continent, in addition
to good deliveries for conversion into electrolytic copper
by English depositors. As large quantities will shortly
be required for the manufacture of sulphate, a further
serious curtailment of the public stock may be looked
for. The effect of this materially reduced supply is ap-
parent in the premium of £1 to £1 5s per ton paid for
Standard for prompt and early delivery, as compared with
the price obtainable for delivery in three months time,
and it is further enhanced by the policy of many con-
sumers in buying only for their immediate requirements
— a policy that will probably lead to a further increase
in the premium they will have to pay for immediate de-
livery, and be an element of strength to the market for
some time to come.
Lead. — New York, $5.40; St. Louis, $4.50; San Fran-
cisco, $5.00, carload lots; 5ic 1000 to 4000 Sis.; pipe 7Jc,
sheet 8, bar 6|c. London:' £14 18s 9d <R long ton.
Spelter. — New York, $0.25: St. Louis, $6.00; Lon-
don, £28 5s $ ton; San Francisco, ton lots, 7c; 100-ft
lots, 7|c.
Tin.— New York, pig, $32.80@33.25; San Francisco,
ton lots, 34c; 500 fts., 35c; 200 Sis., 36c; less, 37£c; bar tin,
fl ib., 40c. London, £149.
Platinum. — San Francisco, crude, $18.50 f, oz.; New
York, ingot, $20.50 K Troy oz. Platinum ware, 75@$1.00
$ gram.
Quicksilver.— New York, $40.00@$40.50, large lots;
London, £7 5s Od; San Franci6CO, local, $38.00@39. 00 $
flask of 75 lis.
Babbitt Metal. — San Francisco, No. 1, lOJc; No.
2, 8c; No. 3, 7Jc; extra, 17Jc; genuine, 32Jc; Eclipse, 35c.
Solder.— Half-and-half, 100-ft. lots, 22.00c; San Fran-
cisco, Plumbers', 100-ft). lots, 19.15c.
Zinc. — Metallic, chemically pure, $ ft)., 50c; dust, $ft.,
10c; sulphate, f, lb, ,04c.
Nickel— New York, 55@60c Hlb.; ton lots, 40@47c.
Aluminum.— No. 1, 99%, small lots, 37c $ ft>.; 100 lbs..
35c; 1000 ft>s. 34c; ton lots and over, 33c, Pittsburg. No,
2, 90%, small lots, 34c; ton lots and over, 31c, Pittsburg.
STKBOTCKAl MATERIALS.
Iron. — Pittsburg, Bessemer pig, $16.85; gray forge,
$16.35; San Francisco, bar, 3Jc $ ft>., 3Jc in small quan-
tities.
Steel.— Bessemer billets, Pittsburg, $26.00@$27.00;
open hearth billets, $27.00@$28.00; San Francisco, bar,
7c to 13c 1 ft.
White Lead. — Per ft>., in kegs: 500 lbs. and over at
one purchase, per ft)., 7Jc; less than 500 ft>s., per ft)., 8c;
in 25-lb. tin pails, Jc "§, lb. above keg price; in 1 and 5-lb.
tin cans, 100 lbs. per case, £c per ft>. above keg price.
Dry Lead. — In bbls., 1 ton and over, 7|c; do. in kegs, 8c.
Lime.— Santa Cruz, $1.35 country, $1.25 city $ bbl.
Cement.— Imported, $3.00@4.00 fi bbl.; California,
carload lots, $1.80 f. o. b. at works; small lots, $2.10 f,
—
18}
Mining and Scientific Press.
NOVEMBBK 4, 1905.
bbl. in sacks, 4 sacks to bbl., 5c for each sack returned.
Lumber. — (Retail): Pine, ordinary sizes, $24.00®
25.00; extra sizes higher; redwood, $28.00@30.00; lath, 4
feet, $4.50@5.00; pickets, $21.00;shingles, $2.50 for No. 1,
and $2.25 for No. 2; shakes, $13.50 for split and $15.00 for
sawed; rustic, $28.00(3,35.00.
Nails. — This week the basic prices are: Wire, $2.77;
Cut, $3.25. Meanwhile the nominal quotations per keg
(list prices) are: No. 20d to 60d, Wire, $3.35; Cut, $3.55;
lOd to 16d, Wire, $3.45; Cut, $3.35; 8d, Wire, $3.50; Cut,
$3.50; 6d and 7d, Wire, $3.60; Cut, $3.60; 4d and 5d,
Wire, $3.70; Cut, $3.70; 3d, Wire, $3.85; Cut, $3.85; 2d,
Wire, $4.10; Cut, $4.10. Special rates for carload lots.
GENERAL SUPPLIES.
Antimony. — New York, Cookson's, 13}c; Hallett's,
14}c; San Francisco, 1000-ft. lots, 14c; 300@500-B>s. 12c;
100-8). lots, 13c.
Bismuth.— Subnitrate, $ ft., $2.10.
Bone Ash.— Extra No. 1, 5@6c f| ft; No. 1, 4@5c.
Borax. — Concentrated, 7@8c $ ft; powdered, 9@10c;
fused, 25@30c; crystal, 7c.
Candles. — Spear Brand, 16 oz. adamantine, 40s., lie
$ set; 14 oz. adamantine, 40s., 10c; 12 oz. adamantine,
40s, 9c; 10 oz. adamantine, 40s, 8c; 16 oz. stearic, 40s,
12fc "$, set; 14 oz. stearic, 40s, 11}; 12 oz. stearic, 40s,
lOJc; 10 oz. stearic, 40s, 9}c. 100-case lots and over, Jc
less. Not less than 50-case lots, %a less. Boxes of 20s,
price \c, advance.
Caps.— 3x, $5.50@6 per 1000; 4x, $6.50@7; 5x, $8@8.50;
Lion, $9@9.50, in lots not less than 1000.
Chemicals. — Cyanide of potassium, 98%-99%, job-
bing, 23@24c 1& ft.; carloads, 23@23Jc; in tins, 30c; soda
ash, $2.00 $ 100 fts.; hyposulphite of soda, 3@3Je$ft.;
caustic soda, in drums, 3@3}c H ft. ! Cal. s. soda, bbls.,
$1.10@1.20f(1001bs.; sks., 90c@$1.00: chlorate of pot-
ash, 12@13c; nitrate of potash, 6|@7c; caustic potash,
10c in 40-fb. tins; roll sulphur, 2}@2}c; powdered sul-
phur, 2J@2Jc; flour sulphur, French, 2|@ — c; alum,
$2.00@2.25; California refined, l£@2e; sulphide of iron,
8c ift ft.; copper sulphate, 5J@5Jc; chloride of lime, spot,
$2.50@2.75; sulphuric acid, in carboys, 66% B, l|@2c fi
ft. ; nitric acid, carboys, 8c B ft-
Chromium. — 90% and over, $ ft., 80c.
Coal. — San Francisco, coast, yard prices : Welling-
ton, $8.00; Seattle, $6.50; Coos Bay, $5.50; Southfield,
$8.00. Cargo lot, Eastern and foreign: Wallsend, $7.50;
Brymbo, $7.50; Pennsylvania, hd., $14.00; Scotch, $8.00;
Cumberland, $13.00; Cannel, $8.50; Welsh Anthracite,
$13.00; Bock Springs, $8.50, long ton; Colorado Anthra-
cite, $14.00. Coke, $11.50 per ton in bulk, $13.00 in
sacks; Sunnyside, $8.50, long ton.
Fire Brick. — Domestic, carloads B 1000, f. o. b., fac-
tory square, $25.00; soap and split, $22.50; arch and
wedge, $27.50; skewback, $30.00; circle, $32.00.
Fire Clay.— Domestic, $ ton 2000 fts. in 125-ft. bags
double, and dry ground, f. o. b., factory, $8.50.
Fuse. — Triple tape, $4.00 per 1000 feet; double tape,
$3.55; single tape, $3.10; Hemp, $2.85; Cement No. 2,
$3.10; Cement No. 1, $2.75, in lots of 3000 and up.
Oils. — Linseed, boiled, bbl., 54c; cs., 59c; raw, bbl.,
52c; cs., 57c; Lucol oil, boiled, bbl., 48c; cs., 53c; raw-
bbl., 46c; cs., 51c. Kerosene — Pearl, per gal., 17}c; As-
tral, 17}c; Star, 17}c; Extra Star, 20}c; Eocene, 19}c;
Elaine, 26c; Water White, in bulk, lie; Mineral Seal,
iron bbls., 18c; wooden bbls., 20}c; cs., 24c; Mineral
Sperm, cs., 26Jc; Deodorized Stove Gasoline, bulk, 14}c,
do., cs., 21c; 86° Gasoline, bulk, 25c; do., cs., 31c; 83°
Naphtha or Benzine, deodorized, in bulk, per gal., 12}c;
do., in cs., 19c; Lard Oil, E. W. S., bbl., 75e; cs., 80c;
Neats-foot Oil, pure, bbl., 63c; cs., 78c; Sperm, crude,
63@68e; Natural White, 68c; Bleached, do., 68@73c;
Whale Oil, cs., 52@67c.
Litharge.— Pure, in 25-ft. bags, 9£@10Jc $ ft.
Magnesium.— Pure, N. Y., $1.60.
Manganese. — Black oxide, <fi ft., 2|@4c.
Mercury.— Bichloride, B ft., 77c.
Molybdenum.— Best, $2.75 $ ft.
Phosphorus.— American, f, ft., 70c.
Powder.— F. o. b. San Francisco : No. 1, 70% nitro-
glycerine, per ft., in carload lots, 15Jc; less than one ton,
17|c. No. 1*, 60%, carload lots, 13}c; less than one ton,
15}e. No. I**, 50%, carload lots, life; less than one ton,
13§c. No. 2, 40%, carload lots, 10c; less than one ton,
12c. No. 2, 35%, carload lots, 9}c; less than one ton,
ll}c. No. 2**, 30%, carload lots, 9c; less than one ton,
lie. Black blasting powder in carload lots, minimum
car 728 kegs, $1.50 per keg; less car lots, $2.00 per keg.
Red Lead. — 500 fts. and over at one purchase, <fi ft.
7}c; less than 500 fts., 7fc.
Silver.— Chloride, fl oz., 90c@$1.00; nitrate, 54c
Sodium. — Metal, $ ft., $1.
Tungsten.— Best, $ ft., $1.20.
Uranium.— Oxide, $ ft., $3.40.
Notices of Recent Patents.
Among the patents recently obtained through Dewey, Strong &
Co. 's Scientific Press United States and Foreign Patent Agency
the following are worthy of special mention :
Machine fok Splitting Cloth.— No. 802,545. Oct. 24, 1905. John
F. Ames, Portland, Or. This invention relates to means for splitting
cloth, of standard width into strips of any desired width, and per-
tains especially to the splitting of the cloth while rolled in contra-
distinction to splitting lengths of cloths and then rolling or reeling
the severed strips The main object is to save time, labor and ex-
pense and to provide a simply constructed and opera' ed machine
which will handle rolls of cloth or other fabric, paper or The like, of
any texture or size and which is capable of adjustment to adapt it
to cut a roll into any desired number of narrower rolls.
Fireproof Partitions.— No. 802,556. Oct. 24, 1905. C. M Depew
and H. E. McCoy, San Francisco, Cal. This invention relates to an
improved fireproof building construction, and particularly pertains
to a partition structure. Its object is to provide a simple, cheap,
light and stable rigid fireproof structure of this character. It con-
sisis in the combination with a jamb-timber having an angular
tongue on one edge, of partition panels having grooves on the edges
adjacent to said timber, angle iron uprights fitting the tongue or the
timber and the grooves of the panels, means for anchoring the oppo-
site ends of the panels, top and bottom supports for the series of
panels, and finishing strips secured to the timber, and other details
of construction.
Surfacing and Polishing Machine.— No. 802,604. Oct. 24. 1905.
A. T. Spence, J. H. Prugh and S. B. Zimmer, Oakland, Cal. This
invention relates to an apparatus which is designed for producing
even surfaces and cleaning or polishing any surface to which such
an apparatus may be applicable. It consists in a surfacing and pol-
ishing machine of a frame supported with relation to the surface to
be acted on, independently movable abrading rollers, springs by
which the rollers are normally maintained in contact with the sur-
face, and a lever with intermediate connections and a stop with
which the lever is engaged to raise the rollers from the surface, and
other details of construction combined and adapted to produce the
desired result.
Surfacing and Polishing Machine.— No. 802,605. Oct. 24, 1905.
A. T. Spence, J. H. Prugh and S. B. Zimmer, Oakland, Cal. This
invention relates to an apparatus which is especially designed for
producing even surfaces and cleaning or polishing any surface to
whioh such an apparatus may be applicable. It comprise* in a sur-
facing machine, a longitudinally slotted drum and a flexible cover-
ing material, the contiguous edges of which enter the slot, jaws be-
tween which said edges are held, an eccentric mounted upon the
drum shaft, said jaws pivoted together in pairs and one jaw of each
pair being extended beyond its pivotal center to form a lever arm
which clasps the eccentric, and a radially movable rod upon which
the jaws are fulcrumed, and other details of construction.
New Patents.
Dewey, Strong & Co.'s Scientific Press Patent Agenct, 330
Market street, San Francisco, has official reports of the following
United States patents issued to Pacific Coast inventors :
FOR THE WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 17, 1905.
802,252.— Fire Escape— C. W. Anderson, Seattle, Wash.
801,849.— Meter and Motor— A. H. Carpenter, Stockton, Cal.
801,968— Gold Saving Apparatus— J. A. Clark, Yankee Hill, Cal.
802,272.— Letter Former— G. W. Dettner, San Francisco.
802,183.— Dam— G. W. Durbrow, Indio, Cal. .
802,274.— Stirrup— J. Engleheart, Waconda, Wash.
801,859— Preserving Wood— W. E. Everette, Tacoma, Wash.
802,033,— Alarm— C. Freeman, Los Angeles, Cal.
802,036.— Cultivator— F. W. French, Oakland, Cal.
802,282.— Speed Controller— F. A. Gerting, Portland, Or.
802,207.— Doughnut Machine— Gray & Van Fleet, Riverside, Cal.
802,362.— Bearing— Green, Lyons & Garey, Los Angeles, Cal.
802,144.— Windmill— B. R. Harrington, Phoenix, Ariz.
802,213.— Pipe Band Fastening— A. W Hight, Ballard, Wash.
802,289.— Purse Holder— R. K. Hohmanu. San Diego, Cal.
802,215 —Tube Cutter— E. Johnson, Seattle, Wash.
801,990.— Water Gate— Kellar & Thomason, Covina. Cal.
802,332 —Vehicle Wheel— J. M. Le>iford, Hood River, Or.
802,106.— Toilet Seat— J. V. Matteson, Fruitvale. Cal.
802,306.— Swimming Appliance— E. J. McKittrick, Walla Walla,
Wash.
801,893.— Door— A. C. Mortenson. Santa Barbara, Cal.
802,228.— Current Motor— A. A. Morton, Walla Walla, Wash
802,304.— Sash Fastener— S. F. and D E. Myers, Los Angeles, Cal.
802,108.— Linotype Machine— C. J O'Brien, Redding, Cal.
801.902.— Incandescent Lamp— S. Olafson. Seattle, Wash.
802,111.— Annunciator— A. L. Peterson, Clipper Mills, Cal.
802,235 —Change Machine— T. I. Pottler, San Francisco.
801,921.— Rock Crusher— A. Scott, Carters, Cal.
802,123.— Gun Mount— M. C. Taylor. San Francisco.
801.944.— Show Case— F. Weber, Los Angeles. Pal.
802,063 —Transom Opener-G. C. Weil, San Francisco.
802,343 —Lock Hook— E. WiPt, Sacramento, Cal .
801,953— Music Leaf Turner - H. L. Wilson, Port Townsend,
Wash .
OTTUMWA IRON WORKS,
Established 1867. OTTUMWA, IOWA. Incorporated 1903,
HOISTING
ENGINES.
MINING
MACHINERY.
California Age'tis: Harron, Rickard & McCone.
Washington Agents:
Hradley Engineering & Machinery Co., Spokane, Wash
Utah Agents: Salt Lake Hdw. Co., Salt Lake City, Utah.
Over 2200 Engines in Use.
Common Sense
teaches us that RUBBER against an article creates friction. In fact, we
wear rubber soles — use rubber on steps, etc., to prevent slipping — to
create friction.
Why do you use ENGINE PACKING with rubber on top — on the bot-
tom— and in between — where it is rubbing against the rod all the time —
creating excessive friction — loss in power — fuel — money?
No such mistake in
"EUREKA" PACKING.
The rubber is where it should be — embedded in flax —
which takes the wear — the lubricants prevent friction.
Isn't it up to you to try GENUINE "EUREKA,"
particularly as the price is one-half less?
JAS. L. ROBERTSON & SONS. 195 Fulton St., New York
A N advertisement in these columns is weekly seen by thousands
■**■ who use our advertising columns as a directory for their needs,
and who know that none but reliable advertisements appear therein.
The best of their kind
Aetna
Dynamite
Lion Fuzes
and
Blasting Machines
Use them and your blasting troubles wil
be few
Send for the booklet
"Firing Blasts by Electricity"
ALL MADE BY
The Aetna Powder Co.
143 Dearborn St., Chicago
Whole No. 2364.-v°^„Er2x0cl
San Francisco, Cal., Saturday, November 11, 1905.
THREE DOLLARS PER ANNUM.
Single Copies, Ten Cent!.
Mifc
-«f 'gF*ffi*,)
3j0h:*±-- ~S
MIWNCAND SCIEHTIFIC PRESS
."*!&*■' *■ *******
-
Dm Garaiart Mines, Egypt.
View of Assouan on the Nile, Egypt.
Hieroglyphics on Rocks at Khorseghi.
The Temple of Phillae, Showing Marks of Inundation.
A Desert Resting Place on the Road to Absciel, Egypt.
'■4 \ %% "
fig
itii&Mii-xHD .SMemlht J
An Ancient Miner Drilling.
Three Sheiks of Egypt.
SCENES IN THE GOLD REGION OF EGYPT.
Ancient Grinding Quartz Mills.
(See page 324.)
321
Mining and Scientific Press.
November 11, 1905.
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
ESTABLISHED i860.
Pjblithed Every Saturday at 330 Market Street, San Francisco, Cal.
Telephone, Davis 771.
ANNUAL, SUBSCRIPTION.
United States, Mexico and Canada $3 00
All Other Countries in the Postal Union 5 00
Entered at the San Francisco Postoffice as second-class mail matter.
Branch offices:
New York City, 921-24 Park Row Bldg. Boston, 27 School St.
Chicago, 1164 Monadnock Block.
Denver, 606 Mack Block.
J. F. HALLORAN Publisher
SAN FRANCISCO, NOVEMBER n, 1905.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
ILLUSTRATION 8: Page.
Scenes in the Gold Region of Egypt 320-324
Map of Southeastern Egypt, Showing Locality of Gold Mines ..325
Ready to Take a " Tribute Pitch " 327
The Caribou Lode, at the 950-Foot Level, in Nova Scotia 327
Beaver Hat Lode, at Seal Harbor. Nova Scotia 328
A Fishing Settlement in Nova Scot1 a 328
A Glacial Valley Amid High Ranges, Where Both Mining and
Agriculture Thrive 330
The Practical Operation of Machine Drills 329
Near Timber Line in the Colorado Rockies 330
EDITORIAL:
Fuel Oil 321
Coke Shortage in Utah. 321
Highly Paid Engineers, Managers, Etc 321
Be Up to Date 321
An Unappreciated Resource 321
The Diamond Drill in Prospecting 321
Handicapped by Lack of Means 321
Annual Assessment 322
Rich Ores Giving Place to Lower Grade 322
Vigorous Exploration of Copper-Bearing Beds 322
MINING SUMMARY 332-333-33 1-335
LATEST MARKET REPORTS 336
MISCELLANEOUS:
Concentrates 323
Gold Mining in F.gypt 324
Venezuelan Gold Fields 325
The Prospector 326
Salts of Potassium 326
Forestry and Mining Lands 326
Concrete Mixtures 327
Origin of the Term Horse Power. 327
In Nova Scotia 327
Rapid Method for the Determination of Copper in Chilled Slag. .328
Ore Valuation of a Rand Mine 328
The Practical Operation of Machine Drills 329
The H'ghest Mines 330
Testing Ores and Tailings Preliminary to Cyaniding 330
Mining and Metallurgical Patents 331
Personal 335
Books Received 335
Commercial Paragraphs 336
Trade Treatises 336
New Patents 336
CALIFORNIA arid Pacific coast manufacturers,
who were long handicapped by prohibitive
prices of fuel, are given much encouragement by the
present ability to secure fuel oil at a comparatively
low figure. Several establishments in San Francisco
are now contracting for oil delivered at their re-
spective plants for from 42 cents to 48 cents per
barrel. Electric power and cheap fuel are greatly
aiding in developing Pacific coast resources.
THE burning of the coke-making plant recently
at the Sunnyside coal mines in Utah threatens
to embarrass the smelters of that State somewhat in
their metallurgical operations, as unless a supply of
coke can be obtained elsewhere some of the furnaces
must soon blow out, and wait until such time as they
can secure a continuous and sufficient supply. This
incident shows how closely different branches of the
mining and metallurgical industry are interdepend-
ent upon each other. Should the coke shortage last
long, it will materially affect the copDer output of
Utah. '_
THE staff of highly paid engineers, managers,
*■ and the large clerical force essential to the
operation of an extensive mining proposition, would
completely swamp a small enterprise. In the
conduct of the affairs of the large concern this
official paraphernalia are essential — though not in-
frequently overdone, but the small mine can usually
dispense with them. In the history of some large
mines which have been successfully run with elaborate
official staff, the time usually arrives when the propo-
sition can no longer be operated profitably under
such conditions, but if the mine, or various portions
of it, is given over to leasers, large profits are again
forthcoming, simply because it is stripped of the
greater part of the expensive engineering and office
staff. All work is done in a practical manner by
experienced men, and no extraordinary expenses are
permitted.
Be Up to Date.
The methods employed by some mill and mine man-
agers and superintendents in certain districts in
Colorado are rather crude. From their conversation
one would think they were living in some other age
than the twentieth century. In one mill, particularly,
an arrastra was observed in operation which was
used in " pan amalgamation," as the operator ex-
plained. This machine was of the ordinary type and
was between 4 and 5 feet across the top and some-
what smaller at the bottom — pan-shaped and prob-
ably 2} or 3 feet deep, with an opening on one side at
the bottom. This contained a stone weighing 250
to 300 pounds, which was being dragged around in
the pan, which also contained quicksilver. Through
the arrastra pulp from the stamps and plates was
passing. This process completed the "amalgama-
tion," and the operator explained that he was able
to make a better saving with this method than by
any other.
The efficiency of the arrastra as a gold-saving
device has long since been recognized by those who
have had experience in its use. In Mexico, Arizona
and California the arrastra is well known and was a
favorite device of the Mexicans and early miners in
the Southwest; but in Colorado this simple, primitive
machine is seldom seen. The thought naturally oc-
curred that there are modern methods and appliances
available in good milling which make the arrastra an
unnecessary attachment in the stamp mill. This
machine was operated by steam power — somewhat of
a luxury for an arrastra, which is usually operated
by the aid of a mule or horse.
As a rule, the operators of Colorado are progressive
and up to date and always willing to adopt new and
improved methods for handling ore, and especially in
the treatment of the ore, and knowing exactly what
each ton is worth as it goes to the mill or smelter.
The superintendent of a property in that State said
that he had been connected with the mine for the
past eight years and that he had not spent over $25
in that time on assays. When asked how he could
tell the value of his ore, or how much he should re-
ceive for it when shipped to the mill or smelter, he
said: " Oh, that's easy enough; you see, when a man
has been on a mine for a few months or a year he can
tell close enough as to what the ore is running with-
out having it assayed." This mine has been paying
dividends under such management for some time past.
What would the mine be worth to stockholders if
they employed an up-to-date manager and improved
methods ? Inquiry usually develops the fact that
such managers are not keeping posted on the methods
of the day by reading progressive mining journals.
They usually say: " Well, I am getting a daily paper
and one or two others, and then, you see, I am kept
pretty busy here most of the time — I don't really
have much time for reading." An operator in Colo-
rado discharged one of his men who had been with
him for a year on the grounds that he had never seen
the young man reading a mining paper of any kind,
and that a man in his employ must keep abreast of
the times or suffer the consequences of being sent
down the hill. This summary method of dealing may
have its advantages, but it would seem to be the
better plan for the management to provide a reading
room and suitable literature for the men and encour-
age them in the habit of reading up-to-date journals
and books on those subjects closely identified with
their work.
An Unappreciated Resource.
In Eastern States there are numerous instances
where natural gas is employed in heating and lighting
cities, and in some eases it is employed as fuel in
metallurgical operations. In view of these facts it
seems strange that the natural gas available in
several of the Western States is not employed in the
same manner. In portions of Utah, Montana, Col-
orado, Oregon, California, Washington, Nevada and
elsewhere natural gas has been proven to exist in
large amount, but it is utilized to a very small extent.
In a few places it is employed for heating purposes,
but it is not employed nearly as much as its im-
portance and value suggest it should be. It is surely
due to lack of knowledge of the value of this re-
source in the Western States that it is not more
commonly used. In the East natural gas is em-
ployed extensively in heating and lighting, in the
manufacture of glass, in the generation of steam, for
puddling iron, in roasting ores, heating furnaces, in
the manufacture of steel and also as a source of
power in the gas engine, in drilling and pumping oil
and gas wells, and in other utilities. In the oil
regions of the West it is not an uncommon thing for
a bore to strike a flow of gas instead of oil. In such
event the well is generally either capped or fired
and allowed to burn for months, wasting thousands
of dollars' worth of a natural product that might be
utilized at a profit as great as if it were oil and not
gas that had been struck in the well. In some of
the Eastern States more than 5,000,000 people derive
the benefit of the use of natural gas as fuel. Large
compressors are run by natural gas, which is ex-
ploded directly within the cylinders, the compressors
pumping the gas from wells having weak pressures,
and forcing the gas through pipe lines to the points
of use.
The Diamond Drill in Prospecting.
At various periods in the past has been pointed
out herein the advantage of a diamond drill prospect-
ing company, which, under contract, would undertake
to bore holes for the purpose of prospecting unde-
veloped ground. Such companies have since been
organized and are in successful operation. One com-
pany formed for this purpose is operating under
contract in the War Eagle and Center Star mines, at
Rossland, B. C, in the Sullivan mines at Marys-
ville, Mont., in the Nickel Plate mines, for the Daly
Reduction Co., at Hedley, B. C, in the British Colum-
bia copper mines at Princeton, B. C, in the J. R.
Cook mines, in the North Moccasin mine, and in the
Bullard mine at Kendall, Mont., and until recently
in the Pittsburg & Montana, at Helena, Mont.
Many mining companies and the individual owners of
mines would like to have prospecting done as cheaply
as possible, but do not look with favor upon the
expense incidental to the purchase of a diamond drill
outfit, partly because of lack of knowledge of the
machine, of its utility, and of the manner of running
it. The idea of a company organized to do prospect-
ing by this means in a district is one at once appeal-
ing to those who appreciate its advantages. The
work above referred to was mostly for the purpose
of locating veins believed to exist, but the where-
abouts of which was not definitely known. The holes
bored were generally about 300 or 400 feet in length,
boring proceeding at the rate of 15 to 40 feet daily,
according to the ground. The cost of the black dia-
monds used in diamond drilling operations is at the
present time from $60 to $65 per carat, depending on
quality, some being superior to others. The work of
setting these in the boring bit can only safely be
intrusted to an experienced man, for a novice would,
in all probability, lose the diamonds in the hole. Dia-
mond drilling is a science in itself, but in experienced
hands is a comparatively inexpensive and satisfac-
tory method of prospecting ground. Holes may be
bored to any depth up to 5000 feet, though deep
holes require powerful and expensive machinery of
this type, and are more expensive per foot drilled.
The diamond drill is yearly coming into more ex-
tended use in the mines of the West, as the advan-
tages of this means of prospecting becomes more
familiar to mine owners and managers. Some excel-
lent results have been obtained by the use of the
diamond drill in Leadville district, Colo., in Utah in
various places, and also in California.
MANY mines possess the elements of success, but
are handicapped by a lack of sufficient means
to equip and operate the property on a scale com-
mensurate with its magnitude, or by the parsimony
or ignorance of the owners or management. The
mines which run on a margin of profit so small as to
render the outcome always a matter of doubt usu-
ally produce the best superintendents, for their ener-
gies are constantly directed toward a legitimate
reduction of expense while increasing the output.
Although this is a fact commonly recognized among
mining men, the popular saying is that "Good mines
make good miners." This is an admission that the
rich mine will pay under extravagant or inexperi-
enced management, but where the profits are large
there is usually little disposition to complain at the
character of the management.
November 11, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
322
Annual Assessment.
The inception of a miner's title to his mining loca-
tion is his discovery. This is a fact well established
by the laws and the courts. To preserve and per-
petuate this title the law requires the performance of
certain acts on the part of the locator — the annual
assessment work. The performance of this work, or
the making of improvements on his claim to the ex-
tent of one hundred dollars annually, permits the
miner to hold possession of his claim to the exclusion
of all others. These are the two factors of perpetual
ownership — discovery and the performance of the
amount of work (or improvements made) to the ex-
tent of one hundred dollars annually. As the end of
the year is approaching, many holders of unpatented
mining claims naturally are making preparations to
comply with the laws, and thus hold their claims for
another period. In view of this fact a few pointers
on annual assessment generally will be welcomed by
many.
The miners of the West early called this perform-
ance of a stipulated amount of development work, or
improvements, "assessment work," and the per-
formance of it the " representation " of the claim.
The early Federal mining laws — those of 1866 —
made no provision for annual labor on mines, leaving
its regulation to the several States or mining dis-
tricts, but as the requirements of these were so
widely different the Federal Statutes of May 10, 1872,
made the necessary provision for this, to apply to all
claims previously located or which might be there-
after located.
This law provided that the year within which the
work should be accomplished should begin with the
date of location of the claim; but this law appearing
somewhat confusing where there were groups of
locations owned by the same parties, the several
claims of which were located on different dates, the
law was amended January 22, 1880, and provided
that the period within which the work to be done an-
nually on all unpatented claims located since May 10,
1872, should commence on the first day of January
next succeeding the date of location of such claim.
This made the date of expiration of annual assess-
ment on unpatented claims uniform throughout the
United States. The law also provided that no assess-
ment work need be performed within the year in
which the claim was located.
As, under the provisions of this liberal law, a claim
could be located on the first day of January, and no
assessment work required within the year of loca-
tion, nor during the following year up to the last
month of the year, or just sufficient time within
which the $100 worth of work or improvement
might be made, several of the mining States of
the West passed laws (as well as some counties and
districts) which require the performance of a stated
amount of work within a short period of the date of
location, as a part of the act of location. This is
undoubtedly wise legislation, as it has a tendency to
lessen the likelihood of wholesale location of mining
ground by the few first-comers in a new district, and
aids materially in the development of the mineral
resources of the country. Some of the States have
also adopted laws relative to annual assessment work
— not as a part of the act of location. Arizona, Ne-
vada, North and South Dakota and Washington have
statutes which formally adopt the Federal laws, and
which, while not emphasizing the Federal statutes or
adding to their requirements in any manner, practi-
cally shut out any district laws or rules which would
have a tendency to increase the amount of labor
required by the United States laws. In New Mexico
the Legislature has fixed the value of a day's work at
$4 for eight hours. The Wyoming statute provides
that the assessment work on placer claims shall con-
sist of $100 worth of manual labor, permanent im-
provements on the claim in the way of buildings, or
roads or ditches made for the benefit or working of
such claim, to show that the work or improvements
are in good faith.
Colorado has a State law requiring that on placer
claims of 160 acres, or more, there must be at least
one hundred dollars worth of work, done annually be-
fore the first of August of each year. ' On smaller
claims the amount shall be in proportion, but not less
than twelve dollars worth of work shall be done on
any claim. Where two claims adjoin, the work may
all be done on one claim for the benefit of both. This
law was held by the courts to be contrary to the Fed-
eral statutes and void. Colorado, therefore, has no
valid legislation on the subject. In regard to lode
claims, the Colorado law is silent, consequently the
Federal laws alone control.
California and Utah have no legislation requiring
the performance of any work as a part of the act of
location, the Federal laws only being operative in
this respect in those States.
In Colorado, the State laws require the filing of a
location certificate within three months from the date
of discovery. Before the expiration of this time, and
within sixty days from the date of discovery, the dis-
coverer must sink a discovery shaft on the lode to a
depth of at least ten feet, from the lowest part of
the rim of the shaft, or deeper if necessary, to show
a "well defined crevice." Any open cut, crosscut,
or tunnel which shall cut a vein at a depth of at least
10 feet below the surface, or a tunnel run along the
vein for a distance of 10 feet, is considered equiva-
lent to a 10-foot shaft.
In Arizona, within ninety days from the date of dis-
covery, and posting the notice thereon, a discovery
shaft shall be sunk on the vein to a depth of at least
10 feet, from the lowest portion of the rim of said
shaft, or deeper if necessary, until there shall be ex-
posed therein "mineral in place." An open cut, adit
or tunnel may be substituted for the shaft, as a part
of the act of location, which shall be equal to a shaft
10 feet deep, 4 feet wide and 6 feet long, and
which shall cut a mineral bearing lode at a depth of
10 feet from the surface.
In Idaho the locator must complete his location by
marking his boundaries within ten days from the
date of discovery. Within sixty days from the date
of location the locator must sink a shaft upon the
lode to a depth of at least 10 feet from the lowest
part of the rim of such shaft (which means that
where the shaft is located upon a hillside the lower
and not the upper side shall be the place of measure-
ment), and not less than 16 square feet in area. As
in the States above mentioned, a cut or tunnel of
proper size, on the vein, may be substituted for a
shaft.
In Montana the first requisite after discovery is
the posting of a notice, and within sixty days of the
date of discovery the locator must sink a 10-foot
shaft, or run a cut or drift, exposing a " well-defined
crevice " or "valuable deposit." The Montana law
resembles that of Colorado in its general features.
In Nevada, also, the posting of a notice is required,
and the locator must within ninety days from the
date of location sink a shaft to the depth of at least
10 feet (or its equivalent), showing a "lode deposit"
of mineral in place. This legislation has been held to
be valid.
In New Mexico, from the time of taking possession,
and prior to recording the notice of location (three
months after posting), the locator must sink a discov-
ery shaft upon the claim to the depth of at least 10
feet from the lowest part of the rim of said shaft at
surface, or must drive a tunnel, open cut or adit upon
such claim, exposing mineral in place at least 10 feet
below the surface.
In North Dakota the locator must within sixty
days from the date of discovery file a location certifi-
cate with the county recorder, but before filing such
certificate must sink a shaft sufficient to show a well-
defined mineral vein or lode.
The law of Oregon requires that the locator post a
notice of discovery, and before the expiration of sixty
days from the date of posting same, and before re-
cording the notice of location, must sink a shaft to
the depth of at least 10 feet. Here also an open cut,
crosscut or adit, exposing the vein at a depth of 10
feet from the surface, may be substituted for a shaft.
The law of that State distinctly provides that the
work required by this State statute shall not be con-
sidered as part of the work required by the United
States statutes. An affidavit showing compliance
with the foregoing provisions is required to be made
and attached to the notice of location and recorded
therewith.
South Dakota requires a 10-foot shaft or cut with
10-foot face exposing mineral in place. As in North
Dakota, the locator must record a location certificate
withiu sixty days from the date of discovery, but
before filing such notice must sink a discovery shaft
on the claim 10 feet deep.
In Washington the locator is given ninety days
within which to record a notice of location, but before
filing the same he must have sunk a discovery shaft
to a depth of at least 10 feet. Other superficial work
equivalent in extent to a shaft which shall expose
mineral in place at least 10 feet from the surface may
be substituted for the shaft. These provisions do not
apply to locations west of the summit of the Cascade
mountains.
In Wyoming the locator has sixty days within
which to sink a 10-foot shaft or make a corresponding
open cut.
These State laws were passed with the object of
compelling the would-be locator to actually demon-
strate that he has discovered a mineral vein in place,
and to further compel him to demonstrate his good
faith by performing a stated amount of development
within the period fixed by the respective States.
The language of the State statutes having a bear-
ing on this subject is in many instances unfortunate,
in that they anticipate a geological condition which
may not exist. All miners know that a valuable
mineral deposit may exist which has no distinct well-
defined walls. Yet some of the laws demand a
"well-defined crevice," "well-defined mineral vein
or lode," etc. It is evident, of course, that the in-
tent of the law is that " mineral in place " — that is,
not loose detached pieces of ore commonly known as
float, shall be discovered.
There is no question as to the wisdom of this State
and district legislation, which has a tendency to pro-
mote the development of the mineral resources of
the country. In all cases after the first two years
succeeding the date of location, except in the few
States which have laws on annual assessment, the
claim holder usually defers his assessment work
until he is compelled to resume it to save his loca-
tion from being taken by another.
The class of work or improvements permissible as
assessment work is that work or development which
will have a tendency to improve the property, or
that class of improvements, in the way of buildings,
machinery, ditches or roads, or other substantial in-
vestment which may have a direct benefit on the
development and operation of the mine or mines.
In case of a group of claims the work (or improve-
ments) may all be placed on one of the claims if for
the manifest benefit of all, or the expenditure may be
made entirely without the limits of the group for the
benefit of all of them. If a portion of the group is
patented, the expenditure may be made on a pat-
ented claim for the benefit of all the claims in the
group which are unpatented, it being only necessary
that the equivalent of $100 be expended for each
unpatented claim of the group.
THE time usually arrives in the history of most
rich mines when the fact can no longer be dis-
guised or disregarded, however unpalatable it may
be, that the rich ores are giving place to those of
lower grade and of more complex composition, with
a correspondingly increased expense in treatment
and a lessened return per ton of ore treated. There
are scores of examples of this condition, and the
unwelcome change in ore composition and value must
be offset by corresponding changes in mining meth-
ods, ore handling below ground and on the surface,
and the adoption of metallurgical processes which
will secure a higher extraction at reduced cost. In
other words, the change from rich to low-grade — or
from free milling to base — ore must be met by the
wise application of methods and processes which will
result in a corresponding reduction in costs. This,
modern science usually makes possible, but to take
advantage of the new order of things the manage-
ment of mines must sweep aside prejudice, time-
honored precedent, tradition and practice, for that
which is superior.
ONE of the features of modern copper mining in
the Lake Superior region is the vigorous ex-
ploration of copper-bearing beds which have been
known for years, but which were recognized in
former times as containing too small an amount of
metal to afford a profit under the conditions existing
and the methods of operating at that time. The
cheapening of production by the introduction of im-
proved methods and machinery now bring some of
these low-grade deposits within the range of possible
profit.
323
Mining and Scientific Press.
November 11, 1905.
r
CONCENTRATES.
A
The presence of lead or iron in gold renders the alloy
brittle and unfit for use where strength or ductility are
essential.
Cold rolled steel makes excellent "U" bolts for
machine drill use. They will outlast other metal gener-
ally used for this purpose.
In Kings county, California a mine telephone is in
successful operation a distance of 50 miles, the conductor
being the wires of a barb-wire fence.
A VEIN may occur at contact of a dike with older
rock, or it may occur wholly within the dike itself, due
to fisBuring of the dike subsequent to its injection.
vWVV
Any mineral at all soluble in water will leave a clearly
perceptible residue on a platinum dish when the solu-
tion is evaporated. Gypsum is slightly soluble in water.
It never pays to handle rock or ore in a wheelbarrow
where a track and car can be utilized. The difference in
cost will in a short time pay for the installation of track
and car.
Madagascar has gold mines, but the development of
the mining industry in that island is as yet in its
infancy. The gold output of Madagascar in 1904 was
about $1,500,000.
Gold which has been collected in metallic iron in
metallurgical operations may be recovered by roasting
the iron with pyrite and a small amount of rich copper
ore on the hearth of a reverberatory furnace.
Compressed air was used for agitating the silver-bear-
ing solution in the hypo-sulphite of soda lixiviation of
silver ores, when sodium sulphide was added to the solu-
tion for the purpose of precipitation of the silver.
«b>fc«£>tb
A substantial tramway trestle may be made of
2x8-inch lumber if the pieces be properly disposed.
There is a tendency to employ timber of unnecessarily
large dimensions in structures of this character.
WW WW
IF the bolt holes in the base of a mortar are not of the
same size as he anchor bolts, the mortar is very likely
to shift about on its foundation and in time get a rock-
ing motion as the stamps fall and finally require reset-
ting.
Beryls are usually various shades of green, shading
to light blue and whitish blue, but are also occasionally
found of rose red color. Crystals of the latter sort are
found in the gem mines at Mesa Grande, San Diego
county, Cal.
The grade of ditch lines, roads and tramways may be
established with sufficient accuracy by the use of the
triangle and plumb-bob. The accuracy of the work de-
pends entirely upon the care employed in the use of this
simple instrument.
It is stated that the Britannia copper mine on Howe
bound, B. C, is equipped with 400 rock drills of various
types, and there are said to be more rock drills operated
in the lead-zinc region of southwest Missouri than in the
entire State of Colorado.
It is ordinarily unsatisfactory to build heavy struc-
tures of any kind en a mine dump unless it has been
made many years and has firmly settled. A new dump
shrinks in volume by the slow settling of the mass, which
continues for years in some cases.
Honey-combed and heavily mineralized veins
undoubtedly offer a better inducement to exploration
than veins of pure white quartz. Very few large veins of
white quartz outcropping on the surface contain payable
values. There are exceptions, but they are rare.
A good suspension bridge may be made from disused
mine hoisting cables. Such a bridge may be built over
almost any' stream where sufficient tension can be
brought upon ihe ropes, to give them a proper catenary
curve. Such bridges have been constructed and used
for the passage of mine cars, and also to carry air and
water pipes.
The expense of treating ores in a stamp mill is deter-
mined by the capacity of the plant per crushing unit,
the number of men employed and the wages paid, and,
to some extent, the arrangement of machinery and dis-
tribution and cost of power. Mills having the same
crushing capacity are not always operated at the same
expense per ton of ore treated.
It is difficult to suggest a name for a Dew location that
will not conflict with others already in existence.
Miners seem to have exhausted their ingenuity in that
direction, and duplication of names of mines is of very
common occurrence, particularly among the more noted
mines, such as Anaconda, Silver King, Homestake,
Independence, Tonopah, etc. A prospector in Riverside
county named his claim Hexahedron, a name which has
probably not as yet been duplicated, but should the
claim of this strange name come into prominence there
would doubtless soon be numerous Hexahedrons.
Quicksilver occurs usually as the sulphide (cinna-
bar), also as metacinnabarite, another sulphide, and as
native mercury. A few other mineralogical occurrences
are of merely scientific interest. The large deposits of
the world occur under almost identical geological condi-
tions— at or near the contact of sandstone and serpen-
tine.
A valuable paper on tellurium ores can be found in
Vol. XXVI, p. 485, Trans. A. I. M. E., written by Frank
Clems Smith. It is entitled the "Occurrence and Be-
havior of Tellurium in Gold Ores," more particularly
with reference to the Potsdam Ores of the Black Hills,
South Dakota. A discussion of this paper will be found
in the same volume beginning at p. 1103.
It is not likely that the X-ray will prove of material
or practical value in the determination of the values in
ore. It is no doubt true that the metal may be seen in a
small piece of rock by use of X-ray apparatus, but ordi-
narily gold and other minerals of value occur dissemi-
nated in extremely small particles, and where they do
not may be seen without the aid of this extraordinary
paraphernalia.
The composition of the ore charge at Mount Lyell,
Tasmania, is stated to be about as follows: Fe, 40.30%;
SiO:, 4.42%; BaS04, 1.48%; Cu, 2.36%; Al2Oa, 2.04%;
S, 46.01%; Ag, 2 ounces per ton; Au, 0.0725 ounce per
ton. This general average is maintained as nearly as
possible by mining the necessary amounts from various
portions of the ore body, which differs in composition
from place to place. The height of the ore column in
the furnace is kept at 9 feet 6 inches.
A barred letter in a chemical formula indicates
that two atoms of that element are represented by the
symbol, while each of the dots over the symbol repre-
sents one atom of oxygen. The small numerals to the
right of any symbol multiply not only the number of
atoms of the element represented by the symbol, but
also the atoms of oxygen indicated by the dots above it.
This is a survival of the old dual system, by which the
cathions were represented as oxides and the anions as
hydroxides. It is now obsolete.
Pyrite containing 40% iron and 43% sulphur is
worth at the present time at tide water in Spain about
$2.50 per ton. A large amount of pyrite is shipped
annually from the Spanish mines. A similar grade of
pyrite at San Francisco, Cal., is worth about $4 to $4.50
per ton. On the Pacific coast a higher grade of pyrite
— 50% sulphur — is desired by the manufacturing chemical
companies. At the port of New York pyrite sells for
about 10 cents per unit of sulphur contained. At this
rale a 50% ore would be worth $5 per ton of ore.
Differential results in the re-assay of pulp sam-
ples, which have been submitted for check assays, prob-
ably represent the different quantities of gold and sil-
ver in the several lots taken from the pulverized general
sample, and not to defective assays. Gold ores in which
the gold is evenly disseminated in very fine particles
give more uniform results than where the values are in
coarse gold. The screening out of metallics, and the
addition of these values to those obtained in the assay of
that portion passing the screen, must necessarily lead to
differing results.
Chutes constructed of pipes or of wood, if of greater
than 6 or 8 feet length, should have a slope angle of at
least 35°, or only dry rock will run in them. A long
chute provided with a gate at the lower end, and which
is filled with a mixture of fine and coarse ore, if at all
damp will not run readily at even 35° when the gate is
opened, it being frequently necessary to enter the chute
and move the ore along. Such chutes should have a
slope of about 45°, but should be kept full, o'r the impact
of the falling ore when dumped from a car will soon wear
the structure out, even if lined with iron.
The hydro-motallurgy of copper is not a simple propo-
sition, for its success depends' to a great extent upon
definite chemieal knowledge and experience. Some ores
are naturally suited to leaching, but others have to be
prepared by roasting and by other preliminary treat-
ment. The roasting must be done with greatest care by
experienced men, or it may easily be overdone. It is the
process often adopted for ores too low grade in copper to
be treated at a profit by any other method. Twenty or
more years are required for sulphide ores to oxidize suf-
ficiently by natural processes, so that the copper may be
recovered by leaching.
IN the use of machine drills it is very essential that
sufficient lubricating oil be used inside the machine, but
the tendency is to use too much. Any excess of oil will
be blown out within a few minutes after drilling begins.
The machine should be examined by the machinist fre-
quently to see that the machine is kept properly packed,
and the management should not permit the miners to
take a machine apart underground in the working place,
for even if the drill runner be competent to make the
necessary adjustments or changes, which generally he is
not, the drift or stope is not a machine shop, and not
the proper place to perform such work. Usually more
harm than good is done in this way. If the machine
fails to work well it should be sent to the shop, whether
it be on the surface or underground.
The mineral contained in rock — pyrite, galena, blende,
chalcopyrite — usually will break free from the gangue if
the ore be crushed sufficiently fine, for the reason that
the surface between the ore particle and the gangue
mineral is a natural surface or plane of fracture. If ores
are not crushed sufficiently fine, the mineral will not sep-
arate readily from the gangue, and a portion of the
values must thus pass into the tailings as this grain of
ore; part sulphide and part gangue will not, in all proba-
bility, be saved on the concentrator. It at once becomes
a choice of crushing finer and making a higher saving
while lowering the crushing capacity of the mill.
Natural lubricating oil — petroleum — is a composition
of gases and liquids. When the oil reaches the surface of
the earth the gases pass off into the air leaving behind
the liquids, the composition of which is variable propor-
tions of carbon and hydrogen. It is usually a dark green
by reflected light, and red by transmitted light. The
various grades of petroleum are known under the
general term " hydro-carbons." The principal combina-
tions in the crude state are methane, CH, ; ethane C2HG ;
prophane, C3H8; butane C.,H10; pentane, C0H12;
hexane, CGHH; heptane, C7H10; octane, C8H1B. These
compounds appear to bear a simple relation to each other
throughout the series.
When a dike of intrusive rock accompanies a vein,
the geological conditions must show whether the vein or
dike is the older. In case the vein is cut by the dike, it
may be that the dike has little if any influence on the
ore deposition, as in its intrusion it has simply followed a
line of pre-existing weakness, the plane of the vein. If, on
the other hand, the dike is found to be a portion of the
vein, having been altered by the infiltration of waters
from below, then there is the liability for the dike to
occupy the entire fissure, and the values to practicallj
disappear, as, in all probability, only those portions of
the dike which have been subjected to pressure and
crushing will be found infiltrated with mineral to a pay-
able extent.
It usually pays to spread concentrates out on a drying
floor, frequently raking them in order that the moisture
may disappear by evaporation before shipment to smelt-
ers. This is particularly advisable where the transpor-
tation charges are high. Many mines ship concentrates
carrying from 10% to 20% moisture, which is little less
than this amount when received at the smelters, as the
opportunity for drying when sacked is greatly reduced.
Some shippers claim it is economy to ship damp concen-
trates, but this is a policy rarely justified. A ton of
damp sulphides containing 12% moisture will cause a
greater loss than those shipped dry and which lose some-
thing by dusting. This latter factor can be reduced by
the use of canvas sacks.
A United States deputy mineral surveyor is ap-
pointed by the Surveyor-General of the respective dis-
tricts. A deputy may hold a commission in more than
one State, but can make no surveys in a district in
which he holds no commission. He must give a bond
in the sum of $10,000. They are officers of the Land De-
partment and as such are under obligations to perform
their duties in accordance with official instructions. At
one time the Land Department held that they were not
prohibited from making mineral entries within the dis-
trict for which they are appointed, but by subsequent
rulings it was determined that they came within the in-
hibition of Section 452 of the Revised Statutes and were
prohibited from entering or becoming interested in any
of the public lands of the United States. There has
been some controversy and uncertainty about the legal-
ity of this departmental ruling, but a recent Supreme
Court decision has determined that a deputy mineral
surveyor can locate no public land of any description,
nor hold an interest in the same.
Gold pockets are usually discovered by systematic
search and not by coming upon them by chance. The
pocket hunter pans the alluvial on the hillside where he
thinks a pocket may be found, and finding gold pursues
his investigation systematically, usually digging shallow
pits at stated intervals. If the gold found comes from a
single point on the hillside above, the occurrence of gold
as indicated in the test pits, will indicate a fan-shaped dis-
tribution of the gold from the vicinity of the pocket down
the hillside, the gold gradually spreading out as the dis-
tance from the pocket increases. The pocket may be
shallow or lie deep beneath several feet of soil and rock.
When the latter occurs it makes the labor of the pocket
hunter more difficult and its results less certain. Those
who follow pocket hunting as a business usually become
very expert at it and can " read the signs " as they are
uncovered in digging with almost unerring certainty.
When the pocket hunter becomes thus expert he is able
to save himself much labor and can more quickly reach
a safe conclusion as to probabilities after on y a few holes
have been dug.
November 11, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
324
Gold Mining in Egypt.1 :
The gold district of Egypt, as far as known at
present, is situated between the river Nile and the
Red sea for 100 miles or more on either side of the
24th parallel north latitude. Assouan is one of the
chief cities in this part of Egypt and in recent years
has come into prominence through the construction
of a dam across the Nile near the city for the pur-
poses of irrigation. The quarries of red granite of
Assouan are noted, the stone having been used ex-
tensively locally and also by the Romans.
In this region are many evidences of former occu-
pation of the country by miners. Numerous ancient
workings have been found and in some of them rich
ore still remains.
The writings of the ancient Greeks, and also the
inscriptions on the rock faces and the walls of tem-
ples and other buildings, indicate that the mines were
not worked steadily, many interruptions occurring
on account of wars.
The gulches and valleys of the region contain allu-
vial gold, and some of these have been extensively
worked by the ancient miners. One of the most im-
portant of these is the Wadi AUaghi, which runs in a
northwesterly direction from the vicinity of Mount
Elba, near the Red sea, to the Nile, as indicated on
the accompanying sketch map of the region. Other
gold districts are those of Urn Rus, Oneib and Ciega.
There are also ancient copper mines in this mineral
region.
The ancient Greek geographer thus describes the
methods of mining in those days:
"They put fire to the reefs, and the thus loosened
stones were taken away and crushed. The chief
quartz powder by water, on specially constructed
tables. The lighter parts are washed away, while
the heavy gold dust remains in the rills. By taking
up the gold with soft sponges it gets a tinal cleaning,
and is then molten in small clay retorts, with a
mixture of lead, salt, a little tin and bran. After
glowing for five days and nights, the material is one
compact gold mass", in quantity only a little less than
the quartz powder has been."
One of the accompanying illustrations shows a num-
ber of these ancient mills of stone. Mining was evi-
and that in a few days he took out about $50,000 in
specimen rock. These mines are at Um Garaiart,
about 60 miles from the river Nile and 100 miles from
Assouan. At Ceiga No. 1 are the deepest mines.
The vein is 4 feet wide and was evidently rich also.
There is much that is speculative in the history of
these mines of Egypt, though of great interest. The
accompanying illustrations, and also those on the
front page, give a good idea of the topography and
sterile aspect of the Egyptian desert. The inscrip-
tions on the rocks are still well preserved, as they
View in Ancient Workings at El Hudi, Egypt.
'
■ BjfeS
■M
;
■
■
„.„;,-.-*
Team of Camels Drawing Wagon in the Desert, Egypt.
Looking North from Absciel — Ancient Copper Mines.
i ■■:■<, •; ■■' '-'-
Prospect Shaft at El Hudi, Egypt.
Ancient Workings at El Hudi.
work had an expert miner to perform, who brought
the laborer to places where he had traced the gold,
and divided the work among them according to the
capacity of the single man. The strongest, and still
in the prime of manhood, were used to break the
stones and to work in the shafts. Without anything
else but their own strength, they were breaking the
stones with heavy iron hammers and following the
gold-carrying vein. A light was fastened to their
foreheads, and, under the eyes of their gruesome
foreman, they had to work from morning to night.
The stone material was carried by children out of
the shafts, and only the oldest men, useless for any
other work, had to bring it to places where others
were kept busy crushing. This was done by strong
young men of about 30 years of age, using heavy iron
pestles and stone mortars, the latter being hewn in
the solid rock. In mills, placed in long rows, one
close to the other, the crushed quartz is ground by
women. Only expert laborers were treating the
♦See Illustrations on Front Page.
dently carried on successfully in this primitive fashion
for many centuries, and apparently mostly before the
Christian era. There have been numerous conces-
sions granted to mining corporations to reopen and
operate these ancient mines, among them being the
Egypt & Sudan Mining Syndicate, the Egyptian Gold
& Gem Syndicate, for emeralds are reported in the
ancient workings found on this company's concession
between Hamesh and the Red sea. Others are the
Egyptian Sudan Minerals Co., Deraheib & African
Syndicate, and the Nile Valley Co., Ltd. The latter
is one of the most important and has the most exten-
sive ancient workings on its concessions. This prop-
erty is under the management of John M. Beckwith,
E. M., who several years ago was general manager
for the Silver King Mining Co., Ltd., at Calico., San
Bernardino county, Cal. The deserts of Egypt pre-
sent few novel features or conditions to Mr. Beck-
with, who became thoroughly familiar with similar
conditions in southern California. In a private letter
recently written he says some of the veins are rich,
must continue to be for many centuries more — if not
defaced — in that dry atmosphere. The accompany-
ing map and the following description of the mines of
the region are from the London Mining Journal:
In the works of Um Eleacha two working periods
are distinguishable. As sure, we only know that
already before the times of the oldest Egyptian kings,
or at their times, a mining population has been work-
ing in the districts between the Nile and the Red
sea, but most probably unknown to anyone in Egypt.
The old Phoenicians already Trere trading in these
districts, and later the Egyptians got enormous
amounts of gold from here. To make an exact calcu-
lation of the gold produced is impossible; one can only
imagine it when reading the accounts of the treas-
ures of the Egyptian kings, and from the highly
advanced skill with which the jewelries found in
ancient tombs are worked.
It seems that with the diminishing power of the
Egyptians the mines have been more and more neg- -
lected, and later we can only find that in the begin*
325
Mining and Scientific Press.
November 11, 1905.
ning of the ninth century after Christ they again
were exploited by El Omari, a descendant of the
Khalefa. The first mine, most likely, was at Um
Garaiart, about 6U miles from the Nile, at a place
where water was plentiful. These mines were worked
with varying success, and in them we have the Nile
valley mines of to-day.
Owing to quarrels with the different tribes, El
Omari had to retreat to a mine farther south and
farther off the Nile, near the Gebel Aswad. Here
water was very scarce. After he had slain the
Nubians and secured a way for water from the Nile,
El Omari worked here for several years. A third
mine was at Ceiga, three days from the Nile. Here
the gold-bearing reef has been taken out to a great
depth — how deep it is impossible to say, as in some
places the hanging wall has fallen in, and the work-
ings are silted up to about 100 feet from the surface.
In other parts the workings are about 300 feet deep.
The reef here is about 4 feet wide, and the ancients
have removed all the gold-bearing stone, leaving the
white buck reef standing.
With much blood is marked the history of these
mines, for which 60,000 camels were carrying provi-
sions from Assouan. The gain from these works
In the Wadi Habsah (20° 20' N.) are numerous
traces of old settlements — broken quartz and ruins of
huts where the latter seems to have been crushed.
It seems as if these mines have been worked without
any rule, and the reefs are mostly worked only at the
surface.
Of a much later time are the mines of Ceiga, before
mentioned. Here a big quartz reef in mica and talc-
slate is divided into numerous small reefs and veins,
leading in every direction. The most of these veins
have been exploited at a small hill. To judge by the
ruins of old dwellings, a large number of workmen
must have been employed here. Prom 400 to 500
single huts are scattered about in the valleys, and in
many of them are still found small handmills for grind-
ing the quartz. It seems that the work here has
been suspended after exhaustion of the quartz, as far
as they could reach it.
Deraheib is situated at the south of the Wadi Al-
laghi, which latter is leading northwest to the Nile,
as far as Dakkah, between the first and second cata-
racts. Here are the ruins of quite a large town.
Big parts of two castles on the opposite hills are
still standing in very good order. Two periods can
be distinguished here by the construction of the build-
Map of Southeastern Egypt, Showing Locality of Gold Mines.
must have been enormous, but nowhere has been
found anything definite about the value of it.
About the northern mining districts of Hamamat
and Sighdit (Sikait?) reports have been published by
Mitchell, but for exactness they cannot be compared
to those of Ployer. Mitchell only describes the dis-
covered ruins of ancient settlements and the traces
of mining works around the Hamamat district.
Brugsch Pasha is proving from ancient documents
that the first working period has been about 2500
B. C. The Pharaohs of the second dynasty were
already working them, and to judge from hiero-
glyphic inscriptions found by Mitchell in the ruins at
Hamamat, the second period was begun under the
Ptoleman King Euergetes, about 200 B. C.
Farther south, in the western and southern wadies
of the Gebel Elba, several large and small mines have
been discovered. Linant de Bellesfond was probably
the first to examine them. He reports of them as
follows: "In the upper part of Wadi Murat, about
21° 10' latitude north, are traces of old mines
and quartz reefs, which have been worked from the
open. The reef runs from southeast to northwest,
and the quartz seems not at all rich in gold. These
mines are of a much later date than those at Gebel
Raft." Here we have the Om Nabardi mine of the
present day.
ings, as well as by the methods employed in mining.
The old mines distinguish themselves from the
others by their vastness and the carefulness with
which they have been worked. The quartz reef has
split into many branches and veins, and every one of
them has been followed by the miners. These mines
were worked by the Copts in 1300 A. D. ; the name
Deraheib is from Der (a convent) and aheib (beauti-
ful). At some places two main shafts have been sunk,
and farther down both have been connected by long
drives. There are vast places entirely hollowed out,
and the ways in many of the big workings are barred
with hills of broken down walls and debris. One of
the shafts is closed up at the end by a solid stone
wall. These mines were first worked in the times
when Egypt was governed by the Pharaohs. In
almost every shaft the walls have been tried much
later with chisels, probably to examine the quality
of the quartz.
The later works of the Arabs are all in the open,
as the Arabs detested to work underground. To
judge by the numerous ruins of huts and great build-
ings, a large number of workmen must have lived
here. Most probably there was formerly plenty of
water through rainfalls, as wells have not been
found.
Though neither documents nor inscriptions have
been found here, doubtless these are the mines of
which Diodorus, the ancient Greek writer, speaks,
and which were said to be Allaki, probably the Allagi
of to-day. Diodorus describes the gold production
of the ancient Egyptians in the year 50 B. C. as fol-
lows: "On the borders of Egypt and the neighboring
countries, some districts are full of mines, which pro-
duce plenty of gold. The soil is black, but has many
veins white as marble and glittering from the pre-
cious metal. A large population is working here, as
the kings of Egypt are sending to the mines not only
all the criminals of the country, but also their whole
families, and even their descendants and relations, to
multiply the revenue of the mines. With chains
forged to their feet, these people are working day
and night. They are watched by soldiers, who do
not understand their language. Nobody cares for
them, and whether they are well, or sick, or weak,
they are driven to work until death releases them."
An inscription in the palace of Thebes, Karnak,
states the revenues from the gold mines of the
Egyptian Kings to have been 22.000,000 minas. This
sum has been calculated as equal to £6,000,000.
After Diodorus nothing is mentioned about these
mines by any other author until the Arab Macrusi,
who lived about 1385 A. D., or 1430 years after Diodoc.
He tells that under the reign of King Achmed of
Egypt, an Arab went to Nubia, and was working
there, under an everlasting war, in the old mines.
It seems strange that in the long space of time be-
tween the two periods of Diodorus and Macrusi no
mines have been worked, and that the mines should
have been desolated for so long. The places known
as gold carrying, and which have been worked in
olden times, are:
Um Gariat "|
Ceiga
Gebel Abdulla
Machemunaye
Um Gabril
Tamille
Gebel Essewed
Gebel Tellatabd
Urn Taiur
Oneib
Wadi Hegatte
Wadi Affave
Wadi Daguena
Wadi Nasarrie
Deraheib
At all these mines, which were exploited in the old
times on a considerable scale, but later on a smaller
scale, the sometimes very variable gold production
had to be got through a most wearisome kind of
mining, and the revenues of the different works could
only be considered as a profit in representing the
labor of prisoners and slaves.
Two days south of Deraheib is Oneib. Here are
the largest workings in Egypt or the Sudan. The reef
here occurs in a range of four slate hills, and the
gold-bearing stone has been all removed down to the
Wadi level. These hills are literally cut in two.
There are three reefs here, but only the first one
appears to have been worked for any length of time.
A half a day's journey northwest from Oneib are the
old workings of El Harr. Here there are ruins of
many old buildings and the remains of crushing mills.
The works here are not to be compared to those at
Oneib, but it is probable that all the stone was
brought from Oneib to here to be treated with water.
There is a large quantity of tailings here. El Harr
is situated at the junction of two wadies, or dry
water courses, and it is probable that there was a
good supply of water here, both from rainfalls and
wells. Wells may have been sunk by the ancient
miners, but are now silted up to the surface.
Taking into consideration the machinery of to-day,
and the fact that the ancients had no pumps or ap-
pliances for dealing with water, and must therefore
have been stopped on reaching water, Egypt appears
to have a bright future as a gold producing country.
Between 22° and 23° latitude north.
In the district of the Melekal Arab.
Venezuelan Gold Fields.
To the Editor: — Gold in abundance occurs in all
parts of the Venezuelan Guiana. Through liberal
laws a stampede to the region could be easily induced.
The placers are especially rich, the climate fair and
the inhabitants favorably disposed toward English
speaking people.
Most of the auriferous Guiana region is embraced
in the Territory of Yuruary, recently created. Yur-
uary is as large as Prance. It has a population of
15,000.
In such a great extent of land, subject to many
atmospheric changes, there is no uniform class of
temperature. Both topography and geological con-
ditions cause divergences of climate. On Muria hill,
for instance, the thermometer always shows a tem-
perature between 15° and 20° lower than that of the
plains below. A similar variation of temperature is
observed in all localities where there are groups of
hills placed in the midst of savannahs. In August,
September and October the thermometer often reg-
isters 110° P., but at all other times the Territory
enjoys a fresh and agreeable climate, which contrib-
utes to good health.
The principal orographic feature is the Paracaima
range, and the most notable landmark is Mount
Novimber 11, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
326
Roraima. There is a zone about 2000 square miles in
extent in which there are many natural prairies,
interspersed with lomas and traversed by some ele-
vated table lands, resembling small sierras, where
the gold is found. The upheavals most noted for
auriferous deposits are Muria hill, Botanama, Miri-
pia, Tomasote, Carapa, Platanal, and Caroni. The
region is at present given up almost exclusively to
the raising of cattle. There are numerous springs.
The rest of Yuruary is entirely unknown. It is a
forested country, unexplored — an immense wilder-
ness, whose area has never been calculated because
of a lack of data and detail. Only the edge of this
region is known, since it surrounds the partially set-
tled pastoral district on all sides. It offers itself only
to the imagination as a defiant sea of vegetation.
There are few inhabitants in the Venezuelan Gui-
ana except the aborigines. In the entire Territory
there are but two Americans. South of the Cuyuni
river live Caribs; to the south of these Arecunas
and Guaicas, who people a picturesque plain called
Camarata; still farther southward, on the road to
Mount Roraima, where the jungle becomes so thick
that a man can hardly "cuss a cat" through it, live
the Marabitanos, who occupy a beautiful prairie
known as La Gran Sabana. The Marabitanos are
white Indians, who cultivate beards. They are now
at war with the Arecunas and Guaicas, who are
beardless, olive-complexioned aborigines. The Caribs
are of a light mulatto color. They fight very little,
but eat all strangers who stray singly among them.
All these tribes are composed of robust, well-built
Indians, inclined to agricultural and pastoral pur-
suits. They gather rubber in the forests and trans-
port it by the Cuyuni river to Georgetown, in British
Guiana, for sale. They recognize the Government of
Venezuela, but have no dealings with Venezuelans.
Most of them are Christians and have Spanish names,
though few of them speak Spanish. They all speak
English — in a way.
There are forty-five different kinds of useful woods
found in the forests of the Yuruary region.
In 1889 the population of Yuruary was 13,000. In
1891, after the inception of exploration work under
President Crespo, it was 18,000, or an increase of
40% in two years. In 1898, just before General Cas-
tro came into power, it was 28,000. The fall to
15,000 has occurred almost wholly during the last
two years. Within two years more, under the unsci-
entific Government now existing, it will fall below
10,000. In three years sixty towns have disap-
peared.
Decadence of the gold mining industry is due to the
nationalization of mining property by Castro. Titles
to mines cannot be secured and gold cannot be ex-
tracted without a penalty.
As showing the great importance of the Venezuelan
Guiana field, it may be stated that during three
years of the progressive Government of Crespo the
production of gold increased 70%.
Americans will do well to watch for a change in
the Venezuelan Government, to pour into the Guiana
region at the earliest opportunity. The gold is ready
for appropriation. John Dwyer.
Caracas, Oct. 15.
The Salts of Potassium.
THE PROSPECTOR.
*
The samples from Silverbell, Ariz., have been ex-
amined with the following results: No. 1 is practi-
cally all silica and has the appearance of being a
silicified intrusive (dike) rock; there is also a small
amount of carbonate of lime in it; this rock bears a re-
markable resemblance to the gold ores of the Gold
Roads district of Mohave county, Ariz., and this de-
partment suggests that the rock be tested for gold
and silver — on general principles. No. 2 is a slightly
porphyritie feldspathic rook. No. 3 is diorite-por-
phyrite, containing considerable iron sulphide. No. 4
is also porphyrite, though of lighter color; both rocks
are intrusive. No. 5 is quartz porphyry — numerous
blebs of quartz, with crystals of feldspar in a fine-
grained groundmass. Nos. 6 and 7 come under what
is known as keratophyre, a fine-grained rock com-
posed chiefly of feldspar; both rocks contain a consid-
erable amount of magnetite in small grains. No. 8
is syenite in which the hornblende is very much de-
cayed; it contains a little biotite mica and very little
quartz; sulphides of iron and copper also occur.
No. 9 is a feldspathic rock, somewhat altered and
colored greenish by finely disseminated microscopic
particles of chlorite; it also contains pyrite in dissem-
inated grains.
The light greenish-gray rock from Bearmouth,
Mont., is felsite, a feldspathic rock; it contains pyrite
and may occur in or with gold ores; rocks of this, de-
scription should be assayed to determine the values,
if any, in gold and silver; the appearance of pyrite in
this rock, together with the fact that it contains
more silica (quartz) than it normally should, suggests
the advisability of doing some prospecting on or near
it; the green mineral is silicate of iron and magnesia.
The metallic mineral from Prescott, Ariz., is anti-
mony sulphide; as it only occurs as an incrustation
on the rock, it is of little value for the antimony it
may contain.
One of the pamphlets recently issued by the United
States Geological Survey is entitled "Potassium
Salts," and is the advance sheets of the Mineral
Resources for 1904. Although the production of
potassium salts would be of great value to the United
States, there has been comparatively little effort
made to find them. W. M. Courtis, writer of the
bulletin in question, says in this regard:
No systematic work has been done in this country
for the purpose of developing beds of potassium salts,
with the exception of the work done by a small Michi-
gan company organized in 1899 for that purpose.
Within recent years both individuals and small com-
panies have attempted to exploit certain districts or
properties for potassium salts, but so far as is known
they have accomplished nothing of practical value.
The actual work of the Michigan company referred to
was limited to one hole 500 feet deep put down at
Cody, Wyo. A contract was made for drilling 2500
feet, but after boring 500 feet the men threw up the
contract.
Very little money has been expended in the attempt
to discover potassium salts in the United States in
comparison with the value of the discovery to the
country and in comparison with the sums of money
expended on the German mines by way of explora-
tion. The United States Potash Co. did not expend
over $30,000 in its four years of surface exploration
and preparatory work, and private individuals have
reported a total outlay for exploration of about
$40,000. In the German field, where the extent of
the deposit is pretty well defined, immense sums of
money have been expended in exploration. The
Hohenzollern Co. at Alfeld-on-the-Leine spent some
£300,000 in fruitless exploration work. At Benthe-
berg, near Hanover, a shaft was sunk 3250 feet and
potassium salts of fine quality were found; but the
shaft failed, owing to the influx of water into the
mines. The Deutsche Solvay Werke at Micheln, in
the Kalbe district, has a capital of $2,380,000 to be
used for the development of potassium salts.
There are seven districts in the United States, in-
cluding a Mexican locality extending into the United
States, which seem to offer the most favorable condi-
tions for boring, and in which a hole put down 1000
to 2000 feet would decide for that district whether it
contained a bed of potassium salts or not. These
seven fields are in the neighborhood of:
1. Cody, Bighorn basin, Wyo.
2. Magnesian lakes, near Laramie, Wyo.
3. Byron springs, Contra Costa county, Cal.
4. Death Valley, Cal.
5. Sierra de los Cucapas basin, Lower California, ex-
tending into San Diego county, Cal.
6. Boundbrook, N. J.
7. Mount Tom, Mass.
Although no deposits of potassium salts similar to
those found in the Stassfurt district of Germany
have been discovered in the United States, various
indications of possible potassium deposits have been
found in saline springs, in oil wells and bore holes, and
in desert deposits.
Along the line of a fault on the rim of the Big Horn
basin, Wyo., the waters are rich in potassium salts,
running from 5% to 11% of the total residue. The
latter amount is claimed for the Great Spring of
Thermopolis, at the eastern end of the Big Horn
basin.
Potassium Salts in Oil Wells and Bore Holes. —
Many of the saline waters struck in wells and bore
holes in the Western oil fields have been tested for
their potassium contents. In many cases the quan-
tity was so slight that no record of the analysis was
kept. A few examples of the richer analyses are
given in the following table:
POTASSIUM SALTS IN SALINE WATERS PROM CALIFORNIA
OIL FIELDS.
SAMPLE.
County.
Percentage of
Potassium Salts
in Residue.
Fresno
Napa
Fresno . :
6 51
3. Williams Bros.' oil well
Slightly over l
0.62
lowing analysis, which may be taken as a general
type of all such deposits:
ANALYSIS OF SALTS FROM CARSON SINK, CHURCHILL
COUNTY. NEW
Percentage.
Insoluble in aold, gypsum and clay 77,261^) M -_,
Water and organic mutter 11.200%) "™
Sodiumsullili;i!i/ 1 306
Sodium chloride 677
Potassium sulplmte 214
Ferrous sulphate 690
Magnesium sulphate 007
Calcium sulphate 367
Soda, as silicate or otii- u combinations 4.200
Traces and undetermined (total salts 11.446) 3.715
Total 100 ooo
A full description of the various soda lakes through-
out the country is to be found in Bulletin No. 60 of
the United States Geological Survey.
An analysis from a deposit in the district in the
neighborhood of the volcanoes of Lower California,
lying west of the Sierra de los Cucapas, and probably
extending into the San Diego desert of California,
gives the following results:
ANALYSIS OF SALTS FROM SIERRA DE LOS CUCAPAS
BASIN, LOWER CALIFORNIA.
Percentage.
Water 43.65
Ammonium sulphate 39 03
Potassium sulphate 15.20
Undetermined 2. 12
Total 100 . 00
No analyses of oil-well water have shown a higher
percentage of potassium salts than those here given.
Potassium Salts in Desert Deposits. — Prom time
to time large deposits of potassium salts are reported
as found in the arid regions of the West, but on ex-
amination these deposits usually prove to be mixtures
of sulphate of lime, sulphate of soda and carbonates,
with but a small percentage of potassium salts.
Prospectors have analyses made, and the chemist
reports perhaps 20% of sodium and potassium salts.
The prospectors immediately imagine this percentage
to be largely potassium salts, while as a matter of
fact it is chiefly soda and contains probably 1% or
less of potassium salts. A good example of such
deposit is that of Cariso creek, San Diego desert,
Cal. Another is a deposit in Uinta county, Utah
(south of Rock Springs, Wyo.)
The composition of the deposits of salts about the
sinks of the desert country may be seen from the fol-
Forestry on Mining Lands.
One of the forest tracts which are now being
managed under working plans prepared by the
United States Forest Service is situated in south-
western West Virginia. About 24,000 acres in the
heart of the soft-coal region, and consisting of mixed
hardwoods, form the basis of the plan. The owners,
who are chiefly interested in mining, asked the as-
sistance of the Forest Service, which was given in ac-
cordance with its co-operative plan. They saw that
the introduction of forestry would enable them to
convert the idle forest land into profit, and so
increase the income from their holdings. Since
the local logging methods are so careless, and since
grazing and fire have wrought so much damage in
the region, it is rarely that second crops can be
secured after once the virgin timber has been re-
moved.
In applying for the help of the Forest Service the
owners had two main objects in view. They wished
to handle their lands so as to obtain continued sup-
plies of timber sufficient for the present and future
needs of the town and the mines, and, in addition to
this, to have a surplus of valuable timber such as yel-
low poplar or white oak, to be cut and marketed
from time to time.
The study of the tract on which the plan is based
revealed conditions common in the region, and the
recommendations which were made by the Forest
Service, and which are being carried out by the
owners, apply in a general way to a number of similar
forest problems.
Fires, everywhere the chief menace to forests,
have been especially destructive in this locality.
Spring and fall are the dangerous seasons, April,
May, October and November being the months when
most fires break out.
Repeated fires, even when they are individually
unimportant, do much more havoc than is realized by
the uninitiated. Burning leaves which should protect
the ground leave the soil exposed, to be eroded by
the rains and dried and hardened by the sun and
winds. Impoverishment of the soil necessarily fol-
lows, and, with it, deterioration in the character and
growth of the timber. On spots which are repeat-
edly burned over it is impossible to obtain reproduc-
tion from seeds, since the seeds are burned before
they can germinate, or if the seeds escape, the seed-
lings are killed by the next fire. The roots of seed-
lings and saplings, persisting after fires, reproduce
themselves by sprouts, so that little by little the en-
tire stand is changed to sprout growth.
Grazing has been carried on ever since the early
settlement of the region. Cattle, horses, mules,
sheep and hogs were all found on the tract, cattle in
the greatest number. Cattle and sheep have been
the most injurious. The bad effects of overgrazing
are chiefly injury to the soil, to the seedlings, and to
young trees small enough to be reached by the cattle.
According to its composition, the soil is either packed
hard or pulverized by the feet of the grazing animals.
The seedlings and young saplings can never develop
healthful growth so long as their leaves and tender
shoots are again and again browsed. Occasionally,
where logging has just been done, grazing helps to
expose the soil, and so many encourage the germina-
tion of seed, but as soon as seedlings appear grazing
on lumbered areas becomes exceedingly harmful.
Perpetuation of the forest depends first and fore-
most upon its ability to reproduce itself. In order
that it may do so, the trees which die and those
which are cut must be replaced by young ones. And
since young trees are exposed to many dangers,
many more young trees must start to grow than are
needed in the mature forest which is to replace the
older one.
Apart from the ridges and slopes of this tract,
which has been so repeatedly burned over that seed-
ling reproduction has become impossible, it was found
327
Mining and Scientific Press.
November 11, 1905.
that if fire could be stopped reproduction would be
abundant in the forest.
The recommendations based upon the study of the
tract deal with the solution of the following problems:
1. Protection of the forest from fires.
2. Restriction of grazing to clearings and land not
recently lumbered.
3. Obtaining satisfactory seedling reproduction of
the more valuable timber trees.
4. Removal from the forest of inferior species at
a profit, or, in other words, the utilization of low-
grade timber.
5. Modification of present logging practices, for
the purpose of reducing waste in felled trees and of
leaving the forest in improved condition.
Concrete Mixtures.
A writer in the Cement Age gives the following
advice on the mixing of cement mortars and con-
crete:
One part Portland cement, 2 parts sand, 4 parts
broken stone give the strongest concrete made.
One part Portland cement, 2§ parts sand, 5 parts
broken stone give an exceedingly strong concrete,
suitable for foundations for sidewalks, engine founda-
tions, etc.
One part Portland cement, 3 parts sand, 6 parts
fold. Multiply this by steam power, water power,
air power, and, above all, electric power, and one
has a problem in mechanical progression.
In Nova Scotia.— IV.
CONCLUDED.
Written for the Mining and Scientific Press by T. A. Rickard.
The finding of fragments of quartz containing gold
("float," as we call it in the West) in the glacial drift
has given the clue to the discovery of several lodes.
As a rule, such pieces have not traveled far; more-
over, the direction of their source is indicated by the
glacial striae. A good example of the application of
geological knowledge to prospecting is afforded by
the finding of the Rose vein at Montague, as told by
Mr. George W. Stuart.* Angular pieces of rose-
the quartz coincided exactly. The quartz had been
borne 1200 feet along the line of glacial movement.
Whether some of these conclusions were not reached
after the data were known, I must leave to the
reader; the main facts and the sound reasoning based
upon them present an excellent example of skillful
prospecting.
Of course, the striae are not always uniformly in
one direction; they vary with the topography and
they diverge in different localities. Moreover, the dis-
tance which the drift has traveled ranges from a few
feet to several miles. The Rose vein was not found
for so long because the prospectors had a decided
notion that they should not look for it far. In the
sequel, it was proved that pieces of the quartz had
been carried a mile away; just as in the case of the
Dufferin lode, the "float" was found near the shore, a
distance of 2J miles. In prospecting under such con-
ditions the first thing is to find quartz drift that has
not been water-worn. At Seal Harbor, within the
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Ready to Take a Tribute Pitch.
The Caribou Lode, at the 950-Foot Level,
Nova Scotia.
broken stone offer an exceedingly strong concrete,
suitable for carrying a "skyscraper."
One part Portland cement, 4 parts sand, 8 parts
broken stone furnish a sufficiently strong concrete
for ordinary purposes.
One part Portland cement, 5 parts sand, 10 parts
broken stone make a cheap concrete — stronger than
concretes from common cements.
The measurement of a horse's power of work,
first ascertained by Watt, the inventor of the
steam engine, says Popular Mechanics, was founded
upon the basis that the average brewery horse
was capable of doing work equal to that re-
quired to raise 330 pounds of weight 100 feet
in one minute, or 33,000 pounds 1 foot in one minute.
This estimate, however, was for one minute; it would
not be possible for a horse to perform this amount of
work continuously for eight consecutive hours. One
horse could exhaust twelve men in a single day; for
where a strong man could perhaps pull half of 330
pounds to a height of 100 feet in two minutes, he
probably could not repeat the operation more than a
few times. A man's power is about one-tenth of a
horse's power — that is, where a horse could pull 330
pounds to a height of 100 feet, one minute, and then
slack up and repeat the operation, for eight hours,
thus pulling four hours, and slacking up four hours,
it would require ten strong men to perform the same
amount in that length of time. When man put horses
to work the gain in labor for the world was thus ten-
colored quartz, rich in gold, had been found in drift,
down to a depth of 15 feet. Most of them were at
grass-roots, although some were encountered near
bedrock. Search was made for the vein that had
shed them, but such work was confined to the vicinity
of the largest mass of drift. Mr. Stuart had noticed
a large boulder of quartzite, twenty tons in weight,
traversed by a narrow serpentine seam of slate.
This peculiarity gave the clue, for eventually 2500
feet north of the boulder he actually found the spot
whence it had come, this being determined by the
shape of the recess made by its removal and by the
identity of the peculiarly corrugated seam of slate.
Up to that time, from 1862 to 1877, the search for
the Rose vein had been restricted to a distance,
northward, of 200 or 300 feet from the "float," but
now it became evident that search must be made
further afield. The boulder just described had
traveled 2500 feet along a line, as determined by
glacial striae, 2° east of south. Shortly afterward a
large rose-colored boulder of quartz, weighing 500
pounds, with a wedge of quartzite attached to it,
was discovered and it was carefully examined before
being broken up for the gold it contained. A year
later, on December 7, 1878, the "Rose lead," as the
miners had already christened the vein, was found.
Forty feet east of the point of discovery, Mr. Stuart
detected the very place from which the last men-
tioned boulder had been detached; the remainder of
the wedge of quartzite and the shape of the recess in
*Trans. Mining Society of Nova Seotia. Vol. V. pp. 23-26.
last year, a promising gold lode has been found by
the aid of glacial evidence. Angular boulders of
quartz, weighing up to half a ton, had been uncovered
at grass-roots; these carried gold in small stringers
traversing quartzite. One boulder yielded $300.
At intervals, in a line northward, trenching was
started; this followed a course north 3° west, as
marked by the strias on bedrock. No lode was
found. The drift continued to be of equal thickness
northward; this indicated that no approach was be-
ing made to the source of it. Another set of trenches
was started farther to the west, until the work had
extended 600 feet west of the drift outcrop; at this
distance the drift lay on bedrock, proving the direc-
tion of search, north 18° west, to be correct. A
little more trenching led to the uncovering of the
lode itself, a large width of quartzite interlaced with
small stringers of quartz, as shown in the accom-
panying photograph.
It is also to glacial erosion that Nova Scotia owes
those stretches of flat upland, half moor and half
swamp, that are called "barrens;" they are dreary
tracts that elsewhere, in the interior of Canada,
extend northward until they merge into the frozen
moss of the Arctic tundra. The "barrens" are clothed
with heaths, such as sheep laurel (kalmia angusfoli-
ata) and rhodora (a rhododendron). There is also
the bay-berry and, in early summer, the trailing
arbutus, the flower covered by its own leaves. But
more plentiful than any of these is the blue-berry
and, where fires have raged, the raspberry Near
November 11, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
328
the settlements the primeval forest has all been cut
down and a generous second growth has come ud.
The "bush" is thick and is often rendered impassable
by wind-falls. Many a time have I wondered how
these were brought about within the heart of a
forest, where the wind would seem to have full play
only over the tops of the trees. Wind-falls are the
work of cyclonic storms, especially at the time of the
autumn equinox. Mr. D'Arcy Weatherbe, deputy
inspector of mines, told me how he had been present
when trees of 3 feet diameter were twisted around
and thrown down by the wind. He and his compan-
ion, engaged in hunting moose, found the forest full of
driven spray and subsequently discovered that this
came a distance of over 200 yards from a shallow
iake, the surface of which was uptorn by the wind
and whirled among the trees. The lake was covered
steamer. There is a hint of quiet thrift and simplicity
of life. Nature also is restrained — severe as a Puri-
tan, a restful reticence, without exuberance of color
or reckless sculpturing of line. It is a strong con-
trast to the scenes of that golden country over which
Bret Harte has thrown the halo of a romance that
will not die.
A Rapid Method for the Determination
of Copper in Chilled Slag.
Written for the Mining and Scientific Pkess by
H. A TuUEL.MANN.
Take two grams of the finely ground sample, brush
into a No. 1 Griffin beaker, add 15 c.c. boiling dis-
tilled water, then, giving the beaker a rotary mo-
Beaver Hat Lode, at Seal Harbor Nova Scotia.
with small waterspouts, spread all over its angry
surface by reason of the cyclonic action of the storm.
By reason of glacial denudation and the intense
disintegration of the rock surface which must have
preceded it. the gold-mining country of Nova Scotia
is not picturesque, although it has a quiet beauty,
due largely to the contrast of water and forest. In
crossing high ground the view is one wilderness of
dark woodland; the somber tints of spruce and fir
are lightened by patches of maple, birch and beach;
here and there, like jewels in an Ethiop's ear, are
lakes mirroring a perfect sky. But life is absent;
it is a lovely desolation. An occasional grouse crosses
tion with one hand, add 15 c.c. hot concentrated HC1
with the other. Continue rotary motion until dis-
solved to prevent caking.
When slag is all dissolved, or nearly all dissolved,
immediately fill beaker with boiling water and pass a
current of hydrogen sulphide (H2S) gas into the solu-
tion. Continue this until all the copper has been
precipitated as copper sulphide (CuS), which will be
in two or three minutes (as in nearly all blastfurnace
or converter slags the metals are in a reduced form),
then remove beaker from source of heat and allow
the precipitate to settle. When settled, filter with
suction on an asbestos film, on a platinum cone.
A Fishing Settlement in Nova Scotia.
the road, a shy rabbit, even a porcupine; but human
habitations are wide apart, and the track of a moose
will suggest that this is a primeval wilderness un-
tamed by man. In the valleys there are clusters of
whitewashed houses with shineled roofs, devoid of
color; the village churches, for there are several,
have white steeples; the cultivated land is meager;
there is no exuberance of life or color, save in autumn.
The road comes often within sight of the sea or edges
the shore of an estuary; the headlands thrust their
dark woods far out into the gray waters; rocky isl-
ands mark dangerous navigation, and cold fogs,
obliterating earth and sky, suggest the further risks
encountered by the hardy fisher-folk, whose cottages
line the wayside. The lobster pots lie scattered on
the beach, and the iron kettle in which they are
boiled is seen near the fish sheds. The long wooden
stands or "flakes" on which the cod is dried and
salted is in evidence, through both the sense of sight
and smell. The "dories," the almost unsinkable lit-
tle boats in which the fishermen ply their trade, lie
close to the beach; the dark shallows reflect the for-
est-clad shore and the white cottages; farther out in
the harbor the wind and sun make rippled silver, and
on the horizon a wreath of smoke marks a coasting
Wash precipitate three times with boiling water,
then invert funnel over the original beaker, allowing
the platinum cone with its asbestos film to drop into
it. Rinse funnel with 5 c.c. concentrated nitric acid
(HN03). Cover beaker with watch glass and set on
hot plate. In a few minutes the CuS will be dis-
solved and the asbestos turned white. Now rinse off
the watch glass and sides of beaker with water.
Carefully add 15 c.c. concentrated ammonia (HN4OH),
filter into flask, wash, cool, then titrate with a
known solution of potassium cyanide (KCN).
Notes. — By careful work the copper in the slag
can be determined in less than ten minutes. In case
the slag is not chilled, I generally add a little hydro-
fluoric acid (HF), which materially helps the solution,
the action on the glass being much less severe than
one would expect.
Should small particles remain undissolved it will
not matter, as all the copper would be removed by
the HNO3 acid treatment to which the CuS, plus
residue (insoluble), is subjected.
The asbestos film is made by pouring over a plat-
inum cone in a funnel an emulsion of short fiber asbes-
tos in water, and then turning on the suction. This
will form a tbin'film of asbestos on the cone which is
capable of holding the finest precipitates. Those ob-
jecting to KCN titration can use the iodide method.
If the iodide method is used the platinum must be
removed from the solution and washed. When the
asbestos has turned white add a crystal of chlorate
of potash (KCIO.,). The solution is now boiled until
fumes cease coming off, then diluted to 20 c.c, 15
c.c. NH4OH added, and the solution again boiled for
one minute, then removed from source of heat, then
8 c.c. of acetic acid (C2H402) added, and then cooled.
Add a few grains of potassium iodide (KI), and, when
dissolved, the solution is titrated in usual manner
with a solution of sodium hyposulphide (Na2S203).
Both methods are accurate and give uniform re-
sults. The KCN method is the simpler and quicker.
While chemist and assayer for the Old Dominion C.
M. & S. Co. at Globe, Ariz., I often found it neces-
sary to turn out exceedingly quick results, and found
this method satisfactory, giving accurate results.
Ore Valuation of a Rand Mine.*
Written by E. J. WAY.
In a paper on " The Determination of the Present
Value of a Mine on the Rand," read before the Insti-
tution of Mining and Metallurgy by P. Hellmann, it
was pointed out that " the accuracy with which the
problem can be solved depends upon the reliability of
the various factors entering into the calculation."
The most important factor in the calculation would
appear to be the recovery value of the ore itself.
This can only be ascertained with any degree of accu-
racy after a mine has to a large extent been opened
up, so that average values can be arrived at. The
writer has been at great pains to ascertain why the
most carefully prepared assay plans have not prop-
erly accounted for the gold recovered. The recov-
ery, generally speaking, should have been higher
than the actual returns. In these days, when mines
are opened from end to end, and to depths on the
reef of from 1000 to 1500 feet, exposing 500,000 to
1,000,000 tons of ore, greater accuracy should be the
rule in gauging the value thereof in the mine, and the
consequent recovery value.
An assay plan is made, and it is assumed that it is
as accurate as possible, and that the calculations to
arrive at the values of stoping widths have been
made out without error.
Stoping width has now to be considered in relation
to ore mined. By stoping width is understood the
width necessary to take out a given thickness of ban-
ket. If the values are calculated on a lode of 6 inches
of banket, it is usual to allow a stope width of 3 feet
for the purpose of getting out that 6 inches, and the
value of the 6 inches is diluted accordingly. In a
lode or reef 4 feet wide no allowance in calculation
would be made, as that width is considered sufficient
for all purposes. Therefore a 6-inch lode assaying
four ounces is reckoned to have a value in the mine
of 13.3 dwt. over 3 feet, the hanging and foot wall
being considered valueless. In the same way a 4-foot
lode assaying 12 dwt. is reckoned to have a value in
the mine of 12 dwt. over 4 feet. Taking the latter
case and presuming that the lode is interstratified
with thin bands of sandstone which have been taken
into account and included when the value was ar-
rived at, there will be a margin of sorting of say 15%
provided that the 4 feet are taken, and no more.
The usual calculation is made:
ino tons assaying 12 dwt. contain 1200 dwt.
15 tons waste rock assaying 1 dwt. contain 15 dwt.
85 tons sorted ore contain H85 dwt.
One ton has a value after sorting of 13.9 dwt., and,
on a basis of 90% extraction, a recovery value of
52.5s.
Waste rock after mining, when sorted after being
in contact with banket, generally has an average
value of about 1 dwt. fine gold per ton.
As a matter of fact, instead of a recovery of 52.5s,
only about 42s on a basis of 15% sorting and 90%
recovery would be saved in actual practice. This is
one example of the many hundreds that have come
under the notice of the writer, and the object of this
paper is to account for the difference. It will be
seen at once how important the question becomes
when recovery values have to be considered in con-
nection with propositions which on mine assays
show a very small margin of profit. In the above
case 15% is taken as the basis of sorting, because if
the reef is taken out clean between its walls (as the
basis of calculation presumes and lays down it must
be), it is difficult to find even 15% of pickable waste
rock.
Taking the above case with the 4-foot lode assay-
ing only 7 dwt.
Again:
100 tons assaying 7 dwt. contain 700 dwt.
15 tons waste assaying 1 dwt. contain 15 dwt .
85 tons sorted rock contain 685 dwt .
Therefore one ton has a value of 8.06 dwt., and on
a 90% recovery basis a value of 30s 6d, which is pay-
able. It would, however, be found that this ore, if
sent to the mill after 15% sorting, would only yield
about 24s 3d, and it could hardly be worked at a
* Trans. Inst. Min. and Met.
329
Mining and Scientific Press.
November 11, 1905.
profit. There is a discrepancy, if the latter figure
be right (and actual work shows that it is), of 6s 3d,
a sum quite large enough to seal the fate of, perhaps,
a big corporation, but it might not be discovered
until the mill itself found it out.
The reason for this discrepancy is that no allow-
ance has been made for the waste of actual mining.
In measuring the width of a stope it is usual to meas-
ure the actual face, the measurement being taken at
right angles to the dip of the reef. The actual face
between foot wall and hanging wall may in this way
be 3 feet.
Now if a measurement be made 3 or 4 feet back
from the face between foot wall and hanging, also at
right angles to the dip of the reef, it will be found in
the majority, if not in all cases, if the bed has remained
continuous, and has not been cut out by a fault, and
has not pinched, that such a measurement will be
greater by about 12 inches than the measurement at
the face. The dilution caused by these 12 inches
which have not been allowed for will account for the
difference in nearly all cases. In other words, actual
blasting on a 3-foot lode or in attempting to carry a
3-foot stope, will generally carry away 6 inches more
in the hanging wall and 6 inches more in the foot
wall than the actual calculated width. It is found,
therefore, that the assay plan stoping width in feet,
which may be called X, becomes in practice X + 1.
Going back to Example 1, the theoretical recovery
without making this allowance was 52.5s, and in
actual work was found to be only 42s. The assay
plan gave 12 dwt. over 4 feet and 15% was sorted.
Making the foot allowance the actual stope becomes
9.6 dwt.:
100 tons assaying 9.6 dwt. contain 960 dwt.
15 tons waste rock assaying 1.0 dwt. contain 15 dwt.
85 tons sorted ore contain 945 dwt.
945
One ton after sorting contains -==- = 11.11 dwt. per
ton. A 90% recovery on 11.11 dwt. = 41.99s, or
very close to the 42s obtained.
This may be taken as a typical example. The
writer has worked many hundreds of such, and has
ascertained from many mine managers, who have
given him great help in the matter, that this method
of making allowance brings their calculated values
and actual results very close.
The Practical Operation of Machine
Drills.*
NUMBER II.— CONCLUDED.
Written by E. M. Weston.
In a small stope, however, with a face height of
about 40 inches, the following arrangement shown in
elevation (Pig. Ill) is advantageous. The width of
Fig. 3. — Machine Drills.
face of the bench is 5 feet and depth of holes 6
feet to 7 feet. These are bored in the order shown,
and should be all parallel to each other and to the
face of stope, except hole 4, which having little bur-
den can be made to look in somewhat. In average
ground this round should bring out a bench from 4J-
feet to 5 feet by 6 feet to 7 feet, with a charge eouiva-
lent to an average of 3J to 4 large cartridges per
hole. In some mines where stoping with machines is
done on wages, it is the custom to limit the number
of cartridges issued per shift. This I think is a mis-
take, as any miner taking an interest in his work
tries to get the best results, and if he is not given
the explosive he thinks necessary, and in any mine
the conditions vary enough to make a fixed rule bad,
he is apt to be discouraged and lose interest. On
the other hand, of course, careless miners would
waste explosives. For these and other reasons con-
tract work is always to be preferred. In one mine
the allowance per hole for big machines was 2J big
cartridges, and in another with small machines six
small cartridges. I have often used five or six large
cartridges to advantage with small machines. It
'Abstract Jour. Chem. Met. & Min. Soc, S. A.
would be interesting if members would supply infor-
mation as to the allowances made in mines they
know of and the conditions there. The judging of
what is a proper and just sufficient charge is per-
haps the most difficult part of the art of rock drill-
ing, as the holes vary so much and so many factors
have to be taken into account. The question as to
what is the maximum burden to be placed on a hole
is one hard to determine, even when the rock is
homogeneous. It is evidently some factor of the
height of the face, and I should be glad if some
mathematically endowed members would attack the
question. My experience is that there is a given
maximum burden one can put on a hole beyond
which no charge however great will dislodge the
rock. If there is no plane of weakness it is about
two-thirds height of face; but may equal or exceed
face height if there is a defined plane of weakness.
There would be an advantage gained, I think, if rock
drill miners when working in stopes were supplied
with a rather weak gelignite, containing, say,
50% nitro-glycerine in addition to the usual blasting
gelatine. As I have before shown, in all holes it is
not advisable to concentrate the explosives near the
bottom of the holes, and in cases where it was neces-
sary or unavoidable, to bore weak holes, a lower
strength of explosive could be economically employed.
Unfortunately, it is not always possible to bore the
hole of ideal strength. For hand stoping in some
mines I believe the management suddenly served out
gelignite to their stopers in the same quantity as the
more expensive gelatine, and it was stated that no
falling off in the quantity of rock broken was noticed.
I think, however, that in hand stoping also a judicious
use of different strengths of explosives for different
holes would prove more advantageous. Or, does
this experiment prove that blasting gelatine is too
powerful for work in hand stopes ? There is the in-
teresting question, as to whether or not tamping is
of any use in assisting the force of explosion. A little
is always necessary where several holes are fired in
series to prevent the shock jerking the primer and
fuse out of hole. The theory of tamping appears to
be that it interposes between the explosive and
the cushion of the atmosphere, a body, that by its
iuertia, and the friction of its parts against the side
of the hole, offers a resistance to the escape of the
gases. This resistance in the case of high explosives
can proportionately amount to very little, while
their detonation is so sudden as to expend all its
force on the sides of hole before seeking any escape
along it. This is shown in "bull ringed" holes.
Water is always considered an efficient tamping, but
its inertia and friction amount to nothing in such a
case. I am led to infer then that its only beneficial
action is in excluding air that might otherwise act as
a buffer between explosive and the side of hole. One,
however, finds great differences of opinion on this
question. The Government mining regulations lay
down the rule that only sand or clay loosely filled in,
or water, may be employed for tamping. Yet cer-
tain manufacturers of explosives, in printed instruc-
tions sold with their explosives, advise the use of
sand very firmly rammed. As a matter of fact
every one does break the law by using sand or grit
firmly made into paper cartridges and rammed
home with a good will. I think from experience
that an inch or two of tamping is as effective
as 18 inches. I must refer to the regulations for-
bidding under any circumstances boring in the
stumps or sockets of old holes. Every one who has
done any rock drilling knows that it is impossible to
observe this, as very often the only possible place to
start a hole is in the socket of an old one. The Gov-
ernment should recognize this and allow boring
where, say, the stump hole is 3 inches in diameter, 9
inches or less deep, and where the bottom can be
clearly seen, and all loose rock liable to contain hid-
den explosive carefully removed. The accidents oc-
curring owing to cartridges being forced into a hole
slightly too small for them leads me to mention an
expedient so simple that I would apologize for bring-
ing it forward were it not for the fact that few
appear acquainted with it. It is true the Govern-
ment regulations forbid forcing a cartridge into a
hole; but a contractor will not see his day's work
spoiled for lack of a little force, and an accident last
year on the French Rand mine showed the results.
If, when a cartridge sticks even in a damp hole, a
little water is poured in and allowed to stand a few
minutes, it will be found in nine cases out of ten that
it has so soaked and softened the paper round the
explosive that it will now move easily. If it has be-
come doubled up and cannot be dislodged, the water
by filling the hole below it acts as tamping and ren-
ders the explosive effective.
In considering what is the best size of machine to
use in wide stopes it must be remembered that min-
ers can generally be got to look after three 2i-inch
or 2J-inch machines; while they refuse to supervise
more than two large machines. As far as my ex-
perience enables me to judge, three 2|-inch machines
provided witlrproper steel will break more than two
3i-inch machines; while the air consumption will be
nearly the same in each case, and, provided reliable
labor is to be obtainable, I believe them to be
superior. In small stopes 2|-inch machines do excel-
lent work. Personally I should prefer a machine a
shade smaller (about 2f inches diameter), and I think
one might be designed as powerful as the present 21-
inch machines. With these the arm, bar and clamp
are of the same size and diameter as with large ma-
chines, and this is rather awkward in practical work
in small stopes. For effective stoping a good range
of movement of the arm up and down the bar is
necessary in order that the top and bottom holes
may be parallel, or nearly so, in a vertical plane, and
be bored, say, 30 inches apart. In this way the
stope is kept at a proper and regular size, for if, ow-
ing to being bored at nearly the same elevation of
machine, the holes diverge, they are always liable to
break into the foot and hanging wall (see Pig. IV,).
\ x \ \ \ \ \ Y
Fig. 4. — Machine Drills.
For the same reason several different sizes of bars
should always be supplied to miners. With a bar for
big machines only 24 inches or 30 inches long, the
part of arm that embraces the bar is about a foot
long, and this will allow little range of movement be-
tween the piece of bar and screw at the top. In fact
only 5 inches or 6 inches in range is obtained. When
large arms must be used a great advantage is gained
by cutting off 3 inches top and bottom of the portion
embracing the bar. With a good 3-inch or 3}-inch
arm, bar and clamp a much greater vertical range is
obtainable for the machine, and better work made
possible, especially in awkward places. I know of
one mine on the Rand where it is stated that machine
stoping on a 38-inch width was for a period cheaper
than hand labor. A feature I would introduce in
small machines, and in big ones also, would be to
place two "necks" and "seats" on the "cradle" of
machine, one forward and the other about 6 inches
back from it. This would add little to the weight
and would often mean the saving of much time when
the only drill available was just a little too long to
"follow." This often occurs below. It would save
time lost in hunting for a suitable drill or moving
arm or clamp. Instead the machine would be lifted
into its other seat and boring resumed. This device
would also prove useful when owing to the shape of
roof or foot wall it is necessary to "rig" bar either
too close or too far from the face to be bored. I can-
not lay too much stress on the importance of supply-
ing machines with an adequate or rather excessive
supply of drills. Of course where sharpening is done
underground these remarks do not apply so much;
but in many cases it is a struggle to obtain sufficient
drills. The record book of the foreman blacksmith
may indeed show that what is apparently an ample
number has been issued; but a time always arrives
when, owing to breakages, borrowing without per-
mission by one's neighbor, one's jumper boy throwing
drills down a winze to save trouble in carrying them
to the shaft, a difficult hole, the starting of which
has blunted numerous drills, or a hundred other
causes, one is unable to do a proper shift's work.
There should be a reserve of fifteen to twenty drills
always available on the spot and the miner be given
all or more drills than he asks for; while at the same
time a sharp lookout be kept behind old pillars and in
abandoned workings for neglected ones. When one
hears battery managers complaining of amalgamat-
ing troubles one wonders if they are aware how
much oil is used and spilt by machine men and their
natives below. Half to three-quarters of a pint of
oil seems the amount used per machine per shift, and
where many are employed it means quite a quantity
of oil coming in the rock to the battery. A miner
working three small machines should always be
allowed to have one spare one in the stope to save
time in case of breakdowns, and a few big machines
should be kept at or near the shaft at every level as
spares. This simple matter is not attended to in all
mines. Every miner working machines should have
a locked box given him solely for keeping his tools
and spare parts in (such as U bolts, side rods, clamp
and arm bolts, etc.), of which a liberal supply should
be given him.
When developing I always endeavored to make the
distance between the "collars" of the cut holes
about 18 inches apart, the idea being to get the ex-
plosive as much behind the center core of rock as
possible. I have seen miners obtain good results in
average ground by placing the holes within 12 inches
of each other. Their theory seemed to be that in
this manner the shattering force of the explosive was
November 11, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
330
better applied in pulverizing the core, rather than in
ejecting it. A contribution from some experienced
miner on '"cuts" and "cut holes" generally would
be interesting.
The Highest Mines.
It is not a great many years since there was a
theory among a large number of miners that, to have
a profitable mine, it was necessary to seek high alti-
tudes; that if a mine was found at or near sea level
it would be of little value. Recent years have proven
that there is absolutely uothing in such prejudice
against the occurrence of mines of gold, copper or
any other mineral at low altitude. The noted mines
of the Treadwell group of Alaska are only a few feet
above sea level. Many of the copper and gold mines
Low altitude, however, does not always signify
superior economic conditions. In San Diego county,
Cal., some of the largest gold mines in that State are
less than 5U0 feet above sea level; but they are sur-
rounded by miles of desert sand and abrupt, precipi-
tous mountains and are more unfortunately situated
than some of those at high altitude.
The accompanying illustrations show the types of
mountain scenery in the mining region of the West.
One shows the rounded slopes, partly covered by
snow. Although not a rugged country, transporta-
tion here is difficult, by reason of the numerous small
gulches and ravines. A few stunted pines and tama-
racks are the only trees seen in the landscape,
though in the gulches a few aspens quiver with every
passing breath of wind. Though not easy of access
and distant from the railroad, still the prospector
has penetrated here during the summer months and
A Glacial Valley Amid High Ranges, Where Both Mining and Agriculture Thrive.
Near Timber Line in the Colorado Rockies.
on the chain of islands reaching from Vancouver to
Seward Peninsula run down to the water's edge of
either the Pacific ocean or some one of the numerous
interior channels. In South America gold mines are
known on the west coast which are at the level of the
sea. Some of the noted mines of Australasia are but
little above the sea.
In the United States, however, particularly in the
Western portion, the mines are mostly above 1000
feet altitude, and from that upward to 13,000 feet,
and even more, in the State of Colorado. In Califor-
nia, in the Sierra Nevada, there are many mines and
ore deposits at altitudes varying from 8000 to over
11,000 feet. In Idaho some of the mines are over 7000
feet above the sea, and in Utah the most noted mines
are from 8000 to 10,000 feet or more above this uni-
versal datum.
Mines operating at low levels in many instances
have advantages over those situated in the moun-
tains. This advantage is generally the more easy
means of communication with the outside world.
has found sufficient encouragement to establish a
camp and open a mine, which will prove to be o*
greater or less value, as determined by development.
The other engraving is that of a glacial valley sur-
rounded by hills which rise 2000 feet or more above
the valley. Here not only mining but also stock rais-
ing, and, to a limited extent, agriculture, are possi-
ble during summer. Here, too, the pines and the
aspens grow side by side, and the miner has built his
habitation of logs near his prospect.
Each of these illustrations is typical of the condi-
tions as they exist in different portions of the high
mountains of the Western United States. Neither
represents the worst features — the extreme types of
mountain scenery. These latter are merely a few
precipitous rocks projected above the eternal snows
of some high range — where a narrow trail, mostly
cut in the ice, is the only means of comcnunication
with the world below, where the buildings are erected
against the side of an overhanging precipice as a pro-
tection against snowslides and where the moisture
in the rock is frozen solid to a depth of several hun-
dred feet. These are some of the inconveniences of
the highest mines, and yet some of these mines fur-
nish a grade of ore which- makes their operation
largely profitable, and the prospector does not hesi-
tate on account of the situation, if he can only find
pay rock there.
Testing Ores and Tailings Preliminary
to Cyaniding.
As there is a frequent demand for literature on
the testing of ores and tailings with a view to ascer-
taining the amenability of the material to such treat-
ment, the following partial bibliography on the sub-
ject has been prepared, being a number of original
papers in which the methods are described in detail:
Fbldmann, W.— Notes on Gold Extraction, Johan-
nesburg, 1904.
Furman, H. Van F.— Laboratory Tests in Connec-
tion with the Cyanide Process, Trans. A. I. M. E., vol.
XXVI, p. 721; " Manual of Practical Assaying," p. 401,
ed. 1905; Mining and Scientific Press, Nov. 7 to 28,
1896, pp 379, 402, 421 and 441.
Clennell. J. C— Notes on Experimental Metallurgy,
Jour. Chem. & Met. Soc. S. A., Dec, 1898, vol. 1, p. 177;
vol. 2, p. 492; Mining and Scientific Press, Feb.
18-25, 1899, vol. 78, p. 181 and 209.
Janin, L., Jr. — Practical Points for the Assay Labor-
atory, Pacific Coast Miner, Jan. 10, 1903, p. 30.
Browne, R. S. — Testing Ores for Cyanide Treat-
ment, Mining and Scientific Press, Jan. 2 and 9,
1904, vol. 88, pp. 6 and 22.
James, A. — Cyanide Practice, Proo. Inst. Min. &
Met., 1895, vol. 3, p. 369.
To these should he added two papers on the test-
ing of gold ores in general without special reference
t<> the cyanide process, but which contain valuable
references to it. These are:
Charleton, A. G.— Trans. Inst. Min. Eng. (Newcas-
tle), 1893.
Warwick, A. W.— Jour. Soc. Chem. Industry, Feb.,
1898.
SHort summaries of the more essential tests are
contained in several of the monographs on the cya-
nide process:
Park. J.— The Cyanide Process of Gold Extraction.
Bosqui, F. L. — Practical Notes on the Cyanide
Process.
James, A. — Cyanide Practice.
Gaze, W. U.— Practical Cyanide Operations.
Julian, H. F., and Smart, E.— Cyaniding Gold and
Silver Ores.
Miller, A. S.— The Cyanide Process, Moscow, Idaho,
1903.
Byrn, G. A. — The Laboratory in its Relation to the
Cyanide Process, Melbourne, 1897.
Among the publications describing experiments
made on particular ores and tailings may be men-
tioned the following:
Merrill, C. W.— The MacArthur-Forrest Process,
Experiments in the Metallurgical Laboratory, Mining
and Scientific Press, April 23, 1892, vol. 64, p. 296.
Janin, L., Jr. — The Cyanide Process, Min. Industry,
vol. 1, p. 239.
Lodge, R. W. — The Cyanide Process as Applied to
Concentrates, Trans. A. I. M. E., 1895, vol. XXV, p. 90;
Tech. Quarterly, vol. 8, p. 389.
Claudet, A. C. — Notes on the Experimental Treat-
ment of a Gold Ore, Proc. Inst. Min. & Met., 1897, vol. 5,
p. 327.
Johnston, W. S. — Cyanide Experiments on Ores of
the Slocan District, Can. Min. Review, Aug., 1898, vol.
17, p. 212.
Chatard, T. M., and Whitehead, C. — Examination
of Ores of the Republic Gold Mine, Washington, Trans.
A. I. M. E., 1901, vol. XXX, p. 419. Eng. & Min. Jour.,
Apr. 28, 1900, vol. 69, p. 497.
Brocktjnier, S. H. — Experiments with Bromo-
Cyanogen, Trans. A. I. M. E., 1901, vol. XXXI, p. 793,
m'ining and Scientific Press, Apr. 26, 1902, vol. 84,
p. 230.
Janin, L., Jr. — Cyaniding Tests at Chainman Mine,
Nevada, Pac. Coast Miner, Jan. 24, 1903, p. 59.
Allan, J. F. — Notes Upon Preliminary Tests and
Cyanide Treatment of Silver Ores in Mexico, Trans.
A. I. M. E., 1904.
J arm an, A., AND Brereton, E. L. — Laboratory Ex-
periments on the Use of Ammonia and its Compounds in
Cyaniding Cupriferous Ores and Tailings, Proc. Inst.
Min. & Met., 1905.; Eng. & Min. Jour., April 27, 1905,
vol. 79, p. 802.
An original paper by M. A. Knapp on "A Cheap
Cyanide Plant " appeared in the Mining and Scien-
tific Press of October 10, 1896, and was copied
by the New Zealand Mining Standard in 1897,
without acknowledgment. An abstract of it ap-
peared in the Eng. & Min. Jour., Oct. 30,
1897, and again in the Mineral Industry for 1897
(vol. VI); the S. A. Min. Journal also copied it in
1897, and the Jour. Chem. & Met. Soc. of S. A. re-
printed it in July, 1903, from the Mining Journal, all
of them crediting the N. Z. Mining Standard with
the article.
Chrysoeertl is beryllium aluminate. It occurs in
varied shades of green, from light green to grass
green and yellowish green, sometimes yellow, pale
red or dark red. It has a hardness of 8.5 and is used
as a jewel.
The American Mining Congress meets this year at
El Paso, Texas, from the 14th to the 18th inst., in-
clusive.
331
Mining and Scientific Press.
November 11, 1905.
I Mining and Metallurgical Patentsj
PATENTS ISSUED OOTOBEK 24, 1905.
Specially Reported and Illustrated for the MINING AND
SCTENTDjTC PRESS.
Metallurgical Filter.
Colorado City, Colo.
-No. 802,242; E. Stewart,
Filter comprising shell, having non-corrosive lining,
ledges extending longitudinally within shell in spaced
relation, filter plates secured upon ledges, supports
between ledges at intervals longitudinally of plates,
decanting pipes having heads, pipes connecting each
of heads with interior of filter beneath filter plates,
pipes leading into shell at opposite sides of filter plates
from heads, and means for connecting fluid supply
pipes with last named pipes.
Drying and Roasting Furance. — No. 802.191 ;C. E.
Ballow and E. Stein, Guanacevi, Mexico.
Furnace provided with drying stack having dis-
charge into atmosphere at upper eDd, and ore dis-
charge at lower end, roasting stack having ore dis-
charge at lower end, downtake flue passing from top
of roasting stack to base of drying stack, means for
heating roasting stack, auxiliary heating means at
base of drying stack, corrugated agitating rollers
mounted in drying and roasting stacks, and shelves
carried in stacks, and projecting between rollers,
certain of rollers having tubular axles projecting
through walls of stacks to permit circulation of cool-
ing medium through axles.
Magnetic Ore Separator.
Moffatt, Brooklyn, N. Y.
-No. 802,170; R. R.
In magnetic ore separator, combination of frame-
work, two stationary shafts, two rotating drums for
separating material on shafts disposed so as to con-
verge in curvilinear direction, and whose axes of
rotation are in same horizontal plane, two standard
blocks at each end of drums having transverse sock-
ets, one of which supports ends of stationary shafts,
two electro-magnets disposed at right angles to
drums at either side of same and adjustably sup-
ported in other of two transverse sockets of standard
blocks, whereby distance between two drums can be
increased or decreased, magnetic bridge interposed
between drums in field of force above plane of rota-
tion for reducing magnetic resistance, and means for
vertically adjusting magnetic bridge.
Crushing Machine.
Chicago, HI.
-No. 802,842; A. Cameron,
In crushing machine, crushing jaw supported for
oscillatory motion about axis arranged between up-
per and lower portions and reciprocative laterally to
plane of jaw-face and along line inclining downwardly
and forwardly; pitman with which jaw has jointed
connection; and swinging arms or links having
jointed connection with pitman and tied to swing
about axis forward of jaw.
Centrifugal Ore Separator.
H. Peck, Chicago, 111.
-No. 802,779; W.
la centrifugal ore separator, combination of rotat-
able treatment vessel having separating surface
therein, expansible and contractible deflector within
vessel having sections provided with channels adapted
to receive retaining devices and removable flexible
covering around deflector, having retaining devices
with one of parts embedded in covering and another
of parts removably engaging channels.
Process of
802,493; T. S.
Reducing Metallic Oxides.-
Blair Jr., Woodmere, N. Y.
-No.
Process of reducing metallic oxides mixed with
gangue, consisting in removing oxygen therefrom
by subjecting same to contact with reducing gas at
temperature sufficient to cause required chemical
reactions, but with insufficient supply of free oxygen
to consume reducing agents, changing reducing tem-
perature to non-reducing one by supplying more air,
raising temperature sufficiently to fuse gangue or
extraneous matter and burn out metalloids, but not
to extent required to fuse metal, separating fused
gangue or extraneous matter from metal by melting
gangue therefrom and balling metal while gangue is
being melted away therefrom.
Hydraulic Air Compressor. -
Linton, Woodstock, Canada.
-No. 802,575; W. J.
In hydraulic air compressor, headpiece forming
mouth through which water is admitted to apparatus
and a series of air inlet chambers arranged within
mouth and dividing it into separate water passages,
each of which chambers is connected with air outside
and is open to water at inner end, and means for
regulating size of water passages.
Actuating Mechanism for Ore Concentrators.-
No. 802,374; E. Deister, Fort Wayne, Ind.
In actuating mechanism for concentrating tables
and similar devices, table suitably mounted to be
vibrated; bracket fixed to table; block adjustably
seated against bracket; bolts having loose connec-
tions with block and rigidly fixed in bracket; springs
in connection with respective bolts and acting against
block toward bracket; reciprocating driving rod hav-
ing actuating connection between driving rod and
block; and spring in connection with driving rod and
acting against bracket.
Centrifugal Ore Separator. — No. 802,726; P. H.
Adams, Chicago, Til.
In centrifugal ore separator, combination of rota-
table tapering treatment vessel having separating
surface therein, and provided with discharge open-
ings for material and water, rotatable longitudinally
travelable deflector within vessel, and means for
feeding material and water into vessel distance from
its small end substantially as great as distance of
longitudinal travel of deflector, deflector of sufficient
length and adapted to at all times cover points of
feed of material and water into vessel, and operate
to effect separation on surface.
November 11, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
332
I MINING SUMMARY. |
a********************* ***************
Specially Compiled and Reported [or the MINING AND
SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
The petroleum production of 1004 was greater than
that of any previous year. The total output of crude
petroleum in the United States in 1904 was 117,0113,421
barrels. The total value of all the petroleum marketed
in the United States in 1904 was $101,170,400. The gain
over the production of 1903 was 16,602,089 barrels in
quantity and $6,476,416 in value. The quantity of oil
produced has increased 2] times in ten years. For the
first time in the history of the petroleum industry the
quantity of oil produced west of the Mississippi river
was greater than that produced east of that river. New
pools were discovered during 1904 in Texas, California,
Kansas, Indian Territory and Oklahoma, and many ex-
tensions were made to the oid fields. An immense sec-
tion beginning in southeastern Kansas and extending
southwestward into northern Indian Territory and
Oklahoma, over 180 miles in length and 50 miles in width,
was proved to be locally productive of petroleum and
natural gas. All indications point to an increase in the
production of petroleum in the United States for a series
of years. Most of the petroleum produced in these west-
ern localities is, however, inferior in quality. It is not
suitable for the manufacture of the most refined prod-
ucts, but its high heatiDg value and its freedom from the
more volatile constituents renders it comparatively safe
to transport and consume and make it a most valuable
fuel. The oil report of E. H. Oliphant of the U. S.
Geological Survey contains an account of the oil produc-
tion in the United States by fields, States and districts,
with historical and statistical matter, comprising state-
ments concerning imports, exports and prices of petro-
leum, as well as the tariff duties, descriptions of methods
of transportation, analyses of United States petroleum
and its derivatives, and a discussion of the caloric value
of petroleum. The last hundred pages of the report are
devoted to an account of the operations of the petroleum
industry in 1904 in the other countries of the world.
ALASKA.
The development of placer mining in Alaska is having
an effect on the total gold output of the country. The
estimated production of the Territory last year was
$9,000,000, and it may be $11,000,000 for this year. The
open season of mining closed unusually early in the
Nome districts, owing to freezing weather. A greatly
increased production is reported from the Tanana val-
ley. The returns from the custom houses indicate the
increased production of the Alaska mines, and it is a
significant fact that for the first eight months of the
present year the shipments of Alaska gold exceeded
those from the Yukon Territory to the United States.
This is a new condition in gold mining in Alaska, for
heretofore the Alaska output has always been consider-
ably smaller than that of the Klondike and the tribu-
tary region in British territory. In the first eight
months of this year the shipments of native gold from
Alaska to the United States amounted to $5,887,672, as
against $5,148,155 of foreign (Canadian) gold. The com-
bined shipments of native gold and silver from Alaska in
the same months amounted to $5,889,729, as against
$3,524,703 in the first two-thirds of 1904. A small part
of the shipments of native gold from Alaska was taken
from the ground in 1904, but, on the other hand, the
largest shipments of this year's product were made sub-
sequent to August 31.
Passengers from Nome bring news of the freezing up
of some of the big mining plants in the Solomon River
district before the winter cleanup was made, leaving the
gold of the entire season's workings in sluice boxes.
Thomas Mulligan, who has been in the Solomon country
for years, says the season was thirty days short of any
previous year. The season opened July 15, and Septem-
ber 18 everything was frozen up solid. It was impossi-
ble to work hydraulic plants and winter drifting has
commenced. On some of the creeks the freeze up oc-
curred as early as September 14.
ARIZONA.
Coconino County.
(Special Correspondence). — It is reported that the Stan-
dard Iron Co. of New York is sinking a shaft 6 miles
south of Diablo station, on the Santa Fe railroad,
half way between Winslow and Flagstaff, to recover
and smelt a meteor. This meteor is said to
have torn a hole in the earth 600 feet
deep and fragments of it are scattered over the sur-
rounding country. The fragments have been analyzed
and are found to contain iron and gold. The Standard
Iron Company began working to locate the meteor
about a year ago and a shaft from the bottom of the hole
has been sunk.
Flagstaff, Nov. 7.
Gila County.
The Old Dominion C. M. & S. Co. during October pro-
duced 3,170,000 pounds of blister copper 99J fine, which
is a new high record, exceeding the output of May of
this year — the previous record month — by 85,000 pounds.
A reverberatory furnace of 250 tons capacity is to be
put in to treat the flue dust and slag. The working
shaft has been sunk to the fourteenth level and a.cross-
cut started toward the main lode, 500 feet to the south-
east. The Tri-Bullion S. & D. Co., who own the Star-
light mine in Kelly gulch, near San Carlos, are making
regular shipments of their lead-copper ores to the El
Paso smelter, and have made arrangements to ship
their carbonate copper ores to the Old Dominion smelter
at Globe. The company will extend their crosscut tunnel
by contract. Superintendent Frank Weast may put in
machinery for sinking on the vein to the sulphide ores
at depth.
Maricopa County.
The Gila Gold Lode mines, in the White Tank moun-
tains, west of Phoenix, are opening up considerable ore
under the direction of S. W. Haines. Maddox & Towers
are putting a mill on the Little Jessie mines, in the same
district.
Kavapal County.
(Special Correspondence). — L. V. Wilkinson may de-
velop a kaolin deposit near Wickenburg. The Sunrise
mine near Walker has been sold to an eastern company,
who will start work December 1.
Prescott, Nov. 6.
E. W. McClave is developing the Easy Boss mine,
near Stoddard. The Planet Saturn mine, between
Congress and Octave, is said to have passed into the
possession of the Alvarado G. M. Co., of which F. L.
Wright of Prescott is president and Paul Johns secretary
and general manager. M. L. Buckley, who owns the
Victor mines on Lynx creek, 0 miles from Prescott, has
doveloped them to a depth of 100 feet, and proposes to
put in a gasoline hoist at once, and as soon as possible a
5-stamp mill. The Black Dike group of claims on
Cherry creek has been bonded to Julius A. Goerdeler of
New York. — —The cyanide plant at the Richinbar mine
is now in operation, and it is proposed to add ten more
stamps to the mill at Richinbar.
CALIFORNIA.
According to a recent bulletin of the United States
Geological Survey, natural gas is produced from wells in
San Joaquin, Sacramento, Santa Barbara, Ventura,
Orange, Los Angeles and Tehama counties. Most of the
domestic consumers using gas in California are supplied
from wells in San Joaquin and Sacramento counties, the
towns of Stockton and Sacramento being supplied.
During 1904, however, 9 gas wells were drilled in Ven-
tura county, the product of which is supplied to domes-
tic consumers in Ventura and Oxnard. At Fairview,
Orange county, is located a well, the product of which
is used in a hotel and in cottages. At Tuscan Springs,
Tehama county, are two wells, the product of which is
used at the hotel and grounds for fuel and lighting.
The wells in Santa Barbara are small gas producers.
Gas from Los Angeles county wells is produced with the
oil and partially utilized.
Amador County.
The 5-stamp mill at the Burlington mine, near Sutter
Creek, will soon be started on ore that has been on the
dump for some time past. A short test run has been
made. G. H. Allen will act as millman for Superintend-
ent Sibole.
Unless rain falls soon nearly every mine on the mother
lode will have to close down, owing to the scarcity of
water. In many cases the mines depend upon water
power to operate the mill machinery, and even where
electric power is used water is required in the mills.
The storage reservoirs upon which depends the genera-
tion of electric current are getting low. Mines are being
shut down at Jackson, Angels, Amador and other places
along the lode, and hundreds of men are being thrown
out of employment.
El Dorado County.
Work is to be resumed at the Scherrer mine at
Georgetown. It is reported that Frick & Ball will put
in a mill at the Idaho mine, near Kelsey. At the Sun-
rise mine, nearKelsey, Superintendent Ranney has had
men opening up new ground. Grading has been done
for the new mill. The Toombs property at White
Rock has been bonded for $15,000 to C. E. Seymour of
Georgetown.
Kern County.
The Greenback copper mine at Woody is to be worked
after being idle for five years. Joseph Werringer, one
of the owners, has leased the property.
Lassen County.
At Hayden Hill it is reported that the Golden Eagle
mine has 100 men on the payroll. Ore from the Golden
Eagle is treated by the cyanide plant that has a daily
capacity of 120 tons.
Mono County.
The first shipment of ore from Masonic mountain, near
Bodie, has been made from the Eastwood & Weitfle
lease. Sorena is the name of the new camp in the Ma-
sonic Mountain district. Carson City is the shipping
point for the district.
Nevada County,
At the Austin mine in Willow valley, near Grass Val-
ley, the new double-compartment vertical shaft is down
25 feet. The machinery from the Posey mine has been
moved to the Austin and is now all on the ground, wait-
ing to be placed in position.
The big new concrete dam constructed by the Omega
Co. in Scotchman's creek, 1 mile above Washington, has
been completed and inspected and it is expected that a
permit will be issued by the California Debris Commis-
sion to the Omega Co., allowing them to hydraulic this
winter. The dam is built between two bluffs that ex-
tend into the creek. It is 50 feet high and 30 feet wide
at the base and 15 feet wide at the top. It is a solid
mass of rock and cement. In the center of the dam
there is an outlet for the water, while a hard rock tun-
nel will also carry away the surplus water. There is a
great basin back of the dam and tailings will be im-
pounded for a mile or more up the creek. Over 250 tons
bf cement have been used, it being brought in from
Emigrant Gap by freight teams. The work has been
under charge of Superintendent W. M. Wilson and
Foreman E. Brindle. As soon as the company receives a
permit to hydraulic they will get their mine at Omega
in readiness for the winter. The new dam is so located
that at any time it can be raised and a total height of 80
feet can be secured.
At the Spanish Ridge mine, near Washington, Super-
intendent J. H. English has made arrangements for a
new compressor. The Spanish Ridge secures free water
from the bead of Poorman's creek, but this season it
failed on account of the dry spell, forcing the mill to
shut down. Arrangements have been made to secure
400 inches of water from the McCarty ditch. The new
sulphurets house is completed and will be used for hold-
ing sulphurets during the winter months, when not
much hauling can be done.
At Graniteville the Birchville mine has been started
after being shut down for thirty-five years. The old in-
cline is being cleaned out and retimbered and a steam
pump put in. Fred Medlin is in charge.
Placer County.
Superintendent R. Jones of the Cash Rock mine, near
Forest Hill, has pulled out their machinery for the
winter. They will open up again next spring. A large
force is working at the Baltimore, near Forest Hill.
There is prospect of the Gold Run Gravels, Ltd., being
worked again. The company owns the gravel beds at
Gold Run. J. D. Stewart of 214 Pine Street, San Fran-
cisco, has recently been appointed manager.
San Bernardino County.
The estate of H. L. Drew and J. B. Osborne have sold
to the Guggenheims claims in the Ord mining dis-
trict for $300,000. The property lies on the western
slope of the Ord mountains, 144 miles from Daggett. The
purchasers have had experts inspecting the property
for several months. The claims affected are the Rio
Vista, Plainsville, Bluff, Central, Coupon, Last Chance,
Josephine, Modesto, Aztec, Sunflower, Brilliant, Key-
stone, Climax, Wild West, Cliff, Tehachapi, Atlantic,
Conception, Sunset and Empress. The Guggenheims
have a large force already employed, and machinery will
be shipped from San Francisco.
San I>!eeo County.
(Special Correspondence.) — Gold has been discovered
near the Sweetwater dam. Calcium carbonate has
been discovered on the El Cajon grant, near Lakeside.
A lime kiln may be built. Calcium tungsate has been
found on the road to Yuma from San Diego. Mis-
pickel has been found near Pine valley, and, from speci-
mens received, seems to be very rich in the compound.
The Stonewall mine at Cuyamaca has closed down
indefinitely.
San Diego, Nov. 8.
Shasta County.
J. W. Neill, of Butte, Mont., representing an Eastern
syndicate, has bonded the Uncle Sam mine and the Shas-
ta copper claims, nearKennett. T. A. Varden is foreman
at the mine. The mill on the Uncle Sam will be started
when the rains come.
The mining industry of the French Gulch district is
unusually prosperous this season. The Gladstone mine
is employing more men than ever before and twenty
stamps are kept dropping on ore. Stratton Bros.
have struck high-grade ore in the Wheeler mine.
Sierra County.
The North American gravel mine near Gibsonville is
being worked by 20 men under the direction of Elias
Squier.
At the Oriental mine, near Alleghany, active develop-
ment work has been resumed by Superintendent H. L.
Johnson. The Alleghany M. Co. at Balsam Flat re-
cently struck pay gravel in an upraise from their main
tunnel.
J. H. Patterson is driving a tunnel to develop the
Twenty-One and Rainbow Extension quartz claims near
Alleghany. The recently reconstructed 10-stamp mill
at the Rainbow mine, near Alleghany, has been started
regularly.
The Fillmore M. Co. is prospecting with Keystone drill
in placer ground at the head of Port Wine ridge. E. O.
Pieper of San Jose, Cal, is interested.
Trinity County.
Jas. Treadwell of the Bonanza King, near Trinity Cen
ter, was in San Francisco last Saturday with $20,000,
representing a 2-weeks clean-up.
The quicksilver camp of Cinnabar is the scene of re-
newed activity after suspension of operations since a big
flow of water was struck a few years ago in the Altoona.
A company composed of Redding men has resumed op
erations in the Altoona. The quicksilver is shipped ou1
by pack trains 17 miles to Castella, the nearest railroad
point.
Tuolumne County.
About seventy men are employed at the Confidenct
mine at Confidence. A body of ore 8 feet wide has
been uncovered on the 700-foot level in the Black Oak
mine, near Soulsbyville.
COLORADO.
(Special Correspondence). — A large mineral exhibit is
being arranged for by the Bureau of Mines to be placed
in the State Capitol. This when completed may be
the second largest in the country, according to state-
ments given out by the parties interested in the work.
The World's Fair of St Louis and the Exposition at
Portland have enabled the Bureau to make a fine col-
lection. It is believed many private individuals will
contribute to the collection. Many of the camps
throughout the State report increased shipments for the
month of October. A visit to the different machinery
houses and machine manufacturers of the city demon-
strates the fact that the mining industry is in excellent
condition. A majority of the firms are doing a large
business and the prospects for the future are bright.
E. Lyman White, State Mine Inspector, has asked for
suggestions as to the best method for protecting minf
tunnels in case of fire similar to the one at the Percy-
LaSalle mine, near Aspen. Operators and mining en-
gineers are invited to make suggestions. A walkout
has been reported from the San Juan district by the
men, numbering forty in all, on account of the poor food
being served by the boarding house, which is said to be
under different management from the mine.
Denver, Nov. 6.
(Special Correspondence).— Efforts are being made bj
Secretary Callbreath of the American Mining Congroo.
to have as large a delegation from this and other State*
to leave this city in a body arriving in El Paso, Texas
where the Congress is to hold its next annual meeting,
on the morning of Nov. 14th. A number of the dele-
gates have signified their willingness and intention o
333
Mining and Scientific Press.
November 11, 1905.
take advantage of this special arrangement. It is
expected a large company of representative men will
attend the convention from this city and State.
Governor McDonald has already made public the names
of the delegates appointed.
Denver, Nov. 6.
Boulder County.
It is reported that the Ottumwa Co.'s mill, near Sugar
Loaf, is to be sold to the Virgilia G. M. Co., which has
sold the Rugged Top mine. The 50-ton mill being put
up at the Corona mines by the Pollock M. & M. Co. is
expected to be finished by December 1.
Chaffee County.
The St. Elmo Co. at St. Elmo have closed the mine
and mill for the winter.
Clear Creek County.
(Special Correspondence).— Mining near Empire and
Lawson shows increased activity. Red Elephant
mountain is being worked by the Red Elephant M. Co.,
in which A. C. Monson and G. E. Soderholm of Denver
are interested, and by the Commodore Co. through their
crosscut tunnel which has reached and cut some of the
veins. Into this mountain, also, is being driven the
Gold Valley tunnel, which is in 300 feet. In 150 feet
more the Belvue Hudson vein will be cut. The Milling-
ton, Dictator, American Sisters and Joe Reynolds are
all producing. President Snavely of the Big 40 M. &
M. Co. has started work on mines on the top of Colum-
bia mountain, west of the Joe Reynolds.
Empire, Nov. 6.
Thomas Barnard, superintendent of the Clarence Stev-
ens properties in Banner district, near Idaho Springs,
has temporarily suspended work in the Fairfield tunnel
and is now sinking the shaft upon the Nathan lode, at
the head of Banner gulch. The shaft is 90 feet deep and
has a good prospect of an ore body. The tunnel has been
driven 700 feet on the Fairfield vein. The Hans-
brough claims, on Democrat mountain, are receiving
active development. H. M. Vincent of Denver, owner
of the Vincent claims in East Argentine, is driving his
crosscut tunnel.
The Montgomery-Ward tunnel, being driven by the
Prudential M. Co. of Georgetown, is to be driven an
additional 1000 feet. The Pay Rock extension lode will
be cut within the next 100 feet. It is now in 400 feet.
Drifting is to be started in addition to the driving of the
tunnel ahead. Manager W. C. Hood hopes to put up a
power plant, at which time machine drills will be put in.
The Anglo-Saxon mill, erected for treatment of the
ores of the Mrs. Wiggs and Anglo-Saxon tunnels, near
Georgetown, has been finished. The tramway is carry-
ing ores from the Saxon-Extension tunnel to the bins at
the new mill. Manager J. K. Brown will work through-
out the winter on the crosscut tunnel being driven by
the Leavenworth Mountain M. Co., near Georgetown.
The Lafayette shaft on the Lamartine mine is to be
sunk an additional 100 feet. This shaft is down 300 feet,
and is 6000 feet west of the Lamartine shaft. A lateral
will be run from the 400-foot level to connect east with
the Lamartine shaft. The Pelican mill, near George-
town, has resumed work. The retimbering of the old
stope in the Bismark workings has been completed.
During the fuspension of work at the mill, manager
Frank Graham made a number of changes in the setting
of the machinery. A. Roberts is at work on the Sun-
burst Extension group, on Democrat mountain, near
Georgetown. The crosscut tunnel is in over 200 feet.
Near Georgetown, the Mineral Chief is to be worked.
A concentrating plant is to be put in, with a capacity of
100 tons daily. This property is owned by the Linn
Consolidated M. Co., and (Manager Hood is employing
men in driving No. 2 and No. 4 levels ahead and in clean-
ing out and retimbering No. 6 level. Nos. 3 and 5 levels
are both in over 1000 feet.
Gilpin County.
The Gold Rock mine is being unwatered and will be
developed by J. J. Elliott of Russell Gulch. New ma-
chinery has been put in and a shaft house built at the
Ralls County mine, near Central City, by Manager Chas.
Gage. The working force at the Freedom mine, near
Central City, has been increased by Manager Borcherdt.
The main shaft, down over 800 feet, has been unwatered
and the intention of the Eastern operators is to sink it
down to the 1000-foot point during the winter. They in-
tend to drive the tunnel in from Chase gulch to cut the
Freedom shaft. The Pozo mine, in Nevada gulch,
near Central City, is being operated under a lease and
bond from W. J. Lewis & Son of Central City, under the
management of A. M. Rucker. The shaft is down 165 feet.
The smelting ore is handled in Denver by the Lanyon
Zinc Co., where the zinc is separated with magnetic and
electric apparatus, the zinc product being afterwards
shipped to zinc smelters at Iola, Kan., the lead and iron
going to the Denver smelters for further treatment.
Gunnison County.
The Grand Prize claims, in the gold belt west of Pit-
kin, has been sold to T. M. Lyons, of Denver, and South
Dakota capitalists for $25,000 The shaft is down 106
feet and has two levels into ore. The new owners eon-
template extensive work Near Maple Leaf and Sills-
ville, a 10-stamp mill is being put on Cooper mountain
by Colorado Springs parties. This company has opened
a lead of free gold quartz. A. L. Whitehorn and R.
Jones are promoting it. It is expected the mill will be
ready to operate within the next three or four weeks.
The Spring Valley G. M. & R. Co., which is operating
the Midland mine, south of Gunnison, on a lease and
bond, has started a tunnel to cut the vein 100 feet below
the present workings.
Lake County.
In addition to the iron that is being shipped from the
Tom Sargeant shaft, at Leadville, a good body of zinc
has been opened at the lower level. T. D. Kyle and
associates, leasing on the Gold Basin, are shipping 30
tons daily of ore that will average $15 per ton. Work is
also being carried on at the lower levels, and it is ex-
pected that the ore shoot above will be caught in the
lower workings. During the month of October Lead-
ville produced 79,000 tons of ore of all grades, an increase
of 1000 tons over September, and an increase of almost
4000 tons over August. Of the 79,000 tons produced,
the Arkansas Valley smelter treated 20,000 tons. The
remainder went to other smelters in the city. The
properties on Yankee Hill, between Fryer and Carbonate
hills, Leadville, are shipping considerable ore, mostly
iron. The Hayden shaft, recently put into commis-
sion, has completed the dead work, and while prospect-
ing in one of the drifts at the 375-foot level a good body
of ore has been opened, and shipments from this part of
the mine have started.
(Special Correspondence. — The Damascus M. Co., H.
W. Hinckley, manager, shipped during the month of
October 500 tons of ore from their property on the north-
east slope of Iron Hill, near what is known as Adelaide
Park. The ore was shipped to the smelter at Salida.
Leadville, Nov. 6.
The Result shaft of the Small Hopes Co., which has
not been worked for years, has resumed operations.
New machinery will be put in at once, and when the
shaft and old drifts are repaired prospecting from the
lower level will be started. The Bullion shaft at the
head of East Fourth street is shipping 200 tons per
month of a fair grade of iron from the 125-foot level.
Good progress is being made on the Bohn shaft, East
Second street, and an average of 4 feet per day is being
maintained. The shaft is in contact with no water to
handle. Sinking has been started on the Silver Nug-
get and will continue without interruption until the 700-
foot mark is reached. This shaft is expected to develop
the extension of the Little Jonny ore shoots, and also to
catch the Garbutt vein. Larger pumps are being put
in at Ollie Reed No. 1 shaft with a view of sinking the
shaft deeper. When the pumps are in place hoisting
ore from the different levels will be resumed. From the
Little Jonny 7000 tons per month are being shipped by
the lessees.
Ouray County.
York & Rathmell, who have been doing extensive
development at the Union on Bear creek, near Ouray,
have shipped their first car of ore. Superintendent
Frank Carrol of the San Pedro, near Ouray, has driven
the development tunnel 1800 feet. Total length of the
tunnel is to be 1 mile.
San Juan County.
Another carload of high-grade ore has been shipped
from the Highland Mary mine, near Silverton, to the
Durango smelter. Development work is being done on
the property, and it is probable that this will be kept
up all winter. The high-grade product will be shipped
to the smelters, while the milling ore will be piled on
the dump to await the starting up of the company's mill
in the spring.
Theodore Ivens of the Eureka Exploration Co. has
ordered machinery, roasters, tanks, etc., for an experi-
mental plant for the Silver Wing mine, above the town
of Eureka, for the treatment of copper ores. The new
method is known as the Waterbury leaching process
and consists in first crushing the ore and roasting it;
second, in leaching it with sulphuric acid and then pre-
cipitating it upon steel plates, producing, it is claimed, a
90% copper product.
In Red Mountain district nearly every property will
be worked all winter. All the large properties will con-
tinue active and many of the smaller properties that
have been idle for the past fifteen years will be worked.
Arrangements have been made to continue work on
the King mine on Sultan mountain, 2 miles south of Sil-
verton, all winter. This property belongs to the Royal
M. Co. During the winter operations will be confined to
the Mazeppa and Turk veins and the upraise on the
King vein proper.
Summit County.
(Special Correspondence). — The Old Union Co. of
Breckenridge is producing thirty tons of concentrates
per day. The Laurium is also shipping concentrates, as
well as the Washington and Lucky mines. The Lucky
mine is also shipping ore from workings. The Morning
Star and the Carbonate, on Mount Baldy, the Gold
Dust, on Nigger hill, and the Wellington, on Mineral
hill, are also shipping high-grade ores. Mining on Mount
Baldy is active. Besides the Morning Star leasers and
the Beaver Creek M. & M. Co., working the Carbonate,
both of which properties are shipping, are the Gold
Belle, which is working twenty shifts on the main de-
velopment tunnel; the Klondyke group, on which the
owners are sinking a new shaft to strike the lime and
porphyry contact, and the St. Johns group, being
worked by the Summit County Mining Exchange.
The French Creek Tunnel Co. have driven their tunnel
over 1600 feet and a drift is being run on one of the
ledges passed through. Mark Evans is general manager.
The other properties working in French gulch which
are making good showings for themselves are the Wel-
lington, which continues its shipments of lead and zinc
ores; the Old Union, with its 100-ton mill, kept running
night and day. The Rose of Breckenridge is being sys-
tematically prospected. The owners of the Mono group
have decided to work throughout the winter. They
have started raising from the lowest level to the middle
level, by which they will provide circulation.
Breckenridge, Nov. 6.
On the Bannerot group, on Cowan mountain, 3 miles
southwest of Cripple Creek, A. A. Bannerot of Pitts-
burg, Pa., has driven the Garfield tunnel 900 feet, and
has cut several veins. The mill of the Little Giant
Co., in the same district, will soon be ready to crush
ore from the Johnson group. The Summit mill at
Gillett, which during the summer has treated tailings at
the old chlorination mill, has been closed down for the
winter and no further work will be done until spring,
when a cyanide plant of 100 tons capacity will be put in.
The dump is under lease to George Kimball and associ-
ates of Idaho Springs. Good ore has been found on
the Requa Savage, on the south slope of Beacon hill,
Cripple Creek, at a depth of 485 feet. This property is
under lease to a company of which Ed. Chase and Robt.
Austin of Denver are the principal owners. They gave
out a contract for the sinking of the shaft to 315 feet.
At that depth a contractor cut a 4-foot vein.
After a close-down of several months operations have
been resumed on the Midget mine, on the west slope of
Gold hill, Cripple Creek. The property is under lease
to Charles Smith. The shaft of the Midget is down 850
feet. A strike is reported on the Ellen McGregor
claims of the Fair Chance M. Co. by Lessee Kellogg
while working in a tunnel. Operations have been re-
sumed on the Hoosiermine, on Globe hill, Cripple Creek,
by B. G. Shell. The shaft is to be sunk 100 feet from
the 670-foot level. Sinking has been started on the
Finn lode on Ironclad hill.
C. J. Jackson & Co. have struck a 3-foot ore body in
the Mary Nevin property, on Rosebud hill, Cripple
Creek. The shaft on the Montrose, on Ironclad hill,
is 300 feet deep, but it is to be continued to the 400-foot
level before doing any development.
The new machinery on the Burns lease of the Acacia,
on Bull hill, Cripple Creek, has been started. The shaft
on the Burns is down 400 feet and drifting for the Shurt-
loff vein has been started. Lessees operating on the
Christmas, on Bull hill, are sinking an additional 200
feet. The shaft is now down 800 feet. After the 1000-
foot depth has been leased a crosscut will be run in an
effort to tap the big ore bodies extending from the
Golden Cycle.
Teller county.
The October output from the mines of the Cripple
Creek district exceeded in tonnage and total value of
that of any month during the past three years. The
total tonnage treated is the highest in the entire history
of the district. That the total value is not greater than
ever before is because of the large tonnage of low grade
ore treated by cyanide process in the district, this
amounting to 16,000 tons, the lowest grade treated being
$2.75 per ton at Gillett, and at this figure some profit
being obtained. The balance of the total tonnage was
handled by the mills at Colorado City, the Dorcas at
Florence and the smelters. The October tonnage was
14,260 tons greater than for the preceding month with
a total valuation of $110,487 in excess of the October
production.
Tods. Av. Values. Total
Smelters 12.000 S60.00 $78.3000
D S.R. &R.C0 25,000 21.00 650,000
Portland 8,Kn 25.00 202,500
Dorcas 3.300 35.00 115,500
Anaconda 2,550 6.00 15,300
Wild Horse 2,300 6.00 13,300
Santa Rita 400 7.00 2,800
Sioux Palls 1000 3.00 3,000
Los Angeles 500 5.00 2,500
Homestake 9,300 3 00 27,900
Summit 250 2 75 687
Economic 6,600 28.00 184,800
Totals 71,200 $1,956,287
IDAHO.
Boise County.
The United Idaho M. Co. has been formed to work
placer and quartz claims near Placerville. W. P. Rowe,
of Nampa, is superintendent.
Idaho County.
I. E. Warner, manager of the McKinley G. M.
Co., says the mill near Lucile is completed
and in operation. A cyanide plant will be put
in. It is reported that the owners of the North
Star mine, near Pollock, intend to put in a mill next
summer. Jas. Potter is manager.
Kootenai County.
The Conjecture M. Co. has started a long tunnel to
develop its claims near Lakeview. H. D. Payne is super-
intendent. The Panhandle Development Co. is opening
up the Venezuela mine, near Lakeview. A. W. Thayer
is manager. The Keep Cool mine, near Lakeview, is
being worked under the superintendence of W. W.
Thibadeau.
Latah County.
The White Cross M. Co., owning property on Moscow
mountain, 7 miles northeast of Moscow, is advertising
for bids on a 100-foot extension of the lower tunnel. It
is expected this will tap the main ledge 400 feet below
the surface. Experiments are being made preparatory
to putting in a cyanide plant.
i. .-in iii County.
The Gilmore M. Co., working on the headwaters of
the Lemhi river, near Gilmore, hauls silver-lead ore 85
mile9 to Dubois, the nearest shipping point. In the
same district the Silver Mountain mine is being operated
by J. D. Wood and associates.
Shoshone County.
The Springville M. Co. has been formed to work claims
between Mullan and Wallace, by C. Amonson, W. Gra-
ham, H. L. Bard, L. L. Leighty, John Frederick, O.
Miller and D. M. Edmonds.
Washington County.
The Oregon Smelting & Refining Co. of Sumpter,
Or., has purchased 4000 tons of Seven Devils copper
ore, which will be hauled from Landore to Council and
shipped to Sumpter. The ore belonged to the Ladd
Metals Co., which recently closed down its smelting
plant. The Oregon Smelting & Refining Co. has also
taken a bond and lease on an iron sulphide copper mine
20 miles from Weiser, and will commence work on it.
The ore will be hauled to Weiser and shipped to Sump-
ter. Tuzon & Stevens have their supplies for the winter
at their Cuddy Mountain mines near Dale. R. Wilkie.
who has a mine on Cuddy Mountain near Dale, has leased
his property to the Ladd Metals Co. which will
operate it and use the ore for fluxing purposes in the
smelter at Landore.
MONTANA.
Fergus County.
The North Plum Creek Co. will start work with a
diamond drill near Kendall. The Montana Hog, Grey
Hound, Black Bird, Triumph, Troy, Mendota, Inde-
pendence, Mayflower, Gold Ledge, Blue Bird and Magpie
claims, and the Plum creek claims Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4,
have been transferred to the company. H. L. Arnold of
Kendall is agent.
November 11, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
334
MadlMuu County.
F. Thurston of Mammoth and A. Laden and S.
Arthur of Butte have sold the Cliff mine, near Mam-
moth, to Ohio men, who will drive the tunnel 800 feet
farther. At the Oro Cache, near Virginia City,
J. Allbright has purchased the interest of .Tack Dev-
lin in the lease from the Granite Mountain Co., and
the work is now carried on by Walker & Allhright,
under the management of F. Walker. Superintendent
J. B. Salisbury, at the Shafter, near Virginia City, has
been working the mill and cyadide plant on custom ore.
The recent frost congealed the cyanide pulp to such an
extent that a warm spell will be necessary to thaw out
the returns.
Sliver Bow County.
(Special Correspondence).— There is great activity in
the East Butte district. The Amalgamated, United
Copper, East Butte and Pittsburg & Montana compa-
nies are getting options on a lot of mining ground. The
Pittsburg last week cut a big copper glance vein 11 feet
wide, and the East Butte Co. is mining some of the rich-
est ore in Butte from its mines. One shipment from the
Oneida averaged 60% copper and 10 ounces of silver.
The Pittsburg has acquired the Carlisle, but the Pacific
is owned by the Butte Mines Exploration Co., which
has not been working the mine for several years.
Work has been started on the Mary MacLane, one of
the East Butte Co. 's mines. It has a 4-foot vein of cop-
per ore. Sioking on the Yankee Boy is down 320 feet.
New machinery capable of working to a depth of 800
feet has been placed on the Dutton. Owing to a scarcity
of cars on the Great Northern Railroad, the shipment
of ore from the Boston & Montana mine at Butte to
Great Falls fell off in October about 10,000 tons. The
railroad company promises to furnish a sufficient num-
ber of cars by the middle of November. The new engine
has been put in at the Mountain Con. mine of the Bos-
ton & Montana, but will not be put in operation at once.
All mines of the Butte district, with the exception of a
few that are shut down by injunction, are running up to
their usual capacity and the district is yielding about
15,000 tons of ore a day. The Belmont mine, one of the
new properties of the United Copper Co., is shipping 200
tons of ore daily, and the output is gradually increasing.
The Pittsburg & Montana Co, has made the first ship-
ment of copper, consisting of 100 tons, to New York.
The metal so far turned out is better than 93% fine. The
company is rushing its mining operations and is increas-
ing its output of ore daily. The work of sinking a new
shaft has begun. The North Butte Co. 's new hoisting
engine, capable of working to a depth of 4000 feet, will
arrive about the first of December. The new steel gal-
lows frame being built will be 127 feet high. Work by
leasers has been resumed on the Ophir mine in the south-
western part of Butte.
Butte, Nov. 6.
MISSOURI.
Secretary J. W. Marsteller of the Bureau of Mines of
Missouri gives the value of the minerals produced in that
State during 1904 as follows:
Ore. Quantity. Value
Zinc, pounds 476,786.000 J5.255.174
Lead, pounds 270.052,000 6,451,418
Coal, tons 4,368,129 7,003,078
Copper ores 6.865
Nickel 25.382
Cobalt 89,70d
Iron ores 100.311
Barytes 176,644
Kaolin and tripoli 40.380
Total $22. 238,060
For 1903 20,352.976
Increase in 1004 $1,885,985
To the 1904 output should be added the value of the
marble, granite, building stone, cement rock, lime rock
and fireclay, amounting to $4,218,426, making a total of
$26,451,097. The copper, nickel and cobalt ores were
mined in Madison county. Iron ores were mined in
thirteen counties, Crawford, St. Francois and Christian
furnishing most. Barytes came from nine counties,
Washington and St. Francois being the largest pro-
ducers. Tripoli came from Newton county; kaolin from
Miller and Morgan. The output of zinc and lead ores
is given in the following table, in short tons:
Zinc Ore. Lead Ore.
County. Tons. Tons.
Barry 212
Benton 183 50
Camden 31
Christian 275 95
Cole 120
Crawford 27
Dade .' 140 60
Franklin ., 1,362
Greene ( 1,350 480
Hickory 12 17
Howell 4,115
Jasper 202,513 27,891
Jefferson 1 ,475 461
Lawrence 13,579 1,101
Madison 9,153
Miller 30
Moniteau 213 187
Morgan 90 190
Newton 14,131 1.650
Oregon 30
Ozark 60
St. Francois 89,354
Washington 15 2,634
Webster 32
Wright 51
Totals 238,303 135,026
Zinc ores show a product of 238,393 tons, which em-
braces 21,601 tons of the silicates and carbonates. This
is an increase of 45,368,000 pounds over 1903. The value
of the 1904 product is $8,255,174, and compared- with
1903, shows an increase of $1,464,960, or 17.7%. The
average price received for all grades of zinc for the year
1904 was $36.33 per ton. The silicates and carbonates
averaged $17.50 per ton. The lead ore product amounts
to 135,026 tons, of which 1276 tons represent the dry-
bone mined. Of this total amount, the eastern district
produced 103,682 tons, or 77.6%. The latter ore does
not average as well per ton in price as in the Joplin or
western district, as it averaged but $45.61 per ton. The
30,068 tons of lead proper averaged in the western dis-
trict $56 per ton, while the 1276 tons of dry-bone aver-
aged $30.85 per ton. The Joplin district leads all other
sections of theState, as well as the nation. Its output
for the year of z.inc ore amounts to 167,790,000 pounds,
while the remainder of the State produced 11.996,000
pounds of zinc ore. Jasper county produced during the
year 91% of all the oro mined in the Joplin district,
having to her credit for zinc and lead production during
the year the sum of $8,869,607. St. Fraucois county, in
the eastern district, like Jasper county in the west, con-
tinues its great lead in the production of lead ore. It
furnished during the year 86.3% of all the lead ores
produced in the eastern district — this, too, in the face of
the closing down of three large plants on account of
strikes for a considerable time. The product of the
county for the year is valued at $4,038,094 in all.
NEVADA.
Klko County.
Manager G. L. Moats of the Ohio Lead M. & S. Co.,
operating the Latham and other properties at Spruce-
mont, south of Wells, will put in power drills to hasten
work on the Juniper tunnel.
Humboldt County.
The Federal Mines Co., operating the placer mines
in Spring valley, near Winnemucca, has bought a
dredger and will rebuild its present pipe line over Indian
Summit in order to begin work on a large scale.
Lander County.
There is a rush from Austin to Gold Park. A strike
was made on the Peterson claim.
Lincoln County.
It is reported that the Searchlight M. & M. Co. will at
once put in a 10-stamp mill, in addition to the 3-stamp
battery which has been used for prospecting purposes.
Sinking has again stopped on account of an increased
flow of water, which taxes the capacity of the new
pump. F. Carlsen will develop the Oregon group,
near Searchlight.
NEW MEXICO.
Otero County.
The Excelsior Co. will put in machinery on its prop-
erty at Jarilla. The Jarilla branch of^he El Paso &
Southwestern Railroad is to be extended through the
gap near the Lucky at Jarilla to the Bi-Chance prop-
erty, on the north side of the Lucky Flat. The shaft is
to be equipped with a modern hoist. The Southwest
Co., operating at Jarilla, intends to carry on diamond
drill operations to prove the ground on its properties.
Sierra County:
The Empire G. M. & M. Co. is preparing to transfer
ore from the Bonanza mine, near Hillsboro, to the mill
by rail. Track laying is in progress. Ten additional
stamps for the mill are on the ground and they will be
in operation before Dec. 1.
OREGON.
Baker Countv.
The shaft at the United Elkhorn mine, near Baker
City, is down to the 400-foot level. -Stoping is being
done mainly on No. 3 level. Manager E. O. Field has
seventy-five men at work.
Grant County.
The Buffalo Monitor mines, near Granite, are to be
opened up by N. Berkeley.
Josephine County.
Manager A. C. Hoofer of the Mount Pitt Quartz &
Placer M. Co., near Grants Pass, has purchased supplies
and placed a crew on his company's mine. Development
will be done all winter.
The Mines Development Co., of which S. W. Blasdeil
is superintendent and manager in charge, is building a
flume to work its 400 acres of hydraulic placer ground
on Grave creek, 5 miles west of Leland. The water is
being taken out of McNair and Reuben creeks, and will
furnish a flow of 2000 miner's inches during the winter
season. A head will be secured for the giant of 275 feet.
The Grouse Mountain property of Mount Baldy dis-
trict, 4 miles from Grants Pass, has been bought by L.
P. Larsen of Spokane from A. L. Smith, Wm. Gant, E.
A. Edger and I. J. Hunter, the former being retained to
superintend operations. The Southern Pacific G. M.
Co. has been formed to work the claims. A number
of miners have returned to Grants Pass from Lightning
gulch and Canyon creek district, western Josephine
county, their pack ponies laden with 400 pounds of rich
telluride ore di-covered on the Luce, Kauffman & Booth
claim of Canyon creek. Canyon creek district is reached
from Grants Pass by way of the stage road to Kerby.
The district of the strike is 12 miles by trail from Kerby.
Lane County.
The initial shipment of mercury from the new furnace
at the Black Butte has been made from Cottage Grove,
being more than 3000 pounds of quicksilver. The new
furnace has a capacity of 240 tons daily.
Wallowa County.
Manager E. R. Trippe has let a contract to sink a 200-
foot shaft on the Tenderfoot mine, near Joseph.
PENNSYLVANIA.
The Dew child-labor law, which will force 12,000 boys
out of employment at the anthracite mines, has gone
into effect in Pennsylvania. It provides that no boys
under 14 years shall be employed in the breakers or out-
side the mines and none under 16 in the mines. It is
estimated that about 12,000 of the 24,000 breaker boys
employed are between the ages of 10 and 14 and will be
affected by the new law. These boys will be forced into
the schools by the compulsory education law. In the
mines there are some 3500 door boys and helpers, many
of whom are under 16, but those who are displaced there
may obtain work in the breakers. The breaker boys
work nine hours a day and earn an average of 10 cents
an hour. The dust in the breaker, their confinement to
a bench where, bent over, they pick the slate from the
coal as it slides down the chutes, stunts the boys, makes
them liable to various diseases and generally impairs
their health. It is the intention of the officers of the
Mine Workers' Union to see that the law is enforced.
It provides a fine of $10 a day for each boy under age
employed by a coal company, and makes the companies
responsible.
SOUTH DAKOTA.
Lawrence County.
Work has commenced on the Echo claim of the Echo
Gold Mining Co. near Maitland. The company is sinking
a single-compartment shaft and has now reached a depth
of 30 feet. Superintendent A. J. Simmons of Dead-
wood will sink 100 feet and then development work and
prospecting will start. The Black Hills Mining Men's
Association has elected a new set of officers, which will
at once take charge of the affairs of the association.
The officers are: W. J. Thornby, president: J. V. N.
Dorr of Lead, first vice-president. Walter Mackay of
Lead, second vice-president; Otto P. Th. Grantz, third
vice-president; D. A. McPherson. Deadwood, treasurer,
and Jesse Simmons, Deadwood, secretary.
UTAH.
According to the United States Geological Survey's
report on lead production, Utah has increased its output
by enlarged operations in the Tintic district, where the
Centennial-Eureka, Gemini, Grand Central and Mam-
moth are the principal shippers. At Park City the
Daly-Urst and the Silver King are the leading pro-
ducers. The United States Smelting Co. has completed
a new lead-smelting plant at BiDgham Junction.
Beaver County.
The shaft of the Estrella mine of the Milwaukee Leas-
ing Co., 6 miles from Mil ford, is to be sunk to a depth of
400 feet. S. A. Tarbet is superintendent.
H. S. and E. R. Woolley, of the Mines Development
Co., will start work on the Cataba and Odd Fellows
claims, near Milford.
Juab Connty.
The Grant claims, near Eureka, are being worked by
J. A. O'Brien and H Gustaldi. The Tip-Top mill at
Hailey, Idaho, is to be moved to the Godiva mine at
Eureka.
Salt Lake Connty.
Work on the Snyder group at Bingham has been re-
sumed.
Summit County.
President N. Treweek and manager of the Wabash M.
Co. of Park City reports that the company now controls
220 acres. In the development of the property they have
found five different veins, of which three have shown
ore. For fourteen months prior to July 1, 1905, energies
were devoted to running a long line of crosscut work in
a general south-southeast direction; this new line of
work is over 3000 feet in length. Up to Sept. 1, 1905,
there had been 5597 feet of shafts sunk and drifts run at
a cost of $83,755.13. Since that time additional work
aggregating 6059 feet has been done: Drifts, 5709 feet;
main shaft sunk (total depth now 800 feet), 200 feet; dou-
ble-compartment winze, 90 feet; double-compartment
raise, 60 feet.
Cost of main shaft. 200 feet at $40 $8,000 00
Cost of winze shaft. 00 feet at $25 2,250 00
Cost of raise, 60 feet at $20 1,200 00
Cost of miscellaneous surface work 1,500 00
Total cost of extra expensive work $12,950 00
Cost of drifts, 5709 feet, at $16 48 94,091 51
Total cost of work done, 6059 feet $107,041 54
The report covers the period from Sept. 1, 1903, to
Aug. 31, 1905. In the election the old board of directors
was returned. It consists of N. Treweek, president and
manager; John R. Barnes of Kaysville, vice-president;
W. M. Ferry, secretary and treasurer.
FOREIGN.
CANADA.
BRITISH COLUMBIA.
Boundary District.
Ore shipments have been started from the Dominion
Copper Co. 's Brooklyn mine in Phoenix, the ore going
to the company's smelter at Boundary Falls. It is given
out that the smelter itself will be blown in about Dec. 1.
Superintendent W. C. Thomas is getting matters ready
at the reduction works. A supply of coke has been ob-
tained and Manager Drummond is gradually increasing
the forces at the mine. Preparations are being made
for the installation of an electrically operated air com-
pressor at the Rawhide mine at Phoenix.
Cassiar District.
The Atlin mining division has been the chief factor in
the placer gold production of the Province for some
years. This district was discovered during the summer
of 1898. On the south bench of Pine creek opposite the
town of Discovery, hydraulicking is being done by the
North Columbia Hydraulic Co., of which J. M. Ruffner
is manager. The B. C. Mining Exchange states that he
has succeeded in thoroughly disintegrating the cemented
gravel, and has found a cheap and satisfactory method
of piling tailings. He has concluded that blasts of 2000
or 3000 pounds of 75% powder are of most efficacy. Drifts
are run and T's set, so that charges of powder can be
placed at least every 25 feet over the whole area of ground
to be blasted. He calculates that the powder has a
breaking potential of 12J-foot radius. The biggest
charges, about 200 pounds each, are at the back of the
drifts. Time and labor are saved and the efficiency of
the blast greatly increased by using water for tamping.
To outward appearance, the blast is a failure. Only the
top of the bank is observed to fall down. When piping
begins, however, the effect of the dynamite becomes ap-
parent. The gravel, which was as hard as cement, is
found to he perfectly shattered, and the washing of it ie
335
Mining and Scientific Press.
November 11, 1905.
as easy as ground sluicing. The system of piping ob-
served throughout is having two giants work together
so that the gravel is driven into sluice boxes by two
streams directed against it from opposite directions.
Seven-inch nozzelsare used. The pits are double-com-
partment, with two lines of sluice boxes. When one
sluice is being cleaned, piping goes on in the other com-
partment. Three pits are worked. On one of them nat-
ural dumpage facilities are poor, so to dispose of tailings
an elevator has been built. This elevator is 36 feet long,
10 feet wide, 8 feet high, and supported by trestles. Its
lower end is two feet below bedrock, its upper end 12 feet
above bedrock. In it steel bars i inch by 3 inches are set
horizontally 3 inches apart. The floor is protected from
wear and tear by being solidly blocked. Between the
blocks and the bars there is a clearance of 1 foot. As the
elevator can be readily moved, it is so stationed that its
foot is near the giants. A constant stream of water and
gravel being directed against it, the boulders too large
to pass between the bars are rushed up the incline and
topple over, while the fine material passes between the
bars and thence to the sluice-boxes. When the tailing
pile gets higher than the elevator a piper trims it off
with his giant. Thus the boulders are driven back and
stacked 20 feet high. The management tried placing
the bars longitudinally, thinking that boulders would
be forced up the elevator more easily. The bars were
too light. A short run bent them badly, so their for-
mer position was reverted to. Next year the longitu-
dinal may again be tried, but railway track will be used.
The dredger on Upper Spruce creek has been complet-
ed and is working full capacity. The Northern Mines,
Ltd., on Spruce creek, have successfully worked a steam
shovel plant. Birch creek had a short water season,
Bast Kootenay District.
The Marysville smelter has determined to put in Heber-
lein roasters to equal the capacity of its plant. This is
expected to work a saving of nearly $5 a ton on the ore
treated. The second stack of the smelter will not be
blown in until next summer.
Nelson District.
The Hendryx agitator and process of cyaniding ore
which has been put in at the Reliance mine, near Nelson,
has been declared by Superintendent D. Lay to be a suc-
cess. The ore at the Reliance is a low grade, slimy prop-
osition, which has to be crushed to from 60 to 100 mesh
to give the best results. The process differs from others
in that cyaniding the ore is done with a solution of 2 J5 of
1% to the ton in the battery. When the pulp reaches
the agitator the cyanide is increased to I or J of a pound
to the ton of solution. The ore pulp is agitated from
four to six hours, and the gold, and silver are precipi-
tated on the plates with an electric process. No attempt
is made to separate the slimes from the sands. The mine
is on Forty-Nine creek, and is connected with the mill by
a 1750-foot aerial tram.
Bossland IMBtrlct.
The Le Roi is putting a skipway in the winze on the
1350-foot level as a preliminary to beginning the work of
deepening the winze from the 1550 to the 1650-foot level,
which will be explored. The development from the
1350-foot level down to the 1550-foot level has been satis-
factory in disclosing the presence of ore bodies. A
crosscut from the 1350-foot level of the Le Roi in
another direction is intended to pierce the Josie ground of
the Le Roi No. 2. The Josie workings are down 900
feet; and this crosscut will enable the Le Roi No. 2 to
explore its ground at a point 450 feet below their present
workings. The shipments for the week ending Nov. 4
were: Le Roi, 2220 tons; Center Star, 1590; War Eagle,
1320; Le Roi No. 2, 180; Le Roi No. 2 milled, 1200;
Jumbo, 300; Crown Point, 80. Total for the week, 6890;
and for the year 282,553 tons.
MEXICO.
Baja California.
(Special Correspondence). — Near Alamo it is said that
the Russell M. Co. are putting up new machinery and
discarding their old plant. The Pedrara Co. are
working the Pedrara onyx mines in Lower California,
extracting the onyx and hauling it 50 miles to a landing
7 miles below Canvas Point, from which it is shipped by
steamer to San Diego, Cal. A party is investigating
the onyx mines owned by Wm. Denton about 30 miles
north of San Luis Gonzago. Tourmalines and a good
quality of beryl have been discovered near Ensenada.
San Diego, Nov. 8.
Jalisco.
The Amparo M. Co. has put in machinery at the Can-
ada mine, 2 miles northwest of the Santo Domingo prop-
erty, and has commenced to reopen and unwater it. The
Canada was worked by the former owners of the Santo
Domingo, who extracted very rich ore. The Amparo
M. Co. is now shipping from two to three cars of ore
per day from the Santo Domingo mine to the Torreon
smelter, and is milling thirty tons of low-grade ore
daily. C. Romero has commenced work on a tunnel
to cut below the old workings of his Sorrillo mine, 1 mile
south of Etzatlan. The Magistral Mining Syndicate of
Los Angeles, Cal., of which M. D. Graves is manager,
has commenced development of the Magistral, Eden and
Refugio mines, 1 mile south of the Santo Domingo,
michoacan.
(Special Correspondence). — In the Ario district,
New York and Salt Lake parties, headed by S. L.
Butler, have started work on their Los Pozos properties,
in the basin of the Arroya delos Naranjitos. The group
consists of four claims of which the Pozos mine has been
worked extensively on the surface by the antiguas. — The
vein is on a slate and porphyry contact and is 11 feet
wide. The Amplicaciones consists of 18 pertenencias
northeast and southwest of the Pozos mine.
The Veta Grande consists of 8 pertenencias.
The Virginia concession of 12 pertenencias
is being worked by the open cut method; 12,000
tons of concentrating ore lie in sight on the slate bed on
the surface. A grinding mill with daily capacity of 15
tons will be put in. A concession of the water of the
Arroya de los Naranjitos has been granted by the State
of Michoacan. — The Carrizal M. Co., which has suspend-
ed operations, has made a 2-weeks run of their 5 stamps,
realizing a bar worth $2400. Juan Lopez is working a
Bmall force on the Cuachtemoc mine near Los Joyas.
The vein averages 15 inches and carries 2 ounces values.
The State of Guerrero has been claiming, recently,
Michoacan territory, owing to the rich mineral discover-
ies in the latter State. Upon legal investigation it is
found that the decreto number 3253 fixed permanently
the Rio Balsas as the boundary line between the two
States. This decree is dated May 15, 1849.
Carrizal, Nov. 6.
* *
J Personal. f
g *********************************** ti
W. P. Bray of Placerville, Cal., is in San Francisco.
W. A. Hendryx has left Nelson, B. C, for New York
City.
L. L. Warde of Mexico City, Mexico, is in San Fran-
cisco.
Chas. Read has left Eureka, Nevada, for the Philip-
pines.
T. E. Schwarz has returned from Ouray, Colo., to
Denver, Colo.
Chas. M. MoIntire is developing a mining property
at Ely, Nevada.
Samuel McIntyre has returned from Nevada to
Mammoth, Utah.
W. F. Englebright has returned from San Francisco
to Nevada City, Cal.
William Russell has returned to Denver, Colo.,
from Sheridan, Mont.
G. W. Heintz, traffic manager U. S. Smelting Co., of
Utah, is in New York.
J. M. Callow has returned from Denver, Colo., to
Salt Lake City, Utah.
Algernon Del Mar is running the Edel mill at En-
terprise, Butte Co., Cal.
Superintendent W. A. Ptolemy of Silverton,
Colo., is in Los Angeles, Cal.
Fred W. Bradley of San Francisco, Cal., is in Colo-
rado on professional business.
J. C. Scobey, consulting engineer Cinguieta C. Co.,
Sonora, Mex., is in Denver, Colo.
J. S. Wallace, secretary Oriental M. Co. of Korea at
San Francisco, Cal., is in Colorado.
J. B. Ross, manager Ross M. & M. Co., has returned
from Bisbee, Ariz., to Denver, Colo.
N. C. Bonnevie, who has been in Chicago the past
few weeks, has returned to Denver, Colo.
W. J. Robinson, of the British-American Dredging
Co., Atlin, B. C, is in San Francisco, Cal.
T. A. Riokard returns from Mexico to-day to his
residence, 2335 Warring St., Berkeley, Cal.
John H. Mackenzie, of San Francisco, Cal., has left
Rossland, B. O, for London via New York.
A. S. Rose, manager Gilmore M. Co., near Gilmore,
Idaho, will spend the winter in Pittsburg, Pa.
F. M. Leland is reported making a success of the
White Knob copper property, Mackay, Idaho.
Jas. Maher has succeeded Samuel Treloar as super-
intendent Lexington mine, at Butte, Montana.
C. A. Hopkins of Boston, president of the Quartet
mine at Searchlight, Nov., is in San Francisco.
Chas. Hornback is manager American Tungsten &
Mining Co., working properties near Eldora, Colo.
Chas. P. Oliver is now mine superintendent Colo-
rado Tungsten Corporation, Nederland, Colorado.
E. E. Nicholson has been appointed superintendent
Carizzo copper mines, west of Autlan, Jalisco, Mex.
P. C. McCarthy, manager Hidden Treasure mine,
Lake City, Colo., has returned there from Denver, Colo.
L. W. VlDLER, who has been examining mine prop-
erty in New Mexico, has returned to Georgetown, Colo.
J. M. Goodwin has returned to Silver City, Idaho,
from a mine examination in Humboldt county, Nevada.
J. B. Tomlinson, manager Swansea mine, Cananea,
Sonora, Mexico, has returned to the mine from Denver.
John Yeatman, engineer with the United Iron
Works, has returned to San Francisco, Cal., from Yuma,
Ariz.
Jno. Yates, A. R. S. M., has been appointed pro-
fessor of mining at the Transvaal, S. A., Technical In-
stitute.
Frank E. Shepard, president Denver Engineering
Works, Denver, Colo., has returned there from a trip to
Mexico.
O. A. Stranahan is now sales manager power depart-
ment Allis-Chalmers Co., with headquarters at Milwau-
kee, Wis.
Dr. F. R. Carpenter has returned to Denver, Colo.,
from Nova Scotia, where he has been examining mining
property.
John J. Daly, president Daly-Judge mine at Park
City, Utah, has returned from California to Salt Lake
City, Utah.
C. F. Schilling of Kelvin, Ariz., has been appointed
superintendent White M. Co., working near Wieken-
burg, Ariz.
Arthur Warren has resigned the position recently
held by him in the publicity department of the Allis-
Cbalmers Co.
C. A. Van Horn, manager Fortune Dyke M. & M.
Co., has returned to Sugar Loaf, Boulder Co., Colo.,
from Michigan.
S. A. Knapp, of Tonopah, Nov., who has been exam-
ining mining property at Pine Grove, Nev., is in San
Francisco, Cal.
E. A. Adhams of Milwaukee, Wis., president Mil-
waukee Leasing Co., has returned home from his mines
near Milford, Utah.
W. E. Depty of Phoenix, Ariz., will be making exam-
inations in Durango and Chihuahua, Mex., during the
month of November.
H. L. Johnson, owner Tightner mine at Alleghany,
Sierra county, Cal., has returned to the mine from a
visit to San Francisco.
E. J. Moore, the Colorado manager of this journal,
will represent it at the American Mining Congress at El
Paso, Tex., next week.
Chas. Hutchinson of the Union Iron Works of San
Francisco, Cal., has gone to El Paso, Tex., to attend
the American Mining Congress.
V. C. Heikes, of the U. S. Geological Survey, is pre-
paring a bulletin on the mineral statistics and develop-
ment of Mohave county, Arizona.
R. McF. Doble, consulting engineer of San Francisco,
Cal., has severed his connection with the Abner Doble
Co. in order to resume his individual practice.
John W. Cleaver, manager Santa Rosa Mexican
Mining Co's. smelter, San Javier, Sonora, Mexico, ar-
rived there Nov. 4, after an absence of five years.
Mark B. Kerr, having completed an investigation of
mines on the Cuyamaca Grant, in San Diego county,
Cal., has gone to New York City on mining business for
the Cuyamaca Co.
H. V. Croll, manager Salt Lake City office of
The Wellman-Seaver-Morgan Company, has been at the
general offices at Cleveland for a number of weeks, and
will return to Salt Lake City today.
Jas. Annand, for the past year superintendent of mill
for Ashanti Goldfields Corporation, Ltd., Abuassi via
Sekondi Gold Coast Colony, West Africa, has resigned
his position and is now at Hotchkiss, Colo.
W. C. Ralston and traveling representative W. A.
Desborough will be present at the coming session of the
American Mining Congress, at El Paso, Tex., in the in-
terests of the Fulton Iron Works, San Francisco, Cal.
President Roosevelt has appointed the following
delegates to the Mining Congress at El Paso, Texas:
S. F. Emmons. T. A. Rickard, J. W. Holman, W. R.
Ingalls, A. P. Lucas, J. A. Holmes, F. W. White, L. A.
Coate, F. C. Barrett and C. W. Hayes.
N. S. Keith is installing a plant for the Pahaquarry
Copper Co. , Dunnifield P. O., to treat 200 tons per day
of their cupriferous sandstones at their mines in Warren
county, N. J., as noted in the article on treatment of
low-grade copper ores in the issue of this journal of
Sept. 9.
Governor Pardee of California has appointed the
following delegates to the eighth annual American Min-
ing Congress, to be held at El Paso, Texas, November
14th to 18th: E. C. Voorhies of Sutter Creek, R. N.
Bulla, Thomas Ewing, H. Z. Osborne and G. H. Hooper
of Los Angeles, Frederick W. Corkhill of Berkeley,
J. H. West of Needles, Prof. S. B. Christy of Berkeley,
W. F. Detert of Jackson, David McClure of the Gwin
mine, J. H. Neff of San Francisco, W. P. Hammon of
Marysville, John Daggett of Siskiyou, Harold T. Power
of Bullion and Frank A. Leach of Oakland.
S *&*&******* •V.I.&^'A' <&"&*M*'fc&'i,*'&<fc^ *'>'&'*"& &*'&*'&*
Books Received.
H ?.***** ***.?.***** ********?'************
In Bulletin No. 268 of the United States Geological
Survey, R. M. Bagg describes " Miocene Foraminifera
from the Monterey Shale of California with a few Species
from the Tejon Formation."
Water Supply and Irrigation Paper No. 136, "Under-
ground Waters of Salt River Valley, Arizona, " by W.
T. Lee, is a valuable contribution to the literature of
the bearing of geology on water supply.
As extracts from " Mineral Resources of the United
States," the United States Geological Survey has issued
"The Production of Platinum and Allied Metals in 1904,"
by D. T.Day; "The Production of Zinc in 1904" and
"The Production of Lead in 1904," by Chas. Kirehhoff.
Proceedings of the American Institute of Electrical
Engineers, Vol. XXIV, No. 10, Oct., 1905, contains "Some
Experiences with Lightning Protective Apparatus" by
J. C. Smith, and "Notes on Lightning Arresters on Ital-
ian High Tension Transmission Lines" by Philip
Torchio.
Water Supply and Irrigation Paper, No. 123, of the
United States Geological Survey, describes the "Geology
and Underground Water Conditions of the Jornada del
Muerto, New Mexico," by C. R. Keyes. This is a valu-
able paper, showing the relation of geology to a possible
water supply for an arid region.
As Bulletin No. 270, the United States Geological Sur-
vey has issued "The Configuration of the Rock Floor of
Greater New York" by W. H. Hobbs. It presents re-
sults of studies of the depth and nature of bedrock be-
neath New York as shown by various wells and borings,
bridge and tunnel sections, Government dredgings, etc.,
NoVBMBEB 11, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
336
with the intention not only of studying the geological
problems, but also to aid engineers in future work.
As an extract from "Mineral Resources of the United
States for 1904," the United States Geological Survey
has issued "Natural Gas," by P. H. Oliphant,. which con-
tains much information regarding the production, dis-
tribution and uses of natural gas in the several States.
The production was valued at $38,496,760, of which Penn-
sylvania produced 47%, and West Virginia, Indiana and
Ohio 46.3%. The United States produced 99% of the
entire known world's production of natural gas.
As Professional Paper No. 41, the United States
Geological Survey has published "Geology of the Central
Copper River Region, Alaska," by W. C. Mendenhall.
This paper presents the scientific results obtained in 1902
by two combined geologic and topographic parties in
the upper Copper, the Nabesna, Chisana, south and west
slopes of the Wraugell mountains, and the southern face
of the Alaska range that is drained by the tributaries of
the Copper. The author details the geography, his-
torical geology, physiography, and economic geology of
the region.
In the "Geology of the Tonopah Mining District,
Nevada," Professional Paper No. 42 of the United States
Geological Survey, J. E. Spurr presents the results of
an exhaustive investigation into the occurrence of the
Tonopah ores. The author describes the general geology,
the mineral veins, subterranean water, physiography,
and the descriptive geology of mines and prospects.
He also discusses rock alternation connected with min-
eralization, origin of mineral veins, increase of tempera-
ture with depth, and comparison with similar ore depos-
its elsewhere. The paper contains much material perti-
nent to the theories of ore deposition. In his conclusions
as to the genesis of Tonopah ores the author says :
"The Tonopah district was, during most of the Tertiary
time, a region of active voleanism, and probably after
each eruption, solfataric action and fumarolic action,
succeeded by hot springs, thoroughly altered the rocks
in many parts of the district. At the surface, during
those periods, the phenomena of fumarolic and solfa-
taric action and of hot springs were similar to those to
day witnessed in volcanic regions, but the rocks now
exposed were at that time below the surface The veins
fill conduits which were formed by the fractures due to
the heavings of the surgiDg volcanic forces below, and
along which the gases, steam, and finally hot waters,
growing gradually cooler, were forced, relieving the ex-
plosive energies of the subsiding voleanism. The water
and other vapors, largely given off by the congealing
lava below, carried with them, separated and concen-
trated from the magma, metals of such kind and of such
quantities as are present in the veins, together with
silica and other materials. The nature of the metallic
minerals in the vein in this case is believed to depend
largely upon the particular magma where the emana-
tions pro eeded. In the chief Tonopah veins this was
the earlier andesite. Other factors, such as relative
depth, have evidently an important controlling influ-
ence." The paper will probably furnish much material
for geologic discussion. It contains some practical infor-
mation that may be valuable in the further development
of the region. It will be interesting to see how the
author's contentions are borne out with depth.
conda M. Co., Butte, Mont.; Cripple Creek Mine Sup-
ply Co., Cripple Creek, Colo.; Hibbard, Spencor & Bart-
lett Co, Chicago; Holly. Mason & Marks, Spokane,
Wash.; A. N. Holter Co., Helena, Mont.: Krakuer, Zork
& Moye, El Paso, Texas, and Chihuahua, Mexico; Mc-
Gowan Bros., Spokane, Wash ; Missoula Mercantile Co.,
Missoula, Mont.; A. E. W. Miles Co., Livingston, Mont.;
Morrell Hardware Co., Cripple Creek, Colo.; Pacific
Hardware & Steel Co., San Francisco, Cal.; E. G. Pryor
& Co., Victoria, B. C; Pacific Coast Borax Co., Borax,
Cal.; Scott S. & T. Co., Denver, Colo.; Salt Lake Hard-
ware Co., Salt Lake City, Utah.
I Commercial Paragraphs, §
:1 -,-... .;. .,,.,.■,. .,;.,..,- ..-.,-vvvv -.-■,- v-i- '.-'1- ^-.;w^^^^^^^,;^j^jj^^ a
The Salt Lake Hardware Co., Salt Lake City, Utah,
is supplying a new power plant to the Sevier Con. G. M.
M. & P. Co., Kimberly, Utah.
The Dow Steam Pump Works of San Francisco, Cal.,
have bought ten acres of land with tidal frontage at
Alameda, Cal., as a site for their new and enlarged
works.
Prom Manager W. B. Dennis of the Blackbutte
quicksilver mine, Blackbutte, Or., comes "one flask
Hg." as a souvenir of the first run of the new Dennis
furnace.
W. H. Motter & Son, Eighteenth and Lawrence
streets, Denver, Colo., are installing one of their 25-ton
roasters at Silverton, Colo. Same will he in operation
about Nov. 20th. They also have orders for two 50-ton
plants, one for New Mexico and the other one for Gun-
nison county, Colo.
On the wall of the manager's office hangs the latest
diploma accorded the Mining and Scientific Press,
it having been conferred by the jury of awards of the
Louisiana Purchase Exposition at St. Louis, Mo., in
1904, which accorded a gold medal to the Mining and
Scientific Press. The diploma is 16x18 inches and
finely printed. The gold medal weighs 3} ounces and is
a handsome affair. The Chicago Exposition in '93 and
the Paris Exposition in 1900 sent similar diplomas for
awawded excellence to the Mining and Scientific
Press.
The Wellman-Seaver-Morgan Company of Cleveland,
Ohio, have been awarded by the United States Govern-
ment the contract for crane service over two ship building
berths, at the United States Navy Yard at Mare Island,
Vallejo, Cal. This is one of the most important con-
tracts in this line that has been placed for a long time,
comprising an immense steel trestle and a powerful high-
speed cantilever gantry crane, mounted on same, and
traversing over the two berths. C. W. A. Koelkebeck,
mechanical engineer, for the past four years with the
Garrett-Cromwell Engineering Co., and for ten years
previous with Julian Kennedy, has joined the engineer-
ing staff of the Wellman-Seaver-Morgan Co., where his
attention will be given to blast furnace, steel plant and
rolling mill construction.
The Lindholm Manufacturing Co., 1643 Champa
street, Denver, Colo., are receiving orders for their
patent candlestick. A list of firms carrying same
in stock throughout the country is as follows: Ana-
Trade Treatises*
?F 4,4* £■•£,4' •b4"b rfc * 'I- -.'•-;. -1' -l"±'4"i"*'fc'i'rl"±"i' -i, * ****•*■■*•+ + * 35
*
*
*
* *
Bulletin No. 358 of National Electric Co., Milwaukee,
Wis., intimately shows the details of construction of
their belt-driven A. C. generators and gives data relat-
ing to various types.
Brown & Sharpe Mfg. Co. of Providence, R. I., send
their 1905 catalogue and price list of fine mechanical
machinists' tools, including rules, scales, protractors,
calipers and gauges.
Latest Market Reports.
San Francisco, November 10, 1905.
Silver. — Per oz., Troy : London, 29i<ed (standard
ounce, 925 fine); New York, bar silver, 63c, refined (1000
fine); San Francisco, 63c; Mexican dollars, 51c, San
Francisco; 48Je, New York.
The price of silver quoted to-day is higher than in
many months — 63 cents. Within the past month the
price of the metal has advanced from 61 1 to 63 cents, a
gratifying increase, though small.
Copper.— New York: Standard, $16.35}; Lake, S16.35J
©16.67} ; Electrolytic, $16.62}; Casting, $16.00@16.37}.
San Francisco: $16.75. Mill copper plates, $17.50; bars,
18@24c. London: £71 10s spot per ton.
The copper market remains at a standstill. The con-
ditions of supply and demand remain almost stationary,
and the price shows no change.
Lead.— New York, $5.40; St. Louis, $4.50; San Fran-
cisco, $5.00, carload lots; 5}c 1000 to 4000 fts.; pipe 7}c,
sheet 8, bar 6}c. London: £14 18s 9d ft long ton.
Spelter. — New York, $6.25; St. Louis, $6.00; Lon-
don, £28 5s $ ton; San Francisco, ton lots, 7c; 100-fi>
lots, 7|c.
Tin.— New York, pig, $32.80@33.25; San Francisco,
ton lots, 34c; 500 fts., 35c; 200 fts., 36c; less, 37}c; bar tin,
ft ft., 40c. London, £149.
Platinum.— San Francisco, crude, $18.50 ft oz.; New
York, ingot, $20.50 ft Troy oz. Platinum ware, 75@$1.00
ft gram.
Quicksilver. — New York, $40.00@$40.50, large lots;
London, £7 5s Od; San Francisco, local, $38.00@39.00 ft
flask of 75 fts.
Babbitt Metal. — San Francisco, No. 1, 10}c; No.
2, 8c; No. 3, 7}e; extra, 17}c; genuine, 32}c; Eclipse, 35c.
SOLDER.— Half-and-half, 100-Jb. lots, 22.00c; San Fran-
cisco, Plumbers', 100-ft. lots, 19.15c.
Zinc. — Metallic, chemically pure, ft fi)., 50c; dust, ft ft.,
10c; sulphate, ft ft, .04c.
Nickel.— New York, 55@60cflft.; ton lots, 40@47c.
Aluminum.— No. 1, 99%, small lots, 37c ft ft.; 100 Bis..
35c; 1000 Bis. 34c; ton lots and over, 33c, Pittsburg. No,
2, 90%, small lots, 34c; ton lots and over, 31c, Pittsburg.
STRUCTURAL MATERIALS.
Iron. — Pittsburg, Bessemer pig, $16.85; gray forge,
$16.35; San Francisco, bar, 3}c ft ft., 3Jc in small quan-
tities.
Steel.— Bessemer billets, Pittsburg, $26.00@$27.00;
open hearth billets, $27.00@$28.00; San Francisco, bar,
7c to 13c ft ft.
White Lead. — Per lb., in kegs: 500 fts. and over at
one purchase, per lb., 7|c; less than 500 lbs., per lb., 8c;
in 25-ft. tin pails, }c fi ft. above keg price; in 1 and 5-B>.
tin cans, 100 lbs. per case, jc per ft. above keg price.
Dry Lead. — In bbls., 1 ton and over, 7}c; do. in kegs, 8c.
Lime. — Santa Cruz, $1.35 country, $1.25 city ft bbl.
Cement.— Imported, $3.00@4.00 ft bbl.; California,
carload lots, $1.80 f. o. b. at works; small lots, $2.10 ft
bbl. in sacks, 4 sacks to bbl,, 5c for each sack returned.
Lumber. — (Retail): Pine, ordinary sizes, $24.00®
25.00; extra sizes higher; redwood, $28.00@30.00; lath, 4
feet, $4.50@5.00; pickets, $21.00;shingles, $2.50 for No. 1,
and $2.25 for No. 2; shakes, $13.50 for split and $15.00 for
sawed; rustic, $28.00(S,35.00.
Nails. — This week the basic prices are: Wire, $2.77;
Cut, $3.25. Meanwhile the nominal quotations per keg
(list prices) are: No. 20d to 60d, Wire, $3.35; Cut, $3.55;
lOd to 16d, Wire, $3.45; Cut, $3.35; 8d, Wire, $3.50; Cut,
$3.50; 6d and 7d, Wire, $3.60; Cut, $3.60; 4d and 5d,
Wire, $3.70; Cut, $3.70; 3d, Wire, $3.85; Cut, $3.85; 2d,
Wire, $4.10; Cut, $4.10. Special rates for carload lots.
GENERAL SUPPLIES.
Antimony. — New York, Cookson's, 13}e; Hallett's,
14}c; San Francisco, 1000-fb. lotB, 14c; 300@500-fts. 12c;
.100-fl>. lots, 13c.
Bismuth.— Subnitrate, ft ft., $2.10.
Bone Ash.— Extra No. 1, 5@6c ft ft; No. 1, 4@5c.
Borax. — Concentrated, 7@8e ft ft; powdered, 9@10c;
fused, 25@30c; crystal, 7c.
Candles. — Spear Brand, 16 oz. adamantine, 40s., lie
ft set; 14 oz. adamantine, 40s., 10c; 12 oz. adamantine,
40s, 9c; 10 oz. adamantine, 40s, 8c; 16 oz. stearic, 40s,
12ijc ft set; 14 oz. stearic, 40s, 11}; 12 oz. stearic, 40s,
101c; 10 oz. stearic, 40s, 9}c 100-case lots and over, }c
less. Not less than 50-case lots, %o less. Boxes of 20s,
price |e advance.
Caps.— 3x, $5.50@6 per 1000; 4x, $6.50@7; 5x, $8@8.50
Lion, $9@9.50, in lots not less than 1000.
Chemicals.— Cyanide of potassium, 98%-99%, job
bing, 23@24c ft ft.; carloads, 23@23}c; in tins, 30c; soda
ash, $2.00 ft 100 lis.; hyposulphite of soda, 3@3}c ft lb.
caustic soda, in drums, 3@3Jcftft.; Cal. s. soda, bbls.
$1.10@1.20fll001bs.; sks., 90c@$1.00: chlorate of pot
ash, 12@13c; nitrate of potash, 6}@7c; caustic potash
10c in 40-ft. tins; roll sulphur, 2}@2ijc; powdered sul
phur, 2}@2}c; flour sulphur, French, 2j@— c; alum,
$2.00@2.25; California refined, ls}@2c; sulphide of iron,
8c fft ft.; copper sulphate, 5J@5jc; chloride of lime, spoti
$2.50@2.75; sulphuric acid, in carboys, 66% B, lj@2c ft
lb.; nitric acid, carboys, 8c ft ft.
Chromium.— 90% and over, ft ft., 80c.
Coal. — San Francisco, coast, yard prices : Welling-
ton, $8.00; Seattle, $6.50; Coos Bay, $5.50; Southfield,
$8.00. Cargo lot, Eastern and foreign: Wallsend, $7.50;
Brymbo, $7.50; Pennsylvania, hd., $14.00; Scotch, $8.00;
Cumberland, $13.00; Cannel, $8.50; Welsh Anthracite,
$13.00; Rock Springs, $8.50, long ton; Colorado Anthra-
cite, $14.00. Coke, $11.50 per ton in bulk, $13.00 in
sacks; Sunnyside, $8.50, long ton.
Fire Brick.— Domestic, carloads ft 1000, f. o. b., fac-
tory square, $25.00; soap and split, $22.50; arch and
wedge, $27.50; skewback, $30.00; circle, $32.00.
Fire Clay.— Domestic, ft ton 2000 fts. in 125-ft. bags
double, and dry ground, f. o. b., factory, $8.50.
FUSE.— Triple tape, $4.00 per 1000 feet; double tape,
$3.55; single tape, $3.10; Hemp, $2.85; Cement No. 2,
$3.10; Cement No. 1, $2.75, in lots of 3000 and up.
Oils. — Linseed, boiled, bbl., 54c; cs., 59c; raw, bbl.,
52c; cs., 57c; Lucol oil, boiled, bbl., 48c: cs., 53c; raw-
bbl., 46c; cs., 51c. Kerosene — Pearl, per gal., 17}c; As-
tral, 17}c; Star, 17}c; Extra Star, 20}c; Eocene, 19}c;
Elaine, 26c; Water White, in bulk, lie; Mineral Seal,
iron bbls., 18c; wooden bbls., 20}c; cs., 24c; Mineral
Sperm, cs., 26}c; Deodorized Stove Gasoline, bulk, 14}c,
do., cs., 21c; 86° Gasoline, bulk, 25c; do., cs., 31c; 83°
Naphtha or Benzine, deodorized, in bulk, per gal., 12}c;
do., in cs., 19c; Lard Oil, E. W. S., bbl., 75c; cs., 80c;
Neats-foot Oil, pure, bbl., 63c; cs., 78c; Sperm, crude,
63@68c; Natural White, 68c; Bleached, do., 68@73c;
Whale Oil, cs., 52@67c.
Litharge.— Pure, in 25-ft. bags, 9}@10}c ft ft.
Magnesium.— Pure, N. Y., $1.60.
Manganese.— Black oxide, ft ft., 2|@4c.
Mercury.— Bichloride, ft ft., 77c.
Molybdenum.— Best, $2.75 ft ft.
Phosphorus.— American, ft ft., 70c.
POWDER.— F. o. b. San Francisco : No. 1, 70% nitro-
glycerine, per ft., in carload lots, 15}c; less than one ton,
17Jc. No. 1*, 60%, carload lots, 13Jc; less than one ton,
15}c. No. 1**, 50%, carload lots, lljc; less than one ton,
13|c. No. 2, 40%, carload lots, 10c; less than one ton,
12c. No. 2, 35%, carload lots, 9}c; less than one ton,
ll}c. No. 2**, 30%, carload lots, 9c; less than one ton,
lie. Black blasting powder in carload lots, minimum
car 728 kegs, $1.50 per keg; less car lots, $2.00 per keg.
Red Lead. — 500 Sis. and over at one purchase, ft ft,
7}c; less than 500 lbs., 7|c.
Silver.— Chloride, ft oz., 90c@$1.00; nitrate, 54c
Sodium.— Metal, ft ft., $1.
Tungsten.— Best, ft ft., $1.20.
Uranium.— Oxide, ft ft., $3.40.
New Patents.
Dewey, Strong & Co.'s Scientific Press Patent Agenct, 330
Market street, San Franolsco, has official reports of the following
United States patents issued to Pacific Coast inventors :
FOR THE WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 24. 1005.
802,545.— Cloth Splitting Machine— J. F. Ames, Portland Or.
802,729.— Meat Tenderer— J. D. Atkinson, Olympla, Wash.
802,905.— Tire Inflater.— G. a, Bobrick, Los Angeles, Cal.
802,912 —Hose Carriage— H. B. Cary, Los Angeles, Cal.
802,367.— CAN Filling Machine— A. Cerruti, San Francisco, Cal.
802,443.— Fluxing Machine— a. Cerruti. San Francisco, Cal.
802,027.— Fountain Brush— Chrisler& Kays, Eugene, Or.
802,372. — Desk— F. A. Creed, Petaluma, Cal
802,556 —Fireproof Partition— Depew& McCall, San Francisco,
Cal.
802,630.— Grubbing machine— a. I. Dunavan, Izee, Or.
802,375.— Driving bit— G T. Duncan, Seattle, Wash.
802,744.— Holster— W. J. Foister, Myrtle Point, Or.
802,852.— BOAT— E. Fournter, North Yakima, Wash.
802,747.— Current Motor— H. H. Granger, Davenport, Wash.
802,750. — Shaft Bearing— J. H. Gray, San Francisco, Cal.
802,693.— Brooder— J. H. Huff, Fresno, Cal.
802,695.— Bicycle— Ingham & Robinson, Roche Harbor, Wash.
802,816 —Strap Polisher— W. C. Lawrence, Portland, Or.
802,578.— Vending Machine. — W. F. MacArtor, Los Angeles, Cal.
802,460.— Flower Pot — A. Marshall, Los Angeles, Cal.
802,775— PUMP— E. P. McMurtry, San Francisco, Cal.
802,466.— Harness Saddle— T. I. Morrish, San Francisco, Cal.
802,654.— Directory— p. C Murphy, Seattle, Wash
802,876— Fire Heater— O'Connor & Covey, Riverside, Cal.
802,706. Baling Press— G. W. Pearson, Fresno, Cal.
802,41:1 —Electrical apparatus— J. F. Seeley, Los Angeles, Cal.
802,480.— Vibrator— J. F. seeley, Los Angeles, Cal.
802,893.— Check Book— Slane & Corbaley, Spokane, Wash.
802,828. — Rotary Engine— N. R, Smith, Seattle, Wash.
802,604 —Floor Surfacing Machine— Spence, Prugh & zimmer,
San Francisco, Cal.
802,605.— Floor Surfacing Machine — Spence, Prugh & Zimmer,
San Francisco, Cal,
802,606.— File Cabinet— M. R. Stapp, Aberdeen, Wash.
8*12,537.— Swivel— A. Uren, Seattle, Wash.
802,787.— Quartz Mill— R. A. Vaughn, Ballard, Wash
802,944 —Electric Valve — I. G. Waterman, Santa Barbara. Cal.
802,945.— Electric Valve— I. G. Waterman, Santa Barbara, Cal.
802,946, — Electric Valve-I. G. Waterman, Santa Barbara, Cal.
802,947.— Electric Valve— I. G. Waterman, Santa Barbara, Cal.
802,948.— Electric Valve— I. G. Waterman, Santa Barbara, Cal.
802,919.— Electric Valve— I. G. Waterman, Santa Barbara, Cal.
802,950,— Electric Valve— I. G. Waterman, Santa Barbara, Cal.
802,951 —Electric Valve— I. G. Waterman, Santa Barbara, Cal.
802,953.— Electric Valve— I. G. Waterman, Santa Barbara, Cal
802,953.— Electric Valve— I. G. Waterman, Santa Barbara, Cal.
802,954.— Electric Valve— I. G. Waterman, Santa Barbara, Cal.
802,955.— Electric VALVE— I. G. Waterman. Santa Barbara, Cal.
802,956.— Electric Valve— I. G. Waterman, Santa Barbara, Cal.
802,957,— Electric valve— I. G. Waterman, Santa Barbara, Cal.
802,958.— Electric Valve— I. G. Waterman, Santa Barbara, Cal.
802,959.— Electric Valve— I G, Waterman, Santa Barbara, Cal.
37,675.— Design— G. L. Price, Seattle, Wash
,
Mining and Scientific Press.
November 11, 1905.
Assayers' and Chemists' Supplies, Engineering Instruments and Drawing Materials.
Fine Weights
become
INACCURATE
when handled day after day with a pair of
forceps. You can avoid all your weight
troubles by using a
Thompson Balance
with
MULTIPLE RIDER CARRIER.
F. W. THOMPSON, Denver, Colo
A. LIETZ CO.
ENGINEERING, MINING and
NAUTICAL INSTRUMENTS
422 Sacramento St.,
San Francisco, Cal
ElUblilhd In IBS2
Send fw CiUlopit
1840-
Gold Medal Award at St. Louis.
-Standard of Excellence-
for over GO years I
l^O^
Troemners' Improved
No. 3 Assay Balance.
7Hnch Beam. Sensibility 1-100 Mg.
FULL-, CLEAR sweep across beam; NO
OBSTRUCTIONS.
PALL AWAY beam and pan arrests.
The MOST popular and EPFICIEN1
Assay Balance.
ALL AGATE bearings and edges.
List Price, $95.00.
j Price list on application.
HENRY TROEMNER,
Philadelphia, Pa., U. S. A.
c
WM. AINSWORTH & SONS,
]
HABERS OF
THE
AINSWORTH
STANDARD
BALANCES
AND
WEIGHTS
or
PRECISION.
TYPE F.
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TYPEF
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of improved de-
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maintaining
their alignment
|WM.
COMPLETE CATALOG A-9 SENT ON REQUEST.
AINSWORTH & SONS, DENVER, COLO., U. S. A
)
■In
[ Be Keller Assay Balance
Winner of the GOLD MEDAL
at St. Louis.
1. You take no chances in buying a KELLER.
Money back it not found as represented.
JW^ It combines Ingenuity, Compactness, Simplicity
Mm ana^ Efficiency.
b&i For Accuracy, Rapidity, Sensitiveness and Ease
| of Operation IT IS UNEQUALED.
* THE SALT LAKE HARDWARE CO.
■ T SALT LAKE CITY. UTAH.
LUFKIN
Steel Tapes
ARE INDISPENSABLE FOR ACCURATE WORK.
The Lufkin Rule Co., - - Saginaw, Mich.
For Sale Everywhere. Send for Catalogue.
WE BUY AND SELL MINES
on reasonable commission. We furnish money to
develop prospects. We handle floatation of mining
stocks and guarantee success. WILKES, WILKES
& WILKES, 401 Stlmson Bldg., Los Angeles, Cal.
.r-*t-»rn=r PAMPHLET ON
" rcCC^ IMPORTANT MINERALS
Address COLORADO ASSAYING & REFINING CO..
P 0. Drawer 1533. Denver. Colo-
Taking an observation to establish a
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', - »! wr%>
\'-''&m^:m
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IHft/1; (f '■■■jn ■■
^s^-s^m
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The Shattnck Pat. Solar Attachment.
Catalog C-9 sent on request, to
WM. AINSWORTH & SONS,
Sole Manufacturers, Denver, Colo., U. S. A.
ESTABLISHED ISSJ.
Herman Kohlbusch, Sr.
194 Broadway, New York.
Manufacturer of
Fine Balances and Weights,
For every purpose where accu-
racy is required.
Send for Illustrated Catalogue
""PHE trade journal which has the con-
■*■ fidetce of its readers is the one
that pays the advertiser the best.
LallieVU. S. Stand-
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with Patented SELF-
ACTING METAL Reels
for long lengths, are the
favorites with the Civil
and Mining Engineers
throughout theijRocky
Mountain region.
Catalog and prices upon
application.
Lallie Surveying Inst. &
Supply Co.
OENVER, COLO.. U. S. A.
BUFF
TRANSITS and LEVELS com-
mand the whole world in con-
sequence of their consistency
of design and accuracy.
Send for Catalogue No. 31.
BUFF & BUFF MFG. CO.
Jamaica Plain Station, BOSTON.
A.E.Fuller.Seattle.Agt.forN'west
THE B. C. ASSAY & CHEMICAL
SUPPLY CO., LTD.
VANCOUVER, B. C.
Direct Importers of Assayers* Supplies.
Headquarters for
Physical and Chemical Apparatus. C. P. Acids and Chemi-
cals, Potassium Cyanide, Quicksilver. Platinum, and all
heavy chemicals- Everythina required by an assayer-
THE ROESSLER & HASSLACHER CHEMICAL CO.
00 William St., New York.
Worksi
PERTH AMBOY, N. J.
CYANIDE
m - 98l"%
CYANIDE
OF SODIUM
125 | m%
And Other Chemical! for Mining Purposes.
CHEMICALLY PURE
Laboratory Reagents.
NO PRELIMINARY TESTING REQUIRED.
Manufactured by the
BAKER & ADAMSON CHEMICAL CO.
Price list on request. EASTON, PENNA.
LOUIS STRAUS & COMPANY,
Dealers in Ores and Minerals.
Purchase and Sell Ores of All Kinds.
Advances Made on Consignments.
Rare Minerals a Specialty.
We Also Act as Selling Agents for Mining Companies.
Correspondence Solicited.
60 and 62 NEW STREET,
NEW YORK CITY.
DENVER
Balance Co.
Manufacturers of
Balances of
Style S— Portable. " f CCISlOn.
3000 Larimer St., DENVER, COLO.
TL-IIQ RIIRNPR "'" 'lo m°re work on one
I niO DUniiLn quart of gasoline per hour
than any other burner, and has been doing it for
(23) years. Price $6.00. Cleaned free. Send for
catalogue and sample of "Brownite" Cupel.
WM. HOSKINS & CO.
81 CLARK ST CHICAGO.
Whole No. 2365.
VOLUME XCI.
Numbor2l.
San Francisco, Cal., Saturday, November 18, 1905.
THREE DOLLARS PER ANNUM
Single Copies, Ten Cents.
Needed Amendments in Mining Law.
One of the most interesting of the papers read
before the American Mining Congress at El Paso,
Texas, the past week was that of R. S. Morrison on
needed changes in the existing mining laws. The one
feature which, above all others mentioned, seems the
most timely and urgent is that suggesting the need
of uniform legislation, which shall be adapted to
every State and Territory in the Union. The Fed-
eral Statutes are good enough, perhaps, as far as
they go, particularly since almost every character of
contention which may arise under existing laws has
already been considered, and the laws have been
interpreted by the State and Federal judiciary up to
the highest — the United States Supreme Court —
until we now understand fairly well what may be
anticipated in the courts on nearly every question
that may arise, but the laws of the several States
lack uniformity, and, as pointed out by Mr. Morrison,
what may be legal compliance with the law in one
State or Territory may not be sufficient in another.
The Congress of the United States should repeal the
Act giving to the States, Territories and mining dis-
tricts the right to enact local mining legislation, and
define more clearly the acts of discovery, location
and possession, and enforce more strictly the require-
ments of the law, the main objects being to secure to
bona fide locators their rights, and to bring about
more promptly the development of the mineral
resources of the country by requiring certain work
to be done as a part of the act of location. This has
been attempted by several of the mining States, the
only fault being the lack of uniformity in these State
laws. Something should be done to lessen the evil of
wholesale location of the mineral lands of the public
domain by those who claim large tracts without per-
forming any other work than setting a discovery
stake, or possibly completely staking or monument-
ing a claim.
Another phase of the Federal mining law is that
relating to discovery. The law distinctly states that
the initial act of the locator is his discovery. This
law undoubtedly contemplated an ideal condition —
the outcrop of a mineral vein, or deposit, which might
be easily seen and recognized by the prospector.
There are many places where valuable mineral depos-
its and veins lie buried beneath the surface, covered
The Concentrators of the Cananea Copper Co., Cananea, Mex. (See Page 342.)
by gravel and soil, rock slides or later formations,
either volcanic or sedimentary, and where consider-
able exploratory work is necessary before a discov-
ery can be made. The bedded deposits of Leadville,
Colo., form an excellent example of such occurrence.
In the Black Hills of South Dakota the veins in the
Algonkian schists at many places pass underneath
hundreds of feet of the later Cambrian sedimentaries,
or are buried by porphyry sheets. In California
many quartz veins are hidden under valley alluvials
or beneath the later Tertiary lavas, and basalt flows
cover valuable ore deposits in Arizona. Many other
instances of similar conditions might be mentioned,
but it is clear that a bona fide discovery by the pros-
pector is not always easily possible. He often needs
time and money to prove his belief that valuable
mineral exists beneath the unpromising superficial
strata. He should be permitted to locate unclaimed
public land, and to show his good faith by the per-
formance of certain acts, such as making an excava-
tion of stated dimensions within a given time after
location, and thereafter the annual performance upon
the claim of not less than $100 worth of work or the
expenditure of an equal amount in improvements,
the same as required by the law at present. There
are many things to be considered when a change in
existing statutes is contemplated, but as the laws
now are there certainly is room for decided improve-
ment in several directions.
A View of Cananea, Mexico, From the Mesa. (See Page 342.)
THE statistical bulletin issued in October by
Julius Matton of London, Eng., shows the lead
production of the world to be increasing annually.
According to this statement, the total production in
1902 was 903,000 English tons; in 1903 it was 912, 600, _
which was further increased in 1904 to 981,100 tons,
The five largest pro
ducers in the world
in 1904 J were the
following : United
States, 298,820 Eng-
lish tons ; Spain,
183,014 tons; Ger-
many, 133,498 tons;
Australia, 117,105
tons; and Mexico,
100,000 tons. Of the
production of the
United States in
1904 of 318,679 tons*
108.854 tons was
produced in Idaho,
chiefly in- the Ceeur
d ' A I e n e district.
Colorado and Utah
came next, with 51,-
884 tons and 56,470
tons respectively.
The lead fields of
the Mississippi val-
ley and including
Virginia (small out-
put) produced 92,-
275 tons. The Idaho,
Colorado and Utah
mines also produced
considerable silver
and gold.
338
Mining and Scientific Press.
November 18, 1905.
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
ESTABLISHED i860.
Published Every Saturday at 330 Market Street, San Francisco, Cal.
Telephone, Davis 771.
ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION.
United States, Mexico and Canada 83 00
All Other Countries In the Postal Union 5 00
Entered at the San Francisco Postofflce as second-class mail matter.
Branch Offices:
New York City, 921-24 Park Row Blag. Boston, 27 School St.
Chicago, 1164 Monadnock Block. Denver, 606 Mack Block.
J. F. HALLORAN Publisher
SAN FRANCISCO, NOVEMBER 18, 1905.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
ILLUSTRATIONS: Page.
The Concentrators of the Cananea C Co , Cananea, Mex 337
A View of Cananea, Mexico, From the Mesa 337
Map of Concentrator Department Cananea Con. C. Co 342
Concentrator " A " of Cananea Con. C. Co 343
Central City, Colo., From the Dump of the Ontario-Colorado
Mine '. 344
Surface Plant of the Ontario-Colorado M. Co , Central City 344
45-Stamp Mill of the G-regory-Buell M. Co., Gilpin County, Colo. 344
Guide Frame for Stamp Mills 345
Adjustable Sockets for Battery Guide 345
Battery Stem Guide 345
EDITORIAL :
Needed Amendments in Mining Law 337
Lead Production of the World 337
Mine Extension and Equipment 338
State Mining Bureau and Mining Schools 338
Ore Weights and Values. 338
The Value of Cost Sheets 338
Dredgers in New Zealand 338
Collapse of Vertical Shaft 338
MINING) SUMMARX 349-350-351-352
LATEST MARKET REPORTS 353
MISCELLANEOUS:
Concentrates 339
The American Mining Congress 340-341
Magnetic Separation 341
Plant of the Cananea Con. C. Co., Cananea, Sonora, Mexico 342
Notable Events in Connection With Gold ana Silver 343
Milling in Gilpin County. Colo 344
The Yukon-Tanana Region, Alaska 345
Battery Stem Guide 345
Dredging for Gold in the Nome Goldfields 345
The Prospector 346
Notes on the Assay of Gold Bullion 346
Transvaal Government Commission on Safety in Shafts 347
Mining and Metallurgical Patents 348
Personal 352
Obituary 352
Books Received 352
Commercial Paragraphs 353
Trade Treatises 353
New Patents 353
Notices of Recent Patents 353
Mine Extension and Equipment.
Whenever a mine undertakes the broadening of its
scope of operations, or the management announces
to the public that the property is about to be
equipped with a smelter, or a mill, such announcement
is usually the occasion of rejoicing in the camp where
the proposed improvement is to be located, and this,
with absolute disregard of the needs of the property
in question for such smelter or mill. The local
papers published in the numerous mining districts
throughout the West frequently contain announce-
ments of this character. There have been a number
of such within the past two weeks. In most
instances these proposed installations are legitimate
and needed to accomodate the mines building them,
but in a number of instances it is positively known to
those who are well informed as to the condition of
some of the mines where it is proposed to make these
extensive improvements, that there is not enough
ore available in them at present to keep a small
smelter or mill employed a week. Why, then, a large
mill or smelter, when neither are required, and will
not be needed for a long time, if ever? Such installa-
tions work a vast injury to the district where they
are made, the only advantage being in the temporary
distribution of the money paid out for labor during
the period of construction, but which is short lived.
Soon the actual condition must become manifest, and
not only will the mill or smelter be closed for lack of
ore, but the probability is that work on the mine will
also be suspended. As to the effect on the legitimate
investments of capital in other properties of the
vicinity, it cannot be said to be conducive, but rather
the reverse. It is no new thing to find a promising
district held back by the premature building of
reduction works on undeveloped property. Legiti-
mate mining should be encouraged in every possible
way, but there is another kind of mining conducted
largely for the purpose of using other people's money
to maintain a few men in good positions with liberal
salary attachments.
State Mining Bureaus and Mining
Schools.
In his address before the American Mining Con-
gress at El Paso, Texas, the past week, Victor C.
Alderson, of the Colorado State School of Mines, at
Golden, laid great stress upon the co-operation of
State mining institutions for the common good. All
who are interested in the mining industry and familiar
with State mining bureaus and the State mining
schools will agree that such harmony and co-opera-
tion are desirable, but a mining bureau such as con-
templated by Mr. Alderson would be merely a re-
pository for valuable specimens, maps and literature,
representative of and referring to the mineral re-
sources of the State, under the direction of a com-
petent business man, aided by several practical
miners. This idea is not at all in accordance with
the requirements of a Mining Bureau, such as that
created by the government for the Philippine Islands,
to which Mr. Alderson refers in his address. To
properly carry out the intention of Congress along
the lines of this Statute would require men of the
highest technical ability as well as men trained in
practical mining. The first mining bureau in the
United States was that organized by legislative act,
in 1880, in California. Previous to this the State had
for years maintained a geological survey, as had also
general Eastern States, but the purpose of the Cali-
fornia State Mining Bureau contemplated much
more — in fact, the same scope of operations as those
outlined in the bill creating the Mining Bureau for
the Philippine Islands. The California State Mining
Bureau has done a vast amount of excellent work in
investigating the mineral resources of that State,
and its reports, bulletins and general information is
in demand throughout the world. Several States, as
well as foreign countries, have patterned after the
California State Mining Bureau as exemplifying the
highest and most useful type of public institution
of this kind. That institution does not make free
analysis and assays for the public of the State, for
the reason that there are a large number of assayers,
chemists and analysts who follow their profession for
a livelihood, and with whom the gratuitous work of
the mining bureau would come in direct and disas-
trous competition.
If the State Mining Bureau is to be required to
furnish technical information on mining practice, en-
gineering and metallurgy as suggested by Mr. Aider-
son, then the State institution at once comes in com-
petition with the graduated technical engineers who
have their offices in the cities of the State and who
depend largely upon the patronage of the people of
the State in supplying just this class of information.
If the State institutions, whether as mining bureaus
or as schools, are to usurp the privileges of the tech-
nical engineers, there is little incentive for the young
man to take up the engineering profession.
Ore Weights and Values.
Frequently it is announced in the periodical offi-
cial reports of various mining companies that a given
number of tons of ore have been milled, or smelted,
or subjected to other metallurgical operation, with
the result of a stated amount of gold, silver, copper,
or other merchantable metallic product. This stated
tonnage and resultant product establish an average
valuation per ton on the ore treated. Occasionally,
when a change in management occurs, the new man-
ager is unable to come up to the standard set by his
predecessor, on the same class and value of ore.
Usually an investigation will result in the discovery
of a discrepancy in the methods of arriving at the
tonnage treated. In one instance a mine manager
gave strict instructions that all buckets on the aerial
tramway be loaded to their utmost capacity. He
figured the tonnage treated on a basis of the number
of buckets delivered at their normal capacity. This,
as a matter of course, gave him a greater output
than the theoretical tonnage would call for. His
successor gave orders that the buckets be loaded
somewhat under their normal capacity, as the tram
was showing signs of wear. The result was that the
output per calculated ton was considerably below
that previously recorded by the former manager.
This resulted in his removal for incompetency, owing
to his inability to keep up the record of output. Too
many mines have lax methods for arriving at the
tonnage treated, the most common method being the
estimate of weight by the number of cars sent to the
reduction works. At a few mines, where the man-
agement is morelexacting, the cars of ore are actually
weighed at some convenient point between mine and
mill, and a correct record thus secured. The prac-
tice is one deserving of more universal attention than
it receives.
The Value of Cost Sheets.
Cost keeping in mines and metallurgical works is
comparatively easy of accomplishment, if a proper
system be devised to apply to the several depart-
ments. It is, perhaps, somewhat more difficult to
compile the necessary data for operation in mines
than in mills or smelters, owing to the well-known
prejudice of the miners against any system of checks
on their work, but by the aid of competent foremen
and shift bosses, who faithfully report on the cards
provided for the purpose the time and materials con-
sumed in a given operation, the costs may be arrived
at with a surprising degree of accuracy. It is essen-
tial that stores and materials of every description be
placed under a storekeeper, and that nothing be
given out or sent into the mine without a requisition
and signed by the proper person, which card states
definitely where the thing called for is to be used.
This places a reliable check on everything, from a
nipple or a small valve to heavy timbers and explo-
sives. The storekeeping system, where perfected,
will be found to make it possible to account for all
stores, supplies and materials consumed. It may be
divided into as many departments as are deemed nec-
essary, but to make it effective and of practical
value the system must not be enveloped in too much
of the official authority known as "red tape." The
requisitions must be recognized by the storekeeper if
signed by any of the under officers, or those in
authority, from the shift boss up, and even in case of
necessity by one of the miners. The card will be a
sufficient check against misappropriation if placed
on a separate file, to be later endorsed by the fore-
man or superintendent. The hours of work per-
formed at any particular place (a raise, stope, cross-
cut, winze or drift) in the mine must be determined
by some one in charge. When the system has been
properly organized and applied, it will at a moment's
notice be possible to ascertain the cost of performing
any particular operation, together with the kind,
quantity and value of all material consumed.
THE last annual report of the Minister of Mines
for New Zealand, for the year 1904, shows
that there were in operation in that island 186
dredgers, and that the business of dredging for gold
had been reduced to a commercial basis, the specu-
lative features having largely disappeared. , He says,
however, that there is small likelihood of the number
of dredging boats being materially increased, though
those already at work will continue to find profitable
employment for many years to come. The experi-
ment of tree planting on flat areas over which the
dredgers have worked has proved successful. The
Minister, in summarizing the accidents of the year,
says that 4757 men were employed in quartz mining.
There were 6 fatal accidents in this branch of the
industry, a rate of 1.26 per 1000. In hydraulic and
alluvial mining, including dredging, 6141 men were
employed, and the fatal accidents numbered 9, of
which 4 occurred on dredgers. This was at the rate
of 1.46 per 1000 employed. In coal mining — a branch
of the industry ordinarily considered as extra haz-
ardous— there were 3228 men employed, with only 4
fatalities, a rate of 1.35 per thousand — a lower rate
than in any of the other branches of mining in New
Zealand, probably due to the extraordinary precau-
tions taken to avert disaster.
THE collapse of a vertical shaft of the Driefontein
mine at Johannesburg, S. A., on the 13th inst ,
by which one white man and sixty-seven native labor-
ers were killed, will probably require considerable
explanation. It is one of the deep shafts on the
Band, timbered with what in the United States
would be called material of small dimensions. The
cause of collapse is pot jnentioned in the press dis-
patches,
November 18, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
339
I
CONCENTRATES.
To find the pressure of water under a given head in
pounds per square inch, multiply tho head by 0.433.
wwvw
The American Institute of Mining Engineers meet in
their ninetieth session on February 21, 1906, at Lehigh
University, South Bethlehem, Pa.
wvVw
Formerly a flask of quicksilver was 76J pounds, net.
In 1904 this was changed, and now the quicksilver mines
of the world place only 75 pounds, net, in a flask.
VwVV
Andesites throughout the world were erupted dur-
ing Tertiary times. Tho lavas of recent times are al-
most wholly basic and aro chiefly basaltic in character.
Gold mines are now being worked in Africa in the
following countries: Transvaal, Natal, Rhodesia, Congo
Free State, Egypt, and at several places on the West
Coast.
Mineral veins and deposits that are known, but not
located, are reserved from townsite patents. Such may
be located and patented the same as veins in the unap-
propriated public lands.
Ventilating fans are sometimes employed to with-
draw the very fine pulp and dust from dry crushing
machines, the coarser ore falling into a receptacle from
which it is carried away by spiral conveyors.
Serpentine is derived from a variety of minerals,
but chiefly from actinolitc, biotite, bronzite, chondry-
dite, diopside, enstatite, hornblende, humite, hypers-
thene, muscovite, olivine, pyrope, sahlite, and spinel.
V W v V
The Anaconda mine at Butte, Mont., is producing the
lowest average grade of any copper mine in Butte dis-
trict—about 21% copper — but the output of that mine is
larger than that of any other about Butte, being nearly
8,000,000 pounds in October last.
What is known to the trade as standard cast iron
water pipe 20 inches diameter weighs 185 pounds per
running foot. Doubling the inside diameter of a pipe in-
creases its carrying capacity four times, with a some-
what smaller coefficient for friction.
Where copper glance is present in ore to be treated
by acid leaching, and subsequently by the cyanide pro-
cess, this mineral would probably cause a large consump-
tion of KCN, for the reason that the glance is not readily
soluble in weak solutions of sulphuric acid.
In order to take the extralateral right on a lode claim
it is not necessary that the outcrop, or apex, shall ex-
tend the full length of the claim, crossing both end lines,
or either of them. If enough of the apex can be deter-
mined to ascertain the probable strike, this will be suf-
ficient.
Minium is the native red oxide of lead. It is of bril-
liant red color with an orange-yellow streak. It is of
uncommon occurrence. It was found occasionally with
other lead ores in the oxidized zone in the Leadville,
Colo., mines. It is also found in several European
localities.
Those doing assessment work at the close of 1905 for
this year may continue to work during January, com-
pleting the assessment for 1906. This would carry the
work along for nearly two years, or to the close of 1907.
Many who have to go a long distance to their claims
adopt this method.
A man may be able to properly perform the operation
of thoroughly sampling a mine in all its mechanical de-
tails, and still have little knowledge of geology, though
the latter is desirable and gives a broader knowledge,
and consequently better judgment, in deciding as to the
possibilities of the vein or deposit,
vwvv
The force which causes a syphon to operate is the dif-
ference in head between the surface of the water in the
reservoir and the discharge end of the pipe. The
greater this head the more rapid will be the discharge
or flow. An inverted syphon operates 6imply through
the tendency of water to seek its own level.
Where patent has been applied for, and the money
paid into the United States land office, the mere pen-
dancy of patent proceedings does not excuse the per-
formance of annual labor prior to the issuance of a cer-
tificate of purchase. Until the receipt has been re-
ceived, therefore, the annual assessment work -must be
performed.
The Federal mining law does not require any assess-
ment work on claims during the year in which they are
located. Thus a claim located on any day during 1905
requires no work for this year, but next year, 1906, $100
worth of work or improvements must be made. Any
work done during 1905 under these circumstances cannot
be credited to 1906, simply because the law required no
work during 1905. No matter how large an amount of
work or improvement is made on an unpatented claim
during any one year no portion of it in excess of $100
can be credited to the following year's work.
V V v V
When powder, supposed to be what it is represented
to be, fails to perform the work that may reasonably be
expected of it by an experienced miner, it may be due to
the fact that the powder is either inferior in composi-
tion or that from some cause it has deteriorated. In
either case it would be wise to employ powder of a dif-
ferent brand.
vvvv
The Great Boulder Proprietary mine of Western
Australia is capitalized at £175,000 and has paid £1,500,-
550. The Lake View Consuls has also paid dividends in
excess of its capitalization, being capitalized at £350,000
and having paid in dividends £1,317,500. The Oroya-
Brownbill of Western Australia has also paid dividends
in excess of its capitalization.
wvVV
Water may be caught up on the several levels of a
shaft or mine and collected in tanks cut in the rock at a
safe distance from the shaft, from which it may be re-
moved by pumps or drawn off into skips and hoisted to
the surface. When dumped at the surface, care should
be taken that the water pouring from the skip does not
flow or seep back into the shaft, thus increasing the ex-
pense of mine drainage.
The precussion-figure is a star-shaped six-rayed figure
produced in all of the micas when a plate is struck with a
blunt-pointed instrument. Chlorite mica (clinochlore) is a
dark-green, translucent mica, flexible and tough, but very
slightly elastic. It also produces the precussion-figure
or pressure-figure when indented with a blunt point.
Occurs in talcose rocks, serpentine, etc., and is also some-
times associated with biotite and phlogopite.
Only rarely since 1857 has tin been so high as during
the present year. In 1871 the highest price was £157 and
the lowest £123. In 1872 the highest price was £160 and
the lowest £130. In 1887 the highest price was £167 and
the lowest £100 (a very wide range), and in 1888 the
highest price was £170 and the lowest £75, a difference
within that year of £95 per ton. The highest price thus
far in 1905 is £153 and the lowest £130. The total visible
supply at present is about 15,400 tons.
The drilling of bore holes 8 to 10 inches diameter is a
good way to prospect gravels, and the method is consid-
ered fairly reliable if the holes are sufficiently close 1o
give a reasonable average, and the necessary and proper
allowances are made for loss. The same means may be
employed with success in ascertaining the depth of chan-
nels which are overlaid by volcanic or other material.
In Calaveras county, Cal., holes have been sunk with
well-drilling machinery to the depth of 600 feet.
twit)1*)1*! ,
The Federal Statutes relative to mines contains the
following: That where two or more veins cross each
other priority of title shall govern, and such prior loca-
tion shall be entitled to all the ore or mineral contained
within the space of intersection; provided, however, that
the subsequent location shall have the right of way
through the said space of intersection for the purpose of
convenient working of the said mine; and provided, also,
that where two or more veins unite the oldest or prior
location shall take the vein below the point of union, in-
cluding all the space of intersection.
IN his study of the Comstock lode, Geo. F. Becker
made the following classification of the rocks of the dis-
trict: Granular diorite, porphyritic diorite, micaceous
diorite porphyry, quartz-porphyry, earlier and later
diabase, earlier hornblende-andesite, later hornblende
andesite, and basalt. The diabase and augite-andesite
shade into each other. The diorite is thought to be the
result of alteration of diabase, the hornblende having
been derived from the original augite. All of the more
important rocks of the district pass by transition to
other varieties, as in the case of the diabase and augite-
andesite.
vvwv
The number of tons of ore that may be trammed in
an eight-hour shift on a surface tramway depends on
the distance the ore must be trammed, the size of cars
used, the condition of the track, and, to no small extent,
upon the man. At one mine known to " Concentrates "
one car man trammed each shift eighty-five to ninety
cars, containing 2200 pounds, a distance of 600 feet, of
which 200 feet were in a tunnel. The ore was drawn
from a chute provided with a gate operated by rack and
pinion. This work was done under contract at 4 cents
per car. The men on the opposite shift trammed from
sixty-five to seventy-five cars, working nights.
In case of quartz occurring "frozen" in schistose
formation, the question of its origin and relative age is
speculative, without definite knowledge of the existing
geological conditions. If the quartz occurs in the schist
as a series of lenses, the probability is that its occur-
rence Is due to plication of the schist, which has been
caused by stress, and that the quartz has been infiltrated
later. If the quartz occurs in a zone of uniform width,
lying parallel with the lamination of the schist — in fact,
a quartzite— it would be reasonable to suppose that it
was originally laid down as a bed of sand, and was there-
fore of an age contemporaneous with the schist. If the
quartz occurs as a zone of indefinite and frequently
changing width, passing over by gradual transition to
the schist, it is presumable that the silica has been in-
filtrated since the schist was uplifted and its original
rocks metamorphosed to the present crystalline condi-
tion. As the schist in question at Marysville, B. C, is
stated to carry gold, silver and copper, it would be good
mining and good business to follow the ore so long as it
proved profitable, or, if unprofitable at the start, to
prospect it by shaft or tunnel in search of better ore.
It is often good practice to build a solid concrete wall
around the collar of a shaft started in soft wet rock or
soil where the bedrock is several feet below the surface.
To do this properly, a pit should be sunk at least a foot
larger on all sides than the proposed wall, which must
rest on bedrock, and the interior dimensions should be
sufficiently large to admit of placing the regular timber
sets within the wall. The concrete should be permitted
to set thoroughly before filling in the space between the
outside of the wall and the bank of earth. If sand or
tailings are available, this is good material to run into
this open space, as it packs tightly and may be readily
removed later, if necessary. If the ground is very soft
and wet it may be necessary to drive a line of sheet pil-
ing entirely around the proposed shaft, before beginning
the work of excavation. The first sets of timbers placed
in the shaft may be hung by permanent iron bolts of
good size to stringers resting on the concrete walls,
which it would be well to provide with buttresses for
additional Btrength and solidity at those points where
the girders may rest. These sets will line up with those
placed lower in the shaft, and which are wedged in the
usual manner against the rock walls of the shaft. This
arrangement gives solidity to the collar of the shaft and
obviates a flow of surface water into the shaft through
the soft material at the surface.
The structural character of ore is usually influenced
by the wall rocks in which it occurs, though this struc-
tural condition can in no case be considered an index of
values, except possibly in individual mines, where close
observation may make it possible to tell by its appearance
payable ore from that which is too poor to pay. Quartz
occurring between walls, both of slate, is likely to be
banded — what is known by miners as ribbon rock. That
having a massive rock on one wall and slate on the
other is likely to be banded on the slate side, passing
over to a massive structure on the side next to the mas-
sive rock. Quartz occurring wholly within a massive
rock, like granite or diabase, usually is more or less crys-
tallized and not infrequently exhibits a "comb struc-
ture." When the vein enters schistose rocks it may be
stratified, something like the ribbon rock, or it may be
brecciated, consisting of angular fragments of the rock
walls much silicified and otherwise altered and carrying
iron and other sulphides. Veins occurring in granite
usually present characteristics peculiar to themselves
and often somewhat different from those found in other
veins. Mineralized zones often have very indefinite
walls, the so-called wall being sometimes found to be
merely an interior plane of movement within the min-
eralized zone. The chemical composition of veins often
bears no apparent relation to the wall rocks. Thus a
system of veins at one place occurring in rocks contain-
ing abundant lime-soda feldspars have no calcite, but do
develop a large amount of heavy spar (sulphate of
barium).
www*
The Cassel-Hinman process is a process covered by
numerous patents for the use of bromine in connection
with cyanide of potassium in the extraction of gold and
silver from its ores. The method comprises crushing
the ore, roasting when necessary, leaching in vats with
a nascent bromine solvent, recovering the bromine and
recovering the gold. Eissler states that "a clean siliceous
ore, or a well-roasted sulphide, requires for a good ex-
traction of gold per ton of ore about seven pounds of
bromine. The bromine is prepared for shipment by
adding bromine to a nearly saturated solution of a
hydrate or carbonate of an alkali, or alkali earth metal.
The solution is evaporated nearly to dryness and the re-
sulting powder forms the salt employed. Per ton of ore
treated, a quantity of this salt, containing 7 pounds of
bromine and 31 pounds of NaOH, is dissolved in about
100 gallons of water. This constitutes the leaching solu-
tion. After having charged the pulverized ore, if it is
not sufficiently acid, a dilute solution of acid is leached
into it, which is then followed by the leaching solution
proper. If the acid is added at the beginning of the
leaching, the solution after the leaching, whioh ought
to be of such duration as to give from four to six hourB'
contact with the ore, will leave all the bromates decom-
posed, and if the acid be not added at the beginning of
the leaching the bromates may not be entirely broken
up, in which case sufficient acid must now be added to
effect this. The bromine is now all free in the solution,
with the exception of that which has combined as bro-
mide with the bases of the ore, including gold." Chlorine
is added to set free this bromine, and the solution, now
being warmed to 150° F., has passed through it a current
of air, which carries the bromine as vapor into a con-
densing tower, where it comes in contact with a sub-
divided stream of a solution of an alkali, and here the
initial reaction of the production of bromide and hypo-
bromite takes place, which constitutes the leaching solu-
tion for the next cycle of operations, the dry powder
being only used at the beginning. This solution has the
power of dissolving the gold without the addition of an
acid.
340
Mining and Scientific Press.
November 18, 1905.
The American Mining Congress.
On Tuesday, the 14th instant, the American Min-
ing Congress assembled in its eighth annual session at
El Paso, Tex. A number of valuable papers were
read during the session of the convention, several of
the most important of which have been reported for
the Mining and Scientific Pbess by its special cor-
respondent, but owing to the large volume of the sev-
eral speeches and papers delivered at the meeting it
has been found inexpedient to give more than an ab-
stract of the most of those thus far received.
The paper by E. S. Morrison, author of "Morri-
son's Mining Eights," on needed amendments to the
mining laws, was timely and interesting. This paper
is published in full:
Amendments Advisable to the Federal Min-
ing Law.— Before 1866 Congress passed do law provid-
ing for the pre-emption of mining claims on the public
domain or their sale or disposition. Everything was
left to the mining districts or the local legislatures.
In 1866, by the act of that year, provision was made
for the patenting of lode claims; in 1870, for the pat-
enting of placers.
In 1872 both acts were combined and enlarged, and
but slight amendments have been made since. The
principal features of the mining act, as is doubt-
less familiar to all the members of this convention, are
the annual labor required on every claim and the apex
right of the lode claim. Its other sections are mostly
detailB regulating the procession of title through the
stages of discovery, location, advertisement and entry
until the final issue of patent.
As to the matter of annual labor and the more debata-
ble item of apex rights: Both have become so thoroughly
understood, and have been crystallized into shape by so
many decisions, that little or no change seems advisa-
ble— at least the subject would breed at once contention,
and extreme positions would he taken.
A revision of the whole series of acts might be advisa-
ble, but would involve so many items of detail, the sub-
ject of work in the committee room of Congress, that
mention of them in this address will not be made.
But the practical and immediate need which, in my
judgment, would produce the desired object of uniform-
ity of mining titles in the regions of the Rocky moun-
tains is the repeal of the first clause of Section 5 of the
act of 1872, Revised Statutes, Section 2324, which allows
each State and Territory to regulate the details of loca-
tion, or to the mining district the same right, where
the State or Territory fails to pass any act on the
subject. There are only three of the details or condi-
tions of location enumerated in the act of Congress itself,
which are :
1. There must be an actual discovery of mineral on
which to base the location.
2. The location must be distinctly marked on the
ground so that its boundaries can be readily traced, and
3. The record of the location must contain the names
of the locators, the date of location and such a descrip-
tion, by reference to natural objects on permanent mon-
uments, as will identify the claim.
These enumerations are preceded by the clause giving
to the State, Territory or district the right to regulate
all other details, and, as a matter of course, the result is
that in every State and Territory the statutes on this
subject disagree, and a title which would he good in one
State would be void in another, for the want of compli-
ance with some technical and perhaps useless detail of
location provided for in the local statute.
In Montana and Nevada, for instance, it is required
that the location certificate or record describe each cor-
ner, with the markings thereon. This requirement is
perfectly useless, and yet it has been held mandatory,
and titles prior in time and associated with every feature
of good faith and integrity have been held void by the
courts for want of conformity to such provision.
In Arizona, the two Dakotas and Washington it must
be stated in the location certificate whether or not it is a
relocation of abandoned property, which is an unneces-
sary hardship; for often the prospector cannot tell
whether the old pits he finds on the ground are mere
prospect holes, which were never staked, or form the
work of a claim which has been recorded but abandoned.
The State of Washington requires the boundaries of
the whole claim to be blazed, which seems a unique and
wholly unnecessary condition to impose.
It is not right to impose unnecessary and trifling con-
ditions the neglect of which, however inadvertent, may
lead to litigation and perhaps to the loss of a valuable
claim.
Some of the incidents of location are declared manda-
tory, others directory; and the result is that the essen-
tial details of location in no two States are alike, and what
is a perfect location, in some of them, is difficult to deter-
mine even by a competent lawyer with all the facts
before him.
This result is directly chargeable to the first clause of
Section 2324, above referred to. That clause was a con-
cession to mining districts and district rules, which in
most of the States have been absolutely obliterated and
passed to the condition of innocuous desuetude.
As a concession to the legislatures of the several States
and Territories it is not much less productive of evil, for
no two of them agree in all particulars and uniformity
becomes impossible. The law should be such that a
lawyer in Montana could pass on a mining title in Ne-
vada, or vice versa, knowing that the conditions or facts
which make a perfect claim were the same in all the
States.
A single amendment to Section 2324, detailing the
necessary incidents of a location, and not making them
needlessly rigid, and repealing the grant of sub-legisla-
tion to the districts and the local legislatures, would
remedy thiB most glaring defect in the present mining
law.
A further section should limit the right of tunnels to
750 feet on each side of the bore of the tunnel, or at least
compel them to elect definitely at the starting of the
tunnel how many feet they will claim on each side of the
bore.
Section 2338, which gives to the local legislatures the
right to regulate easements, which includes drainage and
rights of way, should, in my judgment, be repealed, and
in its stead should be a section defining in terms the ex-
tent of such easements.
The "Known Lode Clause," in the placer section, 2333,
should also be amended. A placer location of 160 acres,
a half a mile square, can be staked on a hillside known
to be seamed with rich veins, and under a recent deci-
sion of the National Supreme Court, in the Eli-Clipper
case, all prospecting is prohibited within that area. This
defeats the practical benefit of the reservation of the
lodes existing within placer bounds. On the other
hand, the patent to the placer, containing the loose ex-
ception of "all lodes known to exist," diminishes the
value of the patent; for there is nothing of record or in
the abstract to tell whether or not a known lode exists,
or is claimed to exist.
The entire placer area should be open to the lode
prospector until actual entry in the land office. Up to
that time the discovery of a lode within a placer should
be legalized, but if such lode location be made it should
be compelled to adverse and assert its existence, or
otherwise allow the placer applicant to take his patent
unclouded by a vague reservation which impairs its
value to the holder with no compensatory good to any
other party.
These are the amendments which I consider both im-
portant and advisable. Any radical change, such as
adopting a block system, or making all claims square,
with a large acreage and taking away the apex rights,
I do not consider wise at this day, though it might have
been a better plan if originally adopted. The act of
May 10, 1872, has now been thoroughly analyzed and
explained by hundreds of authoritative decisions, and an
old statute so explained and understood is always better
than a new statute on a new theory which is sure to
suggest as many points of doubt and contention as the
one it supplants.
It is not every charge that means improvement or re-
form. In 1840 the New York Code of Practice was
adopted with the promise by its authors that it would
do away with all the technicalities of the common law
practice and reducing pleadings to rules of common
sense and simplicity.
It has been since adopted, with more or less change,
in most States of the Union.
And during the sixty-five years of its growth it has
been found that its technicalities are more and greater
than ever Chitty or Blackstone dreamed of. The sim-
plicity of code pleading vanishes with the simplicity of
the case. It is a loose and lazy practice appealing to
the lawyer who loves ease and hates study. It has
therefore come to stay because it coddles to the natural
disposition to take what seems the easiest, not the best,
way of doing things.
The promise of reform would, in my judgment, be no
better kept in case of the passage of an entirely new
mining act based on theories entirely different from
those of the act of 1872.
The tendency of modern thought in the United States
is toward nationalism and uniformity. In banking,
divorce, insurance, railroad and commercial law the
effort is everywhere toward uniformity and to an act of
Congress where Congress has power to cover the sub-
ject. That Congress has this power in the matter of
mining is not disputed. It arises from its being the
original proprietor as a feudal lord of all the Louisiana
purchase and the cessions from Mexico.
When the district rules were first adopted around the
camp fire it was the only government practicable. There
were then no railroads to bind the country together.
The reason for their existence has passed and I see no
legitimate or convincing argument whatever to prohibit
Congress regulating the subject of mining titles in all
their details until patent issues, when, of course, the
State assumes the sovereignty of the subject matter.
The first persons to be protected are the prospectors.
There is an army of them scattered everywhere — above
timber line and in the desert — out of access to lawyers.
They are men of intelligence and originality above the
average of any one special class or trade, because from
the nature of their occupation they are compelled to be
thinkers as well as toilers.
They are best protected by knowing just what is
essential to perfect their discoveries into marketable
titles. This knowledge fixed in advance is better for
them than the sentimental right of making their own
laws, for if there be defects in the original title it keeps
back the buyer, prevents development, and the real
value of the mine is perhaps exploited by strangers who
have not bought, but fought, his property from the
man who under plain and fixed laws would have been
protected in its enjoyment.
An interesting subject was introduced by F. E.
Wire on the ways and means of attracting Eastern
capital to Western mining enterprises. His paper
was in part as follows:
Attitude of Eastern Capital Toward West-
ern Enterprises During Development Stage,
and How to Attract It. — The subject under consid-
eration seems to be one of vital importance to all of us.
Any practical knowledge and studied observation that
will bring Eastern capital and the Western enterprise
together in their development stage, help them to bet-
ter understand each other, and appreciate each other
more, is well worth our while.
To you pioneers in the mining industry, you who have
blazed the trail and blazed the way, opening up and
making possible a greater and richer Western civil-
ization and development, by being interested in min-
ing, during the cradle days of our Western mining re-
gion; and to you Eastern capitalists and investors who
joined hands with your Western brothers, I offer a word
of cheer and appreciation. It will be generations before
the pioneer and the prospector's work is fully appreci-
ated.
Truly you were the advance agents of civilization.
You did much to cherish and foster the spirit of West-
ern progress and development, imbuing in young men
the desire to go West, and when they could not go they
sent their money for you to use for your joint good.
Western opportunity offers to Eastern capital the means
by which they both may grow strong and useful to all
mankind. By "Eastern capital," I mean all the souroes
from which Eastern money is raised to aid in develop-
ing Western enterprises, such as mines, railroads, irriga-
tion propositions, and the like.
For convenience I will divide the people who contribute
to these Western propositions into three general classes —
first, the capitalist; second, the well-to-do investor, and
third, the small investor. I have had experience with
all three of these classes of investors, have studied them,
and read much on the subject. My experience has been
uniformly successful. My desire is that my experience
and observation may help to pave the way for a better
understanding between the prospectors, miners and
promoters on the one hand, and the investor and gen-
eral public on the other.
The capitalist is the hardest man to interest in a new
mining or other proposition. He is liable to be critical
regarding conditions generally. He is trained in invest-
ments, and is likely to he acquainted with speculation.
He is usually a busy man, whose time is taken up fully
by his regular business affairs and financial interests.
Occasionally he has been a promoter himself, in one
way or another, and understands the plans, policy and
means usually used in promotion. This type of investor
is experienced and clever, and can size up a prospect or
any new proposition. Such a person will usually see
possibilities of a proposition at a glance, as well as un-
derstand the undesirable features. He has many oppor-
tunities, but it is impossible for a moneyed man to have
the time to consider the merits of all of the new propo-
sitions of the West. As a rule, rich men do not care to
spread out their investments. They believe in concen-
tration. Ordinarily, they associate themselves with
their kind. To the capitalist is left the necessity of pro-
moting and financiering the bigger schemes, such as rail-
roads, big mines, smelters, ship building, irrigation, and
the vast number of large undertakings.
The well-to-do investor is usually a progressive busi-
ness man, a politician or salaried man, who has more
funds than he needs in his business or vocation, conse-
quently has surplus for miscellaneous investment. Gen-
erally he is clever and alert to opportunities and is
ready to consider new Western propositions when han-
dled by some friend or known reliable party. As a rule,
there is very little of the plunger, and not much of the
speculator, in this type. He is not as critical as his
richer brother, is more easily approached, and likely to
be more reasonable. He cannot afford to be as inde-
pendent as a richer man. I believe the well-to-do in-
vestor furnishes the most money for the great bulk of
ordinary miniDg propositions that are not in close, or
semi-close, corporation. This class of men forms the
brains and sinew of our best public mining and kindred
Western propositions in the development stage.
The small investor, while in a class of his own, is
worthy of our attention. He is likely to be a person
whose opportunities along the investment line are limited.
In consideration of his financial limitations, he must
invest small amounts in any one thing. On account of
the smallness of his investments, this type of investor is
frequently not as careful as he should be. He is quite
inclined to follow some prominent man's lead and invest
because "Mr. So and So did." The real small investor
does not as a common thing hold a large enough interest
to make him the support to a proposition that a larger
stockholder would be. Thus it frequently happens that
a company composed of the smallest stockholders has
some trouble in having as large a representation at the
stockholders' meetings as they should have. The
characteristic small stockholder is likely to buy without
mature deliberation, and he often is the first one to
grow impatient. The more conservative element of this
class of small investors is a source of support and
strength to any Western corporation. But the thought-
less, unstable variety is an element of weakness in any
proposition. The right sort of a small investor is very
desirable, and, sandwiched in with the other classes,
conduces to the good of the proposition.
Now as to the attitude of Eastern capital toward
Western enterprises during the development stages, I
will admit at the outset, it is not what it should be. But
this attitude is very positively and noticeably changing
for the better. The campaign of education which min-
ing journals are carrying on is working wonders in
changing the attitude of money toward these Western
enterprises. Their work, so well begun, but far from
finished, strikes at the root of the evil.
Under the dawn of the new order of things, the public
generally are looking upon mining prospects, unde-
veloped mines, and all Western enterprises in a far more
favorable light.
The public is beginning to realize that promoters, next
to the actual pioneers of these undeveloped propositions,
are entitled to great credit. Clean, legitimate promoters
are a very necessary factor or medium between the
Western opportunity and Eastern capital.
The attitude of Eastern capital toward Western unde-
veloped propositions is not as yet what we wish. There
is no disguising the fact that the East is suffering with
too much fake promotion and wildcatting, notwith-
standing the fakirs are much scarcer than heretofore.
While there are many and unmistakable signs of a
more favorable attitude, we must take conditions as we
find them, and not as we would like them, as to deceive
ourselves in this matter is simply to weaken our efforts
and strengthen the enemy.
It is gratifying to see public sentiment look favorably
toward a mining district that is proven, and toward a
promoter, officers, or a company that is acting on the
level. There is a tendency toward letting every new
proposition rest on its merits. The spirit of investiga-
tion is spreading among people with money. Investing
in mining is no longer looked upon as a gamble, but as a
legitimate business proposition. People do not invest
"on the sly" as they used to, as it is no longer looked
upon as a questionable act.
The proposition seeking the aid of capital should be
November 18, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
truly meritorious; it should be founded on principles and
conditions that will win. If a prospect, it ought to be
one where the chances of making a pay mine are excel-
lent. There ought to be a minimum of outstanding
stock, when going to the public, seeking its aid and co-
operation. The proposition should be capitalized on a
conservative basis. There should be no evidence of
"graft," "waste" or "extravagance" on the part of
those in charge of any corporation's affairs, up to the
time they seek the investor's money. To ignore these
common-sense fundamental essentials is to court disaster
and failure.
It is useless to go before the intelligent investing pub-
lic, and try to befog and mystify, on the pre-organiza-
tion facts and conditions. Any equivocation on the part
of officers or managers, on these vital points, are justly
construed against them.
The several varieties of investors are perfectly willing
that the prospector and promoter shall receive a fair
and even liberal consideration of stock or moneys for
their actual services rendered and property turned in,
based on a conservative valuation. The public I have
always found to be exceedingly reasonable along this
line. The public has a right to know the whole truth
on these matters. The old line promoter who used to
get up to half of the capitalization of a mining, explora-
tion, or other company, for a few indefinite and simple
services and a few hundred dollars, has no place or
chance now. There is very little hope for a proposition
that is not shaped up on a fairly reasonable basis.
For clean, progressive promoters who are determined
to start right and keep right, on any proposition they
attempt to finance, and who will stay by the affair until
it is in shape, there is a big field of opportunity, with
reasonable assurances of success. After the right sort
of a prospect has been chosen, care should be taken
with the organization of the company so that when the
public knows the truth about its history, it will not
nauseate it.
Officers should be selected who are clean and able, and
are so situated that they can and will give the company's
affairs their careful attention. Too many officers give
only the odds and ends of their time to their duties. A
proposition looking for public subscription for their
stock ought to have not less than seven directors, and
nine is better.
The investor reasons that too small a board does not
look well, and that cheap politics and trickery are more
liable to be played. Having gotten our proposition
ready to take subscriptions from the public, under
ordinary conditions, I should proceed about as follows,
to interest capital:
In the first place, a thorough report on the property
should be obtained from some mining engineer of stand-
ing and reputation. This should be supplemented by
conclusive evidence as to the title of the property.
Never forget that it always pays to thoroughly satisfy
the public as to the title of your property, whatever
that title is, as well as to demonstrate its value and ad-
vantageous location.
Next, you should have some first class references, men
whose word and opinion carry weight. Don't try to get
along without references, and do not try to give "bluff
references." There was a time when this sort of thing
"worked" to some extent, but it does not now.
After having taken care of the matter of property, in-
corporation, organization, title and references, you are
ready for your stationery and literature. It always
pays to get a good quality of stationery. The pros-
pectus and other printed matter should be cleverly got-
ten up and neatly printed on good quality paper. Be
careful how you write your prospectus and the attitude
you take wherever you appear in print. Always be
plain spoken. Say what you mean, and always mean
what you say. Avoid any and all forms of exagger-
ation. Don't cater too much to imagination. Adver-
tise all you wish. Put your best foot forward. Publish
mining statistics. Publish all the facts that will do you
good. Publish letters and statements from reliable
sources, regarding your proposition. Discuss mining
and the opportunities of the West generally, once in a
while. Don't urge people to buy stock. Don't promise
dividends; if you do, nine times out of ten your cake is
dough right then. Reason with people how it is neces-
sary to sell stock cheap to get the development funds to
explore and develop the property. Show them how this
is nearly always done. Show how money is high and
scarce in a new Western country. Have the right kind
of officers and a strong directorate; that is the best talk-
ing capital you could have. You can use this fairly
and honorably, to convince the investor of a square
deal.
When you can convince capital that everything is on
the level your victory is half won. A large per cent of
investors will at once invest if satisfied on this point.
Shun guaranteed dividend schemes of all kinds. Even
guaranteed stock plans do more harm than good. Any
company that pays dividends while selling its own
treasury stock is committing business suicide, as on its
face it is an inconsistency.
I have great faith in and have always found successful
the policy of excursions to the front, where your prop-
erty is located. This acquaints prospective stockhold-
ers with all the actual conditions, and they each act as a
sort of missionary when they return.
I have always found arguments by photographs very
convincing and satisfactory. One mistake a large num-
ber of new companies make is to get their stock too
high at the start. This necessitates much more adver-
tising, more agents, and higher commissions.
I favor putting the stock out at a rather low price at
first, limiting the amount of stock to any one person.
This policy secures a goodly number of stockholders
early, who will be of advantage later on, when the stock
is higher. My observation and experience teaches me
that it is hard to interest capitalists in a Western enter-
prise, in the development stage, unless, you get them in
while the stock is low. A good way is to take a few
parties out with ample money, and if the proposition
shows up all right you have a good chance to secure
funds enough for all immediate needs.
I fully believe that any truly meritorious Western
enterprise in the development stage can, if handled with
discretion and ability, secure all tho funds needed for
development purposes from the capital of the East,
where money is cheap and plenty.
The address of Arthur J. Haskin, United States
Deputy Mineral Surveyor, and professor of mining at
the Colorado School of Mines, was on " A Proposed
Remedy for the Difficulties Arising From Inaccurate
Records of Patent Survey." After reciting the diffi-
culties in obtaining patents to mining claims in Colo-
rado and elsewhere, which were valid without a law-
suit, owing to defective land surveys, the suggestion
was made by the speaker that a remedy might be
found in the appointment of a commission to be
known as the United States Mineral Survey.
It would be well to act harmoniously with the Geolog-
ical Survey, which belongs in the Interior Department.
Besides surveying accurately in the field, tying in every
existing patent monument, it should be the duty of the
Mineral Survey to determine accurately the original
position of each missing mining corner, and to require
the re-establishment of all such corners by the owners.
These engineers should also carefully plat such monu-
ments of the public survey (the section and township
subdivision corners) as are included in mining districts,
and their work should be done with such thoroughness
as to be invulnerable, and as such to be accepted as final
authority by everybody. Their maps and records may
be then referred to and relied upon, in place of the unre-
liable mass of documents now on file. My proposal con-
templates the correction of all errors introduced into
patents that have issued prior to the completion of maps
of the respective localities, and to this end each claim-
ant is to be furnished gratis (or at a slight nominal ex-
pense) an amended document of patent correctly describ-
ing the premises in each instance, and retaining all
priority or other rights due to the original dates. In
this way no claimant's rights will be endangered, he will
be put to little or no expense, and he will be given a
guarantee of unquestionable ownership and peaceable
possession of the exact ground he sought to obtain.
Undeniably, such a plan would require a large appro-
priation, but there is no way of estimating the benefits
that would accrue to the nation's mining industry. The
field or scope of the Mineral Survey may be enlarged
easily to include the construction of maps giving a
graphical description of the extent of mining operations.
These would be a valuable adjunct to the compilation of
statistics of production and labor involved in the mining
business of our nation.
The Brooks law and the Mineral Survey would work
admirably in conjunction. But neither alone can cope
with the situation to a successful issue. The la1", sup-
plemented by the proposed Mineral Survey, will have
the desired effect of settling all existing difficulties, and
will further prevent troubles hereafter. All mineral
claim boundaries will be authoritatively defined, and
every claimant will be obliged to abide by such metes
and bounds. Maps and records will thus be acquired
that will be accurate. A not insignificant benefit follow-
ing such a course will be the prevention of much fraud-
ulent practice.
Another interesting paper was that by Victor C.
Alderson, president of the Colorado School of Mines,
on co-operation between State Mining Bureaus and
State Schools of Mines. His address follows in part:
Demand for Industrial Efficiency. — The most
pressing demand of the present age is for industrial effi-
ciency. Between nations, the constant struggle in the
industrial warfare is to train workmen who shall be-
come influential factors in the industrial world. The
great problem before the consulting engineer, before
the designer of labor-saving devices, before the con-
tractor, before the business man, before the mining en-
gineer, and the metallurgist, is the securing of increased
efficiency. In the mining industry the same conditions
prevail. In each mining State there are two great influ-
ences of an institutional character whose hearty co-opera-
tion is necessary for the advancement of mining inter-
ests within the State — the State Bureau of Mines and the
State School of Mines.
FONCTION OF THE STATE BUREAU OF MINES.— The
work of a State Bureau of Mines is well described in the
law of Congress establishing a Mining Bureau for the
Philippine Islands, as follows: "To make, facilitate, and
encourage special studies of the mineral resources, min-
eral industries and geology of the Philippine Islands; to
collect statistics concerning the occurrence of the eco-
nomically important minerals and the methods pursued in
making their valuable constituents available for com-
mercial use; to make collections of typical geological and
mineralogical specimens, especially those of economic
and commercial importance, such collections to constitute
the museum of the Mining Bureau; to provide a library
of books, reports, drawings, etc., bearing upon the min-
eral industries, the science of mineralogy and geology,
and the arts of mining and metallurgy, such library con-
stituting the library of the Mining Bureau; to make a
collection of models, drawings, and description of me-
chanical appliances used in mining and metallurgical
processes; to preserve and maintain such collections and
library as to make them available for reference and ex-
amination, and open to public inspection at reasonable
hours; to maintain, in effect, a bureau of information
concerning the mineral industries of the Philippine
Islands; to make an annual report to the Secretary of
the Interior, setting forth the important results of the
work of the Bureau, such special reports as may be
called for by proper authority, and such bulletins con-
cerning the statistics and technology of the mining ind us-
tries and of the geological and mineValogical and other
office and field work of the Bureau as may be approved
by the Chief of the Bureau and ordered published by the
Secretary of the Interior."
Function of the State School of Mines. — The
primary work of a School of Mines is to train young
men for active and successful work in the mining pro-
fession. To do this it must have a competent faculty
composed of experts; have large working collections and
well-equipped laboratories. The students should make
frequent visits to mines, mills and smelters to become
familiar with the applications, on a commercial scale, of
the principles taught in the lecture room. This work,
however broad, thorough and valuable it may be for the
embryotic mining engineer, does not advance the in-
terests of the mining profession except as it graduates
well-trained men, who may, later in life, do creditable
work. The primary function of the school, therefore, is
to develop as far as it can the future mining engineer.
Examples of Co-operation in Colorado.— It
seldom happens that a School of Mines takes up seri-
ously or continuously the work belonging to the Bureau
of Mines, and it is also true that the Bureau of Mines
seldom touches upon the educational aspects of the
mining industry. In some isolated cases this is true, but
the exception only proves the rule. In Colorado the
State Commissioner of Mines, E. L. White, has shown
unusual interest in the educational aspect of mining, and
his efforts have been of great service to the Colorado
School of Mines. The School of Mines has, on its part,
rendered to the State Bureau of Mines every assistance
that it could. Such co-operation, however, should not
depend upon the personal relations existing between the
Commissioner of Mines and the ipresident of the School
of Mines, but should be the reBuit of legal enactment, so
that the business and] educational sides of the mining
industry may work in thorough harmony. Recently a
large number of coal analyses were needed in order to
arrive at an estimate of the value of certain coal lands
belonging to the State. These were referred to the State
School of Mines, where the work was easily done, be-
cause the school had both the men and the facilities for
so doing.
Not long ago attention was called to the fact that cer-
tain lands in the southern part of the State of Colorado
contained extensive soda deposits. The question of the
value of the deposits was referred to the School of
Mines. One of its experts was sent to investigate, and,
on the basis of his report, a lease of the land was made
which proved very favorable to the State. Whenever a
new mining camp is exploited by the daily newspapers
it is fitting that the Bureau of Mines should imme-
diately make a preliminary report for the guidance of
prospectors and investors. Such investigations can
easily be made by the School of Mines in conjunction
with the Bureau of Mines, the former supplying the ex-
pert geologist, mineralogist, surveyor or mining
engineer, while the latter supplies the practical mining
men. The Bureau is also frequently called upon for
information along the strictly technical lines of mining
and should be in a position to inform the community
upon such important subjects as proper ventilation and
mine drainage, the best safety devices, the results of
scientific tests on hoisting engines, air compressors, rock
drills, and many other subjects dealing with the en-
gineering lines of mining. It should also be in posses-
sion of the latest and best information concerning ore
dressing, roasting of ores, cyaniding, and the general
subject of the treatment of low-grade refractory ores.
No Bureau of Mines in this country has either the force
of experts or the scientific facilities for making original
experiments in these lines. A State School of Mines
fully equipped with laboratory facilities, with expert
mining engineers, metallurgists, chemists and geologists
on its staff can take up such subjects as the Bureau
desires to have investigated, and treat them in a scien-
tific manner.
Beneficial Results.— The future of the mining
and metallurgical industry will depend upon the careful
observance of a few well defined principles; prevention
of waste in time of operation, in labor employed, and in
capital invested; correct business principles; the appli-
cation of the latest and best technical skill and knowl-
edge; and an appreciation of the value of scientific re-
search. The idea of the conservation of values should
ever be uppermost in the mind of the mining engineer.
We are now and for many years shall be living on the
waste of the past. Values that could not then be re-
covered can now, thanks to increased scientific knowl-
edge, be easily recovered.
Magnetic Separation.
The North Queensland Register says an ingenious
method is employed at the Loudon mill, Irvinebank,
to separate the iron from tin concentrates. The ore
from the Vulcan mine contains magnetic iron, and
the trouble always was to eliminate so undesirable a
substance. The specific gravity of the tin and iron,
however, so nearly approximates that separation
was exceedingly difficult, and was never satisfac-
torily accomplished. James Tunnie, assayer at the
Irvinebank Tin Mining Co., owners of the mill, pro-
posed using electricity to overcome the difficulty.
With Mr. Moffatt the scheme, which has acted so
well, was evolved. Water containing the tin and
iron was charged with electricity, which increased
the magnetic influence of the iron, aud this created
cohesion between the iron particles. The ore was
then run over vanners, and the united iron particles,
irregularly joined, offered much greater resistance
to the water, and were more affected by the vanning
motion than the close lying tin. As a result separa-
tion was easy, the iron particles fairly dancing off
the table along with the lighter stuff. The device
gives much more effective treatment, and the reduc-
tion in the cost is also considerable.
When you want to meter a load on a 220-volt cir-
cuit, and have nothing but a 110-volt meter in stock,
says H. E. Ryder in Electricity, run the line through
the field of the meter in the usual manner, and the
other side of the line goes to the lamp. Then for the
shunt tap bring a wire from the center line, or the
110-volt side, and you are all right by using a con-
stant of (2).
342
Mining and Scientific Press.
November 18, 1905.
Plant of the Cananea Con. Copper Co.,
Cananea, Sonora, Mexico.*
Written for the Mining and Scientific Press bv O. P. PlNDLET.t
The Cananea Con. Copper Co., the property of the
Greene Con. Copper Co., affords an example of suc-
cessful accomplishment ranking among the largest
producers of copper in the world, its present output
averaging about 6,000,000 pounds per month. The
ore is of complex character and has required patience
and skill to work out a proper scheme for its eco-
nomic treatment. By intelligent application of ad-
vanced practice the plant has been brought up to a
high state of efficiency.
W. C. Greene, president of the company, has a
staff of advisers who are experts, practically and
technically, in their respective departments, and to
his acumen and good judgment is primarily due the
credit for the achievement of such results. A. S.
Dwight, assistant to the president and general man-
ager; j. H. Kirk, manager mining division; R. L.
Lloyd, superintendent of the reduction division;
D. Cole, superintendent of concentrators; V. R. Wall-
ing, superintendent of railways, and N. B. Roper,
superintendent of construction, are thorough stu-
dents of the science of mining as related to their re-
pective departments, and ever ready to avail them-
water is delivered to a steel tank of 600,000 gallons
capacity, located above the power house, and also a
brick reservoir of 250,000 gallons capacity, which
supplies the power house and the smelter. The con-
centrator and the mines are supplied from the tank
mentioned. The pipe line is tapped 1J mile from the
tank to supply water for domestic use in the munici-
pality of Cananea and the lower part of Ronquillo.
The main pipe line is composed of three sections of
varying weight, the first section being of standard
wrought iron, weighing 40 pounds per foot. The
pipe in the middle section weighs 35 pounds per foot,
and that of the upper section, where the pressure
never exceeds 200 pounds per square inch, is 10-inch
casing, weighing 22J pounds per foot. The line was
tested at the factory to a pressure of 1000, 750 and
600 pounds respectively per square inch. The pipe
is buried throughout its entire length with the excep-
tion of three points where ravines are crossed.
Owing to the warm temperature of this climate in
the winter, no trouble has been experienced as a
result of freezing.
Power Plant. — Power for operating the reduc-
tion works is generated at one central plant, con-
sisting of the boiler house 45x216 feet in size, and the
engine house 65x245 feet, each built of steel and cor-
rugated iron. The boiler plant consists of five du-
plex boilers, rated at 300 H. P. each; four water
tube boilers of 250 H. P. each, and two horizontal
water tube boilers of 250 H. P. each.
be provided 132,000 cubic feet of free air per minute,
with a blast pressure of 2J pounds per square inch.
The air blast for the converter plant is provided by
three cross-compound duplex Corliss blowing engines,
two having steam cylinders 20 inches by 36 inches,
air cylinders 44 inches by 44 inches, with a common
stroke of ii inches, the third engine having steam
cylinders 22 inches by 40 inches, air cylinders 46
inches by 46 inches, common stroke 48 inches, and
will deliver 10,750 cubic feet of free air per minute at
a pressure of 15 pounds, developing 650 H. P.
There are two blast pipes leading to the smelting
furnaces, one being 44 inches in diameter and the
other 42 inches, made of riveted steel. There is also
a third blast pipe, which conveys the air to the con-
verters. This pipe is of TVinch riveted steel, 30 inches
in diameter. Both the smelter and converter blast
pipes are equipped with relief valves. The blast
furnace blowing engines are equipped with recording
gauges, which give a continuous record of the air
pressure furnished to the furnaces. The converter
blast engines are similarly equipped. All engines in
the main power house are operated condensing and
are connected with independent surface condensers
located in the basement.
At the west end of the power house is a cooling
tower 12 feet by 24 feet and 49 feet high. The frame
work is steel, covered with wood. The warm water
from the circulating pumps is distributed uniformly
at the top of this tower through perforated pipes,
Selves of any new ideas or discoveries which promise
to yield greater results, with less expenditure of
energy and money.
The management has virtually solved the funda-
mental problems which confronted it; the question
with which it has to deal at present is that of reduc-
ing waste to a point where it will be an infinitesimal
quantity. The results which have been accomplished
along this line are commendable, and the means by
which they have been attained should prove inter-
esting.
Water Supply. — The supply of water for the
entire camp comes from the company's pumping sta-
tion at Ojo de Agua, situated 9 miles from the j
smelter. The receiving tanks are located above the
smelter and 1000 feet above the source, which is a
well sunk to the bedrock, with a subterranean gal-
lery which taps a living stream of water capable of
furnishing 3,000,000 gallons per day. The water is
practically free from organic matter and carries
only a small percentage of scale-forming solids, thus
making it desirable for boiler feeding. Two centrifu-
gal pumps driven from the flywheel of the main
pumping engine are used to lift the water. The main
plant consists of two pumping engines, one being a
cross-compound differential duplex engine, the other
a duplex-compound steam pump. The feed water is
ordinarily delivered to the boilers at a temperature
of 180° P.
The total length of the pipe line is approximately
9 miles, the pipe being 10 inches in diameter. The
* See illustrations on front page,
t Condensed.
The equipment for generating the air blast for the
smelting furnaces consists of one 225 H. P. compound
duplex blowing engine, steam cylinders 13 inches and
24 inches, air cylinders 57 inches with 42-inch stroke,
and a capacity of 20,000 cubic feet of free air per
minute; one 380 H. P. tandem-compound engine,
steam cylinders 16 inches and 28 inches with 36-inch
stroke. This engine is connected with a No. 10
blower, with a capacity of 30,000 cubic feet of free
air per minute; one tandem-compound engine, steam
cylinders 10 inches and 18 inches with a stroke of 24
inches, and 121 estimated H. P. This engine is
direct connected to a No. 8 blower, and under a
pressure of 2§ pounds per square inch will provide
12,500 cubic feet of free air per minute; one tandem-
compound engine with cylinders 16 inches and 30-inch
by 36-inch stroke, directly connected to a No. 10
blower of the Anaconda type. This set furnishes
30,000 cubic feet of free air per minute and will oper-
ate under a pressure of 2i pounds per square inch.
Before the present power house was completed a
part of the machinery was operated in an auxiliary
building, from which most of the machinery has now
been transferred; however, there still remains in
this building the following equipment, which is oper-
ated in conjunction with the main plant, viz. :
One 14-inch by 36-inch engine belted to two blow-
ers, and one 18-inch by 18-inch balance valve engine
connected direct to a blower. These two engines will
furnish a maximum of 40,000 cubic feet free air per
minute. They are used only for regulating the blast,
or, in cases of emergency, to relieve the engines in
the main power house.
With the entire equipment of the plant there can
arranged according to the methods in vogue in ice
plants, and percolates through a series of wire net-
tings where it comes in contact with an upward cur-
rent of air generated by four 6-foot fans operated by
a 75 H. P. motor. After passing through this cool-
ing process the water is ready for use again.
The feed water is heated by two open type heaters
built by the company in their own shops in Cananea.
The apparatus for treating the boiler feed water
before it enters the boilers is located at the west end
of the boiler house. This apparatus consists of a
small tank, in which the water is mixed with the
necessary chemical elements for precipitating the
lime in the water, and a still larger tank of a ca-
pacity of about 30,000 gallons, in which the lime is
filtered out before the water goes to the boilers.
The main steam line of the engine house is 12 inches
diameter and is supported on brackets attached to
the wall of the building. The engine connections are
made by means of wrought iron bends. This pipe is
provided with gate valves, by means of which any
section of the plant may be cut out for repairs. Gate
valves are also attached to each branch line connect-
ing with the engines
Air for operating tools is furnished by a double-
compound straight line compressor, with steam cyl-
inders 10 inches and 20 inches, air cylinders 18 inches,
and lOi-inch by 16-inch stroke.
An electric generating plant distributes power
about the various buildings and furnishes the neces-
sary current for lighting the different departments,
as well as the business houses, residences and streets
of the town. The four engines are compound verti-
cal marine. Three of the dynamos have a capacity
NoVEifBM 18, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
343
of 100 K.W. each and the fourth 200 K.W. Prom a
main switch board (i feet by 14 feet, the current gen-
erated by these dynamos is distributed to the various
circuits at a voltage of 250.
Each conductor leading from the three smaller
dynamos has a 600 ampere circuit breaker; the 200
K.W. dynamo has a 120(1 ampere circuit breaker.
The 100 and 200 K.W. generators are also equipped,
furnish power for the mines and more distant works
tributary to Cananea which are too far from the
power house to be reached by the present equip-
ment of direct current machinery.
The coal used in the power plant is delivered to
the boilers direct from standard-gauge cars, which
are emptied through chutes on to the floor of the
boiler room and immediately in front of each boiler.
Notable Events in Connection with Gold
and Silver.
Following are some of the more notable events,
with the dates of their occurrence, as related to gold
and silver:
Egyptian gold mines worked 2000 years B. C;
respectively, with 700 and 1200 ampere ammeters.
Two 250-volt voltmeters are available for use upon
any of the various circuits. Three ammeters of 200
amperes each are ready for use in connection with
any additional circuits.
In addition to the present electrical plant the com-
pany is arranging to install two alternating current
generators of 300 K.W. capacity, which will deliver
three-phase alternating current at 2300 volts, to
The ashes are loaded into tram cars, which convey
them to receiving bins, thence transferred to narrow-
gauge cars and transported to points on the line of
the company's railway, where they are utilized for
ballast and the filling in of bridges and trestles.
(to be continued.)
A tank 60 feet long, 5 feet deep and 20 feet wide
will hold approximately when full 45,000 gallons.
Mines of Ophir worked by Solomon 950 B. C; Con-
quest of Peru, and opening of its silver mines, 1535
A. D. ; discovery of silver mines at Guanajuato and
elsewhere in Mexico, 1548 A. D.; discovery of gold in
Brazil, 1577; discovery of placers of Minas-Geraes,
Brazil, 1680; silver mines opened in Russia, 1704; dis-
covery of gold in the Urals of eastern Russia, 1743;
discovery of gold in California, 1848; Plattner's chlo-
rination process introduced at Reichenstein, in Sile-
344
Mining and Scientific Press.
November 18, 1905.
sia, 1848; discovery of placers in Australia, at Bal-
larat, 1851; hydraulic mining introduced in Califor-
nia, 1853; chlorination process introduced at Grass
Valley, Cal., by Deetkin, 1858; gold discovered in
Colorado, 1859; discovery of the Comstock Lode,
Nevada, 1859; gold discovered in the Black Hills of
South Dakota, 1875; lead-silver ores discovered at
Leadville, Colo., 1877; discovery of the gold mines of
the Rand, S. A., 1886; discovery of gold at Cripple
Creek, Colo.. 1890; first practical application of the
cyanide process, 1887, and on the Rand in 1890, in
April of that year; discovery of rich placers in the
Yukon basin, Alaska, 1897.
Milling in Gilpin County, Colo.
Written for the Mining and Scientific Press.
There are a number of rules pertaining to mining
and milling still in vogue in Gilpin county which were
adopted during the early days of mining in that sec-
tion. Gilpin is the smallest county in the State, and
has the distinction of being the first county in Colo-
rado in which gold was discovered. In the early
days of mining in that commonwealth, before scales
came into general use, the ore was measured and
sold by the cord. A cord consists of 128 cubic feet —
the same measurement as a cord of wood — and con-
tains from seven to twelve tons, varying according to
the character of the ore. This rule applies to a ma-
jority of the mines in the district. With but few
exceptions, neither mines nor mills are equipped with
scales. Many of the mills do custom work, i. e., they
treat the ore from the different mines of the sur-
rounding camps. The mills of the district have all
Central City, Colo., from the Dump of the Ontario-Colorado Mine.
agreed upon a scale of prices to be charged for hand-
ling the ore. The prices were recently increased,
owing to the fact that the mill men work but eight
hours instead of twelve hours, as heretofore. The
flat minimum rate for treating the ore is $10 per
Surface Plant of the Ontario-Colorado Mining Co., Central City, Colo.
45-Stamp Mill of the Gregory-Buell Mining Co , Gilpin County, Colo.
cord. A customer sometimes secures the use of a
section of a mill, or 5 stamps, and is charged $8 50
for 24 hours. The mill work consists of automati-
cally putting the ore through the battery, running
the pulp over copper plates and then over the bump-
ing tables. This has been the system, with but few
changes in the type or kind of machinery, for many
years. The customer receives from the mill the gold
taken from the plates and the concentrates from the
tables. The concentrates are shipped to the smelters
at Denver or Pueblo, Colo. Sometimes the concen-
trates are disposed of to the samplers. The amount
saved on the plates varies from 10% to 30% of the
values. In many of the plants a large percentage of
the amalgamation is done inside of the batteries.
Most of the stamps weigh 550 pounds and drop from
28 to 30 times per minute. A blanket sluice is also
used in some of the mills before the material passes
to the tables.
In the Gregory-Buell mill, illustrated herewith,
they do custom work as well as treat ore from their
own mine. The stamps — 45 in all — are of the heavy
rapid-drop type. After the ore passes under the
stamps in this mill, and over the plates, it goes to
bumping tables and other concentrating devices.
The Boston mill, which is operated by the Gregory-
Boston M. Co., contains eighty 1000-pound stamps,
which drop 95 times per minute, using 24 mesh
screen, and crushing, per stamp, an average of 3£
to 4 tons in 24 hours. After leaving the stamps the
ore passes over 4ixl6 foot copper plates in front of
each 5-stamp battery and through spitzkasten on to
Woodbury tables. When this mill was erected there
was considerable comment from different sources as
to whether it would be a success on the ores of Gil-
pin county. It was a revolution in the milling prac-
tice in that section.
In the custom mills the ore is seldom assayed before
going into the mill, and the tailings are allowed to
pass into the creek without knowledge of how much is
being lost, no sampling being done. The mill man is
not interested in how much is being saved or lost, as
he is being paid a stipulated sum for handling a cer-
tain amount of ore.
The average value of the ore that is being put
through the mills does not exceed $4 per ton, and the
average value of the concentrates does not exceed
$13 per ton.
The milling ore is a mixture of feldspar and quartz,
carrying sulphide of iron (pyrite) and at times a small
percentage of copper sulphide, chiefly chalcopyrite.
On account of the scarcity of water for milling pur-
poses in the district it is inexpedient to erect mills
at the mines for handling the low-grade material to
advantage. When this material is hauled either by
team or rail several miles to the mills, and the treat-
ment charges taxed against the ore, the profits can-
not be very great. There is some agitation at pres-
ent for the formation of a company for the purpose
of getting water from the higher range of mountains
and piping it to the mines for milling and power. The
scheme is claimed by responsible engineers to be
perfectly feasible.
The smelters have made a low treatment charge
on certain grades of ore from this district, and
instead of the ore being treated at the mills, as here-
tofore, it goes direct to the smelters, which in itself
has a tendency to cripple the progress of the milling
industry in that county.
The Avon mill at Nevadaville, above Central City,
has been closed for some time past on account of
shortage of water. This mill was securing water
from one of the neighboring mines, but the shaft
buildings at the mine were destroyed by fire and they
were compelled to suspend operations at the mine as
well as the mill. It is understood arrangements are
about completed for starting the mill.
A mill operator was doing some experimental work
November 18, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
345
in another district in the State, using different ma-
chines for handling his ore, and received a letter
from a fellow mill man in Gilpin county to the effect:
"You may make a trial of this new-fangled concen-
trating machinery and use it if you desire, but I fear
that it may drive you in sorrow to the grave." That
is a sample of what one has to contend with in the
mining and milling of ores in that section of Colo-
rado.
On Gregory hill, between Central City and Black
Hawk, the Ontario-Colorado G. M. Co. is doing devel-
opment work as well as shipping several tons of
crude ore and concentrates each month. The main
shaft is down 878 feet, and is equipped with 12x14
double-cylinder geared hoisting engine; 80 H. P.
boiler, compressor and Rand drills. About 7000 feet
of drifts and 800 feet of winze, raises and other shaft
work has been done on the property. The vein on
this property is an extension of the old Gregory
vein, where gold was first discovered. The different
levels are being connected with winzes to the ore
bodies, and shipment is being made of the ore taken
out during development work. The bulk of the ore
in this property is susceptible of concentration and
amalgamation. The surface plant of this property
is illustrated in one of the accompanying engravings.
Air hoists are used in the winzes.
Another engraving shows a portion of Central City
as seen from the dump of the Ontario-Colorado Co
In the background can be seen James peak and other
high mountains. It is from these mountains that it
is proposed to bring the water supply, as mentioned
above.
It would seem, after visiting a number of the plants
and conversing with many of the operators in the
district, that the milling industry has not kept pace
with some of the other mining camps throughout the
State.
The Yukon-Tanana Region, Alaska.
L. M. Prindle, of the United States Geological Sur-
vey, has recently returned from the Alaskan field.
During the last summer he has been making a geo-
logic reconnaissance between the International Boun-
dary and Fairbanks. This was Mr. Prindle's third
season in the Yukon-Tanana region, and he has
therefore had exceptional opportunity to note the
rapid development of the country. He reports that
the output from the mines has increased tenfold each
year. The gold production of Fairbanks amounted
to approximately $40,000 two years ago, and to more
than $400,000 last year. It is estimated that it will
be worth between $5,000,000 and $6,000,000 this
year. The productiveness and prosperity of this
region are attested by these remarkable figures.
Fairbanks is now a thriving town of about 2500
inhabitants. Alfred H. Brooks, chief of the Survey's
Alaskan Division, passed over its site in 1898, and
knew it then as naught but a howling wilderness,
unvisited by white men. The nearest Indian village
was 75 miles away. The region now is humming
with industry. The town of Fairbanks is lighted by
electricity and heated by steam. It supports three
banks, one daily paper, one weekly paper, and a pub-
lic school system. Business in all lines is good. Al-
though every valuable claim was said to be staked a
year ago, the books in the recorder's office show
that his rceeipts are nearly double what they were
last year.
Among the most important improvements of the
district is the railroad which has been built since the
season of 1904. It connects Fairbanks and Chena
and has been extended along Gold Stream to the
junction of Gilmore and Pedro creeks. The railroad
has already proved of great advantage to the miners,
and in connection with the government wagon road
to be built from the termination of the railroad over
the divide to Cleary creek will greatly facilitate the
handling of freight.
This year's production makes the Fairbanks dis-
trict the peer of the Nome region in output, if not
its leader. The diggings at Fairbanks are mostly
deep, extending to 80 or even 100 feet, so that shafts
have been sunk. The gravels are frozen, and mining
is usually done by steam point process. Work is
carried on the year round. The character of the
deposits makes mining more expensive here than in
the Nome district, so that the profits from an equal
production is not so great.
The gold from the Fairbanks district has come from
Cleary, Pedro and Fairbanks creeks, and the great-
est of these, in point of production, is Cleary creek.
Since the summer of 1904 Cleary City, a town of
nearly 300 people, has made its appearance. It is
situated on Cleary creek, a tributary of Chatanika
river, itself a tributary of the Tanana. This creek is
remarkable in that pay has been found along "almost
its entire course. Gold has been mined from its head-
waters to a point 4 miles below the place at which
gold was first discovered, that is, to a point at which
the creek widens into the valley of the Chatanika
river. At Cleary City an electrical plant is now in
process of construction which will furnish light for
the town and power for the operation of mining ma-
chinery.
Dome creek and Ester creek, to the southwest
of Cleary creek, are promising streams. Consider-
able work has been done on Dome creek, and pay
has been located at a few points. Ester creek is
already a producer.
To the east of the Fairbanks region, on the tribu-
taries of the Salchaket, prospecting is active.
The main excitement at present is, however, in the
area west of the Fairbanks district, on the head-
waters of the Kantishna river, a tributary of the Tan-
ana from the south. Some gold has been found there
in shallow diggings, and between 700 and 1000 peo-
ple are now on the ground.
Battery Stem Guide.
Herewith is illustrated the Pacific battery stem
guide, made minus bolts, nuts, set screws, wedges or
keys. It will be observed that the device consists of
feet. The coal weighs lighter, and consequently
more of it is needed to make up the ton, hence an in-
crease in the cubic measurement. A coal that con-
tained a considerable proportion of stone would
measure less than 32 feet, but the best grade will
every time fill that space.
Dredging for Gold in the Nome Gold-
fields.
Written for the Mining and Scientific Press by Otto Balla.
Six years ago the world was astonished by reports
of wonderful discoveries of gold in the beach sands on
the Bering sea, and it is now six years since the town
of Nome sprung into existence.
A continuous and steadily increasing harvest of
Guide Frame for Stamp Mills.
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Battery Stem Guide.
Ju/?.S--/Q6?
a guide frame with sockets to receive removable
shells, which the manufacturers say are its only
wearing parts. The accompanying diagram shows
the dimensions of these frames, with bolt sizes and
centers for standard 5-stamp batteries. The guide
is made by the Angels Iron Works, Angels, Cal.
The Journal of the Worcester Polytechnic Institute
states that in unloading iron ore at the Lake Erie
docks, the shovelers are paid by the ton, and the fol-
lowing records have been made: The prices paid are
13 cents per ton on straight work, and a maximum
of 18 cents per ton cleaning up, after 80% of the
cargo has been removed by automatic machines.
Men working at the 18 cent rate have made as high
as $12 per day of 10 hours, which means 6.67 tons of
ore were shoveled in one hour. Working at the 13
cent rate, with eight men in the hold shoveling into
1-ton buckets, each man can handle from 5 to 6 tons
of ore per hour and sometimes a rate of 8 tons per
hour has been reached, the daily wages running
up to $6.50 to $7.80. ■
A ton of the highest grade of anthracite should
measure 32 cubic feet — that is to say, it should fill a
bin 4 feet long by 4 feet wide and 2 feet high, says
Fuel. The poorer coals will run as high as 40 cubic
gold is being sent from this northern town to the
mints in the United States; the commerce with the
States has assumed large proportions, the little town
of Nome keeping ten ocean vessels engaged in sup-
plying her with foodstuffs, building materials, ma-
chinery, railroad iron, etc., and when one understands
that the gold deposits of the Nome goldfields have
hardly been commenced to be developed, one may
imagine the vast possibilities of this most western
portion of United States territory.
It has taken only these short six years to devise
methods of working the vast deposits of auriferous
gravels systematically and profitably, either by the
hydraulic method, or, where the ground is favorably
situated, by dredging and steam shovels.
The first successful attempt in this direction was
made by W. L. Leland, manager of the Three Friends
Mining Co., on Solomon river. At an expense of
$140,000 this company erected a 54-bucket dredger,
with a capacity of handling 4000 cubic yards of
gravel in twety-four hours. It is operated by two
110 H. P. steam boilers and a crew of only five men.
The operations last season were satisfactory. The
ground which is not frozen averages $1 to the cubic
yard; the depth of gravel is about 15 feet, but the
steel buckets cut into the soft mica schist bedrock
about 8 feet.
This dredger was shipped to Solomon in sections
3tf
Mining and Scientific Press.
NOVEMBER 18, 1905.
(luring the last summer, was set up and in running
operation for about fifteen days.
Solomon river is very favorable for big operations
of this kind, the ground being unfrozen, the gold dis-
tributed evenly in the gravel and the gravel deposits
sufficiently extensive to justify a large investment.
Another enterprise which has been started on
Solomon river this season, and has proven a success,
was the steam shovel operated by Vinal & Webb on
the Halla bar. A 1-yard railroad shovel was
used to first cut a drain 1500 feet long, 25 feet wide
and about 12 feet deep, to the mica schist bedrock to
open up the property. The gravels were taken up
by the shovel, dumped into 2-yard cars and these
pulled on rails to the flume, 1000 feet distant, where
a ditch with a capacity of about 800 inches supplied
the water to wash the gravels. The ground on this
property averages about $1.50 to the cubic yard; the
cost of operating is about IS cents per cubic yard.
The average capacity last season was about 500 yards
in ten hours; but by some needed improvements in
the handling of the cars faster the capacity can be
doubled.
It was possible to get only a few days of actual
mining operations on this plant the last summer sea-
son, the time having been consumed in installing the
machinery and cutting the drain — the freeze-up
coming this year about three weeks earlier than
usual.
The Seward Peninsula Mining Co., Wilkins man-
ager, has built a 60-bucket dredger — the Philadelphia
— above Dexter creek, on Nome river. It did not
have any chance at mining operations, the winter
season closing in before its completion.
Mr. Johnston is building a big bucket dredger on
Snake river, and by next season there will be in op-
eration several of the latest improved dredgers,
which will materially increase the output of gold in
the Nome goldfields.
The successful operation of these dredgers and
steam shovels has proven that the possibilities of this
section of Alaska, as far as producing gold is con-
cerned, can at present hardly be estimated.
The new discoveries on the tundra, where eight
men take out during one season a half million dollars,
as on Little creek, or, again, the strike on Jess creek
during the last summer season, where $100 to the
pan is common, makes an observer wonder what
will be the result when Snake and Nome rivers are
worked by dredgers.
The entire valley of Snake river, as well as Nome
river, is favorable to dredging operations, the ground
being unfrozen and the distribution of gold sufficient
to pay large profits, even if the operations are con-
fined to the three summer months.
It is safe to say that a few years hence Nome will
be one of the largest gold-producing sections of the
United States.
I THE PROSPECTOR. !
■s *
While "The Prospector" learned long since not to
judge the value of ore wholly from its physical appear-
ance— particularly gold ore — the sample marked At-
water No. 1 has a most promising appearance, and
should be assayed for gold and silver, particularly
the former.
The rock samples from the north side of Bear river,
Nevada county, Cal., are: No. 1, a much altered
dike rock. No. 2, gabbro. No. 3 is a felsitic dike
rock. No. 4 is syenite. No. 5 is serpentine. No. 6 is
halloysite, a product of the alteration of feldspar
(orthoclase).
The rock samples from Lida P. O., said to have
come from Death Valley, Cal., are principally mag-
netite— no oxide of tin. One of them is coated with
copper carbonate, and is from the outcrop of what
may prove to be a copper mine.
The rock specimen from Thunder Mountain, Idaho,
is a typical rhyolite, showing the fluidal structure,
the drusy cavities, etc. The quartz blebs are char-
acteristic; some of them appear to be fragmental.
The rock presents somewhat the appearance of a
breccia, there being several small fragmentary look-
ing places on the rock. A larger mass of the rock
would, perhaps, show this feature more prominently.
The rocks from Mayer, Arizona, are: No. 1, a
fine grained mica schist; No. 2, a metamorphic
rock in which there is considerable carbonate of lime,
a little quartz and considerable chlorite, which may
have been derived from hornblende. It is not a typi-
cal rock and therefore can only be classed as meta-
morphic.
The minerals from near Ocala, Churchill county,
Nev., are: No. 1, gypsum (calcium sulphate); No. 2,
a variety of obsidian (volcanic glass); No. 3, red and
yellow jasper with impure limonite (brown iron oxide).
This rock may contain gold. It is' similar to the jas-
pers often found in the gossan of copper deposits.
No. 4 is mostly calcite (carbonate of lime), with yel-
low iron oxide and iron sulphide. Should be assayed
for gold. The silt-like yellow mineral is similar to
same at Goldfield, Nev., which is rich in gold. Sim-
ilar mineral in Arizona, Colorado and South Dakota
is often rich in gold.
Notes on the Assay of Gold Bullion.*
By T. Kirke Rose.
The following is a brief account of the principal
changes in the assay of gold bullion which have been
introduced at the Royal Mint, London, during the
last three years.
The assays are still made in batches of seventy-
two, and the object of most of the improvements is
to promote uniformity of treatment, so that the
"surcharge" on the cornets may be identical. Six
proof or check assay pieces are distributed through
the charge.
The cupels are ranged on a plumbago tray, which
is lifted in and out of the muffle by means of an iron
" peel " or fork with two flat prongs, each Hi inches
long, li inch wide and T3^ inch thick. The tray itself
is 11 J inches long and 6 inches wide, and has a raised
edge to keep the cupels in place, and two grooves
below for the prongs of the peel to slide in. The
plumbago tray can be used about twenty or thirty
times. Iron and fireclay trays were tried, but not
found to be serviceable. The use of the cupel tray
makes block cupels of little advantage, as single
cupels, when cold, are rapidly ranged on the tray by
hand. Cupel tongs have been entirely discarded.
The seventy- two assay pieces are charged in simul-
taneously by means of a nickel charging tray with a
sliding bottom. This charging tray was devised and
introduced by Arthur Westwood, in 1893, at the Bir-
mingham Assay Office, and has been adopted at
other offices.
The draught of air through the muffle has been
made independent of the draught through the fuel
chamber of the furnace, so that the temperature and
the air supply can be regulated separately. The
muffle has been increased in length to allow of the
assay pieces being placed farther away from its
mouth, the distance from the front of the furnace to
the first row of assays being now 7 inches. The fuel
space behind the back of the muffle is filled with fire-
clay to prevent overheating at that point. Air is
admitted only near the top of the mouth of the muffle
and the front row of assay pieces is protected from
the direct draught by a firebrick, 2 inches high, so
as to promote the regularity of the air supply
throughout the charge. With the same object, deep
cupels are used, the hollow being 0.75 inch in diame-
ter and 0.3 inch in depth. The charges, with 4 gms.
of lead in each assay piece, are worked off in ten or
fifteen minutes. If the draught is increased and the
time shortened, the results are not so uniform.
Parting Alloy. — It has been the practice in the
Mint for many years to add 1.375 gm. of silver to 0.5
gm. of gold in making up the "inquarted" alloy for
parting. This ratio of 2.75 to 1 is convenient in some
respects, but the alloy is attacked with great vio-
lence when parted with nitric acid, and small frag-
ments of gold are often detached from the cornets,
and either carried away and lost, or else become
firmly attached to other assay pieces. A ratio of 2
parts of silver to 1 part of gold has, therefore, been
adopted recently, after a long series of experiments,
with the result that the risk of injury to the cornets
has been greatly reduced and the general accuracy
of the work increased.
This is a reversion to a very ancient practice. In
the year 1627 Savot stated that the French assayers
used the ratio of 2 to 1, but that in earlier times the
ratio of 3 to 1 had been preferred. In 1830, how-
ever, the ratio of 3 to 1 was always used in France,
according to DArcet and Gay Lussac, and the ratio
of 2.75 to 1 has probably been in use in the London
Mint for more than half a century.
The acids and time of boiling are the same as
before. Curiously enough, the surcharge is slightly
lower than when the smaller proportion of silver is
used, the loss of gold being greater and the amount
of silver retained in the cornet being less.
Assay Weights. — Attention has been drawn to
the difficulty of obtaining accurate assay weights by
A. Whitby. This difficulty was recognized in the
Mint some years ago. Efforts were made to obtain
assay weights free from errors of more than 0.025
per lOOu, but without success, and since then weights
have been adjusted by the assay office staff whenever
necessary. If too light, the weight is increased by
gilding in a cyanide bath. If too heavy, it is reduced
by mechanical means. As the adjustment of small
weights was found to be tedious, the use in the bal-
ance pan of all weights of less than 5 mgms. has been
discontinued, and carefully adjusted riders of 5 mgms.
and 1 mgm. are substituted for them, horizontal
notched balance beams suitable for use with riders
replacing the older form of beam. It is hardly nec-
essary to point out that the effect of errors in riders
is proportionally reduced as the rider is moved
nearer to the central knife edge.
The weights are tested on an Oertling balance said
to turn with 0.005 mgm. This has been slightly
♦Abstract Jour. Chem,, Met. and Mill. Soc. S. A.
altered and improved in the Mint, and results are
obtained, by the method of swings as shown below,
correct to 0.001 mgm. A magnifying lens is used for
each pointer. The pointers, which are prolongations
of the beam, have been greatly reduced in thickness
and made black, so as to be easily seen. In order to
avoid the complication of plus and minus readings,
the ivory scales read downwards from 0 to 80 at the
right hand end, and from 80 to 0 at the left hand,
the position of rest when the pans are empty being
at No. 40 on the scale in each case. To avoid paral-
lax, the eye is applied to holes in fixed cards placed
opposite the ivory scales and about \l inches from
them. A series of readings are taken alternately on
the right and left hand scales. The scale divisions
are easily divided into ten parts by the eye, so that
the indications are read correct to about 0.0005 mgm.
The method of comparing two weights — say 1000A
and 1000B, where 1000 = 0.5 gm.— is to place 1000A
in the left pan and 1000B in the right pan. The
beam is then released and, after two or three swings,
four successive readings are taken at the right hand
end. The beam is then arrested and again released,
and after two or three swings four successive read-
ings are taken at the left hand end. This is enough
in ordinary cases, but for the most exact work the
double operation is repeated three times. The
weights are then interchanged and the weighings
repeated. Lastly a small weight, usually 0.1 mgm.,
is added to one side by means of a rider, and the
weighings are again repeated so as to determine the
value of one division on the scale. This need be done
only two or three times a day if the balance is work-
ing well. Care must be taken to avoid unequal heat-
ing of the balance case.
A record actually taken is given below, \lt 12,1 31, 4,
being the numbers at the limits of successive
swings. Then L, the position of rest, is equal to
li-l- 3L2+ 313+ 1* T. , ., . ' "
= — . if only three swings are observed,
then L ■■
lj+21,+1,
, but the latter value of L is not
quite so exact as the former.
WEIGHINGS MADE ON NOVEMBER 14, 1901.
1000A
1000A
1000B
1000B
1000B-I- 0.1 mgm.
1000B -j- 0.1 mgm.
READINGS OF INDEX DIVISIONS.
Right Pan.
1000B
1000B
1000A
1000A
1000A
1000A
li. lj. 13. 1.,. L. Means
39.2
16.
25.84
25.40
Then 0.1 mgm. = 36.26 — 26.65, or 10.61 divisions,
so that 1 division is equal to 0.00942 mgm. And
1000A is equal to 1000B — 38-65 ~ 36 26> that U]
1000B — 0.011957 mgm. These weights are sup-
posed to be each equal to 0.5 gm., and, taking 1000A
as correct, then 1000B = 1000.0225 half mgms., only
four places of decimals being retained. On repeat-
ing such observations as these, it is found that the
maximum differences in the results are about 0.002
per 1000, or 0.001 mgm., so that the fourth place of
decimals is of little value.
The divergences or errors in the results are, no
doubt, due in part to imperfections in the balance, the
knife edges being subject to slight displacement on
arresting, and again on releasing, the beam, but the
errors are mainly caused by vibrations of the build-
ing. The balance is placed on an ordinary table on
the first floor, and the traffic in the neighboring
streets and the Mint machinery cause vibrations in
the swings, although these are imperceptible on an
ordinary assay balance read in the usual way. By
placing the weight balance on a shelf secured to the
wall of a cellar 12 feet below the surface of the
ground, more concordant results are obtained, but
the cellar was soon given up, as the observations
made in the pleasanter situation were sufficiently
accurate for the purpose. In a building subject to
great vibrations it would be necessary to place the
balance on a wooden or stone pillar built up from the
foundations and not touching the building.
It will be observed that although two weights are
compared, their absolute masses are not obtained.
The rider of 1 mgm. must be in agreement with the
1000A, which has been taken as correct. No allow-
ance is made for the displacement of the air, as any
such correction does not affect the results when the
weights are all made of platinum. If a brass rider
of 5 mgm. is used, the results are affected only in the
fourth place of decimals (0.0001 mgm.) by the differ-
ence of specific gravity.
The method of building up a set of weights from 1
mgm. to 1000 mgms. is too well known to need
description. The most satisfactory course for an
assayer to pursue when the series of comparisons
have been made is to assume that his " 1000 " weight
is correct, and to calculate the errors of the other
weights on that assumption. For ordinary work the
practice at the Mint is to adjust or reject any
weight having an error of 'more than 0.025 per
1000. Errors less than this are usually disregarded,
November 18, 1906.
Mining and Scientific Press.
34?
but for the most exact work allowance is made for
the known errors.
It is convenient to have two weights, each of 1
gm. or of 0.5 gm., the exact difference of which from
standard has been observed by the standards depart-
ment of the Board of Trade or the Bureau Interna-
tionale des Poids et des Mesures, or some similar
institution. The absolute error of any assay weight
can be obtained at any time from these two "stand-
ard" weights, and as long as they preserve their
relative difference it may be assumed that they are
uninjured.
Results. — Although each of the precautions de-
scribed above, when taken by itself, is not of great
importance, their aggregate effect on the accuracy
of the assays is considerable. The number of stand-
ardized gold pots rejected and set aside for remelt-
ing at the Mint, on account of incorrect composition,
has fallen from 8.55% in the year 1901-1902 to 2.06%
in the year 1904-1905, and the value of the gold used
for standardizing the rejected pots has fallen from
£139 per £1,000,000 to £7 per £1,000,000 during the
same period. These results appear to be due to the
increase in accuracy of the assaying.
There is no very material difference between the
British Mint methods above described and those in
vogue in the United States, except that some of the
later practice of the British Mint is similar to that
which for years has been employed in the United
States mints. There are some small differences in
apparatus employed. For instance, in the English
mints the rider is used in weighing minute quantities,
and in the United States mints weights only are em-
ployed. Where the ratio of silver to gold is 3 to 1 in
the United States mints, 28° nitric acid is employed;
where it is 2 of silver to 1 of gold, 32° acid is used.
The methods are practically similar in both coun-
tries, and represent the best practice.— Ed.
Transvaal Government Commission on
Safety in Shafts.
A commission has been appointed by the Lieuten-
ant-Governor of the Transvaal to consider the ques-
tion of the safety of persons traveling in shafts, and
the following gentlemen have been appointed to serve
on the commission:
U. P. Swinburne, Acting Government Mining En-
gineer (Transvaal), chairman; J. A. Vaughan, Chief
Inspector of Machinery (Transvaal); J. S. Fisher, In-
spector of Mines, Johannesburg; F. Drake and E.
Hopper, consulting engineers, representing Trans-
vaal Chamber of Mines; R. M. Catlin, consulting en-
gineer, Consolidated Gold Fields of South Africa,
Ltd. ; H. C. Behr, consulting mechanical engineer,
Consolidated Gold Fields of South Africa, Ltd. ; S. C.
Thomson, consulting engineer, Messrs. Neumann &
Co.; J. F. Cook, consulting mechanical engineer,
Messrs. Neumann & Co. ; G. C. Fox, consulting me-
chanical engineer, Messrs. A. Goerz & Co.; K.
Schweder, assistant consulting mechanical engineer,
Messrs. A. Goerz & Co. ; E. Farrar, consulting me-
chanical engineer, General Mining & Finance Corpo-
ration; J. H. Johns, consulting engineer, Johannes-
burg Consolidated Investment Co. ; D. Gilmour, con-
sulting mechanical engineer, Johannesburg Consoli-
dated Investment Co. ; C. J. Price, general manager
central administration, Rand Mines, Ltd.; A. M.
Robeson, consulting mechanical engineer, Messrs. H.
Eckstein & Co. ; F. Hellmann, consulting engineer,
East Rand Proprietary Mines, Ltd.; W. L. Honnold,
consulting engineer, Consolidated Mines Selection
Co., Ltd.; W. Bradford, manager, Langlaagte Deep,
Ltd. ; H. R. Skinner, manager, Durban Roodepoort
G. M. Co., Ltd.; J. W. H. Stubbs, general manager,
Randfontein Estates; E. J. Way, general manager,
Kleinfontein group of mines; J. A. Hebbard, man-
ager, Langlaagte Estate and G. M. Co., Ltd.; Secre-
tary, J. R. Mackinlay, Mines Department, Johannes-
burg.
I. Sectional committees have been formed to con-
sider more particularly the subdivisions:
1. Winding ropes — structure and material.
2. Winding ropes — preservation and examination.
3. Winding ropes — the best method of testing the
same.
4. The best method of attaching the rope to the
load. The reliability and adaptability of safety
catches and appliances in shafts.
II. The Commission invites the attendance of all
persons who are willing to give evidence who are
acquainted with the matters of reference set forth in
the schedule above, and which are more particularly
described hereunder.
It is requested that any intending witness will
communicate with the secretary of the Commission
(address, P. O. box 1132, Johannesburg, or room 74,
Winchester House, Johannesburg) as to his willing-
ness to appear and give evidence; his address,
whither notifications may be sent; and a short state-
ment as to the evidence he is willing to give, specify-
ing those points he considers of particular impor-
tance.
The Commission also invites statements from per-
sons conversant with mining matters, who are unable
to attend personally to tender evidence. Such state-
ments may refer to any one or all of the sections of
the enquiry, and should be forwarded to the secre-
tary, supported by affidavit, and type-written if pos-
sible.
III. With special reference to the respective sec-
tions that they concern and under which they are
classified, the following points are brought to the
notice of persons intending to give evidence or fur-
nish statements:
1. Winding Ropes (Structure). — (a) For what
conditions of winding are the following the most suit-
able ? 1. Ordinary lay. 2. Lang's lay. 3. Other
special lays.
(b) What are the advantages or disadvantages of
lays of various angles ? 1. In the rope. 2. In the
strand.
(c) What special advantage or disadvantages per-
tain to lock-coil ropes, flattened strand ropes, cables,
flat roDes, many stranded ropes ?
(d) For what conditions of winding are the follow-
ing strand constructions the most suitable ?
b" round 1 — wires all the same size.
7 round 5 round 1 I 1TT. ,.„. ... . . ,
8 round 3 round 1 Wires differing in sue outside
8 round 5 round 1 L 0,.rcle composed of larger
8 round B round 1 w.lr,es> and often of a little
8 round 7 round 1 j hlSher ^rade matenal.
9 round 6 round 1 | All wires practically the same
10 round 5 round 1 I size, tending to have out-
11 round 6 round 1 | side wires slightly larger,
12 round 6 round 1 J say .003 in difference.
8 round a flat wire core of same grade as outside
wires.
9 round 3 twisted in opposite direction to outside
wire.
9 round 12 round a triangular core, etc.
(e) re Core of Strand. — What are the advantages
or disadvantages of hemp, hard wire, soft wire, flat-
tened wire, triangular wire, core of other special
shape or material ? What proportion of the strength
of the strand can be assigned to it ?
(f) The advantages or disadvantages of a strand
composed of large wires outer ?
(g) Should the various lengths of wire in a rope be
connected, and if so, the most approved method of
joining, such as brazing, etc. ?
(h) The best method of construction of a tapering
rope, with special reference to the difficulties in its
manufacture.
(i) The most suitable material for the main core of
a winding rope and its most suitable form. What
proportion of the strength of a rope can be assigned
to it ?
(j) Other particulars of interest with reference to
this subject ?
Winding Rope (Material). — (a) For what condi-
tions of winding are the various grades of steel ordi-
narily used in the construction of ropes specially
suitable ?
(b) To what extent is ductility sacrificed in the
gain of tensile strength ?
(c) What are the tensile strengths and ductility of
the steels (untempered) of which wire ropes are
drawn? 1. How do these increase or decrease dur-
ing the drawing process ? 2. What are limits of ten-
sile strength and ductility of wires of the various
standard sizes ?
(d) What special alloys (e. g., nickel steel) have
been experimented on for the manufacture of wire
ropes, and with what results ?
(e) How does any special treatment (e. g., galvan-
izing) affect the strength and ductility of the wires of
a rope ?
(f) Any other particulars of interest with refer-
ence to this subject ?
2. Winding Rope (Preservation). — (a) To what
extent this may be influenced by preservative treat-
ment during manufacture.
(b) The composition of various preservative and
lubricating dressings for ropes working in: 1. Dry
shafts. 2. Wet shafts — acid, alkaline or neutral
waters.
(c) The efficiency of various dressings in respect of
corrosion and wear.
(d) The frequency of application of dressing under
the various conditions.
(e) The method of application of dressing.
(f) To what extent the dressing obscures the con-
dition of the rope in the customary frequent examina-
tions.
(g) The efficiency of any metallic covering, such as
galvanizing.
(h) To what extent the life of a rope is affected by
working conditions such as: 1. Description of wind-
ing plant. 2. Variation in direction of shaft. 3. Use
of rests in loading. 4. Speed of winding. 5. De-
scription of guide pulleys, etc.
(i) To what extent the life of a rope is increased by
periodical recapping.
(j) Any other particulars of interest with refer-
ence to this subject.
Winding Rope (Examination). — (a) Nature of ex-
amination.
(b) Frequency of examination.
(c) Appliances for assisting examination.
(d) The portion or portions of a rope that should
be most carefully examined.
(e) The necessity or otherwise of relieving the rope
from strain during the examination.
(f) The best method of examining a rope internally.
(<?) The best method of assessing deterioration.
(h) Any other particulars of interest with refer-
ence to this subject.
3. Winding Rope (Best Method of Testing). — (a)
How can the true strength of a new rope be best
ascertained ?
(b) How far does the true strength of a rope differ
from the nominal strength (breaking load) as quoted
by the manufacturer ?
(c) The various methods adopted by manufacturers
to assess the ultimate strength of a new rope.
(d) What considerations affect the choice of a fac-
tor or safety ?
(e) In the tension test of a sample of the whole
rope, what length of test piece would be considered
sufficient to give a true indication of the strength of
the rope ?
(f) How should the specimen be gripped during the
test?
(g) What other tests beside tension tests are of
value in determining the quality of a new rope ?
(h) Regarding the utility of a periodical test, dur-
ing the working life of a rope, of its elongation under
known loads. (Should the loading be in excess of
normal conditions, and if so, to what extent ?)
(i) In what manner, and how frequently, should
such elongation tests be made ?
(j) What indications in respect of deterioration of
strength could such test furnish ?
(k) What length of rope is it advisable should be
cut off at the time of recapping, and what tests —
mechanical, chemical, etc. — should be applied to such
portion ?
(I) During the working life of the rope what tests
can be applied — mechanical, chemical, electrical,
microscopic, etc. — to show the deterioration in qual-
ity of the material of which it is composed ?
(m) Is the reduction in cross-section, as ascer-
tained from circumferential measurements at various
parts of a loaded rope, a reliable indication of its loss
of strength ?
(n) Is the visible wear on the external wires a use-
ful indication, in itself, of the loss of strength in a
rope ?
(o) Can the internal wear be assessed separately
from that visible externally ?
(p) Any other particulars of interest with refer-
ence to this subject.
4. The Best Method of Attaching the Rope to
the Load. — (a) Regarding the various methods of
securing a rope to a thimble, or in a socket — their
efficiencies, advantages or disadvantages — the vari-
ous constructions of rope also being taken into con-
sideration.
(b) Regarding the various methods of connecting
up a load to the eye of the thimble, or socket.
Should swivels be used ?
(c) Regarding the advantages or disadvantages of
spring connections, or other special connections de-
signed to minimize shocks.
(d) Regarding the advantages or disadvantages
of supplementary safety chains.
(e) Regarding the frequency with which connect-
ing appliances should be annealed, and the methods
adopted for this purpose. Have variations in tem-
perature (climatic) any deleterious effect ?
(f) Regarding the practice of connecting up a man-
cage, as necessary, below a skip or other cage.
(g) Regarding the material of which connecting
appliances should be constructed, and the proper
factor of safety to be adopted.
(h) Any other particulars of interest with refer-
ence to this subject.
The Reliability and Adaptability of Safety
Catches and Appliances in Shafts. — (a) Regarding
the utility and reliability of the various methods of
providing against excessive speed in winding.
(b) Regarding the utility and reliability of the
various methods of preventing an overwind of the
load in either the up or down trips.
(c) Regarding the utility and reliability of the
various methods of disconnecting the rope from the
load in the case of an overwind in the head gear, and
the means adopted to support the load after discon-
nection has occurred.
(d) Regarding the utility and reliability of safety
appliances designed to stop, check, or suitably gov-
ern the motion of the load in case of the rope break-
ing on either the up or down trip.
(e) Concerning any other safety appliances in use
for winding— e. g., safety crosshead guide for sinking
buckets, etc.
(f) To what extent do any of the safety appliances
above referred to constitute an additional danger to
winding operations ?
(g) Particulars (authenticated) are desired con-
cerning accidents that have occurred during winding
operations, with special reference to the reliability
or otherwise of safety appliances.
(h) Any other particulars of interest with refer-
ence to this subject.
IV. — With special reference to Section II, and in
order to assist the enquiry into the reliability and
adaptability of safety appliances for use in connec-
tion with the raising and lowering of persons in mine
shafts. Inventors and manufacturers of such safety
348
Mining and Scientific Press.
November 18, 1905.
appliances are invited to forward to the secretary
drawings and plans of their schemes, together with
full descriptions of their working.
All drawings should be on tracing cloth and suit-
able for sun print reproduction, of scale 1 inch to the
foot for general views, and 3 inches to the foot for
special details. Models may also be forwarded, but
these are not obligatory.
Drawings and models will not be returned, but will
remain the property of the Transvaal Government.
Practical tests under normal working conditions
will be made of appliances selected, and for this pur-
pose it will be necessary for each inventor or manu-
facturer when submitting drawings to also furnish
written permission empowering the Commission, if
they so desire, to construct or cause to be con-
structed the appliance in question for purpose of the
test. The modifications, if such be necessary, or if
such be possible, to enable safety catches or grips to
be used in shafts fitted with either wooden or steel
guides, should be specified.
V. Copies of the report, embodying the findings
and recommendations of the Commission, will be sent
to all persons whose evidence is published ; to those
who submit drawings or models of safety appliances;
and to all papers and periodicals in which this notice
is inserted.
All communications, statements, drawings and
models must be dispatched so as to reach the secre-
tary not later than January 31, 1906.
*************************************
1 Mining and Metallurgical Patents*!
* *
PATENTS ISSUED OCTOBER 31. 1905.
Specially Reported and Illustrated for the MINING AND
SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
Mineral Washing and Separating Apparatus.-
No. 802,399; J. H. Lancaster, New York, N. Y.
In gold separating apparatus, combination with
supporting frame, of inclined riffle tray adjustably
suspended for variable longitudinal vibration, remov-
able upper screen within and carried by riffle tray
and having screen surface extending from head to
tail thereof, independently and vertically vibratable
hopper delivering to head of screen and having ad-
justable gate controlled opening, and devices includ-
ing a common actuating provision, located closely
contiguous to hopper and head of tray for operating
latter and positively and vertically jarring hopper.
Centrifugal Concentrator. — No. 802,724; P. H.
Adams, Chicago, 111.
In centrifugal concentrator, combination of rotat-
able treatment vessel having separating surface, and
hollow differentially rotatable reciprocatory deflector
therein, and with one or more feed channels at one
end and one or more discharge orifices at other end
and having enlargement at discharge end of width
approximately as great as reciprocating movement
of deflector, ring or similar portion in such enlarge-
ment having chambers or recesses leading from inner
side to discharge orifices, means for employment of
water whereby material can be removed from desired
portion of separating surface near discharge end
without removing material from near feed end, such
means embodying deflector, latter having water
passages through lower portion of wall and adapted
to alternate periods of longitudinal reciprocation and
rest and means for producing such periods of recip-
rocation and rest.
Quartz Mill —No. 802,787; R. A. Vaughn, Bal-
lard, Wash.
Combination with mortar, of rotatable shaft, sepa-
rated heads rotatable with shaft and comprising in-
dependent blocks, arms extending between blocks,
means for connecting arms at outer ends, hangers
fixed to arms at junctures with connecting means,
shafts journaled in hangers and in one of heads, and
rolls mounted upon shafts and operating within mor-
tar.
Electric Furnace.
Chicago, 111.
-No. 803,147; E. Appleby,
In electric furnace, combination of frame, verti-
cally disposed receptacle mounted in frame and
open at bottom; second receptacle open at top and
telescoping with first; pair of electrodes mounted in
frame and extending into furnace near lower end of
first receptacle; mechanism for drawing second
receptacle downward with respect to first; and
mechanism for tilting second receptacle and dis-
charging contents after it has been drawn out of tele-
scopic engagement with first receptacle.
Miner's Lamp.
wood, S. D.
-No. 802,978; G-. A. Duncan, Dead-
length to be held in clasp of miner's candle-stock and
to protrude above clasp, such cylindrical exten-
sion being of greatly less diameter than body, and
wick sheath extending through cylindrical extension
and protruding thereabove with intervening air space
between sheath and tubular extension and means
closing air space at both ends.
Miner's Pick.— No. 802,541; P. N. Wilson, Cripple
Creek, Colo.
An implement of class described comprising handle
member having spaced ears at one end offset later-
ally therefrom and with shoulder on end of handle
adjoining ears, ears provided with transverse aper-
tures and handle member provided with longitudinal
channel extending through shoulder and communicat-
ing with space between ears, pick head having per-
forated tongue provided with spaced marginal notches
and operating between ears and bearing upon shoul-
der when in operative position, pivot bolt movably
uniting ears and tongue, and spring-actuated pawl
operating in channel and guarded thereby with one
end for alternate engagement with notches in tongue.
Metallurgical Furnace. — No.
Goodsell, Leechburg, Pa.
803,337; H. H.
Miner's lamp comprising chambered body for hold-
ing illuminant; tubular cylindrical extension super-
imposed upon such body of suitable diameter and
In furnace, combination of heating chamber, pan,
and wall disposed adjacent to pan and provided with
by-pass merging into heating chamber, 'means for
closing heating chamber so as to divert gases of com-
bustion through by-pass, thereby avoiding heating
of pans.
Method of Separating Ptrrhotite from Chal-
copyrite and Gangue. — No. 801,879; J. N. Judson,
South Strafford, Vt.
Method of treating ores containing non-magnetic
or weakly magnetic varieties of pyrrhotite, asso-
ciated with chalcopyrite and gangue minerals, which
consists in heating ore to degree sufficient to make
pyrrhotite more magnetic than chalcopyrite and
without considerable loss of sulphur, and subsequently
removing pyrrhotite from other minerals by mag-
netic attraction.
November 18, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
349
********* ************** *******:*******
*
+
+ *
»♦*********•*♦* •*"*■**<*•* + * + + + ** + *+* + ***+ X
MINING SUMMARY.
Specially Compiled and Reported for the MINING AND
SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
According to the report of the United States Geologi-
cal Survey, the production of gold in the United States
during 1904 amounted to 3,910,729 fine ounces, valued at
$80,835,648. This represents an increase of $7,243,948
over the production of 1903. Aftor a period of very rapid
advance in the gold production from 1892 to 1900, during
which an increase from $33,000,000 to $79,171,000 took
place, there followed two years of nearly stationary out-
put, and one year, 1903, of very decided decrease. The
production of silver in 1904 amounted to 55,999,864 fine
ounces, valued at $32,035,378. This represents an in-
crease of 1,699,864 ounces over the production of 1903,
and an increase in value of $2,713,378. There is, there-
fore, a total increase of $9,597,326 in the value of gold
and silver produced in 1904 over that of 1903. The record
output of silver in 1892, amounting to 63,500,000 fine
ounces, has not been reached in late years, nor has the
coining value attained the figures of that year,
which amounted to $82,101,0011. The price of silver in
1904, according to the Director of the Mint, varied from
55 to 61 cents per fine ounce, representing a decided in-
crease over the prices of 1903, which varied from 48 to
59 cents, and only exceptionally rose to 61 cents in Octo-
ber, 1903. The principal sources of the great increase
in the gold production of over $8,000,000, compared with
that of 1903, are easily traceable. Colorado added nearly
$2,000,000 to her production of 1903, most of this coming
from the mines of Cripple Creek. Nevada's output
increased about the same amount, chiefly by reason
of the phenomenal yield of the Goldfield mines. The
greatest progress is reported in California, whose pro-
duction exceeds that of 1903 by $2,300,000, the increase
being caused partly by a strong development of the
quartz mining industry and to a less degree by the activ-
ity of the dredgers. Alaska and Arizona show increased
yields, amounting respectively to $476,893 and $748,708.
A number of States show smaller increase, while Utah,
Montana and Washington have less gold to their credit
in 1904 than in 1903. The increase of value in the pro-
duction of silver of $2,713,378 is somewhat evenly dis-
tributed among the various States and Territories, but
it is to some extent due to the better price of silver ob-
tained. Colorado leads, with an increase of $970,320.
California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada and Utah also added
considerable value to their silver production. The num-
ber of producing mines in the Western States, exclusive
of Alaska, in 1904, was 3254. To this should be added
several hundred producers in Alaska and probably over
a hundred in the Southern Appalachian States, which
would make a total of about 4000. The total number of
placer mines reported is 1349, and of deep mines, 1905.
Colorado has the largest number (567) of deep pro-
ducing mines, and is followed by California, with
474. In number of placer mines, California leads
with 711, and is followed by Idaho with 263, and by Ore-
gon with 211 mines. California has by far the greater
number, 1185, of producing mines, and is followed by Col-
orado, in which the number is 588. One of the most im-
portant features of W. Lindgren's report is his classifi-
cation of the gold and silver product according to its
derivation from the placers, dry or siliceous ores, lead
ores, copper ores, and zinc or zinc-lead ores.
ALASKA.
Manager R. A. Kinzie's report to the Alaska Tread-
well G. M. Co. for the year ending May 15, 1905, states
that development during the year comprised 4650
feet of drifts, 1332 feet of crosscuts, 4475 feet of raises,
1152 feet of stations, and 223 feet of shafts. The main
shaft has reached a depth of 1155 feet and preparations
have been made for sinking it farther. The average of
fifty-four samples taken in the last 173 feet was $1.14.
The open pits have been sunk to a depth of 600 feet.
Slides of foot wall rock will prevent the extension of the
open pits to the south, The cost of extraction from
these open pits is now about the same as from large
underground stopes. Of the 876,234 tons of ore mined
and sent to the mill, 781,397 tons came from stopes, the
remainder being supplied by development work. The
cost of mining, hoisting, crushing and delivering to the
mill bins the above tonnage was $0.96, including develop-
ment and the mining of the broken ore left in the mine.
The open pits and underhand stopes above the 220-foot
level contributed 35% of the output, and the stopes on
the 440-foot level an equal amount. Of the other levels,
the 600-foot was the heaviest contributor. The average
of 4716 samples taken throughout the mine was $2.65.
Machine drills are employed throughout the mine.
There were forty-two of them at work every day, on the
average, during the year, of which twenty were stoping,
eleven driving development, and the rest working in the
open pits or cutting-out stations. Those in the open pits
accomplished the most work. Each one would drill an
average of 3.57 11-foot holes, or 39.4 linear feet, per ten-
hour shift, breaking down 57.26 tons of ore at a cost of
$2.77 for explosives. Those underground, cutting 7-foot
holes, would average 4.8 holes, or 36 linear feet, per
shift, and broke about 31.5 tons of ore apiece, at a cost
of $2.66 per day each for explosives and of $2.59 for sup-
plies, power and repairs. To break 1 ton of ore required
1.13 foot of hole to be drilled. The company has two
stamp mills, one of 300 stamps, operated entirely by
water power, and one of 240 stamps, capable of running
part of the time by steam power, the remainder by
water. Details of operations of these two mills are
instructive:
340- 300-
Stamp. Stamp.
Running time, steam 125dllh'
Running time, water 234d 12h 386d 7h
Lost time 5d In 78d 17h
Tons ore crushed 396,094 481 ,076
Per stamp per day 4 58 5 GO
Sulphurets saved, tons 8,420 9,633
Per cent of crushed 2.126 2.003
Quicksilver used, ounces 73,810 89,007
In batteries, ounces 00,480
On plates, ounces 6,925 17.3113
On v unners, ounces 357 404
Cleaning amalgam, ounces '. 6,048 2.931
Quicksilver lost, ounces 24,8'9 3S.79G
Supplies used, shoes 865 951
1 595 930
Stems ... 469 173
Tappets 58 51
Recovery from amalgam (478,621 $485,139
Concentrates saved, tons 8,420 0,688
Coni-enirales saved, value 8460,357 8552,291
Tatllngs, total value 877,949 893.028
Per ton 80.20 80.19
Gross recovery per ton ore crushed 82.57 82.35
Value amalgam per ounce 86.13 86.39
Value bullion per ounce 818.86 818.86
Operating and construction expenses were:
Per Ton
Totals. Milled.
Recovered In bullion 8 070,462 81.1064
In sulphurets 1,037,381 1 1826
Proilts on stores and supplies 69,317 0.(790
Interest and dividends 18,304 0,0209
Total receipts 82,095,104 (2.8889
Mining and development $ 841,785 80 9597
Milling 123,547 0.1522
Sulphuret treatment 133,253 0 1519
All other operating 36,075 0.0111
Construction and repairing charged to pront
and loss 41,365 0,0472
Total operating and construction 81,186,025 $1.3521
Net pront for year.... $ 909,439 81,0368
Balance brought forward 827,633
$1,737,072
Dividends (18%) $ 900 000
Depreciation, etc 150,852
81,050,852
Balance carried forward $ 686,220
Other construction, charged against capital, amounted
to $120,626. The company is capitalized at $5,000,000,
and in its fifteen years has made operating profits of
$7,331,644, from ore which, during that time, has aver-
aged $2.51 in value per ton. Operating profits for the
year under review were the largest ever experienced,
although operating expenses have reached lower aver-
ages in past years. During the fifteen years they have
averaged $1.24 per ton.
ARIZONA.
The owners of patented mines in Arizona are waiting
the outcome of the suit instituted by Attorney-General
Clark to enforce the payment of the increased tax levy
on such mines. In August the Territorial Board of
Equalization, acting on the suggestion of Governor J. H.
Kibbey, raised the valuations on patented mines returned
by the several assessors of the following counties,
as appears below: Cochise, 1500%; Gila, 400%; Gra-
ham, 400%; Mohave, 400%, Pima, 500%; Santa Cruz,
500%; Yavapai, 100%; Yuma, 500%. These counties
constitute the chief mining districts of the territory,
and without exception they objected to the raise. Ya-
vapai county, among others, refused to obey the order
of the Board of Equalization, and the Supreme Court
has issued an alternate writ of mandamus to the Board
of Supervisors, citing them to appear and show cause
why they should not obey the order. The test case will
be heard this month before the Supreme Court of Ari-
zona. The patented mines of Graham county were re-
turned by the local officers at $595,532.66. The 634
patented mines in Cochise county were assessed by the
local board at $223,015.47. This is the county in which
the Copper Queen is located, and from the patented
mines of this county the product of gold, copper and
silver last year was $15,000,000. Last year the total
product of the mines of Arizona was about $30,000,000.
They were assessed at a valuation of $5,000,000.
Cochise County.
The main shaft of the Tombstone Con. Mines Co., at
Tombstone, is down 840 feet and sinking continues at
the rate of 9 feet per week. The water is less trouble-
some than some time ago and there is daily pumped out
of the mine 3,700,000 gallons. The company is shipping
from eighty to ninety tons of ore to El Paso, Texas,
daily. Work on the mill is progressing rapidly and the
company expects to have its forty stamps in operation
during December. At Imperial the ore shipments are
100 tons daily. They are 80 feet below the 500-foot level,
in high-grade ore, and are still sinking. The manage-
ment is at work on plans for a smelter and concentrat-
ing mill. The capacity of the smelter will be 300 tons
per day to begin with, but the plant will be so con-
structed that 300-ton units may be added as develop-
ment necessitates. The present production is at the rate
of 600,000 pounds of copper per month. S. J. En-
trikin, general manager of the Arizona Con. Co., near
Johnson, reports that the Arizona Con. is making regu-
lar shipments of high-grade ore to the smelters while
pushing development work. The Black Prince Co. of
Johnson is sinking a double-compartment shaft. The
Hershal mine of Tombstone was transferred to Douglas
Gray of the El Paso Smelting Works. Miners are sink-
ing a new shaft to cut the vein at 300 feet. P. C. Earle,
manager of the El Paso Smelting Co., is president and
Douglas Gray manager.
The product of copper at the Copper Queen Reduc-
tion Works, at Douglas, during October amounted to
7,100,000 pounds from a little more than 5 furnaces. Dur-
ing the month the old furnaces from Bisbee went out of
commission to make room for No. 6 furnace, which is
now being put in. Furnace No. 5 is to be overhauled
and enlarged to the same capacity as furnaces Nos. 8, 7
and 6. The present force at the Copper Queen is about
900 men. The Calumet & Arizona production for
October was 16,692 tons. This is an increase for Octo-
ber of 392 tons and is due to the smelting of the Lake
Superior & Pittsburg and Pittsburg & Duluth, which
were commenced October 16. This represents an in-
crease in Bonanza Circle production for the remainder
of the year at the rate of 784 tons per month. Last
year the Calumet & Arizona produced 32,000,000 pounds
of copper. At the smelter the increased equipment, in-
cluding the extension of the building, widening the con-
verter room, the dust flue and the big stack, has been
completed and work commenced on the final contract to
complete the steel trestle and ore bins. It is estimated
that when the new trestle is completed a saving of at
least $100 a day will be effected over the present method
of handling thi fuel, etc.
Maricopa County.
The Ryland group, in White Picacho district, near
the northern line of Maricopa county, northeast of
Phoenix, is being worked under the superintendency of
C. W. Piatt.
Mohave County.
Ore shipments are to bo made from the Minnesota-
Connor mines, near Kingman.- — -The Vanderbilt shaft
at Cerbat is down 300 feet. The Oro Plata mine, near
Kingman, is to be unwatered and developed. The shaft
is to be sunk deeper. James Uncapher, of Mineral
Park, near Kingman, reports rich ore in the Keystone
mine. J. Dundon of Cerbat has bonded a mine frac-
tion between the Tub and Silver, Union Basin, to E. M.
Carson. The Green Linnet tunnel is to be driven under
the mines, cutting them at depths of from 200 to 300 feet
and draining them.
Yavapai County.
The cave-in in the fire district of the United Verde
mine, near Jerome, which caused some of the surface
buildings to settle, has proved to be less serious than it
was at first thought it would be. Ore is still being re-
moved from that section of the mine, and will continue
to be until the entire fire zone has been exhausted. If
the working of this zone proves practical it will mean
that the fire has been a source of benefit rather than of
harm. The ground now being worked is known as the
Hampton stope and has always been considered the
worst in the fire district. The fire serves to remove the
excess sulphur in the ores, obviating heap roasting on
the outside of the mine. The Hampton stope opened an
ore body that is known to contain a body of ore 90 feet
in width and as far as opened several hundred feet in
length, with some distance still to go. The mine now
employs between 530 and 540 men, which is the largest
number ever employed at that location. The company
is beginning prospecting on some of its minor claims.
After many years of idleness the North and South Ven-
ture claims are being prospected.
W. Duke of Cleveland, Ohio, is working placer ground
on Lynx creek, near Prescott, and by the last of Janu-
ary expects to have a grizzly and sluice boxes, able to
handle 200 tons per day, in operation. J. Chambers
reports opening up a 5-foot ledge of ore by an open cut
on the Mormon mine, 6 miles south of Prescott.
CALIFORNIA.
According to P. H. Oliphant's report on the oil pro-
duction to the United States Geological Survey, the
most remarkable event in the production ot petroleum
in the United States in 1904 was the increase in Califor-
nia. The output of this State has been increasing by
leaps and bounds since 1899. It has increased sevenfold
since 1900. For the last two years it has produced more
than any other State, the output amounting to 25.33%
or more than } of the entire production of the United
States. As a large percentage of the netroleum pro-
duced is used for fuel, it was marketed at a low value,
about 63% being sold for 17J cents per barrel, nearly all
of which was produced in Kern connty. The highest
price paid was $2 per barrel for a small production of a
superior grade of petroleum in San Mateo county. The
entire value of the production in 1904 was $8,265,434,
which amount placed California in the fifth place when
rank in the value of the States producing petroleum was
considered. The average price paid in 1904 was about
28 cents per barrel, a decline of about 2 cents compared
with 1903. The largest percentages of gain in produc-
tion were, in the order named, Santa Clara, Santa Bar-
bara, Fresno and Ventura counties. The only county
showing a decline was San Mateo. On December 2, 1904,
a remarkable well was drilled in at a depth of 2860 feet
in Santa Barbara county, a few miles southeast of Santa
Maria, belonging to the Union Oil Co., which began
producing at the rate of 10,000 barrels per day. The
gravity is 22.8° Baume. Immense quantities of loose
sand were vomited out of this well with the petroleum,
which in a short time covered the derrick floor for a
number of feet. At a depth of 2200 feet a deposit of
petroleum was found in a loose sand which would have
made from 300 to 500 barrels per day, but this was cased
off and the well drilled deeper. Owing to lack of tank-
age, attempts were made to "shut in" this well without
success. Finally the pipe parted 90 feet from the well's
mouth. The petroleum is now flowing out of the cracks
in the ground at different points from 2 to 3 rods away
from the well, as well as through lead lines, and is col-
lected in temporary drains across the canyon. The
Union Oil Co. had about 200,000 barrels, which at first
was stored in these reservoirs and subsequently was
shipped by a pipe line to tanks at Gaviota. The Brooks-
line Oil Co. had several wells near this large gusher, and
they closed down at once. One of these wells afterwards
broke loose and started to flow at the rate of 4000 bar-
rels per day. Indications are that this territory extends
from 8 to 9 miles to Lompoc, and that it will contribute
largely to the production of 1905. The petroleum ranges
from 22° to 28° Baume. The lighter grades are found
in the northern portion of the field. There were 458
wells drilled in 1904; of this number about 158 were dry,
leaving 300 productive wells. There were 252 wells aban-
doned. During the year there were 2772 wells operated
and 647 wells shut in. About 75% of the new wells
drilled were in Kern and Los Angeles counties. There
were 57 rigs up at the close of 1904. There were 398
wells drilled in 1903. Of these 75 were dry holes, and 77
rigs were put up at the close of the year.
The Bakersfield oil district in Kern county kept up
its production of nearly 55,000 barrels per day in a
remarkable manner, although at times half the wells in
this field were shut in for want of transportation. The
specific gravity averages 15£° Baume. There were over
3,000,000 barrels held "in steel and 3,500,000 barrels held
in earthen reservoirs in this field at the close of 1904.
Large quantities were shipped north by the Pacific
Coast Oil Co. 's lines to Point Richmond, and from 150
350
Mining and Scientific Press.
November 18, 1905.
to 200 tank cars were shipped daily from this field in
1904.
The Coalinga oil field in Fresno county in 1904 more
than doubled its production of 1903, yielding 5,114,958
barrels. The gravity of the petroleum produced in this
field ranges from 12° to 45° Baume, the larger propor-
tion being 33° Baume. There were 148 producing wells
during 1904 and 11 wells shut in for want of transporta-
tion. Four pipe lines, from 5 to 10 miles in length, con-
nect this field with the tanks on the Southern Pacific
railway near Coalinga. The Pacific Coast Oil Co.'s
branch line from Coalinga reaches the main line at Men-
dota station, 166 miles south of Point Richmond. In
October a 6-inch pipe line was completed to the Pacific
coast at Montgomery bay, distant about 100 miles. One
of the serious obstacles to the rapid development of
this field is the scarcity of water. There is a partial sup-
ply furnished by two water pipe lines operated by the
Coalinga Consolidated Water Co., which secures it from
wells in the valley.
The Los Angeles oil field in 1904 slightly more than
maintained the production of the previous year. The
production in 1904 was 2,102,892 barrels, the product of
1273 wells. There were 148 wells drilled and 99 aban-
doned during the year. The specific gravity averaged
about 13° Baume.
The oil production in Santa Barbara county increased
158% in 1904 over that in 1903, owing to the immense
wells opened up toward the close of the year near Santa
Maria, with indications of a much larger increase in 1905.
The particulars of the well secured by the Union Oil Co.
have already been described. Wells near Summerland,
in this county, have long been noted, owing to their rigs
being located on piles in the ocean.
In Ventura county, the oil wells are quite deep in this
field. Many are over 2000 feet, and a great part of the
petroleum is as light as 25° Baume, some of it going as
high as 35° Baume. There was a marked increase in the
production in 1904 over that of 1903, amounting to 49%,
and the price averaged 90 cents per barrel, which was
the highest paid for crude petroleum in California dur-
ing 1904, except for a small production in San Mateo
county.
Alameda County.
The shipping of magnesite from the mines at Red
mountain, 30 miles from Livermore, has begun. The
factories that are to reduce and handle this ore are in
Oakland. California is the only State in the Union that
produces magnesite which is a native magnesium car-
bonate, composed of 47.6% magnesia and 52.4% carbon
dioxide. During 1904 the quantity of crude magnesite
produced was 2850 tons, valued at $9298. With the ex-
ception of 51 tons mined in Fresno and Napa counties,
this was all derived from the deposits at Porterville,
Tulare county. For 1903 the quantity reported was
3744 short tons crude, valued at $10,59*5, equivalent to
1361 tons calcined, worth $20,515. The demand for both
crude and calcined magnesite on the Pacific coast is
limited, and prohibitive freight rates have thus far pre-
vented shipments to the East. Oregon and California
consume the entire native production. In the crude
state magnesite is used for the manufacture of carbon
dioxide gas; calcined, it is used in the manufacture of
paper from wood pulp and as a refractory material, in
brick or concrete form, for lining furnaces, covering
steam pipes, as artificial lumber, as composite stone for
lithographing, etc. Magnesium chloride is an excellent
bleaching agent. Calcined magnesite, generally in the
form of brick, is now universally recognized as the best
material for lining basic, open-hearth furnaces, cement
kilns, etc. The distinctive characteristics of a magne-
site lining are durability, freedom from moisture and
silicic acid, and resistance to corrosion when exposed to
the action of basic slags and metallic oxides. These
qualities make the lining cheaper than most others in
the long run. The magnesite bricks made in this coun-
try come from the Fayette Manufacturing Co. of Lay-
ton, Pa., the Harbison-Walker Refractories Co. of
Pittsburg, Pa., and the Rose Brick Co. of Oakland.
This is one of a number of companies formed to work
the product of the American Magnesite Co. The Pacific
Carbonate Gas Co. was formed to utilize the COa, and
the Plastic Construction Co. to manufacture tiling from
the magnesite rock. H. C. Stilwell, Kohl building, San
Francisco, is manager.
Butte County.
Diamond mining is being tried near Cherokee. In the
past twenty years sixty diamonds are said to have been
found there.
The Dewey mine, near Forbestown, is to be opened up
by new owners.
El Dorado County.
(Special Correspondence). — At the Gopher-Boulder
quartz mine, near Kelsey, good ore has been de-
veloped. The mill is being repaired. The Kelsey
gold and silver quartz mine, which has recently been
purchased by an Eastern company, will begin work soon.
The Eureka slate quarry near Kelsey, under the
management of C. H. Dunton, are putting in modern
machinery and methods for the exploration of slate.
At the Rosencrans mine, near Garden Valley, they are
still sinking. The Live Oak gravel mine above Placer-
ville continues producing. Work has been started at
the Gold Bend gravel mine near Smith Flat district.
The Snow gravel mine, near Newtown, has been bonded
to a Colorado company and they are making prepara-
tions for developments. This property has been worked
by Snow Bros, as a hydraulic mine for years, but the
fight against hydraulic mines stopped it. The present
company is running a tunnel to tap the deeper channel
and will work the claim as a drift mine. The Ameri-
can River Electric & Power Co. intend putting
in a transformer near El Dorado, which will be
a distributing point to furnish power to the Union
quartz mine, also to the Church, Cook, Crusader and
other quartz mines near by. The Church mine is
looking well. At the Golden Gate quartz mine they
are still sinking and have struck a fine body of ore.
Placerville, Nov. 13.
It is reported that a company has commenced mining
for diamonds at White Rock hill, 2 miles northeast of
Placerville.
The El Dorado County Miners' Association, at its an-
nual meeting, elected as president A. Baring-Gould;
vice-president, N. H. Berger; secretary, C. H. Weather-
wax; treasurer, M. Q. Meehan, all of Placerville.
Inyo County.
(Special Correspondence). — It is reported that the
lead, silver and gold mines at Resting Springs in the
southeast part of Inyo county, 100 miles northeast of
Daggett, have been sold to the Guggenheim syndicate by
J. B. Osborn. About forty years ago these mines were
equipped with smelters and extensive operations carried
on, but work was discontinued because of difficulties of
transportation.
Daggett, Nov. 13.
Los Angeles Connty.
Capital is being interested in dredging placer ground
in Soledad canyon, near Saugus.
Nevada County.
Superintendent Eddie has put in an air compressor at
the Delhi mine, near North San Juan. The new 10-
stamp mill at the Oustomah mine, near Nevada City, will
soon be ready to drop stamps. The Deadwood mine,
in Willow Valley district, near Grass Valley, has been
bonded to a San Francisco company represented by
J. M. Esselstyn. A new hoisting and pumping plant is
to be put in preparatory to sinking a new shaft.
J. P. Myers and J. L. Bryson are developing the Celia
ledge at Omega, near Washington. The Celia is being
worked through open cuts and the Huntington mill is
crushing 35 tons of ore daily. At the Banner shaft,
near Nevada City, the 600-foot level has been reached
and the shaft is in good condition. Superintendent
Kendall has put in another pump. As soon as the mine
is clear of water, sinking will be commenced and the
shaft will be continued to a depth of 1200 feet.
Superintendent J. H. English will put in at the Span-
ish Ridge mine near Washington a new air compressor.
Placer County.
It is reported that the Hidden Treasure mine, at
Bullion, has been temporarily closed down.
San Bernardino County.
Southern Pacific officials state that the engineers and
riprappers who have been at work for months at Salton
sea in an effort to check the flow of water from the Colora-
do river have been successful, and that the waters are now
practically under control. Experiment after experiment
had proved unsuccessful, and the railroad company has
been compelled to build several succe-sive new tracks to
get away from the encroaching water. The engineers,
by constructing a heavy riprap of re-enforced piling 600
feet long across one channel of the river, forcing the
water to back up and flow through the other channel
and away from the company's property, have stopped
the damage.
Sierra Connty.
(Special Correspondence). — T. K. Code, superintend-
ent of the Empire mine at Gold Valley, is sampling the
Comet mine in Jim Crow canyon, near Downieville. He
reports thirty-five men at work at the Empire. The
continued dry weather has caused inconvenience.
Mr. Filting, operating a mine near Lovelock, Nev., is
examining the Alice and Pappoose claims in Jim Crow
canyon.
Downieville, Nov. 14.
It is hoped to have the Sierra Buttes mine and 60-
stamp mill at Sierra City regularly producing by Decem-
ber 1. The new 40-stamp mill has been built near the
mouth of the No. 9 tunnel and is connected with No. 5,
the main working tunnel, by means of an aerial tram,
operated by gravity and having a capacity of 200 tons
per day. The old 20-stamp mill at No. 5 is being over-
hauled and new foundations and mortar boxes put
in. The new 40-stamp mill has eight batteries of five
stamps each, the foundations being set with con-
crete on bedrock. The batteries are in two divisions.
The tailings are to he cyanided. There are eight
tanks holding 150 tons each. A separate plant will
treat the tailings from No. 5 mill, the tailings being
sluiced down the hill. The deposit of tailings from the
old operations, which had accumulated up on the hill,
were sluiced down to the lower plant and have been
treated in the tanks of the new mill. Hydraulic power
is in both mills and mine. The water is conveyed by
ditches and flumed from the high altitude lakes on the
northeast slope of the mountain. James Clinton, super-
intendent of the Rainbow mine, near Alleghany, states
that five stamps of the mill are running, and that as
soon as there is sufficient water all of the stamps will
be started.
Tuolumne County.
The Rising Star, owned by Jos. Maddox and situated
near Confidence, has been bonded for $7,500. The
Grizzly 20-stamp mill, near Carters, will be kept running.
The company operating the Grizzly is also working
the New Albany. A tramway has been built from the
latter to the Grizzly mill, through which rock from
both mines will be run.
COLORADO.
Effective November 15, the American Smelting & Re-
fining Co. announced concessions which mean that the
lead miners will receive from 10 to 17 cents more a unit
for their product. The new schedule makes advances
ranging from 9 to 16 cents on the different percentages
in lead. Railroad men, producers and buyers agree
that the rearrangement of prices will give an impetus to
the mining industry of Colorado. Old mines, which
have been closed because of the absence of profit, are to
be reopened and property which has been worked for a
bare percentage over running expenses will be put on a
paying basis. The smelters are preparing for an influx
of ore and should the output come up to expectation it is
probable that some of the Colorado smelting plant-*,
which have lain idle for years, will resume.
Boulder County.
At Ward the San Bias mill is being remodeled by the
Myrtle Co. A new furnace has just been put in and the
company expects to start up for a continuous run on ore
which experiments with the old furnace demonstrated
could be satisfactorily treated by cyaniding. At
Jamestown the Wano mill is being overhauled and fitted
for cyanide treatment. At Eldorado a change will be
made from the Bailey chlorination mill to a cyanide
plant.
Clear Creek County.
The Continental Mines, Power & Reduction Co. has
been formed by H. I. Seemann of Denver to drive the
Seemann tunnel, which has been started on Fall river, 5
miles from Idaho Springs, to be driven in a direct line
toward James Peak.
Ore being opened in the eleventh level of the Terrible
mine, near Silver Plume, continues to increase in value.
The drift has been driven over 100 feet since the lower
workings of the mine were unwatered. The fourteenth
level has been cleaned out. This level will be driven
east. It is not expected to run the mill during the win-
ter. The Mineral Chief, owned by the Linn Con. M.
Co., have a concentrating mill to handle the quantity of
low-grade material. The No. 2 level, which is now in
800 feet, will be driven ahead and connection made with
the No. 3 level by means of a raise. That part of the
Griffith property near Silver Plume owned by the An-
netta Co. is making a large output of ore. The Inde-
pendent Mining Co., which recently purchased and is
operating the West Griffith, is meeting with success.
Experimental runs are being made at the Waldorf Co.'s
mill, near the Wilcox tunnel, to determine the process
best adapted to saving the values contained in the copper-
lead-zinc combination found in a number of the veins
that have been opened in the Wilcox and Tobin tunnels.
Manager E. J. Wilcox of the Waldorf Co. has lo-
cated the Tobin millsite and a pipe line between Silver
Plume and Georgetown, and has also secured by pur-
chase other millsites in that vicinity and commenced the
construction of a dam below the Pay Rock mill in order
to secure water power for an electric plant for furnish-
ing power for the operation of the Waldorf properties
and the Argentine Central Railroad.
The new Dover & Brighton concentrating mill at the
mouth of Fall river, near Idaho Springs, has been
started up on ore from the Brighton mine at Freeland.
The ore is concentrated six to eight tons into one. The
concentrator was designed and built under the direction of
J. G. Roberts. J. Lindstrom has charge of the mill.
Work has been started on the Pay Rock mines, near
Silver Plume, by Superintendent E. F. Kendall. The
Dominion M. Co.'s claims on Payne's peak, near Silver
Plume, have been sold to a new company which will
start work under the management of H. J. Crist.
Superintendent F. A. Babcock of the Southern M., M.
& D. Co., has resumed work in the Robert E. Lee tun-
nel.
Gunnison County.
C. T. Snedaker, representing Chicago capital, is work-
ing the OO lode on Cochetofa creek above Sillsville. A
shaft now 110 feet deep is being sunk and the vein will
be opened by levels.
Near Bowerman, Superintendent Slaughenhaupt has
retimbered the Bradley tunnel and is pushing toward
the David Lee and Good Hope veins. The Abe Lin-
coln, near Bowerman, is running a full force under the
management of L. P. Merriman.
The Continental Group M. Co. is developing the Con-
tinental, south of Gunnison. A shaft has been sunk on
the vein 150 feet and is connected with a 300-foot tunnel.
Work on the 100-ton cyanide plant of the Raymond
Consolidated Mines Co. is progressing and the company
expects to have it in operation before the first of the
year.
San Juan County.
The blacksmith shop and ore house at the Champion
mine, at Sultan mountain, 1 mile south of Silverton,
were destroyed by fire Nov. 11. The loss amounts to
$5000, partially covered by insurance. The fire is sup-
posed to have been of incendiary origin.
Work on the new mill of the Sound Democrat, near
Animas Forks, is being pushed. The foundations are
completed. J. C. O'Neill, general manager of the May-
flower M. Co., of Silverton, has given a contract for 700
feet of tunnel work to Martin Semelzer of Silverton. A
compressor plant will be put on the company's ground,
after which stoping will commence. A milling plant
will he built next year. At the Highland Mary mill,
in Cunningham gulch, near Silverton, there are twenty-
five men work under the superintendency of Wm. Cole.
San Miguel County.
The Contention G. M. Co., operating the Contention
mines, owned by the Smuggler-Union Co. at Telluride,
has made a trial run of 567 tons and produced 630 ounces
of amalgam. A. A. Clute is superintendent.
Ollpln County.
The manager of the Evergreen mine at Pine Creek,
near Central City, has put in the new hoist and is pre-
pared to sink the shaft 500 feet deep. The Sleepy
Hollow mine near Central City is being unwatered and
is to be developed after ten yearB of idleness.
The Elk Park M. Co. has let a contract for a shaft
building and a 40 H. P. hoist on its Annie H. property,
near Apex. Superintendent McNeill reports that the
company will overhaul its 25-ton mill this winter. New
machinery has been purchased for the mill of the Bos-
ton-Occidental Co. on Colorado hill, near Apex, to treat
ores from the Mascot property.
Lake County.
At Leadville the Felicia Grace Robinson has been
opened with good ore in the shaft. Sinking will con-
tinue until the bottom of the ore is reached. The
President shaft, Breece hill, Leadville, will be sunk
deeper. Its present depth is 330 feet, and it will proba-
bly be sunk to the 750-foot mark. Prospecting in the
upper levels will continue and the shaft will be enlarged.
It is reported that high-grade ore has been struck
in the upper tunnel of the Fidelity M. & M. Co.'s Bull
Hill lode, near Twin Lakes.
Summit County.
(Special Correspondence).— Breckenridge during Octo-
ber shipped 2080 tons of high-grade ore and concen-
November 18, 1905.
Mining and scientific Press.
351
trates. Of this quantity the local sampler handled 10f>
cars. The Gold Pan suits have all been settled. A. B.
Sculley of the Sculley Iron & Steel Co. of Chicago came
to Breckenridge and on behalf of his associates and him-
self paid all judgments, using $75, 000 in the settlement.
The property will be operated on a large scale next yrar
and a number of improvements made. The manager
of the Jessie mine, being worked under a lease and bond,
has struck a rich gold vein in the Jessie tunnel work-
ings. The Abundance M. & M. Co. of Breckenridge
have realizod that they have too much water to cope with
for shaft mining, so have secured a right of way from
the owners of the Mono group on Mineral hill for a tun-
nel 1200 feet long to strike their own property. This
tunnel when completed will cut their ore bodies at a
depth of 650 feet, 350 feet below their present main
shaft.. Work has begun on the tunnel. In the French
Creek tunnel in Mount Baldy, which is now in 1650 feet,
a fine looking vein of zinc has been cut. The Carrie
M. & M. Co. has Its mill in shape for its trial run, and
crushing and cyaniding have been started. The Reli-
ance dredger is still running full time and will continue
to do so as long as the weather is favorable. Boyce
Bros, are shipping lead-gold ore from the Fountain
Ledge on Farncomb hill, near Breckenridge. The
Kitty Innes mine, near Frisco, is being worked and a
streak of lead-copper ore, carrying gold and silver val-
ues, has been cut in the main tunnel. The power
plant working the machine drills and electric lights for
the North American and Mary Verna mines has been
started up, and both tunnels are now being driven with
machines. The Buffalo Placer M. & M. Co. of Boston,
operating at Dillon, has elected L. Kingsbury president
and general manager.
Breckenridge, Nov. 13.
Edward Huter, superintendent of the Square Deal
M. & Dev. Co., working in West Ten Mile, near Breck-
enridge. is running a 500-foot crosscut tunnel, which will
tap several veins. In the spring a 3000-foot tunnel will
be started from the base of the mountain.
Teller County.
The Iron King shaft on Ironclad hill, Cripple Creek, is
to be sunk from the 85 to the 185-foot level and machin-
ery is to be put in. The mine is being worked by leas-
ers. A 15 H. P. electric hoist has been put in by lessees
Schiele & Co. in block 197 of the Stratton estate on Bull
hill, Cripple Creek. Work is being done between the
surface and the 400-foot level. B. I. Shell & Co., les-
sees, have started work on the Hoosier mine on Tender-
foot hill, Cripple Creek.
Sinking has been resumed in the Home claim of the
Cedar Hill Gold MiniDg Co. of Cripple Creek by N.
Gardner and associates, lessees. It is proposed by O.
D. Fogleman, lessee of the T. Merritt claim of the Reno
Co., on Womack hill, Cripple Creek, to continue the
shaft to the 220-foot point. The capacity of the cy-
anide mills at the Los Angeles mine on Bull hill, Cripple
Creek, is to be doubled so that 500 tons of ore can be
handled daily. Morrison & Co., leasing the Silver Tip
on Bull hill, are putting in machinery to handle ore that
is being broken at a depth of 65 feet.
IDAHO.
Elmore Cottntv.
The mill at the Tahoma mine, near Atlanta, is run-
ning constantly. The machinery for twenty more stamps
is all on the ground, but will not be installed at present.
The cyanide plant will not be put in this year. There
are twenty-nine men at work in the mine and mill.
There is no work being done at the Petit mine, near
Atlanta. Work on the Boise-Atlanta road is being
pushed, but it will he impossible to complete the con-
tracts this fall, as it was impossible for the contractors
to secure enough laborers on the work.
Idaho County.
The Buster mine of Elk City has been sold by S. M.
Smith to San Francisco people. Men have been put to
work.
Sho§hone County.
It is reported that good strikes have recently been
made on the Ozark and the Klondike claims near Pierce
City. The Ozark company is starting a 500-foot shaft,
and is also putting in a 5-stamp mill. Ten men are
working, and supplies are being taken in for the winter.
On the Klondike the strike was made in the lower tun-
nel, the ledge having widened out to 4 feet.
A. D. Coplen has started work on the Ruth group at
Mullan.
The Great Western Co., at Burke, haslet a contract
to extend its main tunnel 200 feet, which will bring the
face of the tunnel within 100 feet of a point below the
surface outcrop. Negotiations are in progress for the
sale of the Nabob mine, on Pine creek, near Wardner, to
Spokane, Wash., parties. J. L. Safford has inspected
the property. It is the intention of the purchasers to
run a tunnel from the creek level that will tap the ore
chute at a depth of 1500 feet. The ore is said to be clean
galena, carrying very little zinc. C. E. Poor of Los
Angeles, Cal., is in charge of the work now being done
by the Dominion Co. on its claims on Carbon creek, 1
mile from Carbon Center and 2 miles from Morrison's
station, near Murray, and is driving a 700-foot crosscut
tunnel to tap the ledge at a depth of 500 feet. The
Hecla Co. of Burke intends getting a new hoist. The
present plant is intended to work only to the 900-foot
level, and within a year its capacity will be taxed to the
utmost. A hoist capable of working to a depth of 2500
or 3000 feet is to be bought. The Hecla plant uses elec-
tricity for power. Work on the Reno & Idaho .Co. 's
claims at the junction of Military gulch with Canyon
creek, 2 miles above Burke, is being done through a
300-foot crosscut tunnel.
R. N. Bell, State Mine Inspector, reports that the
bonanza lead-silver mines of the Cceur dAlenes are
making another record year of production. The six
principal producers of the district combined will pay
dividends during 1905 of over $6,000,000. At the Her-
cules a new concentrating plant with a capacity of 500
tons a day is being completed. The developments at
No. 3 level indicate that when No. 4 level is completed
rich ore may be struck. At Burke the Hecla mine is
being operated at a profit. It occurs in the only true
contact fissure in the district, accompanying an intru-
sive dike. There have been several other properties
throughout the district developed to the shipping stage
during the year, and others that give evidence of devel-
opments in the future. Along the copper belt above
Mullan the year's development has produced some re-
sults. The Snowstorm lease will ship over 60,000 tons of
ore this year of a grade ranging between 4% and o% cop-
per and six to eight ounces silver. A trial run was re-
cently made with a new leaching plant for the treatment
of the ores of this mine and some important results ob-
tained. The mechanical features of this plant, however,
need adjustment. The Monitor mine, 6 miles east of
Mullan, has developed sulphide copper ore bodies carry-
ing values in gold.
Washington County.
H. Houston has charge of Carroll & Wheaton's mine
on Cuddy mountain, near Council. It is reported
that a mill will be built in the spring.
MONTANA
The October receipts at the United States Assay Office
at Helena exceeded those of the preceding month by
more than $30,000, according to the report of Assayer
B. H. Tatem. Of this increase $11,000 is accounted for
in the increased gold production of Lewis & Clarke
county. The total receipts for October aggregated
$248,583. Of this amount Montana contributed $207,981.
The remainder was distributed among the Northwestern
States as follows: Idaho, $2241; Washington, $9365:
Nevada, $7296; British Columbia, $13,364: Oregon, $788;
Alaska, $6410. Of the Montana counties Fergus was the
leading producer, with $94,271; Lewis & Clarke second,
with $31,131, and Madison third, with $37,206.
Fergus County.
A company has been formed to work the Anderson
mines at Maiden.
Jefferson County,
It is proposed to sink a 400-foot shaft on the Minne-
sota mine near Wickes. T. Mullvahill is interested.
The shaft on the K. & H. mine, near Corbin, is being
continued 100 feet deeper.
8llver Bow County.
(Special Correspondence). — The Butte district in Octo-
ber produced 28,517,520 pounds of copper, worth, on a
16-cent market, $4,562,803.20. The by-products of gold
and silver amount to 2J cents for each pound of copper,
a total of $712,938, or a grand total value of the copper,
gold and silver products of $5,275,735.20. There was an
increase of 1,547,520 pounds over the September copper
production. The ore tonnage, the yield per ton and the
total yield for the month is shown in the following table:
Tons Pounds Total
of Ore. Per Ton. Pounds.
♦Boston & Montana Co 70,080 71 5,678,580
♦Anaconda 148,800 f2 7.737,600
♦Butte & Boston 20,150 68 1.370.200
♦Parrot 16,120 67 1,080,040
♦Washoe 21,800 72 1.785,600
♦Trenton 18,600 65 1 ,209 000
North Butte 10,220 145 2,790 000
United Copper 46,500 65 3,022,500
Clark mines 38,750 68 2,635,000
Miscellaneous 18,600 , 6b 1,209,000
Totals 431 ,520 28,517,520
♦Amalgamated.
The total output of the amalgamated companies was
18,861,020 pounds, and the output of the Washoe smelter,
which treats the ores of the Anaconda, Parrot, Washoe,
Butte & Boston, Trenton and North Butte companies,
was 15,972,400 pounds. Boston & Montana lost about
10,000 tons in ore production during the month because
the Great Northern Railroad Co. could not supply suffi-
cient cars to transport the ore from Butte to the smelter
at Great Falls. The North Butte is still mining only
very high-grade ore, owing to the expense and trouble
of hoisting it through a neighboring shaft while its own
shaft is being rebuilt. When the hoist is completed the
grade of ore mined will he reduced, but the tonnage will
be nearly doubled. The newPittBburg& Montana Co.
has joined the regular producers and made its first ship-
ment of copper a few days ago. There was a material
increase in the tonnage of the Anaconda, North Butte
and United Copper. The miscellaneous list received in-
creased contributions from the mines comprised within
the options of the new East Butte Mining Co.
Butte, Nov. 13.
NEVADA
Storey County.
Considerable assessment work is being done near the
Comstock this year. There is a big force at work at the
Sutro tunnel doing construction work, under the man-
agement of Leon N. Hall, general manager of the Sutro
tunnel for the Comstock Pumping Association. Assess-
ment work is being done at the Brunswick lode. Gold
rock, averaging $3 a ton, is being taken out of the Alpha
mine in Gold Hill, which is now under a lease to J.
Dietrich.
Lincoln County.
A 10-stamp mill is to be put in at Ibis, on the Santa
Fe Railroad, near Searchlight. It will treat ore hauled
from the Chiquita mine, in the southern end of the
Searchlight district. A 500-foot shaft has been started
from the lower tunnel. If water can be developed at the
mine, they expect to move the mill from Ibis to the
mine. A new pump will he put in the Pompeii shaft
at Searchlight to handle the increased flow of water.
Sinking has been stopped at a depth of 315 feet. F. J.
Spare is superintendent.
The Nevada-Utah M. Co. of Pioche will increase its
force and retimber the old Phoenix shaft. As soon as
the shafts are in working shape a modern pumping
plant will be put in and the mine developed.
Nye County.
The Beatty Bullfrog Miner estimates that 400 men are
employed in Bullfrog district. Among those working
are the Providence, Lucy Jack, Red Oak, Piute.Con.,
Crystal, Guthrie, Dores-Montgomery, National Bank,
Montgomery-Shoshone, I. X. L., Mike Ryan, Starlight,
Mayflower, Steinway, Eclipse, Denver, Tramps, Bull-
frog Mining Co., Original Bullfrog, Gold Bar, Bullfrog
Annex, Ohio Bullfrog, Bullfrog Central, Sunset Bullfrog,
Great Eastern, Peerless, Golden Scepter, Diamond
Queen, Gold Center Mining Co., Pick Up, Gibraltar
Mines Co., Paradise and Bullfrog Western. The deepest
hole in the district is the shaft of the Amargosa Mining
Co., near Bullfrog. It was sunk 330 feet in the wash, on
the desert in the hope of striking the ledge which shows
near Ladd mountain. They found neither bedrock nor
water.
Washoe Couno-.
The MinerB' Union of Olinghouse has taken the first
step toward the enforcement of its law, that no Chinese
be allowed in the camp, by driving two Chinese from
Olinghouse canyon.
OREGON.
Baker Countv.
The dumps of the Golconda mine, near Bourne, have
been leased to F. Ferguson, who will build flumes
through which the rock will be sluiced. The rich
specimens will thus be separated from the refuse and
then hauled to the Sumpter smelter for treatment.
Josephine County.
At the Greenback mine at Greenback, near Grants
Pass, forty stamps are dropping. The concentrates are
cyanided. The main shaft is down 1400 feet. Electric
power has recently been put in. W. H. Brevort of New
York City is owner. Several placer mines are being
worked along upper Grave creek, 12 or 15 miles above
Grants Pass. The Blalock mine will he operated all
winter, and several others will start up as soon as suffi-
cient water can be obtained. Preparations have been
completed for work on the hydraulic ground of the
Columbia Mines Co., on the east fork of Grave creek, 1
mile from Placer. C. E. Foss is superintendent. Some
hydraulicking has already been done in cleaning bedrock
that was stripped last winter and in cutting down a bank
of red clay to the gravel level.
Superintendent L. B. Wickersham has the additional
ten stamps for the Granite Hill mill, near Grants Pass,
in place, making a total of twenty stamps. The Ameri-
can Gold Fields management, owning the mine, an-
nounces that twenty more stamps will he placed by May
of next year. The double-compartment shaft opens the
Granite Hill vein to a depth of 450 feet, and levels have
been established on each 100-foot level. The Condor
Co is stringing its wires into the Granite Hill camp, and
the change from steam to electricity will be made before
the new year.
UTAH.
Salt Lake County.
The Fortuna mill, at Bingham, is to be started on low-
grade ore from the mine. Concentrators are to be
added.
The Kempton mining case, involving the ownership of
ores valued at $16,500, 000 in Bingham, has been reopened.
The circuit court of appeals some time ago dissolved the
injunction secured by E. A. Wall and associates, and the
United States Mining Co. resumed the work of extract-
ing ore from the property. This injunction has been
reinstated by Judge Marshall and the extraction of ore
has been discontinued. The litigation was started by
the United States Company by bringing a suit against
L. M. Lawson et al. and the decision was for the de-
fense. The company then appealed to the circuit court.
It was then that Wall entered the suit, the territory in
question being about the same, the issues of Wall, the
Ivanhoe Mining Co., and L. M. Lawson were joined. An
injunction was obtained restraining the United States
company from taking out any ore. When the matter
was finally decided by the circuit court an appeal was
taken to the supreme court of the United States. The
court was not in session. The justice before whom the
matter was brought declined to hear the case, and the
dissolution of the injunction followed. A petition was
then filed in the supreme court requiring the circuit
court to send up all papers concerning the case. This
was granted on the ground that the decisions of the Utah
supreme court, the court of appeals and the supreme
court of the United States were at variance with the de-
cision of the circuit court. The question of priority of
rights in locations and patents is involved. The Kemp-
ton ground is held by a location younger than the one
held by the United States Mining Co., though patented
before that company got out a patent. The supreme
court has held that the first patent holds. The Wall
interests feel that they have won a victory by having
the case reopened.
Summit County.
The water in the Ontario mine at Park City has been
tapped and the mine drained through the tunnel. De-
velopment work is to be resumed.
Piute County.
The Annie Laurie mill at Kimberley has been remod-
eled and its capacity increased to 300 tons per day. The
lowest tunnel, in 4000 feet, haB cut a good vein. The
chute system of handling the ores has been changed to
a skip system.
WASHINGTON.
Okanogan County.
P. S. Harris is working- the California claims on Mount
Ellemeham, near Loomis, for Drumheller & Voorhees
of Spokane.
Stevens County.
T. P. Hertzell, general manager of the Enterprise
mine, near Chewelah, says that on the Copper King mine
a large body of ore has been opened up by tunnel at a
depth of 300 feet. The Jay Gould property, 3 miles east
of Chewelah, has rich silver-lead ore. The main shaft
is 150 feet deep. On the Nellie S., 2 miles from Che-
welah, the main shaft is 250 feet deep. The old Eagle
mine is being pumped out. On the Enterprise property
good results are coming from the 100-foot level.
SOUTH DAKOTA
Pennington County.
The Blue Lead mine, near Sheridan, is being opened
up by John Harnan, who is sinking a shaft to connect
with a crosscut tunnel at a depth of 600 feet. The
Dakota-Calumet and the Custer Peak companies have
done some work in the 6ame district.
352
Mining and Scientific Press.
November 18, 1905.
FOREIGN.
AFRICA.
There were 425,000 ounces of fine gold output from the
Transvaal mines during October, a total of 4,032,621
ounces fine gold for the first ten months of 1905.
AUSTRALIA.
Queensland.
According to the Queensland Mining Journal, the yield
of gold in Queensland for September was 46,700 ounces
fine, as against 52,005 ounces for September of last year,
or a decrease of 5305 ounces. The falling off is spread
over all the principal fields except Ravenswood, where
the yield was 3817 ounces, or 849 ounces more than for
the corresponding month last year, The principal de-
creases, however, were at Charters Towers. At Mount
Morgan the falling off was 200 ounces, but the quantity
of quartz operated on was larger, there having been
a decrease in the value of stone treated of Is. per ton.
Charters Towers, Gympie and Croydon were also worse
off in this respect than in September last year; but at
Ravenswood, not only was there an improved yield, but
the value of the stone treated increased from £4 15s. lid.
per ton in September of 1904 to £6 15s. 5d. per ton last
month. The yield of gold for the nine months of 1905
that have elapsed was 436,286 ounces fine, as against
466,394 ounces for the corresponding month of last year,
or a decrease of 30,008 ounces. The dividends for the
month totaled £51,409.
CANADA.
BRITISH COLUMBIA.
Boundary District.
Work has been resumed on the Big Four group, near
Eholt. James Moran is in charge. On account of the
difficulty of packing in supplies to Franklin camp, the
McKinley mine will not be operated all winter, but work
will be resumed again in the spring. The Napoleon
mine, near Marcus, is being worked under Harry Johns
for the British Columbia Copper Co.
The Dominion Copper Co. is shipping ore from the
Brooklyn, Rawhide and Stemwinder mines. The new
compressor for the Rawhide has been shipped by the
manufacturers. The Oro Denoro mine, in Summit, is
to be worked under the direction of R. H. Anderson.
The lower ore quarry is to be opened up and ore ship-
ments will be made over the Great Northern.
Cassiar District.
The British America Dredging Co., operating on
Spruce and Gold Run, Atlin, during the past summer
built 9 miles of transmission line from the central hydro-
electric power plant on Pine creek to Spruce creek
where, at Blue canyon, the company built a dredge with
a capacity of 3500 cubic yards of gravel daily. This
dredge has a digging range of 40 feet. It was started
on September 10 and run until the close down for the
season.
Slocan District.
No work is being done on the Fisher Maiden group,
near Silverton, and it is reported that the owners will
not lease it. Many other nearby properties are being
worked by leasers at a profit. The lessees at the Flint
have made their first ore shipment; the Enterprise on
Ten Mile creek is being worked ; as is also the Wakefield
on Four Mile, which is under lease to Wm. Hunter.
The Noonday, 1J mile southeast of Silverton, has started
up again under lease to Mr. Crow of Slocan City.
Vancouver Island.
(Special Correspondence). — The Tyee Copper Co.'s
smelter at Duncans Station ran sixteen days during
October and smelted 2975 tons of Tyee ore, giving a
return, after deduction of freight and refining charges,
of $51,237.
Duncans Station, Nov. 11.
The Britannia Smelting Co. 's works at Crofton were
built primarily to reduce ore from the Lenora mine at
Mount Sicker, which is connected with the smelter by
8} miles of railway, but now the Britannia mines Joff
Howe sound on the mainland coast, 60 miles by water
from the smelter, and also the mines of southeast
Alaska are expected to be the chief sources. Elaborate
arrangements have been made to receive the ore from
vessels. The equipment includes a sampling mill, bri-
quetting plant, roasting yard and smelter buildings.
The 42x160 water-jacketted stack has a capacity of 350
tons, the Garretson furnace 200 tons, and the cupola for
remelting matte, 65 tons. Hand-charging is used and the
slag is granulated. The converter plant has four shells
of the trough type. Thos. Kiddie is manager, H. C.
Bellinger consulting engineer, and L. E. Gooding as-
sayer and chemist.
The main shaft of the Tyee mine at Mount Sicker is
nearly 1000 feet deep.
MEXICO.
Jalisco.
The Guadalajara smelter has been taken over by
the Pundicion Metalurgica de Guadalajara, S. A. Diego
Moreno, president of the Bank of Jalisco, is president
and Jose S. Diaz, general manager. It is expected to
begin smelting operations within two months. The
Guadalajara plant now consists of a single lead furnace.
The new company plans building a copper furnace. The
small copper smelter at Etzatlan, which was recently
taken over by the Etzatlan Copper Smelting Company,
has been blown in.
Sonora.
R. K. Clancey, of the Oro Maximo mine, near Ba-
coachic, states that work on that property is progressing
satisfactorily. They are working 120 men, and have
sunk two shafts, one of two compartments, to a depth
of 100 feet, as far as they could go without machinery.
They are running a tunnel on one of the veins.
SIBERIA.
A recent consular report says that very little progress
has been made in the Siberian mining industry, the most
antiquated methods being in general use. The applica-
tion of machinery or chemical processes is very rarely
found. Mining machinery and appurtenances, properly
introduced, will eventually meet with a big demand.
Engines, pumps, boilers, cables and belts are the things
most needed. Agents of concerns manufacturing these
should visit Tomsk, Krasnojarsk and Irkutsk, the cen-
ters of this trade, and make enquiries as to necessities,
customs and financial conditions of the market. Com-
petition in all these products is sharp, the dealers nat-
urally buying where the best terms can be secured. A
large number of the dredges now in use were shipped
from Great Britain. In Krasnojarsk agents of a British
factory are competing with those of the Putiloff works
in St. Petersburg. The chief local competitors are two
Russian concerns, which, however, buy the principal
parts from foreign countries. There is a demand for
cables of medium weight. One firm running a large
English commission house can handle cables of J, J, f
and | inch in diameter. Sheet iron, used chiefly in
eastern Siberia, is supplied by English concerns.
Personal.
W. A. Peichard is at Mexico City.
James Douglas is at Globe, Arizona.
H. H. Miller, of New York, is now at Mexico City.
John A. Church passed through El Paso on Novem-
ber 7.
Frank Pournier has returned to El Oro, Mexico,
from Paris.
C. C. Burger, of New York, is inspecting mines at
Clifton, Ariz.
L. L. Hubbard, of Houghton, Michigan, is visiting
Tonopah, Nevada.
Wm. M. Brewer has returned from California to
Vancouver, B. C.
J. H. Curle has been visiting Tonopah, Nev., and is
now at New York.
A L. Grant has charge Grouse Mountain properties,
near Grants Pass, Or.
Chas. Fiehi has been appointed manager Virgilia G.
M. Co. at Eldora, Colo.
Thos. Carlyon is now head mining captain at the
Arcadian, Houghton, Mich.
W. M. Thompson is general manager Rosario y Anexas
M. Co. at Elta, Oaxaca, Mex.
Jas. W. Malcolmson has returned to El Paso from
a trip in western Chihuahua.
W. H. Kinnon, Denver, Colo., is in Tucson, Arizona,
where he will probably locate.
W. E. Sharples has resigned his position with the
Power & Mining Machinery Co.
W. A. Kidney has been made general superintendent
Heinze interests at Butte, Mont.
John Boyle has been appointed general manager Oro
Plata mine, near Kingman, Ariz.
P. J. Seibel is superintendent Burlington mine, near
Sutter Creek, Amador county, Cal.
Geo. Miller has been appointed superintendent Sun-
nyside M. Co. at Twin Lakes, Colo.
C. T. Peterson is manager Nighthawk M. Co. at
Nighthawk, Okanogan county, Wash.
W. H. Frost succeeds E. W. Guthrie as president
Western Gas Engine Co., Los Angeles, Cal.
D. G. Davies, superintendent Carnegie-Montana M.
Co., Sheridan, Montana, is in Pittsburg, Pa.
C. J. Bandmann of San Francisco has charge of
mines of Magdalena M. Co., near Llano, Sonora, Mexico.
B. H. Bennetts has been appointed superintendent
American Smelting & Refining Co.'s smelter at Garfield,
Utah.
N. H. EMMONS has been appointed mining engineer
for the Old Dominion Copper M. & S. Co., at Globe,
Ariz.
R. S. Shainwald, secretary The Paraffine Paint Co.,
San Francisco, Cal., was in Denver, Colo., laBt week on
his way East.
W. C. Hammatt has been reappointed assistant super-
intendent Iron Mountain mine of Mountain Copper Co.,
near Redding, Cal.
F. M. Simpson Li in charge of a cyanide works at
Zacuma, Ecuador, South America, for the South Ameri-
can Development Co.
R. P. Kirk has resigned as superintendent Big Bend
Cinnabar M. Co., at Big Bend, Texas, to resume con-
sulting work at El Paso.
Geo. W. Meyers, representing Chrome Steel on the
Pacific coast, who is at present in Australia, expects to
return to San Francisco, Cal., by January 1st.
Jas. C. H. Ferguson, Pacific coast representative
Midvale Steel Co. at Philadelphia, has gone to El Paso
to attend the session of the American Mining Congress.
G. E. Sohroeder has been selected as successor to
A. C. Beatty, who recently resigned as consulting en-
gineer Stratton's Independence mine, at Cripple Creek,
Colo.
N. D. Phelps has been appointed sales manager min-
ing, cr.ushing and cement machinery department Power
& Mining Machinery Co., to succeed T. H. Tracy, who
has resigned.
H. W. Turner, E. M., superintendent of mines for
the Ladd Metals Co., of Portland, Or., left San Fran-
cisco, Cal., for Portland on the 15th inst. He contem-
plates an early trip to southeastern Alaska.
P. M. Estes, Jr., has been appointed chief engineer
Camp Bird, Ltd., at Ouray, Colo., succeeding W. F. Har-
ris, who has gone to Nicaragua to become general man-
ager Leonesa M. Co., Matagalpa, Nicaragua.
C. M. Becker, general manager Stratton's Inde-
pendence mine at Cripple Creek, Colo., has returned
from London, where he spent two months with the
officers of the Venture Corporation, owners of the mine.
A. P. Peck has joined the Allis-Chalmers Co. and will
hereafter be connected with the New York office of that
company. He will travel throughout the New York dis-
trict, giving attention particularly to the sale of power
and electrical machinery.
The following left Denver, Colo., Nov. 12 for the
American Mining Congress at El Paso, Texas: E. M.
DeLavergne, general manager Elkton Con. G. M. Co., P.
C. Costello and Geo. L. Keener, Colorado Springs, Colo.;
V. C. Alderson, president School of Mines, Golden, Colo.;
J. G. May, E. L. White, Commissioner of Mines, and G.
W. Schneider, assistant Commissioner of Mines, Den-
ver, Colo.; Chas. Himrod, Boise, Idaho, and A. H. Roller,
manager Shatter M. Co., Idaho Springs, Colo.
£^l>1&&*''.^*!J'fc<&'V.M?**^"4, &?M» **"&•& ***&'&&!&& *'*"&'*»*&'!&»'$' 35
Books Received.
a ?-*#*#* <p<ji<|iij->"f-*$"f"r- #********'*''* i1******** *
The United States Geological Survey has issued, as
Water Supply and Irrigation Paper No. 140, "Field
Measurements of the Rate of Movement of Underground
Waters," by C. S. Slichter, and, as No. 152, "Review of
Laws Forbidding Pollution of Inland Waters in the
United States," by E. B. Goodell.
"The Production of Petroleum in 1904," by F. H.
Oliphant, forms an extract from " Mineral Resources of
the United States," as published by the U. S. Geological
Survey. This is a comprehensive and detailed analysis
of the world's petroleum production and contains consid-
erable information regarding the productive fields and
regarding the uses of oil.
The Mines Branch of the Department of the Interior
of the Dominion Government at Ottawa, Canada, has
issued two valuable monographs by Fritz Cirkel. The
first deals with "Mica, its Occurrence, Exploitation and
Uses," the second with "Asbestos, Its Occurrence, Ex-
ploitation and Uses." In the former the author pre-
sents an exhaustive discussion on the physical and chem-
ical properties and geographical distribution of the
micas, specifically in Quebec and Ontario, but devoting
considerable space to foreign occurrences. He then de-
scribes the mining and preparation of mica for commer-
cial purposes, comparing different methods. In the
latter he discusses the location and geology of Canadian
asbestos deposits, the mining and separation, foreign
occurrences and the practical applications. Each is evi-
dently the result of considerable research in the Cana-
dian field and is valuable as an intelligent portrayal of
present conditions there. Foreign deposits are described
apparently from the works that have already been pub-
lished and which since have been antiquated by recent
developments. The chapters on geological occurrence
and economical working are excellent.
" The Proceedings of the Chemical, Metallurgical and
Mining Society of South Africa, May, 1902-June, 1903,"
Vol. Ill, published by the society at Johannesburg,
Transvaal. In this volume there conveniently are as-
sembled the papers read at the monthly meetings, with
complete discussion on each. These are; "Notes on the
Analysis of Cyanide Solutions," by A. F. Crosse; "Treat-
ment of Slimes by Filter Presses, "by C. Dixon; "Smelt-
ing and Refining Zinc-Gold Slimes," by E. H.Johnson
and W. A. Caldecott; "Improvement in Extractor
Boxes," by S. B. Hutt; "Improved Wash Bottle." by E.
H. Weiskopf; "Residual Products of the Dynamite Fac-
tory and Their Value to the Gold Industry," by W.
Cullen; "The Thermo-Hyperphoric Process," by A. T.
Firth; "Notes on Valuing a Gold Mine," by T. L.
Carter; " Lead Smelting of Zinc Gold Slimes," by P. S.
Tavener; "Mine Sampling of the Main Reef Series," by
D.J.Williams; "Use of Petroleum Oil Gas as Applied
to Smelting, Laboratory and Drill Heating Furnaces,"
by David Laird; "Theory of Misfires." by E. H. Weis-
kopf; "Notes on Commercial Cyanide of Potash," by A.
Whitby; "Miners' Phthisis," by W. Cullen; "Regenera-
tion of Working Cyanide Solutions Where Zinc Precipi-
tation Is Used," by A. F. Crosse; "Quartz Millingon the
Rand," by Fraser Alexander; "Extraction of Gold
from Cyanide House Slimes," by John Fleming; "Auto-
matic Sampler," by C. H. Pead; "Refining of Lead Bul-
lion," by F.L. Piddington; "Remarks on Banket For-
mation," by A. R. Sawyer.
**************************************
* t
Obituary.
Sfc eft eft eft eft tft tftcft ff. eft eft (f. eft eft if. eft eft if. eft £Ji ef. eft if. if. if. if. if. tfr <fi eftefteft if. if. * if. g*
H. I. Higgins, a well-known Colorado mining man
and former manager American Smelting Co., died in
Denver, Colo., on the 10th inst.
P. P. BUSH, an old and honored business man of Den-
ver, Colo., died at his residence in that city on the 10th
inst. His was a genial, kindly nature and he will long
be held in cordial remembrance by those who knew him.
Beauchamp H. Smith, second vice-president of the
S. Morgan Smith Co. of York, Penn., died in his home
in Los Angeles on November 1st, at the age of 36 years.
Mr. Smith went to Los Angeles about five years ago for
the benefit of his health, since which time he has re-
sided there, and hopes of a complete recovery were en-
tertained.
November 18, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
353
************************* ************
Trade Treatises*
* *
Jc****#******* ****■•!• **# ******** ******* *
Bulletin No. 81 of tho Crocker- Wheeler Co., Ampere,
N. J., details the construction and use of large sizes of
their Belt-Type D. C. machines.
"Water-Wheel Type Alternating Current Generators"
are pictured and described in all details of construction
in Bulletin .160 of the National Electric Co. of Milwaukee,
Wis.
The new catalogue of W m. Jessop & Sons. Ltd., 91
John St., New York City, gives many practical points
regarding the use of their high-grade tool steel, of value
to steel users.
A finely arranged array of testimonials and references,
illustrated by portrayal of some of their telephones, is
received from the Stromberg-Carlson Telephone Mfg.
Co., Chicago, 111.
The Ingersoll-Sergeant Drill Co., 11 Broadway, New
York City, show the varied uses to which their stone
channelers are put in catalogue No. GO. The details of
construction of different types are illustrated and de-
scribed, and their operation is portrayed under various
conditions.
From the department of publicity of the Allis-Chal-
mers Co. are received: Catalogue No. 127, sampling
plants and equipment; bulletin 1405, portable rock crush-
ing plants; bulletin 1406, forged steel balls; and bulletin
1407, Bennett's pouring spoon, all of which are replete
with practical and accurate data of special interest to all
users of those devices, and prepared in a most attractive
and interesting manner.
"Gold and Silver Milling," catalogue No. 5 of the
Power & Mining Machinery Co. of Cudahy, Wis., pre-
sents pictures and descriptions of the various machines
used in the treatment of gold and silver ores. It is of
value to anyone intending mill construction. Accom-
panying bulletins give more detailed treatment to certain
auxiliary apparatus. No. 25 describes the Niedermeyer
jig, which treats unclassified ore and has a great stated
capacity. Improved Huntington mills and crushing rolls
are represented in Nos. 27 and 28.
st******** ******** b*** ****************
* *
| Commercial Paragraphs, |
* *
;?********* ******<r<******* ************£
A GOLD medal has been awarded to the exhibit of the
Department of Pharmacy of the University of Califor-
nia by the Lewis & Clark Exposition at Portland. This
exhibit as prepared under the direction of Prof. P. T.
Green was described in a recent issue of this journal.
At a meeting of the directors of the Taylor Iron &
Steel Co., held in New York City, Oct. 31, 1905, several
changes were made among the executive officers of the
company. L. H. Taylor resigned as president, and was
succeeded by R. E. Jennings of Jersey City, N. J., who
has been vice-president of the company since it was
organized in 1891. P. Chrystie was elected vice-presi-
dent to succeed Mr. Jennings. Knox Taylor was elected
general manager. The officers at present are as follows:
President, R. E. Jennings; vice-presidents, P. Chrystie
and H. M. Howe; secretary and treasurer, T. P. Bud-
long; general manager, Knox Taylor.
Those in charge of smelting plants recognize the im-
portance of giving personal attention to small details in
the purchase of supplies. Regarding an item like
Stephenson bar belt dressing which is made by the
Stephenson Mfg. Co., of Albany, N. Y., E. A. Kellogg,
treasurer of the company, reports that their volume of
business is steadily increasing despite the fact that they
have no personal representative in the field. They
make their appeal for the patronage of belt users in
asking permission to send a free sample of their product
by mail to anyone interested. And they do this imme-
diately upon receipt of a 2-cent stamp. They assert
that "Stephenson" stands for quality, economy and
efficiency, and that those who bought it 18 years ago
still use it — and on the same old belts.
At a meeting and banquet of the Technical Publicity
Association held at the Aldine Club, New York, No-
vember 3, the following officers were elected: President,
C. B. Morse, Ingersoil-Rand Drill Co.; 1st vice-president,
H. M. Cleaver, Niles-Bement-Pond Co.; 2d vice-presi-
dent, Prank H. Gale, General Electric Co.; secretary.
Rodman Gilder, Crocker-Wheeler Co.; treasurer, H. M.
Davis, Sprague Electric Co.; members of executive com-
mittee, Graham Smith, Westinghouse Companies and
Chas. M. Manfred, Johns-Manville Co. Mr. H. M.
Davis addressed the Association on "The Advertising
Appropriation." An informal discussion followed, in
which the members exchanged views on the disposition
of advertising appropriations, the relative amount that
should be spent in magazine and circular advertising,
the relation between the advertising appropriation and
the volume of business, etc.
The De La Vergne Machine Co., of New York, which
has recently completed its contract for 40,000 H. P. of
Koerting two-cycle double-acting gas engines, of which
32,000 R. P. is employed for driving blowing engines and
8000 H. P. for driving direct current and polyphase al-
ternating current generators, have recently been given
a contract for three 500 H. P. Koerting gas engines to
be direct connected to 325 K. W. 550-volt direct current
Crocker-Wheeler generators for the Boston Elevated
Co. These engines will be put in operation about Janu-
ary 1, 1906. The company has established a branch
agency at Atlanta, Ga., to cover North Carolina, South
Carolina, Alabama, Florida and Georgia. This agency
will handle business connected with the three lines of
machinery manufactured by the De La Vergne Machine
Co., viz., refrigerators and ice making machinery, Horns-
by-Akroyd oil engines and Koerting gas engines. Their
representative will be Mr. W. M. Hargreaves; the office
will be at 510 Candler Building.
Latest Market Reports.
San Francisco, November 17, 1905.
Silver. — Per oz., Troy : London, 29Jd (standard
ounce, 925 fine); New York, bar silver, 63Jc, refined (1000
fine); San Francisco, 03Jc; Mexican dollars, 51c, San
Francisco; 48jc, New York.
The price of 6llver quoted to-day is still higher than
last week— 63} cents. The direct cause of this continued
increase in price is not apparent.
COPPER.— New York: Standard, 916.35J; Lake, 816.50
@ 17.00; Electrolytic, $16.75; Casting, $16.25 @ 16.50.
San Francisco: $16.75. Mill copper plates, $18.00; bars,
18@24c. London: £75 5s spot per ton.
Copper .shows another movement upward this week,
the price once more touching 17 cents. It is said that
most of the large consumers have placed their orders,
and that the price is unlikely to take another advance
at once, and even may fall off a fraction. Production
and consumption of the metal at the present time are re-
markably even.
Lead.— New York, $5.55; St. Louis, $5.15; San Fran-
cisco, $5.00, carload lots; 5<c 1000 to 4000 B>s.; pipe 7}c,
sheet 8, bar 6ijc. London:" £15 69 3d 3ft long ton.
Spelter.— New York, $5.55: St. Louis, $6.00; Lon-
don, £28 10s $ ton; San Francisco, ton lots, 7c: 100-fb
lots, 7}c.
Tin.— New York, pig, $33.15@33.40; San Francisco,
ton lots, 34c; 500 lbs., 35c; 200 fts., 36c; less, 37Jc; bar tin,
3ft lb., 40c. London, £152 2s 6d.
Platinum.— San Francisco, crude, $18.50 3ft oz.; New
York, ingot, $20.50 3ft Troy oz. Platinum ware, 75@$1.00
3ft gram.
Quicksilver.— New York, $40.00@$40.50, large lots;
London, £7 5s Od; San Francisco, local, $38.00@39.00 3ft
flask of 75 lbs.
Babbitt Metal.— San Francisco, No. 1, lOJc; No.
2, 8c; No. 3, 7Jc; extra, 17Jc; genuine, 32jc; Eclipse, 35c.
Solder.— Half-and-half, 100-ft. lots, 22.00c; San Fran-
cisco, Plumbers', 100-8). lots, 19.15c.
Zinc— Metallic, chemically pure, 3ft lb., 50c; dust, 3ft ft.,
10c; sulphate, 3ft lb, .04c.
Nickel.— New York, 55@60c3ftft.; ton lots, 40@47c.
Aluminum.— No. 1, 99%, small lots, 37c 3ft fi>.; 100 lbs..
35c; 1000 lbs. 34c; ton lots and over, 33c, Pittsburg. No,
2, 90%, small lots, 34c; ton lots and over, 31c, Pittsburg.
STRUCTURAL MATERIALS.
Iron. — Pittsburg, Bessemer pig, $17.35; gray forge,
$14.60; San Francisco, bar, 3Jc 3ft lb., 3|c in small quan-
tities.
Steel.— Bessemer billets, Pittsburg, $26.00@$27.00;
open hearth billets, $27.00@$28.00; San Francisco, bar,
7c to 13c 3ft ft.
White Lead. — Per ft., in kegB: 500 lbs. and over at
one purchase, per ft., 7|c; less than 500 lbs., per ft., 8c;
in 25-ft. tin pails, Jc 3ft ft. above keg price; in 1 and 5-tt>.
tin cans, 100 lbs. per case, Jc per ft. above keg price.
Dry Lead. — In bbls., 1 ton and over, 7Jc; do. in kegs, 8c.
Lime.— Santa Cruz, $1.35 country, $1.25 city 3ft bbl.
Cement.— Imported, $3.00@4.00 3ft bbl.; California,
carload lots, $1.80 f. o. o. at works; small lots, $2.10 3ft
bbl. in sacks, 4 sacks to bbl., 5c for each sack returned.
Lumber.— (Retail): Pine, ordinary sizes, $24.00®
25.00; extra sizes higher; redwood, $28.00@30.00; lath, 4
feet, $4.50@5.00; pickets, $21.00;shingles, $2.50 for No. 1,
and $2.25 for No. 2; shakes, $13.50 for split and $15.00 for
sawed; rustic, $28.00(3,35.00.
Nails. — This week the basic prices are: Wire, $2.77;
Cut, $3.25. Meanwhile the nominal quotations per keg
(list prices) are: No. 20d to 60d, Wire, $3.35; Cut, $3.55;
lOd to 16d, Wire, $3.45; Cut, $3.35; 8d, Wire, $3.50; Cut,
$3.50; 6d and 7d, Wire, $3.60; Cut, $3.60; 4d and 5d,
Wire, $3.70; Cut, $3.70; 3d, Wire, $3.85; Cut, $3.85; 2d,
Wire, $4.10; Cut, $4.10. Special rates for carload lots.
GENERAL SUPPLIES.
Antimony.— New York, Cookson's, ll£c; Hallett's,
12Jc; San Francisco, 1000-ft. lots, 14c; 300@500-fts. 12c;
100-ft. lots, 13c.
Bismuth.— Subnitrate, 3ft ft., $2.10.
Bone Ash.— Extra No. 1, 5@6c 3ft ft; No. 1, 4@5c.
Borax.— Concentrated, 7@8c 3ft lb; powdered, 9@10c;
fused, 25@30c; crystal, 7c.
Candles. — Spear Brand, 16 oz. adamantine, 40s., lie
3ft set; 14 oz. adamantine, 40s., 10c; 12 oz. adamantine,
40s, 9c; 10 oz. adamantine, 40s, 8c; 16 oz. stearic, 40s,
12|c 3ft set; 14 oz. stearic, 40s, 11}; 12 oz. stearic, 40s,
10£c; 10 oz. stearic, 40s, 9Jc. 100-case lots and over, Jc
less. Not less than 50-case lots, %a less. Boxes of 20s,
price }c advance.
Caps.— 3x, $5.50@6 per 1000; 4x, $6.50@7; 5x, $8@8.50;
Lion, $9@9.50, in lots not less than 1000.
Chemicals. — Cyanide of potassium, 98%-99%, job-
bing, 23@24c $ ft.; carloads, 23@23}c; in tins, 30c; soda
ash, $2.00 3ft 100 fts.; hyposulphite of soda, 3@3}c 3ft ft.;
caustic soda, in drums, 3@3}c3ftft.; Cal. s. soda, bbls.,
$1.10@1.20 3ftl001bs.; sks., 90c@$1.00; chlorate of pot-
ash, 12@13c; nitrate of potash, 6J@7c; caustic potash,
10c in 40-B>. tins; roll sulphur, 2}@2Jc; powdered sul-
phur, 2}@2Jc; flour sulphur, French, 2|@ — c; alum,
$2.00@2.25; California refined, l$@2c; sulphide of iron,
8c 3ft lb.; copper sulphate, 5i@5fc; chloride of lime, spot,
$2.50@2.75; sulphuric acid, in carboys, 66% B, l£@2c 3ft
lb.; nitric acid, carboys, 8c 3ft lb.
Chromium.— 90% and over, 3ft ft-, 80c.
Fire Brick. — Domestic, carloads 3ft 1000, f. o. b., fac-
tory square, $25.00; soap and split, $22.50; arch and
wedge, $27.50; skewback, $30.00; circle, $32.00.
Fire Clay. — Domestic, 3ft ton 2000 fts. in 125-ft. bags
double, and dry ground, f. o. b., factory, $8.50.
Fuse. — Triple tape, $4.00 per 1000 feet; double tape,
$3.55; single tape, $3.10; Hemp, $2.85; Cement No. 2,
$3.10; Cement No. 1, $2.75, in lots of 3000 and up.
Oils.— Linseed, boiled, bbl., 50c; cs., 55c; raw, bbl.,
48c; cs., 57c; Lucol oil, boiled, bbl., 48c; cs., 53c; raw-
bbl., 46c; cs., 51c. Kerosene — Pearl, per gal., 17jc; As-
tral, 17Jc; Star, 17Jc; Extra Star, 20Jc; Eocene, 19Jc;
Elaine, 26c; Water White, in bulk, ll'c; Mineral Seal,
Iron bbls., 18c; wooden bbls., 20}c; cs., 24c; Mineral
Sperm, cs., 26Jc; Deodorized Stove Gasoline, bulk, 14Jc,
do., cs., 21c; 86° Gasoline, bulk, 25c; do., cs., 31o; 83°
Naphtha or Benzine, deodorized, in bulk, per gal., 12Jc;
do., in cs., 19c; Lard Oil, E. W. S., bbl., 75c; cs., 80c;
Neats-foot Oil, pure, bbl., 63c; cs., 78c; Sperm, crude,
63@68c; Natural White, 68c; Bleached, do., 68@73c;
Whale Oil, cs., 52@67c.
Litharge.— Pure, in 25-ft. bags, 9j@10Jc 3ft lb.
Magnesium.— Pure, N. Y., $1.60.
Manganese.— Black oxide, 3ft ft., 2|@4c.
Mercury.— Bichloride, 3ft ft., 77c.
Molybdenum.— Best, $2.75 3ft ft.
Phosphorus.— American, 3ft ft., 70c.
Powder.— F. o. b. San Francisco : No. 1, 70% nitro-
glycerine, per ft., in carload lots, 15ic; leSB than one ton,
17Jc. No. 1*, 60%, carload lots, 13Jc; less than one ton,
15Jc No. 1**, 50%, carload lots, lljc; lesB than one ton,
13jc. No. 2, 40%, carload lots, 10c; less than one ton,
12c. No. 2, 35%, carload lots, 9}c; less than one ton,
lljc. No. 2**, 30%, carload lots, 9c; less than one ton,
lie. Black blasting powder in carload lot9, minimum
car 728 kegs, $1.50 per keg; less car lots, $2.00 per keg.
Red Lead.— 500 fts. and over at one purchase, 3ft ft.
7Jc; less than 500 fts., 7}c.
Silver.— Chloride, 3ft oz., 90c@$1.00; nitrate, 54c
Sodium.— Metal, 3ft ft., $1.
Tungsten.— Best, 3ft ft., $1.20.
Uranium.— Oxide, 3ft ft., $3.40.
Notices of Recent Patents.
Among the patents recently obtained through Dewey, Strong &
Co. 'a Scientific Press United States and Foreign Patent Agency
the following are worthy of special mention :
Vehicle Wheel Bearing.— No. 803,849. Nov. 7, 1905. H. C. Peter-
son, San Franoisco, Cal. The object or this Invention is to provide
an antl-frictional bearing Tor wheels in which the parts of the bear-
ing are attached to ends of the wheel hub without any interior box,
and they are especially useful for converting old wheels. The in-
vention consists in a ball-bearing for vehicle wheels, collars having
annular channels in their inner ends, and concave interior ball-bear-
ing cups, bands upon the wheel hub, to which said ball cups are
fixed, an axle spindle extending through the hub, having a nut at its
outer end and a collar on its inner end, ball-bearing cones fixed to
the nut and to the collar, respectively, and dust-including disks in-
closing the collar and bearings, said disks having lugs by which they
are secured to the wheel hub.
Conveying Apparatus.— No. 803,944. Nov. 7, 1905. T. Wallace and
F. Nash, San Francisco, Cal. The particular object of this inven-
tion is to provide a simple, practioal means for the expeditious load-
ing of vessels with such goods as flour, grain, rice, and the like,
which goods are usually put up in sacks or bags and, being soft, can
be tumbled about more or less without injury. The device com-
prises an inclosed chute, having means at its upper end for suspend-
ing it, and provided with a series of inside oppositely disposed in-
clined arresters, said chute having a feed opening at the top and
discharge openings at one side opposite the corresponding arresters,
hinged closures for said discharge openings, and a deflector fitting
one of said openings and arranged to be held in continuation with
the corresponding arrester.
Gold Saving Apparatus.— No. 803,868. Nov. 7, 1905. W. D. Baney,
Tonopah, Nev. The chief object of this invention is to provide a
convenient, simple, practical amalgamating machine and washer of
large capacity for use particularly in localities where water is
scarce. It consists in a gold saving apparatus, the combination of a
tank, a horizontally disposed amalgam cylinder supported to rotate
In said tank and having ingress and egress openings at opp site
ends, a cylindrical agitator extending through the oylinder and sup-
ported to rotate Independently thereof, a screw conveyor operating In
the agitator and means for rotating the cylinder, the agitator and
the conveyor. There are other details of construction arrunged and
combined to bring about the desired result.
Quicksilver Trap. — No. 803,934. Nov. 7, 1905. P. Somerville,
Bishop, Cal. The Invention relates to a trap which is designed to
separate quicksilver from slimes, tailings, and other material with
which it may be associated, and to aliow worthless material to pass
off while the quicksilver is diverted and saved. The device com-
prises a pair of amalgamating and vertically disposed plates and an
intermediate iron plate with Insulating supports and gaskets to
form joints at the bottom of the amalgamated plates, and a yoke
having shoulders by which the lower edges of the plates are forced
into close contact with the gaskets, pivots about which the yokes
are turnable and screws bearing upon the pivots whereby the yokes
may be adjusted to regulate the pressure upon the gaskets.
Submarine Boat.— No. 803,885. Nov. 7, 1905. H. O. Eiane, of the
United States Navy. This invention relates to Improvements in
submarine vessels or those capable of traveling at will either be-
neath or on the surface of the water. The main objects are to pro-
vide a vessel or boat of this oharacter which will be capable of a
wid-, range of action, being quickly turned about in either direction
and easily and quickly raised or lowered, which will necessitate a
minimum intake of water for purposes of submergence, which will
enable the replenishment of the air supply from the surface when
submerged, and which will have a novel form of closure for the tor-
pedo tubes.
New Patents.
Dewey, Strong & Co.'s Scientific Press Patent Agency, 330
Market street, San Francisco, has official reports of the following
United States patents issued to Pacific Coast inventors :
FOR THE WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 31, 1905.
803,084.— Advertising Device.— M. S. Alexander, Los Angeles, Cal.
803,150.— Wave Motor— W. P. Clinton, Point Richmond, Cal.
803.400.— Cabinet— G. F. Conley, Joseph, Or.
803,402.— Conveyor— T. Cox, Portland, Or.
803,405.— Vending Machine— Davis & Swetland, Portland, Or.
803,228.— Car Coupling— G. C. Harlin, Seattle, Wash.
803,484.— Sinking Wells— Hickcx & Killefer, Los Angeles, Cal,
803,485.— Table and Desk— E. Higgins, Soldiers' Home, Cal.
803,287.— Level— J. Hodgson. Thornton, Wash.
803,230.— Spacing Device— F. F. Hough. Seattle, Wash.
803,231.— Pipe wrench— E. Huntley, Seattle, Wash.
803,167.— Fruit Picker— C. B. Hyson, Everett, Wash.
803,232.— Corrugating Pipe— Isaaos & Speed, Oakland, Cal.
803,114.— Bottle Seal— G. Knutzen, Berkeley, Cal.
803,182.— Lubricator— L. B. Manes, Elsinore, Cai.
803,535.— Garment Supporter— Mensor, Greenblatt & Pelta, Seat-
tle, Wash.
803,432.— Saw Set— J. C. Reckweg, Los Angeles, Cal.
803,367.— Cushion Tire— W. J. & C. G. Shaw, Los Angeles, Cal.
803.369.— Mortising Machine— C. J. Stafford, Bakersfield, Cal.
803.376.— Weighing Machine— F. F. Wear, San Francisco.
803,382.— Switch Tongue— J. C. Wilson, Nespelem, Wash.
803,384.— Drum Cord Brace— D. M. Wright, San Francisco.
37,600.— Design— S. T. Stuver, Bellingham, Wash.
87,601.— Design— S. T. Stuver, Bellingham, Wash.
19
Mining and Scientific Press
November 18, 1905.
Common Sense
teaches us that .RUBBER against an article creates friction. In fact, we
wear rubber soles — use rubber on steps, etc., to prevent slipping — to
create friction.
Why do you use ENGINE PACKING with rubber on top— on the bot-
tom— and in between — where it is rubbing against the rod all the time —
creating excessive friction — loss in power — fuel — money?
No such mistake in
'EUREKA" PACKING.
The rubber is where it should be — embedded in flax —
which takes the wear — the lubricants prevent friction.
Isn't it up to you to try GENUINE "EUREKA,"
particularly as the price is one-half less?
JAS. L. ROBERTSON & SONS. 195 Fulton St., New York
AIR COOLED DUNTLEY ELECTRIC DRILLS
Capacities 0 to 2i inches. Under test have
removed largest amount of metal of any
portable drilling device yet devised.
WRITE FOR CIRCULAR NUMBER 52
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Simple design and the best materials result in RELIABLE machines.
Stock curried in Son Francisco antl Denver.
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ind
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ALL MADE BY
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143 Dearborn St., Chicago
The
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Designers and Builders of
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Under official test have shown the remarkable
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with only a 6% diminution of full load economy.
Address nearest Sales Office for Particulars
New York. 10 Bridge St. Chicngo, 171 La Salle St. Pittsburg, Westinghouse Bldg.
Boston. 131 State St. Cincinnati, 1111 Traction Bldg. Philadelphia, Stephen Girard Bldg.
Charlotte, N. C, South Tryon St. Denver, 512 McPhee Bldg. Atlanta, Equitable Bldg.
San Francisco, Hunt, Mirk & Co., 614 Mission St.
Whole No. 2366.
_V0LUME XCL
Number 22.
San Francisco, Cal., Saturday, November 25, 1905.
THREE DOLLARS PER ANNUM
Single Copist, Ten Cents.
Mine Capitalization.
In the incorporation of new mining companies it is
often a question with those most interested what
figure to set upon the property, or, in other words,
for what amount to incorporate. A glance at the
list of capitalizations of mining companies finds them
to run from a few thousands of dollars into many
millions. It is not always the large and rich, pro-
ductive mine that has the largest capitalization.
There are many mines which have never paid a divi-
dend, and which, in all probability, never will, which
have a capitalization of $5,000,000 to $10,000,000, and
even more; while, on the other hand, some of the
most profitable mines have a relatively small capital-
ization. Of this class the Calumet & Hecla mine at
Houghton, Mich., affords the most striking example
and represents an extreme case. The property is
capitalized at $2,500,000 and has paid over $85,000,000
in dividends. The Homestake Co. was originally cap-
italized at $10,000,000, which was increased to $12,-
500,000 upon adding other property to its holdings,
and then to $21,000,000, and later, as additional
property was acquired, the capitalization was again
increased until it has reached the sum of $21,840,000.
The consolidated property has paid over $18,000,000
in dividends, and indications are it will pay many
millions more. As there appears to be no direct
ratio between capitalization and dividend-paying ca-
pacity, as demonstrated by developed and operating
mines, it must then be considered a matter of expe-
diency what capitalization to place upon an undevel-
oped mining property. In manufacturing, the capital
is usually determined by the interested capital; but
in mining this cannot be similarly employed with equal
advantage, for the reason that a rich mine may be
profitably worked with a plant costing but a small
portion of its annual output, while a large and ex-
pensive equipment on a low-grade mine may produce
only limited results. Generally it may be considered
good business to place the capitalization at as low a
figure as is commensurate with the dignity of the
company and its probable capacity to pay dividends.
To place the capital stock at too low a figure sug-
Electric Haulage at Cananea, Mex. (See Page 359.)
gests to some the probability that the proposition
has only fair or uncertain merit, and that it is in the
category of small affairs, while an excessive capital-
ization may give it the appearance of being unsound
and an unsafe investment. After all, the capital
stock does not furnish a fair index of the value of the
mine nor of its earning capacity. The average new
mining corporation may capitalize at any reasonable
figure, but the price at which the public is asked to
subscribe for the stock is a matter requiring much
more careful consideration. It should be shown by
the promoters of the enterprise that the proposition
is reasonably worth development; that it has the
elements of success if these be properly handled, and
that the amount of money asked for it is not in excess
of its needs.
Smelter of the Cananea Copper|Co., Cananea, Mex. (See Page 359.)
MINING at the Mount Morgan mine in Queens-
land, Australia, has seen many changes in
methods since the discovery of the property. At
first it was assumed that it was a superficial de-
posit — a sort of siliceous sinter deposited from hot
springs. In accordance with this view the mine
was worked superficially. Later it was found that
the ore deposits were due to other causes and
extended downward, and extensive underground
workings were opened in the great deposit. Now,
after twenty-five years of steady operation, it is
found that it is more economical to work the deposit
by benching in open cuts, employing steam shovels in
handling the broken material. In this work the
large timbered underground workings are laid bare,
and much of the timber is recovered for use in the
lowest workings of
the mine in the sul-
phide zone. As this
work of benching
progresses d o w n -
ward it has been
found that the waste
overlying portions of
the ore body is be-
coming troublesome
and must be removed
to prevent collapse
into the open pits,
which are constantly
growing deeper as
the work proceeds.
This great open cut
is now approaching'
in depth the deep-
est of the diamond
pits at Kimberly In
South Africa, as
they were formerly
worked. The waste
from the surface will
now be sent into the
lowest levels for
filling the stopes.
What further change
will take place in the
working methods, the
ore, and the metal-
lurgy of this great
mine, time alone can
tell.
357
Mining and Scientific Press.
November 25, 1905.
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
ESTABLISHED i860.
Published Every Saturday at 330 Market Street, San Francisco, Cal.
Telephone, Davis 771.
ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION.
United States, Mexico and Canada 13 00
All Other Countries in the Postal Union 5 00
Entered at the San Francisco Postofflce as second-class mail matter.
Branch Offices:
New York City, 921-24 Park Row Bldg. Boston, 27 School St.
Chicago, 1164 Monadnock Block. Denver, 606 Mack Block.
J. F. HALLORAN Publisher
SAN FRANCISCO, NOVEMBER 25, 1905.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
IM.UBTRATION8: Page.
Electric Haulage at Cananea, Mex 356
Smelter of the Cananea Copper Co., Cananea, Mex- 356
Machine Miners Driving a Heading 360
Machine Drill Operating in a Raise 360
First Mill in Tonopah 361
Plow Sheet of the Union Mill, Breckenridge, Colo 366
- Details of Filter Press for Slimes 367
EDITORIAL:
Mine Capitalization 356
Many Changes Seen at the Mount Morgan Mine, Queensland — 356
Satisfactory Base Metal Mines 357
Discussion of -Papers of Technical Societies 357
The Equipment of Small Mills 357
A Proposition of the Alaska Convention 357
The Metal Market 357
Close of Session of American Mining Congress at El Paso, Tex. 357
Improper In Mine Sampling 357
MINING SUMMARY 369-370-371-372
LATEST MARKET REPORTS 373
MISCELLANEOUS:
Concentrates 358
Plant of the Cananea Con. C. Co., Cananea, Sonora, Mexico 359
The Prime Cause of Death From Coal Mine Explosions 360
The Machine Miner 360
Gold at a Depth of 4224 Feet 360
Geology of Tonopah, Nevada 360
Milling Ores at Tonopah 361
Cornish Tin Mines 361
The American Mining Congress 362-363-364-365
The Prospector 365
Concentration and Separation of Zinc-Lead Ores 365
Reduction Plant and Process at the Oroya-Brownhill Mines — 366
Filter Pressing Slimes 367
Production of Argentiferous Lead 367
Cause of Advancement of Mining Industry 367
Mining and Metallurgical Patents 368
Personal 372
Obituary 372
Books Received 372
Commercial Paragraphs 373
Trade Treatises 373
New Patents 373
Notices of Recent Patents 373
SOME base metal mines are quite as satisfactory
to own as gold or silver mines. The Bunker
Hill & Sullivan lead-silver mine has gradually in-
creased its output until it is now enabled to pay a
monthly dividend of $180,000. Some of the larger
copper mines of the United States are more profit-
able than most of the gold mines, while in Missouri
large profits are derived from zinc and lead deposits
lying close to the surface and in which only compara-
tively limited capital is invested.
IT is in the discussion of the papers of technical
societies that the greatest value of these contri-
butions lies. A critical analysis of statements con-
tained in technical papers must lead to fuller knowl-
edge of the subject discussed. By criticism of this
kind, which need not be either sarcastic or cynical,
but earnest and fair, the facts are brought forth.
The discussion may not dispute a single statement of
the original paper, but may possibly add much of
value to it. On many important matters in the min-
ing business there is diversity of opinion. There are
always old questions to be revived and new ones to
be considered. What important question, as an ex-
ample, has more theory wasted on it that the genesis
of ore deposits. There have always been contradic-
tory opinions on this subject and there probabiy
always will be. With all the light which recent re-
search and voluminous literature has thrown on this
matter the theorists still contend with each other,
and few are fully satisfied, even with their own
theory. If all of the statements made by those con-
tributing technical papers to scientific and technical
societies are to be accepted without analysis, the
records of such societies would soon be found teem-
ing with misstatements due to various kinds of
errors. These the discussions have a tendency to
correct, and to the facts are added new facts and
additional information until, as a result, there issues
a treatise which may be considered as embodying all
that is known of the subject in question at the time.
The Equipment of Small Mills.
When large mining enterprises are contemplated,
and there is abundant money available to equip the
property on a large scale, there is usually little diffi-
culty in arranging matters so that "ends meet."
With the small concern, however, where available
capital is limited, and the contemplated equipment,
although not extensive, is nevertheless as important
to the success of the enterprise as that of the large
concern, and frequently more so, there is room for
the exercise of care and good judgment. This is
a matter requiring experience. Ordinarily, the first
thing to be considered is power. In many places
there is a variety of methods of obtaining power
available — steam generated by wood, coal or oil;
water power direct; electric power generated by
water, or by steam, and transmitted to the plant.
This may be either a private enterprise of the mine
or it may be bought from a distributing company.
There are also gas engines of the various makes, and
using gasoline or distillate, etc. That means of secur-
ing power which is most convenient and least expen-
sive is usually selected.
Having decided what kind of power to install, the
question arises how much power shall be provided.
The requirements of each power-consuming depart-
ment must be carefully considered, and when the
total amount needed has been figured, care being
taken not to underestimate, it is well to add at least
25% for losses, and possible required extension of
plant. This latter contingency is of such uncertain
character that really little consideration can be
safely given to it in the figuring. It is not good
business to equip a new mine with heavy and expen-
sive machinery far in excess of its requirements for
probably several years. An experienced superin-
tendent will not purchase and set up a hoisting
plant capable of lifting 5 or 6 tons from a depth of
2000 feet in one minute for the purpose of sinking a
shaft from the surface, nor will he order a mill of
500 tons or more daily capacity ' when he has not
enough ore in sight to supply 10 stamps. If mis-
takes are made about large plants they can usually
be discovered and corrected before serious damage
results, but with the small mine, a mistake of this
kind will frequently result in disaster, as funds are
exhausted by extravagant and unnecessary equip-
ment, and no results beneficial to the concern accom-
plished.
In some districts there are numerous small mines,
no one of which will justify a milling plant, because of
the limited amount of ore available, and yet the ore
is sufficiently rich to pay a profit even if treated in a
custom mill. In such districts as this the owner of
the custom mill will usually make a much higher
charge per ton than the cost of milling; the money
which this difference between mill charge and actual
cost of milling represents would build a mill in a
short time. Obviously it would be good business,
then, for the several mine owners to form an associ-
ation for the purpose of building a mill in which the
ores from the several mines represented could be
treated at cost. This would be an advantage to
every mine owner concerned, and incidentally to
every mine in the camp, as custom rates could be
charged those mines not represented in the associ-
ation.
In the same way a power-distributing company
might be organized to supply power to each of sev-
eral companies interested in the enterprise, thereby
effecting a great saving to all concerned, both in
first cost and in future operating expense. There is
a decided disposition among mine owners to stand
alone on individual merit, independent of others, but
co-operation has in this matter many advantages, as
it has in other things, and where the several owners
of a number of small mines associate themselves for
the common good of all an advantage must accrue to
each of those interested.
THE proposition of the Alaska convention held
in Seattle, Wash., suggesting that Congress
pass a law restricting the number of 20-acre placer
claims any one person may locate to two on any
creek or tributary in that Territory, is intended to
put a stop to location by agent and to wholesale
location by individuals in their own interest. Such a
law would probably be unconstitutional, and it is
unlikely that such will be enacted. The further
suggestion that each locator pay a license of $250
cash, in lieu of $100 worth of assessment work, will
probably fail of accomplishing the desired result, as
only a few of the prospectors in the far North can
afford to pay so large a sum in cash, while the per-
formance of $100 in work requires mostly time and
small cash outlay. These efforts, while well intended
and seeking to meet requirements of existing situa-
tion, seem to have been, unfortunately, misdirected.
What Alaska needs is a law requiring a stated
amount of assessment work within specified and lim-
ited time — say, ninety days — and then the rigid en-
forcement of the law.
The Metal Market.
The producers of metals, both precious and base,
must certainly feel great satisfaction at the present
state of the market. Without exception, metals are
in demand and consequently high priced. Gold,
always in demand, is the standard of values, com-
pared with which all other metals are considered as
high or low. For several weeks past silver has been
gradually going higher and higher. July 1st last,
silver was quoted in the New York market at 581
cents. By the middle of August it had risen to 59f
cents, and by September had advanced to 62J cents.
Since that time the advance, though slow, has been
continuous nevertheless, until the present price of 64-J
cents has been reached. This is a peculiar, though
gratifying, condition to the miners of silver, and in
many instances means just that much more profit
per ounce. Where there has been no profit, it
means a reduction in the cost of production in ratio
to the raise in price. Silver currency of the Philip-
pines and other countries, where the ratio of 32 to 1
was assumed a safe relationship to establish, is now
in demand for melting into bar silver, for the reason
that the silver dollar of those countries is, at the
present price of the metal, worth more as bullion
than as coin, and the laborious and carefully consid-
ered efforts of the International Exchange Commis-
sion, which adopted this ratio of gold to silver, now
fail. What the future has in store for silver will be
awaited with interest, particularly by the producers
of that metal.
Copper is now higher than in some years past, the
latest quotations being $17.25 in New York. While
it may be difficult to actually obtain this price in the
open market for a quantity of copper, it is the figure
which affords the. basis for transactions in that metal.
Tin is also high, the price now having reached
$33.60, with a firm market, which indicates that
there is no immediate likelihood of production ex-
ceeding the demand, with consequent drop in market
price.
Lead and zinc continue to bring good prices, lead
being quoted at $5.25 to $5.70 and zinc at $6.10 to
$6.20 in New York.
The steady and apparently increasing demand for
all of these metals indicates the prosperous condition
of the industries of the country, and there is at
present no sign that there will be any material de-
cline in the prices of any of the metals above quoted;
in view of which miners may look forward to a con-
tinuation of the present prosperous conditions far
into the coming year.
THE American Mining Congress concluded its
session at El Paso, Texas, November 18, and
some of the papers read during the meeting will be
found continued elsewhere herein from last week.
This week the California Miners' Association is in
session at Nevada City, Cal., being the first time
in its history, since its organization at Auburn,
Placer county, that the Association has met outside
of the city of San Francisco. A number of interest-
ing and practical papers were also read at this
meeting.
IN mine sampling, in a crosscut where the ore body
occurs as a zone of impregnation in schistose
rock, it is manifestly not proper to take samples
parallel with the schistose structure of the rock, as
the values are likely to occur in streaks or in lenses.
The sampling should be taken under such conditions
by making continuous channels along the roof and
sides of the crosscut and not at disconnected inter-
vals as is ordinarily done when sampling along the
strike of the vein.
November 25, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
358
r
CONCENTRATES.
IN large streams a fall of 3 inches per mile will give a
velocity of current of about 3 miles per hour, where the
stream is straight.
The output of carborundum for 1904 is officially stated
to have been over 7,000,000 pounds, an increase of 2,300,-
000 pounds over the production of 1903.
vvvv
Why a mine owner should build a stamp mill to treat
gold ore when no values can be saved in an arrastra is a
question "Concentrates " is unable to answer.
Where boiler water contains a small percentage of
salt (sodium chloride), it is good practice not to carry
over 00 pounds pressure per square inch on the boiler.
VVVw
A number of experiments made on radium-bearing
minerals lead to the knowledge that the radium content
of minerals bears a direct relation to the amount of ura-
nium present.
Vwww
The statutory limit of length of a quartz lode location
is 1500 feet. The side lines need not be parallel, but may
have angles and elbows, but the line must not exceed
the statutory limit.
wwww
Cement tanks were substituted for lead-lined wooden
vatB at Mount Morgan mine, Queensland, Australia, sev-
eral years ago. The change has been found economical
and otherwise satisfactory.
When black powder is fired by electricity the electric
exploders used are of low power, there being no advan-
tage in using high power caps, as the black powder is
fired by the spark, and not by detonation.
Miners' wages in the Black Hills of South Dakota
are $3.50 to $4 per shift of eight hours, helpers $3 to
$3.50. This is in Lawrence county, but in some of the
mines of the southern Hills the regular wages are $3 per
day.
A boiler may be set in brick or stone. If the latter,
stone must be selected which will not spawl nor crack.
Some volcanic tuffs make excellent boiler foundations.
Blocks of steatite are also used for this purpsse with sat-
isfactory results where the rock is firm.
'b'b'b'b
When patent has issued for railroad grant land to the
railroad company it is useless to attempt to claim min-
eral on such lands. The discovery must be made prior
to patent, and the fact that the land is more valuable for
mineral than for other purposes demonstrated.
Tungsten and molybdenum, and minerals contain-
ing cerium and thorium (chiefly monazite), are in de-
mand. The tungsten minerals are principally wolfram-
ite, scheelite and hubnerite. The principal molybdenum
mineral is molydenite. Zirconium is also coming into
use in electricity.
Vwvw
The cost of drilling with diamond drill varies accord-
ing to the material drilled through, and to the depth of
hole drilled, it being cheaper per foot to bore holes of
limited length than long holeB. It is also more expen-
sive to bore down holes than those which are horizontal
or inclined upward.
The practice of placing a detonating cap attached to
a fuse in a stick of nitro-powder, and bending the fuse
sharply backward, so that the fuse may be on the out-
side of the stick, is bad practice, for the reason that the
abrupt bending of the fuse is liable to open it at that
point and cause a misfire.
Twelve hundred inches of water under 14 feet head
will supply the power required to run a 10-stamp mill,
including rock breaker and 4-drill compressor, and if
the water supply is permanent, much more than this.
The power required to run the above mentioned ma-
chinery is about 85 H. P. when the entire outfit is in
operation.
Mine timber is best which has narrow rings and a
solid appearance on the cross-section. Timber exhibit-
ing large rings, ,and soft, pulpy appearance on cross-
section, will rot more quickly and has not the initial
strength of the fine-grained wood. Young timber of
the kind known as second growth is likely to be brittle
and deficient in strength.
****
Where a vein crosses one end of a location and then
swerves and crosses a side line, it is restricted in the ex-
tralateral right to that portion of the vein between the
crossed end line and the point where the vein crosses
the side line where the plane is projected downward in
the direction of the dip, and parallel with the crossed
end line.
Good ventilation may be secured in a tunnel by means
of ventilating fans, blowers, exhaust fans, water blast,
and draught by means of outside furnace. The method
selected should be that which will operate satisfactorily
at least expense at the point of installation. The fans
or blowers may be driven by any kind of power most
cheaply available.
When a man has been mining for years in a single
camp, and has had little or no experience outside of that
camp, his judgmont on mining conditions and probabili-
ties in that camp should be good and are entitled to
much consideration, but he knows so little of other dis-
tricts that his opinion as to them is of little value and is
likely to be erroneous. One cannot always safely reason
from analogy.
When it is required to refine granulated gold by fus-
ing with niter and borax, if a graphite pot can not be
obtained and a small clay crucible must be used, it will
be found that, by adding clean quartz sand, the affinity
of metallic oxides and the potassium of the niter for sil-
ica is satisfied, the charge will not attack the sides of the
pot. Where this precaution is not taken, broken cruci-
bles are not of uncommon occurrence.
It i9 claimed that producer gas has a calorific value
of 140 British thermal units per cubic foot of gas. The
gas is used as motive power in driving gas engines, and
in generating steam under boilers. It is also employed
in furnace work and in many other ways. It is rep-
resented as the cheapest form of energy from fuel. It iB
made in gas producers by passing a mixture of steam
and air through a bed of incandescent fuel in a closed
producer.
In some shafts a distance piece (a piece of plank 2
inches thick) is inserted between the guides and the end
plates, or dividers, for the purpose of keeping the guides
in perfect alignment in the event of slight movement of
the main timber sets. This is likely to occur where the
ground is soft, or there are fissures carrying gouge.
When necessary the distance piece is removed and the
guides adjusted by the insertion of pieces of the proper
thickness.
vvvv
Salt crystallized from (natural salt lake or ocean
waters contains the chlorides of both sodium and mag-
nesium. When these two salts occur together the crys-
talline product of evaporation is dried, pulverized and
subjected to a blast of air from fans, by means of which
a large percentage of the magnesium chloride is blown
aside, leaving the chloride of sodium nearly pure. Salt
scraped up on the shores of salt lakes, dry lakes, etc.,
usually contains more or less dirt, according to the care
taken in collecting the material.
The specific gravity of vein quartz is about 2.6. A
cubic foot weighs about 162.5 pounds. Ordinarily 13
cubic feet of quartz are estimated as representing one
ton of ore in place, though generally somewhat less, but
the difference is allowed, probably as a factor for safety.
The amount of rock in place to constitute a ton varies
greatly with the character of the ore. Thus Homestake
ore requires only 10 feet to constitute a ton. Heavily
sulphuretted ore requires proportionally less than clean
quartz.
The value of a bar of bullion of given dimensions can
only be determined even approximately by knowledge
of the fineness of the metal. As gold at the present
market rate is worth about thirty-two times as much as
silver, it is evident the presence of a comparatively small
amount of silver will greatly reduce the value of a given
weight of bullion. The average value of mill gold from
gold quartz mines generally is about $17 per ounce, but
it rangeB several dollars above and below this figure in
certain particular cases.
Unless the work of rock excavation in a shaft is car-
ried a long way in advance of timbering, it is unsafe to
fire the round of holes by electricity, as the shock and
flying rocks will greatly damage the timbers. There
should be at least 50 feet from the last set to the bottom
of the shaft for reasonable safety in such caBes. Gener-
ally speaking, it is more satisfactory to fire the holes by
hand, the fuses being prepared of such length that the
center cut holes will be discharged first, the others fol-
lowing in proper order from the center outward.
Maps of the greater portion of the mining regions of
the Western United States have been published, or are
in preparation, by the United States Geological Survey.
For sketch maps showing what portions of the several
States of which maps are desired address the Director of
the United States Geological Survey, Washington, D. C.
Prom these selections may be made of the maps cover-
ing the areas desired. The several States are divided
by the Survey into quadrangles and the small maps indi-
cate the progress of the survey in the several States.
Without doubt there is a vast amount of difference
between the results obtained by different men in stoking
a steam boiler. The man who adds too much coal
lowers the temperature in the fire box unnecessarily,
which should be avoided, and this is followed after a
time by a hotter fire than is required, with a consequent
increase in steam pressure and generally blowing off.
A stoker who understands his business will secure a
greater evaporation per unit of fuel consumed than
another who is inexperienced or careless about the work .
TWvV
The ores of Cripple Creek occur for most part in
altered andesites, and are not the white quartz veins
familiar to the miners of many other districts. In a
large number of the mines the higher grade ore is
friable and breaks into fine material, the coarse rook
rontaining only relatively small values. The ore is
washed and sorted on reaching the surface, this rude
concentration raising the value of the ore considerably.
More or less sorting is done underground in most of the
mines, the large waste being used in building rock walls
and in filling stopes.
VwVV
Where a man is employed in the capacity of watch-
man on idle and unpatented mining claims, he may relo-
cate said claims for his own benefit should they become
subject to forfeiture for neglect to perform the assess-
ment work. This watchman cannot be considered as
holding a fiduciary relation to the owners, being merely
an employe, in no position of trust involving the control
of the finances of the owners. If the owners are in
arrears for wageB, suit may be brought in the usual man-
ner, but if the claims are really worth anything it would
be good business to wait until Jan. 1, 1906, and to then
relocate the claims, bringing suit for wages later.
wwww
Assessment work may be commenced at the last
moment at the end of the year, and if continued until
$100 worth has been performed this work may be
charged to the year 1906, the year 1905 having had no
representation. This is on the theory that the locator's
title is good, whether he does any assessment work or
not, until another party enters his claim and relocates it
for failure of the first party to perform the work re-
quired by law. The claim may be held for years with-
out performing this work, but always at the risk of the
original locator, for at any time he is liable to lose his
claim by forteiture for non-performance of the assess-
ment work.
vwwv
The best caps to use in shooting nitro powders are
the high grade varieties— XXXXX and XXXXXX.
It is never good practice, nor economy, to use lower
than XXXX caps. The more powerful the concussion
of the cap on the nitro powder, the more perfect the ex-
plosion, and consequently, also, the result of the blast.
In the winter season nitro powder often becomes chilled,
and, although it may not be frozen, is too cold to shoot
well unless exploded by high power caps. These high
grade detonators, although more dangerous than the
lower grades, are always the best, either winter or sum-
mer, because of their superior force and the results ac-
complished in blasting.
v W V V
A recent Belgium patent thus describes a method
by means of which the gold supposed to be present in
sea water may be recovered: A ton of sea water is
treated with about 5 cubic centimetres of concentrated
aqueous stannous chloride, when the gold is converted
into purple of Cassius and precipitated, together with
magnesium hydrate and the excess of tin, by the subse-
quent addition of about a pound of slaked lime. From
this precipitate the gold is extracted with dilute potas-
sium cyanide solution, and isolated by any of the meth-
ods commonly used in the cyanide process (precipitation
with zinc). Sea water from the Mediterranean and the
English channel yielded no gold by this process,
whereas samples from the Atlantic furnished traces.
There is considerable difference of opinion as to the
amount and kind of tamping to be used in the firing of
nitro powders in drill holes, or as to the necessity of
tamping at all. A series of tests might do much to throw
light on this subject, provided these tests could be made
where the conditions as to the character, hardness and
resistance of the rock mass was uniform or approxi-
mately so for the series of tests. Some maintain that
no tamping is necessary; others say a little is good, and
others believe that water is a sufficient tamping, while
others insist if a little tamping is good, more is better.
As a result of these conflicting theories we have both
extremes. The manufacturers of nitro powders gener-
ally advise the use of tamping. For safety it is well to
put the first tamping in lightly, only using the wooden
tamping stick when the tamping has covered the charge
to a depth of several inches.
vwww
As to the receiver's certificate issued to the person
making application for patent for a mining claim,
" Lindley on Mines " says: " Strictly speaking, the certifi-
cate of purchase does not convey or purport to convey
the legal title. As between the [purchaser and the
Government, it carries the complete equitable title. It
is evidence that the recipient has complied with all the
terms and conditions which entitle him to a patent to
the tract therein described, and that he has acquired a
vested interest therein. The public faith has been
pledged to him, and any subsequent grant of the same
land to another party is void, unless the entry is
vacated or set aside. When the price iB paid, the right
to a patent immediately arises. If not issued at once, it
is because the magnitude of the business of the land de-
partment causes delay; but such delay in the mere ad-
ministration of affairs does not diminish the rights
flowing from the purchase, or expose him to the as-
saults of third parties. A right to a patent once vested
is treated by the Government as equivalent to a patent,
so far as it may be necessary to cut off intervening
claimants. After the issuance of the receiver's certifi-
cate annual labor is no longer required on a mining claim,
as the applicant is then proven to be entitled to patent,
the issue of which is merely delayed by the great mag-
nitude of business to be handled in the land office."
359
Mining and Scientific Press.
November 25, 1905.
Plant of the Cananea Con. Copper Co.
Cananea, Sonora, Mexico.*
NUMBER II. — CONCLUDED.
Written for the Mining and Scientific Press by O. P. FiNDLEY.f
Concentrator.- — The concentrating plant is on the
side of a deep gulch, i mile southwest of the reduc-
tion works and on the line of the company's narrow-
gauge railway. The plant proper consists of two
main buildings, covering an area of 29,650 and 33,430
square feet, respectively. Concentrator No. 1 is of
wood frame and corrugated iron sides, with fire-proof
roofing. Concentrator No. 2 is of steel construction
throughout.
The system is divided into four divisions, designated
as Sections A, B, C and D. The accompanying dia-
gram gives an accurate idea of the relative location
of the main structures and various auxiliary build-
ings. At present an extension of 70 feet by 85 feet is
being added to each of the four sections. When
these are completed they will increase the total
ground space to 75,000 square feet.
The original plant, completed in 1902, had a ca-
pacity of 600 tons daily. In 1904 it was found neces-
sary to increase this to 1000 tons and add another
unit capable of handling the same amount, so that at
present the total capacity of the plant is 2000 tons
per day.
The equipment of remodeled concentrator No. 1 is
complete, comprising all the machinery usually in-
stalled and including 258 concentrators.
There is also being put in a large number of addi-
tional water clarifying tanks and spitzkasten for
providing feed for the new equipment out of various
slime waters now going to waste. Any power other
than what is already provided will be furnished by
motors.
The system of distributing and recovering the
water will be noted from the diagram of the flow
sheet. The general scheme is not wholly original,
but has been ingenuously worked out by L. D. Rick-
etts, consulting engineer for the concentrators, and
D. Cole, superintendent concentrator department of
the C. C. C. Co. About 80% of the water leaving
the mill in the tailings launders is recovered and used
again.
The crushing of the ore is done in a building sepa-
rate from the main plant.
The second class ore is run in on the narrow-gauge
railroad in hopper bottom cars and dumped into the
receiving bins. The bins consist of eight pockets,
with an aggregate capacity of 2100 tons. The differ-
ent classes of ore from the various mines of the com-
pany are distributed into separate bins in order that
in the subsequent handling the ore may be mixed to
the best advantage for concentrating purposes.
Underneath the bins runs a 30-inch conveying belt,
which receives the ore from the chutes and conveys
it to a grizzly with bars f-inch apart. The oversize
from this grizzly passes to a 36-inch picking belt
moving at the rate of 30 feet per minute, while the
screenings descend upon a 16-inch conveyor and are
transported to the concentrator bins. Sorters pick
out the native copper and high-grade ore on the
picking belt and load it into the tram cars, in which
it is transported to the narrow-gauge railroad cars.
The largest lumps of ore are broken by the sorters
so that it can be handled by the automatic feeders of
the crushers. The crushers are supplied by 12x24
plunger feeders, modified to handle material as
coarse as 10-inch cubes without clogging.
After passing the crushers and rolls, the ore, which
has been reduced to 1-inch cubes, passes to an 18-
inch belt conveyor, which carries it up an incline of
18% to the concentrator bins, receiving en route the
screenings from the grizzlies heretofore referred to.
An automatic tripper working over the bins dis-
tributes the ore evenly over the entire surface. By
means of an automatic device a uniform sample of the
ore is secured as it is delivered.
Under the mill bins, conveniently situated, auto-
matic feeders deposit the ore into launders, where it
is mixed with running water and carried to the
18-inch bucket elevator No. 1, at the top of which it
is divided into a double line of trommels. The course
then taken, as outlined in the flow sheet, which was
prepared by D. Cole, is as follows: The oversize from
the 1-inch and 1-inch trommels passes to the coarse
jigs and the undersize to TV-inch trommels. The
oversize from -^-inch and 2}-inch trommels passes to
middle jigs, and undersize to coarse hydraulic classi-
fiers. The spigot feed of coarse classifiers goes to sand
jigs and overflow of classifiers to discharge of No. 3
elevator, mixing with the crushed material from the
Chilian mills. The tailings from the coarse jigs pass
through 36-inch rolls to No. 2 18-inch bucket ele-
vator; tailings from middle jigs pass through 27-inch
rolls to No. 2 elevator, and tailings from the sand
jigs through Chilian mills to No. 3 elevator. No. 2
elevator delivers material into fVinch trommels,
enabling the reground coarse and middle jig tailings
to pass to the next finer jigs in the series, or, if suf-
ficiently fine, directly through the hydraulic classifier
system to the shaking tables and vanners. Auxiliary
trommels with f-inch holes handle the oversize from
•See Illustrations on front page,
t Condensed.
the ^-inch trommels, returning any spawls or pieces
that may by chance have passed the coarser rolls at
sizes larger than f-inch. Since the jigs make no
"waste " tails, this treatment insures that the limit-
ing screens will be those of the Chilian mills, which
are 20 mesh.
After being sized, either by hydraulic classification
or screen, to 20 mesh, the now impoverished ore is
passed to the fine sand and slimes treating depart-
ment. Upon the tables handling the granular feeds,
the sand middlings, tailings and muddy water mid-
dlings are separated into the table side launders.
The concentrates go by shaking launder to the con-
centrates bins; the sand middlings to other tables at
a lower level for retreatment; the muddy water
middlings through centrifugal pump to pulp thick-
eners, thence to vanners, and the tailings to waste.
The pulp thickeners are round, wooden tanks 10
feet in diameter and 18 feet high. The slimes enter
through a 12-inch wooden pipe placed in a vertical
position in the middle of the tanks, and terminating
within a short distance of the bottom. The tanks
have hopper bottoms converging to the point from
which the feed is taken out. The volume of feed
taken out is much less than that coming in and a con-
siderable overflow of clear water runs over the top
of the tank in a thin sheet and is immediately recov-
ered for use as dressing on the tables, or is sent to
the settling tanks if the water has not been suf-
ficiently clarified, as is the case when very slimy ore
is treated.
No attempt is made to classify the thickened pulp,
but a device is used which cuts the volume into many
equal parts, both as to volume and quality, which
compose the feed of the vanners, which latter pro-
duce clean concentrates and satisfactory tailings.
All tailings are gathered into one launder and con-
veyed to the settling tanks, where a large part of
the water is made available for use in the mill again.
An automatic sampler cuts through the stream of
tailings at regular intervals and secures a uniform
sample.
Horizontal water boxes are used as conduits wher-
ever possible and the water is used over and over
again as long as practicable. For instance, the
water from the coarse jigs is largely recovered on
the jig floor and used on the middle jigs, middle jig
water upon the sand jigs, thence by local pump back
to coarse jigs again. Muddy water from the tables
goes to the pulp thickener as already indicated.
All concentrates made upon the jigs and tables
pass automatically into bins located alongside the
railroad spur. These bins are water tight and hop-
per bottomed and are fitted with water tight bin
gates of a special design. The material from the
bins is drawn by gravity into the railroad cars.
The water circulating plant consists of one Corliss
cross compound condensing engine of 250 H. P.,
belted to a quill shaft having four quills with dental
clutches. Each quill operates a 6-inch two-stage
turbine pump at 1100 revolutions per minute, with a
capacity of 1000 gallons per minute; thus the set has
a capacity of 4000 gallons 150 feet high per minute.
These pumps sometimes handle muddy water for con-
siderable periods and the water is slightly acid, for
which reason a 16-inch banded redwood column, dis-
charging into the storage tanks above the plant, is
used. These tanks are of redwood and have a com-
bined capacity of 200,000 gallons. This pumping
plant gives perfect satisfaction.
An additional pair of high pressure boilers are in
course of erection. These will bring the boiler ca-
pacity up to 1500 H. P. at builder's rating.
There will also be installed another direct current
electrical unit of 300 K.W., direct connected to a
cross compound condensing Corliss engine. This,
with the additions to the condensing system, includ-
ing a large cooling tower, will complete the works.
When all projected work is finished, according to
the present plans, the capacity of the plant will be
approximately 3000 tons of second grade ore, pro-
ducing from 700 to 900 tons of concentrates daily.
Some original devices that are in advance of the
usual practice are found in these works and are
proving very satisfactory, notably the following:
By placing small spitzkasten ahead of the hydrau-
lic classifiers — compound classification is practiced —
the feed to classifiers is drawn by spigot from the
spitzkasten, and is thus very uniform in quantity, con-
taining all of the sands suitable for hydraulic classi-
fication. The excess of water carrying the slime
that is unfit for hydraulic classification passes over
the spitzkasten and is laundered directly to the pulp
thickeners that furnish the vanners with feed. Thus
the slimes and occasional rushes of water are auto-
matically by-passed around the classifiers, much to
their benefit.
All classes of feed are unwatered before being fed
to the regrinding machinery. This is accomplished
by the use of specially constructed shovel wheels that
are admirably adapted to the work. These wheels
not only remove the feed from the water in a per-
fectly drained condition and act as feeders, but also
separates the chips and all floating material that
comes with the ore. About ten wheelbarrow loads
of wood are removed from the ore in each division of
the plant by this means daily. This system prevents
the annoying choke-upsr etc., that come from wood
chips, and since the wood is removed before it can
pass through the regrinding machinery, there is no
water-soaked wood pulp to plug spiggots and cause
annoyance farther along in the process.
Concentrates made upon Wilfley tables and sand
jigs are conveyed horizontally by shaking launders,
some of which are 100 feet in length. They are
made of wood, lined with rubber, and are oper-
ated by machines locally designed purposely to
handle them. The vanner concentrates are removed
by a special device that automatically transports
them horizontally to their respective bins by the rail-
road track without attention or labor. Thus there is
no shoveling or the use of cars, barrows, trolleys or
tram tracks, with the attendant sloppy floors and
extra labor found about the mills.
Each set of crushing rolls has an attachment that
enables the operator to open them as much as 1£ inch
instantly and without turning off the feed. This is a
great advantage. The device was worked out here
and applied to all machines used about the plant.
All machines that require frequent repairs have
cranes or trolley tracks over them, so that repairs
may be finished quickly, and the machines are so ar-
ranged that feed may be diverted and any machine
cut out for repairs without interfering with milling
operations or loss in feeding time.
A well equipped machine shop is situated so as to
be served by the narrow gauge railroad and is con-
nected to each section of the concentrating plant by
an inclined tram track . Thus any machine on any
floor of either mill can be taken to the shop for over-
hauling with very little trouble. Duplicate machines
are kept in stock, and in the case of the smaller ma-
chines, such as centrifugal pumps, head-motion
machines, shovel wheels, etc., the machines are re-
placed entire, the old one being sent to the shop and
completely overhauled before going into use again.
Smelter. — The process of treating the ore is by
the matte and converter method. Most of the ore is
smelted here, but a small portion is shipped to the
American Smelting & Refining Co.'s works at El
Paso, Texas. The company expects to be able within
the next year to take care of its entire ore produc-
tion and also do customs smelting.
The plant at present consists of eight furnaces,
the dimensions of which are as follows: No. 1, 42x120
inches; No. 2, 48x120 inches; No. 3, 54x160 inches; No.
4, 54x160 inches; No. 5, 42x180 inches; No. 6, 42x210
inches; No. 7, 42x210 inches; No. 8, 56x180 inches.
The latter furnace, installed about one year ago, is
the largest in the Republic of Mexico and one of the
largest in the world, being 56x180 inches at the
tuyeres and carrying a charge of 14 feet in depth. It
discharges into a forehearth 15 feet in diameter,
which, as well as the crucible in the furnace proper,
is lined with chrome brick. This furnace has a work-
ing blast pressure of 11 pound and can put through
6£ to 7J tons of burden (or 450 to 525 gross tons) per
square foot of hearth area per each twenty-four
hours.
Over each furnace, except No. 8, there is a steel
hood 20 feet square by 22 feet high, excepting that of
furnace No. 1, which is 15 feet square by 16 feet 10
inches high.
The flue gases, after leaving the hoods mentioned
above, pass through a steel flue 400 feet in length to
a dust chamber 60x180x20 feet in the clear, con-
structed of brick and steel and designed to handle
600,000 cubic feet of free air per minute. Thence the
gases pass through a brick flue 17x20x400 feet and a
brick-lined steel chimney 20 feet in diameter and 200
feet high.
Serving each furnace is a steel forehearth, into
which the matte and slag run in a continuous stream,
the two fluids separating by reason of the difference
in specific gravity. The matte from the settlers is
drawn off into cast steel ladles of 67 cubic feet capac-
ity. These ladles are handled by means of two elec-
tric overhead traveling cranes. These cranes have
each one main and two auxiliary hoists, the main
hoist of one having a capacity of forty tons and the
other fifty tons. The auxiliary hoist of each crane
has a capacity of five tons. Each crane is provided
with five motors, as follows: One 50 H. P. main hoist,
two 25 H. P. auxiliary hoists, one 25 H. P. bridge
travel and one 7i H. P. cross travel on the 50-ton
and one 5 H. P. cross travel on the 40-ton crane.
The crane runway is a continuous 30-inch plate girder
carried on 8-inch Z-bar columns, spaced 16 foot and
21-foot centers, alternately. The distance between
the centers of the runway girders is 50 feet, thus
allowing a clear way for the main hoist of 40 feet.
The slag flows off into self-dumping cars drawn by
electric locomotives, of which five are in use. Two
of these are of the single-motor type, weighing four
tons each, equipped with one 20 H. P. motor. The
other three are of the two-motor type, weighing ten
tons each and equipped with two 40 H. P. motors.
These motors are fitted with a teetering trolley,
which enables the motormen to reverse the direction
of running with the least possible trouble through
changing of trolley.
The slag cars are of the type built by the Colorado
Iron Works, with a bowl holding about 33 cubic feet.
A portion of these bowls are of cast steel, the others
being ordinary cast iron bowls.
The slag is drawn from both ends of the smelter,
the east dump being some 60 feet high. At the west
end of the smelter the cars run through a tunnel and
thence to a gulch, which has been filled to such an
November 25, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
360
extent that about twenty acres of ground have been
made available for various industrial purposes.
The converter building is a steel frame structure
296 feet long and 65 feet wide, with 36ir-foot walls,
roofed with heavy corrugated iron.
The six stands for the converter shells are fur-
nished with hydraulic operating mechanism, air-blast
connections and valves for regulating the blast.
There are twenty-two converter shells, 8 feet in
diameter by 11* feet long, fitted with 10-inch blast pipe
and 14 U-inch tuyeres and constructed of standard
steel shell plates of a thickness of 1 foot. The shells
are rotated by means of hydraulic cylinders 24 inches
in diameter, with a stroke of ram 7s feet, describing
an angle of 270°. The movement is controlled by
a rotating slide valve of a special design. The rack
is thrown in and out of gear by means of a screw
and sliding crosshead operating a set of toggle links.
The converters are operated by water under a
pressure of 200 pounds per square inch, provided by
two accumulators each 30 inches in diameter, with
10-foot stroke of ram, equipped with steel frames,
guides and weight holders.
The gases ascending from the mouth of the con-
verters are received into collecting hoods and primary
steel dust chambers, which move upon a steel track
located immediately above the stands. The gasns
The Machine Miner.
Mining costs have been reduced in various ways,
but largely by the introduction of the machine drill.
This useful adjunct of modern mining has undergone
an evolution, as almost everything else in mining has,
until the various types of machine drills now on the
market are all of superior workmanship, and all
capable of doing excellent work in proper hands.
This is self-evident, for the standard has long since
been set, and the machine which cannot do satisfac-
tory work is quickly rejected for one that will. The
machine drill is used in every kind of mining — shaft
sinking, tunneling, raising, stoping, and in outside
quarry work. One of the accompanying engravings
illustrates its use in driving a tunnel, where two ma-
chines are set up side by side, each on its own column
bar. The other shows the employment of a machine
drill in raising.
Some engineers
maintain that shaft
sinking with ma-
chines possesses no
advantages over
hand work, but
there are as many
— or more — wh <
Geology of Tonopah, Nevada.*
The most comprehensive description yet written of
the Tonopah mining district is that by J. E. Spurr,
entitled "Geology of the Tonopah Mining 'District,
Nevada." It comprises a volume of 295 pages, hand-
somely illustrated, and with many geological sections,
sketches, etc. It is issued by the United States
Geological Survey as Professional Paper No. 42.
Much contained in this valuable contribution has
already been published herein, but in the concluding
pages the author makes some interesting compari-
sons with other similar mining districts elsewhere,
from which the following is abstracted:
Comparison With Similar Ore Deposits Else-
mining AND SCIENTIFIC PIJEBS.
Machine Miners Driving a Heading.
are then conveyed upward through a 48-inch uptake
into secondary dust chambers, of which there are
three,8£x9xl4i feet, carried on the roof of the building.
These latter are connected by an 8-foot flue carried
on the roof to the west end of the converter building
to a steel stack, 8 feet in diameter and 125 feet high.
The copper from the converters is poured into cast
steel bullion molds , which, when full, form a bar weigh-
ing 400 pounds; but, as the metal ordinarily runs,
the bars average about 300 pounds. Steel cars hold-
ing six molds each are run in under the converters to
receive the metal. The bars are delivered to the
bullion floor and are there trimmed of all rough edges.
Assay samples are extracted by means of a small
electric hand drill, and the bullion is then weighed
and loaded into the standard gauge cars parked at
the end of the building.
The slag skimmed off the converters during the
process of blowing is poured into large molds on the
floor, forming buttons of a thickness of from 8 inches
to 1 foot. These buttons are allowed to cool, are
then broken up and crushed and are then elevated to
the feed floor and used as flux In the furnaces.
Machine Drill Operating in a Raise.
Carbon monoxide is probably the prime cause of
more than 80% of the deaths resulting from a coal-
mine explosion, says Fuel. This gas is largely, if not
entirely, generated by the partial oxidation of coal
dust. If coal dust could be removed from coal mines
as fast as it is produced, the danger from explosions
would be very considerably reduced.
are of the contrary opinion. The record shaft sink-
ing of the world has been done with machine drills.
Gold at a Depth of 4224 Feet.
An important report was made by the manager of
the New Chum Railway mine, Bendigo, recently, that
good gold was showing in the stone in the crosscut
east from the center country winze at 4224 feet, says
the Australasian. The stone is 4 feet thick, and when
broken disclosed splendid gold. The quartz is richly
mineralized and well laminated, and fine gold is asso-
ciated with the seams of slate and minerals. There
are also a few large specks of gold in the quartz. In
the top the formation is 4 feet wide, and in the bot-
tom it has a width of 2 feet 6 inches. It is the
east leg of the formation revealed in sinking the
winze at a depth of 4165 feet. The bottom plat is at
3756 feet, but the shaft has a depth of 3896 feet. In
order to work the reef to advantage, the company
will have to sink 400 feet, and then crosscut at 4265
feet. The discovery is of considerable importance,
as further evidencing the existence of gold at a great
depth. In opening up the formation at a higher
point gold was seen, but this development is the
most important which has yet attended operations in
the mine at over 4000 feet. The fact that this is the
greatest depth at which gold has been obtained in
the world lends to the development more than local
interest.
where. — It is often advisable to study an ore deposit
or a mining district not by itself alone, but also iu
comparison with others. Similar districts often pre-
sent information, through their likeness or dissim-
ilarities, concerning the nature, origin, and future
possibilities of the district under examination.
Veins of Pachuca and Real del Monte, in Mex-
ico.— Among the nearest analogies to Tonopah yet
described anywhere in the world are the contiguous
mining districts of Pachuca and Real del Monte, de-
scribed by Aguilera and Ordonez.
These celebrated districts are 62 miles north of the
City of Mexico, on opposite slopes of the Pachuca
mountains, which bound the great valley of Mexico.
The mines support the city of Pachuca, which con-
tains 35,000 people, most of whom are actually en-
gaged in mining. The ore deposits were discovered
in 1522, and have been worked almost continuously to
the present day. Pachuca is the most important
mining district in Mexico, and is estimated to have
produced since its discovery 3,500,000 kilos of silver.
The geology is similar to that of numerous other
mineral regions of Mexico. The whole Pachuca range
is formed of Tertiary andesites, rhyolites, and basalts.
The andesites are of Miocene age and have a varied
appearance, due to alteration, the normal type being
green and propylitic. The feldspar (labradorite) has
often been transformed to sericite, calcite, chlorite,
epidote, and clayey products; the pyroxene to chlorite,
* Abstraot Prof. Paper No. 42, by J. E. SEURK,
3«l
Mining aNd Scientific Press.
November 25, 1905.
viridite, and epidote. The rocks are silioified near
the veins, so as often to resemble dacites or rhyolites,
this alteration being due to the influence of hot solu-
tions during the formation of the veins. Ehyolites
cover the andesites, occurring as flows and dikes.
The last eruptions were of basalt. The veins strike
east and west. Secondary veins branch out from the
smaller ones, and splitting and reuniting are common
phenomena. The veins are more remarkable for con-
stancy and extension than for thickness. They seldom
exceed 20 feet in thickness, while they have a length
of from 2i to 10 miles.
The quartz croppings carry pyrite and oxides of
manganese. They are always argentiferous, with an
appreciable amount of gold. They may be divided
into two zones, one overlying the other. The upper
is composed of oxides (red ores) and the lower of
sulphides (black ores). The upper contains, besides
iron oxide (always auriferous), oxides of manganese
and chlorides and bromides of silver; it has a maxi-
mum downward extent of nearly 1000 feet. The lower
zone contains sulphides of lead, silver, etc. The lower
limit of the upper zone corresponds to the ground-
water level.
Calcite is found only in small quantities. Of the
sulphides, pyrite, galena and argentite were in most
cases deposited simultaneously with the quartz. The
abundant manganese oxide in the upper zone is re-
placed in the sulphide zone by a lesser quantity of the
silicate, rhodonite. Pyrite is frequent in the min-
eralized parts of the veins, and is also abundant in
the country rock, but in the country rock it does not
contain even traces of the precious metals. Native
silver has been found at all depths; ruby silver has
not been observed at Pachuca, but is found at Eeal
del Monte.
Rich ores occur in certain parts of the veins called
bonanzas, which are of irregular form, frequently
nearly elliptical. The bonanzas of the different veins
group themselves in a northeast-southwest zone nearly
normal to the vein strike. Some are in the oxidized,
some in the sulphide zone; the former are more nu-
merous. In some cases bonanzas were encountered
at the surface; in others they were found in depth,
where the vein was barren at its outcrop. The size
of the bonanzas varies; one of the largest was en-
countered at a depth of over 300 feet and was ellip-
tical, the greatest axis being over 3000 and the
smaller 1300 feet, with a thickness of 8 feet.
The veins become impoverished at great depths.
At the bottom they change to barren galena and
blende, too poor to repay working. However, cer-
tain developments lead to the belief that at still
greater depth new bonanzas might be found. Most
of the mines are only about 1300 feet or less deep; in
only one has a little work been done as deep as 1800
feet.
This district is similar to Tonopah in the character
and age of the wall rocks (Miocene andesites); in thp
nature of the alteration of the rock near the veins
(silicification near the veins, propylitic alteration
farther away); in the structural characters of the
veins, which form a splitting and reuniting group); in
the general character of ores (both oxide and sulphide).
and of gangue, though adularia as a gangue material
and selenides as ores have not been recognized at
Pachuca; and in the occurrence of the rich ores iu
bonanzas, which seems to be due to the intersection
of transverse fractures with the main vein zone.
The Comstock Lode. — Pachuca is about 2000 miles
southeast of Tonopah, but a similar analogous de-
posit (the Comstock) lies 150 miles to the northwest.
The Comstock lode is a vein 4 miles long which has
formed in Tertiary eruptive rocks, chiefly andesites,
along a fault line having a maximum displacement of
3000 feet. At both ends it branches and so dies out.
It strikes east of south and dips easterly. It was dis-
covered in 1859, and worked up till the present day,
but most actively from 1861 to 1880. Up to June,
1902, it had yielded $369,566,112.61 worth of ore, of
which about 42 i% was gold and 57 \% silver. The
rocks of the district in the order of their succession
are, according to Hague and Iddings, andesite,
dacite, rhyolite, andesite and basalt. The andesites
are coarse-grained in depth (diorites and diabases).
Near the lode, and for some distance away, in a space
about 5 by 2 miles, the country rock (chiefly ande-
sitic) is extremely decomposed, the period of altera-
tion having succeeded an andesitic eruption. The
hornblende, augite and biotite have altered to chlo-
rite, pyrite, epidote, etc. , the feldspar to quartz and
an undetermined white aggregate. This altered
andesite is the famous "propylite." The basalt,
which is the latest rock of the district, has not been
altered in the same way as the andesites. The alter-
ation of the rocks and the lode was due to solfataric
action which accompanied the faulting.
The lode material is quartz, certain limited portions
of which contained large quantities of silver and gold
(bonanzas), while the rest is low grade. Calcite is
much less than quartz in amount and is generally
insignificant. Most of the bullion has been derived
from a bluish quartz, like that at Tonopah, the color
being mainly due to disseminated argentite, which is
the principal ore mineral and is accompanied by gold,
probably free. Bunches of stephanite, polybasite
and ruby silver were also found. In the bonanzas,
near the surface, chlorides and native silver occurred.
Frequently the ore grew base, and carried large
quantities of galena, zincblende, etc.
Pyrite occurs abundantly, both in the altered coun-
try rock and in the ore. The mineralizing solutions
are thought to have derived their heat from volcanic
rocks, and thus the general phenomena are classed
as due to solfataric action, but the materials precip-
itated, including the ores, are thought to have been
derived from the decomposed wall rock.
The workable bodies or bonanzas represent the
smaller portion of the lode. The value of the ore in
them ranges from $15 a ton to (very locally) several
thousand dollars. They are encountered at varying
depths, from the surface down to 3000 feet. The
vein down to nearly 2000 feet contained sixteen work-
able ore bodies, while below this level the ore has
proved mostly low grade. One large bonanza (that
of the Con. California & Virginia) extends vertically
from about 1250 feet to 1950 feet below the surface,
and has a greatest diameter of about 1100 feet. It
yielded about one-third the product of the lode. The
ore minerals were chiefly stephanite, argentite and
gold, the latter probably free.
The source of the heated waters which are encoun-
tered in the mines, and which are thought to have
accomplished the rock alteration and ore deposition,
is concluded from thermal surveys to be not less than
2 miles deep, and the heat and the active reagents,
such as carbonic and sulphydric acids, are thought
to have a volcanic origin, while the waters may have
had an atmospheric source. The waters above 800
feet had a temperature of about 70° P., while from
about 1000 feet down hot waters of above 100° P.,
rising under pressure, were repeatedly encountered.
The Comstock district is similar to Tonopah in re-
spect to the character and age of the rocks in which
the lode lies (Tertiary andesites), in their "propy-
litic " alteration, in the nature of the gangue and
ore, and in the occurrence of the rich ores in regular
"bonanzas." The chief distinction is that the Com-
stock consists of a single very strong lode, while at
Tonopah there are a number, of less size.
Silver City and De Lamar Districts, Idaho. —
Another region having many striking peculiarities in
1000 feet, though the veins remain strong. Cerargy-
rite, pyrargyrite and argentite occur locally (the
latter being common to nearly all the mines), as well
as polybasite, proustite, native gold and silver.
Besides occurring in rhyolite, some of the veins are
also in granite and basalt.
The rock alteration and the ore deposition are con-
sidered to have been accomplished by ascending hot
waters, whose nature is indicated by the silicification
of the rhyolite and the formation of adularia, chlorite
and epidote. The period of formation is post-Mio-
cene. The veins extend along the strike sometimes
for a mile or so, but average less; they die out on
both ends. The ore at present mined at De Lamar
goes $14 in gold and $2 in silver. In 1872 the value
of the ore mined was from $12 to $60 per ton in dif-
ferent mines.
The districts of Silver City and De Lamar just
described are similar to Tonopah in that the ore
occurs in Tertiary volcanics, and are probably in
both cases post-Miocene in age; to a striking degree
in the character of the ores and gangue materials; in
the structural character of the veins, which form a
group knit together by branches; in the general
character of the alteration of the wall rock; and in
the occurrence of the rich ores in irregular bonanzas.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
Milling Ores at Tonopah.
The recent announcement that the Tonopah Mining
Co. of Nevada are about to build an extensive milling
plant near Tonopah is of interest. It is intended, so
it is stated, to treat the ore by concentration and
cyanidation. The capacity of the proposed plant will
be several hundred tons of ore daily. In contrast
with the extensive and expensive proposed installa-
tion, the accompanying illustration of the first mill
in Tonopah district is of interest. The ore was de-
livered to the mill by teams. As the entire proposition
was somewhat of an experiment, everything about
l£& *-c*
.
.flL^'-fr-'f)
MINirct; AND SCIENTIFIC- PRESS
First Mill on Tonopah.
common with Tonopah lies about 400 miles due north
of Tonopah. The districts of Silver City and De
Lamar (5 miles apart) are situated in the Owyhee
range, in southwestern Idaho. The range has a
granite core, almost covered by Miocene rhyolite and
basaltic lavas. The ores were discovered in 1863.
The total production to 1899 was 313,448 ounces gold
and 10,540,000 ounces silver. The deposits are nor-
mal fissure veins, chiefly in rhyolite. In one type the
principal ore minerals are small quantities of argen-
tite and chalcopyrite, with a gangue of quartz and
orthoclase (adularia). The proportion of gold to sil-
ver by weight averages 1 : 120. In the other type
scarcely any sulphides are ordinarily visible, though
occasionally pyrite, argentite and pyrargyrite occur.
The gangue is quartz, pseudomorphic after calcite or
barite. The relation of gold to silver by weight is
about 1 : 10. At De Lamar there is a strong silicifi-
cation of the country rock near the veins, with the
formation of abundant pyrite and marcasite, and a
little sericite. Farther away from the veins the
country rock is softer and more pyritized. The veins
strike northwest and dip southwest, both strike and
dip varying considerably. The system comprises ten
veins, 20 to 80 feet apart. The strike of these veins
is such that parts of the group are like some of the
radii of a circle, as is the case at Tonopah, and each
vein may join and fork in the manner of linked veins,
both horizontally and vertically. The width of the
veins is from 1 to 6 feet, averaging 3 or 4 feet. The
rich ore occurs in large, continuous bodies extend-
ing from the surface to a depth of 1000 feet, dipping
gently (20°-30°) southeastward along the plane of the
vein. They are generally about 200 feet long and
ordinarily 1 to 6 feet thick.
In other veins the ore bodies do not extend so deep,
and, while having often a generally definite course,
are so irregular and discontinuous as to constitute
irregular bonanzas rather than definite shoots. No
considerable ore shoots have been yet found below
the plant was more or less primitive, which is in
strong contrast with the intended new mill, which
will represent the latest in all that is considered es-
sential to a modern milling plant of its kind.
A writer in the London Mining Journal, speaking
of Cornish tin mines, says: " A point which I have not
seen mentioned, but which has bad a far-reaching
effect, is the old system of the underground manager
cutting down a contract when the men were making
a little more than their wages. This has through a
long period rendered the men indifferent, and the
general rule is that they will not try and make more
than the ordinary wages on contract, as any induce-
ment to do so was withheld. When any mining en-
gineer accustomed to the up-to-date appliances of
well equipped mines visits Cornwall, a feeling of
amazement comes over him when he sees the old,
and in some cases very old, Cornish batteries at
work; and if he should further have to work on one
of these old mills, it is distressing to find the small
efficiency obtainable from them. Yet, in many cases
where they are used, it is exceedingly doubtful if,
without a considerable outlay in further exploration
of the mine, it would pay to replace them with an up-
to-date Californian mill. The same remark applies
to the dressing plant."
Thousands of dollars have been added this summer
to the thousands already made by the diggers of coal
from the bottom of the north branch of the Susque-
hanna river, between Sunbury and Nanticoke, says
Fuel. One man averaged $25 a day since early in
May. Nearly 1000 tons were taken from an area
hardly a mile long, between Sunbury and Espy, during
the past four months. This river coal, which is car-
ried down stream out of the Nanticoke and Nescopeck
coal fields during high water, and deposited in bars
in the eddies of the river, finds ready sale at the river
bank.
Novembbr 25, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
36-2
The American Mining Congress.
At the session of the American Mining Congress
held last week at El Paso, Texas, a number of ad-
dresses were delivered and important papers read
the latter part of the week which were received too
late for the issue of the 18th inst.
In addressing the American Mining Congress, its
president, .1. M. Richards, referred to the constantly
increasing development of mining in Mexico and the
equally constant inflow of American capital into thai
Republic, which he considered but the beginning nf
this international industrial progress. It was the
expressed opinion of the speaker that the American
Mining Congress could be made an instrument of great
usefulness to the mining industry of the United States,
and made a plea for sufficient financial aid to render
the Congress permanent. He proposed that at its
headquarters in Denver, Colo., there be started a
collection of ores and minerals of commercial and
educational value, and that each mining State
be urged to make a display of samples of its
mineral wealth in any amount it was considered
the industry justified. He urged co-operation in
mining, as a step by which much desirable to
the industry might be accomplished. The speaker
urged that continued efforts be directed toward
securing the creation of a National Department of
Mines and Mining. On this matter he spoke as
follows:
This Congress, and especially with the assistance of a
Mining Department, could be of great service to the
mining industry in helping to bring about a greater sim-
plicity, harmony and unity in the mining laws of the
country, to meet the varying wants of the numerous
branches of mining, and in a way to minimize litigation.
Litigation, by reason of defective laws and laws of
doubtful wisdom, is one great source of waste, uncer-
tainty and disappointment in mining. A great work
along this line lies before this Congress.
A great field of usefulness, and especially with the co-
operation of a department, is open to the Congress in
the collection of mineral statistics. These statistics could
be made of most practical utility. And no one more
than the practical miner could be of service in suggest-
ing how to complete such statistics so that they may be
of real value, both accurate and comprehensive.
The subject of drainage districts, which often cross
State lines, is one that is becoming of vital importance,
and will prove of even greater importance as the years
go by. On subjects of this character this Congress can
be of great practical assistance.
The line of demarcation between agricultural and min-
eral interests had not yet been clearly defined. This
question is constantly arising under varying conditions.
Any law relating to such rights should be based on good
and sound reasons, so that it may be clear and easily un-
derstood. This subject is bristling with interesting
questions, which when wisely settled will prove of much
practical benefit.
The question of water rights is one of extensive im-
portance to mining. There is no uniform rule as yet
adopted as to what constitutes an inch of water for min-
ing purposes. This question is of most vital importance,
and especially to such sections as Alaska. An act clearly
defining a water right and a means of easily ascertaining
the quantity of water acquired, would be of inestimable
value to new mining sections, and especially to such dis-
tricts as Alaska, where the great distances from courts
and enormous expense of adjudicating such rights make
an act of this character a real necessity.
The question of taxation of mining property is in a
state of chaos. Every class of property should bear its
just proportion of taxation. Just what is a just propor-
tion, as applied to mining, is wholly unsettled. There
should be some equitable system devised that will be as
uniform as possible and yet not be a burden upon unde-
veloped and unremunerative properties.
The relation of employer and employe, while a some-
what delicate question, it would seem that an organiza-
tion of this character might be of assistance in shedding
light upon a subject so important to the advancement of
the mining industry. There must be some basis which
intelligence, guided by an unselfish purpose, could dis-
cover, which would aid in making these relations more
harmonious in the mining industry than heretofore.
There are vast numbers of American citizens engaged in
mining coal, iron, zinc, lead, copper and the precious
metals, and a great army of children being prepared for
American citizenship, who are living under conditions
not suited to the development of a very high order of
citizenship. Can this Congress be of assistance to them
and still do justice to the employer?
It is not the purpose of this Congress to consider tech-
nical questions nor the technical phases of questions re-
lating to mining, but such questions of a general nature
as are or may be understood by those not schooled in
technical subjects. Nor is it the purpose of this Con-
gress to consider political questions, as that term is
generally understood; but it is important to the mining
industry, and therefore to this Congress, to have those
steps taken and those things done which will stably yet
speedily advance the mineral development of Alaska.
It is believed by many who purport to know, that Alaska
will yet be one of the most stable influences in our indus-
trial development.
The paper by R. Gilman Brown on "Examination
of Mines " is particularly valuable and contains much
information of value to engineers, students, miners
and the public generally who are interested in mines.
The paper is published in full:
Examination op Mines. — I feel myself fortunate in
enjoying this opportunity of elaborating before such a
representative body some of the fundamentals of mine
examination; the more so because they have not always
been fundamentals, because it has been largely due to
the dispassionate business sense of business men that
fundamentals they now are, and because, more than
anything else, to the observance of such fundamentals
by the Investor and engineer alike, is the view of mining
as a business and not a speculation to be attributed.
But in these matters the business man is the main
spring. Where there is a demand lhere will boa product
to satisfy it, and the modern mining report is made to an-
swer a simple business question: "What will he the
profit?" Slated at length my subject is: '-The Exam-
ination of Mines Preliminary' to Purchase: To-day as
Compared with Twenty-five Years Ago."
It is naturally " to-day " that has the most practical
interest for us, but all advance is relative, and if any of
you will take the pains to "dig " up some of the reports
upon which mines were bought in the early '80'8, and
compare tbem with modern ones, the advance towards
definiteness will be the most impressive point of differ-
ence. Then, more stress was laid upon generalities,
more weight given to empirical conditions; ore reserves
and net values were less considered; a telegram from the
man in the field stating that the mine was worth it
would be sufficient to make the capitalist pay out his
thousands, by hundreds. Engineers, the best of them,
cheerfully advised their clients to take all sorts of
chances on persistency in depth on the various uncer-
tainties attendant upon underground work.
I would here pay my tribute to the pioneer engineers;
with a text-book assistance that was meager as com-
pared^ with to-day, with little besides their individual
experience and good sense, they were wonderfully suc-
cessful in their prognostications. Their work is to be
no more disparaged than should an engineer now ven-
ture to ignore the use of the extensive kit of tools, the
accumulated experience of tho past quarter of a cen-
tury has provided for him.
It is not that people are now less ready " to take
chances, " but that it has gradually come to be the be-
lief of engineer and capitalist alike that the chances
should be recognized as taken; that if the buyer wishes
to speculate for big returns, he should have the oppor-
tunity, so long as he is posted on what he is doing.
Along with this belief has come the particular recogni-
tion of the general law, applicable not alone to mining,
but those who would participate in a " dead sure thing "
must be satisfied with a small per centum of returns;
that those who wish to plunge stand to lose all or to
gain fabulously, with the whole gamut of intervening
possibilities.
So far as this paper is concerned, the last phase can be
dismissed in a few words. It is to-day by no means an
infrequent occurrence for business men to " take flyers "
in undeveloped mining claims. Rich and poor, those
who can afford to lose the money, and those who can
not, seem equally addicted to this sort of thing, but I
must emphasize, and all must agree, that this is not in-
vestment in mines; it is a venture, pure and simple, a
speculation without reserve (and without reserves), and
though the competent engineer with his wide knowl-
edge of costs, of various regions and of what goes to
make up a mine, can undoubtedly lessen the percentage
of loss in such transactions, it is not to-day his most use-
ful sphere. The most he can do in such a case is to tell
his client whether he will have a run for his money,
whether the possibilities are such as to constitute a good
mining chance. The pity of it is that the lay capitalist
does not recognize, as a rule, the essential difference be-
tween this game and the sober business of legitimate
mining investment. This is particularly bad because
the business man, turning for the first time to mines, is
more likely to take up with some such "long shot " of
this category than with the other. He pays small
attention to the details of the matter — not a fraction of
what he would if the same sum were to be put into a
warehouse scheme, say, outside of his regular line — and
if the time comes when he must either abandon his " in-
vestment " or put up more funds, whichever course he
follows, he feels he has been bitten, and in the future
views the word "mining" askance. This works an-
other way as well, for he has come to look on mining
as outside of business laws, and should he get into a
mine that is really an investment, he is still apt to view
it loosely as such, and not to inquire too closely into the
business details of the management.
Doubly important, then, is it that the lines be sharply
drawn between the two classes of mining, and that the
layman in mining matters does not settle down to his
layness' as the end of the matter. The investigation of
one class may take an engineer a week; of the other,
months; in the case of the prospect, the report is largely
a brief statement of possibilities, with the pros and cons
clearly given; in the case of the mine, it is an exhaustive
study, and exposition of facts and conditions, with care-
fully drawn conclusions. It is this latter that particu-
larly concerns us.
The fundamentals of the modern mining report
demand that the examination should have been con-
ducted on certain lines; that certain matters should have
been investigated; that certain tests should have been
made; and when a report comes to hand not matching,
point by point, with this formula, with some of these
fundamentals slighted or missing, the investor will do
well to refer it to independent engineering scrutiny, or,
failing this, to send it back by the first mail.
These fundamentals are by no means esoteric; in their
recital, they are not formidable, and to the uninitiated
give small evidence of the weeks and months of laborious
investigation they have cost the engineer.
They are: The assay plan showing the tonnage and
assay value of the ore reserves; the table of costs;
the summary of profits; the chances for the future;
the question of title, and, if in the United States, the
safety against litigation, arising from our deleterious law
of the apex. It will not be without interest to see
roughly how these are determined.
The assay plan is the multum in parvo of the report;
to its production has gone more plodding work than to
all the rest of the examination. It is an accurate, large-
scale map showing ore bodies with their average values.
Average values can only be truly determined by
thorough and painstaking sampling, going over the
workings yard by yard and laboriously breaking down
rock that will represent the whole mass at each point.
It is a tedious job at best, but cannot safely be slighied.
It is frequently claimed that milling tests are better';
that tests of the ore as it comes oui from the drifts and
raises of development work are better, that this, that or
the other short out to the result is better, as well as
easier. All of us who have sweated in this sampling of
mines will admit that there are many things easier, but
the general consensus of those mining engineers who
have been conspicuously successful in their prognostica-
tions is that there is no short cut that does not involve
long and perilous leaps. From this it results that if the
property is not in shape to be sampled, it is not in shape
to be bought as a mine and it is only a prospect.
Strictly, I should close the paragraph right heri, but
I am so anxious to carry conviction on this point that I
venture a word more. It is plausible to claim that from
a tunnel driven on a vein of ore must come ore that will
give a fair average of that vein; and this would be the
case were the tunnel of uniform height from end to end,
but it happens to be almost the rule that where the ore
has been more valuable the tunnel has been run higher
in accordance with the law of human conduct that puts
the best foot forward, with the result that a certain pro-
portion more of the better ore has been included in that
coming from the tunnel. What becomes, then, of our
average value?
Each of the assay values must be tabled with the
width of ore it represents, and for each block in the
mine averaged. Here no mere arithmetical average
will do, summing the results and dividing by the num-
ber of them, for that would give the same weight to a
6-inch high-grade streak and the (i-foot low-grade. The
true average must be gotten. For each sample width is
multiplied by value, these products are added and di-
vided by the sum of the widths. This is kindergarten
teaching, so far as engineers are concerned, but hardly
so, I fear, as regards the investor, to whom particularly
I am speaking.
The determination of the tonnage represented by the
ore blocked out is largely simply surveying work,
but the engineer must use great caution in what he in-
cludes as ore reserves. Fortunately the old easy term
of " ore in sight " is passing into disuse, thanks to the
influence of a prominent mining society, and the modern
engineer is expected to designate closely just what de-
gree of certainty he has about the tonnage of each block.
It is obvious that a tunnel driven 1000 feet in ore does
not in rigid interpretation block out any ore, though an
engineer is frequently justified in assuming certain dis-
tances above and below as "probable," or "reasonably
to be expected;" buteaeh such estimate is in its own cate-
gory. The ore blocked out, as commonly understood,
is ore with three or four sides showing in the workings.
All of these data are collated on the assay plan; on the
map showing the tunnels and workings to scale are
plotted in proper position each sample with its width;
the value for each block is given and the tons and aver-
age width, the one determined by multiplying the aver-
age width by tho area of the block measured on the
vein and dividing by the cubic feet going to make up a
ton of ore in place; the other being the true average of
tho^ assays for that block. I venture to insist here, with
an insistence that may to some savor of dogmatism, that
an assay plan should be prepared in every case where a
mine is being bought for its ore; nothing better than
this shows whether the examination has been slighted,
nothing is more readily comprehensible to the lay pur-
chaser.
The costs of extraction in the case of an operating
mine might seem to be a mere determination of results
that a competent bookkeeper could prepare, and to a
certain extent this is so. But more often than not the
value of a particular mine hinges upon the introduction
of improvements, increasing the capacity of the plant,
and on economies to be gained in the present scale of
operation. Light can be shed on these only by a proper
segregation of the items of cost.
To a varying degree each mine is a lonely entity, with
strong individual characteristics at tim^s amounting to
eccentricities. This is true even of mines in a single dis-
trict, even in a district of the marked uniformity of the
South African Rand, and thus it results that the en-
gineer cannot safely say costs w:U be so ani so because
these have been attained elsewhere.
In the case of an operating mine he> segregates the
items over an extended period into reasonably narrow
categories. A comparison of each of these with the
work of other mines may give him a hint as to what
items are normal and what not, but for definite figures
he goes out through the works and mine, noting the
duties of the men and their efficiency, both eyes open,
his mind bent to a big interrogation point. In the light
of this investigation he makes fresh calculations of what
ought to be the costs on the present scale of working.
Then he proceeds to a fresh segregation that will sepa-
rate from the whole mass the fixed general expendi-
tures, those that do not depend upon the yearly ton-
nage. As these will be practically the same in total,
they will obviously be less per ton with a larger tonnage,
so that, when the ore reserves are big enough, increas-
ing the scope of operations affords a most profitable
field for the investment of capital. The importance of
this warrants reiteration in a different form; general
fixed costs are constant in total, and inversely propor-
tional to tonnage in per ton figures. Other costs are
directly proportional to tonnage in total and constant in
per ton figures.
This estimate tests most severely the ability and judg-
ment of the engineer, and everything depends upon its
correctness. It cannot be ignored, and yet, in the hands
of the mere office man becomes academic and a snare.
An error here is quite as serious as in the sampling, and,
as examinations are nowadays conducted, it is easier to
"salt" the cost sheets than the mine — and fully as
effective.
The profits in the ore reserves of various kinds is a
plain calculation from these premises, and, notwithstand-
ing the serious drawback that the sampling can phys-
ically only represent the real values of the boundaries of
the blocks of ore, has been found, except in unusual
cases, to closely approximate the facts.
I have reserved until now speaking of the interval at
363
Mining and Scientific Press.
NoVEMBEB 25, laU5.
which samples are taken because the importance of this
factor is now more clearlj to be seen. The experience
of the engineer and his preliminary inspection of tbe
mine and assay books have told him what is likely to be
the proper interval for his sampling-. If the ore is high
grade and spotted, he naturally takes a closer spacing,
and 2-foot intervals are by no means unknown. Such
close spacing is sometimes called for by even low-grade
mines if the values are very irregular. The engineer
recognizes that in a multitude of samples lies safety, and
very frequently as the work progresses finds that the
interval selected is too wide, and has to go back over his
work and interpolate other samples. But he considers
it an absolute essential that the distance apart shall be
uniform for each individual block, it being obvious that
if he has twenty high-grade samples from a 100-foot tun-
nel and ten low-grade ones from another 100-foot length,
by even correct averaging, the result for the 200 feet
will be too high. At times it happens that the high-
grade ore would be more erratic in its sampling than
the low, and that it would be a waste of time and ex-
pense to sam Die the low grade at as close an interval as
the high. In these cases he is frequently justified in
estimating each separately and then combining the two
in the proportion of length that each represents. There
is more than one way of doiDg this and it will hardly
be interest'ng to explain fully such merely technical
things.
It is rarely, however, that a mine is sold for merely
tbe profits in the reserves; certain assumptions are made
about continuance of ore, and it is the difficult task of
the engineer to decide what assumptions are justified by
the conditions. Indeed, it may be pertinently asked why
any one should sell at all for only as much as he has al-
ready assured, and, on the other band, why another
should care to buy if he only expects to get back what
he pays out. The answer to this question is outside the
scope of this paper, but it can be briefly said that in tbe
answer is involved the essential difference between the
buyer and seller in any transaction, as well as certain
peculiarities inherent in miniDg transactions alone. The
vendor's knowledge of his mine is more sketchy than
that of the buyer after his examination, and, while he is
apt to be more hopeful of the prospects, this may be
more than offset by imperfect realization of the possibili-
ties of improvement. Aside from this, and in the case
of the professional promoter, he is apt to figure on a
price that will give him a good profit on his outlay and
trouble. Logically and practically, then, it is the pros-
pect that is bought, and we here come into close contact
with the work of the engineers of the '80'sand with that
of the man who sets out to value a prospect.
A moment's consideration, however, shows that there
are certain facts that here help out. The history of the
mine affords certain clews to the future. The workings
give vast advantages for the study of the particular
geology. Moreover, almost a new science has been elab-
orated in recent years — that of economic geology. The
servants of this have been enthusiastic and earnest and
are opening out avenues of discovery that make our re-
sources of twenty-five years ago appear, by comparison,
sophomoric. This branch of geology is, however, only
new so far as its general use is now common to the en-
gineer. The painstaking studies of a generation of
students go far to make it now possible; but what was
being done in the '80's was the devoted work of a few;
that of the present is being done by an army of investi-
gators. By this the examining engineer now profits; in-
deed, he is very frequently assisted by a geological
specialist in his investigations.
All the data of the assay plan are studied for the light
to be thrown on the future as to change in dimensions of
the ore bodies and of tenor in their contents, and to
these questions of persistence they give prompt, if em-
pirical, answers. The geological study of the vein,
the existence of dikes, cross-veins, of changes in
wall rock — all of these have a bearing on the future.
Then there is the pertinent inquiry as to the extent tbe
deposit owes its value to surface conditions, which are
now recognized as often reaching to profound depths.
It is practically impossible to do more here than state
the prime factors in the case, which must all be com-
bined into a trustworthy opinion. This is a severe test
of judgment. No mine examination is to be lightly
approached; hut when tbe engineer reaches this sum-
mation of all his work, the responsibilities of his position
have, in truth, come home to him. He is now to form
his conclusions, the answer to the question with which
he began, "What will be the profit?" He has certain
definite facts arrived at by painstaking investigation; he
has a number of facts of less definite demonstration, and
he has a swarm of the small impressions that have
buzzed around him during the examination. He must
give due weight to each and combine the whole into a
decision with logical sequence of conclusion to premise,
so that no one can say "non sequitur." Just how this
is done constitutes the personal factor, and who shall
declare its course of operation? It is far removed from
mere guesswork, it is the special faculty of the well-
balanced mind; with no direct relation to personal pre-
dilection, we know it as but that imponderable quality
of "judgment." But this talk about judgment must not
blind, us to the clear separation of fact from future.
With all his innate habits of mind, the engineer strives
to give his report the one. distinct from the other; and
this is made clear no less in the use of his data than in
the deduction of his conclusions. He virtually says:
"These are the facts as nearly as can he determined,
there are the uncertainties, the true weight of the uncer-
tainties is thus and so, the chances are such and such.
The problem is before you, make your decision; what
will you do?" With this the scope of the engineer is
reached, his work is done; he has investigated, and found
the facts. He has studied, and evolved tbe probabili-
ties; he has stated the one and the other with logical
succinctness, and it is now up to the other man, as it
always must be up to the man who provides the funds.
When all is said and done, his decision is final.
I started out with the aim of showing what were the
recognized fundamentals of the mining report of to-day,
devised by experience to lessen the hazards of purchase;
I have tried to show how guesswork has been elim-
inated, how certainty has been sought, whenever attain-
able; what the limits of definite information are, and
what degree of reliance is placed on the purely personal
factor of judgment. I have explained how the mining
engineer, in his appraisement, makes the practice of
separating the positive from the tentative factors; of
presenting the one categorically, imperatively, as be-
comes the expression of ascertained physical facts, the
other modestly, as things. probable but concerning which
the best judgment may be at fault.
If this serves to give the investor a better idea of what
to look for in a mining report, I shall be pleased; if it
aids him to place due value on the work of the engineer,
I shall be gratified. If it leads some few to appreciate
the essential qualities of mining as business without in-
ordinate risk, I shall be more than satisfied.
The following paper, by James W. Malcomson, on
the "Relations of Mining and Smelting Between Mex-
ico and the United States," was an interesting con-
tribution on this sublect, which is of recognized inter-
national importance:
Twenty years ago practically all the gold and silver
ores of Mexico were treated on the spot where they were
mined by various local methods of treatment, amalga-
mation and leaching processes being very commonly
employed.
Since 1885 a great change has taken place. Most of
the ore now mined is transported by railroads to central
smelting plants, and the precious .metals contained
reduced to hullion with the aid of lead or copper.
An enormous and prosperous smelting industry has
thus developed to the mutual advantage of the mine
operators and the railroads.
To-day the miner operating near the railroad finds
himself able to turn his ore into cash immediately by
shipping it to any of these smelters. He usually receives
an amount which yields him as great or greater profits
than he could obtain from local processes, and this, too,
without any investment beyond the actual cost of mining
the ore. The miner of refractory ores also finds himself
almost as well off as the favored producer of free mill-
ing ores owning his own reduction plant, and it is only
in those districts far removed from the railroads that
the former cumbrous methods of local treatment are
employed.
In order to form some idea of the importance of this
change, it h s been estimated that before 1885, 90% of
all the silver and gold ore mined in Mexico was treated
locally where it was produced, but to-day over 75% of
all the ore mined is shipped over railroads to the
smelters of the country.
Until 1890, load ores were generally employed for this
purpose, and Mexican gold and silver ores were shipped
to Denver, Pueblo, Omaha, Kansas City and San Fran-
cisco, where lead smelters were in operation. Extensive
smelting works in the city of El Paso were also erected
at this period to handle ores from Mexico, which were
actually crowding the ore markets of the United States
After the discovery and development of the lead mines
of Sierra Madre and Nuevo Leon, in northern Mexico,
the lead ore miners of Colorado in 1892, fearing that the
introduction of Mexican lead ores into tbe United States
would destroy their control of the lead ore marke', suc-
ceeded in having a prohibitive duty imposed on this
metal. The control of fluxing ores by the lead miners
of Colorado at that time enabled them to dictate such
terms to the smelters that smelting charges on lead ores
were abolished entirely, but for a time the smelters were
compelled to pay more for the lead contents of the ore
than its market value to them. The result of the impo-
sition of this duty was that the gold and silver miners
of the United States were still left at the mercy of the
lead ore miners, whose demands made it necessary for
the smelters to obtain their margins from the miners of
the siliceous ores, who were thus compelled to submit to
higher treatment charges, while several millions of dol-
lars of United States capital were invested in Mexico in
the erection of custom smelters at Monterey, San Luis
Potosi, Aguascalientes and other points.
During the past few years it has become evident, bow-
ever, on account of the enormous increase in gold and
silver production in Mexico, that the capacity of these
lead smelters is insufficient, and that enough lead cannot
be obtained to take care of the increasing production of
gold and silver ores. One large smelter in the central
part of the republic has already replaced its lead base with
copper, although more than one-half of the copper em-
ployed is shipped south from the United States through
El Paso, and on account of this unsatisfactory condition
of the lead resources of Mexico it is inevitable that
others of the principal smelting plants will soon be
partly altered from a lead to a copper basis.
The greater part of the gold and silver produced in
Mexico is found in siliceous ores, and the problem of the
metallurgist is to get rid of this silica as slag, in the
cheapest possible way, leaving the precious metals
alloyed with the lead or copper used as a collector.
In a lead furnace the charge can not carry more than
one-third of its weight as silica, and, owing to the rela-
tively low temperature at which lead smelting is being
carried on, the speed of operations is not great. In a
copper furnace, owing to the higher temperatures em-
ployed, the charge may carry as high as one-half of its
weight as silica, and twice the amount of charge can be
smelted as in a lead furnace of similar dimensions. In
other words, a copper furnace will smelt three times as
much siliceous silver ore as a lead furnace of the same
size in the same time.
Copper as a collector offers other points of superiority
to lead. It can be enriched to a much greater extent
with gold and silver. A copper furnace smelting gold
and silver ores is often operated successfully with less
than \% copper in the charge, the volume of matter
produced being made up by the use of iron sulphide
ores, while a lead furnace can not be successfully oper-
ated with less than 1% lead.
There is, therefore, very little reason to doubt that
the bulk of the silver and gold ore smelted in Mexico
will be reduced in copper instead of lead furnaces in the
near future, and the question aiises: Where will this
copper come from?
The silver and gold output of Mexico is large and in-
creasing very rapidly. The silver production of 1904
was 71,880,000 ounces, or 18,000,000 ounces greater than
that of the United States, Mexico being the greatest
silver producing country in the world. The value of the
gold produced during 1904 was $11,530,000, United States
currency.
The greater part of this gold and silver is found in the
central plateau of the Republic and along the lines of
the main railroads, the principal districts being Pachuca,
Guanajuato, El Oro, Zacatecas, Mapimi, Parral, Santa
Eulalia, Catorce and Matehuala.
Tbe production of copper in Mexico has increased
from 900 tons in 1891 to 57,500 tons in 1904, largely owing
to the opening up of the mines of Cananea. The bulk of
this metal is mined in northern Sonora and Lower Cali-
fornia and a considerable distance west of the gold and
silver mining districts before mentioned. The adjaceDt
territory of Arizona also supplies a large and steadily
increasing output of copper, the output during 1904
being approximately 70,000 tons.
At the same time it is interesting to notice that the
copper ores of Sonora and Arizona usually carry low
values in gold and silver. At present they are smelted
locally, the copper produced being shipped to New Jer-
sey and other points on the Atlantic shore for refining.
There exists therefore to-day a temporary and abnor-
mal condition of affairs which, when remedied, will have
a profound influence on the development of mining and
metallurgical enterprise, both in the United States and
Mexico.
On the one hand, we have in Mexico a steadily in-
creasing output of siliceous ores, rich in gold and silver,
with a stationary or decreasing production of lead ores
suitable for smelting purposes. The result is that gold
and silver mining operations throughout central Mexico
are handicapped by excessive treatment rates, and many
gold and silver mines are now shut down which were
formerly operated with profit.
On the other hand, there is in Arizona and southern
Sonora a large and steadily increasing production of
copper eminently adapted to the requirements of cus-
toms smelting, but which is not yet utilized for this pur-
pose.
After the attention of the great copper producers of
Sonora and Arizona is directed to the possibilities in
smelting the gold and silver ores of Mexico, together
with tbe copper ores of the West, there is no reason to
doubt that very much gre iter profits will be made than
is now the case.
Copper will be shipped to the refineries rich in gold
and silver contents, instead of, as at present, without
precious metal values of importance, and profits will be
made by the combination that will benefit the miners
and railroads quite as much as the smelters themselves.
When this copper smelting industry, now in its in-
fancy, is developed along these lines, there can be little
doubt that El Paso, lying as it does on the lines of com-
munication between the copper mines of Arizona and
Sonora and the gold and silver mines of Mexico, will be-
come a copper smelting center of great importance, and
a messenger of prosperity to the many gold and silver
mines of northern Mexico.
A paper by F. A. Jones, on the "Mineral Resources
of New Mexico," gave a comprehensive idea of the
mineral possibilities of that Territory. The follow-
ing is an abstract of this paper:
The mineral wealth of New Mexico first attracted at-
tention at the time of the Spanish invasion in 1541, under
Coronado. The natives exhibited ornaments and masses
of silver, gold and ores, and also specimens of turquoise,
which was used by them for ornamental purposes, and
also as a medium of exchange. This gem stone was
known to the ancient Indians (and also to the Aztecs)
as "chalchihuitl. " Turquoise was probably the first
mineral mined in the United States. It is found in Los
Cerrillos district, Burro mountains, Jarilla mountains
and Old Hachita. The oldest known copper mines of
New Mexico are those at Santa Rita, and these were the
first copper deposits to be worked in America within
historic time. The Santa Rita mines are the largest
producers of copper in New Mexico, and are embraced
in the copper belt of the southwest, that includes the
deposits of Arizona and northern Mexico. The bound-
ary line of this belt in New Mexico begins in the Mogol-
lon mountains, and extends in a southeast direction
through the Jarilla mountains. All that area lying to
the southwest of this line belongs to the copper belt.
The discovery of gold in Mew Mexico was made in grav-
els at the base of the Ortiz mountains, in Santa Fe
county, in 1828. In 1839 new placers were found in the
Tuerto mountains, south of the Ortiz mountains. The
area, though not extensive, has produced approximately
$2,500,000. Elizabethtown, in Colfax county, has made
the greatest production of any district in New Mexico.
Gold was discovered there in 1866, and the gravels have
been constantly worked ever since. Rich silver mines
have been found in New Mexico. Prominent among the
silver camps are Lake Valley, Georgetown, Kingston,
Hermosa, Chloride, Chloride Flats, Victoria, Mogollons
and tbe Pyramid district.
The lead and zinc areas are principally confined to the
west side of the Rio Grande, with the exception of the
Organ mountain district. These ores are associated and
found in the carboniferous limestones.
In tbe production of lead, the Magdalena and Cook's
Peak districts take first rank; each of these districts
produced several millions in lead carbonate and sulphide
ores. At Granite Gap, in southwestern Grant county^
are some promising lead-carbonate properties. A large
quantity of lead is mined in the vicinity of Silver City.
The Magdalena district has come rapidly to the front
as a zinc camp within the past two years. About $180,-
000 was credited the district in 1903 The output dur-
ing the year 1904 reached nearly $1,000,000. Immense
bodies of zinc-lead sulphide occur in the Magdalena
mountains and at Cook's Peak.
Eastern Socorro county and western Lincoln county
are the principal iron fields of the southwest. On the
upper Gila are large alum deposits, not a pound of
which has ever been marketed.
Sulphur abounds at "Sulphur" Hot Springs, near
NovesiBEn 2f> I1HI5
Mining and Scientific Press.
361
White Oaks, near the Texas border and at Guadalupe.
Deposits of mica are found In the locality of Petaca, in
Rio Arriba county. Other deposits are at Nambe, in
Santa Fe county; at Talco, in Mora county, and in the
San Andreas mountains, near Mocking Bird springs.
Pumice stone is to be had near Ihe foot of Mt. Taylor,
in Valencia county, and also east of the Rio Grande, in
Socorro county.
Salt exists commercially in central New Mexico, but
has not been utilized other than by ranchmen for their
stock and local domestic purposes. The most interesting
of these deposits is at the Zuni crater lake, in Western
Socorro county. Here the process of salt making is con-
tinuous, due to the waters circulating through the
underlying "red beds," whence they derive a strong
brine as they How into the shallow lake basin, depositing
salt by evaporation. Other valuable salt deposits are
found in the Estancia plain, in the eastern and northern
parts of the plain of the "white sands," and in the region
of the Pecos.
New Mexico has abundant gypsum, but only one plant
exists in the Territory that manufactures cement plaster
from this material, at Ancho, in Lincoln county. Many
of these beds are several hundred feet in thickness.
What is said to be the most extensive deposit of gypsum
in the world is known as the plain of the "white sands,"
situated southwest of Alamogordo, in Otero county.
This snowy waste of gypsum is about 35 miles in length
north and south and about IS miles across its broadest
part.
Graphite abounds in the Raton mountains and in the
Sandias east of Albuquerque. Guano is found in caves
and extinct volcanic craters. Asphaltum exists on the
Perea grant, in Guadalupe county, north of Santa Rosa.
But little prospecting has been done for oil. Oil seepages
are reported from different localities in the Territory,
and there seems no good reason why paying wells will
not be found sooner or later. The geological structure
of probable fields in New Mexico is similar to that of
Florence, Colo., and to the oil horizons in Wyoming.
In New Mexico coal is found in the Cretaceous rocks.
In gem ral, all of the coals of New Mexico are clean and
make a good fuel. Some of these coals make a splendid
coke, while others possess no coking qualities whatever.
The areal extent of the New Mexican coal fields is not
definitely known.
Among the interesting and valuable papers read
was that of W. G. Swart, which follows, on the
"Zinc Industry of the Rocky Mountain Region:"
For many years the zinc industry of the Rocky moun-
tain region consisted almost wholly of efforts on the part
of the miner to sort out, or mill out, and throw away
enough zinc to bring his lead or copper ores below the
penalty limit set by the smelters. Eight years ago this
was changed through the purchase by European zinc
smelters of some Lead ville ores for their zinc contents.
This was followed by a shortage of ore supply in the
Joplin district, in Missouri, coincident with the enor-
mous increase in demand for spelter, forcing the Ameri-
can zinc smelters to turn to the West for an adequate
ore supply. The Rocky Mountain States have so far
not been able to furnish ores of as high a grade as Mis-
souri, nor will they ever do so, save in exceptional,
scattered instances. This has greatly retarded the in-
dustry in those States.
Among the common metals, the metallurgy of zinc is
the least advanced, and requires the cleanest ores unless
iron furnaces he considered, which in the West is not
necessary. A copper furnace can be successfully run
on ores carrying 1% copper; a lead furnace on 7% lead;
but a zinc furnace calls for at least 30% zinc, and 40%
and 50% is much more apt to be profitable. Lead and
copper furnaces are also built of great size, and charged
like iron furnaces, automatically, in carload lots. The
zinc retort still holds but a few hundred pounds, and
must be charged by hand with a shovel. The consump-
tion of fuel is also from eight to twenty times that of
the lead or copper furnace. All these, and the further
important factor that impure zinc ores produce low-
grade metal or oxide, give the clean zinc ores a great
advantage, and it is therefore not strange that the Jop-
lin ores have always been standard, and have formed
the basis of American spelter production, while the low-
grade Western ores have remained untouched, or have
been grudgingly shipped to the lead and copper smelters
for their precious metal values, paying there the heavy
zinc penalty. From the standpoint of the lead and cop-
per smelters this penalty has ample justification. It is
safe to say that the average smelter manager would be
glad to eliminate zinc from his furnace as the miner
would to escape the penalty. These two objects are at
last accomplished, and Western zinc ores of almost
any composition can he successfully dressed and profit-
ably marketed.
This is largely the result of the increased demand for
spelter mentioned above, and the consequent effort on
the part of the zinc smelters to keep their output up
by modifying and adapting their methods to these lower
grade ores. This has taken time and money, and there
have of course been disappointments and failures. Prog-
ress is shown by the fact that the first Western ship-
ments carried a minimum of 45% zinc. Ores are now
being regularly shipped assaying 30% to 35%.
Lead and iron are the impurities causing most trouble
to the zinc smelter. Since these are the metals that are
most desirable for the lead or copper smelter, and zinc
the least so, one says naturally, "Separate them and sell
each to its own smelter. " It is along these lines that
the future of the Rocky mountain industry lies. Most
of the Western ores are complex sulphides, mixtures of
galena, pyrite and blende, occurring in a variety of
gangue rocks. In many instances hand sorting or sim-
ple concentration in jigs or on tables will gi^e shipping
products, but in the majority of cases some further or
different treatment is necessary. This" means that
when, after trial, older and well-known processes fail to
yield clean products, as they usually do, the newer
methods must be utilized. Zinee blende has too nearly
the specific gravity of many of its associated minerals to
he successfully removed by jigs or tables, and such work
must be supplemented or replaced.
There are several methods now offered to the miner
for the accomplishment of this purpose. All these
methods are comparatively new and mistakes will be
easy and costly, hence the miner should understand
thoroughly that the work of selecting and installing a
plant for handling zinc ores belongs strictly to the ex-
perienced engineer. This cannot be too forcibly stated.
No two zinc ores are exactly alike, and since it is not
possible to adapt the ore to the process, the process
must be adapted to the ore. This is work for an expert
and success depends on its recognition.
A number of chemical processes, based on leaching the
ores both before and after roasting, have been tried.
Such processes are attractive and are likely in the
future to be entirely successful, but the fact remains
that there is no such plant in commercial operation
to-day in America, and work along these lines ought
only to be attempted by strong companies having plenty
of money for experiment.
In Australia successful commercial work has been
done with what are known as "flotation processes,"
which depend for their operation on the selective lift-
ing action of small bubbles of hydrogen gas on wet
crushed ore. Experiments along these lines have also
been conducted in America, but there is nothing com-
mercial offered in this country as yet.
While these and other wet methods are full of promise
for the future, the fact is before us that the only suc-
cessful mills in operation in the Rocky mountain region
are those using magnetism or static electricity. There
are twelve such mills in the West at present, with a
daily capacity of about 430 tons. Half this tonnage may
be taken as zinc concentrates, which may be assumed to
average 45% zinc. The indications are that in another
year this will be doubled.
I have spent the past six years working exclusively on
this zinc ore problem. I am free to admit my prefer-
ence for wet work, but I cannot escape the fact that
electricity is to-day making the Western output of zinc
ore, and it is being done dry.
If put into the shape of high-grade concentrates,
zinc ores are worth more per unit than lead ores, but
low-grade lead ores can be marketed and smelted direct,
while zinc ores cannot, hence the stipulation " high
grade, " and the broad assertion now made that in al-
most every case zinc ores must be dressed before ship-
ment. Not only is this necessary to raise the grade of
the zinc product, but to produce at the same time a by-
product as valuable as possible, carrying the gold, sil-
ver, lead and copper, so that they may not be lost, but
made a source of profit.
Any zinc ore can to-day he handled successfully, and
many an old, abandoned mine be made to pay. There
are exceptions, and the whole matter is so new that the
statement made above will bear repeating — if failure is
to be avoided, an expert must be consulted.
In Missouri, ores carrying 3% or 4% zinc, with no
other values, are mined and milled at a profit. At pres-
ent it will usually not pay to handle a Western ore
carrying less than 10% zinc, provided there are no other
recoverable values. One mine in Colorado is working a
7% zinc ore, but there is also recovered some $3 in gold,
silver and lead.
Methods are daily improving. In .three years ores
carrying 5% zinc should be worked, in which the zinc
will represent the sole profit, though not the sole value.
Such ores are not being touched now, but we all know
them to exist in large bodies, and as the knowledge of
proper treatment spreads they will come into market.
The vital point in the whole matter is the recognition
of the facts that, since zinc is penalized at the lead and
copper furnaces, and lead, iron and copper are likewise
treated at the zinc furnace, they must be separated and
sold as cleaned products in the high market. Excep-
tions must be made here also, since the new zinc smelter
at Pueblo buys mixed ores, and so do the Belgian
furnaces; but it will be found that the prices offered are
usually such as to make it profitable to the miner to
separate his products before shipment. Even the fur-
naces just mentioned prefer the high-grade material, and
will pay accordingly for it. It is a fortunate thing for
the miner that his gold and silver values usually follow
the lead, copper and iron, rather than the zinc, for the
zinc smelters do not ordinarily recover these values, nor
pay for them in low-grade ores.
Several things aside from new processes have contrib-
uted to the present activity and opportunity. The price
of spelter has been uniformly high for some time, and
bids fair to remain so as long as general financial con-
ditions are good; many of the European mines have
been obliged to curtail production on account of de-
creased ore reserve, causing the European smelters to
look abroad for ore supply; the Western railroads have
been generous in the matter of lower freight rates on
these zinc ores, reaping their reward in the building up
of a promising new business.
It has been suggested that the opening up of these
large zinc deposits will lead to the establishment of zinc
smelters in the West. This is possible, but there are cer-
tain considerations that must not be overlooked. Cheap
labor, cheap transportation, and, above all, cheap fuel,
are essential to zinc smelting. Unlike lead or copper
smelting, it usually pays to haul zinc ores to the fuel
rather than the fuel to the ores. If Western smelting
can be made to pay, it will come in time, but it will not
pay to wait forit, and meanwhile the miner should make
the most of his opportunities, and recognize the fact that
in his heretofore troublesome zinc ores he has to-day a
most valuable asset.
As to the future, only a prophet dare speak. It is
known that this Rocky Mountain region contains enor-
mous zinc deposits. A prominent mining engineer has
estimated 3,000,000 tons of zinc ore in Lead ville alone, ac-
tually exposed; but it must not for a moment be supposed
that all of this, or a tenth part of it, can be thrown on
the market for years to come. Other extensive deposits
are already opened in Utah, Idaho, Montana, South
Dakota, New Mexico and Arizona, but they are apt to
be even slower in coming into the market. One thing is
sure, however: The zinc industry of the Rocky Moun-
tain region is to-day on a firm basis, and is certain to
expand and add increasing amounts to the world's ton-
nage as the years go by. This is certainly worthy the
attention of every man interested in mining. Fortunes
exist in these deposits, and a fortune in zinc counts just
as many gold dollars as a fortune in lead or copper.
"The Mineral Resources of Alaska" was the title
of a paper read by A. H. Brooks, who outlined the
achievements and possibilities of our most northern
Territory. Following is an abstract of his paper:
Last year the output of Alaska's gold mines was
$9,300,000, while this year it bids fair to exceed $15,-
000,000. In 1880 the pioneers found the Juneau placers
and soon after the auriferous lodes from which the allu-
vial gold was derived. These men snou found means to
overcome the obstacles to inland travel, and discovered
the alluvial gold of the Yukon about 1882.
The fifteen years that followed witnessed continuous
progress in the exploitation of the auriferous lodes in the
coastal zone, but the development of the Yukon placers,
attended by so many difficulties, was of slow growth!
Great changes were wrought in 1898, when the wave of
excitement attending the Klondike discovery swept
thousands of gold seekers into the Yukon region. This
was followed by the Nome rush of 1900, which carried a
vast horde of inexperienced men to the Seward peninsula.
The Territory is continually attracting greater numbers
of experienced mining men and larger amounts of cap-
ital. During the past decade it has been the placer
fields which have received most attention. Meanwhile,
the auriferous lode mining has been constantly on the
increase, copper mines have reached a shipping stage,
tin deposits are being actively prospected, and the coal
fields are receiving much attention.
Of the total— $65,000,000— up to 1904, which, including
this year, will be at least $30,000,000, about one-half has
been taken from the mines of the Pacific coastal belt,
and chiefly from lode deposits. The Seward peninsula
has furnished about a third, and all of that in the past
five years. The Yukon basin, though it has been a pro-
ducer for twenty years, has only become of importance
during the present year, since the discovery of the Fair-
banks district. While exact figures are not yet avail-
able, it is probable that the Yukon region "will yield
nearly $7,000,000 in 1905, of which about $6,000,000 have
been taken from the Fairbanks placers. During the first
year of the Nome excitement the Nome placers pro-
duced less than half of the present output of Fairbanks.
Yet Fairbanks is known only among mining men, while
20,000 people went to Nome the first year.
Tin has been found only in the extreme western part
of Alaska, close to Bering strait, and but 60 miles from
the Siberian coast. It occurs both in placers and in
lodes, but the future of the tin mining industry can not
yet be foretold. The lode deposits are similar to those
of Cornwall, England, and the outlook is hopeful that
they will become producers. Placer tin has been mined
for several years and some shipments have been made,
and the lodes are being carefully prospected.
At a number of localities on the Pacific seaboard there
are large seepages, and at some, at least, the rock struc-
ture appears favorable for the formation of oil pools.
The drilling that has been carried on has not met with
much success, though some oil has been found.
The marble of southeastern Alaska is being developed,
and the same region affords some mineral waters. At
several localities gypsum deposits have been found. Of
the other mineral resources of Alaska, granite, which is
very abundant, should be mentioned. There are also
extensive deposits of iron. Some cinnabar has been
found in the Kuskokwim valley, but little is known of
the character of the deposit.
Though up to the present time the gold and silver de-
posits have yielded practically all of the mineral wealth
of Alaska, the copper mines are rapidly forging ahead.
Copper is found in three districts. Two of these are on
the coast and are now shipping ore, while a third lies
inland. The southernmost field is in the Ketchikan dis-
trict, on Prince of Wales Island, where half a dozen
mines are in operation and two smelters have been built.
The ores are chiefly sulphides, but also include some car-
bonates. Its accessibility and the abundance of timber
make the Ketchikan district the ideal mining region of
the Territory. Sulphide ores are also being mined in
Prince William sound, where two mines are shipping
ore and a dozen other localities where active prospecting
is going on.
In the Copper and White river regions large masses of
native copper occur in the glacial gravels, and these de-
posits furnished the natives with the only metal they
had. After the Russians settled in Alaska, the copper
deposits became of less value to the Indians, as they se-
cured a better sub titute from the white men. During
1898 and 1899 search for the source of placer copper re-
sulted in the finding of lode deposits on White river.
The workable ore bodies are chiefly sulphides and occur
in two belts, north and south of the Wrangell mountains.
Their inaccessibility has made systematic prospecting
difficult. There is no question but what Alaska is going
to be an important source of copper.
At Cape Lisburne, in the extreme northwestern part
of the Territory, an excellent quality of coal has been
found by the United States Geological Survey in work-
able seams. It is of interest to note that this is the only
known occurrence of Carboniferous coal west of the
Rocky mountains. The region to the east has been but
little explored, but the facts indicated a broad coal-bear-
ing belt running parallel to the Polar sea. This field,
locked in the ice for all but two months in the year, has
no immediate commercial importance, but forms a part
of the ultimate fuel resources of the world. A second
bituminous coal field has been mapped which stretches
along the lower Yukon, where some developments have
been made, but there are no shipping mines. Lignitic
coals are not. uncommon in the Yukon basin, and these
will eventually find a local market, but are undeveloped.
By far the most important coal fields are those near
the Pacific seaboard. Best known is that of Controller
bay, where there is a coal-bearing area of at least 150
square miles but 25 miles from tide water. Here numer-
ous seams exceed 20 to 30 feet in thickness. This coal
ranges from a high-grade bituminous to a semi-anthra-
cite. A second field, carrying similar coals and probably
in equal abundance, stretches along the Matanuska river
north of Cook Inlet. This will probably receive early
365
Mining and Scientific Press.
November 25, 1905.
development, as it is the immediate objective point of a
railroad now UDder construction from tide water. Coal
mining' is being carried on at but few places and the total
annual production does not now exceed a few thousand
tons. As Alaska is annually paying $2,000,000 for fuel,
it would appear to be an attractive field for the coal
miner.
Whatever the future of copper and coal mining, the
gold mines are every year adding millions of dollars to
the wealth of the. world. Two broad gold belts are
recognizable. The one stretching parallel to the Pacific
seaboard, through the Panhandle of the Territory and
following the great bend of the coast line, is lost among
the islands of southwestern Alaska. This zone includes
practically all the auriferous quartz mines of the Terri-
tory and also some of the smaller placer districts. A
second belt extends northwestward from the interna-
tional boundary, near the Klondike, to the Seward
peninsula. The interruptions in the belt indicate either
that the field is unexplored or that the gold-bearing ter-
ranes are mantled by younger sediments. With the
exception of the yield of one quartz mine on the Seward
peninsula, all the gold from this belt, embracing about
half the production of Alaska, has been taken from
placers.
The coastal mineral zone, though it includes some im-
portant placer districts, is primarily a region of lode
deposits. It has produced nearly half of the entire gold
output of the Territory, and most of this has come from
the Panhandle, or southeastern Alaska, as it has been
called. In this field most of the gravels have been swept
away during the recent extensive glaciation. Here a
belt of metamorphic rocks, skirting the mainland from
Dixon's entrance to Lynn canal, embraces the main lode
system, which has many features in common with the
mother lode belt of California. Workable auriferous
veins have been found in a number of widely separated
localities in this zone. Besides the mainland belt, other
lode systems are found in the islands to the westward,
but are less known.
The Yukon-Tanana gold belt, embracing the oldest
producing classes of the interior, has been exploited for
nearly a quarter of a century, but it is only this year
that its output has run up into the millions. The placer
gold finds its source in quartz veins and impregnated in
a belt of metamorphic rocks. Some of these may yet be
found to carry values, but no lode mining has yet been
attempted.
The ever active prospector has found a new and what
is said to be a very rich placer district lying to the south
of Tanana. While much of this region has been run
over in a hurried way, but little of it has been system-
atically prospected, and there is reason to believe that
the limits of new discoveries have been reached. More-
over, under the present cost of transportation, only the
richest deposits can be mined. It is fair to assume that
this field will continue to be an important producer for
many years to come.
Passing westward, what appears to be the same gold
belt is found again in Seward peninsula. Up to the
present year the Seward peninsula was the largest placer
producer of Alaska, but its output this year bids fair to
be exceeded by Yukon camps. This does not signify
that the placers of the peninsula are on the decline, for
they will not reach their maximum for many years.
The cost of mining is much less than in the interior
camps, and operations are on a much larger scale. At
present much of the activity is being directed toward
the installation of extensive plants, but comparatively
few of which are in operation. The area of the gold-
bearing gravels of the Seward peninsula is about equal
to that of California.
One lode deposit has been developed in the peninsula,
and this field may yet become a quartz mining region.
When its gravels are s* ept away by the extensive min-
ing operations which are now being carried on, the
source of the placer gold will be revealed. Some of the
deposits car be made to yield a profit, for even compara-
tively low-grade deposits will be mined, as the ditches
now furnishing water for placer mining can be turned
into power, and the railways for cheap transportation
will have been built.
In Fairbanks district the broad valleys and low stream
gradients present different problems to the miner than
the coastal region. Cleary creek is one of the richest in
the Fairbanks district. The pay streak being covered
by an over-burden of 30 to 60 feet in thickness, drift
mining is resorted to. The frozen condition of the grav-
els makes it impossible to tunnel throughout the year
without the use of timber. It is said $6,000,000 worth of
gold will be taken out this year.
The rapid evolution of mining methods in this north-
ern field during the last five years is striking. For two
years after the discovery of Nome, much of the gold was
taken out with hand rockers, but this has been in part
superseded by more economical methods.
The beach deposits of the Seward peninsula, though
now nearly exhausted, have been the richest in the
world. Near Bluff 400 yards of the beach averaged
probably $150 to the cubic yard. Though there have
been many improvements introduced in mining on Se-
ward peninsula, shoveling in sluice-boxes is still prac-
ticed. Though there are in the Seward peninsula none
of the tremendous bodies of gravel which have made the
California placer fields famous, nor are there here the
steep gradients and extensive water reservoirs which have
made hydraulic mining in California the cheapest in the
world, yet this method has its place in the Seward pen-
insula, and is constantly on the increase. The frozen
ground has developed some new methods of mining, the
most novel of which is the use of steam points. Dredg-
ing operations are constantly on the increase, and
though they are not applicable to all parts of the placer
districts of Alaska, they here find a legitimate place in
economic mining.
The advancement of the mining industry in Alaska
during the past decade, attested by the value of the an-
nual mineral product, which has risen from less than
$2,000,000 to over $15,000,000, has been great. The ter-
ritory cannot reach its true position as a mining field
until improvement in methods of transportation cheap-
ens the cost of production. Besides the inland lying
coal fields and copper district, there are scores, if not
hundreds, of placers which njust remain undeveloped
until reached by railways and wagon roads. This fact
has been recognized in Washington, and a move has been
made toward highway construction, and means have
been provided for explorations which must precede the
choice of a railway location.
The Yukon basin is accessible by an all-water route
from Bering sea, but this is closed by ice for nearly nine
months in the year.
The means of river navigation have improved. The
scow has been replaced by the steamer. The absence of
a harbor and shoal water in northern Alaska makes the
landing of freight expensive and this has been a severe
tax on the mining interests.
Alaska's greatest need to-day is transportation facili-
ties. It is necessary for a proper development of its
mineral wealth that a railway should be constructed
from some point on the coast to the Yukon region. A
route for this railway can be chosen so as to include im-
portant coal and copper deposits, and it will open up a
vast field which is now inaccessible. A railway to serve
the mining interest must be constructed from some one
of the good harbors, which are abundant on the Pacific,
to the Yukon through American territory. The ex-
plorations and surveys of the Geological Survey have de-
termined the general location of such a route. There
are several classes which are feasible for railway con-
struction, any one of which would reach the gold fields
by a line not over 400 miles in length. A proper choice
of location must be determined, not only on the topog-
raphy, but also on the distribution of the mineral
wealth, for on this will depend the tonnage of the road .
W*********** **************** ********35
1 THE PROSPECTOR. I
■9 *
When going into the field the prospector should
provide himself with a small steel pan for washing
out samples to test for gold; a small steel mortar and
pestle — a piece of drill steel " upset " at one end is
best, as it cannot be broken, whereas the ordinary
oast iron pestle is easily broken; and a pocket magni-
fying glass to examine samples. If the prospector
has any knowledge of mineralogy, he should also have
several bottles with ground glass stoppers for hydro-
chloric, sulphuric and nitric acids, and one for am-
monia, and a good-sized bottle of pure water for
washing, etc; two dozen test tubes, a blowpipe and
alcohol lamp, several pieces of charcoal suitable for
blowpipe use; litmus paper, red and blue; filter paper,
glass funnel, and beakers for filtration, etc., and also
a small scale for weighing materials. If the pros-
pector is not familiar with the scale of hardness, he
should have some small samples for test. The im-
portant ones are: 1, talc; 2, gypsum (selenite); 3, cal-
cite; 4, fluorite; 5, apatite; 6, orthoclase (feldspar);
7, quartz; 8, topaz. The sapphire (No. 9) and the
diamond (No. 10) may be dispensed with. Of course,
he must also have the necessary working tools —
picks, shovels, drills, hammers, etc. Most prospec-
tors, however, go out with a very limited equipment,
taking merely the mortar and pestle and pan, and
some do not even provide these, but bring all samples
collected back to town for determination and assay.
The interesting rock and ores from Lone moun-
tain, Esmeralda county, Nev., are classified as fol-
lows: No. 1, an altered intrusive rock, carrying 10%
or more of iron sulphide, which may contain gold and
silver. The rocks should be assayed to determine
these values. The dark-colored rocks in this package
are similar to the light-colored ones, being simply
oxidized, containing iron oxide instead of sulphide.
The black, red and yellow colors are due to oxidation.
Package No. 2 contains three pieces of crystalline,
and partly crystallized vein quartz, showing iron
sulphide (pyrite) and iron oxide (hematite), with a
little green copper carbonate. This lot should also
be assayed for precious metals. No. 3, consisting of
four pieces of mineral, contains a white piece, princi-
pally carbonate of lime, with a little quartz, and a
few yellowish-green garnets. The largest piece, con-
sisting of a mass of crystals with pearly luster, is
almost wholly garnet. A little copper carbonate can
be seen. The smallest piece consists of a siliceous
iron-stained rock containing some green copper car-
bonate. The dark-colored heavy piece is principally
yellow copper sulphide (chalcopyrite), altering to
bornite. It is a good grade of copper ore, and may
also contain gold or silver, or both. It should be
assayed for all three minerals. No. 4 contains a
quantity of much-altered ore, principally iron oxide.
It may be a part of the gossan of a copper-bearing
vein. It also should be tested by assay. The white
mineral in No. 4 is calcium carbonate.
Concentration and Separation of Zinc-
Lead Ores.
The ores from Helena, Mont., are evidently from
a zone of brecciation into which mineral waters have
infiltrated, depositing iron sulphide, and probably
also gold. The rock has since been oxidized and now
shows iron oxides, while the brecciated structure of
the material can be plainly seen. In a deposit of
this character there may be walls on either side or
on one side only, or the fissure may be in the central
portion of the deposit, the mineralization having
penetrated both walls. What the rock was originally
it is impossible to say, owing to extreme metamor-
phism.
The rocks from Mineral hill, Pony, Mont., are: G,
gneissoid granite; B is quartz-mica diorite.
Written for the Mining and Scientific Press by D H. Lawrance.
The county of Summit, Colo. , long famous for its
great gold production in the past, and for the fact
that its collection of gold specimens is seldom equaled
for rarity and beauty elsewhere in the world, is now
becoming widely known as a center of importance for
the production of lead-zinc ores.
For a long time past Breckenridge, the county
seat of Summit county, has been a shipper of large
quantities of high-grade zinc and lead ores to vari-
ous smelting and chemical works, but only this year
has it come to the fore in milling the ores of lower
grade, so concentrating the metallic values and after-
wards effecting a separation of the different metals
as to make readily marketable products that are
sought by the various metal works.
The first plant erected in Breckenridge district
to make a good concentration and separation is the
large mill of the old Union M. & M. Co., built during
last winter and spring on the property of that com-
pany at the foot of Mineral hill, in French Gulch, one
mile from town. The plant is so located as to han-
dle all the ore trammed directly into it from the low-
est level of the mine, and at the same time is conveni-
ently situated for the hauling in of custom ore by the
road. The building of the old Union mill was com-
pleted in July, 1905, and has been making trial runs
and test crushings and concentrations ever since. It
is the largest plant of its kind in Summit county, and
one of the best arranged in the State. The dimen-
sions of the building are 70x130 feet in length, and 73
feet in height at the apex, and in its erection over
200,000 feet of lumber has been used. The pulveriz-
ing machinery consists of one 9x15 jaw rock crusher,
and two sets of 14x24 rolls. The concentrating and
separation plant is a combination of eight jigs, eight
No. 5 concentrating tables and two No. 5 slimers.
Besides the above are the usual accessories in the
shape of automatic feeders for the rolls and concen-
trators, elevators, classifiers, tanks, etc.
The power is supplied by a 100 H. P. tubular boiler,
16 feet long and 52 inches in diameter, and a 150 H.
P. Corliss engine 14x36.
The sizing and classifying are done by a combination
of revolving screens and hydraulic classifiers.
The flow of the ore is as follows: The ore trammed
in from the mine or hauled from customers' proper-
ties is dumped directly into ore bins at the top end
of the mill, and is all fed automatically to the crusher
by means of a trough. From the crusher it is passed
by an automatic feeder into the coarse rolls, whence
it gravitates into the elevator boot and is lifted to
the top of the building, to the main screen line. It first
goes to an 8-mesh revolving screen, the oversize
passing back to the fine-crushing rolls. The fine
passing through the 8-mesh goes to a 10-mesh
screen, the oversize from that being conveyed to
two 4-compartment jigs called Nos. 1 and 2. The fines
from the 10-mesh go to a 24-mesh screen, the
oversize therefrom going to jigs 3 and 4 The pro-
duct that passes through the 24-mesh is conveyed to
a 30-mesh screen. That which passes through the
30-mesh is carried on to the hydraulic classifiers.
The oversize goes to jig 5. The hydraulic classifiers
make three sizes, the coarsest of which goes to jig
6 and the intermediate to four tables, and the finest
to two tables. Jigs 1. 2, 3 and 4 take out the iron
and lead in the different compartments, and the zinc
and silica overflow to two more 4-compartment jigs
on the lower floor, where the zinc is taken out and
the rest of the material runs down the tail-sluice.
Jigs 5 and 6 are 6-compartment machines, and sepa-
rate the zinc and lead and iron direct in the one oper-
ation on the upper floor. The tailings from the four
tables handling the intermediate product of the
classifiers go on to two tables on the lower floor,
and that from the two tables handling the fine classi-
fied product go on to two slimers, where another
good zinc product is made.
The company is doing good work, and is shipping
three different products: First, the lead concen-
trates carrying the high silver values and some gold;
second, the iron concentrates carrying gold and sil-
ver values; third, the zinc concentrates carrying
gold and silver values, all of which are finding a ready
market.
The capacity of the plant is 120 tons per day, and
the output will average 30 tons per day of concen-
trates.
The officers of the company at the operating end
are: Albert E. Keables, general manager; David
H. Lawrence, M. E., consulting engineer; George
Smith, mine superintendent; Charles F. Gilbert, mill
superintendent.
The company is an Eastern organization, the ma-
jority of the stock being held in Illinois and Wiscon-
sin, the head office being in Oshkosh, Wis. The suc-
cess of the old Union mine and mill will give a great
stimulus to zinc-lead ore mining in Breckenridge and
surrounding districts, and other mills will be the or-
der of the day where low-grade ores are found in
large bodies.
November 25, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
366
Reduction Plant and Process at the
Oroya-Brownhill Mines. *
Written by Robert Allen.
The ores from the three mines are similar in char-
acter— schistose, and crush freely; also they are free
from minerals harmful to the cyanide process. They
contain from 50% to 65% of silica and insolubles,
about 7% carbonate of lime, 3% to 5% carbonate of
magnesia, about 5% of alumina, the balance being
principally iron compounds. Tellurides of gold and
silver are found throughout the ores, also coloradoite
(a telluride of mercury). These, with considerable
auriferous iron pyrites, lorm the great bulk of the
concentrates, and contain the greater proportion of
the gold contents of the ores. The amount of free
gold is small, existing in a very fine state of division,
disseminated through the mass as a rule.
As the result of a lot of experimental work upon
the Kalgoorlie sulpho-telluride ores by Dr. Diehl, the
present process was installed upon the Brownhill
mine in 1901. Some modifications of methods have
been adopted and extensions of plant made since then,
the process of treatment being briefly as follows: The
ore is coarse-crushed by breakers, milled in a bat-
tery through a coarse screen without amalgamation;
the tailings separated into "sand" and "slime" prod-
ucts; the former is sized, its coarser sizing being
coarse-ground in Wheeler pans; the whole of the
"sands" are passed over tables, the eliminated con-
* Abstract Jour. Cham. Mines, Kalgoorlie. W. A.
centrates being roasted, fine ground with mercury,
agitated with cyanide and filter pressed, while the
balance of the "sands" tailings is slimed in flint mills.
This product is agitated with ordinary cyanide and
bromocyanide and filter pressed; the gold solution is
precipitated, as well as that from the concentrates,
in ordinary zinc extractor boxes.
The great advantages of the process are that it is
a wet crushing process, and consequently there are
no dust troubles, and the treatment of the ore is
completed within a couple of days.
Ore BREAKING and Transport. — The Oroya ore is
dumped from the brace on to lj-inch spaced grizzlies,
the coarse portion being broken by a No. 6 Blake
breaker. The crushed ore is conveyed by an aerial
tram to the bin of the Brownhill mine, a distance of
about half a mile. The Brownhill ore is crushed by a
similar breaker and drops into the same bin, which
holds 600 tons. At the bottom of the bin are five
belt-driven feeders delivering the ore on to a horizon-
tal 18-inch belt conveyor, delivering to a second belt
conveyor, which elevates the ore and delivers the full
length of the battery bins, operating a traveling
tripper, which distributes the ore evenly. The bat-
tery bins hold about 360 tons. The power used by
the rock breaker is 15 H. P., by the aerial tram 7
H. P., and by the belt conveyor 4 H. P.
Milling.— The battery has fifty stamps, each of 1 100
pounds. It is fed by suspended feeders from the
battery bins. The ten mortars are of the ordinary
Homestake pattern. End, side, and shoulder liners
of malleable cast steel are used in the boxes. The
boxes are Hi inches wide at the surface of the dies,
and 10 inches deep below the discharge. The dies
Flow Sheet of the Union Mill, Breckenridge, Colo. (See, Opposite
and shoes are of forged steel, each of 9 inches
diameter. The dies are worn down to about 2 inches
thickness, compensation for loss of depth being made
up by false dies. The depth of discharge is kept at
about 2 inches by means of cleats. The steel con-
sumption of the shoes and dies are respectively 4.36
and 4.56 ounces per ton crushed.
The stamps drop 108 times a minute a height of 7}
inches, and with 10-mesh woven wire screens have a
duty of 6.48 tons.
Plant water, kept to an alkalinity of .003% KOH
by means of lime, and containing 0.04% KCN, is used
in the battery, the amount used being eight gallons
per stamp per minute. The power required by the
battery is 160 H. P.
Classification op Battery Pulp. — The pulp from
the battery is run direct from each box to a pair of
conical spitzkasten in series, 14 inches by 16 inches
and 24 inches by 28 inches, respectively, which elim-
inate two underflows of coarse sands and fine sands
respectively, and a "slime" overflow — the last,
amounting to 41% of the ore milled, can practically
all pass a 150-mesh screen. The slime pulp passes
directly to a pump sump. The coarse sands pass to
five coarse-grinding pans, which are the 5-foot
diameter improved Wheeler pans commonly in use on
the field. The ground product from these pans
passes on to a conical spitzkasten, 12 inches by 16
inches, which separates a coarse product and a finer
product. The former is passed over five "coarse"
tables, while the latter, with the fine pulp liberated
by the battery spitzkasten, is sent to five "fine"
tables. The ten tables separate out two concen-
trates products, while the tailings gravitate to the
pump sump and are elevated, by means of four
plunger pumps, 10 inches by 48 inches, a height of
about 35 feet, to a nest of conical spitzkasten, con-
sisting of eight rows of three each in series.
The sizes of the cones are 2 feet by 2 feet 9 inches,
2 feet 6 inches by 3 feet 6 inches, and 2 feet 6 inches
by 3 feet 6 inches respectively, and the widths of the
delivery launders of each set are 10 inches, 14 inches
and 14 inches respectively.
The first two underflows, containing coarse sands,
are sent to six flint mills for fine grinding; the third
underflow, containing fine sands, is distributed over
six tables, which eliminate a third concentrate prod-
uct, the tailings being returned to the pump sump
(A); the overflow containing slimes — i. e., material
all passing a 150-mesh screen — is sent to the pulp
condensers. These consist of five nests, three con-
taining twelve inverted pyramidical spitzkasten,
each 5 feet square and 5 feet deep, and two nests
each containing twenty-four similar spitzkasten,
where the slime pulp is thickened up in the under-
flows to a consistency of 1.41 specific gravity, which
is sent to the agitator vats for treatment.
The slime from sump A is pumped by three-throw
plunger pumps to three rows of four spitzkasten.
The underflow from first row goes to flint mills, from
second row to six tables, and the underflow from the
third to the agitators, the overflow passing on to
pulp condensers the same as above.
The overflow from pulp condensers — return water
— is passed on to four intermediate settling tanks,
where any suspended slime is settled, and thence on
to a storage tank, from which it is sent by pump E
to the battery overhead service tank. The flint mill
products are sent back to the pump sump A.
Coarse Grinding Sands. — The grinding pans al-
ready referred to are used simply for grinding, with
no mercury. They are run at fifty-one revolutions.
A set of shoes and dies lasts three months; the shoes
are worn down as far as possible, compensating
rings, cast locally, being used to keep the grinding
weight as uniform as possible.
Concentrates Treatment. — The concentrates al-
ready referred to contain the great bulk of the re-
fractory elements in the ore. As far as possible
these substances are eliminated with the concen-
trates to avoid consequent increased consumption of
chemicals in the raw slime agitation vats. The con-
centrates, amounting to about 6% of the ore milled,
and worth about eleven ounces per ton, are trucked
from the various tables and sent to the feed floors of
three roasting furnaces; salt in' amount one-half
pound to two pounds per ton, and sometimes ace-
tate of lead, is used here. These furnaces roast
ten tons of concentrates each per twenty -four
hours, the duration of the roast being five hours.
The furnaces have six rabbles each, two more than is
usual. They require one-sixth ton of wood fuel per
ton of concentrates, or 16f%, and absorbs 4J H. P.
One furnace man per shift attends to the stoking
and feeding. About 600 tons are roasted per month,
the sulphur contents being reduced from 35% to
0.2% (as sulphide). About 1.1% of the whole amount
roasted is caught as fine dust in the furnace flues; it
assays but a little higher than the roasted concen-
trates— about fourteen ounces per ton. Exhaustive
tests have proved the loss from volatilization of gold
to be inappreciable. The concentrates decrease in
weight in roasting from 25% to 30%.
The roasted product is removed by a push con-
veyor with 22-inch flights to two pairs of grinding
pans of the same type as above mentioned, worked in
parallel. The first pair is used both for fine grind-
ing and amalgamation, their overflows passing on to
the second pair, which is used for fine grinding only.
367
Mining and Scientific Press.
November 25, 1905.
Mercury is added three times daily to the first two
pans, amalgamation recovering about 30% of the
value of the concentrates. The greater part of the
metallic iron slimes made by the battery and coarse
grinding pans is caught with the concentrates, and
prevented from entering the raw slime agitation
vats.
The ground concentrate pulp is elevated by a 6-
inch belt-driven plunger pump to a pair of conical
spitzkasten, each 2 feet 6 inches by 2 feet 6 inches,
which eliminate any coarse material for returning to
the second pair of grinding pans. The overflow is
distributed over a nest of nine inverted pyramidical
spitzkasten, each spitzkaste being 4 feet 6 inches
square by 4 feet 6 inches deep, the whole forming a
settling surface 15 feet by 15 feet. The underflows
united form a sludge of consistency 1.34 specific
gravity. This is sent to three vats, in which it is
agitated, with the addition of ordinary cyanide, for a
period of about 100 hours, afterwards being filter
pressed.
The overflow from these pulp condensing spitzkas-
ten is sent to two settling vats, used alternately, the
settled liquor being afterwards passed through1 the
concentrates extractor boxes and returned to plant.
Find-Grinding Sands. — The flints used in the flint
mills are imported from the shores of the Baltic, and
cost 7s 4d per cwt. in Kalgoorlie. Of the six mills
on the Brownhill plant, five are 13 feet 7 inches
long by 3 feet 8 inches in diameter, the sixth being
12 feet 11 inches by 4 feet 1 inch. Each is a long
welded drum with cast steel ends, terminating in
hollow trunnions through which the pulp passes.
They are lined with chilled cast iron or cast steel
plates 1 inch thick, locally made, each being bolted
to the shell by two J-inch bolts, with countersunk
heads. The liners are worn down to from 1-inch to
J-inch thickness, their thickness not affecting the
efficiency of the mill. About 470 pounds weight of
liners are worn down in each mill per month. The
liners cost 30s per cwt., and a new set is put in by
two men in seven hours. The mills are driven at
thirty-two revolutions per minute, with spur gearing;
each mill requires 21 H. P. to drive it. About 8 cwts.
of flints are used up per mill every month. The mills
are kept about half full of flints, a mill charge weigh-
ing about 2} tons. Periodically the contents of the
flint mills are removed, all flints passing a lj-inch
ring being rejected, the larger flints having been
found superior for wet grinding.
On the Brownhill, of the material fed into the mills,
about 17% will pass a 150-mesh, while the ground
product contains 24%, so that about 7% of slimed
material is eliminated by each passage through the
mill. It is estimated that, under present conditions,
238 tons of ore pulp are passed through each mill per
twenty-four hours, so that each actually fine-grinds
about 27 tons per day, equivalent to 160 tons per day
for the tube-mill plant.
Raw Slime Treatment. — The raw sludge from the
pulp-condensing plant is agitated with ordinary cy-
anide and bromo-cyanide in ten covered-in agitation
vats (provided with the usual mechanical stirrers),
from 20 feet to 25 feet in diameter and from 7 feet 6
inches to 8 feet deep. They hold from 90 to 110 tons
of pulp, equivalent to from 41 tons to 50 tons of dry
slime. Each agitator takes about four hours to fill.
The solution, which forms about half of the bulk of
the sludge, is plant water containing about .8 pound
per ton, or .04% of cyanide; it is made up by the addi-
tion of more cyanide to 0. 1% strength. The contents
of each vat are first agitated for three hours, then
bromo-cyanide in amount proportional to the value of
pulp — about 1 pound to each ounce of gold — is added,
and the agitation continued for another twelve hours,
when solution is effected. Toward the end of the
agitation — about two hours before its completion —
lime in amount from 2 pounds to 5 pounds per ton is
added. During the agitation about f-pound to 1
pound of ordinary cyanide per ton is consumed, while
the whole of the bromo-cyanide is destroyed. After
agitation the raw or roasted pulp is discharged into
a sunken agitator,' whence it is pumped to the filter
presses under a pressure up to 70 pounds.
Filter Pressing. — The plant at present includes
six modern presses of fifty frames, each 40 inches by
40 inches by 3 inches, with efflux taps to each plate,
and external ports. There are four presses hydraulic-
ally closed, each holding 5.9 tons, and having a
filtering area of 1111 square feet; also two with a
patent angle lever closing arrangement, each holding
4.5 tons, with same area filtering surface. A press,
with pressure up to 70 pounds, takes twenty minutes
to fill, after which the cakes are washed with a weak
solution of cyanide of about 0.02% strength under 70
pounds pressure for twenty minutes, when about 500
gallons are passed through the cakes. The cakes
are next "dry blown" by compressed air under 30
pounds to 60 pounds pressure for ten minutes, the
final effluent from the presses during this air-drying
assaying from a trace to 6 grains per ton only.
The press in then discharged, this operation taking
twenty minutes more, the whole cycle taking about
seventy minutes. The residual moisture of the cakes
is about 14%, and it is interesting that filter press
cakes from a dry process plant retain more moisture
than those from a wet process plant. Formerly the
presses were filled by montejus by means of com-
pressed air, but that system has been abandoned in
favor of the more economical practice now introduced
in many filter press plants of filling by means of a
three-throw belt- driven plunger pump 8 inches by 18
inches.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
Filter Pressing Slimes.
For four or more years the Homestake Co. at Lead,
S. D., has been successfully treating its tailings, or
rather a portion of them, by the cyanide process.
The first plant with a capacity for treating 1200 tons
daily was built in 1900-01, and took the pulp from
three large mills crushing 2000 tons of ore daily. In
the experiments made on this pulp it was found that
better results were obtained if the slimes in the ores
were separated from the sands. This separation was
effected by means of hydraulic classification, for
which a series of large cone-shaped settlers is used.
The thickened pulp is drawn from the bottom of
these cones, the slimes overflowing at the top. The
material drawn from the bottom of the cones is de-
livered to large leaching tanks where it is treated by
percolation. The slimes, which contain values in
gold, have for years been used in sluicing the sands
from the large tanks, after first having been re-
lieved of a portion of their water, the water being
pumped back for reuse in the mills.
For a long time C. W. Merrill, who designed and
built this great plant, with its several additions and
improvements, has been experimenting to discover
an economical method of treating the slimes at a
profit. As a result of these labors he has been able
to demonstrate that the slimes can be successfully
and rapidly treated by filter pressing. This requires
a filter press of peculiar construction and operating
automatically and practically continuously. It is
customary in the operation of filter presses to sepa-
rate the several units of which the presses are made,
known as the distance frames. Ordinarily it is the
practice to do this by hand, and the process involves
considerable labor and time, making the operation
expensive. The time thus consumed also reduces
the capacity of the press, and the wear on the filter
clothes is quite an item in the expense account. As
a natural result this limits the employment of the
ordinary type of filter press to material of compara-
tively high grade.
Another feature of the usuai filter press necessi-
tates a high pressure in order to properly accom-
plish the filtration through the thick cake. Mr.
Merrill has designed and built a filter press which
does not require the distance frames to be taken
apart in order to remove the semi-solid cake of
slimes after the solution has been expressed from it.
In this an inlet has been provided for each distance
frame through which a liquid, vapor or gas is intro-
duced under pressure, and the unfilterable material
forced out of the container through an outlet in the
frame.
The accompanying sketch illustrates the press and
method of operating it.
Srffl
modified form of container put together. In Figs. 2
and 4 the views show the vertical cross-section when
looked at from left to right.
In the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2, C is the
frame of the container, which may be in cross-section
of any convenient shape. B B are openings in the
sides. O is an opening or outlet at one side through
which the solid, semi-solid, or unfilterable material,
hereinafter for convenience called the "precipitate,"
is removed from the containers and which when a
series of containers are put together in a filter press
makes a continuous opening through the press,
which is closed at the ends in any convenient manner
and discharges into any suitable receptacle. A is a
corresponding inlet for treating the precipitate in
place with liquids, vapors, or gases, and which is
preferably placed at either or both upper corners of
the container and in like manner forms a continuous
opening or openings when the containers are placed
together in the filter press. I is an inlet through
which the material to be filtered is introduced, which
inlet is of the same general character and becomes
continuous when the containers are put together in
the filter press and is provided with the openings 1, 2
and 3, from which the material is introduced into the
chamber. W is a supply pipe or channel through
which the liquid, vapor, or gas is introduced under
pressure for the purpose of removing the precipitate.
This is provided with a nozzle, slit, or hole which en-
ters into each container. F is the filter plate, which
is introduced between the containers. 6 is a gate
which is used to close the opening B B.
In the second construction, Figs. 3 and 4, the open-
ing O', which corresponds to O in the structure
shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is placed within the container
and contains in its interior the supply pipe W, fixed
or rotative, which corresponds to the pipe W and
like it is provided with nozzles N' N', similar to the
nozzles N N, which pass into each container, a series
of these being employed, as in the previous construc-
tion. I' represents the inlet through which the ma-
terial to be filtered is introduced, which corresponds
to the iDlet I in Figs. 1 and :_.
A large plant is being constructed on McGovern
hill, overlooking Deadwood, where the slimes from
the two cyanide plants of the Homestake are to be
conducted and treated by means of filter presses sim-
ilar to those described, or some modification of them.
This new plant will have a capacity of about 1600
tons per day.
Argentiferous lead was first produced, accord-
ing to Hahn, in 1866 or 1867, near Helena, Mont.,
and at Oreana, Nev. In 1869 the mines of Eu-
reka, Nev., discovered in 1864, were opened, and
the treatment of ore begun in the following year.
Next came Utah, where smelters were erected
in 1870, followed by Colorado, which came into
prominence in 1878. Later, Idaho, New Mexico
and Arizona were added to the list. Colorado
has been since the largest producer, and it. to-
gether with Idaho, in the year 1900, produced
about 50% of all the lead of the United States. The
largest output of lead at present comes from the
Coe'ir d'.Mene district, Idaho.
JL 3?&2-
_JL.H_JL.ii_.lL \ _JL-i!i-_-.l
Details of Filter Press for Slimes.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal cross-section of a con-
tainer, and Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section, Fig. 1,
of a series of containers put together in the manner
usual in filter presses. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitud-
inal section of a modified form of container. Fig. 4
is a vertical longitudinal section of a series of such
Nothing has advanced the mining industry more
effectively than the improvements in concentrating
machinery, which have been made the past few
years. The jigs, tables, and vanning machines,
together with sizing and hydraulic classification, have
accomplished much.
November 25, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
368
**************************** *********
| Mining and MetallurgicalPatentsJ
* *
«++++****+'* ********+**ir*+*+* ***'»■*•***«
PATENTS ISSUED NOVEMBER 7. 1905.
Specialty Reported and Illustrated for the MINING AND
SCIENTIFIC PRESS
Excavating Machine. — No. 802,985; J. Helm, St.
Louis, Mo.
Excavating machine, comprising main frame,
sprockets on main frame, guide frame pivotally
mounted on main frame, yieldingly mounted sprock-
ets on guide frame, shaft mounted on guide frame
provided with sprockets and brake, conveyor frame
reciprocatingly mounted on guide frame and con-
veyor passing over all of sprockets, sprookets on
main frame engaging ascending side of conveyor,
and sprockets on guide frame engaging descending
side of conveyor, yieldingly mounted sprockets en-
gaging conveyor at point behind point of engage-
ment of sprockets on shaft provided with brake with
conveyor.
Dredging Apparatus — No. 803,587; R. G. Han-
ford, San Francisco, Cal.
In combination with dredge hull, chain of buckets
projecting below hull, pump, and hydraulic monitor
mounted upon hull and connected to pump, and ad-
justable relatively to hull.
Prospector's Pick and Ax.
Mahon, Revelstoke, Canada.
-No. 803,620; J. Mc-
Mining implement comprising head having pick on
one side, head formed with perforation between sides
for handle, and recess parallel with perforation and
terminating in ledge provided with perforation, in-
sertible member having portion engaged in recess
and seated upon ledge, and fastening member en-
tered from under side of ledge and threaded into por-
tion of insertible member seated on ledge, fastening
member being disposed parallel with handle of
implement.
Furnace tob Burning Cement, Etc.— No. 803,530;
G. Grondal, Djursholm, Sweden.
Furnace for burning cement or reducing or cal-
cining ores comprising hollow rotating cylinder or
drum slightly inclined to horizontal, vertical furnace
located above upper end of cylinder, shaft located
under lower end of cylinder, device for making gas-
eous mixture at lower end of cylinder and feeding
device under vertical furnace conveying material
therefrom to cylinder, construction of vertical fur-
nace and shaft being such that air or gas may pass
from lower part to upper part thereof in horizontal
passages leading to and fro therethrough.
Amalgamator — No. 802,987; H. J. Horstmann,
Fort Wavne, Ind.
In apparatus of class described, revolving barrel
having internal spirally disposed wings and being
adapted to cause ore passing therethrough to be-
come disseminated throughout interior; stationary
vacuum hood surrounding discharge end of barrel
and having closed relation therewith; chute having
valves therein and communicating with barrel; fun-
nel within hood and extending partially under dis-
charge end of barrel; receiving tank adapted to con-
tain water; discharge pipe extending external of
hood and connected with funnel and communicating
with tank; and retort having connection with barrel
for charging interior thereof with vapor.
Gold Saving Apparatus.— No. 803,868; W. D.
Baney, Tonopah, Nev.
In gold saving apparatus, combination of tank,
horizontally disposed amalgam cylinder supported to
rotate in tank and having ingress and egress open-
ings at opposite ends, rotary cylindrical agitator ex-
tending through cylinder supported in ends of tank
and rotatable independently of cylinder, agitator
having cylindrical sleeve projection at one end pass-
ing through end of tank, screw conveyor journaled
concentrically with agitator and having shaft passing
through sleeve, means exterior to tank to operate
agitator and conveyor, and means for operating
amalgam cylinder in unison with agitator and con-
veyor.
Ore Concentrator.— No. 803,830; J. J. Kennedy,
Guthrie, Okla.
Ore concentrator, combination with sluice box, and
mechanism for vibrating same, of doors arranged in
top of sluice box and carrying air deflectors, riffles
secured to bottom of sluice box, separable sections
disposed in front of riffles and means for holding
same combined with bottom of sluice box, recipro-
catory agitators disposed between riffles, blast
mechanism discharging in plane of deflectors, and
means for supplying ore to sluice box below dis-
charge from blast mechanism.
Air Compressor — No. 804,159; C. Neumann, St.
Louis, Mo.
Device of class described comprising casing
mounted upon base, shaft, revolving disk located
upon shaft, and having air passages; pistons formed
on revolving disk; shaft supported in A-frames lo-
cated at each side of casing; flywheels and pulleys
located upon shaft; crank disks located upon ends of
shaft; connecting rods connecting crank disks of
upper shaft with those of lower shaft; gear wheel
located on upper shaft, short shaft located upon top
of casing, operated by shaft, slotted cut-off disk car-
ried by short shaft and arranged to allow pistons of
revolving disk to pass therethrough during operation
of machine; and means for discharging compressed
air from machine.
Process of Treating Ore Slimes, Etc, Contain-
ing Gold, Silver or Other Values. — No. 804,186;
L. J. Drabek, Turner, S. D.
Herein described continuous process of treating ore
slimes to obtain values therefrom, consisting in
charging slimes mixed with cyanide solution into
tank, causing slimes to settle and accumulate in
thickness in bottom of tank, discharging thickened
portion by own weight and that of overlying solution
into top of second tank containing barren solvent
solution, filtering off value containing solution and al-
lowing heavy slimes to settle and accumulate in bot-
tom of tank, withdrawing thickened slimes, agitat-
ing and mixing them with water, discharging them
into third tank containing water, filtering off liquid,
causing thickened slimes resulting from filtering to
accumulate in lower part of tank, thereby forcing
liquid therefrom and discharging thickened slimes
from time to time as necessary.
Mining and Scientific Press.
November 25, 1905.
»+*+***** *********************!*******
MINING SUMMARY.
Specially Compiled and Reported for the MINING AND
SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
ALASKA.
The Alaska convention at Seattle, November 20th,
adopted a platform and a number of resolutions to be
presented to the National Congress. The platform de-
mands a territorial form of government, a delegate in
Congress, and numerous changes in the mining laws
pending the granting of self-government. The passage
of a law is asked making it impossible to locate mining
claims by power of attorney, designating twenty acres
as a placer claim, limiting the number of locations by any
one person to two on any creek or any of its tributaries,
and submitting, in lieu of the $100 assessment on placer
claims, a license fee of $250, to be placed as a fund for
the building of roads and trails.
The Bartel Co. will put in a 10-stamp mill and con-
centrator at Tin City, on Bearing sea, 138 miles north-
west of Nome. About twenty men are now employed
by the company. They are paid $5 per day and board.
ARIZONA.
Gila County.
Since January 1, 1905, the following corporations have
been formed to operate mining claims in Globe mining
district: Arizona Commercial Copper Co., capital $2,-
500,000, principal office Boston, Mass.; Consolidated
Mines & Development Co., capital $500,000, a local enter-
prise; Keystone Copper Co., capital $1,000,000, principal
office St. Louis, Mo., controlling interest owned by
Globe people; Bye Copper Co., capital stock $1,000,000,
par value of shares $1, a Globe enterprise; Miami Cop-
per Co., capital $500,000, a Globe enterprise; Mount
Stanley M. Co., capital stock $1,000,000, California and
Arizona capital, mines southwest of Globe; Arizona &
Eastern Consolidated M. Co., capital $1,500,000, Wash-
ington, D. C, and St. Paul, Minn., mines in Globe dis-
trict; American Copper Co., capital stock $1,000,000, a
Globe enterprise; the New Dominion Mines Co., capital
$1,000,000, par value $1, a Globe enterprise.
Graham County.
P. P. Crowley is developing claims near Metcalf.
Mohave County.
A compressor and air drills are to be put in the San
Francisco mine of the Yucca Cyanide M. & M. Co. at
Cedar, which has shipped a carload of concentrates to
the Selby smelter.' At the Standard gold mine, in
Mohave Wash near Kingman, the shaft is being sunk to
the 300-foot level under the direction of J. D. Jordan.
The Arizona-Birmingham M. Co. is working on its
lease on the Samoan mines at Chloride. A tunnel is be-
ing run to tap the Lucky Boy vein at a depth of 500
feet. L. Hoffman is in charge.
Pinal County.
A. Collins will start work on the Pickwick claims, near
Mammoth. It is reported that the Calumet & Hecla
Co. has secured" control of the Mammoth mine at Mam-
moth and that it will begin operations soon.
Yavapai County.
A 150 H. P. boiler and four new Wilfley tables have
been put in at the Crown King mill at Crown King by
Superintendent G. F. Shurtleff. The Zika tunnel is in
650 feet.
Yuma County.
L. S. Judd is manager of the Colonial Mining Co. at
Cinnabar, 14 miles from Ehrenberg. A double compart-
ment shaft has been sunk to a depth of 180 feet.
It is reported that a 60-stamp mill is to be put on the
Little Jessie mine, near McCabe. A new hoist is to be
put in and the shaft sunk to a depth of 1000 feet. J. S.
Jones is interested.
The North and South Venture claims of the United
Verde Copper Co., near Jerome, are to be prospected by
a tunnel. The Eureka Gold & Copper M. Co. is sink-
ing a winze from their main tunnel near Jerome.
CALIFORNIA.
C. G. Yale, in a recent Government report, sayB that
the gold-producing area of California includes thirty-
four counties out of fifty-seven. In 1904, seven counties
produced each over $1,000,000, and two produced over
$2,000,000. The increase from quartz mining amounted
to $1,400,494, and from dredging to $711,289. The pro-
duction of silver in California, while never very great,
showed an increase of 400,000 ounces for 1904 over that
of 1903.
Calaveras County.
J. L. Henry of San Andreas has an option on the
North Star mine, owned by O. Dolling, near Angels.
The air compressors of the Clary Gold M. Co., which is
operating the South Bank mine, near Sheep Ranch, will
be operated by a 40 H. P. motor.
El Dorado County.
It is reported that they have struck rich rock in the
Crane's Gulch mine, near Georgetown. It is reported
that rich gravel is being taken from the Alcimento and
Alveoro mines, near Smith's Flat. Chas. Henson is
superintendent. Work has been started at the Gold
Bend gravel mine, near Smith'B Flat. The Oro Fino
mine, near Shingle Springs, is being reopened.
The Lone Star gravel mine, near Smith's Flat, is to
be reopened with Wm. Rupley as superintendent. A
new incline is to be sunk 400 feet to strike the channel
under the lava hill.
Mono County.
The owners of the Liberty and the Pittsburg mines, in
the Masonic Mountain district, near Bodie, have agreed
to unite in building a 50-stamp mill. The mill built at
Sweetwater several years ago, which is now not in use,
will be purchased if the parties can agree upon terms.
San Bernardino County.
The Arizona-Mexican M. & S. Co. are slowly building
their plant at Needles. The dust chambers have been
completed and the base of the stack has been placed.
The mixing floors are ready for the handling of ores and
fluxes. The sampler building is nearing completion.
Shasta County.
Geo. Graves has charge of work on the Summit and
Copper Crest copper mines near Kennett.
The second furnace of the Mammoth C. Co.'s smelter
at Kennett was blown in November 22. The third and
last furnace will be ready to blow in by December 1,
marking the completion of the smelter to its full capac-
ity of 750 tons per day.
Sierra County.
(Special Correspondence). — Recent rains will enable
the following drift mines to commence more active oper-
ations: West Point, Golden Scepter, Hilo, Mugginville,
South Fork, Mabel Mertz, Balsam Flat and Mobile Flat.
The Twin Eagle mine, at Gold Point, is reported
sold to C. F. Humphrey of San Francisco. Fitting &
Corbiere have completed their examination of the Alice
and Pappoose mines, near Downieville. The drift at
the 50-foot level of the Elnore shaft of the Sovereign
claims, near Downieville, is being extended. At the
Antlers quartz mine, 2£ miles east of Downieville, sup-
plies have been laid in for the winter. J. W. Wallace
has charge of the mine.
Downieville, Nov. 20.
The Herkimer tunnel, near Table Bock, has been
driven 150 feet toward the channel. H. Fowler has
charge of the work. W. O. Frost is preparing for
work on the Mineral Mountain placer claim in Hungry
Mouth, 1 mile from Downieville. The Marguerite
shaft, near Sierra City, is being unwatered and work
will be resumed from the 400-foot level by E. Westall.
H. L. Johnston has sold a four-fifth interest in the
Tightner mine at Alleghany for $250,000. Senator Jones,
Sam Jones, A. C. Hamilton and others of Nevada are in
the company. W. S. Haskins has charge of the work.
Siskiyou County.
It is reported that a cyanide plant will be added to
the stamp mill of the Jillson mine, near Hornbrook, by
the Hazel G. M. Co.
The Wolverine mine, 4 miles from Hornbrook, is be-
ing opened up under the direction of L. B. Collins.
It is reported that the Thos. Needham property, 15
miles northwest of Hornbrook, is to be opened up by
A. R. Foss. The Sterling mine, near Hornbrook, is
said to have been sold to a Seattle company. S. J. Fore
is superintendent. A 10-stamp mill is on the ground.
A 10-stamp mill and cyanide plant are being put in at
the Eliza mine, 12 miles from Yreka, by C. A. Patter-
son. A 600-foot tunnel has opened up ground below the
old workings. The Porto Bar Dredging Co. has a
bucket dredger at Callahan, in charge of R. M. Wade.
Trinity County.
The McCampbell Gravel M. Co., under the manage-
ment of G. W. Pelletreau, has completed a 2-mile ditch
and flume to the mine near Hayfork. G. Van Gorden,
superintendent of the Drinkwater M. Co., near Hayfork,
intends to prospect the property for dredging.
Tuolumne County.
The long deferred rains of the past week will cause a
large number of properties to resume operations. Many
of the larger mills have been closed for some time because
of lack of water. A new cable 2200 feet long has been
put in at the Dutch mine at Quartz. A new steam
hoist has been put in at the App mine at Quartz.
COLORADO.
Boulder County.
A mill is being put up at the Corona mine at Summer-
ville, in Four-mile canyon, near Salina. Other nearby
properties being developed are the Quo Vadis, Elkhorn,
Valley Forge, Crown lode and Gold lode mines. Ma-
chinery is being put in at the St. Joe mine, near Gold
Hill. Good ore has recently been struck at the Key-
stone mine, at Gold Hill. Near Wall Street, the Mile
High mine and the Good Morning tunnel are being
worked. A mill is being put in at the Myrtle mine,
near Ward. Manager C. L. Mitchell has closed down
the Struggler concentrating mill, near Ward, for the
winter, and will make cyanide tests on the Struggler ore
at the Myrtle mill. Manager Wilson intends putting
in a hoist on the King claims, near Gold Hill.
The Gold Medal mill in Four Mile Creek canyon, at
Langdell, near Boulder, was destroyed by fire November
16. The origin of the fire is not known. The mill was
new and equipped with the latest machinery. The en-
gine and other machinery were ruined. It is believed
the rolls may be used. The roasters were not put in.
The total loss is about $5500, with insurance of $3000.
The mill belonged to W. C. Knox of Boulder and G. W.
Mabie.
Clear Creek County.
The Kittie Ousley mine, owned and operated by the
Manhattan Union Mining Co., in East Argentine, near
Georgetown, is being developed. At present thirty men
are employed under the management of E. Wing. The
drift from the shaft is in 250 feet. Stoping has been
started. An ore house has been constructed capable of
holding 150 tons of mineral.
B. J. O'Connell is getting good results from his lease
on the Frostburg lode of the Mendota property, near
Silver Plume. Drifting and stoping are carried on and
the output is concentrated at the Mendota mill. The
shaft is down 160 feet.
The Pay Rock claims on Republican mountain, near
Silver Plume, are to be opened up by E. F. Kendall.
The Baby Eddie M. Co. has been formed with W. M.
Stieren of Pittsburg, Pa., as president, to work claims
in South gulch, near Freeland. The company proposes
to run a crosscut tunnel. The work is under the direc-
tion of David Ellis, superintendent of the Brighton mine.
A. A. Ireland of Golden has secured from A. Johnson
and O. Nelson a lease and bond on the Denver group in
East Argentine, near Georgetown. He proposes start-
ing work in the spring and a 50-ton concentrator is to
be built for the treatment of the concentrating ore.
Gllpiu County.
The Derby M. & M. Co. has been formed to work
claims southeast of Sawmill gulch, near Apex, and are
sinking the Venture shaft, which is down 60 feet. A
steam hoist may be put in. J. R. Moler of Denver is
president and manager of the company, and J. Field is
superintendent. The Kimber mill at Apex may be
started to handle ores from the Venture shaft. The
Sleepy Hollow property, in the Gregory district, near
Black Hawk, is to be worked by the Black Hawk Leas-
ing & Mining Co., formed by P. Feldhauser, J. F. Hop-
kins and P. McCourt of Denver, Colo.— — Sinking has
been commenced at the Carr mine on Bobtail hill, in the
Gregory district, by the Carr Mines Co. The main shaft
is down 850 feet and is to be sunk 200 feet deeper. Su-
perintendent W. H. Hook will make connections with
the Chicago-Carr lower workings for improved ventila-
tion in both properties. The 34-foot crosscut from the
main shaft of the Running Lode to the vein has been
completed, and opened up a crevice of smelting ore. The
shaft is 1125 feet deep. Thomas Dunstone of Central
City is superintendent. W. M. Bloomer of Denver
has let a contract for 250 feet of work in the Little Gem
tunnel, up Moon gulch, near Rollinsville. The new
shaft building on the Southworth property in Moon
gulch has been completed. The property has been
leased and bonded to W. H. Knowles and associates of
Denver, and the new company which is to be organized
will be known as the Mineral Hill M. & M. Co. Man-
ager Knowles has purchased a 25 H. P. hoister and a 40
H. P. boiler. The shaft on the Southworth is to be
made a skip, and the work on the tearing out and fixing
of the upper part of the shaft is now under way. The
main shaft is down 200 feet, and as soon as the shaft
work is attended to and the property is unwatered, the
lessees will commence sinking.
It is reported that operations will be resumed on the
Geiger mine, on Michigan hill near Apex, by E. E. Steff-
ner of Central City. The Apex G. M. & M. Co.'s
Rochester shaft is down 125 feet.
The Iron shaft, adjoining the Pewabic mine, in Rus-
sell district, near Central City, is to be unwatered. As
soon as the shaft and levels of the Iron are free of water,
the Richardson, which is a part of the Pewabic group,
will be worked through the Iron shaft. The Iron shaft
connects with the Richardson at the 300-foot level.
The North Pewabic is being worked through the main
shaft of the Pewabic. The ore is sent to the New York
mill in the Black Hawk, which is being operated by the
Pewabic Con. Gold Mines Co. The mill has resumed
operations after a short close-down while the shaft was
being sunk on the Pewabic.
Gunnison County.
The Mono mill at Ohio City is to be started on ore
from various dumps by J. S. Gardner. J. A. Holm-
berg, D. K. Anders and O. M. Aronson have purchased
the Statesman properties, near Pitkin, and expect to
commence development. A 14-foot vein of ore running
high in zinc has been opened in the drift run from the
incline shaft on the Napoleon, near Pitkin. The prop-
erty is being operated by the Lanyon Zinc Co. The
Carter tunnel being driven from Ohio creek is in 1500
feet. A new compressor and drills have been put in.
The cable and machinery for the aerial tramway for the
Raymond Con. M. Co. at Ohio City has been delivered.
The tram will be 2000 feet long and will carry ore to the
mill from the Raymond shaft, which will be sunk on the
vein to the tunnel, a depth of 1200 feet.
Hinsdale County.
The Silver Fleece shaft, near Lake City, is being un-
watered by F. A. Ralph.
Lake County.
The Silver Nugget shaft on Breece hill, Leadville,
recently cut a vein of high-grade gold ore 120 feet from
the surface. The Silver Nugget is being operated by
R. W. Spensley for New York parties. Sullivan &
Burkhardt have commenced shipments from the
Governor mine on Mosquito range, near Leadville.
They are using a pack train to pack down the high-
grade ore. J. W. Newell, manager of Bohn mine of
Leadville, has resumed sinking.
Harrison, McCreary & Spears are working on the Cop-
per King group, Red mountain, near Twin Lakes. W.
T. Buchanan is developing the Tom Paine group on Mt.
Elbert. The tunnel of the University group, on Red
mountain, is in 350 feet, and the vein has been recovered
after passing through a 50-foot fault and a large dike.
Preparations are being made by the smelter trust to
enlarge its plant in Leadville. The smelter now handles
20,000 tons of ore a month and when the new machinery
and apparatus is installed the capacity of the plant will
be increased half as much again.
The shaft on the Belle of Granite, near Leadville, will
be sunk another lift of 200 feet, making the total depth
675 feet. At the Cloud City and Home Extension, in
Leadville, the connecting drift is being pushed.
Mesa County.
The Grand Junction smelter has been blown in. The
plant will employ sixty men, working three eight-hour
shifts. General Manager Lavery stated that the blow-
ing in was successful.
San Juan County.
The King mine, on Sultan mountain, south of Silver-
ton, and operated by the Royal M. Co., has been closed
down by order from General Manager Pyke.
At Animas Forks the Gold Prince Co. is putting up a
500-ton mill. The Mogul M. Co., at Gladstone, has its
new 200-ton mill under roof. The Old Hundred M.
Co., 5 miles north of Silverton, will have its new 200-ton
concentrator in working order by Jan. 1. At its prop-
erty in Cunningham gulch, near Silverton, the Green
Mountain Co. is putting the finishing touches on its new
200-ton mill.
The management of the Sunny side mine, near Eureka,
November 25, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
370
9 miles north of Silverton, are enlarging their mill by
putting in magnetic separators to save zinc values which
have been allowed to go down the river with the tail-
ings from the plant, or have been shipped to the smelt-
ers with the concentrates. The product of the Sunny-
side contains from 12% to 15% zinc, which, when shipped
with the concentrates from the mill in the past, has
lowered the value of the latter in the smelter from $3 to
$4 per ton. The magnetic separators will make a 45%
to 55% zinc product.
San Miguel County.
The Caribou-Montezuma mine of the Yellow Moun-
tain M. Co., near Telluride, is to continue work during
the winter under the superintendence of O. Erickson.
At the Black Bear mine, in Ingram basin, near Tellu-
ride, the drift has been run 200 feet from the bottom
of the 150-foot shaft from the tunnel level. Work
will be continued during the winter. The company ex-
pects to build their mill in the spring on leased ground.
A tramway will be built from mine to mill, and hoisting
machinery and air drills put in. L. Kaanta of Telluride
is president.
Summit Couuty.
(Special Correspondence). — The Beaver Creek M. Co.,
operating the Lucky mine in French gulch, is shipping
high-grade lead ore from its main shaft workings. The
lower grado ore from the same workings is being milled
at the company's own mill. The same company is oper-
ating the Carbonate mine on Mt. Baldy and are ship-
ping lead carbonate ore. The lead value is 40% and it
carries 14 ounce of gold per ton. F. A. Yauger is
general manager and George E. Moon is superintendent
of both properties. The old Union Co.'s mill at Min-
eral hill is turning out concentrates. The Abundance
M. & M. Co. 's directors recently approved of the tunnel
development work started by the management. The
owners of the Little Sallie Barber property on Nigger
hill have struck a 3-foot vein of oxidized iron ore carry-
ing gold and silver values. The Novelty group on the
same hill is being worked by J. G. Detwiler and the
Summit County Mining Exchange. The main shaft has
been sunk 100 feet vertically ard the crosscuts are now
being driven in both directions to cut the ore shoots.
B. Pry is operating a lease on the Gold Dust property
and has struck an lS-inch vein. The Wasbington-
Joliet M. & M. Co. have their mill in shape with the ad-
dition of tables and slimers, and expect to resume opera-
tions at once The test run of the Carrie mill on Wise
mountain proved so satisfactory that six 60-ton cyanide
leaching vats are being added to the plant to enable the
mill to run continuously. On the northeast slope of
Mt. Gayot, near Georgia Pass, a tunnel is being driven
into the mountain to cut a rich ledge at depth of 800
feet. The tunnel is now in 120 feet.
Breckenridge, Nov. 20.
The Morning Star lease, near Breckenridge, operated
by Condon & Shrock, has made a working connection,
from the tunnel through a stope, with the old workings
of the Enterline shaft. The Mekka G. M. Co. is con-
tinuing its 2100-foot drainage sluice near Breckenridge.
Teller couuty.
A strike has been made in the Mahoney shaft of the
Empire State on Bull hill, Cripple Creek, byC. M. Crow-
der at a depth of 200 feet. The Little Giant M. & M.
Co. has started their new cyanide mill, southwest of
Cripple Creek. The mill has a capacity of 180 tons.
The control of the Hull City placer at Independence has
been sold to J. T. Miliken of St. Louis, Mo., president of
the Golden Cycle M. Co. W. P. Dunham is general
manager.
A 100-ton cyanide plant is proposed for the Golden
Wedge property, on Raven hill, near Cripple Creek. J.
Winchester is interested. Galena has been found at a
depth of 200 feet in the Gold Dollar mine, on Beacon
hill, Cripple Creek. Work has been started on the
first unit of a cyanide mill on the south end of the Red
Rock claim of the Colorado City & Manitou P. & M. Co.
A. Morrison is sinking from the 40 to the 100-foot
level of the Silver Tip mine, on Bull hill, near Cripple
Creek.
A form of agreement to be entered into by the Cripple
Creek Drainage & Tunnel Co. and owners of mining
ground in the Cripple Creek district, providing a 2%
assessment on mill and smelter returns, to raise funds
with which to build the $800,000 deep drainage tunnel,
has been approved by many of the mine owners. The
agreement recites that the portal of the tunnel shall be
located at an elevation of 7660 feet above sea level, in or
near the bed of Cripple Creek, and the general course
of the tunnel shall be: Prom its portal to a point in the
vicinity of what is now known as the main shaft of the
El Paso mine; thence to a point in the vicinity of what is
now known as shaft No. 1 of the Vindicator mine. Pro-
visions in the agreement are: 1. That on or about July
1, 1906, a sufficient amount of its capital stock will be
subscribed and contracted to be paid for so as to realize
at least $800,000 as required for the prosecution of
work on said tunnel. 2. That within 60 days after
$800,000 of its stock is subscribed it will commence the
construction of said tunnel and will thereafter, with all
reasonable diligence, prosecute such work of construc-
tion to completion. 3. To use all reasonable diligence
in maintaining said tunnel in such condition that all
water from said mining premises flowing into said tun-
nel, either by seepage or artificial means, may be drained
through the same without any charge of any character
upon the owner of said mining premises, except as here-
inafter specified; provided, that such owner shall not
suffer any third person who has not contracted for like
service with the tunnel company to use any artificial
means provided by the owner for the drainage of prop-
erty other than said mining premises. The owner agrees
that, beginning on the 1st day of July, 1907, the owner
will pay to the tunnel company 2% of the value of all
ores produced thereafter from that portion of the min-
ing premises lying above the plane of the floor of that
portion of said tunnel which runs through or nearest to
said mining premises; said value to be the gross mill or
smelter returns upon such ores, less transportation and
treatment charges only.
IDAHO.
In 1904 Idaho derived $349,246 more from its gold
mines than in 1903. The principal increase comes from
siliceous ores in the Silver City district, Owyhee county,
Buffalo Hump and Thundor Mountain districts, in
Idaho county, and from various districts in Lemhi
county. The silver product increased by 267,412 ounces,
derived from the lead ores of the Cresur d'Alene and the
Wood River districts and from the siliceous ores of the
Owyhee fissure veins.
Bannock Couuty.
The Port Hill M., M. and S. Co. Is working mines 6
miles from Pocatello. Ore was struck after driving the
tunnel 3200 feet. W. M. Nesbit of Salt Lake City, Utah,
has had charge of the property.
Blaine County.
The new Dollarhide mill, near Ketchum, has been
started.
Custer County.
It is reported that the Mackinaw Copper Co. intend to
put in a hoist in the spring at their mines in Copper
Basin, 25 miles east of Hailey and 20 miles west of
Mackay. E. Daft of Hailey is manager.
Idaho County.
The mill of the Jumbo mine at Buffalo Hump has
been closed down on account of shortage of water, but
the chlorination plant and active development work will
continue all winter, says Prank Brown, the manager.
Shoshone County.
W. L. Gallagher has bonded the Columbus claims,
owned by the American Lead-Silver Supply Co.,
operating on East Eagle creek, near Murray section.
MONTANA.
The United States Geological Survey reports that of
Montana's gold production, amounting to $4,267,062 in
1904, more that $1,000,000 was derived from the cyanid-
ing ores of Fergus county. The Butte copper mines
contribute $971,046, a slight decrease from the figures of
1903. Madison and Lewis and Clark counties follow
next, and only smaller amounts are contributed by the
other counties. The most important placers are in
Madison county, and 20,566 ounces, or about the same
amount as from Idaho, were derived from the placers.
By far the largest part of the silver, or 10,530,682 ounces,
is produced by Silver Bow county.
Beaverhead County.
The company which recently bought the Polaris mine
at Bannock is putting in new machinery to develop the
property. A railroad shipping station is to be made on
the Oregon Short Line 3 miles north of Bedrock and the
roads near the mine are being prepared for traction
engines. John Cusick is assistant manager. Work
has been discontinued for the winter at the Ajax mill in
the Big Hole basin, near Dillon. A tramway is to be
put in to connect the mine and mill. A. J. Noyes is
manager.
Fowell County.
The Kineo M. Co. is developing claims on the west
side of Nigger hill, 6 miles from Elliston. A tunnel has
been run 400 feet, with 230 more to drive before cutting
the vein 86 feet below the shaft. A concentrating plant
is to be put in early in the spring. Work will continue
all winter. The Sadie group, controlled by D. M.
Platner of Elliston, joins the Kineo mines. The Cham-
pion, near Elliston, has been allowed to fill with water.
-The only placer mine in this district, Nigger hill, is
being opened for a fall and winter run by Wilson &
Mack. The Monarch mine, near Elliston, will be
operated this winter by C. L. Priedericns of Helena.
Silver Bow County.
W. B. Orem, deputy State mining inspector, in his
annual report to Governor Toole, states that during 1905
all of the large mining properties in the Butte camp
have been operating continuously. There has been little
litigation, the advanced price of copper stimulating both
production and development. The mines of the large
companies have yielded more than $31,000,000 of mineral
and have disbursed more than $12,000,000 in wages to
the miners, the average number employed daily at these
properties being nearly 8000 miners and 2000 surface
men. The Boston & Montana properties are hardly
more than developed, the Mountain View mine being
the first ' of its mines to put in skips for hoisting. The
skips have a capacity of six tons and are attached either
above or below the cages. Skip chutes are cut at the
different stations and hold from fifty to seventy-five
mine cars of ore, and furnish storage for the ore from
the levels and stopes, thus avoiding any delay in tram-
ming. Men, horses and compressed air engines are
employed in tramming the ore to the skip chutes. The
mouth of the skip chutes is in the shaft and the loading
of ore into the skips is done by the station tender. The
properties of the Amalgamated hoist 10,000 tons of ore
daily, which is shipped to Anaconda and Great Palls for
treatment. The Montana Ore Purchasing Co. hoists
daily 1400 tons, which is treated at Butte and Basin.
The Clark mines hoist 1350 tons daily, which is treated
at the Butte reduction works. The North Butte M. Co.
hoists 700 tons, which is treated at the Washoe works at
Anaconda. The smaller properties are producing about
750 tons of ore per day. The depth of most of the large
mines runs from 1200 to 2400 feet, the latter being the
greatest depth at present. In the matter of fire protec-
tion the mines in Butte are well equipped for handling
fires, both on surface and underground. There are main-
tained at each of the large properties hose carts, fire
pumps and other necessary apparatus, and at the mines
of the Amalgamated the employes are regularly drilled
in order that they may be familiar with the equipment
in case of fire. At the Anaconda, Washoe, Parrot,
Colorado and Butte & Boston properties the fire appa-
ratus is under the supervision of G. L. Lapp, who
assumes direct command at all fires. At the Boston &
Montana properties John Barclay is in charge. A
regular fire alarm code is in use at all of the mines. The
report shows that during the year ending November 1
there were thirty fatal accidents in the Butte mines,
resulting in the deaths of forty-one men. There were
also thirty-one non-fatal accidents, in which thirty-two
were injured.
MISSOURI.
Jasper Connty.
The Bumblebee M. Co., operating on the Shewmaker
land, southeast of Joplin, has completed its new mill
and now has it in steady operation.' L. Stevison of
Webb City has purchased the Little Hope M. Co.'s
prospect on the Rex M. Co.'s land east of Joplin.
G. W. Taylor and J. Carmean are building a mill on the
prospect they recently opened up near Carterville.
i'he United Zinc Co. of Boston, which owns mining
land at Aurora, Joplin, Badger and Diamond, is prepar-
ing to go after the deep run of ore known to exist at
about the 300-foot level at Aurora.
NEVADA.
Esmeralda County.
Buena Vista, the largest town of the Oneota mining
district, is on the Carson & Colorado railroad, 65 miles
west of Goldfield and 45 miles south of Sodaville. Gold
Hill, the next largest town of the district, is 4 miles by
trail and 8 miles by wagon road from Buena Vista. The
mines are an equal distance from Gold Hill and Buena
Vista. The main property of the camps are the
Browny, the Tip Top, the Buena Vista, the Ticker, the
Queen, the Summit and the Lilly. The Queen mine is
reported sold to a company headed by Geo. Pardee of
California. The Browny has four sets of leasers work-
ing; the showing of T. L. Jones and Riggs & Kanters
is the best. The Tip Top, owned by the White Moun-
tain M. Co., has been getting bids on ore haulage. The
road to the mines from Buena Vista is being built.
Lincoln County.
Development work is being done in Antelope canyon
mines, near Caliente, and on gold-silver properties in the
Chief district, 8 miles northwest of Caliente. J. A.
Elston of Colorado Springs, president of the Josephine
Gold M. Co., with properties 7 miles northwest of
Caliente, and W. M. Shemwell, the manager of the com-
pany, have been at the mines. Within three months a
mill will be built near the mines.
It is reported that G. F. Colton intends to sink a 1000-
foot vertical shaft on the Duplex mine, near Search-
light. It is expected that stamps will be dropping in
the new 10-stamp mill at the Cyrus Noble, near Search-
light, by February 1, when sinking will be resumed.
NEW MEXICO.
In New Mexico the gold production for 1904 was $381,-
930, an increase of $112,307 over 1903, which is derived
largely from the Rosedale district in Socorro county,
and the Hillsboro district in Sierra county. Small de-
creases are reported from other counties. The placers
yielded $149,424. A small increase, mostly from Socorro
county, is noted in the unimportant silver production.
Grant County.
A new shaft house is planned for the Ivanhoe, at
Hanover, by the Hermosa Copper Co. In it will be
placed an engine and a hoist which will enable the com-
pany to sink 2000 feet. The Copper Queen shaft, at
Hanover, which several months ago was filled with
water, has been unwatered and development wcrk will
be begun upon the property.
Otero County.
The Monument mine, at Chloride, has resumed ship-
ment of silver ore to the smelter at El Paso. Work has
been started on a long tunnel under the old workings.
The work is to be done with power drills.
OREGON.
A recent report of the United States Geological Sur-
vey states that during 1904 Oregon showed a stationary
gold production of $1,412,186, of which one-third is de-
rived from the southern part of the State and the re-
mainder from the Blue mountains in the northern part
of the State. Baker county led in production, with
$738,973, of which $51,855 was derived from placers.
The silver output of Oregon is unimportant and princi-
pally derived from Baker and Grant counties.
Baker County.
The 10-stamp mill at the Taber Fraction mine, near
Bourne, is said to have been started under the superin-
tendence of A. Case. An additional ten stamps and a
cyanide plant are to be put in. The Taber is being
worked through tunnel 2 of the Eureka claim. G. Os-
wald is mine superintendent.
The North Pole, Columbia, Golconda and E. & E.
mines, near Bourne, are all running full blast. At
Cable Cove the mill on the Imperial is approaching
completion. Manager T. C. Gray of the Valley Queen
group, near Cable Cove, reports No. 4 drift is in 110
feet. A rich strike of galena ore has been made in this
drift.
Grant Connty.
The Badger mine, near Susanville, has been tempo-
rarily closed. It is reported that N. Berkeley 's report
on the Buffalo-Monitor mines, near Granite, has caused
the management to decide to put in a mill in the spring.
The crosscut on the upper level is to be continued under
the direction of W. Berkeley during the winter.
At the St. Anthony, near Alamo, work is to be con-
tinued during the winter on tunnel 2, which is in 1100
feet.
Jackson County.
The Mountain Lion mine, on Miller creek, near Apple-
gate, is being worked and the 5-stamp mill will be started
when water becomes available. In addition to the mill
the mine is well equipped for operation. Bailey Bros.,
C. E. Harmon and L. L. Jewell of Grants Pass are the
owners.
The Shorty-Hope M. & M. Co. announces that the
371
Mining and Scientific Press.
November 25. 1905.
mill on this mine, near Ashland, will soon resume oper-
ation.
Josephine County.
R. E. Gilbert, superintendent of the Euchre Creek M.
& M. Co., is developing the Hall Moon and Black Bear
placer mines on Lower Rogue river, below Grants Pass.
A ditch flume 3 miles long supplies 2500 inches to the
giants under a head of from 175 to 200 feet.
Ijane County.
The directors of the Le Roy M. Co. have decided to
resume work on their mine near Bohemia.
Yamhill County.
The owners of the Muir mine, near Grand Ronde, are
making arrangements to put in a mill which is to have
a capacity of thirty tons a day.
SOUTH DAKOTA.
In 1904 South Dakota produced within a small terri-
tory in the Black Hills gold to the value of $7,363,977, an
increase of more than $500,000 over the output of 1903.
This industry is based on the minnig on a large scale of
low-grade amalgamating ores of the Homestake type
and of siliceous ores of higher grades which are reduced
by cyaniding or smelting.
Lawrence County,
The Homestake South Extension M. Co. is working
the Skelley claims, near Deadwood. The president is
Frederick Sehroeder, and manager, ' A. H. Oleson of
Deadwood. A double-compartment shaft is being sunk.
A hoist has been ordered. It is reported that the
sinking is to be resumed on the Wauconda shaft, on
Elk creek, near Roubaix, by Manager Goldman. It
is down 135 feet.
The report of Superintendent T. J. Grier of the Home-
stake M. Co., at Deadwood, for the year ending June 1,
1905, states that the ore at the 1250-foot level has been
reached and is being crosscut. A level is being opened
up at the 1400-foot level of the Ellison shaft. The B. &
M. shaft is down 1250 feet, the Golden Prospect 900 feet,
the Old Brig and the Golden Gate 800 feet and the
Golden Star 1100 feet. The expenses were 70.4% of the
gross earnings. Of the expenses, 66.8% is charged to
mining, 25.3% to milling and cyaniding and 7.9% to gen-
eral expenses, including repair shops. Bullion receipts
totaled $5,302,338, an average of $3,734 per ton.
Amount. Per Ton.
Mining expenses and charges $2,492,257 $1 782
Milling expenses and charges 600,685 0 430
Cyanide expenses and charges 345,349 0 247
General and miscellaneous 295,396 0 211
$3,733,687 $2 670
TEXAS.
Following are the results of the drilling contest at the
American Mining Congress at El Paso: Chamberlain &
Make, Dos Cabezas, Mex., first prize, $1000, donated by
W. C. Greene of Cananea, 40 inches; Page Bros., Bis-
bee, Ariz., second prize, $600, 39J| inches; Bradshaw &
Mclver, Bisbee, Ariz., third prize, $350, 39^ inches.
Later a claim for tie was made and Page Bros, drilled
40j3s inches, defeating Chamberlain & Make, who drilled
39J. Their record of 42i is still unequalled.
UTAH.
Grand County.
W. Hayes and son of Mancos, Colo., and Long Bros,
of Telluride have leased the Thomson stamp mill near
Basin, and have it in operation on Double Standard ore
from Montreal mountain. The capacity is to be in-
creased from five stamps. The Interstate M. Co.,
operating in Gold basin, 5 miles south of Basin, have
started their cyanide mill. They have a tram 1800 feet
long from the mine to the mill. J. H. Clark is superin-
tendent.
Juab County.
It is reported that a new hoist is to be put in at the
Bonanza mine, in the West Tintic district, near Eureka,
by Depew & Jones. The shaft is down 152 feet. At
the New Utah mine in West Tintic the hoist is in opera-
tion and sinking is being pushed in the incline shaft.
Wm. Ball, J. F. Hayes and D. Depue have closed
their lease on the Eureka Hill dump and will
develop their lease on the 100-foot level of that property.
Two shifts are now at work on the North Mammoth
property, near Eureka, under the superintendence of
Wm. Mathews. At the Raymond mine, north of Eu-
reka, Superintendent J. C. Sullivan will push develop-
ment from the 1500-foot level. The Dragon Iron mine
at Silver City is shipping 150 tons daily. Operations
have been started on the Old Brooklyn property at Sil-
ver City under the direction of Superintendent James
Packard. The Swansea mine at Silver City is produc-
ing a carload of ore per day. Several of the old produc-
ers at Silver City will be started up shortly.
It is reported that the Ridge & Valley mine, north of
Eureka, is being worked through the Gemini tunnel.
The shaft of the South Eureka mine, near Robinson,
is to be sunk to the 1000-foot level from the 500-foot.
Summit County.
A compressor and power drills are to be put in the
Mount Masonic mine, near Park City, by Manager A.
H. Spooner.
Flute County.
The Kimberley M. Co. has been organized to work the
Deer Park, Surprise, Holland and other claims near
Kimberley. W. F. Snyder is president. The Holland
tunnel has already been driven 2600 feet to open up the
claims and will be continued to open up the Surprise
vein at a depth of 1350 feet.
Salt Lake County.
The Butterworth mine at Bingham is being worked
under the direction of A. P. Hanson through the Queen
tunnel. A sampling mill is being built for the Boston
Con. Co. at Bingham. The new mill is across the gulch
from the Ohio ore bins. It is proposed to have the mill
running before the beginning of the year. The plant
will test the copper-bearing porphyry which is being
opened up.
Tooele County.
C. W. Coe & Sons of Salt Lake City have resumed
work on their mine in the Granite mountains, near Dug-
way. The Midas mill, in the Deep Creek district,
northwest of Deseret, has been shut down for the win-
ter. The May incline is being connected with the old
workings of the Midas.
Utah County.
The Commercial M. & M. Co. has been formed to
work the Silver Glance property in the American Fork
canyon, under a bond and lease.
WASHINGTON.
According to the report on the mineral resources of the
United States for 1904, Washington produced less gold
than in 1903, the decrease amounting to $193,422, with
a total production of $314,463. This is explained by the
idleness of several large mines in Ferry, Chelan, and
Okanogan counties. In Ferry county the decrease
seems due largely to the difficulty of treating the ores,
which do not yield readily to amalgamation or cyanid-
ing, while their siliceous character makes them unde-
sirable for the smelters. That the State did not show a
still greater loss is due to the Mount Baker district,
which increased its yield from $36,388 in 1903 to $115,000
in 1904. The output of silver in Washington is small
and is derived mainly from the lead ores of Stevens
county, but in part from the siliceous ores of Whatcom
and Ferry counties.
Chehalis County.
Engineers employed by the Geological Survey are in-
vestigating the black sand deposits of Ocean Beach
about Willapa Harbor. Dr. Day says that the sand
beds run to a depth of 70 feet. Samples have been
taken from the surface sands and from the bottom of
the beds. A plant may be established at Damons
Point, near Hoquiam, for the manufacture of tool steel
direct from the black sand.
King County.
(Special Correspondence). — The Portland M. Co., J.
F. Merrill manager, operating on Miller river, 6 miles
from Berlin, have finished their raise connecting No. 1
and 2 tunnels and are now ready to begin shipping. The
ore is sacked, hauled on wagons to Berlin and shipped
to the Everett smelter. The cost of hauling from the
mine to the railroad amounts to $5 per ton. The Apex
gold mines, Abner Giffin manager, on Money creek,
have made another shipment of high grade ore to the
Ladysmith, B. C, smelters. Kimball Creek M. Co.
beve suspended operations for the winter and Manager
Irvine has returned East. The Kimball Creek Co. have
expended over $150,000 in this district during the last
five years.
Berlin, Nov. 20.
Okanogan County.
The Mt. Chapaca M. Co. of Loomis has men clearing
away and getting in shape to drive a 3000-foot tunnel
with which to crosscut the main vein. The Grand
View Co. of Loomis has put in a 160 H. P. impulse wheel
under 260-foot working head. This is being used to
drive a 120 K. W. 400-volt belted generator. The voltage
is transforming to 10,000 volts and the current carried
7 miles to the company's 20-stamp mill, which is almost
completed. An aerial tram U mile in length is being
constructed from the mine to the mill. The Palmer
Mountain Tunnel & Power Co. is putting in the first
unit of 750 H. P. on its water right on Toates Coulee
creek, near Loomis. The power will be transmitted 2
miles to the mines of the company and used to run the
power drills and other machinery, and will furnish
power for a 300-ton reduction plant, yet to be built. A
crosscut tunnel, 4000 feet in length, has been driven,
crosscutting twenty-eight veins. The Prize M. Co. of
Loomis is running its mill and shipping concentrates to
the smelters. C. Gehrhard has charge.— — The Copper
World Extension Co. has put in a 5-drill compressor and
is sinking a double compartment shaft, which is down
200 feet. It is the intention to drive this shaft 500 feet,
then crosscut the vein. The Triune M. Co. is driving
a crosscut tunnel to cut the veins that appear on the
surface.
Stevens County.
The Daisy mine, 20 miles south of Kettle Falls, has re-
sumed operations. The company will do development
work during the winter and in the spring will put in a
concentrator. The Acme mine, 6 miles south of Ket-
tle Falls, has been bonded to Eastern parties and active
operations will commence soon. This property has a
tunnel 1500 feet long.
WYOMING.
Carbon County.
A three-compartment shaft is to be sunk from the
600 to the 1000-foot level at the Doane-Rambler mine at
Encampment.
FOREIGN.
AFRICA.
Transvaal.
The Simmer & Jack Proprietary mines were one of
the first to employ Chinese labor on an extensive scale,
and the results obtained go to prove to what extent the
introduction of Chinese labor has been attended with
success. The report for the past year shows the ton-
nage crushed to be 475,000 tons, equivalent to 5.39 tons
per stamp per diem. The value of the yield was 32s and
the costs 23s 3d per ton. At present the costs are about
20s per ton. The Chinese costs per ton milled are now
practically down to the lowest Kaffir costs at this mine,
despite the numerous expenses attending Chinese labor,
while the tonnage developed is ahead of that milled
during the year.
AUSTRALIA.
New South Wales
The Mining Journal reports that the example of the
Broken Hill South Co. in selling their heap of mine resi-
dues has been followed by the Broken Hill Block 14 Co.
The purchasers have now acquired from the three com-
panies 1,500,000 tons of tailings, apart from the future
output. At Block 14 a portion of the money received is
to be expended in thoroughly exploiting the mine's
lower levels. The main hauling shaft has been sunk 600
feet, but beyond cutting a chamber plat nothing has
been done at this depth. The sulphide workings at the
500-foot level are confined to the southern section. The
management has decided to prospect with the diamond
drill. The De Bavay Sulphide Process Co., Ltd., is
making arrangements for putting up their zinc appara-
tus plant. At the Central the lead mill is treating 2000
tons weekly. The new granulation process plant has
been giving good results.
Victoria.
At the Victoria Quartz mine a vein 2 feet 10 inches
wide has been found at the bottom of a winze, which is
down 4105 feet. There is every facility for exploiting
the reef, the mine being so ventilated by a series of
winzes that the air in the 3824-foot crosscut is cool, and
even in the bottom of the center country winze, which
is down 281 feet, the atmosphere is not heated.
CANADA.
BRITISH COLUMBIA.
Nelson District.
A strike of 4 feet of milling galena ore besides a small
streak of higher grade ore has been made on the 1000-
foot level of the Ymir mine, near Ymir. The ore was
found in the west drift of the crosscut, which has not
been worked for two years. C. M. Hand is manager.
George Bell, of the Kootenay Belle, near Ymir, has
rented the Yellowstone stamp mill for one month and
will run 1000 tons of ore through the mill. He has
built a road from the Kootenay Belle to the mill.
Slocan District.
The Rosebery mill has shut down, due to the incon-
venience of handling the ore from the Monitor and cold
weather. The Goodenough Mines, Ltd., near Sandon,
were the first shippers of zinc ore to C. Ferneau at the
zinc reduction works at Frank. It is reported that
the Payne mine, near Sandon, has been leased to W.
Smith. The Payne Co. ceased operations a year ago, at
which time the upper portion of the mine was leased to
W. Smith and the lower portion of the mine and the
concentration plant to B. P. Little. The mill has been
running and there is enough ore in sight to keep it run-
ning until the end of the year, at which time Little's
lease will expire.
MEXICO.
Chihuahua.
According to the El Paso Herald, there are eleven dis-
tricts in the State of Chihuahua, as follows: Iturbide,
Bravos, Galeana. Rayon, Guerrero, Camargo, Arteaga,
Andres del Rio, Hidalgo del Parral, Jimenez and Mina.
Each of these districts has a mining agent, who is a Fed-
eral officer, in the capital of the district, except that of
Iturbide, which is divided into two mining districts —
Iturbide and Abasola — with a mining agent in the city
of Chihuahua for the former and another in the town of
Cusihuiriachic for the latter district. In the offices of
these agents all denouncements are made.
The district of Iturbide is south of Bravos, in the cen-
tral part of the State, and extends to the Rio Grande on
the east. Chihuahua is the capital. Santa Eulalia is 15
miles southeast of Chihuahua, in a low range of lime-
stone hills which rise 1500 feet above the surrounding
plains. The ores, which are usually carbonates, are
found in the limestone, generally along or near fault
planes or dikes in the lime. All the larger bodies are
replacements of the limestone. Some of the mines have
been worked to the depth of 1700 feet, are dry and still
produce "sand carbonates" at that depth. Water has
to be pumped from the river below Chihuahua 12 miles
for the steam hoist. Two narrow-gauge railroads have
been built from Chihuahua to Santa Eulalia to haul the
ores from the mines. At Terrazas station, 25 miles
north of Chihuahua, there are a number of silver-lead
properties which produced 3500 tons of lead carbonates
during 1903 and 1904. There are several copper prop-
erties near, among which are the Rio Tinto, on which
there is a copper smelter and on which operations have
been resumed. At Victorino, 10 miles west of Terrazas,
silver and lead mines have been opened up. Oil, quick-
silver, nitrate of soda and salt are being developed.
The Abasola district is a part of the political division
of Iturbide, and lies southeast. Cusihuiriachic is the
most important and the oldest camp. The Santa Marina
has been worked to a depth of 1056 feet, and shows good
ores at the bottom of the deepest workings. This mine
is equipped with a large hoisting and pumping plant and
25-stamp mill. This camp is 12 miles from San Antonio
station, on the Chihuahua & Pacific Railroad. _ The
Burns mines are about 15 miles southeast of Cusihuiri-
achic. The Rema mine, of which Governor Creel is the
principal owner, is 5 miles west of the Burns mines. It
is developed to a depth of 416 feet. The ores are treated
at the mill of the Burns mine at Buenos Aires. Mil-
pillas is 15 miles south of Cusihuiriachic. There are sev-
eral large, strong veins of silver-lead ore at this place,
and one or two showing good values in copper. At
Gavalana, 60 miles south of San Isabel, a station on the
Chihuahua & Pacific Railroad, there are several silver
properties, one of which has a small mill in operation and
is a regular producer. Six miles east of Gavalano there
are several silver-lead properties, one of which has over
1000 feet of development work on it. The ore is high in
lead and carries good values in silver. A Pittsburg, Pa.,
company has equipped a 40-stamp concentration mill,
which it proposes running as a custom plant. The
Magistral copper mines of Governor Creel are 15 miles
south of San Isabel station.
The district of Bravos occupies the northeastern por-
tion of the State. There are silver and lead in many
places. Near Ojo Caliente on the Mexican Central rail-
road, a number of gold, silver, lead and copper veins
have been located. Small quantities of native silver
have been found in jomo of them. Near Abumada,
some silver ore has been shipped.- Near Ojo Caliente
some rich bismuth ore has been found. Gold and cop-
per have been reported at Tasesiqua, Lagunas Colo-
November l'5, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
radas, Pilares and other points, and silver, lead and
graphite at Pilares. There is coal west of Pilares.
The district of Galeana is in the northwest corner of
the State bordering on Sonora on the west and New
Mexico on the north. At San Pedro the Candelaria
M. Co. has been working silver mines for twenty years.
Within the last year a pumping plant costing $100,000
has been put in and a new concentrating plant is being
put in to replace that at Juarez. There are mines being
worked at Ascencion, north of Casas Grandes. There
are two American companies working silver mines in the
San Joaquin mountains, 30 miles south of Nueva Casas
Grandes. In the extreme western part of the State and
west of the Guerrero district, is Rayon, which includes
Ocampo, Pinos Altos, Concheno, Otates Socorro.
Sahuayacan, Yoquivo, Maguarichic, Uruachic, Cande-
mania, and others of less importance. In this district
and that of Guerrero, the Greene Gold-Silver Co. is
operating. At Ocampo there are seven mills having a
combined capacity of 250 tons daily. The process em-
ployed in all the mills is amalgamation, but at the
Watorson Gold M. Co. the cyanide process has been put
in to treat the tailings. The mills are not all operated
regularly, owing to the great ditliculty of obtaining wood
for fuel. All the wood used has to be carried in on pack
animals and costs S(i to $7 gold per cord, delivered at the
mills. There is an abundance of timber in the moun-
tains for all purposes, and an aerial tram would easily
get it down the mountains at a moderate cost. Greene
has recently bought for the Greene Gold-Silver Co. the
Belvanera, Belen, Refugio, and other mines and controls
the greater part of the camp. He has engineers plan-
ning a tunnel 8000 feet long to tap veins at the depth of
2000 feet below the present working. The deepest work-
ings in the camp are on the Santa Juliana mine of the
Belvanera group. The throe mills on the Greene proper-
ties are idle preparatory to overhauling and remodeling.
Pinos Altos is north of Ocampo. The old 60-stamp mill
is being overhauled, twenty stamps are in commission
and concentration is to be the process, probably supple-
mented by cyanide for the tailings. Concheno is north-
east of Pinos Altos. An American company operating a
150-ton mill and cyanide plant here and the Greene Gold-
Silver Co. is developing a group of claims and shipping
in a 300-ton mill which will also be a custom plant which
should be in operation early in next year. This same
company is building a wagcn road from Temosachic,
the present west terminus of the Chihuahua & Pacific
railroad, to Concheno. At Sahuayacan, 30 miles west of
Ocampo, a Pittsburg company is operating a 20-stamp
mill on high grade gold-silver ore, and at Portrerito, 2
miles from Sahuayacan, a 10-stamp mill is in operation.
At Socorro, 20 miles west of Ocampo, an American
company has a 10-stamp mill. The veins are small, but
rich in gold and silver and are free milling. Yoquivo is
20 miles from Ocampo. Mines are also being worked at
Otates, and at Maguarichic, 40 miles south of Ocampo.
On the north of the district of Rayon and south of
Galeana and extending west to the Sonora line is the
Guerrero district. W. C. Greene is exploiting the west-
ern part of the district. The Dolores gold-silver mine
is 60 miles west of Temosachic. The mine is being
equipped with a 15-stamp mill and cyanide plant. Cop-
per prospects are being developed at Guaynopita and
gold properties near Yepachic. There are silver prop-
erties at Namiquipa. Five kilometers from the San
Isidro station, on the Temosachic branch of the Chi-
huahua & Pacific Railroad, with a narrow gauge rail-
road running to it, is the Calera zinc mine owned by an
American company. This is the largest zinc mine in
Mexico.
The district of Arseaga lies to the west of Andres del
Rio. The most important points in the district are
Guazapares, Palmarejo and Rialito. At Palamarejo an
English company has been operating for fifteen years.
The company has built and equipped 12 miles of narrow
gauge railroad from the mines to the mill, which is at
Chinipas, and 10 miles of stone aqueduct to take water
from Chinipas river to run a 50-stamp mill and cyanide
plant. An American company is operating a mine and
15-stamp mill at Aguas Calientes, on the river 5 miles
north of Chinipas.
The district of Andres del Rio is east of the district of
Arteaga. Batopilas and Urique are the principal camps.
At the Barranca del Cobre a New York company is
operating a copper mine and a 20-stamp concentrating
mill. Other camps of less importance are Cerro Cohui,
Cieneguita, etc.
The district of Camargo is in the east central part of
the State and south of Iturbide. The EnciniUas Mines,
Ltd., has a 100-ton smelter at Santa Rosalia. It is un-
derstood that they will increase the capacity to fiOO tons
daily. Naica, 15 miles west of Conchos station, is pro-
ducing 4000 tons of silver-lead ore. A narrow gauge
railroad has been built from Conchos station to the
camp. There is quicksilver near Encinillas, 65 miles
northeast of Santa Rosalia, and at Sancillo, north.
The district of Jimenez is in the southeast corner of
the State. Five miles south of Baca station the Cigar-
rero mine is shipping 3000 tons per month. The Mexi-
can company which owns it has decided to build a rail-
road from Baca station to the bins at the foot of the
mountain, where the ore is brought by gravity tram
from the mine. Near Jimenez some copper mines are
being worked with good results. The Las Adargas mine,
25 miles from Jimenez, is being operated by the Cia
Metalurgica de Torreon, and it is from this mine that a
large part of the lead fluxing ores at its smelter at Tor-
reon have been obtained. J. F. Johnston, a prominent
mining man of Parral, has a concession for building a
smelter at Jimenez, and he has a number of properties
in Cerro Almoloya, Rio Floridoand other sections which
he proposes to develop to furnish the fluxing ores.
The Parral district is producing nearly 30,000 tons per
month of low-grade silver and siliceous ores. A conces-
sion has been grantedjreduction plants aggregating 1000
tons per day, with immunity from taxes. This enter-
prise includes an electric power plant on the Rio Verde,
in Durango, 65 miles distant, which is to furnish power
for the mines. Work has been commenced by D. M.
Evans on a new smelter. There are several parallel
veins in Parral and all of them are strong and well de-
fined. Concentration and lixiviation are the processes
employed, and at Santa Barbara, where the ores carry a
large percentage of zinc, magnetic separators have been
put in.
The district of Mina is bounded on the south by the
State of Durango and on the southwest by the State of
Sinaloa and is south of the districts of Andres del Rio
and Hidalgo del Parral.
Guadalupe y Calvo is one of the oldest camps in the
State and has a record of production of $60,000,000. The
famous mine of the camp is the Rosario silver mine, in
Guadalupe y Calvo. Morelos is in the western part of
the Mina district and 40 miles south of Batopilas.
Sonora.
(Special Correspondence).— The Arizpe M. Co., 15
miles southeast of Cananea, is making shipments to the
smelter at El Paso and, according to Secretary G. D.
Cash, the ore they have been shipping is netting the
company about $1500 per carload of ore. J. P. Hallihan
of El Paso is president.
Cananea, Nov. 20.
Zaoat6ottil.
High grade ore has been uncovered in the lower work-
ings of the San Rafael el Grande mine, near Zacatecas,
which is being unwatored by the United States & Mexi-
can Trust Co. A. E. Stilwell of Kansas City is presi-
dent. Unwatering has been in progress for several
months under the direction of J. W. Malcolmson.
**************************** *********
I Books Received. |
The Department of Geology of the University of Cali-
fornia has issued bulletins on "Sketch of the Geology of
Mineral King, California," by A. Knopf and P. The'len,
and "The Differential Thermal Conductivities of Cer-
tain Schists," by P. Thelen.
The fact that a book has passed through four editions
first causes the reviewer to ask why. On examining
" Select Methods in Quantitative Analysis," by B. W.
Cheever and F. C. Smith, the reason is readily found —
not in the contents, for they differ little from similar
texts, but in the authors' method of presenting the sub-
ject. The beginner is first introduced to a series of
analytic methods designed to give him experience in
diverse chemical manipulations. Simultaneously he is
taught the necessity for careful selection of methods. A
workman must know his tools before he can hope to use
them. The first part of the book consists of laboratory
notes for a beginner's course. Methods here presented
are designed to supply the student with experience in
the details of chemical manipulation. The author begins
with the subject of specific gravity, continuing with
gravimetric determinations, volumetric analysis and
gravimetric separations. The author gives detailed in-
structions of manipulative methods, but says little re-
garding the calculation of results. In the second part
the author presents a number of selected methods for in-
organic quantitative analysis. These are standard meth-
ods covering the usual work of the commercial analyst.
The text is excellent for students, as it embodies meth-
ods likely to be met in actual practice and shows the
goal toward which they are working. It is published by
Geo. Wahr, Ann Arbor, Mich., and will be sent Dost-
paid by the Mining and Scientific Press for $2.
Verily we are the heirs of our forefathers. This ap-
parently alien thought is suggested upon looking over
" Machine Design," by A. W. Smith and G. H. Marx.
For in it the authors show the processes of machine
evolution. The first machine was built according to the
best judgment of its designer; but that judgment was
fallible, and some part yielded under the stresses sus-
tained; it was replaced by a new part made stronger; it
yielded again, and again was enlarged, or perhaps made
of some more suitable material; it then sustained the
applied stresses satisfactorily. Some other part yielded
too much under stress, although it was entirely safe
from actual rupture; this part was then stiffened and the
process continued till the whole machine became prop-
erly proportioned for the resisting of stress. Coincident
with the development of the science of mechanics has
been the progress in the design of machines. The text
deals primarily with the application of motion, force,
work and energy. These are first analyzed, and then
the student is instructed in the design of material shapes
qualified to resist and direct them. The authors con-
sider such design with regard to adaptation, strength
and stiffness, economy and appearance. It is stated that
adaptation requires all complexity to be reduced to its
lowest terms, strength and stiffness require the ma-
chine parts subjected to the action of forces to sustain
these forces; economy requires due consideration of the
amount of metal and labor. "A machine to be beautiful
must be purposeful." In successive chapters are treated
sliding surfaces, axles, journals, roller and bali bear-
ings, clutches, bolts, fly wheels, gears, springs and ma-
chine supports. In each case is given a brief definition,
an analysis of stresses to be met, and the best method of
design to meet such stresses. The clear, concise style of
the authors is supplemented by a number of excellent
drawings of various machine parts. The book is writ-
ten primarily for students in mechanLcal engineering,
and requires a thorough grounding in analytical mechan-
ics to be of use. A series of practical illustrations make
clear the theoretical contentions. This volume will un-
doubtedly find an immediate place in the designing
room, for it gives reasons, not rules. It is published by
John Wiley & Sons, New York City, and will be sent
postpaid by the Mining and Scientific Press for $3.
ftP ************ ************** ********* 35
•t *********************** ********* * **«
! Personal.
Obituary.
* *
J. J. Toler, a well known mining man in central
Idaho, died recently at Grangeville, Idaho, from pneu-
monia.
H. Klingender is at Goldfield, Nev.
Fred W. Bradley is in New York.
Charles Butters is at Guanacevi, Durango, Mexico.
Frank H. Probert of Los Angeles, Cal., is at Globe,
Ariz.
C. W. Lininger is now at Parral, Chihuahua,
Mexico.
Thos. H. Legqett in on his way to Guanajuato,
Mexico.
J. H. Cdrle sailed from New York for London on
Nov. 15.
J. H. Priar is superintendent Pueblo M. Co. at War-
ren, Idaho.
J. B. Empson is in Guanajuato, Mexico, from Dead-
wood, S. D.
J. V. N. Dorr has returned to Deadwood, S. D., from
Denver, Colo.
P. Bertschey has charge Eleventh Hour mill at
Spearfish, S. D.
Robert Lanka has opened engineering offices in
Searchlight, Nev.
T. V. Connor is superintendent Wild Horse mine, at
Cripple Creek, Colo.
F. L. Bosqui has returned to San Francisco, Cal.,
from Goldfield, Nev.
E. C. Englehardt has returned from Elizabethtown,
N. M., to Denver, Colo.
R. J. Grant of Denver, Colo., is examining mines in
western Chihuahua, Mexico.
W. H. Estabrook is manager Yreka Creek Gold
Dredging Co. of Yreka, Cal.
Edmund Shaw has been made manager Mainstay M.
Co.'s mill at Keystone, S. D.
Frank Mee is superintendent Blue Jay mine, near
Hornbrook, Siskiyou county, Cal.
Henry Schnitzel has been made manager Golden
Reward mines, near Deadwood, S. D.
Edmund J. Skinner has returned from San Francisco
to the Leonesa mine, Nicaragua, S. A.
C. O. Ellinwood of Salt Lake City, Utah, has been
in San Francisco, Cal., on mining business.
J. R. Woodbridge has been made manager Tonopah
sampling plant Western Ore Purchasing Co.
W. P. Pressinger, New York manager Chicago
Pneumatic Tool Co., is in San Francisco, Cal.
W. R. Thurston represents the El Paso branch of
the Mine & Smelter Supply Co., Douglas, Ariz.
W. G. Swart, manager Blake-Moraeher electrical
separator of Denver, Colo., is in El Paso, Texas.
J. B. Tomlinson of Prescott and Cananea is mak
ing examination of mining propertyin southwestern Ari
zona.
J. T. Kescel has resigned as foreman Kearns-Keith
mill to take charge Daly-Judge mill at Park City,
Utah.
E. N. Skinner has returned to Denver, Colo., from
Nicaragua, where he has been examining mining prop-
erties.
W. A. Desbrough, representing Fulton Iron Works
Co., San Francisco, Cal., attended the Mining Congress
at El Paso, Texas.
H. F. Brown of San Francisco, Cal., is at the Doane-
Rambler mine of the Battle Lake Tunnel Site M. Co. at
Encampment, Wyo.
H. H. Nicholson has returned to the United States
from an extended trip through southern Mexico, in
the interests of Eastern clients.
F. G. Stevens, formerly superintendent Le Roi
No. 2, Rossland, B. C, is now at the Santo Domingo
mine, Etzatlan, Jalisco, Mexico.
T. A. Rickard has returned to San Francisco, Cal.,
from Nevada City, Cal., where he attended the Cali-
fornia Miners' Association meeting.
C. E. Lane, vice-president American Engineering &
Reduction Co., Cleveland, Ohio, was a visitor at the
Mining Congress at El Paso, Texas.
W. B. Lewis, of the board of trustees of the Colorado
State School of Mines, expects to have established a
chair of coal mining in that institution.
Adam Innis of Columbus, Ohio, secretary Copper
World Extension M. Co., operating near Loomis, Wash.,
spent several days at the property recently.
W. B. Lewis, manager South Canon Coal Co. of
Denver, Colo., has been appointed a member of the
board of trustees of the School of Mines at Golden, Colo.
Cassius E. Gillette, Major Engineer Corps,
U. S. A., former member of the California Debris
Commission, has been appointed chief engineer Phila-
delphia bureau of filtration, at an annual salary of
$17,000.
Governor Pardee of California has appointed the
following trustees of the State Mining Bureau: Curtis
H. Lindley, vice T. B. Bishop, resigned; F. W. Bradley,
vice J. E. Doolittle, deceased; E. A. Stent, vice Frank
Monaghan, term expired; Louis Janin, vice Fred H.
Harvey. This leaves Harold T. Power as the only
remaining member of the old board.
373
Mining and Scientific Press.
November 25, 1905.
t£ifc&*kifcrj><!fc"fcifc ************ ****************
*
Commercial Paragraphs,
It is understood that Mexico is about to repeal its
present duty on steel importations.
The Chicago Portland Cement Co. has ordered of the
Allis-Ch aimers Co. of Milwaukee, two new rotary kilns,
each to be 136 feet long, for its plant near La Salle, 111.,
and extensions for four of the 60-foot kilns now in the
plant, which will make these kilns each 136 feet long
when they are reconstructed.
The Best Manufacturing Co., ef San Leandro, Cal.,
report that they received the highest award and gold
medals from the Lewis & Clark Exposition at Port-
land, Oregon, for traction engines and logging and lum-
ber trucks. They state that their sales of these ma-
chines the past season was unprecedented in the history
of their business, and even at this. early date are receiv-
ing orders for these machines and expect to double their
output for 1906.
Three centrifugal pumps, each having a capacity of
10,000,000 gallons daily, for the Massapegna pumping
station, Brooklyn, N. Y., have been contracted for with
the Allis-Chalmers Co., Milwaukee. The pumps will be
driven by vertical cross compound engines. The New-
port water works, Newport, R. I., has awarded con-
tracts for a vertical, triple expansion, crank and fly-
wheel pumping engine to the Allis-Chalmers Co., Mil-
waukee. The engine will have a daily capacity of 6,000,-
000 U. S. gallons against a head of 190 feet.
The Fulton Iron Works of San Francisco, Cal., report
the following recent orders: Air compressor and acces-
sory equipment for the Kennedy M.Co., California; addi-
tional milling machinery, Challenge feeders, etc., for the
Sierra Buttes mines, California; 4x6 double cylinder, sin-
gle drum hoisting engine and 10x8 Blake crusher for
German Roth & Co., Mexico; two 15 H. P. electric hoists
and necessary equipment for the Llanos de Oro M. Co.,
Mexico; mining machinery, ore buckets, etc., for the
Butters-Salvador mines, Mexico; milling equipment,
crushers, rolls, concentrators, etc., for the Coso Reduc-
tion Co., California; 4x20-foot trunnion type tube mill
for the California Ore Reduction Co., California; 10-
stamp mill, latest type (1000-pound stamps), and com-
plete equipment for the Don Pedro gold mine, Califor-
nia; one 36-inch lead furnace and accessory equip-
ment for the Copthall Stores Co., Rhodesia, South
Africa; and 6x7 single drum, double cylinder hoisting
engine, 60 H. P. horizontal tubular boiler, two steam-
driven air compressors and four 2£-inch Wood drills for
the Querobabi Mines Co., Mexico.
?p******** **************** ************
* , t
| Trade Treatises. |
■s «■
Sfc ^<p (pip if cfrc^LfiCfrtfrtfrifr ^cfrfycfrcfrcfrifrq, ^^yifil'WWty cfr*'rWt"W &
Catalogue No. 18 of the Chicago Pneumatic Tool Co.,
Fisher Bldg., Chicago, 111., shows a large line of rock
drills and compressors for all classes of work.
A handsomely illustrated booklet from the Westing-
house Machine Co. of East Pittsburg, Pa., minutely
describes their Standard engine, its construction, econ-
omy and field.
Latest Market Reports.
San Francisco, November 24, 1905.
METALS
Silver.— Per oz., Troy : London, 29{Jed (standard
ounce, 925 fine); New York, bar silver, 64|c, refined (1000
fine); San Francisco, 64§c; Mexican dollars, 53c, San
Francisco; 49£c, New York.
Within the week silver has advanced 1J cent, being on
the 21st even higher than this. It would not be sur-
prising to now see silver reach and possibly go beyond
65 cents.
Copper.— New York: Standard, $16.87 J; Lake, 816.87$
@17.25; Electrolytic, $17.00; Casting, $16.50 @ 16.87$.
San Francisco: $16.75. Mill copper plates, $18.00; bars,
18@24c. London: £75 12s 6d spot per ton.
Copper this week is quoted at a slightly higher price
than last week and producers are reported well sold
ahead, which gives a firm tone to the market.
Following are the figures of German consumption of
foreign copper for the months January to September, as
compared with the same period of time for 1904 and 1903:
1905. 1904. 1903.
Imports, tons '. . . .32,445 83.845 63,537
Exports, tons 9 101 6,379 7,797
Consumption, tons 73,344 77,466 55,730
Out of the above, 69,177 tons were imported from the
United States.
Lead.— New York, $5.55; St. Louis, $5.15; San Fran-
cisco, $5.00, carload lots; 5Jc 1000 to 4000 lis.; pipe 7Jc,
sheet 8, bar 6|c. London:" £15 8s 9d $ long ton.
Spelter.— New York, $6.10; St. Louis, $6.20; Lon-
don, £28 10s $ ton; San Francisco, ton lots, 7c; 100-Ib
lots, 7|c.
Tin.— New York, pig, $33.42@33.60; San Francisco,
ton lots, 34c; 500 t>s., 35c; 200 lbs., 36c; less, 37Jc; bar tin,
f, ft., 40c. London, £153 7s 6d.
Platinum.— San Francisco, crude, $18.50 fioz.; New
York, ingot, $20.50 B Troy oz. Platinum ware, 75@$1.00
B gram.
Quicksilver. — New York, $40.00@$40.50, large lots;
London, £7 5s Od; San Francisco, local, $38.00@39.00 fl
flask of 75 B>s.
Babbitt Metal. — San Francisco, No. 1, lOJc; No.
2, 8c; No. 3, 7£c; extra, 17£e; genuine, 32Jc; Eclipse, 35c.
Solder.— Half-and-half, 100-ft. lots, 22.00c; San Fran-
cisco, Plumbers', 100-Ib. lots 19.15c.
Nickel.— New York, 55@60cfl ft.; ton lots, 40@47c.
Zinc— Metallic, chemically pure, $ ft., 50c; dust, $ft.,
10c; sulphate, ^ ft, .04c.
Aluminum.— No. 1, 99%, small lots, 37c $ ft.; 100 fts..
35c; 1000 fts. 34c; ton lots and over, 33c, Pittsburg. No,
2, 90%, small lots, 34c; ton lots and over, 31c, Pittsburg.
STRUCTURAL MATERIALS.
Iron. — Pittsburg, Bessemer pig, $17.35; gray forge,
$14.60; San Francisco, bar, 3Jc fi ft., 3|c in small quan-
tities.
Steel.— Bessemer billets, Pittsburg, $26.00@$27.00;
open hearth billets, $27.00@$28.00; San Francisco, bar,
7e to 13c 1 ft.
White Lead. — Per ft., in kegs: 500 fts. and over at
one purchase, per ft., 7fc; less than 500 lbs., per ft., 8c;
in 25-ft. tin pails, Jc $ ft. above keg price; in 1 and 5-ft.
tin cans, 100 lbs. per case, Jc per ft. above keg price.
Dry Lead. — In bbls., 1 ton and over, 7$c; do. in kegs, 8c.
Lime.— Santa Cruz, $1.35 country, $1.25 city fi bbl.
Cement.— Imported, $3.00@4.00 f( bbl.; California,
carload lots, $1.80 f. o. b. at works; small lots, $2.10 fi
bbl. in sacks, 4 sacks to bbl., 5e for each sack returned.
Lumber. — (Retail): Pine, ordinary sizes, $24.00®
25.00; extra sizes higher; redwood, $28.00@30.00; lath, 4
feet, $4.50@5.00; pickets, $21.00;shingles, $2.50 for No. 1,
and $2.25 for No. 2; shakes, $13.50 for split and $15.00 for
sawed; rustic, $28.00@35.00.
Nails. — This week the basic prices are: Wire, $2.77;
Cut, $3.25. Meanwhile the nominal quotations per keg
(list prices) are: No. 20d to 60d, Wire, $3.35; Cut, $3.55;
lOd to 16d, Wire, $3.45; Cut, $3.35; 8d, Wire, $3.50; Cut,
$3.50; 6d and 7d, Wire, $3.60; Cut, $3.60; 4d and 5d,
Wire, $3.70; Cut, $3.70; 3d, Wire, $3.85; Cut, $3.85; 2d,
Wire, $4.10; Cut, $4.10. Special rates for carload lots.
GENERAL supplies.
Antimony.— New York, Cookson's, ll}c; Hallett's,
12Jc; San Francisco, 1000-ft. lots, 14c; 300@500-fts. 12c;
100-ft. lots, 13c.
Bismuth.— Subnitrate, B ft., $2.10.
Bone ASH.— Extra No. 1, 5@6c f, ft; No. 1, 4@5c.
Borax. — Concentrated, 7@8c $ ft; powdered, 9@10c;
fused, 25@30c; crystal, 7c.
Candles. — Spear Brand, 16 oz. adamantine, 40s., lie
<B set; 14 oz. adamantine, 40s., 10c; 12 oz. adamantine,
40s, 9c; 10 oz. adamantine, 40s, 8e; 16 oz. stearic, 40s,
12fc <ft set; 14 oz. stearic, 40s, 11$; 12 oz. stearic, 40s,
lOjc; 10 oz. stearic, 40s, 9£c. 100-case lots and over, Jc
less. Not less than 50-case lots, %a less. Boxes of 20s,
price Jc advance.
Caps.— 3x, $5.50@6 per 1000; 4x, $6.50@7; 5x, $8@8.50;
Lion, $9@9.50, in lots not less than 1000.
Chemicals. — Cyanide of potassium, 98%-99%, job-
bing, 23@24c "% ft. ; carloads, 23@23Jc; in tins, 30c; soda
ash, $2.00 $ 100 fts.; hyposulphite of soda, 3@3Jc f, ft.;
caustic soda, in drums, 3@3fc<$ft>.; Cal. s. soda, bbls.,
$1.10@1.20$1001bs.; sks., 90c@$1.00: chlorate of pot-
ash, 12@13c; nitrate of potash, 6J@7c; caustic potash,
10c in 40-ft. tins; roll sulphur, 2J@2Jc; powdered sul-
phur, 2J^@2Jc; flour sulphur, French, 2|@ — c; alum,
$2.00@2.25; California refined, lj@2c; sulphide of iron,
8c ^ lb.; copper sulphate, 5Jr@5|c; chloride of lime, spot,
$2.50@2.75; sulphuric acid, in carboys, 66% B, l|@2c f,
ft. ; nitric acid, carboys, 8c $ lb.
Chromium.— 90% and over, $ ft., 80c.
Fire Brick. — Domestic, carloads B 1000, f. o. b.,
tory square, $25.00; soap and split, $22.50; arch
wedge, $27.50; skewback, $30.00; circle, $32.00.
Fire Clay.— Domestic, $ ton 2000 fts. in 125-ft>.
double, and dry ground, f. o. b., factory, $8.50.
Fuse. — Triple tape, $4.00 per 1000 feet; double tape,
$3.55; single tape, $3.10; Hemp, $2.85; Cement No. 2,
$3.10; Cement No. 1, $2.75, in lots of 3000 and up.
Coal. — San Francisco, coast, yard prices : Welling-
ton, $8.00; Seattle, $6.50; Coos Bay, $5.50; Southfield,
$8.00. Cargo lot, Eastern and foreign: Wallsend, $7.50;
Brymbo, $7.50; Pennsylvania, hd., $14.00; Scotch, $8.00;
Cumberland, $13.00; Cannel, $8.50; Welsh Anthracite,
$13.00; Rock Springs, $8.50, long ton; Colorado Anthra-
cite, $14.00. Coke, $11.50 per ton in bulk, $13.00 in
sacks; Sunnyside, $8.50, long ton.
Oils. — Linseed, boiled, bbl., 50c; cs., 55c; raw, bbl.,
48c; cs., 57c; Lucol oil, boiled, bbl., 48c; cs., 53c; raw-
bbl., 46c; cs., 51c. Kerosene — Pearl, per gal., 17Jc; As-
tral, 17Jc; Star, 17Jc; Extra Star, 20Jc; Eocene, 19te;
Elaine, 26c; Water White, in bulk, lie; Mineral Seal,
iron bbls., 18c; wooden bbls., 20Jc; cs., 24c; Mineral
Sperm, cs., 26Jc; Deodorized Stove Gasoline, bulk, 14|c,
do., cs., 21c; 86° Gasoline, bulk, 25c; do., cs., 31c; 83°
Naphtha or Benzine, deodorized, in bulk, per gal., 12Jc;
do., in cs., 19c; Lard Oil, E. W. S., bbl., 75c; cs., 80c;
Neats-foot Oil, pure, bbl., 63c; cs., 78c; Sperm, crude,
63@68c; Natural White, 68c; Bleached, do., 68@73c;
Whale Oil, cs., 52@67c.
Litharge.— Pure, in 25-ft. bags, 9|@10£c $ ft.
Magnesium. — Pure, N. Y., $1.60.
Manganese. — Black oxide, "$> ft-i 2£(2>4c.
Mercury.— Bichloride, f, ft., 77c.
Molybdenum.— Best, $2.75 $ ft.
Phosphorus.— American, "§, ft., 70c.
Powder. — F. o. b. San Francisco : No. 1, 70% nitro-
glycerine, per ft., in carload lots, 15Je; less than one ton,
17£c. No. 1*, 60%, carload lots, 13Jc; less than one ton,
15Jc. No. 1**, 50%, carload lots, life; less than one ton,
13fc. No. 2, 40%, carload lots, 10c; less than one ton,
12c. No. 2, 35%, carload lots, 9Jc; less than one ton,
lljc. No. 2**, 30%, carload lots, 9c; less than one ton,
lie. Black blasting powder in carload lots, minimum
car 728 kegs, $1.50 per keg; less car lots, $2.00 per keg.
Red Lead. — 500 fts. and over at one purchase, <P lb.
7Jc; less than 500 fts., 7|c.
Silver.— Chloride, $ oz., 90c@$1.00; nitrate, 54c
Sodium.— Metal, f, ft., $1.
Tungsten.— Best, $ ft., $1.20.
Uranium— Oxide, $ ft., $3.40.
fac-
and
New Patents.
Dewey, Strong & Co.'s Scientific Press Patent Agenot, 330
Market street, San Francisco, has official reports of the following
United States patents issued to Pacific Coast inventors:
FOR THE WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 7, 1905.
804,182.-
803,868.-
803.974.-
803,978.-
803,673.
804,185.-
803,564.-
803,885.-
804,113.-
803.688.-
803,756.-
803,587.-
804,124.-
804.125.
803 903.-
804,136.-
804,144.-
803.767.-
803,769.-
803,699.-
803,705.-
803,849.-
803 934.-
803,724.-
803,638.-
803,796.-
803,726.-
803,642.-
S03,943.-
803.944.-
804,371.
804.297.-
804,298.
804,701.-
804,518.-
804,211.
804,378.
804,306.
804,307.
804,529.-
804,397.-
804,308
804.8 '2.
804,315.-
P04.534.-
804,538.-
804,475.-
804,408.-
804,412.-
804,734.-
804,477.-
804,749.
804,345.
804,246.-
804,247.-
804,348.-
804,493.-
804,759.-
804,496.-
804,675.-
804.676.-
804,774.-
804.631.-
804,509,-
804,354.-
804,646.-
-Electric Signal— Andriano & Herbstritt, San Francisco.
-Gold Saving Apparatus— W. D. Baney, Tonopah, Nev.
-Holding attachment— C. Benedict, Fruitvale, Cal.
-Knife— E. Bienseth, Seattle, Wash.
-Lifeboat— F. W. Brown, Tacoma, Wash.
-Clamp— W. H. Clendenon, Healdsburg, Cal.
-Ironing Board— L. M. Darrow, Berkeley, Cal.
-Tool Coupling— E. A. Davison. Stookton, Cal.
-Air Brake— J. Dillander, San Francisco.
-Submarine Boat— H. O. Eiane, U. S. Navy.
-Lock— G. K. Glenn, Pasadena, Cal.
-Shoe Display Device — Gruss & Alexander, San Francisco.
-Bottle Warmer— B. L. Gwynne. Sumpter, Or.
-Dredger— R. G. Hanford, San Francisco.
-Brake— W. Hefflin, Michigan Bar, Cal.
-Tire Shrinker— Horner & Buok, Seattle, Wash.
-Ore Crusher— G. Johnston, San Francisco.
-Air Brake— R. W. Kelly, Los Angeles, Cal.
-Wire Stretcher— M. K. Lewis, Lompoc, Cal.
-Tracing Device - P. F. Limacher, Los Angeles, Cal.
-Mop— E. O. Loeber, Los Angeles, Cal.
-Chair— D. T. Matthew, Tacoma, Wash.
-Binder for Leaves— R. D. Miller, Spokane, Wash.
-Wheel Bearing— H. C. Peterson, San Francisco.
-Quicksilver Trap— P. Somerville. Bishop. Cal.
-Cooker— F. F. Stetson, Los Angeles, Cal.
-Safe — H. C. Stockwell, Los Angeles, Cal.
-Fruit Clipper— C. F. Streigbt, Riverside, Cal.
-Stock Releaser— B. Teal, Walla Walla, Wash.
-Underreamer— W. J. Traver, Fullerton, Cal.
-Brake— M. F. Volkmann, Santa Monica, Cal.
-Conveying Apparatus— Wallace & Nash, San Francisco.
FOR THE WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 14, 1905.
-Wheel— H. Behan, Seattle, Wash.
-Railway Crossing — W, J. Bell, Los Angeles, Cal.
-Railway Crossing— W. J. Bell. Los Angeles, Cal.
-Pneumatic Tire— O. M. Bigger, Holt, Cal.
-Drier— G. Boschke, San Francisco.
-Dental Switchboard— M. N. Callender, San Francisco.
-Spraying Device— J. F. Cass, Seattle, Wash.
-Paper Delivery— C. P. Fonda, San Francisco.
-Paper Delivery— C. P. Fonda. San Francisco.
-Stock Supporter— Minna B. Foster, Sausalito, Cal.
-Cinch— E. A. Grushus. Ft Bidwell, Cal.
-Sawing Stone— J. A. Hall, Sacramento, Cal.
-Sawing Stone— J. A. Hall. Sacramento, Cal
-Furnace— J. E. Havden, Pasadena, Cal.
-Saw Filing Machine— C. M. Henderson, Berkeley, Cal
-Couch— J. Hoey, San Francisco.
-Thill Loop— O A. Jacky, Coulee City, Wash.
-Gold Separator— F. M. Johnson, San Francisco.
-Dumping Car— J. H. Kelly. San Franoisco.
-Rotary Cutter— W. Kinley. Seattle, Wash.
-Talking Machine— G. Konigstein, San Francisco
-Pipe Cleaner— W. J. Mecredy, San Francisco.
-Stone Saw— C. L. Meil, Sacramento, Cal.
-Stone Saw— C. L. Meil, Sacramento, Cal.
-Stone Saw— C. L. Meil, Sacramento, Cal.
-Stone Saw— C. L. Meil. Sacramento, Cal.
-Folding Rack— Mills & Izer, Pomona, Cal.
-Heater— J. A. Noble, San Francisco.
-bunsen Burner— U Page, San Francisco.
-Hop Sprayer — G. Roberts Tacoma, Wash.
-Current Motor— J. Roen, Spokane, Wash.
-Pump— J. L. Shenard, Los Angeles, Cal.
-Beet Plow— E. G. Smart, Salinas, Cal.
-GAS Burner— S H. Ury, San Leandro, Cal.
-Mattress— N. J. Walls, Pozo, Cal.
-Calculator— C. M. Young, San Francisco.
Notices of Recent Patents.
Among the patents recently obtained through Dewey, Strong &
Co.'s Scientific Press United States and Foreign Patent Agency,
the following are worthy of special mention :
Couches.— No. 801,538. Nov. 14, 1905. John Hoey, San Francisco,
Cal. This invention relates to improvements in couch or bed bot-
toms, or equivalent surfaces In which it is requisite or desirable to
have an evenly elastic surface. As an article of manufacture , it
consists of a curved bar having notches in the convex edge and diag-
onally inclined surfaces extending from the lower side of eaoh
notch to the higher side of the next contiguous notch. There are
other details of construction adapted to bring about the desired
result.
Attachment for Talking Machine.— No. 804,477. Nov. 14,
1905 Gabor Konigstein, San Francisco. Cal. This invention relates
to an attachment which is especially designed for use upon the mov-
able arms used in gramophones or talking machines, and which
arms are swiveled and turnable, so that the points carried thereby
conform to the movements of the disks by which the audible
sounds are transmitted. It consists in a gramophone having in com-
bination a record, a stylus to operate thereover, a stylus support,
said support attachable to and turnable concentric with the sound-
box and cushion means carried by the support and adapted to con-
tact with the rocord to hold the stylus out of contact with the
record, or to allow it to engage said record, and other details of
construction.
Automatic Gas Burner Attachment.— No. 804,509. Nov, 14,
1905. S. H. Ury, San Leandro, Cal. The object of this inven-
tion is to provide a device by which the flow of gas will be cut
off whenever the flame is extinguished, and danger to life or health
of sleeping persons or others who might be exposed to a flow of
unburned gas will be prevented. The device comprises a burner and
member thereon expansible by heat, a normally spring-retracted,
gas-controlling cock, mounted to slide in a direction parallel with its
ax's, and a trigger mechanism between the cock and the expansible
member whereby the cock is maintained in open position against
the pressure of its returning spring as long as the gas burns, and is
released and automatically leturned to normal closed position when
the gas is extinguished.
Saw Filing Machine.— No. 804.531. Nov. 14, 1905. C. M. Hen-
derson, Berkeley, Cal. The object of this invention is to provide an
apparatus for the convenient and automatic filing of band saws,
which are suspended so as to travel vertically through the appa-
ratus. It comprises in a saw filing machine clamps, between which
the saw is vertically held, and a feeding device by which it is ad-
vanced; a longitudinally reciprocating file carrier, guiding means
for said carrier, a hollow cylindrical housing carried by the file car-
rier, and having a slot in its lower portiun, a cyl'ndrical plug slid-
able within the housing, said housinr serving to prevent saw filings
coming in contact with the moving pans, and means for oscillat-
ing the plug.
Driers.— No. 804,518. Nov 14, 1905. Guy Bos hke, San Francisco,
Cal. The particular object of this invention is to provide a means
for drying fish, skins, leather .[or any flexible substance which may be
hung upon hooks or supports, and which is caused to travel through
alley-ways by means of endless chains from which the hooks depend .
During this travel the articles to be dried are subjected to a current
of heated air passing through the alley-ways from one end to the
other. The device comnrises a drying chamber, an endless horizon-
tally traveling chain movable therein, loosely dependent hangers
suspended from the chain and having hooks for the attach-
ment of substances to be dried, and resistant backing devices,
n contact with which the hangers move while the substances are
attached or removed. There are other details of construction, all
constructed and arranged to bring about the desired result.
Stock Supporters. — No. 804,539. Nov. 14, 1905. Minna B Fos-
ter, Sausalito, Cal. This invention relates to a device which is
especially designed for supporting stocks of soft material, such as
are used by ladies for neckwear. It consists in a stock support, of
rigid bar having transverse tubular ends, said ends having exten-
sions or enlargements, pins slidable through the tubes with the
points projecting- the shanks of said pins being bent to return across
and exterior to the tubes, and being again bent and having concav-
ities with which the points of the pins maybe engaged.
Whole No. 2367.-v8!;!!?.ep2T-
San Francisco, Cal., Saturday, December 2, 1905.
THREE DOLLARS PER ANNUM
Single Copiei. Ton Centi.
Causes of Failure in New Mines.
Why some mines fail to pay which have been un-
loaded on the investing public is a question asked in
all seriousness by many of those who have purchased
stock in these unprofitable propositions. The ques-
tion is certainly a pertinent one. The prospective
investor is led to believe that he stands little chance
to lose in most of these ventures, and in some of
them he is plainly told that his investment will be re-
turned to him many fold— that it cannot fail to be
largely profitable.
There are several reasons why some mines fail to
pay which have started their career under appar-
ently favorable auspices. The most usual reason for
wholly absorbed in unnecessary expense or lost in
faulty metallurgical operations.
General and office expenses are inordinately heavy,
taking up much or all of the profit which should go
to stockholders. This has been repeatedly proven
where a good mine failed to net a profit under cor-
porate management, but which by the leasing system
paid the leasers handsomely in addition to a royalty
of 20% or more to the company.
In many cases the mechanical equipment is out
of all proportion to the demands of the property.
A great hoisting plant and mill are built on a prospect
which is insufficiently developed to warrant the
large and expensive hoist, or to supply the mill with
ore. Large plants can usually be operated at much
The experienced geological student is now slow to
deny the existence of gold in any kind of rock, either
basic or acid, for the reason that the research of
recent years has shown that gold may be found in
almost any kind of rock, either sedimentary, intru-
sive or volcanic, except possibly in the true glassy
rocks and in the basalts. In these two latter types
no gold has as yet been announced, though it would
not be surprising to learn of its occurrence in basaltic
rocks, as it is known to occur in diabase, which is but
a little way removed from basalt in composition. As
a rule, when igneous rocks contain appreciable
amounts of gold they are considerably altered. The
feldspars are kaolinized, quartz is usually infiltrated
into the mass, replacing other normal constituents
>r:
UUKtfKLTn
MINING ANOT SCIENTIFIC
Open Cut Mining at Mount Lyell, Tasmania. (See Page 375. ;
failure is that the property does not actually possess
the elements essential to success and profit. The
reports and prospectuses give some of the facts —
those things favorable to it being given great promi-
nence, while those unfavorable are lightly referred
to or more often not mentioned at all. The size, and
frequently the value, of ore bodies are mis-stated —
often grossly exaggerated — and the estimate of costs
is as often considerably below what is really neces-
sary. It is usual to select as an example a auccess-
ful mine where, owing to exceptionally favorable con-
ditions, the costs are lower than the average of
mines in the same district. The new mine, lacking
these happy conditions, is unable to operate within
the figure set by the optimistic promoter, and the
result to investors is disappointing, if not disastrous.
Another reason for failure is the inexperience and
incompetency of the management. In a rich mine
this condition is not so much felt, for the rich ore can
stand some extravagance, but a mine operating on a
narrow margin of profit is likely to have this profit
lower cost per ton than small plants, when run up to
their capacity, but there is no economy in a 500
horse power equipment to hoist forty tons of rock
during twenty-four hours from a depth of 200 feet.
Nor is a mill, concentrator or smelter many times
larger than the mine can supply, a stroke of economy
in installation.
Some promoters claim that it is impossible to raise
money for mine development, if the property is not
equipped with a mill, consequently a mill is one of the
first things provided. The argument is then re-
versed—having a mill, required the ore, and develop-
ment is undertaken in hope of finding ore to supply
the mill. It would be indeed strange if this kind of
management resulted in anything else than failure.
IT is not many years since the occurrence of gold in
an intrusive igneous rock was stoutly disputed
by men recognized as high in authority in matters
geological. Now, it is known that gold and silver
ores occur in many dike rocks in payable quantity.
removed in solution, and ordinarily the sulphides of
the base metals occur in greater or less abundance,
particularly iron sulphide.
ONE of the latest ideas in modern mining equip-
ment in Mexico is the proposed installation of
a wireless telegraph plant near Guadalupe y Calvo,
Chihuahua, to facilitate communication with the out-
side world. Truly Mexico is coming into the very
front rank in up-to-date practice. The material
progress of that Republic within the past ten years
is really astonishing, even if the greater portion of it
is due to foreign capital and brains.
IN consideration of the distinguished services he has
rendered the California Miners' Association and
the State of California, particularly in his masterly
handling of the debris question before that Associa-
tion, Prof. S. B. Christy, dean of the Mining College
of the University of California, has been honored
with a life membership in the Association.
375
Mining and scientific Press.
December 2, 1905.
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
ESTABLISHED i860.
Published Every Saturday at 330 Market Street, San Francisco, Cal.
Telephone, Davis 771.
ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION.
United States, Mexico and Canada *3 00
All Other Countries in the Postal Union 5 00
Entered at the San Francisco Postoffice as second-class mail matter.
Branch Offices:
New York City, 921-24 Park Row Bldg. Boston, 27 School St.
Chicago, 1164 Monadnock Block. Denver, 606 Mack Block.
J. F. HALLORAN Publisher
SAN FRAHCISCO, DECEMBER 2, 1905.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
ILLUSTRATIONS: Pa£e-
Open Cut Mining at Mount Lyeil. Tasmania 374
Construction or Dust Chambers at the Smelter of the Shannon
Copper Co., Metcalt, Ariz 378
Dust Chambers of the Cananea Smelter, Cananea, Mexico 378
Speed Torque and the Curves of Operation 379
Mine Drainage by Bailing 379-380
Bird's-eye View of Tonopah, Nevada, From the Mines 381-382
Vertical Cross Section Showing Form of Ore Bodies at Tonopah 381
Vertical Section of a Portion of the Comstock Lode, Nev 381
Vertical Section of Cristo Vein, Paebuca, Mexico 381
The Mill Hole System in Open Cut, Big Indian Mine. Helena. . .384
Open Cut Work in a Flat Ore Body, Black Hills, S. D 384
EDITORIAL:
Causes of Failure in New Mines 374
Gold and Silver Ores in Dike Rocks 374
Proposed Installation of a Wireless Telegraph Plant 374
Life Membeiship in California Miners' Association 374
Another Advance in Copper 375
Copper Direct From High Grade Sulphide Ore 375
Deepest Gold Mines in the World 375
Open Cut Mining 375
Mining Decision in Montana Court 375
Cheap Power to Coal Mines 375
MINING SUMMARY 386-387-388-389
LATEST MARKET REPORTS 390
MISCELLANEOUS:
Concentrates 376
The California Miners' Association 377
The Debris Question in California 377
Dust Chambers at Smelters 378
Mine Drainage by Bailing 379
Efficiency in the Mining Industry 380
The Prospector 380
Geology of Tonopah. Nevada 381-382
Making Concrete — 382
Transportation and Handling of Explosives 382
Ladders in Mines 383
Reduction Plant and Process at the Oroya-Brownhill Mines. ..384
Mining and Metallurgical Patents 385
Commercial Paragraphs 389
New Patents 389
Personal 390
Obituary 390
Trade: Treatises ■ 390
Books Received 390
Notices of Recent Patents 390
COPPER has taken another advance and has
touched the 18-cent mark. This brings aluminum
into more active competition with copper in elec-
trical work, and it is not probable that the price of
the latter will go much, if any, higher. It is mani-
festly not to the best interest of the copper producers
to force the price of the metal up to a point where
other metals will be substituted for copper, which
would be the result of an abnormally high price of
copper.
THE efforts now being made at a copper mine in
Mexico to produce copper direct from high-
grade sulphide ore, by feeding the ore to a converter
in blast, is one of the most interesting attempts at
the lowering of cost in the production of copper. To
what extent this new idea may be safely carried is
at present problematical. The matte ordinarily run-
ning to a copper converter is an artificial copper sul-
phide. Whether the natural sulphide will work in
the same manner on a large scale remains to be seen.
With the copper ore is some matte, the result of pre-
vious operations in the blastfurnace. At Butte, Mont.,
something similar is done by charging concentrates
to a converter charged with molten matte, and this
is said to operate successfully and economically. The
idea in both instances is without doubt based on the
Huntington-Heberline process of lead reduction.
THE deepest gold mines in the world are in Ben-
digo, Australia, where the mine workings
have passed the 4000-foot mark. In Californiasome
of the mines in Amador and Nevada counties have
worked to a depth exceeding 3000 feet on the veins,
but no vertical shaft has yet reached that depth on
a California gold mine, the deepest being the Ken-
nedy, in Amador county, now down nearly 2800 feet.
Theories concerning the depth to which gold-bear-
ing veins may be profitably worked are undergo-
ing some change, but it will probably be found in
this, as in almost everything else in mining, that no
arbitrary lines can be safely drawn, and while many
gold mines will be found unprofitable below 2000 feet,
there are those which will continue to pay at 3000
and 4000 feet, and possibly at greater depth. In
the early history of copper mining in the Lake
Superior region, it would have been commercially
impossible to work to the tremendous depths at which
profitable operations are now being carried on, but a
change in economic conditions, by reason of which costs
are diminished, will make profitable mining possible
at increasingly greater depths as time passes. . We
have not, therefore, in all probability, yet learned how
deep a gold mine may be operated with profit.
Open Cut Mining.
Inexpensive mining methods are always being
sought by careful managers, who, in a desire to ac-
complish work at a minimum cost, look about for the
least expensive way of breaking and handling ore.
Obviously, that method is cheapest which operates
by gravity. Where shoveling must be resorted to,
the cost at once goes up, for manual labor is always
more expensive than properly applied mechanical
methods of handling materials such as ore and rock.
When the conditions are such that an excavation
can be made beneath the mass of rock to be mined,
such as a drift or crosscut, and a raise put up from
this adit to the bottom of the cut, ore broken on the
slopes of the cut will descend by gravity through the
mill hole, and may be drawn from a chute into cars
without handling, and trammed to the reduction
works. This fortunate condition is not always ob-
tainable, and shoveling becomes necessary, as shown
in the illustration on page — , which is that of one of
the flat sheets of telluride ore in the Black Hills of
South Dakota. There the ore is blasted down from
the face and the ore shoveled into the cars, which
are hauled away in trains, as shown. The waste is
shoveled across the track and as the work of mining
progresses inward the track is shifted nearer the
face as it recedes. In this case it would probably be
inexpedient to run a drift beneath the ore body as
its thickness would not make available sufficient ton-
nage at any particular mill hole to justify the ex-
pense.
In excavating for mill grades it is often possible to
remove the soil and loose rocks by hydraulicking, but
where water is not available for this purpose the ex-
cess debris and alluvial must be removed by shovel-
ing. Occasionally the cost may be reduced by the
construction of temporary chutes on the several ter-
races of the mill grade, so that the rock removed
from one bench may be easily loaded into cars on the
next bench below and these trammed off the grade
and dumped at one side. This is advisable where the
benches are high and relatively narrow. The use of
wheelbarrows on excavations of this kind is not to
be recommended, as a given number of men can han-
dle the material less expensively by the em-
ployment of track and cars. Where the benches
are high — 15 to 20 feet or more — 30 to 40 feet
wide and up to 150 feet long or more, it will gener-
ally pay to put in several turnplates, with a system
of tracks so arranged that cars may be always held
in reserve, near at hand, to immediately take the
place of those which have been filled and pushed onto
the main line, which runs longitudinally with the ex-
cavation. The shovelers are thus obliged to wait
less than a minute for an empty car, when otherwise
they may be obliged to wait from two to five min-
utes at various points along the line, a delay which
in the aggregate would mean a very material in-
crease in expense, for long waits are to be avoided
wherever possible. The arrangements for expedit-
ing work should always be commensurate with the
magnitude of the undertaking. It would be poor
business to put in an elaborate system of trackage
for a small job, but where from 7000 to 20,000 tons
or more are to be handled on each terrace of the ex-
cavation, it usually pays to make the necessary pre-
liminary arrangements to lessen the cost of handling
the rock. In such situations, where large tonnages
are to be removed quickly and cheaply, a double
line of sectional track, which may be quickly
moved, when necessary, to another situation, should
be laid, provided with turnplates or turntables, at
stated intervals — usually about 30 feet apart. This
permits the loaded cars to be promptly moved off the
grade while empties are returned on the opposite
track and distributed wherever required. By sys-
tematic arrangement and skilled handling there need
be no delay and the cost of moving material thus by
hand is reduced to a minimum. The tracks used in
operations of this kind may be employed again else-
where about the works, or at the mine, so that it is
not limited in its usefulness.
Some of the largest mines of the world handle
enormous quantities of ore in open cuts. Many of
the great iron mines of the Lake Superior region
mine all of their ore in great open cuts. This is usu-
ally done in a systematic manner by means of cuts in
which the ore is blasted down in terraces and loaded
into cars by steam shovels. A few of these mines
have mill holes, and rock broken in the cuts passes
by gravity through the holes to loading chutes below,
from which it is loaded into cars and trammed to a
shaft or adit, and taken to the surface. In some of
them, where mill holes are in use, steam shovels de-
liver the ore to these ore passes when it no longer
will run to them from the face by gravity. The il-
lustration on page 384 is that of the open cut and
mill hole of the Big Indian mine near Helena, Mont.
Not infrequently there is a large amount of waste
rock, or alluvial, overlying an ore body, and this
must be removed before the clean ore beneath can be
mined. Where such a condition occurs it is the most
economical method to open underground stopes with
raises driven to the surface, through which this
overburden may be sent for filling. In some in-
stances this use of the waste material so fortunately
placed above the ore is not put into operation until a
large open cut has been made in the superficial por-
tion of the ore body, and the overburden has become
a source of trouble and danger. It is the most nat-
ural thing to mine the ore lying at the surface and
most easily obtainable early in the history of the
mine, the more difficult engineering problems pre-
senting themselves later, when some solution for
them is worked out. The engraving on the first
page shows a portion of the great open cut at the
Mount Lyell copper mine in Tasmania. There the
ore is being broken from the sides of the cut and the
overburden removed to one side. Later this over-
burden became such a large proposition that steam
shovels were put in to handle it. Large amounts of
this waste were accumulated at the sides of the cuts.
More recently this waste is being sent down into the
lower workings for filling.
A CASE was recently decided by a jury trial in a
Butte, Montana, court, where a locator of a
quartz vein within a patented placer was declared to
be within his rights. The ground was located in
1880 as placer. This placer was patented later, but
in 1890 other parties entered the placer and located
a lode claim on it. Defendant claims that the patent
gave him exclusive right to the ground and that he
had held undisputed and undisturbed possession of
the claims for six years, and that the claim was good
against all comers, and moved a non-suit. The court
decided that such claim could only be allowed when
the Government contested the title. The defendant
further claimed that there was not a sufficient show-
ing of quartz on the claim in 1880 to justify working
the property as a lode claim. - This contention was
overruled by the court. A patent to a placer claim
is not prima facie evidence of the fact that no known
lodes exist within the limits of the placer claim at
date of application. The disposition of the depart-
ment is to consider that if the lode actually did exist
at the time of filing application for placer patent,
such lode is reserved by operation of law, whether
located or not. The law relative to lodes within
placers is another phase of existing mining legisla-
tion that needs a change to remove from it that ele-
ment of ambiguity and uncertainty.
THE somewhat paradoxical statement is made by
a current electrical journal that in the south
of England large distributing electrical companies
can supply power to coal mines at a rate cheaper
than the power can be produced by the mining com-
panies themselves, notwithstanding the fact that
they have to buy the fuel (coal) from the coal com-
panies. The reason for this lies in the fact that the
electrical companies have built extensive power
houses of modern design and burn a cheap grade of
fuel, producing electrical power at a minimum of
cost.
DECESfBER 2, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
376
Usually where itijury is done by the use of oily
lubricants, or there is other objection to its use, graph-
ite in some form may be substituted for grease or oil.
A CUBIC foot of quicksilver weighs 849 pounds. A
flask contains 75 pounds, and at present price is worth
$40, more or less, depending on whore it is purchased.
A bole in a fly wheel or other iron casting may be
filled by a cement made of one part gum arabic, one
part plaster of paris and one part iron filings mixed with
a little water.
VwVV
Garnets, unless very clear, of good color and free from
flaw, are of no value as gems. The same may be said of
any gem stone— the finer the stone the more value it
has as a gem.
vvTV
The cost of treating silver ores of the Comstock by
pan amalgamation at Virginia City is now usually fig-
ured at $6 per ton. This includes power, labor, chem-
icals, wear and tear, etc.
A GOOD iron cement is made from 20 pounds of iron
filings, 1} pound sulphur and J pound sal-ammoniac.
These materials are mixed to a pasty consistency with
water, so it may be spread without running.
VVVV
Pulleys upon which a shifting belt is to be run
should have a flat face, while those on which a belt is to
be run without shifting have the face raised at the cen-
ter, which keeps the belt from running off the pulley.
Tungsten ores are bought by some of the steel man-
ufacturers in the United States and Germany. The ore
from Nevada, containing manganese oxide and tungstic
acid is doubtless hubnerite, a tungstate of manganese.
In constructing a dam in a stream, when the struc-
ture is not on bedrock, it is very necessary to so arrange
it that the overflow will not undercut the dam itself.
This is a fault that dams built on gravel, etc. , often have.
TVVV
Mathison & Co. of Chelsea, N. Y., are engaged in
the reduction of antimony ores. At present there is no
reduction works on the Pacific coast reducing antimony
ores, though there was one formerly in San Francisco,
Cal.
All of the gold mine6 of the Transvaal, S. A., are
not at or near Johannesburg, on the conglomerate beds,
called there "banket." There are a number of produc-
ing mines in the schist area at some distance from the
Rand.
wvVV
Rhyolite is not known as the lava of a recent active
volcano, but is found in great quantities in beds, sheets,
dikes and plugs. It is an abundant rock in the Great
Basin region, between the Rocky mountains and Sierra
Nevada.
The minerals of economic value associated with ser-
pentine are chromic iron, platinum, asbestos and chryso-
tile, gold, copper ores, cinnabar and mercury. The
most important of these is chromic iron, which is par-
ticularly characteristic of serpentine.
It is not always a safe proposition to trust wholly to
a stone used for grinding gold-bearing rock when pros-
pecting, for the reason that these stones are often
"salted" with the gold derived from previous tests, par-
ticularly where the samples were rich.
Quartz commonly occurs in all acid rocks, but is
rarely present in baBic rocks, particularly in the highly
basic kindB, like basalt. However, at a volcanic vent
known as the Cinder Cone, 10 miles east of Lassen's
peak, in California, is a black basalt flow in which there
are abundant quartz crystals.
■VVv
Hand jigs may be employed to advantage where
labor is cheap, or where there is only a small amount of
material to be treated. These machines can not be
given as many vibrations as are ordinarily given power
driven jigs, but good work can be accomplished with
them when properly manipulated.
It Ib bad practice to divide mill plates into narrow
strips. It is far better to increase the width of the
plates and lessen their grade, that the pulp may be
spread thinner and run more slowly and evenly. This
usually results in better amalgamation than narrowing
the plates and giving them a heavy grade.
Bruckner cylinders are horizontal roasting furnaces
open at both ends and lined with fire brick. The smaller
sizes are slowly rotated by means of friction wheels, the
larger are driven by means of gears. The charge is
retained in the furnace as long as desired, it not being a
continuously discharging furnace like the White-Howell.
The pressure gauge of a steam boiler should indicate
the same pressure as that at the safety valve, where the
latter is blowing off. If this is not the case the gauge
should be examined and repaired. Never pump cold wa-
ter into a boiler where the steam is low and the boiler
hot. Better draw the fires and allow the boiler to cool
down first, and thus avoid an explosion.
In the United States the line of no magnetic variation
passes through the Carolinas, eastern Tennessee and
Kentucky, through Ohio and Michigan into Canada.
In Colorado it is about 14' east; in Montana 18° east in
the central portion, increasing to 22° east in the north-
western corner. In California it ranges from 14° east in
the southern portion to 18° in the northern part.
When it has been determined to stop the loss in mill
tailings, it is necessary first to ascertain in what form
and where this loss occurs. If it be in slimed sulphides,
arrangements must be made for finer classification and
concentration. If the loss be in the coarse sands, then
finer crushing must be resorted to. Gold which will not
amalgamate is often amenable to cyanide treatment.
VVvV
Solders for different metals are composed of different
substances. A solder for lead is made of one part tin
and one and one-half lead; for tin, of one part tin and
two of lead; for brazing (hard), three parts copper and
one part zinc; bronzing (medium), one of copper and one
of zinc; for bronzing (soft), one of tin, four of copper and
three of zinc, or two of copper and one of antimony.
A current wheel is an inefficient method of obtain-
ing power. Only a small portion of the energy of a
running stream can be applied to be wheel. Small
powers may be obtained from a large stream, and a
number of current wheels placed in series will supply
power in proportion to the number of wheels. Generally
speaking, such a plant would not justify the expense of
its installation.
Vwvw
In rotary rock breakers the power required to oper-
ate the machine is about 1 H. P. for each ton of rock
crushed per hour— this varying with the character of
the rock and its size upon reaching the crusher. Thus
a crusher which will break from forty to sixty tons per
hour requires about 50 H. P. Some makes of rock
breakers require more power than others to produce
stated results.
The melting point of various rocks differs in the same
manner that the fusing point of various metals differs.
The acid rocks require a higher degree of heat to fuse
them than the more basic ones. Thus basalt and
the more basic rocks require about 2250° F. for fusion;
andesites and rocks of this type melt at 2520° F., while
3000° F. or more are necessary to fuse trachyte and sim-
ilar acid rocks.
Bauxite is mined in the United States in Arkansas.
The mineral is shipped to Niagara Falls, N. Y., where
it is used in the manufacture of aluminum and in making
carborundum. There is also a plant in East St Louis,
111. The mineral is treated by electricity and as the en-
tire business is in the hands of practically one company
the costs are not available. There is no reduction plant
handling bauxite on the Pacific coast.
wVVV
To prevent the loss of quicksilver in the stamp mill
requires much careful attention to the condition and
operation of the mill. Ordinarily, more mercury is lost
where inside amalgamation is practiced than where all
amalgamating is done on the outBide plates, but better
amalgamation usually results from inside amalgamation.
The character of the ore must determine whether in-
side amalgamation shall be practiced or not.
If sand banks at the side of the concentrator belt, the
probability is that there is too little water being used.
The remedy is to feed more fresh water to the machine.
The arrangement of the mill should be such that this
amouut of water cannot vary except at the will of the
concentrator man. Particular care must be taken to
keep debris out of the pipes, such as leaves and small
chips, which would have a tendency to clog the feed
pipes.
Whenever black oxide of manganese occurs in the
surface portion of a vein, it may be expected that man-
ganese minerals will be found in depth. The primary
manganese mineral may be the comparatively rare sul-
phide, alabandite, though more commonly the meta-
Bilicate, rhodonite, is found, and in higher zones the
carbonate, rhodochrosite. These latter often occur in
the same zone. These alter to the black oxide upon
being subjected to oxidizing surface waters.
Asbestos occurs usually in greenstone schists and in
serpentine. Those occurrences where the fiber crosses
the vein-like deposit from wall to wall are chrysotile.
This is often silky in fiber and usually of light green to
white color. Both chrysotile and asbestos of the am-
phibole variety are mined commercially. Much asbestos
must be cleaned and freed from impurities before it is
suitable for the market. Clean and pure asbestos is un-
affected by either heat or water. Impure ground asbes-
tos is used as a non-conductor of heat on boilers, etc.
Mine dams may be made of timber and clay, of rock,
of bricks and of concrete. Of the several materials that
may be used, concrete is probably the best for perma-
nent work. If considerable pressure is likely to be ex-
erted upon the dam as by water, the dam must be
securely anchored by cutting a channel in the solid Took
at the bottom, top and sides. If the dam is extended
up to the roof, it may be finished from the inner side,
leaving a manhole about 20 inches square through which
the workmen may pass. This manhole must be pro-
vided with a door or gate which may be tightly and
securely closed.
Where gold is extracted from roasted sulphides by
chlorination and the gold precipitated in the tank, after
stirring the solution should be given plenty of time to
settle, as there is usually considerable gold in an ex-
tremely fine state of division held in suspension in the
solution. It has been held by some that if the gold long
remained in contact with the iron sulphate or the iron
perchloride, due to addition of iron sulphate as a pre-
cipitant of gold, the latter would be redissolved. Con-
cerning this, C. H. Aaron says that iron perchloride
does not dissolve gold in presence of the iron proto-
salts, and precipitated gold in the chlorination vat is
not redissolved by remaining many hours in contact
with the solution of iron per-salts, which is produced
when gold terchloride is decomposed by iron proto-
sulphate.
vvvdi
Various mixtures are used in greasing hoisting ropes
— mixtures of crude petroleum, pitch, tallow, tar, etc.,
being used for this purpose. In California several mines
have found the heavy viscuous crude oil produced in
some of the oil districts of that State to make an excel-
lent rope grease. Any oil used for this purpose should
be tested for acidity, as the presence of acid would be
detrimental to the rope. Rope grease is usually applied
to flat ropes by carefully applying the "dope" with
brushes, and round ropes are slowly run downward
through a sectional hopper-shaped box having a hole in
the bottom slightly larger than the diameter of the rope.
A half gunny sack is packed around the rope in the bot-
tom of the box and the hopper filled with the oil or
heated compound, and the rope allowed to run through
the box until the dope is about exhausted, when the
hopper is again filled, and the process continued until
the entire rope has been lubricated. The oil or com-
pound employed must be of such consistency that it will
not melt and run off the rope at the normal temperature
of the shaft.
V W w V
The careful assay of raw iron sulphides containing
gold, and an equally careful assay on the tailings after
roasting with salt and the extraction of the gold by the
chlorination process, which indicates a high extraction,
but which fails to be represented by the recovered gold,
suggests the loss due to volatilization of gold in the
furnace. To chloridize silver it is necessary to add salt
to the charge before roasting, but such addition of salt
is almost certain to be followed by loss of gold from the
cause stated. The effect of adding salt to auriferous
sulphides before roasting can easily be determined by
making the experiment in a muffle. Take two lots of
the same ore, of even weight, add 3% to i% of salt to
one of them and none to the other. Place side by side
in a muffle and roast with a bright heat. When the
sulphur has been eliminated, withdraw from the muffle,
add the necessary fluxes to each and assay separately.
The ore which was roasted without salt will be found to
assay more per ton than the raw ore, due to decrease of
weight in roasting, while the other lot, though also de-
creased in weight, will show little if any gain in assay
value per ton — due to loss of gold by volatilization.
The loss of power by the slipping of belts may amount
to 20% or more, but is usually corrected before so un-
satisfactory a result is reached by use of a tightening
pulley, or by shortening the belt. Where the loss is
small by reason of only a slight slipping of the belt this
may be remedied by the use of some material on the
belt which will increase the friction between the belt and
the pulleys. Among substances used for this purpose
are resin, soap, aspbaltum, etc. Some of the substances
thus used, although affording a temporary remedy for
slipping belts, do more damage to the belt than is gained
in power. Resin, particularly, is bad. as it renders a
belt brittle, and consequently short lived. Covering
iron or wooden pulleys with leather by means of glue
alwavs gives good results, as it largely increases the
friction between the surface of the belt and the pulley,
and consequently gives higher power transmission.
Where leather belts are used on iron faced pulleys the
belts must be tightly drawn to secure the best results,
and this makes the belts wear faster. Tallow warmed
to 100° P. and applied to leather belts and dried in by
sun or artificial heat makes belts soft and pliable, and
also tenacious. When a belt becomes dry an application
of neat's foot oil will be beneficial, but the belt must not
be soaked in water before applying the oil, as some sup-
pose. Belts are likely to slip immediately after oiling,
but they soon become adhesive again and are better for
the dressing. Another good belt dressing is made from
one part beef kidney tallow and two parts castor oil well
mixed and applied while warm. Rats will not attack a
belt that has been treated with castor oil. Rubber belts
from which the rubber has been worn off can be im-
proved bv painting the worn side with lead paint in
which sufficient japan has been mixed to cause it to dry
quickly. The japan is made by cooking linseed oil and
shellac in a varnish kettle,
377
Mining and Scientific Press.
December 2, 1905.
The California Miners' Association.
At the annual meeting of the California Miners'
Association, which closed its session at Nevada City
on November 25, a number of interesting papers
were read and addresses made by representative
men. One of the most important matters directly
connected with the mining industry of the West is
the mining law. This was reviewed by John F.
Davis in his report of the committee on legislation,
in so far as California laws affected mining. He said
that the need of additional legislation had been rec-
ognized long since, and attempts made to remedy
existing conditions by new legislation. At the last
session of the Association, in 1904, a large amount of
legislation was recommended, much of which was
acted upon by the last session of the California Legis-
lature. The following abstract is made of the
remarks of Mr. Davis:
A new section was added to the Code of Civil Pro-
cedure, to be known as Section 1927, and to read as
follows: "1927. Wherever any patent for mineral lands
within the State of California, issued or granted by the
United States of America, shall contain a statement of
the date of the location of a claim or claims, upon which
the granting or issuance of such patent is based, such
statement shall be prima facie evidence of the date of
such location."
This Act was approved March 7, 1905, and is to be
found in the Statutes of 1905, at page 78.
There was also passed by the last Legislature an Act
repealing the Act of April 23, 1880, and the Act amenda-
tory thereof of March 9, 1897, requiring certain ratifica-
tions by stockholders of any act of a board of directors
in a mining company in buying, leasing, selling, mort-
gaging or in any other way disposing of additional
mining ground. The repeal Act was approved March 7,
1905, and is to be found in the Statutes of 1905, at page 74.
The attention of this Association has been called to
the desirability of having a law for the punishment of
frauds and misrepresentations in prospectuses and, in
general, for punishment of fake mining promotion. In
1878 there had been passed an Act entitled "An Act to
Protect Stockholders and Persons Dealing With Cor-
porations in This State " (statutes of 1877-8, page 695),
whioh read as follows: " Any superintendent, director,
secretary, manager, agent, or other officer, of any cor-
poration formed or existing under the laws of this State,
or transacting business in the same, and any person pre-
tending or holding himself out as such superintendent,
director, secretary, manager, agent, or other officer,
who shall willfully subscribe, sign, indorse, verify, or
otherwise assent to the publication, either generally or
privately, to the stockholders or other persons dealing
with such corporation, or its stock, any untrue or will-
fully and fraudulently exaggerated report, prospectus-
account, statement of operations, values, business, prof-
its, expenditures, or prospects, or other paper or docu-
ment intended to produce or give, or having a tendency
to produce or give, to the shares of the stock in such
corporation a greater value, or less apparent or market
value than they really possess, or with the intention of
defrauding any particular person or persons, or the
public, or persons generally, shall be deemed guilty of a
felony, and on conviction "thereof shall be punished by
imprisonment in the State prison or a county jail not
exceeding two years, or by fine not exceeding five thou-
sand dollars, or by both; provided, that this Act shall
be construed to apply only to corporations whose capital
stock has been or shall hereafter be listed at a stock
board or stock exchange in this State, or whose shares
be regularly bought and sold in the stock market of this
State."
This Act was absolutely of no use whatever on account
of the proviso at the end of it. On account of that pro-
viso the Act, in terms, applied only where the stock of
the corporation had been or should thereafter be listed
at a stock board or stock exchange in this State, or
whose shares should be regularly bought and sold in the
stock market of this State. This, by inference, excepted
the very class of cases where these frauds are most
numerous, namely, where the faking is done by promot-
ing corporations whose stock is not listed in this State
at all. In by far the greater part of these great frauds
the stock is generally listed in some Eastern board,
nearer the home of the victim than the location of the
property. The most gigantic promotion frauds have
been of this class.
At the last session of the Legislature two bills passed,
each of which received the sanction of the Governor and
became a law.
The first was approved March 21, 1905, and is to be
found in the statutes of 1905 at page 683. It consists in
so amending and amplifying section 561 of the Penal
Code that, as amended, it reads as follows:
" 564. Every director, officer or agent of any corpora-
tion or joint stock association, who knowingly concurs
in making, publishing, or posting either generally or
privately to the stockholders or other persons, any writ-
ten report, exhibit, or statement of its affairs or pecuni-
ary condition, or book or notice containing any material
statement which is false, or any untrue or willfully or
fraudulently exaggerated report, prospectus, account,
statement of operations, values, business, profits, expend-
itures, or prospects, or any other paper or document
intended to produce or give, or having a tendency to
produce or give, the shares of stock in such corporation
a greater value or a less apparent or market value than
they really possess, or refuses to make any book or post
any notice required by law, in the manner required by
law, is guilty of a felony."
The second Act was approved March 22, 1905, and is
to be found in the Statutes of 1905, at page 786, and
consists in re-enacting the original Act of 1878, with all
its drastic provisions, and eliminating the proviso clause
at the end thereof, which had heretofore rendered it
nugatory. There is, therefore, more than enough State
statutory legislation on this subject to cover every pos-
sible phasi of fake mining promotion, and the Federal
Statutes with reference to the use of the United States
mails is already drastic enough to cover the subject from
the Federal point of view.
Another law passed at the last session of the State
Legislature was promoted by the State Mining Bureau,
making an appropriation for the erection of guide posts
on the deserts in certain counties of the State, approved
March 22, 1905, to be found in the Statutes of 1905, at
page 805, and is as follows:
"SECTION 1. The sum of $5000 is hereby appropriated
from any money in the State treasury, not otherwise
appropriated, for the purpose of procuring metallic
guide posts, upon which are to be indicated the distance
and direction from said posts, the location of wells,
springs, or tanks of water fit for drinking purposes and
other information of value, in the desert sections of
California, particularly in the counties of Kern, Ven-
tura, Los Angeles, Inyo, Riverside, San Bernardino and
San Diego; providing, however, that each of said coun-
ties (for its own county) shall bear the expense of the
proper erection of said guide posts at such points in the
county as may be designated by the Department of
Highways, and shall pay all expenses attendant upon
the placing of said posts, as well as the expense incurred
in placing the directions above mentioned upon said
posts.
"Sec. 2. The purchase and distribution of such posts
is hereby placed under the management and con-
trol of the Department of Highways of the State
of California, and it is made the duty of said De-
partment of Highways to designate the points at
which said posts shall be placed. Said posts shall
be at least 10 feet in length, and shall be made of
not less than 2-inch nor more than 3-inch iron pipe, to
he set in metallic cross-pieces of such size and to he sunk
in the earth at such depth as will insure proper anchor-
age. Said posts shall have iron cross-arms on which
shall be affixed metallic letters stating the information
mentioned in Section 1 of this Act.
"Sec. 3. Any person removing, defacing or in any
manner injuring said guide posts shall be deemed guilty
of a felony.
"Sec. 4. The State Controller is hereby directed to
draw his warrant in favor of the Highway Commissioner
for the sum of $5000, and the State Treasurer is hereby
directed to pay the same."
At your last convention your committee felt that the
amendment of Section 1183 of the Code of Civil Pro-
cedure passed by the session of 1903 of the California
Legislature, under which an attempt was made to defeat
the right of an owner of a mine which was being worked
under contract or agreement or bond from divesting
himself and the mine from liability from liens that
might be attempted to be placed upon it, was ill-advised.
Two companion bills amending two other sections of the
lien law had disclosed this to be the purpose of the
amendments. These two other bills failed to receive the
executive sanction. It was not admitted that the
amendment of Section 1183 standing alone did accom-
plish the object intended by the author of these three
bills, but it would take a decision of the Supreme Court
to say just what its effect, standing alone, would be in
this regard.
At the last session of the Legislature several bills
amending Section 1183 were introduced, but a division of
counsel among the men representing the mining sections
arose, and it was too late in the session before any
chance of a compromise measure came in view. It is be-
lieved that at the next session of the Legislature there
will be no difficulty ia obtaining such remedial legisla-
tion as shall be unobjectionable from any reasonable
point of view.
As a prelude to further legislation looking to a reha-
bilitation of hydraulic mining in any degree, your com-
mittee has, for a number of sessions of this Association,
strenuously urged that we obtain a decision of the Su-
preme Court of California testing the efficacy of such
Federal legislation as we now have upon our Statute
book. In a late issue of the Sacramento Bee that jour-
nal makes the following claim as to the result of the
work of the Anti-debris Association under the working
of the California Debris Commission Act:
"The Anti-debris Association has closed at least 95%
of the hydraulic mines, and has closed all the large
ones. There may be cases where hydraulic mining is
prosecuted on a small scale, or where it is practiced so sur-
reptitiously that the utmost vigilance cannot detect it."
Under present conditions an actual injunction is not
necessary, for as long as there is no authoritative decis-
ion of this State or of the United States with reference
to the efficacy of a permit to mine by the hydraulic
process issued by the California Debris Commission, and
as to whether the permit is a finality or not, capital will
not invest in these mines. There will be no practical
resumption, because capital will not be tempted under
such conditions to resume.
Recognizing, therefore, that it is of supreme import-
ance to the mining industry of this State that this ques-
tion should be tested in the Supreme Court, your execu-
tive committee made arrangements under which such a
test could be had, and it is proposed to obtain the same
through a decision on an appeal in the case of the County
of Sutter, plaintiff, vs. William Johnson and William
Nichols, defendants, commonly called the "North Star
Mine Case." A motion for a new trial in this case had
been regularly made and denied and an appeal there-
from taken. A motion to vacate the judgment has been
made and denied and an appeal from that decision has
been regularly taken, and an appeal itself from the de-
cision and judgment rendered in the case has been regu-
larly taken. A statement on motion for a new trial has
been settled, and a bill of exceptions has been settled.
Every care has been taken so that in the review by the
Supreme Court the very point desired by this Associa-
tion to be decided shall be the only point to be decided,
and that the record of the case shall be before the Su-
preme Court in every way possible so that a decision
upon this point can be had. The Supreme Court has
decided that upon an appeal from an order denying a
motion for a new trial the court is limited in its review
to the ground upon which the new trial was asked, and
cannot review the sufficiency of the pleadings or findings
to support the judgment or consider any errors in the
conclusions of law or in the judgment.
In order that there might be no possible question of
obtaining a decision upon the point of whether the con-
clusions of law arrived at in the lower court in the Polar
Star mine case are supported by the findings of fact, a
motion to vacate the judgment was made under the pro-
visions of Sec. 633 and 633£ of the Code of Civil Proced-
ure, and an appeal has been taken from the judgment of
the court denying that motion. It is impossible to fore-
see at this time how the Supreme Court can, under such
circumstances, allow the decision to go off on any other
point than the one expressly desired by the attorneys on
both sides in the action. All necessary stipulations waiv-
ing bonds on behalf of the appellants, allowing the whole
record to be printed in one transcript, and allowing all
appeals to be argued at one hearing, have been signed
and filed. The printed transcript on appeal was filed
with the Clerk of the Supreme Court in his office at San
Francisco on Tuesday morning, November 21, 1905, and
it is expected that the case will be set down by the Clerk
for hearing by the Court on its coming calendar which
will be called in February next.
This committee now hands to the secretary of the Ast
sociation a printed copy of the transcript which has
been fiied.
In line with the suggestions of the detailed report of
your committee at the Convention of 1903, showing the
necessity for the legislation, three bills were introduced
in the House of Representatives by Mr. Gillett of Cali-
fornia, to-wit: H. R. 8891, being an amendment to the
Removal for Federal Causes Act; H. R. 8892, being the
amendment requiring the date of the original location to
be inserted in the patent to a quartz mining claim when
issued by the Government, and H. R. 8893, being the
well-known bill for the classification of the mineral
lands, and commonly known as the Mineral Lands bill.
While none of these bills have been passed, Congress
and the respective committees have become familiarized
with their provisions and intent so that we are now in a
position to forecast their course at the coming session of
Congress.
In reply to my telegraphic request for the very latest
word on the present status of these bills, I yesterday re-
ceived the following telegram:
"All three bills will have to be re-introduced; 8891 will
be favorably reported; 8892 opposed by the Secretary of
the Interior; 8893, Land Committee divided, chairman
against it. J. N. Gillett."
This means that, with the proper work, in all proba-
bility two or three bills will become law at the next ses-
sion of Congress, and that a desperate fight must be
made to convert the chairman of the Lands Committee
so that the Mineral Lands bill may be also saved.
The Debris Question in California.
OUTLINE OP ADDRESS ON THE DEBRIS QUESTION BE-
FORE THE CALIFORNIA MINERS' ASSOCIATION.
Professor S. B. Christy of the University of Cali-
fornia, in his paper read before the Miners' Associa-
tion in Nevada City, called attention to the fact that
the placer miners had never asked for any aid from
the United States Government until their industry, to
which California owed her existence, had been closed
down by the action of the Federal Courts, rendering
property to the value of over $100,000,000 unpro-
tected and worthless, and bringing ruin to large
communities in the mountains. Under these circum-
stances he claimed that the National Government
owed it to the miner to render him assistance in
bringing about a resumption of this important indus-
try as far as is possible without injury to the farmer
and to the navigable waters of the State.
He called attention to the work which had been
done and is being done by the Federal engineers who
composed the Debris Commission, in restraining
debris from the mines and protecting the navigable
waters of the State from debris already contained in
the beds of existing streams. He called attention to
the fair-minded and impartial manner in which the
Debris Commissioners have administered the
features of the Caminetti Act, and to the energetic
efforts which they had made to restrain the debris in
the Yuba river above Marysville. He also called
attention to the fact that these restraining barriers-
were experiments of very great importance, and
that the problem undertaken was one of extreme
difficulty, viz., the erection of an over-flow dam upon
a gravel foundation, in which it was extremely diffi-
cult to prevent the undermining of the toe of the dam
by water discharged from its crest, and that the
undertaking was almost without engineering pre-
cedents, but had been executed with great skill,
especially in view of the fact of the limited appropri-
ations at their disposition. And he called upon the
mining communities to give them their hearty sup-
port-in the work that they have undertaken, as an
honest effort to make the best use of the means at
their disposition.
He next called attention to the fact that the Debris
Commission was not responsible for the enactment of
the Caminetti Act. They were simply called upon as
officers of the Government to enforce its provisions
as they found it, and that there was not a miner in
the State who would say that their execution of the
law had not been undertaken with even-handed jus-
tice to all concerned. He also called attention to the
fact that the efforts of the Commission were limited
by law to the execution of the provisions of the
Caminetti Act, and to the protection of the navigable
waters of the State, and that the efforts of this
December 2, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
378
branch of the Government service could be made
more effective if it worked in conjunction with the
reclamation service of the Geological Survey. He
explained that this Reclamation Service had been
originally formed for the storage of storm waters in
mountain reservoirs and the irrigation of arid lands,
and that a fund of $28,000,000 arising from the sale of
public lands was already available for the purpose,
and that this fund was now increasing at the rate of
$4,000,000 a year. He pointed out that there were
fully 800,000 acres of overflowed and swamp lauds in
the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys of compara-
tively little value, which, if reclaimed by the deposi-
tion upon them in a rational manner of the finer sedi-
ment coming from the mountains, could be increased
in value when entirely reclaimed so as to be worth at
least $80,000,0011. He pointed out that these swamp
and overflowed lands needed sediment from the
mountains just as much as the miners needed a place
to deposit their sediment, and that if such a plan
could be carried out it would render available for the
benefit of the entire State mining and agricultural
lands worth at least $200,000,000. He pointed out
that the interests of the farmers and miners were
not antagonistic, but supplementary, and urged the
miners to suggest an increase of the scope of the
Reclamation Service so as to include not merely the
reclamation of arid lands, but also the reclamation of
swamp and overflowed lands under conditions similar
to those already enforced by the Government for the
reclamation of arid lands.
He called attention to the prompt and cordial ac-
tion of President Roosevelt in answering the request
of the miners that the United States Geological Sur-
vey should undertake the solution of the two prob-
lems which had been presented to them last year.
viz.: First, the selection of reservoir sites for the
storage of flood waters in the mountains, so as to
prevent destructive floods, and to conserve the
waters for irrigation and power purposes; and, sec-
ond, the selection of waste lands upon which to de
posit the detritus of the mountains. He stated that
the Director of the Geological Survey had promptly
begun this work and had sent for the preliminary ex-
amination of the problem — Dr. G. K. Gilbert, one of
the most experienced and able geologists in the
United States, to investigate the problem; that Dr.
Gilbert had been in the field the entire summer a'id
had expressed himself as deeply interested and hope-
ful of the solution of this problem. He had collected
data concerning the present condition of the streams
in their dry condition, and expected to examine them
again in their wet season; and that in order to de-
termine the minimum gradients upon which detritus
of various sizes, particularly the finer sorts, could be
carried, he has undertaken an investigation as to the
sediment-carrying power of running water, which will
be undertaken with the natural sediments taken from
our rivers, during the present winter, in the mining
laboratory of the University of California; that he
had also taken samples of sediment from a number of
streams, and that analyses were now being made by
the Reclamation Service to determine their food
values for plants, and that there were also to be un-
dertaken actual experiments upon the growth of
various plants upon this sediment.
He requested all persons who are familiar with
cases of the actual growth of plants upon this detri-
tus to send to him at the University of California at
Berkeley as much detailed information as actual re-
sults from their growth upon the "slickens" they
may have at their disposition, with the promise of the
Survey that all cases of importance will be given a
thorough study by the Reclamation Service.
In order to prove that the interests of the farmer
and the miner are not antagonistic, but supplement-
ary, he read a very important letter from Prof. Hil-
gard, which is here given in full:
University op California, j
College op Agriculture. S
Prof. S. B. Christy, University of California—
Dear Sir: It would have given me great pleasure to
accept jour suggestion to attend the meeting of the
Miners' Association at Nevada City, to be held this
week. But being unable to do so, I beg leave to com-
municate to you in writing, briefly, some of my views on
the solution of the vexed debris question, which has
agitated the State so long and has led to the practical
stoppage of hydraulic mining. I do so because this
seems a promising time for the rational adjustment of
the claims of the contending parties — the miners, and
farmers of the valley — to the benefit of both and of the
State at large. It seems to me that a calm considera-
tion of the subject, instead of hot contention in public
meetings and in courts having but a^imited and one-
sided knowledge of the wide bearings, would serve to
largely reconcile the conflicting interests.
In your excellent and judicially written paper read at
the last meeting of this Association, you presented some
points of view which are of great importance in this con-
nection. While recognizing the serious injury inflicted
upon certain portions of the valley lands by the whole-
sale rushing down of cobbles and gravel from the
hydraulic mines, and that these coarse materials can
and should be impounded by the miners within the
mountains and foothills, you contend that the fine
materials, now all comprehended under the unpleasant
term " slickens, " are on the whole not really different
in kind from the natural wash of the mountain torrents,
such as must always be brought down by them, and can,
if properly distributed over the agricultural lands of the
valley, be made a benefit instead of a detriment to the
farmer. To this view I fully agree, it being evident
from the rapid and vigorous growth of the trees and
chaparral on the debris within the placer and hydrau
lie mines themselves that the finer material is well
adapted to vegetable growth, even though lacking in
humus content, ft is the excessive amounts deposited
over limited areas, and sorted into beds of sands of
several feet here, and sheets of fine, impervious slickens
there, that are chiefly objectionable.
Of course, the same things happen where there are no
hydraulic minos or debris, wherever streams inundate
agricultural lands, and it is not easy to define the exact
increase caused by these mining operations, aside from
the gravel masses clearly originating there. If the fine
debris could be so controlled that only a relatively thin
layer would be deposited each flood season, to be plowed
in, or if they could be deposited on the peaty tule lands,
they would be a material benefit to agriculture, as
alluvial deposits are all over the world.
But a proper distribution of these materials means
control of the flood waters of the rivers, an improve-
ment now called for so urgently by so many interests
that enormous sums have been set aside by the United
States Government for the selection and establishment
of reservoirs wherever, possible, to serve for irrigation as
well as for the development of water power now so
urgently needed in the numerous industries connected
with electric power, including therein the working of
the mines themselves.
Since it is the turbulent flood waters that have been
chiefly instrumental in bringing down the debris pro-
miscously upon the farming lands of the valleys, this
work, placed under the direction of the United States
Geological Survey, bears in the most direct manner upon
the debris question and the possible renewal of hydrau-
ests involved, it seems to me that few questions of
greater importance can come before this meeting than
that of making a strong move for executive, or, if nec-
essary, congressional action towards authorizing the
Geological Survey to include within its reclamation work
the matter of the proper utilization of mining debris
and natural detritus for the reclamation of waste lands,
in addition to the establishment of storage reservoirs
for flood waters. The high character of Director Wal-
cott, and his well-known promptness and efficiency in
pushing the work under his charge, encourages the
belief that if such action is taken we will in a compara-
tively short time be brought much nearer to the solu-
tion of the debris problem, and the resumption of the
great hydraulic mining industry, than thirty years of
contention and half-way measures have been able to
bring about.
It cannot be too strongly urged that, instead of being
antagonistic to each other, the agricultural and mining
industries are vitally concerned in each other's welfare.
The suppression of the development of the foothill and
mountain regions of the State is injurious to the welfare
and progress of the whole — both country and cities —
and all good citizens ought to unite to work toward the
establishment of a broad policy for the benefit of all.
Very truly yours,
Berkeley, Cal., Nov. 20. E. W. Hilgard.
Dust Chambers at Smelters.
Where the ore being treated is high-grade, and
particularly where there are much fines, dust cham-
Conatruction of Dust Chambers at the Smelter of the Shannon Copper Co., Metcalf, Ariz.
— ;-— -jestf X'p*' *"*=-- .r
■■■issr-'T^Kjr' ^
■*mfe -»,ffS
-MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PFIETSK
Oust Chambers of the Cananea Smelter, Cananea, Mexico.
lie mining without injury to the agricultural interests.
In fact, such efficient and accurate work as is now being
done by the Geological Survey in this connection is the
condition precedent of the practical usefulness of any
Debris Commission, however competent in its member-
ship. The first thing needed is a thorough ascertain-
ment of the facts as they exist, not only in one limited
region, but over areas sufficiently great to serve for the
framing of a compi'ehensive policy, the operation of
which shall not need amendment at each legislative ses-
sion and give rise to renewed agitation and disturbance
of industries; for the questions involved bear not only
upon mining and agriculture, but as well upon commerce
and navigation, upon the maintenance of deep sea navi-
gation of the great port of San Francisco, and its bay
and river connections, as well as the government works
for coast defense. The problem is a very large one, but
cannot be dealt with piecemeal.
In view of the' broadness and importance of the inter-
bers are indispensable, if heavy losses are to be
avoided. These must be so constructed that there
will be no interference with the draft, which is a
necessary condition where smelting is to be accom-
plished rapidly. The former practice was to build
dust chambers with partitions alternately at the top
and bottom, extending only part way between the
floor and top of the chamber. This arrangement
caused the dust to be carried under one partition and
over the next, and so on throughout the series. This
accomplishes only a small part of the desired result,
as a strong draft still remains, which prevents the
fine dust particles from coming to a state of rest.
The best and least expensive form of dust chamber
is simply a considerable enlargement of the flue, con-
structed horizontally, and having transverse parti-
tions extending from the floor upward toward the
379
Mining and Scientific Press.
December Z, 1905,
arch, but leaving a sufficient space for a quiet pass-
age of the gases, while the dust settles downward into
the zone of undisturbed atmosphere between the
walls. It is not unusual for the dust particles of ore
to assay higher than the average ore under treat-
ment— thus. the advisability of dust chambers. The
accompanying engravings show the dust chambers at
the Cananea, Mexico, smelter and that at the Shan-
non Copper Co.'s smelter at Metcalf, Ariz.
Mine Drainage by Bailing.
The question of unwatering a mine always is a
serious problem to the mine management, especially
so when the water is impregnated with acids. When
the amount becomes excessive the means to be em-
ployed for disposing of it taxes the ingenuity of all
concerned to the uttermost.
In the anthracite regions of Pennsylvania there
are mines in which for every ton of coal raised as
high as fourteen tons of water must be pumped, and
the latter must be done at a minimum of expense.
Nowhere, probably, have a greater variety of pumps
and lifting devices been tried. One satisfactory
type for handling large quantities of water
at comparatively low heads has proved to be
large bailing skips operated by steam engines.
These, however, lack the mechanical regularity in-
herent in a pump, as they are necessarily operated
by men. and it remained for the Delaware, Lacka-
wanna & Western R. R. Co. and its electrical engi-
neer, H. M. Warren, to finally develop a water
hoisting equipment which would preserve all the
valuable points of the steam hoist and at the same
time operate automatically. The carrying out of the
mechanical details of the hoist and its automatic de-
vices were confided to the Wellman-Seaver-Morgan
Co., of Cleveland, Ohio, who guaranteed the machin-
ery to accomplish the desired results. Most of the
electrical controlling devices were furnished by the
Electric Controller & Supply Co., Cleveland, Ohio.
In the original specifications the D., L. & W. R. R.
Co. called for the hoist to be operated by an alter-
nating current motor of 8u0 H. P., and the question
of starting, stopping and reversing so large a motor
had, at the outset, to be met. The duty to be per-
formed by the hoist called for the raising of 4000 gal
Ions of water per minute to a height of 550 feet.
4,000 gals. X 8.27 = 33,180 lbs.
500' 2" rope X 6 . 3 = 3, 465 lbs.
36,645 lbs. to be raised at 550' per
min.
610 net horse power.
36,645 X 550 _
33,000
Weight of bucket = one-half weight of water, so
that weight on rope = 53,235 lbs., or nearly twenty-
seven tons, requiring 2" steel rope.
The various preliminary speed and movement dia-
grams are laid out per accompanying diagram.
It was decided in carrying out the design that it
would be impracticable to design the hoist other than
have a motor running continuously in one direction,
as it is a well-known fact that the amount of current
required to accelerate a large motor of this type is
enormous, and greatly interferes with the proper
running of the power plant.
The D, L. & W. R. R. Co. desired to use an A. C.
motor directly at the hoist, and as the motor was to
run continuously in one direction this necessitated
the use of friction clutches for accelerating and re-
versing the load. As the Wellman-Seaver-Morgan
Co. had several smaller plants already in operation
using A. C. motors on hoists which are operated
similarly to the present hoist, and as they are run-
ning successfully, and the repairs and renewals for
clutches had not exceeded that required for the other
hoisting engines, it was decided to use this method.
Pigs. 1 and 2 show a front and side view of the
hoist. As will be noticed the general arrangement
consists of a motor driving a pair of bevel wheels
through a single bevel pinion. The bevel wheels run
loose on a shaft and are fitted with the Webster,
Camp & Lane friction clutches. The operating
mechanisms for the clutches are so designed that
only one clutch can be thrown in at a time, but both
clutches can be out at the same time. Throwing in
one clutch runs the drum in one direction; throwing
in the other clutch reverses the motion of the drum.
To the shaft on which the bevel wheels run there is
keyed a pinion, meshing with main gear on the drum
shaft. The drums are of the cylindro-conical type,
10 feet at the small diameter and 16 feet at the large
diameter. At a hoisting speed of 550 feet per min-
ute the drum makes about fifteen revolutions per
minute. There is one main brake located between
the drums. All of the clutches and brakes are oper-
ated by auxiliary air cylinders fitted with oil cushion
cylinders, the compressed air being furnished by a
motor driven air compressor and the necessary tanks
located near to the hoist. The hoist is controlled
by a mechanical device shown in Pig. 2. This device
consists mainly of a drum rotated by means of a
friction drive from the motor through a sprocket
chain. The drum shaft transmits its motion to a
secondary shaft fitted with variable speed, which in
turn operates a secondary stop. The main hoisting
drum shaft operates a traveling nut which is so
located with respect to the controller drum that at
either end of its travels it releases a stop and allows
the controller drum to make a quarter turn; this
movement, through suitable electrical connections,
operates the solenoids on the clutch valve, releasing
the clutch and the solenoids on the brake valve,
setting the brake, the further movement of the con-
tion of the hoist. The main brake is of the gravity
type, and to be released the current must be on the
solenoid operating the valve so that air can be ad-
mitted to the underside of the brake piston.
If, for any reason, either the supply of current or of
air pressure is interrupted, the valve drops, and the
weights on brake lever set the brake. The clutches
are designed so that they are thrown out by weights.
As is the case with the brake, either clutch can only
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Fig. 2.
trolling drum being arrested by the secondary stop.
This stop is released by the variable speed shaft and
its connections, which has been given a predetermined
time movement corresponding to the interval for
emptying the bucket. The further movement of the
controlling drum releases the brake and throws in
the reversing^ clutch, thus starting the hoist in the
opposite direction, and also starting the traveling
nut on the controlling mechanism in the opposite
direction. At the end of the hoist the cycle of con-
trolling movements is repeated, and so on, making
the hoisting operation continuous and automatic.
Every attention has been given to the safe opera-
be thrown in when the current is on the solenoid, and
if either current or pressure fail, the clutch is off.
The motor shaft is fitted with an emergency brake
operated by a weight controlled by a solenoid — any
interruption in the flow of current to the motor sets
the brake and stops the motor. Any interruption of
the flow of the current stops the machine, throws out
the clutches and puts on the brake. A safety cut-
out is provided for in the head frame so that in case a
bucket is carried beyond the proper height, the cur-
rent is cut off.
Pig. 3 shows the head frame. The head frame is 93
feet from the base to the center of the sheave at the
December 2, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
380
top. It is built of structural steel, roughly, iu the
shape of an "A." From the head frame are sus-
pended two buckets, tj feet in diameter and 19 feet 6
inches deep. The capacity of each bucket is seven-
teen tons of water. In the bottom of the bucket are
located two lift gates with an area practically even
to the cross-section of the bucket. These gates are
lifted automatically when the bucket reaches the top,
must guard agaiust our successors saying of our
work: "It was magnificent, but it was not true
mining economics."
We are rapidly deliminating the area within which
the payable banket beds occur in the Transvaal, and
we are seeking for the reappearance iu the Orange
River Colony of the payable banket beds outcropping
along the Rand.
HnfyfYX \
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Fig. 3
and the. water is discharged through the bottom into
a spout fitted below the bucket, and which deflects it
to either side of the shaft. Each bucket makes a
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Fig. 4.
complete round trip in one minute and fifty-five sec-
onds, the total lift being 555 feet.
Fig. 4 shows a nearer view of the bucket when dis-
charging.
Efficiency in the Mining Industry.
In an address recently delivered by Ernest Wil-
liams, president of the South African Association of
Engineers, before that Association, he indicated
what he thought should be done to improve operat-
ing methods, particularly in the deeper levels. A
portion of his address follows:
We no longer speak of stamp mills having 100
heads as the unit of equipment, as this is to be
increased about ten times. The tonnage duty of
the stamps will be almost doubled by the introduc-
tion of secondary reducers, principally of the tube
mill type, and the recovery of the value is to be
increased by about 10%. Never before in the his-
tory of this gold field has the same keenness for effi-
ciency and permanency been in evidence. Standard-
ization of work, simplification of method, multiplica-
tion of units and centralization of effort and control
have been developed — it may be beyond what we are
quite ready for, and, although I do not propose to
cry a halt in the chase after magnitude, so as to give
us breathing time, I would mention one or two points
which seem to me to be worthy of consideration.
We must keep in view the necessity for economy in
equipping as well as in the running of our undertak-
ings. Every pound spent in excess of the actual nec-
essary expenditure is so much money lost — it may be
wasted — and it is here that good engineering judg-
ment is best displayed. Our present system of work
tends to specializing to a degree not serving in the
best manner the greater interests of the country.
We are in danger of raising a generation of engineers
who can only equip on a magnificent basis, and we
Since the discovery of the main reef series and the
realization of the gold values of these beds very many
people have said we must revise our ideas as to the
occurrence of gold, and such people would pass by
the claims of the old and tried gold-carrying rocks of
the world that for generations produced the most
gold. But as careful engineers we must not allow
the glamour of the new to deaden our hopes in the old,
and in the Transvaal to-day the primary rocks or
schists are being surely though slowly recognized as
worthy of confidence, for they are proving to us their
value as gold carriers. At points far apart in the
Transvaal satisfactory gold values have been found
in the primary or schistose rocks, and as prospect-
ing is carried on further gold deposits will cetainly
be found in these rocks, and this class of proposition
will, I think, no longer be flouted by the financier,
who is growing very specialized and wants the engi-
neer's report setting forth in minute detail the value
of any property he is asked to finance.
The mining propositions I have in mind — occurring
in the schists — will, I believe, restore some of the
romance of gold mining, and remove the present
monotonous conditions surrounding the production of
gold within the Rand area, which conditions are rap-
idly partaking of the routine obtaining in the produc-
tion of pig iron. At our meetings we have had con-
tributions from members dealing with this question of
the probable gold-bearing value of the old crystalline
rocks of the Transvaal, and the information given
shows the advisability of paying more attention to
these deposits.
Some good mining propositions in the schistose
rocks have been exploited in the healthy districts of
this colony, and the development of these in the so-
called fever districts is progressing, but prospecting
is difficult in some cases owing to the prevalence of
malaria during the rainy season. I have recently
visited some of the mines in the so-called fever dis-
tricts, and am quite satisfied that one of the most
important matters controlling the occurrence of
malaria there is the almost utter disregard of all
sanitary precautions. Most of us know something of
the history of many of the gold mines in the north-
eastern and eastern districts of the Transvaal — how
the occurrence of gold deposits running a high value
per ton was announced with great noise, and some-
times the company formed to work the mine ended in
much more noise, after a career something like that
of a rocket, going up like a comet and coming down
like a stick. I make bold to assert that in many
cases the ending of the life of such mines was not due
to lack of payable gold value, but to lack of efficiency
in other factors, chiefly — humanly controllable — at
times through attempting to attain the magnificent
on the surface before proving the actual value lying
in the ground. Then came the old story, "No fur-
ther money available for development," and then the
end. It may be out of place to mention that the
Klein Letaba gold field, with an area of hundreds of
square miles, offers a splendid field for the prospector
who understands his calling, as very good values have
been proved, but so far the superior attractions of
banket have depreciated the real value of such lines
of country. It may be interesting to remark that in
the Klein Letaba gold fields a new class of gold-bear-
ing deposit has recently been proved. Here the
occurrence of gold thus in the character of rock is a
new mineralogical feature. We have gneissoid and
stratified rocks, with an interbedded sheet of pyrox-
ene rock, laid down under water, the whole strata
subjected to lateral pressure, under which the rocks
folded at points of greatest stress, when the elas-
ticity of the sedimentary rocks, and of the lower and
upper margins of the eruptive rocks, allowed these
rocks to yield to this pressure, the central portion of
the pyroxene sheet being crushed or fractured, and
thus forming a somewhat permeable mass, through
which chemical solutions circulated, altering its
character. These solutions, which were auriferous,
circulated freely throughout the mass, and deposited
crystalline gold in the place of elements chemically
set free by the action of such solutions.
S*********** ************ **** *********
I THE PROSPECTOR. I
Sample No. 1, TJkiah, Or., is quartz containing
iron and zinc sulphide, and probably also contains
gold. No. 2 is a piece of crystalline limestone (mot-
tled marble), apparently of good quality if the stone
can be obtained in good sized masses.
The ore sample from Homestead, Or., is mostly
zinc sulphide (blende). It also contains a streak of
more complex mineral, chiefly zinc and lead. This
ore probably carries also gold and silver and should
be assayed for those metals.
The mineral and rock samples from Quartzsite,
Ariz., are described as follows: No. 1, jasperoid,
possibly rhyolite which has been silicified. A number
of rocks assume this appearance upon silicification.
Shales may be compressed and silicified to resemble
the sample. So may rhyolite, and petrified wood
often looks the same. The geological occurrence is
the best way to get a suggestion as to the origin of
the material. No. 2 is green jasper. No. 3 is chal-
cedony. No. 4 is iron oxide and silica coated with
chrysocolla (copper silicate) and malachite (copper
carbonate). Package No. 5 contains one specimen
of lead sulphide (galena), which is altering to lead
carbonate (cerussite) around the edges. The gangue
mineral is quartz, with a little calcium carbonate.
The other specimen is mostly quartz, with some crys-
tals of honey-yellow lead molybdate (wulfenite) on one
side. No. 6 is chiefly jasper. The largest piece
resembles petrified (silicified) wood. The black pebble
in this package is a dense, silicified clay rock, prob-
ably originally shale, the others being jasper.
The ore from Ingot, Cal, is limonite (brown iron
oxide). It may possibly contain gold, for which it
should be assayed.
The rocks from Tombstone, Ariz., marked A. &.,
are: No. 1, basalt; No. 2, a scoriaceous lava consid-
erably altered; No. 3, a much decomposed earthy
lava or tuff.
The rock specimens from Lowden's Ranch, Cal.,
are: No. 1, amphibolite schist; No. 2, talc schist; No.
3, amphibolite schist colored black by carbon, and
carrying considerable pyrite. It has the appearance
of being a wall rock of a mineralized vein. No. 4 is
diabase; No. 5 is scoriaceous lava; the vesicles were
caused by inclusions of air or steam in the lava when
it was molten, the rock solidifying before the gas
could escape; No. 6 is seemingly a section of a small
vein in a massive rock, and consists principally of
epidote and feldspathic mineral; No. 7 is mispickel
(arsenical iron sulphide.)
The rock samples from Cherry, Yavapai county,
Arizona, are all of granitic character. No. 1 is
probably aplite, much kaoiinized and stained by iron
oxide. No. 2 is a much kaoiinized feldspathic rock,
with remnants of hornblende, and may have been
syenite. No. 3 is similar to No. 2, but is less gran-
ular and of finer grain.
The rocks from Prescott, Ariz., are mostly of sim-
ilar character — altered greenstones, presenting
various phases of texture and conditions of alter-
ation. No. 1 is mica-diorite. No. 2 is the same,
though finer in texture. No. 3 is diorite aphanite.
No. 4 is evidently the same kind of rock, as No. 1 for
instance, but is very much altered and silicified and
carries a little pyrite. No. 5 is only finer in grain
than No. 2 and much more altered. No. 6 is an aplite
dike and is a granular mass of feldspar and quartz.
No. 7 is diabase, and No. 8 is similar to No. 7, but
more altered, and No. 9 is evidently a still further
altered similar rock. All of these rocks have been
so completely changed from various causes that in
most instances the original minerals can no longer be
determined, while the minerals now present may
have been derived from any one of several original
minerals. When the augite of a diabase, for instance,
is changed to hornblende (uralite), and the change is
complete, it is very difficult, if not impossible, to say
whether the rock was originally diorite or diabase.
Feldspars alter to kaolin, mica and other minerals,
and the means of identifying the original material is
lost in most cases.
381
Mining and Scientific Press.
Deoember'2, 1905.
Geology of Tonopah, Nevada.*
NUMBER II. — CONCLUDED.
Relation of the Described Districts to Tonopah.
—Of all the described ore deposits of North America,
therefore, Tonopah appears to be most closely re-
lated to many of the Mexican silver veins, and also to
the Comstock in Nevada and the Silver City-DeLamar
veins of Idaho. With Pachuca, as is seen, the rela-
tion is intimate, and Ordonez's description of the
veins of this district would do, with a very little
change, for a report on the Tonopah veins. The chief
difference is in the occurrence of manganese silicate
in depth at Pachuca, which has not been found at
Tonopah, and also the less content of gold, with the
absence of ruby silver. Ruby silver, however, occurs
in the cognate and contiguous Real del Monte dis-
trict; also gold in considerable quantity occurs with
silver in some of the Mexican districts of this type.
Those enumerated by Aguilera all occur in horn-
blendic andesite.
This group of veins is characterized by the follow-
ing features: They occur in Tertiary volcanic rocks
of similar character in the different localities, being
chiefly Miocene andesites or rhyolites. They consti-
tute strong masses or frequently branching and
"linked" veins of quartz, which have as gangue
essentially quartz, with frequently a little calcite,
while adularia, barite, rhodochrosite or rhodonite" may
also be present in limited amount. The ore is charac-
teristically a silver-gold one, silver being usually
predominant in the values in varying proportions,
though the relative value may be reversed, and in
some extreme cases either metal may occur with lit-
tle admixture of the other. In any case the abun-
dance of silver or gold, or both, in reference to lead,
zinc, iron, etc., is characteristic. Silver sulphides,
especially argentite, also stephanite and polybasite
(with ruby silver) and gold, probably largely in the
free state, are distinguishing features in the great
majority of cases. Tellurides and selenides may also
be present. Pyrite, blende, chalcopyrite and galena
are usually present in varying quantity. Where they
become predominant the vein becomes relatively low
grade. Tetrahedrite, stibnite and bismuthinite are
also known to occur. The wall rocks are character-
istically much altered to quartz, sericite, chlorite,
calcite, epidote, pyrite and sometimes adularia, etc.
Frequently the rocks nearest the veins are chiefly
altered to quartz and sericite, those farther away to
the softer "propylitic" alteration, consisting of cal-
cite, chlorite, pyrite, epidote, etc.
The rich ores occur in regularly outlined portions
of the lode called bonanzas. These bonanzas are of
limited extent, both horizontally and vertically. They
are believed to have arisen as a consequence of the
irregular intersection of transverse fractures or fis-
sures with the main vein channel, producing maxi-
mum deposition in these portions. Intervening por-
tions may be low grade or barren.
In the oxidized zone silver chlorides and bromides,
free gold, manganese oxide, etc., occur.
The Petroqraphic Province of the Great Basin.
— After a study of the lavas of the Great Basin region
of Nevada in 1900, the writer came to the conclusion
that the whole region "southward into the Mojave
desert, together with a portion at least of the Sierra
Nevada, constitutes a petrographic province — that
is to say, it is underlain by a single body of molten
magma, which has supplied at different periods lavas
of similar composition to all the different parts of the
overlying surface. The limits of this subcrustal
basin, however, are not yet defined in any direc-
tion."
The general sequence of lavas, roughly outlined,
was concluded to be as follows:
1. Rhyolite (Eocene).
2. Andesite (Miocene).
3. Rhyolite with occasional basalt (Miocene-Plio-
cene).
4. Andesite (Late Pliocene-Early Pleistocene).
5. Basalts and occasional rhyolites (Pleistocene).
Extension of the Great Basin Petrographic
Province Into Mexico. — Later in the same year,
Ordonez, in a study of the rhyolites of Mexico over a
northwesterly trending belt extending from the
northern boundary southward past the City of Mex-
ico, found that the author's conclusions were also
applicable to this province. He writes as follows:
"With very slight differences, which are without de-
cisive importance, one may say that everywhere the
relative order of eruptions, judging from the compo-
sition and structure of the rocks, has been the same.
Let us here present the example of the Great Basin
of Nevada. Many ranges of that region show a suc-
cession strictly comparable with that of Mexico."
The general succession is found to correspond with
that given by the writer above, and the rhyolites oc-
cupy the same position and are of the same age
(Miocene-Pliocene) as those under No. 3. The ande-
sites, which preceded the rhyolites, correspond with
No. 2 and are Miocene.
A Metalloqraphio Province Co-extensive With
the Petrographic Province. — In the paper above
referred to the writer brought forward the idea of
* Abstract Prof. Paper No. 42, by J. E. Spdrb.
metalliferous provinces (perhaps better, metallurgi-
cal provinces) characterized by the presence of cer-
tain metals, and pointed out that these provinces may
or may not be closely identified with petrographic
provinces, although they probably generally are so,
to a certain extent at least.
Unquestionably, the close relation between the
Nevada mineral districts, Tonopah and the Comstock,
with the far more numerous array in Mexico, and the
individuality of this group as compared with other
known veins of North America, shows a metallo-
graphic province, which in this case coincides with a
as Silver City and De Lamar,Idaho, and others, they
appear in Miocene-Pliocene rhyolites, which sue
ceeded the andesites.
In general, however, the Miocene andesites of this
province are, as Humboldt noted, the metalliferous
formation par excellence, and if the conclusions which
have been arrived at regarding Tonopah are correct
(which coincide with a number of similar conclusions
concerning other districts reached by other authors),
the ore is due to the after actions of the eruptions in
the shape of fumaroles, solfataras and hot springs.
Moreover, since similar manifestations (of fumaroles,
portion of the petrographic province previously men-
tioned.
In this metallographic province ores occur in Mio-
cene andesites in the great majority of cases, and
their formation followed soon after the eruption of
these rocks. In occasionally recurring cases, such
BIRD'S-EYE VIEW OF TON'!
solfataras and hot springs) follow most volcanic
eruptions, it is probable that the metals deposited by
the after processes at this period arose from an un-
usual proportion of them in the andesite magma;
indeed, the very definition of a metallographic
province implies this. The existence of such metal-
(B)
(C)
(A) Vertical Cross Section Showing Form of Ore Bodies at Tonopah, Nev. (B) Vertical Section of a Portion of the
Comstock Lode, Nev. (C) Vertical Section of Cristo Vein, Pachuca, Mexico.
December 2, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
382
lographic provinces is evident; and the theory of
their origin, as propounded by the writer, is like that
long entertained by many petrographers for the
origin of petrographic provinces — namely, that they
are formed by magmatic segregation.
Oriuin ok Shoots or Bonanzas in the \ bins of Th is
Metallography Province— Light is thrown upon
the origin of the shoots, chimneys or bonanzas in this
class of veins by the studies of the influence of cross
fractures on their formation in Tonopah, and the sim-
ilarity between these bonanzas and those at Silver
City and De Lamar, Idaho, the Comstock and Pachuca
Transportation and Handling of
Explosives.
As the result of the explosion of a large quantity
of nitro powder while in transit on a railroad in Penn-
sylvania, some months ago, a commission was ap-
pointed to inquire into the dangers attending the
handling of explosives. C. B. Dudley, C. E. Munroe,
H. S. Drinker and C. P. McKenna comprised this
committee, and, being scientific and experienced in-
.^s^rs*
'-*•=£•
2NOPAH. NEV.
Ma ^^v^T^f"^"" E W.Sm. m
DA, FROM THE MINES.
(see accompanying figures). At De Lamar the shoot
or chimney form is evident, some of the bonanzas
having been followed downward over a thousand feet,
yet the local irregularity of the outline is like that of
the typical bonanza. At Tonopah a similar shoot-like
form with a definite pitch has been discovered, but
the developments thus far made do not show so great
a persistency as at De Lamar. At Tonopah the con-
nection of the shoots with cross fractures is evident,
and the localization of the ore deposition at intersec-
tions of especially fractured zones seems the correct
explanation. It is doubtful, however, if, when the
bonanzas in the Tonopah veins shall have been worked
out, the shoot-like form will always be discernible; in
the case of the richer eastward-pitching shoots of the
Mizpah vein, for example, the spaces between the
shoots would probably be considered together with
them, in the larger sense, as parts of one great
bonanza, whose eastward pitch and shoot-like form
would be less emphasized, or not at all.
In the case of Pachuca the bonanzas are irregular
or roughly elliptical and are not shoot-like; yet the
fact observed by Ordonez, that the bonanzas on the
different veins group themselves into a definite zone
running transversely across the strike, is hardly to
be accounted for except by the explanation arrived
at in the case of Tonopah, that the bonanzas are due
to the influence of an intersecting fracture system.
At the Comstock the bonanzas are similar to those in
Pachuca, although no local evidence has been found
explaining their origin.
The above explanation is readily acceptable for
bonanzas that are elongated into definite shoots and
are actually known to be associated with and depend-
ent upon cross fracturing, as in Tonopah; but it is
not so easily acceptable, perhaps, in the case of
wholly irregular bodies, such as those of the Com-
stock. Yet at Tonopah the bonanzas are irregularly
cut off and do not continue indefinitely downward on
the pitch; and to this limitation the explanation of
the controlling effect of cross fractures must un-
avoidably be extended.
When making concrete do not use cold water nor
mix the materials in a freezing atmosphere. Do not
mix up more concrete materials than can be put in
place within a half hour, and do not undertake to
ram or otherwise mould or disturb concrete after it
has taken the initial set. Sand and gravel or broken
rock are essential to concrete, but cement is also,
and enough of the latter must be present to make
the concrete durable and give it the necessary
strength.
vestigators, their report is of -interest and value.
The whole matter is published at length in the En-
gineering News, from which the following from the
report of the committee is abstracted. The first
portion of the report is a part of that by C. B.
Dudley:
The nitroglycerine powders are all sensitive to
shock. It is fair to state, however, that since
liquid nitro-glycerine is not transported at all, and
since the form in which nitro-glycerine is carried is
with the nitro-glycerine absorbed in some absorbent
medium, such as sawdust, wood pulp, nitrate of soda,
etc., the sensitiveness of the nitro glycerine powders
to shock is infinitely less than in the case of liquid
nitro-glycerine. If the nitro-glycerine is properly
made, and properly absorbed in a well-dried absorbent
material and the powder is made up into cartridges
and properly packed in good boxes strong enough to
prevent rupture of the boxes and consequent leakage
of the powder while in transit, there is very little
danger in transporting high explosives due to the
ordinary shocks of transportation. It is quite pos-
sible to throw a box containing fifty pounds of almost
any high explosive from a point 50 feet in the air
down on rocks without causing an explosion, and in-
dividual cartridges can be thrown with full force of a
man from any height upon rocks without doing any-
thing more than to rupture the cartridge. More-
over, a properly made nitro-glycerine powder can be
hammered on a wooden surface until the hammer
head beds itself in the wood without causing an ex-
plosion, yet it may frequently be exploded even by a
glancing blow of wood on wood. Furthermore, a
properly made nitro-glycerine powder is rarely ex-
ploded by the first blow when it is laid on an anvil
and struck with a hammer. The second blow usually
causes explosion. We are clearly of the opinion that
if the nitro-glycerine powders are properly made and
properly packed in sufficiently strong packages,
there is almost no danger due to the ordinary shocks
of transportation. It is badly made nitro-glycerine,
broken packages and leaky cartridges that usually
produce the risk, due to shock, in the transportation
of high explosives. Decomposing and deteriorated
nitro-glycerine powders are dangerous to transport.
Decomposing nitro-glycerine powders give off acrid,
irritating fumes. It is difficult to fully describe de-
teriorated nitroglycerine powder; but powders which
have been stored for six months or more may be re-
garded as suspicious, especially if the boxes show ex-
cessive dampness from storage, or are mouldy. If
the boxes show any oily stains, the powder is so de-
teriorated that it is certainly dangerous to trans-
port.
It may not be amiss also to mention one or two
characteristics of nitro-glycerine explosives. It is a
well-known fact that if a box of cartridges or a sin-
gle cartridge of nitro-glycerine powder is detonated
within a few feet of another box of cartridges of the
same, the firing of the one will fire the other, al
though there is apparently no contact between them.
This is not, as might be supposed, a case of trans-
mission of fire from one cartridge to the other, but it
is the shock produced by the firing of one cartridge
which fires the other. There are cases on record of
the explosion of a magazine in one locality producing
an explosion of another magazine some distance away.
Such explosions are called " explosions by influence,"
and this fact has a bearing on the transportation of
explosives, in that there is an increased risk in hav-
ing several cars containing explosives in the same
train.
We have mentioned above carelessly made nitro-
glycerine. There is a critical point in the manu-
facture of nitro-glycerine which, if ignored, leads to
no end of difficulty. As is well known, nitro-glycerine
is made by pouring a stream of glycerine into a
mixture of the strongest nitric and sulphuric acids.
The whole mass is stirred during the operation, and
as heat is generated by the chemical change the ma-
terial is cooled by artificial means. The eye of the
operator is kept on the thermometer which is in the
liquid, and it is believed that many explosions which
take place in the manufacture of this material are
due to its being insufficiently cooled. As much as,
and sometimes more than, 1000 pounds are made in a
batch. After this operation is completed it becomes
essential to remove the remaining acid from the
nitro-glycerine, and this is the important part of the
whole process, as regards the safety of the finished
product. The acids and the nitro-glycerine being of
different specific gravities, this fact is made use of
to effect their separation. The nitro-glycerine is
then washed with water to remove the bulk of the
acid adhering to it. It is subsequently treated with
soda solution to neutralize any acid which may be
left, and finally with another washing of water to re-
move the soda solution. If, now, this operation be
properly performed and all the free acid be removed,
the nitro-glycerine may be said to be well made and
a safe material to proceed with. On the other hand,
if all the acid be not removed, in the course of a short
time, possibly a week or two and possibly a shorter
time, the nitro-glycerine becomes changed in its prop-
erties and becomes infinitely more sensitive to
shock. Such badly made nitro-glycerine is very
hazardous to transport. To neutralize any possible
traces of acid which might still remain after the
washing or be produced by decomposition, it was
formerly the almostjjniversal custom to add to the
absorbent material in nitro-glycerine powders a small
amount of some substance called an ant-acid, such as
carbonate of magnesia or zinc white. This practice
has been abandoned by some, but it is of the highest
importance that it should be resumed.
This is the place, perhaps, to mention a modifica-
tion of nitro-glycerine explosive known as "gelatine
dynamite." It has been found that nitro-cotton dis-
solves in nitro-glycerine, and that when the proper
proportions of these two ingredients are mixed to-
gether they mutually dissolve each other and a ma-
terial is formed which is even stronger in its explo-
sive power than nitro-glycerine alone. The material
becomes gelatinous and is mixed with absorbent in
much the same way as ordinary nitro-glycerine, ex-
cept that being gelatinous it is possible to use more
of the explosive and less of the absorbent, thus mak-
ing a much stronger powder. With the ordinary
nitro-glycerine powders, the safe limits for trans-
portation are sixty parts nitro-glycerine and forty
parts absorbent. In the gelatine dynamite as high
as eighty parts "gelatine" and twenty parts ab-
sorbent material may be used. This material be-
haves much like the ordinary nitro-glycerine powders,
and, although a stronger explosive, is believed, if
properly made, to be fully as safe to transport as the
ordinary nitro-glycerine powders.
As already explained, the nitro-glycerine in high
explosives is absorbed in a mixture called a " dope,"
such as a mixture of wood pulp and nitrate of soda
or other substances already mentioned. If the pro-
portions of liquid nitro-glycerine and of absorbent are
what they should be, there will be no danger of leak-
age of the nitro-glycerine, even during a warm sum-
mer day, but, unfortunately, during the last few
years a change has taken place in the manufacture
of high explosives. Formerly dry sawdust and
nitrate of soda were the principal absorbent mate-
rials. Within the last few years ground wood pulp
has been used, but wood can not be ground after it
is seasoned on account of the materials taking fire.
Green wood must be used and green wood contains
about 18% of water. Some of the manufacturers
have not dried their wood pulp previous to mixing,
and the moisture of the wood pulp has united with
the nitrate of soda, which is a hygroscopic substance,
liquefying it, and therefore diminishing the absorbent
capacity of the dope. Furthermore, powders as
high as 75% nitro-glycerine and 25% absorbent have
been made. It will readily be understood that under
these conditions the liquid nitro-glycerine may run
out of the cartridges and indeed this is a well-known
383
Mining and Scientific Press.
December 2, 1905.
phenomenon. If, now, the liquid nitro-glycerine does
exude from the cartridges and finally reaches the
outside of the boxes, and gets between a nail in the
box and a nail in the car floor, the ordinary shocks
of transportation would fire the nitro-glycerine, with
the result of blowing up the car load. The skidding
of the boxes over the floor may produce the same
result.
Influence of the Weather. — Nitro-glycerine
freezes at about 40° F. if exposed for some time to
this temperature. In the frozen condition it is less
liable to explosion from shock, and it has been pro-
posed to transport nitro-glycerine powders in re-
frigerator cars. This does not seem to be advisable,
however, for several reasons. The subsequent arti-
ficial thawing of these powders for use would prob-
ably increase their danger, as a whole. Moreover,
their transportation in the frozen form would not re-
sult in entire freedom from accident, since fire follow-
ing a wreck is the most frequent cause of disaster,
and such fire would thaw the material and heat it
locally to a sufficient degree to cause explosions.
Furthermore, according to Hess, by long continued
exposure to high temperatures, both volatilization
and decomposition, in a greater or less degree, re-
sult. Nitro-glycerine begins to decompose at tem-
peratures between 112° and 122° F. and decomposes
quite rapidly at 15S° F. Moreover, the tendency to
leakage and also the sensitiveness to shock increase
with the temperature. The increase in the temper-
ature of a car, owing to exposure to the sun in very
hot weather, tends to produce these results. It
would seem to be advisable, when transporting these
powders in warm weather, to have cars ventilated
and to make the transportation in the hottest part
of the summer as small as possible, and to have the
cars on the road as short a time as may be.
Fulminates. — Fulminate of mercury is made by
reaction taking place between a solution of mercury
in nitric acid and grain alcohol. As the reaction
goes on the fulminate separates out from the liquid
as a gray crystalline solid. This material, when dry,
may be fired by fire, heat, friction, concussion or
shock, and, however fired, it always undergoes a de-
tonating explosion. It may even be fired when sat-
urated with or submerged in water if some dry ful-
minate be detonated in contact with it. It should
never be transported in the dry condition in quantity,
and in transporting wet fulminate extreme care
should be taken that no portion of this wet mass,
however small, is allowed to become dry. Fulminate
of mercury is the characteristic component of deton-
ators, blasting caps or dynamite exploders, and they
are essential for use in firing dynamite and other
high explosives. Owing to the United States in-
ternal revenue tax on grain alcohol, very little ful-
minate of mercury is manufactured in this country,
and consequently this necessary substance must be
imported in considerable quantity.
Detonators, blasting caps and dynamite exploders
should never be transported or stored in the same
car or compartment with other explosives or with
inflammables, and they should be carefully protected
from fire, heat or shock, or contact with acids. It
should be borne in mind that fulminates are the most
sensitive of the explosives commonly met with, and
the most violent.
Practices of Manufacturers in Handling Ex-
plosives to Avoid Accidents. — Not very much can
be said on the subject that is applicable to trans-
portation matters. The manufacturers, after the
explosives are made, only have to handle them from
the magazine or shipping house to the freight station
or siding, where they are loaded in cars. This carry-
ing is usually done in wagons, and cases are known
where blankets were spread on the bottom of the
wagons to relieve the shock due to the jolting pro-
duced in going over rough roads. This is especially
true when materials have been returned to the works
to be remade. It is a well-known fact that all ex-
plosives deteriorate on standing, and sometimes the
railroads are asked to take deteriorated explosives
from local magazines distributed throughout the
country back to the original works to be remade. Of
course, in all establishments manufacturing explosives
great care is taken to avoid fire, to avoid high tem-
peratures, and to avoid shocks, these three being
the principal causes of accident. It is claimed that
only very careful men, who have had experiepce and
are strictly trusty, are ever employed to handle the
finished explosive. In putting the cartridges in
boxes at the works they are sprinkled over with
sawdust after the box is filled and then the boxes are
nailed up in the regular way. The parties doing this
work seem to have no hesitancy, and do not seem to
fear any danger from the nailing, and, as a matter of
fact, so far as our studies have gone, the accidents,
especially in nitro-glycerine works, are more con-
nected with the manufacture of the nitro-glycerine
itself than with the handling of the powder after it
is made. It is not rare for a nitro-glycerine house to
be blown up. It is rare for a magazine to explode.
It is customary to have several at a works that all
the product on hand shall not be involved in a single
explosion. It should be mentioned, perhaps, that
large mounds of earth are often thrown up about the
danger buildings at the works in order to limit the
extent of damage done in case of an accidental ex-
plosion taking place. Moreover, the different oper-
ations are separated as much as possible, the build-
ings being small and widely scattered, so that an ac-
cident in one part of the works will not involve the
whole. Chas. B. Dudley.
Altoona, Pa., July 24, 1905.
Report of Committee of Experts. — (1) Your
committee finds the explosives industry in the United
States to be of importance and continually growing
in the quantity and value of its output. This is ex-
hibited bv the accompanying table, taken from Bul-
letin No 210 of the United States Census of 1900.
(2) It finds that the important and extensive in-
dustries of mining and quarrying, the many indus-
tries which employ the products of mines and quar-
ries, and engineering operations, can not be econom-
ically or safely carried on without explosives.
(3) It finds that the well-being, comfort and ad-
vancement of our modern civilization is to a large ex-
tent dependent upon the utilization of explosive sub-
stances, and that the raw materials from which ex-
plosives are manufactured, the products of the mines
and quarries made available through the use of ex-
plosives, and the great variety of articles manu-
factured from these products, constitute a consider-
able part of the freight carried by railroads, while
the various industries that are fundamentally de-
pendent on the use of explosives give employment to
an enormous number of persons.
(4) It is of the opinion that the explosives industry
is now so well established a feature of our industrial
operations that its products must be transported
and that the best interests of all will be conserved by
their being publicly transported by the ordinary
routes of travel under such restrictions and condi-
tions as will protect the traveler and the carrier
without unduly hampering the producer, dealer or
consumer.
(5) It is of the opinion that a carrier has the right
to know the character and the properties of the
goods he carries, for without such knowledge he may
be unable to protect such goods from injury or to so
handle and transport them as to prevent their injur-
ing persons and property. He should, therefore, be
definitely informed regarding the composition and
properties of all inflammables and explosives or of
substances which may, by contact with other sub-
stances, form inflammables or explosives which he is
called upon to transport. He also has a right to de-
mand a guarantee that any consignment offered of
an inflammable or explosive possesses the same or a
higher degree of stability, both as regards its com-
position and its method of packing, as the previously
accepted or standard substance of this class or
variety possessed.
(6) It is of the opinion that explosives and inflam-
mables should be started on their way as soon as
possible, forwarded as speedily as practicable and
promptly delivered, since the shorter the time they
are in possession of the carrier the less the risk.
(7) To indicate somewhat the magnitude of the risk
following the quantity of explosives shipped in a sin-
gle lot, your committee submits the following table,
compiled from a table prepared by H. M. Inspectors
of Explosives and adopted by the United States au-
thorities. In the original table, among other data,
is given the distance which a magazine or factory
containing the given weight of explosive should be
separated from a public railway in order to protect
the latter. The conditions we are considering here
are the reverse of those named by H. M. Inspectors
of Explosives, for the explosives are on the railroad
and the distance becomes the danger radius about
the car for dwellings, churches and other buildings:
Amount of
Explosive,
Pounds.
Danger
Radius.
Y ards.
Amount of
Explosive,
Pounds.
Danger
Radius,
Yards.
3,000
240
30,000
1200
5,000
10.000
320
50.0CO
100,000
1850
3500
This danger radius is not the limit of final effect,
for glass may be broken, walls cracked and weak
structures shaken down at greater distances, de-
pending on the topography and geology of the locus
of explosion. On the other hand, these very features
last mentioned may operate to materially diminish
the danger radius. It should be said also that these
data are derived from a discussion of data obtained
in accidental explosions in the past and represent
extreme conditions.
(8) Your committee is of the opinion that the
greatest danger which carriers have to contend
with in transporting of explosives is fire and that
every effort should be made to protect such ship-
ments from fire.
(9) It recognizes a second and more remote cause
of danger in friction, percussion and concussion, and
packages containing explosives should be handled
and stored in cars with due precaution against these
conditions arising. Freight handlers should know
that the striking of a corner of a wooden box
smeared with nitro-glycerine against the wooden
floor of a platform or car might give rise to an ex-
plosion.
(10) It recognizes a third cause of danger in high
temperatures, which may start or promote decom-
position and facilitate leakage. The practical ap-
plication of this is that it is more hazardous to
transport certain explosives in very warm weather,
and that they should never be placed near a source
of heat.
(11) Holding the above expressed views, your com-
mittee calls attention to General Notice No. 174B of
the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, dated August
21, 1905, being "Information and Regulations for
Shippers and Employes," relative to the "Transpor-
tation of Explosives." In our opinion, these regula-
tions are practicable, reasonable and fair, and, if ob-
served, offer a high degree of protection and insur-
ance to safety.
(12) Your committee is of the opinion that the in-
terests of all will be best advanced; that the danger
to life and property will be reduced to a minimum;
trade will be promoted and industries fostered by the
adoption by all railroads of uniform regulations gov-
erning the transportation of explosives and inflam-
mables, and we advise that such regulations be in
general conformity with and on the lines of those
now in force on the Pennsylvania railroad as cited
above.
(13) Taking up in greater detail the regulations,
your committee recommends:
(a) That, to guard against "so-called spontaneous
combustion or explosion," no nitro-glycerine ex-
plosive, or an explosive of this class which gives an
acid reaction, or which fails in the stability test, or
which contains an insufficient amount of ant-acid, be
accepted for transportation.
(b) That, as a precaution against leakage, cart-
ridges or sticks of explosives be so packed in boxes
that when loaded in cars the cartridges shall always
lie upon their sides and never stand upon their ends.
(c) That containers be marked "Explosives —
Dangerous " on all sides, and, to admit of the method
of stowing recommended in (b), they be so marked
that the position in which the cartridges lie is in-
dicated.
(d) That, as a further precaution against leakage
from the boxes and to reduce the chance of explosion
by shock, cartridges or sticks be packed in dry saw-
dust or dry infusorial earth.
(e) That, as a precaution against explosion from
friction or shock, care be taken in loading explosives
that the packages are so stayed or chocked in the
car that they can not shift or fall.
(f) That no inflammables, no detonators or blasting
caps and no acids be shipped in the same car with
explosives.
(g) That cars carrying explosives be strong box
cars in good order and fitted with air brakes and, in
trains, be placed between cars fitted with air
brakes.
(h) That cars carrying explosives be located so far
from the engine as to reduce to a minimum the dan-
ger from sparks from the engine.
(i) That cars carrying explosives be followed in the
train by several cars so as to reduce to a minimum
the chances of explosion in case of a rear-end col-
lision.
(j) That cars carrying explosives be widely sepa-
rated in a train from cars carrying petroleum or
naphtha. So far as possible, cars carrying explosives
and cars carrying petroleum or naphtha should go
by different trains.
(k) That in making up trains no cars carrying
pig iron, steel billets, heavy structural metal parts,
machinery or other heavy material, which in a col-
lision might crush adjacent cars, be placed adjacent
to a car carrying explosives.
(1) That in view of the fact that explosives con-
taining nitro-glycerine or other nitric esters are
more liable to decomposition the higher the temper-
ature, the transportation of these explosives should
be limited as much as possible during the hottest
months of the summer, and when transported in
warm weather every available precaution should be
taken to keep the temperature of the car as low as
possible, such, for example, as wetting the car down
at water stations.
(m) That it is essential that the containers should
be so made and of such strength that they will not
be broken in transit.
(n) That in the transportation of explosives con-
taining a liquid component it is desirable that the
containers be lined with a liquid proof lining.
Respectfully submitted,
Charles E. Munroe,
Henry S. Drinker,
Chas. F. McKenna.
Philadelphia, Pa., Sept. 15, 1905.
Mine Ladders.
Of all the things about mines, the ladders proba-
bly receive the least attention. Originally strongly
made and of selected material, they are sent down
into the mine and put in place, where they quickly
become covered with dust or mud, according to
whether the mine is wet or dry. Thousands of feet
travel up and down the ladders, slowly wearing
away the rounds. Rocks occasionally fall upon them,
or strike the ladder from blasts, and in time the lad-
der becomes a much worn, mutilated and dangerous
proposition. Rounds are broken out and remain out;
the fastenings become weak and loosened, and no at-
tempt is made to secure them. Ladders are sus-
pended from timbers and strongly tied with iron
baling wire. Acid waters wet and rust the wire,
December 2, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
384
which in a short time loses its strength; but still the
miner trusts the ladder, or luck, and continues to use
it. Ladders should be made of 2x4 inch scantling,
with steps 1x4 inch, not over 10 inches from center
to center, which are let into the sides and securely
nailed with at least live 12- penny nails. The sides
should have at least 14 inches space between them,
making the ladder 18 inches wide. The ladder should
be securely spiked or secured by large staples to
timbers firmly placed, and they should receive in-
spection often enough to keep them in good repair.
Ladders in shafts particularly should be kept in
good condition constantly. Ladders with iron pipe
for rounds, or even bar iron, are good for sink-
ing. These need not necessarily be so wide as the
regular shaft and raise ladders, and the rounds may
be placed wider apart— 12 inches— making the ladder
lighter and easier to handle.
Reduction Plant and Process at the
Oroya-Brownhill Mines. *
NUMBER II.— CONCLUDED.
Written by Robert Allen.
Precipitation and Smeltino. — The issuing gold-
bearing solution from the presses is run into three
storage tanks, from which it is pumped to an over-
head tank. It gravitates from this through Excelsior
clarifying presses to the extractor boxes, the ex-
hausted liquor being run into " weak wash " sumps.
The wash solutions from the presses a>-e not passed
through the precipitation boxes. The zinc boxes
each have eight compartments 36 inches by 18 inches
by Tl inches deep, and thus have 66 cubic feet
capacity. There are five boxes for raw ore solution
and three for concentrates solution. Mercury as
well as tellurium is precipitated in the raw ore
boxes, the former probably being derived from the
mineral coloradoite previously mentioned. The spent
solutions from the extractor boxes assay from the
concentrates up to 24 grains per ton, and from raw
ore from 6 grains to 12 grains per ton. The zinc in
the concentrates boxes, on account of the richness of
the solutions, is treated before use with lead acetate
—zinc about -^ inch is used. The boxes are
cleaned up twice a month, the slime filter-pressed
and smelted, two central filling cleaning - up
presses being used. The cleaning up of the boxes
takes five men four hours, while the roasting and
smelting takes two men sixteen hours. Coarse zinc
from the boxes which does not pass a No. 24 mesh
screen is treated with sulphuric acid. The treated
precipitate, together with the slimes (the whole con-
taining about 40% of bullion), is then roasted in
three muffles, 4 feet by 1 foot 10 inches by 1 foot,
when the mercury contents and the bulk of the tellu-
rium are got rid of, and most of the base metals, pre-
viously unacted upon, are oxidized.
The roasted precipitate is fluxed as follows: Pre-
cipitate 100, bo'rax 50, sand 20, bicarbonate of soda
about 8, and the mixture fused in an ordinary tilting
furnace, there being about five hours to each cleanup"
the retort being poured about every two and a-half
hours. The slag is collected in trays and the gold in
conical moulds. In case of accidents to the tilting
furnace, there are two circular furnaces— each tak°
ing one "No. 100" pot— also available for smelting
the slime.
A retort holding 6000 ounces is used for retorting
the amalgam from the concentrates treatment.
The bullion from the tilting furnace is subject to a
refining process, whereby its gold fineness is in-
creased from about 730 to over 900, as follows: It is
melted, 900 ounces at a time, in No. 30 graphite pots,
and poured in a thin stream from a height of about 2
feet 6 inches into a fairly deep tub of water, which is
constantly agitated and'stirred. The resultant gran-
ulated metal varies in size from coarse sugar to rice.
The product, about 900 ounces at a time, is put into
earthenware jars, covered with water to a depth of
1 inch, and the necessary commercial nitric acid
added. The jar is treated on a sand bath for nine
hours, when the acid is drawn off, and the acid
treatment repeated twice more, the whole acid
treatment taking twenty-four hours. After this
the bullion is well washed, and 105 pounds at a
time put into an iron tray, which has been pre-
viously sprinkled with sand, and evenly spread over
it. It is then dusted over with powdered nitre, and
the tray heated in a muffle to a dull red heat for one
and a-half hours, the contents occasionally rabbled.
After this treatment the granules are fluxed as fol-
lows: Granules 105 pounds, borax 20 pounds, sand 2
pounds, bicarbonate of soda 1 pound, and black oxide
of manganese a few ounces, and then fused in No. 60
graphite pots with clay liners. The cost of this refin-
ing of the bullion is a half-penny per fine ounce.
Disposal op Residues.— The six filter presses,
which are in two rows, discharge on to two 18-inch
belt conveyors, which discharge on to a cross con-
veyor, which in turn delivers to an incline con-
veyor. This last, set upon the side of a large conical
residue dump, delivers the residues at the sum-
mit by means of another belt, which, supported by a
boom and telescoping below the former, is extended
♦Abstract Jour. Cham. Mines, Kalgoorlie, W. A.
Wt.FlC t'RESS^
The Mill-Hole System in Open Cut, Bigjlndian Mine, Helena, Mont. (See page 375.)
Open Cut Work in a Flat Ore Body, Black Hills, South Dakota. (See page 375.)
upwards as the dump grows. The rate of extension
is, of course, being gradually reduced as the dump
grows in height.
Value of Ore Milled. — May, June and July, 1905:
Dwt. Per
Per Ton. Cent Of
Gold extracted bv amalgamation of roasted con-
centrates 4.34 13.9
Gold extracted bv cyanide agitation of concen-
trates 9.15 29.2
Gold extracted by bromo-cyanide agitation of
rawslimes 16.13 51.5
Total gold extracted 29.62 94.6
(July, 1905 95.1)
Gold in residues 1.70 5 4
Total value of ore 31.32 100
Distribution op Labor Upon the Plant por 24
Hours. — The following is a list of the labor employed
in actually running the plant:
Battery men 6
On Wilfley tables 3
On flint mills 3
On spitzkasten 3
On belts and pumps 3
On solution work 3
On taps, etc - 3
On press work 12
Foremen 2
Bromo mixer 1
Belt transport of ore 1
Residues beltmen 3
Roaster men 3
Grinding pans 3
Casuals 2
Rock breaker '3
Aerial tramway 3
Total 57
The following tabulated statement of costs is valu-
able for the purpose of comparison with milling else-
where:
SUMMARY OF TREATMENT COSTS FOR THE MONTHS OF APRIL, MAY AND JUNE, 1905.
DEPARTMENT.
Total
Tons of
2000 Lbs
Rock breaking
Ore transport
Milling
Concentrating
Roasting concentrates
Cyaniding concentrates
Fine-grinding concentrates.
Fine-grinding sands
Filter-pressing concentrates
Cyaniding by agitation (raw ore), includ-
ing royalty— Is. 8.56d .
Filter pressing (raw ore) ,
Precipitation and smelting
Disposal of residues
Totals .
!6,852
»,852
:e,853
1,619
1,679
1,679
1 679
5,574
1,679
15,173
15,173
!6.852
!G,S52
Labor
and
Salaries.
£ s.
305 2 2
423 4 11
546 0 3
203 3 11
212 17 0
37 16 0
170 11 1
401 15 2
79 18 3
417 16 11
898 13 6
383 3 1
259 13 9
£ s.
307 0
92 4
1,078 13
214 19
97 15
19 11
191 4
851 1
495 5 0
463 13 8
20 19 8
155 10 3
Repairs
and
Mainten'ce.
£ s. d
327 11 i
54 19 10
1,006 13
317 0
215 8
11 2
139 7
336 18
38 17
270 7 5
317 19 5
133 11 10
136 15
£3,306 12 2
Supplies
and
Sundries.
s. d
: 16 3
i 19 0
I 9
i 17
9
16
5 10
13
12 7
8,990 7 1
327 10 3
769 17 11
Total Cost.
£ s. d
963 11 0
611 7
2,913 16
804 1
777 10
435 5
550 8
1,708 8
189 9
10,173 16 5
2,007 1G 10
1,307 12 6
575 8 1
13,018 13 4 17 1.74
Cost
per Ton
Milled.
s. d.
0 8.61
0 5.50
2 2.04
0 7.19
0 6.91
0 3.89
0 4.92
1 3 27
0 1 69
1 5.94
0 11 69
0 5.16
Cost
per Ton
Milled.
$0.1722
0 1100
0.5270
0.1438
0 1382
0.0778
0.0984
0.3087
0.0338
1.8417
0.3621
0.2338
0.1032
J4.1707
383
Mining and Scientific Press.
December 2, 1905.
#4)'k&&&&&&&&&&&& &&&&&&&&&&&&& &&&&&&'&'&i%
i lining and Metallurgical Patents,?
* *
PATENTS ISSUED NOVEMBER 14, 190B.
Specially Reported and Illustrated tor tlie MINING AND
SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
Ore Crushing Machine. — No. 803,903; G. Johns-
ton, San Francisco, Cal.
In roller crushing machine of character described,
pan, die ring therein, sleeve depending centrally
from pan, rotary shaft within and sustained wholly
by sleeve, shaft being hollow and provided with
lateral passages delivering on fixed conical apron,
means for rotating shaft from bottom, and rotary
crushing rollers, rolling on die ring and actuated by
shaft.
Furnace for Smelting Ore. — No. 803,737; R. Bag-
galey, Pittsburg, Pa.
Matte furnace having converting tuyeres near bot-
tom, smelting tuyeres at higher level, connections ex-
tending from converting and smelting tuyeres to
source of air under pressure, and burner supplying
heat above smelting tuyeres.
Roasting Furnace. -
Kansas City, Mo.
-No. 804,751; A. R. Meyer,
Combination in furnace, of hollow shaft, series of
hollow arms extending in pairs from opposite sides of
shaft and communicating with latter, rod extending
centrally through shaft, and series of partitions ex-
tending across shaft between ends and centrally
through arms and supported in part by rod.
Chuck or Rock Drilling Machine. — No. 804,686;
J. H. Thomas, Johannesburg, Transvaal.
In chucks of rock drills or rock drilling machines
and means for fixing bits or boring tools therein, in
combination, chuck body constructed with axial
bore, longitudinal slot formed in bore, longi-
tudinal recess formed inside chuck in com-
munication with bore, bit or drill shank con-
structed with lateral projection adapted to
be brought into engagement with longitudinal re-
cess inside bore by axial rotation of drill or bit, key-
way or tapered slot formed through chuck passing
down one side of longitudinal recess, and tapered key
or wedge arranged in keyway engaging shank and
lateral projection of bit or tool to maintain projection
in engagement with recess.
Roasting Furnace. -
Avoca, Iowa.
-No. 804,379; A. W. Chase,
f^f
In roasting furnace combination of series of
troughs, located one over other and arranged to feed
from one to other, conveyors in troughs, means for
operating conveyors, means being so proportioned as
to drive several conveyors at rates of speed increas-
ing from top to bottom of furnace.
Excavating, Hoisting and Conveying Bucket. —
No. 804,2:15; R. W. Kaltenbach and J. Griess, Jr.,
Cleveland, Ohio.
In bucket whose body portion is composed of suit-
ably supported trays arranged to swing outwardly
and upwardly or inwardly and downwardly, accord-
ing as bucket is opened or closed; combination of
trays; bail arranged centrally and transversely of
bucket; bucket-closing levers operatively attached
to trays and fulcrumed to bail with axes of levers co-
incident and parallel with axes of trays; bars pivot-
ally connected at one end to trays at rear ends and
pivotally supported at other end below fulcrums of
levers, and means for operating levers.
Gold Separator. -
San Francisco, Cal.
-No. 804,408; F. M. Johnson,
In gold separator, box or sluice having retaining
bottom composed of fibrous or textile material, in
combination with wire screens, arranged one above
other and in contact, and forming two continuous
layers, upper layer being, alternately, such wire
screen and such fibrous or textile material.
Concentrating and Amalgamating Table. — No.
804,466; J. A. Hamilton, St. Peters, South Australia,
Australia.
In concentrator, combination with table, and means
to freely suspend it, of rotatable shaft, shaft section
on end thereof, universal joint connecting shaft and
shaft section, weight connected to and eccentric to
shaft section, and means fixed to table and through
which shaft section can freely move longitudinally,
whereby table is moved in elliptical paths when shaft
is rotated.
Combined Smelting and Repining Furnace. -
804 330; C. C. Medbery, New York, N. Y.
-No.
In combination, heating chamber provided with
fuel supplying device comprising compressed air and
fuel nozzles at one of ends; frame provided with trun-
nions and in which chamber is longitudinally rotat-
ably supported; means for rotating chamber; means
for rocking frame; air pipe extending from one of
trunnions of frame to fuel supplying device; slip joint
in air pipe in line with axis of trunnions; and another
slip joint in pipe adjacent to nozzle, whereby nozzle
may be swung away from end of chamber.
Mechanical Roasting or Desulphurizing Fur-
nace.—No. 804,227; H. Howard, Brookline, Mass.
In furnace of class described, drying chamber
mounted thereon to receive and dry material to be
treated, manually controlled means to directly intro-
duce waste heat from furnace into drying chamber
and subject contents thereof to action of such heat,
agitating device within chamber, and means to posi-
tively feed dried material from chamber into interior
of furnace.
December 2, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
386
a******** +********************: *******
1 MINING SUMMARY.
Special!; Compiled and Reported for too MINING AND
SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
The annual report of Director Roberts of tho United
States mint bureau shows that the domestic coinage for
the year amounted to $91,172,729 and to 152,422, .102
pieces. The coinage for tho Philippine islands was
29,390,520 pieces, for Panama 0,435,000 pieces, for Costa
Rica 450,000 pieces and for San Salvador 400,000 pieces.
Total coinage, 1*9,097,828 pieces. The total coinage for
the Philippine islands to June 30, 1905, was 110,484,859
pieces, and the total payment by the insular govern-
ment to reimburse the United States for the cost of the
same has been $398,335. Tho insular government also
supplied the metal. The original deposits of gold at the
mints and assay office amounted to $143,378,909. The
total earnings of the mint, including seigniorage on
silver and minor coins, amounted to $5,034,035, and the
total expenditures were $1,445,015. The director recom-
mends that the provision of law which requires the
mints to pay out subsidiary coins on demand should be
repealed and all coin paid out hereafter through the
office o' the treasury. There is a constant demand on
the mints for new coin, although an abundance of coin
in good condition, but which is not wanted because it
has been in circulation, is in the treasury. The director
announces that all silver bullion purchased under the
acts of 1878 and 1890 is now gone, the accounts closed,
and the coinage of the silver dollar is at an end unless in
the future new legislation upon the subject is passed.
The report takes up at some length the history of coin-
age of silver dollars in this country, beginning with 1793,
and continues: The total issue of silver dollars from
1793 to the cessation of the dollar coinage has been
$578,303,848. The aggregate of all seigniorage on coin-
age under the acts of 1878 and 1890 was $134,104,-
980. The average purchase price of silver bought in
the fiscal year 1878 was $1,204 per fine ounce, and
tho average price in the last purchases, made dur-
ing the fiscal year 1904, was 73.1 cents per ounce. The
bullion value of a silver dollar in 1878 was 93.1 cents and
in 1894 50.5 cents. The stock of gold in the world on
Jan. 1, 1905, in use as money, is estimated at $5,000,000,-
000. The amount actually in sight in reporting banks
and government treasuries was $3,364,000,000.
The report of C. G. Yale, in "Mineral Resources of
the United States," states that all the output of borax
in the United States continues to come from California,
and the larger proportion from the extensive colemanite
deposits in San Bernardino county. The total product
for the year 1904 amounted to 45,647 tons crude, valued
at $098,810. Of this amount 38,000 toDS, valued at $508,-
000, came from San Bernardino county, CaL, the remain-
der coming from Ventura and Inyo counties. In 1903
the returns gave an aggregate production of crude
amounting to 34,430 short tons, valued at $001,400. The
production in 1902 was 17,404 short tons of refined borax,
valued at $2,447,014, of which 862 short tons, valued at
$150,000, were stated to be boric acid, and 2600 tons of
crude borax, valued at $91,000 — a total of 20,004 short
tons, valued at $2,538,614. The refiners of borax in the
United States are: Borax Consolidated (Ltd.), Bayonne,
N. J.; Pfizer & Co., Brooklyn, N. Y.; Brighton Chem-
ical Co., New Brighton, Pa.; Thos. Thirkelson & Co.,
Chicago, 111.; Stauffer Chemical Co., San Francisco, Cal.
ALASKA.
The Golden River Placer M. Co. of Windham bay
have shut down their works for the winter. A. Gef-
feler, manager for the Helvetia M. Co. at Windham
bay, has completed the tram and started the mill.
C. W. Young of Juneau, president of the Windham Bay
G. M. Co., has let a contract to R. L. Rowe to run 50
feet of tunnel on the Windham Bay G. M. Co. 's prop-
erty on Spruce creek.
A. Li. Pearse of the Alaska-Perseverance Co. has sev-
enteen lode claims between Juneau and Sheep creek, on
Gastineau channel, and the property at the head of the
Basin, together with a tunnel site, dumping ground and
wharf rights. A tunnel which will eventually be the
outlet for the workings of the company 10,000 feet back
will be driven 9x9 with a 2 foot drain. An hydraulic
drilling machine, similar to the ones used to drive the
Simplon tunnel, in Italy, is to be used. The tunnel will
on completion tap the Perseverance property about 2500
feet below the apex of the lode and fully 1200 feet below
the present working tunnel, which runs from the Basin
side of the property.
ARIZONA.
A bulletin issued by the census bureau places the ag-
gregate value of manufactures of Arizona for the last
year at $28,083,192, as against $20,438,987 for 1900. Cop-
per refining is the principal industry represented, the
production amounting to $22,761,981: The capital em-
ployed in 1904 amounted to $14,395,656. There were 4975
wage earners, and wages amounting to $3,963,248.
Cocbise County,
Official statements of the Copper Queen M. Co. of Bis-
bee show that the company has mined since its begin-
ning 3,352,000 tons of ore and is now mining at the rate
- of 40,000 tons a month. Its average copper saving has
been 1\%. The mine began production of ore in 1879 and
opened its original small oxide smelter during 1880. The
mine is consuming in underground timbering 1,100,000
feet of lumber per month and is burning about 17,000
barrels of oil for fuel.
A connection has been made between the Lowell and
the Sacramento shafts in the Copper .Queen mine, at
Bisbee, a distance of 2200 feet, which furnishes better
ventilation and opens up a new territory for exploration.
The Copper Queen continues to carry on considerable
exploratory work in the several shafts, in addition to
the shipments of ore required to feed the Douglas
smelter. At the Cuprite, the newest shaft being sunk
by the Copper Queen, a depth of 230 feet has been at-
tained. The Copper Queen Con. M. Co. has three
producing shafts, tho Czar, Holbrook and Spray, and
four developing shafts, the Lowell, Gardner, Sacra-
mento and the Cuprite. The mine is timbered with
square sets of lOxHl-inch and 12.\12-inch timber, mainly
Washington fir, and an average of 30 feet of timber,
board measure, is required for each ton of ore won.
All ore is hand sorted underground after breaking, and
culls used for filling in worked-out stopes. The Douglas
reduction works of the Copper Queen Co. are 28
miles from the mine and within a mile of the Mexican
border. The smelter has five furnaces, each 42x204
inches, with capacity of 400 tons daily, and three furnaces
from the Bisbee, smelter each 42x120 inches. There are
four stands of converters. The Paradise mining dis-
trict in the Chiricahua mountains is tributary to Douglas
and embraces a territory 4 miles in width by 18 miles
in length. The average elevation is 5500 feet. The
Chiricahua Dev. Co. is working H mile west of Paradise.
The shaft is three compartment and has been sunk 425
feet. The equipment includes three boilers of 150 H. P.
each, one fifteen-drill compressor, one double-drum
hoist, etc. The main drift, which runs to a depth of
600 feet, shows white iron with a small percentage of
copper. The Manhattan Dev. Co. has thirty-nine
claims joining the Chiricahua on the west. The
Black Queen, owned by Walker & Myers, has ten claims.
The Savage C. Co., with J. A. Lewandowski as
superintendent, lies nearer to the railroad point, Rodeo,
than any other property in the district. A sixty-ton
smelter is on the ground.
The Cochise Gold & Silver Co. has started work on
mines near the State of Maine, near Tombstone. J. M.
Montgomery of Pittsburg is president. H. T. Fisher is
manager at Tombstone.
Gila County.
Work has been started at the Old Dominion smelter,
at Globe, upon the fourth unit of the smelter. With
the addition of this furnace capacity the plant will be
able to handle one-third more ore than it does at the
present time. The furnace is doing excellent work, but
is still not up to the mining capacity of the plant. The
smelter has eight double storage bins holding 1000 tons
of ore, limestone, and coke. There are three blast
furnaces each 44x180 inches at the tuyeres, arranged
tandem, with common settlers between. Furnaces are
charged automatically from side-dumping cars, and wa-
ter for the jackets is brought from the mine. The
brick dust chamber is 20x20x250 feet, connecting with
a smokestack 200 feet high. Flue du6t is briquetted for
resmelting. The converter department has three
stands. The shells are 7x11 feet, lined with a mixture
of clay and quartzite carrying 4.5% copper, the lining
carrying 75% silica, and making eighteen tons before
burned out. The converter blast is 18,000 feet per
minute. The shells are handled by electric crane.
Graham County.
The Detroit Copper M. Co. is arranging poles for an
extension of their electric lines to the Santa Rosa group,
which they own, near Coronado. It is proposed to put
in an electric drill for development work.
Mohave County. -
J. W. Guinn, foreman of the Enterprise mine, near
Kingman, reports that the shaft has been timbered
to the first level and the east drift cleared of de-
bris. The mine is being put in condition to carry
the shaft to the 300 as soon as the big sinking pump
is put in. The new hoist is in commission. L
Hoffman, superintendent Chloride G. M. Co. at Chlo-
ride, has shipped four carloads of ore from the Sa-
moan mine to the Needles smelter. Good molybde-
num ore has been opened up in the Leviathan and
Whale claims near Berkeley.
Pima County.
W. F. Stanton, general manager Imperial C. Co., at
Silver Bell, reports that the ore shipments are 100 tons
daily. They are 80 feet below the 500-foot level, in high-
grade ore, and are still sinking. The management is at
work on plans for a smelter and concentrating mill. The
capacity of the smelter will be 300 tons per day. The
mines are in the Silver Bell mountains, at elevation of
2900 feet.
favapal County.
Manager Tyson has put in a boiler and new machinery
at his mill near Turkey and is running it. The
5-stamp mill of S. Parker, nbar Turkey, is running
steadily. The Rainbow gold and copper group 1J mile
from Turkey is to be developed. The Lone Star M.
Co. is working J. S. Johnson's mines, 7 miles from
Turkey creek. The Fuller mine and mill on Squaw
creek, 6 miles east of Goddard, are to be started up.
The Renegade shaft, 3J miles from Mayor, is being
sunk to a depth of 800 feet. G. A. Howe is manager.
The new 50-ton cyanide plant recently completed on
the Braganza Gold Mining Co. 's property at Henrietta
has been started.
CALIFORNIA.
Reporting on the production of magnesite, Chas. G.
Yale says that in Alameda county the King magnesite
mine is 22 miles southeast of Livermore, on the Arroyo
Mocha road. No product has been hauled to market.
There is also a small undeveloped deposit 24 miles south-,
east of Livermore, in the Arroyo Mocha canyon. In
Mendocino county the Vassar claim is 12 miles north of
Cloverdale, near the line of the California-Northwestern
Railway. This is as yet undeveloped. Napa county has
several occurrences. The Matbai mines, North and
South, are owned by Frank Mathai of Chiles and have
been worked to a small extent within a few years past.
The mining was done by means of open cuts. The
North mine is in Soda Creek canyon, and the South in
Greasy Camp creek. The Prest mine, in Chiles valley,
13 miles from Rutherford, has been opened at several
places, but has been idle. The deposit owned by E. T.
Russell of Chiles, 15 miles from Rutherford, has
produced a small quantity, but is idle. The Snow-
flake, 11 miles from Rutherford, was worked for
about twelve years and was very productive during
that period, yielding, in fact, nearly all the magnesite
produced in the State. The workings are extensive and
mainly in the form of tunnels. The occurrence is in a
series of ledges in a serpentine formation. The mine is
at present idle. The Stanley and Bartlett mines, 12
miles from Rutherford, are on the property of the Phe-
lan estate, and were productive for ten years, though
they are now idle. The White Rock mine, 15 miles
from Rutherford, is owned by J. B. Duval of Lidell and
the Western Carbonic Acid Gas Co. of San Francisco.
The deposit was opened in 1894 and continued to produce
for five years. This, like the Fairweather claim adjoin-
ing, is unproductive. The deposit owned by J. C. Sul-
lenger of Oakville, Napa county, is in Pope valley, 20
miles by road from Rutherford, but has not produced
for soveral years. In Placer county there are undevel-
oped deposits in the mountainous regions about Damas-
cus, on the Forest Hili divide. They are too far from a
railroad and in too rough a country to be at present of
much value. There is also an undeveloped deposit near
Walkers Pass, Kern county. Near Winchester, in Riv-
erside county, the Fireproof M., M. & M. Co. has 323
acres of land on which magnesite deposits have been
found. The American Magnesite Co. has claims on Red
mountain in Santa Clara, Stanislaus and Alameda coun-
ties. The mines are 32 miles southeast of Livermore, at
an elevation of 3350 feet. The ore is to be hauled by
traction engine to Livermore and thence shipped by
railroad to Oakland, where the manufacturing plants
have been built. The mines and factories are in opera-
tion. The A. F. Cochrane mine, near Madrone, in Santa
Clara county, is idle, not having been worked since 1897.
The Weber Ranch deposit, in the same county, is on the
west side of San Felipe Creek valley, and is owned by
the Bay Cities Water Co. Sonoma county has numer-
ous deposits of this mineral. The Creon mine, 4 miles
northeast of Cloverdale, is owned by J. Kolling of San
Francisco and has been opened in three places, but is
not being worked. The Cummings deposit, 2J miles
from Cloverdale, is operated by the Sotoyome Magnesite
Co. of Healdsburg, Thomas Merchant manager. Opera-
tions on the mine were not commenced until the summer
of 1905. The Eckert ranch deposit is 2 miles southeast
of Cloverdale. The deposit owned by George Madeira
of Healdsburg is 11 miles from that place, and is as yet
undeveloped. The Sotoyome Magnesite Co. owns a
deposit on the Norton ranch on Dry creek, 10 miles
northwest of Healdsburg, but it is not productive.
Extensive deposits occur 3 miles northeast of Porter-
ville, Tulare county, on the first range of foothills, and
it is from these that nearly all the magnesite produced in
the United States has come for the last few years. Part
of the magnesite mined is carried by chute and tramway
to the kiln and shipped as magnesium oxide and part is
hauled by wagon to Porterville and shipped as magne-
site. The deposits are worked by open cuts and tunnels.
The mines are well developed, and Manager W. P. Bart-
lett states that he could readily ship two or three times
as much as he does annually if tbe consumption war-
ranted it. A considerable portion of the output is
shipped to the Western Carbonic Acid Gas Co. of San
Francisco, where it is calcined and the gas utilized com-
mercially. Kilns for calcining the magnesite have been
erected at Porterville, and began operations in 1905.
The calcined material is shipped to the paper mills of
California and Oregon.
Amador County.
The Bay State mine, near Plymouth, is being profit-
ably worked by the miners on a co-operative plan.
Work at the Markley mine, northeast of Volcano, has
been discontinued by the parties who bonded it recently.
Work has been resumed at the Telegraph placer
claim, situated in Upper Ranoheria. At the Mitchell
mine, near Pine Grove, twelve men are employed in
underground operations and getting the mill in order.
El Dorado County.
It is reported that drill tests near Pacific House have
developed gravel under the lava. The 40-stamp mill
at the Union mine, near El Dorado, was recently de-
stroyed by fire. It is to be rebuilt by A. Harpending.
Humboldt County.
(Special Correspondence).— A suit in which J. Sal-
strom and wife were plaintiffs and the Orleans Bar G.
M. Co. defendants was recently on trial in the Superior
Court of Humboldt county. Salstrom, as owner of an
80-acre tract at the mouth of Crawford creek, on Klam-
ath river, valuable, as claimed, for the minerals it con-
tains and for agricultural purposes, complained that the
dumping of boulders into the creek by the mining com-
pany resulted in cutting a new channel through the
land, destroying six acres and rendering the remainder
comparatively worthless for either mining or agricul-
tural purposes. The original damage claim was $15,000,
but since commencement of the suit Salstrom claimed to
have discovered that there was more gold in the ground
than he had supposed, and the claim was amended so as
to increase the amount of demand to $25,000. The case'
was submitted to a jury. The Orleans Bar Co. 's claim
is the most extensive and important placer proposition
in Humboldt county.
Eureka, Nov. 22.
(Special Correspondence).— What is believed to be a
copper deposit has developed in the claim of George
Henderson of Eureka in the Horse mountain region,
Willow Creek district, on lower Trinity river.
Willow Creek, Nov. 26.
Inyo County,
The Western Borax Co. owns a deposit near Big Pine,
where borax is being produced from marsh dirt or mud
containing from 8% to 10% of borax. All the product is
the result of concentrating and crystallizing the borax,
which is found mixed with large quantities of earth. In
Death Valley are large borax deposits controlled by the
Borax Con., Ltd.
Kings County.
The Florence Mack M. Co. has ordered new machin-
ery and will commence operations at once on the mines
on San Benito creek, near Hanford. G. E. Barton is
manager.
387
Mining and Scientific Press.
December 2, 1905.
Flaeer County.
A. Weske is running a tunnel to tap the gravel chan-
nel of the Dam claim at Centerville. It is reported
Peach & Schmitt will start work at the Kittler mine,
near Ophir, and sink the shaft 500 feet. Rich ore has
heen found at the 200- foot level of the Bellevue mine,
near Ophir, being worked by Buchanan & Sazano.
San Bernardino County.
According to a United States Geological Survey re-
port, the main borax deposit of the Borax Con., Ltd.,
known as the Calico deposit, is that from which by far
the largest portion of the product of the United States
is derived. This deposit is not found in well-defined
ledges, but in pockets which may develop into very
large deposits. The mining has not been carried on to
any considerable depth — not more than 500 to 600 feet.
The ore found is colemanite, and varies in percentage of
boric acid contained, but is seldom shipped unless it
averages 35% or more. Any lower grade is calcined at
Marion, where it is put through a Holthoff-Wethey fur-
nace. At Daggett the company is running its roaster to
full capacity. The American Borax Co.'s works at Dag-
gett are connected by rail with the mine 7 miles dis-
tant. The ore is a borate of lime, varying in boric acid
contents from 7% to 30%, and is treated by a process in-
vented by Henry Blumenberg, Jr. The resultant ma-
terial is shipped to the Brighton Chemical Co., New
Brighton, Pa., and is there converted into borax and
refined boric acid. It is now producing from these low-
grade ores a carload of boric acid every week. The
Columbus Borax Co. owns a mine 5 miles south of Dag-
gett, but is at present only operating the deposit it owns
in Ventura county. The mines of the Palm Borate Co.
are 6£ miles from Dag gett. The ore is a borate of lime
in a clay formation. The boric acid was probably formed
in the bed of a lake and tilted up during some upheaval
of the earth's surface.
Shasta County.
The shaft in the Clara mine at Keswick is to be
changed to two compartments and will be sunk to a
depth of 100 feet, when drifting will begin. J. Kahny is
manager and W. C. Stanley superintendent at the mine.
Electricity is to be put in to run the hoist.
Sierra County.
It is reported that blue gravel has been struck at the
Columbia Channel gravel mine near American hill, near
Forest City, by J. M. Harper. An 1800-foot tunnel was
run. A gravel channel has been cut in the Forest City
mine. — —Drifts are being run and breasts opened out in
the South Fork mine at Forest City, preparatory to
washing gravel when water is plentiful. The main tun-
nel is being pushed ahead for the other two channels.
Siskiyou County.
B. McDowell, manager of the Oregonian mines, on
Tauni mountain, in the Salmon River district, near Saw-
yer's Bar, has uncovered $84 sulphide ore while drifting
on the ledge at a depth of 300 feet. Ground has been
broken on the Salmon river, 1J mile from the mine, for
a 10-stamp mill, which will be put up at once. The ore will
be carried to the mill by an aerial tramway. Teth-
erow & Co. have completed their tunnel on the High-
land property, having tapped the vein at a depth of 400
feet. Ore bunkers are being built to hold the output
during the winter, as the 3-stamp mill on the premises
is not able to work it. As soon as spring opens a larger
mill will be built below the mine on Salmon river, near
Snowden.
Trinity County.
(Special Correspondence). — Placer claims on New river
are in readiness for work. At the Trinity mine ten men
are at work and three stamps in the mill dropping.
The Mountain Boomer is working a crew in the best ore
handled for years.
Denny, Nov. 26.
(Special Correspondence). F. P. Burris, owner of
the Bear's Tooth quartz mine, on New river, 15 miles
from its confluence with the Trinity, intends to put in an
aerial tramway to convey ore from the mine to the mill
at the foot of the mountain, a distance of 2800 feet.
Buckets must be carried at intervals of 200 feet. The
mine, which was discovered last year, will be equipped
with a Huntington roller mill, shipped via Humboldt
bay. It was so constructed that it could be taken from
the end of wagon navigation on Trinity river to the
mine on pack mules. It will be used as an adjunct of
the triple-discharge stamp mill now in service.
Eureka, Nov. 26. .
Tuolumne County.
Work is to be commenced at the Mack mine, near
Big Oak Flat, probably working through the Wooten
shaft. The Gold Queen shaft, north of Soulsbyville,
is down 275 feet on the vein. Geo. Dean is superin-
tendent.
Ventura Connty.
A recent Government report says that the Frazier
mountain borax deposit is owned by the Frazier Borate
M. Co., controlled by the Staufler Chemical Co. of San
Francisco. The colemanite is shipped by traction
engine from the mine to the railroad and thence by rail
to San Francisco, where it is refined into borax and
boric acid. The ore is considered very high in boric
acid contents. The Columbia Borax Co. also owns a
deposit near Griffin, which began to be productive in
1904. This company does not refine their product.
COLORADO.
According to a recent report of the U. S. Geological
Survey, there was an increase of 17,838 barrels in the oil
yield of Colorado in 1904 as compared with 1903, and the
production was the largest credited to this State since
1894. The average price was $1.15 per barrel and the
total valuation was $578,035. The greater portion of the
increase came from the deep wells drilled in the Florence
field, which in some instances found a fourth pay streak
at a depth of 2100 feet, which did not exhaust the Fort
Pierre shales of the Cretaceous. The deepest well in the
field is 3650 feet, which was dry. The formation was
such, however, that there is a probability of finding pay
beds at that depth. There were eighty producing wells
operated during 1904, and about 120 wells have been
abandoned since the field was first opened in 1887. The
sands are loose and gritty, resembling shale, and are in
lenticular beds deposited in the shale at different depths.
One may develop four pays of beds which contain petro-
leum, and it is possible that another may well miss all
of them. There are two wells in this field which have
produced over a million barrels each of petroleum. None
of the wells are of the gusher character, and the driller
is often unaware that . he has pierced an oil sand until
the oil begins to flow into the well and its presence is
shown in the sand pumpings. Small flows of natural gas
and some snowing of water are found. The Boulder
field in 1904 did not produce one-half of its output in
1903, although a number of wells were completed during
the year 1904. The uncertainty of production and the
failing wells have robbed this field of its prominence,
which was given to it about the close of 1902. In north-
western Colorado petroleum has been found in Rio
Blanco county, where eight wells have been drilled
which produce from one-half to five barrels per day by
bailing. The gravity is from 30° to 35° Baume, and, in
common with the other Colorado petroleums, the oil has
a paraffin base, flashes at 90° F., and burns at 116° F.
An analysis showed: Light naphtha, 1%; heavy naph-
tha, 12%; illuminating petroleum of 45° Baume, 60%;
paraffin, 16%; coke and loss, 5%.
Boulder County.
The Coney Island tunnel, near Eldora, is being driven
an additional 800 feet from the 200-foot point. The
cyanide mill of the Cash Co. at Magnolia is working on
high-grade ore struck in making an upraise from the
250 to the 140-foot level in the Cash mine. The Cashier
M. & M. Co. intend building a 50-ton concentrating
plant to handle the silver and lead ores from their mines
at Camp Albion. T. L. Wood is manager.
A 50-ton cyanide plant is being put in at the Inter-
Ocean mine at Wheelmen, via Boulder, under the direc-
tion of F. Weed of Denver.
The Marcasite M. & M. Co. has been formed to work
the Old White Crow and Osceola claims on Gold hill,
near Sunshine. R. A. Trevarthen is superintendent.
Chaffee County.
It is reported that operations have been resumed at
the Mary Murphy mine and that ore shipments are be-
ing made to the Pawnee mill at St. Elmo.
Clear creek County.
The Silver Glance mine, on Democrat mountain, near
Georgetown, islbeing worked by C. Clark.
The Key West and McKinney properties on Leaven-
worth mountain, near Georgetown, are being developed
by E. W. and L. G. Shepard, under bond and lease.
Drifting on the McKinney lode has shown high-grade
ore. The drift is in 350 feet. Drifting is to be resumed
on the Domino vein by Superintendent H. Cochran of
the Domino M. Co. of Georgetown.
Several important strikes have been made at Yankee
lately. B. F. Musgrove, engaged in running the
Puritan vein, owned by G. R. Steuart, has exposed
over a foot of smelting ore averaging $54 per ton.
Manager Seeman of the M. M. & T. Co. has proved the
practicability of sinking the Lombard shaft by strik-
ing 2 feet of smelting ore at the starting of the 100-foot
level. Owing to the difficulty in securing fuel, the mine
is not in operation at present. The Gold Anchor at
Yankee is making preparations to sink.
The U. S. Geological Survey has recently published a
map of the Georgetown quadrangle on a scale of about
1 mile to the inch. The topography is shown by contour
lines of equal elevation, having a vertical interval of 100
feet. The area represented is a high, mountainous re-
gion, ranging in altitude from 7500 to 14,260 feet above
sea level. In the northern part of the quadrangle are
the mining towns of Idaho Springs, Georgetown and Sil-
ver Plume. Geoi'getown is one of the oldest mining
towns in Colorado. The central portion of the quadran-
gle about Mount Evans is very high and generally inac-
cessible. Having escaped in a measure the forest fires,
the area is heavily timbered. A large part of the quad-
rangle is, however, above timber line. A peculiar feature
of the topography of this portion of the quadrangle is
the presence of numerous cirques. Formerly the heads
of glaciers, they are now occupied by Alpine lakes.
This map is printed in three colors, the water in blue,
the topography in brown, and the cultural features in
black. The triangulation for the map was executed by
L. H. Baldwin Jr., the topography by F. Tweedy.
Custer County.
The low grade ores of Custer county are to be treated
by the new mill and cyanide plant being built near Sil-
ver Cliff by J. W. Northrop. Crushers and rolls, with
a capacity of 200 tons per day, have been put in, and four
tube mills are being set. W. H. Mest has charge.
Dolores County.
A. B. Boeder, manager of the United Rico Mines Co.
at Rico, intends to sink a deep shaft to prospect the
lower contacts of Newman hill. Their Gold Tunnel mill
is being remodeled and new machinery put in under the
direction of C. G. Smith. The Syndicate tunnel, the
main entrance to the Rico-Aspen mines, has been re-
timbered. The Black Hawk group of the company is
being worked through the tunnel at the upper terminus
of the 3000-foot tram. This tunnel is to be retimbered
and used until the new tunnel, 200 feet below, cuts the
ore body. The tramway will then be reconstructed and
the new tunnel will be used to take out the ore from the
mine. Franz Cazin is making plans for remodeling the
Atlantic Cable concentrator of the United Rico Co. so
as to treat the lead and zinc ores from the Atlantic Cable
mine. A tramway is to be built from the Atlantic
Cable shaft to the concentrator. Ore is being stored
on the dump as it is taken from the main working tun-
nel being driven by the Rio Dolores Co. on the C. V. G.
claim at Burns, north of Rico. J. W. Burns is superin-
tending work. The Dunton Con. M. Co. intends to
build a mill near Dunton to treat ore from the America
group. Nos. 2 and 6 levels are being connected by a
300-foot raise. Tunnel No. 6, the main working adit, is
in 1200 feet. V. L. Brown is secretary of the company.
The Horliek property near Rico is being worked by
the Milwaukee G. M. Co., under the management of A.
B. Green.
Gilpin County.
The Register-Call reports that a shipment of smelting
ores from the Perrin mine in Russell district to the
Chamberlain sampling works at Black Hawk brought
values of $137.03 per ton. The lot weighed 9780 pounds,
and the total returns were $653.35. The ores came from
a depth of 240 feet. The property is being worked by
Ed. Jones and J. Jones of Russell Gulch under a lease
and bond. Mill machinery is being hauled for the
Ann Rutledge G. M. Co. to the millsite in Vermilion
district. The new mill is to be equipped with ten rapid-
drop stamps. Amalgamation and concentration methods
will be used. Lumber has been hauled from Central
City to the Mattie May mine in the Yankee Hill district
for a new shaft building 30x40 feet. Machinery is to he
put up on the property next spring. At the Chase
mine in Willis gulch operations are being carried on in
the 200, 250, 300 and 400 west levels, as well as in the 300
and 400 east levels, and the leasers are doing a large
amount of development work. Manager J. A. Gilmour
has had the shaft building repaired, the sheave frame
has been rebuilt and the collar of the shaft has been re-
timbered for a depth of 20 feet. M. Harris, E. R.
Fouts, G. Miller and D. Davis have taken a lease and
bond on the Willow Gulch and Tyrol lode claims on
South Willis gulch, near Central City. The main work
is to be carried on at the Willow Gulch, which has a
shaft down about 175 feet, and the lessees intend to sink
another lift.
Regarding operations in the Nevada district, near Cen-
tral City, the Gilpin Observer reports that Horning &
Williams, lessees on the Kansas Burroughs, are work-
ing thirty men in the mine, most of whom are sub-
leasing. They are taking out a good quantity of mill
ore, besides getting some fair smelting ore. The smelt-
ing ore is shipped in carload lots to the valley smelters.
The work is being done mostly around the 500 and 600-
foot levels. The United Mining & Exploration Co. of
Denver have an option on the Modoc mine on Quartz
hill and are taking out mill ore in good quantities, the
vein being 70 feet wide. The ore is soft and easily mined
and the Modoc is capable of working a large number of
miners and outputting a heavy tonnage. The ore at
present is all milling and is shipped to the Hidden Treas-
ure mill at Black Hawk. John Lyng has charge.
Ed. Straub & Co. of Denver, who have formed theGold-
fleld-Homestake M. Co., have taken a lease and bond
from Lewis & Murphy on the Gold Retort lode on
Quartz hill, near the Modoc. Sinking is being continued
from the 70-foot level. A shaft house is to be built and
the shaft sunk to a depth of 500 feet. M. Riley is mine
superintendent. The Pozo mine in Nevada gulch is
being operated by Lewis & Son of Denver. This prop-
erty is being worked principally for its zinc values,
although some of the ore gives values of from two to
three ounces gold per ton. The tailings net $12 per ton
and the zinc values are $25 per ton. The shaft on the
Pozo is 165 feet deep. A. W. Rucker is manager. R. W.
Pearce of Nevadaville is operating the Ute mine in Ne-
vada district and is shipping to the mills in Black
Hawk. The main shaft on the Ute is 650 feet deep, but
operations are being confined to the 300-foot east and
west levels. They are also sinking a winze on the 300-
foot level for prospecting purposes. Cody & Co., who
are operating the Hawley-Gardner on Quartz hill, are
carrying on devevelopment work and opening up the
property in a systematic manner.
Gunnison County.
The New York group on Forest hill, near Tin Cup, is
being worked by Dilworth & Abbott. Drifting has been
commenced from the bottom of the 200-foot shaft.
Lake County.
R. W. Miller has cut the Eureka vein in his crosscut
tunnel, near Twin Lakes. Work is to be resumed on
the Miley properties, near Twin Lakes, by V. Anderson.
From their claim in Birdseye gulch, near Leadville,
Burkhardt & Sullivan lately shipped twenty-five tons of
5-ounce gold ore. The ore was packed out from the mine
on jacks to the Resurrection switch and there loaded on
cars for the smelter. The New York, Oliver Twist and
Moffat tunnels in the Mosquito section will continue
work all winter and the ore taken out will be stacked.
The London mine will also work continuously. The
draining of the Leadville mines has resulted in lowering
the water level of the Leadville basin so that deep shafts
can now be sunk without the necessity of pumping.
These pumping operations have been conducted by the
Coronado and Penrose. At least ten shafts which have
been sunk in the Leadville basin in the last few years at
a large expense, some of which have been abandoned
owing to the heavy pumping expense, are now dry and
can be operated without great expense. One of the im-
mediate effects of the draining of the Leadville basin is
the resumption of sinking on the Bohn shaft. Several
years ago the ore was worked out of the 500-foot level.
Drill-hole exploration revealed- the presence of large
bodies of mineral below the present workings; but, ow-
ing to the heavy expense of sinking the shaft and han-
dling water, the company decided not to do any further
work, as it was not at that time financially strong. It is
now sinking another lift of 150 feet and no water has
been found. Richard Spensley is preparing to explore
the new strike which he recently made in the Silver
Nugget, on Breece hill, Leadville, and the shaft is down
130 feet. The Ida May property, in Lake Park min-
ing district, has recently opened up a fine body of silver
ore. The ownor is J. Jones.
Mineral Connty.
The Ridge mine and mill in the King Solomon mining
district, near Creede, is to be started under the direction
of E. R. Mosher.
Routt County.
A Craig report says that it is proposed to build a
smelter to treat the copper and iron ores and also the
uranium and vanadium ores in the Blue Mountain coun-
try, between White and Bear rivers.
Decembek 2, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
388
San Mlcoel County.
A steam hoisting plant has been put in for all the
buildings at the Pandora mill by the Smuggler-Union
Co. An electric hoist has been substituted for the
steam plant at the Union shaft.
The official report of the Tomboy G. M. Co. of Tel-
luride for the year ending June 30, 1906, states that the
profit for the year amounted to $186,530, and, adding
the carry-over from the previous year, the surplus is
$300,235. The percentage of yield has risen from $7.01
per ton in March to $8.82 in September, 1905, while the
profits advanced from $1.52 per ton to $4.16. Costs show
a satisfactory reduction, having been brought down in
the same period from $5.49 per ton to $4.66. Manager
Herron reports that the extension of the 1050-foot level
into the Red Cloud section has continued in nulling ore.
while the raisestarted on the same level at a point which
was supposed to be the eastern end of the ore shoot, ex-
tending from 123 raise on the west, came into ore a short
distance above the 1050-foot level, and at the date of re-
port showed a good width of ore.
Summit County.
(Special Correspondence).— Summit county received
the gold modal awarded by the Portland Fair for the
finest collection of gold specimens shown at the exposi-
tion. The mill of the Washington-Joliet M. & M. Co.
on Nigger hill, near Breckenridge, has been started
again. The ore being milled and concentrated is com-
ing chiefly from the Berlin and Cornish tunnel work-
ings. The mill at the Lucky mine, near Brecken-
ridge, is running during the day and is making a good
product of lead concentrates. The Jessie mill is turn-
ing out a good quality of bullion as well as concentrates.
In four days the amalgamation plates produced $1000.
A good streak of ore showing free gold has been cut
in the Morning Star mine on Mt. Baldy. This was met
with while connections were being made between the tun-
nel and shaft workings. The owners are preparing to
work all winter. On the Summit Banner placer, near
Breckenridge, some rich boulders of gold-bearing quartz
have been found which give assay returns of $290 per
ton. The manager is prospecting for the ledge. Ore
has been struck in the Novelty mine in driving a cross-
cut west from the mainshaft. The Wonderful London
M. Co. on Hoosier Pass has its main two-compartment
shaft down 100 feet. When the 200-foot mark is reached,
a crosscut will be run to cut the extension of the iron
vein. M. M. Howe of Breckenridge is manager. The
Lucky Fisherman Co. 's mine, near Montezuma, is be-
ing worked by manager Charles H. Campbell. In the
Rothchild tunnel, at 3100 feet in the Black Bear shoot,
at the base of Coopermountain, a 2-foot vein has been
cut.
Breckenridge, Nov. 27.
The Wellington mine on Mineral hill, near Brecken-
ridge, owned by the Colorado & Wyoming Development
Co., is shipping zinc-lead ore. The owners are R. W.
Foote, G. H. Evans and O. K. Gaymon, all of Brecken-
ridge.
A 60-ton cyanide plant is to be put in by the Carrie M.
& M. Co. on Mount Wise, 12 miles east of Breckenridge.
Teller County.
An air compressor has been put on the Gold King
claim of the Savage G. M. Co., on Gold hill, by the In-
ternational M. & L. Co. T. C. Bradford of Cripple
Creek is superintendent. A new hoist is to be put in
at the No. 1 shaft of the Portland G. M. Co., oc the
south slope of Battle mountain, near Victor. The
Jones shaft of the Pharmacist Co. at Cripple Creek is to
be sunk from the 650 to the 850-foot level. The Dillon
shaft on Battle mountain is being sunk 200 feet to the
1000-foot level.
Thomas Finnerty, leasing on block 196 of the Stratton
estate, on Bull hill, has made a good strike at a depth of
200 feet.
W. Braden, lessee of the Last Dollar mine, near Vic-
tor, has made a rich discovery at tbe 400-foot level in the
No. 1 shaft. Improvements are being made at the
Golden Cycle mine, which is partly closed. Excessive
royalties at the Stratton Independence mine are causing
a number of leasers to abandon work there.
IDAHO.
Blaine County.
The Alturas M. Co. has closed down its Virginia mine,
in Minnie Moore gulch, near Hailey. Superintendent
Ruthrauf will work the Bullwhacker mine of the Al-
turas Co.
The 800-foot drainage tunnel, being driven to tap the
old workings of the Nay Aug at a depth of 500 feet, re-
cently cut a vein of lead-silver ore after being run 450
feet. The zinc mill is being remodeled. John Williams
of Hailey is manager. W. T. Riley is working the
Wolftone mine, 15 miles north of Hailey. M. M.
Tolle has charge of work on the Alleghany and Pitts-
burg mines, near Hailey, being worked by the Eclipse
M. Co.
Custer County,
The Greyhound mine, in the Sea Foam district, is to
be worked all winter. S. M. Smith of Boise is manager.
Smelting tests have been made. A rock crusher and a
concentrator to increase the lead contents is to be put in.
Freight is hauled in from Ketchum.
Idaho County.
The Eagle Mountain M. Co. has bonded the Deer Trail
claims, near Orogrande, and plan to develop them and
put in a reduction plant. F. E. Bursall is manager."
The Umatilla mine, near Orogrande, is to be worked all
winter by Superintendent W. C. Brower.
W. A. Douglas, manager of the Pearl G. M. Co., has
been operating on Divide creek, near Roosevelt. It is
closed down for the winter, but it is the intention of the
company to resume operations in the spring. — — L. E.
Moody has bonded the Royal Flush claims, at the head
of Indian creek, near Roosevelt, to Eastern parties for
$150,000. A the Dewey mine, at Roosevelt, E. E. Haug
is superintendent, with. William Proyor as mine fore-
man and William Paddock as mill foreman. Their ten
stamps are dropping steadily and are reducing fifty-five I
tons of ore daily. Straight amalgamation is used and
85% of the assay value of the ore 19 said to be saved on
the plates. Thirty-live mun are employed in the mine
and mill. At the Sunnyside, at Roosevelt, fortv-five
men are on the payroll.
Owyhee County.
The mill of the Pioneer M. Co. at Silver City is to be
started as soon as the electrical equipment is put in.
Arthur Buckbee is manager. Work has been re-
sumed in the Stormy Hill shaft, near Silver City, by
C. W. Hill.
Shoshone County.
Work has been started on the Keating property at
Wardner that was rocently bonded to Portland capital-
ists, represented by J. F. Watson. Preparations are
being made to put up a shaft house, and a shaft will bo
sunk 2110 feot. John Keating is the sole owner.
The Pittsburg Lead Co. has made tho final payment
on the property it has had under bond on Nine Mile
creek, near Wallace. The California mine has resumed
shipments. The mill, which was shut down for some
time for repairs and improvements, was started up on
Nov. 19, and is treating an average of 200 tons of ore a
day. The concentrates obtained from this ore will
aggregate 600 tons monthly. The mill is operated by
both electric and water power, its equipment consists of
two waterwheels, a 150 H. P. electric motor, rock
crusher, two sets of rolls, a Huntington mill, twelve jigs,
four Wilfley tables, two round tables and four vanners.
During the shutdowu of the mill the work of developing
the mine on the No. 3 level was prosecuted and a stope
of galena ore has been opened on that level, 200 feet in
length and four sets wide. The company employs
seventy-one hands at present, most of them on the No. 3
level, where one big machine and three chippy drills are
stoping and developing the ore chute.
Manager J. F. Whelan of the Capitol M. & M. Co.
states that work has been suspended for the winter at
the mine. The property is on Two-mile canyon, near
Osburn. The company will start a new tunnel which
will cut the vein 500 feet below the present workings.
This tunnel will be 2000 feet in length. The Morning
mine of Mullan has on its payroll 300 employes. The
Hunter, at Mullan, is working eighty men. At the
Snow Storm the company and the leasers are working
150 men. Among the properties near Mullan employ-
ing smaller forces are the Leslie M. Co., North Franklin,
Ruth group, Bull Pen and San Quentin, Copper King
and Heney group.
The Clearwater G. M. Co. has been formed at Wal-
lace to work the Dora and Mabel placer claims, located
in an unorganized mining district in Shoshone county.
The incorporators are J. P. Rogers, A. E. McLeod,
G. T. Johnson, J. A. Wayne and C. Goulding.
Encouraged by the success of the trial run of the con-
centrating plant established on the creek between Wal-
lace and Mullan, to work the tailings of the mines on the
canyon, the owners are planning a mill to be built on
the same creek. The home-made plant, consisting of a
revolving table and settling tanks, has been run for a
month. This plant was built to determine whether the
tailings would pay systematic working, and the results
of the first month's run have convinced the owners of
this fact. The old plant worked only the water carrying
lead slimes. A dam was built in the creek, water carry-
ing the mineral was run into settling tanks, and the min-
eral and slime material collected on the bottom of the
tanks. The settlings were then passed onto tbe revolv-
ing tables and the valuable material saved. The new
plant will handle all the tailings from the tailings dump.
Jigs will be put in to divide the material into tailings,
middlings and shipping products. The Cceur d'Alene
Concentrating Co. has been formed, with Joseph Felton
as president, I. M. Cornthwaite secretary and treas-
urer.
MISSOURI.
Jasper County.
A concentrating plant is to be built by the Cuyahoga
M. Co., west of Joplin. A. J. Donnan, Jas. Roach and
Chas. Glover, all of Joplin, are interested. The Cali-
fornia-Buckeye mill at Cave Springs, 6 miles west of
Joplin, has been started. It is expected that the
M., K. & T. mill at Baxter Springs will be started soon.
A new concentrator is to be put up by the Mary M.
Co. on the Cox land, 2 miles north of joplin.
MONTANA
Fergus County.
Rich ore has been struck in the Cumberland group at
Maiden.
Missoula County.
The work of enlarging and retimbering the Monitor
shaft at Saltese has been begun, and when that is com-
pleted the shaft will be put down 200 feet more to the
500-foot level and the vein explored by drifts in both
directions at that depth. A. H. Gray, of the Western
Montana M. Co. at Saltese, reports that the mine will be
worked all winter. C. Heidenrieh has made a strike
on the Copper Age, near the Western Montana.
Silver Bow County.
F. A. Heinze and his associates have organized a Cop-
per Securities Co., and it has acquired 2,000,000 shares
of the common stock of La France C. Co. The latter
owns the Lexington mines in Butte and the concen-
trating plant at Basin. Mining is done on the upper
levels, the lower ones being filled with water. Work at
pumping out the water will begin soon.
NEVADA.
Lincoln County.
The Josephine G. M. Co. intends to build a mill to
treat the ore from its mines in the Chief district, north
of Caliente. J. N. Elston is secretary and treasurer.
H. Gentry is developing the Advance claim in the Chief
district.
Good ore is being milled from the 8th level of the
Quartette mine at Searchlight. The shaft of the
Santa Fe mine at Searchlight is being retimbered and
enlarged to 5x8.
Lynn County.
T. B. Gamble and T. Harris of San Jose, who, with
other Californians, have purchased the Spragg copper
mines, near Wabuska, announce that they will open the
property. There are two other mines operating here,
the Bluestone, which is owned by Californians, and the
Boston mine, which is controlled by Eastern people.
Both tho latter companies have independent smelters,
one of 40 and the other of 80-ton capacity.
Washoe County.
Regarding the White Horse district, the Nevada State
Journal reports that operations on the property of the
Springfield-Nevada Co. in the White Horse district,
near Olinghouse, have been resumed and by the first of
the year a full force will be at work. The company's
mill is running on rich ore. J. C. Effrick is milling
high-grade ore on ihe Renegade mine in ihe White
Horse district. The EaBt End M. Co. is working the
Golden Eagle, purchased by H. Lincoln from J. C.
Effrick and L. Kearney. The JKeystone-Nevada M.
Co. of Olinghouse will put on fifteen men tbe first of the
month. D. M. Harvey has resigned as superintendent,
and Mr. Lloyd of Colorado has been appointed. The
Green Hill M. Co., with J. D. Poole as superintendent,
is working twenty-five men, blocking out the ore body.
The Ferncliff Co. will start a new shaft on Dec. 1,
which they contemplate sinking to 300 feet. The
crosscut tunnel on the property of the Optimun Co. has
been advanced 55 feet and a body of high-grade ore cut.
The Texas-Nevada Co. is taking out and sacking ore
for shipment. O. M. Pudor, manager of the Texas-
Nevada, is laying in a large supply of mining timbers,
which will be used in the double-compartment shaft.
C. P. Clemmons, manager of the Whitehorse-Nevada
Co., will put on two shifts at the Jim Blaine.
White Pine County
P. H. Cannon, the manager of the Imperial mine at
Cherry Creek, says that the new railroad branch of the
Southern Pacific is built 30 miles from Toano station,
on its way to Cherry Creek. The grading is completed
to within 10 miles of the camp and will be ready for bus-
iness shortly after Jan. 1. The Old Imperial will resume
shipments. The Star mine, operated for the Glasgow
& Western Exploration Co. by Stamann & Farron, is
blocking out ore. The National Mining Co. has pur-
chased eight mines and is developing them. The Wild
West Co., composed of Boston people, is operating and
has a mill running. The Hartford-Nevada people are
developing thirty claims. A hoisting plant is going in
and a mill is also being built. The Gold Canyon peo-
ple have a new mill under construction.
NEW MEXICO.
Dona Ana County.
• (Special Correspondence). — Considerable activity is
being shown in the Organ mountains. This district is
15 miles from Las Cruces and 40 miles north of El Paso.
Perhaps the largest operator in this locality is the
Stephenson-Bennett Con. M. Co. This company has
put in a new hoist and compressor and built a 50-ton mill
to handle the ore from the mine. A double-compartment
shaft is being sunk on the property, which will give
them 450 feet of stoping ground on the incline. below the
lowest level. J. I. McCullough is general manager.
This property is on the western slope of the mountains.
On the eastern slope the Dona Dora Co. are driving a
tunnel which is now in about 400 feet, and also sinking a
shaft to connect with the tunnel. This company is put-
ting in a new compressor and drills. The ore carries
copper, lead and gold. G. W. Kent is manager. This
property, and in fact all of the property on the eastern
slope of the mountains, has bad roads and a long haul
to the railroad to contend with, but as the mines are de-
veloped these obstacles will be overcome.
Organ, Nov. 27.
Socorro County.
The Graphic Co. of Magdalena, in order to reduce the
cost of mining, has commenced a 1600-foot tunnel to cut
the ore bodies 200 feet below the sixth level. This tun-
nel has already been driven 600 feet and has cut two
bodies of sulphide ore, also encountered a stream of
water furnishing 500 gallons per minute, insuring a per-
manent supply for milling and other purposes. G. A.
Freeman of Pittsburg, Pa., is superintending the erec-
tion of a stamp mill and concentrator for the Enterprise
M. & M. Co. at Mogollon.
OREGON.
Baker Connty.
A steam hoist is to be put in at the Pyx mine, near
Greenhorn. The Snow Creek and Psyche mines, near
Greenhorn, are closed because of litigation.
Grant County.
The Dame Fortune mine, near Quartzburg, has been
sold to S. N. Gallaher.
Josephine County.
The long delayed rains and snows have arrived in
southern Oregon, ending one of the most extended
drouths ever known in this section of the State. Fears
were entertained that this winter would be a repetition
of last, with scant rains and slack water supply for
hydraulic plants. Most of the large placer mines have
increased their capacity and several new ones have been
equipped.
. On Grave creek, near Leland, the Blalock, Lewis,
Goff, Van Brunt, Whitehead-Moore, Vindicator, Harris
Flat, Archer and Columbia are to be worked. The
Lewis mine, which J. C. Lewis manages, has a 65-foot
gravel bank, and uses two No. 4 giants under a head of
250 feet. Water is secured through a 4-mile ditch, with
an auxiliary supply from the lower ditch of the Colum-
bia, the next mine above, of which L. A. Lewis is man-
ager. Superintendent C. E. Foss of the Columbia has
seventeen men putting the property in order and setting
the giants. In four years the Columbia has washed a
mile of channel, much of the lower gravel beds having a
389
Mining and Scientific Press.
December 2, 1905.
depth of 40 and 60 feet. The plant is lighted for night
work by 1000 C. P. arc lamps, deriving their energy
from the Columbia's electric lighting plant. Manager
J. R. Harvey will operate three giants on the Royal
group diggings near Galiee. The explosion of 5000 pounds
of dynamite, which has been placed at the end of a long
tunnel bored under the high gravel banks, will loosen
the ground so that it will wash readily. Last season
8000 pounds of No. 2 giant powder were used for this
purpose.
At the Greenback mine at Greenback, electric power
has been put in and the ten additional stamps finished.
The forty stamps are running continuously. The 1400-
foot level has been reached and the vein is holding its
size and values in a way that is most encouraging to the
owner, Mr. Brevoort. R. N. Bishop, the general super-
intendent of the Greenback mill and mine, has been in
New York for some time on business in connection with
the mine. He is expected back the last of this week.
W. R. Thomas has been succeeded by I. L. Greninger
as foreman of the mine.
SOUTH DAKOTA.
Lawrence County.
Statistics of the total gold production of the Black
Hills since that region was surrendered by the Sioux
Indians and occupied by the whites, contained in the
United States assay offices and mints, show that the
Black Hills to Dec. 1, 1904, produced gold to the value of
$112,163,759. By adding to this the amount which has
been produced so far this year, approximately $8,000,-
000, it gives a total production of $120,163,759.
The Montezuma mill at Rochford has been torn down
and moved 1 mile to the mine, where it will be put up to
treat ore from the 15-foot vein. The Esmeralda mine
on Blacktail gulch, near Dead wood, has been leased by
E. Major of Central City. Work is to be resumed at
the Wauconda mine, near Lead. The Golden Reward
Co. is unwatering the Delaware mine, near Terry.
Work has been commenced on the Ulster and May
Queen mines, near Preston, by the Victoria Extension
M. Co., of which P. Steele is manager.
Pennington Connty.
It is reported that a contract has been let for a 100-
stamp mill at the Bullion mine, near Keystone. P. H.
Long of Chicago is president of the company. Work
is to be resumed at the properties of the Keystone Holy
Terror M. Co., near Keystone. M. L. Pox is general
manager. The Grandview mine, near Silver City, has
been bought by L. A. Richards. The shaft is to be sunk
300 feet. The Black Tom M. Co. is putting up a 10-
stamp mill on Slate creek, near Keystone.
TENNESSEE.
State Mine Inspector R. A. Shiflett of Tennessee has
prepared statistics showing the mineral production of
the State during 1904. The production and value of the.
various minerals are as follows: Coal, 4,847,242 short
tons, valued at $5,617,095: coke, 386,875 short tons,
valued at $923,120; barytes, 10,565 short tons, valued at
$37,132; copper valued at $641,860; iron ore, 539,820 long
tons, valued at $613,705: pig iron, 271,659 long tons,
valued at $2,692,132; lead, 900 short tons, valued at
$7200; zinc, 73 short tons, valued at $1204; phosphate,
468,443 long tons, valued at $1,485,665; marble, 372,560
cubic feet, valued at $523,872.
UTAH.
Jnab Connty.
Work is to be resumed by the Argenta Copper Co.
and by the Uma Con. Co. at Eureka.
Salt Lake Connty.
H. M. Crowther, general manager of the Continental
Alta mine, at Alta, reports that the Flagstaff manage-
ment is considering using the aerial tramway of the Con-
tinental to bring their ore over the 3 miles at a saving of
SI per ton. The Columbus Con. at Alta have finished
their ore bin and their bunkhouse. Superintendent
W. Zeigler of the Ohio Copper Co., at Bingham, reports
that they are drifting from the 400-foot and 500-foot
levels.
Daniel Guggenheim, president of the Guggenheim Ex-
ploration Co., makes the official announcement that the
purchase of the Utah Copper Co. has been completed,
and the latter is now in actual and physical control of
the former. The company will develop the property.
It will complete the concentrating works which are now
being built.
Summit County.
The Creole mine, at Park City, has resumed work.
A new cable has been put in at the Silver King
tramway at Park City.
WASHINGTON.
Ferry County.
Sinking is to be started from the 220-foot level of the
Ben Hur mine, near Republic.
The 100-foot shaft on the Lone Pine mine near Re-
public has been completed, and the crew is crosscutting
to the ledge. Should values continue to that depth, the
company will put in additional machinery and increase
the working force.
Snohomish County.
The Ethel Con. mines, near Index, have been sold to
the Mineral City Power & Transportation Co. ■
FOREIGN.
AFRICA.
Transvaal.
The African Concessions Syndicate has been in con-
sultation with the leading American and Continental
engineers and experts on the subject of the transmission
of power from the Victoria Falls to the Witwatersrand.
These authorities have unanimously expressed the opin-
ion that the scheme is not only quite feasible, but would
be commercially successful, especially as the climate of
South Africa is one of the most suitable in the world for
the transmission of power. There is no ice in the rivers
to interfere with the working of the turbines, and no
snow to break down the transmission lines. The ex-
treme dryness of the climate is also greatly in favor of
the project. The experts consider that there is abso-
lutely no difficulty in the way of the scheme so far as
the distance of transmission is concerned. With refer-
ence to statements that the volume of water in the falls
is not sufficient to produce the necessary power, it is
pointed out that even in the driest season yet experi-
enced there is sufficient water to produce 500,000 H. P.,
while at present the Rand only consumes 150,000 H. P.
At the falls there is an available head of about 330 feet,
and if more than 500,000 H. P. were needed it could eas-
ily be obtained by cutting a canal, 15 to 20 miles in
length, to a point lower down, where there would be a
head of 1000 feet, which would be sufficient to produce
1,000,000 H. P.
AUSTRALIA.
New South Wales
The New South Wales gold yield for October amounted
to 37, 187 ounces, valued at £130,341, as compared with
15,719 ounces, valued at £59,395, in October, 1904. The
yield for the past ten months amounted to 267,066 ounces,
valued at £934,384, as compared with 247,495 ounces,
valued at £899,512, in the first ten months of last year.
CANADA.
BRITISH COLUMBIA.
Boundary District.
Boundary mines ore shipments for the week ending
Nov. 25 were: Granby mines, 15,696 tons; Mother Lode,
332S tons; Rawhide, 150 tons; Providence, 60 tons. To-
tal for week, 19,234 tons. Total for year to date, 810,-
324 tons.
Since the entire battery of eight furnaces of the
Granby Co. went into commission the smelter is holding
to a daily average of 2750 tons. The two large furnaces
completed this year are holding up to at least S00 tons.
Superintendent Hodges is pressing work rapidly for
commencement of the 3-compartment shaft, the head-
works for which will be erected this winter. An electric
motor of 250 H. P. will actuate the hoist, which will
have a depth capacity of 1000 feet. Work has been
resumed on the Sunset in Deadwood camp, with Neil
Morrison in charge. The Sunset is owned by the Do-
minion C. Co.
Nelson District.
At the La Plata mine on Kokane creek, near Nelson,
the new concentrator building is completed.
Rossland District.
The tonnage shipped fron Rossland mines for the week
ending Nov. 25 and for the year to date was as follows:
Mine. Week. Year.
LeRoi 1,350 104,836
Le Roi (milled) 3,310
Center Star 1,620 89,530
War Eagle 1,230 61,850
Le Roi Two 270 7.582
LeRoi Two (milled) 9.430
Jumbo 100 9.029
White Bear 1.100
White Bear (milled) 3,220
Cascade-Bonanza 120
Crown Point 350
Spitzee 4.809
Velvet-Portland 1,977
Gopher 180
Homestake 30
Lily May 90
Inland Empire 30
Totals 4.570 298,003
The station on the 1350-foot level of Le Roi at the
head of the winze is finished, and sinking from the 1550-
foot level will be inaugurated as soon as the double-drum
hoist is in place. No work is at present in progress
below the 1350-foot level, pending the starting of the
hoist. The crosscut, which is being driven on the 1350-
foot level of the Le Roi into the territory of the Le Roi
Two, is 90 feet in length. The station on the tenth level
of the Center Star has been completed, and the work of
deepening the shaft, which is about 120 feet below the
level of the tenth level, has been resumed.
On the 1000-foot level of the Le Roi, at Rossland,
the Black Bear ore shoot has been found. On the 800-
foot level it is 108 feet wide, and on the 900-foot level it
is 45 feet wide. The new ore shoot of Le Roi No. 2
has been prospected with diamond drills. The White
Bear mine and mill at Rossland are to be started soon.
The War Eagle mine at Rossland, B. C, has been
purchased by the Center Star M. Co., owning the adja-
cent property. For years the properties have been con-
trolled by the Gooderham-Blackstock interests and
operated under joint management. Recently both
passed into the control of Canadian Pacific Railway
interests, and now have been entirely merged, the War
Eagle Con. losing its identity in the Center Star Co.
James Cronin is general manager of the Center Star
Co. 's properties at Rossland, and of the St. Eugene
mine at Moyie, B. C.
Slocan District.
Attention is being paid to the magnetic separation of
zinc by the Kootenay Ore Co. at Kaslo. The plant at
Frank will probably handle the largest part of the zinc
product of the camp. The Payne mine, near Sand on,
has opened a new shoot of lead and zinc ore below level
No. 5, and is expected to supply the mill for a year.
The lessee of the property has twenty men working.
John Bow has opened a shoot of galena ore on the
Tramp Planet, adjoining the Payne on the south. The
Majestic, farther south, operated by Bigney & Little,
now has three levels. Stoping is being done between
the second and third levels. The Slocan Star is work-
ing three men in stoping ore and twenty men in develop-
ment work. The Silversmith has a showing of 2 feet
of galena on the fourth level, 250 feet from the surface.
Work will be pushed on the fifth level, 225 feet lower,
into the new ore body.
West Kootenay District.
The tunnel in the Beatrice mine at the head of
Mohawk creek, near Camborne, has reached the main
level. The tunnel has been run over 500 feet. A tram
has been built to convey the ores from the mine.
MEXICO.
The situation in Mexico resulting from the dynamite
famine is rapidly becoming acute. A petition has been
sent to President Diaz asking for some relief. There is
a prohibitive duty of $210 per ton on dynamite. The
Mexican national monopoly, which has the sole right to
bring dynamite into the republic free, has entered into
an agreement as agent to the American trust. It is
pointed out that after allowing wide margins for all
possible expenses there is a net profit of $6.65 per case,
or $226 per ton, or $5320 per car for the company. The
miners feel that this bonus is exorbitant and unjust
and ask for immediate relief.
Chihuahua.
It is expected that the mill and cyanide plant of the
Galanista G. M. Co. at' the Esmeralda mine, southwest
of Guadalupe y Calvo, will be finished by February 1.
It is reported that a wireless telegraph outfit is to be
put in. G. M. Holmes is manager.
NEW ZEALAND.
The Waihi G. M. Co. have applied for water rights on
the Waikato river, near Cambridge, to furnish power
for new tube mills to be put in at their Waikino and
Union batteries. About 60 H. P. is required to drive
three mills at their Waihi battery. The Mining Jour-
nal reports that two of the tube mills at the Waihi bat-
tery have been found equal to grinding the whole of the
coarse sands passing through a 20-mesh from ninety
stamps. The sinking of the main pumping shaft is pro-
ceeding satisfactorily, and a total depth of 101 feet has
been reached below the "sill" at No. 7 level. The
Royal lode continues strong in both the east and west
drifts, and so far the stretch of pay ore being revealed
at this No. 7 level is encouraging.
PHILIPPINE ISLANDS.
A recent government report states that old Spanish
workings have uncovered large bodies of high-grade
copper ore in Lepanto, in the district of Mancayan.
About forty claims have been located here by Amer-
icans who plan systematic exploration work. In the
province of Batangas work has been done in the Loboo
mountains on a group of claims containing copper car-
bonate ores with a trace of gold. Platinum has been
discovered in small quantity in the placer sands from
Rizal. In Bulaean, in the mountains east of the towns
of San Miguel de Mayumo and Angat, important de-
posits of rich hematite and magnetite have been
known and worked by natives in a small way for over a
century. Some of them are fully up to Bessemer grade.
Correspondence is now in progress with iron works of
Japan looking to the profitable shipment of these ores.
Excellent coal, suitable for steamer use, is found in
Albay Province, in Batan island. In Cebu are import-
ant deposits of steaming coal and two known deposits of
lead ores. These coals have been proved by practical
tests in steamships in Philippine waters to do very well.
Petroleum is reported in Tayabas Province, but no wells
have yet been driven to prospect this field thoroughly.
At Binangonan occurs a limestone which is shown by
analysis to be suitable for making cement. As there is
available clay in the vicinity and good water transporta-
tion to Manila, capitalists are considering the erection
here of a modern rotary kiln cement plant, to cost not
less than $225,000.
*
*
Commercial Paragraphs.
J. J. .4, .J, •$, .J, .f * * *J? ^ & * 4-' ■i' * <i' -i' & <b a
*
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*
a***^**.*^* ************** 'M***********
L. S. Pierce, 1653 Welton St., Denver, Colo., reports
sale of a 15-ton set of riffles to the Denver Mint, a 25-ton
set for Johannesburg, S. A., and a 25-ton set for Siberia.
The Sullivan Machinery Co. announce that their St.
Louis office, P. F. Jarvis, manager, has moved into
larger quarters at rooms 1125A to 1127 Missouri Trust
Bldg.
The School of Mines of the State University of Wash-
ington gives a course each winter for prospectors and
mining men in general. It is the aim of the institution
to make this course thoroughly practical. To that end,
the instruction is principally by laboratory methods and
visits to smelters and mines in operation.
The National Wood Pipe Co. has completed a line of
91-inch continuous stave pipe at Pendleton, Or. This
pipe is made from 3x6 fir staves banded with J-inch round
steel rods, which are held in place with malleable iron
shoes, and carries the water which operates the Pendle-
ton roller mills. A 54-inch continuous stave pipe line has
been completed by them at Dayton, Wash., for the local
electric company.
THE city of Alpena, Mich., has contracted with Allis-
Chalmers Co. of Milwaukee for the complete electrical
and power equipment of a lighting plant, consisting
of a 60-cycle Bullock alternating current generator,
normal capacity 150 kilowatts, direct connected to a
Reynolds-Corliss cross compound heavy duty engine; an
exciter unit, jet condenser, switchboards, sub-station
apparatus, and equipment for 100 arc lamps connected in
series.
Crocker-Wheeler Co., manufacturers and elec-
trical engineers, announce the establishment of an in-
dustrial engineering department, in which is concen-
trated all their work in the line of industrial engineering
as applied to lailway shops, machine shops, and indus-
trial plants of every description. J. K. W. Davenport,
E. E., has become associated with the company, that its
growing activities along these lines may be handled in a
satisfactory manner. Mr. Davenport and his staff of
assistants are at the present time giving personal atten-
tion to several important industrial propositions.
December 2, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
390
Personal.
*
* *
* *
*
********* ***************** *********** *+********■:■+**** *********************
H. C. Callahan is in Mexico.
F. J. Spare is manager Pompeii M. Co., Searchlight,
Nev.
J. T. STEVENS is manager Harris miDe at Washoe,
Nev.
A. E. Bryan of Seattle, Wash., is examining mines in
Mexico.
Francis Rdle of Pachuca, Mex., is visiting San
Franci6C0.
Mark B. Kerr is in Butte, Mont., en route to San
Francisco, Cal.
Chas. Eaton is superintendent Con. Copper Co. of
Boulder, Colo.
H. Saville is manager Deep Down M. & M. Co. of
Keystone, S. D.
J. W. Power is superintendent Little Mendah mine
at Pioche, Nev.
Daniel Kirby is superintendent Monarch mine at
Atlanta, Idaho.
C. A. Clay' is superintendent Animas Power Co. at
Silverton, Colo.
L. Wheatley- is superintendent Duplex M. & M. Co.,
Searchlight, Nev.
R. Hales has been made foreman Kearns-Keith mill
at Park City, Utah.
Thomas Jay" has been made superintendent Monitor
mine at Saltese, Mont.
O. B. Steen is superintendent Searchlight C.-G. M.
Co. at Searchlight, Nev.
A. P. Mayberry' has charge U. S. M. Co.'s Richmond
properties at Eureka, Nev.
J. C. Foley has been appointed manager Shakespeare
mine at Webwood, Ontario.
R. G. Bailey is superintendent Nonpareil M. & D.
Co., working near Dixie, Idaho.
J. J. Pendergast is general manager Cyrus Noble
M. & M. Co. at Searchlight, Nev.
H. H. Nicholson has moved from Sumpter, Or., to
701, 135 Adams street, Chicago, 111.
Samuel Brethodr has charge of work at the Gold
Medal mines, near Idaho Springs, Colo.
S. F. Emmons recently examined the Arizona Com-
mercial Copper Co.'s mines at Globe, Ariz.
A. H. Oleson of Deadwood, S. D., is manager Home-
stake South Extension M. Co. at Lead, S. D.
M. O. O'Brien of New York has been appointed man-
ager McKinley mines, near Grand Forks, B. C.
J. B. Keating, general manager Bully Hill S. & R.
Co. at De Lamar, Shasta county, Cal., has returned
from the East.
P. J. Harrington is superintendent, G. B. Wilson
assistant superintendent and J. Luxon foreman Quar-
tette M. Co. at Searchlight, Nev.
John Hays Hammond, general manager Guggenheim
Exploration Co., has been made managing director Utah
Copper Co. at Bingham, Utah, representing the Gug-
genheim Exploration Co.
Books Received.
VvTVVTVVWWWWW TwTW'JJtfcwi'T'llll'WWV WVVvWWWWWV
*
Obituary.
it *****%'*"!** ************** *************
B. J. Catren, a pioneer mining superintendent of
Clear Creek county, died at Silver Plume, Colo., No-
vember 18.
G. H. Allen, foreman Standard mine at Mace, Idaho,
was killed Nov. 23 by being crushed by a cage in the
Standard shaft.
Wm. Orr, manager of the Glasgow & Western Ex-
ploration Co., Ltd., controlling the MaeArthur-Forrest
cyanide process, died at Denver, Colo., November 22.
W. H. Edgar, founder and president of the Dearborn
Drug & Chemical Works, with offices in the Rialto
building, Chicago, 111., died suddenly November 27 at
the Arlington hotel at Hot Springs, Ark.
i
* *
| Trade Treatises. f
* «■
fttfriptyifiiftcficf**^*** **************** *cf*ef.cft£f4i$tifr*
The National Electric Co. of Milwaukee, Wis., illus-
trate and describe their polyphase induction motor in
Bulletin No. 358, and stationary and portable and motor-
driven air compressors in Bulletin No. 363.
Catalogue No. 20 of the Jeffrey Manufacturing Co.
illustrates " Coal Handling Machinery for Mines, " includ-
ing tipples, conveyors, crushers, drills, cars, hoists,- etc.
Pictures of typical installations and of sectional parts
constitute the essential of the booklet, as there is but
little text.
"Water Lifted by Compressed Air,"' while listed as
catalogue No. 73 of the Ingersoll-Sergeant Drill Co., of
11 Broadway, New York City, is really . an excellent
treatise on the theory and practice of pumping water
with compressed air. Concise text and pertinent illus-
trations give the details of reason, operation and cost of
the "air lift"! system. It contains much valuable in-
formation for the engineer interested in economical
pumping.
As extracts from " Mineral Resources of the United
States for 1904," the U. S. Geological Survey has issued
"Production of Borax" and "Production of Mag-
nesite."
The annual report of the irrigation and drainage in-
vestigations of the Office of Experiment Stations for
1904 has been issued as Office of Experiment Stations
Bulletin 158. This contains a review of the irrigation
work of the year; a report of the drainage investigations
for the year, and a number of reports covering local in-
vestigations.
Office of Experiment Stations Bulletin 157, entitled
" Water Rights on Interstate Streams — the Platte
River and Tributaries, " has just been issued by the
United States Department of Agriculture. It contains
discussions of the water-right systems in Colorado, Wy-
oming and Nebraska; the rights to the Platte river and
tributaries in three States; and the physical conditions
which affect water rights within and between the States,
including topography, return seepage and underflow—
by R. P. Teele; and a general discussion of water-right
systems, by Elwood Mead, chief of irrigation and drain-
age investigations. Only a limited edition of 1000 copies
of this bulletin has been printed, a part of which is
available for distribution by the department. Copies of
the bulletin, as far as available, can be obtained by ad-
dressing the Director of the Office of Experiment Sta-
tions, United States Department of Agriculture, Wash-
ington, D. C.
Latest Market Reports.
San Francisco, December 1, 1905.
Silver. — Per oz., Troy : London, 30^ (standard
ounce, 925 fine); New York, bar silver, 65§c> refined (1000
fine); San Francisco, 65|c; Mexican dollars, 53c, San
Francisco; 50 J c, New York.
Within the week silver has continued to advance, go-
ing from 63|c last week to 65§c to-day. With each small
increase in the market value of fine silver the producer
of that metal continues to feel correspondingly thankful.
COPPER.— New York: Standard, $17.50; Lake, $17.50
@18.00; Electrolytic, $17.50; Casting, $17.50 @ 17.75.
San Francisco: $16.75. Mill copper plates, $18.00; bars,
18@24c. London: £78 10s spot per ton.
The copper market is firm and higher. In the New
York market Lake copper can be bought for future de-
livery at $17.50, but where smaller lots are wanted imme-
diately the price ranges from $17.75 to $18.00. It is now
several years since copper touched 18c. It is probable
that the upward limit in the price of copper is being, or
has already been, reached. When the price of copper
becomes so high as to make aluminum an aggressive
competitor, the latter metal will find an increasingly
wider use, particularly in electrical work, into which it
has already entered largely.
Lead. — New York, $5.75; St. Louis, $5.15; San Fran-
cisco, $5.00, carload lots; 5Jc 1000 to 4000 Sis.; pipe 7£c,
sheet 8, bar 6|c. London: £15 16s Id $ long ton.
Spelter. — New York, $6.25; St. Louis, $6.20; Lon-
don, £28 15s $ ton; San Francisco, ton lots, 7c; 100-B>
lots, 7|c.
Tin.— New York, pig, $33.90@34.25; San Francisco,
ton lots, 35c; 500 fts., 36c; 200 fts., 37c; less, 38Jc; bar tin,
f, ft., 40c. London, £155 17s 6d.
Platinum. — San Francisco, crude, $18.50 ^oz.; New
York, ingot, $20.50 $ Troy oz. Platinum ware, 75@$1.00
$ gram.
Quicksilver. — New York, $40.00@$40.50, large lots;
London, £7 5s Od; San Francisco, local, $38.00@39.00 $
flask of 75 fts.
Babbitt Metal. — San Francisco, No. 1, lOJc; No.
2, 8c; No. 3, 7Jc; extra, 17Jc; genuine, 32}c; Eclipse, 35c.
Solder.— Half-and-half, 100-Ib. lots, 22.00c; San Fran-
cisco, Plumbers', 100-ft. lots 19.15c.
Nickel.— New York, 55@60c f> ft.; ton lots, 40@47c.
Zinc. — Metallic, chemically pure, <ft ft., 50c; dust, $ft.,
10c; sulphate, fllb, .04c.
Aluminum.— No. 1, 99%, small lots, 37c $ ft.; 100 fts..
35c; 1000 fts. 34c; ton lots and over, 33c, Pittsburg. No,
2, 90%, small lots, 34c; ton lots and over, 31c, Pittsburg.
STRUCTURAL MATERIALS
Iron. — Pittsburg, Bessemer pig, $17.35; gray forge,
$14.60; San Francisco, bar, 3Jc $ ft., 3|c in small quan-
tities.
Steel. — Bessemer billetB, Pittsburg, $26.00@$27.00;
open hearth billets, $27.00@$28.00; San Francisco, bar,
7c to 13c B ft.
White Lead. — Per ft., in kegs: 500 fts. and over at
one purchase, per ft., 7|c; less than 500 fts., per ft., 8c;
in 25-ft. tin pails, Jc $ ft. above keg price; in 1 and 5-ft.
tin cans, 100 fts. per case, Jc per ft. above keg price.
Dry Lead. — In bbls., 1 ton and over, 7Jc; do. in kegs, 8c.
Lime.— Santa Cruz, $1.35 country, $1.25 city f! bbl.
Cement.— Imported, $3.00@4.00 f( bbl.; California,
carload lots, $1.80 f. o. b. at works; small lots, $2.10 $
bbl. in sacks, 4 sacks to bbl., 5c for each sack returned.
Lumber.— (Retail): Pine, ordinary sizes, $24.00®
25 00; extra sizes higher; redwood, $28.00@30.00; lath, 4
feet, $4.50@5.00; pickets, $21.00;shingles, $2.50 for No. 1,
and $2.25 for No. 2; shakes, $13.50 for split and $15.00 for
sawed; rustic, $28.00®35.00.
Nails. — This week the basic prices are: Wire, $2.77;
Cut, $3.25. Meanwhile the nominal quotations per keg
(list prices) are: No. 20d to 60d, Wire, $3.35; Cut, $3.55;
lOd to 16d, Wire, $3.45; Cut, $3.35; 8d, Wire, $3.50; Cut,
$3.50; 6d and 7d, Wire, $3.60; Cut, $3.60; 4d and 5d,
Wire, $3.70; Cut, $3.70; 3d, Wire, $3.85; Cut, $3.85; 2d,
Wire, $4.10; Cut, $4.10. Special rates for carload lots.
GENERAL SUPPLIES.
Antimony.— New York, Cookson's, lljc; Hallett's,
12Jc; San Francisco, 1000-ft. lots, 14c; 300@500-fts. 12c;
100-ft. lots, 13c.
Bismuth.— Subnitrate, B ft., $2.10.
Bone Ash.— Extra No. 1, 5@6c $ ft; No. 1, 4@5c.
Borax. — Concentrated, 7@8c $ ft; powdered, 9@10c;
fused, 25@30c; crystal, 7c.
Candles. — Spear Brand, 16 oz. adamantine, 40s., lie
■ft set; 14 oz. adamantine, 40s., 10c; 12 oz. adamantine,
40s, 9c; 10 oz. adamantine, 40s, 8c; 16 oz. stearic, 40s,
12ijc f> set; 14 oz. stearic, 40s, 11 J; 12 oz. stearic, 40s,
lOJc; 10 oz. stearic, 40s, 9Jc. 100-case lots and over, Jc
less. Not less than 50-case lots, %c less. Boxes of 20s,
price Jc advance.
Caps.— 3x, $5.50@6 per 1000; 4x, $6.50@7; 5x, $8@8.50;
Lion, $9@9.50, in lots not less than 1000.
Chemicals.— Cyanide of potassium, 98%-99%, job-
bing, 23@24c ® ft.; carloads, 23@23Jc; in tins, 30c; soda
ash, $2.00 $ 100 lbs.; hyposulphite of soda, 3@3}c $ ft.;
caustic soda, in drums, 3@3Jc$ft.; Cal. s. soda, bbls.,
$1.10@1.20fU001bs.; sks., 90c@$1.00: chlorate of pot-
ash, 12@13c; nitrate of potash, 6}@7c; caustic potash,
10c in 40-fb. tins; roll sulphur, 2J@2jc; powdered sul-
phur, 2}@2Jc; flour sulphur, French, 2j@ — c; alum,
$2.00@2.25; California refined, li}@2c; sulphide of iron,
8c $ ft.; copper sulphate, 5J@5}c; chloride of lime, spot,
$2.50@2.75; sulphuric acid, in carboys, 66% B, lij@2c $
ft. ; nitric acid, carboys, 8c ift ft.
Chromium.— 90% and over, $ ft., 80c.
Fire Brick.— Domestic, carloads $ 1000, f. o. b., fac-
tory square, $25.00; soap and split, $22.50; arch and
wedge, $27.50; skewback, $30.00; circle, $32.00.
Fire Clay.— Domestic, H ton 2000 fts. in 125-ft. bags
double, and dry ground, f. o. b., factory, $8.50.
Fuse.— Triple tape, $4.00 per 1000 feet; double tape,
$3.55; single tape, $3.10; Hemp, $2.85; Cement No. 2,
$3.10; Cement No. 1, $2.75, in lots of 3000 and up.
Coal. — San Francisco, coast, yard prices : Welling-
ton, $8.00; Seattle, $6.50; Coos Bay, $5.50; Southfield,
$8.00. Cargo lot, Eastern and foreign: Wallsend, $7.50;
Brymbo, $7.50; Pennsylvania, hd., $14.00; Scotch, $8.00;
Cumberland, $13.00; Cannel, $8.50; Welsh Anthracite,
$13.00; Rock Springs, $8.50, long ton; Colorado Anthra-
cite, $14.00. Coke, $11.50 per ton in bulk, $13.00 in
sacks; Sunnyside, $8.50, long ton.
Oils. — Linseed, boiled, bbl., 50c; cs., 55c; raw, bbl.,
48c; cs., 57c; Lucol oil, boiled, bbl., 48c; cs., 53c; raw-
bbl., 46c; cs., 51c. Kerosene — Pearl, per gal., 17Jc; As-
tral, 17Jc; Star, 17Jc; Extra Star, 20Jc; Eocene, 19Jc;
Elaine, 26c; Water White, in bulk, lie; Mineral Seal,
iron bbls., 18c; wooden bbls., 20Jc; cs., 24c; Mineral
Sperm, cs., 26Jc; Deodorized Stove Gasoline, bulk, 14£c,
do., cs., 21c; 86° Gasoline, bulk, 25c; do., cs., 31c; 83°
Naphtha or Benzine, deodorized, in bulk, per gal., 12Jc;
do., in cs., 19c; Lard Oil, E. W. S., bbl., 75c; cs., 80c;
Neats-foot Oil, pure, bbl., 63c; cs., 78c; Sperm, crude,
63@68c; Natural White, 68c; Bleached, do., 68@73c;
Whale Oil, cs.. 52@67c.
Litharge.— Pure, in 25-ft. bags, 9J@10Jc $ ft.
Magnesium.— Pure, N. Y., $1.60.
Manganese. — Black oxide, -ft ft., 2f(2>4c.
Mercury. — Bichloride, f, ft., 77c.
Molybdenum.— Best, $2.75 f, ft.
Phosphorus.— American, f, ft., 70c.
Powder. — F. o. b. San Francisco : No. 1, 70% nitro-
glycerine, per ft., in carload lots, 15Jc; less than one ton,
17£c. No. 1*, 60%, carload lots, 13Jc; less than one ton,
15Jc. No. 1**, 50%, carload lots, lljc; less than one ton,
13|c. No. 2, 40%, carload lots, 10c; less than one ton,
12c. No. 2, 35%, carload lots, 9Jc; less than one ton,
lljc. No. 2**, 30%, carload lots, 9c; less than one ton,
lie. Black blasting powder in carload lots, minimum
car 728 kegs, $1.50 per keg; less car lots, $2.00 per keg.
Red Lead. — 500 fts. and over at one purchase, B •*>•
7Jc; less than 500 fts., 7|c.
Silver.— Chloride, B °z-i 90c@$1.00; nitrate, 54c
Sodium.— Metal, f, ft., $1.
Tungsten.— Best, $ ft., $1.20.
Uranium— Oxide, $ ft., $3.40.
Notices of Recent Patents.
Among the patents recently obtained through Dewey, Strong &
Co.'s Scientific Press United States and Foreign Patent Agency,
the following are worthy of special mention :
Acetylene Gas Machine.— No. 805,091. Nov. 21. 1905. J. P.
Philpott, "Windsor. Cal. This invention relates to an apparatus for
the production of acetylene gas. It consists in the combination and
arrangement of parts whereby a limited amount of calcium carbide
is intermittently delivered into a body of water, and the released
gas is transferred to a gasometer, thence transmitted to a point of
use. It is the object of the invention to provide a compact, portable,
gas generating apparatus, comprising a receptacle superposed
above a water chamber and in conjunction with an open bottom gas-
ometer movable in circumferential liquid seal, and in conjunction
therewith of an automatically operating valve, whereby the dry
carbide will be delivered into the water in small quantities and at
intervals dependent upon the rapidity with which the gas Is con-
sumed
Dish Washing MACHINE.— No. 805,118. Nov. 21,1905. C. S. Cham-
berlain, Emeryville, Cal. This invention relates to an apparatus
which is designed for the rapid cleansing of dishes as they are
returned to the kitchen after being used. The object of the inven-
tion is to provide an improved mechanism for rapidly handling con-
tainers within which dishes are placed for washing, means for
transferring the containers through a series of washing tanks, means
for transferring the washing water from one to the other, means for
admitting steam to heat the water and to prevent the vacuum and
the noisy operation which usually accompanies such use of the
steam.
Shingle gauges and Clamps. — No. 805,094. Nov. 21, 1905
G. Reed, Fort Bragg, Cal. This invention comprises a gauge and
bracket made of a single piece of spring metal bent to provide two
arms capable of a limited movement toward and from each other,
one arm made Bat and straight and adapted to be inserted beneath
a shingle, the other having its end bent first outwardly from the
first-named arm and then bent inwardly and abruptly and approxi-
mately at right angles to the first-named arm, and said inwardly
bent end extending across the end of the second-named arm and ser-
rated and forming a jaw member to grip the upper side of the
shingle, and means to compress the arms.
21
Mining and Scientific Press.
December 2, 1905.
Your
Engine
will run even if in
the grip of poor
packing, but it will do
5% more work if packed
with
"EUREKA"
and save one-half in a season's run.
Have you an Indicator Wheel and
Planimeter? It will pay you to get our
catalog and easy terms of payment.
JAS. L. ROBERTSON & SONS, w f.uoh
Patented
EUREKA"
Trade Mark
This diamond
in Red is on ,
Genuine
Eureka"
only.
Westinghouse=Parsons
Steam Turbines
High efficiency, large overload capacity
and low operating cost are among the
factors leading to the rapidly increas=
ing demand for these turbines by the
largest power plants in the country.
The Westinghouse Machine Co.
Works: East Pittsburg, Pa.
Designers and Builders of
Steam Engines, Qas Engines, Steam Turbines,
Also Builders of The Roney Mechanical Stoker
Address nearest Sales Office for Particulars
New York, 10 Bridge St. Chicago, 171 La Salle St. Pittsburg, Westinghouse Bldg.
Boston, 131 State St. Cincinnati, 1111 Traction Bldg. Philadelphia, Stephen Girard Bldg.
Charlotte, N. C, South Tryon St. Denver, 512 McPhee Bldg. Atlanta, Equitable Bldg.
San Francisco, Hunt, Mirk & Co., 614 Mission St.
General Electric Company
Your Mine
will be best lighted (if you have a D. C. circuit) by our
D. C. MULTIPLE ARC LAMP.
Some of its many advantages are:
Practically indestructible edgewise winding;
Absence of shunt coils, cotton=covered leads or any other
insulation that will burn out; .
Low maintenance cost; small number of parts.
Our A. C. lamps are equally pre=eminent.
New York Office:
44 Broad Street.
Principal Office: Schenectady, N. Y.
Sales Offices
in all Large Cities.
DEWEY, STRONG k CO., Patent Agents, San Francisco, Cal„ and Washington, D. C.
The best of their kind
Aetna
Dynamite
Lion Fuzes
and
Blasting Machines
1
Use them and your blasting troubles will
be few
Send for the booklet
"Firing Blasts by Electricity'
> ii
ALL MADE BY
The Aetna Powder Co.
143 Dearborn St., Chicago
2401— T— 8, soon K. Y. A. Water- Wheel Alternator.
Water-Wheel
Alternators
ANY SIZE
For POWER,
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RAILWAY and
TRANSMISSION
SERVICE.
Write for information.
f^QpJ COMPANY, A^^S
\J% AMPERE, N. J. ^*T
SAN FRANCISCO OFFICE:
FREMONT AND HOWARD STREETS.
DENVER OFFICE:
525 — 17TH STREET.
WE MANUFACTURE
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EAMES
2020 MARKET STREET,
TRICYCLE CO.,
SAN FRANCISCO, CAL.
Los Angeles Representatives, SWEENEY SURGICAL MANP'G CO.,
212 S. Hill Street.
Whole No. 2368.-vS!;^„Er?4cl
San Francisco, Cal., Saturday, December 9, 1905.
THREE DOLLARS PER ANNUM.
Single Copies, Ton Centi.
The Mining Camp Knocker.
There are probably few mining camps that have
not among their residents men who make it their
particular mission to look into the business affairs of
other people. Not a mining deal is negotiated or
consummated into which this insidious individual does
not attempt to inject himself in some manner. When
he is not " in on it," he, on occasion, manages to meet
prospective purchasers or examining engineers and
gratuitously offers advice. In a recent instance of
this kind the "city knocker" approached several
engineers, who were strangers in the town and
country and who were engaged in making an exam-
ination of a large mine, and said earnestly that he
hoped, for their own good, the good of their clients
and for the good of the country, that they would not
pay too much for the property they were examining,
as he was aware that the price asked was far in ex-
cess of the value of the mine. He was assured by the
engineers that they felt abundantly able to protect
themselves against any attempt to take advantage
of them in the manner suggested, and plainly indi-
cated that they needed no further advice in the
matter. The following day the same fellow ap-
Front View of Gold Dredger Near Golden, Colo.
the output, this is manifestly unfair, as the output
may cease. Nor is an arbitrary valuation on the
entire property more just, safe or satisfactory. The
assessment is usually adjusted through conference of
the mine officials and the State and county officers at
a figure mutually agreeable to all concerned.
ONE of the most important factors in the trans-
portation problem in the desert regions of the
Southwest is the automobile. There are scores of
these modern vehicles in the Nevada, Arizona and
southern California deserts. It is less than a year
since the first long automobile trip was attempted in
eastern Nevada, on which occasion the auto broke
down. To-day these vehicles are in use as a means
of quick, convenient and comfortable travel between
camps where the railroad has not been built, and,
without doubt, the auto is going to prove of great
value in penetrating the undeveloped and unpros-
pected regions of the desert, where heretofore the
burro and prospector afoot were the only invaders of
the desert silence and solitude.
Gold Dredger Cutting Into the Gravel, Near Golden, Colo.
proached the engineers again and invited them to
dine with him. An excuse being offered — and prob-
ably expected — he produced a report on another
property, in which he modestly admitted he was
somewhat interested, and urged them to look into its
merits, as it was far superior to the one they were
engaged upon. It seems needless to add that they
gave the knocker and his property scant courtesy.
There are ways to invite the attention of engineers
and capitalists to mines without condemning other
pruperty, whether justly or not; but these methods
of doing legitimate business have not seemingly come
to the notice of the knocker.
ONE of the vexed questions of the West is the fix-
ing of a proper valuation on mining property
for the purpose of taxation. Most of the States
have no laws defining how a mine shall be valued. If
the valuation be on the improvements, this can usu-
ally be arrived at, as far as its cost is concerned; but
the equipment of a mine deteriorates rapidly —
usually figured at 10% annually; but, in the event
of the mine becoming exhausted, the plant is of small
value, unless it can be used at once in the operation
of another property. If the valuation be fixed by
Tailings Stacker of Gold Dredger Near Golden, Colo. (See Page 398.)
392
Mining and Scientific Press.
December 9, 1905.
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
ESTABLISHED i860.
Published Every Saturday at 330 Market Street, San Francisco, Cal.
Telephone, Davis 771.
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J. F. HALLORAN
.Publisher
SAN FRANCISCO, DECEMBER 9, 1905.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
ILLUSTRATIONS: Page.
Front View of Gold Dredger Near Golden, Colo 391
Gold Dredger Cutting Into the Gravel, Near Go] len, Colo 391
Tailings Staoker of Gold Dredger, Near Go'den, Colo 391
The Yucca Palm, Common on the American Desert 396
A Desert Dry Lake in California 396
A Borax Town on the Mojave Desert 396
The Cholla— A Desert Cactus 397
Greasewood Bush and Desert Flowers 397
Improved Generator Valve 39b
Ingersoll-Sergeant Compressors at the Simplon Tunnel 399
Mine Timbering in an Open Cut 400
EDITORIAL:
The Mining Camp Knocker 391
Fixing a Valuation on Mining Property 391
The Automobile as a Mode of Transportation in Desert Regions. 391
Constructive Work in Mining 392
What Is a Fissure Vein ? 392
Increase in Every Branch of the Western Mining States 392
The New California Inland Sea 393
Annual Assessment and the Multi-Claim Bolder 393
Gold Mining on the West Coast of Africa 393
Important Relationship Between Geology and Mining 393
Working a Mine by the Open Cut Method 393
MINING SOMHAEI 402-103-404-405
LATEST MARKET REPORTS 406
MISCELLANEOUS:
Concentrates ...394
The Relation of Geology to the Mining Industry 395
Measures We Carry About With Us 395
The Great American Desert 396-397
Gold Dredging in Colorado 398
An Improved Generator Valve 398
The Prospector 398
The Simplon Tunnel 399
Mine Surveying 399
Ingenious Mine Timbering 400
The Little Giant Tape Splice 400
Excavating for the Government 400
Mining and Metallurgical Patents 401
Obituary 405
Dividend 405
Personal 405
Commercial Paragraphs 406
Books Received 406
Trade Treatises 406
New Patents 406
Notices of Recent Patents 406
WHERE constructive work is left to the inex-
perienced workman, he usually builds strong
enough and well enough; but the engineer will build
equally well, while not using nearly the amount of
material that the other has employed. The result is
a saving in first cost, with a probability that, all
things considered, the engineer's constructive details
are superior and that the whole structure is better
adapted to the use to which it is to be put than that
designed and built by the ordinary workman. It is
much the same in underground work. There are
excellent workmen — men who thoroughly understand
every branch and detail of the mining work, and who
are capable of performing anything that is to be done
in a mechanical way in the mine, from mucking to
running a machine drill or building a chute — and yet
these men are often utterly incapable of initiative.
Show him an ore body and give him orders to mine
it out, and the work will be performed expeditiously,
cheaply aDd well; but, this exhausted, he knows not
which way to turn, and looks helplessly to some one
to direct him further. His methods are good, or
were considered good in the past, but he is not aware
that better methods, possibly, have been devised, as
he has never heard of them. The miner, like the super-
intendent and manager, must keep abreast of the
times, and this can only be accomplished by either
travel and careful observation, or reading. The
former is not generally possible, but the latter always
is, and the working miner may learn mueh to his
advantage by the weekly perusal of a good mining
journal, in which he will find the latest things in min-
ing and metallurgical practice, and which will keep
him in touch with the entire mining world. This is
the age of progress and improvement, and when a
man, whether miner, merchant or farmer, com-
placently reaches the conclusion that his methods
can not be improved upon and that he knows it all,
he has outlived his usefulness.
What Is a Fissure Vein?
Simply described, a fissure vein is a fracture in the
crust of the earth, which has been filled by minerals
infiltrated into the fracture and deposited along its
course, either in open cave-like spaces, or in a mass
of crushed debris, derived from the attrition and
crushing of the vein walls. A fissure vein presents
so many phases as to render its description in all of
its characteristics a somewhat complicated matter.
Many geological text books contain sketches of
"fissure veins," which show the successive deposi-
tion from the walls toward the center of minerals of
various kinds, including silica and calcite, with vari-
ous sulphides of iron, lead, zinc, copper, etc., giving
the vein a comb-like structure and a banded appear-
ance. Such veins exist, and in some mining dis-
tricts are numerous, but ordinarily the_ fissure
vein fails to show this banded structure due to suc-
cessive deposit of different kinds of minerals.
More commonly the vein is bounded by definite
walls, but the vein material is massive, showing little
or no evidence of successive deposition, but rather
an alteration of the crushed materials derived from
the walls by the movements which have fractured a
zone of the country rock within the limits of the
walls and reduced much of it to a fine granular or
pulverulent condition. Thisicrushed rock, being easily
attacked by the waters passing through the fissured
zone, is decomposed, its soluble portions dissolved
out, and the minerals thus removed are replaced by
other minerals — usually silica (quartz) and one or
more of the sulphides of the base metals, with
sometimes gold or silver, or both. Calcite, baryta,
fluorite, siderite and other minerals are also occa-
sionally precipitated from these percolating solu-
tions. Not infrequently the character of the fissure
is distinctly influenced in its structure by the wall
rocks. Thus in a slaty formation, the vein may have
a slaty or ribbon structure, and in a massive rock,
the vein is more apt to assume a massive structure,
or a brecciated appearance, there being many pieces
of more or less silicified rock which are clearly por-
tions of the walls which have not been finely crushed,
but which have nevertheless been altered by the min-
eralizing solutions.
How hard, firm rocks can be thus altered so that
they no longer bear any physical resemblance to the
original rock, can be readily understood by those
who have visited geysers and hot springs in volcanic
regions. There steam and sulphurous gases may be
observed issuing from vents in the rock, and rocks
recently fallen from surrounding cliffs within reach of
the influences of these vapors and heated waters are
found altered to kaolin, or otherwise changed. If
similar waters pass upward through a vent in
earth's crust — a fissure — the adjoining rocks will be
altered in a similar manner, and in time the vein
minerals with which we are familiar will be deposited.
This is accomplished probably by upward moving
waters, but in most instances where mining is now
being carried on the process of vein formation has
long since ceased, or is on the wane, and the water
circulation is downward. This downward circulation
produces other changes in the vein, and we find what
is termed secondary enrichment, which is so beauti-
fully exemplified in many copper mines, although
this process is known to affect other classes of veins
as well.
There is much difference of opinion among miners
as to the direction of flow of underground waters.
Some believe these waters are forced into the work-
ings from below, others think they came from above,
but it is fairly safe to assume that in most instances
the ascending waters are hot, and that where the
water is cold it has no direct connection with the
sources of heat found in great depth. Much depends
on local conditions. The waters in the deepest mines
in California, nearly 3000 feet vertical, are not over
80° P., while in the Comstock Lode, Nevada, water
having temperatures varying from 100° to 158° F.
are found far above the 3000 level — between 1000 and
2000 feet from the surface, as well as deeper. The
surface waters of the Comstock lode are cold. At
Steamboat Springs, Nev., the attempts to mine have
been futile, because the scalding waters and steam
issue at the surface. In Colusa county, California, a
quicksilver mine having what would be good payable
ore under ordinary conditions cannot be worked
owing to the intense heat of the mine workings and
the existence of scalding hot waters at numerous
places in the mine. In time, doubtless, both this and
Steamboat Springs and similar places will become
cold, and then the miner of the distant future may
find profitable employment in the exploitation of the
mineral deposits existing in these and like veins else-
where.
In shaft sinking water often comes into the work-
ings from below with considerable force, occasionally
in such abundance as to temporarily drive the miners
from the shaft, when only by vigorous and long-
continued pumping can the water be controlled.
Later this flood is overcome and the sinking proceeds
as before; the "spring" is passed and sometimes
completely drained and comparatively little water is
encountered, when, without warning, another gush-
ing spring is encountered, and the same process of
pumping must again be gone through. This proves
conclusively that the water is due to downward flow
and is the result of tapping a fissure, seam or crevice
which had communicated with a water-saturated
zone.
The downward flow of surface water usually
changes the physical appearance of the vein to a
great extent. Oxides and carbonates abound
where were originally sulphides and silica, the
change from the oxidized zone to the sulphide being
sometimes gradual, but often abrupt.
Veins are also altered greatly by movement of
the walls and pressure which took place long
after the vein was formed. Solid masses of ore are
crushed to the condition of sand, or broken into
millions of fragments, large and small, these being
generally re-cemented by silica or calcium carbonate,
or both, again forming a solid vein, but the evidence
of brecciation may generally be plainly seen. Some-
times a gouge forms on one wall, occasionally on
both. At one time it was thought that where the
gouge occurred on the foot wall only it was due
to fine particles of suspended clay, and other mineral
matter, settling by gravity on the lower, or foot
wall, from the solutions which filled the fissure. This
theory contemplated an open crevice, and there may
be examples of its occurrence, but ordinarily clay
selvage, gouge, etc., at the side of a vein is due
wholly to movement of the walls. This selvage may
be but a fraction of an inch thick, or it may be many
feet. On the Mother Lode of California gouge often
occurs up to 40 feet in width — usually a mass of
crushed, foliated, lustrous black slate, soft and easily
mined, but extremely dangerous, swelling and crush-
ing timbers and filling the excavations completely
if not promptly held. Often these great gouges con-
tain rounded masses of quartz, sometimes weighing a
ton or more, but usually not over a hundred to two
hundred pounds in weight. These are striated and
polished, and show every evidence of heavy pressure
and attrition. Occasionally these "boulders " are rich
in gold and sulphides, and a fruitless search is made
for the main vein from which they came, for it is
evident that these masses of quartz originally oc-
curred as kidneys, or lenses of ore, in an irregular
vein, and that the tremendous movement to which
the zone of fracture in which these lenses occurred
was afterward subjected, resulted in obliterat-
ing the line of original crushing with its walls,
if it ever had any. and the lenses become in-
volved in the broad mass of crushed slate in
which they occur without regularity or definite
relation to each other. This has then become a
fissure vein, though originally it may not have
been such, but merely a succession of detached lenses
formed along a common strike and dip, in a zone of
crumpling, but not of clean fracture. The conditions
here described are only a few of the many which may
be observed in fissure veins, as it is a subject about
which volumes have been already written and much
still remains to be said, as knowledge is gained of the
process of ore formation and alteration.
THE mining States of the West are already sum-
marizing the results of the mining industry
within their respective borders during the past year,
and it is pleasing to note that there has been a ma-
terial increase in almost every branch. Labor trou-
bles have been few in the mines the past year,
and this has been an important factor, when com-
pared with the conditions of the previous year. At
December 9, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
393
no time in the past has the mining industry generally
been more prosperous than at present, and with
every promise of a continuance of the existing indus-
trial conditions throughout the United States and
the world, which make such heavy demands on the
products of the mines, an increase in mining activ-
ity may be anticipated, so that the year 1906 is
more than likely to show an important increase
over the output of the present year. The market
price of all metals used extensively in the industries
is high, which naturally gives added stimulus to the
efforts at increased production.
The New California Inland Sea.
Since the Colorado river has been steadily pouring
its Hood into the depression in southern California
known as the Salton Basin, there has been much
speculation as to the influence which this newly cre-
ated inland sea may have on the climate of that por-
tion of the Southwest. There are those who believe,
and insist, it will entirely change the climate of
southern California, and the adjoining portion of Ari-
zona, and that an abundant rainfall will result, with
correspondingly increased fertility of the soil and
consequent prolific crops; also, that the temperature
of the country will be much more bearable, particu-
larly during the heated midsummer.
Such conclusions cannot fail to be pleasing to those
dwelling in southern California, and particularly in
the desert section, but there is seemingly nothing to
warrant such hope of climatic change. That there
will be a large and increasing evaporation from the
surface of the Salton sea there is no doubt. It
already covers several hundred square miles of terri-
tory, and as all attempts to turn the Colorado aside
have thus far failed, and apparently will continue to
fail, the Salton sea will doubtless increase in area,
and may in time cover all of the territory lying below
the level of the ancient shore line, so sharply defined
about a great portion of this desert basin.
The original area of the ancient sea was over 4000
square miles, and its greatest depth was about 260
feet, at Salton. This lowest portion of the basin was,
as a matter of course, the first to be covered by the
recent flood. The water is, perhaps, 25 feet deep at
the deepest place. The statement that the Basin
will soon be filled to the level of the ancient shore line
is without reason, for it will take several years to
accomplish this, even if the entire Colorado river
pours steadily into it, uninterruptedly, winter and
summer. The river has been flowing into the Basin
now for months, and only a comparatively small por-
tion of the area is covered. Each additional foot in
height now means a much larger superficial area,
and from now on the rate of rise must be compara-
tively slow.
The evaporation in that arid region is very great,
particularly during the summer months, and in time
it may be that evaporation will equal the inflow, for
as the Basin fills up the sand will again be deposited
along the side of the river channel, and eventually
build a spit across the breach through which the
river now flows as it did before. When this occurs,
should the flood continue until then, evaporation
would soon begin to exceed the inflow, and the Salton
sea would in time become once more dry.
The evaporation from the surface of this great
sheet of water is taken up by the dry desert atmos-
phere and carried over the country in the direction
of the air currents. Unless this moisture-laden at-
mosphere strikes a mountain range of much lower
degree of temperature than the moist air itself, or it
encounters other and colder currents of air, no pre-
cipitation will take place in that part of the country.
Should the heavily laden clouds drift toward the
snow-crowned San Jacinto or San Bernardino moun-
tain ranges, prompt and heavy precipitation must
result, which may be more damaging than helpful in
its effects. The desert region is not noted for its
gentle showers, but rather famous for violent -storms
and torrential down-pours, as evidenced in every
mountain canyon and boulder-strewn wash of the
desert country.
There is no evidence that the shores of the Salton
sea, or the region within many miles of it, enjoyed a
more salubrious climate when the ancient lake was
full than it does now.
The Great Salt Lake in Utah was a much larger
sheet of water in former times (Lake Bonneville)
than the Salton Basin has ever been, and there is
little evidence to show that that section of the Great
Basin was more fertile in consequence than under the
present conditions.
The anticipated change of climate, due to refilling
of the Salton Basin, is without substantial support.
Should the Basin continue to fill, the most important
change that will occur will be that a hot and abso-
lutely dry depression on the Colorado desert will have
become a body of water which may be in part navi-
gable for small and fiat-bottomed vessels. The shores
will present various conditions. In places there will
be broad stretches of shallow water with exposed
mud flats, between the higher land and deep water.
In other places the water will be deep enough to
float large vessels close to the shore. The ancient
shore line presents all of the varied and interesting
phases of lake shores elsewhere. There are sand
spits and dunes and barrier reefs, enclosing shallow
lagoons with mud flats; abrupt, rocky shores, and
low-sloping flats. Where canyons entered the Basin
from the mountains, carrying their torrents of flood
water and laden with debris varying from sand to
cobbles and boulders, the characteristic results may
be plainly seen, and these evidences of nature's forces
on the old shore line are still so well preserved as to
make it seem that a month had scarcely elapsed
since the waves washed the shores of this ancient
lake.
There are mines in almost every mountain range
and hill in the vicinity of the Salton Basin, particu-
larly on the easterly and northerly side, and the
development of these mines may be facilitated by the
filling up of the lake. Whether or not the Basin will
ever be completely filled yet remains to be seen. It
is very far from it at present, at any rate.
Annual Assessment and the Multi-Claim
Holder.
There is in some mining districts a very strong
prejudice against the relocation of unpatented, but
"unrepresented," mining claims, by any one, and
those persons having the temerity to act within their
legal rights, by relocating claims upon which no
assessment work has been done within the past year,
or perhaps within several past years, usually are
made to feel the displeasure of those who consider
the first locator entitled to all he claims without
complying with the full requirement of the law, and
in many instances with no part of it. It is fortunate
that such sentiment can only prevail in those dis-
tricts where mining activity is at a standstill, or
near it, for in those districts where mines are being
profitably operated the demand for claims is so
great as to overrun the dog-in-the-manger policy, so
evident in the stagnant camp. In former years much
contention, and not infrequently bloodshed, resulted
in the adverse claiming of mining ground. More re-
cently the mining laws are better understood, and
the lawless, bulldozing element which was often such
a pronounced feature of mining camp life in the early
days is much less in evidence. Gun fighting "miners"
are seldom seen these days, even in the richest camps.
Men understand their legal rights better and the
communities which grow up about newly discovered
mines insist upon law and order. As a result rich
and poor mines alike are developed, and the fortu-
nate owner of a claim that opens up well under
development can retain his possessions without em-
ploying a small army of armed men of known bad
reputation to hold it. The sluggish, or forgotten,
camp is the one where the oldest inhabitants usually
hang on tenaciously, locating all unclaimed ground,
and relocating for themselves all claims abandoned
by more wide-awake and progressive men, who have
gone elsewhere to seek fortune. These "oldest in-
habitants " quietly lay claim to everything in the
district, some of them claiming more than a hundred
locations, while performing less than a hundred dol-
lars worth of work on the entire lot. They patiently
wait for some capitalist to come along and buy them
out — an event which rarely, if ever, happens. No
policy could be more detrimental to the progress of
the district, nothing more suicidal to the best inter-
ests of the selfish multi-claim holder. He does noth-
ing to improve or develop his property himself, yet
is unwilling to give up a foot of " his ground " with-
out reward to'any one else who will. The develop-
ment of a single paying mine in such a district would
enhance the prospective and speculative value of
every other claim in it, but so long as these oldest
inhabitants continue to claim and hold the principal
portion of the district, and they singly and collectively
threaten personal violence to any one who presumes
to assert his legal rights by relocating claims which
have not been properly represented perhaps for
years, just so long will such districts remain unde-
veloped and obscure, and capital will continue to look
elsewhere for investment.
There are numerous districts of the character here
described, and they are found in most, if not all, of
the Western mining States. The lack of large suc-
cess in any of the mines of the district is probably
largely responsible for such a condition, but so long
as such conditions prevail there is little likelihood of
any mine in the district becoming noted or profitable.
It does not follow that there does not exist in such
districts mines well worth equipment and develop-
ment, but the attitude of the selfish claim holders is
a great drawback, and the best prospects are likely
to remain idle for years, as they have in the past.
In such districts as these the claim holders should
make an effort to have the possibilities of their sec-
tion known to the world, and to offer the most liberal
terms to capital to induce some one to undertake
the development of the best claims. Should one such
venture prove a success it would be comparatively
easy to dispose of other promising claims at advan-
tageous price and terms.
/^.OLD mining on the west coast of Africa is begin-
'»"» ning to assume a more substantial appearance,
and the industry is evidently growing and prosper-
ing. In 1880 the output was about $150,000; in 1889
it had increased to $500,000. Prom that year to 1902
it fluctuated between $100,000 and $500,000, but sud-
denly increased in 1903 to over $1,250,000, and in
1904 was further increased to about $1,750,000, the
latter increase being due chiefly to addition of mill
capacity at some of the mines. Gold is obtained by
quartz mining and dredging. Both of these branches
of the industry are on the increase in the West
African territory. The climate is exceedingly bad,
and a prolonged life of white men in that portion of
Africa is almost impossible. The expenses of man-
agement are necessarily high, as competent men are
required for the conduct of various branches, and
good men will not accept such positions except at a
high salary, with frequent vacations. Whito miners
will do well to remain away from the Gold coast, for
the opportunities for employment are few, and all
engineers go there under contract, yet, in the face of
the topographical and climatic disadvantages, mines
have been equipped and developed, and railways
built, and other engineering work accomplished, but
at a great cost of money and human life.
THERE are those who believe geology is of little
practical benefit or usefulness in mining. It is
needless to say that those entertaining such opinions
have no knowledge of geology themselves and rep-
resent a class of people whose opportunities have
been either limited or neglected. Geology has a
most important relationship with mining, as has
been evidenced many times. The work of trained
scientific geologists in several of the largest and
most productive mining districts of the United
States has been of distinct and almost incalculable
value to miners. Instances of this may be men-
tioned in the iron mining region of Minnesota and
Wisconsin; Leadville, Colo.; Cripple Creek, Colo.;
the Comstock Lode, Virginia City, Nev. ; and other
fields in Nevada; in the bedded ore deposits of South
Dakota and in the zinc-lead fields of Arkansas and
Missouri. Many more instances of the value of geol-
ogy to mining might be instanced, but the general
and most valuable features have been pointed out by
Prof. A. C. Lawson, a distinguished geologist "who
read a paper on this subject before the recent con-
vention of the California Miners' Association, at
Nevada City, Cal., and which is republished herein in
full.
IN working a mine by open-cut method, some note
should be taken of probable future requirements
and the work performed accordingly, but usually the
future is left to care for itself, particularly in the
early history of a mine.
394
Mining and Scientific Press.
December 9, 1905.
r
CONCENTRATES.
It is customary to line large steel stacks with bricks
to prevent the steel being corroded by the gases passing
through the stack.
Diabase may be either fine or coarse, and ranges in
color from almost black to light green shades. It some-
times contains mica and quartz.
The only method of obtaining the actual capacity of
an air compressor is by the use of indicator cards, from
which the effective stroke in the air cylinder may be ob-
tained.
. . wwww
There is no material advantage of vertical over
horizontal engines or compressors for any purpose, ex-
cept' that the vertical type requires much less floor
space than the horizontal type,
wwww
A VERY small percentage of copper ore in a furnace
charge will act as a carrier for all the gold and silver
present. Attempts to smelt pyritic ores without some
copper, result in a loss of precious metals in the slag.
The only material difference between compressors
built to operate at comparatively low altitudes — 5000
feet or less — and those to work at high altitude is a
change in the relative diameters of the steam and air
cylinders.
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Asphaltum from different localities varies greatly in
mineral composition, as indicated by analysis and by
the action of heat, alcohol, naphtha and turpentine on
samples. Asphaltum is found in many places and in
rocks of no particular age.
Repeated successful experiments in various parts of
the United States have abundantly proven that a weak
solution' of copper sulphate will clear water polluted with
algje and other organic substances. When applied in
proper amount the water is usually clear within four
days from the time of application.
Calcined magnesite is employed largely in lining
open hearth furnaces, cement kilns and where a refrac-
tory heat-resisting material is required. Magnesite is
white or cream colored, unless colored by impurities,
such as iron oxides, etc. It is usually hard, dense and
brittle, but also occurs white, soft and earthy.
- , &<&&&
It is difficult to anticipate the cost of mining by
analogy. The fact that mining and milling is accom-
plished at a cost below $1 per ton at one mine is not a
safe- indication that these costs may be duplicated at
another. ' On the other hand, under more favorable
conditions, the cost per ton may be reduced somewhat,
wwww
When it becomes necessary to take samples under
the floor of a level, it is generally a good plan to shovel
away all overlying debris and to get the floor as clean as
possible, and then by a line of block holes blast out a
trench across the vein or deposit, thus exposing new
ground, from which samples may be taken with a mini-
mum chance of being salted.
There are scores of patents issued in the United
States and other countries of the world for various modi-
fications of the cyanide process.. In selecting a process,
seek one which will treat the ore by rational and inex-
pensive methods, and not one full of complex and diffi-
cult operations, wherein the profit, if any be possible, is
wholly absorbed by the expense of treatment.
w www
There still remain twenty-two days in 1905 within
which assessment work may be done on unpatented
claims for the year 1905. If "work is started at any time
prior to midnight, December 31, 1905, the claim owner
may legally hold his claim against all comers, but he must
continue the work so commenced to a completion at
once or it will not avail as against the relocator.
wwtb&
The minerals occurring most commonly in pegmatite
dikes, those of unusually coarse crystallization, are:
Quartz (white, colorless, pink and bluish); orthoclase
(feldspar); microcline (feldspar); muscovite, biotite, phlo-
gophite and lepidolite (micas); tourmaline of various
colors; eassiterite, wolframite, beryls, apatite, columbite,
spodumene, topaz, and other minerals. The most of
these minerals have economic value when separated
from each other.
A windlass for a prospect shaft should be made of
good^trong material and be so constructed that it may
be readily taken down and set up again at another place
without injury to . the windlass. This can be accom-
plished by framing the uprights so that they will enter
tenons in the cross-sills of the platform, where they may
be secured by the use of wedges. This obviates the
necessity of spiking the uprights to the frame, to which,
however, there is no objection if the windlass is never to
be used elsewhere.
wwwtb
Monazite is a mineral mined for its value in thoria
content, which is used in the manufacture of incandes-
cent gas mantles commonly known as the Welsbach
mantle. The mineral monazite is mined chiefly in South
Carolina and North Carolina at present, but large
amounts are known to exist in the sands of granitic
regions elsewhere in the United States. Brazil and
Norway also produce monazite in considerable quantity.
It was worth in 1903 about $140 per ton. This is from
the latest available official report.
www*
There are several minerals which resemble molyb-
denite. That approaching it most nearly in appearance
is micaceous hematite, a foliated, mica-like variety of
specular iron, but this may be readily distinguished
from molybdenite. Micaceous iron has a dark red
streak, while the streak of molybdenite is metallic lead
gray, with no trace of red. Graphite is also much like
molybdenite in appearance. Both leave a trace on
paper, but the molybdenite leaves a more bluish trace
on paper, and on heating gives off sulphurous fumes,
which graphite does not.
Heavy binders of timbers may be useful in a stamp
mill to hold the mortar blocks firmly, if the blocks be
made of two or more large timbers, but if the blocks be
built up of planks solidly spiked together, the binders
may be dispensed with. The battery posts, too, should
be given a very firm foundation, and not placed on a
timber or sill which is supported by mud sills several
feet apart, as this will cause the cam shaft to become
very unstable and to vibrate to such an extent as to re-
quire the bearings to be capped and held in place by
bolts, thus increasing the friction and consumption of
power.
A piece of silver-plated copper plate placed on the
spreader box of a concentrating machine of the belt
type, and fixed immediately under the pipe carrying the
pulp from the launders down to the spreader box, often
collects quite a quantity of amalgam that has escaped
from the apron plates. Mercury becomes very finely
divided, and concentrating machines do not always save
this with the sulphurets. "Concentrates" has known
of considerable quicksilver accumulating in the settling
boxes underneath the machine, which had apparently
floated from the wash box, and finally settled in the still
water of these settling boxes.
wwww
An arrangement frequently seen at large shafts for
handling skips quickly, when it is necessary to change
from one kind to another, for instance, from ore skip to
water skip, is a traveler running on a track passing
near the shaft, the traveler being provided with a means
for attaching to skip. When the skips are to be changed,
the hook on the traveler is made fast by chains or other
means to the skip and it is swung out from the shaft and
pushed to one side, suspended above the floor. The
other skip is then made fast to the cable and placed in
the shaft. The upper section of guides is so arranged
as to swing to one side on a hinge to permit the skip to
be readily taken from the shaft, and replaced when
necessary.
wvww
MICROSCOPES for the examination of rock slides are
of special construction, made specially for this purpose.
The instrument must not only be fitted with a readily
adjustable set of Nicol prisms, but must have a number
of other accessories — a wedge-shaped slip of perfectly
clear quartz, set in glass, a selenite plate, mica plate,
etc., beside which the instrument must be provided with
a mechanical stage, by means of which the object to be
examined may be shifted forward or backward, or to
the right or left, and [the entire stage must revolve
about a central point, and be accurately graduated into
degrees. There are other movements and attachments
to the petrographical microscope, but the above men-
tioned are the most important.
W VV W
Where a quartz mill is situated on an unpatented
quartz lode location, any substantial improvements or
extension of the mill, or work on the mine roads, flumes,
tramways, etc., may be applied to assessment work. In
fact, any work, improvements or installation for the
betterment of the mine is legitimately applicable to annual
assessment account. The placing of movable tools,
etc., on the property, or the wages paid a watchman,
are not applicable to assessment. The same kind of
work and improvements as above mentioned, made on a
patented claim, one of a group of which some are unpat-
ented, may apply as assessment on the unpatented
claims. In this case the several claims of the group must
adjoin, and the work or improvements made must
clearly be for the benefit of all the claims constituting
the claims of the group. One hundred dollars worth of
work must be done or improvements made for each un-
patented claim of the group.
wwww
The East Lode of California, as it is generally de-
scribed, is that mineral belt extending in a northwest
direction, and about 8 to 10 miles east of the so-called
Mother Lode, and approximately parallel with the lat-
ter. The wall rocks of the mines of the Mother Lode
are clay slates, amphibolite schist, serpentine, diorite,
diabase, and at a few localities gabbro and rocks of
granitic type, though south of Placerville, El Dorado
county, so far as known, no granite. The slates have
been assigned to the Jurassic, and are known as the
Mariposa beds. The East Lode occurs in association
with clay slates, mica schists, quartzites, limestones,
dikes of felsite, diorite and diabase, and much of it in
grano-diorite. The metamorphic rocks are much older
than the slates of the Mother Lode, and are known in
California as the Calaveras formation. This so-called
East Lode is not the most easterly lode in California, for
there are two or more belts or lodes still east of the East
Lode, and between it and the crest of the Sierra Ne-
vada, and other lodes on the east slope of the Sierra.
West of the Mother Lode is also a gold belt and a cop-
per belt. The latter is the more sharply defined and ex-
tends for many miles, though not continuously, along
the low foothills bordering the eastern edge of the San
Joaquin and Sacramento valleys.
wwww
Solid iron sulphide in gold-bearing veins is usually
but not always auriferous. In some very good mines
this mineral occurs in a semi-granular condition with lit-
tle gangue mineral, and containing very little gold.
This is a notable feature of some of the fissure veins of
the San Juan country, and it is also known to occur in
Yavapai county, Arizona, and elsewhere. Heavy sul-
phide ore is occasionally crushed in a stamp battery and
amalgamated, but it is rarely that over 60% of the
values in free gold can be thus extracted at one oper-
ation. Occasionally the greater part of the gold in such
ore is coarse, when a high percentage of the gold values
may be thus saved, but to obtain the fine gold the ore
must be crushed very fine and agitated for some time in
contact with the quicksilver. Numerous attempts have
been made at various places to do this, but usually such
efforts are of an experimental nature, and "Concen-
trates " knows of no place where this is the regular
practice. The nearest approach to it is the slow-drop
Gilpin county, Colorado, mill method, where the ore is
crushed in a mortar with high discharge and the ore
given abundant opportunity to come into direct contact
with the mercury before it escapes through the screen.
In some of these mills no concentrates are made as they
are not considered sufficiently high grade to yield a
profit.
wwww
As to the discharge capacity of a siphon, the enquirer
having neglected to give the length of his siphon, it is
impossible to answer his question as to the amount it
will discharge. The following information may be of
some service: For a straight iron pipe, the formula for
head required for a given discharge is
v2(l+54d)
H :
m!d
So
m
W(i-
'Hfrn^d
. +54d)
Where,
H = m and head in feet.
1 = length of pipe in feet,
d = diameter of pipe in feet,
v = velocity of flow in feet per second,
m = a constant varying for different diameters of
pipe and values of
fd'H
(l+54d)
From the above, assuming in this case that the length
of the siphon pipe is 100 feet and head 5 feet, the dis-
charge should be approximately 33 cubic feet per min-
ute, or 2474 gallons. By applying the above formula,
the probable flow for other heads may be computed, but
inasmuch as the constant (m) changes with the condi-
tion of head and length, these factors must be known
before an accurate determination can be made. One of
the points in connection with this matter is of the
utmost importance, and that is the fact that any results
obtained by the use of such formula as given above
apply only to the condition of a siphon in which no air
is allowed to collect at its crest, for as soon as such a
condition begins to exist the flow is necessarily reduced.
wwww
In the issue of Nov. 25, "Concentrates " stated that
" where a vein crosses one end of a location and then
swerves and crosses a side line, it is restricted in the
extralateral right to that portion of the vein between
the crossed end line and the point where the vein crosses
the side line where the plane is projected downward in
the direction of the dip, and parallel with the crossed
end line." This is good law (Argonaut Con. M. Co. v.
Turner, 23 Colo., 400; 58 Am. St. Rep., 245; 48 Pac, 685;
Beik v. Nickerson, 29 L. D., 662). A locator of a new
mine is not always able to trace out definitely the exact
strike of his location, and he may mistake its true direc-
tion to such an extent that the vein may pass outside of
one, or even both, side lines. In such event the extra-
lateral right is limited to that portion of the vein
between the points where the vein crosses the side line
or lines, and this right is defined by drawing planes par-
allel with the end lines, downward in tne direction of the
dip, as stated in the "concentrate" above referred to.
Should this claim be designated "A," and another
claim "B, " through which the vein passed, after leav-
ing the side line of "A," should be located upon this
extension of "A's" vein, then the extralateral right
would be determined by priority of location, which in
this case would be "A." "A" would take his extra-
lateral right as indicated, and " B " would be entitled to
all of the vein within his claim and the extralateral
right as usual until it reached that section of the vein
belonging to " A." "B " would then take up his right
beyond " A's " zone and pursue it on its downward
course, until he intercepted the right of a second senior
location, should any such exist. In the Cceur d'Alene,
Idaho, cases there are several such instances of inter-
rupted extralateral rights, due to curving strike and
other causes.
December 9, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
395
The Relation of Geology to the Mining
Industry.
At the recent convention of the California Miners'
Association, held at Nevada City, Cal., A. C. Law-
son, professor of geology at the University of Cal-
ifornia, delivered the following address on the rela-
tion of geology to the mining industry:
Mining is one of the most ancient of the arts. The
relics of the most ancient civilization afford abundant
evidence of the existence of mining operations.
Long before the gold of Ophir embellished the temple
of Solomon, gold and precious stones, silver, copper and
other metals were known to the older civilizations of
Assyria, Egypt and Mycemc.
The bricks of Babylon were cemented with asphalt
mined on the shores of the Caspian.
The fire worshipers of Persia burned natural gas. The
Greeks mined silver-lead ores of Laurium to the extent of
51,000,1)00 cubic yards tiOO years B. C. The tin mines of
Cornwall and the copper mines of Spain were well known
to the Romans. Tbo mines at Freiberg have been
mined continuously since the eleventh century and those
at the Hartz mountains since the ninth century.
With this long experience mining has gradually im-
proved its methods of extracting the metals and other
useful substances from the rocks of the earth's crust.
Like other arts, its methods and its conclusions are
empirical. As an art it has been unconcerned with the
genesis of the deposits which it exploited. It sought but
rarely to comprehend the laws governing their occur-
rence, or the conditions which determine their varia-
tion of character. It concerned itself with the matter-
of-fact search for and exploitation of valuable deposits.
Its most sweeping generalization even to this day is,
" gold is where you find it."
In contrast with the antiquity of the art of mining,
geology is one of the newest of the sciences, the product
of the last century. The sciences of mathematics, as-
tronomy, botany, zoology, physics and chemistry were
well advanced before the science of geology came iDto
being.
It is in the nature of things an inexact science. Its
data are often vague — its hypotheses shifting. It deals
with the genesis and evolution of the earth's crust, of
which metalliferous deposits form an exceedingly
small part.
It is as to the relationship between this hoary art, ex-
tending back into the mists of antiquity with its ages
of accumulated experience and this up-start science of
the century, juvenile to a degree, tottering along like a
child in the maze of world mystery, grasping at stray
facts for support, that I am requested to address you
this morning.
Whatever may be that relationship, it would be very
natural to suppose that geology was founded on mining.
The revelation of the rocks, their structures, relation-
ships and history, as afforded by mining operations,
might well be supposed to have stimulated that healthy
curiosity into the causes of things which is the basis of
all science, and thus bring about the beginnings of the
science of geology. This assumption, however, would
not be true. Geology historically is not an outcome of
mining. The rocks which first awakened inquiry were
not studied underground. Its first principles were not
discovered by candle light, but in the open daylight
along the seashores, in the stream gorge, and on the
mountain peak.
It was entirely unconcerned with economic questions.
The earliest controversies of the sciences were about
rocks. You will all recall the famous controversy of the
Neptunian hypothesis versus the Plutonic, carried on by
Werner and by Hutton, the representatives of two dif-
ferent schools of geology, which arose at the beginning
of the science. William Smith of England was con-
cerned with the principles of stratigraphy. With the
study of the strata, the discovery of fossils created wide-
spread interest, and the paleontological side of geology
has remained to 1 his day one of its most interesting
phases. The study of stratigraphy has also led to the
recognition in England of the occurrence of coal in the
form of strata. Gradually, and incidental to its main
purpose, geology took cognizance of metalliferous de-
posits, their character, form, size, mineralogy, origin,
etc., along with other earth phenomena. In later years,
particularly in Germany, Scandinavia and the United
States, the body of facts and theories arising from these
observations became so large that a special branch of
geology, known to-day as economic geology, has grown
up to care for them. This is particularly seen in Gov-
ernment service. All the nationalities of the earth, and
in the case of Germany, for example, the various sub-
divisions of the nation, have established State survey
for the purpose of mapping the geological formations
of the countries and so delimiting those formations
which are liable to carry valuable ores and other sub-
stances from those which are in all probability barren.
In our own country we have a national geological sur-
vey maintained by the United States Government at an
annual cost of approximately $1,000,000, but besides this
the great majority of the States maintain their own in-
dividual geological surveys. California alone of the
larger States, having rich mineral resources, maintains
no geological survey and is making no systematic effort
to map its geological formations in the way that other
States are doing.
But this activity on the part of economic geology is
not confined to State established institutions. There is
a growing body of men who are devoting their lives to
what may be fairly called the profession of economic
geology. They have their own literature and their reg-
ular periodicals, dealing solely with economic problems.
During the first forty or fifty years of geology in the
United States we followed, as in many other things,
British traditions and were engrossed in pure geology,
ignoring economic considerations. But with the win-
ning of the- West and the opening up of the great mining
camps, geology was drawn irresistibly into the study of
ore deposits, and we have to-day a literature and a body
of men devoted to geological problems of this kind
standing second to none.
But these studies, while undertaken primarily for the
economic interest that inheres in them, have frequently
yielded generalizations of a purely scientific import. In
this connection, speaking of the profession of economic
geology, it may be well to discriminate between the
economic geologists proper and the mining engineer, and
both of these from the "expert " whose name is legion.
The economic geologist is not concerned with the win-
ning of the precious metals or any other substances
from their native deposits. He is concerned primarily
with the understanding of their geological relations. It
is the function of the mining engineer to see to their
economic exploitation.
In any consideration of the relation of geology to min-
ing, the first idea that becomes uppermost is the deep
obligation of the science to the art. In this branch of
inquiry geology has been very greatly indebted to min-
ing operations. The study of ore deposits was only pos-
sible underground. Geology, in itself, could never have
undertaken the necessary operations to reveal the rela-
tionships necessary for it's inductions.
The sequenco of ores in depths as illustrated in the
copper and tin mines of Cornwall; the relation of ore to
wall rock as illustrated in the metasomatic replacement
in the Mother Lode; the relation of gossan to original
deposits; the general association of ore deposits with ig-
neous rocks; the theories of ascending and descending
solutions and of lateral secretions; the distinction of de-
posits due to dissolution from those due to crustification,
and from impregnations so ably discussed by Posepmy;
the principle of secondary enrichment now so generally
recognized, particularly in our copper deposits; the dis-
tinction between aqueous deposits and magmatic segre-
gations illustrated in the nickel mines of Sudbury; all of
these valuable ideas, principles and facts are due prima-
rily to the facilities offered to geologists by mine op-
erations, so that they might have access to the under-
ground conditions for the purpose of study. They are
not merely contributions to the lore of mining, they are
important additions to geological science. I say, there-
fore, that the most important fact in the relationship of
geology to mining is the indebtedness of the former to
the latter. But, while geology is deeply indebted to
mining, the service has been well repaid. Geology to-
day is contributing much to mining in various ways.
Let me mention some of these: First, in the matter of
prospecting. The mapping of geological formations as
conducted by geological surveys is one of the prelim-
inary steps in the systematic prospecting of any region
rich in mineral resources. The prospecting for the
precious metals by the aid of geological mapping and in-
struction is well illustrated in the conditions which pre-
vail at Tonopah to-day. There the miners and mine
owners are deeply concerned with the results of geo-
logical investigation. For, in the greater part of the
camp the ore bodies do not outcrop at the surface, but
are buried by lava flows and these lava flows must be
pierced by shafts to reach the formations in which these
lodes occur; and it requires geological skill to determine
whether or not the so-called lode bearing porphyry has
been reached in such sinking. The prospecting for zinc
in the upper Mississippi valley has been greatly bene-
fited by geological guidance. In the Lake Superior
region the great iron mining companies concerned in the
finding of new iron deposits systematically employ ge-
ologists to do their prospecting in new districts on geo-
logical lines. Coal is usually prospected for on strati-
graphic principles. And you are all familiar with the
fact that in search for mineral oil or petroleum the
theory of the anticline is now generally recognized, but
the recognition of the anticline in the field can be safely
made only by the skilled geologist. Another way in
which geology subserves the purposes of mining is the
substitution of world-wide experience for the local ex-
perience of any particular mining camp. In particular
camps miners who have been engaged for years in ex-
ploitation of mineral substances become keen and expert
in the recognition of the indications of ore, and their
experience, growing upon them naturally, leads them
to apply that experience to new conditions in remote
or neighboring districts, where, perhaps, the geological
conditions are totally different, and it requires a man
who is familiar with mining experience as regards the
occurrence of ore deposits, at least, to interpret a new
field.
Another way in which geology is of service to mining
is in the pursuit of ore bodies already known. Ore
bodies are troubled in various ways, particularly by the
faulting of the region. Lodes and deposits of all kinds
are very commonly interrupted by faults, so that the
extension of the ore body may be a matter of grave
doubt, and in these cases it is the advice of the skilled
geologist which will prove most efficacious in bringing
a solution of the problem. The famous Saddle reefs of
Bendigo and the similar structures in Nova Scotia and
in the Broken Hill region are instances of the occur-
rence of lodes with structures with which the miner is
usually unfamiliar, but with which the field geologist is
at home.
Next, as regards the genesis of ore deposits.
It may be urged that theoretical questions as to the
genesis of deposits do not concern the practical miner.
But I have generally observed that whether or not it is
a matter of practical concern, the miner is usually much
interested in the inquiry as to what the genesis of his
ore may be. Whether they be veins or segregations
from igneous magmas, or the products of contact meta-
morphisms, are questions which fall within the domain
of the geologist and not the miner, and he alone can
satisfy the very laudable curiosity of the miner in this
respect.
As regards the history of deposits, the geologist must
be called in. These deposits are often complex, and
there are many stages in their deposition, and the in-
terpretation of this complicated history is not a matter
which the miner is usually able to deal with.
In litigation, also, geology is very frequently of
service to mining. The courts and opposing counsel
are generally desirous of knowing the opinion, at least,
of geological experts in the matters in dispute.
In the matter of legislation, too, the abundance of
geological terms in the statutes governing mining oper-
ations shows the large influence which geology has ex-
ercised in this direction, and this influence, if I may be
pardoned for saying it, might be still farther extended
to the simplification of our existing mining laws.
Another way in which the influence of geology in min-
ing is seen is the growing tendency of large mining cor-
porations to employ geological experts, not only in the
direction of exploratory work, but in the actual direc-
I tion of mining operations. This is well exemplified in
j the great Anaconda mine at Butte, Mont., where the
planning of new underground operations is directed
from the office of the consulting geologist of the com-
pany.
Large concerns, like the Guggenheims, are employ-
ing the best geological expert advice that they can get
in the advancement of their projects. The Southern
Pacific railway maintains on its staff not simply a geol-
ogist, but a corps of geologists, to enable them to dis-
criminate valuable mineral lands from agricultural
lands. And if a private corporation like the Southern
Pacific railway finds it profitable to follow such a policy,
it would seem at least expedient for the State of Cal-
ifornia to follow suit, and to establish and maintain a
geological survey for a similar purpose.
But one of the finest illustrations of the co-operative
helpfulness of geology towards mining is seen in the in-
vestigation which is being conducted at the present time
by the United States Geological Survey under the di-
rection of G. K. Gilbert, into the vexed problem of the
reconciliation of hydraulic mining and agricultural in-
terests. Mr. Gilbert is one of the most eminent geolo-
gists at the present time living. He has been concerned
throughout his life in the investigation of problems in
pure geology. Yet, at the call of the miners of Cal-
ifornia, he gives his great talents to the study of this
most important problem.
One of the most curious things in the relationship be-
tween miners and geologists is the " odium geologicum. "
The cause of this is difficult to fathom. In many camps
geologists are ridiculed, not as experts, but as inexperts.
The probable reason for this is two-fold. In the first in-
stance, there are, beside the real geologists who under-
stand their science, a vast number of so-called experts
who impose upon mining communities, and who, by
their ignorance and mistakes, bring the science of ge-
ology into disrepute. The second probable cause of this
prejudice against geologists on the part of miners is to
be found in the natural and wholesome suspicion of
theories, but theories are a symptom of thinking. Some
thinking is weak and ineffective, so some theories are
pernicious in their tendencies. Science makes headway
only by the erecting of hypotheses and their critical ex-
amination. Theories are not an evil in scientific hands.
There they are understood. The trouble is that many
miners take them for gospel. Miners themselves are
not wholly free from theories. Such theories as " iron
is the mother of all the metals " is a theory which is
pretty commonly entertained in Cornwall and among
Cornish miners, is a theory which it would be dif-
ficult to parallel in the science of geology; the theory
that " values always increase with depth " is almost
universally entertained by the prospectors. When a
miner runs a crosscut tunnel he indulges in a theory.
The mine owner in putting up money to develop a mine
indulges in a theory. How often his theory is in error
I leave you to judge. There are 20,000 mining claims in
this State. Every one represents a theory. How true
they are I leave you to judge.
From what I have said it is apparent that the chief
feature of relationship between geology and mining is
one of mutual benefit. This should be the keynote of all
efforts in the development of the mining resources of
the country. There should be a spirit of co-operative
helpfulness on the part of the art of mining and on the
part of the science of geology. The miners should not
he suspicious of the natural ambition of geology to do as
much as it possibly can in its own way to bring about
the full development of the country's resources. And
geology, on the other hand, should remember its deep
obligations to mining, and pursue with still more en-
thusiasm and with greater energy the problems of
economic geology with which the mining industry is
concerned.
Measures We Carry About With Us.
Written for the Mining and Scientific Press by
Matt. w. Anderson.
If a mining man were called upon to judge of a dis-
tance on the surface of a mining claim he would form
a close estimate by pacing it off. Yet, when one has
had experience with numbers of estimates made in
this way, he will be surprised at the difference in re-
sults. Most men will pace off the ground, calling
each step a yard. It may, or it may not be. If one
takes such a step as he would "ordinarily, it is more
likely to be 28 or 30 inches. Knowing that his step
is less than a yard, he is apt to make a longer step
when measuring; and, almost invariably, he will make
steps of more than a yard in length.
There are many measures we are accustomed to
make by one part or another of the body. Thus we
say of a horse he is so many hands high — a hand
measuring in this sense 4 inches. But many palms
are not so wide. It is probable more would measure
3J inches than 4. Then we have the cubit — the meas-
ure handed down from the pyramids of Gizeh. 3500
B. C, 20.64 English inches, and the Roman cubit of
17.4 English inches. The cubit is the measure from
the elbow to the end of the middle ringer and its
variation in the past was due to the variation in its
length in different individuals. "
It is oftentimes of very great convenience to make
measurements with various parts of the body and
with alittle" mtetligent'fore'thougli't tine "may'make
these with accuracy. One should consider those he
396
Mining and Scientific Press.
December 9, 1905.
might have occasion to use, find out what they are
on his body and commit them to memory. First of
all we take the pace. This is preferably made in the
step one usually makes. Let one pace off a number of
steps, measure the distance and strike an average.
Then one may wish to know how far he may reach
with his arm outward from the body, how great the
distance when his arms are outstretched their full
length. One should know his height and it is often
well to know the height from the ground to the level
of one's eyes. One should make a table similar to
the following and commit it to memory :
Pace 28 inches
Thumb joint 1 H inch
'Palm 3% inches
Thumb and palm 6 inches
Hand span 8!4 inches
Forearm 18 inches
Reach of arm 26 inches
Stretch of arms a feet 8 inches
Height » feet 6 inches
Height of eyes 5 feet 3 inches
Length of foot 11 inches
The Great American Desert. — I.
Written by George J. Bancroft.
A very large part of ten States and three Terri-
tories is generally known as the Great American
Desert. All that region where the rainfall is less
than 15 inches per annum may be considered part of
the desert.
The word " desert " is such a harsh one and car-
ries to many hearers an idea of such a hopeless waste
that it has been customary to speak of this territory
as the " arid regions. " I prefer to use the word
desert because of its brevity, but it must be under-
stood that I use it very broadly and apply it to that
territory which is only just a little too dry to raise
ordinary crops without irrigation, as well as to that
country where conditions are more severe.
Using the word in this way, the desert is one of
the most productive areas in the Union in proportion
to its population. About 2,300,000 people have
found good homes and profitable employment on the
desert up to date and the day of the desert is only
just beginning. In this wonderful stretch of country,
blessed with the finest climate on earth and with
uniformly rich soil, with water sufficient to reclaim a
large acreage of it, with mineral deposits surpassing
the treasures of Solomon, and with grazing poten-
tialities sufficient to feed the herds of a nation, the
desert is one of the most valuable and the least gen-
erally appreciated possession of the American peo-
ple. It is an empire within itself.
I have heard sincere but untraveled men say that
the United States must soon be looking abroad for
additional territory to meet the growing demands of
an increasing and ambitious people, while right here
within our borders we have the best field imaginable
in which to expend our surplus energies for the next
two or three generations. The Steppes of Russia,
which not only supply the fatherland with grain, but
export 400,000,000 bushels yearly, have a climate
more arid than two-thirds the land known as the
Great American Desert. Vast areas in China and
India, which teem with millions of people, are much
the same in general characteristics as that which
our census report shows have an average of seven-
eighths of a man to the square mile.
Our desert differs from the stereotyped impression
of a desert, in that the whole area is broken and
and beautified by mountain ranges of all sizes, heights
and kinds of contour. Many of these ranges are high
enough to receive a very generous precipitation of
rain and snow on their summits and some of the most
beautiful little garden patches in the world are to
be found clustered at the bases of such mountains
where the little streams run out upon the thirsty
land. Near the main ranges and larger streams
there are very large areas under cultivation, as, for
instance, the beautiful stretch of irrigated farms ex-
tending along the eastern slope of the Rockies and
extending down the valleys of the Arkansas and
Platte rivers.
The desert-grown fruits and melons are among the
best known. The combination of damp soil and dry
air gives a crispness to peaches, pears and melons
which can not be duplicated elsewhere; moreover,
the desert gardener is relieved of the eternai fight
against worms, moths and disease which besets him
who gardens in less isolated localities. The desert is
the natural home of the sugar beet. To produce a
high percentage of sugar, an abundance of sunshine
is necessary, and to produce a large tonnage per
acre, rich damp soil is necessary, while the beets are
growing. The irrigated desert supplies these con-
ditions. The. desert produced $20,000,000 of sugar
last year.
The driest country in the United States is -the
southwest desert surrounding Death Valley, Cal.,
and it has 2J inches of rainfall per annum. From 2J
to 15 inches of precipitation, the land must be irri-
gated more or less to produce the ordinary crops,
but even our driest land is used for grazing, and
there are places in Nevada and Utah where the
rainfall is only 5£ inches annually, that are so favor-
able to equine existence that the wild horses are a
pest.
The topography of the desert country is admirably
adapted to agriculture. It is a country of broad,
gentle sloping valleys and picturesque little
ranges. The soil of the valleys is deep and rich.
The mountains relieve the monotony of the landscape.
One can not travel through this vast, arid country
in any direction without thinking what a beautiful
country it would be if only there were a few more
inches of annual rainfall, and one of the tantalizing
things about it is that all through the central part
of the arid country there is unmistakable evidence
that the country was comparatively well watered,
and not so many centuries ago either.
To the casual observer, the desert is apt to be un-
interesting. The tourist, eager with interest to
catch every view from the car window in California,
pulls down the shade and reads a novel in Nevada.
Yet the desert is as varied in its flora and fauna
as any other area of equal size, and in scenic attrac-
tions, I think, there are few localities that can sur-
pass it. Certainly, there is nowhere else where such
brilliant rock coloring can be seen, and nowhere else
where the soft lavender, grays and purples of the
desert can be reproduced. I am speaking now of
the ordinary every-day sights of the desert, such
views as the Colorado canyon, the eastern scarp of
the Sierra Nevada, or the view from the Panamint
range, where at a glance one may see the lowest
national place (Death Valley, 350 feet below sea
level) and the highest national place (Mt. Whitney,
14,897 feet above sea level), now recognized as being
among the foremost scenic wonders of the world.
Although the flora of the desert presents a gray,
The Yucca Palm, Common on the American Desert.
barren and uninteresting appearance to the super-
ficial glance, a little closer scrutiny reveals a won-
derful variety of species and a great range of utili-
ties. Take the so-called sagebrush country, for in-
stance. There are thirty or forty species of brush
which go to make up the gray verdure commonly
called sagebrush, and most of them are in no way
related to sage at all. Among the commoner varie-
ties may be mentioned the following: Shad scale,
which sheep will eat, but which is not very good pas-
ture; white sage, which is the best winter horse feed
possible, and which cattle and sheep are also fond of;
sheep clover, which, as its name implies, is the finest
desert sheep feed; black sage, which is not good for
much except that it grows high and strong and is
seldom covered by snow; rabbit bush, whose succu-
lent green stalks give nourishment to the jackrabbit
when all else is dry and parched, and whose roots
contain a gum which is practically the same as the
finest South American rubber; greasewood, which
makes a good camp fire, and whose roots also con-
tain rubber gum and salt bush, which is an "all
around" feed.
As the tourist gazes from the car window he sees
a monotonous unchanging sea of grayish green,
while the dweller of the desert looking out of the next
window sees an ever-shifting panorama, replete with
interest to the sheepman or cattleman, horseman or
miner, whichever he may be. As a general princi
- vmuM—
i^^^^^^^^^B
A Desert Dry Lake in California.
A Borax Town on the Mojave Desert.
December 9, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
397
pie, it may be said that stock feed on the desert is
far more abundant than water, and that herein lies
the great future of the desert as a grazing country.
As wells are sunk and reservoirs built, more and
more live stock can be profitably raised. It is not
that stock die of thirst on the desert, when the range
is overstocked, but they eat all the feed close to
water, and then as they must walk farther and farther
from grass to water and back again, they suffer from
thirst and starvation combined. With frequent wells
and windmills I venture to say the present number of
stock on large parts of the desert could be increased
ten times.
The rubber industry mentioned above gives prom-
ise of becoming one of importance. There is a prac-
tically unlimited supply of raw material and an ever-
increasing market. There is one factory already in
operation at Buena Vista, Colo., and several others
are planned.
Among interesting flora may be mentioned the
beautiful everlasting flowers found in the Mohave
Desert, and near Death Valley, and probably many
other places. They grow in great profusion after an
unusually heavy rain, and have the most beautiful
colors imaginable. The accompanying picture of
flowers is from the Death Valley country.
On the deserts of southern Idaho and Oregon the
desert mahogany reaches its maximum growth. The
wood resembles the true mahogany in all essential
particulars, except that it has a most unfortunate
habit of "checking" during the seasoning process.
There is an old man near Wells, Nev., who seems to
have learned how to season the wood properly, and he
makes most beautiful canes, which he sells for a liv-
ing. These trees make the best firewood I have ever
seen, not excepting the ironwood of the Australian
knowing little desert rats gather pieces of these
cacti in great quantities and place them around their
burrows. They have tiny secret trails through the
mass, and they know full well that no wildcat will
follow them nearer than the edge of their abattis,
that no coyote will ever undertake to dig them out.
One of the most horrible tortures invented by the
Apaches was to roll their naked victims in a bed of
chollas (pronounced cho-yas).
In this same southern country are found the palo
verde, whose bright green trunk and general appear-
ance seem to indicate an abundance of water, yet
they grow in the driest places, where the rainfall is
only 2 to 5 inches per annum. Then there is the "nig-
gerhead" cactus, whose outer skin is as water-tight
as rubber, but whose inner pulp is almost as juicy as
a watermelon. The juice is not very pleasant to the
taste nor very wholesome, contrary to the popular
story, but it beats going dry a whole lot, and i can
imagine that one who was about "all in" with thirst
might find it sweet and delicious. Some lives have no
doubt been saved by the niggerhead cacti, but as a
rule the man who knows enough of the desert to pick
out a niggerhead knows enough to find the water
holes.
One of the oddest, and I presume rarest, bushes I
ever noticed on the desert is the screw bean bush,
I have seen them, during August, 15 miles from any
known water. Whether they really impart hydro-
phobia with the'r bite or not is a question I can not
positively answer, but all the people who live in that
section of the country believe they do, and there is
no dpubt that coyotes, wildcats and dogs occasionally
" go mad " in the localities inhabited by the hydro-
phobia skunk.
I always thought the "side winder" rattlesnake
was a good deal like the hoop snake, a creature of
the fancy, until I saw one; then I realized that he
was simply the result of evolution. For the ordinary
snake to travel he must have something to wriggle
through, such as grass or brush or rocks. Put a
snake on a sidewalk and he can hardly progress at
all. In southern Nevada, Arizona and on the Mohave
desert of California, there are many areas so barren
that the bushes are many feet apart and the inter-
vening ground is a baked claypan as hard and smooth
as a sidewalk. It is here that the " side winder "
lives. I can not exactly describe his mode of loco-
motion except that he holds his head up straight,
well off the ground, and travels sideways at a good
rate. A close inspection of his tracks showed that
he lifted first one end and then the other and threw it
forward, finally flopping over his middle, but in ac-
tion his motions were too quick to decipher. The
The Cholla— a Desert Cactus.
Greasewoud Bush and Desert Flowers.
desert. One cord of desert mahogany is equal to a
ton of good coal.
Another interesting desert tree is the pinon, which
produces the most tasty and wholesome nut that
grows. The Piute and Gosiute Indians use these
nuts as a staple article of diet. In central Nevada
they grow to the size of peanuts and could be gathered
by hundreds of tons, yet I have never seen any but
the small Mexican nut on the Eastern market.
Many parts of the desert are clothed with a heavy
growth of timber, and profitable lumber enterprises
flourish; in fact there are 120.000,000 acres of wood-
land on the desert, of which 75,000,000 acres are val-
uable for lumbering. I only aim to touch here and
there on some matter that arrested my attention in
traveling through the desert mines, believing that
these same subjects may interest others.
One of the noticeable characteristics of the
desert flora is, that north of latitude 37° the flora is
practically destitute of thorns, except on the eastern
slope of the continental divide, while south of latitude
37° thorny plants are in the majority. In southern
Arizona and Sonora it is said that there are 400 dif-
ferent varieties of brush, and 399 have thorns, while
the remaining one is poisonous to the touch. I can-
not vouch for the figures being exact, but the saying
gives an impression of the conditions.
The worst of the thorny plants is the Cholla cac-
tus, which is illustrated in an engraving on the
front page.. These plants have barbed thorns set so
closely as to resemble a thistle going to seed. The
which, so far as I have noticed, grows only in the
Saline valley, Inyo county, Cal., and the lower Colo-
rado river. The fruit resembles in form nothing so
much as the ordinary carpenter's screw. This valley
and the neighboring valleys, such as Death valley,
Panamint valley and Racetrack valley, I believe are
the hottest places in the United States in summer.
They have to shut down the borax works in the Sa-
line valley from July 15 to Sept. 15, because even the
Indians cannot work in the heat. For weeks the
mercury will stand from 110° to 125° in the shade —
and there is no shade.
Of the unusual fauna found on the desert I may
mention the Gila monster, the " side winder " rattle-
snake, and the hydrophobia skunk. The Gila monster
is a hideous spotted lizard about a foot long and
stubby in general appearance, which inflicts a
poisonous bite. There is a harmless lizard called the
chuckawalla, which looks much like the Gila monster
and which has a great fondness for living around
abandoned mines. It is a startling experience to
have one of these hideous lizards poke his head out
from between the cribbing just on a level with one's
hands or face, when one is climbing down a shaft and
can not jump away. The Indians say they are very
good to eat, but someone else can have my share.
The hydrophobia skunk lives only in the driest and
hottest parts of the desert. It is a pretty little ani-
mal, about the size of a kitten, and has a saucy way
of coming around camp in broad daylight. I have
often wondered how they existed so far from water.
"side winder" is distinguished from the other
variety of rattlesnakes on the desert by two horny
projections over the eyes. This snake is smaller and
more vicious than the so-called Black Diamond rat-
tlesnake (crotalus adamanteus).
It must not be thought that all the denizens of the
desert are as disagreeable as the three just men-
tioned. The commonest creatures on the desert are
probably the harmless little lizards, and next the
jack rabbit and next the coyote. Among the larger
animals, white tail deer are quite plentiful, and
antelope and mountain sheep may still be found.
Lynx and mountain lions are occasionally found, but
bears seem to prefer a moister climate. Wild
horses are by far the most numerous of all the larger
wild animals.
In Oregon, Idaho, Utah and Nevada one may see
wild horses by the thousands. Of late years the
packing companies have been buying them and they
are getting cleaned up. Five thousand head were
shipped from one station on the Central Pacific
railroad last year. What the packers do with them
is not given out, but rumor has it that they are
either converted by mechanical processes into
canned corned beef, or are shipped to France and
sold as horse meat. Anyway, it is a good thing
for the country to clean them up. They sprang
originally from small Spanish stock and it seems
impractical to breed them up, and, on the other
hand, they entice away the gentle horses of the ranch-
men. The fact that the desert supports these great
Mining and Scientific Press.
DECEMBER 9, 1905.
herds of wild horses, which have no hay or shelter in
winter, illustrates the undeveloped grazing resources
of the country. The far-famed Arabian horse is a
product of the desert, and, I believe, that the desert
bred horse of this country is the equal of the Arabian
in all respects and will soon be recognized as such.
In the Panamint range there are great droves of
wild burros, and anyone who thinks the burro is a
stupid, slow-going beast should see those wild jacks
bore holes in the atmosphere at the first scent of
danger.
Gold Dredging in Colorado.*
Written for the Mining and Scientific Press by
W. E. Thohne and e. J. Moore.
This article is not technical, but is devoted to facts
as we know them. Dredging is one of the easiest
methods of gravel mining, if all is favorable, but, like
all forms of mining, one must use care and business
judgment if it is to be a commercial success. A
great many investors seem to think all that is
required is a lot of gravel, some gold, aud water, and
then a dredger — and this combination will pay any-
where. This is often found to be not the case. In
Colorado six or seven months is the length of the
working season. This makes the cost excessive, for
the manager and superintendent's salary must be
paid for twelve months if you want to keep good men.
Also interest, taxes, etc., goon. All fixed charges
must be charged up to the short season. The cost
sheet would be about as follows for one dredger:
Cents.
Superintendence, per yard 0.81
General expense, management, etc., per yard 0.62
Taxes, insurance, interest, per yard , 0 41
Dredge crew, power and operating supplies, per yard .- 3.14
Repairs, labor, per yard 1.03
Supplies, repairs, per yard 3 08
Bullion expense, per yard 0.05
Total per yard 9.14
This shows excessive cost for most items on account
of this short working season.
In order to run this low, one must be within short
distance from Denver.
Dredging Districts. — First is Swan river, a branch
of the Blue. Here the first dredger was built in
Colorado by the North American Dredging Co., who
built two Eisdon and one Bucyrus dredger. Ground
was very tight, some large boulders and rough, hard
bedrock. The Bucyrus dredger is of the double-lift
type, with continuous bucket, which discharges into a
trommel, fines going into a sump and from there
raised by a large centrifugal pump into the sluices
that are on an auxiliary barge. This makes the cost
of operation excessive.
The Lambing plant, 2 miles below Breckenridge, a
type of shovel dredger built to work on a track on
dry land some years ago, was a failure, as values
were too low, with large boulders, etc., which ran
the operating expenses so high that it was aban-
doned.
During 1905 a dredger has been constructed in
French gulch, about 1 mile below Breckenridge.
This is an up-to-date dredger. It has some new
improvements and should be a success. This gulch is
not an ideal spot for a dredger by reason of the
rough, hard bedrock and spotty distribution of gold.
These obstacles have not been successfully over-
come as yet by any dredger, and when it is
done it will be a decided step in the right direc-
tion. Our knowledge of the Blue river points to
the opinion that any dredger proposition must be
gone into in a very thorough manner, as there is an
immense amount of large boulders to contend with;
also rough and hard bedrock, with low and spotted
values in most places.
On the head of the South Platte, at Fairplay and
Alma, is a lot of ground favorable for dredging, but
so far as known it is very spotted as to values, also
full of large boulders where the best pay lies. In the
few places a dredger can be run it will not pay, and
the ground is of a cemented nature, with a hard,
rough bedrock.
The Tarryall placers furnish some dredging
ground, but must first be proven as to values, boul-
ders, etc. The lay of the ground and water supply
are favorable.
The Granite placer district is not so favorable for
dredging.
In the Durango district on the San Juan river is
some ground that may make dredging profitable, but
in sampling that district some years ago we could not
find anything of high grade.
In northwestern Colorado there has been in opera-
tion for a short time a small dredger that has
reported pay. Lack of water, shallow ground and
low values make this of little worth as a commercial
investment. It will be very expensive to obtain a
sufficient water supply for even one dredger.
In the sand hills, on the eastern edge of San Luis
valley, is a vast quantity of sand that carries small
values in gold, reported at 5 cents per cubic yard,
but from tests made by us some time back we could
not find 1 cent per yard. So this has no commercial
value at present.
The most favorable dredging district so far devel-
*See illustrations on front page.
oped is on Clear creek, between Denver and Golden.
Here is a large area of gravel suitable for dredgers,
if values will warrant. A part has been tested and,
although the gold is fine, two dredgers are at
work for the National Dredging Co. and report
working at a profit. The three engravings appear-
ing on the front page illustrate the style of
dredger used there. They are the Bucyrus con-
tinuous bucket pattern and are of the latest type.
One new feature is the steel head gantry. One
engraving shows front struts, etc. This is built of
channel and angle iron, showing lowest cross bar
in center of gantry to be high. This will allow rais-
ing the digging ladder high, so buckets will clear
water. This is a good feature, lacking heretofore on
some dredgers.
The second engraving shows deck connection.
This gives a flexible joint which will allow for expan-
sion and contraction, and also allows stretch of guy
cables without any bad results.
A rear view is shown in the third illustration,
which also gives an idea of the size of the gravel.
Some new departures in style of gold-saving tables
have been tried, but as to their success we do not
know. Bedrock here is hard and rough in places,
and values in streaks. Up to this year dredging in
Colorado has not been a success financially.
There are a few other places in Colorado which
possibly may be favorable for dredging, but with
these we are not acquainted.
An Improved Generator Valve.
An improved form of generator valve has lately
been placed on the market, which embodies a number
of desirable and important features highly appreci-
ated by users. The sectional view herewith clearly
Improved Generator Valve.
illustrates the construction of the valve. One of its
principal features is the easy regulation of the spring
which holds the disc to its seat. This regulation can
be easily accomplished (while the engine is running),
and without in any way interfering with the proper
operation of the valve.
It is only necessary to loosen the thumbnut F when
the sleeve G can be screwed up or down, to loosen or
tighten the tension of the spring, after which the
thumbnut F is again tightened.
It has been found that gasoline engines work best
with the generator valve disc spring set at some par-
ticular tension; but as this particular tension cannot
be ascertained except by trial when the engine is in
operation, it is necessary that provision be made for
the easy adjustment of the spring while the engine is
running, which important feature will be found in
this improved form of generator valve. The lift of
the disc, and consequently the speed of the engine, is
regulated by means of the stem K, operated by
wheel J.
Another important feature in the design of this
valve is the light but strong construction of the disc.
One of the troubles experienced in generator valves
is the tremendous wear on the seat and the breaking
of the disc. To overcome this objection, the seat
opening in this improved valve is very large, the
area being considerably in excess of that of the
inlet A. It is not necessary, therefore, that the disc
be raised very far off its seat to permit a full charge
of air and gasoline to enter the cylinder. The move-
ment of the disc being but a trifle, the shocks caused
by seating are reduced to minimum, and users claim
they have had no trouble owing to the valve leaking
or discs breaking. The disc can be easily reground
when worn, by simply removing the cap M and
inserting a screw driver or other flat instrument in
the slot in the top of the disc provided therefor.
The valves are made of a very high grade of bronze
composition, and the metal is so distributed about
the valve that those parts subjected to the greatest
strain are made heavier in proportion. Owing to
the oxidizing effect of gasoline on iron or steel, these
materials are entirely eliminated.
The supply of the gasoline is controlled by the
needle valve D, and the end of same is placed as near
as possible to the outlet of the gasoline into the valve,
very little clearance being allowed. The result is
that the gasoline is injected in the form of a spray,
thus vaporizing thoroughly with the air admitted
through the air inlet A. This needle valve has a long
taper bearing and the threads on the stem are of
fine pitch, thus very close adjustment can be secured
and the amount of gasoline injected can be regulated
to a very fine degree.
The wheel handle D is engraved with numbers to show
the different degrees of opening. This wheel handle
has a flat spot on its periphery with which the spring
E engages. The object of this is to enable the oper-
ator, after he has properly adjusted the needle valve
for the correct mixture, to at any time easily obtain
this same adjustment should he close the needle valve
or open same beyond the proper setting. No matter
where this flat spot may be, after the needle valve
has been set, the spring E cannot be brought to bear
on same by merely loosening the locknut S, which
will permit of the free turning of the spring.
The union C is provided on the gasoline inlet to
facilitate its connection.
This improved generator valve is the result of con-
siderable experimenting on the part of the Lunken-
heimer Co., the manufacturers. They have recently
issued an attractive pamphlet on generator valves,
which is sent free to any one requesting a copy.
THE PROSPECTOR.
************ **************** ********#
*
*
Sfcif.if.t$.if.if.ff.if.if.if.<f.(f <f.l£(f..f. (f.if*if.if.<f..if.if.if. tf.ifi<f.if,if.<f.if..f,.};,if.if.if,,fc:
The metallic mineral from West Tintic district,
Utah, is foliated or micaceous iroD, a variety of
hematite. It may contain gold, and if transporta-
tion is cheap would be useful as a flux at the smelt-
ers. If finely ground it would also make a good
dark red mineral paint.
The single mineral specimen from Wallace, Idaho,
marked "T. A. S.," is limonite, brown iron oxide,
with some quartz. It may carry gold and silver, as
it is apparently derived from oxidation of pyrite.
The rocks from Yale, B. C, are identified as
follows: No. 1 is silicified greenstone, carrying iron
and copper sulphide and a little hematite. No. 2
is a metamorphic rock, consisting chiefly of am-
phibole and garnets; epidote and a small amount of
pyrrhotite are also present in the specimen. No. 3
is a metamorphic rock. No. 4 is quartz with gray-
copper ore. No. 5 is a much decomposed intrusive
rock, of granitic type. No. 6 is pyrophyllite. No.
7 is epidote.
The rock specimens from Denver, Colo., marked
G. A. D., are: S., mica diorite; N, a metamorphic
rock with slightly schistose structure. It consists
principally of quartz grains and small scales of mica.
The samples from Orleans, Cal., are: No. 1, earthy
clay; 2, a much decomposed rock, practically clay;
3 and 4 are similar — clay; 5 is a piece of coal.
The white mineral specimen from Baker City, Or.,
which resembles some varieties of magaesite, is hal-
loysite, and is essentially an aluminous silicate, simi-
lar to kaolinite, from which it differs only in having
water of hydration. Non-technically it is a species
of indurated clay.
The rock samples from Atwater, Cal., are: No. 1.
Quartz, showing a small amount of secondary mica.
No. 2 is a hornblendic schist with numerous small
garnets. No. 3 is a much altered granitic rock, in-
cluding a small veinlet of quartz. No. i is a dark-
colored, translucent calcite (calcium carbonate).
The ore from Howe Sound, B. O, is apparently
the result of silicification of diorite or amphibolite
schist. The larger piece is similar to ores occurring
in the gold belt of California in Calaveras, Amador
and some other counties of that State. The sulphide
is mostly iron with a trace of copper.
The samples from Los Angeles, Cal., are: L. A.,
"Black," manganese dioxide; L. A., "Green," diop-
side (calcium magnesium pyroxene).
The mineral from De Lamar, Idaho, marked
"W. R. T." is quartz, with manganese and iron
oxides.
The mineral from Cleveland, Ohio, marked
"C. O. B. & S. Co.," is wolframite, tungstate
of iron and manganese. It is slightly magnetic.
December 9, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
399
The Simplon Tunnel.
The Simplon tunnel, piercing the Alps between
Switzerland and Italy, is interesting as the longest
of the great Alpine tunnels. It has a total length of
about 121 miles, as against 9J miles for the St. Goth-
ard and 8 miles for the Mont Cenis. It is distin-
guished from the other tunnels in the Alps by the
fact that there are really two parallel tunnels, sepa-
rated by about 55 feet between centers. Each tun
nel contains one track. The bore is straight, with a
knee at either end, due at the north end to the prox-
imity of the Rhone river at the town of Brigue, and
at the southern extremity to the nearness of the
Divernia, just below the town of Iselle.
The track at the north portal is about 2250 feet
above sea level. From this point the tunnel rises
with a 2% grade until the apex is reached, almost
exactly beneath the boundary between Swiss and
Italian territory. The highest point is about 2325
feet above the sea, and the bore falls thence with a
"'% grade to the southern extrance, at an altitude of
about 2100 feet. The mountain over the tunnel is
7000 feet in height, and the thickness of the rock
above the tunnel at the apex is greater than any-
thing ever before attained.
The method of building provided for the completion
of the easterly tunnel as it was driven, while simulta-
neously only the floor heading of the second or west
ern tunnel was carried along. The two bores are
joined at intervals of about 650 feet by cross galler-
which could be removed with one blast, intervened
between the two headings, work was suspended untii
the greater part of the accumulated water on the
Swiss side could be pumped out. Then the blast was
fired, making an opening through which the remain-
ing water rushed out to the Italian portal. This
occurred on February 24, 1905, and this date marks
the culmination of the greatest tunneling enterprise
ever attempted. The work was started in August,
1898.
Power for the Simplon work has been furnished by
two plants of about 2<l0l) H. P. each, driven by water
power, one at either end of the tunnel. The method
of tunneling was radically different from that familiar
to American engineers and so often exemplified in
tunnel work in this country. Instead of the com-
pressed air rock drills so common in American prac-
tice, the Brandt system of hydraulic rock drills was
used. Instead of chipping away the rock by hammer
blows, it was ground away by cutters under tremen-
dous pressure. Instead of the familiar air com
pressor plant, there were immense high pressure
pumps driven from water wheels. The ventilating
fans also are driven by water power. The tunnel
section was enlarged by hand drilling.
But compressed air had its part iu the enterprise
— in operating the haulage locomotives and handling
construction trains in the tunnels. The accompany-
ing illustration shows the interior of the power house
at Brigue, Switzerland. In the foreground are
seen the two Ingersoll-Sergeant air compressors fur-
nishing air for these motors. One machine is seen
Ingersoll-Sergeant Compressors at the Simplon Tunnel
ies. When traffic increases so as to demand it, the
second bore will be fully completed. An especial
advantage of the double tunnel scheme developed in
course of construction, in permitting a very effective
system of ventilation. A very high temperature was
encountered as the work progressed, and, in order to
make conditions more tolerable, fresh air was forced
in by powerful fans at the rate of about 1250 cubic
feet per second, entering heading No. 2, passing
through the last traverse and returning outward
through heading No. 1. Cross galleries were closed
as the work progressed, only the advance opening
being kept clear. Even with such a circulation as
this, it was found necessary to still further reduce
the temperature at the face by sprays of cold water,
and for this purpose a great system of refrigeration
was installed. The temperature of the rock in the
tuunel was 55° C. (132° F.), but the cooling devices
maintained the air temperature at from 25° C. to
30° C. (86° F.)
The construction of the tunnel was carried on
simultaneously from both ends. The heading start-
ing on the Swiss side at Brigue was pushed beyond
the apex to a point on the Italian side about 6i miles
from the Swiss portal. At this time the Italian
heading had been advanced to within 800 feet of the
other heading, and there remained this thickness of
rock to be penetrated before the mountain was
pierced. At this point, in September, 1904, unex-
pected obstacles to further progress were encoun-
tered, necessitating the abandonment of work on the
Swiss side and seriously impeding operations on the
Italian heading. These were springs of hot water at
45° C, opened almost simultaneously in the two head-
ings, those on the Swiss side flowing 489 gallons per
minute, those on the Italian side 960 gallons per min-
ute. The volume and temperature of this water in
the Swiss heading, together with the destruction of
the cooling plant for that section by a landslide,
forced complete suspension of operations at that
side. The work was completed by driving through
the Italian heading, but here, again, operations were
seriously impeded and the rate of progress cut down
to a mere fraction of that normally maintained.
When measurements showed that only a thin wall.
complete, as it has been during its successful opera-
tion of several years. Its faithful performance led
to the installation of its duplicate when the demands
grew beyond its capacity. This second compressor
is seen in course of erection. Both of these machines
are belt driven from water wheels and are of the
style known by the makers as "Class BC 3." They
are of the three-stage, "straight line" type, with
water jackets on the low pressure cylinder, horizon-
tal intercooler, and water box submergence on the
high and intermediate pressure cylinders. They
deliver air at 1500 pounds pressure and at normal
rating of 140 revolutions per minute; each compressor
has a free air capacity of 121 cubic feet per minute
furnished at this pressure.
The continuation of this great work under the unex-
pected difficulties encountered called for the exercise
of resource and daring on the part of the engineers
in charge. The driving forward of the Italian head-
ing in the steaming, stifling heat from the hot water
was in itself a laborious operation without precedent.
Much curiosity and apprehension was felt as to the
outcome of the piercing of the dividing wall. But
this was made without mishap, and since that time
efforts have been directed toward enlarging, lining
and completion of the tunnel.
While one of the largest and most difficult tunnels,
the Simplon was by no means the most expensive.
Its cost thus far, exclusive of installation charges,
has been about $210 per lineal foot. In driving it
10,000 men were continuously employed — 4000 on the
Swiss side; 6000 on the Italian section. Its length,
as stated, is 12} miles. The section of the completed
tunnel is of horseshoe shape, 13£ feet wide at the
bottom, 16J feet at spring linej and 18 feet high in
the clear above the rails. It is lined with concrete
and masonry throughout, the enormous pressure in
some places calling for a lining 6 feet in thiekness.
The heading carried forward in- the second and
uncompleted bore is 6£ feet high and 10 feet wide.
Just what power will be used to haul trains through
the Simplon tunnel has not yet been made public,
but a recent order by the Swiss Government for 160
cars with enclosed platforms would indicate that, for
the present at least, steam will be used.
Mine Surveying. — I.*
Written l»y C. A. S. AVDBBW9.
Instruments. — The instruments actually necessary
are a theodolite, steel measuring band with spring
balance, prismatic compass, clinometer, 100 feet of
metallic box tape, two coils of copper or steel wire,
shingling hammer, chisel, one 14-ounce plumb bob for
theodolite, two 24-ounce plumb bobs for back and
foresight, two 10-pound plumb bobs for weighting the
wires, table of sines, cosines, tangents and secants,
and a field book.
Theodolite.— The theodolite should be not less
than 5 inches diameter, reading to twenty seconds.
Both striding level and diagonal eyepiece are essen-
tial. The theodolite should admit of being focused to
clearly define a plumb line at a distance of 10 feet,
as often a longer sight cannot be obtained. A tra-
versing head is absolutely necessary, as without one
it is practically impossible to set over a spot with
the degree of accuracy required for short sights.
Tripod. — A convenient length for the tripod is 2
feet 8 inches. One leg at least should be telescopic,
or, if not, should be jointed about half way. A metal
tripod about 3 inches high should also be provided
for use in low workings.
Chain. — The steel band or chain should be 500 feet
long, divided to feet, with the tens and hundreds
numbered. It should be light enough to stretch
clear of the ground, and tested with the government
standard at the temperature generally ruling under-
ground, say 80°. Any further correction for tem-
perature will not be required. A foot rule divided
to tenths and half tenths is required, so that dis-
tances may be read to two places of decimals. The
handiest way is to have this marked on the tripod
leg, as all distances are read at the axis of the the-
odolite.
Clinometer. — The clinometer should be at least 7
inches in length, the foresight being in such position
as to be visible when a light is thrown on the bubble.
Compass. — The prismatic compass should be not
less than 4 inches diameter. The use of a mirror for
taking bearings up or down slopes is not to be rec-
ommended. If used, a cross bubble is necessary on
the compass, and to keep this level necessitates the
use of a stand. It is preferable to suspend a plumb
line a short distance away in line with the next sta-
tion. The compass can then readily be held precisely
in line with the plumb liue and the forward station,
and the bearing read to a point on the plumb line
horizontal with the compass.
Wires. — The coils of copper wire are for lowering
down vertical shafts in carrying the surface meridian
below. The gauge should be about 20, and the
length sufficient to reach to the bottom of the deep-
est shaft in the district, say 2000 feet.
Surface Meridian. — The first thing necessary in
making an underground survey is to pick up the
boundaries of the mining property as marked on the
surface. Two boundaries should be picked up, and if
they agree the original survey may be adopted as
correct.
Carrying Surface Meridian Below. — Connec-
tions are then to be made to the different shafts on
the property in such manner that the surface merid-
ian may be carried below. This can be done either
by traverse or triangulation, whichever may be more
convenient.
Levels are also to be taken between each shaft and
to the shafts on the adjoining mines, so that the ver-
tical depths of all the different workings can be re-
duced to the same datum.
By Underlie Shaft. — In making a connection to
an underlie shaft, a point is chosen at the mouth of
the shaft in a convenient position to see down the
underlie. A draft mark is made at this point, and is
connected to the surface survey.
From this draft mark the survey would be contin-
ued down the underlie, in a method to be described
later on, thus carrying the surface meridian below.
Connections would afterwards be made underground
to the vertical shafts, and the survey thus checked.
By Two Vertical Shafts. — If there be no under-
lie shafts on the mine, and none on any adjoining
mine connected with the underground workings, then
the meridian must be taken below by the vertical
shafts.
If there be more than, one vertical shaft, connec-
tions are made to one of the winding ropes in each
shaft. The direct bearings and distances between
the ropes are computed, and form the datum for the
underground survey. ■
Unless for special reasons, it is better to connect
to the center compartment rope than to the end
ones. Some shafts have been sunk with a twist or
wind, which sometimes does not leave room for a
bucket to swing clear in an end compartment.
In making the surface connection, the rope should
be sighted close to the poppet head, where there is
no oscillation.
In the underground survey . these two or more
ropes are connected by traverse. For this purpose
a magnetic or other meridian is adopted, and the
direct bearings and distances computed. If the dis-
* Abstract Trans. Queensland Institute of Surveyors.
400
Mining and Scientific Press.
December 9, 1905.
crepanoy between these distances, as computed by
the underground and by the surface surveys, be not
more than 1 in 500, then the survey may be assumed
to be correct. All the bearings of the underground
survey are then to be corrected to make the direct
bearings between the shafts agree with the surface
meridian. If more than two shafts were connected
to, the connection in each case should be the same.
If the discrepancy be not more than 1 minute per
1000 feet of underground survey, then the mean may
be taken.
In connecting to the rope in the underground sur-
vey, the rope weighted with a full bucket is lowered
into the sump, and the bucket submerged in the
water. If cages are used, one cage is to be removed
and the rope weighted with a full bucket or other
heavy weight. The rope should then be left for an
hour or more to settle. Care is to be taken that the
bucket is well clear of the sides.
In sighting to the rope, read the bearing at one
extreme of the swing and then at the other. There
is plenty of time to do this if the shaft be more than
400 feet deep. At this depth the time of oscillation
is eleven seconds, while at a depth of 2000 feet the
time is twenty-five seconds.
This operation is to be repeated at least three
times, and the mean of all the readings taken.
By One Vertical Shaft. — If there be only one
shaft on the mine, and that a vertical shaft, and the
underground workings be not connected to any other
shaft in an adjoining mine, then the meridian must be
carried down this one shaft.
For this purpose the two wires are suspended in
the shaft, one in each end compartment. They are
suspended as far apart as possible, but no closer
than 6 inches to the timber, so as to be sure that they
do not touch the sides. In lowering the wires small
weights are attached to the ends, and the wires kept
in the center of the compartment, so as not to catch
in splinters, etc. On reaching the bottom the 10-
pound plumb-bobs are attached, lowered into the
sump and submerged in the water.
The wires at the surface are then moved over to
their required position and pressed into saw cuts in
two battens nailed across the shaft, and left for an
hour or more to settle. The distances between the
wires at the surface and at the bottom are measured
and if they agree the wires are clear.
The theodolite is then set up on the surface in a
convenient position, as nearly in line with the wires
as will admit of sighting each wire distinctly. The
bearing and distance to each wire is taken and con-
nected to the surface survey.
The length and bearing of the line between the
wires is then computed and forms the datum for the
underground survey.
The surveyor then proceeds below, traveling by
the center compartment, so as not to disturb the
wires. If there be less than three compartments,
then one of the wires must be fastened into one cor-
ner of the shaft to allow the bucket to descend. When
this has been done the greatest possible care must be
taken that the wire be returned to exactly its orig-
inal position. For this purpose an assistant must be
left at the surface who can be thoroughly trusted.
In connecting the wires below, the procedure is
much the same as on the surface. The theodolite is
set up as nearly in line with the wires as possible,
and as far away as is consistent with obtaining a
clear sight of the wires.
One wire is then sighted and followed to the ex-
treme end of its swing, and the bearing read; then to
the opposite end of its swing, and the bearing read
again. This operation is repeated at least three
times, and the means of all the observations is
adopted.
He will then take the bearing to the second wire in
the same manner.
The horizDntal distance from the theodolite to each
wire is then measured. This is done by the assistant
holding the end of the chain to the wire and following
it in its swing. The surveyor reads the distance at
each end of the swing and records the mean. This
operation is repeated at least three times and the
mean of all the measurements taken.
The bearing and length of the datum line is then
computed. If the discrepancy between this length as
computed and as measured on the surface be not
more than .01 foot, then the connection can be taken
as satisfactory.
The difference between the magnetic and the sur-
face meridian is thus known, and is to be added or
subtracted, as required, by the bearings booked.
This method of carrying the surface meridian below
is to be looked upon as approximate, and is only to
be used temporarily until another shaft be sunk, or
until the workings break through into an adjoining
mine, when correct meridian can be obtained by
either of the first two methods.
Depth op Shapt. — In measuring the depth of a
vertical shaft, the strain required at the lower end
of the chain is the strain used when the chain is
wholly supported, less half the weight of the chain
used.
When the shaft is more than 500 feet deep, two or
more chains may be joined together or the shaft
measured in sections.
Assistants Required. — The surface meridian hav-
ing been carried below, the surveyor is ready to pro-
ceed with the underground survey. For 'this work
only one regular assistant is required, who should be
thoroughly conversant with the surveyor's methods,
and if able to check his calculations, so much the
better. Any other assistance required can be ob-
tained from the mine. In general cases one other
assistant is enough.
Class op Mine to Be Surveyed. — In this paper
the writer has assumed that the mine to be surveyed
is a working lode, dipping more or less, on which
underlie shafts have been sunk, either from the out-
crop or from some deeper part of the vein, opened
up by a vertical shaft. From the underlie shaft levels
have been driven each way on the lode, connected by
winzes, rises, passes, etc.
The methods of survey described in this paper are
applicable to any other class of mine.
Draft Marks. — Assuming that the surface merid-
ian has been carried to the mouth of an underlie
shaft, the surveyor will now go below and fix all his
draft marks in the shaft before taking the theodolite
out of its case.
The draft mark at the mouth of the underlie is
probably a nail driven into the ground sill. This
should be driven right home to the head, so that it
cannot be shifted, and a broad arrow chiseled point-
ing to it, so that it can be recognized on future occa-
sions.
This draft mark will require an arrow placed
plumb behind it to sight on to, but all draft marks
underground should be placed in the hanging wall, so
that a plumb line may be attached to sight on to.
Draft marks are best made by a hole bored at least
3 inches deep into the solid rock. Into this a close-
fitting hardwood plug is driven home. Into this plug
an inch nail is driven, leaving just sufficient protrud-
ing on which to hang a plumb line.
Should the hanging wall be close timbered, the
draft marks will have to be put on the timbers.
Choose a solid timber, and trim a small vertical face.
In this drive the nail, leaving only just sufficient pro-
truding on which to hang the plumb line. All draft
marks are to be branded with a distinguishing mark,
so as to be always recognizable. A broad arrow
chiseled under the nail is the usual way.
Ingenious Mine Timbering.
Timbering underground is familiar to all miners,
but the placing of heavy timbers in surface cuts is
less usual, and generally calls for ingenuity and a
thorough knowledge of timbering — its functions and
strength, and also a fairly definite idea of what to
anticipate from the rock masses which are supported
by the timbers. These masses of rock are subject to
changing stresses as the ore is removed from place
to place, and the timber boss must so place his sys-
tem of stulls, posts and braces that they not only
support the weight at the time they are placed, but
also sustain the ground for some time later when the
direction of stresses and pressure changes. The accom-
panying illustration shows how a caving surface cut
The Little Giant Tape Splice.
This device is intended to aid surveyors and others
in making a quick repair of broken measuring tapes
without delaying field work and without the aid of
extra tools other than the splice itself. The splice is
made in the form shown by the
above illustration. Should the
tape break the ends are inserted
in the splice until they are in the proper position as
seen through sight hole in middle of the device. The
screws are then turned down on the tape with knife
blade or any convenient edge, slightly bulging the
tape into the holes opposite the screw points, making
a tight grip, but not injuring the tape. The splice is
small and neatly made and does not catch or obstruct
the tape. It may be used for temporary or perma-
nent repair.
The splice is a new and much needed device, often
saving engineering parties hours of inconvenient and
expensive delay from broken tapes which cannot
always be avoided in spite of the greatest care by
chainmen. The splice should be of especial value to
surveying parties working in out-of-the way loca-
tions, and should save the inconvenience of carrying
a number of extra tapes in the outfit.
The splice has been adopted for use on United
States, Canadian and Australian Government sur-
veys. It is the invention of a civil engineer, Clinton
B. Alexander of Clearfield, Pa.
,-.,
■■ Hfli
:**?'
I' I
L
~x*
WINING anb Sc/i/*r/n(,^M&
Mine Timbering in an Open Cut.
was saved in the Mahoney mine at Sutter Creek, Cal.,
in order that several thousands of tons of payable ore
might be extracted before the walls were allowed to
collapse. These timbers were placed as shown and
the work was attended with extreme danger until it
was well advanced, as the walls continued to cave
and slip into the cut while the timbers were being
placed in position. The work was rendered addi-
tionally hazardous owing to the fact that large
stopes had been excavated below and the ground was
settling over an area 200 by 100 feet, the cut here
illustrated being near the center of the subsidence.
The caving was stopped and the ore removed, when
most of the timber was recovered for use elsewhere
about the mine.
Excavating for the Government.
The United States Reclamation Service has found
it advisable to issue a formal letter to prospective
bidders on work for that department of the Govern-
ment, says "The Contractor." This letter is in the
nature of a warning to contractors who are about to
bid on work, asking them to be careful to imform
themselves fully concerning the conditions, terms and
details of the work in order that their bid may take
all factors into consideration. The letter contains
the following:
There seems to be a peculiar fascination about a
Government contract and a widespread belief that a
person who secures a contract from the Government
is certain of large profit and easy work. As a
result, there are many inexperienced persons who
are continually seeking contracts and who, out of
their ignorance, frequently succeed in getting into
very embarrassing situations. There is nothing more
irritating than the effort of inexperienced persons to
try to get a contract, and if by chance it is awarded to
them, they seek not to execute the work as required,
but to shirk the obligation incurred.
The Reclamation Service, having a new class of
work, has been put to much trouble and expense by
inexperienced or speculative individuals who have, in
some cases, made bids ridicuously low, and have in-
sisted on having the contract awarded to them, in
spite of the warning of skilled men that they would
incur large losses in carrying out the work specified.
These people do not and will
not understand that the con-
tracts they enter into are
very carefully guarded and
that no discretion or len-
iency is possible after the
contract is signed. They
seem to forget that an em-
ploye of the Government
can not modify the contract,
no matter how onerous it
may be, and that their prop-
erty and that of their
friends who have gone on
their bonds must be taken
by the Government in de-
fault of the work.
There is no desire on the
part of any one connected
with the Government to let
a contract at less than a fair
rate, with reasonable profit.
It is far better for all con-
cerned that the contractor
make fair wages for his men
and a small return upon his
capital inveskd The engi-
neers of the Reclamation
Service, having spent the
best part of their lives in
such work, know, as a rule,
very nearly what it will cost,
and they view with apprehension the incursion into
the contracting field of men who have never had ex-
perience and who are enamored with the idea of get-
ting a job of this kind.
It is frequently stated that the cause of failure
of the cyanide process at some mines is due to ab-
sorption of large values by the staves and bottoms
of the wooden tanks used, and that the discrepancy
between the pulp assay before cyaniding and the
bullion recovered by precipitation is represented by
this greedy absorption of the gold solution by the
wood of the tanks. It would be interesting to know
just how much gold is really absorbed by the wood of
a cyanide tank.
December 9, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
401
*■****+********* ************* *********
I Mining and Metallurgical Patents*!
* *
PATENTS ISSUED NOVEMBER 21, 1906.
Specially Reported and Illustrated for the MINING AND
SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
Rock Crusher.
burg, Pa.
-No. 804,201; H. H. Blake. Pitts-
Id crusher, combination with machine frame, of mov-
able jaw, operating shaft having cam, vertical having
trough or cup, means yieldingly suspending vertical
from machine frame, means for operating jaw by
vertical, and roller adapted to be moved by cam and
slidably mounted on machine frame and received in
and bearing against trough or cup.
Dumping Car.— No. 804,412; J. H. Kelly, San
Francisco, Cal.
V;
In dumping car, combination of truck, car body
tilting thereon, swinging gate closing front end of
car body, cable secured at ends to gate and to frame,
parts carried by frame and car body around which
cable passes, position of parts being such that when
car body is tilted cable is relaxed to allow gate to
swing open.
Ore Crusher and Pulverizer Machine.
804,780; A. Tetrault, Boulder, Colo.
-No.
In ore crusher and pulverizer, frame, cone fixed on
base thereof and ring shell mounted relatively to cone
to cause it to rest with unbroken annular grinding
edge contact upon side walls of cone, means for im-
parting gyrating movements to shell, means for ap-
plying pressure upon shell, whereby in gyrating
movements grinding edge of shell has uniform pres-
sure at every part of grinding edge upon conical
walls, and means for feeding material to crushing
surfaces.
Ore Distributing
Portsmouth, Ohio.
Car.— No. 804,870; R.S.Moore,
In ore distributing car combination of floor made
up of movable segments of sections, and suitable
means for automatically separating same, one from
other from beneath load, in succession, from one end
of floor to other.
Chock for Rock Drills.— No. 804,904; J. C. H.
Vaught, Deadwood, S. D.
1
■Am
Drill chuck, comprising body having longitudinal
socket to receive shank, and longitudinal slot, gib in
slot adapted to bear at inner face on shank and having
longitudinally tapered outer face projecting beyond
face of body and flange projecting from face and
sleeve engaging tapered face of gib.
Ore Slime^ Separator.-
Joplin, Mo.
-No. 804,841; E. Hedburg,
Ore separator provided with plurality of sections,
plunger compartment in each section and plunger
therein, hutch at bottom of each section, a screen
ore bed near top of each of hutches, adjustable de-
flectors or partitions between sections, walls of sec-
tions having grooves in which partitions may slide,
partitions adapted to form passages in close prox-
imity to the ore beds, and to deflect the finer ores
into the ore beds, whereby said finer ore may
work through the screens into hutches.
Ore Feeder.— No. 805,128.
ver, Colo.
-N. V. Fitts, Den-
In ore feeder combination with receptacle adapted
to hold ore or other material, of feed plate mounted
below receptacle, and revoluble shaft connected in
operative relation with plate, of two parts mounted
on shaft and having wedge-shaped opposing faces
capable of independent revoluble movement, one of
parts being also axially movable on shaft and having
friction face, another friction face connected in oper-
ative relation with shaft, and means for imparting
rotary movement to one wedge-faced part, whereby
opposing part is shifted axially to bring friction faces
into operative relation to actuate shaft and feed
plate.
Amalgamator.— No. 805,090; C. W. Patten, Lynn,
Mass.
Amalgamator comprising elongated mercury, con-
taining trough having shallow portion of substan-
tially uniform depth, and having weir at discharge
end of shallow portion, pit of greater depth at oppo-
site end thereof, one or more submerging drums in
pit, and means of discharging series of water jets
onto surface of mercury between weir and said
drums.
Magnetic Separator.
Windsor, Conn.
-No. 805,289; H. E. Heath,
In magnetic separator, combination with station-
ary conductor, of plurality of pole pieces traveling
longitudinally thereof and in proximity thereto, and
means for conveying material to be treated beneath
pole pieces.
Ore Concentrator. — No.
Oakland, Cal.
805,215; M. R. Lyle,
Concentrator of class described, comprising in-
clined sluice-box having elongated openings at bot-
tom thereof, channels presenting elevated edges at
edges of openings, and means for rocking box so as to
advance material contained therein progressively by
gravitation toward lower extremities of openings.
Process of Concentrating Ores. — No. 805,382;
W. M. Sanders, Iola, Kans.
Method of concentrating ore, which consists in
subjecting it to non-acid solution capable of react-
ing with evolution of gas, and collecting such parti-
cles as are sustained by evolved gas.
Metallurgical Process. —No. 804,936; .W. E.
Everette, Tacoma, Wash.
Metallurgical process which consists, first, in pre-
paring suitable preliminary melt and heating it to
incandescence; second, in subjecting previously pul-
verized materials, which are to be treated, to action
of liquid oxygen, whereby they are reduced to ex-
tremely frigid condition and caused to occlude por-
tion of oxygen; third, forcing frigid mixture into and
through incandescent melt whereby metals in mix-
ture are largely freed from sulphur and phosphorus
and are rapidly fused; and finally, separately draw-
ing off metal and slag at different levels.
Metal-Leaching Process. — No. 805,017; T. B.
Joseph, San Francisco, Cal.
Herein described process of extracting metals such
as gold, silver, copper and nickel from ore containing
same when in suitable condition, which consists in
subjecting ore to leaching action of solution contain-
ing water, sodium cyanide aud ammonium carbonate,
carbonate being in excess of cyanide, together with
compressed air, and precipitating metals from solu-
tion by any well known method.
402
Mining and Scientific Press.
December 9, 190&.
1 MINING SUMMARY, f
Specially Compiled and Reported lor the MINING AND
SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
ARIZONA.
Cochise Comity.
At the Copper Queen smelter, in Douglas, is a body
of reserve ore worth $2,500,000. The immense ore
dump, kept on hand for emergency, in case an accident
to the railroad should prevent shipments to the mines,
is 2500 feet long, 40 feet wide and 16 feet thick, which
equals 1,600,000 cubic feet, or approximately 123,000 tons
of ore. This body of ore is all fluxed and prepared for
the furnaces.
Maricopa County.
A call has been issued for a miners' convention to be
held in Phoenix during the last six days of December.
As the call clearly states, it is not proposed to have the
organization one for any particular branch of the mining
industry.
Mohave County,
J. C. Noble and E. Brannen are opening up the Climax
and the Nightingale mines, near Kingman. The
shaft on the Rattan mine in the San Francisco district,
near Kingman, has been retimbered and the mine
unwatered by the Gold Giant M. Co. The West Plores
mine, near Cerbat, is to be worked by W. B. Campbell.
It is reported that an auto ore wagon will be put on
between Yucca and the San Francisco mine. The mine
will soon be shipping concentrates. The distance is 48
miles.
Pima County.
At the Helvetia mine, in the Santa Ritas, there are
150 miners at work and this force will be doubled during
the month. When the smelter starts up 1000 men will
be employed. The 200-ton smelter at Helvetia will be
blown in as soon as coke arrives. The company has a
large amount of ore blocked out, which will be ample to
keep the smelter going all winter. There are twenty-
five shafts on the claims of the Helvetia Co., but at
present only two of them are being worked. One is the
Old Dick, which is down to a depth of 800 feet, and an-
other is the Al Royale, with surface workings.
Yavapai County.
The Storm Cloud mine, 12 miles south of Prescott,
has been sold to H. J. Beemer by F. Williams. The
mine is to be unwatered and a 20-stamp mill placed on
the property *■ New concentrators have been put in at
his mill on the Santa Maria river, near Hillside, by John
Lawler. A road has been built from the mine to the
mill.
Near Turkey Creek, William Theising has started up
his new mill and is running ten tons of ore through
per day.
G. O. Ford, manager of the Catherine Elizabeth group
in the Mineral Point district, has his new shaft down 75
feet. The property is a mile from the United Verde
railroad. The Rincon M. Co., operating near Mar-
tinez, has stopped sinking at 1100 feet, having reached
the limit of the hoist. Superintendent G. D. E. Mor-
timer says a larger plant will be secured at once.
C. O. Goddard, of the Goddard M. Co., near Wicken-
burg, has gone to New York on business. Two shifts
are working at the mine. At the Baumann mine, 2
miles from the Humboldt smelter, a new hoist has been
put in. The shaft is down 500 feet, and it is proposed to
sink it 200 feet farther before crosscutting. Rich
copper strikes are reported from near Bill Williams
mountain.
CALIFORNIA.
California is still the only State producing any chro-
mite, and in 1904 the quantity was 123 long tons of ore,
valued at $1845. As compared with the production of
150 long tons, valued at $2250, in 1903, this is a decrease
of 27 tons in quantity and of $405 in value.
In California, for the past two months, one mining
plant after another has been obliged to cease operations,
owing to a shortage of water, until the number of idle
mines has become a matter of some concern, as it has
necessitated the idleness of a large number of men, both
above and below ground. Some managers have, taken
advantage of this enforced idleness to overhaul and re-
pair their mining and milling plants and others have
simply closed up everything. In some instances water
is filling the lower workings, and this will cause
some delay in restarting work in the bottom of some
mines. In others work can be continued in upper work-
ings, which have not or will not be submerged, as soon
as sufficient water is again available. There have been
some rains, but in the mountains snow has fallen heav-
ily, with comparatively little rain. The temperature
continues so low in the snow zone that but little in-
creased water has resulted as yet. The outlook for
abundant water a little later is now very encouraging.
The large distributing electric power plants, upon which
many mines depend for power, have also felt the water
shortage, and find it impossible to furnish the full
amount of power usually depended upon.
Amador County.
(Special Correspondence). — The Keystone mine and
mill are running regularly. The mine is 1575 feet deep,
but until recently no extensive work has been done be-
low the 800-foot level, most of the ore coming from the
400 and 600. Ore is now being stoped from the 1000-foot
level. C. R. Downs is superintendent.
Amador City, Dec. 5.
The pile of waste from the Kennedy chlorination
works has been sold to the Selby Reduction Works.
£1 Dorado County.
The following account of the work of the Eureka Slate
Co., at Slatingtonv is condensed from a local paper: The
Eureka property is north of the South Eork of the
American river, west of Kelsey. A tunnel running
through the deposit from west to east has developed the
fact that the sedimentary slate deposit at this point is
300 feet in width. There are many dikes of a foreign
substance traversing these beds from north to south.
The slate beds themselves vary in thickness from 2
inches to 2 feet. These beds are separated by a flinty
ribbon, having the same course as the beds themselves,
and usually standing in the same vertical position as the
beds, varying in thickness from J of an inch to 2 inches.
In quarrying the slate the gallery system is employed.
A sink is made in the quarry 18 feet in depth and ex-
tended along the line of the cleavage of the slate beds
for the entire distance the quarry is opened. As there
are no foot joints in the vertical deposit, it is necessary
to drill the entire length of the opening at the bottom
of the gallery. The length of the hole is governed by the
natural seams, which are readily determined after a
loose end has been made in any part of the gallery, and
as there are many vertical joints, they usually drill the
blast to a vertical joint, black powder only being used,
as the object desired is to simply raise and move the
mass of slate with as little breakage as possible. After
a portion of the gallery is blasted it is taken from the
quarry by means of fall block carriers running on
cables, which extend from an anchorage on the bank up
over a derrick and down to a lower point in the quarry.
Blocks are taken out in all sizes, from 300 to 3000 pounds
in weight. The waste is hoisted in the same manner in
specially constructed steel cars dropping onto tracks in
the quarry, and from the derrick onto waste tracks on
the bank. The slate blocks are run on block cars from
the derrick to the block making yard and splitting shed.
After the slate blocks reach the block making yard they
are worked by crews of three. First, the block maker
cuts the stone as received from the quarry into the most
favorable shape for the various sizes of slate made. The
blocks are then taken into the splitting shed, where the
splitter takes the prepared block and splits it into sheets
of the proper thickness with chisel and mallet, passing
them on to the trimmer, who, with rotating power ma-
chine, trims them into various sizes. The slate is con-
veyed down the American river canyon from Slating-
ton to Placerville by an aerial tramway, capable of
transporting 300 squares, or 180,000 pounds, of slate from
the quarry to Placerville every ten hours. The cable
crosses the American river at an eleyation of 600 feet,
and with a 2400-foot span. The track ropes are 1J
inches on the loaded side, and J-inch on the empty side;
the traction or drawing rope is ,"„ inch in diameter, the
whole resting on 33 towers, one double tension station,
one anchorage and tension station, one curved rail tres-
tle 150 feet long, and the quarry and discharge termi-
nals. The tramway is operated by water applied direct
to a 36-inch Pelton wheel running to a countershaft and
from countershaft to main shaft of tramway power
sheave, requiring a minimum of 15 and a maximum of
25 H. P. to operate it, the difference of elevation from
the quarry terminal to the discharge terminal at Placer-
ville being 240 feet. At present the slate shipments
from Placerville average a carload a day. C. H. Dun-
ton is superintendent.
Inyo County.
The Great Western Ore Purchasing & Reduction Co.
is building a smelter at Keeler to treat ore from the
Cerro Gordo mine, in the Swansea district. F. C. Ever-
ett is president. The old 10-stamp mill has been re-
modeled.
Nevada County.
The Yuba Drift M. Co., which owns the Badger Hill,
Malakoff and other gravel properties at Badger Hill,
near Grass Valley, have put in a new hoist and started
a perpendicular shaft to strike bedrock. The shaft is
now down about 140 feet and blue gravel has been
reached. The Maryland shaft, near Grass Valley, has
been cleaned out and retimbered to the 800 level and the
pumps will be started. It is estimated that it has cost
over $50 per foot to reopen the shaft.
Operations have been resumed at the Spanish Ridge
mine, near Washington, after a shut down of two
months due to shortage of water. Superintendent J. H.
English is having the new air compressor put in place.
The Spanish Ridge has made arrangements for another
water ditch and will not again be hung up on account of
a shortage of water.
Placer County.
The Eclipse-Morning Star mines, near Ophir, have
been sold to C. L. Wilson of San Francisco. Pumping
is to commence at once. The Valley View mine, near
Ophir, has been sold, and the new owners are sinking a
shaft. The Bear Valley Smelting Co. has acquired
land between Ophir and Lincoln, and propose to build a
smelter.
Plumas Countv.
It is reported that the Ward Creek M. Co. has com-
pleted the grading for a 100-stamp mill for the Gruss
mine, near Genesee. W. L. Harper is general manager.
The shaft is down 400 feet. The Genesee Con. Cop-
per Co. have run their 3000-foot tunnel 700 feet. This is
intended to cut their ledge at a depth of 1500 feet. An
air compressor and machine drills are being put in.
J. Phelan is manager.
H. Goering has charge of work at the Last Chance
gravel mine at Mohawk Valley.
Santa Barbara County.
An entirely new district in the Santa Barbara county
oil fields has been opened by the Los Alamos Oil Co.
bringing in the first well, a gusher, producing 600 bar-
rels daily of 32 gravity oil, the highest grade yet found
in the territory. The well is about 5 miles southwest of
Los Alamos and about 6 miles south from the nearest
well of the Western Union Co. and. the same distance
east of the Purisima wells of the Union Oil Co. The well
was brought in at a depth of 4290 feet, which is the rec-
ord of the county.
Siskiyou County.
It is reported that a cyanide plant is to be added to the
Jillson mill, near Hornbrook, by the Hazel G. M. Co.
Trinity County.
The Bonanza King mine, near Trinity Center, has
been sold to James and John Treadwell. J. H. Porter
will remain as manager. The Brown Bear mill, at
Deadwood, has made its last cleanup for the season.
Three shifts are working on the Lappin at Deadwood.
Frank Hollingsworth has succeeded John Bealham as
manager. The main ore working tunnel is in 200 feet,
and will be pushed ahead 800 feet farther, to tap the
ledge at depth.
Yuba County.
L. Pierce, J. R. Chadbourne and T. H. Woods of Sui-
sun are preparing to develop their gravel mine, near
Brownsville. J. R. Chadbourne has charge at the mine.
COLORADO.
(Special Correspondence). — While nothing sensational
can be reported in connection with mining in this State,
the fact is evident to all observant persons that much
activity exists and that the outlook is bright. Without
exception, mining men predict a good year during 1906.
Machinery houses are making estimates on machinery
and supplies for next year's delivery and with the ad-
vance in the price of lead and silver and the demand for
zinc the mines of Colorado will undoubtedly have one of
the best years in the history of the State. Attention is
being called to the fact that assayers should be com-
pelled to pass an examination and receive a license the
same as a U. S. deputy mineral surveyor before they are
allowed to commence business. This is considered ad-
visable by many on account of the crooked work being
practiced by some of the assayers throughout the State
and also to do away with incompetent men iu the busi-
ness. The case of J. B. Hindry against the Globe
smelter, which has been in the courts for several years,
and which resulted in a mis-trial last spring, will soon be
brought to trial again. Hindry sues the smelter for
damages on account of the smoke injuring his ranch
land and livestock. Word has been received in this
city that the D. S. Mint will start operations Jan. 5,
1906. The date has been set a number of times, but has
been delayed for various reasons.
Denver, Dec. 4.
(Special Correspondence). — The receipts of gold and
silver bullion at the United States Mint in Denver for
the month of November are 58% higher than they were
in the same month last year. The past eleven months
show increase over the preceding year. This increase is
evidently due to the fact that the Denver Mint is to be
used for coinage in future. In the San Juan country the
heavy snows are impeding the progress of the new mills
that are being erected, but some of them have gotten
under cover, so that work can proceed during the cold
weather. The railroads handling the material for that
section of the State are having their usual difficulties on
account of snowslides. The heavy snowfall so early in
the season is rather unusual, yet it will be a great ben-
efit, as the snow coming at this season of the year will
pack and freeze and will be better for next season's
water supply.
Denver, Dec. 6.
Boulder County.
The Cass P. N. O. Co. is working the Grand View
mine at Sunshine under the direction of E. Eby. The
shaft is down 700 feet and is approaching the level of the
El Dorado tunnel, which is in 1200 feet and is being
driven to drain and work the White Crow, Grand View
and El Dorado properties. New machinery has been
put in at the Boulder Valley, west of the Grand View,
under the direction of H. Fuller. The Osceola shaft
of the White Crow has been retimbered and new ma-
chinery has been put in. R. Trevarthan is superin-
tendent. The shaft on the Inter-Ocean, at Sunshine,
is to be sunk from the 500 to the 700-foot level. A cya-
nide plant is to be put in. A. E. Healey is superintend-
ent. Work is to be resumed at the American mine, at
Sunshine, under the direction of W. B. Hays.
The Five Points G. M. & M. Co. has been formed
to work near Gold Hill. A new hoist and boiler have
been put in at the St. Joe mine, above the Cash mine,
near Gold Hill. The American Queen G. M. Co. is
putting in a 25-ton mill to handle the ore from the
Cash mine. A tramway is to be put in between the
mine and mill. The Grand Republic G. M. Co. has
been organized to work claims near Sugar Loaf.
Clear creek County.
The West Griffith, near Empire, operated by the In-
dependence M. Co., is working full force. The manage-
ment is thinking of putting in a concentrating plant to
handle the lead and zinc ores blocked out in their work-
ings. The East Griffith, on Griffith mountain, is be-
ing worked. W. D. Hoover has just taken a trip East,
and it is understood that on his return he will let a con-
tract for a concentrating plant to treat the ores of the
property.
It is reported that the Manhattan-Union M. Co. in-
tends to put in a concentrating plant to treat the
ore from the Kittie Ousley mine in East Argentine dis-
trict, near Georgetown. Edw. Wing is manager.
Manager B. J. Martelon of the Silver Leaf tunnel,
which is being driven into McClellan mountain, near
Silver Plume, has temporarily suspended operations
pending arrangements for machinery.
The Blue Bird group, on Republican mountain, near
Empire, is to be worked during the winter by D. W.
Stewart under lease and bond.
Dolores County.
The United Rico Mines Co. has begun work on the
fourth level of its Yellow Jacket mines on the slope of
Nigger Baby hill, near Rico. The remodeling of the
company's Group Tunnel mill has been completed and
will handle ore from the stopes on Enterprise verticals.
Each stope is to be milled separately to the extent of 500
tons.
£agle County.
Scott & Reed have taken a lease on the Combined Dis-
coverer, west of Rock creek, near Red Cliff, and have a
shipment of ore ready.
Fremont County.
The Rocky Mountain smelter, at Florence, recently
bought by the Colorado S. & R. Co., has finally been
December 9, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
403
freed from litigation. The works were built five years
ago and ran for a few months and have been closed
since, owing to litigation brought about by quarrels
among the stockholders. J. M. Harsh of Creston, la.,
is president of the new company with C. G. McCarthy
of Des Moines vice-president and E. L. Whitney of
Colorado Springs as secretary. President Harsh says
the smelter will be running not later than February.
The ore supply is not yet definitely secured, but the
company will either buy mines outright or enter into
combination with the big mine owners. The plant has
a capacity of 500 tons a day. About 150 men will be
employed. The plant is south of this city on liiO acres
donated by the city government as a bonus for its erec-
tion. The plant is in first-class condition after five years'
idleness.
tillpln Connty.
W. Barrick, superintendent of the Apex Gold M. &
M. Co., has bought the Trio and September lodes, in
the Pine Creek mining district, near Apex, and will or-
ganize a company to work them. M. Whalen has charge
of the work. The Ingram M. Co., operating the In-
gram mine in Apex, have sunk the shaft to a depth of
115 feet from the top and are 70 feet from the tunnel level.
The company will commence shipping within the next
month. I. Pollard is manager and J. Ingram is super-
intendent.
W. A. Hopkins of Central City, who is leasing on the
555-foot west level of the East Notaway mine in lower
Russell district, has receivod returns from a carload
shipment of smelting ores, netting $198.98 per ton. The
ores contained the following values: 10.23 ounces gold,
7.32 ounces silver and 3.96% in copper per ton. A
deed has been placed on record conveying from L. C.
Beckwith to T. R. Webb of Argeniine the Redemption
lode claim, situated in the Lake district. The Hall
mine in Russell district has again been started up by
its owner, Isaac Hall, and work is to be carried on by its
owner in the 100 and the 200-foot levels. Local oper-
ators are working the Eureka mine in Prosser gulch,
owned by J. C. Henkins.
The Pozo mine in Nevada gulch, near Central City,
is worked principally for its zinc values, although some
of the ore gives values of from two to three ounces gold
per cord. The shaft on the Pozo is 165 feet deep. A
new plant is to be put on the property. A. W. Rucker
is manager. R. W. Pearce of Nevadavilleand County
Treasurer Trezise are operating the Ute mine in Nevada
district and are shipping to the mills in Black Hawk.
The main shaft on the Ute is 650 feet deep, but opera-
tions are being confined to the 300-foot east and west
levels. They are also sinking a winze on the 300-foot
level for prospecting and to afford better ventilation.
The O. K. group on German hill in the Gregory dis-
trict, near Central City, has been sold to Denver and
Eastern parties for $50,000 by A. Anderson. The
group consists of the Epizootic, Dean and Casco lodes.
Lake County.
At a depth of 700 feet the President shaft at Leadville
was still in wash. G. F. Burtch is manager.
F. J. Hoffer will put in new machinery on the Hoffer
No. 1 shaft being sunk on the Bob Ingersoll claim, near
Leadville.
The ore output from Leadville during November was
77,500 tons, as against 90,000 tons for October. The
decrease is due to the fact that many of the smaller
operators, especially in the silver iron mines, were un-
able to work their claims owing to inclement weather.
Many of the shafts are exposed to the elements and the
cold weather interferes with the work of hoisting.
La Plata County.
(Special Correspondence). — The lower tunnel on the
May Day has cut the vein at a depth of 750 feet and it is
said to be larger and richer than above. Heretofore an
output of twenty-five tons per day has been the limit,
but this may now be increased, since ore may be dumped
directly from the mine cars to the bins, from which it
will soon be taken by railroad cars, for the owners have
let a contract for the building of a spur 2 miles in length
to connect the R. G. S. Ry. at Cima, 15 miles west of
Durango. It is to be completed in thirty days. The
50-stamp mill of the Bonnie Girl is completed. The
tramway is finished and development of the mines is be-
ing pushed. Mr. Allen is to have charge of the prop-
erty. The Small Hopes tunnel is in 1500 feet, where it
is expected to cut the vein; but a careful survey shows
that it will still be necessary to run 50 to 200 feet. As
the dip is not constant the distance can only be guessed
at. The Chief M. Co. has had buildings in readiness
for some time for their compressor plant. The Old
Kentucky, on the East Mancos, has made a shipment of
twenty tons to Denver for test, with a view to putting in
a reduction plant in the spring. D. H. Franks, of Man-
cos, is manager. The first heavy snow fell on Nov. 22,
and the prospecting season in the La Platas is over. A
number of new prospects have been opened the past sea-
son and the camp has made the best progress in its his-
tory.
Mancos, Dec. 2.
Ouray County.
It is reported that the Grecian mine, on Mt. Hayden,
near Ouray, is to be opened up and a mill built to sepa-
rate the zinc and lead. R. W. Clinton is the owner.
The Micky Breen mill of the Tempest Ajax Co. at Ouray
has been remodeled, and hereafter the concentrates are
to be separated into zinc and lead products. F. M.
Jackson is manager.
San Juan Connty.
The mill of the Hercules Con. M. Co., south of Silver-
ton, is being overhauled and gotten into shape for the
resumption of operations after a protracted idleness. To
accommodate the new machinery and appliances that
are being installed, an addition of 30x65 feet has beer
built. Ten more stamps will be added to the equip-
ment, making 40 in all. The steam power is to be in-
creased to 275 H. P. During the past summer a big
force has been employed in developing the mine, and it
is stated that there is already enough ore of good qual-
ity in sight to keep the mill running double shift all next
year.
San Miguel County.
The Adams property, near Telluride, is under lease to
George Lee and M. Weiss of Telluride. The 10-stamp
mill on Bear creek has been started. A. A. Clute,
manager of the Goldfield-Rex M. Co., which had a con-
tract for extending the Pennsylvania tunnel to the
Smuggler-Union vein and which has a long-term lease
on a portion of the Smuggler-Union vein, has closed
down prospecting and exploitation work on the Conten-
tion mines, in Bear Creek basin, near Telluride.
Work on the Vanadium Alloys Co. 's experimental plant
at Newmire, on the San Miguel river, 14 miles below
Telluride, has been retarded by inability to secure lum-
ber and brick as rapidly as needed. The mill is being
built for the treatment of vanadium ore on Bear and
Leopard creeks, the former emptying into the river at
Newmire, opposite the mill, and the latter at Placerville,
6 miles below. Vanadium ore has been found on both
sides of the San Miguel river between the two creeks.
W. T. Rynard has charge of work.
L. Neilson, H. H. Hutton, C. Flodman and F. Williams
have a lease on the Morning Star claims on Bilk creek,
in the Mount Wilson district, near Telluride. The
Keystone placer, on San Miguel river, 5 miles below Tel-
luride, has been closed down for the winter by the Key-
stone Hydraulic M. Co. The low-grade ores on the
dumps of various properties in the Sawpit district, 17
miles below Telluride, will soon commence to be worked
over. Two small custom mills are being built. One of
them, containing five stamps, is being built by H. Rev-
eler, W. Pomeroy and Mr. Weeks, while the other is
being put in by Denver parties. There never has been
a quartz mill at Sawpit, and the ore that has been
shipped from there had to carry values sufficient to pay
railroad transportation and smelter treatment, conse-
quently the greater portion of the mineral taken from
the mines was thrown on the dump as too low grade to
ship. There are said to be thousands of tons of this
character on the dumps which, if concentrated, will re-
turn profits.
Simiinii County.
(Special Correspondence). — Near Montezuma the Sars-
field and the Wild Irishman mines are being put in shape
for continuous work during the winter. The Fisher-
man is being worked on lease. The El Dorado group on
the Snake river, 2 miles from Montezuma, is being
worked on lease.
Montezuma, Dec. 2.
(Special Correspondence). — The Beaver Creek M. Co.
is making steady shipments of ore and concentrates.
The ore is being taken from the Ducky shaft, which has
a 4-foot streak of ore and concentrating matter. The
same company is working the Carbonate mine on Mount
Baldy. The Washington mill was closed down for a
few days to put in an electric light plant to light up the
mine, mill, boarding and bunk houses and offices.
Condon & Shrack have opened up gold-bearing sulphide
ore in a winze sunk 40 feet below the lowest level in the
Pacific Gold Dust mine.
Breckenridge, Dec. 4.
The Old Union M. & M. Co.'s mill, near Breckenridge,
is running night and day, and the installing of their new
screens has proven a success. The mill is taking the
crude ore, which runs 17% zinc, 17% to 20% lead and
17% to 20% iron, with gold and silver values, and is
making a lead product of 33% to 40%, zinc product from
35% to 40% and a clean iron product. The tailings
assay 2% zinc and 1% lead.
Teller Connty.
The Oro shaft, on Ironclad hill, near Cripple Creek, is
down 120 feet and is to be continued to the 150-foot level
by the Oro Leasing Co. C. F. Springer is manager.
It is reported that ore has been struck in a crosscut from
the 350-foot level of the Montrose, on Ironclad hill, being
worked by Van Fleet and associates. The shaft on
the South Burns block of the Acacia, near Altman, is
down 440 feet. McClary & Co. have struck ore at a
depth of 100 feet in Block 3 of the Ajax, on Battle moun-
tain. Shaft sinking is to be carried from the 200 to
the 500-foot level of the Finn lode claim of the Royal
Oak G. M. Co., under the direction of C. B. Wider of
Cripple Creek. Work has been resumed on the North
Fork claim of the Empire State M. & T. Co., on Iron-
clad hill. Sinking is to be continued from the 160 to the
300-foot level. •
IDAHO.
Blaine County.
(Special Correspondence). — A discovery is reported
west of Hailey by P. Deliny and J. Montgomery near
the Croesus mine. The ore is a sulphide, with bril-
liant silvery luster. Assays show from 60% to 75%
of metallic bismuth in concentrates and the sulphide in
the quartz is from 3% to 15%. A6 a little depth is
gained, an increase in the bismuth is noted. Prepara-
tions are being made to block out ore and for reducing
the ore to metallic bismuth on the ground. Several
old mines in the Wood River section are also starting up
again.
Hailey, Dec. 4.
The Wood River Zinc Co. of Hailey has 1000 tons of
War Dance ore stock piled at its mill at the mouth of
War Dance gulch, on Deer creek. The mill is not run-
ning, because it is not adapted to the ore. Changes are
intended, such as the addition of jigs and of hydraulic
sizers.
Shoshone County.
The German-American claims, near Osburn, are being
developed. Supplies have been delivered to the
Polaris mine, near Osburn, for all winter work. A
compressor has been put in at the Central group on
Idaho gulch by Walker Bros, of Murray. Work is to
be started on the lower tunnel.
MISSOURI.
Jasper Connty.
J. M. Baulby of Iowa, Norman Scurman and Albert
Thomas of Webb City, last spring took a lease on six
lots of the McCrosky lease north of the old Nevada land
in Webb City. 'They have now completed their mill and
made their first turn-in of zinc ore, amounting to 56,880
pounds. A contract has been let by Webb City peo-
plo for the building of a mill on the Burch land, north of
the Underwriters' Land Co.'s land, north of Webb City.
There will be three or four mills built on this land
within the next few months. The Grace M. Co.,
operating on the Granby M. & S. Co.'s land in the Chit-
wood district, has made an exceptionally rich drill
strike at a depth of 143 feet. The drill has already
shown a 20-foot face of ore.
MONTANA.
Granite County.
The Tussle M. Co., which recently took a bond on the
Frank Wahlgren property on Little Gold creek, near
Princeton, is shipping ore.
JelTerson Couuty.
The Black well-Golden Crown claims, including the
Blackwell mine and mill, have been absorbed by the
Sunset National M. Co. The new company owns 160
acres, representing nine claims, near Homestake. Im-
provements on the property consist of a 10-stamp gold
mill, cyanide plant, concentrating tables and assay office.
Two shafts have been sunk, one 117 feet deep and the
other 230 feet deep.
Madison County.
Dredgers near Alder are still at work and will con-
tinue into the winter. Tho Conrey Dredging Co. has
begun work on an electric plant at Alder.
Sliver Bow County.
(Special Correspondence). — The properties under bond
to the East Butte M. Co. have been examined by J. W.
Neill of San Francisco. Mr. Neill spent several weeks in
the mines and his report will soon be in the hands of
New York and Boston parties who are interested in the
flotation of the mine. He says the property under
option is among the best in the Butte district, and it is
expected that his report will be favorable. The com-
pany has taken a bond on nearly 300 acres more of min-
eral ground, and will use a portion of it as a site for a
concentrator to be built immediately, and a smelter site,
should one become necessary in the future. Without
any further development or equipment the mines are
capable of producing daily about 200 tons of first-class
ore and 500 tons of second-class for concentrating. While
Mr. Neill was examining the properties a most fortunate
development occurred. In the Yankee Boy mine, one of
the properties of the group, a new vein 9 feet wide was
opened at a depth of 350 feet, and in the Dutton 3 feet of
copper glance was cut in a winze from the 300-foot level.
The glance runs 60% copper and the vein in the Yankee
Boy about 14%. Mr. Neill, who made the examination,
was for some time chief engineer and mine director for
F. A. Heinze, and is now consulting engineer for the
Pittsburg & Montana Co. Through economies at the
Washoe smelter and the discovery of richer ore bodies
the Anaconda Co. has reduced the cost of its copper
production nearly 1 cent per pound. Copper is costing
the company little more than y cents per pound now.
The company is working eight mines at present. They
are, with their shaft depth, as follows: Anaconda, 2450
feet; Never Sweat, 2440 feet; St. Lawrence, 2000 feet;
Bell, 1600 feet; Diamond, 2200 feet; Mountain Con., 2200
feet; High Ore, 2200 feet; Wild Bill, 400 feet. The
North Butte Co. has acquired the Gem mine and has
options on half a dozen others, many of which will be
taken up. The new hoisting engine, which was due in
Butte December 1, has not yet arrived, owing to delay
in transportation, but it will be in place in a few weeks.
The company continues to mine its properties through
the shaft of the High Ore mine and hoists about 550
tons of ore a day. Only the very highest grade of ore is
being mined and it yields from 150 to 155 pounds of cop-
per per ton. Development work is still going on in
the Raven mine and some good ore has been found in
the crosscut at 1200 feet from the Buffalo shaft.
Butte, Dec. 5.
The annual report of the Deputy State Mining Inspec-
tor shows the number of men employed by the principal
Butte companies, above and below ground, and the pres-
ent depth of shafts:
Underground Top Shaft,
Amalgamated— Men. Men. Feet.
Anaconda mine 580 146 2,450
Never Sweat 440 66 2,440
St. Lawrence 420 56 2,000
Bell 220 20 1.000
Diamond 320 10 2,200
Mountain Con 282 54 2.20H
High Ore 311 53 2,2011
Wild Bill 57 3 400
Sunnvside 15 2 700
Gallatin ' 25 3 250
Leonard 332 225 1,2011
West Colusa 354 37 1,600
Pennsylvania 300 60 1,800
Mountain View 388 59 1,8011
East Colusa 112 15 900
Gagnon 340 38 1.950
Grey Rock 180 26 1,60"
Parrot 300 20 1,900
Silver Bow No. 1 129 27 ' 1,000
Original No. 6.. >. 10 3 1,000
Rerkeley 25 9 800
Moscow 6 3
Moonlight 150 39 1,300
Clear Grit 13 1 600
Cambers 72 8 200
Montana Ore Purchasing—
Rarus mine 377 101 1,500
Corra 350 54 1,600
Minnie Healey 282 32 1,100
Lexington 50 10 1,450
Belmont 69 11 900
North Butte Co-
Speculator 400 67 1 .000
Jessie 800
Carlisle & Protection 4 2
Clark's Mines-
Original 334 63 2,200
WestStewart 280 20 1,900
Pittsburg & Montana Co Ill 87 1,200
Totals 8,884 1,436
The shaft of the Pennsylvania mine was sunk 300 feet
during the past year, that of the West Colusa 200 feet,
Never Sweat 406 feet, St. Lawrence 122 feet, Original 200
feet, West Stewart 200 feet. The Pittsburg & Montana
Co. has two shafts of 1200 feet each.
The Hanson, Kennedy & Bryant Co., on Silver Bow
404
Mining and Scientific Press.
December 9, 1905.
creek, near Butte, have put in a copper precipitating
plant. The plant is composed of a tower 56 feet long,
16 feet high and 6 feet wide, and is divided into nine
floors, which are made of 2x4 lumber, allowing 2-inch
spaces for water to. fall through onto the next floor be-
low, and so on to the bottom. The bottom floor is made
tight, and adjoining this floor are four settling tanks, all
in connection with each other, and by such arrangement
the water is held until it deposits the precipitates car-
ried from the iron in the tower into the tanks. The
tanks are so arranged that during cleanup time one or
more can be disconnected from the others. Each floor
is covered with scrap iron, requiring about 150 tons for
the first filling. The water is obtained from Silver Bow
creek by means of a dam with a headgate so arranged
that any amount of water desired can he taken into the
ponds. The banks of the ponds are made up of tailings
washed on the flat from the old Parrot smelter. These
tailings carry about 3% copper. When the ponds are
filled with water a great amount seeps through these
banks, which makes the water valuable for its copper
contents.
The Amalgamated Co. has begun sinking the shaft of
the J. I. C. mine in the East Butte district, and will put
it to a depth of 2000 feet. The J. I. C. has been worked
for some years. The J. I. C. adjoins the properties of
the East Butte Co. They have started to prospect
mines east of Butte and are sinking a shaft on the Green-
leaf, owned by the Boston & Montana Co. The shaft
of the North Butte has been reconstructed and the out-
put of the mines will be increased one-third. Next
March the new hoist will be put in. In a suit of F. A.
Heinze and the Johnstown Mining Co. against the Bos-
ton & Montana Mining Co., known as the Gambetta-
Piccolo case, the district court has denied the defendant
permission to do some development work in the Minnie
Healey mine, one of the Heinze properties, for the pur-
pose of demonstrating the truth or falsity of the
plaintiffs' contentions. Heinze claims that the veins of
the Minnie Healey dip to the north and under the Pic-
colo and Gambetta mines of the Boston & Montana, and
that the ore the Boston & Montana has taken out in
years past really belonged to the Minnie Healey. Heinze
obtained an injunction several years ago by which the
Boston & Montana has been prevented from mining in
that particular portion of the property. The Boston &
Montana Co. has always maintained that the claim of
the Heinze interests was not sincere, but that the action
was brought as a gamble when Heinze had friendly
judges on the district bench. The Boston & Montana
therefore asked permission to go into the Minnie Healey
mine and open the ground to such an extent that it
could be determined whether the Minnie Healey veins
dip to the north at that point or not. The application,
however, was resisted by the Heinze lawyers and Judge
Bourquin sustained their objection because the petition
as to the necessity of the work was held not to he suffi-
cient. The company was, however, given permission to
renew the application.
NEVADA.
Esmeralda County.
The Tonopah-Goldfield Railroad has issued a tariff
sheet which probably will result in moving low-grade
ore that could not be handled under the old tariff.
These rates are in effect Dec. 5, between Goldfield and
Tonopah and Mina only, as this is the terminus of that
road, although most of the ore has been shipped to Salt
Lake, Utah, or Vallejo, Cal. The tariff for 2000 pounds
or less follows: Prom Tonopah to Mina — Ore value not
over $30, $1.50; between $30 and $40, $2; $40 and $50, $3;
$50 and $60, $3.25; $60 and $70, $3.50; $70 and $80, $3.75:
$80 and $90, $4; $90 and $100, $4.25. Prom Goldfield to
Mina— Ore value not over $30, $2.10; between $30 and
$40, $2.80; $40 and $50, $4.20; $50 and $60, $4.55; $60 and
$70, $4.90; $70 and $80, $5.25; $80 and $90, $5.60; $90
and $100, $5.95.
NEW MEXICO.
In addition to an address upon the mineral resources
of New Mexico at the American Mining Congress at El
Paso, P. A. Jones of Albuquerque gave out the following
resume of mining conditions in a number of active New
Mexico mining camps: About Elizabethtown, in Colfax
county, the operations of the placers are greater than
formerly. The Oro Dredging Co., operating with a
dredger at Elizabethtown, will take out $100,000 this
season. The season here is seven months long, on ac-
count of freezing up in winter. This company has been
operating for five years. Several small hydraulic con-
cerns are operating here also with considerable success.
About Red River, in Taos county, there was re-
cently made a rich strike of petzite ore which is rich
in gold and silver. In the Bromide district, in Rio
Arriba county, the 6000-foot tunnel on the Bromide
mine is in about 600 feet. It will tap a number of de-
posits. The Dillon Dev. Co., which is working the
Tampa mine, has some machinery on the ground for a
50-ton concentrating plant. The ores are sulphides of
copper, carrying gold and silver, and some of the ores
are said to carry platinum values. The property is
owned by the Tusas Peak M. Co. — : — -Northwest of
Bromide is the Headstone district about Hopewell,
where the King William M. Co. is operating. The lower
flat placers are worked by the hydraulic method. The
season is just closed, as the ground is freezing up. The
company is building storage reservoirs, and expects to
have enough water to run through all next summer.
In Lincoln county about White Oaks the present
shaft of the Old Abe gold mine, 1375 feet deep, is to be
sunk 250 feet deeper. This is the deepest shaft in New
Mexico. The Old Abe coal mine, belonging to the same
company, is being operated to supply the local trade.
At Parsons, in Eagle mountains, the Eagle M. Co., J. M.
Rice general manager, is putting in new milling ma-
chinery. The processes are amalgamating and cyanide,
and Huntington mills are used. In the Jicarilla moun-
tains, in Lincoln county, W. A. Mclvers is building a
50-ton concentrating plant to do custom work.
OREGON.
Baker County.
The Valley Queen mine, near Cable Cove, has been
consolidated with the adjoining claims of the Ophir Co.
T. C. Gray will continue as manager. Work will be con-
tinued throughout the winter. Manager E. I. Field,
of the United Elkhorn mines, near Baker City, has
removed his air compressor from the camp at the 2000
level, where it has been in operation by water power, to
the mine on top of the hill, where he has put a 75 H. P.
electric motor. He is also putting in a new movable
electric hoist, to be used on the third and fourth levels.
The Gold Coin mine, near Durkee, owned principally
by Pendleton capitalists, is to open this winter. It is 20
miles southeast of Baker City.
Jackson County.
Manager H. Foster is adding ten stamps to the Opp
mill, near Jacksonville, making a total of twenty.
Josephine County.
A. C. Hoofer of the Mount Pitt mine, near Grants
Pass, says that he intends to put in a three-drill com-
pressor. The Black Channel M. Co. has sold its
placer properties on Foots creek, near Grants Pass, to
W. P. Bailey, who is getting it ready for a winter
run.
The bedrock flume on the Galice Con. Mines Co. 's
property has been completed from the mouth of Galice
creek to Mill bar, which the company expect to work
this winter. There are 15 acres in this bar, bedrock
varying from 6 to 10 feet. Four giants are operated
and twenty men employed during the working season.
The ancient channel, which crosses the Galice country
at an elevation of 800 feet above Rogue river, is to be
worked under lease by J. R. Harvey. Water is
brought 5 miles from the Galice and three giants are
used. The Rand and Almeda properties, 3 miles be-
low Galice, on the opposite side of Rogue river, are to
be consolidated. The Black Jack group on Quartz
creek, a tributary of Galice, is being opened up by R.
Jackson.
UTAH.
Juab County.
The output from the mines of Tintic for the week
ending November 30 was the largest of any week during
the present year, amounting to 160 carloads. Ridge
Valley, 3 cars; Bullion-Beck, 8; Gemini, 19; Eureka Hill
lease, 9; Centennial Eureka, 46; Swansea, 8; Eagle &
Blue Bell, 8; Uncle Sam Con., 6; Yankee Con., 7; May
Day, 2; Brooklyn Con., 3; Dragon Iron, 6; Carisa, 5;
Mammoth, 14; Victoria, 5; Grand Central, 9; Ajax, 2;
total, 160 cars.
T. Manion, superintendent of the New Utah property,
near Eureka, reports that the new hoist Is working well
and the sinking of the incline shaft is in progress.
Work has begun on the Logan claims, south of the
Bullion-Beck mine, at Eureka. M. M. Kellogg of
Provo has made arrangements to have work com-
menced on the Ralph and Lilly claims in East Tintic.
— —The machinery from the old Martha Washington
mine at Silver City has been removed to the Copper
Jack mine in West Tintic and installed and development
work on that property will be begun immediately by
C. C. Griggs, J. C. Jensen, G. Hanson, et al.
Salt Lake County.
The mill of the Shawmut Con. C. Co. at Bingham is
to be run on custom ore. A deep tunnel is to be driven
to cut the vein. F. A. Darrenougue has charge of work.
Utah County.
P. Adamson of American Fork has stopped work for
the winter at the Scotchman mine. It is reported
that good ore has been struck in the Copper King mine
of the Silver Flat M. & M. Co. in American Fork
canyon. Work is to be continued during the winter.
The Goodsell mine is to be worked during the winter.
J. H. Wooten of American Fork is manager.
WASHINGTON.
Ferry County.
A new hoist has been put on the Defender mine, near
Orient, and the shaft is to be continued to a depth of
300 feet. J. T. Dolan has charge.
Okanogan County.
The Prize M. Co. has struck a new ore shoot on
Mount Elemeham, near Nighthawk.
Stevens County.
It is reported that a concentrator is to be put in at
the Daisy mine, south of Kettle Falls. Work is to be
resumed on the Acme mine, near Kettle Falls.
WYOMING.
Natrona County
J. H. Bury and A. E. Minium, owners of the asbes-
tos deposits southeast of Casper, are making prepa-
rations to develop their mines and begin shipping.
FOREIGN.
AFRICA.
In a Governor's recent report it is stated that
the climate is malarious and not suitable for the
prolonged residence of Europeans. European employes,
belonging to mining and mercantile communities, are
engaged in England. There is little hope of obtaining
employment, and Europeans should not come to the
Colony on the chance of obtaining employment, where
the openings for white labor are few. The rates of
wages are high, and the cost of living has considerably
increased in recent years, particularly in the Western
Province, which is the center of the mining industry.
The rate paid by the Government for carriers has been
reduced from Is a day and 3d a day subsistence, to 25s a
month with the same amount for subsistence; short
journeys to and from the principal coast towns are at a
fixed rate. Contractors at Accra and Cape Coast supply
the Government with carriers. Native carpenters and ma-
sons can earn Is 6dto 3s a day; bricklayers Is 6d; to2s9d;
coopers and painters, Is to Is 9d a day. The rates of
wages paid to native miners vary from Is 3d to Is 6d a
day for surface laborers, and Is 9d for underground
work. The Government Transport Department have
done valuable work in organizing and regulating the
employment of labor for the mines in the Western
Province, and it is mainly by the efforts made by this
Department that the rate of labor has been reduced to
the present figure. The laborers sent to the mines by
the Transport Department are hired on contract for six
months or a year, and, with the exception of occasional
advances, do not drawn their pay until their contract
is completed. Laborers receive subsistence money,
whether they work or not, until their contract is finished.
While there is no doubt as to their being a sufficiency of
labor on the Gold Coast, supplemented as it is at present
from other Colonies, complaints are made as to its qual-
ity. The value of a gang of laborers usually varies with
the ability of the European in charge. One overseer
will condemn as worthless a gang out of which another
will get excellent results. Under efficient supervision,
or working on a fair system of daily task work, a fair
day's work is generally obtained.
CANADA.
BRITISH COLUMBIA.
Boundary District.
Boundary Falls smelter has been blown in by W. C.
Thomas, smelter superintendent for the Dominion Cop-
per Co. One furnace is now in commission, reducing
about 350 tons daily from the company's Brooklyn,
Stemwinder and Rawhide mines. The second furnace
will be blown in later. This makes a total of over 3000
tons of ore daily now being shipped from the mines of
Phoenix camp, the Granby output being 2700 tons a day.
Boundary ore shipments for the week ending Decem-
ber 2 were as follows: Granby mines to Granby smelter,
17,633 tons; Mother Lode to British Columbia Copper
Co. 's smelter, 3717 tons; Brooklyn and Stemwinder to
Dominion Copper Co. 's smelter, 1170 tons; Rawhide to
Dominion Copper Co. 's smelter, 480 tons; Sunset to Do-
minion Copper Co.'s smelter, 360 tons; Providence to
Trail smelter, 30 tons; Skylark to Granby smelter, 30
tons. Total for week, 23,420 tons. Total for year to
date, 833,744 tons. Boundary's three smelters treated
ore as follows this week: Granby smelter, 17,960 tons:
British Columbia Copper Co. 's smelter, 3717 tons; Do-
minion Copper Co. 's smelter, 2010 tons; total for week,
23,687 tons. Total for year to date, 857,184 tons.
Cassiar District.
In a recent report of the Provincial Bureau of Mines,
W. F. Robertson reports on mining conditions on Windy
Arm, a branch of Tagish lake, the claims being near the
boundary line between British Columbia and Yukon
Territory. The district is reached from southern Brit-
ish Columbia by steamer to Skagway, Alaska, thence
over the White Pass & Yukon railway to Carcross.
Steamers from Victoria and Vancouver to Skagway run
every week, with additional steamers from Puget Sound
ports, on which the first-class fare is $30. From Skag-
way to Carcross the White Pass railway runs a pas-
senger train every day, except Sunday, the year round.
The railway fare is $12.25. From Carcross to Conrad
City, the terminus on Windy Arm of the aerial tram-
way from the Conrad Consolidated mines, is 14 miles by
navigable water. During the summer season transporta-
tion is provided by the steamer Gleaner, which makes
two trips a week, or by rowboat, while after the ice
forms travel is by sleigh over the ice. The White Pass
railway has made two surveys for a branch to Conrad
City. The older mineral locations, together with all the
development at present accomplished, is in the Yukon
Territory, and, consequently, outside the jurisdiction of
the Province of British Columbia. From the shore of
Windy Arm the hills rise rapidly, their lower levels be-
ing so covered with wash and slide as to have confined
all prospecting to the upper levels — that is from 1500 to
4000 feet above lake level. Timber line in this part of
the country is found to be at an altitude of from 4500 to
5000 feet above sea level, or about 2500 feet above the
lake. The Conrad Consolidated mines, of which J. H.
Conrad is president, holds ten claims, at an elevation of
from 3000 to 4000 feet above the lake, in a level basin
among the higher peaks, 4 miles from the Arm. The
surface is covered with heavy wash or slide, in which
rich float was found in such a well-defined line as to in-
duce pits and cross-trenches to be dug until the vein was
eventually struck in the solid formation upon the Mon-
tana, one of the central claims of the group. On this
lead a drift has been driven for from 200 to 300 feet, giv-
ing a depth of 100 feet. From this level stoping had
been carried up in places for about 30 feet. The vein is
a quartz fissure vein between distinct walls. The hang-
ing wall is the general country rock, a fine-grained,
basic, intrusive rock, and the foot wall is a decomposed,
rusty, coarsely crystalline, igneous rock, probably a di-
abase. The vein, as exposed, had a thickness of from 2
to 5 feet, averaging 3 feet. The strike of the vein was
northwest and southeast, with a dip to the south-
west into the hill, averaging 25°. On the foot-
wall was found a layer from 3 to 12 inches thick of
galena embedded in " carbonates, " or iron oxides. Above
this is the quartz proper, from 12 to 30 inches thick,
mineralized with iron pyrite and silver and antimony
sulphides. The manager estimated the entire vein to
run $25 to the ton in gold and silver. On the strike of
the vein as indicated by the Montana workings, a tunnel
was driven on the Mountain Hero, the adjoining claim,
through wash for 80 feet, when the solid formation was
struck, in which a 50-foot raise was made, when the vein
was found containing similar quartz ore. The company
has a Riblet aerial tramway, 3J miles long, from the
Montana group to the shore of Windy Arm at Conrad
City, and will continue work all winter. The J. H. Con-
rad Bonanza has the Venus vein and the Uranus claims.
From both of these properties tram lines have been sur-
veyed and the right of way cleared to Windy Arm, at a
point 2J miles to the south of Conrad City. There are
probably 100 more claims located on this slope, on which
slight surface development has been done.
East Kootenay District.
C. A. Mackey, of Nelson, has been granted a permit
December 9, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
405
by the gold commissioner to prospect for a lode or vein
of mineral under Lake Movie, between the Lake Shore
and Aurora mineral claims. The permit granted is for
a shaft or tunnel site, and is for three months. A shaft
is to be sunk on the Lake Shore ground near high water
mark, to a depth of 200 feet and drift run in search of
the vein which is supposed to extend below Lake Moyie.
NelHun nuirit-t.
The Supreme Court of Canada has deliverod judg-
ment in the mining case of Docksteader vs. Clark. The
highest Canadian tribunal practically decides that in de-
ciding mine lo ation cases technicalities will not prevail.
Specifically the court finds in location cases: 1. That
TO" is too great a variation to allow as an approximation.
though no exact limit was fixed. Ninety-seven degrees
was the point involved. 2. That a location may be
wholly on one side of location line. 3. That a location
line may traverse any number of claims. 4. That a dis-
covery post may be located even upon a crown granted
claim. The decision is clear that such ground as may be
lawfully covered by the location is to be allowed. From
a mining standpoint the finding is one of the most im-
portant ever given in the Dominion. By consent the
decision governs thirteen other ponding actions.
Ilosslaml I.! ir-ni
A reduction of 5 cents a ton has been mado by the
Canadian Pacific Railroad in the transportation rate on
ore from Rossland to Trail. The price was 35 cents a
ton and this has been cut to 30 cents. This will make a
saving of about $16,0U0 a year for the mines of the camp.
The White Bear at Rosskind will resume on Decem-
ber 15 provided the new 4U0 H. P. electrical motor is
ready. Shipments for week ending December 2 were:
Le Roi, 2310 tons; Center Star, 1400; War Eagle, 1000;
Jumbo, 200; total for week, 5180, and for the year, 303,-
183 tons.
Sl,,,:in District.
After a trial which has lasted nearly two years, Chief
Justice Hunter has given judgment in the suit of the
Star M. & M. Co., owned by J. M. Harris of Sandon and
others, against the Slocan Star M. Co., owned by Byron
N. White of Spokane, Wash., and others. Judgment is
in favor of defendants. The Slocan Star M. Co. 's claims
are the Slocan Star and Silversmith, south of the Star
M. Co.'s properties, the Heber and the Rabbit Paw. All
the claims wore located under the old mineral law, now
abolished, which permitted the pursuit of a vein having
its apex on the property into any adjacent lateral prop-
erty. On the fifth level of the Slocan Star a vein which
had its apex on that property was pursued northward
into the Heber and followed through a curve which bent
to the west and then to the south through a corner of
the Heber and of the Rabbit Paw, back into the ground
of the Slocan Star M. Co., in the Silversmith claim. It
was contended by W. J. Elmendorf of Spokane, Wash.,
on behalf of the Slocan Star, that the vein pursued was
continuous, and that, therefore, the company has a
right to all the ore they could extract from it, whether
in their ground or in that belonging to the Harrises. To
the contrary, John Sizer of Butte, Mont.v for J. M, Har-
ris, maintained that a black fissure vein in the Heber
cut off the vein, and that the vein pursued on the other
side of that alleged fissure through the Rabbit Paw was
not the vein originating on the Slocan Star. On the
first hearing of the case there was this direct conflict of
evidence, and an adjournment was taken for the execu-
tion of further work to prove the theory of either
party. This was supposed to be done under the direc-
tion of S. F. Parrish, then manager of Le Roi mine.
Mr. Parrish was taken ill and delay supervened. Finally
Chief Justice Hunter, with the rival mining engineers,
surveyed the property. On the hearing of the evidence
then tendered the owners of the Heber and Rabbit Paw
wanted yet more work done, as that already accom-
plished did not convincingly demonstrate the correct-
ness of the theory advanced by Mr. Sizer. This the
chief justice refused. The judgment, therefore, is that
the vein is continuous, and that its contents belong to
Byron N. White and the other shareholders of the Slo-
can Star Co.
West Kootenay District.
In a recent bulletin of the Provincial Bureau of
Mines H. Carmichael says that Big Bend district is that
portion of British Columbia north of the Canadian
Pacific Railway and enclosed by the Big Bend of the
Columbia river, having an area of approximately 2300
square miles. Crossing the Canadian Pacific Railway at
Beaver Mouth, the Columbia river flows northwest for
60 miles, when it takes a sharp turn to the left and flows
south, again crossing the railway at Revelstoke, 76
miles south of the Bend. With the exception of a few
rapids, the river is navigable for boats or canoes for the
entire distance, and the only bar to steamer navigation
is at La Porte, 40 miles above Revelstoke, to which
point a stern wheel steamer now ascends twice a week
from Revelstoke, the return journey being made in one
day. The entire region is rugged, the mountains rising
rapidly from the Columbia river. The lower hills and
benches are covered with a heavy growth of timber,
consisting of Douglas fir, cedar and white pine, timber
line being reached at an altitude of 6000 feet above the
river, or 7500 feet above sea level. Prospecting in the
region above timber line is easy, compared with the
densely wooded portions of the Province. Communica-
tion will undoubtedly be better in the future, so that
this section appears to offer a favorable field for the
prospector. The J. & L. group is on Goat mountain,
at the head of the east fork of Cairns creek. The group
consists of five claims — the Eli and J. & L., owned by
L. T. George and J. P. Kelly; the Badger, owned by J.
P. Kelly, and the Annie M., owned by E. McBean and
J. P. Kelly. The foot of Goat mountain is reached by a
trail from Cairns creek to the forks, thence following up
the east fork to the mine cabin at the base of the moun-
tain, where it is 1050 feet above the Columbia- river, the
length of the trail being 9 miles. The work done on
this property show6 that there is a vein or impreg-
nated zone in the schist country rock and along a con-
tact with limestone extending from high up the moun-
tain to T^he creek below, varying in width and mineral-
ization. In places the ore is solid, carrying good val-
ues; in others, concentration would be required. The
work which has been already done amply justifies
further development. The values are in zinc, copper,
gold and silver. The Standard group embraces eleven
claims, and is owned by the Prince M. & D. Co. of
Revelstoke. The property is on a small divide be-
tween two forks of the headwaters of one of the south-
east branches of Downie creek, flowing into the Col-
umbia river. The claims are reached from the Col-
umbia river by a trail 12 miles long, following up
Five-Mile creek and crossing over the divide into
Downie creek. The altitude of the divide is 6000 feet
above the Columbia, about "500 feet above sea level, and
is just above timber line. The summit is clear of tim-
ber. The country rock is a well marked 6chist, inter-
banded with limestone, and outcrops of quartz, often
carrying minerals, are numerous. The lowest tunnel
crosscuts the formation and was run 315 feet. At 275
feet a mineralized zone was struck and was estimated to
be about 45 feet thick. Drifts wero run 140 feet. A
second tunnel, run at an elevation of 184 feet above the
lower tunnel, struck the zone referred to at 140 feet,
when drifts were run, parallel with those below, a total
distance of 106 feet. At a further elevation of 120 feet
above this a third tunnel was driven, cutting this zone
at 150 feet, when drifts of 70 feet were run north and
south. The last two lovels have been connected by an
upraise driven on the zone, drifts 70 feetlong being run
from the upraise midway between the two levels. The
mineralization consists largely of arsenical iron and cop-
per pyrites, with a little bornite. Assays of selected
samples gave gold, silver and copper. Difficulties of
transportation at present militate against the claims,
but there is good ground for hoping that further work
will prove up a property which, by offering a large ton-
nage of ore, will overcome this difficulty.
MEXICO.
D. P. Richardson, president of the Cacoma M. & S.
Co., near Autlan, states that the steam pump and steam
hoist have been put in at the Vulcancias mine. Work
on a 500-foot shaft has reached a depth of 125 feet. It is
proposed to run a crosscut tunnel to cut this shaft. A
50-ton concentrating plant is to be put in. The Alta-
mira M. Co. is cleaning out three old tunnels on its
property rear Ahualulco. Thirty men are working
under the direction of R. R. Landrum. An air com-
pressor and several drills will be put in and new devel-
opment work taken up. W. W. Mathews of Etzatlan is
president.
Mexico.
The Mexican Government has introduced as a circu-
lating medium a new copper coin with an intermediate
value between the 1-centavo copper piece and the 5-
centavo nickel piece. On this subject Consul-General
Parsons furnishes a synopsis of an address recently de-
livered by Finance Minister Limantour before the
Chamber of Deputies. The Minister, in reviewing the
monetary situation, in part said: " In the issue of new
coins the proportion of alloy has been altered, putting
them on a par in purity with the silver coins of other
countries of the world. As under the new regulations
the silver 5-centavo piece would have been smaller even
than heretofore, a coin of nickel has been substituted,
and as the new silver pieces coined — 10, 20 and 50 cen-
tavos — bear to each other the proportion of 1 to 2 and
2 to 5, it was deemed desirable that a copper piece
should be coined intermediate in value between the
1-centavo copper piece and the 5-contavo nickel piece,
which would bear to these pieces the same relation.
Consequently a 2-centavo copper piece has been coined,
which will be of much use in transactions with coins of
the smaller denominations. The peso remains, of course,
the standard of value, equivalent now, however, to the
fixed value of $0,498 gold, such value having been ar-
rived at on the basis of the contents of the peso, 24.4388
grams of pure silver, equal to 75 centigrams of pure
gold. The President, according to Mr. Limantour's
statement, wishes to retain certain powers, such as the
power to demonetize coins which it is desirable to with-
draw from circulation, and to change, if found desirable,
the design of the silver peso and to make foreign gold
coins legal tender for a limited period. Mr. Limantour
estimates the loss to the treasury in the reduction of
mining taxes at $3,600,000 Mexican currency annually,
such reduction being based on an annual production of
$105,000,000 Mexican currency of gold and silver. He
feels that this reduction, together with the steps taken
by the Government to expedite the sale of silver bars,
will compensate the miners for losses due to the curtail-
ment of the free coinage of silver. The means through
which Mexico is given a stable currency mark the most
important step in advance in many years. Their enact-
ment has greatly encouraged the investment of foreign
capital in Mexican enterprises."
Sonora,
A. W. Jenks, superintendent of the Transvaal Copper
Co. at Cumpas, expects to have the new smelter running
within a month.
#************************** **********
Obituary.
*
* «•
»$.* *>i$.(f.f <?<>*"*< #*'*'*< cpt&i&ifrifrct.cf.tf.tfr ty <p <f» <p <p tp $, if, <pcp $>,{,<(> ft
T. A. Bennett, a mining engineer of high reputation,
died at Lima, Peru, on November 23. It is probable
that the cause of death was heart disease, from which
he had lately suffered. Mr. Bennett had many friends
in the profession and was associated with the Explora-
tion Co. (London) in a copper mining enterprise in Peru.
Dividends.
December 5th the Bunker Hill & Sullivan Mining &
Concentrating Co. paid dividend No. 99 of $300,000. This
makes total paid since January 1, 1905, $3,255,000, and
total to date $5,526,000.
*************************************
* *
* T-v 1 *
-:
Personal.
*
H. W. Turner is in Alaska.
Charles Janin is in Mexico.
John B. Fakish is in London.
William S. No yes is at Chicago.
F. W. Bradley has returned from New York.
F. C. Roberts is in Mexico, with Charles Butters.
A. S. Holly' is in Denver, Colo., from Mexico City.
G. E. Alexander is in Denver, Colo., from California.
E. M. Hamilton is at Copala, near Mazatlan, in
Mexico.
PHILIP Argall has returned from British Columbia
to Denver.
R. K. Humphrey has returned to Denver, Colo., from
Chicago, 111.
William R. Barbour of New York is at the St.
Francis Hotel.
Martin J. Heller has returned to San Francisco,
Cal., from Nevada.
Howard D. Smith has returned from examining mines
at Nevada City, Cal.
J. Lindstrom has charge Dover & Brighton mill,
Idaho Springs, Colo.
M. M. Johnson has returned to Salt Lake, Utah,
from Greenwood, B. C.
H. L. Day has been made manager Humming Bird
M. Co. at Burke, Idaho.
Charles W. Abbott has arrived in San Francisco,
from Blueridge, Oregon.
Wii. Ball has resigned as superintendent Lower
Mammoth mine, Eureka, Utah.
W. G. Page has resigned as superintendent of the
Alturas M. Co., of Hailey, Idaho.
Frank W. Oldpield is at Dresden, Germany. He
will be in New York about Dec. 16.
J. Larsen has been made manager X-Ray Gold & Sil-
ver M. Co. at Idaho Springs, Colo.
F. R. Ly'ON, manager United States M. Co., at Ken-
nett, Cal., has been in San Francisco.
C. W. Merrill has returned to Lead, South Dakota,
from a business trip to New York City.
G. W. Myers, representing Chrome Steel Co., has
returned to San Francisco from Australasia.
John C. Montgomery' has been appointed manager
in America for the Venture Corporation, Ltd.
J. M. Harper has returned to San Francisco from
the Columbia gravel mine at Forest City, Cal.
George J. McCarty, manager of the Creston-Colo-
rado mine, at Torres, Mexico, is visiting San Francisco.
M. J. Lidstone has gone to Searchlight, Nev., to
construct a 10-stamp mill for the Searchlight M. & M.
Co.
F. C. Gregory has returned to Denver, Colo., from
Old Mexico, where he has been examining mining
property.
Rees C. Vidler, manager Transcontinental Trans-
portation & Tunnel Co., has returned to Georgetown,
Colo., from Europe.
A. D. Gassaway', superintendent Union Blue gravel
mine at North Bloomfield, Cal., has returned from a
visit to New Mexico.
F. C. Carstarphen has returned to Denver, Colo.,
from an examination of the power plants at Fort Col-
lins and Boulder, Colo.
Homer Wilson, of San Francisco, Cal., and presi-
dent Wildman Syndicate mines of Sutter Creek, Cal.,
has gone to New York City.
D. H. Lawranoe of Breekenridge, Colo., has been
appointed consulting engineer to the Square Deal M. &
D. Co., operating at Frisco, Colo.
F. M. Taylor is in San Francisco, Cal. The firm of
Taylor & Brunton has established a branch of their ore
sampling business at Tonopah, Nev.
C. F. Goddard of the Goddard M. Co. of Wicken-
burg, Ariz., is in New York City. D. E. Huncsinger has
charge of the mine during his absence.
A. F. Hewitt of the firm of Hewitt, Carstarphen &
Co., mining and construction engineers, Denver, Colo.,
has returned there from Kansas City, Mo.
L. L. Hubbard is at the Palace Hotel, San Francisco,
Cal. Dr. Hubbard has been appointed consulting geolo-
gist to the Tamarack and Osceola mines, Michigan.
Wm. Flick of Garden Valley, Idaho, is superintendent
in charge of Ox Bow tunnel of the Golden Treasure M.
Co., on the Payette river, 20 miles north of Idaho City.
Edwin O. Dane has severed his connection with the
Imperial Copper Co. of Bell, Arizona, and is now with
Cia Metalurgica Nacional, Matehuala, San Luis Potosi,
Mexico.
Geo. Ruggles has been made superintendent of all
mills of the Federal S. & M. Co. He will continue to
have personal charge of Standard-Mammoth mills at
Wallace, Idaho.
O. Q. Beckworth, for several years with Fairbanks,
Morse & Co., Denver, Colo., has resigned to accept a po-
sition with Cary & Fielding, at 1711 Tremont street,
Denver, to have charge of the machinery department.
406
Mining and Scientific £bess.
December 9, 1905.
* *
| Commercial Paragraphs* •
The Hewitt-Carstarphen Co., 221 McPhee Building,
Denver, Colo., announce that they are equipped to man-
age all classes of engineering. They call attention to
metallurgical and mill construction, mine management,
civil and hydraulic engineering and electrical installa-
tions.
The Blake M. & M. Co., W. G. Swart superintendent,
1936 Curtis street, Denver, Colo., manufacturers of the
Blake-Mosher electric separator, have been obliged to
enlarge their plant on account of increasing business.
The testing plant will be retained at the old place, 1936
Curtis street.
The Union Gas Engine Co. is building eight Union
engines on an order from the United States Navy De-
partment: One 30 H. P., 3 cylinder; two 20 H. P., 2 cyl-
inder: three 10 H. P., 2 cylinder; two 8 H. P., 2 cylinder.
These engines will be direct connected to generators
for wireless telegraphy stations.
The Bedford Quarries Co. of Bedford, Ind., and the
Ohio Quarries Co. of North Amherst, Ohio, have or-
dered eighteen Sullivan stone channeling machines of
the class " Y " rigid head type, with boiler. This chan-
neler has been developed especially for the needs of the
building stone districts, and for several years has been
the standard machine in use.
John A. Roebling's Sons Co., the wire and iron
manufacturers, will build at Kinkora, 10 miles south of
Trenton, N. J., a private city for the housing of its em-
ployes. Arrangements were completed recently for the
erection of three workingmen's hotels and nearly a hun-
dred private dwellings, in addition to the big hotel and
the half hundred houses already erected. The building
of the mill and the completion of the city will represent
an outlay of more than a million dollars. All of the work
is to be done in less than a year. Provision will be made
within the limits of the Koeblings' city for the housing
of 1000 workingmen and their families at the start, and
more houses and additional hotels will be erected as the
demands of the place may require. For the married
men of the bosses and skilled mechanics class model
homes of various sizes will be erected. These houses
will be substantially built of brick and stone. They will
be equipped with all modern improvements. The hotels
and other public buildings will be lighted by electricity,
which will also be used on the streets. Electricity will
be produced on the place and gas may be manufactured
there. Each of the streets will be 100 feet in width, with
ample sidewalks. All houses will be erected well back
from the curb lines, with grass plots in front. Trees
will be planted on each side of every street and each
house will have its own flower beds and shrubbery.
Each house will stand alone, with plenty of air space all
around it. The new town will be provided with a com-
plete system of fire protection, including pressure mains,
water to be supplied from a stand pipe 80 feet high.
This is already built and is in the very center of the
city. Another important feature of the town will be a
street cleaning department. Great care will be taken in
the sewering of the place, and no mosquito and malaria
breeding pools will be allowed to exist. The whole city
will be governed by a code of rules yet to be formulated
by the corporation, and persons who refuse to abide by
them will be excluded.
Books Received.
* i&tfc tfr * -I? * * 'b 'b-b *b 'b ^ rb * *b -";' 'b rb 'b -b rb*b *b '•b '•b 'b * ■& rfr rj? tf. & * «b 35
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" Proceedings of the American Institute of Electrical
Engineers" for November, 1905, contains a paper on
•' Performance of Lightning Arresters on Transmission
Lines," by N. J. Neall, and a discussion on "Air Gap
Flux in Induction Motors."
As Water Supply and Irrigation Papers 137, 138 and
139, the U. S. Geological Survey has issued bulletins by
W.C. Mendenhallon "The Development of Underground
Waters on the Coastal Plain Region of Southern Cali-
fornia." Each is largely made up of a list of wells,
together with details as to their condition.
"Bi-Monthly Bulletin of the American Institute of Min-
ing Engineers" for November, 1905, contains the following
technical papers: " Genesis of the Ore Deposits at Bing-
ham, Utah," J. M. Boutwell; "The Constitution of
Mattes Produced in Copper Smelting," A. Gibb and
R. C. Philp; "The Origin of Vein-Pilled Openings in
Southeastern Alaska," A. C. Spencer; " The Limestone-
Granite Contact Deposits of Washington Camp, Ari-
zona," W. O Crosby; " The Electrolytic Assay of Lead
and Copper," G. A. Guess; " The Origin of Clinton Red
Fossil Ore in Lookout Mountain, Alabama," W. M.
Bowron; "Anthracite Washeries," G. W. Harris;
"Notes on Southern Nevada and Inyo County, Cal.,"
H. H. Taft; "Cost Accounts of Gold Mining Opera-
tions," T. H. Sheldon; " Manufacture of Coke in North
China, " Y. T. Woo; "Proceedings of the British Co-
lumbia Meeting, July, 1905, Including a Description of
the Yukon Excursion," R. W. Raymond.
tS'to'toiXs'&'Ht'St'&'b'fr'b'k'b'b'b'lii'Si&fr&'b'-b'b'Ht'H? *M.'"&^.'"i"&W."-.!:"&>&'&3s
| Trade Treatises* §
%ef*if*tfri>C'iftifritt</t'C?44Ztifriti WW^fyWi*'?* v v^-;- 'Wis <i'^^ ."{"£*.> ***?<&
The Southern Pacific Co. has issued an attractive and
profusely illustrated booklet on the Yosemite Valley.
The Allis-Chalmers Co. of Milwaukee, Wis., devote
Catalogue No. 128 to a detailed description of their
crushing rolls. The catalogue is profusely illustrated.
The G. W. Price Pump Co. of San Francisco, Cal.,
have just issued an attractive catalogue entitled
" Centrifugal Pumps, " which describes their high-duty
pumping machinery.
Latest Market Reports.
San Feancisco, December 8, 1905.
Silver. — Per oz., Troy : London, 29isi.d (standard
ounce, 925 fine); New York, bar silver, 64c, refined (1000
fine); San Francisco, 64c; Mexican dollars, 53c, San
Francisco; 501c, New York.
Copper.— New York: Standard, 817.87J; Lake and
Electrolytic, S17.87J (g> 18.00; Casting, $17.62i@17.87£;
San Francisco: $17.75; Mill copperplates, $20.00; bars,
20®24e. London: £77 17s 6d spot per ton.
Copper remains at about the same price as that quoted
last week. Lake and Electrolytic are selling at $17,874
to $18.00 in the New York market. There are indica-
tions that this price will be maintained for a time at
least, but those who anticipate a higher price will prob-
ably be disappointed.
Lead.— New York, $5.85; St. Louis, $5.15; San Fran-
cisco, $5.00, carload lots; 5Jc 1000 to 4000 Bis.; pipe 7Jc,
sheet 8, bar 6|c. London:" £17 ^ long ton.
Spelter.— New York, $6.50: St. Louis, $6.20; Lon-
don, £28 12s 6d 3 ton; San Francisco, ton lots, 7c; 100-ft
lots, 7|c.
Tin.— New York, pig, $35.021@35.15; San Francisco,
ton lots, 37c; 500 fbs., 38c; 200 lis., 40c; less, 41Jc; bar tin,
B &•, 42c. London, £160 15s.
Platinum. — San Francisco, crude, $18.50 Boz.; New
York, ingot, $20.50 $( Troy oz. Platinum ware, 75@$1.00
$ gram.
Quicksilver.— New York, $40.00@$40.50, large lots;
London, £7 5s Od; San Francisco, local, $38.00@39.00 $
flask of 75 lbs.
Babbitt Metal. — San Francisco, No. 1, lOJc; No.
2, 8c; No. 3, 7Jc; extra, 17$c; genuine, 32£c; Eclipse, 35c.
Solder.— Half-and-half, 100-ft. lots, 22.00c; San Fran-
cisco, Plumbers', 100-ft. lots 19.15c.
Nickel.— New York, 55@60c f>ft.; ton lots, 40@47c.
Zinc. — Metallic, chemically pure, "§, ft., 50c; dust, ^ft-i
10c; sulphate, B ft, .04c.
Aluminum.— No. 1, 99%, small lots, 37c $ ft.; 100 fts..
35c; 1000 fts. 34c; ton lots and over, 33c, Pittsburg. No,
2, 90%, small lots, 34c; ton lots and over, 31c, Pittsburg.
STRUCTURAL MATERIALS.
Iron. — Pittsburg, Bessemer pig, $17.35; gray forge,
$14.60; San Francisco, bar, 3£c $ ft., 3|c in small quan-
tities.
Steel.— Bessemer billets, Pittsburg, $26.00@$27.00;
open hearth billets, $27.00@$28.00; San Francisco, bar,
7c to 13c $ ft.
White Lead. — Per ft., in kegs: 500 fts. and over at
one purchase, per ft., 7Jc; less than 500 fbs., per ft., 8c;
in 25-ft. tin pails, Jc $ lb. above keg price; in 1 and 5-Ib.
tin cans, 100 fts. per case, Jc per ft. above keg price.
Dry Lead. — In bbls., 1 ton and over, 7Jc; do. in kegs, 8c.
Lime.— Santa Cruz, $1.35 country, $1.25 city $ bbl.
Cement.— Imported, $3.00@4.00 $ bbl.; California,
carload lots, $1.80 f. o. b. at works; small lots, $2.10 f,
bbl. in sacks, i sacks to bbl., 5c for each sack returned.
Lumber. — (Retail): Pine, ordinary sizes, $24.00@
25.00; extra sizes higher; redwood, $28.00@30.00; lath, 4
feet, $4.50@5.00; pickets, $21.00;shingles, $2.50 for No. 1,
and $2.25 for No. 2; shakes, $13.50 for split and $15.00 for
sawed; rustic, $28.00(3,35.00.
Nails. — This week the basic prices are: Wire, $2.77;
Cut, $3.25. Meanwhile the nominal quotations per keg
(list prices) are: No. 20d to 60d, Wire, $3.35; Cut, $3.55;
lOd to 16d, Wire, $3.45; Cut, $3.35; 8d, Wire, $3.50; Cut,
$3.50; 6d and 7d, Wire, $3.60; Cut, $3.60; 4d and 5d,
Wire, $3.70; Cut, $3.70; 3d, Wire, $3.85; Cut, $3.85; 2d,
Wire, $4.10; Cut, $4.10. Special rates for carload lots.
GENERAL SUPPLIES.
Antimony. — New York, Cookson's, lljc; Hallett's,
12Je; San Francisco, 1000-ft. lots, 14c; 300@500-fts. 12c;
100-ft. lots, 13c.
Bismuth.— Subnitrate, $ ft., $2.10.
Bone Ash.— Extra No. 1, 5@6c fl ft; No. 1, 4@5c.
Borax. — Concentrated, 7@8c $ ft; powdered, 9@10c;
fused, 25@30c; crystal, 7c.
Candles.— Spear Brand, 16 oz. adamantine, 40s., lie
f, set; 14 oz. adamantine, 40s., 10c; 12 oz. adamantine,
40s, 9c; 10 oz. adamantine, 40s, 8c; 16 oz. stearic, 40s,
12fc B set; 14 oz. stearic, 40s, 11J; 12 oz. stearic, 40s,
lOJc; 10 oz. stearic, 40s, 9Jc. 100-case lots and over, Jc
less. Not less than 50-case lots, % c less. Boxes of 20s,
price \a advance.
Caps.— 3x, $5.50@6 per 1000; 4x, $6.50@7; 5x, $8@8.50;
Lion, $9@9.50, in lots not less than 1000.
Chemicals. — Cyanide of potassium, 98%-99%, job-
bing, 23@24c fi ft. ; carloads, 23@23ic; in tins, 30c; soda
ash, $2.00 $ 100 fts.; hyposulphite of soda, 3@3JcBft.;
caustic soda, in drums, 3@3|e$lft.; Cal. s. soda, bbls.,
$1.10@1.20fSl00Ibs.; sks., 90c@$1.00; chlorate of pot-
ash, 12@13c; nitrate of potash, 6|@7e; caustic potash,
10c in 40-B>. tins; roll sulphur, 2J@2|c; powdered sul-
phur, 2J@2Je; flour sulphur, French, 2|@ — c; alum,
$2.00@2.25; California refined, lf@2c; sulphide of iron,
8c 1ft ft.; copper sulphate,. 5£@5|c; chloride of lime, spot,
$2.50@2.75; sulphuric acid, in carboys, 66% B, l|@2c 1
lb. ; nitric acid, carboys, 8c B, ft.
Chromium.— 90% and over, $ ft., 80c.
Fire Brick. — Domestic, carloads K 1000, f. o. b., fac-
tory square, $25.00; soap and split, $22.50; arch and
wedge, $27.50; skewback, $30.00; circle, $32.00.
Fire Clay.— Domestic, $ ton 2000 fts. in 125-ft. bags
double, and dry ground, f. o. b., factory, $8.50.
FUSE. — Triple tape, $4.00 per 1000 feet; double tape,
$3.55; single tape, $3.10; Hemp, $2.85; Cement No. 2,
$3.10; Cement No. 1, $2.75, in lots of 3000 and up.
Coal. — San Francisco, coast, yard prices : Welling-
ton, $8.00; Seattle, $6.50; Coos Bay, $5.50; Southfield,
$8.00. Cargo lot, Eastern and foreign: Wallsend, $7.50;
Brymbo, $7.50; Pennsylvania, hd., $14.00; Scotch, $8.00;
Cumberland, $13.00; Cannel, $8.50; Welsh Anthracite,
$13.00; Rock Springs, $8.50, long ton; Colorado Anthra-
cite, $14.00. Coke, $11.50 per ton in bulk, $13.00 in
sacks; Sunnyside, $8.50, long ton.
Oils. — Linseed, boiled, bbl., 50c; cs., 55c; raw, bbl.,
48c; cs., 57c; Lucol oil, boiled, bbl., 48c; cs., 53c; raw-
bbl., 46c; cs., 51c. Kerosene — Pearl, per gal., 17$c; As-
tral, 17Jc; Star, 17£c; Extra Star, 20Jc; Eocene, 19£c;
Elaine, 26c; Water White, in bulk, lie; Mineral Seal,
iron bbls., 18c; wooden bbls., 20Jc; cs., 24c; Mineral
Sperm, cs., 26Jc; Deodorized Stove Gasoline, bulk, 14Jc,
do., cs., 21c; 86° Gasoline, bulk, 25c; do., cs.,. 31c; 83°
Naphtha or Benzine, deodorized, in bulk, per gal., 12Jc;
do., in cs., 19c; Lard Oil, E. W. S., bbl., 75c; cs., 80c;
Neats-foot Oil, pure, bbl., 63c; cs., 78c; Sperm, crude,
63@68c; Natural White, 68e; Bleached, do., 68@73c;
Whale Oil, cs., 52@67c.
Litharge. — Pure, in 25-ft. bags, 9J@10Jc B *■
Magnesium. — Pure, N. Y., $1.60.
Manganese.— Black oxide, ® ft., 2J@4c.
Mercury. — Bichloride, f, ft., 77c.
Molybdenum.— Best, $2.75 $ ft.
Phosphorus. — American, $ ft., 70c.
Powder. — F. o. b. San Francisco : No. 1, 70% nitro-
glycerine, per lb., in carload lots, 15ic; less than one ton,
17Jc. No. 1*, 60%, carload lots, 13Jc; less than one ton,
15>}c. No. 1**, 50%, carload lots, life; less than one ton,
13|c. No. 2, 40%, carload lots, 10c; less than one ton,
12c. No. 2, 35%, carload lots, 9Jc; less than one ton,
lljc. No. 2**, 30%, carload lots, 9c; less than one ton,
lie. Black blasting powder in carload lots, minimum
car 728 kegs, $1.50 per keg; less car lots, $2.00 per keg.
Red Lead. — 500 fts. and over at one purchase, $ ft.
7Jc; less than 500 fts., 7|c.
Silver.— Chloride, B oz., 90c@$1.00; nitrate, 54c
Sodium.— Metal, $ ft., $1.
Tungsten.— Best, $ ft., $1.20.
Uranium.— Oxide, f, ft., $3.40.
New Patents.
Dewey, Strong & Co.'s Scientific Press Patent agenct, 330
Market street, San Francisco, has official reports or the following
United States patents Issued to Pacific Coast inventors :
TOR THE WEEK ENDING NOV. 21, 19C5.
805,406.— Wrench— Bolsinser & Bowen, Brockway, Or.
805,116.— Distillation— G. H. Bradford, Stockton, Cal.
805,118.— Dish Washes— C. S. Chamberlain, Emeryville, Cal.
805,008.— Rock Drill— W. J. Ertle, Knowles, Cal.
804,956.— Process— W. E. Everette, Tacoma, Wash.
805,009.— Process— W. E. Everette, Tacoma. Wash.
804,939.— Retaining Wall— W. H. Ferguson, San Francisco.
805,419.— Railroad Block System — Gallagher & Gillett, San
Francisco.
804,840.— Gate— C. Harris, Lower Lake, Cal.
805,015.— Insect Trap— Rosa Haselrigg, Eureka, Cal.
805,017.— Leaching -T. B. Joseph, San Francisco.
805,201.— Bicycle lock— E. F. Kaiser. Fresno. Cal.
804,865.— Basin Cleaner— J. E. Keyt, San Francisco.
805,080.— Fly Trap— J. Kress, Bisbee, Ariz.
805,019.— Pump— F. W. Krogh, San Francisco.
805,215.— Concentrator— M. R. Lyle, Oakland, Cal.
80^,216.— Square— D. R. Lynch, Reno, Nev.
son 11^3.— HOSE Support— J. McBoyle, Oakland, Cal.
805,313.— Pump— C W. McGonigle, Walla Walla, Wash.
805,218.— Watch Guard— F. E. Mead. Represa, Cal.
805,091.— GAS Machine— ,T. F. Philpott, Windsor, Cal.
804,974.— FRUIT Harvester— M. PI. Porter. Redding, Cal.
805,028.— Advertising Device— H. C. Quick, Los Angeles, Cal.
805,094.— Shingle Gauge— G. Reed, Fort Bragg, Cal.
805,164.— Rotary Engine— N. R. Smith, Seattle, Wash.
805,162.— ROTARY Engine— N. R. Smith, Seattle, Wash. .
805,163.— Rotary Engine— N. R. Smith, Seattle, Wash.
805 033.— OAR— Smyth & Goodwin, San Francisco.
805,327.— Clock— C. F. A. Sturts, San Francisco.
805,171.— Food— E. I. Townsend, Los Angeles, Cal.
805,106.— Briquet Machine— J. Treadwell, San Francisco.
815,398.— Oil Can— T. B. Wilkinson, Rivera, Cal.
Notices of Recent Patents.
Among the patents recently obtained through Dewey, Strong &
Co.'s Scientific Press United States and Foreign Patent Agency
the following are worthy of special mention :
Window Shade and Curtain Pole Roller— No. 805,676. Nov
28, 1905. F. Shoo, Oakland, Cal. The object of this invention is to
provide a device for the convenient adjustment of curtain shades
and their retention at any point between the top and the bottom of
the window, so that light may be admitted from above or below the
shade to any desired degree, and in conjunction with this device is
shown a means for supporting curtain poles in proper relation with
the above named devices. With this device it is also possible to
open the window from either top or bottom, and to allow an unob-
structed movement of air for ventilating purposes. The device com-
prises the various and necessary details of construction adapted to
bring about the desired result.
Cracker Conveyor and Distributer.— No. 805,625. Nov. 28,
1905. C. C. Blank, San Francisco, Cal. This invention relates to an
apparatus which is designed for the distributing of crackers so as to
be convenient to the packers. It comprises in a conveying and dis-
tributing apparatus, an endless belt traveling in one direction, a
superposed chain belt having its contiguous surface traveling in the
opposite direction, a diagonally disposed plow or scraper whereby
articles carried by the lower belt are successively brushed off at one
side of said belt, said plow having a flexible brush upon its lower
edge; and other details of construction making a new and useful
machine for the purpose required.
Advertising and Display apparatus.— No. 805.682. Nov. 28,
1905. Karl Stencil, San Francisco, Cal. The object of this inven-
tion is to provide an apparatus for the display of pictures, cards,
advertising, or any desired matter in such form that it may be f m-
ployed in places where ordinary display apparatus would be out of
place or objectionable. It consists in a book-shaped casing having a
display aperture formed vertically in one side ol the casing, verti-
cally journaled rollers having an endless display band fitted thereto,
pulleys and an endless cord and means exterior to the casing by
w'hicli the parts may be turned to advance the band, a hinged door
forming one side of the casing and to allow access to the interior,
said door haying a trough or conductor in line with and below the
joint of closure substantially as described.
Balanced Floor for Ships' Cabins.- No. 805,718. Nov. 28, 1905.
R. P. Dewey, San Francisco, Cal. This invention relates to im-
provements in ship building construction, and especially in a means
for balancing the floors of saloons, cabins and state rooms so that
they will be maintained substantially level irrespective of the roll-
in" of the vessel. The invention consists in the combination of a
movable floor or deck section, a shaft to which the floor section is
fixed a weighted pendulum detached from the door so as to be in<i--
pendent thereof, and a crosshead or bearing on the shaft and cxte, d-
m" beyond opposite sides ther.of, said pendulum engaging the cross-
head to effect the oscillation of th<- shaft and floor section and
thereby maintain the floor section in horizontal position irrespective
of the movements of the ship, and other details of construction.
Whole No. 2369.
_ VOLUME XCI.
Number 25.
San Francisco, Cal., Saturday, December 16, 1905.
THREE DOLLARS PER ANNUM.
Single Copiei, Ten Centt.
Virginia City, Nevada.
At one time— in the early 70s— Virginia City,
Nev., was the leading mining town of the West.
The "Big Bonanza" had recently been found and
was being developed as rapidly as money and skill
could accomplish so large a task under the most
adverse conditions — high temperature and floods of
scalding hot water. Never in the history of the
Virginia City was almost deserted, only a few mines
in the town and at Gold Hill, joining it on the south,
making any pretense of working. In 1899, however,
it was decided to attempt the unwatering of the long
flooded levels by improved methods. The attempt
was a success, and since then a vast amount of
work has been accomplished, and, although it has
created comparatively little stir, several millions
have been produced by the Comstock mines within
Virginia City of today is a very different city from
that of the '70s, notwithstanding that there is at
present more activity on the lode than at any time
since the decadence of mining after the exhaustion of
the bonanzas, which made the lode and the city world-
famous.
On every side may be seen the evidences of former
greatness. One of the interesting things which at-
tract the attention of a stranger is the huge cast-
The Clover Range, Nevada, Covered With) Snow.
Santa Fe Bridge SpanniDg the Colorado River, 15 Miles Below The Needles, Cal.
Virginia City, Nev., Showing "Point A" on the Outcrop of the Comstock Lode.
The Colorado River Near The Needles, Cal
West were scenes enacted in connection with mines
such as were witnessed in Virginia City. During the
'70s this great activity continued, but the tremen-
dous energy resultant upon the discovery, develop-
ment and extraction of that phenomenal ore body
known as the "Big Bonanza," found in the Consoli-
dated Virginia & California mines, began to spend
itself, and the early '80s saw Virginia City on the
wane. It continued to attract less and less atten-
tion, as the fall in the price of silver sent the miners
into other regions, until the lower levels were aban-
doned, the pumps were withdrawn, and for years
(See Page 412.)
the past five years. The accompanying illustration
is a new picture of Virginia City, showing the famous
" Point A, " on the east slope of Mount Davidson,
the datum of all scientific and other responsible
measurements on the Comstock Lode. " Point A "
is shown in the central foreground, and is a mass of
siliceous rock — the outcrop of the Comstock lode at
that point. The light colored spots beyond the build-
ings of the town are the great dumps of the Ophir
and Consolidated Virginia mines. Those familiar
with the city and its surroundings will distinguish
many other interesting features in the picture.
Bartell's Borax Works on Dry Lake, South of Calico,
Cal.
iron shells formerly used in retorting the bullion
from the mills, which, having outlived their useful-
ness, are now found half buried, and standing erect
on the street corners, as fenders to protect side-
walks and other structures from the too close en-
croachment of careless teamsters who were inclined
to make short turns. Another interesting and per-
haps more impressive feature is found in the huge
walls of masonry and the ponderous pumping machin-
ery of the early days on the lode. The early en-
gineers certainly built for endurance and regardless
of expense.
408
Mining and Scientific Press.
December 16, 1905.
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
ESTABLISHED i860.
Published Every Saturday a* 330 Market Street, San Franciico, Cal.
Telephone, Davis 77 1 .
ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION.
United States, Mexico and Canada *3 00
All Other Countries in the Postal Union 5 00
Entered at the San Francisco Postoffice as second-class mail matter.
Branch offices:
New Yobk City, 921-24 Park Row Bldg. Boston, 27 School St.
Chicago, 1164 Monadnock Block. Denver, 606 Mack Block.
J. F. HALLORAN Publisher
SAN FRANCISCO, DECEMBER 16, 1905.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
ILLUSTRATIONS: Page.
The Clover Range, Nevada, Covered With Snow 407
Santa Fe Bridge Spanning the Colorado River, 15 Miles Below
Needles, Cal.
Virginia City, Nev., Showing "Point A " on the Outcrop of the
Comstock Lode 407
The Colorado River Near The Needles, Cal 407
Bartell's Borax Works on Dry Lake. South oi Calico. Cal 407
Improved Type California Four-Post Frame 410
Simple Two-Post Frame. Montana Type . . 410
Rectangular Four-Pest Frame 410
Steel Head Frame at a French Mine, Built on Scientific Lines. 41C
Unusual Construction of Two-Post Frame at Vertical Shaft — 411
Construction of Head Frame at Leadyille, Colo 411
Four-Post Frame at Inclined Shaft, Empire Mine, Grass Valley. 411
Steel Frame in Rhodesia, S. A., at Inclined Shaft 411
An Unusual Type of Head Frame— Two Posts With Back Braces,
and Sheaves at the Top of Frame 411
An Irrigated Farm in the Desert 412
Transportation in Death Valley, Cal 413
The Ruby Range, Nevada 413
Lake Harry— Indigo Depths Fringed With Verdure 414
Lake of the Woods, in the Sierra Region 414
Little Echo Lake, 1000 Feet Higher Than Lake Tahoe 414
Big Echo Lake, Amid the Summits of the Sierra Nevada 415
Audrain Lake, Amid the Alpine Summits of the Sierra 415
New Gasoline Motor Car. 417
Ingersoll-Sergeant Compressors Run by Electric Motors, and
Driving Machine Tools 417
EDITORIAL:
Virginia City, Nevada 407
Striking of Oil Flows in New Wells in California 408
Dangers of Thawing Nitro Powder 408
PJea for Fine Grinding at Minimum Cost 408
The Western Empire 408
The Unplausible Promoter 408
Prompt Assay Returns 408
Responsibility of Directors of Mining Companies 408
MINING SUMMARY 418-119-420-421
LATEST MARKET REPORTS 422
MISCELLANEOUS:
Concentrates 409
Some Types of Head Frames 410
Garnets 410
Fine Grinding in Metallurgy 410
The Great American Desert. 412-413
Water Supply in Mountain Regions 414
Mine Surveying 415
Mining and Metallurgical Patents 416
Mining in Trinity County, California 417
Air Power Plant for Pneumatic Tool Service 417
New Gasoline Motor Car > 417
Water Troublesome at Carbonate Hill, Colorado 417
Notes on Southern Nevada and Inyo County, California 418
Personal 418
Trade Treatises 422
Books Received 422
Commercial Paragraphs 422
Notices of Recent Patents 18^4
New Patents 18K
THAT all of the oil bearing territory has not been
developed, and probably not discovered, in
California, is evidenced by the striking of profitable
flows in new wells situated in various portions of the
State, particularly in Santa Barbara county, where
several good wells have recently been proven.
THE ingenuity of men who are unfamiliar with
the dangers of nitro powder in thawing that
explosive is worthy a better fate. The latest novelty
in this direction was the disastrous experiment of a
man in Fresno county, Cal., a few days since, who
undertook to thaw out nitro powder by digging a
hole in the ground, placing the powder therein and
covering it with hot earth and a few coals. He was
instantly killed by the explosion which followed.
From now on accidents from powder thawing, oc-
curring in various ways, may be anticipated.
A CORRESPONDENT elsewhere herein makes a
plea for the discussion of methods of accom-
plishing fine grinding at minimum cost. This subject
is a live one and is of increasing importance. Thus
far the principal machines for accomplishing the fine
comminution of ores are the grinding pans of various
types and the tube or pebble mills of several designs.
Chile mills are also employed as well as several other
styles of rotary mills. It is desired to ascertain the
best device that can be employed for the purpose,
and without doubt a discussion along the line, sug-
gested by the correspondent, would result in much
valuable information, both from a recitation of facts
and from suggestions.
The Western Empire.
The reclamation of desert lands by irrigation is one
of the most important matters now attracting the
attention of the Government. The making of millions
of acres of these arid lands fruitful will mean much
to the West in the coming years, and, without doubt,
large areas, which in years gone by have been given
over to solitude and desolation, will become the home
of a numerous and prosperous people. The impres-
sion that prevails among a large class, unfamiliar
with the desert, its peculiar topographical and
climatic conditions, imagine it to be a vast, nearly
level plain, trackless and sand-strewn, with nothing
to invite the interest, or rest the weary eye of the
traveler. In fact, no land shows greater diversity of
landscape — changing every hour with the passage of
the sun across the heavens, and with every drifting
clouds. The almost limitless distances appear
shortened, the rock coloring is amazing, and whether
by contrast or not, the stream valleys usually pre-
sent pictures of beauty seldom excelled elsewhere.
The mineral wealth of this vast domain — the Great
American Desert — has never been called into ques-
tion, for hundreds of millions of dollars worth of gold,
silver, copper, lead, zinc, iron and salines have
already been drawn from its mountains and plains.
Such districts as Virginia City, White Pine, Pioche,
Tonopah, Tuscarora, De Lamar, Eureka, Austin and
Goldfield, in Nevada; Bingham Canyon, Frisco,
Park City, Eureka, Little Cottonwood, and numerous
others in Utah; Congress, Tombstone, Bisbee and
Globe, Arizona; Calico, Randsburg, Cargo Muchacho,
Ivanpah and Vanderbilt, in California — all these, and
others, are on the desert, and it is known that there
remain possibilities in mineral development in these
desert regions almost unequaled. There are copper,
lead, gold, silver and iron mines to be developed.
Salt, and soda, and borax marshes to explore and
exploit, beside many other mineral substances, at
present attracting little attention by reason of their
remoteness from transportation. This latter diffi-
culty is being rapidly solved by the building of rail-
roads in various directions across the desert valleys
and around and through its mountains. The Great
American Desert is a vast empire, still in its infancy,
so far as the development of its material resources
goes, and the next decade will witness an output
from that region of which the present gives forth
only a suggestion. In the last and present issue of
the Mining and Scientific Press appears an article
by Geo. Bancroft on the Great American Desert, in
which are given facts of much interest to mining
men, and to others as well. This illustrated descrip-
tion of the desert of the great Southwest will give
those unfamiliar with it a very fair idea of what the
desert region is really like. As compared with the
desert region of northern Africa, it possesses many
advantages, in climate, transportation facilities and
water supply, and in accessibility and richness of its
mineral resources.
The Unplausible Promoter.
A short time since a report was in circulation in a
Western city which purported to state the conditions
obtaining at a gold mine, the name of which was
given in this report, written by a person signing
"E. M." after his name. The " report " was chiefly
noticeable for poor spelling and misapplication of
geological and other terms, which clearly indicated
also the misuse of the " E. M. ;" but, aside from this,
the several statements contained in the report were
somewhat singular, as one would expect a mine pos-
sessing the advantages, and particularly the ore,
stated to exist on this property to be in operation.
It was a matter of constant surprise that so
evidently valuable a mine should remain so long
idle. Among other statements was one to the
effect that there were several thousand tons —
two or three thousand — which would mill $18 per
ton in free gold, lying on the dump, with a 10-
stamp mill standing on the ground near at hand,
and a 4-foot vein of $30 rock standing in the mine
ready for stoping. Ostensibly money was wanted
for development and the building of a larger mill. A
miner would naturally inquire why the several thou-
sand tons of $18 rock lying on the dump was not run
through the mill to secure the needed funds for
further development and extension of plant. To the
experienced this prospectus was plainly a tissue of
deliberate lies — to many of the uninitiated and unso-
phisticated it seemed a magnificent opportunity to
make large profit from moderate investment. It is
almost useless to speak of these frauds in technical
journals, as the people whom it is intended to protect
against such imposition seldom see that class of
papers. It is almost needless to say that this alleged
report was not being circulated in the region where
the mine was said to be located, but in a distant
State, where a smooth-voiced grafter was success-
fully obtaining money on the presentation of his pal-
pable fraud.
Had any man such a property as was described in
this circular, he need go no farther than the nearest
merchant and prove that he possessed what he
claimed, and he would be provided with all the nec-
essary funds for turning all this wealth into bullion
bars.
Prompt Assay Returns.
Most mine superintendents realize the necessity of
accurate and prompt assaying of samples, but meth-
ods employed are often such that there is much delay
in arriving at the desired results. There is an evident
tendency to simplify methods and to make determina-
tions more quickly than has been done heretofore.
Students in chemical laboratories have done a great
deal in this direction, and some of the newly devised
methods are an improvement over former schemes,
and usually sufficiently accurate for all practical
purposes. As there has been improvement in the
past, further improvement in the future may be
anticipated. In most instances where absolutely
accurate results — and not approximate results — are
required a quick determination is less reliable than
one involving more work and a greater length of
time for its complete accomplishment. Naturally, it
is to the wet methods that one turns for prompt
results in analysis, for all methods requiring the
fusion of the charge necessarily take considerable
time.
In stamp mills treating gold and silver ores it is
the ordinary practice to take daily samples of head-
ings, tailings, sulphurets, etc., at various stages of
the reduction operations. In many mills the first
samples of the day are taken during the morning
shift, after the plates have been dressed, and these
samples taken to the assayer, who is sometimes em-
ployed in assaying the samples taken by the night
shift. In other instances — the more common ones —
the samples of both night and day shift, and those of
the previous afternoon, are assayed at one time.
Several hours are taken in the preparation of the
samples, crushing, bucking, mixing, etc., and finally,
after noon, the fusion and cupellation is completed
and the weighing done, so that by 3 or 4 o'clock the
results of the previous day's work, and up to the
early morning, are available. The latest informa-
tion is obtainable about seven to eight hours after
the samples are taken, when it is practically impos-
sible to correct any losses from defective amalgama-
tion or concentration. If the samples could be turned
over to the assay department promptly after they
were taken, and the assays made as quickly as con-
sistent with safely approximate results, then the
sampling would have a value which, under the condi-
tions previously outlined, they cannot possess.
STOCKHOLDERS of mining companies, corporate
or otherwise, look to the directors of the com-
panies for a proper conduct of the affairs of the
concern, and while the directors may be held respon-
sible for misappropriation of funds, whether these be
derived from assessments on the stock or from the
operation of the property is not material. It would
be impossible, however, to hold them for neglect to
pursue the development of the mine, or for failure to
carry it on at all, the ultimate result of which might
be the loss of the property through relocation by
another, because of non-performance of assessment
work. The relocator might develop a very valu-
able property; but this would be the misfortune of
the stockholders, for the directors might claim a
lack of funds to carry on development, or any one of
a number of excuses, through which the property
was lost to the company. Ordinarily directors of
mining companies are blamed for doing too much,
rather than too little, in their official capacity.
December 16, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
409
r
CONCENTRATES.
Only fifteen days remain within which to do annual
assessment work on unpatented claims.
vVTV
Mining and other corporation stock organized under
the laws of California is not unassessable.
Xo survey is required of placer locations which con-
form to the legal subdivisions of the Government land
survey.
V4VVVV
Tailings which are permitted to accumulate on the
land of another become the property of the land owner
should he choose to claim them.
Petzitk is a telluride of silver, occasionally asso-
ciated with gold. It is found in a number of pocket
mines in Tuolumne county, Cal.
VVTv
It is safer to secure guides in shafts with two lag
screws in place of a single one, as is sometimes done
where the ends of the guides overlap.
VVTV
One of the highest mines in America is at Garland,
14,400 feet above sea level, in the Sierra Blanca of Colo-
rado. It is about a mile above timber line.
V V V V
The " right of eminent domain " is not recognized in
mining for the reason that mining is not a public utility,
but generally conducted as a private or corporate enter-
prise.
0VWw
THE peculiar crackling noise made by a bar of tin
when bent, or when bitten by the teeth, is known as the
"cry of tin," and is a property possessed by no other
metal.
VVVV
What are sometimes referred to as "chicken lad-
ders " in mines are notched poles used in Mexican and
other Spanish-American mines in the same manner as
ladders.
V V V V
It is always a good idea to have at least one 5-stamp
battery in a mill so arranged that it may be operated
independently of the others, for the purpose of making
experiments.
'k'jj'it'jt
The flinty concretions (chert) often found in lime-
stones occasionally contain gold. The occurrence in
Ragged Top district, in the Black Hills, South Dakota,
is a notable instance.
Arsenical gold ores have been successfully treated
at several places by roasting and then leaching with a
solution of bromo-cyanide. A notable instance is at the
Del Oro mine, Ontario, Canada.
Very little pyrrhotite is used in America in the manu-
facture of sulphuric acid, pyrite or sulphur being em-
ployed almost exclusively for that purpose. Pyrrhotite
is too low grade in sulphur contents.
Water may be appropriated from a stream by the
owner of a tract of land through which it flows, if he can
make such appropriation without interfering with the
previously acquired rights of others.
VVVV
Ore bins at shaft stations may always be provided,
either in the hanging or foot wall or at the ends of the
shaft, although the latter practice is unusual. In
inclined shafts they are usually cut in the hanging wall.
When a new shaft is to be sunk near old, flooded mine
workings, the water should be removed from such work-
ings, for safety, as the working in proximity of a large
body of water, particularly if under high head, is usually
extremely dangerous.
VVVv
It is often difficult to distinguish between pyrite and
marcasite. This may be done, however, by treating the
two samples with dilute hydrochloric acid, and examin-
ing at once with a strong magnifying glass. The pyrite
is brass yellow and the marcasite tin white.
Hydraulioking as practiced in gravel mining is also
employed for other purposes, such as grading for mills
or other structures, moving filling for dams or railway
embankments, etc.. and also in washing out manganese,
iron and other ores from superficial deposits where they
occur.
Where there are a large number of men at work in a
mine and a great quantity of powder is daily handled, it
is the best plan to have as few men to handle it as pos-
sible—one or two on each level— and not each man for
himself. This latter leads to carelessness and often to
disaster.
When the presence of calcium sulphate is suspected
in water, it may be tested by filling a test tube about
one-third full of the water and then adding a few drops
of barium chloride. If calcium sulphate (gypsum) is
present, a white precipitate will be formed— barium
sulphate.
Dynamite usually burns quietly when it comes in
contact with flames, but it occasionally explodes while
thus burning. It is dangerous to sot sticks of dynamite
up against a board before an open fire for the purpose of
thawing. The warm water thawer is the safest method
of thawing dynamite known.
The term "rawhiding" as used in British Columbia
refers to the transportation of ore wrapped in large raw-
hides and drawn by horses on the snow along the moun-
tain trails. The mountains are steep and the trails nar-
row and rawhiding is the least expensive method of
handling the ore under existing conditions.
VVVw
Cyanide of potassium is a powerful reducing and
desulphurizing agent, and as such is useful in the assay
office and laboratory. It is used as a flux in the reduc-
tion of tin ores, and also of lead. The use of cyanide is
always attended with danger to the operator, who must
take precautious to avoid fumes from the charge.
VVVV
Ore dressing or concentrating consists of two steps —
first, crushing the ore to a fineness sufficient to separate
the valuable ore particles from the waste material to
which it is attached; second, the separation of the ore
from the waste particles by some one of the various de-
vices for concentration.
Inquiries continue to be made regarding the
" miner's inch." Formerly this term signified different
quantities of water in different mining districts, but
California and Montana have each passed legislation
defining a miner's inch as a flow of H cubic foot of water
per minute. This definition of the miner's inch has
been generally adopted.
When making application for a mineral patent the
applicant must furnish specific proof that at least $500
worth of work has been done or improvements made for
each claim sought to be patented. This $500 worth of
work or improvements may have all been made within
a month of the date of location. A patent may cover
both a quartz and placer claim jointly.
VVVV
The argument that a rock is not of igneous origin
because it contains pyrite is not sound. Nearly all igne-
ous intrusive rocks, and even some volcanic rocks, con-
tain pyrite, which has been deposited in the mass after
it has become cold. Very few rocks contain pyrite as
an original constituent, but almost all rocks are found
to contain it subsequently, as a mineral of infiltration.
W V V V
Fuller's earth resembles clay, but is not plastic
when moistened with water. The water test is one of
the best for this mineral. A quantity of the dry earth
is placed in a saucer and a little water added. If the
mineral cracks, crumbles and falls into a loose, incohe-
rent mass, it is, in all probability, fuller's earth. Analy-
sis should also be made.
The United States now produces a large number of
gem stones and semi-precious stones, among them being
a few small diamonds, sapphires, tourmalines, beryls,
chrysoprase, opal, turquoise, quartz (such as rock crys-
tal, rose quartz, gold quartz and crystals containing
rutile and chlorite, copper, etc.), moss agate, petrified
and agatized wood, garnets, amazon stone, and a few
others of less importance.
Granite has been determined by the United States
Supreme Court to be mineral— technically as well as
actually. This decision was rendered in the caBe of the
Northern Pacific Railroad v. J. A. Soderberg. The
defendant had quarried granite from a tract of land
claimed by the railroad as non-mineral. This the court
denied, holding that granite was mineral within the
meaning of the law.
VVVV
The principal gold deposits of the world occur in con-
nection with diabase, diorite, granite, andesite, clay
slate, and hornblende schist. The gold deposits of the
Rand, in the TraDsvaal, S. A., occur in conglomerate.
Gold is found in other rocks, but the above are the most
noted. Copper ores occur most abundantly in granite,
greenstone and limestone, and lead-silver ores in lime-
stone and quartzite.
The rare element gallium was discovered by a French
chemist in a sample of zinc blende. The discov-
ery was made by means of spectroscopic examination. It
is a hard and tough metal of bluish-white color, but
melts at a very low temperature as compared with other
metals— 31° C. or about 87° F., hence it will melt from
the heat of the hand. It oceura most commonly in
the black varieties of zinc blende.
Where the gouge occurs on one side of a vein for
some distance and then crosses to the opposite side, this
may be due to the fact that the walls have had a sort of
axial movement in that vicinity, the wall on one side of
the point of crossing moving upward, for instance, while
the same wall on the opposite side of the crossing moved
downward. Or possibly this condition may be due to a
pre-existing fracture, or plane of movement.
THE geological structure of a hill has usually an im-
portant influence on the slope angle of the hill. Few
hillside slopes exceed 30° to 35°. Where the rock strata
dip into the hill, the hillside may be steeper than this,
but where the rocks dip in the direction of the hill slope
it is usually less than 30°, as at higher angles landslides
usually occur until the slope is reduced to about this
angle, or even less. The steepest hills are usually in the
region of rocks, the stratification or cleavage of which is
nearly vertical.
On a ridge extending northward from the Black Hawk
mountains, in San Bernardino county, Cal., are found
gray, white and blue limestones which in spots are rich
in chloride and bromide of silver, and in some places,
where slightly silicified, gold occurs also. Some of this
ore will assay $250 per ton in gold and silver. There are
no known eruptive or intrusive dikes in these limestones
— at least, not in the vicinity of the richer ores.
VVVV
Pure zinc blende contains zinc 67%, sulphur 33%.
Most zinc ore contains other substances beside these
which reduces the zinc contents proportionally. It is
sometimes rich in gold and silver. It presents more
physical differences than almost any other sulphide ore.
In color it ranges from white through shades of yellow
and brown to black, and is occasionally green or red;
luster bright metallic to dull, adamantine to resinous.
VVVV
There are numerous causes for the flouring of quick-
silver. It may be due to some mineral in the ore, such
as arsenic, graphite, molybdenite, etc., or it may be
caused by some mineral in solution in the battery water.
Too high a discharge, resulting in sliming, may also
cause " quick " to become so finely divided as to make it
difficult for the globules to reunite. Sodium amalgam
usually will effect a reunion of finely divided mercury.
VVVV
An ore shoot appearing at the surface and at some
distance from an end line of the claim, and which in
depth passes beyond this end line into the adjoining
claim, cannot be followed by the owner of the apex be-
yond his end line. The ore shoot then passes to the
owner of this adjoining claim, even though the apex of
the vein is unknown at the surface in his claim. The
end line bounds and terminates all rights in that direc-
tion.
VVVV
Miners indiscriminately call many kinds of yellow,
buff and gray rocks, in more or less decomposed state,
porphyry. With them any intrusive rock which has
been altered by weathering is " porphyry." Sometimes
altered sedimentary rocks are also called "porphyry. "
Under such circumstances the term is chiefly valuable as
distinguishing between two kinds of rock — "porphyry "
and another kind — possibly limestone or quartzite, slate,
etc.
Coal and metal mining differs principally in the dif-
ferent conditions in the two classes of mines and in the
great difference in the material produced. Moreover,
coal mines are rendered additionally dangerous by rea-
son of the occurrence of explosive gases and dust, which
most metal mines are free from. An explosion of dust
in a metal mine is unknown to "Concentrates," while
only a few metal mines have explosive gases, having more
commonly the "choke damp " (carbonic acid gas) of the
coal mines.
To etch on steel or other metals, cover the portion
to be etched with melted beeswax, and then sketch with
a needle or other suitable tool the design required, being
careful that the lines pass entirely through the coating
of wax to the metal beneath. Then mix one part nitric
acid with two parts muriatic acid and apply to the pre-
pared surface. Allow it to remain for five or ten min-
utes, according to the depth of etching desired, then
wash with water. The wax may then be removed,
either by scraping or by hot water.
A number of minerals possess the property of mag-
netism— that is, are attractable by the magnet. The
most notable of these are magnetite, some pyrrhotite,
some nickel ores (particularly josephinite); wolframite
(slightly magnetic); some varieties of native platinum;
and franklinite. Some minerals having slight magnet-
ism are supposed to owe this property to the presence of
a small amount of magnetite. Many minerals, particu-
larly those containing iron, become magnetic upon heat-
ing. Among these latter are zinc blende, iron carbon-
ate, etc.
When it is desired to secure a uniform temper of
a number of pieces of the working parts of a machine,
as of a rock drill, the various pieces — nuts, bolts, etc.—
are placed in bone ash in a steel box provided with a
cover which is carefully luted on, and the box with its
contents is placed in a furnace, where it is brought to a
bright red heat. After being subjected to this heat the
proper length of time, the box is removed from the fur-
nace, the cover taken off and the several pieces of steel
thrown into a tank of cold water as rapidly as they can
be taken from the box, which gives the several pieces a
uniform temper.
The mines of Olancho, Honduras, are mostly placer,
as far as developed, though quartz veins, which contain
gold, are known to exist in a number of localities. The
Department of Olancho is several hundred miles inland
and there are only trails— no roads — from the sea ports
into the interior. There is abundant water for power
and milling purposes when properly applied. The alti-
tude in the gold region varies from 2500 feet in the val-
leys to 8000 feet in the Guymaca range. There is an
abundance of fine pine timber, but a scarcity of labor of
any kind, and no skilled labor at all. There are exten-
sive beds of conglomerate in Olancho, in the gold dis-
trict, which may be auriferous,
410
Mining and Scientific Press.
December 16, 1905.
Some Types of Head Frames.
Head frame construction is always an interesting
feature of mining equipment. Various sections have
different ideas of how head frames should be built, so
that frames of the several types come to be known
as representative of certain districts or States. Thus
the two-post frame was largely employed in Montana
before it became popular elsewhere, because of its
simplicity and economy of construction. It can be
shaft, where the skips dump automatically into the
bin in the head frame.
The wooden frame at the Empire mine, Grass Val-
ley, Cal., also illustrated, is very similar to the Rho-
desian frame, but owing to better surface situation is
able to dispense with the long back braces, the
resultant strain falling within the structure.
The steel frame at a French mine is of scientific
design and built of a minimum of materials. Frames
of this class are known as the "A" type, and are
becoming common throughout the mining regions of
Fine Grinding in Metallurgy.
To the Editor: — During a long and somewhat
varied experience in the mining and reduction of ores
(gold, silver, copper and lead), I have been one of
those whose motto is "Stick to the things you know
are good," and who, in all matters pertaining to
their particular line of business, never even consider
the advisability of adopting improved methods or new
ideas until after they have been fully indorsed by
Improved Type California Four-Post Frame.
Fining flhoSciENTific Press
Rectangular Four-Post Frame.
inFng and scientific pres's'
Simple Two-Post Frame, Montana Type.
Steel Head Frame at a French Mine, Built on Scientific Lines.
adapted to either vertical or inclined shaft. The two
types are shown in the accompanying illustrations.
Another engraving shows the four-post head frame
so commonly seen. It is built for strength, and. has
few engineering features to recommend it. Frames
of this type are very often seen in California, though
the one illustrated is at Leadville, Colo. Another
illustration is that of a two-post frame built on scien-
tific lines. It is at an inclined shaft and built of tim-
ber. Loads of four tons are hoisted 1500 feet with
this frame.
The unusual construction shown in the high and
narrow rectangular frame is interesting. It will be
noticed that this frame is guyed by cables reaching
from the top to "deadmen" set in the ground. An
improved type of California four-post frame is shown,
wherein the main back braces, being a portion of the
four- post frame, are set just without the resultant
line of compression. This frame is of wood and scien-
tifically designed. The steel frame built at a Rho-
desian mine shows that topographical difficulties may
be ingeniously overcome. This frame is at an inclined
the West where engineering skill is employed, and it
has resulted in giving us better frames at lower cost.
Garnets embrace a group of minerals which are
closely related in chemical and physical properties.
They are complex silicates of alumina, with varying
amounts of lime, iron, magnesia, manganese and
other oxides of the metals, the presence of which
gives to the mineral its various colors and tints.
Garnets of every description crystallize in the
isometric (cubic) system. When of good color
and transparent they form semi-precious stones,
which have a certain but not great value. The
garnets used for gem stones are the varieties known
as almandine, Bohemian garnet or pyrope, and man-
ganese garnet or spessartite. The two former kinds
have beautiful, deep crimson shades, and the latter
orange-red or light brown-red color. The most of
the garnets mined in the United States are from
Arizona, New Mexico and North Carolina. The
latter State produces a fine light purple-red garnet,
known as rhodolite.
those whom we have accustomed ourselves to look up
to as authorities on the subject. It has begun to
dawn on my mind, however, that I have been wor-
shipping "idols of clay," for, as my hairs begin to
whiten, I discover I am fast gravitating toward the
tail end of the procession, and, though it may be too
late in the day for me to even expect to regain the
lost ground, altogether, I still have the ambition to
try, and to do so in a way that may be instrumental
in bringing about the solution of a question that has
become paramount with all owners and handlers of
low grade gold ores, viz., a cheaper and better
method to treat finely pulverized ores, or slimes.
And it has occurred to me that the quickest and
easiest settlement of this vexed question might come
from its discussion, by the best thought engaged in
the business of ore reduction by milling process,
through a reputable mining journal.
There is a rapidly growing conviction among many
of the best gold mill managers that the old idea of
endeavoring to prevent the production of slimes by
the crushing machinery is fundamentally wrong, and
December 16, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
411
that, only by reducing, so far as practicable, every
particle of ore to a size equalling that of the most
minute particle of gold contained, can the highest
possible extraction be made.
In theory, this seems plain enough if one will but
give it serious thought, but is it susceptible of proof
in a practical, commercial sense, and applicable to
the most, if not all, cases? I think so, and, although
I am still a follower, and not a leader, in such mat-
ters, my past experience in them has taught me to
accept good evidence in support of a statement or a
condition in default of better to the contrary.
As is well known, some gold ores do not respond at
all to the amalgamation treatment, but do to the
cyanide. Why is this so? Is the gold chemically
held in the ore? Who knows this to be so? Is it not
possible that the particles of gold, in such a case,
are coated simply, by some other metal, mineral or
cyanide persuasion, seems to have become the final
arbiter — the court of last resort — in the treatment
of low grade or the milling grade of gold ores the
world over, and, as the ores from no two gold mines
can be said to be identical in every respect, many
difficulties are encountered in the adaptation of the
•JlVilNirvu. AND SCIENTIFIC PRES
Four-Post Frame at Inclined Shaft, Empire Mine, Grass Valley, Cal.
Unusual Construction of Twc-Post Frame at Vertical Shaft.
IcM^
i
ujk
*~\ ^\
[A
Mh~ I
' r '
f^^ V
f .'
r^^vn ^Kfe^
MINING AND SClENTJfLC PRES&
Sleel Frame in Rhodesia, S. A., at Inclined Shaft.
'MINING.AND SCieMT.rF.IC PR
Construction of Head Frame at Leadville, Colo.
The term "free milling" used to apply only to
those ores from which a fair percentage (60% to
80%) of the gold or silver content was extractable
by amalgamation with quicksilver, but within quite
recent years, and since the introduction of cyanide
leaching, a gold ore is called free milling even when
it requires both the amalgamation and cyanide pro-
cesses to extract the values.
An Unusual Type of Head Frame— Two Posts with Back Braces, and Sheaves at the Top of Frame.
chemical combination, or that those particles are so
finely divided (floured) as to reject quicksilver?
While the questions are asked for information on
these points, they simply lead up to the main
point, with which, as will appear further on, they
have no relation worth consideration in the discus-
sion of the subject at hand.
Lixiviation or leaching, particularly that of the
leaching process to all conditions. With rare excep-
tions, the most serious difficulty heretofore, leaving
aside the question of desulphurization and the pre-
liminary wash to free the pulp from all objection-
able mineral salts that are soluble in warm water,
has been that experienced in nearly every attempt,
thus far made, to render the most finely pulverized
portion of the ore, called "slimes," as quickly,
412
Mining and Scientific Press.
December 16, 1906.
cheaply and profitably treated by the leaching
process as is the coarser portion.
In most instances the ore to be leached is dumped
into the vats or tanks just as it comes from the bat-
tery or roll screens— coarsest and finest, altogether.
In others, the pulp or crushed ore is classified — that
is. the very finest, or slimes, is separated by
hydraulic or other classifying devices from the mass
and leached by itself. And I have heard that it is
the practice of some to separate into three or four
classes.
In either case, however, the slimes are a trouble
maker and an "unruly member."
Generally speaking, ores that are to be subjected
to a leaching treatment are, usually, so low in grade
(values) that a large tonnage must be handled in
order to make it a profitable operation, and to do
this expeditiously and at the least cost, the tank
must be charged with as much pulp as it will hold, in
addition to the necessary quantity of leaching solu-
tion and, at the same time, permit what is called
"free percolation" of the solvent through the mass
of ore and the filter mat underneath the ore.
In present practice this free percolation is only
possible through the coarser portion of the ore. If
the coarse and fine go into the tank together the
finer particles run together and become so closely
imbedded in strata, layers or bunches as to be
almost impenetrable by the solvent, despite all the
stirring or agitating devices resorted to, thus neces-
sitating a greater length of time than is required to
leach the coarser stuff, and a consequent greater
cost to be charged to operating expenses.
A recent improvement or innovation in cyanide
leaching is that of forcing percolation of the solvent
through slimes by both air pressure and by utilizing
the precipitate filter press idea. Aside from the
results from the experiments of Mr. C. W. Merrill at
the Homestake mills in South Dakota, I have heard of
no remarkable achievements with either device.
Probably, the longest stride yet made toward a
fuller understanding of the still undeveloped possibil-
ities of the milling treatment of gold ores, with
special reference to the combined process of amal-
gamating and cyaniding, resulted from the extensive
experiments made in Australia, during the past year
and a half, to determine to what degree of fine-
ness their ores (gold bearing, and carrying both
coarse and fine gold) should be crushed (maximum
size) in order to yield, by the combined process, the
highest possible extraction with the least possible
cost. Those experiments demonstrated, beyond any
possible doubt, that, with their ores, fine grinding
(pulverization) to a maximum screen size of 150
meshes to 1 lineal inch renders them susceptible of a
much higher per cent of extraction than is at all pos-
sible with coarser sized material. The principal
increase in saving occurs in the amalgamating
department and is, no doubt, due to the finer separa-
tion of the metal from the gangue and more
thoroughly freeing the metallic particles from any
coating it may have had, by attrition in the grind-
ing process.
An increased saving is also made in the cyanide
department, for, it goes without saying, that any
solvent will dissolve a metal that is finely pulverized
in less time than is required when not so finely pul-
verized, but the leaching difficulties have increased
in the same ratio as the screen sizing has been
changed from forty or fifty meshes to the lineal inch
to 150 meshes, because the proportion of slimes has
increased in like ratio. In fact, the crushed product
from ore sized through a 150 mesh screen may all,
reasonably, be called slimes, as its average is many
times finer than the average of a product from
a thirty, forty, or even fifty mesh screen, so, if the
experiments quoted have any significance whatever,
they have sounded the death knell to all amalgamat-
ing and leaching methods or systems based on coarse
crushing— and the avoidance of slimes.
From the statements published concerning those
experiments, and the description of the ores experi-
mented with, there is no apparent reason why the
average character of gold ores of any country, if
amalgamable or leachable at all, is not amenable to
the same laws which have defined the proper standard
of ore sizing in West Australia, to wit: to reduce the
average size of the metallic particles to as fine a
condition as practicable and consistent with the
most profitable results. Consequently, I insist that
fine pulverization sliming has come to stay; and
that just what we and our predecessors have fought
against for fifty years — the production of slimes — is
what we need most in milling ores, viz., complete
freedom of metal from gangue or waste, so that
either quicksilver or leaching solvent can have
proper contact with the metallic particle.
Fine grinding has become an essential feature of
the best mill practice of the present day, as is
evidenced by the efforts being made toward the
development of a better fine-grinding machine (re-
grinding) than either the tube or pebble mill or the
old-fashioned amalgamating and grinding pan, which
are the present standards of excellence in that line,
as well as toward the development of a better plan
to accelerate the percolation of a leaching solution
through fine slimes.
Briefly put, the situation is this: Fine grinding
having been proven a pre-requisite for the highest
extraction by amalgamation and cyanide leaching of
gold ores, it behooves all interested in that method
of ore reduction to contribute from their knowledge,
or opinions, that some of us may be able to pick a
morsel that will form the basis for (1) a plan to success-
fully, i. e., quickly and economically, leach the large
quantity of slimes that are the inevitable result of
re-grinding or fine sizing; (2) a plan for the construc-
tion of a re-grinding device, superior in all respects,
to those mentioned as being the highest types at
present, and it is for the purpose of inviting con-
certed action, by discussion of these questions
through and by aid of the Mining and Scientific
Press, that this article is written.
In any event, nothing but good could result from
such an expression of knowledge or opinions.
There being neither chemical nor metallurgical
points involved in the subject — only mechanical ones
— there is no reason why anybody, who has some
knowledge of this branch of ore reduction, whether
gained by practical experience or observation, either
in the laboratory, or in the mill, should not contrib-
ute his ideas and participate in the discussion. The
subject is too big to permit any "grand stand plays"
in technical phraseology. A good idea expressed in
a sentence of plain, every-day English conveys more
information than a chapter of the other kind. It is
the meat that is wanted — not the skin.
I hope there will be a general and ready response
to this invitation and that those who do respond will
speak freely regardless of what so-called "author-
ities" may think of their opinions. The real "author-
ity" is the man who "does" things.
San Francisco, Cal., Nov. 27. E. E. Wann.
The Great American Desert. — II.*
Written by George J. Bancroft.
In my foregoing remarks I have confined myself to
that part of the desert which has not as yet been
brought under cultivation. The passing of the Recla-
mation Act has renewed public interest in the culti-
vation of the desert. The recent government publi-
cations for the first time permit a fairly accurate
estimate to be made as to what may ultimately be
accomplished by the Reclamation Service, acting
together with private enterprise.
The Reclamation Act was passed June 17, 1902.
Within a very few months the desert began to blos-
som with the tri-cornered monuments of the hydro-
graphic survey and the hill tops to twinkle with
their little white flags. From Yuma, Ariz., to Rapid
City, S. D., parties of strong-limbed, khaki-clad,
young men might be met on any trail, carrying about
the queer looking instruments of their calling and
main drainage systems in which additional irrigation
is possible by the expenditure of large sums of money.
Practically all the "cheap water" has already been
used.
By this I mean that where a man or group of
men can build a ditch of reasonable length without
overcoming any serious obstacles it has been done.
The Reclamation Act will make possible the utiliza-
tion of water in those localities where large areas of
good land can be brought under irrigation only by
the expenditure of large sums of money. Most of the
main opportunities may be divided into two classes,
viz., the diversion of large streams, which, of course,
requires the construction of expensive diversion
dams, and the construction of large reservoirs. Such
undertakings require large capital and, in the past,
few of them have been undertaken.
The main drainage areas where irrigation schemes
are practical are the Columbia river basin, the Colo-
rado river basin, the Rio Grande river basin, the
western part of the Mississippi river basin, a little
of the southern part of the basin of the Red River of
the North, and the drainage area of the western
slope of the Sierras. In these six main drainage
areas there is a total "map area" of 892,000,000
acres.
The following table gives the total acreage already
under irrigation in the several States and Territories
of the arid region, together with the cost of the irri-
gation works. In the States given in this list there
is a total map area of 749,000,000 acres, so it will be
noticed that only about 1% of the land is now under
irrigation:
Acres. Cost.
Arizona 185,396 J4.438.352
California 1,445,872 19,181,610
Colorado 1,611,271 11,758,703
Idaho 602,568 5,120,899
Montana 951,154 4,683,073
Nevada 504,168 1,537,559
New Mexico 203,893 4,165,312
Oregon 388,310 1,843.757
Utah 629,293 5,865,302
Washington 135,470 1,722,369
Wyoming 605.878 3,973,165
Totals 7,263,273 864,289,601
It will be noticed from the above table that the
total cost of putting all the present irrigated ground
under water has been on the average $8.85 per acre.
Nearly all the schemes that the Reclamation Service
is considering will cost about $28 per acre. These
figures illustrate what I mentioned above, that the
energetic Western farmer has got all the cheap
water already.
Orators at the irrigation congresses have figured
all the way from 60,000,000 acres to 100,000,000 acres
as the amount of ground that will eventually be re-
claimed by the Reclamation Act. It is, of course,
absolutely impossible to make an estimate that will
be at all accurate until each stream in the irrigable
An Irrigated Farm in the Desert.
going about Uncle Sam's investigations in the accu-
rate, painstaking, scientific way that has character-
ized all the operations of the Geological Survey
department. The sub-department that has this work
in charge is called the hydrographic survey, and
recent bulletins issued by this department permit
one who knows something of the desert to figure out
a few general conclusions which are reasonably accu-
rate.
In the first place, it is necessary to emphasize the
fact that only a very small percentage of the arid
territory is reclaimable by direct irrigation. I think
this is a matter that is not generally understood; but
indirectly the whole arid region will be benefited by
increased irrigation, and I will try to show, later on.
what the indirect possibilities are.
Viewing the subject in a broad way, there are six
* See illustrations on front page.
region has been considered separately and the possi-
ble chances for diverting and storing water carefully
considered and measured, but from the stream meas-
urements of the hydrographic survey it can be com-
puted that in the six main drainage areas mentioned
above, there is water sufficient to irrigate 78,000,000
acres, and this agrees very closely with the estimate
made in 1902 by F. H. Newell, the chief of the divis-
ion of hydrography of the United States Geological
Survey. Mr. Newell's estimate was 74,000,000 acres
in practically the same area. Both estimates are
based on the assumption that some way will be found
to use all the available water. This is not likely, but
it would seem reasonable that 75% of the available
water might be used, particularly when it is consid-
ered that owing to the return of part of the water to
the stream beds by seepage there will be a certain
amount available several times. Figured in this way,
December 16, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
we may reasonably expect 58,000,000 acres to be re-
claimed.
The United States withdrew 40,000,000 acres from
entry in view of proposed reclamation schemes, but
413
most interesting question: "Will the reclamation
work change the climate of the desert? " Of course,
this question can not be definitely answered, or it
would not be a question; but my travels on that part
after completing a large number of surveys all but ; of the desert embraced by Inyo county, Cal, and
^Ut,1'043V000 acres^ was restored to entry and the ! southern Nevada have shown me that comparatively
rapid changes have taken place in the climate of that
Avuiiubie locality; and if a climate may suddenly change for
tM0,8»'x the worse> owing to evident causes, I see no reason
2.188,'m 19 why it should not change for the better if original
■'u''i tso 68 ! conditions are restored. For instance, there are
1891991 u j countless lake beds, some entirely dry and some with
\sso .™ 00 I a UtVe salt water in the bottom, and all of them
'issismi ss : showing successive beach marks in the perishable
i.Sw it soil of the basin sides' registering the gradual drying
following schemes undertaken:
Nairn- of
Stuic. Sobeme.
Arizona Suit River
California Yuuin
Colorado Gunnison
(dabo Mln linii-.i
Kansas
Montana Huntlej
Nebraska North Platte.
Nevada Truokee
New Mexico 11 lo
North Dakota Port Bu ford
Oklahoma
South Dakota BellefOl
Dtab Utah Lak.- .
•Washington Pulouso Kiver
Wyoming Shoshone
Number of
Acres Reclaimed.
160.000
sa.noii
lOO.OOU
ISOOOd
35,000
100,000
aiu.iinii
i.i.iii in
60,000
iii. nun
. 60 000
hlll.llllO
100,009
.1,046,000
a soa ;i
979.982 Tf>
335,1311 10
3,131.809 15
1.231.718 87
Total
♦Construction postponed.
PROJECTS APPROVED BY SKCRETAKY OP INTKRIOK.
State Projects.
Oregon .t California. Klamath Palls
Oregon Malheur
Moulann Milk River.
N. Dakota, pumping. I 5!,s,m,1i'Un,
'" l "i Bufoid-Trenton .
Idaho Payette-Boise
Estimated
Cost.
f I. in in. mi.
. 2,250,000
... 1,000,0110
j 56,1
.. 1,300,000
Acres
Irrigable,
236.11110
1110,000
200,000
33,000
250,000
The reason that Kansas and Oklahoma have cash
on hand for irrigation projects, but no projects under
up of the country. On one of the beach marks in the
Salton Basin, San Diego county, Cal., may be seen
stone fish traps, showing that the Salton desert was
a fish-bearing lake within the time of human occupa-
tion of this continent. Near Osceola, Nev., one can
see a crescent-shaped dike across the lower end of a
large basin. This was evidently a reservoir built by
the ancients. Faint traces of the old ditches may
also be distinguished below the dam. There is no
water to reserve nowadays.
Walker lake, in Esmeralda county, Nev., is fresh
water at the upper end and brackish water at the
lower end. Successive beach marks show that at
one time it had an outlet to the south, and the fact
that it is part salt and part fresh would indicate that
Transportation in Death Valley, Cal.
way, is because the country is so flat and the fall of
the streams so slight that as yet the Reclamation
Department has found no feasible way to get water
out of the streams. The idea of installing pumping
plants is now being considered.
In addition to the schemes mentioned in the above
table there have been several large private schemes
completed within the last year or so, and there are
several others in process of construction. Promi-
The Ruby Range, Nevada.
nent among the completed ones may be mentioned
the Imperial Land Co. scheme, which has put 50,000
acres of land suitable for semi-tropical fruits in
southern California under cultivation with water
taken from the Colorado river, and the Twin. Falls
scheme of Idaho, which places under cultivation 270,-
000 acres of fine fruit and grain land.
We can see from what has already been done, and
what it is possible yet to do, that some 1% or 8% of
the Great American Desert may be put under culti-
vation, that only 1% was under cultivation before
the passage of the Reclamation Act, and that the
first series, of enterprises will increase the irrigable
land by 1,045,000 acres.
Possible Change op Climate on the Great Ameri-
can Desert. — I wish now to call attention to that
the process of the concentration of the small amounts
of salt, which all water contains, through the medium
of evaporation, has not been in operation for a very
great length of time.
One can not help picturing in one's imagination
what a beautiful section of country this must have
been when all these dry lake beds were filled with
clear blue water and running streams, connected one
with another. Then the hills were covered with tall
cedars and the valleys with waving
grass, and the elk, deer and buffalo
wandered in herds through a land
blessed with the finest climate imag-
inable, rich in verdure and beauti-
ful with sparkling waters. I ven-
ture to say that if this wide area
could be returned to its former state
by the hand of man, it would be the
t/rpatest deed ever done by the
human race. The accomplishments
nf the world's greatest conquerors
are not to be compared to an
achievement of this kind. It is com-
paratively easy to kill, destroy and
conquer. It is very hard to orig-
inate, vivify and create. The greatest engineering
feats of the past sink into utter insignificance in com-
parison. What do the pyramids of Egypt, the bridge
of Brooklyn or the tower of Paris amount to in com-
parison with reclaiming an empire from the desert?
That this stupendous achievement may result from
the work which the Reclamation Service has already
started seems to me to be well within the realms of
the possible, and, strange to relate, the first man to
advance the theory and explain the conditions to me
was an old Nevada prospector. If I could do so with-
out betraying his confidence, I would like to give his
name, for he is an unusual character and his brother
was a prominent United States Senator, and his
clear-cut features and bright, searching eye show
that it was not lack of brains that drove him to adopt
the life of a recluse and a placer miner.
I was sitting at "Uncle John's" camp fire, dis-
cussing gold veins and things, when he showed me a
bit of pottery he had washed out that day from the
gravel 20 feet below the surface. I remarked that
there must have been people living in that section
for a long time.
"Yes, sir," he replied, "and lots of them. There
are places where the ground seems like it is half
made of fragments of pottery and things. This coun-
try used to be a very fertile country and lots of peo-
ple lived here.
"Why I know a place down towards the Colorado
river where there was an ancient city. The houses
were adobe, and nothing is left of them, but they had
the streets paved with flagstones and you can follow
out miles of streets. There ain't water enough in
that country nowadays to keep a pair of jackrab-
bits. There ain't a man that has prospected this
country that ain't seen them signs of ancient peoples
and lots of them." "How do you account for the
country drying up, Uncle ?" said I. "Well I'll tell
you," and he put a greasewood coal in his pipe to
keep it lit awhile, "you probably have noticed that
every day you've been in this country the wind has
blown from the west or southwest." I recalled that
I had. "Well," he said, "if you was ever down in
the Altar district near the Gulf of California or along
the coast by San Diego, you probably have noted
that the prevalent wind is a land breeze. Once in a
while we do get a sea' breeze here, but the
Sierras suck it dry before it gets here." I
had to take his word for that, never hav-
ing investigated. "Well," he continued,
" 'taint but a short time ago that the Colo-
rado river used to flow into the Salton des-
ert, and the water backed up into the
Death valley and parts of the Mojave des-
ert. There is a whole lot of that country
below sea level and it is all on the east side
of the Sierras. At that time there was
quite a chain of large inland fresh water
lakes." I knew the Colorado river does,
even nowadays, sometimes flood the Salton
desert (it is doing it now), and I knew the
basins he mentioned were all below sea
level. "You see there is a change in the
winds between here and the sea coast, but
when them inland lakes was spread out in
the hot southern sun, our southwest winds
picked up a lot of moisture, and when they
got up here on this high, cool ground, they
could not hold it all and it come down in
rain. But the river flowed into the lake
and out again at almost the same place and
finally the current cut a channel down so
deep that the river and the lakes became
separated, and about that time some erup-
tions came along and made ' malapai ' ridges
between some of the lakes so they all dried
up, and the country dried up, too."
I have never been over the country that
"Uncle John" mentioned, bu the had, with
his burro and his gold pan and his bright
keen eyes, noting many things besides gold
veins. As I said above, the old prospector's
theory appeals to me. No one who has
traveled on the Nevada desert can doubt
that only a few centuries ago -the country was
a great deal more fertile than it is to-day. I
saw a cedar butt 2J feet in diameter in a well
in the Saline basin, Inyo county, California, my-
self. There are no such cedars in the coun-
try nowadays, and while cedar is a very dur-
able wood, I doubt if it had lain buried over 500
years. The slow climatic changes which result from
the gradual tilting of the poles of the earth or from
the rise or subsidence of large areas of the earth's
crust, are altogether too slow to account for the
comparatively sudden change that is recorded in the
soils and rocks of Nevada. That the conditions that
once prevailed in that section may be eventually re-
instated by the reclamation work that has already
been started, seems to me well within the limits of
the possible.
Near Denver, Colo., we have had an unquestionable
demonstration of the effect of irrigation on the rain-
fall. Around Denver there are about 200,000 acres
of irrigated land. During the heat of the summer
the evaporation is very great from this area and one
can see the clouds form over the irrigated section.
If the wind carries the clouds away from the moun-
tains there is no result, but if they are carried over
the mountains into cooler air, heavy showers almost
always result. Of course there always were summer
showers in the mountains, but that these showers
have been heavier since irrigation began is proven by
the fact that nearly every mountain meadow close to
Denver has been badly cut to pieces by summer
cloudbursts since irrigation became general.
It took thousands of years for the silt of these
meadows to accumulate, and in twenty years a large
part of it has gone; but while the mountain ranches
have suffered the prairie ranches have had more
water.
To return to the Colorado river basin, I believe
that using the water to irrigate the deserts of Ari-
zona and southern California will mean more rain
higher up the river, and more rain will mean more
414
Mining and Scientific Press.
December 16, 1905.
water for irrigation, and this again will mean in-
creased evaporation, so that by a constantly increas-
ing yearly increment the climatic conditions will im-
prove.
I think the same thing will take place wherever
topographic and eolian conditions are right for pre-
cipitating from the air the moisture freshly acquired
from the irrigated fields so that in time to come the
1% or 8% of land which it is possible to reclaim from
the district may be the "little leaven that leaveneth
the whole loaf."
Water Supply in Mountain Regions.
The mining regions of the West are mostly in
mountainous or hilly regions, and the streams in
these mountains are mostly of torrential character.
The run-off is very large during the spring months
and often destructive in its effects. The mines de-
pend upon the mountain streams for their water sup-
ply, both for power (with a few exceptions) and for
metallurgical operations. To insure permanency of
water supply, large reservoirs have been built in
favorable places and large amounts of water con-
served for summer use. The permanency of the
summer supply, however, depends largely upon a
heavy snowfall in the early winter. The late snows
vanish quickly under warm winds and rains, but the
early snows are compacted to beds of ice and endure
long into the summer. Among other and more last-
ing sources of water supply in the mountains are the
numerous natural lakes found scattered through the
high Sierra region.
There are no more beautiful lakes in any lacustrine
region of the world than those of the high Sierra
Nevada mountains, which are part of the American-
Cosumnes water courses now being discussed as a
probable source from which to secure the domestic
water supply of San Francisco, Cal. These lakes lie
among the highest peaks of the range, being from
5000 to upwards of 7000 feet above the sea. They are
practically the meltings of snows descending from
snow fields upon the bare and often polished granite,
and caught on their way out of the range in recep-
tacles naturally excavated in the same granite. The
basins or bowls in which these waters lie have been
cleansed by the scourings of untold ages and the
waters are as pure as the skies, and the higher
reaching mountains from which they are drawn. The
water when held in a goblet presents a beautiful
crystalline clearness; its color in the lakes varies
from a light green, where shallow, to a dark rich
cobalt where depth is attained. This marvelous blue
setting is like a sapphire in a surrounding band of
terra cotta, with here and there patches of white
marking the fields of "old snow " among the rugged
points of the high mountains. The magnificent dis
tances, the massiveness, silence, solitude and purity
of it all are enduring memories with one who has vis-
ited the locality.
The most interesting of the lakes are the Echoes,
Big and Little, which are connected by a narrow
channel in the solid granite, their combined length
being about 3 miles and their area about 480 acres.
This beauteous pair lie at an elevation of 7450 feet
above the sea, close to the very summit of the range;
indeed, Lake Tahoe, which can be plainly seen from
their banks, lies 1224 feet below them on the eastern
slope of the range. In the clear, cold atmosphere
which rests upon these lakes the voice reverberates
from hill to hill of the surrounding wall and dies away
in the distance, rebounding and re-echoing as the
sound recedes. The stroke of the oars in the locks,
the splash of the blades in the water, will in the
silence and the still air find their counterpart amongst
the ravines of the shore and come back to the oars-
man like messages by wireless telegraph. It is from
this phenomenon that the lakes are named.
Farther over to the north and at an elevation even
higher than the Echo lakes, lies Lake Harry, pre-
senting its beautiful breast of water so clear and deep
that it looks like a lake of indigo fringed with a
border of tamaracks. Above and about it is the
wildest of alpine scenery; bare rocks, glaciated and
glistening, strewn with innumerable flints, with sides
so steep that a goat could scarce find footing. Occa-
sionally there rises from some break or crevice a
stunted juniper, gnarled and twisted, bereft of foliage
on its north and west, where the sharp boreal hurri-
canes have cut away its limbs, every fiber of its form
displaying a terrible struggle for life amidst warring
elements. It is a picture not alone of desolation, but
abounding in evidences of intense atmospheric action;
a region of maximum storms, where the wild gales
blow with the utmost velocity.
Advancing farther to the north extends a district
most remarkable; it is a vast field of granite-bedded
lakes connected one with another, but spread-
ing over many square miles. From an eminence
above Lake George the field breaks in sight, and
suddenly a great basin of naked rocks interlaced with
water presents itself to view. Beyond, the reddish
ochre of the bare hills splotched with snow, and to
the left, the broad lake of dark blue, surrounded by
tamaracks, presents a picture to which the brush of
the artist or the camera alone can pay a proper
tribute. Farther west is Lake Marguerite, and then
there is an array of nameless lakes and mountain
pools with splashing cataracts between. This is the
"Devil's Basin," "Desolation Valley" or the "Med-
leys," as it is sometimes called — a wonderful network
of water, threading the rocks, leaping from pool to
on past the basin of Lake Audrain. This, too, is
almost at the summit and is a typical alpine lake.
If, as proposed, these beautiful lakes should become
the property of San Francisco, and are utilized for
a system of water supply, a dam at Audrain will
Lake Harry — Indigo Depths Fringed With Verdure.
Lake of the Woods, in the Sierra Region.
Little Echo Lake, One Thousand Feet Higher Than Lake Tahoe.
pool, and finally passing out of the region through a
great fall which drops in foaming mass more than
150 feet.
The State highway between Lake Tahoe and
raise the water to a considerable height, and it will
become the peer of the most beautiful of them all.
The waters from this great chain of mountain lakes
now flow into the South Fork of the American, from
Placerville traverses the Echo Lakes country, and which, some miles below, a canal conducts them, clea
December 16, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
415
and pure, to users farther down. But the proposed
San Francisco, Cal., system provides that the water
shall be carried by a tunnel through a range of moun-
tains into the watershed of the Cosumnes; dams will
be built in deep, rocky gorges and broad valleys
transformed into still other great lakes of pure moun-
tain water; and the whole region, now so little known,
will become famous, not alone for its beauty, but,
also, because of the vast quantities of pure mountain
waters available to promote the health and pros-
perity of the metropolis of the Pacific.
Mine Surveying. — 0.*
Written bj C. A. S. anhiuii 3.
Surveying Underlie Shaft.— In fixing the posi-
tion for the draft marks in an underlie shaft, one
assistant is left at the surface draft mark, and the
surveyor descends to No. 1 level, if he can see that
far. The other assistant is sent down to No. 2 level,
and the surveyor picks the best place on No. 1 plat,
so that he can see both to the surface and to No. 2
level, and also see into the levels on each side. A
draft mark is made at this point, and also one in
only one candle is used, the line is illuminated on one
side more than the other, and the center of the
illuminated portion is sighted to instead of the cen-
ter of the line.
As soon as the bearings and dips are booked the
back assistant takes the end of the chain forward to
the forward assistant and returns to the instrument,
seeing that the chain is clear on his way back. The
forward assistant holds the end of the chain to the
plumb-line immediately above the clay, and the sur-
veyor puts on the necessary strain, using the spring
balance, and reads the distance, at the axis of the
theodolite, to two places of decimals.
The height of the axis of the instrument above the
ground sill, and of the clay above the plat, are then
read and booked. The vertical depth measured plus
or minus the difference between these heights is the
vertical depth of No. 1 level.
Should the dip of the underlie shaft exceed 65°,
the plate of the theodolite will prevent the forward
draft mark being sighted. In this case, before the
bearing can be taken, a point must be laid off in line
with station (2) with a dip of less than 65°. To do
this the theodolite is tilted with the leveling screws
until the forward draft mark can be sighted. It may
be necessary to remove the brass button on the
Big Echo Lake, Amid the Summits of the Sierra Nevada.
Audrain Lake, Amid the Alpine Summits of the Sierra.
each level, so that all the required bearings can be
taken at the one setting up. This operation is
repeated to the bottom of the shaft.
The surveyor then returns to the surface, sets up
over the draft mark at the mouth of the underlie,
and picks up the meridian of the surface survey.
The forward assistant hangs the plumb-line on
station (2) and gets it steady. At a point on the
string that can be seen from the theodolite he
attaches a small ball of clay, about the size of a pea.
The surveyor sights to the line immediately above
the clay, and reads the bearing and dip. Reversing
the instrument he reads them again, and books the
mean of the two observations.
To enable the surveyor to see the plumb-line, the
assistant holds with one hand two candles, one on
either side of the line and about 2 inches in front of
it. The other hand is held behind the line as a shield
for the candies and a background for the line. If
♦Abstract Trans. Queensland Institute of Surveyors.
standard to allow the striding level to be kept
plumb.
A temporary mark in line with the forward sta-
tion is then made, either on the surface or on the
hanging wall of the shaft, which can be sighted when
the theodolite is level.
During the operation the plumb-bob attached to
the spindle of the theodolite is kept over the draft
mark. The axis has been tipped forward out of
plumb, but the line of sight is still in the same verti-
cal plane as the two draft marks. The temporary
mark is therefore in the true line with the stations.
The theodolite is then leveled, and the bearing taken
to the temporary mark.
The dip and distance are left to be measured up-
ward from station No. 2, when the dip can be read
with the diagonal eyepiece. If the theodolite has a
bubble attached to the telescope the dip can be read
from the top station when the instrument is tilted.
The bearing, dip and distance having been booked,
the theodolite is put back in its case, the chain rolled
up, and the surveyor proceeds to station No. 2, leav-
ing the back assistant at station No 1.
While the surveyor has been coming forward from
station No. 1, the forward assistant has lifted the
plat-sheet, placed a plank across the opening, and
has marked on the plank a spot, plumb under the
draft mark. This is most conveniently done by plac-
ing a small clay daub on the plank, and pressing the
point of the plumb-bob into the clay at the correct
point. The surveyor examines this spot, and, if he is
satisfied, the plumb-line is removed.
The forward assistant stays with the surveyor
until the theodolite is set up, holding the candle or
otherwise helping. One or two more planks are now
put across the opening in the plat for the tripod legs
to rest upon.
If at any time the theodolite is set up on the plat-
sheet, two planks are to be put across the plat and
supported at each end so as to be clear of the plat-
sheet. The surveyor stands on these when "taking
his sights.
After sighting and chaining to the next station in
the shaft, the bearings and distances are taken to
the first station in each of the levels. This operation
is repeated at each level to the bottom of the shaft.
The dips of the sights along levels are not taken,
as the chain can always be held horizontal. Should
the exact rise of the level be required, it is more
readily measured at another time by using the the-
odolite as a level and the metallic tape as a staff, or
else by using a level and staff brought down for that
purpose.
Survey op Levels. — The surveyor having com-
pleted the survey of the underlie shaft, now proceeds
with the survey of the different levels.
As in the shaft, he will fix all his draft marks be-
fore taking the theodolite out of its case.
The level is then traversed in the usual manner,
the bearing and total length of lines only being
booked for the present. If the level has been driven
to the boundary, plugs are to be put in parallel to
and about 2 feet inside the boundary. The approxi-
mate position of the boundary will be known from the
distance given to drive at the last survey.
The surveyor will compute at his leisure the dis-
tance these plugs are off the boundary and will em-
body same in his report.
Should any rises or winzes be approaching a boun-
dary, or should it be desired to break through from
them into any particular point in the next level, or in
a rise or winze from the next level, or should the
surveyor wish to connect his survey of two levels for
a check, it will be necessary to survey such rises or
winzes with the theodolite. In ordinary cases they
will be surveyed by compass and clinometer with the
rest of the detail work.
Where levels are more than 500 feet long, the sur-
veys should be connected from level to level, via rises
or winzes, as a check.
If any rises, winzes or passes are to be surveyed, a
draft mark is fixed at a suitable point at the foot of
the rise or top of the winze, as the case may be, and
connected with the survey of the level from one of
the draft marks. Generally it is better to keep these
draft marks separate from the survey of the level, as
it may necessitate a short shot, or in any case will
increase the number of shots in the level.
The theodolite work in this level being finished, the
instrument is put away in its case until wanted for
the next level.
Survey' of Detail. — The detail work is then pro-
ceeded with. This is done with the compass, clinome-
ter and metallic tape. While doing this the surveyor
must be accompanied by the underground manager,
so that nothing may be omitted.
The usual details to fill in are: Rises, winzes,
passes, stopes, cross reefs, faults, changes of coun-
try, flow of water, etc.
It is not necessary to take offsets to the sides of
levels, underlies, rises or winzes. They may be
sketched in on the plan an even width, so as to in-
clude the traverse lines.
Starting from the shaft, the distance is measured
to the first pass and booked to the nearest foot.
The bearing, dip and length of pass to the top of the
stope is booked, and also the distance up the underlie
to the top of the stope.
In succeeding surveys only the distance up the
passes are taken, as the direction and dip remain
practically the same.
The distance is then taken from the first to the
second pass, and so on to the next draft mark. The
distance between the draft marks is thus checked,
and any grave error, say of 10 feet, would be dis-
closed.
The face of the stope is sketched in from top of
pass to top of pass, it not being necessary to traverse
the intermediate irregularities.
Any rises or winzes not surveyed with the theodo-
lite are taken in the same way.
The tops of the passes broken through from the
level below are not noted, only the end of the worked
ground being booked.
All solid blocks left in the stopes as too poor to
work are to be noted. The habit of showing all un-
payable blocks as worked ground is bad. These
blocks at some future time, under improved treat-
ment, may become payable, and knowledge of their
416
Mining and Scientific Press.
December 16, 1905.
position and metallic contents will then be of value.
The position, strike and dips of all faults should be
noted, and also the direction and extent of down-
throw, if it can be ascertained.
The strike and dip of any reef, leader or formation
branching off either in the level or stopes should be
noted, as also any change of country, increase in the
water or any other detail which will assist the sur-
veyor in drawing up his report.
Field Notes. — The field notes should be kept with
a hard pencil, so that no amount of wetting will oblit-
erate the writing.
The notes of every level and underlie shaft should
be kept separate, sufficient blank leaves being left at
the first survey, so that the notes may be continued
at each successive survey until the level reaches the
boundary.
Levels being driven each way from the underlie
are to be treated as separate levels, being called
Level No. 1 North and Level No. 1 South, or any
other suitable names.
An index is to be kept at the end of the field book,
giving reference to every level, underlie shaft, sur-
face notes or any other survey noted separately in
the field book.
Stations are all to be numbered. A good system is
to number all stations in underlies 1, 2, 3, etc., and
in each level or crosscut, a, b, c, etc. Start afresh
in each case for every new underlie, level or crosscut.
Plan. — The working plan is generally on a scale
of 40 feet to an inch, any section being on the same
scale both vertical and horizontal.
A tracing of this plan is used by the underground
manager and is plotted up with the main plan at
each survey.
The adjacent workings on all adjoining mines are
to be shown and plotted up to date at each survey,
the vertical depths reduced to the datum of the sur-
vey being shown on each level.
Levels on the same reef should be colored alike,
another color being used for rises, underlies or winzes
and another for crosscuts.
Each level or crosscut is to have its name and num-
ber printed on it with its vertical depth. Underlies,
rises and winzes are to be numbered.
It is a good custom to give all straight shafts,
underlies and main winzes or rises a distinguishing
name. Names are more readily remembered than
numbers and save endless reference to the plan when
reports are being read.
The stopes on the main reef may be washed in with
a light wash of India ink, ihe stopes on other reefs
being shaded with parallel bars of the distinguishing
colors of the levels on the same reef.
In giving distances to drive, rise or sink to connect
from any one point to another, the surveyor should
always quote from a draft mark, the approximate
amount of solid ground between being also given.
Traverse Books. — Traverse tables should be kept
in an exercise book, one for each mine. The traverse
of each level and underlie is kept separate, and at each
survey is added to, and the reduced latitude and de-
parture of each station shown. A surround of the
boundaries is also made, showing the reduced latitude
and departure of each course.
By subtracting the reduced latitude and departure
of any underground station from the reduced latitude
and departure of the nearest corner, the bearing and
length of the connecting horizontal line can be readily
computed and from this the distance from the station
to the boundary is known.
Discrepancy Between Surveys of Adjoining
Mines. — As soon as the workings break through into
an adjoining mine, a connection should be made
at once to the survey of the latter. If the
discrepancy in chainage be less than decimal one (.1)
per 500, and in the bearings less than one minute (1')
per lOOn feet of underground survey, the mean
may be adopted and the boundary lines adjusted to
agree.
When an adjustment has been made between the
survey of adjoining mines, the reduced latitude and
departure of the last station in the level from which
the connection was made is altered in the traverse
book to agree. The last station in the other levels
approaching the same boundary should be corrected,
but those approaching other boundaries are better
left till another connection is made.
Where connections are made to the surveys of the
three or four adjoining mines, the surveyor may find
the discrepancies between his survey and other sur-
veys on the same boundary of his mine are in differ-
ent directions. In this case the adjustment he makes
for each connection will necessitate him having to lay
off his boundary slightly different on the frontage of
each of the adjoining mines.
There are many other difficulties, too numerous to
enumerate in this paper, that the surveyor will meet
with; but with thought and patience they can all be
overcome. Should the surveyor not feel confident of
any part of his survey, made under adverse condi-
tions, he should take the first opportunity of checking
his work by a different route. His mind will then be
at ease and he will enjoy his work.
The latest fake gold saving machine is an electrically
connected, non- mechanical affair which, it is claimed,
saves $10 where by ordinary and well-tried methods
only 10 cents can be saved.
*************** ************* ********%:
l Mining and MetallurgicalPatentsj
* *
PATENTS ISSUED NOVEMBER 28. 1905.
Specially Reported and Illustrated for the MINING AND
SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
Treatment of Ores and the Like. — No. 805,577;
J. Nicholas, Waterloo, England.
Treatment of materials containing zinc, lead and
precious metal, by mixing pulverized materials with
water, and with chloride, and then heating mixture,
leaching this so-treated mixture with water, reduc-
ing metallic compounds contained in leached residue
to metallic state, agitating molten lead and precious
metal with aluminum, cooling, then separating alloy
of precious metal with aluminum from lead.
Ore Separator. — No. 805,599;
Guthrie, Okla.
L. J. Vandervoort,
In ore separator, in combination, upright chute
down through which ore is fed, series of riffle boards
therein, over which ore flows, collecting pan under
lower end of chute, upwardly inclined pipes leading
from one side of chute.
Wire Rope Clamp.
Boston, Mass.
-No. 8U5,705; C. H. Billman,
Clamp for wire ropes consisting of two plates, each
provided with plurality of openings in two lines, dis-
tance apart equal to diameter of rope to be clamped,
openings in lines being staggered, plurality of bails
adapted to pass through plates and straddle rope,
and clamping means therefor.
Magnetic Ore Separator.-
burg, Joplin, Mo.
-No. 805,854; E. Hed-
In compound magnetic ore separator, and in
combination vertical shaft, unper electromagnet
mounted axially thereon, magnet including two pole
pieces forming shell which incloses windings of mag-
net, ring of non-magnetic material separating proxi-
mate edges of pole pieces, spreader apron above
upper electromagnet, lower electromagnet mounted
axially on shaft, lower magnet having two pole pieces
which inclose its windings, non-magnetic ring sepa-
rating proximate edges of pole pieces, outer surfaces
of respective rings being in line with and forming
continuations of outer surfaces of pole pieces, means
for rotating magnets, and flat-surfaced scraper ar-
ranged adjacent to outer surface of magnets and
overlapping contiguous portions of pole pieces for
removing adhering ores from rotating pole pieces.
Attachment for Dredgers. — No. 805,906; H. P.
Francis, Oroville, Cal.
In dredging machine, combination of stacker,
means for supplying material thereto,, sand box,
sluice emptying into sand box, endless conveyor for
removing sand and water from sand box and dis-
charging same, means for directing sand from con-
veyor to stacker, and means for directing water
from conveyor away from stacker.
Finishing Converter. — No. 805,896; C. M. Allen,
Lolo, Mont.
Converter having refractory lining and top com-
posed of thick metal of sufficient bulk to withstand
heat produced by converting process.
Rabbling Device for Ore Roasting Furnaces.-
No. 805,939; C. C. Wilson, Denver, Colo.
In ore roasting furnace or like, longitudinally re-
voluble cylinder provided upon interior surface with
longitudinal shelves projecting inwardly tangential
to imaginary cylinder whose axis coincides with that
of cylinder and whose diameter is less than that of
cylinder, and equally distant apart, and partition
plates extending from lifting surface of shelves hav-
ing longitudinal inclination forward in direction of
travel of ore from circumference of cylinder to pro-
jecting edge of shelves.
December 16, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
417
Mining in Trinity County, Cal.
To the Editor: — In some respects this has been a
good year in discovery and development iu Trinity
county — one of the earliest placer mining fields in
the State, but one which can not be assigned a place
in the " petered out " class.
Trinity has always been a " pocket " county in both
placer and quartz mining. In the early history of
Xew river, in the northwest corner of this county,
a bedrock pocket near the source of that stream
produced nearly five pounds of gold, chiefly in nug-
gets almost free from quartz. A similar find was
made in a mountain-top mine at what was known
as Kellogg Diggings, in upper Hay Pork valley.
Less than twenty years ago the Mountain Boomer
mine, on New river, was a large producer for a time
and then pinched out next to nothing. At various
times the Brown Bear mine, at Deadwood, has pro-
duced very rich ore and then dwindled down. In the
northeast portiou of the county, in the '90s, a host of
people flocked to the headwaters of Trinity river,
among them many who did not expect to 'fill their
pockets with surface nuggets, but who were bent on
research, and went hopefully at work to satisfy them-
selves whether golden wealth was hidden in the
gravel deposits and rocks bordering Trinity valley,
and some found what they sought.
The mining world is aware that many valuable
placer and quartz properties are being operated in
Trinity county. I am one of the few old-timers who
believe that as rich gravel and quartz deposits yet
remain as those being operated to-day.
The greatest need of Trinity county now is a show-
ing of the energy that characterized the fortune
hunters of forty or fifty years ago, when, almost
moneyless and creditless, ditch, flume and water
wheel enterprises were carried to success at much
greater expense than would be required now.
Trinity is yet an open field for the placer or quartz
prospector. The output of Digger creek and East
Fork placers in the early days warrants the belief
that a nest-egg remains, and that the Pairview mine
may be a pointer that leads to it. Some day Buck-
eye mountain will be prospected and the sequel to
the old-time placer yield of the creek so named and
of Bolt's hill will be manifest. I believe that in years
to come the Lappin mine will prove a good property
and that there are more of the same sort on the
north slope of the Trinity- French Gulch divide, and
also that there are duplicates of the Yellow Rose
and Dorleska and a half dozen other promising mines
yet hidden in the western Trinity river watershed,
from Scott mountain to the headwaters of Swift
creek. Mineral marks the Trinity summit's course
thence to Dedrick, lower East Fork, Rattlesnake
and New river. But all can not be said in a single
chapter. Old Tom.
Trinitv Center, Dec. 2.
Air Power Plant for Pneumatic Tool
Service.
There were 100 steel cars to be built for the Lon-
don Metropolitan railway when it was decided to con-
vert the system to electric power. The contract
for these cars was secured by the American Car &
Foundry Co., under conditions demanding almost im-
mediate construction, and called for a great number
of pneumatic tools; and since the contract covered
only a short period, the plant installed was necessa-
rily temporary in character. The order for the pneu-
matic equipment was placed with the Ingersoll-Ser-
geant Drill Co. The tool equipment included eighteen
x inch and twenty-five 5-inch Haeseler riveting
hammers, and sixteen No. 7 and twenty-four No. 12
Haeseler rotary drills — eighty-three in all.
The illustration shows the four air compressors
which furnish power for these tools. They are of the
New Gasoline Motor Car.
The accompanying cut shows a No. 16 gasoline
motor car manufactured by Fairbanks, Morse & Co.,
Chicago, 111., and is one of several different styles of
cars of this class they are at present building.
Early in the summer of this year George H. Webb,
chief engineer Michigau Central R. R., made an in-
spection trip over the system with one of these cars.
The total distance traveled by the car was 4347 miles
and the total amount of gasoline used was 231 gal-
S^CW:"*^P7V.',. " -
New Gasoline Motor Car.
builders' ''class 'JC " duplex two-stage machines of
balanced type, with a heavy inside fly-wheel,
solid sub-base, and semi-tangye frames. The" air
cylinders are water-jacketed on heads and bar-
rels; an intercooler in the sub base beneath the
cylinders provides inter-stage cooling at high
efficiency. The Sergeant piston inlet air valve
is applied on both cylinders and discharge valves are
of vertical lift direct-discharge pattern. At rated
speed of 150 R. P. M., each compressor is stated to
have a displacement of 526 cubic feet, which would
give a total free air capacity to the plant of 2104
cubic feet per minute, delivered at a pressure of 80
pounds. Each unit is belted to a direct current
British Westinghouse motor, rated at 110 H P. on
550 R. P. M.
The picture shows the temporary nature of the
plant — a cheap, shell-like building, unfinished founda-
tions, rough earth floors. But it is stated that
every detail has been provided for in the machinery
equipment which would assure economy of operation
and reliability in service.
Ions, or an average of 19.7 miles per gallon of gaso-
line. The records show that on the run from Jackson
to Allegan, a distance of 175 miles round trip, only
71 gallons of gasoline were used, or 23.3 miles per
gallon. The total cost per mile, including lubricating
oil, battery cells and everything excepting wages of
man in charge, was tb of a cent. Most any rail-
road man can figure out that this is quite a saving,
as compared with a steam locomotive pulling a pri-
vate car.
This gasoline car has its advantages, also, because
of its ability to attain a high rate of speed and main-
tain it on a long run. From Marshall to Allegan,
66.4 miles distance, was made in one hour aud forty
minutes, or at the rate of 40 miles per hour, and they
report they never stopped the engine once. The dis-
tance from Tekonsha to Harris — 29 miles — was made
in forty-five minutes, and the best run of the entire
trip was made from South Haven to Kalamazoo, a
distance of 39.6 miles, in forty-five minutes, or at the
rate of 52.94 miles per hour.
The manufacturers report that there is a large
demand for cars of this class, now that they
have demonstrated that they are a complete
success, and their factory, with the present
facilities, is not able to keep up with the
orders which are received from all sections
of the country.
Ingersoll-Sergeant Compressors Run by Electric Motors, and Driving Machine Tools.
Theke are few mining camps in the world
where water has been more troublesome
and expensive in carrying on mining opera-
tions than in that group of mines at Lead-
vilie, Colorado, situated on the west slope of
Carbonate hill, and in these mines lying
under the city itself. The deepest mines
and those farthest out from the hill have
found an increasingly greater amount of
water as they have continued to work west-
ward and outward from the hill. The Pen-
rose has had its share of trouble of this sort,
but is now equipped with a pumping plant
which will easily control the heavy flow of
water. The lowest mines drain those
opened at higher levels, so that the lowest
operators always get the worst of it. The
mines are so deep that they cannot be
drained by adits. This is a great disadvan-
tage, as it increases the cost of drainage
very materially. Although the altitude of
Leadville is about 10,200 feet above sea
level, and most of the mines are from 100 to
nearly 1000 feet higher, comparatively few
of the mines of the old lead-silver district
can be effectually drained by tunnel. The
most extensive tunnel enterprise in the dis-
trict is the Yak, starting in California
gulch and running easterly over 2 miles
under Iron and Breece hills. For a time a
tunnel starting at Malta, 4 miles distant, in
Arkansas vailey, was talked of, but the deep
mines of Leadville are now below that point.
418
Mining and Scientific Press
December 16, 1905.
Notes on Southern Nevada and Inyo
County, California.— I.*
Written by H. H. TAIT.
It has long been known that the volcanic area
south of Belmont, Nye county, Nev., had mining pos-
sibilities. Some of the old time prospectors knew
that gold existed there. Its remoteness from any
source of supplies, its long distances from any water,
the absence of game, and more, perhaps, the lack of
grass for animals to subsist upon, have made this an
unattractive region in which to search for mines.
The decline of the Comstock mines, the exhaustion
of sundry large and rich ore bodies, the high cost of
mining, marketing, and particularly the ruinously
high freight charges upon refractory ore that had to
be shipped to distant smelters, have kept investors
out of Nevada for the last few years, and mining
people have hardly yet awakened to the importance
of Tonopah, Goldfield and perhaps the newer and less
developed districts.
The discovery of Tonopah by J. L. Butler, who
located the Mizpah claim in May, 1900, and the for-
tunes soon realized there, attracted many people.
As the boom declined many people went away, some
scattering out into the surrounding country, and the
population is now about 7000. In the fall of 1902 a
discovery of gold was made 23 miles south, in what is
now known as the Sandstorm group, 4 miles north-
west of Goldfield. In the winter of 1903^ the Com-
bination, January and Florence mines were discov-
ered, and shipments of high-grade ore soon followed.
In January, 1905, there were 10,000 people in Gold-
field. In June, 1904, rich gold ore was found 85 miles
southeast, at the foot of the south end of the Kawich
mountains, but this discovery was kept quiet until a
relocation could be made.
On August 10, 1904, the Bullfrog claims, and a
month later the Ladd mountain and neighboring
claims, were located. The Shoshone group was
located September 24. This district is from 60 to 80
miles southeast of Goldfield. In September, 1904,
there was a stampede for Bullfrog and Gold Crater
— the latter a small area 2\ miles east of Goldfield.
Two mining districts, called Beatty and Bullfrog,
were organized under the laws of Nevada. Later,
overflow migrations poured in the old and abandoned
districts of Lida (or Allida), Tule Canyon, State Line
and Silver Peak, and others more remote.
During the winter of 1904-5 the desert seemed full
of people. All sorts of outfits traversed unfre-
quented roads — men afoot and alone, "burro men,"
carriages, wagons and automobiles. The inevitable
reaction of such furore is no doubt deplorable, yet
the rapid development of any new mining region
depends upon the excited "tenderfoot" rather than
the conservative mine operator. At Goldfield it was
"a sight to see." There were hundreds of people walk-
ing over the hills, many with a canteen of water slung
over one shoulder, while a small iron mortar hung to
the other, and a pestle, a pick and a 5-inch frying
pan constituted the equipment for sampling, grind-
ing and testing. The rock is soft and the gold at the
surface is free.
There is no good map of this region. The best is
that of the United States Geological Survey; but this
and the Land Office map are incorrect, particularly
in the topography between the northwest arm of
Death valley ("Lost valley") and Owens lake. A
correct map of Inyo county, Cal., has been made by
the county surveyor. A very useful map, particu-
larly of the country farther south, is issued by Mr.
Crowell of Vegas, Nev.
The high Panamint range is usually mapped with
about twice its actual length. It ends at latitude
36° 30' north. A wagon road from Furnace creek in
Death valley to Ballarat in the Panamint valley fol-
lows around this mountain at its base. The geologi-
cal maps would be far more useful to prospectors if
the older Tertiary volcanics were separated from the
recent ones. A good map showing the potable waters
would save much suffering, and perhaps some lives,
this summer. The springs should be marked by the
Government. So far this year about thirty lives
have been lost on account of thirst in that desert
region.
Tonopah is 6000, Goldfield 5500, and the Bullfrog
region from 3500 to 4000 feet above sea level. The
climate at Goldfield is much the same as that at
Pueblo, Colo., except that the rainfall is less than
half. The topographical variation is not great in
Nevada. The summits of the mountain ranges are
rarely more than 2000 or 3000 feet above the sur-
rounding deserts. Inyo county, Cal., is different,
being remarkable for deep valleys and high, precip-
itous mountains. The altitude of Owens lake is 8575
feet, and the Sierra Nevada, a few miles • west,
reaches an elevation of 14,500 feet above sea level.
The Panamint peaks rise to 11,000 feet, while Death
valley, opposite these peaks, and but a few miles
east, is below sea level. On the west the Panamint
valley is 1100 feet above tide, while Saline and Butte
valleys are not far from sea level. Boughly speak-
ing, 600 feet in elevation is equivalent to 1° in lati-
tude; moreover, a deep valley has not the circulation
of air that prevails on the tablelands. Hence this is
a region of extremes of wind and calm, heat and cold,
*Trans. Am. Inst. Min. Engs.
both diurnal and annual. The storms of winter seem
to blow through one and to take all warmth away;
yet on a summer day, without any shade, down in
one of these deep valleys, protected by high moun-
tains from the prevailing winds, it is hotter than any
other part of the American continent. The maxi-
mum temperature at Furnace Creek ranch, in Death
valley, is said by those who live there to be 127° F.
The extraordinary amount of detritus brought down
through every little mountain gulch indicates terrific
cloudbursts.
Life would not be so intolerable in these valleys in
the summer season if our people would learn more of
the Mexicans. Americans even go across the border
into Mexico and farther south with their light board
houses, low ceilings and thin roofs. Thick stone or
adobe buildings, with high ceilings and 'thick or
double roofs, are always comfortable. The good cli-
mate of the whole year in Tonopah and Goldfield is
much appreciated by the mining men who have come
from the tropics, from Alaska, British Columbia, and
from the higher altitudes of Colorado.
Montezuma mountain, 8 miles west of Goldfield
(altitude 8000 feet), is ever green with pinon and
scrubby pine, with a little cedar and juniper around
the edges, (it is remarkable how closely one can
estimate the elevation through the entire Rocky
mountain region by noting the vegetation.) The
Montezuma mountain timber belt extends southwest
to the White mountains and to the Fish Lake range.
The north end of the Grapevine range is also cov-
ered with timber. Cordwood sells in Tonopah and
Goldfield at $16 per cord; at Bullfrog the price is $25.
Below the timber there is considerable sagebrush,
with a few cacti and some yucca palms, locally known
as Joshua trees. The desert is often green with sev-
eral varieties of desert brush having different local
names — a short, stunted growth of no value, which
gives the valleys the appearance of being more fer-
tile than they really are. A strange feature is the
almost entire absence of grass. At the head of the
Amargosa and southward, "creosote" brush and
other desert growths are the same as one sees in
northern Chihuahua, western Texas, and in New
Mexico, which is good grazing country. Old timers
say that this was not so once, but that several years
ago a drouth killed all vegetation that could be used
as fodder. Along the water courses, such as the
Oasis valley, at Ash meadows, in the Death valley,
Panamint, and others where there is water, salt and
wire grass present a meadow-like appearance, but
will" barely keep cattle from starving. Along the
water courses willows, Cottonwood and, to the south,
screw bean and mesquite grow. The latter, which is
an excellent fuel, is by common consent left to the
Indians. Sometimes there are in the valleys large
areas devoid of vegetation, with the ground so hard
that a wagon leaves but a slight track. Along the
low ridges the wind has blown away the soil and
arranged the pebbles so as to appear like a mosaic.
The traveler usually takes the "Overland Lim-
ited " to Reno, Nev., then the Virginia City & Truck ee
Railroad 41 miles to Mound House, the Carson &
Colorado 137 miles to Sodaville, and the Tono-
pah Railroad 66 miles to Tonopah. The Car-
son & Colorado is a narrow gauge road, with
light rails and limited equipment. It was com-
pleted to Keeler, Inyo county, Cal., in 1881, and
was a barren investment until lately, when the
Southern Pacific Co. obtained control of it, just in
time to reap the benefits of the Tonopah rush. Dur-
ing the past winter this road has been swamped with
freight. For six months there were from 500 to 1000
cars awaiting trans-shipment in the various yards
near Reno. From Sodaville to Tonopah is also nar-
row gauge. From Tonopah to Goldfield there both
stages and automobiles are running — the latter mak-
ing the distance of 27 miles in two hours. All this
will soon be changed, and the traveler will be able to
leave the main line of the Central Pacific in a broad
gauge car that will take him through to Goldfield.
Surveys have been made and there is much talk of
railroads from the south. A factor in this situation
is furnished by the large deposits of colemanite (cal-
cium borate) between Amargosa and Death valleys.
A railroad route presenting no special difficulty runs
from Vegas on the "Clark" road to Goldfield, via
Beatty. The distance to Ash Meadows is 90 miles;
thence it is 45 miles up the valley to the Bullfrog dis-
trict and 35 miles diagonally across (south) to the
most developed borax mines.
The outfit for a trip through this section requires,
as a usual rule, 1 pound each of vegetable and ani-
mal food per day per man, and 14 pounds of hay and
12 pounds of grain per horse per day. A larger
amount of alfalfa, with a smaller amount of barley,
can be fed. Mules are preferable to horses, because
they are more hardy and eat and drink less. In a
country where evaporation is so great (an acre of
tanks will evaporate 1700 gallons per day), a team of
horses will require 15 gallons (say 120 pounds) of
water per day; in the heat of the summer more.
Where there is running water in the winter there is
nothing but a dry "arroyo" in the summer. Indeed,
in a channel where there is a stream of running
water in the morning sufficient for stock, it may be
dry and even dusty at sundown.
A good assaying equipment sufficient for 1000
assays will weigh 500 pounds and require five cases
of gasoline. A portable balance, sensitive to 0.005
Personal.
milligram, can be had, and is best, in that it enables
one to reach a desired degree of accuracy with less
fluxes and smaller weight of crucibles.
The people are very kind about giving information
as to water and roads, but such information is often
inaccurate. Nye county, Nev., has had signboards
put up at crossroads, and some of the freighters,
also, are thoughtful enough to leave some mark or
sign.
SP*****rfo*** f47T^^ctT^<^r^<^'3t"4'4T^'^4' *************
*
*
T. S. Mathis is at Yerington, Nevada.
Thos. H. Leggett is at El Oro, Mexico.
Marshall Bond is at Phoenix, Arizona.
F. L. Bosqui has gone to Parral, Mexico.
W. P. Bonbright is at Colorado Springs.
Pope Yeatman is at Guanajuato, Mexico.
Emile R. Abadie is now in San Francisco.
Henry.C. Callahan has returned from Mexico.
L. L. Hubbard has gone to Salt Lake City, Utah.
H. H. Clark of Bullfrog, Nev., is in San Francisco.
J. M. McGee of Oroville, Cal., has been in San Fran-
cisco.
Forbes Riokard is examining mines at Silverton,
Colorado.
N. A. Robinson has left Mariposa and is now in San
Francisco.
R. G. Kirkland has returned to Mexico from San
Francisco.
Walter P. Jenney of Salt Lake City is at the Pal-
ace Hotel.
W. B. Fisher is visiting Spokane, Wash., and Ward-
ner, Idaho.
D. P. Pullinger of London is in New York on his
way to Mexico.
Mark B. Kerr has returned to San Francisco, from
New York City.
E. D. McDermott has left El Oro, Mex., to proceed
to Johannesburg.
H. I. Keen of the Allis-Chalmers Company is visit-
ing San Francisco.
F. P. Sherwood has returned to Parral, Mexico,
from San Francisco.
O. F. Posey and Chas. Weir, both of Los Angeles,
are in San Francisco.
J. H. Elspass, patentee of the Elspass mill, Denver,
is at Toronto, Canada.
George H. Evans haB returned to Breckenridge,
Colo., by way of Denver.
H. H. Lang, superintendent Kendall mine, Kendall,
Mont., is in San Francisco.
Frank Iokes has been appointed manager Globe M.
Co. of Lead, South Dakota.
Arthur Houle is superintendent Calumet & Arizona
smelter at Douglas, Arizona.
Arthur Goodall, manager Fremont mine, Amador
county, Cal., is in San Francisco.
Frank E. Shepard, president of the Denver Engi-
neering Works Co., is at Boston.
S. B. Salisbury has been appointed manager Dakota
M. Co. at Virginia City, Montana.
W. H. Baker has been made superintendent Gold
Pan mine at Breckenridge, Colorado.
C. M. Yeomans is visiting San Francisco, from El
Oro, Mexico, on his way to Australia.
O. Bergstrom is consulting metallurgist for the
United Verde smelter at Jerome, Arizona.
Theo. F. Van Wagenen is examining copper mines
on the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, Mexico.
A. F. Kensinger has been appointed superintendent
Chicago-Mexican M. Co. of Chihuahua, Mexico.
George A. Packard has gone to Baker City, Ore.,
after examining mines in Inyo county, California.
Robt. H. Anderson has been made manager Sullivan
Group M. Co. at Kimberley, East Kootenay, B. C.
David Mieklejohn has been appointed manager
Buena Vista mine in the La Yesca district of Tepic,
Mexico.
H. E. Crawford, consulting engineer Hermosi M.
Co., Hanover, New Mexico, has returned there from
Denver.
H. H. Nicholson has resigned as manager Standard
Con. Mines Co. in Grant county, Or., but will act as con-
sulting engineer.
John S. George and W. J. MacConnell of the
Snowstorm Hydraulic Co., Fairplay, Colo., have re-
turned to Milwaukee.
Robt. K. Painter has accepted the superintendency
of the mines of the Newfoundland Syndicate at Pilley's
Island, Newfoundland.
E. S. Graham of Graham, Texas, has been appointed
superintendent Aquila mine, of the Mazeppa Co. 's G. M.
Co., near Hostotipaquillo, Jalisco, Mexico.
C. D. Rooklidge has resigned as manager Nevada-
Superior Mines Co., working near Humboldt, Nev.
F. W. Correll has been appointed his successor.
William C. Potter, manager of mines for Mexico,
in the interest of the American Smelters Securities Co.,
has moved his office from Mexico City to Aguas-
calientes.
December 16, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
419
* +■*■** -I-*** -fr***-!** ******** +******; **** * + *
I MINING SUMMARY. |
* *
Specially Compiled nnd iteporu-d (fir the MININ<J AND
SCIENTIFIC l'KESS.
ALASKA.
The first smelter to be built ia Alaska was blown in
Deo. 5 at Hadley, on Prince of Wales island, 400 tons of
ore being treated. It will be known as the Brown
Alaska smelter, its owner being B. D. Brown. The
Mn.lt.M- has a daily capacity of 750 tons, and will treat
both copper and gold ores. The mines of Prince of
Wales island and surrounding districts will furnish all
the ores it can handle.
ARIZONA.
The question of the increase of the assessment of
mines in Arizona has gone over until January, at which
time the supreme court will hand down a decision in the
certiorari proceedings instituted by the Copper Queen
and other mining companies of the territory, setting up
the contention that the territorial board of equalization
exceeded its authority when it raised assessments of the
mining companies. In the meantime the county
treasurers in the several counties have been instructed
by the Attorney General to accept from the mine owners
the amount of taxes due on the assessment as turned in
by the county assessors, pending the decision of the
supreme court which will be on January 17.
Cochise Conut y.
At the Pittsburg & Arizona Co. 's group, near Charles-
ton, a double-compartment shaft has been started on
the Manila mine and will be sunk to a depth of 400 feet.
J. L Bichelder has bonded his copper claims in the
Due I'abezas district to the Western M. Co.
H h reported that J. L. Bachelder has bonded his
copper claims, near Dos Cabezas, to the Western M. Co.
December will see five producers credited to the
Western district — Copper Queen, Calumet & Arizona,
Lake Superior & Pittsburg, Pittsburg & Duluth, and
Sbattuck & Arizona. The above named companies will
he producers in the order they are named, the Shattuck
A: Arizona being the last, which will commence ship-
ping from its stock pile on the dump to the Copper
Queen smelters some time during the present month.
Gila Couuty.
The Copper Hill mine of the Arizona-Commercial Co.
has twelve stopes of sulphide ore from which to make
shipments and is shipping 100 tons per day to the Old
Dominion smelter and 1000 tons per month of siliceous
ores to the Douglas smelter. Superintendent W. S. Sul-
tan is preparing to sink the Copper Hill shaft 200 feet
deeper, to a total of 800 feet. An auxiliary hoist will be
put underground. The Blackhawk shaft, now domn 260
feet, is to be sunk to a depth of 600 feet before a level is
run. A steam hoist will be put in and power drills used.
Mohave Coanty.
The Aztec Turquoise Co. is working at Mineral Park,
9 miles from Chloride, under the direction of Superin-
tendent McNulty. High-grade ore is reported from
the West Plores mine, near Cerbat, owned by W. B.
Campbell. The P. K. and K. P. mines, in IXL Basin,
near Kingman, are being unwatered and may be worked
by E. M. Carson. Superintendent Nadeau has opened
up rich silver ore in the Windy Point mine, near Mineral
Park. New machinery is to be put in. The Arizona-
Mexican M. & S. Co. is putting in a 40-ton mill at the
Infallible mine, at Stockton Hill, near Kingman. A road
is being made from the mill site to the Alta mine. A
mill is to be put in by the Union Pass G. M. Co. in the
Union PaBS district, near Kingman. J. D. Jordan has
charge.
Santa Crnz County.
The Gold Bullion mine, near Old Glory, has been sold
by W. S. Wilde to Clay Peters of San Francisco, Cal.
J. M. Drennon of Los Angeles, Cal., will be in charge of
the development work. A 10-stamp mill and a concen-
trator will be built at the mine as soon as the wagon
road is completed.
Yavapai Connty.
A hoist and mill are to be put in at the Pittsburg-
Jerome property, near Jerome. A wagon road has been
built from Yaeger. The company has fifteen claims,
formerly known as the Larson-Avery group, between
the United Verde and Equator mines. D. S. Cochran is
superintendent. The Jerome Mines Development Co.
is testing a new diamond drill.
The Bradshaw mountains of Arizona have been
mapped by the United States Geological Survey. A
folio descriptive of this quadrangle has recently been
prepared by J. A. Jaggar Jr. and Charles Palaehe. It
includes one topographic map of the quadrangle, one
map illustrating the areal geology and one illustrating
the economic geology, a page of structure sections and a
page of photographic views. The quadrangle is in the
southeastern part of Yavapai county and includes a
small part of Maricopa county in its extreme southeast
corner. A portion of the Prescott Forest Reserve occu-
pies the western half — a mountainous region including
all the higher summits of the Bradshaw range. The
city of Prescott is 2 miles north of the northwest corner
of the quadrangle, and Jerome is 17 miles north of the
northeast corner. The only settlements in the quad-
rangle at the time of the survey were small" mining
camps and scattered ranches. On the north the Pres-
cott & Eastern Railroad enters the quadrangle near Val-
verde smelter and terminates at Mayer station. The
eastern third of the quadrangle consists largely of low-
lying desert land and basaltic mesas. The mineral
resources include gold, silver, copper and iron ore de-
posits, building and ornamental stones, and undeveloped
bodies of volcanic ash. No definite statement of the
output of precious metals from this region is possible,
but an estimate based on scattered contemporary statis-
tics and on the Mint reports gives an approximate value
of $9,500,000, equally divided between gold and silver.
At the time of the survey (1901) only two or three large
mines were actually producing, and the output of the
district, chiefly gold, was probably less than $200,000. A
number of other mines, recently active and of demon-
strated value, were closed down by reason of litigation
or other adverse circumstances. The ore deposits of the
quadrangle, with few exceptions, are fissure veins of
simple structure. The veins may be classed, according
to the dominant valuo of their contents, into gold, sil-
ver and copper deposits. The important mines in the
quadrangle are in its northern and western parts, and
occur in groups associated in a striking manner with
the four intrusive stocks of quartz-diorito which occupy
the basins of Groom aud Hassayampa creeks, of Lynx
creek, of Bigbug creek and its branches near McCabe,
and of Poland creek near Crown King. Rich placer
deposits formerly existed along most of the streams of
the quadrangle. The only stone quarried in tho quad-
ranglo for building purposes is the green rhyolite tuff
found abundantly in the valley of Castle creek. The
stone was said to be soft and easily worked when quar-
ried. It hardens on exposure and presenis a handsome
appearance. Near Mayer, on the left bank of Bigbug
creek, is a considerable deposit of onyx marble, small
portions of which are of a quality that renders it suit-
able for a decorative stone.
CALIFORNIA.
Calaveraa Connty.
The Eastland-Gray Development Co , under tho man-
agement of D. P. Gray, has found a rich gravel at the
Hageman ranch, near San Andreas. It is reported
that rich ore has been struck at the 2400-foot level of
the Gwin mine.
A promising quartz vein has been opened up in the
Red Gold mine near Murphys. The Beatrice M. Co.
is working west of Murpbys.
Kl Dorado Couuty.
The North Weber Land & M. Co. has bonded the
Golden Hatchet drift gravel mine, near Placerville, to
T. G. Patton. Work will be commenced at once.
Kern County.
(Special Correspondence). — The Zenda mine, on Cali-
ente creek, is putting up a 10-stamp mill. Mr. Blood
of San Francisco is putting up a 10-stamp mill near Cal-
iente creek, on the Gold Peak M. Co.'s property.
A. D. C. McKay is working the Jeannette claim on Piute
mountain and taking out good ore. The Barbarosa
mine, recently bonded to a French syndicate, is working
seven men developing their ore bodies on the lower level.
The Atlas mine, owned by A. W. McRae, has started
up again. The Minnehaha M. & M. Co. have completed
a 3-stamp mill and'are concentrating their low-grade tung-
sten and crushing and sacking high-grade tungsten.
They intend to start tunnel No. 6 to tap the main ledge
at a depth of 850 feet, having to run 900 feet. M. D.
Hamilton is general manager; H. B. Ward, superintend-
ent; and H. Wischmeyer, foreman. H. Wischmeyer
has bought the Bear claim from Theo. Crees. E. F.
Evans has bought one-half interest in the Golden Rule
from James Rayme. Active work will be commenced
by E. F. Evans and Judge Dearborn soon, sinking 200
feet on the ledge. This ledge carries $10 per ton free.
The Initial claims, owned by H. C. Jones, have been
bonded to San Francisco parties.
Paris, Dec. 12.
(Special Correspondence). — The Phcenix mine, near
Johannesburg, has been closed down, on account of lack
of water, by Superintendent Gender. The Yellow
Aster has found water 15 miles from the mine after
sinking 1600 feet. Sulphide ore has been struck at
the 550-foot level of the Butte mine, near Randsburg.
Rich ore has been found at the 300-foot level of the
Orphan Girl mine, 3 miles from Randsburg.
Randsburg, Dec. 13.
The Francis M. & M. Co. is preparing to start devel-
opment on the Francis mine, 40 miles north of Mojave.
The 700-foot shaft is being unwatered. Besides the cya-
nide plant, the Francis company has two 2-stamp mills.
J. C. Meadows of Kansas City is president.
Mariposa County.
The Three Trees mine, on the Merck estate, near
Hornitos, is being developed by a Los Angeles company.
A mill operated, by electric power is to be put on the
property.
Nevada County.
It is stated that work is not to be resumed at the
Mountaineer mine, near Nevada City, until next spring,
and the pumps have been stopped in the shaft. This is
due to the shortage of water, with poor prospects of re-
ceiving a sufficient amount shortly. The pumps have
been placed in condition, so that when they are needed
in the spring they will be ready. The shaft will be
allowed to fill up, but the water can not go above the 400
level, as it will drain elsewhere. It is the company's in-
tention to drive ahead the tunnel on the opposite side of
the creek, which is headed toward the Summit mine.
This tunnel is in 400 feet. The new company which is
reopening the Idaho-Maryland mine, at Grass Valley,
has reached the 800-foot level, having cleaned out and
retimbered the shaft. From the 1000 level, which will
be reached by February, a new shaft will continue on
the perpendicular for 1200 feet.
The Birchville mine, near Graniteville, has been closed
down for the winter on account of water shortage. J.
McKelvey is superintendent.
All is in readiness at the Central Con. mine, near Ban-
ner mountain, near Nevada City, to start up the 20-
stamp mill which has been put in by^ W. S. May. Until
the slime plant is constructed the mill will remain idle.
The tunnel is in 1300 feet, striking the old shaft at a dis-
tance of 900 feet and continuing beyond. At the mouth
of the shaft a chamber is being cut in the rock for a
30 H. P. electric hoist. Electricity will operate the en-
tire plant.
San Dleeo Couuty.
It is reported that work is to be resumed at the Stone-
wall mine, near Cuyamaca. The shaft has been pumped
out and retimbered to below the 600-foot level. E. B
Tustin is owner and G. H. Clarke is manager at the
mine. Machinery is to be put in so that the shaft can
be sunk to the 1000-foot level.
Santa Clara Couuty.
It is reported that the New Almaden quicksilver
mines may be closed down. For a year past men have
been laid off at the mines, until at present there are less
than 75 men employed. The mines are owned by the
Quicksilver M. Co. of New York. The reason assigned
for closing the mines is that the property has been de-
veloped enough.
Shasta County.
(Special Correspondence.)— The Middle Creek G. M.
Co., who have been developing the Dobrowsky mine,
near Shasta, have just started their new stamp mill.
The shaTt is down 260 feet and three levels have been
run. No ore has been stoped, and what ore not sent to
the Keswick and Mammoth smelters during the shaft
and drift work is piled up on the dump. H. O. Cummins
is manager.
Shasta, Dec. 12.
The Bullychoop G. M. Co. has sixty men at work at
its mines near Ono under the superintendence of Lester
Greenwell. There is a 10-stamp mill and a 2700-foot
aerial tramway on the property. It is reported that
Manager Beall intends to put in an electric power plant
and increase the number of stamps.
Sierra Coanty.
(Special Correspondence.) — The Sierra Buttes mine,
at Sierra City, has been closed temporarily because of
trouble with the new tramway. Ed. Westall, mana-
ger of the Marguerite, near Downieville, expects to have
the mine unwatered soon. R. Phelan of Sierra City
has his power plant ready to run, and will sfart the
Butte Saddle and the Roman. The electric plant at
the Telegraph mine, near Downieville, has been finished.
The Eureka quartz ledge, on the Balsam Flat ridge,
has been sold to the Alleghany M. Co. by A. M. Bixby.
Downieville, Dec. 12.
Sonoma County.
The dam for the Socrates Con. M. Co., near Clover-
dale, has been completed. Water power sufficient to
run the plant seven months in the year may be consid-
ered a certainty. The output each month during the
last quarter averaged fifty flasks of mercury. The
Culver-Baer Co., near Cloverdale, is driving its main
tunnel to cut the ore body formerly worked by the man-
agers of the Oakland mine. The Cinnabar King, near
Cloverdale, is having its roadways improved and its
buildings repaired, so as to be ready for future develop-
ment work.
Tehama County.
(Special Correspondence). — The main ledge at the Bas-
ler copper mine, near Lowrey, is said to have been struck
after running the tunnel 200 feet. The ore is stated to
be chalcopyrite and bornite.
Lowrey, Dec. 12.
Tuolumne County.
The Moody mine at Big Oak Flat has been leased to
Connally & Conde. The mill is to be started soon.
A 5-stamp mill has been put in at the North Star mine,
7 miles southeast of Groveland. H. Argall is superin-
tendent.
Yolo County.
It is reported that drills will be put to work on the
Albert Bemmerly place in the tule, 7 miles northeast of
Woodland, to prospect for gold.
COLORADO.
(Special Correspondence). — Several of the mining
camps throughout the State are complaining of the
shortage of cars to handle the product from their mines,
as well as shipments to the mines. This is due to the
increased output of the various properties and to the
climatic conditions existing in the higher altitudes of
Colorado. The traffic at Silverton is congested on
account of the large amount of mining and milling ma-
chinery now being sent into that district; besides, the
railroads entering the camp have been blockaded on
account of the heavy snowfall. The Telluride mill at
Colorado City and the Homestake mills at Cripple Creek
are reported sold to the Golden Cycle Co. and the Strat-
ton estate, respectively, for the treatment of the ores
from the various properties of the two companies.
The forestry question is attracting considerable atten-
tion in this State at present, and a school of forestry in
connection with the Colorado college at Colorado Springs
is to be established. In some sections of the State tim-
ber for mine use is becoming serious and the preserva-
tion of the forest is being agitated. A large tract of
land has been donated for the use of the school as a
field for experimenting, and it is believed that students
of forestry will attend the school from the entire arid
region as well as from Colorado.
Denver, Dec. 12.
Boulder County.
(Special Correspondence). — The American Tungsten
M. Co. report they have opened up tungsten ore which
will concentrate twenty tons into one. The company has
a lease on ground near Nederland. The Jenny Creek
G. M. Co. is operating on vein No. 1, and has a mineral-
ized streak 4 feet in width which they claim averages
$30 per ton. The company expects to put up a mill this
year.
Frantz, Dec. 11.
The Inter Ocean mine on Gold hill, near Boulder, has
been sold to the Inter Ocean M. Co., with main officeB in
Chicago, for $100,000. A 100-ton per day mill is to be
erected near the mine. Development of the property is
under way.
It is reported that a cyanide plant is to be added to
the Struggler mill at Ward. Sinking is to be con-
tinued during the winter by Manager G. M. Mitchell.
The Myrtle mill has been closed down until spring.
Chaffee Countv.
Announcement was made Dec. 12 that a controlling
420
Mining and Scientific Press.
December 16, 1905.
interest in the Ohio & Colorado smelter at Salida had
been sold and that the purchasers would extend the
business of the company by constructing- new plants at
Salt Lake and Denver. Timothy Goodwin of Denver,
one of the former owners of the stock transferred, is
authority for the announcement.
The Independence mine at Turret is being reopened
under the direction of John Harrison.
Clear creek County.
It is reported that work is to be resumed on the At-
lantic tunnel near Georgetown. C. H. Morris of George-
town is resident agent. The work of putting in a
switch and station on the Silver Queen vein in the New-
house tunnel, near Idaho Springs, has been completed.
This claim is held under a bond and lease by the Jackson
M., L. & Dev. Co. A Pennsylvania syndicate has se-
cured the Gold Medal group of four patented claims
near Idaho Springs. Work has been started by the
new company. Rich silver-lead ore has been struck
in the Muscovite property on Democrat mountain, near
Georgetown, in sinking the shaft from the tunnel level
and at a depth of 35 feet. This property was secured
recently by S. H. Clift and associates of Denver. Super-
intendent Hennengben has put fifteen men blocking out
the reserves and knocking down the ore. The United
Light & Power Co. of Georgetown will double the ca-
pacity of its plant. A rich strike of native and ruby
silver and gray copper ore has been made in sinking the
shaft on the Bellman mine in Gilson gulch, near Idaho
Springs. The Bellman is owned and operated by the
Memphis & Idaho Springs G. M. Co. C. A. King is man-
ager.
Work has been resumed on the Vidler tunnel through
Argentine pass in to Summit county, with machine
drills. The present heading is between 700 and 800 feet
from the portal. With the new drilling power it is
expected that 200 feet per month will be made. It will
be continued as a mining tunnel of present dimensions
until the heading is advanced far enough to justify the
beginning of its enlargement for railway purposes to
connect with the Montezuma and points beyond on the
western slope of Summit county. Next summer
machinery is to be put on the opposite side of the pass
to push the tunnel to a junction with the heading from
the east side. Within 1200 feet of the present breast
they expect to cut the Red Light lode. The men are
cutting an upraise to the surface from the 600-foot point
in the tunnel to afford ventilation and provide a con-
venient exit for employes in case of need. The distance
yet to be run is about 6300 feet.
Gilpin County.
The Pewabic Consolidated Gold M. Co. in Russell dis-
trict is shipping an average of five cords per day to the
mill in Black Hawk and keeping forty stamps busy.
This is mill ore taken from the Pewabic shaft. The
Iron shaft has been finished and hoisting of water has
been started. The Old Town mini? in Russell district
is employing 125 men. The shaft is down 1500 feet.
James McMillan, superintendent of the Ann Rutledge
M. Co., who own the North Star mining property, near
Yankee Hill, is putting up a new mill to be built on the
property designed to handle thirty tons per day.
Wenzel & Eilmann, who have a lease and bond on the
Susan Mary mine, near Lake gulch, are working in a
new 70-foot shaft, drifting east and west, using a wind-
lass for hoisting the ore to surface. J. Walters,
superintendent of the Evergreen mine at Apex, states
that the shaft has been straightened and retimbered
and is down 75 feet.
At the Brooklyn mill on North Clear creek, above
Black Hawk, the Colorado Chemical Amalgamating Co.
is treating a large tonnage of ore. The ore is first put
through the Blake crusher, and then fed to a Wild
pulverizer, which reduces it to 20 mesh. It is then
automatically carried to the grinding pans, where it is
ground to 150-mesh fineness, and during grinding chem-
icals are added to the pulp, which oxidizes it during the
four hours that it is being stirred and agitated, after
which the pulp is thinned and diluted and put through
the amalgamator. The present capacity of the chem-
ical plant is twenty-five tons daily, and the ore is ob-
tained from the Cashier lode of the Brooklyn mines,
south of Central City. S. C. Arnold of Denver is man-
ager. The Brooklyn management is preparing to run
the compressor to drive the north and south cross-
cuts from the sixth level. R. St. John Cleary of
Denver is manager of the Brooklvn G. M. &
M. Co. Glanville & Peeck of Central City will
rebuild the new shaft building of the Fairfield
G. M. Co., which was blown down and destroyed by the
recent heavy winds. The new machinery has been put
in. Sinking has been started at the Aduddell mine in
Willis gulch on a contract calling for a lift of 100 feet,
the shaft being down 450 feet. The Taawasa Gold
Mining & Cyanidiug Co. intend to connect with the
lateral from the Newhouse tunnel, at a depth of 1700
feet. Work is to be resumed on the HMhouse mine
near Russell Gulch. The main shaft is down 400 feet.'
The Old Town mine employs 125 men, forty on com-
pany account, the balance being leasers. The new
extension of the Gilpin tramway lines from South Willis
gulch to the property of the Pleasant Valley M. & M.
Co. at the bottom of Elkhorn gulch is almost completed.
The Mineral Hill G. M., M. & T. Co. is operating
the Southworth property in Moon gulch. Sinking is to
be resumed. W. H. Knowles and associates of Den-
ver are interested. It is reported that the company will
put in an air compressor.
Gunnison County.
C. P. Wahl, superintendent of the Gold Vein M. Co.,
operating on Cross mountain, near Tincup, is sinking on
the recent strike, being down 60 feet. The Gold Cup
Co., of Tincup, is pushing their tunnel on Middle Willow
creek. This tunnel will cut the Gold Cup contact at
greater depth than has been reached at any other point.
The Brunswick concentrator, at Tincup, is run-
ning on ore from the Jimmy Mack dump. A. Lejune,
superintendent of the Blistered Horn tunnel, is advertis-
ing for bids to run the main crosscut tunnel 200 feet.
The tunnel is in nearly 1600 feet.
The Cleveland Mine Operating Co., recently organ-
ized to lease and operate mines at White Pine, has
secured the Victor mine. The shaft is down 385 feet.
The mine is to he worked for the silver, lead and zinc
values. W. S. Rogers of Cleveland, Ohio, is president
of the company and W. S. Barker of White Pine vice-
president and general manager.
Lake County.
In Little Evans, at Leadville, the New Era Leasing
Co. will resume work on Holler's claims north of the
Coronado. Farther up Little Evans a leasing company,
under the management of W. F. Page, is working claims
partly developed by the Progressive M. Co. Bohn's
Mammoth placer shaft near Evansville is approaching
the ore zone proven by drill holes. On Big Evans,
H. K. Whyte has resumed work on the Josie shaft and
a new shaft is being put down on one of the claims of
the Josie Consolidation, west of the Josie. On the
Bohn shaft, in Leadville, Manager Newell has recently
sunk 150 feet, cut two stations and commenced two
drifts from the bottom.
The Iron Silver M. Co. reports that during November
it hoisted 500 tons more of zinc ore from the Moyer, Tuc-
son and Dome shafts than in October. There was also
an increase in the shipment of carbonate ore from these
properties to the smelters. About the same quantities
of copper and iron sulphide were shipped last month as
the month before. The figures as given out by Manager
William O'Brien are as follows: Zinc, 10,500 tons; iron
sulphide, 1500 tons; carbonate, 500 tons; copper, 500
tons. The entire ore output of Leadville camp was
slightly less during November than October, owing to
the weather preventing the smaller operators from
working their properties. The zinc tonnage also fell off
somewhat, according to the local representative of the
zinc trust, Patrick O'Dwyer. The amount of zinc ore
taken by the trust is about 15,000 tons, while a month
ago it was 16,000 tons. The total output of all grades of
ore during November was 77,500 tons, as against 79,000
tons for October.
Judge Owers of Leadville has rendered a decision
making permanent the injunction restraining the Mine
Owners' Association from forcing miners to take out
working cards.
The machinery at the Coronado shaft in Leadville has
been overhauled and new tramways constructed.
The Fortune shaft, on Little Ellen hill, Leadville, is
shipping good ore.
Mineral County.
A lease upon the Commodore mine, near Creede, has
been given to A. L. Wilson, H. Van Horn, W. Dwig-
gans, J. Wilson, and C. Withrow, all of Creede.
Ouray County.
The Evening Star vein has been cut 430 feet from the
bottom of the 500-foot shaft at the Imogene G M. Co.
workings, near Ouray. The Grecian mine, adjoin-
ing the Sultan group, near Ouray, and owned by R. W.
Clinton, is said to have opened up an ore body 100 feet
long and in the breast there is a body of lead-zinc ore 2
feet in width. It is the intention to equip the property
with a mill soon.
Fark County.
(Special Correspondence). — The Snow Storm Hydrau-
lic Co. recently held their annual meeting in Denver and
intend to consolidate development work. The company
owns the placer ground extending from near Fairplay to
the head of the Platte river, above Alma. J. S. George
of Milwaukee, Wis., is president, W. J. MacConnell gen-
eral agent and W. E. Thorne general manager.
Fairplay, Dec. 10.
San Juan County.
The capacity of the Hamlet mill, near Silverton, is to
be increased to treat rock from recent strikes. The
lower crosscut tunnel is in over 400 feet.
At the concentrating plant of the Hercules Con. M.
Co., at the foot of Sultan mountain, south of Silverton,
ten new stamps will be added to the equipment, making
forty stamps in all. An addition to the mill, 30x65 feet,
has been completed. The present power plant of 125
H. P. will be increased to 275 H. P. by the installation
of additional steam boilers. Development and the block-
ing out of ore in the mine has been in steady progress
all summer.
San Miguel County.
The Menona M. & M. Co. has leased the Columbia-
Menona mines and 30-stamp mill, in Savage basin, 5
miles from Telluride, to John P. and John B. Olson.
Operations have been started.
The work on the Butterfly-Terrible mines at Ophir
Loop, 14 miles from Telluride, consists largely of that
performed by lessees who are working on the ore shoot
between the second and the third levels, and taking out
enough ore to keep from ten to twenty stamps of the
Butterfly-Terrible 30-stamp mill dropping part of the
time. The officers of the company are driving the tun-
nel to tap the ore shoot 750 feet below the third level.
The tunnel is in 1000 feet and is being pushed with
machine drills. Development has been resumed on
the Congress group, above Blue lake, at the head of
Bridal Veil basin, near Telluride. The group is owned
by L. W. White, E. M. Arthur, J. W. Hanson and
Peter Hansen. The Blue Lake group, owned by J. A.
Adams, C. F. Hilgenhaus, D. Smith and others, is being
developed.
Summit County.
(Special Correspondence). — Foote & Hight, who have
been working the Bullion King mine on Gibson hill,
near Breckenridge, shipped five cars of zinc ore recently.
The Lanyon Zinc Co. of Denver has taken a bond
and lease on the Country Boy vein on Nigger hill. This
is a portion of the Juniata mine, owned by the Lincoln
Gold Mines Co. Carroll Clark is in charge. C. C.
Acton has struck gold ore on the Acton-Lyman Drop-
erty in Summit gulch. The King Solomon Tunnel &
Development Co. at Frisco has cut two ore bodies in its
main tunnel. A contract has been let to drift on this
vein. The management of the Mint M. Co. has let a
contract to extend their main tunnel into Ophir moun-
tain.
Breckenridge, Dec. 10.
Teller County.
C. F. Springer of Colorado Springs has taken a bond
and lease on the Louisiana claim of the Ore-or-no-go Co.
on Raven hill, near Cripple Creek. A hoist is to be put
in and the shaft sunk from the 143-foot to the 200-foot
level. J. K. Miller and associates of Colorado Springs
have taken a two-year lease on the north end of the Oro
claim, Cripple Creek. The shaft is to be sunk to a depth
of 200 feet from the 60-foot level. New machinery is to
be put in. The Rose Nicol shaft on Battle mountain,
near Cripple Creek, is being sunk from the 600-foot to
the 700-foot level. The Scranton shaft on Little Bull
mountain, south of Victor, is being sunk from the 90-
foot to the 200-foot level. The Duncan & Cain shaft
on the Teutonic, on Ironclad hill, Cripple Creek, is to be
continued to the 650-foot from the 350-foot level. Sel-
bach & Johnson, operating the Pride of Cripple Creek,
on Ironclad hill, under lease, are working on the 300-foot
level to cut the extension of the ore shoot opened on the
Mt. Rose, adjoining.
IDAHO.
Idaho County,
C. C. Vancy and M. B. Merritt have returned to
Roosevelt from Ramey ridge, where they have been de-
veloping the Florence A. group of claims, which they
own in conjunction with V. Welch and O. Hayberg.
About 200 feet of tunnels and open cuts were made.
On the Mildred group, which adjoins the Florence and
has a parallel vein, considerable work has been done by
Hussey & Wakefield of Spokane. Lynch, Stephenson &'
Mahon, the discoverers of this district, have done con-
siderable work on their Little Gem and Gold Bug
groups, which show well defined veins of good size and
character. A 55-foot shaft has been sunk on the Little
Gem. One of the biggest strikes of the year has been
made on the Butch, owned by Butcher & Gassett.
Lemhi County.
In a report to W. A. Beyers of Salt Lake, general
manager of the Virginia M. Co. of Baker, it is stated
that the property consists of twelve claims and has been
opened up by 3000 feet of development work. The last
work done was by a tunnel 700 feet below the upper
workings. This tunnel is in 200 feet. There are nine
tunnels on the property, averaging from 35 to 400 feet
in length. The mine is equipped with a 3-stamp mill.
The company will build a big concentrating mill and
start breaking ore.
Nez Ferces County.
The gold dredge at Delta has been dismantled and is
being moved to the Gaifney land below Pierce City.
The Gateway M. & M. Co. are working the Wild Rose
and Hutch claims, near Pierce City.
Owyhee County.
Work has been discontinued for the winter at the
Standard M. Co. 's properties on South mountain, near
Silver City, by Manager F. T. Clemmens.
Shoshone County.
The Monarch Mining Co. of Murray is opening up the
ore bodies on the 1400-foot adit level. A long crosscut
tunnel was run some time ago, cutting two distinct veins
1000 feet apart. The first of these had been explored
for 500 feet, opening up a shoot of concentrating ore.
The second vein ahead, called the Monarch, will be
drifted on east and west from the point of intersection.
The property has a 150-ton concentrator. E. P
Spaulding is manager.
MICHIGAN.
Keweenaw County.
(Special Correspondence). — The control of the Kewee-
naw Copper Co. and the Keweenaw Central Railroad has
been taken over by Thomas F. Cole and associates. The
Keweenaw Copper Co. was organized by C. A. Wright
of Hancock. The Keweenaw Copper Co. has begun
explorations on the Medora and Mandan, and it has
there cut the Montreal River lode. The Keweenaw Cen-
tral Railroad is graded to Mohawk, 5 miles from Calu-
met, and expects to finish this last stretch of grading in
the spring. It also has part of the road from Lac
Labelle finished.
Houghton, Dec. 11.
MONTANA.
The annual report of B. H. Tatem, assayer in charge
of the United States assay office in Helena, on the min-
eral production of Montana during 1904, states that the
aggregate value of the precious metals won by the mills,
smelters and other reduction works from the ore mined
and treated, together with the gold obtained from
placers, shows an increase over the yield of the preced-
ing year. The quantity and value of each is shown be-
low, the gold and silver being computed at the coinage
rate and the copper and lead at the average market
price for the year: Gold, fine ounces, 246,605.374, $5,097,-
785.50; silver, fine ounces, 14,608,089.91, $18,887,227.36;
copper, fine pounds, 283,945,330, $36,410,309.67, and lead,
fine pounds, 4,537,598, $195,525.10. Total value, $60,590,-
847.63. The above shows a gain of 17% in the value of
the production over the preceding year. In 1903 the en-
tire output shown by corresponding statistics was $50,-
276,355. The principal increases have been as follows:
In gold, $507,270; in silver, $1,789,525, and in copper,
$8,209,618. On the other hand, the amount of lead pro-
duced shows a decrease of $191,920. This increase in
the amount of gold arose principally in ores reduced by
the cyanide process. An increase is also to be noted
from the tonnage shipped to and treated at the custom
smelters. The increase in silver resulted from the great-
est reduction of the Butte ores ever accomplished.
Smelting ores from other districts also show a gain in
silver nearly equal to that noted from the copper ores
of Butte. As has been noted in reviews of the produc-
tion for Montana in recent years, the most important
features of the output of gold and silver were furnished
by the mining of the copper ores in the Butte district,
and in the results achieved by the development and per-
fection of the cyanide process. For many years the
fluctuations in the amounts of gold and silver won from
December 16, 1905,
Mininu and Scientific Press.
the copper ores were most important, but since the ad-
vent of the cyanide process into the mining industry of
Montana, whereby gold is successfully extracted from
tailings and low grade ores, the annual returns from this
source have increased yearly. More than 64% of the
total values won from Montana's mines in li>04 consisted
of the gold, silver and copper contained in the ores
mined at Butte. The principal lead districts are those
of Cascade, Meagher and Flathead counties. The pro-
duction of gold, silver, copper and lead for the State
from 18(12 until the close of 1904 is shown to have been
as follows: Gold. J291,228,136; silver, ¥404,403,578; cop-
per, $450,327,758; lead, $13,651,075; a grand total of
$1,1.")9,610,547.
Broadwater founty
The Custer Con. M. Co. at Winston is preparing to
do development work. The old Custer shaft, which
was 400 feet in depth, has been enlarged and retimbered
and will be sunk 200 feet deeper. The second hoist is
intended for sinking a now 300-foot shaft on ground
belonging to the Custer group. C. S. Muftly of Helena
has charge.
Cusradc County.
O. C. Mortson and C. A. Martin of Monarch are said
to have found tin in the Baldy range, 7 miles from
Neihart.
Fergus County.
The Kendall Extension G. M. Co. has been organized
by H. H. Lang, superintendent of the Kendall, and R. K.
Neill of Spokane, Wash., to explore ground near the
Kendall mine.
Rich ore has been recently struck in the Cumberland
group at Maiden, owned by O. Stephens, R. F. Calkins
of Chicago and P. Rosso of Maiden. A mill may be
built in the spring.
Silver Bow County.
(Special Correspondence.) — The leading mining com-
panies of the Butte district in 1905 yielded ore in quan-
tities as follows, December being estimated: Anaconda,
1.1100,0(10 tons; Boston & Montana, 1,200,000: Butte &
Boston, 192,000: Trenton Co., 230,000; Washoe, 150,000;
Parrot, 135,000: United Copper, 548,000; Clark minos,
350,000; North Butte, 255,000: Pittsburg, 50,000; all oth-
ers, 500,000; total, 5,110,000 tons. The first six compa-
nies named are amalgamated. From this total tonnage
of ore in excess of 338,000.000 pounds of copper were
produced. Of that amount the Amalgamated Co. is
credited with 264,000,000 pounds: United Copper, 30,000,-
000: Clark, 20,000,000: North Butte, 20,000,000. The
Amalgamated also obtained, as by-products, 9,000,000
ounces of silver and 00,000 ounces of gold; United Cop-
per, 2,000,000 ounces of silver and HOOO ounces of gold;
Clark, 1,000,000 ounces of silver and 1600 ounces of gold:
North Butte, 1,500,000 ounces of silver and 1800 ounces
of gold. The output of the Washoe smelter of the
Amalgamated Co. was 14,000,000 pounds of copper a
month, and the Boston & Montana smelter 8,000,000
pounds a month. Ninety-two per cent of all Amalga-
mated ore yielded i% copper, and 8% of it went 84% in
copper. During the last six months the Anaconda ore
averaged better than 3%. The monthly payroll for miner3
in Butte is $1,125,000. There are employed 10,593 men
in the mines, as follows: Amalgamated, 6326; United
Copper, 1400; Clark, 1100; North Butte, 467; Pittsburg,
300; other companies, 1593. The State Mining Inspec-
tor, in his annual report to the Governor for the year
ending November 30th, says the mineral production of
the Butte district was worth $12,000,000 more than the
year previous, and that since the district began produc-
ing copper it contributed $600,000,000 worth to the
world's supply, or about 40% of the world's product.
In the whole of the Butte district there are 26,600 acres,
while the principal mines are within a radius of 1 mile
square. Of the 26,600 acres of mineral ground the
Amalgamated Co. owns 1981 acres, Senator Clark 181
acres, United Copper 167 acres, North Butte 72 acres,
Pittsburg & Montana Co. 290 acres, East Butte 18
acres and the Raven Co. 16 acres, the remainder owned
by individuals and small companies.
Butte, Dec. 10.
NEVADA.
Esmeralda County.
Ore from the January mine is being treated at the
Frank mill at Goldfield. H. T. Bragdon is manager.
Considerablehigh grade ore has been sacked at the Red
Top mine at Goldfield. High grade ore has been
struck between the 100 and the 150-foot levels of the
Florence mine at Goldfield. Frank Oliver is manager.
During November 914 tons of ore from the Com-
bination mine at Goldfield were treated in the Combina-
tion mill. An electric hoist is being put in at the shaft.
Lincoln Connty.
(Special Correspondence). — The Quartette M. Co. will
sink a working shaft on the Hidden Treasure claim at
Searchlight, where $12 ore was opened. The vein has
been exposed by trenching for a width of 50 feet on the
surface. Superintendent F. J. Harrington expects to
get water in this vein, which will be utilized to run ten
additional stamps from the old Colorado river mill, now
being dismantled. On the Azusa claim, north of
Searchlight, high-grade copper ore has been struck.
The gold values are slight. It is reported that the
Santa Fe will build a broad gauge line from Ibex to
Searchlight, to compete with the proposed Salt Lake
feeder from Nipton. The tailings dump at the mill of
the Southern Nevada M. Co. has been exhausted, and
the cyanide work will cease. Crosscutting the lead is in
progress on the 430-foot level of the Blossom claim,
belonging to the same company. At El Dorado Can-
yon the Black Hawk M. Co. is sinking a 2-compartment
shaft on the Rand claim. It will be put down to the
500-foot level. On the Honest Miner claim, belonging to
the same company, ore has been struck 5 feet in width.
The Venus M. Co. at El Dorado Canyon is sinking a
5x7 shaft on a 5-foot vein, in which free gold is visible.
C. E. L. Gresh is manager and E. P. Jeans superintend-
ent. At the Techaticup at El Dorado Canyon a sta-
tion is being cut at the 550-foot level. Drifting east and
west will follow. At the rate the water has been coming
into the shaft of late a pump will soon be a necessity.
The El Dorado Nevada M. Co., E. J. Roberts man-
ager, is sinking on the Silver Legion group at Knob hill.
Shipping ore is being taken out at 70 feet depth.
Searchlight, Dec. 11.
(Special Correspondence). — In the Good Hope mine,
between the Quartette and the Duplex, in the south
crosscut on the .'IdO-foot ].vl<1, 12 feet of milling ore has
been exposed. A mill may be put in. Station cutting
is in progress at the 500-foot level. When this is com-
pleted, sinking will be resumed for the 000. A new
strike at Lewis Springs, 15 miles southwest of Search-
light, on the Blake road, has created considerable excite-
ment. Work will commence on a 500-foot shaft on the
Eddy group, which adjoins the property of the Search-
light-Parallel, and Santa Fe M. Cos. The property has
been in litigation for the past two years, but a decision
was recently rendered in the lower court in favor of the
defendants. The plaintiffs have appealed to the Su-
preme Court, but in the meantime work will be carried
on by the defendants. The Majestic Goldfrog M. &
M. Co. of Denver has acquired the Searchlight-Bonanza
claims. Development will be commenced at once.
Retimbering the Santa Fe shaft is going forward. A
new Cornish pump has been set up. Construction of
the new gallows frame at the Boulder mine has been
delayed by shortage of carpenters. The management
hopes to resume sinking by the first of the year.
Operations at the Pompeii mine have been limited to
drifting on the 264-foot level, owing to:delay in receiving
the new pumping plant. About 30 men are employed
at the Excelsior mine, in the New York mountains, 26
miles west of Searchlight, and across the California line.
The Excelsior is a copper proposition, carrying also
gold and silver values. About $20,000 have been ex-
pended during the last four months for equipment and
development, and other improvements are planned, in-
cluding a branch railroad to Leastalk.
Searchlight, Dec. 13.
A 300-foot shaft is to be started in the Oom Paul vein
of the Searchlight Copper Gold property at Dupont
camp, near Searchlight. Good ore is said to have
been found at the 175-foot level of the New Era mine,
near Searchlight.
It is reported that the Josephine M. Co. will build a
mill in the Chief district, north of Caliente, to treat ore
from the Josephine and Advance mines. Chas. Cul-
verwell is developing claims at Caliente. McLain &
Dorsey have sold the Bald Eagle mines, on Virgin river,
south of Caliente, to Laughlin, Blake & Co. of New
York City, who intend to build a mill in the spring.
NEW MEXICO.
Colfax County.
It is reported that electric drills and power plant aro
to be put in by the Gold & Copper Deep Tunnel M. & M.
Co., near Elizabethtown. The tunnel on Mt. Baldy is
in 1800 feet. A. T. Mclntyre is president and W. P.
Mclntyre superintendent.
Luna County.
Tres Hermanos camp is at the northwest end of the
Tres Hermanos mountains, 25 miles south of Deming,
and 7 miles south of Tourmerlin station, on the El Paso
& Southwestern Railroad. It is an old lead camp, hav-
ing been worked twenty years ago. Frank Thurmond
and others have resumed work on the old lead claims
and have developed valuable deposits of zinc carbonate.
Sierra County.
It is expected that the concentration mill of the South-
western L. & G. Co., southwest of Engle, will be com-
pleted by the first of the year. Electric power is to
be used throughout.
OREGON.
Baker County.
At Cornucopia, Manager G. W. Boggs has a large
force at work in the tunnels, and is putting up a 20-
stamp mill. In the Greenhorn district most of the
properties have closed down for the winter. The Pyx
mine, near Greenhorn, is being worked. The Black Eye
vein, in the same district, has been cut at a depth of 250
feet, the crosscut tunnel being 500 feet long.
Grant County.
C. C. Ames, who has the Morning mine, near Granite,
under lease, has cut the ledge in the lower tunnel.
Josephine County.
The placer mines near Waldo have started up. The
indications are that there will be plenty of water for a
long mining season.
The Booth copper mines, at Pickett creek, which
were recently bonded by Haviland & Co. of Ohio
for $100,000, have been taken over by the new owners.
They will develop the property by tunnel and shaft.
The wagon road from Merlin, the nearest railway point
to the mine, will be rebuilt and improved to allow of
heavy hauling at all seasons.
Lake Connty.
The Pine Creek mining district is south of Lakeview,
where Oregon, Nevada and California join. Recent dis-
coveries of gold and copper are expected to cause an in-
flux of prospectors in the spring. The snow is deep in
winter, as the elevation is from 5000 to 8000 feet. Claims
have been located by J. Reeves, J. Sanger, C. Jeter,
W. I. Fleck and D. V. Snowgoose.
Wallowa County.
H. D. Akins of the Tenderfoot mine, 15 miles south-
east of Joseph, says there are twelve men sinking a shaft
which will open the main vein at a depth of 200 feet. In
the spring the management intends to put up a 20-stamp
mill. There are about thirty locations in this district
which will be worked in the spring.
WASHINGTON.
Snohomish County.
J. Meindal, foreman in charge of the Conservative M.
& M. Co., near Index, says that he has suspended under-
ground work for the winter. The tunnel is in 110 feet.
Stevens County.
Molybdenite claims 12 miles east of Bossburg are being
worked by V. P. Adams and Frank O'Boyle.
UTAH.
B. H. Tatem, assayer in charge United States Assay
office, Helena, Mont., reports that the values of gold,
silver, copper and lead won from the mines of Utah dur-
ing 1904 were the largest in its history:
Quantity. Value.
Gold, una ounoes 202,475.703 84,185,544 22
Stiver, tine ounces (coining ratr ... 12,310,527.30 15,787, 34H 30
Copper, tine pounds, at $12 823 per hun-
dredwelght 44, 012,203. on 5. 043.684 79
Lead, tine pounds, at $4. 309 per hun-
dredwelgbt 116,350,974.00 5.013,563 47
Total J3U.630.140 78
According to counties the gold output for 1904 was:
Counties. Fine Ozs. Value.
Beaver. Millard, Piute and Sevier 19,311 TIT 8396.271 21
Box Kid. r. urand and Washington 3,504.325 73,68113
.luub and Utah 72,404.441 1,496,782 02
Salt Luke 56,472 nis 1.167.380 84
Summit 13,601 . 991 281.178 II
Tooele 86,758.772 759,829 91
Impossible to classify 301.370 7,470 37
Totals 202,475 703 84,185.544 22
The source is classified:
Fine o/.s. Value.
In quartz and dry ores 5,805.915 $120,019 5:1
in oyanide mill, bull loo 53,518.608 1.106,329 06
In lead ores 29,909.358 618,279 10
In copper ores 100,303,552 2.073.458 44
Inmillingores 12,938.385 267,458 09
Totals 202. 175.703 $1,185,541 22
The amounts and value of the silver in the several
counties of the State during the year 1904 were:
Coining
Fine Ozs. Value.
Beaver. Millard. Piute, Sevier , 186,992,52 $341,768 11
Box Elder, Grand, Washington 27.715.77 35,821 52
Juab and Utah 4,033.649.09 5,201,000 81
Salt Lake 1,548,617.03 2.002,252 32
Summit 5,912.636 87 7.645,009 28
Tooele 418,503.13 541,094 88
Impossible to classify 93,112,79 120,388 25
Totals 12,210,527.20 815.787,348 30
The amount of silver won from copper and lead ores,
from cyanide and milling plants and that contained in
dry ores and concentrates during the year was:
Coining
Classed as Fine Ozs. Value.
In quartz and dry ores 153.293.94 $198,198 23
In cyanide mill, bullion 55,280.52 71,473 80
In lead ores 7,904,431.94 10,219,871 60
In copper ores 3,928.328 00 5,079,051 12
Inmillingores 169,192.20 218,753 55
Totals 12,210,527.20 $15,787,348 30
Box Elder County.
A cyanide plant is to be put in by the Susie M. Co.,
working on Dove creek, near Park Valley, to treat talc
ores recently opened up. Owen Bailey is manager.
Juab ConntY.
It is expected that the Godiva mill at Eureka will be
completed by March 1, 1906.
FOREIGN.
AFRICA.
Transvaal.
Heavier stamps are being used on the Rand; those at
the Simmer & Jack are to be 1415 pounds, in place of
1250 pounds, and on the East Rand Proprietary mines
and the new Wolhuter mine the mills are to be built
with 1350 pound stamps. This is, again, being followed
by finer grinding, and a tendency to slime everything,
the adoption of filter presses, and other Australian
methods, the technical advisers of the General
Mining & Finance Corporation taking a prominent part
in all experiments tending in the direction of a higher
extraction. At several of the mines under the control
of the General Mining & Finance Corporation radical
alterations in the method of treatment are being tried.
It is suggested to dispense with stamps and substitute
grinding pans, on the ground of the heavy cost of the
former; and with greater application of automatic ap-
pliances the cost of treatment would be lower, while
the carrying out of fine grinding in different stages
would result in a higher extraction.
AUSTRALIA.
New South Wales.
The British Broken Hill has followed the example of
the other companies in disposing of its accumulations of
tailings, a contract having been concluded for the sale
of its surface residues of tailings, and slimes from the
concentrating mill, amounting to 375,000 tons. The
company has also sold its current output of tailings to
the same purchaser for three years. Operations are to
be commenced at Broken Hill, where the metal con-
tents of the tailings are valued at £25,000,000. It is not
known what process of treatment will be adopted. Sat-
isfactory arrangements have been made with the pro-
prietors of the chief tailing treatments yet tried at
Broken Hill, under which tbe corporation will have the
right to test the various systems and adopt the one or
more deemed most suitable. Proposals are also under
consideration for starting zinc smelting works to treat
concentrates instead of sending them to other parts of
the world, as is done at present.
CANADA.
BRITISH COLUMBIA.
Boundary District.
J. McPhee has purchased a half interest in the Huron
mine, in Franklin camp, from Thomas Donan. Frank
Fritz, the original locator of the Thunder Hill camp, has
sold the Agnew property to H. W. Warrington, super-
intendent of the Kettle Valley Railway. G. A. Mc-
Leod of the McKinley mine has sold an interest in the
Yellow Jacket claim, in Franklin camp, to D. Whiteside
of Grand Forks. Development work on the Seattle
mine, owned by Robert Clark, has been suspended for
the winter.
The ore shipments from Boundary mines for the week
422
Mining and Scientific Press.
December 16, 1905.
ending December 9, were the greatest made in seven
days. Granby mines to Granby smelter, 17,473 tons;
Brooklyn, Stemwinder, to Dominion Copper smelter,
1786 tons; Rawhide to Dominion Copper smelter, 480
tons; Sunset to Dominion Copper smelter, 480 tons; Em-
ma to Nelson smelter, 90 tons; Providence to Trail
smelter, 30 tons; Skylark to Granby smelter, 20 tons.
Total for week, 24,163 tons; total for year to date, 857,-
907 tons. Boundary smelters treated as follows: Granby
smelter, 18,259 tons; British Columbia Copper Co. smel-
ter, 269 tons; Dominion Copper Co. smelter, 2746 tons.
Total treatment for week, 23,614 tons; total for year to
date, 874,389 tons.
At Long Lake camp the Jewel mine is being devel-
oped, Development work has been discontinued at
the Hesperus & Betts on July creek in the Grand Forks
division. The tunnel is in over 850 feet. Development
will be resumed when diamond drilling has been finished.
Nelson District.
The Ark Group M. & M. Co. is working claims at the
head of Sixteen Mile and Clearwater creeks, 4 miles from
Ymir. A 350-foot tunnel is said to be in progress to tap
the ore shoot at the 200-foot level. Work will be con-
tinued all winter and a stamp mill is planned for next
spring.
Rossland District.
The tonnage of ore shipped from and crushed at the
Rossland mines for the week ending December 9, and
for the year to date, was as follows:
Le Roi 1,740 108,886
Le Roi (milled) 3.240
Center Star 2.010 92,910
War Eagle 1,230 64,080
Le Roi Two 180 8,033
Le Roi Two (milled) 1,200 10.630
Jumbo 300 10,129
White Bear 1,100
White Bear (milled) 3,220
Cascade-Bonanza 120
Crown Point 350
Spitzee 4,800
Velvet-Portland 1,976
Gopher 180
Homestake ■ 30
Lily May 90
Inland Empire 30
Totals 6,660 309,843
A station is being cut at the eleventh level of the
Center Star, which iB 1530 feet below the collar of the
shaft. The winze of Le Roi is being deepened
from the 1550 to the 1750-foot level. Should the terri-
tory between the 1550 and the 1750 prove as good as that
between the 1350 and the 1550-foot levels the intention
is to deepen the five compartment main shaft from the
1350, its present lower terminal, down to the 1750-foot
level. The crosscut which is being driven from the 1350-
foot level into the ground of the Le Roi Two has pro-
gressed 180 feet. J. A. Trevarrow has charge of work
in the mine. The shaft of the Island Empire at Ross-
land is being deepened by P. S. Griswold.
West Kootenay District.
G. W. Odell of Spokane, Wash., has purchased the
interest of W. S. Rugh of Rossland, B. C, in the Wag-
ner mining claims in the Trout Lake district. C. T.
Porter, one of the owners, reports that the greatest
amount of work done on the group is on the Duncan
claim, where 250 feet of tunnel and winze work has been
done. This work has opened up a body of silver-lead
ore 100 feet long and 12 feet wide. The greatest depth
on the claim is 140 feet. Next year a concentrator is to
be put in. The Trout Lake district has been going
ahead. Adjoining the Wagner is the Abbott group,
owned by the C. P. R. Considerable work has been
done on it, but it is now idle for the winter.
MEXICO.
The Diario Official recently published the following
decree: The metallurgical establishments of the repub-
lic which refine silver to the point of obtaining malleable
bars of that metal possessing the requisites for coinage
and of a fineness of at least .996 will pay, by way of inte-
rior stamp tax, \\% only on the value of the metal thus
refined. The refinement of gold and silver in the form
mentioned in the foregoing and in the second article,
requiring that the gold bars be malleable and .994 fine,
in regard to the coinage of gold will entitle metallurgi-
cal establishments effecting such refinement to have
returned to them, in the form to be fixed by the rules of
practice, three-fourths of the value of the stamps due on
the metals in question, and which shall have been can-
celed on the invoices made out in connection with the
purchase of the ores or bars by such metallurgical estab-
lishments subsequently to January 1, 1906, for reduction
and refinement. There will be no claim for the return
of stamp duties after the lapse of six months from the
date of the cancellation of the stamps. There are here-
by abrogated Article 4 of the law of March 25, 1905, in
regard to taxes on and franchises to mining, and the
decree of June 19, 1905, in regard to the reduction of the
stamp tax on metallurgical establishments.
Chihuahua.
The plans for the Chihuahua smelter of the American
Smelting & Refining Co. have been approved by Gov-
ernor Creel, and the erection of the smelter on the site
purchased a short time ago will be commenced at an
early date. The initial capacity of the smelter will be
750 tons daily. The Compania Fundidora y Afinadora
has been organized in Chihuahua to build a custom
smelter at Jimenez under the concession granted by
Governor Creel early this year. Leopold Iwonsky, man-
ager of the House of Stallforth, is president of the com-
pany, and the other officers are J. F. Flynn, J. F. John-
son and Antonio Ortiz. It is stated that the construction
of the plant will be started at once. The Jimenez
smelter will have an initial capacity of 250 tons.
Jalisco.
The Cuale Mining Syndicate, which was organized a
year ago to take over the old Las Bolas silver mine, in
the Cuale district, has surrendered the option under
which the mine was being worked. The property re-
verts to the owner, Mrs. F. Orozco of Guadalajara.
It is reported that a concentrating plant is to be con-
structed at the Agua Blanca mine in the Autlah dis-
trict. William Oliver is superintendent. The boilers
that furnish the power for the pumps and hoist at the
Agua Blanca are undergoing repairs, and work in the
lower levels has been temporarily suspended.
NEW ZEALAND.
The annual report of the Minister of Mines states
that the quantity of gold entered for exportation
through the custom for the year 1904 was as follows:
Auckland, 223,010 ounces; Marlborough, 473 ounces;
Nelson, 5049 ounces; West Coast, 122,310 ounces; Otago
and Southland, 169,478 ounces; total, 520,320 ounces,
valued at £1,987,501. The winning of gold from quartz
reefs is carried on in various parts of the colony, the
chief centers of this branch of the mining industry being
the Ohinemuri, Thames and Coromandel counties in the
North Island, and the Inangahua county in the Middle
Island. In the Northern Goldfields, the production of
gold is greatest in the Ohinemuri county, in whieh are
the mines of the Waihi G. M. Co. The output from the
Waihi G. M. Co.'s mines for 1904 was 259,978 tons of
quartz, from whieh bullion to the value of £673,101 ISs
4d was obtained. The several mills are provided with
modern plants for the extraction of gold and silver from
the ore, there being 330 stamps. Over 1200 persons are
employed, and dividends amounting to £297,544 4s were
paid during the year. The ore bodies continue to main-
tain their characteristic sizes at the lowest levels. The
Waihi Grand Junction G. M. Co. has made prepara-
tions for the output and treatment of quartz, a modern
mill comprising a 40-stamp battery with cyanide plant
being in course of erection. For treating tailings in the
bed of the Ohinemuri river, a plant has been erected
near Waihi. For some time operations were necessarily
of an experimental character, and have, it is under-
stood, been so satisfactory as to warrant the extension
of the present plant, and the proposal to erect one of
much larger capacity lower down the river. Mining
at Karangahake is carried on by the New Zealand
Crown Mines, Ltd., and the Talisman Con., Ltd., the
latter company having taken over the Woodstock mine,
at which active operations by the former proprietary
ceased lasl year. Bullion to the value of £137,468 was ob-
tained during the year. In the Thames county the
principal new work has been at the Golden Belt mine,
Neavesville, where a battery of forty stamps with
cyanide plant has been put up. The Tairua-Broken
Hills mine has not maintained the steady output which
characterized previous operations. In the Coromandel
county during 1904, work was conducted on a small scale
at the Royal Oak of Hauraki mine, at Tokatea. A some-
what serious drawback to the mining industry exists in
connection with the drainage of mines near the lower
township, work at levels below that at which natural
drainage can be effected having been suspended in con-
sequence of owners of adjacent properties failing to
agree as the proportionate costs of pumping which each
should bear. A proposal has been made to the depart-
ment relative to prospecting the Tokatea Big Reef, and
a subsidy at the rate of pound for pound up to £300
promised for this purpose. At Kuaotunu the Waitaia
mine is the principal producer. In the Middle Island
quartz mining has been successfully carried on in the
West Coast Inspection District. The hydraulic and
alluvial mining branch of the gold mining industry is
carried on in the several goldfields of the Middle Island,
and is well established. There have not been any new
developments during the year, but the work gives em-
ployment to a considerable section of the mining com-
munity. The yield of alluvial gold must gradually de-
crease unless other areas of gold-bearing country are
discovered and opened up. In some known instances pay-
ably auriferous ground exists, but so far has not been
systematically worked owing to the scarcity of water
locally for sluicing purposes, although supplies are feas-
ible by the expenditure of capital in the construction of
water races, dams, etc. During the last few years the
extension of hydraulic mining methods has been some-
what neglected in consequence of the adaptability of
dredgers for working on alluvial flats. Experience has,
however, proved that under certain conditions the
hydraulic system of mining is preferable to dredging,
and in a few cases it has been found necessary to revert
to the former method. The number of dredgers at
work at the end of the year 1904 was 186, a decrease of
about 15 as compared with the preceding year. The
experiment of tree planting in Southland on a river flat
area which has been dredged appears to have been very
successful, and a suggestion has been made that where
swamp lands have been turned over by dredgers the
cultivation of native flax might be adopted. The royalty
obtained by Government in respect to the purchase
rights of the cyanide process now amounts to £9356, or
practically 93S% of the sum originally paid. The balance
will, in the natural course of events, be received during
1903 and thereupon all further royalty charges for the
use of the cyanide process in New Zealand will cease.
* *
| Commercial Paragraphs* J
* *
The Model Gas Engine Works, Auburn, Ind., now
under the management of J. W. White, will be removed
to Peru, Ind. The company manufactures gas and gas-
oline engines and automobiles, and at the present time
has large orders booked for shipment to California,
Mexico, Cuba and Java.
The Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Co. of
Pittsburg, Pa., are equipping mines with electric loco-
motives, to replace the older forms of haulage. The New-
port M. Co. will equip their mines at Ironton, Mich.,
with surface and underground electric haulage, and have
ordered six 4-ton Westinghouse mine locomotives. Elec-
trical apparatus for the equipment of the necessary
power station will also be provided by the Westing-
house Co., consisting of a 150 kw., 250 volt generator,
direct connected to a Corliss engine of 130 r. p. m., and
a three panel switchboard.
I Books Received*
4 *
In a series of word pictures the reader may see the
scenic wonders of this west half of America in "The
Western United States, "by H. W. Fairbanks. Here
this experienced geologist presents the results of years
of personal investigation of the geology of this region in
a form that is delightfully readable. He has a style of
description and of exposition that portrays the subject
so that any one can understand it. At the same time
the geological and physiographical description is accu-
rate. The "reason why" is told. Mountains, valleys,
deserts and coasts are each described and explained in
an interesting yet instructive manner. The book is
published by D. C. Heath & Co. of Boston, Mass., and
will be sent postpaid by the Mining and Scientific
Press for 75 cents.
I Trade Treatises. |
* *
"Ideal Power, " published by the Chicago Pneumatic
Tool Co. of Chicago, 111., has appeared for November.
Latest Market Reports.
San Francisco, December 15, 1905.
Silver.— Per oz., Troy : London, 30Jd (standard
ounce, 925 tine); New York; bar silver, 65,jc, refined (1000
fine); San Francisco, 65?, c; Mexican dollars, 53c, San
Francisco; 50c, New York.
Copper.— New York: Lake and Electrolytic, $18 37J
@ 18.87J; Casting, $18.00@18.50; San Francisco: $18.75;
Mill copper plates, $21.00; bars, 21(3)240. London: £80
5s 6d spot per ton.
Copper has made another decided advance during the
week, each day seeing a small fractional advance. The
quotations to-day are the highest since 1882. Small lots
have been sold in New York within the week at $19.00.
It seems improbable that the price can advance still
higher. The present price should and probably will
prove a strong stimulus to increased endeavor in produc-
tion, and in the development and equipment of new
deposits of this metal.
Lead.— New York, $5.85; St. Louis, $5.15; San Fran- '
cisco, $5.00, carload lots; 5Jc 1000 to 4000 tt>s.; pipe 7}c,
sheet 8, bar 6ifc. London:" £17 6s 3d $ long ton.
Spelter.— New York, $6.55; St. Louis, $6.20; Lon-
don, £28 15s $ ton; San Francisco, ton lots, 7c; 100-ft
lots, 7Jc.
TIN.— New York, pig, $37. 75(S>,38.00; San Francisco,
ton lots, 37c; 500 lis., 38c; 200 fbs., 40c; less, 41£c; bar tin,
f, ft., 42c. London, £164 2s 6d.
Tin is higher than in years. The present price —
$37. 75@38 00— will prove interesting to the new tin dis-
tricts of the world as well as a boon to the old deep
mines, where increased expenses will now find this sub-
stantial advance in price most agreeable.
Platinum.— San Francisco, crude, $18.50 fi oz.; New
York, ingot, $20.50 $ Troy oz. Platinum ware, 75@$1.00
1 gram.
Quicksilver.— New York, $40.00@$40.50, large lots;
London, £7 5s Od; San Francisco, local, $38.00(5)39.00 f,
flask of 75 fts.
Babbitt Metal. — San Francisco, No. 1, lOJc; No.
2, 8c; No. 3, 7}c; extra, 17Jc; genuine, 32Jc; Eclipse, 35c.
SOLDER.— Half-and-half, 100-ft. lots, 23.50c; San Fran-
cisco, Plumbers', 100-ft. lots 19.75c.
Nickel.— New York, 55@60e$ft.; ton lots, 40@47c.
Zinc. — Metallic, chemically pure, "$ ft., 50c; dust, <$ft.,
10c; sulphate, f, ft, .04c.
Aluminum.— No. 1, 99%, small lots, 37c $ ft.; 100 fts..
35c; 1000 fts. 34c; ton lots and over, 33c, Pittsburg. No,
2, 90%, small lots, 34c; ton lots and over, 31c, Pittsburg.
STKDCTDKAL MATERIALS.
Iron. — Pittsburg, Bessemer pig, S18.35(«,18.85 ; gray
forge, $14.60; San Francisco, bar, 3Jc $ to., 3Jc in small
quantities.
Steel.— Bessemer billets, Pittsburg, $26.00@$27.00;
open hearth billets, $27.00@$28.00; San Francisco, bar,
7c to 13c $S ft.
White Lead. — Per ft., in kegs: 500 fts. and over at
one purchase, per ft., 7}c; less than 500 fts., per ft., 8c;
in 25-ft. tin pails, Jc $ ft. above keg price; in 1 and 5-ft.
tin cans, 100 fts. per case, Je per ft. above keg price.
Dry Lead. — In bbls., 1 ton and over, 7Jc; do. in kegs, 8c.
Lime. — Santa Cruz, $1.35 country, $1.25 city f, bbl.
Cement.— Imported, $3.00@4.00 % bbl.; California,
carload lots, $1.80 f. o. b. at works; small lots, $2.10 f,
bbl. in sacks, 4 sacks to bbl., 5c for each sack returned.
Lumber. — (Retail): Pine, ordinary sizes, $24.00®
25.00; extra sizes higher; redwood, $28.00@30.00; lath, 4
feet, $4.50@5.00; pickets, $21.00;shingles, $2.50 for No. 1,
and $2.25 for No. 2; shakes, $13.50 for split and $15.00 for
sawed; rustic, $28.00(5)35.00,
Nails. — This week the basic prices are: Wire, $2.77;
Cut, $3.25. Meanwhile the nominal quotations per keg
(list prices) are: No. 20d to 60d, Wire, $3.35; Cut, $3.55;
lOd to 16d, Wire, $3.45; Cut, $3.35; 8d, Wire, $3.50; Cut,
$3.50; 6d and 7d, Wire, $3.60; Cut, $3.60; 4d and 5d,
Wire, $3.70; Cut, $3.70; 3d, Wire, $3.85; Cut, $3.85; 2d,
Wire, $4.10; Cut, $4.10. Special rates for carload lots.
liKMKHAI, SUPPLIES.
Antimony. — New York, Cookson's, lljc; Hallett's,
12Jc; San Francisco, 1000-to. lots, 14c; 300@500-fts. 12c;
100-B). lots, 13c.
Whole No. 2370.
_ VOLUME XCI,
Number 26.
San Francisco, Cal., Saturday, December 23, 1905.
THREE DOLLARS PER ANNUM.
Single Copiei, Ten Centi.
Auxiliary Mining Plants.
In any country where mines depend upon water
for power — either directly applied or through hydro-
electrical installations built for power purposes by
large distributing companies, or owned individually
unfortunate, as it, in some cases, at least, means
increased expense in starting up again, unwatering
flooded levels and repairing damages due to caving,
flooding and other causes, and a large number of men
are temporarily unemployed — a loss of time they can
illy afford.
The Old DominioniMine and Smelter, Globe, Arizona (See Page 427).
their steam plants in good repair, and these simply
fire up and continue operations as before. Others,
which were, previous to the installation of electricity,
run by water power direct were practically helpless,
as the water is no longer available, the greater por-
tion being required for the generation of electric
power at the main power plants .
This leaves them in a position
where they cannot operate at
all, until sufficient water is
again available for power at the
electric generating stations.
Under existing conditions the
companies which are thus annu-
ally embarrassed by shortage
of power would find it economi-
cal and satisfactory to put in
plants run by steam or by gas
engines of some type, that the
annual summer hang-up may
be a thing of the past. In some
situations mines may remain
idle for months without sus
taining great loss or damage,
particularly in the case of dry
mines, but on the gold belt of
California there are many
mines where flooding means a
certain and heavy loss, owing
to the peculiar geological con-
ditions. In some of these mines
are great gouge-like masses,
which, so long as they are kept
dry, give no greater trouble
than that caused by swelling —
bad enough in itself, truly — but
once allow this sort of material
to become wet and it is almost
impossible to control it, as it
by the mining companies —
and where the water supply
is not sufficiently abundant
to be continuous throughout
the year, individual mining
companies would save much
annoyance and expense by
the installation of auxiliary
steam plants. California
mines, in the east central
part of the State, have had
the usual annual experience
of a long hang-up the past
fall, and even now a num-
ber of the most important
mines are still idle owing to
shortage of water. Unfor-
tunately this is not the first
time this state of affairs
has occurred; indeed, it is
almost an annual occur-
rence. The cause for this
lies in the fact that the
mountain reservoirs are
neither large enough nor
numerous enough to afford
a continuous supply throughout the summer and fall
months, during which there is generally little or no
rain. The past summer has been unusually dry, and
the greater part of the snows melted long before the
recent rains began. During the past six weeks, it is
true, there has been a series of snowfalls in the
mountains, and a little rain in the lower mountains,
but the cold weather in the higher altitudes has kept
the snow from thawing. These early snows will be a
valuable source of water supply next summer, but
that does not relieve the present situation, which is
Another View of the Old Dominion Mine and Smelter. (See Page 427).
If it were something out of the ordinary, the mat-
ter would, perhaps, be less serious, but it has
occurred so frequently that the mining companies
appear to look upon the situation as a matter of
course. The large electrical companies have become
an important power factor in California only within
the past five or six years, although electricity has
been used for power in California mines in some local-
ities for twelve to fifteen years past. . Those mines
which formerly were operated by steam and lately
installed electric power have, in some instances, kept
will run and cause the expense of thousands of dollars
until a normal condition can be re-established.
In view of these facts, it can easily be understood
why an auxiliary steam plant is a good investment
for a mine operated by electric power, or by water,
in a country where the water supply cannot be
depended upon throughout the year. The initial cost
may, in some cases, be heavy, but the resulting
economy will ultimately, in most cases, prove it to be
a very good investment for the mining company
making it.
424
Mining and Scientific Press.
December 23, 1905.
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
ESTABLISHED i860.
Published Every Saturday at 330 Market Street, San Francisco, Cal.
Telephone, Davis 771.
ANNUAL. SUBSCRIPTION.
United States, Mexico and Canada 13 00
AU Other Countries in the Postal Union 5 00
Entered at the San Francisco Postoffice as second-class mail matter.
Branch Offices:
New York City, 921-24 Park Row Bldg. Boston, 27 School St.
Chicago, 1164 Monadnoek Block. Denver, 606 Mack Block.
J. F. HALLORAN Publisher
SAN FRANCISCO, DECEMBER 23, INS-
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
ILLUSTRATIONS:
Page.
The Old Dominion Mine and Smelter. Globe, Arizona 423
Another View of the Old Dominion Miae and Smelter 423
2200 Level of the Brilliant Extended Mine, Charters Towers,
Queensland, Australia 428
A New Mountain and Mining Transit 429
Tension Station on a Long Line of Aerial Tram 430
The Balanced System of Aerial Transportation 430
Supporting Tower of Wire Rope Friction Grip Tramway 430
Tension Station on the Tramway of the Penn Copper Co., En-
campment, Wyoming 431
Building an Aerial Tramway 431
Tower on Line of an Aerial Tramway 431
Automatic Aerial Tramway of the San Juan Gold Mining Com-
pany at Telluride, Colorado 431
EDITORIAL:
Auxiliary Mining Plants 423
Thos. W. Lawson and Price of Copper 424
Inclined Shaft or "Vertical ? 424
Steel by Electric Process 424
To Escape Paying Taxes in Two States 424
A Bill to Create a Department of Mines and Mining 424
Value of Bore Hole Tests in Dredging Ground 425
Haphazard Work in Development of Mines 425
Destroying Timber in the Black Hills, South Dakota 425
Continuous Hoisting Machinery in Underground Ore Handling. 425
Prejudice Toward Certain Machines 425
Price of Silver 425
Butte's Good Fortune 425
A Creditable Engineering Feat 425
Not Necessary to Produce a Miners' Association Card 425
Establishment of an Iron and Steel Mill by Americans in Trans-
vaal 425
MINING SUMMARY
.435-436^137-438
LATEST MARKET REPORTS 439
MISCELLANEOUS:
Concentrates 426
Globe, Arizona 427
Mining Outlook in Northern California 427
Progress of Reclamation Work 427
The Brilliant Extended Mine, Charters Towers 428
Department of Mines and Mining 428
Notes on Southern Nevada and Tnyo Couniy, California 429
A Ne%v Mountain and Mining Transit 429
Electrically Operated Ore Loading Plants and Wire Rope
Tramways 430
A Novel Hoisting Installation rr. r:.~. . . 432
Filter Pressing Slimes — 432
Triumph Common Sense Elevator 432
The Prospector 432
Mining and Metallurgical Patents 433
Smelting of Magnetic Iron Ore by Electricity 434
Obituary 434
Personal 434
Commercial Paragraphs 439
Trade Treatises 439
Notices of Recent Patents 439
New Patents 439
T^HOMAS W. LAWSON, early in the present
*■ week, prophesied an immediate and heavy-
drop in the price of copper — a drop which would
carry everything before it. Up to the present
time no very noticeable chaDge has taken place in cop-
per prices. It will be remembered that several months
ago Mr. Lawson made a similar prediction, which
failed to materialize, and in the present instance, as
then, he was at least mistaken or perhaps prema-
ture in his announcement. Such bear tactics may
have a temporarily depressing effect on the price of
copper shares, while the price of the metal remains
unchanged. So long as present industrial conditions
continue, the demand for copper will be heavy, and,
as has already been clearly demonstrated, the output
of the copper mines of the world is scarcely able to
keep pace with this industrial requirement, there-
fore, it is unreasonable to expect copper to go much
below the present price. A recent reliable report
showed that the total visible supply of copper in the
world was about 13,690 tons, and this amount was
about 2354 tons less than the supply a year agoj while
it was from 2000 to nearly 3000 tons less than it had
been on the first of October and November, respect-
ively, of the present year. The visible, supply of cop-
per has been steadily decreasing lately. Mr. Law-
son's pessimistic predictions may have a marked ef-
fect on the price of copper shares in the New York
and Boston markets, but he does not yet control the
industries of the world nor all of the copper mines.
Inclined Shaft or Vertical?
This is a question which the directors of mining
companies are not infrequently called upon to decide.
The engineer for the company should be able to de-
termine this matter, but at times there seems diffi-
culty in making a choice between the two. Gener-
ally speaking, it is good business in an undeveloped
mine to sink the shaft on the vein, following it in its
various changes of dip. Ordinarily, the vein has at
least one good wall, foot or hanging, and this, which-
ever it may be, is the one to be followed.
In a certain instance a shaft was started on the
vein, which was several feet in width and composed
of solid quartz with a well defined hanging wall, ac-
companied by gouge, and the usual characteristics of
a strong and continuous vein. About 200 feet from the
surface the quartz became mixed somewhat with the
greenstone of the footwall, and a few feet deeper the
quartz left the gouge and dropped back into the foot
wall. The miners, under the direction of a foreman who
had, at least, the qualification of being a good miner
and timberman, left the gouge and stayed with the
quartz until it disappeared entirely, being mixed
with and finally replaced by greenstone. A cross-
cut was run into the foot wall for some distance, when,
no vein being found, a crosscut was run into the
hanging, which soon encountered a beautifully banded
vein 5 feet wide, with the gouge, as above, on the
hanging wall side. This was a case of mistaken judg-
ment, and is not an argument against sinking on the
vein.
By this practice, knowledge is gained of the size,
value and dip of the vein — conditions which may have
an important bearing on the location of the main
working shaft, to be sunk later. In the prospecting
shaft, with its irregularities of dip, and changing
width and value of the vein, the distribution of paya-
ble ore shoots is demonstrated, and the main shaft
should be sunk with reference to the practical ex-
traction of this known ore, and its situation also
chosen with some regard to the location of reduction
works.
As between the vertical and inclined shafts, the
dip of the vein would naturally be an important fac-
tor in determining this question. In many cases
where the vein has a dip exceeding 50°, the vertical
shaft is preferred by some, and at much steeper an-
gles, a vertical shaft would without doubt have
advantages over an incline. The vertical shaft
necessitates crosscuts at every level, except that
at which the shaft intersects the vein. This means
increased expense in driving crosscuts, and increased
expense in transportation of ore from the chutes in
the vein to the ore pockets below the levels at the
shaft stations. Where the vein is comparatively
small, this cost of transportation would manifestly
be less in the aggregate than where the vein is large,
as the tonnage handled in the latter would exceed
that of the former in proportion to the relative size
of the vein or deposit.
The inclined shaft possesses the advantage of less
crosscutting, and if the shaft can be sunk on the vein
or very near it (and kept at uniform angle), the trans-
portation cost on the levels is reduced to a minimum,
but the inclined shaft must be longer to reach a
given depth vertically than the vertical shaft, and
this, in a country where the rocks are hard and shaft
sinking expensive, may in itself be the deciding
factor.
As an example, take a vertical shaft 3000 feet
deep as compared with a 60° incline to reach the same
vertical depth (supposing the collars of both to be at
approximately the same level), the incline will be 462
feet longer than the vertical shaft, which, at $60 per
foot, gives an increased cost of over $27,000 for the
inclined shaft. In some instances the rock may be so
firm as to make full sets unnecessary in the incline,
when a saving of $10 per set might be made by omit
ting hanging wall timbers, but the difference between
vertical and incline would still be more than $20,000
in favor of the vertical shaft. In the vertical shaft
the average length of crosscuts would be about 350
feet.
If twenty-eight levels were opened in the 3000 feet of
depth, this would require the driving of about 10,000
feet of crosscuts, which, at as low a cost as $5 per foot,
would make a charge against the vertical shaft de-
velopment of $50,000— a very material item, to which
must be added the cost of underground transporta-
tion through these crosscuts, which would amount to
from $10,000 to $20,000, or possibly more, depending
on the amount of ore which must be trammed through
them to the shaft. Here is a matter of $60,000 to
$70,000 to be considered in the vertical shaft, as
against about one-half this amount on account of
sinking the incline. In case of the incline, if it were
sunk in the foot wall near the vein, a short crosscut
would be necessary at each station — say 40 feet, but
as a large part of this would be covered by the nec-
essary station and ore pocket at each level, it need
not be considered, unless the vein departs considera-
bly from the line of the inclined shaft.
The principal advantage in a vertical shaft lies in
the facility with which large tonnages can be speed-
ily handled, and in less wear and tear on hoisting
cables, skips and equipment generally.
When the angle of dip of a vein exceeds 65°, it
would probably be the better plan to sink a vertical
in preference to an inclined shaft.
Steel by Electric Process.
The smelting of iron ores by electrical methods is
beginning to attract considerable attention, particu-
larly in those countries where there are no iron blast
furnaces, and where it is thought the new process
may afford the long-desired opportunity to make
available the iron ores of those regions. Principally
is this the case in the western United States.
Canada is also taking an active interest in the pro-
gress of this new metallurgical proposition. In con-
nection with this subject the report of Dr. David T.
Day, of the United States Geological Survey, which
will be found elsewhere herein, is of interest. This
report gives in absolute terms the results achieved in
recent experiments made with magnetic iron sands
in the electrical furnace at Portland, Or. While the
results must be gratifying to those connected with
these experimental operations, it still remains to be
seen whether or not they will be of immediate com-
mercial value. The making of steel direct from iron
ore, by this process, is still in its infancy, and while
encouraging results have been obtained in an experi-
mental way both in the United States and abroad, it
is stilltoo early to look upon these experiments as any-
thing else than an illustration of the possibilities of
the future in this direction.
As an outcome of the success attending these efforts,
numerous electrical smelting companies — " which
promise to revolutionize the iron industry " — have re-
cently came into existence, and capital is being so-
licited to engage in electric smelting with every assur-
ance by the promoters of success. A few months
ago the radium promoter had the field, but that fad,
failing in the production of promised immediate re-
sults, has dwindled and almost disappeared, and the
commercial world goes on its way undisturbed by the
promised vast production of radium which never ma-
terialized.
With electric smelting, however, it is somewhat
different. A very high grade of steel has been success-
fully produced by this method, and when the process
and its limitations are better understood, its value
commercially can be more fully estimated.
At present, at any rate, it can only be hoped that
the manufacture of steel in the electric furnace may
become a commercial as well as a technical success,
where transportation of steel, made by the usual
methods, is such an important factor that the electric-
ally produced steel will become a successful com-
petitor.
IN order to escape paying taxes in two, States, the
Portland G. M. Co. of Victor, Colo., in the Crip-
ple Creek district, which is incorporated under the
laws of the State of Iowa, will surrender its charter
in that State and reorganize under the laws of Wy-
oming, which are more liberal in this respect. The
company pays taxes in Teller county, Colo., on the
improvements on the property, and they naturally
object to paying an additional tax on the capital
stock in the State of Iowa, which claims $400,000 as
its due.
A BILL to create a Department of Mines and
Mining has again been introduced in Congress,
and considerable influential effort will be directed to-
ward securing the passage of the bill. What its fate
may be remains to be seen.
December 23, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
425
Value of Bore -Hole Tests, in Dredging
Ground.
Prior to installation of a dredging plant on gold-
bearing gravel it is desirable, and even necessary, to
know tbe amount of gold which may be contained in
a stated amount of the gravel. The unit of measure-
ment is usually the cubic yard, following the old
practice of the hydraulic miners. This is in contra-
distinction to the " car " of the drift miner and the
"ton" of the quartz miner. There are two methods
by means of which the dredge operator may form an
approximation of the value of the ground he wishes
to investigate with a view to possible dredging. These
are sinking shafts to bedrock and boring holes with a
drilliner machine, and testing the materials thus
made accessible. In many situations the latter is
the only feasible method without going to great
expense in sinking the shaft, particularly in loose
and wet ground. In such ground a shaft can often
only be sunk either by freezing the ground or driving
sheet piling, prior to sinking operations, or, at least,
driving sheet piling some distance in advance of sink-
ing— an operation similar to what the miner knows
as forepoling.
In view of these facts, the drill-hole method of
sampling is generally employed, and, without doubt,
this practice affords an approximate idea of the gold
contents of the ground, provided the essential factors
for safety be given the necessary consideration. In
driving a bore hole through dry gravel of fairly even
character, a very close estimate of the gold values
may be obtained from results, but in wet ground such
is not always the case, and where the gravel is mixed
with numerous cobbles and boulders, as well as layers
of sand and the entire ground is saturated with
water, the results are often far from reliable. Under
such conditions the driller is almost certain to get
from 20% to 100% more material than the size of the
bore hole calls for, owing to the fact that where the
ground is loose and inclined to run it will almost
invariably force itself upward into the casing.
The natural result is that from a hole 30 feet
deep and 6 inches in diameter, which should produce
about 5.88 cubic feet of material, there may be
pumped out 7 to 10 cubic feet, or even more.
If the necessary deductions be not made the result
must be a large overestimate of the value of the
gravel sampled, and what may be a losing proposi-
tion might be mistaken for a most promising one un-
til the true condition of the ground is ascertained by
the results of dredging — an expensive way to get at
the facts.
In addition to this excess of gravel obtained from a
bore hole, the volume of boulders present must be
considered and the necessary factor for safe calcula-
tion allowed.
After all, perhaps, the most important factor is
the personal equation, which varies with different in-
dividuals. Moreover, it is apparent, the greater the
number of holes sunk in a given area, the nearer
may we expect to arrive at approximately correct
results.
IN the development of mines a great deal of work
is often done without regard to geological condi-
tions, to system or to anything else in particular —
haphazard tunnels, crosscuts, shafts and other
excavations. Where this erratic "method" of mine
development is pursued, as a usual thing there is
little development on the vein, if there is a vein. 'In
this way large amounts of money are expended and
practically wasted, for, while it may be worth some-
thing to know where there is no ore, it is generally
the wiser plan to develop the ore that actually exists.
In one instance, a mine having a large surface out-
crop has been opened by tunnel driven across the
formation in the foot wall. In this crosscut tunnel
are several drifts, with crosscuts extending from
them, none of which are on ore, and with no sign of
ore. At another place a tunnel has been driven
through hard rock more than 1000 feet and then
stopped short of the vein which it was started to cut
and explore. The machinery at the mouth of the
tunnel has been removed, and unless the tunnel is
driven to completion, this work also is wasted, cost-
ing many thousands of dollars. At other points on
this property are numerous cuts, shallow shafts and
drifts of greater or less length. There is ore of good
grade at many places, but there has been neither sys-
tem nor sense in the manner that work has been
done. That the mine is idle is not strange. In the
development of a new property it is always good
mining to "stay with the vein" and to do deadwork
crosscutting and exploring the unknown region on
either side of the vein later, when the vein system is
better understood.
IN the Black Hills of South Dakota, famed for its
forests of timber, there are thousands of acres of
pine, spruce and fir being destroyed by the ravages
of an insect or worm which bores into the bark, and
sap of the trees, which within two years from the
time of attack causes the foliage of the tree to turn
from the evergreen to the well-known russet red of
the dead conifer. Within another two years, if the
tree is not cut down and utilized, its value for tim-
ber or fuel is practically at an end, as the wood be-
comes rotten and useless for any purpose. Unless
something can be done to stop the inroads of this de-
structive parasite, the entire timber growth of the
hills may be destroyed. There were found by the
pioneers in the Black Hills, in the early days of its
settlement, large tracts of dead timber, which it was
generally supposed had been killed by fire, but the
fact that thousands of the trees in these so-called
" deadenings " stood stripped of bark — gray and
phantom-like — unblackened by fires, indicates that
in all probability this is not the first time that these
forests have been visited by the destructive insect
that is to-day making such serious havoc there. The
Government forestry experts have here a problem
well worthy their attention, for unless some way be
found to stop this wholesale destruction of valuable
timber, the Black Hills are likely to become en-
tirely denuded of its magnificent forests within the
next decade.
THERE is a growing tendency to employ contin-
uous-hoisting machinery in underground ore
handling. Conveying belts and bucket elevators of
various types are in successful use in all parts of the
mining world for handling ores, coal, etc., on the
surface, but recently there have been a number of
installations for underground use which are in suc-
cessful operation. At the New Gooch mine, on the
Rand, S. A., a belt conveyor delivers ore to the bin
from which the skips are loaded' at the foot of the
main shaft; small buckets running on light, sus-
pended cables are employed to handle ore in some of
the stopes on the Rand; in Missouri, a bucket con-
veyor is in successful operation hoisting ore from a
zinc mine through an incline shaft, and still other in-
stances may be cited. There is such an evident dis-
position to try to find some less expensive method of
hoisting ore from mines than that usually employed
that these efforts are not unlikely to meet with
some success. Mechanical appliances of the charac-
ter above referred to will undoubtedly operate as
satisfactorily in a mine shaft as they will on the sur-
face, when the conditions are otherwise equal, but
the deterioration of such a plant underground will be
likely to limit the application of this class of ore
hoisting machinery to comparatively shallow depths.
THE announcement that this or the other machine
has been thrown out at a certain mine is not
proof positive of its unfitness for the work at that
place, but often, rather, indicates the peculiar per-
sonal prejudice of the superintendent or other person
in charge. There are a number of types of mills, con-
centrators, sizers, etc. , that are recognized through-
out the mining world as superior, and these various
machines are doing good work in many places. Not-
withstanding this, machines of these various kinds
may occasionally be observed lying unused and rust
ing on the dump and condemned as useless, while
thousands of other machines of the same kind are in
daily and successful operation elsewhere. It is more
often the case that under these circumstances the
condemnation should be placed rather on the user
than on the machine.
SILVER continues to be quoted at a price which
must be satisfactory to miners. It has been
sold during the past week at about 65| cents per
ounce in New York, and at 30i pence in London.
The price is due entirely to an unusual demand for
the metal, and not to speculation.
Butte's Good Fortune.
Although the Butte district of Montana is accus-
tomed to rich strikes and unusual things, generally,
in the gr^t mines which underlie that city, the
recent strike of a large and rich ore body, reported
to have been made in the Anaconda mine at the 2200
level, is creating much enthusiasm among mine own-
ers there, for the uncovering of a 50-foot body of 15%
ore at a depth of 2200 feet— a depth at which the
process of secondary enrichment was supposed to have
had little effect on the normally low-grade ores of
that section — is very gratifying, as it indicates the
future possibilities for the other mines of that already
noted district, in great depth. At one time it was
thought that little or no rich ore would be found
below 1000 feet. When very rich ore — rich in both
copper and silver— was found on the 1500 level of the
Anaconda, a hope was created that other rich accu-
mulations would be found at lower levels. Occasional
strikes have since been reported at greater depth,
but this recently found mass, which is stated to occur
at the junction of two veins, is said to surpass previ-
ous strikes both in magnitude and in average rich-
ness. The copper output of the Butte district has
steadily grown year after year until it now is the
largest of any single district in the world, the present
output exceeding 300,000,000 pounds annually.
A CREDITABLE engineering feat has recently
**■ been accomplished in one of the shafts of the
Federal Mining Co. at Mace, Idaho. The shaft had
been slowly shifting for a long time, owing to the
character of the ground in which it was sunk, but
finally it got so badly out of line that repairs became
necessary. This was accomplished without interfer-
ing with the daily work of mining and hoisting
through the shaft. The method employed is familiar
to many miners on the Mother Lode of California —
that of cutting out around the original shaft and sur-
rounding the old sets with new ones of larger dimen-
sions placed entirely outside of the old sets. These
new sets were firmly blocked and wedged between
the old shaft and the shaft walls, and the shaft
brought back into alignment. In some of the Cali-
fornia mines the ground has been found so bad that
the double-set method here referred to has been
found of great value and utility in keeping the shift-
ing timbers lined up — in fact, it is the only way in
which this can be done while mining operations con-
tinue and the shaft is in daily and almost constant
use. The workmen are entirely outside the main
shaft sets and perform their work in safety. The
swelling or shifting ground is cut away in small sec-
tions and the main sets readjusted by relieving or
driving wedges from point to point, as may be
required.
A COLORADO district court recently issued an
injunction restraining the Mine Managers' As-
sociation from compelling applicants for work to
produce a card signed by officials of the Association
before they could secure employment. This has the
appearance of being a purely perfunctory process,
as there is no law compelling the mine operators to
employ all, or any, of those who make application for
work, whether they have the cards of the Associ-
ation or not. The card system has been in operation
in Leadville ever since the serious labor troubles in
Cripple Creek district, early in 1904. It is not prob-
able that this order of the court will have a material
effect in the selection of the character of men given
employment in Leadville mines, as the mine oper-
ators will not cease to exercise discrimination and
judgment in the employment of first-class workmen,
whose past records are not such as to make their
presence in the mines undesirable.
ONE of the latest evidences of the energy and
industrial progressiveness in South Africa is
the establishment of an iron and steel mill by Amer-
icans at Zuurfontein, in the Transvaal. It is the
intention of these pioneers in the iron industry in that
country to make much of the structural steel and
iron and other things used in the industries in South
Africa. What the outcome of this venture may be
remains to be seen. Naturally the transportation
problem will have an important influence as be-
tween the product of this new local enterprise and
those in America or Europe.
426
Mining and Scientific Press.
December 23, 1905.
r
x
CONCENTRATES
D
The next meeting of the American Institute of Min-
ing Engineers will be held February 21, 1906, at South
Bethlehem, Pa.
VVVV
There are large deposits of rock salt known in San
Bernardino county, Cal., in a desert dry lake about 35
miles southwest of Danby station.
vvvv
For the purpose of avoiding future possible legal com-
plications it is the part of wisdom to place a mining bond
or lease on record with the county recorder in the
county where the property is situated.
Any work which may be properly charged to annual
assessment work on an unpatented mining claim may be
considered as a part of the $500 worth of work or im-
provements necessary before making application for
patent.
VVVv
A ZINC mine at Carthage, Mo., has in successful
operation a continuous bucket elevator, hoisting ore from
an inclined shaft, from a depth of nearly 200 feet, verti-
cally, or on the incline— 45° — a total distance of 300 feet
between the centers of the drums.
The voids occurring in concrete may be dimnished by
employing broken stone of mixed sizes, the smaller
pieces filling to some extent the open spaces between the
larger rocks. If this be carried too far, however, it
will have the effect of weakening the concrete.
Vwww
There are still large areas in the Leadville, Colo.,
mining district about which little is known. Recently
some of this territory, where the ore bodies lie deep, has
been prospected with diamond drill with satisfactory
results. Shafts sunk on or near the drill holes have
proven the records made by the drills to be reliable,
vvww
Where the ground in a drift swells badly, it is not
good practice to put sills beneath the posts, for the sills
will either be broken or bent, and the set thrown out of
line, or the posts will be thrust into the drift over the
shoulder cut in the sill. Swelling ground can only be
controlled by cutting it away as fast as it encroaches
upon the d rift.
svwv
The coal mined by dredgers from rivers in Pennsyl-
vania is the fine material carried by water from the coal
washing plants into the rivers where it settles to the
bottom or is deposited on the low lands along the banks
by high waters, in the same way that tailings from
metal mines are deposited in and along streams in the
rivers of the western States.
WWWW
The principal copper ores, which result from oxida-
tion of the normal iron-copper sulphide (chalcopyrite) in
the Butte district, are malachite and azurite (carbon-
ates); cuprite and melaconite (oxides); bornite and chal-
cocite (sulphides); chalcostilbite and some other rare
and complex antimonial and arsenical sulphides of copper.
The latter ores are usually rich in silver also.
A LARGE blast furnace requires a great deal of water,
though the amount varies considerably with changing
conditions and at different places. Peters says a water-
jacketed blast furnace having 36 square feet hearth area
requires 7000 gallons per hour while blowing in and out,
and about 2200 gallons per hour when in normal running
condition. A furnace then having 60 6quare feet hearth
area would require about 3600 gallons per hour, for
jackets alone.
WW WW
Petroleum oil is usually found most productive in
sandstones and shales, particularly where the ore-bearing
strata are open and porous. Dense, hard rocks do not
afford suitable conditions for the reception of large
amounts of oil. As the rock strata are flexed and more
open at the crest of the anticlines, the anticline is usually
expected to produce more oil than strata which lie in
an even plane, either flat or tilted, while the rocks in the
synclinal trough are compressed and dense, and little oil
is usually found in them.
svvw
Amblygonite is a fluo-phosphate of aluminum and
lithium. It is a brittle mineral, a little heavier than
quartz, with a greasy to pearly luster. In color it is
white to pale greenish-blue, yellowish or grayish or
brownish white, with a white streak. It is subtranslu-
cent to transparent. It occurs in compact masses, but
is usually columnar in structure, with cleavage. It fuses
easily with intumescence. This is one of the more
uncommon minerals recently found in the pegmatite
dikes of southern California, associated with other lith-
ium minerals.
VwVv
Replying to the question from Colombia, S. A., it
appears, without question, that the best plan is hand
labor. If scarce, he will have to endure the delay. The
work iB too small for a steam shovel — too many roots
for any of the mechanical ditchers, and the suggested
hydraulic method is wholly impracticable, especially in
view of the steepness of the slopes. Aside from this,
he would lose all benefit of the lower bank that would
be secured by dry excavation. It is better practice to
have the entire depth of ditch in excavation, but the
downhill bank is a really valuable safeguard, and its
retention is worth while.
The removal of water from extensive mine workings
which have been flooded does not always result in the
drainage of other workings in the vicinity, but which
are not immediately connected. This is sometimes due
to the fact that any existing fissures, cracks or channels,
through which the water might naturally be expected
to pass, become "silted up " with fine sediment imper-
vious to the passage of water, consequently no drainage
results.
The best way to take samples of gravel to ascertain
their gold content, in a running stream, is by building a
wing dam, where possible, and then remove the water
impounded by the dam by means of a pump. Where
the fall is sufficiently heavy, the gravel may be uncov-
ered by the deflection of the water resulting from the
construction of the dam. Samples may also be taken by
sinking holes with a portable well-boring machine, the
gravel being brought to the surface by the sand pump
employed for this purpose.
In the Golden Queen mine at Hedges in San Diego
county, Cal., gold is known to occur in a silicified horn-
blende, schist, in epidote, hornblende without free
quartz that may be seen; in an aggregation of
scales of biotite, in pegmatite dikes that cut the
country; and in a very siliceous rock containing much
epidote and garnets. Gold is known to occur in the in-
terior of quartz crystals, at Algerine, in Tuolumne
county, Cal., in galena, zinc blende, copper sulphide
and carbonate, and in mispickel in many places.
WW WW
Where a sinking pump is in use in a shaft the hand-
ling of the pump can be greatly facilitated by putting a
slip joint on both the water column and the steam line
which connects with the pump. These slip joints are
made of various lengths, but in pumps of the smaller
sizes, a 20-foot telescoping section on each pipe line will
be found a great convenience. The pump may by its use
be lowered about four sets without uncoupling, which
will save much time. A full length of pipe may then be
put in above the slip joint and the same operation re-
peated.
vVWW
When sinking a large working shaft, employing tem-
porarily a small hoisting plant, it is good practice to lo-
cate this temporary hoist opposite the end of the shaft
in order that the foundations for setting the larger per-
manent plant may be prepared and the plant installed
without interfering materially with the smaller hoist.
When the large plant is about completed and ready to
place the hoisting cables in position, the temporary head
frame may be removed. By this procedure there need
necessarily be a loss of only a day or two in changing
from the small to the permanent hoisting plant.
When ground is very bad it may usually be held in
place by means of concrete placed in the form of an arch
or oval, as in the Simplon tunnel. The practice of em-
ploying masonry and concrete in German mines is an old
one, and thus far appears to have been satisfactory.
Whether concrete would hold the "swelling ground"
often encountered in the Mother Lode of California is
not known, as it has never been tried there. Thus far
only heavy timber sets have been used, with open
spaced lagging, between which the soft swelling mass
may press and be cut away so as to relieve the main
members of the set.
If the ore is to be crushed to only 40 mesh it is prob-
able that the crushing can be done more cheaply with
stamps than in a tube mill. The latter is used in some
districts where it is necessary to reduce the ore to a fine-
ness which will permit its passing a 150 to 200 mesh
Bcreen — that is, 22,500 to 40,000 meshes per square inch.
A great deal depends upon the character of the ore,
what the cost of fine crushing will be. Some of the
flinty ores of New Zealand, breaking with a long, splin-
tery fracture, cost more to reduce than granular quartz
ore. The Homestake ore, which slimes so readily, con-
tains comparatively little quartz, being mostly horn-
blende schist.
tbtbtfetfa
It is improbable that all coal originated in identically
the same manner, though there was, without doubt,
much similarity in the formation of coal beds every-
where. In some instances the coal has been, without
doubt, formed, in part, at least, from trees, as thin sec-
tions of some coal show the fibers of the original wood.
In other instances the coal apparently originated from
beds of peat or similar growth. Those who have been
in some tropical jungles where the entire soil in the for-
est consists of the decayed trunks of trees, their
branches and leaves — the accumulation of centuries of
luxuriant vegetation — can understand most readily the
possibility of a bed of coal being formed from this
growth.
The relative merit of inside and outside amalgamation
in the gold mill must depend largely upon the character
and grade of the ore. Where the efforts are constantly
directed toward high stamp capacity, it often follows
that satisfactory amalgamation cannot be accomplished
inside the battery, unless the gold is ' peculiarly free
milling, and not always then. An ore in which the
gold does not amalgamate readily should be treated
in such a manner as to insure an opportunity for longer
contact of the gold with the quicksilver, which may be
accomplished by raising the height of discharge, or em-
ploying a finer screen. Sometimes the latter is objection-
able, as it is responsible for the creation of a larger
amount of slimes which may be objectionable. Most
mill men prefer to save gold inside the battery if pos-
sible, and as often and as soon thereafter on the outside
plates as possible.
A reservoir may be built on level or slightly sloping
land as well as on a hill top, or where there is a valley
which may be converted into a reservoir by constructing
a dam across it. In the dry mining regions it is often
desirable to construct a reservoir, and this may be done
by leveling a piece of land of the desired area of the
reservoir and building around it a square or circular
wall of concrete to the desired height. The circular form
is advisable, as it requires about one-seventh less ma-
terial than the square wall of equal cross section. When
the wall is completed, the bottom must either be laid
with concrete or puddled with clay and the inside of the
concrete wall should be finished with a coating of neat
cement— what is known as "sidewalk finish." The res-
ervoir may be built partly or wholly below the level of
the ground, if desired; but it is usually less expensive to
build the upper portion in molds above ground.
WW WW
Where three unpatented mining claims lie side by
side, and veins outcrop on each claim, and a main working
shaft is sunk on the middle claim with crosscuts started
in either direction toward the claims lying on each side
of the center claim, work may be done in the main shaft
on the center claim for the benefit of each of the three
claims. An announcement to this effect should be
plainly posted at the shaft on the central claim, in which
it is clearly stated that the assessment work for each of
the three claims was done in the shaft and a copy of this
notice placed on record. It would also be well to post a
notice at discovery on each of the side claims, stating
that assessment work for each of these claims has been
done in the main shaft on the central claim. The law
provides that work may be done on one of a group of
claims for the benefit of each of the claims of the group,
and this is clearly a case within the meaning and intent
of the law.
Although there are large intrusions of serpentine
and other peridot (olivine) bearing rocks in California,
which resemble somewhat the diamond-bearing perido-
tites of South Africa, none of the diamonds thus far
discovered in California come apparently from the re-
gion where rocks of this description abound. Serpentine
rocks are abundant in the Coast Range of California,
but no diamonds have been reported found in that por-
tion of the State. Serpentine is also abundant in the
lower tier of foothills of the Sierra Nevada, bordering
the great interior valley of the State; but the diamonds
found have, without exception, been secured in the
sluices of mines working on the ancient rivers which
have their sources in the Sierra region, and far east of
most, if not all, of the known important serpen-
tine areas. In some of these old channels where
diamonds have been found, a micaceous sandstone,
white and slightly flexible (itacolumite), has been found;
but whether this rock has any connection with the dia-
monds discovered is not known.
vvvv
Where a company owns a group of mines they may
take up adjoining ground as mining claims, provided the
necessary discovery can be made on each claim. Then,
if they perform work on the previously consolidated
claims which is manifestly for the benefit of all the
claims of the group, both old and new, $100 worth of
work may be credited to each of the new claims, pro-
vided these join the claims of the old group. In such
cases the several claims of a group must lie in a compact
body — they cannot be scattered about. They may also
cut timber on the claims for use in any one of them. A.
superintendent of a mine may locate mining claims in
the vicinity and he may permit the company to cut
timber growing on his claims, and allow them to use
the same in the company's mine. This is on the theory
that the company may itself cut timber on unoccupied
mineral lands, and after location, if the locator sees fit
to allow others to use his timber, it becomes a personal
matter, in which the Government has no interest.
When it is desired to sink a shaft deeper than the
lowest working level of a mine, one compartment of the
shaft can be securely bulkheaded a few sets above the
lowest level and a small auxiliary hoist, operated by
compressed air or electricity, placed over this compart-
ment beneath the bulkhead, and sinking continued.
The remaining compartments of the shaft should be bulk-
headed at the lowest level, or a set or two beneath the
loading chutes, to protect workmen below from danger
from falling rocks. This method of deepening a shaft
in a working mine has been successfully employed at a
large number of deep mines, and is the only way that a
shaft may be deepened with safety while mining opera-
tions continue above. At some mines, if the rock broken
in shaft sinking is waste, arrangements are made to hoist
this to some point above the lowest level where it is
dumped into a bin and from there loaded into cars which
deliver it to a level where the rock can be utilized in fill-
ing stopes. The economy of this is evident, as it saves
the cost of a long hoist and supplies the necessary filling
for worked-out ground,
December 23, 1905,
Mining and Scientific Press.
427
Globe, Arizona.*
To the Editor: — Globe is one of the oldest mining
camps in Arizona, having had a checkered history of
25 or 30 years, and perhaps more. It started first
as a silver district, in the now almost forgotten days,
when the Apaches owned the region, and when it was
very unhealthy for the white man who could be
caught afield by them. But in spite of this and
other drawbacks almost as serious, it has flourished
and grown, until now it is one of the best business
points in the Southwest, with a railroad of its own.
a prosperous and steadily producing copper mining
industry, and an environment in the way of numer-
ous undeveloped and partially developed prospects
that are just beginning to be appreciated by its own
citizens and those of other parts of the country that
are looking for promising deposits of the red metal.
Unlike Jerome, where there is little more than one
big mine, or Bisbee, where the mineral field, though
immensely rich, is concentrated within a small area,
there is copper to the north, west and southwest of
Globe, for 20 miles or more in each direction, as well
as in the great mineral zone upon which the Old Do-
minion Co. is conducting its extensive and highly
profitable operations.
The camp is situated near the head of Pinal creek,
which flows northward to the Salt river. When one
writes of creeks and rivers in Arizona, one should
not be taken too literally or seriously. These fea-
tures of the landscape possess, invariably, channels
and banks, but not always visible water, though there
is abundance of the element a few feet below the sur-
face of the sand and gravel in their beds, and Globe
has never suffered for lack of it, and never will. The
region is hilly but not mountainous, and the geology
is a complex of eruptives to which each visiting
expert gives such new names as pleases his exuber-
ant fancy, and serves to keep the plain people of the
district, who are busily engaged in taking out ore,
pleasantly interested and amused.
The following geological description of the ore
occurrence in Globe district is from Professional Pa-
per No. 12, "Geology of the Globe Copper District
of Arizona," by P. L Ransome:"
The ore bodies of the Globe quadrangle exhibit various
forms, and, as is usual in such cases, these are not
sharply distinguishable from one another. For pur-
poses of description, however, they may be classed as
(1) lodes, (2) masses in limestone, and (3) irregular min-
eralizations of shattered or permeable rocks.
The lodes, for the most part simple fissure veins, are
mineralized postdiabase fault fissures. Of the hun-
dreds of dislocations dissecting the region, only a very
small portion contain ore, and these are often struc-
turally unimportant as faults. The cause of the min-
eralization of certain fissures and its absence from others
is unknown. It has been impossible to discover any
particular distinction, other than the presence of ore,
possessed in common by the mineralized faults and not
also found in some of the barren fissures of the region,
although the postdacite faults, as far as known, are un-
mineralized. The greater number of the lodes have
approximately northeast-southwest strikes and dips
ranging from 40° to 90°.
As examples of lode deposits may be cited the Sum-
mit, Cole & Goodwin, and Bobtail lodes, carrying sul-
phide ores in Pinal schist, the Keystone vein of chryB-
ocolla in Schultze granite, the Big Johnnie vein carry-
ing cuprite, chrysocolla and malachite in quartzite, the
Josh Billings, containing oxidized ore in diabase, the
veins of oxidized ore in the quartzite of Copper Hill,
the oxidized North vein in diaba3e in the Old Dominion
mine, the pyrite lodes in diabase in the lower levels of
the same mine, the vein of the original Old Dominion
mine in quartzite, and many others, particularly through-
out the Globe hills. Some of these lodes, such as the
original Old Dominion, the Keystone and the Summit,
are nearly typical simple fissure veins. The ore fills a
formerly nearly empty fissure with little or no replace-
ment of the original walls. Others, like the Bobtail and
Big Johnnie, are mineralized fault breccias. The ore
has filled the interstices between the fragments of the
breccia, and has frequently, to some extent, metasomat-
ically replaced the latter, thus forming, a link between
the lodes and the other two classes of ore deposits recog-
nized in this quadrangle.
Still other lodes, such as the pyritic deposits in the
Old Dominion and Grey mines, might be classed as
stringer lodes — that is, they consist of several irregular
anastomosing fissures filled with ore. Where, as in
these cases, the country rock is diabase, the mineraliza-
tion is not confined with the fissures, but has penetrated
into the diabase by the process of metasomatic replace-
ment. Such ore possesses no regular vein walls, but
grades gradually into altered diabase containing dis-
seminated pyrite. Such a process, while it does not ex-
tend to a sufficient lateral distance to destroy the gen-
eral lode-like form of the deposit, nevertheless tends to
connect fissure veins through intermediate forms with
the deposits belonging to the other classes. The pyritic
lode of the Continental mine, which is in a granite-por-
phyry facies of the Schultze granite, is also a stringer
lode and is accompanied by considerable metasomatic
mineralization of the neighboring country rock.
When, as is the case in the I X L, Big Johnnie,
Buffalo and Copper Hill mines, lodes pass upward from
diabase into overlying quartzite, the latter rock usually
shows the greater mineralization. The only known ex-
ception to this iB the Josh Billings vein, in which the ore
occurs principally in the diabase.
Although the lodes often contain excellent ore, it has
* See illustrations on front page.
not yet been found in such abundance as in the large
masses of limestone, which have supplied most of the
copper from the district for the last twenty years.
AH of the important ore bodies thus far discovered in
limestone, with the exception of one formerly worked in
the Buffalo mine, lie on the southeast side of the Old
Dominion fault, and have been worked through the Old
Dominion and Hoosier mines. In the former property
there is exposed in the hanging wall of the master fis-
sure— the Old Dominion fault — a thickness of from 350
to 550 feet of Globe limestone resting upon the quartz-
ites of the Apache group. The ore bodies occur rather
irregularly throughout this limestone section from the
top to bottom. In general they are rudely lenticular in
shape and lie roughly parallel with the nearly horizon-
tal bedding of the limestone. Some of them are directly
connected with the Old Dominion fault, the ore forming
the hanging wall and extending Irregularly for 20 or 30
feet out into the limestone. Others, although never far
from the Old Dominion fault, are completely inclosed
within this rock, which, however, always shows more or
less lissuring, such as may have given access to the ore-
bearing solutions. Some of these ore masses must have
been of large size, one in the Old Dominion mine hav-
ing been about 200 feet long, 100 feet wide, and 60 feet
thick. This, however, was not wholly within the lime-
stone, but was partly in quartzite, and really falls also
into the third general class of the ore deposits of the dis-
trict. Other masses of ore not coming strictly within
the definition occur in the Old Dominion mine at the
contact of limestone with overlying dacite. The ore,
however, occupies space formerly filled with limestone
and not with dacite, and the form of such deposit is sim-
ilar to that occurring wholly in limestone.
The ore of these masses in the Globe limestone is always
oxidized and often accompanied by large quantities of
hematite or limestone. It sometimes rests snugly
against the limestone, and is sometimes separated from
the latter by a shell of limonite. The limestone, as a
rule, shows very little alteration at a distance of a few
inches from the ore or from the iron oxides.
Ore occurring in the form of irregular mineralization
of shattered or permeable rocks has contributed largely
to the total output of the Globe quadrangle. Here be-
long the masses occurring ' in brecciated quartzite,
always associated with one or more fault fissures, but
not confined within their walls. Such bodies have sup-
plied much of the ore of the Old Dominion mine, where
a mass of the quartzite lying between the Old Domin-
ion and Interloper faults has been extensively mineral-
ized. Similar conditions exist in the Grey and Buffalo
mines, and to some extent in the Buckeye mine. Such
ore masses are usually very irregular in form, and often
have no sharp boundaries, as workable ore changes
gradually into less broken country rock only slightly
stained with malachite or chrysocolla. The ore is usu-
ally wholly oxidized, and may consist of chrysocolla,
cuprite, malachite, specularite, and native copper
in varying proportions. Some chalcocite, however,
occurs as residual unoxidized kernels in the ore
of the Buffalo mine. The microscope shows that
the shattering of the brittle quartzite is often exceed-
ingly minute, so that it is not always easy to determine
whether there has been any actual metasomatic replace-
ment of the quartzite by ore. As a rule, however, the
fact of such replacement can be ascertained, although
the bulk of the ore has undoubtedly filled mechanically
formed spaces.
The conspicuously stained but not hitherto produc-
tive schist breccias so noticeable along the road from
Webster gulch as it descends into Pinto creek, and the
green tinted granitic breccias of Liveoak gulch are simi-
lar in general character to the more richly mineralized
deposits in quartzite just described.
In this class also come the ore bodies of the Black
Warrior (Montgomery and Dadeville claims), Geneva
and Black Copper mines. In the first two the ore,
which is chrysocolla, occurs as a metasomatic replace-
ment of dacite tuff lying between schists below and mas-
Bive dacite above. All gradations may be traced from
the solid chrysocolla resulting from practically complete
replacement "to tuff showing mere traces of mineraliza-
tion or none at all. In the Black Warrior and Geneva
the ore bodies are flat, blanket-like masses, passing grad-
ually into tuff on their peripheries. They rest some-
times directly upon the schists, sometimes are separated
from the latter by a layer of tuff. They are always as-
sociated with fault fissures, which are in part later than
the ore. In the Montgomery and Dadeville claims is a
strong east-west fault, which was apparently initiated
prior to the deposition of the ore.
The ore body of the Black Copper mine, also lying be-
tween Bchist and dacite, is of rather irregular shape,
and evidently formed at least in part by replacement of
dacite or dacite tuff. It has an easterly dip of about
35°, and it is possible that it occupies a fault fisBure
opened prior to ore deposition, and might perhaps be
classed with the lodes.
The plant of the Old Dominion, which is the big
mine of the camp, is one of the finest in the West.
The mine has been opened to the depth of more than
1000 feet. The bulk of the ore has to be concen-
trated. There is a very fine plant for this purpose,
fitted with both jigs and tables, and a three-stack
smelter that, within the last 18 months, has
been brought up to date in every particular. The
town, that for a quarter of a century has straggled,
after the manner of its kind, for a mile or more along
the banks of Pinal creek, in an unkempt and woolly
way, is also in process of reconstruction and concen-
tration, and will in time become even attractive.
But the main feature of Globe at present is its genu-
ine prosperity, resulting in part from the large and
profitable operations of the Old Dominion Co., and in
part from the steadily increasing output from the
numerous less notable mines of the district, that, one
by one, are being carried forward to self-sustaining
and dividend-paying conditions,
Occasional Contributor.
Globe, Ariz.,, Dec. 8.
Mining Outlook in Northern California.
To the Editor:— No year in the history of Siskiyou
county has been more fruitful in discovery and de-
velopment than 1905; this in the face of early fail-
ure of the season's water supply. This failure may
have been an incentive to much of the prospecting
that has characterized the summer and autumn
months. In more than one hundred instances bona
fide placer and quartz locations, showing returns
which will warrant development, are the result of
the last season's researches. The records vouch for
this. They are distributed all the way from the
Oregon line to the Del Norte, Humboldt and Trinity
borders. Along the Klamath and its tributaries,
and in the Happy Camp section, research has, as a
rule, told for good. On the north and south forks of
Salmon river and in the Etna district, rich prospects
which promise to be lasting have been made matter
of record during the year. In the northeastern part
of the county good prospects have been reported.
Siskiyou is rich in mineral and timber wealth and in-
creasing prosperity is assured.
In northeastern Humboldt steady and unusual ad-
vancement has been made. The record of mineral
and water locations has been broken and crowds that
of Siskiyou closely. This has been most pronounced
within a radius of 10 miles of Orleans and along the
lower Klamath. Recent researches near the mouth
of that stream are to be continued on a greater
scale than ever, and bluff mining on the coast will
receive new impetus. Many new placer locations
have been filed along Trinity river from the Hoopa
reservation to the Trinity county line, a stretch of
territory in which productive placers are being op-
erated. Indications of copper are not lacking in the
north slope of the Humboldt-Mendocino range, and
in one or two of these development is now under way.
While mining is virtually a side issue in Humboldt
county, the gold yield shows a steady increase when
winter snows and spring rains do not default.
A more than usual amount of prospecting has been
done in Trinity county this year, and, in some in-
stances, with gratifying results. The mines of Trin-
ity were among the first in the north, and if the lat-
ter days' output is diminished it may be in the main
charged to reduced population and isolation. No one
familiar with the county believes that mining has
been more than fairly commenced in Trinity. True,
diggings which were covered by the waterways pro-
vided forty to fifty years ago have been exhausted,
but there are enough of higher deposits yet undis-
turbed, of gold-bearing ledges still uncovered and op-
portunities for the dredgers. There has been un-
usual activity, short season of water supply con-
sidered, in the Junction City, Indian Creek, Hay
Pork, Deadwood, Coffee Creek, and isolated New
River district during the year, and in some instances
good paying new deposits have been encountered.
La Grange mine, near Weaverville, has given out its
accustomed yield and a number of other placers have
maintained their reputation as liberal yielders. The
dredger has also obtained a foothold in Trinity.
Trinity Center, Dec 16. Observer.
Progress of Reclamation Work.
The Secretary of the Interior has recently ap-
proved two new reclamation projects. One, which
will be partly in Texas and partly in New Mexico, is
called the Rio Grande project; the other, which will
be wholly in New Mexico, will be called the Carlsbad
project. The two additional projects will bring the
number of reclamation schemes up to twenty-four.
Of these, eleven are well under way. They provide
for the reclamation of 1,303,600 acres of arid lands at
a cost of $37,028,571. These are big figures and they
represent big projects.
On June 30, 1905, the total cost of construction and
engineering work performed by the Reclamation
Service, together with the administration expenses,
amounted to $5,462,169. On that date the reclama-
tion fund had reached a total of $28,028,571. It was
estimated at that time that the receipts for the fis-
cal years 1906-1908 would amount to $9,000,000, so
that the sum of money available for reclamation pur-
poses up to the end of 1908 will be $37,028,571.
Since the work of reclamation began, 77 miles of
main canals have been constructed and 54 miles of
distributing canals, as well as 186 miles of ditches
and 147 bridges. Over 9,350,000 cubic yards of earth
have been excavated and Zi miles of tunnel driven.
The telephone lines installed have measured 250 miles
and the roads built have covered 126 miles. It has
been necessary to erect fifty offices and other build-
ings. One cement mill has been constructed, the
product of which already amounts to 15,000 barrels.
Besides the cement manufactured by the Reclama-
tion Service, use has been found for 78,000 additional
barrels of cement, which were purchased in open
market. Over 2,800,000 feet B. M. of lumber have
been sawed for the work of construction and 1,750,-
000 feet B. M. in addition have been purchased. The
concrete completed amounts to 70,000 cubic yards,
the puddling done to 4500 cubic yards, the riprap
Mining and Scientific Press.
December 23, 1905.
completed to 12,000 cubic yards, and the paving to
190,000 square feet. The railroad iron used amounts
to 130,000 pounds, the structural steel to 250,000
pounds, the cast iron to 600,000 pounds. The sheet
piling driven has amounted to 150,000 lineal feet, the
bearing piles to 10,000 lineal feet.
These figures will give some idea of the gigantic
size of the enterprise which the engineers of the
Reclamation Service have in hand in the reclamation
of 1,303,600 acres of arid land.
The Brilliant Extended Mine, Charters
Towers.
Eecent improvements in the Brilliant Extended
mine, Queensland, have served to call special atten-
tion to this Charters Towers property, says the
Queensland Mining Journal. With the exception of
the deep level mines, the workings in the Extended
are the deepest on the Brilliant line of reef; so that
the operations at the latter mine are of great- im-
portance to other deep mines in the vicinity, and
2zoo Level of the Brilliant Extended Mine, Charters Towers, Queensland, Australia.
consequently to the field generally. The grade of the
ore obtained from the Brilliant Extended is low, but
this is compensated for by the extent of the stone
being operated upon, and the fact that it is being in-
creased as the lower development work is proceeded
with. This work is being prosecuted on a compre-
hensive and systematic scale, and the large area of
the lease (seventy-five acres) affords the company
ample scope for their extensive operations.
During the year 1902, the Brilliant Extended Co.
equipped the mine with an up-to-date winding plant,
with steel poppet legs, new boilers, air compressor,
cooling tower, etc., at a total cost of £13,475. The
engines then supplied are capable of raising an un-
balanced load of five tons from any position of the
cranks, and maintaining an average speed of winding
with the maximum load of 2000 feet per minute. The
poppet legs, which cost £895, are 80 feet high, and
adapted to serve two winding engines of equal power
drawing from opposite sides. The cooling tower is
of the open type, having all surfaces exposed to ithe
air, and proportioned to deal with cooling water
necessary to condense 1500 pounds of steam per
hour. The method of treatment adopted is that of
crushing and amalgamation, followed by concentra-
tion. In the following year (1903) very important
work was done in proving the deep ground; and, al-
though the grade of the ore fell off, two dividends
were declared, totaling £12,500. The total quantity
of ore raised that year was 17,013 tons, and its value
per ton was £3 Is 7.5d.
Last year the company purchased, on terms, at a
cost of £25,000, the Enterprise Mill & Cyanide Works,
then owned by the Craven estate, and situated about
300 yards from the Brilliant Extended mine. The
mill was of fifteen head of stamps, and the plant in-
cluded three Huntington mills. During that year,
also, a number of changes and improvements in the
mode of working the mine were adopted, including
improved ventilation, haulage, means of transport,
and electric lighting; while more than usual atten-
tion was given to development work. In opening up
the various levels, work of this class averaged during
the latter half of the year 450 feet per month, opera-
tions being chiefly directed to the extension of the
levels in the lower ground. During the year 1904,
28,654 tons of stone were treated, for a yield of
9447 ounces of gold from the mills, with an addition
of 1903 ounces of bullion from 11,712 tons of tailings
cyanided; while the mine was employing 160 men.
No dividends were declared. In the early part of
the year returns were disappointing, but in the last
six months the grade of stone treated considerably
improved, the returns being about 14dwt. to 17 dwt.,
exclusive of sands, which assayed about 2J dwt. A
vigorous system of opening up the mine was carried
out, and at the end of the year the warden reported
that its future develop-
ment depended chiefly
upon the deep ground
being opened up by the
No. 3 underlie, the sink-
ing of which had been re-
sumed during the year.
The vertical depth of the
No. 11 levels was then
2300 feet, and the work-
ings were the deepest
then being operated on
the field. The accom-
panying engraving is an
illustration on the 2200
level of the Brilliant Ex-
tended mine.
During the first ' six
months of the present
year the output was 13.
054 tons, yielding 6703
ounces, including the re-
turn from cyanide treat-
ment, so that the aver-
age of the preceding year
was more than main-
tained during that
period. In May last a
decided improvement
was reported in the
mine, and some promis-
ing looking stone was
struck in the crosscut
from No. 10 east level,
while a prospecting
drive west was being
driven on from 3 feet to
4 feet of good-looking
quartz. The June report
showed that the mine
continued to work well
in the deeper levels, and
the crushing was above
the average. In the fol-
lowing month it was
stated that there was
an improved appearance
in Nos. 9, 10, 11 and 12
east levels, and in Au-
gust these levels contin-
ued to open up satisfac-
torily. In the latter
month it was reported also that No. 7 west and
No. 12 west levels were carrying a strong and pay-
able reef; that there was a general improvement;
and that the directors had paid half the entire cost
of the mill purchased during the previous year, and
had given notice that the balance — £12,500 and inter-
est— would be paid in three months. Both in July
and August there was a marked increase in the
quantity of stone treated, and a fair improvement
in the yield. The gross value of the August crushing
was £9203. At the time of writing the official
report for last month (September) is not to hand, but
on the 23rd of that month it was stated in the Press
that the various workings of the Brilliant Entended
Co., from their No. 1 level at a vertical depth of
1846 feet, down to No. 12 levels at about 2400 feet,
showed from 1 foot to 6 feet of stone, some of it very
heavy mineral stone. In the No. 7 west level there
was still a strong reef of mineral stone. The mill
and cyanide works were working constantly, and it
was expected the output for September would be
equal to that of the previous month.
Many mines which show no trace of zinc in their
upper portions are found to carry this mineral, usu-
ally as sulphide, in depth. For this reason a mine
should be developed to considerable depth to deter-
mine the character of the ore before building a reduc-
tion plant, or there may be much unnecessary
expense in aiming at a satisfactory method of ore
treatment. When a mill is built it is very necessary
to know that it is adapted to the ore of the mine, not
only at the surface but in depth as well.
Department of Mines and Mining.
Early in the present session of Congress, Congress-
man Van Duzer of Nevada introduced a bill to estab-
lish a Department of Mines and Mining. The full
text of the bill follows:
A bill to establish the Department of Mines and
Mining: Be it enacted by the Senate and House of
Representatives of the United States of America in
Congress assembled, that there shall be at the seat
of government an executive department to be known
as the Department of Mines and Mining, and a Sec-
retary of Mines and Mining at the head thereof, who
shall be appointed by the President, by and with the
advice and consent of the Senate, who shall have a
seat in the Cabinet, and who shall receive a salary of
$8000 per annum; and Section 158 of the Revised
Statutes is hereby amended to include such depart-
ment, and the provisions of title four of the Revised
Statutes, including all amendments thereto, are
hereby made applicable to the said department.
Sec 2. That there shall be in said department an
Assistant Secretary of Mines and Mining, to be ap-
pointed by the President, by and with the advice and
consent of the Senate, who shall receive a salary of
$4000 per annum. He shall perform such duties as
shall be prescribed by the Secretary and required by
law. There shall also be appointed by said Secretary
one chief clerk, who shall receive a salary of $1800
per annum, and such other clerical assistance as may
from time to time be authorized by Congress.
Sec. 3. That the said Department of Mines and
Mining shall have general jurisdiction over all mat-
ters pertaining to mines and mining industries and
the Geological Survey, and over all the matters com-
mitted to any of the bureaus, offices, departments,
or branches of the public service by this Act trans-
ferred from other executive departments of the gov-
ernment to the said Department of Mines and Mining
as fully as the same is now possessed by any of the
said bureaus, offices, departments, or branches of
the public service from whence the same is so
transferred, and that the official records and papers
now on file in and relating to the business of any such
bureau, office, department or branch of the public
service in this Act transferred to the Department of
Mines and Mining, together with the furniture now
in use in such bureau, office, department, or
branch of the public service, shall be, and is
hereby, transferred to the Department of Mines and
Mining.
Seo. 4. That there shall be in the Department of
Mines and Mining a bureau which shall, under the
direction of the Secretary thereof, gather, compile
and publish information in respect to the same, and it
shall be the duty of said bureau to acquire and dis-
seminate practical and useful information concerning
the mines, mineral resources and mining industries
of the United States; that the office of the Director
of the Geological Survey and the Geological Survey
Service, and all that relates to and pertains to the
same, is hereby transferred from the jurisdiction of
the Interior Department to the jurisdiction and su-
pervision of the Department of Mines and Mining, to
remain henceforth under the jurisdiction of the lat-
ter; and the Director of the Geological Survey is
hereby made the director of said bureau.
Sec. 5. That the Secretary of Mines and Mining
shall annually make a report in writing to Congress,
which shall contain an account of all moneys received
and expended by him in promoting and facilitating
the development of American mines, mineral re-
sources and mining industries, and such recommend-
ations as he shall deem necessary to the further de-
velopment of the same. He shall also make special
investigations and reports on particular subjects
whenever required to do so by either the President,
the Senate, or the House of Representatives.
Sec 6. That the Secretary of Mines and Mining
shall have charge in the buildings or premises occupied
by or appropriated to the Department of Mines and
Mining, of the library, furniture, fixtures, records,
and other property pertaining to it, or hereafter
acquired for use in its business; and he shall be al-
lowed to expend for periodicals and the purposes of
the library, and for the rental of appropriate quarters
for the accommodation of the Department of Mines and
Mining within the District of Columbia, and for all
other incidental expenses such sums as Congress may
provide from time to time; provided, however, that
where any bureau proposed to be transferred to the
Department of Mines and Mining by this Act is occu-
pying rented buildings or premises they may still
continue to do so until other suitable quarters are
provided for their use; and provided, further, that
all officers, clerks and employes now employed in any
of the bureaus, offices, departments or branches of
the public service in this Act transferred to the De-
partment of Mines and Mining, are each and all hereby
transferred to said department at their present
grades and salaries, except where otherwise provided
in this Act, until otherwise provided by law; and pro-
vided, further, that all laws prescribing the work
and defining the duties of the several bureaus, offices,
departments or branches of the public service by
this Act transferred to and made a part of the De-
partment of Mines and Mining shall, so far as the
same are not in conflict with the provisions of this
December 23, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
429
Act, remain in full force and effect until otherwise
provided by law.
Sec. 7. That the jurisdiction, supervision and
management and control of mines and mining lands
and mining industries now vested in the Interior De-
partment are hereby transferred to and vested in
the Department of Mines and Mining.
Notes on Southern Nevada and Inyo
County, California.— II.::
Written by H. H. TArr.
From Vegas to Ash Meadows. — For about 90
miles the road follows a succession of desert val-
leys. The Las Vegas mountain, north, and the
Charleston mountain, south, both of Carboniferous
limestone, are little disturbed, but the small spurs
west are considerably contorted. About 12 miles
northeast of Ash Meadows, north of the road, the
limestone beds are tilted and underlain by quartzite,
and a little south of the road there is a small area of
basaltic lava which has overflowed a recent volcanic
tuff. For a distance of from 2 to 20 miles southeast
of Ash Meadows there is considerable quartzite.
Although prospectors report some lead and copper,
the region is unattractive on account of the absence
of eruptive rocks. On the northwest slope of
Charleston mountain are two old mining districts,
the Montgomery (now known as the Johnny) and the
Stirling. These districts, abandoned for some years,
have now taken on new life. The ore is gold quartz,
with a little pyrite and chalcopyrite.
The Amargosa Desert. — This desert valley is
about 100 miles long and forms with Death valley a
long, narrow U, extending northwest- southeast.
The upper end, 4000 feet above sea level, is formed
by the joining of the Grapevine and the Amargosa
mountains. The former is the northern boundary of
Death valley and the latter contains the Bullfrog
mining region. The Amargosa is cut through by the
Oasis, a narrow valley, in which are numerous
springs and a little running water. Opposite the
Oasis the Amargosa is 12 miles wide; farther south
it widens rapidly. Between the mouth of Forty Mile
canyon and the Funeral range it is 30 miles wide.
Hero the road is so dry and sandy that freighters
have to "double," and then can only travel at half
the usual rate of speed. The roadside graves and
skeletons of draught animals are mute witnesses of
hardships here experienced. An enormous sand dune
shows that the contour of the mountains has some
peculiar effect upon the winds.
Forty-five miles southeast of the Oasis valley is a
series of springs. The general locality is known as
Ash Meadows. Here the valley is 15 miles wide from
the Meadows to the Funeral range. In a distance
of 6 miles there are four springs flowing about 50
miners' inches of water each, and a number of smaller
ones. The temperature of the water in the larger
springs is 76° F. and in one of the smaller ones 94° F.'
All these waters carry a large proportion of sodium
carbonate, a remarkable amount of aluminum, a little
borax and a small amount of sulphates. From the
southerly spring a stream flows for a distance of from
5 to 20 miles, depending upon the season. Below
these springs there are large areas of apparently
good meadow land, but the rushes, salt and wire
grass are of little value as fodder.
Pahrump ranch is 30 miles southeast of Ash Mead-
ows, and 6 miles farther is the Manse. These ranches
are veritable oases, and the extraordinary market
which they enjoyed last winter for fodder, vegetables
and fruit was a godsend to their owners.
Bullfrog Mining District. — At the head of the
Amargosa desert the Grapevine range, 3000 feet
above the valley east and 7000 feet above Death val-
ley west, is flanked east by recent volcanic tuffs.
Along the summit occur limestones and quartzites
dipping east, and a lime conglomerate, carrying
granite, diorite and quartz, such as occur many
miles north.
The Amargosa range, lying between the south end
of the Ralston desert and the northwest end of the
Amargosa, is formed by series of tuffs superimposed
upon limestone. The various members of the vol-
canic series occur with the regularity of sedimentary
strata, and the upper (consequently more recent)
ones are highly colored. They dip 10° to 20° north-
east. An extensive block faulting has exposed the
edges of the various flows, particularly from the
west, the escarpment being on that side. About 2
miles west of the Bullfrog mine is a small hill of
gneiss, overlain by strata of chloritic slates, quartz-
ites, limestones and tuffs, dipping flat to the east.
On August 10, 1904, two claims were located as
Bullfrog No. 1 and No. 2. From August 10 to Sep-
tember 14, 1904, a large number of claims were
located on what are known as Ladd and Bonanza
mountains, about 3 or 4 miles southeast.
The Bullfrog Mining Co. was formed to take up a
group of Ladd mountain claims, and later the first
discovery of the district was transferred to a new
corporation, The Original Bullfrog Mining Syndicate.
A mile south of the original Bullfrog property some
claims were staked off, surveyed and sold as lots
under the name of "Bullfrog town." Amargosa, a
♦Trans. Am. Inst. Min. Engs.
mile farther south, aspired to be the metropolis. Out
on the desert west of Ladd mountain the same thing
was done, and the "town" was named Bonanza.
Four miles from the latter place, in the Oasis valley,
on the bank of a stream of running water, the town
of Beatty, named for a ranchman living a mile above,
was laid out, and soon became the most populous
place. Three miles below Beatty a group of tents
bore the name of Gold Center. In March, 1905, in a
cove made by the desert in the Amargosa mountain,
between Bonanza and Ladd mountains, Rhyolite was
laid out, and Bullfrog and Bonanza moved to it. This
place is 5 miles from water.
About 10 miles southwest of where Oasis valley
breaks through the Amargosa range, the cliffs are
of limestone, which pitches west and is soon buried
beneath the soil and the volcanic tuffs that have
probably borne it down. In several places the con-
tact is exposed, and there are evidences of a flow of
water not accompanied by a siliceous deposition, ex-
cept in and near the Bullfrog claims. Between Ladd
mountain and the Oasis creek there is a place where
there has been a considerable spring on the contact.
Boulders of granite 3 inches in diameter are scat-
tered over an area 100 feet square. There is no sili-
cification and no mineral. The Bullfrog ciaims cover
an immense outcrop that can be seen for miles, and
are only 3 miles from a spring that has been fre-
quented by prospectors for 30 years or more. The
white quartz lies like a crescent around a small dome-
shaped hill, following the contact, which dips 30°
north 60° west into the hill. The quartz has a maxi-
mum thickness of nearly 100 feet, and is generally
massive, though sometimes there are large slightly
amethystine-tinted crystals with a conchoidal base.
A later cracking has occurred, and a flow of water
depositing copper sulphides and the precious metals.
Wherever a green stain occurs visible gold can usu-
ally be found.
The other properties of this district are entirely
different, resembling somewhat those of Goldfield.
There has been a nearly vertical Assuring, followed
by a flow of water heavily charged with silica, filling
the fissures and soaking into the country rock. One
can find all gradations, from pure quartz to slightly
silicified country rock. These are the so-called rhyo-
lite dikes. The country rock itself had a slight min-
eralization, which this silicification did not increase.
A secondary and much less extensivecrackingand in-
flow of siliceous waters occurred, which deposited the
gold. The veins are nearly vertical, strike north 10°
to 30° east, are sometimes thin seams, sometimes sev
eral feet in thickness, and again wide zones of stock-
werk. The better formed are calcareous and slightly
stained with manganese. There are many of these
veins and they were easily found; but to discover ore
shoots in them is quite a different matter. The
amount of work done in both this district and Gold-
field during the past winter has been remarkably
small.
An interesting and to the prospector a very impor-
tant phenomenon is the covering of these veins. The
older tuffs are mineralized and the more recent
(upper) are not; the older are basic, while in the
upper there is a flow of rhyolite. At Tonopah it is
quite noticeable that the rhyolite is more recent than
the "mineralized porphyry." The regularity of the
eruptions and the exposure of the edges of the often
highly colored strata make this an ideal place to
study this phenomenon.
Funeral Range. — The Grapevine and Funeral
ranges are practically the same. Old-timers do not
agree as to the dividing line. With the mountains
south they form the eastern boundary of Death val-
ley. There has been much searching in this range
for the lost Breifogle mine, one of the romances of
the desert. Except in one place, both ranges are
poor prospecting ground. The general formation is
quartzite and limestone, overlaid by immense depos-
its of recent conglomerate. In the north end of the
Funeral range thero is a development of green shales,
identified elsewhere as Cambrian. These shales usu-
ally carry white glassy quartz, which is rarely min-
eralized; but in this case there are ore shoots carry-
ing sufficient gold to make the district attractive if
wood and water were more available. One property
has recently been thoroughly developed under bond
in this district.
To the south the range ends abruptly, near where
the wagon road from Ash Meadows to Furnace creek
crosses. The division along the dry watercourses
followed by this road is remarkable; they have large
boulders of quartzite and limestone north, and on the
other side black and brown lava. South, the topog-
raphy is broken and mountainous, but not in a dis-
tinct range. The Green mountain, still further south-
west, is another field for prospectors. One small
stamp mill is running at the foot of this mountain on
the Death valley side. Still farther south, the drain-
age of the Amargosa cuts through into the Death
valley.
Goldfield. — The tuffs (andesite) of this district
probably lie upon limestone, elsewhere identified (e.
g., at Bullfrog) as Cambrian. On the southwest side
of Columbia mountain is an outcrop of dark lime-
stone, evidently overflowed by eruptives. In the To-
nopah Club claim the ore is a siliceous sedimentary
that has the appearance of limestone, through which
gold-bearing solutions have percolated and left
enough of the precious metal to make it possible to
sort out some shipping ore.
The country rock shows more mineralization than
in the southern district, and has been much more dis-
turbed since the mineral deposition. There are three
large intrusions of alaskite, and a great many dikes
of a green rock, probably decomposed trap, which is
closely associated with the original andesite. Stand-
ing upon one of the intrusions, Vindicator mountain,
one can see, both from the workings and the color of
the country rock, that the mineralized area takes
the form of a ring. It is yet a question whether the
central part will prove of value or not. Outside, the
field is completely surrounded by more recent tuffs,
overflowed on the west side by dark basaltic lava,
which forms a mesa some 4 miles square between
Goldfield town and Montezuma mountain.
The topography presents simply hills with higher
hills or low mountains around them, except to the
north, which opens out to the San Antonio desert.
Montezuma mountain (altitude 8000 feet) is 8 miles
west. The old Montezuma lead-silver district is on
the west slope of this mountain. The castings in the
10-stamp mill and 36-inch water-jacket furnace bear
the date of 1886. At Lida, a boiler front recently
reset was cast in 1866.
A very prominent geological feature is the reefs
of silicified country rock, usually called rhyolite
dikes, found all over the district, but more numerous
to the south and east. They are sometimes very
large (50 feet), but generally about 10 feet thick; and
they extend in all directions without regularity, fre-
quently crossing each other. They are sometimes
2000 or 3000 feet long, and again but a few feet, and
exhibit all grades of silicification. On the surface
they are hard and flinty; but underground, away
from the weather, the rock, although harder than
the andesite, which is quite soft, is not bad for drill-
ing. The phenomenon of blackening, so noticeable in
the desert and recently described by Prof. Blake, is
very apparent.
The gold was deposited by successive flows of
water in or near these reefs, as was the case with
the dikes at Victor, Colo., but there are exceptions,
as in the Velvet and Tonopah Club claims. Again,
as at Cripple Creek, one often hears that the country
rock shows value, and not the veins. At the surface
the gold is very free, and is fine in both grain and
grade. Below the zone of oxidation, the ores are no't
very thoroughly understood. There is probably con-
siderable difference in the different properties. It
is now certain that tellurides are present; but the
principal accompanying mineral is, as usual, pyrite.
Although there is no copper stain near the surface,
there is considerable gray copper at depth. There
is rather more antimony than arsenic, but both are
present.
It is too early to say what will be the solution of
the metallurgical problem. The low-grade ores, of
which so little is known now, may be more simple in
their composition. The Combination Mines Co. has
provided plates, concentrators and a cyanide plant.
It is not at all easy to find the small rich streaks
and lenses of ore that have given Goldfield its celeb-
rity, and there is as yet no incentive to develop the
low-grade or milling ores, which will later be impor-
tant ones. The charges for freight and treatment
are now $32 per ton.
A New Mountain and Mining Transit.
Wm. Ainsworth & Sons of Denver, Colo., have just
placed upon the market a new surveyor's transit
that embodies several improvements in design and
construction.
The accompanying engraving shows their Type B,
5-inch limb, transit for mine surveying as fitted with
interchangeable top and side telescope (Dunbar D.
Scott design), 5-inch full vertical circle, stadia,
gradienter, variation plate, limb verniers at 60°
angle with line of sight and extension tripod.
Among the more important improvements may be
mentioned the ribbing of the vernier plate, which,
by a change in design, has been extended nearly j
430
Mining and Scientific Press.
December 23, 1905.
inch nearer the outside of the plate, thus admitting
of a re-enforcement under the standard feet and pro-
ducing a more rigid plate with the same amount of
metal.
The inside of the telescope tubes and outside of the
draw tubes on both "main and auxiliary telescopes,
after being turned to size, are "lapped" on a
machine specially constructed for this purpose,
thereby producing surfaces which are truly cylindri-
cal and of uniform diameter from end to end to
within .0001 inch, which insures that the telescope,
once adjusted, will remain in collimation with the
draw tube in any position.
Either erecting or inverting telescopes are fur-
nished and only lenses of the highest quality obtain-
able are used.
The spindle and socket are made of hard bronze al-
loys of different compositions, thereby eliminating
friction to the greatest extent possible, and finished
by lapping.
All parts are made of hard bronze and to limit
gages insuring strict interchangeability.
Full description of this instrument is given in Bul-
letin BX-9.
Electrically Operated Ore Loading Plants
and Wire Rope Tramways.
Written tor the Miming and Scientific Press by
Frank C. Perkins.
During the past decade the methods employed for
ore loading have greatly improved and the aerial
rope tramway has been developed to a remarkable
degree, so that there is at present a great saving of
labor and the ore is excavated and loaded with econ-
omy. The ore loading plant at Vivero, Province de
Lugo, Spain, includes a bridge and tramrail plant for
loading vessels with iron ore, operated by the Vivero
Iron Ore Co., Ltd. The plant was installed to
convey the iron ore from the Spanish shore to deep
water, a distance of 200 meters for sea-going ship-
ment and has a capacity of 250 skips or 250 tons
hourly. A small rock a short distance from shore
forms a suitable support for the tramrail bridge, 120
meters in length, with a free extension of 45 meters.
At a platform at the outer end of the extension, the
ore tubs are automatically discharged into a tele-
scope chute for the direct loading into the bunkers
of the vessel. The ore from the mine is transported
to the shore by means of a railway 4500 meters in
length, and it is automatically dumped into large
storage hoppers located on the hillside. From these
hoppers the ore is discharged into tubs of the ore
loading plant, delivering the ore to the vessel at the
rate of about four buckets per minute. The mine is
located at an elevation of 220 meters above the dis-
charging platform on the bridge, and this difference
of level is sufficient for the loaded buckets to descend
by gravity on the ropeway as well as the tramrail
plant, no power being required to operate the instal-
lation. It is claimed that this plant, since it has
been installed, has not only made a large saving in
Tension Station on a Long Line of Aerial Tram.
the cost of handling the ore but also in the time
required for loading the vessel.
The two main systems of ore handling apparatus
include the traveling-cable hoist conveyors and the
fixed-cable hoist conveyors. The former include two
principal types, in one of which both towers are
movable, and in the other one of the towers is mov-
able and the other fixed. The fixed-cable hoist con-
veyors also include two classes, one of which has
supports or towers and horizontal lines, or lines with
but little inclination, two independent ropes being
required to operate such plants. The other class
includes a main or carrying cable which has sufficient
inclination to allow the carriage to descend by grav-
ity and but one operating or hoisting rope is used.
It is claimed by some mining engineers that the
ideal system for handling ore is an overhead cable-
way. In mountainous mining regions a suspended
cableway is not only cheap in first cost and quickly
erected, but it is seldom, if ever, blocked by debris,
snow, or ice, and is nearly an ideal transportation
svstem.
W?7777777777777r777777Zr7777777777777777777777777f//
rig. I. Balanced Cable Crane. with Load at Cen+c-
Tig. 2. Skip moving Towards Left- Hand Shears
factor of Safety * 5
f
V///777777? '////)/ '///5.
Fig. 3. Skip at Shears and dumoinq Load.
The Balanced System of Aerial Transpoitation.
These cable-hoist conveyors are distinguished from
ordinary wire ropeways in the fact that they are
designed to move at any one time single loads of sev-
eral tons over comparatively short distances
plants may be either simple
conveyors, such as used in
transferring ore across ra-
vines or materials across
rivers, or they may par-
take of the nature of
hoists as well, and in this
adaptation is found their
widest application for the
loading and unloading of
vessels and similar service.
Those installations
adapted to hoist as well
as to convey the load are
of two types, one appli-
cable to inclines only, in
which the carriage de-
scends by gravity, and the
other applicable to either
horizontal lines or lines
where the inclination is not
sufficient for the carriage
to descend by gravity
alone, in which the hoist-
ing and conveying are done
by separate ropes. The
track cables rest upon
saddles of hard wood or
iron, forming the peaks of
the supports in either case,
and are anchored firmly at
each end, a turn buckle,
or "take up," usually
being provided at one of
these anchorages for main-
taining the proper deflec-
tion. The supports are
pyramidal towers of wood
or iron, as preferred, al-
though in many cases,
especially if the loads do
not exceed two tons in
weight, there are "A"
frames, or masts, guyed
with wire ropes and in
some cases these towers
are mounted upon trucks
so that the installation
may be shifted, this being
a desirable feature for
some work. Electric mo-
tors, as well as steam
engines, are utilized for
operating the lioes and
towers of cable hoist con-
veyors and these labor-
saving devices are coming
more extensively into use. The accompanying
diagrams show the arrangement of the balanced
cable cranes for handling excavated material at
Davenport, Eng., and Zambesi Falls, South Africa.
It may be of interest to consider some of the details
in connection with the balanced cable crane as well
as some of the advantages claimed for the same over
the old style cablteway.
It is claimed that the balanced cable crane noted
in the accompanying drawing is so designed that it
offers no more resistance to the traveling car than if
These > the cable were as straight as a string. The bai-
Supporting Tower of Wire Rope Friction Grip Tramway.
anced cableway has suspended counterweights that
take the place of fixed anchors, and it has inclined,
oscillating towers, or shears, pivoted at the lower
end, the weight of the cable and car with its load be-
ing held in equilibrium by the counterweights. It is
held that in the balanced cableway equilibrium is
automatically maintained by the counterweights and
the oscillating towers, or shears, in some such a way
December 23, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
431
as a counterbalanced window, the electric motor con-
veying the load along the balanced cableway, there
being very little resistance to the rolling car on such
an aerial cable. It is held that the counterweights
entirely eliminate the dead load as they descend with
the shears, as the car moves toward them, while the
opposite shears and weights ascend. As the loaded
carriage reaches the shears, the opposite counter-
weight is at a maximum point and the cable is prac-
tically horizontal.
Steam, gasoline and other engines are utilized for
power with the balanced cable system, and, also,
electric power. In the latter the car that travels
on the cableway is virtually a self-contained trolley
car. The electric motor does not have to lift the
Colo., there is an automatic system operated by the
American G. M. Co., having a span 2100 feet in
length, and another automatic tramway at Park-
City, Utah, operated by the Silver King M. Co. The
accompanying illustration shows the supporting
towers of the aerial wire rope, friction grip tram-
ways. One of these automatic aerial wire rope
tramways, with its towers and cables, is shown in
the accompanying illustration as operated at En-
campment, Wyo., by the North American Copper
Co. This tramway is the longest in the country, hav-
ing a total length of 16 miles, and passes over the con-
tinental divide, or watershed, at an altitude of 10,0a0
feet. The highest tower installed on this tramway is
69 feet high and the elevation of the rope saddle
usually supported on towers built of wood, although
steel construction is sometimes employed and the
number of the towers, their heights and the space
employed depend on the profile of the ground. The
track ropes rest on long bearing saddles placed on
the tower while the traction rope is supported by
guide sheaves placed directly below. The saddles
are usually of special construction and arranged to
prevent auy sharp bends in the rope when the car-
rier wheels are passing over the tower, self lubri-
cating phosphor bronze bushings being employed at
the sheaves, requiring no oil. The grooves of the
tower sheaves and the shape of the flanges are such
as to accommodate the shape of the clip on the
traction rope so that this rope always rests in the
Tension Station on the Tramway of the Penn Copper Company, Encampment, Wyoming.
Building an Aerial Tramway.
Tower on Line of an Aerial Tramway.
Automatic Aerial Tramway of the San Juan Gold Mining Company at Telluride, Colorado.
weight in moving toward the shears, as the dead
load of the car is entirely counterbalanced, and elec-
tric power is now almost universally available in
mining installations, as it is utilized !to advantage
for not only electric hoists, but electric ventilators,
underground pumping plants and other mining
apparatus.
At the Zambesi river plant, in South Africa, just
below the Victoria Palls, there is a balanced cable-
way having a span of 870 feet and a capacity of ten
tons per load, the cable being 2f inches in diameter.
The electric motors used on the balanced cableways
have a capacity of from 30 to 60 H. P., according to
the size of the cables used and the loads to be car-
ried.
There are a great many cableways in operation in
the Western mining districts of the United States,
which are of more than passing interest. At Ouray,
above the sea level is about 10,000 feet. These tow-
ers are spaced at intervals varying from a few feet
to as great as 2300 feet, there being three long spans
on the upper section of the tramway, ranging in
length from 1800 feet to 2300 feet.
A similar aerial wire rope tramway is utilized at
Telluride by the San Juan 6. M. Co., also at Silver-
ton, B. C, by the Wakefield M. Co. These automatic
aerial cableways are of the double rope type, in
which the carriers travel upon a stationary track
cable and are propelled by an endless traction rope.
The operation is automatic, thereby reducing the
labor required in handling the material to a mini-
mum and insuring a larger carrying capacity within
a given time. It is customary in practice to
divide a long tramway into several sections, de-
pending upon various conditions, such as length,
capacity and gradients encountered. The cables are
sheave, whether a bucket is passing over a tower
or not. The grip used to attach the carriers to
the traction rope is placed in a yoke in a pendant
in such a manner as to allow the grip to revolve
freely and follow the inclination of the traction rope
in passing over a steep grade. In order to draw
them together as the cable wears, the jaws are ad-
justable, so that a firm grip on the rope may be
had at all times. A lever is so arranged for man-
ipulating the grips that they automatically open at
the terminal by means of a detacher frame. A
double toggle, or cam, directly connected to the
lever and movable jaw provides the means for clamp-
ing the rope tightly. It is stated that these grips
will not slip on the cable owing to the enormous
power developed, no matter how steep the grade
or how heavy the load. At the upper terminal the
track cables are permanently anchored, being con-
432
Mining and Scientific Press.
December 23, 1905
nected by a rail over which the carriers travel from
one cable to another. The traction rope passes
around a sheave or series of sheaves of large di-
ameter, to which brake rings are bolted to control
the speed of the tramway when the downward tend-
ency due to force of gravity of the loaded buckets
is sufficient to operate the tramway. When power
is required it is applied to the line by means of
gearing attached to the terminal shaft. On the
frame work of this terminal is placed a detacher
and also an attacher frame, which either automatic-
ally detaches the incoming buckets from the line as
they enter this station, or attaches them to the
traction rope when leaving the terminal.
The track cables at the lower terminal are at-
tached to weight boxes for keeping the tension on
these cables uniform. The traction rope passes
around a single sheave mounted upon a journal,
which slides in a frame and to this frame is attached
a weight box, in order to maintain the traction
cable at a uniform tension. Connecting rail, at-
tachers, and detachers are used at this station in a
similar manner as at the upper end.
In long lines tension stations are provided, as may
be found necessary. The track cables are parted,
one section being connected to a weight box, or
other means, for maintaining a uniform tension and
the second section being permanently anchored. A
short section of rail connects the two cables for the
buckets to operate over. The -traction rope con-
tinues by this station and is not parted but guided
over the frame by guide sheaves. Buckets passing
over a tension station do so at regular speed and
without attendance.
Under certain conditions single line tramways are
utilized to advantage and are recommended for
light capacity, single endless wire rope being util-
ized, to which buckets or carriers are attached at
intervals, depending on the capacity of the tram-
way. A single line wire rope tramway of this type
is in operation at Chinese Camp, Cal., at the mines
of the Eagle-Shawmut M. Co. The cables are sup-
ported on towers about 200 feet apart, longer
spans being utilized where the contour of the ground
requires it. The buckets have a capacity of 2}
cubic feet, two types being used, one having a drop
bottom, to which is attached a counter weight, in
order to again bring the bottom in its proper po-
sition after discharging, and the other being of the
revolving type similar to those used on double rope
systems, and being discharged by coming into con-
tact with a dumping bar at the terminal.
A Novel Hoisting Installation.
In Belgium, at one of the large coal mines, an inno-
vation has been installed in the arrangements for
hoisting, and is thus described and illustrated in
Page's Weekly.
The existing power station situated at the Esper-
The current was conveyed to St. Nicholas by two
three-wire overhead lines of bare copper conductors.
In order to ascertain in the present case what
would be the most favorable system, two complete
propositions were worked out on different lines. In
one proposition direct driving by means of a three-
phase motor, and in the other proposition a motor-
generator to supply a continuous current winding
motor, were proposed. Similarly, the use of flat
aloe-fibre ropes with reels, as in the existing steam
plant, and an alternative of steel ropes with pulley,
were considered for each case.
The decision finally rested with the latter, for its
adoption permitted of the setting round of the winding
plant, in reference to the shaft itself, by an angle of
90°. This course provided valuable space for
erection of the new coal-washing plant, and, in addi-
tion, enabled the winding plant to be laid down in a
space otherwise useless.
In the choice of electrical system, it was necessary
to take into consideration the fact that the hoisting
height was comparatively small, and that on account
of the stop at an intermediate stage, starting of the
winding motor would have to take place twice per
journey. Employing a three-phase winding motor,
therefore, the loss in the starting resistance would be
proportionately higher than if winding from a greater
depth, and from the lowest stage only. The plant in
the existing power-station would have no longer been
sufficient fo supply the necessary power at the
starting and acceleration period of the winding
motor.
For several reasons it was decided, in spite of the
more complicated and more expensive arrangements
of plant, to install a continuous- current winding
motor with a motor-generator set and flywheel, or
so-called Ilgner converter, interposed between the
three-phase supply mains and the winding motor.
For the immediate winding requirements from 1200
feet depth, the conditions are as follows:
Effective load per journey 5,300 1b"
Weight of cage and attachments 4.000 lb.
Weight of the four tubs 2.200 lb.
Weight of flat wire rope. 33£ in. by % in 3 82 lb. per ft.
Diameter to theKoepe pulley About 10 ft.
Winding speed 1,600 ft. p.m. (later to be 2,000 ft. p.m.)
Revolutions per minute of winder 51 (later to be 64)
The moment of inertia of the masses to be acceler-
ated amounts to 31,000 foot-pounds.
When on the lowest stage two full skips are loaded
and at the 1120-foot stage the second deck of the cage
is also loaded.
Id the determination of the design of the converter
set it was decided that, in
order to control the speed of
the converter and flywheel,
a fixed resistance should be
inserted into the rotor circuit
of the motor. Although the
use of a variable resistance
can control the power con-
sumption from the three-
phase mains so as to make the
uniformity of the demand on
the power station still higher,
it was decided against, in the
present case, in order to
avoid all unnecessary compli-
cations, and it was also shown
that the maximum current
demanded would be within the
permissible limits for the pri-
mary generator plant.
Arrangement of Head Frame at Esperance et Bonne Fortune Mine, Belgium.
ance Pit consisted of three direct-coupled sets each
of 225 kilowatts, the steam-engine output amounting
to 300 H. P. per engine. The working voltage was
1,000 v. and the frequency 44 cycles. Connected to
the power station were underground pumps at the
Esperance and St. Nicholas pits, each of 125 H. P. ;
ventilators and sundry services absorbed another "Z50
H. P., so that altogether 250 H. P. was spare.
Filter Pressing Slimes.
In the issue of November 25,
last, there appeared herein,
on page 367, a brief descrip-
tion of the filter press de-
signed by C. W. Merrill to
treat the large amount of
slimes from the Homestake
mills at Lead, South Dakota.
It should have been stated in
that article that this filter
press and several modifica-
tions of the principles and op-
eration of the machine were
patented by Mr. Merrill, and
that the cuts illustrating the
same were after the original
drawings deposited in the
patent office. Application for
patent for the device de-
scribed in the issue referred
to was made January 2, 1904,
and was numbered 798,200.
Patent issued Aug. 29, 1905.
The mention of this fact was
an oversight, and has led
some to believe that the Mer-
rill filter press was subject
to use by any one without restriction, when quite the
contrary is the fact.
There are no dikes intruding the limestone
strata in the lead zinc region of Missouri and
Arkansas or of Wisconsin. The ores occur in flat
sheets, irregular chambers, and fissures in the lime-
stone.
Triumph Common Sense Elevator.
The cut below shows one of the Triumph common
sense slow speed elevators, built by the C. O. Bart-
lett & Snow Co., Cleveland, O., used in the zinc mines
of the Joplin district, Mo., for hoisting ore from the
bottom of the mine to the crusher bins above. It is
300 feet between centers, 260 feet of which extends
under the ground to the level of the mine floor. It
is hoisting 500 tons of ore per day of ten hours. It
is operated without any attendants. The ore is
dumped into a hopper near the bottom of the el-
evator from the regulation mine cars, and is au-
tomatically fed to the elevator, and in turn dis-
charged into the crusher bins at the head.
Triumph Elevator.
The buckets are of the overlapping type, made of
malleable iron, 24 inches long, which are carried
by two strands of Triumph drop forged steel chain
with 1J inch steel axles, to which are fastened chilled,
dust proof, oil chambered track wheels, 6 inches in
diameter, running on heavy T rails.
The elevator is driven by an alternating current
motor, and is provided with an automatic safety
brake, which prevents it from running backward in
case the power is cut off.
The cost of raising ore by this elevator is said to
be one quarter the cost of the old method. It is
claimed to be less than \ cent per ton. It can be
built of different lengths and of any capacity.
THE PROSPECTOR.
The samples from Independence, Cal., are deter-
mined as follows: No. 1, micaceous (specular) iron, a
variety of hematite; No. 2, same as No. 1, and is cov-
ered with an iridescent film, probably due to the pres-
ence of a small amount of copper. It resembles some
varieties of bornite (copper sulphide), but contains
little or no copper. No. 3 is quartz, somewhat cor-
roded by mineral solutions, which have removed a
portion of the original constituents, probably pyrite.
No. 4 is jasperoid and siliceous iron ore. It also con-
tains pyrite, which clearly indicates the origin of the
siliceous limonite. Both Nos. 3 and 4 may be gold
bearing.
The white rock from White River, Cal., is white
quartz, probably from a coarse-grained granite vein
— pegmatite. It is without value.
The sample of ore from the Three Friends tunnel,
near Pony, Montana, is quartz, evidently occurring
in granite or diorite. It contains sulphide minerals.
Its value cannot be determined by "The Prospector."
It should be assayed for gold and silver.
An alloy of two parts of aluminum and one part of
zinc is equal to good cast iron in strength, and supe-
rior to it in elastic limit, says the Lead and Zinc
News. Its color is white. It takes a fine, smooth
finish and does not readily oxidize. It melts at a dull
red heat or at a heat slightly below, and is very
fluid, running freely to the extremities of the mould
and filling perfectly small or thin parts; in that
respect it is said to be superior to brass, but is brit-
tle, and hence unsuited to pieces which require the
toughness possessed by brass. The tensile strength
of the alloy is approximately 2^,000 pounds per
square inch, and its specific gravity 3.S.
December 23, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
433
I Mining and Metallurgical Patents.*
* *
PATENTS ISSDED DECEMBER S. 1900.
Specially Reported and Illustrated tor the MINING AND
SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
Mining Machine. — No. 805,685; J. Swanson, Mys-
tic, Iowa.
Device of character described, having pair of
superposed cutting disks having toothed peripheries,
teeth of each of disks being bent alternately in oppo-
site directions and teeth of one disk being opposite
spaces between those of other, alternate teeth of re-
spective disks being parallel, and a small cutting
disk disposed beneath lowermost of first mentioned
disks and having toothed periphery.
Process op Recovering Sulphur — No. 805,701;
R Baggaley, Pittsburg. Pa.
Method of obtaining sulphur, which consists in
passing sulphur-bearing fumes from smelting furnace
through combustible screen of waste material and
depositing sulphur thereon, and then burning screen
and subliming and collecting sulphur.
Furnace for Repining Copper. — No. 805,834; R.
Baggaley, Pittsburg, Pa.
Oscillating water-jacketed furnace adapted to re-
fine copper having removable roof-section, means for
heating furnace, working door at one end thereof
suitable for insertion of refining instrument, tuyere
below surface level of charge to be refined, means for
supplying hydrocarbon gas to tuyere, and means for
oscillating furnace to empty refined charge.
Apparatus for Dissolving and Separating Val-
ues Contained in Ores, Etc. — No. 805,880; C. H.
Rider, St. Louis, Mo.
Device of class described, consisting of single closed
tank divided into compartments by partitions ar-
ranged to admit passage of suitable agents, such as
gas, fluid or air to bottom of first compartment up-
wardly through compartment, then to bottom of
second compartment and upwardly through second
compartment, and so on through series; air tight
manholes in tops of compartments; air tight doors in
sides thereof; and air tight tank arranged to receive
liquid from compartments, there being connections
between receiving tank and top of last compartment;
and there being connections between receiving tank
and bottom of each compartment.
Metal Separator for Ore Concentrating Plant.
-No. 806 414; H. C. Krause, Point Mills, Mich.
p 1
X 1
1
J
,:.fH
In metal separator for ore concentrating plants,
combination of hopper having funnel-shaped parti-
tion which terminates at bottom in contracted dis-
charge opening between top and bottom of hopper
and forms with lower part of hopper, receptacle for
metal and heavy concentrates passing through dis-
charge opening when opening at lower end of hopper
is closed, and trap connected with lower part of hop-
per and provided at upper and lower ends with
valves, and water supply connection leading into hop-
per between partition and upper valve.
Rock Boring Machine.— No. 806,128; H. Flott-
mann, Bochum, Germany.
In valve gears for engines driven by compressed
air and like driving mediums in combination with
cylinder and single working piston therein valve
casing, valve piston located therein and having en-
larged heads at both ends and reduced middle por-
tion, admission port, channels H, H' leading from ad-
mission port to spaces at both sides of valve piston,
other channels K, K' leading at opposite sides into
working cylinder space and exhaust openings M, M'
corresponding in position with openings L, 1/ of
channels K, K' into working cylinder.
Magnetic Separator for Ores —No 805,448;
H. P. Campbell, Melrose, Mass.
In magnetic ore separating machine combination
of magnet, flat table composed of non-magnetic ma-
terial located beneath magnet and secured against
movement in plane of surface of table, means for jar-
ring table without bodily raising and means for caus-
ing film of comminuted ore of substantially uniform
thickness to travel along table and for presenting
ore to action of magnet while separated from poles
by intervening space.
Apparatus for Lixiviation Processes.'
635; A. W. Constans, Nelson, Canada.
-No 805,
In machine of class described, in combination, re-
ceptacle for matter having suitable elevating means
and filter of woven material therein arranged on
slats having wire netting corresponding in surface
area and covering filter and secured to slats, and
means for distributing matter over said netting.
Filter Press.— No. 806,491; R. Pick, Buffalo N. Y.
In filter press, plate having on sides horizontally
arranged projections, vertically arranged projec-
tions, and angularly arranged projections, and arms
extended at upward angle from lower front corners
of plates.
■iM
Mining and Scientific Press.
December 23, 1905.
Smelting of Magnetic Iron Ore by-
Electricity.
As the result of experiments in the concentration
of black sands, which he conducted at the Lewis and
Clark Centennial Exposition in Portland, Or., during
the past summer, Dr. David T. Day of the United
States Geological Survey, makes the noteworthy
statement that conditions for the production of steel
by electricity are fully as good in Oregon as they are
in Germany, where pig iron has been obtained in sim-
ilar electric furnaces at slightly lower cost than in
ordinary blast-furnace practice.
A preliminary report on the subject of smelting by
electricity the magnetic iron ores obtained from
various points on the Pacific beach has been sub-
mitted by Dr. Day to the Director of the Geological
Survey.
After considerable correspondence with the paten-
tees of various forms of electric furnaces, arrange-
ments were made with the Wilson Aluminum Company
of New York for the services of C. E. Wilson, their
expert in electrical smelting. Mr. Wilson arrived in
Portland on October 11, and at the end of one week
had erected a small but efficient electrical furnace,
and was making steel. He had procured in the East
25 carbon electrodes — each 48 inches long and 4 inches
square— such as are ordinarily used in electric fur-
naces. The rest of his equipment was obtained in
Portland from materials kept in stock or easily made
at a foundry.
In building the furnace a course of ordinary Car-
negie fire bricks was laid upon the ground. Upon
this single course was laid a cast-iron plate, i inch
thick, 3 feet long and 3 feet wide. On this was placed
an oval sheet-iron drum of No. 16 iron 3 feet long by
3 feet high. The sides of this drum were lined with
fire bricks to form a crucible 18x18 inches and 24
inches high. The bottom of the crucible was covered,
from the east-iron plate up to the tapping hole, with
broken carbon electrode. The carbon electrode to
carry the current was suspended by a pulley above
this furnace and connected with a balanced axle and
wheel by which it could be readily raised or lowered.
The top of the furnace was covered with two double
plates of riveted wrought iron, between which cold
water was run. In the center of this water-jacketed
cover an opening was left sufficient to allow the free
play up and down of the carbon electrode. This fur-
nace is referred to as "Small Furnace," or "Fur-
nace A."
Power for Furnace A. — Through the co-operation
of the Portland G-eneral Electric Company, a special
wire, bearing a 2300-volt alternating current, was
run from the city supply to the smelter. This was
carried into a series of six transformers and yielded a
current varying from 50 to 20 volts by 1000 to 20U0
amperes.
Initial Run oe Furnace A. — On the afternoon of
October 17, a current of 57 volts and 1000 amperes
was passed through the furnace and the arc estab-
lished. The furnace was then fed with a mixture of
magnetite, coke and lime. This consisted of 200
pounds of magnetite, obtained from the sand at Ham-
mond Station, near Astoria, Or., at the mouth of the
Columbia river; 44 pounds of "Fairfax" coke, which
contained about 25% of ash; and 24 pounds of lime.
About 50 pounds of this charge was slowly introduced
into the furnace, and within an hour there was
tapped from the furnace 70 pounds of steel, which
contained 8% of iron and 53% of titanic acid.
On the following day the furnace was again heated
and filled with a mixture similar to that used on the
first run, except that it contained less lime. Steel
was successfully cast twice, making, for that day's
run of two hours, a product of 90 pounds of steel from
300 pounds of iron ore. This gives the furnace a
capacity, . on a continuous run, of 1440 pounds in 24
hours.
Composition op Charge.— The iron ore fed to the
furnace showed the following percentages of mag-
netic oxide, of titanic acid, manganese, and undeter-
mined matter:
ANALYSIS OF COLUMBIA RIVER CONCENTRATES.
Fe304 .' 79.06
Ti02 16.00
Mn02 r 2.45
Silica, moisture and undetermined matter 2 . 49
It will be noted that the heat was sufficient to keep
the entire slag in a fluid state whether much or little
titanic acid was present. It is evident also that no
titanium went into the iron. Instead of the steel
usually obtained, the charge of October 20, as shown
by the analysis of that day, gave what was practically
pig iron.
Nature op Slags Obtained prom Furnace A. —
The slags first obtained consisted of fused iron sili-
cates, fused oxide of iron, and silicate of titanium.
Later in the experiments these slags grew lighter in
color and in specific gravity. It became possible also
to lessen the quantity of slag produced, which was
unduly large owing to the great quantity of ash in the
coke. The coke used showed on analysis 41% of ash.
It is difficult to procure in this locality coke that is
well adapted to metallurgical needs.
Furnace B. — Experiments with the small furnace
having been successful, it was thought desirable to
build a larger furnace, with thicker walls, in which
higher temperatures might be obtained and main-
tained. An iron plate 2 inches thick, 5 feet wide and
6 feet long was therefore procured and laid upon two
courses of fire brick, to form the base of a furnace,
on which was set a wrought-iron cylindrical shell £
inch thick, 5 feet in diameter and 4 feet high. This
was lined with fire brick, the bottom having the
usual lining of one course of carbon electrode bricks
4 inches in diameter. Two carbons clapped together
with a water-jacketed head or clamp formed the elec-
trode for introducing the current. The voltage was
run up as high as possible — that is from 75 to 90 volts,
the limit of the current obtainable over the wires.
In all respects except these mentioned, this second
furnace is identical with the first.
Iron ore from Aptos, Bay of Monterey, California,
was smelted in this furnace on November 10. This
iron ore is very fine grained and contains a notable
percentage of manganese, much of which goes into
the steel. It is not so rich in titanium as the other
sands that had been used. From the start this fur-
nace made a satisfactory run, maintaining easily a
high temperature and turning out a very smooth
product. After a few trials the slag became as light
in color as that from any well regulated blast furnace.
The later products of steel were much denser than
those first made, which would seem to indicate that,
at the higher temperature, the process of reduction
is complete, even in the short time that elapses be-
tween the beginning of reduction and the tapping. In
every case, however, small blow holes were observable
in the steel. These were due to gases which formed
wherever grains of magnetite were still entangled in
the steel in process of reduction. The capacity of
this furnace with a current of 125 volts, 1200 amperes,
would be 2000 pounds in 24 hours.
Obituary.
a?************ ************** ***********
*
*
*
*
Jt<f4fpi}»tpt^ifi<f.l£l$i <fi<fi,!p.pif,i$.if.$.if1^.<f 4ft «£ .flip <fit|ji$iffi«fi tfffitfil^tp <$>£
. H. H. Officer, formerly of Leadville, was suffocated
by sulphuric fumes arising . from ores which he was
testing at Salt Lake City, Dec. 15.
J. D. McGillivray, a well-known mining engineer
and journalist, died in San Francisco, December 19, from
cancer, aged 49 years. He resigned as editor of the
Mining and Scientific Press at the time of the
Klondike excitement to represent the New York Herald
in Alaska. .
Personal*
as********* ************** *************
*
*
*
*
B ft,
Jas. W. Neill is in Shasta county.
George Robinson is at Vancouver.
H. Vincent Wallace is at Los Angeles.
Thos. B. Stearns, of Denver, is in New York.
Charles Butters is on his way to Mexico City.
F. P. Andreas of Boise, Ida., is in Chloride, Ariz.
Ira P. Boss, Silverton, Colo., is in New York City.
A. F. Holden of Salt Lake City is in San Francisco.
Olof Wenstrom is on his way from Boston to Mex-
ico City.
Bernard Cunniff, of Prescott, Ariz., is in San
Francisco.
ROSS E. Browne is in London, having returned from
South Africa.
Joseph Hyde Pratt has gone to Arizona on an en-
gineering trip.
F. W. Baker, chairman of the Venture Corporation,
is in New York.
F. Lynwood Garrison has returned to Philadelphia
from Santo Domingo.
C. L. Shaw is superintendent Arizona Mines Company
at Casa Grande, Arizona.
RegisChauvenet of Denver recently examined coal
lands in southern Colorado.
W. L. Austin of New York has gone to Clifton, Ariz.,
where he will remain for several months.
H. J. Sheafe of New York City has finished an ex-
amination of mines at Searchlight, Nevada.
Frank Woodbury has returned to Beverly, Mass.,
from Silverton and Red Mountain, Colorado.
W. R. Wade has been made superintendent Azure
Mining Company at Silver City, New Mexico.
C. McDermid, secretary of the Institution of Mining
and Metallurgy, London, is visiting New York.
C. M. Woods, manager Denver Fire Clay Co., Den-
ver, Colo., is in New York City for a few weeks.
Arthur Lakes, Jr., is superintendent Bullwhacker
mine of Alturas M. Company, near Hailey, Idaho.
R. D. SEYMOUR, Denver, Colo., representative the
Trenton Iron Company, is at Trenton, New Jersey.
Frederick Grundy is returning to Los Angeles
after examining mines in southern Mexico and Chihua-
hua.
Carl Davis, formerly superintendent Centre Star
and War Eagle mines at Rossland, B. C, is in South
Africa.
Courtenay DE Kalb has left San Francisco to ex-
amine mine9 at Guadalupe y Calvo in Chihuahua,
Mexico.
E. W. Averill and W. W. Tuxbury of Amesbury,
Mass.,, have returned there from the Red Mountain dis-
trict, Colorado.
O. H. Fairchild has charge of putting up the new
cyanide mill of the Inter-Ocean Mining Company at
Boulder, Colorado.
John Weir, president Nevada -Utah Mines &
Smelter Corporation, has returned to New York City
from Salt Lake City.
A. E. Weinberg has finished examining mines in the
Etheridge district of North Queensland and is at Syd-
ney, New South Wales.
Geo. Gunn, with the American Smelting & Refining
Company, has returned to Salt Lake City from inspect-
ing properties at Ely, Nevada.
C. E. Fryberger, for some time past with the Colo-
rado Iron Works Company, Denver, Colo., has been
made manager of the mine and mill of the Wheeling
Milling Co. at Mine La Motte, Missouri.
record of daily runs of furnace a.
%
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1904.
Lbs.
Lbs.
Lbs.
Lbs.
Lbs.
Lbs.
Lbs.
Lbs.
"Lbs.
Lbs.
V,
>7
1000
200
44
24
268
70
1.80
76.40
14.66
2 86
;
7
1000
300
60
SO
390
90
200
2.10
76 40
14.14
3.33
!
>7
1800
97
19
8
124
23
125
1.20
137.53
2.01
4.22
4....
October 20.
!
.7
20 0
91
21
4
116
120
88
3.50
152 81
9.42
.76
5...
October 21.
!
)7
1800
'SO
74
7
231
23
115
2 30
137.53
2.01
6.52
October 21 .
October 23.
!
1
)7
)7
18' 0
1200
103
500
27
100
24
1S1
634
106
247
105
410
3.20
2.80
137.53
91.68
9.25
8.08
1.03
7....
10
2.03
8....
October 25.
i?
1200
202
40
12
12
266
38
150
3.50
91. 6f
3.31
5.32
9...
October 26.
1
5
800
298
60
30
10
398
122
120
4.00
123.32
23.75
2.44
10....
October 27.
> 1
5
1200
800
160
96
1056
263
318
2.00
184.98
6.83
3.04
1018
2)0
400
1.50
184. K
8.65
4.00
12
October 31.
) 1
15
1200
1200
1
f5
1
3
1487
5
re '
280
3.00
184.98
14.92
2.09
RECORD OF DAILY RUNS ON FURNACE B.
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1904.
Lbs.
Lbs.
Lbs.
Lbs
Lbs.
Lbs.
Lbs.
Lbs.
1
November 10 . . .
4
100
1200
1000
200
160
1360
480
250
2.00
160.86
17 91
2.08
2.....
November 11. ,.".
7
75
1600
1000
250
48
1298
175
312
3.69
160.85
3.69
05.71
3. ...
November 14
9
80
2000
868
154
18
1030
450
457
6.00
214.47
5 59
1.91
4
November 16
8
80
2000
.800
170
84
1054
alC25
500
8.00
214.47
14.34
6.7cT
a
Metal not all tapped.
t
ncludes metal no
t!
ipp
3d
ror
n r
re\
lOL
s r
in.
December 23, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
435
*
MINING SUMMARY.
*
* *
K+ + + .|. + + + .(..[. + + + .|-+.|. + .,.H..|..i. . ,..,..,. .T. + .|. + + + .[..|..I..|.H..|. „
Specially Compiled and Reported tor the MINING AND
SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
ARIZONA.
A canvass made of the copper producing companies of
Arizona shows that the year's output for 1905 may
aggregate 246,500,000 pounds. Montana heads the
column with an output estimated this year of 325,000,000
pounds, giving Arizona second place with 246,500,000
pounds and Michigan third place with an estimated pro-
duction of 225,000,000 pounds. The production as based
upon the output for the eleven months of the year with
December's production estimated gives the following
results for each of the individual producers:
Pounds.
Company— 1905.
Arizona Copper Co. 30,000.000
Arizona Commercial Co 760,000
Calumet & Arizona 34 .11110,000
Copper Queen Co 76,( 0 1,000
Detroit Copper Co 18 0011.0110
Imperial Copper Co 0,600 000
Lake Superior & Pittsburg 1.700,1
Pittsburg & Duluth 550.000
Shannon Copper Co 12.0011,000
Old Dominion Copper Co 30,000,000
United Verde Copper Co 3ii.oon.ooo
Miscellaneous 7,0011.1100
Pounds.
1901.
211,000,000
31,000 000
58,000 000
18.000,000
2,500.000
1 1.900,000
10,000,000
30,000,000
■1.000,0011
Totals 210,500,000
201,000,000
In the miscellaneous output are included the figures
represented by those other enterprises that had occasion
to ship their ores out to other smelters, principally to
the El Paso plant in Texas. The Arizona Commercial
Co. at Globe is planning to sink its main working shaft
from the 600 to the 800-foot level. At present the com-
pany is shipping 100 tons of sulphide ores to the Old
Dominion plant and thirty tons of silicon ores to the
Phelps-Dodge smelter at Douglas. Within four months
the property will he shipping 250 tons daily. At the
Calumet & Arizona Co. much improvement was accom-
plished during the year; a new furnace was blown in,
making four in commission, the latest addition having a
capacity of 300 tons per day. The new furnace will be
used largely on ore from the Lake Superior & Pittsburg
and PittBburg & Duluth companies, which are likewise
included in the Bonanza Circle group of mines. The
Copper Queen Co. has eight furnaces at Douglas, though
the management does not expect to have more than six
of these in commission at any one time. The company's
output is now averaging over 7,000,000 pounds of copper
per month. The Imperial Copper Co. plans a 300-ton
smelter upon the company's mines at Red Rock. Both
the Lake Superior and Duluth properties commenced
their active careers this year after having been opened
up in connection with the operations of the Calumet &
Arizona Co. at Bishee. The new Calumet & Arziona
furnace is taking their ore at Douglas. The Shannon
Copper Co. was delayed during the year through floods,
and the output will be at least 3,000,000 pounds leBS than
anticipated for 1905. The company intends putting in
its own converter in 1906.
Cochise Comity.
It is reported that the Black Mountain M. Co., of
Bisbee, will begin crushing low grade gold ore Jan-
uary 1. Mill and mine have been under construction
since October, 1904. The cyanide plant, for treating
tailings, will he ready in March next.
The 24x8-foot shaft of the Tombstone Con. Co. at
Tombstone, being sunk by three eight-hour shifts, has
been sunk 75 feet below the 800-foot level. They are
making on an average from 8 to 10 feet per week. The
pumping record has been increased, but the pumps have
no trouble in handling the water, which so far has not
interfered with the work. Most of the water is being
pumped from the sump on the 800, the water collecting
there from the various drifts on that level. The work
at the mill is rapidly being completed and the manage-
ment expects to be dropping stamps by January 1.
Graham county.
The Stevens Copper Co. has thirty men at work on its
properties 2 miles from Metcalf. The country rocks are
granite overlaid by Cambrian quartzite and Silurian
limestone, with much faulting and intrusive porphyritic
dykes, ores occurring near tho fault lines. C. E. Ste-
vens is superintendent. A survey has been commenced
for the tramway to connect the mines of the New Eng-
land & Clifton Co. with the Clifton smelters. It is un-
derstood that construction work on the road will be
commenced soon.
Mohave County.
A shipment of ore has been made from the Redemp-
tion mine at Chloride by R. J. Ferguson. The Queen
Bee and Keystone mines at Mineral Park, near King-
man, are being worked by J. Detar.- It is reported
that ore has been struck in a crosscut from the 270-foot
level of the West Gold Road mine at Vivian. The
Merrimac mine at Chloride is to he unwatered and work
resumed.
Yavapai County.
J. P. Caspar, superintendent of the Redman M. M.
& S. Co., near McCabe, intends putting in a gasoline
hoist. The company is drifting from the 200-foot level.
After the recent stockholders' meeting of the Stark G.
M. Co. at Massillon, Ohio, with mines in the Black Can-
yon district near Turkey, E. H. Smith, the president,
telegraphed to the agent of the company in Prescott
that it was decided to resume operations immediately
and instructed him to perform the annual assessment
work as well as to arrange other matters preparatory
to resumption. The Stark Co. owns the Hidden
Treasure gold mines, and has put up a 10-stamp mill
and cyanide plant.- The Pittsburg-Arizona M. Co.
has purchased a 60 H. P. engine, a compressor, two
power drills, a pump and a hoist, which will be put in
as soon as delivered. Operations will be resumed. The
properties of the Pittsburg-Arizona M. Co. are in the
Black Hills, near Jerome.
CALIFORNIA.
Butte County.
The Ohio Gold Dredging Co. of Los Angeles has
bought 900 acres of land on Butte creek, 8 miles east of
Chico, and have contracted for a dredger capable of
handling 3000 cubic yards daily.
Calaveras County.
(Special Correspondence). — The smelter of the Union
Copper M. Co. at Copperopolis has been started and is
running successfully. This company has the Union,
Keystone and Empire mines. G. McM. Ross is superin-
tendent.
Copperopolis, Dec. 20.
Kl Dorado County.
Development work is being pushed at the Rosencrans
mine, near Garden Valley. It is reported that an-
other rich strike has been made in the Beattie mine at
Georgia Slide. The Coloma M. Co. has been formed
by N. P. Bailey. P. D. Parker, C. L. Whipple. F. B.
Levitt and F. C. Farnell, all of Los Angeles. The
Lone Star mine, 5 miles east of Placerville, is running
under the management of William Rupley.
Mono County.
The Syndicate mine and mill, near Bodie, have been
closed down indefinitely. Lack of water has curtailed
operations at the Standard Consolidated mine.
Nevada County.
The New York-Grass Valley M. Co. expect to resume
work soon. Edwin Fernald has charge at Grass Valley.
Work at the Chicago mine, near Grass Valley, is
said to be promising.- The Union mine on Banner hill,
near Nevada City, is being pumped out.
The Gold Flat Con. Quartz M. Co. will reopen and de-
velop the Gold Flat mine, near Grass Valley, under the
direction of Mark B. Kerr. A double-compartment
shaft is down 370 feet, which will be changed to three
compartments from the 370-foot level to a depth of 600
feet. A raise will be put through from the 370 level to
the surface, enlarging that part of the shaft to three
compartments also. There is a 10-stamp mill on the
property.
At the monthly meeting of the Jenny Lind M. Co. of
Grass Valley, A. J. Rowe was elected superintendent
and F. J. Thomas to the board of directors. Retimber-
ing the lower tunnel will soon be finished. During this
period the mill will he put in shape to crush gravel.
The tunnel is now in 1400 feet, whence a raise of 200 feet
taps the gravel channel. From that point a shaft ex-
tends to the surface.
Shasta Connty.
The Bully Hill mine in the Pittsburg district has been
opened to a depth of 900 feet, the upper levels being
worked by tunnel and those below the 300 by shaft. It
was first opened as a gold mine, but with the develop-
ment of copper values operations were increased. The
compressors and hoist are run by electricity. The
Rising Star and Copper City mines are also furnishing
ore for the smelter. After heap roasting the ore is
treated in two McDougal calcining furnaces and two
42xl20-inch blast furnaces, giving a 35% to 50%. copper
matte which is converted to 98% blister copper and
shipped to the De Lamar refinery in New Jersey. J. B.
Keating of De Lamar is superintendent.
sierra County. 1
(Special Correspondence). — The Sierra Buttes tramway
at Sierra City has been finished and the new 40-stamp
mill has been started. They will soon have the old
20-stamp mill repaired and resume crushing with it.
R. Phelan has his electric plant nearly completed and
will soon be able to furnish power to mines in the Sierra
City district. The Mountain mine at Sierra City is
running forty stamps on good ore. The Sovereign
Co. of Downieville is blocking out ore and preparing to
build a mill in the spring. At the Telegraph mine,
near Downieville, the electric plant has been completed
and sinking has been started. The ' Gibsonville M. &
Dev. Co. has begun work on the Gibsonville ridge to de-
velop a part of the Thistle shaft channel. Power drills
are to be put in. A mill to crush the cement is planned.
Downieville, Dec. 20.
Siskiyou County.
At the Drummer Boy mine, on Cherry creek, 8 miles
southwest of Yreka, a 10-stamp mill is being put up.
The property consists of eight claims — the Drummer
Boy Extension, Antelope, Alice, Lily, Great Mogul, Ella
J. Morton and Whitney quartz lode claims, and E. W.
Emmons has charge of construction work. About 1000
feet of tunneling and raising have been done, chutes
have been put in and track has been laid. The Ball
mine, near Etna, has been acquired by the Cons. M. Co.,
who will develop it under the direction of W. H. Young,
superintendent King Solomon mine. At the Etbel-
lium hydraulic mine on Horse creek, near Yreka, the 5-
mile ditch and reservoir have been finished and hydraulic
mining will be started by Manager F. C. Dilherger.
The demurrer to the complaint in the case of C. A.
Mitchell and G. G. Skillen vs. G. V. Gray was recently
overruled in the Superior Court and defendant allowed
ten days in which to file an answer. This case involves
the ownership of the Lanky Bob mine in the Sawyer
Bar district. Skillen was the owner and gave an option
to Mitchell for $10,000, half of which was to be paid in
ninety days. Within a short time afterward he gave
another option on the same property to defendant, Gray,
for $12,000, Gray making a cash payment of $5000 and
taking possession of the property. It is charged in the
complaint that Gray obtained his option by misrepre-
sentation. Before the expiration of the first option
Mitchell tendered the $5000 stipulated in his contract
and asked for possession of the property. Acting under
advice of counsel Skillen accepted the money and then
tendered the amount to Gray and asked for a cancella-
tion of his contract. Gray refused and the present liti-
gation followed. Mitchell & Skillen brought suit to
annul the seco.nd contract and obtained an injunction-
against Gray, enjoining him from working, encumbering
or disposing of the property pending the decision of the
court. Defendant demurred to the complaint, setting
forth that it did not state a good cause of action. Tho
demurrer was overruled. Gray filed action to the com-
plaint on December 6, denying all allegations of fraud
and alleging that the first contract was a bare option,
revocable at will by Skillen, and that the owner availed
himself of that right when he gave the 6econd option.
Trinity County.
Robt. Hicks, superintendent of the Hunter mine, in
New River district, reached via Eureka or Denny, has
six men at work. The Mountain Boomer, in the same
district, owned by the Bob's Farm M. Co., of which
J. H. Byers is superintendent, has eight men at work.
The mill has been shut down owing to the scarcity of
water.
Tuolumne County.
J. H. Hall, superintendent Standard G. M. Co., plans
an increase in the force at the company's mines, 5 miles
southeast of Tuolumne. The track from the Hunter
mill to the Hardtack mine has been extended to the
Paymaster mine, and an air compressor has been put
in. The 5-stamp mill at the Los Angeles mine has
resumed crushing. The Confidence mill is running on
ore from the upper levels. Drifting is being continued
on the 900-foot level. A 5-stamp mill has been put in
at the North Star mine, southeast of Groveland. H.
Argall is superintendent.
Yuba County.
The Marysville Gold Dredging Co. has bought 170
acres on the Yuba river, east of Marysville, adjoining
lands now being dredged by the company. They have
one dredger at work and expect to finish another soon.
COLORADO.
(Special Correspondence). — Arrangements are being
made for building an electric line to be used for passen-
gers and freight between Denver and Littleton, a dis-
tance 01 12 miles. It is understood the line will extend
to a coal mine which is owned and controlled by the
company undertaking to build the road. From now
until next spring the usual number of fatalities may be
expected as a result of snowslides. Already a number
of deaths from slides have been reported. A coal
famine in Utah is helping many of the mines of Colorado
dispose of their output and in many cases increasing
the output of the coal mines. The railroads have been
asked to assist in relieving the situation. A large
electric power plant is being projected for Summit
county. It is the intention of the company to furnish
power to Leadville, in Lake county, as well as the mines
in Summit avid adjoining counties. It is understood the
Wilcox Co., operating near Georgetown and Silver
Plume, are at the head of the scheme.
Denver, Dec. 18.
Clear Creek County.
B. J. Hatmaker of Buffalo, N. Y., a stockholder in
the Covode M. Co., whose properties are on Miller
mountain near Empire, accompanied by A. Sylvester of
Georgetown, is inspecting the properties of the company
and making arrangements to resume operations.
£la£le County.
The Pittsburg Gold-Zinc M. Co., working the Iron
Mask group at Gilman, will build a zinc separating mill
at the base of the tramway and across Eagle river.
The waters of Fall creek have been appropriated and a
ditch and pipe line surveyed.
Grand County.
A new mining district, at the head of St. Louis creek,
about 5 miles south of Byers peak and about 14 miles
southwest of Fraser, has been discovered by O. T. Bibb
and John Troutt. It is tributary to the Moffat road
and gives promise of developing large deposits of low-
grade gold and copper-bearing ores. Owing to deep
snow, nothing can be done there this winter, but as soon
as it is possible to get there in the spring the discoverers
will prospect the ground thoroughly.
Gunnison County.
The 30-ton Maple Leaf cyanide mill at Sillsville, near
Gunnison, will soon be completed. Beyond Sillsville
at Cooper mountain, Colorado Springs people have put
in a stamp mill to treat ores from property in that belt.
The Cleveland Mines Operating Co. has leased the
Victor mine at Whitepine and has commenced develop-
ment. The main shaft on the property is 835 feet deep.
L. B. Stitzer is superintendent.
Huerfano County.
The Black Diamond coal mine, near Ruddy, has been
purchased by George Dick, William Dick, J. R. Dick
and F. R. Roof. The new owDers of the property have
changed the name to the Cucharas Coal Co. William
Dick will have active control, and the general office and
the company supply store will he in Walsenburg.
Lake County.
The 1100-foot drift connecting the Cloud City and the
Home Extension shafts, in Leadville, has been com-
pleted and cars are running from one mine to the other.
The connecting drift is 600 feet below the surface slop-
ing towards the Cloud City, so its pumps can carry off
the water. A cage is being built at the Home Exten-
sion. Hoisting is to be commenced. The north drift of
the Cloud City is to be extended.
The Penrose people at Leadville have succeeded in
placing the last large compound pump at the lower sta-
tion of the shaft, and the mine is now in a position to
control the water situation of the downtown section.
There are three large pumps at the station, one triple
expansion and two large compound, with a combined
capacity of 2500 gallons per minute. With the setting
of the pumps it is taken for granted that the water sit-
uation in the downtown section is controlled and that
properties in the neighborhood which desire to sink to
the depth of the Penrose can now do so without being
bothered with the water problem. The Penrose will
now start drifting toward the Coronado and to tvie
south to the end lines of the property, to develop the
•136
Mining and Scientific Press.
Deoembek 23, 1905.
ore that has been opened in the Coronado. When the
drift reaches the Coronado, nearly 1000 feet, it will be
beneath the shaft about 100 feet and an upraise will be
made to connect the two; the water from the Coronado
will then be diverted to the Penrose and this shaft will
be used as a pumping shaft to raise the water from the
different properties owned by the Western M. Co. in the
downtown section.
Two new furnaces are in course of construction at the
Arkansas Valley plant, and when completed will give the
plant eleven blast furnaces, which will help the condi-
tion at Leadville. It is understood that the smelting
trust will enlarge the Eilers plant at Pueblo at the be-
ginning of the year and bring it up to date. The Phil-
adelphia plant will not be put into commission, as it
would cost too much to remodel it. If the Eilers is en-
larged it will be of great benefit to Leadville, as a heav-
ier tonnage monthly will be the result.
Dolores County.
Preparations for sinking the Atlantic Cable shaft at
Rico have been completed. The tank has been put at
the 102-foot level to catch all surface water, and the
shaft has been protected by connecting the various drifts
in the 60-foot level with the watercourse which passes
through the mine at that level. The building around
the gallows frame has been enlarged. Jumbo No. 3
vein, of the Enterprise group of the United Rico Mines
Co., is making regular shipments of high-grade ore to
the Durango smelter.
til I pi ii County.
The Perigo mill in Gambell gulch, near Central City,
has been running on ore taken from the Perigo mine by
leasers.
Ouray County.
The forty-ounce gold ore recently struck on the
Hultana, near Ouray, gives promise of continuing. The
property is being worked by J. H. Henler under bond
and lease. A company is being organized to equip
and work the Sutton group on Mount Hayden, near
Ouray.
Work in the crosscut tunnel at the Bankers' National
mine, near Ouray, has stopped, the breast being 2200
feet from the mouth of the tunnel and the Modoc and
Babcock veins having been cut. J. R. McNeill is super-
intendent. Ore has been struck in the Midnight, one
of the Mineral Farm group, near Ouray, and owned by
W. J. Lucas of St. Louis. The ore was struck in the
shaft, which is 70 feet deep and was sunk at the breast
of the 240-foot tunnel. B. H. Dupraw is superintendent.
Routt County.
In the the spring a dredger will be started at Hahn's
peak, the first in the eastern end of the county. C. R.
Hutchinson and Samuel Stevens of Cripple Creek, who
have been developing a property near Hahn's peak,
have a ten-year lease from Michael Condelin and Charles
E. Blackburn on 125 acres of placer ground on Beaver
creek, near Bugtown, and intend to put in a steam
dredger with a capacity of 1000 yards a day.
San Juau County.
The Kendrick-Gelder smelter, north of Silverton, will
be blown in the first of the new year, after an idleness of
tbree years. Owing to the shut down, many of the
smaller producers of the camp have been unable to
operate because of the excessive freight rates on getting
their mineral to the outside smelters for treatment.
The smelter has been leased to a company headed by
William Buecherof Denver and the work of overhauling
the plant and getting things into shape for blowing in
has been commenced. Manager Buecher is personally
conducting operations. It is stated that the copper
matte furnaces of the smelter will be changed into lead
furnaces and that roasters will be built for the treatment
nf sulphide ores. Contracts are being closed with vari-
ous mine managers to supply the plant with ore. The
plant will be run independent of the smelter tru^.
J. H. Terry & Sons, owners and operators of the Sun-
nyside mines, near Eureka, have started a tunnel which
will be nearly a mile in length, to tap the Sunnyside at
a depth 1000 feet below the present workings. The bore
starts into Eureka mountain midway between the Sun-
nyside mill and the mine. It will probably take two
years to complete the work.
» The experimental 25-ton plant for the treatment of the
iron-copper product of the Silver Wing mine, which
has been under construction at the Silver Wing mill,
near Animas Forks district, for the past two months,
has been put into operation, and the results are said to
be satisfactory. The method of treatment is known as
the Waterbury leaching process, and consists of first
roasting the ores, where sulphur is contained; second,
by leaching with sulphuric acid, and third, the precipi-
tation with sheet steel. The first run of the new plant
was 10 tons of 7% copper ore, which was reduced to 95%
pure copper in the operation.
San Miguel County.
Near Ophir the mines are receiving their customary
winter development, and a few are making regular ship-
ments of ore to the smelters. G. B. Pickett, manager
of the Carbonero group, near Ophir, is shipping one and
two carloads a week to the smelter at Salida. Accord-
ing to James Real, who has charge of the Suffolk-Globe
group, near Ophir, owned by the Suffolk-Globe M. & M.
Co., leasers are developing and blocking out ore in that
property. The Suffolk 40-stamp mill will be started
soon on ore coming down over the wire rope tramway.
Work on the Badger tunnel, which is in 2400 feet, is
being continued with machine drills to cut the numer-
ous veins traversing the Suffolk-Globe group at depths
varying from 1000 to 2500 feet. It is hoped to cut
the Golden Crown vein by driving 400 feet further.
The Telluride Gold Mines Co., through R. H. Wilson of
Telluride, has let a contract for driving the cross-
cut tunnel on the Nellie Bly group 700 feet, when it is
expected to cut one of the principal veins. This property
is on Silver mountain, between the Suffolk-Globe group
on the Ophir side and the Gold King mine on the Tellu-
ride slope.
Another rich strike is reported to have been made in
King and Lindsey's lease on a portion of the Sheridan
mine, on ths same vein and adjoining the Smuggler-
Union on the north. They are making preparations to
begin sinking the Mendota shaft, which is down a dis-
tance of 360 feet, 300 feet deeper. After the workings in
the Sheridan are connected with the shaft, the product
can then be handled and delivered to the surface for
transportation over the tramway to the mill without
any hoisting. The output of King and Lindsey's lease
is supplying thirty stamps of the Smuggler-Union mills
with ore. These mills, located at the head of the valley,
2 miles above Telluride, are treating from 400 to 450 tons
daily. Robeson and Carter's lease on the Smuggler-
Union is keeping sixty stamps pounding, and Wager
Bros.' lease on the Smuggler and Sheridan dumps and
the Seventy-Six claim on the Smuggler vein is provid-
ing thirty more with mineral. The ore incidentally
encountered by the Goldfield-Rex M. Co. while prose-
cuting development, under its lease and contract, on
the Smuggler vein 2300 feet vertically under the sur-
face, supplies ten more stamps, and in a few days addi-
tional batteries will be started to dropping on the
product of the Pandora Gold M. M. & D. Co., which is
leasing the Pandora vein. The electric hoist which was
recently put underground in the Union shaft, in place of
the old steam plant, has been put in 'operation.
Summit County.
(Special Correspondence). — The Old Union M. & M.
Co. concentrate returns show from 38% to 40% zinc and
30% to 40% lead. The steam-heating system in the mill
has allowed running the plant in the coldest weather.
The management is preparing to put in additional jigs.
The main tunnel of the Old Union vein is in 1300 feet.
The first payment has been made by the Carrie M.
& M. Co. of Breckenridge on the Carrie mine, on Wise
mountain, near Breckenridge, to Westfall & Condon.
The Washington-Joliet M. & M. Co. are getting
their water works into shape to resume milling. The
Wellington mine, near Breckenridge, operated by the
Colorado & Wyoming Development Co., continues its
shipments of high-grade lead and zinc ores. The
Masontown M. & M. Co. of Frisco is arranging to sink
the main shaft to strike the main ledge of the mine in
the sulphide zone. A hoist and pumpiDg plant will be
put in. The main tunnel of the Square Deal M. & D.
Co. is in 150 feet. The North American MiDes Co. 's
main tunnel into the base of Peak 1 is in 520 feet.
The Mary Verne M. Co. 's main tunnel near Frisco is in
465 feet. — —The King Solomon Tunnel & Development
Co. has men drifting on the last ledge of ore cut through
by the main tunnel.
Breckenridge, Dec. 18.
Teller county.
William Seallars and B. M. Morrell, lessees on the
Geneva claim of Gold hill, Cripple Creek, have struck
good ore at a depth of 150 feet. Sinking an additional
100 feet has been started. Becker & Travell, who re-
cently took charge of the Homestake mill, on Ironclad
hill, Cripple Creek, expect to again have the plant run-
ning soon. Superintendent D. J. Burt of the Henry
Adney mine of Beacon hill gulch, near Cripple Creek, is
making big shipments of high-grade ore from the 400-
foot level. A lease on the Agnes property, on the
east slope and near the northern extremity of Beacon
hill, has been obtained by Brown and associates. The
lessees begin work in the north shaft, which has a
depth of 200 feet. They propose to add another lift of
50 feet. The granting of a lease to Sheehan, Day &
Co. on the Bonanza Queen No. 2 causes the Jerry John-
son G. M. Co. to have all of its forty-one acres of ground
under lease. The tract controlled by the company is
3500 feet long and about 850 feet wide, and beginning
with the Jerry Johnson No. 2 and extending in the
course of the exposed ore body to the Stratton estate at
the base of Globe hill. The leases are for three years,
with average royalties of 25%. B. Shell, S. D. Crump
and C. E. Harrison are crosscutting at a depth of 100
feet each from the shaft to cut a vein on the Little Joe
claim of the Alert Co., on Ironclad hill. The prospects
are very flattering for these lessees to get some good ore.
They are located near by the W. P. H., Jerry Johnson
and other well known producers. The Hummer M.
Co. of Loveland, operating on the Humboldt claim, on
the north slope of Bull hill, is employing two shifts. A
crosscut is being driven west. The Ironclad Leasing
Co., operating a lease on the Finn lode of the Royal Oak
Co., on Ironclad hill, has made its initial shipment from
the recent strike made at a depth of 200 feet. The drift
has been driven west for 75 feet. Another cyanide
mill is to be built by the Exposition Mines & Leasing Co.
on the site of the plant destroyed by fire several weeks
ago. W. S. Walker is manager. The destroyed plant
stood on the Los Angeles property of the Stratton es-
tate, at the southwest extremity of Bull hill. It had
been in operation but a few months" when destroyed,
along with the engine house and other buildings erected
by the lessee. Anew engine house is also to be built.
The new plant will probably have a maximum capacity
of 200 tons.
IDAHO.
Boise County.
The Black Pearl mill at Pearl has been in position for
a month, most of which time has been devoted to adjust-
ing the machinery. A loss of 2% of the values is
reported in the tailings. The cyanide process is proving
as successful as was hoped for. The main crosscut on
the 400-foot level in the mine has not yet reached the
large vein, but ore to supply the mill is being produced
from the ledge already opened. The Lincoln mill at
Pearl has been in operation since the first of October,
and during this time has demonstrated fully that the
cyanide treatment is the best and most economical
method of handling Pearl ores. The Osborne at Pearl
is preparing to put in a concentrating and cyanide mill
of the same type as is in operation at the Black Pearl
and Lincoln mines.
Idaho County.
The Syndicate M. M. & S. Co. has been formed, with
R. H. Hillen of Weiser as president and James Potter as
superintendent. The company will work the Syndicate
group in the Mountain V iew district, 90 miles north of
Weiser, on the western s lope of Seven Devils range, and
1 mile from Snake river, on Three creeks.
Shoshone County.
R. H. Pascoe, superintendent of the Federal M. & S.
Co. 's mines at Mace, has finished part of the shaft
repairs. The shaft in the Mace mines is down 2300 feet
vertical. This shaft had gradually become twisted and
drawn so that portions of the- wall plates had to be cut
away to allow the cages to pass through. In 1904 the
problem the management had to solve was the retim-
bering of 200 feet above the 400 station, and at the same
time maintain the regular daily output. This task was ac-
complished without closing the mine for a single shift. A
double-lined shaft was constructed, with an outer and
inner lining. The inner opening, through which the
cages are operated, has an open space all around it, and
is braced with heavy timbers against the outer wall.
Access to this space can be had at any time to repair
or replace the braces. ' In case of movement these can be
shortened on one side, thus relieving the shaft from any
side pressure. This mine works nearly 400 men, and
produces an average of 15,000 tons of ore daily. This
season Mr. Pascoe is retimbering another part of the
shaft between the 800 and the 600 levels. He is employ-
ing the same tactics he used in the work done last year,
except he is enlarging the compartments 8 inches to
give the cage more free space.
The Coeur d'Alene L. & S. M. Co. has been formed
by J. M. Porter and Walter J. Nicholls, both of
Spokane, Wash., to acquire ownership of the Kate,
Helen, Hannah and Mary lode claims, in the Hunter
mining district.
Nine Mile creek joins the South Fork of the Cceur
d'Alene river at Wallace. There are on the creek three
large concentrators. The nearest to Wallace is that of
the Pittsburg Lead Mining Co. The next belongs to the
Rex Co., the old Sixteen-to-One mine, and the third is
that of the Success Co., the Granite mine. The Pitts-
burg Lead Mining Co., which owns the California and
Black Cloud mines, also owns the Panhandle group, to
the east, and a group of fourteen claims located during
the past summer, to the west. At the California-Black
Cloud group, eighty men are employed in the mine and
mill. Two hundred tons of ore are produced daily and
600 tons of concentrates are shipped monthly to the
smelter. The mill has recently been rebuilt, is operated
by electrio and water power, and has been connected
with the Nine Mile branch of the Northern Pacific Rail-
road by a short spur. H. F. Samuels of Wallace organ-
ized the company working the Success. The ore carries
more zinc than lead, and the Success mill now saves
both the zinc and the lead. The Rex is being worked
under lease and contract by Theodore Anderson. The
mill is not in operation. Among mines in this district
being developed are the Tamarack & Chesapeake, the
Custer, the Ruth, the Treasure Vault, the Shoshone
and the mines of the Idaho-Los Angeles Co.
The Snow Storm mine, near Mullan, has been pro-
ducing copper for eighteen months. The average value
of the ore shipped has been 5% copper, seven ounces sil-
ver and $2 to $3 in gold. All of the ore shipped from
the Snow Storm mine has so far come from the No. 2
tunnel. This level, with the ore bodies above it, is
under lease to J. H. Howard & Co., who have developed
and equipped it. The lower workings of the mine are
being driven by the company, there being no lease on
this portion of their ground. The No. 3 tunnel cut the
ledge at a depth of 1072 feet and is being connected with
the No. 2 level by an upraise, about half completed, the
distance between the two levels being over 600 feet.
The No. 4 level, which will open the ledge at a depth of
1700 feet below the apex of the ore body, has been be-
gun and is now in several hundred feet. It will be over
3100 feet long. The leasers have equipped the mine
with a tramway from the No. 2 tunnel to the Northern
Pacific Railway siding of Larson, where their ore bins
are located and where they have also put up a leaching
plant, which is now making its preliminary trials. The
company is arranging for the purchase of an air com-
pressor.
Washington County.
The Iron Springs M. Co. has thirty men employed
and will use that force the entire winter. Its new mill
has been completed. The Gold Coin Co., operating at
Black Lakes, is well in with its 600-foot tunnel.
MONTANA.
Fergus County.
The Argus estimates that the metal production of
Fergus county for 1905 will be $1,300,000, this including
the gold from the two cyanide camps representing the
Kendall, Barnes-King and Gold Reef Cos. In addi-
tion to this, a number of shipments to the Helena
smelter were made by the Globe & Maginnis and War
Eagle, at Maiden. The Kendall shaft has been sunk
nearly 700 feet, under the direction of H. H. Lang. of
Kendall. Drifting is to be started from the 700-foot
level. Ore has been proven in the Moccasin Mountain
mine near Kendall by means of diamond drills, and the
mine is to be opened up under the direction of W. G.
Moore. There are 85 men at work at the Gold Reef
mine at Gilt Edge, under the management of H. M-.
Rae.
Granite County.
The Hope hoist, near Phillipsburg, has been started
up and work resumed in the Hope shaft, which was
abandoned several years ago on account of water. Since
then the water has practically disappeared, there being
scarcely 8 feet in the bottom of the shaft. When it was
decided to abandon work, the water rose so rapidly that
it flooded the pump and station before the machinery
could be hoisted to the surface. A. J. Jose and J. P.
Beaupre, former hoisting engineers at Granite, are in
charge of the hoist. The company is experimenting
with ore from the upper level in the shaft. It is base,
but carries fair values, including some copper. It is
stated that the company will make further tests with
concentration and for this purpose the west end of the
Hope mill is being reconstructed. The Tussle M. Co.,
operating the Wahlgren property at the head of Little
Gold creek, near Royal, is shipping regularly three cars
of ore per week. C. M. Schmille of Royal is running
a tunnel on the Mollie Gibson claim.
December 23, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
437
Silver Bow County.
(Special Correspondence). — The fear that the copper
deposits in the Butte district are growing poorer with
depth, and that they might in time become exhausted
entirely, has been dispelled by a strike made in the An-
aconda" mine at a depth of 2200 feet. For many months
the company was running a crosscut to the vein at that
depth, and recently cut into the ore body. The total
width at that point has not yet been demonstrated, but
it is believed to be between 30 and 50 feet wide. Much
of the ore runs 15% in copper, and the whole vein char-
acteristics are identical with those on the upper levels of
the mine. The shaft of the Anaconda mine has reached
a depth of 2440 feet, and the company will now run
another crosscut from the 2400-foot level and open the
vein at that depth. The East Butte Mining Co.,
which has under option a number of small mines in the
southeastern portion of the city, has secured 122 acres
of ground additional, making between 300 and 400 acres
in all now under option. The mines, which are being
worked by leasers at present, are shipping about 150
tons of ore a day. The Washoe smelter, operated by
the Anaconda Co., produced monthly during 1905 cop-
per to the value of $2,780,000: gold to the value of $95,-
000, and $432,000 worth of silver. Daily the smelter has
received from the Butte mines 8000 tons of ore, and
daily consumed 600 tons of coal, 400 tons of coke, 1600
tons of limerock, 190 tons of flue dust, and produced an
average of 500,000 pounds of copper per day. The
North Butte M. Co. has completed the work of recon-
structing Its main shaft, and has begun hoisting ore
through it again, but using the old machinery. The
new hoist, which was promised for delivery on the 1st of
December, has not yet arrived in Butte. For four
months the North Butte hoisted its ore through the
shaft of the High Ore mine, an Anaconda property, pay-
ing $10,000 a month for the privilege. That sum will
now be saved. The output of ore has been increased
from 550 tons a day to 900 tons, and when the new hoist-
ing plant is installed the output will be raised to 1200
tons.
Butte, Dec. 18.
Zinc ore is being shipped by the Montana Zinc Co.,
which is operating the Alice mine under a lease. The
ores treated thus far by the company are from the Lex-
ington mine, but the plant will soon be in shape to run
to its full capacity of 150 tons daily, and will be ready to
treat the ores from other Butte mines. This is the only
plant in the State treating zinc ores. Other experi-
ments have been tried in the State, but this is the first
to meet with satisfactory results on a large scale. The
process is one of concentration and reduction, and the
ores under treatment have shown values of 18% to 20%
in zinc, running from $4 to $5 per ton. The plant has
been operated on an experimental scale ever since its in-
stallation last August, and is now running about 80 to
100 tons of ore daily. The pay roll of the company at
present numbers about forty-five men, and this number
will be increased when the mill is run to its full capacity.
C. B. Wisner is president of the company and B. T.
Spaulding is general manager.
Teton ('..limy.
The Spokane Petroleum Co. intends to start drilling
near Lubec siding, on the Great Northern Railroad. No
oil has been found beyond seepages from the shales, but
it is hoped to strike oil at a depth of 800 feet. W. C.
Howell is superintendent. Three oil rigs are drilling at
Swift Current and one at Lubec.
NEVADA.
Esmeralda County.
The Silver Peak G. M. Co., owned by the Blair estate,
has entered a $160,000 damage suit against the Mohawk-
Alpine M. Co., which is charged with having entered
upon a ledge having its apex within the Silver Peak's
Western Soldier claim, and taken out valuable ore. An
injunction preventing the Mohawk-Alpine Co. from fur-
ther operation on the ledge is being asked.
Work has been started on the Ridge lease on the
Daisy No. 1 at Diamondfield, under the direction of W.
Goepp. Sinking has been resumed in the Portland
shaft at Goldfield, and will be continued from the 250 to
the 500-foot level. A 25 H. P. hoist is to be put in at
the Keystone mine at Goldfield, and the shaft will be
sunk to a depth of 200 feet.
The Bullfrog district is 75 miles from Goldfield and 125
miles from Las Vegas, and freight rates are high. It
costs $35 per ton to ship and smelt the ores of the dis-
trict, and the mine owners feel that it is best to hold
their ore and treat it on the ground. All the big com-
panies are planning for mills as soon as the railroad gets
there, and Humboldt Gates, president of the Bullfrog
Townsite, Water & Ice Co., expects to put in a custom
mill soon. There are three towns in the district — Bull-
frog, Rbyolite and Beatty. At Beatty the Montgomery-
Shoshone has been opened to a depth of 150 feet and has
shipped ore worth $76,000, and has blocked out much
high-grade ore. A 500-ton mill is to be built at Beatty.
E. A. Montgomery is president and manager, and M.
Hoveck is superintendent. The shaft of the Sho-
shone-Bullfrog is down nearly 100 feet and crosscutting
is to be started. A gasoline hoist is to be put in and the
shaft sunk to a depth of 250 feet. It adjoins the Mont-
gomery-Shoshone. T. F. Bonneau is president.
The Florence mine at Goldfield has been opened up to
a depth of 350 feet, sulphide ore being struck at 130 feet.
A 40 H.'P. electric hoist, an electric blower and pump
have been put in. The pumps have been handling
4000 gallons daily. A mill is being put up to
treat ore from all the claims of the Florence group.
In two years this mine is said to have produced
$1,850,000, of which $1,500,000 was paid to leasers. F.
Oliver is superintendent The Combination is credited
with having produced $1,800,000. Work was com-
menced on the shaft in October, 1903.
Lincoln Connty.
Johnson & Morton, owners of the Last Chance claims,
northwest of Moapa, have sold the property to McBride,
Long & Wilberforce of Philadelphia. The purchasers
intend making shipments of the ore already extracted,
four carloads. They expect to put in a 40-stamp mill
within 3 miles of their claims for the treatment of the
ore blocked out. Morris & Denny, owners of the
Green Light claims, west of Caliente, have struck ore
showing good values in silver and gold at 60 feet depth.
The Panaca mine, 16 miles north of Caliente, has been
sold to Idaho people. McLain & Zimmermann, owners
of the Windsor mines, southwest from Caliente, have
sacked fifty tons of gold ore showing values of from $4
to $123 per ton, taken from a 3-foot ledse, on which they
are drifting.
Nye County.
The Tonopah M. Co. is working through shafts on
the Mizpah, Silver Top, Desert Queen and Red Plume
claims, the principal work being done at the Mizpah.
This shaft is 850 feet deep, the Desert Queen 1100 feet,
the Silver Top 750 feet and the Red Plume is a new shaft
450 feet deep. The ore bodies are the largest in the
camp, ranging from a few feet to 30 feet wide, the values
going from $40 in milling ore to several hundred dollars
in the shipping ores. F. A. Keith is manager of the
company and B. W. Turner is superintendent. The
company is putting up a 100-ton mill at Millers, 14 miles
northwest of Tonopah. An electric power plant has been
built at Millers to furnish power for the mill and the
mines at Tonopah, where electric hoists are being put
in. The company built the Tonopah Railroad, 60 miles
from Tonopah to Sodaville, to connect with the Virginia
& Truckee road. It has been changed to a standard
gauge and connects with the Southern Pacific at Mina
and has been extended to Goldfield, 30 miles Bouth.
The Montana-Tonopah has been opened up by five lev-
els, the deepest being at 765 feet, and over 14,000 feet of
development work has been done. Much ore has been
shipped and there are 12,000 tons of milling ore on the
dump. A steel head frame and an electric hoist, good
for 1500 feet, is to be put in. A mill is to be built in ac-
cordance with results of experiments being made on the
sulphide ores. J. A. Kirby of Salt Lake City, Utah, is
manager. The Tonopah-Belmont is being worked
through the Desert Queen shaft and is shipping 100 tons
of high-grade ore weekly. The Jim Butler is being de-
veloped by the same company, but is not shipping. Mill-
ing ore is being piled up. The McNamara is being
prospected for the extension of the Tonopah ledge.
The Ohio-Tonopah is being opened up from four levels
from an 800- foot shaft.
The Deseret News estimates the value of the Tonopah
ore output during the past five years as $13,000,559,
crediting the Tonopah of Nevada with $10,120,767, of
which $3,000,000 was shipped by leasers, $863,927 was
worked by leasers at the mill, $5,691,940 was shipped by
company since expiration of leases, and $564,900 is mill-
ing ore on the dump. Similarly shipments and milling
ore on the dumps credit Montana-Tonopah with $],-
113,542, Tonopah-Extension with $926,700, Tonopah-
Midway with $364,000, Belmont with $296,800, Jim But-
ler with $63,000, North Star with $64,250 and West End
with $51,500.
White Pine Connty.
Ore carrying high values in silver, lead, zinc and gold
has been struck by the National M. Co. of Cherry Creek
in a winze sunk from the crosscut tunnel.
NEW MEXICO.
Sierra Connty.
At Shandon the Shandon M. Co. 's pumping plant is
pumping 250 gallons of water per minute. They have a
7-inch pipe sunk down 60 feet, which taps the underflow
of the Rio Grande river, and pump with a centrifugal
pump into a cement tank and goes into the big pump,
which pumps up the hill 2 miles into a large earth
tank which stands 150 feet higher than the placer
ground. This gives them a good pressure for their hy-
draulic plant. By pumping twenty-four hours they can
have 750 gallons per minute for eight hours a day. The
ground is rich and the company contemplate enlarging
their plant. It takes about seven cords of wood per day
to run the engine. J. H. Parker of El Paso is the gen-
eral manager. The Union-Esperanza Co. have a large
pumping plant at the mouth of Apache canyon, near
Shandon, using five pumps and pumping into an 8-inch
pipe 2 miles in length, raising the water 400 feet. They
have commenced to wash gold in the Union gulch, but
they have not yet sufficient water to pump twenty-four
hours. They are developing more water and will build
a tank overlooking the Union-Esperanza ground.
OREGON.
Baker Conntr.
Ten stamps have been running steadily in the new
Tabor Fraction mill at Bourne. An additional extrac-
tion of 25% is expected with the cyanide plant to be put
in. The Tabor Co. intends to spend $10,000 in extend-
ing the stamp mill early in January. The stamp bat-
tery is to be doubled and a cyanide section added. The
ore for milling is being taken through the E. & E. tun-
nel under lease, which taps the Tabor vein at 300 feet.
A tunnel has also been leased from the owners of the
Victoria Co., and this is being extended to tap the
Tabor vein at 700 feet.
Josephine Connty.
An additional 10-drill compressor, pump and electric
transformers at the Granite Hill mine, near Grants
Pass, are being placed by Superintendent Wickersham.
Work is beiDg done on the 500-foot level. The twenty
stamps of the mill are operated continually, and sixty
men are employed.
Lane County.
W. B. Dennis, owner of the Blackbutte quicksilver
mine, 15 miles southwest of Cottage Grove, says that a
number of important improvements have been com-
menced or are contemplated at the mines. Men have
begun clearing ground for the new furnaces, which are
Mr. Dennis' own invention and which will be put in
next summer. A new surface tramway will be built
from the 900-foot level of the workings to the reduction
works, the present aerial tramway being of insufficient
capacity to handle all the ore desired. The new tram
will haul between 250 and 500 tons of ore a day. An
extension of the flume for the hydro-electric plant will
be 3500 feet long.
UTAH.
In some approximate summaries, the Deseret News
estimates Utah's metal output of 1905 as follows:
Gold. 1)47,858 ounces at 190.67 per ounce ( 7.180,786 51
Silver. 11.112.928 ounces at 59 76 cents per ounce 8,613,165 77
Copper, 57,207.706 pounds at 15.311 cents per pound 8.785,558 78
Lead, 96,661.605 pounds at Jl 551 per 100 pounds 4,399.069 65
Zino. 13.176,129 pound- at fi B88 cents per pound 784,984 52
Quioksllver, 1000 flasks at $45 per Bask 45.000 00
Totals (29,808,505 23
•luab Comity.
The Lower Mammoth at Eureka has contracted with
the Murray smelters for the reduction of the ore bodies
opened up on the 1100 and 1500-foot levels and below the
latter level. A crosscut is being driven east on the 1500-
foot level, at the bottom of the winze which was sunk
from the 1200-foot level.
Salt Lake Connty.
The foundations for the American Smelting & Refin-
ing Co. 's new smelter at Garfield will be completed in
two months. The excavations made necessary for the
big plant have been almost finished. ThiB work extends
over several acres. The construction company is using
eight locomotives, 125 teams and three steam shovels,
and 350 men in addition to the 350 regularly employed
by the American Smelting & Refining Co. and by the
sub-contractors. The site of the smelter, on the narrow
strip of land between the Oquirrh mountains and Salt
lake, has made necessary a great deal of filling in, which
is being taken from the grade of the new Western Pa-
cific Railroad, as well as that taken from the west and
southern portions of the smelter is being utilized. The
company has not yet solved the water problem. Two
boring outfits are at work, one near the lake and the
other at a considerable elevation. No water fit for use
has yet been struck and all drinking water is now
shipped from Salt Lake City. The company is looking
for a daily supply of 2000 gallons per minute. Common
labor is paid for at the rate of from $2 to $2.50 per day
of eight hours. Aside from the three office buildings
now under construction, there will be nine big buildings.
Of this number, the Minneapolis Steel & Machinery Co.
has undertaken the construction of seven. The black-
smith shop, practically completed, occupies space 45x75
feet and is constructed of steel and brick; the machine
shop, to be equipped with every modern device, is Hear-
ing completion. The dimensions of this building are
80x195 feet. The power plant will cover 130x256 feet and
is to contain all of the steam and electrical power equip-
ment; the building that is to contain the McDougall
roasters will cover ground space of 60x222 feet; there
will be two sampling mills, each of 70x82 feet dimensions,
while the main building of the lot, to contain the rever-
beratory, blast furnace, converter and bullion depart-
ments, will rest on concrete foundations within the area
of 360x305 feet. The carpenter shop, a wooden structure,
is completed and in use. The building is 30 feet wide by
80 feet in length; the storehouse of the company is also
finished and is 44 feet wide by 110 feet in length. In the
construction of the foregoing buildings, 4000 tons of
steel structural material will be used. The stack, which
is to stand at an elevation above its base of 300 feet, is to
be connected by a system of flues 2000 feet in length, to
which will be attached bins for the collection of the
dust. The inside measurement of the stack at the base
is 30 feet, tapering gradually toward the top.
The New England Gold & Copper Co. intend to keep
their mill at Bingham running throughout the winter.
The Deseret News describes Bingham as a camp of
tunnels. In the Utah Consolidated mine six tunnels are
in operation. Its No. 7 tunnel is the lowest one, and is
the main avenue through which the ores are taken from
the mountain. All the tunnels are connected and ore
mined in the upper one is dropped through chutes to
the main tunnel level to be moved to the surface. A
winze has been sunk 200 feet below the No. 7 level to
what is known as the No. 9 level, and late developments
to this portion of the mine have added to the ore re-
serves. The distance between the upper and lower
levels is 650 feet; the lowest tunnel (No. 7) is 2500 feet in
length, while the others range from 1000 to 2100 feet.
The total underground workings is estimated to be 12
miles. In the mine have been opened six distinct ore
bodies, each independent from the other. The largest
of these is 340 feet in length, 220 feet at its greatest
width, and has been followed vertically over 400 feet.
The top-slice caving system, common in the Lake Supe-
rior regions, is used in the operation of the mine, aB well
as the system of square set rooms and filling. The con-
tract system in the employment of miners has proven
satisfactory both to the company and its employes.
The ores, on being mined, are carried to lower Bingham
over an aerial tramway to the ore bins located there for
loading onto cars of the Rio Grande Western railroad,
whence the product is moved to the smelter, 17 miles
away, for treatment. In July this year a smaller tram-
way was constructed and placed in operation. It was
built across South Carr Fork canyon, connecting with a
station on the Copper Belt railroad, and was put in for
the purpose of facilitating the handling of lumber and
supplies. This has proved to be decided convenience,
and has done away with the uncertain service of team-
sters.
The Parvenue, or deep tunnel, of the Utah Apex is be-
ing run and is to become the main exit for all ore ex-
tracted and will tap the ore bodies from 1000 to 1500 feet
vertical depth. The adit is now in 700 feet, and it is figured
it will be necessary to go 800 feet more to catch the first
vein, when it will be continued on to other known ore
bodies in the property, all of which can be cut by the
same tunnel within a distance of 4000 feet. W. C. Orem
is manager. The 1800-foot Phoenix tunnel iB in 500
feet. H.' A. Gebhart is superintendent. A 75-ton
mill is to be put in to treat ore recently opened in the
Silver Shield of Bingham. H, S. Joseph is manager.
The Ohio Copper Co. 's mill is handling 200 tons of
ore daily. On the 400-foot level a crosscut has been run
south for 450 feet, cutting the mineralized porphyry
zone on which the Utah Copper has worked. This
crosscut is still being extended, and is approaching the
What Cheer vein. Werner Ziegler is superintendent.
m^mmi^^^^^M^
r-wmvtua
4o8
Mining and Scientific Press.
December 23, 1905.
The 5-stamp test mill of the Boston Con. M. Co., at
the mouth of the Tech tunnel at Bingham, is expected
to be finished and in operation by the first of the year.
It is hoped to finish the experiments by April, when a
large mill will be built near Garfield, with an initial ca-
pacity of 5000 tons.
Work has been started on the first 3000-ton unit of
the Garfield plant of the Utah Copper Co., 4 miles from
the new Garfield smelter. It is planned to eventually
build three more units of the same size, and which are
to be supplied with ore from the company's mine in
Bingham. The concentrator building will be 300x508
feet and is to contain the coarse and fine ore crushing
departments, ore bin and table sections; the machine
shop building is to be of steel frame, with the sides and
ends lined up with brick and is to be 50x150 feet, while
the warehouse is to be constructed entirely of steel and
is to cover ground space of 50x105 feet. This unit is to
be ready for operation not later than October 1, 1906,
and the second unit will probably be ready to go into
commission six months later. During the past year the
company's mill now in operation at the mouth of Bing-
ham canyon has been working on an average of 20,000
tons per month. Within the next year the Utah Cop-
per Co. will have facilities for the treatment of 7000 tons
of ore from its mine at Bingham and which will be trans-
ported direct from the mine over the tracks of the Rio
Grande Western Railway. The Utah copper ores con-
centrate eighteen to twenty-four tons into one. Ar-
rangements are being made to open the mine up by
steam shovels, and opencut methods. The first big
shovel to be employed in this great work is contracted
for delivery before February 1. D. C. Jackling is the
manager, Frank Janney is mill superintendent and G. O.
Bradley chief engineer in charge of the mill construc-
tion.
Sevier County.
The B. W. & H. mine, near Richfield, shipped another
carload of ore recently. This was taken from the winze
in No. 2 tunnel. The vein has begun dipping to the
south and east, instead of to the west, as was expected.
An effort will again be made to tap this lead through
the No. 3 tunnel. H. W. Ramlose, president of the
Lone Tree M. Co., is equipping the property at Gold
Mountain for work during the winter.
Tooele County.
The Honerine drain tunnel at Stockton is in nearly
9000 feet. Superintendent T. W. Galigher of the New
Stockton mine, at Stockton, reports that the recently
discovered shoots in the mine are showing up well. The
shaft is being put in shape for more extensive develop-
ment. An air compressor capable of operating eight
drills is being put in. The new head gear on the shaft,
which is 50 feet in the clear, will be completed within a
month, and the new hoiBt will be ready for operation
about the same time. The shaft is now down 850 feet,
and the work of sinking it to a depth of 1000 feet will
begin as soon as the new hoist can be operated. Im-
provements during the past year at the Con. Mercur, at
Mercur, include a new sampling mill and foundry. The
Golden Gate shaft has been retimbered; the electric
hoist was repaired at an expense of $2000 and the roof of
the main building has been covered with corrugated
iron. The mill handles from 600 to 800 tons of ore per
day. The Manning mill was operated on ore from the
old tailings dump during the summer. During the last
fiscal year the Con. Mercur's Golden Gate mill produced
$728,703.86 in gold. The ore values ran $3.95, while the
extraction averaged $2.97 to the ton. The tailings av-
eraged 98 cents. The company is employing 400 men at
its mines and mills.
WASHINGTON.
Okanogan County.
(Special Correspondence). — The Grand View M. Co.
has completed its 20-stamp mill, including the four Wil-
fley concentrating tables, but is awaiting the completion
of a double-system aerial tramway and storage bins.
The towers and upper terminal are up, ore bins have
been built at the mine and timbers are being framed for
the lower terminal and storage bins. Foundations have
been made for the latter by cutting into the hillside at
the rear of the mill, with faces respectively 30 and 40 feet
deep. The cables and nearly all of the equipment have
been delivered, after several weeks of delay along the
railroads. The delays in transportation and sending
some of the plans from Ohio have set back the comple-
tion of the tramway. The equipment has to be packed
up a steep trail to, the top of an elevation, about 1800
feet vertically higher than the mill. From the rail tower
to the lower terminal will be a span of 3300 feet. A
power house on Cecile creek, 6 miles from the mill, has
been equipped for the generation and transmission of
power and light and a pole line between the power house
and the mill has been completed. The tramway, 1 mile
long, will be used for carrying ore from No. 3 tunnel to
the ore bins at the mill and also to deliver supplies from
the mill to the mine. By the time that all of the con-
struction is completed, the total expenditure by the
company for mining, construction and equipment, also
including 4 mile of a flume on Cecile creek, will exceed
$100,000. The company owns twenty claims on one of
the foothills of Mount Chapaca, 4 miles northwest of
Loomis. The mill is near the north end of Palmer lake
and is also 4 miles from the town. The gold occurs in
iron sulphides distributed through the quartz gangue.
No. 3 tunnel is in over 400 feet. It strikes the vein at
150 feet from the portal, where a crosscut has shown the
vein to be 11 feet wide. This tunnel and lateral drifts
and crosscuts will be continued. The new Pinnacle
tunnel is in 50 feet through slide rock and ten sets of
timber are in place. It is intended to be driven 1500 feet
to intersect several quartz veins. It will strike the
principal one 700 feet below the apex. The south
crosscut of the Copper World Extension on the 200-foot
level, in over 100 feet, has passed through several feet of
hard and tough ground. The Palmer Mountain Tun-
nel & Power Co. has received the first installment of
machinery at the power house. The pole line is nearly
finished. The Six Eagles M. Co. at its annual meet-
ing at Nighthawk elected the following trustees for the
ensuing year; C. A. Andrus of Seattle, M. Harman of
Nighthawk, F. M. Dallum of Loomis, A. B. Lee of
Wooster, Ohio, and J. A. Homer of Lodi, Ohio. Mr.
Andrus is general manager. A new shaft will be sunk
on the vein at the north end of the company's claims, to
be connected later on with the tunnel, which is in 1800
feet. The original shaft on the Six Eagles group was
sunk 225 feet on the vein. A shoot of ore was struck at
the bottom and followed by a northerly drift. The
Mineral Hill M. Co. has U. S. patents for the Washing-
ton, Idaho, California, Oregon, Florida, New Jersey and
Virginia mining claims and the New York millsite, in
Salmon River mining district. At the Douglas Moun-
tain group good results have been obtained from shaft
work and tunneling. The company is planning to put in
power drills, work in the meantime being suspended.
The Second Prize group, comprising the Columbus,
Seccnd Prize, Lorraine, North Star, Copper Dyke, Good
Hope, United Verde and United Verde Nos. 2 and 3
claims, adjoining the Copper World and Copper World
Extension mines on the north, is showing up well. A
shaft was sunk on the Columbus and another on the
Second Prize, both on the vein. The latter is down 190
feet, showing the vein dipping 60°. A tunnel follows the
vein 70 feet at a depth of 50 feet. A crosscut lower down
the hill has cut the vein where it is 12 feet wide. ■ A drift
will be driven from the point of intersection and an up-
raise made to connect with the bottom of the shaft,
where the best ore was found. A discovery shaft has
been sunk on the Lorraine claim and some quartz on
the dump is mineralized with galena and chalcopyrite.
On the southeast side of the ridge a hole 6 feet deep has
been sunk in the cropping on heavy pyritic ore, which
shows some copper. This will be intersected about 100
feet deep by a tunnel which has already been driven 128
feet. An easterly drift runs 43 feet on a stringer of ore
which is rich in gold, copper, silver and lead, that may
be assorted to good advantage. The main tunnel will be
driven ahead and the bigger vein will be developed dur-
ing the winter. The Kimberly group of fourteen
claims in Golden camp, on Palmer mountain, has been
bonded to a syndicate, through J. J. Bennett of Loomis.
Two of the claims carry an extension of 300 feet of the
Triune main vein. Another vein of silver-lead-bearing
ore, 12 feet in width, has been traced 3000 feet through
the Buzzard and one other claim of the group. The
Butcher Boy group of claims, in the Myers creek dis-
trict, is reported to have been bonded by J. L. Cresson
and J. J. Ritchie to parties from Greenwood, B. C, and
the development of the property will be undertaken
without delay.
Republic, Dec. 18.
Snohoinish County.
The concentrator at the Ethel mine, near Index, has
been started.
WISCONSIN.
Iowa County.
The Drybone or Centerville diggings, between Mont-
fort and Highland, which have been worked for lead and
zinc in a small way since 1836, are now to be worked on a
big scale by the Red Jacket Lead & Zinc Co. The
Delta Lead & Zinc M. Co., in the same district, has a
shaft down 50 feet. The Consolidated M. Co. is build-
ing a mill at Montfort.
WYOMING.
Albany County
The trustees of the Strong Copper M. Co. have or-
dered a concentrator for the ores of the Strong mine,
14 miles east of Laramie, and a mill will be put up in the
spring. I. W. Swigart is general manager. The ore
occurs in a fissure vein in pegmatite and contact veins
between granite and limestone.
FOREIGN.
AFRICA.
Cape Colony.
The report of the DeBeers Con. Mines, Ltd., Cape
Colony, for the year ending June 30, 1905, shows that
there has been realized from the diamonds produced
during the year $23,341,822, and after deducting expenses
of $14,276,294 there was.left a net profit of $9,065,528.
Dividends paid absorbed $8,748,000, leaving $317,528 to be
added to the revenue from other sources, making the
total amount carried forward $4J15,370. The highest
value per carat of the five mines producing diamonds
was from DutoitsDan, which reached $16.98, and the
lowest, from the Bulfontein, $8.48. The stock of blue
ground and lumps on the floors on June 30, 1905,
amounted to 4,474,259 loads. The contract with the
Diamond Syndicate is still on a satisfactory footing, and
the market for diamonds remains buoyant. The com-
pany's dynamite factory at Somerset West has in-
creased its output considerably, 175,281 cases having
been produced during the year, and there is every indi-
cation that this will be enlarged materially. Tlie cap-
ital expenditure of the factory was entered at $3,645-
000; but the company has actually spent, including
stores on hand of $1,370,520, the sum of $6,358,158 out of
earnings in bringing the factory up to its present state
of efficiency. The litigation between the company and
the Income-Tax Commissioners in England in regard to'
the assessment of the company's profit for income-tax
purposes will be appealed to the House of Lords for a
final decision. The company has a share capital of $21,-
870,000, of which $9,720,000 represents 800,000 preferred
shares, and $12,150,000, representing 100,000 deferred
shares. In addition there are outstanding $10,540,465
5.V first mortgage debentures; $8,450,787 44% South Af-
rican Exploration debentures, and $708,977 i}% Bulfon-
tein obligations; total, $19,700,229. Consequently the
company is liable for shares and bonds to the amount of
$42,570,229.
Transvaal.
Consul Snodgrass of Pretoria reports that the Premier
Diamond M. Co. of the Transvaal has ordered an oil
concentrator plant under the Elmore system to be used
in the treatment of their diamantiferous ground. This
comtemplated installation is interesting as being the
first application of the Elmore process for the recovery
of precious dumps of waste of the Premier, near Pre-
toria. A portion of this waste material was carefully
re-sorted three times with a view to eliminating all
diamonds from it as far as this was possible by hand
sorting; then to this specially sorted waste was added a
number of known weighed diamonds. The Elmore
process was then applied, with a view to determine its
efficiency for recovering the added diamonds. Not only
were the added diamonds recovered, but, in addition,
several other stones were also found. These trials were
repeated many times, and proved that 100% recovery of
the values was easily obtainable in every case. Id ad-
dition to the advantages of the total extraction of the
diamonds, the trials have shown that no preliminary
sizing of the material to be treated is required, which is
a distinct advantage over existing methods. Clean wa-
ter, which is required in large quantities by usual
methods, is unnecessary with the Elmore process. The
plant lends itself to the prevention of theft of stones
during treatment, because all the diamonds are finally
collected in a small centrifugal separator, which can be
easily locked up, to be opened only by the manager in
charge, who from time to time can remove the precious
stones from the centrifugal machine without their being
handled by anyone else.
AUSTRALIA.
New South Wales.
In the half yearly report, dated October 9, of the
Broken Hill Junction North, the manager states that the
magnetic plant, which in its initial stages was operating
on crude ore with negative results, was subsequently
put through an exhaustive series of trials for the retreat-
ment of middlings from wet concentration. High
metallic recoveries could not be obtained, and it was
found that a marketable zinc product could not be
made, as the small quantity of zinc contained in the ore
did not exist in a sufficient state of purity to suit the
process. The magnetic plant was finally shut down on
September 2, and is being dismantled. It was then
decided to depend solely upon wet concentrating meth-
ods, and the change over was made with very little
delay. At Broken Hill Block 14 the diamond drill is
boring westward between two legs of lode at the 500-foot
level, in the vicinity of the southern shaft. It has
already reached 140 feet in schist and massive feldspar.
This bore will probably explore the ground for 500 or
600 feet. The Mining Journal states that considerable
interest is being taken in the Mines Amendment Act,
recently introduced by the State Minister for Mines, and
numerous suggestions are being made for its improve-
ment, especially in the way of reducing the rentals of
gold mining leases. It is also urged that any person
who re-pegs an abandoned quartz lease should be exempt
from rent or labor conditions. It is probable that a pro-
vision similar to that contained in the Queensland Min-
ing Act will be adopted, to the effect that every mill
owner should, within seven days after the expiration of
each month, supply the Mining Registrar with a declar-
ation of the tons of stone put through his mill during
the month previously, the number of ounces of gold,
whether such gold was retorted or smelted, when
weighed, the office it was from, etc.; also, that every
mine manager should do likewise as regards his output,
and the number of men employed for the month, so that
outsiders could obtain the fullest and most reliable infor-
mation to enable them to judge if the industry was
worthy of investment. It is likewise proposed that all
gold buyers should be licensed, and compelled to keep a
record of their purchases, with a view to checking gold
stealing among a certain class of miners.
CANADA.
BRITISH COLUMBIA.
Boundary District.
W. C. Thomas, superintendent of the Dominion C.
Co. 's smelter at Boundary Falls, expects to blow in the
second furnace by the first of the year. The first furnace
has been doing satisfactory work. Approximately 350
tonB of ore a day have been smelted, all ore coming from
the company's Brooklyn, Stemwinder and Rawhide
mines in Phoenix camp, and Sunset mine in Deadwood
camp, the latter being a flux. Sixty men are employed
at the smelter. Matte from the plant is converted into
blister copper at the British Columbia C. Co.'s works in
Greenwood. With the blowing in of the second furnace
the output of the mines will be doubled. The company
has 160 men on its payroll. The monthly payroll is
$10,000. Early this year it was expected Boundary
mines' ore output in 1905 would pass the million ton
mark, and the total is over 870,000 tons, with shipments
running over 3000 tons daily. November's output was
not quite as large as in October. Following are the
figures in detail for November: Granby mines, 67,246
tons; Mother Lode, 14,524; Brooklyn-Stemwinder, 1830;
Rawhide, 930; Sunset, 360; Emma, 380; Oro Denoro,
30; Providence, 100; Last Chance, 45; Skylark, 65, and
Crescent, 30; total, 85,540 tons. For the first time in
the Boundary's history the weekly ore shipments ex-
ceeded 25,000 tons for the week ending December 16.
The output was: Granby mines, 19,703 tons; Mother
Lode, 3296 tons; Brooklyn-Stemwinder, 1530 tons; Raw-
hide, 240 tons; Sunset, 600 tons; Emma, 287 tons. Total
for the week, 25,636 tons; total for the year to date, 883,-
563 tons. The Boundary smelters treated ore as fol-
lows: Granby smelter, 18,622 tons; British Columbia C.
Co., 2835 tons; Dominion C. Co., 2376 tons. Total for
week, 23,827 tons; total treatment for year, 898,250 tons.
The directors of the British Columbia C. Co., Ltd.,
owning the Mother Lode mines and the smelter near
Greenwood, have made definite announcement of the
letting of contracts for the enlargement of the reduction
works of the company. Three new 51a»t furnaceB have
been contracted for, 48x240 inche- hearth area, with a
capacity of from 500 to 600 tons each per day. Charg-
ing will be done from side-dumping cars, which will be
hauled by trolley, and molten slag will be hauled awav
from the furnaces by electric locom';,i"es in cars of
twenty-five tons capacity each. EaiWi 4lag car will be
provided with an electric motor for tilting the car. The
new furnace building will be constructed of steel. Three
Dkoembxr 23, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
439
blowers have been contracted for, and will be driven by
three 300 H. P. motors. At the smelter tbo ore bins will
be reconstructed and made 10 feet higher. At the com-
piiny's Mother Lode mine, Deadwood camp, it has been
decided to substitute electrical power for the steam-
driven compressor, and for this purpose a 500 H. P.
motor will be put in. The ore crushers will be driven
by the motors now in service at the smelter.
Vttnconvt-r Irtluiid.
(Special Correspondence). — The Tyee Copper Co.'s
smelter ran eleven days during November and treated
2051 tons of Tyee ore, giving a return, after doduotion
of freight and refining charges, of 831,062.
Duncans Station, Dec. 16,
By the organization of the Howe Sound Copper Co.,
with a capital of $5,000,000, all the copper properties on
Howe sound have boen united under one management.
The company will be incorporated under the laws of the
State of New Jersey.
Tale District.
It is reported that platinum has been discovered in
place at the Bear creek property of W. H. Armstrong
and C. P. Law In the Nicola valley.
ONTARIO.
R. I. Jacobs, manager of the Jacobs cobalt mine, in
the Cobalt mining district in the Temiskaming section,
says that the seventeen mines comprising the Cobalt
district are producing on a basis of $5,000,000 annually.
The camp is a year old and the deepest level is 100 feet.
The ore occurs in vertical fissures from 1 to 5 inches in
width. The product is shipped to Newark, N. J. A
committee of mine owners met at Cobalt on December
Kith to decide as to the construction of a home reduc-
tion plant. The ore of the Jacobs property carries sil-
ver. 2% nickel, for which the smolter formerly allowed a
small amount, but since cut off; 6% cobalt, for which
they received 65 cents a pound, and as high as 70%
arsenic, the allowance for which has been J cent a
pound.
YUKON TERRITORY.
United States Consul-General Poster of Ottawa re-
ports that a Canadian order in council abolishes for a
period of ten years the royalty on gold produced from
any quartz claim in the Yukon Territory in regard to
which an expenditure of money has been made to the
amount of not less than $25,000 within five years after
the date of the order, or within five years after the date
of issue hereafter of the patent. The royalty on copper
mined in the Yukon is permanently abolished in respect
to those claims upon which an expenditure of money has
been made to the amount of $50,000 within ten years af-
ter the date of the order or after the issue hereafter of
the patent. The royalties previously payable were 2J%
on gold and 5% on copper.
Trade Treatises.
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Bulletin 1047 from the electrical department of the
Allis-Chalmers Co. at Cincinnati, Ohio, illustrates and
describes the construction of the Bullock oil-insulated
transformers.
The Bullock multipolar motors and generators are
beautifully illustrated in construction in Bulletin No.
1046 of the Allis-Chalmers Co., Electrical Department,
at Cincinnati, Ohio.
A. Leschen & Sons' Rope Co., 920 North First street,
St. Louis, Mo., send their twenty-sixth wire rope list.
This contains a condensed statement of facts pertinent
to the construction and use of wire rope for all purposes.
Special Circular No. 55 from the Chicago Pneumatic
Tool Co., Fisher Bldg, Chicago, 111., presents pictures
and descriptions of pneumatic appliances for foundry
and concrete block work. It contains considerable prac-
tical information on concrete mixing.
The Abner Doble Company of San Francisco has is-
sued an attractive treatise pleasingly illustrating the
Doble tangential water wheel. Besides Bhowing the de-
tails of construction, the booklet describes a number of
typical installations. Useful tables and hydraulic data
are included, making a valuable reference book for en-
gineers.
Instruction Book No. 3022 from the Fort Wayne Elec-
tric Works, Fort Wayne, Ind., details the construction
and operation of their Type M multiphase induction
motors. Bulletin No. 1071 illustrates the varied uses to
which small-power motors may be put; Bulletin No. 1072
shows the design and construction of Type S single-
phase motors; Bulletin 1074 presents the multiphase in-
duction integrating TykeK wattmeters.
Commercial Paragraphs*
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T. H. Tracy, formerly with Power & Mining Machin-
ery Co., Milwaukee, Wis., is in Denver, Colorado.
W. J. Spencer, Western representative Revere Rub-
ber Company, is at the factory, Boston, Mass., from
Denver, Colorado.
The Cassel Automatic Water Motor Company of
Seattle, Washington, report that they have now fifty
plants running ii. different parts of the world under
heads of water ' varying from 40 up to 700 feet.
Among their installations on the Pacific coast are the
following: Copper Mountain, Alaska, 350 feet head;
Hedley, B. C, 400 feet head; Excelsior, Wash., 340 feet
head; Gilligan f"reek, Wash., 640 feet head; Loomis,
Wash., 240 fee v,jad; Kimball Creek, Wash., 300 feet
head; Mineral Creek, Wash., 110 feet head; Stites,
Idaho, 150 feet head.
Latest Market Reports.
San Francisco, December 22, 1905.
MKTAL8
Silver.— Per oz., Troy: London, 30,»„d (standard
ounce, 925 fine); New York, barsilver, 65jc, refined (1000
fine); San Francisco, 65jc; Mexican dollars, 53c, San
Francisco; 50Jc, New York.
Silver is still higher than last week, a small fractional
increase to 65Jc being quoted. If the demand for silver
continues it is difficult to predict to what price the metal
may go. The demand is at present chiefly from India,
where the year has been a very prosperous one, necessi-
tating the use of a largely increased silver coinage.
COPPER.— New York: Lake and Electrolytic, $18.50
(»19.00; Casting, $18.12j@18.G2J; San Francisco: $18.75;
Mill copper plates, $21.00; bars, 21(324c London: £79
5s spot per ton.
Copper still maintains its high price, being quoted in
New York at !tU8..r>0(« 19.00. The visible supply has con-
tinued to shrink during the paBt three or four months,
despite the heavy production.
Following are the figures of German consumption of
foreign copper for the months January to October, 1905,
as compared with the same period of time for 1904 and
1903:
1005. 1004. 1903.
Imports, tons 02,187 95,707 70,958
Exports, tons 9,972 7,309 8,477
Consumption, tons 82,215 88,488 62,481
Out of the above, 77,172 tons were imported from the
United States.
Lead.— New York, $5.85; St. Louis, $5.15; San Fran-
cisco, $5.00, carload lots; 51c 1000 to 4000 lbs.; pipe 7Jc,
sheet 8, bar 6}c. London:" £17 6s 3d $ long ton.
Spelter.— New York, $6.60; St. Louis, $6.65; Lon-
don, £28 12s 6d $ ton; San Francisco, ton lots, 7c; 100-ft
lots, 7$e.
TIN.— New York, pig, $36.25@36.37j; San Francisco,
ton lots, 37c; 500 lbs., 38c; 200 fts., 40o; less, 41jc; bar tin,
$ft., 42c. London, £165 2a 6d.
Platinum. — San Francisco, crude, $18.50 $ oz.; New
York, ingot, $20.50 $ Troy oz. Platinum ware, 75@$1.00
f, gram.
Quicksilver.— New York, $40.00@$40.50, large lots;
London, £7 5s Od; San Francisco, local, $38.00@39.00 B
flask of 75 lbs.
Babbitt Metal.— San FranciBco, No. 1, 10Jc; No.
2, 8c; No. 3, 7Jc; extra, 17Jc; genuine, 32jc; Eclipse, 35c.
Solder.— Half-and-half, 100-Ib. lots, 23.50c; San Fran-
cisco, Plumbers', 100-tb. lots 19.75c.
Nickel.— New York, 55@60cf(ft.; ton lots, 40@47c.
Zinc. — Metallic, chemically pure, $ ft., 50o;dust, $ft.,
10c; sulphate, $ lb, .04c.
Aluminum.— No. 1, 99%, small lots, 37c K ft.; 100 fts..
35c; 1000 fts. 34c; ton lots and over, 33c, Pittsburg. No,
2, 90%, small lots, 34c; ton lots and over, 31c, Pittsburg.
STRUCTURAL MATERIALS.
IRON.— Pittsburg, Bessemer pig, $18.35@18.85 ; gray
forge, $14.60; San Francisco, bar, 3}c $ ft., 3Jc in Bmall
quantities.
STEEL.— Bessemer billets, Pittsburg, $26.00@$27.00;
open hearth billets, $27.00@$28.00; San Francisco, bar,
7c to 13c fi ft.
White Lead. — Per ft., in kegs: 500 fts. and over at
one purchase, per lb., 7|c; lens than 500 fts., per ft., 8c;
in 25-ft. tin pails, Jc & ft. above keg price; in 1 and 5-ft.
tin cans, 100 fts. per case, Jo per ft. above keg price.
Dry Lead. — In bbls., 1 ton and over, 7Jc; do. in kegs, 8c.
Lime.— Santa Cruz, $1.35 country, $1.25 city $ bbl.
Cement.— Imported, $3.00@4.00 $ bbl.; California,
carload lots, $1.80 f. o. b. at works; small lots, $2.10 $
bbl. in sacks, 4 sacks to bbl., 5c for each sack returned.
Lumber.— (Retail): Piihe, ordinary Bizes, $24.00®
25.00; extra sizes higher; redwood, $28.00@30.00; lath, 4
feet, $4.50@5.00; pickets, $21 .00;shingles, $2.50 for No. 1,
and $2.25 for No. 2; shakes, $13.50 for split and $15.00 for
sawed; rustic, $28.00(3,35.00.
Nails. — This week the ba sic prices are: Wire, $2.77;
Cut, $3.25. Meanwhile the i lominal quotations per keg
(list prices) are: No. 20d to 60d, Wire, $3.35; Cut, $3.55;
lOd to 16d, Wire, $3.45; Cut, $3.35; 8d, Wire, $3.50; Cut,
$3.50; 6d and 7d, Wire, $3.0 0; Cut, $3.60; 4d and 5d,
Wire, $3.70; Cut, $3.70; 3d, Wire, $3.85; Cut, $3.85; 2d,
Wire, $4.10; Cut, $4.10. Special rates for carload lots.
OINERAL SUPPLIES.
Antimony. — New York, Cookson's, llic; Hallett's,
12Jc; San Francisco, 1000-ft. lots, 14c; 300@500-fts. 12c;
100-ft. lots, 13c.
Bone Ash.— Extra No. 1, S@6c fl ft; No. 1, 4@5c.
BORAX.— Concentrated, 7@8c $ ft; powdered, 9@10c;
fused, 25@30c; crystal, 7c.
Candles. — Spear Brand, 16 oz. adamantine, 40s., lie
B set; 14 oz. adamantine, 40s., 10c; 12 oz. adamantine,
40s, 9c; 10 oz. adamantine, 40s, 8c; 16 oz. stearic, 40s,
12ijc fl set; 14 oz. stearic, 40s, 11J; 12 oz. Btearic, 40b,
10} c; 10 oz. stearic, 40s, 9Jc. 100-case lots and over, Jc
less. Not less than 50-case lots, %<s less. Boxes of 20s,
price \c advance.
Caps.— 3x, $5.50@6 per 1000; 4x, $6.50@7; 5x, $8@8.50;
Lion, $9@9.50, in lots not less than 1000.
Chemicals. — Cyanide of potassium, 98%-99%, job-
bing, 23@24e fj ft.; carloads, 23@23Jc; in tins, 30c; soda
ash, $2.00 f, 100 lbs.; hyposulphite of soda, 3@3}c $ ft.;
caustic soda, in drums, 3@31e$ft.; Cal. s. soda, bbls.,
$1.10@1.20 fllOO lbs.; sks., 90c@$1.00: chlorate of pot-
ash, 12@13c; nitrate of potash, 6$@7c; caustic potash,
10c in 40-lb. tins; roll sulphur, 2j@2|c; powdered sul-
phur, 2J@2}c; flour sulphur, French, 2J@ — c; alum,
$2.00@2.25; California refined, l}@2c; sulphide of iron,
8cfift.; copper sulphate, 5j@5jc; chloride of lime, spot,
$2.50@2.75; sulphuric acid, in carboys, 66% B, l|@2c $
lb.; nitric acid, carboys, 8c $ ft.
Chromium,— 90% and over, $ ft., 80c.
Fire Brick.— Domestic, carloads $ 1000, f. o. b., fac-
tory square, $25.00; soap and split, $22.50; arch and
wedge, $27.50; skewback, $30.00; cirole, $32.00.
Fire Clay.— Domestic, $ ton 2000 fts. in 125-Ib. bags
double, and dry ground, f. o. b., factory, $8.50.
Fuse.— Triple tape, $4.00 per 1000 feet; double tape,
$3.55; Blngle tape, $3.10; Hemp, $2.85; Cement No. 2,
$3.10; Cement No. 1, $2.75, In lots of 3000 and up.
Coal. — San FranciBco, coast, yard prices : Welling-
ton, $8.00; Seattle, $6.50; Coos Bay, $5.60; Southfield,
$8.00. Cargo lot, Eastern and foreign: Wallsend, $7.50;
Brymbo, $7.50; Pennsylvania, hd., $14.00; Scotch, $8.00;
Cumberland, $13.00; Cannel, $8.60; Welsh Anthracite,
$13.00; Rook Springs, $8.50, long ton; Colorado Anthra-
cite, $14.00. Coke, $11.50 per ton In bulk, $13.00 in
sacks; Sunnyside, $8.50, long ton.
Bismuth.— Subnitrate, $ ft., $2.10.
Litharge.— Pure, in 25-ft. bags, 9J@10Jc f) lb.
Magnesium.— Pure, N. Y., $1.60.
Manganese.— Black oxide, $ ft., 2J<a)4c.
Mercury.— Bichloride, f> ft., 77o.
Molybdenum.— Best, $2.75 $ ft.
Phosphorus.— American, $ ft., 70c.
Powder.— F. o. b. San Francisco : No. 1, 70% nitro-
glycerine, per ft., in carload lots, 15Jc; less than one ton,
17}c. No. 1*, 60%, carload lots, 13Jc; less than one ton,
15Jc. No. 1**, 50%, carload lots, lljc; less than one ton,
13}c. No. 2, 40%, carload lots, 10c; less than one ton,
12c. No. 2, 35%, carload lots, 9Jc; less than one ton,
lljc. No. 2**, 30%, carload lots, 9c; Iobs than one ton,
lie. Black blasting powder in carload lots, minimum
car 728 kegs, $1.50 per keg; less car lots, $2.00 per keg.
Red Lead. — 500 fts. and over at one purchase, $ ft.
7Jc; less than 500 fts., 7|c.
Silver.— Chloride, $ oz., 90c@$1.00; nitrate, 54c
Sodium. — Metal, $ ft., $1.
Tungsten.— Best, ?, ft., $1.20.
Uranium.— Oxide, $ ft., $3.40.
New Patents.
Dewey, Strong & Co.'s Scientific Press Patent agbnot, 330
Market street, San Franalsco, has official reports of the following
United States patents Issued to Pacific Coast inventors :
FOR WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 5, 1905.
800.O0M.
806,390.
8116.515.
806,028.
Hii',,?;C.
806,392.
806,235.
806,632.
806,319.
806,524.
806,322.
800.470.
806,2i5.
800,417.
806,277.
806,605.
806.173.
806,426.
806,562
806.496
806,188.
806,571.
806,753.
806.372.
806,591.
806,374.
806,213.
806,214,
806,219.
806,444
806,225.
806,220.
806,230.
-Hot water Bag L. Allenberg, San Francisco.
-Blacking Brush Dauber— B. Barbolla, San Francisco.
-Saw— J. Baumgartner, Silverton, Or.
-Furnace— W. N. Best, Los Angeles, Cal.
-Conveyor— H. W. Blaisdel, Los Angeles, Cal.
-Photometer— 13. B. Bolton, Wilmington, Cal.
-Pencil Rubber Holder-A. F. W. Bowen, San Francisco.
-WATCH Guahd— C. Breer, Los Angeles, Cal.
-Signal— Burt & Vanatta, San Francisco.
-Boiler— J. M. Colman, Everett, Wash.
-Disk Plow— W. S. Cook, Santa Maria, Cal.
-Pressure Regulator— a.. J & N. Hodge, Pasadena, Cal.
-TOY— J. W. Hughes, San Francisco.
-BUTT GAUGE— F. H. Lockwood, Alameda, Cal.
-Stove Cabinet— W. W. McKee, Tacoma, Wash.
-Window Screen— Monnin & Mecchi, San Francisco.
-Furnace— R. W. Myers, Fruitvale, Cal.
-MAP HANGER— J. J. O'Leary, Slsson, Cal.
-Snatch Block— A Opsal, Kelso, Wash.
-Firearm— E. K. Redfleld. Glendale, Or.
-Injector— P. W. Rees, Needles, Cal.
-Bucket Loader— B. C. Ribler, Spokane, Wash.
-Fiber Cutter— a. M. Sheakley, Stockton, Cal.
-Telephone— J. Silverman, San Francisco.
-Pile Preserver— P. S. Smout, Everett, Wash. •-
-Wagon— G. N. Spencer, Hlllsboro, Or.
-Filter— L. C. Trent, Vantrent, Cal.
—Amalgamator— L. C. Trent, Vantrent, Cal.
-Clamp— R. H. Walker, Tacoma, Wash.
-Trousers Press -H. H. Welch, Los Angeles, Cal.
-Car Fender— W. G. Winans, Spokane, Wash.
-Sweeper— R. Wylie, Napa, Cal.
-Sash Weight— O. F. Zahn, Los Angeles, Cal.
Notices of Recent Patents.
Among the patents recently obtained through Dewey, Strong &
Co.'s Scientific Press United States and Foreign Patent Agenoy,
the following are worthy of special mention :
Sticky Fly Paper.— No. 807,040. Dec. 12, 1905. O. Mausert, San
Francisco, Cal. This invention relates to improvements In fly paper,
and especially In fly paper having a sticky surface acting as u lure
for files and other insects. The object of the invention is to provide
a blank for sticky fly paper which can be folded into attractive shape
and stood on shelves, counters and elsewhere and which, being cov
ered with adhesive, will prove an efficient lure, having la consider-
able exposed surface, and which blank when so folded may be easily
handled without soiling the hands, and can be compressed into a
small oompass for purposes of shipment and the like.
Gold Washing and Separating Screen.— No. 807,023. Deo. 12,
1905. C. W. Gardner, Orovtlle, Cal. This invention relates to an ap-
paratus which is especially designed for the separation of gold and
precious metals from sand, gravel or other gangue or material with
which it may be associated. It consists of a revoluble Inclined
screen, made in seotions of constantly decreasing diameter, Irom the
upper receiving end toward the lower discharge end, and in water
supply and mechanical devices used in conjunction therewith; all
adapted to produce a new and valuable device.
ACCORDIONS.— No. 807,018. Deo. 12, 1005. Raftaele Carbonari,
San Francisco, Cal. This invention relates particularly In the con-
nections between the several keys and valves whereby an actuation
of any single key may result in the production of a desired variety
of tones or chords. It consists in an accordion, of a sliding part,
pivoted members carried by said part and reciprocable therewith, a
key, and connections between the key and said part to reciprocate
the latter, means to rock said pivoted members, valves, and means
connected with the valves lnterposable in the path of said rookable
members to operate the valves.
Washing Machine. -No. 807,007. Dec 12, 1005 M. L. Wine-
garden, Alameda, Cal. This invention relates to Improvements in
machines for washing clothes. Its object is to provide a simple,
cheap practical, easy-running machine, which will not tear the
clothes, which will have a large capaoity, and which is adaptable to
take a greater or less oharge at one time and handle it with equal
thoroughness. The various parts of the mechanism are assembled
and adapted to bring about the desired result.
Word Registering attachment for Typewriting Machine.
—No. 807,022. Dec. 12, 1005. R. R. Fowler, Madera, Cal. This inven-
tion relates to improvements in means for counting and registering
the number of words or symbols having the numerical value of words
struck upon a typewriter. It consists In a counting attachment for
typewriting machines, the combination with the keyboard, of a
registering device, a sliding plate to operate said devioe, means for
actuating said plate from the keyboard, and means engaging said
plate to lock it against operation- by certain keys on the keyboard;
and other details of construction, all adapted to produce a new and
useful device.
19
Mining and Scientific Press.
December 23, 1905.
The Powell
"READY"
LEVER THROTTLE VALVE.
A first-class Valve — reliable,
durable, no
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with inferior makes? Try the "Ready" and
you will use no other.^S^Paciflc Coast Jobbers.
MANUFACTURED BY
THE WM. POWELL CO.,
Dept.
"H" 2525 Spring Grove Ave.,
CINCINNATI. OHIO.
Quicksilver
BY THE FLASK OR CARLOAD.
WEIGHT AND QUALITY GUARANTEED.
THE EUREKA COWIF" J\NY.
OF SAN FRANCISCO.
320 Sansome Street, SAN FRANCISCO.
AMERICAN ORE & REDUCTION CO.,
Buyers of
Tungsten,
yv\olyfc>denite
and Other Ores.
Crocker Building, San Francisco.
CONFIDENTIAL REPORTS
On the Legal, Physical and Moral Status of
ANY IDAHO MINING PROPERTY OR COMPANY.
The Critic Company, Ltd., Box 434, Boise, Idaho.
Compilers and Publishers "The Mines and Minerals
of Idaho." Five years in preparation; 8 parts; 800
pages; illustrated. "The Manufacturers' Idaho
Scout," weekly, $1 per month. Correspondence
solicited; prompt attention.
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75 POUNDS.
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SPECIALTIES IN THE WORLD.
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HYDROSTATIC LUBRICATORS, WHISTLES. OIL AND GREASE COPS, POP SAFETY AND
RELIEF VALVES, COCKS. INJECTORS AND EJECTORS, BLOW-OFF VALVES,
WATER COLUMNS AND GAUGES. GENERATOR VALVES, FITTINGS. ETC. „,,,.,,
Tacoma Smelting Company,
BUYERS OF
GOLD, SILVER, LEAD AND COPPER ORES
COPPER MATTE AND FURNACE PRODUCTS.
Tacoma, Washington.
flountain Copper Co., Ltd ,
POINT LEWIS SAMPLING & REDUCTION WORKS,
Near Martinez, Cal.
BUYERS OF GOLD, SILVER AND COPPER ORES;
Copper Mattes, Concentrates, and Furnace Products.
OFFICE: 604 MONTGOMERY STREET, SAN FRANCISCO. CAL.
LOUIS STRAUS & COMPANY,
Dealers in Ores and Minerals.
Purchase and Sell Ores of All Kinds.
Advances Made on Consignments.
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SEND FOR will j"\aki mstK.1 t>mnl>« OFFICE, 606 MISSION ST.,
CATALOGUE. VULCAN IRON WORKS, SAN FRANCISCO, CAL.
Smelting Works at Ladysmith, Vancouver Island, B. C.
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COPPER, GOLD AND SILVER ORES.
HEAD OFFICE:
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VANCOUVER ISLAND, B. C.
CLERMONT LIVINGSTON,
General Manager.
The Britannia Smelting Company, Ltd.
BUYERS, SMELTERS AND REFINERS OF
Gold, Silver and Copper Ores,
Matte, Bullion, Furnace and Cyanide Products.
WORKS AT CROFTON, VANCOUVER ISLAND, B. C.
G. H. ROBINSON, President. THOS. KIDDIE, Gen'i Manager.
ADDRESS ALL COMMUNICATIONS TO THE COMPANY.
NEW WESTERN REDUCTION CO.
BUYERS OF
Gold, Silver, Lead and Copper Ores.
CUSTOM MILL OPERATED FOR FREE MILLING ORES.
SAMPLER AND MILL FOOT OF MAIN ST.
GOLDFIELD, - - NEVADA.
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And Manufacturers of Mining Machinery.
Silver Plated Copper Mining Plates
For Saving Gold in Quartz, Placer and Beach Mining.
The Most Extensive and Successful Manufacturers on the Pacific Coast.
Get our reduced rates. Send for circulars. Old plates replated, also bought.
DENNISTON'S SAN FRANCISCO PLATING WORKS,
743 MISSION ST.. SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. TELEPHONE MAIN 6931.
E. G. DENMSTON, Prop.
Twenty-six Medals Awarded. Thirty-five years in business here.
GOL D AND SILVER PLATING.
^" ^^ ^™ "^ MINING PLATES OF ALL SIZES SILVER-PLATED.
ARTHUR R. HASKINS COMPANY, 501 to 505 Howard St., San Francisco, mus
Whole No. 2371.
VOLUME XCI.
Number 27.
San Francisco, Cal., Saturday, December 30, 1905.
THREE DOLLARS PER ANNUM
Single Copiei. Ton Centi.
Mining in Arizona.
No region of the West affords a greater variety of
mineral resources and conditions than are found in
Arizona. The climate is dry and healthful, but the
impression, entertained by some, that it is a vast
stretch of sandy plain unbroken by mountains and
destitute of verdure, is an error. There are high
and beautiful mountains in Arizona, forest-clad, and
in winter covered with snow. In the lower lands of
the southern part of the Territory the sharp serrated
ridges of numerous mountain ranges give beauty and
even grandeur to the landscape. To see distinctly
150 miles in Arizona is an ordinary matter, and if ob-
jects were in view at greater distances there is no
doubt that the vision of distant mountains might be
extended to 300 miles.
Copper is the principal mineral at present pro-
duced in Arizona, the output for the past year being
about 246,500,000 pounds, which makes Arizona the
second in rank of production of copper in the United
States, Montana being first and Michigan third. In
addition to copper the output of gold and silver in
Arizona is large and increasing. Besides these three
\iNftta Am- Scientific Ppcss
The United Verde, Jerome, Arizona.
important metals Arizona also produces lead, zinc,
bismuth, antimony and tungsten minerals, molybden-
ite, structural materials and gem stones. The min-
eral industry in Arizona is of far greater importance
than all others in the Territory, and it is annually
increasing in its magnitude. There still remain large
undeveloped resources — great copper deposits, gold,
silver, zinc and lead ores — to develop when the neces-
sary transportation facilities have been provided.
There are three districts in the Territory isolated
from the ordinary routes of travel, and as the moun-
tains are rugged and often almost impassable the
construction of roads is an expensive undertaking
for individuals, and yet a great deal has been accom-
plished by private enterprise in the way of road
building, and even in the construction of railroads.
The most important copper mining camps are at
Jerome, in Yavapai county, where the United Verde
is the principal mine; Globe, where the Old Dominion
is a large producer; Bisbee, in Cochise county, is the
heaviest producer, however. Here are the mines
of the Calumet & Arizona, the Copper Queen, and
other large mines. Clifton and Morenci and Metcalf
are other large copper camps.
In some of the districts there were found evidences
of prehistoric occupation and the primitive working
of the mines. It is known that in Yavapai county a
Congress Mills, Yavapai County, Arizona.
preistoric race sunk shafts near the head of the Hassayampa river and
excavated the quartz by means of stone hammers, which were used to
break down the rock after building fires on the rock faces and then dash-
ing cold water upon the rocks to effect their disintegration. Native cop-
per occurs at a number of places in Arizona, and it was probably this
metal that was used by the prehistoric races, as no remnants of their
smelting furnaces for ore reduction have ever been found in the Territory.
The first record of copper smelting in Arizona is that at the Longfellow
mine, near Clifton. This occurred in 1873 and the operation was perfomed
in an, adobe furnace.
Arizona has also furnished some remarkable examples of gold and silver
deposits. All old timers in that territory remember the mule teams packed
with thousands of pounds of native silver, which came from the Stonewall
Jackson mine. The rich mines of Tombstone attracted thousands of adven-
turers nearly thirty years ago, and rich silver mines have been opened in
a score of places elsewhere. One of the most noted was the Silver King
in Pinal county.
On Rich hill in Yavapai county, lying on the surface of the ground and
near the summit of the hill, thousands of dollars in gold nuggets were
found strewn about. This gave rise to another stampede to that district.
The Congress gold mine is the deepest in the Territory, being down about
3000 feet. A peculiarity of this mine was the honey-combed limonite.
Hauling Mill Machinery in Arizona.
441
Mining and Scientific Press.
December 30, 1905.
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
ESTABLISHED i860.
Published Every Saturday at 330 Market Street, San Franciaco, Cal.
Telephone, Davis 771.
ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION.
United States, Mexico and Canada 13 00
All Other Countries in the Postal Union 5 00
Entered at the San Franciaco Postoffice as second-class mail matter.
Branch Offices:
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Chicago, 1164 Monadnock Block. Denver, 606 Maok Blook.
J. F. HALLORAN Publisher
SAN FRANCISCO, DECEMBER 30, 1005.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
ILLUSTRATIONS: Page.
Congress Mills, Yavapai County, Arizona 440
The United Verde, Jerome, Arizona 440
Hauling Mill Machinery in Arizona 440
An Oil Well and Its Details 443
Steel Head Frame, Cornish Tin Mine 445
A Head Frame in Oregon 445
A Two-Post Frame at a Vertical Shalt, in Leadville, Colorado. 445
Gwin Mine, Calaveras County, California 445
A Two-Post Montana Head Frame at a Vertical Shaft 446
An Ordinary Type of California Head Frame at Inclined Shaft. 446
An lt A '* Frame at Congress Mine, in Arizona 446
Testing of a Gas Engine ■ 448
Callows System of Ore Classification, as Applied to the Concen-
tration of Finely Crushed Materials and the Recovery of Ope-
rating "Water 449
Testing Plant of the Colorado Iron Works 450
EDITORIAL:
Mining in Arizona 440
Hail and Farewell 1 44}
Cost of Power in California 441
Mineral Lands on Indian Reservations 441
Ancient River Channels 441
The Year 1805 Prosperous for Mining Industry 441
Price of Copper 441
The Simplon Tunnel 441
MINING SUMMARY 453^53^51-455
LATEST MARKET REPORTS 455
MISCELLANEOUS:
Concentrates 442
The Boring of an Oil Well 443
The Titration of Molybdenite 443
Fine Grinding in Metallurgy 444
An Important Pelton Contract 444
Peculiarity of Zinc. 444
Stamp Mill Capacity 444
American Mining Bureau at Manila 444
Something More of Head Frames 445
Gem Stones of Australia 445
How Oxygen Assists and Retards the Dissolution of Gold in
Cyanide 446
Notes on Southern Nevada and Inyo County, California 447
Testing of High Power Gas Engines 448
Uses of Gold 448
Classification as Applied to the Concentration of Finely Crushed
Ore 449
The Flgbt for Le Roi 449
The Testing of Ores 450
Personal 451
Books Received 451
Commercial Paragraphs 455
Trade Treatises 451
Obituary 455
Notices of Recent Patents 455
New Patents 455
Hail and Farewell!
For the first and last time in the history of this
journal I obtrude my personality to state that I have
transferred my entire holdings therein, but continue
to have a warm interest in its enduring prosperity.
During the many years in which it has been my
pleasure and my privilege to conduct the Mining and
Scientific Press, my constant aim has been to make
it of paramount value to mining men everywhere,
and it is but the grateful statement of what is deemed
an accomplished fact to say that such ideal has been
largely realized.
None the less satisfactory is my consciousness that
in the person of my successor the purpose of this
journal in its career of honest and honorable useful-
ness will be ably continued.
The policy and purpose of such a journal as the
Mining and Scientific Press is characterized less by
what appears therein than by what does not appear,
the intent being to serve the general good and hold
the confidence and support of those whose good will
is worth having. The Mining and Scientific Press
enjoys the esteem and respect of mining men the
world over, and the natural satisfaction occasioned
by this fact is enhanced by the belief (I had almost
said knowledge), that in the person of T. A. Rickard,
my successor, the high standard set will be main-
tained, and that with increasing prestige the future
of this journal will make it of correspondingly greater
value to the basic industry of the nation, which it
represents.
Mr. Rickard needs neither eulogy nor introduction
to the mining men of America. He is well and favor-
ably known and is thoroughly equipped for the work
he assumes. In mining, metallurgy and mining
engineering the horizon widens, the future grows
broader, and as this is the oldest mining journal on
the American continent, so, I confidently trust, it
will ever be the best. For him who now assumes its
guidance and control I have personal and cordial
commendation to my readers, and I invoke for him
the same meed of good will and support so kindly
accorded me, and which I have ever cordially and
gratefully appreciated.
To my colleagues and assistants in the editorial,
business and mechanical departments I tender hearty
acknowledgment of the zeal, fidelity and ability that
have characterized their several efforts in making
this journal successful.
More need not be said; less could not be said; " the
rest is silence." J. F. Halloran.
Bee. 28, 1905.
Cost of Power in California.
Undoubtedly there are places where power gener-
ated by steam in a boiler, where oil is the fuel em-
ployed, would be as cheap as any other available
power. It is largely a matter of situation. On the
Pacific coast the extensive employment of crude oil
as a fuel and the large development of electric power
came about at nearly the same time. True, there
had been numerous small plants of both kinds erected
and in successful operation at various places years
prior to the general advent and extensive develop-
ment of these two competing sources of power, but
within the past five years the competition has become
active and has resulted in a material lowering of
power cost in certain mining districts from about $6
per horse power per month to $4 for the same period,
notwithstanding the assertion of a prominent official
of one of the electrical distributing companies made
about four years ago to the effect that the electrical
companies were aware that oil as a fuel was being
introduced in a few places, but it was in no sense
considered as a competitor by the electrical compa-
nies. At that time the horse power rate was $6 per
month. The fact that it is now but $4 is significant.
The crude oil of California and some of its products
are peculiarly adapted to employment as a fuel, and
wherever it has been introduced, and the installation
made by an experienced engineer, it has been a suc-
cess and has reduced the cost of steam making where
the cost of oil was not prohibitive.
Ordinarily electric power is sold by meter meas-
urement— a kilowatt — 1000 watts being the unit of
measurement. A horse power is figured as equiva-
lent to 746 watts. When the amount of power
required is known, it is a simple matter to figure its
cost.
Wherever crude oil can be obtained in sufficient
quantity at a cost not exceeding $1.50 per barrel,
this natural fuel at once becomes a strong compet-
itor to most other sources of power. Crude oil may
also be employed in several of the numerous types of
gas engines now on the market, and power produced
in this manner is even cheaper than steam produced
by using oil under a boiler. In some instances the
cost of this kind of power has been found remarkably
low.
Free water power, wherever obtainable, is un-
doubtedly the most desirable, because the least
expensive, of any of those used at mines; but this
kind of power is not as easily available as formerly,
owing to pre-existing rights in the streams. Still,
many places remain where a low head and large vol-
ume may be obtained and a moderately large amount
of power developed. In some of the mountain
streams of California water rights of this kind may
be secured repeatedly along the same stream. If
large power is required, the expense would naturally
involve a much more expensive construction, but
where power is required for individual mines it may
usually be secured at reasonable cost for dam, flume
and wheel equipment. This power may then be
employed to run a dynamo and the current carried
wherever desired. Numerous mines have availed
themselves of these existing conditions to put in
power plants of this description and they have been
found satisfactory.
In some instances compressed .air has been em-
ployed in lieu of electricity, of which type the large
installation of the North Star Gold Mining Co. , near
Grass Valley, Cal., is a noted example.
Wood, which was formerly the only fuel used in
California mines, has become in some districts so
costly that coal brought from neighboring States can
be employed to advantage, but the resort to coal at
$12 to $15 per ton is only seen occasionally, notwith-
standing it has, in some cases, been found preferable
to pine wood at $6 to $7 per cord. The loss and cost
in handling the wood make the difference between
these two classes of fuel greater than is apparent at
first glance. The coal may all be used advanta-
geously, and with experienced firemen a ton of good
coal is equal to more than two cords of good wood,
as it is delivered in the yard.
Gasoline, as well as crude oil and distillate, is also
largely employed as a means of power, particularly
in the desert regions. The sources and kinds of
power are many, and the mine managers in the sev-
eral sections of the Pacific coast usually work out
the problem along the line of existing conditions and
of necessity, rather than along those of preference.
Occasionally, however, the subject is not given the
attention it deserves, and installations are made
which are not the least expensive in first cost nor
the most economical in operation after installation.
A BILL has recently been introduced in Congress
providing for the location, development and
operation of mineral lands on Indian reservations.
This bill states that on some of the existing Indian
reservations there are large and valuable deposits
of copper, gold and other ores, and that as the In-
dians make no use of these mineral resources, and
have no disposition to develop them, they should ac-
cordingly be thrown open to prospectors who may
make locations thereon, etc. However desirable it
may be to make available these mineral resources
situated on Indian reservations, to attempt to lo-
cate and operate these lands for mineral with-
out withdrawing the lands in question from the
reservations by the Government and settling for
them with the several Indian tribes, respectively, in-
terested, will only result in serious trouble and loss
of life to those who first attempt it. If the Govern-
ment buys the land from the Indians or makes a sat-
isfactory exchange with them, for other lands, the
idea may be safely carried out to the advantage of
all concerned, but any attempt to wrest these lands
from them without just compensation will only meet
with armed resistance, unless the nature of the In-
dian has changed within very recent years. All
previous attempts of this kind have resulted in In-
dian wars and great loss of life, with heavy at-
tendant expense to the Government.
THE ancient river channels in the mountains of
California have been successfully worked for
the gold they contain by ground sluicing, hydraulick-
ing, and by the drift method of mining, but it is im-
probable that any dry channel known to-day will pay
to work by dredging method, first stripping the
heavy over-burden of non-auriferous, or only slightly
auriferous, material by dredging, and then washing
the pay dirt near bedrock.
THE year 1905 just drawing to a close has been
one of the most prosperous for the mining
industry that the country has ever seen. There has
been a good and increasing demand for metals, and
all of the most useful and common kinds are at an
unusually high price. The year has also been largely
free from the disturbances resulting from the con-
flict of capital and labor, and the outlook for the
year 1906 is at this time certainly propitious.
COPPER maintains itself well in the market, sell-
ing in New York at 18.50 to 19 cents, and it is
said that no large amount can be contracted for
prior to April first next, and it is even suggested
that the price may go above 19 cents. This is surely
welcome to the producers of copper, but they seem
unable as yet to make an over-production of the
metal.
THE successful completion of the Simplon tunnel,
connecting Italy and Switzerland, is to be cele-
brated next summer by an industrial exposition in
the city of Milan, which is hear the Italian portal of
this great engineering feat.
December 30, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
442
r
CONCENTRATES.
A
Solutions of potassulm cyanide attaok metallic sil-
ver slowly. The solution is required to be much stronger
for silver than for gold.
ttvt
THE most important consideration in stamp-milling
gold ore is rather what can be economically saved, not
what amount of ore can be crushed.
WWWW
Salt lands and lands containing saline springs may,
if unoccupied, be located as placers, but one person may
take or enter no more than one claim.
WW W W
The Hornsilver mine at Frisco, Utah, was originally
a large lead-silver producer. It now produces rich cop-
per ores, and comparatively little lead.
wVVw
The stampede to Alamo diggings, in Lower California,
occurred during 1889-90. It was followed later by a
stampede to the quartz veins found in that locality.
wVVV
Coal outcrops are not usually black and glistening,
but rather dull and earthy, and brownish in color. In
the West some coal croppings, lignite, look like brown
shales.
WW WW
Closed electric lamps (incandescent) are not danger-
ous in gassy or dusty coal mines, but open electric lights
are as dangerous as any other open fire, and will cause
explosions.
w w w w
Gold occurs with some copper ores in the free state.
When gold is present in ores of this description, it is not
infrequently seen, particularly with chrysocolla, a sili-
cate of copper.
VVww
In 1868 a 20-stamp silver mill erected complete in
Nevada cost from $75,000 to $100,000, according to its
situation. Transportation of heavy freight was a very
important factor in this high cost.
W W W W
Chrome iron is found in more than half of the
counties of California. It is always associated with ser-
pentine, which is abundant in both the coast range and
the foothill ranges of the Sierra Nevada.
Gold occurs in calcite and in quartzite at Oro Grande,
Cal., and in the same district lead-silver ores are found in
limestone and copper ore in limestone and diorite. Zinc
sulphide also is found in limestone in that district.
The oldest copper producing district in Arizona is at
Clifton, discovered in 1865. Ore from the Longfellow
mine was reduced in an adobe furnace there in 1873, the
blast being supplied by a leather blacksmith's bellows.
VVww
A bucket is generally used in sinking in a vertical
shaft, and if the shaft have more than one compartment
the bucket should be handled in the center one, as this
admits of greater facility in loading and handling the
bucket below.
ONE of the important features in the employment of
locomotives of any type underground is the system of
collecting the cars into trains to be hauled to a central
point and from there in trains to the shaft. If this mat-
ter is systematized much time is saved thereby.
vwvv
It is not customary to give the posts of tunnel sets a
greater spread than 1 foot in 7 or 8 feet of height, except
in heavy, swelling ground, then the base of the set is
sometimes 8 or 9 feet while the cap may be but 3 feet
clear, and the height from floor to cap 6 feet or less.
Overturned folds are not common, but are seen oc-
casionally. One of the most noted instances is that of
the Elk mountains of Colorado, where an entire moun-
tain mass has been lifted and overturned, so that the
older formations are seen superimposed upon the
younger.
WWWW
Turquoise mining in the United States has of only
late years become an important industry. Prior to 1890
little turquoise had been mined. It iB now known
to exist in southern California, Nevada, Arizona and
New Mexico, and many valuable deposits of this mineral
have been opened.
The mines of Randsburg district, Cal., are of several
types — fissure veins, impregnations and fissured zones.
The ore from the Butte mine is merely a silicification of
the country rock along a fissured zone. Some of the
richest ore in that mine looks little different from the
barren rock of the vein walls.
Silver chloride (horn silver) occurs in ores in
masses, flakes and in dust-like particles, so finely dis-
seminated as to be invisible to the eye. In color it
varies through shades of gray to brown, violet, yellow,
light green and black. Larger masses look like wax
and can be cut like horn with a knife.
A millsite cannot be taken on land known to be
mineral, but a mining claim may always be used by the
owner as a millsite. A citizen of the United States may
take up a millsite on the unoccupied public, non-mineral
lands, whether he may own mines or not. A millsite is
sometimes required for custom reduction works.
WW vv
Small veins of iron oxide occurring within a few feet
of each other in a schistose or massive formation are not
proof positive of the existence of large ore deposits be-
low. Small fissures or gashes in the surface strata may
be filled by infiltration of iron solutions from the walls,
and have neither great depth nor longitudinal con-
tinuity.
WW WW
A concentrating table is not unfrequently charged
with doing inefficient work, when the real cause of the
poor work is overload. It is as possible to overload a
concentrating machino with water as it is with ore. A
system of careful classification should bo inaugurated
prior to concentration if the best results are to be accom-
plished.
WW WW
In the early days at Leadville, Colo., the only surface
equipment at many shafts, particularly those on Fryer
hill, where the workings were not deep, consisted of a
small hoisting engine, a tripod of stout logs and a trip-
rope to handle the bucket at the collar of the shaft.
Thousands of tons of ore were hoisted and handled in
this manner.
WW WW
Extension track may be made in the bottom of an
incline shaft, when sinking, by reversing T rails, and
clamping their upper ends to the rails spiked to the
timbers. The bottom of this improvised track may be
held in place by a rod of proper length, provided with
guides for the rails, so that they cannot spread and de-
rail the skip.
WW WW
To the uninitiated, mica and selenite, the transparent
variety of gypsum, look much alike. A thin plate of
mica is flexible and very elastic; selenite is somewhat
flexible, but inelastic, it is also very soft. A piece of
selenite subjected to even moderate heat, such as on top
of a hot stove, will quickly turn a chalky white, while
the mica remains unaffected by much higher tempera-
tures.
WWWW
Most gold mines in California are below 2000 feet alti-
tude, some of them being as low as 400 to 500 feet above
the sea; but there are mines in the Sierra as high as
10,000 to 11,000 feet or more above sea level. Altitude
bears no relation to the amount of gold or other metal
contained in the ore, but it may have a direct bearing
on the economic proposition of equipping and working
the mine.
No mineral locations can be made on Indian
reservations. In the past numerous Indian reservations
have been thrown open to settlement by the Govern-
ment and mines subsequently opened thereon. One of
the most important is that of the Black Hills, South
Dakota, which was originally a portion of the Sioux
Indian reservation. It was opened to settlement early
in 1876.
WWWW
Amber is an oxygenated hydrocarbon, but, strictly
speaking, is not a mineral, as it is of organic origin, and
is a fossil resin. In mineralogy it is known as succinite.
The amber of commerce is mostly obtained from the
Baltic sea, where it is mined, and also found strewn
along the shores where it has beea cast up by the waves.
It becomes electrified upon being rubbed, and some vari-
eties are fluorescent.
WWWW
Cassiterite occurs in veins of pegmatite, as in the
Black Hills of South Dakota; in a fine-grained tourma-
line rock, as in southern California, in quartz in feldspar,
in greisen, in topaz rock, as at Mount Bischoff, Tasmania;
in slates and granite, as on the Seward peninsula,
Alaska; in gneiss, mica schist, chlorite and clay schist
and in eruptive rocks. The most common minerals ac-
companying tin stone are feldspar, mica, quartz,
tourmaline, wolfram, apatite and some others.
Where it is desired to recover water from mill tail-
ings and the quantity is abundant, it is advisable to build
a dam provided with a gate at or near the bottom,
through which the sands will flow. This will free the
water near the surface from the coarse material, and
only slimes need be treated to remove the water, which
may be done by passing the liquid through a series of
boxes or tanks, the clear water being pumped or carried
by flume to wherever it may be desired to use it.
WWWW
The principal diamond mines of the world are at
present in South Africa, Brazil, Dutch Guiana and India.
Diamonds are found at many other places, but in only
small quantities. In the United States diamonds occur
in California, Wisconsin, North Carolina and a few
other places of less noted occurrence. The so-called
diamond fields of Arizona are a myth, though an at-
tempt was made many years ago to create a stampede to
an isolated portion of that territory by the extensive
publication of alleged discoveries of diamonds.
WWWW
Methyl iodide, CH2I2, is a liquid having a specific
gravity of 3.3243 at 16° C. and is insoluble in water. It
is a yellow fluid, strongly refracting, miscible with ben-
zole but not with alcohol or water. It does not attack
metallic substances. The specific gravity varies with
the temperature. This salt was used by R. Brauns for
specific gravity determinations. Other solutions having
a specific gravity of 3.00 or over — Rohrbach's barium
mercuric oxide, Thoulet's potassium mercuric oxide and
Klein's cadmium borotungstate — are miscible with
water.
WWWW
A departmental regulation, No. 19, is to the effect
that but one discovery of mineral is required to support a
placer location, whether it be of twenty acres by an indi-
vidual, or of 100 acres or less by an association of per-
sons. The courts do not presume to say how rich a
placer must be to make the discovery valid, nor how
wide a vein shall be nor how much mineral it shall con-
tain before it may be recognized as a valid and bona fide
discovery. Neither size nor richness are material in such
matters. A discovery of such indications as would lead
the miner to believe that it would lead to a more valu-
able deposit in depth is sufficient. Pay gravel or pay ore
are not absolutely essential to a legitimate discovery.
WWWW
It is rarely that large masses of white quartz con-
stitute valuable ore, although outcrops of this kind are
characteristic of many mining regions. Not infrequently
these large masses of silica are associated with shoots
of pay rock, while the pure snowy white quartz
is valueless. In some instances only a portion
of the mass is barren — the foot wall or hanging wall
part being good ore. In other cases the pay zone lies
entirely outside of the massive quartz, being separated
from it by a layer of clay, gouge, or country rock. The
bonanzas of the Comstock Lode, at Virginia City, Nev.,
occur wholly within large and nearly barren masses of
white and bluish white quartz. These bonanzas are
later than the large masses of quartz, having been de-
posited in fissures in the massive silica, which resulted
from movements of the vein.
WWWW
A RED, brown or black gossan does not always indicate
payable values below, but such outcrops should be in-
vestigated. In the case of abundant manganese oxide in
the gossan the indications are usually favorable for
silver and lead. Where hematite occurs most abund-
antly gold is most likely to be the metal found, though
where the vein beneath is gold bearing the gossan is
usually auriferous also. In the case of limonite copper
may be suspected. There are no hard and fast rules
concerning this, for hematite may also be abundant in the
gossan of a copper deposit, and manganese as well.
Limonite deposits should be investigated to ascertain
whether they are really the outcrop of a vein or ore de-
posit beneath or only a superficial deposit, formed by
iron springs in the vicinity. In case of the latter it
might be good business to investigate the source of the
spring deposit. Not infrequently the water from large
veins of pyrite and chalcopyrite deposit extensive maBses
of limonite on the surface.
The coal land laws of the United States were ex-
tended to Alaska by act of Congress approved June 6,
1900. A single individual who must be twenty-one years
of age and a citizen of the United States (or have de-
clared his intention to become such) may locate 160 acres
of coal land in one tract and no more. He can take but one
claim. An association of persons may locate 320 acres in
one claim and no more. An individual or association
having improved a tract of coal land to the extent of
$5000 may locate and enter a tract of 640 acres, includ-
ing such mining improvements. No person or associa-
tion of persons is permitted to sell, or bargain to sell, the
coal lands he may locate, to another person or associa-
tion until he shall have paid for the same and received
a deed from the Government. It is to avoid this sort of
thing, which has been practiced in timber land loca-
tions, that the laws are so definite as to the requisite
acts to obtain title to coal and forest lands. After hav-
ing paid for the lands claimed, and having received a
patent or deed thereto from the Government, the owner
may dispose of the land in any way he sees fit, but he is
not permitted to again make a location, having ex-
hausted his right.
wwww
The Montana law is explicit concerning annual assess-
ment work and simplifies the matter of giving the work
publicity when properly performed and thus securing
title. It requires the owner of a lode or placer claim
who performs, or causes to be performed, the annual
work, or makes improvements required by the laws of
the United States, in order to prevent the forfeiture of
the claim, to file, within 90 days after the annual work,
in the office of the county clerk of the county in
which such claim is situated, an affidavit of his own, or
an affidavit of the person who performed such work, or
made the improvements Bhowing: First, the name of
the mining claim and where situated; second, the num-
ber of day's work done, and the character and value of
the improvements placed thereon; third, the date of per-
forming such work and of making the improvements:
fourth, at whose instance the work was done or the im-
provements made; fifth, the actual amount paid for
work and improvements, by whom paid, when the same
was not done by the owner. The law further provides
that such affidavits, or a certified copy thereof are prima
facie evidence of the facts therein stated. Claim holders
in any State who follow out the requirements of the
Montana law are likely to have very little trouble over
assessment work, as it leaves nothing undone to secure
title as required by the Federal statutes.
443
Mining and Scientific Press.
December 30, 1905.
The Boring of an Oil Well.— I.
Written for the Mining and Scientific Pkess by
J. H. Pierce.
A great many people have but a limited idea of
what an oil well really is, viewed from the mechanical
standpoint. They have a vague idea that it is a hole
bored deeply into the earth in some manner, and is
usually surmounted by a derrick, a tower-like wooden
structure of curious design. What part this tower
plays in the drilling of an oil well they do not usually
know.
The following series of letters from a "green
hand " at an oil well to his friend at home throws
considerable light on the subject and is an entertain-
ing recitation of the daily events occurring about a
new well. The accompanying sketches and engrav-
ings give an idea of the paraphernalia about a well
An Oil Well and Its Details.
and the appearance of the proposition when in op-
eration:
A toolie's letter.
My Dear John: — Replying to your request to write
you all about my new "job," I'll just try — that's the
best I can do — and if you find anything that I seem
to be wobblin' on, you will have to excuse me, because
my brain is like a deep-sea drag net. It's simply full
of unknown things that I have jammed in there,
waiting the day that I can bring them to light and
dissect.
We arrived here Sunday and about all the two
drillers did was walk about the " rig " and say things
about the builder. I will postpone this part until I
see you. A "rig" is an oil-country term for about
16,000 feet of lumber put together. I'll send you a
photograph for you to study it out for yourself. We
have a "bunkhouse" to sleep in, and a cookhouse
and a "Chinee" cook. The bunkhouse is just big
enough to let in four bunks. I have not measured it,
but I think that it is about 14x16 feet. The cook-
house is about 14x20 feet, with a little room for the
"Chink."
Monday morning we started to "rig up," and it
appears that I am to run the morning " tower " with
a big driller by the name of Slade. The other
" toolie " is a little, stubby Irishman, and, of course,
they call him " Ole " and they have dubbed me "kid."
Think of it, 6 feet in my stocking feet, weight 195
pounds, all meat, and have to answer to the name of
"kid." I started to call them Mr., and I wish you
could have heard the remarks that they addressed to
me. That part will have to wait until I see you alone.
Now, don't think that I am working with a lot of ruf-
fians, for manlier men I have never known. They
remind me of our old Colonel in the fight at Cainte,
when I started to salute, present the commanding
officer's compliments, etc. He roared: "Cut it
out ! Tell me what you want. This is no place for
formality." I am beginning to realize that a drilling
rig is no place for formality, either.
Slade's people intended him for a minister; but he
got sick and they sent him out to his brother, who
was a contractor in the oil business; he never went
back, and I don't think he would disappoint his
mother if she could see him now. Ole is just a jolly
"mick." The other driller has a name that sounds
like Ikenbaugh, but he answers to just "Ike."
Ole and I after the boiler was "hung" proceeded
to wall itin with brick. As I was a "greeny," all the
really hard and unpleasant part of the work fell to
me. I had to mix mud, carry brick and light Ole's
cigarettes for him nearly all day Monday and until
about 11 o'clock Tuesday. The two drillers in the
meantime had built a forge, put the brake on the
bullwheels and said more things about the man who
had sent the tools out. It appears from their talk
that the manager knows nothing about the oil busi-
ness and has not even left the furnishing to a supply
house. Fortunately, the boiler and engine fittings
were all there, so we got them connected up Wednes-
day morning. They don't do things the way I learned
at school, and I didn't make more
than a couple of suggestions
about the way it should be done,
either. We got the belt on
Wednesday, which, by the way,
the drillers said other things
about, because it was a "red"
belt, when it should be a "rub-
ber " for a drilling well, a "red "
belt being all right for a pump-
ing well.
They threw the "bull rope
clamps " away and spliced "eyes"
to connect it with, because they
said clamps were out of date.
Then we "lagged the band-
wheel." This took us until Thurs-
day morning. We had to cut the
new cable, because old rope was
not provided, and it took about
200 feet — quite an item, with rope
17 cents a pound. We nailed one
end on one side of the bandwheel
— 8 feet in diameter — and then I
turned that big wheel around
while the other toolie held the
rope tight with the bullwheels,
and the drillers nailed it on.
After doing this eight hours, I
was rather glad when the last
nail was driven. This is done to
give better friction surface for
the friction pulley on the sand
reel and to preserve the band-
wheel.
Then they sent — me, of course
— under the derrick floor to dig
the place for a "slump" box.
We have to make a tight box to
dump the drillings into and let it
run away, for it appears to be
a serious thing for any to get in
the "hole." Why I don't know —
I'll tell you later.
I had been wondering how they
would tie the rope onto the
drills, and it was the easiest
thing imaginable. They had a
thing that they called a "woodpecker socket."
It's a big piece of iron with a hole in the top
that runs out at the side and really reminds you
of a woodpecker's hole. They put the rope down
through this hole and out at the side, and then
took some pieces of rope about a foot long and then
wove them in the end. I think they took two- thirds
of the size of the cable.
Then they put a lot of tallow on the rope and
pulled it back in, which was not very far. I was get-
ting pretty well interested by this time.
Thursday night, they said, was their last night in
" the hay, " for Friday would see them "spudding."
I understand that there is some superstition about
spudding in on Friday, but these drillers did not seem
to care.
I thought that I had worked hard, but Friday
morning the way I was jumped around was a caution.
They run the rope socket out through the side of the
derrick about 30 feet up and then screwed it on to a
24-foot 4.1-inch stem. This stem seemed to please
Slade greatly, while the other driller thought he
could " dig more ditch " with a longer and heavier
stem. If you get tangled up with the terms I write,
you'd better go out and get a little air. The only
thing that I can liken my brain to is the side of a
house against which a lot of kids have been throwing
mud balls. The mud balls drop off at odd times, and
these names and sentences drop off my brain the
same way, even in the middle of the night, and I find
myself lying awake trying to get them back in their
proper spot.
We took two wrenches — sounds easy, don't it? but
those wrenches weigh just 200 pounds each — and
tightened the joint, and then they had me pound on
the end of one of the wrenches with a 16-pound sledge.
I found it was different from the sport of "hammer
throwing."
In the meantime the other toolie had been heating
a bit, and when we got the stem pulled up in the der-
rick we dressed it. That is done by pounding it with
two 16-pound sledges, and I can almost hear now the
constant admonition of Slade to "Get off that cor-
ner! " and "Strike to dull it, man; strike to dull it! "
As near as I can explain to you, we hammered a head
on it the size of the outside of the first casing to put
in, making it perfectly round, except that there is a
letter U left in each side, called a " water course,"
to let the mud work up in.
I thought that we had tightened up that rope
socket enough to hold anything; but they got a
notched track that set on the floor and then another
thing that they called a "jack" that runs on this
track and works by a 5-foot lever. The power is
enormous, and, with two big men working it, I was
a little afraid that we would break something, but
we didn't.
Then we hitched' a jerk line on the wrist pin and
run it into the derrick, and put a spudding shoe on
the cable where it came off the bullwheel shaft,
hooked the jerk line into this shoe and Slade started
the engine. Every time the crank went over it lifted
the tools and dropped them, and when you realize
that the stem, rope socket and bit weiytis about a
ton, and that ton was hitting on a surface 12 inches
across, you may imagine that it made an impression.
They had water running down in where the bit was
pounding, and the way it mixed mud was a caution.
After they got down about 6 or 8 feet the mud began
to get very thick; so they pulled the tools out and
run a bailer down and bailed" it out. A bailer is just
a joint of casing with a bail on one end and a valve in
the bottom.
Slade and I went home to get up at midnight and
relieve the other two. We work from midnight until
noon, and it is called the "morning tower.". From
noon until midnight is called the " afternoon tower."
When Slade and I got back at the well the rope
socket was just at the floor; so we "broke" the
joint, washed it, scoured it and set it up with the
"jack" and I began to realize what I was doing.
Besides watching the boiler, keeping up steam, oiling
the engine and other points of the rig, I had to put
the bullrope on the bullwheels when Slade had run
the tools long enough to be ready to bail, guide the
bailer into the "slump box" and numerous other
things.
By noon on Saturday we were ready to "hitch
on;" but as the manager had not provided any rope
or pulleys for the temper screw, we intend to go on
spudding until he can get them here. A string of
tools on a cable is somewhat like the " return ball"
that the boys play with. If you would take a rod of
iron on a piece of rubber and spring it up and down,
you would have the principle of the tools and the
cable. The deeper one gets the slower one has to
drop the tools, on account of the increased elasticity
of the cable.
This being Sunday, we are all resting up, and one
needs it after a week at this business*
Will try to write more next Sunday. Yours,
Jim.
The Titration of Molybdenite.
Written for the Mining and Scientific Pbess bv J. Ohly.
Many methods have been devised_for this purpose,
and some pretty good ones, but the following seems
to be most reliable in the opinion of the writer.
The first condition of success is to have the ore
thoroughly pulverized, because the flakes of the min-
eral have the unpleasant property of oxidizing them-
selves superficially if brought into nitric acid and
heated, and then to stick to each other tenaciously,
so that the mass looks thoroughly decomposed from
MoS2 to Mo03. On shaking the casserole or flask,
in which the operation is made, and touching the white
mass with a glass rod, the brilliant unchanged sur-
faces of the molybdenite appear again, and the op-
erator realizes that he must proceed in a different
manner.
The subdividing of the ore, used for analysis, must
therefore be brought about in an agate mortar,
when the dissolving in nitric acid by heating will offer
no further difficulties. Cool the solution, and add 15
c.c. concentrated sulphuric acid, evaporate to white
fumes of H2S04 — to be sure that all nitric acid is
driven off — and cool again. Dilute, filter into a
beaker, add three or four pieces c. p. I zinc, and let
the reduction proceed until the condition of Mo203 is
reached, when the solution assumes a chocolate color
— which takes at least half an hour.
Now titrate with permanganate solution, that is
usually present in any laboratory, standardized on
iron, which answers this purpose very well, but which
is standardized besides on a solution of M0O3 in con-
centrated sulphuric acid, made by dissolving 0.2
gram Mo03 in 15 c.c. sulphuric acid and heating,
cooling, diluting with water and reducing with zinc.
As iron is always present, the result of the titra-
tion will give the amount of iron and molybdic acid
together. If copper is present, it should be removed
beforehand by sulphuretted hydrogen.
In order to determine the iron a separate solution
of the molybdenite is prepared in the same manner
as described before, cooled, diluted, and treated with
an excess of ammonia, and the ferric hydrate formed
filtered off and washed. Thisprecipitateis dissolved
in hydrochloric acid, the solution changed at boiling
December 30, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
444
heat into the sulphate by adding 20 c.c. of concen-
trated sulphuric acid to it, heated till white fumes of
sulphuric anhydride appear, cooled, diluted to a cer-
tain volume (always observing the same volume) and
titrated.
Subtracting this result from that of the first titra-
tion leaves the amount of Mo03 present, which is
calculated for the metal Mo or for MoS3 if desired.
The whole work can also be reduced to one opera-
tion by adding sulphuric acid to the filtrate from the
ferric hydrate to neutralization, reducing with zinc
to brown color, and titrating with permanganate,
until the color becomes permanent, as in iron.
Fine Grinding in Metallurgy.
To the Editor: — In response to Mr. E. E. Wann's
invitation, I send you a contribution to the general
fund of information on the preparation of gold bear-
ing ores for the extraction of values therefrom.
In the preparation of ore by present up-to-date
methods, sliming is, as far as possible, avoided, be-
cause of the damage to the mill and the difficulty of
working slimes by the present methods.
A few questions arise here: Do slimes offer re-
sistance to the profitable recovery of gold from its
ores ? Can a higher percentage of gold be recovered
from ores if it be all reduced to slimes ? Is there any
intermediate treatment of gold ores that will give a
different character to the slimes, whereby the recov-
ery of values may be made less difficult and costly,
less time taking and more efficient ?
When entering on any proposition of this kind, it is
advisable to learn all that we can about the material
to be treated. My microscope showed me that
metallic gold, in its ores, is in various forms and con-
ditions, which may all be classed under two heads,
massive and filmous. The minute microscopic par-
ticles in the massive forms have length, breadth and
thickness, the filmous have length and breadth with-
out perceptible thickness. Some of the massive
forms are round like shot and have the extremes of
weight in proportion to size, and by virtue of both
form and weight are very sensitive to the slightest
slope, and will often run ahead of the angular sands
in washing. In another form the particle is porous;
and, in proportion to its size, may have very little
weight, and when round |in form I have seen it run
over the top of the sands to a lower level. Where the
particles are solid and angular, or flattened, there
is no trouble about its sinking in washing. The fil-
mous gold is very deceptive in appearance; it is often
found in volcanic regions. A few days ago I was in-
vited to examine some ore from Goldfield, Nev.,
which appeared to be very rich; it was expected to
assay into the thousands. I found that it was filmous;
the assay returns were $12. A sample of gold ore
was brought to me that milled satisfactorily, but gave
nothing in the pan. [ ground a portion and panned
carefully and got nothing. I ground another portion,
put it in the pan with water, stirred it well, and
poured off two- thirds of the muddy water into an-
other pan, then put on more water, stirred and
poured off as before until the water no longer became
muddy, then panned the sands, and got no gold. I
took the other pan and stirred up the slimes well,
then let it stand quiet while I slowly counted ten,
then poured off the muddy water into the other pan,
and continued this as before, each time counting ten
before pouring off. On gently panning 'the exceed-
ingly fine sand left, I got a good string of gold.
The muddy water was Ithen stirred up and left
quiet while I counted sixty, and repeated as before.
On panning this, I had another string of gold. I
went down a stream from a mine to a reservoir,
where the muddy water was caught from sluicing
and so given time for partial settling, got some of
the settled slime, and found it carried $16 per ton
gold. These tests show that some slimes do carry
values, and brings the question: Is it advisable
to reduce everything to slimes ? I say, certainly
not, with present machinery and processes. Thenj
how far can present machinery be utilized for the
production of slimes ? The present machinery, in all
its varied forms, may be regarded as perfection in
saving what I have termed massive gold; let it con-
tinue its work. Its work can' even be lightened by
coarse screens and passing the unslimed tailings to
a purposely made sliming mill.
Now comes the question of treating the slimes.
Shrewd minds are busily occupied with the subject.
My idea is, that the final process will be continuous
motion of ore from mill to dump; and that idea is
based on actual work done, but by means too
costly for profitable use on a large scale. I have
seen filmous metallic gold dissolved in cyanide in ten
minutes, and returned to the metallic form in another
ten minutes, twenty minutes covering the whole time
of both consecutive operations.
But, all gold is not alike. I have had filmous gold
floating on a solution of cyanide for three weeks with-
out being dissolved. Not only the mechanical treat-
ment of slimes to get mercury or cyanide into con-
tact with the contained gold, but the chemical treat-
ment, to insure action on contact, has to be appro-
priate to each ore to obtain, at a profit, the results
desired. I have frequently had gold immersed in
mercury, and stirred about in it, that came out of
the mercury without a trace of mercury on it.
The ancient miners heated the rocks by fire, and
when hot enough threw water on it, thus softening
the rock, making it easily broken. May we not take
a hint here, and use lire in some economical way, say
crushing to a small (size, then passing it through
some form of roaster, and dropping the hot ore into
water, not only make it more easily ground into
slime, but obtaining a more quickly settling slime,
and producing a favorable chemical change that
will enable both cyanide and mercury to act on the
gold that without roasting is not taken up by these
methods ?
The cyaniding of ordinary slimes in a tank is costly,
and often unsatisfactory; the roasting gives a more
quickly settling property to such ores as I have
tested in this way. A continuous process of both
cyaniding and amalgamating gold-bearing slimes
may be employed by using revolving tubes, the
slimes from the plates or concentrator going in at
one end of the tube and out at the other, the tube
being set at such an angle that the discharge will
permit a certain thickness of slime on all the length
of the tube, thus causing every particle of ore to
travel a very long distance in contact with the cy-
anide or mercury. Quick separation of solution or
amalgam from the slimes is merely a matter of
mechanical detail.
In testing the oil process, I found that petroleum
oil has a strong affinity for gold. Water was put in
a glass vessel, on 'the water was put a thin film of
the oil, on the oil was scattered sand containing fine
gold. The sand'passed through the oil, the gold re-
mained suspended in the oil; the heavy particles of
gold pressed the thin film of oil down into the water
like a sack. On agitation the sacks were detached
from the film and sunk, and, on being brought to-
gether, the sacks with their contained gold formed
one mass that kept separate from the sands, and
thus showed its usefulness for separating gold from
finely ground ores.
Now, a word as to the supposed absolute reli-
ability of ordinary crucible assays, as a guide to
what is being done, especially where values are
very low. I have found that in some crucibles,
after a clean pour, the glaze on the sides of the
crucible contains numerous minute, microscopic
beads of gold. Some crucibles taken from the dump
of the assay office assayed higher than the ore did.
This shows that a crucible assay of tailings may be
an unsafe guide, no matter how skilled and careful
the assayer may be. This indicates the advisability
of some kind of quick analysis, or a method of as-
saying without the use of unglazed clay vessels, for
guidance of mill work by values in the tailings.
Evidently we don't yet know all there is to be known
about gold and its extraction from its ores.
San Francisco, Dec. 23. Joseph Voyle.
An Important Pelton Contract.
As indicating the strides being made in hydro-elec-
tric development, a recent order for Pelton water
wheels is very significant. The California Gas & Elec-
tric Corporation has closed a contract with the Pelton
Water Wheel Co. for a 10,500 H. P. water wheel
unit, to be located at the Deer creek station, forming
a part of their system of electric distribution. This
establishes a record, as there has never before been
built an impulse wheel of such great capacity. The
unit in question is to operate under an effective head
of 765 feet, and will be direct connected to a 5500
k. w. 300 r. p. m. generator. The "double overhung"
type of construction will be employed, and the unit
will consist of two Pelton wheels, one mounted on
each overhanging end of a single shaft which carries
the rotor of the engine-type generator. Some idea
of the magnitude of this unit will be gained by noting
that the rotor of the generator will weigh in excess
of 45,000 pounds, and will be carried by a hollow
nickel steel shaft 20 inches in diameter. The journals
and supports are correspondingly heavy. The wheel
centers will be of disc construction of open-hearth
oast steel, and fitted with steel buckets secured to
the rim by means of turned steel bolts hydraulically
pressed into reamed holes. All pressure parts, such
as gates, nozzles and connections, will be of cast steel.
The gate valves will be provided with roller bearings
to take the thrust from the nickel steel spindles, and
the valves will be normally operated by electric mo-
tors, with provision for hand control when necessary.
But a few years ago 1000 H. P. was considered as
the limit of capacity for an impulse wheel, and the
contrast with the present equipment is most striking.
Zinc is a peculiar metal. When cold it is hard and
crystalline, but if slightly heated it is very soft and
is susceptible to any treatment that brass may re-
ceive. In drawing zinc sheet in a press, the differ-
ence between the melting point and that of the tem-
perature at which the best drawing takes place is
so small that the problem of heating becomes seri-
ous if one is not conversant with the fact that zinc
may be heated in oil. Attempts are made to heat
by other means, but much waste occurs. To heat in
this manner a heavy oil with a high flash point should
be used, and a thermometer employed to register
the temperature. This instrument will obviate any
over or under heating, and prevent waste from such
means. In addition to acting as a heating agent,
the oil has a good effect on the drawing dies.
Stamp Mill Capacity.
To the Editor: — In regard to stamp milling capac-
ity it has been suggested in reference to the use of
primary and secondary crushing that the revolving
trommel, or the impact screen, should be used to
separate the sands from 20-mesh pulp for recrushing
or grinding to 30 or 40 mesh.
I think that it is now generally recognized in con-
centration practice that the use of the revolving
trommel is, as a rule, limited to the separation of
sand sizes above 3 mm. (about i inch) and, more
rarely, under the most favorable circumstances, to
sizes above 2 mm. (about ,\ inch). Working below
these sizes the capacity of the trommel is small, and
the wear and tear is great — so hydraulic classifica-
tion is usually depended upon to separate finer sand
sizes.
The impact screen is the result of the desire to
carry the exactness of screen sizing to greater
lengths than is practicable with the trommel. I do
not know how effectively it accomplishes this on wet
material, and I think that milling men generally
would be very glad to see published results on this
class of work.
Apart from this, however, it is certainly open to
several commercial objections that the hydraulic
classifier is not. The first cost is probably greater
and the bill for repairs and renewals would certainly
be greater, owing in some degree to wear of moving
parts, but principally to abrasion of the screen by the
ore particles. Then there is a necessary loss of head
room in both the coarse and the fine pulp streams
over the impact screen, whereas in the classifier
there is no loss of head in the fine pulp stream pass-
ing over it. Again, the impact screen requires
a certain amount of force, while the classifier
requires none — the pressure of the water supply does
it all. On the grounds of ease and cheapness of han-
dling, the classifier easily has the best of it, and it
only remains to decide whether in the work men-
tioned it will effectively accomplish the desired result.
Now, of course, no one claims that the upward cur-
rent classifier will give a uniformly sized product
unless, perchance, it is working on a pulp whose con-
stituents have the same specific gravity, for it sorts
out the grains of approximately equal weights, and
which have the same velocity in an upward current
of water. If a 20-mesh pulp were being treated, the
classifier could be so regulated as to remove com-
pletely all particles that would be retained on the
screens of the secondary battery and with these
would be a considerable number of smaller grains of
whatever heavier minerals there may be in the ore.
The return of these smaller grains would not mate-
rially affect the capacity of the secondary battery,
but, if subsequent table concentration is carried on
to receive these heavier minerals, there might result
a loss from sliming in the secondary crushing. A
little closer regulation of the classifier by cutting
down the water might result in these grains being
thrown over into the fine-ore stream, and, at the
same time, some of the more barren particles of
coarse material (lighter because of its barren condi-
tion) might also be thrown over, thus effecting an
increase in the capacity by decreasing the amount
to be recrushed, and saving the cost of crushing such
worthless material. So, here, by being capable of
better regulation and by being more delicate in its
action, the classifier might score a point on the
impact screen.
The only other source of trouble that suggests
itself to me in using the classifier in this work is the
possibility that the addition of the classifier water
might render the pulp passing over it too dilute for
good amalgamation. The amount entering the stream
from a 10-stamp battery, after allowing for the
amount drawn off with the coarser sands, should not
exceed twenty gallons per minute. It will vary,
however, under varying conditions of crushing and of
ore constituents, as well as construction of the classi-
fier, and I think that in most cases it can be counted
upon to be less than the figure mentioned.
C. M. Eye, E. M.
Since American occupation, miners and prospectors
have often preceded the troops. The American
mining bureau at Manila now has reports from al-
most every one of the very many islands in the archi-
pelago. In many cases samples and specimens have
been furnished to the bureau. Through these sources
the fact has been established that gold, copper, lead,
iron, coal, sulphur, granite, marble, petroleum and
other metallic and non-metallic minerals exist in pay-
ing quantities. The influence of the miner and pros-
pector is making itself felt, repeating the experiences
of the pioneer days of the mineral producing Amer-
ican States of the West. More than that, mining
operations in the Philippines, when once they really
begin, will have all the present day advantages of
the latest devised electrical and other mining ap-
paratus.
445
Mining and Scientific Press.
December 30, 1905.
Something More of Head Frames.
In a recent issue was illustrated and described a
number of types of head frames, built at various
places, under varying conditions, and representing
several ideas in construction and somewhat of ex-
pediency.
What there appeared is not all that could be said
on this interesting and important subject, nor does
this addition of the several types here illustrated in-
clude all of value in the matter. The conceptions of
the practical mine carpenter and those of the me-
chanical engineer often differ widely. The former
builds for solidity and endurance and it is rarely that
he builds a structure of this sort which collapses un-
der the strains of the work it was designed to per-
form. The engineer scientifically designs with a
view to assured strength but with the employment of
"A" type and, although built of timber, is designed
on engineering lines to operate under peculiar con-
ditions. It is a frame which could be copied to ad-
vantage at many places where more elaborate and
expensive constructions are in use.
Gem Stones of Australia.
Written by John Pltjmmer.
For those conversant with the various methods of
obtaining diamonds and other gems, this Common-
wealth affords an inexhaustible field for the exercise'
of energy and enterprise. Nearly all the known
kinds of gem stones have been found, but the atten-^
tion of prospectors and miners has hitherto been
concentrated on diamonds and noble opal. The for-
mer are met with in New South Wales, Queensland,
washing of the diamondiferous gravels, the process
being somewhat complicated and tedious, but it is so
efficient that even the smallest diamonds, no larger
than a pin's head, are secured.
Some of the finest opal known is obtained in the
Upper Cretaceous formation at White Cliffs, near
Wilcannia, New South Wales. During 1895 good
stone was found at the depth of 50 feet, and as the
lower levels are reached the patches of opal appear
to improve in quality and to become more regular
and frequent. On one block a patch of stone was
found which realized over £3000. It is difficult to
state with exactitude the value of the production,
but it is believed that stone to the value of £816,600
has been sold up to the end of 1903. In 1901 a spe-
cial commission was appointed to inquire into mat-
ters connected with the opal industry at White Cliffs,
and their investigations tended to show that the an-
nual value of production for some years had amounted
to £100,000. Despite the fact that operations were
A Two-Post Frame at a Vertical Shaft, in Leadville, Colorado.
Gwin Mine, Calaveras County, California.
the minimum of material, therefore less expense. In
the accompanying illustrations are types of head
frames which represent simplicity, economy and
strength, but without due regard to the engineering
features — for instance, the rectangular two-post
frames of the Montana type — one at a California
mine, the other at Leadville, Colo.
In one of the illustrations we see the steel con-
struction at the collar of a Cornish mine, but, aside
from the fact that it is of steel, it offers little, if any,
advantage over the four-post wooden frame situated
at an inclined shaft in California. This frame is built
over a smaller temporary frame, as seen in the illus-
tration. Another type, and a somewhat unusual
one, is seen in the peculiar construction at the Oregon
mine.
In the steel frame at the Gwin mine, Calaveras
county, Cal., is seen a type of modern two-post
frame. It is designed to hoist from a depth of 4000
feet, through a vertical shaft, and shows that when
material is properly distributed it is not necessary
to build as massively as some seem to think.
The frame at the Congress mine in Arizona is of the
Victoria and South Australia. In the Mother State,
until recently, the stones were found mostly by miners
engaged in the washing of alluvial for gold. Lately,
however, several, including the largest yet obtained
in Australia, have been discovered under circum-
stances wholly different from those characteristic of
diamond fields in South Africa, South America and
elsewhere, and pointing to the possibility of their be-
ing derived from Tertiary deposits. The existence
of diamonds in New South Wales was known for
years before an attempt was made to work the local-
ities in 1872. In the course of the following year
several deposits of diamondiferous wash were discov-
ered at Bingara, in the New England district, and in
later years at Boggy Camp, Copeton. The output
has never been very considerable, the largest value
realized in any year being £15,375. In 1899 the value
amounted to £10,350; the output declined in the next
two years, but increased to £11,326 in 1902, falling
to £9987 in 1903. The total value of the diamonds
produced up to the end of 1903 was £86,604; but this
amount is believed to be considerably understated.
At the diamond mines great care is exercised in the
hampered in 1902 by lack of water, the production
for that year was valued at £140,000. In 1903 the
estimated value was £100,000. The number of men
engaged in the opal industry was 1115. The opal
bearing country embraces an area of several hundred
square miles, the great difficulty experienced by
miners being the limited rainfall. In Queensland
magnificent opal is found in rocks of the desert sand-
stone formation, sometimes on the surface, but gen-
erally at a depth of about 14 feet. The chief fields
are at Cunnamulla, Paroo and Opalton, in the far
western and northwestern parts of the State, but the
scanty water supply has been a great barrier to the
progress of the industry. At Station Creek, in the
Paroo district, a deposit of opal, valued at £2000,
was unearthed during 1903. In that year the pro-
duction was valued at £7300, and the total up to the
end of the year, at £146,145; about 170 men being
engaged in the industry.
Sapphires are found in all the States, and at the
sapphire fields of Anakie, in Queensland, there is a
population of 150 persons. The fields are extensive,
but the gems are of a peculiar color, quite distinct
December 30, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
446
from those of any other country, a characteristic
that somewhat detracts from their value, despite
their extreme beauty. The value of the gems pro-
duced in 1901 was £6000, but owing to the low prices
and the lack of sufficient water supply on the field,
the returns fell to £5000 in 1902. The season of 1903
was more favorable, the production being valued at
£6500. Many of the sapphires found in the Common-
wealth are of a blackish color, occasioned by the
presence of iron. Could this be removed they would
become an intense blue, and extremely valuable.
There are extensive emerald deposits in New South
throughout Australasia. Garnets of a rich color and
luster are obtained in South Australia, where at first
they were mistaken for rubies.
How Oxygen Assists and Retards the
Dissolution of Gold in Cyanide. *
Written by H. Forbes Julian.
A doubt has for some time existed" as to the ac-
curacy of the generally accepted idea that free
oxygen is primarily essential for the
dissolution of gold in cyanide solutions,
according to the equation —
4KCy + 2Au + O + HaO =
2KAuCya + 2KOH.
Experiments are described which go
to show (1) that free oxygen plays no
primary part in the reaction, (2) that
any assistance given by free oxygen is
of a secondary nature, and (3) that
free oxygen exerts a retarding influ-
ence.
The experiments show that the gal-
vanometer points to the presence of
free oxygen as having a retarding in-
fluence on the dissolution of the gold,
whereas the balance points to it be-
ing of material assistance. The cause
of the two instruments not agreeing
a certain concentration, the expenditure of energy
then necessary to cause the metal to occlude a
further amount becomes as great as that necessary
to begin to remove cyanogen from the solution. The
available energy is obtained from the metal and solu-
tion, and it follows that when the solution is very
dilute the available energy is too small to remove
cyanogen, oxygen being then alone deposited. From
this it may be conjectured that no metal actually
combines with cyanogen until the solution has a cer-
tain minimum strength.
The presence of dissolved oxygen in the solution
has a secondary effect in the process of dissolution,
by oxidizing the occluded hydrogen, produced
through the action in the local votaic circuits. This
results in upsetting the equilibrium, and introducing
into the circuits concentration gas cells, which soon
bring about equilibrium again, but this time with
oxygen at both electrodes at different concentra-
tions, instead of hydrogen and oxygen. If, now, ex-
cess of dissolved oxygen diffuses to either of the
electrodes the equilibrium is again upset, and an
E. M. F. is generated by the gas cell in opposition to
the E. M. F. generated by the metal couple; the net
result being, of course, a current in the direction of
the greater E. M. F. As the strength of the solu-
tion increases after a certain point, the E. M. F. due
to the metal couple increases rapidly, whereas that
due to the oxygen concentration cell remains con-
stant or increases only slowly.
The increase in the E. M. F. of the metal couple
appears to be largely due to the formation of AuCy
An Ordinary Type of California Head Frame at Inclined Shaft.
An "A" Frame at Congress Mine, in Arizona.
Wales, but the hardness of the matrix in which the
gems are found forms a source of difficulty, as it is
almost impossible to break down the rock without in-
juring and frequently destroying them.
Among other gems may be mentioned the Oriental
topaz and Oriental amethyst, both found in New
South Wales. The ruby has been obtained in Queens-
land and New South Wales; turquoises in Victoria;
chrysnberyls in New South Wales; spinel rubies in
New South Wales and Victoria; white topaz, in all
the States; and yellow topaz in Tasmania. Chalce-
dony, carnelian, onyx and cat's-eye are found in New
South Wales; and it is probable that they are also to
be met with in the other States, particularly in
Queensland. Zircon, tourmaline, garnet, and other
gem stones of little commercial value are found
is discussed, and is attributed to the formation of
local voltaic circuits. These, in the first instance,
deposit hydrogen and oxygen which, it may
be assumed, become occluded at their respective
electrodes until the systems are in equilibrium. It
is pointed out that cyanogen leaves the solution to
combine with the gold rather than that gold par-
ticles pass into the solution, and it is shown that
cyanogen does not leave the solution until the de-
posited oxygen has been occluded to a certain de-
gree of concentration. The reason for this is that
the expenditure of energy necessary to remove
oxygen from the solution is less than that necessary
to remove cyanogen, but when oxygen is occluded to
* Abstract! of paper read before the British Association in South
Africa.
— a compound having a high potential which acts as
an electrode. This deposits in films, varying in
density or thickness to a maximum with the strength
of the solution. A couple results of Au — AuCy.
After this stage of the process, when AuCy is
formed, oxygen ceases to exert an influence. That
is to say, the metal passes into solution by the AuCy
dissolving in the potassium cyanide solution, as one
salt dissolves in the solution of another.
The effect of the gas cell is best observed in highly
dilute solutions at ordinary or low temperatures.
After a certain strength is attained, dependent on
temperature, the effect of the gas cell is entirely
masked. At the higher temperatures the E. M. F.
of the gas cell diminishes, with a corresponding in-
crease in the E. M. F. of the Au— AuCy couple,
447
Mining and Scientific Press.
December 30, 1905.
Notes on Southern Nevada and Inyo
County, California.— HI.*
Written by H. H. Taft.
The Jumbo was sampled many times and "turned
down." It was bonded and a shaft was sunk, with
no results. On the Quartzite a shaft was sunk and
trenching done and the property was given up. On
November 10, 1902, H. Stimler and W. A. Marsh
camped at Rabbit Spring, where Ooldfield now gets
its water, and soon after made locations in the Sand
Storm section. In the spring of 1904 the Sand Storm
and Kendall claims were carefully explored, with no
results. In the Jumbo gold was found by panning the
soft rich country rock close to the reef which was
rich ; but the vein was found later in the reef,
through which it takes a zigzag course.
After the incorporation of the Jumbo Mining Co ,
leases were let for the last seven months of 1904, ac-
cording to the custom of the district, in blocks 200
feet long by the width of the claim, royalties being
set at 25% of the. gross yield. These leases yielded
over $1,000,000. The best piece of ground, 200 feet
long and 200 feet deep, yielded in round figures 2000
tons of $350 ore and 3000 tons of $50 ore. The Quartz-
ite and the Sand Storm are now among the active
shippers. One lot of 14.5 tons from the Kendall claim
of the Sand Storm group yielded on the plates of a
stamp mill $45,785 and is said to have left tailings
valued at $1000 per ton.
The Combination Mines Co. is the only corporation
in the district that is carefully preparing for regular
future production. Good buildings are under erec-
tion, a pipe line has been laid 10 miles to a spring,
and a well-built mill has been completed. The prin-
cipal vein is parallel to that of the Jumbo. Just to
the northwest, on a cross vein, is the January, which
has a dump of several thousand tons of milling ore
awaiting treatment. The Florence mine, one of the
best, is on another cross vein east of the Combination.
This group of four mines is the most important in the
district.
Four miles north of Goldfield town is Diamondfield,
about 1 mile north of which occurs another group of
promising mines from which some shipments have
been made. One of these is the Black Butte, a prom-
inent topographical feature. On this property has
been developed ore of probably the lowest grade
($20) mined in the district. A short distance north,
on the slope of the butte, is the Quartzite "fraction,"
one of the most promising properties now shipping
ore. Half a mile north is the Vernal, which has also
shipped some ore. To the northwest are two very
strong quartz reefs, in which very limited prospect-
ing has not yet developed any important ore bodies.
The explorations near the Sand Storm, 3 miles west
of Diamondfield and a little farther from Goldfield,
have not been specially fortunate, except in the Tono-
pah Club, which is in the low ground lying between
Diamondfield and the Sand Storm.
Northeast of Goldfield town some important dis-
coveries have been made; and ore has been shipped,
notably from the St. Ives, a claim covering a very
prominent reef near the Jumbo, and from the Cime-
rone. The latter was found during the summer of
1904, and the finder literally camped on it, putting his
tent and bed over the rich place, mntil he had suc-
ceeded in buying the fractional claim from the orig-
inal locator. Then he made the discovery public,
and in a few weeks sold out, it is said, for $60,000
cash.
In March, 1905, the town of Goldfield, lying between
the Combination mine and the mesa at the foot of
Montezuma mountain, had an estimated population
of 10,000, and Columbia, practically an extension 1
mile northwest, had 2000, and Diamondfield about
500. Goldfield and Columbia are supplied with excel-
lent water by two 2-inch pipe lines. The water comes
from under the mesa immediately west. The Com-
bination Mines Co. has a pipe line from the Warm
Springs. Twenty miles west of Goldfield is the Silver
Peak marsh, where there is an open lake.
Both at Bullfrog and Goldfield the situation is
somewhat discouraging. In March last scarcely fifty
men were working at Bullfrog and about 200 at Gold-
field. While actual development was thus neglected,
the industry of transferring to new corporations
groups of claims, good, bad and indifferent, of selling
the stock of such corporations, was active. All
American mining districts have passed, and will
doubtless hereafter pass, through such a period.
Tonopah. — The veins in this district are much
stronger and more condensed and possess the regu-
larity of silver veins, which they should be deemed to
be, since the values are about two-thirds in that
metal. The railroad has only been in Tonopah a year
and has been overwhelmed by freight for the newer
districts. One small mill, owned locally, is operating.
The owners of the developed properties do not seem
to think that the time is yet ripe for large reduction
plants.
About 1500 tons of high-grade ore is shipped weekly
to the smelters, and, incidentally, an enormous
*Trans. Am. Inst. Min. Engs.
amount of milling ore is blocked out. It is said that
one company has $35,000,000 in " positive ore. " In
one of the mines 60 feet thickness of $28 ore is re-
ported. The maximum depth reached is 1000 feet.
This district has, therefore, long passed its doubtful
stage.
The country rock is andesite, so overflowed by
more recent volcanoes that very little of it is ex-
posed. The explorations of the past year have gone
through this overflow and found ore by drifting in the
" mineralized porphyry" below.
The development of milling, always an expensive
and interesting problem, will be unusually so in these
three districts. Their ores, though different, are all
typically milling ores, consisting of quartz with very
little base metal. Should smelting be necessary, there
are several flux-producing districts, now idle, which
could be drawn upon.
Borax Deposits. — South of the Funeral rang*, in
the region drained by Furnace creek and on the
Amargosa side of the mountain, is a large develop-
ment of recent sedimentaries — shales, clays, sand-
stones and thin sheets of gypsum. There are a few
intrusions of later andesite and a heavy flow of black
and brown basaltic lava. In these sedimentaries im-
mense deposits of calcium borate occur, conformable
with the strata. The most common mineral is cole-
manite. As one might expect from an element pos-
sessing the peculiar solubilities of borax, there are
many combinations of boric acid, lime and soda under
various mineralogical names. There is some question
as to the origin of the deposits. The Pacific Coast
Borax Co. first obtained title under the placer law,
but now favors lode locations. That company has
the region pretty well "corralled" for borax. The
rocks are highly colored. The country is bare of
vegetation and water is scarce.
The borax deposits are remarkable in size and
purity. In one place there is an outcrop of calcium
borate 30 feet thick. At the Lila C. mine, on the
Amargosa side of the range, 35 miles from and in
sight of Ash Meadows, is a deposit, from 3 to 17 feet
thick, dipping about 45° E., and explored on the sur-
face for a mile. The underground workings are in
the vein (?) for a quarter of a mile. This is the prop-
erty that will bring a railroad to this section.
Death Valley. — Much has been written about
this valley and a strange amount of romance is at-
tached to it. The prospector could easily find a more
promising field and a less expensive place to work a
mine in. It is a long, narrow valley, very deep and
surrounded by high mountains. The Panamint and
Sentinel peaks reach an extreme elevation of 11,000
feet, while Death valley, hardly 10 miles west, is 200
or 300 feet below sea level. A similar difference of
elevation occurs 80 miles northwest, between the
summit of Mount Whitney and Owens Lake valley.
Under one general name there are three connect-
ing valleys: Death valley proper, Lost valley and
Mesquite valley. The upper end of the latter is only
about 30 miles from Goldfield. Instead of being the
horrible region usually reported, it is the best of the
desert valleys. Lying so low and being shut in by
surrounding mountains, it is hot in summer; but the
winter climate leaves little to be desired, particularly
by those who require a dry atmosphere. It is but a
few miles west to an elevation in the Panamints,
where in the shade of the pines the traveler can be
comfortable and look into the sweltering valley be-
low, while a battery of abandoned charcoal kilns
might make him fancy he was summering near Lake
Superior.
The name Death valley comes from the loss of an
emigrant train in the lower end of Lost valley. The
party was on the way from Salt Lake to southern
California, and, bec»ming exhausted, stopped to rest
in what appeared to be a meadow. The salt and
wiry grass is not nutritious; the water is saline and
carries enough sulphates to disarrange promptly the
human digestive system. The spot, where it is said
about fifty people perished, has been dug over for
buried treasure, and last winter many of the pits
were in brackish water. Some prospectors, also,
have lost their lives in the south end of the valley.
At the mouth of Furnace creek the Pacific Coast
Borax Co. maintains a ranch, having 200 acres in
alfalfa and wheat. Twice a month a 16-mule team
arrives from Dagget, 160 miles away on the Santa Fe
Railroad. Three miles from the ranch are the old
Coleman Borax Works.
Furnace creek and several streams south, usually
dry, bring down borax in solution. For a few miles
in width and a length of about 30 miles, the lower
part of this valley looks like a mud flat with the tide
out. These places are locally called marshes, al-
though they have no vegetation. The borax is here
a double borate of lime and soda, commonly called
" cottonball. "
A peculiar phenomenon, better seen in this than
in the other valleys, is the "self-rising ground." The
soil carries a large proportion of soluble salts, sodium
carbonate, sodium chloride and various sulphates and
borates. Evaporation is excessive; the subsoil is
moist, being constantly supplied by springs; and
capillary attraction brings the salts to the surface.
This does not go on evenly, but forms hummocks
sometimes 2 or 3 feet high, hard on the surface and
soft beneath, making a bad and sometimes dangerous
ground to walk across. The same natural laws have
caused the surface enrichment of some mineral veins
in the desert, particularly veins of copper ore.
The atmosphere in the valley is remarkably clear
and possesses the resonance so noticeable above tim-
ber line. There is no truth in the story about birds
and animals dying in attempting to cross the valley.
The Indians and the Borax Co. keep several hundred
cattle and some mules and horses about the mouth
of Furnace creek, and rabbits, quail and other small
game can be found.
Panamint Range. — This range is unusually high and
precipitous, starting at sea level instead of several
thousand feet above, as most other high ranges do,
and having no foothills. The rock is green slates,
mica schist, quartzite and limestone. On the west
side is an intrusive' granite which has tilted the whole
formation, the larger part of it to the east. The
green slates carry fine-looking quartz, but so far it
has not been found to carry values. On top of the
range are large areas of recent conglomerate and
basaltic lava.
Panamint City had once 6000 people and is now re-
duced to a few old-timers, who say it will soon start
again and make "the greatest camp on earth." The
ores are of silver — refractory and heavy, with a
pyritic gangue. The railroad is 90 miles away.
On the west side of the mountain every gulch for
46 miles has some sort of a mining equipment, usually
a small stamp mill and owned by some Los Angeles
company. The first question asked of strangers is:
" Are you from Los Angeles? " It is best to answer:
"No."
Lead Mines. — South of the Amargosa there are
some lead ores and two large deposits of iron ore.
They are too far from a railroad to have anything
but speculative value.
The mountains between the Panamints and the
Sierra Nevada were once the scene of great activity
in lead-silver mining. Old roads constructed at
great expense, smelting plants at the mines and
charcoal kilns many miles away in the timbered moun-
tains are mute evidences of this former scene of ac-
tivity.
Cerro Gordo, Darwin and Modock produced be-
tween 1870 and 1880 approximately $25,000,000. The
first-named was the heaviest producer, furnishing
the largest quantity and lowest grade of ore, while
the last produced the smallest tonnage and the high-
est grade. They are all at or near the contact of
granite and limestone. Unlike the deposits at Mon-
arch, Colo., along a similar contact, these ore bodies
are from a few feet to 300 feet away from the con-
tact, in cracks and crevices of the limestone.
At Darwin there is an anticlinal about 6 miles long,
the west side of which dips about 45° and the east
side more steeply. The latter carries some copper,
while the former shows none. The oxidized surface
ores contain roughly one ounce of silver to 1% of
lead and the galena ores two ounces of silver to 1%
of lead. From the old books left at some of the works
it would appear that the average ore contained from
40% to 60% of lead. The gangue is iron and lime,
with some silica. There are four smelting plants
near this place, one of which is in good condition, and
twenty persons are still living in the town.
The "ondit" of the country is that the ores be-
came too poor to work at a depth of 800 feet. While
these mines were working Mojave, Cal., was the near-
est railroad point, and wood and charcoal had to be
hauled long distances. From the charcoal kilns in
the Panamints to Darwin is 50 miles. The altitude
of the kilns is 8000 feet, that of Darwin 6000 feet and
that of the intervening Panamint valley 1100 feet
above tide. The price of fodder must have been high.
The nearest farms are now 50 miles away.
Cerro Gordo is 7 miles from and 3500 feet above
Keeler, the terminus of the Carson & Colorado Rail-
road, 334 miles from Reno, and by wagon road 120
miles from Mojave. Here are located the soda works
of the Inyo County Development Co. With diminished
treatment charges at custom smelters, lower rates
of freight and the flood of siliceous ore now going on
to the market, it would not be surprising if these
lead ores, with their useful fluxing character, should
be again mined with profit.
Owens Lake Valley. — Owens Lake valley, about
75 miles long and 20 miles wide, is drained by Owens
river, which flows into the lake of the same name,
about 18x12 miles in area. The water of the lake is
a nearly saturated solution of sodium carbonate and
common salt, with a little sulphates and borax. There
is no verdure around the edges.
The river is fed by streams from the west, having
their origin in the Sierra Nevada, a very high, nar-
row and well-timbered range. All the older settle-
ments are on these streams, but the railroad follows
the east side of the valley. A large ditch has been
carried by an irrigation company down the east side
of the valley to within 12 miles of Keeler, and the
newcomers are settling along this ditch.
While this valley is fertile and well watered, par-
ticularly at the north end, the farmers have not as a
rule been prosperous, because the market was too
distant. Now a sudden change has come. From
Laws station, opposite Bishop, in the upper end of
the valley, to Tonopah is 113 miles by rail. It is fortu-
nate both for the farmers and the miners that there
should be an agricultural region so near.
All the streams coming from the Sierra Nevada
December 30, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
448
furnish opportunities for developing water power;
already a company is preparing to generate and
transmit electric power from Bishop creek to Tono-
pah and Goldtield.
All the grains and fruits of the temperate zone are
raised here. The apples, peaches, pears and certain
varieties of grapes are better than those raised on
the coast side of the Sierra.
Smaller Mines Tributary to Owens Lake Val-
ley.— In the south end of the Argus range and in the
Coso mountains are many veins, usually only a few
feet in width, of white quartz in granite, occasionally
carrying gold, low in value and in spots rather than
in regular ore bodies. Most mining men dislike these
conditions. The Congress mine in Arizona is the
only large and successful enterprise working this
class of quartz.
The Beveridge and Lee districts, northwest of
Darwin, have argentiferous ores. At the latter
place there was formerly a stamp mill, which, judg-
ing from the amount of tailings, did not run long.
The Ubaheba district, lying between the Saline
and Butte valleys, is a large, undeveloped region of
low-grade copper ores in contact deposits between
limestone and some acid eruptive. These valleys are
very deep and would be a continuation of the Pana-
mint valley but for an east and west mountain that
looks like an enormous dam. The west end is granite;
but the larger portion of the mountain is recent con-
glomerate overflowed by basalt.
In the mountains faciug Owens Lake valley on the
east side, both in the granite and the chloritic slates,
quartzites and limestones, which the intrusive has
thrown on edge, there are numerous veins of white
quartz, carrying occasional gold values.
Between the stations of Alvord and Citrus, 3 or 4
miles from the railroad at the foot of the mountain,
and well located for economic reasons, is a new stamp
mill and outbuildings, now idle.
Farther up the valley, at Poleta, there is a plant
running.
From Owens Valley to Goldfield. — From Alvord
station, 5 miles from Big Pine, 20 miles from Bishop
and 54 miles by rail from Keeler, there is a wagon
road 61 miles to Lida and 96 miles to Goldfield. This
road is now much used by freighters and farmers
hauling produce to Lida, Goldfield and Tonopah.
Three ranges of mountains and two valleys are
crossed. Between Deep Spring and Fish Lake
valleys there is a gold-copper exploration near the
road. In the mountains east of Fish lake are two old
mills.
About Lida and between Lida and Montezuma
mountain the formation is light-green slates overlain
nonconformably by limestone. In the slates are dikes
of porphyry and rhyolite and many quartz veins. At
Lida the veins are exposed on the surface and show
remarkable persistence in length; but when worked
thirty years ago they were found to lose their values
at a depth of from 200 to 300 feet. The ore is quartz,
with little galena and zincblende. The principal values
are in silver.
From Lida east to the Kawich range the rocks
are all volcanic, from rhyolite to basalt inclusive,
but rarely are there any of the earlier tuffs or ande-
sites.
Gold Center is a small area, similar to Goldfield,
but the ores are not particularly high grade or con-
tinuous. The soft, aluminous country rock seems to
have moved too much after the ore was deposited.
Quartz mountain, 24 miles south, is of rhyolite,
with veins similar to those of the Bullfrog district.
It is remarkable that so many mines have been
found of late years in the volcanic tuffs, now generally
known as andesite. A very large portion of them
carry gold. One can not but wonder if there are not
more. This is not a formation which prospectors
have liked until lately; and as yet it has been but
imperfectly studied. The fact that the mineral-
bearing tuffs are basic, and are overlain by the acid
rhyolite, is perhaps significant. Cripple Creek has
a rhyolite mountain in which
much money has been spent
without satisfactory results.
The nature of the veins, too, is
new. They may often be called
freaks. Mineralizations o f
country rock are to be ex-
pected rather than " text book"
veins, such as used to be sought
for.
The use of gold in exchange
and adornment, and copper for
utensils, was common among
the natives of the Philippines
upon the first landing of their
Spanish conquerors 400 years
ago, but the Spaniards never
encouraged the systematic min-
ing of metals. Placer wash-
ings, and the most primitive
methods of mining and working
quartz were, and still are, in
use by the natives. Revolu-
tions, burdensome laws, and the
scarcity of. skilled labor dis-
couraged foreign mining enter-
prise in the long line of Spanish
days.
Testing of High Power Gas Engines.
Written by William H. Spillbu.
The modern gas engine has to undergo prolonged
and severe test in the factory, far more critical than
the majority of steam engines ever pass through.
The duration of these tests varies from one week to
fifteen days, according to the size of the engine, the
work it has to perform and the distance it has to be
shipped.
It can readily be seen that in a piece of mechanism
weighing from twenty-five to fifty tons some of the
parts will weigh from one to five tons, and that these
various parts must represent a great deal of money
expended for making and the high-class labor of fin-
ishing, to say nothing of the cost of the splendid grade
of material required for this type of power ma-
chinery.
As these engines are sold under a positive guaran-
tee covering consumption of fuel per horse power per
hour, workmanship, material and general efficiency
under actual operative conditions, the reason for the
excellent exhaustive testing is at once apparent.
The manufacturer cannot afford to run any risk of
a shut-down of a plant from any cause after installa-
tion on the customer's foundations.
The expense of shipping, the services of the erect-
ing engineer and his expenses from the factory are
considerable; therefore, the manufacturer takes the
trouble and expense of assuring himself, as well as
protecting his customer, that there will be no Haws,
no trouble or vexatious delays, but a perfect work-
ing, economical and absolutely reliable up-to-date
power, placing the engine in a field distinctively its
own, acknowledging no competition, bowing to no
other power.
The first tests are made by the chemist when he
analyzes the pig iron or steel as received from the
mill, and this analysis must tally with the specifica-
tions calling for the particular grade required for cer-
tain parts of the machine.
Then when a heat is run, a test piece is made and
put under test until it is fractured and the ultimate
or breaking strength is known, and then the unit
stress per square inch, with a proper factor of safety
for the material, is determined.
The factors of safety in gas engines are very high,
for the strains are exceedingly complex, there some-
times being not only compression and tension strains,
but also cross and traverse strains in the various
parts. i
When a casting has been made in the foundry it is
gone all over with powerful blows delivered with a
heavy hammer, to ascertain if the casting is perfect;
and if any chambers have been cored, this will
show if there are any thin or weak spots in the walls.
If any defects are developed the piece is imme-
diately rejected.
After the cylinders have been finished, and before
assembling the engine, they are tested under a high
water pressure with a special device, and the press-
ure, number of the cylinder and engine recorded.
The various materials and parts of the engine hav-
ing passed these preliminary but systematic tests,
and then being assembled, forming the completed en-
gine, the cams and gears set correctly for the proper
timing and igniting of the gases in the cylinders, the
valves in proper position for admitting and exhaust-
ing of the gas, the engine is then ready for its ini-
tial run.
The indicator, so familiar to steam engineers, is
used, and a card is taken from each cylinder on the
engine.
It might not be out of place to state here that
these large engines are started by means of com-
pressed air, admitted through an automatic starting
valve to one cylinder, and the engines operate by this
means until gas has been drawn into the other cylin-
ders upon the descent of the pistons, compressed and
ignited, and then upon shutting off the compressed
air and admitting gas to the first cylinder it imme-
diately assumes its cycle of operations upon gas, giv-
ing its power also.
The compressed air is supplied by means of a small
2 or 3 H. P. gas engine, air compressor and air re-
ceiving tank, furnished with every plant.
The indicator cards taken from the engine show to
the trained testing engineer the exact amount of
compression in pounds per square inch of the mixture
of gas and air; the pressure of the burning gases
after ignition, the pressure of the exhaust, and also
whether the intake and exhaust valves are set prop-
erly for the highest economy, and whether the ig-
niters are timed accurately for igniting the gas
at the proper point of the stroke to gain the great-
est power.
The valves on these large engines are operated pos-
itively by mechanical means, and as they are pro-
vided with a device for adjusting to the one-thou-
sandth part of an inch, it can be understood what an
excellent opportunity is presented to the engineer for
securing efficiency and economy.
Some manufacturers have been in the habit of cat-
aloguing their engines under the indicated horse
power, and we have seen records of test runs having
been made of gas engines and the fuel economy per
horse power credited as being a great deal higher
than that of other engines.
Had these same engines been tested under a brake
load and that test been published, it would have been
the correct way to list and sell an engine, as the pur-
chaser would know how much power he is going to
have actually delivered to the belt after consuming a
certain amount of fuel.
As the brake test is the most important test from
the purchaser's standpoint, we will now consider it
in detail. In making this test of the boiler horse
power or delivered horse power, the determination is
made by means of a type of dynamometer, known as
the "prony" brake. This consists of a large cast
iron ring, having both inwardly and outwardly pro-
jecting flanges, the inner flanges serving as a trough
to hold the water necessary to keep down and absorb
the excessive heat developed when the engine is deliv-
ering a great amount of power.
A small pipe standing at the proper height allows
the water to flow into the ring, maintaining a con-
stant amount of water necessary to supply the loss
from rapid evaporation, and the heat is partially dis-
sipated in the form of steam and the excess of water
carried away by means of an overflow pipe. The
accompanying engraving shows a test being made of
a 300 H. P. producer gas engine, operating upon pea
coal and consuming less than one pound of brake
horse power per hour, in the manufacturing estab-
lishment of the Weber Gas Engine Co., Kansas
City, Mo.
At the time the picture was taken the engine was
delivering about 350 H. P., and the clouds of steam
from the brake obscured part of the view.
The outer flange on the ring serves to hold in posi-
tion the brake strap of steel to which shoes of wood
are riveted. This strap is provided with two pow-
erful hand wheels at the back for tightening and in-
creasing the friction on the ring or drum. Lubrica-
tion is supplied from pieces of tallow placed between
the blocks of wood. The band or strap has a lever
rigidly attached and firmly braced to it at different
points. The drum is bolted to the fly-wheel and re-
volves with it; the brake arm resting upon a knife
edge on top of the wooden stand on the platform
scales prevents the brake from revolving when the
strap is tightened, and allowing the downward push
to be weighed in pounds and fractions on the scale.
The engine is run at normal speed, and the strap
is tightened until the speed of the engine remains
constant and carries the proper load in horse power,
as indicated by the weight necessary to balance the
scale.
The brake horse power is computed by multiplying
the pressure upon the scale in pounds by the length
of the brake arm in feet, times the revolutions of the
drum per minute by the decimal .0001904.
The length of the arm is taken as the distance from
the center of the engine shaft to the knife edge on
top of wooden stand on the scale.
The weight of brake arm and wooden stand is de-
ducted from the total weight as registered by the
scale. ■
Pyromorphite is a lead phosphate and chloride. It
is rarely in sufficient quantity to be of commercial
value. Its beautiful crystalline structure, and oc-
curring as it does in a number of colors, makes spec-
imens highly prized and priced. The old Phoenix
mines of Phoenix ville, Pa., produced some of the
world's finest specimens.
The Castle Dome district in Yuma county, near
the Colorado river, was at one time a noted pro-
ducer of lead-silver ore. Tiptop is an almost for-
gotten, but at one time, rich silver camp, in southern
Yavapai. The hornsilver and native metal found
there were at one time famous.
Testing of a Gas Engine.
Large masses of moss agate have been found in
abundance in the foothill range of the Black Hills, in
the Hartville mining district of Wyoming, about 130
miles north of Cheyenne. The material occurs in
lenses from 5 to 6 or more inches in thickness,
and varyingiin width from 2 to 3 feet.
■hb^b^^h
449
Mining and Scientific Press.
December 30, 1905.
Classification as Applied to the Concen-
tration of Finely Crushed Ore.
By J. M. CALLOW.
It will be generally admitted that the greatest
problem in ore dressing has been the proper and
accurate sizing of finely crushed material. Hitherto
the limit of exact sizing — in other words, screen siz-
ing— has been in the neighborhood of 2 mm. The
Callow screen has enabled screen sizing to be carried
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Callow's System of Ore Classification, as Applied to the Concen-
tration of Finely Crushed Materials, and the Recovery
of Operating Water.
to any mesh, 200 inclusive, but while on a certain
grade and character of ore this will be found per-
fectly practical and feasible, yet on other ore, less
complex and of lower grade, it may be considered an
unnecessary refinement. But whether 80, 100 or
some finer mesh may be determined upon as the prac-
tical limit for a particular ore, there is still left in
any case a wide range of undersize particles on which
it is equally as important and profitable to practice
some form of sizing or sorting. Any contrivance
calling for additional water for this purpose is incon-
sistent, since these pulps are already too dilute, and
if surface or whole current classifiers are used, the
sorting performed by them is so crude and their sev-
eral products so badly contaminated with slime that
they offer no practical advantage over a simple set-
tling scheme. Therefore, for any improvement in
this department some fresh element must be sought
for. This is found in the percussion table, which both
concentrates and classifies, stratifying its feed not
only into bands of gangue and mineral and their inter-
mediate products, but also separating the sand from
the slime more effectively than any other apparatus,
and this without the addition of any water other than
that necessary for the regular operation
of the machine.
The practical limit of screen sizing hav-
ing now been advanced from 2mm. to 80
mesh or finer by the invention of the
traveling belt screen and with the Callow
settling and pulp thickening tank at hand
for settling and thickening the undersize
and combining these with table classifica-
tion, a thoroughly practical and perfect
system of sizing is the result, which is
fully set forth in the accompanying dia-
gram. It will be noted, moreover, that
the recovery of water incident to this
arrangement is no less important than the
other features characteristic of the sys-
tem.
The Fight for Le Roi.
Among the noted mines of British Co-
lumbia, the copper-gold producer known
as Le Koi, at Rossland, is the most promi-
nent. The mine was discovered on the
slope of Red mountain, near where the
city of Rossland now stands. In its early
history it attracted but little attention,
but the owners believed in it and spent con-
siderable money in its development. Pay
rock was eventually found, and the obscure
prospect rapidly developed into a mine
and attracted world-wide attention. It
was floated in England for a large sum
and for a time produced handsomely. In
time the large and easily available ore
bodies were extracted — faster than new
ones were developed — and evil days came
upon the property. Expenses were re-
duced, equipment extended and new ore
bodies discovered and developed. The
character of the ores in the Rossland dis-
trict has made a mixing of the ores of
the several mines advisable, and even
necessary, to obtain suitable smelting mix-
tures. This led to the proposition to con-
solidate several mines of the district. To
this some stockholders strongly objected,
while others favored it. At a meeting
held in London on the 8th inst., the diffi-
culties of the company were discussed at
length. In his address to the stockhold-
ers, H. W. Tyler, chairman of the com-
pany, recited the difficulties of the past
and, in part, spoke as follows:
"We are met here to-day to consider
mainly two things — (1) to discuss the re-
port and balance sheet, which we have laid
before you, as to the working of the Le Roi
mine during the year 1904-5; and (2) to
decide the important question as to
whether this company is to be worked in
future as a separate company, or whether
it shall be included in a new company to
be formed by the amalgamation of several
existing companies. In reviewing, at our
meeting in January last, the history of the
Le Roi mine, from the date of the special
meeting in May, 1902, at which, contrary to
our wishes, Mr. Hill, the former chairman,
had resigned, I took the opportunity of
reminding you that we had, under the able
management of J. H. Mackenzie, recov-
ered from the serious and apparently hope-
less financial difficulties which had caused
Mr. Hill to call that special meeting and to
tender his resignation. And you will re-
member — (1) that Mr. Mackenzie realized
for us for the year ended June, 1903, a profit
of £80,242, after writing off £32,015 in re-
spect of development, and £19,148 for de-
preciation; (2) that by the end of December,
1902, the previous deficiency of net assets,
amounting to £40,000, had been converted into a sur-
plus of net assets of £80,000; and (3) that in further
working to June, 1903, the position had again im-
proved until the excess of liquid assets reached at
that date no less an amount than £92,621. In spite
of ill health, Mr. Mackenzie, who had resigned in the
Autumn of 1902 to seek the more congenial climate of
San Francisco, was good enough, at my special re-
quest, to remain at the mine until February, 1903,
when S. F. Parrish, who had been strongly recom-
mended to us, succeeded him as general manager.
"Under the management of Mr. Parrish, the
working of the mine and smelter showed losses in
place of profits for the four months between June,
1903, and December, 1903; but Mr. Parrish cabled in
February, 1904, that he had found a large amount of
payable ore at the 1350-foot level, that future pros-
pects were excellent, and that he was shipping from
the mine 650 to 700 tons daily, with six furnaces in
full operation at the smelter. Then began, in Feb-
ruary and March, 1904, what I may designate as the
Parrish troubles. We heard from the office man-
ager that Mr. Parrish was ill, and might not be able
to return to business for some time, and that Mr.
Wilson had closed down all .the furnaces at the
smelter; and Mr. Fraser, the manager of the
Rossland branch of the Bank of Montreal, also cabled
to us, urging that we should quickly secure the ser-
vices of Mr. Mackenzie. We at once, on March 31,
1904, cabled to Mr. Mackenzie, and informed the
shareholders of the position. Mr. Mackenzie lost no
time in acting on our request, and he had reached
Rossland on April 3. On April 7 Mr. Mackenzie
cabled to us reporting serious differences of assay
between the mine and the smelter, suggesting a
cleaning up of the furnace bottoms, and recommend-
ing a contract with the Trail smelter, but was then
powerless in the matter, inasmuch as my colleagues
on the board held contrary opinions to mine, which
they strongly expressed here last January. Mr. Mc-
Millan reached Rossland on May 5, and Messrs. Brad-
ley and Mackenzie acted as consulting engineers un-
til August. Mr. McMillan cabled to us on August
3U, 1904, that Messrs. Bradley and Mackenzie had
resigned their position, as, according to Mr. McMil-
lan, their views did not harmonize with his, and I
heard from Mr. Mackenzie, in a letter dated Sep
tember 20, that they did not consider it wise to keep
the Northport smelter in operation under the then
existing conditions. It has since been reported to
us, the figures having been worked out by the ac-
countant at Rossland, employed by Mr. McMillan,
that we incurred a direct loss of $109,579 in one year,
by continuing to use the Northport smelter against
the advice of Messrs. Bradley and Mackenzie.
" It is, unfortunately, the fact that the monthly
profits have been on a diminished scale. And these
considerations have a direct bearing upon the sub-
ject, the all-important subject which we to-day have
to decide: Can we go on working the Le Roi mine
by itself, with a reasonable prospect of finding for
ourselves, and providing for you, substantial divi-
dends in the future ? Or should we be subject, how-
ever good the management, to a continuance of the
disappointment which has been experienced in the
past ? We have every reason to believe that all the
best ore that could be collected from the mine was
dealt with during the early part of the year, and we
are since told by Mr. Mackenzie that development
was not properly maintained, while it would appear
that the ore reserves, according to Mr. Astley, were
a diminishing quantity. Such results as these are
by no means encouraging either as record of the
past or promises of the future if the mine is to be
worked by itself. The accounts before us show a
profit of £50,000 in the year 1904-05, as against the
serious loss in the previous year, and if a net profit
of £50,000 in the year could be fairly earned, and if it
could be depended upon for a permanency, it would
no doubt be satisfactory.
"I now come to the question of amalgamation with
the Center Star (including the War Eagle) mines in
Rossland, the St. Eugene Con. Mining Co. at Moyie
and the Canadian Smelting Works (including the
Rossland Power Co.) at Trail, all in British Columbia.
Mr. Mackenzie recommends that the Le Roi Mining Co.
should join in this consolidation on the terms which
he proposes, and that he states emphatically that, in
his belief, there is no question of doubt as to the re-
sult of such consolidation being beneficial to the
shareholders of the Le Roi Co. He states that
the manifest advantages of such an amalgamation
are: 1. A reduction in the cost of mining and ex-
ploration. 2. A substantial saving in administrative
and office expenses. 3. Reduction in freight and
treatment charges. 4. Reduction in present cost of
marketing copper. 5. Competent management and
the skillful direction of exploration work under one
head. 6. The prestige and advantages of a large
and powerful corporation with sufficient capital and
an assured future, backed by the support of a great
transcontinental railway vitally interested in the up-
building of a profitable mining and smelting industry
in British Columbia. I think that the advantages so
set forth must be obvious to the mind of any one who
considers them dispassionately, and especially of any
one who has been accustomed to consider such ques-
tions of working such companies under advantageous
circumstances instead of working them separately.
Mr. Mackenzie further instances advantages which
might accrue from consolidation: 1. The Le Roi
shaft, with its excellent equipment, is capable of do-
ing all the necessary hoisting for three mines
instead of one. 2. One manager, superintendent
and foreman, with one office and stores department,
would suffice for the three mines. 3. Smelter reduc-
tions, now impossible, could then be made; and, fur-
ther, the erection of a converter and copper refinery
at a cost of, say, £30,000, would be advantageous in
saving the profits now made by others, and saving
freight in sending the produce of the mines away for
refining purposes. Coke and coal are cheaper at
Decembeb 30, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
450
Trail than at Northport, as no duty has to be paid
to Trail. Trail procures larger varieties of ore than
Northport, making it possible to provide a self-flux-
ing charge, without using a large percentage of bar-
ren flux in the form of limestone as is necessarily
done at Northport. In receiving the ore and coke
the facilities at Trail for handling material are either
by gravity or mechanical, and that there is a me-
chanical system of charging. The labor at Trail is
much more constant in quality, with a much better
system of discipline, and there is a greater sense of
security among those employed in holding their
various positions, as against the constant chang-
ing of manager and men at Northport. The
Northport furnaces being old in style and years re-
quire repairs at heavy cost, which is not the case in
the furnaces at Trail. The cost of power at Trail,
being electrical and generated by water power, is
much less than the steam power used at Northport
and transmitted by long line shafts and ropes. Mr.
Mackenzie adds that the books of the company show
a net profit at Trail of over $200,000 in I!i03 and
$137, 00U for 1B04, and he considers that the company
will earn a similar amount in 1905. Mr. Mackenzie
expresses the opinion that with Mr. Aldridge at the
head of affairs of the amalgamated companies we
could be assured of sound, safe and economical man-
agement. He allots 24% for Le Roi mine, 18%
Canadian Smelting Works, 34.7% for the St. Eugene
Con. M. Co., 16.9% for the Center Star, and 6.4% for
the War Eagle Co. After studying the matter from
various points of view, and with all information be-
aging director, backed up by all the expert opinion
in the service of the company, opposing it. Then
Sir Henry Tyler and Mr. Waterlow proceeded to get
rid of those who opposed the scheme, and brought in
Mr. Mackenzie of San Francisco, who recommended
it. It was for the shareholders to decide what was
to be done."
J. H. Mackenzie said: "In the latter part of Au-
gust the firm of Bradley & Mackenzie received a cable
from the Le Roi board of directors requesting them
to examine and place values on the properties in-
cluded in the proposed amalgamation scheme.
Scarcely had the examination begun before you were
told in circulars that it would not be safe to follow
our advice, as Mr. McMillan could not do so when in
April, 1904, your company was face to face with
assessment or liquidation; that I was prejudiced
against Mr. McMillan, owing to that gentleman hav-
ing made a success of the Le Roi when I had pre-
dicted failure. As to your not being able to follow
my advice, I wish to state that I resigned from the
management of your company in February, 1903, and
on that date the surplus of assets over liabilities
were £80,000. In April, 1904, I was called back by
cable to investigate the shutting down of the North-
port smelter. There were over 40,000 tons of re-
fractory ore in the yards which, it was claimed, could
not be smelted. Your account at the Bank of Mon-
treal showed a deficit of £27,000 over and above
liquid assets. From April until September— a period
of five months — I was in Rossland the greater part
of the time directing the affairs of the company, and
grade. The bottom of this corresponds with the
1550 level of Le Roi. The width or length of this ore
has not been determined, but it promises a large ton-
nage. I may say also that the bottom of this winze is
also on the same horizontal as the 1550 level of Le Roi,
and I consider the showing in the bottom of the Center
Star equally good as that of the Le Roi. It will be
asked why I recommended the Le Roi Co. to accept
24% of the amalgamated company, which will earn the
Le Roi shareholders only £37,000 per annum, when the
earnings of your company for the last year were
£49,000. The explanation is that the monthly prof-
its have been gradually diminishing, and until the de-
velopment work exposes new ore bodies or new ex-
tensions of known stopes, your profits will not reach
the figure of £49,000 per annum if you continue to
operate the Le Roi as a separate company. For the
six months ending December 30, 1904. the Le Roi Co.
earned average monthly profits of £3725; for the six
months ending June 80, 1905, the average monthly
profits were £2370 only; while for the last five months
the average monthly profits have fallen to £1550, or
at the rate of £18,600 yearly. The average monthly
earnings of your company for the last eleven months
have been less than at the rate of £30,000 per annum.
I am not personally interested in this amalgamation
in any way, nor am I urging it upon the shareholders.
I was called upon to place a relative value of these
properties, and have done so honestly and fairly, and
I challenge any one to show where I have sacrificed
the interests of the Le Roi shareholders, or have
done an injustice to any of the concerns interested
Testing Plant of the Colorado Iron Works.
fore us, we cannot but think that these percentages
are fair and reasonable, and we recommend them for
your acceptance, as they have been accepted by the
other companies."
During the meeting Mr. McMillan spoke in his own
behalf and that of his constituents. He said: "The
main questions they had to consider were, first, the
question of the removal of the managing director
from the board by the remaining directors without
reference to the shareholders; and, second, the ques-
tion of amalgamation. The directors had said that
he was removed because they were dissatisfied with
his management and because he was opposed to
amalgamation. If his management had been bad,
they might have asked him to cease to act as man-
aging director, but would not have been justified in
putting him off the board. His alleged bad manage-
ment was an afterthought, the real reason being that
he was opposed to amalgamation. Last year's rec-
ord spoke for itself, as they made a profit of £50,000
after writing off large sums. With regard to amal-
gamation, that had been in the air for nearly two
years, and he disagreed with the scheme that was
brought forward, on the ground that the Le Roi was
not receiving a proper portion of its value, and
because he was absolutely opposed to taking in the
Trail smelter, the Trail concentrator and the unde-
veloped coal lands. He dealt at length with the vari-
ous properties with which it was proposed to amal-
gamate, with a view of showing that their value was
overestimated, and also spoke in opposition to the
taking in of the Trail smelter. The point for the
shareholders was that, on the one hand, they had
Mr. Waterlow putting forward this scheme of amal-
gamation, and, on the other hand, they had the man-
when I turned it over to Mr. McMillan the deficit of
the bank had been reduced to £3000, the stores were
free from debt, the mine was producing 275 tons
daily of high-grade ore, the smelter was in op-
eration with two furnaces running, the large stocks
of ore in the smelting yards had been treated, and it
was found that you possessed 5285 tons of ore in ex-
cess of what had been carried on the books of the
smelter, and the accounts of last year have had the
benefit of this extra tonnage. The property was
earning a monthly profit of £3500. Regarding the
dismantling of Northport and the injunction suit
which was begun, the following are the facts: The
Trail smelter requested the loan of a blower until
such time as they should receive a new one, which
was then en route. My arrangement with Mr.
Aldridge was that he should pay all the expenses of
removing the blower, afterwards to return it to
Northport or pay for it, as the Le Roi Co. might
choose. An injunction suit was immediately begun
to prevent the dismantling of Northport. As there
were several idle blowers at the Northport smelter,
I felt that no damage could be done by loaning one of
them to a neighbor.
"As many misleading statements have been pub-
lished regarding the War Eagle and Center Star
properties, which are included in the proposed amal-
gamation scheme, I wish to state that recent discov-
eries in the War Eagle mine have greatly enhanced
its present and prospective value. For instance, on
the fifth level a new stope has recently been opened
up which contains about 40% of the total estimates
of tonnage given that property. In the Center Star
mine a winze below the ninth level has been sunk some
200 feet, 160 of which is in ore of a good shipping
in this amalgamation."
The resolution adopting the report and accounts
was carried unanimously, but when a second resolu-
tion was put to the meeting to agree to the scheme
of amalgamation, it was lost by a large majority.
The chairman thereupon demanded a poll, which he
said would be taken by voting papers being sent to
shareholders, who would be asked to return them
within a fortnight.
The motion to re-eleet Mr. Waterlow, a director,
was also negatived, and resolutions reappointing Mr.
MacMillan and the three gentlemen mentioned by him
as directors were carried, the chairman demanding
a poll in each case.
A. J. MacMillan, who was re-elected a director
as shown above, on the 21st, secured a temporary
injunction from the court restraining the directors of
the Le Roi M. Co. from making any use of the prox-
ies sent in by the shareholders since the meeting of
two weeks ago.
The Testing of Ores.
The value of tests, preliminary to the installation
of reduction works, has never been questioned. It is
regrettable, however, that many so-called tests are
of such an incomplete and uncertain nature as to
offer no sound basis upon which to determine the
method of treatment, and it is not uncommon that,
owing to lack of facilities, or to incompetence upon
the part of those conducting the test, the gravest
errors have been made in the selection of the process
to be used and equipment to be provided.
That these conditions should obtain at the present
time is generally due in great measure to the absence
451
Mining and Scientific Press,
December 30, 1905.
of testing plants equipped on a sufficiently compre-
hensive scale to treat large quantities of ores by
various processes and make direct comparison be-
tween different methods. The composition and
characteristics of ores vary so widely, and there are
so many methods of treatment available, that the
most painstaking investigation is required to deter-
mine the process which, all things considered, will
make the maximum saving of the contained values.
To sufficiently meet the requirements of a com-
plete ore testing plant, there must be a combination
of machinery and equipment of large capacity and
perfect suitability, and a corps of experienced, prac-
tical experts of unqualified ability in the technique of
the different processes.
The Colorado Iron Works of Denver has installed a
well appointed mill, arranged in such a manner that
tests can be carried out by any process without
handling the ore during any part of its course
through the machinery in the same manner as it
would be treated in a mill under actual service condi-
tions. Especial precautions have been taken to
guard against the lodgment of ore in the crevices of
hoppers, launders, elevator housings, etc., to mix
with the ore of a subsequent test and influence the
results in any way. Every machine through which
ore is passed is made easily accessible for inspection
and thorough cleaning out, both before a test is be-
gun and after its completion. The laboratory and
assay office are supplied with every detail necessary,
and is in charge of a metallurgist of experience in re-
search work on ores of the most varied character.
Preliminary laboratory tests are made to indicate
the most promising lines upon which to conduct the
mill tests, after which a considerable quantity of ore
is run through to determine definitely whether or
not the method adopted in that case will prove the
best for milling treatment on a working scale.
Not being wedded to any particular process, and
having no special ideas which we wish to exploit as
against the recognized methods of treatment in their
highest state of development, they operate the plant
under the direction as to metallurgical methods of
any competent engineer representative of the par-
ties for whom the test is conducted.
The tests are conducted by the following methods
or by any combination of them:
Crushing by rolls followed by concentration by jigs
and tables. Crushing by rolls followed by concentra-
tion by tables and slimers. Crushing by rolls and
cyaniding direct. Crushing by stamps, amalgamat-
ing, followed by concentration. Crushing by stamps
in cyanide solution followed by concentration. Crush-
ing by stamps, amalgamating, followed by cyanida-
tion of the tailings. Sliming of the entire ore in peb-
ble mill.
In shipping ores for treatment it is very important
that a large quantity be sent. A carload, say fifteen
to twenty-five tons, costs but little more to ship than
a smaller lot, requires but little more time for treat-
ment and no more cost for assaying, while the re-
sults are far more reliable. In all cases where a
salable product is obtained from the treatment,
credit will be given, thus materially reducing the
cost. Great care should be taken at the mine to
obtain an average of the ore to be treated. The ore
should not be the best nor the poorest, but an exact
sample of the regular run, which will be treated at
the mine. Should the ore vary much in the mine it
will be advisable to ship 50 or even 100 tons.
The cost of treatment cannot well be estimated in
advance. It will depend on the nature of the treat-
ment, the amount of assaying required, and many
other things which cannot be anticipated. In all
cases, however, the charges will be made as low as
consistent with good, reliable work, and undoubtedly
lower than in custom plants.
Shipments should be consigned, freight prepaid, to
the Colorado Iron Works Testing Plant, Denver,
Colo. Different lots should be plainly marked.
*************** **********************
* *
Books Received* |
In contradistinction to the demands of the specialist,
the student requires a text embracing a wide scope. Forti-
fied with the fundamental ideas gained from the study
of such, he is prepared for latter-day specialization. This
fact will necessarily temper the criticism of an "Eco-
nomic Geology of the United States," by Heinrich Ries.
This work is intended to cover the ground gone over in
an elementary course. Its most notable difference from
similar texts is the mode of arrangement, whereby the
non-metallic minerals are discussed first and the metallic
minerals last. This logically leads from a discussion of
the simpler to the more complex forms of mineral de-
posits, and also indicates the predominating economic
importance of non-metallic minerals. Of these, coal is
given the first place. A detail of this chapter will give
anjidea of the method used in treating other substances.
After defining the different kinds, and giving proximate
analyses, the author discusses the origin and conditions
affecting the transition through various stages, the
structural features are indicated, and the geologic dis-
tribution in the United States described in a cursory
manner. The chapter is concluded with statistics of
production and an extended bibliography. The latter
is one of the most valuable features of the book, and is
maintained at a high standard throughout. The de-
scription of petroleum, natural gas and hydrocarbons is
supplemented by a number of fine illustrations. This
feature is also noteworthy, the pictures indicating struc-
tural conditions with remarkable fidelity. Various
building materials, stone, clay, lime and calcareous ce-
ments are generalized. The parts devoted to explaining
the uses to which the materials may be put are evidently
the result of considerable personal investigation ; salines,
gypsum, fertilizers and abrasives conclude the list of
major non-metallics. As of minor importance, he de-
scribes the varieties, distribution, uses and production
of asbestos, barite, fluorspar, fuller's earth, glass sand,
graphite, lithographic stone, lithium magnesite, mica,
mineral pigments, monazite, precious stones, sulphur
and pyrite strontium, and talc and soapstone. Impor-
tant occurrences only are described, and these in a pop-
ular manner. Mineral waters and soils conclude Part I.
Numerous references are given for detailed study if the
student should so desire, but in the text the mode of
occurrence is not described with detail now required by
specialized geological instruction. Part II, metallic
minerals, is introduced by a brief discussion of the the-
ory of ore deposits, the author apparently favoring a
modified view of Van Hise's theory, and thinks "that
most metalliferous deposits, aside from ores of iron, have
resulted by deposition from ascending waters in regions
of igneous intrusions, the waters being, in part at least,
of igneous origin." Weed's classification is used, "not
because it is considered entirely satisfactory or especially
simple, but because it embodies the results of more mod-
ern studies of ore deposits and their genetic character."
Seven chapters are devoted to the metallic ores — iron,
copper, lead and zinc, gold and silver, silver lead, alu-
minum, manganese and mercury, and minor metals. In
each case the author names and briefly describes the
various ores of the metal in question, discusses the geo-
graphical distribution of each, and gives a generalized
statement of the manner of occurrence in the more im-
portant districts. This latter is practically a summary
of the folios of the United States Geological Survey, and
is valuable chiefly for the excellent illustrations accom-
panying it. The abstracts serve as a guide for intelli-
gent study of any particular ore deposit, and will un-
doubtedly prevent the hazy ideas that are often the re-
sult of indiscriminate reading. The author is to be com-
mended for his care in giving proper credit to other
writers where such is due. In this section, as in the
preceding one, the reader is impressed with the reason
why these minerals are sought, the uses to which they
are put, and why they are fitted to such uses. Statis-
tics are brought up to 1903. Unfortunately, there are a
few instances where the author has necessarily had to
depend upon others, aod in the transmission of ideas a
few errors have been introduced. Yet these are few and
of minor importance. They should not impair the gen-
eral usefulness of the work. The author has a pleasing
style that makes easy reading. The student's mind is
not distracted from the subject by the author's mechan-
ism of expression. Characterized in brief, this is a col-
lege text, broad and elementary, yet serving as a gen-
eral introduction to a field where personal observation
should confirm or disprove preliminary reading. The
geologist should never be hampered with preconceived
ideas that bias his own judgment. The MacMillan Co.
of New York are the publishers. The book will be sent
postpaid by the Mining and Scientific Press
for $2.60.
Recent development of mines in arid regions has
demonstrated the value of the gas engine for power re-
quirements. Nevada's new mines are now reached by the
gasoline-propelled automobile and hoisting and pumping
is largely done with gasoline engines throughout the
arid West. In consequence there has been a demand
for an explanation as to the how and why of their con-
struction and operation. This demand seems to be well
met in "Gas, Gasoline and Oil EngineB," by G. D. His-
cox. The book treats on the theory of gas, gasoline
and oil engines as designed and manufactured in the
United States. After a brief introduction, largely his-
torical, the author gives a concise exposition and dis-
cussion of the theory of gas and gasoline engines, devel-
oping the fundamentals for efficient design in accordance
with the underlying physical conditions. Next follows a
brief account, elaborated in succeeding chapters, of the
various materials of power — illuminating gas, natural
gas, producer gas, gasoline, kerosene, acetylene and
alcohol. A particularly valuable account is given of
producer gas and the various processes of production.
Each of the essential parts of the engine is illustrated
and described in the construction and operation. These
include carburetors, cylinders, governors and valve gear-
ignition devices and the various details of construction.
This section includes diagrams of most of the types pro-
duced by leading American manufacturers and is emi-
nently practical in its details. The remainder of the
volume is occupied mainly with descriptions of the many
types of motors on the market, including stationary,
marine and automobile motors. A chapter on the man-
agement of motors contains some valuable information.
Heretofore the English literature on this subject has
been behind recent advances of the explosive motor in
recent years. This book brings the subject up to date
and forms the foundation for an intelligent study of ex-
isting models. There are recent developments in crude
oil engines which are not noticed. It is evidently not
written for the designer and omits some details essential
to his work. But, as a comprehensive and practical
treatise for the operator, it should be in the hands of
every progressive man interested in running gas engines.
It is published by N. W. Henley, 132 Nassau St., New
York City ,and will be sent postpaid by the Mining and
Scientific Press for $2.50.
"Register of Mines and Minerals of Yuba County,
California, " issued by the State Mining Bureau, Perry
Bdg., San Francisco; price 25 cents, postage 8 cents. It
contains a topographical and an economic geological map
of Yuba county, a map of dredging fields near Marys-
ville, and a list and brief description of mines.
As an extract from "Mineral Resources of the United
States," the U. S. Geological Survey has issued "The
Production of Precious Stones in 1904," by G. P. Kunz.
This is a succinct summary of the condition of this in-
dustry throughout the world.
?f ********* * **** ****** *** *************
I Personal* |
* «■
W. H. Wiley is at Greenwood, B. C.
Willis Lawrence is in San Francisco.
W. A. Prichard is at Zacatecas, Mexico.
J. F. Halloran sailed for Tahiti this week.
Lyttleton Price of Bellevue, Idaho, is at the Palace
Hotel.
John B. Farish is in New York on his return from
London.
F. M. Drescher is in Denver, Colo., from Prescott,
Arizona.
F. W. Baker sailed for London from New York on
December 12.
George W. Evans has returned to San Francisco
from Denver.
F. J. H. Merrill of New York is doing geological
work in Idaho.
E. J. Wilson is building a smelter at Val Verde, near
Prescott, Arizona.
R. C. Turner has returned to San Francisco from
Chihuahua, Mexico.
W. H. Daly is manager Durango M. Co., near Velar-
dena, Durango, Mexico.
Albert V. Johnston of New York is visiting San
Francisco and Los Angeles.
Frank H. Probert has returned to Los Angeles
from Hanover, New Mexico.
H. Vincent Wallace of Nogales, Arizona, is visit-
ing San Francisco and Bakersfield.
R. F. Pearce is at Denver from the mines of the
Andes Tin Co., near Oruro, Bolivia.
Geo. S. Binckley has returned to San Francisco
from a professional trip to Shasta county.
Lee Glockner returned from Western Australia on
the " Ventura," which arrived this week.
L. S. Austin, professor of metallurgy Michigan Col-
lege of Mines, is visiting Anaconda, Montana.
W. E. Wade has resigned as manager Globe M. Co.
at Lead, S. D., and F. Icker has succeeded him.
R. H. Channing, general manager Utah Con. M. Co.,
has returned to Salt Lake City from a trip East.
R. S. Baverstock of Los AngeleB is in Kern county
getting ready for shipping a carload of scheelite.
Stanly A. Easton, manager of the Bunker Hill &
Sullivan mine at Wardner, Idaho, is visiting San Fran-
cisco.
John C. Montgomery', Denver, Colo., has been ap-
pointed resident manager of the Venture Corporation,
London.
W. H. Weed has returned to Washington, having
concluded a geological investigation of mines at Butte,
Montana.
D. C. Tobin of Leadville, manager Continental gold
mines of Vulcan, Colo., has returned from a business
trip East.
Duncan MacVichie, general manager Bingham Con.
M. Co., of Salt Lake City, is spending the holidays in
Los Angeles.
Geo. Hall has been made superintendent Mount
Masonic mine at Park City, Utah, succeeding J. C. Has-
son, resigned.
James Hooper has been appointed superintendent
Veta Grande mine at Altar, Sonora, Mexico, vice Arthur
Houle, resigned.
Arthur Houle has been appointed superintendent
Calumet and Arizona smelter at Douglas, Ariz., succeed-
ing James Wood, resigned.
Robert L. Tozier has been appointed district sales
manager of the Power & Mining Machinery Co. 's gas
machinery department, with headquarters at 52 William
street, New York.
O. O. McReynolds, who has charge of the construc-
tion work of the Gold Prince mill at Animas Forks,
Colo., has returned to Denver for the winter, as he
claims they are unable to deliver material.
Robert T. Hill, mining geologist, has purchased
the entire capital stock of the Hill-Cunningham Com-
pany, 25 Broad street, New York. The corporation will
be put into liquidation and Mr. Hill will hereafter con-
tinue business under his own name at the Trinity Build-
ing, 111 Broadway, New York.
je******** **************** ************
*
Trade Treatises*
Bulletin 1202 of the»Allis-Chalmers Co. of Milwaukee,
Wis., shows their Reliance friction clutch.
The Trump Mfg. Co. of Springfield, O., send a nicely
illustrated catrlogue of their boilers and self-contained
side crank steam engines. The design and construction
are well shown.
The Chicago Pneumatic Tool Co. of Chicago, 111.,
sends Catalogue No. 17, a comprehensive compilation,
picturing and describing the various air-driven tools han-
dled by them. In addition it contains interesting cost
comparisons,
December 30, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
I MINING SUMMARY, |
'"f:lllilll C'ODUCJ.
Specially Compiled and Reported for toe MINING AND
SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
The supply of silver from all available sources in 1904
was 176,840,014 ounces, as against 173,222,088 in 1903.
This was an Increase of 3,617,920 ounces, or a gain of
2.1%. Mexico was, as usual, the heaviest contributor,
with an output of 60,808,879 ounces, although this shows
a decrease of over 7,000,000 ounces from the output in
1903. The United States was second with a total of
57,786, 100 ounces, as against 54,300,000 a year earlier, a
gain of 3,486,100 ounces, which is almost equal to the
entire world's gain for the year. Australia was third,
with a record of 14,558,892 ounces, against 11,909,040
ounces In 1903, drawn principally from the great mines
of Broken Hill and Barrier Range. Germany claims a
production of 12,532,938 ounces, against 5,830,000 ounces
the previous year, which would entitle the Teutons to
third place; but as no discrimination is made between
silver extracted from foreign ores and that obtained by
native mining, proper credit can not be assigned. Bolivia
comes next, with 6,083,333 ounces, against 6,614,957
ounces in 1903, a decrease of 531,624 ounces, and is closely
followed by Spain and Peru, with respective totals of
4,876,076 and 4,667,047 ounces, as against outputs in 1903
of 4,090,000 and 5,491,349 ounces respectively, which in-
dicate a gain of almost 800,000 ounces for Spain and a
loss of more than that amount for Peru. With the sin-
gle exception of Argentina, which showed a slight gain
of 16,153 ounces, all the other countries showed losses on
a comparison with their output in 1903. Bolivia receded
from 6,614,957 ounces in 1903 to 6,083,333; Chile, from
1,650,000 to 868,067; Columbia, from 2,000,000 to 946,066;
Peru from 5,491,349, as above, to 4,667,047; Ecuador's
figures are not available. Uruguay was practically sta-
tionary with 1093 against 1000 in 1903. In Europe in-
creases were noted in five countries and decreases in
seven. Those in which increases were noted, with their
figures, respectively, are: Hungary, 643,000 ounces,
against 619,877 in 1903; Germany (subjebt to the above
explanation), 12.432,938 ounces, against 5,830,000 in 1903;
Norway, 257,200 ounces, against 240,298 in 1903; Spain,
4,876,076 ounces, against 4,090,000 in 1903; Turkey, 564,-
685 ounces, against 486,297 in 1903. In the following de-
creases were recorded: Austria, 1,254,888 ounces, against
1,279,972 in 1903; Greece, 895,172 ounces, against 1,090,-
367 in 1903; Italy, 757,777 ounces, against 784,084 in 1903;
Russia, 172,912 ounces, against 260,776 in 1903; Sweden,
20,923 ounces, against 32,298 in 1903. The United King-
dom remained almost stationary with 174,517 ounces,
against 174,896 in 1903. Canada showed a marked in-
crease, with an output of 3,718,668 ounces, against 3,-
198,581 in 1903, and just takes eighth place from Japan,
whose production was 3,208,620 ounces, against 1,770,152
in 1903, a far greater increase. The Dutch East Indies
showed a gain of about 50,000 ounces, Africa 36,000
ounces and other countries 2000 ounces. In 1875 the
total output of silver in the world was 63,317,014 fine
troy ounces, a figure almost reached by the Mexicans in
1904 and exceeded in 1903. In 1885 it increased to 96,-
250,831 ounces, a gain of 60%. In 1890 it was 134,404,104
ounces, or more than double the yield of 1875. Five
years later the world's record was attained in the fig-
ures 182,220,228 ounces— almost three times the output
of 1875.
The United States supplied more than one-half of the
petroleum produced in the world in 1904. A statement
of the world's production of petroleum, prepared by the
British Board of Trade, which has reached the Bureau
of Statistics of the Department of Commerce and Labor,
puts the petroleum production of the world in 1904 at
9,303,000,000 gallons, of which 4,916,000,000 gallons were
produced in the United States, 3,650,000 gallons in Rus-
sia, 202,500,000 gallons in Austria, 206,500,000 gallons in
Java and Sumatra, 135,000,000 gallons in Roumania,
105,500,000 gallons in British India (principally Burma),
49,000,000 gallons in Japan, 20,000,000 gallons in Canada,
and 18,500,000 gallons in Germany. In 1903, which made
the highest record of any year prior to 1904, the total
was but 8,504,000,000; in 1902 it was 7,588,000,000. This
increase in 1903 and 1904 occurs chiefly in the United
States. The figures of production in the United States
show an increase of about 697,000,000 gallons in 1904 over
the figures of 1903, while those of Russia, our chief com-
petitor in oil production, show an increase of but 103,-
000,000 gallons over 1903, and the increase in the United
States in 1903 is also much larger than that of Russia.
In the four years 1898, 1899, 1900 and 1901, Russian pro-
duction of crude petroleum exceeded that of the United
States, but in all other years for which the record is
shown by the publication in question, extending from
1883 to 1904, the production of the United States exceeds
that of Russia, and by far exceeds that of any other
country. Indeed, it may be said that the United States
and Russia produce practically nine-tenths of the petro-
leum of the world, the total production in 1904, as above
shown, being 9,303,000,000 gallons, of which 8,566,000,000
was produced in the United States and Russia combined.
Exportation of illuminating oil, or kerosene as it is fa-
miliarly called, is also much greater from the United
States than from Russia, especially as American crude
oil gives a much larger per cent of illuminating oil than
does that of Russia. The total quantity of refined illu-
minating oil exported from Russia in 1904 was 455,000,000
gallons, and from the United States 761,000,000 gallons.
ARIZONA.
Cochise Connty.
It is reported that the Black Prince Copper Co. in-
tends to put a hoist on its double- compartment shaft,
near Johnson. The shaft is down 50 feet.
Gila County.
The Globe & Pinto Co. at Globe are sinking their
shaft from the 50-foot to the 100-foot level.
The Rex Cobre M. Co. Is preparing to resume opera-
tions on its claims in the Lone Star district, near Clif-
ton. The Shannon Copper Co., at Clifton, in its an-
nual report shows a production for the past year of
11,295,686 pounds of fine copper with a by-product of
Ounces gold and 17,127 ounces silver. The average
price of the copper was 14.24 cents per pound. During
the year there was charged to the construction account
152,320.06, which, deducted from the total expenses of
the year, left $1,368,020.04 as the total cost of the cop-
per, or 12.11 cents per pound, a profit of 2.13 cents per
pound. The net profit for the year was $271,153.65, or
a little over 90 cents per 6hare.
Mohave County.
The Elkhart mine at Chloride has been taken over by
Douglas & Reeves and N. G. Douglas is at the mines.
The new owners intend to put the mill in commission
and work over the tailings and low-grade ore. The
Benedictine Co. of Cedar is preparing to start work af-
ter the first of the year. A tank wagon has been re-
ceived at Yucca for hauling oil to the mine for fuel pur-
poses. A pumping plant will have to be put on the
J. F. T. mines at Stockton hill, near Kingman. J. E.
Carney is superintendent.
j'lii.;. County.
In the Tucson mountains, 15 miles from Tucson, there
are five mining camps in operation. The Gould M. Co.
has the main working shaft 300 feet deep. The Martin
Ware mines are being operated by a good force.
The New State M. Co. has repaired its road from Tuc-
son to their mines. G. A. Hot! is developing his cop-
per mines. F. J. Sibley has men developing his mines
on the northwest side of the mountains. The Arizona
Copper M. Co. is drifting to crosscut the main ledge
from the 100-foot level.
Santa Cruz County.
T. F. Kelly has resumed work on his placers near Oro
Blanco. High-grade ore carrying values in copper,
lead, gold and silver, is said to have been struck by F.
Powers in the lowest level of the World's Fair mine,
near Harshaw.
Yavapai County.
The Pine Mountain M. Co.'s 10-stamp mill on Lynx
creek, near Prescott, has been started. Joseph Car-
michael is superintendent.
G. W. Middleton of Prescott says that the Metals Mill-
ing Co., of which he is general manager, is to put in a
250-ton plant, consisting of crushers, rolls and concen-
trators. Work on the enterprise will be started at
once.
CALIFORNIA.
In a recent report of the United States Geological Sur-
vey, C. G. Yale gives a succinct account of the centers
of gold and silver production. In Alpine county there is
practically but one producing section, which is at
Loope. In Amador county the mines around Jackson
exceed all others in yield, and include the Kennedy, the
Argonaut, the Oneida and the Zeila mining companies.
The largest producers in the county aside from these
are the Keystone at Amador City and the Fremont at
Drytown. The surface mines of the county are unim-
portant. The Kennedy is the deepest gold mine in the
State; the vertical depth of its new shaft is 2863 feet
(August, 1905), and sinking is progressing at the rate of
60 feet per month. If the vein maintains its present dip,
it is expected to be cut in the new shaft at a depth
between 3400 and 3500 feet. The hoisting works are
built to supply a 150-stamp mill from a depth of 4000
feet. A 100-stamp mill is now in operation, and 3-ton
loads are raised from the stopes on the 2700 level. The
collar of the shaft is at an elevation of 1500 feet, so the
bottom of the shaft is now 1363 feet below sea level.
These notes are made concerning this particular mine
because of the great depth of its workings and of its
equipment for still greater depth — 4000 feet. The orig-
inal old shaft of the mine was down 2300 feet when work
on it stopped, and the new shaft was put into use for
hoisting, etc.
In Butte county the center of the producing proper-
ties is at Oroville, where some thirty dredgers are now
at work and others are building. In Calaveras the
largest producing mines are at Angels, including the
Lightner and the Utica companies. The largest single
producer in the county, however, is the Gwin at Gwin-
mine, and the Melones, at Melones, is also among those
with a heavy output. The biggest producers in gravel
are the Calaveras Dredging Co. at Jenny Lind and the
Calaveritas Hydraulic Co. at San Andreas. In Del Norte
all the mining work is done in the vicinity of Crescent
City. El Dorado county has no special mining center,
unless Placerville may be so considered. The most
prominent quartz mines are at El Dorado and Placer-
ville. Fresno county has few operating mines, but what
there are are at Auberry, Pollasky, Tollhouse and
Trimmers. Orleans is the only place in Humboldt
county where any output of importance is obtained.
More gold is coming out of Ballarat than from any other
place in Inyo county. Randsburg is the most productive
camp in Kern county, the Yellow Aster being the lead-
ing property and one of the large mines of the State.
At Mohave, also, there are three large producers.
Lassen county has only one mine of consequence, and
that is at Hayden Hill. Los Angeles county also has
only one district — that at Shoemaker. The only place
in Madera county making any output of note is at Coarse
Gold. Mariposa has but one large producer, at Bullion.
In Monterey county what little mining is being done is
at Jolon. Bodie is the center of the mining industry of
Mono county, a very large proportion of the output
coming from one mine alone in that camp. In Nevada
county Grass Valley is the central point of production,
and here is situated the mine having the largest gold
output of any in the State — the North Star. The
Empire is a good second, and there are other large
producers ; and Nevada City, close by, has also
two producers of prominence. These mines are all
quartz, the largest yield from gravel coming from
the North Bloomfield region. In Placer county
the largest output of quartz is from the vicinity of
Auburn, but the principal yield of gold is derived from
the drift mines of the Forest Hill divide at Michigan
Bluff and Bullion. The most prominent quartz mine in
Plumas county is at Johnsville, but there can not be
said to be any special gravel mining center, mines of this
character being scattered all over the county in great
numbers. There are no mines of importance in River-
side county at present in operation. The dredgers near
Folsom and Fairoaks represent the principal output of
Sacramento county. San Bernardino has only one very
large producer, the Bagdad-Chase property at Stedman,
which yielded by far the largest proportion of the total
output. In San Diego county the Golden Cross of the
Free Gold Mining Co. at Hedges produced most of
the yield of the county; the mines at Julian and
Banner had no notable output. San Luis Obispo has
only a few unimportant placers at La Panza. In
Shasta county the Gladstone, owned by the Hazel
Mining Co., at French Gulch, is the largest pro-
ducer, followed close by the Midas mine at Knob or
Harrison Gulch. The largest quantity of gold and
silver from any one point came from the smelters of the
Mountain Copper Co. at Keswick, where they purchase
siliceous ores to form flux in copper smelting operations.
Sierra county has one important, quartz producer, which
is at Sierra City; the principal gravel mines now pro-
ducing are around Downieville. Siskiyou has a few
prominent quartz mines at Gazelle, Gilta and Nolton;
but there are many producing gravel mines scattered
throughout the county. The few mines in Stanislaus
county are at Knights Ferry. The largest quartz yield
in Trinity is from a mine at Minersville, and the largest
hydraulic mine yield is from near Weaverville; there are
many good-sized gravel properties having vields in dif-
ferent parts of the county. The few mines of Tulare
county are at Aukland and White River. Tuolumne is
distinctively a quartz-mining county, with quartz mines
at many points, the largest single producer being at
Chinese Camp; but there are heavy producers at Big
Oak Flat, Carters, Confidence, Groveland, Quartz, Raw-
hide, Sonora, Soulsbyville and Stent. The mines in
Ventura county are at Lebec. In Yuba county the
quartz interests are at present nominal; the main yield
comes from placers, and especially from those worked
by dredgers between Marysville and Smartsville.
Amador County.
The Wildman-Mahoney mine, at Sutter Creek, has
been closed down pending adjustment of financial dif-
ficulties. The Valparaiso pocket mine south of
Jackson has been sold to D. Bora, G. Badaracco,
E. Garibaldi and Demartini.
Ed. Lynch has brought suit in the Superior Court
against the Keystone Con. M. Co. and M. Jasper Mc-
Donald for $20,000, for services rendered as an attorney
and otherwise, and also for his monthly stipend. The
company owns mines at Amador City. In March, 1901,
McDonald, as president of the company, agreed that
Lynch should be paid $20,000 for services rendered up to
that time and $150 per month afterward. The $20,000
was to come out of the net profits of the mine. Lynch
alleges that the accounts have been kept in a fraudulent
manner for the purpose of concealing the net profits.
In last July the company notified Lynch that he was
discharged from its service, but he claims that he is en-
titled to pay for two months, as he received no allowance
for June and July.
Inyo Count?.
The Coso Reduction Co. is building a mill near
Darwin to treat ore from neighboring mines. R. B.
Todd is superintendent.
Kern County.
In the Kern River fields the Grace Oil Co. has been
sinking a deep well for the purpose of securing lighter
oil which it was believed existed, beneath the heavy oil.
Early in the week at a depth of 3148 feet a large quantity
of salt water had been struck, which flowed up over the
top of the casing. The water was struck in a stratum of
sandstone which is believed to be several hundred feet
thick. After the water had been reached the drill was
sent down 18 feet farther, but as the water increased in
quantity and as there was not the slightest evidence of
oil the effort to bring in a well of light oil was abandoned,
the casing was pulled, and the well shot at a depth of
2000 feet, at which depth it will deliver from 200 to 300
barrels of heavy oil a day.
Nevada County.
Work has been started at the Alta gravel mine, west
of Grass Valley, by the Prospectors' Co. It is the in-
tention of the Prospectors' Co. to continue the tunnel
which has been run 600 feet and put through a raise.
A. Hail is superintendent.
Sacramento County.
The Natoma vineyard of 2000 acres, below Folsom, is
under bond for mining purposes by the Folsom Develop-
ment Co., of which R. G. Stanford is manager.
Shasta Connty.
The Detroit M. Co. 's rich gravel lands in the Horsetown
district, 12 miles southwest of Redding, has been acquired
by the Shasta Dredging Co. It is proposed to put in
a new bucket dredger. W. H. Dunn is in charge.
Trinity County.
It is reported that a 10-stamp mill is to be bought for
the Point Lookout mine at Indian Creek. D. B. Fields
is owner. A new hoist has been put in at the Pceth
mine on Coffee creek, near Trinity Center. Sinking
from the tunnel will be continued through the winter.
The Minear tunnel on the Willey mine, near Dead-
wood, is being retimbered and is to be extended 200 feet
to open up the Shafter mine, which is being leased by
R. A. Skinner and R. E. Hanley.
Yuba County.
The Mining Bureau has issued a map and register of
the mines and minerals of Yuba county. It has an area
of 625 square miles, extending from the Feather river on
the west to Sierra county. It is bounded on the north
by Butte county and on the south by Placer county. It
453
Mining and Scientific Press.
December 30, 1905.
had a population in 1900 of 8620, and for 1904 the assessed
valuation was $5,995,537. About 50% of. the county is
valley land bordering on the Yuba and Feather rivers.
The topography is diversified and elevations range from
60 feet on the Feather river to 4800 feet above sea level
in the extreme northeast corner of the county, with cor-
responding climatic conditions. Marysville, the county
seat, is a town of 3500 inhabitants, at the confluence of
the Feather and Yuba rivers and at the head of shoal
water navigation. Pocket mining is carried on to some
extent and the river bars are worked in the summer,
while placer claims afford employment to the miner dur-
ing the winter months. A large area of auriferous
gravel on the Yuba river near Marysville is being
worked by dredgers. Two large dredgers are now at
work and eight more are under construction and near-
ing completion. All of these dredgers are expected to
be in operation by January 1, 1906. The dredgers are
supplied with electric power and lighted by the Bay
Counties Power Co. Bauxite and a pottery clay are
found in the county; the bauxite is undeveloped. Occa-
sional shipments of the pottery clay are made from
Wheatland to Lincoln. Copper deposits and ledges of
marble and granite exist in the county, but are unde-
veloped.
COLORADO.
(Special Correspondence). — It is given out at the
United States Mint that $25,000,000 in bullion is now on
deposit in that institution in this city awaiting coinage,
which is expected to start the first of the year. A
new State road is under consideration between Canon
City and Cripple Creek. The State has appropriated
$10,000 for the building of the road. Owing to the toll
road along the survey, work has been delayed until this
obstacle was removed. Teller and Fremont counties
have agreed to divide the expense in buying the fran-
chise from the toll road company. The toll road has
not been in use for some time past, although the com-
pany still holds the franchise. The Big Five M. Co.,
doing business in different parts of Colorado, particu-
larly at Idaho Springs, i9 again in the courts. G. A.
Suffa of Boston, a stockholder in the company, has
asked for a receiver for the company, on the grounds
that the business of the concern is not being properly
handled.
Denver, Dec. 25.
Boulder County.
As a result of successful tests on ore from the Wano
mine at Jamestown, in the Dorcas mill at Florence, a 50-
ton cyanide mill is being built at the mine. The ore is
to be roasted before cyaniding, 98% extraction having
been obtained in the test.
The Arapahoe Co. at Copper Rock, near Sunset, has
leased and bonded its group to a Boulder syndicate. The
deal also includes the Jordan tunnel, now in 1050 feet.
An air compressor will be put in and the tunnel driven
to cut the Cashier-Golddust, Maud S. and Medicine Man
group. The Kirk tunnel, below Sunset, is being over-
hauled, debris removed, track relayed and portal retim-
bered. It is the intention of McGown, Kirk & Smith to
drive the main drift ahead. The Lee S. Co. will re-
sume operations near Sunshine after the holidays.
Clear creek County.
The report of the Chamberlain-Dillingham ore pur-
chasing agency at Georgetown for the year 1905 shows
the purchase of 4204 tons of ore, the gross value of
which was $385,195. The average value was $68.04 per
ton. The value of the copper and zinc was $5000. As
the zinc product of the various mills that have been in
operation during the year was shipped directly to the
smelters, it is estimated that the value was $50,000, and
the value of the silver-lead ores sent direct to the
smelter is placed at the same amount. The Silver
Standard states that the average value of the ore
handled is not as high as it has been in former years,
but this is accounted for by the fact that the higher
price of silver and lower treatment charges of the
smelters has induced a larger tonnage of low grade ore
and does not indicate a falling off in the value of the
high grade ore from the prominent shippers. The
largest producers were the East and West Griffith,
Colorado Central, Sunburst, Rogers, Santiago, Dives-
Pelican and Seven-Thirty, Stevens and Mendota mill.
A rich strike has been made in the Magnet mine, on
Griffith mountain, near Georgetown, in the fourth level
of the old workings 600 feet from the portal. This
property was bonded and leased a few weeks ago to
Thomas Rodda of Idaho Springs, since which time it
has been sold to the X-Ray M. Co., which is cleaning
out and retimbering the old workings, and early the
coming year an extensive campaign of development will
be inaugurated. Since Mr. Rodda secured the bond
and lease he has the privilege of working through both
the Doric and Eclipse tunnels. The heading of the
Doric is now in Magnet ground.
Gilpin County.
The Pozo mine, in Nevada gulch, near Central City, is
producing zinc and iron-lead ores. The ore is first
shipped to Denver for magnetic treatment. The zinc
product is sent to Iola, Kansas. A new shaft house and
hoist are contemplated. A. W. Rucker is superinten-
dent. The Modoc mine on Quartz hill, near Central
City, is taking out mill ore to be treated at the stamp
mills in Black Hawk. John Lying is superintendent.
The same company is sinking on the Gold Retort vein
on the same hill and will put in a whim.
Sinking has been started at the Mackey mine of the
Imperial M. & M. Co. of Apex at a depth of 250 feet.
Operations are to be resumed at the Boston-Occidental
Co.'s mine on Colorado hill before Jan. 1. The mill will
start with a daily capacity of twenty-five tons. Bos-
ton capital is interested in this company and is figuring
on a large reduction plant in Mammoth gulch next year,
as well as a new road down Mammoth gulch for making
future shipments over the Moffat road.
The Perigo mill in Gambell gulch, near Central City,
has been started on ore being taken from the Perigo
mine by leasers.
Gunnison County.
The new 100-ton cyanide plant being constructed by
the Raymond Consolidated M. Co., at Ohio City, is Hear-
ing completion. The former difficulty experienced in
operating the Raymond shaft was with water, which
made development very expensive. The tunnel has
eliminated this difficulty and the company will also
operate at this point. A 2200-foot tramway has
been completed which will convey all the ores to the
new mill. E. M. Lamont is general manager of the big
enterprise.
Near Tin Cup the West Gold Hill mill, with its ore-
drying machinery, is running full capacity, handling
seventy-five tons per day and cyaniding the output. On
Cross mountain Charles Wahl is sinking on the Gold
Bug. The Jimmy Mack dump, near the Tin Cup, is
being treated at the Brunswick concentrator. The
Gold Cup tunnel is being operated from Middle Willow
creek and is pushed as rapidly as possible to intersect a
number of lodes at great depth.
A 7-foot vein has been opened in the Ben Franklin
mine in the Mineral Form basin, 6 miles northeast of
Pitkin. A few weeks ago A. B. Clark of Butte, Mont.,
secured a lease and bond on the property from the Ben
Franklin Co. and started operations. The Double O
lode, owned and operated by a company of the same
name, under the direction of C. T. Snedakor, has a shaft
down 100 feet.
Lake County.
The Rock Hill Mines Co. has a lease on the Nil Des-
perandum and other claims, near Leadville. The shaft
is 750 feet deep and within 12 feet of the bottom of the
lime, as shown by the drill holes — which makes it, geo-
logically, the deepest shaft on Rock hill. There are
only thirty gallons of water per minute. The drift to
the southeast is in 130 feet and has an iron contact car-
rying silver and lead values. The north drift is in 90
feet and has contact with a streak of lead sand. On
Rock hill lessees have reopened the La Plata mine.
Two sets of lessees are taking out ore on the Crown
Point mine. The Dome Rock lessees are sinking the
shaft through hard, heavily iron-stained lime and will
have the necessary depth in a couple of weeks to con-
nect with known ore channels.
Ouray County.
A two years' lease has been granted on the Newsboy
mine, near Ouray, to F. Herzinger, who now has men
cleaning out the old workings and catching up some
caved ground.
The Gold Lion Mines Co. will begin a long tunnel on
its property in the Red Mountain district, near Ouray.
The tunnel will be extended 1J mile and will explore
several large veins. Starting on the Alice vein, the
company will drive 1500 feet, to strike the Mountain
Lion vein at a depth of 2000 feet.
Park County.
In the Lower Tarryall district the Hayman M. & M.
Co., of which Frank Clancy of Colorado Springs is man-
ager, has sunk the main shaft during the last few
months from the 200 to the 360-foot point, and will be
continued to 400 feet. The Apex Copper Co. 's shaft
at Hayman is to be continued 200 feet from the 160-foot
level. J. K. Vanatta is manager. On the Sterrett
group at Hayman a compressor and machine drills are
to be put in. The shaft, which has a depth of 170 feet,
will be continued to the 270 foot point.
San Miguel County.
High grade ore is reported on the Black Bear group,
in Ingram basin, 5 miles southeast of Telluride, owned
by the Black Bear M. Co. An air compressor, machine
drills and an electric hoist are to be put in at the mine in
the spring. It is the intention, also, to construct a mill
during summer. L. Kaanta is president. The Smug-
gler-Union 80-stamp mill at Pandora, 2 miles from
Telluride, is being enlarged by the addition of 6 feet
on the west end to make room for more ore bins to
accommodate leasers on the Smuggler-Union mines, who
must keep their concentrates separate, and also for
eight new Frue vanners, now being set in place, for
handling the Pandora lease product after it leaves the
crushers and amalgamating tables. This mill is not
running full capacity, but will be as soon as the Tellu-
ride Power Co. completes preparations for supplying
increased power.
The Gold Run placer, near Telluride, has been leased
to J. E. Wrightman and Lee Fillius of Denver. The
placer is covered with tailings from the Smuggler-
Union, Tomboy, Japan, Cimarron, Liberty Bell and
other mills from a depth of a few inches to as high as 40
feet. A large portion of them accumulated before the
milling and treatment of ores had been developed and
improved into the perfection of recent years; before
cyanide plants, rag and canvas plants were constructed
in this district for the treatment of tailings, conse-
quently it is known that this portion of the deposit, at
least, carries sufficient values in gold, silver and lead to
enable retreatment at a good profit. About two years
ago the Keystone Hydraulic M. Co., owner and operator
of the Keystone placer, on the San Miguel river, 5 miles
below Telluride, notified the companies operating the
quartz mines and mills that unless measures were taken
to prevent the tailings from washing down the river,
injunctions would be sued out and lawsuits for damages
instituted, for the sand and tailings in the water rapidly
cut out the pipe lines, entailing heavy expenses. The
Smuggler-Union, Tomboy and Liberty Bell companies
then pooled together and purchased the placer, and
Jacob Fillius of Denver and E. C. Howe of Telluride
were appointed trustees. Above the eastern limits of
Telluride a long dam of logs and stone was constructed
across the river and valley, and the waters of the river
impounded, permitting the sand and the heavier sedi-
ment to settle. Before the placer passed into the hands
of the mining company, the tailings were being worked
on a small scale by the Peck cyanide plant, but the sale
suspended operations and this plant has been dis-
mantled. The lessees will put up a large plant.
Summit County.
(Special Correspondence). — The Wellington, Morning
Star, Gold Dust, Lucky and Carbonate mines, at Breck-
enridge, are shipping high-grade smelting ore. The
Washington-Joliet mill is temporarily closed down, but
work in the mine is progressing. The Pacific mine
on North Star mountain, formerly owned by Mr. Beni-
rose, has been purchased by a new company which is
shipping ore to Alma. The old Gould mine on Rock
creek, 15 miles below Dilion, is being opened up by J.
Gould. The Senator mine, in the upper Blue, may be
shipping soon. M. M. Howe of Breckenridge is gen-
eral manager.
Breckenridge, Dec. 23.
The Carbonate and Little Tommie mines on Mount
Baldy, near Breckenridge, have been consolidated and
purchased by the Beaver Creek G. M. & M. Co., of
which G. E. Moon of Breckenridge is superintendent.
The Carbonate is developed by two tunnels, which are
connected by a winze from the upper tunnel, which is in
500 feet. The lower tunnel is in 600 feet.
Teller County.
The Maud S. Gold Mining & Development Co. has
resumed operations on the Red Bird claim of the
National Co., south of Cripple Creek, on the west slope
of Gold hill. A. P. Taber is superintendent.
The screens at the Montrose mine of Ironclad hill are
being altered by Van Fleet & Co., lessees, after which
ore will be moved at a greater speed. The shoot has
been followed by drift on the 350-foot level for 40 feet.
■ — Ore has been broken in the W. P. H. property of
the United Gold Mines Co. on Ironclad hill. A depth
of 100 feet has been made by Rollestone & Co., lessees,
in a new shaft started recently on a block of the Arap-
ahoe claim of the Jerry Johnson Co. A steam hoist is
to be installed.
Chandler & Dean of Cripple Creek have a lease on the
Cardinal claim of the Little Valeria Co. on Gold hill.
They will drive a crosscut from the bottom of the 250-
foot shaft. J. S. Murphy and associates have put in a
4-drill compressor on the Magnet Rock claims on Beacon
hill. The Dillon shaft on Battle mountain is down 350
feet toward the 1000-foot level.
IDAHO.
Boise County.
E. E. Rodgers, president of the Black Pearl M. Co.,
at Pearl, says the mill, which was started November 17,
has passed through the experimental stages, and is run-
ning twenty-four hours a day, giving satisfaction. The
saving effected is said to be 98.5% of the total value. A
small residue of chloride of silver is lost in the tailings.
The plant consists of two mills having a daily capacity
of 150 tons. The slime separating cones, invented by
J. B. Eldridge of Boise, are giving satisfaction. A
peculiar accident was met recently in driving the cross-
cut for the Leviathan vein. When the bore was in 1350
feet and supposedly approaching the lead sought,
sulphuretted hydrogen gas bur9t forth with consider-
able violence, driving the men out and tearing out the
ventilation pipes. As the gas will not support combus-
tion, efforts to again reach the face and resume work
have so far proved futile. A candle will not burn, it is
stated, within 400 feet of the face. Hoods have been
ordered. In addition to Black Pearl, the company is
developing the Lucky Ridge.
Idaho County.
A rich strike has been made in the Hogan mine, at
Oro Grande. One of the blasts in the glory hole shot
back into a ledge of high grade free milling ore. The
gold is coarse. Amalgamation plates are being put in
below the sand tanks in the cyanide plant to catch the
coarse gold. The Hogan mill has been running steadily
since it started up and the company is treating 250 tons
daily. The lower tunnel will be driven ahead to tap the
new ledge and a stope opened up.
Shoshone County.
In the Bald Mountain claim, 3 miles west of the Mon-
itor mine, Manager E. W. Conrad has run a tunnel in
over 1200 feet, cutting through 9 feet of sulphides, and
the face of the tunnel is still in ore. The Monitor is
getting out timbers to enlarge its shaft. The present
shaft is small, and, as the managers plan to sink about
600 feet, they have to enlarge the opening. An option
running two years has been taken by New York people
on the property of the Hunch M. & M. Co. and the old
Wild Rose property, 4 miles east of Pierce. The
Ozark is working seven men and the stamp mill is run-
ning steadily. The company intends to put in a large
mill in the spring.
The electric hoist and other machinery has been put
in at the Sister mine, near Wallace, and work has been
resumed.
Washington County.
The tunnel on the Flat Rock placer mine on Goose
creek, 4 miles from Meadows, is to be driven 400 feet
farther by April 1, giving a total length of 600 feet. An
upraise will be made to the creek bed at the end of the
tunnel. Lee Bunch is manager.
MICHIGAN.
Houghton County.
Another furnace is to be built during the coming year
at the plant of the Michigan Smelting Co. at Houghton.
This will make a total of six furnaces there. It will be
larger than any of the furnaces already constructed,
the plants calling for dimensions of 18x40 feet. The
smelter now contains two 16x35-foot furnaces, two 14x23-
foot furnaces and one 15xl8-foot furnace. The new
furnace will have a capacity of 100 tons daily. It will
be assigned to use upon the mineral of the Stanton
mines, while one of the Stanton furnaces will be turned
over to the Copper Range Con. group. This will give
to each group three furnaces.
MONTANA
Granite County.
Jas.Patton is shipping ore from the Poorman mine,
near Philipsburg, to the Butte and Helena smelters.
Madison County.
J. H. Panky is developing the Easton mine, near Vir-
ginia City, with forty men, and intends to open up the
December 30, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
454
Pacific. These are both silver producers. The 20-stamp
mill Is running. It is reported that A. C. Burrage
and associates of Boston will resume work on the prop-
erties of the Montana Milling Co. and the Jeanotte G.
M. Co. at Pony. The Grant mine, near Virginia City,
is to be prospected with a diamond drill.
Silver Bow County.
(Special Correspondence). — Two new producing com-
panies were added to the list in November— the East
liutte and Pittsburg & Montana — and the total copper
production for the Butte district for the month was
29,881,650 pounds against 28,517,520 pounds in October.
The November production was apportioned among the
various Butte companies as follows:
Tons of
Pounds. Ore.
Boston £ Montana 7,102,080 98,040
Anaconda 8.150 loo 13',fi50
Butte & BoBton 1,028,760 16.760
Trenton 1,168,080 18,810
Washoe 865.000 12.:tOJ
Parrot 783 MO 11.010
North Buttte 2.620, 18.000
United Copper 3,20-1,000 18,000
Clark's Original A628.I 30,000
Pittsburg 3110,000 1.050
East Butte.... 1,8)0,000 0.000
Miscellaneous 780,000 12,000
Totals 20,881,050 112.830
Butte, Dec. 23.
NEVADA.
Humboldt County,
President Bean, of the American Antimony Co., which
has taken over the Sutherland antimony property near
Lovelock, is making arrangements for a 50-ton smelter.
The small test smelter which has been in operation at
the mine for several weeks has proven a success. The
American Nickel Co., which owns the nickel mines at
Cottonwood Canyon, near Lovelock, is putting in new
pumping machinery and a now hoist, preparatory to
deep mining.
Lincoln County.
The Nevada-Wyoming G. M. Co. is sinking on Calico
hill, 1* mile from Crescent. A gasoline hoist is to be put
in. Geo. Zimpleman is superintendent. Good ore is
said to have been struck at a depth of 65 feet in the
Gypsy shaft of the Colton M. Co., at Searchlight. A
hoist and Cornish pump are to be put in at the Sazarac
mine at Dupont camp, 14 miles northeast of Searchlight.
F. D. Howell is superintendent.
Nye County.
The Revenue M. Co. has bought the Wildcat claims,
li mile southeast of Boatty, and will develop them
under the superintendence of R. I. Johnson.
Storey County.
During the past year work at the Comstock mines has
showed that pay ores exist in the lower levels of the
Ophir. The drift from the Seg. Belcher through to the
Belcher has been completed and connected with the east
crosscut from the Belcher incline 1400 level. This gives
air and makes it possible to work in the Belcher. The
Ward shaft is down 2320 feet. The Union shaft has been
cleaned to below the tunnel level. •
Washoe County.
The Southern Pacific Railroad has filed a land patent
covering 3000 acres of mineral land in this county. This
is the first grant made by the Government since 1873
that has not excluded the railroad from mineral lands.
Strong indignation is expressed by prospectors through-
out the State who as a rule have not patented their
claims. They are all shut out of these lands now, and
there will be no more individual development of this
section on account of the monopoly possessed by the
railroad. Pour claims have recently been filed on this
land in Peavine district, and notices of location filed.
As the patents filed to-day by the railroad are dated No-
vember 23, it is doubtful if the locations are valid. Com-
plications and suits are prophesied.
John Short and C. T. Short, of Reno, have consoli-
dated the sale of their three claims in Olinghouse Can-
yon to a New Bedford, Mass., syndicate, represented by
A. D. Kenyon.
NEW MEXICO.
Grant County.
The Hermosa Copper Co. is developing a number of
mines near Central. The Wildcat shaft is down 400
feet and sixty men are at work blocking out low-grade
copper ore. The Humboldt shaft, down 120 feet, is to
be continued to the 500-foot level. The Treasure Vault
shaft is down 325 feet and will be sunk to a depth of
1000 feet, a new hoist having been put in. The Ivanhoe
shaft is to be continued to the same depth. The Em-
pire mill has been bought and is being remodeled by the
Hermosa Co.
Luna County.
The Luna Lead Co. has blown in the Deming smelter.
Sierra County.
The Union-Esperanza M. Co. is working the the Union
placer at Shandon, Pittsburg district. A well has been
sunk upon the bank of the Rio Grande from which
water is being raised by five pumps and transported
through 11,000 feet of 8-inch pipe. A giant has been
put in and the capacity of the plant is placed at about
10,000 cubic yards per day. The work is in charge of
W. L. Long, general manager, and Alexander Grace,
superintendent.
Socorro County.
The Graphic Co. at Magdalena, in order to reduce the
cost of mining, has commenced a 1600-foot tunnel to cut
the ore, already blocked out, 200 feet below the sixth
level. This tunnel has already been driven 700 feet and
has cut two bodies of sulphide ore of better grade than
the ore in the old workings of the mine. The tunnel
has cut a stream of water furnishing 500 gallons per min-
ute. The company is also putting in a large compressor
at the mouth of the tunnel and will put in machine
drills. At Magdalena the Kelly mine put in a new
hoist and has completed a shaft and power house. The
shaft is being continued deeper to open up new ground.
OREGON.
Baker County.
The Buckeye orosscut tunnel, near Bourne, has cut
the vein at a depth of 250 feet after being driven 300
feet. The Colorado group at Cable Cove are to be re-
opened by C. F. Chatton.
'■■nil County.
The Thornburg placers on the north fork of the John
Day, near Granite, are to be worked next spring. .1. P.
Lucas of Corning, Now York, has charge. These placers
comprise 3 miles of the middle fork canyon, the bars be-
ing mainly of the bench type, situated from 10 to 150
feet above the present level of the stream, and have been
successfully worked with hydraulic elevator.
Five stamps of the Magnolia mill, near Granite, are
crushing ore from the Snow Bird mine. The other ten
will be started when more water is available.
Work has been resumed at the Fourth of July mine,
near Granite, by Superintendent J. N. Ditmars.
Lane County.
The Bohemia Nugget gives the following summary of
Bohemia mines during 1905: The Oregon Securities Co.,
in October and November, turned out 202 troy pounds
of gold— the first large shipment this year. The Vesu-
vius mill has run a part of the summer, but the main
part of the work has been in development and prepara-
tion for future work. The Oregon-Colorado Co. has
been doing much work. The Crystal mill ran for a
time this summer. The Hiawatha Co. has been
developing, drifting and improving. They constructed
a mile of trail and cleared for a wagon road to the main
road during the summer. They also purchased three
claims, the Woodman, Stump Tree and U. S. A., and
located a new claim, The Merrill. The Riverside Co.
has been pushing its development work. Considerable
work has been done on the North Fairview.
SOUTH DAKOTA.
Lawrence County.
It is reported that the Clover Leaf M. Co. will begin
to unwater the Uncle Sam mine, near Roubaix. A
short time ago the underground workings were drowned
out by water and a pumping plant is to be put in. The
company has a 60-stamp mill. Pierre Wiebaux of Miles
City, Mont., the president of the company, is in Dead-
wood. J. W. N. Dorr is drawing the plans for remod-
eling the Kildonan mill at Pluma for the Horseshoe Co.
Excavation for the Homestake slime plant will be
completed by the first of the year and construction will
be started. The mill will have a capacity of 1750 tons of
slime per day. The values in gold and silver reach 90
cents per ton. The Globe shaft at Lead is being un-
watered with skip and gasoline hoist. The station pump
at the 500-foot level will be started when the shaft has
been unwatered. Frank E. Ickes is manager.
Pennlncton County.
The Cumberland mine, near Hill City, is being devel-
oped by F. C. Crocker, who has sixteen men at work.
The American Tungsten Co. at Hill City will put in
a new hoist. R, J. Truax is manager.
UTAH.
Beaver Connty.
A station has been cut at the 450-foot level of the
Frisco Contact M. Co. at Frisco and a crosscut is to be
driven to the Horn Silver lode.
Box Elder County.
Ground is being prepared for building the smelter of
the newly formed Utah Smelting Co., 7J miles north of
Ogden. It will have an initial capacity of 400 tons per
day with two furnaces. Bela Kadish of Baker City, Or.,
is manager and David Eccles is president.
Jnab Connty.
Jesse Knight of Provo has secured control of the
Black Dragon mine at Eureka. Development work on
the 800-foot level of the Star Con. at Eureka is reported
to be satisfactory.
The Farragut M. & M. Co. has been formed to work
claims north of Eureka. D. C. Harrington is president.
H. Gustaldi has charge of opening up the Balhinch
mine north of Eureka. The tunnel is in 350 feet and the
shaft has been sunk 200 feet.
Salt Lake Connty.
It is reported that work is to be resumed at the Last
Chance mine at Bingham.
The annual report of the Boston Con. M. Co. to Sep-
tember 30, 1905, states that the company delivered to
the Bingham Con. smelter 43,717 tons of ore from which
a net profit was realized of over $4 per ton, and that be-
fore the termination of the contract 44,000 tons of ore
remained to be delivered. The company has entered
into a contract with the American S. & R. Co. for the
delivery, beginning July 1, of 500 tons a day of the
sulphide ore, and that the amount -will be increased to
750 tons a day soon. The concentrator plant will be
finished in the autumn of 1906. The report of President
Newhouse says that during the year the workings have
been extended 2719 feet. Work has been started in the
hanging wall of the lode. Concerning the porphyry mine
he states that there is at least 25,000,000 tons of 2%
porphyry in sight. The plan adopted for the min-
ing of the porphyry ore is one which is now in successful
operation in the iron mines of the Mesaba Range in
Minnesota, viz., open pit with terraced sides, from
which the ore would be handled with steam shovels.
Summit Connty.
The Daly-Judge mill at Park City has been started by
Foreman Kescel, after a month's shutdown for repairs.
It is reported that Jas. McGregor is to begin work
on the June Bug mine, near Park City.
Tooele County.
Coal shortage has caused the New Stockton G. M. Co.
at Stockton to shut down the mine and mill temporarily.
A new compressor and hoist is being put in.
WASHINGTON.
According to a recent report of the U. S. Geological
Survey, Washington, in 1904, had a yield of 8314,463 in
gold, $89,831 in silver, $69,937 in lead, $43,788 in copper,
and $9 in platinum, a total of $518,028. The returns re-
ceived indicate a decrease in gold production from that
of 1903 of $193,422, occasioned by the idleness of several
large mines in Chelan, Ferry, Okanogan, and Snohomish
counties, Ferry county showing a decrease of over $162-
000, Chelan of bver $60,(100, Okanogan of over $15,000 and
Snohomish of over $43,000. King county shows a small
increase, and Whatcom county production increased
from $36,388 to $115,000. The silver product sbows
a decrease of $111,958, Ferry county showing a de-
crease of over $61,000, Okanogan of $14,000, Snohomish
of $22,000, and Stevens of $14,775. The total decrease
for the year of combined gold and silver was $305,380.
The gold and silver come almost entirely from quartz
mines, the total placerlgold recovered only amounting to
$9,823 from Asotin, Clark, Kittitas and Whatcom coun-
ties, the placers in Okanogan county being idle in 1904.
As in 1903, Ferry county was the largest gold producer
from deep mines, Whatcom county a close second in
1904. Stevens county was the largest' silver producer.
In gold production the rank of the counties is as follows:
Ferry, Whatcom, Snohomish, Chelan, Okanogan,
Stevens, King, Kittitas, Clark, Asotin. The rank in
silver production is Stevens, Ferry, Whatcom, Snoho-
mish, Okanogan. Stevens county produced the most
copper and lead, and Clark county reports $9 in platinum.
Lack of transportation and the fact that nearly all ore
requires smelting account for the relatively few produc-
ing mines; a very largo proportion of the known prop-
erties in the State are in the development stage and
many are held by annual assessment only.
Stevens County.
The Jay Gould silver-lead mine at Chewelah has been
bonded and leased to G. C. Robbins, who will continue
shaft sinking from the 100-foot level.
WYOMING.
The production of gold and silver in Wyoming in 1904,
aB reported to the United States Geological Survey oy
the owners and different companies, was: gold, $17,305,
and silver, $2661, a total of $19,966. The value of silver
is computed from the American R. & S. Co.'s average
for the year 1904, which is $0.5725 per ounce. Copper
was produced to the value of $440,876, computed at the
average price per pound of $0,125. Wyoming increased
in production in all three of the metals mentioned,
especially in copper, the output of which very nearly
equaled that of the banner year for copper, which 1900.
This increase was caused largely by the production at
the Ferris-Haggerty mine, at Encampment.
FOREIGN.
CANADA.
BRITISH COLUMBIA.
LiUooet District.
Mining in Lillooet district has been quiet this last sea-
son. The dredger of the Iowa and Lillooet Gold Mining
Co., on the bed of the Fraser river, has proved a success.
The occasional breakage of some part of the machinery
and the difficulty of repairing or replacing it quickly has
occasioned some delay in the working. On Cayoosh
creek a company financed by Americans have staked
and recorded the old Vancouver Enterprise location,
their object being to mine the bed of the creek. To do
this they have deflected the course of Cayoosh creek,
and constructed a dam to carry the whole body of water
in the creek. On Alexander creek, a tributary to Bridge
river, a hydraulic plant is being put in. On the North
Fork of Bridge river, Mr. Burkholder, representing
Eastern capital, is doing the same. On the South Fork
of Bridge river and Cadwallader creek, placer mining has
been conducted the whole year with good returns.
Slocan District.
It is estimated that during 1905, the eighteen shipping
mines tributary to the Kaslo and Sloean railway, includ-
ing Sandon and Slocan lake, will have shipped 11,580
tons, valued at $273,700. The average zinc content was
42.6%. Work has commenced on the lease of the White-
water and Whitewater Deep mines, at Whitewater on
Kaslo creek, which has been taken for two years by S.
S. Fowler and W. R. Koch of Nelson and John L. Re-
tallack of Kaslo. The lowest level of the Whitewater
is to be driven ahead and a contract will be let to drive
the main tunnel of the "Deep" mine. There are two or
three sets of subleasers in the old workings.
GREECE.
Secretary Wilson, of Athens, reports a movement in
Greece to exploit that Kingdom's mineral resources.
He says: Greece might easily become an important
mineral-producing country, for it contains considerable
mineral wealth in siiver-bearing lead, zinc, copper,
manganese, iron, emery, sulphur, and lignite, besides
marble of many varieties. From 1861 to 1875 the Greek
Government granted about 400 mining concessions, com-
prising an area of 190,000 hectares. Thirty stock com-
panies were started to develop these concessions, but by
1896 only four of them still existed, viz., the French
Laurium Co., the Greek Laurium Co., and the com-
panies of Dardeza and Seriphos. By 1904 four more
companies were started — the Greek M. Co. and the com-
panies of Locrida, Atlanti, and Capsalo. The Greek Co.
obtains silver-bearing lead from the scoriae or refuse
from the mines worked by the ancient Greeks. This
material contains only about 3.50% of silver-bearing
lead, but the production amounts to 7000 tons annually,
valued at 3,500,000 francs. This lead is sent directly to
Marseille, where it is smelted and the metals separated.
The French Laurium Co. works the mines directly, and
in 1903 produced 213,788 tons of metal, divided as follows:
Lead, 72,594 tons; manganese iron ore, 60,071 tons; sul-
phur products, 42,380 tons; zinc, 28,292 tons; and various
metals, 10,451 tons. All these minerals are treated at
Laurium and are then exported for further treatment,
455
Mining and Scientific Press.
December 30, 1905.
MADAGASCAR.
The decree making further regulations with regard to
the gold mines in Madagascar has been published. It lays
stress upon the essential differences between a prospecting
permit and a mining permit, but reduces the area from
a radius of 2 to 1 kilometres, and imposes a charge of 25
francs instead of 100 francs. So far as mining permits
are concerned, the decree divides the mines into alluvial
mines and reef mines. These two categories will be
taxed as follows: The 5% ad volorem tax on the output
is retained. In the case of alluvial mines, a surface tax
of 2 francs per hectare will be imposed, and in the case
of reef mines, a tax of 100 francs per hectare. The de-
cree further provides for the retention by the Govern-
ment of 5% of the net annual profit above 250,000 francs.
On the other hand, the 5% tax on the output will be re-
duced or altogether suspended in the case of thoBe reef
mines where the expenditure during the earlier stages
of working absorbs the whole of the profit. Finally,
the interests of holders of the prospecting and mining
permits have been safeguarded by temporary measures
which provide for the progressive application of the
financial regulations imposed by the new decree. The
decree of June 27, 1905, which was admittedly a temo-
rary measure to deal with a special state of affairs, is en-
tirely superseded by the new decree.
MEXICO.
The President of the republic has signed a decree pro-
viding against the peril of contraction of the currency
due to the higher market price of silver and the conse-
quent exportation of silver pesos, which may go above
a legal parity. The preamble to the decree states that
the portion of silver pesos shipped abroad have been re-
placed by gold money imported from New York and
London, but as gold cannot be immediately recoined and
placed in circulation, the President authorizes the Ex-
change and Currency Commissioner to issue gold certifi-
cates for gold bars. The gold certificates will be backed
by gold coin or bars.
Chihuahua.
The Monterde M. Co. has purchased mines at Mon-
terde near Guazaperes. H. S. Gaine of Santa Barbara,
Cal., is president.
It is reported that work is to be started on the Chi-
huahua smelter of the A. S. & R. Co. in January.
The Isis Mining Co., J. D. Knotts general manager, is
operating 30 miles west of San Julian on the trail to
Guadalupe y Calvo in the district of Mina. The com-
pany is building a 5-stamp mill and cyanide plant.
Oaxaca.
The Resurreccion mine in the Tlacolula district has
been purchased by the Associacion Compradora y
Beneficiadora de Minerales of Tlacolula. The associa-
tion owns several imines besides the Resurreccion, and
tnese are now being developed. It is operating a 5-foot
Bryan mill, with plate amalgamation, concentration and
cyaniding. Another mill is to be put in. G. P. Mena is
manager and A. L. Chariot director. The mill is in
charge of E. S. Burrowes. At the Placers mine in
the Tlacolula district, of which J. Walsh is general man-
ager, a 30-ton mill and cyanide plant is being put in.
Commercial Paragraphs.
*
*
*
The Chicago Pneumatic Tool Co. of Chicago report
that they have been awarded the gold medal at Liege for
pneumatic tools and appliances and the silver medal for
Franklin air compressors.
It is reported that the efficiency of the new 100-stamp
mill and cyanide plant recently installed by El Oro M. &
Ry. Co., Ltd., at El Oro, Mexico, has so far exceeded
the original estimates that the cyanide plant of their old
100-stamp mill has been put out of commission, and the
new plant is handling the entire mine output of about
15,000 tons per month. The new mill is equipped with
the Blaisdell system for automatically handling ore,
sand and tailings.
The Vulcan Iron Works Co. of Toledo, Ohio, reports
the largest year's business in the history of the company.
In the works many improved machines and high speed
tools have been installed, and thereby the capacity of
the works practically doubled. During the time that
the improvements were in course of development the
company ceased building the old type of steam shovel
and orders were very much delayed. Old shipments are
now practically all made, and, with the ability to build
new model Vulcan steam shovels at the rate of almost
one a day, they report receiving a volume of new
business.
The Pelton Water Wheel Co. report a contract with
the Vancouver Power Co. for an additional 3000 H. P.
Pelton unit of the " double overhung type;" to the same
company 1050 feet of pipe line, varying from 42 to 48
inches. The Columbus Con. M. Co. of Utah has dupli-
cated its order for a 750 H. P. Pelton wheel, the original
of which was installed two years ago, while the United
Light & Power Co. of Georgetown, Colo., is installing
another 1000 H. P. Pelton unit, this being the second
order received from the above company within the last
three years. The Fremont Power Co. of Washington
has ordered two Pelton wheels for direct connection to
400 K. W. generators. A recent contract with the
Northwest Light & Power Co. of North Yakima, Wash.,
covers a Pelton unit for driving a 350 K.W. generator.
*************************** **********
*
•9
*
Obituary.
Wm. Liddell, a pioneer mining man of the Pacific
coast and superintendent of the Rawhide mine in
Tuolumne county, Cal., was killed by a falling rock in
the mine, December 27, aged 59.
Latest Market Reports.
San Francisco, December 29, 1905.
METALS
Silver. — Per oz., Troy : London, 30j3gd (standard
ounce, 925 fine); New York, bar silver, 65£c, refined (1000
fine); San Francisco, 65£c; Mexican dollars, 53c, San
Francisco; 50c, New York.
COPPER.— New York: Lake and Electrolytic, 918.50
@19.00; Casting, S18.12J@18.62J; San Francisco: $18.75;
Mill copper plates, $21.00; bars, 21®24c. London: £79
7s 6d spot per ton.
Copper remains practically unchanged, though New
York advices state that deliveries before April are nearly
impossible to secure, and a higher price is predicted.
Lead. — New York, $5.60; St. Louis, $5.95; San Fran-
cisco, $5.00, carload lots; 5Sc 1000 to 4000 fts.; pipe 7Jc,
sheet 8, bar 6|c. London:" £17 6s 3d $) long ton.
Spelter. — New York, $6.60; St. Louis, $6.65; Lon-
don, £28 15s Od $ ton; San Francisco, ton lots, 7c: 100-fb
lots, 7fc.'
TIN.— New York, pig, $35.87£@36.00; San Francisco,
ton lots, 37c; 500fts.,38e; 200 lbs., 40c; less, 41Jc; bar tin,
$ lb., 42c. London, £162 12s 6d.
Platinum. — San Francisco, crude, $18.50 floz.; New
York, ingot, $20.50 f) Troy oz. Platinum ware, 75@$1.00
U gram.
Quicksilver. — New York, $40.00@$40.50, large lots;
London, £7 5s Od; San Francisco, local, $38.00@39.00 f)
flask of 75 fts.
Babbitt Metal. — San Francisco, No. 1, lOJc; No.
2, 8c; No. 3, 7Jc; extra, 17$c; genuine, 32£c; Eclipse, 35c.
Solder.— Half-and-half, 100-ft. lots, 23.50c; San Fran-
cisco, Plumbers', 100-ft. lots 19.75c.
Nickel.— New York, 55@60c Hft.; ton lots, 40@47c.
Zinc— Metallic, chemically pure, $ ft., 50c; dust, fllb.,
10c; sulphate, f) lb, .04c.
Aluminum.— No. 1, 99%, small lots, 37c fi ft.; 100 6s..
35c; 1000 fts. 34c; ton lots and over, 33c, Pittsburg. No,
2, 90%, small lots, 34c; ton lots and over, 31c, Pittsburg.
STRUCTURAL MATERIALS.
Iron. — Pittsburg, Bessemer pig, S18.35@18.85 ; gray
forge, $14.60; San Francisco, bar, 3Jc $ *•> 3Jc in small
quantities.
Steel.— Bessemer billets, Pittsburg, $26.00@$27.00;
open hearth billets, $27.00@$28.00; San Francisco, bar,
7c to 13c f} ft.
White Lead. — Per ft., in kegs: 500 fts. and over at
one purchase, per lb., 7$c; less than 500 fts., per ft., 8c;
in 25-ft. tin pails, £c $ "• above keg price; in 1 and 5-ft.
tin cans, 100 fts. per case, Jc per ft. above keg price.
Dry Lead. — In bbls., 1 ton and over, 7§c; do. in kegs, 8c.
Lime. — Santa Cruz, $1.35 country, $1.25 city f, bbl.
Cement.— Imported, $3.00@4.00 f> bbl.; California,
carload lots, $1.80 f. o. b. at works; small lots, $2.10 fj
bbl. in sacks, 4 sacks to bbl., 5c for each sack returned.
Lumber. — (Retail): Pine, ordinary sizes, $24.00®
25.00; extra sizes higher; redwood, $28.00@30.00; lath, 4
feet, $4.50@5.00; pickets, $21.00;shingles, $2.50 for No. 1,
and $2.25 for No. 2; shakes, $13.50 for split and $15.00 for
sawed; rustic, $28.00(3)35.00.
Nails. — This week the basic prices are: Wire, $2.77;
Cut, $3.25. Meanwhile the nominal quotations per keg
(list prices) are: No. 20d to 60d, Wire, $3.35; Cut, $3.55;
lOd to 16d, Wire, $3.45; Cut, $3.35; 8d, Wire, $3.50; Cut,
$3.50; 6d and 7d, Wire, $3.60; Cut, $3.60; 4d and 5d,
Wire, $3.70; Cut, $3.70; 3d, Wire, $3.85; Cut, $3.85; 2d,
Wire, $4.10; Cut, $4.10. Special rates for carload lots.
GENERAL supplies.
Antimony. — New York, Cookson's, lljc; Hallett's,
12Jc; San Francisco, 1000-ft. lots, 14c; 300@500-fts. 12c;
100-B). lots, 13c.
BONE ASH.— Extra No. 1, 5@6c fl ft; No. 1, 4@5c.
Borax. — Concentrated, 7@8c $1 ft; powdered, 9@10c;
fused, 25@30c; crystal, 7c.
Candles. — Spear Brand, 16 oz. adamantine, 40s., lie
~j> set; 14 oz. adamantine, 40s., 10c; 12 oz. adamantine,
40s, 9c; 10 oz. adamantine, 40s, 8c; 16 oz. stearic, 40s,
12Jc fi set; 14 oz. stearic, 40s, 11J; 12 oz. stearic, 40s,
lOic; 10 oz. stearic, 40s, 9Jc. 100-case lots and over, Jc
less. Not less than 50-case lots, %a less. Boxes of 20s,
price |c advance.
Caps.— 3x, $5.50@6 per 1000; 4x, $6.50@7; 5x, $8@8.50;
Lion, $9@9.50, in lots not less than 1000.
Chemicals. — Cyanide of potassium, 98%-99%, job-
bing, 23@24c fi ft.; carloads, 23@23Jc; in tins, 30c; soda
ash, $2.00 fl 100 fts.; hyposulphite of soda, 3@3Jc fj ft-!
caustic soda, in drums, 3@3|cflft. ; Cal. s. soda, bbls.,
$1.10@1.20B1001bs.; sks., 90c@$1.00: chlorate of pot-
ash, 12@13c; nitrate of potash, 6J@7c; caustic potash,
10c in 40-ft. tins; roll sulphur, 2J@2Jc; powdered sul-
phur, 2}@2}c; flour sulphur, French, 2|@ — c; alum,
$2.00@2.25; California refined, lj@2c; sulphide of iron,
8c f) ft-! copper sulphate, 51@5Jc; chloride of lime, spot,
$2.50@2.75; sulphuric acid, in carboys, 66% B, l|@2c fs
ft. ; nitric acid, carboys, 8c fl ft.
Oils. — Linseed, boiled, bbl., 50c; cs., 55c; raw, bbl.,
48c; cs., 57c; Lucol oil, boiled, bbl., 48c: cs., 53c; raw-
bbl., 46c; cs., 51c. Kerosene — Pearl, per gal., 17£c; As-
tral, 17Jc; Star, 17Jc; Extra Star, 20Jc; Eocene, 19Jc;
Elaine, 26c; Water White, in bulk, lie; Mineral Seal,
iron bbls., 18c; wooden bbls., 20Jc; cs., 24c; Mineral
Sperm, cs., 26 Jc; Deodorized Stove Gasoline, bulk, 14Jc,
do., cs., 21c; 86° Gasoline, bulk, 25c; do., cs., 31c; 83°
Naphtha or Benzine, deodorized, in bulk, per gal., 12£c;
do., in cs., 19c; Lard Oil, E. W. S., bbl., 75c; cs., 80c;
Neats-foot Oil, pure, bbl., 63c; cs., 78c; Sperm, crude,
63@68c; Natural White, 68c; Bleached, do., 68@73c;
Whale Oil, cs., 52@67c.
Bismuth.— Subnitrate, fi ft., $2.10.
Chromium.— 90% and over, f) ft., 80c.
Fire Brick. — Domestic, carloads fl 1000, f. o. b., fac-
tory square, $25.00; soap and split, $22.50; arch and
wedge, $27.50; skewback, $30.00; circle, $32.00.
Fire Clay.— Domestic, fl ton 2000 fts. in 125-ft. bags
double, and dry ground, f. o. b., factory, $8.50.
FUSE.— Triple tape, $4.00 per 1000 feet; double tape,
$3.55; single tape, $3.10; Hemp, $2.85; Cement No. 2,
$3.10; Cement No. 1, $2.75, in lots of 3000 and up.
Coal. — San Francisco, coast, yard prices : Welling-
ton, $8.00; Seattle, $6.50; Coos Bay, $5.50; Southfield,
$8.00. Cargo lot, Eastern and foreign: Wallsend, $7.50;
Brymbo, $7.50; Pennsylvania, hd., $14.00; Scotch, $8.00;
Cumberland, $13.00; Cannel, $8.50; Welsh Anthracite,
$13.00; Rock Springs, $8.50, long ton; Colorado Anthra-
cite, $14.00. Coke, $11.50 per ton in bulk, $13.00 in
sacks; Sunnyside, $8.50, long ton.
Litharge.— Pure, in 25-ft. bags, 9J@10Jc f) ft.
Magnesium.— Pure, N. Y., $1.60.
Manganese.— Black oxide, f) ft-. 2|@4c.
Mercury.— Bichloride, fs ft., 77c.
Molybdenum.— Best, $2.75 f) ft.
Phosphorus.— American, f) ft., 70c.
Powder.— F. o. b. San Francisco : No. 1, 70% nitro-
glycerine, per ft., in carload lots, 15Jc; less than one ton,
17Jc. No. 1*, 60%, carload lots, 13Jc; less than one ton,
15Jc. No. 1**, 50%, carload lots, ll|c; less than one ton,
13|c. No. 2, 40%, carload lots, 10c; less than one ton,
12c. No. 2, 35%, carload lots, 9Jc; less than one ton,
\\\c No. 2**, 30%, carload lots, 9c; less than one ton,
lie. Black blasting powder in carload lots, minimum
car 728 kegs, $1.50 per keg; less car lots, $2.00 per keg.
Red Lead. — 500 fts. and over at one purchase, fl ft-
7Jc; less than 500 lbs., 7|c.
Silver.— Chloride, fl oz., 90c@$1.00; nitrate, 54c
Sodium.— Metal, fl ft., $1.
Tungsten.— Best, fs ft., $1.20.
Uranium.— Oxide, fl ft., $3.40.
New Patents.
Dewey, Strong & Co.'s Scientific Press Patent Agenct, 330
Market street, San Francisco, has official reports of the following
United States patents issued to Pacific Coast inventors :
FOR WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 12, 1905.
sut.imi.
800,770
806 774.
807,018.
807. lo9.
800,957.
806,783.
807,363.
Slid S7S.
806,962.
867,1)21,
S«,SS0.
8117,62!.
807,023
807,371.
807.074.
807,025.
807,382.
801,974.
HJ7,1«5.
B07.184.
807,039.
807,040.
806,901.
8110,904.
807.043.
8(17,127.
807,130.
806,934.
806,852.
806,940.
806.941
807,221.
806,858.-
807,007.
807,100.-
37,720.
-Footwear— H. C. Boice, Hanford, Cal.
-Excavator— A. A. Booth, Spokane, Wash.
-Treating ores— H. F. Brown, Oakland, Cal.
-Accordion— R. Carbonari, San Franoisco.
-Hoisting Device— W. H. Corbett, Portland, Or.
-Vehicle brake— J. Curry, Vancouver, Wash.
-Mold— a. Dayton, Tacoma, Wash.
-Elevator— E. S DeLong, Upland, Cal.
-Flue Cutter— J. W. Doyle, Seattle, Wash.
-Rasp— R. J. Ellis, San Franoisco.
-Band Saw— E. Falk, Eureka, Cal.
-Suspenders— F. Ferguson, Santa Rosa, Cal.
-Typewriter— R. R. Fowler, Madera, Cal.
-Gold Washer— C. W. Gardner, Oroville, Cal.
-Wash boiler— S. J. Gibson, The Dalles, Or.
-Valve— H. L. Harbaugh, Seattle, Wash.
-Nozzle— G. J. Henry, Jr. , San Francisco.
-Combination Tool— E. Hogan, Portland^Or.
-Loose Leap Binder — J. w. Husing, San Francisco.
-Faucet— a. J. Ketelsen, Seattle, Wash.
-Hose Support— J. E. Mainburg, San Francisco.
-Cane and Stool— J. H. Martin, Riverside, Cal.
-Fly Paper— O. Mausert, San Francisco.
-Irrigating System— S. P. Mendenhall, Whittier, Cal,
-Valve— R. J, Mullin, Seattle, Wash.
-Door Opener— K. Nishimoto, Fresno, Cal.
-Hair Comb— E. R. Powers, Los Angeles, Cal.
-Butter Cutter — W. H. Roussel, San Francisco.
-Turbine — D. W. Starrett, San Francisco.
-Derrick— C. S. Smith, Clay Station, Cal.
-Harvester— G. N. Todd, Los Angeles, Cal.
-Cotton Picker— G. N. Todd, Los Angeles, Cal.
-Gun — I. A. Tonnashi, Guadaloupe. Cal.
-Hose Coupling— J. C Westrose, Winnemucca, Nev.
-Washing Machine — M. L. Winegarden, Alameda, Cal.
-Exercising Bag— W. U. Wood. San Francisco.
-Design— H. w. Tucker. San Francisco.
Notices of Recent Patents.
Among the patents recently obtained through Dewey, Strong &
Co.'s Scientific Press United States and Foreign Patent Agency,
the following are worthy of special mention :
Can Exhauster and Cooker. — No. 808,044. December 19, 1905.
M. W. Groom, San Jose, Cal. This invention relates to apparatus
for use in canneries and especially in fruit and vegetable canneries.
The Invention pertains to the exhausting and cooking periods; and
its object is to provide an apparatus which will be simple, practical
and economical and of large capacity, which may be used for either
exhaust or cooking purposes, which will enable cans to be exhausted
or cooked for any length of time within certain limits without
changing the speed of travel of the cans and without losing time in
making the change, and conversely, which will permit the speed of
the cans to be changed without changing the time of exhausting or
cooking and which will prevent the open cans tilling with the drip
from the condensed steam during exhaust and so diluting the syrup
or causing the cans to overflow and foul the outside of the cans and
the apparatus with syrup to the inconvenience of the solderer. It
comprises various details of construction adapted to bring about
the desired result.
Inking Pad and Holder Therefor.— No. 807,988. December 19,
1905. John F. Ames, Portland, Oregon. This invention relates to a
form-inking roller and removable pad therefor for use in cylinder
presses. The object of the invention is to provide a removable ink-
ing pad and suitable holder therefor, the same holder to be used con-
tinuously in the press, while various pads may be substituted hav-
ing inking surfaces of any desired shape or size. The invention is of
particular value in multicolor printing, since by associating two or
more of these printing rollers with the form cylinder each roller can
be provided with a printing pad having an ink-distributing surface
of different shape or size, each applying to different areas on the im-
pression cylinder a different colored ink. It comprises the neces-
sary details of construction adapted to bring about the desired
result.
Animal Trap.— No. 807,969. December 19, 1905. S.H.Shelley, San
Jose, Cal . This invention consists in a gopher trap comprising a
box-like structure having a closed top, sides and one end, and
adapted when placed in position in the animal's burrow to inclose a
darkened chamber, said structure having its opposite end open, ana
having also a limited light aperture near its closed end, a mirror in
the chamber of the box and supported relative to said aperture and
arranged to reflect light into the darkened chamber, and suitable
entrapping means between the open end of the box and the mirror.
Grain Separator.— No. 807,978. December 19, 1905. J. S.Walch,
Roselawn, Cal. This invention comprises in an apparatus forclean-
ing grain, a semi-circular screen having a closed upper portion and
a screen bottom, a second screen located below the first named
screen, rocker arms upon the upper ends of which the upper screen is
suspended and from the lower ends of which the lower screen is sus-
pended, means connected with said arms by which they are oscil-
lated, fans with discharge passages delivering air respectively
through the front and rear ends of the screens, spouts into which
the inclined chutes discharge and a transmitting auger revoluble in
said spouts.
December 30, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
INDEX TO VOLUME XCI
Mining and Scientific Press
FROM JULY TO DECEMBER, 1905.
Index to General Subjects,
Including Authors.
ILLUKTHATKD AHTK'I.KS ABK MARKED " nil an
A&TKBZBK; HOOK BKVIJtWS ARK in '. vii>'\
MARKS.
PA..K.
Abandoned Shafts, Danger of 2ui
"Abrasive Material, Production In 190*" 09
Accident In Thawing Powder 4t)7
Accidents Due to Carelessness 286
Hoisting. Investigating 253
Mine 237
Africa, Mining on West ('oust of 39a
Agglomeration of Ore Dust 307
*Alr Power Plant 417
Alaska Convention. Laws Proposed by 357
Methods and Costs of Placer Mining 70
Mineral Resources of 364
Mining Laws in 271
•Placer Mining in. 109, 127, 142, 176. 191, 214, 228,
247, 263, 276, 292, 312.
Yukon-Tanana Region 345
Wholesale Location in 53
Mines.. 13, 48, 65, 81. 113, 129. 168, IHI, 197, 214,
281, 297, 315, 332, 349, 369, 386, 410
Alderson, M. W 14D, 258, 295, 399
A Iderson, V. C 34 1
Allen, Kobe 366,384
"Aluminum and Bauxite Production " 269
Production and Uses 270
Alundum 108
•Amalgamating Tables 89
Amalgamator, Trials of 303
Amended Location Notice 93
Amendments in M in ing Law, Needed 337
"American Institute of Mining Engineers," Bi-
monthly Report 85, 269
Institute of Mining Engineers, Next Meet-
ing 243
Mining Congress 204, 317, 340, 362
Mining Machinery in Russia .186
S. &R Co's Report 204
Ammonia in Cyanide Process 24
Anaconda Copper Strike 425
•Analysis, Western Mill and Smelter Methods" 85
'Ancient Gravel Channels of California 170, 192
River Channels, Working 441
Andrews, C. A. S 399,415
Annual Assessment 393
Antimony Production in 1904 191
Apex Suits Against Bunker Hill & Sullivan Co. 20
Argentine Republic Mines 87, 132, 199
Arid Land Reclamation in Nevada 61
Arrastra iu Colorado 321
Arizona Mines. .13. 32, 48,65, 81, 97, 113, 129, 145, 164,
181, 197, 214, 231, 248, 265, 281, 297, 315, 332, 349, 369,
386, 402, 419, 435, 452.
♦Globe 427
•Mining in .440
"Asbestos" 352
Assay of Gold Bullion 346
Of Gold by Semi-Electrolytic Process 193
Returns, Prompt 408
Assays, Protest About Lead 281
Assessable and Non- Assessable- Stock 2 1
Assessment, Annual 322, 393
Work and Patents 221
Work, Proposed Alaska Changes in 351
Atlin, B. C, Steam Shovels 239
Atomic Weights 155
Auriferous Sulphide Treatment. Australia 5
Automobile in Mining 204, 304, 391
Australia, Gem Stones of 445
Australian Mine Managers, Responsibilities of. 155
Mineral Resources 250
Mines ..51, 116, 131, 166, 199, 317, 371, 389, 421, 438.
•Automatic Clutch Ill
Dumping Devices 40
Auxiliary Mining Plants 423
B
Bailar, J. C 294
•Bailing, Mine Drainage by.. 379
Ball Nipple Blast Connection 207
Bancroft, G. J 396,412
•Bartlett Concentrator 6
Baseball Fields and Ore Discoveries 36
Base Metal Market 87
Metal Mines, Profitable 357
•Battery Stem Guide 345
•Beaver County, Utah, Cactus Mine 110
•Belgium Hoisting Installation 432
Belt Conveyor, Hoisting With 425
•Bends, Hitches and Knots 96
Bin Capacity 105
Bincklev, G. S 126
Bingham Mining District, Utah 87
"Utah, Economic Geology" 148
Black Hills, Cheap Gold Mining and Milling. . .137
Forestry in 425
Sand, Government Experiments with 79
Sand Investigation, Results 241
Blast Connection, Ball Nipple 207
Furnace, Potassium Cyanide in 127
Blasting, Scientific 138
•Blower and Engine Set 295
Blue Ore of South Dakota, Treatment of 36
Bolivian Mines 301
Bookkeeping System for Mine 133
Borax Industry 259
Production 386
Bore Hole Tests, Value in Dredging 424
•Boring an Oil Well 443
Bouldin Island, Cal., Reclaiming 28
Boursin, Henry 207
•Brilliant Extended Mine, Charters Towers — 428
"Briquets and Patent Fuels" 69
British Columbia Duty on American Products . .287
Columbia Mines. .16 35, 51, 68. 84, 100, 116, 132,
147, 166, 184, 200, 217, 234. 250, 268, 284, 300, 318,
352, 371, 389, 404, 421, 438, 454.
Columbia Mines, Chinese Labor in 186
•Columbia, Nickel Plate Mine 137
Broad Lode Case 20
•Broderick & Bascom Wire Rope Exhibit 281
Brooks, A. H.. 364
Brown, R. Gilman 362
•Buffalo Blower and Engine Set 295
Pag ■,
Bunker Hill &. Sullivan, Apex Suit-* Against Bfl
Hill & Sulli feral M.i 2
1 ■_• 1
Bullion, Assay of Gold .:;..
Bureaus of Mines and Mining Sonoo 338
Han us ;i Mining Engineer. . ti
Methods. Live
Butte's 1 ;o**i Fortune 425
Cabinet Department of Mines iqo, 2:va
•Cactus Mine, Beaver Co.. Ctali 110
Cages v>. suips
•Calaveras Co.. Cal., Gravel Channels ,170, 1 'i
California Itebrls Commission's Work i.mi
Cost of Power In m
Debris Question in 377
Early Mine Workings 28
"Gold Dredging In" 09, 1 -.•:,, Ml. 179
.Miners' Association Meeting 867 :t77
.Mines .13. 3;. 4n, 65, 81, 97, IK!. 129, [45, 104, 181,
197, 214, 231, 248, 265, 281, 297, 815, 849, 869, 886,
402, 419,435, 452.
New Inland Sea ug
Northern. Mining In |£7
Panamlut District 231
( 'allow, ,i. U ,.45]
Calumet & Hecla Report 71
•Cameron Pump Condenser ]279
Canadian Mines 147, 184, 200
•Cananea Con. Copper Plant 842, 850
Capacity of Ore Bins 105
Of Stamp Mills 444
Cape Colony Mines 43H
Capitalization, Mine 350
Carbon Monoxide Causing Death 860
Card System In Leadville , . .486
Carelessness as a Cause of Accidents 286
"Cement Production in 1904 " 269
"Cements. Limes and Plasters'" 157
•Centennial Copper Co.'s Hoist ..225
•Champion Mine, Nevada Co., Cal 66
•Channel at Gibsonville, Cal 73
Charcoal Precipitation From Auro - Cyanide
Solutions 210
•Charters Towers, Brilliant Extended Mine 428
Cheapest Mining 135
Cheap Gold Mining and Milling in Black Hills 137
"Chemistry, Engineering" , 251
"Chemistry, Second Year" 269
•Chicago Hose Coupler 279
Chinese and Corean Mining Expansion ]50
Chinese Labor in British Columbia Mines 188
Chinese Mines 51, 167
Christy, S. B 374. 377
"Civil Engineering" 101
Classification as Applied to Concentration of
Finely Crushed Ore 449
" Clay Working Industries " 167
Cleaning and Agglomeration of Ore Dust 307
•Clutch, Automatic ill
Coal Dredging From River 121
"Production in 1904" 148
"Report, Illinois" 101
Vs. Electricity 375
Vs. Oi 1 202
Volume of , 345
Co?ur d'Alene, Idaho, Ore Deposits 25, 39, 63
Coinage Report 386
" Coke " 69
Shortage in Utah 321
College Men in Mining 150
Colombian Mines 132, 167
Colorado, Arrastra in 321
•Gold Dredging in 398
Mines... 13, 33, 48, 66, 81, 97, 114, 129,145,164,181,
197, 215, 232, 24S, 266, 282, 298, 315, 332, 350,369,
387,403,419,435, 453.
River Overflow 71
•Transportation in 240
Commercial Development of Electro-Metallurgy 9
Communication, Improvement in 204
Compressed Air vs. Electricity for Power 304
"Comstock Lode, Structure and Genesis of ".180, 244
Concentration and Separation of Zinc-Lead Ores.365
Of Finely Crushed Ore, Classification as Ap-
plied to 449
Of Lead and Silver Ores 44. 57
Theory of 305
Variations in 271
"Concentrates" 203
•Concentrator, Bartlett 6
Concrete Mixtures 327, 382
Condemnation of Machinery 425
•Condenser, Cameron Pump 279
•Universal 263
Congress, American Mining 204, 340
Construction, Engineering in 392
Contests, Drilling 36
•Control of Hydraulic Mine Debris 152
•Copper Deposits in Tokar, Sudan 175
Determination in Chilled Slag 328
From Sulphide Ores 875
"Handbook" 101
Lake Superior Low-Grade 322
Market 87, 119, 375,424, 441
Developed From Silver 168
Mines Turning to Gold Mines 202
Ores, Low-Grade, Treatment of 172
•Plant, Cananea Con. Co 342
Production of U. S 231
Prospecting 126
•Queen Smelter 225
•Treatment at Quincy Mills 194
Treatment In Electric Furnace .210
Corean and Chinese Mining Expansion 150
Corporate Management vs. Leasing 321
Cost of Mining 53
Of Power in California 441
Of Transportation 53
Of Working on the Rand 260
Sheets, Advantages of 87
Sheets, Value of 338
Coeur d'Alene, District, Idaho 288
Cripple Creek Drainage Tunnel 2
Dynamite Explosion 2
•Mines, Drainage of 292
Ore Thefts * 53
Crude Oil for Smelting 304
Crushing Machinery for Mines 209, 223
Cut-off, Automatic Pump 262
Cyanide Absorption by Wood 400
Effect of Oxygen on Gold Dissolution of 446
Manipulation 135
Of Potassium in Blast Furnace 127
Of Sodium in Practice 91
Potassium vs. Sodium 71
Process, Ammonia in 23
Process, Simplicity in 168
Solution, Charcoal Precipitation From 210
CvanidingatPalmarejoMine.77, 92, 107, 122,139, 170
. Raw Sulphides 180,304
Raw Sulphides, Time in 168
Testing Preliminary to 330
D
Dam Suggestion for Sierra County, Cal 239
Danger of Abandoned Shafts 204
•Darien Gold Mines 224
Davis, John F 377
Debris Commission's Work in California 150
Question in California 377
Decision of California Supreme Court 186
Pack
Deep Mines Versus Superficial Deposits 87
Shafts. Palling Bodies in 276"
:. Lodeol Lake Superior Glacier " 180
Del Mar, Algernon ...89
Dentistry. I'se of Gold In 184
Department of Mines in Cabinet 186
Of Mines and Mining 428
Depth of Gold Mines
Dorlatn, Chas 190, 207
Desert, Greal American
Pioneers ol
Prospecting in 24
Det© I Salting ..... 5a
Developing Mine Prospects . .. -_"_ti
r W ine, Practical
'if a Prospeoi eo
i H id Ine, Haphazard 425
Dlan i Bearing Crater In south Africa. New 52
ck of South Africa 275
Drill In l'mspecl ing 821
Drills 2fl7
Hardness of 258
Director, Unsophisticated
Directors Prohibited From Selling Without
Stockholders' Consent 180
Responsibility ol 408
" i Hreotory, Western f electrical " 167
Disadvantages of Prejudice 269
Disasters, Progress by l
Discussion of Technical Papers ..857
Divining Rod as a Water Finder . 31 1
Dollar in Mexico 255
Drainage of Cripple Creek Mines 80]
•Of Mines by Hailing 879
•Of Rapid Transit Tunnel 7
Tunnel, Cripple Creek 2
Dredging, Application of Eleotric Power to 245
Coal From River lil
"Gold In California" B9, 125, in, 179
*i ink! in Colorado 398
Gold in Nome Goldtlelds 345
Value of Borehole Tests in 424
•Drill, Murphy 209
Tests, Electric 126
Machine, tn Mining .., .88, 57
Drilling Contests 38
Dumping Devices, Automatic 40
•Dust Chambers at Smelters 378
Duty on Zinc 87
Dwyer, John 325
Dynamite Explosion, Cripple Creek 2
Earth's Weight, Calculating 212
Economic Geologist 190
" Geology of the United States" 451
Efficiency in the Mining Industry 380
•Egypt, Gold Mining in ..324
" Elder's Ridge, Pennsylvania " 17, 251
Electric Drill Tests 126
Furnace for Copper Ores 210
Iron Smelting 434
Locomotives 263
Mine Signals and Telephones 29
Power Plant, Arrangement ot Wheels in 185
Process, Steel by 424
Ore Loaders 430
Smelting of Magnetite 287
Smelting of Ores 171, 307
" Electrical Directory, Western " 167
Engineering 186
"Engineers' Proceedings" 101
Equipment of Karawanken Tunnel 273
Electricity in Mining 202
Vs. Coal 375
Vs. Compressed Air for Power 304
Electrolytic Assay of Gold 193
Electro-Metallurgy, Commercial Development
of 9
•Elevator , Triumph 432
•End-Dumping Wheelbarrow 140
Engineer, Ubiquitous Mining 167
"Engineering Chemistry " 251
Electrical 186
•In Alaska 79
In Construction 392
Structures, Unreasonable Tests of 87
English Mines 132
Equipment of Mine, Graft in 87
Of Small Mills 387
Equity in Mine Taxation 135
Examination of Mines 362
Excavating for the Government 400
Expenses, Tunnel 190
Experimental Metallurgy 168
Exhaust Steam From Mine Pumps, Use of 279
Explosion of Dynamite, Cripple Creek 2
Explosives, Transportation and Handling of — 382
Extension and Equipment of Mines 338
Extinguishing Fire in Pyritous Mine 258
Extralateral Right Conditions, Governing 187
Eye, C. M 444
Failure in New Mines, Causes of 374
"Fairbanks and Forty Mile Gold Placers" 148
"FairhavenGold Placers, Alaska" 148
Falling Bodies in Deep Shafts 279
Farewell of J. F. Halloran 441
Fawcett, Waldron 79
•Federal Control Hydraulic Mining Debris 152
Federal vs. Bunker Hill & Sullivan M. Co 2
•Filter Pressing Slimes 367, 432
Findley, O. P 342, 359
Fine Grinding in Metallurgy 410, 444
Fire and Explosion, Goldfield, Nevada 56
At Lightner Mine 305
Extinguishing in Pyritous Mine 258
Fires, Forest 229
Fissure Vein 392
Veins, Working of 35
Fletcher, R. N 22
Flexible Steel Armored Hose 107
Forest Fires 229
Reserve Timber, Selling 257
Forests in Black Hills 425
Forestry on Mining Lands 326
Furnace, Blast, Potassium Cyanide in.
Fuses, Spitting and Snuffing. .
Galvanized Iron' 112
Gaseous Mines, Apparatus for Entering. 263
•Gas Engine Testing 448
" Gasoline and Oil Engines " 451
•Gasoline Motor Car 417
Geological Knowledge, Value of 52
Geologist and the Miner, The 220
Economic 1 90
Geology of Tonopah, Nevada . . .360, 381
"Of Western Ore Deposits" 85
Relation to Mining 395
Gibsonville, Cal , Channel at 73
•Gilpin County, Colo., Milling 844
•Globe-, Ariz 427
Pagk.
i told Assay by Semi-Electrolytic Process 193
i toast, Africa, Mines 104
Deepest 360
Dissolution in Cyanide, Affected by Oxygen 446
Dredging, Application of Electric Power to 245
. [ng in California 125. 141, 17H
in Igneous Books 374
fa Philippines mo
•In Schistose Rook 12
Mine. Deepest :t75
M [nee, Darien 224
Mines, Depth of l'r.~>
■ ■- Developed from Copper Mines 212
•Mining in Egypt 324
Kilning In Southern Rhodesia 240
Production of the World 287
Production of the United States 349
Uses Of 448
Goldfield Fire 86, 56
Nevada, Mining al 22
•Golden West Mine, South Dakota 257
1 Eovernment, Excavating lor 400
Exp rlments with Black Sands 79
Governmental Mine Promotion in Mexico 288
Graduates ol Mining Schools .isto
Graft In Mine Equipment 87
Granby Cheap Mining 2<>
"Graphite Production in 1904" 47
•Gravel Channels of Calaveras Countv, Cal. 170, 192
Gregory, .1. w 10. 75, 90
Crider, R. L y4, ill
•Guide for Battery stem 345
Gypsum Production (S3
H
Halla, Otto 345
Halloran, J. F 441
•Hancock Jig at Penn- Wyoming Mill ill
Handbook for Metallurgists and Miners 204
Hand Sampling in Small Stamp Mills 274
Haphazard Mine Development 425
Hard ness of Diamond 258
Hart. W. W 152
Head Frame, Rational Design of 4
•Something More About 445
•Temporary and Permanent 179
♦Types 410
Hematite 274
Highest Mines 330
Hilgard, E. W 378
Hitchcock, C. K 194
•Hitches, Knots and Bends 96
History of Pyritic Smelting 260, 277. 204, 314
Hobbies of the Miner 36
Hoist of Centennial Copper Co 235
Hoisting Accidents, Investigating 253
Commission in the Transvaal 187
Engineer's Carelessness 87
•Installation, Novel 432
Plant, Location of 91
With Belt Conveyor 425
Holidays Among Miners 103
Homestake Mine and Mill 254
Mine, Discovery and Development 4, 26
SI imes Treatment 150
To Change to Skips 288
Honerine Mill, Utah 19
Honesty in Mine Promotion 119
Horseshoe M. Co., Reorganization of 1
Hose Coupler, Chicago 279
Flexible Steel Armored 107
•Hydraulic Mining Debris Control 152
•Mining, Notes on 94, 111
" Tables " 116
"Hydrology of Eastern U. S." 319
•Ice Making Machinery 212
Idaho, Coeur d'Alene District 288
Coeur d'Alene, Ore Deposits « 39
Mines... 14, 33,48,67, 81, 98, 115, 130, 146, 165, 182,
198, 215, 233, 249, 266, 283, 298, 316, 351. 370. 388.
403, 419, 436, 453.
Igneous Rocks, Gold in 374
"Illinois Coal Report" 101
Mines 67
Importations of Zinc Ore 221
Impulse Wheel Arrangement in Power Plant. . , 185
Inaccuracies in Mill Sampling 20
Incandescent Light, Tantalite for 73
Inclined Planes, Power to Operate 253
Shaft or Vertical 424
Indian Reservations, Location of Mineral on ..441
•Ingersoll-Sergeant Plant at Philipsburg, N. J. 193
Inspection, Mine 247
Investment, Mining as 202
Inyo County and Southern Nevada Notes. .418, 429,
447.
Iron-Bearing Sands, Value of 286
And Steel Mill in South Africa 425
Galvanized 112
Mistaken for Copper 126
"Ore Production in 1904" 69
Smelting, Electric 434
" Trade Statistics " 167
•Quarrying 246
"Irrigation Congress, Proceedings of Twelfth ". 47
J
"Jalisco Mining Resources" ..299
Japanese Mines 318
"Jawbone," Running a Mine on , 203
•Jig, Hancock, at Penn- Wyoming Mill Ill
"John Day Series, Rodents and Ungalates" 133
Jones, F. A 363
Judgment in Mine Valuation 103
K
•Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, Oroya-Brown-
hill Mines, Reduction at 366
Kansas Mines 14, 48, 233, 299
Karawanken Tunnel, Electrical Equipment of, 275
Keith, N. S 172
" Kentucky Lead, Zinc and Fluorspar" 167
Knocker, Mining Camp 391
"Knocker," the Deadly 187
•Knots, Hitches and Bends 96
L
Ladders, Mine 383
Lamb, R. B HI, 155
Lateral Secretion Theory 270
Laws, Alaska Mining 271
Amendment Needed in Mining 337
"Forbidding Pollution of Inland Waters "..352
Lack of Uniformity in Mining 219
Of Assessment Work 322
Of Location 288
Origin of Mining 203
Proposed by Alaska Convention 357
Revision of Ontario Mining 271
(Continued on Next Page.)
457
Mining and Scientific Press.
December 30, 1905.
INDEX TO VOLUME XCI
.Continued From Preceding Page.)
Page.
Lawson, A. C 395
Law Suits, Settling 271
Lawrence, D. H 365
Leach. F. A 39
Lead, Argentiferous, Mining 367
Assav, Protest Against 281
Bounty in British Columbia 287
Market 87
Production of the World 337
Silver Ores, Concentration of 44, 57
Leadville Drainage 417
New Discoveries 180
Leasing vs Corporate Management 321
Le Roi Fight 449
Lightner Mine Fire 305
Location, Laws of 288
Notice, Amended 93
Local ions in Alaska, "Wholesale 53
Of Hoisting Plants 91
Locomotives, Electric 263
Long &Derry Mine Resumption 271
Lo w-Grade Copper Ore Treatment 172
Grade Ore Taking Place of Rich 322
Grade Ore Treatment 36
Low, V. F. S 44, 57
*Lubricator, McGill 194
Lunkenheimer Valves 177
M
"Machine Design" 372
Drill in Mining 38, 57
Drill Operation 305, 308, 329
Miner 360
"Shop Tools and Practice " 133
Machinery in Russia, American Mining 186
Condemnation of 423
♦McGill Lubricator 194
McMillan, A. J 179
Madagascar Mines 17, 167, 242, 268
Magnetite, Electro-Smelting of 287
Magnetic Separation 341
Malay Peninsula Mines 167
Malcomson, James W 363
Management of Mine Handicapped by Lack of
Miners 321
Manager's Requirements, Mine 239
Responsibility in Australian Mines 155
•' Manganese Ore Production in 1904" 69
Market, Metal 357
Measures We Carry With Us 395
*Measuring Pole, Miner's 258
" Mechanical Drawing, Advanced" 218
" Mechanics of Materials" 218
Mercur Gold Mines of Utah 242
Metal Market 357
Metallurgy, Experimental 168
Fine Grinding in 410,444
Methods and Co^ts of Placer Mining in Alaska. . 76
Mexican Dollars 255
Mexican Mines ....17, 35, 51, 68, 84, 100, 116, 132, 148,
167, 184, 200, 217, 234, 251, 268, 284, 301, 318, 352, 371,
389, 405. 422, 455
Mexico and United States, Relation of Mining
and Smelting 342, 363
*Cananea Con Copper Plant 359
Governmental Mine Promotion in 287
Mining in 3
Palmarejo Mine, Cyaniding in... 7?. 92, 107, 122,
139. 171.
Meyers, J. S 105
'■Mica" 352
Production 163
Michigan Mines. . . .14, 34, 49, 67, 99, 115. 130, 146, 165,
182, 198, 216, 233, 249, 283, 299, 419, 453.
Mill Capacitv, Stamp 444
Design 271
Equipment 387
Sampling, Inaccuracies in 20
♦Milling Ores at Tonopah, Nev 360
*In Gilpin County, Colo 344
Mine Accidents .237
Development, Practical 23
♦Drainage by Bailing 379
Equipment, Graft in 87
Examination 362
Examination Precautions 71
Extension and Equipment 338
Inspection 237
Managers in Australia 155
Manager's Requirements 239
Operating Without Money 207
Promotion, Success in 270
Prospects, Developing 220
Relation to Plant 102
Speculation 103
Surveying 399
Surveying, Primitive 121
♦Timbering, Ingenious 400
Ventilation 103, 124, 138, 175, 191,200,245,262
Ventilation in Montana 224
Miner and the Geologist, The 220
And the Mint 39
Hobbies of the 36
Miner's Measuring Pole 258
Mineral Lands and Townsite Patents . . 186
Locations on Indian Reservations 441
Possibilities of Pacific Coast 22
Production of United States 220, 226, 227
Resources Developed by Research Depart-
ment 103
Resources of New Mexico 363
Surveys, Monuments Control in 119
Value and Production 308
Mining and Metallurgical Patents. .8, 31, 42, 59, 80,
95, 112, 128, 144, 174, 213, 230,243,264,280,310,331.
368, 385,416,433,451.
As an Investment 202
Bureaus aDd Mining Schools 338
Cabinet Department of 186
Cheap 135
Congress, American 204, 362
Cost of 53
Electricity in 202
Engineer as a Business Man 71
Engineer, Noted ,270
Engineer, Ubiquitous 167
Goldfield, Nev 22
Hydraulic 94, 111
Importance of 186
♦In Egypt 324
In Mexico 2
Law, Needed Amendments in 337
Law, Origin of .203
Machine Drill in 38, 57, 76
Open Cut 70
Plants, Auxiliary 423
Relation of Geology to 395
School Graduates 190
Science in 288
Situation, a Factor in 134
Stock Speculation 220
Why Study? 207
Without Geological Knowledge 52
Minnesota Mines 67
Mint and the Miner 39
Missouri Mines... 15, 50, 99, 115, 130, 165. 182, 198, 216,
233, 283, 299, 370, 388.
Mitchel, E. P 191
Molybdenite, Titration of 443
Page.
Montana, Mine Ventilation in 224
Mines.... 15, 34, 50,67, 88,99, 115,130, 146, 165,183,
198, 216, 233, 249, 267, 283, 299, 316, 351, 370, 388,
403, 420, 436, 453.
Monuments Control in Mineral Surveys 119
"Monzanite Production in 1904 " 47,60
Morrison, R. S 340
Motor, Polyphase Induction 58
Mount Lyell Ore Deposits 40, 58, 75, 90
" Mitchel Quadrangle, North Carolina " 133
Morgan Mine, Open Cut Mining at 356
Mountain Regions, Water Supply in 414
♦Murphy Drill 209
N
National Department of Mines 186
Natural Gas in the West 321
Nevada and Inyo County, Cal., Notes. -.418, 429, 447
County, Cal., Champion Mine 86
Humboldt County, Volcano 119
Mines. .15, 34, 50, 67, 83, 99, 115, 131, 146, 165, 183,
199, 216, 233, 250, 267, 283, 299, 316, 351, 370, 388,
404, 421, 437, 454.
Mining Camps, New 221
Railroad Lands in 119
Reclamation of Arid Lands 61
" South of Fortieth Parallel" 148
♦Tonopah and Its Development 12
New Mexican Mines. .15, 34. 50, 115, 131, 147, 166, 183,
216, 267, 283, 299, 317, 370, 388, 404, 421, 437, 454.
Mexico Mineral Resources of 363
Mines, Causes of Failure in 374
South Wales Mines 50, 184, 216
York and New Jersey Tunnel 305
♦New Zealand, Waihi District, Mining in 12
Zealand Mine Report 338
Zealand Mines 284, 389, 422
Nicaragua, Superintendent's Difficulties in 106
♦Nickel Plate Mine, British Columbia 137
Nissen Stamp 247
Nome Goldfields. Dredging in 345
Nomenclature of Rocks 87
Norwegian Mines 84, 132
Notable Events in Connection with Gold and
Silver 343
Noted Mining Engineers 270
Notice of Location, Amended 93
♦Nova Scotia 273,290, 311, 327
Observation, Value of 254
Only, J 443
Oil for Fuel 321
Versus Coal 202
Well Boring 443
Wells in Santa Barbara, Cal 408
Once Mineral Always Mineral 134
Ontario Mines 234, 251
Mining Law Revision 271
Open Cut Mining 70, 375, 395
Cut Mining at Mount Morgan 356
Cut Mining in Flat Veins 35
Operation of Machine Drills 308, 329
"Ore Analysis, Technical Methods of " 319
Cars, Handling 30
Deposition, Lateral Secretion Theory 270
Deposit, Interesting, in South Dakota 22
Deposits of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho 39, 63
Deposits of Mount Lyell 40, 58, 75, 90
♦Loading Plants, Electric 430
Sampling 56
Shipments, Value of 187
Treatment Difficulties in South Dakota 150
Valuation of a Rand Mine 328
Oregon Mines. .15, 34, 50, 67, 83, 99, 115, 131, 147, 166,
183, 199. 216, 233, 250, 267, 283, 299, 317, 351, 370. 388,
40*. 421. 437, 454.
Oriental Labor In British Columbia Mines 186
Origin of Our Mining Laws 203
♦Oroya-Brownhill Mines, Reduction at 366, 384
Oxygen, Compact 30
In Dissolution of Gold in Cyanide 446
Oxnam, T. H 77, 92, 107, 122, 139, 171
Outcrops of Veins 55
Pacific Coast, Mineral Possibilities of 22
Palmarejo Cyaniding 77, 92, 107, 122, 139, 171
Panama Mines 35, 84
Panamint District, California 27
Parsons, C. E 240
Patent Office Surplus 220
Patents and Assessment Work 221
Patents, Mining and Metallurgical 8, 31. 42. 59.
80, 95, 112, 128, 144, 174, 196. 213, 230, 243, 264, 280, 310,
331, 368, 385, 401, 416, 433, 451.
Notice of Recent. . .18, 36, 51, 69, 85, 101, 117, 131,
148, 184, 201, 218, 235, 252, 269, 285, 320, 336, 373,
390, 406, 423, 439, 455.
Pelton Water Wheel Installation 444
♦Penn- Wyoming Mill, Hancock Jig at HI
Perkins, F. C "....430
Peruvian Mines 132, 217
"Petroleum Production " 352
Philippines, Copper in 268. 389
Gold in 110, 251
Mining in 444
Pioneers of the Desert 277
"Pipes, Steel-Concrete, Experiments on" 251
Placer Claims, Proposed Change in Size 387
♦Placer Mining in Alaska. . .76, 109, 127, 142, 176, 191,
212, 2i8, 247, 263, 276, 292, 312.
Placer, Quartz Location on 375
Platinum, Available Supply of 107
Plumb Bob, Automatic 244
Plummer, J. P 445
Polyphase Induction Motor 58
Portable Frame in Mine Slopes 106
Portland G. M. Co 424
Potassium Cyanide in Blast Furnace 127
"Salts " 269, 326
Vs. Sodium Cyanide 71
Powder Thawing, Accident in 408
♦Thawer 295
Power at Mines, Motive 304
Cost in California 441
For Mines 150
Prom Zambesi Falls 271
To Operate on Inclined Planes 2*9
Practical Operation of Machine Drills 308, 329
'■Precious Stone Production in the United
States " 451
Precipitation From Cyanide Solution With
Charcoal 210
Prejudices, Disadvantages of 269
Premium System 119
Primitive Mining Engineering 12L
Problem in Storage of Material 105
Production of Minerals in U. S 220, 226, 227
Progress by Disaster l
Promoting of Mines, Honesty in 119
Promotion of Mines, Success In 270
Promoter, UnplausiMe 408
Prospect, Development of 86
Holes, Danger of Uncovered 204
Prospecting for Copper 126
In the Desert 24
With Diamond Drill 321
Prospector and His Claim 253
Column. . .9, 25, 40, 57. 79, 93, 112, 126, 140. 177, 209,
246, 261, 279, 293, 308, 346, 365, 380, 398, 432,
Page.
Prospector, Etc 185
Prospects, Developing 220
Prospectuses, Mining 102
Prosperity of Mining Industry ',342
♦Pump, Compound Condensing 229
Pumping at Bouldin Island, Cal 28
Water for Placer Mining 70
Pumps, Disposition of Exhaust Steam From 279
" Pyrite and Sulphur Production in 1904 " 69
Deposit, Noted 290
Smelting, History of 260, 277, 294, 314
" Smelting " 269, 305
Pyritous Mine, Extinguishing Fire in 258
Pyromorphite 448
"Quantitative Analysis, Seleot Methods in".. 372
Quarreling With the Creator 187
♦Quarrying Iron 246
Quartz Location on Placer ^375
Queensland Mines 51, 317, 352
♦Quincy Mills, Copper Treatment at 194
Railroad Activity Developing Mines 220
Lands in Nevada 119
Rand Mine, Ore Valuation of 328
Portable Trams on 106
Vertical Shaft Sinking 7, 24, 90
Working Costs 260
Ransome, T. L 39, 78
Raw Sulphides, Cyaniding 180
Reclaiming Bouldin Island, Cal 8
Reclamation of Arid L ands. Nev 61
Work, Progress of 427
*Recovery of Water, Experience in 123
Refining Zinc Precipitates 180
♦Refrigerating Machinery 21 2
Reid, J. A 244
Relation of Plant to Mine 102
Research Departments for Mineral Develop-
ment 103
Responsibility of Mine Directors 408
Rich Ores Replaced by Low-Grade 322
♦Rhodesian Gold Mines, Typical 313
Gold Mining, Southern 240
Richards, J, M 362
Rickard, T. A 273, 290, 311, 327
"Rio Grande Ground Waters " 319
Roads, Better, Needed 221
Rock Nomenclature 87
Rope Splicing .74
Rose, T. K 346
Russia, American Mining Machinery in. 186
Russian Mines 51
Ruthenburg Process 307
" Salt Production for 1904" 116
Salting, Detection of 52
SaltonSea 71, 118, 393
♦Sampling by Hand in Small Stamp Mills 274
♦Concentrates and Slimes 294
Mill, Inaccuracies in 20
Ore 5Q
"Sanitation and Ventilation West Australian
Mines" 101
"Of a Country House " 101
San Francisco Bay, Smelters on 219
♦Schistose Rocks, Gold in 12
Rocks, Sampling 357
Schockley, W. H 175
Science in Mining 288
Sea, California New Inland 118
♦Settling Slimes 123, 293
Shaft Safety, Transvaal Commission on 347
Inclined or Vertical 424
Repairing 425
Sinking on the Rand 6, 24, 90
♦Sheep Ranch Mine, Cal 12
Shipments of Ore, Value of 187
Shot Firer's Bill 71
Siberian Mines 352
Sierra County, Cal., Dam Suggestions 239
♦Nevada, Undeveloped Resources 261
Signals and Telephones in Mines 29
Silver-Gotd Ores, Cyaniding at Palmarejo.. 77, 92
107, 122, 139, 171.
And Gold Production of U. S 349
Lead Ores, Concentration of 57
Market 423
Mines Developed to Copper 168
Value of 187
Simplon Railroad 71
♦Tunnel 399, 441
Situation a Factor in Mining 134
Skips vs. Cages 288
Slag, Determination of Copper in 327
♦Slimes, Filter Pressing 367 432
♦Settling 123, *93
♦Smelter, Copper Queen 225
♦Smelters, Dust Chambers at 378
On San Francisco Bay 219
Smelting, Down Draft 304
♦Electric 307
History of Pyrite 260, 277, 294, 314
Magnetic Iron Ore by Electricity 434
Magnetite With Electricity 287
Of Ores with Electricity 171
Pyrite 305
Snuffing and Spitting Fuses 155
Sodium Cyanide in Practice 91
Versus Potassium Cyanide 71
South Africa, New Diamond Find in 52
African Mines 131, 143, 216, 300
"African C, M. & M. Society Proceedings". 352
America, Argentine Republic Mines 87
Dakota, Golden West Mine 257
Dakota, Homestake Mines 4, 26, 254
Dakota Mines.. 15, 34, 50, 68, 83, 99, 115, 131, 147,
166, 199, 216, 233. 250, 267,317, 351, 371, 389, 454.
Dakota Ore Deposit 22
Dakota, Ore Treatment Difficulties in 150
Speculation in Mining Stock 233
Speller, W. H 448
In Worthless Mines 103
Spitting and Snuffing Fuses 155
Spelter Market 87
Splice for Tape 400
Splicing Transmission Rope 74
Spurr, J C 360,381
Stamp Mill Capacity 444
Stamp Mills, Hand Sampling in 274
Steam Shovels, Atlin, B. C 239
Turbine Tests 57
" Steel Concrete Pipes, Experiments on " 251
By Electric Process 423
Stephens, F. B 5
Sticht, P. C 260, 277, 294, 314
Stock. Assessable and Non-assessable 221
Speculation, Mining 220
Stockholders' Consent Necessary tefore Sale. ..186
" Stone Industry in 1904 " 251
Production of U. S 265
Stopes, Portable Trams in 106
Storage of Material, Problem in 105
Storms, W H 170,192,273,293
Structural Engineering Important to Miners. . .190
Students in Mining, Increase in 186
Study Mining, WhyV ,.; 207
Page.
Stulls, Use 60
♦Sudan Copper Deposits 175
♦Summer School of Surveying 207
Sulphide Deposition 275
Sulphides, Raw, Cyan iding 180, 304
" Sulphur and Pyrite Production in 1904 " 69
Superficial Deposits Versus Deep Mines 35
Superintendent's Difficulties in Nicaragua 106
Surplus of Patent Office 220
♦Surveying Mine 399, 415
Mine, Primitive 121
♦Summer School of 207
Surveys, Mineral, Monuments Control In 119
Swart, W. G 364
♦Tables, Amalgamating 87
Taft, H. H 418, 429, 447
Tanana-Yukon Region, Alaska 345
Tantalite for Incandescent Lights 73
" Tantalum Minerals in 1904" 47, 60
Tape Splice 400
Tasmania, Timbering at Mt. Rex Mine 26
Taxation, Mine Valuation for 391
Taxes, Avoiding 424
Tays, E. H 293
Technical Papers, Discussion of 357
Technically Educated Men in Mining 150
Telephones and Electric Mine Signals 29
Tennessee Mines 389
Testing of Ores 450
Testing Ores Preliminary to Cyaniding 330
Tests of Electric Drills 126
Of Engineering Structures, Unreasonable. . . 87
" Texas, Paleontology of Malone Jurassic For-
mation " 257
♦Thawer for Powder 295
Thefts of Cripple Creek Ores 53
Thome, W. E 398
Timber From Forest Reserves, Selling 257
Timbering at Mt. Rex Tin Mine 26
♦Ingenious Mine 400
Tin Market 87
" Production in 1904 " 69, 197
Sources of Supply 204
Titration of Molybdenite 443
Tobelmann, H. A 328
♦Tonopah, Milling at 360
♦Tonopah, Nev. , and Its Development 12
Geology of 360, 381
Tough Experience, A 239
Townsite Patent and Mineral Lands 186
Trams, Portable in Stopes 106
♦Tramways, Electric 480
Trans-Pacific Trade 203
♦Transit, Mountain and Mining 429
Transportation and Handling of Explosives 382
Cost of 53
Improvement 204
*In Colorado 240
Transvaal Commission on Safety in Shafts . . . .346
♦Gold Mines 121, 143, 352
Hoisting Commission in 187
Iron and Steel Mill in 425
Mines 371, 389, 421, 438
Treatment of Auriferous Sulphides, Australia, . 5
Trials of the Amalgamator 303
Trinity County, Cal., Mining in 417
♦Triumph Elevator 432
Tunnel Between New York and New Jersey 305
Construction 77
Drainage of 7
Expenses 190
Turbine Tests, Steam 37
Wheels, Saving 171
U
Ubiquitous Mining Engineer 167
" Underground Water, Rate of Movement of ". .352
Unplausible Promotor 408
Unsophisticated Director 271
Utah, Bingham, Mining District 87
♦Cactus Mine 110
Coke Shortage in ■. 321
Mercur, Gold Mines of. 242
Mines... 15, 34,50, 68, 83, 99. 115. 131, 147, 166, 183,
199, 216, 233, 250, 268, 283, 299, 317, 351, 371, 389,
404, 421, 454.
Valuation of Mines for Taxation 291
Of Mines Influenced by Judgment 103
Of Ore in a Rand Mine 328
Valve. Improved Generator 398
♦Self-Packing Steam Radiator 279
♦Regrinding 177
Van Wagenen, Theo. F 121, 143
Vein Outcrops 55
Veins, Fissure, Working of 35
Venezuelan Gold Fields 325
"Ventilation and Sanitation of Western Aus-
tralian Mines 101
Of Mines 103, 124, 138, 175, 191,209,245, 263
Vertical Shaft Sinking on the Rand 6. 24, 90
Vs. Inclined Shaft 424
Victoria, Australia, Mines 16, 35, 284, 318
Virginia City, Nev 407
Volcano in Humboldt Co., Nev 119
Voy le, Joseph 239, 448
Vulcanized Fiber for Friction Clutches 108
W
Waihi District, New Zealand, Mining in 12
Walsh, Geo. E 9
Wann, E. E 412
Warwick, N. W 275
Washington Mines. .15. 35, 51, 68, 83, 100, 115, 131, 147,
166, 183, 199, 216, 233, 250, 268. 281, 299, 317, 351, 371,
389,404,421,438, 454.
Water, Finding With Divining Rod 314
Horse Power Developed by 3
♦Recovery, An Experience in 123, 293
♦Supply in Montana Regions 415
Wheel Arrangement in Power Plant 185
Wheel Installation, Pelton 444
Way, E.J 328
Weight of Earth, Calculating 212
Weights, Atomic 155
And Values of Ores 338
Weil. S. C 73
" West Australian Mines, Ventilation and Sani-
tation 101
Western Empire 408
" Western United States " 422
Westinghouse Polyphase Induction Motor 58
Weston, E M 308, 329
♦Wheelbarrow, End-Dumping 140
Why Study Mining? 207
♦Wilfley Slime Table 260
Williams, Ernest 380
Wire, F. E 340
♦ Wire Rope Exhibit of Broderick & Bascom 282
Wireless Telegraph at Mine in Mexico 374
Wisconsin Mines 438
Wolframite and the Prospector 241
Wood, Absorption of Cyanide by 400
December 30, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
458
Page.
Working California's Early Mines 23
Workman's Suggestions. Value of 1S6
Wrench, 'Bulldog'1 121
Wright, Lewis T 268
Wvumlng Mines 36.68,88,116 117,183.250,284.
871, 404, 13S, 451.
Y
• Yak Tunnel ..259
" Yuba County, Cal., Mines and Minerals, Regis-
ter of 451
Yukon-! anana Region, Aluska 345
Territory 251,301
2
Zambesi Kails for Power 271
Zinc, Duty on 87
Heating 141
Industry of Rooky Mountain Region 364
Lead Ores, Concentration of 365
* kcurrence In Depth 428
Ore Importations 221
Precipitates, Retlnlng 180
■ Zircon Production In 1901" 47,60
Index to Concentrates.
A
Absolute Scale of Temperature Zero 222
Acetylene Gas 72
Acid Denned 289
Oxygen 256
Acidulated Water, Pumping 87
Actluollte as Source of Serpentine 339
Adversing, Procedure Necessary for I2n
Aerial and Gravity Trams 136
Ropeways 238
African Gold Producers ,.339
Age for Entrance to University 205
Agitating Solutions With Compressed Air 323
Agricultural .Land, Mineral Location on 256
Air, Amount Required for Ventilation 136
Amount Used by Drill 37, 205
Compressor, Automatic 136
Compressor Capacity 289
Compressor Underground — 37
Compressor vs. Fan for Mine Ventilation 104
Expansion 205
For Compressors 3
For Pumping. . 72
Leakage of Electricity 222
Pressure for Copper Blast Furnace 272
Temperature for Motor and Compressor 222
Tight Drift 223
Valve Gear 222
Alamo District Stampede 442
Alaska, Coal in 188
Coal Land Laws of 442
Tin in 205
Alaskaite and Alaskite 37
Albite 88
Algonkian vs. Arctuean 104
Alloy of Gold. Lead or Iron in.. 323
Alterations of Augite and Hornblende 306
Altitude Determination With Aneroid 120
Change in Compressor With 394
Or California Gold Mines 442
Alum Prices 256
Aluminum, Depositing Silver on Electrolyti-
cally 238
Effect of Potassium Cyanide on -. 120
In Assay of Zinc Ore 222
Amalgam, Effect of Lead in 88
Purifying 306
Saver for Concentrator 394
Amalgamating, Care of Plate 256
In Battery, Amount of Water for 3
Plates, Abundant Surface Good 272
Plates, Shaking 54
Plates, Thickness of 289
Plates, To Remove Grease From 222
Size of Plates for 223
Best Temperature for 306
Of Finely Disseminated Gold 151
Of Gold Ores 205
Of Silver Ores 188
Pan, Cost of 376
Prevented by Mine Water 37
Sources of Grease in 238
Guide for Quicksilver Feeding 136
Amalgamation, Inside vs. Outside 426
Amber 442
Amblygonaite 426
American Institute Mining Engineers 339,426
Mining Congress 238
Anaconda Mine Low-Grade Copper 339
Ancient River Channels in California 239
Andesine 88
Andesites, Period of 339
Aneroid Barometer, Inaccuracy of 120
For Measuring Shaft Depth 37
Anorthite 88
Anorthoclase 88
Anthracite Coal Mine, Deepest 120
Antidote for Phosphorous Poisoning 205
Antimony Blowpipe Reactions 72
Effect on Assay Buttons 88
In Hard Lead 205
Ore Reducers 376
Apatite 306
Apex of Vein 205
Necessary Extent of 339
Owner, Extralaterai Right of 1U4
Apron Plates of Stamp Battery, Drop in 54
Archfean vs. Algonkian 104
Argentite and Argentine 37
Arizona Charter Law Inducements 188
Oldest Copper District in ' 442
Arkansas Surface Plants 136
Arrastra or Stamp Mill 358
Arsenical and Antimonlal Ores, Roasting for
Cyanide 3
Ores, Extraction With Filter Press 222
Arsenic Blowpipe Reactions 72
Effect on Assay Buttons 88
Gold Ores, Leaching With Bromo-Cyanide.,409
Asbestos, Occurrence and Use 376
Asphalt Quality Determined by Penetration De-
vice 88
Asplialtine 223
Asphaltum . 394
Base Oil in Road Construction 222
Assay Differences Caused by Sampling 323
Slags 88
Ton System 265
Assaying Copper Ores With Cyanide 256
Fluxes for 189
Telluride Ores, Cupellation Loss in 72
. Zinc Ores 232
Assessable Stock. California 409
Assessment Work 394,409
Work by Leasers 30G
Work for Unrepresented Years 358
Work Excess 256
Work During Year of Location 239
Work for One Claim Done on Another 238, 426
Work for Two Years Done at One Time 339
Work, How Valued 3
Work, Montana Law on . .442
Work of Relocator 151
Work on Claims Being Patented 120
Work on Patented for Unpatented Claim — 151
Page.
Work. What Constitutes M, p_ii, 394 126
Work, When Done
Work Pending Patent 256, 839
Work, Watchman's Pay Not Good for 223
Atmospheric Pressure Endurable U9
Atom
Augltti una Horiiijiende Alterations S06
Auriferous Iron Sulphide. ..
Australian Tin-Bearing Veins Near Mt. Wtlllfl '.'I
B
Banker and Customer, Relations of 238
Barometer, Inaccuracy of ISO
Baryta Crystals 54
Identification of 3
Basalt, Quartz in 370
Base Defined ...289
Oxygen ggg
Basis of Mine Valuation gofl
Batea gn
Basic Furnace Lining ,305
Battery Amalgamation, Amount of Water for . 3
Arrangement in Mill 409
Dry Recharging 923
I Iravlty, Setting Up g$g
Guides, Looseness of 289
Screen Discharge Increased 205
Bauxite Production in U. S '"l88
Reduction 376
Bedrock for Placer Mining, Ideal ......104
Tunnel for Opening Channels 21
Worked by Dredging in California 101
Bell Cords In Shaft 151
Belt Conveyors, Uses in Mlue [go
Creep 188
Dressing gag
Shifter ' '" 21
Slipping, to Cure 376
Belts as Pulp Elevators '120
Pulleys for 376
Bendigo New Reef '[ 37
Benzine to Remove Grease From Amalgamat-
ing Plates 222
Beryls .'.'""323
Betts Process Treating Lead Bullion 222
Blotite as Serpentine Source 339
Bismuth 272
Blowpipe Reactions 73* " 120
Bismuthinite in Arizona ' 238
Bittern "igg
Bitumen ...223
Black Powder, Electric Firing of ',.,. .358
Black Sand Assay Statements [.289
Sand, Minerals in 104
Sands, Smelting " . " 205
Sands, Testing of. . '" 272
Blast "Firing" With Electricity 136
Furnace Air Pressure 272
Furnace Capacity 104
Furnace, Smelting Heat in 104
Water for 426
Blasting, Bracing Square Sets Before 289
Cap Placing in 222, 358
Fuse Precautions for 289
Gravel Banks 120
In Shaft Sinking 358
Lessening Fines in ....222
Ventilating Pipe for 136
Blowpipe Reactions on Charcoal 72
Blue Billy 289
Boiler Corrosion, Oil Causing 206
Estimation of Salt in 205
Foundations 358
Precautions 376
Precautions When Laying Up 205
Pressure for Salt Water 358
Stoking.. 358
Tubes, Uses of Old 37
Bolivia, Tin in 205
Bonds and Leases, Recording 426
Books on Mining Law 306
Boric Acid 37
Boring Hole in Glass 222
To Determine Gravel Channels 151
Boss Heads, Removing From Stems 151
Boulders in Drift Mines, Removing 151
Bounty on Lead, B. C 136
Bowen's Penetration Device. 88
Bradford-Carmicnael Process 72
Brandt Drill 3
Brass Casting 205
Zinc Utilization in 136
Braun's Heavy Solution 442
Brazing Solder 376
Breakers for Rocks, Capacity of 88
Breaking Ore, Cost of 306
Bridges, Suspension for Mexico 323
Briquetting Minerals 238
Britannia Copper Mine, Drills in 323
British Columbia Lead Bounty 136
Miners' Association 206
Broken Hill, N. S. W., Salt Cake Process 21
Bromo-Cyanide for Arsenical Ores 3, 409
Process 339
Bromine in Bittern 136
Bronzing Solder 376
Bronzite as Source of Serpentine 339
Bruckner Cylinder .' 376
Bucket Dumping 136
Elevator, Hoisting With 426
Handling in Vertical Shaft 442
Lines as Pulp or Tailings Elevators 120
Bullion Bar, Value of 358
Copper, Determination of Gold and Silver in. 189
Burning Petroleum, Products in 222
Burro Market 256
Butte Copper Mines, Gold in 104
Oxidized Copper Ores 426
C
Cables for Suspension Bridges 323
Cadmium Blowpipe Reactions 72
Effect on in Cyanide Solutions 120
Cages vs. Skips for Hoisting 272
Calcining Talcy Ores 169
Calcite Distinguished From Dolomite 222
Gold in 442
Calcium Carbonate for Cement Manufacture 289
In Cyanide Solutions 88
Sulphate, Testing Water for 409
California Crude Oil for Road Sprinkling 232
Bedrock Tunnels 21
Miners' Association. 206
Mining Laws 306
Oil Occurrence 223
Quartz Mines, Elevation of 205
Shaft Pulley, Laying Up 205
Stock Assessable 409
Tin Ores in 205
Topographic Survey in 72
Calorihc Power of Sulphur in Pyrite 222
Cam Lubrication With Graphite 136
Canadian Patent Law — 21
Candle Ends Causing Grease on Amalgamating
Plates 222
Canvas Plant Displaced by Classihers 3, 120
Canyon Ferry, Montana, Transmission Plant — 222
Cap, Attaching to Dynamite 3*8
Placing in Blasting 222
Caps, Best in Shooting Nitro-Powders 358
Capacity of Air Compressor 289
Page.
Carbon Dlsulphlde S06
For Steel Hardening 78
Vs. Nickel for Steel 289
Carborundum Output 35k
Carmlchael-Bradford Process 73
Cassell-Hlnman Process 339
Casslterite Occurrence MS
Cast Iron Contraction in Cooling
Casting Brass 205
Malleable .SOS
Caustic Potash for Cleaning Plates
Caving, Angle of SCO
Cement, Coloring 905
For Filling Iron Casting :;:-;
Ingredients £89
Manufacture of 188
Mortar, Sand for 169
Tanks for Chlorlnation Process 358
Cerium Phosphate 88
Chalcodlte and Cbalcocite ;<7
Chalcopyrite as Source of Copper Ore 872
Charcoal Blowpipe Reactions 72
Chaige of Ore for Mt. Lyell Furnaces 323
Charter Law or Arizona, Inducements of 188
Cheap Miners In South Africa 90S
Mining and Milling at Da! mat in Mlue 151
Chemical Formula Explanation BSD
Chert, Gold In 409
Chicken Ladders 409
Chlorlnation, Gold Precipitation in 876
Of Gold Carrying Llmonlte 169
Precipitation of Lead in 37
Tanks, Foundation for 120
Chlorite and Chloride 37
In Quartz 72
Mica 339
Chondrydlte as Source of Serpentine 339
Chrome Iron in California 442
Chromium for Steel Hardening 72, fc8
Occurrence and Concentration of 3
Chrysotlle and Chrysolite 37
Chuck Tender, Necessity for in Machine Drill-
ing 289
Churn Drill, Cost of Drilling With 3
Drill Denned 120
Chutes for Open Cut Mining 120
Slope Angle of 323
Cinnabar Ore Treatment at Socrates Mine 72
Reduction by Wet Process 136
Claim Adversing 120
Location, Boundaries 205
Location by Deputy Mineral Surveyor 325
Location in Forest Reserves 306
Location on Agricultural Land 256
Location, Fraction 72
Location, Necessity for Care in 151
Loca cions, Number of 238
Relocation by Stockholder 104
Claims, Mining, Where Can Be Located 3
Names of 823
Relocated by Watchman 358
Relocated, Forfeiture of Property on 169
Clarifying Slimes With Lime 238
Classiti cation Before Concentration 151
Classifiers Displacing Canvas Plant 3, 120
Classifying Tanks 169
Clay for Cement Manufacture 289
Cleaning Platinum 232
Tracing Cloth 222
Clearing Water With Lime 222
Clinometer, Improvised 222
Clogging of Grizzlies, to Prevent 21
Coal Carrying on Philadelphia & Reading R. R, 188
Dredging 426
Gas, Sustaining Power 222
In Alaska 188
In Idaho 222
Land Laws in Alaska 442
Mine, Anthracite, Deepest 120
Origin of 426
Outcrops 442
Vs. Oil 104, 205
Cobalt and Nickel 88, 104
Code of Civil Procedure 238
Of Signals for Imprisoned Miners 72
Coefficient of Elasticity 222
Coke, Determination of Sulphur in 223
Color of Gold 289
Colorado Magnetic Variation 376
Miner's Inch 205
Quartz Mines, Elevation of .205
Topographic Survey in — 72
Cold Countries, Flume Construction in 188
Coloring Cements 205
Columbium 136
Combustion Products of Petroleum 222
Companies, Laws Governing Mining 3
Compressed Air for Agitating Solutions 323
Air for Pumping . . 72
Compressor, Air for 3
Air Temperature for — 222
Automatic Starting 136
Capacity 289
Capacity From Indicator Cards 394
Change With Altitude 394
Underground 37
Comstock "Great Bonanza " 189
Ore Occurrence 3
Pipe Line Pressure 120
Rocks 339
Concentrates, Drying Before Shipping 323
Shipping 72
Smelting Raw 54
Concentration by Salt Cake Process 21
Care of Feed in 151
Coarse or Fine 136
Of Copper Ore 54
Of Roasted Ore, Ease of 54
Of Scheelite 136
Coarse, Water Required for 169
Concentrator, Amalgam Saver on 394
Handling 376
Tables, Overloading 442
Concrete, Blasting out 151
For Hardening Quicksands 151
For Collar of Shaft in Wet Ground 339
Foundations for Tanks 306
In Mining 426
Preventing Voids in 426
Specifications 188
Vs. Wooden Mortar Blocks 88
Conductors for High Voltage Currents 21
Contract for Lease Unaffected by Oral Agree-
ment 205
Valid 188
Work 151
Contraction of Cast Iron in Cooling 222
Contractor's Responsibility 188
Control of Single-Phase Motor 136
Conveyor Belts in Mine 120
Copper, Anaconda Low-Grade 339
As Carrier in Smelting 394
And Gossan 151
Blast Furnace, Air Pressure for 272
Bottom Process of Matte Refining 223
Detection 54
District, Oldest in Arizona 442
Effect on Assay Buttons 88
Effect on Cyanide Solutions 120
Estimation by Potassium Permanganate.... 188
From Mine Water 3
Largest Mass of Native 136
Mines of Butte, Gold In 104
Plates, Sizes for Amalgamating 222
Occurring in Quartzite 169
Occurring With Iron 238
Ore, Concentration of 54
Ore Derived From Chalcopyrite 272
Ores in Permian and Triassic Rocks 37
Ore, Cyaniding 136
Ore, Hydro-Metallurgy of 323
Ore, Oxidized at Butte 426
Ore Smelting 256
PAGE.
Ore, Unit of 3
Ores, Lowest Grade Worked 10»
Pipes for Preventing Corrosion of Acid
Wuters 3
Precipitation With Iron 151
Rock Association of 409
Smelting, Incrustations in 87
Sulphate for Clearing Water .394
Weld lng 188
With Iron
Corner Posts for Shaft Sets "....878
Cornwall, Tin In 205
Corrosion by Water Prevented by Copper Pipes. 3
Of Boilers Caused bv Oil .206
Cost of Breaking Ore 300
Of Diamond Drilling 358
Of Ditch Construction 104
Of Drilling With Churn Drill 3
Of Earth Excavation 222
Of Electric Power 169
Of Gold Milling in California 272
Of Mine Operation, Factors In 151
Or Mining 394
Or Mining and Milling, San Juan, Colo 206
Of Pan Amalgamation on Comstock 876
Of Pumping. Factors In 238
Of Rock Excavation by Hand 88
Of Smelting Copper Ore 256
Of Split Lagging 272
Of Stoping 256
Of Transportation by Wagon 238
Of Treating Ores in Stamp Mill 323
Crank Pin, Removing lbl
Creep of Belts 188
Cripple Creek Ores, Cy anldlng 169
Ores, Occurrence .358
Production 205
Cropplngs of Veins Deceptive 21
Crosscut Tunnels Continued Beyond Vein 238
Cross Fractures In Quartz Veins 151
Crosshead for Shaft Sinking 272
Crushing Capacity Increased by Concrete Block. 88
Economic Limit of 3
Rolls, Speed and Capacity of 37
Wet or Dry 109
Cry of Tin 409
Cryptoperth ite 88
Cupellation Loss With Telluride Ores ... 72
Current Velocity 3W
Wheels 37*i
Cyanate in Cyanide Solutions '222
Cyanide Assaying of Copper Ores 256
Effect on Silver 442
Kyanite and Syenite 37
Metals Affected by 120
Plant on Mine Dump 54
Precipitation, Removal of Slimes Before... 151
Process, Increasing Efficiency 37
Process, Patents on 169
Solution, Amount of Zinc for Precipitation. 104
Sodium vs. Potassium 189
Solutions Decomposed by Zincblende 104
Solutions, Electrical Precipitation of Gold
From 188
Solutions, Lime in 88
Solutions Protected by Oil 222
Tank Foundations 120
Tanks, Wooden 188
Treatment in San Miguel Co., Colo 189
Cyaniding Arter Roasting 21
Copper Ores 186
Decantation in 188
Effect of Copper Glance on 339
Ores Containing Arsenic and Antimony 3
Ores Containing Silver Chloride 306
Ores, Sunlight as Aid in 120
Slimy Ores With Salt Water 3
By Stark Process 3
D
Dalmatla Cheap Mining and Milling 151
Dam Construction 54
Construction to Avoid Undercutting 376
Damage in Case of Mine Trespass 306
Dampers in Ventilating Pipes 136
Dams, Mine 376
Danaite 88
Dap 272
Dead Roast 3
Debts, Partnership, in Mining 306
Decantation In Cyaniding 188
Delprat's Salt Cake Process 21
Denditritlc Infiltration 1 04
Depth of Shaft From Aneroid Barometer 37
Deputy Mineral Surveyors, Regulations Govern-
ing 323
Deepening Shaft While Working 426
Diabase 394
Diamond Drilling, Cost of 858
Drill in California 426
Drill Prospecting 256
Drilling in South Africa 289
Genesis of 120
Mines of World, Principal 442
Sources of 151
Localities in the U. S 88
Didymlum Phosphate 88
Dike 37
Influence on Ore Deposition 323
Vein Occurrence in 323
Dlopside and Dioptase 37
As Source of Serpentine 339
Dip and Strike of Veins, Change In 21
Discharge of Steam, Measuring 223
Discoloration of Mill Plates 37
Discovery Shaft Ore Unessential 205
To Support Placer Location 442
Distance Piece in Shaft Sinking 358
Ditch Construction Cost 104
North Bloomfleld 256
Divining Rod 54
Dolomite Distinguished From Limestone 222
Double Roasting of Silver Ores With Salt 21
Dow's Penetration Device 88
Drainage of Mine Cave-in 339
Tunnel Driving 21
Drawing, Meohanical and Freehand 222
Dredging, Bedrock Worked in California by — 104
For Coal In Pennsylvania 426
For Gold in Italy 289
Drift Made Airtight 223
Mines, Removing Boulders In 151
Drifting With Mach ine Drill 306
Drill, Brandt 3
Care of Machine 323
For Sampling 21
Heated by Oil Furnace 72
Holes, Placing of 120
Machine, Work Done by 169
Tempering for Hard Ground 151, 223
Drilling Decomposed Ground 3
Diamond 289
Necessity for Chuck Tender 289
Size of Steel for 222
Speed of Pneumatic Hammer 238
With Churn Drill, Cost of 3
Dry and Wet Mines 205
Battery Recharging 223
Crushers, Ventilating Fans for 339
Or Wet Crushing 169
Drying Concentrates Before Shipping 323-
Dual System of Chemical Formulas 323
Dump Location for Tunnel Site -06
Settling of 323
Dumping Bucket - 1™
Dust Chambers for Lead Recovery 222
(Continued on Next Page.)
459
Mining and Scientific Press.
December 30, 1905.
INDEX TO VOLUME XCI
(Continued From Preceding Page )
Page.
Duty of Nitro-Powder..... 3
On Lead 189
On Zinc 188
Dynamite, Thawing 2, 223, 409
Dynamo Used as Motor " 169
E
Earth Embankments, Shrinking of 54, 120
Excavation, Cost of 222
East Lode in California 394
Economical Power Installation for Mine 104
Elasticity, Modulus of 222
Electric Currents, Conductors for High Voltage. 21
Current, Effect on Magnetic Needle 169
Firing in Shaft Sinking 358
Firing of Black Powder 136, 358
Furnace, Life of 306
Lights in Mines 442
Power, Cost of 169
Electrical Generation, Theory of 206
Precipitation of Gold From Cyanide Solu-
tions 188
Transmission, Long Distance 205, 222
Electricity Generated by Steam Turbine 222
Electro-Chemical Equipment 222
Deposition of Gold 21
Deposition of Silver on Aluminum 238
Magnetic Separators 272
Static Leakage 222
Elevations of Quartz Mines 205
Elevators for Pulp and Tailings 120
Eminent Domain, Right of in Mining 409
Embankments, Earth, Shi-inking 51
Engineering, Safety Factor in 120
Enstatite as Source of Serpentine 339
Etching on Steel 409
Eureka Mine Yield 272
Excavation Cost by Hand 88
Cost With Pick and Shovel 222
Explosion at Findley Mine, Cripple Creek 2
Of Nitro-Powders 72
Explosive Force, Direction of 136
Storage of ... 136
To Lessen Fines 228
Extraction From Ores Balanced by Expenses ... 188
Extralateral Right of Apex Owner 104, 394, 409
F
Factor for Safety in Engineering 120
Fans for Mine Ventilation 72
Versus Compressors for Mine Ventilation .. .104
Feed Water Heating 238
Feeding a Furnace 206
Quartz Mill 289
Feldspar as Rock Forming Mineral 88
Fence Wire for Telephone 323
Ferrous Sulphate for Precip itating Gold 37
Fertilizer from Phosphates 256
Filling When Sloping in Wide Veins 54
Filter Press forTelluride and Arsenical Ores . . .222
Press Operation 223
Filtering Slimes Before Precipitation 151
Finely Disseminated Gold, Amalgamation of ..151
Fines, Zinc in from Extractor 222
In Blasting, Lessening 222
Firebricks in Furnace Construction 72
Fire Clay in Basic Furnace Lining j.205
Insurance of Oil Consumers 306
Flange Fittings for Mine Pipes 306
Flask of Quicksilver, Weight of 339
Flat Ropes Versus Round 272
Flooded Mine, Shaft Sinking Near 409
Mine, Unwatering 426
Float 306
Flouring of Quicksilver, Causes of 409
Flume Construction in Cold Countries 188
Flumes, Covering 151
Fluosilicate of Lead in Betts Process 222
Flux 3
Non-corroding 188
Fluxes for Assaying 189
Folds, Overturned 442
Forest Reserves, Locating Claims in 306
" Rock" 104
Formula, Explanation of Chemical 323
Foundations for Boilers 358
For Cyanide Plant 54
For tanks 120, 306
Frasch Process for Sulphur Mining 72
Fraction Location 72
Framing Timbers With Machines 120
Freehand Drawing 222
Fuel in Blast and Reverberatory Furnace Smelt-
ing 104
Fuller's Earth 88, 409
Furnace, Electric, Life of 306
Feeding 206
For Refining Zinc-Gold Slimes. .7 188
Lining, Basic 205
Fuse Precautions in Blasting 289
G
Galena Slag Roasting 222
Gallium 409
Galvanized Iron, Zinc Utilization in 136
Garland Mine, Colo 409
Garnets 88
As Gems 376
With Copper Deposits 21
Gas Engine Cylinders Cooled by Oil 189
Producer, Use and Manufacture 3, 358
Sustaining Power of 222
Geological Survey Work 72
Gems Produced in the United States 409
Generation of Electricity, Theory of 206
Glass, Bering Hole in . . . '. 222
Gold Alloy, Lead and Iron in 323
And Silver Determination in Copper Bul-
lion 189
Bearing Quartzite 169
Bullion, Cause of Iron in 54
Colors of 289
Dredging in Italy 289
Electro-Deposition of 21
Extraction at Johannesburg 222
Fine, to Recover from Mercury 21
Free with Copper Ores 442
In Calcite 442
In Chert 409
In Copper Mines of Butte 104
In Sandstone 104
Melting Point 222
Milling in California, Cost of 272
Precipitation from Terchloride Solution 37
Production, U S , 1904 104
Recovery from Iron in Reverberatory 323
Recovery from Magnetings 306
Recovery from Sea Water 358
Refining 358
Rock Association of 21, 409
Solubility in Hypo 88
Treatment, Effect of Limonite on 169
Volatilization, Rise of 289
Page.
Goldfield, Nev., Ore Formation 151
Gossan and Copper 151
Indications ." 442
Gouge, Relation to Vein 409
Grade Establishing, Simple 323
For Sluices in Placer Mining 37
Measurement 21
Granby Copper Smelter 222
Grand Canyon of Colorado Mineral Deposits 21
Granite Is a Mineral 409
Graphite as a Belt Dressing 222
For Lubricating Cams 136, 376
Recovery 289
Gravel Bank Blasting 120
Channels Determined by Boring 151
Prospecting with Bore Holes 339
Sampling 426
Gravity and Aerial Trams 136
Grease, to Remove from Amalgamating Plates. 222
Greasing Hoisting Ropes 376
Great Bonanza on Comstock '. 189
Boulder Proprietary 339
Grizzly Clogging, to Prevent 21
Grooves for Rope Transmission 54
Guides, Battery, Looseness of 289
For Running Ropes 88
Securing in Shaft 409
Gypsum, Soluble 323
H
Hand Jigs 376
Rock Excavation Cost 88
Hardening of Steel 3
Set Screws 188
Haulage, Undergroudd 442
Headframe Collapse 2
Destruction by Lightning 104
Headgates Cut by Water, Prevention of 104
Heap Roasting at United Verde 205
Heat Required in Steam Generation 183
Heating Drills with Oil Furnace 72
Feed Water 238
Heberlein-Huntington Process 72
Height of Mill 188
Highest Mine in America 409
Hill, Slope Angle of 409
Hoist Arrangement for Working Shaft 426
Hoisting Cables for Suspension Bridges 322
Cages vs. Skips 372
Rope, Flat vs. Round 272
Rope, Greasing 376
Rope, Size of 37
Rope, Wear of 104
Warnings Not Reliable 238
With Bucket Elevator 426
With Tail Rope 37
Holes, Placing of When Drilling 120
Honduras, Olancho, Mines 409
Horizontal vs. Vertical Engines. 394
Hornblende Alterations 306
Horn Silver Occurrence 442
Hornspoon 272
Horse Power Developed by Water 3
Equivalent .* 205
Necessary to Elevate Water 222
Water Required to Develop by Steam 169
Hubnerite as Source of Tungsten 88
Huntington-Heberlein Process 72
Hydraulic Mining, Cheap 256
Mining, First 136
Mining, North Bloomfleld 256
Hydraulicking to Clear from Ice 136
Uses of 409
Hydrochloric Acid Distinction of Dolomite and
Limestone 222
Hydro-Metallurgy of Copper Ores 323
Hyposulphite Precipitation 21
Hypo Solvent Power 88
1
Idaho Coal 222
Mining Association 206
Topographic Survey in 72
Impact Screens 169
Water Wheels 72
Inch, Colorado Miner's 205
Miners, H. P. Developed by 3
Incline or Vertical Shaft Question 54
Incorporation of Labor Unions 189
Incrustations in Copper Smelting 37
Indian Reservations, Mineral Locations on 442
Indicator Cards for Air Compressors 394
Indicative Plants 104
Inducements of Arizona Charter Law 188
Insurance for Oil Consumers 306
Intersecting Veins, Rights to 339
Invention Not Always Discovery 188
Iron Cement 376
Contraction in Cooling 222
For Copper Precipitation 151
In Black Sand 104
In Gold Bullion Cause of 54
Moulding, Sand for 21
Smelting 72
Smelting, Heat in 104
And Copper 289
Italy, Gold Dredging in 289
Jigs, Hand 376
Johannesburg Gold Extraction 222
Joplin, Mo., Zinc Ores, Prices of 3
Jumper 120
K
Keeve 88
Kennedy Shaft 169
Kyanite, Syenite and Cyanide 37
Labor Unions, Incorporation of 189
Labradorite 88
Laccolith 37
Ladders, Chicken . . .. 409
Ladders in Vertical Shafts. Platforms for 104
Lagging, Split 272
Lake View Consols 339
Lanthanum Phosphate 88
Largest Mass of Native Copper 136
Laws. States. Governing Mining Companies 3
Laying Up a Cam Shaft Pulley 205
Lazulite and Lazurite 37
Law, Mining, Books on 30G
Leaching Copper Ores 323"
Lead, Antimony, Estimation in 205
Blowpipe Reactions 72, 120
Bounty, British Columbia 136
Bullion Treatment by Betts Process 222
Importations, Manner of 189
In Amalgam, Effect of 88
In Assay of Zinc Ores 222
In Quartzite 169
Precipitation in Chlorination 37
Prices 205
Recovery in Dust Chambers 222
Red, Testing 205
Silver Ore Occurrences 72
Solder 376
Solubility in Hypo 88
Zinc Fields Surf ace Plants 136 |
Page.
Leadville, Colo., Diamond Drilling at 426
Early Hoists at 442
Lease Contract Unaffected by Oral Agreement . 205
Leases and Bonds, Recording 426
Leasers Performing Assessment Work 306
Le Chatelier Pyrometer 222
Lien of Material Men 223
On Improvement, Responsibility for 37
Lightning, Destruction of Headf rames by 104
Lime for Clarifying Slimes 238
For Clearing Water 222
In Cyanide Solutions 88
Limestone Distinguished from Dolomite 222
Limonite, Effect of on Gold Treatment 169
Lining, Basic Furnace 205
Linseed Oil Oxidation 223
Lixiviation for Silver Ores 54
Of Silver Ores. Compressed Air in 323
Locality Change Not Affecting Water Right . . .169
Location of Claim bv Stockholder 104
Of Claim, Discovery Shaft in 205
Of Claims in Forest Reserves 306
Of Dump for Tunnel Site 306
Of Fraction Claim 72
Of Mining Claim by Deputy Mineral Sur-
veyor 323
Of Mining Claims, Where 3
Of Placer, Staking Necessary in 188
Of Townsite Not Affecting Minerals 306
Of Water Right 169
Quartz Lode, Length of 358
On Patented Agricultural Land 256
Locations, Mineral Not Exempt from Assess-
ment Work 21
Mineral, on Indian Reservations 412
Number Held by One Person 238
Lodes in Placer Patents 205
Long Distance Electrical Transmission 205
Low-Grade Copper Ores 169
Lubricants, Graphite vs. Oil 376
Lubrication of Cams with Graphite 136
Lumber Seasoning 205
Lunches Underground for Miners 104
M
Machine Drill Air Consumption 37
Drill, Care of 323
Drill, Drifting With 306
Drill Holes, Deep 104
Drill, U-Bolts for 323
Drill, Work Done by 169
Drills in Missouri 323
Drills, Manufacture 222
Drilling, Necessity for Chuck Tender in 289
Madagascan Gold Mines 323
Magmatic Differentiation 54
Magnetic Separation 272
Magnesite 394
Magnesium, Detection of 120
Effect of Cyanide on 120
Magnetic Minerals ; 3, 409
Needle Affected by Electric Current 169
Variation in the U. S 376
Magnetings, Gold Recovery From 306
Malay Peninsula, Pahang, Tin in 205
Malleable Casting 205
Manganese, Metallic 21
Minerals 376
Vein Occurrence of 3
Maps of U. S. Geological Survey 358
Marble 136
Quarrying 72
Marcasite Distinguished From Pyrite 409
Masonry for Holding Swelling Ground 426
Material Men, Lien of 223
Matte Refining by Copper Bottom Process 223
Smelting Defined 272
Mechanical Drawing 222
Melting Point of Gold and Silver 222
Point of Rocks 376
Mercury, Adding Through Mortar 188
Effect on Cyanide Solutions 120
In Sectional Machinery 169
To Recover Fine Gold From 21
Metallurgy of Zinc, Origin of 54
Producer Gas in ' 21
Metals Affected by Cyanide 120
Metamorphism Not Indication of Ore Deposi-
tion 21
Of Rocks 104
Method of Mining, Selection of 151
Mexican Placers, Prospecting 151
Mexico, Mining in 2
Tin Mining in 188
Mica Percussion Figures 339
Distinguished From Selenite 442
Uses for 256
Varieties 88
Microcline in Rock 88
Microscope for Rock Examination .394
Mill, Amount of Water Necessary 272
Construction 394
Feeding 289
Height of 188
Plates, Changing Grade 376
Plates, Electroplating 205
Plates, Spots on 37,205
Plates. Thickness of 289
Power, Distribution 301
Power Required for — 358
Sampling 72
Tailings, Water Recovery From 442
Tube 120
Milling Cost, San Juan County, Colo 206
Costs, California 272
Costs, Factors in 323
Of Gold Ores . .. 205
Water for 37
Without Concentration 120
Millsjte Location.... ; 21,442
Mineral Locations on Patented Agricultural
Land 256
Locations on Indian Reservations 442
Location on Patented Railroad Land 358
Mineralization of Metamorphic Rocks 136
Minerals, Duty on 188
Mine Differentiated from Quarry 306
Operation, Factors of Cost — 151
Taxation in Nevada 289
Tunnel Water, Rights to 306
Water as Preventing Amalgamation 37
Valuation 188, 306
Miner's Inch, California 409
Inch, Colorado 205
Wages in South Dakota 358
Mining Claim. Timber Ownership 72
Companies, State Laws Governing 3
Cost, San Juan, Colo 206
In Mexico 2
Laws, Books on 306
Method, Selection of 151
Sulphur by Frasch Process 72
Minium 339
Missed Holes, Investigation of 3
Missouri, Machine Drills in 323
Surface Plants 136
Modoc County, Cal., Gold Discovery 238
Modulus of Elasticity 222
Mo.ybdenite, Minerals Resembling 394
Recovery ". 289
Molybdenum '. 205
For Hardening Steel 72, 88
Montana, Topographic Survey in 72
Law on Assessment work 442
Monazite 88, 394
Page.
Mortar Blocks, Concrete vs. Wooden 88
Permeability of 188
Plates, Copper for 222
Shifting, Cause of 323
Motor Control, Single Phase 136
Mt Lyell, Ore Charges at 323
Mt. Morgan Chlorination, Cement Tanks for 358
Muscovite 88
N
Names of Mining Claims 323
Natal 339
Nevada Mine Taxation 289
Mining Laws, Books Containing 306
Stamp Mill Cost in 1868 442
Topographic Survey In 72
Nickel and Cobalt 88, 104
For Steel Hardening 88
Versus Carbon for Steel 289
Niobium 136
Nitroglycerine Manufacture 206
Nitro-Powder, Duty and Use of 3
Powder, Explosion of 72
Powder, No. 1 and No. 2 21
Powder Thawing 2
North Bloomfield Hydraulic Mining » 256
Nozzle Pipe Discharge 136
Nova Scotia Shaft Sinking 289
O
Oakum for Calking Cyanide Tanks 188
Oil Burning, Soot Prevention in 222
Causing Boiler Corrosion 206
For Cooling Gas Engine Cylinders 189
For Protecting Cyanate Solutions 222
For Road Sprinkling 222
Furnace for Heating Drills 72
Occurrence in California 233
On Amalgamating Plates, to Remove 222
Smelting of Copper Sulphides 120
Use Affecting Fire Insurance 306
Vs. Coal 104, 205
Wells, Profitable 104
Olancho, Honduras, Mines 409
Oligoclase 88
One Camp Miner 358
Onyx 136
Open Cut Mining, Chutes for 120
Cut Mining, Scrapers in 120
Ore, Amount in Ton 358
Bin in Shaft 409
Chutes, Slope Angle of 323
Deposition, Influence of Dike on 323
Deposits Worked by Room and Pillar 37
Dressing, Steps in 409
Formation at Goldfield, Nev 151
" In Sight," Defined 222
Occurrence, Comstock 3
Passes, Timbers for 169
Oregon Mining Association 206
Oro Grande, Cal., Ore Occurrences 442
Oroya-Brownhill of Western Australia 339
Orthoclase Feldspar 88
Osmium 188
Outcrops Developed by Tunnel 104
Overshot Water Wheels 151
Oxidation of Linseed Oil 223
Oxidized Ore, Sampling a72
Oxidizing Roast 3
Oxygen Base, Acid and Salt 256
Pacific Coast Mining Papers 222
Packing Silver From Stonewall Jackson Mine. .238
Pahang, Malay Peninsula, Tin and Gold in 205
Pan Amalgamation, Cost of, on Comstock 376
Panamint Range, Method of Reaching 272
Panning Devices 272
Palladium, Use of 188
Paraffine Base Oil in Road Construction 222
Parting Gold and Silver 206
Partition for Raise 256
Partnership Debts 306
Passes, Ore, Timbering 169
Patent, Assessment Work on Claims Pend-
ing 120, 256
Assessment Work Pending 339
Law in Canada .21
Proof of Work for 409
Receiver's Certificate in Lieu of 358
What Constitutes Work for 120
Patents, Lodes in Placer 205
On Cyanide Process Modifications 169
Patented Railroad I and. Location of Mineral
on .358
Patenting Claims in Forest Reserves 306
Veins in Townsites 339
Pattern for Brass Casting 205
Pegmatite Dikes, Minerals in 394
Pelton Wheel, Power Developed by 238
Penetration Devices for Determining Asphalt
Quality 88
Penstocks Freed From Ice by Hydraulicking... 136
Percussion Figure 339
Permeability of Mortars 188
Permian Rocks, Copper Ores in 37
Petroleum 323
Combustion Products 222
For Protecting Cyanide Solutions 222
Residues, Solubility of 272
Rock Occurrence 426
Smelting of Copper Sulphides 120
Use Affecting Fire Insurance 306
Petzite 409
Phlogophite 88
Phosphates for Fertilizer 256
Phosphorus Poisoning, Antidote for 205
Pillar and Room Method, Danger in 37
Pipe, Advantage of Flange Fittings for 306
Pipe Discha ge at Nozzle 136, 1 88
Line Pressure on Comstock 120
Steel, Weight of 205
Weight of 339
Pitchblende and Pitchstone 37
Pittsburg Flux 223
Placer in Quartzless Region 238
Locating Salt Land as 442
Location, Discovery to Support 442
Location, Staking Necessary in 188
Location, Survey of 409
Mining, Ideal Bedrock for 104
Mining, Siberian 289
Mining, Sluice Grades in 37
Patents, Lodes in 205
Prospecting in Mexico 151
Plagioclases in Rocks 88
Plants, Indicative 104
Plate, Thickness for Batteries 289
Plates, Mill, Spots on 37
Mill, Electroplating 205
Surface in Gold Mill 272
Platforms for Ladders in Shafts 104
Platina 37
Platinum Cleaning 222
Effect on Cyanide Solutions 120
Occurrence 206
December 30, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
460
PAGI.
Plows anil Scrapers fur Ditch Construction .IW
Plug, Igneous 37
tie Hammer Drill for Sampling 21
limiting 828
■'losphorus, Antidote Tor 205
Porphyry 108
i in Occurrences B8B
Permanganate for Copper Estimation, 188
Vs. Sodium Cyanide ,.., .189
Portsmouth Harbor. Kock Work in 10*
Powder, Duty and U86 of B
Failure to Perform Work 889
ii i dllng in Mine UHJ
Storage 180
Power Developed bv Peiton Wheel 888
hutiun in Mill 806
From Current Wheels .. .. ...... 878
From Gravity Tramway 54
Required for in-. Slump Mill, Water 868
Transmission bv Hopes 188
Transmission by Steel Mm.- Shaft .... 328
Transmission Problem 189
To Hun Rock Breakers 376
i a i ion Boxes, Zinc 169
i m i [old From Chlorine Solutions 878
Of Gold From Cvanldc Solutions Electro-
lytioally 189
Pressure of Atmosphere Endurable 188
i )f Water 205
Prices Jopl in Zinc Ores... 3
i Gas in Metallurgy 21
'..i-.. i rse and Manufacture 8, 358
Prospecting Gravel Channels by Boring 151.:- 39
Mexican Placers ...151
With the Diamond Drill 258
Pulley for Belts 376
Of CamShaft, Laying Up .205
Pulp and Tailings Elevators 120
Pump. Handling Sinking 126
Pumping Acidulated Waters 37
Costs, Factors in 288
Horse Power Necessary for 222
Water for Mill, Long Distance 151
With Compressed Air "2
Pumps as Tailings Elevators 120
Purple of Casslus Test With Cyanide 205
Pyrite in Igneous Rocks .409
Production 72
Value of 323
Distinguished From Mareasite 409
Pyrltic Concentrate, Roasting 289
Smelting 3
Smelting, Calorific Power of Sulphur in . 222
Smelting in Altai Mountains 205
Smelting Without Copper 314
Pyrometer, Le Chatelier 222
Pyrrhotite, Sulphuric Acid From 409
Quarry Differentiated From Mine 306
Quartz as Rock Forming Mineral 88
In Basalt 376
Made Green by Chlorite 72
Mill Feeding 289
Not Cement for Granite 54
Origin of 339
Specific Gravity of 358
Values in Large Masses. 442
Veins, Cross Fractures in 151
Veins, Most Promising 323
Weight of 54
Quartatlon 206
Quartzite Distinguished From Quartz 169
Mineralized : 169
Quicksands Hardened With Concrete — 151
Quicksilver, Causes of Flouring 409
Feeding Guide - 136
Flask, Weight of 339, 376
In Sectional Machinery 169
Loss in Milling, to Prevent 376
Occurrences 323
Roasting in White-Howell Furnace 72
R
Radium Relation to Uranium 358
Railroad Grants, Mineral 37
Land, Mineral Location on Paten ted 358
Raise, Hints on Driving 256
Ra winding 409
Randsburg, Cal,, Mines 442
Reaction in Roasting Base Ore 54
Receiver's Certificate in Lieu of Patent 358
Reciprocating Engine, Time of Starting 188
Recording Bonds and Leases 426
Red Lead Testing 205
Redwood Best for Cyanide Tanks 188
Refining Granulated Gold 358
Matte by Copper Bottom Process 223
Salt 358
Tin in Tasmania 120
Relocated Claims, Forfeiture of Property on — 169
Relocation, Assessment Work of 151
Removing Crank Pin 151
Reservoir Building 426
Residues of Petroleum, Solubility of 273
Resistance 37
Reverberatory Furnace Construction 72
Furnace for Recovering Gold From Iron 323
Furnace for Smelting, Heat in 104
Rhodesia 339
Rhyolite Occurrence 376
Right of Eminent Domain in Mining 409
Of Way Necessity 120
Rio Tinto Copper Mines 72
River Channels, Ancient California 289
Road Grade Lines, Establishing 323
Sprinkling With Oil 222
Roast, Oxidizing and Dead 3
Roasting Arsenical and Antlmonial Ores 3
Base Ore, Reactions in 54
Effeet on Sulphides 169
For Cyaniding 26, 169
In Heaps at United Verde 205
Pyritic Concentrates — 289
Silver Ores With Salt 21
Sulphides, Effect of 206
With Salt, Volatilization Loss in 376
Rock Association of Gold, Silver and Copper — 409
Breaker Capacity 88
Breaker, Power to Run 376
Classification and Formation 169
Excavation by Hand, Cost of b8
Metamorphism 104
Work in Portsmouth Harbor 104
Rocks, Melting Points of 376
Rolls, Speed and Capacity of 37
Room and Pillar Method, Danger in 37
Rope Guides 88
Hoisting, Size of 37
Hoisting, Wear of 104
Transmission, Grooves for 54
Transmission, Long Distance , 136
Rosin in Alcohol as Non-corrod ing Flux 188
Poor Belt Dressing 222
Rotary Furnaces for Treating Quicksilver 72
Round vs. Flat Hoisting Rope 272
Running Ropes, Guides for 88
Rusting of Steel 256
Rutile as Source of Titanium 88
Pag*
Salt, Defined 879, BBS
Prooess 8]
In Boiler, Estimation of 205
Lands, Located ;is Placers ....442
Lands, Locution of 878
i 250
Refining B68
Kock ,.4Bfl
Water, Pressure in Boiler Safe With 358
Water for Set Ores 3
Sampling at Mill 78
Qravel ISA
Mine, Requisites for
Oxidized Ore 273
Responsible for Assay Errors 323
Under Floor ol Level :;.->
With Pneumatic Hammer Drill 21
Sanadlne in Rock 68
San Bernardino Co., Cal., Rook Salt In 120
San Diego Co., Cal., Tourmalines 839
Sand and Quartz, Weight of 54
For Cement Mortar 169
For Iron Moulding 21
Sandstone, Gold In lu4
San Miguel Co., Colo., Cyanide Treatment 188
Saw, Safe Speed of Running 120
Scheelite 88
And Wolframite Occurring Together 136
Concentration 1 36
Schist Distingutshe-1 From Slate «s
Scrap Heap, Uses of 37
Scrapers and Plows for Ditch Construction 104
In Open Cut Mining UjQ
Screen Discharge, Increasing 205
Screens, Shaking and Impact 1 69
Sea Water, Gold Recovery From Sjffl
Seasoning Lumber .205
Sectional Machinery. Mercury in 109
Selection of Mining Method 151
Selenite Distinguished from Mica 142
Separators, E lectro-Magnctic 272
Serpentine, Diamonds in 426
Mineral Associations 37G
Sources 339
Set Screws, Hardening 188
Settling Tanks 169
Water With Lime 222
Shaft Depth From Aneroid Barometer 37
Bell Cords in 151
Deepening While Working 426
Ore Bin in 409
Resetting Wall Plates in 169
Sets, Corner Posts for , 272
Sinking, Distance Piece in 358
Sinking, Extension Track for 142
Sinking, Electric Firing in 858
Near Flooded Mine ; .409
Sinking Record 289
Starting in Wet Ground 339
Timbering, Distance From Bottom 21
Vertical or Incline 54
Vertical, Platforms for Ladders in 104
Shafts, Deep 169
Shaking Screens 169
Shale Distinguished From Slate ■. . . 88
Shifter, Belt 21
Shrinkage of Earth Embankments 54, 120
Shipping Concentrates 72
Siberian Placer Mining 289
Side Lines of Quartz Location 358
Sight. Distance of 3
Signal Code for Imprisoned Miners 72
Silica as Cementing Material 54
Silver Attacked by Cyanide 442
Chloride Occurrence 442
Cyanide 183, 306
Lead Mine Changing to Copper 442
Deposited Electrolytically on Aluminum.. .238
Lead Ore Occurrences 72
Melting Point 222
Nugget, Largest 223
Ore, Amalgamation of 188
Ores, Lixiviation Process 54
Ores, Outline of Treatment 256
Ores, Roasting With Salt 21
Packing 238
Snroutlng of 222
Sulphide Insoluble in Hypo
Single-Phase Motor Control
.136
Safety Factor in Engineering
Salaries of Mining Engineers.
.120
.188
Sinking, Extension Track for 442
Pump, Handling 426
Siphon, Discharge Capacity of 394
Size of Claims in South Dakota 306
Skip Handler 394
Skips vs. Cages 272
Slag-Roasting Galena 222
Slags, Assay 88
Slate Distinguished From Schist 88
Slimes Clarified With Lime t .238
Filtering Before Precipitating 151
Treated by Hydraulic Clas^itiers 3
Slimy Ores, cyaniding 3
Slope Angle of Hill 409
Angle of Ore Chutes 323
Sludge Asphalt 223
Sluice Cleared of Ice by Hydraulic-king 136
Grades in Placer Mining 37
Smel ter Economy 1 20
Smelting Black Sands 205
Capacity of Furnace in 104
Copper as Carrier in 394
Copper, Incrustations- in 37
Copper Sulphides With Oil 120
Iron ?2
Matte, Defined 272
Mixtures 88
Pyritic, Conditions Governing 3
Raw Concentrates at Anaconda 54
Smuggler Silver Nugget 223
Socrates Mine Quicksilver Experiments 72
Sodium vs. Potassium Cyanide 188
Amalgam for Cleaning Platinum 222
Solder for Different Metals 376
Soft Ore, Stoping 120
Solubility of Minerals, Determining 323
Soot Prevention in Oil Burning 333
South Dakota, Size of Claims 306
Tin in 205
Wages of Miners in 3i8
South Africa, Cheap Miners in 2U5
Specifications for Concrete Mixing and Placing 188
Specific Gravity Determination, Heavy Solu-
tion for 442
Speed of Pneumatic Hammer Drilling 238
Spots on Mill Plates 87
Split Lagging 272
Spread of Tunnel Sets 442
Sprouting of Molten Silver 2-22
Square Sets, Bracing ■.. 289
Stack Lining to Prevent Corrosion 394
Stain on Mill Plates 205
Staking Necessary in Placer Location 188
Stamp Battery, Drop in Apron Plates 51
Milting, Important Considerations in 442
Milling of Gold Ores — 205
Weight of 169
Stamps vs. Tube Mill 426
Stanford University 20a
Stark Process of Cyaniding 3
State Laws Governing Mining Companies 3
Statements of Value Not Grounds for Suit 205
Steam Discharge, Measuring. 223
Generation, Heat Required in 188
Required to Develop 1 H. P 169
Turbine for Electric Generation 222
Steatite for Boiler Foundations 369
Pack.
Steel, Etching on 109
Nickel vs. Carbon 289
Rusting More Than Iron . . 858
And Iron. Welding Compounds for 205
As an Alloy
Hardening Elements
Hardening of
Line Shaft for Power Transmission
Pipe. Weight of
Size of for Drilling 222
Stems, Removing From Boss Heads 151
Sterilizers of Water 188
Stock, assessable in California .409
Igneous 37
Stockholders* Right to Relocate Claim 104
Stoking Boiler 358
Stone fur Boiler Foundations 858
Stones for Ore Grinding 376
Stoning In Wide Veins, Filling for 54
Soft Ores ISO
Without Timbers 258
Storage of Powder [38
Strain 822
Stream, Water Velocity in I0lt, 358
Stress . 222
Strike and Dip of Veins, Change In 21
Stripping, Advisability ol 104
Structure of Ore, Wall Rock Influence on. .. 339
Sulphate 3
Sulphur 54
Calorific Power in Pyritic Smelting 222
Determinatinn in Cuke 223
Mining by Fraseh PrOOBSS 72
Production 72
Source of 205
Sulphide 3
Ores, Effect of Roasting 169, 205
Sulphides From Llmoulte and Hematite in
Depth 169
Sulphuric Acid From Pyrrhotite 409
Sunlight as Aid in Cyaniding Gold Ores 120
Surfuce as Indicative of Mine Value 88
Plants of Zinc-Lead Fields 136
Rights of Mineral Owner 120
Survey of Placer Locations 409
Suspension Bridges for Mines 323
Sustaining Power of Coal Gas 222
Swelling Ground, Timbering In 426
Syenite, Cyanide and Kyanlte 37
Syphon Operation 339
Tail Rope System 37
Tailings Elevators 120
Ownership of 409
To Stop Loss in 376
Water Recovery From 442
Talcy Ores, Calcining I6g
Tamping, Placing 358
Tanks, Cement, for Chlorination Process 358
For Settling and Classifying. 169
Foundations for 12", 306
Wood Cyanide 188
Tappets Striking Cams 238
Tar Not Good Belt Dressing 222
Tasmania, Tin Refining in 120
Taxation of Mines in Nevada 289
Telephones in Mines . 205
Telephone on Fence Wire 323
Telluride Ores, Cupellation Loss in Assaying. .. 72
Ores, Extraction With Filter Press 222
Tellurium, Effect on Assay Buttons 88
Ore Treatment, Paper on 323
Temper, Uniform, To Secure 409
Temperature for Amalgamation 306
Human Endurance of 1R8
In Deep Mines 205
Increase With Depth 72
Or Air for Motor and Compressor 222
Tempering Drills for Hard Ground 151, 223
Testing Red Lead 205
Texas, Tin in 205
Thawing Dynamite 223,409
Thorium From Monazite 88
Timber for Tramway Trestle Cnnstruction '23
Framing Machine, Cheapness of 120
Ownership on Mining Claim 73
Stoping Without 256
Timbering. Bracing Square Sets in 289
In Swelling Ground 426
Ore Passes 169
Shaft, Distance From Bottom 21
Spread of Tunnel Sets in 442
Time of Starting Reciprocating Engine. . . 188
Tin-Bearing Veins Near Mt. Willis, Australia. . 21
Blowpipe Reactions 72
Cry of 409
In Malay Peninsula at Pahang 205
Mining in Mexico 188
Market 339
Mineral Occurrence 272
Ore Localities 205
Refining in Tasmania 120
Solder 376
Titanium for Steel Hardening 88
From Rutile 8d
Ton, Volume of Ore in 358
Tourmaline at San Diego Co., Cal 238
Townsite Patent Void for Mineral 306
Townsites, Patenting Veins in 339
Tracing Cloth, Cleaning 222
Track Extension for Shaft Sinking 442
Tram, Aerial and Gravity 136
Tramming. Number of Cars Per Man 339
Tramway, Power From 54
Transmission of Power by Long Distance Wire
Ropes 136, 222
Transportation by Wagon, Cost of 238
Transvaal 330, 376
Treatment of Auriferous Sulphides, Australia.. 5
Trespass, Mine, Damages in Cases of 306
Trestle Construction, Timber for ?23
Triasslc Rocks, Copper Ores in 37
Trip Rope for Dumping Bucket 136
Tube Mill 1^0
Mill vs. Stamps 426
Tungsten for Hardening Steel 72, 88
Minerals 358
Ore Market 376
Sources 88
Tunnel, Drainage of 7
Driving for Drainage 21
For Developing Outcrop 104
Length to Reach Vein 54
Sets, Spread of 442
Ventilation 358
Water, Rights to 306
Turbine for Generating Electricity 232
Turnplates and Turntables Underground 37
Turquoise 222
Mining in the United States 442
U
"TJ" Bolts for Machine Drills 323
Uintah Reservation Opening 136
Underground Conductors for High Voltage Cur-
rents 21
Haulage 442
Lunches for Miners 104
Unions, Incorporation of 189
Unit of Copper Ore 3
United Verde Mine 205
University Entrance. Age for 205
Of California ; . . .205
PACK.
rjnwaterlng Copper Mine 3
Flooded Mines 196
Cranium for Steel Hardening 88
Relation to Radium B58
rjseol Surface by Mineral Owner 130
rjtab, Topographic Survey In 72
Valuation of Assessment Work 3
OI Mine .., IBS, 806
Value of Bar of Bullion 858
Valve I tear, Air 222
Vanadium for Steel Hardening 88
Vegetation of Stiver
Vein. Apex BOfi
1 iroppfngs Deoepi Ive ■ 1
Occurrence in Dike 323
Relation of Gouge to |fj(j
Veins, Change in Strike and Dip . 21
Cross Fractures in , ,..1B|
Velocity of Water in Stream ni3
Ventilating Pipes, Dampers in 136
Fans for Dry Crushers 839
Ventilation, Amount of Air Required (or (86
Fans vs Air Compressors mi
Of Raise, 856
Tunnel 868
Verde Antique Marble 186
Vertical or Incline Shaft Question ,.. ,54
Shaft, Bucket Dumping at 136
Versus Horizontal Engines ;un
Volatilization Loss in Roasting With Salt 376
Of Gold by Heat 289
W
Wages of Miners in South Dakota 858
Wagon Transportation, Cost of 238
Wall Plates in Incline Shaft, Reset- ing 109
Rock Influence on Ore Structure 389
Watchman Relocating Claim 358
Watchman's Pay Not Assessment Work 222
Water, Amount Necessary for 5-Stamp Mill 272
Appropriation From Stream 409
Cutting Headgates, Prevention of 104
Clearing With Copper Sulphate 391
Discharged From Pipe Nozzle 136,188
For Blast Furnace 426
For Coarse Concentration 169
For Milling 37
From Mine as Preventing Amalgamation... 37
Handling in Mine 339
Horse Power Necessary to Elevate 222
Mine Tunnel, Rights to 306
Power From Current Wheels 376
Power Required to Run 10-Stamp Mill 358
Pressure 104 , 205, 339
Pumping for Mill, Long Distance 151
Recovery From Mill Tailings 142
Required to Develop 1 H. P. by Steam 189
Rights Unaffected by Locality Change 169
Settling with Lime 222
Sterilizers 188
Supply for Concentrator 376
Velocity In Stream 169
Wheel, Overshot 151
Wheel Power Increased 72
Watt 306
Wave Motor. 205
Wear in Hoisting Rope 104
Weight Change 5 Miles Above Earth 222
Of Copper Plates for Amalgamating 222
Of Quartz and Sand 54
Of Quicksilver Flask 339
Of Stamp Batterv 169
Of Steel Pipe 205
Welding Compounds for Steel and Iron 205
Copper : 188
Western Australian Dividend Paying Mines 339
Wet and Dry Mines 205
Or Dry Crushing 169
Process for Cinnabar Reduction 136
Wheelbarrow Handling Unprofitable 323
White- Howel Furnace. Quicksilver Roasting in. 72
Whiting System 37
Windlass for Prospect Shaft 394
Wire Rope Power Transmission, Long Distance 136
Wolframite and Scheelite Occurring Together. .136
As Source of Tungsten 88
Wooden Cyanide Tanks ..- 188
Versus Concrete Mortar Blocks 88
Working Ore Deposits with Room and Pilar
Method 37
Shaft, Hoist for 420
X-Ray for Determining Ore Values.
Zinc Blowpipe Reactions 72
Desulphurization 222
Dust 72
Duty on 188
Effect on Cyanide Solution 120
First Reduction of 54
Fume 238
Gold Slimes, Furnace for Refining 188
In Fines From Extraction 222
In Quartzite 169
Lead Field's Surface Plants 136
Necessarv for Precipitation From Cyanide. .104
Ores, Assay of 222
Prices of Joplin, Mo 3
Percentage in Ore 188
Precipitation Boxes 169
Separation From Copper Sulphide 54
Utilization '36
Zincblende 306,409
Decomposing Cyanide Solution 104
Index to Illustrations, Includ-
ing Patents.
Aerial Tramways 430
Africa, Sudan, Scenes in 167
Agitation Vat, Palmarejo. Mexico 139
Air Compressor Apparatus 102
Compressor, Hydraulic 331
Valves, Hydraulic Mining 94
Alaska Derricking Pi ant 142
Anvil Creek, Track and Incline 158
Open Pit Mining in 109
Pipe Line Construction 70
Placer Miner's Cabin in 109
Rocking on Beach at Nome 100
Steam Shovel Workings: at Anvil Creek 158
Alaskite District Croppings. Nevada 10
t Amalgamating Tables 89, 385
{Amalgamator 264, 368.401
Armored Hose ' °7
(Continued on Next Page.)
461
Mining and Scientific Press
December 30, 1905.
INDEX TO VOLUME XCI
(Continued From Preceding Page.)
PAGE.
f Assay Furnace 174, 213
Auburn Mine. Mesabi Range, Minn 246
Automatic Clutch Ill
fMine Door 31
Archer Mountain, Nevada 11
Audrian Lake 415
B
Balanced System of Aerial Transportation 430
Barrier No. 1, Yuba River, Cal , Completed 149
No. 1, Yuba River, Cal., in Construction 149
No. l, Yuba River, Cal.. Plan and Section.. 153
Bartlett Concentrator Table 3
Battery Stem Guide .345
tBelt Conveyor Mechanism 280
Big Echo Lake 415
Black Hills, S. D., Open Cut Mining 35
Blower 295
Bluenose Mine, Goldenville, Nova Scotia 286
Boiler Feed Pumps 212
Borax Town on Mohave Desert 396
tBoring Device 280
Bouldin Island, Cal., Pumping Plant 19, 28
tBreaker, Rotary 174
Breckenridge, Colo., Union Mill Flow Sheet 366
Brilliant Extended Mine at 2200 Level 428
Brine Circulating Pumps 212
British Columbia, Nickel Plate Mill 134,137
Broderick & Bascom "Wire Rope Exhibit 228
Broken Hill Concentrating Mill 41, 45, 46
Brush and Rock Dam, Yuba River 152
Bucket, Close-Cemented Dredger, Placed in Po-
sition 126
tDredger 280
Dumping Devices, Automatic 40, 264, 280
^Excavating 95, 385
tLoader for Aerial Tramway 174
Bunker Hill & Sullivan Cross Section 64
Cabin of Placer Miner in Alaska 109
Cactus Mine, Mill and Trestle. Utah 102
Mill and Trestle, Newhouse, Utah 102
Mill, Table Floor 110
Mine, Newhouse, Utah 102
fCage, Mine 8
Caribou Lode at 950-foot Level, Nova Scotia 327
tCaisson Air Lock Appam tus 17*
Calaveras Co., Cal , GravSl Channels in 170, 193
California Dredger, Modern 160
Callow's System of Ore Classification 449
Cameron Pumps 212
Condenser 279
Camp of Summer School Students. 203
Candle Stick and Match Safe 296
Cananea Copper Co.'s Concentrators 337
Copper Co.'s Dust Chambers 378
Copper Co.'s Smelter 356
Mexico, Electric Haulage at 356
Mexico, View of From Mesa 337
fCar, Device for Holding Check Upon 280
fDoor Lock 42
tDumping 31, 401
tOre Distributing 401
Caribou Undercurrent, Modified .276
Carrier, Self-Dumping 247
Carson, Lower Reservoir 62
Cement Burning Furnace 368
Centennial Copper Co. Hoist 225
Central City, Colo 344
Centrifugal Concentrator " 348
Ore Separator 331
Pump, 48 Inch 28
Wet Crushing and Grinding Mill for Quartz. 196
Champion-Providence Mine, California 86
Chicago Hose Coupler 279
Chollar 397
fChuck Roll Drill 385, 401
Clamp, Splicing, for Hose 102
fWireRope 416
tCJassifier, Hydraulic 286
Classification of Ore, Callow's System of 449
Clover Range, Nevada 407
Clutch, Automatic lit
■{■Compressor 8, 162, 213, 368
Comstock Silver Mine, Park City, Utah 19
Condenser, Cameron 279
Universal 263
tConveyor, Machine for Belt 280
On Dredger Tailings Stacker 126
-(■Converter, Finishing 416
tLining 128
f Concentrating Table 95, 385
Mil], Broken Hill 44, 45, 46
tConcrete Flume 243
fCoocentrator 42. 59, 144, 162, 196, 213, 264, 368, 401
Cananea Copper Co 337,342, 343
Centrifugal 348
Congress Mill, Congress, Ariz 440
tCoal Mining Art 144
Colorado, East Argentine District, Drainage
Tunnel 7g
Frisco, King Solomon Mine no
River, Bridge Spanning ^407
River, Near Needles 407
Transportation of Ore in ; .236
Waltham Mill, Idaho Springs 102
tCopper Extraction Process 42
tHardening and Tempering 8
Queen Smelter 225
tReflning Furnaces " "433
•("Converter 128
tCore Drill ' ' 174
Crib Dam Before Mining 149
Dam, Down Stream Face .152
Dam With Spillway [149
Cripple Creek Drainage Tunnel . . 291
tCrushing Apparatus 59, 80, 243 264, 310, 331,385 401
tRoll ...8, 112, 128, 196
Dam and Gates, Truckee River, Nevada . 52
Brush and Rock, on Yuba River 152
Brush Restraining, Method of Construction 154
Log Crib, Before Mining '149
Log Crib, Down Stream Face 152
Log Crib, With Spillwav 149
Darien G M. Co 219
Decantation Vat and Pump Connections ! 157
Derrick Oil Well ' 'ggg
Derricking Plant, Alaska 142
Desert Dry Lake in California !. .!! 396
KingCroppings, Alaskite District, Nev " 10
Irrigated Farm In 413
Development of a New Strike on the Desert 90
Diamond, Brilliant 163
Disintegrator ] gn
Dodiver Mountain Mill, Nova Scotia..... 286
tDrainage Apparatus for Ores '310
fDredger Attachment '4I6
fBucket " '28O
Buckets in Operation 141
Completed 141
Framework in Pit 126
Hull Completed and Gantries Up ..'.'.'. 125
In Construction 178
In Operation ...... . .... 178
Ladder, Frame and Rollers '......' " ' 125
tLadder Protection 264
Modern California .160
Placing Buckets in Position 125
f Suction " 162
Tailings Stacker 141
Page.
Tailings Stacker Drive 126
Tailings Stacker With and Without Belts . .156
fDredging Apparatus 368
fHydraulio Elevator for 280
fDoor, Automatic Mine 31
fCar, Lock 42
fMine, Operating Device 42
Drainage Tunnel, East Argentine, Colo 78
Tunnel, Cripple Creek 291
Drift Mine, Systems of Opening 191
Timbering Hidden Treasure 191
Drill Department, Ingersoll-Sergeant 185
fDust Layer for 95
{Feeding Device for 95
tHand Rock 31
tHollow Percussion 243
+Machine 296
tMaking Machine , 8
-(-Mechanism 80, 112
Murphy 210
tRock 144, 162, 196, 230
tDry Ore Concentrating Table -.213
Dumping Bucket Devices 40
Car 31, 401
Dust Chambers, Cananea Smelter 378
Chambers, Shannon Copper Co 378
tLayer for Drill ' . , 95
Egypt. Ancient Workings at El Hudl 324
Camels Drawing Wagon 324
Copper Mines Near Absciel 324
Grinding Quartz Mills, Ancient 320
Hieroglyphics on Rocks at Khoraeghi 320
Map of Southeastern 325
Miner Drilling 320
Prospect Shaft at El Hudi 321
Resting Place on Desert Road to Absciel 320
Temple of Philal 320
Sheiks 320
Um Garaiart Mines 320
View of Assouan on the Nile 320
tElectric Furnace 58, 348
Furnace, Heroult 307
Haulage at Cananea, Mexico 356
tHolst 31
Hoist, Automatic 379
tElectrolytic Refining of Silver 128
tElectro-Magnetic Ore Separation 31,59
Elevator, Triumph 432
tEnlarging Device for Drill Hole 128
tExcavating Apparatus 8, 174, 368
tBucket 95
128, 230, IUI
.331
.433
.367
. 56
.194
.366
tFeeder, Ore
tFeeding Device for Drill
Filter, Canvas
tMetallurgical
Press
Press for Slimes-
Fire at Goldfieid, Nev
Flow Sheet. Quincy Mills
Sheet. Union Mill, Breckenridge, Colo
tFlume, Concrete 243
Foundry, Ingersoll-Sergeant 185
tFurnace, Assay 174, 213
tCement Burning 36R
tCopper Refining 433
tElectric 59, 348
tFor Melting Steel 8
tGas Reheater 310
Heroult Electric '..'. ^307
tMetallurgical 59, 230. 243, 348
tOre Treating 42
fReverberatory 162
tRoasting 42, 80, 162, 174, 230, 264, 331, 385
fSlag 80
tSmelting 213, 264, 385
tSteam Boiler 213
■j-Zinc Smelting 80
Gallows Frame of Lodin Shaft 225
tGas Purifier 31
Engine Testing 443
*Rock Drill 451
Gasoline Motor Car 417
Gantries in Place on Dredger 125
Gilpin Co., Colo., Gregory-Buel Mill 344
Co., Colo., Ontario-Colorado M. Co 344
Glacial Valley, Colorado 330
Globe, Ariz., Old Dominion Mine and Smelter.. 423
tGold, Collector From Mercury 80
tSaving Apparatus 310,368
Golden, Colo., Dredger Cutting Into Gravel 392
Colo., Dredger, Front View 392
Colo , Dredger, Tailings Stacker 392
West Mine Cross Section, S. D 257
Goldfieid, Nev., Boiler Explosion 56
Nev., Hauling Ore 277
Nev., Fire 56
tGold Saving Machine 230
tSeparator and Concentrator 42, 385
tGrading Machine 264
Gravel Channels in Calaveras Co., Cal 171, 192
Greasewood Bush 397
Gregory-Buel Mill 344
tGrinder 80, 310
tGuide for Skip Cars 31
Frame for Stamp Mill 345
H
Hancock Jig m
t Hand Rock Drill 31
Harlem Tunnel, Pumps in 7
Hauling Ore, Goldfieid, Nev " .277
Head Frame 336
Frame atEsperance at Bonne Fortune Mine,
Belgium 432
Frame in Oregon ^445
Frame, Johannesburg, S. A 143, 159
Frame, Rectangular Four-Post 410
Frame, Steel, at Cornish Tin Mine 445
Frame, Steel, at French Mine 410
Frame, Steel, Over Temporary Wood 179
Frame, Two-Post 410
Frame. Two-Post, Leadville, Colo 445
Gear, Veracity Mine, Nova Scotia 313
Heading, Machine Miners' Driving 360
Hedley, B. C, and Nickel Plate Mill 134
Hieroglyphics on Rocks at Khorseghi 320
Helena-Frisco Mine Plan [_ 64
Hercules Mill, Burke, Idaho 39
Heroult Electric Furnace 307
Hoist, Automatic Electric 379
Centennial Copper Co.. 225
Electric 31
For Inclined Shaft ' 91
t Speed Control 95
Wellman-Seaver-Morgan 380
Honerine Mill 19
Hose Coupler, Chicago 279
Steel-Armored 107
Hungarian Riffle. Improved 276
t Hydraulic Air Compressor 331
t Elevator for Dredging 280
Mine, Nevada County, Cal 149
Mining Devices 94
1
Inclined Shaft, Hoist for 91
Induction Motor, Polyphase 58
Ingersoll-Sergeant Compressors 399, 417
Ingersoll-Sergeant New Plant 185
Irrigated Farm in Desert 412
Page.
Jig, Hancock m
tOre !!'"l44
Johannesburg, S. A., Head Frame 143, 159
Market Place 159
Tailings Wheel '.'.'.'.'.'.. 143
K
t Klin, Ore Roasting 195
King Solomon Mine, Frisco, Colo . 1 10
Klondike Rockers 107
Solomon Hill, Drifting Operations . 191
Knots ge
Ladder Frame and Rollers of Dredger 125
Lake, Harry - 414
Lake of the Woods, Sierra Region ...', 414
t Lamp, Miner's " '348
Level Party 202
tLining Converter 128
Little Echo Lake 414
t Lixiviation Process ...'.[ I433
Lock, Car Door [42
tLocomotive, Reel for . "", 213
Union Distillate 30
Lodin Shaft Gallows Frame ."219
Lubricator, McGill [ 194
M
McGill Lubricator 194
Machine Drill Operating In a Heading !""!360
Drill 35, 296
Miners Driving a Heading 350
tMagnetic Separator 31, 59, 2R0, 310, 331, 401, 433
Maisounabe Shaft 224
tMatte Converting Method - 128
Mercury Trap sg
Mesabi Range Milling Pit 216
tMetallurgical Furnace 59,230,243
Mexico, Cananea 337
Chihuahua, Rosario Mine *.!*!! 161
Mill, Concentrating at Broken Hill 44, 45, 46
First at Tonopah 3m
Hercules, Burke. Idaho 39
Hole in Open Cut, Montana 384
tMining 451
Nickel Plate, Hedley, B. C 134
Of Waltham M. Co., Idaho Springs, Colo 102
tPebble 31
Quincy, Flow Sheet of 195
Water Recovery Plant at ] 18
Mills in Yavapai Co., Ariz 440
tMine Cage 8
tDoor Operating Device 42
Miner's Washing Pan 230
Mining in Alaska With Open Pit 109
tMachine 213
Mohave Desert, Borax Town on 396
Moose River Mines, Nova Scotia 280
Mount Lyell Mine, Plan 41
Lyell Mine, Unconformity in 74
Mountains in Colorado 330
Murphy Drill 210
N
Nancy Hanks, An Original Engine 290
Nevada Co., Cal., Hvdraulio Mine 149
Tonopah 1
Truckee River ', 61
New Zealand, Waikino Mills 1
Nickel Plate Mill, Hedley, B. C 134, 137
Plate Tramway 137
Nissen Stamp 247
Nome, Alaska, Rocking on Beach at. 109
Nova Scotia, Beaver Hat Lode 328
Bluenose Mine 286
Caribou Lode 327
Fishing Settlement in 328
Goldenville 311
Government Building, Halifax 269
Interior Dodiver Mountain Mill 286
Map of Gold Regions 273
Moose River Mines , 286
Indian Harbor 311
Oxen Hauling Timber. 269
Outcrop Near Axis of Anticline 31 1
Waverly 269
Wine Harbor 311
Woodland Scene in 303
O
toil Well Derrick 296
Well and Its Details 443
tWell Pumping Rig 162, 196
Old Dominion Mine and Smelter 423
Ontario, Colorado, Mine 344
Open Cut Mining at Mount Lyell 374
Cut Mining, Flat Veins. South Dakota. 35, 70, 384
Pit Mining in Alaska 109
Ore Bodies of Tonopah 382
tConcentrator 59, 144
tFeeder 128, 230
tJig 144
tReducing Apparatus 95, 128
Transportation in Colorado 236
tTreating and Filtering Apparatus 95
-{■Treating Furnace 42
Outcrop in Nova Scotia 311
Outcrops of Veins 55
Pack Train Near Silverton, Colo 236
tPan, Miner's Washing 230
Panamint, Cal., Hauling Lumber Into 27
Cal., Mining Camp 27
t Panning Sluice Box 296
Pebble Mill 31
tPick 280, 348, 36S
Pipe Line Construction In Alaska 70
Riveting in 94
t Placer MachiDe 8, 144
Mines, Typical Scenes in 274
Miner's Cabin in Alaska 109
Mining, Pumping Water for 70
tPneumatic Rock Drill 230
Polyphase Induction Motor 58
Powder, Thawer 295
Prospector's Camp in High Sierras 253
tPickandAx 368
fPulverizer ■ 243, 451
t Pulverizing Mill 310
Pump, Cameron 212
Centrifugal, 48-inch 28
Compound Condensing 229
Cut Off, Automatic ^262
tOr Compressor 213
t Pumping Jack 59
Plant, Bouldin Island, Cal 19, 28
t Rig f or Oil Well 162, 196
Water for Placer Mining 70
Pumps in Harlem Tunnel 7
t Purifier for Blast Furnace Gases 31
Quincy Mills, Flow Sheet of 195
R
t Rabbling Device 416
Raise, Machine Drill Operating in 360
t Reel for Mine Locomotives 213
tReheater for Furnace Gas 310
Reverberatory Furnace 162
Rhodesia, Bonsor Mill 313
Tebekwe Mine 303
Veracity Mine Headgear 313
Wanderer Mine 313 |
Page.
Riffle, Improved Hungarian 276
Iron Grate \\ 312
Riveting in Pipe 94
tRoasting Furnace 42, 80, 162, 174, 230, 264,' 385
tKiln 196
Rock Boring Machine 433
Crusher 264,' 401
Drill 144, 162, 196, 230
Drill Attachment 128
fDrill, Gas 451
Drill, Hand ....".'..." 31
Rocker, Klondike "109
tRoll, Crushing 8, 113, 128,' 196
Rope, Transmission, Splicing 74
Rosario Mine, Chihuahua, Mexico ......." 161
Rowe Concentration Mill, Yak Tunnel 253
Ruby Range, Nevada 413
Samples, Arrangement to Facilitate 274
Tailings 294
San Juan G. M. Co. 's Tramw ay 431
Schockley antLParty [ "157
Scraper, Bottomless Steam ' ,127
Toothed 127
t Separating and Washing Apparatus .'.'.' 348
Attachments for Concentraturs.. 213
tSeparator, Magnetic. .31, 280, 310, 331, 401, 416, 433
t Ore .„ 416, 433
Settling Boxes, Water 293
Plant for Water at Congress, Ariz 118
t Shaft Lining 296
t Sinking Apparatus , , 296
Shannon Copper Co.'s Dust Chambers 378
Sheep Ranch Mine, Cal 12
Siberian Sluice and Undercurrents .292
Sierras, California, Glacial Lake in High 261
Sierra County, Cal , Sluices 73
Nevada, Prospector's Camp in 253
tSllver, Electrolytic Refining of 128
iSkip Guide - 31
Slag Furnace 80
lime Plant, Palmarejo, Mexico 140, 157
SlimesPlant Foundations, Palmarejo, Mexico.. 157
t Treatment ■ 144
t Separator .42, 401
Sluice and Undercurrents in Siberia 289
Box and Method of Anchoring 94
Box Panning , ,290
tMining 178
Sluices, Bunker Hill Mine, Sierra County, Cal. . 73
Showing Mud Box 276
Smelter, Copper Queen 225
tSmelting Furnace 213, 264, 385
South Dakota, Open Cut Mining 60
Cross Section at Golden West Mine 257
t Splash Plate for Stamp Mills 264
Splicing Clamp for Hose 107
Transmission Rope 74
t Stamp Mill 162
Steam Shovel, Pulling Up Device for 176
Shovel Workings at Anvil Creek, Alaska.. .158
Steel Head Frame at Cornish Tin Mine 415
Students' Camp 203
Stulls for Timbering Open Cuts 60
For Timbering Vein Walls 60
t Suction Dredger 162
Sudan, Africa, Scenes in 167
Sulphur Mining Process 243
Recovery Process 433
Summer School Students' Camp and Work 203
Supporting Tower of Tramway 430
Table Floor for Caotus Mill HO
Tail Box 89
Tailings Sampler 29p
Stacker 141
Stacker Drive, Dredger 126
Staoker, with Belt Conveyor 126
Stacker, Without Belt Conveyor 126
Wheel, Johannesburg, S A 1 43
Tension Station on Aerial Tram. 430
Terminal of Tramway 236
Testing a Gas Engine 448
Plant, Colorado Iron Works 450
Thawer, Powder 295
Timber Line in Colorado Rockies 330
Timbering Drift, Hidden Treasure. 191
In Open Cut 400
Tonopah, First Mill at ..361
From Mizpah Mine 1
G. M. Co.'s Mine 10
Nevada ." 381
Tower On Aerial Tramway 431
Triumph Elevator 432
Track and Incline Systems, Anvil Creek,
Alaska 158
Tram Road Near Cana 219
Tramway, Aerial, Building 431
Nickel Plate Mine, B. C 137
Upper Terminal 236
Transit, Mountain and Mining 426
Transmission Rope, Splicing 74
Transportation of Ore In Colorado 236
In Death Valley, Cal 413
Trap at Foot of Plates 274
For Mercury 89
Truckee River, Nevada, Dam and Gates 52, 61
fTungsten Steel Production Process 95
Tunnelling Method 80
U
Unconformity in Mount Lyell Mine 76
Undercurrent, Modified, Caribou 276
Union Mill, Breckenridge. Colo., Flow Sheet. . .366
United Verde, Jerome, Ariz 440
University of California Summer School Camp. 203
Utah, Cactus Mine, Mill and Trestle 102
Valve, Improved Generator 398
Self-Packing Steam Radiator 27ft
Vein Continuity, Uncertainty of 23
Outcrops 55
tVentilation, Mine 59
tVirglnia City, Nevada 407
W
Waikino Mills, New Zealand 1
Waltham Mill, Idaho Springs, Colo 102
t Washing and Separating Apparatus 348
t Washing Pan, Miner's 230
Water Recovery Plant at Mill : 118, 123
Settling Boxes 293
Settling Plant, Congress, Ariz 118
Waverly, Nova Scotia 269
Weighing Ore 236
Well Pump Attachment 196
Wellman-Seaver-Morgan Hoist 380
Wheelbarrow, End-Dumping 141
Wilfley Slime Table 260
tWire Rope Clamp 416
Rope Exhibit, Portland, Or 228
Wrench, " Bull Dog " 124
Yak Tunnel Mill 253
Yellow Aster M me Locomotive 30
Yuba River Barrier No. 1, Completed 149
River Barrier No 1, in Construction 149
River Barrier No 1, Plan and Section 153
River Brush and Rock Dam. . 152
Yucca Palm 396
Zinc Smelting Furnace.
Deoeubkb 30, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
15
AIR POWER PLANTS
FOR
MINING SERVICE
The illustration shows the air compressor
plant of the Franklin Junior Mine, Han-
cock, Mich. — A cross-compound, condens-
ing two-stage Ingersoll-Rand Corliss Air-
Compressor — Capacity 3400 cu. ft. of free
air per minute — Pressure 65 lbs. — Speed
SO R. P. M.
INGERSOLL-RAND CO.
INGERSOLL-SERGEANT DRILL CO.
Cleveland, O.
Pittsburg, Pa.
Boston, Mass.
Philadelphia, Pa.
11 LJroadway
NEW YORK
Chicago, 111.
St. Louis, Mo.
Houghton, Mich.
RAND DRILL CO.
El Paso, Tex.
Mexico City, Mex.
SHAW'S
AIR-HAMMER
THIS CUT represents our No. 3 Water
Machine complete except tank. This
machine can be used with air or water, or
without either. When used without either,
it Is used for stoping or any hole where the
chips will fall from hole without assistance
from air or water, and for this work uses
common cross steels without hole through
drill bit. In drifting or down holes it is used
on column and the drill bits have a hole
through them to either blow or wash chips
Trom hole. In soft or talcy ground it is nec-
essary to use water, and where dust is au
objection, can be used to. lay the dust. In
fact, there are provisions for any kind of
ground. This machine can be used with or
without column. Weight 150 lbs.
ECLIPSE
ROCK DRILL.
T
Write Us for Foil Information.
The C. H. Shaw Pneumatic Tool Co.
35th and Wazee Sts., DENVER, COLO.
W. C. HENDR1E, 26 CORTLANDT ST., NEW YORK CITY, N. Y.
COMPRESSED AIK MACHINERY CO., 24-26 FIRST ST..SAN FRANCISCO.CAL., PACIFIC COAST AOT.
TESTING A3%" EXCELSIOR DRILL
■*■ with ourcelebrated "AIROMETER," showing
86.4 cubic feet free air used per minute at 80 pounds
pressure. This drill has been sold after competi-
tive tests at the Homestake and many other large
mines in the TJ. S. during year 1904.
\A/C flCCCD <Cinn to any standard drill
"t Urrtn 3>IUU that this drill cannot
beat 25%. Send for particulars with official reports
of drill tests. -«S-Our drills are sold under absolute
guarantee to cost less for repairs and to cut more
ground than any rock drill so far made. Do you
want more drilling than you are getting? Do you
want an accurate Air Meter? If so, write
G. D. WARREN & CO.,
1 520 --18th St., Denver, Colo.
fHOWELLS AIR POWER DRILL
No. 2— For Medium Rock, Slate and Coal.
Just the thing to replace the hand drill
wherever there is an air compressor. En-
tirely self - contained. Easily carried by
one man. Any miner can operate it. It is
simple, well built, and never gets out of
order. In addition to our compressed air
drills we make thirty-five types of hand
machines. Our new catalog is full of infor-
mation. May we mail you a copy ?
H0WELLS MINING DRILL CO.,
Established 1878.
Plymouth, Penna.
Hardsocg Little Wonder Drills
IN STOCK,
Also ALL STEEL HOLLOW HEXAGON BITS.
Special Small High Speed Compressors
FOR THE HARDSOCC DRILLS.
RIX COMPRESSED AIR & DRILL CO., 396 Mission St., San Francisco, Cal.
Marvin Electric Drills Ei
have be
service for i
-MARVIN ELECTRIC DRILL COMPANY, Binghamton, N. Y.
16
Mining and Scientific Press.
December 30, 1905.
ALPHABETICAL INDEX TO ADVERTISERS.
(— ) INDICATES EVERY OTHER WEEK OR MONTHLY ADVERTISEMENTS.
f\ PAGE.
Adams, W. J ^
Additon, A. Sydney 28
^Etna Powder Co !3
Ainsworth & Sons, Wm 26
Alexander, C. B 26
Allis-Chalmers Co 18
Alta Sierra Gold Mining Co 21
American Diamond Rock Drill Co 14
American Injector Co 24
American Ore & Reduction Co 24
American Spiral Pipe Works 1
American Tool Works 30
American Well Works 13
Angels Iron Works 31
Asbestos Mfg. & Supply Co 29
Assayers' and Chemists' Supplies 26, 37
Assessment Notice 31
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe R. R. System 22
Atlantic Equipment Co 19
Atlas Car & Mfg. Co 33
Atlas Engine Works 31
B
Baker & Adamson Chemical Co 26
Baker & Hamilton 12
Baldwin Locomotive Works !9
Baird & Co., Henry Carey 7
Barnhart, A. D - ■3B
tf arnhart, Geo. W 23
Bartlettfe Snow Co., C. O 27
Baverstock & Staples 28
B. C. Assay & Chemical Supply Co —
Bennett & Sons & Co., Wm l
Best Manufacturing Co 32
Birch, Frank C 28
Blaisdell Co *
Wake Mining & Milling Co 25
Blauvelt, Harrington 28
Braun & Co., F. W 27
Brewer, Wm. M 29
Britannia Smelting Co., Ltd 24
rfroderick & Bascom Rope Co 23
Brown, Cony T 29
Brownell, James S —
Bucyrus Company 1
Buff & Buff Mfg. Co 26
Burlingame & Co. , E. E —
Bumham-Standeford Co 10
Burton, Howard E 28
cz
Cal. Hydraulic Eng. & Supply Co 31
California Debris Commission 24
California Head Gate Co 12
California Ore Testing Works 29
California Perforating Screen Co 7
California Powder Works 27
California Safe Deposit & Trust Co 21
Calkins Co., The 7
Cameron Steam Pump Works 7
Carterville Foundry & Machine Works 1
Cary Spring Works 10
Cassel Automatic Water Motor Co 22
Chalmers & Williams 1
Chicago & Northwestern Railway —
Chicago Pneumatic Tool Co 10
Chrome Steel Works 6
Church, L. C 28
Clement & Strange 28
Colorado Assaying & Refining Co 26
Colorado Iron Works Co 1, 17
Compressed Air Maohlnery Co 4, 21
Confidence G. M. & M. Co 21
Cook, A, D 23
Corliss Gas Engine Co 10
Crane Co 10, 19
CrippenMfg. Co., H. D 19
Crocker-Wheeler Co 11
Crosby Steam Gauge & Valve Co I
Currie, J. W 28
C vclone Drilling Machine Co 12
D
Davenport Locomotive Works 1
Davis Iron Works Co., F. M 9
Dearborn Drug & Chemical Works 33
De Golia & Atkins ... 25
De La Vergne Machine Co 26
DemingCo 12
Denniston's San Francisco Plating Works 24
Denver Analytical &. Assaying Co 29
Denver Balance Co 26
Denver Engineering Works 4
Denver Fire Clay Co .27
Denver Ore Testing & Sampling Co 29
Denver Tank Co 30
Dewey, Strong & Co 22, 24
Dietzgen Co., Eugene 7
Directory Mining Engineers, Assayers, etc. . . .28, 29
Dividend Notices 21
Dixon, Joseph, Crucible Co. 1
Dow Pumping Engine Co., Geo. E —
Draper, T, Wain-Morgan 28
Dunn, Russell L 28
Dye, James E 16
Eames Tricycle Co —
Eastern Machinery Co 12
Eldredge, E. R 22
Electric Blue Print Co 28
Electric Railway & Mfr's. Supply Co 32
Elftman & Cull 28
Engineers' & Miners' Merchandise Supply Co 29
Erman, Joseph C 28
Eureka Co 24
Fairbanks, Morse & Co 9
Falkenau Assaying Co., Inc 28
Page.
Flory, S., Mfg. Co 7
For Sale 16
Fremersdorf , W. F 28
Frenier & Son 33
Fresno Agricultural Works 14
Frost, Oscar J 12
Frue Vanner —
Fueller, C. M 28
Fulton Iron Works . 18
G
General Electric Co 11
German Savings & Loan Society 21
Globe Iron Works 33
Goodman Mfg. Co —
Goodyear Rubber Co —
Graphite Lubricating Co 12
Great Western Machinery Co 21
Gutta Percha Rubber & Mfg. Co —
H
Hall, Leon M 28
Hampton, Wm. Huntley 28
Hanks, Abbot A 28
Harmon, S. H., Lumber Co —
Hardsocg Wonder Drill Co 14
Harrigan, Jno 28
Harron, Rickard & McCone 34
Harvey, F. H 28
HaskinsCo., Arthur R 7
Heald's Business College 29
Hendrick Manufacturing Co 20
Hendrie & BolthofT Mfg. & Supply Co 1, 11
Hendy Machine Works, Joshua 17
Henshaw, Bulkley & Co 2
Hersey, Clarence 28
He witt-Carstarphen Co 28
Hills & Willis 28
Hoff , Jno. D 28
Holbrook, J. F 30
Hoskins & Co., Wm 26
Howells Mining Drill Co 15
Howlett, J. C, Machine Works —
Hunt, Robert W., & Co 28
Huntley, D. B 28
I
Ingersoll-Rand Co 15
Irving & Co., James 28
J
Jackson Machine Works, Byron 2
Jeanesville Iron Works 22
Jeffrey Mfg. Co., The 25
Jessop & Sons, Ltd., Wm 1
Jones, Charles Colcock 28
K.
Kennedy, J. C 28
Kerr, Mark B 28
Keystone Driller Co 1
Kilbourne & Jacobs Mfg. Co 33
Kinkead Mill 2
Kirby, Edmund B 28
Knight & Co —
Knox, Newton Booth 29
Kohlbusch, Herman 26
Koppel, Arthur 19
Kreider & Bro., Frank L 34
Krogh Mfg. Co 31
Lacy Mfg. Co 34
Lallie Instrument Co —
Lammers, Theo. L 29
Lamont, Eugene M 28
Lawrence, Thomas J 29
Leffel & Co., James 32
Leschen & Sons, A —
Leyner, J. Geo 1, 14
Lietz Co., A 26
Lidgerwood Mfg. Co -. 7
Lima Locomotive & Machine Co 19
Lindahl Mfg. Co 25
Link-Belt Machinery Co 23
Long, Frederic H 2S
Loring, Frank C 28
Luckhardt Co., C. A 28
Ludlow-Saylor Wire Co 20
LufkinRuleCo 26
Lunkenheimer Co 24
wi
Macdonald, Bernard 29
MacDonald Smelting Furnace Co 2
Machinery for Sale 21
Main Belting Co 29
Manufacturers' Idaho Scout 24, 29
Marion Steam Shovel Co 23
Marvin Electric Drill Co 15
Masurite Explosive Co 27
McMaster, D. J 21
Meese & Gottfried Co 30
Merle Co., A 25
Merrell Mfg. Co 29
Michigan College of Mines 24
Mine & Smelter Supply Co 5
Mines Finance Co 7
Miners' Assay Office 28
Mining Engineers 28, 29
Minneapolis Steel & Machinery Co 34
Moore & Scott Iron Works 30
Moore & Co., Chas. C 13
Morgan, A, F 16
Morgan, Donald R 29
Morse Bros. Machinery & Supply Co 25
Motter & Son, W. H —
Mountain Copper Co., Ltd 24
Mundt & Sons, Chas 12
Page.
Murray Iron Works Co I
Myers, George W 6
tN
Nason, R. N. & Co ..31
National Wood Pipe Co 30
Neill, James W 28
Nevada Metallurgical Works 28
New Western Reduction uo 24
Nicholson, Hudson H 28
Nourse, C. F 28
O
Ogden Assay Co 29
Olcott, Corning & Peele 29
Ottumwa Iron Works 7
Overstrom, Gustave A 28
F*
Pacific Tank Co 32
Parafflne Paint Co 21
Parker, Richard A 28
Pelton Water Wheel Co 22
Pennington, G. W., Sons, Inc 31
Perez, Richard A 28
Perrin& Co., Wm. R 25
Phosphor Bronze Smelting Co., Ltd 23
Pierce, L. S 29
Pioneer Roll Paper Co 25
Plate, H. R 28
Piatt Iron Works Co 25
Porter Co., H. K 19
Powell Co., Wm 24
Power & Mining Machinery Co 3
Prescott, Fred M., Steam Pump Co 31
Price Pump Co., G. W 10
Pritchett, C. W 28
Proske, T. H 1
Putman, H. J —
<P
Quaker City Rubber Co 30
F*
Rapid-Economy Stamp Mill Co —
Raymond Bros. Impact Pulverizing Co 12
Redwood Manufacturers Co 30
Renebome, Robt. H 29
Replogle Governor Works —
Richards, J. W 28
Richardson Scale Co 12
Rickard, T. A 28
Risdon Iron Works 6
Rlx Compressed Air & Drill Co 15
Robertson, Jas. L. & Sons 13
Robins Conveying Belt Co 1
Roebling's Sons & Co., John A 23
Roessler & Hasslacher Chemical Co 1, 26
Ruggles-Coles Engineering Co 27
s
Salt Lake Hardware Co 26
San Francisco Savings Union 21
Savings & Loan Society 21
Schaw-Batcher Co 30
School of Practical Mining 28
Second-Hand Machinery 21
S. F. Business College 21
Shaw Pneumatic Tool Co., C. H 15
Shaw, Richard C 28
S. H. Supply Co 21
Siebert, Frederic John 28
Simonds & King 28
Situations Wanted 16
Sizer, F. L 28
Smidth, F. L. & Co 32
Smith Co. , S. Morgan 32
Smith, Emery & Co 28
Smith & Co., Francis —
Smooth-On Mfg. Co 21
Spalding, E. P 28
Sperry's Flour 26
Standard Diamond Drill Co 14
Star Drilling Machine Co 12
Stephenson Mfg. Co 14
Stone & Brown ...28
Stow Flexible Shaft Co 14
Straus &Co., Louis 24
Stromberg-Carlson Telephone Mfg. Co —
Stroud, E. H. & Co —
Sullivan Machinery- Co .... 1, 14
T
Taooma Smelting Co .24
Taylor Iron & Steel Co 10
Thew Automatic Shovel Co 20
Thompson, F. W 26
Thome, W- E 28
Thurston, E. C 28
Tomlinson & Norton 28
Trenton Iron Co 23
Troemner, Henry 26
Trump Mfg. Co 12
Tyee Copper Co 24
Tyler Co., W. S 20
U
Union Gas Engine Co 22
Union Iron Works 10
Union Photo-Engraving Co 32
United Iron Works —
United Iron Works Co 12
Utah Mining Machinery & Supply Co 8
\f
Van Der Nalllen, A 28
Vulcan Iron Works, S. F 31
Vulcan Iron Works, Wilkesbarre, Pa 19
w
Wade & Wade ae
Wanted 16
Page
Warren & Co.. G. D 15
Weigele Pipe Works 22
Weld, Stanley B 29
Wellman-Seaver-Morgan Co. 9
Western Engineering & Construction Co 1
Western Forge Co...' 14
Western Fuel Co 12
Western Gas Engine Co 12
Westinghouse Electric & Mfg. Co —
Westinghouse Machine Co ll
Weston Eleotrical Instrument Co 29
Wheeler Co., Harry K 28
White, H, W 28
Whitman & Barnes Manufacturing Co 12
Wilkes, Wilkes & Wilkes 26
Wishon, W. W 28
Wood Drill Works 14
Wood, Henry E 28
Woodbury, Geo. E —
SITUATIONS WANTED.
9&- The cost of advertising m this column is 10 cents
per line of seven words per insertion. Answers for-
warded to any address without extra charge.
COMPETENT ASSAYER, FAMILIAR WITH
concentration and amalgamation, and wirb un-
derground experience, desires position. Address
A. R., this office.
CSPERIENCED ASSAYER AND CHEMIST DE-
^ sires position. Many years experience in the
best mines of California. Address "Assayer," this
office.
EXPERIENCED MILL FOREMAN SEEKS Po-
sition. Battery man, concentrator man, cya-
niding and assaying. References exchanged. Ad-
dress P. O. Box B, DeLamar, Idaho.
qualifications and testimonials to oversee
mines, stamp mills and cyanide plants, wishes em-
ployment with reliable company; 25 years' experi-
ence. At present engaged with large company as
mine and mill Supt and the erection of a cyanide
plant. Address E. R., this office.
POSITION WANTED BY PRACTICAL MINE
and mill Supt.; 25 years experience in Califor-
nia and Nevada. References furnished. Address
K J. J., this office.
POSITION DESIRED BY MILLMAN FAMIL-
iar with amalgamation and concentration.
References furnished. Address Box 48, this office.
PRACTICAL METALLURGIST WILL BE
open for engagement after Jan'y 1st. Has
thorough knowledge of hypolixiviation and treat-
ment of acid tailings by cyanide Speaks Spanish
and can furnish best of references. Over three
years in Mexioo with same employers. Address
F. K. L., care of Mining and Scientific Press.
WANTED— POSITION AS SnpT. OR FORE-
man, or will fill place of both; 35 years experi-
ence; familiar with mining of all classes, timber-
ing, machinery, etc. Best of references. T.E.W.,
this office.
WITB. MINING COMPANY TO LOCATE GOLD
Dredging, Placer or Copper Property. Ad-
dress F., this office.
YOUNG ENGINEER, COLUMBIA GRADUATE,
wants work. Mining, milling, engineering,
machinery or prospecting company, with chance to
prove merit by hard, faithful work. Address "Min-
ing," 1328 Marion St., Denver, Colo.
WANTED.
1
J
WANTED. — PLACER GROUND SUITABLE
for dredging purposes Large property pre-
ferred. Address, with full particulars, "Rialto,"
care of Mining and Scientific Press.
Wanted— A Low Grade Property
carrying low values in gold and copper. Prefer-
ably oxidized, and in location where conditions
make shipment to smelter prohibitive. Address
with full particulars, "Refractory," this office.
Wanted— By Pittsburg, Pa., capital
a Developed Gold Mining Proposition
in California, with or without Reduction
Plant.
Must stand test by practical men as represented.
Give details in full. Best of references furnished.
Address A. F. MORGAN, 815 Jay St., Sacra-
mento, Cal.
r
FOR SALE.
T
JV
COMPLETE MINE AND MILL EQUIPMENT FOR
SALE— A BARGAIN.
Comprising: Double Reel Water Power Hoisting
Engine, capacity 2500 ft.; 2-iOO ft. IV Cable, 1500 ft.
1" Cable; 3 Skips, 1% tons; Water Tank; Sheaves,
Pulleys, Water Distributors, Cut-off. 11 H. P.
Donkey Engine, double cylinder 20-Stamp Mill,
Frue Vanners, Ore Feeders, Cars, Tools, Drill Press,
Burleigh Drills— all in first-class condition. Apply
JAMES E. DYE, Jackson, Amador Co., Cal.
December 30, 1905.
Mining and Scientific Press.
19
Baldwin Locomotive Works.
BROAD k NARROW GAUGE
Single Expansion & Compound
Mine, Furnace and Industrial
LOCOMOTIVES.
Electric Locomotives
with Westlnghousc Motors
and Electric Trucks.
BURNHAM, WILLIAMS & CO., Philadelphia, Pa., U. S. A.
CABLE ADDRESS-"BALDWrN," PHILADELPHIA.
Don't Forget
I
that we make all classes of locomo-
tives weighing from 5 to 50 tons.
Any practical gauge.
VULCAN IRON WORKS
WILKES-BARRE, PA.
Pacific Coast Representative,
r N. B. LIVERMORE & CO.,
RIALTO BUILDING. SAN FRANCISCO.
Light Locomotives.
STEAM and
COMPRESSED
AIR.
INDUSTRIAL LOCOMOTIVE.
AIR LOCOMOTIVE.
Compressed Air for Underground or Hazardous Surface
Haulage— Most Economical. Dependable, Safe and Satis-
factory. Illustrated Catalogue on application if mine
owner or official. Address, mentioning this paper.
H. K. PORTER COMPANY,
N. W. CORNER
WOOD & SIXTH,
PITTSBURG, PA.
ARTHUR KOPPEL
— COMPANY = —
DEPT. 6.
66-68 BROAD STREET, NEW YORK.
618 MOSADNOCK BI.K., CHICAGO.
WE ARE MANUFACTURERS OF
Narrow Gauge Railway Materials
OF EVERY DESCRIPTION.
WE CARRY IN STOCK:
Rails, Steel Ties, Portable
Track, Permanent and Port-
able Switches, Turntables,
Crossings, and a Large Stock
of Standard Types of Steel
and Wooden Dump and Flat
Cars.
WRITE FOR CATALOGUE F.
ORE MINE DUMP OAR
DUMPING ALL AROUND.
1322
SHOES
AND DIES.
WQKB
ESTABLISHED 1 85 5
&
Box Electric Drill.
Showing Model 6 Drill Mounted on Cross-Bar, this size operates on 1^ H. P. and has
cutting capacity equal to a 3" Air or Steam Drill using 8 H. P.
BOX DRILL SAVES 6 4 H. P.
OUR MODEL 7 STOPING DRILL
Has no Equal, operates on :,' H.P. and Weighs only
140 Lbs., including Motor.
THE BOX DRILL is the Most Durable,
Efficient and Economical Rock Drill on the market. Motor is
attached direct to Drill Body, thus doing away with Flexible
Shaft. No springs are used in operating mechanism.
Write for Catalogue BD 10.
JACKSON HAND POWER DRILL
will drill hardest rock. One
or two men will accomplish
work of three to six men
using hammers. Heaviest part
weighs 100 lbs. Total weight
145 lbs. Especially adapted
for use in isolated districts,
and for operation by unskilled
labor. Made entirely of steel
and guaranteed against break-
age for two years. May be
mounted on tunnel column,
shaft bar or tripod.
Write for Catalogued 17.
H. D. Crippen flanufacturinp; Co.,
Sole Manufacturers,
25 BROAD STREET, NEW YORK, U. S. A.
.
£
i^L
.w"™^ ■ H 1
r/.^ae^WW^^^^^rW^I^VaKWWV^M'S^^
w
14:
SPECIALISTS IN LOCOMOTIVES
We've been building them for a third of a century, paying particular
attention to the types of locomotives required for engineering
and mining operations.
The illustration shows a \ ^m "We also build
SHAV GEARED gr^r-^ ^llft 1 (\ n Saddle-Tank and
LOCOMOTIVE, Jgg kySftt Mogul Locomotives,
and many other kinds
of the direct - con-
nected type. Send for
catalogues Nos. 10 & 13
containing details.
THE LIMA LOCOMOTIVE &■ MACHINE CO.
111S. MAIN STREET. LIMA. OHIO, U. S. A
m
winner of the Gold Medal
at the Louisiana Pur-
chase Exposition.
Especially adapted
for grades and curves,
M
New Steam and
Compressed Air
MINE LOCOMOTIVES,
STEAM SHOVELS AND DREDGES,
Built by the AMERICAN LOCOMOTIVE COMPANY.
REPAIRED LOCOMOTIVES AND CARS— ALL TYPES AND SIZES.
RELAYING RAILS AND BRIDGES. IMMEDIATE SHIPMENT.
Ill Broadway, NEW YORK. ATLANTIC EQUIPMENT COMPANY, Railway Exchange, CHICAGO
The Classified Index on Page 20 shows who make and furnish the kind of machinery you want.
20
Mining and Scientific Press.
December 30, 1905.
BUYERS' DIRECTORY.
ALPHABETICAL INDEX TO ADVERTISERS PAGE 16.
FAGE.
Air Compressors 1.10, 12, 14, 15,34
Alternators li
Amalgamated Plates 7, 24, 25
Amalgamating Pans 32
Asbestos 29
Assayers 12, 26, 28, 29
Assay ers' and Chemists' Supplies 7,26,27
Assessment Notice 32
Attorneys, Patent 22, 24
Balances, Assayers' 12, 26, 27
Ball Mills 9
Battery Stem Guide 31
Belt Dressing 14
Belting 29
Blue Prints and Supplies 7
Boiler Compounds 33
Boiler Covering 29
Boilers l« 30
Books • 7
Boots and Shoes 29
Bossheads 6
Brass Goods, Cocks, Valves, Etc 1, 10, 19, 24
Brokers, Mining Land and Stock 7, 26, 34
Burners %&> 37
Bushings 13
Cableways, Suspension 23
California Debris Commission 24
Callow Settling Tanks 8
Cams 6
Candlesticks, Miners' 25
Cars, Dump, Mine and Ore 19, 33
Car Wheels 19. 33
Castings 1, 14, 30, 31
Cement 13
Check Register System. 22
Check Valves 1
Chemicals 1, 26, 27
Chemists 33
Chilian Mills 3, 9
Chrome Steel 6
Clothing, Miners' and Engineers' 29
Coal and Coke Dealers 12
Coal Cutting Machinery, Etc 25
Colleges, Engineering 22, 24, 28, 29
Concentrators 17
Conveyors I, 25, 30
Copper Producers and Dealers 24
Crucibles, Graphite, Etc 1, 26, 27
Crushers 2. 3, 4, 9, 12, 18, 25, 32
Cupels 1, 26, 27
Cutting Machines 29
Cyanide 1, 26, 27
Cyanide Plants 21, 30, 32
Cyanide Vat Excavator I
Cy aniding Machinery 7, 32
Dividend Notices 21
Drafting Materials 26, 27
Dredgers 20,23
Dredging Machinery 1, 20, 23
Driers, Mechanical 27
Drill Steel 1
Drill Makers and Sharpeners 1, 4, 11
Drills 12, 15, 18, 19, 25, 34
Drills, Air 14, 15
Drills, Core 14, 15
Drills, Diamond 14, 15
Drills, Electric 14, 15, 19
Drills, Hand 14, 15, 19
Drills, Placer Mining 14, 15
Drills, Rock 1, 14, 15
Dynamite 13, 27
Ejectors 24
Electrical Instruments 29
Electrical Machinery Supplies 11, 18
Electric Hoists 3, 7
Elevating Machinery 23, 25, SO
Engineers 1,9, 13
Engines, Gas and Gasoline 3, 9, 11, 12, 22, 26
Engines, Oil 3, 9, 22, 26
Engines, Stationary Steam 1, 11, 12, 13, 31
Engineering Instruments 26
Explosives 13, 27
Feed Water Heaters 25
Feed Water Purifiers 33
Filter Presses 21, 25
Fire Brick and Clay 12
Fittings 19
Flour 26
Forcings 6, 14, 30, 31
For Sale 16
Friction-Clutches 12
Furnaces, Assayers' 23, 27
Furnaces, Roasting 2, 3, 5, 10, 18
Furnaces, Smelting 2, 5, 10, 18
Fuse, Caps, Etc. . . .■ 1, 13, 27
Gaskets 21, 30
Generators 11
Gold and Silver Plating 7, 24, 25
Gold Separators 29
Graphite 12
Grinding Machinery 32
Head Gates .,.12
Hoisting Engines 3, 7, 9, 10, 30, 34
Hose 30
Hydraulic Engineers 1, 11
Hydraulic Machinery 30
injectors 24
Iron Workers 1, 32, 30, 34
Jigs
Kinkead Mill.
Lead, Pig 24
Link Belting 23, 30
Locomotives 1, 13, 25
Locomotives, Distillate 22
Locomotives, Electric l, 19, 25
Logging Engines 30
Lubricants , ], 12, 31
Machine Works 1, 17
Machinery for Sale 21
Magnetic Separators 12
Manganese Steel 10
Masurite 27
Metal Dealers 24, 25
Metric Weights 26
Mine and Mill Supplies 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
12, 13, 18, 30, 34
Mines Finance Co 7
Mining and Milling Machinery. . .1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,
9, 10, II, 12, 13, 18, 30, 34
Mining Hoists 7, 9, 10, 12
Mining Engineers, Metallurgists, Etc 28, 29
Mining Schools 21, 28, 29
Motors ; 11
Oil Pumps 24
Oil Well Supplies 1. 12
Ore Purchasers 24, 25
Ore Separators 25
Ore Separating Processes 29
Ore Testing Works 29
Packing and Pipe Covering 12,13,29,30
Paints l, 21
Perforated Metals 7, 12, 20
Phosphor Bronze 23
Photo-Engraving 32
Pipe 1, 3, 22, 30, 34
Pipe Threading and Cutting Machines 29
Placer Mining Machinery 12, 14, 15
Pneumatio Tools 10
Portable Houses .10
Portable Saw Mills 31 , 34
Power Transmitting Machinery 30
Prospecting Drills I, 12, 14, 15
Pulleys 12, 30
Pulverizers 2, 3, 4, 9, 12, 18, 25, 32
Pumps 1,2,7,10, 12,18,22,31,33
Pumping Machinery l, 2, 7, 13, 18, 34
Quarrying Machinery 1
Quartz Mills 3, 9, 30
Quicksilver 24
Railways 22
Railway Materials 19
Railway Supplies and Equipment 19
Road Scrapers 14
Roll Shells 10
Rolls, Crushing 4
Roofing and Building Paper 21, 25
Rubber Goods 30
Sand Pumps 33
Savings Banks 13
Scales and Balances, Assayers' 12, 20, 26, 27
Screens, Mining 7, 8, 9, 12
Second -Hand Machinery 21
Settlers 21
Shafting so
Shoes and Dies 6, 14, 30, 31
Shovels, Steam i( 20
Situations Wanted jq
Smelting and Refining Works 24
Smelter Supplies 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11,
12, 13, 18, 34
Springs, Steel \q
Stamp Mills 9, 30, 34
Stamp Stems 6
Steam Gages 1
Steam Power Plants 13
Steam Specialties 1, 24
Steel 6, 10
Steel Frames for Buildings, Etc 34
Steel Tapes 26
Surveying Instruments 26, 27
Tailings Buyer 29
Tailings Stackers 1
Tanks 30, 32, 34
Tape Splice 26
Tappets „M Jx.
Traction Engines „\ , . .32
Tramways, Wire Rope 23
Transits 26
Turbines 9, 11, 12, 18, 22, 32
Valves 1 , 10, 24
Voltmeters 29
Vulcanized Fiber 32
Wanted 10
Water Motors 22
Water Power Equipment 9,18, 22, 32
Water Wheels 9, 18, 22, 32
Well Drilling Machiner y 1 , 12, 23
Well Supplies 1,12,23
Wire Cloth 7, 12, 20
Wire, Wire Rope and Cables 23
Wrenches 12
Zinc Dust and Shavings^ . . .7, 27
- ■*■ ■>■
-■■lav
■ ■■ ■ ""
■ a ■ ■ ■
■ ■>■#■
■'■■>■ ■
"The Tyler"
Double Crimped
Wire Cloth and Screen
is made in all meshes and from any metal.
Send for Catalogue "C".
■ ■'■■'
a ■<■ ■
' ■' ■ ■ ■ ■
■ ■ m
1 ■'■'■'■'<
■ ■' ■ ■' ■
m u m u
■ ■ ■ ■ ■
■ .»■ ■ ■
Cleveland, Ohio.
■ ■ ■ ■ a
■ ■'■ ■ ■
P okS 1 &X
DOUBLE CRIMPED -*i|
MINING SCREENS"
WE MAKE A SPECIALTY OF THESE GOODS FOR THE
MINING INDUSTRY. Send for Catalog 31.
The Ludlow-Saylor Wire Co*'
| ST. LOUI9. mo. i
AGENTS: Mine & Smeller Supply Co. Denver, Salt Lake, El Paso.
HAVE YOU SEEN OUR
NEW PERFORATED SCREEN CATALOG?
if Interested send your address. It's the most
comprehensive brochure on mining and other
perforated plates that has yet been pub-
lished. Profusely Illustrated.
Screens for Every Mining Use
as also for Railroads, Contractors, and all
special purposes.
Inquiries promptly answered. Samples on
request.
Hendrick Manufacturing Co.
Carbondale, Pa.
The THEW STEAM SHOVEL
For Handling Gravel, Clay, Broken Ores, Tailings or Stripping
into Wagons, Cars, or Sluice Boxes.
OPERATED BY ONE MAN. SWINGS THROUGH COMPLETE CIRCLE.
Write for Catalogue.
The Thcw Automatic Shove! Co., - - Lorain, Ohio.
v i*T»mM ■ -imim I'l^iii jhwh'mh ■ urn noiammmm^rf , - ^<^z>-~. _
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