been attracted towards it. During the last few months work has been recommenced on several old ledges, and many new ones have been discovered. Quartz claims are now held in high estimation, and the quartz business is looked upon as the chief source of the future prosperity of the country.

The only steam quartz mill in the county is that owned by the Spring Valley Q. M. Co. which runs eight stamps, and to which arastres are now being added. This mill was erected in 1852, but has remained idle most of the time since until within a few months. The facilities of the company for raising, transporting and crushing their rock are such as are not often surpassed. We believe there is also a mill near Cherokee Flat, another owned by Beaumont & Gummet on Oregon Gulch, and one owned by Smith & Parks at Columbiaville. The latter are running six arastres, and have a very excellent vein, toward which they are running an adit, at great expense, which has already been driven 300 feet.

Several companies are at work on different ledges with arastres, some of which are doing remarkably well. Nesbit & Simmons have four arastres in operation, and have an excellent ledge. White, Nutter & Co., run two arastres, which are paying largely. Messrs. Derrick & Co., are also running two arastres, with good results. These companies are all, we believe, in the vicinity of the Feather River Table Mountain, about twelve miles northerly from Oroville.

Mr. J. H. Dubois, Messrs. Briggs, Crawford & Co., and Messrs. Williams & Packard, have lately discovered and opened what so far appear very valua

ble veins.

Nevada County.-Three new mills have been commenced in Grass Valley the past month. One by Messrs. Layton & Rush, on Wolf Creek, directly opposite the Empire mill. Eight heavy stamps will be put in, which will be driven by steam. The mill will be pushed forward with all possible diligence. Messrs. L. & R. have been among the most successful quartz operators in Grass Valley, and we are pleased to note their determination to remain permanently among us, and contribute by their industry and capital to the further development of the resources of this place.

The second by Messrs. Woodworth & Co., on the Wisconsin lead, near Allison's Ranch, which will also be driven by steam and will run six stamps. This mill will probably be in operation in about four weeks. They have an extensive and very promising ledge. The engine and all the castings of this mill are to be made in Grass Valley, at the foundry of Messrs. Dickenson & Clarke. The mill is located directly upon the vein.

The Mount Hope Co. (formerly Rocky Bar) have determined to remove their present engine and pump from where it is now located to another portion of the vein, where it is needed, and supply its place with a much larger pump, and an engine of sufficient power to drive a set of stamps, which will be forthwith erected on the site of their present works.

The new works in process of erection at Allison's Ranch are about completed. The shaft has already been driven to the depth of eighty feet. We anticipate some splendid results when they commence taking out rock from their shaft. This company do not propose to erect stamps at present, but will haul their rock as heretofore to some other locality to be crushed.

The mills generally in this place are doing well. We have elsewhere made mention of some important results of quartz mining in Grass Valley, which have been developed during the past month.

Placer County.-A correspondent of a Placer paper, writing from Doty's Flat, says: "At the present time quartz mining is receiving considerable attention in this vicinity, and so far has been very successful and remunerative to those engaged in it. We have now some twenty arastres in successful operation, but they have not yet fully tested the various leads they are working. The three belonging to Messrs. Jeffry & Cox were cleaned up on Saturday last, after being run six weeks, and yielded twenty-six hundred dollars.

The quartz was taken from a ledge running east and west on the dividing ridge between Ophir and Doty's Flat."

Much of the quartz in that neighborhood pays from $50 to $60 a ton.

We understand there is a new mill in progress of erection about a mile north of Oro City, in this county, but have not learned the names of the proprietors.

In the vicinity of Oro City, near Auburn, a great number of arastres have recently been erected, to test or work many of the veins. Some fifteen or twenty are already in operation; and many more will soon be put up. Some of them are paying very largely. From one near Gold Hill 40 oz. of gold was recently taken, the result of five days' work from selected rock. Our informant assures us that 400 lbs. of rock per 12 hours is an ordinary day's work. They are driven by mule power,and usually put up in clusters of three or four. One man, standing in the centre, can easily feed and attend to four. Four arastres will reduce 1600 lbs. of quartz, which with rock that will yield $25 per ton, is very good pay.

By a letter from one of the proprietors of the mill at Sarahsville, in this county, forwarding us a number of subscribers for the Journal, we learn that the Company there is doing very well. They use the revolving stamps, of which they have twelve, weighing 480 lbs. each. They started in July last, and have been running regularly, day and night since that time, with very satisfactory results. Accompanying their letter was a couple of specimens from their vein. The specimens certainly present a very fine appearance, and give indications of a very rich lead. We have placed them in our cabinet.

El Dorado County.-The Placerville American of June 21, says: "Dr. Stanley has been successfully engaged in quartz mining at Grizzly Flat for the last four years. Commencing with but little means, he has gradually worked himself into an extensive and lucrative business, and will soon have largely extended arrangements completed for a still more vigorous prosecution of his enterprise. And yet, with no desire of monopoly or exclusiveness, he frankly asserts that other opportunities of equal promise lie open and unimproved in his immediate neighborhood, for such as have the enterprise to seize upon them. Although three new mills will be in operation next fall, it can hardly be said that even these will lessen the chances for still further equally promising investments in the immediate vicinity of Grizzly Flat, in this county."

Calaveras County.-We learn that the proprietors of the famous Carson Hill mine, in this county, Messrs. Roe, McLane & Co., are now engaged in the erection of a mill upon their lead. They are putting up a mill with a capacity sufficient to reduce 25 tons per day. Will use stamps and arastres. This mine is one of the most celebrated in the State. It was opened in 1851. Soon after its discovery it was leased to a party of Mexicans who worked it at halves. $406,000 were divided the first year. Since that time the proprietors have been trying to negotiate for its sale to a company of foreign capitalists. They have been unable however to make satisfactory terms, and have now concluded to put up machinery on their own account. One of the proprietors was in Grass Valley recently for the purpose of witnessing the plan of our mills and the mode of working adopted here.

We learn that the mill near Mokelumne Hill, in which Samuel Purdy, late Lieut. Governor, is largely interested, has recently been started up anew under flattering auspices. About $20,000 were taken out in the month of May. The mill until recently has been idle since 1852. We should be pleased to be put in possession of the name of this mill, with the Directors, &c., so that we may enter it in our "Mill Directory."

Messrs. Clark & Gass are putting up a new mill at Rich Gulch, five miles from Campo Seco. Their machinery arrived on the ground a few days since. They have a very promising vein from which good returns are expected.

Tuolumne County. One of the papers published in this county, says: "It is with pleasure that we notice some of our foremost citizens turning their attention to quartz mining. Developments that have generally been made

during the past two years, have clearly demonstrated that mining in quartz, in this county, if properly conducted, is likely to prove one of the most lucrative employments. We have many good veins, which need only be worked properly to add greatly to the wealth of the county.

We understand that Messrs. Heslep & Co., are about constructing a quartz mill, on Wood's Creek about one mile below Jamestown, for the purpose of crushing the quartz from their mine in Quartz Mountain, which has proven to be very rich. The enterprise is no doubt a precursor to others, having for their object the development of our vast resources.

Amador County. Our friends in Amador have not kept us posted with regard to their progress the past month. We have merely incidentally learned that they are doing well there as usual, but are greatly troubled for lack of water. Amador stands second to no county in the State, except Nevada, in her quartz mines.

Santa Cruz.-A very important quartz discovery has been recently made in this county, which promises remarkable results. About a year since a party engaged in working upon the banks of a small stream in this county, about six miles from Santa Cruz, accidentally discovered beneath the roots of a large tree a highly auriferous quartz vein very much decomposed. A company was formed and a mill erected, which was put in operation last spring. The rock has proved very rich, and has stimulated farther researches, until it is now ascertained that a region of gold-bearing quartz exists for some ten or twelve miles in length by three in breadth, which according to the Santa Cruz Sentinel, from which we gather these particulars, is traversed throughout its whole extent with innumerable veins, some of which are known to be exceedingly rich, and all of which contain more or less gold. The Sentinel gives a list of 23 Companies which have taken up claims in this district, several of which have made very considerable progress in the development of their claims. The gold obtained from this region is heavily alloyed with silver, and is worth only $13 50 per ounce. We shall watch with considerable interest the further development of this new mining locality.

PLACER MINING.

The present has been throughout the State generally, a season of unparalleled prosperity among miners. Water was never more abundant or cheaper. Immense operations are going on all over the State in hydraulic and other washings, and every where with the most favorable results. The miners in all directions are gathering golden harvests of the precious ore. The immense reservoirs of snow which have been piled up among the mountains the past winter, are just beginning to liquidate beneath the genial rays of a summer sun. Notwithstanding the labored efforts in certain quarters to prove to the contrary, there can be little doubt that the recent heavy shipments of gold are mainly attributable to the fact of its greatly increased production. We regret that we are compelled to make our own neighborhood almost the only exception to the general rule of prosperity in placer mining. Grass Valley at the present time seems to be most unfortunately situated. With immense auriferous placer deposits all around us, known to be rich, we are still almost totally deprived of that indispensable element of prosperity to the miner water. The worst feature too in the case is, that there is very little prospect of immediate betterment of our condition in this respect. Many have looked with earnest hope to the construction of the South Yuba Canal, as a source of supply. That work is now rapidly drawing towards a completion, but we are told by the managers of the concern that it will be useless for Grass Valley to look to them for a supply of water. It is considered doubtful eveu whether Nevada will be to any considerable extent directly benefited by the enterprise. So rapid has been the development of the mineral resources of the country which is traversed by that ditch, it is thought now that the entire quantity of water taken from the Yuba by it, though filling a canal six

feet wide by four deep, with a large fall, will be needed by the miners above Nevada. Of course it will be the aim of the proprietors to dispose of their water to the nearest buyers, as the further they carry it, the greater their loss by leakage and evaporation.

In view of these facts, it behooves the citizens of Grass Valley to make some other arrangements to secure the needed supply. We have heard a number of projects mooted, but nothing seems to be done beyond talking about it. Will not some one make a determined move in the matter. We have men among us whose property and business would be doubled in value by the introduction into our town of a plentiful supply of water. We have surveyors and engineers who are abundantly able and competent to make the preliminary surveys, and to carry on the work to a successful issue. Will not our property men take hold of the matter? If an early move is made, water can be obtained; if we delay much longer, the water which at the present time is free will be diverted to other channels, and the opportunities which are now presented will be lost for ever, at least to the present generation. Again we ask who will move in the matter? We pause for a reply.

AN EXTENSIVE FLUME.

An extensive Flume.-Mr. A. S. Hart & Co. have purchased the river claim in front of the town of Oroville, Butte Co., and are about to commence turning the river at a point nearly opposite the Orleans Hotel. The flume will be thirty-five feet wide, six feet deep, and three thousand feet longprobably the most extensive in the State.

KENT'S APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING GOLD.

Patented in the United States, Great Britain, France and Belgium.

Shortly after entering upon my official duties as Melter and Refiner in the United States Assay Office, it was my ambition to discover a more effectual method for separating gold and silver from foreign substances than any which had been hitherto employed. Having an abundant and constant supply of material, I had facilities for effecting this object, which enabled me to investigate the subject in the most thorough and practical manner. The result of this investigation was the invention of the apparatus herein described, the first of which has been constantly in use at the United States Assay Office in New York, since August 1st, 1855. One of them has been subsequently introduced into the United States Mint at Philadelphia, where it has been in daily use since April 1st, 1856.

The most striking peculiarity of this invention is, that so large a proportion of the gold can be separated by specific gravity alone. During the first six months of its use 9,333.66 ounces of gold and silver were separated by it, and of this large amount, 9,110,66 ounces (which is 97.6 per cent, of the whole) were obtained from the "Separator," which is that portion of the apparatus in which the separation is effected by specific gravity in a high column of water, without the use of mercury. The specific gravity of quartz is 24, iron pyrites 5, and of gold nearly 20. The finest particles of the precious metal are, therefore, nearly eight times heavier than those of quartz, and four tim heavier than those of iron pyrites. Consequently when these, or other substances containing gold, are suspended in a high column of water, the gold which is the heaviest, falls to the bottom, and with a gentle current of water passing through the apparatus, the earthy substances, which are lighter, and the sulphurets, when re-crushed sufficiently fine, are carried away, and the gold remains.

Although gold is nearly twenty times heavier than water, it will sometimes float upon the latter, and is then called "floating gold." This is due to a repulsion of the fine particles of gold and water, which temporarily overcomes

VOL. VII.-7

the law of specific gravity; but it occurs only when the gold is dry on the surface. If a needle be wiped dry and placed lightly on the surface of water, this also will float, and become a floating needle; but let the fine particles of gold or the needle, become once wet, they will each obey the law of specific gravity, and fall to the bottom.

The principles involved in the action of the "Gold Separator" are based upon the theory described above. The ore (which has been previously crushed as fine as possible) is first agitated with water, by feeding it into the hopper or "Grain Separator," in which the gold which has been liberated by the previous crushing, is separated and retained. The earthy portion of the crushed ore is carried thence into the centre of the column of water in the submerged Chilian mill, in such a manner as to prevent the finest particles from floating upon the surface of the water, in which, as in the case above mentioned, the gold is separated and falls to the bottom, in obedience to the law of specific gravity. The heavier particles of earth or ore, which are those containing gold, also fall to the bottom of the mill, by virtue of their specific gravity, where they are ground under the water in which the finer portion is suspended by the agitation of the wheels, the gold falling to and remaining at the bottom, while the earth is carried away by the current of water; and as daily practical operation has proved nearly 98 per cent. of all the gold is thus saved by specific gravity alone, and without the use of mercury, by the "Gold Separator" above described.

The principles involved in the action of the "Amalgamator" are based upon the following theory:-It is well known that gold, when clean, readily amalgamates with mercury: but if the particles of gold, or the surface of the mercury, are dirty, there is a repulsion of the particles similar to that above mentioned, in the case of floating gold, and consequently dirty gold, such as is found in all native ores, and particularly in auriferous pyrites, cannot be entirely separated by amalgamation alone. Every gold miner will bear evidence to this. But dirty gold is nearly as heavy as clean gold, and consequently it can be separated by specific gravity upon the principles above mentioned; and when the particles of gold thus separated, and the surface of the mercury are both cleaned, as in this apparatus by the double action of wooden paddle wheels, the final separation of the gold may then be effected by amalgamation.

It is also well known to gold miners that when the mercury used for amalgamation is broken up, or divided into small globules, these cannot be made to reunite when dirty; and consequently a large quantity of mercury as well as gold is lost, in most of the amalgamators heretofore invented. With the apparatus herein described, this is not the case. The mercury is not agitated or broken up by stirring, and the high column of water above it prevents it from being carried away by the sand, consequently the mercury is saved in the same manner as in the separation or saving of gold by specific gravity. After six months daily and constant use of this amalgamator, no diminution of the quantity of mercury originally used was observed; and by carefully rewashing five barrels of tailings which had previously passed through it, only a trace of mercury was obtained.

It will be observed, that the earthy substance or crushed ore, when once supplied to this apparatus, is subjected to three separate, distinct and successive operations, all of which are based on scientific principles, and applied to the metallurgy of gold in the following manner:

1. The crushed ore is first supplied to the hopper or grain separator, in which it is agitated with water, and subjected to an operation which verv nearly resembles hand-washing or panning, which is familiar to all gold miners; but it is much more perfect than hand-washing, and instead of being performed by hand, is effected by the aid of machinery, so as to avoid manual labor, and perform a much larger amount of work. By this operation alone, all the gold that can be saved by hand-washing or "panning," is separated at once, without abrasion or loss.