The Sun.
London, England, 1852-10-26 00:00:00

QUARTZ 61liliglIING IN CALIFORNIA.

By the last aiviccs from San Francisco, bearing date
the 3 ist Angela, it appears that the most remarkable
feature at present to be fonnd in the gold-producing
interests of that country is the great and constantlyin-
creasing use of quartz-crushing engines. So short a
time has elapsed since gold was first discovered in such
hitherto unknown quantities, that it is easy to recal to
mind the various slow and progressive steps of science
in aiding the unpractised efforts of the miner in these
remote but forttielate regions. At first the roughest and
most common impieeeients wore employed in the reduc-
tion of the rock ; aftervcerds (tame the use of quick-
silver; then the amalgamatt:e, wherein this metal was
applied upon new principles ; and, lastly, great
crushing-mills have been brought 12 to operation;
which have considerably increased tht: yield of
gold. Some of the largest of these are endowed with
an energy which enables them to reduce to powder 1:0031
40 to 45 tons of rock per diem. Machines of this side
comm only employ from 20 to 24 men. The largest to
be Beet with are about Nevada, in which region, when
fortune is occasionally propitious, the amounts of gold
extracted are almost incredible. On ono occasion, after
a 48 hours' trial, one of these mills turned out an
amount of gold equal in value to 6,400 dole. This re-
suit. was said to have been a larger yield than the mill
had before given, though it had been worked on the
same spot over six weeks ; and it was partly due to the
crashing power of the mill itself, and partly to the use
of a new amalgamator, numbers of which have been in-
vented lately, and have attained a high pitch of per-
fection. It is impossible to read these accounts from
California without feeling that even now we are
only on the threshold of that mine of wealth which
will presently be developed under further and more
improved appearances of science. The quantity of
rock crushed by the mills above described is defi-
nitely stated, but the number of horse-power employed in
the operation is not named. We are only able to form
a rough idea of the power from the context; and the
fact that they are spoken of as " great" crushing mills,
and that ono of the "largest" reduces to powder from 40
to 45 tons of rock per diem, induces as to suppose them
of no ordinary size, averaging, perhaps, from 20 to 60
horses. Such ponderous and expensive machinery as
this cannot long hold possession of the gold districts;
they must soon give way before more portable and effec-
tive contrivance. In a trial made a few days shim with
one of Bagg's new patent steam-stamps (and upon :he
accuracy of our statement our readers may rely), no less
than 40 tons of coarse metal were crushed by a smai!
4-horse engine in 12 hours, though the steam entering
the cylinder was considerably less than the power of two
horses; 26 tons out of this quantity were reduced to a fine
powder, and carried at once to the calcining furnaces;
the remaining 14 tons were broken by the engine into
amen pieces, the sits of a ralnut; and were passed
through a pair of rolls, in order to afford a com-
parison of effect. Although the rolls were work-
ing with a power of six horses, and that the metal
was half crushed when delivered to them, they were
unable to dispose of the 14 tons within the same period
of time-12 hours ! These facts speak for themselves,
and will, doubtless, have an eff,ot upon those who are
now expending large sums in the purchase of crushing
machinery of a more antiquated and less effective cha-
racter. One of the principal gold companies. who have
recently adopted the new patent stamps, will effect, ac-
cording to their own calculation, a saving of many thou-
sand pounces per annum, in dispensing entirely with the
enormous amount of hand labour now required for re-
ducing the large blocks of quartz to a size sufficiently
small for the ordinary stamp heads.
We also observe that one of Mr. Baggs's engines is
advertied in another column for forthcoming exhibition
in London; and the fact that it is to be erected and
brought into practical operation at the new reduction
works of Messrs. Johnson and Matthey, at
would seem to afford proof of the estimation in which
its capabilities and usefulness are regarded by men of
the highest practical standing in the mining world.
In addition to these improvements for reducing the
rock to powder, we happen to be ourselves cognizant of
a new and most effective invention for the extraction of
the gold therefrom, the particulars of which will in due
time be made publ.c. What effect these advances in
science will exercise upon the gold-producing districts of
California and Australia it is no very difficult matter to
prognosticate.—Mining Journal of Saturday.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

NEW RAILWAY PROJECTS.

STROUD, CANTERBURY, AND DOVER.—This scheme is
promoted by several landowners on the intended line,
which is proposed to join the North Kent lite at Strood,
and pass through Rochester, Chatham, Brompton, and
Gillingham, and continue by Rainham and Newington
to Milton and Sittingbourne, and thence by Faversham
and Canterbury to Dover. Branches to Maidstone,
Faversham•quays, and Chilham are proposed, and also
running powers over the South-eastern lines from Lon-
don to Strood, from Canterbury to Ramsgate, Margate,
and Deal, and from Cat!ham to Ashford. The length of
the proposed line from Strood to Dover would be 44
ruilcs, and from Strood to Maidstone 11 miles. The
promoters state that it would effect a saving of 22 miles
its the distance from London to Canterbury, Ramsgate,
Margato, and Dual, and of 14 miles to Dover and Maid-
stone. The total length of the proposed railway is about
60 miles. The estimated cost is 1,500,0001., or about
25,0001. per mile.

MID-KENT AND LONDON AND SOUTH-WESTERN.—
This proposed line is intended to commence by a
junction with the London and South- Western Rail-
way at a point between the Nine Elena and Wandsworth
stations, and to proceed by Clapham-rise, Brixton-hill,
Herne-hlll, and Dulwich ; and after crossing the
Brighton Railway near Sydenham, to proceed direct to
Bromley, Farnborough, Chelsfield, Halstead, and Shore-
ham to Orford, and thence by Wrotham, Mailing, and
Allington to Maidstone, and by a branch from Otford to
Riverhead, Sevenoaks, and Tunbridge. It is stated that
this lino would short:-.n the distance from London to
Maidstone by 21 miles, or from 56 miles to 35 miles ;
and also shorten the distance from London to Hastings;
Tnnbridgo-wells, Canterbury, Ramsgate, Folkestone,
and Dover by 12 miles. The length of the line is 45
mies, and the estimated cost 1,000,0001. The traffic is
estimated at 156,4551. per annum, being calculated at
the same rate per mile as the receipts on the South-
Eastern Railway, and after deducting 45 per cent. for
working expenses, the promoters state that it would
give a dividend of 81 per cent on the proposed capital.
STAINES AND IV ORKINGIIAM AND WOKING JIINC-
TION.—This projected line is intended to commence by
a junction with the South-Western Railway at Staines,
anti pass through or near Egham, Virginia Water,
Sunning bill. Barrbshot, Ascot-heath, and Warliold, ter-
minating at Wokingham by a junction with the Guild-
ford, R fading, and Reigate Railway, with a branch
from the main line at Longcross to the London and
South-Western at Al:eking. The estimated expense is
13,0001. per mile for a double line, or 300,000/. The
traffic receipts are estimated at 56,3051. per annum, and
the expenses at 50 per cont., leaving 26,6521., or about
9 per cent on the proposed capital. The traffic receipts
aro estimated by the promoters at 2,4231. per mile per
annum. It is stated that the undertaking is supported
by the principal landowners and inhabitants resident in
the district through which the line is proposed to pass.

CALEDONIAN RAILWAY.—Mr. Baird, M.P., has been
elected chairman of the Caledonian Railway, in the room
of Mr. Duncan, who lately retired.

GREAT NORTH OF SCOTLAND RAlLWAY.—Arrange-
ments for cutting the first turf of the Great North Rail-
way line have been at length completed, and operations
in this important undertaking will positively commence
in about ten days hence. A single line of rails from
Aberdeen to Keith is all that is at first contemplated.
CLAIM OF DAMAGES FOR DEPRECIATION or Pao-
PERTY.—A case of this description was tried yesterday
in the Outer House before Mr. Sheriff Gordon and a
special jury. Mr. John Hay, farmer, Halflakell, in the
parish of Borthwick, and county of Edinburgh, made a
claim against the North British Railway Company for
5741. 195.. 6d., as the value of stock which had been de-
stroyed by the opt rations of the railway comp any prior.
to November, 1847. The claim formed part of a con-
joined action against the company on the part of Mr
Hay, and was considered before the Lords of the Inner
House, who ordered the pursuer, on the 4th of June,
1852, to lodge a minute stating in what manner, and to
what extent, the stock had been injured by the opera-
tions of the railway. The minute was lodged on the
18th June, 1852, and their lordships then allowed the
claim to be tried by a special jury. The trial accord-
ingly t.)ok place in the Outer House beforo Mr. Sheriff
Gordon, and occupied the whole of Thursday and Friday.
The jury brought in a verdict disallowing the claim in ,
toto, and of course finding for the railway company.— 1
Scotsman.

RAILWAY TRAFFIC RETURNS.
LONDON, BRIGHTON, AND SOUTH-COAST
RAILWAY.
_ _

-- - -
Traffic—Week ending Oct. 23, 1852 ... £12,795 5 5
Traffic—Week ending Oct. 25, 1851 -• 11,390 4
Total of the half-year, to this date, 1852 ... 235,397 15 3
Total of the half-year, to this date, 1851 ... 248,5;13 15 7
Total number of Passengers _Week ending
Oct. 16, 1852 73,646
Passengers
... £9,950 2 2
2,845 3 3
Goods

Total .. £12,795 5 5
Total miles open, 1852, 1784; ditto, 1851, 173%.
London Terminus. Oct. 25, 1852.
SOUTH-EASTERN RAILWAY.
Gross traffic receipts for passengers
and goods, week ending Oct. 23,
1852 ••• ••• ••• ... £16,766 410
Ditto, Oct. 25, 1851 ... ... 13,426 5 5

Increase in 1852 ... L 3,339 19 5
London Terminus. Oct. 25, 1852.

CLAIRVOTANCS IN DUMFRIES.--A Mr Barnardo
Eagle h..ts created some sensation in Dumfries, by ex-
hibiting his daughter, who appears to Possess tho powers
of a clairvoyant to a wonderful extent. The Dumfries
Standard expresses some surprise that any one, after
booing her responses while in a mesmeric state, should
be still so credulous as to think that the whole (Affair was
a piece of tleceimon.