The Sun.
London, England, 1846-06-17 00:00:00

~y~~

RIO DEL MONTE MINES.

I beg to hand you enclosed a letter from Mr. Span-
' genburg to Mr. Taylor, dated 24th instant. The results
of this first trial on 58 quintals of ore, it will be seen,
are very satisfactory ; we are now makieg preparations
to increase this establishment for reducing a larger
quantity. In the first trial the process proceeded very
slowly, but Mr. S. hopes to be able to overcome this ;
it will, however, still be necessary to augment the num-
ber, and put up larger tines than those at present in nse.
A great number of people in this neighbourhood
have aexiously watched these trials, and I believe
nearly all parties are of opinion that it will very
soon supersede all other methods of reducing silver
ores in this country. Considering such may pos-
sibly be the case, I am hesitating with respcct to the
completion of the sixteen new barrels proposed
to be erected at Sanchez. Nothing, however, will inter-
fere with the speedy erections of the water-wheel, and
if this new beneficio should be found to answer better
than the barrels, we might then attach 20 or 24 stamp-
heads to the wheel, thus increasing the quantity by
water, instead of by mules, as proposed at present.
In order, however, to avoid being thrown much out of
our calculation with respect to this hacienda, I have
given instructions to continue the works now in hand for
the barrels, which will not cause much extra expense,
even supposing the wheel should eventually be used for
grinding instead of working the barrels.
I noticed in my letter of last month that the grinding
power at Sanchez, when the additional arrastres are
completed, would be equal to about 560 cargas per Week ;
hut if the 16 barrels now in hand are completed, and
discharged twice instead of once in each 24 hours, we
shall require nearly double that amount of grinding, for
which means must be devised hereafter.
By Mr. Woodfield's letter to Mr. Taylor, dated the
24th instant, you will perceive that the returns from
itegla patio of last month were considerably less than
the estimate, Mr. Woodfield having deemed it expedient
to delay the washing of .1 or 4 tortos, in consequence of
their not being properly rendido, but which, in the
earlier part of the month he expects to have
brought in.

In the first three months of the year there we; e 927
montones ground in this. hacienda, whereas only 730
were washed, leaving a surplus of 197 montones for the
second quarter. By the statement of costs and returns
for March, it will be seen that the total silver produce
amounted altogether to only 27 bars, comprising 12
from Regla patio, 9 from Fundiciones, and 6 from
Sanchez ; total value, 32,000 dollars. The mines
cost amounted to 25,4D0 dollars ;general expenses ;
charges on produce, minerals, &e., 6,689 •dollars ;
the haciendas to 2,270 dollars; making a total of
54,360 dollars, thereby showing a loss of 22,380 dollars.
The reason of the small returns from the Fundieiones I
explained in my letter of last month ; 'namely, the
breaking of the main rods in the Dolores diagonal shaft,
which prevented the working in the Santiago level west,
and in the San Enrique and San Pablo bottoms, and
which compelled us for upwards of a fortnight is sus.
pend the workings of the Fundicimaes.
During this time also, it should he borne in mind, that
Acosta Mine was nearly full of water, while Terreros
engine wah being erected ; and besides which there was
not less than 8,200 dollars for stores at Regla brought
into this month's accounts, which should have been en.
tered two months before. There were also 2,820
dollars charged for materials, ke., for San Antonio
hacienda. For the present mouth the returns will,
I expect, be something better than the estimate ; say,
about 42 bars. Even during this time we lost nearly
one week's work on the best labores, on account of the
Semana Santa. However, after all these misfortunes
and drawbacks, I have the satisfaction of informing the
directors that our prospects of future returns have of
late decidedly improved. The raisings of this month
have been as follows :

Azoque. Fuego.
711
519 ...... 27
725
25
In the last week there will be seek a notable in-
crease, both of Azoque and smelting ore. The latter,
however, is at the present moment of the greatest
importance ; and as you will perceive by Captain
Ratling's report, that the lode in Santiago level west of
Dolores is about a of a taras wide, a large portion of
which smelting ore, assaying 150 mares per monton, while
the remainder is Azoque, containing from 25 to 30 mares
per mouton, and taking into consideration that this
place is about 15 varas east, and 17 varas below the San
Pablo winze, there is reason to expect that the whole of
this piece of ground will turn out to be productive. I
therefore vent z
venture to make out the estimate for next
month asfollows

April 4

Cost 5 weeks ....
leturns 58 bars .

Dollars.
56,300
69,600

Profits 13,300
. .

And, as the ground seems to be lengthening in .the
Santiago, there is every probability of its continuing for
a considerable time to come. I expect, therefore, we
shall go on making profits for the remaining part
of the year ; if the ore continues as at present, there
can be no doubt about it.

By Captain Skinfell's report you will be informed that
the east new engine at Acosta was put to work on the
2d instant. We have had some difficulty in forking the
water, in consequence of a pump having broken out ; I
trust, however, we have at last overcome all difficulties,
as the engine works
pruemaprinkeanblyarewelnl,oawndekmepelpoisethdefiwxaitengr
very easily. The m
the two new plunger lifts at the Aviadero level, which
Captain Skinfell calculates will be finished about
the middle of
driving the new level twenty-four varas below
the May, after which we shall resume
Aviadero, and also with the sinking of the shaft—:
two most important works which have been delayed
so long a time owing to the increase of water.
of a winze
You will notice that Captain Fr.asspe
called San Paseul, situated
here is a branch
below the San Antonio level,
wide,
which assayed on
of smelting ore aboutoa_ foot
f goo marks per mouton. This
Saturday last up
wardbsourhood of San Cayetano, where
246 varas
there
aouth of Acosta
winze is in the neighbourhood
veryd wer
cannot, therefore, place much re-
liancevery bunchy, gihch ore in May last ; but the lode is
Although of
probability of its being found in
azoque, there
we rose some
abundance.
on the continuance of this class.
is great

By the statement on the other side you will observe
that at Rosario the raising of ore has got up to near 350
cargas per week. The mine essays average from 9f to
10 marts, and I expect will give about 8 in hacienda.
The quantity of ore might easily be increased, but at
present there are no means of reducing it. I propose
confining the raising to nearly sufficient to supply
Sanchez.—Railway Herald.

GRADUAL RISE OF-NEWFOUNDLAND ABOVE THE SEA.
—lt is a fact worthy of notice, that the whole of the land in and
about the neighbourhood of Conception Ray, very probably the whole
island, is rising out of the ocean at a rate which promises, at no very
distant day, materially to :Meet, if not to render useless, many of the
best harbours we have now on the coast. At Pert de Grave, a series
of observations have been made, which undeniably prove the rapid
displacement of the sea-level in the vicinity. Several large flat
rocks, over which schooners might pass some thirty or forty years
ago with the greatest facility, arc now approaching the surface, the
water being scarcely navigable for a skiff. At a place called the Cash.
at the head of Bay Roberts, upwards of a mile from the sea-shore,
and at several feet above its level, covered with five or six feet of
vegetable mould, there is a perfect beach, the stones being rounded, of
a moderate size, and in all respects similar to those new found In the
adjacent land-washes...-Yetojoutolland Times.
FIVE PERSONS DROWNED WHILST BATHING.—Yes.
terday inquests were held on the bodies of five persons who wee
drowned whilst bathing. Two of the inquests were held by MI.
Baker on the 'bodies of a boy, eleven years old; named Henry fiery-
wood, and of a young mean named Charles Harper,:aged
who were drowned in the ri►er Lee. Mr. W'akley held inquell.s on
the bodies of Philip Pieta, aged twenty-six, and Frederick 13r own,
aged ten, who were drowned in the Regent's Canal; and Mr. Bed.
ford held an inquest on the body of James Kelly, aged thirty •two,
who was drowned in the Serpentine, whilst bathing, on Sunday
evening. • •
- - - -

Voters in counties must send in their claims on or
before the 20th of July ; and voters for cities and boroughs must pay.
on or before the 20th of July, all poor-rates and assessed taxes duo
for the last twelvemonths next before the 6th of April last past.
'the asphalte pavements in Manchester have melted,
with the heat of the site, and the pedestrians have, in some instance! ,
found difficulty in releasing their feet from the pitchy substance,*
Litretpool 'Standard.

sketches, we give the following description of an earth-
quake :
" It was in the depth of winter, in the month of January.
We were on a visit to my wife's brother. The night was ex-
tremely cold, and as still as the grave; there was not a breath
of air stirring. My brother-in. law and myself were sitting
talking by the stove in the hall; my wife had just left us.
and had gone up stairs- to bed ; when all at once we heard a
rumbling noise, precisely like that produced by a heavily
laden cart driven at a rapid pace along a payed street. At
first the sound was faint and distant, and then came near r
and nearer, till it seemed to pass close under the windows;
and as it did so it shook the house violently, and then gradu-
ally receded and went off again into the distance. We rose
from our seats, and looked at each other in fear and amaze-
ment, as we distinctly saw the walls of the house swaying
to and fro. My poor wife, in her fright, rushed out of her
room to the head of the staircase. Her first impulse, dic-
tated by the inherent principle of self-preservation, was to
make her escape; but she recollected that her little daughter
and her two boys were in bed in an adjoining room, and the
feelings of the mother predominated over her fears for her
own safety. After calling to us to know what was the mat-
ter, but without waiting for our answer, she ran back to
them, and found her little girl fast asleep, but the boys weie
sitting upright in bed, perfectly bewildered, and wonderil what had awakened them. I have said that the noise wa,
like that of a loaded cart passing rapidly along a paved
street; but it was vastly louder, and its duration longer, for
cracksby. No damage was done to the house,
save some the plaster and cornices of the lower
rooms.passed"
verysl
in ly

Nothing could be more simple as a composition, but
the impression conveyed is singularly vivid. The author
has seen, and thought, and written well.

- ---
a Receivedletter
dated
Bth
Mineral June,
del 46 8 , per the Tweed.—ExtractlB46:lhavoef
not failed to notice, for some time past, the advantage
IMonte,A pri
l,
which Mr. Bovvring's process has obtained over that of
Moreno, and you will have perceived by the accounts
that the patio at Regla has been wholly conducted on
this plan, since Mr. B.'s departure, by Mr. Woodfield,
and with good effect, particularly in the last three months.
The barrels continue to give very uniform results.
both with respect to the loss of silver, quicksilver, and
cost of benefices ; and as by this method all classes of
ore can be equally beueficiated, I think that after awhile
it will probably supersede the patio entirely ; especially
as by Mr. Spangenburg's improved method of calcining
the ore, the barrels will in future be discharged once in
twelve, instead of once in twenty-four hours.
Mr. S. has consented to take this department for a
short time under his own special direction; and from the
favourable result already obtained since this improved
method of calcining has been introduced, not only is there
a less loss of silver, but the time is materially shortened,
and cost less. For instance, formerly the furnaces were
generally changed once in each eighteen hours ; at pre-
sent the operation seldom exceed five hours; and again,
the quantity of salt is reduced from about 7:1 to 4 per
cent.