The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-12-16

ton thai, on my return from the Sacramento,
touched at New Almoder, the quicksilver mine o
MIR. Alexander Forbes, consul OF her Britannia ma
ljesty at Topic. This mine is in spur OF noun
tains ,00U feet above the level OF the bay oil Saf
Francisco, and distant in a southern direction
from the Pueblo de San Jose about II mil. s. The
ore (cinnaban occurs in large vein dipping al 9
strong angle TO The horizon. Mexican miners are
employed in working il, by driving shafts and gal
leries about six feet by seven, following The vein
The fragments Of rock and ore are removed on
the. back of Indians, in raw-hide sacks. The ore
Is then hauled in an Ok wagon IRON the mouth Of
the mine down 10 valley well supplied with wood
aud water, in which the furnaces are situated.
The furnaces are of the simplest construction
exactly like common bake oven, IN the crown oil
which as inserted whaler' frying kettle another
inverted kettle forms The lad. From hole IN The
lad a small brick channel leads 10 an apartment, on
chamber, in The bottom OF which ~ inserted a
| small iron kettle. Ills chamber has chimney.
In The morning. OF each day the kettles are filled
with the mineral broken in small pieces) mixed
with lime; fire is then applied and kept up all day
The mercury is yolatiliZed passes into the cham
Der, is condensed on the sides and bottom OF the
chamber, and flows into the pot prepared Tor IT.
No water is used 10 condense The mercury.
During visit made last spring, four such ovens
were ia operation, and yielded in the two days
was there CSC pounds of quicksilver, worth at Ma
zatlan 81 81 per 10. MIR. Nakinshaw, the gen
lleman now in charge OF this nine, tells me Thai
the vein is improving, and that he can sfford 10
keep his people employed even in these eNtraor-
dnary times. This mine is very valuable oil Itself,
and becomes the more so as mercury Is extensive
~ used in obtaining gold II is not at present
used in California for that purpose, but viii be at
some future time.
When was at this mine last spring, other par
ties were engaged in searching for veins; but none
have been discovered that are worth following up,
although the earth in that whole range oil hills Is
highly diseoored, indicating the presence oil Tins
ore. | send several neutrality-suspicious., properly
labelled. The amount of quicksilver in Mr..
FoIbeS' watts on the 10Th of July, was about :, oU
pounds.
| enclose YOU herewith sketches of the country
through which lpassed, indicating the position oil
the mines and the topography of the country in the
vic nifty OF those visited.
Some of the specimens oil gold accompanying
this were presented for transmission TO The depart
ment by the gentlemen named below. The num-
bers on the typographical skelch corresponding to
the labels Of the respective specimens, shoH
from what part of the gold region they were OBJ
tanned.
/. Captain }. A. Suffer.
2 John Sinclair,
3 Vim. Glover, X. c. Kirby, Ira Blanchard, Le-
vi Fifeld, franklin II. Aynes, Mormon dig
giDgs.
l. Charles Weber.
). Robert Spence.
g. Sunol & Co.
Z Robert ID. Neigh.
s c. +. Picket, American Fork Columa.
3 r.. C.. kemble.
10. T. II. Green, from San Fernando, near Los
Angeles.
A. . or. purchased from Mr.. Neigh.
b. Sand found in washing gold, which con-
tans small PARTICLES.
II. Captain Frisbe, Dry disgings, Webers
creek.
- Consumes.
81 Consumes, Hartwell's RANCH
lhave the honor TO be,
Your most obedient servant,
K. B. Mason,
Colonel LIST nragcols, Comniquding.
Brig. Gen. X. Jones,
Adiutant General L. 5. A., Washington, ID. L.