The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-10-06
Our California Correspondence.

san Francisco, August 81, 1852
The Quo,i- Crushing Machinc-P clitics-1 Iercar.
Tile Transaction Yards -Hoteis, SC. &c.
Having lately returned from somewhat pro
,onged sojourn in the Northern mines have deemed
that some Of my observations might not at this time
prove unacceptable to your readers.
Perhaps the most remarkable feature at present
to be found in the gold producing interests of Cali
oIn,a is the great and constantly developing use Of
the quartz crushing mill, So little time has elapsed
sjlce gold was discovered in such hitherto unknown
quantities, that we al recall how, step by step
science has been brought forward to aid the unprac
tised Efforts Of the miner At first was used only
the toughest ana most common implements; after
wards came the use Of quicksilver; then the ANAL
gamator, applying that mineral on new principles
and last bias been brought into operation the
great crushing milestone of the largest of
which are endowed with an energy which ena
bles thsm TO reduce 10 the finest powder forty to
forty FIVE tons Of rock per diem Machines Of this
size commonly employ about twenty-four men,
including those who get out rock and those
employed in transporting fuel ard provisions
to the place Of work. The largest that have met
with, are TO be found about Nevada, in which re-
gon when fortune s p-opitious the amounts Of gold
| extracted are almost Incredible l was on one oc
casion invited to be present at examination Of the
work OF one OF these mills after foryeight hours
trial, and the result found to be six thousand
four hundred dollars This result was said to have
been larger yield than the mill had before given
though it had been worked on tho same spot over
six weeks, and was partly due to the use OF new
anagamator, numbers OF which have been invent
ed lately. and have now attained great perfection
Some Of these mills owned wholly or in part by
foreigners. and efforts have been recently made to
deter them from investing capital in such similar
enterprises in this country; but am happy to say
that the general Of the community is not with
the harrow minded Chinese school men, who start
with the original idea that investment OF foreign
capital III this country (this OF oil others) tends TO
its impovetishn emit.
The political mania here ,as you may have noticed
has not raoid course as is usual in the older
States at this period If the Presidential term. To
be cure, politicians in the cities morshalpg and
drumming up their forces; but the show has hitherto
been very meagre on both sides
One OF your political items, received By the last
steamer, created quite an interestthat OF the large
bet offered by Mr.. Beckett of the Presiden-
tia candidates Mr. B it appears. is we'll known
here, as of capital, and lie quite afayorte at
leas. among the sporting circles
Treating of such matters, heard Of quite a nice
little mercantile transaction dono by house ut
Shanghai, for the firm Of Macondrsy & Co, of this
city. II appears that the latter firm had under
their control splendid schooner, of large capacity
! namod the Brenda and they had ordered her to fill
up with rice, on trip from Canton TO Shanghai,
and then sail direct for this port Tho agents at
Shanghai sold the rice, ana invested in earthen
bathi1gtubs with which they started the schooner
across. She arrived few days SINCE after n pas.
sage Of foIty-fye days Rice worth twenty
three cents, coftirg about one and half or two
cents. and bathing tubs can't be sold for carriage,
involving loss (of gaiD) Of at least one hundred
thousand dollars. IL is supposed that Mr. Macon
dray' s digestion hos in consequence been somewhat
IMPAIRED.
However, for the last year, SPECTATORS have not
acted rasbly as in former times when II was said
men weat it blind. As thirgs have become more
d. transactions
more regular and durable basis; and mercantile
hrn here, which obtains the character of acting
Wildly in its business affairs, quickly falls into
| hsTepu,e as In New York or Boston.
~ has been often noticed that the business i'm
oyements carried forward in the principal cities of
Iaiiofnia fully keep pace with their prosperity but
| nave hot seen il remarked as a more certain evil
oence o. the permauence OF society, that private
TENDENCIES Of brick and stone are becoming quito
common IN the suburbs Of every business locality,
| lnerc are now to be found in this State at least
hfty large brick yards, OF which furnish an ex-
ceent quality varying il price from fifteen to eigh-
: tseR dclais per THOUSAND. Caa Of .hsss yasaS a