Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-01-18

ted in the mines, then broken by Il small
sledge; they are afterwards conveyed to the
mill where they are crushed by heavy cast
iron wheels, running in a circular iron trough,
into which constant stream of clear water
is running aud mingcs itself with the dirt
coming from, the gold in the process Of grin
ding, and then floats off; while the gold,
which is much heavier: sinks TO the bottom,
and there nirgles itself with the quicksilver,
which is kept in the trough, catching every
particle of gold. There are also conductors
leading the muddy water from the top Of the
csst.iron trough, which are so lined with
buck or woord cloth that the gold,
which might still remain in this muddy wa
ter, will cle;,ve to the fbrcs of this lining, III
order that nothing be lost; yet with all his
care, there is a man at this place who gath
crs this mud or sand thus tloated of, washes
it, and still makes from two to three dollars
per day, altor paying his toll for this PRIV
ilcge.
Every two or three days the quicksilver,
in which the gold has been caught, is taken
out CT the troughs placed in buck skin or a
strong linen CLOTH which is then pressed,
when the pure quicksilver oozes out, leaving
about fifty per cent, gold, mixed with the
same quantity Of the mercury in the cloth or
buck. skin.
In order to obtain the pure gold from this
mixture, it is placed in retort, and with the
action of heat under the retort, the quick.
silver is distilled from the pure gold. aud
thus the two metals are again divided. The
gold is taken from the retort, and the qulck-
silver is taken out of the water, where it has
become congeaed to its original state, and
is again used for the same purpose; Thus
nothing of this metal is lost, it can be used
repeatedly; small fresh supply is all that is
needed:
Mr.. Dorm has leased portion Of his mine
to company in New York, who have dit.
fercut machinery for grindrins ore; it is
composed of two very large cast-iron bowls
or basins, about sht or ten feet in diameter,
which are made to revolvc by machinery in
an inclined position; large cast iron ball,
about one and half or two feet in diameter
is then placed within each of these basins
which crush the ore in the action of rolling
as the basins revove. But in order to un-
derstand this operation more fully, let any
one take his wash-bow drop some sand I'm
place of ore) aud water into it, then place
cannon ball in the bowl also, now give this
bowl an inclined circular motion, and you
may so IN hear the cannon ball grinding the
sand, which will give You q perfect idea OF
this much talkyd of machinery. The gold
is also caught .bv quicksilver, in, the same
..,a,,,er r as with tho o..er .."oirinerJ ttrrt
Mr.. Dorm uses.
This New York machinery is thought
will prove complete failure, as it wastes
the gold very much and have no doubt
the company must resort also to the trough
and wheels, since the amount Of ore ground
up in a day is not so much the object, as
the amount Of gold obtained from it.
The gold n,ine itself is not a very inter-
esting sight, nothing more than It huge ex-
cavsiion running obliquely into the earth
of course, very dark at the bottom, where
men are 1T work drilling holes for blasting
the rock. .Froin, some qf the specimens OF
rock brought to the surface, we are comRsl.
led to conclude that the whole Of that strata
of various rocks was once subjected to vol
cxnic action, and may have been heated
liquid mass, ss portions Of the rock has
every appearance Of cinders, and some OF
these soon crumbIe to ashes, by being cx.
posed in lying upor the surface.
Near this god mine theresis hfgg bed
or n,ount.in of manganese, which in itself
is worth millions Of money, and is princl.
pally used for bleaching. This quarry .oi
manganese will in itself make Mr. Dorm
ton times wealthy man as soon as pro.
per mode of transportation presents itself,
without limiting at his inexhaustible treasure
of gold, which is in his possession.
Mr. Dnrn's history, which | gathered both
, from himself and his friends is a singular
one.
, lie is of German descent, ho was bor
, and raised a poor man, yet by industry he
gathered a little property, in building mills
and other machinery through the country
around him. 4 gcoIogist ctanced to pas:
by him one day unto whom he showed &
portion of this Manganese rock, which nc
], Ihsd mistaken for limestone, (if memor,
E serves me right but when he was told by th'
p ipeoogist of its nature and value, he was tic
. lighted and concluded that there might b'
| other metals also found on that ridge. whict
is about 7 miles distant from the Savannah
$ river. He accordingly made search, anf
. actually soon found some specimens of gol'
/ orc, though in small quantities. lie nov
t made large excavations, blasting rocks, anc
t digging up the hills, until his little propert.
J.. was SO spent that it was levied upon, ant
e his ncighbors begged him to desist or h'
i; would be ruined man ;Set he perseverlngl
d toed on, dreading the ridicule OF an mere
r dulous world, until at the last moment
!. period of his credit he struck his rich vein O
a gold ore, which led him on easily to fortune
!. giving him net income of 5000 to SlOO
n daily.
o Mr.. Dorm was never married, and there
o fore having no family, he has resolved t
Il lay out all his wealth to the good of hi
1t neighborhood and his country. This ma
i. account for the interest he has taken in tn
d Savannah Valley Railroad, which he has dc
/: termincd shall be built, cost what it ma,
ID saw him myself giving his signature for tha
enterprise for 100000, which he says h
r. is willing to double if deemed necessary.
m 4 great portion of his wealth he has loar
,e ed out to his neighbors who were presse
re and were in danger Of losiog their little pre-
perty, and thus were enable to preserve
re and return Mr.. Dorm his money in their ow
n tme
@, cannot refrain mentioning circumstanc