Columbia gazette. [volume] (Columbia, Tuolumne County, Calif.) 1852-1855, 1854-10-28
EXPERIMENTAL QRAkTz COMPANY.

EXPERIMENTAL QRAkTZ COMPANY.
in the early part Of the week We paid
visit to the Mill of the Experimental
Quartz Company, and were much pleas
ed with the energy displayed and the
complete success which has thus far
crowned the labors Of the gentlemen
connected with this enterprise.
The Mill is situated at the head of
Experimental Gulch, about one and a
half miles from Columbia, and is we'll
worthy visit from those dcsirous of
witnessing a Quartz Mill in full opera
ton The machinery is very simply
but powerfully constructed, and is capa-
blc of crushing fifteen tons of quartz
rock in twenty-four hours The mo-
| tive power is obtained by large water
wheel supplied with water from the
ditch of the Tuolumne County Water
| Company. Eight stamps, Or crushers,
are in operation but there is power e.
nough for as many more.
The quartz is shoveled into two large
receivers, Or boxes, by means Of spout
at the back; four stamps work in each
box and crush the rock to any degree
of fneness required. A stream of water
is continually running into the boxes,
and the powdered quartz and water is
forced through a seive in front of each
box. Here it falls into the Critics." a
box fitted with groves, each of which
contains about twenty pounds Of quick
silver, to which all the gold adheres,
leaving the mud and water to run off
into the ditch The stamps, each one
of which weighs five hundred pounds,
are raised by means OF iron horns affix-
ed to the main shaft or drum, and have
a fall of about eighteen inches upon the
rock. The ends Of the stamps working
in the boxes, are made of cast iron, and
as there..can be no friction occasioned by
gravel sloshing upon the woodwork, they
will last for years without requiring re-
pairs. We have not space, this week,
to enter into details, in regard to the
working Of the machinery; but suffice it
to say, that the Mill does crush fifteen
tons of rock in twenty-four hours, to any
degree Of fineness, and what is better,
sares all the gold.
The vein is but short distance from
the Mill, and is Of exceeding richness;
and as it is but Eve or six feet beneath
the surface, it is easy of access. The
top soil is removed by ground sluicing,
and two carts can keep the Mill in op-
peration day and night. The whole
force employed in and about the Mill is
but six men, and the total expense OF
working it is but $3.50 per week. The
vein was first taken up by Messrs Asher
ry, Wade, Dryer and Burr, and the Mill
was built under their superintendent,
at cost of only $4,000. There are at
present l6 shares.
We were presented some specimens
from the vein perfectly studded with
gold. The rock pays from fifty cents
to two dollars to the pound, and it is es-
timated that upwards of one thousand
dollars can be extracted from the rock
every week.
On Thursday, they took from the riff.
fles, 1927, the proceeds of q hours
work, and it is supposed that nearly as
much more is secreted in the .crevices
Of the pounding boxes. We saw the
gold after it was retorted, and it is Of
the finest quality.
We will visit the Mill again shortly,
and give extended details.
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