Grass Valley telegraph., 1856-03-11


in the same localities, great facilities being
offered to us by their different agents, for
which they will please accept our thanks
We saw, everywhere, not powerful or extern
sive, but very good machinery, as far as they
went, and for the purpose of the crushing OF
the rock, and our world known reputation In
that department of mechanism was well sus1
tained but here our praises must end mas
much as we could not discover any knows
edge of the indispensable treatment of the
different ores. The analgamating profess is
very defective, and the means Of separation
from the GGngues injudicieusly applied.
Fhe proof Of these defective operations
have been clearly demonstrated to US BY a
zSeriess Of careful assays made on tailings from
different mills, brought to us by the owners,
which assays were made publicly, and for the
correctness of which we stand responsible.
Mine No. Assay No. l, quartz tailings, not
concentrated, $l8 per ton.
Do. dO.-Assay No. 2, quartz tailings, con-
centrated $l44 per ton.
Mine No. Assay No. 3, tailings, not con-
centrated. $54 per ton.
Do. do.-Assay No. 4, tailings, concentrat-
ed, $18 per ton.
Mine No. 3-Assay No 5, tailings, concen-
trated, $72O per ton.
Mine No. Assay No. 6, tailings, concen-
trated, S288 per ton.
Do. do.-Assay No. 7, the same tailings
after concentration, Sc per ton.
Mine No 5-Assay No. s. tailings not con-
centrated, $2888 per ton.
ASSAY of Black Sand, tai1ings from Dig
gings a0Orked ,Gith mercury.
Hydrate of iron, very fine, $40 per ton.
nf tho G0S00 mr.
ton. =
Tailings not concentrated mean, as they
run out from the mills; the concentrated are
the sulphurets remaining after panning off the
silex, &C., which are in the average of from
3 to 400 lbs. to the ton.
These assays were discontinued only on &C,
count Of scarcity Of chemical agents; but
simpler tests were made by us and other gen
tlemen, at different times giving approx
mately about the like average.
Now the average yield of the crude quartz
rock at the mills 1--WE are informed) is about
$40 per ton, which, compared with the yield
of the tailings of the same, shows loss of
from one hundred to five hundred per cent
Here, then, is the cause of the disrepute
into which quartz mining has faIlen--here is
the cause Of the loss of all the immense capi-
tai engulphed in it. Since 1851, quartz has
been and is every day extracted from where
the munifcent hand of natures God has plac-
ed it, to be strewn in the beds of the sur
rounding creeks, where it lays almost in its
virgin state of richness, having scarcely re-
munerated the labor of the men who brought
il to light.
The evil known to us we have worked un-
proitably for years to remedy. To prove it's
existence earlier, and not to be able to. cure
it, would have done no work, but we feel hap
py and proud to-day to say that it can be
done practically and cheaply. A company
under our sole direction has been formed
here, named the Quartz and Tailings Min
ing Association and several thousand dol
lars are already subscribed. In few days
we will be with you, and will be glad to at
tend personally to any further inquiries from
interested persons Or scientific societies.
In ending this letter, already very lengthy
we will strongly recommend to any and all
Quartz Companies to look carefully to the
completion of solid tunnels in their works. or
the sin of the fathers will surely be visited
on the next generation. We would also ad-
wise them, for their own interests, to employ
as Superintendents only men scientifically
and practically fitted for such responsible sit
uations: It is a delicate subject to touch be-
fore present iucumbents, but we are bent on
truth, and it is more than apparent that much
loss is due to bad arrangement, through want
of knowledge. For heaven sake and all in
kindness, gentlemen, learn your profession,
which is a noble one, and justice will surely
be done to you by your grateful employers
and shareholders.
Yours, very truly,