San Andreas independent., 1857-06-13

The MINT ExCITEMENT.-Th Buzlc-
tin publishes the following communication
in reference to the alleged cause of the
losses at the Z. S. Mint:
Some of the wiseacres in this city are
making terrible hoo-doo at the idea of
gold escaping from the chimneys and fues
of the Mint. | wonder if it ever occurred
to these gentlemen that, in ridiculing such
an idea, they were displaying their igno-
rance? If these owly gentlemen will take
the pains to examine any work on chem
istry, they will learn that gold mets at
about 1l20o Fahrenheit, and that when
heated to 1892 it will evaporate and pass
off as water. When brought into contact
with cold air again, the metal is precipi-
tated
The reason why the Mint at Philadel-
phia has never met with such a serious
loss as the Branch in this city, is simply
on account of superior machinery, &c. |
understand that the Meter and Refner's
chimney in Philadelphia is about 40 feet
in height, and feet clear inside, and is
comparatively cool, which prevents subl-
nation. The chimney at the Mint in this
city, and in fact the whole internal ar
rangements are horribly deficient in con-
venience, and they have been obliged in
consequence to resort to zig-zag chimneys
and other means to prevent the waste
Some of our papers have fallen into an
error in ascribing this waste to the As
J.
1t is in the Meter and Refners Depart
ment CHEMIST
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CHIMNEY
The same paper contains, on the following
day, reply to the above communication,
from which it is made to appear that the
first story is nearly all humbug. 1t is as
follows
Your issue of yesterday contains, in an
article headed 'Gold Flying" over the
signature of "Chemist," tissue of the
most egregious absurdities that were ever
forged since the days of Damberger, Man
deville and Munchausen Gold, by the
estimate of Daniel, based on series of
accurate experiments with his improved
pyrometer, fuses at 2,016 degrees, and not
81, ,l20 degrees Fahr." So far from vol
atilizing and flying off like water, to be
"condensed by cold air, at ] ,4S0 degrees,
it is only vaporized slowly and in small
quantity, by the hydro-oxygen blow pipe
or the electric one, which effect the fusion
of platina, and whose temperature is so
high that we have no available means of
estimating it. Macquer exposed gold for
whole month to the greatest heat of a
porcelain furnace (4,S00 degrees Fahr.)
without discovering any loss appreciable
by the most delicate balance.
With regard to the width of the Mint
chimney at Philadelphia, and It's alleged
superiority a great deal of nonsense has
been spoken and written prior to the trans
actions of Chemist" but it is all foreign
to the subject.
Neither Mr.. Haraszthy nor his friends
are quite such fools as to ascribe this loss
of gold to its volatility-they only claim
that the fine particles of dust are carried
up, if carried up at all, mechanically, at
the first melting. This | believe to be to
certain extent true. But the fact has
been studiously concealed that the deposi-
tor, not the Meter and Refner, or the
United States, is responsible for this def
cheney. Any one who has ever deposited,
or held a Mint certificate, can easily salts
fly himself by reference to the item /" loss
IN melting" 1t is only after this source
of loss is obviated that the Meter and Re-
6ners' responsibility commences, and for
the casual and Incidental wastage he is al
lowed handsome per centage, more than
enough to cover all sources of error. "Vol-
atillzation . is ntenable-abandon it.