The Placer herald., 1858-11-06
Percussion Quartz Crusher---A California
Invention,

+. L. Steen, mechanic in this city, claims
to Lave invented a new machine called "The
Percussion Quartz Crusher,' which merits
attention from those interested in such mat
ters. He has been engaged on it for some
months past and has now Just completed the
first machine, which is to be seen at the
Vulcan Foundry, on First street, and which,
as California invention, it is proper to de-
scribe
In ordinary steam quartz mills, steam
engine is used, by means Of which motion is
given to wheel Of some form or other,
which lifts the stamps. The real effective
power OF the stamps is derived merely from
their own gravity; their own weight carries
them down upon the quartz. desired to be
crushed and pul2erized. Hitherto, we are
informed, this principle, namely, that the
weight of the stamp must do the crushing,
has universally obtained. The po,cer is used
only to lift the stamps; and, in all cases, the
cumbrous apparatus of steam engine, dis
connected with the quartz crusher itself, is
necessary.
Mr.. Steen claims to do away with the
steam engine entirely, and makes the steam
not only to lift the stamps by direct action,
but also to force them down with tenfold the
power of their own weight. To accomplish
this, he has constructed machine which
consists Of two vertical cylinders, something
like ordinary steam engine cylinders. In
these the pistons, to the lower end of which
the stamps are attached, work. They are
lifted up by the force of steam, as the piston
rod of a steam engine is drawn back, and
they are forced down by the power Of steam,
in exactly the same method that the piston
rod in a steamship is driven out of the cyln-
der. BY contrivance consisting of sliding
valves, the steam is so applied that it drives
two pistons-or, in other words, two stamps
with amos. any desired rapd:ty, and
with force proportioned to the quantity of
steam used. In this machine it is intended
that in addition to the mere weight or grav-
ty of the stamp, there shall be steam pres
sure applied. The machine is considered
complete in itself, requiring no engine and
losing no power by the necessity Of wheels,
&c. A boiler and the machine itself (Which
is small, and, it is said can be made COM
paratively cheap) is all that is required.
Is is urged that seven or eight horse pow
er of steam, with this machine, will do the
work of twelve or fourteen of the ordinary
quartz crushers. In the machine now up at
Vulcan Foundry there are two stamps,
weighing each about 185 pounds, and it is
claimed that it will do the work Of what is
usually known as an eightstamp MILL that
is, eight stamps of from GOO to 700 pounds
each. The cost of machines CT this size is
fixed at $1,000; boiler will cost 81 900
more, so that, in all, the cost of the mill will
be about $4,000 Those who are interested
in quartz crushers can, by visiting the Vulcan
Foundry, form better idea of the machine
and its merits by personal inspection, than
it is possible for one not having practical
knowledge of machines to convey through
public journal. s. r. Bulletin.
The above quartz crushing machine is
manufactured by Steen at San Francisco,
and at Nicholas foundry, Sacramento.
rs.-Californa Wanuts, superior to
the Chill grown in Los Angeles county,
command SO cents pound at retail in San
Francisco.
The new overland mail route from Kansas
city to Stockton has been put in operation.
The first stare from the Pacific side left