Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-10-28

ever true and loyal: the last. born of the nation
will be the last to desert the flag. Our ala, 10
the extent Of our ability, can be relied upon 10
]. l.. VAN BoKKLEN, President.
u 9. MILITARY TELIsRkrH.-Receiyed Oct
IS 1861, 10 from San Francisco, Cal 740
p MO Hon. A. Lincoln, President y. 8:
IA day completed. May II be a bond of perpe.
tuity between the States Of the Atlantic and those
of the Pacific. HORACE w. CARPESTER,
President Overland Telegraph Company.
q. :. MILITARY Observation-Disclosures Oct
%, 1851, from Sacramento, Oct IS TO his FIX
cellency A. Lincoln To-day California 10 but
seconds distance from the national capital. Her
patriotism, with electric current, throbs respon.
sve 10 that Of her sister States, and holds civil
liberty and union above all price.
LELAND STANFORD.
q. =. MILITARY Observation-Disclosures Oct
26, 1861, from Sacramento, Oct 25.-The q. Di-
vision Of 8. of T. Of California In annual sesslon-
To the President Of the United States: Greeting
liberty, union, temperance, one and inseparable
JOHN WADE, P. G. w.P.
U. 3 MILITARY TELEGRAPH Received Oct.
26, 1861, from Stockton, Oct. Is TO A Lincoln,
President: Stockton sends greetingst0 your Ex-
ceilency with the that she 10 true to the
Constitution and the Union, and for the thorough
E. 9. HALDKN, Mavor.
THE sALrPErRR AND sUNPowDER SUPPLY OF THE
SOUTH.
Editor Ereniag Star: In your paper noticed
this evening an article on the manufacture Of salt
petre in the Southern States, and having spent
considerable time, labor, and money In exPlora-
tons and experiments In those States particular,
| for the mining and manufacturing of saltpetre, ]
desire to make some remarks in reply to said
report
saltpetre may be manufactured in the States of
Al.ha Asks afn
from a nitrous deposit collected in caves The
material is generally a greasy, tough, yellow
brownish looking clay dirt, Of saline taste The
caves very irregular, and the transport has to
be done in bags carried on mems shoulders,
with torchlight in hand, selecting their steps over
very rocky up-and down passage. In narrow
channels and crevices the deposit is found supe-
rior while the main part OF large banks Of deposit
10 nearly destitute Of nitre Of lime. dry loca-
ton, with a strong current Of air, found most
advantageous for the presence Of nitre.
The manufacturing 10 yet In primitive state,
with the exec ption Of one establishment on w bite
river, twelve miles north Of Batesville, Arkansas
lately erected by parties from New York, who
claim the Invention Of important Improvements
by steam machiaery, and that they are manufae.
turing 1 200 pounds Of saltpetre daily.
II Mr.. VIM. F.. Jones claims to have a contract
with the c. s. for 500 900 pounds Of saltpetre and
intends to manufacture 5000 pounds per day, he
not only deceives himself, but also the Rebel
Government.
Considering that under the most favorable cir
cumstances an average yield Of nitre Of lime of
3 90 per cent may be obtained, requiring a time
Of two months filtration; and to produce 5000
pounds daily, II woald demand quantity of ma
terial under filtration at time Of lbs 600 cubic
feet; and fifty furnaces Of $50 gallons each for
evaporating. As the material contains only @ SIS
per cent of carbonate Of POTASH 1t also req uires
100 pounds Of potash for each 100 pounds Of salt.
petre to be manufactured; consequently Mr. Jones
will at once need 900 pounds Of potash daily, or
wood ashes to a corresponding amount. II will
further require several hundreds Of tons Of water
per day, which il generally very hard to get in
the immediate neighborhood Of those Mite caves
Heavy rains and frost will stop the manufacture
entirely.
Allowing and admitting all and every cIrcum-
stances favorable to Mr.. Jones's enterprise, he is
exceedingly successful If able to accomplish in a
week what he designates to do In a day 1 there
fore consider his report nothing but calculation
to deceive the ignorant southern people in their
supposed resources for defense.
Respectfully yours, Y.
Washington, ID. c., Oct. 10, 1861.