The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-03-07
GREAT SULPHUR MINES.
Inter sting Information for Dying T" mn,nny
Po'itieians md the Hon. benjamin y.
Butier;


the production Of sulphur aud manufacture Of
ITO compounds In California Ia rising In importance
The chief supply OF the world IL Obtained from the
sides ~ Mount Rena In Sicily. and this State used
the sici'ian birthstone until lately. Now the sui
ubur works on the shore Of Clear Lake produce four
tons a ,ay. uch ~ the coast can consume. The
freight from tile Mediterranean, tile increased charge
N account of he combusuble mature Of the mate
rial, and the necessity OF keeping large stocks on
hind, a. 20 prevent any disturbance OF trade 10
csse cargo should be delayed or lost. give decided
ady antage- TO che home manu- aoiure.
The kiCilian brms tore cannot be laid down here
Tor less than four cents pouni and the dome tic
article s sold for three and hal ceats Clear Lake
occupies the crater of AN extinct volcano, and the
evidences OF volcanic action arc abundant In the
vicinity. The tr 'ucle formed by the lake, the Gey-
-era and 81. Helena-elch nbou. IS miles from the
other two-aoounds with volcanic srora, trap lava
ohsi,iIn, tuo, warm sprin r. and other remains Of
eruptions, and signs Of suoterranean heat at no
grcit distance from the surface.
The sulphur bed of Clear Lake is about EIGHT miles
from the southern end. on the eastern shore orly
ew hundred wards n nm the water. There IL q bank
resembling ashes In which there numerous a kl-
line and sulphur springs, and also yent-hoes from
su rounded oy beauutul orystas Of pure sulphur de.
posted nom the fumes rising from below. The
earth, containing about any per cent OF sulphur, IL
pl cod In an iron retort, wnch Is heated 10 lith
temperature, so that the sulphur is driven ofI in
tunes into receiver. where u settles in a Hquid
form, and runs out into pine boxes. two feet long
and loot square IT'S as pure ~ the scilian hrim-
stone ou the latter comes In sticks which are mora
convenient for handling when small pieCos are
wanted.
The limp sulphur IA used chiefly f1r making pow.
der and suphuric acid, which last IA employed in
making b'ucstone, giant powder, nitric acid and
mufiaiic acid, and In refining gold AMI silver. The
consun pt Of sulPhurc, nitric, AMI muriatic acid
on the co ~ amounts to 100000 pounds and tho
entire deman Is suprlcd b, home Manufacture.
Late the production of flower Of sulphur has
been Q mn enced OF Clear Lake. The fnues ma sing
on fro tue returt, instead Of being carried into
small hot receiver As for birthstone are led into a
large cool CT amber, In which they condense Into 4
hlky, snowflake condition. This form OF sulphur
viii he needed In large quantities next spring and
summer a cure for the mildew which attacks the
vines, and did great damage In many Of the vine.
yards last year. lhe Lower Lake bulletin says:
There less than eight new mines OF
quicksilver and sulphur now being opened no in this
vicinity (southcIn part Of Lake county, The three
mines oi these minerals now In daily operation EN-.
poy over 800 men. With eight more in practical
operation, nearly 800 mon and several millions ur
dollars In property valuation will be added to this
part OF tho county. And these are not possibiities
they are probabilities The mineral Is there men
are employed there now In running tunnels an
holding the ground, and lime will develop them.