The Daily state register. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1870-1872, 1871-04-07
LETTER FROM VIRGINIA CITY.
VIRGINIA CITY, NEVADA,
April 6, 1871.

Reno for the purpose of examining
the Auburn mill, near that town, and
more particularly the much talked of
Stetefeldt furnace there in operation.
THE MILL AND LANDS
Are situated just north of the town of
Reno, and are wholly owned by par
ties in England. With this mill site
they own 900 acres of land, secured by
United States patent, and lying princi-
pally in the valley of the Truckee.
This land is fenced and most of it has
been cultivated for several years. The
mill is about a mile and a half from
the town in a northerly direction,
while their farm runs down into the
northern suburbs of the place. The
road from the railroad depot to the
mill is perfectly level and eve be-
comes muddy.
ARRANGEMENT OF H MILL.
In its internal arrangement the Au-
burn mill does not differ materially
from the first-claSs mills now in oper-
alton on Carson river, except that the
ores are crushed dry, while the mills
of the Carson are built for wet crush
ing. The whole of the machinery of
the mill is driven by water power.
The water wheel is % feet in diameter
and - feet in length. 1t Is what Is
called Il breast wheel, that is. it does
not receive the water on top. as is the
case with an overshot wheel. but
about half way up h side. The mill
contains 20 stamps, l. anlalgamatlnG
pans and 8 large wooden settlers. and
Is capable of working 20 tons OF ore
per day. The pans do not differ ma
tcrIallN from those IN geheFdi use eN-
cept tina; they are lined Win wooden
slaves, to guard their sides against the
corrosive elements found in the base
metal ores hat are worked in the mill
II me S9't,e IaSa 49, 80
settling tubs are placed stationary
wings TO break the current created by
n revolving nl"ileiS. iht ''li1IiSs
a mo diEcbar.-ad are canrht in tanks
ma rn.ar~GirS sit,1a-aI some distance
Lnra-e +bo NH and some d,v will he
nNariN,I N,-ar Ernr, thn GRO housn 10
wv Not carrv the taiIinr~
= ~ - LjlI 90 faro
tNeiH =, ,ni sn,,InrS ara
cnncnrnnd Tho mill heinz huilt i'm that
,arr,.oI s,,1a Saan i'm all of onr lead
= 49, ,aI nc.i an works ,tbe o,,as are
,.rnsbn,i dry. \ dryin~ kiln i used to
: c~,,ol whichever nIoi.furn thew may
~cont.7n RETIRE bei,r sh1yclel upon
the kiln they are spread out upon the
:. door of the front mart of the ore house
r whore , rood deal of moisture cvapor-
a+as. there being a free circulation oi
mir hro11oh thi, uart of the building.
II >ror IN, ora In. nas-ed thrcuuh the
h,ttarins fhn fine dnst resulting is car
riaI ~ nm nndlass LnIf nroyidrI with
..,, vars n a receiver when if i taken
W. nv. on elevation similar 10 those
+ 20, in 0orrinr mills and carrjcl II
tko tnnn f thn Iuruarr. which | will
nn,r nrncood To describe.
= THE S"TETEfELDT fCHNAtE'
Tho Stp;tfrIIt furnace is quite sim
srl il. L,I;r, of c,o.
, e.. ~
mon hlt'N' WEN " hooi "ii II nan
beers of the same. Il furnace i
4 about thirty feet IN height ana the
opening III the interior i some Ioul
feet square. Al the back Of the fur
mace are tho doors opening mo the
fire chambers. which are situated on
either side OF the furnace stack, ano
from these chambers are openings Il
$ the inferior Of the furnace. lhere De
y ing a strong diaught the naiiirs from
the fire chambcrS on either side fusii
out and meet when a> one Sslcc' %
5 fame, they ascend to near tile Top o.
the urnace to an opening which Is the
mouth Ola smailcrfuTnace ortiue hay
inc a downward draugnt. Down this
20 the flames to the chimney. which
n at this point lies fiat on the ground
This hue. or branch OF the main fur
mace has its fire chamber, but the
/ f1nn,aS c1niur into il descend into the