The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-10-05
Quicksilver.

California, in addition to being the
largest producer OF silver and gold in the
world, also has the richest quicksilver
mines, and the name "New Almaden"
has become synonymous with quicksilver
all over the world. Having the good
fortune to meet Mr.. j. B. Randall, the
Superintendent of the company, we were
favored with an invitation to visit New
Almaden' and see how this volatile and
interesting metal is produced; and taking
the cars one afternoon, a ride of fifty
miles, by the Southern Pacific Railroad,
brought us to San Jose, which is the near
est point on the railroad to the mines.
The mine is situated nearly at the sum-
nit Of one of the foothills of the Coast
Range of mountains, and was original
ly discovered by the Indians, rescrtirg to
this place to procure the red paint with
which they smeared irfaces, and which
was here found cropping out of the
ground. 1t was discovered that this ma
terial was a rich vein of cinnabar or crude
quicksilver. In course of time a compa-
ny was formed to work it, and, for many
years, it has been one of the principal pro-
ducing quicksilver mines of the world.
Being furnished with guide, we stepped
into the bucket or cage, and in moment
were lowered ], 400 feet down into the
bowels Of the earth. Here we got out and
were conducted through long and tortu-
GUS tunnel to the point where the miners
were working the vein. We found set
of swarthy fellows drilling and blasting,
and filling the small cars which are run
over the tramway leading out to the shaft.
After witnessing their operations for a
short time, and securing some rich speci-
mems OF ore, we retraced our steps to the
shaft, and were hoisted to what is known
as the " 200 foot level, ~ and here got
into a somewhat larger car than those
used on the lower level and, propelled by
a mule, were soon again out in the daylight.
The reducing works or furnaces are
situated down at the bottom of the hill,
and, proceeding there, we were shown the
most interesting part of the process. The
ore is put into vast furnaces or retorts, and
roasted at white heat for three to four
days. The fumes from the furnaces are
conducted through a number of little
rooms known as "condensers,' in which
they condense into quicksilver, and run
down through channels provided for the
purpose, into iron kettles or receptaclcs
below. 1t is very interesting to stand by
the side of one of these kettles, and put
ones hands down into what seems more
like molten silver than anything else. 1t
has all the weight and seeming sOlidity of
the heaviest metal. Indeed, so heavy is it,
that if you throw a piece Of iron upon it,
water; but you endeavOr to grasp it in
if it were phantom, and, after several
attempts, we gave it up in despair, con-
WINGED that it was the most intangible of
all the heavy substances that we had ever
seen. From these kettles it is drawn off
into iron kegs or f1asks," as they are
called. These are about twelve inches
high, and from four to five inches in dia-
meter, yet they contain about, seventy five
pounds of quicksilver, from which an
idea may be formed of its great density
and weight.
Much of the quicksilver produced here
is used in amalgamating with, and thus
collecting, the gold and silver produced
in the mines of the Pacific slope; but
large quantities. are shipped to all parts
of the world for use in the mechanical
arts. China takes considerable quanti-
ties, most of which is manufactured into
vermilion; for it is an interesting fact that
the red color which shows in the ore but
disappears in the refined product, can
again he madel % appear BY pursuing a
certain chemical. fUhuia. The Chinese
are very? expert at this, and Chinese ver-
million has been celebrated for years. Of
late, however, the universal Yankee nation
have begun to manufacture vermilion;
and it is now said of tAis; of many
other articles, that our manufacturers can
. beat the world in producing it. OF
course everybody is familiar With the use
of quicksilver-or mercury as II IS often
called-in thermometers; but Its sensitive
ness to heat has lately been utilized Tor
new purpose-that OF giving fire
alarms. In the Palace Hosel, San Fran
cisco, every room hasa gNse bulb filled
with mercury 1et into the, ceiling, and, in
as the heat reaches l1U degrees, the mer-
cury rises, connects two electric currents,
and the news is Instantly photographed to
the office that there is fire in No. -
1t is said that a practical joker once
tied match to the end 81 his cane, lit it
and held it up to the bulb; in d moment
the fire brigade of theiH4ta were thun-
dering at his door; opening It with the
b1andest possible smile, he informed them
that it was all right, they might go back
again now, as there wasn't any fire, but
he was satisfM the thhg ND work if
there was one. The number OF uses for
which quicksilver.ncis unemployed is
constantly increasing; but production
has also largely increased, and, in conse-
qaence, thef pricq fnllen largely. Two
years ago il was worth $3.50 per pound;
to-day sales were made: AZ forty cents,
from which it will be seen that it has
more than kept pace with the, decline in
other articles. AT present. Prices, how
ever, it is said that 1t tiosssaot ply to mine
it; and, doubtless, production will soon
be largely cnrtailed slNDaass the, price adj
vsnces.-oor. america" Gxafr: