Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-09-19
The Robertso on Process.

One of the most striking and important
features Of the Mechanics Institute Fair,
now being held in San FRANCHISE, is Mr.. Il b.
crtson's new process for extracting gold or
silver from reeellious or any Other kind of
ores. Even when the attend nee is small u
large crowd usually surrounds the miniature
smeit ny works, where specimens Of ore from
all parts of our mineiul regions aie being re-
duced, and the little ciucbles, with the pure,
solid, shining metal in hright little balls are
handed around among III" spcrt tt"rs. The
process is entirely new, and so simple That u
novice may learn IL in short tine. Mr..
Robertson has obtained patents not only in
the United States and England, bur also in
France. Australia, New Zealand ana Queens.
land. 1t has been ON exhibition since the
first day Of the fair, and Notwithstanding the
fact that Mr.. K. invites miners and experts
to test his process in every possible manner,
not a single specimen OF ore Of any kind,
rebellious or otherwise, has been presented
that has not been worked most successfully
and to the entire satisfaction Of parties in
terested. The ore is broken In the usual
manner and brought To a red heat in a COM
mon aSsayng furnace, after which it ID
plugged into "a liquid bath Of common salt
cyanide OF potassium and sulpha'c of copper,
by which the metal, either gold or silver, is
set free, after which it is subjected to the
usual amalgamhting process. Mr.. Robert.
sou claims that by his process all Of the
metal is absolutely let free and saved, and
that not only obdurute or refractory ore
may he worked in Il cheap and practical man.
ner, but that millions Of gold and silver now
lying waste in the taiings Of the large mines
may be saved at IA trillng expense. BY the
use of this simple discovery all of the vast
outlay for assay ing IN the usual manner may
DC saved, as any miner may, hy the use of u
furnace and outfit that Will cost hut a triilinw
sum, can assay any specimen of ore in II
short time, and thus save not only his time
and coin, but at the same time retain for his
own advantage that definite knowledge of
the real value of his discovery, that by the
old process was attended by so many diff
tculties. We are confident that we do not
uvereslimate the value of this invention
when We say that it is urdOubt, dly one Of
the most important discoveries ever made in
the interests of gold and silver mining, either
in this or any other country. With the sim.
pie furnace and bath the poor miner may
work his tini unadcd and a'one. lie d cs
not need expensive machinery and mills.
There is no necessity for joint stock COM
panies, whose first and most important work
Is usually to freeze out the original dis
coverer and owner. Mr.. Robertson has
erected works in sacramento that are now
in successful operation, Of Il capae ity to work
twcntyfour tons of ore in twenty-four hours
at the nominal cost OF three dollars or ton.
We were invited to witness the reduction OF
specimen of ore from the Surprise Consoli.
dated mine, located on the Allison Ranch,
IN Nevada county, an average piece was
selected aud in the short space Of forty five
minutes the work was complete, showing Il
yield of three hundred dollars to the ton
We regard this us essentially the poor mans
process, and hail its advent with sincere
pleasure,