Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-09-13

the veritable philosophers stone. Gold he
can manufacture ad ibitum, and a. the
shortest notice. The account of Colone!
Arson G. Tichenor's reported discovery Of
gold in the thermal springs of Calistoga has
been already published. The springs are sit
uated on the Calistoga Hot Springs Hotel
property, which, when owned by Samuel
Brannan some half a dozen years ago. was
much resorted to by invslids and fashionables
for the purpose of drinking the waters and
bathing. The property was sold in 1875 on
the foreclosure of an $50, 600 mortgage held
by the Sacramento Savings Bank. The 125
acres upon which are the hotel and all the
springs, were sold three weeks since to Itch
enor, his wife and Judge Dundv of Nebraska,
for Sl4, 600. Tichenor then gave out that the
springs, especially that called "Chieken
Soup" contained large quantities of gold in
solution, and announced his intention of
carried on in dingy little shanty on one
corner of the property. AT one end stands
60-gallon caldron and heating furnace. Be-
side it an ordinary No. 2 test furnace; few
jars, bottles, an anvil and several erucibles,
with some pieces of old lead, complete the
outfit In reply to questions, Tichenor, who is
an emaciated-l looking man aged about 10. spoke
as follows: 81 have for many years sus-
pected that gold is held in solution IN water
Why not, Do we nos have chloride of gold.
which has no affinity for quicksilver plate,
Yet gold chloride is not metallic. / first ex-
perimented on water broaght from the Pacific
ocean at the Cliff House. From gallon of
this l obtained net profit of 81 so; but
this was not rich enough for me. Besides, |
could not stand the fogs. So came here,
where the water is much richer. There are
fifty springs here, all differing somewhat.
There are sulphur, iron. quicksilver and mag
nesia springs and some combining all. From
ten barrels 1 obtained $500.
Reporter-How many a day can you work
with your present accommodations?
Tichenor-About fifty.
Rep.-Then at five dollars per gallon, your
estimate, you would clean up $3.50 in
days lun?
Tichenor-About that; but that amt any
thing to what We will do when our patent
arrives.
Rep.-Please explain your pr ocess.
Tichenor-Well, down in the interior of the
earth, where all this hot water comes from,
gold is found by the agency of intense chem
ical and electrical heat. This is in solu-
ton which quicksilver will amalgamate.
The water fills the seams of the rocks, and
becomes transmitted into a metal state
through electrical influences. Now, if we
can reproduce this state, resulting i'll precipi-
tate of gold, the problem is solved. l sus-
pend piece of rolled sheet lead, chemically
pure, in boiling water, to which have added
two of the elements of gold, which, uniting
with third form blush black precipitate
of protoxide of gold, which adheres to the
lead. All forms of gold have an affinity for
lead. By suspending lead in chemically
treated water, electric influences occasion
the precipitate. l believe gold is an
alloy of other metals, and the only
reason alchemists did not discover
the art of transmution was be-
cause all metals were not known then.
Further, without any chemical preparation
lead may be placed in sea water, and, in time,
gold will precipitate upon its surface. In
both cases the ordinary treatment for smelt-
ing gold-bearing lead ores is followed.
Rep.-Can you, by your patent, prevent
persons from gathering gold on lead plates
without chemical preparations, should all this
be true?
Internationally.
Rep.-Wilf you sell an interest in your
process
sTichenor-I have already disposed of half
interest for 81. 5000 600 TO parties IN the East.
I have nothing to make from notoriety, and
have no stock for sale.
Rep.-Have you seen the attack on you in
the Chicago Tribune of the 18th instant?
Tichenor-Ye3; it is falsehood. | am
the person referred to. l did live at Little
Rock, Arkansas, where l operated in
mining enterprises, especially the Kel-
logg mine; but l never heard of
Iap.on. My dealings were honorable.
| came here for health. The article was writ
ten by one Randall, and is repetition of an
old attack from personal malice.
Throughout the interview the Colonel was
extremely nervous, i'll at ease. and while as
Stunning to care little for public opinion evil
IDENTIFY cared great deal. The whole bust
ness is evidently an attempted swindle. The
hotel property has run down, and rush of
sight-seers would be acceptable. The fraud
swindle perpetrated not long since.