Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1880-04-06


they were rejected as worthless refuse.
The average yield Of the crushed and
triturated auriferOus rocks is less than
$40 ton. Mr.. Edison can take up the
hitherto valueless tailings and make
them yield an astonishingly greater
amount. The specimens from the
fumes yielded under his treatment at
the rate of $3.50 per ton; the black sand
from the lava beds, $50 per ton; the
richest product was from the tailings OF
the Powers claim, which was at the rate
Of 81 400 per ton. There is nothing in
credible even in this last estimate, con-
sidering the great value Of gold in pro-
portion to Its weight. 1t requires only
about seventy-eight ounces of gold to be
worth 81 400, and seventy-eight ounces
is but minute fraction of ton. But
If the average yield from the tailings
were no greater than the ordinary yield
from the virgin ores, the profit would be
immense, since Mr.. Edison estimates
the expense of his process at only S. per
ton. But the profits which contain $50,
or $3.50, or 81 400 per ton seem fabulous.
This great discovery was an Incident
nj result of Mr.. Edison's researches to
find supply Of platinum for his electric
lamp. He sent explorers far and wide
TO discover new sources Of this indispcn-
sable metal, the supply of which was
limited to a few mines. 1t was found in
small quantities in the tailings of the
California gold mines, and Edison set
to work to invent process for its cheap
extraction. In the course Of his expert
ment on the specimens sent him he was
surprised at the large amount of gold
which exists In the rejected residue of
the mines, and this gave his researches n
new direction. Besides trying to dis
cover cheap process for extracting
platinum from the tsilings, he aimed at
q process for separating the far larger
quantity of gold. The success Of this
process is complete, and the wealth
which is likely to result is beyond COM
putation.
Before allowing his discovery to be
known beyond the small circle of his
confidential associates, he made contracts
for the tailings Of number Of the most
extensive mines. ",rhe Edison Orc
Milling Company" was formed, with
James II. Banker as President, Charles
II. Lewis Vice President, and Root l..
Cutting as Treasurer, Mr.. Edison him
self holding place In the Board Of Di-
rectors. When the contracts were made
It was supposed that Edison wanted the
tallings merely for the platinum they
contained, the most experienced mine
owners having no conception of the pos
slbillties of wealth which lay in the ac-
cumulated tailIngs.
This great discovery comes as near as
science can ever hope to come toward
realizing the dreams Of the old alchem-
lsts. They spent laborious lives in ex-
pcrlmcnts TO discover the philosophers
stone by which baser substances were to
be transmitted into gold. What they
sought In vain has virtually come to Mr..
Edison as the reward Of researches
prompted by fortunate accident. In
exploring for cheap platinum he has dis
covered a method Of transmitting worth
less refuse into source ofincxhaustible
and fabulous riches. Goethe winds up
his great philosophical novel, "Wilhelm
Mcister, by making one Of the charac-
ters say to the hero: "Thou resemblest
Saul, the son Of Kish, who went out to
seek his fathers asses and found king
DOM" Edison went out to seek plati-
nun for his lamps and found "the poten-
tlallty of wealth beyond the dreams Of
avarlce. ."--New York Herald.