The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-02-21


lecting samples of all the building stones of
the State and subjecting them 10 all the scien-
tine tests needed 10 determine their analysis,
nature, strength, etc. and consequently their
value as building material. Samples dressed
in various ways will be assembled into dis
play of the building stones OF California and
other samples will be used in the scientific in
vestigations.
This new undertaking is due to two things
For one thing there will be a great deal of
building going on at the university during
the next few years, made possible by the IN
creased State support OF the institution and by
the generosity of several people who have
promised several millions OF dollars worth of
gifts to the institution. For the magnificent
new structures that are to rise, grouped &C
cording to plan for which a world wide COM
petition is being opened, the handsomest,
most enduring and altogether the best ma
terials will be wanted, and 1t is proper that
the scientific departments serve the institu-
ton in this way.
For another thing this is proper field for
the geological department to enter in the
course of its scientific work. 1t is one of the
many exhibitions of new life, of progress and
OF broadening out which the university will
De able to give in the future.
The scale on which this work will be car
ried out has not been determined. 1t will
depend largely on the extent to which the
resources of the department are increased.
Professor Lawson has begun the work al
ready, and he asks quarrymen all over the
State to contribute samples of their stone to
the collection.
Four-inch cubes dressed differently on the
different faces are wanted for museum shelves,
and twelve-inch cubes similarly dressed are
wanted Tor working specimens. In some cases
slabs will be preferable, and with limestones
suitable for interior decoration, several
sam pies variously polished would be desired.
Such samples are wanted not only from work
Ing quarries, but from places where valuable
stone seems to exist
The economic display which would result
from assembling such a representative collec-
ton is not OF course the fea ture of N ost i'm
portsnce. The valuable work will be the ex-
hauBtive tests applied to these building stones.
They will be chemically analy zed by experts.
Sections viii be ground to exceeding thinness
and studied with the microscope. Various
mechanical tests to determine the crushing
and other strengths will be made, and the
effect of the air on the stones Will be noted.
The precise nature of the stones being known
= II can be stated what the effects OF air, water,
smoke, ETC., will be in producing disintegra-
ton, discolora ton, etc.
All these tests will be made by competent
men, and will be impartial an d reliable. Such
systematic study would be OF great value.
Whatis known and asserted about our building
stones so far amounts to a good deal, but it is
mainly the result of The verdicts OF architects
. and the studies and claims of quarrymen and
their paid experts. There will undoubtedly
be many cases in which visits will be made to
localities for study. This work will do much
TO develop the resources OF the State n this
line, and it viii determine and establish the
merits of our best building materials.
At various times in the past few years there
have been warm controversies between rival
quarrymen, when good contracts were in sight,
over the qualities OF their products. A notable
case was that OF the new ferry building, when
Arizona and Portland were in competition
with California quarries The contemp plated
work at the university viii afford exact infor-
nation of inestmable value. The color of
many of San Francisco's most notable
buildings would have been different if
more had been known about the stone
1t was decided to use, and architects have
noted with interest the disintegrs ton and the
cracking OF the stone used in prominent struc-
tures and the streaking and staining due to
she presence of ingredients which are dissolved
and brought to the surface with time.
California has greater variety OF building
stones than any State in the Union. They
range from superb GRANTEES to the beautiful
travertine in Mono County, which is now go
ing even TO London for expensive interiors.
The disposition to use timber, lack of trans
portation facilities and other causes have re-
tarded the development of these resources,
as valuable some day will lie untouched for
years. But this systematic work viii be OF
much value to the State.
MINING MISCELLANY.
The San Francisco Gold Mining Exchange
has closed its large offices in the Mills build.
ing and gone out of business. 1t was organ.
lied two years or so ago by some of the wealth
lest and best-known mining men of California
for the purpose of buying and selling mines
and especially for taking hold of claims or
partly developed mines of promise and put
ting them On the market and assisting in the
development of such mines. But the enter
prise did not "taKe." few mines were
listed. but rich and shrewd buyers fou ght shy
possibly for the reason that they believed that
the said rich and able mining men would not
let good things at bargain rates slip through
. to the open market.
Denver capitalists have bonded the Helvetia
gold mine in the Julian district, San Diego
County, for 100000.
At the Standard Consolidated mine at Bodie
taiings are to be conveyed from the mill to
the cyanide plant through hume 1900 feet
long and then raised to the tanks by an ele-
Vator.
pipe line twenty-five miles long will con-
vey petroleum to Gaviota landing, Santa Bar
bara County. English capital is said to be in
terested in the enterprise.
More men are employed at the Magalia mine,
Butte County, than ever before in its history.
The shaft at the Amador Queen is now down
about 500 feet. The small hoist now in use on
the property is proving inadequate FOR the
work at that depth, and they will take down
the Amador Gold mine hoist and erect 1t on
the Amador Queen property.
The Winnie and Yucca Tree mines in the
.Stringer district, Kern County, have been
sold by Cohen & O'Brien to o. q. Savage of
San Jose for $500.
1t is reported that the Oakland owners OF
the Frazier mine, Plumas County, will erect a
10-stamp mill early next summer and prose-
cute work vigorously.
The hydraulic mines all over Sskiyou are
starting up aud will be kept in operation from
now until next summer In the Salmon River
country and along the klamath some large
plants have been put in during the past few
years, which will largely increase the output
of gold in this county.
At the Templar mine near Indiana ranch,
Butte County, for several months five-stamp
mill has been operated satisfactorily. The
bond price was $40 600, and 1t is said the
company will enlarge the capacity of the mill
70 ten stamps.
The mine on the Gabbert ranch, Calhveras
County, has been sold and the parties are get
ting ready to sink shaft 1000 feet This
property is located about two and half miles
west of the mother lode, in the serpentine
formation. which can be traced for distance
of fifteen INLET running north and south.