PROCEEDINGS OF THE POLYTECHNIC ASSOCIATION, 499 



Dr. Vanderweyde incidentally remarked that aluminum, while 

 it will withstand the action of nitric acid, will not resist alkalies, 

 and will not withstand soap ; so that it is not suited for cooking 

 utensils. 



Dr. Stevens alluded to the victories of Napoleon, won with the 

 smoolh-bore gun, round balls, and flint-lock muskets. At the 

 siege of Toulon, he drove away the British ships, while his near- 

 est batteries were three, and some of them five, miles off. What 

 have we gained upon that ? The success of an army depends 

 more upon the feeding of its soldiers than upon the length of 

 their guns. 



The same subject was continued for another week. 



Adjourned. 



American Institute, Polytechnic Association, 



January 30, 1862. 

 Mr. R. L. Pell in the chair. 



OFFERS FOR PREMIUMS. 



Messrs. Bartlett & Lesley oflered for competition : The Polar 

 Refrigerator ; the New Gothic Furnace ; the Water, Wine and 

 Butter Cooler. 



Mr. J. W. Moore offered for competition : Elliot's Pocket Re- 

 volver ; Elliot's Hand Printing Press ; Elliot's Spring Bed. 



Referred to the Section of Mechanics. 



pike's peak. 

 Mr. Walker, upon invitation, gave a description of the settle- 

 ments in the neighborhood of Pike's Peak, in the Rocky moun- 

 tains. 



\ The greatest disadvantage under which the settlers in that region 

 labor, is the want X)f a reliable method of separating gold from 

 quartz. At present a large proportion of the gold is undoubtedly 

 thrown away, for frequently analysis shows that $300 worth of 

 gold ought to be found in a ton of quartz ; and yet although it, 

 the ore, is probably uniform in its character, $20 worth is all 

 that can be obtained. Amalgamation with mercury, in the ordi- 

 nary way, does not answer the purpose, for the gold dust may 

 be stirred into the quicksilver, and they will not unite. But if the 

 quicksilver be first amalgamated with a copper or brass plate, 

 the gold will then unite with it to some extent. I have examined 

 every amalgamator I could find, and I have seen nothing that I 



