﻿280 PICTORIAL MISCELLANY 



they are showing them how to conduct the wonts in a better man- 

 ner. 



There are silver mines in Mexico, as well as mines of gold. In- 

 deed, silver, although the second in rank, is first in importance in a 

 commercial point of view, on account of the much greater quantity 

 obtained from the mines. 



Silver, as is the case indeed with most other metals, is found in a 

 variety of different ores. It is sometimes pure, or in veins which 

 penetrate every crevice of the stony rock to which the metal adheres; 

 but, more frequently, it is mixed with other matters, which must be 

 separated from it; so that its first appearance varies much, as it is 

 ash-colored, reddish, bluish, often black, and sometimes in pointed 

 forms, like crystals. 



The manner of refining it differs but little from the processes used 

 with gold ; except that none is obtained by mere washing, though it 

 is cleared from earthy particles with water. The workers depend 

 chiefly upon amalgamating it with quicksilver ; but in this case 

 there is more difficulty than with gold ; as silver clings more power- 

 fully to the mineral substances with which it is united, and the pro- 

 cess requires more labor and care. 



Silver is found also in Norway, Sweden, and in great abundance 

 in Siberia, near Chinese Tartary ; and in moderate quantities in 

 many other countries. It forms, as you know, the principal part of 

 tiie circulating coins of all countries, being a medium between gold, 

 which is very valuable, and brass, or copper, which is very cheap. 

 It is also manufactured into many varieties of table ware, and con- 

 siderably used as ornaments to carriages, and the like. 



About Railroads. 



IN building a railroad, the preliminary trouble, before the first sod 

 is turned, is no trifling task. Leaving out of the question the 

 visionary schemes, projected for the purpose of gambling or specu- 

 lation, let us consider what has to be effected before a railroad can 

 be commenced. 



These undertakings generally begin with a few individuals inter- 

 ested in a proposed line. A meeting is called, and the matter is 



