418 Miscellanies. 



16. Minerals, Ores, Mines, ^c. examined. — W. W. Mather, 

 Mineral Surveyor, Mining Engineer, Chemist and Metallurgist, and 

 late Instructor in Chemistry, Mineralogy and Geology, and the ap- 

 plications of these sciences to the useful arts, at the U. S. Military 

 Academy at West Point, has established an office for the analysis 

 and assay of minerals and ores ; for the examination of mines, mi- 

 ning districts, mineral beds, quarries and quarry-stones; for commu- 

 nicating information upon the best methods of smelting and working 

 ores and minerals to bring them to a marketable state ; and for im- 

 parting all the various knowledge which is a necessary preliminary to 

 the successful prosecution of mining enterprises. So many mining 

 operations are undertaken through mistaken views of their probable 

 productiveness, and even of the nature of the mineral or ore, that it 

 is deemed necessary for the public interest that an office similar to 

 that mentioned should be established. This professional knowledge 

 is as important to the community, to prevent the undertaking of mi- 

 ning and metallurgic operations where they would be unproductive, 

 as to guide and direct enterprise to the most economical and profita- 

 ble methods of working mines and preparing their marketable pro- 

 ducts. 



Mr. Mather has had an experience of several years in the diffe- 

 rent branches of his profession, and now solicits the patronage of 

 the public. The office will impart information, not only upon the 

 subjects above mentioned, but upon the applications of all mineral 

 substances to the various useful purposes of life. 



Letters, post paid, addressed to W. W. Mather, Mining Engineer, 

 No. 95 State-street, Albany, soliciting information, and enclosing a 

 fee of five dollars, will be promptly attended to. Should it be ne- 

 cessary to examine the locality of the mineral or ore, or make an 

 assay or chemical analysis, or make drawings, and give descriptions 

 of machinery, furnaces, &c. &,c. an additional fee will be charged, 

 varying in amount according to circumstances. 



17. Mineralogical and Geological Collections. — Messrs. Ma- 

 ther Si Hall have large collections of mineral, fossil and geologi- 

 cal specimens, to illustrate American Mineralogy and Geology, which 

 they will sell at reasonable rates. They will pack and forward sets 

 of mineralogical specimens, well characterized, of fine quality, and 

 many of them crystallized, to any part of the United States or to 

 Europe, at the following rates, viz : 



