316 DIAMOND HUNTING IN GEORGIA. 



large collections of the substance are being made at points where it flows 

 from fissures in the rocks, in quantities of from four hundred to five hundred 

 weight i^er daj^. The sulphur comes from a burning mine within the moun- 

 tain ; and, in order to give it time to coo], so as to admit of gathering it, the 

 outlets are frequently closed for brief periods. Quite recently on opening 

 one of these closed fissures, it was found that the sulphur had disappeared ; 

 and, in order to renew the flow, it was suggested to tunnel down toward the 

 mine. Hardl}^ was the work begun, however, before the pressure in the rear 

 of the obstructing mass became too great for the latter to withstand, and a 

 terrific exjjlosion ensued, hurling the workmen into the air, killing five and 

 wounding badly six more. 



Diamond Hunting in Georgia — Col. Lowman and Dr. Stephenson are 

 washing for diamonds and rubies near the city, and have no doubt of suc- 

 cess. Col, Lowman is practically acquainted with the workings of the Bra. 

 zilian mines, and Dr. Stephenson is known to most of our people as an ex- 

 perienced miner and mineralogist. They are opening several veins of 

 asbestos, and soon expect to open a corundum fissure, as the gold washings 

 below the hill yield several pounds weekly of superior corundum, which 

 justifies the belief that they will find the ruby and sapphire, all of which 

 are chemically the same pure alumina. The specimens we saw are splen- 

 did. They also are finding elegant garnets and kyanites. — Gainesville {Ga.) 

 News. 



A remarkable example of rapidity in deep boring has lately been fur- 

 nished by the first bore hole put down by a company formed to search for 

 coal in Switzerland. A depth of 1,422 feet was reached in two months, in- 

 cluding the reboring of the upper 640 feet from 3| inches to 7 inches in di- 

 ameter. The work was done, including all delaj^s, at the rate ef over 1,000 

 feet per month, the highest speed being nearly 77 feet in 24 hours. The re- 

 sults obtained were negative, the section showing about 1,200 feet of Per- 

 mian strata resting upon old crystalline rocks ; but the trial is only the 

 first of a series. 



A substitute for gunpowder, invented in England, is called "powder pa- 

 per." It is paper impregnated with a mixture of potassic chlorate, nitrate, 

 prussiate and chromate, powdered wood charcoal, and a little starch. It 

 leaves no greasy residue on the gun, produces less smoke and less recoil, 

 and is less impaired by humidity, and it is 5-16ths stronger than gunpowder. 



