312 MINING INDUSTET. 



per month. This product is divided, by assortment, into two classes. The 

 first consists of rich mineral, of which the average assay value is about ^500 

 per ton. This is put up in sacks and shipped to San Francisco, where it is 

 worked by some of the local metallurgical establishments, or sold for export 

 to England. In either case the realized product amounts to about 80 per 

 cent, of the assay value. 



The second-class ore, having an average assay value of about $60 or $70 

 per ton, is worked in mills, near the mine, by crushing under stamps and 

 amalgamation in pans. The proportion of first-class to second-class ore is 

 said to be about one ton in twelve or fourteen. Thus, in the month of Sep- 

 tember, in which the average relation of the two classes is said to be fairly 

 represented, the Silver Mining Company produced 300 tons of second-class, 

 or crushing ore, and shipped to San Francisco 25 tons of first-class ore. 



There are three mills in the neighborhood working on the ores pro- 

 duced from these mines. Two of them belong to Messrs. Fall and Tem- 

 ple, or the company represented by them; the other, to the Silver Mining 

 Company. They are situated near the mouth of Buena Vista Canon, in the 

 foot-hills of the range, just below the town of Unionville, and a mile and a 

 half or two miles from the mine. One of Fall and Temple's mills was 

 built several years ago, and was in process of reconstruction when visited. 

 It has a partly sufficient water-power; when rebuilt it will have ample steam- 

 power, and be supplied with ten stamps of 650 pounds weight, two large 

 Wheeler and Randall Excelsior pans, and one smaller Wheeler pan ; besides 

 the usual accompanying settlers, agitators, &c. 



The new mill of Fall and Temple has ten stamps of 750 pounds weight, 

 six pans, (four Yarney and two Wheeler,) and three settlers, or separators. 

 This mill is driven by steam. The Silver Mining Company's mill has five 

 stamps of 650 pounds weight, two Wheeler and Randall Excelsior pans, one 

 Horn pan, and two settlers, or separators. The stamps in this mill crush 

 about 10 tons of ore per day, working the pulp in the Wheeler and Randall 

 pans, and reserving the Horn pan for the treatment of tailings. 



The ores in all these mills are worked in similar manner, the process 

 generally resembling that in use at Washoe. They are crushed wet and 

 amalgamated in pans without roasting. The ores, however, are not so docile 



