EFFERVESCING  CARBONATE  OF  IRON.  157 
the  legal  embarrassments  which,  in  1858,  were  placed  on  the 
production  of  a  leading  mine,  but  the  prospect  is  fair  that  we 
shall  largely  exceed  in  the  exportation  of  this  metal  the  pre?ent 
year  any  preceding  year  in  our  history.  Indeed,  we  have  already 
run  ahead  of  1857,  our  largest  previous  export  year,  by  2,586 
flasks,  and  the  demand  is  steadily  increasing,  the  increased  re- 
quirement being  large  in  the  direction  of  Mexico,  which  country 
at  this  time  is  our  second  best  customer,  China  being  first  on  the 
list.  The  following  have  been  our  exports  and  the  value  there- 
of, from  January  1st,  present  year,  to  date  : 
To  Flasks.  Value. 
China  14,588  $469,498  00 
Mexico   7,632  236,732  20 
England   2,000  60,030  00 
Peru   1,808  58,232  50 
Chili   1,559  49,920  00 
Australia   1,350  45,850  00 
New  York   625  23,265  00 
Central  America   132  4,193  20 
Vancouver  Island   104  3,328  38 
Japan   50  1,500  00 
Total  29,848  $952,519  28 
It  may  be  regarded  as  not  a  little  singular  that  quicksilver 
producing  countries  are  among  our  best  customers  for  this  metal. 
China,  Mexico,  and  Central  and  South  America,  all  produce  the 
article,  but  through  lack  of  energy  or  skill  in  its  production, 
are  forced  to  depend  on  imports.  Its  large  consumption  in 
China  is  mainly  in  the  manufacture  of  vermillion.  In  Mexico, 
Central  America,  &c,,  we  need  scarcely  state  that  its  sole  em- 
ployment is  as  an  amalgamator  of  the  precious  metals. 
At  present,  as  far  as  we  can  learn,  nearly  all  our  mines  are 
in  active  course  of  development.  The  New  Almaden,  the  New 
Idria,  the  Enriqueta,  and  others,  are  turning  out  the  metal 
in  unwonted  abundance,  while  from  the  north  we  hear  that  the 
interesting  Geyser  discoveries  are  about  being  worked  on  a  scale 
commensurate  with  the  high  expectations  entertained  for  them. 
What  effect  this  increased  production  may  exert  on  prices  re- 
mains to  be  seen. — Alta  Californian. 
EFFERVESCING  CARBONATE  OF  IRON. 
In  the  last  number  of  the  Chemist  and  Druggist  we  noticed 
some  very  well  made  effervescing  Chalybeates.    As  some  of  our 
