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pounds; average fall in inches, reckoned from the number of stamps only, 15.34; average fall in inches, reckoned from the number of mills only, 13.41; average fall in inches, reckoned from number and weight of stamps, or average fall of the average stamp of 603.83 pounds, 13.53; average speed by stamps, 29.69 drops per minute; average speed by mills, 30.82 drops per minute; average speed of the average 603.83pound stamp, falling 13.53 inches, 28.31 drops per minute; total horsepower developed, 383; average per stamp, (obtained by dividing by the total number of stamps,) .58; horse-power developed by the average stamp at average fall and speed, (calculated from the dynamical averages,) .58, which necessarily agrees with the foregoing; average per mill, 11.60 horse-power; total number of tons crushed daily, 537; average per stamp, .82; average per mill, 16.27; total number of tons crushed by the development of thirty-three horse-powers, one in each mill, 51.16; average per mill or stamp, numerically, 1.55; actual daily product per horse-power developed by the average stamp, 1.40 tons. These figures admit of further profitable discussion.

The difference between the gross and dynamical averages of weight of stamps indicates that the larger mills carry, on the whole, heavier stamps. The difference between the gross and dynamical averages of fall is slight, while both of these are considerably less than the numerical average, showing that the larger mills, on the whole, adopt a greater fall than the gross average, but the greater aggregate weight of metal in the smaller mills nearly restores the dynamical average to the prevailing fashion, as shown by the gross average. The differences in the averages of speed are more difficult to explain. It appears that 30.82 drops per minute is the fashion, and that the few large mills running at 15 and 16 do not reduce the numerical average below 29.69. But when the fall is taken into consideration, it appears that the slow-running stamps (as might be expected) drop further, thus increasing their effect, and reducing the real effective average speed to 28.31 drops per minute. The difference between the dynamical and numerical averages of daily product per horse-power shows that the mills developing less than 11.6 horse-power crush, on the whole, slightly more in proportion than those of greater capacity; but in view of the very great variations in the final column of the table, this residual difference is comparatively insignificant, and it may be assumed that deficiencies in economy are pretty equally divided between the two classes. If the matter turned upon the daily management only, the larger mills being presumably under more skillful management, might be called upon to show better results; but the conditions here discussed are mainly those of original construction; and some of the largest mills in this table are among the oldest and the worst.

How far is this exhibit invalidated by the conditions of discharge, size of screens, etc., and hardness of rock, not included in it? By the former, I think, not to any great extent, as it may safely be assumed that these conditions have been made as favorable in every case as the form of the battery and the necessities of amalgamation will allow, and, moreover, that the mortars and screens are of one general pattern, the California high mortar not being in favor, and Russia iron, punched, being preferred to wire screens, and slits to needle-holes. Variations in the diameter of shoes are, I must confess, more common, and constitute an element which I have disregarded only because the data are wanting. But this element, if included in the discussion, would strengthen the conclusions arrived at, since the mills having the largest diameter of shoe, as the Black Hawk and Gregory, which have 9-inch

shoes, do not reach on that account even the average efficiency. It may be inferred, therefore, that in crushing average quartz the conditions of weight and speed are more influential than slight variations in the crushing surface.

The hardness of rock is a serious disturbance to the calculations. Surface rock differs considerably from the deep quartz in this respect, and doubtless affects unfavorably the apparent results of the larger mills. It should be distinctly understood, therefore, that the general conclusions deduced from the table at the beginning of this chapter are modified by special conditions. If any mill shows a considerable departure from the average effectiveness, it is fair to inquire what kind of rock it is crushing before concluding that its superior or inferior capacity is due to the weight, drop, and speed of the stamps.

With these qualifications, we may assume that the average or normal stamp of Colorado weighs about 600 pounds, drops about 13.5 inches, about 28 times a minute, and crushes 82 tons daily, or about 1.4 tons per horse-power developed. This is probably less than the average effi ciency, measured in the same way, of California stamps. It is, indeed, somewhat in excess of the estimate of Mr. Ashburner, whose observations some five years ago led him to fix upon 1.25 tons daily per horsepower, as the average result of the stamp-mills of California, but improvement of construction since introduced have increased their capacity.

The mill at Lone Pine, Inyo County, (p. 22 of my last report,) is said to crush per horse-power, daily, 3.81 tons, with 650-pound stamps, dropping 8 inches, 60 times per minute.

The table of quartz mills in Tuolumne County, California, (Ib., p. 26,) gives the following results when reduced:

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The stamp-mills of Sutter Creek mining district, in Amador County, California, (Ib., p. 34,) show, by a similar calculation, the following results:

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The table of quartz mills in Eldorado County, California, (Ib., p. 37,) yields, under discussion, the following results:

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The quartz mills of Colfax district, Placer County, (Ib., pp. 39, 42,)

show:

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Some of the quartz mills of Nevada County, California, show the following results, (see report of 1870, pp. 44, 200; and report of 1869, pp 23, 26, 27, 29 :)

* Estimated.

H. Ex. 10-25

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Four mills in Sierra County, California, (see report of 1870, p. 68,) show the following:

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Some of the quartz mills of Yuba County, California, (Ib., p. 71,) give:

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The quartz mills of Oregon gulch, Butte County, California, (Ib., p. 74,) give:

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The quartz mills of Plumas County, California, (Ib., pp. 76, 78,) show

the following relative efficiencies:

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*These figures are so large that they should be rejected as involving either an error in the report, or some unexplained peculiarity of conditions of operation.

The quartz mills of Shasta County, California, (Tb., p. 85,) show the following calculated efficiency:

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The Hermit Mill, in the Sweetwater district, Wyoming, (Ib., p. 331,) shows the following: Weight, 650; speed, 80; drop, 84; tons daily per horse-power, 1.79.

An interesting comparison may be made with the stamp-mills of Australia and Brazil. (Ib., pp. 677-79.) The rough averages given for the different Australian districts cannot be very closely discussed; but by taking the arithmetical means of the maxima and minima of horsepower and product given, we have:

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