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TRR SOUTHERN WORLD, JULY 1,1882, iP* 9^ft Silk Cnllore. This industry is taking on a decided "boom" in this country, yet not of such a wild and senseless character as the mania that airected the South over forty years ago. The number of men still living who lost heavily in the moms multicaulii excitement of that period, is sufficient to put the breaks on any undue rush into the business of growing mulberries and worms. The Wo man’s Silk Culture Association of Philadel phia, was organized two years ago, with the avowed purpose of calling the attention of the women of the country to this hitherto neglected and undeveloped Held of employ ment, and the ease and profit with which it may be entered and occupied by tiie gentler sex. The object in view is one than Bhould commend itself to every friend of progress, and especially to the women of onr country, whose necessities compel them to labor for the support of themselves or dependents. The avenues to honorable and profitable em ployment and independence open to women are too few in number, and he who is suc cessful in adding to the number, becomes a public benefactor. The success of this organization, so far, is somewhat remarkable. A wide-spread inter est in the subject of raising worms and pro ducing cocoons, which must produce in a few years very marked results, has been awakened. The Association announces that through the liberality of Messrs, Strawbridge and Clothier, the well known dry goods mer chants of Philadelphia, it is again enabled to offer to the silk cuiturists the sum of live hundred dollarsinten premiums, as follows: first premium, $100; second premium. $76; third premium, $06; fourth premium, $00; fifth premium, $60; sixth premium, $45! seventh premium, $10; eighth premium, $30; ninth premium, $36; tenth premium, $10. These premiums are open to all residents of the United States. From the ten largest amounts of cocoons, one pound will be taken without selection, and tested by reeling; the quantity and quality will be the conditions for premiums. The advantages of the business as an em ployment for women and children, are these: Any one owning or having the use of sufficient land to grow a few mulberry trees, can engage in it on a scale commensuratp with the time that may be spared from ordi nary domestic or other duties. Very little outlay is required to Btart the business. A few dollars laid out in eggs, a dozen or two mulberry trees, and a room whose ventila tion maybe thoroughly con trolled, are about all the requisites besides the nimble fingers and watchfnl, but rather pleasant care of the culturist. The work occupies but a small portion of the year, and does not interfere seriously with ordinary routine duties. In deed, there arc thousands of women in the country who could, if necessary, devote their whole time to the work. Notwithstanding the impoverished con dition of the South, the number of women who arc spending day after day in enforced idleness, or at most, very unprofitable em ployment, is very large. It is a well known and lamentable fact that some of our young ladies spend their time in utter Idleness, wasteful dissipation, or in devotion to dress; another still greater number are taught to look forward to a husband as the one thing needful to supply their victuals and clothes, and "take care of them." Add to these the great number of widows and other femmes sole who have no one to lean upon, and we find abundant reason to hail the progress of thisand other kindred employments with gratulations. R. Placer Mince In the Month. Mining Review. The wet weather, prevailing during the winter, and spring, was uot favorable to prospecting. Nevertheless, I accomplished the inspection of several placers in Burke, Rutherford and McDowell counties, N. C. They have many things in common with those on the Sierra Nevada. Both are located in the foothills of a great mountain chain with this difference, that the Sierra Nevada sends her foothills west, toward the Pacific ocean, which can be seen from many of the spurs; meanwhile, those of the Appala chians tend eastward. I cannot subscribe to the theory that their gold Is exclusively the product of abrasion of the quarts rock in which it was formerly contained, as there is a great deal of it found outside of these rocks in the ferrugeneous clay. It is not probable, that the water of both these oceans, then of much greater density and higher temperature than at present, carried gold, silver and other metals in solution, which were in consequence of altered chemioal con ditions, as the appearance of light and a gradually lowering temperature preci pi tated, where we find them now. The foot-hills of both mountain chains may be of the same geological age, but they probably belong to a later period. The quartz pebbles and sand carrying the gold east as well as west, are tinged yellow with hydrate of iron, not un likely the product of sulphate or a sulphide of iron, which may have been the cause of the precipitation of the gold as the former is used to this day for the same purpose. This fact may also account for the fine grade of all the placer gold. I have no assays from California placers gold at hand, but whatever l saw of Georgia, South and North Carolina washed gold, never fell below 090 fine and some Philadelphia mint returns showed even os high as (108 fine. The extent of the placer seems to be conditioned by the extent of the foot-hills from the main chain, not so their richness, and I venture to say, that a more complete exploration of the Appala chians from Maine to Alabama will in the future show more gold than the Sierra Ne vada. For working and production, the Rastern placers are much preferable, for various reasons. They are situated at an elevation 2,000 to 3,000 feet above ocean level and under the most genial climate, that per mits outdoor work all the year round, with out hindrance by frost. Another advantage is their splendid supply of water during all seasons of the year, and in a few instances, which came under my notice, where no water is close at hand, it can be got at a comparatively trivial cost. This I consider a main feature and will remain so, until the patents for dry working step out of their tombs in the Patent office into practical life. The capital required to bring water to many of the placers in California has until now, been a serious drawback to their utilization, although judging from recent statistics the production of gold from hydraulic mining is already ahead of that from the quartz mines. Labor in this section of the country is exceedingly cheap; 1 was offered a con tract to dig a ditch 600 yards long and three feet deep and threo feet wide, at the rate of 50 cents for a rod; if we cannot beat Cali fornia in richness we certainly can do it in cheapness. The valleys in which placer gold is found are from thirty yards to a mile wide and per fectly level, witli a watercourse in the center or on the sides presenting an even fall of 25 to 60 feet per mile which makes sluicing and the disposition of their tailings very easy. With a view to ascertain their contents in gold I had to be governed by the means on hand. As an ore scale in this region is a thing not to be had, I resorted to measure ment. The surface soil, being a good agri cultural loam, is never more than b!x feet thick, overlaying the gravel, I had a hole measuring a square yard, dug out, washing the gravel and carefully cleaning down to the bedrock, consisting of hard clay slate shale and in one Instance, of Syenite, and found from $1.60 to $2.80, in a scries of trials of this sort, giving an average of about $1.80 per square yard. This brings the contents of one acre up to about $8,500. It Ib time that these placers, not more than ten to fifteen miles from railroad facilities, should be taken in hand, and if worked with the same energy as those of California, would yield large and steady returns. Although there are in some sections of the country a few companies at work on a mod erate scale, hydraulic mining in this country is yet in its infancy, but from what I have stated here, certainly deserves the attention of capitalists. There are now about 3,000 acres of placer ground under my control, to which in a short time 2,000 more will be added. Lately I discovered a new use. to which gold and silver is subjected by a population, who is of a more saving and hoarding than speculative turn of mind. Nearly two years ago I bonded a tract will) the stipulation that, in case of purchase, the money hod to be paid iu gold and Bilver. It was in course of time sold and paid for according to the stipulation, although I had no little trouble to get $6,000 together in coin. Passing by on the road a few weeks ago I asked the former owner wbat he had done with the money, expecting him to by another farm or build a new house; very dryly he replied: "buried it." This is one out of a great many in stances, and it is very natural that a popula tion of whtch 00 per cent, can neither read nor write, should resort to such old fashioned ways. Chab. Q. Mann, M. E. Use soda to polish silverware. Manufacture or Chemicals. The report of special census agent W. L. Rowland upon the manufacture of chemicals in the United States shows that there are 1,310 establishments, having a capital of $85,486,856 and turning out products valued during the census year at $117,407,054. The value of manufactured manures or fertil izers is placed at $10,921,400. The report gives the following particulars: Total number of establishments in the United States 1,340 Capital invested, including the buildings and machinery $85,486,856 Wages paid MATERIALS. TONS. VALUE. Anthracite coal 273,171 $968,432 Bituminous coal 320,398 924,791 All other materials. 75,451,058 Total value of mate rials $77,344,281 PRODUCTS. POUND8. VALUE. Aniline colors 80,518 $107,202 Anthracenes 344,114 99,242 Sulphate of ammo nia 10,575,088 618,485 Alum 39,217,725 808,165 Borax 3,602,443 277,233 Bromine 404,600 114,752 Phosphorus 66,202 20,271 Stearic acid caudles 18,363,066 2,281,600 Oleic acid soap...:... 33,088,411 1,707,900 Other hard soaps 378,743,627 18,290,350 Soft soap 34,404,100 358,280 Glycerine 7,117,825 961,477 Nitroglycerine 3,030,722 1,830,417 Dry colors 07,482,415 4,086,821 White lead 123.477,800 8,770,609 Other suits of lead.. 11,375,466 758,680 /Cine oxide 20,121,761 766,333 Acetate of lime 6,593,009 156,892 Potash and pearlasl 4,671,671 232,643 Soda 40,259,038 866,560 Sulphur 1,200,000 21,000 Sulphuric acid 308,765,432 3,001,876 Glucose 151,830,435 4,551,212 All other products.. 44,946.831 Castor oil (IALLON8. 893,872 790,741 Manufactured ma nures TONS. 727,453 19,921,400 Ground Barytes 19,165 371,829 Total value of products $117,407,054 Going Cutler Ground. The Mining Record, of New York, the lending authority in mining circles, places Georgia right behind Idaho in its account of mining operations, which are now creat ing so much interest throughout the coun try, and such a boom among investors and s|>ecuIators. The Record alludes witli special prominence to the Dahlonega mines, and gives a full and graphic description of the Columbia mines, whose rich lead and veins have been opened by the sui>erintend- ent, Capt. Robertson, and which are now worked by machinery, mining damps, bat teries und wheels made in Atlanta. This home enterprise and work is a valuable sign of the times, and shows that Georgia is not behind in the great era of progress. The ore shows in ubundance, and the ten stamps now at work will soon be followed by twenty more under full headway. The Record says that many sales of min ing properties are making in the rich moun tains of Idaho, and gives account of the great operations that are in progress under Col. Green who has charge of the Red Cloud, Senate and Chief Mines. These are among the richest yet opened, and their smelters are turning out most valuable ores. The Red Cloud ledge is thirty feet wide, the seams extending to three and a half feet in thickness, from which 1,200 to 1,800 tons of ore are expected this season. The Senate and Chief mines under the same manage ment show same results, and the prospects are most flattering for the company. These valuable mines are being operated by the Senate Mining Company, and the fact that Augusta is Interested and investing in this company, of which Col. C. H. Fhinsy Is a trustee will make these facts read as pleasant information. In all the facts and findings Georgia is holding its own and deserved to be clossed with Idaho as a twin gem of the mineral mountains. A new era is dawning and the more we learn what is underground the greater do we prise the wealth and wonders that open to our view. To produce a glue that will resist water, boil one pound of glue In two quarts of skimmed milk. The Weather can be Foretold. If any one can do better than the Signal Service in this work of foretelling the weather, he should receive such encourage ment that the country may not lose a moment of his most valuable time.—South- kkn World, May 15,1882. The subject is, in reality, one of great national importance. ... If any scien tific investigation could bring the subject of weather changes within the region of ac tual knowledge, so that reasonable forecasts might be made concerning them, it would at once become manifest that scarcely any other subject could vie with them in univer sality of interest.—London Timet. Apply scientific methods and exactness to this study of the clouds and the atmos phere, and the result may be yet that “spells of weather” can be foretold with as much accuracy as eclipses, etc.—Troy, (N. Y.) Daily Times. It is singular that, notwithstanding the attention which has been devoted to the study of the weather for many hundred years, its laws have not yet been mastered. —New York Sun. He who attempts to predict the weather a few days or a week ahead, simply in the language of Shakespeare, "writes himself an ass.—Prof. J. IF. Chickering in American (N. Y.) Agriculturist. That the subject alluded to above is one exciting great interest at this time can not be questioned—that if reasonable pre dictions of weather changes can be made, their value cannot be estimated is equally unquestioned. Has any thing been done in tlds direction 7 The World stands on the side of encouraging it. The London Times says it would be a matter of great national importance. The Troy Times doesn't doubt that it may be done. The Sun thinks noth ing hus been done, and Prof. Chickering in a leading agricultural paper tells the farmers any one attempting it is "an ass.” Thus the matter stands before the reading public in several quarters of the globe. But sup pose predictions of weather changes for quite a number of yeurs have been made a few days, a week, a month und even now a year in advance, would it not be a great wonder that these newspapers were not bet ter informed about it, especially if it should also be proved that these predictions had been utilized and are of immense benefit where made and known 7 Now I don't propose to trouble your readers about as small a matter as weather predictions a week or a month ahead, al though I have witnessed their entire success several years in succession. But if the Southern World will stand by its assertion at the head of this article, we will soon have the pleasure of seeing the New York Sun take back what it said, and will probably not be further bored by Prof. Chickering under any other than un assumed name in our agricultural journals. I have before me the Western Farmers’ Almanac, containing predictions of the weather for the year 1882. The weather for January 1882 was prepared for the almanac one yeur ugo, although it was not published until lost December. Thirteen stations and districts in the United States are given, and the predictions for each one separately is made. The weather os it occurred at each one of these stations of the thirteen dis tricts for each day in the mouth of Jan uary 1882 lias just been received by me und I have received reports for no other month yet. If it should appear upon comparison that the weather predicted aud that reported for the Bame interval were unlike eacli other, and this liuppened more often than other wise, it would be accepted us proof complete that so fur os tills uttempt is concerned Chickering wus right. But on the other hand, if it so liapjiened that the interval of weather predicted corresponded with that reported for the sumo time more often than otherwise the proof should be accepted as complete that here, at least, was something offering itself that could not so easily be laid aside us an imposture, or fraud; in other words, the fact must bo accepted as a vindi cation from the suspicion of imposition or fraud. But rather if it should be found that throughout the month there was al most entire harmony between the predic tions and the report from all these stations, wbat must we do about that? It is unnec essary to say any more on this score. But here are the predictions and the results for only three districts. I would give the three in succession from the first Btation, but I Bent the comparison made with them to the Dally (N. Y.) Troy Timet, as I had promised its readers I would do last April, and I will