! no Ws BANCROFT LIBRARY o THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY J. W. POWELL DIRECTOR QUICKSILVER ABSTRACT FROM "MINERAL RESOURCES OF THE UNITED STATES, CALENDAR YEARS 1&S3 AND l^r ALIJERT^VVILLLVMS, JK., CHIEF OF DIVISION OF MINING STATISTICS WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1885 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY J. W. POWELL DIRECTOR QUICKSILVER ABSTRACT FROM "MINERAL RESOURCES OF THE UNITED STATES, CALENDAR YEARS 1883 AND 1884 ' ? ALBERT ^WILLIAMS, JR., CHIEF OF DIVISION OF MINING STATISTICS WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1885 QUICKSILVER. Present status of the industry. The quicksilver industry is in a de- pressed condition. The production has fallen off largely, but this has not had the effect of stimulating prices to a great extent,, though just at the close of 1884 a slight improvement occurred. The leading causes of this depression are the sharp foreign competition in the markets of the world and the decrease in the demand for quicksilver in amalgamating mills. An important outlet for domestic quicksilver, the manufacture of vermilion in China, is apparently closed for the present, the Chinese having obtained their supply in 1884 from other sources. For several years the few California mines in operation have either been worked with a slender margin of profit or at a loss ; and one by one the list of producers has dwindled, the survivors being of course the richest and best equipped establishments. The New Almaden was the only one which paid a dividend in 1884. It cannot be said that the outlook for the immediate future is especially cheering. With many metallic prod- ucts a cheapening in price means an increase in consumption ; as, for instance, in the case of copper, which finds a partial relief in the more extended field caused by the growing use of brass in the arts ; or as with Bessemer steel, which is gradually supplanting other formerly cheaper materials of construction. The quicksilver consumption, on the contrary, is very inelastic. Important discoveries of gold and sil- ver ores suitable for amalgamation would have a favorable effect on the quicksilver trade, but it is not likely that the amalgamation method will regain its former position in precious-metal metallurgy, as compared with smelting and leaching processes. New utilizations, such as those mentioned in a subsequent paragraph, may, however lighten the mar- ket. Domestic sources. In addition to the localities enumerated in the pre- vious report a few doubtful occurrences, lacking confirmation, have been reported in the newspapers, but it is safe to say that nothing new of any importance has been found. The actual production is exclusively from the California mines, of which the New Almaden and Guadalupe, in Santa Clara county ; the New Idria, in Fresno county ; the Sulphur Bank, Hedington, and Great Western, in Lake county, and the Napa and ^33tna, in Napa county, have furnished nearly all of the recent supply. In the table of production the yield of a number of the less important mines in past years is stated individually. In 1870 about thirty mines were productive, but only eleven yielded any quicksilver in 1834, of which only six produced over 1,000 flasks, and the number 492 1 ti QUICKSILVEE. 493 j was still further reduced at the eiid of the year. Even the Guadalupe and the Sulphur Bank, mines well equipped with plant for mining and treating ores, have now practically ceased work. The active mines now number but six. with fifteen furuaces in operation. An improvement in the market, if it promised to be lasting, would lead to the reopening of a few of the best of the now idle mines, but for the majority of the 'abandoned claims there is little hope. Production. The statistics of production have been compiled by Mr. J. B. Eaudol, manager of the i^ew Almaden mine, and present a full report of the American quicksilver output. Mr. Kandol's work is a model of statistical completeness. It will be noticed that in 1883 there were 6,0(K flasks less made than in 1882 5 while the decrease in 1884, as corn- pared w 7 ith the yield in 1883, was even greater, amounting to a differ- ence of 14,812 flasks. The output m 1884 was less than in any year since 1874, and much less than half that of the most prosperous years. It was also below the average for the whole series of years from the in- ception of quicksilver mining in the United States, the average for the thirty-five years having been 39,095 flasks. 494 MINERAL K.mnu ; BIUOJ[[B3 JO i noponpoad 8B .53 i puBjjapang OIUB90() uqop ; -a 03 jnq d t tig asp 5 -soaitu STIOI.IBA jo : : aoipnpozd ai papnpui '(eis^B f 6S'8 i p9}mtjS9) ^g^qButc^qo ^oagigl o^. enoiAaad aotpnpo.id A'[aBai ;ll i i i 'CCOCOOt^-COCSI' .^rtS-*ooi-i' -BQUIUI d ui pspupai '(8j[BBg OOO'I uoipnpoid oa !)nq 'sigl i JOijd p9onpoa i::::::::::::::::::::: :f SiHliSi^l! I . t ' i I I I I. I. I I I r*c^iie*fio<&tGtii9i ut papnpaj ' jo nononpo.td 5hS^^ aiBoineg) 9[q ~~fj*t.*' - euoiA9ad aoponpoad jf [JBai" ^ * "^ J5 * * " s' s Oef 11 5? ' ' ' ' COIMt^C-MSaiOSVlTfNc |* t~ t~ O O 13 -a- O IO >-i I I '. ! '. '. '. '. '. ! '. 1 ! I '. '. ', '. '. '. '. ! '. I ; 8 88 eo c <* w t 3 o o< E? ' ' lOoo'cToTojo'^ria'N' ^(M^io-^c^^xoooto^oococ^e; tooojTt-i-^<-j ^m-^Tl'inOuO^-l-^lM-^CsP-r-ioOOOO.ic^St^OOO "* 35 o w 55 w 1882 1883 1884- > ,3 f Ss 496 MINERAL RESOURCES. Production of quicksilver in California in 1883, by months. a . ri d H Flasks. Flasks. Flasks. Flanks. FVkg. Flasks. Flasks. Flasks. FVbs. Flasks. 2 497 112 367 280 77 390 590 262 7 4,582 February 2, 150 133 181 310 3C4 295 156 4 3,600 March " 2 230 142 202 335 305 485 162 14 3,875 April 1 756 76 243 310 294 530 142 3 3, 354 May 2 344 144 135 350 293 325 164 13 3, 7G8 June 2 214 137 165 91 400 360 184 10 3, 561 July 2 618 85 141 130 446 452 150 2 4,024 August 3 000 139 94 112 315 695 76 4,431 3 010 164 45 265 297 750 81 30 4 642 October 2*672 272 109 206 215 5 I 134 4,129 November 2,212 115 78 160 208 613 102 3, 488 December 2 297 87 134 63 342 274 56 18 3,271 Total 29 000 1 606 1 894 2 612 84 3 69 5 890 1,669 101 46, 725 a Production of ,3tna and Napa- mines in 1883 under heading of Napa mine. Production of quicksilver in California in 1884, by months. jj s g gj i a? c eS M s "CD Months. j3 i a 1 1 00 } H a ^a -3 eS j +J I . I s ? * 1 I _g 1 2 B 9 i % fc & OJ (3 & $ fc o > H Flasks. Flasks. FVks. Fl'ks. Flasks. Flasks. FVks. FVks. FVks. FVks. Flasks. January 1 440 103 127 263 373 329 135 28 7 2,805 February 458 59 104 241 276 174 9 ? 321 March 606 36 123 68 223 249 152 2 2,459 785 75 50 76 232 422 69 2 709 May 672 125 53 200 169 245 6 2,470 859 44 118 200 258 215 2 694 July 543 29 71 52 200 258 374 101 2 628 804 63 47 20 306 334 228 110 '> 912 September 1 448 67 52 35 58 354 136 169 58 2 377 October 1,625 115 68 25 160 328 153 90 104 2, 668 November 1 900 ]57 32 53 150 230 132 240 91 2 985 December 1,860 152 36 98 105 292 172 130 40 2, 885 Total 20, 000 1,025 J,U 881 890 1,179 3, 292 2,931 1,376 332 7 31, 913 Foreign production. The leading foreign quicksilver mines are the Al- inaden, in Spain, and the Idria, in Austria. Compared with these, the other foreign sources are insignificant. The Almaden has been worked for hundreds of years, and is still producing largely. Its output from 1504 to 1875 was 120,179 Spanish tons, or 3,482,758 flasks of 75 Spanish pounds (of 76.07 pounds avoirdupois). Up to the close of 1884 it had yielded 3,918,784 flasks, an average production of about 12,000 flasks yearly for 319 years. The Idria mine was discovered in 1490 or 141)7, and next to the Almaden has furnished the greater part of the world's quicksilver supply for nearly four centuries. Since 1850, however, the California mines have contributed one-half of the total supply, QUICKSILVER. 497 Production of theAlmaden mine (Spain) and Ihe Idria mine (Austria") from 1850 to close of 1884. Years. A 1 m a d e n (in periods of five years). Idria. Years. Almaden (in periods of five years). Idria. 1850 Flasks. \ 101, 517-J J ( 1 ( 1 j- 110, 058 < J I 1 j 1 *"1 [> 153, 224 -j Flask*. 4,100 4,092 4,085 4,409 i, OCO 4,446 5,935 9,189 4,977 8, 239 4,821 6,493 4,712 5,878 4*, 908 5,327 7, 532 8, 253 9,179 1870 Flasks. 1 f V 165, 608 ^ 1 1 j> 208, 200 < 041, 640 50, 353 46, 591 46, 143 43, 099 Flasks. 10, 745 10, 904 11,116 10, 939 10, 789 10, 717 10, 794 11,020 10, 403 11,153 12, 356 11,333 11. 663 13; 152 613, 000 185 L 1871 1852 ; 1872 1853 i 1873 1854 1874 1^55 i 1875 1856 1876 1857 i 1877 1858 I 1878 1859 . . 1 1879 1860 1880 1861 j 1881 1862 1863 1883 . . 18G4 1884 18G5 Total, thirty-five years.. 1866 . 1, 088, 550 288, 982 1867 1868 18C9 a Yearly. 6 Estimated. The world's production of quicksilver from 1850 to the close of 1884. Localities. Number of flasks. Pounds avoirdupois to the flask. California 1 389 316 76 50 Spain . . ... l' 088* 550 76 07 Austria 288 982 76 07 Total... 2. 766. 848 Prices. Until recently it lias been customary in this country to quote the price of quicksilver at so many cents per pound, while in the Lon- don market quotations have been in pounds sterling per flask. It is now becoming the rule in San Francisco to state prices by the flask, at the American standard of 76J net pounds avoirdupois. For conven*. ience in comparing the two systems a conversion table, prepared by Mr. Randol, is appended, which shows equivalent prices per flask and per pound, within the range of recent fluctuations : Price of quicksilver per flask and per pound. Per flask. Equivalent iii cents per pound. Per flask. Equivalent in cents per pound. i Per : flask. Equivalent in cents per pound. Per flask. Equivalent in cents j per pound. $26. 00 . 33. 98 $29.00 37.91 $32. 00 41.83 ! $35. 00 45.75 26.25 34.31 29. 25 38. 23 32.25 42.16 35.25 46.07 26.50 34.64 29.50 38.56 32. 50 42.48 35.50 46.40 26.75 34.96 29.75 38.89 32. 75 42.81 35.75 46.73 27.00 35.29 30.00 39. 21 33. 00 43. 14 ! 36.00 47.05 27. 23 35.62 30.25 39.54 i 33. 25 43.47 ! 36.25 47.38 27.50 35.95 30.50 39.87 ! 33. 50 43. 79 ; 36. 50 47.71 27.75 36. 27 30.75 40.20 ! 33.75 44.12 36.75 48.04 28.00 36.60 31.00 40.52 i 34.00 44.45 37.00 48.36 28.25 36.93 31.25 40. 85 | 34.25 44.77 : 37.25 48.69 28.50 37.25 31.50 41.18 i 34. 50 45. 10 ! 37.50 49.02 28.75 37.58 31.75 41. 50 34. 75 45.43 ! 37.75 49.34 2 M 498 MINERAL RESOURCES. The following table shows the range in price since 1850 in the two great markets. The lowest price ($25.25 per flask) at San Francisco was touched in 1879, though the average for the year 1883 ($26.83 as computed by averaging monthly quotations) was the lowest yearly aver- age. While prices were also very much depressed during the greater part of 1884, a sudden rise to $35 toward the close of the year brought the average of the monthly quotations up to $29.34 for the year. Com- puted at these averages, the total value of the product of 1883 was $ 1,253,632, and that of J 884 was $936,327. The highest price was reached in 1874 and 1875, when quicksilver sold up to $118.55 per flask, at which time the demand for amalgamation was great, and before the subsequent temporary expansion in production. Thus the minimum price was less than a quarter of the highest rate obtained, showing a remarkably wide range in values. Highest and lowest prices of quicksilver during ihe past thirty-Jive years. Years. Price in San Fran- cisco per flask. Price in London per flask. Highest. Lowest. Highest. Lowest. 1850 . $114. 75 76.50 61.20 55. 45 55.45 55. 45 51.65 53. 55 49.75 76.50 57.35 49.75 38.25 45.90 45.90 45. 90 57 35 $84. 15 57.35 55.45 55. 45 55.45 51. 65 51.65 45.90 45. 90 49.75 49.75 3f45 34.45 38. 25 45. "0 45.90 45.90 45.90 45.90 45.90 45.90 57.35 65.00 68.85 91.80 49.75 34.45 30.60 29.85 25. 25 27.55 27.90 27.35 26.00 26.00 . 15 13 11 8 7 6 6 6 7 7 7 7 7 7 9 8 8 7 6 6 10 12 13 20 26 24 12 9 7 8 7 7 6 5 6 s. 15 10 16 15 17 10 10 10 6 17 17 10 5 15 15 6 17 15 d. 6 6 . 13 12 9 8 7 6 6 6 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 6 6 6 6 6 9 10 12 19 9 7 7 6 5 6 6 5 5 5 *. d. 2 6 5 7 6 2 6 5 10 10 10 5 10 17 6 17 6 16 16 16 16 10 17 17 2 7 17 7 6 2 6 15 5 2 6 1851 1852 1853 i.-Ct-l 1855 lh.,6 1 857 1 c: 58 1851) IhGO 1<6-1 18U4 ib(j;j .. lHi4 1865 18uti 1867 45.90 45. 90 45.90 68>5 68.85 66.95 91.80 118.55 118. 55 53.55 44.00 35. 95 34. 45 34.45 31.75 29.10 28.50 35.00 1&69 1870 1871 ... '872 1873 . . .. 1874 1875 187(5 1877 . . 1878 1879 . ... 1880 1881 1882 jgg3 . . . 1884 Extreme range in thirty-five years 118. 55 25.25 26 5 2 6 QUICKSILVER. 499 Monthly quotations of quicksilver at San Francisco in 1883 and 1884 per flask. Months. 1883. 1884. Highest. Lowest. Highest. Lowest. $26. 75 27.25 28.00 27.00 27.00 28.50 28.50 27.50 26.75 26. 50 26.50 26.25 $26. 00 26.00 26.75 26.75 26.75 26.75 27.50 26. 25 26.25 26.50 26.00 26.00 $26. 25 29.00 29.00 29.00 29.00 29.00 29 00 30.00 31.00 30. 50 34.00 35.00 $26. 00 26.00 28 00 28.00 29.00 29.00 28.75 28.75 30.iO 29.00 29.00 32.00 March April May . June .. July August . September ... - October December . Extreme ran "'e ...... 28.50 $26 26.00 ^83 35.00 $25 26.00 / ' (.34 Average Imports. The largest importation of quicksilver was in tbe fiscal year 1883, when the amount rose to 1,500,000 pounds. In that year, how- ever, the exports were also large, reaching 2,750,000 pounds. The im- ports during the last fiscal year fell to less than a tenth of the amount imported in the fiscal year 1883. Quicksilver imported and entered for consumption in the United States, 1867 to 1884 inclu- sive. Fiscal years ending June 30 Quantity. Value. Fiscal years ending June 30 Quantity. Value. 1867 Pounds. $15 248 1876 Pounds. 78 902 $50 164 1868 152 68 1877 38 230 19 558 1869 11 1878 294 207 135 178 1870 239 223 107 646 1879 519 1 9 5 217 770 1871 30 1' 965 137 332 1880 116 700 48 463 1872 370 303 189 94:{ 1881 138 517 57 733 1873 99 898 74' 140 1882 . 597 898 233 057 3874 51 20 -) 5-? 093 183 1 552 738 593 367 1875 6 870 20 957 1884 136 615 44 035 Mercurial preparations imported and entered for consumption in the United Spates, 1867 to 1883 inclusive, (a) Fiscal years ending June 30 Blue-mass. Calomel. Mercurial preparations uot otherwise specified. Total value Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value. 1867 Pounds. 1,009 919 259 125 489 455 397 485 533 395 207 188 $667 660 192 109 365 327 252 266 2C2 236 124 79 Pounds. 8,241 5, 520 6,138 2,424 5 433 4,649 4,133 5,875 4,780 8, 177 5,215 8,732 $4,242 4,440 4,516 6, 306 3. 147 6,590 5,240 6,676 2,817 5,820 4, 305 3,576 4, 6:!5 3, o30 5, H40 3,411 5,503 $629 699 4, 3:J4 52 92 90 363 6,453 30 116 58 190 $2, 242 4.440 4! 516 6,306 3,147 7,886 6,599 11,202 2,978 6,277 4, 722 4,191 11,354 3, 622 5,992 3,593 5,772 1868 1869 1870 1871 1872 1873 1874 1875 1876. 1877 1878 1879 1880 1881 . . 1882 1833 a Not specified in 1884. 500 MINERAL RESOURCES. Exports. The maximum exportation was in the fiscal year 1877, when it'reached nearly 4,000,000 pounds. In the fiscal year 1884 less than a third of that amount, and less than half of the amount for 1883, was exported. The yearly exports since 1854 are shown in the following table : Quicksilver of domestic production exported from the United States. Fiscal years ending June 30 Quantity. Value. Fiscal years ending June 30 Quantity. Value. 1854 Pounds. $94 335 1870 Pounds. 1 200 385 $511 918 1855 806 119 3871 994, 005 732 845 1856 831 724 1872 86 C94 691 637 1857 665 480 1873 714, 783 626 021 1858 129 184 1874 501 389 f>80 :V1 1859 1875 986 469 (75, 706 I860 053 688 1876 2 711 584 740 29:? 1861 631 450 1877 3,894,311 , 7(57 2i;i> 1862 1 237 643 1878 2 552 388 230 COG 1863 1 237 116 1879 3 624,827 418 331 1864 1, 736, 596 976, 868 1880 3,574,412 1,300, 176 1865 1 e'^ 063 1881 . ... 2 055 948 1, 124 1)55 1866 2 948 699 1 508 039 1882 2 485 551 959 128 1867 1 73C 924 750 673 1883 2, 7ee, 554 1 020 8^7 1868 2, 995, 789 1,220 809 1884 1, 242, 080 427,219 1869 . . . 2. 152, 499 869. 803 Movement of quicksilver from San Francisco by aea and rail. Tears. Flasks. Tears. Flasks. 1850 6 467 1869 24 415 1851 10 791 1870 14, 240 1852 21 458 1871 16 330 1853 18 800 1872 16 780 1854 20 9/53 1873 11 164 1855 27* 165 1&74 11 750 1856 23 740 1875 37 8"9 1857 27 262 1876 49 046 1858 24 412 1877 5-2 CO") 1859 3* 399 1878 41 877 I860 9 488 1879 62, 85 1861 . 35 995 1880 46 294 1862 23 747 1881 4"> ~ f n 1863 .. " 26 014 1882 40 417 1864 36 9 9 7 1883 37 867 1865 4'' 469 1884 21 90 L 1866 30 287 1867 28* 8.T3 Tota 994 001 1868... 44. 506 The shipments shown in this and in the following table do not include supplies sent to local and Xevada precious-metal mines. Movement of quicksilver from San Francisco in 1883 and 1884 in detail. To 1883. 1884. Increase. Decrease. By sea: China .. . Flank*. 16 330 Flasks. 200 Flasks. Fla*k* 16 no Japan 1,253 588 OC5 10 764 5 404 5 360 970 'l55 81 r ) 600 110 490 ' 160 20 140 59 52 New Turk _ 3, 100 8, 300 5 *>50 Various. .. 11 22 11 Total by sea ! 33,247 By rail : Central Pacific, Southern Pacific, and Northern Pa- 4, cific railroads Grand total 37, 867 14, 901 7,000 ) 2,380 21,901 ]8, 346 (i Including about 3,500 flasks to Mexipo by Southern Pacific railroad, QUICKSILVER. 501 The following table shows the relation of the production to the out- ward movement, the difference being the balance available for coubump- tioii and stock on the Pacific coast : Relation of production to shipments from San Francisco. . . . . Years. Production. Shipments, Ualuuce. 1P80 . Flasks. 59, 9->G Flasks. 46, 294 J-'lai ks. 13, 632 1881 60,851 i 4.3, 799 lf>, 052 1882 . 52,732 , 40,417 ! 12,315 ] 883 46,725 37, f'67 8,858 18? 4 31 913 i 21 901 10 012 * ! i Movement of quicksilver at London. The imports during 1883 were 54,519 flasks, and the exports 48,997 flasks. lu 1884 the imports were 56,969 flasks, and the exports 52,492 flasks. The stock at London De- cember 31, 1884, was estimated at about 74,000 flasks. Virmilion is an artificial sulphide of quicksilver. In the United States the manufacture centers around New York City, with two estab- lishments in Philadelphia and one in Baltimore. The manufacturers of quicksilver vermilion are: D. F. Tiemann & Co., Sondheim, Alsberg & Co., and A. B. Ansbacher & Co., of New York City; C. T. Eaynolds & Co., of New York City and Chicago; G. & N. Poppelin, jr., of Balti- more ; J. T. Lewis & Co. and Glahn & Co., of Philadelphia. The pro- duction in the past three years is estimated as follows : Production of quicksilver vermilion in the United Stales, 1882, 1883, and 1884. Tears. Pounds. Price per pound. Total value. 1882 700 000 $0.45 $315,000 1883 650 000 45 29 9 500 1884 600 000 48 288 000 The falling off in production has been due partly to dullness of trade, and partly to the competition of other reds. The price was for some time stationary at 45 cents per pound, until November 22, 1884, when it was advanced to 55 cents, on account of the rise in price of quicksilver. The genuine quicksilver vermilion is known as u quicksilver," " Cali- fornia," or "English" vermilion. It is claimed to be of better quality than the imported, though the latter sells at 10 to 15 cents higher per pound. While there is probably little intrinsic difference, the home manufacturers are in better position to understand the taste of local consumers. The domestic vermilion is made from California quicksilver or from the foreign metal, indifferently, but more commonly from the former. The process is reported by Mr. Marcus Benjamin to consist in bringing quicksilver, sulphur, potassium hydroxide, and water together in a revolving drum. The mixture is gently heated until 115 Fabr. 502 MINERAL RESOURCES. is reached ; the temperature is then kept constant, and the reddening action proceeds. The composition of the vermilion is approximately mercury, 86.3 parts ; sulphur, 13.7 parts. A number of pigments known as vermilion, but not made from quick- silver, are on the market, under the names of "American vermilion," a chromate of lead, also known, as "Persian red," "Persian scarlet," "chrome red," " scarlet vermilion," etc. About 1,000,000 pounds of this material were made in 1883, and 750,000 pounds in 1884. " Imitation ver- milion" is an aniline color thrown on a lead body (oxide or carbonate), and is said to be fugitive. There are numberless names for it; "Colum- bian red," "zubia," "ruboide," "Eoman red," "Swiss red," etc. These colors have largely superseded true vermilion, as they are of a brilliant red, stand exposure fairly well, changing to a lighter color instead of a darker, as is the case with genuine vermilion, and are very much lower in price. The production of aniline vermilions was about 750,000 pounds in 1883, and 600,000 pounds in 1884. The chromate of lead vermilions sold at about 11 J cents per pound in 1883, and following the gradual decline in white lead (carbonate) fell to 10 cents in 1884. The various grades of aniline vermilion brought from 10 to 35 cents per pound in 1883, and declined to 8 to 25 cents in 1884, owing to the removal of the duty on aniline and eosine. Quicksilver vermilion is considered to be superior in body, permanency, and richness, but the question of price affects the sale. The scarlet chromates of lead, while possessing endur- ing qualities, lack body and are not so rich in color. Between the two, of late years, the eosine reds have appeared. Their color is exceedingly brilliant, and the body good; but their comparatively fugitive character is a drawback. In 1883 there were 16,330 flasks of quicksilver sent from the United States to China, all of which is supposed to have been made into ver- milion in the latter country ; but in 1884 the Chinese market was supplied with Spanish quicksilver sent from London, though a little American quicksilver may have reached China indirectly and thus escaped record. The imports of vermilion, with their declared foreign valuations, have been as follows : Vermilion imported and entered for consumption in the United States, 1867 to 1884 in- clusive. Fiscal years ending June 30 Quantity. Value. Fiscal years ending June 30 Quantity. Value. 1867 Pounds. $123 506 1876 Pounds. 18 9 $17 680 1868 90 648 1877 23 315 14 660 1869 247 382 145 665 1878 9 843 5 772 1870 104 523 57 262 1879 11 382 6 105 1871 79 195 43 935 1880 11 952 5 997 1872 120 067 49 237 1881 14 243 7*392 1873 87 008 65 796 1882 12 496 6 215 1874 42 324 39 443 1883 19 549 8 796 1875 9 460 10 831 1884 (a) 10 473 a Not specified. QUICKSILVER. 503 New uses for quicksilver. Mr. J. A. Bauer has called attention to the use of quicksilver as a preventive and cure for phylloxera. Corrosive sublimate was first tried by Mr. Bauer, but was not found to answer, as the mercuric chloride was speedily decomposed by the earths of the soils to which it was applied. The quicksilver is used in mixture with fine powdered clay, equal weights of each, and is so finely divided that separate globules of the metal cannot be distinguished under an ordinary microscope. This mixture of quicksilver and clay is added to the soil of the hole in which the vine is planted. Half an ounce of quicksilver to each vine is said to be about the proper quantity. The clay used must be free from grittiness ; the mixture with the quicksilver is done in revolving barrels. A number of experiments, said to have re- sulted satisfactorily, have been made. Another use has been suggested, namely, the use of a weak solution of corrosive sublimate (bichloride of mercury) as a disinfectant and germicide in case of epidemic cholera. These applications, if adopted on a large scale, would do much to relieve the quicksilver market.