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lands were cultivated to supply the miners; roads were cut through the difficult passes of the mountains; steamboat and stage lines were established; and the country from the western slopes of the Sierra Nevadas to the shores of the Pacific, for many hundred miles north and south, became suddenly filled with an industrious, intelligent and enterprising population. Even in those early days, however, as the surface placers receded towards their sources, time and money were expended in the rediscovery of inventions which had been known to the old world for centuries.

With all the genius and enterprise of the American people, no important discovery in the way of machinery for mining was made which had not been long in use in South America, Mexico, or Europe. The same necessities gave rise to identical contrivances for saving labor, and it is sufficiently creditable to our miners to say that without any knowledge of what others had done, they frequently improved upon the originals. The fact demonstrates very clearly that want of knowledge, even in the preliminary stages of mining, is a source of loss. When the precious metals are easily obtained, and the profits of individual labor are large, less injury results from ignorance than in the subsequent stages of the business, when capital is required and the process of reduction is more complicated. Mining differs essentially from every other branch of industry. Unlike agriculture, there is but one crop in a mine. As the work progresses the stock of mineral is decreased, and can never be replenished by any human art. There is no opportunity of recovering what has been lost or wasted.

The farmer changes his crop or his system of cultivation; and his land can be improved and his profits increased by experience. So also in manufactures and other pursuits. Hence it is important that the experience of mankind should be preserved so that error may be avoided.

Comparatively little progress was made in vein or quartz mining prior to 1860. Quartz veins containing the precious metals were discovered in California in 1850, and for several years experiments were made in working them, generally with loss. The Mexicans with their arastras were the only successful quartz miners. Experience in their own country enabled them to realize fair profits upon their labors. Their system of mining, however, was too slow for an American population, to whom large investments of capital were of no consequence, provided there was a prospect of immediate and abundant returns.

The discovery and development of the Comstock lode in Nevada gave the first impulse to this kind of mining. The wonderful richness of that vein attracted attention at once, and drew from all parts of the world men of scientific attainments. By the developments made in working it, the principle was established that quartz veins could be rendered a profitable source of supply on the Pacific coast. The experience thus gained impelled the adventurous miners of California to attempt new systems, and devote themselves with greater vigor to the opening and working of the gold-bearing veins in that State.

In 1860 the product from this source in California did not exceed $2,000,000. As the surface diggings gave out, a resort to vein mining became indispensable. The proportion of bullion now derived from various sources within the limits of the State is about as follows: from surface diggings, $2,000,000; from cement or deep-lying placers, $18,000,000; from quartz mines, $9,000,000-total, $25,000,000.

Professor Ashburner estimates that about 80 per cent. of the gold is produced from the mines lying north of the Mokelumne. The production of the southern mines is diminishing every year, and the surface diggings will soon be exhausted. Wherever the latter predominated a sudden but ephemeral prosperity was engendered. General stagnation now prevails; towns are depopulated; real estate is of little value; business is depressed. The population consists of hundreds in many counties where it formerly consisted of thousands. Refcrence to the accompanying reports will show the present condition of these

localities.

Good quartz veins exist in many of them, but the want of capital has retarded their development. Unskilled labor can make no further progress, and new fields of enterprise have been sought by those who formerly depended upon the placers. Some have pushed their way over the mountains into Idaho, Montana, and other new Territories; others have given up mining and devoted themselves to farming, trade, or commerce.

Similar changes have been experienced in Idaho, Montana, and other Territories in which surface mining attracted a population. At first the yield was large and easily obtained; as the surface deposits were worked up to their sources quartz veins were discovered, and machinery and skill became requisite; the difficulty of access to the more remote mineral regions increased the expense of transportation, and the uncertainty of remunerative results impaired confidence. History shows that these changes occur in all mining countries and are inseparable from this branch of industry.

No uneasiness need be felt as to a decrease in the source of supply. After many years of travel over the mining regions, I feel justified in asserting that our mineral resources are practically without limit. Explorations made by competent parties during the past year in many parts of the mineral region hitherto unknown demonstrate the fact that the area of the mineral deposit is much larger than was ever before supposed. It is safe to assume that of the claims already recorded in the settled parts of the country, and known to be valuable, not more than one in a hundred is being worked; and of those worked perhaps not more than one in fifty pays anything over expenses, owing to mismanagement, inefficient systems of reducing the ores, want of capital, cost of transportation, and other causes susceptible of remedy. In many districts of Nevada silver ores of less value than $100 a ton cannot be worked by mill process so as to pay expenses; and there are districts in Idaho and Montana where gold-bearing ores will not justify working unless they yield from $40 to $50 per ton.

With such wealth of treasure lying dormant, it cannot be doubted that, by the increased facilities for transportation and access to the mines soon to be furnished by the Pacific railroad and its proposed branches, and the experience in the treatment of ores, and the scientific knowledge to be acquired in a national school of mines adequate to the necessities of the mining population, the yield must eventu ally increase.

The adventurous Americans who take the lead in the development of these frontier regions are generally energetic and intelligent, but prone to extravagance and reckless speculations.

No country in the world can show such wasteful systems of mining as prevail in ours. At a moderate calculation, there has been an unnecessary loss of precious metals since the discovery of our mines of more than $300,000,000, scarcely a fraction of which can ever be recovered. This is a serious consideration. The question arises whether it is not the duty of government to prevent, as far as may be consistent with individual rights, this waste of a common heritage, in which not only ourselves but our posterity are interested.

The miner has a right to the product of his labor, but has he a right to deprive others of the benefits to be derived from the treasures of the earth, placed there for the common good? The precious metals are of an imperishable nature, evidently designed to pass beyond the reach of the discoverer and to subserve purposes of human convenience for generations. Our children have an interest in them which we cannot with propriety disregard.

The bill to establish a national school of mines, introduced in the Senate, at the beginning of the present session of Congress, by Mr. Stewart of Nevada, is designed to remedy this evil. Similar schools have been established in various parts of Europe, and the best evidence of their utility is the fact that we are in lebted to them for nearly all the knowledge we possess on the subject of mining and metallurgy. Our mines and mills are practically managed by foreign

experts; we furnish the labor and mechanical ingenuity, but they furnish the scientific skill. Without the aid of foreign institutions we could have made but little progress in mining; and yet we lose much by not having similar institutions in our own country. The local circumstances existing in Europe differ essentially from those which prevail in the United States. It would be a great advantage, not only in the saving of expense, but in the more direct availability of the experience gained, if our young men could learn at home what they are now compelled to learn abroad.

The plan proposed by Mr. Stewart's bill seems both feasible and economical. Such an institution would, if properly conducted, result in a large annual increase in our bullion product. It is not unreasonable to anticipate that, instead of declining within a few years to forty or fifty millions per annum, as will undoubtedly be the case if the present state of things continues, there would be an increase amounting to at least 100 per cent. on the yield of the mines for the past year. I venture the hope, therefore, that Congress will take this proposition into favorable consideration. The bill, as amended by the Committee on Mines and Mining, of the Senate, and the considerations upon which it is based will be found in the appendix, (A.) ·

It is proper that I should give due credit to my assistants for the part which they have taken in this work. The duty of collecting statistics in California was intrusted to Mr. John S. Hittell, the able and experienced author of several valuable works on the industrial resources of that State. In the performance of the special service assigned to him he visited the principal mining districts. His reports are based upon actual observation, and may be relied upon as accurate and impartial. With the exception of the report on Nevada county, by Mr. E. F. Bean, the county assessor, and Mr. H. Rolfe, his assistant, and the brief reports on some of the northern and southern counties by Dr. Henry Degroot, with a sketch of the Morriss Ravine mines by Dr. A. Blatchley, nearly all the goldbearing regions of California are described by Mr. Hittell. Important papers on the condition of the mining interest in Mexico, South America, Australia, &c., are also furnished by the same authority.

An elaborate and interesting report on the miscellaneous minerals of the Pacific States and Territories is furnished by Mr. Henry C. Bennet, a mining engineer familiar with the subject. No such complete and extended notice of the miscellaneous mineral productions of the Pacific coast has yet been published. This report will be found valuable to business men, and to all others seeking information respecting the resources of the States and Territories west of the Rocky

mountains.

To Mr. R. H. Stretch, late State mineralogist of Nevada, the Comstock lode and regions adjacent were intrusted. His scientific and practical knowledge of the various departments of mining, his long experience in this particular region, and his known integrity, rendered the selection peculiarly fortunate, as will be conceded upon a perusal of his report.

Dr. Henry Degroot, a statistician and writer, whom I deputed to travel through Nevada, has furnished a series of interesting papers on the miscellaneous resources of that State.

Mr. Myron Angel, of Austin, a gentleman well acquainted with eastern Nevada, contributes a report on that region, from which it will be seen that the mineral wealth of Nevada is by no means confined to the Comstock lode.

The services of Dr. A. Blatchley, a mineralogist and mining engineer, were secured for an exploration of Montana and Idaho. This gentleman travelled through those Territories during the months of June, July, and August, and was enabled to collect the information which is embodied in his reports.

Mr. Elwood Evans, of Olympia, formerly territorial secretary of Washington, has kindly furnished detailed reports on the resources of that Territory.

To Mr. Ainsworth, Mr. Hill, Mr. Ladd, and others, I am indebted for information relative to the trade and resources of Oregon.

The report on Arizona is from the pen of Governor R. C. McCormick. It will be found extremely interesting.

Mr. W. M. Gabb, of the State geological survey of California, whose recent expedition through Lower California has attracted considerable attention, contributes a detailed report on the mineral resources of that peninsula. It is the result of the first scientific exploration ever made of that region, and possesses a peculiar interest at this time, owing to the investment of American capital there and the purchase from the Mexican government of an extensive grant by private parties for colonization by Americans.

Many other prominent and experienced gentlemen have assisted me in the preparation of this report. I claim little more for myself than the direction and supervision of the work; it has occupied my entire time for upwards of a year, and, whatever may be its imperfections, few will be disposed to deny that it presents evidence of an earnest attempt to carry into effect the wishes of the department and the objects designed to be accomplished by Congress.

It is a common error to suppose that mining is inimical to the welfare of the people. No branch of industry requiring mechanical skill and the acquisition of scientific knowledge can justly be said to contain in itself elements injurious to public morals or to the prosperity of the state.

The tendency of this pursuit is, at first, to attract a reckless and adventurous population, whose disregard of conventional restraint leads to the assumption of risks and to bold and hazardous undertakings, by which new countries are most rapidly opened up to settlement and civilization. Providence so ordains it that the superficial treasures of the earth designed to attract this enterprising class soon disappear, and a higher order of intelligence is required and a more permanent condition of things is established. It is only necessary to look back over the past eighteen years to find in the advancement of the vast region known as the Pacific slope, the strongest possible refutation of the assertion that mining is inimical to the welfare of the people. Looking forward to the future, who can predict the high condition of prosperity likely to be attained by these new States and Territories eighteen years hence?-with trans-continental railroads and telegraph lines binding the Atlantic to the Pacific; with branch roads and lines traversing the country north and south; with the commerce of Asia pouring its treasures into our seaports; with an export trade commanding the whole eastern world; with a probable coast line stretching from Behring Straits to Cape St. Lucas; with innumerable flourishing cities and seaport towns; with an agricultural population numbering thousands where they now number hundreds ; with busy manufactories scattered over the land; with churches, schools, and colleges everywhere throughout the mountains and valleys-All these many of us may live to see, but few can now realize the magnificent future that lies before us. In this favored land the laborer, the artisan, the mechanic, the man of science, can each find profitable employment and a congenial home. As we want population to develop the dormant wealth of our new States and Territories, it is the interest of our government to disseminate a correct knowledge of their material resources.

Entertaining these views, I trust the report herewith submitted will not be without practical utility wherever it may be circulated.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Hon. H. MCCULLOCH,

Secretary of the Treasury.

J. ROSS BROWNE.

CALIFORNIA.

SECTION I.

GENERAL CONDITION OF THE MINING INTEREST.

The information and statistics relative to the gold mines of California were collected between the 17th May and the 25th July, but some interesting changes have occurred since the tour of inquiry was made, and the facts, when ascertained, have been mentioned. Many of the figures and data could be obtained only from the mine owners, who may sometimes have misrepresented the character and yield of their claims in a favorable light for the purpose of selling, or in an unfavorable light for the purpose of misleading the assessor and tax-collector. It is believed, however, that the statements as made are generally true, and it is hoped that, taken together, they will be found to be the fullest and most correct collection of important facts ever made relative to gold mining.

The general condition of gold mining in California is that of decline. The amount of production becomes smaller every year, but the decrease is confined chiefly to the placer yield. In quartz more work is being done; it is being done better than ever before, and there are more mines in successful operation. The business is flourishing and improving, with a fair prospect of continuous increase; and the success of many of the mines is most brilliant.

In 1864 Professor Ashburner wrote a report on the Mariposa estate, and in it he made the following general remarks:

In 1858 there were upwards of 280 quartz mills in California, each one of which was supplied with quartz from one or more veins. The number of stamps in these mills was 2,610, and the total cost of the whole mill property of this nature in the State exceeded $3,000,000. In the summer of 1861, while I was attached to the geological survey, I made a careful and thorough examination of all the quartz mills and mines of the State, and could only find between 40 and 50 in successful operation, several of which were at that time leading a very precarious existence.

Many of those old enterprises have not yet become, and never will become, profitable; but of the quartz mills built within the last four or five years, the successful proportion is much larger than before 1860. No business offers greater facilities to ignorance and folly for losing money; and, unfortunately, most of those who engaged in it had no experience and were led by their presumption into gross blunders in both mining and milling.

The greatest common blunder in quartz mining, and the most common error in early times as well as in our own day, has been that of erecting a mill before the vein was well opened and its capacity to yield a large supply of good rock established. The commission of this blunder is proof conclusive of the utter incompetency of its author to have charge of any important mining enterprise. If there were any possibility that it should in some cases lead to considerable profit, there might be an excuse for it, but there is none. It never pays. All the chances, including that of utter failure, are against it.

The next blunder was that the difference between a pocket vein and a charge vein was not understood, and the existence of rich specimens was considered proof of the high value of a mine, whereas among experienced quartz miners it excites their suspicions and distrust. Nine-tenths of the lodes which yield rich specimens do not pay for milling, West Point, in Calaveras, and Bald Mountain, in Tuolumne, the richest pocket districts of the State, are not to be compared for yield with Sutter creek or the Sierra Buttes, where there is scarcely a passable specimen in a thousand tons.

The next error was that nothing was known of pay chimneys, and if good quartz was found in one place, it was presumed that the whole mine was of the same quality. In some cases the pay chimney was near the end of a claim, into

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