Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1850-04-26
THOMAS BUTLER KINGS REPORT
ON CALIFORNIA.

This report has been laid before Congress. 1t
is lengthy, and occupied two hours and a halfin
the reading of it. The topics of which it treats
are-The population of the country; its agri-
cultural resources; extent of production of the
mineral region the commerce and navigation
of California; the Legislation necessary for the
Territory; and especially, in regard to the dis
position of the gOld-bearing lands belonging to
the United States.
The population of the country is now about
100000 An accession to the population by en-
igration during the year, commencing at the
next dry seqson-on the first of May, is estima-
ted at 100000.
The agricultural resources of the state are
vastly greater than has heretofore been repre-
scented. There is a vast extent of pasture lands
unsurpassed any where in the world in verdure
and richness The wild oats grow spontaneous
ly all over the plains, yielding an annual crop at
The rate of forty bushels per acre. Any number
ol-cattIe and sheep may be raised. Two hun
dred thousand head of cattle must be brought in
TO the country during the next two years.
The cattle were formerly killed for their hides
which was the chief article of export and they
were worth but 81 head; but now they are
worth 500 or $50 a head.
California is especially adapted TO woo-grow-
ing; gentleman was about to import ten thou
sand sheep from Mexico with view to 60 into
that business. The future value Of the vineyards
is represented as very great
As TO the commerce OF the country, he cstl-
mates the value of imports needed in California
from the Atlantic States, for the next year, at
four millions of dollars in other articles.
As to the article of lumber, its price is now
SIS per thousand, and cannot lower, because il
is below the cost of labor necessary for cutting
and saving lumber in California. 1t can be car
ried to California for $24a thousand; suppos-
ing it to cost $40 here, it will continue to pay.
The gold region is described as extending five
or six hundred miles from the south to the North
and from forty to sixty miles in width, from east
TO west. 1t rises gradually in an inclined plain
from the Sacramento Valley, to the elevation OF
four thousand feet at what are called the Foot
Hills. Between these hills and the Sierra Ne
vada number OF streams have their source, and
take their course through the Foot Hills, west
ward
MIR. King examined twelve of these rivers and
found them all very rich in gold. The territory
on the North is very rich in gold; and the CON
clusion is inevitable, from all the facts, that the
whole quartz plain, containing three thousand
square miles, is full of gold badded in the quartz
and some of which, dsintegrated from the quartz
in the beds of the streams.
The whole number of foreigners in the region
who are gold hunters, is fifteen thousand. There
have been but seven thousand American gold
hunters. The Chilians and the Sonora people
came in crowds. and have carried off twenty
five millions. The Americans have procured
fifteen millions. The Chiians are exI ert Dig
gers.
The amount of gold already procured, is forty
millions. But forty millions more will be pro-
cured during the coming dry season--say from
May till November.
The regular mining oporations in the solid
quartz rock will soon begin, and can be contin-
ued during the wet as we'll as the dry season.
Mr.. King estimates the amount Of gold which
will be procured from The lst Of May, 1851, till
the lst of November, 1852, at one hundred mill
ions.
lie recommends that the lands be retained as
public property forever--and as a perpetual re-
source for the the public exChequer.
To the workers and diggers of gold he propo-
ses to grant permits at the rate OF an ounce Of
gold for each pound.
For the encouragement Of regular mining OPP
erations, he proposes to grant leases ola limited
number of acres, to persons or companies, at a
small per centage on the amount of gold pro-
cured. Chic go Dem 1crat.