The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1850-04-18
Mr.. Kings Report on California

A Washington correspondent oithc jouInai " SSm'
merce writes (Maich a5) as lolloWs:-
Mr.. Thomas Bstlel kingsreport on California was
read TO the President and to day, aud occup-
ed two hours and half In reading
II will OF course BIZ soon presented to Congress. Inc
topics Of which il treats are-she population OF tnc
country; its agricultural resources; extent OF Produc
ton Of the mineral gon; the commerce and naviga-
ton OF California; the legislation necessary Tor the
country; and especially in regard TO the disposition Of
the gold bearing lanes belonging 10 me an, ,s @
An to the population by cmigra,ion during
the year beginning the next DR.! season,on the hrst
Nays estimated at two hundred thousand.
lie agricultural capacities OF the state are vastly
greater than has been heretofore repreented There
Is vast extent Of pasture lands, unsurpassed any
where in the world in yerdufe and richness. The
Wild oats grow spontaneously ali over tna Plains,
yielding annual crop the rite liorsy bnsheisper
acre. Any number of cattle and sheep may be raised.
Two hundred thousand head of cattle must be brought
into the country during the nrAttao years.
The cattle we're formerly killed for their hides,
which as the chief article OF esrot and they were
worth but 81 head; but now they arc worth $50 Or
$50 head.
California is especially adapted to wool-growing a
gentleman apou. 10 import ten thousand sheep
from Mexico with view to get into that business
The future value Of the vineyards is represented as
very great.
As 10 the commerce OF the country he estimates the
value Of imports needed in Cali ornia from the ATTAIN
tic States, for the neat year. at four millions OF dollars
in -four, six millions III lumber, and two millions In
other articles.
AS 70 the article lumber its price is now SIS per
thousa nd. and lower because IL is below the
labor necessary for cutting snd saving lumber
in California. can be carried 10 California for S
rer thousand, and suprosns II TO cost go here, will
continue to pay.
The gold region is described as extending five six
hundred miles from the South To the North and from
forty TO sixty miles in width from East to West It
rises gradually in an inclined plain. from the sacra-
mento Valley, to the elevation Of 900 feet at what
called the Foot Hills. Between these hills and the
Sierra number Of streams have their source,
and take their through the Fool Hills, west
ward.
Mr. King Examined twelve fthese rivers, and found
them all very rich in gold The territory on the North
is very rich in gold aud the conclusion inevitable,
ffcm all the facts that the whole quartz plain, con
bedded in the quartz, some of which disin,egra,ed
from the quartz by the TORI nis, may be found in dust
and Jumps in the beds Of the streams
The whole number OF foreigners in the region, " no
gold hunters, is fifteen Thousand. There have
been but thousand American gold hunters. The
1hlians, and the Sonsra people came in crowds, and
have carried Of twenty 1--WE millions. The Ameri-
cans have procured fifteen millions. The Chilians
are expert diggers.
The amount Of gold already procured is forty mil
lions. But forty millions more viii be procured Gu
ring the coming dry season-say from May till No
yemher.
Tho regular mini ng operations in the solid quartz
rock will begin, ana be continued during the
We, as well Us the dry season.
Mr.. King estimates the amount or gold which will
be procured from the rs of May, ISL till the first of
vemher, 1859, az one hundred n.aiions.
He recomme nds that the lands be retained public
property foreverand as perpetual resource Tor the
public exc hequer.
10 the workers ard digyers of gold he proposes TO
grant permits at the rate OF Of gold Tor each
pound.
For the encouragement Of regular mining opera
tions, lie proposes TO grant leases Of limited number
of acres to persons companies. at small rer
ose on the amoant OF gold procured.