Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-03-30
MR.. KINGS REPORT ON CALIFORNIA.


The public will look with great curiosity for this i'm
portanl document which has been laid before Congress
and ordered to be printed The Washington cores
pondent of the Journal of Commerce. who seems to be
reliably informed gives the following interesting
sumo of the principal matters embraced in the Report
which he represents to be very long:
The topics Of which, it treats are -
The population of the country;
Its agricultural resources
Extent and production of the mineral region;
The commerce and navigation of California
The legislation necessary for her territory;
And especially in regard to the disposition of the gold
bearing lands, belonging to the United States
The population OF the country is now about one hun
dred and twenty thousand. An accession to the popu-
laton by immigration during the year beginning at the
next dry seasonon the LIST day Of May, estimated
at two hundred thousand.
The agricultural capacities Of the State are vastly
greater than has been heretofore represented There is
vast extent OF pasture lands unsurpassed anywhere
the world lin verdure and richness The wild oats grow
spontaneously all over the plans yielding an annual
crop at the rate OF forty bushels ANY number
of cattle and sheep may be raised. Two hundred thou.
sand head OF cattle must be brought into the country
during the next two years.
The cattle were formerly killed for their hides which
the chief article OF export and they were worth but
four dollars head; but they are worth twenty OF
thirty dollars head.
California is especially adapted to wool-growing ; 8
gentleman was about to import ten thousand sheep from
Mexico, with view to 60 into that business. The tu-
ture value OF the vineyards is represented very great
AS to the commerce OF the country, he estimates the
value of imports needed in California from the Atlantic
States for the next year. at four millions of dollars in
flour, six millions in lumber, and two millions in other
articles
As to the article Of lumber, its price is now SIS per
thousand and be lower because it is below the
cost Of labor necessary Tor cutting and saving lumber in
California. 1t can be carried to California for $24
thousand and supposng it to $50 here will con-
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 the East to VEST
1t rises gradually in inclined plain from the Sa
cramento Valley, to the elevation of 1000 feet at wha
are called the Foot Hills. Between these hills and tn
Sierra Nevada these streams have their source and taxi
their course through the Foot Hills, westward.
Mr. King examined twelve OF these rivers, and fount
them all very rich in gold. The territory the Nortf
very rich in gold and the conclusion inevitable, from
three thousand square miles, full Of gold bedded in thu
quartz by the torrents, may be- dust and Jumps a
| in the bed of the streams.
The whole number of foreigners in the region, who
gold hunters is fifteen thousand. There have beer
but seven thousand American gold hunters The Chi
ans and the Sonora people came in crowds, and have
carried off twenty-five millions. The Americans have
procured fifteen millions The Chans are expert dig
gers.
The amount of gold already procured is forty mil
lions But forty millions more will be procured during
the coming dry season-saY from May till November
The regular mining operations in the solid quartz rock
will begin and be continued during the wet as
well as the dry season.
Mr. King estimates the amount of gold which will
be procured from the LIST May, 1851 till the LIST Novem
Der, 1852, at one hundred millions!
He recommends that the lands be retained public
property forever-and perpetual resource for the
public exchequer.
To the workers and dggers Of gold, he proposes te
grant PERMITS at the rate OF ounce of gold for each
pound.
For the encouragement of reg lar mining operations
he proposes 10 grant leases OF limited number Of acre
to persons companies, a small per centage ON tn,
amount OF gold procured.