Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-04-01
CALIFORNIA.
REPORT OF THE HON. T. BUTLER KING


fishes this important document in ertenso 1t occupies
eleven columns of that paper. We insert to-day the
concluding portion which relates to the mineral riches
| of Calfornia-TIMEs]
METALLIC AND MINERAL WEALTH.
| The gold region of California is between four and
hive hundred miles long, and from forty to fifty miles
broad following the line OF the Sierra Nevada Fur
ther discoveries may aud probably will increase the
area 1t embraces within its limits those extensive
ges OF hills watch rise the eastern border ofthe plain
| OF the Sacramento and San Joaquin, and extending
eastwardy from fifty to sixty miles, they attain ele
vatlon OF about four thousand feet and terminate at the
base OF the main ridge OF the Sierra Nevada. There
are numerous streams which have their in the
springs OF the Sierra, and receive the water from its
melting SHOWS, and that which falls in rain during the
wet season,
nes through the ranges OF foothills westwardy to
the PLAIN and dsembogue into the Sacramento and San
Joaquin. These rivers are from ten to fifteen and pro-
badly some Of them 20 miles apart
The principal formation, subtratum, in these hills,
is tacose slate the supersratum, sometimes penetrating
to great deph,,is quartz This, however, does not
bodies in various directions-is found in masses and
small fragments on the surface and seen along the ra
vines and IN the mountains oyerhangng the rivers, and
in the hl-sdes in its original BEDS 1t crops out 10 the
valleys and on the tops of the hills and forms striking
feature OF the entire country which extends From
nnumerabe evidences and Indications it has to be
the universally admitted opinion among the miners and
Intelligent men who have examined this region that the
gold Wheter in detached particles and pieces or in
De'ns toas created in combination Nth the quartz
Gold not found the surface of the country present.
ing the appearance Of having been thrown up and scat
tered in all directions by voloanao action. 1t is only
found IN particular localities, and attended by peculiar
circumstances and indications 1t is found in the bars
and shoals OF the rivers in ravnes, and in what are
called the dry diggngs.
The rivers, in forming their channels, or breaking
their way through the hills have come in contact with
the quartz containing the gold VEINS and by constant
aon cut the gold into fine flakes and dust, and it is
found among the sand and gravel OF their beds at those
places where the swftuess Of the current reduces it, in
Inc ory season. to the narrowest possible limits, and
where wide margin is, consequently left each side,
over which the water rushes during the wet season,
with great force.
As the velocity of some streams is greater than 9TH
ers so is the gold found in fine coarse PARTICLES ap-
parenty corresponding to the degree OF attrtion TO
winch 1t has been exposed The water from the hills
and upper Valleys in finding its way to the rivers has
cut deep ravlnes, and, wherever in contact with
the quartz, has dissolved or crumbled it in pieces.
Il In the dry season these channels are mostly without
water, and gold is found in the beds and margins of
many OF them in large quantities. but in amuch coarser
state than III the rivers; owing, undoubtedly, to the
moderate flow and temporary continuance of the cur
rent, which has reduced to smooth shapes not unlike
pebbles but had not sufficient force to cut it into fakes
or dust.
The dry dggngs are places where quartz containing
gold has cropped out and been dsntegrated crumbled
TO fragments pebbles and dust by the action Of water
and the atmosphere. The gold has been left as it was
made, in all imaginable shapes ia pieces of all Sizes
from one grain to several pounds in weight. The evil
dences that was created in combination with quartz
are too numerous and striking to admit of doubt or
cavi. 1heyare tqun9 IN combination in large guam
titles.
A very large proportion of the pieces of gold found
10 tnese situations nave more or less quartz adherng
| them In many specimens they are SO combined they
cannot be separated without reducing the whole to
powder, and su1Jectng 1t TO the action of quicksilver
This gold, not having been exposed 10 the attrtion
OF strong OF water retains in great degree
| its original conformation.
These dggings in some places spread over valleys
OF considerable extent, which have the appearance of
an atluyon, formed by washngs from the adjoining hills
OF decomposed quartz and slate earth, and vegetable
matter.
In addition these facts it is beyond doubt true that
several ven-mlnes have been discovered in the quartz
from which numerous specimens have heen taken show
ing the minute connection between the gold and the
rock, and indicating value hitherto unknown in gold
| mining
These veins do present the appearance of places
where gold may have been lodged by some violent |
eruption 1t is combined with the quartz, in all ina
| enable forms and degrees Of richness.
The rivers present very striking, and, il would SEEM
conclusive evidence respecting the quantity of gold re-
naming undiscovered in the quartz veins Its not pro-
bable that ;he gold in the dry dggngs, and that in the
rvers-the former in Jumps, the latter in dust was ere
ated by different processes That which is found in The
rivers has undoubtedly been cut worn from the ysns
in the rock, with which their currents haye come in
is shown by the fact that laboring man may collect
nearly as much in one river ashe another. They
intersect and cut hrugh the gold region running from
to west irregular distances Of fifteen to twenty
| and perhaps some OF them thirty, miles apart.
Hence appears that the gold veins are equally rich
in all parts OF that most remarkab section of country
Were itwantng there are further proofs Of this in the
ravnes and dry diggngs, which uniformly confirm what
| nature so plainly shows in the rivers.
For the purpose of forming opinion respect |
ing the probable amount or value of treasure in the
gold REGION VIII be properto state the estimates which
have been made OF the quantity collected since its dis
covery.
Gold was first discovered on the south fork Of the Anne.
rican river, at place called Suffers MILL now Colo
ma late in May or early in June, 1913. Information
which could be relied announcing this discovery
was not received in this city until late in the following
autumn.
No immigration into the mines could therefore have
taken place from the old States in that year. The num-
Der OF miners was consequently limited to the popula
ton OF the terrorysonie five hundred men from Ore
gon Mexicans and other foreigners who happened to
be in the country OF came into it during the summer and
autumn, ant the Indians, who We're employed by or
sold their gold to the whites.
1t is supposed there not far from five thousand
men employed in collecting GOLD during that season.
1T we suppose they obtained an average of one thou
sand dollars eachwhich is regarded by well-nformed
persons as low estimate-he aggregate amount will |
be S., 0OO0 600.
Information of this discovery spread in all directions
ment of the dry season in lS49, people came into the
territory from all quarters-irom Chill Peru, and other
States the Pacific coast of South America-from the
west coast of Mexico-the Sandwich Islands. China.
and New Holland.
The emigration from the United States came in last
we except those who crossed the sthmus Of Panama.
and Wentup the coast in the steamers, and few whe
sailed early on the voyage round Cape Horn
The American emigration did not come in by sea in
much force, until July and August and that over land
DID not begin to arrive until the last of August and first
Of September. The Chinos and Mexicans were earlv
in the country In the month of July it was supposed
there were fifteen thousand foreigners in the mines
| At place called Sonoranian camp, it was believed
there at least ten thousand Mexicans They had
quite city tents, booths and log cabins; hotels re
staurants, stores and shops of all descriptions furnish
ed whatever money could procure lee was brought
from the Sierra, and iee-creams added to numerous
other Injuries An enclosure made of the trunks and
branches otrees and lined with cotton CLOTH served as
sort of amphheaire for bull-fghts; other amuse- |
ments, characteristic of the Mexicans, to be seen
in all directions VIVA
Ihe foreigners resored principally to the southern
mines, WHICH gave them great superiority in numeri
cal force over the Americans and enabled them t. take
possession OF some Of the richest in that part of The
county In the earypart ofthe season the Americans
| nliAIad Lam a.4 a.