Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-01-18
CALEFuK2GA.
PRou rHE PACIFIC NEWS. NOV. 30.

{ EB tTOttt-USUTUS SUUft& " CONFERENCE.-The.
Kings Report The subject 10 the Stale De-
! gartment-lNr. WrighfS specimens and inres-
/ legations.
In our last publication, we alluded briefly 10 the in
tees which had been excited here by the exhibition of
some fine specimens OF gold bearing quartz said TO he
found In lnexhaustlbe quarries through the
whole mountainous region which forms the Western
slope OF the Sierra Nevada We have since had an on
portunity OF examining these specimens and of learning
more mnutey the character Of the rock the tests to
winch 1t has been subjected and the results which has
given. We desire to avoid all exaggerated statements
upon subject in regard which the attention of the
world is already sufficiently awakened yet we deem it
not too much say that the facts thus indicated in re-
gard to the character and structure OF this noun
tam range appear to altogether to surpass, mpor
lance, any previous discoveries in the gold region which
have yet been made public. We glad to learn that
the whole subject will very soon be brought in an au-
henc shape, the attention OF the public, in the form
OF aful and comprehensive report to the Department
OF State, at Washington by Hon. t. Butler King.
As early as June last, Mr. King devoted two entire
months laborious exploration Of the whole region
and fully matured his conclusions in regard to it. His
abors interrupted by and protracted i'll
but his report will now soon be completed and will
doubtless trust, reach Washington before the discus
sions upon the California question shall have come up
Congress. We hazard nothing in saying that the facts
and the views to be set forth in this report will command
the public attention and interest to extent almost if
not altogether, unexampled by any similar document
AS Calltornlans we await its publication with impa
tence. Mr.. King we learn, will take to Washington
with him full collection of specimens of the gold for
nation, both pure and in union with the quartz which
will fully illustrate and demonstrate with almost ma
hematical clearness, his theory Of the gold region Of Ca
litorna.
The particular specimens which we have seen of these
quartz mountain quarries are in the possession OF Mr.
Wright, one OF the members Of Congress elect from
California, who will take them on to Washington in the
steamer OF LIST December They consist for the mots
part, OF small pieces OF quartz rock, generally of
brownish hnge and in some instances, presenting the
appearance OF slight incipient decay or decompos-
| all
the gold points, PARTICLES very slightly if at all
visible to the naked eye; The microscope however,
reveals the gold more clearly. Beside these pieces
which Mr. Wright has himself selected with great care
as the iarest average samples of the general appearance
OF enormous and very numerous veins, quarries of
quartz there is also ore larger fragment OF the same
rock, weighing, should suppose some ten or twelve
pounds, from all parts OF which the gold prdsudes
plainly IN state almost pure. This single fragment of
quartz which NJ Wright by no means regards as an
average sample of the quarres but which he pronounces
to be the richest rock specimen he has SEEM found by
the most careful specific gravity test as applied to il by
Mr. Wright s to eopan p pure gGd to the amount Of
understand from Mr. Wright, is destined to be laid las
memorial from the California MOUNTAINS we suppose0
upon the table OF the Speaker OF the House of Repre-
senatves Its appeal, we think, will be Needed
But the interest or Importance attaching to this or to
any other single and isolated fragment specimen however
peculiar and curious and rich in ITSELF very slight and
even nconsderabie comparison to that which belongs
to the more numerous fragments of quartz in which
very little gold be discerned by the naked
eye, and which have been cautiously selected by Mr.
Wright on the spot the tarest average specimens of
Whole veins and quarries, said creep vsbly in sinu-
GUS and broken lines through the whole western slope
OF the Sierra Nevada and to form vast masses of noun
tain rock large enough and numerous enough to freight
many times over all the navies and commercial marine
OF the world Mr.. Wright has spent, he informs u.s.
much OF the past season among the mountains collect
ing his samples of the quartz different localities and
sublectng the yield of gold from Them in very MANY
instances. TO the most rigorous tests
In all these experiments Mr.. Wright has been guided
by the skill aud Judgment Of Mr. Augustus Leland,
gentleman largely conversant with mining operations
and who has been from the first equally interested with
Mr. Wright in all the researches whchhave been made
The astonishing results brought out by these nvesti
cations Is, that IN particular and very extensive vein
tour pounds OF this rock Yielded upon the average
worth OF pure gold, valued SIG to the ounce that is
to say the yield OF gold from these average samples of
the rock in this particular vein is nearly So for each
pound OF quartz Mr. Wright exhibited to us two small
masses OF gold, each about the and shape OF large
musket ball and both presenting the granuated appear
ance OF gold extracted and collected by the aid of quick
silver. One OF these contains about Sl2 of pure gold
and is the largest yield which has been obtained from
tour pounds OF the rock question The other contains
about So and the smallest yield which has been OBJ
tanned from any OF the experiments upon the rock of
this vein. We understand that the tests applied have
been sometimes the operation OF quicksilver and some
tunes the test OF the comparative specific gravity of the
pure quartz and the god-bearing quartz.
The samples OF the rock which Mr. Wright has test
ed, have been taken from many different veins. In no
sample tested has the yield been less than one dollar
the pound OF quartz The average yield of the different
veins has been, as determined by the samples from one
dollar and hall to two dollars, to the pound of rock
single tactw Will show the unheard of and astonsh-
ing character OF the results which have been thus arrived
at. Mr. Wright informs us that he has recently con-
versed with an intelligent gentleman now in this coun-
try who has been long conversant the capacity of an
oyerseer with mining operations carried on in the
quartz veins OF Georgia From this source Mr.. Wright
learns that fifteen horse steam power working twelve
stamps will stamp about thousand bushels Of quartz
rock in day-each bushel OF quartz weighing about
eighty pounds. If 25 cents worth OF gold is yielded
from each bushel OF eighty pounds the business
sdered good one, in Georgia. 1.-THE yield be so cents
to the bushe the profit is large. Now the yield OF the
rock which Mr. Wright has collected and tested in
stead OF being quarter of dollar hall dollar to the
% pounds IS IN one great veln nearly $3to pound
Abate this In view OF possible probable mistake or
IN view OF the superior yield OF sing richer vein to
an average OF 81, or OF ST. or OF half dollar to The
pound and the result still remains, in every point of
= view almost equally uneXampled and momentous
The whole question is, does gold-bearing Quartz.
making any approximation to any such Weld exist in
California In vast and inexhausble masses On this
main point, the recent investigations of Mr. WRIGHT
coincide entirely with the observations and conclusions
OF Mr. King and with the testimony OF ali the explorers
OF the region with whom we have conversed. They all
agree that large number OF veins of quartz permeata
vlsbly the western slope OF the Sierra Nevada running
mainly from north tosouh, and throwing out branches
from the main lines, at intervals, in every iorm and in
all directions. Mr. Wright we learn is so well assnrad
of the reality OF the results which he has arrived that
IN connection with his partners, he has already AT
large expense, placed number OF men at work on one
Tile LOCALITIES WHICH he mas observed, which ha
states to be- apparently, scarcely promising than
many others has sent tor mule load Of quartz rock
| to take with him to Washington, across the Isthmus
and has already forwarded to the Atlantic side large
order for machinery suitable for the mining operations
which he contemplates
In conclusion, we have only to add that we put forth
such statements as these under full sense of our re-
sponsiby 10 the public We aver nothing ofour own
knowledge, for to us this information is as new and nc
surprising are persuaded that it will be to most Of
our readers, both here and in the Atlantic States We
would say nothing inconsderaey to aggravae the gold
mania anywhere Hhas already produced in the gold re-
gion OF California, and the to it,
OF individual suffering, disease and deascenes before
which the boldes spirit may well quail and from which
the hardest frame may we'll shrink away. But our in
formation to at first hand from sources Of m
questionable Integrity and intelligence and appears IL
be the result OF very thorough and deliberate nvestioa.
ton In its general outlines has had the full sanction
of the most eminent minds amongu u.s. 1t apprises MS Of
state OF facts OF the highest Importance to California
the whole commercial and financial world "
If these facts to have been accurately invas
gaed and accurately stated it seems to that neither
in the dlppinpS. the dry dioninn ,