The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1850-01-17
Mr.. rwING,s REPORT.
TIE Coin LANDS OF CALIFORNIA.


Tun Coin LANDS OF CALIFORNIA.
Did no. our limits preclude the idea oar
readers would have the pleasure Of wad'as
through, or the yexation Of skipping over
some of,he lengthy reports of.he members
Of Gen. Taylor's Cabinet. As i IT, hav-
ine given a synopsis Of Hon. Jacob Colin
n,er's Report as Postmaster General, aud
,n,royed Of his recommendation for re-
duc,ion Of postage-w.h which approval
wo doubt not We had the sanction OF all
our readers-we wish to say few words
and mako fewer extracts from that portion
Of Hon. Thomas Ewing's Report as Secre-
tary Of the Interior, which has particular
reference to tho all-absorbing subject Of The
gold mines Of California. Mr.. Ewing rec
ommends the immediate extension OF the
laws for the disposition Of the public lands
over the territories OF Oregon, California
and New Mexico; the establishment Of a
judicial commissioner to examine and settle
those titles held by Spain, or by Mexico
since her separation from the Spanish mon
archy; and to reserve the right OF the Uni
ted States to such sites as are suited tor
lighthouses, forts, or other objects Of ma
tional character. He continues thus in
rcspec, to the aurifsrous nature Of the coan-
try
at appears that the deposits gold, wherever
found. are the property Of the United States
Those, however, which are known to exist upon
the lands OF individuals, are Of small comparative
importance, by far the larger part being upon un-
claimed public lands. Still our information re-
speeding them is yet extremely. limited. WhAl
we know in general is that they are OF sgreat ex-
tent aid extraordinary prodnctivene even tho
rulely wrought. The gold is found sometimes
in masses, the largest of which bro't 10 the mint
SO OF. They are generally equal to the standard
Of our coin in purity, and their appearance that Of
metal forced into the assures and cavities OF the
rocks in state OF fusion. Some masses, however.
are llattened apparently by pressure, and scratch
ed as if by sttrition in rough surface. One
small mass, which was exhibited, had about i've
parts in weight fgold, to one ofquartz intimate
" blended, and both together boudered SO as TO
form handsome rounded pebble, with surface
OF about equal quartz and gold. A very large
proportion Of the gold, however, is obtained in
small scales, by washing the earth which is dug
IN on the beds ofthe streams OF near their margin.
A mass of the crude earth as taken at random
from placer. was tes'edb by the Director of the
United States Mint at Philadelphia, and found to
contain a64l grs OF gold, being in value fraction
over $40 to 100 lbs. II cannot, however, be
reasonably supposed that the average alluvial
earth in the placers is SO highly anriferous."
In relation 10 the iroads made upon the
possessions Of the United States by men Of
all nations and Tongues, and the necessity
that they be prohi bited infringing upon the
public domains, he thus holds FORTH
ssNo existing law puts it in the power OF the
Executive to regulate these mines or protect
them from INFUSION. litsaCe, III duuiticu 10 Jul
own citizens, thousands of all nations and Ian
guages, flock in and gather gold which they car
nv away 10 enrich themselves, leaving the land SO
much the less in value by what they have alb
s.rac,ed; and they render for it no remuneration,
direct or indirect, to the Government or people
Of the United States. Our laws, so strict in the
preservation Of public property that they punish
our own citizens for cutting timber on the pub
lie lands, ought not to permit strangers who are
not. and who never intend 10 become citizens, to
enter at pleasure OH these lands and take from
them the gold which constitutes nearly all their
value. Some legal provision is necessary for the
protection and disposition ofthese mines, and il
is matter worthy Of much consideration how
they should be disposed Of so as best TO promote
the public interest and encourage individual en-
terprise.''
Mr.. Ewing then recommends the estab.
lishment Of mint in California, and the
lease Of the public lands 10 the miners, thus
endeavoring to keep them out Of the hands
of specula,ors. The Secretary uses many
arguments to enforce bis recomme ndatons
but our space forbids moro than the above
brief mention.
DIRECT FROM CALIFORNIA. Y