Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1850-04-03
cAI1ronsrA---Mn. K1se,s REpoRT.

Mr.. THOMAS BUTLER KINe's Report on Califor-
mia was read to the President and Cabinet on Mon
day. the 25th ult land occupied two hours in reading.
On Wednesday it was presented 10 Congress and
orded to be printed. The topics of which it treats
are:-
The population Of The country;
LIS agricultural resources;
Extent and production of the mineral region;
The Commerce and navigation Of California;
The legislation necessary for the territory
And especially, in regard to the disposition of the
gold bearing lands, belonging 10 the Uaited States.
The p0puiation Of the country is now about one
hundred and twenty thousand. An accession to
the population by immigration, during The year be-
ginning at the next dry season,-on the LIST day Of
Nav, is estimated at two hundred thousand. The
agricultural capacities the Stale are vastly greater
Than has been heretofore represented. There is a
vast extent of pasture lands, unsurpassed anywhere
in verdure and richness. The wild oats grow spon-
taneuusly all over the plains, yielding an annual
crop at the rate of forty bushels per acre. Any
number Of cattle sind sheep may be raised. Two
hundred Thousand head Of cattle must oe brought
into the country during the next two years.
The cattle were formerly killed for their hides,
which was the chief article Of export; and they
were worth but four duars head but now they
are worth twenty or thirty dollars head.
California is especially adapted tn wOol.growlng;
gentleman was about 10 import ten thousand sheep
from Mexico with a view 10 90 into that business.
The future value Of the vineyards is represented as
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 cannot be lower, because il is be-
low the cast of labor necessary for cutting and saw
ing lumber in California 1t can be carried 10 Cal
iornia for $24 thousand ard surprising il to cost
$40 here, it will continue to pay.
The gold region is described as extending FIVE or
six hundred miles from the South to the North, and
| from forty 10 sixty miles in width from East Il
West. 1t rises gradually in an inclined plain from
the Sacramento Valley, 10 The elevation of 4,OOC
| feet at what are called the Foot Hills Between
these hills and the Sierra Nevada, a number oil
streams have their source, and take their course
through the Foot Hills. westward.
Mr. King examined twelve Of these rivers. and
found them all very rich in gold The territory on
the North is very rich in gold and the conclusion
is inevitable, from all the facts, that The whole
quartz plain Containing three Thousand square miles
VI
which, disintegrated from the quartz by the tor
rents, may be found In dust and Jumps in the bed:
of The streams.
The whole number of foreigners in the region
who are gold hunters. is fifteen thousand. There
have been but seven thousand American gold hun
ters. The Chiians and the Sonora people came If
crowds, and have carried off twenty five millions
The Americans have procured fifteen miliions.-
The Chilians are expert dggers.
The amount Of gold already procured. ls furty
millions. But forty millions more will be procGret
during The coming dry seascn-say from May I'll
November.
The regular mining operations in The solid euart
rock will SION begin. and can be continued during
the wet as well as the dry season.
Mr.. King estimates the amount Of gold which
will be producsd from the lst May, 1851. till TIT
LIST November, 1852 at one hundred millions!
lie recommends that the lands be retained as pub
lie property forever and as perpetual resource 10
the public eXchequer.
To the workers and diggers Of gold, he proposes
to grant permits, at the rate Of an ounce of gold 70
each pound.
For the encouragement Of regular mining opera
tons, he proposes 10 grant leases of a limited mum
Der of acres, to persons companies, at small pc
centare on the amount OF gold procured.