Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-01-26
THE GOLD OF CALIFORNIA.


i
Uesigations.
In last publication we alluded briefly to the interest
which had been excited here by the exhibition Of some line
specimens of gobeang quartz, said TO be found IN mex
hausbe qusrries through the whole mountainous
region which forms the western slope Of the Sierra Nevada
We have had opportunity Of examining these sPe
cimens and Of learning infinitely the character OF the
rock the which has been subjected and the results
which has given We desire to avoid all exaggerated state
ments upon subject in regard to which the attention Of the
world is already sufficiently awakened, yet we deem not
much say that the facts thus indicated in regard TO the
character and of this mountain appear TO
altogether to supass in importance any previous disco
veres the gold region which have yet been made public
We glad learn that the whole subject will very soon be
brought in authentic shape, the attention Of hepubc,
the form Of full and comprehensive report to the Depart
ment Of State at Washington, by Hon. I. BuTLER KISe
As early June Mr. King devoted two entire months
to aboous exploration Of the whole REGION and fully ma
tued his conclusions in regard to it. His abors were inter-
rupted by and potraced illness, but his report Will
be completed, and will doubtless we trust reach
Washington before discussions upon the California ques
ton shall have up in 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 an
almost if altogether, unexampled by any similar
document As Cafornians, await its publication with
lmphuencos hu6 VIC iodii, VIII sunO " - o0uh6oA
with him full collection of specimens Of the gold formation,
both pure and in union with the quartz, which wIuly illus
trae and demonstrate with almost mathematical cIearness his
theory Of the gold region Of California
The particular specimens which have Of these
quartz mountain quaes in the possession of Mr. Wright
Of the members Of Congress elect from California, who
will take them Washington in the steamer Of LIST De-
cember They consist for the most part Of small pieces Of
quartz rock, generally Of brownsh nge, and in in
stances presenting the appearance OF slight ncpient decay
decomposition of the rock formation In all these spec
the gold points particles very slightly, if at ALL
visible to the naked eye The microscope however, reveals
the gold clearly. Besides these pieces which Mr.
Wright has himself selected with great the aest
average samples the general appearance Of and
very veins quaros of quartz there is also
larger fragment Of the rock weighing should suppose
ten twelve pounds from all parts Of which the gold
protudes plainly, in state almost pure This single rag
ment Of quartz which Mr. Wright by no regards
average sample Of the quares but which he
be the richest rock specimen he has found by the
most careful specific gravity test applied toll by Mr. Wright
contain gold the amount of about hundred dol
lars. This piece of rock understand from Mr.. Wright
is destined to be laid Gas memorial from the California
mountains, suppos upon the table OF the Speaker Of the
House of Representatives Its appeal we think, will be
needed.
But the interest importance attached to this any
other single and insulated fragment specimen, however
liar and curious and rich in ITSELF very slight and even in
considerable in comparison to that which belongs the
fragments Of quartz in which very little gold
be scened by the naked eye and which have been
cautiously selected by Mr. Wright the spot the est
average specimens Of whole veins and quaes said creep
vsib sinuous and broken lines through the whole
slope the Sierra Nevada and form vast of noun
tain rock large enough and enough to freight many
times all the naves and commercial marine Of the world
Mr. Wright has SPENT he informs much OF the past sea-
among the mountains collecting his samples of the quartz
in different localities, and subectng 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
tho iulun Mr. Leila
largely with mining operations and who has been
from the first equally interested with Mr. Wright in all the
researches which have been made.
The astonishing result brought out by these Investigations
is that in particular and very extensive vein four pounds of
this rock yielded upon the average, ST. worth pure gold
valued SIC to the that is 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 exhibit
ed to two small of gold each about the size and
shape Of large musket ball. and both presenting the granu
lated appearance Of gold extracted and collected by the aid Of
quicksilver One of these contains about Sl2 of pure
gold and is the largest yield which has been obtained from
four pounds of the rock in question The other contains
about S0 and the smallest yield which has been obtained
from any the experiments upon the rock Of this ven We
understand that the tests applied have been sometimes the
operation Of quicksilver and sometimes the test OF the COM
parave specific gravity quartz and the gold bearing
quartz.
The samples Of the rock which Mr. Wright has tested
been taken from many different veins In sample tested
has the yield been less than door the pound Of quartz
The average yield Of the different veins has BEEN deter
mined by the samples from one dollar ana na 10 TWO DOL
! lars to the pound Of rock.
single fact will show the unheard Of and astonishing
character Of the results which have been thus arrived at
Mr. Wright informs that he has recently conversed with
intelligent gentleman, in this country, who has been
long conversan the capacity of overseer, with mining
operations, carried 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 dayeach bushel OF
quartz weighing about eighty pounds rs cents worth of
gold yielded from each bushel Of eighty pounds the bust
ness considered good in Georgia. the yield be
SO cents to the bushe the profits large. Now the yield
Of the rock which Mr. Wright has collected and tested in
stead Of being quarter Of dollar half dollar to the %
pounds, is in great vein, nearly SO to one pound
Abate ths in view of possible probable mistake, in
view Of the superior yield of single richer vein,
age of S2 of ST. Of half dollar the pound, and The
result still remains in point of view almost equally
/ unexampled and momentous al
The whole question s, does gold bearing quartz, making
any approximation to any such YIELD exist in California in
vast and nexhausbe massesl On this main point the
cent Investigations Of Mr. Wright coincide entirely with the
observations and conclusions of Mr. King and with the
mony Of all the explorers Of the region with whom have
conversed They all agree that large number of veins Of
quartz permeate vby the western slope Of the Sierra Neya
da, running mainly from north to south, and throwing out
branches from the main lines intervals every form, and
in all directions. Mr. Wright, learn, well assured
of the reality of the results at which he has arrived, that in
connexion with his partners, he has already at large
pense, placed number Of at work of the loca
ties which he has Observed and which he TO appa
renty, scarcely promising than many ohershas sent
for mule load Of quartz rock to take with him to Washing
ton the shmusand has already forwarded to the
Atlantic side large order for machinery suitable for the
mining operations which he contemplates