The Nevada journal., 1852-02-28
GEN. ANDERsON's REPORT.

UGH. ANDERSON from tne special
committee to whom was referred the
subject of the disposal of the public
lands in California, reported a Memo
rial TO Congress, of which we publish
below so much as relate to the nine
raj lands;
In order to arrive at any correct judg-
ment in regard to what is best for the
present actual condition of mining, it
will be necessary to state the case as it
really now is, and compared with the
past, and the prospect which lies before
US. With the knowledge which this
will impart, the mind will naturally be
directed to but one conclusion, 80 far as
the farest promotion of individual rights
and the largest public benefits are in
yolved.
1t is unnecessary to pass back to the
Of the date of the discovery Of the mines
or that unsettled stpte in which thew
long remained Whst existed then,
and CONTINUED fog some ;ime, were tho
necessary Incidents Of the most sudden
and extraordinary development of mi
neral treasures ever known, and in q
country having mixed and varied pop,
ulation and, at first, difficult of ap-
proach at all points. Things are diff
ferent at present and with this change,
the American population has regularly
gained in numbers, and now constistutes
the great mass of our miners. Their en-
terprise has, in like ratio, carried their
operations with the pick and shovel, to
the utmost limits of our northern border,
and as far south as Kings river.
Exploring parties have also penetrated
far beyond these points, examined with
care, almost the range of the Sierra
Nevada, often crossed its summit, and
surveyed the hills below on the opposite
slope, within the supposed level of the
gold bearing region. This indefatigable
investigation of the mineral resources of
our country, has been caused by the ap-
parent exhaustion Of large proportion
of the placers, the numerous occupation
of others, and to some extent, by the
restless spirit of the adventurous which
has not been always satisfied with the
moderate products, that in many instan-
ces were obtained by their labors
At present, the mining region, from
the Trinity to the Fresno and San Joa-
quin, distance of nearly six hundred
miles in length. by about thirty in
width, exhibits the appearance of a
country dug over in all its ravines gull
ches and streams, at many of its flats,
and some of its hills. The miners not
unfrequently resort to the old placers
and work them second and often
third time. They mako now what are
called prospecting examinations in places
which formerly were entirely disre-
garded. Their industry and enterprise
have, generally, been more stimulated,
as the facilities for procuring gold have
diminished. The average product to
each miner, who pursues his laborious
work faithfully, and with skill, may be
rated at five dollars per day, and the
value Of labor ranges from four to five
dollars, when the employment is only
for daily service.
This has been nearly the state Of
things for the last eighteen months, and
it may be considered as one of the causes
which directed the attention Of the pub
lie to quartz mining.
The quartz were known to contain
gold hat the difficulty and expense of
obtaining it, long postponed the attempt.
There are, perhaps, one hundred mills
in operation, with the prospect that
many more will be erected, if they can
find proper encouragement. The guam
tity of quartz in the country, shaping
itself into what are called leads, is very
great, and pursuing the whole extent
Of the gold region, running north west
and south east A shaft of one hundred
feet, in the quartz rock, of the usual
dimensions, will cost not less than FIVE
thousand dollars. The requisite ma
chinery for stamping, &C., may be esti-
mated at like sum; so that the progi ess
of the work will have to be very sue
cessful, to justify the first investment,
and to continue further experiments.
II cannot, however, be expected that
the expenses of living, and Of labor will
diminish for long time. The mining
population will probably. as heretofore,
multiply, and the conauma iQu o ~ lhe
necessaries Of life viii increase ana, il
is fair presumption, that they will re-
main for series of years nearly at the
present prices. The quartz in California
are amply abundant to employ for
century the whole mining population
who are now here. They may be con-
sidered, perhaps, as inexhaustibls, They
will never, however, produce to indivi-
duals the same average rewards of their
labor, as have been received from the
placers. The items of capital, and the
numerous failures to be taken into the
account, will prevent this.
This statement of the actual condition
Of the mines, presents two distinct pro-
positions
FIRST That the placer mines do not
produce as much gold, now, to each mi
nav tbaxy farvna rlxy Ala. h,xk