Weekly Trinity journal., 1857-05-09
Exhaustion of the Gold Mines.

The subject Of the exhaustion Of the gold mines
of California has elected much scientific news
paper discussion, both in the United States and
elsewhere, All species of theory have been des-
csnted upon, and every old and obsolete propo-
sition that could bear even remote application
to the science Of geology-the formation of the
metals &c, have been regenerated, rchashed and
dished up to suit the palate and condition OF
those for whose use it was prepared.
Seven years ago the London Tines predicted
the total exhaustion of the gold mines of Calior
mia in less than three years This strange and
senselcss assertion was made TO rest upon the
statistics collected in California and transmitted
to that celebrated newspaper by very enlight-
ened Englshman who was at that period in Cali
iornia, and engaged in taking notes and collect
ing geological facts upon which to predicate
scientific dissertations for the benefit of mankind.
The Wmaderers mad proclamation was caught up
and carried upon the wings of the continental
press into every village and hamlet on the con-
tincnt, and to the freside of every intelligent
peasant. The people of those countries in the
old world was cautioned against the folly and
delusien which the pretended discoveries Of mex
haustbe gold mines, which was then claimed to
have been positively made in California, offered,
and warned all who came of their inevitable dis
appointment.
One particularly scientific journal in France
allowed that gold might have been discovered in
California, but that it could not exist except in
very fine particles, and be solely confined to thin
little veins running in parallel lines north and
south. This idea originated with and was given
to the French journal by French sea Captain,
who happened to be on the Mcrced river in the
carly part of the gold discoveries on that river,
and who found gold in the crevice Of quartz
vein crossing the river and running north and
south.
The New York papers have also discussed the
subject until they have become perfectly stupifed
and mysterious in their reasonings, and unusual
ly wild in their copjeotures as TO the extent, the
formation Of gold-and the incxhaustible charac
ter Of the mines of California.
Notwithstanding the predictions Of the whole
newspaper press and the scientific world outside
OF California that the gold mines must necessa
rily be drained and exhausted in a very few years
this thinly populated State has sent on an aver
age of over fifty millions year to other coun-
tries and that too OF the pure bright shining ore
To the practical miner who works in the gold
mines Of California all the scientific theory con
cerning geology is of but little use nor could he
apply them to his own operation or interest while
working. Practice alone can give any idea in
regard to the formation of gold and its wherea-
bouts in the mineral districts but one thing may
be considered as fixed and positive that some OF
the richest mines in California are not worked
and scarcely prospectcd.
This dreamy pllosophzing and worse than
ignorant predictions of the Atlantic and Euro
pean press about the quick exhaustion of the
gold mines in California have tended to iniure
the prospects and to arrest the building up of q
great extent If the true resources of the country
were properly laid before the world in the true
and correct light which time and experience
could readily justify, capitalists from New York,
London, France and other countries would bring
their capital to California. and invest il in enter
prises OF great magnitude in the mines, which
would enable the operative to carry his labor
into the heart OF rich and extensive mineral dis
tricts that are now waste and producing nothing.
Then indeed would it be seen that the mines OF
California in character and extent are nexhaus-
tiblc.