The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1863-12-23

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East saginaw, Mich, May %, 1860 s...... S2l2. 6s
ChllicoIhe Ohio, Nay 25 lseS --.--.-.--- 226-s =
Total..................... ssl0. 20
MINERALS.
Existing discoveries establish the fact that
greater amount Of mineral wealth il 10 be found
within the territory of the United States than
in all other habitable countries In the Western
States and Territories is found nearly the whole
of the deposit OF the precious metals within the
limits Of the United aud the great elevated
plateau which fills the intervening space between
the confronting ranges Of the Andes, known a.
the Rocky Mountains on the east and the Sierra
Nevada on the west, may be said 10 contain the
sources of this vast wealth. So far as Is al
present known, every stream and iivulet which
flows from this great plain, or from either face
Of its mountain ranges, carries in It's pathway
conclusive evidence that somewhere in its course
il has traversed golden bed Upon this i n-
mense plateau and its fanking mountains are
lifted Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada.
and portions OF Colorado, Idaho, Washington
Oregon, and California, giving to this elevated
region about one million square miles between
latitndes 81 degrees, Al minutes aud 40 degrees
north with, 10 some extent, an independent sys-
tenn of rivers, lakes and mountains.
lOduO letiltoIf OcNAplthS tHe uottutiH poi
tion OF this region, contains S26 S73 square miles,
being more than six times as large as the State
of New York Until within the last three years
it was uninhsbited, except by Indian tribes.
The discovery Of the mines in the B iiish pos
sessions still further north, drew from the gold
fields Of California thousands Of adventures
who. in their search for the new Fl Dorado, dis
covered the placers OF Eastern Oregon, and
Washington, and Western Idaho. Sirce then
the exploration of this new field has been con
stantly and rapidly pressed. FlOurishing settle
ments and towns have sprung into existence.
roads have been opened, rivers navigate J.. mail
routes established, farm Improvements com
menced and the attention OF the monetary and
---.-na,c;al world ateao.eS - sb~ "0rfha- -a;re-
TheJeceints nj 5rHss0, from the lst fof6g lin
OF September, 1863 was 81, SOC. 900, one third OF
which was from the mioes Of Oregon, Washing
ton and Carriboo.
Eastern Oregon, and Washington, and West
ern Idaho, are but the prolouga,on OF the mine
raj regions of California and Nevada. and with
equal advantages OF population and capital, may
prove TO be equally productive. In addition 10
the placer mines now being worked successfully
upon most Of the streams quartz leads have. 10
some extent been discovered; and Others must
necessarily be found, as exploration is driven
" tic eOufCrs VI supply. Ou the eastern
slope of the mountains gold IS found in paving
quantities, and extensively distributed on the
headwaters and tributaries OF the Missouri and
Yellowstone, and still further north, reaching 10
and beyond our northern boundary.
Plstna has been gathered in small Quantities
by the Indians in the streams, and it IS believed
By some explorers that extensive deposits of
this valuable metal will be discovered Con
per and iron are known TO exist in abundance.
and salt is plentiful in many localities Coal is
found on The Upper Missouri and Yellowstone.
Arizona, from it's position 10 the general geo
logical features. so far as explorations have made
them known, s believed 10 be stocked with min.
eral wealth beyond that of any other Territory
OF equal extent in the region under cOnsidera
ton. The rich silver mines Of Nevada on
the north, of Sonora on the south, which
have been traced into and successiullv worked
10 the southern part OF the Territory, recent dis
coveries in the valleys of the Upper Colorado
and its tributaries, and in western New Mexico
and eastern Arizona, all point to this Territory
as the grand centre of the immense mineral de-
posits Of this region. The larger portion Of
this Territory has not been critically explored
but as il has been approached from either direc
tiOn, the number and value Of the known min
eral deposits have been increased
In letter, dated I'd August, 1853. and said
to be reliable, the following statements are
made:
~ arrived here on the 18th Juv, and found
this very hard looking country. On this creek
there is no wood, and only water enough for
drinking purposes. There are about 100 Mexi-
cans and some 80 Americans, and they are ma.
king from s. TO $500 per day. One company
of nine men have taken out fifty pounds OF gold
in ten days. The claim is situated on the TOD OF
one OF the highest mountains in this vicinity.
The gold is coarse, and is found from one to four
inches below the surface. The tool most used
is the butcher-knife. was up to the claim YES
terdsy and saw two lbs OF gold taken out in two
hours. The gold is coarse-from one 70 eight
ounces. Walkers diggings are fifty miles north
OF this, and in q different country, in which
there is plenty of wood, water and grass. Abou,
Mt. men are at work there, making from IS 10
800 per day One man has taken out 800
per day for the last twenty days None make
less than IS, and l think the average would be
about $50 per day, each man. The gold field is
large. They have prospected one hundred
miles, and every gulch and creek has gold in it.
aud there is no telling how much god vii De
taken out worked one day and made
s27 so"
The statements in this letter are fully sustained
By representations which have reached the Pa
cihc coast from other and reliable sources. and
grest activity IN consequence now exists in Cal
ifornia in the formation Of mining companies for
operation in this new field, and mining labor and
capital are readily and literally enlisted for en-.
serprises in this region
THIS coarse gold, upon the tops Of the noun.
tain, does not indicate that it has been carried
there By the action Of the water, a. is the case
II the placers of California, Idaho, Arizona and
Washington, but that it is in position, loosened
from its matrix by the disiutegration Of the sur
rounding rocks Besides, this gold is not water
worn, but rough and angular, demonstrating that
these mountains are vast placers TO the depth
that disintegration has taken place, and that
when this debris has been removed the lode.
viii be found and worked with the same resul;
produced by the slower action Of TIE stnos-
phere not that the whole mountain i q cpa-,,