Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-12-15

The cash receipts for sses homestsad and location
for the same five quarters were 81 OH 446.
The aggregate quantity of public ands surveyed, but
not dispssed Of was on the 30th of September lss.
1873 87 This has been the average quantity for
several years past The amount surveyed annually has
been about equal to that disposed OF annually.
Nineteen States have accepted the provisions Of the acts
donating lands for the benefit Of agriculture and the
arts" and have received land and land scTip
amounting to 1850, 900 acres.
The Jurisdiction conferred on this Department By the
act of Congress Of March 1851 for the definite location
of confirmed private land claims in California was taken
from 1t by act approved June L. 1850, but has been
recently restored under the act approved July 1884
The quantity of land embraced in oil the combinations to
the present date 36 974 Of which 400 900 90
have been finally surveyed and patented What re-
msins to be done the important work Of severDs the
private from the public lands In that State will be prose-
cutsd with diligence and brought to completion . rapidly
a. possible.
1894 making grants Of land to aid the construction Of rail-
road and telegraph lines to the Pacific coast the Initial
point of the main line of railroad from the Missouri river
westward has been fixed at Omaha, Nebraska and the de
6nts location of the road for one hundred miles west from
that point been approved by the President The route
of the Pacific railroad OF California has been selected and
map of the preliminary location thereof from Sacramento
eastward to the great bend of the Truckee river in Ne
vads has been fed in this department The lands along
these routes for twenty-five miles both have been
withdrawn from market pursuant to the requirements Of
the act Of 1862
THE GOLD AND SILVER MINES.
During the past year additional discoveries Of precious
metals particularly Of silver have been made in the
gion hankng the eastward the extended mountain
ranges of the Sierra Nevada vast belt Of
two hundred miles In width and eight nine hundred In
length embracing portions of Idaho Nevada and Arizona
rich in silver Owing to the remoteness Of these
mines and the dcuy of transportation thereto but lit
tie machinery well adapted to the rapid and economical
reduction of the various has been introduced In that
portion Of Nevada through which the Pacific railroad will
pass many rich veins have been found and lie estimated
by familiar with the subject that II the mines now
opened there supplied with the proper machinery
they would yield ten millions Of dollars per month In the
region beds Of salt have also been found which,
from ts value in the process Of separating the silver in the
Ores has given fresh impulse to mining When we re-
hect that the region Of country in which deposes OF the
precious metals abound includes large portions of three
States and six Tertoes and that the richest veins Of
heretofore discovered yet but slightly developed,
whilst new discoveries constantly made, II will be per-
oeved that the annual product Of the mines in the United
States must reach magnitude without precedent 10
the history of mining operations.
The wealth mbedded In the rocks OF that extensive re-
gion actually pexhaustibe and 1t will furnish 10 future
years indirectly, principal part Of qudst
ing the debt contracted by the Government for the
throw Of the great rebellion
Much interest has been manifested ia favor OF the estab
shment of bureau Of mines and minerals to which the
administration Of all details 10 respec to this important
subject should be committed satisfied that such le
sislson will before many years be found necessary If
has not already become
The attention Of Congress has frequently been called to
the importance OF securing income TO the National
Treasury from tbs pF0dscts Of the mines aud pscsr By