Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-03-02
NO. IA.
MINING RESULTS IN THE PACIFIC
sTATES AND TERRITORIES FOR
THE YEAR 1865

NhtE EAk Aeos-
From the New York worId.l
We have before US the mining review of
for 1866, from the circular of the eminent
house of Rodgers Meyer & Co, of San
Francisco and Liverpool
The yield for 1865 compares favorably
with that of any previous year. The min
ing fields of Arizona, Idaho, and Mountain
have been further prospected, and gold,
silver, and copper shown to exist in such
quantities and under such conditions rs to
afford a guarantee in the future of large pro-
ducts and large profits to companies eff
ciently managed with adequate capiral. The
quartz mines Of California have given for
the past year large returns, and the fact has
been fully demonstrated that these mines
increase in yield of gold with depth Of work
ing. Copper is found in paying quantities
in various localities, and considerable ore,
averaging thirty TO forty per cent, has been
forwarded to San Francisco from the Colo
RADIO region of Arizona. The influence of
the stock board of San Francisco on the pri-
ces of the silver stocks of Nevada has been
extremely bad, but it Is believed this evil
has worked its own cure, and need not be
dreaded in future.
The silver mines of Southern Arizona,
which have had any management at all have
further demonstrated their great value, and
viii add in the future their quota to the
aggregate producticn. The refractory ores
of gold in California (suiphurets), like those
of Colorado, still demand an effective and
economical process Of separation. 1t seems
almost certain that this will be found.
These ores contain so large percentage of
gold, and so much talent is at work to dis
cover the true method, that we may venture
to hope success is near Much progress has
been made already. The general ressier-
viii be surprised to learn that gold quartz
paying So 10 $40 per ton, in favorable local
tiles, is worked at large profit in Califor-
MIA. The average of the silver veins in
Nevada is only S35 to $40; in Arizona
much higher. In Montana and Idaho the
gold veins are said to average more than in
California. The conclusions of the very
clear and able circular from which we quote
are given below. They illustrate and con-
firm the views already laid before the read
ers of the. World in the letters of Sylvester
Mowry, Esq, of Arizona.
While it is great mistake to suppose all
miners successful, or all miners rich, it is an
indubitable fact that mining henceforth is
to be one of the great legitimate branches of
industry in the country, inferior to none,
constantly growing, and great help in pay
ing the interest on our public debt:
However the business of mining may Auctuats
or fail to prove remunerative in certain cases, il
must always continue. as il has heretofore been.
the entire coast Of the Pacific. Is il even now,
much as former earnings have declined, paying
better average wages in several OF its branches
than any other occupation requiring little skill
this business. though meeting with reverses in
some localities and retarded in others. has been
withstanding The returns ms tor the year may fsil
somewhat short of public expectation, they will
in the aggrepato very nearly equal those OF any
former season. while the prospect for rapid and
steady increase is extremely fattering. The re-
ceipts OF uncOined gold and silver in the city,
through public channels. during the past year,
amounted to nearly $49, 10000 against $4,000,
600 in 1854; in 1863 they less than $4 900 000
in 1862 not quite $42 1000 and in 1861 just about
$40, 100000. During the last twelve months the
area of our metaliferous territory has been con-
siderRbly extended, while many mills and reduc-
tion works of large capacity have been put up in
various parts of the country. The greater portion
OF these have not yet commenced operations or
been running sufficiently long to tell with much
effect upon the product of the year just closed"
Another season they will increase the an
nual produce materially. Besides this, the
business of mining promises to be carried on
hereafter with more system and economy,
not TO say honesty, than has hitherto charac-
terized it as conducted in certain cases. The
plan of working mines with view to en-
hance or depress the prices of stocks as
might best serve the interest of those having
control of them, is not likely TO be practiced |
to the same extent as formerly, it threaten |
ing to prove nearly as dangerous to those en- |
gagged in carrying it on as to their intended |
victims. That this business may speedily |
be purged of this and all other abuses, is
greatly to be hoped, since TO it we must con-
tinue to look for those large and certain
revenues which have thus far never failed /
us, as they are not likely to do, our mines
being vast in extent and literally exhaust
less, while the value and amount of their
productions are less dependent upon the sea-
sons, the demands Of foreign market, and |
other incidental circumstances, than are our |
cereal crops, wines, wool, and other staple |
productions.
Neither rain nor drouth, seasonsof plenty |
or dearth, of financial ease or stringency, |
can ever wholly cut off or diminish the |
yield of our mines, or lessen the value of |
their products. In this feature of stability, |
apart from the extent and prolific character |
of our mines, we have fund Of wealth upon |
which we can always rely, even should our |
grain crop prove short, our herds perish |
with famine and all our other resources fail. |
But that this element may be made to yield
its full measure Of advantage, it must OBJ
viously be accompanied by more careful
and less with view to large and
immediate than to certain and permanent /
results. Wherever it has been carried on in
a legitimate manner, being conducted with
the same discretion and care evinced in
most other callings, it has generally proved
a success; the failures mostly being attribu-
able to lack of skill, extrayagant expendi-
lures, or some other sort of mismanagement.