Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1880-05-16
MINING STATISTICS FOR THE
CENSUS.

When General Francis A. Walker, now
Superintendent Of the Census, drafted the
census bill, he Incorporated therein a pro-
vision for the most thorough and compre-
hensive collection Of mining statistics
ever made in the country. To accom-
plish this work he applied to Director
Clarence King. In gathering statistics
the Director will employ the excellent
machinery of the Geological Survey /; as
signing to Prof. Raphael Pumpelly the
department of coal and iron, from his
great experience in those fields and in
regard to the mining and reduction of
gold and silver ores the Director will be
assisted by Mr.. s. F. Emmons and Nh.
G. F. Becker. Mr.. Emmons performed
excellent service under Mr.. King, in the
Geological Explorations of the Fortieth
Parallel, and is now geologist in charge
OF the Division Of the Rocky Mountains,
with headquarters at Cheyenne. He will
superintend the work in New Mexico,
Colorado, Wyoming, Montana and Da.
kota. Mr.. G. F. Becker is geologist in
charge of the Division of Mining Geology
OF the Pacific slope, with headquarters
at San Francisco. His field for investi-
cations comprises Arizona, Nevada, Cali.
fornia, Washington Territory, Oregon,
Idaho and Utah. Inquiries in the States
East Of the Mississippi River will be con.
Quoted by an able member of the staff.
The services of several trained experts
will be employed in gathering statistics,
who, it is expected, will be able to com.
plete their field labors in four or five
months. The gathered material will
form one of the volumes of the census re-
port, and will probably be ready for pub
LEGATION early next summer.
The scope of the investigation will be
broad; the Director, in his instructions to
experts, saying that it is the purpose of
1t Ito elucidate, as far as practicable,
the character, extent and total influence
OF the mining industry" and further,
that no industry has sver been examined
throughout an extensive region SO funda-
mentally and infinitely as it is intended
this shall be. In order to obtain the de-
sired information the experts will visit
every mine in the United States which
produces iron. gold, silver or quicksilver;
every establishment for reducing ores:
and all those mines which furnish fuel
and other needed supplies for the sue
csssful conduct Of mining and milling
operations.
For the purpose Of distinguishing mines
from mere prospects, the experts will
make no report upon claims which have
neither produced fifty tons of remunera
tive ore, nor now have a total length Of
shafts and drifts of 200 feet. The in.
formation to be given in regard to the
mines themselves will begin with their
discovery, and give a statistical history
OF each district and every mine in each
district from the time the first ~prospector
struck his first blow with pick or ham.
mer. In the same connection the own.
ership Of minea. the laws, local rules,
legal dsciaions. class Of subjects litigatsd,
mining stocks and all other topics will be
fully Investigated and discussed.
That so important q work should have
been undertaken by q man as capable,
experienced and efficient as Director
Clarence King is q certain assurance that
it will be well done. and the effect its
psrformaass viii have upon our interests, :