The morning call., 1891-01-14
MINING BUREAU.
Tenth Annual Report of the
States MineralOgist.
a Geological Survey Urged-LOss by the Dis
continuance of Hydraulic Operations
Quicksilver Production.

The tenth annual report Of the California
State Mining Bureau has been issued by
William Irelan .Jr., and is a volume OF $50
p4pes. nicely bound and pr1fusely illus
trated by maps and engravings. feature
is a typographical map, complied from the
most authentic sources and defining in
colors the most important geological char
acterstics. with the metalliteroUs deposits
indicated by symbols.
The library and museum of the bureau
are reported in a flourishins condition, both
having been greatly augmented since the
former annual report by donations and pur-
cha,es. The mineral specimens which have
been classified and placed on exhibition
during the year number over 1900.
Among the recent valuable acquisitions
TO the museum are collections of old coins
and rare specimens of agate and onyx.
The register shows that during the year
5000 persons have visited the museum, an
increase over the number of visitors for 1889
Of about 1000.
The lIbr ny numbers over 1000 bound vol
uues. and thousands of pamphlets contain
Ing information from standard authorities
on mining. metallursy, chemistry, etc. The
facilities for Obtaining information concern
ing California, especially the mining re-
gions, have been greatly increased during
the year by the collection OF complete set
If naps-a valuable addition 10 the library.
A Loss OF EIGHT MILLIONS.
After brief introduction on the subject of
mining aud a general consideration of the
history of this industry in California, par
ficularlv the uuskillful manner in which it
WAS once conducted, the report declares
that through the dlScontinuance Of hydraulic
mining the loss to the State in gold bullion
amounts 10 over eight millions OF dollars per
PIT a. ind n nd
ID. her retaTding forces mining for The pre-
cious metals has kept its place among our
most important and useful industries.
IuTsed of It's abuses, aided by capital and
prosecuted with economy, system and skill,
u.Ining is coming to the front there 10 re-
main as almost the foremost Industry IN
California. There is not III The STATE class
interest or vocation but profits directly or
remotely through the mines.
Although the percentage OF mining Rcci-
dents occurring in California is not as great
as in some other countries, still the question
presents Itself tOrci'ly and It's solution IS
always brset witE difficulties. The under
ground lie If a miner Is 50 enyiTuned with
peril that everything consistent with reason
Should be done 1or his protection. The
miners as a casS stand forth as citizens
noted Tor their geuer silly and bravery.
\ GEOLOGICAL SURVEY URGED.
The report strongly recommends the
ESTABLISHING OF % geological survey, under
ll-'Ia4 II. hAlrf OF tullHGL Ntldll, III OIGeE
that capitalists abroad may have q guide &.
direct cir investments IN our direction,
auu also for educational purpO>es-to furnish
schools with a scientific basis for instruction
ia natural history, and further TO assist de-
tailed exploration Tor new deposits OF
metallic and mineral treasures
Harold ". Fairbanks continues from the
report Of lSeg his examination OF the geology
OF the moIher-iUde region and says: The
Use of the term mother lode l. not Intended
To convey the idea Of 4 genetic relation to
other veins or lOueS. IhlS lode follows in a
general way the northwest and southeast
trend Ofthe Sierra Nevada Mountains. The
- veins invariably conform to the strike OF
tEe rocks but nat h the dip. The mother
lode occupies about the center nf what is
called by Whitney The aurieTOus slate-belt,
ana " ha-eyrr may be the value or character
OF gold deposits 10 Fresno County it Is GER
tam that this lode terminaes in Mariposa
County.
ACCOMPANIES PAPERS.
Tie report then takes the State by
counties, and in 4 series OF able and ac-
CuFate articles with accumpl wing mans.
considers the subject Of mineral deposits
and geo osical formations. r. p Hammond
Jr..-eX-Uuited States Surveyor-Gpneral Of
california, contributes a paper containing
valuable suggestions concerning location of
mines and review of the laws under which
til are held a8d operated.
John II. Hammond, EN-, also has an in
structVe essay On the mining Of gold ores
in California, and commencing under the
head geological he considers the subject in
al its phases, even going into the minor de-
tai of methods used III taking the metal
IRON tie earth
q. L. Raudol at some length considers the
subject Of quicksilver mining in California
and Oregon, showing that there are eleven
productive mines of ihis character, employ
Ii- 90 operatives, and that during the year
1859 these mines produced 5,7I4 tons of
ore, Ut %. 46i TASKS, the average cost per
flask being S33 81. The table OF wages in
this ind Istry shows cons siderable Vari a.
tiau. On surface work fJremen earn ed
from SO p to s. &c; mechanics, from So 81
to - %, AMI !aborers from s. to 81 18