The record-union., 1894-09-29
TRUSTEES OF THE MINING BUREAU.
They Make Their Biennial Report to
the Governor.
Many Facts and Figures Concerning
the Growth of Mining Interests
in This State.

The Trustees of the State Mining Bureau
have submitted their report to Governor
Markham, in accordance with the Act of
the Legislature establishing the bureau.
1t alludes to the appointment of J. J.
Crawford as State Mineralogist on the
expiration of the term of William Irelan,
Jr., and pays high compliment to his
zeal and efficiency, as well as that of his
assistants, and also to DIR. William D.
Johnston and C. G. Schneider, the scien-
titic assistants in the library.
in relation to the museum, it is stated
that 1t is becoming more and more in
adequate to the display Of the valuable
exhibits. There has been added to it a
grand total of 1,03S specimens. The at
tendance. as shown by the register at the
rooms, has been Co. 9S5 visitors.
Models showing the underground work
ings of the Eureka Consolidated mines,
Eureka. New, the actual method of
timbering Slopes, drifts and a three
compartment shaft; a model of a sluice.
as used IN hydraulic mining; a series of
ten views of placer mining, taken in 1852
and believed TO be the only set in exist
ence, and others have been contributed.
Prospectors and others have continually
availed themselves of the facilities OF the
bureau. The library is slowly increas-
ing, and has about 10000 visitors an
nuaily, and 10000 letters seeking informa-
ton have been received.
a detail of the exhibits made at the
Columbian Exposition and Midwinter
Fair is made. A list OF donors to the
Museum is given.
The State Mineralogist makes an ex-
tended report, giving many interesting
details of various mines. He states that
the interest in gold mining has greatly
Increased in the past two years. The
three properties that are now producing
the largest amount OF gold per annum IN
this State are all mines that were aban-
doned some years ago whom conditions
were different, but have been newly
equipped. Gold mines can now be worked
at proht. which ten years ago could not
be operated under conditions then exist
ing. Quartz mining is in better condi-
ton than ever before, as ores can now be
worked more cheaply. The principal
difficulty is in obtaining financial aid to
develop mines. The annual gold product
of California for several years has been
between Sl2,000,0 900 and Sl3, 900, but he
thinks under the changed conditions the
output will soon be from $4,000, 900 to
Sl6,000,000.
The product of silver is comparatively
small, but the ores at Calico, San Ber-
cheaply than any others on the Pacific
Coast, and the mines there continued
working when all other mines shut down
on account of the decline in silver. The
entire silver product of the State, how
ever, is only little over half a million
dollars.
1t is not alone for gold and silver.
however, that the mines of California are
valuable Many other substances are
mined here, which even now bring the
value OF the mineral products up to S2O.-
100000, and many of these are increasing
in value each year as the demand and
market for them grow.
The history of the reopeniug of hy-
draulic mining and the CaminetIi bill are
touched on, and the fact stated that forty-
two permits for resumption have been
issued.
y large number of separate reports by
assistants are made, which give very in
terestlng facts gathered by them in their
Investigation of the mineral interests in
various counties in the State. While the
general reader would perhaps imagine
that the report would be dry and unin-
| teresting, as matter of fact it is the re-
verse, and its publication will be eagerly
waited for by many.