The San Francisco call., 1898-11-20
NEWS OF THE MINES.

such force might benefit the industry. Its functions would be somewhat similar to that of the State Board of Trade. It would be practical rather than scientific. It would be an initial force which could encourage prospecting, stimulate develop ment of properties and lure this way larger proportion of the legion of invest orS the world over who are eagerly seek ing mining properties What such a prac- teal and fostering agency can do to stim- ulate mining and smooth the way of the miners is illustrated by the provincial de- partments of mines of some of the British colonies, which even teach and stake prospeCtors, assist smelters to start pay rewards for discoveries, send agents abroad to set forth the attractions to capital. etc.
 All this Is too paternal for California; but the field left is wide and long. There Is worldwide boom in copper mining, and California has plenty of undeveloped and unprOspected copper deposits. The fact is left to the stray promoter and seeker of copper mines to discover. The practical conditions and possibilities of long list of economic minerals in this State are nowhere compiled except in a scientific way, and scattered through old reports of the State Mineralogist. To take another illustration at haphazard, there is now a tardy but vigorous beginning in working river bars, benches and beds with dredgerS. A little energetic and lnSiStent advertising of the possibilities that attend thousands of acres of such low-lying au- riferous gravel in this State would soon multiply the dredgers. The average miner if he turns his attention that way must chiefly rely for information on the builder of some patent dredge. Detailed tnforma- and made properly available by any agency in this State. Those in this great State who would use the cyanide nrocess must work out their own salvation This illustrates some of the possibilities of the idea which was recently first advanced by the Mining and Scientific Press; The The practical field. It is pointed out that with such a scope in view nearly every county in the State would id haye rye in{,dn stpoihg mouve State mining exhibit in San Francisco Is another possible feature of the plan of ssn this sort PMnee ciation but abandonment followed, Whether now or in the future, something from the California Miners Association, which needs new purposes in life
 The first section of the Register of Mines, to which the State Mining Bureau
 is devoting most of it's energy, will be displayed in proof at the convention and it's publication will soon follow. This is the one dealing with Nevada County, and State Mineralogist A. s. CoopeE has hastened 1t for the occasion. Its dozen or so of pages are wide and give in tabu- lated form a variety of information about 300 or so mining properties of all sorts in that county, including about sixty mills. A map 30 inches long by about "A inches wide will accompany the register and 1t will show the topography, roads and trails. developed mines with reference numbers, water and electric power plants, etc. It Is in three colors. This first register is issued through a special arrangement, the State Printer being unable to handle such work for lack of funds. Twenty other county registers are complete in manu- script so far and will be published when the State Printing Office can do the work. Each one is revised by deputy appointed in each county and familiar with the mining field. Charles Uren has revised the work for Nevada County after compilation from existing informa- ton at the bureau. The value of the work is rather lessened by the remark able unwillingness of mine-owners to give information about their properties. In Tuolumne County but seven responded, and hence the information given is large ly that gathered from general report and the Judgment of the deputy. The registers will be a very valuable convenience in the State.
 Osm-iridlum may this year be added to the list of the States mineral products. Not long ago Selbys received a request for this alloy if 1t were obtanable and the DIaCer miners of the 2tafa Wara aalxad