Year: 1875

kEPokrS or THE RECENT SURVEY By TIE


UNITED STATES STEAMER RARRAoANsErr-


INTERESTING GEOLOGICAL AND BOTANICAL


DEvELoPMEETs-THE MINERAL WEALTH OF


THE PENINSULA


WASHINGTON Dec % 1875.
The reports Of the survey Of the Lower California
peninsula recently by the United States steamer
Narragansett contain many interesting facts relative 20
that country. Assistant Surgeon Thomas N Streets,
Unted States Navy who had charge OF the geological
portion Of the work. his report refers at length TO
tho geological formation OF the peninsula and neighbor
ing islands, mineral products 6c and says be found
on San Josef Island, tho Gulf Of California fossil
marine shells imbedded kind OF calcareous sand
rock on the mountains at least 900 feet above the
present leveL The identity Of these fossils with
the species existing tho surrounding Is
very evident. He Says


II all this land extending far up Alta California
were sunk 1000 100 feet below it's present
level y would no longer be peninsula, but an
archipelago OF islands. This undoubtedly the exact
position of things at the commencement OF the post p
ocene epoch Tue high mountainous land At the south
ern extremity OF the peninsula formed large island
separate from the rest.


MINERAL WEALTH.


Referring to the mineral wealth OF the peninsula he
says


The silver bearing veins Of Trunfo two in
her and they run IN conyerging direction northerly





70 the amount Of 500 900 per month They have SUM-
cien In sight the mines already opened to treble
or quadruple that sum. The mines particularly
rich In our own country all the silver bearing veins
have been found on The eastern slope OF tho Sierra Ne
vada range This fact has been adduced proof that
this range Of mountains is continuous with the
tans Of Lower California. II this be the we may
look to see gold being found ON the western
of Purgatoro and Providencia beng very actively
worked at present and yielding large quantities Of very
rich ore Another source OF wealth


THE GUAso ISLANDS,


and OF these the principal IS sla Raza. A company
commenced working here years ago and up to the
present time they have removed 10 900 tons OF the fer
uzer IL IS computed that there rs in all 60 600 tons
upon the strand which three quarters Of mile long
and half mile wide


Assistant Surgeon Edward Evers OF the United States
Navy also submits lengthy report upon mineraogy,
botany salt deposits. &c He says


The mineral wealth ofLower California is wonderful
anJ embraces rich deposits Of silver gold iron, copper
antmouy. aiabaster, &C. Traces Of silver are found
amoSs every~hcre. and though few of the mines are
workes 'hAs ~ numerous aud rich.


lie refers y ~ rohnass Of the mines at Trunfo
and says


The majority of the miners are Mexicans, though
there = gooiiy proportion OF foreigners All
the officers Of the company chemist the assayer
tho captains OF the mines aud the foremen
arc American Europeans; not one Mexican
The ore rs brought from the mines on pack mules
distances or from six to twelve miles the stamping
mills which constantly in operation being stopped
only for repairs The silver bars to La Paz by
WagOu, kneuCe hulppeu 10 San fTanClSCO DV
schooner other mines could be worked with equal
profit but the high duties and the arbitrary and
tyrannca measures OF the Mexican government pre-
foreigners the only persons who could possess the
requisite capital from investing there Next to silver
copper ore which is perhaps abundant than any
other metal has been worked most successfully.


THE BEST MISEs


are at Pursaoro and Inferno whence the ore itself is
transported to the scashore pack mules, sometimes
many leagues 10 be shipped to San Francisco and to
Europe. How wonderfully productive all these mines
would become in the hands Of an energetic and
good government But the want Of security to
capital and the consequent want Of protection TO labor
is the great curse of that country At the island Of
San Martos above Mulege, Is rich mine OF aabaster
which, II properly worked, ought to yield an immense
profit The salt lagoon at Carmen Island is an
in than respect. 1t is rich that the whole
earth may be supplied by 1t for ages II indeed ii Is not
inexhaustible. 1t is mile and half in length and
half mile wide while its depth has not yet been as
certaned. This salt deposit is no doubt due TO the
evaporation OF water for 1t is connected with the
ocean, distant from it 400 yards by three four
underground The salt itself perfectly pure
aud beautifully crystalzed.


He refers to


PENINSULA,
which has not yet been examined and says


No doubt thorough examination Of the interior
would enrich the science of botany by many a valuable
and interesting discovery. Nor Is The zoology OF the
country less worthy OF study The applies still
more to its birds but the neld oil greatest interest is
the in the immediate vicinity to the coast and the
Gulf Of California ITSELF with its whales sharks sword
fish, sawsh, skates porposes and countless multtudes
of seals while the number and variety Of smaller fish
is wonderful The lower organizations represented
by forms of rarest size and beauty. Magnificent Shells
too are found on the coast and would well repay the
research of the conchologst.


He refers at length to the condition Of the
Elements, industrial pursuits wages paid for labor,
&C, and in concluding his report says


Thus find the State OF Lower California almost as
unknown the wids OF Africa, but alike ull OF
interest to the boanis the zoolosist and the CHEMIST
alike full Of promise to the merchant and farmer
immensely rich in fisheries IN pearls in minerals and
in native products IL Is very probable that at dis
tant future Lower California Will become an integral
portion OF our Union. thorough knowledge OF ts
characteristics is therefore desirable The study and
research necessary TO acquire should be intrused
a special commission Of men OF acknowledged eminence
the departments OF botany. zoology and mineralogy
The results OF their labor would be OF the utmost i'm
science and OF material benefit to the
munity at large, New roads OF commerce and wealth
would be opened and science would be enriched by
Important and Interesting discoveries.