Statement showing number of blanks sent and answers received for California.

Blank No. 1.-Only two or three of this class were returned filled, the quartz miners declining as a rule to give the information required under the heads "No. of tons of ore," "average yield," "total product," &c. Other information required on this blank was sometimes given on blanks Nos. 2 and 5.

Blank No. 2.-This blank has received more attention and has been weli filled, in a number of cases, except the last column-"Product of the year."

Blank No. 3.-Few of these were returned at all, probably because there are but few "live" claims which would not come under the head of "producing mines" in blank No. 2.

Blank No. 4.-This blank has been well filled from every county wherever there was a disposition shown to give any information.

Blank No. 5.-Has received prompt attention and contains a large proportion of the mills running in the various districts.

The cement and placer miners have, with very few exceptions, refused to furnish any information whatever.

A striking instance of the imperfection of returns in blanks is furnished by the following table, taken from the report of the surveyor general of the State. This table does not give the number of stamps, which affords the true measure of capacity. But a simple examination is sufficient to show that the returns are wanting in uniformity, and sometimes quite absurd. The table is copied from the printed report, and the totals of 1867-8 are mostly erroneous by reason of clerical or typographical errors. As the figures stand, the totals should be: number of mills, 361; tons crushed, 393,480; number of ditches, 874; miles in length, 11,9491; inches of water per day, 211,896. Yet this year is in some respects better reported than the last. In the latter case clerical accuracy has been blindly maintained by correctly adding the figures from the different counties, but without any censorship. Thus we have 22 mills in Placer County crushing 702,760 tons of quartz, or more than one hundred tons daily for each mill, whereas 12 of the same mills the year before crushed only 2,760 tons, or less than one ton daily per mill. At the same time, Nevada County, known to be the foremost quartz-mining district in the State, is reported as crushing, with 73 mills, but 125,000 tons, or between six and seven tons daily per mill. It is not probable that 50,000 tons were crushed in Placer County during the year, and this return should have been altered or discarded. In this case, the total of tons crushed in the State would be reduced to nearly what it was the year before.

Again, the mining ditches are reported sometimes with and sometimes without the subsidiary branches. Thus Tuolumne appears in 1867-'8 with 210 ditches, aggregating 7,210 miles in length and in 1869-70 with 11 ditches, having an aggregate length of 192 miles. Yet the amount of water employed, as reported, has only fallen from 7,400 to 6,740 inches daily. These examples will show that the table, made up from the returns of district assessors, cannot bear discussion. It does not even give us the data upon which to base an estimate of the relative progress of quartz, cement, and placer mining. In the present state of affairs,

no returns thus collected can be implicitly relied upon. They may be incidentally valuable, but they must be revised and edited by experts before they can become the basis of trustworthy statistics.

Langley's Pacific Coast Directory, quoted by Mr. Ross Browne in his second report, is a specimen of a different method and reflects high credit on the industry and intelligence of its compilers. It is the result of a combination of means, including both correspondence and personal inspection. I sincerely trust its publication may be continued, as the lists of stamp mills, &c., which it has furnished have thus far been the most full and trustworthy obtained from any quarter within my knowl edge.

I have accordingly employed this means only as auxiliary; and, in my reports from other States and Territories than California, have used the blanks principally as suggestive statements to my correspondents and assistants of the points concerning which information is desirable. Residents of the different districts have been appealed to, and all reports have been, as far as possible, controlled by comparison with data from other sources, including especially statistical publications of States and counties, shipments of bullion by express, population and ruling rates of wages in different districts, statements of merchants, duration of the mining season for placers, supply of water, &c. This mixed system is the best that can be adopted under the limited appropriations made for the purpose; and though the results are, in many instances, rather estimates than statistics, I believe they are sufficiently accurate to possess practical value.

CHAPTER II.

INYO COUNTY.

A great deal of activity has prevailed in this county during the year. The discovery of the richness of the veins at Cerro Gordo and vicinity has attracted much population, and over seven hundred claims have been taken up. A few of these mines had been worked before by Mexicans, but to only a small extent. During the last year, however, a great many mines have been opened, and they have yielded astonishing quantities of argentiferous lead ores. The erection of furnaces by Messrs. Belshaw and Judson, and subsequently by many others, has stimulated mining operations greatly, because the poor miners who had no other capital than their labor were thus enabled to dispose of their ores to advantage. The district is well furnished with everything necessary to carry on extensive smelting operations; wood is plenty, and the discovery of fire-clay obviates the difficulty first encountered in constructing furnaces which would resist the heat. There is a great scarcity of water in the immediate neighborhood of Cerro Gordo and the mines, but a plentiful supply of it down in the valley. Here the furnaces will probably have to be ultimately located. At present it seems that no better investment for capital could be desired than in the erection at a suitable place of large smelting works capable of separating the silver from the lead on the spot. The furnaces existing now are not well located and are likely to suffer from lack of water every summer.

The distance to Los Angeles, where the product of the furnaces has to be transported on wagon roads, is 275 miles, and freights are there

fore very high; labor is also very high, as will be seen from the annexed tables, and coal has been as dear as twenty-eight cents per bushel.

Owens Valley is a fine agricultural district, and this fact will undoubtedly have a very beneficial influence on mining. The climate is mild, and no interruption of work is to be feared in the winter.

The following description of the principal mines near Cerro Gordo is from the pen of Mr. W. S. Watson, civil and mining engineer, a gentleman who has visited the region and personally inspected the mines: The Cerro Gordo mines are located in the Inyo Mountains, a range running parallel to the Sierra, on the eastern side of Owens River Valley. They are distant from the head of Owens Lake about twelve miles, in a southeasterly direction. The district for at least ten miles on a line with the general range of the mountain, and at least two miles in width, (as far as has been prospected,) is undoubtedly rich in the various kinds of silver ores, argentiferous galena predominating. Some of the veins are extraordinarily large, reaching thirty-five feet in width, and few veins are less than eight. The prevailing "wall rock" is marble, of a grayish color, and a species of talcose slate, generally yellow brown, and very easily worked. There are about seven hundred locations within one mile square where Cerro Gordo village is, most of which have been worked for three and a half or four years, and, up to less than a year ago, principally by Mexicans, whose plan for beneficiating these ores has been by a very rude kind of “vassor." cheaply constructed, and capable only of working very rich ores.

Of the seven hundred or more locations, nearly all have been more or less developed, all showing veins of greater or less strength, from four to thirty feet, and assaying from $110 to $9,000 in silver per ton, some of the veins also showing free gold in paying quantities.

I will briefly give a description of some of the principal veins as they now show from the imperfect workings of miners who have had no capital but their own labor to use in their development. So far as I am aware, no other capital has reached this distant mining camp during the three years the district has been known to exist. Routes, etc.-The usual routes of travel are three:

1. By the way of Los Angeles, which is the port of entry to these districts, and from which Cerro Gordo is distant two hundred and eighty-six miles, in a northeasterly direction. This route can be traveled by heavily loaded trains, all times in the year, in about sixteen days. The charges for freight are six cents per pound out, and from three to six for return freight.

2. By the Central Pacific railroad to Reno Station, thence by stage to Cerro Gordo direct, in about seven days.

3. By Gilroy, thence by stage to Havilah, in Kern County, or Kern River; thence through Walker's Pass or the Kern River trail, as the travelers may select. Either route can be traveled in six days, and if by Walker's Pass, there is a good wagon road the entire distance from Gilroy to Cerro Gordo.

As before intimated, the mines opened here show mostly carbonates, tungstate and sulphurets of lead; carbonates, gray sulphuret, and silicate of copper; and antimonythe carbonates and sulphurets of lead carrying generally from twenty-eight to fiftyfive per cent. of lead, and much silver.

Freiberg. This mine is situated high on Buena Vista Mountain, its tunnels opening on the streets of Cerro Gordo. It consists, so far as developed, of three parallel veins, cut by a tunnel five hundred feet in length. The front vein is thirty-two feet in width and twelve hundred feet long, of carbonates and sulphates of lead, carrying from $100 to $300 per ton of silver, with marble for a foot, and clay slate for hanging wall. From the level of the tunnel to the surface, a height of one hundred and nine feet, it can be worked, from which two men discharge through the winzes, sometimes, as high as sixty tons of ore per day. Vein No. 2 is nearly al sulphate of lead, with antimony, carrying about $126 per ton of silver. Its length between walls is from four to eight feet, and from the head of the tunnel to the surface one hundred and sixty feet. The length of the vein is fourteen hundred feet. Vein No. 3 is eastward, and parallel to No. 1 and No. 2, and is of a similar character to No. 1. It is fourteen hundred feet in length, and about twelve feet wide between walls. From the tunnel to the surface is about two hundred and twenty-five feet, and will yield not less than either of the two front veins. The facility of mining the ores in these veins makes this mine a most desirable property. Little or no powder is required in extracting, and the ore is sold at the "dump" to Belshaw & Co., the owners having no reduction works of their own.

Ignacio. This mine has been considered the best mine in the district, and worked longer than the Freiberg, and more fully opened, although in purely Mexican stylə. It is like the Freiberg, (and, in fact, nearly all the veins in the hill,) having a heavy deposit of what is known as galena ore, and contains carbonate and tungstate of lead, Some of the ore yielding as high as $300 in silver. It is worked from the Cerro Gordo Ravine along the river by tunnels, which will command to the surface about two II. Ex. Doc. 207- -2

hundred feet in height. This property has been recently sold for $20,000, or $12 50 per foot.

San Benito. This mine is west of the Freiberg, and east of the Ignacio. The vein is about six feet wide, with clear walls of alabaster or marble and yellow clay slate. The ore taken out of this vein yields from $289 to $1,490 per ton in silver. The loose debris, forming a casing between the walls and the vein, as well as the vein itself, contain free gold in considerable quantities. None of this vein matter, except the solid ore, has been yet worked, for the want of water. The mine is worked from a shaft from the highest part of the outcrop, and has been opened to seventy-five feet in depth, by a shaft ten by six feet wide. It has an opening on "Cerro Gordo" ravine, and can be worked in the same manner as the Ignacio, along the vein, if thought advisable. The San Benito is sixteen hundred feet in length. The ore that has been taken out has sold for an average of $250 per ton to the smelting works.

Queen City.-This mine is about half a mile south from "Uppertown." It is worked from a tunnel of about one hundred and twenty feet, and two shafts, one in the tunnel and one outside on the lead. It shows a vein of about twelve feet in width, and the height from the head of the tunnel to the highest point on the vein is about six hundred and fifty feet, from all of which ore can be taken ont through the tunnel. The ore smelts from $123 to $369 per ton in silver, and is composed of sulphuret of lead, with a trace of antimony. It is what is called here a "galena" mine, and worked, aside from the silver it contains, as a flux for such ores as the San Benito, St. Louis, &c. There have been about forty tons of ore taken out of this mine, which sold on the ground for about $150 per ton. The length of the Queen City is sixteen hundred feet. It promises to be one of the best mines in the district.

Carmel. This mine is one thousand feet in length, near the head of Queen City Ravine, half a mile south from the Freiberg, at the foot of the Buena Vista Mountain. It is similarly located to the Freiberg, and a tunnel run into the mountain shows a vein of twelve to fourteen feet in thickness. A contract has been made to run sixty feet, at which point another vein of very rich lead ore will be reached; and if the tunnel runs eight hundred feet, probably not less than ten other veins can be reached. The front vein contains sulphate and carbonates of lead, carrying about $225 per ton in silver. This vein is one thousand feet in length, and, from its location, can be worked at the minimum cost of extracting ores.

Mexicana. This vein is on Buena Vista Mountain, about half a mile east from the Freiberg. It is a vein of about six feet in width and sixteen hundred feet in length, and has been opened by a tunnel, showing quartz, in which are found carbonate of lead, gray sulphurets and silicate of copper. It carries from $253 to $791 per ton in silver.

San Cristobal.-This mine is near the Queen City, and has a tunnel, disclosing a vein of about four feet in width and fourteen hundred feet in length, of pay ore. The ore is of the same general character as that of the Mexicana, and contains sulphuret and carbonate of lead enough for smelting purposes. By smelting process the ore has yielded about $213 per ton.

Gran Poder. This mine is about a quarter of a mile north from the Freiberg. It is opened by a tunnel, and discloses a vein of about sixteen feet in width. The mine is fourteen hundred feet in length. The ore is of nearly the same character as that of the Mexicana. It contains carbonate and sulphuret of lead. By smelting process it has averaged three hundred dollars per ton.

St. Louis.-This mine is near the Queen City, about one mile south from the Freiberg. It has been opened from Queen City Ravine by an open cut, and shows a vein of three to six feet in width, with great facility for mining. The ore is of the same character as one vein of the Queen City-a sulphate of lead with a trace of antimonial silver, and containing about one hundred and thirty dollars per ton in silver. The location is one thousand feet in length, well opened, and from the level of the tunnel to the outcrop on the hill shows available ore for about five hundred feet.

San Gregorio.-On the west slope of Buena Vista Mountain. It is two thousand feet in length, opened by a tunnel of twenty feet, disclosing a vein of hard ore, similar to the Mexicana. The vein is from four to eight feet in width, and easily worked.

The rock taken out runs from $120 to $400 per ton, by smelting process, in silver. St. Arnold and Santenelle.-On the west slope of Buena Vista Mountain, near the San Gregorio, are parallel veins running north, eighteen degrees east. Both are opened by tunnels of various lengths, and disclose veins of argentiferous galena with antimony. They run from eight to ten feet in width, and fourteen hundred feet in length. The veins are inclosed in walls, similar to the San Benito-that is, gray marble and clay

slate.

Washington and Colfax.-In a parallel range to the Inyo Mountain, eighteen miles east from Cerro Gordo. They are rich in native and antimonial silver. They are generally from six to twelve feet in width of pay ore, which has been worked at the melting furnace at Cerro Gordo with extraordinary results, ranging from $500 to