CONTENTS. Page. INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY LETTER OF THE COMMISSIONER TO THE SECRETARY,. PART I-Observations of the present condition of the mining industry: LETTER OF INSTRUCTIONS. TREASURY DEPARTMENT, April 1, 1868. SIR: An appropriation having been made by Congress to enable the Secretary of the Treasury to collect reliable statistics of the mineral resources of the United States, a special appointment was conferred upon Mr. J. Ross Browne, under which he performed this service in the States and Territories west of the Rocky mountains. To Mr. James W. Taylor the duty of collecting similar statistics east of the Rocky mountains was assigned. The position held by Mr. Browne having become vacant, and it being in the opinion of the department important that the work should be continued, you have this day been appointed a special commissioner for the collection of statistics in the western division above specified. A copy of the instructions under which Mr. Browne performed his duties is herewith enclosed. Inasmuch as his preliminary report, printed by Congress in 1867, and his subsequent report for 1868, now in the hands of the public printer, cover the material points embraced in the instructions, it will be unnecessary for you to enter into similar investigations in detail, except in cases where omissions may have occurred, or where the information obtained may appear to be erroneous or imperfect. The most important subjects for inquiry at present seem to be— First. As to the different processes of treating the ores, their chemical combinations, and the system demonstrated by practical experience to be the most successful. Second. The relative merits of the various inventions, machines, and mechanical contrivances now in use or projected for the reduction of the precious metals, and for all other purposes connected with the business of mining and metallurgy. Third. The special needs of the great mining interest, how it can be encouraged and rendered most productive, how far individual enterprise should be left untrammelled by legislative action, and to what extent and in what instances government might properly lend its aid to facilitate the development of the mines and thus arrest the present annual decrease in the production of bullion. Fourth. What has been the experience of other countries, resulting from the establishment of national institutions for the education of miners, and how far would the systems prevailing in Europe be applicable to our people or appropriate under our government ? General suggestions of this kind cannot of course always be implicitly carried out, but it is expected that your scientific and practical experience will enable you to furnish valuable information on the subjects indicated. It will be necessary, in the performance of the duties assigned to you, that you should visit in person the principal States and Territories embraced within your division. You will be pleased to submit your report to this department on or before the first day of October next. I am, very respectfully, HUGH MCCULLOCH, LETTER FROM ROSSITER W. RAYMOND, COMMISSIONER FOR THE COLLECTION OF MINING STATISTICS, ΤΟ THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY. WASHINGTON, D. C., January 18, 1869. SIR: The report which I have the honor to transmit herewith is mainly my own work. At the time when I received my appointment as Commissioner of Mining Statistics, there was but a small remnant of previous appropriations left in the treasury which could be applied to the work with which I was charged. Preferring to go into the field as soon as possible, and prepare myself by personal observation for my task, I decided, with your approval, not to wait for the necessary appropriation, but to use the money already applicable, to enable me to see as much as possible of the districts within my department. I am happy to say that by the almost universal courtesy of railway, steamboat, stage, and express companies, my expenses of travel were much reduced, and I was able, with the small sum at my disposal, to complete during the summer a journey of some 13,000 miles. In this connection it is my duty especially to acknowledge the interest manifested in my mission, and the facilities put at my disposal by the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, the North American Steamship Company, the California Steam Navigation Company, the Union Pacific Railroad Company, the Central Pacific Railroad Company, and Wells, Fargo & Co. The lack of means put it beyond my power to engage competent assistants, or even to employ a clerk for tabulating and calculating statistics. Obliged to do the whole work myself, I am nevertheless indebted to numerous gentlemen of the States and Territories I visited for their hearty sympathy and assistance, and feel bound to mention particularly the members of the California Academy of Sciences, Mr. Sherman Day, Mr. Titus Cronise, Mr. William Ashburner, and Mr. Henry Janin, of San Francisco; Messrs. Watt, Crossman, Lee, Merchant, and others, superintendents at Grass Valley; Messrs. Brumagim, connected with the Mariposa company; Mr. A. P. R. Safford, United States surveyor general, Mr. Louis Janin, and Mr. Cæsar Luckhardt, of Virginia City; Messrs. Boalt, Stetfeldt, and Riotte, of Austin; Messrs. Eaton, Keyes, De Lacy, and others, of Montana. Many of these gentlemen put themselves to trouble and expense to further my objects; some of them furnished me with valuable information, which will be found credited to them in the proper place. Under these circumstances, the report now presented is necessarily partial. I have not attempted to make it comprehensive, at the cost of accuracy. It contains my own observations and such others as I have |