LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.

To His Excellency, the HONORABLE WILLIAM D. STEPHENS,

Governor of the State of California.

SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith Bulletin No. 75 of the State Mining Bureau, being a compilation of the mining laws of the United States and California, and a revision of Bulletin 66, which was issued under date of January, 1914.

This office is in constant receipt of inquiries for copies of the laws governing mining in California, not only from residents of this state, but also from all parts of the United States and foreign countries, and as the edition of Bulletin 66 has been entirely exhausted, it is now deemed expedient to fulfill the demand by issuing this publication.

Respectfully submitted.

FLETCHER HAMILTON,

State Mineralogist.

San Francisco, September 29, 1917.

CALIFORNIA STATE MINING BUREAU.

The headquarters of the California State Mining Bureau are located on the third floor of the Ferry Building, San Francisco, and consist of the administrative offices of the State Mineralogist, State Supervisor of Petroleum and Gas, Library, Mineral Museum, and other offices necessary for carrying on the work of the bureau. The institution is supported by legislative appropriation, and is under the direction of Fletcher Hamilton, State Mineralogist. Its purpose is to promote the interests of the mineral industry in California in every possible way. This object is accomplished by various means, briefly outlined as follows:

PUBLICATIONS.

Bulletins, reports, and maps, covering all phases of the mining industry of the state, compiled as a result of the work of mining engineers and geologists in the field, are available for reference and distribution upon application to this office. It is possible to distribute some of these publications free of charge, but for those more elaborate and detailed a nominal price is asked. (See list of publications, page 109.)

GENERAL INFORMATION BUREAU.

An information desk is maintained at the main office of the bureau in the Ferry Building, and the entire staff of assistants is at the service of the public at all times in this regard. All personal and written inquiries relative to any phase of mining or the occurrence of mineral substances in California, are given careful and immediate attention.

LIBRARY.

The Bureau Library contains over 5,000 volumes of selected works, including government, state and individual reports on mines and mining and allied technical subjects, as well as files of the leading technical magazines of the world, together with the current copies of the local papers from the majority of the mining camps of California. Here may also be found for reference county maps, topographical sheets, geological folios, etc. A reading room is maintained in conjunction with the library, and both are open to the public daily from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., except Sundays and holidays; and from 9 a.m. to 12 m. Saturdays.

LABORATORY.

Samples, limited to three at one time, of any mineral found in the state, may be sent to the bureau for identification, and the same will be classified free of charge. The bureau is not authorized to make determinations on samples received from points outside the state. It must also be understood that no assays or quantitative analyses can be made. Samples should be in lump form if possible, and marked plainly with

name of sender on outside of package. No samples will be received. unless delivery charges are prepaid, and a letter should be forwarded at the same time, stating the general locality where the mineral was found, and the exact nature of the information desired. The work of this department is especially reliable, and many thousand prospectors and others have taken advantage of the assistance which is offered in this

manner.

MUSEUM.

The Museum, which occupies the entire north wing of the third floor of the Ferry Building, with a floor space of 7,500 square feet, is not the least useful adjunct of the Mining Bureau. A complete mineralogical study of California may be carried on from the 20,000 mineral specimens to be seen attractively arranged in this immense exhibit. Aside from its purely scientific interest the Museum daily attracts throngs of tourists and sightseers, and accomplishes a great deal in the way of giving visual evidence of California's vast mineral resources.

STATISTICAL DEPARTMENT.

Since 1894 the bureau has annually issued a special bulletin covering in detail the actual mineral production of the state for the preceding year. Data covering the amount and value of the yearly output is received by the statistical department from every individual mineral operator in California, and these returns, when classified and published in county totals, give the clearest possible conception of the various sections of the state, and have proven in the past to be of great aid to prospective investors, and others interested. It is to the undoubted interest of every owner and operator of a mineral property in California to cooperate with the bureau in its efforts to collect reliable and authoritative statistical data.

DEPARTMENT OF PETROLEUM AND GAS.

This department was established by law August 9, 1915. It is under the general jurisdiction of the State Mineralogist, who is authorized to appoint as supervisor an engineer or geologist experienced in the development and production of petroleum. It is the duty of the supervisor to supervise the drilling, operation, maintenance and abandonment of petroleum or gas wells, so as to prevent damage to these deposits from infiltrating water and other causes. It is of vital interest to the general public that waste of the natural supply of petroleum and gas in California be prevented, and it is believed that the farsightedness of the framers of this law has been fully exemplified in the short time which has elapsed since the work in this department was first inaugurated, on account of the practical results which have followed it. Much of the damage caused in the past has been due to lack of knowledge of underground conditions. Information in this regard is being constantly gathered and systematized by the bureau, and the results placed at the disposal of the oil operators.