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So far as observed all of the geological formations contain valuable metalliferous veins, from the azoic up to the triassic.

As this portion of the State is about two hundred miles east and west by three hundred north and south, and contains a great number of districts, each of which has a very considerable extent, and contains a great number of metalliferous veins, it will be impossible in a brief space to do more than briefly notice some of the most important districts.

Silver bend, or Philadelphia.-This district, which was discovered by an Indian, is about seventy-five miles southeast from Austin. It was one of the first discoveries in this part of the State, and its mines have been more developed than those in the other districts.

One of the principal veins is the High Bridge, which crops to the surface for the distance of about a mile, and has been opened at a number of different points, and at one to the depth of about fifty feet. It appears to be composed of a number of different strata, all of which contain rich ore; their aggregate thickness varies from five to twenty feet.

The country rock is slate, and it has every indication of being a true fissure vein, and consequently will be found deep and permanent. It contains a large amount of good milling ore at the surface.

A small ten-stamp mill has been erected for reducing the ore, and the average yield is about one hundred dollars per ton, the mill saving about sixty per cent. of the silver contained in the ore. Its daily production is a trifle over one thousand dollars, provided it were fully opened; with suitable mills for the reduction of its ores the production of bullion could be increased tenfold.

The Silver Champion has produced richer ore than any other vein in the district. It is smaller than the High Bridge, and has not been opened but to a small extent. Besides this, there are a number of other veins in this district of great promise, as the Green and Oder, Silver Top, Minerva, and many others. The metalliferous veins are found in slate and limestone, the greater number being in the slate, while the veins in the granite, so far as they have been examined, are entirely barren.

Northumberland district.-This district is about twenty miles north from Silver Bend, and on the same slope of the same range of mountains. Here the metalliferous veins are found in slate and granite.

Rich ores are found near the surface, and, when opened, there is no doubt that it will prove to be a valuable district.

Wood and water are moderately abundant, sufficient for the wants of the district for years to come.

It is singular that the granite at Silver Bend should enclose only barren veins, and at this district, which is only twenty miles distant, and in the same range of mountains, with granite apparently of the same lithological character, should contain some of the richest veins in this district. This shows the fallacy of the notion that some particular rock is, in all cases, more favorable for enclosing metalliferous veins than another of azoic or sedimentary rocks-experience showing that, in Nevada, all of the rocks, except the volcanic, contain valuable. mines.

Hot creek. This district was named from a group of hot springs, the waters of which uniting form a creek of some magnitude, retaining its heat for a long distance below. This furnishes an abundant supply of water for the use of the district. Along the banks of the stream the warmth of the water induces a growth of vegetation of tropical luxuriance, and many plants grow here that are not found in other parts of the State.

The country rock is chiefly limestone, with small amounts of slate and granite traversed by numerous trap dykes.

The metalliferous veins are large, rich, and numerous, and many of them show large amounts of valuable ore at the surface.

As this is one of the most recent discoveries, but little work has been done in developing and proving the mines. But the results of the workings of a number of tons of ore from different mines have been very satisfactory.

A small mill is nearly completed and will soon be in running order, and from the richness and abundance of the ores, and the experience of the managers, there is do doubt that the enterprise will be successful.

Wood is very abundant near the mines, being mostly nut pine, which is excellent for fuel, but very indifferent for lumber.

Reveille district.-This district is about forty miles southeast from Hot creek, and about the same distance northwest from Pahranagat. This is a more recent discovery than Hot creek, which it greatly resembles, having the same country rock, with veins of equal or larger size, containing the same ores, and the district is probably of equal value.

Pahranagat district. This is the only mining district in the State that was discovered by Mormons or people from Salt Lake. It was found about a year before any other district in this part of the State. It is situated in the southeast corner of the State, about two hundred miles from the head of navigation on the Colorado river, according to what is believed to be the best authorities, although many others make the distance much less.

The mineral belt is long and narrow, and contains a great number of veins in a small compass. They are usually of fair size and well impregnated with ore, and when developed will no doubt prove valuable.

The country rock is the same as in Hot creek and Reveille, and the general characteristics are the same. The laws of this district are very liberal to the original discoverers, but almost entirely exclude later prospectors. They require no work on the mine except to pile a heap of stones, and that holds the mines perpetually. Hence no work has been done, and none probably ever will be done, by a majority of the present holders. A New York company have recently commenced operations, and no doubt will thoroughly prove their mine.

Silver Peak. This district is about one hundred and twenty miles south from the city of Austin. The country rock consists of granite, slate, and limestone, the greater number of veins being in the slate. They are usually large, and contain both gold and silver, besides copper and lead.

A mill has been erected and run for a considerable time, but the workings were not very satisfactory, owing to the large amount that was lost in the tailings. The Vanderbilt and Pocatilla are the two most noted veins in this district. They are of large size, and with a mill capable of saving the gold and silver would yield a fair profit.

A large number of other districts have been formed in this part of the State, as the Danville, Palmetto, Red Mountain, Pawdit, Columbus, and Volcano. From all of these specimens of rich ore have been obtained, but their true value can be determined only after they have been fully developed.

In Columbus district a few of the veins have been partially opened, and ore worked from them with most satisfactory results. In another year a mill will probably be erected, and with proper management ought to be successful.

Volcano district has veins which contain gold and silver, but is remarkable for croppings of larger copper veins than any others yet found in California or Nevada. These veins have not been opened, but the outcrop is of enormous magnitude, and the ore, besides copper, contains a small amount of silver. When this country has proper railroad facilities this copper ore will be of great value. Although this mining region has been too recently discovered to admit of definitely proving its value by working on a large scale, still sufficient has been learned to prove that it contains vast deposits of ore rich in gold and silver.

Salt is found abundantly in nearly all of the valleys, in marshes or as an incrustation on the soil at the bottom of the basins. From these sources is derived all the salt that is used in the reduction of the silver ore throughout the State, the

annual consumption for this purpose in the State being very great. But at Pahranagat salt is found in a mine in vast quantities. It is in large transparent crystals, and also beautifully colored, green, blue, &c., as in the Cordana mine. in Spain. This variety is much purer and stronger than that found in the valleys. This latter variety was deposited by evaporation, and contains much soda and other impurities.

Coal has been found at Volcano and Pahranagat and near Salt Lake, and from the geological structure of this part of the State it is highly probable that, when full explorations have been made, coal will be found in abundance, and of good quality. That found near Salt Lake has been worked to a considerable extent, and has been pronounced to be of excellent quality. At Pahranagat and Volcano no work has been done to prove the quality or extent, except what has been done by nature. This is a very fine field for exploration in a country like this, where, in the course of a few years, fuel will be a very important consideration.

As this region has been until recently infested by bands of hostile Indians, rendering it dangerous for small parties of prospectors to remain long in the country, considerable irregularities have been observed in the formation of new districts and in the framing of laws.

At Silver Bend a district was formed, and called the Philadelphia district, with laws and regulations as is usual in such cases. From a variety of causes the founders of the district were obliged to leave, when another set of prospectors came in, formed another district, and claimed the mines by virtue of their laws. The result has been vexatious and expensive litigation.

At Pahranagat the laws exclude new comers, and do not require the owners to do any work on the mines.

A general law by Congress regulating the formation of new districts, and making them a matter of record, so that after a district is once organized its existence can be easily proved, would prevent troubles of this nature from arising in the future; also a clause setting forth precisely the conditions under which a claim becomes forfeited. In many of the mining districts if no work is done on a claim for the space of one year the claim is considered to be abandoned. This clause in mining laws is pretty general, but in many courts it has been decided that miners by their laws have a right to prescribe the mode of possession, but not the mode of dispossession. As the mines in each district differ, and in one it is advisable to claim ground on each side of the vein, and in others it is not, these points can be better regulated by the miners themselves than by any general law, but in the formation of districts, and provisions for the forfeiture of a claim, some general law is requisite.

AUSTIN, NEVADA, November 26, 1866.

A. BLATCHLY,

Mining Engineer.

[From Governor McCormick's message, October 8, 1866.]

ARIZONA.

Finances.-The total territorial indebtedness, as audited to this time, amounts to twenty-one thousand and fifty-one dollars and forty-one cents, and there is a balance of two hundred and forty-nine dollars and fifty cents in the treasury to the credit of the general fund. Of this in lebtedness, fifteeen thousand five hundred and ninety dollars are payable in gold, being the amount of bonds (and interest on the same to January 4, 1867) issued under the act of the first assembly, approved November 9, 1864, and entitled "An act to provide for the contingent expenses of the territorial government." In view of the fact that until the present year but two of the counties were fully organized, and that

now, although all contribute to the revenue, the total receipts, owing to the limited amount of taxable property in the Territory, are small, this is no more than a reasonable debt. Compared with that of neighboring Territories, containing a larger population and far better sources of revenue, it is insignificant, and will be complained of only by those singular individuals who expect the wheels of government to move without cost.

Still I would advise that no expenditure of the territorial funds, however earnestly it may be asked, or necessary it may seem, be authorized by your honorable bodies without the most careful consideration; and if you can impress upon the counties the importance of economy in their affairs, it will be well to do so. In the matter of promptly and thoroughly collecting the revenue they should be urged to increased vigilance, not only for their own benefit but for that of the Territory at large.

Some seven thousand dollars of the gold bonds before referred to will become due in a little more than a year from this date, and although another legislature may meet before that time, it is not too early to make provision to insure their payment, and thus to sustain the territorial credit.

There is a balance of about five hundred dollars in the treasury from the special fund created by the sale of territorial mining claims, which I would suggest be assigned to the general fund; also, that all further receipts from such sales be so disposed of.

The Treasury Department having made the Territory an internal revenue district, and appointed an assessor and collector, we may soon expect to be called upon to contribute directly to the national revenue. I had hoped, in view of our comparatively small population, and the drawbacks with which we have to contend, that we should escape other than territorial taxation for the present. But it becomes us, as loyal citizens of the great republic, cheerfully to do our part, however humble it may be, towards cancelling the sacred debt incurred in preserving the national integrity.

The mines. If there is less excitement over our mining interests there is more confidence in their excellence, and a strengthened belief that their development will surprise the world. Ten quartz mills will have been erected in this county alone before the close of the present year. Those already in operation afford a gratifying evidence of the value of the gold ores, and as the lodes are sunk upon they show permanence and size. The appearance of sulphurets and refractory elements at a certain depth may involve the necessity of more elaborate machinery, but no obstacles will, I think, be sufficient to baffle the enterprise of our miners, who, depending more upon their own energies and capital than upon help from abroad, are determined to know no such word as fail.

The rare advantages of wood, water, and climate are more than sufficient to offset the costs of living, and the heavy expense of transporting machinery here, and I believe, as I have often asserted, that there are few localities upon the Pacific coast where quartz mining may be so economically, agreeably, and profitably pursued.

Those of the silver mines below the Gila, and on the Colorado, that are judiciously worked, with scarcely an exception, show great wealth, and fully maintain the traditional reports of the metallic opulence of the country.

The considerable capital now devoted to the development of the copper lodes on the Colorado and Williams Fork is but an earnest of that which this important work will soon command. The uniform richness of the ore, the quantity of the same, and the facilities for its extraction and shipment combine to make the mines among the most desirable of the kind upon the continent.

Mining laws. The act of Congress to legalize the occcupation of mineral lands, and to extend the rights of pre-emption thereto, adopted at the late session, preserves all that is best in the system created by miners themselves, and saves all vested rights under that system, while offering a permanent title to all

who desire it, at a merely nominal cost. It is a more equitable and practicable measure than the people of the mineral districts had supposed Congress would adopt; and credit for its liberal and acceptable provisions is largely due to the influence of the representatives from the Pacific coast, including our own intelligent delegate. While it is not without defects, as a basis of legislation it is highly promising, and must lead to stability and method, and so inspire increased confidence and zeal in quartz mining.

As, in the absence of necessary legislation by Congress, the act gives authority to the legislature of any State or Territory to provide rules for the location and working of mines to their complete development, it will be your duty to prepare such rules, either by amending the present mining law of the Territory so as to conform to the law of Congress, or by its repeal, and the substitution of an entirely new statute. Whatever your preference in this particular, I would suggest that care be taken to make the required rules as intelligible and comprehensive as possible, and that the recording and preservation of titles, both for the security of the miner and the capitalist, and to obviate future litigation, be entrusted only to the most responsible officers. It is also important that, excepting in districts where active hostility on the part of the Indians absolutely prevents, the actual occupation and improvement of claims be made a requisite. to their possession, unless pre-empted under the congressional law. The lack of such a requirement hitherto has seriously retarded the development of our mineral resources and the general prosperity of the Territory, and proven discouraging to new comers, especially in the counties on the Colorado river, where hundreds of lodes, taken up in years past by parties now absent from the Territory, are unworked, and yet, under the existing law, no one has a right to lay claim to them, be he ever so able or anxious to open them.

Agriculture. The valleys of the Territory, more extensively cultivated this year than ever before, have produced an abundant harvest. The yield of corn, vegetables, and small grain is such as to prove that henceforth we need not look abroad for food; and I make no doubt that if assured that their crops will be bought and promptly paid for, and they are properly protected from Indian incursions, our ranchmen will, during the ensuing year, by the favor of Heaven, raise all the breadstuffs that may be required to subsist the military force in the Territory. Here in central Arizona, even in the mountain districts, where comparatively little was expected in the way of agricultural success, the pursuit of the husbandman is likely to be one of the most profitable. The heavy rains of the present season indicate that irrigation will seldom be necessary, aud the fertility of the soil is remarkable. It seems as though every thing planted attained the most luxuriant and complete growth in the shortest possible time. The grains, vegetables, and melons taken promiscuously from any of the ranches, and raised without fertilization of any kind, or other than the simplest care, would command a premium if placed in competition with the products of the richest and most expensive farms and gardens of the Atlantic States.

Land district.-By the seventh section of the act of Congress, approved July 22, 1854, the pre-emption privilege was extended to lands, whether settled upon before or after survey, within the region of country comprehended by the present. Territories of New Mexico and Arizona. Hitherto pre-emption declarations, in virtue of this act and that of July 2, 1864, have been filed with the surveyor general, but Congress having made Arizona a land district, they will, so soon as the district is organized, be received here.

The congressional mining law provides that wherever, prior to the passage of the act, upon the lands heretofore designated as mineral lands, which have been excluded from survey and sale, there have been homesteads made by citizens of the United States, or persons who have declared their intention to become citizens, which homesteads have been made, improved, and used for agricultural purposes, and upon which there have been no valuable mines of gold

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