Township 31 north, range a Townships returned per previous reports, the areas of which are changed by subsequent surveys or amendments. N1.-List of lands surveyed in California, &c.—Continued. No. of town ship surveys. Aggregate acres.. 1, 181, 319.31 136,590.07 2,563,92 81,148.02 211,540.99 1,613, 162, 31 83,962.66 1,529, 199.65 SHERMAN DAY, Surveyor General for California. No.- List of lands surveyed in Arizona from June 30, 1869, to June 30, 1870. (.-Estimate for the surveying service in the district of California for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1872. For surveying extensions of meridians, standard parallels, township exteriors, and subdivision lines For compensation of surveyor general.. For compensation of clerks and draughtsmen in the office of the surveyor general For rent of office, stationery, fuel, lights, wages of messenger, instruments, and other incidental expenses $70,000 6,000 3,000 12,00 91,(每月) SHERMAN DAY, Surveyor General for California. P.-Statement of deposits for survey, &c., of private land claims during the fiscal year 1869–70. No. 17 Q.-Report of the surveyor general for Nevada. UNITED STATES SURVEYOR GENERAL'S OFFICE, Virginia, Nevada, August 10, 1870. SIR: In compliance with your instructions, I have the honor to submit the following report, in duplicate, of the operations of this office during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1870, with accompanying statements relative to the surveying department: A.-Statement of contracts entered into by the United States surveyor general for Nevada, with the number of miles surveyed during the fiscal year 1869-70. B.-List of mineral claims surveyed in the State of Nevada during the fiscal year 1869-70. C.-List of lands surveyed in the State of Nevada during the fiscal year 1869–70. E.-Statement of mineral surveys recopied. F.-List of special deposits with the sub-treasury of the United States for mineral claims in Nevada during 1869–270. G.-Statement of account of appropriation for surveys of public lands in Nevada during the fiscal year 1869-'70. H.-Statement of account of appropriation for compensation of the United States surveyor general and the employés in his office during the fiscal year 1889-'70. I-Statement of account of appropriation for rent of office, fuel, books, stationery, and other incidental expenses, including pay of messenger, during the fiscal year 1-69-70. K.-Statement for the surveying service in the district of Nevada for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1872. Since my last annual report the mining industry of the State has been subjected to many of the fluctuations which appear to be inseparable from that pursuit. While several mining districts have fallen, only temporarily it is hoped, into disuse, work has been revived in others which had been almost abandoned. In one of the latter, at least, (the district of Silver Bend in Nye County,) the production of silver will be considerable hereafter. Among the important discoveries may be mentioned the districts of Eureka and Secret Cañon in Lander County, Ely in Lincoln County, and Cope and Mineral Hill in Elk County. The developments of silver-bearing ore in these different. districts have been pronounced to be superior. In the district of Eureka several efficient smelting works have been erected, and the product of rich lead is steadily increasing. Similar reduction works are in successful operation at White Pine, in the county of that name. At present this lead is shipped to San Francisco, New Jersey, and England, for refining. From the district of Battle Mountain in Humboldt County, near the line of the Central Pacific Railroad, the shipment of copper ore to England for reduction has been increased largely during the year. The production of the numerous mines on the great Comstock lode will scarcely be as large as that of last year. In many of the works the ore in the opened ground has been exhausted, and most of the mines are engaged in the "dead work" of sinking and drifting for fresh bodies of ore. It is confidently believed that these explorations will keep up the product of bullion. The Sutro tunnel, which is designed to cut the various mines on the Comstock lode at the depth of nearly 2,000 feet, has been driven in about 1,600 feet, and the project is prosecuted with vigor. During last year a beneficent process for the treatment of silver ores, and probably gold ores, was introduced into this State by the inventor, Charles A. Stetefeldt. It is a furnace, simple and unexpensive in construction, for treating ores which require a chloridizing roasting. The finely-pulverized ore, mixed with a percentage of salt, falls 20 feet through a smooth-sided vertical shaft; each fine particle of ore and salt comes directly in contact with the products of combustion; and the fall of the ore and its desulphurizing and chloridizing occupy two seconds of time! Chloridizing by this furnace exceeds 90 per cent., and has been brought up to 96 per cent. By the old method of roasting in the Freiberg or reverberatory furnace, it was extraordinary to obtain the result of 90 per cent.; and the usual charge of 1,000 pounds of ore required to be manipulated from six to eight hours. In the Stetefeldt furnace one and a quarter tons of ore are roasted in one hour. The efficiency and economy of this new process appear wonderful. It utilizes all the salt, by which a saving of 40 per cent. of that article is effected; consumes only 50 per cent. of the fuel required in the reverberatory; reduces the loss of fine dust; and gives finer bullion. In the item of roasting the ore alone, this furnace has achieved a direct saving of $12 per ton; and this economy will bring to the mill large lots of a low grade in silver which were hitherto worthless. Four of these furnaces have already been erected in this State; several others are in the course of construction; while others are being negotiated for. In the judgment of experienced metallurgists, the Stetefeldt furnace is destined to effect a revolution in the business of reducing the noble ores, and to add immensely to their production. Next to mining the most important and extensive interest in this State is the rais ing of stock, such as cattle, sheep, and horses. Notwithstanding the aridity of the climate and the sterile appearance of the sage-bush covered soil, large droves, flocks, and bands of these animals thrive, and literally roll in fatness. In the valleys every sage-bush shelters tufts of grass, and the hills and mountains abound in nutritious pas turage. For its area, Nevada is not surpassed by any contiguous State or Territory for its capacity in the production of meat. Its native domestic animals are healthy and vigorous, and disease is unknown among them. It is estimated that during the pres ent year 50,000 head of cattle and 100,000 sheep, besides large bands of horses, have been driven into this State for pasturage from California, where drought has been prevalent. In every county in the State where the soil has been cultivated crops of hay, grain. and vegetables will be generous this year. Experiments in Washoe County, in the western part of the State, have shown that alfalfa grass will thrive finely without irrigation after the first year's growth. Orchards, containing the apple, plum, pear, the hardier berries, and, in genial localities, the peach, are now seen in the older and settled portions of the State, and the experience of our farmers shows that these fruits may be cultivated to advantage after acclimation. In the hope that this brief report will meet your approbation, I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. JOSEPH S. WILSON, Commissioner General Land Office, Washington, D. C. E. S. DAVIS, Surveyor General. A.--Statement of contracts entered into by the United States surveyor general for Nevada, with the number of miles surveyed during the fiscal year 1869–70. 9, 500 5,000 Exterior or township lines of townships 32 $8,000 2,500 |