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vegetation, when at last it should rise above the water in consequence of the increasing depth of the channel at the gap in the mountains. The valley of the upper Colorado looks as if it had once been converted into a great lake by the elevation of the Cascade mountains, but the river cut a channel at the Dalles before a sufficient quantity of soil had been deposited over the basin, and so the greater part of it is desolate. There is much resemblance between the climates of Idaho and Nevada. The summers are very warm, the winters are cold, and the fall of rain scanty, but the rain-fall is greater in Idaho than in Nevada. The following figures show the temperature for each month and for the year at various towns in or near mining districts:

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The following table shows the rain-fall at a few points and in inches:

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The cost of living is high in all the States and Territories west of the Rocky mountains. Flour and beef are usually sold in San Francisco for about the same price demanded in New York; but transportation to the mines is very expensive, and the commissions and profits of traders are large. To Austin the freight in summer by wagon is seven to ten cents per pound from Sacramento; to Virginia city, three and offe-quarter cents; from Marysville to Quincy, two and one-quarter cents; to Grass valley, onc-half of a cent; to Downieville, one cent and a third. The freight from San Francisco to La Paz, on the Colorado, is about one and a half cent per pound; and to the Idaho mines, about seven cents per pound. In the winter freights rise, and there is then no limit to them, save the needs and the purse of the shipper The mining counties of California now grow nearly all the fruits and vegetables, and some of the grain, consumed by the miners; but all the clothing, fine tools, fine furniture, and many articles of food are brought from the valleys or seaport.

In consequence of the bad condition of the roads in the winter and the un

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5.-CAPACITY TO MAINTAIN A LARGE POPU

California can maintain a large population. In many r sembles Spain. It has a similar climate, soil and size, ar many inhabitants. The population of Spain is at present i under the Moorish dominion many valleys which are no were well tilled and densely populated. Spain has 188,0 California 160,000, and our State has sources of wealth peninsula has not. The Sacramento basin bears a strong bardy, which has the densest population and most thoroug In an area of 6,000 square miles three millions of people they are noted for physical beauty and intellectual activity appear that their crowded condition has done them harm. wealth of the Lombards is derived directly and indirectly fr they have carried further than any other nation. The A average height of 6,000 feet, from their northern boundary dred and twenty miles, and the snow which falls in these the water for many of the most valuable canals. The Sacı area of 25,000 square miles, lying along the foot of a moun long and 10,000 feet high on an average. The low lands of as fertile and a climate as genial as that of Lombardy. T ure from rain is not so great in the valley, but that obtaina tains is greater. The Lombards have natural lakes that ser ervoirs; but the Californians can make lakes by throwi cañons. The vine, the silk-worm, and rice, which contribute of the valley of the Po, will thrive at least as well in the mento. When, in addition to these agricultural resource mineral wealth of the Sierra Nevada, and the commercial terminus of the Pacific railroad, the central position betwe York, and between Oregon and Mexico, we are justified in California can well support a population of ten or fifteen mil

6.-NUMBER OF MINERS.

The following table shows the number of miners of different classes in certain counties of California, as estimated by well-informed persons in those counties, the limited time for the preparation of this report not permitting more than an estimate on this point:

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The mining counties of California are generally supplied with abundant timber for present uses. The forests, from 3,500 to 5,500 feet above the level of the sea, on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada, are very dense, and are composed of magnificent conifers, many of which have a diameter of five feet or more, and a height of 200 or 250 feet. The sugar pine and the Douglas spruce, both valuable for lumber, are large and abundant. These dense forests are, however, higher up than most of the mining districts, which are found among hills covered with scattered oak and nut pine. In the vicinity of the chief mining towns the trees have been destroyed in a ruthless manner, and many hills that were once well timbered are now bare. There was no private owner for the land, and the timber was wasted in many cases; trees were cut down for fire wood, and only the branches were taken because by that means the wood-chopper could cut more wood than if he split up the tough trunk. This course was profitable to the woodman, but bad for the State; and numerous complaints were made until 1864, when the legislature made it a criminal offence to destroy the timber in this manner, although permitting any one to cut the timber on the public land for firewood or other useful purposes in an economical manner.

Copper miners.

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In the northwestern corner of California and the southw gon the forests are so dense in several of the mineral dist fere greatly with mining, and will prevent the exhaustion posits for many years. In eastern Oregon and in Idaho th to supply the miners for many years. In Nevada and in w is a great scarcity, and wood can be obtained in few plac pense. Good firewood costs from two to four dollars per mining towns of California, and from ten dollars upwards i

Annotated catalogue of the principal mineral species hither ifornia, and the adjoining States and Territories: by March, 1866.

Actinolite.-Occurs with garnets in steatite at Petaluma. Alabaster-In Los Angeles county. Specimen in cabin ceived from Mr. Tyson, of Arizona.

Andalusite.-Mariposa county. In the drift of the Cho the old road to Fort Miller, there is a great abundance of fi lusite which show the dark lines or crosses in a remarkably ing manner. They are found also in the stratum of cong the hills along the stream, and are doubtless in place in the up the river.

Smaller and less perfect "macles" occur in the slates road to Bear valley. Some of the specimens from the C semble those from Lancaster, Massachusetts.

Antimony, (sulphuret of)-(See Stibnite.)

Antimony ochre-San Amédio mountain, with antimonyAgates and carnelian.-Beautiful pebbles of agate and ant along the beach at and near Crescent City. They are and are generally of light colors. Larger pebbles and mor abundant in the pebbly drift along the Colorado river. Smal worn specimens of agate and jasper may be picked up on Tahoe.

Arsenic-Monterey county, at the Alisal mines, twentyMission of San Carlos.

Arsenical antimony.-Ophir mine, Nevada Territory. crystalline, somewhat radiated masses, of a color between black, on a fresh fracture, but grayish black from tarnishin arsenolite, calcite, and quartz.-(F. A. Genth, Am. Jour. S Arsenolite.-Occurs in large masses, with native gold, at t Great Basin. It is also reported from the Ophir mine wit ny.-(Genth.)

Asbestos. Calaveras county, Salt Spring valley, at th Los Angeles county (?) in large masses. (From Major Stra Azurite, (blue carbonate of copper.)-In fine crystalline with malachite, at Hughes's mine, Calaveras county. (1861 Biotite. From the vicinity of Grass valley. (Čabinet of Bitumen.-Occurs abundantly in numerous places in the south of San Francisco, but especially south of San Luis vicinity of Los Angeles. It is frequently seen floating inchannel. It is abundant in Tulare county, on the west side

ley, near Buena Vista and Kern lakes, and at this and other localities is associated with petroleum, (which see.)

Blende occurs sparingly in many of the gold-bearing quartz veins of the State, especially when lead is present, as, for example, at the Princeton mine, Mariposa estate; the Adelaide mine, Hayward & Chamberlain's mine, and in several of the Grass valley mines in Nevada county; at Meadow lake, in considerable masses, with galena, iron pyrites, and copper pyrites. It is associated with yellow copper in the Napoleon mine and the Lancha Plana; in Sacramento county, at Michigan bar, associated with galena, oxide of iron, and copper ore. (Cabinet of Dr. Frey.) Placer county, fifteen miles from Lincoln, towards Nevada, with galena and gold; at the Bloom claim, near Angels camp, Calaveras county; also in a quartz vein in Coulterville.

Borax.-Lake county, in large crystals in the clay of the Borax lake.
Boracic acid.-Clear lake, Lake county.

Carbonate of magnesia.-(See Magnesite.)

Carbmate of soda.-San Bernardino county, at Soda lake, sink of the Mohave river; in Tulare county, along the borders of the smaller lakes, when drying up; at the borders of the Santa Anna river, near San Bernardino.

Cassiterite.-San Bernardino county, at the "Temescal tin region," about sixty miles from Los Angeles. Occurs in many veins associated with schorl (?) traversing granite. In most of the ores the tin oxide is found only by crushing and washing. At the "Gun lode" a peculiar drab-colored oxide is found in considerable quantities. It appears to be liberated by the decomposition of an arsenical ore, arsenic being abundant in the samples. The oxide, as collected in that region for examination, is in various degrees of purity, and exhibits different colors. Some of the samples obtained by washing are black, others brown, and some red and drab-colored.

Idaho Territory, on Jordan creck, in placers, in beautiful rounded masses, from one-eighth to half an inch in diameter, very pure and clean-the variety known as wood tin.-(Cabinet of the author, specimens received from Charles T. Blake, esq., of Idaho City.)

Mexico, State of Durango: wood tin of great purity and beauty occurs abundantly in this State. It closely resembles the stream tin of Idaho.

Cerusite, (carbonate of lead.)-In large crystals resembling those from Siberia, in the Russ district (?) Great Basin, near the Mojave river; Arizona, in heavy incrusting masses upon the galena of the Castle Dome district.

Chalcedony.-Large masses of white chalcedony, delicately veined, and in mammillary sheets, occur in Monterey county, near the Panochés; on Walker river, Washoe; and of a fine pink color near Aurora, Esmeralda. In pearshaped nodules in the eruptive rocks between Williamson's Pass and Johnson's river, Los Angeles county.

Chalcopyrite, (yellow copper ore.)-This is the chief ore of the copper mines. of California, as it is likewise of the mines of Cornwall, England. It is therefore found at a great number of localities, along the copper-bearing belt which stretches in a nearly unbroken zone from Mariposa county northwesterly to Del Norte county, parallel with and on the western side of the chief gold-producing belt of the State.

In Calaveras county, the chief localities (for the massive ore) are: The Union, Keystone, Empire, Napoleon, Campo Seco, and Lancha Plana mines. In good crystals, implanted on and among clear quartz crystals, at the Noble copper claim on Domingo creek. (Collection of Dr. Jones, Murphy's.) In Mariposa county, the La Victoire mines in Hunter's valley, and Haskell's claims, below Mariposa town, and claims along the Chowchillas river. Amador county, at the Newton mine; Eldorado county, at the Cosumnes mine, Hope Valley mine, at the Bunker Hill mine, El Dorado Excelsior, and other claims at and near Pilot Hill. Plumas county, at the Genessee and Cosmopolitan mines. It

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