42 



come,) equal in value, at 16 dollars per ton, to 80,009 dollars, and should it possess 

 no more than an equal amount of illuminating matter, it will be seen that it will be 

 far more economical than the present use of coal. The only, or rather the princi 

 pal question asked by those interested in gas manufacture, is this, is there a 

 sufficient quantity to meet the demand for 3000 tons per annum, in other words, if 

 there is a sufficient quantity, is there every evidence of quality also to make it a 

 reliable resource ? 



The proper opening of these springs would undoubtedly furnish an ample quan 

 tity of the mineral, and if the business should be judiciously managed, it would 

 prove lucrative and permanent. It is to be hoped that this brief allusion to this 

 subject, may elicit attention from those who are intimately acquainted with the local 

 ities in which it is found, to its proposed value, as well as to the quantities which 

 may be supplied. 



Limestone is found in considerable quantities among the higher hills of this part 

 of the State. Without any exception I believe it is primitive, and the greater part of 

 it possesses a high crystalline structure. It is well calculated for the manufacture of 

 lime, and proportionately less fit for any other application to building purposes. 

 The granites which form the principal basis of these mountains, is usually of a 

 hornblendic character, often running into true Sienite. It is ill adapt?d to purposes 

 of building, both from its constituents, and its genernl consistency, and it is gener 

 ally in situations remote from navigable waters, a fact which forbids at present its 

 transportation for such purposes, even were it found to be of a better quality. 



I have thus given a general outline of the geological characteristics of this part 

 of the country, and the more prominet economic adaptations of its resources, which 

 may be derived from them, by the enterprise of our citizens, when the industry of 

 the people, as well as their capital shall be invested in their development. It would 

 be incompatible with the limits of an abstract report like this, to enter into the 

 minutiae of the more scientific details which might naturally be drawn from so 

 abundant a field of investigation. I have thought it advisable in this as in former 

 reports therefore to omit them, with a view to furnishing such as may be deemed 

 useful, together with accompanying illustrations, in a final report of a more com 

 plete form in detail, upon the geology of California. 



In the appendix of this report will be found a catalogue of the fossils, minerals 

 and specimens representing this portion of the country, less full however in detail 

 than that which will hereafter be presented, when they can be systematically arrang 

 ed so as to convey a clear idea of their relative ages and positions. 



With these remarks on this part of our subject we will now leave it for the pur 

 pose of turning our attention to the more northerly and equally interesting portion 

 of the State. 



