70 



The only regret to which we must submit in this matter is that, as a State, we 

 have exported too much ; but the prospect is that in the future we shall export 

 much less gold than formerly. The report of the Controller of State for this year 

 shadows forth the long wished for advent of confidence in capital investments for 

 home improvements, and is a true exhibit of our resources ; showing that, not 

 withstanding we have an increase of one million above our exports of the pre 

 ceding year, yet we still have added to our home capital, permanently invested, 

 fourteen millions, within the same period. 



In my report of last year, it was stated that the placer ranges were at that time 

 known to extend nearly to the summit ridge of the mountains ; but this year it has 

 been ascertained that they pass beyond the ridge, and are now fonud on the 

 eastern declivity, having nearly the same altitude as those occurring on the opposite 

 side. Within the past season, many of these deposits have been examined, and 

 thus far are found to be equally productive with those of similar ranges to the wast, 

 and, with a favorable season ensuing, they will be largely occupied. 



This increases the breadth of the placers, in the more elevated districts, about 

 nine miles, and the length between twenty-five and twenty-seven miles, on a line 

 parallel with the trend of the mountains. This additional field is what may be 

 denominated "dry diggings." Still they will prove available only during the 

 summer season and early part of autumn, from their altitude and local position. 



Since my last report, I have been enabled to trace the " Eastern Blue Range," 

 for a distance of thirty miles south of the point at which it was left last year, and, 

 as far as examined, it possesses most of the general characters that were mentioned 

 in relation to this district at that time. Its line may be defined to a considerable 

 degree of accuracy by the following localities : 



South of the middle branch of the American River, it is found at what is known 

 as Cement Hill, being part of the same range of the Mameluke Hill, a short dis 

 tance south of the former. Extending in a southerly direction from the vicinity of 

 Georgetown, it is next met with at White Rock, some sixteen miles distant, and 

 about three miles east of Placerville. In this section of country, the outliers of 

 the range are distinctly seen, forming level ridges for long distances, the latter 

 surrounding small basins or forming the flanks of broad ravines, similar to that 

 known as Coon Hollow, and other adjacent localities. From Placerville it extends 

 in a southerly course for eight miles, and it is again met with some three miles 

 east of the town of Ringold, forming a flat table, of small extent, on the side of a 

 hill facing to the southwest. From this locality it assumes a more southeast 

 course, and is again seen on the sides of the hills forming the banks of Indian 

 Creek, in the county of El Dorados This is the most southern limit to which these 

 placers have been traced with any degree of certainty. 



A course a little east of south would bring this line of deposits in the vicinity 

 of the town of Volcano, in the County of Amador, but it is yet quite uncertain 

 whether this mining town is absolutely upon this range of placers, or whether it 

 passes to the east of the high ridge back of this locality. From what observa 

 tions I was enabled to make at Mokelumne Hill, and also south of this point, I 

 am inclined to the belief that if it passes through this section of the State it 

 will ba found to the east of these latter towns, at distances within eight or 

 twelve miles. The high table ridge to the east of Chilian Gulch possesses many 

 of the external features which mark this range in other parts of the State; but 

 the conglomerate beds found adjacent to this section indicate this to be of much 

 more recent origin than the placers under consideration. The absence of any 

 fossil remains from this district renders it difficult to form any conclusion that 

 would be satisfactory on this point; it will therefore be omitted until such 

 times as farther investigation may be had upon this immediate vicinity. 



We will now turn to the more particular consideration of the placer, as far as 

 known, and examine its capacities for production, with other characteristics that 

 mark it in its course. 



