78 



We will not stand upon the basis of individual opinions alone, in this matter, 

 but will present an outline of the settlements upon this range of country. They 

 will present the best argument of the capacities, progress and development of the 

 mines, Jrom the date of their discovery to the present time, and the character of 

 these valley sections. 



The localities situated along the line of these mines are well known in the State, 

 and as a consequence, their comparative products will be easily estimated by those 

 who have even but a slight acquaintance with the mineral products of the country. 



Commencing in the county of Butte, the first mining locality is on what is 

 known as Neal's Flat; following a southerly direction to Butte Creek, they are 

 again found at Kieh and Reeve's Bars, on that stream, and a few miles further 

 south the mines are occupied in and about the vicinity of Spring Valley, and 

 thence to the banks of the main Feather River ; crossing this stream they again 

 occur in the vicinity of Iowa Ranch, nine miles southwest of the town of Bidwell. 

 Following the line of the foot hills to the Honcut Creek, miners are engaged on 

 both sides of this stream, and but twelve miles distant from the town of Veazie. 



From the Honcut south, the next placers which are improved, are those upon the 

 banks of the Yuba, in the vicinity of Ousley's Bar, being but fourteen miles east 

 of Marysville. There are two mining camps near the edge of the plains between 

 the south banks of the Yuba, before reaching Camp Far West, on Bear River, 

 which is the next locality of any note. From this place to the American River, 

 there are four localities in which these mines have peen opened, and which run 

 west of a line cutting through Massachusetts Bar, the lowest on the latter stream. 



From the latter locality, we pass through placers three miles from Alder Springs, 

 and in a southerly course from thence to the west of Prarie City. On the Con- 

 sumnes they are again found at Michigan Flat and Cook's Bar, and following the 

 plains they again occur four miles west of lone Valley. South of the latter and 

 along the western lines of the county of Calaveras to Jackson Ferry, on the 

 Tuolumne River, and between that stream and the Merced, there are ten locations, 

 known as mining camps or towns, the inhabitants of which will equal those of some 

 of the more inland districts. The number of settlements on this range, at this 

 time, amounts to thirty-one, several of which have been occupied for the past two 

 years. This fact alone is sufficient to establish its character as a mining district, 

 and it is one also that many hundred thousands in gold has been extracted from 

 during 1854. 



I have been thus particular in noting the localities situated upon this range, for 

 the purpose of quieting if possible, some few of those periodic effusions which flow 

 from the over-anxious conservators of the public good both at home and abroad, by 

 exhibiting what may be considered an approximate outline of the area of our min 

 eral resources so far as known, and to contradict plainly by statistical facts, (the 

 bolder enunciation which too often appears in the columns of those who should be 

 possessed of better information) that the mines of this State are in a depreciating 

 condition, to that extent that either confidence or capital investment in either 

 branch, may be considered a hazardous enterprise. 



Another reason for the local details respecting the valley mines, as given, is for 

 the purpose of eliciting that attention to the location of lands for agricultural pur 

 poses, which the statutes of this State and the United States prescribe in relation 

 thereto, and to define as near as possible, the western limits to ^ich the mineral 

 lands in all probability extend ; and due care in selecting lands for the purposes of 

 agriculture along the eastern borders of these plains will ultimately save much ex 

 pensive litigation and trouble. 



The western limits of the mineral lands are generally well defined, and so dis 

 tinctly marked that even the stranger may readily recognize them in passing across 

 them. The following are the characteristics that will designate these grounds, from 



