84 



to give any cause for, as the parties who had the control of affairs were absent at 

 the time I visited the districts. The report of those in the vicinity of these mines, 

 in relation to the cause of their suspension, was not of a favorable character for 

 their early resumption, but I should be unwilling to say that a mine was valueless 

 upon such evidence, as private interests often exaggerate unfavorable circumstances 

 above their true color The four last are in reality all that can be considered as 

 permanently suspended, and the five preceding are at the best but temporary, as 

 three of the number will resume work about the beginning of June, and the re 

 maining two probably as early as September next. 



In the immature state of this branch of industry, and the inefficiency of 

 machinery, with the difficulty of commanding often the necessary amount of capital 

 to conduct these operations to a succcessful termination, the ratio of ten per cent, 

 of those who fail cannot by any means be considered as very large. And when it 

 is compared with similar transactions in this State little more than two years since, 

 the above sinks into insignificance. Or, if we look to more distant regions, it will 

 not be difficult to find more than a parallel in the operations that transpired in the 

 early days of the Lake Superior mines. The history of mining, either in the 

 United States or Great Britain, when carefully examined, will not present a 

 broader margin of successes than is to be found in the gold mines of this State 

 since it became what might be considered a settled business, and the position which 

 they hold as sources of profit, with an increasing confidence, is the best proof of 

 their value. As we are situated in this State, these mines are subjected to the 

 most severe test which it is in the power of man to inflict upon a business of this 

 character. It is the test of intrinsic merit, and though invidious clamors are at 

 times uttered, and often by those who have never taken the pains to inform them 

 selves as to their native richness, still these even grow fainter as each succeed 

 ing month brings to light new evidences of success. 



Had we the sams facilities of exhibiting the characters which our gold 

 mines present, through the agency of mining journals and jobbing boards, like 

 those in New-York, Boston, and the English Metropolis, we have no fear but that 

 the mines of this State would take their position in the front rank of those 

 operations. But unlike^ the mines abroad, they do not require at home the 

 prestige which fancy paper throws around the many faltering institutions of our 

 distant neighbors. 



That our mines have thus withstood the violent assaults that have been made 

 upon them by those who stand behind the scenes of a foreign press, and thus 

 attempt to give a fatal thrust unseen, is one strong evidence that they inherit a 

 vitality which it is beyond the powers of those in this State still thus employed to 

 deprive them of. We have passed that day when either British skill or capital is 

 required to foster these operations, and the evidences are strong, that under the 

 circumstances, as they have proved themselves, we should have been far better 

 conditioned had their attention been directed to ether, and probably to them more 

 congenial channels. 



We had expected to have received instruction in the mysterious art of mining 

 from a people who boast the knowledge of centuries of experience in that pro 

 fession ; but to their own astonishment, American miners in California have 

 become their tutors. I would not be guilty of casting envious reproaches upon 

 foreign friends, but justice to ourselves demands that the PACTS should come 

 out. 



Another argument which in itself carries weight in regard to the integrity of 

 these mines, is the fact, that none of ithose at present engaged exhibit the slight 

 est hesitancy in embarking in additional enterprises. This is proved from the 

 fact of a constant addition of new reduction works in different parts of the State, 

 and more particularly in those counties where the mines have been opened to the 

 greatest extent. It is hardly a supposable case, to believe that men would thus 



