58 



Prior to this time speculation has been the principal guide in the estimates of 

 gold mining in this State, but at the present time we have something more tangi 

 ble to rest upon ; and it is to be hoped that hereafter those engaged in this 

 employment will not so stubbornly withhold statistical matter, so necessary in 

 forming opinions in regard to any branch of business whatever. We cannot 

 establish the integrity of our mines by any other means, and so long as it is with 

 held it must, and will, cast a shade of doubt on all such operations. It is a known 

 fact, that nearly every mine in active operation in 1854 declared at the end of the 

 year a handsome profit on investment and labor, yet it is impossible almost to 

 draw any facts from the proprietors of the greater portion of them. 



I have in my possession at the present moment the receipts of eight additional 

 mines for 1855, obtained from parties indirectly interested, and on whom reliance 

 can be placed, but with whom it would be a breach of confidence to make public 

 the figures furnished. I have omitted their publication for this and an additional 

 reason, viz : that the expenses of these mines for the same period are unknown. 

 These figures would swell the amount already given for the past year to 

 $3,641,090. 



Had we the full returns of the product of the fifty-two mines that have con 

 tinued in operation through the past year, it would be safe to presume that their 

 aggregate product would fall but little short of $6,000,000. 



