178 HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA. 



miners. This amount has principally been taken 

 from the northern rivers, or those which empty into 

 the Sacramento ; the southern rivers, or those which 

 flow into the San Joaquin, having been, compara- 

 tively, hut little resorted to until near the close of the 

 last season. These rivers are, however, believed by 

 those who have visited them, to be richer in the pre- 

 cious metal than those in the northern part of the 

 gold region." 



Adopting the hypothesis that the gold found in 

 these streams had been cut or worn away from 

 the veins in the quartz through which they have 

 forced their way, and considering the fact that they 

 are all equally productive, we may conjecture what a 

 vast amount of treasure remains undisturbed in the 

 veins which run through the masses of rock over a 

 space of forty or fifty miles wide, and near five hun- 

 dred miles long. Such an estimate would almost 

 defy our belief ; yet, if the hypothesis is true, there 

 is no reason to doubt that the value of the gold which 

 that region will yield, is almost beyond calculation. 



The quicksilver mines of California are believed to 

 be numerous, extensive, and very valuable. The 

 largest and most profitable one yet opened is situated 

 near San Jos^, and belongs to, or is claimed by, Mr. 

 Forbes, of Tepic, in Mexico. The cihnabar ore, which 

 produces the quicksilver, is easily procured, and 

 machinery has been put in operation, which enables 

 the proprietor to make an extensive profit. The value 

 of the quicksilver mines, by being so near the gold 

 region, is considerably increased ; quicksilver being 

 almost indispensable in gold mining. 



Extensive beds of silver, iron, and copper ores are 

 believed to exist in the territory, but their existence 



