232 [Assembly 



on account of their ignorance of tlie liistory of gold mining, and 

 a want of scientific skill in operating. A knowledge of the fact 

 that veins of the precious metals decrease in richness as they de- 

 scend into the earth, would have saved thousands from plunging 

 into erroneous speculations. 



Baron Humboldt confidently predicted that the gold mines of 

 California would prove of little economical value to the United 

 States; and notwithstanding the $60,000,000 worth of gold that^ 

 our new territory pours into the lap of commerce every year, if I 

 am not erroneously informed, more than double that amount ii 

 expended in obtaining it! By scientific skill, profitable returns 

 can be obtained in this branch of industry, both in California and 

 the southern States, and also in Canada; but there is but little 

 knowledge of the art of mining among the operators. 



Metalic zinc has never yet been profitably distilled from the 

 ores of this country, owing to want of skiJl in the operatives ; 

 but we shall soon learn how to prosecute this art, and shall then 

 bring our numerous rich zinc mines into action. 



Already citizens of New-York and New-Jersey have made a 

 beginning, and have succeeded in the manufacture of an innocu- 

 ous white paint from the ores of the Sussex Mines, and will, ere 

 long, render Le Clair's discovery economically valuable in the 

 Uaited States, and we trust that this discovery will banish lead 

 paralysis from the hands of the painter, and eholic from his 

 bowels. 



Metalic tin is not produced in this country for want of the dis- 

 covery of mines of its ores, only five small veins having thus far 

 been discx)vered in the United States, 



Turn the attention of mineralogists and geologists to our meta- 

 morphic rocks, and let them search with practical views, and we 

 shall doubtless soon know if we are to be wholly dependent upon 

 England and the East Indies for this valuable metal. 



^ Iron ores we have in abundance, and to America is due the 

 honor of discovering the method of reducing thpm by means of 

 anthracite or hard coal. 



