440 



MINING INDUSTEY. 



to attract attention, that escape taxation altogether. These sums are small 

 individually, but may make a considerable amount in the aggregate. They 

 may not be reported to the assessor, but are almost always deposited at the 

 express office; consequently the data obtained from the latter source, if cor- 

 rectly stated, are more likely to express the actual truth. 



The following table gives an abstract from the county assessor's books for 

 the year 1869, which, as just intimated, can only be regarded as a partial state- 

 ment of the product of the district, even during the period referred to. It 

 includes nothing of the product of 1868. The values expressed are in coin. 



Data obtained from the Quarterly Retutns of the Assessor of White Pine County, showing the quantity of ore 

 produced by the mines of the district and the yield of the same. 



Quarter ending — 



Number of tons. 



Average value 

 per ton. 



Total value. 



March 31, 1869 



June 30, 1869 



September 30, 1869 



December 31, 1869 



948 

 4, I74>^ 

 10, 329 

 12, 947 



$278 48 

 99 74 

 58 59 

 41 50 



$263, 999 47 

 416,385 85 

 605, 192 86 

 537> 289 61 



28, 398^ 



64 19 



I, 822, 867 79 



From the foregoing it appears that the average yield of the ore is falling 

 off considerably from that obtained in the earlier days of operation. There is, 

 however, a fair, and with the gradual reduction that may be expected in the 

 costs of operations, even a large margin of profit in working rock that yields 

 ^40 to the ton. The great question is that of the quantity of ore available, or 

 the extent of the deposits, and that can only be answered by actual develop- 

 ment. 



Base Metal Eange. — The Base Range, so called from the nature of its 

 metalliferous deposits, in which lead and other inferior metals predominate, is 

 also regarded, according to late accounts, as an important element in the future 

 of the district. The locality thus designated is a low ridge which lies between 

 Treasure Hill and White Pine Mountain, trending north and south, with a 

 length of two or three miles. It has been prospected within the past year, 



