LOWER CALIFORNIA.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 527, 25 February 1876, Page 3

LOWER CALIFORNIA.

The New York Herald says : The reports of the survey of the Lower California peninsula recently made by the United States steamer Narragansett contain many interesting facts relative to that country. Assistant surgeon Thomas N. Streets, United States Navy, who had charge of the geological portion of the work, in his report .says that he found on San Josef Island, in the Gulf of California, fossil marine shells imbedded in a kind of calcareous sand rock on the mountains at least 1000 feet above the present sea level. The identity of these fossils with the species now existing in the surrounding water is very evident. He says :—lf all this land, extending far up into Alta California, were sunk 1000 or 1500 feet below its present level it would no longer be a peninsula, but an archipelago of islands. This was undoubtedly the exact position of things at the commencement of the post pliocene epoch. The high, mountainous land at the southern extremity of the peninsula formed one large island separate from the rest. Referring to the mineral wealth of the peninusla he says :—“ The silver bearing veins of Triunio are two in number, and they run in a converging direction northerly and easterly. The present company produces bullion to the amount of 50,000d01s per month. They have sufficient ore in sight in the mines already opened to treble or quadruple that sum. The mines are particu-

larly rich. In our own country all the silver bearing veins have been found on the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada range. This fact has been adduced as a proof that this range of mountains is continuous with the mountains of Lower California. If this be the case we may look to see gold being found on the western slope as in Alta California. The copper mines of Purgatorio and Providentia are being very actively worked at present, and yielding large quantities of very rich ,'ore. Another source of wealth is the guano islands, and of these the principal is Isla Raza. A company commenced working here two years ago, and, up to the present time they have removed 10,000 tons of the fertiliser. It is computed that there is in all 60,000 tons upon the strand, which is threequarters of a mile long and half a mile wide.

Assistant Surgeon Edward Evers, of the United States navy, also submits a lengthy report upon mineralogy, botany, salt deposits, &c. He says—“ The mineral wealth of Lower Ca’iforuia is wonderful, and embraces rich deposits of silver, gold, iron, copper, ’antimony, alabaster, &c, Traces of silver are found almost everywhere, and though few of the mines are worked, they are numerous and rich.”

He refers to the richness of the mines at Triunio, and says The majority of the miners are Mexicans, though there is a goodly proportion of foreigners. All the officers of the company, the chemist, the assayer, the captains of the mines, and the foremen are Americans or Europeans ; not one a Mexican.” The ore is brought from the mines on pack mules, over distances of from six to twelve miles, to the stamping mills, which are constantly in operation, being stopped only for repairs. The silver bars are sent to La Paz by waggon, and thence shipped to San Francisco by schooner. Other mines could be worked with equal profit, but the high duties and the arbitrary and tyrannical measures of the Mexican Government prevent foreigners, the only persons who could possess the requisite capital, from investing there. Next to silver, copper ore, which is perhaps more abundant than any other metal, has been worked most successfully. The best mines are at Purgatorio and Infierno, whence the ore itself is transported to the sea shore on pack mules, sometimes many leagues, to be shipped to San Francisco and Europe. The want of security to capital and the consequent want of protection to labour is the great curse of that country. At the Island of San Maxios, above Mulege, isarich mine of alabaster, which, if properly worked out, ought to yield an immense profit. The salt lagoon at Carmen Island is an interesting phenomenon in more than one respect. It is so rich that the whole earth may be supplied by it for ages, if indeed it is not inexhaustible. It is a mile and a half in length and half a mile wide, while its depth has not yet been ascertained. This salt deposit is no doubt due to the evaporation of sea water, for it is connected with the ocean, distant from it four hundred yards, by three or four underground streams. The salt itself is perfectly pure and beautifully crystallised. No doubt a thorough examination of the interior would enrich the [science of botany by many a valuable and interesting discovery. Nor is the zoology of the country less worthy of study. The same applies still more to its birds, but the field of greatest interest is the sea in the immediate vicinity to the coast, and the Gulf of California itself, with its whales, sharks, swordfish, sawfish, skates, porpoises, and countless multitudes of seals, while the number and variety of smaller fish is wonderful. The lower organisations are represented by forms of rarest size and beauty. Magnificent shells, too, are found on the coast, and would well repay the research of the conchologist. We find the State of Lower California almost as unknown to us as the wilds of Africa, but alike full of interest to the botanist, the zoologist, and the chemist, alike full of promise to the merchant and the farmer. Immensely rich in fisheries, in pearls, in minerals, and in native products, it is very probable that at no distant future Lower California will become an integral portion of our Union. A thorough knowledge of its characteristics is, therefore, desirable. The study and research necessary to acquire it should be entrusted to a special commission of men of acknowledged eminence in the departments of botany, zoology, and mineralogy. The results of their labour would be of tne utmost importance to science and of material benefit to the community at large. New roads of commerce and wealth would be opened, and science would be enriched _ by important and interesting discoveries.