MINING IN CALIFORNIA.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 706, 3 September 1870, Page 2

MINING IN CALIFORNIA.

We have already made some quotations from the report of Gapt. Baldwin, who lately visited California, for the purpose of gleaning information on the subject of mining in that State. We take a few more extracts :—• WATER-SUPPLY OK THE GOLDPIELDS. As a general rule, the reservoirs and races of this country have been constructed on a more gigantic scale, and at a proportionately larger outlay of capital, than in New Zealand. But, as a rule, experience shows that these large and costly undertakings have not paid ; whilst, on the other hand, the smaller works have usually been successful. Indeed, taking the water operations throughout the State generally, failure has been the rule and not the exception. Of late years a great decline has taken place in the alluvial diggings of California, and a corresponding decline iu the demand for water has of course followed. It is estimated that 25,000,000 dollars have been invested in the water-works of the State, and that the present actual value does not exceed 5,000,000 dollars. The Trucker, for instance, a race which was constructed at an original outlay of 105,000 dollars, is, 1 am informed, now gone to ruin. Many miles of water-races in the district of Columbia, and other districts as well, have been abandoned ; nor do I think it is too much to say that the annual decrease is fully 15 per cent, ot the whole number. MEASTJItEHEXT OF WATEIt. Throughout the Mining States of the Uuion, the inch measurement is used in dealing with water; and by this inch measurement is meant the quantity of water which escapes through the opening an inch square, with a pressure of water usually G inches in height above the opening This is called the 6-inch pressure 1 ; but in this latter particular the measurement varies, the pressure in some localities ■ being as high as nine and even ten inches. Some time since a Bill was introduced into the State Legislature, for the purpose of pre venting disputes arising as to the meaning of a "miners' inch of water," and providing that it shall be held to mean 2? cubic feet of water, or 145 4-5 lbs. or 7 2-5 gallons passing a given point in a miuuto of time. To this an amendment was proposed, declaring that " a legal inch of water sold for mining, agricultural, or other purposes, shall mean the quantity of water that escapes through an opening an inch square, through a plank one inch thick, with a pressure of seven inches measured from the centre of the orifice to the surface of the water." But the further settlement of the question was postponed, nor do I think that any furthcr effort at legislation was made respecting it.