PREFACE.

The State Mining Bureau is maintained for the purpose of assisting in all possible ways in the development of California's mineral

resources.

As one means of offering tangible service to the mining public, the State Mineralogist for many years has issued an annual or a biennial report reviewing in detail the mines and mineral deposits of the various counties.

The weak point in work of this character has been that the results of field investigations were so long in preparation that they had lost much of their usefulness by the time they finally appeared in print.

As a progressive forward step in advancing the interests of the mineral industry, publication of the Annual Report of the State Mineralogist in the form of monthly chapters was begun in January, 1922. A monthly publication admits of several improvements over the old method of procedure. Each issue contains a report of the current development and mining activities of the state, prepared by the district. mining engineers. Special articles dealing with various phases of mining and allied subjects by members of the staff are included. Mineral production reports formerly issued as an annual statistical bulletin are published herein as soon as returns from producers are compiled. The executive activities, and those of the laboratory, museum, library, employment service and other features with which the public has had too little acquaintance are reported monthly. The assistance formerly given to producers and consumers by consultation or correspondence only, is also proffered through this medium.

While current activities of all descriptions will be reported in this Monthly Chapter, the Bureau will not discontinue its practice of issuing from time to time technical reports on special subjects. A list of such reports now available is appended hereto, and the names of new bulletins will be added to that list in the future as they are completed.

The Monthly Chapters will be subject to revision, correction and improvement. Constructive suggestions from the mining public will be gladly received, and are invited.

Beginning with the January issue the pages are numbered consecutively throughout the year, and an index to the complete reports will be included annually in the December number.

The one aim of the Mining Bureau is to increase its usefulness and to stimulate the intelligent development of the wonderful latent resources of the State of California.

Mining in California' is sent without charge to those on the Bureau's exchange list and to all others who make written or verbal request.

TO THE MINING PUBLIC.

Through ten years of service as State Mineralogist and executive head of the State Mining Bureau, I have endeavored to build up an institution that would be representative of the mining and oil industry of California, in order to create an organization of service to the industry and to the public at large which would aid in the development of the wonderful mineral resources of the State of California.

Work of this character can be accomplished only by the united effort and cooperation of those serving and the industry to be served. It is with some degree of satisfaction that I look back upon this period and note the marveling growth of the industry and the ability of this Bureau to grow and meet the ever-increasing demands made upon it. This growth has been made possible by the sympathetic cooperation and expression of the prospectors, engineers and owners of properties from all localities in the state, and it is my hope that in the years to come the Bureau's service to the public may increase many fold; I sincerely believe that it has a very important influence on the development of

our latent resources.

There comes a time when it is impossible to continue public service without a sacrifice which is greater than personal interests can withstand, and it has become necessary to submit my resignation, which is given herewith.

HON. FRIEND WM. RICHARDSON,

Governor of California,

Sacramento, California.

SAN FRANCISCO, January 27, 1923.

to be effective February fifteenth, nineteen hundred and twenty-three. DEAR SIR: I herewith submit my resignation as State Mineralogist of California, public service was at a sacrifice to my personal interests. State Mining Bureau. I have realized for some time, however, that a continuance in of the

mineral resources might be attained.

ishing total of two hundred and sixty-eight million dollars, and have endeavored so mineral production from an annual value of ninety-three million dollars to the astonDuring my administration of ten years, I have recorded the growth of California's to organize the State Mining Bureau that its service to the industry and the public would respond to this constantly growing production and the consequent demands because of it, in order that the greatest degree of aid to the development of our latent Mining is the basic industry upon which our industrial, and even our agricultural, encouragement and their sane conservation are surely problems second to none in advancement depends. The proper development of our vast mineral resources, wise Importance in the upbuilding of our great commonwealth. in the proper development and production of which the State Mining Bureau has We all know of the stupendous development of our oil resources in recent years, to two billions of dollars lies dormant in the unworked gravel deposits of California. taken no little part, but scant knowledge is had of the fact that a resource of close A report is now well under way which, it is hoped, will focus the attention of the solution of our reclamation, irrigation, power and navigation problems, with which State upon the possibilities of winning this wealth and at the same time aid in the which will produce many more, is also the subject of another report, now in course The Great Mother Lode Gold Belt of California, which has produced millions and commercial metal and mineral products, all of which are adding to the wealth and California produces, in addition to these two vital resources, over fifty different connected with the mineral industry, and I am appreciative of the cooperation they It has been my good fortune to have met and known personally a great many men, have given in the work of the Bureau. A number of the employees have been in the

we are all so familiar.

of preparation.

prosperity of the State.