The above table embraces 47 mines. which have yielded more or less bullion during the quarter, and with few exceptions the ore reduced is of a good grade, sufficiently so to admit its being worked here remuneratively. It will be observed that a number of mines, which were included in the previous quarters of the year, do not appear in the present list, as well as that several mines appear for the first time. According to, the assessor's returns there are in Lander county, and mainly in the Reese River district, about 75 mines which have produced bullion during the past year. As we have remarked, the ore worked is generally of a high grade, as the average yield per ton will show. A considerable number of the mines embraced in the quarterly lists were subjected only to testing operations, and the general result must be deemed encouraging. In the case of the Savage mine, the average yield of the ore is less than in several quarters preceding, but is still high, being $103 25 per ton. The yield of the Washington, Chase, Buel North Star, Great Eastern, Semanthe, Magnolia, Florida, Timoke, Idora, Metacom, Taylor, and Passmore, &c, is excellent, and as most of them are pretty well developed, they may be fairly classed henceforth among the producing and paying mines of the Reese River district.

On comparing this table with that of the preceding quarter a marked improvement will be observed in the average yield of the ore produced by several of the leading mines, as well as in their increased production. For instance, the Florida produced during the last quarter 101 tons of ore, which gave an average yield of $351 96 per ton, against 13 tons yielding an average of $255 60 the previous quarter; the Diana, 195 tons which averaged $94 30, against 143 tons which averaged $91 18; the Great Eastern, 137 tons which averaged $345 93, against 287 tons which averaged $217 94; the Magnolia, 13 tons which averaged $371 82, against 6 tons which averaged $338 23; the North Star of the Manhattan Company, 384 tons which averaged $141 37, against 69 tons which averaged $83 90; the Timoke, 100 tons which averaged $276 59, against 79 tons which averaged $148 41; and the Savage, 290 tons which averaged $62 77, against 451 tons which averaged $103 25. The falling off in the quantity and quality of the ore from the Savage is remarkable, but we believe the expla nation is that only a small proportion of the ore reduced was extracted from the mine during the last quarter, but that the great bulk of it was taken from their dump pile. On the other hand, the improvement in the production of ore from the North Star of the Manhattan Company, and its increased average yield of bullion, is more remarkable. Perhaps the most striking increase, both as regards the product of ore and its yield of silver, is presented by the Florida, the exhibit for the two quarters being-December 31, 1866, 13 tons, averaging $255 60; March 31, 1867, 101 tons, averaging $351 96. A number of the mines embraced in the present returns are strangers in previous lists; indeed, there is reason to believe that several of them are not the names of mines, but of the persons who delivered ore to the mills for reduction. Two lots are returned from "Yankee Blade," not from the mines bearing that title-both of which belong to companies and are lying idle-but from that part of the Reese River district. One large lot of 47 tons of high grade ore is returned from "Cortez:" we presume it was brought from the Cortez district, but from what particular mine-whether from the St. Louis, Taylor and Passmore, or Nonesuch-is not mentioned in the quarterly statement of the assessor. This loose and inaccurate method of making the return is in direct violation of the statute, and defeats one of its principal objects. Every mill, or arrastra, or reduction works of any character, is required by the law to keep an accurate list of the name of every mine from which ore was delivered, and to furnish a sworn statement of the same to the assessor. Of course, in a district having the numberless locations of Reese river, a person bringing ore to mill may easily impose a fictitious name on the superintendent; but the name of the mine should be required in every instance, and no such unmeaning entries as "Yankee Blade," "Cortez." &c., should be allowed to appear in the

The whole number of tons of ore reduced during the quarter was 1,438, which produced the sum of $252,335 57. The average yield of 1.438 tons was $161 56 per ton-a result that maintains the character of Lander hill, from which it was chiefly obtained, for yielding a high grade of ore. On comparing the present table with that of the previous quarter, notable fluctuations and uniformity will be observed. For instance, the North Star mine of the Manhattan Company produced during the last quarter 508 tons of ore, which averaged $149 40 per ton, against 384 tons, averaging $141 37 per ton, in the former quarter; the Florida produced 173 tons, which averaged $206 10 per ton, against 101 tons, averaging $551 96, of the former quarter; the Buel North Star produced 127 tous, which averaged $163 63 per ton, against 31 tons of first-class ore, averaging $182 56, and 16 tons of secondclass ore, averaging $51 52 per ton, of the former quarter; the Timoke produced 97 tous, which averaged $241 49 per ton, against 100 tons, averaging $276 59 per ton, of the former quarter; the Fuller produced 14 tons, which averaged $741 67 per ton, against 4 tons, averaging $349 34 per ton, of the former quarter; and the Diana produced 37 tons, which averaged $103 60 per ton, uguinst 195 tons, averaging $94 30 per ton, of the former quarter. The most marked fluctuation is that of the Great Eastern, which produced during the last quarter only 34 tons, which averaged $70 91 per ton, against 137 tons, with the remarkable average of $345 93, for the quarter ending 31st of March. Considerable exploration has been carried on in the Great Eastern during the last three months, the result of which has not been made public. Several mines, which produced bullion in the former quarter, are not included in the above table; and others again, which were not mentioned then, appear in the present return. The most noticeable of the latter is the Gilligan mine of the Social and Steptoe Company, in Egan cañon, which appears in the present table with the good product of 150 tons, averaging $90 per ton, which is scarcely 60 per cent. of the silver contained in its peculiar ore. The returns of the last quarter are generally encouraging.

Following the organization of Reese River district, were in the same year discovered and organized those of Simpson's Park, adjoining it on the south, and further south that of Big Creek; north was Mount Hope and Grass Valley; southeast were Smoky Valley and Santa Fé, and northwest was Ravenswood. These nearly surrounded Austin, and were from five to fifteen miles distant. All but Ravenswood were in the Toiyabee mountains; and the fact that large veins of silver-bearing quartz were found outside of this district gave an impetus

to prospecting, and the mountains in their entire length were explored and districts formed throughout before the termination of the year 1863.

AMADOR DISTRICT.-Immediately north, in Lander county, was formed the district of Amador, where the veins and croppings created a great excitement, and a populous and busy village was built in a few weeks' time. This appeared the most promising of the districts during the fall of 1863, but many of the ledges not proving, from the depth to which they were explored, as rich as their croppings promised, the district is not so favorably regarded as formerly.

The Amador Ledge has been explored by an incline to the depth of 200 feet and upwards. It dips to the northeast, at an angle of about 15 degrees. During this exploration much good ore was taken out, and its owners express confidence that when the reduction of ores becomes simplified and cheapened the mine can be worked at a profit. There are many veins like the Amador, which await the same events for their development.

The Chase Mine.-In the southern part of the district is the Chase mine, which has the appearance of being rich. It is but slightly developed, yet shows quantities of ore of an almost pure sulphuret of silver. Operations have been suspended on it for several months, but it has lately passed into the hands of an eastern company, and work will be prosecuted on it hereafter.

Other Mines. In the vicinity of the Chase are veins, some of which give assurance of value. The want of capital, and the lack of knowledge of mining engineering, have been obstacles in the way of development of many mines in this district supposed to be rich.

MOUNT HOPE, CUMBERLAND, COLUMBUS, MOUNT VERNON, INDIAN, AND WALL STREET DISTRICTS.—AS before said, the year 1863 was distinguished for explorations, but prospecting was then chiefly confined to the Toiyabee range, and to those ranges east and west, next parallel. In the Toiyabee to the north of Austin and Amador, and in Lander county, were organized the districts of Mount Hope, Cumberland, Columbus, Mount Vernon, Indian, and Wall Street, extending as far as 35 miles north, being continuous and including both sides of the mountain. The mines of these districts are almost entirely undeveloped, their croppings alone being known. From these croppings some rock has been taken from which encouraging results have been obtained, but this vast area, probably well stored with silver, is neglected and comparatively unknown, awaiting the coming of the capitalist and a denser population. It offers favorable conditions for working mines, as it includes one of the highest peaks of the Toiyabee mountains-Mount Hope-which attains an altitude of about 10,000 feet above the sea, in the deep cañons of which run a number of streams capable of furnishing water-power for driving machinery. Its sides are covered with groves of pine, and where its streams debouche into the plains at its base are tracts of good agricultural lands. In the valleys which skirt its foot are some farms; but its mineral wealth lies entirely neglected. One district has been noticed by an expe rienced mining engineer, Mr. J. H. Boalt, who, after as close an examination of the ledges as their slight development would allow, reported that they were true fissure veins, of size from 4 to 15 feet in width, and of unmistakable value. Several of the veins were cut transversely, and the ore taken for trial; and it was proved that they contained silver in paving quantities; the assays showing a value of $100 and upwards to the ton. This is the only reliable examination made of the ledges of the district. Superficial as it is, it presents some proof of the value of a neglected district, and an indication that the great extent of country which this mountain embraces bears in its bosom the same precious veins which labor has proved to exist in other parts of the Toiyabee range.

CORTEZ DISTRICT.-The Cortez district, Lander county, comprises the northern terminus of the range cast of the Toiyabee, and includes the lofty peak of Mount Tenabo. It is 65 miles north, by 15° east of Austin. It was organized in 1863, and operations were instituted on a number of small veins in the northern