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sed region where no water can be had, no timber in sight, no friendly cloud to shield them from the intense heat by day, and where they will shiver by night from cold, and where they will be in constant danger of being scalped by roving bands of merciless savages. Their only resource in such circumstances would be in joining the nearest mining company.
Mineral Resources.
And this brings me to speak of the mineral resources of this immense region, for the benefit of persons in Europe who have been engaged in mining, and who wish to seek a new home.
The gold product, since 1848, of California, and other mining districts, has been estimated at one billion two hundred and fifty millions of dollars. Up to a few years past, the greatest production was in California. But,, subsequently, new mines have been discovered and worked in the great interior region, east of California. Cities have sprung up as if by magic, and out of an annual gold product of seventy-five millions of dollars, California now furnishes only one-third part.
Persons of mechanical skill or scientific knowledge in this department of industry can here find an ample and remunerative field for the exercise of their abilities.
Eastern half of the United States.
I come now to the pleasing task of speaking of that portion of my country, which I can recommend truthfully, to emigrants as a "Good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains, and depths that spring out of valleys and hills—a land of wheat and barley, and vines, and fig-trees, and pomegranates—a land of oil, olive, and honey—a land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack anything in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass."
From the great lakes of the north, to the Gulf of Mexico, it is a domain of immense extent, of great fertility, but quite a variety of soils, watered from the clouds as no country in Europe is—except England—exceeding that in amount of rain, but not equal in frequency of showers; of a fine climate, yet differing on the several parallels of latitude, and susceptible of such variety and diversity of productions, that were its capabilities fully developed, extending, as it does, across so many degrees, it could be made to produce every article which is required for food and clothing, or used in the industrial pursuits of civilized life.
I shall not attempt to discuss, seriatim, the fitness of each section for special crops. This would be impossible in a single paper. In personal intercourse it will afford me pleasure to impart such information in regard to localities as I may be able, but shall now only call your attention to such general facts as may enable you to judge more correctly of our country as a whole.
Its southern border rests on the 26th degree, and extends to the 46th degree of north' latitude. Do not suppose that there is any difficulty in wheat and barley maturing in this high latitude. Not only wheat but Indian corn (except in seasons of summer frosts), mature and do well, and there is not a more plentiful country on the face of the earth. The Northern summer is short—much shorter than in the South—but it is much hotter while it lasts, and plants get their required amount of sunshine in a smaller number of days.
Observations on temperature made by scientific men since 1819 have been preserved in the Smithsonian Institution, and published from time to time. Of late years they have been transmitted by its secretary to the Agricultural Bureau, and have been embodied in its report. From an ex-
