Upper Mines Nos. 1 & 8 [and] Lower Mines No. 3 or Mormon Diggings; [Both on single sheet] [included in 30th Congress, Second Session, House, Executive Document No. 1, Message from the President ... James K. Polk, December 5 1848]

Washington DC: Government Printing Office, 1848. First Edition. Very Good. [Sheet 10.5x8.25in, Neat line Upper 4.75x6.25in and Lower 4.125x6.25in]; The map shows the location of the Upper Mines Nos. 1 & 8 diggings along the South Fork of the American river, with roads buildings, including Shutter's Saw Mill and Marshall's house and distance to Sutters [Fort]. The Lower Mines No.3 or Mormon Diggings are also along the river and shows the Mormon Bar and labels the gold deposits, the store and road to Sutters. [Wheat Maps 52, Poore p. 567]. Richard Barnes Mason (1797-1850) was a United States Army officer and the fifth Military Governor of California (1847-1849). After gold was discovered by James Marshall at Sutter's Mill in January 1848, General Mason toured the Gold diggings along the American River north east of Sacramento in June, 1848. The report was written in Monterey in August 17, 1848.

The Mason reports and maps were part of a larger Federal report to Congress on a number of subjects that included announcement of the discovery of substantial amounts of gold in California and other items of interest, such as annexation of Texas and civil government in California. Included with this map is a fascimile excerpt of the report by Mason.

Included with Mason's reports where three 1848 detailed supporting maps, which this map was the first of the maps. The other two supporting maps in the report, and not available with this listing, are: a more detailed survey of the American River with the "Positions of the Upper and Lower Gold Mines on the South Fork of the American River, July 20th, 1848", and Topographical Sketch of the Gold and Quicksilver District of California, July 25th, 1848, E.O.C.O. (Edward Otho Cresap Ord), Lt. U. S. A.. These are important early maps of the Gold districts.

From Howell50, "... included is Col. Richard B. Mason's celebrated report of his visit to the gold "placer" valley of the Sacramento, the earliest official account of the discovery of gold in California. There are several maps of the gold region, including Ord's famous "Topographical Sketch of the Gold and Quicksilver District of California.".