The Sun.
London, England, 1858-08-14 00:00:00

WHERE IS FRASER'S RIVER ?

The recent discoveries of gold on Fraser's River will lead
many to examine their maps in vain for the purpose of
finding the precise locality of this important stream.
Fraser's River empties into the Gulf of Georgia, a branch
of Puget's Sound, a few miles north of the 410th
which is the boundary between our territory and the British
possessions. Its head-waters interlock with those of the
Columbia and the Athabasca. For the first half of its course
it runs in a southerly direction, when it turns westward.
At the distance of 160 miles from its mouth it is joined by
Thompson's River, a considerable stream firming from the
eastward. The Cascade range of mruntains, which may he
regarded as a continuation of the Sierra Nevada, ceases
here, at the junction of the two rivers, and in the imme-
diate vicinity, like the diggings which are causing so much
excitement on the Pacific coast. They have been worked
more or less since last summer, but their real importance
was net ascertained until lately.

Fart Langley, the lowest post of the Hudson's Bay Corn-
pany on Fraser's River, is situated on the left bank, about
9.5 miles from its mouth. Thus far the stream is navigable
for vessels of considerable burden. The next past is Fort
Mope, at the mouth of Oue-que-alla River, GP miles above
Fort Langley. To the "Falls" is 12 miles farther, and
thence to Thompson's River Forks is 55 miles. Thus the
whole distance from the mouth of Fraser's River to the gold
diggings at Thompsoa's River is 160 miles, or thereabouts.
Above Fort Langley the river is practicable for bateau of
three tons burden—% slow and tedious navigation—but after
passing tho " Falls" canoes only can be used. But the
journey must really be made on foot from the Falls, and is
excedingly laborious and rugged. There are no horses or
mules to be procured in all that region.
It is by the route above indicated that most of the gold-
seekers will find their way to the new placers. There is,
however, another route, rid the Columbia River and the
Dalles ; but the distance is four or five hundred miles.
The latitude of the Thompson's River Forks is about 50.30
or nearly 300 miles further north than Quebec. But it must
be remembered that the climate on the Pacific coast is mild
in comparison with that ofsimilar latitudes east of the Rocky
Mountains.
O❑ the banks of the Fraser River, in the Hudsonißay
country, gold has been found in the greatest quantities.
Though we are informed the auriferous fields extend to the
American side, it is certain the best lie on English soils. The
region extends from the vicinity of Fort Colville, in Wash-
ington Territory, where successful mining operations have
been carried ou for years, in a north-vNesterly direction
to Fort Thompson, in the British possessions, and is prin-
cipally east of the Cascade range of mountains, and between
Fraser River and the western base of the Rocky Mountains.
The diggings are located between 48 aad 51 degrees north,
and 117 and 127 degrees west longitude, covering a space
about 140 miles square.

Several steamships, laden with miners and others, have
left the American cities for the gold fields. It seems that
the Hudson's Bay Company, whose lease does not expire
until May, 1859, impose a tax of a dollar a month on every
American for the privilege of digging for the precious metal.
Of course the Americans grumble loudly at the imposition,
and not a few anathemas are occasionally hurled at the heads
of the administration who, under the Ashburton treaty,
surrendered the territory on which those gold fields are si-
tuated to Great Britain. The New York Times mournfully
remarks that if " 54-40" had been Insisted upon, the whole
of tbls auriferous region would have belonged to the United
States.