The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-07-12
The Gold Discoveries at Fraxer's River.
TFrom the Philadelphia Ledger, July l0.1


In the year 1910 John Jacob Aston attempted to
form a colony at the mouth OF the Columbia river.
between ten and eleven degrees of latitude north Of
the present city Of San Francisco. His idea at the
time was chiefly the formation of Fur Trading
Company. But for the war OF 1872 he would pro-
badly have doubled or trebled his fortune by this
idea. That war, however, and the jealousy Of the
Hudson's Bay Company broke up the concern, and
Astoria, in the Pacific, Is now known more by the
interesting volumes of the popular author who has
made that settlement the subject of his versatile and
able pen, than in any other way.
Yet it turns ont that could Mr. Astor but have held
on to his original idea, his family might now have
been in the course of becoming one of the very
wealthiest not only in the United States but in the
whole world. On Frazer's river, right in the Ter
ritory in which the Pacific Fur Company had pro-
posed to establish themselves, are now discovered
the richest gold dggings at this time known In the
whole world. California turns quite pale before IT,
and Australia itselfloses color and CASTE Not gold
alone, but everything conspres to make this region
of vast promise
Though seven hundred miles north Of San Fran
cisco, it is still or two degrees sonth OF the lat
tude of London, and apparently with climate of
midness from all extremes, both OF heat and cold
equal to that of the southern shores Of England One
hundred and fifty miles back from the Pacific indeed
there lies range of mountains reaching up to the
regions of perpetual snow. But between that and
the coast the average temperature Is fftyfour de-
grees for the year round. Snow seldom lies more
than three days. Fruit trees blossom early in April,
and salad goes to head by the middle of May on Van
couvers Island. In parts OF this region wheat yields
twenty to thirty bushels to the acre. Apples pears
peas and grains Of all kinds do well. The trees
Of gigantic growth Iron and copper abound, as does
COAL in Vancouvers Island, that altogether il bids
fair to be early settled by an enterprsng and various
population. Between the years lS40 and 1850 we
gained California by one treaty with Mexico, and
gave up all professions to that part of Oregon lying
north Of forty nine degrees by another treaty with
Great Britain.
The nominal sovereignty of Frazers river is,
however a matter OF but little importance either
way. The settlers will be the real sovereigns here
in Australia, and all attempts at keeping off set
tiers whether English or American, by the Hudsons
Bay Company, will and must prove utterly abor
tive The fact that gold is 10 be obtained there in
immense quantities will be sufficient. Settlers from
all countries will flock there, and will do about as
they find most advantageous in developing the re-
sources of the country. California and Australia
will both be considered old and worn out countries
now for gold bearing
This new discovery must tend to make the west
ern shore OF the American continent increasingly
attractive. From Frazer's river down to Peru the
rivers all bear down treasures of wealth perfectly
inestimable. Emigration must and will continue TO
flow and take a new start. The most Successful
operators will be those who, having learned the way
20 do things In California, move there early. Tho
least successful will be that oafng drinking swear.
ing crowd Of broken down spectators and gamblers
who have not succeeded In California because they
can succeed nowhere. Yet this will be the very
race who will be the most disposed to adventure
themselves on Frazer's river foremost Of all There
Will however, at once be ample room for far diff
ferent class from either of these. for who
know bow to farm ii, and are willing to go with
their families purchase land and raise provisions.
Or men who, knowing nothing Of farming and
nothing of gold digging, have got pair Of stout
hands aud brawny arms. Gold digging Is soon
learned, and there will and must be an immense
demand for every kind Of hard labor at almost fabu
lous prices.