Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1858-07-30
Frazer's River Gold DiggingS.

Much excitement has been created in Cali
fornia, and has extended in some degree to
other parts of the world, by representations of
great geld discoveries about Frazer River
Thousands Of people are rushing to this new
au,felous region, intent Gu making great for
tunes. That our readers may have some idea
of the country, we copy the following arti-
Gle from the II. Y. Tribune
Frazer River, to the banks Of which the MI
ners of California are nov focking, in hopes to
ind a new ii Dorado, rises in the Rocky
Mountains, between the ffty-6tth and fifty
sixth degrees of north latitude, and near the
source Of the Canoe River, the northernmost
tributary of the Columbia. 1t runs to the
northwest for about eighty miles, and then
turns to the south, in wl'ich general direction
il continues, receiving the waters of several
tributaries, till near the foity-ninth degree of
north latitude, where it breaks through the cas-
cade range of mountains III succession of falls
aud rapids Hence it runs westward for ses-
enty or eighty miles, till just north Of Puget
Sound, it enters the Calf of Georgia, which
separated TancouVsr's Isllsd from the main
land The whole course of the river is about:
four hundred miles.
The line between the Territory of Washing
ton and the British Possessions has never yet
been run The work was commenced year
ago by joint commission, but as yet little
progress has been made. Tue authorities of
the Hudson's Bay company claim the mouth Of
the river as within their limits, though possibly
the final survey may bring it, and even some
part of the lower course of the river, within
our territory In book published in 1874,
bY Mr.. Duun, an old servant of the Hudson's
Bay Company, long resident in those regions,
the country along the lower section Of the river
west OF the Cascade Mountains, is described az
hilly aud covered with forests of white pine, ce-
dar aud other evergreens, the soil generally
well fitted for pasturage, and 10 many places
for tillage. East of the Cascade Mountains,
where alone the gold is found, the soil is yell
low and barren sand, with little vegetation, and
the country rises in abrupt mountains, cut up
by ravines and torrents, and interspersed with
lakes and marshes. The climate is described
as very variable. The pleasanteSt season is
from April to June. In the latter month there
are almost ineessant rains, drifted furiousIy
along by strong sou-herly winds. In July and
August the heat is intense. and the ground
previously saturated with moisture, produces
myrads of annoying insects. In September
there are fogs SO thick as to turn MONDAY into
midnight. In November the wiuter sets in,
freezing up the lakes and rivers, though not
reaching so severe a degree of cold as might be
expected from the latitude.
To this country, hitherto visited only by Iu-
dians aud few natives and few hunters and
far traders in the employ of the Hpdson's Bay
Company, there Is just now Tremendous rush
Of immigration, on the strength OF highly ex-
cited anticipatons of its produetiveness 10 gold.
The only diggings yet known are on the bars
in the river, commencing some eighty miles
from It's mouth, near Fort Hope, an old trading
station of the Hndson's Bay Company To
that point the river is navlgable for steamboats,.
1t is said, indeed, that vessels drawing twenty
feet can ascend thirty miles, though, according
to Mr.. Dunn, twelve feet is the limit. Victo-
ria, which is the seat of government of the
Hudson's Bay Company's settlement on Van
couver's Island, nearly opposite the mouth of
the river, and where all the miners are obliged
TO stop in order to obtain licenses to dig, has,
since the discovery of these diggings, sprung
irFb sudden Importance. river steamer
which formerly ran on the Sacramento river has
been placed Cd the Frazer, aud now runs regu-
larly between Victoria and Fort Hope. Great
speculation is going on i'll city lots at Victoria.
Several OF the colored men, who, Disguised by
the acts of the California Legislature, lately
removed thither from San Francisco, are likely,
it is said, to make fortunes by the rise in the
value Of the lots which taey purchased there
A newspaper establishment had gone out entire
from San francisco, and The North .fmerica1s,
the first newspaper, was advertised to make its
appearance at Victoria oa the l6th Of June
IL fact, tbs time is already anticipated when
Victoria will rival San Francisco.
All these grand anticipations seem to rest at
present on rather small basis of facts. The
gold on the bars of Frazer River appears to
have been discovered q few months since by an
old miner named Adams, who took the Liut.