The Nevada Democrat., 1858-07-07
prosnects or enc rrnrer r,lrer Adventurers.

| W. Woods, of this place, has been furnished US
for publication. The writer is we'll known in
this county. and we are assured that his state
ments can be implicitly relied on. Those afflict-
ed with the Frazer fever, will do well to note
the contents of the letter:
WHATcOM, June 25th. 1858.
DEAR Sir I'm compliance with the promise |
made you before leaving Nevada, am seated
uJOn the ground aoor Of my cabin for the pur-
pose of giving you such information as may
have gained relative to the mines, and the best
means of getting there. Although somewhat
unwell, and with but little inclination for wri-
ting in view of the existing state Of thugs here
feel it my duty TO lay before you plain state
ment of facts, of which l am personally cOgni-
Zant, or which have eceived from very leila
ble information. in regard to the difficulties un-
der which we are laboring here, and which will
surely attend the future emigration for some
time TO come.
Contrary 10 the expectation Of many, but no
disappointment to myself the most of the news
contained in the papers. has proved true-too
true by far to afford general satisfaction. The
richness of the mines believe to be firmly es-
tablished. although their full extent has never
been definitely ascertained. have had talk
with many who had been there, who say that
they made from one-half to one ounce per day,
/
made more than that, but this seems to be the
average--no large amount tits true. but better
than the average OF California mines.
The opinion is gaining ground. that Thomp-
sons River, to which majority of our passen-
gers purposed going. is after all less desira-
bic stream for mining than Frazer's II is much
smaller than has been supposed, and not
so rich as Frazer's above the forks. Again. the
! tributaries of Frazer river have been found
much richer, as far as they have been explored
The diff ultes attending the getting there,
are great-greater by far than one wonld sup
pose. In California we formed our opinions of
! the geology and topography Of these mining re-
| giOns from our knowledge of the California
mines. Hence, when told that trail was near
ly completed. leading from Whatcom to Thomp-
sons River. we not only believed it, but also be-
licved the difficulties attending the cutting of
the trail, to be slght-that very few days
would see it completed, and. at the worst. We
could get along, even though the work on the
trail had stopped But it is all a mistake. The
forests through which this trail passes, are tim
bcred heavily. The fires have run through the
woods for miles. dcadening many of the trees.
very many of which have fallen. which. t0geth-
er with rank and dense growth Of under-brusf
and marshy land make perfect Jungle mpos-
sible 10 be penetl ated by man, almost. by beasts
Of burden. certain. Such is the country over
cepting all occasional prairie of few miles in
extent, and here and there a river and u large
lake about eight miles in width. The trail is
built about one hundred miles at present The
engineer, Mr.. DeI.acey. after suffering death
from starvation, almost succeeded in penetra-
ting the thicket before him. on the line of the
road and arriving Mt al open space. the proba-
BILE termination of the thickest timbcrs. 1t is
estimated that in eight days the trail will be
L.. of
and what is indispensable. provisOns-and hav-
ing twenty-five miles to make yet, three times
eight days hence, may see the trail uneOmpleted.
| 1t is thought. that once through this timber, the
way will he comparatively easy. But what sig
nifics trail to an uninhabted country, among
mcddcsome. if not hostile Indians, where the
cost of transporting provisions is seventy five
cents per pound il the river is flooded, ~ they
who know. say it is. The banks Of Thompson
river where this trail strikes it, aud for long
distance above and below are low, and at pres
ent overflown 50 much so, as to present the
appearance Of lake, preventing an approach,
OF course. with mining Implements to any of
! the bars which are at present under water II
gold exists in the ravines aud in the hills, it has
yet to be discovered In quantities sufficient to
prove remunerative.
II the opening Of the mines by the trail from
this place looks dark and uncertain. by Frazer
river it is infinitely more so The steamer Sur
prise, it is true takes passengers and freight to
Fort Hope. on Frazer river, but when once
there, the prospect s blank enough, am assur-
ed by many who have returned. Although fair
diggings have been struck at this point, and
even some distance below, miuers who own
claims on the bars are either quietly ensconced
in their tents or are casting about them, trying
to finL boating to do, or something else to keep
body and soul together until the water falls.
Those who have been here for years, and know
certainly, when the river will fall, say that it
will be six. weeks yet, unless extraordinarily
warm weather occurs before mining can BE- re-
sumed. The trails along Frazer river, above
Fort Hope are impossible. and 1t is impossible,
owing to the swflncss Of the river at the pres
ent stage, and the innumerable rapids, to 60 up
in boats. The trail from this place, with all its
d sadvantages seems TO present surest and
quickest way of getting to the mines. 1t is
ques tiOuable, however, whether Thompson river
and adjacent streams, will prove rich enough
and in extent sufficient to support the emigr.
ton travelling thither
Now, with these things before u.s. what in
ducement can possibly exist to tempt further
emigration? There is at present, in this town
aud at Sehome, Ga town near by.) transcIent
population of three thousand or more all eager
10 get to the mines. the half Of whom have 1T
means of transport, and no money to buy pro
visions With all our difficulties, provisions
that is the staple articles, have risen one hun
dred per cent, and how so many are to support
themselves for month or six weeks, without
means. or resources of any kind, is a mystery
too dark to fathom, too gloomy to contemplate
But, it may be said, if tho hardships are a.
great as you have enumerated, why do not the
returning boats bring home more pa, ,sengers!
The reasons are very perceptible. Many have
exhausted their means in getting here, and can
not, go back If they would; others who have the
means, choose rather 10 stay than to spend more
than it will cost them TO live here. in going and
returning from All undertaking. which has cesl
so many sacrifices deters many from following
their inclinations. But many will return and
wait until the avenues of approach to the mines
are made smooth by capitalists and the indus
try of those whose means enable them to pro