The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1858-08-12
From the Buffalo Weekly Express.
The Frazer River Gold Mines.

BUFFALO, July 20, 1858.
For many months, the attention OF the pub.
lie has been turned towards that portion Of the
continent, of which little has hitherto been
known, lying to the nor:hward Of 40 degrees,
which has been held for nearly two hundred
years by The Hudson's Bay Company, they
during all this time, having realized a very lu-
crative income from the result Of the fur trade
which they have carried on with great sue
cess, with the natives. The shell is now,
however, broken. The light Of the nineteenth
century has shed its radiance upon this dense.
unknown, and what was looked upon, as a
wide waste 1T eternal SHOWS, from whence
"The frost spirit comes from the frozen labrador,
From the Icy bridge of the Northern Seas,
Which the white bear wandere Ger"
is now found well suited for mans occupancy,
and has all the elements and fitness to become
lana, equal in wealth and commercial i'm
portance, with California, itself. John Jacob
Aston saw but family foresh dowed the hope
ful future Of this vast, UNEMPLOYED region, and
its commercial importance, else no had main
tanned at any cost, his standpoint and settle
ment made at Astoria, in the year 1910. The
success of the Hudson's Bay Company promp-
ted him to make use OF his fortune, for the
prrpose Of establishing and maintaining an
American Fur Trading Company on the east
ern shores of the Pacific.
The experiment would have succeeded, but
for the war of 1912. The Jealousy Of the
Hudsoh's Bay Company had been aroused
against Astor's new enterprise, and awaiting
themselves Of this opportunity, under the
show Of loyalty to Britain, the concern was
broken up.
Gould Astor or the public have understood
that, within this very section, where he was
attempting to plant the germs Of American
civilization, there lay hidden immense and un-
told wealth in the gold fields OF Frazier River,
fierce strife would have been necessary to
have driven him from this position.
No country has ever furnished richer gold
diggings than are found is this region. Cali
fornia and Australia are thrown entirely in the
hack ground. All kinds Of mineral wealth
are found 10 exist in the richest abundance
Coal, Of excellent quality, and in great guam
titles, is spread over vast extent Of country
The climate is unexceptionable, and is scarce
ly equaIled in adaptation TO the growth Of
grain and fruits. The isothermal line Of equal
winter temperature which passes near Kings
ton, in a. degrees north latitude traced west
ward, to the pacific coast, will be found to
reach It at point north OF ysncouver's Island,
ia latitude 81 degrees, or more than seven hun.
dred miles north Of the starting point. Every
thing bstokens bright future for this region.
Though north of California nearly thousand
miles, it has q milder climate than il found IN
England, and is not subject to extremes Of
heat or cold. The average temperature Of the
year is about fifty -6ve degrees. Snow rarely
falls. and does not last for more than FIVE days
ct any one time. All kinds of fruit trees
bloom early in April, and produce, ordinarily,
an abundant crop.
This country is well adapted 10 the growth
of all the cereals, and vegetation is Of rapid
early, luxuriaAt growth.
The mountain range is back from the coast
about one hundred and fifty miles, and then
reaches up to the regions of perpetual snow.
Lying to the eastward Of this mountaia range.
millions Of broad acres OF prairie and wood
land, wltered by the laughing rivnlets that
swell the waters OF the Saskatchewan, Nc
Kenzies. and Red Rivers, which shall, ere
long, bud, blossom, and bear rich harvest OF
ear.h's fairest products. to gladden. the hearts
Of millions Of toiling hnsbandmen. The key
to this anspicious future is found in the recent
discoveries of gold in the vicinity of Frazier
River, the supply Of which is, 10 doubt, un-
limited.