Grass Valley telegraph., 1858-06-26
The Great City of the Ncrth-EYhere
Will sE Ese

viii 1t be
1t being fully conceded, notwithstanding
the vast amonnt of exageration that is in
dulged in with reference to the richness of
the Frazer River mines, that an important
mining and agricultural interest must soon
grow up in the territory of the Hudson S
Bay Company, between the parallels of 40
and 55, it becomes matter of considerable
moment, not only to speculators, but as well
to all classes, to ascertain the most conven-
lent point upon the seaport or navigable
waters, from which the interior mining re-
gion caa bi Feached
The two Fital seaporis at the present time
are Victoria ara Waat om, with an interior
depot at the haad Of river navigation to cor
respond to 5e city of Sacramento in this
State US , swever, agree that
Frazer Rivey presents to the navigator,
long before ho reaches the heart Of the mi
ming region, obstacles of character alto
gether insurmountabie, and that the shores
and adjacent country render the construc-
tion Of wagon roads almost out of the
question, while even the practica bility of
pack trails is considered matter of serious
doubt.
According to present information the most
practicable method of forwarding provisions
to the upper waters of Frazer and to Thomp,
sons rivers is by way of the Columbia and
4 +bo &c II
ing circuitous route Of some 120 miles of
river navigation and 800 by pack mules
From these facts the necessity Of some other
route than any yet mentioned, for the trans
mission of supplies to the mines is readily
apparent Can any better one be opened
Let US see.
Some 250 or 800 miles up the sea coast
and just above the northern extremity of
Vancouver's Island, according to the reports
of numerous travellers who have visited and
written at length upon that region are sew
eral good harbors, and also several small
rivers emptying into the sea. Vancouver
speaks Of " two good harbors" in this vi
cinity which he named respectively Ports
John and Restoration. Now is it not possi-
bic to find good wagon road route from
one Of these harbors to the head waters of
Frazer river. Let US see. We have before
Us little work published in London, Eug>
in 1916, and witten by Rev. G: G. NicolaH.
from which we learn that in the fall of 1892,
Mckenzie, the discoverer of the river Of that
name, with small company of trappers and
Indians, left Fort Chippeway and ascended
to the upper waters of Peace River, tribu-
tary of the Mckenzie, where he wintered.-
The next spring he ascended Peace River
and finding that it had its source to the
westward of the Rocky Mountains, followed
it up to lake, where it took it's rise About
half a mile from this lake, by well bea EN-
Indian trail. over which he carried his ca
noes, he found another lake, the outlet of
which flowed south-westward He went
down this river about 120 miles, until he
ascertained that it was the Frazer. He then
retraced his steps about half the distance
where he built a log cabin and housed
his canoe and such articles as the party did
not wish to take overland. From this point
the party started Overland for the Pacific !;
having first been assured by the Indians that
they could reach the sea coast from that
point in eight days. The party set out en-
numbered with-the necessary provisions for
the voyage, and in addition thereto earns.
ammunition, instruments for astronomical
observations, and articles for presents. -
The account does not state how much time
the party occupied in making the transit,
but from the glowing description of the
country we are led to believe the trip was
an easy, as we'll as short one. Soon after
starting he arrived at the head waters of a
small river where the parties purchased ca
noes of the Indians, and concluded the trip
with them to the sea coast, aud thence along
the same two or three days until they arri-
ved opposite the northern extremity of Van
couver's Island to which they crossed.
These facts appear to us important at this
time as indicating the practicability of find
ing good site for seaport near where Nc
Kenzie reached the coast and from thence
by river and road of easy grade to the head
! waters of Frazer, down which supplies may
be readily taken TO all the principal mining
camps that may be established.
When Mckenzie reached the coast he
painted, in large letters, upon the face of a
prominent ledge of rocks an appropriate in
scripton which was seen and read by the
traveller Dunn, who visited the location Al
years afterwards.
fATRIoTIc.-The citizens of Ell Dorado
county are patriotic-almos to fault
According to the Mountain Democrat a
number of the prominent citizens of that
county have already enrolled themselves
| for the purpose of organizing q mounted