Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1858-09-18
TIC Frazer River Humbug
tl'run the San Francisco Hornld

(Fru.n the san Francisco Hornld1
Frazer River seems TO he ~ suddenly deprived
If IT, c,n.eqccncr IL Brigham Young. since the
occupation Of nh hy the Government forces.
The mad and sanscoss excitement caused by the
extra ordinary report scis ulaat by reckless spec
ulaior-, and sustained by their perseverance, has
snLsilcd into n calm aud dispassipnatc decrmi-
nation and cool analysis oithc facts that have
lccn made pntent. People now know that from
April toSeptomber, at least, the bars Of Frazer
River which are said 10 contain the auriierous
deposit. are imprac,icahlc by reason Of III" water
under which they submerged. Here then in
nearly half year in which the miner il unable
to work. Those who possess II know ledge of that
country, obtnined by personal experience and
residence, unhesatingly affirm that the streams
solidifcd during great portion of tho winter
and that the cold is intense, 80 much 50, as to
interdict any attempt at working the mines
This assertion is certainly supported by two well
ascrrtained facts. The first isthat tho mouth
of Frazer River is located two degrees of latitude
north Of the norhernmost extremity OF the Uni
ted States, where the mercury often freezes du-
ring the winter season; and tho second is, the re-
markably high land even mountainous, present
ed by the entire face Of the country watcrcd by
Frazer River. These are physical characteristics
that invariably produce the effect of intense cold,
and we sec no reason why thel Frazer River coun-
try should DO the exception on the globe. Allow
ing. however but three months of actual freezing
NlHteT, WHICH 10 hh cAuchncty
for such region. we have eight months out of the
twelve in which mining is a matter Of impossible
ity, and the only question for consideration is,
whether the Frazer River country will yield O.
nough during the four remaining months to
munerate miners for their years labor. without
counting the expense of going the additional cost
of all Hecessaries, the dangers and priyations to
which they are inevitably exposed? We have al
lowed four months in which mining can be car
red on: but up to the present hour there is every
reason to believe that even this period is far too
extended The first of the emigration left our
shores in March last, and the reports Immediate
" received stated that the had not suff-
ciently advanced the pioneers were too early and
counselled waiting for month or 80. In April
the winter seems to have suddenly broke up, the
river was at a low stage and for two weeks the
bars were partially worked then the waters rose
and shut them from sight, in which condition they
have since remained. If March was too soon, it
is but reasonable to conclude that December will
too late-and we consequently have but Septem-
ber October and November i'll which mining can
he carried on. But at last accounts the river was
still holding the bars under water and as 1t is
the middle Of August, it may possibly contin-
ue obstinate until the cold season actually sets in
and stops the melting of the SHOWS by which the
waters are fed There is also another discoura-
ging fact. Thompson river on which great ex-
pectations had been raised has been found TO con-
tain little or no g,ld and the dry diggngs, repor-
ted some time since to hay, been discovered, have
yet given yisll. isas. none that has been sat