, 1858-10-01

-~GDAS
From the American Railroad Journal July 81.
NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD.
The recent discoveries of gold on the
Northwest coast ore bringing prominently
before the public the national Importance
of the railroad route connecting the great
Basin Of the ST. Lawrence and the Upper
Mississippi with the Columbia Valley and
Puget Sound.
| While public attention is being drawn
to the gold placers north of the 49th par
allel, (on Frazer and Thompson rivers J, it
is well known that gold is disseminated
throughout the Cascades of Washington
Territory, and that it also reaches the
Rocky mountains in the line of Clark's
Fork and the Koutcnay river. In 1858,
in the exploration of the Northern route
for Pacific Railroad, the presence of gold
was determined, not only on all the streams
running from the Cascade mountains east
ward to the Columbia, but through tue
whole intermediate country, and deposits
wero found on the upper tributaries of
Cark's Fork.
In the following year, much additional
information was gained in reference to the
gold in that Territory. The marvellous
Indian stories in regard to rich diggings
had as much relation to the Cascade coun-
try Of Washington as to that north of the
49th parallel In 1854, the public mind
became impressed with the belief that it
required only n diligcnt prospecting of the
country to developc the the richness of its
gold deposits.
In 1855, large numbers emigrated to
the interior of Washington least of the
Cascades) to prospect for gold. The
miners went, some from Puget Sound over
the Cascades, and others by the line of the
Columbia. In July and August of that
year, at least one thousand persons we're
on their way to the mines near Colville-
q Hudson Bay fort in Washington Terri
tory, situated in the upper Columbia about
400 miles above Fort Wala-walIa, and
700 miles from the Columbia entrance
measuring the distance in both cases by
the riTer-and some 95 or 80 miles south
of the 49th parallel The Indian war com
PEELED most Of these men to retrace their
steps. A few, however, remained in the
mining regions, and made good wages for
the following two years
In 1857, the miners explored further
north and found rich deposits in the Shu-
swop country, on Thompson river Gold
was also found along the line from Frazer
and Thompson river to Fort Colville.-l
This was the route Of the Hudson Bay
Company to their interior posts, aud was
kept open throughout the yeas '55, '56 and
'57, whilst other routes were closed, in con-
sequence Of the unsettled state Of the In
dian country.
Public attention was attracted to this
matter through oil the Pacific States and
Territories. The Governor Of VancouTer's
Island took steps to regulate the diggiNg
of gold and the trade of New Caledonia
Notwithstanding the burthensome restric,1
tions he imposed, great rush of miners
has taken place from California and Ore
gon to the new placers-the number being
estimated at $4,000
Probably 10000 will leave California;
tho present season. The result must be
the careful prospecting of the gold regions
Of Washington and the ascertainment Of
facts which will satisfy all men of their
productiveness. A large overland omigra-
tion may be expected to take place from
the States next year. From the North
west, the best route will be that surveyed
by Gov. Stevens in bis Pacific Railroad
explorations.
GOV sTrvrNo1 Dor-Tp