Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1858-07-24
FRAZIER'S RIVER.

In the year 1910, John Jacob Astor attempted
to form a colony at the mouth Of the Columbia riv.
err, between ten and eleven degrees OF latitude
north Of the present city of San Francisco. His
idea at he time was chiefly the formation Of ii
Fur Trading Company. But for the war Of 1872
be would probably have doubled or trebled his Tor
tune By this idea. That war, however, and the
jealousy of the Hudson Bay Company, broke up
the concern, and Astoria, in the Pacific, is now
known more by the interesting volumes OF the pop
ular author who has made that settlement the
subject Of his versatile and able pen, than in any
other way.
Yet it turns out that could Mr., Aston but have
held on to bis original idea, his family might now
have been III the course OF becoming one OF the
very wealthiest, not only in the United States, but
in the whole world. On Frazier's river, right in
the territory in which the Pacific Fur Company
had proposed to establish themselves, are now dis
covered the RICHEST gold diggings at this time
known in the world. Caiiforni" turns quite pale
before it, and Australia itself loses color and
caste. Not gold alone, but everything c~onspires
to make this region of vast promise.
Though seven hundred miles North of San Fran.
cisco, it is still one or two degrees South of the
latitude of London, and apparently with Il climate
Of IA mildness from all extremes both Of heat and
cold equal to that of the Southern shores of Eng.
land. One hurdred and fifty miles back from the
Pacific indeed, there lies a range of mountain
reaching up to the region Of perpetual snow. But
between that and the coast, the average tempera'
ture is fifty four degrees for the year round. Snow
seldom lies more than three days. Fruit trees
blossom early in April, and salad goes to head by
the middle Of May, on Vancouver's Island. In
parts Of this region, wheat yields from twenty to
thirty bushels to the acre. Apples. pears, peas
and grains Of all kinds do veil. The trees are of
gigantic growth. Iron and copper aDounds, as
does coal, in VancOurer's Island, so that ~altogetiI'
err it bids fair to be early settled by an enterpris.
i'm, anA variDus runulatiop Ra,uann tho yaapS
1910 and 1850, we gained California By one treaty
with Mexico, and gave up all pretensi0ns 10 that
part Of Oregon lying North Of forty-nine degrees
by another treaty with Great Britain.
The nominal sovereignty Of Frazier's River, is
however, a matter of but little Importance either
way. The settlers will be the real sovereigns
here as in Australia, and all attempts at keeping
off settlers, whether English or American. by the
Hudson Bay Company, will and mus st prove utter
ly aOortive.
The fact that gold is to be obtained there in inn
meHse quantities will be sufficient. Settlers from
all countries will flock there, and will DO about as
they find most advantageous in developing the re.
sources Of the country. California and Australia
will both be considered old and worn out countries
now ior gold bearing.
This new discovery must tend TO make TIE
Western shore Of the American continent iucreas-
ingly attractive. Frcm Frazier's River down 20
Peru the rivers all bear down treasures of wealth
perfectly inestimHble. Emigration must and will
continue to flow and take a new start. The most
successful operators will be those who having
learned the way to do things in California, move
there early. The least suUceS sful will be that loaf
ing, drinking, swearing crowd of broken down
spectators and gamblers, who have not succeeded
in California, because they can succeed nowhere.
Yet this will be the very race who will be the
most disposed to adventure themselves on Fra
TIERS river, foremost of all. There will however,
at once be ample room for a far different class
from either of these-i. e. for men who know how
to farm it, and are willing to 90 with their lami'
lies, purchase land and raise provisions. Or men
whO, knowing nothing of farming and nothing OF
gold digging, have got a pair of stout hands and
brawney arms, Gold digging is soon learned, aud
there will and must be an immense demand fol
every kind Of hard labor at almost fabulous prices