Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1858-09-04
LETTER FROM FORT YALE.
Fort YALE, FRASER RIVER,
August ~, 1858.


d. W. GEI.wIcHs, Esq, DEAR SIR: ar
rived here on the oath day of July, having
made the trip from Fort Hope in an Indian
canoe to this place, which at that time was the
head Of canoe navigation. The steamer I'm
"tiiA1 had made a trip up to this place the
week before arrived, but has not attempted
it since, nor do think she will again this sea
SON. have done nothing at mining since
my arrival, as the water is yet too high, cx-
ccpt upon the high bars
The richness of the mines on the river so
far as they are workable, think have not
been over rated. There arc several bars be-
tween Fort Hope and this place on which the
miners are taking out the gold in great guam.
titles. On Texas bar they have been running
sluiceS ever since have been here, which has
paid from two to four ounces to the hand;
and rockers are making from $40 to $40 u
day. On Puget Sound bar, Emric.s bar, and
Hills bar, they are doing equally as WE'LL
The last named bar is one mile and half be-
low this place on the opposite side Of the river.
on this bar and all are doing well many of
them making from five to six ounces per day.
On one of the claims. Ito my own knowledge
they make six ounces q day to the rocker
from the tailings which they have run thro'
their rockers some time ago. On Fort Yale
bar the miners who have claims on the high
part of the bar are doing very wei, -maklng
from $40 $40 to the rocker. The greater part
of this bar is still under water. There is no
doubt in my mind that the miners who have
been fortunate enough to secure claims OH
this bar and have patience to wait until the
river falls, will be amply paid for their trip to
Fraser river. The river has fallen some six or
eight feet since camc here, but in conse-
Qucnce of the very warm weather, the snow
has been melting above, and it has risen du.
ring the past week some two feet; as soon rs
the weather becomes cool it will fall very fast.
1t must fall yet some twenty feet and expose
many bars, which, have no doubt will prove
equally as rich as any Of those have named.
There are many who have become discour-
aged, disguSted with the place, curse the
country, and leave for California. hundreds
are leaving every day, and hundreds moro
would leave if they had the means, others
who have nothing better left behind and hav-
ing little more faith in the future dcvclopc-
ment of the Fraser river mines, feel inclined
to stay and see it out lam one of that num-
Der. Though it may be attended with dan.
ser, difficulty, and hardships, yet I am deter
mined, if can by any means obtain sufficient
amount Of provisions to live upon, and cloth
ing to keep me warm, to stay on this river
and its tributaries through one season.
have heard very flattcring accounts from
the upper Fraser river, aud intend starting
up as soon as the water falls sufficiently to
render the navigation with canoes practical
bic The stream through the canons (the first
of which commences half mile above this
Fort) is almost impossible at any season of
the year. Many portagcS have to be made.
when cargo, canoe and all have to be carried
round the falls over the rocks. Some have
already attempted to ascend with their canoes
and two or three have succeeded in getting
through y great many canoes have been
turned over and all the provisions lost, the
canoes dashed to pieces against the rocks,
and many lives lost 1t was but yesterday
heard of six men and one woman being
drowned Whilc attempting to ascend through
the canon. It's called fifty miles to the up.
per end Of the Zig canon, aud takes from ten