Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1858-08-07
Where Is Fraser's River.

SCI hWer VIII lead manyto examine their
maps IN vain for tho purpose of finding the
precise locality of this important stream.
Fascrs river emptics into the Gulf of
Georgia, a branch of Puget's Sound, Il
few miles north of the 10th parallel, which
is the boundary between our territory and
the British possessions. Its hcad-waters
intcrlock with those of the Columbia and
the Athabasca. For the first half of its
course it runs in southorly direction, when
it turns westward At the distance of 16O
miles from its mouth it sioincd by Thomp-
sons river, considerable stream flowing
from the eastward. The Cascade range of
Mountains, which may be regarded as a
continuation of the Sierra Nevada ceases
here. At the junction of the two rivers
and in the immediate vicinity, lie the dig
gings which are causing SO much excite
ment on the Pacific coast. They have been
worked more or less since last summer, but
their real importance was not osccrtained
until lately.
Fort Langley, the lowest post of the 1Iud-
sons Bay Company on Frascr's River, is
situated on the left bank, about rs miles
from its mouth, Thus far the stream is
navigablc for vessels of considerable burden.
The next post is Fort Hope, at the mouth
of Quc-quc-alla River, 80 miles above Fort
Langley. To the (" Falls" is II miles fur
thcr, and thence to Thompson's River
Forks is 50 miles. Thus the whole dis
tancc from the mouth of Fraser's River TO
the gold diggngs at Thompson's River is
l60 miles, or thercabout.
Above Fort Langley the river is practi-
cable for battcauX of three tons burdcn-a
slow and tedious navigation-b after
passing the " Falls" canoes only can be
used. But the journey must rcally bemado
on foot from the Falls, and is ceedingly
laborious and rugged. There are no hor-
scs OF mules to be procured in all that re-
gion.
1t is by the route above indicated that
most of the gold-scekcrS will find their way
to the new places There is however, an
other route, via the Columbia River and
the Dallcs /; but the distance is four or five
hundred miles.
Vhc latitude of the Thompson's River
Forks is about so degrees 30 minutes, or
nearly three hundred miles further north
than Quebec. But it must be remember
ed that the climate on the Pacific coast is
mild in comparison with that of similar
attitudes east of the Rocky Mountains.
On the banks of the Eraser River, in the
Hudson Bay country, gold has been found
IN the greatest quantitie'. Though we are
informed the a,Efcrous fields extend to
the American side, it is certain the best lie
on English soil. The region extends from
the vicinity of Fort Colyillc, Washington
Territory, lcrc successful mining opera
tlons have been carried on for years, in
north-westerly direction to Fort Thompson
in the British possessions, and is principal
y cast of the Cascade range of mountains
and between Fraser River and the western
base of the Rocky Mountains. The dig
Gings arc located between 48 degrees and
81 degrees north, and III degrees and 127
degrees west longitude, covering space
about one hundred and forty miles square
Several steamships, loaded with miners
aud others, have left the American cities
for the gold fields. 1t tseems that the Hud-
sons Bay Company, whose lease of British
Oregon docs not expire until May 1850
impose tax of five dollars a month on eve
ry American for the privilege of digging
for the precious metal. Of course the
Americans grumblo loudly at the imposi-
ton, and not few anathcmas are occa-
sionally hurled at the heads of the Admin
smrrniJoroJ tba % tarritnrv @ "L;oh 40 ,nL;h 'tHaoy @
god GoIds ave- vtnotod . Co. ~ aU, 1e,;.o tnoSo
Tho New Yorl, T;moa ~ uosU III, ,',,,
,Aat If 54oi0D had bnon ;na;at01 ,0,aaM' ,,,a,,
tbo ,aholo ae ,l,;a "u eoen i'9''.ou upon,