, 1858-04-30
From the Frazer River Cold Mines!

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We have nothing specially new or inter-
esting to offer our readers, this week, from
these diggings, save what is contained in
the memoranda of the steamer Sea Bird,
hereto appended, and that the excitement
is still intense--in fact, perfect fuyOr ex-
lists.
Within the last week, upwards Of seven
hundred miners have arrived from Califor.
nia-25O by steamer Columbia, and 450 or
more by the Commodore, which latter vessel
has been specially placed on the route for
that purpose. This number, added to those
who have crossed by land from Oregon,
and such as have left this Territory or are
now en- route for the above mines, will prob
ably swell the numbers to upwards Of one
thousand persons who are at this time OF
the points below-Whatcom and Port
Townsend-who are preparing outfits and
seeking fortunes on Frazer's and Thompson
rivers. How this number are to be subsist-
ed until the waters subside or the trail now
being constructed from Whatcom to the
diggings completed, we are unable to divine
while the possibility of obtaining mining
implements and provisions, at this time, it
seems to us, is entirely out of the question.
The news of of>extensive mines, north, came
upon US uuawares, at time when the
country was not prepared for this state Of
things. Picks aud shovels, etc, are not
essentially necessary in the manufacture Of
lumber or the pursuit of farming, and Of
-four, pork, &C., only enough has been kept
in the country sufficient for its own proba-
ble consumption. Consequently We are
not prepared to have 5000 or 10000 con
sumers thrown upon our hands just at
present. AT all events, it would prove to
the advantage of miners from California,
arriving within the next month or six
weeks, to come ready prepared. After
lhat time our merchants will be enabled to
supply them with every thing necessary, at
reasonable rates. Jus: at present, such is
not the case Flour was worth $l2, so per
hundred pounds at Whatcom when the
Sea Bird arrived there, and still rising;
pork and bacon commanded a proportion
ate price. and very scarce at that.
Furthermore, we would advise oil to de-
fer their mining schemes and operations at
least three months. The waters by that
time will have subsided, and mining can
then be pushed forward with vigor The
trail will then have been completed, and
such as choose to adopt this route in pref
erence to the river and canoe navigation,
can do SO. We therefore, suggest to all to
bide their time, patiently. If any gold is
deposited there at all, it will not have been
removed by that time. In the meantime,
we will give our readers any and all news
from that quarter which may be deemed re-
liable. Many Of our friends have gone
thence, in whose veracity We have not the
least doubt, who will then have had q good
opportunity of judging for themselves, and
whose experience we will give without col
oring to our readers
The following is the memoranda Of the
steamer Sea Bird:
1.-THE steamer Sea Bird left Olympia for
Bellngham Bay, with forty passengers and
thirty-6ve tons of freight, bound for the
gold mines on Frazer's river-all the pas
sengers taken down on the previous trip had
started in canoes, bound up, before our ar
rival. We have no later news from the
gold region. At IL o'clock P. NJ, Monday
night, met and boarded steamer COmHO,
dOre-Capt. SrAPLEs-on her way 10 Mani
mo, for coal. She had just landed four
hundred and fifty passengers at Victoria
and Port Townsend, from San Francisco.
Mr.. CHAs VAIL arrived at Whatcon, last
Monday, and reports that the trail from
there is advancing rapidly towards compile
ton. Goods of all kinds are in active de-
mand at Whatcom, which is the best point
for outfitting.
A