Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1858-08-19
Where is .Ffaser's River!

W attO III 4teFtl y |
The recent discoveries of gold
on Fraser's River will lead many to
examine their maps in vain for the
purpose of finding the precise local.
ity Of this important stream.
Fraser River empties into the Gulf
of Georgia, branch of Puget's
Sound, afew miles north Of the 49ih
parallel, which is the boundary be-
tween our territory and the British
possessions It's headwaters inter-
lock with those Of the Colombia and
the Athabasca. For the first half
! of its course it runs in southerly
direction, when it turns westward.
At the distance of l60 miles from
its mouth it is joined by Thompson's
River, considerable stream flowing
from the eastward. The Cascade
range Of Mountains, which may be
regarded as continuation Of the
Sierra Neyada, ceases here. At the
junction Of the two rivers, and in
the immediate vicinity, lie the dig
giDgS which are causing so much ex-
element on the Pacific Coast. They
have been worked more or less since
last summer. but their real impor-
lance was not ascertained until late.
y.
/ Fort Langley, the lowest post Of
the Hudson's Bay Company on Fra
ser's River, is situated on the left
bank bout % miles from its mouth.
Thus Gar the stream is nayigsbIe for
vessels of considerable burden
The next post is Fort Hope, at the
mouth of Que-que-alla River, 60
miles above Fort Langley To the
Falls is IL miles further. and thence
to Thompson,s River Forks is 55
miles. Thus the whole d istance
from the mouth Of Fraser's River
to the gold diggings at Thompson s
River is 100 miles, or thereabaut.
Above Fort Langley The river is
7 practicable for batteaux of three
| tons burden-a slow and tedious
nsvigation-but after passing the
Falls" canoes only can be used
But the journey must really be made
! on foot from the Falls, aud is exceed
ingly la5orious and rugged. There
are no botSes or mules to be procGr-
ed in that region. @
j 1t is by the route above indicated
, that most Of the gold-seekers will
) will find their way to the new placers.
There is, however, another route, via
/ the Columbus River aud the Dalles;
: but the distance is four or Eve hun
, dred miles. d taGr
The latitude Of Thompson's Riv-
/ er Fork is about so degrees 80 min
| utes, or nearly three hundred miles
, further north than Quebec. Bot it
| must be remembered that the eli
| mate on the Pacific coast is mild in
, comparison with that of similar lat
itudes east OF the Rocky Mountains
Il On the Banks Of the Fraser River,
lin the Hudson Bay country, gold
has been found 10 the greatest guam
} titles. Though we are informed the
!, auriferous fields extend to the Amer
can side, it is certain the best lie on
English soil. The region extends
from the vicinity Of Fort Colville,
Washington Territory, where success
fol mining operations have been car
ried ou for years, in a north wester-
Iiy direction to Fort Thompson, in
the British possessions, and is prin-
cipally east of the Cascade range Of
mountains, and between Fraser Ris-
or and the western base Of the Rocky
Mountains. The diggings are locs-.
ted between IS degrees aBd 81 de-
grees north, and III degrees and
1877 degrees west longitude, cover
ing space of about one handred
aud forty miles square.
Several steamships, loaded with
miners and others, have left the
American cities for the gold fields.
1t seems that the Hudson's Bay
Company whose lease Of British
Oregon does not expire until May,
1850, impose a tax Of five dollars
month on every American for the
privilege Of digging for the precious
metal.
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