Daily national Democrat., 1858-10-16
Frazer River correspondence.
PECULIAR CHARACTER or THE GOLD MINES
The PACKING BUsINEss-lloRsEs AND MULES
CmEAP-CoLD WEATuER-YoUNG AMERICA
UNDER THE BRITIsH FLAG-&C., 6C.

Editor Democrat The bubble has burst,
the high hopes entertained of "another Gan
rornia" have vanished into "thin air, and the
deluded victims of this grand humbug are re
turning to the sunny skies of California in
almost as great numbers as they left, three
months since. That there is gold here in
considerable quantities., Is true; so there Is on
Kern river, in Washington Territory, and in
deed throughout the entire Pacific slope OF
the continent from Bhering's Straits to Cape
Horn: but, here there are none of those grav-
el ranges of mountains characteristic OF Cali
fornia The gold is confined almost exclu-
siyely to the rivers, whose banks, for several
hundred miles, are continual SUGGESTIONS OF
lofty, barren, rocky mountains l should
Judge that there was a similarity between
this and the gold regions of Africa, where
the mining is confined to the sands washed
down from the mountains which enskirt the
rivers There will undoubtedly be consider
able mining done here in the course of anoth-
er year, but it will be by those who are con-
tent to work with poor prospect of making
strike" There was iustabout gold enough
in the country upon which to predicate a
magnificent humbug. Gentlemen of lively
imaginatons. or those whose imaginations
were enlivened by considerations affecting
their pockets ayailed themselves of the sim
pie presence of gold to circulate the most
fabulous stories as to the richness of the de-
posits.
The greatest losers by the excitement are
the packers. For the last month large num-
bers of men and pack animals have arrived
at the forks of Thompson and Fraser; the
miners are too poor to pay remunerative
prices for packing, feed is scarce and high,
winter is almost here, and unless some means
be soon adopted for their relief, large num-
bers if not all, of these animals must perish
from starvation and cold Horses can be
purchased at from fifteen to twenty-five dol
lars, while mules, which, in any market in
California, would command one hundred and
fifty dollars, cannot be sold here for that
price less the hundred. Every article used
by miners and others in new country may
be purchased at an average price Of one
fourth the cost in San Francisco. As yet the
lot speculation fever has not extended this
high up the river; it expended itself in Vic
toria and Bellingham Bay, and here the Dem
ocratic principle of squatter sovereignty
prevails. A few shake shanties are built and
being built-a rather poor protection from
the cold in this climate, for Judging from the
present weather, this winter old Boreas will
bring blankets up to premium.
The II. b. Co, are making the most oftheir
brief remnant of authority, and drawing still
tighter the restrictions placed upon trade
Their authority is observed with tolerable
respect, up the river as far as Fort Yale, but
at that point all authority granted under
charter by King Charles II, to "Our beloved
cousin Rupert" &c, ceases, and fast and
Young America hourishes without restraint
Liquor is sold without license, and seductive
piles of gold and silver are temptingly dis
played on tables to allure the passer by into
the absurd idea that he can possibly win a
home ticket see by the newspapers that
Uncle Sam is about to pay the II. B. Co.
5000, 900 for their interest in certain old ira
ding posts, horses, cattle, sheep &c, in his
territory. If their possessions in American
territory are worth no more-and there is
no reason why they should be-than they
are in New Caledonia, such purchase would
be fitting climax to the Fraser river excite
ment In comparison with it, the Lime Point
swindle fades into insignifcance. Their ira
ding posts are hardly fit for hog pens, and
would be claimed by the Indians who occu-
pv them; while their stock, if the famous
brigade train" can be taken as 1t sample,
would hardly be received as present by a
private individual. The Hudson's Bay Co.
have sold a musket to almost every Indian
in this northern country; they supply the
Indians with ammunition; they have incens-
ed the Indians, by the grossest misrepresen-
tations, against the "BOstons," as all Ameri-
cans are called; the means of accomplish
ment of all the murders of whites which have
taken place in Oregon and Washington Ter
ritories, have been furnished by this same
company; and now they ask of the U. S
government bonus Of 100000.
The Governor paid us a visit, few weeks
since, accompanied 10y retinue of about
twenty Indians, few English straight, ant
some half dozen amalgams. lie pursues the
American plan of making a speech at all the
principal points, and favored the citizens oi
this place with one. He expressed lively
interest in mining affairs avowed his will
lingness to promote their interests by every
means in his power; protested his deep hu
mility like the Knickerbocker's Beetle, i'm
paled with a pin on paste board, he coulC
eXclaim-
although I'm stuck up, am not proud"
declared his purpose to maintain the law
and in fact, made quite temperate and ap
propriate speech, generally.
Casualties are of frequent occurrence, tho
murders and personal rencontres are seldom
heard of. In fact, the course of diet of mos
persons here has been so low as not to gene
rate sufficient animal heat to induce men t,
quarrel or fight. With the advent of roas
beef, more exciting state of affairs may b.
looked for Respectfully, W. C. c.
GAME ON THE SOUTHERN MoUNrAIYs.--Dee
are making their aDDearance sovs tba Mani
posa Gazette, in considerable numbers in tn
acorn ranges upon the heads of the Fresn