Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1858-05-08
WAsHINGTOM TKRRITORY
and the New Gold Minoa.

w "A B II ] N HTOQ TERRITORY
and the New Gold Mines.
The ROute-THe Mines-zHs Climate, To-
pOgrGphy, Soil, &c.-ResO~recs efthe CowN-
try-AdViee to EmigrGntG.
SACRAMENTO, April 26, 1858.
GENTLEMEN AS much inquiry las been
made Of me concerning the Territory Of Wash
ington and the new gold fields Of Frazer river,
the Suswap, and surrounding country; and
also in regard to the route thither, the acces-
sibilty Of the mines, the cost Of the trip, &c,
l have concluded to embody the little infOr-
nation in my possession in letter which will
be accessible to all.
THE ROUTE.
Californians desirous of visiting the new
mines or any of the northern or middle por-
tons Of Washington Territory, will find, ct
San Francisco, two lines of Steamship, and
numerous sailing vessels, continually plying
between that city and Puget Sound. On the
steamships, the fare varies from forty to flfty
dollars in the cabin, and from twenty to thirty
in the stcerage. The price il somewhat lower
on sailing vessels.
From San Francisco to the straits Of San
Juan de Fuea, the distance is about seven
hundred and twenty-five miles, in about Q
N. N. W. course. Doubling Cape Feattery, at
the entrance Of the straits, the course is nearly
due east for q hundred milcs-VancOuver'
Island lying on the north and Washington
Territory on the south. Puget sound then
opens to the southwark for another hundred
miles and the Gulf Of Georgia to the north
ward, lying between VancOuvcrs Island and
the main land. At the angle Of the junction
Of the straits and the Sound, stands the vii
lage Of Port Townsend, which il the port Of
entry for the Territory. At the head and ex=
treme southern end of Puget Sound, Olympia,
the capital of the Territory is situated.
Northeastwa'd from Port Townsend, forty
miles, is Bellingham Bay, and north Of this
bay about thirty miles, and seven miles north
of the American boundary line in latitude ~,
is the mouth Of Frazier's river emptying into
the Gulf of Georgia. Forty mites up Frazer's
river is the Hudson Bay COmpany's Fort,
LOngley, and thrty-tive miles up the river is
their Fort, Hope, which is in the vicinity Of
the new mines.
At the head Of Bellingham Bay, and acces-
sible by shipping Of any size, is the little
village of WhatcOm, in Washington Territory.
From this point to the Hudson Bay Compa.
ny's Brigade Trail, the distance is about
twenty-five miles, partly timber land and
partly beautiful prairie. Over this country
road is already being opened by the enter
RIlSlub CIuACub VI w uAtCOuS Which, Uy btItS
time must be nearly completed. This road
opened, and the best route to the mines is by
the way Of Bellingham Bay, and thence to the
mines, from three to Eve days journey for
pack muleE Persons going to the mines will
probably do well to stop either at Port Town
send or WhatcOm, and there ascertain the
best route for themselves. Steamers are run.
ming on the Sound ell the times, furnishing
ample means Of travel from point to point
From the best information in my possession.
persons visiting the mines would not do we'll
to 60 by the mouth Of Frazer's river, a. there
are numerous rapids in that stream, rendering
frequent POrtages necessary. This makes
that route expensive, as the canoes haYe 70 be
carried over each portage, with all the ProVi-
sions, tools, &c., which is . laborious and ex-
pensive undertaking.
THE MINES.
1t is unquestionably true, that the Hudson
Bay Company, who have an exclusive right by
charter from the British government, to oc-
cupy and trade in Vancouvcr's Island and
New Caledonia, have been purchasing gold,
in considerable quantities, from the Indians
inhabiting that country, for the past two years.
Being chartered monopoly, with exclusive
rights, and having derived large gains by sell
ing goods TO the Indians at large profits and
taking their flrs at . nominal price in ex-
change, and knowing also that their charter
had nearly expired, and that opening of gold
fields in their territory would tend to prevent
their getting q new one, they very naturally
kept as quiet as possible in regard to the ex-
istance Of gold in that region. This they were
the better enabled to do, as their employees
are bound to . certain term Of service under
heavy bonds, which would involve their
friends at home in ruin should they forfeit
them.
But the value of the shining earth having
come gradually to the knowledge Of the In.
dams, the cxistance Of the mines could not
long be concealed; and about two or three
months ago, . general stampede commenced
among the employees Of the company. This
soon reached the American side, and farmers,
mechanics, mill hands and sailors, and also
deserters from the military stations, all took
up their line of march for the mines.
Thus far the news, from all parties who
have visited the mines hes been invariably
encouraging. have not visited the gold fields
in person, but have numerous and reliable
friends there, from whom have received the
most Hattering accounts. All parties concur
in the statement that the mines, so far as yet
prospected, have proved rich; ten dollars per
day, to the hand, is the lowest return which
has been reported. One friend of mine took
out $500 in two weeks, with one man, and was
doing still better when he wrote. Another
party Of three, had taken out $500 in twelve
days. These cases could enumerate through
column, if necessary. Suffice it to say, the
Indians have plenty Of gold, the miners are in
high spirits and the traders are very busy
transporting supplies to the mines and the
whole territory is in state Of ferment
But one question remains to be settled, and
that is, the extent Of the diggings The time
has been too short to determine this question.
But gold has already been traced from the
Suswap to Fort Colvillee, . distance of near
two hundred miles. The latest discoveries
were on the American side Of the line, and
were reported richer than any before discoV-
cred. Judging from the geological formation,
there can be but little doubt that the mines
extend around the fest ef AeHat- -DekePs 3
hundred miles south Of the boundary line
Indeed, some two years since an Indian de-
sired some Of our old citizens to 60 with him
to. the streams ct the foot Of that mountain
and SEQ the "psl chickOmin" Cyellow iron) in
them. But the Indiana there, Eers then hos
tile and he did not 60. Lately the same In.
dian has hAAn nm IN thu nav nina and nAwn