The Nevada Democrat., 1858-04-28
r.. cola r,.ld. or the North.

The reports in regard to the richness Of the
Frazer river gold fields, have created conside-
rable Of gold fever in Oregon and Washing
ton Territories, and the epidemic is likely to
extend into California. 1t lie stated that over
n thousand persons have already left San Fran
cisco for the new diggings, and doubtless 9TH
ers will soon follow. The Frazer river mining
region, so far as discoveries have been made.
extends from the vicinity Of Fort COlville, in
Washington Territory, northwestsrly to the vi
cinity of Fort Thompson, in the British Posses
sions, and is principally east of the Cascade
range of mountains, and between Frazer river
and the western base Of the Rocky mountains.
Gold has been found in considerable quantities
on the Pend 'Oreille Okanagan, and Thompson
rivers, and their tributaries, and the Shuswsp
lake. The richest diggings yet found are on or
near the Shuswap lake, situated in latitude 500
north, and 1l9o west. The Portland StGndard
says the diggings are located between latitude
4s and so north, and in longitude ranging from
III to 121 west; consequently they extend
about one hundred and forty miles north and
south, and about the came distance east and
west. That new diggings will shortly be discov-
cred still farther north is quite probable.
Not enough is known of these mines to ena-
able us to form any opinion of their value, but
it is by no means improbable that they will yet
rival those of California in extent and richness
The mines are mostly in British territory the
same territory, too, which formerly belonged to
the United States, but which wasceded to Great
Britain by the treaty Of 1856 Had President
Polk and his Cabinet remained firm to their
original policy of "54:40 or fght," which was
so popular throughout the country, we should
have had no fight, but the new gold fields would
have been upon American territory, and open
to the enterprise and industry of American cit
izens. As it is now, American miners are COM
PEELED to pay monthly tax of Eve dollars to
the British government for the privilege of fdig-
ging gold upon soil which was wrongfully
claimed by her, and pusillanimously surrender
ed by our government. We still hope the new
diggngs will prove a failure for we have but
little sympathy for England, and should much
dislike to see her government reap SO great q
beneft from the grasping and interruptions pol
icy of her rulers, as she would were these mines
to become as valuable as those of California
The mining region, however, is known to be of
great extent, and o few months will probably
determine as to the richness of the diggings.
In another column will be found descrip-
tion Of the several routes to the new Mines
from which it win be seen that the trip should
not be undertaken without due preparation.
The difficulties to be encountered on the route,
the uncertainty as to the yield of the mines, the
cold climate in which they are situated, togeth-
er with the fact that the miners are compelled
to pay tax Of five dollars month for the
privilege Of working, are sufficient we should
think, to deter Californians from embarking for
these mines until they know something more of
their character.