The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-07-16

The Cold DaAcevosies On Frazer Ri>rer-rhsar
Commercial and PolAsasal BsanlAgs.
Our advices and exchanges from CaliftFnia in
dictate state Of excitement there, growing cut
Of the recent discoveries of gold On Frazer
river, near the northern boundary between
Washington Territory and the British posses
siOns, not less intense than that which existed
throughout the Atlantic States when the early
discoveries of gold in California became known.
All tie conveyances from the interior to San
Francisco were crowded with miners and me
cbaaics, striving in frantic haste to be among
the earliest at these new gold fields Over ten
thousand persons had already left San Francisco
for ports on Pugets Sound; others were hasten
irg there by an overland route; and all appear
snces indicated that this wonderful hegira of tho
bone and sinew of the State would continue till
the depletion would have very injurious effect
on it's mining and other industry. Several of
the interior towns are described as depopulated,
and the depletion in the ranks OF miners and
mechanics was estimated at from onefourth to
one third of the whole.
Such o rush Of emigration from aState 60
rich itself in mineral wealth, and where the
wages Of mechanics and laborers are so high, is
a thing that is unprecedented In the history of
former gold fevers. The correspondence, news
paper accounts, &C., which we publish to-day in
connection with this matter, will show to what
high pitch the excitement has run. Even at
this early day speculations are INDUCED in as to
the effect, injurious or otherwise, which these
new gold discoveries may have on San IRAN
cisco as a commercial port, and whether rival
city may not spring up at the mouth of Frazer
river or some other point on Puget's Sound.
We think that on that point no apprehension
need be entertained. The mining and general
industry of the State may suffer to some extent
by the desertion of miners, mechanics and la
borers; but that evil will be but temporary, for
their place will be filed up by renewed emf
grafton from the Atlantic States, induced by
the demand for labor, and by the higher rates
of remuneration, which will be for time ne
cessary consequence of the deficiency in the
supply. AS to San Francisco, though her trade
with the interior may be temporarily diminish
ed, yet that loss will be more than counter
balanced by the largely increased commerce
which will flow into her port from the trade
thus opened with the gold bearing regions
of New Caledonia; and thus, although these
recent discoveries may appear to tend, at the
first blush to the injury of California, we think
they will eventually add to its wealth and
greatness
There is one point, however, in this matter,
which, aside from these considerations, may
prove very delicate and difficult one The
Hudsons Bay Company exercise jurisdiction
over the country in which these new gold re-
gions are situated. The company has always
exercised rigid monopoly Of the trade of those
regions, and has been very restrictive and jesl-
GUS as to the admission of settlers 1t may now
endeavor to enforce its rules of restriction and
to carry Its monopoly to point that may not
be consistent with the interests or tastes of the
miners focking there from California, and
that may lead to collision between them and the
servants of the company; and hence there is
danger to be apprehended in that quarter.
Il Even now we see that there is q vessel of war
stationed at the mouth Of Frazer river to pro-
hibit all vessels not authorized by the company
from ascending it, and the Governor has issued
APPROXIMATION requiring all foreign vessels to
take out permit from the Custom House at
Vancouver's Island. The conditions on which
this permit is granted are, that no goods shah
be taken on board but such as belong TO the
company, that no ammunition nor arms shall be
imported except from the United Kingdom,
that no passenger shall be received on board
except he produce gold mining license and
permit from the government Of vancouver's
Island and that no trade shall be carried on
with the natives
These are conditions which, II will be seen.
necessarily Interfere very considerably with the
rights of miners, passengers, traders and mas
tiers Of vessels, and which must be extremely
repugnant to them. 1t is not at ell unlikely,
therefore, that the attempt to enforce these
obligations will be resisted, and that disagree
able collision may grow out of IL between the
two governments. The charter of the COM
pany expires next year; but II might be adj
visable in the English government TO suspend
its operation even earlier than that time.
There is another unsettled matter between our
government and the Hudson's Bay Company in
regard to the title to some property In Oregon,
for which the company claims over million of
dollars; and some convention might now be
entered into by which that claim could be set
tied, and the jurisdiction of the company over
the gold producing region removed. 1t would
be wise and expedient on the part of both
governments to make some such arrangement
as speedily as possible.
Practical REFoRxs.-Since his elevation 10
Office, Mayor Tiemann has devoted bis attention
more or less to different kinds of reform and
with some success. The suppression of lottery
policy institutions, mock auctions and gambling