The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1858-09-03
Where Is Fraser's River.

The recent discoveries Of gold onsv Fra
ser's River will lead many to examine their
maps in vain for the purpose of finding the
precise locality of this important stream.
Fraser's river em2,ies iuto the Gulf OF
Georgia, branch OF Pugets Sound, few
miles north of the 40th parallel, which is
the boundary between our territory and the
British possessions. Its head waters inter-
lock with those of the Columbia and the At
habasca. For the first half of its course it
runs in a southcrly direction, when it turns
westward. At the distance of l6O miles
from its mouth it is joined BY Thompson's
river, a considerable stream flowing from
the eastward. The cascade range of Noun
tans, which may be regarded as contin
uatlon OF Sierra Nevada, ceases here. At
the junction Of tho rivers, and in the imme-
diate yincinity, lie the diggins' which are
causing somuch excitement or the Pacific
coast. They have been worked more or less
since last summer, but their real importance
was not ascertained until lately. -,
Fort Langley, the lowest post Of the Hud-
sons Bay Company on Fraser's River, is
situated on the left bank about, 25 miles
from it's mouth. THUS far the stream is
navigable for vessels ofconsiderable burden
The next post is Fort Hope, at the mouth.
of Que-que-ala River, 80 miles above Fort
Langley. To the Fails" is IL miles fur
| ther, and thence to Thompson's River Forks
is SIS miles. Thus the>whoe distance from
the mouth Of Fraser's River to the gold
diggings at 1bompson's River is l6O miles,
or thereabout. ~.
Above Fort Langley the rivers is practi-
| cable for batteaux of three tons burden-a
slow and tedious navigation but after pas
sing the Falls" canoes only can be used
But the journey must really be made on
| foot from the Falls, and is exceedingly la
borious and rugged. There are no horses
or mules to he procured in all that region.
II is by the ronte above indicated that
most Of the gold-seekers will find their way
to the new places. There is however. anoth-
er route, via the Columbia River and the
Dallas but the distance is four or five hun
dred miles.
The latitude Of tho Thompson's River
Forks is about so degrees 80 minutes, or
nearly three hundred miles further north
than Quebec. But it must be remembered
that tho climate on the Pacific coast is
mild in comparison with that Of similar lat
ilu'!es cast Of the Rocky Mountains.
On the banks Of the Frasor River, in the
Hudson Bay country, gold has been found
III the greatest quantities. Though we are
informed the auriferous fields extend to the
American side, it is certain the best lie on
English SOIL The region extends from the
vinciuity of Fort Colvile, Washington Ter
ritory, where successful mining operations
have been carried on for years, in a north
~cs,ly direction to Fort Thompson in the
British possessions, and is principally east of
the Cascade range of mountains and be-
tween Fraser River and tho western base of
the Rocky Mountains. The diggings are
located between 4s degrees and 81 degrees
north, and III degrees and 127 degrees
west longitude. covering space about one
hundred and forty miles square.
Several steamships. loaded with miners
and others, have left the American cities
for the gold fields. 1t seems that the Hud-
sons Bay Company, whose lease Of British
Oregon does not expire until May, 1850,
imposes a tax of five dollars month on eve
ry American for the privilege Of digging Tor
the precious metal. Ofcourse the Ameri-
cans e, umbIe loudly at the imposition, and
not a few anathemas are occasionally hurl-
ed at the heads of the Administrations who,
under the Ashburton treaty surrendered the
territory on which those gold fields are sit
uated, to Great Britain. The New York
Times mournfully remarks that if "54-40''
had been insisted upon, the whole of this
aurferous region would have belonged to
The United States.