The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-10-23
the RvssIAN.AMERIcAN TELEGRAPH.



From the Alta California Sept ISL
Major f. l. Pope has lately returned 70 this city, after
an adssnsorous exploring expedition in the service Of
four dogs he efi New Westminster. near the mouth Of
reached IAse Tata the head Of Fraser river, after
journey Of 800 miles here he spent about four months
sf and nd b:
stickeen river, over country through which white
man had ever passed The country was covered with
deep, light snow; they had means Of transporting
thor food blankets and tools their dogs and them.
seves their stock Of provisions small there
Indians who could feed them or would be disposed 70 do
What other obstacles might obstruct their way could
On the goth or February 1885, they iefs their camp,
following the course Of valley In which Lake Tata lay
were hi,ched 70 sedge on which was laden l2s pounds
Of provisoes and other baggage Soon after starting
thcy reached the skeena ryes which emp.es into The
elsd up its valley, which lay in their course About aii
thde nifty seven degrees, where they nrst saw H. Il
and they knew from it, size and position that b
the Skecna They arrived 81 the head Of tho
s o. the aS was BE-
dogs were very weak, and lHe snow had bean 90 son
that the party could not go moro than three four miles
would be In great danger Of pertaining They determined
70 push on however and IN few fdrongs sfsr leaving
norhwest They followed this down any niiss whom,
Aocut LATITUDE nity.o8uS ucRrco1 nuddeny turned 70
the west They knew that must be tributary Of the
Stckeen 10 they followed u down and satisfied them-
selves that the main river. In May they reached
It's mouth where they found the Hudson Bay Companys
steamer Otter, which carried them 10 Victoria whence
Major Pope came to this city. His land journey took
him distance Of 200 miles and occupied year. during
the greater part Of which time he was FAR from any
human habitaton.
He found valley or three miles widc bounded on the
east side by high mountains extending northwestward
from Lake Tata 70 the bend Of the Sckeeu river and
tho divides between the Fraser and the Skesna and be-
tween the Skeena and the Stckeen low that the
traveller would scarcely notice them II the waters did
not flow In different dhectiona This valley Ia open and
favorable for the construction OF telegraph line with
enough timber for poles The country, however, pre-.
cents few attractions for the residence OF the who
would have charge Of the line. Popes Valley, O. We
IT, Is about two hundred miles from tho coast and
parallel with II. The telegraph line In finished 70
Rocher do Boulder, the Skeena river about nty miles
west Of Popes Valley, and II Ia doubtful or at the
last accounts whether the line should thence follow up
the Skccna 10 Popee Valley strike directly northwest
70 Bucks Bar, on the sticksen river Something will
probably depend upon the report Of the exploring party
which asccnded the Kwichpak and 70 mcet Major
Pope on the sckeen, but have MOI yet been hoard
or Fraser river by the teegaphc line 10 about seven
hundred miles; 90 the work has already made much
Al Bucks Bar, on the stickeen, one hundred and nfty
miles from the ocean, there white miners, who
have been there for years snd dong we'll They
that the gold mines rich and extensive and that there
valuable odss Of and copper the vicinity.
Major Pope he lump Of native copper nearly
a. large ~ quart bowl