New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-11-13

From Our Special Correspondent
.. NANApIo, B. c., Oct 8, 1867.
The john L. Stevens reached this port on the morn
inc of October first 1t is a coang station, seventy
miles up the Gulf of Georgia north of Victoria. fou
sail eastward twenty miles down the Fuca Straits;
then turning northwest, pass up the Gulf by host
Of islands and inlets until reaching what appears at
first only a recess, you enter and winding westward
few miles, find yourself in the pleasant bay OF Ma
naimo, on the west side of which, upon bluff sixty
feet high, lies the town. named after the Indian
tribe living near by Ii has from iye hundred 20 SIN
hundred White inhabitants anu about the s;lo nun "a
Der of abOrignes. In size il Is the second tO"l III
British Columbia, and derives its importance rom
Its coal mines Our ship stops here Tor tne PGfy
of cOalng up, as II is probably her only 3pPO.u S
10 get supply until she reaches here on neI H.
Our pilot. taken on board at victoria VIII the
understanding that he was entirely fanhiar WIN tIe
route to Stka, has proved blk nitheIio nc
had nayigated small sailing craft Inc o9iOsS, ~
and the prOpelling power of the steamship I1uV
died" him. As soon as darkness set III ne GOT Ioot
and compelled MS to lay by TIL dawn. men we
steamed into this snug and safe harboI, WneIe ne
md AT 70 be fonnd This was especially annoying
70 the sbjp's officers. and Capt Dali has been COM
PEELED to send 10 Victoria for a new plot .
Meanwhile the weather has continued genla as IN
the Indian Summer. and the sky mild as in Southern
California. We have all taken TO shore, and IN
spected every nook, hllock and streamlet near me
town. The coal is obtained hundred rO0S from the
wharf and By means of railway and locomotive, is
easily Transported TO the shipping. shaft goes
down huudred feet, and reaching coa-bed. drifts
away an inclined plane 2OO feet, sinking l'O 1eet
in making that distance. The perpendicular depth
ut which the coal is now taken is about 2C feet. The
bed varies in thickness from q to feet; at TINS tme
il is over i've feet. 1t is better ana heavier bltun-
nous coal than that OF Mount Diab0. About eighty
men are employed in the mine, and nearly as many
outside AbOut 100 tuns are taken out dally. Ihere
is less doing now than year ago. on account OF the
diminished demand at Victoria The mine is owned
in London where the Board of Directors live. Their
capital stock is $4,000 The coal is sold TOT 81 per
tun on delivery at the ship About 1000 TINS are
living outside the shaft There is behef among inc
towns Ople that the annexation of Alaska by Gre
ating a large steamship transit between san Fran
cisco and the Territory. will greatly increase
the demand for coal at NanalmO but seNelli OF our
passengers who have cOasted along the Russian Pos
sessions think otherwise. They report that about
the Alaska Peninsula coal OF the best qualty crops
out on the very shore and at accessible points. One
of these localities is said to be near kodiac.
The growth of this town depends solely on the de-
mand for coal and as the business has fallen off Of
late many persons have left and others are out OF
employ. The citizens uneasy. and, with few eX,
ceptiOnS, are anxious for annexation TO the Unlted
States In conversation found Ii the frequent and
fayOrite topic of discussion. They think that II ad-
mitted into the Union, British Columbia VIII exhibit
increased enterprise and in a few years will attain
growth which il viii be slow to reach if it remains
remote English colony. 1t adds TO the discomfort
that the present Governor, Frederick seymour APP
pears TO possess very few of the qualities which
required for his position. The Nanalm0 IIf6aRe,
which continues TO live in so small and so isolated
town as this, has every week pungcnt editorials
against the present colonial administration and IN
favor of immediate annexation. The editor, per-
pack mp his'press; types and traps" and GO at
to Sltka, where he would IN few months
publishing the first newspaper IN Alaska There are
four small well-built churches here-the Episcopal
Presbyterian Catholic, and last but not least, the
Methodist The first three represent England Scot
land and Ieand the last the rTepressibe energy of
the followers of Wesley, energy which is making
the denomination it represents the most numerous
Andiniluential in North America The Rev. Mr. James,
the Episcopal clergyman has a very fine collection
of English minerals. and has added some choice spec
of fossils found in the coal formation OF this re-
giOn. The Rev. Dr. Evans, the Methodist preacher
Is man of experience, aud Is familiar with the his
tory of British Columbia The soil OF this part OF
VanCOuYeTs Island is not well adapted TO farming;
except the streams it Is hard and full of rounded
rocks and pebbles 1t is geological fact worthy OF
note that while there is trace of the drift period
to be found IN California on Vancouver Island
powders of granite greensboro and trap are as plenty
as in New-England. The whole region is thickly
wooded with pine and fir and though the trees of
moderate size they make the clearing up OF the land
difiicult and ab0rious task On some of the islands
near by there dozen farms which supply the
town with grain, potatoes, and garden vegetables.
AS there no tOuring-mlls IN tins region, gram
is only used for feeding live stock, and wheat IS
now selling for one cent ana quarter per pouna.
Apples are not well favored but in Summer there is
wonderful growth of berries The natives bring
in an abundance OF salmon. cod, and halibut Deer,
duck grouse and few mountain sheep notice IN
u the States and the NanaimO House" has a table
which for variety. equals the metropolitan hotels
The best farming districts of the island are the Sam
mich Valley, near Victoria and COmox, settlement
of 500 persons. 20 miles north of here. 1t is said
there are rich deposits Of iron and copper among the
hills ON this part of the island. Those of iron
near by and if the ore is sufficiently rich and IS
abundant. fhe cheapness and proximity of the coal
deposits will be likely to bring about their develop
ment
Across the Cult from IS to 20 miles IS the Cascade
Range, with the most rugged and deeply notched
outlines ] have ever ellOw-tTaveler says
that in this respect II surpases even the Wild scenery
of Arizona and NewMexico. The tips are snow
white, and the sides dark with pine and fir. On a
clear day. like Yesterday, one can see hundred
miles away TO the southwest the sharp outlines OF
Mount Baker, around the summit of which
cloud of smoke has lowered at Intervals for
ten days past, leading many at Victoria 10
think that volcanic eruption had occurred. 1t
is probable that ON account OF the long con-
tnuance of the dry heavy forest TeS are
raging around its base. Nearly opposite here is the
mouth of Frazer River stream which has It's beaVl-
est about the Goth Of June, and on which few humid
red Cinnamon have now the sole business OF digging
and sluicing for gold. The CaribOO mines are this
season doing better THAN for three previous ones.
About 1900 miners are employed. The prospects OF
British Columbia are not at tins time natterng,
either regards agriculture, mining, or trade Most
of the people not increasing their means. Were
it submitted to the voters to-day 1t would, by vote
of three TO one, become the Territory of Columbia"
and have its delegate at Washington before New
Years But the steam is up, and the John j..
Stephens is Off for Alaska where we hope to land ON
the Sth inst, and from whence you will next hear OF
me.
NOTES OF THE EXPEDITION FOR THE CEssION OF
RUssIAN-AMERICA TO THE UNITED STATES
SOMETHING ABOUT yICTORIA-THE EXPEDI-
TION-PIoNEER ADYENTURERs-THE COAST
AND SCENERY-NOTABLE POINTS-THE POL
TICS OF BRITISH COLUMBIA.
STEAMSHIP JOHN L. STEPHENS, J
VICTORIA, October l. 1867. )
Entering the Straits of Fuca on Sunday afternoon,
we came to anchor at Victoria about dark, and yes
erday morning setting foot for the first time on
British soil breakfasted under the royal cross of
ST. George. The town, named in honor of the British
Queen is at this time, the readers of The Alta are