Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1870-11-03
The Geld Discoveries of Yancoaver's
island.

cOur DeighborS IN British Columbia
were anxiousiy waiting. at the date of our
latest exchanges. for the result of the assay
of the quartz which hiss lately been dis
covered in the neighboThood of Victoria
There is no doubt whatever that gold bear
ing quartz exists in more than one locality
IN Vancouver Island, and in such quanti-
tics as to afford room for the expectation
OF rich mines being developed there, pro-
vided the quality of the rock is good. 1t
is somewhat extraordinary that the locali-
~ of certain of these veins of quartz has
been known TO many of the old residents
Of some years past but up to the present
time no practical attempts have been made
! to turn them to good account; aud 1t Is
| doubtful whether, even should the assay
promise well, much benefit will be derived
bv the colony from the working of of these
mines, until the country is more thickly
populated, and labor becomes cheaper.
Gold may be bought too dear; and, as the
present supposed discoveries are in the
Immediate vicinity of the town of Victoria,
the ground will all be speedily taken up
by greedy spectators, who, IN all proba-
bility, viii not have sufficient capital to
work quartz mines with any prospect Of
success. When the ground is all taken up
there will be grand formation Of joint
stock companies, the shares in which will
again be taken ND by still more needy
specu!atcrs; men who have not the energy
to climb up the hillside to stake off claims,
and who will expect to realize fortune
by the sale of shares ut premium.
Capitalists who would be ready to en-
bark their money in any legitimate mining
operation which gave fair prospects Of sue
cess, will find themselves hampered by
spectators and stock iobbers. We might
perhaps use a palmer term to designate the
unscrunulous edyenturers who. always on
the look ont for spoil, do not hesitate TO
cripple any undertaking by their eager.
ness 20 secure pickings for themselves,
which might. but for their interference,
result in ben fit TO the community. Men
without capital cannot successfully engage
in quartz mining, but they cen very sue
cesSfullv keen better men out Wa don't
pretend 70 say that our friends in Victoria
MIGHT not succeed in carrying on extensive
cold mining operations with profit; but
rom what We have seen Of former
operations in that forlorn city. as well as
nearer home, we have but little hope of
seeing any energetic movement made by
she colonists which will lead them to prac-
tical success, until some organic change
takes place which shall transmute the citi-
zens of Victoria from dull and listless
spectators waiting upon fortune into act
i've citizens with practical ends in view,
intent upon raising homesteads for their
families and acquiring a comfortable inde-
pendence for themselves. IL is possible
that tue result of the assay may be such
as 10 induce rush to Victoria, but it is
to DO hoped that the local press will be
most guarded in the accounts which
they publish. Nothing could be more
fatal to the interests of Victoria, and the
colony of British Columbia. than another
rush of miners gho would be certain to
encounter disappointment. hardship ani
loss. One or two quartz mining companies
with abundant means at their disposal,
might work successfully upon the hills adj
iacept to Victoria such, for instance. as
Cedar Hill, where the late discoveries are
reported and ut ths G0listream, where
~o'd cou'i be worked With rrofit, as has
be n proved by essay. But it viii not pay
capitalists in this city, or in any other
place. to buy ont the needy discoverers,
who would. upon the first rvmor of pur-
chasers being in the market, become ex-
orbitsnt in t,loir demands
"The people of British Columbia have
prOoaD Y learned DN tfiiS tffle tnft uifbtflsy,
like anv other business, can ouly he sue
cess.ullv carried on by due observance of
legitimate and business-like methods and
habits TIE 6av ~ past for getting up
ezcitements on this coast What.
ever may be The result of this present es-
say. there is little doubt that io a few wears
time we Shall zee qaartz-ciushing mills IN
operation in theai Immediate neighborhood
o; Victoria. In the meantime we shall be glad
to chronicle any real and substantial pros
pect of ofquartz-,nining or anything else likely
to raise the tone of our neighbors. and
WHOM good customers Of Vancouver
Island: but we mnst emphatically warn
the members of the press Of the colony
against giving the slightest encouragement
TO any sensational paragraphs intended or
calculated to create an unwerrantable ex-
element. Nothing, for instance. can ius
tify the expression of the opinion that
should the assay turn out well, the discov-
cry will be one of the most important e@er
made or, this coast, aud we fear this is the
strain into which the Victoria papers are
drifting"
A HUMAN WAIF. "A Portion OF HIS HIS
tory.-Strclling along Cana, street yester-
day, admiring the macy rich sights to be
seen on that great q halting
voice accosted us, impioring employment.
Fora mi little fellow was interest
in6. a,d we gradually y'iirew from him his
history, or q story which he bad to relate.