The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1874-02-14
The Stickeen River Mines,
San Francisco Mining Press Jan. 81.

San Francisco Mining Press Jan. 81
The excitement concerning the Stickeen
River mines still continues. About fifty
miners left Portland, Oregon, ON the 21st
instant for the mines, per steamer "Cali-
fornia." Quite a number of miners in this
State are preparing to leave for that country
in the spring; and we have received recently
several letters asking for information as to
rates of fare, route, character of the country,
etc, We have published, from time to time,
such information on the subject as came to
our notice-but little seems to be known of
the country as yet. Last April we had a
conversation with Mr.. Peter Cargovitch,
who had been to these mines, and who is
there now. He left this city some time in
May, with a party of experienced prospec-
tors, and intended thoroughly testing the
country. He represented the mines as very
rich, and stated that while the bars on the
river were almost " forty-nine diggings,"
there were also large banks partaking of the
character of our California hydraulic dig
gings. At the time Of former expedition,
of which Mr.. Cargoviteh was a member,
several men died of seurvy and hardship.
Mr.. Cargovitch has written one letter since
he left which was from Bucks Bar, on the
Stickeen. He spoke of having made some
discoveries 125 miles north of there; where,
with rockers, the men made from two
ounces to $3.50 per day, to the hand. The
IL -, 10 t. c4o +oe 4Io+ ,I14 IL,
miners coming down had full purses, and
report the mines looking well and rich at
that time, October 2G. He was waiting
for the ice to melt before going to the
mines.
The country in the locality of these mines
is an inhospitable one; the season is short
and hard fare and inclemenk weather the
rule. Silver has been found in the vicinity,
as well as gold. The mines are situated on
the tributaries of Dease's Lake in the
British possessions. The route from this
city is as follows: From here to Portland
733 miles, from Portland to Victoria, 30S
miles; from Victoria to Nanaimo, "a miles;
from Nanaimo to Fort Wrangle 768 miles,
all by steamer. The fare from here to
Portland is $50 in cabin, and steamers run
three times q month The fare from Port
land to Fort Wrangle, near the mouth of
Stickeen river, is $50 in the cabin and $35
in the steerage. At Fort Wrangle prospec-
tors leave the steamer and 60 up the Stic-
keen river in small boats to Bucks Bar,
100 miles from the mouth. This is at
present the head of navigation, and if the
mines hold out, steamers will be used
instead of small boats. From Bucks Bar
to Dease's Lake, 160 miles, the route is
overland, with no trail as yet, and through
bad country. From the lake to Dease's
creek is Is miles, and Tibbet's creek is 25
miles further ON.
me MchenzIe river INTO which the lake
empties has been prospected some 45O miles
and good prospects have been obtained on
it. The pay gravel is about Or feet
deep on Dease's creek and the gold is rusty.
Big stories are told about the amount to the
pan that has been washed out, but most of
these stories should be taken "with a grain
of SALT The fact that several men who
have been there before, have returned again,
is in favor of the country, but it's distance
from civilized communities, hard climate,
want of roads, shortness of seasons, etc.,
is against it. When the trail is established
across the country there will probably be a
big rush for the new mines. We have no
means Of knowing the expense attendant on
the trip after leaving Fort Wrangle, for it
is performed in small boats and overland,
and would vary with different parties. Of
course parties going there must be we'll
fitted out, as the last trading port is on the
Stickeen river before Bucks Bar is reached.
At the latter place number of miners are
wintering.
Parties have secured from the local goy-
ernment charter to cut trail from Buck S
Bar to Dease's Lake, but it has not yet been
made. One Of our correspondents also asks
about the Stiekeen river, saying that he
cannot find it on the maps which he has
seem The river is not marked out on any
but recent maps. It rises in British Colum-
bia and empties into the Pacific ocean in the
southern part of Alaska, northeast of Prince
of Wales Island. It is sometimes called by
the name of Francis river. The upper
portion of the river is where the mines are
found and they are therefore in the British
Possessions.
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