, 1878-07-05
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.
OUR PAUL PRY LETTER.

=
VICTORIA, V. l.. June "a, 1873.
EDITOR ARGUS: News for the past
week are very meagre.
cARIBoo STOCKS
Continue flat-holders OIL account of con-
] flicting reports are uneasy--some are vii.
ling to sell at almost any price in antici-
patton Of heavy assessments and OF being
bilked. That there should have been re-
action is not to be wondered at, as the
city papers, particularly the ColOnist,"
Ipnted and lauded the mines unwarranta-
bly,, and when nothing had been devel-
oped in justification. The two mining
engineers, experts and scientists Harper
and Riotle,l are at lOggerheads, working
In Opposition-one writing and telegraph
ing the mines are valuable, the other that
they are worthless all with
doubts and distrusts. Mr.. Route, whose
reputation In mining matters stands rs
high as any man s on the coast, writes to
a friend that his examination and tests of
the different ledges opened satisfies him
that they will not average $l2 to the ton.
and that 1t will cost $24 to make the quartz
pay even this amount. Tie unintersted
are disposed to credit Mr.. Riotte. while
those who have stocks pronounce him an
imposter and humbug. Mr.. Harper. is
mining engineer tor the Government, is
well paid, and it is said deeply interested
in stocks. Mr.. Riotte, was employed by
the Enterprise Company. and while the
two were playing this little game got his
discharge. There are those who think the
mines have been deprecated in order that
San Francisco capitalists might pick up
the stocks for song; but low as they Are,
we hear of none changing hands. The
quartz mill had arrived, and was in course
oferection. This season, at all events before
the close of the year, we shall know all
about the quartz mines OF CaribOO.
VANCOUVER ISLAND. , ..
Nothing during the week exciting has
reached the city from the prospecting par
ties ont on the Island. From San Juan
river, the report comes that the few miners
there continue meeting with encourage
ment, and are constructing fumes, turn
ing the river, ETC., anticipating being re-
munerated on completion Of their works
From the Chinese mining camp, on the
Albeini. oneoi their number brings rather
IdiscouraglGg news--suppOsed for the pur-
pose of keeping others away, He reports
none are making more than rs cents
day, and that the average Is not more
than 25 cents. New diggings had been
foCnd on Asleb creek, enDtying into the
Alberni encOuragingly and to which quite
number of the Celestials were moving.
FROM THE CAssAIR MINES.
Recent arrjya,s from Wranpel bring
nothing fiattering. Much delay had been
Experienced getting up the Stickeen river
rates OF passage and freight on steamers
had been Onerolis and excessive. and III
dians with canoes had been employed at
half the price, making the trip hazardous
and tedious. Nearly all the miners had
reached their claims without meeting
with any very serious disasters. Those
at work had made no big strikes. A new
creek is reported as having been dis
covered, prospecting satisfactorily. The
number of miners In the country will ex-
ceed that of last year. Up to within
few DAYS of the last news. the weather has
been intensely disag reeaDe and cold. The
steamer Beaver. 1t is feared. will prove
total loss--Stickeen river high. and drift
wood was tearing her upper works away.
| ALASKA AND IT'S MINES,
Are attracting considerable attention.
The California from Sitka arrived here
Friday light, In run Of five days. The
Alaska Gold and Silver Mining Company
of Portland had nearly completed their
tram-way, and 1t was expected before the
arrival of the next steamer the machinery
and mill for their mine--(that portion of
it which had been received would be
moved to the location selected Tor its erec-
ton. The quartz now being taken from
the tunnel, IL any thing was improving.
spirits, and expected having the mill
working by the first Of August.
On the "Haley Il Militich Ledge"
shaft had been sunk torty-tive teet-ledge
widening and improving. The company's
agent of San Francisco has taken to that
city half ton Of the quartz, taken from
different points OF the shaft, for working
by milling process. and II tt turns out
satisfactory mill will be forwarded i'm
mediately.
The ''Francis Lode" was inaccessible
on account Of SHOWS which had fallen in
May-said to be unusual, and which fell
to considerable depth on the mountains
whose elevations were \ thousand feet and
upwards.
Several parties had started out prospect
ing. Mr.. Bean, an old experienced Cali
fornia miner. and his nephew, who under
took to prospect on the Chilcab river, were
driven back by the Indians, and after re-
turning to Sitka took another direction.
Two other parties were preparing to ex-
plOre and prospect the northern part of
Baranoif Island.
The salmon canning establishment, be-
ing built at old Sitka, was nearly COM
pleted. Salmon had commenced making
their appearance.
The Indians we're peaceably inclined and
preparing for fishing. On the leaving of
the steamer the weather at Sitka was fine.
i VICTORIA
continues quiet. Its merchants complain