Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-01-31
-cANADAs NEW GOLD FIELDS.

Lying between the Yukon Basin and
Cariboo is vast, untrodden region,
which offers tempting reward for thor
4 ough exploration. The territory is con-
tinuation of that great gold bearing
belt Of which California, Colorado, Ne
vada, Kootenay, Cariboo, and the Yu-
l1on are sections. The riches of Cariboo
were long ago unlocked to the world,
and soon prospectors will have overrun
every part of the famous Yukon; but
the wild mountain Businesses of this UNI
explored territory have So far resisted
| the white mans entrance, and the great
area stretching between latitudes 54 de-
grees and 5S degrees and extending
from the Rocky mountains or the east
10 lzS degrees w, long, remains a terra
I lncogntta- That streams tributary to
the Yukon, Peace river, and the Lizard,
known to be rich in placer gold, and
rivers flowing through Carlboo and
Casslar, noted for their gold beds many
years ago, all take their rise on the out
! skirts OF this vast territory, would in
dicate the presence of mineral wealth in
the unknown field.
| This supposition is supported by more
tnan mere probability. Since 1885 In
olans and half-breeds have vaguely
talked of gold 'up in the interior" and
laclturn Cinnamon in ragged clothes
nave come down to the coast with bags
containing large and small quantities Of
the precious metal. AS the industrious
celestial has been washing gold in old
placer beds for years. earning a pittance
which the white man would not con-
slider worth his labor, the appearance Of
these uncommunicative, mysterious fell
lows at Pacific ports excited little in
terest until Klondike discoveries
aroused every one. Then prospectors
began to suspect the existence of new
gold fields south Of the Yukon and last
summer miners ventured along the
margin of the unknown region.
Two men who had been washing gold
along streams of this outlying district,
brought out S48000 worth Of the yellow
dust. During the summer one prospect
or found nugget worth $70 and in Oc-
tober large nugget worth 5000 was
sent from the southern part of the ter
ritory. Within the past few weeks the
discovery of extensive bodies of fine
milling gold quartz was reported to the
British Columbia minister of mines by
prospectors who left last summer to ex-
plore the southern outskirts. Winter
had prevented more thorough explora-
ton, but the veins were said to be of
extraordinary width and were exposed
for miles across the country. Samples
of quartz, rich IN gold accompanied
the report; but so wild and inaccessible
is the region that these deposits cannot
be worked until the Teslin Lake-Teleg-
raph Creek Railway or the Cassiar Cen
trail has been built.
The unopened territory is Variously
designated by the names of it's different
sections as the Omineca, the Peace
river. the Lizard country. Roughly
speaking, it is bounded on the east by
the Rocky Mountains, on the west by
the Yukon and the Pacific slope and on
the south by Cariboo. The nearest
point on the Canadian Pacific Railroad
is almost 900 miles from it's southern
limits, but the Omineca can be reached
by way of the coast, going UP the
Skrena river and following a fairly
clear trail for $50 miles.
The discovery of gold in Omineca
caused a great rush northward from
Cariboo and the coast in 1870; but with
out modern hydraulic appliances, the
gravel was difficult to work When
rich diggings were found in Cassiar, the
crowds stampeded to the newer field.
During the eight years that followed,
at least $1,000,000 in gold was taken
from Omineca by miners satisfied with
moderate returns. The general inn
preston that the diggings on the south
ern outskirts were shallow, discouraged
SAplOTdLlOu ulllll ldSl ldlls anu lu6Lg
when the discoveries were announced,
the season had advanced too far for
prospecting.
For hundreds Of miles north of Omi-
neca, is a vast expanse absolutely un-
known to the white man. 1t lies be-
tween Peace river and the Yukon. A
party under Lord Avonmore is spend
ing the winter in the Lizard country,
in order to be on hand for thorough ex-
ploration of that section of the terra
incognita when the season opens. Be
tween the Peace and Lizard rivers the
climate is not. so rigorous and forbid
ding as in the Yukon. The country is
densely wooded There is a super
abundance Of timber for fuel and for
building purposes. Game, large and
small, is plentiful. For naturalist,
sportsman and prospector, no part Of
the unexplored world offers more at
tractive prizes.-N. Y. Sun.