Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1898-11-03
IT BEATS THE KLONDIKE.
Part of British Columbia Where
Gold and Game Abound.
A Region That Contains Rich ne
wards for the ExpIorer-Much
Gold Has Been
Taken Out.

Lying between the Yukon basin and
Cariboo is a vast, untrodden region.
which offers tempting reward for thor
ough exploration. The territory is a
continuation of that great gold-bearing
belt of which California, Colorado, Ne
vada, Kootenay, Cariboo and the Yu-
kon are sections.
The riches of Cariboo were long ago
unlocked TO the world, and soon pros
pectors will have overrun every part OF
the famous Yukon. but the wild noun
tain fastD asses Of this unexplored ter
ritory have 50 far resisted the white
mans entrance. and the great area
stretching between ATTITUDES 81 and 50
and extending from the Rocky noun
tains on the east to 12s west longitude,
remain a terra incognita.
That streams tributary to the Yukon,
Peace river and the Liand, known 10 be
rich in placer gold. and rivers flowing
through Cariboo and Cassiar noted for
their gold beds many years ago, all take
their rise on the outskirts of this vast
territory. would indicate the presence
of mineral wealth in She unknown
field.
This supposition is supported by more
than mere probability. Since 1855 In
dams and half breeds have vaguely
talked Of gold s'up in the interior" and
taciturn Cinnamon in ragged clothes
have come down to the coast With bags
containing large and small quantities
Of the precious metal. As the industri-
ous celestial has been washing gold in
old placer beds for wears. earning
pittance which Tire white man would
not consider worth his labor. the ap-
penrancc Of these uncomnunicatiye,
mysterious fellows at Pacific ports ex-
cited little interest until Kl0ndike dis
coveries aroused every one. Then pros
PEI tors began ta suspect the existence
~ new gold fields south of the Yukon.
aud last summer mioers Ycnturcd along
the margin Of The unknown region.
Two men who had been washing
along streams Of this outlying district
brought ont $4,000 worth Of the yell
low dust During the summer one pros
pector found "a nugget worth $40 and ia /
October large nugget worth $500 was
sent from the northern part of the ter |
ritory. within the past few weeks the (
discovery OF extensive bodies ST fine. I
milling gold quartz was reported to
the British Columbia minister Of mines I
by PROJECTORS who left last summer I
10 explore the southern outskirts. VIM /
ter had prevented more thorough ex-
ploration, but the veins were said To .
he of extraordinary width ana were ex- /
posed for miles across the country. I
Samples Of quartz. rich ia gold. accom- I
panied the report; bu SO wild and in /
accessible is TINT region these deposits .
cannot be worked optil the Tcslin Lake I
Telegraph Creek railway or the Cas- /
STAR Central has been built
The unopened territory is variouslv 4
designated by the names Of its differ +
ent sections as tie Onineea. the Peace
river. the Lizard country. Roughly
speakinr Il il bounded On The east bv
the Rocky monntane. oa the west tv
the Yukon and the Pacific slope and
on the south by Carbon The nearest
point op the Cauajian Pacific Is almost
COO miles from it's northern limits. but
the onliueca ean he reached hy way az
the coast. goinr mp tive Skrena riverand
following fairly clear trail for 150
miles
Discovery of gold ia Omineca caused
great rush northward from Cartboo
and the coast in $50. mt without mod.
crn hydraulic appliances the gravel was
difficult 70 work When rich diprinrs
were found in Cassar. The crowds stam
peded 20 the newer field During the
eight Years that followed. at least 81
100000 in gold WAS taken from the Omit
nCca hy miners satisfied with moderate
returns The general impression Tint 4
the digeines on the southern outskirts (
were shallow discouraged exploration I
until last fall. and then when the dis /
coveries were announced. the season /
had advanced too far for prospecting. \
For hundreds Of miles north of omi- I
neca is a vast eNpausc absolutely un- I
known 20 the white man II lies be l
tween Peace river and the Yukon. 4 /
Iarty under Lord tyonmore is spending /
the winter in Lizard country In order /
70 BE- on hand for thorough exploration /
of thar section of the terra mcognjta |
when the season opens Between the |
Peace and Lizard rivers The climate IS |
not so rigorous and forbiddinp as In the /
Yukon The country is densely wooded /
There is a supcrahundancc OF timber
for fuel and for building purposes
Game, large and small, is plentiful
For naturalist sportsman aud pros
pector no part Of The unexplored world
offers more attractive prizes - Y.
Sun.