The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1910-11-11
oQMo M 6XZEjR c0ExX

them" There are some men famous
In the annals Of mining adventure who
have gone back to the love OF their
youth and disappeared into the British
Columbia wilderness with their kits on
their backs.
The officers of the geological survey
at Ottawa, while admitting the rich
ness OF the country, warn intending
miners OF the difficulties of the trip.
Prince Rupert is the objective point of
the Grand Trunk Pacific's proposed
line through British Columbia. and the
British Columbia & Alaska railway is
intended to pass near but neither OF
these roads is as yet built.
So far the engineers and prospec-
tors who have left Stewart and gone
into the heart of the gold fields have
had great difficulty in getting enough
food, to say nothing of carrying
blankets and implements. The town
stands at the mouth of a little river
known as Bear Creek, a stream run
ming through valley only mile
wide. On either side rises a wall OF
mountains, precipitous and sometimes
as high as 5000 feet. In these noun
tains lies not only the gold, but many
other valuable minerals, and they have
to be scaled somehow. II is hard
enough work without the task of car
rying supplies, and for men burdened
with baggage the difficulties are
great. There will be considerable suf-
fering and privation for time, at
least.
The residents up that way, oddly
enough, are not wildly enthusiastic
over this gold discovery. Mineral
wealth is an old story to them. They
are in the country not to mine but to
build and trade and farm, and they
like the emphasis laid, when one
talks Of their province, not on gold,
with its suggestion of boom and dis
order and more or less riot, but on the
agricultural richness of the land.
Gold mining seems bit crude to
them, a trifle nouveau richie and vul-
gar. It is true that many of the
Prince Rupert people have bought
picks and set forth for the mountains.
but they are not the odd families" OF
the communities.
Producing annually over 20 per cent.
OF the total mineral output OF the do
minion. British Columbia is essentially
the gold province II Canada. The
early miners OF the Fraser in 1858 and
following years washed out in rockers
from benches and creeks 5000 900
worth OF tree god nuggets. Since that
time British Colum ola has produced
over $ll4,0OC 900 IN gold and $lS5. COO
900 In other minerals. In 1907 the min.
eral production was $4,000 600 and
there are still 100000 square miles of
unexplored mineral lands open for
free prospecting
The Bitter Greek mines on Portland
canal now claim the worlds attention.
Foo five years mining operations have
been carried on in this district quietly.
conservatvely, and with no cry in the
marketplace. Gold has been found
along the banks OF the Bear river and
all three OF its tributaries-Bitter
creek, Glacier creek and American
creek.
The big reef of Bitter creek is
gray-white porphyry dyke from Eve
feet to 20 feet wide and miles in
length. Embedded in the reef are
veins of quartz from two feet to ff.
teen feet wide, presenting on the sur
face honey-combed appearance. one
recent assay from which gave a re-
turn of 1920 per ton in gold with a
trace only of silver
On the north fork of Bitter creek IA
the Oldest property In Portland canal.
the Roosevelt, sample shipment of
ore from which. taken to Tacoma, gave
total values of $4205 per ton.
For the whole distance OF the Big
Reef every claim is staked, so anyone
wishing to acquire property now must
buy from or through an original 10.
Gator. The government is building a
pack trail up Bitter creek. and this
should greatly help development.