Year: 1879

The article following is clipped from
late issue Of the Victoria Colonia:


Yesterday We had a call from Mr. W.
Robinson, an experienced miuer we'll
known in this Province, who was ope OF
the discoverers Of what are known "a
the Skagit river mines He tells us
that early this year report having
bee received at Seattle that a MI
Rowly had taken out S65 on q tributa
~ OF the Skagit river, he in company
with several ether miners left on the
steamer Josephine which runs for .
distance Of forty miles up the Skagit
river. Having arrived at this point
they took canoes which conveyed them
to Big Canyon. the head Of cano, navi-
CATION. The canyon is about thirty
miles in length. distance which has
to be traversed on foot on its west side.
No regular trail exists. but Messrs.
Brewster l. Go have obtained a charter
from the Washington Territory author
tiles. giving them the right to construct
a trail from the head of steamboat nav
igation to the 4Sth parallel. A small
toll will be charged for goods and ami :
mails passing over this trail. The crre ek
On which the diggings were discovered
is known as Ruby creek. II falls into
tbs Sksgit river q. point about l60
miles from that rivers mouth, which
is near Laconher. w +. In order TO
reach Ruby creek it has 10 be passed
on the opposite side Of the Skasit.
which river is crossed by a FERRY boat.
In capacity aud fall the creek is very
similar to McDams creek, Cassiar, for
a distance of twelve miles up, where il.
forks, one branch running to the east
and the other. as nearly as possible, .
northerly direction. ihe waters are
equally divided At the forks. and the
branch running to the north has been
prospected with encouraging results
The headwaters of the creek have not
as yet been prospected. but there seems
to be no doubt that they make into
British Columbia. On the lower por-
tion Of the creek there is evidence Of
the existence Of bench diggings. and
several ounces Of gold have been taken
out above high water mark The best
prospects. however. have been found
in the orlsinsl bed of the creek. Short.
ly after the discovery of the diggin:s q
meeting of the miners was held and o
code of laws drawn up, wherein it was
provided that the length Of creek
claim aud the frontage Of a hill claim
should not exceed $50 feet The
weather at the mines WAS very equsblc
and pleasant during the summer
months. there being only three rainy
days during the entire season About
the middle of October, however. rain.
snow and slset fell heavily for sven
consecutive days. The creek rose rap
idly aud number Of wing dams were
washed away. But il is thought that
when the diggings are thoroughly es-
tsblishsd. mining operations will be
vigorous during the winter in fact =,
that that season will prove the most
suitable time for working their claims.
There is. of course, no regular supply
of provisions in the mines as yet; but
II small quantity Of the most necessary
articles can be obtained at point about
thirty miles from the first claim on
the creek. As q rule it ought not to
take more than five days to travel from
the dlggings to Seattle. 1t takes two
days to get from Ruby creek to the
head Of canoe navigation on the Skagit,
two days from that point to Mount
Vernon. and one day thence by steamer.
Going in it takes eight days at least
The mines may also be reached by way
of Fort Hope and possibly via Chilli
whack Lake. The Ska2it would DO
struck at q distance Of about twenty
five miles in q southeast direct ion from
the former place, aud some fifteen
years ago a road, which is now over
grown and obstructed by fallen trees,
ran through the country which would
have to be traversed. Mr. Robinson
waited on the Chief Commissioner of
Land and Works yesterday and sug-
gested to him tho utility and advised
ness of cutting out this road and thus
afforiing miners . comparatively easy
means Of ingrcss to the gold district.
Mr. Walkem. however. replied that he
feared the work could not be success
fully prosecuted during the winter
months and Mr. Robinson was invited
to call again for a definite answer. On
striking the Sksgit from Hope that
river would have to be followed down
perhaps for thirty miles. when the terry
above Ruby creek would be reached.
Mr. Robinson is Of the opinion that
there will be an extensive rush to the
mines next spring and thinks that the
approach to them via Fort Hope would
be easier than going op the Skagit.
The transport of provisions would also
be cheaper. Will the Governments &C.
cord the mining population a small
measure Of justice for once and issue
instructions for the trail via Fe.; Hope
to the Skagit to be cut out. or at least