Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Douglas, Sir James to Lytton, Sir Edward George Earle Bulwer 9 November 1858, CO 60:1, no. 549, 400.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (4), Enclosures (untranscribed) (2), Other documents (1).
Douglas relays a report from Richard Hicks on the state of the gold fields in the Fort Yale district that all development is in “satisfactory progress.” Hicks reports that the collection of a monthly fee is “exciting feelings of irritation
and dislike of the government” and suggests a discontinuance or the adoption of “some
other less obnoxious mode of taxation.”
Douglas also provides a “hastily prepared sketch” of the Harrison River road under construction.
The minutes find the report “very interesting” and “satisfactory.” The CO prints for
parliament.
No. 30
1. Having just received a report from Mr Commissioner
Hicks,
1
I beg to communicate the particulars of the same for your
information.
2. This report refers chiefly to that part of the Fort Yale
District, situatebetween
between that place and Cornish Bar
2
four miles
below Fort Hope. It appears that satisfactory progress is being
made in the development of the resources of that District. Twenty
one Canal or "ditch companies" have been formed for conveying
water to the different mining bars. Thirteen of those works are
finished and in full operation; seven are in progress and nearly
finished, and permission to form the last has just been granted.
between that place and Cornish Bar
2
four miles
below Fort Hope. It appears that satisfactory progress is being
made in the development of the resources of that District. Twenty
one Canal or "ditch companies" have been formed for conveying
water to the different mining bars. Thirteen of those works are
finished and in full operation; seven are in progress and nearly
finished, and permission to form the last has just been granted.
Those works are of vast utility in washing for gold, enabling
the miner to carry on operations with more success and economyand
and to work soils that would not yield a remunerative return
without the aid of those labor saving machines.
and to work soils that would not yield a remunerative return
without the aid of those labor saving machines.
3. There are also several water
companies
3
engaged in making
water courses on the table lands in the vicinity of Fraser's River,
their object being to erect flumes that will supply more than
1000 mining claims with water. As it is by such undertakings
that the country will be fairly prospected, every encouragement
is given to the enterprizing men who undertake them.
4. An extensive table land on the right bankof
of Fraser's
River four miles below Fort Yale, and at least 60 feet above the
highest water level which I have named "Prince Albert's
Diggings"
4
was lately discovered to be highly auriferous. Extensive
preparations are now being made for opening mining shafts there,
and it is reported to be extensive enough to give employment
to 4000 men, allowing to each 25 feet frontage, and 500 feet in
depth.
of Fraser's
River four miles below Fort Yale, and at least 60 feet above the
highest water level which I have named "Prince Albert's
Diggings"
4
was lately discovered to be highly auriferous. Extensive
preparations are now being made for opening mining shafts there,
and it is reported to be extensive enough to give employment
to 4000 men, allowing to each 25 feet frontage, and 500 feet in
depth.
This being the first dry diggings discovered in the Fort
Yale District, the mining claims were laid off on a much larger
scale than the regulation
quantity;
5
as Mr Hicks wasdesirous
desirous
of encouraging the miners who were looking forward with confidence
to reaping a rich harvest in return for their labour. There is
however no water at a convenient elevation in the vicinity, several
companies have therefore been licensed to convey water from the
neighbouring mountains; a work which will probably take about six
weeks to accomplish.
desirous
of encouraging the miners who were looking forward with confidence
to reaping a rich harvest in return for their labour. There is
however no water at a convenient elevation in the vicinity, several
companies have therefore been licensed to convey water from the
neighbouring mountains; a work which will probably take about six
weeks to accomplish.
5. It was lately reported that silver was discovered near
Fort Yale, in a quartz lead, but the specimens brought here have
proved
valueless.
6
6. Hill's Bar is reported to be worked out and the miners
have now turnedtheir
their attention to the banks of the River, which
are found to be very rich, and they are now conveying water, at
their own charge, for sluice washing from a distant source at a
cost of about £800.
their attention to the banks of the River, which
are found to be very rich, and they are now conveying water, at
their own charge, for sluice washing from a distant source at a
cost of about £800.
7. The Miners on American and Santa Clara
Bars
7
were also
waiting for a supply of water, which is being conveyed by means
of a canal from a lake, about two miles distant at a cost of
over £1100.
8. Very few claims can be worked to much advantage with
the rocker on Cornish Bar, and theMiners
Miners are engaged in bringing
in water for sluicing, so that they will shortly be able to carry
on operations with a better prospect of success. In the
operations of fluming and sluicing where the dirt only pays a
penny to the pan, a man can earn ten dollars a day, in places,
where with the rocker he could not save more than one dollar a
day, the gold being so fine that it is almost impossible to save
it without the aid of quicksilver.
Miners are engaged in bringing
in water for sluicing, so that they will shortly be able to carry
on operations with a better prospect of success. In the
operations of fluming and sluicing where the dirt only pays a
penny to the pan, a man can earn ten dollars a day, in places,
where with the rocker he could not save more than one dollar a
day, the gold being so fine that it is almost impossible to save
it without the aid of quicksilver.
9. Very little mining is carried on between Fort Yale and
the upper end of DouglasPortage
Portage, the rain and cold weather
together with the high price of provisions having compelled the
miners to relinquish their occupation for the season.
Portage, the rain and cold weather
together with the high price of provisions having compelled the
miners to relinquish their occupation for the season.
10. On the table land directly opposite to Fort Yale
several shafts have been sunk, and good mining ground discovered.
It was proposed to lay out that table land in twenty acre garden
lots, for sale, but we shall now reserve the land for mining purposes.
11. A shaft was lately sunk for the purpose of testing the
ground, on whichthe
the town of Fort Yale stands, and good diggings
of coarse gold were found, which caused so much excitement that
the miners could hardly be restrained from opening works in the
very heart of the little town.
the town of Fort Yale stands, and good diggings
of coarse gold were found, which caused so much excitement that
the miners could hardly be restrained from opening works in the
very heart of the little town.
12. Another discovery was lately made on a large extent of
flat land, opposite to Strawberry
Island,
8
which appears to contain rich deposits of the precious metal, yielding as much as
nine
pence to the pan, at a depth of eight feet from the surface. A
licensed company has undertaken to bring water to the flat from a
distant Creek, but it will take some time to completethe
the
operation.
the
operation.
13. Mr Commissioner Hicks in continuation of his report
proceeds as follows.
I have given your Excellency some idea of the mining
prospects which cannot be but most gratifying to your
feelings, especially with regard to Prince Albert's Flat,
above the rock named Albert Head,
9
at least one mile of
frontage on the river, [which] I intend to survey off into claims
of twenty five feet frontage. Your Excellency will perhaps
feel much surprised at the depth allowed for each claim, the
stripping of the top dirt does not pay within eight feet
of the surface, it would not pay men to go to the great
expense of fetching in water so longa
a distance unless more
extended privileges were granted, therefore it was to open
these mines, and encourage the men, that induced me to comply
with their wishes, there is plenty of ground that pays even
up to the foot of the mountain, about one and a quarter mile
back. I trust you will confirm the action I have thus taken.
a distance unless more
extended privileges were granted, therefore it was to open
these mines, and encourage the men, that induced me to comply
with their wishes, there is plenty of ground that pays even
up to the foot of the mountain, about one and a quarter mile
back. I trust you will confirm the action I have thus taken.
I have very many difficulties to contend with, especially
with regard to Water grants, men are almost at times out of
their senses, and are determined to infringe on the privilege
granted to others. I was compelled to issue Injunction
notices to Messrs Williams, Burns, and six others, to
restrain them from carrying a ditch from Santa ClaraCreek
Creek
on to the bar and flat, and very much interfering with other
operations in progress.
Creek
on to the bar and flat, and very much interfering with other
operations in progress.
14. The mining claims are not in all cases remunerative,
and there is much expense in bringing them into working
condition, so that Miners are frequently from actual poverty
unable to pay the license fee. For that reason, in making the
first collection of mining fees, in the month of September, no
less that 881 mining claims were found in the possession of
persons in that condition, on whom necessarily no Fees were
levied. Such merciful consideration for the destitute, opens
a wide door forevasions
evasions and complaint on the part of those
who pay the tax.
evasions and complaint on the part of those
who pay the tax.
That consideration and the great expense of collecting a
monthly Fee; owing to the extent and inaccessibility of the
country; its effects in exciting feelings of irritation and
dislike of the Government, and provoking antagonism to the
public officers, naturally suggest a reduction of the license
fee, or perhaps its discontinuance, and the substitution of
some other less obnoxious mode of taxation. Probably that
adopted in Australia from the report of the Commission appointed
to enquire into the condition of the gold fields ofVictoria
Victoria10
might be altered and successfully adapted to the circumstances
of British Columbia, a subject which I reserve for further consideration.
Victoria10
might be altered and successfully adapted to the circumstances
of British Columbia, a subject which I reserve for further consideration.
15. The miners on Hill's Bar have I understand lately
exhibited dissatisfaction on account of their claims being
limited to the River Bar, and I understand they lately held a
meeting to petition me on that subject, and that the petition
was to be forwarded through Mr Nugent, Special Agent of
the United States, but the document has not yet been presented,
and I presume Mr Nugent would consider it badtaste
taste to
meddle with a matter of purely local law, and into the settlement
of which, no question of nationality could possibly enter.
taste to
meddle with a matter of purely local law, and into the settlement
of which, no question of nationality could possibly enter.
16. A considerable public Revenue may be raised from the
grant of water privileges, which it is proposed to tax, to the
amount of five dollars a month for each sluice or flume, and
it is expected that in course of another year more than 2000
of these sluices will be in operation in the Fort Yale District.
17. Mr Hicks gives no idea of the miners general
earnings, which it is at all times difficult to ascertain from
their own statements.
18. One
18. One, among other more cogent, reasons for the
establishment of a gold escort is the facility, it will give of
ascertaining with something like accuracy, the real export of
gold from the country. Mr Hick's accounts exhibit a very
trifling collection for the last month; but it was sufficient
to meet the expenditure, and he had not made the monthly
collection of mining fees.
19. Mr Commissioner Travaillot whose district extends
from the Forks of Thompson's River to the Fountain had time to
do little more, than to report his safe arrival at theForks
Forks,
where the Town site of "Lytton" was laid out, and now contains
50 houses and a population of 900 persons.
Forks,
where the Town site of "Lytton" was laid out, and now contains
50 houses and a population of 900 persons.
20. Some trouble had arisen between the Miners and Indians,
which was however fortunately arrested after a loss of several
lives on both
sides.
11
21. The banks of Fraser's River above the Forks are said to
afford good dry diggings as far as the upper Fountain, and sluices
yield at the rate of 20 dollars a day to the hand.
22. Many of the miners are leaving the country on account
of the want and highprices
prices of provisions, flour being now sold
at the Forks at the rate of 4s/2d per pound, and other
articles of food being equally high priced, arising from the cost
of transport, and the inaccessibility of the country; the land
route between the Forks and Fort Hope and Fort Yale being now
rendered impassable through the depth of snow in the mountain
passes, though the level country still exhibits the appearance
of early autumn.
prices of provisions, flour being now sold
at the Forks at the rate of 4s/2d per pound, and other
articles of food being equally high priced, arising from the cost
of transport, and the inaccessibility of the country; the land
route between the Forks and Fort Hope and Fort Yale being now
rendered impassable through the depth of snow in the mountain
passes, though the level country still exhibits the appearance
of early autumn.
23. The mining population in Fraser's River may beestimated
estimated
as follows.
From Cornish Bar to Fort Yale 4,000
Fort Yale 1,300
Fort Hope 500
From Fort Yale to Lytton 300
Lytton 900
From Lytton to the Fountain 3,000
Port Douglas & Harrison's River 600
Total 10,600
estimated
as follows.
From Cornish Bar to Fort Yale 4,000
Fort Yale 1,300
Fort Hope 500
From Fort Yale to Lytton 300
Lytton 900
From Lytton to the Fountain 3,000
Port Douglas & Harrison's River 600
Total 10,600
24. I herewith forward a reconnaisance of Fraser's River
by Lieut. Colonel Hawkins, R.E. which shows the mining Bars of
Fort Yale District and places referred to in this report, as well
as the general character of the
country.
12
25. I have the satisfaction of announcing that the great
work of the season the route byHarrisons
Harrison's River, to a point on
Frasers River, beyond the mountains, about eight miles below the
upper Fountain is now completed; and a number of mule trains
are upon the road about to engage in the transport of provisions
and other supplies for the mining population of "Lytton," and
the mining districts beyond that
Town.
13
It is, in fact, to that
route that we must ultimately look for a convenient communication
with the interior of the country. This has been an arduous undertaking
and the cost will be about £10,000, which I feel assured Her Majesty's
Government in view of the great importance and urgency of the work,
for the transport of food in winter; its bearingon
on the future
development of the country, and above all looking to the fact that the
Revenue collected already in the country is to defray the whole expense,
will sanction by their approval.
Harrison's River, to a point on
Frasers River, beyond the mountains, about eight miles below the
upper Fountain is now completed; and a number of mule trains
are upon the road about to engage in the transport of provisions
and other supplies for the mining population of "Lytton," and
the mining districts beyond that
Town.
13
It is, in fact, to that
route that we must ultimately look for a convenient communication
with the interior of the country. This has been an arduous undertaking
and the cost will be about £10,000, which I feel assured Her Majesty's
Government in view of the great importance and urgency of the work,
for the transport of food in winter; its bearingon
on the future
development of the country, and above all looking to the fact that the
Revenue collected already in the country is to defray the whole expense,
will sanction by their approval.
The difficulties encountered in the process of this undertaking
were more serious than anticipated arising in a great measure from
the want of experienced conductors; but I think the work could not be
done under any circumstances at a cheaper rate.
26. I herewith forward for your information a hastily prepared
sketch of the Harrison's River
route
14
showing its connection at both
ends with Fraser's River, a table of distances and a descriptivestatement
statement of bridges constructed on the road. I beg to remark in
explanation that the only reliable part of this sketch is the
tracing of Harrison's River and road, the latter in red ink, with
the connecting Lakes, the Compass directions and distances having
been accurately determined by the road Surveyor.
statement of bridges constructed on the road. I beg to remark in
explanation that the only reliable part of this sketch is the
tracing of Harrison's River and road, the latter in red ink, with
the connecting Lakes, the Compass directions and distances having
been accurately determined by the road Surveyor.
Harrisons River and Lake are navigable for River Steamers,
which ply as far as Port
Douglas;
15
from that point the road is cut
through the forest in the valley of Harrison's River a distance of
33 3/4 miles to Lake Lilooett; the water communication between these
points being dangerous and expensive, except at the lowest stage
of theRiver
River. The passage of Lake Lilooett 13 miles in length,
and with depth of water sufficient for large vessels is effected
by means of large sized boats constructed for the purpose. From
Lake Lilooett to Lake Anderson a distance of 24 3/4 miles, a road
traced on the sketch in red ink is carried over land. Lake
Anderson 15 miles and Lake Seton 16 miles in length, both having
a great depth of water are traversed in large boats. A road 1 1/2
mile in length connects those two Lakes, and from Lake Seton a
road four miles in length leads to the terminus on Fraser's River.
The whole distance from thence to Port Douglas being 108 miles in
the course of which there are 62substantial
substantial wooden Bridges, varying
from 12 to 90 feet in length.
River. The passage of Lake Lilooett 13 miles in length,
and with depth of water sufficient for large vessels is effected
by means of large sized boats constructed for the purpose. From
Lake Lilooett to Lake Anderson a distance of 24 3/4 miles, a road
traced on the sketch in red ink is carried over land. Lake
Anderson 15 miles and Lake Seton 16 miles in length, both having
a great depth of water are traversed in large boats. A road 1 1/2
mile in length connects those two Lakes, and from Lake Seton a
road four miles in length leads to the terminus on Fraser's River.
The whole distance from thence to Port Douglas being 108 miles in
the course of which there are 62substantial
substantial wooden Bridges, varying
from 12 to 90 feet in length.
27. The comparative cost of transport by this and the Fort Yale
route is as follows.
Fort Yale to Lytton 1s.11 1/4d for each pound weight
Port Douglas to terminus of road 35 miles beyond Lytton 9d for each pound weight
Thus shewing a saving in transport expense by the Harrison's River as compared with the other route of 1s.2 1/4d
Fort Yale to Lytton 1s.11 1/4d for each pound weight
Port Douglas to terminus of road 35 miles beyond Lytton 9d for each pound weight
Thus shewing a saving in transport expense by the Harrison's River as compared with the other route of 1s.2 1/4d
28. A great number of miners have left Fraser's River and
returned to California and Oregon. The course of immigration has
ceased for the present, and will probably not be resumed till the
spring. There is still however a large foreignpopulation
population at
this place, and the Town is continually on the increase.
population at
this place, and the Town is continually on the increase.
[P.S.] On the accompanying map of the Harrison's River route I have
also traced out, the route taken by Mr Joseph McKay who
was lately despatched with a party of five men to examine
the country between the Lilooet Lake and Howe's Sound, an
enterprise which was successfully accomplished greatly to
my satisfaction. The country examined is mountainous, with
some fertile valleys and very fine timber, but not attractive
as a place of settlement. Mr McKay's Journal is herewith
forwarded for your information.
James Douglas
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Merivale
This despatch contains some very interesting details of Mining operations & the progress made in constructing Roads. It should I conclude be added to the printed series.
This despatch contains some very interesting details of Mining operations & the progress made in constructing Roads. It should I conclude be added to the printed series.
VJ
17 Jan
Sir Edward Lytton
This is a very interesting & a satisfactory report and I think in acknowledging it, Govr Douglas sd be entirely approved. The cost of the road is very remarkable—108 miles & 62 bridges at £10,000—and this when prices generally are extravagantly high.
This is a very interesting & a satisfactory report and I think in acknowledging it, Govr Douglas sd be entirely approved. The cost of the road is very remarkable—108 miles & 62 bridges at £10,000—and this when prices generally are extravagantly high.
C
Jany 19
(The tracing sd be placed upon linen or cardboard to
preserve it as it is important.)
Print for Parlt. An answer must be given as to the 10,000
wh must go out of Col. funds not imperial.
EBL
Jan 20
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Register of bridges constructed on the Harrison-Lillooet road.
Footnotes
- Hicks to Douglas, 26 October 1858, is published in Howay, Early History of the Fraser River Mines, pp. 5-9. Full ref needed. PABC??
- Cornish Bar, named after the large numbers of miners from Cornwall, was located on the south bank of the river, just below Hope. The bar was also called Murderer's Bar, for a murder committed there. See Donald Sage, Gold Rush Days on the Fraser River, Pacific Northwest Quarterly, 44, (October 1953): 162, and G.P.V. Akrigg and Helen B. Akrigg, British Columbia Chronicle, 1847-1871, p. 110-11.
- Water companies on the Fraser River. Check Howay, Waddington?? October-November 1858. Gazette is silent.
- Prince Albert's Diggings, situated on a flat of the same name, were located on the west side of the Fraser about six miles below Fort Yale. British Colonist, 6 November 1858.
- = mining regulations The regular size of mining claims was twenty-five feet of river frontage, twenty-five feet to either side of creeks or ravines, or twenty square feet of table land for dry diggings. General Regulations for Gold District, enclosed in Douglas to Lytton, 30 August 1858, No. 37, 10344, CO 60/1, p. 134. The regulations are printed in Papers Relative to the Affairs of British Columbia, Part I, pp. 31-32. Necessary??
- = discovery of silver near Yale Silver mining. Check Gazette ??
-
American Bar was on the west bank of the Fraser River about four miles
above Fort Hope. The Santa Clara Bar was also above Fort Hope.
Location needed?? On 2 November 1858, the
Colonist reported that
King & Co. took out 118 ounces with four rockers, in one week
from the American Bar. - Strawberry Island is about six or eight miles below Fort Yale. Source??
- Prince Albert Diggings, and the flat of the same name, were located just above the rock promitory still known as Albert Head. Location needed??
- = Report on Gold Fields Cf. fn. in Douglas to Merivale, 29 October 1858, Private, 586, CO 60/1, p. 329.
- = Hawkins reconnaisance & sketch FIND ?? In Papers??
- = Harrison Lillooet The Harrison-Lillooet route was superintended by A.C. Anderson, who had first explored the route for the HBC in 1846. First entry. More ??
- Tracing in PRO, on linen or is that Hawkins map?? McKay's route added by Douglas?? FIND & GET
-
Port Douglas, at the head of Harrison Lake, was named for Douglas by A.C.
Anderson on 10 August 1858, after workers on the road suggested it be
named for Anderson. As one of the men present on that occasion
predicted,
Port Douglas, as the head of steam navigation, must become a most important place. . . .
See report by Charles Bedford Young, Gazette, 17 August 1858.
People in this document
Hawkins, Lieutenant Colonel John Summerfield
Places in this document
Cornish Bar [formerly Murderer's Bar]