Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Douglas, Sir James to Pelham-Clinton, 5th Duke of Newcastle Henry Pelham Fiennes 4 December 1862, CO 60:13, no. 1016, 556.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (2), Enclosures (transcribed) (1), Enclosures (untranscribed) (2), Other documents
(1), Marginalia (2).
Douglas writes to Newcastle to report “intelligence” on several “central Districts” of BC. Douglas discusses the state of the weather, the high price of “Food of every kind,” and mining
operations. He notes a “general feeling among persons interested in the Mines” to
have “interests in Mining Claims transferable like other property.” Finally, Douglas appeals for financial assistance to construct more roads.
In the minutes, Blackwood complains that “Governor Douglas threatens us with further appeals for money for his roads in B. Columbia.”
The first of the three files included in the file is a letter from O'Reilly to “the Colonial Secretary,” which encloses a plan of Williams Creek; the second is a draft reply from Newcastle to Douglas, which acknowledges the receipt of Douglas's despatch; the third is an archival note that indicates that plans for Williams Creek have “been removed to the map room.” This map can be viewed in the Colonial Despatches
map gallery.
Separate
4 December 1862
I have the honour to inform Your Grace that through Official
reports, and respectable private sources, I have received
intelligence up to the 16th of November from Shimilkomeen,
Lillooet, andother
other central Districts, and, to the 31st of October from the Carribou and Alexandria Districts.
other central Districts, and, to the 31st of October from the Carribou and Alexandria Districts.
2. The weather, which set in sharp and cold about the last
week in October, has, since, greatly improved and been most
favourable for mining operations.
3. A Messenger from Shimilkomeen reports that snow had
fallen fifteen inches deep on the crest of the mountain road
towards Hope,but
but there was no snow in the vallies, neither had
ice formed on any of the streams. The same person states that
he has been mining in the neighbourhood of Okanagan Lake, about
thirty miles from the Revenue Station, with a party of eight
others, and that the average yield of gold was from seven to
fifteen dollars a day per man. He thinks that about two hundred
men might work to great advantage there, and that the area of
auriferousground
ground is probably much greater than that estimate
assumes it to be.
but there was no snow in the vallies, neither had
ice formed on any of the streams. The same person states that
he has been mining in the neighbourhood of Okanagan Lake, about
thirty miles from the Revenue Station, with a party of eight
others, and that the average yield of gold was from seven to
fifteen dollars a day per man. He thinks that about two hundred
men might work to great advantage there, and that the area of
auriferousground
ground is probably much greater than that estimate
assumes it to be.
Some valuable specimens of coarse gold have been lately
received from a party of Miners working on the Shimilkomeen
River, their daily earnings have not been reported to me, but
they must, I presume, be considerable, as otherwise they would
not remain in that part of the country.
4. Mining on the Fraser between Hope and Lillooet has been
for some time past,and
and still is, chiefly confined to Chinamen and
Native Indians, who look for smaller returns than will satisfy Miners
whose imaginations have been inflamed with golden visions of Carribou.
and still is, chiefly confined to Chinamen and
Native Indians, who look for smaller returns than will satisfy Miners
whose imaginations have been inflamed with golden visions of Carribou.
5. The Miners generally, returned from the latter Gold Field
on the approach of winter, those who remained, between 300 and
400 in number, are employed in shafts and tunnels beyond the
influence of the surface temperature,and
and are said to be in a
prosperous condition.
and are said to be in a
prosperous condition.
The "Barker," "Black Jack" and other Companies who have
succeeded in striking the auriferous leads on William's Creek,
are mining with uninterrupted success, and realizing enormous
profits. The "Hurd Curry" Company have in their shaft, bottomed
on what is supposed, both from the form and colour of the gold,
and the direction of the "gutter," to be an entirely new lead;
adding force to the generally received opinion that twoseparate
separate
and distinct "leads" exist on William's Creek.
separate
and distinct "leads" exist on William's Creek.
6. Food of every kind—especially Bread Stuffs—continues
to fetch a high price on William's Creek and the other mining
Districts of Carribou, but no alarm is felt about the supply
of the resident Miners, who have, it is presumed, taken care to
lay in a good stock for the winter.
7. I transmit herewith, Copy of a letter from Mr Commissioner
O'Reilly, enclosing a view of the Town of "Richfield,"
and a Plan of William's Creek,shewing
shewing the subdivision of the ground into mining claims, and also the Mining Firms
by whom they are held.
The Plan gives a fair idea of the mining enterprise, and of the
amount of capital embarked in a five mile section of the Carribou
District.
In Depart. framed.
shewing the subdivision of the ground into mining claims, and also the Mining Firms
by whom they are held.
The Plan gives a fair idea of the mining enterprise, and of the
amount of capital embarked in a five mile section of the Carribou
District.
8. I am now busily engaged with the revision of the Gold-field
Laws and Regulations, which are not comprehensive enough in their
provisions to meet the growing wants of the Gold-fields. There
is a general feeling among persons interested in the Minesin
in
favour of making interests in Mining Claims transferable like other
property, without, however, affecting the rights of The Crown, or
in any manner altering the conditions as to working and occupation,
under which claims are now held.
in
favour of making interests in Mining Claims transferable like other
property, without, however, affecting the rights of The Crown, or
in any manner altering the conditions as to working and occupation,
under which claims are now held.
The advantages of this measure would be chiefly felt in the
protection afforded to capital; moved by the attraction of large profits,
it would then seek investment in mining operations, and tend greatly
to promote the safe and rapid development of the Gold-fields.
9. In
9. In surface mining very little capital, beyond the labour
of the miner himself, is required to produce a return, but in
opening deep shafts and elaborate works similar to those in the
Carribou Gold-fields, complete success is seldom attainable without
a moderate command of capital. Hundreds of men have been compelled
by sheer poverty to give up most valuable claims. They could not
raise money, even at the customary exorbitant rates of interest
offered in Carribou, four and five per cent a month, tomake
make the
preliminary excavations.
make the
preliminary excavations.
10. By recognizing the validity of sales and transfer of rights in
Mining Claims, this want would be met, and capital could be procured to
the amount required on the security of such assignment.
Provision has also to be made for the protection of persons
embarking in the construction of tunnels and other costly mining
works, and for many objects of minor importance, of which I need
not at present trouble Your Grace with a detail.
11. The
11. The Colony exhibits in all respects unequivocal signs of
prosperity, the only pressing subject of anxiety is in reference
to the means of completing the two great lines of Road connecting
Alexandria with Lillooet and Lytton. The work is far advanced,
and, though now suspended, will be resumed as soon as the ground
thaws in Spring, and will be continued to Alexandria, from whence Fraser's River is navigable to the very bases of the Rocky Mountains. I shall be pressed for funds to carry out these plans, and shall be under the necessityof
of again appealing to Your Grace
for assistance. I will however reserve the consideration of that
subject for a separate Despatch.
of again appealing to Your Grace
for assistance. I will however reserve the consideration of that
subject for a separate Despatch.
Minutes by CO staff
Governor Douglas threatens us with further appeals for
money for his roads in B. Columbia.
I suppose he means more loans.
N
3
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Note in file: "Plan of William's Creek, Caribou, British Columbia, showing Mining Claims and giving a list of Mining Companies, being fo. 566 of
C.O. 60/13 has been removed to the Map Room. Map Room Reference M.P.G. 648(u), November 1950, D.B. Wardle." This map can be viewed in the Colonial Despatches map gallery.
Documents enclosed with the main document (transcribed)
Sir,
I have the honor to enclose herewith for the information of His Excellency the Governor,
a plan of Williams Creek, Carribou, and of the ground occupied for mining purposes, shewing about five miles of the
Creek, with a list of Mining Companies, and the claims held by each, with rotation
numbers referring low&c 
to the plan; the area for each free Miner being a square of one hundred feet.
to the plan; the area for each free Miner being a square of one hundred feet.