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^/■b MINING IN BRITISH COLUMBIA.
"**" By Tuos. Drhmmond,

MiNiNO AND Civil Engineer, A.M.Can.Soc.C.E.
Before the discovery of ^old in British Columbia, or what afterwards
became icoown as that province, it was a comparatively unknown
country, under the control and government of tli Hudson Biiy Com-
pany, whose interests were boun " up in the fur trade, and iir that alone.
In 1849, the Company's headquarters were removed from Fort Van-
couvor; on the Columbia River, to Fort Victoria, on Vancouver Island,
which had been established in 18-t;5, In 1851, James Douglas was
made Governor of the Colony, vesting in his person the authority both
of the Hudson Bay Company and the Colonial Government. In 1856
Vancouver Island was divided into four electoral districts, and seven
members were elected. At this time tl.-. united white population of
the island was about 300. After the discovery of gold on the main-
land in 1857, and the consequent rush to the new country, Douglas was
forced, by f'-.e increased responsibility of government caused by the con-
flicting interesiis of the fur traders and gold miners, to resign his position
as head of the Hudson Bay Comjiany, which he did in 1859. In the
same year the Imperial Government re-purchased the exclusive ri;'ht of
the Hudson Bay Company to trade, and th(^ Company, as a monopoly,
ceased to exist on the PaeiBc Coast. In 1858, the Province of British
Columbia was nreat«d, and Houghs became its first governor.

The discovery of gold then marks a now era in the history of the
country, and though the stirring events of that time are now things of
the past, still they are not without interest, for with them beg in the
real history of the province, which, from being a country comparat""ely
unknown, was raised to the dignity of being one of the great gold-
producing centres of the world.

People by the thousands and tens of thousands rushed to its shore,
and in their search for th. precious metal also discovered the capabili-
ties of the country ; so that, u;"'<'r the srold excitement, many settled down,
and formed, so to speak, the nucleus of the future growth and prosperity
of the province.

In the first part of this paper, then, I propose to give a history of the
more important discoveries of gold , and the dates at which they occurred,
and also a short description of the methods adopted in separating the
gold from the alluvial washings in which it is f mnd.

Before going on with the paper, I would like to st:ito that, in the
absence of actual statistics, the subject matter of this paper has been
obtained from the most reliable sourocs available. In many cases from
personal observations, and, where 1 had not that opportunity, from
miners and others who actually worked at the places to be mentioned
later on -men to whom I am greatly indebted for information, and whom
I knew personally to be little given to exaggeration. Statements were
verified by comparisons when possible, and different authorities who had
written upon the subject were also consulicd, such as Dr. Scdwyn Dr.
(too. Dawson, and other members of the Geological Survey of Canada,
Bancroft's History of British (Columbia, S, ssioral Papers and Reports'
of the Provincial Government, J. W. McKay, and many otliers ; so that,
though the information uid figures given are not in the nature of actual
statistics, slill they are near appro .vimat ions of these taken from the
most reliable sources. I mention this because reliable information upon
this subject is difiicult to obtain, and were all statement^ accepted this
would r.-a<i more like fairy land than what I wish ii to be : a sober iiistory
of ev.nts which have occurred in the history of British Columbia, and
which there is every reason to suppose will be repeated in the near future

in a more permanent form when the discoveries in quart*, even those
already nindt', have been ;?ufficicutly developed to shew their value.
For convenience, 1 have divided the subject inUi —

(1) Placer Mining.

(2) Vein Mining.

The first authentic discovery of gold in British Columbia, or what
afterwards became part ol' tliiit province, wiis at Gold, or Mitchell's
Harbour, on Queen Charlotte's Island, in 1861. The discovery was in
the form of a nugget weighing about five ounces, found on the seashore
by un Indian, who sold it to the Hudson Bay Con;pany. A vessel
was shortly afterwards sent out by the latter to examine the locality,
resulting in the discovery of a small vein of quartz containing gold, from
which it is estimated that ore to the value of $20,000 was obtained by
the Hudson Bay Uonifany and other adventurers. The deposit then
proving limited, it was abandoned. About the same time, or a little
earlier. Mr. McKay also found colours of gold at various places on Van-
couver Island, between Victoria and Nanaimo, vhen exploring for

Hudson Bay Company's Journals also state that in 1852, Indians
brought samples of gold irom the Skcena Kiver. G. B. MoClellan's
party also discovered gold on the Similkameen River in 1853, when
engaged on exploratory surveys for the Northern Pacific Railway.

Gold was also discovered at Pend d'Oreille by Colville men in 1854
or 1855, and worked with success, and the finding of gold in British
Columbia was a direct result of this discovery, for Indians from the
Thompson River, visiting their friends near Walla Walla, stated that
gold like that was found in their country. Accordiagly. some Fieiich
Canadians and Indians crossed over and discovered paying placers in
the vicmity of Nccoauien, on the Thompson River, in the fall of 1857.
The news spread and caused the Fraser River excitement of 1858.
California was at this time filled with a mining population, attracted
there by the f:old excitement of 1848 and 1849, and when the authentic
discovery oi' gold on the Fraser Klver became known, a perfect rush was
made for the new VA Dorado. From thirty to thirty-five thousand people
are said to have come into the province early in 1858.

Many of these became discouraged and turned back, but those, how-
ever, who did reach the Fraser River, pushed their way onward and
found gold in paying quantities on the bars and tributaries, from the
mouth'c)f Harrison River up both the Thompson and Fraser Kivers as
far as the season of 1858 would allow them to go. Some of the more
important of these bars were as follows :— Maria, Hudson, Cornish,
American, Union, Cameron, Emory, Texas, HiUs, Sailor, Wellington,
Spuzzum, Chapman, Nicaragua, Boston, Yankee, Mariner's, Lytton,
Mornian, Foster, Lillooct, trench, Robinson, Upper Merman, British,
Ferguson, and Long Bars,

Of these. Hills Bar, just below the to,,u of Yale, may be taken as
an example of the richest. It is reported to have prod iced $1 "00,000
worth of gold during the excitement, from an area of less t> half a
square mile, and from a report of the Mii-ister of Mines in 1675, it is
credited with having produced up to that time $2,000,000. On
this bar four men washed $4,000 in six days. Ned M-Gowan, of his-
torical fame, took out $33,000 in three months. It is also said
that the present site of the town of Yale with the flat opposite would
yield a large amount of gold if worked by hydraulic power, and I
understand that a company is now being formed with that object in
view. The gold in the bars especially below Yale was fine, and in shal-
low ground, and at first they were only mined a little below the surface
of the river, and in the most primitive manner with pick, shovel, rocker
and pau, and yielded, when worked even in this way, large returns of
cold. Between Yale and Hopy one rocker yielded $830 in eighx, days,
another $800 in twelve days, and a third $248 in five days, and at
Yale 150 sockers gave in one day 723 ounces. Sailor Bar is said to
have averaged one ounce a day per man and two to five ounces was quite
common. As the surface of the bars was washed out, wing damming
was resorted to, where possible, to reach deeper ground. Many flumes
and ditches were also ouilt U) carry water to the benches along the river ;
they varied in leii-'th from one to fourt^jeu miles, and cost many thousands

of ilollnrs. Water wheels were also built, one below Cornish Bar boinjj
80 fuct in diameter,

TlioHo pionoiTH and proMpoctors had many difficulties to (.vereume in
niiikin},' thoir way up to tlu, ww >\\'-Auir^. At (irst there wore no
stciinicrs t.. the mouth of tho Fniscr, and iiftoiwnnis when thcrn were,
a greiit many wore unable to pay their way, so they went from Victoria
to tho mainland in canoes and small cnift built by themselves, and
many were lost in tho danj,'eious tide rips nnd currents of the const.
Marly in 1S58, it was found that the Finser iJiver was naviiiabje as
fiir as Yule, which heeanie the distributiIl^ point for tho upper country.
Tk-yond this, the country was rou-h, mountainous and comparatively
unknown, and travelling by land and water was hard and laborious work.
Supplies were scarce and (liffieult to transport, ami the Indians lor a"
time wore hostile. Is it .stran-e then that many became discouraged
and turned back ? The wonderful thing to my mind is, that so mitny
succeeded in forcing thoir way onward through .so many difficulties and
dangers.

In the fill of 185!t, rich diggings were di.soovered on Quesnel River,
and this stopped the onward march for a time.

In 18U0, Keithley Creek was discovered, and this marks a renewed
era of prosperity in mining, for with it was discovered the famous
Cariboo District, one of the richest placer mining centr.'s ever found.

In the winter of I860 and 1801, miners di.soovered Antler Creok.
They tried to get a grant ol' this stream from Governor Douglas in Vic-
toria, but it was refused. The news became known and caused a second
influx of miners, this time to the Cariboo District. During the same
year (18(;i) William's, Gvou.se, Lightning, Jack of Clubs, Lowhee and
other creeks, which have since become famous wore discovered. Of
these, William's, Grouse, and Lightning werj tho richest. These creeks
with their tributaries yielded, up to the end of lS(il, some 82,000 000.
William's Creek was discovered by William Dietz, better known as
Dutch J}ill. lie located in the cafion, aud his claim, though tho Dis-
covery, turned out to bo one of tho poorest oti tho creek. Ctlier owners
located ground along the creek about tho same time. The ground was
supposed to be shallow, the yield of gold was poor, and tho crock was
known for a time as Humbug Cn «k. The first run of gold was found
in shallow ground over a stratum of blue clay. To test below this, Abboti
& Co. sunk a hole 4x7 feet and took out 57 ounces of gold, .and tho
other companies soon followed tiicir example. Deep ground wae located
in an old channel behind tho caiion and also below it by Black Jake
Barker, Cameron, and others, .%nd Barkersville, Cameron Town, and
Kichficld were started. Starting at the head of the stream and goip.r
downwards, some of the elainiB were as follows:

Steele & Co.,
Point Claim,
Abbott & Co.,
12 Foot Davis,
Adams & Wilson,
Casto & Co.,
Dutch Bill,
Dillcr & Co.,
Canadian Co.,
Welsh Co.,
Wake Up Jake Co..
Cariboo Co.,
Aurora,

Lillooet Co.,

Forest Ro.se,

Cameron & Co.,

Tinker Co..

Raby & Co.,
Caledonia Co.,
Grizzlie Co.,
Never Sweat Co.,
Ballarat Co.,
Prince of Wales,
Sheep.shead,
Coonskin,

— and others.

As may be soon from the following examples, William's Creek was
immensely rich. Diller is said to have taken out 202 lbs. of gold in
one day, with only two men drifting : this repre.-ents about 838 784
Steele* Co. 's claim yielded on two consecutive days 387 and' 409
ounces of gold, and in two months, 8105,000. The Cunningham claim
averaged 125 ounces of gold (or tho season of 18ti2, and°ou several
occttsions gave (iOO ounces, or 50 lbs. a day. The Adams claim yielded
each of its three owners, 840,000. Tho Caledonia gave for •>. time
85,000 to 8(5,000 a day, and the Cameron and Tinker were not Car
behind.

The Raby, in one day, yielded 310 ounces of gold as witneiwed by

Milton &Chpii.i:.. Th.^ Point (!liim yioldod 800,000 in dividrndfl
The Wattio cl.Mlin, 8H5,0(IO. The 12 llmt Davis, .1 vore h.'twoon two
other claiiiiM, ^liS.OOO. Diilor t.iolt mit «10II,0(10. (Jiriliiui Canirron,
«1{!0,()00. Ill ISII.'i, tlini' ciiiinis lulow .lie iiin„ii prodiiwd ?<:i(IO.OOO,
and 20 eiiiniH \vt;ri' .■•te.idily pimluciii'^ tVuni "0 tn 400 runws jut day.
In the Aurora one pan of picked dirt issaiil lo liave yieldi'd .'187 ounce?<,
and 8000 to 8900 to tlio pan was ohlaiiied im .-everai oceasiims. The
Erricson claim, iicoordini; lo Victoria t'ulonisl, produce d tiir seven coii-
see.uivc weeits, between .fune 17tli an 1 July 2!)rh, ISlll, as follows: —
900, <i40, 1,400, 1,920, 1,25(1, 1,300, and 2,<;00 ounces. Two milcH
of creek is said to have avcraired 81,000 to the running; foot, and
that this is within possibilities may bo scon frmn the followini; state-
ment: —

Adnins' Claim 100 feet 8 1

Steele

Diller

Cunninfjhan)

Burns

Canadian

Never Sweat

Moffat

Tinker

Watty

50
500

80
120
120

50
140
100

20,000
120.00(»
240,000
270,000
140,000
180,000
100,000

90,000
12tt,0()()

i;io,ooo

1,340 81,510,000

or say 81,127 per runninfj; foot of crock.

Next in importanecand richness was Lijihtning Crook, also discovered
in 18G1. For a time the annual yield is said to have been larjior tlian
on Williams ('reek, but it was not so lastin;:.

Tn 1801 theCampbelKt Whitehall adjacent claim- yielded >ii200,()00,
and Campbell is said t" have taken out 1700 ouii 'os cd' Ljnld In !! days,
as follows : — 1st, 900 ounces ; 2nd, 500 ounces ; Hrd, 300 ounces. In 1870
the deep cliannid was bottomed, leading.' to the .--ubswinoiit diseoverie.'.
Atone time the Butcher, Auiora and Caledonia i.'laims yielded re-
spectively as Pdlows: — Butehor, ,'J50 ounces per day ; Aurora, 300-0(0
ounces per day ; Caledonia, .'iOO ounces per day. The old eluinnol was
worked for a distance of 16,000 feet, and is .said to iiaveyielded 8300.00
to the running foot. The lollowiiiy; statement, taken from the repori of
the .Minister of Minos for 1875, showing the yield of sdinc ol'the n ore
important claims, will j;ivo some idea of the amount produced by this
Crook : —

Campbell &Whit<hall S'.'OO.OOO.OO

Dutch & See-cl 130,000,00

Dunbar 30,000.00

Li;;btning 153,962,00

Discovery & Butcher 120,000.00

South Wales 141,531,00

Spruce 99,908.00

Point i;!6,(i25,00

Van Winkle 363,983.00

Victoria • 451.642.00

Vancouver 274.190.00

Vulcan 56,955.00

Costcllo 20,476,00

A stntcuiont obtained by myself from miners, and supposed to s;ive
the total yield, is also given. The figures ari> much laiger, and are
perhaps exaggcrat''d, though given for a liter period than the aiove: —

Van Winkle .?600,000.00

Victoria 600,000.00

Vancouver 300,000.00

Point Claim... 180,000.00

South Wales 200,000,00

Lightnin,' 220,(""».00

Butcher Boneh 250,000.00

Dunbar Flat 150,000.00

*2,500,0(l(),0"
4

Grouse Urc(^k was alsK very rich. Mr. Iloniii, the iliHCovcrcr of the
fuinniH Heron lu'ttd, tultl mo tliut liis coiii|)iiiiy tnok nut from l(ll)ii>40(t
ounces per duy, and made «:!OI),nOO.O(l, Tlic (il<l eliamii'l w is folluw. d
fiiraliiiut a iuil(',i.'ivin;^ ijiiiuuiisr yicMs, and \,iis ilii'ii lust.

Autlor Crcvk also yiiddud a lar.'i' amount of (,'old, bntli from tlio
bfiudies lind gulclies, and also from tin' IkuI of the Htrfum. The f^old
was t.ikcn CronisliMllow i;rouiid, as the stream wa-* never buttomed. One
oompiny niide «<.S;i,(MI().(l(l in .'! week>. Ih.. en ek yielded .^r 10,000.00
a d;iy for some liuK in Irtdl, and some spots ire -aid t ) have yielded an
much as 81,000.00 to the square font. Be.si ios those, thoro wero Jack
ol Clubs iiiid liowliee Creeks, and all the tributaries, L'ulches and
r.'ivines of the iiliove streams, which, tll0ll^'ll not so rich, yielded in tlio
af.'f;rei;ate .1 larj^e anmant of money and many in lepuml.nt fortunes.
Somo of these were as tbllows:— Van Winkl', Chisholm, Last Chance,
Davis, Anderson, Harvey, CunuiajJiimm, Cedar & .Mc.Vrthui'.s Creeks,
nnd numerous ^uleht's, ravines and valleys.

These deep plaeers, hiiw<'ver, wc^re expensive t< open before any return
was obtained, and the actual vvorkiie.' expcn.sos w<:ru also heavy.
The Van Winkle mine cost $10,000.00 to open before the elianriel was
reached ; it yielded :i lar^e aincmut of j^'old afterwards, however, ,i vm-
seeutive wiekly elean ups bein-' as follows Sl."),700.()0, 814,OU0.0(l and
812,0(l0.iK»; Cuiminuliani Claim cost ^lOO.OOO.di) to open work, and
yielded jJ500,00(I.O(). Tlie California Claim, ibout the ,s:uno cosfand
yield, nlso the Tontine. The Blaek Jiickeost about 8.")0,0()0.0(; to orion
and work, and yielded S20II,0(IO.OO. In |{iby .\t Co 's claim the pay
roll for 2 weeks is said to liave amounte I to 812,000.00. Mr. Heron
the discoverer of the famous Huron lioad on Grou.se Creek, told me that
their weekly pay roll amounted to from 81,200.00 to 82,300,00. The
fireat expc^nso of workin>,'ean easily be accounted for. The pay dirt was
deep all the way from aO-lMlleet, lar-e pumps wire required to keep the
water down, often long becl rock dit<dies ibr discharging water wero
re(juired, and expensive timbering was also necessary.

The timber, which was ma.s.sivo, cost 8e. piirrunninj; foot, aDdlaf,'giug
87 a hundred piee>^s. The Dislrict was a|s„ far removed from"°iny
civilized centre, and provisions, ..uppiiesand transp.irt wero ex|x;n.sive,
as maybe seen I'roui the following statement, which may be taken at an
example of tlu: hi'^lie.it prices paid it Cariboo at aiy timj.

F'""'' Ii51.50 per pound

Ha.'on t.no

Tea and Coffee ;j.()i) <i

"'^ug'"' 1.50 "

Beef (fresh) 0.(10 "

Beans q^jj ^i

'^'•'ils 0.75 "

^^""'•'^'^ 0.25 per foot

C^""' ^ooU 83U.00 to 850.00 a pair

1 .spool thread 80 'iO

1 ^"% 1% 80.50

1 "ccdle 80.50 to 81.00

\Va},'es per man per day 810.00 to 8IC.OO

hickin- from t^uesnel .Mouth to Williams Crvk bv mo, po^ver cot
from 80.H5to«1.00per lb.

Kxorbitanl i'rei-ht rate.s coiisei|ueut upon the inadei,u,,te preparations
for the great rush were the causes. " It is not thclirst cost of the "oods "
said a trader to a miner, when selling him a darning needle for a doilaV •
'• it is not the flrst cost of the good.s, mine frien.l, it i.s the frei-ht " ' '
The distance to Cariboo via Harrison River was 520 miles." Lillooet
was tlie headquarters lor the pack trains, which were inadwjuate to
accounuodate the great numbers, who, tlier.loro, had to lesoitt.) all kinds
of deviee,s. packing on the b;,ek, with dogs and with oxen. Mr. Canncl
who is well and iavouiably known at Ivamloops, toll me that lie bim-ht
an ox at Lillooet, which was thi^ lii.^t pack aninuil to go into Williiuus
Creek, where it was killed, dressing some 900 lbs., and'^old Ibr OOc. per
lb. Camels were also imported for pnc'king purposes, sover.d of which
are still alive, and to be seen not, far (rom Kamloops. The u-agon road
to Cariboo was liuished in 1805. Stages were run. carrying passengers
mail and express, and easier aceo.ssaml cheaper supplies were the rcMilt'

Tha tc!c)(ra|ili Inm wiin ul^o b<iu<r| l liy tlf I'l'uviiioial <i(iv< riiijit'iit
about tliu Mtiiiio tiiiu!. Tiii'< ti'lu'ir 'pli lino i.« Ikiiiciiis, I'cir it f'nriuiHl |uirt

Of' tllu line built by llir WotiTIl Union Ti'lrijiilfill (^o., wliiitli \V4t |4)
Imvf croNKiMl at iii liiiiij;'s Stniit-, iiiiil wliicb wum ri'mlcivil iimcIiimm an ii
tranHuoiitiiieiitiil iinu by llii' Hiici'iH-rul iityin;;iil' the Atliiilii' Ciibli'.

I huvo ;^iviiia fiiui 'wliiil ili'tiiilcil 'Ifnuiiptioii iil'tln' Cuiibuo DiNti'iut,
boctm8citwiii«ibi!iiii).>liiii|iortitntorthu Uritinb Coluuiliiii di.scovuricH, :iii(l
it jjivud, ;i( tbt' Miiiiu tiiiif, a i;oiiil oxiiiiiplL^ of lypicai litit at a kucih^^hI'uI
uiitiint; eaiiiji. A.s uiijfht lio ixpc tli il, lnwlcss cliiuactoi's uoiijirupituJ,
uiid gttiiil]liiii.Miiiii kiiidivii vieiNWciL' privulfiit. A Spuiiisli piiciicr, bvAna
UHkt'd il'lla' Cariboo ili<;i;iii;4;!< vnm liuii, tiiiswiTtid thai lit: bud doubled it
till bo Hiiw :827,(ll)() ()i» L'unibliMl away in uiio >ittiii); by tlirci' miuer'..
Bui wisu, jn>t ami capal/lc nii'ii wcro iii uliar^^u, and not a Miimlo oiiso ol'
uiiirdor insaid to buvo oioiirird in Cariboo, whioli is an agrcfabio unntrast
to the MouDos oriavtcd ut ibu mining uam|i.s in ihu mi^libourin^ Uopub-
lic. Cliii't',)n>ti«e Bi-iibic was a itTror loovii-loors, lo whom rmw. ami
impartial judL'mont wa> adniinisttrvd. (,'rinio li 'oiine iMiiiiparativoly.
unknown, mkI liio arni> wcrt: practically discarded. Tbis is all llic-
nioio sui]iri»in(;, wbiii Wc eonsidiT tluit llio yield (d' uold was measured,
not by the ounce, but by tliu found ; it bueanic no picntifal that it was
troubKsouic to uidund, and miner- returned iaj.'m'cl am! rouj;h, with so
much gold, ibat uieii and mules hail to be enua^ed to transport it
Accordinu; to Maclio's estimate of those who weiitto Cariboo in 1801, one
third uiado indepeudent fortunes, one-third made several thousand
dollars, and one-third reliinied unsueeessfnl.

During the Cariboo excitement, niininu canijis of less importanee
were almost dipojiulated, and wi're oidy worked during later years
when the Cariboo exoitenunt bad subsided. Among these wore Tran-
quille Creek, Louis Creek, Jamison Creek, Uarritire River, Adams
Kiver and Jjake, Deadman Kiver, Nicola Uiver, Scotch Cieek, ami,
in fact, nearly all thesireams running into the 'riiompson Kiver in the
vicinity of Kamloops. They were discovered principally in 1858
and 1859, and, iu many uasuH, have bojD worked almost without intor-
miBsiou ever since, principally by Chinese.

ROCK CREEK .\NI) Sl.MILKI.MEEN DISTRICT.

Discovered in 1859 and 18()0, and mined to some oxteul at that time
and then abandoned for Cariboo.

Between 1882 and 1888, mining was renewed, and many new di.s-
coverics made. The principal streams worked up to dale are as
follows : —

Similkimeeu Iliver,

South Fork, Siiiiilkimeen Iliver,

Whip Saw Creek,

Nine Mile Creek,

Tulimecn Iliver,

Granite Creek,

Collins' Gulch,

This district yielded between 188.') and 1888, ?<553,50(t, out of
which Granite ('reek produced ^5li83,0Ut). The lattT creek w.is dis-
covered in 1885, ani caused quite an excitement for a timi'.

Cherry Creek also yieliled Well, and has been worked almosi without
intern. ission ever since ; in iatt r years, prineipally by Chinese. 1 saw
a piece of ground in this stream which had been worked ov /r three
times in seven years, and was then, aei/ordlng to Cainaiujii working
there, yielding from $'ii to ^5 a day per man.

i;a8t a.nd west i«io:e.nay district.

First disoovere'l in 18(13. In 18tj5, l.UOO miners at work, getting
from one to three ounces a day per man. The yield hi'tweeii 1871 and
1888, after the more succe.s.sful days, was 8582,878. This d.so includi^s
returns from tlie Big Bend country.
The principal streams wen .

Wdd Hor.se Creek, Toby Creek,

Bull Iliver, Cafion Creek,

Findlay Creek. Quartz Cn^ek,

Dutch Creek, I'eny Creek.

Cellar Creek,
Slate Creek,
Bear Creek,
Hock Creek,
Boundary Crock,
.MLssion Creek,
Cherry (.'reek.

Th(t MtrciiiiiM Were diwovt-rcd At various timoH bctwoi'ii I8C3 luiJ
18HH. Wild HiirHf Cnrk iinMlmnl, butwwii IH7fl uml 18H8,
l»2r)5,780.

111(1 BEND DIHTBIOT.

Till! prinoipnl HtreaiUH uiIiilmI went nN follows : —

Krciii!!! (!rcok, Ciiriu's' Crook,

MiCullouh'.M Crrck, Hinitli'* Creek,

Dowiiio Crook, KiTiiio Crook.

It WHS ilinoovcroil ill 181)5, mill tlu' priiioiimi iniiiiiij; wiis ciiri'ioil on

ill iHtid, iiiul ill iliiit your Froiioli iinil MoCuIIooIi'h (Voi'k oi«oli pro-

(iucod about 8100,0(10, nnd lour, Mix, itiid twelvo nunooH per day por

man wan not unooiiiiiiou. One nugget worth 8-53.00 wan Ibund.

DMKNICA REIiroN.

DiHCOvored in 18(11). The priiicipiil Htroaiu.s were:

Vitiil Crook, Lo«t Crook,

HilviT ( 'rcok, Uhiuk Jaek (iuieh,

Cimiiioa Ilivor, Fiiiliiy Kivor,

Oitniiaiisoii Creek, Bars on Peace River.

Muiiscii Cretk,
TliiK diHtriet pruduoed botwoeii 1874 and 1888, $ J60,000. This
dooM not include the lirf<t and more prolitio yoarx, tiie yii .1 of which in
uukuown.

CA881AR III8TBICT.

The Slikeen Kiver was first discovcrod in 1801 and winked for a
time, liut not with jjivat miccos.".

Cussior proper was discovered byjTIiibort and McCulluoli, who camo
overland from tlio Rod River country. The district yielded, belweon
187;i and 1888, about 8."),200,000. The principal streams were :
Douse ( 'rei'k, Walker's Creek,

Thibort Crook, Snow Creek,

Me Dames' Crook, Quartz Crook,

First North Fork of Mc Dames' Crook.
Miners wont to Cissiar by ocean stiaiucr from Victoria to Fort
Wianj;cll, at the mouth of Slikeen ; tiieii up the latter river lor a distanoo
of 150 miles to Ctlenora Landing by river sacamors. Then across an
80 mile portaj;i' t^i Dease Lake, where a small steamer had been built.
The Stikeeii Ulver runs within three miles of Dease Lake; but it is
not naviiiable on aecount of the L'reat cafioii of the Stikcen, about 90
miles long.

A trail was cut from Quesuel Mouth to Dease Dakc, a distance of
about 425 miles. During the first year, freight across the 8;i mile
portage was 50 cents per pound, and poor pack-horses cost 8250 each.

YOOliON DISTRICT.

Though this is beyond the boundary of British (Columbia, I have
included it here because its discovery is due to a gii at extent to the
miners from Cassiar.

The principal streams are :

Sayy('.v Creek, Ro.-,s River,

Finlayson River, Su'wart River,

Lewis River, Forty Mile Crook,

Big Salmon River, Sixty Mile Crock.

Upper Felly River,
Rich diggings have been discovorod, but, owing to the remoteness
of the district, diffieully of obtaining supplies, and shortness of the
season, it has not been worked to a great extent as yet.

SKEEN.V RIVKR AND STRKAMS OK TIIE COAST RAMOE.

These include :

Skeena River, Lome Creek,

Seymour Crock, Bones Gulch,

Prospect Crook, Douglas Creek.

Lome Creek was the best, and piodueod as follows ; In 1844

817,000; 1885, 818,000; and in lS8(i, 812,000.

VANCOUVBR lil,AND.

Lfcrli llivtT,

HodIh' Hivrr,
Jiiriljin llivcr,
were tlio priiiripiil Ntrramx ;

Nittiiiiiuo IliviT,

S.III •liiitti Itivvr,

('iiwaclilii Itivitr,

111' thc'si', l.iri'li Itivcr is Hiiiil lo hiivo

prcKludil 81ftll,(MMI; uikI Jiirihiti itlvir iiixMit 8:15,(1(111.

A tabular Htuteiiu'iit trmu llio Ui|iiir( :)t' llio Minister of Milieu,
Hlii'wiiin tlio totui I'Htiiuiitod yield of piM lietweuii 1H5H uiid IHHH, \h
UH I'olluWH • —

OOI,D PRODUCTION.

Tabli MhcwiiiK tho iK'tunlly known iiml uHtimittud yiold ni' j^old ; tlio
nuuiliur iif luiiit'M L'liipliiy.Ml ; and the ivenij^e eiiriiiiiu's per iiinii,
per year, I'ltini 1858 tu 188H, in tliu I'ruvinuu cii' Itritiitli Onluinbia-

YlAR.

Aiiiomit »<'tu-
Hlly Itliiiwn )(t

llHVI" llt'i'U »'I-

porU'd i,y
nuiiltii, «<'

Aninunt niUWtl

(<i rrprt'Keiit unl,l

rnrrltiil (iwity la

pliVKU'luii At,

1 ;ii->l 403,7(18

557,l;t;t

'1(1(1,620

" (1(14,22(1

978,301

y;i3,y(i2

" 872,801
" (;(15,52(1
" (120,217
" 503,243
" 443,744

" ,i34,2;iy

" I4y,8(i0

<• 402,713

" 32(1,437

" 4(11.154

(11«,72(1

" 44(1,0(12

" 402,046

I-5II1 2I2,.5.34

215,0(i9

•• 1(18,071

" 174,45(1

" 159,014

" 132,375

122,8(11

118,05(1

150,(108

I15,V85

" 102,788

T.ilnl.

•708,000

1,(115,072
2,228,543
2,(1(10,118
2,(15(1,003
3.913,5(13
3,735,850
3,4y 1,205
2,(1(12,10(1
2,480,808
2.372.072
1.774,y8
1,33(1,95(1

i,7yy,i4o

1,010,972
1,305,740
1,84-1,(118
2,474,904
1,780,(148

1,(1(18,182

1,275,204

1 ,290,058

1,013,827

1,040,737

954,085

794.252

7. '1(1, 1(15

713,738

y03,«51

(193,709

(11(1,731

N'unilier
»t Miiiori
uiiiployiHl

Avermgo
j y«»rly
•nrniiiKi
p«r iiinii.

1868 1
(purttiU ruturii.) J
1H5U

543,000

1,211,301
1,(171,410

i,'.iy!i,58y
i,yy2,(i77

2.y35,172
2,801,888
2,(118.404
l.y!l(l,.'">80
1,8(1(1,(151

i,77y,72y

1,3' ,234
1,..A717
1,349,580
1,208,220
070,312
1,383,4(54
1,85(1,178

1 ,3:;!t,y8(i

',2(1(1,13(1
1,0(12,(170
1,075,040
844,85(1
872,^81
796,071
(lCi,877
(li:i,304
504,782
753,043
578,924
513,943

3,000

4,000
4,400
4,200
4,100
4,400
4,400
4,294
2,y82
3,044
2,390
2,309
2,34
2,450
2,400
■ 2,3(J0
2,8(18
2,024
2,282
1,9(10
1 ,883
2,124
1,955
1,898
1,738
1 ,905
1,85H
2,'J02
3,147
2,342t
2.007 1

235
103

18(i0

50(1

18(11

034

18ti2

(148

IH3

18G4

8H9
849

lH(i6

813

18(1G

893

18G7

814

18(18

18(iy

1870

992
749
5(iy

1871

734

1872

(171

lH7;t

607

1874

l!4;i

1875

187(1

1,222

78.3

1877

1878

820
(177

1H7U

(107

1880

518

1881

551

1882

548

188;t

404

18H4

1885

39(1
24(1

188(1 :

287

1887

2'J6

1888 1

307

Total known and e;.tiiniit<'il yield ol'tjold, 1858 to 1888. . 54.108,804

Averajje imnil'er ol'ininer- enipliiyi'il yearly 2,775

Averaj;e earning.-' per man per year ti'l?

* WadUliiKtou'H eutlniHte.

t Exclusive of aiiunilier uf incii woikiiigoaor proipectingforqiinrtz.

From it, the total yield of };old is 854,108,804. Assuming tliat the
average value of the uold was SKI. 75 per ounce, this gives 8,li.'i0,l{77
ounces, or 209,200 lbs., and, taking the speeitie g-avity of the gold as
veing 16, a cubic foot weighs 1,000 lbs. This gives 200.2 cubic feet,
tr it may be represented by ;■ solid jiyrauiid, with a square base, whose
sides are six feet and height 221 feet.

Of this amount, Cariboo i.s credited with producing about one-half.
According to this stati'Uient, the average earnings per nian, per year,
for thirty-one years, was S()22. Another average is from 1,200 miners,
who cros.sed the briilge at tiie mouth of the (juesnel early in 1801.
Twenty soon returned, discouraged ; the remainder returned in the
fall, bringing down as their season's earnings, 81,600,000 — or say, an
average of 81,272 each.

From the foregoing you may, perhaps, imagine that placer mining
has ceased in this province ; this, however, is not tlu' case — it has cer-
tainly fallen off from the yields in tiie palmy days, but, as may be
seen from the stat^^racnt, it still produces annually nearly 8800,000
worth ol gold.

The .shallow placers are, of course, practically exhausted ; but, with
bettor roads, cheaper supplies, improved machinery, and the method of

working liy liydrttulio powt-r, tin' minfr Mtill obtaiiii* a (sootl rt'torn for
IiIn likbiiiirH, mill vill I'cir iiiiiriy ii ycur

Tlicrc Ih litlli' ilmilit, i»1no, timl cluriin.' tlio iMiiirHc of tin' next fuw
yvMH niuoli of till' ili'ep i;rouiiil in the I'ifi: BinJ, KooliMiay, Himiiki-
nii'i'n, CitHHiiir, ritrilion, uml ntlirr iliHtriulx, wliic!:, rroiii itn rriunloiioKH,
wiiH itliiiniliitiril iliiriii^r tlir I'lirly liiiyn, *ill In' IchIciI itml yield rleh
rt'turnM.

It in i|uit>' ill tliv region III' pnHnihiliticM ilitii new uml rich (iluoern
may \n\ diNcovereil. The iliHtrivt lietweeii till) licud natiTH of tho
North TlioiiipNon :iiid CiirilHiii In Idokeil iipnii im lieiii^' one ol' ^roAt
proinine

Dr. v^ce. l)iiWKon. nnd other nuthoritie" of the (JeoloKlcal >"furvey,
aliK) oonHider tliiit it In i|uiie poHNilile. if not likely, thai rieh pliie. ri4
may be diwovered lieliinginL' to older I'ornmtioiiM and periodn than tliiiHu
which have been worked. Sueh, for iiiMtiillue, iih the eXteii«ive uraVeln
of the Middle 'I'ertiiiry, whieh were ul'terwurdM covered by bunalbi
and othur ijxneouH rockN, nod there Ih roawm to Huppone that tho
modern pincers have bei n eonniderably enriehed by the robbing of
tliew old uravel'*. Hiill older eonjilonienilef., aH fir hack aw thoHc ol
the Carhoiiifeioiix, have been iiut'eeMHliilly wurkeil in neveral eouiitrieM.
TlieHc considirtttion.t are not merely of a iiieoreti'.'Ul nature, but aro
warranted by experience Ruined in Ciilifornia and oilier hicaliticH in
the United Slatej^, in Annlralia, in New ZeaJi'Md, and in Nova Scotia,

[have ti< at' d thii^ ]iarl of (lie papirmoiein detiiil than I tir.'tt
intended, hut I tliii.k it de.«ervflN atteiicion lu'Cauw, as far us I am
aware, it is not );eiierally known llii:t the Province of British C' lubiii
has and still is producing; ^old in sueh ((uaiititieH ; and, in view of thu
discoveries ol' i|u»rt/, within the past few years, I think it is only fair
that attention should be ilik'eeled to this jioint.

Before iioinii on with the ,>apcr, it is, perhapH, not out of place to
say a few words ri nurdiiif: U. oriyin of the yold in the sand and
gravel .

One theory is that, throuj^h tit action of ori/iiiilr (i<!(i» and alka-
lilt, the giild is brought into it sta f of solution, and in this condition
is carried by streams to other looaliticH, where it is re-precipitated in
the form of nu^ficts by organic matter, sueh as frajiiiients of coal, etc.
In a geolii'^ieal sense, then, gold may be, uml probably is, largely dis-
trihuted in this way. The usual tluory, however, is that, tlirou'.^h the
ageiicj of air, frost, etc.. pre exi.'-ting vein matt*'r and rocks containing
the gold became decomposed and destroyed, and the indestruetible
gold is then iIe]posited in a eoneenlrated form in the variouH localities,
where it has been tound by the foUowiim agencies:

(1) The present system of water courses.

(2) Older systems of water courses, following the same general
directions as the present systems, and in many jilaos coincieling with
the latter.

(3) Still older water systems.

(4) By the action'of glaciers.

By these agencies, then, the gold is depositi'd iviih Varying richness
in many loealitiis. In the iieds of modern streams, in the older chan-
nels, on benches, in gulches, valleys, and ravines ; sometimes near the
surface, but often deeply buried under barren soil or ingeouij rock.
BiMng found under so many varying circujistances, much must be left
to the ingenuity of the miner. The general principles, however, for
working are about as follows: —

MF.TIIdDS OF WCUlKINd I'LACIiR MINES.

The following tools, appliances, and requisites are used in one form
or another in placer mining, thou'.;h, in individual cases, all may not
be reejuired. A pleiititiil supply of water, picks, shovels, axes, drills,
hammers, crowbars, wheelbarrows, hoisting bucket, rope, nails, magnet,
blow-pan, cross-cut saw, whip saw, small car, minors' pan, cradle,
((uicksilver, pumjis, derricks, waU'r wheels, sluices, wing dams, etc.

Most of Ihe above appliances are in such general use that a descrip-
tion is unnecessary ; with the following, however, it is not out of place : —

The Miner's Pun is made of pressed sheet iron, is circular in form,
about 14 inches in diameter on the bottom, IS inciies on the top, and
live inches deep. It is used for separating thi' gold from the gravel liy

a sort of ciroukr motion, sjivon to it in wator, tlio pan at the same
time beint: held in a slopin;; piisitiiiii. Hy tliis means the liglitcr sand
and grave! drops over tlie lower side, wliile the blaeii sand and gold
remains bcliind. Tlio remainder is tiien dried on a si'.ovel jr fry-pan
in the fire, and tlie black magnetic sand is then removed witfi the blov
pan and magnet. The pan is also nsed for cleaning concentrates from
cluiccs iind cradle, ami alsoM'or wasiiing gold amalgam where mercury
is used. It is especially useful as a prosp-x-ting tool.

The Crndh or Jfocker is also of more importance as a prospecting
tool. It is a i-oiigli wooden box, say 40 inches long, 20 inches wide,
and 20 inches deep. On the bottom it is fitted with rockers like a
baby's cradle, and it is sligiitly inclined, say two to four inches. At
tlie upper end, and on the top, is a hopper, or coarse sieve, into which
the gravel is thrown. The finer portion nf the latter passes ihrouLdi and
falls into toe apron usually made of blanket. On the bottom, below
the apron, riffles are placed, and the lower I'nd is left op' , The dirt
is shovelled into the hopper, water is poured in with one hand, while
the rocking motion is given with the other hand. The tine dirt and
gold passes through, .^ome of the gold is caught in the nap of the
blanket, the balance on the riffles, wliile the water :md waste dirt run.s
out at the lower end. The following is a sketch shewing a .section of
the rocker.

€ra<J^€

A Piiddlivg Box is sometimes used, espeoially if there be much clay.
It is a box of any size, and has an auger hole about four inches from
the bottom. The atigir hole is plngi;vd, the clay put in ami puddled
with plenty ol' water. The water and suspuuhd elay is then run off
though the hole, leaving the black sand and gold as before.

The Whig Datn is to turn the water from the claim. It -t . 's at
the head, runs in a slanting direction across the .stream till about one-
half is taken in, iind then runs straight down for the remaining distance.
The whole is weiirhted with heavy slmies Ut keep it in place, and filled,
witli soil and gravel to make it watertight. It is buiU of timber.
The space within the dam is tlien worked down to bed rock, and the
dam is finally changed over to the ether side, which is worked in tiie
•same way.

The Watfr- Whc. ! Is used for hoisting purposes and for pumping
water. In shallow places it is an undershot wheel, projecting over the
sideol the dam into the water, and running the pump which is attached
to it on tiie inner siih).

The slttiec uoxis are made from boards which are geneially .sawn by
the miners them.selves v ilh tiie whip saw. The planks are usually
12 feet long and 1 to 2 inches thick. These are formed into boxes K!
to 20 inches wide and 12 inehe.- deep fur ordinary ]ilacers, and larger
for more extensive workings. They are made a little narrower at one
end so as to fit into each other, aud soon become water-tight. These
boxes are then set in strings supported on trestles, and are i;iveu an in-
clination of from 2 to lit inches per box of 12 feet, depending upon llio
character of ihe gravel and ^nld, and the available L-rade which can be
given tlicui.

The boxes are provided with riffles oi'various tonus toeiteh the gold,
which is generally coarse ; ((uieksilver is Iherefure ncit iinieli used.
Where tine, both nuleksilver in the crude state ami ainalganiat4d jilates
are used.

PlacMT iiii;!iii^ may lio ilividcd iiitn tln' iiiinini.' of

(1 ) SliiiUow plaeur.s.

(2) Dot'p piaeiTS.

SliiiUnw plac'i'i's arc .sucli as arc opcMicd fnmi tlic surface, tlic wlio'c
ot the ilirt ^ iiij^ waslicd down to bed rock, llic latter beiiii,' not more
tlian, May, 12 feet dcip. Tliey iiicdude l]w sliallow beds of pc^ruiancnt
streams and dry f^ulelics, ravines and valleys earryin;; water only durin;?
part of tile season, or pcrliaps carry liii; none at all. Tlicy may thus be
sulidividt'd^into

(.() Wet diggings.

{b) Dry diggings.

Deep placers, on tlic other liand, are such mines as are opened from
bcn(ath, (rr both from beneath and abovc^ a> in the eu.se of hydraiilie
miiiiiiL'. The pay dirt is deeply buricl undcT barren t^oil so that it
would not p:.y to remove the l.itter, and mines are therefore opened by
sliafts, tunnels and bed rock flumes, which re(iuirc lo be heavily and
.securely timbered. Mining of this description may also be classified
under two heads, viz. : —

((/) J)ecp placer mining by hand.

{!>) Hydraulic mining.

Let us first take a case of shallow jilaccr mining under class {<i) or
wet diggings.

Fig. 1 represents a cross section of the stream, say 50 feet wide,

showing the surface of

'<i\, //■ tlie water, the gravel

beneath, the bed rock,
t'lO st<'ep banks of the
stream with benches on
either side.

A plan would be sonu'thing like the following, in which, as is usually
he case, the claim is lOfl feet lonir.

The boundaries having been staked out, the wing dam is first put in,
and is either closed across at the lower end of tlu^ claim, or, as is usually
tlic case, carried on far enough to keep the claim clear of water. Th-j
water wheel and pump arc then put into position, tint wheel projecting
over the side of the dam into the wati'r, the axle of which actuates the
pump, which in this class nf milling is usually of a primitive characler,
consisting of a wooden ho.\ through whieli a scries of canvas buckets
are cari'ied mi an endless band. Thi^ sluice boxes are then .strung out
in p<isitioii, the >lopc and length de])eiiding upeii the eliaractcr of the
gold, the available grade, and the means of the miners. As a genoral
rule, the larger the string of boxes the more thoroughly is the gold
saved. Thi' riffles are then put into the .-luice boxes. All then being
in position, water is admittid into the sluices, the pump is 8e> in
motieii, and the procesi of shovelling in the sand and gravel goes on.
The latt<;r is carried througii the sluices by the force of the water and
irocs off as tailiuus, while the gold and heavy black sand settle iuf.o the
ritties, from which it is removed at stated intervals, u.sually at the
weekly clean tip. 'f he process of working a shallow dry placer is much
the same, save that , as water is absent, enough to supply the sluiei^ must
be brought by ditches, and the wing dam is unnecessary.

Miiiiim laws in Hritish Columbia limit the size of placer claims,
which can oiil\ l:ike in lOlt teet in length of stream in the easeof ereek
and bar diggings, ami UK) feet square in benili and dry diggiiig.s.
Where a new stream is discovered tlics(^ claims, as above, are staked off,
and if the ground is shalltiw it is werked as has Ik'Cq described. If, on
the other hand, the ground is deep, as is usually the ease in the old
ehanncls and aUo in many of the modern streams, such metliods would
be too expensive to employ, and in such cases deep placer mining by
hand is resorted too. This consists essentially either in running a Irift
or bed rock flumi^ to strike the bed rock, or in sinking a sliafl at the
side of the sir'am in .solid ground and driftiiivr out to strike the bed
rock, as is howu in the following sketehj

/ y/ ^^- "^ '-"* *

in which the shaft goos down thnm^'li tlic rim rock forming tlie banks
of the stream, and at the lower enil of the ehiim. Wlien tlie miners
think they are deep enon^h. a trial drift is run out to strike the bed
rock of the present stream or old channel, as the case may be ; and when
this is struck, the aravel is hoisted through the shaft to^the surface, and
washed in sluices as before. These underground workings require to bo
heavily and securely timbered, for the life of the miner to a grout extent
depends upon this. Powerful pumps are also required to keep tlie
drifts clear of water. The iioisting and pumping gear is usually
actuated by water power obtiiiiied from water wheels; and if the height
to which the water Ikis to be lifted is too great, flumes from one claim
to another, the expense of which is shared by the various companies,
require to be built. A better plan, when practicable, is to run a
tunnel with sufficient sliipc for drainage to strike the bed rock at the
required place ; the sluices are then ;-et in the tunnel if water can be
admitted ; if not at the mouth of the tunnel, and washing goes on as
before. Bench claims being in dry ground, and otien high above the
level of the streams, iire easier to work. The main difficulty there is to
liring water to the ground ; to do this, long ditches are often required.
Water wheels are utilized when practicabU', one such wheel on (iuesucll
Eiver being (iO fict in diameter. In the vicinity of Clinton, in a piece
of ground where water wasdifficult to obtain, it was brought across the
Fraser river in rubber hose. We can thus see that uiuoh ingenuity is
exercised by the miner in accomplishing liis end.

Such methods as the above are utilized when the ditr'-'ings arc
shallow or reasonably .so, and when they are rich enough to bear tlio
expense of such costly work. When this is not the case, or when the
richer ground has been exhausted, the ground can only be pro8tably
worked by hydraulic power. In view of the fact that much of the
mining urouud now left in JJri^ish Columbia is ol this character, J
propose to give a more detailed description of this method of mining,
from which, in thceour.se of the next tew years, much in the way of
developments can reasoiiabiy be expicted.

In such cases small claims as specified above conld not be protitably
worked; and to encourage the industry, leases of mining property are
gi ven as follows : —
In dry liiggivgs, 10 acres.

In bar dlyglngs unworked, J mile in length al<ing hiu'h water mark,
In har diggings, worked and abandoned, IJ miles in length along high

water mark.
In Creak claims on abandoned streams, li miles.
In lidiih Lands adjoining unworked or abandoned streams, KiO acres.
Hydraulic Mining is that process of extracting gold from auriferous
gravel by means of water under great jircssure, discharged through
pipes and nozzles again.'<t the hank. Or, in other word<, the same
agency which origin: lly buried .md cniieeiitrated the gold in the gravel
is by this method fiirced to strip and separate ii again.
It is absolutely necessary tliat there .should be : —
(1) A plentiful su))ply of water under pressure,
/2j Good facilities fir i;raiie and dnnip.

Tho riclifst (l(!posit of i,'oUl is found usually in a stratum oiiiht. to
Uh ft'L't thick ininifdiiit .ly over \\w bed rock nf tlm old ehanuel ; and
if this is slato, as is f,'enL'rally, tlmuj^li not necessarily, the case, it also
penetrates into the crevices, scams and holes ; so that such bed rock
is more likely ti) be rich than smoother and harder rocks. Such a
deposit bcinji suspcctrd or known, it is first ncccssiuy, or at all events
desirable, to explore the j;round by means of shafts and drifts to learn
something about the depth, extent, character and richnusH of the
deposit. A plentiful sup;ily of water must also bo provided for,
and brought to the ground by ditches, lumes, or pipes.

The site of the tunnd is then oliosen, giving due regard to the dis-
posal of tailings, and the grade whicl' should be given to provide for
the drainage of the mine and the economical washing of the gravel.
The size of thi: tuunel must also be decided. This depends upon the
extent of tlic deposit and how it is to be worked; that is to say
whether a single or double line of sluices is to be employed.

The sluices and riffles must also be prepared — no small undertaking,
when it is remembered that, in soaie cases, they are over a mile in
length. They may range in size from 10" in width and 12" in depth,
to five feet or more in widtli and three feet in depth. They are made
from planking, one to two inches thick, securely and tightly put
together, and must be strongly mounted on sills and firmly supported
by trestle work where necessary, to withstand the great pressure of
water. The rijffieK are of various forms, and differ niiiteriaiiy from
those employed in ordinary placer mining, some of the more common
and bcfUr forms being as follows : —

Block RijHes .tre of two kinds, namely Sqit'iir Block Riffles and
RiiHiul Block RljUcx. Ill the first case, the blocks are sawn go'id
dimensions, b.iing 10 x 10 x It) inches, but the size, of course, may
vary ; these are plaojd in position, with spaces between, in much the
same way as block pavements on our roads are laid. The round block
riffles are blocks sawn siiuure off from the trunks of trees and set on
end in the sluices.

Rock Rvjjies are stones laid in placi; in the same way, and are durable,
effective, and cheap; but are more difficul"^ to remove when cleaning
uii. They can be very profitably employed in the lower part of tiie
sluici', wlien the catch of gold is not so great.

R:iil Eljlles made from scantling, built in sets usually of nbout
eight feet long ; the upper part is protected by strips of iron, and the
whole is laid lengthwise in the sluice. Or the riffles, as a whole, may
be a combination of the above methods.

The length of the sluici' de()ends mainly upon the di.sposal of the
tailings, for all the coarse gold and a large percentage of the fine gold
is found in the first 400 feet of the sluice. The slope given to the
boxes depends upon the character of the gold and tlu! gravel in which
it is found, heavy material reciuiring more slope and water than
lighter material. If tho grade is too great, the .sand is apt to pack in
the riffles, and a slope of about seven inches to the box of 12 feet
generally works well.

Grir.-^licx and itiiJcirKcrriitu aie also used. A gi'i~.-Jij is put in when
a drop can be given to a line of sluices, and is especially neees.sary
when cement and pijie-elay are present. They consist es.sentially of
parallel iron bars, such as ))ieces of railroad iroii, set with spaces
between, which allows the finer material to past through, the cement
and clay being pulverized by the fall into the sluice or undercurrent
below, while the heavy boulders go over the side.

UndeixHirciiti are large settling boxes, say 20 x 40 feet (tho size
varies), set to one side of thi' line of sluic box.'s, and with less slope
than tin' latter. They are provided with riffles as in the sluices. The
water enters at the upper end and re-eritirs the sluice at the lower end.
Most of the remainin.; gold is caught in the.se undercurrents.

These preliminaries having been settled, the work of opetiiug the
claim begins as follows :— The tunnel, or oivn cut and tunnel combined,
is started with the proper gride to strike the deposit, say 20 feet below
bed rock to provide for contingencies, such as holes, etc., and also to
make sure of being below bed rock ; otherwise, it is money and labour
lost. The tunnel if veiMvly timbered as the work progresses, and is
carried well into the ImI rock under the deposit, curves being avoided

as much as possible. A sliiift, usually vertical, is then sunk cither to
strike the tunnel directly, or at a short disliiiice to one side, and, in the
latter oiise, the two are connected by a short drift. The shaft must be
securely timbered and laf;ged throughout to within about eight feet of
the surface. The ditches, or slniees, carry the water to u distributing
point, usually some high point convenient to the claim, where the
pressure box i.s situated ; from the Inter it is carried by iron pipes or
canvas liose to the claim, nozzles being provided to direct tho water
against the bank. Good forms of the latter are fitted with ball and
socket joints, so that they may easily be turned in any direction. The
pipes are made of light sheet iron, and fit into each other like stove-
pipes; or they may have lead joints, if thought advisable. All being
in readiness, water is turned on and washing through the shaft begins.
The first wasliings must be made with care, and al! tho .-oil or gravel
within as great a radius as po.ssiblc earefuliy sloped and drawn toward
the mouth of the shaft before tlio timbering is removed. By this means
caves and washes arc avoided. As the work progresses, the timbers arc
removed till bed rock at the bottom of the shatt is n ached, and, finally
an open cut in front of the tunnel is made. The mine may then bo said
to be opened. The bank is undermined, caved, and washed into the bed
rock flume, here taking the place of the sluice boxes, and the latter is
carried forward as the bank recedes. Qiuehsih'er is largely employed,
the charging being done at the head of the uluice. It is added at
intervals, as required, being regulated by the amount iu view iu the
riffles. The quantity used depends upon the length of the sluice.

Hydraulic mining is a development from California, and it has
been largely employed both there and elsewhere in the States, where
long and expensive linch of ditches and iron pipes have been built, the
latter being provided with automatic air valves, distributing gates, and
improved nozzles Immense dams, forming storage reservoirs for
use during the dry season, were al.-o built. By this method, large
quantities of gravel, up to nine and ten thousand cubic yards, can be
run through the sluices it, a siuiile day. The average cost is about six
cents per cubic yard ; so that gravel yielding only 10 k^ i!0 cents per
cubic yard can be profitably worked.

Hydraulic mining is successfully carried on in British Columbia, but
in a more primitive ;ind very much le.'.s extensive ir)anner th.in abov^
The expensive preliminary work is unnecessary, for the proce.s.s, so far
has been carried on in a r-mall scale in Cariboo and elsewhere, where,
from previous workings, the ground is known to m at least rich enough
to yield fair returns; water is also plentiful. Against thes*- advantages
we have the shortness of the season to contend with.

The disposal of sueh ((uantitics of gravel is a sirious ((uestion :
streams become choked up, and bottom lands are buried under the rush,
and in many parts ol the States it has become illegal to mine in this
way. But we need never fear that this will be the case, at all events in
the northern parts of the province; and the succfs.sful operation of
mi s by this method will, there is no doubt, oiwn and develoj) parts
of the province othi rwise useless, and foster and encourage an industry
furnishing u livelihotid ami independence for many miners.

VEIN MINING.

For convenience 1 have classified the various discoveries of minerals
in British Columbia under the above heading. The term is not strictly
accurate, notably .so in the case of coal and iron, and is adopted for
discription only, fiir it is beyond tho scope of this paper to speak of the
treatment of ores and niethcds of mining as the industry is in its
infancy still. I purpose, therefore, merely to give a brief .iccount of
some of the more important discoveries nf minerals in the Province.

As has been stated before, the placer miner is so to speak the
pioneer of tho quartz miner, it is only reasonable to suppose that in the
case of rich placer deposits surmises .should be made as to the origin
of the gold, and if the latUr is found to have a coarse unworn appearance
with fragments of (juariz adhering we may safely take it lor granted
that this .source is not liir disiant ; and when in addition to this, fruL'-
nieuts and imggets of other minerals, such as silver, copjicr, lead, plati-
num, etc., are hiund in the sluice boxes we know, with a fair amount of

ccrtivioty, tlml ricli iliscovurius are likely to bu mailo. This Ims bee i
the ease iii Bi'itif-h Columbia, iitul such discovoriuH of lodnes and veins,
of quartz and iiiiuerais as ahove were uiade in many loealities shortly
alter the discovery of tlie placer depusils, and ihoui^h such finds from
the renioleness of the localities have up to the present time not be n
tested, still tliey arc valuable and intarostin}? as indications of future
developments wliiiK arc bound to come.

As may lit! noticed in every case, almost without exception, where
•placer deposits have been worked, proniisiiig lodges and viins have been
discovered, and this over a mountiiin district extending fmrn the Intcr-
luitional Boundary on the south, to tlie Youkon River ami boj'oud in
the north, a distanct: of over 1400 milrs, and thc^re is little reason to
doubt but that as the country becomes ()peiied_up the mineral deposits
of this vast re<fion will hecome extremely valuable.

1 purpose for cunvenieuce to divide this refjitai into districts as fol
lows: — Southern, Cherry Creek, Kamhops, Yule, Kootenai/, Lillooel
Cariboo, Ominica, Gussiar, and toizive brief notices of e.ieh. In some
of those districts, from their accessibility or Irom other favorin;;- circum-
stancci, more development work has been done than in others ; such
localities I purpose to treat more in detail, not because they are
likely to prove richer but siuijily because in .-ueh cases results may be
submitted to you .

In the Southern Piuision I include all that country to the south and
in the vicinity of Okan'gon Lake. In this district a great number of
promi^inj; lucaticms have been made at the Ibllowing camps and
places : —

Camp McKenneji, about 12 miles from the placer mines on I?(>ck
Creek and not far IVoni the boundary. A working t*;st frmu a quantity
of ore sent to Sau Francisco from these mines j^avo returns in "old oi
StiJ.OO to the ton.

Cavip Fairview, on Okauagon Kiver.

Copper Camp.

Boundary Creek.

North Fork of Kettle River.

Tulemeen River.

Wolfe Creek.

Koremeos.

Amelia.

Maple Leaf.

Bear Creek.

Toad Colley.

Newton District, near (rranitc Creek.

In all of '.hose lnealities promisim; ledges have been discovered, and a
considerable amount oldevelopment work done with satisfictory results
so fiir as they go, but tiie diMiiet is out of the reiiular line of travel and
the mines are not being developed as they would be were the country
a'ade more accessible by the building of lailroads or wagon roads.

Cherry Creek /A'ci'stOM. —In this locality we find two ledges upon
which a eonsiderable^amount of work has boeii done. One is silver
bearing, and crosses Cherry Creek near the placer mines. Assays
from this mine shew it to be extremely rich, one made by myself
yielding 1205 ounces of silver to the ton, and a working test from two
Umis of ore sent to San Franeiseo giving 023 ounces to the ton. The
oth-r ledge, known as the .Mclntyre ledge, is situated about 12 miles
further on, on Monashee Mountain, and shows gold visible to the naked
eye. A quartz mill has been erected at this mine, and both localities
reached by a go(jd wagon road.

Kamhiops Uioisiou includes the Nicola Mines and those claims
situated at Jameson Creek and vicinity, and elsewhere on the North
Th(mip.son River.

The Nicola Mines are situated about ;iO miles .south of Kamloops, in
the vicinity of .Stump Lake, and on Idaho Mountain. A good wa"ou
road connects them with the above place. The principal mine owners
are as follows: —

Nicola Milling and Milling Company (English Capital).

Star Milling Cn., I'atferson & Henderson.

Mary Reynolds Co.

Wright A FlcfcluT.

Silver Kiiij; iMiuitii,' CVi., miuI otlicrs,

A cuupiuiy wftH loriucd abimt 188U to prospect tluwi' t'liiiiiis. About
18H(! they snlii out to tlic Xicola Miiiiiijj; & Milling' Oo., aii Eiii^lisli
Hyiidieate, wlio have (•xpiiuh i| ii hiri;v :i iiiount of money hi ;i systc miitic
and buMUiesH-like iiwiiiur, pnrieipall) on ihre,' of tlieir elaiins, known
as tlie Kin;; Williaui, Jo.-huii and 'J'ubiil Cain, wliieh claims tlie com-
pany are Usting thoroughly preparatory to urectinf; extenHive ri'dueti(ni
works. These mines deserve special nieiition, for the amount of work
done by this company far exeeei:,- tliat ilone by any other eonipaiie in
tiie provinci'. They employ a largi' force of men, arc usinj^ iiiiprovi'd
machinery, have run, ineludin,L>^ drifts and shafts up to 18!)0, some
3400 feet, and the future of tlie camp as a whide depends to a i;reat
extent upon th.^ir developments, with wliieh tliey have so far been
well satisfied.

The S/df Miniuij ('(imiKtiii/ have also done a considerable amimiit
of work on their claims, and have ul.so crect<'d a small concenfratini;
plant, and shipped some IG tons of ore to San l''ranci.seo, yielding 875
per ton.

tJthcr mine owners, as above, have also i)rospeetiMl their claims and
arc well .satisfied with the results. The principal miiu'ralsarc lead sul-
phides and carbonates, rich in]silver, and also earryiiifr a percentau-e of
gold.

Many claims have also been located in the vicinity td' Jameson Creek
which from surface indications promi.sc well, as do other claims located
further up the North Thomp.son and Clear Water llivers. IJnt asyit
little development work has hem done to piove the Inture value' of
those claims.

J'o/f JJiilsidii.—By t!ds is imanf that section of country in the
vicinity of Yale. Hope, North Bend, and 8iwash Creek. In this divi-
sion a number of claims have been developed to a considerable extent.
Some of them are known to b ■ rich, such for instance as those south (d'
]J"pc, which havi' been known for a number (d' years, and upon which
difficulties nuardinf,' ownership liave jirev. nted dcvilopment.

The ore on two oftbe.se claims, known as the Eureka aii(l \'aii Hre-
mer, is described as heinj: (trincipally ar^.iitibrous jii-ey copper and
silver chloride, and assays varyin- from 8'.i.").00 to S2.100 to the ton
in silver ar obtained. I'rnniisiuu- indii ations ar • also obtained from
other claim.s, but. as in otiier localities, lack ef means prevents devclop-
mcnti*.

KdOtnuv/ bii'iddii is traver.sed by the Canadian Pacific Railway,
and important water stretches, sucli as the Columbia and Kooteii.jy
Rivers and Lakes, also exi.st, so that prospectors have been abh' to travel
about in the mountains, and the result of their labour is shown by ilie
large number of rich and prouiisiii,!;' leijjres discovered in the lollnwiii"-
localities : —

Deception (Jreek.
U indeiniere,
I5i.u IJend,
Uu^aboo Creek,
llor.se Thief (Jreek,
Toby Creek,
Otter Tail,
Findlay Creek,
Cojiper Creek,
liull Hiver.

Illccillewaet,

Field,

Fhsb Creek, »

North Arm of .\rrow Lake.

Toad Mountain,

Eagle Creek,

Hot Springs.

Hendryx Mines,

Spillemeheen Mountain,

Jubilee Mountain,

McMurdo District.
Of these localities I can only sp( ak briefly, nli rring moi'e jiarticularly
to tho.sc which have been developed lo tlie Lireatest e.vteiit.

The lUvi-iUnraif Minis are situated near_ilie slatiun of (hat name on
the Canadian Pacific Railway, and are within i siiort disiance of the
track. The Selkirk Minin- and Smelting ( 'o. own a number of claims
and haveerecteil saMj]iliie.i works, othces, Imardini; houses, etc,, and have
also built roads to their mines, 'fliey sliippid, in 1SS7. some :^(I0 tons
of ore to smilting works in Omaha, the in, rai;.' value li.iiii; 7(» ounces
of silver and 44 of had lo the ton. This company is n..\v eonhnin-
itself (diiefiy to di velopineiits in tile Jjanink .\lin. .

Corbin iV Co. also own a iiumher oI'vMluahle elaiins upon wliieh iliey

l(i

have oxpcndi'd n larj;^ niiimint of iiiniicv in flcvi'lnpuicnt". Mr. Mc-
Kiiiniiti hdlds till' iMii]ilc Ileal' Mine, udjoiniiiL; tliu liiiiiiirk, iit SS(I,()()().
(Jliiiui> Mt ('iirili(M) Crcrk ai'i' .said to lie c (jiialiv rii'li.

At tile /■'/(?(/ Minis, olii.sf to tlii^ Canadian I'ufibe Railway station
Fii'ld, II Inr^c aiiiouiit of dcwlopiiiciit work lian aim) been done ; ore
Jiousi'H. offices, eti\, having lieen Imilt, ulsii a (rainway alon;; tlie vein
and down to tlie railway traek. Tliey liav.' sliipjied a lari^e amount
of ore to siueltiiij.; work.s. Tlu' ore i,s lead carljoiiate, and a low ^rade,
but as it i.s ua.iilj smelted, and eonveiiiently situattMl on the railway,
the, mines aro certainly valuable. To the other localities, I can fi;ive
iMily p:i'^sin,n notice, couliiiinj;' niysell' mainly to i^ivini,; workinu; bwts on
shipments ol' ore made from various miiios.

At M(!.Murdo's wc fiml galena ores, rich in silver, and apparently in
well-defined veins. Two ear loads of ore sliipped from the Wells, I'ol-
lock and Ayluier property averai^ed 1(10 ounces of silver and 03% of
lead to tiie t(Ml.

There 's also a well-defined gold belt which is said to average about
320.00 to the ton. A stamp mill is now at Golden awaiting .shipment
in tlu^ spring to this field.

The Spillnnclieeii itinl Jubilee districts also promise well, and are
conveniently situated near tlie (.'olumbia llivcr. The ore bodies are
enormous, and are chiefly sulphides of copper and lead, which, however,
are of a low grade character.

The lint Springa are situated on Kootenay Lake, about 30 miles
from Nelson. Tlu^ parallel lodes exist in tiers on the mountain side, the
lower onus being low grade galenas, whiuh b'Oome richer as the moun-
tain is ascended, till the summit lodes arc reached, where W'^ find rich
carbonates and .sulphides of lead containing Wire and Ruby Silver.

IJeii(/ri/.r Mimx are just on the opposite side of the lake from Hot
■Springs. Development work is being vigoamusly pushed on by means
of an Ingersol drill, 'flie lode is said to be a nuiss of galena, 8ti feet
wide, which assays about 20 ounces of silver and 23/, of lead to the
ton. Perhaps the best way to convey an idea of the richness of these
claims is to give the following milling tests from various mines in 1889 :
No. 1 claim. ..l-i(i tons, 87 ounces of silver |ier ton.
Litllc J)onald. 85 '■ 00 ounces silver .'{.")/; K>ad per ton.
Silver King.... 40 " 29!' ' " 20% copper " "

" " .... 30 " 230 ■' " 20/; " " "

Spokane (15 " 40 " " 70% lead " "

Delia 2(1 " 120 " " " "

Skyline 15 " 225 " " " "

<iallaglier 14 " 11!> " " 814.00ingold '• "

Krao 12 " 05 '• " 50/ lead " "

Or altogether 427 tuns, yielding 50,393 ounces of silver.

Big Bind il/««c.v aro situated on th • bend of the Columbia River,
and are gdil-bearing, though galena i.s also found. l''iom the richness
of the placer deposils, there is every rea.son to siippo.se that they may b(!
valuable. Hut as the region is inaee.-:-sible, and as little devehipinent
work has been done, it is impossible to say much about their future
LAir the same rea.son little can bo said about the other localities men-
tioned in the list, cxceptini; that g.iod assays are obtained and the sur-
face prospects are promising.

Lilhiiiit Dioisiiin. — In this diivision the piiiicipal discoveries have
been made iu the vicinity of Cayoosh Creek, where a gri'at nnmlier of
claims have been staked off. The ledges are gold-bearing, and the uold
seem," to be unilbrnily distribute.! through the ipMrtz in a tine condition
as colors can be obtained almost eveiywiiere. The average assay value
is said to he about one ounce to the ton. These veins are undoubtedly
the sources from which the rich placer deposits of this loeidity obtained
ilieir gold,. ■Old ther(^ isthiTeforc a strong probability that they will prove
remunerative in the fnttiie. Jjcdges have .dso been di.scovercd in the
vieinily of .Seatoii and Ander.s<m Lakes, tliat at .-Vndorson Lake being
described as a strong lode (d'(iuartz carrying galena a.ssaying S!4t;.0l) in
silver and 814.00 in L:o;d to the Ion. In a few of these cuiims a Cou-
siderable amount of piosjiecling work h,is been d -ne, but in the ^reat
nittjority we find nothing l.^ynnd as.scssmcnt work.

Cnnlmo Division, from the richness of its plicer dejio^its worked in

Parly days, has alwnyHbeeii looked u,)or, «» « lomlity from which much
in the way ot dcvolopmcniH in ,,uarlz n.i^-ht r.aw.„„!,ly hocxprctcd
M«,.y lodgcH wc-o known ov.n in Hum. nirly .l,iy«, fron. win,.), in
«cven.l in-tnn.v. «a.00 to «5.()(. a day ,„.,■ „,„n was ,„ado by wn.hil.K
the docompoac.l and o,idiH,.d rock n.utler at the snrti.ee ol the veins
Wo aecordi„Kly find lln.t in 1877-8 eon.panieH were li.nnd U. operate
mines here ; but from cxaf.w,rau.d idea, of tl,e rielu.ess and erron-'ons
vicwHrep»rd,nK the n.e.h.KlH and eost of working' the oreN these efforts
faded, and ,|uartz mining receive.l a severe cheek. Within the last few
years, however, attention has been again turned to these led-es with
what now appears to be a fair ebance of sueeess. I-Von^what is
known of the district, it is ele.r that a great number ol well defined
quarte ledges exist, from which good prospeets are obtained. As is well
known nmeh of the gold obtained from <,uartz is contained in sulphu
rets, which on the .suifaec has l^eonio oxidised, allowing the free gold
to escape, and on several of the veios sue), bodies of sulphurets have
been d>,scovercd. The (iovornment has established a small testin.- ninut
in this neighbourhood, to assist the development of the mine.s, and several
small stamp mills have also been erected. From the Black .Jack Mine
two lots of ore have been worked as follow.. :-No. 1 of 100 tons yielded

f V 'o *'To^'"''' ""'^ ^' '""-^ of sulphurets, worth «-4.00 to the
ton; No. 2 of 202 tons, yielding «4.50 in free gold and $13 00 in
sulphurets per ton. Ey mc».,s of t'.esc stamp mills an.l tcstin.- works
he miners will be able to realize from their ores, „nd thus obtain mon.T
to go on w.th development of their mines, and there is every hope tint
m a short time they mav be able to prove the value of ti.eir'own claims
andjiththem assure success in qu.irtz mining in the district as a

Omenica IHvlsion.-Tbe remote situation of this district will for the
present prevent the development of vein mining, but there is nodoubt
hat It ,s rich in minerals. Us placer deposits would .seem to i.ulicat.-
the existence of both gold and silver bearing ledges. On Vital Creek ■
of tlie metal found was arquerite or .silver ainil<rim \ 1 , 'i
of ledges containing highly argentiferous galenr'o.e i„ largc'bodr'a^'
tilso known to exist which a.ssay from 30 to 130 ounces of silver to lie
ton. A number of tj.se clainis were at one time taken up, but have since
been abandoned. When taken in connection with .li.scoveries in n
accessible regions, the probability - that nothing will be done to I
yelop this dustnct till ,t can be reached in a more convenient man r
than It now is. ""-lunc r

Ca,vs.a/- i>.-.,V(Vm.-Almo8t the .same remarks may be annlied h,,l •
district, in whieh ^any well defined ledges are Lown t ^ ^ :;
which surface indications are promising, and from some of whieh He
assays have been obtained, indicating in connection with the rich pl.cer
winch have been worked that the district in the future will become ;..;
able from the mineral deposits in ius veins and ledges. As re.^ards ,>
situation it could be made accessible witl, a comparativelys man'ont^

The vast Youkou District t^ the north is apparently 'e.,ually ri„b
in mineral deposits. •' • i" "'J' rieii

In addition to the minerals enumerate,! above, many others are also
o be found; such as molybdenum, mercury, antimony, plumb.^
bitumen, asbestos, mica, platinum, eual uiid iron.

The j>/atinum is found as.sociated with the gold in placer mininu
in many localities throughout the province; but its princinal source it
Granite Creek, where, since 1885, some 4,0.J0 ounces has b^en collected
it ^ the most important field for this mineral which has been discovered
in North America.

The deposits of co„l in the province, as is well known are of v,.st
1 mportance The mines on Vancouver Iskod were mined before the
discovery o gold in the province. They are important, both from tliei
extent, quality, and favourable po.^itiun. The output for 188') from
the various mines in operation, was as follows :—

Nanaimo Colliery 223,870 ton.s.

Wellington " 273 383 "

East WellinL'ton (.'(illiery 5l''-i7-' •■

^Jn'on " 31,204 "

''''""' 57!»,i»2!» lon.s.

Tho total output of rami for tlio proviiioi\ up to tlio oiid of I88fi,
waH 4,358,2*21 tonn.

TlicHc! wmls lire of crotiieooiiM CormatioiiH, nnd they urc now lulinittod
to bu superior U) iiiiy otiii'r oohIh oh tho PaeifU! Coast.

In addition to tliu above, wu find tertiary dcpositH Moattcred throu){h-
out till' proviui^o, botli iilon)^ tho ooast and in tho interior. Tho tortiary
area in HritiMh Coiunihiii in ostiuiatod lo bo 12,(100 .-(((uaro uiilos.

JJopositH of irnii also occur in many plaoos in Uiitish (Columbia. At
pros(mt, only such as aro situitcd on tho ooiist aro available; bu., as
tho country boconio dovolopod, tho othorw will also be valuable. In
some eases, thoy occur as olay ironstono in tho coiil series ; but
principally in tho form ol mmnetitos. Little attention, as yet,
has boon devoted to this branch of niiniiii;. Tho only ores bcinj;
worked are those of Texada Island, which is uiat;netlto of excellent
(|Uultty. Tho mines are most favourably siluiteil, eitlier for flhipmcnit
or flmeltinf,', as the Ooinox coal fields aro only about twenty uiiles
distant. The following shipments have been made : — 188,'), 190 tons ;
1880, 3,941 tons; 1887, 1,410 tons; 1888, 7,300 tons. Similar
depoHits occur idsowhoro aloug tho coast, also favourably situated as
regards shipment.

A.s may be seen from the foregoing, the province po.s.se.sses important
mineral deposits in niiioy dift'erent localities, and extending over a vast
extent of country. It may very reasonably bu askod, then, how so little
has boon done towards the dovelopmont and working of these deposits !

Want ol eapitjil and the inaccessibility of the co.intry have been,
and still are, the principal reasons. The completion of the Canadian
I'acific Railway has ojwncd the lvor)tenay iJistrict, and witness the
devolopmonta and discoveries which have been made since that time.
The di.scoveiers, almost without exception, aro poor men, and develo])-
ment of quartz mines require:: capital; for, in most cases, no returns
can be obtained, even when valuable ore is lying in the dump: the
groat hope, thou, is that monied men may bo induced to invest and
help in tho development, fn many eases, the miners aro themselves to
blame — they give exaggerated values to ilieir properties, based upon
fictitious results obtained from picked assays, or hold undoveloped
property at fabulous prices. This is more likely to do harm than (<ood,
and is bound to delay developments. Avorngi result- are what arc
required, and if these can bo obtained Irom a quantity of ore, they
give undoubted proof ;im to tiie value of tli(! mines. But, in the absence
of capital, tlieso working tests e:ni only be obtained under favourable
circumstances, both as regard.s situation and richness of ore, which has
usually to bo packed for lonir distances 1 1 the nearest shipping p )int-<.
Low grade ores oinot be tested in this way, except when reduction
works aro near, oven tiiough such deposits are ecjually as valuable as
tlio richer ores. The following examples will give an idea of the present
cost of shipping ore I'r.nn mines whicli are favourably situated : — .Silver
King .Mine, Toad .Mountain to Nelson, a cllstanee of seven miles, by
pack train, 810 per ton, and from there to Butte, .^[ontana, includiu"
smelting, 847 per ton ; in all, 857 per ton. The cost of transportation
from Hot Springs to the same destination, inoluding smelting charges
840 per ton. This does not include tho cost of packiny from the mines to
the water edge, wliieh, of course, varies with the distanoo. The erection
of such reduction work> in the priiviuoe, then, is of great importance :
First, becau.so it allows miners to receive some returns from their ore
and thus aids them in going on with development. Second, the erection
of such works by experieiiccil men is a direct proof that the importance
of tho deposits are recognized. It is not out of place, therefore to
shew what has boon done in this way.

In the Car 'Mod Dintrkt, stiimp mills have been erected as follows :

Island Mountain Mining Company.— (Jne ten stamp mill, operated
by a fifiy-hor.so power engine, with the view of working a larger number
stamps as required.

Britisji Columbia Miiiii^ and Milling tJoinpany, .Stout's Gulch.

Ono ten stamp mill and engine (on the gniuml, but not erected).

Black Jack t^uartz Mining Company. -A one stamp test mill, capable
of working I^ tons ol' ore per day (operated by water).

Nason & Co., Coakiin's Gui- ' -Ono four stamp mill, worked by
water.

In luliliti'in to tlio iihivi-, the ( Jovcrniiii'iit, with tin- viiiw of ciinour-
ftj^iiii,' iind iiM«i>tiii,' till' iiiiiiiTH, li;i» iii.rtoil II Hiiiill listiim iiml t'lilor-
mating; |iliuit, witli ii ciipacity <il' ulxnit llin'i' tciii> pi'i iliiy.

NKW WKHTMINSTKIl IIIHTIIK'T.

At Viinoouvor, it Niiirlti'i' iiiiil !<iiiii()liii.; works, with ii (Mpiicity of (50
tons per (lay. 'I'liiouuli some fiuilt-s in coiiKtruution, not working lit
proHfnt.

KOOTENAY I) STIUCr.

At Oolilen, a snii'ltiir, 2tt toiiH «apai'ity \m iluy. witli roiistiiiir fnr-
niico, 14 tons ciipHfity \>^•\^ ilav.

At Rei'ehtitlcr a, suioitur, owni'il hy Mk; lU'viilstoko Smelting' Syndi-
cate, cap:ioity liOtons [wr iLiy ; iiUo, Munpliuf^ works, liaviiij; a capaoily
of 100 tons per day, ^pcralod by a 50 liorsc-powor oiiL-inc

At Summit iif Tom Mmml.nii, tlii' Colliiimvo.Ml (Juld Miiiinj; Com-
pany has two Iliiiitin^'dipn Mills of tivc tons aipauity oat'li :iiid two
Frue Viiiininf; ciinci'ntnitors.

At Kiujle (hwrk, ono ton stamp mill and Umi' Fni,' viinncrs, oapauily
15 tons per day, operated >>y a Polton water-wlicol.

A stamp mill now at tioldcii, uwaitiii',' -liipmciit to mines in tlio
spring, Itscapai'ity I am niialile tn ^i^'e,

In addition to the working tests already jjjivi'ii, .some :i()5 tuns of ore
wcro also tested, yielding; (i!>,.')l!0 ounees of silver ; ur say, on an iiver-
ago, 340 ounees of silver to ti.e ton.

In many of the loeilities the sueeess of the eanip as a whole depenils
to a great extent upon the sucee.ssful development perhaps id' .sinnle
claims, where owners are more h)rtiinati' as regards capital and means
to prove the value (d' their elaims.

Another reason whieh has iv tarded aetual wurking development.s
and ereetioii id' reduetion works is the fact that a large aiu(miit of pre-
liminary work is necessary, both to ensure u constant supjily ol ore
and also to determine the methods by which it is to he wurkod, liir in
many eases the eharaeter cd' the me eliaiiges after a certain depth is
reached. As tlu' eoarse gold of th.' placer deposits is derived from Uilnes
iu tlie immediate vicinity, we might fairly assume that the.se led"es
Would be gold-beari\ig. If this were the case, it wouhl simjility matters
considerably, and at the same time materially a.ssist in tlie inmiediate
development of niinr.s throughout the provinci', I'nr ores, if free miliiiii;,
are worked by iimchiiirry — in.'.vpeiisivi: when eompar.'d with the cost of
reduction works reijuired fnr the tiealiiieiit hI silver ores when a.s.so-
ciated with the baser metals. When a portion ol' the ledges Is de-
stroyed, the gold, from the fact that it is acted upon by h-w agents in
nature, is lel't, while the more alterabl' a.ssoeiated minerals, copper, lead
etc., arc destroyed and earried away. In this way in many ca.scs the
gold of the placer deposits may he rolihed from ledges which will in all
probability turn oul in many ca.ses to lie silver-bearing, the prineipai
as.sociated luineral.s being copper and lead, with tli.> iirohability ihal
silverbeariiiL;- copper onis will hi' more plentiful than silver-b,;ariiig
Ici'.d ores, tliounh surface inilications show the latter more abniidant.

Next in importance to the mines them.seives is the ways and means
of reaching iliem.

The Columbia .'oid Knoteiiay Itiiilway is imw uiidi'r eiiiistriietion
and will, I am told, bi; ready to carry dies ne.\t sumiiier. If mi in cmi-
liection with steamboats, now built and operated on the (Julnnihia lliver
miners will be enabled to ship ores direct to the sineitersat lievelstoUe
and Golden at a ccnuparatively small ccisl, and there is no reason to
doubt that these smelters will he kept steadily at work and in a short
time prove inadeijuate to treat the amount of or.' comiiii; in. In the
Kjotenay Di.strict at least, then, .v may look furw;ird to important
developmeius in a very short tiiin'. h;i>cwliere throughout the country
railroads, wagon roads, etc., lor reaching the mines are badly reiiuirod.

This paper has assiincid dimensions far hiyond what 1 had intiMidcd.
It has been impo.ssible to meiitioii iodividu.il eUiins, exi-ept where from
more important deVeiopmeiits I Imve been warranted in dojiiu so. You
will, tiie"elo|v, uuderstiiei lliiil this has bei-ii .ivojded, leii heeaii^i; tliev
were imwoifliy of humh. Ion Miiijily hecaus • -paee woiiid not uiliiw

„„. to u-ivo it. Pro... the u.-«oHHi».ility of tl.o K.K,ten,.y .liMr.ot h»vo
.iv.... it .nuro .pac an,l .Ut-nlim.. probably «t the cxpcnno n „tlu.r

,li.trictH..iu"lly "^ P^""''^'"'-' '""' ''''"''''''^' ''"' "' '^'''*'".' "'" "' ,'T'
My Hitu.U.l. Ti.i. in «i...ply b««au.-, i,. tl.i. a.ntv.ot. .is a wholo

,„oro d«v«lop...on.H have boon made, affor.li..K mo more Uupblo proof

10 pri'ficiit to you. ... ,

Mini...' in British Columbia l.a» now reaoho.l that ^ta^o when oxa....n-

,.tion of U. .ni.uM i,s c„urt...l .u.l iovit. I. L.'t u» hop. th.n, that
with th.- ooinpl..ti»n of th.' ('a...aia.. I'.icilio lUulway. a...l .mproved
f,oiliti..H for travel, capitalintn will vinit th. country ..nd jud.^o tor

thcuirtolvcH, , ,

I ct m.' state, in conclusion, that th« ux.Htonoo of noh, vuluablu and
uxtoHivu -ninoral dq.osiln within th. boundarioH ol' Britinh Colun.h,:.
in ..ow i(lu.iit..l, m.d that it in o..ly a -lUeHtion of u short ti.no t.ll thin
will he a.tioit^ly provcl. The devolopment and work.nK o( thoHo
dem«i.« will orcat. a vuHt a,.d p.!ru.a.....t industry, support...^ a large

,Kj mlation. l...porla.,t tow...H and ...i..i..H ee..treH will Hp.L.K up at
various pointH, railroads will he hull., and British Col.unb.a, I venturo
to say, will becou... ....e of th. richest, if not the richest, aud most

valuable province of our Dominion of Canada.