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Tous las autras axemplairas originaux sont film*s an commandant par la prami*re paga qui comporta una empreinte d'impression ou d'lllustration at en larminant par la derni*re page qui comporte une telle empreinte. Un des symboles suivants apparaitra sur la derni*re image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: la symbols — »> signifie "A SUIVRE ', le symbols V signifie "FIN". Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent Atre film*s * des taux de reduction diff*rente. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour *tre reproduit en un seul clich*, ii est film* * partir de Tangle sup*riaur gauche, de gauche * droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images n*cessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrant la m*thode. 1 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 ijim TO KLONDIKE THROUGH CARIBOO. OMIMICA, CASJIAR AND LAKE TESLIN. ■ A«tAT-» Dli.: » \\. 1-HANKM A SONS. I'1(1NT);HS, PIOOUI » K4..3t H FORWARDING DEl-ARTMENT OF ARVEY, BAILEY & CO. GENERAL MERCHANTS ASHCROFTj«j»j«j«j« BRITISH COLUMBIA SEE ILLUSTRATION PAGE 2 / n N. B.— We desire to point out that goods pur- chased in Canada are admitted to the Gold Fields free of duty. r Havinj,*^ made extensive arrangements /|\k for obtaining the most suitable goods for miners and prospectors going North, we are prepared to supply complete outfits, comprising Provisions, Heavy Cloth- j\/l|t^gj*c ing, Blankets and Sleeping Bags, Boots, Mocassins and Snowshoes, Hardware, Rifles, Ammunition, etc. Realizing that the quality of goods is an essential point to prospectors and miners, our quotations will be in all cases for goods of best grades obtainable. We have had long practical experience in outfitting parties for the upper country and any orders instrusted to our care shall have careful attention. Write us for information which will be cheerfully given. and Prospectors \ \\ w 'vj. \ . V t • ♦. OVERLAND. o (J I < \> \ % ROM Ashcroft to Ouesnelle is J20 miles over a splendid (•overnment Stage road, semi-weekly mail stages con- vey her Majesty's mails from Ashcroft to interior points the year around. Passengers are also carried by the British Columbia Ivxpress Company, who have the mail contracts for that section. At (Juesnelle, the I*'raser River is crossed, there being a steam ferry that crosses passengers and horses at reasonable rates, r'rom this point it is about .lOO miles by the old telegraph trails to Hazelton on this Skeena River. I'rom Hazelton to Telegraph Creek on the Stickine is about 200 miles, and from Telegraph Creek to Lake Teslin is about 120 miles, making the entire distance by trail from (Juesnelle where the Overland Route proper begins, about 620 miles. Add the 220 miles of stage road to Ashcroft and you have a total of .S40 miles. This trail cut out so many years ago, has been in constant u.se since, but some sections of it, more particularly that from Hazelton to Telegraph Creek has not been used to the extent that it was in early days. The consequence is that in many places, trees have fallen across the trail and those traveling through would rather go around a fallen tree than to cut it out. This makes traveling for small parties slow, but a large party could easily clear out all obstructions of this kind and .scarcely delay a pack train an hour. Of feed there is an abundance, from early in May until in Novem])er. Blue joint and wild pea vine growing in profusion. The Provincial government has prom- ised to have a party of men at work on the Overland Trail at the earliest pos- sible time in the Spring and not later than IMarch to cut out the fallen timber and put it in good condition for the many thousands that will pass through in the early spring. This route is very appropriately called the poor man's route to the Klondike. With a few cayuses, which can be obtained for little money and a year's supply of provision, a gun and fishing tackle, a man can leave Ashcroft and reach any point he pleases in the Northwestern Gold I'ields, and will need to pay out scarcely a dollar. A little help, perhaps, in fer- rying or swimming a couple of rivers, which can always be obtained from the Indian villages near the fords or crossings. I f he decides towards I'all so to do, he can sell his pack animals for which there is always a demand in the vicin- ity of Telegraph Creek, after getting his supplies to Lake Teslin, buy a few hundred feet of lumber at the saw mill at the head of the Lake, build his boat and load it, and from the time he leaves until he reaches Dawson City, he en- counters no bad waters, except that at Five Fingers after the junction of the Hootalinqua, the outlet of the lake with the Lewis River, and the Five I'ingers can be run with a loaded boat with safety if in charge of a coMpetent boat man. The country passed through on this Overland Trail is gold bearing nearly the entire distance. The immense gravel mines of Cariboo, one mine alone the Cariboo Hydraulic, produces an average of over $2,000 per day during the r^ 2^3356 Pncific N.W.Histo PROViNCIA!- L13RARY VICTORIA, 13. G. ki,()M>iKi: season, ami which has sent down several washups of $7^,000 to 5S.S,00(i for a siiiulf run. The olil Creek beds that have never been bottomed, but known from their situation and the (act that the benches are rich, contain perhaps as great an amount of j,'old as world famed Williams or I.ightninK Creeks, out of which more than >4U,()()U.0i)O have been taken since their first discoverv, 1S5'). The Ctoldeti River (Juesnelle, from whose bars f3rtunes have been rocked, and on which thousands of Chinese have, for the past twenty years, been rocking, they work a few seasons and by their thrift and industry accumulate a few chousand dollars, and satisfied, go back to the flowery kingdoni to spend the balance of their days in luxury and ease, their ])laces being taken by other Celestials who repeat the performance. The country being thus stripped of its golil with little in the way of an equivalent. The Horse I'ly mines, a ten stanij) quart/, mill, its liydraulic elevators, and deep diggings now producing, but the output to be inucli increased in the near future, immense works on Williams Creek by the Cariboo ( rold I'ield's Company, the Antler Creek Mines, Slough Creek Mine, Willow River, (Juesnelle Forks, and vicinity, the Mon- treal, the Beaver Mouth, and many other promising large hydraulic mines soon to be opened upon a large scale, the I'raser River Mines, and other .sec- tions too numerous to mention, all of which goes to show that the section first discovered to be gold bearing in 1S59, and well named (iolden Cariboo, is yet a promising field for capital. It is not, as a rule, at this time, a poor man's diggings, as machinery is recjuired to handle the water from tlie deep shafts along the creek beds or in placing the immense hydraulic machinery, nevertheless, men do, sometimes, strike surfjice diggings, where gold can be taken out without a large capital. As a rule there is plenty of work at fair wages, 52 00 to 5.V00 and board are paid, and it will be remembered that this Bection is so close to rail transportation, that living is comparatively cheap. The Overland Trail strikes north from Cariboo across the I'ra.ser and past the Ominica Mines. In this well known district, several large mining com- panies are at work installing large plants. The l.Ul Mining iS: Milling Co., of Ottawa, Ciinada, have worked from sixty to eighty men each season for the past three years, and the \ictoria Consolidated Mining Co. about an equal number The mines owned by these companies are on Slate, Manson, and dermanson Creeks. Individual miners are working in this section, and some are said to be making from 510.00 to 530.00 per day to the man. There is a large portion of this district not yet thoroughly prospected. It is but a short journey from the Ominica Mines to the head waters of the Peace River. On the Parsnip, Smoky, Nation and other streams, large dredging plants are being placed, and that section will be brought well to the front in 18 I K I : peeled, and tluTf is a chatUf for tliousatids of prospectors in to the North and List of Lake Tesliii and down the Lelly and Hootaiiniiua Rivers. This section of the country, profiahly 5ltO miles in Icnj^'th, and from JOC) to .W) miles in width, is entirely un])rospecteil. There is no man in the West l)t«tter in- formed, in a general way, of Northern Hritish Colnmltia, than Mr. R. H. Hall, of \ictoria, who has been for tfiirty years in the employ of the Hudson Bay Company, and for many years in charne of the trading posts of the Com- pany for Hritish Colnmhia, and .is such aj^ent visits each .season all of the Nortliern posts. .Mr. II ill said lo the writer a few weeks since: " 1 believe that as j;reat or greater mines than tho.se of Klotidike, will be found in the section of country lyint< North of Cassiar and Last of Lake Teslin, and reach- ing down to Stewart kiver and Klondike. This section 1 sawastnall portion of Ust season, and was much impressed with it as a >;f»ld country, but few, if any, men have ever crossed it, and hundreds of sciuare miles have never been seen or crossed by Indians or whites. It seems to me from the favorable lo- cation and formation that a little of the golden treasure this section contains, has spilled down through Cassiar, and at the other end of this track is Klon- dike, l)ut the great body of gold mining country, is lying between, and mines of immense value will be found in this unexplored territory in the near future." ^ The New York World Sent a Special Correspondent, Mr. W. M. Pindell, to Investigate This Route, and He Had This to Say in an Article Published in the World, Oct. 24th. Put in a nutshell, the route in question begins at Ashcroft on the Cana- dian I'acitic Railroad; follows the Cariboo stage route to (Juesnelle; from Ouesnclle follows the trail of the old lireat Western overland telegraph line to Ha/leton ; from Hazleton to Telegraph Creek on the Stickeen River, and from the Stickeen River to Lake Teslin. Lake Teslin is the very head- waters of the Yukon River, and from its extreme upper end, where the trav- elers will land, it will be an easy matter to transport themselves, their horses and their supplies by flatboat to Dawson City or to any other point along the Yukon where they may think there is a better chance of finding gold. All this without the aid of a map, and without information concerning the wide .stretch of country to be traversed, is very vague and meaningless. It requires, however, only a glance at the nmp to grasp the general features of the route, and as I have just returned from a journey over a part of it, and as I have talked with people who have tmversed mnch more of it, I am able to supply information which will be common enough no doubt a year hence, but which at present is comparatively little known. Starting at .\shcroft, which is a little trading town on the Canadian Pacific Rail.oad, somewhere between 200 and ,^00 miles east of Vancouver, I went to Soda Creek, 16.') miles due north, in the old-fashioned six-horse stage coach which makes the journey twice each week. The road is in excel- lent condition, and there are capital inns at intervals of thirty miles all along the route. It is over this road, of course, that the Klondike caravans of the near future will be passing, and although it runs for miles along the sides of high mountains, it is nowhere dangerous to a rider or driver of any KI.(tM)IKI-. ■ 4 ordinary fle^ree of skill z n m 33 w o o m rO c m (/) z m r r' m 33 CD o o in 14 Kl ONDIKI'. \ tree once in a while or to clear a thicket of underbrush, it would cause little delay, but for a small party it would be a serious loss of time. The country here is similar in appearance to the portion just described. Game is plenti- ful, feed co'-nmon and open land often met with. The navigation from the sea on the Stickeen to (^ilenora is easy, and there are, I believe, two steamers running continually. Telegraph creek is a good point to obtain supplies, and it was easy to find packers there, but one cannot say how the excitement i.nd rush to the Yukon may have affected the place. From Clenora to Teslin Lake, by the pack trail was 130 miles. They are now cutting a wagon road and surveying a railroad for the Canadian Pacific, and large trains will be employed all winter freighting goods and machinery to the lake, and this winter will be a very busy season. The country north of the Stickeen is perhaps a little more wooded than further south, but, nevertheless, foo I for horses is very abundant. Gold is found on nearly every stream, and on the Thulton and Dodedonto rich pro.spects have been located. Teslin Lake is a very beautiful sheet of water, from two to six miles in width and about eighty miles in length. The shores are not high and are generally covered with the same short growth of trees which characterizes all of the interior plateaus. A sawmill has lately been built at the lake, and several steamers will be constructed during the winter. The navigation from the lake to Dawson is open, there being only one rapid which is not of much importance. The river coming out of Lake Teslin is called the Hootalinqua, and then the Lewes to the point where the I'elly reaches it at old l-'ort Selkirk, where it takes the name of Yukon. I believe this is wrong. The Hootalinqua and Lewes are by far the largest feeders of the Yukon; they are also in the same line of direction. Therefore, according to the rules of physical geography it should be called the Yukon, and Lake Teslin is its source. Two noted gold fields are known in New Caledonia — the Omenica, north of Lake IVaser, and the Cassiar, which begins at Telegraph creek. Large amounts have been taken from this locality. In ( )minica powerful companies have started hydraulic mining on a large scale, and, no doubt, the same will soon be done in Cassiar. People with experience in that line and with sufficient capital do not need to go as far as the Yukon. Cassiar offers as rich a prize as Klondike to the hydraulic miner. Larije tracts are not yet prospected at all, even for placers, and nothing whatever has been done in the line of quartz mining. It is known thet rich deposits of galena ore occur on the Skeena, and rich copper ore is to be found on the Stickeen and on Lake Teslin. Native copper has been mined for ages by the Indians from this locality and has been hammered into shields used for currency, which can yet be obtained. There is no doubt that the road from the sea to Telegraph creek, by the Stickeen, will be largely used next spring; and as the great field for pros- pecting will be the upper Yukon, Lake Teslin should be a busy spot next year. For those who wish to take horses or cattle, the way I have described from Quesnelle offers no dangers of any sort, no difficulties. Far from it; it is one of the most pleasant trails to travel, and I have remembrance of '' ^"S!"- ON THE FRASER RIVER H) MONDIKK many happy days eniployetl riding daily along and camping at night loaded with small game. With such a climate during spring, >ummer and autumn, it is easy to forgive a few weeks of cold weather. A. I.. I'orDRIIvR, Dominion Surveyor. Ml r; Thomas Hamilton, to whom we are under obligations for much valuable information, says : He was for seventeen years an employe of the Hudson Hay Company in that section, vi/.: Stuart's Lake, for four years, at Nechaco River, and for some years a trader at lort Connelly. During Mr. Hamilton's time many hands of cattle were successfully driven into Telegraph Creek and the Cassair mines. The route, Mr. Hamiltoti says, is through a country abounding in feed, and the trail is easy for packing or herding cattle. I'rom Telegraph Creek the new trail to Teslin Lake will put interior Hritish Columbia within easy drive of the Yukon markets. .No other route offers the inducement for overland travel to the Klondike that the Cariboo-Cassair-Teslin Lake route does. Thousands will travel it next .season. They will buy their pack animals in Ashcroft and begin the journey here. All along the route they can restock and resupply if they wish at Telegraph Creek, and further, they can spend their time profitably in prospecting the creeks and rivers on their way, and may .strike another Klondike before going many hundred miles, and Teslin Lake, 760 miles from ( uesnelle by trail, is bound to be a great mining section, so say all authorities. As many inquiries have been made as to whether a portion of this route could be made by water to advantage, the following letters are of interest : Extracts from a /titer rt'ceiied from Senator James Reid, of Ouesnelle, to the editor of the Journal: " I have yours of the 14th, and will comply with request as correctly as I know how. The charge by steamer as far as she can go at present, viz. : Soda Creek to Cottonwood Canyon, is one cent per pound, but in 100 ton lots could make some reduction. From thence it can be taken by boats or canoes up to the head of North Tatlah Lake, say about 300 miles from Cottonwood Canyun. This latter would cost about eight cents per pound. This will leave you in the middle of the Ominica country, and from thence via Fort Connelly by land to the Cassiar mines is about 200 miles. "I may say that the Dominion Government has an engineer now up examining the Fraser, Nechaco and Stuart Rivers, with a view to their being made navigable for steamers, there being only three or four points which need clearing out in the whole 300 miles to Buckley House, at the head of North Tatlah Lake, and as soon as these places are made navigable, the North British Navigation Company intend placing steamers suitable for the trade of that route. o > m O O (/) H > O z o c H m I 5 03 o o H m z o c H 'T^ 18 Kl.Oi ;)IKK l.r " Meantime, my idea of goitiR into the Yukon, which is, I presume, the objective point, would be to l)ring goods to Soda Creek by team or train (freight this season two and one-half cents per pound), thence by steamer, which would land freight on either side of the river at Ouesnelle for half a cent jisr pound (distance 60 miles), and from thence by pack animals by the telegraph trail to Telegraph Creek and Teslin Lake. The cost, distance and time would be about as follows: DAVS. I'l.ALl'S. MH.US. COST. 12 Ashcroft to Soda Creek 163 Z'jC 1 Soda Creek to Quesnelle 60 ,'2C 16 (Juesnelle to Hazleton 240 say 6c 13 Hazleton to Telegraph Creek 200 " 5c 10 Telegraph Creek to Teslin Lake 120 " 3c 52 783 17 "This would be about the ordinary time for a pack train to travel, of course, going light, faster time could be made. " Another route to go north is directly up the Fraser and Giscomb Portage, distance from Cottonwood Canyon about 115 miles, thence across a portage to Summit Lake, seven miles, thence by small boats or canoes via McLeod Lake down the Parsnip river to its junction with the Peace River, thence up the I'indlay Branch to near the Liard River tributaries, which lies between the Ominica country and tributaries of the Yukon River. Any of the routes mentioned are within the gold bearing zone lying in a direct northwest line from Cariboo to Klondike. ' ' The only obstructions to navigation on the Praser river are Cottonwood Canyon and Fort George Canyon, and I think if th; latter were improved somewhat, thi former could be managed as it is, s ^ *hat steamers could run from Soda C reek to Giscomb Portage, say 195 miles, at a cost for freight of say not over three cents a pound." From /'. C. Dunlcvy, Soda Creek, II. C. "In answer to yours of the 14th ultimo will say: There are but two places in the Fraser River where boats heavily laden should be lightened of part of their loads, first the Cottonwood canyon, at certain seasons, is unsafe to take a boat very heavily laden through. About one-half of the load should be taken out and packed around the canyon half a mile; there is a good wagon road around. Second, Fort George canyon, where the same should be done. Then you have plain sailing to the head of Tatlah Lake by going up the Nechacc and Stuart Rivers into Stuart's Lake, thence up Tatchie River a distance of fifteen miles to Lake Trombley, thence up Little River a distance of twelve miles into I^ake Tatlah which is about seventy miles long. "Should you desire to follow the Fraser there are no obstacles in the way of boating until you pass Giscomb, or say about eighty miles above Fort George. There is no place along either of these streams one could not unload on the banks except in the canyons. I have had goods delivered at the head of Tatlah Lake for six cents per pound. This was twenty yean ago. No doubt it could be done cheaper now. If there was a trail from some point near the head of Tatlah Lake into the Stickeen River it would pass by the headwaters of the Findlay and Omenica Rivers. The country, I am credit- ably informed, is sparsely timbered, gravel hills with much quartz showing in many places, and while no prospecting has been done there, gold has been KI.ONDiKK U) found by men passing through the country. There is scarcely a shadow of doubt but that rich mines couM be found throughout the entire distance to Cassiar, as many of the bars in the I'indlay have paid well, some as high as i?50 per day to the man, and in every instance the bars grow richer the nearer you approach the heads of the streams. It would be of great benefit to British Columbia and the entire Dominion if the government would remove the obstacles in the river this winter and make it navigable through to Tatlah Lake. The Provincial Crovernment could not spend a little money to a greater advantage to the Province than opening the trail from Tatlah through this section of country by the head of the I'indlay and Omtnica. I feel quite sure they would be amply repaid in revenue from this section in a very short time. By removing the obstacles to navigation in the I'raser and Xechaco Rivers, steamers would be enabled to lay goods within twenty- five miles of the Ominica, whence they could have down stream to the Ominica mines, tiermansen and many other streams where gold has been found in paying quantities. I say nothing about the route up the Fraser to Giscomb Portage thence over the divide into the Parsnip River, as I presume you care nothing about that country. The route by Nechaco is in almost a direct line with Cassiar and Klondike. By all odds the best and cheapest way for persons going to the Klondike would be to cross the I'raser here and follow the trail via Fraser Lake and Ilazleton to Telegraph Creek until navigation is possible. I have traveled over it as far as Fraser Lake and can safely say it is an ex- cellent trail, abundance of feed the entire distance and a road any fairly good pack horse could carry three hundred pounds and upwards. It is a short and easy trip to the Stickeen. Those going this trail could outfit at Ashcroft, Clinton, 150 Mile House, Soda Creek, Quesnelle and Hazleton at very moderate prices. I fear this is far from what you want in the way of information, however, it is reliable and may help you a little. "vSoda Creek, October 19, 1897." tn credit - showing has been From John k'ini^, Spokane, Wash.: John King, a miner well known in Spokane, who has prospected and ex- plored in the Black Hills, Arizona, Nevada, and was identified with the early history of the Coeur d'Alenes, spent two months this year on the headwaters of the Yukon, in the Cassiar and other districts. He was within 200 mi .. of Klondike, and among other things says: "I was within 250 miles of the Klondike diggings, o'.i Teslin Lake, which is the chief source of the Yukon river. The chances of getting to Klondike down that lake and the Hoota- linqua River are most excellent. I'rom Telegraph Creek the route is by pack train and horses across table lands, teeming with grass and well wooded and watered, to Tes-lin Lake, which is a large body of water. There are no high mountains by this route. Down Tes-lin Lake the journey of 200 miles to the Hootalinqua river is made in Indian canoes or boats built by the passengers themselves. From there the journey is made in the same canoes down the Hootalinqua River into the Yukon and thence to Klondike, a distance from the lake of 150 miles. "There are few white men in the Cassiar diggings now, but those there heard of the Klondike excitement before I left. The abandoned placer mines in that district have fallen into the hands of Chinamen, as has been the case in other districts on this continent. I landed in the Cassiar country the 10th of May of this year, and work was then progressing on placer diggings. The 2(1 Kl (iNDIKI': seasuii does not end there until tlie 1st of November. Ihe climate is not half as bad as painted. The cold is intense in the winter, of course, but it is a dry colli and there are no win15(). Thi.s is because the two trading; companies have a mono])oly of the furnishing of supplies and own nearly ,ill the animals. I'hey are the frei^^hters and packers for all the inhabitants. In that country there are plenty of cariboo, moose ami black bear. I'ish abound in myriads. In 'I'es-lin Lake salmon weij^hiny as much as forty pounds are captured, and most of the mountain streams have trout in abu!idance. .A few grouse and pheasant are occasionally shot, but the great game bird of that country is the ptarmigan of which there are countless thousands at times. "I know of white men who have lived thirty years in that section and have grown children. It is a mistake to believe that the country is not in- habitable. The I'iamonil S. company has a trading post at the head of Tes- lin ] o H > r m > < z o I o c o m < mswsnmm 20 Kl.ttNDIKK SODA CRHKK AND ALKXAXDRIA. Soda Creek and Alexandria lie along the Fraser river and the Cariboo wagon road. The valley of the I'raser, above Soda Creek, widens out con- siderably so that the ranches are much nearer the level of the river than they are lower down ; most of the ranches are on the eastern side of the river, on the Cariboo road, some of them very fine ones, notably the Australian and Hohanon's, beyond Alexandria, where extensive and profitable operations are carried on. On the western side above Alexandria are also some large fertile farms, including that of .Mr. Adams, M. V. P., upon which very heavy crops of cereals are grown. r. C. Dunlevy, Soda Creek, reports: All roots and vegetables grown; potatoes yield about -WO bushels per acre ; frost injures crops in higher lands in July; droughts very often interfere with crops; irrigation being required to successfully grow heavy crops ; timothy and clover are the only grasses grown for fodder, which, if mixed, are the best for cattle; alfalfa has proved successful where tried; hops grow well, but there is no consumption; cattle are kept exclusively for beef; no dairying; horses are only profitably raised in a small way, many already in the business, as a rule, only undesirable animals are raised ; the ranges are abundant, and there is excellent feed from the 1st of May until the middle of November, after which ordinary cattle must be fed; sheep raising is not carried on to any extent, but the country is we!l adapted for the business; most farmers raise a few pigs; there is money to be made in the industry ; does not pay to raise much poultry ; bees have never been tried, think the summer season is too short; only small groups of good timber are to be found, as a rule there is little more than is required for general purposes; improved farms, including agricultural imple- ments, bring from 510 to |15 per acre. orESNEKLK. Cjuesnelle is situated at the confluence of the stream of that name with the I'raser, and at the point where the Cariboo wagon road leaves the I'raser and goes in an Easterly direction to Barkerville. Rarkerville is purely a min- ing town and the principal centre of the Cariboo mining district, one of the largest and most important in the Province. There are public schools situ- ated both at Rarkerville and Ouesnelle. Mr. R. Parkinson reports: — Wheat is grown to a limited extent; spring varieties succeed best; barley only grown for home consumption, but does well; oats are the staple crop, ami demand exceeds the supply; rye is grown with success both for grain and hay; peas grow well ; corn is grown only for table use, the season being too short to ripen the grain; light crops on ac- count of the unusual .season; all roots and vegetables do well ; potatoes are the staple crop, they were slightly damaged by frost at the end of August; timothy is the only kind of grass grown here, price $50 per ton; crab apples and most small fruits do well. Dairying is not carried on to any extent, no one keeps more than one cow at a time for that purpo.se; the price of fodder in the winter prevents farmers from keeping milch cows or making butter except in summer; there are very few sheep in the district ; there are very lew swine or poultry on account of the price of feed; irrigation is very necessary. There is any amount of Govenment land open for pre-emption, but there is little of it of much use without irrigation, and generally the altitude is too 1 ki.ondikp: 27 great to allow of successful farming; it is only near the river that land is be- ing worked at present. I know of no farms for sale here. NECIIACO. Many inquiries have been made about the Nechaco Districts, and con- sequently all the information possible has been obtained from all sources. The information is somewhat contradictory, and without personal and definite knowledge of the conditions which exist there, it is impossible to give ad- vice as to its desirability as a place for settlement. That it is a good summer stock range is unquestionable, and from all accounts there seems to be every reason to believe that a sufficiency of fodder can be produced from the natural meadows to winter stock. Its northerly position (about 54.10 N. and 124.10 W.) and its altitude, probably between 2,000 and 3,000 feet above the sea level, would naturally render it somewhat uncertain for the growing of grain crops. Still, with cultivation and drainage, it may be susceptible to great improvement in the matter of summer frosts, which has been the experience in other places with similar characteristics. In any case, situated as it is, it is evidently not a country suitable for a man with a family and small means, and unless a settler is willing to live in an isolated condition, without any immediate prospects of roads, bridges, schools, postal facilities and other adjuncts of ordinary living, he is not advised to attempt it at present. If a colony of fifty or more were to settle there, it would be somewhat different, as conditions would be altered and the lack of facilities referred to would naturally soon be obviated. The present isolated condition is un- doubtedly the reason that so few settlers have thus far taken up lands there. With railway communication, however, and access to the mines of Cariboo, many of the real or alleged difficulties in existence there would no doubt soon disappear, and a very large area of pastoral and agricultural lands would be added to the wealth-producing power of the Province. In answer to inquiries, the following letter was received from Mr. U.S. St. Laurent, Mouth of the Quesnelle: Mr. Bowron has requested me to give you a description of the Xechaco country with reference to its capabilities for agriculture. I am not competent to give the required information. I have asked Mr. Williams, who has a ranche in the valley, and who planted some grain and vegetables this spring, and he has been good enough to give me the inclosed information. He mentioned L. A. Poudrier, I). I<. S., who surveyed that valley, and he thinks that he made a correct report to *^he government. (See the maps and report of 1891.) The best route to reach Nechaco is by way of Quesnelle. It is only 110 miles from here and on a good trail. The trail could be made a sleigh road at very little expense. The Black Water River and Mud River would require to be bridged. The drawback to that country is that there is no market for produce. The Indians at Stoney Creek are raising as good vegetables as we do at Quesnelle. I was told that at I'raser Lake the H. B. Co. are raising oats and vegetables as good as in any part of British Columbia. The fellowing is Mr. J. F. Williams' report:— A report on the Nechaco country, a general description of the country, such as the soil, water, timber, capabilities for agriculture and pastoral purposes, altitude, climate, summer frost, the possibility of grain- raising and vegetables, any swamps to make hay, the time the spring opens. In regard to the above questions, I will ■mm 2N KLONDIKI': answer as far as I know. Spring begins about the latter part of March and the first of April. The soil is very rich and productive. All root vegetables grow in abundance; berry fruits grow immense. I have never seen a better oat and barley crop grow than I had on nine acres last year (1.S95). I am told there had been good wheat raised by the H. B. Co. some years ago. It is subject to summer frost, more or less, but no more than other localities in British Columbia where they raise good grain. Good water is plentiful over all the country. Heavy timber is not so plenty, only in the foothills. Small timber grows over all the country, Cottonwood, birch and black willow ; the feed and grass is growing over the whole country, but it could not be called a first-class stock country, though there are plenty of large swamps that make line hay meadows. There could be a first-class wagon road made with little expense from Quesnelle to Nechaco, that would be about 110 miles; a good trail and right of way is already made from this point to Nechaco, and the winters are not severe on stock, as they winter through without hay most winters. I am able to say, moreover, that I am going back this spring to seed ten acres more and break about forty acres more new land, and improve some more. Anyone to read Mr. L. A. Poudrier's report about the country will find that he describes it very truthfully. There is as fine water power of a good many thousand inches as a person could wish for just about the center of the country, viz., the Stoney Creek I-'alls, about a mile and a half from the Nechaco River. The country in the vicinity of the I'nlls is comparatively level, and it could easily be farmed; the soil is very rich, with a heavy growth of grass and hay. KLONDIKE. m < )f Klondike, where such a man as Wm. Ogilvie says, as he did in a report made by himself for the Canadian government in which he states that there is now practically more than j^bO, 000,000 in sight on Bonanza and Eldorado creeks alone, with a section of country stretching from Cariboo clear throu.'(h to Klondike that is not prospected. It means that hundreds of thousands will find profitable employment for fifty \ ears to come in this vast area. Joa(iuin Miller says: "The gold is here, and let me finally repeat the room is here, but there is room for men only, men with heads and hearts, and spine and marrow, and they must come e()uipped. Here is room for not only thousands, but hundreds of thousands on niining grounds already discovered. I am quite responsible for this assertion, although I have heard it since from many men. Some of them thought that suffering might come of it ; others, selfish in the wish to get plenty of ground and gold in their own hands before strangers can get here. I have entered into every camp here, looked into every big claim, talked to every miner. I have set down the facLs as I have found them. I leave you to form your own conclusions, to decide and to do as you please." Mr. Harry de Windt in f/ir Strand of November, says: "As to the great Klondike 'rush' next spring there is no doubt it will alter the face of the entire region, the climate notwithstanding. R.ailways and steamships and telegraphs will soon be established, l-ortunes will be ^(g) ^ ^, ^t"«t> «o*rir X .c '-y'/Q3 Mile Camp at <>:15; feed tjood. Arrived at Blackwater at 2:50. where camp was made for the day. The present local- ity cannot be improved upon for a road (with exception of the descent to the Blackwater) . 9th. Traveled over a good trail for 17 miles to Mud River, feed plenti- ful but a dreaded camp to packers owing to the present state of crossing facilities. This may be avoided by cutting a road further west, and by bridging the Mud River canyon, which is very narrow. On the other side the trail is good with exception of a few mud holes near Lost Horse ^Meadows, 10 miles from Mud River. Went on to tlu' south end of Nathelby's Lake, where good feed abounds, and camped, covering 30 miles for the day. loth. Trail very rough for \ miles along Nathelby's Lake, but as soon as the trail leaves the lake and strikes high ground it becomes good again to the north end of Bobtail Lake, where good feed is found. Continuing for the first two miles a few mud holes are found, but can be easily avoided. The balance of the day's travel to Tsin-Cut Lake was over a good trail with a few exceptions, where it was found \ery brushy. There is an abundance of feed here, principally peavine. The distance traveled for the day was 34 miles, most of the way being quite suitable for a road bed. 11th. Traveled all day over a very good trail (patches of prairie land intervening every three or four miles) to the crossing of the Nechaco, 37 miles from Tsin-Cut I^ake, where swimming must be resorted to in order to cross. This can easily be avoided by bridging the canyon l'» miles below. The canyon is narrow, and further, has an island in the center very suitable for a road. 13th. Traveled through partly open country until 2 o'clock, then through 4 miles heavy timber to prairie again. Camped on the south end of Burn's Lake or the head of the P'ndako River. Covered 28 miles. 14th. Traveled through comparatively open country all day. Feed very plentiful ; camped on the extreme head of the I'raser River water shed. Covered 20 miles. 15th. One mile's travel brought me to the divide, where feed begins to get scarce, but plentiful enough for grazing purposes until I reached Klwyn Lake, where I made camp for the day, having covered 22 miles. I would advise that a new road be cut on the north side of the divide. By doing so more feed can be taken in, and also avoid the two crossings of the Buckley River, which are very troublesome in the sprir-.,'. 16th. Made a late start, traveled all day through partly open country, camped on a large prairie at night. Traveled IS miles. 17th. Traveled along side hill until 10:20; open country with good feed. A gradual descent for two miles into level country where a better place for a road cannot be found. Camped on a small prairie with peavine and blue joint growing as high as the horses. Covered 28 miles. 18th. Traveled all day through level country and splendid feed ; crossed the Mauricetown at 12:15. Camped at night on what the Mauricetown In- dians call the Halfway prairie. Traveled 23 miles. r m n i 4 w n m z m if fO c m z m 84 KI.ONDIKK 19th. .Made an early start and arrived at Ilazleton at 10:30, after travel- ing li miles over a good trail. Here we once more find a Hudson's Bay Company's store, where the greatest kindness {>« shown to travelers by the genial manager, R. vS. Sargent. The approximate distance between Ilazleton and yuesnelle is 217 miles. TELEGRAPH LINE TO DAWSON. Among the guests at the Palace Hotel is C. R. Hosmer, general manager of the Canadian Pacific Telegraph Company, with headquarters at Montreal, anrings the le coming : John W. company. , leave for posed line lost inter - r the same o. It has ite for the red in 1866 h the con- — a teleg- lent at that le Siberian miles long when the roject to be part of it at le extended last at some e waters of line would ns Siberian I The attention of all intending to go to the Northern gold fields is called to the fact that a duty of 30 per cent, is collected on all goods brought into Canada, or any part of it, that the gold fields are principally in Canada, and that goods can be bought as cheaply and of as good grade at Ashcroft, Kam- loops or Vancouver as at any place in the States or in British Columbia. There are liberal laws for miners. All nationalities stand alike. There are no large royalties to pay, and no reservation of alternate claims. The mining regula- tions are not published in this volume for the Northwest territory, for the reason that new regulations will be promulgated early in the winter, they will be liberal and specific. Prospectors will be able to obtain a license for prospecting in both British Cr.umbia and the Northwest Territories at Ash- croft. The former costs $5 and the latter $15 for one year. Direct railroad connection is made with Ashcroft by way of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul, the Soo Line, and the Canadian Pacific. Through rates are made, and through tickets sold at the offices of any of the above named roads. For any further information write to the advertisers whose notices are found in this volume. By subscribing for the B. C. Mining Journal, published every Saturday at Ashcroft, B. C, those desiring further information of the Ashcroft route, ■who travels it, etc., can obtain reliable information. "mm u. o O I <. a 83 MILE HOUSE Stages Each Way Stop Over Night ^ ^ CARIBOO ROAD, B. C. m I MoTAVISH & 00., Proprietors First-Class Accom- modation for Quests. Good Bar in Connection. Good Stabling and Feed for Horsos u o a. O I (/> <. xKamloops, B. C. Good StaWin f in Connection J. H. RUSSELL & H. HEROD, Props. I"'P" ISO AAile-Ho^^^ 5he distribating point for all the Jiydraalie /^A^ines at Horse fly, Ko^th and §oath por^s and main Qaesnelle ^iver, also the §toei^ Ranges of (JhilQoten and Beaver L^^^ Valley. At this point will be found a good assortment of ©cnerail MerePiaindise. and Miners' ^applies Also one of the best hotels on the route. Information cheerfully given. Vehit & Borland proprietors and gtoQi^ Raisers McArthur & Harper's Is without doubt the cheapest place to buy your Dry Goods Gents' Furnishings -d Boots and Shoes We have the best assortment of new and up to date goods Ashcroft, B. C. Campbell Bros. Blacksmiths and Wagon Makers Wagons anv Bi?gies made tn order witu tbf best of material Horse Shoeing; a specialty 4^ hop next to Collins & Haddock's Stables Ashcroft, B. C. ^uv Soon Chinese Merchant and Forwarding Agent dt ^ Ashcroft, B. C. (Of tk mining Journal t Address B. C. MINING JOURNAL Ashcroft, B. C. Published at Ashcroft, B. C, gives all mining details of Cariboo, <^ J^ Omenica^ Cassiar, and Klondike. Gives all news obtainable^ relative to the Overland route^ who travels it, etc.^Send in your subscription.^ $2.00 per Year KLO] /^ppenbeimer Wholesale GROCERS lDancouvet,B»(r. KLONDIKE OUTFITTING at the best rates that good goods can be famished for Hardware At Miners' Supplies Camp Stoves Tools Gold Pans Anythms Rocker irons Sw^yl" Hardware Mark Dumond' \m Pither & loeiser ^ ^ Importers and Wholesile Dealers in Wines Liquors and Cigars /IS siS^s>§^S>^ a. JI705. /T\eEu;e9... STOCK RAISER Fat Cattle for the Overland Drive Animals for Packing p. O. ADDRESS, Do(5 ^reek, B. ?. General Merchants Dealers in Groceries, Hardware, Dry Goc^ Js, Boots and Shoes, Crockery, Drugs, and Farm Produce THE CME/IPEST CflSn STORE IN THE CrtRlBOO DISTRICT ^ ONWARD RANCH CARIBOO, B.C Trim and Haddock bivery, Sale and Feed Stable Ashcroft and Lillooet Saddle, Pack and Driving Horses for sale and iiire. Rigs l 1Darnc66 Co. Manufacturers and Importers of abbles, Ibarness, BrlMes, ITrunks, XiClbips, Spurs, anb 1batnc88 ^vimminGS Repairing Done with Neatness and Despatch AUordefs by Mail Promptly Attended to and Satisfaction Guaranteed ck I The Cariboo nd ; for Higs ables. lade )oints in ; for rigs. ay and i6 :et anb Despatch Guaranteed Exchange HIS well-known house has been recently fitted up by its owner, Mr. A. H. Walters. It is now with its Annexes a convenient and pleasant place to stay. Mrs. Walters who has charge of he Dining Rooms serves meals of the best to be procured in the country. Rates very moderate. A. H. Walters Proprietor ^be Hsbcrott Ibotel 5 HIS favorite and conveniently located House has been added to so that accommodations are provided for a large number of guests, Tv/o large and commodious Annexes in connection vs/ith the House i^«^«^i^«^i^i^ Directly opposite the C. P. R. Depot and Open Day and Night tr Mm. X^ne Proprietor £ ft M^GILIVRAY BROS, ![ Hotel and Feed StaDles icated The 59 nile House. CAR 5 BOO ROAD, B.C. Colonial Hotel and General Store R. HcLEESE, Proprietor A full assortment of Dry Goods, Boots and S^; oes, Liquors,Cigars,Hardware, Hay, Grain and niners' Supplies, at Reasonable rates. WHOLESALE AND RETAIL Via s^ Quesnefle to Yukon "Charlotte j.i.« »? Leaves Soda Creek on arrival of mails and express from Ashcroft for all points to Quesnelle, connecting with boats going to Fort George, Fort St. James on Stuart Lake, North Tatlah Lake, the Buckley House, Fort Conally on Bear Lake, thence by rivers and trails to the head waters of the Yukon; all in Cana- dian territory and in the gold belt all the way from Cariboo to Klondike. For freight and passage apply to the purser on board. JAS. REID, Manager 4 ?? McLennani McFeeli) & Co. LIMITED 1Z2 Cordova Siree^ VaticotaVer, p. C- HeadqUari Picks, ShoVek <^ Gold Pai|s ^ Pjick Saddles I^iVep pools pog sleighs V \ Sheet steel StoVes, Tents Camp iJten»ii». coinpa«»«»» ^^*=- CALL ON us CORRESPONDENCE SOLICrrED p. C DUNLEVY Hotel Keq)er a nd General Merchant A GOOD stock of GOODS constantly on hand SODA CREEK, B. C QUESNELLE, B. C The Occidental Hotel Is the Leading Hotel of North Cariboo On your way over- land call and see us. \V JOHNSON & HOFFERC AMP PROPRIETORS Y it hand ) tcl ClK earflile Rouse 6. B. Jobnson This well known house has been enlarged and refitted, and is prepared to accommodate a large number of guests Proprietor Good service and good fare. Terms by the day, week or month, very moderate. ]©• a. Prior fi: co. Ltd. Dealers in VICTORIA VANCOUVER KAMLOOPS AQRICULTURflL inPLEnEMT5 sr/iLLKiMbs Largest stock in the province and best assortment /inERK/IN DAW W/IQ0N5 olso Vn NnDlrirl Dniri Suitable for freighting and farm purposes BUQQIE5, CflRT5, SFRINQ WflQOMS All at prices to suit the times. ORDERS FILLED PROMPTLY DANIEL HURLEY JOHN A.MURRAY fbotd t)ictona It- i' This hotel being new and thoroughly furnished throughout, is the only first-class hotel in the town of Lillooet. Persons calling at Lillooet will receive every attention by staying at the Hotel Victoria. Charges moderate. it 'A If I h Good stabling in connection with the Hotel, also the headquarters fcr the Ashcroft and Lillooet stage. Jt Ibutle^ Si flDurtaij, Iptoptietots The Ashcroft, Lake Teslin and Yukon Transportation, Trading and S Will transport those wish- ing to visit the northern gold fields and will fornish them with supplies deliv- ered at the mines, at reas- onable terms. Full details will be pub- lished soon. For particulars, address The SECRETARY, at Ashciof t, B. C. Mining Co. FOR THE NORTHERN QOLb TIELDS 5= ^^::y 6 mmr n/IIL ORDERS LOOKED /IfTER FRSnPTLT J. n. CLEnENTJ bRUQQUT ann STdTIONER flsncRorT.B.c. General placksijiilhs Carriage Builders. Horseshoeing a Specialty. A supply of iron and wagon material always on hand.4t»4*»4^+»4*4«» SHOP ON RAILWAY AVENUE. Ashcrof^t, |3m C. A Large Stock of Wagons, Sleighs and Farm Machinery on hand C. A. SEMLIN Cache Greek Cattle and Horses for the Overland trade for Sale p.o Address Cache Creek B.S. J.G.BARNES Will Furnish Cattle by Contract for the Overland Trail ....The same tobe in Good Condition aboutMay 1st ASHCROFT, B. 6. The Western Canadian Ranching Co • Have large bands II of fat Cattle ready for the overland drive in the early spring Ranches.. ..Chilcoten, Ash= croft and Kam loops J. D. PREMICE rianager Canadian Pacific Railwav^l ^^kmik S09 Pacific Era« %^.^x*.«,*« \ Vsh= TF you arc going to the Klondike gold fields call on or write any agent of the Canadian Pacific Railway or Soo Pacific Line. This is our best route. There arc no customs difficulties; close and direct connection made with all steamers sailing from Vancouver, Victoria^ or Seattle. Rates lower than by any other line. J-^J-J-J- List of steamers sailing furnished on application, and berths on any particular steamer reserved on aopli- ^^llOI^« %^' JF* ^^ i2^ tj^ JF^ tSr' #^* (^•' t^* t^* l3* ^^ 1^* W. R. CALLAWAY Gen. Pass. Agt., Soo Line Minneapolis, Minn. E. J. COYLE Dist. Pass, Agent, Vancouver, B. C. lager ROBT. KERR Traffic Mgr., Winnipeg D. McNICOLL Pass. Traffic Mgr., Montreal qm The Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Ry Is the best line to and from Chicago, Milwaukee and all points East. With its 6,155 miles of thoroughly equipped road it reaches all principal centers Norther n Illinois^ Wisconsin, in - Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakoka, and Northern Michigan THE ONLY LINE Running Electric Lighted and Steam Heated Vestibule Trains..* J* ..•* Time tables, maps and information regarding routes, rates, and other details relating to the road will be fur.iished on application to any coupon ticket agent, or by addressing GEO. H. HEAFFORD. General Passenger and Ticket Agent. Chicago, III, or C J. EDDY, General Agent, Portland, Oregon i y sIE •,t and Lgcnt^