A shallow tunnel driven to open a good surface showing on the Cariboo Gold
Quartz property cut several of these cross fissure veins. Each contained good gold
values. That doubly confirming the optimism with which Wells regarded his com-
pany ‘s programme, he adv ocated the driving of a long deep-level tunnel which would
give a depth of approximately 700 feet on the main or Sanders showing.

In this decision Wells was freely criticized by the mining fraternity and the
opinion was expressed that he was wasting too much money to see whether or not the
ore went down. A shaft operation, it was held, would be more economical.

Not too tolerant of unsolicited advice and criticism, Wells let it be known that
he was exploring that piece of ground according to his own ideas. Today, with success at
hand, this prospecter and mine operator who is watching a great industry develop under
his guiding hand can afford to be more tolerant, for he had proved he was right and
that his mining practice involved, as one engineer of international fame has subsequently
reported, ‘‘not a foot of waste work.”’

If the Cariboo Gold Quartz property had been a failure the blame, amongst
technical men, would have been placed on the shoulders of Fred Wells. Now that it is
proving a success, with some of the largest mining companies in America entering the
same general area and embarking on programmes which duplicate the methods used
by Wells in crosscutting to open at depth the series of parallel cross fissurings in the
favorable formations, it is only right that the lon’s share of credit should go to Wells.

If a ballot were to be taken tomorrow as to the best prospector and mine oper-
ator the Cariboo has known, undoubtedly the overwhelming majority of votes would be
cast for Fred Wells.

CLO

N THIS BROCHURE somewhat more than usual attention may seem to be paid to

recounting the personal history of one man. Justification must rest in the fact that

upon the personal history of Fred M. Wells is built much of the recent history of the
Cariboo gold mining industry.

And, further, it may be pointed out at once that the very extensive holdings
of Cariboo Amalgamated Gold Mines, Ltd., (N.P.L.), were located by or under the diree-
tion of that same individual well before the hue and ery of new discoveries had been
raised by publicity attending the success on his first property.

The assets of Cariboo Amalgamated Gold Mines, Ltd., (N.P.L.), are comprised
of claims totalling more than 6000 acres secured by Fred Wells while practically the
whole of the Barkerville region was still open for prospecting and staking. The same
sound judgment that selected and consolidated the claims and groups w hich now con-
stitute the holdings of Cariboo Gold Quartz Mining Company, Ltd., acted alone in the
selection of the seven groups of claims which W ells located and wine are now owned
by Cariboo Amalgamated Gold Mines, Ltd., (N.P.L.).

This ground has been picked by a man who knows more about the Cariboo and
its lode gold deposits than any other living person. It needs to produce only one mine
out of the seven groups to greatly reward those who participate in the venture of
further prospecting and dev eloping this huge holding. There is, of course, the possibility
that not one but several mines will result from this development,