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6 The Fraser River Mines.

being the first dry diggings discovered on Fraser River. The twenty-
six claims allowed to Mr. MacHenry” I have reduced to one claim
each, by mutual consent, in consequence of the depth of the claims
being on a liberal scale; each miner looks forward with confidence of
reaping a golden harvest. There are two water Companies hard at
work making ditches for conveying the water to the flat; it will take
some time, perhaps a month or more, before they will be able to get in
the water.

I have heard nothing more of the reported “ Silver-mine” nor
seen any of the men who discovered the lead; other parties are now
in search of the continuation of the mine. Your Excellency shall know
the result of their labours. I understood Mr. Williams had taken
specimens of the Ore to Victoria.** All I can procure I forward
herewith.

I am sorry to state that Hill’s Bar is worked out; the flat at the
back of the Cabins, however, proves very rich. I have marked out the
line of high-water mark on this bar; some of the miners have taken
great offence, expecting they could dig up to the very mountain on this
flat, and indeed the mountain or side-hill will soon be worked. A water
company have already commenced to dig a ditch for conveyance of
water for the miners here, and will be completed in about five weeks;
this ditch will cost about Four thousand dollars.

On American® and Santa Clara’ bars the miners are also waiting
for water, which is being conveyed in a ditch about two miles long from
a Lake at the back of Texas Bar. The parties are Messrs. King,
Severe, and McKay; they are now employing sixty-eight men on the
work, the cost of which, I understand, will exceed five thousand dollars.
Such men as Mr. King deserve encouragement for their enterprise.2?

(12) John McHenry, Richard Dighton, Thomas Wolters, D. McLaughlin, W. Lee, F. Car-
stain, R. H. Maines, H. Knox, C. Johnstone, W. Grash, G. Grash, G. White, and W. Gilmore,
being the discoverers of the flat, were ‘‘ allowed to take up an additional thirteen next contiguous
claims ’’ by permission of Mr. Hicks on October 7, 1858. Later he substituted his own name
for an absentee owner. He now reduces the original twenty-six claims to thirteen, each having a
frontage of twenty-five feet.

(18) On October 8, 1858, Hicks had recorded for J. M. Williams, C. Hyder, and J. Steel
‘*a mine of silver ore ’’ situate, according to the record, ‘‘in an easterly direction from French
Bar above Emory’s and being eight miles, more or less, on the creek above French Bar.’’ The
description of the locality is now, and perhaps was then, quite unintelligible. The claim was a
half of a mile along the vein and fifty yards on each side of the vein. This was in accordance with
the regulations as published in the Victoria Gazette, August 5, 1858.

(14) By the “bar ’’ Mr. Hicks means the portion below high water. The difficulty was to
draw the line of high water. The bar claims were only twenty-five feet square, while the bench
claims had twenty-five feet frontage. He refers to this again later. From the Victoria Gazette of

September 28, 1858, it appears that the dispute as to the proper line became serious and that
revolvers were drawn; but no shooting occurred. See also B.C. Papers, Part Le Daeess

(15) American Bar was about four miles above Hope, on the right or opposite bank.

(16) Santa Clara Bar was immediately alongside of American Bar.

(17) Texas Bar was about seven miles aboye Hope, on the right bank and opposite Strawberry
Island. On July 20, 1858, Mr. Hicks had granted to King, Severe, and Marshall the rights to
the water in four creeks as well as in the lake. He was certainly encouraging them.