Sept. 1, 1865.] THE TECHNOLOGIST. 
BRITISH COLUMBIA. 67 
though comparatively unproductive areas, derive but little benefit from 
their labours. Enormous sums are thus being constantly squandered in 
fruitless mining operations, and cases of utter failure are, as a conse- 
quence, exceedingly numerous. 
Nevertheless, the gross annual proceeds from the mines continue 
year by year to increase, and have at length reached to an enormous 
sum. It is estimated that, during the height of the last summer season r 
the average daily harvest upon William's Creek amounted to no less than 
2,000 ozs., or over 6,000Z. sterling. The principal partner in the notoriou s 
Cameron claim, returned to his native town in Canada, three months 
ago, with 30,000Z. in his pocket, all amassed in one year. And an 
almost incredible instance of rapidly -acquired wealth, is that of the 
three partners in the " Hard Curry" Company, who, one evening in the 
spring of last year, returned to their tents with 1021bs. weight of gold 
(about 4,000?. sterling), as the result of a single day's labour on their 
claim. These, it need hardly be mentioned, are exceptional cases, but 
they are of interest, as serving to indicate the amazing wealth of some 
of the rich " pockets " before alluded to. In this manner, numbers of 
miners have, during the last three years, been enriched in the course of 
a few weeks, or even days. Hundreds, on the other hand, have realised 
but little at the end of their season's work ; and it is to be feared 
that by far the greater proportion have, with difficulty, cleared their 
expenses. Hitherto, indeed, the cost of working claims, and prospecting 
water channels, has been so enormous as to have proved a very serious 
detriment to the general prosperity of the district. Nor are other draw- 
backs wanting. The severity of the weather, the shortness of the 
summer season, the peculiar hardships of life in the wilderness, and the 
fatigue and expense incident to the journey from New Westminster to 
Cariboo, are elements little conducing to rapid occupation or successful 
mining. But, in the main, the tardy advancement and expansion of 
the mining districts, has been due to the exorbitant prices of " labour, 
food, and material." The tax upon the clear profits of steadily paying 
claims has thus been enormous. For example, one famous company on 
Williams Creek, extracted 40,000Z. worth of gold last year from their 
claim, yet were only able to declare dividends to the extent of 20,000/. ; 
exactly one half of the entire proceeds having been swallowed up in the 
shape of expenses. And this is but one of many instances of the same 
kind. They will excite but little surprise, however, when it is explained 
that the gold field is situated 500 miles in the interior of a young colony, 
hitherto unprovided with good roads, and almost wholly destitute of any 
but imported supplies. Until quite recently, nearly every pound of 
provisions for consumption at the mines — fresh animal and vegetable 
food alone excepted — to say nothing of the necessary supplies of tools 
and material, was carried for hundreds of miles into Cariboo on the 
backs of mules and horses, and even of the miners themselves. Hence, 
the price of every imported article rose to an enormous figure at the 
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