There is no doubt large capital is arriving in the north from England and America, but decidedly more from the latter country. This accounts for the fact that the Americans are better and quicker informed, and, besides, have more knowledge about dredging and hydraulicking than generally exists in Europe. It is these two methods of mining which will be the mainstay of the country. I have to-day received direct news from Skagway that the passage through Lake Bennett is not open yet, and will probably take another fortnight ere the boats can pass. About two thousand people are waiting to go in at Skagway, so that there will be a big rush for the first boat. The Vancouver hotels are all full of visitors, some leaving for Athn, others for St. Michaels, where big finds are being reported. Vancouver is a striving young town. There is a regular building boom at present. Houses can hardly be got except for very high prices. The winter here is very long. This season we are at least two months behind time. Snow is still falling in the neighbourhood of this town, and only now and then do we see a little sunshine. I have inspected a number of mines on the coast here, and some of them seem to have a fair future. There is, however, nothing very rich so far, and unfortunately we have no free milling rock; it has mostly all to go to smelter.
