Illooet Gold Mining Company

Lillooet River

LILLOOET GOLD MINING COMPANY. In 1857 gold was first discovered in the region on the Fraser River which led to a short lived gold rush. Due to the difficult access to the newly discovered gold placers and hostile Native Americans, an alternate access route to the Fraser River, the Douglas Road, was built in 1858 on the Lower Lillooet River.

In the 1862-1864 period, as a result of the discovery of rich gold placer deposits in the Cariboo region of British Columbia, a new wagon road was built in the Fraser Canyon by Royal Engineers. Most of the miners and suppliers used the new route and as a result the Douglas Road through the Lower Lillooet River fell into disuse.

Transient miners panned the Lower Lillooet River and discovered coarse gold but not in large enough quantities that would have made them change their plans and mine the new locations. (1)

In May, 1902 Louis G. HURD, Charles Thomas HANCOCK, B. B. Bliss, Dr. J. H. Stooksberry and John Mullholland of Iowa Falls, traveled to their claims on the Fraser River in British Columbia. Based on their observations, a large dredge would be used on the river to mine for gold.

The company was to be headquartered in Dubuque, although investors were located in both Dubuque and Iowa Falls. (2)

The source of the gold in the Lillooet River placer deposits is not clearly defined. Surveys of the areas show a thick accumulation of alluvial material eroded and shaped not only by the Lillooet River, but also by meltwater issuing from the Fire and Sloquet Creek glaciers, which tended to impede the gravel transporting ability of the Lillooet River. As the meltwater impeded the flow of Lillooet River, an abnormal amount of gravel was deposited on the bedrock platform. (3)

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Source:

1. BC Gold Adventures, Online: https://bcgoldadventures.com/lillooet-river/

2. "L. G. Hurd Backs Frazer," Dubuque Telegraph-Herald, May 26, 1902, p. 3

3. BC Gold Adventures