# IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 7 r^d? / fc ^ 1.0 110 1 2.8 1^ m m '111.25 ui lAO IM 12.0 1.8 M. ill 1.6 Sciences Corporation 33 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, NY. 14580 (716) 872-4503 ^ ^^' V >^ <^ ^f^ <^\'^\ "^n' <^ ) '' *e" i: - 22 24 26 26 27 28 29 30 32 33 PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA. CANADA. ITS CLIMATE AND RESOl'IiCES; WITH INFORMATION FOR EMIGRANTS. .■.l„ri™?'tl"''*' '""k'J'?''" >■•>■' tt«' I think British ColumWn PUBLISHED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE. VICTOniA, B. C. : PRI.NTED BV Richard Wolkenden, Joversmk-vt PRijfTga 1883. The information in this pamphlet is compiled, as far as possible, from othcial antl trustworthy sources, — the authorities generally being quoted. Part I. — Climate and Resources. Part Tl, — Information for Emigrants. Tlie Index is at the end. Department of Aoricctlti rf, Victoria, British CdLUUBU, 31sT March, 1883. 5 > I BRITISH COLUMBIA. ITS CLIMATE AND RESOURCES; WITH INFORMATION FOR EMIGRANTS. INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. The province of British Colmui.iu (indmUn^ Vancouver, Queen Charlotte and oth.M- .slan.ls alon,, th. co.^st) is that po.'tion of Canada which looks out on the Pacific ocean. It is the only Uritish territory on he western, or Pacific ocean, side of the North An.eri- an contnient. Bron. ,ts conunandin,,. Keo«ra,.hioal position, its tine cinnate, its harl.ours, the variety ..f its resources, its vast deposits of coal, iron and other minerals of econon.ic value, the province nmy of /3r U r- "' 'T/ T^r'"' *" '"'"I'li^te, in Noiih-west America, ot breat Britain and Jrehuid. Vancouver Jsland was constituted a colon V in 1849. The .n-eat mainland tm-rtory became a col.my in 18.5S." Tin- two colonies were unl r Iw ' i continued ntil tlu, 20th .July, 1S< 1, at which chvte th<. colony became one of tJie provinces ot the Dominion of Canada. COAST LINE. The coast, on a straight 1-:-. is about 600 miles, but, following indentations, would measi. X many thousand miles. It extencfs from the 49th parallel of north latitude (U.S. boundary line) nor - yard to he United States territory of Alaska in 5V 40' north lati- wl ^\%e''"*^*'^»' 1'"^-*'°'^ of t"'« »-"oast has a broad mountainous bordei, cut by numerous inlets and arms of tlie sea, and fringed with islands along its whole length. Ituiming parallel to the coast ran^e ot mountains is another range, partly submerged, which appears above the sur ace of the sea, in tlie large islands" of' Vai.couve? and ^!ueen Charlotte, and is represented, in the south, by the Olvmnian mountains of Washington Territory (U.S.), and, I'lo/thward i7the islands of the coast archipelago of Alaska (U.S.). In this outer half- submei^ed range which forms a noble barrier for the protection of the mainland shores of the province, are three remarkable sea rf-^'^i^^'^.'"*^^ "'•''"^ interior, by depressions more or less umked in the structural character of the mainland, as is evidenced 1 1 ' i! i ' UrUTlHH tOLl'MBIA. by the course of the groat drniiiagc rivers. Tlie Frnser ronclies the sea opposite the end of the Str.iit of Fiica ; tlie Sket-iia fiilU into the Piioifio near the licad of Dixon's cntiiince. A ptMsistciit iiorth-w.'st and soiitli cast sea valli-v. uoei'ssilde from the ocean through these sea gaj)s, thus stretehis along tlie \vhoh> sea- hoard, sejiarating ih." island tViu^cd. df.-ply indcndd coast of tiie mainland from the large outlying islands aliove mentioned EARL OF DUFFETUNS DESCRIPTTON' OF lUlITTSIf COIA'MISJA COAST M NK. (Hee Speech at Victor in, jot/i Xfiptoithcr, IH70,) "Such a spectacle as its coast lino presents is not to he paralleled by any country in the world. Day after dav for a whole \ve.>k, in a ve.s.sel of ,i,.arly L'OOO tons, we threaded an' interminahle labyrinth of watery lanes and reaches that wound endlessly in and out of a network of islands, promontories, and peninsulas 'for thousands of mi'es, unrufHed by the slightest swell fi-<,m the adjoining ocean, and presentmg at every turn an ever shifting comiiinatiou of rock, verdure, forest, glacier, and snow-caiij)ed mountain of unrivalled grandeur and beauty. When it is remend)ered that this wonderful system of navigation, e(|ually well adapted to the largest line of battle-ship and the frailest canoe, fringes the enliri' seaboard of your province and communicates at jioints sometimes more than u hun- dred miles from th<- coast, with a multitude (.f valleys stretching eastward into the interior,* while at the same time it is furnisli.'d with inimnierable harbours on either hand, on<; is lost in admiration at the facilities for inter-communication which are thus provided for the future inhabitants of this wonderful region." GENERAL PHYSICAL FEATURES OF THE PROVINCE. The Rocky Mountains proper form the Eastern boundary of the Mainland of the Province, which thus lies between that range and the Pacific ocean. The country exhibits the diversified and bold physical features that characterize the whole Cordillera region of the West coast of North America, of which it is a part. Thfs so-called Cordillera region, lying between the long chain of the Rocky Moun- tains and the Pacific ocean, and belonging partly to the United States and partly to Britain, runs north-westward and south-east- ward with the general trend of the coast of the Pacific ocean, and is divided into two subordinate mountainous districts by an irregular belt of high plateau country running for a long distance in the same direction. _ In tb« Province of British Columbia are included over 800 miles m length of th is Cordillera region, with an average breadth of about * His Excellency, it will be noticed, mentions these mainlnnd coast valleya in relation to the facihties for inter-communication. The naricultural areas on the coast of the province will be described in the sequel iHcr i'»»aclR'H tlie 1(1 falU into the lU'ccssilde from ( the wholo soa- (I cnast oi the iont'd I) lit! paralleled hole week, in a lahlc laliyrinth u and out of a r thousands of liiif,' ocean, and ition of rock, of unrivalled :liis wonderful lar;,'e.st line of :d)oard of your ■f tliiiu a liun- cys St retelling,' it is furnished in adniiratiou IS provided for PROVINCE. uudary of the at range and ilied and bold L region of the Tliis so-called Rocky Moun- tlie United id south-east- ocean, and is ■ an irregular :e in the same ver 800 miles adth of about rt coast valleys he agricultural sequel. IVKORMATIOV Foil EMtORANTS. ft m miles. Proceeding westward from tlie Rocky ^Fountains, the physical structure ai'd connections of th.' rocky formation.s of the country are as follow ; - The ranges of mountains in IJritisI, Columbia thai lie immediately west of the Rocky Mountains prop,,- and fringe, for the most part, the east.M-n and norti, ,.ast..rn sides (,f the irregular interior plateau are known in the province as the Punvll, Selkirk, Columbia, Cari- boo, and Omineca 3Iountains. These may be taken collectively as the reprosentntives of th.. I'.itter Root ranges of the American Terri- tory ot Idaho to the southward. Th- British Columbian int.Tior plateau itself is a northerly con- tinuation of the great basin of rtah ami \.-vada (U S ) It is about 100 miles in average width, closed northward bv an irregular mountainous country about latitude o.V 30', and, to the south, by a* second irregular transverse mountainous region near the 49th parallel. The British Columbian coast range— the broad western buttress of the interior plateau-a chain which begins near the mouth of the l^raser river and runs northward along the whole coast— is a distinct mountain system, uplifted later than the Sierra Nevada of California, and not of the same materials as th.> Cascade mountains of Oregon. r he above. mentioned outlying range, half submerged in the ocean (part y visible ,n the islands of Vancouver and Queen Charlotte), may be included with the Coast range. SOUTilKUX AXl) XOUTIIKRX BOUNDARIES. The 49th parallel of north latitud.- (the United States boundary line) IS the southern boundary of the province, with a deflection which leaves the whole of Vancouver Island within Canadian territory. t, ?•'', ^5*1' P'l''.^'^^'l '^f "orth latitude is the northern boundary of British Cohunbia. [Srr Aj,j,r>ufi,- A.] The area of the province is about 3,)0,000 square miles. A country with a surface so extensive and diversiHed, necessarily presents varying conditions for settlement, and has varieties of climate corresponding to its topography. GENERAL TOPOURAPHICAL DIVISIONS. Broadly viewed, theiv are two grand divisions of the country,- t le humid forest region of th.- coast, anri the dry grazing region of the interior ot the mainland. Vegetation is luxuriant in the coast region ; the soil ot the arable area is moist and loamy. The interior IS more open, w-itli j.lains and valleys, climate dry, timber scarce and rather poor, soil fertile but light, herbage excellent. These different grand dnisions of the country will be described as we proceed At present a word or two on the climate will be in place BKITISU COLUMUIA. Part J.—CLBIATE AN]^ RE801TRCES. The people of Victoria (the rapital) and its neighbourhood in the soutliern jjart of Vancouver Isluud, consider tlieir local climate to he the hest in the province, and certainly the winter there and generally upon the island is mild and open ; but this preference is not .shared by the people of tlie Lower Eraser district, or of the Ulterior district of Yale, who consider that the climates of theii- resp(!ctiv(> localities liave peculiar advantages as regards l)otli health and eiijoyableness. Large portions of the south-east of the province j^ (on Mainland), puiticularly about the head-ciuarters of tlie Columbia, wliere at present there are f(!\v settlers, probably have as fine a cli- mate as any other section. On one point all are agreed, — the general healthiness of tlie British Columbian climate everywhere. GOVERNOR-dENERAL THE MARQITIS OF LORNE'S OPINION AS TO THE CLIMATE. ITis Excellency the Maripiis of Lome, who visited the province with his wife, Her Royal Highness the Princess Louise, in 1882, and travelled in the interioi- as well as along tlie sea-coast, remaining until the 6th December, described th(> climate as follows, in a speech at Victoria : — " No words can be too strong to express the charm of this delight- '• fill laiul, where the climate, softer and more constant than that " of the south of England, ensures at all times of tlie vear a full en- " joynient of the wondei'ful loveliness of nature around you. "Agreeable as I tliiiik the steady and dry cold of an eastern I' winter is, yet there are very many who would undoubtedly prefer " the temperature enjoyed by those wlio live west of the mountains. 1'^ Even wliere it is coldest, spring comes in Februarv, and the coun- " try IS so divided into districts of greater dryness or gi-eater moisture, " that a man may always clioose whether to have a rainfall small or great. ' (See Appc.nilU B fur /lis Excelleucj/s Speech in fit!/. J CLIMATE. (WIIV (iOOD.) "On the western sid.. of the North American continent, the .sum- mer heats are modified by the boi'eni currents and melting snows of the waterslu-d.s, while the severity of winter is not increased by a sweeping nrcri.- current su(-h .-is washes the eastern shore.s. "Arctic currents do sweep down, however, and in .summer are felt 1ai- south, below the latitude of San Franci.sco, but, more difiused, Ihcy donot lower the temper.ature in a corresponding degree, and t:ie coast, open to the wa)'m inys of tiie western sun, and the moist CLIMATE AND KESOUKCKS. 7 westerly winds, presents to equal latitudes on the eastern sid^ very unequal isothermal conditions." (Prize Essay on Vancouver hlnJ, 1802, b,f Charles Forbes, M.D., M.R.C.S., Eng,, Surgeon, Royal CLIMATE. (why good.) "The climate of British Columbia, west of the Cascades, including Vancouver Island and Queen Charlotte's Islands, is wonderfully like that of Great Britani, except that the summers are very much drier A warm current of water tlows ^hum the west coast of America; just as the Gulf Stream Hows np along the coasts of Great Britain and ni its passage warms up the ^ast from Alaska to the Columbia' and gives to the western slope the Cascades those forests which are the wonder of the world. The vapour rising from the warm sea is blown inwards, and, becoming condensed by the cooler air of the land falls in ram or fog upon the slopes and valleys and produces the moist climate of the winter and spring. During the summer months the temperature of the land and sea are slightly reversed, and the JancI, instead of condensing the vapour, dissipates it-at least, in the neighbourhood of \ ictoria. The valley of the Fraser below the Cascades is included in this region, and has a climate much like that described above, except that 1 would expect a ^^etter summer than there is on the coast Iwenty-hve miles above Yale Are pass the outer Cascade Raiure and m doing so pass from almost constant rain to the opposite ex- tr-e. ******* About the island of Formosa, on the eastern coast of China a current analogous to the Gulf Stream is observed moving to the north-east. It passes Japan, and part of it enters Behriiig s Sea and warins the northern part of Alaska, while the other part is deflected farther to the east and passes down the west coast of Amenca, carrying with it^he heat necessary to produce the excep- tionally warm climate of Vancouver and tlie west coast generally It IS this stream which gives the heat and moisture that are the cause of the magnificent forests found from Alaska southwards ****** The climate of the coast is so much like that of England that there should be no better climate for natives of Gieat Britain; while that of the mam and above the Cascades ought to be exactly suited to Canadians, as the climate is nearly the same as we have in the -ast, except that^it is drier for the most part. I think that on the whole British Cohunbia has a Aery healthy eiimate, and one that would tend to ong lif..." ( l>.,^,)..,r John }laoonn, Hotanist, VZ Uytcnn->iirvey, tanmh, EmL CanmHau Coinnmts ComvdUee.) 8 6RITISII COLUMBIA. CLIMATIC VARIETIES. "As a general fact, it has been stated that the winter temperature on tJie Pacific coast, as compared Avitli localities on the Atlantic coast, is equal to at least 10' of latitude in favour of the former. For example, Quebec which is in ahout the same latitude as the mouth of the Columbia, has a sevi-rc Avinter ; while in the latter locality it is cts mild as in the south of England. The southern por- tion of Vancouver Island may Ije .spoken of in a similar manner, except that it lias a greater summer heat with less lunnidity. In the vicinity of Victoria the greatest temperature in the shade in July and August appears to range from 80' to 90'^ Fahrenheit, while the thermometer in winter seldom goes as low as 22° below freezing', and some Avinters there is no skating at all except on " rollers." In a province as large as British Columbia, however, it is possible to get every kind of climate, the changes taking place imperceptibly. If we cross the gulf to New Westminster on Eraser river, the air is more moist and the temperature, though not so great, is more equal, but in winter the cold is slightly greater. The upper country is drier and hotter in summer, especially from Thompson river towards the southern frontier east of the Cascade range. Similar remarks may be made concerning the country northward towards Alexandria. In these regions the winter cold is comparatively sharp. In the northern portion of the province above Alexandria on the Eraser, in spite of the elevation, the summers are warm, and in winter the cold though considerable is not excessive. As a rule, the interior remote froin the coast has none of the severity a\ hich would distinguish localities in the same latitude east. The coast climate may be said to extend above Yale ; then come evidence.^ of a drier climate, and at Lytton, 57 miles above Yale, there are evidences of a hot, dry summer. The greatest degree of winter cold seems to be reached in the mining dis- tricts about Cassiar. The above is a general view of the characteris- tics of the climate of the province as given by. the best authorities. In tlie neighbourhood of Victoria, in the southern portion of Van- couver Island, strawberries, cherries, j^ums, apples, pears, and other fruits ripen freely, and the settled portions of Vancouver T-sland produce the ordinary cereals abundantly. Vegetables, in particular, grow luxuriantly and attain to gigantic propor- tions. The adjacent islands ar~ noted for their fine mutton. The island climate is particularly adapted for raising a superior quality of hops. ^ The valley of the Eraser presents the same general character- istics in point of climate and productions ; but when the interior is reached (by the interior we mean the great central basin lying between the Cascade and Rocky ranges of mountains) there are found large areas clothiHl witli vegetation which furnishes the best description of food for cattle. In this basin — where the .sunnuers are dry and warm— grapes, tomatoes, and melons, in addition to the more hardy \-egetables and fruits, grow in abundance, and with rail- way communication completed to the coast, many of the articlesj CLIMATE AVD RKSOURCES. ter temperature n tlie Atlantic of the former, latitude as the ^ in the latter le southern por- ;iniilar manner, humidity. In n the shade in dn-enheit, while below freezing, " rollers." In ' is possil)le to ! imperceptibly, •iver, the air is , is more equal, country is drier er towards the ;■ remarks may Uexandria. In In the northern ler, in spite of he cold though or remote fi'om guish localities said to extend md at Lytton, summer. The the mining dis- the characteris- est authorities, lortion of Van- 3S, pears, and of Vancouver Vegetables, gantic propor- mutton. The erior quality of leral character- the interior is x\ liasin lying tins) there are dslies the be.st ■e the summers ddition to the and with rail- of the articlesj which It does not pay now to raise in tlie interior, will (ind a ready market. Surely such a climate must present great advantages to the intenduig settler, who is thus enabled to continue his labours all the year ivnind with enrrcKjionding i-rolit, without ha\ing to strugfde I with long and severe Miutcrs as in JFauitolja, where the thermometer ? Rinks to 4.) degrees l)olow z(to and the winter lasts six months ^ during which cattle must be housed and fed."' (From ''Colonist" I Victoria vpu-tipiiper, ./«». IS, ISS-l.J ' I CLIMxVTIC VARIETIES. " The varieties of climate may be named as follows: the West Coast ^ the Vresffri) Inferior, the Caiuu(ia)>, and the Arrtir. The first, with J an equable climate and heavy rainfall, is cliaracterized by a corre- J spondent luxuriance of vegetation, and especiallv of forest growth f This region is that west of the Coast Range, aiuf is well marked by ;. the peculiarity of its plants. In a few spots only— and these depen- - ding on the dryness of several of the summer months owing to local ^ circumstances— does a scanty representation of the drought-loving . flora of the Califoraian coast occur. The second is that of the ' southern part of the interior plateau of the province, and presents as its most striking feature a tendencv to resemble in its flora the interior basin of Utah and Nevada to' the south and the drier plains east of the Rocky Mountains, It may be said to extend northward to about the 51st i)arallel, while isolated patches of a somewhat similar flora occur on warm hill-sides and the northern banks of rivers to beyond the Blackwater. In the northern part of the interior of the province, just such an assemblage of i)lants is found as may Ije seen in many parts of Eastern Canada, though mingled with unfamiliar stragglers. This flora appears to run completely across the continent north of the great plains, and characterizes a region with moderately heavy rainfall, summers not excessively warm and cold winters. The arctic or alpine flora, is that of the higher summits of the Coast, Selkirk, Rockv, and other mountain ranges where snow lies late in the, summer. Here plants lurk which deploy on tlie ow grounds only on the shores of Hudson Bav, the Icy Sea and Eehring's Strait.^' (Gmrge Jf. Dausov, associate kSJL, F.G.S. ilf the Geological Snrvpu of Canada.) , ' CLIMATIC VARIETIES. " The Jim climate nhonhl he kaovn cvrran-hcre -variable, but healtli- tul and agreeable -nights cool, very suitable to the Englishman, and, indeed, to all races and temperaments— the altitude, irregularity of surtace, serene air and absence of marshy jdains, pr.unise health and l,.ng itc to tiie sottlfr- -no malaria oi- ague— good in cas(,'s of func- tional and nervous debility- makes people feel vigorous and wide awake -tlie climate of a large part of the East Cascade* region not * This is the common name in Range." in'ovinco for the country east of tiie "Coast 10 DUITISH COLUMBIA. uufayourable for oliest affections. Over a great portion of the province the climate is tliat of England, with rather agreeable difler- ences— no biting east winds, for instance. Over another portion, the climate resembles that of France. The lai-ger lakes do not freeze over, nor do the large rivers ever close entirely u}). Severe winters seem to come about once every eight or ten years, but what Ave call "severe winters" are less severe than tli(! oj-dinarv winters in Eastern Canada or the Northern States of the Union. Elevated districts, of course, have the climatt' that every wliere belongs to them, but even the roughest mountain climate in British Columbia is healthful. West Cascade Region. ^Near the sea— say, west of Cascade Range generally, and in Vancouver Island, seldom over 80° Fahrenheit in shade on the hottest day in sunnner, and rarely falling to 20" Fahrenheit in winter. Genial, though rather humid; humidity increases as you go north. Summer beautiful, with some rainy days; autumn, bright and fine; winter, frosty and rainy by turns;' the spring \erv wet. Snow falls seldom to the depth of 'a foot - -melts quickly. Wlien the atmospher. is clear, heavy dews fall at nights, and fogs are common during October and November; summer mists rai'e, partial, and transitory;^ no tornadoes, such as sweep over Illinois and other Northern States of the Union, and occasionally visit New England. Brilliant weather in Avinter, sometimes for a month at a time. '^ I in". elude Vancouver Island above as part of the "West Cascade region," because the climate is similar. Of course, were the matter^^one into exhaustively, the island climate Avould present insular pecu- liarities. East Cascade Regiox. Climate different from the climate west of Cascade Range. Heat and cold greater; almost continuously hot in summer, but" not so as to destroy vegetation, juittle rain ; 'warm rains, perhaps April and May— again, but not always, in August and September. Winter changeable; November frosty; December, January, and February cold and wintry, but generally clear and sunny; little ice; snow sav a foot deep on an average of years— melts quickly, winds melt it, and often leave ground ban; for weeks. March and April variable; plains thenbegii' to show grass. Hill-sides, in some place.s, show green grass in March. Irrigation generally required in this region. The abovi! des'cription applies to an immense territory in the southern portion of the "East Cascade i-egioii.'" The description must be modified as regards crtaiu districts.^ Appro.ximatioii to the Rocky Range, or to tbo rugged Caril.>oo and othei- mountains, has its natural effect; trees a))ound, more rain falls, snow is deeper.* On * Soinetimes the winter is mibl at Ciiriboo. A telegram to a Victoria news- l-aper, Jan, 17, 1882, says "weather still iiiild, with little snow." 1 •"LIMATK AND KKSOUKCES. portion of tlie agreeable difl'er- liei' portion, the es do not freeze Severe winters ut what we call liters in Eastern ited districts, of th(Mn, but even ) healthful. lerally, and in shade on the Fahrenheit in icreases as you autumn, bright ring ^•ery wet. :ly. When the )gs are conmion e, pai-tial, and lois and other New England. t a time. I in- 'ascade region," e matter gone i insular pecu- Range. Heat ', but not so as laps April and nber. Winter and February ice ; snow say ids melt it, and Lpril variable; e places, show u this region, rritoiy in the 'he description iniatioii to the iiitains, has its deeper.* On a Victoria news- 11 *S the upper parts ot the Eraser River, the winter is capricious- ^■erv severe cold for a few days, then fh.ctuating near f eezing point another interval of intense cold, and then perhaps spring Jom^s a 1 at once. In the south-eastern corner of the province a re n od ti r tion takes pace. The ertect of appn.xiuiation to tlie Soc^ i In.:: th rn nr\''"*"' ' ■ n " '''""'^•^' "*■ 'M'proximation to th , iL " 'o the Great American Desert which stretclies south to Mexico. About the headwaters of tlie Cokmibia. the climate is delio-htful • oxtremes are rare; snow generally go.^s as it falls. The scenery is very A-ad a.id It is therefore probable that, when made accessible, 1 1 r 'ion Mill Wthe resort o thousands of invalids. (G'. Jf. sJoaL forl^rl Ayeut-GeneraJ for the Procim-r h, Emjhnul.) "^ ^ CLIMATE. (The Summer Frost Questiox.) " T was in Victoria from the li'th to 28th December 187-^ and from l^ie 2iid to 4th May, 1875. While I was in Victo ia in l^^. a fall ot snow and slight frost took place, and the papers came out nex day with an account of tlu- extraordinarily cold weatlier,and I was led to inter from that, that such wc-ather was not common n winter In the and region, the spring is about as early as on the coast • in. 1 IS cby and hot. Sumim-r trosts can do no harm in these re-nons snowTlI a" ] r ?"":'^' r " "I"*"' '' '''''y ^'"1^^' -'*'^ ^ considS h. M} into June^ I heard of no injury from frosts at Quesnelle or any point on the Eraser, but noticed frost on the grass on the 27th May we«"t] "T" ?°^'ti^>^k- From this date until the 4th Jum> th^ Mactd' take i '"- -*'T ''''' '" ''''''''■ ^^^ ^^^ ''^'^ J"- ^ iviacleod s Lake, lat. oo , there was a severe frost, and many wild e^te^drrs '"* 'f ;j^f ^^'^^ '^"-^ "^ '''^ ^^'•-- ^ ^ extended to St. Jolins, east ot the mountains, 1>ut no further. Uiie important point in connection with spring or summer frosts should be kept in mind: that swampy soil is niore lialT to i jury from frost than dry soil, and a frost occurring in a swampy nJ"'^ 3"W :il k" ^"rrr-'"f ""'"^'■>- -'-'-l^'tosurt-Jioln'uc^ t St. AV,. aij know that m the vicinity of swamps we have sli.r],t f osts m many parts of Ontario c^en as late as%he lKJnnin>o ;!;2n -ilr:;;";^;;:.;! "^'-'"'•^ -'^ ^^-^"^ -'^ -^^^ -^^^^ ^^•^- I would expect spnng frost in tlie up])er re-ion but Jnv.. im k,.owledge of tl.e i^.ct, other than what I IL. sS." " Z:;^ .^^ C viiunvns Coininittcc.) ^fnuwum 12 BRITISH COLUMBIA. CLIMATE (Vancouvkr Island a\d Coast.) "Captain Vancouver gives a glowing description of the Island, which he discovered in 1790. "The serenity of the 'climate, the innumerable pleasing landscapes and the abundant fertility that unassisted nature puts forth, require only to be enriched, liy the industry of man, vdth villages, mansions, cottages and other buildings to render it the most lovely country that can be imagined; while the labours of the inhabitants would be amply rewarded in the bounties which nature seems ready to bestow on civilization." Since these words were written, seventy or eighty years ago, many travellers have visited the Island, and colonists who may now be counted by thousands, have contributed to enrich the laud by their industrv, and have built not only villages, but towns also, as 'well as mansions, cottages and various other kinds of buildings that are necessary noAv, in order to meet the manifold demands of trade and agriculture. The interior of the Island has not been as yet, much explored. But neither settlers nor explorers, however rugged they may have found some parts of the country, have ever called in question the; accuracy of Captain Vancouver's description. The Island is mountainous indeed ; but if there be mountains which, by their great height and varied outline, only give beauty and grandeur 'to its scenery, there are also plains and valleys of remarkable fertility that present othiT and more pleasing kinds of beauty, and so vary the landscape as to justify the language which describes Vancouver'island as "the most lovely country that can be imagined." Captain Vancouver appears to have been more struck by the serenity of the climate than by any other peculiarity of the Island which he discovered. In more northern latitudes than Canada, it is a stranger to the extreme cold of the Canadian winter, as well as to the excessive summer heat which is often found to be so oppressive in Canada. The idea too generally prevails that the climate of this north-western land, at least, equals in severity that of Canada. Statistics, however, which cannot be despised, show how erroneous this impression is, and prove beyond doubt, that while Canadians are suffering from their scorching summer Jieat, which even in the shade raises the thermometer (Fahr:) to 90" and 95", sometimes to moi-e than 100", the inhabitants of Vancouver Island enjoy an agreeable temperature of 72". This is eight or ten degrees below the greatest summer heat which prevails for a few days, in the south of England, comparison witli which is not inappropriate, as the latitude of Victoria, the capital of the Island, is pretty mucli tlie same. There are fewer rainy days throughout the year than in the former country, and, if the spring be a little later, autunni is nmch longer, and win- ter is thus robbed of its length, whilst other causes tend to render it milder tlian that of the most southerly parts of Soutli Britain." f'/Ar .Eneas Daw60ii, 18SJ, "Sorth-Wcst Territories and British Cohnn bia.") CLIMATE ASTD RESOURCES, 13 CLIMATE. (Chiefly as to Vancouver Island and Coast.) " The followin-i; meteorological okservations will .show the character of tlie seasons which have prevailed on the coast generally, for the last 15 years, and will furthcn- elucidate the; siil)ject by pointing out the causes of the difference observable between the littoral and inland insular climates. The general character of the climate of Vancouver is a dry, warm summer— a bright and beautiful autumn— an open, wet, winter and spring. Severe and exceptional seasons occur at irregular intervals. The winter of 18-10 was remarkably severe, the cold setting in on the 5th of Janvarji, and continuing with severity until the middle of March, during which time the Columbia River (Oregon) was frozen, the thermometer ranging .5° below zero. 1847 — Very mild throughout. 1848— The cold weather began on the 17th Decembei', the Colum- bia River (Oregon) froze over, but the ice broke up before New Year's Day, the river remaining open. 1849— The cold weather set in on the 27th November, when the moon was at full, clear days and sharp frosty nights continued till the 10th Decemljer, when the Columbia (Oregon) was covered with tloating ice, and snow began to fall heavily. This continued till the 18th (7 inches of snow on the ground), when it became mild, with E. winds and rain, and open weather continued to end of month. These remarks apply to the coast generally ; the following have reference specially to Vancouver : — The year 1850, as shown by a thermometric register kept at Fort Victoria, was fine throughout. Abstract of Thermometrical Observations from a Recjlster kept at Fort Victoria, Vancouver Island, for 1850, showing Maximum and Minimum Temperatures, &c., &c. Date. 1S50, January. February JIareh , . . April May June THEllMOMETKR. WKATIIIiR. Highest. Hi 43° 47 44 5S 49 00 64 09 Co 84 40 47 61 49 79 fir 04 Lowest. No. of Days, ^1 31 30 83 21 .:9 35 Wind, I July AuKUst . . Sopt'r . . . j October . Novem'r, , Docemb'r 43 40 41 Total. Ci S2 73 52 04 79 60 53 02 74 CS 45 56 70 52 83 62 53 51 32 39 89 45 40 60 59 47 CO 53 ! 63 n."} ■ 59 49 : 48 38 : 38 82 ' 13 UJ, 24 , 16 i 10 8 iN&NbvE 10 N & N E 6 N & W 24 NWtoSW 15 iNWtoNE 23 i^lS'itand: \ \ anable 22 I NW SW ■ 20 '■ NW NE 24 SSW NVV, 20 ;NNESW| Cms, L't! E winds Cms, L't I N winds No. of Days. Wind. No. of Days. No. Days J_ 201 6 8 2 12 7 9 5 6 10 14 16 06 N E SW SE ! 8 SE I S to SW I NE SE SSW Calm Calm Cms, rts & SE w'ds SW SW Calm Wiud. 16 SW&W 11 SW SE SE Wind. SE SE 7[N*NE ! 9 N*SS 8. SE 4! SW 60' 1, SE !l7i u BRITISH COLVMBIA, A glance at this abstract shows that there were in that year 201 nL 7ll' '^i/''''''''f '^"ll H',i^y. ^'0 rainy, and 17 days on which just o« to tin, hno woathor, for i,nd,.r tho two last heads are included all days on which raui or snow fell, although the amount might be triHing. Maximum Trmperature of Air in- tjir Hiiade. At 8 a.m., 65' Fah. on 20th June, 1850 2 p.m., SV „ 26th June, „ 2 p.m., 7.3= „ 28th July, „ Minimum Temperature of Air in the Shade. At 3 a.m., U|° Fah., on -1th December, 1850 2 p.m., 24" „ 4th 8p.ni., 16' „ 4th Snow began to fall on t7,e oth January. On the 24th there were 17 inches on the ground, which, however, was all gone by the 28th Ihe maximum temperature for January was 47" Fah The minimum temperature, 21" Fah., on the 23rd Febrmr, /—Wafi open and mild, on the 12th, gooseberry buds were opening; some hail, showers and frost towards tlie end of the month Maximum temperature .58 , minimum 2G^ Fah. J/«yv/^— Variable weather, slight snow storms in early part, but so partial that on the 2n(l early plants were coming into leaf in shel- tered spots, native hemp was three inches high, elder bush putting n .r''?o;i ^1' *''*' '*'*' *'^" ^'itkinsof the palm willow in full bloom On the 29th there was still snow on the ground, and buttercups in nower._ Maximum temperature 60", minimum 27" Fah. • /^'7'^— High ^v'inds alternating with calms. Strawbei-ries coming into blooni on 13th. Maximum temperature 69", minimum 35 Fah j/a*/— J? itteen hne clear days, and 12 overcast. On the 1st, plains covered with verdure, the turn cup lily, heartsease, crowsfoot, .jonquil, and many other flowers in full bloom, camass flowering, spring wheat and peas rising, early potatoes above ground. On the 4th, campanula and lupin coming into flower, wild cherry and service berry coining into blossom, and wild vetch flowr -ing in warm places. On the bth apple tree in blossom, strawberries forming. 7th, pota- toes planted in March and April coming up. 12th, etrly beans in bloom. 18th, wild rose coming into bloom. 25th, strawberries ripening. 31st, wild gooseberries ditto. Maximum temperature 79°. rainimuni 39 Fah. .u'^'i'^(—'^'^<^nty-nix fine days, .') overcast. IVtaxiinum temperature <9 minimum .5.'3' Fah. On 16th, distant thunder, high wind, N.E. .Sy)t,;,if)er—2i fine days, o^■ol•cast. A[aximum temperature 74% minimum 4") Fah. On the 7th, heavy dews. Orfo/>n-~'20 fine days, 10 overcast. Maximum temperature, 70*, minimum .3.3 Fah. iV'oirw/;w~1.3fine days, 14 overcast, 3 rainy. On the 19th a heavy gale of wind, felt simultaneously along the whole coast. Maximum temperature 5.3', minimum 32' Fah. Dpmnher— 10 flne days, 16 overcast, 4 rainy, 1 snowy. Fraser river frozen on the 4th, ice quickly broke up. Maximum temper- ature 46', minimum 14^^' Fah. The above gives the general character of the year 1850, and may l.e taken as a good type of a season, intermediate between the Ta-Trl of 1846 and the mild, open winters, which prevailed until lJ<:>y-bU, wlien the cold set in in November, and continued for some months with heavy falls of snow. From March, 1860, the weather was mild throughout, and con- tinued so through the winter and into the spring of 1861. The summer of this latter year was very hot and dry, the early autumn was very fine and clear, with occasional cold, south-easterly winds, JieaA-y rams m November and early part of December. Care must be taken, however, to bear in mind that in consequence of Its insular position, washed by an ocean having a remarkably low temperature, the /l/foraf climate of Vancouver diflers materially from that of the inland plains and valleys. LrT^*Si^*i'°^'"'^' "^^'••''*™c^ '•'* fi'oi" observations taken on board of rQCA ,^^.r ^* Esquimalt, Vancouver Island, during the year l^bU and will serve to indicate nearly the ordinary conditions of the climate in Victoria and its environs : ^^^^' Meax Daily Heat. Deo. *^P^'^ 51.50 Fahrenheit. ->% 5,505 ^""« 61.00 ;! i"'y-: 60.50 ^"f«*- 63.25 September (^.j- 05 g^*°^«[ '.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'/.'.'.y.v. bioo ;; 5;°^'^"Vber 50 50 December 42 00 1861. i^l^^^'y 38.00 ^fb^^^^y 44.50 -^I'^rch 4000 Mean heat of the year 51. pi '.' m i IG BHITISII COLl'MBIA. In the quarter ending 30th June, 1860, the lii^hest barometric range was in April, 30.53 ; tiie low.-st, l"J.25. Ju thi- same month, there were 17 line days, 7 rainy, and overcast, witli variable and light wnids from E. and S. Heu water nO' Fahrenheit, the hygro- metric observations show an average dill'crence of 3'' 7-10 Fall, between the wet and dry bulbs. Av('rug(> teinpcratun* 51.1° Fall. In J/(ii/ -The barometer had an average range of 30.0"b There were 18 line days, 9 rainy, and -i overcast, with variable winds, chiefly from S. W. S.'a water 51° Fah. The thermometer average 5;j|°, With 1° 1-10 Full, ditierence between wet and dry bulbs. June— 20 tine clear days, 6 rainy, and -1 overcast. Harometric range, average 30.02. Average of thermometer Gl°, and ditiereuco of bulbs 4° 7-10. Sea water .5.')° Fah. JhIiz—IG fine days, 6 foggy, 7 rainv. Average range of barometer 29.93, thermometer G0° 1-10 Fah., hygrometer, 3.'° Fah. Sea water 58|° Fall. Prevailing winds S. and S. E. with caliiis. Aii(/iisf-- 24: fine days, 7 rainv. Average range of barometer 30.01, thermometer 63^V Fah., hygrometer 1°. Sea water 58,»° Fah. Winds S.W., S. and S.S.E. September— \8 fine days, 7 rainy, 5 overcast. Average range of barometer 30.12, thermometer 57.(° Fah., hvgrometer 1°. Sea wuter 55° Fah. Prevailing winds S. and S.H.l']. Oc(oIier—\:] fine days, 11 rainv, 7 overcast. Average range of barometer 30.01, thermometer 54° Fah., hygrometer 10.3-155. S ^a water 50° Fah. Winds N.E., variable, calms. iyoveniher~]0 fine days, 12 rainy, 8 overcast. Average range of barometer 30.18, thermometer 49.^° Fah., hygrometer 1° 1-30 Fah. Sea water 47 i° Fah. Prevailing w'inds N. and S.W. to E.S.E. December—lH fine days, 9 rainy, 7 overcast. Average range of barometer 29.9G, thermometer 42° Fah., hvgrometer 1° .5-6 Fah. Sea water 45^° Fah. Winds N. and X.E., variable, frequent calms. 1861. Jamcari/~-10 fine days, 11 rainy, 10 overcast. Average range of barometer 30.01, thermometer 38 Fah., hygrometer 3 Fah. Sea water 43^° Fah. Winds variable, frequent calms. February— Q fine clear days, 7 rainy, 1 1 overcast, 1 snowy. Aver- age range of barometer 29.94, thermometer 44i° Fah., hygrometer 3° Fah. Sea water 43i Fah. Winds light, variable, frequent calms. Jfarch—ir) fine days, 4 rainy, 19 overcast, 3 snowy. Average range of barometer 25.02, thermometer 46° Fah., hygrometer 2A° Sea water 44i° Fah. Winds light, variable. The importance of a knowledge of the lemarkable differences observable in these registers, kept, one on shore, the other afloat, is obvious, both in a yauitary and agricultural point of view. The absence of thunder storms is a remarkable fact. Distant thunder is heard at times, but very rarely does the electrical discharge take place over Vancouver. (Charles Forbes, M.D., M.H.C.S., Eny., Surgeon Royal Navy, Prize Essay 1862.) CLIMATE AND RKHOURCBB. 17 ?8t baroiDetrlc ■ same month, I variable and it, tlip liygro- ;5° 7-10 Fall. 3 51'° Fah. m.OL Thero ariable winds, motor average y bulbs. . Barometric and dirtereuco B of barometer ah. Hoa water •oiueter .30.01, ° Fall. Winds rage range of 1°. Sea wuter ■rage range of 10.3-1 55. S'a I'age range of 1-1° 1-30 Fah. E.S.E. [•age range of 5-6 Fah. Sea eiit calms. xst. Average )meter 3 Fah. snowy. Aver- iiygrometer 3° luent calms. \vv. Average y-grometer 2^° )le differences itlier afloat, is ew. 'act. Distant rical discharge .E.C.S., Eny., 'i •e, S L> ^ ;: « I- . I •/. '-" < it S r u n >a . h H 3 :2.s 2-" I' r z .1 5s I I I I fi«?^ ^li S^?i3?i$l;.5i a. it s [- ;* 2 Ji -H ao „ ■- « I- 3i JO l» o Ji 3; (-1 ■,• FM ») . _ . 1 "3 1 ;o j< I- vs r< Ti j> ■ c a r ci ji » t^' *i "< ' ■ I a u, I ^ S ^ li 00 • r. 1^ ^-^ ii < -f> f- . ■.■ r. is M I >• a i^iiiiiia' *"! "^ , , , Xi ' I ^1 ift i." ' *** loo Q j>. 3! .r. -). .-1 ph « ^I ^1 X rt I- 'H e ^) a Ti n « J5 • February B'?i?ir:?3SS.£' 1" i 'o?ii==""'S 06 S ?i ?i 3 »i S .«: 3 .5 S?iS5gi5S=.S a-' _c C !r £• * ® »- w *9 S 71 w C^ t^ ' ^ TO t* 'ti « Z! 5! Si ^ 01 ^I u-S ?; o e 01 o» »! K -o 5; '- •■a .£ S y 1! * "^ « '^' » ■■» n o .H I., « Jl « a rs ir. ■«. a »i; -r I'- .E C3 ji^^cs FH ?: (©XTt" s ?.? ■.t* 'M M :a •rt »i ■«. rt 1 i 29. 1 44. 3 37. 5 o c in S 52 r. 1- » jix^'H = S '£ = o g 5 2j= 9-2* ■ S5 c~.= c c - rt 2 = rt S.= ii .- .= -J 4) - ■J ■^ -^ "3 "s S u .ti' '?•= 5'P-= 5 = g : r: .- w :^ — y y i> .- I ^3^ ^ ^ ?» ~ ?^ 3c £. f^ 5* ® 1*1 Ift ift i- X (M »rt ^ o> ?^ c- 5> s '-' "^ ^ w* - -* M 51 W O i-« CO « 5 .2 :;.:■•• o • . • . u ;-J5 : • ■ ■ 2 t-.-E •■ • 13 5 •?•;.■= ; E r. r C - y t) '5 *.».^^^ 2 2i- • = i|'5i|il= I a . £•3 S 3 -| O 4> -2 II •B » 2t; ^1 18 DHITfPH COLUMIUA. It is uiiiiwpsKary to ^'ivo any Niit'<'iul (lrsiTJ[i cliniiitr in the Cowirli.iii, Naiiiiiin!'*. mid CJcmiox ,'ciicriilly siniilar to tlw clinitttt' ri<'ai- \'ictoria wliicli tlw alxivc statistics (Ii'sci'ilit' the winter, itrTluips, sli;,'litly ioiiLrii'. Tin' west roast of VaiicouMT Island is very wc(. On the eastern coast aliovc nicn- tiom-d, wlioro thriving settlements arc found, the winter weather, in ordinary seasons, is nmeh the same ji> in the west of lui-jland : in tlie severer and oxeeptioual seasons, it is like the winter weather of the AFidland oounlies and cast coast of Scotland. The sjiring is somewhat later and colder than in Knf,dand ; the summer dri^'r, the sun more powerfid, thoiigii the average mean temiicraturc is aluut the same. Wiiat strikes an Enulishman most ahonti the climate is its serenity, tlie ahsence of the liitini;' east winds, and the less need than in \'A\at-worn denizens of I'^astern Canada and the Atlantic States, Such \ isitors linger hefore leaving the ju'ovince, and long to return. -Having ([uoted tiie oj.inions of authorities respecting the climate of the province in general, and jiarticularly of tlie settled ])ortions of Vancouver Lsland, it is now necessary tit descrihe succinctly the climatic featui-es of the great mainland teri'itory. This may he' done under the two heads of "Coast Climate"' and " Interior Climate." COAST CLniATE. There are two g(>neral remarks to lie made altout the coast climate of the province in general. It is iniiuenced indirectly by the exist- ence of a great body of. v.arm sea water otl' the coast, Avith a mean temperature of .52.1° (early in August). Tli^- ; 'v<-:-.iling south- westerly winds, sweeping over tlu' warm sur^",. - ,ised to t '- • temperature of the sea, and become saturated ' . ois.i.re, abstract- ing from it, and rendering " latent," in conformity with well-known physical laws, a still gi'eater quantity of heat. When, on reaching the mountainous coast, this moistur(> is condensed and discharged, the latent heat becomes again apparent, and greatly raises the tem- {^erature of the atmosphere in Mhich the reactidn occurs. Ilenco Akx coa?\ climate of the whole north-west coast of Xorth America is ' ''V'^ /''or instance, the mean annual tempei-ature of Sitka (.")7' ,')' .3..) is in fa< 1 .'early tlie same as tliat of Montreal, i(t degrees of lu; hide further south. Tlie .second remark is that the climate is wct as v.cll as warm, owing to the ell'ett of the height of the ceasts. The heaviest rainfall occurs in exact corrcspundcncc with the height to m hich the moist CLIMATK AN'D IMlHOl'RCKS. 19 till* ciiiMiitt' ill 'iistcni <'(«ist (»f it is f,'('ii('nilly l)(i\(' stiitistics west foast of st nliovc men- tor went her, in f Hiijiliuid : in tcr weather of The spi'iiijif is iner drier, the rutiire is abuut ' is its serenity, (I tliun in Kny- 1 the prolon<,'('(l ire, tliat rainy does in Eiig- ns throu^diout parts of tha 'anada and tho tlie province, ij,' the oliinatG led poi'tinns of siieeiiietly tlie s may lie done ior Climate." ) coast climate by the exist- witli a moan '•uiling soutit- 'aised to <' • ;.uro, alistract- th woll-known , on reachiiijL; id disehar^'od, lIsos tho tem- 'curs. Hence li Aiiierioa is Sitka (.")?' ;]' U) degrees of ('11 as warm, iviest rainfall ch the nioiiat air is forced into the hiul regions of tiie atiiios(ihere, and cooled there l.y its e\pan>i(.ii and joss of he.it l.y radiation. The outlying islands have hoinewhat le^s rainfall than the maiidaiid coast, \.ecati80 they are less elevated. In pivoortien to the elevation of tht- ishuid.s, and the degrees in whieh they nIi her the mainland cottst from tho niin-beanng winds, the rainfall on the o])])osite mainland coa^t is more or h-ss. 'j'he t paiatively less rainfall of th.' coast of the .f tl ilaiid (X( ; n U-western s.'ctioii or the mainland ( A ew Westminster district) than farther north, is owing to the abstraction of pnrt of the niois- tiire of the rain-bearing winds by the ellect of their striking the iiKamtains on the west coast of \'anc(aiver Island (where it is^very wet), and to the lowness of the land about the mouth of the Fra.sor river. North ahmg the coast of the mainlnnd, which generally is moiintainotis, tlii' case is diil'erent. There is a great rainfall greater than oil the west coasts of the liritish Isles on that par-"of the coast of the mainland lying open to the westerly winds I -tween Vancouver and Queen Charh.tte fslands. This also is tl.e case further north, beeause the coast about Tort .Simpson and the mouth of the Skeeiia is very imperfectly sheltered from the rain-bi iring winds by the (,)ueen Charlotte Islands and tlie islands of the .oast archi[.elago these, for the most part, being of moderate elevation, much lower than a considerable portion of N'aiicotncr Island. In short, the climate of the coast of the northern part of the pro- vince, wliile not suhjeet to girat extremes of teni]ieiature, is exces- sively humid, with much rain at all seasons of the year, and occa.sional lieavy falls of snow in winter. -Mr. Dawson, F. C. S., and of the Canadian (Geological Surve , makes the following observations on the climate inland along the Skeena (."il' 1.")' X. L.) in the northern part of tho iirovince : "Vegetation in the low.^r part of the Skeena, exposed to th. climatic inlluences of the coast, is distinctly later than at Victoria, by j)robabiy at least ten days. "The Skeena usually opens (hning the last week in April or (irst week of May. Ice begins to run in the river earlv in November, but the river does not generally freeze till th(i end of December.' The river being very rapid, tjie occasion of its freezing is usually the occurrence of a thaw. This sets free givat (|uantities of anchoV ICO, sometimes very suddenly, lilocking the river and causing it to freeze over. In iStiT the iMver clo.sed on tho 1 .3th of November, which was exceptionally early. The river is generally Jiighost in July, deriving most of its water from the melting snow on tho mountiiins. It is lowest innnediately after tho ice goes. "With regard to the snowfall en' the Skeena, 5lr. H. J. Cambic; during his survey here in 1S77, gathi'ivd tliat from Port Essinyton to ueuc (he jiiouth of tlio Lakolse (a-t miles), it is exceedingly lieavy, reaching a depth of ten f(«et or more. From this place to Kitsala.s canon it reaches, at least oecasion.ally, a depth of six feet; while about Kit-wun-ga sixteen miles bel(^v the Fork.s— it averages three feet. So far as information can be obtained from the Indians, it t;i I 30 BRITISH COLUiMBlA. a])pears to contirin these estimates. The depth on the benches about the Forks is not over one foot, but o%ving to local circumstances the snowfall is here considerably less than in any nein;hbourin liinestone=! Cut up by numerous inlets and arms cf the s.^-i', it needs no protection against the wn.ds and waves, l,ut sends out its adamantine .n-omon- tories to me(?t them." Far different, however, as above said, is the coast line of the south- western section of th.> mainland, say from Howe Sound, or Burrard Inlet, soutlnvanl. Stivtching in a semi-circle, the couNexitv of which touches the foot-hills of the Cascade ran-e above (liiljiwhack on the Fraser, ami reaching south, j.ast JJellimrham ]!av into the United State.s, is a low, almost flat territorv a deposit of loose friable .sand- stones and alluvium -along whidi the Fras.T, after boiling through a narrow gorge at Yah., cuts its way. leavin- (particularly on its south side) a large area of veiy fcrtih' land, known as the New Uestmimster District, which now is the most imi.ortant agricultural settlement m the province. The climat.. of this district, though more humid than the sheltered east coast of Vancouver Island, has'^not the excessiv(; humidity of the west coast of that island (outside Fuca btrait), and of the mainland coast in general, for the followinir reasons :— (1.) The district is sheltered, considerably, from the moisture- bearing winds by A^incouver Island and the mountains south of the Strait of Fuca. (2.) The surface is little above the sea level ; there is no hi"h coast line on which these winds strike and precipitate exces- sive moisture, as is the case on the mainland coast to the northward. (3.) The hills on which they first strike after crossimi- the ]S'e^y Westminster district, are comparatively low, foot-hills of the Cascade range. These, consequently, as they only increase gradually in height towards the axis of that range, do not cause the sudden excessive precii)itation in any part of the district that would result if the moi.sture-bearing winds struck an Alpine harrier. tl i ■MM-w^j ifarawmm i -'- BRITISII COUTMBIA. Abstract or MKTEonoi.ofirc.u, OiisKUVArrovs, taken- at thf. Royal Kv(ii NKER Cami-, \i;\v Wkstminstki:, ihimm; thk vkar I8()I, i;v (irdi^r oi' Coi,. K. V. Moniiv, i;, I-;., Ciimmandim; tiih '['rhoi's. J^atitiide, 40" !•_>' 47" Xoitli ; l.(mgitlul(^ I •_'•_>' .-).•}' !!»" Wost. ,,,, ... , INCHES, llie Jiigliest rciiiliny of tlie IJiirimu'ter, cDrrcctcil fur tiiuiii'nitnro, at !*..S() 11.111., on 4tli Fuhruiuy, wiis .SO. ")(J") The nioiiu lieiglit do." ,lo. 0.;{0 u.in. 4tli ivi). ■Jo!o4;5 ^^- »lo- 'l(j. .*{.;H0 p.m. ,, 120.S88 The lowest reading do. do. 0..S0 a.in. .'Jid Dec. l>0. 172 DE(,ItKE.S. Maximum temperature of Air in sliadc, nt 0.30 a.m. on Otli .)ulv, ]S(il 74.;$ l^o- ' 3 -ti ^^(^vch ,S.270 12 .788 42. (i 47.") 20.0 April r).2(M Ifi .743 4S. I -)1.4 »<) May 4..-)7.-) 12 .713 03. (i 07." 31.0 J»pe 4.770 1.-) .7.33 r)».l 04.6 37.0 J"ly 0..3!I0 3 .074 04.8 08.0 40.0 August .3.180 8 .743 04.0 68.0 38.o September.. 1.07") 6 .787 ,">0.0 64,4 8.") October.... 6,14,j 10 .ill.") 43.8 oO.O ","j November.. 11.020 23 .041 30.1 40 6 2'^ December .. 7..")20 20 .010 .34.2 .3,"),2 ll!o Total.... 60, 48,") 164 Rain fell on 12 days when the wind was 8,, o when S.W.. whe.i W.. 1 when Is.\^ ., 14 when NM'],, when E,, 20 when ,S,K,, and 32 when calm. The greatest fall of rain in 24 hours measured 2, l.")0 inches on the 4th Xov The average fall for every day of the year was 0,166 inches. The averaco fall for each wet day was 0.36!) inolics. _ A comparison of this abstract with that for the year 1860, shows that 6.053 inches more rain fell in 1801 than in 1800. Rain fell on 13 more days in 1861 CLIMATK A\n nnSOURCES, 23 tlmn in ISfiO. Tlip inoaii lioight of tlio llaroiiu'tpr was .070 less. The mean amoiint of Immi.lit.v was .OOS i^rivator, The ini.:iii tcmprniture of nir in nliade WHS 0. J greater. The absolute limiting niglits of fro.st were nearly at the same date la both years. In the four winter months, from January to March, and October to Decem- ber, 41.2.S0 inches of ram fell in ISO), and 40..-.8(i inclus in ISOO. In tho re- niainmg months ]!).•„'.") inches fell in IMU, and i;{.S:U in lS(iO. Of the entire quantity of ram '.'(i inches fell in January, Xovcmijer, and December, in each year. The prevailing direction of the wiml during rain in both years was E. and June was the dri(\st month, and August tho warmest in 1800. July was liotli warmest and driest in ISIII. The Fraser J^ivcr attained its highest level at \ew Westminster, for the year 18(11, on the 8th June, and its louest, being a ditbrence of !) feet fJ inches, on the I7th Mai-ch ; In'twceu the lOtli of May and 10th of August, ships did not swing to the flood tide. 'J'hese periods, and the diiference'of level, corre- ^ spond very closely with tiie observations for IS,')!) and 18()0. There was floating ice in the Fraser opposite New \\'cstminster, 7th Jami- nry, ISIil ; it increased until I'-Jnd .buniary, and Fahronhoit, 48.0.") Highest ,, 92. Lowest ., 7. Moan rain-fall, inches oS.OS „ lieight of Barometer, inches l't).993 The rain-fall in tho above table may be made tho subject of a few remarks, as the whole northwest coast of X:rth Ainerica is Jiumid, for reasons already stated. The average annual precipitation of moisture at the mouth of the Columbia River, Oregon (U. 8.), is stated to be 87.06 ins. At Sitka, 1 1 degrees of latitude farther north, it is knoAvn to be only 5 inches less, and the Sitka average is probably about the same as the average on the west coast of Vancouver and Queen Charlotte Islands, and on that part of the coast of the Province lying open to the westerly winds between these islands. This amount of precipitation, though small in comparison with that of a few exceptional places on the earth's surface, is greater than tjiat chai'acterizing even the western coasts of British Islands, witli tlie exception of a few peculiarly situated mountainous localities, where it is exceeded, and it is little less than the heaviest rain-fall on tin- Norwegian coast (90 inches). Mi 24 BRITISH COLUMBIA. In the district of Xew Westminster, however, owing to the facts above stated, tlie ordinary excessive humidity of the coast does not occur, fhc district, has less min-faU than occurs in any extensive nrabte area on the whole mainland coast of the North Pacific, north of California. T /* Y^^""^^ rain-fall than occurs on the west coast of Vancouver Island, though, owing to its continental situation, and greater prox- imity to high land in the way of the moisture-hearing winds, it has a greater annual rain-fall than occurs oil' the sheltered east-coast of that island Notwithstanding this, however, the general climatic conditions of the New Westminster district, much resembling those ot the east side of VancouAer Island, in most respects, are probably somewhat more favourable to the growtJi and ripening of a laiWr variety of cereals, owing to tlu; great(!r sum of heat at the proper season. The summei- temp.Tatun., it ^^■ill bo observed, is higher than in V ancouver Island, and it is not aliected by the cold and chillin- winds that occasionally blow over the southern portion of the island from the snowy i)eaks of the Olympian range. The winter is a little less open, and slightly longer, tl.un in the district near Victoria- it more i-esembles tlie winter farther north along the easi .ast of Van- couver Island. As upon the whole coast, there are occasionally severe winters, or what are calletl severe in this part of the world Commonly, snow begins in January and goes in March, without tailing or lying continuously. "^^'^-ffni.^'""'' ^''^'""^'""^ a ^^e^v Westminster newspaper, 5th Jan- uary, 1882, says:— ^ " Our readers in the east will be surprised to learn that there has ' been no ice on the Fraser river this winter. At no time have we ' had more than two inches of snow, and that remained only a day I' or two. There is not a particle of frost in the ground and lio snovV anywhere to be seen, except on the mountain ranges." The climate of the New Westminster district is not liable to sudden changes. It is exceedingly healtliy. Agu<. is unknown. , jyo.wll''T^"7..?*''^^''*' ""''^ ^''"'" *^"' ■'^^'■^ti^l' Columbia Directory, l^^l-^.j (K. 1. Wdhams, Victoria. Publisher), in which the reports are furnished by residents:- - ''The climate is mild and highly salubrious, gi'eatlv resembling ^ that of the south of England and the north-west departments of ' France. It is happily exempt from those violent extremes which " are so injurious to health in many localities. " The climate is almost the same as that of England, sin^vularly " invigorating. People who hardly e^-er knew a dav's health in other " parts of Canada have come out here and been able to work with '' the strongest. Thei'e is no doctor in this settlement ; there was one but he was starved out. " 0\ying to the mildness of the winter months, the waterfowl remain during that season in this neiglibourhood, and thus tlie shooting IS continuous from September till following March " to the facts oast does not (tiiij extensive Pacific, north CLIMATE AND nEiOflKES. CLIMATE OF THE INTERIOR. 25 )f Vancouver greatei- prox- winds, it has east-coast of leral climatic nibling those are probably ig of a largei- it the proper 3 higher than and chilling of the island ter is a litth? ■ Victoria; it >ast of Van- occasionally )f the world, rch, without per, 5th Jan- lat there has inie have we 1 only a day and no snow lot liable to iknowii. a Directory, the reports r' resembling artments of remes which 1, singularly ilth in other work with ; there was 3 waterfowl id thus the arch." For the purposes of a more ]>articular description, the climate of the interior of the maiidand of the Province (already mentioned by some of the authorities quoted) may be divided into three zones—the Snuthn-n, Middle, and .\'o/-//../-;.- though the boundaries of these cannot be very well deHned owing to the ..tr.rt of the irregularity of the surtac... The occuirence of high ranges has, of course, its ordi- nary etrect upon the climate of particular districts within these zones. CLIMATE Or<^ INTERIOR. (SoUTIinRN ZOXE. SAY BETWEEN' 49° AND oP PaKALLELS N. LaT.) The traveller, journeying from the coast district inland, via Yale' l.y the Cariboo waggon road, notices, on j-assing througli the mouif tains, indications of (h-yness, atlnnled bv the change of the i,lants- J he cliaracteristic coast i)]ants give place gradually, 80 or 40 miles ahove \ak', to those re,,uii'ing h>ss moisture. This is mainlv caus.-d by the efiect upon the atmospla,v, „f the massive range k moun- tains which follows, northward, the tivudof the coast of the proving As has been al.vady .said, the air at the sea level i. practically saturated with moisture. AVlu^n the moisture is evaporated, or tl^e air expanded in vohime, a great cjuantity of heat is rendered "latent " becoming "sensible" again on coiuh.nsation of the moi.sture or com- pression of the air. The pressuiv being less in the upper regions of lie atmosphere than in the lower, the bodv of air rising from the sea level to the summit of the mountain range expands, and this, imply- ing molecu ar work, results in an absorption of heat and conse(,uent cooling. ^^ hat has to be noticed in connection with the effect of the coast range upon the "interior" climate, is the fact that when the air descends again on the further side of the mountain range, its conden- sation leads to an increase of sensible heat, so that it becomes easy to understand how the lower country bevond mav be flooded with warm air though it has travelled over a region comparati%-ely cold. iJie Joss ot lieat by radiation and contact during the passage of the air across the mountainous region, is of course much greater !n winter than in summer, and depends also on the speed of the air current.- ilie air also, in the interior, is drier, owing to the j^recipitation oc- curring at the mountain range. Accordingly we lind, in the interior ot the mainland of the province, a diUerent climate from the coast climate. It varies with the irregular surface of the country, but may be described generally as a climate of extremes. The' mean annual temperature of the Southern Zone differs little from that of the coast region, }>ut a greater difference is observed between the mean summer and winter temperature, and a still greater contrast When the extremes of heat and cold are compared. The total pre- cipitation of rain and melted snow in the low Iving portions of the boutheni Zone is extremely small-for instance, at Spence's Bridge on the Ihompson river (760 feet above the sea, 50° 2o' N. L. 8 00° "m 2G BRITISn COLl'MniA. W. L. Ch-pon.,) tho rainfall, in 187"), vas only 7.99 inches— total, including,' melted snow, 1 1.S4 inclies (at Esciuimalt, southern part of Vancouver Island, it was 3.').87). This small precipitati(Mi gives rise to the open, or lightly timbered grass country, so favourable for stock raising. The following comparative tables of the coast an interior (South- ern Zone) climate, respei.'tively, at Hpeuce's Bridge (interior) and Esquimalt (V. I. coast) during the year 187"), illustrate the diii'erence between them. The ()bser\ations are exti-actcd from tin; Canadian Government official weather reports : — TeMPER.\TURES of The SEVERAL MoNTHS AXl) OF THE YeAR 1875. u 1=5 < it 3 a. ■1 < ( SpcMice's Hi'iJjfe. S, \ Esiiuiinalt . . ., . . O.T 24.1 lU.li .50.0 ,-)4. •29.1) o9.U 3!).,') 47..'') r>0. tii.n 71.0 on. 01.2 .ii.o 24.0 32.7 44. 04.7 00. i) riU.l h-i.% h\:i 40.8 42.0!47.4 IV i f ,s Sponce's Briilg'e. Ksquiiimlt 3-2.0 ,V2.0 f,4.0 82.0 70.0 88.0 98.0 94.0 84.0 73.0 02.0 47.0 49.0 48.0 04.1 U0.9 09.9 79.4 70.9 09.9 60.9 54.9 S I .SpoiH'e's Bridge. 02.0 54.9 % 'l E-squiinalt . -29.0 4.0 l.S.O Sr^.O 40.0 47.0 43.0 4.5.0 31.0 12.0 -12.0 8.0 24.9 28.0 20.1 37.1 41.0 45.4 45.4 42.9 39.1 22.1^-22.1 • > ' I I i I i I I i I Temperatpres of the Seasons, in- the Year 1875. Winter. Spring. 5 I Spenue's Bridge. iS \ Esquimalt 19.8 30.1 5,5.5 .50.1 Autumn. 30.2 44.9 The following non-official observations made at Lillooet (50° 41' N. L., C52 feet above the sea), are from a Prize Essay of the Rev. R. C. L, Brown, 1862:— Deo. January, average for 22 days 14 February, ,, 18 days 23 Do. ,, 10 days 4 March, ,, 31 days 37 April, „ 30 days 54 ^lay, „ 31 days 78 June, ,, 30 days 81 July. . . ., 1-' days 97 August (missing) September, , , 30 days 81 October, ,, 31 days 81 November, ,, 30 days 43 December, ,, 31 days , 39 CLIMATE AVn RKSOmCKS. 27 Sppakino: fjPiiomlly of tlio (•liii!,it." of the district of Yalo, Avlncli, j)ra(-ti«illy, IS tlu" i>riiici[)al part of tlif .soutIiriiig on wind-swei)t slopes. Occasionally, in some localities, cattle and horses winter out, without much loss, but the cavehil farmer provides an ample supi)ly of winter food for his stock. As might be expected in a mountainous region, there are. now and then, what are called cold -snaiis,'' or intervals of very cold weather, during which, with a keen north wind, ears and noses may be frost- bitten. As comi«arcd with winters in Eastern Canada, perhaps it would ])e fair to say that the advantages of the Yale district winter pre Its shortness, and the smaller (piantity of winter food required tor stock. The slightness of many of the liouses, little ditFering from those on the coast, is good proof that the winters in this district are not found by rt'sidents to be so s.n-ere as to r(>(juire more than addi- tional stove-warmtli as a protection against the effects of the cold. Ihe snow-fall at Osooyos, on the United States boundary, is generally very light, probably because the (>tiect of the greater altitud(> there tiian 111 the northern part of the district, is mitigated by the warm M-inds which may reach that locality, owing to its approximation to the great American desert, so called, which stretches south to Jlexicc' There is, of course, a very ■ oyore winter climate in this zone, among the high mountains tluu occur in its south-west corner, and also ill the region of the Arrow Lakes— these elevated portions ha^■lng subsidiary drier regions in their lee, that is, on their eastern Hanks, for reasons above stated. CLIMATE OF INTERIOR. (Middle Zoxe, say, betweex 51° axd 53° pahallels K Lat.) The middle climatic zone, owing to tlie occnrrcnce within it of the high mountains west of the Columbia and in the Big Bend area formed by that river, and, also, of the great mass of the Cariboo mountains, includes more of the Rocky Mountain climate than do the zones to the north or soutli of it. There are no trustworthy meteorological statistics as to this middle zone, but it is obvious that 28 BRITISH COLUMBIA. as we go northward from tlie southern zoih- just dcsovi)>ed, tlie total rain-fall over much of tlu^ surface increases in amount, and, at tlie same time, the forest-coveriufj; becomes uiore dense. In the Gold range, innnediately west of the C'olumliia, the winter climate is severe, with a heavy fall of snow. The same renmrk applies to the country within the middle scone, west of that I'ange, which portion of the interior i)lateau is eonsideraldy hii,dier than the Xicola-Thompson basin of the southern zone, as the foUowing table shows: — T.VliLE SHK\VIN(i TUK Ari'HdX tM ATK Al.TITI'IlKS MUIVK THE SEA OF HOME PLACES IN BlUTISIl CoLlMlil... STATION. KOrTIIKltX ZONK. Boston Har settleino".t ( 'oiu't House, lit I,\ tton Thoiiipsoii Itiver, at month of Niuohi Kiver A.slicioft liinii ((.'onnviill's) MIDKLK ZONI:. Bonaparte liivcr, nt moiitli of Maiilcii (' Sumniit altitude of trail from (ireen Lake to liridge C'l-eek. liriilife Creek House (Capt. I'arsous. U.K.) Lake La Ilaulic, .. I>ee)) Creek (south), at t':e erossin^' , . Court House, Williams Lake The Siirinjfs farm Soda Creek erossiii;;: .Mud Lake Kort .\lexander. Fraser level Sunnuit altitude of trail froui Mud Lake to Beaver Lake. . , Beaver Lake, Sellers' Hotel The " Green Timber," south limit Little Lake house Summit of trail thence to Quesnello forks (juesnelle City Mitehell's bridge, north braneli of l^uesnelle River C'AllIIiOO DlSTItlCT. Cariboo Lake Snowshoe Creek, Leon's house Siiowshoe Peak Snowshoe .Mountain, l^eon's house Antler Creek settlement Milk farm (.Malon.vs) Summit of trail over Moimt Agnes to Lightning Creei< . . . . Marmot Peak .' Marmot Lake Riohflold Court House ......... Van Winkle Court House '.'. ] Cottonwood Fraser River, at mouth of Quesnelle River. ,, at mouth of Swift River „ at Fort George Appro.xhnato ' height in feet above Sea level. 47'2 78U 1,5US 1,005 3,(iBU ;i,OS() :i,-iss •2,2m ■>,vs:> l,S.'iU 1,H1)0 ■-',07,'. 1,4l'ij 3,* 10 2,110 •J,S80 2,53.1 3,375 l,i)5S 2,120 2,.'JCS J, 020 (i,130 5,b44 4,010 4,490 5,8.50 (i,310 5,540 4,210 8,054 2,530 1,490 1„530 1,690 (Lieut. II. S. Palmer, R.E.) Of the central portion of this middle climatic zone, Professor John Macoun, Botanist of the Canadian Pacific Raihvay Survey, says, after traversing it northerly ; — " The waggon road leaves this section at Clinton and passes over " a very elevated portion as far as Soda Creek on the Fraser. This 1 TLIMATE AND UESOUUrES. •HO hei\, the total t, and, at the In the Gold toi' climate is ajiplies to the lich portion of ola-Thonipson s: — 8ea of home Approximate luL'ht in feet j hulj abovu Sea level. 47-2 781) 788 1,5US l.UlJu 3,(100 3,088 2,488 •2,2ah 2,135 1,850 1,090 •J,0"5 1,420 3,300 2,110 2,880 2,535 3,375 1,V)58 2,120 ^,020 (i,130 5,844 4,010 4,490 5,850 6,310 5,540 4,210 8,054 2,530 1,400 1,530 1,090 Palmer, R.E.) 'rofessor John Survey, says, id passes over Fraser, Thi,-* IS a very imiyh section, l.iit still it is far tV..n. hdn- l.an-en; nuicl, good land IS scattered tj.ron-h it, luit not cMtinnouslv. It is rather '•a risky l.usmess to winter stock on tliese hills, hut still it is done The nreater part of this tract is covered l.v tVnvst. and lu-nce has a greater rain and snosv fall than the lower countrv The sprin.r "too. ,s much later, hein;,^ n,.ar!y thre.. weeks l,ehi*nd that of the " Nicola valley. This is not,'however, the chai'acter of the whole of the niichlle zone. It IS not a 1 elevated. Ahout and skunk cabbage become scarce IJie western .scrub pine and aspe,, become abundant on the river flats. Mr. Daw.son savs: ^^ " Temperature ob.servations k.^pt while „„ Uabi,,.. and Stuart lakes, •June _/tli to .July Sth, gave a mean minimum temperature of 40 •> = ./.7^i"'^'"V'^' *^"' '''"■''^' morning and evenino- obser\ations bein^^ 01.0 . llie temperature is h.-re subjei-t to greater and more rapid ^^ changes than m th<. 8keena valley, and on the niirht of June ^'Jth we experienced a frost, the thermometer reiiistt'r'ino' -^6° near th.> northern end of JJabine lak(>, and in tin \ icinitv of' the snow-clad " niountauis already refeired to." The country between 8tuart and M.-Leod lakes rises at the Pacific- Arctic watershed to a height of 2,820 feet. 30 nniTi.sii ruLUMUiA. Af^ain, speaking of tho country farther cast, the same gcMith-njau adds : — "In rcju'ii'i'd to eUniato, tlie route from l'^)l•t MeLeod to the miihlle •' forks of Pine river, which is aUout .■!,()()() feet ahuve th(( sea, 72 "miles distant, may '>e ti'eatcd tnijidhiT as reiiresentin^^ tlie Hoeky " mountain /one, inchidin;; tiie t'ool-liills of hotli sh)i)es and the lii<,rher " plateau attachin;j; to these on the north-eastward. From July 17tli "to August oth, the mean of the observed nuninia on this part of " the route is ."$!,*. 7°. The mean of the early morniny and eveninif " readings of the thermometer, 49.4°. This must be nuich below tho " actual mean temperatui'e, for the tliernionieti'r had seldom risen " mucli above its mininuini wiu'ii observed at (i a.m. Tiu; heat was ".sometimes great in the nuddle of the day, but as ue were then " always tiTiVelliuL;, eon id not be regislereil. Tln'ee fi'osts were ex- " perienced, on the nights of the 2nd, ."ml, and 4th A'.igiist, tla; ther- " mometer reading 30.5°, 28° and 30.5° on these inghts respectively, " Strong westerly winds, falling calm at sundown, with a clear sky, " were the conditions causing the frosts." Mr. John McLeod, senior, an experienced Cliief Factor of the Hudson Bay Comi)any, who collected much information about the interior of JJritisli (.'olundiia, states: — " As to the climate of Uritisli Columbia, it is to lie observed that " on the whole, it is moister and warmer taan. that on the eastern " side of the Rocky Mountains in thi' same latitudes, but local causes, " viz., the special physical features of the country, with its alternati; " of rugged mountain range, and comparative hivel, vary it nmcli. "In its southern half, the altitude of the cascade or coast I'ange, " seems to wall otl' from the interior the va])ours of ocean waters, " which Avatei's never varv bevond ')()" to 52*^ Fahi',, the whole vcnr " througli, wdiile on the northern half of it, or at least Vietwei'U lati- " tudes 53° and 56°, there is a freer play of ocean Aajjour, with its " ever-fertilizing inlUu-nct.' over the wliole breadth of the country to " the Rocky Mountains, and even beyond, through the Peace River " pass and other passages in the lowered range in those latitudes. " BetH-een lafifi'dcs 53° loid 56°, excliitiive of iiuntntain lieirihtu, it " iiiaij be called niiJdlj/ Canadian, and irif/i a gvr.atcr force of iryctahle "growth" Mr. John McLood adds, as to Dunvegan, which is in this zone, near the 5G° jjarallel N.L., inunediately east of the British Colum1)ia boundary:— " As to the period of cultivation (from April to October) it is a " fact worth noting that Dunvegan, Toronto, and Queb(>r do not vary " more than half a degree in mean temperature, and that as to '' Halifax, the ditierence is only 1° 09' — ^lujt far from two (U>grees in " favour of Dunvegan. As to the winter cold of Dunvegan, its " steadiness and dryness are, for botli man and l)east, better tii.ui that "of any otlier j)lace in tin; Dominion, i never saw any person from " that region but who was improved and strengthened in health and CLIMATK AVn nESOURCES. 31 line j,'ciif It'iiifui to tlio niiddit) »•« tli(! sea, 72 n CO OxTAnio : ^V, .<: s. W, District. X. .t N. W. District. Ceiitrul Disf.rict. . . X. i:. & E. District. Ontario yuelycc , , New Rnmswifk '.'. Novu Scotia, I'riiicu I'Mwan! Islaiul Miiiiitolui JJnlisli CiUiniihin.... Ncwfuuiidlaiul -5 ^ ! S •< 1:1 0. 1.1s (i.-27 l.!)l (l,H2 0.i):i 5.i)0 i.r.r (i.i'it 0.44 s.fiT .'i.rV 8.4.1 •-'.88 (i.liO lll.Sd 1.84 7.K! n.(iri o.i;o (i.(i,s 4.i)() 4.4.') 2.8ii 2.7(1 !.;« 8.00 13.12 8. Hi) (I. or. !).H7 8., ".2 1(1.13 11.00 10. (i 42.7 24.0 0,(1 10. S 27.7 411. (i HO. 8 r.8.0 4,;i , 7.2, .')2.0 10,4 25, :i ;io.o 3.8 !0!8 2i).,'i 20.0 2(i,0 18,3 l"3.7 14.. '•1 22.0 14.2 12.0 1.0 4.8, 17.8 2.G 3.2 2.,'. 4.0 3.3' 0.1 9.3 8.2 8.3 .^.8' S I o.oi 0,7 3.7 2.4 0.3 l.K 2.0 2., 5 S 0..'i s 8^7 ! I 2.C 7.3 10.9 82,8 4.8 12.4 22.8 129.4 .'i.2: 3.8 10.9 80.9 0,9, 9 8 20,0 90.8 s.n n.:i 1(1. ] (J7.5 9.2 22.1 l-,.l 123.0 S 19.9 1,'-|.3 120. (i S 11.3 r>.S 104. (i 0.1 II-)..-. 9.8 13(1.0 9. 8.4 0.1 17 8.2 41. (> 5 1.8i 19.3 2 13. 4i 14(5.8 a. ;V2 juilTisH ri)i,iMniA. Ql'AKTKUI.V AVKKAtifc SU.MHKU OK DaVS (iK UaIN IS TIIK SEVKRAL ritnVJNTEK (IK TIIK Dominion ok Canada am> tiik \f.MiiFn or Days of Snow in KA( II MONTH ANI> in THK VKAH IST.'i. • yuartt'ri.y of Dto • miiuhor i liaili. N'umhor of Do.v ! of Snow. L ^ u' .■.i ?l a s Is it ?. < 1 ■c rt' 55 Year. (INTAIlIo: \V. aiidS. \V. District,. N.T •H.i •J7.II 23. 11 ID. It (1,11 KM 4.0 1.3 2.0 5.3 7.8 48.3 N. und .N. W. Iii.stri'.t., . 4,11 i\.» 31. N 25.1 21.0 13.8 11.(1 5.5 2. It 4.8 10. 1 12.0 Si. 7 Central li!-itrl(t . 0.7 ■H\A 25.4 2(1.(1 14.5 7.0 8.8 4.4 2,3 2.7 4.8 7,2 51,7 N. K. uiid K. Dlstrli't... . 5.8 27.1 32.4 20.1) 15.0 1».» 11.7 5.4 1.7 3,1 0.4 12.0 08,8 Ontario . 7.3 2,i.t) 211.4 22.0 15.5 1),4 10.(1 4.8 2.1 3,1 7.4 7 02. H (^iioliuc . 3.3 •Jd.H 37.(1 !!».(> 12.8 11.0 13.4 0,1 3.0 4,3 11,0 10.2 73.0 Xiw Uniiiswick . 7.(1 •r..4 3,'., 5 lS.(i 12.1 10.0 ,>,.7 4,!l 1.7 1,3 0,0 8.8 57,1 .Noviv Scotia . n.o •jii.r. 31.1 2(i.2 12,7 10,3 10.2 3.(1 1.0 1.0 7.0 7.3 f.3.7 I'HiiiB lylwiiril Isluiul. . . . . 11.0 31.5 4(1.(1 33.11 1(1.(1 11.0 11.0 5,5 1.0 1,0 10,0 11.5 07.0 .Miuiitohu 11.11 •JB.O 27.4; (1.(1 7.(1 7.0 0.0 8.0 1.0 7.0 11.5 «.0 50.5 Iln'tifh Viibuiihin . lit.ri IS. 5 15.5 3,S.5 (1.5 0.0 8.5 2.0 0.0 0.0 7.0 5.0 29,0 NewfoMiulUind . 4,7 3.11 35,5 25.(1 17.2 13.0 11.5 7.3 3,0 1.0. y.n 17.0 70.5 AVEKAOK DKl'TH OK K.\I\ IN 1N( IlKS, IN TIIK SKVUKAI. I'UoVINCKS IN TIIF. Do.MINION OK CaNAHA in K.\('I1 MONl'll, .\NI1 IN TIIK VK.\U 187'). . __ _ — . — ... — — .Months, ls7,-). t 1 .March. April. 5' 6 >'. 1 'J 1" .'1 •I s ^ J Year. (iNTMiio: in. in. in. ill. ill. in. ill. in. it). in. in. in. in. \V. ami S. \\. District. , 0,0(1 73 1.47 1,48 3.51 1.07 3.30 3.12 2.17 2.03 1.42 2.02 24.78 N. ami .\. \V. District. , 0,00 o,;iii (1.70 1.20 3,43 1 . 55 1.48 2. Ml 4.11 4. -'3 0.00 1.05 22.02 Central District , 0,02 ,SII 1.00 l.ls 2.51 2,03 2,40 1.71 2.. 84 2.37 1.05 2,03 20.(13 N. v.. and K. Iiistrict. . . 0,00 0,30 O.li'l 1 (18 3.57 1 , 25 2.38 3.13 3.8(1 2,33 0,02 0.7(1 20.21 Ontario. . 0,02 . (1 00 0..-(i 0.20 (i.O'.i 1 ,20 0.24 1.33 3.2(1 4 . 35 1,77 2,30 2..><0 4,30 2,(10 4,,8,^ 3.25 (1,,hO 2.00 1.07 3,07 0.34 1.00 0.,87 21.01 ruielicc 30.02 New Brunswick . o.,'-,7 2.23 (1.07 1.52 2.71 4,20 3.77 2,85 4.38 0.71 2.10 0.52 32.53 Nova Scotia . 0.10 2.15 0.03 1.00 2.21 2,40 4.21 4, OS 1.07 5.07 3.03 0.07 .30.01 I'riiice Kihvard Island, , . . 0.01 l..-(l 0.33 1.75 2,03 2,7S 3.72 4,40 2.84 (1.74 2.04 0.43 20.8(1 Manitolia . 0.110 0.011 0.(10 0.1,H O ;-.) 3.0,S 0.114 3,45 0.,s7 11.31 0.-'4 0,00 12.10 Ill-it inlt Cut II III hill . 1.45 0.2,8 2.72 0.00 1,32 ,S,^ 1.13 1.00 0.03 2.. '.5 3.07 5.34 21.03 Newfouiidlaiul . 0.02 0.73 0..57 2.07 2,70 3,17 3,'o 3.01 5.71 4. -.7 1.34 0.94 20.21) CLIMATK AND KESOURCRS, 3.*^ S OF Svow IN of Snow. Y 5 < .i Ji ." 2.11 r>.;t 7.8 48. a 4.S lu.i 12.0 si. 7 2.7' 4. IS 7.2 nl' 3.1 0.4 12.0 1)8.8 a.l 7.4 7 (i2,H 4.H 11,0 10.2 7«.e l.;t 0.0 8.8 .'.".1 1.0 7.0 7.3 fi;t.7 1.0 10.0 11. s t;7.o 7.0 11. Ti It.O 50.5 (1.0 7.0 5.0 2fl,0 1 II ».» 17.0 79. R nSCES IN THF. u 187.-). 'Ill V n b a £ V 15 1 * >• . in. iti. in. « 1.42 2.02 24.78 :) 0.00 1 ,^\■^ 22.02 t7 l.o.'i 2.01! 20.(13 in (i.O-i (i.7(! 20.21 Mi 1.07 l.C.O 21.91 ;7 o.;i4 (1.87 30.02 •1 2.1(1 II. .'i2 32.r)3 i7 :t.<« 0.<.)7 30.01 ■4 2.04 ().4;i 29.8'ow foundland MoNTllH, 1875. 0.0 0.1 1.2 0.1 0.0 0.0 o.r. 1.0 1.0 0.0 2.R 0.2 3.1 1.9 4.0 2.7 2.0 2,0 5.7 6,4 8,0 0.0 2,5 2,8 11 4,71 2,9 4.5 3.0, 3.8 l,3i 1,4 3.0! 2.01 0.01 14.5' 1.7 ft.n'io.fl 5,0 10,4 7,0 10.8 0,4 12.0 0.3 u.i 5,3il2.1 5,8 10,0 4.0 10,1 7,0 13,511,(1 4,0i 8,7il0,3 0,0 8,5; 4.0 U. 3:10.0 8,2 7,7 8,5 8,0 8.1 8.2 8.0 9.0 8.5 1 « 4 l| 7,0 10,9 0,4 8,2 10.5 13,1 0,8 0,0 8.4 n.i 7.8 10,5 12.5 12.1 13.4 10.8 11.3 U.3 10, 2| 9,0 14,0 12,5 13,5 7,0 12.7 7,7 6,0 4.5 5,0 12.5;i2,5 10,5 9,0 12,9 11,1 13.0 0,8 14,5 0,6 12,1 11,6 12,1 10,4 13,2 17,5 4,0 12,0 13.7 6.21 4,2; 4,0 4,0; 4,7 2,11 .5,1 j 8.0 11,0' 2.0 11,5 15,0 6.0 6.3 8.0 84,7 6.4 86.6 0,4 82.1 .3.0 86,2 6.4 84.0 5,4 3,1 5,0 8U.8 87.1 01.8 4,5 115,5 0.0, 66,4 02.0 80.7 The intimate relation of climate to agriculture points to the ques- tion of the soil as the next subject to bo nientioned, and the tirst, in order, among the natural resources of the province. COAST REGION. A comparatively small pioj.ortion of thc^ whole coast of the main- liiiid of Itritish Columliia is uvailalile for ugricultun^. Tn many parts either the absence of suHiciciit good soil, or the excess of rain and cloudy weather, would prcvt-nt the protitablc culti\ation of cereals. On the northern part of the coast, th«^ islands and mainland shore are almost tn-erywher(; covered with dense coniferous forest, with the exception of the mountain sides and summits which are too steep for vegetation to cling to. As seen from the water, the trees frequently appear somewhat scrubby and small, but on closer examination are found to be of considerable size. 'Hxc covering of soil is almost everywhere scanty, a fact connected with the absence of extensive glacial deposits, which is referred to in the various reports of the Canadian Geological .Survey staff. This is also found to be the case in the islands, which from their low and uniform outline might be supposed to have some agricultural value. Thus it is that even were the climate more favourable to agriculture, the area of land actually available for this purpose, on the northern part of the coast, would be small, with the exception perhaps of the low alluvial north-eastern portion of the Queen Charlotte Islands. It is supposed, but not proved by systematic ubst'r\;itious, tluiL that portion of the islands is somewhat sheltered from the rain-bearing winds. The estuary of the Skeena, on the mainland opposite to the Queen Charhitte Islands, occupies a valley which resembles oiu; of the inlets elsewhere penetrating the coast range, but has become lilled with I, 1 ■■■'■::' ■ i ™'' * ?^-'«- ' Wyj ^''^' ?'**' I ' ^f ^' ^^y^W WW - *- ''^ ' !'* "* '* * ' * 3 W Wl S i^ * > 1i r WW 34 HRlTIsn OOLUMniA, debris brought down by the river, so tliat, where from the bold banks, one would lie k'd to expect deep water, it is not found, The mountains are stceji and generally have rounded outlines. For the most part, as above said, they all are densely wooded. In a few cases, Avide areas of bushes and swampy meadows seem to occupy the higher slopes, but anany lai'ge bare surfaces of solid rock are visible, from which snow-slides and land-slips have removed whatever covering of soil may have originally clung. Mr. Dawson, F.tr.S., of the Geological Survey of Canada, says: — " The Skeena district can scarcely be regarded as of much value agriculturally. On tlie lower i)art of the river, — with the possible exception of a iv.^^' islands, — there is alisolutely no good land. At about twenty miles below the Forks, however, the higher terraces at the sides of the river, and a few hundred feet above its level, extend in some places several miles back from it, and show soil of fair quality composed of sandy loam with more or less vegetable matter. It is reported that tlie Skeena valley continues to present the same appearance further up, and it is certainly wide and low for some dis- tance above the Foj'ks, while a considerable width of land suited for agriculture is also found in the valley of the Kispyox to the north- westward. It is impossible to give an exact estiiuato of the area of arable land in this region, but it may lie roughly stated at about 80,000 acres. There may also be some good land in the wide valley of the Lakelse and Kitsumgalum, but unless in the event of some local demand arising, it will probably be long before these regions are fully utilized." Travelling eastward, inland, to the ivgion about the Forks of the Skeena, the following remarks are made liy Mr. Dawson : — "The summer temp(>rature is often high. According to Mr. Han- kin, a trader who has resided many years at tlu; Forks, snow gener- ally first falls in October, but melts again, the winter snow not coming till about the middle of Decend)er. Tlu^ wintev is in general steadily cold, though there is almost always a thaw in February. The ther- mometer has been known to reach 48 degives below zero of Fahren- heit, and to remain for days at a time below -30'. " The winter is in fact aliout the same as that of Stuart Lake, but the spring is said to open much earliei'. fJrass begins to grow green and some trees to bud out about the lirst week in April. Some cul- tivation is carried on. Potatoes are ocoasioiuiUy nipp(>d by frost in the spring, and on two occasions iiav(0)een atl'ected by sunnner frosts. They are generally liai'vested in tlie end of Septendier, but are ripe before that time, and can be olitained large enough for use about the finst of July. Indian corn does not ripen, and wheat, Mr. Hankin believes, would hv, an uncertain croj). The season of 1878 was ex- ceptionally long, and two successive crops of oats ripened before the frost ; the second 1)fM'ng a " volunteer crop.' In favourable seasons, squashes, cucuud)ei's, and othei- tender vegetables come to perfection. A few cattle and horses have been wintered herf>, tlie former requir- ing to be fed for five months, the latter have been kept by clearing > CLIMATE AND RKSOUHrES. .35 rom the hold i found, The lies. For the d. In a few em to occupy iolid rock are 3ved whatever ,nada, says : — f much value 1 the; possible ood land. At ler terraces at 5 level, extend .V soil of fair etable matter, ent the same V ior some dis- and suited for to the north- if the area of ated at about wide valley of of some local gionsare fully Forks of the )n : — g to Mr. Han- s, snow genei'- ow not coming ?neral steadily y. The ther- TO of Fahren- lart Lake, but to grow green 'il. Some cul- 'd l)y frost in summer frosts. , 1)ut are rij)e use about the (-, Mr. Hankin 1878 was ex- led l-)efore the .irable seasons, ) to perfection, former requir- )t by clearins away the snow to a certain depth in strips to allow them to scrape tor grass. ' ''The climate is in general much like that of Quebec or Montreal, with the exception of the winter, which, according to the statements above given, though rather shorter, is more severe. I am induced to think that Mr. Hankm may be wi'ong in supposing that wheat would not succeed well about the Forks, hut this must remain a matter for luture experiment." The Skeeiia has been used as a channel of communication between the coast and the richly aurif.Tous Omiu.'ca district (the remoteness ot which alone probably prevents its), eing one of our best mining districts , but the river is not well adapt.'d as an arterv of trade? A steamboat has ascended 02 miles above Port Essingt'on. Above tlie torks the river is scarcely deemed navigable even for canoes Leaving tlie northern part of the coast, and coming south alon<- the mainland shore as fai- as opposite the north end of Vancouver Island, It may be said that there is little room for agricultural set- tlements owing to tin; smallness of tlu- arable area, and the unfitness ot the humid climate, in most part, for tlie growth and ripening of cc'reals. Fotatoe-s, carrots, and turnips have been grown at Hudson Bay posts and by the Lidians. The description bv Lieut. Palmer, li.-h., ot the Jsorth Bentinck Arm and Bella Coola (or Nooklialk) river, gives a fair notion of tlie general cluu-acteristics of this portion or the coast : — "Piles of mountains broken up towards the seaboard in singularly tumbled though rounded massc-s, but increasing in altitude and com- pactness as they approacli the centre of the Cascade (coast) range, snowy peaks, pine-clad slopes, rugged dirts and precipices, naked, shapeless masses of trappean and granite rocks projecting upwards to vast heights, gloomy valleys and picturesque watei'-falls * * * The valley for iO miles from its mouth is undoubtedly of estuary torination, low, and m many places swampy throughout ; and to the same process by which, for ages past, the land has been gradually torcing back the waters of the ocean -namelv, the deposit of the vast quantities of alluvium and drift which have l)een brour^ht down by the Nookhalk--is to be attributed the existence of the large, flat mud shoal which extends across the head of the arm. This shoal composed of black, fetid mud, supi^orts a rank vegetation of lon-s inci-ease rapidly to 40 and soon to 70 fatlioms. ****** The only available land in the neighbourhood is a sloping tract of about 1200 acres, covered wit], n profuse wild ^■egctl^tion of clover, vetches or peavme, grass and berry bushes, timbered in i.laces and generally diy, but breaking up towards the head of the arm into low swamps and i)on(Is and damp grassy hillocks and ridnes. "On tJie north side of the river much of tlie land is heavTly timbered withm the hue of high water mark with cedar, cottonwood, and some I "t 36 BWTlSlt COLUMBIA. species of lir, but is so singularly dottod witli low marshes and damp, steaming ground, which encourages a dense growth of the penax hor- riila, as to be unadapted to white settlement."' The above truthful but unattractive description fortunately does not apply to tlie whole coast any more than a description of a part of the north-west of Scotland v.ould apply to the counties of Devon and h^sscx. A large arable area — more than a million acres— specially favoured as to both soil and climate, is found as we proceed southerly along the coasts. This has attracted many settlers, and offers room for more. It consists, principally, of the lands on the south and east eaasts of Vancouver Island and on the delta and part of the valley of the Lower Fraser on the mainland— the latter known as the New Westminster district. A short description, chietly of tlii^ soil of these two highly favoured areas of the " Coast Region"* will now be given, omitting details that will be more in place in " Part II." of this compendium. The present purpose is to exhibit the principal resources of the co\intry, in, so to speak, its natural state. VANCOUVER ISLAND. (General DKsruiPTiox.) "Situated between the parallels of 48^ l'O' and T)!" N. Lat. in from 123" to 128' \V. Long., Vancouver, from its insular position, enjoys a climate much less rigorous, and more equalde, than the cor- responding area, on the continent oil" the shores of wliich it lies. "Of an" elongated oblong form, it is essentially a mountain ridge, attaining, at Mount Arrowsmith, an elevation of o,900 feet, composed of nietamorphic and trappean rocks, fringed l)y a belt of carbonife- rous sandstones and other sedimentary deposits. Cut up by nunierous arms and inlets of the sea, in no case does the water-shed suffice to give a navigalde stream, though numerous fresh water lakes are found, embosomed amongst the si)urs of the mountain ranges. In length, 300 miles, with an average breadth of 30 to ."^O, its outline is boldly picturesque, its shores are characterized by abrupt cliffs, rocky promontories, magnilicent harbours, sheltered coves, and pel)l)ly Ijeaches. "Its surface is beautifully diversilied by mountain precipice, hill and dale, and unduhxting prairies, tlie tameness of which is broken, by numerous liosses of trappean rock, which raise their forms on either hand, and round which the gnai'led oak spreads its leafy arms, affording a grateful shade in the sunnner sun. "In such localities, the general feature of the landscape is very similar to many parts of Devonshire, mure especially to that on the ea.stern escarpment of Dartmoor, and the resemblance is rendered the more striking by the numerous stone circles, which lie scattered around. The trappean rocks, which, in Vancouver, take the place of the gran ill' of Devon, as giving feature to tlu^ scene, furrowed, grooved, and scratched by ice action, point to a period far back in cr.lMATi: AXD IJKSOURCKS. 37 es and clamp, be penax hor- iunately does u of a part of ios of Devon ally favoured itherly along ers room for luth and east of the valley II as the New j;hly favoured 2 details that The present itry, in, so to " N. Lat. in ular position, tlian the cor- h it lies. )untaiii ridge, eet, composed of carbonife- I by numerous lied suffice to er lakes are ranges. In its outline! is abrupt cliffs, I coves, and [)recipice, hill ich is broken, leir forms on 'ads its leafy Iscape is very :> that on the i rendered the lie scattered ike the place lie, furrowed, 1 far back in time, when a submerged laud hiy uucioi' a boreal ocean, and the.e stone circles point to a period in 'lOmoiogical historv, which has no longer a place in the memory of man." f('/,ar/rs hrhe/t Jf D 1/ R.C.^., E)idar, — liero and there shore is skirted by lower wooded hills, among wliich, and along streams, small patches of open or wooded Hat laud are found. "No inlets on nurth ((ml rust coasts —noi'th end, low— shore line, near Johnstone's Straits, continuously elevated, mountainous. Far- ther down c((st coast, and also iu s(ii(f/i-e((sf(^rn part of island, the coast is lower, and the proportion of flat or gently undulating 'land, good for farming, increases, some of which is open or thinly timbered.' "Prevailing tind)er-lir, near the coast— hemlock, iidand— great cedars on the mountains — shi'ulis, beiries, and (lowers everywhere grasses, sweet grass, reed meadow, Ijent spear -whitr clover, wild timothy, wild oats, broad-leaved I'ush, cowslip, itc." | ij, M. Sprout, ex-Ayeid-OeKcvdl /or the Prorlncr.J VANCOUVEK ISLAND. (CtKXEHAL Descihption'.) "The shore line, moi'e particularly along the west coast, is broken by numerous arms or inlets of the sea, some of them running far into the interior of the island, which can be crossed at several points in a distance of land travel less than one-third its breadth. " The interior of the island, within certain limits which will be presently defined, is rough and mountainous. "Quatsino Sound, and a line drawn from its eastern extremity to Fort Rupert, would form the northern limit of the highest interior mountain ranges, while their southern limit may be defined by a line joining Cowichan harbour with Tort San Juan.' "The surface of the Island, beyond the limits above described, although occasionally interrupted by mountains of considerable alti- tude, is of a low, rolling, or lumpy character. Between the foot of the mountain slopes and the southern and eastern coast lines, stretches a margin of comparatively flat land, varying from two to i ■"^ 38 BRITISH COLUMBIA ten miles in breadth, ^vllil(; the rivers are bordered in some instances, for considt>ralilc distances fnrtlier inland, by narrow Hats." (Josf^tlt Hunter, C.E., Cnnndian l'(ir[fic Raihmi/ Siirvi'i/.) VANCOUVER ISLxVND. (Eastekx Coast.) "The country between Victoria and Comox is occupied by a series of rocks, which, in some places, present a rolling surface, with no elevations lising to a i,a-eater height than SOO or 1,000 feet, and in other places, is comparatively level. It possesses generally a good soil^ and may hereafter lie thickly settled. It is mo.stly covered with forest, but in some parts pi'eseuts a i)rairie or park-like aspect, with grass-covered ground, studded with single trees or clumps of them, and offers great encouragement to agricultural industry. "The hills that rise up on parts of the coast are generally craggy, but often present patches with a thin soil covered with tine short but thick grass, on which cattle and sheep thrive well. The temperature being cooler upon these hills, they afford excellent pasturage during sunnner.'' (Mr. Junius Jiic/Ktrilnoii, Cdtiddidii iieolwjkal Survey Staff.) VANCOUVER ISLAND. (Localities of ExisTixn Settlements.) "The eastern coast of Vancouver Island pi'esents varying features, forming a scene of surpassing beauty, — the shore in general low and undulating back to wooded hills of modcrat(> height ; promontories numerous and often rounded; islands of almost c^-ery size and shape; an ever-recurring succession of beautiful outlines and of rich colour- ing that varies with the season. "The principal settlements are upon the south and east coasts, where the soil is exceedingly fertile, and tlie climate enjoyable and favourable to agriculture. They extend from the district of Sooke (in its southern part) along the eastern coast to the district of Comox, which is, at present, the most northerly settlement, though a few persons have settled here and thei't; between Comox and the north of the island. " On the west coast of the island, outside Fuca Straits, little arable land is found. There is a small area (where excellent crops have been grown) at the head of the Alberni Canal, and a much larger, but as yet, agriculturally untested area, in the neighbourhood of Quatsino Sound, at the north end of the island. "I do not think there is nnich farming land in the interior of the island anywhere in mass, though detaclKnl ])ieces near lakes and in valleys would, no doubt, make a considerable rea, if all were put together. The mountains in the interior cross and re-cross, interlaced by valleys, generally wooded. Many of the larger lakes have steep sides ; the streams are rapid, and often have rocky banks. Nearly all the smaller lakes and rivers, however, have a good deal of low CLIMATE AND RESOURCES. 39 little arable and near them, swampy or liaWe to overflow, but capable of beinc. l)rought into cultivation. In hollows anioni? tho hills also are marshy tracts, easily dramocl, which, if there is a subsoil, will make farms. "The islands between Vancouver Island and the mainland aro. rocky and wooded, witliout, ar, a rule, any larj^e agricultural ari>a, but the soil especially of tliose lying along the Vancouver shore in the Strait of Georgia, is more aliundant and richer than on the islands of the northern coast, being in fact tlie same as on th.^ eastern coast of Vancouver Island. The important island of Salt Spring, for instance is of the same geological formation as the Cowichan cHstrict ofl which It lies. The climate of these islands is very pl(>asant ■ tlie snow, of course, falls lightly and is transitory. The herbage cannot be excelled m quality, and is more abundant than one would be led to expect from the rocky character of most of the islands. Many of these islands that are suitaljle for settlement are partly occupied." (G'. J/, Sjirudt, ex-A(ji!nt-Geui'r(il for t/u; J'roviiire.) VANCOUVER ISLAND. (Eastkrx Coast.) The following extracts from otlieial Reports of Canadian Govei-n- ment Engineers employed on the surveys for the Pacific Railway, give a good general notion of the character of the pa,stern coast :— "The whole distance l)etween Esquimalt and Seymour Narrows would bo IGO miles ; of this distance L>.-) miles, between Esquimalt and Cowichan, would be lieavy rock excavations. From Cowichan to Nanaimo, 35 miles, tlu; woi-k would be somewhat lighter. The remaining 100 miles would be \-ery favourable. * * ' * The whole line would be generally favourable, with works of a moderate character. * * * It is (,uite evident that a trunk line of railway will soon be required from A'ictoria and Esquimalt via Cow- ichan, Nanaimo, and Comox to Seymour Narrows, eventually, per- haps, as far north as Fort Rupert, near tlie northerly end of the island, with branches to Alberni on Barclay Sound, Nootka Sound, and other good harbours on tlie western coast." (Mr. Fleming, C.M.G., Chief E)uii)icer.) " The belt of iiat laud lying betM-cen the foot of the mountains a.nd the Straits of Georgia, from Nanaimo northwards, ends here (at Seymour Narrows), and the mountain slopes come down to the water's edge, in a steep, irregular line, broken at intervals by ru'>-ged cliffs, projecting into tleep water. ° "This character of outline continues to the end of Discovery Pas- sage ; but after reaching John.stone Strait, the slopes of the moun- tains rise, generally at an easier inclination, to a height of one to three thousand feet, and are covered to tlieir summits with a dense growth of fir, spruce and cedar. "On reaching Beaver Cove, on Broughton Strait, the mountain slopes on Vancouver Island begin to recede from the water, and there is an interval of table land containing extensive beds of coal, 40 BRITISH COLUMBIA. some of which have been worked by the Hudson's Bay Company. This flat is, in some places, of considerable breadth, and extends as far as Fort Rupert, on Beaver harbour. Farther west, the mountain slopes touch the waters of the (lolotas Channel throughout its entire length, but the range rises only to a height of from 500 to 1,400 feet. "Near the 1 27th degree of west longitude the river Nimpkish enters Broughton Strait. This river receives the overflow of Lake Kar- mutsen and several other smaller lakes, lying in a valley of consid- erable breadth in which there is son)o good land. "This would probably be a favourable route for a road or railway across Vancouver Island to Kyuquot Sound, on the west coast of the island." (Mr. Jfrn'CKs tS'mil/i, C.E., Chief Assistant Eesident F>i(fhtefir. ) A^ANCOUVER ISLAND. (Towards tuk North.) The valley of the Salmon river, \\hich drains the elevated district near Victoria peak, and Hows northerly into Johnstone Strait, has been described by land surveyors who visited the district. One report estimates that about 2-'3,000 acres, having the general characteristics of the eastern coast valleys, are a\ailabl(^ for settlement. A succeed- ing report is less favourable. A similar difference is found in reports as to the agricultural value of the low land at the north eiid of th«! island. A surveyor in 1879 states : — " Having examined the east coast to within a few miles of Cape Scott, I crossed from Fort Rupert to Rupert Arm at the head of Quatsino Sound, and thence, by the west arm, traversed the centre of the island to within a short distance of its northern end, while explorations were also made from Rupert Arm southward. The area thus examined contains very little agricultural land. Near the east coast, patches of good land are met with, but they are so far apart as to render them practically useless for agriculture. The interior country consists of low, rocky and gravelly hills, generally thickly wooded and interspersed with small s^\'alnps and lakes. Open tracts, which )night be made available for pastiuT, arc visible on the sides and summits of some of the hills." The same district is described as follows, by private explorers, in search of minerals, in a letter to a Victoria newspaper in 1882 : — " Two of our party, after crossing Shushartie Saddle, a remarkable elevation of 1,900 feet, five or six miles distant, were astonished at beholding, spread out before them, .a raagniticent stretch of level, prairie land. They travelled on, some six or seven miles over this open country, to the most elevated pouit of it, which, by a barometrical reading, indicated 1,650 feet above sea level. By far the greatest portion of this extensive tract is only from 800 to 1,000 feet high. The whole open and slightly rolling district was estimated at about ! CLIMATE AKD RESOURCES. 41 Company, extends as 3 niouutain t its entire 3 to 1,400 ikish enters Lake Kar- of corisid- or railway st coast of t Resident ted district it, has been 3ne report racteristics A succeed- tural value or in 1879 ?s of Cape le head of the centre end, while rard. The Near the T are so far ture. The 5, generally ikes. Open ible on the cplorers, in 1882:— remarkable tonished at !i of level, ;r this open irometrical le greatest ) feet high, d at about fifteen miles from east to west, and nearly as far from north to south, being slightly oval in form. It is dotted over with chimi)s of alder, cVre. ; probably one fourth of it is so occupied. A good deal of the surface is covered with splendid grass, M-itli here and there swamps and ponds, which can be easily drained. Small streams are numerous, borne of tliem I'unning toward Queen Charlotte Sound, and others northerly in the direction of Quatsiuo Sound, on the Avc'st coast, were fully in \iew." VANCOUVER ISLAND. (Harbours.) Many good harbours exist on the coast of Vancouver Island, also numerous creeks and inlets that give protection to small craft— none are ever closed by ice. The well-known harbour of Esquimalt, in the soutli of the island, is about three miles by two, with an average depth of 6 to 8 fathoms. It is a safe and excellent anchorage for ships of any size, and may be easily entered at any time. The holding ground is good — a tenacious blue clay. Numerous rocky promontories, with gently sloping sandy bays and outlying islands, di\ersifv its shore line. It will doubtless continue to be the head-cjuarters of the Royal Naval Force in the Pacific. A large Graving Dock to accommodate ironclads is now l)eing made in the harbour by the (Joverument. (RiVKRS.) There are no rivers in Vancouver Island in the stricter sense of the word. The numerous streams that flow through the; country are simply the short water-courses which discharge the overflow of lakes or the surface waters of the neighbouring ridges — torrents in winter, some of them diminishing greatly in summer. (Lakes.) " Stretching into the heart of the country, lying along the bases of the parallel ridges of trappean rock, are numei'ous lakes, in some cases forming a continuous chain. Others, solitary, lie embosomed among the mountains, and form a beautiful feature in the landscape. Among the rocky, pine-clad hills, they lie, clear and calm, fringed by the willow, the alder, and the trembling aspen, the tender green of the foliage brightly yet softly reflected in the sunshine from the watery mirror, wliile reaching across as if to grasp the light, the dark purple outline of the shadow of the frowning peak, envelopes the farther side in gloom. (Forbes.) (Springs.) As might be expected in a country having a clay subsoil, and covered with a material through which water readily percolates, springs are numerous and the water excellent. There are localities, however, where clay forming the surface soi^, the water lodges or runs off, and must be looked for at some little fl i 42 BRITISH COLUMBIA distance, where the clay is ovorlaiil l)y a poi-ous niatci-ial. In these phiccH it is I'cadily found ; in otlicr plat-cs th(^ clay must be goue^ through lieforo. th(i water wells up. Many springs are chargt^l with sulpliuretted hydrogen, and much resemble the Batli waters, being, however, far irom unpleasant to the taste. VANCOUVER INLAND. (South and East Coasts.) How THE COUNTKY STRIKES A StRANGER. The following letter from an Ameriean visitor was published lately in a leading New York ne\vs])aper. It is interesting as tlie testimony of a stranger. What the writer says of the natural beauties of the district of Victoria applies genei'aliy to the districts of Sooke, Esqui- malt, Cowichan, Nauaimo, Comox, and indeed the whole eastern coast. It admits of no (juestion, that in a year or two, when the North Pacific and Canadian Pacilic transcontinental railways are finished, and the former coiniected, as it will soon be, with the California rail- ways, thousands of wealthy men in tlie Atlantic States and in Eastern Canada and in California will come to British Columbia, every year, with their families, to breathe health and to enjoy soft sleep, in our serene yc^t invigorating climate. They cannot find such an atmosphere, such scenery on land or sea, or such line yachting w aters in any part of the world.* Letter from a New-Yorker. " If any citizen .vill bring his family here for one summer he will find the truth to be that Victoria combines in itself more and rare advantages as a summer resort than any of the eastern resorts with which he is probably familiar. Vicforiu Dnint hfcoiin; the yreat Hummer resort of the Pacijic roust. No seaside place further south has this cool, and even temperature of 70°, from which, during even the warmest part of the day, the thermometer seldom varies 10° either way between June and September. When driving (which one can do enjoyably at any hour), the temperature is just of that delightful coolness which renders a light overcoat agreeable. The nights are colder, the ther- mometer sinking to about 60°. And it is worthy of note that we are credibly informed there is not a mosquito on the island, certainly we have seen none. I The breezes from the ocean are the best possible tonic. The markets are e.Kcellent,a tit complement to this most hygienic atmos- phere. The stock farms adjacent supply choice beef, mutton, &c., of that excellent (juality whieh the Englishman will have. Indeed, it is comfortable to feel that one has a niost satisfactory cuisine awaiting one's return from the various expeditions to which the myriad re- *Se3 desoriptiou by tho Earl of DiifFerin, a veteran yachtsman, at page 4. +There are a few mosquitoes in some parts of the island, but they are unvig- orous — less troublesouie than the gnats in Gnglantb CLIMATK AVI> ' SOURCES. 43 sources of the island continually invite. The roads are macadamized nud as sinootii as those of Central Tark. Tlu'y wind along among the great rocks on the slwres, and through the inland forests for miles. I do not know where we have not driven since we have been liere. Wo have heen driving all the time ; and now that we are about to go, we hear about many highways and byways whieh we mustleav(i without seeing. And then th(^ drives are so' different from what we have been accustomed to. They are crowded with surprises. The iidets of the ;;traits intercei)t the roads everywhere, to tempt and bewilder. \ esterday we drov(^ among the pine, lir, cedar, oak and all the har- dier trees. To-day w.^ threaded long \istas where it was ditKcult to behove that we were not in those weird Druid forests that haunt tlie gulf between I\lobile and New Orleans. Uur hor.ses' feet sank soundless on the spines of the pines and hrs, wjiose venerable beards swept our faces, or clung half fantastically about the manzanita, that Southern child, with its trojjical magnolia leaf." VANCOUVER ISLAND. (Rocks.) "The general lichological character of the whole island is as follows: Amongst the metainorphic and erupted rocks are— gneiss (gneisso granitic), killas, or clay slate, permeated by (juartz veins, quartz and hornblende rocks, compact bituminous slates, serpentine, highly crys- talline felspathic trai>s (bedded and j(jinted), semi-crystalline concre- tionary limestone. Amongst the sedimentary, are sandstones and stratified limestones crystallized by intruded igneous rocks, carbonif- erous sandstones, fine and coarse grits, conglomerates, and fossilifer- ous limestones, shales, ic, S:c., associated with the seams of coal. " As might be looked for in a country so marked by glacial phenom- ena, the whole surface of the land is strewn with erratic boulders. Great masses of many tons weight are to be found, of various igneous and crystalline, as well as of sedimentary rocks, sufficiently hard to bear transportation and attrition. "Granites and granitoid rocks of various descriptions are to be met with, trappean rocks of every kind from whinstone through the Avhole series ; mica schist with garnets, breccias and conglomerates. _" From these granitic boulders, and from the sandstones of the- out- lying islands, valuable building material is obtained. Some of the grey granite equalling in beauty, and closeness of crystalline texture, the best granites of Aberdeen or Dartmoor." (Charles Forbes, M.D., M.R.C.S., Eht' n dark liroNvn colour, and in some places <,'ra(luatt's downsvard into tlir diit't, wliilc in otliers it is separated by a rather siuu'i) Hue f'-oiii it. Lt follows tlu; undulations of the surface ; and Mr. Riehardson, of the (ieological Survey, describes it as generally gi'uvelly and light at tlie liigher levels, and finer grained at tlie lower. It may nut iniprobaldy be of marine origin, and formed during the emergence (tf tlie land." f(i. Jf. Daw- sun, Assoc, R.S,M.; F/,.^'.: o/lhe Camd'um (u'oliMjknl Snrveij.) VANCOUVER ISLAND. (Son.) " Deposits of stratified clay, sand, and gravel are very extensively spread over the rocks belonging to tlii> coal series. So far as observed, these consist generally of a greyish brown clay mixed with sand, sometimes becoming gravelly, with well-rounded pebbles derived from the crystalline rocks. I.i some places the ciay is free from sand, and in others sand prevails, and is usually niarkerl by false bedding. The drift in general presents horizontal layers -vhich, in a multitude of places, are worn into gentle iiuvpialities. Tliroughout the coun- try it is covered with an unconformable mantle of black soil — two feet six inches to four feet of an earth ajjparently containing a large proportion of vegetable matter. The soil is probably marine, as the lower layer, from six inches to a foot, holds sea shells sometimes crowded together in great i|nantities, whi.'h owing to the loss of the gelatine, crumbles on being handled." the Citaadian (leolugkal Stall'.) Mr, Jainen Jiichardsun, of VANCOUVER ISLAND. (Derivation and Distribution of Soils.) " Four chief sources — disintegration of underlying rocks — deposit of the sands, gravels, and clays of the great Northern Drift— alluvial deposits — decay of vegetable matter on the surface. "The nature of the underlying rocks lias produced in various parts of the south of the island (which the immigrant first sees) (jravelly soil, with a thin coating of ^.-egetable mould. "Further north, along the eastern shore, where the rocks alter in character, rich lo-.ms ai-e found, due to the decomposition of the lime- stone rocks in tlieir neighbourhood. Good specimens in Cowichau vaP.ey and at Comox. These soils are always ready for cultivation, "The Northern Drift sands, gravels, and clays, are spread out over the whole undulating surface of the east coast. The sandy gravels form the soil generally, from which tlie forests spring, while the clay will be found chiefly in the open undulating grounds as a retentive subsoil with a thick top-soil of vegetable mould. This latter clay- vegetable' soil is a n)ost valuable soil— colour, rich brownish black. It tills up hollows and swampy bottoms, a:)d forms \.\vi sides of gentle slopes. Ir some localities the clay forms the only soil, rLlMATIi AVD nKSOUHCMS. 45 land, " The above clay- vof,'eta1 tie soil is mixcil with alliiviuin in sonio loealitios— namely, deltas of rivers, noar inlets and in valleys. "The alluvial deposits are not extensive, the sti-eanis lu-ing short water-eoiirses. The l.rown eiutii, or "hiiiniis," resultinjL; from the decay of ve;j;etal)le matter, is idmndant, and mixes with the other soils in various proportions in (lill'ei'ent localities. Vamk oi' tiiksk Soils, " Tlie Ki'dvelly soil, found as uliove st;ited in various parts of the south of the island, is poor, from its inaliility to retain moisture. The rains are drained oil' into la<,'oons, and the sun dries up the sur- face. This soil produces liu'L,'!' tindier uiid course ^'rass. "Wheat could no (hiulit he culti\iited ui)on nearly all the other soils with proper culture. "The clay-ve^'etahle soil, alio\c mentioned, is very valuahle, par- ticularly where it has lieen mixed with alluviuni. With suhsoil draina>i;e this soil would carry the iieuvicst possible crops of wheat and other cereals. "The cl.'.v, when found hy itself, would, like all heavy require special treatment. "The sandy and <;ravelly loams are elifrihle for barley, oats, rve, buckwdieat, beans, peas, root and leaf crojis, itc, I'i.-c. " The deep loamy soils everywhere are especially eliffible for fruit culture. The alluvial deposits in the valleys an^ in many places ^ery valuable. Mixed with the decayed, and the decaying, vegetal)lo matter brou,!,dit down by the numerous streams from watersheds, they form a rich black soil many fret thick. " The brown earth, or "humus," forms soil of great value, accord- ing to the materials with which it nuxes. Though light and porous, many soils, so formed in the valleys and plains of the eastern coast, are well constituted for absorbing and retaining moisture as well as heat. The brown earth appeai-s to lie rich, when resting, with a depth of 2 to ;} feet, on a gravelly, or even sandv, subsoil, if we may judge from the successive crops of potatoes which the Indians have I'aised from such soil. " Hilly, partly wooded, grazing tracts are interspersed among the prairies and benches. Often, near arable farms, rocky hills rise 1000, 2000, and even 3000 feet- sui'face, craggy - patches of thin soil with grass. Sheep and cattle hke these liills in sunnner." (G, M. Sproat, ex-Agent-General for the Province.) VANCOUVER ISLAND. (Soil ; Residents' State.mexts.) Saanicii Pen'ixsula. Soil varies considerably. There is a certain proportion of rocky declivities, scarcely deserving the name of hills, which are of little use save for grazing purposes, but the soil in the extensive valleyij 46 imiTISH roM'MIlIA and prnlrics is. as a nil<'. of a lifli lilack loam, varyinj,' iiulrpth from H iiu'lics to 2 feet. Clay is fouiitl to a lar^'t> cxtciit tliroufihout the peninsula. Tho soil near tin* coast is much pomposed of lime and all kinds of shell detritus, wliieh is a vahial»le fertilizer for the garden and f)rc:liard. The a^M-ieultunU products of tlu^ district are second to none raised in A^ancouver. Crops as a rule are certain and large, the insects which are so ;,'reatly dreaded in lM\rope and the United Htates are not to 1)0 found, and with ordinary toresv,'ht the farmer can he cer- tain of a plentiful retui'U. Crops. -The followinjf is ai)pro.\iniately the avera<,'e of cereals for this district, as closely as possilile to he ohtained : -- Averai,'!' per acre. Wheat -T) hush. Oats ''0 „ •r, 1 f Chevalier -l-O ,, ^^'^'y I Rough 50 „ Peas -iO „ Buckwheat, rye, itc, an^ raised in smaller (juantities. Hops thrive well, and are cultivated for consumption, ehielly in tho Victoria breweries, a small proportion heing exported. Fruit Trkks. — All dcsci'iptions of fruit come to perfection. There is no reason why the canning of api)les, ])ears, peaches, plums, necta- rines, apricots, itc, should not in cours(! of timi? he^coine one of the most remunerative of the local industries. Ar.RiruLTUR.vr. Sociirrv. --Tlii> farmer^ of Raanich established some l.S years ago an agricultural society, which mow possesses four acres of land and the largest l»uilding on the island used for such purposes. Here takes place tli" annual show, in which there is an amicable competition in local produce, stock, manufacturi>s, itc, attracting visitors from all adjacent parts. The Provincial I'xhibitions of the Domi lion have already In-stowed well-deserved honours ujjon Saanich produce, lliglier still, however, has the district aspiifd, and with success, the recent Universal Ex- hibition of Paris having a.varded a gold medal diploma to a farmer of Saanich for the best sample of wheat. This proves beyond a doubt what are the agricultural capabilities of the peninsula. Stock. — Animals of all kinds are raised with facility, the usually mild winters being well adapted for avoiding the loss incident to a rougher climate. Cows, sheep, and pigs thrive. A large pork-pack ing business has lately been cstablislied in this district, which bids fair to become a lucrative investment to the proprietors, as M-ell as beneticiai to the disti-icL at large. VEfiKTABLES. — All products of tlio garden can be raised in profu- sion. The temperature and soil suit many vegetables and fi-uits of a warmer clime. Water-melons, musk-melons, corn of several descrip- tions, tomatoes, &c., ripen without much care. CLIMATE AM) liKSOUUCKS. 47 EsytHMAI.T I)lSTIUfT. "Tho soil of Mctc'Iiosin is for tlio inosf pdrtof loam (in sonnM-ases mixod with r.'cl diiy), with a day stil.snil. and is vory iiroduotivo. As niuoh as If) Imslids of wheat,' ,„■ tiU hush.ls of oats, have l)f.f>n raised to the aciv. _ Tht- strength of the soil in this locality may ho judifod from tho fact, that in some ]>arts of it ^.^--od croiis I'lavc "iifoii siicof'ssfully j,'rown for.tlw last IS y,.,u-s without tho aifl of manurf. Tho avora;Ltf^ yidd of wheat is from I'O to 2') Imshds por acr(\ Apples, poars, plums, strawherries. and in fact all kinds of fruits, cereals and vej,'etalples suited in temperate elimi's, thrive well. Then' arc ranyes of rocUy hills in this district which support a cousidcral.hs numhnr of cattlo and sjieep. CowicHAX District, iNCLuniNf; Sai,t Srinvc and utiiiou Islands IN TlIK (JlLK OF (;i;0H(iIA. The picturesijU(> and fertile Cowidian valley is al.out fifteen mih\s wide, narrowin;: inland rapidly in a westerly 'direction to the width of ahout six miles. Jiouiided l.y hi,;.di raii<;es of mountains composed of calcareous sandstones, these ranj,'i>s form liarriers to the valley, north and south. To the disinte;LCrati(.n and decomposition of these rocks, all hi^ddy diar;;ed with the carhonate of lime, is due the dis- tinctivc character of the soils throu,i,'huut the Cowidian valley. Tn their nature they are essentially calcareous, for while the othe'r prin- ciples occur ill diirerent decrees, in tliis locality, carbonate of lime almost invariably predomiiint-. ;!Md of this soil there is usually a good depth of from twc uive reet, resting on a sutlicientlv reten- tive subsoil of blue day or gravel, The eartlis, chieH\ light, very porous, and composed of due propor- tions of olay, sand, arbouate of lime, and humus, are well const ituted for absorbing and retaining moisture, and the general colour from brown to black, with the entire absence of chalkv or white earths, likewise indicates a favourable soil for receiving and retaining heat. Much of ^' oil along the river bottom is a clay loam of a brown colour, ai au excellent soil for wheat, beans] turnips, and red clover. Tiut alluvial deposit of the valley is, howe\ er, far from being all of a clayey nature ; in many parts, diidly (m the southern side, the mould rests upon a gra\elly and e^•en a sandy d(>posit, forming a rich soil. The soils upon Halt Spring and the ot'her outlying islands are of the same character and e(|ually productive. Th,> herbage and pasturage are excellent. Cowidian' mutton is famed. Wheal;, bar- ley, oats, rye, buckwheat, beans, peas, the root and leaf crops, potatoes, turnips, carrots, and th<> usual garden vegetables are all yielded abundantly, and are of a quality, perhaps, unsi:rpassed in any countiT The loamy soils, (.verywhere possessiiiii a depth of two to three feet, and containing a lai ^ a large proportio are especially eligible for fruit culture the calcareous principle. The river lands bear of tlici plum and the pear, and th rieties oak plains ai'ound the Somenos and Quamicliau lakes, with an areiia- 48 BRITISH COLUMBIA ceous clay subsoil so dry that it can be worked immediately after a rain of several hours, are exceedingly A.-ell adapted for garden or orchard purposes. Apples, pears, plums, cherries, and, indeed, all the hardy garden fruits, together with the grape and peach (particu- larly on the islands), thrive remarkal)ly well. The strawberry grows wild on the prairie lands, nearly of the same size as the garden fruit. The species and varieties of plants growing in this rich and fertile district are exceedingly numerous. Growing on the meadow lands are the following : — White pea (live to six seeded), wild bean, ground nut, a species of white clover, reed meadow grass, bent spear grass, wild oat, wild timothy, sweet grass, cowslij), crowsfoot, winter cress, partridge berry, wild sunflower, marigold, wild lettuce, nettles, wild angelica, wild lily, brown leaved rush. The fern attains the enormous height of from six to eight feet, and the grasses have all a most vigorous growth. The chief economical woods are the oak and pine, and the follow- ing list comprises a general summary of the trees and shi ubs met with : — Oak, red or swamp maple, elder, trailing arbutus, crab apple, hazel, red elder, willow, balsam, poplar, various species of pine, balsam fir, cedar, barberry, Avild red cherry, M-ild blackberry, yellow plum, choke cherry, black and red raspberry, white raspberry, prickly purple raspberry, prickly gooseberry, swamp gooseberry, several kinds of currants, bear berries, red elder, mooseberry, snowberry, blue- berry, bilberry, cranberry, whortleberry, red and white mulberry. Cowichan district, comprising hill and dale, woodland and prairie, in charming alternation, with three considerable streams and a num- ber of lakes, and including the attractive islands, is the largest agri- cultural settlement on Vancouver Island. It has the oldest agricul- tural society on the island. Nanaimo District. This great coal-yielding uistrict contains only a limited area of agricultural land, but the products of the soil are as abundant as in other parts of the fertile east coast, There are many good farms on the island of GaV)riola, the soil closely resembling that of the main island. District of Comox. The vegetable soil is of a very productive charactei-, and whether in the forest, the Held, or the garden, aided liy the favourable climate, yields "ood returns. This soil in Comox is spread over a considera- ble district of prairie country (commonly called "openings"), extending from the coast up the different Ijranches of tlu; Oourtenay river for 7 or 8 miles. A considerable portion of the surface of the district is naturally free from timber, with tlu^ excerption of singl(5 trees and clumps, chiefly of oaks and strips of alder in the bottoms. The of the same 'lit feet, and Lola, the soil CLIMATR A\D nESOUnCKS, 49 scenery is picturosquo and i.avk-lik(>, Aiu.th.T aira of cxcellont soil as hpavily Avooded ^vith spniu.., c.lai-, .W-. Tlio oi)en coiintiT in its natural state is mostly wvc-ivd vatli a -rowtli of fcnis. Thc'-viu'ral agnciUtuval charactor of Comox iK'iu- similar to tJiat of CVnvidiau, already (loser. Led, it is uimeee.s.ary to repeat details. l)e,iman and Horiil.y islands have the Comox soil. The hu-c, ishuul .,f Texada (famous tor its iron) lias not mueli a--ri(ultur;d vuhu>. xr ^^i\f" l'^^''''"'^l«""' «t' the Canadian Oeological Sm'N(>v, obtained the tollmvmu- statement of tin- avera-e A'i.'hl of the l.est land in Comox district, when cleared and tlKn'ou-iily undei- cultivation:— )^'^^f^* iyom ;]0 to .1.-) hushels per acre. g-'^*' >. ^'^' to Cm) „ ^T, " -^Oto 4.> „ ■I'otatoes , ] ."iO to 2VA) Tuniips ^, :)0 to i'.") tons ',] In quoting the above statement, ^ir. Dawson, F.G.S., also of the Creological Survey stalf, remarks: — "Crops like these appear so remarkal.le to those enga.^ed in farm- ing m the east, that the accuracy of the returns lias"oft(Mi been questioned, l,ut they have lu'cn r( peatedlv confirmed, not only in British Columlna, but in parts (,f Wasjiington Territory and in Oregon. These results are, Iiowcmt, only olitained from land in hrst-rate ord(M'; and the soil mav of oui'se be i)npoverished to any extent by bad farming, and has already in luanv instances been much run down in this way." The same gentleman adds — "All fruits suited to ti>mp(>rate climates thrive admirably on the east coast of A^ancouver Island, and soin(> of them attain a size and perfection seld.om found elsewlieiv, and show a strong tendency to develop new varieties. The nundier of cattle I'aised on' Vancouver Island must, under present conditions, bo limited, as the Hat and open country can be turned to more pi'o'itable use otherwise. Small herds, however, do well the year rr.und, with little attention, in the more thinly wo(Mled portions of th(> hilly countiv, where they find many edible plants, and bnnvsc^ also on the nuti'i'tious lichens which hang from tlu^ branches. "A great part of the low land, which will eventually be brought under cultivation, is now covered with gigantic forests, and at the present rates of labour it is scarcely allem])te(l to render it available, notwithstanding the high i)rice of farm produce."' VANCOUVER TSL.AXD. (WixTi;ii CAitE or Stock.) Some shelter, protection from ex('essi\-e rain, and a dry bed are what cattle need in winter in "Vancouver Island. Tlic undergi'owth m the neighbouring forest sometimes enables cattle to lind food for 50 BRITISH COLUMBIA. themselves; still :t is best to heave a moderate supply of hay and straw for winter food. A dry bed is important. With .so much wood at liand, rougli sheds can easily ho l)iult. The roof may be "shakes" (.splitwood). Ferns cut in cai'ly summer and stored, or branches of tirs, make beds. If tlio site is exposed, and tlie locality is one aflbrding a sale for fire-wood, piles of iire-wood will alibrd protecting walls. Milk cows and eaht'S, or sick cattle, may need closer sheds. AVlien all is .said upon tliis subject, cattle retpiire very much less attention in winter in \'aucouver Island than in England and Scotland. A little care will make them even improve between December and April. These remarks on winter food, or care of stock, apply to the whole Coast Region of the province. VANCOUVER TSLAND. » (PuicKs OF Faiohno Lands,) With respect to the prices of farmim,' lands in Vancouver Island, other than ^acai Crown lands, these, of course, depend nmch upon the locality, the nature of the farm, and tlie amount of improvements effected. Near Victoria, prices may bi' said to range; from !?.jO to $120 per acre for cleared and fenced land for agricultural purposes. CowicilAN AXD CoMOX. — The price of unimproved tindiered land, in private hands, is from .92.50 to f'A-) \wv acre. Improved farms in these districts may be said to range fi'om i'r Eraser) southerly beyond Puget Sound, and is bounded on the east by the Cascade range of mountains, rising at one part of their ccnu-se into the giant peak of :\Iount Baker. This area (see map) is portion of a A\i(]e trough lying (partly sea-covered) between the Cascade mountains and the Olympian range (which latter is represented, noilhei'ly. as already said, l.y the islands of Vancou- ver and Queen Charlotte). llie ISritish-Ainerican boundary line— the 49th parallel— cuts this continental shore area in its upper part, leaving, on the British side, a rich, low-lying region, between the boundary line and the above mentioned foot-hills of the coast range. Topogra])hically, this region i,s the Nalley of the Lower Eraser. It has a long 40-mile neck- frotn the gorge at Yale (through which the river boils), and (|uickly opens out afterwards, for 75 miles, into a line vaHey, v, itli an average widili often to lifteen mlle.s. The h'gal name for the broader part of tlie valley is the "New Y\'estmini;ter District." The river Eraser, v.hich is wliolly within British territory, has a general southerly course from Y:-li> uiitil it reaches the broader part of the valley, vheii a 'harii, westv, ard turn takes it along the base of the aljove foot-hills. Tlie lu-incipal portion of the valley is thus between the south side of tlie river and the boundary line. f ■ I m I: •gaM UM ii i . I i .ni ii » iii i i ii ii i ii L i 52 TlRITISn COLUMniA (!~iorTii smE or PtivKn.) The l)0un(1arv liiif, a'lout twciitv-four miles from tlio spa, strikes an abi ■ i)tly risiiiij; spur of tlio Cascddc iiiouiitains. This runs uortli-- east, ! .t does not greatly contract tho valley until it a2)proaclies the river ut Clieani, aliout 7-) miles from .its mouth, wjiei'e, usabovo said, the neck ends. Tlie sui'fuee, of tlie whole valley is low, little above tho sea Unci, except for a few gravelly I'idges, and a river-bordering i-ange of rocky hills, most observable about 3lats(jui and 8umass — • say T).") miles from tin; mouth of the Eraser. A shallow sheet of water, eight or ten miles long, and four miles broad, in its widest part, known as Humass Lake, lies in th area between these river-bordering hills and the Cascade spur. (XouTii Side of Rivki?.) On the north side of the Fras(>r, the foot-hills of the coast range, as abov ^ said, approacli the bank, leaving comparatively small aralJe areas, but on coming within about 40 miles from its mouth, they retire gradually in a north-westerly direction to Pitt river and the head of Ilurrard Inlet. The area ou tlie north side of the Fraser, to which the convergence of Pitt river !ind l!urrard Inlet gives a penin- sular character, iias an avenxgc! elevation of about 17-") feet, and a rolling surface, sloj.ing g( ntly sraward. The Avatershed on this northern side of the Lower Fraser, l)etween tlie streams falling into ilowe Sound and those taking a more circui- tous course l)y Lillonet and Ilarrisf)n Lakes to the Fraser, is some distance back among tin* mountains. It is at Green Lakes, on tho crown of a range 2,100 fei^t high, a few miles from the valhy of the east branch of the ri\er Skwawmish (Howe Sound), not far from the foi'ks. The Canadian Paciiic railway, which is now being made, runs through the Lower Fraser \alloy, on the north side, or right bank, of the river. Derivatiox of Soil. A series of tertiary roclcs occupies the greater pai't of the wide trough above mimtioned. These rocks untlerlie the valley of tho Lower Fraser add tln> Hat land about its ( stuary, and are continuous south of the boundary line, through the Ijellingliam Bay and Puget Sound region. The iSTew Westminster district probal)ly rests over nearly its v.hole extent on soft tertiary formations. Along its sea- Avard margin, the soil is composed of very modern delta deposit, which also is the case generally in the Sumass district above men- tioned, about the mouth of Pitt PaAcr, and elsewhere. These deposits are from the Fraser river and its tributaries. The Fraser has a course of 700 or 800 miles. It is the only river in British Coluuilna that has strength to cross the whole breadth of dry country between the ivocky and Coast ranges, and reach the sea. It is fed in its course by numerous tributaries, but is navigable only for considerable stretches, owing to lupids. Yale is the head of the first stretch of stern-wheel steamboat navigation from the sea. CLIMATE A\n liKSOUKCKS. rests over At that placo — tlio neck of tlic L'nv (>V ■raser val 5.3 -IIT) mi] PS from Its inout . til., pent, day-rolouivd ri^vr Imrstr; throu-h a lauun- taiu pass, ami lloxvs omvards with line l-i-mls ami reaches, at iirst with a rapulcurrent, ),ut afterwards deep ami traiuiui!. The tid(« head IS nearly CA) inil.s fr„u> it:; mouth. The average Mi.lth of tho In-aser, during the last lOO miles of its course, is about lialf-a-mile. iniASEIl EIVER. (A Skam.w's ArcorxT of it.) "Fraser rive.-, in j.oint of ma,.,-nitude and present commercial im- portance, IS second only to (he Columhia, on the nm-th-Mvst coast of America. _ J nits entire fn-edom from risk of life and shipwivsk, it possess<.s inlnnt,'_ advantages over any other river on the coast, and t]u> cause ot tins immunity from th<. dangers and ineonv(«niences to which all great nvers emptying th.Miiselves on an exposed coast aro suhject, IS suihciently ohvious. A .sheltered strait, scarcely !'> miles across, receives its waters; and the neigiihourin- inland of Vancouver serves as a natural hreakwater, preventing the possibility of any sea arising which would prove, dangerous t.j ^•ess.els, even of tlie .smallest class. -'!• -;> * ^- .;=. .... ^ _ ''Xew Westminster stands on tlu> norili or ri;;ht 1 -ank of tho Fraser, .]ust above the junction ef the north f.,rk, and la miles in a gc-neral north-easterly diivction from tli.. entrance proper; It occupies a commanding and well-chosen position, b,.ing v.ithin an easy distance ot tiie entrance and having great facilities for wharfan>ralon- its water Irontagc, a good depth of water and e.xcellent aneliorage. ° * " "'•■ ~^Vl;en the facilities fur entering the river, ami its^ capabilities are better !:nown, it will no donl.t rise ni.,re rai.idly into importanc(>.-' {.U/mlm' Sir amr;/. n,ar,j Rkhards, y.'.X, cA Jonmrhj llnihoyraplLe,' at iha A.'llii.) FEASEll JUVEK. (How IT LOOKS TO .V P>OTAXIST ()\ .V ►StE.\M]50AT.) "Our approach to the mouth of th- t-raxer was indicated before we reached the light-ship by th(> muddy apjiearance of the water, while e.vtensive mud-l,anks and low marsln- grounds gave evidence of the immense! (piantities of detritus brought down by the river. As we passed up, mars], .4,,v<. place to meadow, and soon, the imvidow to a thick ]ungh- of willow and other bushes, Avhieli -radually iner-vcd into forest tliat woulil vie with a trooical one in lu.xuriance * " * I found a numb..r of species of plants round New W.^stminster not seennnAancouverlsluml. * ^■- - At ilaiTison river, the vegetation was further advanc-d n.')t]i :^!av) than at Victoria. The whitethorn was in iiower, and the sheets .m the trees had made more ".rowth. •'!- •<• ^: ]\Jany la'autiful ilowers and herbaceous plants were in profusion. * - - The ^^•est(n•ll hemlock, the large-leaved inai)le, the western dogwood (with white flowers 3 *,'! 64 BEITISII COLUMUIA. inches broad), the rod alder and balsam poplar (in the lower roaches), and a most lovely l)ireli, ,i,'re\v of great dimensions amon;;- the more common and still larger Douglas lir, Menzios tir, and giant cedar." — ' (Professor John Jfacoi(/>, Botanist, (Icolofjlcfd Snrvtnj of Canada.) NEW WESTMINSTER DISTRICT. (A General Description Tex Years aho.) "The New Westminster district probably contains as much fine arable land as Vancouver Island. It is the only large mass of choice agi'icultural land anywhevo on the mainland of tlu; north Pacific slope lying actually upon the ocean -with a shipping port in its midst. A navigable river cuts it through, which is sheltered at its mouth. The river is full of salmon and other good lisli, and the district abounds with game. The climate, though somewhat humid, has neither the wetness of Western Oregon, nor the withering dryness of some of the larger Californian valleys. There is no ague. " Similar land to that of the New Wi>stmin.ster district is found immediately south of it, across the national boundary line, but, being formed l)y smaller i-ivers, it dof's not lii^ in sucli a, ma.,s. The land is lower, and comprises more fide-lai 's cut u]> by sloughs. " I do not remembei' in Oregon or California any such land, so placed, as the New AVcstminster district. Tortious of the Willamette valley, in Oregon, liave as fine soil, and the Willamette valley is far larger, but it is very wet : tlu> climate is aguish, and tlie nature of the ajiproach from the sea to Portland is not good. "There are drawbacks e\erywhei'e, but the drawbacks in this district art; not greater than ha\e been overcome by settlers in places that do not i)resent such general attractiuns of fertile soil, situation, climate, iVc. Some part of the district is covered with very large timber ; other parts require draining ami dyking ; the mosquitoes are vigorous for a time in summer. ]>ut go where a settler will he has to balance conditions.'" ((!. .)[. Sproat, ex-A(/e)U- GfAieral for the Province.) Since the above was wi-itten, the extraordinary fertility of the soil has been more widely proved by practical farmers, and the population has increased so as to make the New Westminster district, though still in its infancy, one of the most impoi'tant agricultural districts in the province. At the Agricultural Exhiltitions, the district com})etes strongly with the Vancouver Island e.vhibits, and takes an equal share of the prizes. The alluvial area is the largest formed ly any liver in the north- west of America. The Columbia (Oregon) — the only other river of the first rank — wastes its detritus in th(^ ocean, not having the outlying insular barriers which lia\e had the efiect of making the Lower Eraser valley an agricultural region. The valley, also, is rich, for the river, with its thousand feeders, has laid a vast drainage area under tribute, to co\'er and commingle the loose friable sandstones of CLIMATE AXD RESOURCES. 55 i^s anciont ostuary Avitli alliivimn. .Liko tlio past coast rogion of Vtiiic.niver Lslaiul, tlic New Wcsliniiistor district lias the advantage of easy M'ator communication lictween its farms and markets. Weatlier observations, taken liy tlie Royal Eniiineers, in 1861, at New Westminster city, have )>eeii ,i;iven uiuler the head of "Climate," at page 22. The following-is an abstract of more recent observations, extending over a pei-iod of six years : — • METEouoLOfiicAi. OiisKRVATroNs, FiioH ,Ta>t.\ry, 1874, TO December, 1880, ISKW A\ Esr.Mj.NsTEU. Lat. 4il I'l 47" X. Lo.Nc. 122' 03' 19" W. f f-' 3 s ^ ■y •~i ^ •^1 1 < i ^ Jtcan t enipci'ature Hi. U7.3 .i:).: 17.0 r>4.2 Ill'hoit iiiaxi Lowest 1 Date. Date. 187S 1S77 lb7s ISSd 1878 ■^ 1 s 5 ^* O U S >-j -5 7.0 (i'l.l) Sl.O 82.0 Dil.O 1)2.0 84.0 81.5 75.0;59.0 50.0 lb7.'i 1n7."i 1s71 1 875 1879 1875 1870 1870 1880 1874! 1878 1874 .0 1(1.(1 18.0 20.0 34.5 33.0,45.5 44.0,39.5 20.0 14.0, 8.5 Jleaii rain and ; now fall in indies 8,10 7.10 0.27 2.92 3.49 2.32 1.78 1.90'3,44 5.7o'o 95 9.48 Mean lays rain or sikiw loH 14 ' 14 ! 19 14 I 11 8 I 8 12 15 1 15 CJreatest dav's fall Date 1874 IS79 1875 ls70 1875 1870 1879 1875 1878 1875 '1874 1875 1.54 2.80 2.15,1.42 1.05.0.94,1.55 0.99 1 Mean niuiilier da.vs snow fell Mean snow in inelie.s 4 1 (Ireatest dav'.s fall Jlean yearly tem|i. . Ili;;liest niaxinium. . Lowest, niaxininin. , Mean days rain fell Date 47" 9' 151 .117.8 9.0 14.11 0.8 ■ ___ ■ I :_ . i]87t yearlv fall, Least yearly fall. Greatest day's fall 09.15 49,43 2.80 .Mean days snow fell 25 Mean s"uw tall in inches.. 51.2 (ireatest yearlv tall 101.3 Least yearly fall 1.7 Greatest day's fall 11.5 (dipt. A. Pcelc, CanaOa Mutmvologkal Service and U. S. Signal Service.) The aliove table is given as a collection of trustworthy official statistics, but it must lie remarked that the city of New We.stmin- ster, whert^ the only (lovernmeut ."Meteorological station exists within the district, is, from local causes, somewJiat wetter than many other parts of the district. The mean rainfall in the valley, probably, is consideralily less than tlu> rainfall at Xew Westminster city. Capt. Peele, in a note to the above tabl(>, states : — - " On the Hats at the mouth of the Fraser, the rainfall in proportion to that of New ^yestminster city is as 4 to 7. The rainfall in all the other settlements uj) tln^ river diminishes as you ascend, until Hope is reached, where it is believed to be about the same as at New Westminster." 8ome parts of the New Westminster district; are wooded, but there are largo areas of open land in ditierent places, caused, perhaps, ,H.'i 66 UniTISII COI.UMUIA. partly, by tlio repeated action of lirer., and tlio occurrenco of Jloods. Oiin of tlio largest of these open or lightly timbered areas is contained "within tlie municipalities lying along tlie sea shore. From the deck of a steandioat entering tlie i'i\ er, a ti-iii>r view of tlu; general charac- ter of tlio land in these muni(i[ialities can be got than of the ri\-erine municipalities higher nj). (Jwiiig to the. loose friabh; materials of the soil in many parts, the' river has a tendency to cut away tho banks and change its principal eliann"], chiilly at bends upriver, wliero its current is powerful. For this reason, in nuiny jilaces, the settlers have not built tlieir houses near the lianhs, and the traveller by steamboat, in consetpience, cannot form a notion of the farmmg set- tlements that lie back. The following statements, most of whicli ha\T) been furnished lately 1)y residents, proba1)ly v.iilsuilice to give a fair general account of the natural soil resources of this important district. The seashore inunici[)alities, as tht; iirst seen, ou approaching from seaward, may be Iirst mentioned : — Skasiioue Municipalities. Speaking of one, the -writer says, — " The municipality ha- a breadth at its broadest part of from seven to eight miles, and an extreme Ifiigth of about ( leven mili's. Towards the upper oi' (>asteni end a go;id deal of timber is met with — alder, cedar, raid piiu.'-and along the north si(h' the heavy gi'owth of Douglas iir conies in some places to the very brink of the river; but as you get near(>r to salt ^vater the timber becomes gi'adually scarcer, and you see broad stretches of rich alluvial soil, with a sulistratum of clay, dotted liere and there with farm houses and outbuildings. The growth of the settlement has been somewhat retarded by the fact that much of the land was bought for speculative purposes. A large area, (^specially towards the n])per or eastern end of the settle- ment, and in the centr(( of Lulu Island, is still in a wild or unculti- vated state. On both banks of the river for some distance above the head of Sea Island, and along both shores of the two channels which sweep around that island to the (kilf of ( i.nrgia, there are almost continuous chains of cultivated farms. On some of these, thousands of dollars liav(> Ijcen expended in building, dyking, fencing, itc, while others have only recently beiMi brought under cultivation. The land wdiich is best situated- -viz., that which has a frontage on tho river — is held at §25 an acre and upwards ; but that which lies back from the river, being less aciM^ssibic, is to be bought at a lower figure. The soil is of superior (piality. All the cereals can be successfully grown, but oats and barley are the iirinciiial crops. Wheat has not been extensivi'ly cultivated, but as much as 02 bushels of fall wheat have been har\-ested i'roni n measured acre. Tin; hay crop is generally heavy, three and a half tons to tlie acre being not uncommon. From one farm th(> followi g yield has been produced : — Oats, 75 bushels per acre : wheat, oO bushels per acre ; hay, '-^l tons per acre ; all of ■which and other crojis ha\e found ready sale at the following prices CLIMATU AXD nivSOUHCES. 57 r:r/*"";-"^>'''^'->r'^^«: ^vlK'at, eW; barlov, .?30 ; potatoes ^.30 ; Mlu . .UTots, SI,) ; ,,.1 ,,,,,,,, ,,1, ; ,,,^^^ ^,;,^ Potatoes, _Lxc.;l out urt is ulso rais,.,|, and as a Uuttvv aurl dioes,, pro- dncin^ distrK.t tho sKthMu-nt is uotrcl. iJut it is, porhaps to the adtjvafou ot root crops vl.at tlK.. .l.-lta lauds an, ^iJ.ciaSy ^.it ,h " Lvu with con.pamtiv.ay careh.vss cultivatioii cuorumus yiold a ro roahm], auc au aecnvatr stat-uu.ut of what th,- laud will do i,i this lev these lelta lauds are uot subject to overllow, save oecasiouallv athi,hspnu._t.d..s aud dnriu. th. winter. This ove ow r r ^ exceeds a tew niches lu depth, aud its extiVM.e duratiou is au Ihh r or woatatnue. It to lows, of curse, that comparatively s^^ a aud cheaply coustructed .iykes allbrd the faru.er auiple seen itv Luleed the cost ot thoroughly dykin,, a faru. ou tliese a ids wo fcl he .uuch less than the cost of cleariu:,' a farui iu the ' hush ' liie uiuuic.pality has all the ordinary uu.uicipal luadiiuery iu full working order. Taxation is li.^ht aud the revenue, about S2 000 per annum, is expended on local improvements." * * ' * Of another municipality, it is said, "The settlement comprises about 10,000 acres of rich delta land of df..p l.lack earth witli a c^lay bottom, yielding surprising, crops of timothy hay, oats, l.arley, wheat aud fruit: also dliiry produ^ i, abundance. 1 roui harvested c^rop,, at several well-known iarn I the ym d per acre is al^mt as fdlows :- .-Wheat, 10 l,ushels ; oats, GO t^ touk* '^' ' '' ^'"''' '^' '" ^ '• '''''' ' *""^^P«' ^^ to 50 "In addition to what the cultivated lields of the d.'lta produce there is an ..umense growth of wild grasses, sucli as red toj., buncll grass clover, ^-c., allor.liug an.ple fcnl for cattle, and only on occa- sional winters do stock re.,uire extra feeding. JJut little timber is found 111 this sectu.u and as far as the eye can see there is notliing to uterrupt he s.glit except au occasional cluster of iir, willow, aide? and crab-apple, presenting to the vision the same general aspect as land" T^^°""' ^T' ^^°"r:'-^^--7^--' ^^^^^ vast Held of line^praiiS m d„ J /r'''T ? t "■'^7'^o'»'-"'')"^'«'l have principally been settled on during the last '-cade, conse-iuently, iu additi^^m to tlie general loutme ot farm work, tluMudustrious settler of this district finds ample labour in eivcting houses and barns, draining the land, and ploughing the y,rgiu ,sod. The lands re,uire drainhig, and in some laces the erecting ot dykes troui •• to 'A feet iu height: In so doiuc. the farmer not only drams h.s ]auose of fence and drain Overtiows from ilie IVaser are unknown, exceptin<. to a very small degree, and then only taking trilling eliect on fanns in cr^'lnSrso b^.S:;' wLL^iil^^ir""^ '"■" ■'-'' °^ *^'"°"'^ ^" *^'^ ''^^ 58 BniTlSn COLUMBIA the iiiiiiUHliat(> noiiu'lilionrliood of tlic Imnk^ of the river, nnd in many instiiiifes tlic ovcrllow udil^ to tln^ yield of liny mid otlier product; rather than otliei'wise," * * *' * * Of a lliird nmiiicipality, the f(nio\vin;j; ,;ht up many years is held at the jiresent time ] iriii'i'ifi Ilv IV non-resHK ■n subdued and made available for agriculture by a thorough sytem of drainage ; but at the 2)resent time, and whih; there is much UMCuitivati-d land of a bettor ([uality, it \d\\ not pay to spend time and capital in reclaiming these bogs. The soil along the bay and loanks of the rivers is of the most [iroductive character, as high as 100 bushels of oats having lieen har\-ested oli'a single acre of dyked land. Vegetables of all kinds do well and grow to an enormous size, f'LIMATt: AVO itKsonicns. and as tliciv niv no suninu-r tVcslicts. and tlic liiirlicst overflow from fxtivnio lii-h IkU's in winter not . MTidin:,' IS im-h.-s, it will b(> muhly iiiKUTstixKl that tin' iv<-hiiiiin',' ol; these lands is but li'dit work." ° NEW wi:sT>rixsTi':ii jnsTiircT. FUKSIIICTS AM) TniAI. OVKII ri.o\vs. The mention of "dvkini words Jiei'e as to lodds. m tile ahoNc aceoiints requires a few Tlio Fi-aser r IVl'V nid ( land I'Hnunn of' it o\crllo\\ a portion of tl s 111 this du-ti'ict lor a slior! time in earlv summer, when (he "inmo ot water m th.. rivers is increased by the draina-e which )llows the nieltin^' of snow thron/;hout the conntrv. This risiu" of f( the water is called a "fr( diet." Tie" who!- 1 Oregon, \Vjishini;'ton Teri'itor physical sti-uctur(> of t! 'a( ilic slope -California, id i>ri(is]i ('(ilinnl)ia -owin<;- to the to s(^vero tloods over lo'v lyini;' disti'icts lis ]i;irt of tlie continent, is more or less liable TI Tl K) rivers generally rise (pnckly. 10 sea also comes ji few inches i;i d near rnci's. laud near the month of tin n winter. This ] ith ncr a ])ortion o f th v,-eather i winter, for a few 1 rraser at very iii;,.i tides or in stormy lappens perlia])s two or three times ii lours at each time. In other purts, the tide occa- sioually backs up the wat-r of streams, raisin- them a foot or eLdit inelip.s. These tidal ovei'llow een s ,'ire on" thiu; th anothe mentioned fartl and iiartly ]iro\cd, that, by a system of dykin.', which, if 'summer freshett ■r. Ihe hitter tak(> e^n ( m,,re n;. the river, and will be .lied tarthiM' on. At ].re.-,ent, it may Ik- .said that it is l)elieved on a j.jeneral plan, need not "li cxti-einely fertile land in tli( manently reclaimed. I'he al already has bcMi d ^^easii line carried out \cyy costly, a fj;reat .stretch of the ore municipalities can be per- *-e accounts show that a good deal . l)y individual eltbrt. The cost of dykim^ varies with local conditions, ran-in;;', perhaps, from f lands in these seashore munici- pahties are very valuable. In tlieir natural state, they yield very fine hay and grass. Owing to their extent, they pro'lial'.ly are the most a\ailable stoc'kraising district of the coast region. The abundance of cattle in the iutei-iorof the pi-ovince has hitherto somewhat discouraged compi^tition in the New Westminster district but now that the j^rice of all kinds of stock on the Pacilic coast is increasing, coast district farmers, both in Vancouver Island and thr, mainland, are giving more attention attle are small c:)mi);ii'c. with the at least equally rich alluvial Lower IVaser country. The price of heef in British Cohnnhia has risen, and is likely to lie hij^her, owing to tho general progress of the jirovince, the siihs'l itution of whit'.; for Chinese labour on the railway works, and the reversal of the beef trado between Washington Territcay and JJritish Columbia. Beef is now sent from Victoria to I'uget Sound. British Columbia beef, lik.^ British Cokunbia coal, is superl(a' to (he beef of the adjacent coun- tries. So is the mutton. As soon as there is railway communication with California, VanciHi\-er island mutton, part'icularlv, will Ijo printed in California bills of fare. Hoi>s. "There is not a country on tlu' face of the earth better adnj.ted for hop culture than British Columbia. Tine hops have been pro- duced in the V'ictoria District, Vancouver Island. We have climate and soil capal)le of 2)roducing an a\erage crop of 2,000 lbs. to the acre. Hops this year are worth aI)out ii?l a U.,, hut (his is altogether exceptional. Thirty cents may be a fair average. This Avcnild give an annual crop worth $7r)0 to'tlu; acre. A sniTg little hop farnT of 20 acres would thus products $15,000 a year. 'J'he tigures may at first sight appear excessive, but careful examination will show them to be moderate. In this climate no renewal of seedlings would lie necessary, as there is no such thing as throwiirg up the roots by frost. We know of no industry t)irering a surer ov larger I'ewaid than hop culture in the valley of tlu' Lower Fivaser." "f^" British Columbian" jVew WetittainsU;)' nrH-sjiitjK'i^ ;.')nl JJermn/Mrr, ISSJ.J NEW WESTMINSTER BISTllICT. (RiVERINK MuxiCIPALITn;S AND LaND.S.) The soil in the whole Lower Frasei- valley being similar, much of what has been said as to the seaward municipalities Avill apply to those up river. Tlu> latter, generally, are more wooded, except in the low Sumass lake district. That district is admirably adapted iifti'i- tlioy iUlf ;L;i'tiiii. flats south ;c'st sucfcss. acre, or if ) (!u< acre, oodcn vat, k for fuel, Vitli i-attlo not I lay to I Uuid can till' at least of iiccf in ■viiig to tho for Cliiiu'so hvvi trado oef is now liccf, liko IC'Cllt ooiiu- iiuuicatiou V, will Iju ■r ad;i]it('(l liccii pro- ivo cliiiiato [lis. to tlie I altojiifether voiild ;^dvo ip farm of es may at diow thorn would 1)0 1 roots l)y Lfor rcwiiid '('' /Jritlsh ; imu'li of I ap})ly to ('XC('j)t in y adapted CLIMATE AVD RESOUnCES. liiisli r iiere, (.0 ll,w. to the l.iisjiel; oats, 10 bushels the l.iiihel ; l.arley, U) hiishels per a.-re, IS U,. I;eas, iT) Imshels per aero, (3t) ]l,s. to the bushel ; t ^L •:' r';:;'^V';'''^'''"' "'^ "- ^->.t''<' "-!-•; '-y, two tons ••"I'll of nil sorts at ]innipkins, melons, eiicuml ■ows and rijiens well, so flo scpiashea. il I'-, rnd tomatoes. All fruit seems to '. " "•^' ""•""«, eucumiiers ,:nd tomatoes. . creatltm!: ' l>''T'"rh^"'''^^ ^'"■>' '-^■<' turned out a tfl , • , Tl'' "* "^^ '•■ "• ■ '" ■ '••■".arkablv line. ()n.« of tho settlers earned oil" \2 pri.es at tlie ng, •eultuml show at Victoria i^ u„!!^r'3r '^"i T^' ''•'' , '^ ''"^ ^'•^"'"■' l-t-'-" that thriving ^ ont ;" ^'•r ""''"■'','"'^ ' ■ "'': ■'"^'"«' '« ^ '"unicipality with ?.• o s^S le . n"'''r :• ''"; '•' '■' ^^'"■'•" ^'^"'^ "^ t>- nmst indus- en ilv , ''■ •''•1''''* ''''^"•' """'•' ^•^""i«'>(:.ble homes. Jt ia u•a^dy tnnbcred nuM.h of th. timber d.-stroyed by fovs-with last year .;a\e (1„. tollowm,,^ account of this settlement :~- .'oin.!on i'n ;■ r V'l """'/""; ^'"'^ '''^^■*' '^"1" "«tion of what is S" -11 '"'' '"'■^''•"''- '="t'^"PI"«'^ for example, he turns a dcshewdlpassaseries of bush funos, which shoJ nhatintelli! Most' ;;?'' Z'"*'*'"^ ""^''■'^^'■.i; ''r^ 'i-"'"l>li.sh in reclaiming,, bush land. c!n t\l iv. ;;.''-'"''''''''^ ''' ^'"r ^'^•••"■'^ ^■'^•"'^ >'"«> ^"th little or no c. uta ln<. or s,x years a,:^o. S„,gle hande.I they hav<, now U, 20, :Tv ; oori."' 7 ''i'^^ ''"r •^•■•'--~''-- ^•on.fortable homes-have oxen, coMs, ]ioo;s, foxvls, find a e i\vn of debt crol^'^n? '"."!' •'"'";, '''"'" ^'"■""■•' ^^'^^'^ intolligence, Avill produce oops as .,.ood m all r.-spects as the prairie land. The two most atrn' :': --ccessful bush f,,rn,ers in' the district, have some 87 o the 1, ^'V:''""''f ''."'^^'^ ''""• '•^•«P^''-tivoly, upon which f^rain of he hn,^st ,p,a ity and other crops are ab.nulantlv raise.l. The soil ot J.aj, loots, and the connnon kinds of fruit, as ai.ples, pears, plums cherries, curra.its .tc. Moreover, tho -nvassliop 3 rs, potato b"' ^Z^T'^^^'frr ''"^^^^--tivo to crops hVmain^ places, an i so dishearten.n,,. to the farmer, are so far unknown here. To the to3T'f7'-^''", "".''''''"' "^">'^"J^I^"^'^" somewhat formidable. But a?ic s a ui tr^f '^'"?%^*""'« '''""'''■^' '^™- ^^'^^-^-^ ^"itable appli- e eSu . , T' ^''^'' '""" experience in clearing timber land elbCM here, the bush is not reinilsive." . !ZF. OF Turnips ix tiif. last mentioned Municipality. two wonde Tr!'"" "^ *'' •■ ",^.'^"*'''^^ American" gives an account of » T ' ''^''^^''""^^ respectively 1 1 J- and 15 lbs. IheseBanft monsters would be considered ' very ordinary bulbs 62 BniTISH COLTTJIDIA, here. Wo know Banffsliiro mm fariniii;;- on the Lower Fraser who this year can sliow two ov tlirci' tons, not one turnip in wliich will fall below tlio JJanli' "«;'iant:-i ;" and tlu'v can show individual turni weighing 3G lbs., notv ' Jistanding that tli tl lan nsna HI Mr tui'iujts range sni ps- aller lis ycni'. Occasion.'ii turnips wei;;liing as high as ,">2 lbs. have been raised hrre. and (aulillov.ci's soinetiuu's reach o7 lbs., and West- cabbages have been known to run as hi'di minster neia ipajjc BrUlsh C o'ninuutii hi GO 11 )S. r^v ew North 8idk of Eiveh — Akauli: Lani On the north side of tlie Frascr, tlie area of arable land is, a=! already said, less extensive than on tlin soutli side, but is ecpially rheat, oat it I'OOt Dn f;inns on this side of the river is ii good deal of unoccupied fertile, producing is a favourite industry. Some of tin are the iinest in tlie (h'strict. 'I'Ikm'c land, whicli no doulit will souu lie takm up, as tlie Canadian Pacific railway runs cither through, or close to, the ftiriiiiug land on that side of tlie rivei-. The price of occupied farms has already risen in consecpience of this nearness to ilic railwav. FnriT. Professor Macouii, botanist, of the Canadian Pacilic Survey staff, in his evidence before the House of Comnions Committee, Ottawa, said : — " I can see no reason wiiy grapc^s could not be produced in abund- ance on any part of A'^ancouver, if the summer temperature is high enough. After the railway is built, Vancou\-er will scud immense quantities of fruit into the interior, as it can Ke rais(>d to any extent and of every kind. I recommended the people to plant their apple trees among the rocks ^vher • the oak grows instead of on tin; wet ground. The trees would live longer and iiroliablv produce better fruit. ^' What this gentleman said of Vancimver Island can be said of tlie New Westminster district. Fruit can lie raised to any extent, and of every kind, in localities suitalily chosen. Xot much attention has been paid to orchards, but i :;cellent fruit has been grown for many ■years at Nevr Westminster city, Langley, and elsewlicre. Mr. .11. D. Elliott, of he Siaitlisoniaii Institute, in a letter to the New York "Nation"" said Lately ; " The apples and pears of Oregon and Washington Territory and lower ])ritish Columl>ia,"' arc; simjily in their exct;llence and line "Mr. Klliotr probiiijly .peaks of the only iiortien of the province known to liiiii. 'I'lio iiitci'ior of Ijritisih Columliiii juixUiccn very tinu iniir, liut "orflmntiii;;"' )i;;s not liecn muili nttfUi'.ed to yet. Orcliiinls .-it. roKtnn Bar, L . ^ton, and Lillooct, liiive siuceoiled m ulL '!']ic Lic'utinant-( lovernor has very line finit in Ills garden at .V-lniolt (1,.")00 ftet above yea level). At Cherry ci'eeU, Moutli wide of lunnl'0[n Luke, there ia a line ovcbard ; also at Tmn(|,: k% north iqde of the lak'.- (he iiime at tlie Missum, Oknnagan, ilcc. Fruit growing, as soon a, 4 there is an external market, V, ill be one of tlie principal industries of the country. CLIMATK AND RESOURCES, 63 Fraser who ^vlliell will ;lual turnips- iigo smaller i^-h as 52 lbs. 37 lbs., and (Xeto West- land is, as t is (H}ually Dairying r)f the river unoccupied dian Pacific nd ou that idy risen iu Hirvey staff, ee, Ottawa, 'd in abund- ui'c is high id innnense any o.vtent their apple on the wet (iuce better said o£ ihe extent, and ttention has ;i for many etter to the Ln-ritory and ce and line ICC known to le fruit, but I'ds .".t I^)!•■,tn!l lant-Ciovc'ir.or )vo yen k'vol). iiiic oi'chnrd ; llic Mi.ssmn, H'nal niurkct, flavour as good as our own. The pru.ies, apricots and nectarines are superior to ours and e.|ual to the best Canadian orchards. With regan o cluMT.es an.] all the sniall fruits, I may say, without r^ser- ^at^on, that tlu.n- <,uahty ,s fully e.jual to our own in excellence." Sr.MMi-i; "FiiEsiiETS." ab^ve 'iL'/"'"*"' ^'^^^'^■'•'■^ '''■^^.'•i^'t« ovc-rywhere, it has been said above, that suimner floods or "freshets" occur in the New Westmin- ster district. There was a high "freslief in 1870, and another -the coiisid -able loss to highest known -in 1,SS2, which lattcM' caused !hrnr,r,P''*' "^ ^''" '"'^''''■'' '■'■'"">' "!• '•'^•^''•- ^'<"^''« l»-evailed in'enf ^Z ^''''T ^'V "'^'^">' l'^^''^'^ "t' ^I"' ^^^^''tl' American con- tm.nt ,Such a freshet as that of the Fras,.,- in 18S2, not havin- occurred ni the memory of the Indians, mav not take place a^^ain for .sevc.ral generations. The hi,h water mark then readied probably n^ay be tak.Mi as th. extreu,,. range A danger from oodmg. In-om the lie of the basin iu the Sumass Lake re-don that area ,s mor.- or less linlile to flooding-, in ordh.ary seasons' tJns basin contains over ;;(M)00 acres, „f which ab..ut 11,000 are irr'-'^l''^' lake. Th. short Sumass river, a tributar; of the of the f' ' 0"ly outlet. :dany low-lying portions of the banks of tlio Eraser and some ot its tributaries, also are occasionally liable to overflow. \\ jum th,. water subsides, tlie growth on the Sumass prames i_s astomshing, reminding one of the luxuriance of the tropics without Its peculiar vegetation. Ih'KIXO. It is not yet known to wliat extent the lands at present liable to overflow can be protected against the "freshets." W r'rr^'''-'!'"-^'' ^-^"■' ^''^ PJ'<^s"'t Lifntenant-tJoveniorof theXorth VVest Icrri om,s, oxamined, in 1870, the Sumass l)asin, and reported on the feasibdity of dyking and draining th<. low lands there. From such observations as he was able to make, he considered that the object could be ..Tected by three levees whieli probaluy could be constructed at a cost not conside.'able ^^ hen compared with the addi- tional va ue which the reclamation would confer on tlie laiuls. Ihe tollowing are extracts from Jlr. Dewch.ey's report •— "In tlie first place, I examined the banks 'of the Fraser river and tlu, nature ot tlie subsoil. This was easily accomplished on account ot t le numerous sloughs that p(>rmeate the district, and from the settlens m dilierent localities having .sunk wells. I sunk Jioles which imlieate.d so!t foundations, and invariably found c!av trom eighteen inches to two feet from the surface. "1 found both til'' )inn'-« ,S !.\.., ..,,,. ,.;..,„. „,,,! ,# ji i i i -,i,- , r ,, 'ian...so. iia„(i u.ci.aiul ot the sloughs along which I would proi,o,se to laiild levees, most favourable foundation and of tl bei nif ■rial f le wnole vali(>y, as far as I could ratiiei as far as )r construction is concerned. The subsoil was also good, there ng a substratum of stilf clay underlying the top vegetable mould - — ^*"/ ".*v,v 1 ij lij.-^ viiKj. tl-M7 \ end 1 could find no foundation for the reiwrt that F raser river water 64 BRITISH COLUMBIA sopppcl tln'migh an umlcrlying stratum of loose material and so found its way to tlic j)i'a)ri(\ "There an; low sjiots of uTonnd, that, after tlie i-iver suhsides, hold water for a cousidenibh} time, <'veu until dried liy evai)oration; in fact I found several myself, and as these Avei-e many feet above the level of Fraser river, it demonstrates that tlu! bottom of these depressions must be of good water-holding jn-operties. " Settlers would crowd into this district if the land was reclaimed, and where one home now stands, covering, in some instances, 1,200 acres, there would probably lie a dozen, making it one of the most valuable and thriving in the Province.'' A private bill Avas passed through the local legislature in 1878, providing for a grant of th(> go\-ernmeiit land inside of the proposed line of levees. Thi' promoters, a Californian iirm, began Avork at ]Sratsqui under the l)ill. Failing to pi'ocurc; the capital they had counted on, they trar.sferred tlie :\rats([ui jiortion of tlu; scheme to a local gentleman, by whom the works were comiileted in 1881. They successfully resisted tlu- freshet (not an exceptionally high one) of that year. In 1882 the water rose suddenly, and, as above said, to a yeiy high point, exposing some ])re\i<)usly unsuspected Aveak points in the levee, and the Avater again ovcrtlowcd tlit> ^Nlatstjui prairie. Ari-angements are now being made for the repair of the dainagedone and the j)rotection of these weak points. The total area within the :\ratsf|ui dyke is about 10,000 acres' some of it clear grass hind ready for tlie"^ plAu.-di, some liglit bruslu but uo tiudjer on any pai-t except some cotton\^•ood on ridges, Mosquitoes. The mosquitoes are troublesome for a short time in summer in many parts of the valley. Such, shortly stated, are the characteristics of the second great arable ai'ea of the coast: rcijioii of the province — the New Westmin- ster district. ''1ie olrjcet in the foregoing, it may be repeated, has been to state, succinctly, the natural resources, rather than to describe localities. Tiie facts speak for themselves, and it may only be added here that, as in Vancouver Island and in all other parts of the province, the advantages of (hurches and sclinols, good roads, and the prevalence of law and order, leave nothing to be desired. Enough has been said, without as yet having left the coast region, ■'■'••■''■•''•'•' -i^ of Vancouver Island and in the to show tliat, .",1 oin the Loioer Fraser raffri/, ther(> is a large aggregate area of veiy fertile land, Avith eveiy advantage of situation and climate. It may be doubted if there is an e(|ual area in Eastern Canada or in Britain so fitted by nature to produce such varieties and qualities of root crops, cereals and fruit. id so found lisides, Iiold ovation; in i above the 1 of these ! reclaimed, noes, 1,200 f the most ire in 1878, o proposed an work at [ they had >chemo to a .881. They igh one) of e said, to a 'cak i)oiiits (jiii prairie, amage done 3,000 acres' iylit 1)rush> Iges. summer m 'coud great V Westmin- peated, has er than to may only be 25arts of the roads, and red. oast region, and in the veiy fertile It may be 1 Britain so ; root crops, CLIMATE AND RESOURCKS. Q-) MAINLAND INTERIOR, OR EAST CASCADE REGION. Having described the soils and arable areas of the " Coast Region," a short similar account of the interior of the mainland will now be in place. The general phvsical features of the " hiterior plateau," locally called the " East Cascade region," have been men- tioned at page r>, and its climate described at pages 25 to 30. Several erroneous notions seem to prcAail abroad respecting this great region. AVliat has to be noticed, in the ilvst place, is that the nature of the climat(>, already generally described, is such as to per- mit agriculture at a greater elevation than is possible on the Atlant^'c seaboard or the north-west of Europe. Over veiy considerable areas, far exceeding in the aggregate the aral)lo areas of the coast region, the interior is a farming country up to 2,r)00, or even 3.000 feet, so far as the soil is concerned, and tjie soil has bc'cn proved' to be as fertile as the best on the coast. As regards pasture, the interior, as a whole, is, in the opinion of experienced stock-raisers, not only the most remarkable grass region on tlie Pacific slope, but, probably, is unequalled on the cont..ient. Evon the alpine pasturage is, in the summer months, very nutritive. The grass fed beef and mutton are of the finest quality. Horses and all animals not only thrive, but havea peculiar vigour. These uiupiestionable facts liave to be kept 111 mind in forming a general opinion as to the country,— a country so extensive and diversified that any attempt to sum uj) its capabili- ties would, in the present condition of our knowledge of it, be almost an offence against common ;: jise, MAINLAND INTERIOR. Derivation op Soils. "The soils of the interior may be liroadly arranged in two classes. 1. Soils cluefly composed of unmoditied drift, representing the boulder- clay of some other regions. 2. Soils composed of modified or redis- tributed drift, modern alluvium, &c. Tlie first class, .iiough spoken of, technically, as " boulder clay," has not here the stifl' clayey char- acter very generally found in that formation elsewhere, but is com- posed,^ as a rule, of a yellowish-grey mixture of clay and sand, rather hard in consistency, tlirough whicli stones of all sizes are irregularly scattered. When exposed at the surface to the weather, it becomes softened and broken down, and superficially mingled with veo-etable matter. Then gli its materials are in great part derived from the immediately underlying rocks, it contains much foreign matter, by which any deficiencies of its composition arising from the character of the local formation, are correctetl. .Tudirins^ from the forest and t?ward which this soil bears when otherwise favourably situated it must be fertile. * * * rj^-j^^ ^^.^^ ^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^ are much more varied in character. They are chiefly the products of the disintegration and rearrangement of the boulder clay, though mingled also with detritus derived from the waste of the local rocka 66 BRITIfll COLUMBIA since tlio glacial period, or carried doAvu by rivers when flowing at a higher level. They form Ihe lieiuhrs or terraces which are displayed on so large a scale, also the irr(',i;ular slopes of some of the valleys of the southern interior, and the modern river Hats. Their texture varies from that of fine, almost clayey, matei'ial, to coarse, sandy and gravelly beds; hut, in general, they preserve a mean character in regard to size of particles, and are extrenn-ly fertile. To this class the soil of tliC l!ac eountiy in Ihc lower Neehaeo liasin belongs. The area has, ni doubt, at a termer period b(>eu the bed of a gn^at lake, with the sediments of which it is now covered to a varying depth, but in some places probably exceeding 200 feet. The beds are, usually, jiale in colour, calcareous, and found, Avluni examined micro- scopically, to be composed of very Ime angular silicious matter mixed witli calcareous and argillaceous particles, resembling in a})pearance, and probably in modi' of origin, the loess of tli'^ Ivhine and the subsoil of the lied lliver valley in ]?.lauitoba. These; deposits, which form an extremely fertile soil, I have called the ir/iife sil/s: " 27ie extrnoriliiiari/ crops 'irhieh, irhen J'ai'ourdbl ij ttiiuatrd, the soils of (he inferior rvcvj/io/terc produce, bear witness to their uniform fertility, Avhieh is largvly owing to the ([uantity of modern igneous rocks which have been incorporated with tlicm. ' ((r. M. Biii'-tioii., Assoc. Il.S.Jf., F.a.S., C(f,iri/i(iii (,'(:;>/oi/ic('f Siircfif.) A rough notion, such only as space jierunts, of the general aspect and the agricultural and pastoral feature s of the great interior terri- tory, over a large area of which these soils are spi .«d, may be given in a few pages. General Aspect. "Rugged Alpine masses, wooded on their slopes and holding lakes, swamps, and moist meadows u\ their eivdirace — arid mountain ranges and ridges crossing and recrossing — rolling wooded hills and grassy hillocks — the varied sunnnit lines and slopes presenting picturesque combinations whithersoever the eye turns— table laiuls, generally of high elevation, ofte]i of great extent, v.dth and without forest— long river channels or valleys — wide, trough-like valleys — deep, narrow, wooded valleys — short valleys (often called 'prairies') — a land also of lakes — innumeralde narrow, elongated lakes of all sizes, from the bright pond to the lake 100 miles long, often linked by streams — some lakes steep-sided right round their mar;'jns, others wall-edged, but oftener with gently shelving rims backed by open gr-^ssy hills. Rivers — smaller than the drainers of such mountai; • ■ ms might be su2:)posed to Ik; (tlu; light soil absorbs them)- ge;.er 'dy deep- grooved and rapid — often ilaidced v. ith terraces of vr.r ;^,. heights (the high banks h(>re and there v/orn into fantastic tl ■ pinnacles) — threailing the wliele country, bursting through rocky walls — seeking lake after lake — turning and twisting to lin.d a way to the ocean, but for the most part unrdilo to do so, nearly all lieing linally swal- lowed up by the Fraser and Columbia rivers. Climate — already described. Trees — an immense area in the southern part — the cele- Ml flowing at a li arc dis2)laye(l : tlic valleys of Their texture irso, sandy and m character in To this class L belongs. The 3J; a gr(>at lake, varyiug depth, The beds are, vaniined niicro- i matter mixed in ajipearance, and the subsoil its, which form 1/ sitiiafrd, the 3 their uniform iiodern igneous '. J/. Dmrson, general aspect b interior terri- may be given holding lakes, ountain ranges ills and grassy iig picturesque '.s', generally of it forest — long -deep, narrow, )— a land also sizes, from the . by streams — ers wall-edged, i\ grassy hills. • uis might ;euer iiy deep- T.i j^., heights • pinnacles) — vvalls — seeking to the ocean, I linally swal- mate — already )art — the cele- CLIMATE AND nRSOURCES. 67 becomes, u' anv mrtf ]f 1 ^'^^f^^^^r,^^"^ the cuunt.y agL gently n;ululai;ngS^,i^i,;:;^;:;^7- ^^-tf^f of l--'l or with peavine and w I?] " " '-'''^''s, A".]],.ys, and sh)pes, covered -ene.^r:^,Sth;to ^iTi- :;d:;;s™^^ MAIXLAXD IXTEEIOR. A Botaxist's Accouxt of it +• it' uuicnes oi tj j^hompson change on tlio P1,;i,.r^ wluit*;;!;^^ t'tH? tE^S;;^.^^^ r^ -tensive meado^:: KOOTEXAY. Mr. Macoun, not liaving visited Kootenay, in the south-east anal^ the province, omits it in du, abo^e description. In th. v' Hef I? the Ivootenay river, and in the %allev ,it the hevdwnto v. nf if ^ • branch of the Columbia river, theii an "u^lo^^jj^hi^s^d!;"'^ pnjme^covered witli excellent pasture. Tilers' ^tL".^^fcS frtheff r. \ 'f /'"' ^'""'^ ''^ li^^blo occasionally too v.. Jowbv fres^^ets but probal>ly can be reclaimed at a moderate cos ^ puie, cedar, and cvpre.'^s nreviil • pln»nf,> ,7 i- i i.- i ' """'> " cenerallv t^ if foil/ ^' , . cbinate dcli,o;]ittul ; snow raes generally as it falls ; a most desua])le country, needin-r noonle nnl^ and road comnmnications. Htoclc owners now Sx? eTttir o ' waiter in +,IiP Ti,.;,ri.n-..,..i,„„.i „i; /-, , ,. . . imvc cauie to in the neighbourhood of Coluuil no. nver lakes.' 68 BniTISH COLUMBIA. The proposed pastr.ge of the railway tlirmifvh tli" territory to th*'; imiiu'diato northward, and the (lc\('l()pin(Mit dt" tlu- niiiiv-ral wealth of Ivootenay, will stimulate the work of reclamation and enable this valuable lud attriK'tivo area to bo more largely -utilized, MAIJsLAND TNTERIOR. AguICULTUKAL LATITl'DKi AND ALTITUDES. It is worthy of remark that there is little dilTerence between the height to wliieh ir 'OpH may be grown not ai)j)ear to vary much through, ntmrly ^fii- decrees of and viiienod m the southern and the noitnei ;i parts of She interior ; an'J, so far av, the soili^ are concerned, their lertile qualities, subject of cour-ic to local mcdijca- tion:- !i;i latii'i.!--. Major-Gent ral R. (J, Moody, R.E., formerly commanding the troops ir^ JU'iiish Columbia, in a memorandum addressed to the Canadian .t.a:l\vay J^epartment in lS7t^, says, i;: recommending the intii'ior oj' the prov ince for settlement ; — '■ It \v\\\ demand not a little faith by those living in the same parallels of latitudf; in Europe to believe, that win at will ripen any- where at all, at altitudes from ^jHOO to ,'5,000 feet, and other grain at even more. * * * Nevertheless such is tl.'e fact. In other countries besides British Colinnbia, it has li(>en found, at first, dith- cult indeed to reconcile such facts with prcxious exi)eriences else- where." MAINLAND INTEIIIOR. Agriculture. (Upward Limit.) The 3,000 foot contour line may be taken as indicating the extreme upward limit of agriculture in the interior. In the southern portion of it, nearly all the main river valleys and many of those of the smaller streams are much below this level, and contain thriving settlements. Going northerly, the general surface of the watershed between the Eraser and Thompson rivers rises high, but has been proved to be capable of successful agriculture in many parts. It declines rapidly into the valley of the Eraser, where the climate closel}' resembles that of the southern interior, but westward, beyond the Eraser valley and the valleys of its tiibutaries, the sur- face again rises into the rolling pastoral uplands ol the Chilcotin region, which, mostly, are too high for agriculture Farther north, the country, below tJie contour '■. , f 3,000 feet, opens out, as -iLn'o said, north-westward, "O'- iie region of the great lakes, ti'' '.'ole shallow valleys, lying ' > : ,',000 feet above the sea, are IoihuaI, including the whole baN i. ^yi the "white silts'' above mentioned — a basin capable of successful a.iriculture. North-north-easterly from the Nechaco i-.n •:';';''aco white silt basin, is the Pacific- Arctic watershed, characterize ' l^- great undu- CLIMATE AND RKSOUUCES. 69 ininanding the Irossed to tlie ng the extreme lating torrace flats, somewhat under 3,000 feet, but the soil is scanty and of a sandy and gravelly character. Aljout McLeod's lake (55°), the interior plateau Joins the foot-hills of the Rockv Mountain range (crossed by Pino Pass, L',S50 fe.>t), which here falls gradually, both on the west and oast, to hills and plateaux, without any well marked line. _ East of tho Rocky range at this part, but within the province, in its north-east angle, tlierc; is a valuable agricultural region— the general surface about 2,000 feet above the sea—the climate good- soil of a rich, silty character. This region lies between the meridian of 12-2' and the provincial boundary of li'0\ and gem-rally north and east of the middle forks of Pine river (55° 3(i'), chiefly along the Peace river itself, east of Hudson's Hope, also the Lower Pine river and the* southern tributaries of thf^ Peace river, known as the Mud and iJ'Ecliafaud rivers. The characteristics are those of the Peace river country in general, with a more undulating surface. Ihe valleys are wide depressions with gentle slopes, and the plateau usually a widely extended terracci level. In mentioning above the three thousand foot line as broadly hmitmg the possible upward extension of agriculture in the mainland interior, it is not intended to atiirm that wheat can be ripened, except in rare instances, at this elevation, for in all probability the proiitable growth of oats and barley will not exceed it, and in some districts fall considerably below it. 'Xlie height at which immunity from summer frosts is obtained, varies consideral)ly in ditierent localities, and often seems to depend on local circumstances difficult to define. Valleys shut in, and forming a small area of low ground among high mountains, are loss favourably situated than land at the same height where forming a broader expanse. This question of summer frost has been mentioned already under the head of climate, at page 11. A little additional information on the^ subject may be in place here, chiefly as to the country north from MAINLAND INTERIOR. Middle axd Northern Parts. SUiMMER Frosts. "Between Caclie Creek and Clinton (about 51°), on the waggon road, are se\-eral farms at a great ele\ation, the highest beinc^ by barometer, 2,800 feet. I am assured that wheat will ripen here,' but IS not generally grown, barley being a surer crop and selling better. This is probably about tht^ limit for tho griwth of grain in this region, though Mr. Sproat states that one may see 'iTne grass and good grain growing (of course with some risk) on Pavilion mountain, 4,000 feet above the sea I--ol ; excellent grain growing and harvested] also cabbages, carrots, turnips and potatoes eiscwhere at 2,700 feet- vegetables of all kinds and grain luxuriantly at 2,000 feet.' On Riske's creek, :iorth of the mouth of the Chilcotin (52°)," at an ?0 uurnsn columuia approximate clovation of 2,100 feet, fliu; \vli(\at, and <;rain of all sorts are grown without injury from frost. "At Qucsucllo (.-)3°— 2,000 feet), ;j;vnm crops arc sown froui April -0th to th(3 1st May; polatocs plautcil somewliat later. Tlu) graiu' is harvested about the middle of Au<,'ust. Wheat, barley and" oats are cultivated, and all succeed we!], tlion.^di tlie two last are th(^ most profitable, us they can be srjld in Cai'llioo without milliiiy. Niyht frosts lia})pen hero occasionally in Jun(>, but are not usually severe enou^di to do dama, to potatoes, thf)u/,di sometimes checkin-,' them a littler On on<3 occasion, potatoes are Icnown to have been so com- pletely fro/.en down as to prove a failure. The Hudson Day Company formerly cultivated a farm at Alexandria (.")2° IV.V), between (.,)ues- nello and Soda Creek, on which, oji certain i)ortions of tlie land, 40 bushels of wheat to the acr(>, by cai'eful measuri'ment, wore ;,'rown. "At Fort (Jeoi'cre (near latitude .")4°), the seas(,n of irrowth for crops does not diller materially fi'om that of C,)uesnelle, and grain of all kinds may be ripened. Th(> elevation here is 1,880 feet. Winter is said to set in about the .1st of November, though steady cold weather may not continue from that date. In Decmnber and January, there is often a few days' tliav.-. In ^March, the snow thaws in the sun eveiy day, tlie thermometer falling below the freezing point at night. In Ajn'il, tlu; snow di.-iappears, and by about the 20t]i of the month the ground is lit to worlc. At Fraser Lake (above r)-J-°_2,225 feet), potatoes ami otlier root crops arc; grown near the ifudson Bay establishment, and barley and wheat Avere formerly cultivated, though It IS now found cheaper to import Hour. The 'Indians have little garden patches witji potato(>:;, turnips, (>te. At Stuart Lake (above 54 —2,200 feet), near Fort St. James, garden vegetables and root crops succeed admirably, and potatoes and barl.y are grown in con- siderable (juantity. 1 do not know whether w'heat has Ihh-ii tried,' but with proper care, it would, no doubt, succeed in most :;easons, if not invariably. "In all these places tli(> complaint of summer frosts is made. These usually happen in June, and may occur on one night only, or on two or three nights, and aro often si'vere (>:ioiig], to touch potatoe- tops, and occasionally to hnrm the plants cor.sidei'ably. It is said, however, that these frosts have only occurred of late years, and that formerly tlu^y wer*^ unlniown. It hardly seems pi'obal)le that any great change in climate is taking place, and it is quite possi])lo that the necessity for farming having to a great extent been done away with, sulhcient care has not been given to cultivation, or to the renewal of the s(>ed, wliicli is apt gradually to deteriorate and lose the vigour necessary for successful growth in northern latitudes. JSov are the most judicious localities alwavs chosen for the more delicate crops, the lowest ground, or that nearest the fort beim' often selected, while liiglier slope? jiiity be less exposed to frosts, it is not proljable that wheat will grow over the whole area of the white silt deposits of this region ; but I think barley would flourish over nearly the entire area, while A\]ieat may be successfully raised in chosen CMMATK AKD UKS0U1JCE8. 71 n of all sorts spots.* Tlio fnifility of tlio grain soon at Fort Frasor was oxcollont. " l5onl('riiig on Fraurois Lake (ahout 51°) avo considi'val)!.- strctclics of foimtry not luiscd so mucli as ;)00 feet al.ovc it, and thcrcforo cousidcral.ly htdow tlio ;3,00() foot contour. Tin- soil is very fcrtilo, and tho vcv^ctatioii imidi rcscinl.li's that of the n-I,Ui' n!ff. basin. "It is nuioh to bo desired tliat regular niet(>orologieal observations eould be made at some place sueh as Fort Fraser, or Fort St. James, wlueh would fairly represent the climati; of the northern low country, and remove the feeling of uncertainty with regard to its capabilities, which to some extent must olitain with our present knowledge. Aly imi)ression is that a great part of it is suited to the culture of tlio hardy cereals and root crojis, at least; and Professor Maeoun, in his rejK.rt in connection with :\lr. Selwvn's expedition of 1875, speaks highly of it." (0. Jf. Daimui, A>>6uc. ll.S.M.; F.G„% Gculoijical Sur- vei/ of Canada.) MAINLAND INTERIOR. (NoRTnERN Low Country.) "So far from presenting anywis(> an ungenial climate, Stuart Lake (above 51° N.L.) is an extremely i>]easant i)laco of residence— at least so I hav" ahva,\'s regarded it Tlie various wild fruits flourish md even tlie crop of the service-berry, which when in and ripen flower is extremely suscc^ptible to frost, is rarely b'lighted. Potatoes do not always succeed, it is true; but the failure; mav, I think, be ascribed usually to errors in tho sc-lection of the spots cultivated. Some atteiition to this ])oint is necessary, in order to avoid the occa- sional night frosts to v.hich the hollows'are subject, but from which the slopes towards tho lake are usually free. No better evidence that the climate is, on the Avhole, a geiual one, need b(> adduced than this — that tho tender little hunimliig-bird is common during summer at Stuart lake as well as in the less elevated and hotter parts of British Columbia." (}fr. A. C. Andernon, Jhnaerly Chief Trader, Jliuhvn JJai/ Coiiipa)!!/.) MAINLAND INTERIOR. (DlSTRinUTIOX OF AcililCULTURAL ArkAS.) A just opinion of the agricultural eai)abilities of the mainland of tlie province cannot bo formed, without considering the above remark;d)]e facts as to ngrioultural latitudes and altitudes. The northern low country (from .VP northerly), including the white silt basin and tho region of the great lakes, is by some considered to be the prettiest part of tlu; whole country. A'considcjrable part of it is extremely fert:.' . jiid much of it well grassed, but the growing grass * The flat niid luiil'oiuily f( rtilc Lower Kcohaco 1-asin here mentioned, is (Ic^^ei'ilied by Ml'. Dawson, elsowliere, as the "greatest eoimected region 8iiseeptil)Ie tit cullivutiuii in the pruvinee— a region remote from hiijh siiow-cltid ranges," I' 1* IV 1 ■i A 72 milTlSII COLUMBIA, docs not retain its n"''''"> ■ qnalitics in winter liko tlie Imnoh-^rass of till- arid (listric liward. The British Columliia Pciico rivor ro.yion f.il.out iutu i.i.- ()(]°, and cast of 122°) already referred to, is of very considcruliic extent, and has excellent soil and climate. In mentioniiijj; tho above facts, it is not desired to convey tii(^ idea that the ciuntry rfcnerally can ever he an extensive; a;j;ricultiiral region, 'i'lie possil)ly a,ifricultiiral ar«\T, is small compannl with the f,'eneral surface. It is satisfactory that, in a countiy essentially, so far as wo know, a mininfjf and . said on tins point. Tho 'bunch-grass' country, pre-eminently, IS that east of the Fraser in the southern part of the proviM.e where the rain and snowfall are light, and the hills bare and gra . d alr> ist to their summits. But even northward, in the thickly wo(Mled country, ther(> are many fine vallevs with grassy northern slo? ra md extensive hay swamps, which, in the aggrf>gate, must form a very great area, capable of supporting stock. Though, as above stated, cattle can winter out without attention, and in manv cases appear fat and in good condition in the sj.iing, a severe season CMcasionally happens, in winch, if no jirovisifai is made, thej may sutler much privation, and a considei'abh^ mortality mav oerur. It is thus always better to have a small quantify of hay in readiness, and with this precaution cattle-raising may be made a certain business. Sheep succeed admirably. ^ "These remarks refer to the ///-esei/^ condition of British Columbia I feel convinced that, 1,y the agmcy of man, great changes will be produced, as has happened in other countries. The reckless dcstruc- 74 mUTlSII COLUMBIA. tion of tho forost arons of the soutluTti portion of tlin intorior, hy iiro or otherwise, would, n donl.t, causiMi ;,'nuliial (Icsicfiitioii of tlid soil and fliiiiiite. To the north, however, <,'nut regions of phiteaux . are eovered with seruh jiiiie and other trees, Knmll in sizt^ nnd unfit for iiiobt economic .iirpost's. 'J'lie desti'iietion of this useless forest by lire, is followed hy the f,'rowth of d to seed the grass of course does not grow again. The sage takes its place, and fortunately the cattle will eat sage in winter. It is stimulating food, but less nutritive than the bunch-grass. " This part of the country, though fairly su])plied with wood, is not a wooded region, nor are tliere many dillerent tives. The valleys are in general narrow, with here and "theri; low tiats. Lack from the rivers are the benches or terraces, and numerous hills of all sizes rising above tlu^ extensive slopes. Scattered o\er these here and there, loving appartMitly the gravelly opens, and .so far apart as in no way to interfiu-e with free travel in all directions, is the peculiar tree of tho district, commonly called red pine (Phuis I'nvilj'nmi) a tree well known to botanists, and which it is needless hero to describe. This tree is found as far north as fhe upper ford of the Bonaparte, but its nearest api)roacIi to the ( -t range, Avestward, is tho head of Audersou lake, iie^uiriny uu arid climate, it docs not CLIMATK AND IlKSOUnCKS, 75 gmss l.as in it '"' tl'<' g'vater or l.ss ],okl which the carrilJl'^ ";;;;;!^s^:r'';:^^'';i 't^'-'i^r ^•^'-- - ^^ p-ont for .-.Hi,.! ^y-i' ;vill do so imtil a .•outiuuauco of hi..] pHces iSiplii Bor ,V ; * ■"■"'"'Iv^ g,,„,,.ally li,„| the l„»t pk.os i„ a r, , I, Qu^s!^elI,'nrl'"^'T' '"^'- "■'": '"•*''^' l>lackwater-45 mile« from hi.^h l^";!;;l^'^^"i;'* ^r^-^^ ^\r- nacos ovor four foot of tin- Pon,.. ^!"'-'^^r) .iisaitts. Iht-sc gciu-ra constitntn the f'ra.sses 76 BRITISH COLUMBIA or gravolly portions of northern British Cohinibia, and the aspen poplars indicate fertih) laud. "These mixed grasses of the northern part of the country, probably, are as nutritive as tlie buneJi grass of the arid southern part, and atibrd equally tine suunner pasture. The dili'erence is that they die when the frost comes, while, as above said, the bunch-grass is succulent during winter. J5ut the northern hay and pasture grasses grow high, and perhaps could be cut and cured for winter without the necessity of driving the stock elsewhere. This has not been tried." (G. M. Sproat, cx-Aijent-Uemml fur the I'rovince.) MAINLAND INTERIOR. (Stock- Raising.) (Its Comparative Relations.) Upon the North Aniei ?n tlie JN ortli American contuient generally, the tendency of wheat is towards cheapness, and of cattle and other animals towards dearness. Not long ago, men thought that the cattle^ of the western plains, as in South America, would be \alued soon, oidy for their hides and tallow. The increase of population, the meat requu-ements of th(! great cities, the opening of a beef expoit trade to Europe (already 3,000 tons a week), have reversed that notion, and raised a doubt if the surplus cattle supply of North America can meet the extra local demand. An Eastern American n(nvs[)ai)er said lately : " The lapse of a veiy few years will show that tliu western plains cannot be depended on to make meat cheap for ever. Cattle ranges are no longer illimital)le. The day when an iudelinlte increase in the size and number of herds was possilile is already passed. Stock- men will have to begin very soon tilling uj) little chinks of territory instead of sweeping at will over whole counties and states. The limit of the a\)ility of the country to support beeves has not ])een reached, but new and more careful methods of ranching must be gradually introduced. These will certainly not b 3 less expensive than the methods now in vogue, so that the average annual price of fat cattle must tend upward, but as the cattle ranges diminish large grain ranches will be used for rearing cattle, and more profitably too," These facts, when appreciated pi-actieally in British Columbia, will tend to change the character of stock-raising in the province, as elsewhere. Other results also will follow. Capital will attack the irrigation (juestions, and the wint<'r food questions, and will solve them. The time tor utilizing tin; rich hay and pasture grasses of the low northern country will a])pear less rf^mote. A further important consideration Avill not be overlooked by these who may be conq)arlng the province, as a stoclc-inising region, with other regions. The cattle business on the American plains is exposed constantly to a great danger —contagious disease. .Oiicc^ introduced at any point, it could not bo stauipetl out, us the cattle range mory tl CLIMATE AND RESOURCES. le aspen le country, d southern I'nce is tliat huncli-grass lul pasture for winter lis has not 'jvi'iice,) 11 ;endency of als towards the -wcstorn Y for their ;qun'enients to Europe .nd raised a -n meet the lid lately : tern plains attle ranges increase in icd. Stock- :)f territory tates. The as not been ig must be s expensive ml price of iiinish large 3 profitably , Columbia, province, as attack the [ will solve ■asses of the ed by those •e;,aon, with s is exposed introduced range moru or less togetlier in immense areas. British Columbia is a very healthy country for stf)ck, and the physical structure is favourable to sanitary cattle regulations. Horses an'd Sheep. Cattle in British Columbia, as elsewhere on the continent, are saleable at high prices, and stock farmers are doing well, The breeding of hors(>s and mules, i)robab]y, would be as'profitable as cattle breeding. Tlie d.niand for liritish Columbia liorses that already exists in the country east of the ..Rocky Mountains will con- tinue, and will increase when tlics i.iilway opens comnuuiication. The climate and grasses of the province giv(! a peculiar vigour to horses. Sheep also thrive everywhere, and, in some place.s, can winter out where cattle cannot, liut there are as yet few large flocks of sheep, more attention ha^ing been given hitherto to cattle breeding. MAINLAND INTEEJOR. (A DisTixouisiiED Visitor's Opinion.) " Of course you have nothing like the amount of available agricul- tural land that the central iir(i\ine(^s possess. Yet it .seems to me you have enough for all the men who are likely to come to you for the next few yeai-s as fai-mei's oi' owners of sniall ranches. The cli- mate of the interior for at least 100 miles north of the boundary line is^a far shorter winter than that of Alberta or Athabaska. Losses of crops from early frosts, or of cattle from severe weather, are unknown to the settlei's of your upper valleys. In these— and I wish there were more of these valleys-all garden produce and small fruits can be cultivated -svith the greatest success. For men possess- ing from £l'00 to £000 a year, I can conceive no more attractive occupation tlian tlu; care of cattle or cereal farius within your bor- ders." (Governor-General the Marquis of Lome, sjjcech at Victoria.) MINING RESOURCES. British Columliia emphatically is a mineral country. Her real wealth is in her gold, silver, coal,' iron, copper, and other minerals. The following are extracts from official statements by officers of th(! Canadian Pacitic Railway Survey:: , which were carried on, during nine years, in diflerent parts of the country: — _" The data collected establish the existence of great mineral wealth " in British Columbia, and the opirn'on is expressed by the geological " officers of the Government that the resources of that Province will 78 BRITISH COLUMBJA "rather surpass than fall short of the estimates given." (1877 UT/ J. A ,<^aH,(/hrd Flmmv}, CJIM., Chief Encjineer, employed by the Canndian (/oreriimciit.) •' ^ > y ^ ^^ '' Gold has been found in paying quantities at Okanagan, on the American boundary ; at Slniswap Lake ; at Cariboo ; on the Ommeca; on the Wtiekeen; and latterly at Cassiar; and an ex- ammation of the map will show that all this gold is produced ^^ from moiuitanis lynig between the Kockies and the Cascades, topper, u-on and silver have be.Mi found at various points in the ^^ Cascades, and coal is abundant on YancouN-er and Queen Charlotte ^^ lsJands._ I just mention these and ask : Are these all or are they " fnnrF ''f'^^r''' «f ^^,1^^^^ is to come 1 Ajhr luanw, travelled over 1,000 vnles thnmyh liritish Cobcmhia, I am sa,j with safety that ,. f'':"'l yf f^' i''^^^ <»'t <>f /'^'- ^nine. vealth cnomjh to build the ^^lanfic iMibnvj.^ Consider that gold has been found in paying ^^ quantities, at various points, along a north-west line for more than ten degrees of latitude, before you d.-cide that the foregoing state- ment ,s that of an <;ntlm.siast.-' (rrn., £tauist, Canadian l\mju- RuiUray Hnrcey, .- Ecid House of Commons.) ,< " It is riy opinion that, when the country is opened up and the ^^ cost of labour and supplies lessened, it will be found capable of lapid development, and may soon take a first place as the mining pro^mce_ of th(> Domuuon, and. ultimatelv, as second to no othe? country niJsorth America." ((,'. M. Davsun, Assoc. Royal School oj Mines, I.G.S., oj the Ceolofiical Survey of Canada.) The above opinions arc based ui,on the discoveries made by miners, Gold and coal, as having hitherto been most mined, may be first mentioned. ' j " Gold. Few, perhaps, have realized that the indu.stry and skill of a section ot the small population ot th,> province, working chieii/ on their own earnings, and under manj- disadvantages, have produced, up to this time, nearly htty millions of dollars by scratching the gdd areas. No other country can show such a result in relation to the number ?> -i 1^??^^'''*?.^' ^'^»^=''^^ ''' «"^'l '""ii"y- About 2,000 miners in British Columbia, mostly working as above said, on their own earn- ings, without the aid of capital, produce, now, a hundredth part of the present aiinuaj gold yield of the world, or about a thirtieth of the world s gold yield, forty years ago. Tiie quantity of gold ex- tracted per raan, which_probably is the true test of the vahie of a gold region ,na3 reached the icnluwlng ligures, notwithstandii " unuevek ■■ ■ - lopi mines on." (1877 er, emploi/ed ?an, on the 30 ; on the and an ex- is produced e Cascades. )ints in the n Charlotte or are they a veiled over t safety that to huikl the \ in paying ■ more than i?oing state- /', Butaihist^ DtWUS.) ip and tlie capable of tlie mining to no other oyal School by miners, Canadian lay be first if a section their own Lip to this gold areas, he number miners in own earn- th part of liirtieth of f gold ex- vahie of a Hiding the CLIMATi: A\n RESOUnCES, 79 Table siiowixc. the Avkkaoe Eahninos per Man, per Year I'KOM iJ^yS TO 1882. ' (Extracted from llrport of the Provincial Minister of Mines, 1882.) Average Yearly Earnings j-er Man. 1858 (6 months) ^ ,-„ 1860 .. 403 1861 .. 5*^6 1862 .... ^34 1863 .. '^17 18G5 849 1866 813 1867 . 893 1868 .. 814 1869 .: 9^2 1870 .. '-^9 1871 : ^69 . 1872 '^-^ 1873 ...:::::::::;:: ^ii 18-4 ;:::; fi' 1> -r, 043 u^: ::: i.^^^ 1877 '83 1879 f^ 1880 .... 607 1881 21? 1882 J51 548 It is not proposed to enumerate here the localitir-s in which navincr or latitude. I here is scarcely a stream of any importance in tho provmcem winch the "colour" of gold caiuio^t be^fouid I has 'rSrg S ;'' ^">" 5 that Briti,sh Columbia is but a ;art S t far to the n ?,'""' ''^ •''''^'"' ^'''^^' ^'^•"^"^«' that stretches tar to the south of the province. A very competent observer who ^i:^t:Z ""^^' ^"'^ °' ''''' P"^-"^'^' ^P-^^ thus ir^offidS The Gold-bearixg Rocks. " In Briti.sli Columbia, a bc^lt of rocks, prr.l.nl.ly cnrre^noTid-"sit. Colours, as the liner par- ticles of gold are called, travel far along the beds of the rapid rivers of this country before ilif>y are reduced by attrition to invisible shreds ; and the northern and other syste-ms'of distribution of drift material have, no doubt, also assisted in spreading the tine gold. The gold formation proper, liowever, of the country, consists of a series of talcose and cldoritic, J»lackish or greenish-grey slates or schists, which occasionally become micaceous, and generally show evidence of greater metamorphism than the gold-bearing slates of California. Their jjrecise geological horizon is not yet detennined, no geological survey to that end having Ijeen made ; but I am in- clined to believe that tliey will bo found to occupy a position inter- mediate between the Lower Cache Creek grouj) of Mr. Helwyn's first provisional classillcation of the rocko of iSintish Columbia, and the base of the overlying cretaceous or cretaceo-jurassic rocks, called in my Report for IS7'> the Porphy rite series. If this be so, th*^' are probably tlie (jpolor/irnl ccpi'inihuii^ of sontp af the ric/imf UHrifrroKS rocks of Cd/ifoniia. By tlie denudation of the auriferoUF veim tra- versing these rocks, the gold has been concentrated in the placer deposits, " The greatest areas of these rocks appear in connection with the disturbed region lying west of the Eocky Mountain Range, known in various parts of its length as tlie JPurcell, ,.,wkiri>, Columbia, Cariboo, and Omineca I'anges. Other considerable belts of auriferous rocks, probably belonging to the; same age, however, occur beyond this region, as in tlse vicinity of Anderson rivei- and P.oston bar, on t)ie Fraser, and at Leech riwi', Vancouver Island.'"* fG. J/. Dauson-, * Assoc. JiOi/al School of 2Itii.c.: Canada.) F.U.S., if the. Geological Survey of *Ooxd Las been fouial m other j^iiiits of Viuicouver Ishiud, and also in Queen Charlotte Island. t the rocks is listauco from gical change,, irtli-west and as geological 3w a general 1 of California individually, belts charac- i continuance ;ant. * * I'rovince may it in gi'eater ' heavy ' gold )sed to exist he finer par- 3 rapid rivers to invisible ition of drift he tine gold, consists of a rev slates or neralj}'' show ing slates of determined, ut I an) in- osition inter- ne! wyn's first bia, and the ;ks, called in so, they are \¥it, (iHi'ijkrous fW? veiiwi tra- il the placer tion with the ange, known ; , Columbia, of auriferous iccur beyond iston bar, on . J/. Dausoit, d Survey of . also in Queen CLI.MATK AND RKSOVIJCES, j,^ GOLD MIXING, (So.MK Cai'sks of Slow Progkkss ) mentioned. Hecond v tin tnV.^ i y"., resources, may be first and the best k;^!'^; :;.:S ^l;; , ^^-'^^ ^^ ft settled, were more o.- less difticult to rea^h'^ ^^t^l^^,!^ o's;;'^^''' T^ was one of the main causes of the persisten cv oTtJu ^' '^ • ^'j'" discussions witli Canada respectinjF^ ^^^ '^ wnMr ? *^f radway greatly help some of the m-oducf?^ dik f , *'"''^ Again, a considerable portion of t u co n f,n fo TT'^ T^'^'^'^'- OOLD MrNINf the mines are very credit ahle, considering that almost tlie whole expense ot the mining enterprises is l,orne l,y the miners themselv..s, without the aid of foreign capital, and with lal.oiir and materials of all kinds at high rates, owing to the comi)arativ,' inaccessihilitv of the most productive known mining regions. I hit it is altogether bevond the power ot a small mining po]ndatiou to do justice to the extensive and rich gold mining areas of the province. ( 'apital is re.niired, and capital, invested with judgment in legitimate gold mining, would "iv^- a certain recompense, if tl nterprise were carried out with int^i'-lli- gence and integrity, upon a well-matured and settled plan in each case. At this stage of the world's history, h.jmilies are not wanted upon the risks of gold-nni.ing in this (piart. r <,f the -iol,e. „r, indeed .else- where, in Jh'itish Columhia the work ,,ften, is hard, and the season IS short 111 the northern parts of the province. J5ut One thin-.- may be said, namely, that a gold-miner has a steady market for liFs i.ro- duce; he has never to wait for a market for his -old, luu- is it much affected by competition or over-production. The p(,iiit for the settler to note is, that it is an //»«/r„,sr adrnnlaqp. to a settler to be in a minn-itl e,„inlrii, liecause the mines ields the coals of Nova Scotia and the States of the Union east of the Mississippi, ceases to be productive to the westward of eastern JNebraska— the shales and Kaud.stoncs as.'-.ociatcd with the coals of the east being there gradually replaced by limestones wliich underlie the great plains. The coals and lignites cf the west are found ,at various horizons in tlie secondanj and tcr!lani rccLs, which, in the eastern regions, are developed on a comparatively small scale, and are not coal-producing. In British Columbia, the formation.s, known to CLIMATE AXD RESOURCES. ?<3 produce fuel of economic value, n.-e c-Iu.s.mI 1,v Mr Dawson FG S m three divisions, iis follows :-... ' iJa\\son, i<.o.h., (1.) Tertiary rocks, with bituminous coal and h^mites (chiefly oc- curring on the mainland). (2.) Cretaceous rocks of Vancouver Island, .Vc, with bituminous (3.) Wr cretaceous or cretaceo-jurassic, rocks of Queen Char- lotte Island, c^-c, holding anthracite. r j (M)AL. (Recipkocitv Tiu;atv.) madJ'to '"^./"T* influential circles in the States, an elibrt is l,eing 1 el will " "P''^^^''^.^' t'-'^'-^ty, and 1 predict tliat before 3 years thtuyMll be reciprocity ,n coal between the Tnitcd States and Class f, Maixlanu, (Coal.) VatluverTiV? ^^W"fV'"'' "i'^^ "^^ °°°^' ^"'^'ity i^ t^oumlonly in Vaucou^er Island. Coal formations, of tertiary aV> are known to cover great tracts of the mainland of British Cdumbia. So far as can be judged from outcrops, some of the coals-trood fuels resembling true bituminous coals-M-hich are found widely^lis « -l^^b :,""a^'"''- "''^ '' """^ ^^ the coals that a;:;nr;lkd tor maiket 111 the American te.-ritory to the southward The ter of t^ ow 'ir ";;■ ""'' "'"'•'.'•"" '^^^^-^^^ I'OOO square mile fh.nn n 7 '"""* *'''■ *^'*"^^'>' o* tl'^ F'-aser. The len-th of the coal-beanng tertiary strata, in the so-called Nicola section of the IS neai 1> 40 miles. Lignites of various qualities occur in tlie middle ^one ot the interior, and specimens of an excellent fue closely re ro"ks"of SI "' ft ^"'l?^/;-- ^>-«t-"' J-ve been found S the 00 JU ), and m other uortherv - ' Thei par province. through M-hich th coal, IS an immense region in the soutli-east of e railway will pass, that has not been the province, examined for ^■^ BRITIBH COLUMBIA. Class I. Matnland. (COA-.) (W|:Y XOT WoiiKKD.) Coal of the above class lias l„vu Nvork.ul, as alu.vf. sai"ay vet make then, in.- ZJ' t ""' ^''""' *" '"■ *'''^'^- l"^>-ti^-"l-''lv as these ter ia v woXr 1 e'l T ""•'""■''. '■''-^"'•'-'••" -"I"-- therefore eaSv worked. lhebestsi.ecnnens(s,.rysi,p,.rinr cal . f tlie chiss^ mi rom the New Westminster .ud i^icola districts (both ad a It t the railway), but the thickn<.ss of the M.an.s has not been ascertaiLk Class II. VaXCOUVKI; Is],.\N1\ (Coal.) conV.^'"*''^^''''''''"^''''*''"''^^'^'''^'^^''•'»■»^^^^ "i' the extensive coal areas on the cast coast of Vancouver Islan.l are of cretaceous not te,taary, age. They extend from the vicinity of Cap< AIu ". to the coasenes a so exist on the north-east and north-west coas s at the n- .th end of the island, and there mav be similar ceal a^ h the nuenor. Tertiary rocks, holdin^^ lioVite occur at 4ok ., various places on the south-west coast^ ' ""''^ The country has not been suliiciently examined to enable it to be definitely said whether coal-bearin., rocks of tlie age o t os on Vancouver Island exist on the mainland cf the province. T lev^hav not been found m the American territory, anywhere. ' VAxrouvEK Island Coal. (Its Valuk.) sun^eriov^f *?' 1?' ^'^"^'^r'"' I^I^^"1 bituminous coals are found to be superior for all practical purpo.es. to anv coals on the Pacillc coast ^ature has given this advanta-re. exclasivelv, to Canad on ?h^ the.;ith th; '^:x'if-^;%:;^:''^-i::^^ s ss Cr,lM\TlC A\D nESOUnCES. gg «•:''" lit;.;;:":^;;';.,';:;;::;:-,^:;;'™- :'"» -*.. wit,, ooai for there Jias beoii „ g,K,l p,,,,,,.,-!,. f,.„,„ ;„ ' ,,, " ■Hn.ston ,n,ne same vicinitv l,av,. si,,,!,, |',.™J,.' ' 'J ■■'•"'■ Otii.r .l,.|,„s„s i„ the on ti,,. „a»t,.,,, ™a.rof'';-t;;l , Is, ;:;,'""'T!r" ,r ''■"'";"'°- a,r..o,,y Kiv,. st,,a,|v ,.,„,,,,„.„„.„( ,„ ,,,-,, in, "'M iTi,,s t,ior„ fast ap|„,>a,-,,i„.. ,v,„.„ ,|„- , , ' "" P'Tsons; ai„l t,i,, day i, ■".-asuiTs, „„, ,,<- (uUy ,,.co,.„iJr, ■''"'"'"' "'>P»rta"«e of its coal l^S(iSS';.^:'"'''"'''""*'-°"'l'"* "'■ -'■.vea,-, f.-o.u „7i to Year. 1874 , ^'O' of Toiw. 1875 ^1.000 187G 110,000 ]S77 Io9,000 I,S7S I-'>4,000 187!) 171,000 1880 -'41,000 1881 1^08,000 1882 1^28,000 In 1881 oo< — -'. , 1^82.000 Wellington ;;ili;:;:L';;^i:i; ^i;!;;;;;'':-?!^"' '^'' ''r ^"^'^"- -^^ inencenient of tlu. v..ar ■;,.., 1 i 'M"'."/'" ^''^'"' »t t],e con.- export and sale. ' ' '' ' *"*'^^ "* -•^•'"'^"•' ^on.s available for Shipment,?, amountincr to ]89 .-{•'•l tr,n< ,,-.„. i oi.scoanflothei-portsiurilifovni T P i" \]^ '"^'''' *« ^''"'^ ^1-^"- Ounalaska and Uia'e 4 X'tn^ ^'''''^'' ^^'■^■' the Hawaiian Island,^and to mni ■"; •^^^'•^^^'''^'^ f'"''*^" China for fuel. ' ' ^" '"'^'^ steani.ship,s and callin v .v : " ' t' " ^'''^'''' '-^'^^^t of tli.nn the Xf abov ■*'. :Sh: liici liaiiiio av.iu, or wjiicji tl \e;itually become moi'e important the extent of count! •T'dsen, of the Canadian ( pre.sent ])rod notion is stated at .'JOG s(|iia)-e inijes,' witi •-•eyond the ,shoi '<'i)l<«ical stall; estimates y underlaid there by the pr, InctlveJoal lout 1;Uvi icn. nrt A nund)er uf seam o Cdiisid measures ■at ion what may lie s are nown, and some ha\ 8d niitTisii coLUAiniA »)eon parti}' np,>nod. lu a sample from tlio C:nion mil. , (Smox, tlio p!>iventu-e of nsh is onlv 2.^3. Tt may l.o notico.l \wro, that thi' prnductivo coal rocks of Van- cou^cr Island goiiorally, so far ns fxamiiu^i, thoudi prevs^rvin-' throu,^dlout • I.e.r carbouif.n.us cliarartv,-, prol.al.lv vary col.sid.-ral.i; m tho uuml.or ot s.>an.. coutaii,...!, aad wm more WidHy iti the tniclviu'ss of mdivKhial seams, contrasting in tliis varial.ilitv with bon,-f''. 7'"l"^™ti^'\ •■<\^'"l''^nty of th.> r,.,-ks of the paU.ozoic car- honit.-rous formation elsewlien-. evnln,l!r '''"'■'^l"'^' i *'"'" ''"^'"' t'"^''«'*"'«-f'. tl'<- >H'xt nmst important c-M-loiation after th.^ mor,. definition of th." .•oal l.asins, will t,e the K,"=""^i "V'";.«''''^'"«' f''""» J^"'"' to point. I,y horin- operations. To this end, tin. c.ian.ond drill has already lMM>n used to good purpose. Class III. AXTIIKACITK. fa.t','!!'n "^' "' ''-^ ^'"•'^■''"' *^""''"' f""t "..xnis, respectively, comparinjr ta.ou.a ,]y ,n rompositu,n, as shown l.y analyses, with that fron" xen Lsyh-ania, has hec-n found in gueen Charlotte Island. Ihe irre,,a,lar.ty of th.. deposits in the luealitie , where the seams nn r iT'" ''\'"™^\ ^if ' '^'^ f^^'-. 'Iiscoura.r,d their workin^^ with the Mnall amount of capital available in the province, hut. from the out- cops f iseov-, -d i„ partial explorations, and the description of well 11 a.ked con; ;v,;:i., by the Indians, as also from tlu- obserxation. of anomcerr.1 (I,., Canadian (Jeoh.^^deal Survey durim,. a short visit to tnc i&iaiui-. ,v,:Hi;;h IS kuown to indicate tin- -enerari..-rmanence and coiihuuity o. the c^al beds, however variable they .lay be in deSI horn a place cJled Cowgitz, at least 20 n.iles in a south-easterly iirection. It the coal formation extends, as is believed, below tl.'e samples of anthracite coal have been brou-ht, the total len-th of the Xrf'nfi'nr •?''''' "' *'" ^^^""•'" ^"■•''^•■Jotte Islands, would be little hiiort or lUO nnles. Fragments of true anthracite ha^•e b,.en found in rocks in Cowichan S: T?, '""^f "^ Vancou^•er Island, and also in several inland local- ities or the island. COAL. Its Xatioxal A'aluk. These widely spread valuable coal deposits on Vancouver Island ir^Xp '•■'"*'''"''''' '"■"^"'^•" *" '"'^■'^"^■'' the ''Britain of tnt; jNorth racific. (OriMox OF oxK OK I] Kit Majkstv's Mixistkks.) "The position of the various stores of coal on the Pacific is of extreme importance as an index to the future distribution of power m hat part of the we.rld.' (Tkr ir„hf I,.,, sir CharhJiyUkr, Jjtot. :><■<■ hiH honk ''(;r". Photographic Sdences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 .^ ^.^ i/. ^ ^ s& JUMT1311 COLUMHIA Other lodes, which ai-o sujiposod to l.c (■irher the coiitiiiuutious of the (iliove, or others rnniiiii.i^- jmruUel to them, liav(; l)eeii discovered near tiic; water h>v<-l of the Fraser i-iver, ajiparentlv in a granitic matrix. 8ilv, y also has heeii found near Yale on the Fraser. fn th.. interior, t'hen-y (^reek, a tril.utarv of the river 8huswan or S]>allumcheen, l.et'-een Okana-iau and .Arrow lakes, is noted as a locality from which specimens i^f remarkahlv rich silver ore have heen liroiii,dit. Native silver, or sihvr amal-f.iu, has heen found at Omineca, in the northern interior. .\r;,^-ntiferous o-aiona ores occur in niauv parts of the province, chieily in Omineca and Kootenav. 8ome of thp.se are .said to ho very promising'. CoPPKIt. Ma.sses of native copper have heen f(*inid from time to time in various i)arts of the pro\ ince, l)ut have never l.een ohserved in their matrix. Small veins have been observed in volcanic rocks of tertiarv nm] cretaceous a;,'es, in the gold rocks, the crystalline rocks of the coast ran^e, iVrc. Very tine specimens of purph' copper ore, asso- ciated with .|uartz, mica, and molvlKlenite, are l)rouirht from the neiohhourhood of Howe Sound, also fn.m Knight's Inlet, and .speci- mens of copper i)yrites have lieen l.rou-ht from several localities on the Hoiuathco. .MKIiCfUV. Small quantities of cinnabar have been obtained in gold washinjr on the Fi'aser river, near Boston Bar, and globules of mercurv are seen msonie decomposed j,arts of the Hope silver ores. A small specimen of rich cinnabar ore was found on tlie Homathco. Whether mercury occurs in deposits comparal)le with thost; of California, which are found in rocks of similar age to some of those occurring iu Bi-itish Columbia, rer.iains to b(> proven. Li:.\i). (iah'na has been found in many parts of the province, and appears in connection with gold, both in the lodes and sup.'rticial gravels of the ^Cariboo district. Lead ores, as such, will probaldv not pay to wonv 111 the interior, even if found in large cpiantitv, 'till cheaper means of transport are introduced. Platinum. This metal has lieen found in small (piantitv in several localities in association with alluvial gold. Nickel-bearing sand has been found among ti.e heavy materials separated from the line gold of the Fraser. It is nnneee.-;s.ary to enumerate discoveries further, or to pursue the subject in detail. The opinion of competent observers has been already quoted, to ih- effect that British Cohimlua, prol ably, U xi'i'inrl Iu „n rnHiilril in, t!,r r'n'tuiruf „s r'':/a,yf.s nniirml rrs;,„r<','J, itiuutitioiis of '11 (liscovxred ill a granitic 'Vttser. r Shuswap or is notod as a vcr ore liave Oiiiincca, in iMir in many IV. iSoino ot' lie to time in rvc'd in their ks of tertiary rocks of the 'cr ore, asso- U'lit from the 't, and Rpeci- iocahties on gold washing mercury are 's. A small ;o. Whether t'ornia, which ng in British and appears •A gravels of y not pay to till cheaper •al localities y materials r to pursue rs lins been pro) ably, is CMMATK AXI) RESOCRCfiS FISIIHIUES. SO The fisheries of Oana.I^ on th. I'aeilic may prove eyen n.o-,. yJua hie than hor Atlantic lislnries. If th<. estimatV I.v f I,,, i ' ., '/ ■^'"'i- tor of Fi^Iw.i-i,.v ... f, +1 " LiK ( .-,111, at( in tlic C anadian Inspec- TOi or lisu les, as to the consumption f,f fish by Indian'-' is corre.-t the annual bsh product of I5ritish Columbia ahvaclv exce'e Is tl a of any provnic- in the Dominion. The lisheries nf V.-Jf'iJ. n i i rj;:',:i;n'"'' '"■" -■"'":-.-.'.rtwi;;:;::,. ™':^»!,: 'as laj.ully become an importuiit ndustrv Its .■ln-..f «,..,f i 1 nuiistiT, tlinnixl: ivIik^I, ll„. railvav |,ass,.». Salm„„ lisl,;,,,, ...,', aC';:;';, ;;i:„":;i,i','.;i "■■■ '■ ■ " ■•■^i--'"' '- "-^i-'i^ value,, at .,.,,:,,„,, ',,.„!;', ':„.- ;;;,';;:;,,,— -; ^30^, A marked dilf'erence between the ranadi-iii \(-ln,.f;„ „, i /< Pacific lislieri..^ i« i] f .V^;V'^ '.''"' ^^'^''^"t'^'fi''fl<-anadian watei^ ;;:!':;i::o,r'a.:i'";o;e , :.:::;r" t"in;:;;:;:^^f'"'"''n) net ouFraser river has taken ... sain.:: in\e:'h:;: 1.'^ Th^l-'a J moie .j>rn., of salmon, also, in British Coknnbian waters Uf s v ^pecles, more or .-ss abundant, four are excellent for the abl^ a d r;^tu^;r:,:::^r, -.rr^'^ ^^'^^^^^ ^^^^^-- '-- -^-- ^vhici tl'^^tnlT ui2;;r's'r ^"••^^--^S -'"'<>" - -i,ler than that of lu x>oit nun China. tealmon ot the same sijecies ditio- m--kefllv i,. quality m the difleient rivers of the North West 1 ut ."n, V l said that tne salmon of anv one of the la r^e ri er takL „b ? ' are specially suj.erior. Tlie average ^J:;^^ I^^S'u t^'.^ 7' ""' T h.e general hslu-ries ha^.. bee n compara ivelv ne-lected as canitnl has been chiefly drawn to the salmoi/ fishing. ' llSiannok Chans have been .salted, smoked, and pressed for oil vteto v i s t operation to make guano-scrap fron, 1 errin..s -Vs a sA ]^raZ'A) the It 1 *-*^^;^'^^^^, >:''*"■• "'.s yaluable animal is not found on IS ^^;^ue:Toii" r:rr''d.;:«!;r^:;;r: r'-'^ ^-r- ;a.ve^.id, from the herring Ind l:^^^:^^ ^:ZS^ ■;:'Z semhhtt *'"' ''''"" ^""''''■'-' "'" ^""'"'""'^ ^^'^"■"'K, and closely re- semWiiig it m appearance, s very abuodM.f- Tf „^.. , •> , shore in vast shoals from February to TIvU ^PI^^ ."^"^'^^ tlie allied to the real cod, are found, 1^;'^.,.^ St^Sie" tt'' oxist« on the ofi^shore banks, but in tlie abs^^etf li^^r^eV^:; i! 90 niMTisii roMJMniA. I (Iciuand on the ntast for cod, f tor (•( )(1 I )anl LTood CI 111 i'v: ciii'f to HO to the cxiiciiscot' M'ckiuj,' 1. till' colour of whicli is iiflirtcd l»\ ivin-^anioii-,' weedy rocks, locally known a.^ tlie " redlisli,' is vorv connnoii. ("od oaiiKs, vieldiii; Ai ,1 ciiiiM'.ieri'd 111 III tl Ai iiericaiis o le same as le coas li' tl Eastern cod, are ri';,Milarly tislied ,^ Alaska, and tlie same lisli, iirolial.ly. is in Driiisli Cohniiiiiaii wat Haiiliut are aluiiidant. of lin the ■t of ers. found in the i inier waters, on tin i|iialit; and ar:;'e si/e Tl ev are liaiil the west coast of Van- couver Island, and on many lianks farther to tin north. Stiirueou. up to 1,U00 His. ill wei^lit, are ninneroiis ii tl le lar''er rncr: lie oolachaii (" caiidlelish the I' h raser and some li, al.oiit S inches Ion--, wliici to the shore in sjirinir. It enters I '\i;r('a.-it>- I comes )er.s. Fartl <'!' north, It IS tatti laser ri\er in .May in ;;reat num- Tlie snrf smelt IS almost :is numerous as the oi>lachan, and al.out the same size an excellent table ii.sh. The very common smaller smelt is prized at tal>Ie, hut the ties', is softer i,!;an that of the .surf smelt and oolachan. ^[any other kinds of ijood tal.le tisli are l.rounht to market which need uo't be here enumerated. Fine trout iiboimd in the lakes and streams. The <,rrfatly esteemed whitelish is common in the lakes in the middle and northei'ii interior of the inrivince. Native ovsters exi.st, hut the lobster has not been found. 'J'lie eastern oystes'' and lobster should be introduced. The food of the lobster i.s much that of the crabs, which are so numerous on the coasts of the ))ro\ ime, ar.d it would be of great value commercially. The eastern oyster should thrive where the native one .y'rows. Those familiar with'the coast mention many likely places for oyster beds, in the New Westminster district, on the Vancouver coasts, and in Masset Sound and N'iraur lour, north coast of Queen Charlotte Islands. The denianir ' -sters and lobsters east of the Uocky .Moniitains, and for the I'.urliiiean market will lie .so great, that these fisheries might .piioklv rival that of the .salmon in value. It is abundantly evident that there is n t/r.',i.' son rrr ,,/ in-a/fj, i), thf\fi! jiroritir,'. The central regions of Canada will lie largely supplied with sea tish from British Columbia as .soon as rail- ■\vay communication is opened. FOREST TIIEI'IS, Tliere is no want of trees anywhere in T.ritisli Columbia for the us(i of the settler, the miner, and for Im-al purposes generally, thouich the arid southern interior might lie betti - supplied on" its low grounds. The economic value of the forest tr fectlv known. The conifeiv ees H, as cover a \ast extent niiper- riie spruces may be lirst mentioned. One, in particu il)le t ■ee, furnisl \nv' a wood that w il iiro babl V, a I of the province. lar IS a Xi'vy vahi- ways be the. chief export, ovvv s.-.i, imd. als,., cast w, -in «iiy. 'I'liis is the rLIMATK AM) KKKOflirKS, <)1 <" <',;,las ,yr/^-v (..tli'Tuiv. ,..il|.,| •• Dnu-la. Fi docs .M.t .v,.,.ii.. ,. ' '' . '"■'■'lift IS so well known no(s ..ot icjnic any simtmI (l.-.criptiuu. ft is .t,,,i„|,t tl,nn,r|. coaisf f,'Ki nc(|, c.\,v.wli.,^!v i,,ii:..I,. n.;id, ,.,,,,1 ], straui. I',))- himli.T „( .•ilKl hears LTl-eat tiansxcise 1,. , , . si/c>, [ind iilanlis, it is in "i-eat ileneinJ ;r.'c'',"r-^' "^i-'-i^i '..I; I'l'vHi™ ■;::; i'o*r',;,,,,'ti;:';;'i;:.;;,:'; r;/-;«^j ■. .1,,. ,„,„.,., „ ;? '"■ » « I'- i.™ti.... H,..„; i:,!;i;",„.,. ":„':::„:,;; ;?;: !.«}■« „,„| ,„|,.,s Tl„.,,. i, U: ,,,„.„, ly ,.x,,,,,|. ,.i,.|,t ,.,,!,. |.tac,ms„l,.,,,l,l,. „.i,l„. :„„| ,.,,„.|„, .„„ ,„ ,^•«V, ,,.,'• ".•Mil as al.iut il„. „n,il, ,. f \„u,-..,iv,.|- ls|.,,„l v Hitnio, ot tl„> provniee. otovvs nu tl,,. I,i.^l.c,. ,n,i„.,ls and l,e,v a , *'"''''\'",^'"^'-- >- 1-Hk, where .hetcn.pcratu c n' J are stuta ,le. (V.-urs alK.udanth on the (-..h.lnl.ia, an.l " . t. mi im-i,larly m northern portions nf the interior. .^'att.M.l and' m,"tt'■'^^^'■"'^"'■^""T" -"'T-lu.re in tla- ^icinitv of coast, ticularly Queen Charlotte Islands), reaches .'...) fe..?in 1 !d Y k h siiol^i:;:;;;:;.''^^'-'''''-'^^ is h.. ?i:' e^^^^;;: E>>;//a>>,nn>s S,>r.rr (u.y, li|„. •• white spruce-), prul.ably will l,e ot „u,ch ccononnc valu,., tall, straight, often vcr taw let n dmu>eter-.wood ,.>od and duraMe. Is in the caste part o provuKv, and u.tcnor plateau (except dry soutlnM^u'. .' ion wl.ft P?!, ir '■ "^ *'"' ''""^-' .i^''oves in upper Ah.inc vallcvsof Rocky Mounta.ns near l!.th parallel. AI..0 ll.Vders u-a 1 • aU he t^ssi::t::^::!;-:: -''- -'-- ••--- '^'-- ^>'o 2:;? JA pnzK'K ehieily clinus to coast K ivanifcs humid rc-ions of (iold aiid Selkirl. wliiteand frci- -useful foi- nenei to Douglas sjiiuce. -]>eihaps may exist in fi \cry lar^c tree ; wood al purpo,ses, l.ut not considered e(|Ual f; tft> BIMTISIt U-MtllA 7'/ip (y'rent. Sifver I- ir. so far us ki low 11, is s|M'ciiilly a coast tree, but may roappcnr in soiitli-cast of ih- in-oviiicr. It un>\vs t sizp, hut the WMod of tl (it'cav 1 'ai)iill\ n a <;reat iMTist -rowt!) is saiil 1 > l.i« soft and iiaUle to region iriirr appears to take tlic pia •;■ of tlw last- east of coast J an >,'(', except i;i dry southern iiitei named in tli 11)1 Al lolUulS on (lold and Selkirk ran-vs and east of .McL..;)ds lake. (Mnirs in scattered -proves in nortlicrn porlion of interi(n- plateau. (JftiMi ex- ceeds two iVet in diamrtrr : lias Imtu used fn,- ,„inin- and ordinary local purjxjses. , ' ' \Villinn,s<„rx J//;.',/-. Ur„>lurl, and scaUercd trees of tlic Ahir^ Am,,l„lis ne.-d not I.e mentioned, as prohai.lv thev are too scarce and ;,'ro\v too lu.i,di up to he of use. Ainoii;r the pines may h,. mentioned the familiar tree of the central dry re<,non of tli.> mainland (where the Doii-las spruce seldom occurs on the low lands.) This is known locally as '• red pine," •• vellow pine " or "pitcli puie, and is ,-enerally considered to I,e a variety of the heavy yellow pine ( Pim^x I'uiHlvrux,, ) of California and Ore'-on It arrows in o].en -,,,v.'s in the valleys, almost to the exclusion of other trees, and on the slopes up to ah.ait .'lOOO feet, uhere it is replaced hy the IJou^das sim;ucv and Western Scruh pine. A v.tv handsome tree; halt the shaft hrae '' .; hark reddish hiown : sehlom exceeds tour feet ni diameter. Is .sawn into lumher, aiifl used for huildiie' and <4-eneral j.urixises. locally. Th.^ lumher looks well, hut is not equal to Don -las spruce lumher, heino- more brittle and less durable when exposed to the weather. The_ 117,//.' Puw ('-Mountain Pine"), thou-h lovin- elevations, and occurnn;,r, so far as known, rather in groves than forest.s, i.rohahly will become an article of export. The wood resembles that of the eastern white pme, and may be used for the same luirposes It is found in the Columbia rc-ion- the hest trees being high up--alsoon the Geld range and about Shuswap and Adams lakes, and scattered m all portions of the southern jjortion of the Coast raii^e where there IS sutHcient rainfall : also in the interior of Vancouver Island but not, so tar as known, in Queen Charlotte Island. On the coast the white pme reaches 00 to SO feet, and a diameter of 2 to :5 feet.' It is .said to he larger on the Colundiia. The HJarh P\.,r ("Hull" or -AVestern Scrub" Pine) occurs every- where 1)1 th(^ ProMiice, at varying h..ights. accordim.- to the lockl climate, hut covers great areas in the noilhern ]>ai't of the interior Ihere are a "coast" variety and an '■interi(,r" variety. The interior variety, which often forms dense groves, reaches (iO i,r even \(\{) feet 111 heiidit. hut seld wdiite and fairly durable". Tl Inm exceeds a diameter rf tv,o ftct. Tl le wood IS The \Vhit,'-l,irk<'>i l'[ situations and is small, le ceast variety is nuuh Ic-s ^alualile. so far as (.1. served, grov,s in inaccessible CLIMATE AVD HES0URCK8, 93 >ast tree, but < to a j;r('at iind lial)!e to .'lined in tli" '.k,r (-(4iant Cedar," or "Red Cedar,") is a valu- fm shu.j^les and rails. Abnun.ls in the Colmuhia river reKiou : ou lopes ot Selkirk and ( Jold ran,.. ; at north-astern part of ?;hus va ake, and portion ot North Thompson valley ; nnkl.own in dry in^ te. or piatean ; reappears abundantly alon,^ the coast and lower i.irt.s ot iners o Coast r.an-e. Occurs sparin-lv in northern interior On coast, ,s otten found 100 to l.-^O feet hi.uii'and 1.1 f.-et thick, b t the laro-est trees are generally hollow. ' Yrllun- Ci!,n:<. (commonly known ns •' Yellow Cedar"). A stron<^ neil vT'l"' . T''''^ r'" ^'"'''"" •^""""" *■■"*= 'flight resinou's s.uell ^,M•y durable; has l,een used in boat-building and for orna- uiental purposes : often excels.) f....t in diameter.' Occurs cli^X on coast. Oenera y a few lu.n.lred feet above sea level on .sou 1 era part ot coast: farther north, des^uls. O.-cnirs on mainland coas yueen Charhitte Islands. A tive likely to l,e valuable. ^\1"T''" ^'";-''^(«'^"»"ti">"^^ ^-alled -Tamarac") occurs in liocky Mountains and vaUeys of Si-lkirk andlJoIrl ranges wlu-re there is -^ciei. nunt^vll. Stretches westward nearly t^heacl .V Ok^ ^^^ Jake Not found on coast. A larg.' tree, yieidin- a stn.n- coarse dur^.lo WKl, probably good for ti^s, in ;^...j::;^^:^ j^ ] wS bt'tJ' 7 '^'"■"" ''^ '''''^■''' '■" *'"' "'"^•'■"'^■^t of the Jroyince, o \\mcli little IS known. '■ The l/rv^/., a ^■aluable JiardAvood, sometimes M-ell adai)ted for rabmet-maknig, is said to exist in the Columbia region. Found o^^ V ancouver and ac^jacent islands, also sparingly on nminland coast ^ Liet^r o i f ?''t,^'k'^""';/''"''''^- "^'^^^-^^^y attains a diameter ot 4 feet. The Vu,. Mnph, sc-ldom over a foot thick to be strictly conhned to coast, and does not go far north. The }V,' Ls nn tr'p """'""T'" H'"^' ''"'^' "" "I'l"'^'*'' '"'^"''""'l ■'^I'ores. It JslandK ^ ery tough, hard wood, of a beautiful rose colour. Cmh .!;>;./« occurs along all the coasts as a small tree or shrub Wood great Meai in mill machinery. Ahhr is found two feet thick on the Lower Fraser, and occurs as a small tree along the whole coasts A good furniture wood ; easily worked and takes a good polish Theit are two birches-the 11'../..;. ///,,/. and the P./.. or C™ ilvc/ but their range and value are not much known. 1 oth occu in a m7rn: Cllui il i'"?' •^'•^- '"'f ;■ 7^'^^"" ^'"•^^^■' '^ ^ --" tretJiiinZ lie Canoe Birch is found sparingly in A^ancouver Island and on the Lower 1 raser, but is common, and larger, on the Upper Fraser and m the Peace River district. The onlj dak in the Zovince so far as known (except a few trees above Yale), is on^virouver 94 Tslaiid — fliioriv tlu- son muTisir coLVMriix tl places aloii;,' the cast cimst ; a t' i-castoni |Hii'ti(iii of it ■ and spafinn;ly at I'w at iMntli cihI, licMcl of :5 feet, and a lici-lit nf al.oiit 70 fcrt, and viclds a hard not vci'v tough, wliirli lias hccn used for K's a dianu'tcr wood, l)ut makiuf,' kc:,'s. Muiiv of the tn lUildiM]^; jiiirposcs and in ••'■i''^ arc scruliliv. The /)<>(/in,(i//, nn tlie mainland cast opposite Vancouver Island and on Vancouver Island, reaches the dimensions of a small tree. The wood is close- |,^rained and hai'd. Another close-j,n'ained wood, heuw and resemb- ling l.ox, is furnished l.y the handsome evergreen Arhn/Hs, which reaches oO feet in height and al.out L'O inehi's in diameter, l.ut occurs often as a shrnh. It is found on Vancouver Island and neighhouring islands, never far from the sea. X,,t found noith of Seymour Nar- rows. The A.s/>r„ l>u,,l„,- abounds ovei' the whol.. interior, and reaches a thickness of two feet. In \\u- drv southern interior, occurs aloi..' borders of streams and on th • liigher plateaux. In the north, -'rows everywhere, i>referriiig the most fertile soil. ^ There are, it is eonsiddvd, three o( her varieties of jxijdars in the province, all of which are commonly included under the name of "Cottonwood." They attain souiftimes a diamet.'r of \ to 5 feet. Tl le coast "Cotton make staves for sni^ar 1 kind iwood niay not c\tend above Yale on the Fraser. 'uget Sound to ler It is the same wood that has'becn largelv used in I larrels iv(|uired in San Francisco. The otl s occur 111 the valleys throughout the interior of tlie Province uiiiitulu As/,, as a small < fee or bush, has been noticed The .1/ the int as "Pencil Cedar," 1 in erior; and the ./n>npn\ or " Red Cedar," commonly known Island, a'ld. las liecii oliscrved on the east coast of V in a tr<'e form, with :iiow aiicouv the shores of Kamloojjs, F It plants. The above will suliice t( a diameter of about a foot, al an<;ois and other lakes in the interior. er ons IS unnecessary to mention iniscell; lucous tribes, shrubs, and tinib serviceab ■r within the i)rovini'e, anil of ti ve some notion of the great supplies of ciiul for f',r/i(),'/. ill, e-ii^tinird (if III,' llnr/.n ^/dif/ifuii/s ,'Hiirr (in I' sfii ppl le suitable distribution of '/■ /;// rdUiniji (o thfi SUMMARY OF THE FOREGOIXG. ^ The statements in the foregoing pages, collected from the reports ot men of position and oxperience— old residents, meteorological observers, botanists, geologists, oiiicers of If.M. Navy and Hudson's Bay Company, and others, give a general account of the climate and natural resources of the province. The information has been ar- (For detailed Index, see end of the book.) ranged as follows Kparinprly nt I's ii (li.'iiiictt'r I'd wofid, liiit jiDscs iuid in /)iii/irii(,(/^ on n N'tuifouver (111(1 is t'loso- iukI I'csf'inli- •liiitiiK, which ■r, l)nt occurs iifighluHiring evnioiu' Nar- .11(1 rcadu's a occurs aloiif,' north, grows ]>Iai'.s in the the name of 1^ to f) feet. 1 tlip Frast^r. 't Sound to The otlier Province. 'U noticed in lonly known t' Vancouver foot, along interior. shrulis, and t supplies of trilaition of Uinni fi> flip. cr.I^fAT^; avd itEsornrKP. Surfac. of the im.vinee. and its fw.. .rund divisions >iit<'"(oast Hetrinn,- and - IJei,^,,,, of the Main, land Interior"; also (lie reniarkaMe ••Coastline- 95 Page 1 to '). Nie (innate: its ovnerai el.anietrr an.l varieties- "'.•ii.iel.v, the -roast Climate," the •• Interior Cli- ii.ate, and the ••Northern interior (or Canadian) ( liMiate, including .IrtuHs as to the local climates of the F-.ast Coast of Vancouver Island, the New Westminster MMstrict. and different zones of the Mainland Ii,teri.,r. respectively : also, comparative tal.les ot the rainfall, and of ihe total fall of rain an. snow ,n the sev.Tal provinces of Canada, ^^"•'"'''"-'^'■'^'^'' <•"'"•"'';■■'* Page 6 to 33. Agricultural and l>,Msto,.al ,,,,,s of the Province - namely the inner side of Vancouver Island L .^'"^"'"-"^ '•,'•> )• ,->li"- -'allies Uir, ii iiiember of the Provincinl •„'-™ knowledge of the whole surface of thn iai 3 96 UHlUbH COLU.MUIA The Forest Trees, so far ns known, particularly tlie spriici's and other tn-es of pnivcd utility for ^'ciieral purpoHi's, with sonic account of the Imidwoorls in the i)rovinct', and of the distriliution of scrviccuiilc woods, for export over-sea, or to the eastward of the Kocky Mountains, when tiie niilwav is '•"'•'^^"''l '. . . . Pa're 90 to 94. A consideration of the facts aliove presented, sufRces to show that the country, naturally, is highly favoured in numy respects. British Coluinliin, it is manifest, is not a country with' "one string to its bow." Thi> clin\ati' is very attractive, f lie province is not aj^ricnl- tural and p-aziuu only, l)i;t has mines, fisheries, and forests, prohably more valuable than has been realized. Its line harbours are open throu.^hout the year. The r, is favouiable to conniierce. The -Alta California" news- ])aper says "That these new settlements are yet to become com- " petitors for the trade of the cast, if not the commercial supremacy ' of the Pacific, it were useless to dcnv." 11 111 Pn''o 90 to 94. INPORMATIOV FOR KMKIUANTS. s to sliow that pcts. British strinf» to its is not a^^ricul- osts, j)rol)al)ly )urs aio open tisli Colunihia, ifornia" news- ) liecoine com- ial supremacy Part ii. INFORMATION FOR EMIGRANTS. c c 1 r n ti II (1 St ti IK en ai tl] TI of su i-NFoini.vTrov kok KMIOKANT*. 99 PART II. BllITISff COLrMHIA COMI'AIiKD WITH OTHER PACIFIC COAST COL'NTKIKS. rt'asoi.s. ' ^'" '"'"uwui,!,' sul.stuntml *:"«rri'7:.;:r" n;:!.':L::;::r?.:;;i^ : '-'--'^- .v,,.*,l IIUlK'liU llllicls, lOIltamUHf Dn.cimin .|Ut, rtc.,,„l,lc.|,,,ve. „, ,„„.,, ,,„„,i,,, f,,,„,„,„ „ „„, ,„.„,n:,1 Tlie prosperity of tl.i! miinlrv i, ,l,i,,. to tiio main rau,« HIT!,. WHO SHOULD COME. General advice can be given only as to the classes of eniicrrants success here, as elsewhere. A„y othe^lr X^JtrSSu': 100 BRITISH COLUMBIA. We cannot at present encoui'age tlie emigration of more than a few j^ro/estiionnl men, such as lawyers, doctors, surveyors, and civil engineers, unless they have mtmey heyond the expected earnings of their profession, and are prepared to take their chances after arrival. Clerks, shopmen, or those having no particular trade or calling, and men not accustomed to work with their hands, if without means of their own, would proliably meet Avith disappointment, and, perhaps, hardship. Tutors, governesses, housekeepers, needlewomen, and women generally above the grade of domestic servants, should not go alone to the province at present, and they should not go at all, unless to join friends or relatives able to maintain them for some time after arrival. A good woman servant m'ght soon mak(! money. For men there is an open held with no favour. For Avomen an open field full of favours. Unfortunately it has been found that some of those v/omen who have reached the pi-ovince liaAo been fickle. Many of them have been disinclined to go to country work, and some have " tip- tilted" their noses at everything. vSurely, however, the i-ight class can be found, when wages are so good. Men who hang about the (Tovernment offices in search of "appoint- ments" are nuisances in all colonies. This class is not wanted. The urgent requirements of tlie proA'incc at the prcvsent time are men and money, — the labourer, the mechanic, the real farmer, dairy- man, fruit-grower or stock-rf iser, and the large and small capitalist. Every man who is able and willing to work with his hands can hnd emjdoyment at good traf/es, especially those who are htted for railway work. There is scarcely an industry in the jtrovince that is not, at present, hampered by the scarcity of labour. Eailways, public works, mines, mills, logging-camps, fisheries, and farms — all require more labour. Any S7narf, active, capable man, wich only a little money, but ac- customed to work with his hands, is sure to succeed in making a comfortable home in British Columbia. Wages are very high ; land, food, and house materials are still, j'elatively, cheap. If such a settler has a strong heart himself, and is blessed with a common-sense wife used to country work, he may confidently look forward to becoming even rich. He need not long remain in tJie condition of a labourer. This certainty of rising in the social scale nuist stimulate the emi- grant. Many new avenues to success Avill be opened when the rail- way is finished, and men should be here to discover these for themselves. To farmers' sons, or persons icith moderate means, qualified for the life of a settler in a new country, who cannot see openings in older countries — who cannot (/o vp, because the passages are blocked — who cannot c/o down because their habits and jirido forbid, the varied re- sources of the country would seem to promise success, if they avoid whiskey, and are industrious and patient. Farmers themselves, with limited capital, who are uneasy about their own future, and that of their children, and are prepared to i more than a- yors, and civil ed cai'iiiiigs of 's after arrival, or calling, and liout means of and, perhaps, llewomen, and ts, should not not go at all, them for some For men there n field full of )f those women Many of them ne have " tip- :he right class 'h of "appoint- b wanted. ■esent time are farmer, daiiy- iiiall capitalist, lands can iind ted for I'ailway that is not, at ihvays, public IS — all require money, but ac- . in making a 'ry high ; land, f such a settler inon-sense wife I'd to becoming I of a labourer, lulate the emi- when the rail- 3ver these for ualified for the iiings in older blocked — who the varied re- if they avoid uneasy about e prepared to IN'FORMATIOX FOR EMIGRAN'TS. 101 emigrate, should cons-.der tiie advantages which British Columbia affords irrespectively of tlie climate, which must be attractive to all iley should have at Cast sufficient capital to be independent for 12 rtfntt^e ^.r ^ ''-' '-' ''' '^- '' «^ «"^ -^^ P-^ *h^ -^y J\murrs,_orof/>,>rj>r>-son., vith hm,or means, will also find either aim iroT";"' "'Vf'n'' "' «l'eq-far.ning in British Columbia an ks U^ !"■.. h able occupation. The country does not yet feed •en n, ^ '' ■" '1 ^''?"' ''' ^'^" "'^' ^'""'^^^^ Continue to pay ont and remain under the control of a landlord as a leaseholder or >eaHv tenant wl.en, with one. year's rental, he can purchase a par- t al]\ preixared larui with buddings on it, in the thoroughly British province ot British Columbia f^ ^ ihit for the scarcity of donK-stic servants, British Columbia can be l^^Z ^^'7;^°"'^i ^'"1' ^^'th much les> , Kculty than amidst the wTt etr'f rr^^ "'''"' "•""''""' ^"'^^^'''^" ^^'^ Pl^^^-^t homes, ^itliexerytacihty for educating and starting their children in life Persons living on tlie interest of their money can get from 6 to 9 per cent, on good securitv. ^ & " " yvi The monied mm, wlio looks to the actual growth of industries in the province and the new permanent markets and industries which the transcontinental railway will create, and who considers the varied na ural resources ot the country, cnnuot fail to Jind investments tlmt ititi pronnse (jood returns on. capitnl. Tiie jaded man of business, or invalid, will find that a visit to the pro\ance will brace lum up. The tourist who can command sulHcient means and leisure, may well exchangp for a time, the l,eaten tracks of European travel for a tour of exploration and adventure, where the world assumes a new and to some minds not unattractive pliase. To the observant traveller nothing can be more instructive than to witness the beginnings of a noble country-the PaciKc Ocean stronghold of the Empire In the magniticent scenery of British Columbia the lover of nature will see much to remind him of Switzerland and the Rhine. The naturalist and botanist will find specimens not known in Europe i-he geologist will witness a panorama to which the old world pre- sents no paral el The sportsman will find abundance of adventure, and gaine of all kinds. In the principal towns, travellers can have as good a dinner as in Paris. We invite emigrants from all nations. Aliens may hold and transmit land as fully as British subjects — may be naturalized after one year s residence. Alien women kre naturalized by marriage. 'It is neodloss tc piKlo 111 the saiiicloy.-ilty, tin- siinie honest j which clmi-iuterizc the l^iglish nico tl ■ tij>cec/t, ut Victoria, ISTO ■say tlmt wlierover AVe went we found tl Jie same kindness, their country and its institutions, I'tiit, y irou^hon', the y>orld."—( Earl Du}\ 102 iintnsn Columbia. HOW TO REACH JiRITISIl COLUMBIA. Passen,2;er,s from Eiiropo may -to rouurl Cape Horn by sailin Tich-f," fo Virforia, or as far as possible Passengers should avoid all dealer,; in tickets, called "scalpers " who offer tickets at prices low.-r than schedule rates. Purchase tickets only from regularly authorized ticket agents. Third class passengers should provide at least part of the necessary food for themselves for the railway trip across America, as provisions at the way-side stations are expensive, and the "through" ticket price ,lm not. inchn/, prorision., except in the steamers. Emigrant's meals are 50 to 7.> cents each. " Surplus money should be sent through the Post Office, or a Bank to avoid risk from loss, or theft, on the way. ' It is the practice in Xorth America, on the part of interested or dishonest persons, to till the ears of passing emigrants with stories about the places they are going to. No attentimi should be given to these men. * While passing through Eastern Canada, emigrants for British Columbia will apply, in case of need, to the local immigration officers of the Dominion of Canada, who will give honest advice and in- formation. Ask them as to the best money to have in pocket on way across the continent. i t un Note thi-: roLLowixt;. _ When through tickets cannot be purchased at or near your start- ing point, tickets should be purchased to Chicago or St. Louis or to Missouri Eiver points, and from there through to destination ' kins r& of ^^.f^i^r.";!^: ^^r;!^:'!^l"'"!.^:t- Btoam.rs a.. Oooaal^ Per: uZ ' J ■■""■'^^'•". (^alitonua. I'.-isacngcr and freight traiflc liaviiu' ately m..Tease,l, it .nay hv u.sefnl for a party of en,i;,'ra„ts, while on the v iv to join in a telegram, or see that a ttl we eomi crow uu is sent, to that firm, to say they ^,, -.^ 4-1, i. , .■ -c3-""' — own, L,, Liwiu iinii, lo say tiie % so that accommodation may bo pioviaed, if the reguhtr steamer (l '"'0' '^"^^ ^80 (£10, £U, and £16.) Intermediate $40 f£8.) =^^"-7 ^^^^^^g« 621 to $28 (£4 4... to £5 12s.) Railway across Contixext to San Francisco. T^n^fTi°'p* "t!»-o"gli tickets" to Victoria, British Columbia, from ±.astern Canadian (Atlantic) seaports, from .$80 to $90 (£16 to £18 -bnglisli), not including provisions on the railway. The Government will endeavour to obtain a reduction of the cur- Sumhh °t/?k'''' ''^r''" "" '''^T ^""^^''^'•' Pr"««eding to British Columbia. If this can be arranged, the particulars will be stated m a succeeding edition of part of this hand-book, and duly advertised.* wiin?.^^ ^' I'^'^'Tt^^''' ^1°^« i l^^-"^. the Korthern Pacific railway will be open for tralhc across the continent. The present terminus of this railway in North West America, is at Taconfa, Pugefsornd Fast steamboa s are now being built to run between T^oma and IrntToir P 'r, "'*'"''''* ^'\ '^"^'^^ '^-^^^ ^"^^*^' ^f «"ffi"«^^<^ induce- ments oner. By this proposed route, passengers, after leavincr the transcontinei.tal train, will reach Victoria in eight hours' passa"-e on inland waters The sea passage of three or four da^^Cm^Sau Francisco, California, to Victoria, will be saved The Northern Pacific route, if the rates are satisfactory, thus will offer aclvantages to emigrants for British Columbia, until the Cana- tZ^t;:^!^"^'- I^-^l^^-^-i-bletotake through WAGES. ihtcnuS^'"" l""^^'^ '''"^l'^'' ''""'' ^""'■'^ '^™«' "" ^^'ithi" tlie province, the Canadian Pacihc railway, as the largest, may be first mentioned. Canadian Pacific Railway. tiont Bn^fsb r '^%^''''^'^^'' P^-^ifi^ ''^il-'^y. now under construc- tion in British Coiumbia, is upon the mainland, in the valleys of the rivers Thompson aad Eraser. It will connect the western end o? Kamloops lake, at Savona's ferry, with Port Moodv, the Pacific ter minus on Burrard Inlet, British Columbia. This link is A\^M i nTo iv-^e sections, all held by Mr. A. Onderdonk and associates, w fo have tak^n th contracts from the Canadian Government. They ave Rubi, -certain portions of the work. ' hm* t&"^ workmen for the Canadian Paoifi7Raiw7n''Bi^iah7oTunr •e as follows : £14, and £16.) 12s.) ISCO. 'olumbia, from 3 (£16 to £18 )n of the cur- ing to British vill be stated y advertised.* 'acific railway sent terminus Puget Sound. 1 Tacoma and icient induce- • leaving the rs' passage on ys from San 3ry, thus will til the Cnnn- ike "through the province, t mentiened. :ler construc- alleys of the stern end of Pacific ter- divided into 's, who have They have titish Colum- c to Ynle (on IXFOUMATIOX FOU K.MKJUANTS. 105 an J^'i.,*"^''/- ""/'''^^"^ on.l.raced in the contracts amounts to 212.5, and tl„, ..stnuated cost is e9,.'5-S,0()0 : adding .^250 000 for the cost tor the nushefl road, from the sea to Savona's, i59 ^7S 000 ex dusn-e ot the rails and fnstonin,,s, which arc furni h d by tTe' Domnnon Government for th four upper sections. ^ i.mo.y (., milo.s below \ ale), making .30 miles in all. J3y the end of Z':S::UZ tr '-^^rf^''^^ -nnt^rrupted colmni::;!^ will exist .3 rail between Port Moody, on the Jiritish Columbia sea- board, and Lyttnn, a distance of 1 1.'? riih.s ^onimuia sea- red C^y^f""' ']" T'^'''' ''^^P'^^^'' ^"'' *'^^ construction and r pair sliops the contractors are at Yale. In the vicinity of Yale the company have also thoroughly complete works for the ^manufac! ture of acids and nitro-glvcerinc. manuiac su;tlie^s"'"Ti '"'" ''^"'I'r^^ *'"' '*°'^"-" ^varehouses for materials and supplies. Ihere are three sawmills l,elonging to the company en gaged exclusively in sawing bridge and construction timb rT^Two tSrrL. " "" ""^'"^"' '^' ^'"' ^""^-^^--^ - ^-^ders alolg ap^n^fStr'*^'-^ "'^ '''' ^'"'^'^^^•"^^'^^' ^' P--^^^' V coiSacttis'li""' advertisement was lately issued by the railway Office of tiik Coxthactors CANADI.A.X PACIFIC RAILWAY. Yale, March 1st, 1883. New Schedule of Wages for White Labour On the Canadian Pacific Railway in British Columbia. Overseers c-io^ ., Rock Foremen ....■.■.::::;: 3 OOrTon 1 Earth Foremen o ?n fn 3 nn P'' ''^^• BridgeForeinen .::;:;;; 3" ?o J^" ? ^J „ Bridge Carpenters (1st class) 3 50 " Do. (2nd class) ,■.■.■,'.■ 3 OO " ZT'"i. 25oto 350 ;; stonecutters '\ r\r\ + '^ n\ Blacksmiths (Lst class)'.;: "mq " Do. (2nd class).' 3 qo f fl^'-^ 2 00 to 2 2.5 " -Labourers i -- ^ .1 rv^ " Hewers .::.:.::[: Uo ' " ^^^mr^ : !> 00 to 2 50 ;; All outside labour 10 hours pei- day. All carpenters to furnish their owA chest tools All employes find themselves bed, board and lodging. 106 liiiiTisn c'oi.rMni.v. Boardiut; houses will l.c c-oinciucut alonj,' tlic lino, lioard, sjr pcM- AV(H'k. hou! T^^ ""* '"' coiupuIsciT tor employes to Loard in the Company's Wages will bo paid monthly, on the lOdi of oaeh month. . A. OxoKKUoxK, General Manager. Also, tlie tolJownig from a sub-contractor : - ''Wanted, several lumdred men -Carpenters, Helpers, Hewers " Axemen, Teamsters, and Laboni'ers on the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway in Jiritish Cohiniliia. ^^ _" We have jjaid for the last year, and are now o:rerinrf, the follow- " ing wages, and cannot get men enough in this i)rovii)ce ■ '' Carpenters, ^?3.5U per day ; Hewers, ^q pe,' <\av : Jlelpers, !?2.50 to ,s3 per day; Pile Drivers, .V.-J.oO j.er dav ; ' Raftsmen, >^t per cay; Axemen, >:•;] to 83.1>o per day; Bridge Fon'men, .-•^ to 8.^ per ^^ day. Board hi 50 per W(.ek. (lood boarding-houses convenient to work. Teamsters get 860 to 875 jjer month, and l)oard. All men are paid monthly, on the loth of each month. "It will be at least three years befcn'e the railwav work now under contract m British Columbia will be completed, and Ion- before the expiration of that period other adj.nning sections of the road will be commenced, wliich will ensure i)lentv of railroad work for many years to .onw.-- (R.fnn-t hnuUnUof a ,„h amiractor on Lanaduni Fac\lic Rdilinn/^ J/arc/i, ISb'o.J ADDITIONAL RAILVvAY WORK. The above 212 miles of railway, now in course of cmistruction, and to be hmshed by July, 1S,S5, are only a portion of the I'ailwav works to oe undertaken in British Colund.ia. Th.'v n.erelv comprise the link to connect the seaboard with Kamloops" Lake. ' Beyond Kam- loops Lake, the Canadian Pacific Railway Company will soon be at work under their agreement with the Government of Canada to connect that point with the mai i line of railwav now bein-- made from the east. This will involve the construction of several hundred miles of additional railway within the province, at a rate of ru-o-ress that will depend mucii on the supply of suitable labour ° The long-detVrred portion of the railway along the ' eastern coast ot \ ancouN-er Island has to be constructed, and the work T)robablv will be begun at an early date. '' XAVAL DRY DOCK. A large graving dock, on wliich about £50,000 have ahv^adv been expended, is now being made at Esquimilt, Vancouver Island the harbour at wliieh emigrants arrive. It is 40Q feet long by Ou'feet broad. :N early the whole of the eastern wing wall is complete The l)rickwork of both pier heads has been carried up to a level of about 8 feet abme the i,ne.-ts and aiv ready to rec-iv the stone and con- crete. V cry little brickwork has been done on the inner imert he Company's iiitli. il Mana£;er. ipi's, Ilewcrs, notion of tlio ig, the follow- ci' : — Ii'lpcrs, S:?2.r)0 tsincii, >}[ 2)ci' 1, ^i^ to 85 l>t'V ss convenient 1 board. All rk now under (1 lone; before is of the road »ad work for ■^untmrfur on tniction, and lilway works comprise the eyond Kani- 1 soon be at Canada, to being made eral hundred :^ of progress 'astern coast rk probaljly Iready been • Island, the t,' by yu feet iplet(>. The vel of about 'ue and eon- invert. INTOKMATIOV KOK KMICli.WTS, 107 stint"be'!v '*'?') ""'^i''^ '"i *^'*^'^ ^"''^"^ >■'"•''« ^'f ««ft "'^^t-rials still to he excavate! ni the body of the dock. OTHER LAnoUR-EMPLOYIXi; INDUSTRIES. In addition to the den,,.n.l for labour on fanns and in the eol- er es ancl i.shenes, whi.h exceeds the supply, there has been of kte jea s a considerable extension of manufacturing industries of various m "n ?' T'T' "'!'"•'''"- """" "'■ 1*^- -'Plo-nnent to wmk TrehrnU iSirn'r'^T'''' "i''^'"' ^"-P'-''-tively, 'these industries are hrnil> established, nnd are don.g a sutisfactorv business in rela- Tscut^f T ""'"r";""^ '"' ^'"" l"''""''^*'""- 'J'i.ereareilou, ndls, shops boat-bu.lderssauuiills, sash an.l .ln„r, fumitniv, piano boot and shoe, glove bookbinding, soap, match, cigar, candv, 1 rush, br c and dram-pipe factories, with b)-ew,.rics and other industries. Ihe following are about the iivcage wa-es at i.resent as th, v I::^biss^:i^^^ ^"^'^ '"'^''-^ ''• ^'^™ ^'- ^--siied^^^:;- ^ W.Vf.KS. Collieries— Cari)enters and IJlack'^miths . . . fi:] 00 to .'^.S 7.5 per day ^^^''^'"'•f''^ -M)Oto "i>.50 . ,-^y''"'''^ earnings (c -,n +,. c- 1 no " 1 r'nnters 1 ■; j. 1 />aa v\' , +•' oents a 1000 ems. NV aggonmakers o r.n +„ c; 1 nn 1 rr- .,\ , , ' ■^" to ^4 (JO per dav. linsKutlis, plumbei's and gasJiUers ;] ."0 to ;^4 00 Machinists, moulders, patteiT. and \nnlvv- '' " makers, and Idacksmiths 4 00 to i^-i .50 Longshoremen ' ' ,-,a j. '" ' 1 " -tTT ", , ;>0 cents an hour. Wood-turners ■. _^ ^l^^^. Labourers of all .sorts, from o "yj \^\\.^y_ lOS BHITISII C0LL-M15IA. Labour on Fahms. This lias been stated at paj^o 50. WOMEX SkI£VA\TS. Scarce; wa-es high; 810 to 812 (40s. to 48s. Encrlish) per nionth or nurse g.rls; 820 (£4 English) a n.onth, with hoa 1 Z general house servants, having son.e knoM-k.dge of choking and 1 ei ' able to wash. A considerable nund,or of M-ell-principledrcompetei^ women servants can be employed in respectable fan ilie - tZ^a cu tomedto country work are mo.t wanted,-n,anv men of good character and means are r.iniaig for wivc-s in the country districts. Chinawomen do not take servants' j.laces. Chinamen are ,Mn- dea of ,f J ^"^*";7«"^'. I'o'ht fi'-es, clean boots, &c., but a good family ^'""^^^^^^^ ''^'^' ^nevertheless, falls on members of the MONEY (COI.\) IX BRITISH COLUMBIA. British money is not much used in the province. Business is done and accounts kept in dollars and c<.nts (100 ce.its to a do lar) The coins generally in circulation are Canadian and American. Gold. 20 dollar gold piece. 10 „ 5 H 1 dollar piece, Silver. » 10 cent piece (called a "short bit"). MONEY (PAPER) IN BRITISH COLUMBIA. tbe^Rnn^'^f «°vf x^'^'T^''. P^P'" '""'"^>'' «J«o the paper money of the Bank of British J^orth America and the Bank of British Colum- bia, pass freely in the province in notes of from 81 to 8100 These provkce '" "''^'^' ^'"^"'^ ^*^*'' P^P'' ™°"'>^ '' ''""^ "^^'^ "^ *!>« How TO SEND Money to British Columbia. The emigrant is not recommended to take British coin to British Columbia In Great Britain, he should pay that portion of his money not wanted on the passage to the Post Office, and get a money the Bn !' /iT v^? n T'^'r""' "^ ^'' "^^^^ P''^>' ^"^^ "--V either t^ t^ie Bank of British Co umbia, London (the bankers for the Govern- ment of Britis- Columbia), or to the Bank of British North America London, and gez from the bank, in exchange for his money, an orde^ payable on demand from its branch bank in Victoria. British Colum- bia tor the e(iuivalent of his money in dollars and cents J he emic/mnf, on payiwj hi, man.;, f„ the Bank, n,u,t simi Ids name on a sppnrafe piece of paper, and ad- the Bank to se„d the sm- natm, to their Branch Bank in Vietorie,, ,o that the person xio IVFORMATIOX FOR EMIGRANTS. 109 Zrlon'%''!r '"'''''^r. 7T'" '""'-' ^' ^"''''' '' he the proper moiu'i/ in ) icforin rrndili/. Xho Bank of Lriti.sl, ^ortli America has its own hranches in the iwr '"l"-'^.,^""'"'-'^' ^r. ^^"'•'^'' '^"^l ^^-^ F'-'^"'^--- The Bank o Canl ,'xr*'"''!i"^, t'»^'l^^"k"f British Columbia throughout PURCHASING POWER OF WAGES. Board and Lodging. The Government will endeavour to make special arrangements for immigrants ; at present ordinary advertised ratfvs in Victoria in good second-class hotels (meat at every meal), are as follows :- ^ Board and lodging, .^.^ to 86.50 (20s. to 2Gs. English) per week. Do do. m (4s. English) per day. ' ^ ^ ^ Single meals, 2.5 cents (Is. English). Beds, f)0 cents and 25 cents (2s. and Is. English). At New W^.stminster, near the mouth of the Eraser, the rates are about the same. At ^anaimo, the " Coal " town on the oast side of \ ancouver Island, the rate, in the workmen's boarding houses, is fn";;;. n, K\ 'T \ ^^"^''^^ '^"'' ^"''-"'- ^'"^^ ^"."1'"- "^ t^^-^ mainland nttuoi, I'ut along the railway works, tlie contractors' advertisement (see page 100) states that board is 84 a week. There are several pnv-ate In^arding houses at Yale and at other places along the works suitable for single men, which furnish board and lodging at "about the same rate, fe o "" ""uuu Family Market Report of Prices. Victoria, March 31, 1883. ^^Jr^''-~?P}t'^.'^'^^^'^' »0 ^ents V Rj Island roll, 62 A cents ; JNew Grass California, 75 cents V roll CiiEE,SE.-Canadian 30 cents V lb ; California, 25 cents ; Eastern Cream, 30 cents ; Brit sh Columbia, 25 cents; Stilton, 37i cents. EGGS.-Jresh Island, 33 cents V dozen ; Puget Sound, 25 cents. CoRNMEAL.~50 cents V sack of 10 lb. Oatmeal.— 62^ cents ^ sack of 10 lb FLOUR.-Extra, 87.50 V bbl. ; 82 ^ sack ; Super, $5.75 V bbl. Wheat.— 2^ (g 2| cents ^t^* lb. > t , >* v um. BEAxs__Lima 8 cents ^^ lb.; small White and Bayou, 6 cents. Split PEAS.—12i cents '{? lb. ^ VEGETABLE8.--Pot.atoes, ]A cent 13 lb; Shallots, Scents; Onions, IZl: 11^ T' ^iP^''«g"«' -0 cents 1^ lb; Turnips, 25 cents l! ^^^°^^^,^"i^^l^«« ■' G>'een Peas 12^ cents ^ r= Cabbage, 4 cents ^ Ih; Cluh Pepper, 25 cents V lb; Vegeta. Marrows 75cfc: .<.| no UniTISM COLUMBIA. Bacox ppoak-fasf 22^. conts y It, ; O.-.^on, 21 conts. IjARD. — _',) cents r* Ih. Yl'T::^fw ' ^^''^^' If-^lil'"*' 6 cents; H^ • •/!^"t"''; f Tr'' ^; '•""■" = ^^'"""^ ^^•'"-- -^ ^'^'- ^0 cts. Sa nr V'l IV ^= 'u'''^"'*''"' " ^•'■■'^■^ = «'""'^-l Ookchau am cent SI - >'• ^^"»''*vP,'-'<'"f''^: Stur^r,.on. G cents ; Wl.iting, 6 cents fehrnni.,s 2;, cents ; Halt (),.IucI,ans, cents ; Crahs r,Oto75 cents ; I.„neless Cod, IG cents ; Holes; G cents CAXNMcn Salmon-..- -1 11, V tins, ? dozen, P2. Limes, .], • cents : Api.les, D cents -f' 11, ; Cranberries, 7u cts V iral • Quinces, S cn.ts V ih ; Dananas, .)0 cents V .lo.en ; Co oa Nuts m cents each ; P.ne Apples, 75 cents („ M each ' * Currants, .-/ante Currants, 1.5 („ 10 cents 'H H. ^lt^'^''^'f''''''^''^'^f^:\''^ California, 25 cents; Jsuitana, Valencia, and El. .me, ^^5 cents. Fios.— New, 50 cents V jh. MixKD Spices. - -25 cents V tin. Starch. — .^1 V l,ox. r^i AND CoFrKE,_CoHee, ^.round, b() cents V U. ; Crcon, 28 cts.; lea, from .J7.V cents to 81.25 "JJ 1». ' m«^i!;"of "rF^t''' 7 ^'"'"'' -' '^* ^•^'- '^^ ' <-i>vinnlated or No. 1, 7 lbs tor !?1 ; D or >,(.. 2, ,S !b for b'l. -^ "• i, < NuT8.--En-lish Walnuts, 20 cents V lb ; Cocoa Nuts, 12 J- cts ea • ooup meat, .) to < cts. Veal.— 12l cents >^ lb. Lamb,— .81.50 V quarter. Sausages.— L^ lb for 25 cents. Suet.— 12,1 cents %^ lb. SucKixo Pigs.— 82.50 to §3 each. T.^''^'-t~:^'^f "'.'•' ''"*' *° '^'^ '^''^^1^ : ^l^W^vd, m cents ^^ pair; leal, ,)i}; cts p pair. " <■ tr > Tnmc'rf '■"■.f-"- ^"^ "?,^'"*' '""'^ = *P""S Chickens, 85 %* dozen. lURKEVs. — 2o cents f* lb. Geksk, . -Tame, 25 cents V lb. Coal Oil.— 82 i' tin : 83.75 f' case ^!r^1^ 'T'*^' ^^ ^"^''* ' ^^^""«d' 3' A cents ^^ case. •H. A\ . — ;;> 1 , d / i 1^ cwt. IVFORMATIOV fVtft r\r If; RANTS. JH Oats.— 2] cents V lb. ^^I^I)LI^•(;s. - 2 to -J] conts V Ih. BRAX.--1J. cciit y It). Tl... nl,m,. a.v tin. .nMunnu ivtail pHrrs at Viotom. At Now ^V(..st,nu.s(..,.,iH.yan.al.outtlH.san,.^ 'Hirs.. tw„ places unci nZ 11 t..s.sniil\ t(n.M<.lMr...M..(l(unTin pioportioii t.. tl„. , istai.n. „f ftr:;;i;,:;;.;;.- '""■"■""■ "-■ '"-- -">• .■1..'..,,;:;.';,^ IKH'SlXd, cost .^^ t.) sio (.{J.S.. to Klx. |-.n;.li.sli) prr tli.m.suiul at th.' kiln. Roufe'h luniher has hcou s.,l.| at ll„. ...ills at al.out .^10 a thousand for many yours, l.ut the prioo tor h.cal suppli.-s has risen late y Ihe i.resont i.ncs. at Vi, tnria. ar<- as follows: ^ Rough hmilicr .Qp| oqn Dr('s.sc(l tongiu'd and grooved .... j;") ()(j ) ^^'''' tl><»"sand feet Dressed on liotli sides 'jj r,,j \ (eadi I:,' iiiehcs Cedar lundier \7 '){) I •'^•l'"""'' and 1 in. Cedar, dressed -,() '^^) j thick). Shingles, per thousand ianund.cp. ;{ .•)()' Tw''^Tf-?f '"''■'■' /'" ^"r'"J ^''''' ''' '•'■'^^ *^^^'^ the above, fam? nng. Ihr^HM-oonied snhstantial cottage, ,sav .^500 ( £100 Enr lish/ Rents ot CO tages and sn.all huus,.s ^ ary tVon, 85 (£1 En "l sh tof>5 (^0 Enghsh) per n.onth. hut the d.'.nauul, ... eralh at pres^^t exceexls the supply. Opportunities are tVcpunTtly ava hd.k. tHo k men for purchasing a huilding lot and ,.,.ec ing a cotta-^e to W paid ^ ^;rw';:;f "p'% '-^ *'"' ^"""^'•>' -^^ -> '-^m wtS nouses to he let), tor tenq-orary acconuno.hition, men often nut ud one-roomed houses. Country .settlers, not near .sawn. 11 can .et logs, but there are accessible sawn.ills in most of the settled di.stric^tt! FUEL. c^eSam^lnv J.'lT.'f f T'"^ ", '''' '^""""°" ^"^^' -"^ farmers eieialJy ha^e a plentiful sui.ply on their land. Tlie price in the ^board towns, and, also at Yale, ranges from m to ?/ S. l ot (b.s^ Lnoh,h) pe . con , but many Jiouseholders themselves cut it. ' In the mainland mterior, wood fuel, if purchased, is dearer but the railway will tend to equalise prices in portions of the ounV ii , 112 ■IIITI8H COLLMBI' Coal is usod, of onurs. , at Xannimo, uikI to somo extent, increas- insfly, iu liousc'liolds, ill tlic <'iti(..s of Virt.iriii luid Nt'w VVestniiiistur. il mts *»4 to i?H (.'JO*, to ;LV. Iinglv*»>) per ton. WORDS OF ADVICE AFTER ARRIVAL. Emigrants aiv rcooinnicnded not to liii-^'cr al)out tlie towns at which they may arrive, l.ut to proceed, witli as little delay as possible, either to their friends, if they have nnv in the province, or to the localities where they are likely to meet with employment. The immi;,'ration a«ent, at jtort of arrival, will furnish information as to lands open for settlement in the resp.'ctive districts, farms for sale, demand for lul.oni', rates of wa^'es, routes of travel, distances, expense of conveyance, il-c. The emigrant should he careful of /lix nixh rtin Ulster. AL. tlio towns at lay as possible, inoc, or to the 'lit. ill iiifoniiation fts, fiu'iiis for vcl, distances, (iiul not put it )uiient Snvinga intrios of the their climate, they consume cents is cur- inniijj;i'ant, in here, as else- — free to all, irian — highest iglit— uniform the Provincial s and inspects .nd 1 5 yeai's — three .School rom ent (^10 to £-10 5 — must have ucation. )ilities of this t'graph" news- • province on '•Pu^:'.' 3ols, for both I betitting the •s and girls at )n reasonable IMiiH\|.\Tlii\ Fol! I ll riiiiiciiix 113 Chn relies lire imiiieroiis in iIk lioceses, with over .'<() eliMLrviii.'i dioce The .Methodist l.'hurch of Cimud ses, witli nlioiit J."t pi<.viiHc, fliciv Lring two Catholic 1. and Ihie.. llpiseopiU (or Anglican) • ••I'Tgymri,, di.^tril.iite.l ut dilfereiit plac uiid the Pnshvt.rian ('lnii( i>< ii'presented by 1 \ d es. foni/. d Kpi)- I'V li\('. III vitr ergVllltMl orguuizcfi for work- in (he i ]>-/n.f. Tl... laigv inll.ix latelV of rail (iistabl is \\c II', and property are secured 'ly IS I'leivly necessituted the employment "'■■'iieiseo (Califoriiiu) niir citizens should note that Tl workmen of nil nationalities I of a few additional "BuUetin," savs: "It "z:";t:Zm""'''"' '™ '^^ "■" ■'■■»i - «-.iy with that e as we do ( 11 tl The following extract is to tin- iioint : lis side of till' iiorde line '■\,^^"> -n -I ' . ■""' '''' '■^- ^^"' Quaiihca- Th nee, to take an active part in tl political Dominion of Canad ^titut ion o •f th of self-government. proyinee, us pari of the great ■ni of a, posscssi's the stability of the British syst ll^l 114 liKiTISII ('(M,'J.MI!t.\. fjoveriimerit, coiiiliincd with the fivcdom energy of ivpuhlicau institutions. The peoplo may amend or alter tlie politica provmee m any way not ineonsistent with th" of the Doiuinicm of Canada. •iiisticity, and jjrogressive eonstitution of tlie general constitution XEWSPAPEJJS. Xumerous and well condueted -receive constantly news l.y tele- graph -the wants and opinions of setth-rs in remote districts are made known through the pn.ss to their f.'ilow settlers and to the liovernment. The foregoing information as to the demand for labour, wa-os board and lodgnig, market prices, c'cc, will b. useful to tlu- labom-er and mechanic. The immedi^ately preceding informati.ni as to schools, chu.-clies aw courts and government, interests all classes, including, particu- arly, the farming emigrant. For the further information of the latter, a tew ^\•ords now will be in place. THE FARJ\[IX(^ EMIGRANT. The agricultural and pastoral areas of lirietlv fl pages 06, G 09,' Part r ^scribed in Part 1. The Xecl th e v^hi)\' country have liee 7, ".■>, 76. Part I), and the P. laco "White Silt"' District (sei eace i )y some, eoiisidered to be the most iver District (see page ,'raznig districts in I5ritish Columl n v(>t. T! ir.'..n\ opi'iied t) tl •^ on counnunu-ations, and the growth of ininin<' iiidusti s grazing areas, they, probably, will be utilized soom iug and have not depend the north. A than consider the a:l gions— namely, minster Disti'i , _ _ ^^ already supplied with communicat exten;;ive farii iia, but communications leir agricultural .jn-ogress •y in IS generally supposed. At present, the intend ttl er wi wing re \antages o.'b.red, respectively, by the folio,.. ..^ ,,. tlie inner side of Vancouver Island, the Ni-w West ct, and that p,)i'ti,)n of the Alainland Interior which 11 ,, ,-■ ., , ions-all of which have been gen*nilly described. lentil lately, Victoria and Cariboo were the principal markets for surplus stock, or for produce not wanted in the fan nei's own district. There now is. addit ted demand, ow and tl owing to tl le progress of the country i le cliect of the actual rail ionally. a more distribu- toria, the occasional pr n general Tl way construction. growth of the Xai )eing oj)ened in the Comox district 1 corner, of the Island, tou'etl works will be ;;o(!n 1 esence o )11 f 1 le existcmco of Vic- llL'' Si 111 If )f n. ?,r. N launo collieries, the cei'tainty of new coal a\y, the mines and at north end, or north-west liave to lie taken into ac II ''(■gun alon," IJ ler with the probability that 1 ari'e rai '.'/■ ( count by those wlio, foi' other tl reasons, may prefer that region. The A'nr V/rsf also, lias a seaboard, and it is t hvay (raai/trrr /sland, lan market i/sfrr (yintricf. nn ra\ersed by u large lunigalile river. INIY.1!M.\TI()\ mil I:mI(;|;axt.S iind jiro^avssive stitiitiou of tlie I'iil (;i)ii.stitntiou ly iK'ws liy tele- te (listrit'ts are ETs and to the labour, wagps, to the labourer lools, churches, Uidiug, particu- •matioii of the utiy have been t"' District (see strict (sfe page xtcusivc farin- 'nunuiiications tural .progress ig industry in itilized sooner ig settler will following re- lie New West- ;erior which is -■li have been boo were the wanted in the nore distribu- ■ construction, -tencK of V^ic- 'v.J^ ::L;i,„^;:: :;r;;;-;'-j^^^^ I). lr.,n. „Im,. 1,„s 1 1, ,-„„,„| ^.,,„,, ,j, ji^^, ^,^ ,j 1 I V <>.>, -ran :;!■- ^"' V- "":■;^ .""i: n ^.;iiSr. t;";;::'^::-::^ tioiilnr ki,„I of 1 „„,i„.. ll„. .,„,:;. „; » ■[ '«■«"•". ">■ " par- imil.'s, chn-,.,., I.utt.T. tVuit i-, I „-,1l } i, ' *'''' ''°'^''''' the provincial demand For h e enst 7'. / ''-^'^^'' "* *''" probab and bv, will 1 •ly also iiiii/i>(t,\ troni th ■'■M>!ired tor Canadii in niantilacturers, and t'l-s \n Connecticut have latelv had 't ngora goat. Tji,. plush n.anufactur- Tl le Angora goat thrives well i„ the ,,ro\ii o.Mst, liut i)erhaps. witi <> imix.rt mohair from Liverpool. ' pro\inee. Wild licmn n,.rl «„^ I «i,ges so high. //„,,. cou!,! not, at unnp and Hax I i pi'escnt, be 116 UUITI&H rOLr.MlJIA. said of fohnrro, which -crows xvdl. />V./,v mav, at i>reseut nav W as^attle food (s.. pa;,- GO Pait I.) hut heet^^u^ai^ shS 'S^ prj (luu-d. lh(" pniuary .'ssontuils tor this n.amifactinv are clieap land possesses 11,. siioar ot a civihzed eoiiutry, it is said, costs nearly as much asits wheat, a.,,! certainly l.eet su^ar is almost a neccS y h British Columhia, where the c,.-; <,f earria... to many parts of the coun ry must always add so mudi to the price of ii^pL-ted sugar preselr'' ""''"'' '""' "* ""'" '"^'"" *'''"'" ^'''''''^' Canada%t _ /V'nV,s- of all kinds should receive early attention. The province ir. a iruit country (see pa^-e (L', Part J. ) /,V. ^..,^,,-,,, i/^.X' country industry that should not he no...lected. In all prolSy superior >nu<' ;fny.s ean Ix- .Town successfullv, if of the proper variety. (Jood .rapes ,r,u. in the open air, both in parts of Van couver Islaiul and m the Mainland Luerior. Botanists and men dis ruts- _-L,lI.u.et, tor mstaiar- -aiv spcvially adapted for the c^rowth andripenmc.ofthe lK.stwine .urapes. an.l that tl.e provincelia a groat future as a w„,e-pr„ducinM- country. A 40 acre tract planted with vines ot the proper variety (which should be ascertained by cen^r ^"•I'";;"'''^^> •"^^•y' •'>• -"' •'>« '- -ortl. more than a la^^e cereal farm. J/oj>s have been mentioned at pa-e GO Part I This north-west province essentially .lilK.rs from 'the o-.-eat plain region, east ot the mountains, iu its r.ru./ capabilities. '' Sr/^wX b. a luu,, h>^ ,>t Ihuu,. ro,iulrM .a.fn;,r,K n-hlh British Colunba Small capitalists are recomm.Muh.l not to buy land before they ha^ e become ac.iuauit..d with Its character, and the kind of labour lent a tarm with some imiJi-ovements on t rather tl,oi. f^ .-^ untouched land. This lai advice more klSar^ " f « ^, ri! trrants from Europe, whose previous train ng necessarily 1 L not ^o well ackpted them to the settlement of wilcUands as irsoi s b ou Ut up 111 America Partially cleared farms, with buildings rectecJo them, may be ],ought m .some districts of British (^.lumbia on ea y terms ot payments owing to the disposition pioneers have ^i, sdl o d settlements and take up more extensive uew ones to y: '""I'^r^''^'''' ''""^'»" f«'' a» intending farmer of moderate means o place his inoney on first arrival, in tlu- (Government Sav m s Lank (.Inch allows interest), to take lodgings, and to work for wl"e !::or;:f*;r:ag;.m:;;r " ^^-^ - '-'^'^^ ^^ ^^'-^ ^^^^ -^' Popular Nam.s poh L.vxns-A Wo,m> to IxTKvmvr; Settlers. Most countries Iru,- peculiar names f)f their own for a-ricultural lands and the immigrant, on arriving in British Colund.i^ .^1 hear men talk of "prairies-' beaver-dam hauls," H,ottom lands/ 'e by that nam . in the c(. ■ , V '' '"' "! ^'"^^^'^ ''^'''^' '' ^^"«l The Pacific sll^epa^^^ ,;';;!';[;:; <-t fron. the liocky range, "dry" prairies, ^' '^"''*^''' ''^''-^Uv, us "wet" and The^^"?;e;ro";^!Zi^^'^^^^f *^'<^ '"-t-^ (f-'ks) of rivers. Thisldml T o^^'iflowofl m early siiinuM-r bv river " freshets " mon at the head-;;,t rs f ' " ' '"^''''''•'" '"'" '^^^° ''•""^- on the wet ground and tlu> ,>]•„, f. f l\ ^ •^^'^''^'V ''if* encroaches together. U is soi,'" n^r£kt ^t 7', ^"^^^''^^^ S™- ^^l-o^t these "tide lands.-' '"'"^' ^'^<^'^"*t to get fresh waier for cattle on ThX 1 nv.w ' T "*'" ?i"* -^'''<'>«Jly «o rich as the wet prairies like a reginuM/t /f r rc'llecl t a' ;;; S^ 1"""'^ •"""' ^^'"'P*^>' extensive in the Coast reoion '"'"' ^^''^'^^'^ ""' ^^''^''^"^ enough to be (ailed a plain or plateau ' ' ' ^^'^^ i ill TW! 118 BHITISU f'Ol.r\|lil.\. a ff"\v acres to a feu- miles in hivarlt Ii. 'I'licy arc ohjocts of curiosity and speculation, and, from tlu- re-ularitv and e\enn;'ss of their struc- ture, add much to t])e l.eaniy of the I'ude scenes in which they occur, iiiey generally appear on hoth sides of the river, and in some places are nndtiplu'd mto several successive level plateaux, risin-one above tlie eCici- as they recede from Hie l)anl:, LAND. _ Large tracts nf land, consisting of a helt of 20 miles on each side of the radway. have Keen assigned l.v the Provincial Legis- lature to the (iovenimenl of Canada to aid it in making the CaiiadTan Pacific radway. 'lhes<. lands l.elong f,, xhi' l)<,minion ( Jovernment and are under its management. All the ,,iher unoccupied lands .elong tothe provinee. and ;ire under the manag..ment (,f the Ciiief Commissioner of Lands and \V.irks, Vietoria. who has oiKcial assist- ants m tlie districts. Owing to various circumstances, partlv coniu rted with proposals to change the route of a portion of the railv.av within the province the Dominion (lov.rnnu'ut lias not made deiinit,' arrangements for anaging its hinds in !;ritisli Cohiml.ia. Jt is now l)eliev<.d tliat maiiap this wdl IK' done imuKTliately. In a further edition of p.art of this hand-hook, whieh will he puhlished dariii"; the i.resent senson the lands under the control of th generally descrihed. (lON'ei'uments may ho Tlie following inforination r.'l' ts to tlie l.-imls of the Provincial Govenmicnt. Jt is believed that th<> {hauinion land iiolicy within the province will be of an e(|ually liberal character :-- PROVINCIAL GOVERXMEXT LAXDS, Crown lands in Eritisji Columbia are classified as either surveyed or unsurveyed lands, and may be acquired either by record and pre- emption, or by purchase. " '■ Pl!i:-F.MPTIo\S. The following persons inn'y record or pre-empt Crown lands, viz • Anypersmi being the head of a family, a widow, or a single man over 18 yeai's of age, being a British subject, may record surxeved or un- surveyed Crown lands which are uiicccupicd. or unreserved, and un- recoi'fled. Aliens may also record such surveyed or unsurveved lands on making a declaration of iiitenticn to bcccme a British .subject ' The quantity of land which may bo recorded or pre-empted is not to_ exceed ;520 acres nnrtliward and eastward of the Cascade Moun- tains, or 160 acres in the rest of the province. No person can hold more than cr.o pre-( mption claim at a time Prior record or pre-emption of one claim, and all rigJits under it, are torteited by subsequent record or pre-emption of another claim INFOiniATtOX FOK E.MKUiAXTS. jts of curiosity 1 of their struc- ieli tlioy occur, in SOUK! places siu^one above miles on each )viucial Lej,'is- ;■ the Cauadiau 1 ( Joveruruent ccupied lauds t of the Chief official assist- illi i)roposals the ])roviuce. inn'cuieuts for helieved that f part of this t season, the cuts may he le Proviucial * policy withiu her surveyed •ord and pre- 1 lands, viz.; pie man over \ eyed or un- ■ved, and un- ed lands, on ihject. uipted is not cade Moun- ni at a time, nider it, are claim. 119 Such laud, until the Ci'owi, ,r,.ai.t f- ;..,„„i ;. i m i cannot he a-ent. •" ' ''-""^' ''"''''^"•'^ '^»" <^J»'it'«^ The fee on recording is two dollars. daJs'^ftlil.*'.!'*' ""l"^ "'""'; '"^" "^•^•"Pation of the land withiu thirty clays after r.'cordui- and must coutinu." to occupy it "^ st;;,;;"rf -'"^ ..... „„.. ,. ,„,, ::^ :^;:-::z^z Pavmkxt Fon Land and Croavx Ghaxt. But the la«t i..ta„„o,;t is ^t'l^ll'-tul'l'ltl^u:;'^:™"'' '^ '"'"■ Tlie Ci^own grant oxcliulcs roI,! and silver ore and eon'" The hers or devisees of the hoieestead settler are if resident i. tl,. province, entitled to the Crewn grant, on his de«w ' ^ provision fee the persenMlSd SLll'.'^sr^^^ir:;:, T„t ^°* 120 BiiiTrsH coi.rMn.'A Pre-rmptioxs fou Pautnkrsiiip Purposks ..^r^f'T' 'r?* ^'Y"'"'''"- ^""'•' '"'^y pre-empt, as a firm, 160 acres, west of the Cascades, to eacli partner, and im acres, east of the Cascades, to each jjartner. Each partner must represent ]iis interest in the firm by ac al res.dc.n,e on the land, of lun.self or a^ent. J}„t each partner, or his agent, need not reside on liis particular pre-emption. The partners, or their a,i,^ents, n.ay reside tooether on one home- stead, if the homestead !.<■ situat.-d on any part of the partnership pre-emption. ^ *^ For ol.tainin- a eertilicate of improvement, it is sufficient to show that improvements hav,. hern ,nad,. on son... ].ortion of the claim, amountn.^r ,n the a«^a.-at.., to tNv<. (lollars and hfty cents per acre on the whole land. ' ^ MiLiTAiiv AM) Naval Skttlkrs. Military and Naval settlers n^ay acpiir.. free j^rants of land, by virtue of tlie "Military and Naval Settlers' Act, 1S63." Fni:i': (Jhants fou iMMioiiATiox. The Lieutenant-Ciov.'rnor in Council mav, subject to such provi- sions and restrictions as hr may .Ircm advisabh'," make si.ecial free or partially free, -,unts of imoecnpied or unappropriated lands, for the encouragement of immigration, or other purposes of i.ublic ad- vantage. ^ For Draixace and Dykixg. The Lieutenant-Governor in Council may sell any vacant lands, or make free orants thereof, to any i>erson or companV, for tlie purpose ot dyking, draining, or irrigating the same, subject to such regulations as they may think lit. " H^LK OF SURVKYED LaXD.S. Surveyed lands which are not the sites of towns or the suburbs thereof, and not Indian settlements, may be purchased at the rate ot one dollar per acre after such lands shall have been offered tor sale, at the upset price of one dollar per acre, by public auction, ot v/Jiich sale due and sufficient notice; shall be given. Surveyed lands purchased under the provisions of this sectioi^must be paid for in tuii at the time of the purchase thereof. Sale of Uxsurveyed Laxds, The applicant to purchase unsurveyed CroM-n lands must give two months notice of his intended application in the Government Gazette, nil, IGO acres, s, east of the inn by ac a! )artuer, or his an one _honie- pai-tnersliip icieiit to sliow of tlie claim, f^uts per acre s of land, by ) such provi- special free, ed lands, for )f public ad- :ant lands, or ' the purpose h regulations IXFORMATION- FOR KMIORAXTS. 12] amUn any newspaper circulating in the district where the land is He must also have the land surveyed at his own expense bv n C^ssiSr.""' °' "'' ''''''' ^'"^^^ *^^ instructionsTrClfief ch Jse' ^"'' '' ""' '^"""'' P'' ""'''' *^ ^' P^^^ "^ f"ll ^t time of pur- The quantity of land must be not less than 160 aores. Water Rights. Landholders may divert, for agricultural or other purposes the re E I'^^hanndtf """^'T''' ^"f ""'^PP-P-ted ValT^ro^' Z ibl .1 f ""''y •'*''^^'"' ^^ke, .tc, adjacent to or passin.r nSer ""'' "^"' «'^*^"-^^' ^lie written Lthority of thrS- Homestead Act. Most important Act. The farm and buildings, when registered cai^not be taken for debt incurred after the regislr'ati^ TT^l En isToodS' '" r r r, ""* ^""^*"- '^'^'^ -"^00 dollars (£500 Slit .'.!h uT "^""'f are also free up to 500 dollars £100 Titles. " Jrant, ?^^/ i ""^ ^''°on newspaper, said lately :_<' Emi- " tTtl s of the IT r'f, "'", '"'^^'"^'^ "^''^^ "^ ''^^^^i^ after the " cLut on are CH/ ^^'"^ '^''''' *" P"''^^^^^" ^his vigilance and " ritoth llrwt ^7 f ^ °''''"^ 'r^'" °^" ^^^^ *« *^« f^«* that the Ter- ntoiial laws yet obtain on our borders " secure.''^''^' C-o^nmft^a no difficulty of ihU kind exists. Titles are • tlie suburbs ' at the rate been offered blic auction. Surveyed b be paid for ust give two ent Gazette, PRICES OF EARiVIIXG IMPLEMExXTS, &c., IN VICTORIA. Srpt^''^^'""^^ 8450 00 to 8850 00 blowers ::;::;;:::::;: oo Self-Binders l^J^ hSs:::::::::::: ■■■'■'■■'■'■■■ |oooto .ooo Waggons, complete, with box and seat '. 130 00 ° ^^ ^^ ^°- -ith brake [[I] J^'q qO Do. running gear only 100 00 tO 110 00 :' 1 '-- iJiiiTTsn cin.rMiiiA, AVlToLKSAI.h: I'lHCKS (TIJKKNT. Faioi PiioD'.ci: (\'i(T()iii.\). Maucii 2G, Wheat, V cwt. (lUO I!.s.) . . . , 62 00 ^/ 2'^<^f' f'« ^'2 00 ^, Barley, I'oun-Ii, 'f> ^.^t o qq Peas, do ■ 2 00 Hay, do 1 05 Tiuiotliy Seed, do 14 00 C" Potatoes, do 1 00 Butter, V lb ..'.'.' 28 (o Ciieese, Maple Ridge, "(> \\> ig Eggs, fresh Island, >> dozen 25 Eggs, Oregon, do 05 Beef, dressed, V cwt s r)0 Beef, on foot, do. gross 4 00 Sheep, on foot, do a 50 jMutton, dressed, >' cwt 12 50 Lainba, each ' ;l 00 ^/ Pigs, di-esscd, V cwt 9 ()() q, Pigs, on foot, do G 50 (« Veal, on foot, do 5 00 Hides, green, do 7 ,,() (•„ Hides, dry, d,, 1;3 00 (" Chickens, "^ dozen 4 50 (« Po^^'ls. '!'> G 00 ^/ I^ucks, do 5 00 («. Turkeys, dressed, V ]\i 25 Turkeys, li\-e, do 17 (jeese, each i aO ^/ 1883. n 25 2 121 16 00 30 4 00 10 00 7 50 s 50 17 00 5 00 G 50 6 00 00 MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. Clothixc. It is unnecessary to bring nuicli clothing to the province, as extra luggage is troublesome and expensiNo on the railway, and prices of clothing (which l.ni'gely ccmes from Eastern Canada, free of duty,) is only about 10 to 12 ]ier cent, mere than in England or Canada. FflSXITirnK, BeDDIN-O, AXn rPIIOLSTERY Need not be brouglit. Furniture and bedding are made in the province at prices v.hich ])revent importations, sav: — Chairs, from 75 ennts to ^'1 25 each, e'co. Bedsteads, f-'\ .94, 86, ^1^8, &c. Tables, 81.50 up. Extra dinner taljles, from §12 up. INFOini.VriOX FOli KMKlUANTS. 123 . 20, 1HS3. 00 (?< «?2 25 00 (f, 2 12,1 00 )0 25 QO (a 16 00 00 -\S c« 30 18 25 25 50 JO 50 50 )0 (a i 00 )() Oi 10 00 ")() Q, 7 50 H) )() (« S 50 )0 C" 17 00 )0 C" 5 00 )() (.^ 50 )0 C" 6 00 (« 00 ice, as extra \ud prices of 3 of duty,) is Canada. iiade in the Mattresses, from J?1.50 ii]) to m), accoidin^' to (niality. l^arpets, tapestry, from 80 cents to 61 per yard; Brussels, from U to 81 <•) ])er yai'd Bedroom sets, complete, ;B25, .?:]5, iVf. Postal Mattkkh.— Mails. British Columbia is part of Canada, and Canadian postal re^rula- tions apply to tlu- province. There nn- mails to tlie principal seUle- ments. ' For Eastern Provinces of Canada, Ignited States, Great Britain, and Lurope, mails leave Victoria three times a week via Pu^'et Sound and hy the steamer for San Francisco, California, on the 10th ''0th' and IWth of each month, L(>tter rat(>, \ oz., 5 cents to Eurojie. Tklegrapuic Commuxicatio\. The proA-ince has telegraphic communication with the world. Money Taisli;. TaULK F()RCONVEUTIN(i IJRITrSH MoNKV [NTO 15uiTISII ( '..l.r.MIu V .MoNFV AND BlilTIsn (.'OLI-MHIA MoNKV I\T(i l5l!ITIsn MOXKV. ' Eiiuivaleiit ill fJiitisli Hiitish British Moiioy. ColiiiuMiiii Columliiiui British ^rulley. j Money. Money. 1 £ s. (1. 8 cts. S Cts. £ Si d. 1 o 1 ,* ; 2 I 2 3 3 III 5 4 8 10 5 10 6 12 l.j 7i / 14 20 10- i 8 10 2,-) 1 Oh 10 20 .-)0 9. ]- ! 11 22 1 00 4 1 1 24 2 00 S 3 1 3 30 3 00 ]?. 5 1 6 30 4 00 Ifi 5 1 9 43 o 00 1 CA . 2 49 00 1 4 8 2 G 61 10 00 o 1 1 5 10 1 r^ o 1 22 2 43 4 87 20 00 25 00 50 CO 4 a 10 2 2 5 2i 10 25 100 48 07 121 07 486 67 100 00 500 00 1,000 00 5,000 00 20 10 lU 10. 14 Oi 205 9 7 Hi 1,027 1000 4,866 07 10,000 00 2,'o54 15 lo| ll>4 ii iii BRITISH f.-OHTMBIA ;l'op«liiti(ni j (iiifludiiij,' S(|, Miles. ' { Iiuliuiis). I Acre« Vancouver Island 17,202 New Westminster District 1"),417 Yale District !),2()0 Cariboo -]-,:>{) t Total population of Urit. Coluniliin 49,4.')!) IH.OOO 17H,}»10 47, (W.-) !)8,410 10,240,000 l!4,r)02,400 30,710,400 (12, 900.400 There are under the {From StdfiKtic^ of J. 11'. M,-K,ni, C-nsns Cowtni.inioiii'r, /W/J Orioins of the Pkoplk, AfroRDiNo TO Census ov 1881. Africa, 274; Chme.se, 4,.'5r)0 ; Eiijilisii, 7,297 : Freueh, 916; Ger- mans, 858; Indians, L>.-),GG1 ; Irish, :?,17l'; Italian, 143 ; Scandina- vians, 2.36 ; Scotch, ;?,892 ; Spanisli, 144 : Welsli, 299. under the head of " Various other Origins," ;{42 ; v-n head of "Not given," 1,682. Birthplaces of the People. England, 3,294; Ireland, 1,28.") ; Scotland, 1,204; Prince Edward Island, 23 ; Nova Scotia, 379 ; New IJrunswick, 374 ; Quebec, 396 ; Ontario, 1,572; Manitoba, 24; British Columbia, 32,175 ; other British possessions, 211. Total from the British Isles, 5,783. Total from other parts of Canada, 2,768. (xAJIE, etc. The country is a good game country. Fisli have been mentioned at page 89, Part I. As regai-ds birds, there are grouse of various kinds--" Rufled Grouse," " Blue or Dusky Grouse," "Sharp tailed Grouse" or "Prairie Chicken," and the "Canada Grouse"— the two latter not found in the Coast region. The Ptarmigan frequents elevated districts on the mainland, and also in Vancouver Island. Quails have been introduced into Vancouver Island. Wild f^eese and many kinds of Ducks, also Snipe and Pigeons are plentiful Hares abound, periodically, cast of the Crast Bange. Plumage birds are very beautiful. Song birds not remarkable. Blacktailed Deu r numerous cvervMlicre: also Elk (Wapiti) in particular places. The Mountain Sheep, or Big Horn, the Mountain Goat, and the Cariboo (a kind of reindeer) are hunted. A few Moose have been seen in the Northern Interior. Beasts of the chase are common, (none dangerous except the Grizzly Bear, which few ever see.) Bears, Brown, Black, and Grizzly; Beaver; Badgers; Foxes (Silver, Cross, and Red); Fishers; Fur Acres, '0,240,000 ll4,r)02,400 30,710,400 (V2,!)00,400 r, I SSI.) (.V 1881. ell, 91 G; (}er- 43 ; Scauclina- 9. There are nd under the 'riuce Edward Quebec, 396; >2,17o ; other 5,783. Total en mentioned se of various "Sharp tailed Grouse" — the mn frequents ouver Island, rild geese and itiful. Hares age birds are (Waj^iti) in the Mountain ited. A few 3 except the , and Grizzly; Fishers; Fur IVKOIiMATIoV l"n|( KMIiilt.WTS. 125 Seals; Martens; Minks ; Lynxes ((!rey and Spotted); Mus.mash; Utters (N.a and Land); I'unth.Ts; n.ur.M.ns; Wolves, I{|a-k and Gray of the large kin.l; Wolves of th.- sn.aller kind, known as the The Furs and Skins of these animals form an iniimrtant branch of trade ni the pn.vnaT the exports amounting to several hundred thousand .lollurs annually -but, being in few hands and carried on clnetly through the Indians, it does not specially interest the intend- nig settler. No dangerous snak..s, ex.vpt a f.'w rattlesnakes in the Southern niterior— -tnuid reptile.s. IIosl'IT.VI.S, iVC. In Victoria there are tlnv,. hospitals, the Royal Hospital, the ^renc.i Hospital, and the St. Joseph's Hosjatal, also an Orr.hans' Home, and several IJenevolent Societies. Nanaimo, New West- mnister, lale, Cariboo, each has its hospital. Last CmnsTMAs Exinurrs i\ VirTORiA. One shop 23 beef cattle, ].-,() sheep, ;i5 hogs, 19 sucking-pigs, 33 land.s, ooO turk<.ys, geese, and ehiekens, 1 b..ar, weighing 400 lbs. 1 Angora goat. :,et value, !i<3,SiJ(). ^ d Anotlier shop- 22 beef cattle, 1 10 slarp, 33 hogs, lo sucking-pigs, Nltvii? 6 "?*''""'"' ^"'•"■' ^"^ ^''''^'l^^'"'^' ■ y^^-^ts, and Ibear. Equally good disi)lays in otiiei' sliops. TiiK Roast Beef of Hiirnsii Columbia. Ax AMKiiicAN- Opinion. ^^ "One thing is uncjuestionably true. British Columbia beef has no superior m quality. It is also eluap- eheaper than an inferior ^^i/uii. Orego" '.<• '^"i;+' ;- ■' .. '< , / . ,,. ., "i. ,". V,- \ '■ -"^ '*''''•'"' '"<'•''!'- flicaper than an inferior article m Uashmgton. Or<-gon, or California.-'--y^o./-/M/e^^iV/e«ce»'" newsjia/jer, Piujet Soitnil. '' Climatic. (There avu iiKia; tiiic DirKicRExcE.) il?^\f% ^^''' ^/'n''''VM '^'""""f"' ^^"''' ""'^'">' tlirouffhout Canada, four feet of snow tell. Th. weather was intensely cold, roads ^verc^ e erywhere blocked and busiiu'ss was suspended. Un the same date, entinvir'^; 1 ''n''" '''""""'''. ^" "" *^'^' «^'-''^'"«! f''"it trees sentfoitli buds a.ul blossoms, an.l song-birds cavoUed among the brandies; th.. air was as soft and mild as in summer, i aoor woik continued without interruption. The Canadian nt-of- who arrived yesterd Victoria snowed-i pro\incc :iv noted tl eally it is time British Columbians 1 passengers e contrast as one favourable to legan to tell the ip people (,f ^lanitoba and Eastern Canada what a ii]>n\ Viflvria, 1883.) lOUS i 126 uiitrrsir commhia. Sllll'HIII,It|N(J. The r)(in,!,'las spnict- tiiiilin- is kin.un to Ito a first-clnss tiuiiior for Kliil)liiiil(liii;,', as well as I'ur masts and spars, l.iU, o\viii« to the hi;,'h cost of lal)oiii', few lui-Lfc vfsscls have lircii laiilt ill llir |iroviiicc. Many stcaiulioats. for towinir and foi' river ii,i\ iLratioii, as well as amncrous seliooiicrs and sinail rraft. lia\c iiccn l)uilt. A sca-;;oinj,' Laniiif of -t.")() tons rc^'istri' was laiiiu'lic;! at Nanaiino in iNNl', Tlic niuterial nnd fafilitifs for shiphnildin;; arc cxrcllcnt: so tiiat tliis important industry may assumi- lar;;c dinicnsions. u'f lar^'riy employed in the As common labourers they [slJlANS. The Indians are law-aliidinj,'. Thev salmon lisherie.s and in seal luintiii^, iVrc. arc useful, and arc not wifhiait capaliilitics as artisans; some take to farmini; and iia\c cattle, others cai'ry on mining,' with "rockers " on the Tiiompson and Fraser Rivers; altogether, the Indians contribifte very largely to the trade of the province. They arc the best working Indians on the continent. CITIES. ViCTOHlA. llow rr sTiiiKKs A STiiA\(ii:n. "Victoria has the pui'cst summei' climate of all places 1 have ever visit(Ml. For a summer I'esort foi' ] jile who like i-owing, fishini', yachting, and liding under sunny skies, and in an atmo.sphcrc like that of early Octolier in New England, the place has no eipial. Some time, when population and wealth accumulate on the Pacitic coast, it will be much fnMpu-nted liy people from the parched heat- tortured valleys of California. Tiic poijulation of ^'ictol•ia is alxnit 7,000. " It is pictures(piely situated on a lovely harbour. Its citizens are extremely well cultivated, thoroughly i^nglisli in their habits, and of unbounded hospitality to well-accredited sti'angcrs. There ai'c some beautiful [)rivate residences and streets, line stoi't's, a jiuiilic library, Masonic temple. Odd Fellows hall, well a[)pointed hosjjitals, a large .seminary, six churches, ii\,' j.ublic schools, solid stone i)ublic build- ings, such as i)ost office, i-ustom house, wareh(nise.s, large machine shops, founilry, two banks, a stone dry dock in process of con- struction, also houses of Parliament. All the streets are lighted with gas ; tine water works ; a fire departnuMit, with two steam-engines ; the streets and roads ar(> macadamized for 2l' miles around the city, and kept in superb ord(>r." (Lefter in Xcn- Vnrk Trlhinh.) Xanaimo. Nanaimo is pleasantly situated on the east coast of Vancouver Island, on a safi^ and commodious harbour. There are Catholic, Epi.scopal, Methodist, and Prcsbytei'ian churches, and excellent INi'iini ,Tiii\ |. <»ii i'.Mii;ii\M's. SR tiiiilior for a to the lii;,'Ii »viiKM>. Miiiiy 1 lis mimcroiis ii;,' l'jir(|iu' ot" I'lif inutt'iial lis important plnycd ill the alioiu'crs they soiMi' take to ' rockci's " oil ms coutribitte ! best working 's I liave ever uiii^, lishiuj,', iiDsphcri' like ('([ual. Some II tlie Tii-'ilie parched licat- oria is al)out ts citizens are habits, and of here are sonu! )iiblie library, )itals, a large public l)uild- arge machine ocess of con- s are lighted team-engines; luid the city, )f Vanooii ver are Catholic, md excellent Mchoojn fur biith I M ivsoiiic llall, Fiiv ( •oysund KirJH. alsuan llo.piinl. I.itcia'v I \V..II 1)11 ingtoii, ill (in. II ijiauys biiildiir,'. 'I'll. 1 1 iJi list'tiite. '•l','lll)ii;i;'|| i,,d i. iriMli;,' \lllu','e (it s.l,„„r;, •■.•'■ ' •' •'■" ^ ni„u. supplicl Willi church and \ :. V ' l'''-V^i" l"-'^"f- n.Md..ne:s and miners' ha.ses. appeanim., .,.,,, .Hh^ lln. Il.ivcpn^tal a:,. I ti'lc.;iM,,hir r,,„il, ,„„,•,.,•,( i,,,,. Ni;u \\'i:sTMiNsTi;if. Of NcNV WcstminsteiMhc ..hi, i .i.y „„ ,1,,. m,,iida.id. an Oregon newspaper, th.- "West Shore," siiv, : " hiP^^..!tv''" ,ll r''^'- ;;"r"'r"'- ""•' -"•''-"""•lin;; situation fur a Si,/r ";""'' 1- v.l. Occupying a gci.ti.. acclivity, Th nl . ;;; ^''•■•■'>,;'^'l"-^- '^ '•v-nnands a ivaliy magnilicnt view s rl .-oils seaward, in .sulh.,, silence, at its fc.-t. To the s. 11 h-uest lies an archipelago of b,.|,„tif,d islands of anmzii.- fertility wulo iar away to the smith, rise th- snow-capped p aks , to O^minan ran,e, glitt:.ring in the sun. Looking li^lrthird ami ea " b ;i I .' • r''^'!- ^ "•^^^^'•'^'•<' ••-•>^" ^^-nd out against the ituie su\, iiUe ^f|ant sentinels. _ Ne^v Westminster has a p:.pu!ati,.n of „!, ,ut :\jnn\ ,„|.| is ranidlv mcreasmg „i siz,- and imp.rtan.v. It is tlie c-ut a! marke a 2-.;^a;^n-ln.ral.listric^^ „. ^, , ^^,,_,,,,, ^,J_J ^ u St, . and there als„. are m. ,n- near, tlie city, saw-),.ills, planinc^ d , oundnes. breweries, waggon factories, bi.eu it-factories, tun- nes ship-yards. A-c, with iiupoitant public buihlin.^s -the P mviu- "uJ^rii:,;' V""' ''"; 1!"";"'"' ^-"i^'-ti--.' District Court Hous! athol,,.. |v„ .,,,,1, Presbyterian, and Methodist Churd.(.s 0^1 ;;; aM f ' ;:'• ^'-V <'^^''""<-- ^^1--I-!, ami Methodist School S^^v 1 r-r '/'"",'""" ''"^•'•'■"•'"■"f ()tiices(for the Post Oflice, baMi.gs Lank, r.-Ieg,,,,,|, service.). .Vc. Many handsome residences nM. SlviV" '""'■• r'"'"V' " ''•'"'"•^'^ steamboat commn- . 1 e '''■''' ' '"^ I'l'^Hcisco, and Xanainu.. 3Iauv st<-rii- wheel and hshery str-an.b.ats are ciiploved o;, the river The C na a teu mdes. The climate is very healthy and pleasant. .'-iMAi,r.i:i! Towns, r^i^nvnle'^i''''!'' "n^ ''' ^'"' i"'"^-i"^^' ^"'^i^a^ t.aLheM..ieek,C inton, ivandoop,-,, Snla Creek, (,)u.v;iiel, Stu:d.-y Rich S r^S"""' '' ^T''^"' '^•"•■""'- ''■■■ ^^" "^ ^•"•^'- '--■ Po^ tLlegiapluc, and mad commuiiicatioii:-. The L attentioi xport s ai Expojrrs A XI) impcpts. nl Import., ol i'.ritisli Columbia d eser\-e particular 128 BRITISH COLUMBIA, 11 00 « rH s C^ OS ■* '^ i^ 1-H w m" 5 o o 9 B C9 X & « ^^ fc age ©■".Si "^ fe S a *<3 § £;£' ^ Si:; .2 o ® o >S -^^ P< ^ « X. e . o "^ ?^ SS IXFORMATIOX FOli KMIGBANTS. 129 Exports compahkd with tiiosk of other Provinces. A compavis':)'! sliov/.s ivniarkahl:^ facts. Per luvad, Exports- Ontario, frlO.J^f); Quebof, JrllJ.iT); Nova Scotia, .Vl 8.01 : :sVm- Pnius- wick, 817.iJU; Maiiitola, frlO.l'.j; Prince Echvarcl Island, ^18.31 • British Columbia, -^oo.lj. ^ • > Imports and Customs Dcties collected, 1882. (Britain and Foreign Countries.) Countries. Dutiable Goods. Free (iooiLs. Total. Duty C'olk'cte<1. 1! Great Britain United States I, France Germany Belgium China Japan Spanish West Indies Spain Chili ; Australia Sandwicli Islands Central America Switzerland Xavitjators Islands Spamsh Possessions in i'ncilicl Ocean Turkey in Asia . Mexico (il2,77!): 344,887; 7,7.")4 1,.'U0 ■'!8' 220,:2;>7; <;•_> 4,(;!t7 ;)oo l,iM5 !l!IU 4,(il)7 8,!ll!l o()8 181 1,%, ^11(5,824 a02,0:)2 19,!(43 3,821 s 7r)n,co.3 1,840,! 13!) 7,7J4 1,340 38 240,170 02 4,007 300 1,0451 000 1 4,007 1 8,019i 308 181 3,821 136 13o 81 20 41 05 00 §210,023 370,042 4,410 470 10 78,433 05 14 35 2,008 20 75 00 3!)4 78 208 40 050 17 4,004 74 02 00 35 50 00 34 00 72 00 Total. I 82,430,455: 8442,040 ' .?2,S82,095! 8070,207 18 Imports, 1882. (From the Eastern Provinces of Canada, into the Canadian Province of British Columbia.) Total .^559,732. What these Facts show. The above interesting facts, in tin; infancy of the provincej must show, either the great natural resources of the country, or the ener^-y of its small ])opulation. Mor<> cor)vctly, it nuiy be said that tliey show both thes(! things. Uritixl, ColiiiiiJiin' „(itin'iilhi, is ihn richest. province of Canada. The region west of the Rocky iVloun tains is a .country of strong life. 13D RtUTISU f'OLUMBIA. INTER-PRO VIXCIAL TRADE. The amount of imports fi'om Eastern Canada— above stated as 8559,732, in 1 SS2— is tlio most noteworthy fact in our trade rela- tions lately. Canadian --nods come to Jh-itisl'i Columbia (which is a Canadian province) in iMind t!!rnu;>h the United States, and are shipped fnim San Franeiseo to A'ietoria. Xotwithstandin.;;' this round- about transpoi't, the imjiorts into the province from JCastern Canada, already, are ecpial in value to tliose from th-eat Britain (excludin"^ railway requiremeuts). * The following shows the growth of these imports from Eastern Canada : — July, 1871, to June .30, 1872 822,2U 52 Do. 1872, do. 1S73 "7r)!G04 08 Do. 1873, do. 1874 06,104 17 Do. 1874, do. 1875 117,054 16 Do. 1875, do. • 1876 129,735 13 Do. 1876, do. 1877 160,814 00 Do. 1877, to Dec. 31, 1877 57 162 00 Year do. 1878 1G9',753 00 1^0- <1'>- 1^'<79 184,564 00 I>o- 'to. 1880 258,207 00 I>o- do. 18M 422,367 00 3^0. do. 1882 559,732 00 Cordage, axes, agricultural implements, sewing machines, nails, iron safes, boots and slioes, straw wrapping pai)er, rye whisky, 'refined sugars, manufactured tobacco, and ready-made clothing are, how, almost exclusively received from the Eastern Provinces. The iin- portationof other goods, such as cottons, tweeds, flannels, blankets, etc., itc, is yearly increasing. The increase of the external trade of the Province has been accom- panied (see page 107) by the starting and growth of several important provincial manufactures. The foregoing facts respecting the exports and imports, the trade and duty-paying power of British Columliia, are, as above said, very remarkable, when the isolation of the province and the smallness of its population are considered. Tlicy deserve attention, as, probably, no other people, anywhere, can show a similar record. They are an index of the future. Lord Dufferix's Opixiox on this poixt. " Canada would indeed be dead to th-j most self-evident consider- ations of self-interest, and to th(^ tirst instincts of national pride, if she did not i-egard with satisfaction her connection with a province so richly euduwed by nature, inhabited by a comnumity so replete with British loyalty and i)lm;k, while it afforded her the means of extentling her confines and the outlets of her conunerce to the wide Pacific ami tlu^ countries ^^''yon(l"-^^((A)va-nor-ae>teml the Earl of DuJ^erin, speech 20th ^Spplaabcr, J6'7G.J from Eastern i been accom- IXFORM.ATIOV FOR KMlGKAVTri. 131 :MINIXa LAWS. FllKV. ^[]X].IJS. mnt h//'' ^^"''' " /"-"'' ^" ."'"■ ^'' >''^^'''^' ^'*" ^'^■^"' -f-Ii^ certificate may be or one year (s.,) or three years (815), and is not transfer- able^ He may enter and mi,ie Crosvn lands or, on making' compen- sation, lands oeeuined for nih,.r than n.inin^^ purposes, fo recover wages must have Free .Minors (Vrtiiicate. Record, Sec, of claims. Claims must be recorded (82. nO), nnd re-recorded annually (.^2 50) Transfers must be m writing and r.-istered. Free miners may hold any number ot clanns by purchase, but only two by pre-e,nption except n. certam cases. Clain.s may be otlicially laid over, and'lea'^ of absence granted ni certaui cases, but the rule is that every full clann must be workerl either by owner or agent. A Free Miner can, by record, get a fair share of water necessary to work claim. Nature and sizic of Claims. Claims, as far as possible, rectangular and must Ije staked Sizes are 'bar diggings ^' 100 feet wide at high-water mark, and thence extending into tlie nver to its lowest watcT le^■eI. >' Dry diggin-^s " 00 feet square. "Creek elain.s" 100 feet long, measured in the direction ot the general course of th,. stream, and shall extend in wid h from base to base of the hill or bench on each side, but when the_^hills or benches are less than KlO feet apart the claim shall be 100 feet square. _ "licnch claims" 100 feet square. "Y .eral ?r fwVl 'V^^'T, containing, or supposed to contain, minerals (othei than coal) m lodes or veins, 1500 feet long by 600 feet wide. DlSCOVERER.s' ClAIM.S. To one discoverer . .^qO feet in length. io a party of two discoverers GOO do. To a i)arty of three discoverers 800 do.' To a party of four discoverers 1000 do" And to each member of a party beyond four in number, a claim ot the ordinary size only. The above increase of siz(> a].piies to dry, bar, bench, creek, or hill diggings, not to quartz claims ,,r minerals in lodes or veins A new stratum of auriferous earth or gravel situated in a locality ^vhele he claims are alando.ud, d.all, lor (he above purpose, be deemed a new mine, although the same Iccality shall have been pre- vious y worked at a ditierent level ; and dry digginos discovered in the vicimty of bar diggings shall be deemed a n^wliine, ami vie versa. A discoverer-s claim shall be reckoned as one ordinary claim. ..n?v' /f ""^"'T ^l^""«/l'^il ^^t"«l 1000 feet on each sidJof the centre of the creek or as far as the summit. 132 BRITISH COLUMBIA. __ • Further d'tnlh a.^ tn fix- Jflu'ir/ Lair.-^of tJ,r, Province are held over for a m-ond p of p()puhition which we moat desire to have, a jxMiplu lilco that of th(; oM Imperial Islands, drawn from the strongest races of northern lvn'(i[)c, oin- tiiat with Imii^HsIi, American, Irish, Gorman, French, and Scandinavian Idond shall he a worthy son of the Old Mother of Xations. . . . . . ' . 'I Where there is open land tlio wheat crops rival the hust grown elsewhere, wdiile there is nowhere any deai'th of ample provisiini of fuel and hunljer for the winter. As you get your colonization roads pushed through, and the lines along the Fraser liuilt, you will have a large availahle acreage, for there are quiet straths and valleys hidden away among tiie rich forests wdiieh would provide comft)rtal)le farms. As in tlio A^'orth-West last year, so this year I have taken down the evidence of settlers, and this has been wonderfully fa- vourable. ....... "Besides the climate, Mddch is so greatly in your favour, you have another great advantage in tractability and gooil conduct of your Indiun population. I believe I have seen the Indians of almost every trilie througliont the Domin- ion, and nowhere can you tin-2 p. ,„ .? Prices of Implements . , .'. ' ]i>i Farm Labour ,-Jq Summer Frosts in Northern I'lterior i ] ^i^ ,;,, Stock-raising, 48, 41), 07 to r,9, (!,->, r, '>7, 72 to 7(' Grasses .... .-JS, 48, 7:! to 7(i, ?". '■>■> & Appendix. Luin.sc, H.JC.IL Princess.... . (j Li.moer, iiriee of m 31 Clotliing 10.- Manufiu-tures, Provincial Mineral Resources . . Uohl ■■■ Coal 107 SiUO 77 to 88 78 to 82 82 to 86, also 115 136 Indf.x Pack. Iron, Silver, Copper, Mercury, Lead and oiher Ores, .^7 & 88 also 1 1 .") Mining Laws l.'Sl Money, Tal)lc to convert British and Canadian 1-3 Used in Provincj 108 How to send 108 Naval Dock 10(5 Newspapers 114 Passage Money 104 Population 1-4 Postal matters 1 -.'S Prices Board and Lodging 10!) Household articles 10!) Produce 122 PACiK. Railways being maile 104 ti. be m:iile lOO Schools 112 Shipbuilding 120 Xortliern Coast 33 ^'an ;ouver Island 43 to 48 New Westminster District, 21, 52, 50, t)3 Mainland Interior 05 Telegraphs 123 Trade witli Eastern Canada 130 Trees and Tindjer. . . DO to 04, & 115 Wages.... 50, 90, 105, 100, 107, 108 "Wine Gra\)es 116 Women Servants 108 APPENDIX. Alaska Boundary , ^33 Extracts Speech of His E.Ncellency Covernor-(:teneral the Marquis ot Lome ^^^ Note.— Mr. R. T.Williams, Victoria, KC, has published a Directory of the Province, which gives information as to localities. VICTORIA : Printed by Ricuarc WoLVRNnKX, Oovernment rriiitor, at tlio Uovoriiiueiit I'riiitini,' Ollke, Jaiuts' Bay. Paoe. 104 , , 1U(5 112 120 33 43 to 48 District, 21, 52, 50, ()3 Go 123 Jaunila.... 130 DO to 1)4, & 115 105, 100, 107, 108 116 108 133 Marquis of 133 ed a Directory of Govornineiit I'riiiting THIED SERIES. <70L. ni. FASOIOULUS No. 2. PROCEEDINGS OlT THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE, TORONTO, ;^EING A j^ONTINUATION OF THE "J:ANADIAN /oURNAL" OP ^CIENCE, JwITERATURE AND HiSTORY. CTUXjIT, 1886. Whole No., Vol. XXI.] [No. 143. UNIVERSAL OR COSMIC TIME, BY SANDFORD FLEMING, C. E., C. M. G., Etc. TOGETHER WITH OTHER COMMUNICATIONS AND REPORTS IN THE POSSESSION OP THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE, RESPECTINO THE MOVEMENT FOR REFORMING THE TIME-SYSTEM OP THE WORLD, AND ES TABL1SHIN6 a PRIME MERIDIAN COMMON TO ALL NATIONS. TORONTO: COPP, CLARK & CO. 1885. OFFICERS or TBI! CANADIAN INSTITUTE f I I 8 8 4 - 1 8 a 5. W. II. ELLIS, Est!., M.A., M.B. Jfirst Oia-JJreoibcnt : QEORQE MURRAY, Emj. ^ccottb 1?tce-jpreatbent : QEOROE KENNEDY, Esq., M.A., LL.D. "^Trtasttrtr ------ ^ccorbtng cSccvetsrjj - - - Carrcsponbing cSerrttarg - - ICtbrariait ------ (fbitor ------- QTttrrttor ------- lEhirb 19i«-{)rcsib£nt : E. A. MERHDITH, Esq LL.D. . _ _ ^ JOHN NOTMAN, Esq. - - - JAMES BAIN, JuK., Esq. W. H. VANDERMISSEN, Esq., M.A. GEO. E. SHAW, Esq B.A. UEV. H. SCADDP'G, D.D. DAVID DOYLE Esq. cittembera of Council : DANIEL WILSON, Esq., LL.D., F.R.E.S., F.R.3.C. J. M. BDOHAN, Esq., M.A. JAMES LOUDON, Esq., M.A., P.R.S.C. P. H. BRYCE, Esq. M.A., M.B., L.R.C.P. & S.E. ALAN MACDOUGALL, Esq., C.B., P.R.S.E. ALEXANDER MARLING, E3Q., LL.B. Jlsatstant ^ecrctari} anb ilibrarian; K. T. YOUKG, Esq., M.A. Sbittttg (Eommttttf REV. H. SGADDING, D.D., FAitnr, GEO. E. SHAW, E.SQ., B. A., Acting Kditar. J. B. BUCHAN, Ejq. M.A. W^. n. ELLIS, Esq., M.A., M.B. GEORGE KENNEDY, Esq., M.A., LL.D. gr THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE ia not responsible for the views ex- pressed in the papers or abstracts of papers published in its Proceedings. ^ UTE Jreaibent : Esq., M.A., LL.D. JQ. N, Eaq., M.A. A. >.D. tf.A. .A., M.B. jr the vle-ws ex- >ublished. In its