IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) ■<> M? * >:% A- :-?/ 1.0 I.I IIIIU IM 2.2 1.8 1.25 L4 i6_ < 6" - ► <^ %/. /2 A '<^. .p%7.»?? o 7 M Photographic Sdences Corporation «■ < \ ^9) .V :1>^ :\ \ >> <♦ p,.:> ^\^ 23 WEST MAIN STRFET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/ICMH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques 1980 i Technical and Bibliographic Notes/Notes techniques et bibliographiques The Institute has attempted to obtain the best original copy available for filming. Features of this copy which may be bibliographically unique, which may alter any of the images in the reproduction, or which may significantly change the usual method of filming, are checked below. J ■J D D D Coloured covers/ Couverture de couleur H Covers damaged/ Couverture endommagde I I Covers restored and/or laminated/ Couverture restaurde et/ou pellicul6e Cover title missing/ Le titre de couverture manque D Coloured maps/ Cartes gdographiques en couleur □ Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black)/ Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire) I I Coloured plates and/or illustrations/ Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur Bound with other material/ Relid avec d'autres documents Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion along interior margin/ La reliure serr6e peut causer de I'ombre ou de la distortion le long de la marge int6rieure Blank leaves added during restoration may appear within the text. Whenever possible, these have been omitted from filming/ II se peut que certaines pages blanches ajoutdes lors d'une restauration apparaissent dans le texte, mais, lorsque cela dtait possible, ces pages n'ont pas dt6 filmdes. Additional comments:/ Commentaires suppl^mentaires; L'Institut a microfilm^ le meilleur exemplaire qu'il lui a 6td possible de se procurer. Les details de cet exemplaire qui sont peut-dtre uniques du point de vue bibliographique, qui peuvent modifier une image reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger une modification dans la mdthode normale de filmage sont indiqu6s ci-dessous. □ Coloured pages/ Pages de couleur □ Pages damaged/ Pages endommagdes □ Pages restored and/or laminated/ Pages restaurdes et/ou pelliculdes I "I Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ Pages d^colordes, tachetdes ou piqu6es Pages detached/ Pages d6tach6es I I Showthrough/ D Transparence □ Quality of print varies/ Quality in6gale de I'impression I I Includes supplementary material/ Comprend du matdriel supplementaire Only edition available/ Seule Edition disponible Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata slips, tissues, etc., have been refilmed to ensure the best possible image/ Les pages totalement ou partiellement obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata, une pelure, etc., ont M filmdes d nouveau de faqon d obtenir la meilleure image possible. This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ Ce document est film6 au taux de reduction indiqu6 ci-dessous. 10X 14X 18X 22X n 12X 18X y 20X 26X 30X 24X 28X 32X The copy filmed here has been reproduced thanks to the generosity of: National Library of Canada L'exemplaire filmd fut reproduit grdce d la gdn^rositd de: Bibiiothdque nationale du Canada The images appearing here are the best quality possible considering the condition and legibility of the original copy and in keeping with the filming contract specifications. Original copies in printed paper covers are filmed beginning with the front cover and ending on the last page with a printed Oi' illustrated impres- sion, or the back cover when appropriate. All other original copies are filmed beginning on the first page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impression. The last recorded frame on each microfiche shall contain the symbol -^(meaning "CON- TINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END"), whichever applies. Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les images suivantes ont 4>t6 reproduites avec le plus grand soin, compte tenu de la condition et de la nettetd de l'exemplaire filrn^, et en conformity avec les conditions du contrat de filmage. Les exemplaires originaux dont la couverture en papier est imprimde sont filmds en commenpant par le premier plat et en terminant soit par la dernidre page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration, soit par le second plat, selon le cas. Tous les autres exemplaires originaux sont film6s en commen9ant par la premidre page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par la dernidre page qui comporte une telle empreinte. Un des symboles suivants apparaitra sur la dernidre image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbole — ► signifie "A SUIVRE", le symbole V signifie "FIN". Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre filmds d des taux de reduction diffdrents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul ciich6, il est filmd i partir de Tangle supdrieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images ndcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la m^thode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 "■7'WvP05!;(.wp" - CLASSES OP EMIGRANTS WANTED (see page 22). .y IS (0 0) m Q < EH 03 m o a (^ o >* m QQ o p^ < A D O D Si ♦-I In ♦-1 m EH m to hsK-^B COz^,^ ^^^ :i0< •.Jt.*t,:, VIBW WEAR VICTORIA, mOM A tiKBTClI BY A. G. DALIES, ES<5. O. :4C&,„J^^^" ^. • ..,, 5^ FOR ^ "i^x U-'s ^.r:. Issued by the Agent-General for the Province, 4 Lmc Street Square, E.G., London, Enfflund. Price Sixpence, Post-free.] CD (0 m O U » U2 03 o U o o o Eh CQ » O 03 e NOW IS THE TIME TO SECURE HOMES ! >..v-3rrr>. __ ..^.z^ REGULAR LINE OF SHIPS FROM LONDON TO BRITISH COLUMBIA. ANDERSON, ANDERSON & Co. Despatch high-class Vessels at regular intervals to the undermen- tioned Ports, and undertake the conveyance of Passengers or Cargo to any part of the world. They also undertake the Shipment and Insurance of Goods on the usual terms : — British Columbia, San Francisco, Central America, Guayaquil, Callao, Valparaiso, Jamaica, Belize (Honduras), Aspinwall, Port Limon (Costa Rica), Grey town, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney. FOR FURTHER PARTICULARS APPLY TO ANDERSON, ANDERSON & Co, i, Billiter Court, London, E.C. FOR VICTORIA, BRITISH GOLUHBIA. The following FIRST-CLASS VESSELS belonging to the HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY LEAVE LONDON, As nearly as possible, in the Months of MARCH, JUNE, AUGUST, OCTOBER, and DECEMBER, viz. :— "PRINCE OF WALES," 507 Tons Register. "PRINCESS ROYAL," 613 „ „ "LADY LAMPSON," 412 „ „ ' "BRIERLEY HILL," 520 „ „ i " PRINCE RUPERT," 500 „ Particulars respecting Freight, d;c., can be obtained at the HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY'S OFFICES, 1, Lime Street, London, E.C [A. men- 'argo : and ne. 1, E.C. L ^Y at the Street, ym i .^^ ^ <\ \ ^ ^ ^01 d 4r ^ <, o VtKW KEAR VICTORIA, FItOM A SKKTCII IIT A. G. DALLAS, K8Q. ■^^ '4. ^^JV FOB ^ <^ ^ V ^ <AtCRATION /Vf^p nr praci Th Britii sterli appef years of pr furs, small that i land of ain tion t neithi these lX)int, It] anion; Carib( "^^ Seven jthe CO /"' writer BRITISH COLUMBIA. INFORMATION FOR EMIGRANTS. The Agent-General for British Columbitt thinks it necessary to furnish the following information for the assistance of persons desirous of emigrating to that province : — Now that the Goveninicnt of Canada have sliipiTCtl materials for malcinjc Ihe Canadian Pacific Railway in British Columbia, and have come under a fresh obligation to proceed vigorously with its couKtvuction, the province attracts renewed attention, and settlers are coming into it to take up land for farms. There are many good places open for settlement, but the man of small means, particularly, cannot spend his time and money in visiting all parts of the jirovince, in order to find the place that will best suit his wants and circumstances. This Handbook will give, amonp; other inlbrraation, some general idea of the different sections of the province that have been tested by practical farmers. The occupation of gold-mining exists still as the principal industry of British Columbia and as an unfailing attraction to population — 4^ inilHons sterling having been exported within ten years — but other industries have apipeared, and promise well. The chief of these has been coal. Within ten years 330,395 tons of coal have been ship^ied from Nanaimo. Many articles of provinci il produce, besides gold and coal, — namely, lumber (sawn wood), furs, hides, wool, fish, cranberries, &c. — figure now in the list of exports. A small settlement of practical eosperienced men is found in nearly every district that is suitable for farming. Such men know, in some degi-ee, what their own land will pro(hice or support, and they also have a general idea of the extent of similar land near to them. Availing myself of the wider sources of informa- tion thus opened, I hope to be able to give a picture of the province which is neither undei-drawn nor overdrawn. Truth, not exaggeration, is the basis of these pages. The information that will be laid before the reader, on each point, will be fully borne out by that best of tests — Experience. It has been somewhat unfortunate that the rich gold-fields of Cariboo are among rough mountains, with a severe climate, and that the trunk road to Cariboo iTins for a long way through an unprepossessing part of the province. \ Several persons who have travelled on this road only, and have afterwards left Vhe country, have in good faith tried to describe British Columbia. These y vnriters I do not complain of, though their position is like that of a foreigner B 2 w^^^^'-^m |<|ICE^ SHEWING THE MINERAL, SECTIONS C DE SIGNEC ^ WagqonRoa'f^.9 are shrwn iJau. Trads and Routes ...c I I R6 115 B4 i2u. m laicRAiiON Map OF rosM c®Ly /£ MINERAL, AGRICULTURAL. AND TIMBER SECTIONS OF THE PROVINCE DESIGNED BY CHARLES GOOD y^s are sh^nm thus \onies ties Telegraph Liue shewn tfuuf Altitudes m fe^ ISbO CoallHstrwts AffrijultLo^alJr- Pasture Land L.. J Eeuvily Timber eA D? S 2^0 I hi Ts':^ V V 4i Qoe, ^\ ScaJc. 47 Stcch^te Miles -1 Inch, O lO 20 30 40 f>0 A S I V 100 BRITISH ISUKSo Wc^aa* id^nchJ dnm_ a/?/r/»/ POSSESSIONS inheo f % '. 'W New .iftyzeALAND Wrfi^^ O BAfiCi.' (•. I! Eriifrav cd l?y James T^M 457 Strand londo n . 121 120 119 118 117 ■ ff^ IW Wi D4 m iy^\^^kl\QH ^^^ nr rii^lliilliiiii imiiiMiiTimi-iUMi^ sasntiir i iai'i "i li V-X --. r BRITISH COLUMBIA. INFORMATION FOR EMIGRANTS. The Agent-General for British Columbia thinks it necessary to furnish the following information for the assistance of persons desirous of emigrating to that province : — Xow that the Crovcnuuent of Canacha havo sliippcd materials for niakintj llie Canadian Pacific Euilway in British Cokimbia, and liave conic nndcr ji fresh obligation to proceed vigorously with its constrnction, the province attracts renewed attention, and settlers are comhig into it to take up land lor farms. There are many good jilaces oix?n for settlenu-nt, but the man of small means, particularly, cannot spend his time and money in visiting all parts of the province, in order to find the place that will best suit his wants and circumstances. Tliis Handbook will give, among other information, some general idea of the diiferent sections of the province that have been tested by prarAical farmers. The occupation of golr" -mining exists still as the principal industry of British Columbia and as an unfailing attraction to population — 4^ millions sterling having been exported within ten years — 'but other industries have appeared, and promise well. The chief of these has been coal. Within ten years 330,395 tons of coal have been .shipi^ed from Nanaimo. Many articles of provincial produce, besides gold and coal, — namely, lumber (."sawn wood), furs, hides, wool-, fish, cranbemes, &c. — figure now in the list of exports. A small settlement of practical experienced men is found in nearly every district that is suitable for farming. Such men know, in some degree, what their own land will produce or support, and they also have a general idea of the extent of similar land near to them. Availing mj'self of the wider sources of inform.a- tion thus opened, I hope to be able to give a picture of the province which is neither underdrawn nor overdrawn, 'i'rnth, not exaggeration, is the basis of these pages. The information that will be laid before the render, on each point, will be fully borne out by that best of tests — Experience. It has been somewh. 87). 70, 83, 84). Flax (see p. 90). Gold mining (see p. 75). Tobacco (see p. 91). Coal „ (see p. 79). INFORMATION FOR EMIGRANTS. The Country— its History and Natural Divisions. Tlic country is iliviibnl into two porl'octly distinct parts — Vancouver fslanil iind tho Miiinliuui. Thehc wero coiLstitnted colonies, the first in 1810, and tho second in 1858 ; tliey wore then united in 180G, under tho name of lirilish Cohimhia, and so continued until tlie 20tli July, 1871, at which I obtttiiit'd irmcd by le rate of pftyiucnts I time of inrcscrvoil .•cd by tiic [ the land o or more iny of tilt' , tlio land r. >r (jrnziiKj ich leased lie lesseoV ', but not five years. licads lur- ed to free ion. Act must be taken lot greater ]up to oOO itcd by an from 5 to situa- a portion ice of the licultural Janaimo, te settle- |y, in the town of le growth INFORMATION FOU EMUJHANTS. of a town dc8tine|iul:\vly njtplird ill the lOuMt CuHoailo iv^ioii (coiiipnriitivcly an un\vo(KU'il rt'sitm) to any ojMri llat tract, not ilisliiictivcly ft viilloy, luitl not liir;;e cnoiijilj to Ik- called a plain or pliitciiii. Tlio "(inuiil rrniric," nortli-wi'Mt I'roin OJiftiiuuan Laki-, ia 1<1 luilt'H Ion;;, and aYxnxt '2 niili's wide, 1)onntli'(l un cither Hidu by niountAinH, between wiiich ilowH a river. It iu in I'act the piece of a valley, and wuuld be oallutl one, wcro it lon;^er. I n((;%tanees back viiryin;^ from a few acres to a few ndles in breadth. They are objects ul curiosity and 8i)eculation, and, from the regularity and evenness of their struc- ture, add much to the beauty of the rude scenes in which they occur. They ■generally appear on both sides of the river, and in some places are multiplied inio several successive level plateaux, rising one above tiie other as they rcccdt from the bank. Transport and Travel. Vancouveu Island. 'J'here are no really navi;i:able rivers nor truuk-roads in the laland. Several district roads arc good, particularly near Victoria. The Canadian I'acitie llailwiiy is being mailo from I'lsquimalt along the east coast of the island, but, fur the moment, the sea is the main liighway. A Liovernment steamer goes weekly to Cowichan, Maple Bay, Admiral Island, Chemanis, and Xanainio, and to C'omox fortnightly.* The rates of fare are as follows : — / , From Victoria to — Cowichan, Maple Bay, and Admiral Island, single ticket, two dollars and hl'ty cents (10s. English), return ditto, four dollars (lf>s. English). Chemanis, single ticket, three dollars (12s. Englisli), return ditto, five dollars (L'Os. English). Xauaimo, single ticket, four dollars (IGs. English), return ditto, si.\ dollars and fifty cents. (26.s. English). Comox, single ticket, six dollars (24s. English), return ditto, ten dollars (40s. English). Breakfast and tea, 50 cents (2s. Englisli) each meal ; dinner, 75 cents (3s. English). l''rei[/Jit. — To all places between Victoria and Xanairao, three dollars (l2s. English) per ton of forty feet. From Victoria to Comox four dollars (IGs. English) per ton. All cattle to Cowichan, Maple Bay, and Admiral Island, three dollars (12s. English) per head. To Chemanis, four dollars (IGs. English) ; Nanaimo, five dollars (20s. English) ; and to Comox, six dollars (24s. English). * Names of plaoes In this Handbook are spelt as in the Map of the Province, 9tb Muy, 1870, wltU additions January 1871. i , .,, IN'FOKMATION FOIl EMHil!AXTS, It .Siiiiill aiiinials, sucli oh calves, shcc'ii, jiign, iVc, Iruiu lifiy ci ut« {-n. Ku^liah)' tu uiu! iloltiir mill titty ci'iitH (lift. Kii^liMh). Milituje, — Kruia Victoria to Cowicliiin, lid miles; tlieiico to Maple I5ay, •) luilen; tiiciicu to Admiral Inland, r> mites; tiieiicu to Clieiimitis, 7 luileii ; tlieuco to iN'aiiiiimi), '2'2 miles; and tlienco to Comox, 'to miles. A ttucoiiit Btcamcr runs along the East Coast, wlieu the traflic seeius to re([uiru an ailditioual one. VicTouiA (in Vaxcouvku ihi-AKu) AND New Wkstminstku (ok MAiNr.Axn).. A steamer goes ri-^ularly twice a week, at least, between Victoria and JCew Westminster; rumiin,:^ time, hours. New Wkstminstku to Yale (Head of Xaviuatiox ok Fuasek Hivkii fiiom Sea). Stern- wlittl steamcrK, whicli Ireqiiently talce a day or more nccordin;j! to- state of tiiu iitream. An excellent waj;;4on road has been lately tinislied, and tUrmin;^ homesteads arc beiiiL; made along it. The Ciovernment of the Dominion have umlertakcn to make a wai^gon road through the [irovince, but it is not yet located. \ale to the InTKHIOI!. (.See Builds on the Map.) Stage coaches make weekly journeys from Yale (head* of steamboat navi- gation on the Fraser) to Barkerville, Cariboo, and coaches also run weekly from Cache Creek (near the meeting of the Bonaparte and Thompson llivers) to Okanagaii, in close connection, at Cache Creek, with the above coaches from Yale to liarkcrville. The coach-owners carry passengers aiid freight, deliver parcels, make collections, and execute commissions. „ ^- Total Cost of IIoaus, ABOUT £400,000 ENGLISH (;iJ-_',000,000;. Last Yeau's Votk of the ruovixciAL Legislature Fon Hoa us. Jiciiairs to lioads and Trails tlnowjhout the Province : — Dol3. ""ictoria District— Itoads, Streets and Bridges 20,<)00 00 Escpiimalt ,, ,, ,, 8,000 0'> Cowichan North Cowichan Municipality 'J, 500 00 , , lioads from (ioldstrcam to Say ward's ^lill .. .. 18,000 00 ,, Roads, Streets, and Bridges 1,000 00 ,, Trunk road, Say ward's Mill to Cheniiinis .. .. 0,000 00 Salt Spring Island Municipality l,r)(X)00 Xanaimo lioads. Streets and Bridges 15,800 00 Comox Roads, Trails, and Bridges 8,500 00 Courtenay River Bridge 3,000 00 New Westminster District, Langlcy ^luniciiality .. .. 1,500 00 ,, Cliilliwhack Municipality' ". .. .. 1,500 00 ,, Roads, Street, and Bridges 86,000 00 Curried forward 172,000 GO 12 BRITISH COLUMBIA: nroVAjht forvard .. .. 172,000 00 Yale Dist I ict Toaiis, Streets, iind IWc'g.'S yO/iOO 00 Lillooet ,, ,, ,, ,, 8,800 00 Kootenay ,, ,, ,, ,, (IjoOO 00 Cariboo ,, ,, ,, ,, 30,500 00 Cassiar Trail I'rom Fort Frascr to Deasc's F-nke 5,000 00 Supplementary vote 12,395 00 $.322,095 00 ( = £64,539 En-)- Taxes for Distuict Roads. Every settler ]>ay.s 2 cLjllars poll-tax. Land up to 10 acres is free. Land- owners havin^4 more than 10 acres pay a yearly road-tax of 4 cents (2(1. En^ilish) l^r acre, which is rtdnced to 2 cents per acre for land leased from the Crowjj for pastoral or other purposes. The money is spent where collected. DESCRimoN OF British Columbian WAacox-PiOADS. Superior to the public roads of most young countries. They are IS feet wide, the surface being covered with broken stone, whore (as in most jwrts along the Eraser and Thompson Rivers) such material is at hand, or with gravel well cambered up iu the centre, with ditches on one or both sides where required. With the exception of some short pitches as steep as one foot in ten, the sharpest inclines throughout the trunk waggon-road frc .n Yale to Savona's Ferry are of 1 foot in 12, the curves being easy, and the bridges and culverts sub- stantially built of timber. Loads of 7 and 8 tons are hauled along them, bj' mules or oxen, at an average draught load of 1200 lbs, to 1300 lbs. to each animal, and the mail coach, drawn by six horses, travels between Yale and Cariboo at the rate of 9 miles an hour. The Youxg-Country Road Grievance. This is the grievance of settlers in all countries, but with less reason in British Columbia than in many other places. Considering the newness of the country, there arc excellent roads both on the island and maiidaud. It is inevitable, in all young countries, that fine districts should be unoccupied for want of roads. The cure takes a long time. In wooded countries especially, the want of roads and the difficulty and expense of making roads and keeping them open, are great drawbacks to settlement. When settlers go back from the road already made the obstruction and expense begin anew. Fortunately, British Columbia, in addition to her fertile wooded lands, has alluvial flats, prairies, and extensive ir'-'^able valleys, open or partly ojien, through which roads can be made without excessive difficulty, when needed and the province is able to make them. The work of road-making is being yearly prosecuted with vigour, and many districts that were a short time ago difficult of access, have now good roads and bridges connecting them with the main roads of the Province. ' 000 00 000 00 ,800 00 .100 00 500 00 000 00 395 00 095 00 339 Enj;.). 0, Land- '. English) tlie Crown \rc 18 feet nost jiaits d, or with ides wlierc n ten, tlio na's Ferry fcrts sub- en, at an tlie mail lie rate of Ireason in !ss of the id. It is iipied for |spccially, keeping ick from innately, ial liats, h wliich iprovince lid many pd roads INFORMATION FOR EMIGRANTS. 10 lllVKK AND L.\KE NaVIOATIOK. Steamboats can run nji from New "Westminster to Douglas, the head of steamboat navigation on Harrison Lake (50 miles from month of Harrison liiver), as well as from New Westminster to Yale, but the Douglas route to the interior is not at present used. The Eraser liiver, above Yale, is not available at present for much naviga- tion. A steamer relieves transport on the waggon road when required, from Soda Creek, 20 miles below Alexandria, to Quesuel (see Map), 40 miles abovt- that ix)int ; or some 20 miles higher when necessary. The navigation is then interrupted by a rapid, the ascent of which is not attempted. Above this point there is clear navigation for steamers for a distance of GO miles, to within 20 miles of Fort George, where another rapid, impracticable for steamers, occurs. From this point upwards, both by the Stuart and Eraser Lake branches, and in the direction of Tcte Jamie's Cache, there are stretches very favourable for steam navigation ; but the occasional breaks are a great drawback. Neverthe- less, with the extension of mining operations these portions of the river will diiubtless in time be made available, in parts, so cs to meet the increased demand for transport; and inducements for settlement will thus arise in the npixjr portion of the province which do not at present exist. There is a useful stretch of navigation on the Thonii)son River. From Savona's, at the lower (western) end of Kamloojis Lake, uninterrupted steam- In lat navigation extends through Kamloops Lake, and up the South Tliomijson I'liver to the upper (eastern) end of Great Shuswaj) Lake, a distance of 115 miles, and also up the North Branch of Thompson River, which joins the South Tbompson at Fort Kamloops, to a distance of 85 miles from the latter jwst. The Columbia, Nasse, and Skena Rivers are navigable for short distances by light steamboats. So also, of course, are the Okanagau and other lakes. Steamboats now run from Victoria to Fort Wrangel at the mouth of the Stickeen River, where they connect with light river-boats for the new mining di>trict of Cassiar. Travelling may be said to be at present very expensive in British Columbia, whether by steamboat or coach, compared with the cost of travel in Eastern Canada or England. Climate. This is perhaps the main point in choosing a place for a home. Parents^ will agree with me that fair fields and meadows are little to the emigrant, if they generate fever-producing miasm and vapour. What are soft breezes if they waft the seeds of iiestilence ? What cares a man for golden grain and mellow fruits, or indeed for all that this world can yield, if disease annually visit his dwelling? British Columbia may be said to be the very land of health — for man, for beast, for tree. This fact will have a mighty influence on her future. General Characteristics of Climate. The fine climate should he knoivn everywhere — variable, but healthful and agreeable — nights cool, very suitable to the Anglo-Saxon constitution, and, indeed, to all races and temperaments — the altitude, irregularity of surface, serene air and absence of marshy plains, promise health and long life to the settler — no malaria or ague —good in cases of fmictional and nervous debility u BRITISH COLUMBIA: — makes pcojle feel vi<;oious and wide awake — the climate of a lara;c part of llic East Cascade rogiou not unfavourable for chest nfTcctions. Over a great l)ortioii of the province the climate is that of England, with rather agreeable ditferences — no biting east Avinds, for instance. Over another portion, the climate resembles that of France. The larger lakes do not freeze over, nor do the large rivers ever close entirely up. Severe winters seem to come aboi'.t once every eight or Uni years, but what we call "severe winters" are less severe than the ordinary Avinters in Eastern Canada or the Northern States of the Union. Elevated districts, uf course, have the climate that everywhere 'belongs to them, hut even tlie roughest mountain climate in British Columbia is healthful. I : I ■I Climatic Divisions. Wk8T Cascade Regiox. Near the sea — say, west of Cascade I'ange generally, and in Vancouver Island, seldom over 80° Fahrenheit in shade on the hottest day in sunmier, and rarely falling to 20° Fahrenheit in winter. Genial, though rather humid ; humidity increases as you go north. Summer beautiful, with some rainy J » > > > » ) » month s. a day is. s. s. s. > » > > J > > > the New Igher still, INFORMATION FOR EMIGRANTS. m and at the mines the wages of labourers reach 32s. and 40s. a day at times ; but the mining season lasts only for a portion of the year.* The wages in British Columbia are, therefore, attractive ; but it must be clearly understood by the emigrant that the country is so young at present that the prospect of continuous day-by-day employment cannot be very con- fidently held out to a number of skilled artizans, or even to common labourcis if numbered by thousands. The province has not at present the resources of u large settled population, whose varied wants multiply indefinitely the chances of employment. We want producers specially at this time — men of large and men of small capital — and we hope the employer and the labourer will come together. The demand for labour is comparatively small, because there is not as yet sufficient capital to employ a very large number of labourers. When it is brought, the field of labour will be seen to be unbounded. The number of situations, however, is increasing every month, conse(iuent ui)on the progress of the country, the building of the Graving Dock at Esquimalt and other public works, and the beginning of the Canadian Pacific Eailway within the province. The construction of the latter will afford employment to suitable men for many years. But apart from suitable classes, it were best that no great "rush" of emigrants, took place. The Agent-General will always be ready to give the best information which he possesses without any colouring. 'J'he country is sure to go a-head — the whole northwest of America is moving — but sound judgment dictates at present that British Columbia be peopletl little by little. Any man with confidence in himself, however, may take his own course, and if the experience of other colonies may be a guide, such men, if ready for manual work at first, often " fall on their feet." A mixed emigration of employers and labourers is generally best for young countries. The purchasing power of the above wages — the true test — is very great, as will be seen by comparing them with the prices of the common necessaries of life, and still more with the price of land. The climate, over a great part of the province, also is such as to enable a workman to work much out of doors both in summer and winter. A thrifty man may lay past every day the price of an acre of land. I invite every working man's attention to the fullowing fact : — The labourer who puts his own labour into a piece of his own land in British Columbia, in reality pays himself the above high wages for farm-labour, and he besides makes a home, and improves property which must rise steadily in value, and which up to 2500 dollars (500/. English) cannot be touched for debt (see Homestead Act). Many farm-labourers in the province put their earnings into cattle, which are allowed to run with their employers' herds. These are protected from seizure from debt by the Cattle Exemption Act. • Compare the above wages with the wages In the eastern portions of the Dominion, which are about as follows: Agricultural labourers in Eastern Canada are paid from 25?. to 30?. a year, with board; and from 60/. to 601. a year, without board. Skilled farm hands are paid from 30?. to 40J. a year with board. Commoti labourers receive from 5s. to 6«. a day, and find their own food. Mechanics are paid from 6«. to]|16». a day. The wages of fem^c servants\-ary from 16s. to 2?. a month, with board; but higher rates are paid according to capacity, very common rates being from 24s. to 32s. a month. Boys in situations receive from 16s. to 2i. a month, with board, according to age and capacity. ' C J8 BRITISH COLUMBIA: Nothing Imt ignorance and iintlirift keeps men from Sftvinp; monej' in i order to settle in a land where labour can .soon employ itself without asking I leave of capital, and wliere a man can be his own emploj'cr and receive exactly all he earns, be the same less or more. '■'■t! Savings-Banks. Dominion Government Savings-banks at Victoria, Nanaimo, and New Westminster — quite safe of course — depwits not less than a dollar and mul- tiples of a dollar (4s. English) — 5 jwr cent, per annum interest added at 30th June — money returned n demand to extent of 100 dollars (20^ English) — seven days' notice for any sum over 100 dollars — oiSce hours 10 to 3 — Saturdays, 10 to 12. Immigrants should put their money into the Savings, or other good Banks. Money Table. Table for converting Brttish Money into British Ck)LtrMniA Monet, AND British Columwa Money into British Money. Kqnivalent In Britiah British Money. | British Columbian Columbiun British Money. 1 Money. Money. £ .. .. ! dollara cts. dollars cts. £ $. d. 1 02 01 Oi 2 04 02 1 1 3 m 03 li "4 08 05 2i 1 5 10 10 5 6 12 15 7J 7 14 20 10 8 16 25 1 Oi 10 20 50 2 1 11 22 1 00 4 1 1 24 2 00 8 3 • 1 3 30 3 00 12 5 1 6 36 4 00 16 5 i 1 9 43 5 00 1 6i 2 49 6 00 ■ 1 4 8 2 6 61 10 00 2 1 1 5 1 22 20 00 4 2 2i 10 2 43 25 00 5 2 9 r 1 4 87 50 00 10 5 6f 5 24 33 100 00 20 10 Hi 10 48 67 500 00 102 14 9i 25 121 67 1,000 00 205 9 7 100 486 67 5,000 00 1,027 7 lU 1000 4,866 67 10,000 00 2,054 15 lOi n For general purposes, it will be sufficient to remember that the British Columbian cent and the English half-penny are almost the same in value. ; money in 1011 1 ask in 14 ind receive , and New ir and miil- Idcd at 30th , English) — i 10 to 3— 'ood Banks. )IA MOKET, y. ley. d. Oi 1 n n 10 Oi 1 8 1 |lli H 7 lioi the British \ In value. INFORMATION FOR EMiaUANTS. lU Cost of Tnr; Common' Articles ok IIousehold Coxsumption and Usk in BiUTisii Columbia, and compaiuson ok the same with ICnglish and Easteun Canada Pricks in 1874. ABTICLE3 OF COXSUMITIOX. HritUh Culuiubiii. Rrcad, por lb Recr, per gallon i Reef, per lb I Bacon , , i JlultiT (frosh) ! 1 Candlos Cheese, per lb ("oals, per ton rolTce, per lb. (ground) Kggs, per doz Firewood littrd, per lb Glutton , Pork ,, Potatoes , liice Sugar , Tea ,, ». d. t. d. 21 to 4' „ » .. 8 „ 3 ti 10 10 , , I 6 , , 45 1 4 „ 1 6 1 6 „ 3 See page 22. n T ,. 9 () r. „ 7 7 .. , . li , , 4 4i ., «4 2 c .. 3 Kustem Province h ngluiui t. of Can d. uda. (. a f. a. ». <:. 2 , , U 1 4 I 2 to 1 11 to 1 •> .. G 1 « ,. 8 1 10 a „ 9 7 9 11 5 u I 31 3 1 4 I „ 1 3 1 4 9 ,. 1 1 11 5 .. m Ik 31 2* ^ 4* .. 6i 2 7 1 8 „ 3 Hoots, 12. a pair; trousers, 14». to 20#. a pair; coats, 30*. to 40*.; cotton shirts, 4«. ; flaunel shirts, 8f.; socks, 1«. 6((. a pair; cotton stulT, Is. 6(f. a yard; dress stuff, 2s. a yanl. Brandy, 20s. per gallon ; whisky, 12». per gallon; gin, 12*. per gallon. 'J'ho above are the jirices on the seaboard of British Columbia. The prices of foreign produce are higher in the interior, owing to the high cost of laud carriage, and this will probably continue so until the Canadian Pacific Hallway i.s finished. AVeights and measures sav the imperial ; but by agnemevt, the American gallon, which is about one-fifth less, is sometimes used. The American ton is 2000 lbs., not 2240 lbs. A consideration of the above prices of the principal articles of household consumption in British Columbia will show to the small farmer, to the me- chanic, and to the farm-labourer, and, indeed, to many others, that these prices permit a family of moderate means to have a plentiful supply of excellent food, and household and personal comforts. There cannot be found anywhere more charming places of residence tluin in several towns and districts of British Columbia. It is therefore extremely likely that, as soon as communications are improved from California, a matter which is under the care of the Dominion Government, visitors will reach the province from New Orleans, St. Louis, Chicago, and other places. We exjwct also residents attracted by the climate, scenery, good schools, and abundance of choice meat, game, and vegetables at moderate prices. The main difficulty at present for residents is the wages of household servants and the difficulty of getting them. For the information of intending residents, I state here the estimated expenditure at this time on necessaries of a small family in a city in England with an income of 300Z. a year ; and I compare the same for British Columbia (seaboard districts), c 2 fTTT 20 BRITIKH COLUMBIA: ENCiLANP. i !! ii • ,1 , I'd Per Annum. Z I. d. 10 4U 24 Ilrnt, ratcH und tuxcg Servants' wages (15/. and 9l.) . . . . Butcher: 23 lbs. at lU< r !•>• (H l'"*- lu the iK'ck)=9«. iid. per week ». d. 3 4 10 3 3^ 4 Ii 6 1 6 1 1 1 3 29 18 24 13 11 15 8i = 40 16 10 16 3 1»S 6 7 Vegetublos and fruit 8 8 llqr- niilkatsd. = TR per day .. 11 7 6 Beer 9 18 10 8 tons coal at 32» 12 16 (at 45*. per ton) 18 42 5 191 IS 11 ft 8 11 7 6 14 18 3 228 16 11 244 9 8 The principal difference is in servants' wages. The cost of coaJs and milk may be reduced in British Columbia, by having a place out of town Avith grass for a cow, and wood-fuel for the cost of cutting and hauling. Game and fish are much cheaper in British Columbia than in England. The natural productions of British Columbia (berries, animals, birds, and fish) afford good help for foo» 35 »> (7/. „ white pine >' 40 »> (8^. „ mai^le >j 50 5» (10/. Rough cedar >> 25 >» (5/. „ white pine j» 30 »> ( 6?. „ maple 5» 40 »> (8/. „ lumber >' 12- 50 >> (2?. 10s (The measure is a foot — 12 inches square and 1 inch thick.) liKITlS}! COLLMlilA Coat of wtKxlcn liouwi ik'iuiuls, of courso, on size aiul finisliinj;. Thrcx- roomi;d cottajro, r>00 dolliirs (KX)/. En^^lish). Ifonts of cotUigeH mn;;o fi 12/. English) 2)er thousand at the kiln. Fire-clay not found. Fuel. Coal is used to some extent in Victoria, and costs 10 to 11 dollars (4;0.s. to 44.S. English) per ton. Wood is the common fuel, and farmers generally hiive enough ou their land. The price in the seaboard towns is, say 3i to *1 dollars (14s. to 16,s. English) per "cord" of firewood delivered. A cord is 8 feet long, 4 feet high, and 4 feet broad. Wood is dearer at the gohl mines. It must be cut after delivery into suitable lengths for household use. This will cost about Ij dollar (Gs. English) per cord, but many householders themselves cut it.* Board and Lodging. Ordinary present advertised rates in good second-class hotels are as follows : — Victoria — Board and lodging, per week, oj to Gi dollars (22s. to 2Gs. English). „ „ i^er day, 1 dollar (4.s'. English). Single meals, 37.J cents (Is-. Gd. English). Beds, 50 cents (2s. English). (Cash in advance.) New Westminster — Board and lodging, per week, 7 dollars (2Ss. English). Board, 5 dollars (20s. English). Single meals, 50 cents (2.s. English). Beds, 50 cents (2s. English). (Jlinton — Board and lodging, ix3r week, 8 dollars (32s. English). Single meals, 75 cents (3». English). Beds, 50 cents (2s. English). * Fuel In KaBtern Canada is ruther an expensive item ; being nearly equal to the rent. Wood costs tliore in the country IVoni 5s. to 20s. per cord, and in cities from 20«. to 30s., besides llic coKt of sawing and chopping, which is from 4s. to 6». additional. This latter item, however, can be saved, it the workman will saw and chop the wood himself, which is almost universally the case. Cual is burnt only in the cities and largest towns of Eastern Canada. The price is from 89s. to 33s. a ton for Uio ordinary soft coal, which is burnt in the open prates, and from 31». to 39s. for the hard anthracite coal, which is burnt in the stoves. A cord of wood contains 128 cubic feef, tlio loiid containing a cord generally being 8 feet long, 4 feet high, and 4 feet broad. A cord of wood is usually considered equal in heating und lasting power to half a ton of coal, and lasts about a montli in winter and about two months in summcrM g. ThTce- rnni;c from IKirtunitiuH 11(1 erecting 1 aru much [iirdi'ii, mill mim oflcii T, IH)t IH'Iir 30 dollars owers, and ■ the liniiiy /c. Biicks , 10 ilollai> trs (40.«. to icrally Im ve- to -i dollars •d is 8 loet mines, ft This will themaclvcs tcls aru as INFORMATION FOK EMIGRANTS. 2'.\ ilish). c rent. Wood C8 tlic cost of ail 1)0 suvwl, it case. Coal is a 33«. a ton for for the liar'l feet, tlio Idiii' 1(1 of wood is bout a nioiitli At thcCarihoo miiies hi^jhor- ;l week for hoard and lodi;ing. -I beliovo V2 dollars and upwards ( 18.*. English) Household Servants. Scarce; wages high, 10 dollars to 12 dollar."? (40.s. to 48)». English) a month for nur.se-girls; 20 to '_'"> dollars, and even 30 dullars (I/, to Gl, to ('>l. English) a month with board for general house-servants, having some knowledge of cooking; a considerable numk-r of well-principled, com[ietent women servants can bo cmpli.yed in respectable families — those acctistomcd to country work are most wanted — many men of good character and means are pining for wives in the country districts. China women do not take servants' jtlaces. China men are employed as cooks at 20 to 2.5 dollars (4?. to ol. Englisli) ,i month witli board. They cut fire-wood, light fires, clean boots, itc, hut a good deal of the household work, nevertheless, falls on members of the family. China men are quiet, hut many heads of families object to them. Indian cooks (men) aro employed at 20 to 2.5 dollars (4?. to .5/. English) with board, and make fair servants when em- iiloyers understand their charac' r. A good woman servant might soon make money. For men there is an open field with no favour. For women an open field full of favours. Unfor- tunately it luis been found that some of those women who have reached tho province have been fickle. Many of them have been disinclined to go to country work, and some have " tip-tilted " their noses at everything. Surely, liowever, the right class can bo found, when wages are .so good. The best plan at present for persons of moderate means is to do without servants ; getting help for wood cutting, washing, and scrubbing floors. The idea may bo one to shrink from, but this plan is not burdensome in actual every-day life. A settler will find many doing this in the province who aie socially his equals. Who should go. If a man is prosperous, healthy, and contented where he is, there let him stay among his relations and early friends. l»ut if he cannot make tho wealth-producing power of his labour available, if he is restless and umasj' about his own future and that of his children, and is prepared to emigrate, let him consider the advantages which British Columbia aflbrds. He will find at first that the travel and change of life will raise his spirits ; then will come a period of depression, under the rough task of beginning in a new country, to be followed by the feeling of .security of home and subsistence, which is the most solid blessing to a man. Whatever may have been his former station, he will find that in tho province, he may work in his own fields with his own hands, and neither feel it to be a degradation in his own pyes, nor in the eyes of those around him. His mind bowed down lately, jTerhaps, by care and anxiety, will recover its natural independence. His family, instead of being a burden, will bo a solace and help to him. If lie sets to work resolutely, and is sober and careful of his money, he will i>ever regret the change of life which he has made. This is an undoubted truth, as I know from the mouths of hundreds of settlers, who have overcome early difficulties, and settled i)ermanently in the country ; nevertheless it is not now an easy matter to answer letters which I frequently receive, asking me fWT u nniTisu columiiia: 1 1 ill I i^ii to state tho actual ftdvautai^crf from diflcront occupations and invcstmeuts iii tlio proviiico. No man can anawcr Huch questions witiHfactorily, without si'cond Hi;^ht, and the jxiwer to ^augc moral disiKJsitions. I might draw up Htatcnients on pajwr which might i)rovo fallacious in i»rnctice — so much (le{icnds on the individual himself in every colonial unilertaking. It will, tlicreforo, be more prudent on my part to give general advice, the application of which to HiMicial cases must be tho business of each individual himself. We cannot at present encourage tho emigration of more than a few i>ro/ea- siuiiul men, such as lawyers, doctors, surveyors, and civil engineers, unless they have money beyond the expected earnings of their profession, and arc prepared to take their chances after arrival. Clerks, shopmen, or those having no particular trade or calling, and men not accustomed to rough work with their hands, if without means of their own, would probably meet with dis- appointment, and, ])erhaps, hardship. Tutors, governesses, hoi sukiepers, needlewomen, and women ge'ierally above the grade of domestic scrvai ts, should nut go alone to the province at present, and they should not go u.' all, unless to join friends or relatives ablt to maintain them for some time after arrival. Men who hang about the Government oflices in search ol "apiiointments" aro nuisances in all colonies, and British Columbia has had her share of this class already. The oidy way to get an " appointment " in the province is by recommending oneself to one'j fellow citizens, by sharing for years in the lia»d work and honest toil on which all young countries depend for their stability und progress. A smart, active, capable man, with only a little money, but accustomed to work with his haiids, is, however, sure to succeed in making a comfortable liome in I5ritish Columbia. Wages, as already shown, are very high ; land, lood, anil house materials are cheap. If such a settler has » strong heart hiraseli", and is blessed with a common-sense wile used to country work, he may confidenUy look forward to becoming i en rich. He need not long remain in the conditi-^n of a labourer. This certainty of rising in the social scale nuist stimulate the emigrant. His chances will be greatly improved if lie is a country mechanic, who can carry on his trade and also farm for him- self. Farming is often carried on in shares — tho man of no capital giving his labour for a reasonable proportion of the profits. To fanmrs^ sons, or persons tuith moderate means, qualified for the life of a settler in a new country, who cannot see openings in older countries — who cannot go up, because the passages are blocked — who cannot must come with his strong hands, to bring out for conveyance to market the treasures that are hidden in the soil or merely adorning its surface. ,The l)opulation of the iirovince at present is far too small to utilise their valuable domain. We have mines to be worked, railways to bo made, roaiis to be opened, water power to be used, fisli to be caught, grain, mutton, beef, uid wuol to be produced, and for all of them we have requirements and markets. ^ How to reach British Columbia. A first-class jja-ssenger can go from England to British Cohnnbia in about 3 weeks, if tbe connections meet at the jtroper times, A tliird-class passenger will take 10 or 15 days longer. The spring season is the best time to arrive. Passengers from England may go round Cape Horn Ijy sailing-vessel, or by steamer, via Panama to San Francisco, and thence to British Columbia, but the ordinary route will probably be as ibllows : — (1,) P»y steamer across the Atlantic to Canada (Quebec in summer ; Port- land, Maine, U,S., in winter), (2.) Thence by rail across the Continent to San Francisco, (o,) San Francisco to Victoria, British Columbia, by steamer. The Atlantic jiassage takes lO to 12 days; the railway trip across the Con- tinent altout the sjime time, and the steamer from San Francisco to Victoria 4 to 5 days. It is best to take "through*' ticJats to Victoria. Tliird-class iias.sengers should provide food for themselves for the railway trip across Americ;i, as provisions at the wayside stations are expensive, and the " through " ticket price does not include provisions except in the steamers. The steamer goes from San Francisco to Victoria only twice a month at present, and it is therefore desirable that, as far as possible, third-class emi- grants especially should leave I'higland in parties, so as to reach San Francisco about the proi)er time, and save the tedium and expense of remaining over. !Z7te Aijcnt-G» 42i „ „ half-crown n m „ ,, florin » 37i „ „ shilling «i 25 „ „ sixpence >» 121 „ „ threepenny-piece >» 6 „ I'ritish money is not much used in British Columbia. Business is done, uid accounts kept, in dollars and cents, and the coins principally used are United States coins, as ibllows : — Gold. SlIiVEK. 20 dollar piece 1 dollar piece 10 i y » -i -2 !> Dime (called a "bit' The United States coins are more uniform in value in British Columbia than British coins, as the United States have a mint in California (which is • •lose to the province). ]MoNEY (Pai'ee) in British Columdia. The papier money of the bank of British Columbia, and of the bank of British North America, passes freely in the province in notes from 1 to T-O 'loUars. These notes are payable in gold. 28 BRITISH COLUMBIA.: Uuited States paper money is not used in the province. If tlie emigrant should see any I'nited States paper money he must remember tliat it varies ill' price, not beiny; payable in gold. Course ok Exchange ox England. Bills at sight 5 dollars 15 cents per £1. 30 days' sight 5 dollars 10 cents per £1. 00 „ 5 „ „ » On New York. 4 to 5 per cent, premium. On San Francisco. ' 1 jTcr cent, premium. How TO send Money to British Columbia. The emigrant is not recommended to take British coin to British Columbia. He should pay that portion of his money not wanted on the passage to the Post Oflice in Great Britain, and get a money order for it payable in Victoria, or he may pay his money either to the Bank of British Columbia, East India Avenue, Leadenhall Street, London, E.G. (the bankers for the Government of British Columbia), or to the Bank of British North America, Bishopsgate Street Within, London, E.G., and get from the bank, in exchange for his money, an order payable on demand from its Branch Bank in Victoria, British Columbia, for the equivalent of his money in dollars and cents. The equivalents at present given for money thus deposited are about as follows : — Gold £ Dullars. Cents. 5 paid in England would realise 24 • 25 in Victoria. 10 „ „ „ 48 20 „ „ „ 97 50 „ „ „ 242 100 „ „ „ 485 50 •00 50 00 !■" The emiijrant, on payiny his money to the Bank, must siyn his name on a siparatc jnece of jniper, and ask the Bank to send the signature to their Branch Bank in Victoina, so that the person who applies for the money in Victoria may he known to le the proper person. If this is neglected, the ciiiigrafjit may not be able to get his money in Vi' ia readily. The above banks have agents in England, Scotland, and Ireland. The Bank of British North America has its own branches in the Dominion of Canada, New York, and San Francisco. The Bank of Montreal is the agent of the Bank of British Columbia throughout Canada and New York, and the Bank of British Columbia has its own branches in San Francisco, and in Port- land (Oregon). Both banks have correspondents in Mexico, Japan, China, Australia, and New Zealand. Tlie American Express and Banking House of Wells, Fargo, and Co., which has branches in many parts of the United States, has a branch in Victoria, British Columbia. INFORMATION FOR EMIGRANTS. 29 e emigrant at it varies Columbia, lage to the 11 Victoria, East India ovemmcnt lisliopsgate ige for his ria, British ; about as uime on a to their money in ledtd, the ind. The •minion of the agent I, and the d in Port- n, China, 2o., which Victoria, Words of Advice after Arrival. Emigrants arc rocuiinnended not to linger about the towns at whirli lliey may arrive, but to proceed with as little delay as possible, either to th'-ir friends, if they have any in the province, or to the localities wliere they are likely to meet with employment. To ascertain where their services are niosit in demand, they should consult the Government Immigration A!j;ent at tho port of arrival, who will assist them with information and advice that can bo relied on. They should be cautious in trusting strangers, and particularly should avoid the bar-room idler, and the croaker in the street, whose note in every colony always is that "times are bad — no work for men — country not worth a cent." These idlers .and croakers, together with office-seekers, arc nuisances everywhere — in Australia, New Zealand, and also in young American states. If seeking employment, immigrants should at once accept any fair offer of work, although the wages may be less than they anticipated. They should remember that until they get into the ways of the country tliey are of much less use to their employers than they will be afterwards. If the emigrant wishes to fiirm, he should not invest all his capital in land, but reserve sufficient to stock and work it. Let him be careful of his cash capital, and not put it into investments hastily. Small capitalists are recommended not to buy land before they have become acquainted with its character and the kind of labour required in a new country; and further, if possible, to purchase or rent a farm with some im- provements on it, rather than to go upon untouched land. This last advice more particularly refers to emigrants from Europe, whose previous training necessarily has not so well adapted them to the settlement of wild lands as ^Xirsons brought up in America. Partially-cleared farms, with buildings erected on them, may be bought in some districts of British Columbia on lasy terms of payment, owing to the disposition iiioneers have to sell old settle- ments, and take up more extensive new ones. The price of such farms depends, as already said, much on their situation, ranging probably from 11 to 35 dollars (21. 16s. to 11. English) per acre, within from 5 to 50 miles of Victoria. It is better for a small capitalist, possessing from 100/. to 1000/., to j'^nce his money, on first arrival, in the savings or other baii/cs ullowing interest ; to take lodgings, and to work for wages for a year or more, in order to gain a knowledge of colonial life and modes of management ; or be may rent a piece of land in or near the locality in which he expects to settle, raise a crop, and look round quietly for a suitable place for a home. By pursuing the plan suggested the emigrant, at the end of a few years, will probably be far in advance of him who, on his arrival "went at it with a rush," as beginners are apt to do. Special Advice to Young British Columbian Farmers. Get a wife. Keep no spirits in the house. Laugh at croakers. Hold on to your cash capital. 30 BRITISn COLUMBIA : Don't buy poor stock — a runt is dear at any price. Feed your land, and it will feed you. Do not l)iiy one extra i)louc;h or harrow. ]5uy ns little as possible secondhand. Don't improve — oxcejjt slowly. Don't employ a lot of hands at first, building, fencing, draining, &c. Only gowl farming pays. Don't hunger for a " big " farm. Give u]) old-country notions. Don't think you are very much wiser than j'our neighbours. Make your house pretty with shrubs and flowers. Go to church. Work a little — rest a little, but be always about your place. IS tl Aliens. Aliens may hoUl and transmit land as fully as British subjects — may be naturalised after three years' residence — alien women are naturaliseil by We invite emigrants from all nations. ■ J i j ..i I Fnblic Schools arc in the hands of the people — free to all, without distinction of race or creed strictly non-sectarian — highest morality inculcated — no religious dogmas or creeds taught — uniform text-books — Public School Fund voted every year by the Provincial Chamber — General Board of Education for the whole Province — a Superintendent of Education, who visits and ins^iects — School Districts wherever population is sufficient — the people choose every year from among themselves 3 School Trustees to manage schools — Trustees get money from "Public School Fund," on application endorsed by Superintendent of Education — Trustees may make by laws (approved by Superintendent) requiring children to attend school — Teachers (3 grades) paid, from 40 to 100 dollars (SI. to 207. English) a month — appointed or removed by Trustees — must have certificates of qualification from the Board — Board fixes salaries. The settlor will well know how to estimate the capabilities of this school system. The St. John's (New Brunswick) 'Telegraph' newspaper says — *' Let us take care that the young sister province on the Pacific does not lead " Xew Brunswick in education." There are very good church schools and private schools, for both sexes, in several of the larger towns. An education befitting the children of gentlemen can be obtained for both boys and girls at Victoria and New Westminster on reasonable terms. The following are the terms of a Collegiate School established on the plan of the Grammar Schools in England, viz. : — 4 dollars (KJs. English) per month. French, 1 dollar (4s. English) per month. Boarders, from 30 to 40 dollars (6/. to 81. English) jier month, according to age. In other good schools the prices are somewhat less. -iiiiii i INF0K3IATI0N FOH EMICJIJANTS. m &c. cts — may bt turaliseil b\- race or creed 3 dogmas or i every year • the whole ects — School every year Trustees get perintendent erintendent) a 40 to 100 by Trustees ses salaries. this school aper says — oes not lead th sexes, in gentlemen tniinster on on the plan ler month, Public Boarding Schools. To meet tlio wants of some districts of the ])r(iviii(.v wliere the iiopnhitiou is at present too scattered to allow of suflicieiit sehouls being provided for the education of the children of settlers, tlie Government have established a system of Public Boarding Schools under the management and control of Trustees. t Churches. No State Church — no tithes, but religious wants not neglected — Sunday well kept — Koman Catholic, Episcojialian, Presbyterian, Wesleyan, Congrega- tional, and Hebrew communities have churches and clergymen in the larger towns — churches built also in some small towns and country districts — other places arc visited by ministers. As soon as an infimt settlement is formed, the inevitable minister a{)pears. generally before even the newspaper correspondent. One of the settlers in a settlement of about 20 families on the "North ann," near the mouth of Fraser River, writes — " We have two churches already, and a third is " talked of." Eeligious societies maj' take a conveyance of land for certain specified purposes by appointing trustees and registering the title deeds. Newspapers. Numerous and well conducted — receive constantly news by telegraph — the wants and opinions of settlers in remote districts are made known through the press to their fellow settlers and to the Government. Post-Office. Ratks of Postage. Letters , ., „ .„„i. Book Post, per hM oz. ' '»?''" «'«^»'- I^we.^t UaL England ' 6 cents 2 cents 3 cents per 4 oz. Tliroughout the Province and Dominion 3,, ' 1,, 1 cent per 1 oz. United States , 6,, 2,, 1 ,, ,, Germany , | 23 , , | 6 , , 6 cciitii per 2 oi. France 34 , , ! , , i 5 , , , , Australia I 16 ,, ' 4 ,, ; 2 cents per 1 uz. NewZcaland ' 16 ,, , 4 ,, 2 ,, ,, China 16 ., i l .. I 2 Ashcroft. Barkerville. Burrard Inlet. Cache Creek. Cassiar. Chemanis. Clinton. Sloncy Orders wlih Canada and England. Local ""'ost-Ofi'ices. Comox. Cowichan. Chi Hi whack . Dunkeld. Duck and Pringle's. Esquimau. Hope. 32 BRITISH coLminiA: Local VosT-Ofi^icm— continued. K.imloops. Kootenay. Lake La Hachc. Langley. Lillcoet. Lytton. Maple Bay. Nanaimo, New Westminster. Nicola Lake. Okanagan. Okanajian Mission. Oniineca. 150 Mile House. Pavilion. Quesnel. Skona. Soda Creek. Sooke. Spence's Bridge. Sumass. Van Winkle. Victoria. Yale. Administration of Justice. This has always been wholesome. There is very little " rowdyism '' in British Columbia. Life, limb, and property arc secured by just laws well carried out. The courts do not ask whether accused parties are Lidians or white men, The San Francisco (California) 'Bulletin' said, lately — "It is " well that'our citizens should note that our neighbours in British Columbia " do not deal so leniently with those who take life as we on this side of the " border line." Local Self-Govemment. The people of a locality with over 30 male residents may be formed into a " municipality," and elect from among themselves Councillors and a Warden to manage all local afl'airs. Provincial Self-Govemment. The old system of government has been quite done away with. There is now one Legislative Chamber only — elected for four years by the voters — three, or not more than six of its members form the "responsible advisers" or " ministry " of the Lieutenant-Governor — hold office while they have the confidence of a majority of the chamber — mimicijial councils are steppingstones to Legislative Assembly — no social obstacles whatsoever in any man's way — nobody asks where a settler comes from, nor whose son he is. Among measures passed lately were the Qualification of Voters Bill, which invites every hond fide resident British subject to take an active part in the gnat work of self-govern- ment; the School Bill, which places a free education within reach of every child in the land ; the Municipal Bill, which enables every settlement to manage its own local affairs, and thus educate the people in the art of self- government ; the Inheritance Bill, which divides equally amongst the children or nearest of kin the property of persons dying intestate ; the Iload Tolls Repeal Bill, which throws open, free as the high seas to all comers, the main trunk road of the Province. The political constitution of the province, as part of the great Dominion of Canada, is impressed with the stability of the British system of Government, combined with the freedom, elasticity, and progressive energy of Piepublican institutions. m \ INFORMATION FOR EMIGRANTS. 33 The jicople of the Province may amend or alter their political constitution in any way not inconsistent with the general constitution of the Dominion of (.'anada. iwdyism'' in .st laws wdl •e Indians or itely— "It is ish Columbia s side of the formed into a id a Warden [There is now ■rs — three, or " ministry " Infidence of a Legislative |nobody asks isures passed jry bond fide \ sclf-govcrn- ich of every lettlement to art of sclf- thc children Eoad Tolls |rs, the main )ominion of nwernment, Republican Exports. The gold shipped from British Columbia by banks, and carried out of the country by miners, has not been leas in value than -li millions sterlinff durini; the 10 years from 1802. Other exports than gold, namely, lumber (sawn wooil), coal, furs, fish, fish-oil, wool, cranberries, arc yearly increasing in quantity and value. The exports of coal from the Nanaimo coal mine, during the above ten years, has been J)30,395 tons. Several new coal mines are about to be opened and worked. (See Coal Mining, page 78.) The following repr&sents the exports of the Province of British Columbia for the year ending 30th June, 187 1 : — • Dola. Products of the mine — gold dust and bars 1,072,422 Coal, etc 278,213 The fisheries 114,118 „ The forest (lumber, etc.) 2GO,ll(5 Animals and proilucc — wool, furs, etc 330,fi25 Agricultural products 5,200 Manufactures 443 Total for the year .. .. 2,001,233 Tlie gold export, exclusive of that shipped in private hands, amounts for the three months ending Sep- tember 30th, to 407,734 For the corrcsiwnding three months of 1873 348,101 Balance in favour of three months of 1874 59,573 The gold export for the movth of September of the present year amounts to 190,000 This is the largest amount shipjicd in one month for 'several years past, which is a gratifying fact. It must bo remembered too that this is exclusive of bullion in private hands. Manufactories. New Westminster. 3 Saw mills— can cut 183,000 feet of lumber per day. 1 Grist mill — can grind 30 barrels ]ier day. 1 D'stillery — distils 300 to 400 gallons per month. Brick works. Hope, Yale, anl Lyttok. 2 Saw mills — can cut 7000 feet of lumber per day. 5 Flour mills — 2 can grind 23 barrels, the others 10 barrels per da)' each. D ff' 34 BRITISH COLUMBIA: LiLLOOKT AND ClINTON. 1 Saw auil Flour mill (comblucd) — can grind GO barrels of flour \)cy tlay, and cut 12,000 feet of lumber. 1 Flour mill on Dog Creek— can grind 2000 pounds of wheat per day. 1 Saw mill at Lillooet — can cut 5000 feet of lumber \>^iv day. 1 Saw mill at Clinton — can cut 2000 feet of lumber jier day. 1 Flour mill at Lillooet — can grind 120 saclca in twelve liours. KoOTEXAY AND COLJMUIA. 1 Saw mill, water-power. 1 Bed Hock Flume. Cariboo. 1 Steam Saw mill, on William's Creek, 20-hor8e power — can cut 20,000 feet of lumber per day. 1 Steam Saw mill, on Ditton Lightning Creek— can cut 20,000 feet of lumber per day. 1 Quartz Mill, on William's Creek, 3-horse power, 4 stamps of 450 Ibn. oach — can crush 4 tons a day. 1 Flour mill, 20-horso power — can grind 50 barrels of flour per day. 1 Flour mill, Soda Creek, water-power — can grind 40 barrels of flour per day. 1 Saw mill, Quesnel, water power— can cut 2500 feet of lumber jier day. 1 Saw mill. 1 Saw mill. 1 Iron Foundry. 2 Sash Factories. Gas Works. 4 Breweries. 2 Distilleries. 1 Soap Factory. Nanaimo. Cowiciian. Victoria. 2 Tanneries. Boot and Shoe Factory. Brick Works. 1 Ship Yard. 2 Lumber Yards. 2 Waggon-makers. Trade. The estimated value of ex^wrts and imports for 1870 was as follows : — Exports, including gold, 1,848,803 dollars ; imjx)rts, 1,G05,809 ; balance of trade in our favour, 242,994 dollars. The exports, besides gold, were supplied by twenty-one articles of home protluce. Here are the germs of productive manufactures, lucrative trades and of an active commerce. The Toronto 'Monetary Times' says that the imports and exports of " British Columbia have increased steadily since the confederation of the " Province with the Dominion, the former aggregating for the three years 1872, " 1873, and 1874 the sum of 5,891,129 dollars, and the latter, for the same " period, 6,825,148 dollars. In the imports the necessaries^of life — flour, wheat " and meat — form quite a large part, though tobacco, wines, and other luxuries INFORMATION FOU EMIOIIANTK. 3r> er i\s\y, and day. cut 20,000 ,000 feet of of 450 lbs. day. of flour per : jier day. Factory. s follows : — balance of rere supplied f productive 1 exports of ition of the ; years 1872, for the same -flour, wheat ther luxuries " are freely imported. Gold is the chief ex[)ort, and coul conies next. Tho " present state of trade will bo entirely changed as tho country grows older, for " many parts of it are eminently suited for ajj;riculturo and grazing,'. Hcgular *' exchanges now take place between British Columbia and Honolulu, China, " Chili, Peru, and other countries with which we, in the eastern part of Canada " seldom or never conic into contact. This being the case when tho |x)pulation " and wants of Columbia are so small, it is not too much to beliovo that a con- " nection by rail with old Canada would render necessary lines of steamships " from China and Japan, which would compete with thoso now plying from " tSaa Francisco." Imports. The total value of imiwrts into British Columbia during the year ending .'10th June, 1873, was 2,l'Jl,011 dollars— 507,36-t dollars being free goods. Tho total amount of duty collected was ."JO^jin dollars Go cents. The imports during the year ending 30th June, 1874, amounted to 2,085,5* dollars — 206,631 dollars being free goods. Tonnage for 1871. The vessels — sea going — that entered the ports of British Columbia for the year 1871, numbered 292, with a tonnage of 131,090. Cleared, 285, with a tonnage of 129,864. Hospitals. There are three Public Hospitals in the Province, supported by private contributions with Government aid. One at Victoria, another at New West- minster, the third in Cariboo, and a Lunatic Asylum at Victoria. In addition to these, there is the Naval Hospital at Esquimalt for the accommodation of H.M.'s fleet ; and, in Victoria, a private hospital sup[>orted by the French Benevolent Society. Telegraph Lines. British Columbia is connected with England by telegraphic wires. Telegniiih lines extend from Swinomish, in Washington Territory (United States), to Barkerville, at the extremity of the Cariboo Road. There is, besides, a branch from Matsqui to Burrard Inlet via New Westminster, in addition to a tele- graphic right of way over the line belonging to the Western Union Telegraph Company, from Swinomish to Victoria, which comprises two submarine cables. This line of telegraph is 509 miles long, in addition to the submarine portion, which is a mile and a quarter in length ; it originally cost 170,000 dollars. Besides this line, there is that from the mouth of the Quesncl to the Babine, but the line has not been kept up, aU' s abandoned. The Government of the Dominion are making a telegraph line aci'oss the continent. Work on it has already been begun within the Province. Public Works. The Canadian Pacific Eailway (see page 73) to be begun this year ; also a first-class Graving Dock at Esquimalt ; additional light-houses ; improvement of the liiver Eraser ; Marine Hospital ; Penitentiary ; Post-office and Custom IHII M 3G BRITISH COLUMniA. HouHcH. Anunv^ cxiHtiiig public biiildinRs nnd propity arc fixed liKlit-housof on Ifiico Itock iind Fisi^'ard, also at ('ai-c Boalc, a 'lloating liglit at the mouth of the Fraser JJivcr, poatal-seivico Htoanicr, l.ailx)ur dredge, Mint, Court-houses and jail.s, Lunatic Asylum, (Jovernors' resideuces, Legiahitive and Departmental buildiiij,'.s, &c. Harbours. On Vancouver Island : Victoria, P:s(iuimalt, Nanaimo, Barclay Round,. On the nminland: Uunard Inlet, Howe Sound, Bute Inlet, Millbank Sound. River Skena, River Nosjie. These harlwurs, being oihju all the year round, and, generally speaking, easy of access, sheltered and capacious, give a di8tincti\ e value to the province, which the course of events on the North American continent will every yiar make more apparent. ; 4 • linht-houscs ight at the 'edge, Mint, I Legislative slay Sound, )ank Sound, r round, and, ii distinctive th American P«rt of Ooverament-itrert, Victoria. From a pliotograph. Vancouver Island. Area, 12,000 square miles ; len<:;tlt, .300 miles ; nveraiio breadth, HO to 50 miles. Surface very mountainous and woo«ly — flattens at l)oth ends, and for ])art of its eastern side — most mountainous region in the interior — lii,i;hest mountains (0000 lect) towards north of island — no •• back-bono ranj;f'," such as some describcrs say exists — width of arable valleys, from one to six miles — ■ whole country full of lakes, streams, and waterfalls — (the water-ix^wcr is generally some distance inland from the coast) — shores boldly picturesque — promontories, clifVs, harbours, coves, and beaches. West coast, cut up by arms and inlets, margined by rugged mountains, bearing fir, hemlock, and cedar — liere and there shore is skirted by lower wooded hills, among which, and along streams, small patches of open or wooded flat land are found. No inlets on north mid east coasts, but in other respects the alwvc descrii)- tion applies also to them — near Johnstone's Straits, shore-line is even mon; continuously mountainous and abrupt than on west coast. Farther down east coast, and also in south-eastern part of island, the coast is lower, and the jnoportion of flat or gently undulating land, good for farming, increases, some of which is open or thinly timbered. Trevailing timber — fir, near the coast — hemlock, inland — great cedars on the mountains — shrubs, berries, and flowers everywhere — grasses, sweet grass, reed meadow, bent spear — white clover, wild timothy, wild oats, broad- leaved rush, cowslip, iSjc. Fcni in the open lands, troublesome to farmers. Resident Population. Victoria and neighbourhood 5300 Cowichan district 350 Nanaimo and neighbourhood 950 Comox 250 Indians, say 3000 9910 There are three Fanners' Sc "as in the island. Her Majesty's Fleet at Esc^., .nalt adds an average of about 500 to the i ns VANCOUVER ISLAND. I)opn1ittion of tho Victorift diHtrict, wliioh is also coriHulorably incrcnsotl, t«ini)oriirily, by vJHitors at all seasoiiH of tlu) year, and by crewH of vessc'lK. A iino Naval (jraving I)(x;k in boing built at KHtpiimalt. Soils. ThPflP, boinp ©vcrythin? to the fanning immigrant, will first Ix* mentioned. Derivation of Vancouver Ir^and Soils. Four cliiof Kourct'H — disinto>;ration of underlyintj rocks — dopoHit of tlu 8andH, gravels, aii I clayu of tho <^roat Nurtliuru Drift — alluvial depoaitti — decay of vogotable matter on the surface. Distribution of Soils. The nature of tht; underlying rocks has jirodnced in various parts of the- aotifh of tho island (which the immigrant lirat sees) (jravelly soil, with a thin coating of vegetable moultl. Further north, along the easfeiTi shore, where the rocks alter in character, rich loams are found, duo to the decomposition of tho limestone rocks in their neighbourhood. Oc, id spccimons in Cowichan valley and at Comox. These soils are always ready for cultivation. Tho Northern Drift sands, gravels, and clays, are spread out over tho whole tmdulating surface of tho east coast. 'J'he sandy gravels form the soil generally, from which the forests spring, while the clay will he found chiefly in the open undulating grounds as a retentive subsoil with a thick topsoil of vegetable mould. This latter clay-vegetable .soil is a most valuable soil — colour, rich brownish-black. It fills up hollows and swampy bottoms, and forms the sides of gentle slopes. In some localities the clay forms the only soil. Tho above clay-vegetable soil is mixed with alluvium in some localities^ namely, deltas of rivers, near inlets and in valleys. Tho alluvial deposits are not extensive, the streams being short water- courses. The brown earth, or " Humus," resulting from the decay of vege- table matter, is abundant, and mixes with tho other soils in various projior- tions in dilferent localities. Value of these Soils. Thp gravelly soil, found as above stated in various parts of the south of the island, is poor, from its inability to retain moisture. The rains are drained oil into lagoons, and the sun dries up the surface. This soil produces large timber and coarse grass. Wheat could no doubt be cultivated upou nearly all the other soils with proper culture. The clay-vegetable soil, above mentioned, is very valuable, particularly where it has been mixed with alluvium. With subsoil drainage this soil would carry the heaviest possible crops of wheat and other cereals. The clay, when found by itself, would, like all heavy land, require special treatment. The sandy and gravelly loams are eligible for barley, oats, rye, buckwheat, beans, peas, root and leaf crops, &c., &c. • w n lli< iMy iiicronsttl, of veawjlK. A will finit bo It'poslt of tll( I'ial depoaitti — IS jiarts of till- lil, with a thill r in character, J rocks in their Jomox. Tliese over the whole form the soil ! found chiefly I thick topsoil t valuable soil T bottoms, and orras the only ome localities, short water- ecay of vego- arious propor- le south of the ire drained otV s large timber icr soils with particularly age this soil s. •quire special .', buckwheat, VANCOUVER 18LAND. 89 The defp loamy soils evi;rywherf are esjH'cially elij^ible for fruit culture. The alluvial de|>o8it8 in the valleys are in many placcH very valuable. Mixed with the decayed, and the decaying, vegetable matter brought down by the numoroua streams from watershetls, they form a rich black aoii, many feet thick. 'I'ho brown earth, or " Humus," fornis soilx of great value, according to the materials with which it mixes. Though light and iK)rou8, many soils, so funned in the valleys and plains of the eastern coaHt, are well constituted for absorbing and retaining moisture as well us heat. The brown earth api)cars to bo rich, when resting, with a depth of 2 to 3 feet, on a gravelly, or even sandy, subsoil, if we may judge from the successive crops of iHjtatoes which the Indians have raised from such soil. Hilly, partly wooded, grazing tracts are interspersed among tlio prairies and benches. Often, near arable farms, rocky liills rise 1000, 12000, and even .'{000 feet — surface craggy — patches of thin soil with grass. Sheep and cattle like these hills in summer. , Water. Running streams numerous; springs «'xcellent. In jilaces, however, where the clay forms the top-soil, the water runs ofV, and unless you bore through the clay the water must bo looked for at some little distance, where the clay is ovci^laid by a ^wrous material. Many springs resemble the Bath waters, but are not unpleasant to the taste. In one place there are '* brine " springs. Estimated Quantity of Fanning Land. Extract, condensed from ' British Colonist,' Victoria, August 7th, 1872. " Near Victoria. — Say 100,000 acres, all occupied or owueil. Some farms " can be bought or let; terms higher than in jilaces farther from the capital. " Saauich ixininsula. — 37 square miles ; G4,000 acres. 200 settlers, with " farms from 50 to 1500 acres each. '* Sooke. — Out of five square miles, 3750 acres fairly good, oi)en land ; re- " mainder tolerably level wood-land. " Cowichau. — Portions surveyed (including Shawnigan, Quamichan, So- " menos, Comiaken) 100,000 acres, of which half considered superior. " Salt Spring Island — area, 90 square miles ; 5750 acres, good. 80 settlers. " Nanaimo district (Mountain, Cranberry, and Cedar districts). 45,000 " acres ; a fair proportion superior, some light and sandy. " Comox. — 50,000 acres ; none better in the world. " The above gives sufficient area for 30,000 country people, at least, and it *' is known that towards Alberui and in other directions, for instance, in the " long narrow valley of Salmon River, there is land available for settlement." Much of the above land is covered with fine large timber. Many of the best faim-lpcations near existing roads — at least the best to the eye — may be expected to be already taken up or occupied ; but there certainly is room yet for numerous settlers. This will be more clearly seen as communications are improved. It is said that Victoria buys a quantity of beef every year from the opposite American territory, and that butter could lately be imported from Montreal at a profit. The facilities lor dairy farming are excellent in British Columbia. The truth is that many furms are occupied by non -practical 40 VANCOUVER ISLAND. »i 4 farmers, who are merely waiting to sell their farms. The climate, scenery, and abundance of game and fish have had tlie inect of making this class of land-holder rather numerous, 'ihcy will give place ia time to the right class — as pictured by Franklin : — " Farcer at the plough, ' AVife milking cow. Daughters 8[)inning yarn, IJoys thrashing in the barn, All happy as a charm." Land here must continue to rise in value, and the practical farmer is sure of a good yield from his farm, and a market fur what he produces. The settlers are hospitable, and will give anyone a warm welcome, particularly if he is disposed to help himself. Interior of the Island. I do not think there is very much farming land in the interior of the island anywhere in mass, though detached pieces near lakes and in valleys would, no doubt, make a considerable area, if all were put together. The mountains in the interior cross and re-cross, interlaced by valleys, generally wooded. Some of these valleys are of good size, and the soil is fertile. 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 land near them, swanij)y or liable to overflow, but capable of being brought into cultivation, hi hollows among tl'.<. hills also are marshy tracts, easily drained, which, if there is a subsoil, will make fine farms. Mode of clearing Land. The immigrant is often attracted by a fern-covered prairie, or by " brush " land, covered only with alders, willows, &c. The fern is troublesome, and is only entirely removed by successive croi)- ping. It is cut year after year in early sunmier, and the land then ploughed and cross ploughed. Some use tiles for wet fern lands. In reclaiming " brush " land, one way is to make an open ditch, three feet wide, and as deep as the drainage will admit. Next summer the vegetable matter on the surface will burn, which kills the roots, and frcquent'y lays the brush as though it had been " slashed ;" burn again the foUowirg summer, and with a little labour the land will be ready for winter wheat. Another way which is adopted often cm bottom land, timbered with maple, ash, and only a few firs, is to "slash" (cut small growth) all but the large growth, felling all one way as much as possible. The best time to do this is through the months of June or July, when the sap is at its highest. After the trees have lain one or two months fire is set to them in different places. When there is much small brush, it should be piled upon the larger growth. Care must be taken before fire is set that there is no brush or other inflammable substance near the dwelling or out- buildings. Some fiirraers cut the vine-maple off about si.x feet from the ground ; take a yoke of cattle, " hitch on" to the top of these stubs, and " snake" them out. The soil being loose and the main roots near the top of the ground, it is not difficult to cut with an axe any root that may hold fast. I have seen patches of excellent wheat, the ground for which had never been ploughed up. The farmer stated that after " snaking " out the roots and sowing the wheat VANCOUVER ISLAND. U Bcenery, I class of t class — is sure of e settlers if he is ;he island rs WOUUl, iiountains wooded. Many of iften have ,ve a good e of beins hy tracts, "brush" |sive cro^)- ploughed "brush" lap as the Irface will gh it had lie labour )ted often " slash " much as or July, months brush, it liire is set ig or out- ground ; ;e " them |und, it is kave seen fghed up. lie wheat he took a yoke of cattle and dnijrged a lafre brush, made of branches, over the •^roimd, to smooth if down and cover the wheat. The crop on one of the jiiitches (a few acres) was a volunteer crop (second year without sowing), and jiromised to be gtxKl. The large trees on a heavily wooded farm arc usually felled in the following way : — Take a long shanked auger, and in a standing tree bore two holes, one al>ove the other, at an angle, so that they will meet some distance inside. Introduce lighted pitch faggots into the upi)er hole. The flame draws air from the lower hole, and acts like a blow pipe. The inside of the tree beneath the sap burns (Hiickly, and in a short time a huge furnace roars, which can often be heard at a considerable distance. The sappy outside does nut burn, and thus a mere shell of the tree is left. This shell is chopi>od through on the side of the tree on which it is desired it should fall, and the tree comes down with a crash. The usual i)rice for "slashing" is from ten to twelve dollars (40s. to 4Hs. Jlnglish) per acre, cutting all down (except the large growth) and piling it up ready for burning. The best and cheapest team a fivrmer can have is a good yoke of cattle. They can make their own living, and it costs but little to rig them lor work. They are the best adapted for the kind of work usually done on a new farm. Course of Cropping. After breaking up new land, perhaps a first crop of peas or oats is put in, or it is left as a sununer fallow until the early part of October, when wheat is put into the ground. The crops commonly raised are — wheat, barley, oats, and peas. The green crops are — turnips (swedes), mangel-wurzel, vetches, jHitatoes, and all kinds of vegetables; cabbages and pumpkins attaining a very great size. Of the cereals, wheat does best ; of the leguminous plants, lie&s are the most profitable. Nowhere does the potato flourish more, or have a better flavour ; it is grown in great quantities by the natives. The rotation of crops in virgin soil is, wheat after fallow, then a crop of peas ; wheat again, or oats ; and then a fallow is made for turnips ; and by this time the land will be pretty clean. After turnips, a crop of liarley or • ats (spring sown) is raised and followed by potatoes, the laud being well manured, and thus mended. After this, farming o])erations are conducted on the same rotation four-course system as in Great Britain. The above rotation, however, mry be exchanged for whatever expediency dictates. The following arc the usual quantities of seed sown yicr acre : — of wheat, U bushels; barley, 2i bushels; oats, 2i to 3 bushels; peas, 2 to 2i bushels, vetches, 2i bushels. The sowing times for oats, barley, peas, and tares are Irom middle of March to end of April. 'J'hese crops are harvested Ist of August to end of September. Potatoes are planted in ^larch and April, and are gathered early part of November. Turnips sown between 1st •June and middle of July, and arc gathered with the potatoes. Autumn cultivation not yet common. Clovers, lucerne, and trefoil are gootl fcnlder plants. Sown in Octoixir, they give bulky spring crops. Alsyke clover the best iwrcnnial ; crimson clover should be cut in llower. Lucerne likes lit;ht » >» >» tons » »» »» » >» elevated pastures, deep roots, remains green long; cattle like it. Other plants, sainfoin, tares, rye-grass, fescue grasses, do well sown in nutunin. PuoDUCTioN on Good Farms in Sodth-Eastekn and Eastern District.-) of Vancouvku Island in 1874. Wheat from 30 to 35 bushels {ler acre. Uarley „ 40 „ 4.5 Oats „ 50 „ CO Pease „ 40 „ 45 Potatoes „ 150 „ 200 Turnips „ 20 „ 25 ' Timothy hay about 2 Hops (equal to the best Kentish), 1000 to 1700 lbs. per acre. Butter, per cow, after feeding calf, about 150 lbs. jxjr annum. Apples, yie&TS, plums, cherries, white and red rasj/berries, red, white, and black currants, and most kinds of fruit thrive remarkably well. Ajjples have measured 13 inches in circumference, and weighed 19 ounces, and been well flavoured and good for cooking or eating. Pears, many of them 11 inches in circumference, juicy, and fine flavour. Common winter cabbage have grown 3 to 4 feet in circumference. Red cabbage and cauliflower equally large and sound. Carrots, parsnips, onions large. Tomatoes equal to the best English. Cattle, sheep, horses, pigs, and poultry do well; sheep (South Down), mutton choice, fleeces light, wool good ; pigs easily reared ; wolves and ] nthers (not dangerous to man) sometimes kill pigs and sheep. The average i)roduction, of course, is not likely to be so good as the above over a number of years, even if an intelligent system of farming should be the rule ; but the emigrant may see from the above the capabilities of the soil. In England it is believed that the average production is — wheat, 28 to 30 bushels ; barley, 35 to 40 bushels ; potatoes, about 160 bushels, or 4 tons. The following Table will show to the reader the — Estimated Average Yield, per Statute Acre, of the Principal Corn Crops, and of Potatoes in various British Colonies. Colonies. New South Wales . . . . Victoria ^ South Australia . . < Tasmania I New ZeaUind . . . . < Natal C»pe of Oootl Uoye Years (ended 31 St I Miircb in bome ' Coloi;ks). 1 Wheat. ■ Barley. Oats. Alaizo. Potatoes. 1869-ro 1869^70 l»iO-71 1869-70 l(i70-71 1869-70 1870-71 1869-70 1870-71 1860 l!*liS llusbels. 16-90 19-75 10-10 574 11-61 16-10 16-63 27-27 23-56 ia-27 6-87 Ilu&lieU. 16-24 24-55 12-36 8-99 14-74 23-09 21-23 31-14 25-26 Biubels. 23-16 26-98 14-98 14-83 14-28 25-71 23-34 33-47 31-21 Busiiels. 38-12 20-50 19-75 Tlie produce of these crops Is ) partly cut green for fodder, j 8-92 4-35 , 6-48 Tons. 316 310 3-27 3-60 2-«3 3-6'< 3-67 6-44 6 14 BusboU. 131-3 tlier plants, ISTBICTrt of ;re. white, ami \l)ples have d been well 11 inches iu rence. Red uth Down), wolves anil as the above Ig should be IS of the soil. VANCOUVER ISLAND. 43 rheat, 28 ti> , or 4 tons. [PAL COBX 0. PoUtocs. 1 ■Ig. Tons. 12 311) 50 3 10 J6 3-a7 , 3-60 ! 2-»3 36>* 3-87 6-44 ' 5-H ig 1 BusheU. (T.J 131-3 4H I may also invite attention to the — KSTIMATKD AVERAOK YlKI.D, per STATUTE AcRE, of the rRINCIPAI. CoRN Crops, and of PoTATt)Ks, in Imperial Bushels, in various Foreign ("OUNTRIES. ConNTniii.». Sweden . . Norway . . r.'Uiisia . . Wurtcmburg Hullund .. Holgium . . France Portugal .. Spain . . . . Austria . . C! reece Uuit(>d States Date Wheat of and [(eturns. Spelt. Barley. Oatti. Rye. Beans and Peiis. MalTie. Potatoes Bushels. Bushels. ' 1H69 ! 1H66 1867 1H70 Iri69 1166 1869 1S65 1857 1370 1867 1869 22'8 17-1 40-0 25-7 22-8 171 6-0 33-3 14-3 13-a 13-2 Bushels. Bushels. 28-4 35t 25-1 32-9 13-6 26-2 41-7 39-3 34-9 41-2 XO-9 26-6 HI 18-6 24-3 . • 161 181 18-8 19-0 a7'l 29-6 Bushels. 22-3 16-7 20-1 20-6 24-6 15-ii 6-7 8-4 14-6 13-a Buxhel*. 10-4 19-6 17-6 14-1 24-4 23-2 13-8 10-1 Bushels, 17-1 20-0 17-4 22-9 BushrU 91-:i 236-1 162-7 151-1 111-3 108-5 106-3 As regards the United States, 17 bushels of wheat per acre may 1h> assumed as the wheat average of Minnesota; Ohio, 9*96 ; Illinois from year to year not more tlian 8 bushels. Four States only, by the census of 1850, reached uu ni'erage of 15 bushels per acre. Oats average, say 19 to 30 bushels. Potatoes 75 to 120 bushels per acre. The following Articles of Produce and Stock were EaHtbited at the Provincial Farming Show, Victoria, 1874, also at the Saanich Show (close to Victoria), and at the Cowichan, Chemanis, and Salt Spring Show, held at Maple Bay (up the east coast, 45 miles from Victoria). Pure Short-horn Durham bull ; other bulls ; bull-calves ; work oxen : cows ; rams ; ewes ; boars ; sows ; stallions ; brood mares ; saddle, carriage, and draught horses. Wheat; barley; oats; peas; hops. Turnips (Swedish and white) ; mangel-wurzel ; carrots ; beet ; cattle- cabbage. Turkeys; geese; ducks; dorking-fowls ; pigeons; rabbits; eggs; butter, salt and fresh ; cheese. Apples; pears; peaches; plums; grajies; quinces; jieas ; maize. Potatoes; cabbages; lettuces; jjarsnips; vegetable-marrows; cauliflowerti ; celery ; beets ; onions ; melons ; tomatoes ; pumpkins ; scpiashes ; cucumbers. Agricultural implements ; ploughs; thrashing machines; salmon barrelled and preserved in tins ; currant wines ; cider ; beer ; cranberries in barrels ; waggons ; harness, &c. The same as the above, in quantity per acre, and in quality can be pro- duced by the district of Nanaimo — (a flourishing coal \)ox{, 79 miles from Victoria) and by Comox district, farther up the east coast, 134 miles from Victoria. HM VANCOUVER ISLAND. Coraox is a picturt .uc settlement — in one locality 12,000 acres well watered and dottotl with oaks and alders — fine stock and crops at Comox — also churcli, .sclioul, &c. Comox '.ooks much to Nanaimo as a market. I Prices of Farm Stock. Victoria Market, 1874. Beef cattle, dressed wei;j;lit 12 to 16 cents \MiT lb. £0 Cows with calves, 35 to GO dollars each .. .. 7 Dry cows, 30 dollars each GO Calves, 10 to 17 dollars each 2 Yearlings (good), 20 to 30 dollars each .. .. 4 Two-year olds, 25 to 37 dollars each 5 Three-year olds, 40 to 42 dollars each . . . . 8 Pigs dressed, 12i to 13 cents per lb Chickens, 4 i dollars per dozen 18 Eggs, 30 to 75 cents per dozen 1 KngUsh. 5:; to £0 G 2i 12 3 G 7 8 8 8 8 8 3 Prices of Farm Stock Cprf^sumed "in gold"), J" 1874, at Olympia (140 miles by sea from Victoria), on the United States Territory, whence Stock reaches Victoria Market, paying 10 per cent, ad valorem duty. Beef cattle on foot, 8 to 10 cents per lb. market well stocked. Milk cows, 40 to 50 dollars each £8 Veal calves, 8 to 10 dollars each 1 Yearlings, 10 to 15 dollars each 2 Two-year olds, 20 to 22 dollars each 4 Work cattle, 150 to 250 dollars per yoke (pair) .. 30 Sheep, 3 i to 4 dollars each 14 Pigs (dressed), 11 to 12i cents iier lb Hides, 4 to 5 dollars each 16 Work-horses, 150 dollars (301. English) each for good ones ; common, 30 to 40 dollars (6?. to 8/.). Kngllsh. to £10 12 „ 2 „ 3 „ 4 8 „ 50 14 „ 16 5i „ G 16 „ 1 2 Prices of Farm Produce. Victoria Market, 1874. Cents. t. Wheat, per lb., 2i to 3, or English («•; 3 cents), 7 5 2 (at 2i cents), 4 (at 2 cents), 4 11 »» 9 , , about lid. jjer lb. Mangel-Wurzel, yter lb., 2 cents, or English, 9^ 6s. Sd. jier ton of 2240 lbs. Hay, iier ton of 2000 Ibo., 20 to 30 dollars, or 4/. to 6/. iier load of 18 cwts. (2016 lbs.). Barley 2i Oats 2 to 2i Pease 2i Potatoes li to 2 Carrots 2 Turnips 2 Beets 3 d. lbs. J) per bushel , 62 2 > » 50 2 > 1 40 7 > > 63 8 jxjr sack, 56- > > 168 4 1 > 112 11 watered }o cliurcli, 8 2 3 8 GOO 7 8 8 8 Gi 3 ttpia (HO jr, whence I duty. 10 2 3 4 8 30 16 G 1 2 common, lbs. lol, 62 50 40 63 56' 1G8 112 lb. 2240 lbs. IScwts. VANCOUVER ISLAND. 45 AvERACt WH0I.E8AI.K Dkalehs' Pricks OF MEAT IS (iBKAT Britaix for 3 ypars eiidliig 1S70 — per ■tone of 8 IbH., HinkiiiK ofTul. Knglibh. liritleh Columbia. ». d. t. d. Dollars. Dollarti. Cattle, 4 qualltips, r.tnging from . . 3 :ii to 5 4 or 0'M2 to 1-33 Calves, 2 ,, ,, .. 4 2i ,, S 5 ,, 1-05 ,, 1*35 Sheep,4 ,. ,, .. 3 fif ,. 8 7i ,, O'HT ,, 1-39 1 jambs, 1 quality ,, .. 6 2t ,, 6 10 ,, 1'65 ,, 1*70' Pigs, a qualities ,, .. 3 6* , , 5 8i ,, 0'83 ,, 1"41 The average prices of wheat, barley, and oats, In England and Wales, for 3 years ending 187'.', were— AVheat, about 2| centj) per lb (6». Sd. per bushel). Barley ,,2 ,, {is. 6il. ,, ). Oats ,, U ,, (2*. IIJ. ,, ). Agi icultural Implcmrnts cost about one-third more in British Columbia than in Kngland. Cost of Labour on Farms— with a few words on that subject. All labour is dear in British Golumbia. An ordinary unskilled labourer, such as one would employ to dig or cut fire-wood, receives 1"50 dollar (6s. English) a day; if he can lay claim to .skill enough to qualify him to attend to a garden or an orchard, lie readily~ commands 2 dollars (8s. English), or 2*50 dollars (10s. English) a day. Farm servants, engaged by the month, are paid at wages from 20 to 40 dollars (4?. to 81. English) per month, with Iward and lodging, according to tlic kind of work required of them, and the responsibility of their posi- tions. A few Indians are employed in the seaboard districts, at 15 to 20 dollars (31. to 4:1. English) per month, with board and lodging, by fanners who understand their character. In the interior Indians are largely employed as herders and for general farm work. In Vancouver Island and the New Westminster district, it may be said that a dollar (Is. English) a day, with board and lodging, is the pay of the farm labourer. Higher wages are paid in the interior. However strong and active a man may be, he cannot expect the highest wage imtil he knows his work and the ways of the country. At the above high wages, farmers, of course, employ as little labour as possible ; indeed, the item of labour is the great leak in the farming business in British Co- lumbia, as it is in most young countries. The farmer in British Columbia can get good land for nothing, or almo.st nothing ; and he gets as high prices for much of his produce as the English farmer gets. The British Columbian fanner pays no rent, but his labour bill may be set off, to some extent, against the rent of the English fivrnier. If the British Columbian farmer can, himself and by his family, do a large share of the farm work, he must make money quickly. That is the point. Winter Care of Stock. Nothing strikes a British Columbian farmer more, who visits Eastern Canada, New England, or even Scotland, than the enormous haymows on the farms, and the small number of cattle to eat them. The cost of rearing cattle in some of these countries exceeds their value when reared. It mu.st cost tcu times as much to winter an animal in these countries as in British 1 V |rf ""■Pit 46 VANCOUVER ISLAND. Oolumbia at present ; and the value of tlie animal when sold to the butcher is not larj;;ely difl'erent in the two places. The winter /oorf question is not a very important one in Vancouver Island. Some shelter, protection from excessive rain, and a dry bed, are what cattle need in winter in Vancouver Island more than stored food. The underj^rowth in the neighlwuring forest generally enables cattle to find food for themselves ; .still it is best (and particularly as you get north from Victoria) to have a moderate supply of hay and straw for winter food, if only to entice the cattle to approach the homestead. They then drop manure within reach, and become tame. A dry bed is im^wrtant. With so much wood at hand, rough sheds can easily bo built. The roof maybe " shakes " (splitwood). Ferns cut in early summer and stored, or branches of firs, make beds. If the site is exfwsed, and the locality is one affording a sale for fire-wood, piles of fire- wood will afford protecting walls. Milk cows and calves, or sick cattle, may want closer sheds. When all is said upon this subject, cattle require very much less attention in winter in Vancouver 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 West Cascade Region of the province. 1^ LUCK POLICY IX FARMING IS BAD. ■m B butcher er Island, hat cattlo icrgrowth oniselvcs ; to havo a mtice thu reach, ami mil, nnish I). Ferns the site is ies of firc- attle, may \iuTG very gland and December ■hole West I'urt ofC'iiIunibiu-strect, New Wcstiuindtci'. truiu a |ihutogrui)li. West Cascade Region. British Columbia — Moinlaiul iKjrtion ; vast country — really not much known yet — length from corner to corner 800 miles ; length by straight north and south line, about 420 miles ; greatest breadth, about 400 miles. The Rocky Mountain liange forms the eastern boundary of the province. The generally received idea is that the Cascade Range is almost paniUd to Rocky Range, between Rocky Range and coast (sec Map) ; very ramified, its own average breadth from 15 to 50 miles; average height, 7000 feet, with towering volcanic peaks ; send down in westerly and southerly direc- tions rugged mountain spurs to the sea ; deep, gloomy sea inlets run up l)etween these giant spurs ; inlets on coast braced together by high moun- tains, sometimes called a " Coast Range." The physical structure of so vast an Alpine country is, however, probably not yet precisely known, and some cxiwrienced travellers describe differently the direction of tiiese so-called " Cascade " and " Coast " Ranges (see Appendix.) Fine scenery on the whole ^lainland coast ; the overflow of lakes jwurs down the steep declivities ; avalanches have cut lines down the forest from mountain summits to water's edge, green timber growing where the descents ar^; old ; crevices here and there filled with snow ; through rifts and gorges on the elevated shores are seen mountains far inland, some domed, others peaked. The Cascade Range runs south into American territory, is broken up in Oregon and Northern California into spurs, known as Siskiyou Range, then extends to the cast by coimecting ranges, and forms the famous Sierra Nevadas of California. The reader, adopting for the present the aliove common notion as to those Cascade and Coast Ranges, will be good enough to fix his eye upon tlie Cascade Range (see Map), for, as already said, it divides British Columbia into two grand divisions — the humid forest region, west of the Cascade Range (that is, between the Cascade Range and the sea), and the dry grazing region, east of the Cascade Range (that is, between the Cascade Range and the Rocky Range). The West Cascade Region, urticularly that portion lying opposite to Van- couver Island, is similar in chmate and productions, and also in contour to the island, but has grander features. The island is, in fact, a pier ' roken 48 WEST CASrADK HKrJION. ofl" from this Mainland IJoj^ion. The soil of the West Cascaile Region i> moist and loamy, with hixuriant vo,G;otation. 'l\w East Cascade Hci^ion is more oiK-n, with extonsivo plains and valleys, tli(m;^h mountainous still; climate dry, timber scarce and rather jwor; soil light; herbage excellent. Soils of Mainland. I cannot accurately describe these : the <;eolo,2ical survey now in propress will enable better information to bo jriven in subsequent editions. One de- scription, by a well-infonned f:;entleman, states that the soil in the lower country, and again north of Qiiesnel IMver, and generally in the ('ascade iiiid Selkirk Ranges, is moist, well wooded, and mixed with, jwrhaps mainly '?'jnstituted of, decomposed organic substances. In the middle of the province, the Fraser, Thompson, and Okanagan dis- tricts, the soil is light, generally a sandy htam of no great depth, usually immediately 8uperimi)oscd on gravel Iwds (northern drift), occasionally oi very great thickness, and always alTording perfect drainage. Another gentleman says that the soil of the Mainland is of three kinil>. The tirstis rich and loamy, consisting of decayed vegetable matter and allu- vial dejxjsits. This is the character of the soil by the banks of the streams or lakes, and in the bottoms of valleys, and wherever land has been formed of deposits brought down by the streams from the mountains. The second kind of soil (characterising the basin of the River Fraser, Imt not the country near its mouth) is lighter and more sandy. Being formed by tiie disintegration and decomposition of rocks (a process that may be seen any rainy day), it contains a great deal of lime (the mountains being frequently limestone). To this fact, together with the strong sun, is probably to he ascribed its fertility, notwithstanding its lightness. It is found to a depth varying from 1 to 3 feet, and beneath it is a subsoil of gravel, sometimes of clay. The third description of soil is neither so good a.s the first nor so lii;iit as the second ; it rather resembles ordinary land in the mother country. Such i.s, for instance, the soil around Williams Lake, on the Brigade Trail, iSrc. New Westminster District. — General Remarks. The " West Cascade Region," above mentioned, is, as also above said, very similar to Vancouver Island in its climate and productions. Not nuicii farming land compared with area; country not explored — probably farniin;.; land in valleys and flats (witness the Pemberton Meadows, Lake Lillooet). The rivers which flow from Cascade Range into the great sea inlets are com- paratively small, and often have rocky banks; alluvial deposits (^irith one fjrand exception) are scanty in that portion of Cascade Region opposite to Vancouver Island, but such dejiosits are said to be considerable farther north, as at Skena and Na.s8e Rivers — the " grand exception " above named is the low land at and near the mouth of Fraser liiver, and fov some distance up it, and up tributaries of the lower portion of Fraser River (see Map). 'Jhe Fraser River docs not come from Cascade Range, but from Rocky WEST CASCADE REOION. 49 c;4ion IS valleys, [K>v; soil One lU- ihe lower scndo luid )a mainly i!\|inn (Uk- i, uHimlly ioimlly (4 iree kimls. r and alln- hc streams ;en fornu'd Fraser, h\\\ ; fornictl In' )e seen any frequently laMy to be to a tlt'iith sometimes or 80 liulit 1 itry. Such 1 il,'&c. 1 said, very iKot nuich lly fariuiiii: Lillooet). Its are coui- opposite to 3le iiirther in " above |r, and lov laser River tm Kocl;y Hangc. It is the only river in British Columbia (except in the far uortli-west of the province) which has strenj^th to cross the dry country lietween Kocky and Cascade Hauges, and ig8, poultry, wheat, oafs, peas, flax, carrots, turnips, Imtter, eggs, cheese, nitlons, tomatoes, pumpkins ; ix)tatoos, cabbage, cauli- iluwers, onions, beans, maize, apples, jiears, grapes, quinces, peaches, hops, pickled salmon, canned salmon, &c. The 'Mainland Guardian' (New Westminster Journal), said, on March, 1872 : — " A minimum yield of from 30 to 40 bushels of wheat to the acre, '• is the ordinary average yield in the districts of Kamloops, Okan.igan, Nicola, " Sumass, Chilliwhack, and the Lower Fraser, Between the town of New " Westminster and the mouth of the river, a yield very much exceeding this '• is often obtained, not because of better and more suitable soil, but solely du(! ' to more careful cultivation ; 50 bushels of oats and an equal yield of barley '' iH?r acre are commonly reached. Indian corn yields per acre 60 or 70 bushels. '• The yield of roots and green crops is generally encouraging, being nnsiu-passed " hy any in the world. "On one fann the yield of potatoes was 7 tons, on another as high as 15 " tons per acre. Not a few specimens reached the cnonnous w^eight of 2i lbs. ■' and even 3 lbs. Turnips give 25 tons to the acre. Onions from 4 to tons ; ■ while carrots, cabbages, beets, cauliflowers, &c., grow to a size which may " without exaggeration be described as enormous. "Of fniits it may be enough to state, that the ordinary kinds (apples, ' l^ears, plums, cherries, currants, gooseberries, strawberries, &c,) found in the '• eastern part of the Dominion and in England, grow luxuriantly and yield •' plentifully." Capabilities of the New Westmikster District. The capabilities of this district, which contains nearly half a million acres, hre not quite realised by the public. Men look at the large trees which tover a great portion of it, and shrug their shoulders. It should, however E no WEST CASCADE REGION. 1)0 ronicinlK'icil tliiit tli»! Now WoHtiniiistor diHtrict roiitaiiis tlic only larjf ina.s8 of clmico n^jricultiiml liind anywlieit' un the iiiainlaiul of the I'lUMfic Blopo lyin;4 ftctually uiioii tlio ocean, with a shippins IHJrt in itn inidHt. A iiavij^iiblo rivor cutH it throii;^h, which is Hholt<'rcil at its mouth. The rivci is full of saliMor and other ^ocmI fi.sh, and the district abounds with piuic. 'i'ho cliumte, thouj;h somewhat humid, hati neither the wetness of Western Oregon, nor the withering!; (Iryness of somo of the larger Californian valleys. Similar land to that of the New Westminster district is found immediately south of it, across the national boundary line, but, bein;^ formed by smaller rivers, it doea not lie in such a mass. The land is lower, and comprises more tidelands cut up by Hlou;;h.s. I do not rcmembor in Oregon or California ftny such land, so placed, as tin New Westminster district, rortiona of tlie Willamette valley, in Oregon, have as good soil, and the Willamotto valley is far larger, but the nature oi the approach from the sea to Portland is a drawback. In (.'alifornia, the transport from the interior to the shipping jKjrt adds considerably to the cost of wheat. I .should bo sorry to soe our Hrilish Columliian settlers " crazy on wheat" — dairy or mixed farnung will be best in tlie New Westminster district — but it is clear that the New Westminster district farmers will be hss dependent on jirovincial markets for any wheat they may proiluce than farmers in other parts of the mainland. lJ«in^ upon the ocean, will give tlieni the world for a market, in case of need. The drawbacks are not greater than have been overcome by settlers in lilaces that do not present such general attractions of fertile soil, situation, climate, &'c. A good i)art of the district is covered with very large tind)er; other parts retpii re draining and dyking; the mosquitoes in some years and in certain localities are troublesome for a short time. JJut go where a settler will he has to balance conditions. B^ i- Freshets and Tidal Overflows. The Fraser River and tributaries of it overflow a iK)rtion of the prairies in this district for a short time in early sunnner, when the volume of water in the rivers is increased by the drainage which follows the melting of snow throughout the country. This rising of the water is called a " freshet." The whole Pacifii slojx; — California, Oregon, Washington territory, and British Columbia, — owing to the physical structure of this part of tlie continent, is more or less liable to severe Hoods over low lying districts near rivers. The rivers generally rise quickly. The sea also comes over a ix)rtion of the land near the mouth of the Fra.scr — generally in stormy weather in winter. This happens jicrhaps two or three times in winter, for a few hours at each time. These tidal overflows do not interfere with cropping. The above mentioned "summer freshets" do not overflow the.se " tidelands." Parliament has lately passed an Act to facilitate dyking. New Westminster District. — Special Description. T will describe the Now Westminster district, beginning at the mouth of the lUver Fraser :— We find there extensive, low, rich " tidelands or flats," free from timber. WEST CASCADE KEOION. 51 I'lioific Bt. A 3 rivri leys, (lintel y miirif*!''* ., ns tilt [ituro ot iiii\, tlu- the cost 4 " crazy itniinster 1 will Ik' uci! tlian will givi' cttlers in situation, J tiniWv; svAVA atxl a suttltT hrairics iii Iter in tilt' liroiijiliout .)lu racifii lumbia,— Ivo or less V\\Q. Frnscr |o or three k-a ilo not i" do not m. month of timber. with patches of willows, rosohushos, and, nlx)ut the lK)nler I'f hi^luT '^roiinil, inih-apitU's. A coarse j;ra«s, calleil " swamp liny," is pleiitiliil. There are n ■^ixA many salt-water 8lou>;ii«, which add to the diJliculty of dykinj;. I'arni after farm is heiii^ occupied in this seetinn, and there is rt)om for M't tiers. 'I'iiero are 1!U,(J0() acres of very };(x>d land in an island l)iitween the ijurtii and south arms of the I'raser. On the no'ik ann, a itunill settlement of alxiut 120 farmcrn ; oOO acres iiiltivnted; samples of rwl and white wheat descril)ed an r>i feet hi^h, yieliliim HO hushels to tiio acre; average of course less. Two i)otatoea t' Hreely Prolific") yielded G7 lbs. Timothy hay, barley, oats, jieas, &e., good. A few ((rasshoppors ap|H'ared in IH"-. Churches, Beli women, !."> white children, and 10 hall-breeds. Mud bay — oyster-lMnls, ^h nearly all timbered, it is of a nature requiring very little labour in clearing'. Perhaps the IwHt of the whole view of the Lower Fraser district — a view- very extensive and beautiful — is to bo had from the top of Discovery Mountiiiu ill this neii;hbourhood. I will sketch in the Api)eiidix one year's history of these Sumass and (!hilli whack Sittlements by giving extracts from local newspapers, and thus will photograph a settler's life in the New Westminster district before the mental eye of the intending emigrant. The winter was the worst known in America for forty years. I will also give in the Ajiiieiidix an abridged Bix'cial report on this district generally. (See Appendix.) The New Westminster district and Vancouver Island district, already ilescrilied, are the only two jiortions of the West Cascade region that are "settled." It would appear that another part of this region is worthy of attention, namely, the country in the neighbourhood of the Naase and Skena Rivers. Nasse-Skena District. Steam vessels from Nanaimo now ascend the River Skena. It is one of the routes selected by miners in order to reach the district of Omineca (Peace lUver). This river is acquiring imiwrtance, and will piobably require some lighthouses and buoys. The River Nasse is a little further to the north than th' Skena, and derives a certain amount of importance from its giving access to a m >re northern region than that nearer the Skena, and from the fact that that eg ion is also rich in gold mines. (SeeCassiar mines page 77.) Both are valuable also for their fisheries. They receive the waters from or near the Lake Alal, which is on the high lands. The River Nasse is quite close to the frontier of Alaska, which by no means detracts from its importance. The steamer ' Union ' ascended it in 1865 to a distance of more than. 25 miles from its mouth. The following account is taken from the 'British Colonist,' Victoria, 17tli September, 1872 :— "Messrs. Steele and Shorts, who went to Omineca by the Nasse River route and returned by tlio way of Fort St. Jamea and Fraser lUvur, arc loud in their praise of the magnificeat tracts of farming WEST CASCADE HEOION. 53 UimI over which thcjr piuMil in RoinR uvi cotnlnR. On th« Niuhm> for forty milM ahDvr tu mimlh, |.iri(c Kriw-iy fluU nprrml out llko tiblfn on iltliiT iiiilf. They mitc not ilUiliiitlar l>i tliu ilrltit Undit 111' till" Krmwr, excrpt thitt thry will nut ri'iiiilr<> clykliiK lo lie broUKht nndiT ciiltlvinlon. Krniii llm niMulli lu the KiilU uf NiuiM> I'.lver In r»rty nill<-ii. I'u tlilt point, uml jlMjve It imMu, tli<> rlviT niny III* iiavi((at(>(l liy itti'ani)-rH of light ilriiiiKht. On cltlipr iil)|i> of the river nre ImnxMiiu' trurlN of pralrlr* lanil ; hut the tlniKt tractt in tho pruvincc llr U-twrcn thu Nuimo nnd Ski'nn. The ilUtanco betwrrn till' rivrr* la atiout • InuMliiil «n'n, nivrri-)! with Willi tiiniithy kiii'e hiRh (It »im In Jii'iii uhi'ti tin' truvilliTit cmiitiil), well wnti-ri'il hy nniHll lirookx, anil here uml thiTu N'ltH uf tinilicr or Imlluii imluto-patth)'!. I'houitantl* of arri'it a ilrlvcn the entire ilUtance— the Indiuiui IiuvIiik theru nuiint^klned a kuon brldgen ucroM KiiU'hen and river* are among the nioHt mnrvellouK olijertu yet dlKCovered In the country. One of tli'iie I'rIilKt'H l« four feet wide and a hundiiil and tweniy-llve feet long, and Kpatii a ravine M'veMty fi-et above a rnnnlng Nireain. It iH-arii the iippcarami' uf great nnti<|Mily, lint U |ierfectly Mifi' and .itrung. At thin bridge there li« a wonderful >>pring of aweet Hoda-water, of which the party ilraiik with great rellah, ItH niedirlnal qualliieo, an nii'iitloned by thu ImlianK, are astonishing. In .liine, NiiKKe Klver wan full of oolaehaiiH and Nalnioii. The ■ i-aloh ' wait simply enornmns, and a* eviiliiica of the equable character of the climate and the en|iabilitli M of the country to .-^upiiui t a large |Hipula- tion, we nmy nienlion that the Indian tribea Inhalilting thU section are more nunieruuH than In any other •eclliiii of the province, and that game in very pli'ntifni. lietwpen Fort .St, Jainei and Nntlmi Klver another inagnineent country wiu cKwued. At the Ilmliion Hay Coin|>any'it xlatlon^ acreit of wheat, oAtH, barley, Uans, kt:, were thriving In the open air, while thu tablea wvru graced with white li.'U and Arctic trout and guiue." Another writer savH :^ " There Is a nice little prulrle lietween Ilabine and the Fork* of Skena where a hundred lettlcr* Kiuld easily Itiid room to Imate. The noil in black vegetable luuin, with red tup graivi, and a slre.i'ii riniM thriiUKli it. This creek is a branch of thu Aqullgate (named after a tribe of Indinim who ilweil III the neighljourhooil, who are very pi'aceable and well-dlipowd to thu wbiteit). They are inoitlly Uoinan Oatliollrs. Ilabine I", from all account.4, the bo.st llNliing htatluii In thu country; the Indiana catch iialnion and Ralinun-truut the whole your round. The timber In this section uf the country la moRtly apruce and black pine." Some years ago ^[ajor Downie ma*lc similar sttitcmcnts in liis report of an exploration o( the Skena Hiver and country, lie says that, after pas.sinf; flu) coast range, the valleys present extensive tracts of gootl lantl well suiteil for settlement. lie took two days to traverse one of them, which he says is n» line a farming country as one could wish to see. On a lar;j;e tributary on tlio north side, within this territory, the land is described as <.aiod and well adapted for farminjj; ; and there the Indians grow plenty of jiotatoes. Ho descrilx* lino flats running back to the mountains, which recede four or five miles from the river ; si^aks of the Skena country being in parts the l)est-looking mineral country he had seen in l?ritish Columbia; alludes to gold which ho found there ; mentions that the Hiver Skena passes through an extensive coal country, the seams cut through by the river varying from three to thirty-fivo feet in thickness; superior to any that ho had seen in Vancouver's Island (where the mines at Nanaimo and elsewhere are already of value comiiier- cially), or in British Columbia; and in other rejiorts he says salmon and other fish are in inconceivable abundance. Major Pope, chief Engineer of an American Telegraph Company, who sur- veyed this j)ortion of British Columbia, stated in his Reports that t)pen, gra.ssy plains, with trees interspt-Tsed as in a park, appeared near the Skena, particu- larly as its head-waters were approached. Again, in the Victoria ' Standard,' towards the end of 1872, a writer, describing the passage from Victoria to Skena, said : — "The entire voyage Is very lUtlo different from river navigation, except in one or two places that have to be crossed ; to those who think tliat the iiortlon of country extending up to Stekni Klver 5i WEST CASCADE REGION. U of litttn valiip, allow me to My ituch wilt jtoon be proved to be otherwise ; timt ainidnt tlir uppan-iit (IfNoliition will spriiiK lip tuwiM, vllUgeii, liamlfMii, kc, whicli tlii> untliinlcing truvellcr will smil" ■ INii vjhL-n yuu cull liin attention to sucli a |)OH>ilillity. Yet Hiich will be amliUt tlioae mountain faslncMcM ; many a rich mineral ilrpodit ll< h litildrii for the prpHcnt, liut will be iliMiivemt and devoloped im man'/ rKiuIn ments cnll for tb"'ni [•'iirtlicr, I am Informed thiit north of th- Oniineca country will \x- found land for farmiiiK |>iir]Mi' nunc in the province, 8o tliat In a few ypura }ou will have a diatrlct even of moro lm|)uituncu to ua here than in Cariboo." It is possible that a practical farmer might find drawhncks to settlement in this Nnsse-Skena country which were nut ajiparent to travellers i»assin.; through it at a fr.vourable soason. A part of it may be like the beautiful Kwampy interior of Newfoundland. The Indians niii^lit at present 'je troubU- some. The moisture might int( rfere with harvesting. I must, however, add that statements of the same kind as tlie idx)ve were made to me in California last year by an American .scientific gentleman who had sjwnt a considerable time in that jKirtion of British Columbia, 8t>;dyiug tiie character and knguage of the natives. lie was well acquainted with the whole Pacific coast, and apjieared to think that not the least promising part of British Columbia was in the neigh- liourhood of the Nasse and Skena rivers — a gold-bearing territory with mocean. The climate of the district near the coast resembles that of the New AVest- niiiister district, with considerably more moisture. Queen Charlotte Islands Are visible on clear days from the mainland as a hazy outline. Three prin- cipal islands — Graham, Moresby, and Prevost; probably much like Vancouver Island : western side more rugged than eastern side ; southern islands lower than northern ones ; Moresby Island high in interior ; long stretch of tlat land skirting whole eastern cojist ; islands densely wooded, chiefly "spruce" and fine cypress ; alders on the flats ; undergrowth luxuriant, chiefly salal ; no deer nor wolves. Natives jilant i)Otatoes and turnips ; climate mild and very moist; little snow; 1st April no snow on lowlands; during that month mos- ^piitoes and humming-birds. Indians tall and fitir coiiiplexioned ; both se.ves good-looking ; intelligent ; good artistic skill ; courageous, but cruel and vindictive ; are becoming more used to strangers, but not to be trusted yet. As regards the value of these islands, it is irobable that so long as better jwrtions of British Columbia invito settlers, vhesc islands will only attract the attention of the hunter and mi Gold har. l)een found on them, and anthracite coal, &c. Hunters might mid it profitable to kill sea-otters, whicli :iro numerous on the western shores. The furmin i, capabilities of the islands, like those of Vanccmver Island, will probably p"ove to bo greater than is now supjiosed. But at present it is believed that *hc fierce character of tin; natives would render any attempts at permanent setilements, unless in strong parties, dangerous. Winter Care c Stock. — West Cascade Region. See remarks on this subject for Vancouver Island, p. 40. These api»ly (o the whole West Cascade region of the province, as well as to Vancouver Island. From a sketch by A. U. DalUta, Kt>((. East Cascade Region. I liave (li'ScrilKJil tliu West Cascade re;;i()U of the province. 'J'ho eiiii;4rnnt, if lie choose the West Cascade region, may either settle in Vancouver Island or in the New Westminster district, or he may become a jiioncer in the more northern Nasse-Skena district. Tlio Kiust Cascade re;j;ion now demands attention. This irrcat rej^ion, lying between the Casciide Kange and the Rocky Range (see Map) is about 800 r'iles long from corner to corner. A straight line, jiorth and south, would g'^e about 420 miles in length — the breadth varying Irom 200 to 2'jr) miles. This region is not level, as might be inferred fn'in the Emigration Map. In fact, its surface is a series of continuous upheavals, among which (to speak of the best known jxivtion of the region) we may dist-'-guish three generally jiaralU'l ranges, or masses of mountains lying between the valley of the lower portion of the Fraser River and the Rocky Mountains. These ranges are — lirst, the Cascade, immediately east of the Fraser (at this part 3000 to 4000 feet liigh, and 40 to 50 miles broad) ; secondly, the Gold Range, cast of the Columbia River (2000 to 5000 feet high); and thirdly, the Selkirk Range (7000 to 1)000 feet high), lying east from the Arrow Lakes and enclosea within the ^'Rig Rend" of the Columbia — so called because the river has to make a great l>end to get round the Selkirk Range. (See !Map.) The Selkirk and Gold momitains may perhaps, broadly, be considered as llanking ridgos of the Rocky Range. The Gold Range presents generally, west of the Lower Arrow Lake, a rolling hilly surface, and descends irregularly, and rather rajjidly, to a sea-level of about 1100 leet njiind Okanagan i^ake ; lUOo feet round Nicola Lake ; 800 to 1100 feet at Kaniloops Lake. Going towards the north, the country tends again tense of irrigation is not an outlay like rent, or like the cost ol clearing. Irrigation is rather to be classiil as we would class niiinuring. Tin crops fully justify the outlay. The irrigating farmer has neither to clear noi to drain. His land is generally free from weeds and insects, and does lutt wear out. Another advantage is uniform quality of croj) — the farmer being independent of seasons. The ' Kocky Mountain News ' (Colorado) lately said — " Some weeks ago a shipment of flour from the Rough and Ready Mills " of Denver was made to Boston, and so lii.;lily prized there that an order " ciune back for fifty cart-loads, lieing always grown by irrigation, it is not '^ cs EAST CASCADE KEOION. " surpi-iHing that it hIiouUI be better than the wlieat of California, which is ■*' not irrijratetl, and varies in quality with difl'ercnt seasons." This nuittor of irrigation is second in inijiortance to none. Individuals ^ilready have done much in British (Jolunibia; associated oll'ort will do more, and by-and-by the jirovince, and jn'rhaps the Dominion, will help. 'J'he deptli c;'.l irrigation on some considerable systematised scale will bo lossible — unlike California, where, •iiwing to the structure of the country, irrigation nmst be on a gigantic scale, if undertaken at all. A few words may bo added to explain the general jjrinciplc of irrigatiini to rovinco about .'}r>,000 head of horned cattle, (5000 to 7000 horses, 12,000 to 10,000 sheep, and about 10,000 pigs — three-fourths of the cattle, and jierhaps of the others also, being on the mainland. Farmers there have from 200 to 1000 cattle. C'attle multiply rapidly, and grow very large. Prices of course il'.'pend on quality to a large extent, but a rough average wouKl give 10'. (50 dollars) for a cow ; 20/. (100 dollars) for a horse; 1/. (5 dollars) for a pig; 1/. 8s. (7 dollars) for a sheep. The bunch grass is a favourite grass. It grows over extensive areas — low s warm, dry localities — never cea-ses to grow — heart always green, thoiiuii •outside dried ui) — sugary taste perceptible — makes cxcellrnt Ixjef — fattens KAST CASCADE HEGION. Pi<» c.itde more (jnickly than stall-fcctling (if weatlicr is s^txid) — yeurliiig steer lias Ikcii known to WL'iuli t»00 lbs. dressod — fiiil-|_'rown I'JOO lbs. and more, tfd oiiliroly on {jntss — six to eigiit weeks ou bunch <;iass will make the leanest beasts of burden quite I'at — horses leave ^rain to eat bunch-jj^rass hay — bunch _'ra88 goes more to fat than milk, so is not Ix'st for dairy i»uri)08e8. JSunch grass is delicate — roots take slii^ht hold of powdery soil — sheep croj* it too closely — lar^e flocks in a small area will kill the grass — horses and mules cut the recta with their iKwfs — cattle injure the grass least, as their iioofs are cloven, and they do not bite closely. If bunch gnuss is destroy»'d, wild sage and absinthe usually a])|>ear ; llitso are good cattle food, especially for winter. Sheep are very Ibnd of black sage. Here and there in this region are alkali sinits, frequently alternating witli illuvial patches, on the banks of rivers. An alkali 8i)ot is not considered a drawback to a cattle "run" — heljts to fatten cattle — stranger cattle sometimes lick too much — swell and sicken to death — antiilote is oil or fat — alkali spots >liould Ix) avoided on dairy farms — alkali makes cows lose milk. Alkali is not lound, however, to hinder the growth of cereals. When mellowed by cultiva- tion, alkali land in IJritish Colund)ia produces very fine beets. In Eastern Oregon, and in Idaho, alkali lands, mostly covered with sage brush, have proved well adapted to raising grain. A Word to the intending Cattle Farmer. In districts grazed by large bands ttf cattle it is well to have summer and winter ranges. The grass thus gets time to recover. The lower lands, such as terraces of valleys, make good winter ranges — wind blows snow away and leaves knolls, flats, and even great jKirtionsof the surface quite bare. Mountain ranges are cool in summer, and the cattle get some change of fotnl by going to them, as altitude apjK-ars to chnnge the quality of the grass. About 10 acres ix;r head will feed a band of cattle throughout the year. It is not uncommon for men to buy cattle with their wages, and let them run with their employers' herds. These cattle may be exempted from 8«>izure for debt in certain cases, when the agreement to " farm " them is registered. A man may begin cattle-farming witli .\ 'and of L'o or 30, a yoke of draught oxen, neck-yoke, logging-chain, horse, saddle, axe, grindstone, and, of course, A supply of " gnd)." A beginning on a considerable scale might be made with the following stock : — l)» » -t »> ■''-' >» ' Y()od for men 350 Rent of leased land 250 Material, &c 300 Total 5175 ( = £1095) ^ 60 ;ST CASCADE REGION. > i The iiicicase of stock would iHjjiin at once, and Iw very r pid. It would Iw well to have also jtigs, as they forage largely for thcniselvps, and jwrk is iti demand in a mining comnuuiity. Interest of money is not shown in the alwvo. 'J'he owner's own labour should bo thrown in to reduce the labour bill, and all money outgoings strictly watched. The farm shouM be as suitably placed as i)ossiblo for markets. Its suitableness is increa.scii when it hns good natural Ixjundaries; also when wild hay grows on or near it, and when it has gotnl outdoor shelter — springs that do not freeze uji — dry sleeping grounds, few slipi)ery spots or water sloughs where cattle may injuiv themselves or l)e drowned. The cattle, if ix)ssibl(', should be those accustomed to the district or climato. Get an Indian to watch them, but help him yourself at first, particularly when other bands of cattle are passing the " run," or your young ones will stray — cattle take time to know one another and their " run." Having secured his "run" and his stock, tho "stock-raiser," as the cattle farmer is called, then chops trees and prepares tho framework for his steailing — hauls them to the place — fi.\e8 a day for neighbours to help to put up tho framework — at his leisure, afterwards covers in the roof — makes win- dows — daubs gaps — next he has his "corral," or cattle-fold to make — think well about this — much depends on a good, well-placed " corral." A word on winter fo«>d here also. It is common to say that no winter fooil for stock is necessary in tho East Cascade Region. This is true to the fol- lowing extent. Generally s^ieaking, if the grass has Iwen spared duriii;^ summer, there is enough for winter foo. lH;en lon^ knt)wn and dreaded by owners of lierdn in MisHonri and Kansas, nml to aoniu extent in Kentucky, Tennessee and Vir^iniiL Jt became unuHually HerioUH in the track of 'J'exas cattle beyone, and thenco start eastward. A'tVy- lume valley thickly timbered ; Suinulloiv valley, superior land. On the tikngiC the lands are described as beautiful and fertile, though shut in; niouutaius capped with snow; the narrow valleys covered witli tho " finest bunch-grass* that man over saw ;" good bottom-land along tho Skagit, and along the little winding streams flowing into it, " fringed with verdure." IJefore reaching i'rincettm (1G50 feet above sea-level) country becomes more open; bunch- grass ; tirs at intervals ; light soil ; good pasture ; little arable land ; a jiastoral and mining district ; hot in summer ; sharp cold in winter ; little snow on the general surface, but occasionally fiuite deep on the mountains between Princeton and Hojie ; iwriodically a severe winter ; 1872 was one. The entire country for 160 miles along the trail from Princeton, j)ast Osoyoos, Kock Creek, and to the great prairie at the bend of Kettle lliver, is almost free from timber, and abounds in food for cattle ; game abundant ; delightful "camping out" weather, generally, almost up to November; gold indications everywhere. A trail somewhat over forty miles in length, branches rr f)4 EAST CASf'ADE nEUION. <>IT two miloH Im-Iow rrinccton to tlio Okanngaii Lrc> Arc ninny Rix)tR iM'fwccn tlin Siniilkiiinci'ii Viilloy and ( >kjinii;;iiii, (i/f»r<«//// fiivonrAMn lur Itiriiiin;;. On hoiuu uf these thu snuw never lies, huwevcr much uuiy Lu iU'uund. Bimilkameen Valley. . This valley extrnds fifty-five iiiilcs from Princeton to the frontier (nov Map). MoMMtniiiH iKmlcrin;^ tlie river nrv pniiiile, preeiiHtone, ntid qiuirt/, ciipiKHl Willi blue iiixl brown rlay Hliite ; clny of Hiafy texture Htaineutli-i-i\Mt nii^le nf tlic pruviiur nmoni; the flunking ritlgeit uf tlio Kucky mngo; n wi'll-known anliiml>in,Hay for ahont 200 miles U»ng and r» miies wide ; g(xxl grass; timk-r and water privih-ges; lieat and coM rather extreme (lur British Columbia) — Noveml)er 14th, IHTiJ.six inches snow on the ground — November I9th, 1H74, one foot snow ; facilities for irrigation favourubli- ; capabilities of the suil are Ix-'Coming known afti-r trial. Wdd Horse Creek — fine dairy farm — gooil stock, grain, and vegetables. Joseph's Prairie — the same — Columbia lakes the same. At the Coluuibia, a fine farm of 5000 acres, rented for gra/.ing ; believed to \)o good arable — along tlie streams flowing by the side of mountains crowneti with ixTiwtual .•«uow in this district, almost all kinds of vegetables am \>v grown ; (luality excellent, jMrticularly the i»ofatocs. Every Chinaman has a vegetable i>atcli. What is produced finds ready sale in the mining camps. Cattle at present in thi.s district: I'JOO head of stock and lieef; 15.') cows; 5 bullocks uso^ M o / Photographic Sciences Corporation S ■ ^^. ^ f-> ^ ////, ftp #> 66 EAST CASCADE REGION. The weird, uncommon, gigantic features of the country, the graud scale on which its scenery and natural products arc presented to the eye, make men at first feel dwarfed, discouraged ; but there are great sources of national wealth in a territory with such a situation, with such haibours, climate, soil, and minerals. Much has to be overcome, but the future is certain. Okanagan Country. Very fine stock country, and will also produce grain; yields fall-wlieat only without irrigation ; spring wheat 1{ to li tons per acre, Avith irrigation ; also profusely oats, barley, Indian corn, iwtatoes, tomatoes, musls-melons, water-melons, 'grapevine, tobacco. Summer warm, has shown 98° in the shade ; cold is sharp in winter, but weather clear and sunny, snow seldom deep, and never lies long ; cattle, horses, aud sheep, as a rule, unhoused in winter ; moderate preparation, however, recommended. The lake, 70 miles long by li mile wide : country to the east of it a fair sample of the best districts between IJocky and Cascade Kanges ; open, grassy hills, dotted with trees like English parks, successive hills and dales; lakes, ponds, and streams full of fish ; soil much the same general character as the Similkameen ; rich sandy loam, substratum of clay in some valleys ; stretches of "bottom" land; some alkali p.atches ; settlers coming in fast and taking up land since Canadian Pacific llailway survey began. Those who would have " sold out" a year ago are now tilling and improving their laud. It is said that in Okanagan and adjoining districts, there is room for a farmin:^: population of 10,000 souls (allowing 160 acres for nine persons). Roman Catholic mission-post (1100 feet above sea-level) on the east side of the lake ; fine country behind it. On the west side of the lake, a little distance back, rnus a low moimtain range, from which detached spurs press upon the lake, and rise above the water in precipitous bluffs ; excellent pasture, particularly on small spits jutting into the lake. The Cherry Creek Silver Mine has boon abandoned for the present. Near the north end of the lake is an Indian reserve of very choice land. Kamloops-Shuswap District. Let us enter the distriof, fn^m the east. Columbia River is 44 miles from Shuswap Lake, vifi, Eagle Pass. Three Valley Lake (altitude 1912 feet) is about 34 miles from Shuswap Lake. Directly south from Three Valley Luke is a long, wide, grassy valley, which leads across a low " divide" to the head- waters of the Shuswap or Spilleraeechene River. This is a gentle river flowing through a large valley, much of which has clay subsoil ; fine fall-wheat without irrigation ; very good and heavy crops here ; only about half-a-dozeii energetic settlers ; large farm-buildings ; wy lakes and marshes. Reindeer are numerous on the great mountain plateau near the head of the Chilcotin River. Soil probably light on the higli land, and rich near some of the rivers and lakes. Climate hot in summer, and very shi.rp in winter ; the slopes opposite depressions in the Cascade Range, probably will be found the most suitable for crops, as far as climate is concerned. Another large section of the province, cast of the Cascade Range, is not much known yet, namely, the section extending to a great distance noith and west from the elbow which the Fraser River makes to get round the Cariboo Mountains. Some part of this country has been described in my account of the Nasse-Skena district. (See West Cascade Region.) Hudson's Bay Company officers describe this northern region as a hunting and mining region, containing, however, largo tracts of good pasture ; pro- bably a good deal of winter fudder for cattle would be required here. Wheat has been raised at Fort George (but was liable to night frost nips) ; barley and vegetables at Fraser's Lake; potatoes on the lake slopes ut Stewart's Lake (the hollows are liable to night frost). Humming-bird common at Stewart's Lake in summer. A fine country is also spoken of as existing " between Fort St. Jame;) and Xation River;" gx)d land also between Babine and the " forks" of the Skeua. (3n the whole, tl ough much of the above section of the country north and west from the great elbow of the Fraser is known to be mountainous and swampy, it probably is as habitable as some inhabited countries of Northern Europe. Under the stimulus of a demand for stock or produce, such as mining- camps would produce, the district doubtless would show considerable even farming results. ' Markets. A word or two will explain the existing provincial markets for farm pro- duce. Victoria and Cariboo are the chief markets at present for surplus 72 ' MARKETS. stock or produce not wanted in the fainieis' own locality. A farming emi- grant must consider this in choosing his " location." The Island District, also New Westminster District (after the latter has supplied the town of New Wes'^miuster, and to some extent the towns of Hope and Yale), also the Similkameen District, may be said to look largely to the Victoria market. Okanagan, Nicola, and Lillooet settlers would look partly to the Victoria market as an outlet for stock, but the roads have until lately hardly enabled them to reach it. Osoyoos and Kooteuay consume most of their own produce at present. It is said that Victoria imports butter from the eastern provinces of Canada, and buys 15,000Z. worth of beef-cattle every year from the American territory opposite to Vancouver Island, but this import of meat supplies should diminish with the improvement of roads in the province enabling the provincial farmers to supply their own markets. Settlers in all other parts of the country than those named above, depend mainly for markets on the gold-mining localities of Cariboo, Kootcnay, Cassiar, &c. The consuming power of a mining-camp of hard-working gold-miners, is probably equal at least to that of a town with four or five times the number of inhabitants, composed of both sexes, and young and old. The settler will see on the map the position of these chief consuming centres namely, Victoria and Cariboo. In choosing his " location " the settler further will look to the future. He will consider where it is reasonably likely that gold, coal, or silver mining land may be discovered, or where any other industry, such as cattle or sheep farming, or fishing, or saw-milling is likely to concentrate population. For instance, think of the industries and occupations radiating from Ca'iboo — the mining heart of the mainland — consider the unsupplied demand for beef, butter, &c., in commercial Victoria, or reflect upon what King Coal has done at Nanaimo. A single coal-mine in full work appears to be worth an addi- tion of at least 1500 to the population, probably more, if one considers the workmen and their families, the trades they support, the visitors in vessels, the farming districts which supply the mining neighbourhood with meat and vegetables. If the other coal mines now being opened on the east coast of the island begin work vigorously, and a demand continues for the fine sand- stone from the Newcastle Quarry, the east coast island farmers will have a home market for whatever they produce, increasing beyond their power to supply it, and Victoria must continue to look to the New We»ecial an indiustry a« gold-niiuing. The mining camps of British Columbia are as orderly as English villagis. /. English) licence secures a miner in his rights. No- liirtlicr tax is levied. The nature au3a8e's and Thibcrt's Creeks, and are for the most part shallow or placer diggings. A large number of miners worked there during the summer of 1874, with, as usual in gold-mining, very varied success. The general result, however, of the season's work was highly satis- factory. Cassiar is likely tc prove one of the most im^wrtant gold-fields of British Columbia. Califomian Experience. The exhaustion of the easier diggings in California has had the effect of creating new plans of management and new appliances and methods of work- ing ; and so will it be year after year in British Columbia. In California, at the present time, many snfall claims are thrown together, so as to be worked on a grand scale under a single business administration. Long bed rock- tunnels are made to secure outlet and drainage to deep and extensive basins of gold-bearing gravel, covering often many individual claims, none of which could otherwise have been worked. Various other labour- and money-saving expedients have been adopted to aid the effect of this co-operation of labour and consolidation of interests. Not the least remarkable fact in California is, that new kinds of mineral deposits have been discovered, additionally to the ordinary " placers " and " quartz veins." (In British Columbia we have not yet even begun to work our quartz veins.) Successively in California have been 78 MINING. ltronp;lit to lij;lit those singular detwsits known ns "gold bluffs "and "gold T)eaches ;" the " doad rivers," with their strata of auriferous cement and gravel ; the deep hydraulic banks, almost mountains of gold-bearing material ; the beds of " goHSixn " and broad bt'lts of slate, also auriferous; and finally, the "scam diggings," consisting of narrow veins of decomposed quartz, nmning irregu- larly through jwrphyritic and other formations, and which, being full of free gold, ftjid, withal, so friable that they can be broken down witli a pick, and often with even a stream of water, are likely to become the sources of extensive and profitable mining. Already a good many have embarked in the business of working these " seaniK." The "dead rivers " and hydraulic banks are worked on a vast scale, being now the principal theatres of placer-mining in California, The auriferous gossans, some of which were worked quite extensively a number of years ago, are again attracting attention. The San Francisco Herald and Market lieview, 17th January, 1873, con- tains the following : — " It is cxirio\is to observe how almost every one of those discoveries of gold which, like Fraser River (British Columbia), «S:c., hati come to be regarded popularly as the sheerest delusions, have all the while been the theatres of a tolerably extensive and prosperous mining industry After proceeding from one descrii)tion of deix)sit to another, our miners return and attack thotfc ■earliest discovered and which had at first been slighted, or perhaps wholly discarded, mider the impression that they were unworthy of notice. " In this manner the vast accumulations of tailings, at first abandoned without any thought that they would ever be looked after more, have since been re-washed, in some cases several times over, and are still preserved for additional operations, when sufficient gold shall have been liberated by further decomposition to warrant the same. ',.'hus it is, certain of our diggings possess a sort of perennial existence, growing out of this power to renew themselves from time to time." The ".hole of the above is a lesson to gold-mining croakers. Coal-Mining. The presence of good coal in Vancouver Island, and its absence on other portions of the Pacific coast, are much in favour of the province. A distin- guished scientific traveller, acquainted with the north-west, Dr. Robert Brown, M.A., President of the Royal Physical Society, Edinburgh, states that the only North Pacific coal specially fitted for steaming purposes is found in the British possessions, all others being of tertiary age and very inferior in quality — slaggy and often sulphurous. " In her ccftil-fields," Dr. Brown says, " British Columbia has, within herself, the elements of lasting prosperity." Distribution of Coal-Fields. The tertiary beds of inferior coal are found in California, Oregon, and Washington (United States) ; and tertiary croppings are also seen here and there in the southern part of the British territory of Vancouver Island, on part of the west coast of the island, and also in the southern part of the mainland. They extend east, with some inteniiption, right across the Rocky Mountains. . MINING. 79 otliev 1 (listin- 5rowu, kt the in the rior in says, and te and |n part iland. tains. Tlic secondary beds of the North Pacific coast, affording very good coal, situated so as to bo more or less capable of being profitably worked — are believed to be confined to Vancouver Island, The coal-fields in the Nasse-Skcna district have not been carefidly examined yet. Anthracitic coal is found in Queen Charlotte Island, which would be of immense value to the whole Pacific coast could it be worked profitably. The I'uUowing extract from the report of tlic director of the Geological Survey of Canada refers to the coal-fields of British Columbia : " It is a circumstance that will yet be seen to have an imixirtant bearing on the future of Canada, that on both her eastern and western shores, one washed by the Atlantic and the other by the Pacilic, coal in quantities practi- cally inexhaustible is found near the water's edge. If this does not in time to come give this country a strong commercial position on both oceans then Buckle's theory as to the influence of natural conditions on civilization and progress will have to be revised, and Canadians will have proved themselves degenerate and shiftless sons of enter{)rising sires. The Comox coal-field, lying between the Beaufort range of hill^ and the Straits of Georgia, extends for a considerable distance along the coast, and includes Denman and Hornbj'- Islands. The Vancouver Island coal is proved to be a true bituminous coal, fur the most part, and the terra ' lignite ' heretofore applied to it is shown to have been a mistake. Anthracite coal, again, is found on the Queen Charlotte Islands, nearly five hundred miles from Victoria, and, from what has already been ascertained, it appears a reasonable inference that the Canadian Pacific shore coal-fields are really of vast extent. The great warm oceanic current, flowing from the Equator towards the North Pole, washes the Canadian shore, making the winters mild, and caiTying fixr north the balmy influences of a moist and warm climate. With open ports in all seasons, as well as abun- r exi^vt must look at pretnced shcop-farmers in Scotland, with whom I have consulted, that a suitiibic breed lor the whole of British Columbia might be found in a cioss between a Cheviot ewe and a Leicester ram. The largo and heavy Cheviot proper would strna tlie wetness of the West Cascade region, as well as the winter cold of the East Cascade region ; but this sheep might not like the hjt summers of the latter. Again, the Cheviot is inclined to roam, and yields comparatively little wool. Crossing a Cheviot t!we with a Leicester ram, however, would produce a sheep which probably would stand both the heat and cold of the East Cascade region ; this crossing would at the same time tame the Cheviot, make the sheep more disposed to take on fat, and would almost double the fleece, while improving the quality of the wool. Wliile travelling in Colorado lately where the climate somewhat resembles that of portions of British Columbia, I was told that the favourite plan there for wool-sheep was to cross imported thorough-bred Merino rams with native Mexican ewes. The latter are believed to be the old Spanish Merino breed, run out, but healthy, hardy, and acclimated. This cross prepared the way for mutton-sheep, crossing readily with South- down or Cotswold, and giving a large frame and fine mutton. There are good breeds of sheep in Oregon (quite close to British Columbia) — Southdowns, Cotswolds, Merinos, and also a cross of the Merino and Leicester. The Merino blood results in the production of short heavy fine wool, which I am told, is found in California to be rather short for the manufacture of " fine goods " and too expensive for " common goods," owing to the shortness and shrinkage. Goats. There is a great demand in America for the hair of the Angora goat — an a) Imal that would proliably thrive well in British Columbia. These animals delight in stony or rocky places. They are more attached* to the place where they have been bred than sheep, are more sagacious, and require less herding. They are inclined to breed oftener than once a year, but should not be allowed to do so. They often produce twins, and having an abundance of milk, are able to rear their young well. On any farm where they thrive well, they are not liable to any disease ; consequently the increase of a flock is very rapid. Goats should lamb when there is young grass. If grass be scarce, and the goats consequently have little milk, or if their udders be tender, they will reject their kids. To make goats take to their offspring is the only difficulty connected with farming them. Young goats, more than old ones, are liable to this fault. After the kids are a month or six weeks old — during which thoy should not be allowed to follow the flock and get lost behmd stones or heaps, or destroyed by beasts or birds of prey — neither young nor old require any particular attention. In fact, they should be left alone as much as possible. When the hair becomes loose it should be combed off for market. FlHIlEKIEti. 87 General Remarks or Wool Growing. Upin the wliilf', it may bo said that the sheep and goat fiirminj; cnpabilitios of Britisli Columbia are wcrtli '^lo atlt;ritiou of practical Hheop-farmcrs in Grejit J^ritain, Germany, Australia, and ^ew Zt.iland. I need not ixjint out the avlvantago of Icinff early in the country to start sheep- farming on the natural i)asture8, bcfoiu ;ihnep-farmins bccojues an att'air of cultivated grasses and enclosures. This is a ^^rcal point. Sheep-land in New Zealand sells high, and there is bat a limited quantity. Victoria, again is out of the question, as every acre of sheeij-livud is taken ii[) (that is, claimed and occupied) right through to Sydney, and heavily tnxeil. South Australia again — there is no surface water ; all well-sinking — whicii is very expensive. The days have gone by for an overseer or manager in thcso countries to get a share, or even an interest, in a run, and aic colonial laws arc pressing heavily on the squatters. -an be of jell, jcry Ithe nil [ity Ible |ich or lire as Fisheries. In speaking of the fisheries of British Columbia, one may almost be said to be speaking of something which has no existence. With the exception of a tew factories for putting up salmon in ♦■ns on tJio Eraser River, and one or two whaling enterprises of a few years' standing, no attempt whatever has lieen made to develop the actually marvellous resource$ of this province in the way of fish. I will, therefore, proceed to give a list of the fish that aro to be found in quantities that would warrant the establishment of liaheries, adding a brief description of tbe habits, locality, and commercial utility of (,'ach class of fish. Description of fish, found in British Columbia and Vancouver Island : — Whale, sturgeon, salmon, oolachan or houlican, cod, herring, halibut, sardine, anchovy, oysters, haddock, and dog-fish. There is no law governing fisheries in British Colimibia. Fishing is carried (m throughout the year without any restrictions. This state of things is well suited to a new and thinly jxipulated coimtry. The restrictions of a close season would be very injurious to the province at p'-esent, and for many years to come. Whale. — On this subject the Hon. II. L. Langevin, C.B., reports : — " 1 saw one of the whalers, the ' Byzantium,' in Deep Bay. She was an English brig, commanded by Captain Calhoun, and on board of her was Captain Roys, the inventor of an explosive ball, which is used in the whale fishery, and which, on penetrating the marine monster, explodes, and throws out a harpoon. Tlio lirst whale against which this projectile was used was killed in 18(38. lu 1869 and 1870, the company made use of a small steam- vessel ; and their success last year induced them to devote to the trade a brig of 179 tons, juanned with twenty hands. " I was assured that, if that expedition proved a success, there is room in our Pacific waters for at least fifty undertakings of a similar character, I observe that, since my return, the whaling schooner * Industry ' has arrived at Victoria witii 300 barrels, or about 10,000 gallons of oil, after an absence of only five weeks. One of the whales killed during the expedition was sixty leet long, and would certaimy yield nearly seventy barrels of oil. 88 FISHCRIKS. " Ou this subject the Blue Book of 1870 coiitiiins the following : — " 'During the ycnr there were three whaling connmniea in oxiHteiicc (one of these has since broken down). Thirty-two whales were killed, yielding 25,800 gallons of oil, worth 50 cents |)er gallon. There was one vessel with boats, and there were two stations with boats, altogether employing forty-niu" hands. The capital invested in this interest amounted to about 20,000 dollars. " ' The dog-fish catch exceeds in imi)ortiince that of the whales. 50,000 gallons of dog-fish oil were rendered, worth 40 cents per gallon. This branch of industry is steadily progressing.' " From another source I have obtained the following information rcsi)ccting 1871:— " ' There are three whaling expeditions now in action in the waters of British Columbia, viz. : — " ' 1st. The British Columbia Whaling Company, with the * Kate,' a schooner of 70 tons, outlay 15,000 dollars. They have already secured 20,000 gallons ; they expect 10,000 more. The value of oil here is 37 cents a gallon. In England it is worth 35/. a ton of 252 gallons. This company have in addition secured already 30,000 gallons of dog-fish oil, worth 37 cents here ix;r gallon, 55 cents in California, and 35Z. a ton in England. " 2nd. The brig * Byzantium,' 179 tons, expenditure 20,000 dollars. Their take for the year is not known. " ' 3rd. Steamer * Emma ' and screw * Industry,' expenditure 10,000 dollars, estimated take 15,000 gallons.'" Tliis coast is considered by an old whaler from Providence to be one of the best fields in the world from whence to start whaling enterprises. The mildness of the climate as compared with northern Atlantic climates, and the sheltered coasts of British Columbia, offer great advantjvges to whale-fishing companies. The Sturgeon abounds in the rivers and estuaries of British Columbia. It attains a gigantic size, over 500 lbs. in weight. The flesh is excellent, both fresh and smoked. No attempt, that I am aware of, has ever been made to put the fish up for market. Its commercial value is derived from the isinglass and caviare which can be made from it. I am not aware of there having been any attempt made to manufacture isinglass in the province. Caviare of excellent quality has been produced. At present I should be inclined to believe that there is no person in the province capable of making isinglass, which is, therefore, a resource entirely imdeveloped as yet. Salmon. — The salmon in the waters of British Columbia arc excellent in quality, varied in species, and most abundant. In the rivers, which they l^netrate up to their head waters, they are caught by a drag-net in the deei> waters, and by a bag-net in the rapids. In the sea they are generally caught with hook and line ; a canoe at certain seasons can be filled in a day by the latter method. The Eraser River salmon is justly famous. They begin to enter the river in March, and different kinds continue to arrive until October, the successors mixing for a time with the last of their forerunners. There is a greater degree of certainty in the periodical arrivals of each kind in this river than at the coasts and islands. The salmon is used fresh, salted, pickled, smoked, and kippered, and for export is put up salted in barrels, and fresh FISHERIES. 8f> ill one- or two-pound tins ; tlio luttcr |irucc8N Im8 only U'cn coiinnonccd (hiriiii; till) past three ycnrd. The article prtxlucMKl is of a moHt excollt-nt (lencriptioii, ami will iloiibtU'HS prove a Hourco of coiisiiUiablo cxj)ort trade when it iHcunus known in suitablu luiuketH. There would ap()Car to be no limit to the catch of Hulinon, but tiie queHtion of market must alwny l)e conHidurcd. Oolurhanii or llouUcann. — This small fi«li, about the size of a sprat, api)ears in the rivers of British Columbia and alwut certain fstnaries on the coast, towards the end of April. Their run lasts alx)Ut three weeks, during which time they may be captuied in myriads. Katen fresh, they are most delicious, and they are also excellent when sivlted or smoked. 'J'his fish produces oil abundantly, which is of a pure and excellent qunlity, and which, some think, will eventually supersede cod-liver oil. The fish are cau>;ht with a ihjIo about 10 feet in length, alon^j; which are arranged, for 5 feet at the end, nails like the teeth of a comb, only about li inch apart. The comb is thrust smartly into the water, brouj^ht up with a backward sweep of the hands, and is rarely found without 3 or 4 fish impaled on the nails. 1 have seen a canoe filled with them in 2 hours by a couple of hands. Cod. — Several kinds of cod are found in the waters of British Columbia, which are excellent both fresh and cured. It has been often asserted, I cannot say with what truth, that the true cod is found on the liiitish (Columbian coast. That, however, remains to be proved. The true cod is found in the waters near Behring's Straits. Ikrrinfj. — This fish also abounds during the winter months, and is of good sound quality. It comes into the harbours about March. It is largely used in the province, both fresh and smoked, but nothing has been done iu the way of export. llalihut. — There are many halibut banks in the waters of this province. The fish attain an enormous size, and are caught by deep-sea lines. They arc only used in the province at present. They are of first-rato quality, and an excellent article of food. Sardines. — These are found among the herrings. I cannot state if they are precisely the fish known to commerce under that designation, or in what quantity they exist ; but they are firm in flesh and excellent in flavour. Anchovy. — This fish is only second to the oolachan, or houlican, in it.s abundance. During the autumn it aboimds in the harbours and inlets, and may be taken with great ease in any quantity. Eaten fresh, they have rather a bitter flavour. Haddock. — This fish, called in the country " mackerel,'' to which, how- ever, it has no resemblance, is a great favourite both fresh and cured. It is caught in the winter months, and when smoked forms a luxurious addition to the breakfast-table. A very large trade will be done some day in exporting this fish to the southern ports of America, where fish is highly valued in a smoked or cured state. Dog-Fish. — This species of fish can be taken with great facility with a line and hook in almost any of the numerous bays and inlets of this province. The oil extracted from them is obtained in abundance, and is commercially 1)0 HEET sua An. of mucli vaIuo. It is prcxluced in mudonituly kri^c qminliticii by tho Indiana, and exported. (Sec Mr. liani^civiii'a Itcport, qnotod above.) (h/nttrs are found iti all parts to mo alinoat certain that Dritiuh Columbia will produco beet .sugar for herself, and jwrhaps alsc* to exjKirt. Tho primary essentials for this mauufacturo aro cheap land and fuel, and pure water — three tliin;^« which British Columbia cjm otler more of than any rc;^ion ii; North America. The uugar uf a civilised country, it is said, costs nearly as much as its wheat, and certainly beet sugar is almost a necessity in British Columbia, where tho cost of carriage to in iny parts of tlu! country must always add so much to the price of imjKjrted c;uk! sugar. Tho demand in the proviuco at present is, of course, in i)ropnrtion to tho jKipulation. The refuse" of the beet ia good food for cither beef-cattlc, cows, or sheep — 3 tons of reluse beet bising equal to U t(ms of tho Itest hay. T believe that for the beet, a mixed soil, not too easily dried, is best. The alkaline matter should not bo in large proportion for sugar, but for spirit manufacture this circumstauco is not so important. Deep ploughing is .1 requisite to success, and oven double ploughing is desirable. Seed, in I']ngland, should be sown by the middle of April. A fair average yield would be 20 tons of beets, and the leaves besides. A beet crop takes largcsly from the soil valuable ingredients — for instance, potash and phosphoric acid — and their waste should bo supplied by manuring with the refuse matter of the sugar manu- facture. The waste liquor of distillation alone contains three-fourths of the abstracted potash. The manure of animals fed upon tlie pulp and the leaves would nearly embody the remaining fourth. Flax Growing. The existence of wild hemp and flax in British Columbia promises well for their cultivation. An immense growing demand exists for these and other fibred plants. New Zealand hemp in 1872 sold for 2ol. to 441. per ton in London ; the tow 121. to 18Z. per ton. The Egyptian Government dresseil flax 43/. to 56?. ; Egyptian scutched 541. to 60?. jxir ton. Flax is a crop which requires much attention. It is not, therefore, likely to be grown by settlers who are hard at work "making" their farms, but older settlers should try this * ^^ as a portion of the regular rotation on their farms. It is essen- tially the small farmer's crop, sown by himself, and cleaned, pulled, steeped, and sometimes even scutched, by his wfe and children. This is the only way in which it can be grown in British Columbia until labour becomes much cheaper. I imagine the best plan at the present time would be to collect wild hemp or flax, also to cultivate some from the best and purest seed, and send several tons of the simple, unprepared plants to be dressed in England. It will thus be ascertained what the wild, and also the cultivated plants. TOBACCO. Ironi BritiHh Columbia arc rospoctivoly fitted for. They may bo fit for fine clothri, or only for ro|)c«, twine, and coarHo fabricH. Flax han been cultivated in Oregon, but only to make oil-cake for cattle. If Briti«h Cohimbin would .show what kind of honip or flax Hho can produce, the next <|iieHtion would bo to got farmcrH in a district to <^row flax regtdarly, and subscribe to build a soutch-niill of a size rcj^ulated by tho pn)bablo wants of the flax-^rrowcra in the iniiuediato nei>;hbourIiood. A small '1-stand mill could bo built for 750 dollars (150/. En.^lisb). Water-power would be best for such mills, au they would only bo worked for part of tho year. Perhaps, as tho ;;rowth of llax increased, practical flax-makers from the north of Ireland mi^ht form in tho province fliix-prcparinp; associations on some principle not rc<|uirin^ tho paying out of high \va;;e8. Land is rich and cheap, water abundant, wood plentiful, and perhaps Chinese or Indian hand labour mi^ht be used. Tlic Government of the province can j^ivo full information as to tho projier management of a flax crop. It may hero be stated that flax is usually grown xprci>8 canoe landed iw at Klnset, by the Sumass. What a noble landscape ! the grass so green, the earth m> cool, the flowers bo beautiful, and the supper ! such a tre^t ! fresh eggs, fresh butter, real tea, and creum that stnacked of mountain thyme. 1 wished to sleep outside; no! 1 wanted to lie outride and watch the stars and the river and drink the ^'ure air all night ; but the farmer Insisted cin giving me a bed. I tumbled in, and was nearly lost in the mountains of (' vn. I assure you I was asioniiihed by the sleep I had here." " January Sth. — The huow has all gone from this neighbourhood, except that which has drifted in low spots. The stock in general are looking splendid; farmers, having plenty of feed, lost none of their animals during the Ia»t cold snap." " Two horses dead from some disease — public meeting about bridges and roads ; removing driftwood from river; fences— the following resolution passed among others : — " ' That the Government make a survey during the coming summer of the Sumai^s Valley, for the purpose of mukitie an estimate of the cost of building a dyke to prevent the flooding by the Fraser at Ligli stages, ot a large tract of valuable land supposed to contain from 15,0UU to 25,000 acres fit for agiiculturul purposi'S.' •' February.— Had weather— rains and snow— three calves eaten by wolves, and some lost in quagmires — some weak cattle diod. " Mcrch lUA.— Weather changeable; has been raining ; cattle doing well ; fall wheat looking well, tliuugh winter was bud; 80 additional acres to be sown in spring— farmers busy ploughing; fences and improvements going on ; two years ago a farm sold for 450 dollars (90J. English), three months ago, 1600 dollars (320J. English). " New gristmill arranged for — school flourishing. " AprU, 15^A.— Weather beautiful— a pinch of frost occasionally— new Tariif disliked— 600 dollars (I•il)^ Kngllsh) subscribed for Wesleyan parsonage— cump meeting to be held before 'high water' this year— seeding not yet finished -had a visit from buyers of work cattle— potatoes shipped to Yale eolii for 2 cents. {\d. Kngllsh) a lb. at the landing. " i/ay 6/A.— Another splendid tract of 'alder brush' land, 12,000 to 15,000 acres, found neor JLitsqul— soil very rich— new road will go near it— 80 feet obove highest water. A twin heifer, after a bad winter, when slaughtered, yielded 62 [ lbs. loose fut. Stock well— new flourlng-mlll begun — seeding about finished- busy planting wheat— both spring and fall wheat forcing Its way out, though the past weather has been bad— delightful weather — bright sun— cloudless sky— balmy air — un- welcome night visitor— a slight nip by Jack Frost— very unusual — mosqultots not appeared. " May 18Wi.— The Fnusor rising fast. " Jane 25tA.— Dry— a few showers wanted— petition about Post-offlce, and against all Uquor-Ucences — school teacher appointed- will bring his family— hotel to be built. " June 28Wi.— Beautiful showery weather— crops well— haying wIU begin In a few days— t'-e placi' now has a eaw-mlU, grist-mill, market, school, and church. " July 3rii. — Too dry— woods seem on fire — water at Its height some weeks .igo- very few mosqui- toes —a farmer 60 acres wheat in one block. " July 20th. — Haying about finished — harvesting commenced — root crops have suffered from want of rain— school opens next Thursday— bush fires raging— smoke annoying. " Augutt 12th. — Fine weather — crops very heavy— the prairies that were flooded at high water have splendid gross- harvesting drawing to close— good crops — forest burning on American side — annual Weslcyan Camp Meeting to be on 3rd September— new parsonage begun -a farmer who sowed 5 bushels of wheat (Chill Club) got 100 bushels — the heads averaged 70 to 100 kernels each — grIst-mlU nearly finished- a fine dwelling-house being erected — mosquitoes disappeared — sent 35 dollars sub- scription to the Royal Columbia Hospital at New Westminster. " September. — Some farmers not quite done harvest — some still cutting wild hay for wintering— one farmer has 50 stacks up— hay very good, owing to low overflow of Fraser River this year — a marriage— thrashing about to commence. Septemier 23rd.— Many farmers busy ploughing for fall wheat— thrashing will be finished soon— another teacher ftrrlyed- some frost on night of I9th— heavy rain 2l8t, and now a gale." APPENDIX. Abridged Newspaper Reports for one year kehpectino the Lillooet- Clinton Country, includino Honapartk, Williams Lake, and up to QuESNEL Mouth. (Sec page 68.) " Bonaparte VuUcy, January l7tA— Stock bus not siiffiTi'd, except a few cattle which ullpped on the Ice — fed on luge-bnish on the side hills, not coverod with snow. " Clinton, February 4th.— UaA been very cold about Christmas, mercury frozen -gradually mode- vated to freezing-point on 10th January — ranged since 10 above to 10 below zero— stock ddng well — sleighing splendid from the Bonaparte up— one firm will have 100,000 lbs. of bacon and bams for Cariboo and Omlneca markets. " Coche Creek, Febmary 20tt.— Winter gone suddenly— sudden thaw— beef cattle rolling in fut — A few exhausted stuck died during winter. " Clinton, March 9<'(.— Spring weather — all .snow gone— a little frost at nights — clear sunshiny days — farmers on the Thompson and Bonaparte busy ploughing — cattle doing well, " Williams Jjike, April lott.— All seed in ground— cattle quite fat— Cache Creek and Bonaparte mild spring weather. " Llllooet, April 27ered land along the foot of the mountain, the Sumass Mountain fills the space. lieacbing Sumass we proceeded up the river, from which it takes its name, thence to tlie Boundary Line, along whicli we travelled and finished our exploration of the country south ol' Mat'tqui. Uere and there small patches of open, fern land occrr; but aside from these the country is heavily timbered, and where the fire has not crossed very fine groves of cedar and fir are found. Hero again is met this immense growth of weeds, oerry bushes, be, which covers the wljole country westward to Langley. The soil beinj; of a rich loamy nature is formed, no doubt, by the constant decaying of this mass of vegetable matter, whidi year after year springs up, and year after year rot- away. Between Sumass and the Boundary Line the land is low and swampy. Sumass Prairie contains an area of nearly 25,000 acres, but much of it is subject to overflow . Considerable high land is contained within Us boundaries, part of which is under cultivation, and th<' results so far, have been not only encouraging, but in some instances wonderfuL Root crops grow remarkably well here, thirty tons of turnips have been raised from one acre. Potatoes, carrots, onions, ic, do equally as well. Now, to illuBtTixte the small amount of trouble and expense attending the cultivation of this land, I will merely instance one field of wheat of eighty acres which was shown me by a farmer, giving nearly his own words. The cost of producing this wheat, tliat is breaking up the soil from its original state, sowing and including seed, did not amount to three hundred dollars, Now,placingthe average yield of tills field at thirty bushels per acre (its appearance would warrant expectations above tlii> a%erage), the reader can form some idea as to the amount of profit on the labour and capital invested. Yet it has been fairly provod, by practical tests, that the soil of the low land, that is the land subject to overflow, is the most productive. And it is a matter of no small regret, that some stejis have not been taken, and some plan set on foot, by which the lands of this extensive valley migln be reclaimed. Guarded on the east and west by the ChlUlwhack and Sumass Mountains, it presents a frontiige to the river two and a half miles long, across which, and between the points of these twn mountains, it is contended a dyke, the average height of which would not e.xceed six feet, would effectually reclaim the whole valley. It is also claimed by practical minds that the actual cost ol dyking would not exceed an average of one dollar per acre. Now ten times this amount per acre would scarcely leave the most favourable timbered land in the district ready for the plough. Bui dyking is something from which individu.-U effort shrinks, and which Individual labour cannot Ixr expected to accomplish in such an instance as this. tVu/tittftacfc.— Leaving Sumass, we proceeded direct to Ciililiwhack, thcr»ce across the country in a southerly direction, along the valley of tiie Cboowallah River from wliich we strike the Boundary Lino. This country, probably six miles in extent, is all timbered, with the exception of a few pat(;hesof open burnt land, the surface broken or hilly; the soU generally good, being light loam with clay subsoil; but on tlie hills sandy, mixed with gravel. The timber, which in places i."^ vahuible, consists of fir, cedar, and Cottonwood, with thick undergrowth of vine-maple, hazel, and dogwood. In this stretch of land, and about three miles from the Sumass Settlement, is also situated a cranberry marsh of about five hundred acres. Along the valley of the Choowallah River several flats were under cultivation by the Indians, and very good crops of wheat, timothy bay, potatoes, &c., were produced. In fact I foimd all along, from Sumiiss to Cheam, the Indians were fast following in the footsteps of the whites In the matter of farming; nearly every little settlement having its patches of cereals and root crops. Returning from this point we proceeded up the valley of the Ghilliwhack River to the base of the mountains; distant from Fraser River about eight miles. The features of the country here are more favourable than along the valley of the Choowallah, the surface being not so much broken, and the soil richer and deeper. The timber consists of cottonwood, vine-maple, and alder, with a few scattering fir and cedar, the latter very large but of a poor quality; the undergrowth, hazel, berry-bushes, and nettles. Coal has been discovered here at the foot of the mountains. Chilllwhock is perhaps the most substantial and best regulated farming district on the mainland, not in the Province; hnt it might not be considered in the nature of this report to proclaim .facts APPENDIX. 95 land tw.. oiiUl cost ol ncre But mot Ix- s, and ELlong, Qatter ing tains; rabU' ■jcher r and Itlcs. tlaudi I &cts which are alrpady patent to even the ciisual observer, were it not for the purpofie of uddticing proof iiH to what can be attained in the matter of fanning on the Lower Fraser by careful Induiitry. iEere arc to Ix; Bccn thoBc t-igns wliich are tlie certain indications of prosperity; extensive and eareruliy cultivated flelda, large and well filled barns, and neat and comfortulilc looking farni-lioiiseH MHTounded with their gardens of fmlt and vegetables. These signs not only point to the great liTtillty I if the soli, but have a tendency to inspire the new settler with hope and energy, and to this fiict may be attributed the large increase of settlers in this neighbourhood during the last thrc<;- months. We found the harvest here to be a week earlier than at Siimass. Leaving Chilliwhack we proceeded along the eastern boundary of the settlement, in a southerly direction towards the mountains. Nature of country: burnt timber, with very thick undergrowtli of hazel, berry, and rose-bushes, and considerable fallen timber. Soil, dark loam with clay subsoil. At the base of the mountains, aud probably three miles from the Chilliwhack Settlement, we crossed a large prairie about six miles long and from two to four wide, covered with blue joint grass, and in places pea-vine. Although at present perfectly dry, it might, in consequence of Its natural drainag<' being obstructed by btuver dams, be at certain seasons wet, possibly partly submerged ; but being much higher than high-water mark on the Fraser, there would be little difflculty in removing this ol\iection. This prairie la about eight miles from the Cliilliwhack landing; and between It and C'hoam, and approaching near the river, two smaller prairies are found, each of about one mile in extent. Leaving the large prairie, and travelling cast towards Cheam, we crossed a grove of very fine green timber (fir) situated about five miles from Chilliwhack Settlement, and bordering on the Cheam Slough ; and two miles furiht- r on we came upon another fine belt of alder land, something similai' in extent to tliat west of Matsqui. The nature of the soil, black loam with clay bottom. The soil here is very deep. The surface of the country level and comparatively free from undergrowth. Nearly all this country embraced within the following boundaries, viz. : Chilliwhack on the west and Cheam on the east, a distance of twelve miles, and Fraser River on the north (including islands) to the mountains on the south, a distance of fifteen miles, may be safely set down as containing more rich agricultural land unoccupied than any other section of the same extent within the limits explored. Although nearly all timbered, it is of a nature requiring no great amount of labour in clearing, if I may except the fir timber which is always more or less liard to get rid of. But tlio settler must remember he has only the timber to contend with. Here he is free from floods; and no stones exist to cover his land with unsightly heaps after the labour of clearing away the timber Is finished. Towards the mountains the timber becomes more scattering, and fern openings and thick undergrowth are met with. Leaving the valley we commenced the assent of " Discovery " Mountain, which is situated at the eastern extremity of the valley. Perhaps the most extended view to be had on the Lower Fraser is from this mountain. From here the river can be traced through all its windings, eighty miles to the gulf; and looks still and motionless in the distance. New Westminster can be seen with the naked eye, and every settlement along the river can be readily distingiii.shed. Sumass and Chilli- whack, the former seventeen, the latter twelve miles away, appear almost at our feet. Here also can be seen, in the country between Chilliwhack and Oieam, new openings made by recent settleni. Turning to the south, and within one hour's walk from this peak, we came out upon an open country, miles in extent, of benches and rolling hills, covered with a species of fine bunch grass, and dotted here and tl)ere with groves of stunted pines. Tlie existence of this country has been known to the Cheam Indians for years ; and according to them no white man has ever been there. I have also the Information from the Indians who accompanied me, that winter commences there in October, and ends in April. This country would Ijo valuable as a summer range for stock, especially sheep. The best approach to it from the Fraser, would be up the valley of a creek which empties into the Fraser eiglit miles above Cheam ; but I am of the opinion that this open stretch of country extends tlirough to the valley of the Similkameen. Ueturiiing to the river we explored round the Cheam Islands. On two of these islands, settlemen t has already commenced ; but miles of unoccupied land still remain. These islands are lightly timbered with fir, cedar, and white birch; with undergrowth of hazel, rose-bush, &c. The soil is the usual alluvial deposit, covered with vegetable mould, and has proved, so far, to be very productive; in fact we found here everything in the shape of root crops, vegetables, &c., which are common to the climate of British Columbia, growing In great luxuriiince. Iletueen Cheam, and Hope. — Between Cheam and Hope no unoccupied land of any extent was found. Crossing the river at Hope, we commenced our explorations westward along the northern bank. Between Ilope and Agassiz Landing, .a distance of twenty-five miles, there is very little worthy of note in the shape of agricultural land. Bare and rugged mountains, with here and there small stretches of land mostly tinUiered with cottonwood, and subject to overflow, make up this portion of the country. At Agassiz Landing occurs (be first break in the mountains. This' open stretch of country is partly occupied, and one of the best cultivated farms met with in the district is to be seen here. The country as far bock as the mountains is lightly timbered, with here and there open patches of grass and fern land, and clumps of vine-maple and hazel bnsbes ; and very little UUflculty would be experienced in clearing any portion of it. Soil, dark loam with clay subsoil. ' i 06 AITENDIX. At thft northern oxtrcniity of thisi open country Ih found a valley or pass in the mountains, about flix roileH long and three wide, lending to the foot of liarrison Lake. Some very good land W nut with hero. The valley is thinly timbered with fir and cedar (burnt). Near HarrJHon Lake the land i» low and wet. Two Cranberry Marshes, the largest about 200 acres, arc also found here. From this point we proceeded down the Fraser to Ilarrlsonmoutb, thence up the Harrison Kiver and T^ake. Along tills route the mountains hem in both rivers closely ; and with the exception of a tract of wet grasii land (400 acres), no unoccupied land was met with, although we ascended the mountains at different points to obtain a view of the surrounding country. At the foot of the lake, to the right, and about half a mile from Its Jimctlon with the river, is situated a hot spring, the steam arising from wtilch can be seen Irom tome distance ns we approach it. Ijeaving Harrison River we proceeded down the Fraser about three miles, and entered what is known oa Harris' Slough. Prairie land Is met with both on the islands and mainland ; this however is nearly all occupied. The rilough is about ten miles long, nnu tenters the Fraser at a point opposite Sumass Mountain. The best pii?ce of unoccupied land bordering on the sluugh, was found near its head on the mainland; its extent about six hundred acres, lightly timlx-red. Leaving the slough we travelled westward to a lake ; thence across the lake to a valley. The extent of this valley Is about 1,600 acres, is partly o<-cnpled as a range for stock, and is subject to overflow. No unoccupied high land, fit for agricultural purposes, was found bordering on this valley, the mountains almost closing It in on three sides. In the centre of the lake, at the foot of the valley, is an Island containing about five hundred acres of the best land met with on the trip down. The soil is the same met with on the Clieam Islands. Reaching St. Mary's Mission we proceeded back to the foot of the mountains, a distance of about five miles. The features of the country here are somewhat different from any met with on the south side of the river. The land is rolling, and stretches of open fern land occur very often, i mean by fern land, land over which the fire has passed, destroying the tinilxT and imdergrowth, and upon which fern has sprung up. Here, also, Is found the first noticeable dllTercnce in the soil from that met with on the south side, which is nearly all formed by alluvial deposits and decayed vegetable matter. The soil here is a sort of red clay, mixed with sand and gravel, and Is formed, no doubt, by the decomposition of rocks, and, to Judge from its lightnea", would not long retain its strength. Between this fern land and the river, and about one mile from the latter, is situated a belt of alder lx)ttom three miles In extent, the surface of which is broken, and in places wet and swampy. Along the base of the mountain, down as far as Stave River, the country is heavily timbered with iir and cedar, and the soil gravelly. Following Stave River up as far as the lake, very little agricultural land. Some very fine timber (cedar and white-pine). Between Stave River and the Keatsy and Pitt Jleadows, the country resembles that met with Tjetween Stave River and the "Mission;" it is nearly all timbered, stretches of fern land. Soil gravelly. Crossing the Keatsy and Pitt IMeadows, up Pitt River to head of lake, thence buck, round foot of the mountains, to LiUooet River. No unoccupied high land fit for agricultural purposes except a small stretch of timbered land situated near the mouth of LiUooet River. Pitt River Meadows. — Pitt River contains an area of nearly 20,000 acres, which is sul^Ject to overflow from all sides. The whole plain is nearly surrounded by water so that dyking is, in my opinion, out of the question. A great many stretches of cranberry marsh are met with thrcugh this ■country to Keatsy. Between Pitt River and Burrard Inlet no exploration was made. It will be seen from this Report, that the greater amount of agricultural land lies on the south side of the river, and that the places most available for immediate settlement are in the vicinity of the l^angley settlement, between Langley and Matsqui, in the neighbourhood of the latter place, and between Chilliwhack and Clieam. t t ^ 1( o n t< ti 11. ut 8C in pli thi its vei ] i 1 I 1 mil opj Abridged Report of Exploration, by Mr. E. Mohun in 1873, East Coast of Vancouver Island between Fort Rupert and Menzies Bay. iSacguasA.— Between Fort Rupert and Clickseeway, extensive ranges of open grass swamps ; but country is not well adapted for settlement; needs draining. Malcdm 7«Ia«d.— Malcolm Island contains about 13,000 acres, but no prairie land is on it; the timber Is open on the northern shore, less so on south side. Soil generally of fair quality ; but w ater scarce. Nimkiih i?twr.— The Nimkish River is a large stream, canoe navigation not bud, no open land on this stream. Soil inferior. ytedgiglai or Karmutzeen fliwr.— Into this lake, at its south-eastern extremity, the Ncedgilgas or APPENDIX. 97 ct to my [this KarmuUnen (faUliig wut«r) Hiver (and marlied upon the chart a$ the Kla-onch, but not known among the Indian^* by any such name) falls. Navigation not good — tlie valley wldins oevvn miles up, and tbn banks aru usually low, level, alluvial flats. The good land on tbU stream is CHilmated at about Siiuo acre.*, most of which would not be e.xpcnsivi- clearing. Unfortunately, available lanil is cut up into detached bloclcs by the mountain spur;) and gravel ridges which run down to the stream. Beaver Cou«.— Up the Cokish Kivcr, which debouches into Heaver Cove near the baae of Mount Holds- worth, a beautiful little valley, well watered, and containing about 1500 acres. Here there is a chain of gross prairies, varying from two or tliree to fifteen acres ; and divided from each other by climips of aider and patches of b.-rry bushes. The whole of this valley might be easily cleared, while there is abundance of timber along its sides for all farming purposes. The soil is of first class quality. Adamt Biver, or Hilatti. — Adams River is a large rapid stream. At the mouth, an extensive Hut of 8000 acres, of which, probably, 4000 are suitable for settlement ; the soil is very good ; the timber, open and easily cleared. Ascending the river, detached flatu, of from one to two hundred acres^, divided from each other by mountain spurs, are passed ; most of these are of good alluvial soil. There Is a trail though but little travelled, which, following a fork of this stream, crosses a low divide into the valley of Salmon River. ScUmon Hiver or A'u«am.— Last, but not least o' the list, Salmon River claims attention. This Is a large stream, the sources of which are believed .j lie in the neighbourhood of Mount Woshiiifilna and Alexandra Peak, while two considerable tributaries take their rise from Victoria Peak and Crown Mountain respectively, and add considerably to its volume in the low portion of the river. The main stream Itself is far from rapid, at all events at low water, and is easily navigable for canoes lor some twenty miles from its mouth ; the current though strong, is not sufiiciently so to render its ascent a matter of difficulty even to inexperienced canoemen, the riffles being unimportant and nowhere dangerous. It Is believed that at moderate stages of the water, light draught steamers would be able to ascend ten or twelve miles. The vuUey may be descriljed as about twenty miles long, vftiying in widih from one and a half to five miles. It is estimated to contain 40,000 acres of land, of which at least 25,000 are eminently adapted for settlement. In these figures it has been my endeavour rather to under than over-estimate. The soil throughout from one mountain rutig-i to the other is of very superior quality. On the banks of the river there is usually a narrow belt nf timber, cedar, hemlock, and a little red fir and spruce, beyond this one finds dry alder bottoms with the trees ten or fifteen feet apart, while grass sometimes and sometimes berry bushes represent the underbrush ; small fern prairies, of from five to ten acres, and clumps of hemlock and spruce are scattered throughout the whole valley, and with the exception that towards the mouth the soil is inclined to be rather more swampy than above, this Is its character for twenty miles. In many places there is excellent feed to be found on the base of the mountains. Si ill higher up the ri\er there is a considerable quantity of white pine, of fair size. The next consideration which presetus itself is as to the modes of i caching this valley, of which there are two. One may be dismissed iu a very few words, and is the only one at present available, viz., by canoe from Salmon Bay. The other is by trail from Menziea Buy which presents the following advantages — Firstly, — Menzles Bay is a good harbour, and lies to the snuihward of the Seymour Narrows. Secondly, — That it is directly on the line of the projected railway. Thirdly,— That it is no great distance from the head of the proposed settlement; and, Lastly, — That the country is f.ivourable for trail making. The only obstacle appears to be a large lake, which extendi from the Menzies Mountain many miles to the southward. Even this, however, offers a convenient pl.ice for crossing, since two opposing points stretch far into the lake, and only leave a gap of some three hundred feet to bridge. I. f lAST 2IES but the hater Id on las or it ♦'" V.,... ■» ^(^ r-, ( «« ) INDEX. •o«- . , PAOE Advice to young farmers .. „ 29 , words of 29 Aliens 30 Batiks, savings jg , other 28 Beast«, eatable 20 Beet, sugar j)0 Birds 21 Board and lodging 22 Bonaparte .. (jc) Books on province 4 Building material 22 Cache Creek (jt) Canadian Pacific Railway .. 5,8,73 (;)apitalista, large and stnall . . . . 27 Cariboo 7g Cascade range 7, 47 Cassiar '77 Cliilcotin ,, 71 Churches 31 Classes, suitable 23 Climate 13-14 Clinton tjg ,^°*|". ■•6,78 Coal mining 73 Columbia River . . . . 14, '55, (j3 Copper mining gl Debt, public 1,5 Douglas fir .*.* go East Cascade Region :— Surface, products, irrigation, grazing, healthiness of cattle, arable farming, description of various districts 55-71 Emigrants, suitable 23 Exports 33 Family (300/. a-year) 20 Farm prices 17 ■ products « • produce in otiier colonies .. 42 in foreign countries 43 Farming 7-10 "Vancouver Island .. .. 37-46 New Westminster District 48-52 East Cascade Region ., 55-71 Sheep farming 84-86 Also see Appendix. Fish, for household use .. .. 21 Fisheries 87-90 Flax growing 90 j Foreigner's impressions .. .. g Eraser's Lake .... 74 00, 00, ana Appendix. Free grants 7 Freestone ,* ,' g^ Freshets " ][ gQ Fruits, wild .. ,. .. ,, " 20 Fuel 22 Game for household use .. ., 2I Goats .... o« trold mining 75-78 Government 32 Harbours 3g Hat River \[ '70 Homestead Act .... ' ^ JJ^'P^ , •• •'•' 68 Hospitals 35 Household articles :— Prices 19 Servants [[ 23 Housing * 21 How to go [[ 26 How to send money 28 Indians 7 Justice, administration of 32 Kamloops 49,66 Kootenay 65,7(5 Lands -, popular names for .. 7 Laws '. 32 Leases :— Land, mining and timber 8 Legislation 32 Lillooet-Clinton District .. ., 69 And Appendix. Lytton 6g Manufactories 33 Markets 71-73,86 Minerals e Mining 74_gi Money table ig in the province 27 , how to send 28 Mcaith of the ' Eraser ' 50 Nanaimo Coal Company . . . . 8, 79 Nasse-Skena District * 52 Navigation (coast) .. .. 10 11 100 INDEX. PAOB Navigation (Inland) 13 Newspapers 81 New Westminster District . . 48, 50 Nicola 49,67 Officers' land grants 8 Omineca 70 Okanngan 48,60 Osoyoos (i4 Pnssage money 27 Population 7 Post rates 31 Prices : — Meat in Great Britain .. .. 45 Cnttlo in United States . . . . 43 And Appendix. Public debt 15 Schools HO Works 85 Puget Sound Compiiny 8 Queen Charlotte Islands . . 54 Quesnel (]9 Boarls 11-12 Koad tax 12 Salmon River 97 Savings-Banks 18 Saw-milling 82 Schools, public 30 Servants, household 23 Sheep-farming ^4 Siiuswap 66 Silver-mining gj Similkameen Valley 04 Snow 5 Soils 38 Stewart's Lake 71 Sugar (Btet) ','. 90 Sumnes and Ciilliwhack 48-50, 63 And Appendix. Taxation 5,15 Telegraph lines 85 Thompson Hi ver J 7, 12 *^ (48,67 Tidal overflow 50 Timber si-84 'Times" opinion 4 Tobacco 91 Tonnage 35 Trade 84 Tninsport and travel 10 Wages 16 Weights and measures 19 West Cascitde Region:— Scenery, soils, New Wi strninster District, Nasse-Skcna District, Queen Oliailotte Islands . . . . 47-54 Williams Lake 69 Wood, prices of 21 Wool growing 87 WordH of advice 29 Working man's position . . . . 17 Vancouver Island, description of. . 37 Ch aring land 40 Cropping 41 Farming land 39 Farm produce 44 Intrior 39 Lalnjur on farms, in 45 Population 37 Piiees of i'arm stock 44 Production 42 Soils 3fi Water 39 Winter food for stock in . . . . 45 Victoria 5 Visitors 6, 19 Yale 68 PAGB APPENDIX. Notes for a Year respecting the Settlements at Sumass and Chilliwack, ;> British Columbia 92 Abridged Newspaper Reports for one year respecting' the LiliooeV- Clinton Country . 93 Abridge.l Report of Exploration, New Westminster District, by Mr. John .? Fannin in 1873 •• ^ 93 ,• Abridged Report of Exploration by Mr. E. Mohun in 1873, east coast of > ancouver Island 96 ,'t ILLUSTRATIONS. Harbour and Site of Victoria .. .. frontinpiece. ' ' ' '■ ■ .Yl^„I°?:JL'.'rJ? ,;.:._:.•. •• •• "«'-;ap« 1 Columbia street, Ncw Westminster ..paoe47 fauk j7 I Kast Oiscatie Utgion „ fi5 Uoverniaent Street, Victoria lONDON : PBIMTED BY WILLIAM CL0W£8 AND SONS, STAHFOBD STBEKT, AM> OHAIUNa CROBR. SPROAT & CO., 37 40 41 39 44 :^9 45 37 44 42 3fi 39 45 5 G8 J2 )3 33 )6 JE 47 65 VICTORIA, BRITISH COLUMBIA. » ( £:stabliHlied 1 8r>r.) Agents for \ *- THE ROYAL INSUEANCE COMPANY, THE ROYAL MAIL STEAM PACKET COMPANY. The ORIGINAL LONDON LINE of PACKET SHIPS. Sole Agents for Byass's celebrated bottling of BASS'S ALE AND GUINNESS'S STOUT, Which are always kept in stock, with a largo assortment of ^ennesseji's, glurtcirs, anb |ii(ts Robin's ^raiibies; DEMERARA RUM \ IRISH and SCOTCH WHISKIES J Red and Green Case Geneva; Old TOM ; Claret ; Orange and Angostura Bitters ; Ronaldson's Sherries and Port ; PFiiCE's Candles; Cook's Soap; Guns; Blankets, &c., for Indian Trade. And other Articles, all saleable, in Lots to suit. AGENTS FOR OREGON & SANDWICH ISLANDS PRODUCE ; ALSO FOR Spars, Lumber, and Tinned Salmon. BANK OF BRITISH NORTH AHERICA. ESTABLISHED IN 1836. INCORrORATED By ROYAL CHARTER IN 1840. PAID UP CAPITAL, ONE MILLION STBRLINO. J. J. CATER. Fm). HKNHY K. KAKKRIl. Ksq. ▲ LbXANUEKOlLLESPiU, Kan. COURT OF DIRECTORS. HKIIARI) H. (ll.YN, E*u. HAMUKL HOAKK, h'^t. W. bUllNLKV HUMK. Emt. J. J. KINUSKOUI), Kbvi. FREDKRIC LUBBOCK, Eun. A. II. Ilill.LHJn.S. ^Mli. J. MUKUAY RObEKlSUX, E*Q. Montreal . Quebec Ottawa . . Arnprior Renfrew Toronto Kingston OE :::} Eatablisljmtnts in 'imtxim. NERAL MANAGER — CHARLES McNAB. Esq. NEW YORK -Agency, 52, Wall Street. SAN FRANCISCO— Ageucy, 217 & 219, Sansome Street. DOMINION OF CANADA Napanee . . . Hamilton . . . Brantford . . Quebec. . Ontario. Paris > Ontario. Dunnville London . . Halifax, Nova Scotia. Stellarton, Nova Scotia. St. John ) St. Stephen .. I New Frederlcton .. [Brunswick. BritiHh iumbia. Monotou Viotoria Stanley . fCo The bank GRANTS CREDITS on its Branches and New York and San Francisco Agonts, payable on presentation, free of charge. Also purchases or forwards for Collection BILLS on AMERICA and COUPONS for Dividends on AMERICAN STOCKS, and undertakes the Purchase and Sale of STOCK, and other Money business in the BRITISH PROVINCES and the UNITED STATES. Deposits are received in the London Office for fixed periods at rates which can be obtained on application. ENGLAND. BANK OF LIVRKI'OOL. BHAIiFOKI) COMMKUCIAL BANKING COM- PANY, YORKSHIRK. HALIFAX ft HUDDEKSFIELD UNION BANK- ING rO.MPANY. MANCHESlKIl ANU SALFORD BANK. UNION BANK OF MANCHE-SrElt. LltllTED. BIRMINGHAM BANKING CO.. LIMITEO. BIKMINGHAM. DUDLEY k DISTIUCT BANK- ING COMPANY. LLOYD'S BANKING COMPANY, LIMITED, BIRMINGHAM. WOLVEUHAMPrON AND STAFFORDSHIRE BANKING COMPANY. MOKVVICH AND NORFOLK BANK (Messrs. GuuNuv & Co.). DEVON He CORNWALL BANKING COMPANY. WEST CORNWALL BANK (MKbSKS. J. Micuabi. Wll.MAHS At Co ). WEST OF ENGLAND AND SOUTH WALES DISTRICT BANK. AGENTS. SCOTLAND. BANK OF SCOTLAND. CLYDESDALE BANKING COMPANY. COMMERCIAL BANK OF SCOTLAND. NATIONAL BANK OF SCOTLAND. NORIH OF SCOTLAND BANKING COMPANY. ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND. UNION BANK OF SCOILAND. I/)NDON AND COUNTY BANK. IX)NDON AND PKO/INCIAL BANK. LIMITED. LONDON AND WESTMIN&TER BANK. NATIONAL PROVINCIAL HANK OF ENGLAND. ALEXANDERS, MAW ft CO., IPSWICH. BIRKBKCK Sc CO. (CRAVEN BANK). DING LEY Si CO., LAUNCIiSTON. GARFIT ft CO. GLOUCESTERSHIRE BANKING COMPANY. HUDDERSFIELD BANKING COMPANY. LAMBFON ft CO., NhWCASFLE-ON-lYNE. LANCASTER BANKING COMPANY. LlN(;OLN ft LINDSEY BANKING CO., LOUTH. SMITH. ELLISON 8e CO. STUCKEY 8 BANKING COMPANY. UNION BANKING COMPANY. COVENTRY. YORK CITY AND COUNTY BANK. IRELAND. BANK OF IRELAND. MUNSTKR BANK, LIMITED. • NATIONAL BANK. PROVINCIAL BANK OF IRELAND. ROYAL BANK OF IRELAND. AUSTRALIA. UNION BANK OF AUSTRALIA. NEW ZEALAND. UNION BANK OF AUSTRALIA. BANK OF NEW ZEALAND. INDIA, CHINA, AND JAPAN. CHARTERED MERCANTILE BANK Ok INDIA LONIX)N AND CHINA. AGRA BANK, LIMITED. WEST INDIES. COLONIAL BANK. PARIS. Messbs. MARCUARD. ANDR£ ft CO. LYONS. CREDIT LYONNAIS. 3, CUmtHt's Lane, Lombard Street, LoKiioH, E.C. R. W. BRADFORD, Secretary. TURNER, BEETOR, & TUNSTALL, Commission ||ltrcbants, IMPORTERS OF ALL DESCRIPTIONS OF DRY GOODS, Victoria, BRITISH COLUMBIA. SOLE AGENTS FOR BOUTELLEAU & Co.'s CHAMPAGNE VINEYARD PRO- PRIETORS' COMPANY'S COGNAC BRANDY. Clossmann & Cos. Celebrated Clarets, G. Preller & Cos. Celebrated Clarets. Basss Ale^ bottled by M. B. Foster & Sons. Guinness s Stout, do. do. H. D. Rawlings Celebrated Aerated Waters and Ginger Ale. FAWCETT'S "ROYAL CROWN" IRISH WHISKEY. Dtiff Gordon s Celebrated Sherries. WHITING & COWAN, OSHAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA, , GARDEN AND AGRICULTURAL TOOLS. San/ordj Vail^ & Bickley^ of Hamilton^ Canadian Tweeds. D. Mclnnes & Co.^ Hamilton, Canadian Tweeds. F. BRABY & Co., Limited, GALVANIZED IRON, FITZROY WORKS, LONDON. Price & Go's. Per/umery and Fancy Soaps. \ J- ^cretary. LONDON FIRM: P. TUNSTALL & Co., 8, BOW CHURCHYARD, LONDON, E.C. rr \ ■ BANK OF BRITISH COLUMBIA. I 'f' IncorporateJ by Royal Charttr, 1862, 5, EAST INDIA AVENUE, LEADENHALL STREET, LONDON, E.C. Capital £500,000 in 25,000 Shares of £20 each. With power to increase. (Tourt of Dirrrtors. T.W. L. MACKEAN, F.sg., Chairman. ROHKRl' GILLESPIE, Esq., Dtpmty Chairman. JAMES ANOKKSON, Ehq. | HKNRY DALUIAC HARRISON, Esq. . EDEN COLVILE, Esq. I Sir JOHN ROSE. Bart., K.CM.G. Ctntral A/anngtr—HESRV E. RANSOM, Esq. BanWrs—MtissHi. SMIIH, I'AYNE & SMITHS. BRANCHES. SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA. PORTLAND, OREGON. VICTORIA, BRITISH COLUMBIA. AGENTS. In England. Is Mkxico and Pbru. Bank or Liverpool. North and Suutn Wales Rank. In Scotland, BritUh Linen Company liuiik. I In Ikkland. l Bankof Irrl:<.iJ. In Nkw Yohk. Messn. R. Hell & C. 1'. Smithers, 59, Wall St. In Canada. ' Bank of Montreal. London Bank of Mexico — Mexico- Ditto Lima. In AtJSTPALIA. Bank of Australasia. Commercial UaiikinK Company of Sydney. English, Scotli^h, and Australian Chartered Hk. In Nkw Zualand. Bank of New Zealand. In China and Japan. Orientnt Hank Corporation, Hongkong, Shant;- hai, and Vukuliama. The Hank grants Letters of Credit on its Hr.inches at San Francisco, in California ; Portland, in Oregon ; and Vicioria, in Hritish Columbia ; and similar Credits are granted by the HritiKh Liuun Com- pany Bank, the North and South Wales Hank in Liverpool, and the Hank of Liverpool. The Hank also purchases, or forwards for collection, Drafts on the above Hranches, FINDLAY, DURHAM, & BRODIE, Importers & General Commission Merchants, WHARF STREET, VICTORIA, B.C. London Office: — 31, GREAT ST. HELEN'S, E.C. DENNY & SPENCER, IMPORTERS OF STAPLE DRY GOODS, MILLINERY, &C. WHOLESALE AND RETAIL. ' '^ VICTORIA HOUSE, GOVERNMENT STREET, VICTORIA, B.C. 4 ,: . I \ HENRY RHODES & CO., I (SaCCl-SSORS TO 7 ANION, RHODES Sr CO.) COMMISSION MERCHANik, STORE STREET, VICTORIA, BRITISH COLUMBIA, f ^n Assortment of all Goods suitable for the Market kept constantly in Stock. . THE NOBTHERN INSURANCE COMPANY, THE LIVERPOOL BOARD of UNDERWRITERS, Ac, Ac. LINE OF PACKETS BETWEEN LIVERPOOL AND VICTORIA, VANCOUVER'S ISLAND. J A First-class Vessel is despatched about every Six WeekS. LINE OF PACKETS BETWEEN LIVERPOOL AND PORTU.ND, OREGON. First-class Iron Vessels are despatched at intervals. I LINE OF PACKETS BETWEEN LIVERPOOL ANDj SAN FRANCISCO. An Iron Clipper Ship is despatched One* a Month. Apply to G. H. FLETCHER ft CO., 9 & 12a, Exchange Buildings, Liverpool. I- ' "ALLAN" LINE. Under Contract with the Government of Canada for the Conveyance of the HALIFAX, CANADIAN, AND UNITED STATES MAILS. The Steamers run in connection with the Grand Trunk and other Railways, forwarding Passengers on easy terms to all Stations in Canada and the United States of Amenta. THROUGH TICKETS TO BRITISH COLUMBIA. S.S. SARDINIAN. „ CANADIAN. „ CIRCASSIAN. „ POLYNESIAN. „ SARMATIAN. „ SCANDINAVIAN. .. PRUSSIAN. S.S. AUSTRIAN. „ NESTORIAN. „ MORAVIAN, s „ PERUVIAN. „ HIBERNIAN. „ NOVA SCOTIAN. „ N. AMERICAN. S.S. CASPIAN. „ CORINTHIAN. „ MANITOEAN. „ PHCENICIAN. „ WALDENSIAN. , „ ST. PATRICK. ■„ ACADIAN. LIVERPOOL TO QUEBEC Every TUESDAY and THURSDAY, calliny at LONDONDERRY (Leknd) on the following day, to take on board P.assengers and Mails ; and from LIVERPOOL to HALIFAX and BALTIMORE Every ALTERNATE TUESDAY, calling at QUEENSTOVVN on th- folJowint; day for Mails and Passengers. GLASGOW TO QUEBEC Ever- TUESDAY, calling at BELFAST to embark Pa.«,scngtiL. LIVERPOOL TO ST. JOHN'S, N.F., Once a- Fortnight. Cabin Fares — From LIVERPOOL to any of the above Ports, 15 and i8 Gaintas ; and from GLASGOW, 13 Guineas. -- ^, QUEBEC TO LIVERPOOL Every SATURDAY, calling at LONDONDERRY to land Mails a'l.i I assengt is. Cabin Fare— 80 Dollars and 70 Dollars. BALTIMORE TO LIVERPOOL Every ALTERNATE TUESDAY, calling at QUEENSTOWN to lano Mails .muI Passengers. Cabin Fare— 80 and 70 Dollars. HALIFAX TO LIVERPOOL Every ALTERNATE TUESDAY, calling at QUEENSTOWN to lan-i Mais and Passengers, Cabin Fare — 80 and 70 Dollar.^;. INTERMEDIATE PASSAGE, 9 Guineas, including Beds, Bedding, and all necessaiy utensils. STEERAGE PASSAGE, at lowest rates to either QUEBEC, PORTLAND, HALIFAX, BOSTON, NEW YORK, BALTIMORE, or NORFOLK, including a plentiful supply of cooked Provisions. Children between one and eight, Half-price ; and infants under one year, Ten SluUings. Baggage taken from the Ocean Steamships to the Railway Cars free of expense. The Steamers of this Line are well known for their rapid passages. The Saloon and sletping accou.ino- dation is unsurpassed for elegance and comfort, and the style of living is all that one could wish. Cabin fare, however, does not include Wines and Liquors, but they can be obtained on board on the u