IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I liillM IM IIM iim 1: i^ 12.0 1.8 1.25 111 1.4 IIIII.6 Y A 4,> W<$> A fe? fA V] (^ /2 % tures 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. D D D D D D n D D n Coloured covers/ Couverture de couleur Covers damaged/ Couverture endommagie Covers restored and/or laminated/ Couverture restaurie at/ou pelliculie Cover title missing/ Le titre de couverture manque Coloured maps/ Cartes giographiques en couleur Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black)/ Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire) Coloured plates and/or illustrations/ Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur Bound with other material/ ReliA avec d'autres documents Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion along interior margin/ La re iiure serree peut causer de I'ombra ou de la distorsion la long de la marge intdrieura 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 ajout^es lors d'une restauration apparaissent dans le texte, mais, lorsque cela itait possible, ces pages n'ont pas iti film^es. 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Th«i( •hall TINU whici IMapi diffof •ntiri bogir right roqui moth Q Additional comments:/ Commentaires supplimentaires: [Printed ephemera] 4 p. This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ Ce document est filmi au taux de rMuction indiquA ci-dessous. 10X 14X 18X 22X J 26X 30X 12X 16X 20X 24X 28X 32X TiM copy filmtd hcra hat lM«n raproduetd thanks to th« o*n«ro«ity of: Univeriity of Britiih Columbia Library L'Momplalro film* fut raprodult griea i ia g4n4roalt4 da: Univariity of Britiih Columbia Library Tha imagas appaarlng hara ara tha batt quality poaalbia consldaring tha condition and laglblllty of tha original copy and In kaaping with tha filming contract spacif Icatlons. Original eoplaa In printad papar covars ara fllmad baginning with tha front eovar and anding on tha last paga with .« iprlntad or illustratad Impras- slon, or tha back covar whan appropriata. All othar original coplas ara fllmad baginning on tha first paga with a printad or Illustratad Impras- sion, and anding on tha last paga with a printad or Illustratad Imprasslon. Tha last racordad frama on aach microfiche shall contain tha symbol -"^ (moaning "CON- TINUED"), or tha symbol V (moaning "END"). whichavar appliaa. Laa Imagas suh/antaa ont 4tA raprodultaa avac la plus grand soln. compta tanu da la condition at da la nattatA da I'axamplalra film*, at an conformity avac las condltlona du contrat da fllmaga. Las axampialras orlglnaux dont la couvartura ar papiar ast Imprimte sont fllmAs an commanpant par la pramlar plat at an tarminant soit par la darniira paga qui comporta una ampralnta d'Imprasslon ou d'lllustratlon, sdt par la sacond plat, salon la cas. Tous las autraa axamplalras originaux sont filmte an commanpant par la praml4ra paga qui comporta una ampralnta d'Impraaslon ou d'lllustratlon at mn tarminant par la darnlAra paga qui comporta una talla ampralnta. Un das symbolas suh^ants apparattra sur la darnlAra imaga da ehaqua microfiche, salon la cas: la symbols — »> signlfia "A 8UIVRE". la symbols ▼ signlfis "FIN". Maps, platas, charts, stc. msy ba fllmad at diffarant reduction ratios. Thosa too larga to ba entirely Included in one exposure ere filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right end top to bottom, es meny fremes es required. The following diagrams Illustrate the method: Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent Atre filmis A dee teux do rMuctlon diff Arents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour Atre reproduit en un seul cllchA. 11 est flimA A partir da I'angle supArieur geuche. de geuche A droite. et de haut en bas. en prenant le nombre d'Imeges nAcsssaire. Les diegrammes sulvsnts illustrent le mAthode. i 2 3 i. ' „ ., i •-■ i 1 8 3 4 • 6 fCXSuy mm VALLEY DYKES. The Great Area They Make Safe for the Operations of the Farmer. How Government Aid Has Made a Success Where Private Effort Failed. The problem of converting the 100.- ((00 acres odd in the Fraser valley, which are more or leas influenced by overflow and the action ol' tidal wators, into cul- tivable land, has been one confronting the settlers of Now Westminster district ever since settlement was first effected. Perhaps in no part of Canada and cer- tainly not in British Columbia can there be found more fertile lands than exist in this delta valley, and it would be diffi- cult otherwise to find anywhere condi- tions more favorable to agricultaial suc- cess. The fruitfulnes of the soil under good cultivation has been remarkable and wherever the products of the Fra- ser valley have been exhibited they have invariably elicited admiration and sur- prise. It was therefore a matter of -^ moment to the Westminster dis- vod to the province as a whole that » system should be devised whereby iv^t. ..» lands could be conserved to the uses of settlement fend add to the wealth of the province. Many partial efforts have been made in the past, but owing to the uncertainty of the seasons and the flooding of the Fraser river, these have been more or less a failure as a private entenn'ise. After the floods of 1894 the govern- ment turned its attention to dyking mat- ters and devised a scheme of reclama- tion and protection by se-tions includ- ing in each a cert.'iin tract of land, th» dyking of which was placed in the hands of ccnunissioners. Unfortunately for the experiiient the dep;'cssion wliicli had set in became very marked, and it was decideil after a good deal of consid- eration that the best and cheapest meth- od was to perform the work under the direct control of the government, and legislation was introduced and passed in 1897 and extended in 1898 which consol- idated the dyking enteiprises in the Fra- ser river valley, bringing the whole un- der one control and subject to a uniform charge in the matter of expenditure. In order to indicate the progiess of dyking matters in Westminster district, it will be necessary to give a review of the original condition of the lands and the various stages which have led up to the present completion of the enter- prises. OUIGINAL CONDITION OF LANDS. The lowlands were of great agricul- tural and i»ast(;ral vahie, but vere ren- dered valueless from overflow except as pasture during certain season-s. The lower or more freciuently flooded areas being grass lands, and the higher or less frequently flooded areas being cov- ered with brush. The soil is in places peaty, hut for the most part of a rich, loamy character. AM this land, its value being evident, was taken up by settlers and others early in the liistory of the luovince and has been held practically in an unimproved state and not capable of systematic cultivation until an eflfec- tive system of dyking could be inaug- urated. Thus for years, except in favor- ed spots, the valley of the Fraier has lain dormant and yielding not one-hun- dreth part of what it wns capable of uiuler more favorable conditions. APPROXIMATE AKEA8. The various sections which have had tlie attention of the govtrnneni and have been included in tho geiHual dyli- ing scheme, are as foUows: Acres Dykod On the Frascr— Coqultlam a,'J80 IMtt Meadows -,WH) Maple UlUgf h,«00 Matsqlil 1»,000 Broken I).vko Hatzlc '-iA-iO Agassli! AOOO Not Oyked Sumas a),(KK) Partially Dykod Chllllwack UO.WK) Broken Dyke On Mud Bay— Surrey 10,000 Total 70,830 The above areas do not incliuie what has been aocomulished by private aiul municipal enterprise in the way of dyk- ing in the municipalities of I'lchmond and of Delta, where large sums of money have been exnendeler con- trol of commissioners elertcd under the Dyking Act in 1895 and the dyke was re- erected under the commissioners in 1895. During cjnstruction it came un- der government inspection. It suffered slight damage in 1896 and is now being put in thorough repaii* by the govern ment. Maple Ridge was begun under coni- uiissioners. Suffered considerable dam- age in 1894, repaired by commi;5sioners in 1895, subsequently coming iiiider j;o\- einment inspection. A serious break oc- cured in 189(i, which was speedily stop- ped. In 1897 a new line ><{ dyke alontr the Fraser was selected and conunenci.'d. but had to be abandoned for lack .)f funds. It is now under completion bv the government. Matsqui is one of the oldest .ind in fact the fust dyking enterprise undertaken on the Fraser river of a public or sen.i- public character. It was originally be- gun many years ago by Alessrs. Swoi-l and Derby, but was foimd inadequate.. The gates and much of the dyke wer • abandoned. Subsequently new gates \vere put in, portions of a new line of dyke built and the old jortioUi? strength- ened. These it is stated wen^; cut be- f(re they were completed. Later on a new set of gates was put in, but do not appear to have been satisfactory. One of these gates has been I'Imost comple- ly washed away while another is a Mreck. In 1896 new gates were put in- A portion of the new dyke was built and the old dyke strengthenerl in certain places, the work being carried en by commissioners under govtriimciit inspec- tion. In the same year much of the old dyke broke away but the gates stood. In 1897 the commissioners made an effort to repair the damage but ultnnatelv ab- andoned it. The goveinmen*^ in the same year took the matter in haul by day work. It is far from being complete but it is hoped that the worji so far as it has gone will protect the lands this year pending completion ne.>:t. Hatzic dyke was begun in the year 1892 under the Municipal Act Dyking clause as a municipal undertaking. The ri'ilway embankment was used as a dyke, its bridges filled in and a set of gates inserted in the Hatzic stream. These were washed out in 1891 and the damage has never been repaired. If the old bonds can be purchased for a reason- able sum the government will probably undertake the repair of this work. Sumas. — No works have yet been un- dertaken to reclaim these lands, but ex- tensive surveys and examinations have been made with this end in view. The undertaking has not been found irac- ticable so far but possibly in the near future it will be again considered. Agassiz.— Trusting to the already form- ed railway bank the settlers of Agas- siz north of the line, put in a gate in- to a small stream running into the Fra- ser and thus completed in the year 1892 the dyking of the lands. In the year l89;i a freshet of the stream (not of the Fraser) washed the gate out and the break has never since been repaired. The government now contemplates t.iking this matter in hand. Chilliwack has nev^r been dyked, and until lately no scheme has ever been formulated. Recently the settlers peti- tioned the government to take the mat- ter in hand and there are examinations being made with a view to its entire re- clamatiiiti. In the meantime as a nuitter of urgency dams are being put in the Hope. Camp, Half-Moon and Gieyell ■ sloughs, with intervening dyke-<. Suriey.— A few years back the Surrey Flats bordering on Mud Bay and lying between the Nicomekel river and ilie higli grounds north of the flats were dyked from tidal waters, and gates inserted in Ilie Serpentine river flowing through the HatH. Tlie dyke hiiB been greatly diiniiig- «'il and the gates almost totMlly wreck- ed. This was a municipal undertaking and the damage has not been repaired. The government contemplates taking the matter iu hand and doing such works as (he settlers will derive most beueSt from. FINANCIAL AND ECONOMICAL FEATURES. The advantages to be derived from the undertaking of these works by the gov- ernment wholly under its own direction and control is very great'ns the state- ment following will show. For the four systems, Maple Ridge, Cocjuitlam, Pitt Meadows and Matsqui, the oniy oni.'S in which it is possible to institute a com- parison ns between the old and the new methods taken together show a saving Of over $200,000. Not only that but the annual interest payable is very .niich reduced, although the total cost estiniiit- ed under the government scheme is somewhat greater than that estimated under the dyking commissioners. The annual interest payable under the for- mer was about $29,000 whereas under the government scheme it will be $17,- 000, or a saving of .$12,000 per annum in interest. As already intimated, it is impossible to institute a comparison with reference to the other schemes, but sim- ilar advantages obtain to the land own- ers, to the district and to the provinte generally. With respect to the dis- tricts already referred to the following comparative statement clearly and ade- quately shows the saving that will he effected and the advantages of the pre- sent scheme: wack, which are worth perhaps $35 an acre, the lands arc practically valueless, except for pasturage during the sum- mer months, and not worth more than $5 or $10 per acre. GENERAL ADVANTAGES. Here may be pointed out some ot'ior advantages of an important chara.-cer to be obtained under government supoi- vision and control. 1. — The guarantee against the work being scamped, in other words, its s>ib- stantial character. 'J'his does not im- ply that work performed under the com- missioners is necessarily or intentionally ineffective, but they had not among themselves the necessary professional knowledge of what was re(iuired or when work wa:" properly done, though the conmiissioiiers undoubtedly did the best in their power to achieve good re- sults. Incidentally it may be remarK- cd that the expenses of supervision is less than under conmiissioners from the fact that there is now only single man- agement to be paid for. 2. — The removal of the commissioner, or, as he is called, the inspector, from responsibility to what might be termed his constituents or those who elect him by a majority and who could, if they pleased, put him out of office. The pre- sent system enables the superiuiemlent to do his work fearlessly. 3. — The immediate control of funds under government when urgently need- ed as against the difficulty of getting inoney under the commissioners, for ex- ample: In 1897 Maple Ridge began pumping when the gates were closed liy the freshet. The- commissioners fell short of funds and could not collect fr)m commissioners' scheme. . Name of District. Est'd Interest Cost, on Bonds. Maple Ridge |186,3«1 6 percent Cnquitlam 115,742 6 Pitt Meadows 79,938 6 Matsqui 106,445 6 aOVEBNMINT SCHEME. Maple Ridge '. 185,.3C4 5)4 " Coqnitlam 115,742 3^ " Pit t Meadows 79,038 3^ " Matsqui .. 10M45 3}^ " An.S.F Annual Tii. S. F. pay- Payable. Rate. $11,121 6 944 4,796 6,1(87 0,488 4,081 2,798 3,725 2J^ 1J4 1^ iM able. $4,736 1391 999 1,330 2,780 1,736 1,1}» 1.596 RELATIVE VALUE OF LANDS. It is impossible to state what the value of the lands contained in the various areas affected will be, but a careful esti- mate places it on an average at $50 per acre, while in Chilliwack perhaps a little higher. At the present time with the exception of the lands in Chiili- the settlers. Had they not had aid the land would have been Hooded and v.iiu- able crops lost. The govornmont camo 1o their rescue and saved them. The case of Coqnitlam was similar. Take again the case of Chilliwnck. The urg- ency of the dams was very great. The commissioners could not have moved fxcept in nci-ordnnce with tlie net, uikI tlu'y would have been obli^jed to have tiled plans, to have held a court of revis- ion, etc., etc., with the result that the opportunity would have passed before help could have becni obtaiue