SECOND ANNUAL REPORT IMMIGRATION AGENTS BRITISH COLUMBIA FOB THE YEAR ENDING 31st DECEMBER, 1884. VICTORIA: Printed by Richard Wolfenden, Government Printer, at the Government Printing Office, James' Bay. 1881. 48 Vic. Immigration Reports. 295 REPORTS OF IMMIGRATION AGENTS BRITISH COLUMBIA, FOR THE Year 1884. To the Honourable Clement Francis Cornwall, Lieutenant- Governor of the Province of British Columbia: May it please Your Honour: The undersigned has the honour to present the Second Annual Reports of the Immigration Agents, British Columbia, for the year 1884. JNO. ROBSON, Minister of Agriculture. Victoria, 23rd January, 1885. 48 Vic. - Immigration Reports. 297 REPO RT. Frotincial Government Immigration Office, New Westminster, B. C, 10th December, 1884. Sir: I have the honour to submit the following report, with tabular statements annexed, for the period of eleven months, ending November the 30th, 1884. The total number arriving at this agency during the above period was 2,697 souls. There were, as is always the case, a large number of arrivals on the mainland who entered without coming under my notice; and this is more especially the case with those possessed of considerable means. A great number also find their way through the many channels of communication from the American side, and I have no doubt that fully 50 per cent, more than those reported enter in these ways. The immigrants arrived in good health and are generally well fitted for settlers, the greater portion of them being farmers and mechanics, and as a general rule just the class adapted for a new country, strong active men and women. It is a truisim that only the most energetic and self-reliant men have pluck enough to leave their homes and seek to better their condition in an unknown and distant land. The very fact that they have the courage to face the trials and difficulties necessary to be encountered in a new land is sufficient evidence of their strength of character, and to such we should give all the inducements and encouragement possible. By the able assistance of the local Agents, there has been no difficulty in locating immigrants on arrival, and those in quest of labor obtained ready employment at good wages on the Canadian Pacific Railway and Provincial public works at present under construction. It will be seen from the accompanying tabulated statement, that the immigration for 1884 came from the mother country, the Eastern Provinces of the Dominion (Ontario standing at the head of the list with 542) and from the Western States of America—Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa and Washington Territory. This influx in a large measure is due to the efforts made by the Department of Agriculture, in having the wealth and resources of the Province made better known abroad—no effort has been spared in sending pamphlets and hand-books all over Europe, America and Australia, thus spreading the knowledge of the fertility and the many other natural advantages enjoyed by this favoured Province. The efforts which American transportation companies are making to advertise the lands through which their roads run should be an incentive to our own Government not to spare any expense in spreading abroad a true and thorough account of the fertile country to which we invite immigration. I would here suggest the vital importance of old settlers welcoming immigrants on their arrival and helping them in every way possible. A great deal depends upon the first impression which the new comer receives of his location and surroundings, and the treatment from those who are to be his future neighbours. In Manitoba, Minnesota and Dakota, those who have already secured a home are always anxious to help beginners. They show them the best locations, help to build their houses, to break and clear land, to sow the seed, and in a hundred ways aid the new settler. These new settlers will then become active immmigration agents themselves. They will write to old friends and induce them to come out and settle along side of them. It would be well if our own settlers would imitate this example. The fertile valleys of Kamloops, Nicola, Spallumcheen, Similkameen, Kootenay, and Okanagan are rapidly settling up. Railway construction and Provincial public works are creating a boom of prosperity such as has not been known since the golden days of '62. Another and very important move is the active measures taken by the Government in opening roads for the settlers, thus affording ready means to reach a market with their produce. Nothing so much encourages the American immigrant as our liberal system of road-making. 298 Immigration Reports. 1884 The present road policy should be continued as long as the resources of the country will permit. The increase of settlers in this District is so rapid that new claims for roads are constantly springing up in quarters where they were not looked for. The accommpanying map not only shows the roads constructed, but it shows as well the quarter sections taken up during the present year, amounting to 1,086 claims, or 173,761 acres of land. This must of necessity involve large additional expenditure for new roads. The Chilliwhack Exhibition, held in October last, was largely attended, and the exhibits showed a marked improvement on previous ones. The samples of grain, fruit and dairy produce, were the best ever exhibited here. I am also pleased to state that during the past eleven months, 1C5 have taken the aliens' declaration oath—seventy-seven of this number being Americans— a superior class of settlers and bringing with them considerable means. The final location of the Canadian Pacific Railway terminus, will involve a large expenditure of money in the construction of works and buildings required to accommodate the traffic on the completion of the railway from ocean to ocean, in November,' 1885, affording employment to hundreds of artizans and laborers. The immigration we have received this year, in consequence of the efforts to make known the advantages of the Province, is only an earnest of what may be expected in coming years, and this is foreshadowed by the great number of letters received at this agency by every mail from almost all quarters of the globe. It is desirable for all intending emigrants to leave early in the spring, for by so doing they will be able to take advantage of the most favourable season to explore for locations. During the past year there has been a great improvement throughout the mainland, in all branches of business. Real estate has advanced both in city and country, far beyond the expectations of the most sanguine, and there has been developed a general feeling of confidence and activity in all branches of industry. New manufactories have been established, and old ones enlarged ; new houses have been started in various branches of trade, to meet the growing demands; and failures have been very few. In this city, more buildings have been erected than in any previous year, and still the population is so rapidly increasing that there is not an empt) house or room in the city. A great many of the new comers are purchasing property and building very comfortable houses. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient servent, WILLIAM ROSS, To the Hon. John Bobson, Minister of Agriculture, Victoria B. C. New Westminster, B. C, 13th January, 1884. Sir: I have the honour to forward statement C showing the actual locations or quarter sections taken up by each individual settler in this District during the year 1884. And since closing my Report on the 30th November, for the year 1884, I beg to report that up to date, not less than sixty-two have registered at this office, and nearly all have located on land. A Mr. McDonald and family arrived the other day per steamer " Idaho," from Canada, and has, en route per Northern Pacific Railway, several car loads of live stock, machinery and farming implements. He has purchased two very fine farms in this District, one for himsdlf and one for his son. Mr. McDonald is a gentleman 48 Vic. Immigration Reports. 299 possessed of considerable means, and he informs me that several friends are to follow him as soon as spring opens up. Mr. McDonald was here last spring, and made a careful examination of all lands on the Lower Fraser, and the result is that he is back with us, and many will follow him. I have the honour to be, Your obedient servant, WILLIAM ROSS. To the Hon. John Robson, Minister of Agriculture, Victoria, B. C. A RETURN shewing number, occupation, sex, etc., of immigrants recorded at the Provincial Immigration Office, New Westminster, during the eleven months ending November 30th, 1884, and their ultimate destination. Sexes. a $ .a o O EH Nationalities. Trades and Occupations •3 -g 3 £|oa> CO o sa pm I *■ HZ ti