@prefix ns0: . @prefix edm: . @prefix dcterms: . @prefix dc: . @prefix skos: . ns0:identifierAIP "f045f524-00d0-4a57-9001-0f84d678de30"@en ; edm:dataProvider "CONTENTdm"@en ; dcterms:isReferencedBy "http://resolve.library.ubc.ca/cgi-bin/catsearch?bid=1209355"@en ; dcterms:isPartOf "British Columbia Historical Books Collection"@en, "Annual report of the British Columbia Board of Trade"@en ; dcterms:creator "Victoria (B.C.). Board of Trade"@en ; dcterms:issued "2015-07-03"@en, "1913"@en ; dcterms:description "\"Vol. 1-22 as Annual report of the British Columbia Board of Trade. Continued as Report of the Victoria Chamber of Commerce. Binder's title: British Columbia Board of Trade. Annual reports. Includes survey of business, fisheries, industries, and agriculture; surveys labour, immigration, trade outlook, and gives tables, statistics, and financial statements in appendices.\" -- Lowther, B. J., & Laing, M. (1968). A bibliography of British Columbia: Laying the foundations, 1849-1899. Victoria, BC: University of Victoria, p. 69."@en, ""@en ; edm:aggregatedCHO "https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcbooks/items/1.0222220/source.json"@en ; dcterms:extent "104 pages : photographs, tables ; 22 cm"@en ; dc:format "application/pdf"@en ; skos:note """ THIRTY-FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT VICTORIA BRITISH COLUMBIA BOARD OF TRADE 1913 _x: Thirty-Fourth Annual Report VICTORIA BRITISH COLUMBIA Board of Trade OFFICE: BOARD OF TRADE BUILDING, VICTORIA, B. C. JULY, 1913 Victoria, British Columbia, Board of Trade OFFICERS 1913-1914 J. J. SHALLCROSS HON. E. G. PRIOR F. ELWORTHY.... President Vice-President Secretary Council J. L. Beckwith Beaumont Boggs H. F. Bullen ' R. L. Drury F. Elworthy A. C. Flumerfelt Jas. Forman J. S. C. Fraser D. R. Ker Simon Leiser Capt. W. H. Logan C. H. Lugrin Board of Arbitration J. A. Mara H. A. Munn Hon. E. G. Prior A. G. Sargison J. J. Shallcross H. B. Thomson J. W. Ambery E. V. Bodwell Beaumont Boggs Lindley Crease R. L. Drury W. K. Houston G. A. Kirk Simon Leiser COMMITTEES Capt. W. H. Logan J. A. Mara A. W. McCurdy C. E. Redfern Trade, F. A. Futcher (Chair C. Loe. Commerce and Transportation -nan) R. W. Douglas Jno. R. Green " venberg W. J. M. Sandels Manufactures W. A. Jameson (Chairman) Geo. Ager L. D. McLean R. W. P Capt. W. H. Logan Fisheries B. C. Mess (Chairma Ric i) J. L Beckwith hard Hall D. Leen J. T. Deaville VICTORIA, BEITISH COLUM Agriculture Fredk. Norris (Chairman) S. F. Tolm E. A. Wallace F. B. Pemberton (Cha Finance m) F. L. Crawford R. F. Tayloi Mining Wm. Blakemore (Chairman) A. C. Burdick H. B. Thomson Immigration T. H. Slater (Chairman) W. R. Dale Norman Hardie H. J. Scott L. Tait Public Works and Railways J. O. Cameron (Chairman) G. Gray Donald Hugh Kennedy J. Herrick McGregor H. Despard Twigg Harbours and Navigation F. A. Pauline (Chairman) Beaumont Boggs C. H. Lugrin Capt. W. H. Logan H. G. Wilson Railway Freights 1 Leiser (Chairman) J. O. Cameron A. E. McLes J. C. Pendray E. A. Wa s Hall (Chairman) H. O. Kirkh; City Affairs A. E. Allen P. R. . m A. W. McCurdy M. B. Jackson (Chairmai A. P. Luxl C. T. Cross R. S. Day H. W. R. Moore Reception Hon. D. M. Eberts (Chairman) J. W„ Amb G. A. Kirk J. E. Wilsc E. E. Billinghurs Auditors alter S. Fras Geo. W. Mitchell Officers of the Chamber of Commerce, of Victoria, Vancouver Island .B_B VXC.-PBB^.ST S*CK_TAE. 1863 R Bumab Jules David J_wELcw3 Henry Rhodes Gustav Sutro Henry Rhodes T. L. Stahlschmidt, Officers of the Victoria,. British Columbia, Board of Trade TEA* n»n>HT v-c_-r__SI__NT S_OB_._B- Oct. 28th,) Wiiliam Charles July 3,'801 R. P. Rithet, J. P R. P. Rithet, J. P R. P. Eithet, J. P R. P. Rithet, J. P R. P. Rithet, J. P William Charles Roderick Finlayson Roderick Finlayson Jacob H. Todd, J. P T.R.Smith Robert Ward] j! p!!!!!!!!! § 1889-90 Thomas B. HaU Thomas B. Hall Thomas B. Hall 1893-3 C, E. Ren?ufrfeU F Elworthy A. C. Flumerfelt Gus. Leiser G. Leiser, G. A. Kirk D. R. Ker : L. G. McQuade C. F. Todd 1903-4 1904-5 P. Elworthy 1906-7 1907-8 1908-9 1909-10 1910-11 1911-12 1912-18 IT. W. Paterson f P A Pauline 1''. A. Pauline Simon Leiser H. G. Wilson."..!;'..!"'.'.'.'.'.'...'. H.G.Wilson J. J. Shallcross F. Elworthy Hon. E. G. Prior F. Elworthy MEMBERSHIP ROLL Allen, A. E. Ambery, J. W. Anstie, H. K. . •Canadian Mosaic Tile Co Manager. Allen & Co Clothier. Jliram Walker & Sons Agent. .Canadian Fairbanks Co., Ltd. Manager. .Canadian Financiers, Ltd. .. Manager. Barnard, G. H. Barnard, F. S. . Barnes, H. T. . Bodwell, E. V. . Boggs, Beaumoi Bone, W. H. Boultree, A. p. , Brenchley, R. I Bridgman, A. \\ Briggs, H. C. . Brown, Guy S. . . .Barnard & Robertson Barrister-at-Law. ..B.C. Electric Ry. Co Managing Director. . -R. P. Rithet & Co Insurance. . .Union S.S. Co Agent. . -Hudson's Bay Company . .. .Manager. . .E. & N. Ry Superintendent. . .Betterton & Jones Financial Agent. . .B.C. Development Co Agent. J'rnalist and Min'g I . -Bodwell & Lawson Barrister-at-Law. Real Estate. . .Hibben & Co Stationery, etc. . .Bank of Toronto Manager. . .F. R. Stewart & Co Wholesale Fruits, et< . . Real . .Harv riggs . .Can. Puget Sd. Lbr. Co Lumber. . .P. R. Brown, Ltd Real Estate a . .B.C. Marine Ry. Co Ship Builder. . .B.C. Marine Ry. Co Ship Builder. . .B.C. Marine Ry. Co Ship Builder. . .Green & Burdick Real Estate a . Port i Cem .Fins Cameron, J. O Cameron Lumber Co., Ltd...Lumberman. Cameron, W.' G , Merchant. Campbell, Angus Campbell & Co Ladies' Outfitter. Campbell, D. E Chemist Carlin, M Carlin Bros Contractor. Carline, J. R, Bowman Invest. Co., Ltd. .. Financial Agent. Carter, Geo Geo. Carter & Son, Ltd Com. Merchant. Catterall, Thomas Contractor and Bui Challoner, W. L Retired Jeweller. Christianson, W. D. .E. P. Charlton & Co. . Manager. Christie, William .. .P. McQuade & Sons Manager. VICTOBIA, BEITISII COLUMBIA, BOARD Christie, A. E Union Bank of Canada ... .Harbour Master. .Manager. e Co. . Manager. .Real Estate and Ins. .Retired Merchant. .Building Supplies. .Real Estate and Ins. . Printer and Publisher. Collison, Jno. J. . . . Coulson, W. L Courtney, Geo. L. . Crawford, F. L. Crease, Lindley ... Cross, C. T . Pioneer Coffee & Spice Mill . .Canadian Collieries, Ltd. . . . .Sidney Island Brick and Ti . .Can. Bank of Commerce .. Crotty, H. S Crowe, H. J Cusack, Thos. R. .. Cuthbert, H Dale, Wm. R Dart, Wm. J Davies, J. G D . .Great Northern Ry. Co. .. . . .Vict. Con. & Eng. Co., Ltd. . .CP. Ry. Telegraph . Manager. Dickson, Jno. F. . . . . .Victoria-Phoenix Bry. Co. . .Brewer. Donald, G. Gray . . . Douglas, R. W . .Gray Donald Eng. Co., Ltd. . .Tracksell, Douglas & Co. . . .Real Estate and Ins. E .Managing Director. .Financial Agent. Secretary. .Music Supplies. . Real Est and Ins. Elford, T . JShawnig'n Lake Lum. Co.. . Elliott, R. T Elworthy, F Fletcher, Jas. H. . . Floyd, J. S . .Elliott, Maclean & Shandley . Victoria, B.C., Bd. of Trade F . .Fletcher Bros Forman, Jas . .Heisterman, Forman & Co.. Futcher, F. A . .W. S. Fraser & Co.. Ltd. . . . .R. V. Winch & Co G .Hardware. .Insurance and Finance. Gardiner, W. H. ... . .E. & N. Ry . .R. P. Rithet & Co .District Freight Agent. . Merchant. Goodacre, Lawrence Gossip, W. H. ..... . .Queen's Market ird, A. ' VICTORIA, BRITISH COLUMBIA, BOABD OF TBADE .B.C. Elec. Railway Co Manager. 1 A. C Grant & Lineham Real Estate. Grant, Capt. Wm Ship Owner. Green, Jno. R. Barrister-at-Law. Green, R. F. Green & Burdick Real Estate and Ins. Greenshaw, E. E. ... -B.C. Hardware Co., Ltd Hardware. Griffiths, Albert F. .- Chartered Accountant. Gusty, John P. Burns & Co Wholesale Meat. H Hall, Lewis Dentist. Hall, L. W. Hall & Co Chemist. Hall, Richard Insurance, etc. Hardie, Norman Dodwell & Co Agent. Harlow, R. J Merchant. Harris, E. A Harris & Sturgess Real Estate. Hart. John Gillespie & Hart Ins. and Real Estate. Haynes, A. E British Am. Trust Co., Ltd. Manager. Hayward, Chas Contractor. Hebden, R. M Northern Crown Bank Manager. Hillis, H. M Hillis Timber & Trad. Co. . .Timber Merchant. Hinton, J. A Hinton Electric Co Electrical Supplies. Holland, C. A B.C. Land & Invt. Agcy. .. .Managing Director. Hooper, Thomas . Architect. Houston, W. K W. K. Houston & Co Manufacturers. Hunter, Jos Civil Engineer. Jackson, M. B. . Jackson, R. L. . Jameson, w. A. Jardine, John . Johns, C. C. ... Johnson, E. M. Jones, F. W. Jones, Stephen . .Earth Trusts, Ltd Manager. Real Estate . .B.C. Sand & Gravel Co President. . .Dominion Hotel Proprietor. , C. R. King, R. W. H. Kingham, Joshua . Kirk, G. A Kirkham, H. O. Knight, A. W :. & K. Mi rust Co., Ltd. .. Manager. ling Co Managing Director. Commission Agent. *an. Bank of Commerce ... Banker. Cingham & Co Coal Dealer, etc. *urner, Beeton & Co Merchant. and Bookseller VICTOEIA, BRITISH Lay, J. M. *.. Leeming, D. . Leiser, Max . Leiser, Simon Lewis, D. O. ' Lindsay, J. A . .Imperial Bank . . .Leeming I , Ltd. i Real Estate. ■■ Leiser Wholesale Liquors. eiser & Co., Ltd. . . .Wholesale Grocer. '. Pac. Rly Co District Engineer. . .Lemon & Gonnason Lumber Mills. Merchant. . . Grant & Lineham Real Estate. .. Canadian Pacific Railway .. Master Mariner. . .Loewenberg & Co Importer. . .Lloyd's (London) Special Representative. olonist ton & Paoley . .. Edit. t-La-! Mallagh, W. J. : , Ltd Real Esta ". S. H. . F. H. . . .Colonis . .R. B. ..(San J Mayhew, ] McAlister, John McArthur, James Grand Trunk Pacific McCurdy, A. W MacEachern, J H Hutchison Bros. . .. McGregor, George McGregor, J. Herrick. .Gore & McGregor . McKeown, Angus McLean, A. E R. P. Rithet & Co., McLean, L. D New Method Laund McLorie, J Mt. Royal Milling C< McMicking, R. B B.C. Telephone Co. . McPhee, A. F. Bowman Invest. Co., Mess, B. C Findlay, Durham & Brod: . .Retired Merchant. . .Electrical Engineer, r Boat Manager. ry f the c tent thai I < ate yoi t the _ >ard ich the ind to a large e upon your election as President. I also as a whole upon the very prosperous year statistical reflection, and upon the exceed- he concluding paragraphs. ingly hopeful outlook foreshadow In shipping, in building, in post office business, in bank clearances, in imports and exports, and in railway construction directly affecting the interests of Victoria, 1912 has been a year of great advance and of banner operations. In regard to railway construction on the Island (which we all must admit to be of vital importance in city and suburban development), when the Hon. Richard McBride, now Sir Richard McBride, appeared before you several years ago and outlined the railway policy of the Government as it affected this Island, and this city, he did not, as you will agree, exaggerate its importance or overestimate the results which would flow from it. I do not think that Sir Richard, optimistic as I know him to ! beei I c the fulle st the tal i think thai mbers of this Board of VICTOEIA, BRITISH COLUMBIA, BOARD OF T progress. Had they done sc a great many more of you, if There have, however, been c which i d to its present position and ive no hesitation in saying that 11, would have been millionaires, and equally important develop- snt upon railway construction fully foreseen. They were dreamed of, but not ; today. You have a contract ive improvement of your har- lendously increased shipping g of the Panama Canal. You expected to visualize as they visualiz let for the extensive and comprehens bour, paving the way for the trer you expect to enjoy after the openin have had the Songhees Indian Reserve question settled to the satisfaction of all parties concerned and arrangements practically completed for the utilization of the greater part of its area for the railway terminals of two great transcontinental systems. You have, as intimated, the promise, after 1915, of half a dozen additional lines of steamers calling at this port to take care of the traffic which the new area on the Pacific Ocean bids fair to bring into existence. You have still things to be done, as your report points out, to complete what has been so auspiciously begun, and it is to be hoped that your representations at Ottawa will be sue- that $12,000,000 is to be expended at St. ohn, and an equal amount at Halifax, on harboui md when we compare the tonnage of Victoria vith that of St. John and Halifax, it does not see he Government at Ottawa can refuse to consider, s nts of the situation as pleasing to obs( impi , the full require ably t( and eh achieved by the repres( in the morning paper. "Reverting to the G. P. R., as it is now, li the Island, and it only end of the Island to pi ments, Vancouver i possible that d very favour- ve the success of this ilway construction, you have, condition indeed. The E. <5 ! reached out to four importa >w requires to extend its line /ide a very complete sy es that 140 miles of the raded, and, when you have added to the C. P. R, the inc ery important facilities afforded by the C. N. R., you /ith me that Vancouver Island will not lag behind any the r. •rth of British Columbia in the means develop the wonderful resources i is doubly blessed in the fact that i of communi- R. have been ncreased and agree tion to fully possesses. Vancouver Island is long, and, relatively speak- inable coastwise steamers facilities of the railways so .main untouched when the railway programme i Island, under such benefit of Victoria c is with direct access ompleted. The futt "There are several matters of extraordin moment referred to in your report. I refer construction of a dry dock, commensurate i equipment with present and prospective reqt nection with the mainland, and the constructio As a member of the Government which stani the Province, and not for any part of it, I ( e development of the edound to the great re, and situated as it nary importance and r to shipbuilding, the in size and modern quirements, rail con- on of grain elevators, nds for the whole of undertake to standpoint of Victoria alone. The point, or points, at which the efforts of the Federal authorities may concentrate, in case our views are given effect, is something which the Federal Government must decide, and something for which the City of Victoria must (as I have not the slightest doubt it will) make the best fight possible. But as to the economic importance and the great desirability of establishing shipbuilding on this coast, of providing adequate dry dock facilities, and of the erection of grain elevators to take care of the western grain shipments, there can be no doubt. As your report ably points out, the industrial conditions on this Western coast are somewhat peculiar, and the object should be to build large industries into which the high price of labour shall not enter as a deterrent factor. Shipbuilding is certainly one of those industries, and, with shipbuilding is, of course, closely allied the question of adequate dry dock facilities. The erection of grain elevators, and possibly of large flour mills, is another such undertaking entirely independent of the condition of the labour market. I should add to these an iron and steel industry, once we have solved the fuel problem, or that of electrolithic smelting, because, while high priced skilled labor does enter into the smelting of iron and the manufacture of steel products, the other conditions of accessibility of the iron deposits, the contiguity of lime, and the cheapness of water transportation, etc., are sufficient to offset that factor. Talking of labour, no one of us wishes to see the scale of wages reduced in this country, especially in the face of the greatly increased cost of living, but we must not lose sight of this fact, that until the rate of wages becomes equalized throughout the industrial world the great majority of products which we would manufacture for ourselves cannot be manufactured by reason of the rates of wages which prevail in Europe and on the Eastern side of this continent; and this condition of affairs will be more or less emphasized upon the completion of the Panama Canal whereby the products of the more keenly into competition with report suggests, you must look to itivities which do not depend, for suc- Shipbuilding is pre-eminently one of y hope that the Parliament at Ottawa may i system of encouragem< be effective in bringing about its establishment on a large scale— not only on this coast, but on the Atlantic coast as well. In this connection, I may say that whatever form the permanent policy of the Dominion may eventuate, either of a purely Canadian navy or of a navy on the co-operative basis for the whole of the Empire, a certain number of the warships, as may be necessary for the Pacific and Atlantic coast units, should be built in Canada, even -ably increased cost. This, of builders of experience and financial ability in Gre not transfer a portion of their operations to both t that why the ship- Britain should •.oasts with this "Referring to what is a very live issue in Victoria, and the Island of Van< vith the mainland of British Columbia, you • not expect me personally, or as representing the Government nit myself to any expression of opinion; but I might vent to make a few general remarks which I trust may not be r ■construed in any quarter. There is a possible factor in the sii terprise. Sir Richard McBr in speaking on his resolution in the Legislature with reference the action of the United States in exempting from toll Ameri I shipping in passing through the Panama Canal, mad statement which was rather significant. Whether upon his ( authority, or of someone writing on the subject, I cannot i remember, but he stated that within ten years, according to pre; 000,000 bushels of wheat seeking a market by way of the Pacific. If that forecast should prove true, it is quite obvious that a line from Fort George to some point on Johnstone's Straits, with direct connection to Victoria, would not only be justified to ease the congestion of such a volume of traffic but would almost be a necessity; and, while reading the advance copy of your report, which your Secretary was kind enough to send me, I was wondering where you would get the grain for your elevators if there was : such feeder as that provided. M ■:W. WW m Pwlk 'e: I- S& ;5'^Bf^Kift__ Wfe_^@ APPENDICES 35 "Your report makes reference to the question of land development, and settlement, in order to increase the area of production, and to reduce the cost of the necessaries of life; and this brings me to the subject about which I wish to speak more particularly today, namely the land policy of the Government. We are aware that the proportion of importations are large as compared with the home production, and that is a condition which it is desirable to remedy; but I want to give you a few figures to show that even in that direction we are progressing very favorably. You know that the population of the Province is increasing very rapidly. From the statistics that are available it is increasing at the rate of from 75,000 to 100,000 per annum. If you estimate the consumption per head of agricultural products at $80.00 per annum, which I think is fairly conservative, you see at once that 75,000 persons would consume $6,000,000 worth, being the amount of annual increase of consumption. That is very considerable, and, if you cut it in two, it is still a large annual increase to keep up with an annual production. Now the figures of the Agricultural Department show that in 1910 the imports were $14,850,000 and the home production $14,400,000. In 1912 the imports amounted to $15,250,000 and the home production $22,270,000. I will not vouch that these figures are absolutely accurate, because it is very difficult to get returns to a dollar, and the figures must therefore to some extent be an estimate, but great care has been taken to arrive at an approximate result. They show that, while we have not, by far, been able to provide for our own requirements, we have advanced very rapidly and substantially in that direction. You must remember, too, that we shall never reach a time when to import largely of agricultural products, because lude tropical fruits and other fruits out of season, large quantities of canned goods that will probably import than to manufacture at home, at least for ome time to come. Until the northern c ibly adapted for stock-raising and dairyin nust depend upon the Prairies for our n ources for dairy products. The souther nterior has been largely sub-divided into ■ally extinguished. ; shall c There ar< be cheap' :ountry, which is admir- a*, is fully developed, we leat supply, and outside n ranch country of the small holdings for fruit ling, and the cattle business is being grad- s to our Northern Interior we must look for and dairy supply in the m must remember also that •* ia and New Westminster, £ ; was considerable produce : n they are at present, ther in the future e formerly ii : towns of the Prov- 36 VIOTOBX &., BBITIS _ COLUMBIA, BOARD OF TRADE in real estate val ues, w ith the result that large areas have been sub- divided for real estate pu rposes. These may be speculat ve prices, or they may not be, bi t they are based on prospect ve urban development, and they ar e so high as to render agricultui e—except for very intensn e cul iva tion in exceptionably favoured locations, unprofitable, bas ed on th e productive value of the land. For ten miles from the centr e of Victoria there is very little land you could recommen d for far ming at the prices asked per a :re. This is a condition w hich fronts us in other parts of the Province as well. It will proba bfy right itself in time, but at pre >ent spec- illative activity h as put a good deal of productive land ot t of com- mission. To get land for agricultural purposes, we must, therefore, go farther back, and t his raises the problem at which y >u hinted, that of some cor npreh ve system of development and assistance which the Gov ernme nt has at various times been asked to consider. The Goven nt has considered it, and that very seri- ously, but the obstacle o an easy solution are more se ious than most people hav ; any idea of who have not been given the respon- sibility of overc >ming th em. In this matter the Govern ment has done the same is it las done successfully in dealing v -ith other problems—the p roblei ns of forestry, taxation, insuranc e, labour, and so forth. I t has appointed a Commission of prac ical men, at affect ittlei . thi Provi : frc of \\ In • frc report, and the i conclus m now we shall probably have their vill then be in a much better position > what its proper policy should be in respect to any new departure which involves serious responsibilities to undertake. A policy of whatever nature must be wide enough and comprehensive enough to embrace the whole of the Province, and to embrace all the conditions, which vary greatly in character. In ( .plac 1 have the clearing of land, anothei i large sc you hav( ale, mother rigatioi ou hav< where meet them cannot make fish of one and flej ize, as the Government realizes, the i embark on the experimental road c t least a wholesale system of as v-idual credit, Personally, I am in through lmensity of the task v ympathy with the m mazes of the intrica that cial ability to undertake i -ill be safe to follow. .11 now deal more particularly with the land policy of lment, and in doing so I want to meet fairly and frankly :ms of those who for political or other purposes have . I am not here to talk politics, and I do not intend to, not avoid traversing some of the ground which our e trodden in order to make our position plain and clear, st place, the physical conditions of the Province are > this Province and absolutely unlike those which exist in any other Province of the Dominion. They which exist south of the line in the Pacific Co there is a very large agricultural production, but in Washing Oregon and California, there are extensive areas of open and pr£ land which we possess only to a limited extent. In respect their timbered lands they are confronted with the same probli that we are and have not gone any further towards a solution, i I say, than we have. When people come here from the Mi- West and from Ontario where the country is level and the co: tions uniform, they are apt to wonder why they cannot go i the Lands Office and find out exactly where they can get a seci or quarter section to pre-empt, with full particulars, and they those which ble that the dut the Go^ have all such informatio n on tap. They write letters to the papers, jr complain to t heir friends, and their complaints are echoed f Drpol tical purpo ses. I do not blame political opponents for taking advj ntage of st ch a situation. I would probably do so myself c r my friends would do so for me. But these people forget, o r do n ot know, tl at this Province is 381,000 square miles in extent , and that out o its 250,000,000 odd acres of area there is not m ore th an ten per cent, of it arable, the latter being scat- tered her e and there throt ghout this vast domain in areas at long intervals from ,ach other. A great deal of it has been remote from lines of inication, a nd much of it will so remain for some time to come. It is a c ountry filled with mountains, and the physical contot r is very ii regular. Except in a few of the larger valleys, uch a s the Wes minster District, in the Okanagan, the Nechaco and t hie Peace River, the agricultural land is in small areas, w thout any definit e relation to each other. Nothing but an exten sive si rvey of the Province—costing perhaps $100,000,000 —would have revealed th e lands available and definitely located and platted the m. You m ust take into consideration the fact, too, that the existin g railways, the main line of the C.P.R., the Crow's Nest, Co lumbia and Wes ern, and Columbia and Kootenay, ran through t errito y which ha s been largely alienated to the Dominion Governm ent in subsidies t o the railway companies, and there was it would ha- offered it to 33 VICTOEIA, BRITISH COLUMBIA, BOARD OF TRADE little land within the influence of communication that could be dealt with by the Provincial Government. It is only now that the new lines of railway—the Grand Trunk Pacific, the Canadian Northern Pacific, and the Pacific Great Eastern, are opening up territory solely within the jurisdiction of the Government. With regard to these our policy is one of development upon lines of modern methods applicable to local conditions. "Now then, let us get down to the practical application of these facts. The land policy of the Government of today was bequeathed to it. It accepted it as it was, and proceeded to administer the laws as they were and had been for years. What was the situation in 1903? Practically every foot of good land at all accessible in the districts more or less developed had been alienated in one form or another. What was left, which we know was very considerable, was in districts remote from railway or other communication, and en the greatest injustice and unkindness to have :rs. Three things were necessary to remedy such nsive surveys, railways and public roads. But, 1903. the Government was without money or financial resource. Its hands were tied in regard to those and many other important undertakings, and it was not until 1908, after restored credit, good times, and a series of surpluses, that the Government could undertake surveys on a large scale. We have spent in surveys, including the survey of townsites, so far, a sum. of approximately $2,104,000 and surveyed about 18,900,000 acres of land, including timber and coal, and it must be obvious to you that we are only at the beginning of the task of surveying British Columbia. This year- we are appropriating $750,000 and that is simply a drop in the bucket of our requirements. "To build railways through a country like British Columbia is a heroic undertaking, and the 2,000 odd miles now under construction will cost $150,000,000 to complete and equip. To build vehicular highways to connect up all these agricultural valleys with each other and with lines of communication at a cost of from $3,000 to $5,000 per mile is another gigantic undertaking. Settlement without roads is impossible. We have built many a mile of road during the past five years, the expenditure during that period having been some $12,000,000. The estimate of the Public Works Department is that to properly road up the district of Skeena to meet future development would cost the tremendous sum of $25,000,000, and it would be hard to conjecture the cost of a proportionate development for the balance of the Province. A sum of $150,000,000 would probably be a fair estimate. APPENDICES 39 "As I have said, we inherited our land policy, so far as the method of disposing of the land is concerned, but we were not responsible for the financial and other conditions which we also inherited. The questions of land and settlement, railways, roads, and surveys, are bound up with each other and inseparably associated, and more particularly in this Province where distances are so great, and population, except in cities, can never become concentrated or be continuous. Settlement and development are the objects, roads and surveys must be the means. The essential element of accomplishment, however, is money, and the Province up until 1907 or 1908 never had sufficient even for its ordinary needs. You will agree that what we have done in all three respects since we have had money to spend has left no stone unturned. "The Government has been criticized because it has sold lands and has dealt with its timber limits in a somewhat wholesale way. Let me remark that you cannot have your cake and eat it, and, if we had not sold lands and realized handsomely from our timber limits, it would not have been possible to have done the things we have done in preparing the way for that development which the railways, the Panama Canal, and the trek to the last West, is bringing about. If you want your public land surveyed you must be prepared to spend many millions of dollars to do it. If you want railways to open the great hinterland of this country, you must be prepared to pledge your credit, and to put your hands in your pockets to some extent. If you want settlers to fill up your vacant lands which the railways are now reaching, you must provide roads, schools, public buildings, and all the accessories of modern civilized life. If you want the visitors from all parts of the American continent who are now using the highways under the new automobiling era, you must make good the highways. The expanding population demands a corresponding increase in the cost of education, and we have had as well to consider the provision of higher education which, if not supplied at home, is sought for abroad. The farmers and fruitgrowers of this country, if they are to keep up with the procession of modern progressive methods, must have the careful attention and co-operation of the Government. We are spending this year, in all, about $300,000 through the Department of Agriculture, largely in educational and demonstrational work.. We are spending about $1,500,000 on education this year. We have a vast heritage in timber which it is incumbent on the Gov( benefit of the present ger service, which is, as our \\ large and valuable asse e various rights of clain : $402,000 with an additional ; of approximately $170,000. that all may be s ascertain the extent of our resources, and conserve them, we are providing for active work by the Board of Investigation as well as for surveys of the various watersheds. For these and various other subjects each of which, judged upon its individual merits, is worthy and necessary if this Province is to take the place which its position and possibilities warrant, are we not justified in using some of our capital account? Are we not in the position of the business man who wisely draws upon his capital account in order that he may enlarge the sphere of his operations and lay the foundation for future expansion? "Reverting then to the fina have already hinted that the s one. It was, so to speak, tradi apart from the advantages of th of c I polu , I s I ha-. to the inte did not h; have the Pre be made, and then may be termed acce some 18,900,000 ac can showing these section, so that in to : ; files r politics. But has it, have acquired in other e or a policy prejudicial :e. As I have said we loney until about 1907 or 1908 to undertake n as we had we undertook a comprehensive :rved from time to time large areas set apart :o be so surveyed until at the present time we 88,850,000 acres out of which selections may is very little land open to the purchaser that sible to present settlement. We have surveyed :s, and we are preparing maps as fast as we areas and acquiring data in regard to each a. short time the Lands Department can turn nform the : We sold in all between 2,000,000 and 2,500,000 acres. Of course the arrears on these lands are considerable, but we are receiving six per cent, on the deferred payments as against four per cent, if we had the money in the bank. Upon all such lands which are unimproved the Government levy a tax of four per cent, on the assessed value as wild land—a great deal of it being classed at the rate of $5.00 per acre and much of it at $10.00. The people of this country are, therefore, reaping ten per cent, per annum on the landed assets so alienated, and I leave it to you to say if that is not good business. I also leave it to you if the owners of such land can afford to hold land unimproved and unsettled at that rate of interest. I grant you that it may not have been an ideal policy, but un der the pr evailing condit ions it has been a very practical and pr ■•fitable po icy. Th ! Pro-. ince runs no risks, because if the land is not paid f or it reverts to the country again But we have gradually relinqu shed th syst jm until now it i practically a thing o f the past. Practic illy th e same thing applie s to the timber applied for under special licenc e. There was a great—an unex- pected rush, for these li tnits c uring 1906 and 1907, and some 9,000,000 acres we re applie d for. The Government then placed a reserve on all rei naining imber lands, but the Pr evince has not parted with any t tie in th ese ar eas. and from a fin ancial point of view has obtained a revenue of about $2,000,000 per innum. When the tim ber is cut the Gov rnment receives its stumpage fees, and has res ;rved the r ight to i lcreas e these as the price of lumber and lumber conditions warrant provi ding for a large ane steady annual income from the timber issets of the Province, v ,-hich, under a system of wise conserva tion and forest protecti on should be perpetu al. I subn lit that s also good business. "D iring the ast sess on of the Legislature th e Government made a new departure in its land policy, which I trust you will ng sup- regard as a wise one, following the example of the Dominion in the Middle West, that is, providing free grants of land to the settler and including the cost of survey where such surveys have already been made. This should greatly stimulate settlement and bring about a vast increase of production and a decrease in the price of farm products to the consumer. Having done what it could to stimulate and encourage the building of railways throughout the Interior, having launched out on an extensive system of road-building for the benefit of the set into operation a comprehensive system of surve plied as many of the other accessories as possible for his use and benefit, and having placed him on the free list in respect to the available public lands suitable for cultivation, the Government are prepared, when the Agricultural Commission has presented its report, to consider what further steps are necessary to improve his condition and to make the conditions as favourable as possible for the profitable carrying on of his industry, upon the success of which so much of your prosperity as a commercial community depends. It is the sincere purpose and the constant object of the Government to encourage not only agriculture to the limit of its possibilities, but, as well, all the other industries of the Province—mining, fishing, lumbering, pulp and paper making, the manufacture of steel and iron, shipbuilding, and so on, to the end of the list, so that the great latent wealth of the Province may be utilized for the benefit of every citizen of the Province now lend the Legislature, by the Minister of Finance, as the policy of the Government to so ir crease the revenues from the natural resources of the country that in four years from now it would be possible o remove all forms of direct taxation, except that on land, so as o permit of como erce and industry being developed with the east possible burde ti upon their operations. judge the progress -. ossible in the future i now making on what is still the very verge of tish Columbia. Agriculture reached a production last year of over $22,000,000, an increase of nearly a million over the preceding year. The timber cut, at prices considerably lower than the preceding year, is valued at $19,000,000, and the volume of the cut exceeded all previous records. The mineral production reached an aggregate of nearly $33,000,000, $9,000,000 in, excess of the production of 1911, and over $6,000,000 more than the previous highest record. Our fisheries had an estimated output of about $15,000,000 in value, and have taken first place in the whole of Canada by several millions of dollars. The manufacture of pulp and paper has been firmly established, and we are told that this year's production will amount in value to about $3,250,000. We are told that the commencement of an iron and steel industry is liow receiving the attention of capitalists who are examining the field with a view to acquiring properties. Our manufacturing industries have been invariably prosperous during the past year, and, as we have seen from published reports, which I need not specify here, imports and exports, bank clearances, post office business, the tonnage of shipping, and building operations, have all shown remarkable expansion. I do not for a moment imagine that this record of expansion will remain unbroken and that we shall not have some setbacks. The present progress and activity have been stimulated to a considerable degree by the amount of railway construction going on in the Province and the prospects of the early opening of the Panama Canal, by which business conditions will be somewhat revolutionized; but the record of years past goes to show that the expansion of our business in every branch is steadily upward, and the only difference has been that during the past five years the rate has become greatly accelerated year by year, and this we may expect, as an average over a period of years, will continue to the end of the chapter. "Whil the large ) be the duty of Boards of Tra APPENDICES 43 and public works, when they cease in the proportion they now exist, may be replaced by the payrolls of the various forms of give birth, there will come a time when the conditions now to some extent the result of temporary stimulation, will become normal, as they are in the older communities of America; but, if the foundations of our industries are laid truly and well, the transition will be gradual and we shall not experience those rude shocks which come to a business community from over-confidence in prosperity which may be unreal in its origin, inasmuch as it may not be the fruit of legitimate productiveness. "I thank you, Mr. President, and yo Victoria Board of Trade, for the patiena listened to me, and for the privilege you in being permitted to address you. "In all your efforts for the betterme business opportunities, you have my best I can confidently speak for the Governme : of the ishes for success, and as a whole in saying 1 your aims you will Oats in Stook, Gi BEITISH COLUMBIA, BOABD ( Committee Reports e follov reports 1 the Board's endorser. 31st March, 1913. VICTORIA HARBOUR The President and Council, Board of Trade, .Victoria, B.C. Gentlemen:—Your Committee on Harbours and Navigation beg to report that Mr. J. E. M. Nash, representing the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company, states that the steamers to be operated by his company will be larger than the new "Empresses" of the Canadian Pacific Railway, about to sail for these waters, and he calls attention to the necessity of immediately providing additional harbour accommodation made to the immediate entry to these water ae and that on the opening of the Panam: ade for five additional steamship li id to the further fact that the wharf to It ii to meet the situat ion. lpletion e the s- of the Pan ilabl Canal e for e Therefore, in view of the r the short time that will elapse before mercial usage, we recommend: That further representations be made to the Dominion Government as to the urgency of the needs of this port, and that in order to do so effectively, a delegation be sent to Ottawa at once to request: 1. That immediate steps be taken by the Government to provide for at least two piers, 1000 ft. long, properly equipped, one of which may be built on and simultaneously with the breakwater; 2. Also to again place before the Government the necessity of providing a first-class drydock, able to accommodate the large ocean liners now frequenting this port and those shortly to eome. We have not referred to the question of a Harbour Commission, which, no doubt, will be constituted at an early date. This was contemplated by the Royal Commission on Transportation and subsequently brought to the attention of the Government by Mr. Louis Coste. All of which is respectfully submitted. P. A. Pauline, Beaumont Boqqs, Chas. H. Lugein, W. H. Logan, H. G. Wilson. Board of Trade generally o a all matters nov 7 under consideration wi the Dominion Government." The result of their miss ion is indicated i 1 the following report: Victori i, B.C., April 24th, 1913 , Br l Colui Gentlem tion to at or i:—On April 1st we were appointed as a special delegs 3 proceed to Ottawa to lay before the responsible Ministei matters in connection with the development of the port of Victor: with special reference to the report of the Committee on Harbour Navigation, dated March 31st. On our arrival at Ottawa we were at once met by Mr. G. H. Bar nard, M.P. for Victoria, who had already arranged an inte the Honourable Robert Rogers, Minister of Public Works. Breakwater and Piees We laid before the Honourable Mr. Rogers an important array of data showing the rapid growth of the port and also the immense strides in shipping that would inevitably result from the completion of the Panama Canal, and found him most interested in and sympathetic with the optimistic views of the Victoria Board of Trade. We then discussed with Mr. Rogers the idea of changing the construction of the Breakwater so as to admit of a pier being built alongside. On going into the matter we found that as the contract had already let according to plans and specifications, and the work started, it would have been most unwise for us to have pressed this point, as it would entail fresh specifications and a new contract, thus very materially retarding the progress of the work. Consequently we urged upon Mr. Rogers the necessity of immediately starting two piers of at least one thousand feet in length and giving a depth alongside of thirty-five feet at low water, having double decks for passengers and equipped with the most modern arrangements for freight handling, etc. Mr. Rogers then referred us to Mr. Lafleur, Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department, and also requested us to interview the other members of the Cabinet relative to the nature of our mission, and to enlist their support and endorsement. Accompanied by Mr. G. H. Barnard, your delegation met Mr. Lefleur and went thoroughly into the question of Harbour improvements with him. It again became apparent that it would be ill-advised for us to press the suggested change in the plan of the construction of the Breakwater, and the building of the pier alongside, and 46 VICTORIA, colum: , BOABD OF TRADE trated our efforts upon securing two piers of 1,000 feet in length, which, when completed, would give 4,000 feet of berthing space and a depth at low water of 35 feet. We found Mr. Lafleur keenly interested in the development at this port, and upon discussing the details of the piers, we found that he was heartily in accord with our representations that the piers should be of the best form of construction, equipped with good passenger facilities, and the latest improved methods for handling freight After several interviews with this gentleman your delegation left, feeling that the plans and specifications for the new piers would be pushed forward as rapidly as possible, as Mr. Lafleur promised his hearty co-operation and support in this direction. Introduced by Mr. Barnard, we then called upon the following Ministers: Hon. Martin Burrell, Hon. Mr. White, the Hon. Mr. Hazen, and we also saw the Hon. Dr. Reid, and the Hon. Mr. Cochrane, and succeeded in enlisting the support and co-operation of all these Ministers. . We found the Hon. Mr. Burrell most sympathetic and enthusiastic about the development of the harbour facilities in the West, and in fact, all the Ministers seemed to be alive to the situation that now was the time for Canada to push forward and derive every possible benefit from the building of the Panama Canal, and also the inevitable Western movement of a portion of the vast grain crops of the prairies. Upon returning to interview the Hon. Mr. Rogers and report the progress of our mission with the various Ministers we again discussed the whole situation with him, and finally he issued instructions that the sum of $300,000.00 should be placed in the supplementary estimates for the starting of the work on the two piers this year. The Minister of Finance having agreed to this, and the Chief Engineer having decided that this sum would cover all the reasonable expenditure that could be used when the preliminary work and plans were completed, within the period covered by the present fiscal appropriations, we felt satisfied that we had carried out the wishes of the Board of Trade upon this point. Dey Dock With reference to this matter we may say that the assurances we received from the Minister of Public Works were of a highly satisfactory nature, and we await with every confidence the official announcement of the Prime Minister that the Government will construct a gravdng dock at Esquimalt, whieh we understand will be 1,150 feet long, 115 feet wide, and have a depth of 35 feet over the sills. We were pleased to have the opportunity to support this decision with facts, figures, and arguments as to why a public work of this character APPENDICES should be construct strategical position. ;d at Esquimalt, ( Harbour Commission Relative to the question of Harbour Commission, we discussed this matter with the various departments, and although it is admitted that this would be the ultimate method of handling the situation, we felt that for the present it was not advantageous to the development of the port of Victoria to press for an immediate decision upon this point. We >ok up the matter of the Seymour Narrows Bridge and found that the Government is alive to the importance of this work, and we were assured that a capable engineer would be appointed to go into the matter thoroughly and get out a report upon the project. We took advantage of our interview with Mr. Hazen to strongly impress upon him the urgent necessity of some assistance being granted to Canadian ship builders, particularly with reference to ship building conditions on the Pacific Coast. At the present time, Mr. Hazen informed us, that the ship builders of Canada are drawing up to the Government setting forth the situation and dealing with;their suggested methods of bonus. Mr. Hazen stated that this matter would, when the memorial was presented, have very serious consideration by the Government, and the entire question would be discussed with a view to the settlement of this important matter on a satisfactory basis :e, the Minister stated that as far as concerned, all Canadian vessels would be Purtherm ships for his Depart built in Canada. C.N.R. Car Ferries Whilst in Toronto your delegation took the opportunity of interviewing Mr. Hanna, Vice-President of the Canadian Northern Railway Company, .with the view of securing the speedy construction of an up-to- date Car Ferry equipment between the Mainland terminal of the Canadian Northern Railway and the Island. Mr. Hanna was much impressed by the importance of the situation and intimated that he would shortly be in Victoria and hoped to bring the matter to such a conclusion that there would be established by his company a first-class up-to-date Car Ferry service between the Mainland and the Island. This, we urged upon him, was most important, as the company's railway was fast nearing completion, and it would take time to get the ferry equipment built. ! VICTORIA, BRITISH COLUMBIA, BOABD OF TBADE Before concluding, we must emphasize strongly the generous assist- ice and strong support given us by Mr. G. H. Barnard, M.P. for Vic- »ria, and we are also much indebted for the kindness and willing ssistance given to us by our fellow citizen, Mr. R. F. Green, M.P. for ootenay, also Mr. Frank Shephard, M.P. for Nanaimo, and the other embers for B.C. We must also add that the British Columbia repre- sntative in the Cabinet, the Hon. Mr. Burrell, placed himself entirely t our disposal, and was untiring in his efforts to render us any assist- nce possible. All of which is respectfully submitted. Yours faithfully, Henry B. Thomson, William H. Logan. Note—The Dominion Government Estimates provide: For the Breakwater $500,000 For New Piers and Harbour Improvements 600,000 For the Esquimalt Dry Dock 500,000 j 8th August, 1912. To the President and Council, Victoria, British Columbia, Board of Trade. Gentlemen:—Your Committees on Harbours and Navigation and Public Works and Railways beg to call your attention to a plan published in the "Colonist," issue of 16th July, showing the preliminary recommendations made to the Provincial Government for utilizing for railway terminal purposes the late Songhees Indian Reserve. While it is understood that this plan has not been approved, on the other hand it is not known what changes are contemplated, and for this reason we consider it desirable that this Board of Trade should bring to the notice of the Provincial Government that if the published plans are adopted the present navigable channel would be obstructed, and that the creation of the North Channel, approved by the Dominion Government, would be prevented. Your committee would urge that no plans should be finally adopted which conflict with the following requirements: Present channel to be left unobstructed; Railway con e with the proposed Northern channel; iction between the-Songhees terminals and the Outei Your committee are of opinion that, if possible, the railway connection between the Songhees terminals and Outer wharves should be by bridge between Songhees and Laurel Points* and that the railway plans for the Songhees Reserve should be made in harmony with the development of the Inner and Outer Harbours as recommended by Mr. Louis Coste and approved by the Dominion Government. All of which is respectfully submitted. Harbour and Navigation Railways and Public Works Committee : Committee I F. A. Pauline, Beaumont Boggs, W. H. Logan, C. H. Lugbin, H. G. Wilson. J. S. H. Matson, R. T. Elliott, J. Heerick McGregor, H. Despaed Twigg. Shipbuilding 4th September, 1912. To the Council, Victoria, : ish Columbia, Board of Trade. Gentlemen:—Your Committee on Trade, Commerce and Transportation consider it desirable that this Board of Trade should renew its efforts to prevail upon the Dominion Government to encourage shipbuilding in Canada. At present Canadian shipbuilders suffer a great disadvantage in competing with shipbuilders in Great Britain in consequence of British built vessels being admitted into Canada duty free. The wages paid for shipbuilding in Canada are higher than in Great Britain owing to our tariff and England being a free country. In addition, material has to be imported and duty paid thereon ranging up to 52%, representing on a well-equipped vessel possibly 15% of the total cost. In the case of Government work a fair-wage clause is inserted in the tender form, which imposes upon British Columbia shipbuilders a serious handicap in competing with Eastern Canada and an even greater handicap in competing with British shipbuilders. No allowance appears to be made, when considering tenders, for the duty which the Canadian shipbuilders have to pay another Department of the Government on imported materials required in the construction of the vessel. C0LUM :ade Victoria Board of Trade directed the attention of the n Government to these conditions in the year 1906 and about 2 time brought the matter to the attention of the Royal Com- on Transportation, with the result of a recommendation by y in favour of protection for Canadian shipbuilders, he opinion of your committee, it should not be difficult to pre- >n the Dominion Government to improve present conditions, recommend that the Board obtain from the Pacific Coast ship- a definite statement in support of a request of, say, a bonus . the difference in cost of construction, or, at the least, the n into Canada duty free of all the materials required in con- lidiary new enterprises, and it is, therefore, urged that the tion of other Boards of Trade be secured and the case again 1 to the Dominion authorities through the proper channel, of which is respectfully submitted. H. F. Bullen, Chairman, R. W. Douglas, F. A. Futchee, C. Loewenbebg, E. F. Badigeb. Stowage of Cargo remind you of the "Iroquois" disasters 3h Columbia, Board of Trade. ir Committee on Harbours and Navigation beg to ;eneral feeling at the time of the "Sechelt" and that the requirements under the Act governing sssels were insufficient. In the meantime, this ted with the Department of Marine and Fisheries, was informed that "every vessel which is regis- lip must be measured by a duly appointed meas- ps"; that the stowage of cargo and the amount of carry on deck is properly the duty of the master ; is not advisable to relieve him of that responsi- i this - appendices 51 tected waters, coasting waters and ocean waters being contiguous on a short voyage, and that with the rapidly increasing tonnage operating, there is increased liability of masters taking risks similar to the above, which resulted in the loss of valuable life. Therefore, your committee would most strongly urge that in addition to the inspection of hulk, boilers and machinery, every vessel should be examined and reported upon for stability, and that additional and fully qualified inspectors Your committee further recommend that there should be regulations respecting the stowage of deck loads, with the object of minimizing the risk of loss of life. All of which is respectfully submitted. F. A. Pauline, H. G. Wilson, Chas. H. Lcjgbin, Beaumont Boggs, William H. Logan. 13th February, 1913. i Honourable J. D. Hazen, Minister of Marine and Fisheries. Dear Sir:—By direction of the President and Council, I have the lour to transmit herewith copy of a committee report which contains : views of this Board of Trade in respect to measures considered essary to safeguard life on vessels operating in these waters. Asking that the Board's recommendations may receive your early 1 favourable consideration, Yours faithfully, F. Elwoethy, Office of the Minister of Marine and Fisheries of Canada, Ottawa, 21st Feby., 1913. Sir:—I beg to acknowledge your letter of the 13th instant enclosing copy of a committee report submitted to your Board of Trade in respect to measures considered necessary to safeguard life on vessels operating on the British Columbia coast. Yours faithfully, J. D. Hazen. The Secretary, The.Victoria, B.C., Board of Trade, Victoria, B.C. IA, BBITISH. COLUMBIA, BOARD oi Safety of Life at Sea To the President and Council, Victoria, British Columbia, Board of Trade. Gentlemen:—Your Committee on Harbours and Navigation, to whom has been referred the accompanying Bill, No. 26, respecting Radio-telegraphy, recommend that this Board should suggest an amendment to Section No. 4, as follows: Certain Passenngee Steamebs to be Equipped with Apparatus— From and after the first day of July, one thousand r thirteen, no passenger steamer, whether registered in \\ (a) Licensed to carry fifty or more passenger: "Minor Coastal" ports e ed i Lice • plac ine hundre rry fifty o 3 persons, including passenger "Ocean Coastal" ports c plac md plying betwee than twenty miles apart, Shall leave or attempt to leave any Canadian port unless such steamer is equipped with an efficient radio-telegraphy apparatus, in good working order, capable of transmitting and receiving messages over a distance of at least one hundred miles by night and by day, and in charge of a person fully qualified to take charge of and operate such apparatus. Your committee would call attention to the variable waters on this coast and the fact that vessels engaged principally in protected waters at times encounter the ocean, and to meet these conditions the following definitions are suggested to distinguish between "Ocean Coastal" and "Minor Coastal" routes: "The term 'Ocean Coastal' shall refer to vessels trading coastwise in the waters as specified in Section 3, sub-section (f), Chap. 65, amending Chapter 113 R.8., the Canada Shipping Act, and shall cover all vessels engaged on routes exposed to the ocean." " The term "Minor Coastal' shall refer to vessels trading within the limits as specified in Section 3, sub-section (f), Chap 65, amending Chapter 113 R.S., the Canada Shipping Act, of which the routes shall lie within the protected waters of bays, inlets, gulfs or straits. Vessels trading coastwise in the inside passages on the British Columbia coast mainly in protected waters, and the routes of which are at no place exposed to the ocean for a distance exceeding 20 nautical miles from land to land may be classed as Minor Coastal vessels." aittee further recommend that the Bill provide for con- uous watches of operators both at s All of which is respectfully submitted. F. A. Pauline, H. G. Wilson, Chas. H. Lugkin, Beaumont Boggs, William H. Logan. Sir:—I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your night lettergram of February 7th and the letter of the same date, submitting a proposed amendment to Section 4 of Bill No. 26, "An Act Respecting Radio- Telegraphy," and in reply beg to advise you that this Bill was referred to the Committee on Marine and Fisheries on the 30th ultimo, and that a copy of your communication was laid before them. Your amendment was carefully considered by the committee and, while they acknowledge the merits of the same, they decided that in view of existing legislation respecting compulsory equipment enacted by other countries and the undoubted hardship the provisions of your amendment would impose on certain Canadian ships financially unable to comply with the same, it would not be advisable to recommend such an amendment at this moment. At the same time the committee considered your suggestion a most valuable one, and one that should be borne in mind when further legislation in this reference becomes neces- I will be pleased to forward a copy of the Bill in the form in which it was finally approved by the Marine and Fisheries Committee immediately the same is received from the printer. Aids to Navigation The President and Council, Victoria, British Columbia, Board of Trade. Gentlemen:—Your Committee on Harbours and Navigation had under consideration aids to navigation and life-saving appliances on the West Coast of Vancouver Island and have received from Captain G. E. A. Robertson, Agent Marine and Fisheries, the accompanying statement, showing what works have been performed since the wreck of the S.S. 'Valencia." In the opinion of your committee there still remains work to be done, and we beg to recommend: 1. That a light should be established as soon as possible at Solander Island, or Cape Cook. 2. That motor lifeboats should be provided at Ucluelet and Clayoquot. In the event of need in these localities it is probable that the men would be exhausted before they could reach the scene of the wreck, unless there was a tow-boat of some description at hand to take the lifeboats in tow, and take them to windward of the vessel in trouble. 3. That a steamer of some kind should patrol the coast from Clayoquot to Scott Islands at least twice a month during the winter. 54 VICTORIA, BRITISH COLUMBIA, BOABD OF TBADE 4. That during the winter months the number of look-out stations with regular watchmen on the coast-line between Bamfield and Carmanah should be increased and efficient telephone communication arranged for between stations. 5. That an examination of all the stations, stores of provisions, etc., and tests of telephone communications, rocket apparatus, etc., should be made at frequent intervals and a report thereon furnished the Department of Marine and Fisheries on every occasion such examinations and tests are made. All of which is respectfully submitted. F. A. Pauline, H. G. Wilson, Chas. H. Lugein, Beaumont Boggs, William H. Logan. Captain G. E. L. Robertson, 13th November, 1912. Agent, Marine and Fisheries, Dear Sir:—On behalf of this Board of Trade, T would be pleased if you will kindly furnish me with information in respect to aids to navigation and measures for life saving on the West Coast. You will doubtless remember at the time of the wreck of the 'Valencia" how strong public opinion was in favour of improved aids to navigation and for saving lives in case of wrecks, and this Board of Trade would like to know what has been done in the meantime, what further works are deemed necessary, and what arrangements have been made for carrying them out. Yours faithfully, F. Elwoethy, Secretary. Marine and Fisheries Agency, F. Elworthy, Esq., Victoria, BjC, Nov. 15th, 1912. Secretary, Board of Trade, Victoria, B.C. Sir:—I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 13th inst., and in reply to your request for the list of "Aids to Navigation" and "Life Saving Appliances" that have been established on the West coast of Vancouver Island since the wreck of the "Valencia," I take pleasure in submitting the following for your information: 1. A light station of the 3rd Order has been established at Sheringham Point this year, 1912. -manah Station was replaced by lah replaced by a more powerful established at the 2. The lighting apparatus at C a more powerful apparatus in 1908. 3. The steam fog horn at Carm diaphone alarm in 1908. 4. A gas lighted and whistling buoy entrance to Port San Juan in 1907. 5. A gas and whistling buoy was maintained from 1907 to 1909 on SwiftsuTe Bank, when it was replaced by a steam light ship maintained by the United States Government. 6. A light of the 1st Order was established at Pachena Point in 1908. 7. A diaphone fog horn established at Pachena Point in 1908. 8. A wireless station established at Pachena Point in 1908. 9. A diaphone fog horn established at Cape Beale in 1908. 10. A small unwatched light was established at Amphitrite Point in 1905. 11. A 1st Order light station was established at Estevan Point in 1910. 12. A diaphone fog horn was established at Estevan Point in 1907. 13. A wireless station established at Estevan Point in 1907. 14. A light station of the 4th Order was established at Nootka in 1911. 15. A combined gas and whistling buoy was established at Kyuquot in 1907. 16. An unwatched acetylene light was established at Lookout Island in 1907. 17. A light station of the 5th Order established at Quatsino in 1909. 18. A light station of the 1st Order was established at Triangle Island in 1911. 19. A wireless station was established on Triangle Island in 1910. 20. A life-saving station was established at Banfield Creek in 1907, where a motor self-righting and self-bailing lifeboat is kept in service the whole year. 21. A life-saving station was established at Ucluelet in 1907, where an oar-propelled, self-bailing and self-righting boat is in service, with v of t , fn i the 15th October to the 31st of March each life-saving station was established at Clayoquot in 1907, r-propelled, self-righting and self-bailing boat is in service, VICTOEIA, BBITISH COLUMBIA, I - of twelve men, from the 15tt E October to the 31st of l life-saving road, skirting the coast from Banfield Creek to Point, has been built from Banfield Creek for 16 miles as a ad, and for the balance, of approximately 16 miles, as a foot ive shelter huts have been entablished between Nootka and jvhere a supply of food has been left, with stove and firewood ions for getting to the nearest settlement. These directions ookout stations are maintained at Ucluelet and Tsusiat winter months, and at each of these places a watch is kept work, I beg to ts or recommend mt at Ottawa, i set to the Depar i. Your obedient esrvant, G. E. L. ROBEBTSON, Canadian Highway The President and Council, Victoria, British Columbia, Board of Trade. Gentlemen:—We beg to report consideration of the accompanying invitation received from the Canadian Highway Association, that this Board of Trade be represented at the annual convention to be held at Winnipeg, October 9th to 12th, and would recommend the adoption of the following resolution: "That the Council of the Victoria Board of Trade warmly endorses the objects and work of the Canadian Highway Association, and respectfully suggests that any appropriation made by the Federal Government under the Canada Highways Improvement Act should be on a mileage basis. The Council is further of opinion that the best results will be attained by immediately commencing the construction or assistance of the Provinces in the construction of a National Highway from coast to coast." All of which is respectfully submitted. J. A. Mara, A. E. Todd, H. G. Wilson. 25th September, 1912. The President and Council, Victoria, British Columbia, Board of Trade. Gentlemen:—Your Committee on Agriculture wish to direct attention to a statement, published on page 71 of the Board of Trade report for the current year, which indicates that the value of agricultural products imported into British Columbia from Canada and from points outside of Canada during the year 1911, amounted $14,699,854. As the home production during to only $21,641,928, it is apparent that the agricultural development of the Province falls far short of what it should be. sbstantial progress has been made, the present time appears opportune for bringing larger areas of land under cultivation, our committee would offer the following suggestions for consider- W irketing farm product 3. Co-operative methods 4. Cold storage warehouses. 5. Improved means of transportation and distribution. 6. Demonstration plots of land and agricultural insti connection with country schools. Your committee would also submit: That in the opinion of this Board it is < ment of British Columbia should consider opportunity further aids to agriculture, with a view area of cultivated lands and the volume of home-g products. Your committee would like time to prepare detai All of which is respectfully submitted. 5th December, 1912. 58 VICTORIA, BRITISH COLUMBIA, BOABD OF TBADE To the President and Members, Victoria, British Columbia, Board of Trade. Gentlemen:—Your Committee on Agriculture beg to report having conferred with representatives of the BjC. Agricultural Association for the purpose of preparing recommendations to be presented to the Commission on Agriculture. mdatio submitted for appro Land Cleaeing. That a Commission or Board of Agriculture, composed of men thoroughly experienced, and versed in land clearing, etc., be appointed by the Government to adopt ways and means whereby farmers can be assisted by loans at a low rate of interest to enable them to clear, drain and otherwise improve their land. Mabkets and Co-Operative Associations. That further provision should be made for the organization of co-operative associations, with powers to supervise the expenditure of Government loans for land clearing, etc., and to give such guarantees as may be required, and to undertake the sale of produce and the purchase of supplies and for such other purposes as may be to the advantage of settlers in country, districts, such associations to be under the control of a central organization under Government management, to deal, among other things, with the marketing of produce outside the Province. Land. That the Government be urged to prepare for cultivation unoccupied lands in large tracts and dispose of the same to bona fide settlers. Spraying. That a Government spraying plant should be supplied to every district where the cost of operation is guaranteed by the local farmers or co-operative associations. Pbe-Cooling and Storage Plants. That pre-cooling and storage plants be provided by the Government in fruit districts, with provision for the proper grading and packing of fruit. Roads and Transportation. That the Government be urged to continue the policy of making good roads suitable for freight motor traffic in country districts to connect with the various consuming. Trunk Roads. That it is recommended that the Government construct and maintain trunk roads through organized as well as unorganized districts. Markets. That markets to be used by actual producers should be APPENDICES Schools. That a simple form of book-keeping suitable for use on the farm be taught in the rural public schools, and that a strong effort should be made by the Department of Agriculture to disseminate knowledge regarding improved methods of farm management in the agricultural districts. Telephones. That the Government should enquire into the services rendered by companies having telephone franchises in rural districts and should require an efficient service to be provided, and where it can be shown to be necessary, assistance should be gi1 Government, in order that the required service may be provided at reasonable cost to the users: All of which is respectfully submitted. F E 10th Januar To the President and Members, Victoria, British Columbia, Board of Trade. Gentlemen:—At the request of the B.C. Agricultural A we recommend that the City Council be urged to establish a market for the sale of farm and garden products. All of which is respectfully submitted. Edw. Alex. ; S. F. Tolmie. Mining A brief review of mining in the Province of British Columbia during the year shows that there has been a substantial the production of the metalliferous mines. There was also a considerably larger production of coal, and this notwithstanding the fact that .the output from some of the mines on Vancouver Island was retarded owing to disagreement between mine owners and the United Mine Workers of America. METALLIFEROUS MINING In the Coast Disteict the Granby Consolidated Co. has actively engaged in developing and equipping its new holdings Granby Bay, Observatory Inlet. VICTORIA COLUMBIA-, F TBADE The Britannia (filling operatio: g and Smelting Co. ritannia Mountain Howe Sound, between 600 and 700 men. ( and extracted on a larger scale than at ai modern concentration plant is being is being developed to provide additional powe company's enlarged operations. In the Inteeior the old producing min viz., those of the Granby Consolidated Co. in British Columbia Copper Co., near Greenwood, rploys in its mining and id at Britannia Beach, is now being developed previous time here; A stalled and hydro-electric power vith the of Boundary District, hoenix Camp, and the indicated by the pub- lintained a steady, *s f silver, lead and zinc has The development of bonanza t openings of lished reports of those companies, nav and profitable ore production. In Slocan District the producti increased over that of previous recent ye ore bodies in the Standard and other high-grade ore in other parts of the silvery Slocan, promise well for a large and sustained output of ore for a lengthy period. In Ainsworth Camp there is renewed activity at the Highland and No. 1, which properties are being operated by the Consolidated Mining and Smelting Co. The Silver Hoard, also in this camp, is being energetically developed by some Spokane capitalists. Across Kootenay Lake from Ainsworth, the old Blue Bell lead mine, under the capable management of S. S. Fowler, has again become a regular ore producer. In Nelson District, the Silver King copper-silver mine, recently purchased by the Consolidated Mining and Smelting Co., is being placed in working condition as fast as possible, and this old-time producer is expected soon to be again on the list of shipping mines. The Molly Gibson, on Kokanee Creek, another of the Consolidated properties, the long aerial tramway from which was damaged by snowslides last winter, is now having necessary repairs made preliminary to resuming production of silver-lead ore. In Sheep Creek Camp the Motherlode gold mine has been steadily operated all through the winter, also the Queen gold and Emerald lead mines. There has been disagreement over a wages question between the miners and the management of the Queen mine, but this is now in a fair way toward settlement. Rossland mines have been in continuous operation throughout the year. The total output of ore was approximately 244,000 tons, the chief shipping mines having been the Centre Star group, Le Roi and Le Boi No. 2 group. Besides shipping 18,000 tons of crude ore, the last-mentioned concentrated some 17,000 tons, and its milling operations resulted in a production of 1,658 tons of gold-copper concentrate. The total gross value of the ore produced from Rossland mines in all years from 1893 to date has been in excess of $55,000,000, and it is evident that from present indications there will be a regular production of ore from these mines for many years to come. In Hedley Camp, Similkameen, too, the output has been satisfactory, the Hedley Gold Mining Co. having in 1912 produced between $700,000 and $800,000 in gold, and paid dividends totalling $360,000 for the year, or at the rate of 30 per cent, on its issued capital. The adoption in the Province of modern methods of mining and smelting has resulted favourably, while the application of electric power to air compression, pumping, hoisting and ore-haulage has facilitated extensive lateral development and the exploitation of large bodies of low-grade ores such as in the earlier experiences of mining in British Columbia and with the use of mining methods then in vogue, would have been commercially impossible. PRODUCTION f the Rossi it is learned that the aggregate production of the mines of Trail Creek mining division, practically all from Rossland Camp mines, during the 19 years over which production from these mines has been spread, has been 4,104,228 tons of ore, containing 2,018,152 oz. gold, 3,383,951 oz. silver, and 86,838,170 lb. copper, together having a gross value of $55,577,452. The revised figures for the year 1912 were as follows: Ore produced, 243,870 tons, containing 132,073 oz. gold; 87,530 oz. silver, and 2,539,900 lbs. copper, together having a gross value of $3,196,037. The average1 gross value of the production of the last five years has been more than $3,000,000. It is noteworthy, too, that of the aggregate production of lode gold in the whole of British Columbia in all years, 3,438,849 oz., or about 59 per cent., came from Rossland mines. It is of interest, also, s out the truth of last year's report of an increase in the gold value of the ore mined, that while on the average gold content of 1,333,531 tons of ore mined in five years, 1907-1911, was 0.441 oz. per ton, that mined in 1912 averaged within a small fraction of 0.540 per ton, and this notwithstanding that in one important mine there was a marked decrease in the gold content of the ore mined last year. There is believed to be good reason to look for a rather higher average gold content in the ore being mined in 1913. COAL MINING The production of coal has assumed comparatively large proportions in the Province. Preliminary returns show that there was last year a gross output of 3,066,000 long tons against 2,298,000 tons in The quantity * of 768,000 VICTORIA, BRITISH C MBIA, BOABD OF TRADE made was about 265,000 long tons, the whole of which was from c mined in the Crow's Nest district in South-eastern British Columbia The net profits of metalliferous mining companies operating i British Columbia in 1912 were not less than $3,000,000. The aggregate value of mineral production of Dritish Columbia fe all years to the end of 1912 has been approximately $430,303,000. Tl greater progress of recent years may be better recognized if some con parisons be made. The Provincial Mineralogist, in his preliminai report for 1912, gave the following figures. The aggregate value of a , 1903-1912, it was about $240,574,000. y 57 per cent, of the aggregate productioi m years last past, leaving but little mi It i the: l prog of a substantia therefore, plaii i than 43 per cent, for vident that I the 1 arison nearer to the present time, it may be further shown that the proportion of the last five-year period, 1908- 1912, was $130,776,000, as against $109,798,000 for the corresponding period, 1903-1907. It is a striking fact that of the value of the mineral production for the whole period of 61 years for which statistics are available, more than 30 per cent., or nearly one-third, was the production of the last five years. This is surely convincing evidence of the substantial and gratifying progress that is being made by the mining industry of British Columbia. Wm Bla , M.I.M.] APPENDICES 63 Lumbering Next to her great industry of minerals, the most readily available, if not the most important, of British Columbia's natural resources is her immense timber reserve. This Province may now be said to possess the greatest compact area of merchantable timber in North America. Recent estimates place the area of Canada's merchantable standing timber at from 300 to 600 million acres, and the British Columbia Forestry Commission credits British Columbia with 240 billion feet of first class milling timber, or about one half of the forest wealth of Canada. As far north as Alaska the coast is heavily timbered, the forest line following the indentations of the shore and the river valleys and fringing the mountain sides. The Douglas fir, the most widely distributed and valuable tree found on the Pacific Coast, grows as far north as 51 degrees, where it is supplanted by the cypress, or yellow cedar, red cedar, hemlock and spruce. The fir is very widely distributed, being found from the coast to the Rocky Mountains. On the coast it attains immense proportions, sometimes towering to a height of 300 feet, with a base circumference of 30 to 50 feet. The best average trees are 150 feet clear of limbs and five to six feet in diameter. The fir is the staple of commerce, prized for its durability and strength. The great bodies of this timber are found on Vancouver Island, on the coast of the Mainland and in the Selkirk and Gold Mountains. Next to the Douglas fir in importance are the cypress and red cedar, both of which are of great value and much in demand. Red cedar shingles are the standard, and are finding an increasing market in Eastern Canada. The white spruce is also much sought after by certain builders for use in the better class of buildings. Hemlock is abundant in the Province and possesses qualities which should make it more valued than it is. The western species is different and much superior to the eastern hemlock, and is as serviceable in many ways as more prized lumber. There are many other trees of commercial value which arc manufactured into lumber, including white pine, tamarac, balsam, yew, maple and cottonwood. The trees indigenous to the Province are: White fir, western white fir, mountain balsam, large-leaved maple, vine maple, red alder, arbutus, western birch, canoe birch, western dogwood, red cedar, American larch, mountain larch, western larch, white spruce, western black spruce, black spruce, white-marked pine, scrub pine, white mountain pine, yellow pine, western crabapple, balsam, poplar, cottonwood, aspern, cherry, Douglas fir, western white oak, lance-leaved willow, willow, western yew, giant cedar, yellow cypress or cedar, western hemlock, Alpine hemlock. 64 VICTORIA, i colum: There are 272 sawmills in the Province (including twenty-two situated in the Dominion Railway Belt), employing about 5,000 men and producing, in 1912, 1,330,000,000 feet B.M. The area of Provincial timber lands alienated by Crown grant, lease, and licence to date aggregates 12,165,134 acres. There are also over sixty shingle mills, with an aggregate daily capacity of 5,000,000 shingles. Many of the big mills are furnished with sash and door factories, planing mills, and other woodworking machinery. The increasing demand for lumber is illustrated by the following figures, which show the approximate cut of British Columbia mills for 1903 317,551,151 feet. 1904 348,031,790 " 1905 473,713,986 " 1906 508,069,969 " 1907 846,000,000 " 1908 658,000,000 " 1909 775,000,000 " 1910 1,040,000,000 " 1911 1,201,778,494 " 1912 1,330,000,000 " Value of cut, 1912, (estimated) $28,750,000 The capital invested in the lumber industry is estimated at over 200 million dollars, furnished principally by British, United States and Eastern Canadian investors, and the opportunities for further profitable use of capital are unsurpassed, as the prices of lumber are constantly increasing, while the stumpage values are lower than in any other part of North America. In the Pacific Coast States, Washington and Oregon, the stumpage values are: Douglas fir, $2.50; cedar (red) $3.00; hemlock, $1.75; spruce, $2.50, exclusive of taxes, whilst those of British Columbia vary from 50 cents to $1, to which must be added licence fees and royalty, amounting to about 66 cents per thousand, a total not exceeding in any case $1.66. The figures quoted for United States timber are standard prices; very choice and easily accessible timber sells at higher rates. The rates in Ontario, exclusive of a royalty of $2 per thousand feet, vary from $11.37 for white pine to $1.00 for Jack Pine, and $8.55 for spruce. In Ontario and the States the tenure of timber is limited to a few years, immediate and continuous operation being imperative. The prices of lumber have increased from 60 per cent, to 75 per cent, in ten years, and with the rapid settlement of the vacant lands of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, the activity in railroad building, and the increasing demands of overseas markets, further considerable advances in prices are inevitable. appendices 65 Wood Pulp and Papeb. Possessing an immense quantity of paper-making woods, British Columbia affords a promising field for the paper maker. Pulp wood forests border the ocean and many navigable waters, simplifying transportation, and there are numerous water powers to supply motive power to the mills. The rapid denudation of the pulp areas of the United States will soon compel it to look to Canada for its supply of wood pulp, which, according to the regulations now in force, must be manufactured in the Province. There is, besides, a present demand for pulp in Japan, China and Australia, and when the industry is fairly developed, the ocean freights will enable profitable exportation to Great Britain and Europe. Along the coast-line of the Mainland of British Columbia and Vancouver Island, practically inexhaustible areas of pulp woods can be found. South of Knight's Inlet the most abundant wood is the Douglas fir, which is successfully used for the manufacture of chemical pulp. Its suitability for mechanical pulp is not so certain. North of Knight's Inlet is the spruce and hemlock belt, affording enormous supplies of excellent pulp wood—the Sitka spruce especially being unexcelled by wood for pulp purposes. These woods e mmediately contiguous to the sea coast, so that logs t very low cost. • larj the An important point in favour of the industries on the sea coast of British Columbia is the mildness of the winters, which admits of operations being carried on throughout the whole year. The forests of this Province are much more densely wooded than those of Eastern Canada, 500 cords per acre being not uncommon, while from 100 to 150 cords may be taken as a fair average of good timber lands. With proper husbanding, the forests are practically inexhaustible for pulp- wood purposes. This is essentially a timber country. Atmospheric conditions are especially favourable to tree growth, which is very rapid, and the extent of otherwise valueless country along the coast that can be devoted to forestry is enormous. Owing to its wealth of raw material, excellent water-powers and geographical position, British Columbia occupies a position of eminent advantage in competing for the pulp and paper trade of the Pacific. A practically unlimited market is afforded by Australia, Japan, China and the western coast of America—both North and South. In 1901, to encourage the establishment of the paper making industry in the Province, the Government granted 21-year leases of pulp-wood forests to bona fide applicants on liberal terms, and several companies were formed to take advantage of the concession. These companies selected 354,399 acres in various parts of the Province, and COLUMBIA, BOARD OF TBADE in 1903 the law granting pulp leases was repealed. The annual rental to be paid under these leases is two cents per acre and a royalty of twenty-five cents per cord of pulp wood cut. The lessees are bound to build, equip and operate in the Province a mill with a daily output of not less than one ton of pulp or half a ton of paper for each square mile included in the lease. The merchantable timber on the leaseholds may be cut and manufactured under special timber licence. Four companies have fulfilled the preliminary requirements and are now either erecting or operating plants. These are the British Canadian Wood Pulp and Paper Co., with a mill at Port Mellon, on Howe Sound; the Powell River Paper Co., Powell River; the Swanson Bay Forests, Wood Pulp & Lumber Mills, Swanson Bay, and the Ocean Falls Co., Bella Coola, The Powell River Paper Company has a two machine news plant, high speed Fourdrimers, a 40-ton sulphate mill and a 100-ton ground wood mill with a capacity of 100 tons of paper and 100 tons of pulp daily. The Company is reported to have orders for all the pulp which it can produce. The Swanson Bay Company has a complete modern plant and disposes of the bulk of its output in Japan. The British Canadian Wood Pulp and Paper Company operated its mill successfully for some time, but is the intention of installing a larger plant. The Ocean Falls Company has an extensive plant, modern i particular, and capable of a large output of pulp and paper. J paper and 7 being reorganized -i Agriculture Island, which is about 285 miles long, with an average width of about 60 miles, is separated from the British Columbia mainland by the Gulf of Georgia and the Straits of Haro and Juan de Fuca, and bears a close resemblance to Great Britain in its geographical position as well as in climate and certain natural characteristics. The climate, mild and moist as in England, is warmer and brighter, with less average rainfall, the summers being invariably dry, with continuous sunshine, while the winters are much less foggy, with frequent spells of crisp, bright weather. Holly, ivy, broom, gorse, box, heather, privet and other shrubs grow in perfection, and all the fav< rite English flowei i the fields and gardens. Wa' rs, primroses and violets bloom the year round, and in the early the whole country is transformed into a vast rose garden, wild and cultivated varieties flourishing everywhere. The climate and the flowers are, however, far from being the most important natural assets of this favoured region. Its timber is the finest in the world and of great extent; its coal measures are practically inexhaustible; the deposits of other minerals—iron, copper, gold and silver' —are vast and but slightly developed; its fisheries rival those of the Atlantic, and its soil is of wonderful fertility, capable of producing every grain, fruit, root and vegetable grown in the temperate zone. The agricultural settlements on Vancouver Island, near Victoria, along the line of the Esquimalt & Nanaimo Railway, and at Comox, are the oldest in British Columbia, and the excellence of their products has more than a local reputation. Island poultry, Island mutton and pork, Island strawberries, cherries, plums and apples, and Island butter, command the highest prices, and such is the demand that little ever crosses to the Mainland—the local markets absorb all and ask for more. Cattle, sheep, swine and poultry do well on the Island, the climate being so mild as to permit their roaming at large and picking up an abundance of green food the year round. Dairying is a profitable and growing industry, although the local market is still far from being supplied, while the progress of mining, lumbering and fishing is constantly creating new demands, and the Oriental trade, as yet in its infancy, assures a continuance of good prices in the future. The average price of butter at first hand is 25 cents per pound. In the Esquimalt, Metchosin, Sooke, Lake, Victoria, North and South Saanich, Goldstream and Highland Districts, which adjoin the City of Victoria, there is considerable good land suitable for poultry- raising, dairying, fruit-growing, and market-gardening. Malahat District also contains areas of arable land, some of which is heavily timbered, which might be profitably utilized for poultry, dairying, fruit-growing and sheep-raising. Farther north lies the famous Cowichan Valley, noted for its beauty of scenery and fertility of soil. Cowichan, including the districts of Comiaken, Quamichan, Chemainus, Somenos, Sahtlam, Seymour and Shawnigan, is one of the most flourishing settlements on the Island. The soil of the Cowichan Valley is of peculiar richness, being strongly impregnated with carbonate of lime, with usually a depth of two or three feet and a subsoil of blue clay and gravel. The soil is suited to all kinds of crops, but is particularly adapted to fruit, which grows in great abundance and of excellent quality and flavour. 68 VICTORIA, BRITISH COLUMBIA, BOABD OF 1 The roads throughout the district are the best on Vancouver Island— where bad roads are almost unknown—thanks to the efforts of the local Municipal Council. Very little wheat is grown, the area under cultivation being too limited, but oats are a principal crop, yielding 60 bushels to the acre. Peas produce between 30 and 40 bushels per acre, potatoes from 400 to 600 bushels, hay from two to three tons. Apples, pears, plums, cherries and small fruits give big returns. Sheep-raising is carried on to a considerable extent, a ready market for sheep and lambs being found at Victoria, Ladysmith and Nanaimo. Hogs pay well and thrive, and poultry give good returns, the price of eggs and fowls being always high. West of Duncan, in the Cowichan Valley, there is a large area of good land, that portion of the north shore of the Cowichan Lake being an almost level country admirably adapted to farming. From the lake to the Nitnat River and Barkley Sound the country is more rugged and heavily timbered, and is reported to be one of the richest mineral sections of British Columbia. The same remarks apply to the land in the vicinity of Ladysmith, and in the Nanaimo, Mountain, Cedar, Oyster, Bright, Cranberry, Douglas, Wellington, Nanoose and Cameron Districts. Mountain is broken, with considerable good land in the Millstream Valley, and the uplands furnish excellent grazing, with large and small timbers of good quality. Cedar and Cranberry Dis- farming land. North of these districts the character of the soil changes, inclining to be sandy and gravelly in patches, but around Qualicum it again reverts to a rich loam of the best quality. A good deal of land is under cultivation in the country lying between Nanaimo and Comox, but much of the best of it is still unreclaimed, and many thousand acres will be available when cleared of timber. Albe: distribi miles d at the head of Alberni Canal, about 20 r ht miles wide, is destined to become an i tandpoint, as it is the centre an ; for t fro 1 rich miles f It i Nam area of good agricultural land can easily be brought under cultivat by clearing and drainage. The soil generally is a clayey loam very productive, being well adapted for fruit-growing and dairy A very considerable part of the fertile Alberni Valley lies within Esquimalt & Nanaimo Railway Grant, and is included in the a which the Company will render fit for cultivation and offer for i to settlers. Alberni has a steamboat service with Victoria, four saili Esqum i Rai 1 * ! - 1 •a j >\\ §-*S -* iliiSiil 1II il! -s|i ffll |I|||i 2 .g . ii 1 - -■•"V So li|ij|iflsi PI Ii Ii il 1 •gih? § -li'S 2 :g . ml lgS !-!!-!- IP '&"r S|| |i||ss| Ill 28 : I : : §1 | § : 1 §:|i I •** • |ll|i -s-a«| i!s £ls; ■: -S§|5* |^ l:| jj liieli p"|'|5|K 1 I Iff : ■°*""«-l"|^ 1 | :8"J| I-l. „-. : |||i|si| 1 w :1 *• - * ! 1 5 sl:.'.l4-.'.l 1 - eg 1 % 1 3 -| 1.' sl 1 ■||||l VICTOEIA, BRITISH COLUMBIA, : Land Pbovinclal Goveenment Lands. Particulars of the Provincial Government lands on Vancouver Island available for settlement will be furnished upon application to the Department of Lands, Parliament Buildings, Victoria. E. & N. Lands. The Esquimalt & Nanaimo Railway Company owns 1,250,000 acres of agricultural, timber and mineral lands on Vancouver Island, extending from Otter Point on the south-west coast to Crown Mountain in the Comox District, which include within their boundaries all the flourishing farming, mining, lumbering and fishing communities along the East Coast and the line of the Esquimalt & Nanaimo Railway, a tract recognized to be the choicest portion of Vancouver Island. This magnificent estate is being systematically explored by the Company, whose intention it is to clear the land of timber and divide it into convenient sized lots, when it will be offered for sale to fruit-growers, farmers, poultry and dairymen, at reasonable prices and on favourable terms. As the interior is explored it is the intention of the Company to extend the railway and build branches into the most desirable valleys, to afford easy access to the agricultural, timber and mineral lands. A branch of the E. & N. Railway is now built from Wellington to Alberni, and another from Campbell River north through Comox District is under construction. Prices of Land. Apart from the Government and Railway Company's lands there is a great variety of desirable land owned by individuals, the price of which varies with locality, quality of soil, etc. Wild land, mostly heavily timbered, can be bought from $10 to $50 per acre. Improved land ranges from $100 to $300 and up, according to extent and value of improvement. While some of these prices may be thought high, the cost of clearing the land of timber must be considered, also that a small farm well located and well tilled on Vancouver Island will produce more and return bigger profits than a much larger area of land in most other countries. APPENDICES Poultry Raising Poultry raising is an important branch of general farming which is gradually developing in British Columbia, but not to the extent which its importance warrants. The home market is nowhere nearly supplied either with eggs or poultry, large quantities being imported from Manitoba, Ontario, California, Washington and Oregon. In 1904 the value of eggs and poultry imported amounted to over $400,000, and . good prices prevail at all seasons, the average wholesale prices for eggs on the Coast being: Fresh eggs, 30 cents per dozen; case eggs, 22 cents per dozen; while the retail price for fresh eggs averaged 37% cents per dozen, ranging from 25 cents to 70 cents. Fowls bring from $5 to $8 per dozen; chickens, $4 to $7; ducks, $5 to $11; geese, $1 to $1.50 each, and turkeys, from 28 to 30 cents per pound. A practical poultry-raiser, who has made a success of the business on Vancouver Island, says: "I have no hesitation in saying that there are good profits in the business, conducted on a strictly commercial basis. In fact, I know of no other branch of agriculture which is so profitable, having in view the amount of capital to be invested and the expense of conducting 'it. . . . Properly managed, in any number, poultry ought to read a profit of at least $1 per head per annum." A farmer who lives near Colquitz, Vancouver Island, gives the following results from 150 hens: Recjeipts. From sale of eggs $375 00 From sale of chicks 50 00 From, increase of flock 25 00 $450 00 100 bushels wheat at $1.05 per bushel $105 00 50 bushels barley at 60 cents per bushel 30 00 Sundries 10 00 $145 00 Net Profit $305 00 This shows a net profit of $2 for each hen, not including labour, which yields a handsome return for the money invested. Fisheries The coast of British Columbia, embracing all the sea-front which lies between the 49th and 55th parallels of north latitude, presents an ideal field for the prosecution of a great fishing industry in all its branches. The coast is indented by innumerable bays, sounds, inlets and other arms of the sea, so that the actual Mainland shore line, not including Vancouver Island and the Queen Charlotte Islands, exceeds 7,000 miles, while thousands of islands shelter the inshore waters from the fury of ocean storms. The vast maze of water is alive with all kinds of fish, from the mighty whale to the tiny sardine, but until very recently commercial fishing has been practically confined to the taking of salmon. The fertility of the soil, the wealth of the mines and the quality and quantity of the timber have all served to divert attention from the fisheries, and it is but lately that their importance has begun to be recognized. The salmon, swarming in myriads to the s during the spawning season, forced men nd as they proved an easy prey, salmo me of the great industries of the Provine caught in great numbers off the coast, t of Va mouths of the ciate their valu was established Halibut ar exportation to the Eastern markets has become a second only to salmon canning. Herring of excellent quality are taken on the east coai couver Island, the present centre of the industry being Nanaimo. They are pronounced equal to the Atlantic fish by experts, engaged by the Dominion Government to instruct the British Columbia fishermen in the best methods of curing and packing. The catch of herring is increasing annually, and promises to become a very important branch of the fishing business. Cod fishing has not been given much attention, but seems to offer good opportunities for profit if carried on systematically. The oolachan, a fish of the smelt family, swarms to the rivers in the early summer and is caught in large quantities by the Indians, with whom it is a staple food. It is a delicious fish, delicate in flavour, and should afford profitable business if canned or otherwise preserved for export. There are many other sea products which might be turned to account with advantage. Very little has been done in the minor branches of the fishing industry, yet there is little doubt that canning crabs, clams, sardines, smelts, prawns, shrimps, etc., could be made to pay handsomely, while giving employment to a large number of people. Whales are plentiful along the coast and in the North Pacific. The bulk of the whales are of the sulphur bottom variety, averaging 70 to 85 tons in weight and from 60 to 80 feet in length. Apart from the commercial aspects of British Columbia's fisheries, they offer exceptionally good sport to the amateur fisherman and angler. All the numerous rivers; creeks and lakes, as well as the sea, teem with fish, so that the gentle art may be enjoyed at all seasons and in every part of the Province. APPENDICES 73 Report on the Fisheries of District No. 3 To the Chief Inspector of Fisheries, New Westminster, B.C. . Sir,—I have the honour to enclose my annual statistical report on the fisheries for District No. 3, British Columbia, for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1912. The returns for this division show a marked increase, and the development in the various branches of our fisheries have been most satisfactory during the past year. The total value of fish and fish products for the year ended March 31, 1911, was $2,358,423, against $2,786,302 for the year ended March 31, 1912, an increase of $427,879. Last year the value of salmon taken was $1,396,190; this year it is $1,485,517, an increase of $89,327. The herring fisheries continue to develop, showing an increase in value over last year of $71,441. Two new salmon canneries were operated this year: One at Quatsino Sound, West Coast, Vancouver Island, by the Wallace Fisheries, Limited, and the other at Seymour Inlet, on the Mainland coast, by the Anglo-British Columbia Packing Company. The Wallace Fisheries also completed the building of a cold storage plant at Uchucklesit Harbour, Barclay Sound, Vancouver Island. It is modern in every respect, and will be of great value to the fishing industry on Vancouver Eight salmon traps operated on the south-east coast of Vancouver Island, and were fairly successful. The traps secured a goodly share of a large run of humpback salmon that came into the straits near the J. H. Todd & Sons, the pioneers in trap fishing on Vancouver Island, and Findlay, Durham & Brodie, are the only firms at present operating salmon traps on the west coast of the Island. The expansion of the oyster market and the high prices prevailing have given new life to the industry, resulting in an increase over last year of 3,055 barrels. The existing uncertainty as to the leasing of oyster beds for the purpose of planting and cultivation has hampered this industry in recent years, and it is hoped that the matter may be put on a satisfactory basis before long. The whaling stations operated by the Pacific Whaling Co. at Barclay Sound and at Kyoquot Sound, West Coast, Vancouver Island, had a very successful season. The number of whales captured was 890, including 24 sperm whales, whales ever taken at the statior 3 the largest number of sperr lales were captured. mnt of ambergris reported, 172 ined from one whale. 1,559 less than the number cap- Your obedient servant, EDW. G. TAYLOR, Inspector of Fisherie Salmon Laden Scow at Si •jsqum^ H«n«a01-xo. 8 e S : . § •■aqumv, | : ;a | ; : j : 8 i ggj S § § •«q«.nX ::*■::!::: ? J -«A - I ;8|||g | i •aqiunj-: | * :*>-««<° :S3 S; i ,, 1 Illil 111 3lAl w N : g 1 •Mq™nH| S-*■»»■» :<-«£ 1 i 1 I 1 I | H eiujj 1 i -«|- | 1 •^r^j ." 1 _-H sss?£fS8_s 1 • liliillli 1 •eu9[0«.o| SS^S*"'"" 1 •^J » :jSI§ISg| 1 •iws| i ;s5°s'3S-,,s 1 1 > •U8J»f ° :S : : : : : : 1 •^A s i i •33BUUOi "■:«;;:;:: 1 •»q_nN -;s-iM;i~ ' li|lH_|§l i uoqamN -r^-ro-t-xs, VICTORIA, BRITISH COLUMBIA, B •jaqiunni -««T«st-coo f 1 ooo ocoo •'« 1 o I H - 1 1 3j r* ■«,-»„ l N i lj S 5. 7i ?. ; f; ! 1 JJ s •».«.„i sr_ih"i! M :_»|. ? ' i —i i r ll •» :'' i e ; s °s ■jsquinx ll jjg-A lllll 1 I lj J 1 Jp® 2 o^ « $4 -o 'J*lu'nM -\"""•=<-t-°°-- -fipniii §! w?8eq M| g illlSlsll s5I§IIS"s "&Jslli- ~Kr>*£*Z7;2 BRITISH COLUMBIA, BOARD OF I lillillii •WW I « pasn 'J(aijj3H I •S„o.p3 I- -lltssXap '8aua3H I | 'p^oms '3uuaJH i SS :8SS2§8 i: 8*1113831 gg :£8S§88 iilllil 1 lipiiiiinis COLUMBIA, BOABD C || -jaqumji | -.NM-i.oot-a.o «H • 1 II 1 § *»I«8 'I!" M«!d. n 1 s jj||g*j ;ft§ Hfl_K£l 1 1 -■^™j s fi g § •sq[ 'sHSasqmy • :s I : I : : P 1 1 'P3HOBO -srasto II 1 •sjaq 'qsaaj 'suretf) SSgS.SSSSS 1 1 ||§f 8 :§::::: : 1 I s,*o '3S[na 1 g Si 1 'qsaij 'qs9 paxiM llplllfl I § .q^^q^no : :g : : : : :g :re;n 2 1 8 | o'= :-o -^ e J £ !> £ ■aaqcunjj « Mill-Ha; > Logo Skidroad men $2 50 Fallers $2 75 to 3 25 Buckers $2 50 to 3 00 Hooktenders $3 50 to 4 00 Rigging slingers $2 50 to 3 00 Swampers $2 50 to 3 00 Engineers 3 50 Head Sawyers 6 00 Second Sawyers 4 75 Millwrights 4 00 Labourers $2 25 to 3 00 Cooks per month, $25.00 to $75.00 and board Domestics (women) per month, $15.00 to $35.00 and board Settlers' Effects Free Settlers' effects, viz., wearing apparel, books, usual and reasonable household furniture and other household effects; instruments and teiols of trade, occupation or employment; guns, musical instruments, domestic sewing machines, typewriters, bicycles, carts, wagons, and other highway vehicles; agricultural implements and live stock for the farm, not to include live steck or articles for sale, or for use as a contractor's outfit, nor vehicles nor implements moved by a mechanical power, nor machinery for use in any manufacturing establishment; all the foregoing, if actually owned abroad by the settler for at least six months before his removal to Canada, and subject to regulations by the Minister of Customs: Provided that any dutiable articles entered as settlers* effects may not he so entered unless brought by the settler on his first arrival, and shall not be sold or otherwise disposed of without payment of duty until after twelve months' actual use in Canada. A settler may toring Into Canada, free of duty, live stock for the farm on the following basis, If (he has actually owned such live stock abroad for at least six months before his Temoval to Canada, and has brought them into Canada w thin one year after his arrival, viz.: If horses only are brought i tl, 16 allowed; if cattle only are brought in, 16 allowed; if sheep c nly are brought in, 60 allowed; if swine only are brought in, 60 alio wed. If horses, cattle, sheep and swine are brought in together, or p irt of each, the same proportions as above are to be observed. Dut r is to be paid on the live stock in excess of the number-above pr ovided for. For Customs entry purposes, a mare with a colt under six months old is to be reckoned as one animal; a cow with a calf under six months old is also to be reckoned as one animal. APPENDICES 89 Climate of Vancouver Island Dr. Bryce, in "The Climate and Health Resorts of Canada," says: "In all this country," from the south of Vancouver Island to the Queen Charlotte Islands, "the fruits of temperate climates grow well, and farm animals live outdoors the year round. The rich bottoms of the Fraser delta have long been famous for their great hay crops and pasture lands; but here the extreme of rainfall is met, the mean for six years being 59.66 inches at New Westminster. The climate of the great Island of Vancouver, running north-west across two degrees of longitude and two degrees of latitude, presents every variety from that at the sea coast, with, as at Esquimalt, a very low daily range and no annual extremes—the lowest temperature in two years being 8 degrees P., the lowest monthly average being 20 degrees P., and the highest in summer being 82 degrees F.—to that as above Alberni on the West Coast, where the Vancouver range rises first into a plateau to 4,000 feet and even to 7,500 feet in Victoria Peak." "Apart from the mineral wealth of Vancouver Island, its climate, with every variation possible, becomes most attractive. Its seashore climate is milder than many parts of England, with less rain and less seasonable variations." Climate of Victoria, B. C. There are many beautiful localities in this Grand Province of British Columbia, and the general healthiness of the various climatic conditions throughout the whole of its extensive boundaries, is a point on which there is a universal consensus of favourable opinion. Pre-eminent, however, for its natural beauty and its delightful climate, stands Victoria, the "Queen City," the capital of the Province and the seat of its Government. Situated at the southeastern extremity of Vancouver Island, its insular climate is considered to be the most delightful on the Pacific Coast, and has been compared to that of the south of England. "It is spoken of as England without its east winds. In reality it is Torquay in the Pacific; a mild and even winter with rain and occasional snow, an early spring; a dry and warm summer, and a bright and enjoyable atmosphere; thunderstorms are seldom seen here, they can be heard in the interior, but are rarely experienced." The situation of Victoria, sheltered by the Island mountain ranges, causes its rainfall to be much less than that of the cities of Vancouver and New Westminster on the adjacent Mainland. The greater portion of the moisture from the ocean has been caught and condensed on the westward side of the Island ranges, and a second heavy precipitation does not occur until the moisture-giving winds strike the highlands on the opposite coast. VICTORIA, BRITISH COLUMBIA, BOARD OF TRA: Meteorological Statistics—Victoria, B. C. AVERAGE TEMPERATURE Jan. Feb. Mar. API. | May bunel July | Aug.| Sep. | Oct. | Nov.| Dec. || Year 1908.... 41 6 41 0 43.7 48.5 52.758.7 62.7|61.053 .6.9.347.039. i 50.0 1909.... 32.5 41.3 43.6 47.3 52.1 58.0 59.6|59.5|57 .1|50.4|44.2|36. 7 48.52 1910 ... 38.7 36.7 46.1 47.6 54.8J57.0 61.3 59.1 56 i 49.63 1911.... 36.2 39.043.7 : 48.76 1912.... 40 6 .2J48.6 45.2 41. i 50.33 1913.... 36.0 38.4|41.4|48.4|53.7j....|....|.... ! 1 1 HIGHEST TEMPERATUR 1908... 49 3 51. 2|55. 2|73.2;66. 2|79. 4|83. 2|83.7 75.2 67.0 62.9 52.0 83.7 1909.... SO.? 53.5 55.8 60.4|71.7 75.8 78.0 76.4 80.9 68.6 55.1 49.0 80 9 1910.... 51.2 49.6 64.1 68.7i74.476.286.780.3 77.4 62.7 54.8 51.5 86.7 1911.... 50.2 49.(1 57.1 66. 8i72.4 73.2 89.5 79.5 72.7 66.5 56.1 50.2 89.5 1912... 52.5 53 f, 58.3 61.8184.2 85.9 89.8 81.6 78.4 63 £> 55 A 49 6 89.8 1913.... 50.0 /VEST TEM URE 190S... 26.2 23.7 27.2132.9 39.7 46.0 14.2 K.4 34.9 31.2 31.9 28.3 23.7 1909... 7.428 230.532.034 342.244.944.338.3 36.725.423.6 7.4 1910... 23.819.0 31.4 32.2 38.7 41.4 45.3 43.2 41.2 35.7 33.3 30.3 19.0 1911... 14.9 24.4 27.2 27.7 37.5 40.2 44.7 46.2 37.8 33.5 14.2 30.0 14.2 1912... 23.5 28.5 27.2 30.2 37.941.2 45.5!41.2 41.7 33.0 30.3 31.4 ||21.0 27.0|22.7|30.7|37 2 .. . RAINFALL 1908... 3.16 4.30 4.58 0.63 1 27 0.09 0.15 0.67 0.62 2.33 4.02 4 88 26.70 1909... 2.68 2.17 11.73 0 61 0.96 D.47 0 92 0 47 l).7« 2 HI 11 5 3.69 27.31 4 47 3.91 2 37 1.70 0.77 0.96 0.01 0 36 1.59 5.09 7 71 6 41 35.35 1911... 3 58 0.96 1.93 0.59 1.8(1 0.73 0.14 0.6N 2.25 0.61 6 49 2 79 22.55 1912... 3.833 14 1.43 1 H(] 1 5(1 0.99 1 15 2 26 1) 66 2 33 5.04 5-84 29.53 1913 .. 4.091.62 1.90 .62 8(1 1908.... 19 16 17 8 9 4 4 4 7 14 16 15 133 1909 ... 19 19 5 10 Wfff, 3 15 31 10 131 1910.... 18 20 16 12 9 6 3Wj 6 16 20 21 150 1911.... 22 11 9 4 10 3 3 12 ?,1 21 130 1912.... 20 17 13 6 6 7 s 7 14 22 19 148 1913.... 23 9 i»y 10 10 0.75 o'.ib 0.8 6.80 8.95 16.35 3.20 1909.... 5.8 0.2 1910.... 0 75 0.3 ;