, British Columbia, Canada
1873

BRITISH COLUMBIA, formerly NEW CALEDONIA, a province of the Dominion of Canada, bounded on the N. by the 60th parallel of latitude; E. by the main chain of the Rocky Mountains; S. by the United States; and W. by Alaska, the Pacific Ocean and Queen Charlotte's Sound. Length 764 miles; breadth about 400 miles. Area 350,000 square miles. The coast line is deeply indented. The northern part of the colony is diversified with mountain, lake and river; is of extraordinary fertility, producing alt Canadian cereals and vegetables, and fruits in larger measure than any part of even Ontario, and with a mining region (Omineca) at the head waters of the Peace, Skeena, and Fraser Rivers, which, though very imperfectly explored, (owing to their inaccessibility to general travel) gives indications of being very rich in gold and silver. The southern and middle part includes the rich gold valley of Fraser River, and is well adapted for pasturage, and also, with irrigation, for agriculture; some parts, however, such as the Chilcotin plains, and the great and beautiful valley of the Okanagon, require no artificial irrigation, nor does any part of the seaboard. Throughout the whole extent of the province there is an abundance of forest land, the timber on which is of the most valuable description. One kind especially, the Douglas pine yields spars from 90 to 100 feet in length, and from 20 to 24 inches in diameter. The tree is very often from 150 to 300 feet in length, without knots or branches, and the diameter varies from six to ten feet, and in quality is about twice as strong as Canadian red pine, and being more gummy, is more durable and takes a better hold. At Burrard Inlet, 9 miles from New Westminster, there are pine trees 27 to 30 feet in diameter. The yearly exports of timber amount to about $250,000, but the vast forests have hardly been touched.

The mineral resources of British Columbia are very great. Gold is found all along the Fraser and Thompson Rivers, and in great abundance in the Cariboo district, the yield in that one locality exceeding, in 1870, one million dollars, while the yield of the entire province for the past ten year3 has exceeded twenty-two million dollars. Silver and copper are also to be had in abundance, but the mines have not as yet been very largely worked. The true wealth of the province, however, is its coal fields, which are inexhaustible, easy of access and easily worked. Bituminous coal is found on the mainland and on Vancouver Island; and anthracite coal on Queen Chariot to Island. The latter has been sold in San Francisco for $20 per ton. The fisheries, which will some day provide a source of national wealth, are amongst the most valuable known. The climate of British Columbia is mild and favorable enough to allow animals to live in the open air throughout the winter, and in many parts the plains and hills are covered with a herb called bunch grass, which possesses highly nutritious qualities and keeps cattle in excellent condition during the whole winter. Winter lasts from November till March; but snow seldom remains long on the ground. The prevailing winds are from the N. in summer, and from the S. and W. in winter.

The area of the land fit for agricultural settlement is estimated at 250,000 square miles, diversified by hill and dale, and watered by numerous streams and lakes. The soil varies from a deep black vegetable loam to a light brown, loamy earth; the hills supplying slate and building stone. Wheat, barley, potatoes, turnips, apples, pears, & grow luxuriantly.

The country is rich in fur-bearing animals, of which the principal are the black, brown and grizzly bears, lynx, marten and beaver. The annual product of the fur trade amounts to between $200,000 and $250,000.

Shipbuilding is a branch of trade which promises to assume large proportions.

Manufactures are yet in their infancy.

Chief among the rivers of the country is the great Fraser River, which pursues a rapid course between steep and rocky banks, until, approaching the sea, it presents a fertile and finely wooded valley from 50 to 60 miles in length. The total length of the Fraser River is about 700 miles. The Thompson River surpasses the Fraser in the richness of its scenery, and flows through one of the most beautiful countries in the world. The Columbia is another noble stream. It enters the United States at Fort Shepherd, after a course of nearly 800 miles in British territory. Total length about 1,200 miles.

The means of communication with the interior of British Columbia are very good. Steamers ascend the Fraser River over 100 miles, to the head of navigation, and for over 450 miles beyond this there is an excellent graveled road, constructed by the government at great expense. Burrard Inlet is the largest and finest harbor on the mainland, and is spoken of as a probable terminus for the Pacific railway.

British Columbia consists of two perfectly distinct parts; the mainland above described and Vancouver Island. This island is the largest in the Pacific, being 278 miles long, and 40 to 50 wide. It is separated from the mainland by the Straits of Fuca, which are about 16 miles in width, and by the Gulf of Georgia, which varies from 30 miles in width to a narrowness that is bridgeable, viz: at Valde's Island. The surface is marked by mountain ranges and extensive plains. The soil is productive. The island is noted for its coal mines. Gold has also been found. The harbors are numerous and excellent, and Esquimalt Harbor, which is the Naval station, is also referred to as not unlikely to prove the terminus of the Canada Pacific railway.

The public affairs of British Columbia are administered by a Lieutenant Governor, an Executive Council of five members, and a Legislative Assembly composed of 25 representatives elected every four years. Justice is dispensed by a Chief justice and two assistants.

Education is free to all; the schools are non-sectarian.

Victoria, Vancouver Island, is the capital of the province, and the seat of the see of the Lord Bishop of British Columbia. It is situated on a narrow inlet, which, completely landlocked, gives accommodation to all vessels whose draught of water does not exceed 18 feet It is rapidly rising into a large city.

The number of arrivals in 1872 was 292 (tons 131,696,) and the clearances 285 (tons 129.864.) Total value of imports $1,790,352; exports $1,712,107.

Mails from Canada to British Columbia and vice versa are conveyed between San Francisco and Victoria by the steamer Prince Alfred, an iron steamship of 900 tons The service is performed twice a month. Some mails are also conveyed by land to Portland or Olympia and thence reach Victoria by another steamer. The Vancouver Island postal service is performed from Victoria by the steamer Sir James Douglas, which conveys the mails along the eastern coast as far as Comox, 130 miles from Victoria, stopping at Cowichan, Maple Bay, Chemainus, Nanaimo and Comox Cowichan is a flourishing place. It possesses good schools, the only, stone church in the Province, and a convent at which the Nuns (who are Canadians) teach trades to Indian and half-breed girls. Nanaimo is also a flourishing town, with bright prospects for the future. There are hardly any settlements on the western coast, and there is in consequence no postal service. The service to Comox is efficient and regular, and is performed with every possible regard to economy. The mails for the mainland are des-patched from Victoria. Some, of but little importance, ate conveyed by the Sir James Douglas, as far as Nanaimo, where the steamer Otter, belonging to the Hudson's Bay Company, receives the mails for the" River Skeena. The other mails, which are by far the most important, are conveyed from Victoria to New Westminster, thence to Yale, and from Yale to Barkerville. The service from Victoria to New Westminster is performed by the steamer Enterprise, belonging to the Hudson's Bay Company. From New Westminster to Yale, on the Fraser, the mails are conveyed, in summer, by the steamer Lillouet. From Yale to Barkerville, the service is performed by means of stages drawn by four or six horses. Upon the Cariboo route, between Soda Creek and the mouth of the Quesnel, the Fraser is navigable, and the Victoria makes the trip promptly and safely, and affords to travellers every comfort that can be desired. A steamboat has recently been placed on Lake Tatla, to provide miners with facilities for reaching the mines of the District of Ominica more speedily, more safely, and with less fatigue.

Telegraph lines extend from Swinomish, in Washington Territory, (United States) to Barkerville, at the extremity of the Cariboo road. There is, besides, a branch line from Matsqui to Burrard Inlet via New Westminster, in addition to a right of way over the line belonging to the Western Union Telegraph Company, from Swinomish to Victoria, which comprises two sub-marine cables. This line of telegraph, which by the act completing the union of Columbia with Canada, became the property of the Dominion, is 569 miles long, in addition to the submarine portion which is a mile and a quarter in length. The following is a list of the telegraph stations and tariff for 10 words from Victoria:

Schome SO 50 I Lytton 1 00
Matsqui 50 | Spence's Bridge 1 20
N. Westminster 75 i Clinton 1 20
Burrard Inlet. 75
Chilukwoyuk. .. 75
Hope 75
Yiile 1 OJ
83-Mile House.. 1 25
Soda Creek 1 55
Quesnel 1 55
liarkerville 2 00

British Columbia is divided into 5 electoral districts for Dominion elections, viz., New Westminster, Cariboo, Yale, Victoria, and Vancouver, each of which, except Victoria, returns 1 member to the House of Commons; Victoria returns 2 members. It is further subdivided into 12 electoral districts for Provincial purposes.

British Columbia occupies a commanding position not only with regard to the trade of the western part of America and the Pacific Islands, but also with respect to China, Japan, and other Asiatic countries, and the Australian colonies. Along the whole coast line of at least 10,000 miles, (following indents,) a perfect labyrinth of islands exists, giving innumerable harbors, inlets and channels, teeming, as well as the rivers that empty into (hem, with salmon, sturgeon, mackerel, and, herring, halibut, oulachans and whales. Except the whale fishery, these vast fisheries are altogether undeveloped.

This colony was first established in 1858, and has since made remarkable progress. The total population last year was 10,586, exclusive of Indians. This total comprised 8,576 whites, 462 Negroes and 1,548 Chinese. The number of Indians is large, supposed to be about 50,000. Some tribes have gathered together in villages, and considerable progress has been made in the education of their children. The construction of the Canada Pacific railway cannot fail to develope the untold resources of this province, and add greatly to the wealth and general prosperity of the Dominion. The distance from Montreal to Victoria is 3,000 miles, which can now be accomplished in 11 or 12 days, by the San Francisco route; but by the future Canada Pacific railway, the distance will be reduced to 2,800 miles.

We are indebted to M. McLeod, Esq., district magistrate, Aylmer, P. Q. (son of the late Chief Trader John McLeod, sen., of the Hudson's Bay Company, and author of "Peace River," &c.,) for the following information, as to the fertility of Northern British Columbia:

"At Fort St. James, about lat 54° 30' N., 2,000 feet above the sea, the first barley (five quarts) sown produced five bushels, say about 84 bushels per acre. This was about 50 miles west of McLeod's Fort, which last is the highest Post on the Rocky Mountains.

"At Fort Fraser, still further west, on the slope of the Cascade, the first potatoes planted, about a bushel, produced forty-fold."

Mr. McLeod estimates the total area of British Columbia at 350,000 square miles, and the wheat area at 150,000 square miles, or 90,000,000 acres, being all south of lat. 55° N., (although there are fine wheat valleys far beyond, N.) islands included. The grass, barley and vegetable area north of the above -that is, from lat. 55° to 60° N., (northern boundary line of British Columbia) and from lon. 120° W. to American boundary, 141° W., Mr. McLeod estimates at 100,000 square miles, or, 64,000,000 acres. A considerable portion, say one-sixth, of these areas, is covered with lakes, numerous and, like all the rivers, abounding with wholesome fish - fish, in fact, is the native staple food.

Mr. McLeod further estimates the coast line of British Columbia at 10,000 miles, a predicate on that of Norway: the latter, on actual measurement, having been found to have in its indented line thirteen times the length of its coast in a straight line. In point of fact, the British Columbia coast is much more, and more deeply indented than that of Norway, some of the inlets running in upwards of fifty miles. The inlets are full of salmon and other fish.

Lovell's gazetteer of British North America; J. Lovell; Montreal, 1873

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