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Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la m^thoda. rrata :o palure. 3 32X 1 2 3 4 6 6 c iUUUp e.<^'Z DOMINION OF CANADA, PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA EVIIDENCE Of Dr. DAWSON, ASSlSflAM DIRBCTOE OP THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OP CANADA, BEFORE THE IMMIGRATION AND COLONIZATION OOMMITTEE OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. OTTAWA: Printed by MaoLkan, Rookr & Co., Jollington Street 1888. mk ASSI «« r^ DOMINION OF CANADA, PitOViNCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA. EVIDENCE or Dr. DAV\^SON, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA, BEFORE THE IMMIGRA.TION AND COLONIZATION COMMITTEE OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. OTTAWA: Printed by, MacLean, Roqer &, Co., Wolliugtoii Stroot, 1883. 3JU3p Dr. DAWSOFS EVIDENCE, Committee Eoom. HocBB OF Commons, 13ih April, 1883. George M Dawson, D. S,, F.G.S., and RS.M., called and examined ; By the Chairman : — Q. You are connected with the Geological Survey I boliovo ? — Yos. Q. In wlr' capacity? — As Assistant Director. Q. You have some knowledge of British Columbia, I believe ? — Yes. I have worked there in connection with the Geological Survey for the greater part of five seasons. Q. Will you state generally your opinion of the agricultural and pastoral lands of British Columbia, their situation and extent, and also the chiuactor of the soils and climate in different districts of that Province? — Britihb Columbiais naturally divided into two veiy distinct parts agriculturally by the mountui' s which form the cor-st range. The interior region has a climate of extremes and in the southern jjart is very dry. The coast region has a mild, equable climate. British Columbia must, however, bo considered throughout as an agricultural and mountainous country, that is the amount of arable land, compared to the whole surface, is comparatively small. I do not say this to the disadvantage of British Columbia, as :t must bo remembered that other countries, known to be very productive, are similarly situated — in California for instance, it has been estimated that only one-fifteenth of the State is flat land, not monntainons, and only a part of that is cultivable. The southern pan of the interior, east of the Fraser River, is the district which has so far attracted most attention agriculturally. The cultivation is restricted as a rule to the valleys, which are wide and trough-like, and cut through the surface of the plateau, and the climate is so dry in summer that irrigation is necessary. This is, however, generally easy on account of the number of streams running from the hiffher plateaux and mountains, and with irrigation very fine crops are produced. The higher plateaux are not oidtivable, owing to their altitude and the fact that summer frosts occur. These higher plateaux, however, are covered largely with bunch grass, and form those renowned stock raising regions which have given the south of British Columbia such importance in that respect. Tfiits, the mere area of agricultural lands does not give the full measure of the capacity of the country for maintaining an agricultural and stock-raising population. A man with a comparatively small farm in these valleys has large herds of stock which roam over the hills and sustain themselves on the natural grass. The whole area of agricultural lands east of the Fraser Biver in soathem Brkish Columbia I have esti* mated at something under 1,000 square miles, of which about 500 square miles pro- bably may be easily atilised. Q. Have you anything to say in referenc» to the character of the soil and the climate ? — The character of the soil is almost uniformly, very fertile in these valleys. The climate in summer is very dry and warm. It is one of extremes. In winter the cold is considerable, but the cattle still winter oat very well and live all the year round on the natural grasses. Q. In the interior portion?— In the interior portion ; yes. Q. The climate, I Del ieve, is very good upon the sea shore? — Yes. In the northern part, then, of the interior plateau, there is another extensive low country, white pine, but producing an equally good wood. As a rule this tree is remote from the sea-coast, so that it has been utilized only to a small extent so fai-. The hemlock^ 1* 109722 again, giouH to a much groatoi sizo than our liomlock, and produces good, clean luml)oi , and that troo is found along tho wholo of the coast and over a f()!^-,i(l(-rnl)Ie pait uf tho intciior. Tho rnapio, which is rather an inferior wood except for cabinot- malting |)ur|io.vs, owing to tho curly grain, h only found on tho coant. Tho oak is copfiiu'd to (lie Hon'hci'ii jiart of tho coast, and is not in stiff1oi roition isot'couTf-o not liable to anyof IhcMe difHc'ultieH(^f'droui;htorocr'a)ine, as it is also called, is the only tree that has attracted much com- mercial attention. It has been largely cut and exported. It is found on the whole eastern coastof Vancouver Island and on the coast of the mainland opposite to it. It extends north waid a little back from the coast as far as the Skcena liivcr, and in the northei'ii pari of the interior of the Province as far north asTacla and Baoine Lakes. The timber which occurs immediately on the coast is, however, indisputably the best. There are magnificent forests there, composed almost entirely of the Douglas fir, and naturally, on account of the facilities for snipmeut,they have attracted the moat atien- tion. '['he quality of the timber is excellent and the size of the troca is groat. One that was cut down at Burrai-d Inlet for the Philadelphia Exhibition, of which a section is in the I'ai liament grounds now, was measured to be 3C5 ft. in height, had a thick- ness of 8 ft. 4 in., 20 ft. above the ground, and was perfectly ^ound throughout. Many of these logs measure as much. Commercially speak I'.ig, the medium sized logs are moie useful in the mill than these exceedingly largo ones. The localities chosen for the mills are selected in regard to facility of shipment, and those now working are chiefly situated on Burrard Inlet. In addition to the Douglas Hi-, there are a number of other trees in British Columbia which are exceedingly valuable, arid which will eventually attract a great deal of attention. There is the cedar, which sometimes attains a diameter of 17 feet, though generally thene very largo trees are more or less hollow. There is the spruce, which is an excellent wood, not so soft as our spruce on this side of the continent, and a diflforeut species; the white pine, not the same as the eastrice in Siui Fraiici"CO(if in any paitof'the world. The hnlibut in the Q icon Charlotte Islundri, and on tlie \v(-.st loast nt Vancouver has boon rctdly the for.d of the coast In- dians. It is their daily bieaii and their onlj' real staple food. They dry it a'"' keep it for winter coiisniiipt 'Oil. Bonidos the halibut, thoro are two sjiccie'^ of t-altnoii, similar to those on tiio coa.-t ol iithor ])a its of Brit'-'h Cfilunibin. The''n htis buen also a I'a.tlory usiablihhMlol dofc-fi.-ih oil. The doir-tish are very abmu'.i'.i I in the Queen Ciiio lotio IhIuihi^'. In i ho vicinity of tholslaiuls Iboro is ni'ire f>hall ivv water and nioie ex^etisivo i'unks tl.an on the most jiarts of the con.-^t. It wouM be iui- por.aiil to have a suivey ru.'ido of those banks, which are probal'Iy g'ifd fishing grcjuiuis. Tlio coast ol liiinsli {.'oiumbia ib so fiir very iioperfoetly smveycMl topo- griiphically, aud too ii('()ti! uf WiUer, exc«)>i alwuif cet'tMii ciio-i-n rout.is, is nnknown. llieie is ii \ery oxtCTisive b;iiik between (^m en Chiirlotto I lands and the m.aiuland and al Jiisjj the noi'.hei'n cilgoof the Islands, and vciy i)robU)!y ali^n on the west coast, though 1 do not know intit anyone has put a sonndin ,' load overhoa' d Iho-o up to the prt sent day. As to tiie tiihories of the coast of the rrovinco generally, of course the ealuiuii e.iiiiiin;.; iiidii-iiy is ino-^t imt'ortant. Of late years it lias assuinoil very great dimcnsi'.iiis, and priibubiy it is so wnll known that it is scarcely worth goinj^ into par- ticulars about it. liiere Were, in 1881, twelve canneries in the Province, aii 1 over 8,r)U.),00o ib.i. of till w .-. exp ■nei. I think there is very little danger of exhaust- ing the salmon in liie limisii Columbia rivers; at least, if there wore any prospect of it, they would be easily le.-'toekod. No effort has been ra.ade in that diroclion yet, because there has been no cause to do so. I noticed the other day that in th(> British Columbia Legislature a gentleman brought forward the iiioa of introdncnng the oyster — the etis torn oyster — and the lob-tor, in British Columbian waters. The stig- gestioij has been made beloro, and is a most excellent one. An oyster occurs on the west coast, but it is very small, and is generally considered inferior to that found in ■^ IsIandH, at 10 fiwhcrios -I Hpont a oMilt of the y 1878-79). If trndo ia Hi)d carried irly oxiinct, the QuooD InlandH are UH, without [Hlund con- moHt or all opulation of 'he climate Lhing, more te. In some )niy a few he fact that where those atora. The itato in the Iroady said n on most tif'uliirly. It 1 or Hill tod oxp.^riment :)whore, and go'.d ]»i'ice 1 f.'harlotte le coust In- it a-"' keep of ralinoii, n hfis boon i'.i'it in the nil ivr water uld bo iin- jof.'d fishing 70 yc I topo- I unknown. 0 Mainland 1 woMt coast, •<) lip to the reoui'«e the : very groat ng into par- 0, .'i!i i over of oxhaiist- y prospect •oction yet, th(» British diuiing the Tlio siig- curs on the at found in the oastorn waters. Its occurrence shows that in all probability the eastern oyster would thrive well. The lobster does not occur. There are any quantity of craba, which take its place in regard to the food they consume, and there in every reason to boliove that, if tho lobster were to bo introduced on tho rocky part of the northern coast, it would give rise to very important industries, similar to those found in the Eastci-n Provinces. Q. What are the prospects of gold-mining; what is the nature of the quartz and the dovclopment of metalliferous mines generally in the places in which gold is found in British Columbia? — Mining has really been from the first, and is likely, I think, to continue to be, the main central iudustryof British Columbia, around which tho others will gi-oup themselves. In this Province there is about 800 miles in length, with a width of about 400 miles of the same mountain"U8 and plateau region which yields all the ores of the Western States and Torritorieu r' I has given them such prominence as metalliferous regions. British Columbia as ji can scaroelv be naid to have more than begun the development of ita mining* iu lustries. There are several reasons for this: The country is, to a lar^'o extent, loverod with forests, which makes it much more difficult to prospect for mi :b. Then, tho pr-^sont cost of living and the difficulty of getting at all to some ( .liose places wliich are most promising ir their metalliferous deposits, and also, I may ao .1, tho laot that many of the e..j , made in the first instance have been very injudicious, and have led to the discouragement of tho people of the country to prosecut' 'arihor enterprises of the y^i.'-ie kind. Gold, however, is known to be almost iriivcrRully distributed in the Province of British Columbia, There is scarcely a sti Jtim of any size in any part of the Province that one cannot wash a few " colors," as they nay, out of, at tho very least, and in 105 localities, which I catalogued in 1877, actual mining had been carried on for gold. The main auriferous bolt of Britinh Columbia runs fi'om souih- east to north-west, just inside the Eocky Mountains, and includes tho mining localities which have boon called Kootenay, Big Bond, Cariboo, Omenica and Cassiar. Prom south to north, from 1858 to 1882, tho gold produced in Brit; ih Columbia amounts to 846,(185,334, which is a groat return, con.sidoi'ing that tho aviTiif^'c^ population of tho Pro\'inco, taking tho period altofjothor, would not cxcood about 10,i)00 whites. The average number of minors oniployed in thcso placer diggings hun boon :i,940, and the average yield per man omployod, obtainod by dividing tho total by tho niimbor of minor-), 8683 per man per aniuiin. It nhould bo also considered tl:at Ihcso placer deposits aro, a< a rule, only to bo worked in summor, and thttt tho t-uin stated was eainod in loss thtm half tho yoar of acluai v/ork. The greatest yield ul'iiny onoynar was in 18t!4, when f3, 735,8').) was aonl out of iho coiintiy. Las!, year tho total yield was oiilj- $',013,827. Since 18 14, with occasional fluctuutioi ■•, tlio yield of go!'l has sliowri ii general tondoncy to decline, and tho slate of tiio country at pre- sent is simply this: Tho richer placer mines so ftu- disc)Vcro.l haviiiL' bcoi. more or less workeii ont, the ^'old yiel;s has boi ii dcrved, Tiial {criod has no^. arrived yut in British Columbia, There is not a single aiiri,eio'.is i|Uai-tz vein worked there yet, and tlio present it, the iiiteriia period bei voen tho full devolojiinont of placer mines and tho beginning of the quartz mining, which is .'i more permanent induHtry. There is no doubt that bofoio long auriferous quartz mines will bo worked. By Mr. Trow : Q. There are quartz mines in Cariboo, are there no-. ? — An altonijit 'was made Bome years ago to work them, but, as far as I know, there is iio^minc now in oper- ation. The difficulties are very great in some parts of the country owing chiefly to the cost of transport and supplies. Until very lately, it cost from 7J cts. to 12J cts. a pound to freight goods and supplies to Cariboo from Yale, according to tho season, and such prices aro so heavy a tax on expensive mining operations that it renders it im]iossiblo to woi Ic any but very high grade orep. In Omenicn, still further north, it cotts i5 cts. a pound to carry supplies into the distiiot, ami thun it is tilimwl impoa- eiblc fci- ]".iviito minors to continue prospecting f)n their own resources, una uuiotss they hiive a vory ricli claim which they can work, the)' must leave the couniry. One advantage ol ilie conhtruction of the railway and openin;;- up of the interior will bo that tlio ji.ioicr placer deposits will bo cxtoiisivoly worked. Naturally, ihf vei_> ricii dcpo^it.• I'oini a very small p:irt of the whole. Those of medium and juxner quality are more widcsju-cad, and when '.ho cost of getting supplies is rcduc(.'eputy Minister of Mines at the time this general statement was first compiled, eomo years ago. Wo obtained from all the banks a statement of the gold they had Bent out of the country, and from the express offices the same. Then, as a large quantity was known to be carried away by the Chinese and others, jirivately, without being recorded, one-third was atldod to the product of each year to represent that ; HO the statistics are not absolutely correct, but they approximate closely to the truth. I think much of the gold the Chinese get they carry away in that manner, without putting it into the hands of the banks. By Mr Fisher: Q. Do you think the Chinese get one-third of all the gold in the country? — No j but many of the white minors carry their gold away themselves also. If they go to San Francisco, for example, they take the gold with them. Islat]' very have it wa- 1871)-' occur ofthc Thc( fact 1 seam about beliov monc anil of the" think I furtlic!' north, s iiirTKjHi, impott- L'CH, aiiu utiloas counlry. One ifcrior will bo >', the very rich jiiMiryr quality to liiilf its ])re- come uvtuliiblo. iieso 4onijially ucs, vory often ,c eyes out of way. No one lora, owing to littlo from per- Ivcr ores have t, a locality at lagan country. 1 both of them, )ppod. In the y failure of the ilo of the mine, ■obably others, L-e started and J much exami- few years. I H of very rich district they 0 $90 of silver ncos are com- antry lies far British Colum ie Htatemont I lOOfi, who was irst ccimpiled, gold thoy had on, as a large atoly, without jprosent that ; to the truth, nnor, without By ihe Chairman r Q, Will you state your knowlcdgo of the coal and ligiiito dopo.sitn of Vancouver Island, (iuoen Charlotte IsluiidH, and the mainland? — Coal and lignifo doiuwits are vory widely i-77 "), thiity-two difiorent localities in which coal and lignites arc known to occur arc catalogued, and some of these are extensive and important district-^. Many of thoinwill ovcnlnally be utilized as sources of fuel supply, either generally oi- locally. The (^uccn Charlotte Islands are prominent from this point of view on account of tho fact that a seam of anthracite has been discovered there. This is tho only workable seam of anthracite on tho Pacific coast, either of America or Asia. Tho seam was about 6 feet thick, and was worked for some distance, but was found to thin out. I beliove, however, that tho main trouble was that the Company had expended all their money on providing facilities for shipping tho coal before doing much prospecting, and since it has not been much tested, and has fallen through. I examined the vicinity of the mine very carefully in 1878, and have a map showing tho locality of the coal. I think the locality is a very promising one still, and deserves moi-c attention ; but nothing more precise can be said at present, because no work has been carried on for some years. The Coniox and Nanaimo districts of Vancouver Island have been more thoroughly tested, and tho latter has been the principal source of supplj' for some years. These have been mapped by Mr. Eichardson of the Geological Survey. The map is on a scale of four miles to tho inch, and is somewhat detailed, showing the actual area of known coal bearing rocks in these two places, and all other necessary facts of >i ructuro. Tho coal hoa ins at ComoK and Nanaimo vary from •! feot to 6 foot and 10 feet in average thickness. Thoy are occasionally much thicker, but this is the average. T;:e quality of the coal I shciuld mention particulai-ly. It is not a ligtiito. I' is true bituminous coal of very excellent quality. It was tested by the War Department of tho United States, some yoai s ago, to find out which fuels gave tho best icsults for steam-raising purposes on the western coast, and it was found that, to produce a given quantity of steam, it took 1,800 lbs. of Nanaimo coal to 2,400 lbs. of Seattle coal, 2,600 lbs. of Coos Bay coal, Oregon, and 2,600 lbs. of Mount Diab'o coal, California, showing that, as far as tho Pacific coast is concorned, the coal of Nanaimo has a marked superiority over all the others. In 1882 tho coal raised fcom tho Nanaimo mines was 28:5,1,3!' foi>s, which is equal to about one-fifth tho coal product of Nova Scotia, though that Province has been so much longer a coal-producing rct;ion. Of this 15l,8(i0 tons were sold in S;m Francisco, the retail price being about $12 a ton. Nearly one-fifth of the coal u-cd in San Francisco was mined at Nanaimo, and a much larger proportion would be brought from British Columbia, but fortwocircurnstancos. One is that ihere is a considerable duty on coal which has been sufficient almost to kill the coal trade between Nova Scotia and the Pjastern States ; but, owing tc the higher price on tho Pacific coast, has not had tho same effect there; and the other, that a large quantity of coal is brought out from i?ngland, in ballast, by vc^^ols com- ing for giaui, which would not bo commercially profitable if carried in any other way. By Mr. Baker ( Victoria) : Q. And from Australia also? — Yes, chiefly from Newcastle and Now South Wales as ballast. •tin try? — No; If thoy go tc By Mr, Hesson ; Q. Is that ballast put on the market and sold, or stored for the use of ships ? — P think it is put on tho market and sold. A large portion of tho coal supply of San- Francisco is delivered in that way. 10 By Mr. Baker ( Victoria) : Q. It is sold for whatjit will fetch ? It is a small coal generally speaking ?— A number of vessels como from Australia with coal ballast to San Francisco, and i,'o back to England with grain. By the Chairman : Q. You say the prico is $12 a ton in San Francisco. What is the average cost of transport from Nanaimo? — I cannot say. By Mr, Baker ( Victoria) : Q. $3.25 a ton. It is now $2.26 a ton? — I believe coal is sold in Nanaimo for $4 a ton. Q. At the Chutes ? — Yes, and the remainder goes for transport and middlemen And losses. Q. The market price for any coal in San Francisco is lower than that which you etated, which was in vogue some years ago ? — This is from a circular from San Fran- cisco, I dare say it may average $8 a ton now. By Mr. Homer : Q. bably. "What was the date of that ?— 1882. Ti;at was the case for two months ; the average price now is $9 ? — Very pro- By Mr. Trow : Q. Yi)U stated that the coal of Nanaimo had been compared with American coal — what iiliout thf^ Nova Seotia coal ? — It is about equal to the best (i^ualitics of Nova Scotia eo:il. Ol couihi!, those coals that come into direct compiulsou with it on the Pacific coast, arc all inf or lor to the Nova Scotia coals. It might bo also stated in connection with the mines, that a considerable number, not Oiily of the Chinamen, but of the Indians, uro employed in the underground works and g.iiu very goi>d wages, and it is hopeful that a number of these West Coast Indians take lo hard work kindly and support lhemsolvc< in tiiat way. By the Clmrman : Q. They ai-c also oi)i])loye:l in the llblioiios to a conHidoraLlc extent? — Yos ; and in the iniorioi- a number Iimvo taken to a;^riculluie in a smuii way, and own .stock, and 1 tliiiik will loclc after ihomselves very Well iii u few year . ii. You iuive been speakinij uj) to the present of the coal djjiosit.s on the islands. How ahnut ihe deposits <«;i the inainbind? — It in very probable .'.at the eoiil deposits found in Vijicouvei- Island will bo found also underlying a ]iuil of the flat country about the mouth of Iho Fras^r, below Y'nle, but no far, no woikidilo so.'.ma \vi\o been found there, tiiougli speeimens of very exeellont coal have boon got. But in the interior, witlun llio Coast Mountains, there ai'o many localities at which both coal and lignit ; oecur. Mo.st of these — that country being at prertent really uiuluvolopcd — owing L'» the isolation of the localities, have not beo.i wo; Led. In tlio Nicola Valley an oxcollont coal has been found, .5 foot to (! fool thick, and on the North Thompsc'.i another coal of very excellent qualitity is known to occur. These two are ol the natu.o of true bituminous coals, more or less per'ei t The remainder of the coals of the interior, ho ftir as known, are, strictly speaking, lignite coals, aad one of these 1 have visited on Hat Creek is over 40 feet in tuicknoss. The deposits on the Similkameon and others are of local value, and, I have no doubt, will be utilised for local fuel supply. The country is amply supplied in all parts of the .inierior with fuels for the purposes of the settlor. .--- ,u.£, _ lJi»Cjl 11 aking ?— A pco, and yo rage cost of anaimo for tniddlomen which yon 1 San Pran- Q. Can you givo information as to the agricultural, mineral and othor rosourcea of the Peace Eiver country, part of which is included by the onstorn b >undavy of British Columbia? — The eastern boundary of British Columbia foll"W8 the 120th maridian from the 60ih paralled southward till that meridian fit:i!:os the Rocky Mountains, and a largo triangular portion of British Columbia thus Viw oast of the Rocky Mountains. The part of the Peace River basin that is of somi fonsidorable agricultural valu';, and is included in British Columbia, I estimate at between 5,000 and 6,100 squavo milos. The remainder of the Upper Peace River countiy lies in the North-Wes*^ T'orritories. Thepartof the Peace River country, of which lam able, from personal knowledge, to speak, is that lying south of the STth parallel of latitude from and reaching to the Athabasca River, and has an approximate urea of 31,550 square miles. The Peace River country, I should state, is naturally separated from the "Upper Saskatchewan country by a band of poor land along the Atbal)awa, The average elevation of this region is about 2,000 feet above the sea, or a little more than that. The soil is a very fine silt, which, where it is best, very much rosomblea that of the Rod River Valley, and is quite different from most of the soil intorvoning between tho Red River and the Peace River country. The fertility of the soil, owing to tho small attempts yet made at cultivation in that district, is chiefly evidenced by the extraordinary luxuriance of the natural vegetation found uy)on it. In general the Peace River country is more or less densely wooded, buttheieare -considerable areas of prairie land also. West of the Smoky River I have estimated that tho areas aggregate 3,000 square miles, or 1,920,000 acres. Ono of tho l.-.r^^est —Very pro- prairies — Grand Prairie, south of Dunvegan — has an area of 230,000 acre-^, noji.ly all prairie, with a few scattered groves of trees. The soil is mai^nificont; it is watered by beautiful stie.ims, and is altoirether one of the most attractive countries in n state ■of nature I huvo ovoi- seen . Tho rojt of tho tract of 31,550 square mile-', whic^'v from its flat chai-acter and low elevation, constitutes tho arable region, is, as r. rule, wooded, and fi^i- the mot part with second growth wood, which consist of ; Milar, birch arid sniMico. Tnkinj^ this ai'oa again, and deducting all tho koown d; ti'icts which contain poor soil, ■uiJ '.'O per cent, besides U~> cover otlier tvi-n^. wiiicli oould not ho c'lltivatcd, it leaves an area of tho Peace River Valley, \vl(h s'lil suited to agricnbiiic, of .^3,500 square milos. Q. You are spealdnir of the whole district, or only of that in 'HritiNh Columbia?— I have -i'lken of I'.c wli >1 1 'li-trict, bcause that part in H-iUsh CoIiKubia— between 5,00(J ail i 1,000 square miles of Jtgricullurjd lanl-is similar — T sjio'.k o dy of that part 'if I'le Peace IJiver coutsry south of the 59ih pav;illel. T do not refer )o that to tho oorlh, Ih)c:''.;o I hr'vo never been thoi-e myself and could or^lj* ^peak i>\' it from report. To give ftomo idea of the value of this region as an ajoienltu;"'! country, tr.king the area T Ik.vo j^'ivon, and supposin;j; as a mousuro of its capacity —uiiscly, of course, ■.'-: an ompir'cul huj'jio itioi f>»" the purpose of e'0i )d wages, ork kiiidly -Yori ; and own ,'.tock, ho islands. i:d deposits at country h;ivo been But in the . both coal xloveloped llio Nicola ho North Those two naindor of coals, aud iss. The loubt, will rts of the J wholes ;e II 'WO in Av!)'\;!, ai. twenty bushels to tho aero, it wonl.l iv.oiliu.- over 410,001 .noii l»u-he's oi' this a-ea will eventuii'ly Iw (;uili\M' 'd 1 am i.d quite sure that over every j art of it wli eat will ripen and bo a sure cr-;.. luit, a", far as wj can judge of tho elim:Ue, it is 'is gc;od as, or bettei- than, tliiit of '■' h. ronton on tho SaskaUhewun River, ami where whout/ has been tried in tho Poa <• IliviM- di'^irict, as a matter of fact, it succeeds, as -v .'.I i^s other crops such iis o;t(s and b ul y. We h ive, thoroforo, every reason to belIovcoptil)le of cultivation, it-; yield, at tho 1 ate above aniiex' d, would bo 3?^,-4l)0,000 bushels. By Mr. Trow: Q. Do you thirdc it i-i sn'.ject to sunnnor frosts ?—Siimmer fro~t^ n enr hut. t do not think they are of hiifl3(!!e'M. i.everity toaiFeot who;it as a rulo over the eonnf'-y ; my personal cxperienc' is ihtit of one soiison The early frt)sls in tho autumn cut down tho potato tops before the}' wore quite dead in tho later part of August in that year. tut tho -wheat and other ,' the map of tho Peace River country, by tho Geological Survey in tho report of 187U-80, be- cause it is a very large one. Q. In a country of .such extent, passing through onco or twice, is it possible for any one jicrson to know much except in general terms ? — Of course one's knowl' dge is of a pcnora! cliursuior. I travelled over a great portion of tho dihtrict. I did not merely ]ia^s through it onco, but spent six weeks e.^araining dirtoront portions, and my assi-^tant travelled through other parts of it and reported on them. Of course, a great part, as has boon stated, is wooded, and, thorc/oro, difficult to iuvewtigato thoroughlj-. I know tho character of the soil from tho paits I have examined, and there is every reason to bolievo that tho remainder of the district with similar elevation, and forming' part of the same old lake basin in which tho rich silty soils ■were laid down, possesses the same ch.iractor. Prom some of tho higher points you can soo almost over tho whole country. Of course, a more detailed exploration is to be de)sired, and pat ticularlj' experiments with vaiious crops of a crucial kind in certain localities, (specially those at considerable elevations, for tho purpose of detining the limit in altitude of cultivation. Bi/ Mr. McCraney : - Q. Do the warm winds from tho Pacific coast roach that part of Peace River Valkn ill I)rili^•h Columbia? — Yes; the so-called Chinook winds havo an ett'ect south of the 4Hth parallel for some distance, and thence along the mountains to the Peace Eiver and northward. Their greatest effect is within 100 inilos from the foot of tho Rucky Mountains. East of that thoy lose their oliaracster. Their occur- rence in the Pence Rivor country is well marlced. When thoy sot in in winter an immciiiiite thaw occurs and the snow goes, Tho snow fall is deeper, however, in this country than in tho Bow River and Belly River district to ti>e west. The southern country is dry, and thorcforo a prairio country-. The norlhorn is, to a large extent, wooded and the natural precipitation of moisture is ample for agriculturiil purposes. By Mr. McNeill : Q. Havo you any reason to suppose the summer frost, tlio year you were there, was any !o.v.'> severe than usual ? — No; as far as I couM gaihorit was unusually severe, yet ii .I'd not alVcct tho wlieat crop. I collected excellent s|)cciini;us of wheat from the IIiulsv'ii Bay i osi. In faittho cropsof that year wlm-o laior tlian usual on account of this period i.f a week or tea days of wet weather just boforo harvest, which delayed the coniplolo ripening of tho grain. By Mr Trov.' : Q. At, what station of tho Hudson's Bay pot-t was tiiat wlieat grown? — I spoke especiall}' of Dunvegan, lut besides that wo know llial wheat ihviv<>s ai, fjossor Slave Lake post. 1 saw barley, ripe and with fine heads, grown by the ^.'reo Indians at Stuigeon Luke on the Plateau and at Fort St, John, further iij) tlio Peace River and consiili'iably nearer tho mountains, barley and oats are known to havo been ripo on Auguft 12tii, in 1876, though at tho same place, in 18t0, wheal, wms a failure. Fort Bt. John is luar the western edge of tho country I conci'ler of agricultural value. Of course, I ijuito agree in tho statement that it is voiy desirable to have further oxpori- menls in a few chosen localities — chosen as beinp the most unfavorable — to show the best and worst that can bo said of the country. By the Chairman : Q. Can you say anything in regard to tho mineral resom-ces of that particular poition of the country? — Tho mineral resources of tho Peace River country may bo treated of comi)arativoly briefly. They consist in gold and coal. Gold is found ia |the princip, ;bccu dl-v-ov* twa;(e.-> out ■Poauo Rivei ! Q. IJia iMount.iins 't I spoke befor ibeen derive 'because th bearing scli result is tht quantity of much with mine in thi: iSo far they •have boon 1 the mount a :0u the AlL lin IhicknoH I every rcast tho coals c imidcrnl fui j Q, 1st teach. I St Peace Rive ;, rocks is ah B Q. Ha I per dcposi Iwhoroouct jtho most a i very rich i I phosphoru I of it is on ! near tho v " "1, the J on vuo coa: J from whic I vantage, a I coast. In ) ore is bein ] Q. I*' » strait of G are close t the Texad ^ave novo J Q. D been to a IS ive been cut ini; Iho map l'87a-8(», be- !t. possible foi- s kiiowl' dgo I (lid not )ortion8, and Of coui'HO, a iuvoMtigato .'vmincd, and with similar ch Bilty soils )!• points you loration is to nd in certain dolining the Peace JRiver 1 etl'oct south to the Peace om the foot Their occur- i winter an vovor, in this rhe southern largo extent, r;il purposes. u were there, 8uall J severe, wheat from al on account hich delayed 'n ? — I spoke 1 /OHHor Slave 9 Indians at 5e Itivor and boon ripe on iilure. Fort U value. Of •thor oxperi- -to show the it particular ntry may be I is found ia jPeaco llivor couiitiy propor, there is ii chance I Q. IJuvi' lliv j.;'j1J ^IcjiM^lL-j yon ^'pcak .^f the priiicip.al t^trcams 'ml chiefly in the Peace Eivor, and jio very rich deposits have Ibcen di--oovorod here, though sui3ciont to attract a few miiiois wliu have in;ido ^ood ma'io.s out of it. 1 do in>{, think that, except in the iiuuky Mountaiup), we-^t of the 0 of vcrj' extensive gol J mining here, f h :T.. bi'OiigM, (low 11 from the Rocky iMouiit.vins ?— Parti}' HO and partly from the east, I bolio\o. 1 think Dr. Selwyn |sj)okc before of the fiict that the gold deposits of the great ]ilains to the louth have iheeii derived from the ea-t. In tlio Peace Eiver country it is not quite the same, 'because the Peace Eiver flo^vs right thi'uugh the Eocky Mountain^-, and the gold bearing t^chist on \U head waters is the northern extension of that of Cariboo. The :rcsult is that the Peace Eivor carries with it through its whole coiirae a considerable quantity of, comparatively fine gold, and how much ha.-, cmno in that way and how much with the glacial drii't from the east, it is diflBcult or indeed impossible to deter- mine in this dihlrict. The ccal i-esources give every promise of being very extensive. ^So i'ar they have been examined only in a few places, and most of the seams observed have boon thin, but the quality of some of them, particularly in the neighborhood of the mountains, in a zone extending .'jO or GO milecs oast of tho mountains, is excellent, ■On the Athaba.sk;i Eiver soino seams of lignite coal are known. There is one 10 feet ;in thickness of good quality, and another of ;i feet of oven bolter character. There is '^overy reason to believe, fiom tho wide spread of the cretaceous forniatlou in which the coals occur, that the Peace Eiver country will be found amply supplied with mineral fuels. Jy Mr. Cochrane : ' Q. Is this ill the North- West Territories or in British Columbia? — Partly in ♦ each. I stated that probnbly about 5,000 square miles of tho agricultural part of tho Peace Eiver country lie within British Columbia. A large part of the (joal beaiing rocks is also within this Province. By the Chairman : ' Q. Ilave you any information respecting tho probable value of the iron and cop- per deposits on To:;:. .la Island, IIowo Sound and other parts of British Columbia, where such co'ikl be worked advantaguou.sly ? — Tho Toxada iron de|io.sit is one of tho most accessible deposits of iron discovered so far in British Columbia. It is a very rich magnetic iron ore, assaying 68:4 of iron, and a very low percentage of phosphorus and other impurities of an objectionable character. Tho largest exposure of it is on the west side of Toxada Island, where it has a thickness of 20 ft. to 25 ft. near tho water's edge, and it has been traced for more than a mile to the north-wcst- '"■' (1, the vein being at times as thin as 2 ft., but generally thicker. The ore being on viiO coast, is ea-sj- of shipment, and within twenty miles of the harbor at Comox, from which thu Couiox coals are shipped. These circumstances give it a peculiar ad- vantage, and I believe it will be one of the first developed iron deposits of the west coast. In fact, I am informed mining is going on there now to some extent, but the ore is being sent to the United States for smelting. By Mr. Trow : ] Q. Is it near coal ? — There are only twenty miles of the navigable waters of the i Strait of Georgia between it and the Comox coal field, and both tho iron and tho coal \ are close to the waters edge — the Comox coal perhaps about two miles back. As to i the Toxada copper deposits, I believe there are copper deposits in Toxada Island, but I * *ave never seen them, and we have not received any specimens of them. By Mr. Hesson : Q. Did you say thoy were not working this iron mino ?— I believe they have been to a email extent lately. 14 By Mr, Baker ( Victoria) : Q. Some three or four tons were sent to San Francisco ? — For F.ovoral years Iron Bmo'ting h:in boon carried on in Oregon. I thought po.siiibly it had gone to those smelting works. Q. At Pugot Sound? — That is recent, but for some yvirB a liUlo smolting lias been going on in Oregon in a small way, showing it can bo mnde to pay with poor ores and perhaps Chinese labor, on the western coast. Ah to the Ilnwe Sound copper ore, referred to by the Chairman, I have no personal kno^vloligo. It is between IIowo Sound and Jarvis Inlet, at a considerable altitude it) the mountains. We have had tine specimens assaying 44^ per cent, of co^^pi.T, constituting a very valuable ore. I cannot, however, state any facts as to the continuity and widlh of the vein, which, as far as I have learned, has not been fully dcvolop< d. This appears to be, however, one of the moat promising copper localities in Briti,-,h Columbin, and from its vicinity to the coast, sjjould be easily worked. Q. Wore there any indications of silver in the assay ? — It wns not tested for silver. By Mr. Homer : Q. Witli regai'd to the cedar, you stated that the trees wore H feet in diameter ami hollow, and the impression conveyed was, that they were not very valu- able for timber. That class of trees is considered the very best wo h.ive (hnre. The shell is generally from 1 to 3 feet in thickness, and 'iO feet to 50 foot in height, it is very fine wood for sashes, doors, cases and so on, and the other is for heavier work — walls and sills and so on ? — Yes; being clean and clear wood. I per- haps gave a wrong impression, and did not mean to say that hollow cedar trees were not Viiluublo. , » ■ By Mr. Trow : Q. What class of immigrants would be most acceptable in British Columbia? — I think, when the railway is opened through to British Columbia that the expansion of industries will bo such as to give employment to all classes of immigrants. So far the development of the Province has been slow. The great trouble has been the cost of getting there. Again, the people who have gone there, have, in many cases, been connected with placer gold mining. These enterprises do not form a good basis for an agricultural population. I believe the railway will lead to the introduction of a class of agricultural immigrants who will build up the country to a great extent. I think, however, as I have said, that mining will take the lead among the industries of the Province. By Mr. Baker ( Victoria) : Q, Please state any facts upon the subject of the coal and lignite deposits oC Vancouver Island, Queen Charlotte Islands and the mainland of British Columbia, a» to additional localities not covered possibly by Dr. Selwyn's evidence? — I have men- tioned the Nanaimo and Comox basins, which are the main deposits on Vancouver. There is a large extent of coal country about Sugwash, and north to Beaver Harbor on the east coast. This was the first worked in the Province, but afterwards aban- doned for Nanaimo, where the seams were thicker. I think by boring in the Sugwash region there would be a very fair prospect of striking valuable seams. At Quatsino Sound, on the west coast, there is an extensive coal district, with coal of extra quality. The seams so far found are not, however, very thick, but owing to the position of Qaatsino, out of the ordinary routes of traffic, and also to the tact that Nanaimo has been able to supply all the coal that could be sold on the coasts these localities have not been developed. At the head of Alberni Canal, again, coal is known to occur. I think it is not very extensive, but it might yield coals of economic value if it were explored. Lignite occurs at Sooke, Vancouver Island, bat. lowing to ignites ag« at BoUingl wore work lignite, wl Q. StJ prairie re Mountain.: to the Cor over the g Bow and J ; a short pr i of the grc I prospect 1 I Nevada, a I metallifer Q. 15 I- years iron 10 to those molting Jias Y with poor ''.wo Sound iio. It is mountains. 'I'M'g a very ! wiJlh of h in appears umbia, and :)t tested for lY feet in ot very valu- thoro. Tho 50 foot in other is for ood. I per- ir trees were Columbia ? — 10 expansion ants. So far has been the many cases, a good basis introduction jreat extent, le industries I depoHits of Columbia, a» [ have men- Vancouver. Ivor Harbor wards aban- >ring in the seams. At with coal of lut owing to ) to tho fact n the coast, , again, coal )ld coals of ' Island, bat lowing to the proximity of good coal, it is not of any value. At 6arr«rd Inlet ignites again occur, but the samo remark applies to those as to the last. The minet- at BoUinghara Bay, in Waf.b!!!glon Territory, just south of tho line on the mainland, wore worked originally protly extonsivoly, but as the fuel obtained resembled a lignite, when other mines became worked, they were abandoned. Q. State alho any : dditional facts on the coals and tho character generally of the prairio region oast of tho iiiouutainH botwoon Lake of the Woods and the Eocky MountJiinj aa far north as Pence River 7 — I believe Dr. Solwyn has presented already to tho Commitloo niobt of the facts bearing on this great region, I have travelled over tho greater part ol it, luid, in 1881, was engaged in tho Geological Survey of the Bow and Bolly Rivtr cU^tlict^', whoro ponio of tho best coals of that region occur, and a short prolimiuaiy report hub 'uooh published on them. I may state that tho whole of the great pntirio country, west of tho odeo of the third prairie piatean, is amply provided with fuel:;, '"li'. i\ i waroely any district which is at a great distance from some bed of coal or lignite which in, at least, of local value. The fuels near the Rocky Mountains aro gc;!C!iil'y tho best, and are, in some cases, indistinguishable from those of tho true cai boniforous period. Q. How docs the iiitciia platenu country of British Colnmbio compaT'ewith that of Utah and Nevada? —It i-> much less in general altitude. Tho climate is not so dry. It is hotter suited for tigriculturo and stock-raising, as far as the agricultural land exists, and instt^ad of a country almost bare of forests, it is largely — the higher elevations in the south and the whole of the northern part — covered with timber of more or lees value. The only point in which the comnarison is in favor of T^tah and Nevada is that, owing to tho timber and the glacial drift, it has been moro d'.fficult to Srospect the country for minerals, although tho same rocks run north from Utah, Tevada, and Idaho, and there is reason to believe that they may hold similar valuable metalliferous deposits that have not yet boon developed. By Mr. Fisher : Q You say tho northern part of the plateau, and the coast line, is covered with tim her. What propoition of the other portion of British Columbia would not be required to be cleared for agricultural purposes ? — Almost the whole of tho land in the south- ern part of the interior, which is really suitable for agriculture, lies in the river valleys, and of that, nearly all is now in a state of prairie or very lightly wooded. Q. Chiefly bottom land ? — Chiefly bottom lands in the valleys. By Mr. Trow : Q. What grass is there ? — Bunch grass is the most abundant and valued. By Mr. Fisher: Q. It is suitable for pasturage naturally ? — Tea. By Mr. Baker, ( Victoria) : Q. Would you plc.iso inform mo what are the circumstances, in your opinion, having a tendency to retard the development of British Columbia as a mining country? — I think tho greatest have been its remoteness from other districts where mining is actively prosecuted, the small population, the cost of getting there, and the cost of supplies and living gonorally; also, as I have stated before, the forest covering creat part of the country. Thecoverins I covering of drift material further renders it a dilBoalt country to prospect. I have no hesitation in saying that the railway, opening up a section across the entire width of the Province, and in communication with navigaole rivers and lakes, vill give a groat impetus to the mining industries. Q. Please give me your opinion as to the distribution of gold in British Columbia, tho total, actual and estimated yield of gold from 1868 to 1876, the average number of miners employod yearly, and their average earnings per man per year for that 16 period ? — I havo given in answer lo a prcvioin qncs-inii, those faot.i in a summarised form, up to 1882. 1 havo not lioro the etati-ttir's in detail. Q. Where ii;o tlie principal areas of goll-bear'ng roclcs, and in there any reaHOn to believe them to bo the geological equivalents of the richost auriferous rocks of Cali- fornia ? — T thiiik there is very little ro!i->;' to doiibf llvi! Mto ^o! l-bonriug bohi-t.s are the gO'.)Iogical of|uivalent of the gold-bearing rofk-s of Calif ■rni'i. The region in a small area which has yielded the greatost portion of gold is the Cariboo country. There are also the Omonica, Cassiur, Kootenay, and P.ig Rond districts, together with the Frasor River which in 1858 was the first to attract the attoution of miners. Oa Vancouver Island the Leech Eivor district has yielded altogether about $100,000 worth of gold, and it is not improbable that auriferous veins may be discovered there from which that yield has been derived. Q. During your vioit to the Carii:)00 region, whist were the wages paid to mechanics, laboreis, Chinamen and Indians, and the prices of provisions at that time? — Ordinary laborers — that was in 1876— received $5 a day, mechanics $5 to $7, Chinamen and Indians generally $3 a day. The^o prices were cousidei'od a great reduction on those prevailing formerly. A man who could not make $S a day out of a gold claim did not think it worth working, in the cutli.n' days ol Cariboo, and a great deal of ground was thi-n passed over hurriedly that will pay to work again. The cost of living was high also. Flour was 3 cts. a pound, beans 15 cts., bacon 36 cts., grain for hort^e feed 7 cts., and bay 5 cts. a pound. Q. Do you think the quartz in the region of Cariboo could bo crushed to advan- tage if greater facilities for getting in machinery and supplies wore offered? — That ia Btill an open question, in so far as the veins at present known are concerned. Most of tho spociinens wo havo received have not proved rich though tho veins are very wide. If the luciliiios were great, for instance, if it were situated on the coast, I daresay oven tLo lodes now known might bo worked, but I doubt if any of the discovered veins would pay to work in the Cariboo district. It is probable, however, that wo have :!:it yet found in that district tho sources of the heavy alluvial gold, be- cause most of what is found in the placers is coarse gold in nu'f'cots or pellets ot considerable size, and in tho quartz the gold so far discovered has boon for the most part distributed in a very high state in iron pyrites. Q. What silver and copper indicatior.s are there on the Mainland, where situate, and is there rea;ion to believe any of tho lodes to bo true fii-suro veins of much value if properly worked and with adequate machinery ? — The Hope and Cherry Creek localities are both on the Mainland, and those are tho two most promising localities for silver I know. As I have not personally visited the Hope mine, I cannot state whether it is a true fissure vein or not. In Choriy Crook mine there was some inter- ruption met with in tho vein, and all one can say of it at pro-ont is, that very rich ore has been derived Aom ir, and it appears well worth fuller investigation. There are a great number of places whore copper has boon discovered, not only inland but on tho coast. I do not know any moi"o promising locality than tho Howe Sound one, from which wo havo had specimens, in the publication already rofoiTod to, I havo cata- logued seventeen copper localities. Q. Other than Leech Eivor, is gold to bo found in Vancouver Island ? — Some jfears ago the Vancouver Island Government, at that time separate fi-om British Columbia, sent out an exploring expedition, which examined a large part of the Island. They discovered tho Loech Eiver diggings and they found also small quantities of gold in several other rivers, and from time to time prospects have been got in other parts. One may even got colors on the sea beacii where magnetic iron sand is found; but no deposits have boon found up to tho present rich enough to work, besides tho Leech Eiver ones. Q. What are tho known fuel producing formations in British Columbia of econ- omic value? — The formation which produces tno most valuable fuel of British Columbia, that of Queen Charlotte Islands, almost all of Vancouver Island and some on the mainland, is tho cretaceous, of the same age as tho chalk of England and much newer than the coal rocks of Nova Scotia. Most of tho lignites occur in the Tertiary formation interior of Q. D. quantity t known sei careful iy opinion u' Q. ^ pD'-so'-'-ed inf'"rmi'ti' • Q. W arid QkaV. the lieud ( acqu-nntc ami nod. and fivof quality o measures is, howev quontly i Columbii siderable generally Cinnabar Tl'.e mos Platinun only pari Q. ^ their l<>c with all gandstoD Island, ously cl excellen great ab ported. Cisco, but no; Q. and are cisely wan sole to be so tree hia many ii ol fore- Q. say till Q. Q. and m: and ar usually 120 foe ! diamet atul 50 S i 17 iny roanion cks of Cali- bohisfs are region in a country. ;ethor with lidoi'H. Oa [),000 worth there from .!b paid to that time? $5 to 87, od a groat d.iy out of boo, and a ;orlc again. bacon 35 to advan- 1 ?-That is ned. Most ns are very the coast, I any of the ie, however, ial gold, be- r pellets of or the most loro situate, much value lerry Creek ig localities annot state Rome inter- 3ry rich ore There are a I but on the d one, from I have cata- nd ?— Some om British part of the also small s have been ignetio iron enough to jia of econ- of British i and seme I and much tie Tertiary ummarised 1 formation which '.» the newest foim in the country and covers a largo area of the interior of tlie Pnivince. Very excellent lignite occivs in its lower layers. Q. Doyou think anthr-.iciui c >!il ("cisis iti (^ucon Clinrnte IsiiuiiiH in wuillcient quantity lo b.: remunerative if !>i'()|iorly woi'kod? — I'h) total (jusiM.ily got from the known i-eain whn nhout 800 toM l)'.-for>' work wah hu^iiendod. [ cxiimitied the ;>laco CJiiofuPv ami i onsidor ii well wmiliy of futliei' inve.Hligution, but one caiinot givonn o])'niii>! a«^ to its aitnal •niuo, t'li m to |'r'i-;j)octing woi k has been done. Q. Apart from Iv'unaimo urnl ( Jomox, ■^h;.! otiior jjlticeson Vaiicnuvor Island are po'^so^'-ed of" good co:d i'idic:,iii>ir-i? — I boliovc I have already given all the available inffti-mntion on tlds ]»oint • Q. What is the genei'al thickness of tlie seam? in Nanaimo, Wellington, tJoraox and Q,iiat>i!n, thin has neve." boen thoroughly ex- amined. The thickness of the thickest Hcanis in Quatsino fSoui.d is between lour and five foet. as far as I know, but it has boon imj)('rfectl}- ex| lored as yet. The quality of the coal there is exctllont, and there is a conoid u'n.blc exloi.l of coal measures, stretching iirobabl}' across the Island li'om (Quatsino to Fort Kupert. There is, however, U)j to the ]»rcs(!nt time, no selllement thcio and no traffli;, and conse- quently it has not been considered a paying matter to open the place up. Q. Is lead, cintiabar, morourj' and platinum to be found in any part of British Columbia in any quantit}' ? - Load occurs in a number of localities, I believe in con- siderable quantities. Some I have mentioned in connection with silver, silver being generally found associated with galena. It is alsc said to occui- on Kootenay Lake. Cinnabar has been found only in small quantities, none to warrant actual mining. The most promising I have heard of is on the Homathco River, above Bute inlet. Platinum is found in small quantities in connection with gold washings. It is the only part of the Dominion 1 believe in which platinum has been found. Q. Wliat building and ornamental stones are to be found in British Columbia, their location, extent and probable value ? — British Columbia is very richly endowed with all kinds of building and some varieties of ornamental stones. There are the sandstones of the cretaceous period in connection with the coals of Vancouver Island, sandstones and free- tones, some of them of excellent qualitj*, and, judici- ously chosen — some of them have been proved to be not enduring — they make excellent building stone. Granites and other cr3-stalline rooks of that kind exist in great abundance along the whole coast, and might be used to any extent and ex- ported. There is a lack of suitable .stone, for building, in the vicinity of San Fran- cisco. There are also a number of places where marble quarries have been ojienedout, but no 'extensive quarrying has yet been inaugurated. Q. What is the diameter of the laigest tree you have seen in British Columbia, and are there vcty manj' of that t^izo or nearly approaching it ? I cannot state pre- cisely the diameter of the largi.'st Douglas fir I have ever seen ; when a specimen was selected to send to the Philadeljihia E.-ihibition, one was chosen which was sure to be sound throughout, and there wore larger U'e<'s that wo wore not sure about. This tree had a diameter of 8 ft. 1 in., at^d a height of 105 It., and there wore a great many in the vicinity ot Burrard Inlet approaching to thiN size. In fact, whole areas ofibio^i .'ire com 'Mscd of trees nf similar size. Q. What is the average size of logs sawn in the mills at Burrard Inlet ? I should say the average kizl- must be bctwoon 4 ft. and 5 ft. Q. In diameter? — Yes, in diameter. Q. What class of sjiars cm bo got out, i.e., their length and diameter? — Spars and masts of any size desirable f u" shipping can be easily got in British Columbia* and are unsurpassed ftn- straightnes-' and strength. I believe masts have been usually Bhip])od hewn to octagoiml form from 20 tf> 30 inches in diameter and 60 to 120 feet long. They have bten ihiitpcvi to sjiocial orders as largo as 42 inches in diameter and 1:^0 feet long. Yards are generally from 12 to 24 inches in diameter and 50 to 102 feet long. 18 Q. IIow does the timbor at Buirard Inlot compiuo with that at Puget Sound, as to Hv/.e, quality and market prices? — It is probably about the namo in both places; or Buiiard Inlet, not being bo much cut into an Pugot Sound, probably contains in pro- poition to iiM area mo'o \aluable timbor at the present time. (J. ^ro there any places on Vancouver Island adapted for the erection of saw- mills?— A great number of localitien. For ioMtanco, in the vicinity of Cowichan and north-woHl towards Comox, where there is a largo area of flat country covered with fine timber, besides Alberni Ganal and other places on the coast. Q Uavo you auy means of knowing tho princijml markots to which Bi'itish Columbia lumber and spars are shipped, tho prices obtainable in those markets, and the giiieiul opinion of its quality? — I cannot state tho prices obtained in tho murkets. It bus l)oon shipped to a small extent to San Francisco — not in large quantity locau.o ol' tho duly. A good deal has boon sent to South America, and to Austrjilia, some occasiouully to China, and tnasts und spais have been exported to England and F'ranco. Its quality, tested by strength and in other ways, is excellent, lariioulaily for masts and spars. The only respect in which the Douglas tir com- pare-, unfavorably with white pine is its somewhat coarser grain, and that is con- nect lot cour.-o wilh its greater strength. Q. What amount of good farming land is there in tho districts of Victoria, Cowi.L''ian, Esquimau, Maltchosin, Sook and Saanich respectively? — I cannot state the ''xaci aretis in those districts. They are included in the general estimate of the lands of Vancouver Island given before. Tho districts above-mentioned are in fact the ),rincipal farming tracts of the Island. Q. Of how man}' acres does an average farm consist in those localities, what core;. Is are they capable of producing, and what is tho average yield per acre ? — The farms on t ho coast and on Vancouver Island are capable of producing all ordinary cereals successfully. Tho average yield per acre is invariably very high. The iwvcioge yield of v\hoat I have stated is 3'» to 40 bushels per acre, as far as can be oscortuinoJ, on Vancouver Island. 1 have not hero the statistics of the other grains and root crops. By Mr. Hesson : Q. You said you considered the mining industry would always be the prominent industry of tho country. Did you take into consideration the value of the farm products, ill coiiscqnenci! of the sm.'dler populatiim involved in mining? — I think the value of the agricultural lands, especially in the interior, where they are isolated by mountain-*, dep'.'iids upon the development of the mining to a largo extent. That is what has provoked farming in the vicinity of Caiiboo and other mining districts. Ihu interior of Britii>h Columbia has been practically cut off from tho coast in tho past, and whereas, in the interior, a farmer may produce more wheat in one year than ho can sell in three, he has not been able to send it to tho coast because of the mountain barrier, and Vancouver Island is actually drawing its grain to a large extent from Washington Territory and Oregon. Q. I understood from the prices you quoted that there was a scarcity of those ariiile.H? — The cause of tho prices in Cariboo is tho remoteness. Cariboo is 5,000 f^et above the soa, and farming is quite impossible at the mines. By Mr. Fisher : , Q. Do tho average prices of farm producs in Victoria, Nanaimo, and about there, compare favorably witii tho prices in the Eaitern Provinces? — They are much higher in all cases. I cannot, however, give the exact figures. By Mr. McNeill : Q. Is it a good quality of wheat that is raised there? — Very excellent. That in tho interior of British Columbia resembles that from Oregon. The kernel is very hard and it makes «>A'.cellent flour. 19 By Mr. Fisher: Q. The fti^ricullurfil produce is not equal to the domiind of the inhabitants? — Thai of the coast Im not equal to the demand of the coant region. In the wouthern gjrtioii of till) interior it lia.s boon more than rtufficiorit, and there is no external ma'-kot. at when ihe railwaj' is completed, it will work a revolution in that part of the country, becuuHO it will be poshible to send grain to the coast. It is the Hamo in reganl to stock. The cattle have so far had to be driven by narrow and often very hilly ir il iHllicull trails a<'ioMH the range of tlieCascade Mountains and down txi Hope. They huflor in condition and in every way, and are lesM valuable than if IJthey were brouglit directly down by rail. By Mr. Baker ( Victoria) : Q. What is the extent and nuture of the farming land in ai;d about Niinaimo, Comux, and iho east coast of Vancouver? — I cannot give you the Htatifltics for those distriits ^oveI■ally. In fact 1 hardly think any survoys liave been male ao accurate as to yitjid this inlormation, but there is a large quantity of flat land now wooded for the mosL part, which will be ultimately valuable in the vicinity of Nanaimo and Comox. In fact a large portion of thatwhidi is marked on the map as belonging to the coal bearing I'cgion is flat land suscopliblo of cultivation oiihci' in the proximate or further future. Q. What is your opinion as to the probable acreai^o of farming land in other farts of Vancouver Island? — Apailfrom the district enumerated m previous questions, think the firming lands are not largo. There are limited tracts elsewhere at the head of the inlets and harbours on the coast. By Mr. Cochrane : Q. Do you think there would be any difficulty in clearinn; the lands by burn- ing the timber?— I boHeve, bj' watching the right season, it can bo done by fell- ing and being ready to clear up when it is dry enough to burn. The size of the trees and the cxpoiicnce of labor are deterrents. It will bo done eventually, no doubt. This land, e-pecially when the valuable timber has been removed, will be brought into use as agricultural land. By Mr. Fisher : -It is Q. Is tlioro a groat deal of small growth in that, part of the country ?- not usual in the dense forests. Limited tracts are covcro I with s^'uh. Q. The stumps of these large trees must be s'me distance ap:iit? — Yes, but such large stumps take many years to decay, though time will overcome this. By Mr. McNeill : Q. IIovv dues the climate Cumj.aro .vi:)) C;. cnt Ijritain, so far as humidity is con- ceriiod ?— The climatu oi .-'Ome p.uL- li the co.n , particularly the west pan of Van- couver and the Queen Charlotte Islands, is more humid than that of Great Britain, and even than the west of Irel ind, but inside the islands whore it is sheltered by tlie mouutai;i i-anges, the climate is not near so humid. There is a great difference. By Mr. Baker i Victoria): Q. DeH;;rll'c resprctively the nature and ex*'^nt of 'he farm lands of the Frascr Eiver, Kootenay anJ Okanai,':iM ? — I do not know that any precise esti- mate has been made "f the f'arm'ng land about the estuary of tho Fraser, but there is a great deal nf liit land 'here, partly prairie land, whi(^h has to be dyked to prevent the overflows of the river, and make it u.-ef'ul fir agriculture. In 1877 Mr. Dowdney informed me that about 400,000 acres had already been sui-veyed in so t<>wnHhi|iH, ofwhich ho ehtimatod about 2;!0,000 as* piMiiio or liglitly wood''). To thiHiniij' be added 10,0(10 to ir.OOO ucio:-, rppromiitiiifi- gn( d lui d n.'n- tli*> Pr;iKor, ho- tweon Oiiilukwoyak and Ilojx-. I iiit'ludo(i 1h(> OK'sintgnn nnl KooftMitiy < ■)iinti-y, tho gonortd osliiiialo for Uio Huuilicrii miorior. Tlioro i- ■■ b'^ulitiil Uiii't oi, 01d farmH. Tbon, on \.\\l^ Sjnilliimsbcon, bolw»;('n Okuiia^'an at d Sbii'^wiij) Lalvn. Hiorc is much lino land in a very wido valby and Iiiitjation is horo not noco.'^ftury. It is ca-ily accOHHibic by wa'or (Vom Kand(")i)H. Q. What in tho avorag.; acicayo ol'laims in liiuso lodilitios, nature of noil, pro- ducts, yiokl por aero, and tho adaptability of hucli kinds b on poHHiblo to .'>ell to advantago, the ciiltivaiod area lb, an n rule, comjiaiativcly i-mail. Each farmer cultivaicH only Huch grain an he (■.•in dipo-'i' o*', v.hile he ni;:y h:i\(i a largo herd of ealtio fioilinf; on the natural grn-H(•^, und derive his iricom(>chii fly from tho sale of those. I cannot epoak loo highly of the ;^ra!-HO.s a'ld f;rnz 'g land of tho Bouthern part of -British Columbia. It is not excelled, or porlmpy e()U!illed, by any f razing land I know. The only danger is the ovurstocking o( coi tain disti'iittH, and think measures should be taken in pi-cvenl this in time. Q. Al what price per acre could any ol the farni> in British (Juluml mi pur- chased, and wliat facilities are there in Bi itish Columbia fir acquiring ii, gener- ally, including timber leases? — The British Columbian Government is liberal in granting lands to sottlors. Wild lards aio sold at the rate oi'$' ]ie" acre, and claims of 160 acres west of the ('ascades, of 320 acres e-ist of the Cascades, are given, tho title being securod by four years' residence and payment not exceeding $1 jier aero. Q. What facilities aio thei'o for sending stock fi'om British Columbia into Mani- toba and tho North- West Territories?— Ot lato years, some sto'k— particularly a number ol homos — lias been taken aci'oss tho Mountains into tho North-West Torri- torios. Last year the British Columbian Government very wisdy spent a sum of money in cutting out a trail by the Cro-v's Nest Pass, and that is tho easicsi route to take cattle froff British Columbia into tho North-West at jjresont. There is a very fair trail all the way now by tho Crow's Nest Pass lea-ut in most di.U el. Q. Are the fac.hl.os fo mi„ ^^^i^^^^,, ^^ a^o »»''l* 'f J,,^ Coloru.lo wliich Gonomlly '"-V^'nurri- Tho.o are only XbaKn'^nl want of water . :atbl^r"gS'"£;: are large tract, permanently baue i 8