surveys of last season more complete, I noticed that the quality of the soil in these townships which are counted as timbered mountain land is far superior to that found on the open range, and the percentage of stony land is much less, while the hills are not so steep nor high. The elevation of this land would be upwards of two thousand feet, higher than the valley of the Thompson River at Kamloops; hence there are frequent summer frosts, but that these should be so severe and frequent as to render it impossible to raise crops where water could be obtained to irrigate, I do not consider fully established, although the settlers who have appropriated the marsh meadows which prevail do not try to raise any other crop, except Mr. Palmer, who is trying to substitute timothy for the beaver grass, with every prospect of success, as the seed sown last spring had taken root and was rapidly springing up among the other grasses. But a limited area of the mountain land has been explored, and I am certain other valuable meadows could be found if the explorer would penetrate the timber and hills to a greater distance. In consequence of thick brush and fallen timber, which render it very inconvenient to get horses through the woods, no one seems to penetrate more than a few miles beyond the open range, hence a considerable portion of the land remains terra incognita, but this condition will not continue long, as the people are anxious to find all the meadow land which they possibly can, as the value of such but recently ascertained causes great competition. The timber in the township above named, although thick on the ground, is in many places small and suitable for nothing but building and fencing, there being none of any account which could be converted into lumber. The fires, which have been so universal in their destructive effects wherever timber land exists, have not made an exception of this part, as in many places the large timber is all found on the ground, in some cases mostly burnt up and a second growth of small pine altogether too numerous to attain to any size occupies the soil, and these small trees in patches are found dead from the same cause only of a more recent date. If by experiment it should be found that, by irrigating, crops could be successfully grown in these mountain districts, large tracts of comparatively level land, easily cleared, would be available for settlement a much greater percentage than is found in the open ranges where the surface is so very very hilly, and all the little flats suitable for agricultural purposes already occupied.

The weather during the summer was more favorable than in 1886, as the heat was neither as excessive nor as long continued; and several showers of rain, both in the earlier part of summer and in the fall, assisted the growth of grass on the ranges very much, as well as diminishing the labor of irrigating the crops. The pasture was very much better at the commencement of winter than it was last year, and cattle and horses were in prime condition up to the middle of December, at which time I left.

With reference to the climate I do not think a better could be found, in so far as it is calculated to impart vigor and good health, especially would this be the case where persons are subject to asthma, catarrh and kindred ailments. I have met with several persons who had removed west for the good of their health, and had derived incalculable benefit.

I have the honor to be, Sir,

Your obedient servant,

THOMAS FAWCETT, D.T.S.

No. 21.

REPORT OF JOHN MOLATCHIE, D.L.S.

SUB-DIVISION SURVEY ON SALMON, EAGLE AND SPELLAMCHEEN RIVERS.

SICAMOUS, B, C., 12th January, 1888.

SIR,-I beg to submit the following report of survey performed by me during the past season in the railway belt in the Province of British Columbia.

The season's operations consisted of surveys in the valleys of the Eagle, Salmon and Spellamcheen Rivers; the replacing of Canadian Pacific traverse posts from Salmon Arm to Notch Hill, and the survey of several sections at Tappen and Notch Hill, comprising altogether about two hundred and fifty miles of section and traverse lines.

The survey in the valley of the Eagle River, from its mouth to Griffin Lake, a distance of twenty-seven miles, consisted in defining the section lines and section corners along the Canadian Pacific Railway from the traverse points on the railway line.

From the mouth of the river to the Forks, the valley is from one to one and ahalf miles in breadth, and along the south branch to Griffin Lake, from one-quarter to one-half mile in breadth.

Only one actual settler is located in this valley, near the railway line, and about two miles west of Craigillachie station. He has obtained an excellent location, the soil being a clay loam, and conveniently situated for obtaining a supply of water for irrigation purposes.

The soil in this valley generally varies from a light sandy loam to sand and gravel; only in places where the land is low and liable to be overflown in the spring is there any heavy soil. Although the soil appears light, there is a rank growth of timothy along the waggon road. There also seems to be a rank growth of underbrush and weeds, but this is likely owing to its being shaded in the woods, and if exposed to the direct rays of the sun, the growth would not be so rank or luxuriant.

There has been an immense quantity of magnificent timber in this valley, princi. pally Douglas fir and cedar, but the fires of the past two or three seasons have destroyed the most of it, so that very little merchantable timber remains in the valley. Some of it is yet green, but the bark being scorched it will soon become worm eaten, and worthless for manufacturing purposes.

On Salmon River the survey extends southward up the river from its mouth about ten miles, crossing Townships 13 and 20, in Range 10; the valley being, in Township 20, from one and a half to two miles in breadth, and in Township 19 from half a mile to one mile in breadth. The soil is black and clay loam with clay subsoil. Only three actual settlers were located in this valley at the time the survey was made; since then several others have taken up land.

Sufficient land has been surveyed here to locate forty or fifty settlers.

In Township 20, Range 10, at the mouth of the river, an Indian reserve has been located, containing about 2,400 acres of land, which covers most of the hay land on the river valley, besides some excellent farming land. This is considered a great drawback in the settlement of the valley, and no doubt has prevented many from locating there who would otherwise have done so. On the bench land to the south

east and south-west of Salmon Arm towards Mount Ida, the timber has been mostly destroyed by fire. In the valley the timber has not been so much damaged. It is chiefly cottonwood, cedar, and Douglas fir; the fir and cedar being from two to four

feet in diameter, and generally tall and straight. The cottonwood averages from three to four feet, and often measures six feet in diameter. There are also some poplar and white birch. Red and grey willow, hawthorn and hazel intertwined with woodbine forms a dense growth along the river bottom. In Township 19, there is some good pasture land on the hillsides or bench land.

At Tappen several sections were surveyed adjoining the Indian reserve, which is situated at the mouth of White and Granite Creeks and contains about 800 acres of the best farming land in that vicinity. There are only three actual settlers located at this place. Two of them located in White Creek Valley raised a large quantity of vegetables, without having to resort to irrigation. The valley of White Creek is about one fourth of a mile wide. The soil is composed of black loam to a depth of two feet, and contains sufficient moisture to make it productive. The whole of the country surveyed has been over- run by fire which has partially destroyed the timber, which is principally composed of cedar and Douglas fir, from two to three feet in diameter.

The sections surveyed at Notch Hill are generally composed of sandy and clay loam, with clay subsoil. It is mostly high or bench land, but two swamps, one north and the other south of Notch Hill, containing several hundred acres of land, are composed of black loam to a depth of two or three feet. Four settlers have made improvements and raised a considerable quantity of vegetables, chiefly potatoes and cabbage, and although the elevation is several hundred feet above Shuswap Lake they appeared to be superior to any I saw grown in the valley. The timber, which is chiefly fir and cedar, from two to three feet in diameter, has been partially destroyed by fire. A considerable quantity, however, is still suitable for manufacturing into lumber, although the trunks of the trees have been pretty well scorched.

From Tappen north-westward along Granite Creek, northward along White Creek towards White Lake, along the railway to Notch Hill and extending beyond Notch Hill to Black Bay on Shuswap Lake, there is a large area of agricultural land, principally high or bench land, with occasional swamps and creek vaileys, the most of which will require irrigation to make it productive. Along the tote road timothy is found growing luxuriantly, especially in the woods where it is shaded. The settlers claim that hay and wheat could be grown on the bench land all over this area without resorting to irrigation, but this is a question; I think, unless during exceptionally rainy seasons, that will have to be decided by experimenting.

A line was run from Salmon Arm to Spallamcheen River, crossing Canoe Creek Valley. This valley coutains some good farming land; the soil is generally a sandy loam. The timber is chiefly Douglas fir and cedar, from two to three feet in diameter, and has been partially destroyed by fire. On the westerly slope of the mountain the fire has nearly made a clean sweep of the timber. In Canoe Creek Valley and on the easterly slope of the mountain towards the Spallamcheen River the largest proportion of the timber has fallen, making the heaviest windfall I have ever seen. The standing timber is either killed or schorched by fire, so that in a few years it will be worthless for manufacturing purposes. Only a few patches of timber along the line had escaped being scorched.

The survey in the Spallamcheen Valley extends southward from Sicamous about twelve miles, only four miles of that surveyed being in the river valley, the balance being along Sicamous Narrows and Mara Lake. The land surveyed in the valley is generally low and wet, part of it being liable to be overflown during high water every season. Some eight settlers have located on this portion. The soil is a sandy and clay loam, with clay subsoil. The timber in the valley has been mostly destroyed by fire; some large cedar and fir still remain, but there is not much suitable for manufacturing purposes.

This valley, to the southward of the survey, is considered one of the most valuable for agriculture that exists in the Province of British Columbia. The wheat crop during the past season averaged over thirty bushels to an acre, without irrigating the land, and this is considered below the usual return. It is claimed that it will also become a great fruit growing valley. Three car loads, numbering some thousands

of apple and other fruit trees, procured at an expense of $15,000, were planted during the past season, and every confidence of success is expressed by those who have undertaken the experiment.

So far as my survey extended in those valleys, an ample supply of water could be procured for irrigation purposes from the mountain streams. I question the propriety, however, of using the cold water from those streams without first retaining it in an artificial pond or tank for several days before using it. It would certainly tend to retard the growth of plants if used for flooding, as I have seen it used, although it might not be so hurtful if carried in small trenches, as the temperature is very high in the valleys, often reaching 120° in the shade.

A great drawback in the settlement of the country is the expense of clearing the land of timber. The average cost, from the best information I obtained, would be about seventy-five dollars an acre. This, of course, includes the delving of the ground with a spade, or the use of the grub hoe in making it ready for a crop, and will account to a certain extent for the small clearings made by the settlers after two or three years' residence.

I have the honor to be, Sir,

Your obedient servant,

JOHN MCLATCHIE, D.L.S.

E. DEVILLE, Esq.,
Surveyor General,
Ottawa.

No. 22.

REPORT OF P. R. A. BELANGER, D. L. S.

SUB-DIVISION SURVEY IN VICINITY OF COLUMBIA RIVER.

L'ISLET, 17th December, 1887. SIR, I have the honor to submit the following general report upon my work of the past season:

In accordance with your instructions of the 7th May last, for the establishment of section corners along the Canadian Pacific Railway, in British Columbia, I left here on the 23rd of the same month, calling en route at Ottawa for further instructions, and at Winnipeg and Calgary, for the purpose of hiring men for my party. On the 11th June, I arrived at Stephen, the initial point of my work; from thence, I established the section or quarter section corners nearest to the railway continuously to Leanchoil, in the valley of the Wapta (Kicking Horse) River, a distance of about twenty-five miles, traversing almost diagonally across Townships 23, 27 and 26, in Ranges 17 to 19, west of the 5th Initial Meridian. The land traversed in this valley is unfit for cultivation, on account of its ruggedness and prevailing early frosts. The timber has mostly been destroyed by fire. There is, however, on the foot hills and on the flanks of the mountains, splendid spruce, fir and cedar, and a few pines may also be found fit for manufacturing and building purposes, principally on the north side of the river, where the fires have not been so frequent.

Mount Stephen is situated in the south-east quarter of Township 28, in Range 18, west of the 5th Initial Meridian. There is an extensive deposit of galena ore in Section 22, in this township, which has been developed to some extent. The mine

is situated right above the eastern entrance of the Canadian Pacific Railway tunnel. Field is situated on the western side of Mount Stephen on Section 17.

At about two miles north east of Otter Tail, in Range 19, is situated another deposit of galena ore, which has been worked until last spring, when a fire destroyed the mills and machinery used for working the mine.

The valley of the Wapta River, near the summit of the Rockies, is narrow and very rough, especially between Hector and Field; west of the latter it widens somewhat. It contains some good land, suitable for cultivation, were it not for the prevailing frosts, which would not permit the maturity of a crop.

On the 12th July, being then at Leanchoil, I received your telegram ordering me to proceed to Illecillewaet, there to survey some town lots. On the 13th I arrived at Illecillewaet, where you gave me verbal instructions concerning the survey. I then proceeded to Revelstoke to locate some squatters' claims. I surveyed part of Sections 14, 15, 22, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30, in Township 23, in Range 2, west of the 6th Meridian. The soil on the claims of Messrs. John Miles and Samuel D. Crowl is pretty good, and well adapted for cultivation. Mr. William MacKee's claim is more suitable for grazing purposes. These three claims are contiguous to the railway line; the neighborhood is hilly, the timber has been destroyed, and is now overgrown with shrubs. The claim of G. W. Sproat is about two and a half miles from the railway line, and on the Columbia River; the land can be classified as hay land, it being a natural meadow, unfit for other cultivation. From the railway to Crowl's claim, I met with very large timber, consisting of spruce, Douglas pine, a few white pine, and a great quantity of cedar, one of the latter measuring 35 feet in circumference. As far as I could judge, a large quantity of heavy timber might be cut in the valley of the Columbia, south of Revelstoke.

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