Ten.

The Imperial Oil Company is drilling a standard hole east of Rolla
in the bed of Pouce Coupe River, 650 feet below the general plateau-level,
and in 1921 drillers struck gas which was reported to have flowed at the
rate of 11,000,000 feet a day and increased in volume to three times that
amount, when the well was capped. Since the capping there have been
strong evidences of gasolene, this substance oozing through the casing-
joints, and, though the company has maintained secrecy regarding opera-
tions, all reports indicate likelihood of oil being found here. Seepages
have been reported along the Pouce Coupe River, and in 1921 a home-
steader discovered a place where, at intervals, oil in small quantities
gushed out of the shale, this oil, as so far examined, giving promise of
high gasolene content.

LAND FOR SETTLEMENT.

A railway route via Fort St. James northward would give access to
a number of localities in which are considerable areas suitable for
agricultural settlement. Vanderhoof, in Nechako Valley, is the centre
of a great connective agricultural tract now being rapidly settled and
developed. A creamery has been established and dairying is increasing.
The valley extends 15 miles north of Nechako River, where a range of
low hills covered with jack-pine forms a divide between the Nechako
and Stuart. From about 7 miles south of Stuart River excellent
agricultural land extends along the Stuart and Necoslie Valleys, north
to what is known as “Big Prairie.” This section contains many

thousands of acres of good agricultural land with rich soil, with a large
percentage of it open or lightly timbered.

OCOCK AND TSILCOH VALLEYS.

North from Fort St. James the route reaches Ocock River, altitude
2,425 feet, in 18% miles. Ocock and Tsilcoh Rivers, about 2 miles apart,
drain a valley including about 45,000 acres of surveyed land adjoining
the block of surveys north-east from Fort St. James, and extending north-
west to Pinchi Lake and north to Yatzootin Lake. The Manson Creek
Trail crosses the westerly part about 2 miles east of Pinchi Lake and the
Fort St. James—Fort McLeod Trail crosses the easterly part, reaching
Ocock River about 2 miles west of Carrier Lake.

Fr. A. Devereux, B.C.L.S., who surveyed this area in 1910, said the
valley has a fine silt soil resembling that of Nechako Valley. It is
timbered chiefly with pine, poplar, and spruce, mostly small and dense.
Where timber has been burned off, which occurs in many small patches,
the soil has appearance of being very productive, judging from the rank
growth of grasses, peavine, etc. Several fine wild-hay meadows occur.
Small fruits grow in abundance in localities. The valley is well watered.

A. W. Harvey, B.C.L.S., in 1911 said: “The land at the eastern
end of Pinchi Lake is very good, Ocock River running through a large
meadow for several miles to its junction with the lake. There is also a
considerable amount of good surveyed land at the outlet.”