22 The Peace River District

Two weekly newspapers are published at Peace River, one at Grande
Prairie, one at Spirit River, one at Clairmont, and one at Lake Saskatoon. The
ever-popular motion-picture theatre has made its appearance in the principal
towns. Boards of trade, farmers’ associations, women’s institutes, fraternal
societies, athletic clubs, and other institutions tend to keep alive the spirit of
an optimistic people. Hospitals are established in Peace River and Grande
Prairie.

Except in remote corners the settler need not feel at all isolated. It has
always been noticeable that in pioneer sections social barriers are cast down,
and a spirit of equality and brotherhood is more evident than in older-settled
parts. Peace River is no exception to this rule, and the new-comer finds welcome
and ready assistance from those with whom he comes in contact, and rapidly
makes new and staunch friends,

The British Columbia Section

That part of the Peace River district falling within the province of British
Columbia, and exclusive of the Peace River block, comprises the portion
controlled by the Government of that province so far as ungranted public land
is concerned. It is practically embraced in the Peace River Land Recording
District, the recording office of which is’ located at Fort George. This might
be called the mountain section of Peace river, and is divided from the plains
section by the Rocky Mountain canyon, which at, Hudson Hope forms an inter-
ruption to navigation. It includes the valley of the Peace, from this point
to its head; also the great valleys of the Finlay and Parsnip rivers, together
with the valleys of their many tributaries. Much of this section is still unex-
plored, but many millions of acres of fertile land are known to lie in its valleys,
and untold mineral wealth rests beneath its hills.

Small settlements are found about the various trading posts and mining
camps of which the principal are Finlay, at the junction of the Finlay and
Parsnip rivers; Fort Grahame, on Finlay river; Fort McLeod, on McLeod
lake; and some camps on the Omenica. As yet the district is difficult of access
and remote from civilization and markets. The nature of the country is gener-
ally rugged and the climate severe. The Omenica miners travelled over a pack
route from Hazelton. An easier canoe route is now available from Fort George,
but much the easier way is from Hudson Hope, which point can be reached by
rail and river steamboat from Edmonton in three days. The Rocky Mountain
canyon is passed by a 14-mile wagon road leading from Hudson Hope to the
site of old Rocky Mountain House, which once stood at the head of the canyon.

While this section is still practically in its primitive state, it holds out very
alluring promises for the future. Railway surveys have been projected from
the south and the east, and once the steel penetrates the district it will open up
very rapidly. Mixed farming, dairying, and ranching will thrive as soon as
markets are made accessible. Mining will revive when means of transporting
heavy machinery is provided. Various rivers offer good inducement for
dredging, and quartz ledges have been discovered which could be milled profit-