EXAMINATION or Narurat Resourczs.
GENERAL REMARKS. ;

Tn completing the general inspection of the natural resources tributary to the Pacific Great

Eastern Railway and reporting thereon as outlined above, I have, of course, devoted no con-
sideration to the location and construction of the railway-line from an engineering standpoint,
as that did not come within the scope of the duty delegated to me. I venture, however, as an
engineer, to express my surprise regarding the character of the location of portions of the line,
particularly that north from Lillooet along the steep slopes of the eastern bank of the Fraser
Valley. :
: I was agreeably surprised with the character of construction and physical condition of the
railway-line, but realize the high cost of construction and of future maintenance, and refer to
these facts only because the fixed charges resulting from construction and operating cost can
only be met by intensive traffic resulting from development of natural resources tributary to the
line. It would seem clear that the Pacific Great Eastern Railway must be looked upon purely
as a colonization line and cannot in any sense be expected to fulfil any function of through
traffic, and, as a consequence, considering the fact that the line is now owned by the Province,
I venture to point out that it will be necessary to undertake certain activities and large expendi-
tures by the Government in aiding the early development of the natural resources tributary to
the line, which they would not be ealled upon to undertake if the road was the property of a
private corporation, and: with this in mind I respectfully submit the following :-—

RECOMMENDATIONS.

e
(1.) Steps should be immediately taken to create a Colonization and Development Depart-
ment of the railway’s service. This Department should be headed ‘by an official with the title
of “Development Agent,’ whose duties would include all right-of-way, townsite, and industrial
matters, and whose first activity should be the preparation of a carefully prepared report,
graphically illustrated by a map, showing the location and character of all agricultural, timber,
mineral, water-power, and other resources tributary to the line.

Having prepared this report and map, he should submit recommendations relative to the
assistance to be granted by the Government in developing such resources, and such recommenda-
tions should include :—

(a.) The selection of certain agricultural areas tributary to the line within which
increased agricultural development must be expedited by Government assistance
in clearing of land, establishment of creameries, jam-factories, cold-storage and
s¢e-collecting plants.

The location of the main marketing roads to the east and west from the railway-
line and their immediate improvement to afford more ready access in the delivery
of agricultural products to shipping-points.

The preparation of the necessary literature and maps for general distribution to
indicate areas which offer opportunity for further agricultural development, and
the establishment by the railway company of colonist passenger and freight rates
to induce settlement of these areas.

The consideration of, and the recommendation of, a policy under which large
holdings in private hands tributary to the line can be subdivided and colonized so
as to permit of more intensive settlement and cultivation.

The preparation in condensed form, for issue as a pamphlet, of the most reliable
information obtainable refative to mineral resources tributary to the line, and,
possibly, before this is done, a more thorough investigation by the Mineralogist
of the Government service, so that when this pamphlet is issued for the guidance
of prospectors the information contained therein may be of the most complete and
reliable character.

A further study and inspection of the timber resources tributary to the line,
together with information as to methods of getting this timber to the line, includ-
ing improvement of streams for driving purposes and the encouragement, as far
as possible, of the location of small lumber-mills at different points on the line to
handle the smaller areas of timber immediately adjacent to the line.