Eo)
3

AS & mixed-farming country this distriet has
a great future though there are some stubborn egricule
tural problems to be solved. One thing the new settler
should keep in mind is to commence cautiously and not
ioad himself up with debt for equipment until he is re ay
to utilize it fully. Also he should avoid getting much
stock ebout him until he has three things sesured, Vides
water, shelter and feed « especially water end feeds.
Much ernelty and ioss have resulted from rashness in
this matter.

The question of transportation is one of the
most vital preblems of the whole British Columbie Peace
River country. At the present time the farmer who is
nearest the railread is sixty miles from one. Unéier
present conditions the district will remain at a dised-
Vantage and there is no éoubt thet less acreage will be
secéeG rather then more, during the coming season, Gue
to this lack of transportation faci lities.

Throughout the whole Pesce HKiver district the
keenest interest is evidenced in this question of rail-
roads, ané the main eali, both from the British Columbia
ang the Alberta district, is for an outlet to the Pacific;
many enquiries were made regarding the possibilities of
an early construction of the Pacific Great Eastern railway.

fhe necessity of this outiet te the Pacific
eannot be stated too stronsiy, for most of the trade of
the Peace River district eventually belongs to British
Columbia, end ome may get some icea of its possibilities
when it can be conservatively statec that, taken as a whole,
there is voom for 1,600,060 people. An cbservation of the
goods in various stores shows cone how many of the staples
of life come from Vancouver but via Edmonton. To emmerate
a few, mention might be made of such as tea, sugar, rice,
fish ané various scther canned goods.

This country cannot cevcdlop fully without a
Peeifie outlet, even with better transportation & cilities
to the east, the country on account of its location would
always be handicapped ny the overhesé freight charge and
would never be in a position to compe te with other eastern
points.