Parsnip and Finlay Valleys. With the exception of the muskeg, previously referred
to, which commences at a small lake about a mile and a half north of the Nation
River and follows the course of a stream which runs from this lake into the Parsnip,
which it enters about seventeen miles from the mouth of the Nation River, the valley
appears to be generally rough and heavily timbered.

From the mouth of this stream northerly to the Omineca River lies a very large
stretch of generally level rolling country, timbered lightly with spruce, pine, poplar,
and birch. This tract is bounded on the east by the Parsnip and Finlay Rivers, and
on the west by a high range of snow-mountains, and is about fifteen miles in average
width. The soil is chiefly a light sandy loam.

On the east side of the Parsnip, below the mouth of the Nation River, a range
of low hills, not so rough as those on the west side, follows the river as far as its
junction with the Finlay. Between this range and the foot-hills of the Rocky Moun-
tains lies a low valley, about four to five miles in width opposite the mouth of the
Nation, and gradually narrowing to the north, its width opposite the Finlay being
about two miles. This valley is generally level, though broken by Small hills, and
is timbered chiefly with small pine; the soil is a light sandy loam.

As it nears the junction with the Finlay the Parsnip runs close to the Rocky
Mountains; it is not more than two or three miles from Mount Seiwyn, a high peak
(6,220 feet) which stands, sentinel-like, at the gateway by which the united streanis,
the Peace River, flows through the mountain-range.

AGRICULTURAL LAND IN PARSNIP AND FINLAY VALLEYS.

The Parsnip and Finlay Valleys contain a large area of undeveloped agricul-
tural land, and a great future is predicted for them by surveyors. F. C. Swannell,
B.C.L.S., who made an exploratory survey covering a large area in the Omineca
District, and including these valleys, in 1913, said: “I have no hesitation in pre-
dicting a great future for the Finlay-Parsnip Valley. Between the mouth of the
Ingenika on the north and the confluence of the Nation River with the Parsnip on
the south, I would conservatively estimate the good land at 500,000 acres. The
Finlay Valley varies from six to eight miles in breadth, the country being flat and
the soil good right up to the mountain-ranges paralleling the valley on both sides.
The soil is black loam in the river-bottoms and sandy or clayey loam back of the
first bench. Originally the valley was heavily timbered, spruce predominating.
Large areas have, however, been burnt over and reforested with pine, poplar,
willow, and some birch. At Collins House a large tract of almost open bottom
land was observed. The river, which averages 250 yards in width, is continually
changing its channel; in many cases there are seyeral channels and long sloughs,
once main channels, which run for miles. At high-water the erosion is very rapid,
as evidenced by the large drift-piles which are a characteristic feature of this river;
one in particular, over half a mile long, being noted. For fifteen miles above the
mouth of the Ospika the current is very slack; elsewhere it would average three
miles per hour. From the mouth to Deserters’ Canyon there are no rapids, and
navigation by light-draught river-steamer would be easy at all stages of the water.
To the west, along the Lower Parsnip and as far up the Finlay as the Omineca, the
Wolverine Mountains lie over fifteen miles back, the intervening country being flat,
mostly lightly timbered with jack-pine. There are very few meadows or lakes in
this area.

SETTLEMENT AT FINLAY JUNCTION.

“At Finlay Junction two stores were started this year and over a dozen pre-
emptors have acquired holdings. A most important settlement will, I am certain,
soon centre here owing to its strategic position at the junction of the three great
rivers, the Peace, Parsnip, and Finlay. At present the settlers are handicapped by
having to bring in their supplies by way of Giscome Portage from Fort George. The
placing of a steamboat on the Upper Peace would, I am convinced, result in this
section settling up very rapidly. A trail, or, better, a wagon-road, to Manson Creek

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