Courtesy Vancouver Sun

“AU REVOIR AND GOOD LUCK”
Publicity Director saying good-bye to driver of pathfinder car just

before it left on

journey to Pacific Coast over the
Monkman Pass Route

Facts About The Monkman Pass
Highway Project

Since the opening up of the Peace River
country nearly thirty years ago progress
has gone steadily forward, retarded only
by the lack of adequate transportation.
The population of the Peace River in
Alberta is about 75,000, and of the British
Columbia portion about 12,000. The area
of the Peace River valley is approximately
74,000,000 acres, of which there are about
44,000,000 acres in Alberta and about
30,000,000 acres in British Columbia. This
area not only produces high quality grains
but ships out annually thousands of head
of high class live stock. The bulk of these
shipments eventually leave Canada through
western Canadian ports. All of these
products have to travel to the port of
Vancouver or Prince Rupert via Edmonton
and three-quarters of our imports come
from Vancouver. Realizing all these facts,
the people of the Peace have been urging
the Monkman Pass project for the last
decade. Six years ago a petition was cir-
culated and largely signed. Two years ago
the residents formed the Monkman Pass
Highway Association to definitely urge the
construction of a motor highway connect-
ing the Peace River with southern British
Columbia.

This Association, formed at Halcourt,
Alberta, in October, 1936, now has
British Columbia branches at Vancouver,
Prince George, and Dawson Creek in the
Peace River Block. It has a central execu-
tive and local organizations in practically
every district of the Peace. The vast
majority of residents of this entire area are
whole-heartedly supporting it, as is evi-

denced by the generous contributions from
every quarter. Almost without exception
every Board of Trade and municipal body
has endorsed it, many with financial
assistance. Everywhere towns and villages
are raising funds by every means possible
in the interests of this project. Recently
radio station CFGP sponsored a _ radio
dance, in which nearly 70 communities co-
cperated, and quite a considerable sum
was realized.

This Association has undertaken the
construction of a preliminary road from
Rio Grande in Alberta to Hansard in
British Columbia by voluntary contribu-
tions of labor, supplies and cash. During
the summer of 1937 a trail was cut en-
abling the first truck to reach Stony Lake,
47 miles from Rio Grande. Increased
support in 1938 saw the section to Stony
Lake greatly improved and the road ex-
tended to within five miles of the Kinuseo
Falls or 78 from Rio Grande. The trail
from Fellers Heights, the most southerly
point in the British Calumbia Block, a
point on the Monkman road, was blazed
this year, a distance of 45 miles. A route
from Fellers Heights was blazed south to
meet the other, west of Stony Lake, which
would provide a direct route from the B.C.
portion of the Peace entirely within the
province. From the Kinuseo Falls a trail
has been cut to the McGregor River—
providing for a light delivery truck to
follow. This will be the first motor-driven
vehicle ever to make the trip over the
Monkman route. This work was largely
done by volunteer help. Great credit is