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Mr. Bowman’s REPORT ON CARIBOO DISTRICT. 1886

Branch railway.

Intermediate country.

Distance and cost.

Navigable waters.

An inland empire.

Summary of what has
been done.

What remains to be
done.

With these facts in view as a basis, the question now anxiously canvassed
by those interested in the development of the Cariboo District is, whether
the time has not already arrived when a railway connection with the lately
completed Canadian Pacific line may fairly be considered practicable ?

With a view of ascertaining the most favourable route, and the nature of
the difficulties to be encountered in the construction of such a railway—with
which the future of mining enterprise in Cariboo District is so closely con-
nected—it was considered advisable, as a supplement to the work above
outlined, to carry out certain examinations to the southward. Explorations
were made by way of the valleys of the Quesnelle, Beaver, Horsefly and
Bonaparte Rivers ; and I am happy to be able to report, touching the ques-
tion of a railway, that these have disclosed an easy and “natural” route,
through an agricultural and stock-raising country and climate, for the entire
distance intervening between Cariboo and the railway.

The distance from Ashcroft, on the Canadian Pacific at the junction of
Bonaparte Valley, to Quesnelle Lake, by this route, would be about 130
miles ; and the cost might be limited, or permitted to range, according to the
gauge and equipment determined upon, at any figure between one million
and two and a half million dollars. Tapping the great Quesnelle Lake near
its outlet, such a branch line or feeder of the Canadian Pacific would avail
itself of 100 miles of steamboat navigation eight months of the year, in the
heart of the metaliferous Cariboo and Selkirk parallels of the Rocky
Mountains.

To reach Quesnellemouth, the easiest route would be by way of Beaver
Lake Valley and lower Quesnelle River. But alternative routes, with excel-
lent grades and an equally good country, though increased side-hill work, are
available, either by the valley of Quesnelle River throughout, or by Lac La
Hache, San Jose River, and the valley of the Fraser. An extension of 65
miles, or thereabouts, depending on the route followed, to Soda Creek, or to
Quesnellemouth, would tap another 150 miles of navigable water on the
Upper Fraser, and bring under development the entire sweep of the plateau,
as far north as the great bend of the Fraser. Of the value of this great
northern interior, in mines, agricultural and grazing lands, the fur trade, and
other unthought of industries likely to follow present developments, only the
need thereof, and a knowledge of its resources, seem to be wanting to remove
the last doubt.

In brief, the connections have been made with the outside world, and the
mining region has been preliminarily surveyed and examined. ‘Thirty-one
sheets of plotted surveys, of the diggings on a detail scale, and of the roads
and trails to be embodied in a general map, are in hand and remain to be
filled and worked up.

Much material collected, and more to be gotten in one additional season of
field work, will have to be prepared for publication, with the necessary delin-
eation of formations, and sections, and studies of mines.

In order to do justice to Cariboo District and its resources, it is designed
to complete a good map of a limited area, on a sufliciently large scale to be
valuable to the miner and prospector. Such a map, comprising the rectangle
shown in the accompanying outline sketch, approximately 50 by 75 miles, or
3,700 square miles in superficial area [See the heavy firm line], can be com-
pleted in the season of 1886. Owing to the expensiveness of supplies and
commodities of every kind, however, should the amount appropriated for this
work be reduced below the figure allowed this season, the cost of the work
would not be to that extent reduced. The useful part of it would only be
cut off. It is believed no one will question the fact that Cariboo is entitled
to a fair consideration, in view of its phenomenal yield of gold in the past,
and its promise of maintaining a good reputation in the future.

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