Kelly's Hotel

Mrs. L. M. McKinnon, Prop.

“WHERE THE TOURISTS ARE HAPPY”
Full of Historic Associations

BARKERVILLE - - - B.C.

BARKERVILLE

By Mr. T. A. Blair.

On reaching Barkerville, the summer visitor is struck with its quaint
peculiarities. Built in the bed of the famous old Williams Creek, walled
around by steep mountain sides, this historic mining town has little chance
for expansion. In the days of her pre-eminence when Barkerville was a
bedlam of babbling tongues (nearly every civilized or semi-civilized country
having its quota of representatives) each nationality erected a flag-pole as
a mark of loyalty to their fatherland. These flag-poles still stand and are
silent monuments that speak for those departed souls.

Since the old days the modern hydraulic plant has sent down millions
of tons of debris, and for years a river of muddy water rushing down the
main street was not an inviting spectacle, but in the mad rush for gold, such
slight inconveniences were forgotten. In order to keep on top of the earth
it was necessary for inhabitants to raise their buildings each year, until the
street level rose 30 feet above its original foundation. Unexpectedly the
Government built a bulk-head around the town, leaving many of the buildings
perched high in the air.

THIRTY-SEVEN