65

This township, a portion of which is the
extreme easterly part of the vouscs=Coupe settlement,
is about 40 miles west of Spirit River, the nearest
railway station. The grade of the F.D. and 2.C,
railway which was constructed some years ago, but on
which steel has never been laid, ends at the quarter
section corner on the east of section 20. Pemmission
has been granted to the settlers of vouge-Coupe to
travel over this grade and also to make any necessary
imprevenents to allow the passage of vehicles, but
with the understanding that this right might be with-
drawn at any time and without notice. The erade
passes through several Large spruce and tamarack
swamps and dthough built up to a certain extent is
very poor for summer traffic. In the winter months
the majority of the settlers of Pouce-Coupe, Fort St.
John an@ Hudson Hope,haul their provisions, machinery
and so on from Spirit Niver over this trail. A fair
bridge spans the vrouce-Coupe river in section 36 of
the township to the west, siving the people of this
township access at all times to the main settlement,
the steamboat landing on the Peace river ané to the
Grande Preirie trails

Yhe only agricultural land is in the northwest
guarter ef the township which is in the form of a basin
and surrounied by high abrupt hills forming a semicircle
from its southwesterly to northeasterly sides. To the
northwest the country slopes gentiy to the rouce-Coupe
vrivérs. Part of the township is undulating and has been
heavily timbered with poplar, spruce and jackpine, which
has been partially cleared by repeated fires. The surface
is now lightly timbered with considerable areas of opéne
Patches of heavy timber and old dry stumps found seattercd
in this area are an indication of the previcus stand of tim-
ber. The larger portion of this area has been filed on, &
few of the quartersections are not patented. ‘the remainder
ef the township which is hilly and unsuitable for agricul~
ture is practically all included in the Pouce-Coupe forest
reserves The settlers have considerable improvements in
the way of buildings, breaking and clearinge Large quen=
tities of hay are easily obtained in the towmshipe A
meadow extends in sections 19 and 20. In the lower land
in the northeast of section 30 there is a spruce and tamarack
swamps The swamp could easily be drained into Henderson
ercek which flows northerly in a valley 50 to 100 feet deep.
The naturel, drainage of the swemp is prevented vy the in-
pervious clay banks of the ereek wiieh are only a few
feet higher than the level of the sterys

The soil is good in the lower places and very

sandy and gravelly in the higher lands. A clay loam with