: ee pass Oo G2 CThe Noearest Port in British Columbia to the Orient eae <<)} SCHEDULE OF UTILITY RATES Telephones—Min. Business, $2.75. Min. Residential, $1.75 month. (Municipal). Electric Power—Bulk, 2c to %ec per K.W.H. Com- mercial, 4c to le per K.W.H., according to con- sumption and load. (Northern B.C. Power Co.) Residential Lighting and Cooking Power—6c for first 40 hours; 2c per K.W.H. over that quantity. (Northern B.C. Power Co., Ltd.) Industrial Water—20c to 5c per 100 cubic feet, according to consumption. (Municipal). Residential Water—Flat 90c per month for ordinary residence. (Municipal). MINING In the North-Western uneral Survey District Noo. 1, 1932-1933 HE fundamental soundness of the mining industry in the North-western Mineral Survey District has been exemplified by its remarkable stability during the period of world depression. Not only has the industry been well sustained, but general constructive progress has been achieved. It can be said that despite, or be- cause of the world depression the mining industry in this district is on a sounder basis than it ever has been and a foundation has been laid for increasing stability and prosperity. In the producing mines technical achievements and a remarkable reduction in operating costs has been accomplished. Opportunities for bringing-in new pro- ducers are being actively sought and grasped. Economic mineral possibilities are being more readily recognized, sound exploration has been increasingly active and is extending into promising new areas. Marked advance has been made in economic and geologic and genetic aspects of the ore-deposits in the district enabling a sounder appraisal of areas and prospects and introducing greater efficiency in operations. Sound exploration of many base-metal properties in various parts of the district has placed this phase of the industry in a favorable condition for great activity when reasonable metal prices and normal conditions pre- vail again. In this respect important and increasing pro- duction can be expected in silver, lead, zine and copper. During the last two years a marked interest has been evinced in lode and placer-gold exploration and de- velopment. The potentialities of the district in this respect have become more apparent and _ important results in this phase can be anticipated. Promising new virgin gold areas are being explored, dormant possibili- ties in old areas are being recognized and probed, and several new properties from which gold production can be expected in the near future are being developed. Placer-gold exploration and operation has been exception- ally active and production has more than doubled during the last two years, with the field continuously expanding; — PRINCE RUPERT ~_ @acific Outlet for Peace River and the Prairie Province (a View from Acropolis Hill The future of the mining industry in the North- western District can be faced with well-founded optimism and the field offers many promising opportunities for the sound employment of capital. The Department of Mines, at Victoria, or the Resident Mining Engineer’s office, at Prince Rupert, will furnish information concern- ing the industry to all those interested. ORD PEACE RIVER’S GRAIN PORT OOF? is generally conceded that present conditions are far from satisfactory as regards a rail outlet from the Peace River country, and that very shortly an outlet to the Pacific Coast must be provided. The present ar- rangements of back-hauling via Edmonton can only be regarded as a temporary expedient, and warranted for a limited traffic only. In 1928 a detailed report on this subject was pre- pared by the Chamber of Commerce of Prince Rupert, in which four routes were discussed, all connecting with the Canadian National Railway, with Prince Rupert as the terminus. From the best information available, any one of the four routes discussed would pass through a country west of the Rockies very rich in natural resources. All of the first three tap the Stuart, Babine and Takla Lake country, and with the aid of water transportation would open up an area of 7,500 square miles in this section. This dis- trict is rich in timber, fishing, mineral and agricultural resources. Operating costs over any of the suggested routes to Prince Rupert would be very much less than by any other route to tide water. Inasmuch as freight rates will be based on operating costs, and since the farmers of the district will have to pay the freight charges, it is vital to these settlers that the route of lowest operating costs be chosen. Since this much discussed rail outlet is designed primarily for the economic development of the Peace River District, and for the benefit: of the settlers therein, their interests must be considered as paramount. It follows, therefore, that beyond any question the outlet should be to Prince Rupert, SCHEDULE OF FEES PAYABLE BY SHIPS ENTERING PRINCE RUPERT HARBOR Harbor Dues—$7.00, payable twice per year in Canada (exception Vancouver). Sick Mariner’s Fees—2c per registered ton, payable three times a year in Canada. Pilots’ Fees—(Not compulsory). le per registered ton and $2.00 per foot draft in and out, plus boat hire of $10.00 taking pilot to ship; $10.00 bringing pilot from ship; running lines $5.00. Charges for Lining Ship for Grain—(Contract). Ships’ Agency Fees—(Contract). Port Warden’s Fees—$50.00 for full cargo of grain, or grain and lumber. Fumigation Charges—25c per thousand cubic feet plus labor and transportation charges, Water—(D.W. & B.W.)—Average cost, 20c per 100 cubic feet. Stevedoring Rates—(Contract). No Tonnage Tax. Wireless Station, Digby Island—Operating 24-hour Service. Sg INTERESTING TOTEM POLES ve HREE very fine Indian totem poles are located in the Canadian National park, Prince Rupert. The one pictured here was brought from Queen Charlotte Islands and is the crest of the Edenshaw family. The pole is over 200 years old and is called “Grizzly Bear” totem. One is called the “Wolf Crest” totem and formerly belonged to a Nishga Chief, named Dauk, and stood in front of his lodge at Gitlakdamix, on the upper Naas River. The other is called the “Raven” totem. Along the line of the Canadian National Railway there are also some fine specimens of totem poles. In 1925, prompt action was taken to preserve the remaining totem poles in Canada. Starting with the Gitksan Indian poles of the Skeena Valley work was done in 1925 at Kitwanga. Here is now a great out- -of-doors museum of totem poles, grave houses, caches and other objects of Gitksan handiwork. There are eighteen totem poles and two totem figures at Kitwanga. There are one hundred totem poles all within 15 miles of the Canadian National Railway, and available by automobile from Hazelton, Kit- wanga and Usk, which are stations on the railway. About forty-two can be seen from the windows of passing trains of the C.N.R., probably the only line in the world from which totem poles may be seen. It will only be a matter of a few years when this carving will be a lost art as the younger generation have taken no interest in the art of cary- ing totem poles.