Courtesy Vancouver Sun

CLEARING WINDFALL FROM CAR’S PATH
Many miles of this kind of work had to be done to permit pathfinder

car to proceed.

The men at work, however, “swung a

mean axe” and made fast time.

especially due volunteer crews coming by
truck from districts as far as Bonanza,
Nampa and Notikewin, the latter a dis-
tance of 275 miles.

In these undertakings the branch asso-
ciations have assisted nobly. The B. C.
Block has contributed cash, provisions and
helpers on the road. The Prince George
branch helped finance trail blazing and
organized a crew working from the
Yellowhead Highway to the McGregor.
The Vancouver branch is well organized
and has subscribed cash and merchandise
to Peace River’s outlet project.

The project as urged by the Association
has received general approval throughout
both provinces. It has been endorsed by
the Associated Boards of Trade of the
Peace River area, by the Edmonton Cham-
ber of Commerce, by the Alberta Motor
Association, Vancouver Tourist Associa-
tion and Automobile Club, Boards of Trade
of Prince George, Quesnel, Mission City,
Haney, New Westminster, and many other
towns of central British Columbia.

We have without question a united
Peace River country behind this demand.
Its citizens feel that they must have this
short route to the coast and are determined
not to rest until unfulfilled promises have
been made good.

IT 1S URGED:

1. Without the assurance of a coast
outlet the settlement of the Peace River
territory would never have been accom-
plished. Construction on what was to be
a through line of the C.N.R. through
Whitecourt was already under way when
settlers came over the 270 miles from

Edson and the 500 miles by way of Slave
Lake and Athabasca.

2. Repeated promises that this outlet
would be constructed as soon as financially
possible have supported all further settle-
ment and development. Project after pro-
ject of less real importance is being financed
and this outlet is still denied.

3. At present the Peace River is con-
sidered the most remote from markets, and
transportation the most costly of any dis-
trict in Canada. With its proper outlet it
would be one of the closest.

4. An outlet is essential to any further
development. Any increase in population
must be on the wooded or sub-marginal
lands. This is impossible if to the cost of
clearing and of building up the poorer soils
must be added the existing handicap of
transportation.

5. The tourist situation is unfair. To
support what is becoming one of the great-
est industries in Canada the government is
spending greater sums each year. We are
paying our share of this burden but are
denied any possible chance of benefit. By
the comparatively trifling expenditure on
this connecting link of 150 miles enormous
tourist opportunities would be offered of
benefit not only to the Peace River country
but to the whole Dominion. :

SOME FEATURES OF THE
MONKMAN PASS ROUTE

1. It is the most direct. Peace River’s
desired outlet is to the sea and southern
British Columbia. By this route ONLY
natural valleys lead directly west and
south from the Peace River area to the
nearest point on both railway and highway.