Natural Resources Tributary to Pacific Great Eastern
Railway.

By JomNn StouGHTon DENNIs.

; MONTREAL, QUE., June 19th, 1922.
The Hon. John Oliver,
Premier, Victoria, B.C.

Str.—In compliance with-your request, I have completed an examination of the natural
resources tributary to the line of the Pacific Great Eastern Railway, and beg to submit the
following report with reference thereto :-—

Leaving North Vancouver, I proceeded to the end of the short branch of the line at Whiteville
(18 miles) ; thence by motor-boat 27 miles to Squamish, the present terminus of the railway-line.
From the latter point I covered the whole of the line by gasolene track-motor to Quesnel (348.5
miles), and made side-trips by automobile up the Lillooet River in the Pemberton Valley, south
from Lillooet in the Fraser Valley, and east from Exeter Station to Canim Lake, these trips
comprising 92 miles in all.

I made the return journey from Quesnel by automobile and crossed to the west side of the
Fraser River at Williams Lake, making an extended trip through the Chilcotin District via Riske
Creek, Hanceville, and the Gang Ranch, reaching the Canadian Pacific Railway at Ashcroft, a
total auto trip of 298 miles.

_ For conyenience of reference in reporting on the natural resources tributary to the railway-
line and the possibility of creating additional traffic as a result of their further development,
I have divided the line into four sections, as follows :—

(1.) That portion from the terminus at Squamish to Lillooet (120.3 miles).

(2.) That portion from Lillooet to Williams Lake (157.5 miles).

(38.) That portion from Williams Lake to Quesnel (70.7 miles).

(4.) The unfinished portion of the line from Quesnel to Prince George (81.5 miles).

In reporting on each of the above sections it is proposed to deal with the natural-resources
tributary thereto under the special headings of :—

Agricultural Land. z Water-powers.
Timber Resources. Tourist Resorts.
Mineral Resources. Traffic Possibilities.

SECTION 1.—SQUAMISH TO LILLOOET.
AGRICULTURAL LAND.

Beginning at Squamish, the line for some distance follows the valley of the Squamish, within
which, adjacent to Squamish Village and further to the north and north-west, there are a few
small farms. There is room for a number of additional settlers within this valley when additional
land is cleared, and the soil and climate are suitable for all kinds of grain, fodder-crops, and
small fruits. The district, however, is limited in extent, and, in any case, the grain, fruit, or
cattle products will not provide any particular railway traflic, as what is not consumed locally
will naturally be shipped from Squamish by water to Vancouver.

Leaving the Squamish Valley, the line ascends the Cheakamus River to the summit at Alta
Lake, and thence following the waters fiowing to the north to its intersection with the Lillooet
River. Throughout this section there is practically no land available for agricultural develop-
ment. ‘The mountains are high, with steep slopes, and the country is heavily timbered with a
very fine stand of merchantable timber, which is more particularly referred to hereafter under
the heading of “Timber Resources,” tributary to this section of the line. The Lillooet River
is reached at Pemberton, and west and north-west of that point in the valley, including the
Pemberton Meadows, fer a distance of some 20 miles, an cpportunity is afforded for considerable
agricultural, stock-raising, dairying, and small-fruit production. There are a number of settlers
already located in this valley, including a few returned soldiers located under the provisions of
the Assisted Settlement Acts, and the existing evidences of soil, crops, and live stock justify the