Farm LANDS AND NATURAL RESOURCES. 43

on payment of the regulation fee of $10. Crown grants are issued only to
those who have completed their intention of becoming British subjects,
declared at the time of obtaining their original certificate of record.

Applications are received for the lease of 20 acres of surveyed or
unsurveyed vacant Crown land under improvement conditions, including
building of dwelling the first year—title being procurable after occupation
of five years if survey has been duly completed. These are known as home-
sites where the applicant wishes to engage in fishing, prospecting, trapping,
etc., in the Province.

Settlers may purchase vacant and unreserved Crown lands, surveyed
or unsurveyed, for agricultural purposes, not under 40 acres or over 640
acres in extent. Where surveys are required they are made at the expense
of purchaser within six months of time application is put in. As local
conditions vary considerably in the Railway Belt, it is the part of wisdom
to make personal inspection of any land you desire to purchase or pre-empt
before reaching a decision. All necessary agricultural implements can be
purchased in British Columbia.

EVERY REASONABLE ASSISTANCE IS GIVEN TO
SETTLERS.

As the primary object of railway-construction through this great
expanse of country, with its wealth of natural resources, has been to encour-
age colonization and facilitate the settlement of its fertile lands, the new-
comer and the bona fide settler will be rendered every assistance in making
a start. While the purchase of land for speculative purposes is strictly
discouraged, a specially warm welcome is accorded to the home-builder.
This means that the services of the various soil and crop experts of the
Government and all other official sources of information and advice may be
freely consulted at all times.

The Provincial Government maintains a thoroughly up-to-date and
progressive Department of Agriculture which has proved of great value
to the farming community as a whole by reason of its research-work
throughout the Province. Farmers’ organizations, which are now becoming
numerous, and individual settlers are asked to co-operate with these authori-
ties wherever possible for mutual interest and advancement.

THE ROAD SYSTEM.

A progressive road-making programme has been inaugurated through-
out the entire Province of British Columbia. In the Pacific Great Eastern
Railway Belt the general policy pursued is to link up all the newer com-
munities with existing roads and centres, and to provide, wherever business
and population warrants, direct outlet to the railway-line itself. Generous
appropriations are made for road-building and nothing within reason will
be left undone that will aid the settler to achieve the fullest measure of
success so far as transportation facilities are concerned.