17

wheat, and matures and ripens before the fall frosts would be likely tocome. Mr. Hill,
from his four years’ experience in the valley, says that light summer frosts are liable to
come any month, although the months of July and August are usually exempt from
them.

A Rattway or WaGcon ROAD NEEDED.

““ What I consider the greatest drawback to the success of the valley, as either a
stock-raising or farming district, is the present want of a road to the Coast, giving
settlers an easy means of reaching a market with cattle or any other farm produce they
might have to sell. Indians, whose hunting grounds are in the Bulkley country,
informed us that a trail from the Bulkley to Kitlobe Inlet existed, and that this distance
was always covered by them in two days when going out to the Coast to trade off their
furs; that the trail did not pass over any high mountain range, but through a low pass
where the grass grew on the tops of the highest hills passed over. They also said that
a larger and better open country than the Bulkley existed to the south of the Bulkley
country, where the snowfall was so lignt and the winters so mild that horses and cattle
did not require to be fed in winter. Similar information was obtained from Mr. Loring,
the Indian Agent at Hazelton, Mr. Robert Cunningham, of Port Essington, and others
who have had large dealings with the Indians of that country. Mr. Cunningham stated
that in a number of cases Indians who had furs to sell brought them out from the
Bulkley over the route mentioned to Kitlobe, and thence by canoe to Port Hssington,
in preference to the other route 77a Hazelton.

“ Wyen were a road constructed to Hazelton from the Bulkley Valley, the cost of
getting provisions freighted up the Skeena on the river boats makes them a very high
price at Hazelton, at the same time being a prohibitive rate on the shipping out of cattle
or any farm preduce a man might have to sell.”

Report of Mr. McMillan

Mr. D. McMillan, on behalf of the Government, made a report to the Chief Com-
missioner of Lands and Works, of which the following are extracts relating to the
general character of the country explored. His estimate of the cost of a waggon road
from Hazelton to the proposed settlement was $1,000 a mile for the first 40 miles, and
$500 a mile for the remainder of the distance. He also reported that from Hazelton to
Moricetown a road could be built on the west side, following Poudrier’s old trail, at
much less cost than on the east side; and also that, with but few light diversions, the
Telegraph Trail follows the most suitable route for a waggon road along the valley

south of Moricetown :—

“The country between Hazelton and Moricetown is for the most part heavily

timbered, there being a few open patches of prairie and brulee, but none of any extent.
The valley will average about three miles in width, though in some places opening up to
about six miles wide. After crossing the Indian bridge before referred to, we passed
through about four miles of rather heavy hemlock, spruce and cottonwood timber. The
balance of the country from there on to Moricetown consisted for the most part of brulee,
rocks coming to the surface in a great many places. Spurs from the mountains to the
north-west extend in two or three places as far as the Bulkley River, which is called the
‘Hugglegate’ in this part of the country. ,
“The Bulkley River, for the most part, between Hazelton and Moricetown, runs
through canyons, and no boats can navigate Its waters there. : Uhe altitude of Hazelton,
according to aneroid, is 1,000 feet, and that of Moricetown 1,300 feet. 7 he soil in the
vicinity of Moricetown is light and gravelly, excepting a narrow strip of flat land
between the river and the mountains, on the west side.

“The trail, after leaving Moricetown, gradually ascends to the top of the bench
land. and at a distance of a mile from Moricetown is over 300 feet above the river. For
a few miles after leaving Moricetown the country is covered with a light growth of pine,
spruce and poplar, and the soil is rather light. The trail passes through eaeene small
Indian reserve about six miles from Moricetown, and about the owyelith mi . enters
Township 1 of Poudrier’s survey. We found neither Townships ] nor 2 suiteole fo a
settlement of any kind, and we then proceeded towards the head of the valley to a