Tiss, INGEN GISUNGO: Waits iaaye.

Extracts from Official Reports of Surveys.

HE several reports made on the Nechaco Valley agree that this district is one o

the most favoured in soil and climate of any in Western British Columbia. For
stock-raisiug, the valleys of the Endako and Bulkley Rivers offer more advantages than
the Nechaco Valley proper ; but this last, with its level plains, rich white silts, where a
stone cannot be found, certainly offers the greatest inducements to farmers when the
district shall have been opened wp by communication. The first explorations of the
valley resulted in an estimate of 1,000 square miles of land fit for cultivation, but sub-
sequent investigation has proved that more than that amount of available land is to be
found in the Lower Nechaco alone. Wheat, barley, oats and vegetables of all kinds are
known to give good returns as far north as Telegraph Creek, which is situated in the
continuation of the same wonderful structural valley, which commences at the Fraser
River and continues north till it opens into the headwaters of the Yukon River—a
natural route for a through line of railway to the far north. The advantages which the
Nechaco Valley hold out to agriculturalists are many ; hills are unknown, the soil is
rich and in a great part open ; the %eneral altitude is much lower than that of the sur-
rounding country ; the climate is milder, and the principal crops can be grown without
trouble. In speaking generally of Nechaco Valley, Mr. Poudrier says

“ Before giving a detailed description of the ground surveyed, it may be better to
give a general account of the whole valley. The Nechaco River takes its source near
the foot-hills of the Coast Range, south of the 53rd degree of north latitude, and near
the head of the Salmon River, which falls into Dean’s Channel ; it runs north-easterly
for a long distance, receiving many large feeders, until it falls into a large trough or
depression, near Fraser Lake. This depression follows the 54th degree of latitude in its
general direction, and it has an average width of from ten to forty miles. At the point
where the Nechaco reaches this wide valley its volume is largely increased by the Nant-
ley River, which drains Fraser Lake, Lac des Francais and the valley of the Endako,
and it takes its course, winding through the valley but keeping a general course,
parallel to the 54th parallel of north latitude, until it reaches the Fraser River. This
large extent of land is drained by the Lower Nechaco from Fraser Lake to the Fraser
River, and has a length of about 75 miles in a direct distance, and a width of from ten
to forty miles.

“Although the ground is generally covered with thickets of small trees, patches of
prairie of large extent often occur. These are always level and covered with the
greatest varieties of nutritious grasses. These prairies appear to be nearly all caused by
fires. They are more abundant near the trails and rivers, where no doubt fires were
started by Indians or white men camping. On the north of the Nechaco very large
tracts of land have been burned, and are now fast becoming rich meadows, only a few
stumps and the remains of burned logs can be found. The whole country could be
cleared most effectually and cheaply by that means. The soil almost everywhere is of
the richest quality. It is composed of fine white silt with clay sub-soil; in some parts
the silt attains a thickness of over 40 feet. Not only is the grass very luxuriant on the
prairies, but even in the wooded portion pea-vines and vetches of different species grow
to such a height that it renders travelling very difficult.

“Tt has long been the opinion of miners who have seen that country that summer
frosts would prove to be too severe for the cultivation of the soil. A very careful
examination of the flora, and additional information received from the Hudson s Bay
Company employees and others, enable me to form a different opinion. Barley, oats,