Forr Fraser Dryision. 11

“The valley generally is well supplied with good wagon-roads. Besides the
main road, which runs through the centre of the valley and to the extreme eastern
end, there are numerous cross-roads, providing the settlers easy access to different
points along the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway.

“In describing the Nechako Valley in detail, I would begin by taking Fort Fraser
as a starting-point. From here to Nulki Lake, a distance of fifteen miles east, the
valley is composed chiefly of rolling bench and table land, with a southerly slope
towards the Nechako River, all of which is more or less timbered with poplar and
jack-pine. The soil on the higher levels is principally heavy clay silt, which gradu-
ally gets lighter in character on approaching the river, the bottom lands being light
sandy loam of a highly productive nature. A large number of pre-emptors are
located here. ‘The majority are busily engaged in clearing and endeavouring to make
permanent homes.

“rom Nulki Lake to the Stony Creek Indian Village, a distance of twelve miles,
the land is practically level, the soil and timber being of the same character as
previously described.

“From Stony Creek south to Corkscrew Creek a number of the earliest settlers
have located. ‘The land here is principally bottom and low bench, the soil being a
rich black loam and easily sleared. Most of the ranchers here have large areas
under cultivation, the crops consisting chiefly of oats and hay, which found a ready
market during the construction of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway. Since this
demand ceased, the ranchers have gone in for stock, having imported during the past
summer several car-loads of young cattle. A few miles beyond Stony Creek the
valley spreads out to a width of about fifteen miles, from the foot-hills on the south
to the Nechako River on the north, extending in width to its eastern terminus. This
whole area with little variation is one solid block of first-class agricultural land.
There are few settlers until one reaches Townships 8 and 9, commonly known as the
Mapes Settlement. Here is found one of the largest and most progressive communi-
ties in the district, 150 settlers in all, most of whom are diligently engaged in
improving their holdings. The land is similar to other parts of the valley, with the
exception of a few thousand acres of wet meadow land in Township 8, the drainage
of which has been successfully carried out by dint of hard labour and expense.
Besides a general store and post-office, there has also been established a public school.

“Leaving Mapes and going north-west to the Nechako River, which is crossed
by a ferry at Milne’s Landing, another large settlement is located. Many of the
residents here are old Klondikers, who staked their claims as early-as 1900. Owing
to this section of the country being easily cleared, there has been more actual
farming done than in most parts of the district, a number of farmers having as
much as 100 acres under cultivation. Hay, oats, barley, and vegetables are the
principal crops. The pre-emptors generally are engaged in mixed farming, most of
the produce being fed to stock, principally cattle and hogs, which when fattened are
easily disposed of at a good figure.”

FRASER LAKE DISTRICT.

Fraser Lake, lying six miles east of Francois Lake, has a length of twelve to
fourteen miles, a width of two or three miles, and an elevation of 2.250 feet. The
bordered to the north and south by rather bold and broken hills, some of
probably rise from G00 to S00 feet above it. There are, however, in some
places patches of flat terrace country of considerable size, suitable for agriculture,
where the bays of a former larger lake have been filled with sediment. (See Pre-
emptors’ Map 33, Nechako Sheet.) Benches are distinguishable on the higher slopes
to a height estimated at over 200 feet above the lake, or 2,450 feet above the sea.
The hills on the north side show a general tendency to form ranges, which run
from the lake in a north-west direction, with steep bluffy fronts south-westward and
longer slopes to the north-east. At the east end of Fraser Lake is the Hudson's

lake is
which