Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-09-30
TnG ELIZA ANDGRssX ExCuksusS
{. PARTY.

Pert Nssly-fhe Wesaern Terminus si
the CsaaAiaa raciae z. x.-Rrsxer
River etc.
Written for the Pssr- ISrkLLrGE .cEE.
NEw WEsTNrSsrEE. Sept. 18th, 1883.
At 8 o'clock the following morning
our party, procuring conveyances, were
driven 10 Port Moody, about five and
one half mites distant. the western ter
minos of the Canadian Pacific X. X 1,
vas necessary to go In row boats about
ono and one-haif miles further, 70 be On
the actual running road. The party
were received by. Mr.. A. +. Hill, the
civil engineer of this division and his
ostifnabie wife. A ride over the rails
being prof red and accepted, we we're
soon whiriIng along, the first American
excursion party over the rails On this
end Of the line. After riding a few
miles We returned and three cheers
were given for Port Moody and the
western terminus of the Canadian Pa
cific. They we're responded to by the
railroad officials and the employees, and
onr party returned 80 Port Moody.
This place il near the head Ut Burrard
inlett, about twenty five miles frsm the
Gulf Of Georgia. The hsrbor is a very
fms one, a. are also she docks and
wharves, the latter strongly built with
IL inch piiina aud six inch pianking.
The following vessels were lying
at the docks. Snip John De Costa, Of
Portland. Maine; bark Campbell, of
Weymouth, Nova Scotia, discharging
railroad iron; and tbs stern wheeler Il.
r. .,ithst, of New Westminster.
After pArtaking Of refreshments aud
making a general tour Of inspection we
returned to New Westminster. During
the day many prominent people of the
city called ON board the boat, and we're
hospit ,bly entertained, and shown over
the steamer, great interest being taken
in the calliope. Many presents of fruits
and flowers were sent On board by
friends. Daring the day Ex-Governor
Ferry accompanied by several ladies
and gentlsmen, called on Mayor Ed
muni Is and were we'll received. At 8
o'clock p. IN. We bid adieu TO New
Westminster, and proceeded up the
Frazer river. The scenery on the river
ls much more grand abOys New West
minister than below Is. Tne growth of
timber Is larger and the scouery more
picturesque. Four miles above the city
We pass Pitt river, where mile or 90
from It's moath Ii the great railroad
bridge, the largest in British Columbia.
Intending TO visit IL on our retarn We
proceeded on our way. some miles
further the first view of the railroad is
obtained, the track running along the
left bank of she river for several miles
and then proceeding Inland. A few
miles beyond on the right bank of the
the river is the old town site of Derby,
located by Sir James Douglas, the Pro-
vincial Governor, in 1888. Nothing
remains of what lRignt nave been what
New Westminster il now except q few d.
lapidated rookeries. the latter place
was located in the same year by Col.
Moody and being nearer Victoria and
tide water. the site up the river was
abandoned. Beyond is Langley, where
the boats plying On the river receive aud
discharge freight. No town can be seen
from the river, but quite a settlement
has sprung up in the prairie country
back from the river, extending for dis
tance of twenty five miles 70 Semiah-
moo City. Passing mouth Of Stave
river, over which u railroad bridge can
be seen nearly $40 fest in length. We
came to anchor in the stream, being
about twenty five miles above New
Westminster. Daring the evening a
passenger steamer between Yale and
New We minister passed us, the stcaiA
caltiOpe playing severAi soloctions, aud
blowing u whistles and ''HAil Colurs-
bia" WAS rendered by tho passengers.
The following Inorning was very fog
" aud it was doesnod inadvisao oie TO
start ON our return trip until one O'Clock
p. IN. Nothing Ut note ocourred tall
reaching the mouth 0f Pitt river. Owing
to the current our vessel made quick
trip down, but was unable 10 enter Pitt
river because of sand banks at the
mouth. While trying to cross the bar
the Il. j.. Rithot steamed past US On her
way to Yale. We were much disap-
pointed 1t not being able ~ $50 tho
bridge across Pitt river. The structure
is lS45 feet long and supported by i6
piers. Immense cutwaters and stan
chions aud masonry work make u strong
aud secure. he work was commenced
In January, and has cost upwards of
&l0O, ,OO0, the rock work alone costing
$O,OOO. The view from this bridge ~
said to DO very ine,. the prairie coun-.
try stretching away for miles until tho
Coquitlam is reached. Beyond is Pitt
Lake, n boautiful sheet of water. On
the left and beyond are high mountain
peaks, now-capped and glittsring in
tho sun. A sunset from Pitt river
Is said to be most g0fgeously grand.
On arriving as New Westminster we
lay Opposite the wharf for few mo
manIs. during which three cheers we're
given for the progressive town, and
,hree responsive ones received for Scr
attic. Many people witnessed our de-
parture from ths docks and windows Of
houses overlooking the hnrbor, remain
ing at their posts until our vessel faded
from sight down tho river.