The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-02-18
Fertile Valleys In British CoIum bfa.
Victoria CoIonist

In the summers of 1889 and 1890. A, L.
Poudrier had charge Of parties whose mis-
sion IL was to explore that piece OF terri
tory called the Nechaco valley, which be-
fore that time had been visited in an
official sense by DIR. Dawson only, Of the
Geological Society OF Canada, and his
staff That gentleman then roughly
calculated the area Of this valley
At loo. 900 square miles Of good agricul-
tural land. The place Is about 600
miles from Victoria, exactly on the saith
parallel However. when the provincial
party went up there they had more time to
explore the place. and IL was found that
DIR. Dawson's estimate could be doubled,
II not trebled, there being room for at
least i've good townships OF as excellent
farming land a. can be found anywhere.
The country IL mainly open, bat whore
1t Is covered at all the obstruction is
composed OF small woods Of poplar and
birch, which can be very easily and
cheapiy cleared. Some tears exist as to
the dangers Of summer frosts, but this
occurs only in elevated places. The In
dams there have met with considerable
success in the limited farming operations
in which they have engaged. raising some
wheat, potatoes, turnips, carrots and even
cucumbers. The Hudson Bay Company's
people have been growing barley there for
number OF years. and il is said to be the
finest barley grown in Canada. and this
year small experiment has been made in
wheat. which has r1pened to perfection
In the course of last summer Mr. Pou-
drier says that over 100 people came across
the survey party, examining the land with
view to settling on 1t. These people
81 Lx.s n.
greater portion of them were from Oregon.
One drawback Is the lack of means of get
ting into the place. OF coarse cattle raising
could be carried on very profitably there
now, but for agricultural purposes road
communication is needed. The old tele-
graph trail which was cut twenty five feet
wide so as TO serve as wagon road as
well, is still there, and although much
overgrown, il would be q comparatively
cheap task to clear and open it up for
traffic
In addition to the estimated 5000 square
miles of land lit for agricultural purposes
in the Nechaco valley, there is still n large
area that could be used for pasture. The
country is thoroughly level; stones and
rocks being practically unknown, and the
soil of the richest quality.
"In fact" said Mr.. Poudrier. II am
quite satisfied that when road is built
into that section the people will come in
by hundreds. There is quite local mar
ket offering, a. well rs the omenica min
ing region 10 supply. There has been laid
out this season about half million acres
of the most promising and convenient
lands"
Furred game Is scarce, so that the In
dams are turning their attention TO differ
ent pursuits than hunting, and are
anxious 10 learn farming. They are very
peaceful and intelligent set of people.
nearly ali of them being able to speak
either English or French. and the
one. old or Young, who cannot
read and write in his own language
being an exception They are a branch Of
the Tinnees Indians, sometimes called the
carriers, " from an old custom which pre-
vailed hereby the bodies of the men we're
crema,ed after death. and the widows car
ried the ashes of their deceased lords for
the space OF year afterwards.