The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-05-02


ception of an effort TO promote the devei-
opment of the province by railway con-
struction. The subsidy bill empowers the
government to borrow s. 500 coo. When this
province seeks TO borrow money Ii does
not issue debentures and look for pur-
chasers. but by an arrangement made with
leading financial houses in London offers
what is called inscribed stock" for sale.
This stock has its regular price upon the
market just as British consols have. AT
present British Columbia per cents. are
quoted at los BY an agreement made
when the last loan was fioated. no new
stock was 70 be issued until 1855, and con-
sequently the new loan will not be put on
the market for more than a year yet. but
as the subsidies are not payable until the
roads are completed. this will make no
difference. The subsidized roads embrace
in all possibly 800 miles. divided as follows:
A line from Penticton. on Lake Okano-
gan. TO point on or near Boundary creek,
approximately 100 miles.
a line from English bluff near Point
Roberts. to Penticton. via Chiliiwack. APP
A line from the head of Butte inlet to
Quesnelle. on the Fraser river, approx
mately 81 miles.
The lire from Penticton to Boundary
creek is one that is regarded of great
immediate Importance by every one. That
the Kettle river country is certain to be
the scene of great mining activity has
been fully established and there Is ex-
cellent reason TO believe that the whole
country between the international boun-
dairy and the foot of okanogan lake is
metalliferous. The design of the legisla-
ture in substituting the railway is TO Sc
cure to the Coast cities OF British Column
bia the great trade which will be de-
yeIoped at Grand Forks. Midway and
other points in the Kettle river district.
and to enable the farmers on the coast.
and especially those in the very fertile
country around Okanosan lake and the
valley of the tributary streams 10 supply
the markets in the mining camps There
is railway from Sicamous on the Cam
adam Pacific. TO Okanogan, a distance of
Efty-one miles. from which point cars can
be transferred on the lake TO Penticton. a
distance approximately of seventy miles.
This will make the distance from Boun-
dairy creek to Sicamous approximately
22i miles Sicamous is 3S5 miles from Van
eouver. Thus the distance by the pro-
posed all-CanadIan route from Vancou-
yer to Boundary creek will be about $50
miles. The proposed line is easy of con-
struction. when compared with other
railways in the mining sections.
No company has been incorporated ex-
pressiy to build these pieces of railway,
but the Canadian Pacific has power to
do so under the British Columbia South
ern charter, which IL has acquired. The
Columbia & Westerr-F. Aug. Heinze's
road-has charter covering the same
territory. and the Vancouver. Victoria &
Eastern Railway and Navigation Com
pany now in process OF Incorporation,
will have also a right TO build the line.
The government viii have power under
the subsidy act 10 contract with either of
these companies to build this line. or II
may make an arrangement with an en-
tirely new organization. A strong effort
was made to induce the government to
undertake the construction of the piece
of road as public work. but a large ma
iority of the members of the legislature
are not yet converted to government
ownership of railways
1t will be evident 10 any one that the
early construction of this line from Pen
Teton to Boundary will mean lively pc
Rod OF speculation in a section of coun-
try as yet very little known. Unlike
many OF the railways in the mineral belt.
this road will open very excellent farm
ing region.
The proposed line from English Bluff to
Penticton Is intended to enable the Coast
cities of British Columbia TO secure
share OF the trade OF Kootenai. by fur
the Canadian Pacific. The distance from
Vancouver 10 Boundary by the proposed
lire would be about go miles shorter than
by the Canadian Pacific route via Sica-
nous. The subsidy is granted on the Goa
ditIon that ferry service shall be main
tained between English BLUM and VAN
couyer island so that cars could be run
directly into Victoria 1t Is expected. and
with perfect confidence. that either the
frrfx. 40 n mill n
son. at the foot of Arrow lake to Boun-
dairy. or the Canadian Pacific will extend
the Crows Nest pass road TO that point.
SO that the line from English Blun 70
Penticton is designed to give continuous
rail communication from the city OF Vic
toria across the whole southern portion
of the province and near the International
boundary.
The Vancouver, Victoria & Eastern Rail-
way & Navigation Company. now seeking
Incorporation. hopes to be In a position TO
take this subsidy and that for the Pen
teton Boundary road and build from the
coast TO Boundary creek The charter Of
the Columbia & Western does not cover
the section between Penticton and the
coast. but the British Columbia Southern
charter, now owned by the Canadian Pa
cislc railway does IL Is unlikely. how
ever. that the latter company viii build
line from thu coast TO Penticton. as this
would be 10 parallel its present hne with
only n navigable river between the two
reads for more than 100 miles.
II is understood that Mr.. Heinze. OF the
Columbia Western. has raised large
sum OF money for the purpose of pushing
his road westward IL he can obtain con-
troll OF the Vancouver, Victoria Il Eastern
charter. he might be able 10 push his line
through TO the coast He has a land sub
sidy of 1000 acres mile from the Co
lumhia TO Penticton. III ne could make
arrangements To secure the @,ee mile
from Boundary 20 the coast and get the
aid OF the Dominion government. II prob
ably might he in his power TO raise the
large sum. varfousfv estimated at from
Sls.ea 30 20 10000 90. necessary TO build
isre independent OF the Canadian Pacific
from the Columbia 20 the coast The
railway situation in Southern British Co
iunosa VIII thus be seen to present some
very interesting features The promoters
81 the Vancouver. Victoria & Eastern will
start for Ottawa in few days 10 press
their claims upon the Dominion govern
msnt for subsidy.
The lire from Butte inlet 10 Qussnelle f.
intended primarily 10 bring the mining
district os Carfhoo within easy reach OF
the seaboard. The distance provided for by
the subsidy bill is q miles or 20 the juno
ton Of the Quesaelle with the Fraser river.
Thts subsidy will go 10 the company popu-
larly known as the British Pacific. Of
which r r. Rsthes. OF this city. is presi-
dent The British Pacific has a charter
FOR a line from the city Of Victoria By
way OF Butte inlet 10 Yellow Head pass in
the Rocky mountains. or some seven or
eight hundred miles Of road. IL has a land
subsidy Of ~ go acres per mile The pro-
iect has been before the public for some
years. but its promoters have not been
able 10 france IL on she Land grant alone.
IL vili probably be found necessary TO