The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-02-18
VERNON. B. c.. TRADE CENTER OF RICH REGION.

city and had charge of the water works
construction. Messrs. Watson and lsatimer
have assay offices and do considerable work
for the local prospectors. The city council
is composed of Mayor Megaw, Aldermen
Knight, Smith. Pound. Campbell and Ca
rev. 4. G. Fuller is city clerk.
The travelling public find in the various
hotels of Vernon every care and attention
The kalemalka is widely known as one Of
the best kept first-cIass hotels outside the
cities of the Coast. The Coldstream. Vic
toria and Okanogan are also well known
and do large local trade.
Adequate Educational Facilities.
The educational facilities are represented
in large graded public school OF four divis-
ions The Roman Catholic Episcopal, Meta
odist and Presbyterian churches all nave
suitable buildings and settled pastors. The
fraternal societies include Masons. odd Eel
lows, Foresters. knights of Pythias and
Workmen. There is perhaps no public in
stitution that has appealed more forcibly
to the charity and generosity of the public
than the Vernon Jubilee Hospital. 1t re-
ceives generous support from the govern
ment of the province and also contribu-
tions from the inhabitants of the district.
The matrons and nurses belong TO the Vic
torian order and seem in every way well
qualified for their work.
Agriculture and Mining.
The question is frequently asked what
IS there to support Vernon and is il likely
TO attain to any greater prominence" AT
present and for sometime past IL can be
truly said that trade has not been as brisk
as our merchants would have desired to
see Il. still a considerable volume of
business has been done: After the very
prosperous seasons of 1873 and 1894. it must
inevitably happen that reaction should
set in. Still the future outlook is full of
hope and promise.
In the first place, as has been pointed
out. Vernon is the distributing point for a
comparatively large area of country. and,
being In the center of large and pros
porous agricultural district which Is capa-
bic of still greater development and ex-
pansion this fact alone would insure for
the city full measure of steady growth
and prosperity. The rapidly developing
Boundary creek and Similkameen coun-
tries will furnish large market for farm
produce which must be supplied from the
Okanogan valley. The fruit growing in
dustry is also capable of increased de-
velopment. and as a ready market is found
I'm the Canadian Northwest, this will prove
a considerable factor I'm still further ex-
tending the commercial interests of the
district While the agricultural interests
at present constitute the main source of
trade, sim the mining prospects are of
the very brightest. While the results as
yet realized from prospecting In the neigh
borhood have failed TO bring out anything
very tangible. still. with more satisfactory
and systematic work. the fact is being
demonstrated that right here. within a
short distance of our city. are to be found
lodges of free milling quartz that compare
very favorably with those in other older
and well-known districts. The Blue Jay
Rex, Sunbeam. Morning Glory, Sarah and
other claims. IL is claimed by those whose
opinion Is OF weight I'm these matters, will
yet develop into paying properties. The
Silver Queen. which is galena PROPOSE
ton carrying high values In both lead
and silver. Is bonded to an English CAP
italist for $4,000. Although much is ex-
pected from the region in our immediate
vicinity. still for the present attention is
being directed to the mining region at
the head OF the Kettle. some fifty or sixty
miles east of Vernon. Some years ago
considerable work was done at this point
and the claims In the vicinity of Monashee
mountain proved to be very promising
During the fall of 1899 some very rich
strikes were made few miles further
east. and the Eureka claim promises to be
the richest property in the country. AL
ready several claims have been bonded
at good figures, a townsite has been laid
out stores and hotels are being erected
and during the coming season veritable
boom Is anticipated. To bring this very
promising district into direct communica-
ton with Vernon, a wagon road of about
fifteen miles in length must be construct
ed and the old Manashee trail must he
improved. 1t is said that such a road can
be easily built The Okanogan board OF
trade has taken the matter up and strong
influence Is being brought to bear upon
the government TO grant the necessary APP
preparation for the construction at the
road. The extension OF the presehV road
will make Vernon the base for this re-
gion. The merchants of the Kootenay
towns are bending their energies toward
having a road made from the Columbia
river. This would necesstate the construc-
ton OF over thirty miles of road through
difficult territory. II certainly behooves
the merchants OF Vernon to bestir them
selves and not let this excellent opportun-
fly slip away from their grasp and become
the prize OF the Kooienay traders.