The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-22
EAST FROM VANCOUVER
W. w. THORNTON TELLS OF .Yo,,
NEY THROUGH ROCKIES.
n New and the Old Civuizatioo.-
scenery Along the Route of the
Canadian Pacific.

A." -N@HE AMlOIku the Rockies
after the woods and log camps Of north
ern Washington had become a little mo-
n~otOnous," he said. I'VE welcomed Van
cOuver as a return TO civilization. There
were no towns on our route in the new
state, only mere stations. When dinner
time came our dinner was brought to US in
a small paper bucket for the price of four
bits, as a lawyer and Westerner COM
bined would say. From Los Angeles TO
Vancouver we had Travelled eighteen hun
cred miles. and all Of that distance. except
fifty miles, lay in Uncle Sans dominion
The distance certainly gave us a strong
impression Of the vastness of that aged
geltleman's great domain.
vancouver is one Of those cities Of the
West that has sprung up as If they were
evolved by the hand Of the magician. Bv
the Canadian Pacific Railway it is 5000
miles from New York city. Until May, 1886.
IL was a wilderness. In July of that year
every house in it, except one, was burned
Up. but that aid not discourage the reso-
lutte pioneers. Now it has 5000 inhabitants.
fine hotels, electric lights in all directions
and an excellent street-railway system.
TIL streets are we'll paved with asphaltum.
the in fine condition.
The ngishman's love Of solidity mani
tests itself here in this new city. for nearly
al business blocks are built Of stone or
brick, and there are several fine churches
built OF stone, as large and imposing as the
Second Presbyterian Church OF our own
city 1t can also boast Of as large and as
hne a stone residence as Indianapolis pos
sesses, and a beautiful stone depot of
grand and imposing appearance, in resem-
blance much like the hotel Chateau Fronte-
nae, at Quebec. Most OF the residences are
built Of wood, beautiful in design, and
surrounded with gardens of roses and
flowers. The mountain ash here attains a
glory we never saw elsewhere, and it is in
great demand. As an ornamental tree it is
as pretty a tree as it was ever our pleasure
10 see, its red berries presenting a very
handsome appearance.
REMOTE FROM THE SEA.
Vancouver is remote from the sea, on
an inlet In picturesqueness, commercial
advantages and natural drainage, the stu
alton is most perfect. 1t has extensive
wharves and warehouses. 1t is supplied
with excellent water, brought in pipes laid
under the inlet from mountain streams
miles away. AS is we'll known, a
regular steamship service is main
tanned between this port and China
and Japan. and another between it and
~ -AAC We NGAO q NCaALCA
from China was unloading that had carried
as many as 1.5OO passengers out of port.
and was capable of carrying 5000 soldiers.
Another of like size had arrived a few days
before from Sidney, Australia. These were
monster vessels, comparing very favorably
with the great passenger vessels on the
Atlantic.
18th scenery about Vancouver is most
magnificent. Standing in the heart of the
city. one can look across the inlet. two
miles. and seven miles further to the Cas-
cade mountains. always tipped with snow.
beautiful in form and color, and wildly
reflected in the mirror-Iike waters Of the
deepest inlet. At intervals along the heav-
Ny-wOOded shores are mills with villages
around them. and with ocean steamships
and sailing craft loading for all parts of the
world. Nothing can adequately express the
loneliness of a Vancouver summer climate.
Mild to a degree beyond the desire of fancy,
and an atmosphere as soft as that of a
water-laden atmosphere of one of our
balmy Indiana June days, yet without de-
bilitatiOnl it is a delight to simply exist.
We cannOt say this for the winter season
there, for we did not see it; and then there
are whisDerings that the mists and rains
are without limit, either in length of time
VI NAaL lAN ~AAA NAC AAa4 CIV
But we could not stay always, and so
took the Imperial limited east. One not
very assuring thing was that the Imperial
limited west was reported seventeen hours
late: but when on these long journeys one
IS Indifferent whether the train is on time
or not. What matters a few hours when
your trip will consume days. Our journey
was a long one, and many came TO the sta
ton 10 say goodbye to their friends, like
they were going on a sea voyage.
Promptly at 1 o'clock our train began its
long journey. Only one passenger train a
day is run over the Canadian Pacific each
way: although for short distances extra
passenger trains run TO accommodate local
travel. For thirteen miles we skirted the
mountains. they being constantly in view,
until we reached Port Moody, once the
terminus of the railroad. whose wharves
are now rotten and decayed, and where now
only a single house remains; but when the
Canadian Railway Company decided to
move or the town accompanied 1t In It's
western journey. Here we left the salt
water and crossed over into the valley OF
Fraser river, up which we were destined to
travel 1SG miles.
A mile or so after leaving this deserted
place We crossed Pitt river on a long bridge
from which we had a maSnlHceht view -
Pitt lake. embracing waters and woods ana
mountains of great height, and at various
distances with broad meadows, alive with
cattle in the foreground. On both sides OF
the river extensive alluvial fats have been
dvked. thus rendering 10000 acres of the
most fertile lands fit for cultivation.
AT Hammond, twenty-five miles from
our starting place. we should have had a
fine view of Mount Baker, 1900 feet high
over in Washington, but on this day his
glorious head was hid in clouds OF smoke
and mists. much TO our regret. For ninety
miles the luxuriant vegetation OF the Pa
cifc coast had been with us. but at Hope
We left f. behind. HencefOrth we had the
stunted and gnarled growth to be found on
the mountain sides. We were now IN the
midst Of the mountains. Peak upon peak
arose. now on our right and now on our
left. covered with eternal snow.
ROAD OF THE PAST.
The villages are small and far apart IN
time they were only mere stations. Yale
was one IF the larger sort. 1t was once an
Quitting place for gold mines to the north
Leaving this place. we passed by a success
- ,-uolz into the canyon OF the