The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-04-18

Montreal. Canada, April IA new city
is 70 appear on the Pacific Coast within a
few months. It viii not be Of haphazard
growth. L has been planned for years in
advance, the lines OF its growth have been
mapped out, and it only remains 10 set a
date for occupation ana then get the peo-
pie
The Grand Trunk Pacific Railway Com
pany. which is building a new transcon-
tinental line across Canada, chiefly
through virgin territory. is responsible for
this city that is 10 be. II has been chris
tened far in advance OF its birth. The
city is Prince Rupert, and it is TO be the
Pacific Coast terminus OF the new rail-
road.
Prince Rupert is $50 miles north Of Van
couver and only 40 miles south OF the
Alaskan boundary. That IS pretty far
north. but il is in the same latitude as
London and its mean temperature IS
about the same as London's. By land
and sea IT is protected by mountains. Its
harbor is practically landlOcked, but il
has a miTe-wide roadstead for ships.
Chose Site Carefully.
The projectors Of this new seaport went
at the choice OF a site carefully The en-
tire north coast was searched and every
harbor sounded. The best way for the
railroad through the mountains had 70 be
token into consideration.
Further. the most available route to Yo-
kohama and the rest Of the far East had
10 be taken into account. The choice was
made four years ago and since then they
have been making plans for the new city
The first subdivision OF the town site VIII
be made about May and the public in
vited to come and buy.
The steamship route TO the new port
from the far East l.es through the Dixon
entrance into Hecate Strait. thence into
Chatham Sound and Prince Rupert Har-
Dor. The harbOr is really a strait be-
tween Digby Island and Prince Rupert
Island and Il extends fourteen miles in
land beyond the site OF the new city
The provincial government Of British
Columbia made a grant OF 10000 acres 70
the railway company. which bousht Up
1900 acres OF Indian reserve land, max
ing 1909 acres FOR the city 10 grow in.
Probably II viii need no more acreage.
II will start out with 200 acres only, but
that is some space.
The work OF planning Prince Rupert be-
gan in earnest IN May. 1896 Since then
surveying and clearing have been carried
on simultaneously. The land Is cleared
now ard the town site, the 200 acres on
which the start is 10 be made. has been
mapped out
Law Directs Growth.
This town has got 10 grow as the law
directs and not as the people viii. Streets
viii not follow COW paths OF Indian trails.
II has ali been attended 10, even TO laying
out parks and bouleyards. which may not
be needed FOR half a century
one Of the first steps the engineers took
was 10 employ landscape gardeners. who
have produced a plan which combines the
unitarian and the artistic IN city build
ing. The landscape artists were Brett &
Hall. Of Boston, who laid out Mount Roy
al Park. Montreal
II YOU visit Prince Rupert to-day you
will find a settlement huddled on the
waterfront. II is made up largely Of tenn
porarv structures In which the engineers
and workmen have been housed and fed
and provided for. Many OF these struc-
lures viii disappear when the city gets its
start. Your idea OF the city 10 come must
be had from maps
These maps show a long waterfront
broken by several little bays. 4 few
streets back from the water the land as
cends. at first gradually and then alb
ruptly.
The streets are 10 go UP hill in curves;
in fact. scarcely half OF the streets OF
this new city VIII run in straight lines.
Most OF the thoroughfares are numbered. I
the avenues generally parallel 10 the
waterfront. the streets at right angles 20
Il There are many familiar names II
Water street. Beach street. Main street. /
also a Railroad avenue. but no Broadway I
appears. possibly Il IS too American.
Circles. Like Washington.
Here and there where the topography /
permits are circles with streets radiafing /
therefrom. Away up on the hillside the
Prince Rupert boulevard had been mapped. /
It curves around above the prospec- /
tive city. afording magnificent views Of
the harbor and its future array OF ship /
ping.
You can easily imagine a second or !
third generation Of the pioneers who I
themselves are vet 10 be driving IN auto
in the sights. There are mountains on
the opposite shore ready and willing to be /
looked at. and to the northwest, through /
an island-studded channel. is the famous
Indian village of Metlakalta.
The harbor itself has been mapped by (
the Dominion government photographic /
survey. It is free from rocks or other OBJ !
structions and OF sufficient depth 10 at. (
ford good anchorage. The entrance is !
straight, 1900 feet in width at the narrow Z
est part. with a minimum depth Of IS feet I
at low tide. A permanent wharf 100 feet /
long has been constructed
The British Columbia government is not I
going to have this new city at the mercy I
OF a corporation. II has taken a strong I
hand in the work Of development. One /
quarter OF al the land reverts to the 4
province. as also One-quarter Of the 4
after the town site has been I
laid out
The first inhabitants Of this city will not I
have 10 worry over public Improvements /
They will find graded streets. sidewalks. /
and sewers ready for them. The provin- {
ciaI government appropriated 100000 for /
early Improvements. and ample provision !
viii have been made in advance for ,
Of 10000 people. As the popu-
lation increases the Improvements will /
keep well in advance. The gradual slope I
OF the land, with an occasional abrupt 4
rise. has made the drainage problem very
easy Of solution.
Will Wait for Railroad