Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-17
Huge Drydock Planned.

A contract has been let to a Seattle
firm for the construction of docks, ware
houses and elevators at Prince Rupert
at a cost of So. 10000 and 6, dry dock to
cost s., $4,000. capable of holding the big
gest battleship that will be launched, in
this generation at least Land has been
secured also for docks and warehouses
at Vancouver and Victoria. where docks.
warehouses and other requirements for
handling cargoeS for the Liverpool fleet
will be ready when they are needed.
Prince Rupert has one of the finest
| natural harbOrs in the world. 1t is prac-
tically land-lOcked. two mil wide and
fourteen miles long. 1t is $40 miles
north of Vancouver, fifty miles south of
the Alaskan boundary ana 4S' miles
nearer to Yokohama than any other Pa
cific port.
A second fleet of steamers will be con-
structed for a line to Japan, China and
the Philippines, provided the company is
unable to make satisfactory arrangements
There is already a regular tine OF steam
ers running from Prince Rupert to yari-
Gus ports along the coast o. Alaska and
as far south as Vancouver and Victoria
AS soon as the railroad is completed this
line will be enlarged by tie addition of
several vessels larger than those now in
use.
The distance from Mont zeal, Chicago
81. fdul ana w lnHipeS lc Japan duu
China by way of Port Prii.ce Rupert is
nearly five hundred miles shorter which
is equivalent to at least thirty-six hours
sail, than by any other route. The sail
ing time between Prince Rupert and
Alaska is also two days shorter than from
any other port. That consideration is con-
sidered of great Importance: in the pas
senger. if not in freight traffic. At any
rate the Grand Trunk Panitic is going
after business on the Pacific and will pro-
Il Cor dxrc
tages over it's competitors. !; 1t is, there
fore, very important as sell as an in
teresting proposition in its. bearing upon
the commerce of that Oceaf.
Not on the Nap.
Prince Rupert. which is CHOSEN as the
Pacific terminus of the Grana Trunk line,
already has population rf more than
6,OOO and is growing very Rapidly. The
harbor is as perfect as cou.a be desired.
as regards the depth of Water. shelter
from gales and convenience OF commerce.
and at the same time is ono; of the most
picturesque on the Pacific coast. The
town site occupies an am:nitheater of
land sloping gently back far about two
miles from the edge of the Pay, with per-
feet conditions for drainage and sewer
age. The town site occupies the shore
line of the bay for five or SIX miles. and
opposite are the Queen Charlotte Islands,
which will offer delightful sizes for villas.
summer hotels and pleasure grounds. To
the northwest, through channel that Of
fers wonderful scenery, is situated the In
dian village of Metlakatla. known on the
coast as the Holy City, because the en-
tire inhabitants, who were savages few
years ago, have been converted to the
Christian religion and persuaded to adopt
the habits and customs Of civilization,
through the influence of one man, the
Rev Mr.. Duncan, self-sGcrificing and
devoted missionary of Christ The In
dams are now engaged in packing salm-
on, manufacturing baskets and other
profitable industries.
The town site of Prince Rupert. which
by the way was laid out by Boston
landscape architect, is owned jointly by
the government of British Columbia,
which has a quarter interest, and the
Grand Trunk Pacific Town and Develop
ment Company. which has u three-auar-
ters interest, and which is entirely owned
by the railroad corporation.
1t is about six miles long and two
miles wide. and nearly one fourth of the
lots have been sold. Before an inch of
grounds, market squares. school houses
vations were. made for parks, play
grounds, Market squares. school houses
and public buildings. The streets wide
and have been planted with trees. and
many of them are already severed and