Some mention has been made of the
wonderful canons of the Thompson River, along which the Canadian
Pacific Railroad passes. The junction of the Thompson River with the
Fraser is about 150 miles from Vancouver. The scenery along the
Fraser is very much the same as that of the Thompson. There are
similar canons; the river is here and there narrowed by rocky
formations and becomes a torrent, and at other times is a broad
placid stream. From the train, at the proper season of the year, the
Indians can be seen at their fishing operations on the banks of the
river; and the Heathen Chinee may also be observed gold-washing in a
very primitive manner. At North Bend, about 115 miles from
Vancouver, there is another of the railway hotels at which the
eastward and westward-bound trains stop for about twenty minutes to
enable the passengers to refresh the inner man or inner woman, are
the case may be. The scenery in the neighbourhood of North Bend is
of a particularly attractive nature, and in the summer time the
hotel, which is very comfortable, is more or less crowded. In fact,
the scenery between North Bend and Yale is described as matchless,
and as not only interesting but startling. The great river, as our
friend, the C.P.R. Notebook, states, “is forced between vertical
walls of black rocks, where, repeatedly thrown back upon itself by
cliffs, or broken by ponderous masses of rocks, it madly foams and
roars. The railway is cut into the cliffs 200 feet or more above,
and the jutting spurs of rock are pierced by tunnels in close
succession. ‘
From Yale to Vancouver the scenery becomes rather less grand, and
there is a greater area of land available for agricultural purposes
than exists in the more eastward parts of the province. A good deal
of the land is very little above the river level, and dyking, at
considerable expense, has been necessary. In many cases, however,
the embankments were not made high enough, and the floods of last
year, which were exceptionally high, gave the farmers and the owners
of these lands a good deal of trouble, and caused much expense.
Although the experience was a sad one. it has given a lesson, which
will not be forgotten. The meadow or bottom land, in the immense
valleys through which the Fraser runs in the latter part of its
career, is rather expensive, and the prices range anywhere from 50
to 100 and 200 dollars per acre. It is, however, exceptionally
fertile, and grows immense crops, and it is stated that on 40 acres
of land in these favoured positions as much produce can be raised as
on five times the area of land elsewhere. Besides, it must be
remembered that if land is dear, the prices of produce are
relatively higher than in many other parts of Canada, and that all
the most profitable crops can be raised, as the consequence of the
magnificent climate with which British Columbia is endowed.
The Dominion Government, in its
paternal supervision of the interests of the agricultural community,
has established an experimental farm at Agassiz, about 70 miles from
the coast. It includes about 1,000 acres of land of all varieties,
from sandy loam to heavy clay land, and not only bottom, but
mountain land. It is a beautiful place, the valley being surrounded
by mountains; and in the evening, and especially by moonlight, the
sight is one to remember. The energetic superintendent, Mr. Sharp,
has done wonders in the short time that the farm has been under his
charge. Most of the experiments so far have been in connection with
the raising of fruit of all kinds and roots, and they have been
singularly successful. The small fruits grow in abundance, and there
is no doubt a great future before that industry. Apples and pears
are also grown in great profusion and of immense size, and it may
truly be said that the largest apples we ever saw were raised in
British Columbia from comparatively young trees. It will not be long
before British Columbia apples make their appearance on the British
market if prices are high enough to stand the cost of transport. In
any case, however, they have an excellent market near home and on
the prairies. Mr. Sharp has also experimented in arboriculture the
mountain sides, and he is very proud of the results. Anyone
contemplating settlement in British Columbia cannot do better than
spend a day at Agassiz, talk over his proposals with Mr. Sharp, and
obtain the benefit of his advice and experience, which extends not
only to Canada, but to Scotland, where he was farming before he
emigrated.
A drive of 4 or 5 miles through the
primeval forest, and, it must be confessed, over a very rough road,
will take the visitor to Harrison Lake, which in the near future is
bound to become a popular place of resort. There is a very good
hotel, the scenery is magnificent, and the variety of colouring in
the waters of the lake from the reflection of the surrounding
scenery cannot well be exaggerated. In addition, however, to its
attractions to pleasure seekers, in the way of fishing, boating, and
shooting, there is a medicinal spring which comes out of the side of
the mountain at a temperature high enough to boil an egg. The water
is beneficial not only for bathing, but for drinking, in certain
complaints, and the baths attract a great many people. It is a very
curious thing that within a few feet of the waters of the lake,
which are icy cold, consisting chiefly of snow water, there should
be a hot medicinal spring of the nature that has been mentioned. On
the way back from Harrison Spring to Agassiz there happened the
only contretemps of our journey; the horses shied and bolted, which
was over a rough road of the kind; and there was soon a spill, which
might have been serious, but which only resulted in a little damage
to the conveyance. |
